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Grameenphone users can now pay for 32 government services
Grameenphone subscribers can now pay for 32 government services using their mobile balance.
Recently Grameenphone and Aspire to Innovate (a2i) joined hands to introduce a secure and efficient payment method on the go for multiple government services through direct operator billing (DOB).
DOB is an easy and efficient method that enables subscribers to pay for services such as digitally consumable ones and utility bills from their handsets using mobile balance.
To use this option, a customer needs to select Mobile Balance from the ekPay payment gateway on the prottoyon.gov.bd portal while paying for the desired service.
After providing the mobile number and OTP, the service fee will be deducted from the subscriber's mobile balance. To use the facility, a subscriber must first complete profile creation on the portal through NID verification.
Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, a2i's project director (joint secretary) of the ICT Division, said: "Our unified mobile payment system, ekPay connects all banks and MFS providers to enable P2G (person to government) payments for hundreds of public services, including 23 utilities."
"Despite the meteoric rise of MFS and agent banking in the last decade, 18 percent of the adult population, especially in rural Bangladesh, is still unbanked. To promote inclusivity in P2G payments, we are introducing DOB with mobile operators in the government ecosystem."
"With this integration, we are ensuring that people from all walks of life have access to government services right at their fingertips through our nationwide network strength and coverage," said Solaiman Alam, CDO, Grameenphone.
PoultryTechBangladesh organises Master Farmer Training and Impact Tour
As an essential part of the PoultryTechBangladesh programme, to build on the business relationship and further cater towards the aid to trade initiative of the programme, a delegation of Dutch consortium partners visited Bangladesh recently.
The representatives from Larive International, Hato Agricultural Lighting, Van Aarsen, Hendrix Genetics, Mavitec, Nutreco, and Aeres International joined the delegation along with the officials of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
PoultryTechBangladesh is a public-private partnership of leading Dutch and Bangladeshi companies active in various parts of the poultry value chain. It aims to strengthen business relations between stakeholders in the Dutch and Bangladeshi poultry value chain, resulting in increased trade, investment, and cooperation and contributing to a more competitive and sustainable poultry sector in Bangladesh.
Consortium partner Aeres International conducted this training to ensure knowledge transfer and capacity building at the root level in 2022, and as the second step of the process, this year, participants from Aftab Bahumukhi Farms and Nourish Poultry attended a week-long training programme, where they conducted training sessions for regional grass-root level farmers in the presence of Helmich van Rees, Senior Trainer of Aeres International.
To improve the capacity of the participants, online training was provided by Aeres last month on curriculum development and facilitation skills.
During the delegation visit, PoultryTechBangladesh facilitated partnership between Nourish Poultry and Hatchery Ltd. and Hendrix Genetics SASSO to trial colored/traditional broiler breeds in Bangladesh.
The trial will start in May 2023, through which SASSO and Nourish will jointly showcase improved techniques for poultry farming, conducting research and trials with three SASSO breeds in Tangail, Bangladesh.
FBCCI wants import of broiler chicken, beef to calm down prices during Ramadan
Expressing concern over the high prices of beef and broiler chicken ahead of the Ramadan, FBCCI president Md Jasim Uddin on Thursday said the apex trade body will urge the government to import the items to keep prices under control.
“We are concerned over the rising prices of broiler chicken and beef,” said Jashim adding, “If this situation persists, the government should go for imports”.
The head of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said this while briefing the media on the current market prices of commodities ahead of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan at the federation building.
He said broiler chicken now sells at Tk 280 per kg and if the government thinks the import of the poultry will lower the price then it should go for that.
He said that beef in Dubai, UAE sells at Tk500 per kg even if the country does not raise cattle. If UAE can sell beef at Tk500 per kg by importing it, why should Bangladeshi people buy locally produced beef at such a higher price?
Bangladesh, he said, banned import of poultry chicken and beef to protect the local industry.
Read more: FBCCI seeks dollars from reserves to import commodities for Ramadan
The FBCCI chief said if the local industry can't provide beef and broiler chicken at an affordable price, then the Ministry of Commerce should lift the ban to allow imports for an interim period.
“If the market price decreases by importing, then it should be done. If people cannot buy products at a fair price, there is no point in caring about the industry,” Jashim said.
He said this season more dates have been imported than the demand. Not only dates, other products including sugar and edible oil are also adequately available.
He said the license of the trade organization that charges higher prices will be canceled.
