bangladesh
Leather sector can hit $12 bn in export earnings by 2030: Speakers
Speakers at a webinar on Tuesday stressed the need to work by integrating all concerned stakeholders to ensure compliance in the leather sector.
They said the Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Environment, and Forests and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment are involved for compliance and wellbeing of the leather sector.
They also proposed forming a Leather Sector Development Authority to ensure development and smooth supervision of this sector as it is possible to earn around $10 billion to $12 billion in export from this sector by 2030.
They urged this at a webinar titled “An Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Tanneries” organized jointly by Asia Foundation (AF), Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) and Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF).
Citing lack of compliance as the major problem of this sector, the speakers also noted that due to noncompliance, the exporters are getting lesser price of their products while the just price of leather products is also not being ensured in the local market.
Zakia Sultana, Secretary, Ministry of Industries, attended the event as the chief guest. Additional Secretary, Ministry of Industries, Kazi Sakhawat Hossain spoke as special guest.
READ: Leather sector export takes a heat as ‘tanneries relocated to Savar’
Managing Director of Apex Footwear Ltd Syed Nasim Manzur, Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) Mizanur Rahman, and Executive Director, Bangladesh Labour Foundation AKM Ashraf Uddin attended the webinar as discussants.
Country Representative of the Asia Foundation, Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, delivered the welcome remarks while executive director of RAPID Dr. Abu Eusuf presented the keynote paper.
ERF President Sharmeen Rinvy chaired the event while ERF General Secretary SM Rashidul Islam moderated it.
College teacher’s wrist severed in Kushtia
Miscreants severed the wrist of a teacher of Bashgram Alauddin Ahmed Degree College in Kushita district following previous enmity on Tuesday, said police.
Quamruzzaman Talukdar, officer-in-charge of Kumarkhali Police Station, said the miscreants, numbering 10-15, waylaid Tofazzel Biswas, son of Bala Biswas of Shalghar Madhua area, when he reached at Bongshitola New Bridge and attacked him at 2:30 pm.
READ: 2 sentenced to life for murder in Kushtia
They stabbed him indiscriminately and cut off the wrist of his right hand.
He was taken to Kushtia General Hospital.
Drive is on to arrest the attackers, he added.
Rape-accused escapes from police custody in Gaibandha
An accused in a rape and kidnapping case has fled from police custody in front of Gobindaganj Police Station in Gaibandha, police said on Tuesday.
The accused was identified as Samiul Islam, 22, of the upazila.
Police arrested Samiul in a rape and kidnapping case from Matlab of Chandpur district on Monday night, said Ezar Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gobindaganj police station.
READ: Fugitive PBI inspector suspended over Khulna college girl's rape
Samiul fled with handcuffs on after pushing a constable when he was taken off from a police van early Tuesday, he added.
“Efforts are on to nab the accused,” said the OC.
Budget to include scheme for whitening black money again
Laundered money and assets abroad can be legalized by paying 10 per cent and 15 per cent tax respectively without questioning by any government agencies.
The government is going to introduce such special opportunities in a bid to bring back laundered money in the country to enhance investment and employment.
Economists have strongly opposed this planned concession as it discourages honest investors with serous injustice to domestic investors who pay tax to the state.
“The amount of money that will be brought into the country can be legalized with only 10 per cent income tax, without any questioning regarding source of income by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), National Board of Revenue (NBR) or Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU),” a senior official at the Finance Division told UNB on Tuesday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of sensitivity, confirmed what Finance Minister Mustafa Kamal told reporters last week.
READ: Revenue collection target to be set at Tk4.33 trillion in budget for next fiscal
Meanwhile the finance minister instructed the budget officials to include such an opportunity in the upcoming national budget for FY2021-22.
The budget proposals will be placed in the Parliament on June 9, 2022.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, CPD told UNB that this initiative is totally immoral, unlawful and against the socio-economic development philosophy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League.
Before introducing such a provision in the national budget, the government should shut down the regulators including ACC, NBR and BFIU, he said.
Debapriya termed it as "budget capture" by the crony influential who accumulated money in the country illegally and smuggled it out of the country illegally, and now being allowed to legalize this ill-gotten wealth located abroad by paying a nominal tax.
“This is a perverse joke with thousands of honest tax payers and hardworking entrepreneurs of the country,” said the eminent economist.
“Such an evil philosophy would neither contribute in decent tax mobilisation nor for generating productive investment. This will only help those who are now being hounded overseas for their assets as they cannot show that these assets that have been procured through legal means,” he added.
