Bangladesh
12.4mn bank clients benefited from govt stimulus packages: BB
Some 12.4 million bank clients have directly benefited from the stimulus packages announced by the government to revive the economy by containing the Covid-19 fallout, claimed the Bangladesh Bank on Monday.
In a statement, the central bank said the government had announced a total of 23 stimulus packages of Tk 124,053 crore and then it was extended by another Tk 4,250 crore through EDF, taking the total to Tk 128.303 crore.
The Bangladesh Bank was directly involved in nine, out of 23, stimulus packages.
Also read: ‘2nd Covid wave’ in Bangladesh: PM orders another stimulus package
The statement said it was found that some 1.3 million people were the direct beneficiaries from 10 packages under which bank loans were provided to youths for employment generation, farmers for agriculture production, large industries and service sectors, small and medium industries, whole loans were distributed under the Bangabandhu Agriculture Loan and through the Ansar-VDP Bank.
Besides, an amount of Tk 5000 crore was provided as subsidy against the loans distributed for garment workers and employees for their salaries while another Tk 1,390 crore was distributed where the number of direct beneficiaries is 3.8 million and 7.3 million, with the total number of beneficiaries being 11.1 million.
The total number of beneficiaries, therefore, stands at 12.4 million while 83 percent of the total stimulus package was implemented taking the total amount to Tk 83,053 crore.
Some Tk 25,210 crore was distributed as loan for sectors like micro, cottage, and medium industries, agriculture re-financing scheme, low-income groups like farmers, small traders, 4 percent concessional-interest loan for agriculture, 5-year term fishery and livestock loan and Bangabandhu Youth Loans under Ansar-VDP Bank for production enhancement and poverty eradication.
Also read: Bank-Company (Amendment) Bill 2021 draft gets Cabinet nod
The indirect beneficiaries are 2.4 million although the direct beneficiaries are 1.3 million in these sectors.
An amount of Tk 14,654 crore, out of total Tk 20,000 stimulus package, was distributed for micro, small and medium industries where the number of beneficiaries is 95,733 persons while indirect beneficiaries are 1.1 million.
Besides, Tk 3954 crore was distributed, out of total Tk 5,000 crore refinancing loans, for the agriculture sector where the number of direct beneficiaries is 200,000 persons.
An amount of Tk 1,831 crore was distributed against the approved Tk 2,445 crore from the Tk 3000 crore re-finances scheme for the professional farmers and small traders where the number of beneficiaries is 320,000 clients.
The 4 percent concessional-interest loan of Tk 4,056 crore was distributed for the agriculture sector where direct beneficiaries are 600,000.
Some Tk 154 crore was distributed, out of Tk 300 crore, through Ansar-VDP Bank while Tk 72 crore, out of allocated Tk 200 crore, was distributed for agriculture production and employment generation where direct beneficiaries are 87,000 persons.
Some Tk 16,901 crore, out of Tk 17,000 crore, under the Export Development Fund (EDF), was distributed for large industries where the direct beneficiaries are 6,650.
The central bank said Bangladesh has achieved 5 economic growth while the OECD member countries have long been facing a tough situation to keep their growth at the zero level against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This has been a reflection of the efficiency, capacity and sincere devotion to the work of the government, Bangladesh Bank and other sectors,” the central bank said in its statement.
British Deputy High Commissioner calls on BGMEA President
British Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh Javed Patel Hassan met Faruque Hasan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association at BGMEA office on Monday.
They discussed various trade issues including sustainability in the RMG sector and ways to further cooperation between the UK and Bangladesh for development of the industry.
The BGMEA President sought the support of the British government with regard to non-payment by some of the British brands to their Bangladeshi suppliers during the Covid-19 crisis.
READ: BGMEA delegation meets BEZA chairman over allocation for 'garment village'
The discussion also included cooperation between the UK and Bangladesh regarding graduatio from LDC, possible changes in the tariff regime and how Bangladesh could retain its market access in the post-LDC era in the UK.
