Bangladesh has the capacity to patrol land and maritime borders and has improved cargo and passenger airport screening with updated equipment, procedures, and increased staff, a latest report released today by the US says. Airline security is not as strong, Bangladesh has initiated e-passports for all and shares information with INTERPOL, but has no dedicated terrorist watchlist, according to the report. A US “Alert List” project is under government consideration. Read: UN reaffirms continued support to Bangladesh in overcoming unprecedented challenges Bangladesh does not systematically use API/PNR passenger information to screen travelers before flights arrive, the report claimed. In 2019, the ATT sentenced to death seven terrorists for their roles in the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack. The Department of State issued the 2021 Country Reports on Terrorism (CRT), which provide a detailed look at the counterterrorism environment in that year. Read More: Dhaka, Washington discuss cooperation on defence, IPS, maritime security Each year, the CRT provides insight on important issues in the fight against terrorism and helps the United States make informed decisions about policies, programs, and resource allocations to build counterterrorism capacity and resilience around the globe.

The small entrepreneurs in the cluster-based manufacturing industries will get 5-year term loans with flexible conditions from the Tk25000 crore special refinance scheme of Bangladesh Bank. The central bank signed a loan deal with 46 banks on Wednesday to implement the scheme to help the cottage and small industries recover from the Covid-19 pandemic shock. The entrepreneurs will borrow from the scheme at 7 per cent interest rate for a 5-year term, while the  banks will get funds from the BB at 2 per cent interest for a 3-year term.   The BB has specified that that a minimum of 70 per cent of the total disbursed loans should be distributed to the manufacturing and service sector and a maximum of 30 per cent in the business sector. Read: BB revises cluster credit guidelines to boost small enterprises Out of this, a minimum of 75 per cent has been asked to be distributed among cottage, micro, and small entrepreneurs and a maximum of 25 per cent among medium entrepreneurs. The cluster list includes- Agriculture, Food Processing and Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Industry, Readymade Garment Industry, Knitwear, Design and Decoration, ICT, Leather and Leather Products Industry, Light Engineering, Jute, and Jute Products Industry. Besides, the priority clusters include - plastics and other synthetic industries, tourism, home textiles, renewable energy (solar power), Automobile manufacturing and repairing industries, handlooms, handicrafts, energy-efficient appliances (LED, CFL bulb manufacturing), Electronic appliances construction industry, electronic material development industry, jewellery, Toy Manufacturing, Cosmetics & Toiletries Industry, Agar Industry, Furniture, IT, Computer and Television Service Sector. Under these clusters, women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs with special needs and entrepreneurs affected by any disaster (such as river erosion, flood, cyclone, flood, drought, monsoon, fire, earthquake, building collapse, epidemic like Covid-19) are covered under this scheme on a priority basis.