“We do not want any trader's license to be revoked or anyone to be arrested for charging high prices in Ramadan,” said the FBCCI president.
FBCCI Senior Vice Presidents Mustafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, MA Momen, president of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association Helal Uddin and members of the market monitoring committee along with leaders of different organizations related to commodities business were present in the meeting.
There’s room for improvement in existing legal framework for enforcement of arbitral awards: ICC,B
International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICC,B) President Mahbubur Rahman has said the existing legal framework in Bangladesh for enforcement of arbitral awards, be it foreign or local, and arbitrations in general has significant room for improvement.
“Ease of enforcing foreign arbitral awards has a direct effect on both foreign and local investments,” he said while addressing a webinar on “Into the Centenary Year: ICC Court visits ICC Bangladesh” held on Tuesday.
An arbitration award (or arbitral award) is a determination on the merits by an arbitration tribunal in arbitration, and is analogous to a judgment in a court of law.
Mahbubur Rahman said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a powerful tool for economic growth, especially for a developing country like Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is currently the second largest economy in the region going to be graduated as a developing country in 2026 as per the recommendation made by the UN Economic and Social Council, he said.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Court of Arbitration with its HQ in Paris is having its centenary celebration.
ICC Court was established 100 years ago on 19 January 1923 under the leadership of founding ICC Chairman and French Minister of Commerce Etienne Clementel and ICC founders known as the “Merchants of Peace.”
ICC Court Secretary General Alexander Fessas was the keynote speaker at the webinar.
ICC Court President Claudia Salomon said ICC has played a seminal role in making arbitration the preferred method for resolving disputes between parties from different countries.
Indeed, she said, ICC played a pioneering role in the adoption of the 1958 York Convention.
Claudia mentioned that through the scrutiny process, this is a unique feature of ICC arbitration, ensuring that ICC awards are the highest possible standard. “We are the only arbitral institution that is truly international – not linked to any geography or subject to political winds.”
ICCB Executive Board Member Mir Nasir Hossain said limited availability of specialized judges and lawyers with expertise in international arbitration is a challenge for Bangladesh.
“This has led to a shortage of competent professionals who can handle the complexities of enforcing foreign arbitral awards in Bangladesh. He emphasized on training and upscaling them.”
ICCB Executive Board Member Kutubuddin Ahmed said for Bangladesh, the primary challenge for enforcing foreign arbitral awards is the lack of a comprehensive legal framework.
The existing laws on arbitration are outdated and do not provide adequate guidance on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. The Act came into force over 21 years back in 2001.
Other panelists of the webinar were Md. Sameer Sattar, Bar-at-Law, President, DCCI; Margub Kabir, Bar-at-Law, Advocate Supreme court of Bangladesh; ABM Sertajur Rahman, Additional Project Director (Superintending Engineer), SASEC Dhaka Sylhet Corridor Road Investment Project and PPP Cell, Roads and Highways Department and Forrukh Rahman, Bar-at-Law, Advocate Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
ICC Bangladesh Secretary General Ataur Rahman also spoke at the webinar.
ICC Bangladesh Commission on Arbitration and ADR Chair Nihad Kabir, Bar-at-law moderated the webinar.
“We are working with the Ministry of Law for necessary amendments in the arbitration act for the Enforcement of Foreign & Local Arbitral Award,” she said.
Over hundred participants from home and abroad joined the webinar.
'FundForward': IPM hosts conference on building sustainable startup scene in Bangladesh
Index Project Management (IPM) Sunday hosted a conference on building a sustainable startup scene in Bangladesh with the growing collaboration of global investors.
"FundForward" was held at Gulshan Club in the capital. More than 50 entrepreneurs joined it.
Digital market, technology, and investment experts discussed the opportunity to foster sustainable growth through collaborations between startups and global investors.
The speakers at the event also talked about the possibilities of a safe and transparent ecosystem of digitally connected businesses and communities globally.
The event was followed by three core sessions – eGaming and Metaverse, fintech and digital finance, and the challenges in the startup industry.
The sessions featured Max Garza III, chief blockchain officer at Faction Ai, Nazir Shaheen, CEO of South Asia Peninsula Universe, Efty Islam, chairman of AT Capital Partners, Max Decker, producer and director of CM Studios, Kyo Izuchi of Deloitte, Japan, Sami Ahmed, MD and CEO of Startup Bangladesh, Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, dean School of Business and Economics at NSU, Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, former managing director of the Bangladesh Hitech Park, Shariful Islam, founder and MD of Bangladesh Brand Forum.