The BGMEA President expressed thanks to the Deputy High Commissioner for the friendly support of the UK for betterment of Bangladesh’s apparel industry.
READ: Commerce Ministry, BGMEA ink MoU for Centre for Innovation, Efficiency and OSH
Mahesh Mishra, Counsellor, Prosperity and Economic Growth Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission in Dhaka, Miran Ali, Vice President, and Md. ImranurRahman, Director, BGMEA were also present at the meeting.
UNHCR seeks adequate medical assistance for Rohingyas affected in Bhasan Char
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, on Monday said the safety and wellbeing of Rohingyas are their main priority.
The UN agency noted they will continue to urgently seek additional information on the condition of those affected, and urged that they receive adequate medical assistance.
UNHCR said they are “deeply concerned” to learn of reports on Rohingyas who were injured during today’s events at Bhasan Char.
“We regret that those affected reportedly include children and women,” Louise Donovan, a spokesperson at the UNHCR, Cox’s Bazar, said in a statement.
Rohingays in Bhasan Char went unruly when two senior UN officials - Gillian Triggs, the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, were visiting it.
READ: UNHCR's joint response plan to be launched Tuesday
During today’s visit, the UNHCR delegation was able to meet with a large group of refugees and listen to the various issues that they raised, which the delegation will further discuss with the Bangladesh authorities, said the UNHCR spokesperson.
The delegation now arrived in Cox’s Bazar and is scheduled to visit Rohingya camps there on Tuesday before returning to Dhaka to meet senior government officials.
The two UNHCR officials arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit to see the Rohingya situation both in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps and Bhasan Char.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and Bhasan Char and Bangladesh is expecting UN agencies engagement in Bhasan Char within the next couple of months to provide humanitarian services there.
The government has a plan to shift 100,000 Rohingyas in Bhasan Char gradually while around 20,000 are already shifted there.
During his recent visit, United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir highly appreciated Bangladesh's efforts for Rohingyas in Bhashan Char, saying it will be another example to the world on how to deal with the refugee issues.
“I really applaud the work done there – the quality of buildings and also taking all the precautions. I think this will be another example to the world on how to deal with refugee issues,” he said.
Bozkir hoped that this would work well for the Rohingya people, giving them a better condition in Bhashan Char.
The UNGA President said he could not visit Bhasan Char but he saw a video on it and acknowledged the high-level of works there, including precautions and safety measures.
Bozkir appreciated Bangladesh’s role in the peacekeeping operations and sacrifices of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers for the peace and security of the world.
READ: UNHCR calls for strong global support for Rohingyas
The UNGA President said he has admiration for Prime Minister Hasina for her political and humanitarian thinking and saluted the hospitality and courage that Bangladesh has shown to the Rohingya people.
BNP accuses govt of obstructing Zia’s death anniv programmes
BNP on Monday alleged that the government obstructed its various programmes taken on the occasion of Ziaur Rahman’s death anniversary across the country.
“The police and administration shamelessly obstructed and controlled the programmes organised by our party and associate bodies in different areas on the occasion of Ziaur Rahman’s 40th death anniversary,” said party organising secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he said BNP leaders and activists were also obstructed at the entrance of Zia’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Sunday as they went there to pay homage to the party founder.
READ: Zia’s 40th death anniversary observed
Besides, he said, police obstructed their party leaders and workers in many areas from distributing food among the destitute on the occasion. “We strongly condemn and protest such nasty acts by the police and administration.”
Narrating different incidents, Prince said police imposed a restriction on holding a programme in Kushtia on the occasion on Sunday. “Even when a black flag was hoisted atop of the party office there, they (police) pulled it down.
In Narail, he said, food for orphans was taken away by police while prayer sessions were not allowed in mosques.”
Prince said they locked Chattogram city unit BNP office and other party offices in different districts, upazilas on Sunday.