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former NBR Chairman said that this initiative will worry those who are paying around 30 per cent tax on their legal income.
He said the tax rate on illegal income should not be below the regular tax rate in the country considering moral blow to the honest tax payers.
To take this opportunity, a person can mention the amount declared in his annual income tax return. In other words, the smugglers or laundered black money can be legalized by paying tax at the prescribed rate.
If anyone has movable and immovable property abroad in addition to cash, he can show that property in his income tax return. No question will be asked if 15 per cent tax is paid for this, sources said.
This opportunity will be given from July this year to June 30, 2023. That money can be brought to the country through banking channels. In this case, the government has to be paid 10 per cent tax before the money is deposited in the account.
At present, there is an opportunity to whitening black money with a penalty of 25 per cent on cash, bank deposits, stock market, and savings certificates with additional 5 percent tax. Apart from this, the government is going to give an opportunity to legalize the money laundered in the upcoming budget.
43 SPs promoted to additional DIG
The government has promoted 43 Superintendents of Police (SP) to the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG).
The Public Security Division of the Home Ministry on Tuesday issued a gazette notification signed by deputy secretary Dhananjay Kumar Das in this regard.
Also read: 7 police officers promoted to additional IGP
The order will be effective from their joining date.
Canadian expats marry onboard Biman flight
An exceptional and uncommon marriage ceremony was held on a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Dhaka to Sylhet - nevertheless maintaining all procedures on Sunday (May 29).
This was the first marriage ceremony to take place onboard a flight in Bangladesh. National flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has cooperated with the event.
Also read: Prisoner marries victim at Kashimpur jail
The bride and bridegroom are Khairul Hasan and Saudia Binte Sanjida, two Bangladeshi expatriates in Canada.
A total of 16 members from both families were present at the marriage ceremony.
Confirming the matter on Monday, Tahera Khandaker, public relations officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said details of the marriage ceremony will be disclosed later to the media.
According to family sources, Khairul and Saudia are travel enthusiasts who planned to marry during a flight in the skies of Bangladesh - in a sense to symbolise their passion for travel.
As planned, they, along with their invited family members boarded the regular Biman flight BG-603 from Dhaka to Sylhet at 3:30pm on Sunday. On the way to Sylhet, the marriage ceremony was completed, maintaining all rituals.
Also read: It is better to have loved and married, than surrendered to cancer
The groom, Khairul Hasan, said: “We have decided to keep the day memorable. We miss road travel in Bangladesh a lot. We have taken permission from the Biman Bangladesh Airlines authority one month ago for holding the marriage ceremony.”
Kazi (Marriage registrar) Omar Farooq administered the marriage ceremony while all passengers of the flight prayed for the newly-wed couple and congratulated them.
63-year-old commits suicide in C'nawabganj
A 63-year-old man from Gomastapur upazila of C’nawabganj district committed suicide by shooting himself on Tuesday morning, police said.
The victim was identified as Sharif Hossain, son of late Yahia of Deopura village of the upazila.
Also read: 28-year-old farmer commits suicide in Barishal
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Gomastapur Police Station Dilip Kumar Das said Sharif used to live with his family on the second floor of his house. He shot himself in the head with his licensed gun in his bedroom around 11.30am on Tuesday.
His family members found Sharif's body in his room and informed the police.
On information, police recovered the body and sent it to the district hospital morgue for an autopsy, the OC added.
Also read:2 teenage girls ‘commit suicide’ in Pabna
Family members said that Sharif Hossain was frustrated about his life.
However, police or family members could hardly venture even a guess as to why Sharif would choose this path.
Police are investigating the incident, he added.
Bay Terminal Project: Deal signed with 2 South Korean companies to prepare final design
An agreement on the final design of Bay Terminal Construction Project at Chittagong Port was signed between the Port Authority and the South Korean companies Kunhwa Engineering and Consulting Company Limited and Dian Yang Construction and Engineering Company Limited on Tuesday.
President of joint consultancy firm Kunhwa Engineering and Consulting Company Limited Hwang Kyu Young and Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral M Shahjahan signed the agreement in presence of State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury at the city's Intercontinental Hotel.
Also read: Patenga Container Terminal set to open in June: CPA Chairman
The South Korean joint venture will supervise the construction of the Bay Terminal along with formulating a master plan for the project which will cost Tk 126.49 crore.
The cost of the entire Bay Terminal project is estimated at $210 crore.
State Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the Patenga Container Terminal at Chittagong Port is going to be opened soon. “Bay Terminal and Matarbari seaport will be brought under rail network; We are moving forward with the plan.”
Bangladesh today is a role model of development to the world, he said.
The 3.55 km long Bay terminal will increase the handling capacity of Chattogram Port. There are no curves in the Bay Terminal Channel and due to proper navigability, it will be possible to berth ships with a maximum carrying capacity of 6,000 TEUs in 10-12 m drafts.
Also read:BPC plans to build new LPG terminal at Matarbari
Three terminals- a 1225-metre long container terminal (Container Terminal-1), a 830-metre long container terminal (Container Terminal-2) and a 1500-metre long multipurpose terminal- will be constructed under the project.
The Bay Terminal will have a total of 13 jetties with multimodal connectivity facilities.
The Bay Terminal is located at North Halishahar, 6 km west off Chittagong Port. The distance from the bay terminal to the outer anchorage is only one kilometer. The width of the channel is 800-1200 meters.
US envoy decries Pak atrocities in 1971 as horrible
The United States has said there was no doubt that there had been “terrible atrocities” and killings in 1971 but the question of determining genocide under the US law is a very difficult legal question.
“Undoubtedly what happened in 1971 was horrible. There were terrible atrocities. There were considerable amounts of deaths. The question of determining genocide under the US law is a very difficult legal question,” said US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Tuesday.
Also read:Bangladesh won’t face Sri Lanka-like crisis: Ambassador Haas
He made the remarks at “DCAB Talk” when asked whether the US is in a position to recognize the genocide in Bangladesh in 1971.
The US government recently determined that the Myanmar military committed the crimes against humanity and genocide against humanity against ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.
Late Edward M. Kennedy in his speech delivered on his first visit to independent Bangladesh in February 1972 said, “You know while some governments do not yet recognise you, the people of the world do recognise you and they recognise all you have accomplished here in the name of freedom from tyranny and oppression.….”
Sought updates on Bangladesh’s request for the deportation of Rashed Chowdhury, the self-confessed killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, ambassador Haas said basically it is very complicated legal proceeding in the US and it is still under review.
He said they are very much aware of Bangladesh’s interest to see a decision made but it currently remains under review.
Responding to another question, the US envoy said the United States “makes no excuses” when it comes to the matter of human rights and freedom of the press.
Also read:US stands by Bangladesh as a steadfast dev partner: Ambassador Haas
“I will go back to a comment that I made earlier that the United States has decided to put human rights, the issues of freedom of the press at the centre of our foreign policy and that we make no excuses about that."
Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the DCAB Talk at Jatiya Press Club.
DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus moderated the event while its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin delivered the welcome remarks.
Cases under DSA decline: Law Minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA) are decreasing in the country due to the government initiative.
The law enforcers are not arresting the accused in a hurry and they are also not talking about the cases under DSA directly. Cases under the DSA are sent to the special cell, he said.
Also read: Govt enacted DSA to prevent cybercrime: Law Minister
Anisul Huq was speaking at a dialogue on the ‘Mass Media Employees Act, Digital Security Act, and Data Protection Act’ organised by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat media centre. In response to a question about the progress in the government’s assurance to amend the much-criticised DSA, the minister said, “We held a meeting with the United Nations High-Commission for Human Rights Office in 2019 in Geneva through the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh. In the meeting, we have taken a decision to form two separate committees. The committees will recommend to us the best practices in the world and we will accept those which will fit Bangladesh. We have already formed a committee led by the legislative secretary.”
This committee sat in a meeting and will meet once again very soon, he added.
Claiming that DSA is not aimed at obstructing free journalism in the country, Anisul said, “Technology has improved in the country. We have to face the disadvantages of technology. DSA has been formed to face this challenge. A committee has been working to stop the misuses of the act and misuses will surely be stopped in the future.”
“We want to assure all that Digital Security Act has been made to combat the cybercrimes. The government of Sheikh Hasina will not form any kinds of law which will bar freedom of the press,” he asserted.
About the proposed Data Protection Act, Anisul said, he was told of its advantages and disadvantages by a team of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed.
He said he discussed the issue with the state minister for ICT. The state minister assured that the proposal will be reviewed.
Also read: US envoy discusses DSA with law minister
Anisul defended the government move to enact a law for the mass media employees.
He said journalists may demand corrections in the proposed law instead of cancelling it.
BSRF president Tapan Biswas presided over the dialogue while its general secretary Masudul Haque moderated it.