Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Switzerland-based international development organisation, has come forward with consultancy assistance to set up shops at RMG factories to sell goods at comparatively lower prices to the workers.     Under the initiative, about 80,000 people (20,000 female workers and 60,000 family members) are likely to get benefits. This announcement came at a kick-off meeting titled ‘RMG Workers’ Access to Affordable Nutritious and Safe Food’ at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday. Read more: BGMEA for more partnerships between Bangladesh, Germany to unlock trade, investment potential GAIN organised the meeting with the participation of partner organizations and stakeholders to chalk out future strategy on technical assistance and how to make the initiative success. Mohammad Ehsan-E-Elahi, secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, attended the meeting as chief guest while Moniruzzaman Bipul, portfolio lead of GAIN Bangladesh, delivered the welcome address and GM Reza Sumon, manager of workforce nutrition project of GAIN Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper. With Dr Rudaba Khondker, country director of GAIN Bangladesh, in the chair at the meeting where Dr Hasan Shariar Kabir, director general of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council and Faruque Hassan, president of BGMEA, among others spoke at the event. It was shared at the meeting that the project aims at ensuring access to nutritious foods for RMG workers with affordable prices and strengthening the food marketing management. It also aims at working for ensuring nutritious and safe foods for RMG workers so that they can play more productive role for production in the RMG sector. Praising the initiative, Mohammad Ehsan-E-Elahi called for the expansion of such facility to other factories across the country. Speakers said it is imperative to give priority to the issue of safe and nutritious food for the workers, for implementing the government’s Perspective Plan 2021-2041 and achieving SDGs. The speakers called upon those involved in production, processing, supply and marketing of foods to establish fair price shops with nutritious foods at factory areas along with encouraging the workers to take such foods.  Read more: Bangladesh to stay safe, sustainable apparel sourcing destination: BGMEA Mentionable, several shops have so far been set up at two factories at Ashulia and Gazipur with the support of GAIN. About 15,000 RMG workers along with their family members are entitled to buy essentials from those shops with a special discount.    

The students have taken to the streets halting buses to press for their demand of half fare. The public transport owners are refusing to cut the fare half for students. The standoff has plunged the city’s public transportation into further chaos causing huge sufferings to the commuters. The government on November 3 raised the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per litre Shortly after this the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) increased the fares for intra-city and inter-district buses by 26.5% and 27% respectively following an indefinite strike by transport owners on November 7. Read SSC examinee death: 300 booked for torching 8 buses in city However, complaints have been in plenty that the transport workers are charging the passengers beyond this fixed rate. Moreover, passenger who protested this anarchy suffered harassment by transport workers, even a rape threat to a female student. On November 20, a 2nd year student of Badrunnesa College wanted to pay half bus fare and an assistant of a driver of a bus of ‘Thikana Paribahan’ threatened to rape her. Read: Students block Rampura road protesting SSC examinee’s death in road crash Such a situation has occurred as there is a lack of coordination in the monitoring system. Besides, the transport workers are picking up or dropping off passengers at any place of their choice instead of designated bus stop. Passengers are spending a lot of money and time due to the chaotic movement of public transport in the capital. Read Students take to streets again with 11-point demand

Entrepreneurs and traders got a hang of the latest digital technologies adopted by Daraz Bangladesh at its seller's summit in Dhaka on Tuesday. The main objective of Daraz Seller Summit 2021, held at Bangabandhu International Convention Center for the fourth time, was to inform the sellers about the new digital changes that have taken place in Daraz's activities as a result of the consistent technological and commercial alterations. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam was present at the event as the chief guest, while Rezwanul Haque Jami, Head of eCommerce, a2i Program, ICT Division joined as the special guest. READ: Daraz relaunches dMart for customers from Sept 21-27 In his speech, Mayor Atiqul said, “In recent times, especially amid the Covid-19 crisis, Daraz has gained significant popularity as a digital platform. My request to everyone present here is that you do not deceive the mass.  "Entrepreneurs need to conduct their businesses in an appropriate manner through sustainable business models, and we need to take our e-commerce forward with credible platforms like Daraz who are able and willing to take complete responsibility for their product quality and delivery." Syed Mostahidal Hoq, Managing Director of Daraz Bangladesh, said, “The lively participation of our esteemed sellers and partners in today's event has inspired me a lot. This spirit of business unity and co-operation is the lifeline of Daraz, which has been proved once again by the successful organisation of this 4th Seller Summit. We wish to move forward with you with equal cooperation in the years to come as well." The discussion at the Daraz Seller Summit primarily focused on how sellers in the e-commerce range can conduct their business operations in a simpler and more efficient way as a part of Daraz through the addition and incorporation of modern technology. The seller summit further discussed numerous upcoming features and initiatives of Daraz ranging from the world’s biggest sale campaign 11.11 to the usage of new attributes of the Daraz App. Currently, Daraz has 40,000 sellers, 2.5 million products and thousands of brands. Apart from the discussion on digital innovation and e-commerce inclusion, one of the highlights of this year's Daraz Seller Summit for the guests was the impeccable music arrangement of the popular band 'Joler Gaan'. READ: realme becomes top selling brand in Daraz 7th Anniversary Sale According to the organizers, approximately 800 guests participated in this year's Daraz Seller Summit. Daraz is a concern of the Alibaba Group.