He said Awami League government has long been trying to remove Zia's name from the hearts of people by carrying out such 'inhuman and disgusting' activities as it fears BNP. "We would like to say it firmly that Ziaur Rahman was such a popular leader and statesman that he could never be erased from the hearts of people.”
The 40th death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was observed amid various programmes by the party and its associate bodies on Sunday.
Zia founded BNP in 1978 and he was assassinated by some army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981.
BNP and its different associate bodies chalked out a 15-day programme to observe the 40th death anniversary with due reverence.
READ: BNP chalks out 15-day prog to observe Zia's death anniv
The programmes include arranging virtual discussion meetings, photo exhibition and free medical camps, wearing black badges, publishing posters and supplements in newspapers and distributing food among the destitute.
Journalist Muzakkir murder: 2 accused denied bail
The High Court on Monday denied bail to Awami League leaders Iqbal Bahar and Sirajul Haque (alias Abul Kashem) in a case filed over the murder of journalist Borhan Uddin Muzakkir amid political infighting in Noakhali's Companiganj.
The bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order, considering that the petition was not submitted properly before it.
Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah represented the state while Advocate Shahinur Begum stood for the accused.
Also read:AL factional clash in Companiganj again , 6 shot
On February 19, clashes and gunfight took place between the supporters of Basurhat Municipality Mayor Abdul Quader Mirza and former Companiganj upazila chairman Mizanur Rahman Badal over establishing supremacy.
Both groups used firearms in the clash and the law enforcers fired several rounds of tear gas and shotguns to control the situation.
Muzakkir, a Noakhali district correspondent of online news portal Barta Bazar and also Companiganj correspondent for The Daily Bangladesh Samachar, suffered bullet wounds and fell on the ground when he was taking pictures and filming the intra-party clash.
Also read: Noakhali clash: Quader Mirza's rival AL leader Mizanur arrested
The critically injured journalist was rushed to Noakhali General Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to injuries on February 20.
On February 23, Muzakkir's father Nurul Huda Master filed a case with Companyganj Police Station accusing unnamed people. Later the case was transferred to the Police Bureau of Investigation.
Musapur Union Swechchhasebak League President Iqbal Bahar and local Awami League activist Sirajul Haque were shown arrested in the case.
Woman doctor found dead at Kalabagan flat, police suspect murder
Police on Monday recovered the body of a female physician from a flat in the city’s Kalabagan with an officer suspecting it may be a case of murder.
The victim was identified as Dr Sabira Rahman, wife of a private bank official Shamsuddin Azad.
Primarily, it seems that it is an incident of murder, OC Kalabagan police station Paritosh Chandra said.
The husband also claimed that his wife was killed.
Dr Sabira worked in the radiology department of Green Life Hospital in Dhanmondi.
Quoting neighbours, police said Dr Sabira shared the flat with another woman named Kaniz Subarna .Her husband Azad lives at Shantinagar.
Officer-in-charge of Kalabagan Police Station Paritosh Chandra told UNB that being informed, a team of the police went to the flat at around10:30 am and recovered the body from inside her room.
Kaniz Subrina, who completed LLB from World University, told Police that she went out on morning walk along Dhanmondi lake at around 6:10 am.
On return to the flat she smelt smoke was coming out from Dr Sabira’s room. As her room was locked from inside, she informed the matter to gatekeeper of the building, said the OC Kalabagan adding that they finally entered the room breaking the lock of the door.
The body of the deceased bored four injury marks at her backside, with a big one on her neck.
A CID crime team collected evidence from the spot. The detective Branch of the DMP detained four people, including Kaniz Subrina, one of her friends and the gatekeeper, for interrogation, he said.
The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for post mortem.
Azad went to the Kalabagan flat after learning about the tragedy. He claimed that his wife was murdered. “My wife has been killed. There is no doubt here,” he added.
LSD seizure: 5 more placed on 5-day remand
A Dhaka court on Monday placed five people on a 5-day remand each in a Narcotics case filed after their arrest with hallucinogenic drug LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide).
