Dhaka, Apr 23 (UNB)- Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Tuesday suggested that the potentials of dairy sector should be utilized by providing grants to the farmers and reducing the production cost of milk.

The theme of the roundtable programme was “Present and future of dairy sector of Bangladesh” was organised by daily newspaper Prothom Alo in association with PRAN Dairy Ltd, at the newspaper's office in the capital. Prothom Alo Associate Editor Abdul Kaium moderated the roundtable discussion.

Dr Hiresh Ranjan Bhowmik, Director General at Department of Livestock Services, said the main barrier of country’s dairy sector is the production cost and another problem is maintaining the quality.

Ghulam Rahman, President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said the per capita consumption of milk in Bangladesh is below the required amount.

The demand of milk will increases if people are aware regarding the nutrition milk contains, he said.

Eleash Mridha, Managing Director of PRAN Group, said there is no alternative of taking concerted effort for attaining self-sufficiency in dairy industry.

Mohammad Imran Hossain, president of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association, said, In India, farmers get subsidy for producing milk but Bangladeshi farmers don’t get that.

Shafiqul Islam Laskar, Director General of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Advocate Umme Kulsum Smrity, President, National Dairy Development Forum and Md Muniruzzaman, Executive Director at PRAN Dairy, spoke at the roundtable discussion among others.

Dhaka, Apr 20 (UNB) - Rubana Huq took charge as the first female president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday.

She will lead the organisation for the 2019-2021 term.

Outgoing BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman handed over the charge to Rubana at their new office in Uttara.

Rubana, managing director of Mohammadi Group, is the wife of Annisul Huq, a former Dhaka North City Corporation mayor and BGMEA president.

Newly-elected First Vice-President Mohammad Abdus Salam, Senior Vice-President Foysal Samad, and five vice-presidents – SM Mannan Kochi, MA Rahim, Arshad Jamal (Dipu), Mohammad Moshiul Azom (Sajol), and SM Chowdhury (Salim), also took charge.

Two panels contested the April 6 BGMEA election led by Rubana and Jahangir Alam. All 35 directors were elected from Rubana-led Sammilita Forum.

Election to BGMEA body is scheduled to take place after every two years.

But after the last election in 2013, the forums decided to elect the board in consensus. Siddiqur served three years and seven months as BGMEA president.

Dhaka, Apr 17 (UNB)- Speakers at a meeting urged the government to simplify export and import process through the Benapole land port.

They called for capacity enhancement, developing infrastructure and continuing 24 hours operation of the port for smoother export and import process at a meeting held recently at Benapole Custom House Office. 

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Benapole Custom House jointly organised the meeting, according to a media statement released Wednesday.

An 11-member delegation from DCCI discussed existing problems of the port in terms of export and import. Benapole C&F Association and businessmen who use the port were also present.

DCCI Vice-President Imran Ahmed said that the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India is now $9.4 billion. The port is mostly used for export and import activities between the neighbors. In 2017-18, Tk4872.72 crore was collected from the port as revenue.

He said that the port’s current capacity is 40,000 tonnes but it handles about 1.5 to 2 lakh metric tonnes of goods. 

In order to expedite export and import processes, he suggested setting up adequate sheds for goods, simplification of product clearance, reducing hidden cost, solving problems of testing facility for food items. 

He also urged for expansion of Jashore-Benapole highway to six-lane, high speed internet at the port, dedicated uninterrupted electricity supply and establishing science lab. 

He said due to lack of shed, most of the goods are kept under open sky and as a result, their quality degrades. Moreover, due to delay in product clearance, businessmen have to count extra interest of bank loan. 

Imran requested to establish adequate sheds and warehouses in Petrapole port in Indian part and keep the port open for 24 hours. 

Commissioner of Benapole Custom House Mohammad Belal Hossain said that Benapole Custom House has already been using modern software recognised by the World Bank to ease export and import process. 

“For simplified customs procedures, the port authority has started four-step working process. Besides, for easing product clearance, a special seal is being used which reduces product clearance time. The port will be fully automated,” he added.  

