National winger Zahid Hossain decided to stay put with treble-winning side Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra with a record transfer fee for the next season despite his earlier announcement of joining Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited. Russell offered the winger Tk 38 lakh which might
bangladesh
All options about GSP under consideration
The United States administration will announce its decision on GSP benefits for Bangladeshi products by the end of this month and all options are under consideration, including possible suspension, limitation, or withdrawal of the facilities. “The Administration will announce a decision on the petition by the end of June; and all options remain under consideration,
Muhith budget tows populist line in poll year
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, on Thursday, unveiled a Tk. 222,491 crore populist budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, in Jatiya Sangsad, by avoiding imposition of any significant tax burden and by expanding social safety net programmes. The budget, having a deficit of 4.6 per cent, eyes 7.2 per cent GDP growth for the next fiscal ... Read more
Budget in the eyes of leading economists
Prominent economist Mirza Azizul Islam has described the prevailing political uncertainty in Bangladesh as the main hurdle in achieving the goals prescribed in the budget proposals placed before Parliament on Thursday. “If the present political uncertainty is not resolved, most of the goals prescribed in the budget proposals are not likely to be achieved. We ... Read more
Govt will not take any decision on coal policy, says Muhith
Finance minister AMA Muhith in his budget speech on Thursday announced that the present government will not take any decision on the coal policy, although it has chalked out plans to produce around 7,000 MW of electricity from coal-based power plants. “We have prepared a report on the coal policy. However, we would like to ... Read more
Muhith skirts Padma Bridge issue
Finance minister AMA Muhith, in his budgetary speech, has not said anything about implementation of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) project. He, however, said: “I’m confident that we’ll be able to start construction of the main bridge, as well as river training-related work pertaining to the project during
Permanent pay commission for govt employees
In the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2013-14, the grand alliance government has decided to form a permanent pay and service commission for the government employees. In the budget speech, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said, “We significantly enhanced the pay and allowances of the government employees with effect from 2009 following the recommendations
Newspaper industry to face severe blow
Owners and editors on Thursday expressed concern over the budgetary proposal to withdraw the concessional facility to import newsprint, saying that it would deal a severe blow to the newspaper industry. They expressed the concern after Finance Minister
GDP growth target set at 7.2pc again despite failure
The finance minister, AMA Muhith, in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year 2013-14 set yet another ambitious target of 7.2 per cent growth of gross domestic product despite failing to achieve the GDP growth targets in the previous two budgets. Muhith, who had set a GDP growth target of 7.2 per cent
WB launches Bangladesh enterprise survey
World Bank has launched the Enterprise Survey in Bangladesh to assess the business environment and investment climate barriers that limit economic growth. The survey is part of a global project in South Asia and would include interviews with over 1,550 manufacturing and services companies.
3,00,000 new taxpayers likely this year: Muhith
Around three lakh new taxpayers would be enlisted in the next fiscal year, hoped finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith. ‘The number of taxpayers was 6.45 lakh actually in 2007-2008; this will surpass 11.64 lakh in 2012-2013 and yet, I stick 90 to the target of 30 lakh new
BoI, Indian trade body to work together on investment
Confederation of Indian Industry, one of the largest trade bodies of the country, will work for increasing Indian investment to Bangladesh. The CII on Wednesday inked an agreement with the Board of Investment in this regard. BoI executive chairman SA Samad and Shekhar Dutta, senior vice-president
Policy crisis plagues power sector
The Awami League-led Grand Alliance government, at first glance, seems to have obtained full marks in addressing the country’s power crisis within a short time. But is the picture actually that rosy? First, the successes. It is a fact that in 2009, the government had faced a shortfall of 2,500 MW of electricity and 800 ... Read more
Free, fair polls critical for Bangladesh: Duncan
Visiting British Minister for International Development Alan Duncan has said that it is critically important for Bangladesh’s reputation that the upcoming parliamentary elections are judged to be free, fair and credible. He made the remarks after a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office on Tuesday, according to a press release issued by ... Read more
Last budget session of 9th JS begins with new female Speaker
The budget session of Parliament began on Monday, with Opposition members, led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia, attending it after their long absence of 83 working days. But much of the euphoria over their return subsided after the Opposition lawmakers walked out of the session within two hours of joining. Earlier, the ... Read more
First female Speaker applauded
Ruling grand alliance lawmakers on Monday thanked first ever women speaker of parliament, Dr Shirin Shamin Chaudhury who chaired the first sitting of the budget session. Immediately after the inaugural speech by the speaker Jute and Textile Minister Abdul Latif Suddique, Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed, Workers Party leader Rashed Khan Menon,
No construction in JS area that may affect its design: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked all concerned not to construct anything that might affect the original design of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area, as it is the icon of the country. She gave the directive while speaking at the 24th Meeting of the Secretarial Commission of Parliament held at the parliament building. Designed ... Read more
Govt drastically cuts investment target from savings tools
The government has drastically cut investment target from its savings instruments for the upcoming fiscal year 2013-14 by 32.82 per cent to Tk 4,971 crore from the current fiscal year target of Tk 7,400 crore. The government borrowed only Tk 679.03 crore in
Govt disburses Tk 2,914cr for July-Jan
The finance division has so far disbursed Tk 2,914 crore in subsidy for buying electricity from rental and quick-rental plants in the first seven months, between July, 2012 and January this year, of the outgoing financial year. The cumulative amount stands at Tk 2,914 in the
ICT min, GP sign MoU on telemedicine service
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and Grameenphone on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a view to widening the reach of telemedicine service in the country. Secretary to the ministry Nazrul Islam Khan and