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Atiqul Islam passed the order after rejecting bail plea of the accused.
Those remanded are ABM Shirajul Salekin alias Topu, ASM Monwar Akib alias Anan, Najmus Sakib, Md Saiful Islam and Najmul Islam.
Also read: LSD seized during probe into DU student's death
Earlier, sub-inspector (also investigation officer of the case)of Khilgaon police station Badrul-Al-Amin produced the accused before court and prayed for a 10-day remand for each.
Primary investigation reveals that the accused were involved in drug trading, said police.
On Saturday night police arrested ASM Monwar Akib alias Anan, Najmus Sakib, Md Saiful Islam from Khilgaon while peddling drug. ABM Shirajul Salekin was arrested later from the Mohakhali area.
Also read: LSD seizure: 3 students on 5-day remand
On May 26, police arrested three private university students with LSD during a raid.
Later a case was filed at Dhanmondi Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act.
On Sunday, a Dhaka court placed the three accused Sadman Sakib Rupol, 25, Ashab Wadud Turjo, 22, and Adib Ashraf, 23 on a 5-day remand each.
The ongoing probe into the death of Dhaka University student Hafizur led to the raid, said DB.
HC revokes stay order on recruitment process of 54,000 teachers to private institutions
The High court on Monday revoked its stay order on the recruitment process of 54,000 teachers to private schools, colleges and madrasas across the country.
Besides, the HC ordered the Non-government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) to direct the authorities concerned to recruit within four weeks around 2,500 candidates who filed contempt of court petitions against NTRCA .
Also read: HC turns down writ seeking cancellation of MBBS admission test results
The bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order after hearing on 20 contempt of court petitions filed in 2019 by 2,500 qualified candidates.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the education ministry, lawyers Khurshid Alam Khan, Mohammad Siddique Ullah Miah, and Mohiuddin Md Hanif appeared for the petitioners, while lawyer Md Kamruzzaman represented the NTRCA during virtual hearing on contempt of court petitions.
On May 6, the HC stayed the process for recruiting 54,000 teachers to private schools, colleges and madrasas across the country for violating its earlier directives.
The court also ordered NTRCA to recommend in seven days to the authorities concerned of the government to appoint 2,500 qualified candidates, who filed contempt of court petitions against the NTRCA.
Service sectors in focus at a consultation meeting on CEPA
Bangladesh and India can derive immense benefits in trading services, said speakers at a meeting on Monday as the two neighbours are working on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), assigned to conduct Joint Feasibility Study on (CEPA) by the commerce ministry, virtually organized the second consultation meeting with the stakeholders.
The meeting focused on promoting services sectors including tourism and travel-related services, engineering services, IT and IT-Enabled Services, health-related services, construction services in Bangladesh.
Also read: Joint India-Bangladesh feasibility study on CEPA gains momentum
Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, Senior Secretary of Ministry of Commerce and the Chief Guest of the meeting said “Service is a vibrant driver of economic growth, employment generation, poverty elevation, and critical in sustaining export-driven growth”.
He noted that “the export-driven manufacturing sector reached a new height with an average 12.7% growth, supported by the greater role of modern service sector activities in areas of transport, banking, real estate, ICT and education”.
He pointed out that the service sector’s contribution to the country’s international trade is also growing and it could facilitate the growth of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and become a key component for future growth acceleration.
Md. Obaidul Azam, Chief Executive Officer (In-charge) of BFTI chaired and moderated the event.
Md. Abdul Quaiyum, Sectoral Consultant of the Study presented the key-note paper.
Officials from public sectors, business leaders, academicians and representatives from different associations participated in the meeting as stakeholders.
They said that like manufactured products, many services can now be traded and Bangladesh should concentrate on this to reduce the trade deficit with India.
The stakeholders expected that the proposed CEPA agreement will enhance the basis for increasing trade in other services sectors for mutual interest and ease of doing business process for trade.