RFL holds dealers' conference in UAE
Business conglomerate RFL Group recently hosted a dealers' conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The programme was held at a Dubai hotel, according to a media statement.
More than 230 leading distributors of various brands of RFL – RFL Houseware, Sera Water Tank, Sticky Adhesive, Saudi Lubricants, Playtime Toys, Good Luck Stationery, Winner Hotpot and Flask, RFL Door, Comfy Bedding, MS and GI Pipe, TEL Plastics, Rainbow Paints, Walkar Footwear, Italiano Melamine and Getwell Medical Appliances – attended the event.
They also visited various tourist sites in the UAE.
RN Paul, managing director of RFL Group, Toukirul Islam, executive director of Durable Plastic, Masudur Rahman, business unit head of Stationery Group, Esfaquel Hoque, head of marketing of Durable Plastic, Juhirul Islam, head of marketing of Banga Building Materials, and other high officials of the Group joined the event.
Daily transaction of MFS crosses Tk3200 crore: BB
The Average daily transaction of mobile financial service (MFS) has crossed Tk3200 core and its volume shows a growing trend, said the latest report of Bangladesh Bank (BB).
Analysing the data of 13 MFS in the country the BB report said that MFS gets popular in Bangladesh due to convenient transaction opportunities and payment facilities.
The BB has released the updated statistics of MFS with information on 13 service providers. It has been seen that in the first month of this year January, customers transacted Tk1.05lakh crore. This figure is the second-highest recorded transaction on mobile so far.
“There is no fee to open an account. Money can be sent everywhere instantly. At the same time, many new services have been added including payment of shopping bills, and loan facilities. These are contributing to an increase in the number of users,” said Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former governor of the BB.
The central bank officials say inward remittances are also coming through MFS. As a result, people's interest and dependence on MFS are increasing. The volume of transactions with customers is also increasing because of multifold uses of this service.
According to the BB, in January on average daily transactions through MFS was Tk3245 crore, excluding Nagad mobile finance operator as this MFS provider is not included under the BB financial report.
If the Nagad transaction is added, then the MFS’ daily transaction volume would cross Tk4200 crore.
The BB report revealed that 60 percent of the transaction was money deposit and windrowing while 40 percent was digital payment in January 2023.
The number of customers is increasing day by day with transactions in mobile banking.
Currently, 13 banks are providing mobile banking services under different names including Bkash, Rocket, U Cash, My Cash, and Sure Cash.
At the end of January 2023, the number of customers registered in mobile banking stood at 19.41 crore. And the number of mobile banking agents has reached 15.69 lakh till January.
Simplified policy, product diversification could boost exports to UK over $12 billion by 2029: Study says
Speakers at a discussion meeting said that products exported to the United Kingdom would cross $ 12 billion by 2029 if Bangladesh could utilise developing countries' trading scheme (DCTS) facilities of the UK.
They said the DCTS of the UK can be a catalyst in boosting exports of non-garments items while the continued duty-free access under DCTS is set to help Bangladesh’s clothing exports even after LDC graduation.
The speakers said this while speaking at a stakeholders’ consultation programme titled “Expanding and Diversifying Export to the UK Market”. Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), a think tank, organised the event with the support of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of UK, held in the capital on Thursday.
Senior commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh was present as the chief guest. Dr Duncan Overfield, deputy development director of FCDO, Md Faizul Islam, Chairman of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, MAM Ahsan, vice chairman and CEO of Export Promotion Bureau also spoke on the occasion.
Stakeholders in leather, footwear, electronics, shrimp, and frozen food sectors were also present in the discussion.
A study report presentation on the topic by Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Chairman of RAPID, revealed that Bangladesh’s export volume to the UK was $500 million till fiscal year (FY) 2000, which expanded to $4.8 billion in FY 2022.
He pointed out that the UK is the third largest export destination of Bangladeshi products and the UK accounts for over 9 percent of the country’s merchandise exports.
“The country (Bangladesh) will enjoy the same LDC benefits for export of all items till 2029 through the DCTS comprehensive preferences,” he said.
The UK has specified more liberal product-specific rules (PSRs) only for LDCs. Bangladesh will allow import inputs and raw materials from more than 95 countries and yet be eligible for duty-free exports.