Additional Commissioner of the Port Mohammad Zakir Hossain, DCCI Directors Alhaj Deen Mohammad, Mohammad Basiruddin, Former Senior Vice President Alhaj Abdus Salam, former Directors Md. Alauddin Malik, Major Yead Ali Fakir (retd.), Convener Engineer. Shamsuzzoha Chowdhury, Members Mohammed Monium Khan, Monwar Hossain, Md. Zamsher Ali also were present there.
 

Dhaka, Apr 16 (UNB)- PRAN-RFL branded Swift, Glitter, Livana and Ray toiletries products of Sun Basic Chemicals Limited (SBCL) are now being exported to seven countries  including India, Nepal and Bhutan.

The consignments of the products have been sent to Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands of the Oceania region this month, said a press release on Tuesday.

Earlier, SBCL started exporting its products to Maldives in January.

Swift Toilet Cleaner, Glitter Dish Wash, Glass Cleaner and Ray Detergent Powder, Livana Coconut Hair Oil, Zoom Mosquito Coil and other toiletries products of SBCL, received good response in domestic market for its quality.

Modern technology and global standard formulations are being used to manufacture the toiletries products.

Ruhul F Talukder, General Manager of Sun Basic Chemicals Limited said, “Swift Toilet Cleaner, Glitter Dish Wash, Glass Cleaner and Ray Detergent Powder got huge popularity in northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. Meanwhile, the demand of our products rose to 30 percent in India. And now our products have been placed to the Oceania countries apart from other global brands.”

 “We are going to introduce liquid detergent, anti-bacterial soap and hand wash, talcum powder, body wash and lotion in the market soon. The monthly production capacity of the factory of SBCL is 12000 tonnes. We are trying to introduce the products in the market keeping in mind that the consumers can purchase quality products,”  he said.

Kamruzzaman Kamal, Director (Marketing) of PRAN-RFL Group, said “Bangladeshi toiletries products have good prospects in global market if it is manufactured maintaining quality. We put our best efforts to manufacture quality products. We already have exported our products to seven countries.”

 “We have also taken initiative to export the toiletries products to some other countries. We will export our toiletries products to Oman, Saudi-Arabia, Qatar and some African countries soon,”  said Kamruzzaman Kamal.

Dhaka, Apr 16 (UNB)- The country's electronics giant 'Walton'  announced ‘Baishakhi Offer’ for the customers of refrigerators  on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh.

Under this offer, a total of 500 customers will get ‘Golden Edition Fridge’ of special design through purchasing any model of fridges from Walton Plaza or distributor outlet across the country, said a press release on Tuesday.

The customers, who will register their purchased fridges under the ongoing Walton Digital Campaign, will be eligible for this offer. Customers will enjoy this offer during the entire month of Baishakh.

The offer was announced while unveiling Golden Edition Fridge of unique designed at Walton Corporate Office in the capital on April 13.

Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited (WHIL) Director SM Mahbubul Alam and Walton’s Sports Ambassador Bangladesh national cricket player Mehedi  Hasan Miraz, an all-rounder cricketer of Bangladesh National Cricket Team unveiled the new model of refrigerator.

Executive Directors Amdadul Haque Sarker, Nazrul Islam Sarker, SM Zahid Hasan, Humayun Kabir, Uday Hakim, Ariful Ambia, Golam Murshed and Amin Khan were, among others, attended the programme.

Along with this offer, the customers may get sure cash vouchers up to Tk 1 lakh or free products such as motorcycle, air conditioner, laptop, refrigerator, LED TV, oven and different electrical, electronics and home appliances.

Speaking at the function, WHIL Director SM Mahbubul Alam said, everyone likes to get new year gifts. Thus, Walton released refrigerator of unique design as special gift of Bangla New Year for the customers of Walton brand fridges, he added.

At the function, the Walton officials said they set a target of selling two million units of fridges in 2019 across the country. To achieve this target, Walton released huge energy efficient and environment-friendly new models of fridges with lucrative designs.

At now, Walton is supplying 101 models of frost and 20 models of non-frost refrigerator, 16 models of freezer and 2 models of beverage cooler.