Bangladesh’s commitment to the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement with the United States is ‘absolute’, said foreign secretary Mijarul Quayes on Sunday. Quayes made the remark in response to a question about Dhaka’s stance on TIFCA at a regular press briefing in the foreign affairs ministry’s headquarters
dhaka
Dhaka presses for fast-track implementation
Bangladesh has requested India for fast-track implementation of the commitments made at the highest political level to conclude the Teesta water deal and ratify the protocol on the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement. Returning from the annual Foreign Office Consultation in New Delhi, foreign secretary Mijarul Quayes told reporters here on Sunday that issues of cross-border ... Read more
Sumaiya Shimu is on the go
Actor Sumaiya Shimu is constantly on the go, shooting for many Eid special TV plays. Currently, she is based in Kishoreganj for a single episode play titled “Fantasy Opera”, directed by Mahmud Didar. Shatabdi Wadud stars opposite her. “The story of ‘Fantasy Opera’ is quite interesting. Spectators will be thoroughly entertained by the play during ... Read more
Arannya Anwar: A committed director
Arannya Anwar carved a name in the media by writing and directing TV plays like “Jonok”, “Jonmo”, “Shopner Haat-e Hyena”, “Jubok Khun Hobar Por”, “Raat Pohabar Onek Deri” and “Darao”. However, his biggest success stories were the plays, “Nurul Huda Ekoda Bhalobeshechhilo” and “Otopor Nurul Nuda”. BTV aired both the plays directed by Anwar, where
Duty-free access for RMG hinges on good ties with US: Mozena
US Ambassador Dan W Mozena yesterday said Bangladesh should create a good climate in relationship with the US to get duty-free access for its readymade garment items to the US market. Mozena also said getting such an access and the benefit of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) from the US is a political process
Green Delta to sell 10pc stake to IFC
Local insurance giant Green Delta has reached final stages to sell its 10 percent share to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a wing of the World Bank Group, a top official of the insurer said. Green Delta’s board approved the proposed subscription of the IFC on Thursday last. “We’ll issue new shares for the IFC ... Read more
Rising noise pollution falls on deaf ears
Dhaka city remains exposed to serious sound pollution due to lax enforcement of law. The pollution is caused by construction work using brick crushers and mixing machines and uses of heavy equipment in factories and loudspeakers in and around the capital. Needless honking by motorists also contributes to the pollution largely
Deadly 50km
210 road crashes in 5 months occurred on part of Dhaka-Ctg highway; reckless driving blamed The 50-kilometre long Mirsarai-Chittagong stretch of Dhaka-Chittagong highway has become a dreaded route as 82 people have been killed in 210 road crashes here in the first five months of this year. About 200 more sustained injuries in these accidents, ... Read more
Dhaka to seek TAPI gas details from ADB
Bangladesh will seek details from the Asian Development Bank, secretariat of the four-nation transborder gas pipeline, on the prospect of gas import from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, officials said. An Energy Division official told New Age that they had recommended that the Economic Relations Division should seek the details from the Asian Development Bank ... Read more
Anti-counterfeiting campaign launched
Demand for fake currencies rises Demand for counterfeit currency has increased across Bangladesh with profit margins increasing from Tk. 10,000 to Tk. 30,000 per lakh of false notes produced. Concern among banks, businesses and the general public has risen, as well, say sources at the Bangladesh Bank.According to the Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Branch ... Read more
Faulty teaching method keeps students at bay
English and maths: two biggest worries A report, prepared by a 16-member government committee, headed by University Grants Commission member Prof. Atful Hye Shibly, has stated that English is usually being taught through Bengali in classrooms, and that the practice hinders proficiency in English. The committee was assigned the task of identifying the obstacles to ... Read more
English-medium schools continue charging extra fees
English-medium schools continue charging annual charges, readmission fees and value-added tax from students as the government is yet to take any step to implement High Court directives in this regard. The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Farid Ahmed on June 20 asked the education secretary, the directorate of education director general and the ... Read more
Teachers, students fear delay in studies
BUET stalemate Teachers, students fear delay in studies Teachers and students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology feared that the current movement against the vice-chancellor and the pro-vice-chancellor could delay the academic life of the students. The university authorities are yet to announce the date of tests for admission to the university. The results of ... Read more
City people ignorant of rent controllers
Tenants in the capital are unaware of the existence of rent controllers assigned to deal with arbitrary increase in house rents and the eviction of tenants by landlords at their whims. Tenants have for long been suffering as, on one hand, they do not know of the rent controllers and their offices and, on the ... Read more
Improved edn quality still a mirage
The government often claims that a rising pass percentage in major public exams, such as SSC and HSC, reflects a marked improvement in the education sector. The Independent, however, found the claim to be far removed from the actual scenario. On July 18, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid claimed at a press briefing that the ... Read more
Govt asks owners not to close RMG units in Ramadan
Owners agree to ensure workers’ payment before Eid The government on Thursday directed the apparel factory owners not to close any of their units in Ramadan and to pay workers before Eid-ul-Fitr to head off any disorder in the export-oriented sector. Officials told a home ministry meeting that sudden closure of factories and job cuts ... Read more
Govt insists on 60pc increase
Bulk power price Govt insists on 60pc increase The government persistently keeps pressuring the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission to increase the bulk power price by at least 60 per cent at one go to avoid any further hike at the fag end of its five-year tenure, said officials. The government fears mass discontent due to ... Read more
Rahimafrooz enters Japan market with batteries
Rahimafrooz has entered the Japanese market, the first for a Bangladeshi company, as part of the battery maker’s plan to expand its geographic reach. “We are very happy to enter the competitive market of Japan through maiden export,” says Munawar Misbah Moin, managing director of Rahimafrooz Globatt Ltd
Afzal-Suborna pair up after a decade
The once popular TV actor duo — Afzal Hossain and Suborna Mustafa — are to pair up in a tele-film, titled “Prem Bachitey Janey”. Twelve years back, the actors appeared together in a single-episode TV play called “Shudhu Tomar Jonno”. Written by Faria Hossain and directed by Arif Khan, the tele-film will go on air ... Read more
Govt may review proposal
Mobile Bill Tax Govt may review proposal Finance Minister AMA Muhith has hinted at reversing a plan to impose 2 percent tax at source on mobile phone bills. Responding to a query on whether he would review the fact that the tax to be entirely borne by customers, he said, “It certainly needs consideration. Let’s see.” ... Read more