After LDC graduation in November 2026, Bangladesh will continue to enjoy the same LDC benefits for another three years (until November 2029), according to the study.
As an LDC, Bangladesh also stands to benefit from more generous UK Rules of Origin (RoO) requirements. The minimum value-added requirement for LDC non-garment products has been reduced to 25 percent from 30 percent under the previous GSP, it said.
LDC textile and clothing exports to the UK will continue to benefit from the single-stage transformation, The UK DCTS offers relaxed and liberal product-specific rules and extended cumulation facilities, allowing inputs to be imported from 95 countries and yet the LDC manufacturers of final products to be eligible for duty-free exports, the study said.
The study of RAPID found that Bangladesh has potential products for export diversification in leather goods and footwear, light engineering, agro and food processing while fish and shrimp are prominent non-garment export sectors.
Consultations with the exporters and manufacturers revealed that a lack of knowledge and information about the UK market obstructs expanding exports of non-garments products.
The government policy support for product diversification and capacity development of Bangladesh entrepreneurs would help the export expanding opportunity in the UK, the study said.
BGMEA President for collaborative approach to build sustainable supply chain
The issue of responsible business and sustainable trade should not be confined to the manufacturer’s level, said Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA.
“Because manufacturers are a part of the supply chain and very individuals within the supply chain has their own roles and responsibility. So, a hand-holding approach is needed to ensure sustainable business environment within the supply chain,” he said urging all stakeholders to put efforts together in a collaborative approach to build a more sustainable and resilient supply chain.
He came up with the observations while addressing the opening plenary of the 4th edition of the Sustainable Apparel Forum in Dhaka on March 16.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP attended the program as the chief guest.
Peter D. Haas, US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union in Bangladesh, Salim Rahman, Managing Director, KDS, Ranjan Mahtani, Executive Chairman, Epic Group, Naureen Chowdhury, Head of Labour Rights Programme, Laudes Foundation also spoke at the session as guests of honor.
Faruque Hassan, who attended the opening plenary as a guest of honor, said sustainability was a key priority for BGMEA and in the RMG industry of Bangladesh at large.
“And our strides towards sustainability, particularly in the areas of environmental and social sustainability in past decades testify to the fact. We have ensured 100% in the workplace which has restored global confidence in us. We have taken a number of initiatives to ensure the better wellbeing of our workers,” he said.
He continued: “We also have taken further steps to make the industry greener and cleaner. We have now the highest number of LEED green factories certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which is 192. Also, 53 out of 100 world’s top green garment factories are situated in Bangladesh.”
Instead of country-specific or trading block-specific legislation, he underscored the importance of the human rights and environmental due diligence which are accepted by the all players in the global fashion industry.
The fashion industry needs to agree on a globally standardized approach to purchasing practices and due diligence, the BGMEA President said, adding that otherwise it would become too difficult for the suppliers to comply with thousand different structures.
He urged all stakeholders to collaborate, and exchange knowledge and expertise to ensure more decent employments, and build a resilient and sustainable fashion industry.
Daraz kicks off Ramadan Bazar Campaign
Daraz has announced its Ramadan Bazar Campaign yesterday with a range of offers to provide customers with ‘affordable’ shopping experience ahead of Ramadan.
The week-long campaign will run from March 15 to March 22.
Talat Rahim, Chief Marketing Officer of Daraz Bangladesh said: "We are excited to launch our Ramadan Bazar Campaign and provide our consumers with a unique shopping experience that is both rewarding and affordable. We are confident that our consumers will consider the offers made throughout the campaign to be unmatched, and they will use this opportunity to shop for their Ramadan essentials."
As part of the campaign, the country’s leading online marketplace will offer 45% discount on 200,000 deals and up to Tk 600 vouchers.
In addition, customers can also enjoy free shipping, seller vouchers, and up to 65% off on Home and Living products, according to a press release.
Both local and global brands such as Bata, Lotto, Marico (Studio X), Nestle (Maggi), Realme, Dettol, Lifebuoy, Infinix, Bajaj Electricals, Fabrilife, Godrej, Nescafe, Manfare, Marico, Motion View, Stone Rose, Swapon's World, and Dove have partnered with Daraz for this campaign.
Meanwhile, bKash, Nagad, City Bank, Eastern Bank Limited, HSBC, Prime Bank Limited, Community Bank Bangladesh Limited, Southeast Bank Limited, LankaBangla Finance Limited, and United Commercial Bank are also part of this campaign as payment partners.