Md. Jashim Uddin, President of FBCCI, Mr. Rizwan Rahman, President of DCCI, Md. Shahidul Islam, Additional Secretary (FTA Wing) of Ministry of Commerce, Dr. Selim Raihan, Lead Consultant ofthe CEPA Study, Syed Almas Kabir, President of BASIS, Rahel Ahmed, CEO of Nagad,Eng. Rabiul Alam,Director & CEO of Energypac Engineering Ltd., Mohammad Hatem, 1st Vice President of BKMEA (R&D Dept), Jabed Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board and Mr. Taufiq Rahman, Director of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), etc. participated in the meeting.
UN Women’s 2021 WEPs Awards competition opens
UN Women on Monday began accepting nominations for its annual Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards, which award Asia-Pacific business action and leaders that champion gender equality.
The awards are organised by WeEmpowerAsia, a UN Women programme funded by the European Union that promotes women’s participation and leadership in the workplace, marketplace and community.
Nominees will compete in six categories: Leadership Commitment; Gender-inclusive Workplace; Gender-responsive Marketplace; Community Engagement and Partnerships; Transparency and Reporting; and Youth Leadership for Generation Equality.
The latter three categories are new to this year’s awards. Also new are three Champion titles for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
National WEPs Awards ceremonies will be hosted by WeEmpowerAsia in October in its seven programme countries: China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
All nominees will be eligible for the regional awards to be announced on 18 November 2021.
Nominations for the 2021 WEPs Awards are being accepted until Bangkok midnight (GMT+7) on 31 July 2021.
READ: Facebook, UN Women partner to train community orgs on online safety in Bangladesh
“We are proud to recognize businesses that are persevering through the unprecedented upheaval of COVID-19 and leading us to a more gender-inclusive economic recovery,” said Mohammad Naciri, Regional Director for UN Women Asia-Pacific.
This year, Investing in Women (IW), an initiative of the Australian Government, is supporting the awards together with the Philippine Business Coalition for Women’s Empowerment (PBCWE) and Indonesia Business Coalition for Women’s Empowerment (IBCWE).
“Investing in Women are delighted to partner with UN Women for the 2021 WEPs Awards and awarding the Gender-inclusive Workplace category this year, as we know improving performance in gender equality is linked with positive business outcomes,” said Dr. Julia Newton-Howes, CEO of IW.
“Recognising the work some companies are doing towards workplace gender equality will demonstrate the benefits this brings such as better risk management, greater innovation and increased profitability.”
Diverse Participation
WeEmpowerAsia received more than 400 nominations from 17 countries for the inaugural WEPs Awards in 2020. The 111 winners included SMEs, as well as large multinational companies and financial services organizations.
“Last year’s awards attracted some of Asia-Pacific’s highest achieving and most diverse companies, and we thank the European Union for helping us put a spotlight on those who are challenging the status quo and empowering women across wide reaching value chains between Asia and Europe,” said Katja Freiwald, Regional Programme Manager of WeEmpowerAsia.
READ: Women often assaulted online in Asia but find limited recourse: UN Women study
Katrina Chan, Executive Director of QBO Innovation Hub in the Philippines, which won in the Youth Leadership category last year, said: “The awards was an amazing opportunity for QBO, a young startup, to network with established organizations that share our vision. Attaining this recognition raises our profile around the efforts to ensure equal gender representation in tech becomes the norm.”
Doreen Shanaaz, Founder and CEO of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), Singapore, who won the Leadership Commitment category, explained why she applied for the awards: “There is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality, and we want to highlight the integral role of [gender-inclusive] finance and making financial systems work for the 99 percent.”
“We wanted to push ourselves to do more, and to inspire others to do the same. It makes business sense to empower women on all levels and on all fronts,” added Jonah De Lumen-Pernia, Director for Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability of Coca-Cola Philippines, winner of the Community and Industry Engagement category.