The post Bangladesh face Nepal today appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>Both Bangladesh and Nepal confirmed of their places in the semi-final from Group-B after convincing wins over Bhutan in their respective opening games.As a result, today’s encounter between the two sides turned into a battle of group decider and the winner will evade India, who beat Afghanistan 2-0 on Sunday to become champions in Group-A.
The match will kick-off at 3:45pm Bangladesh time at the All Nepal Football Association Complex.
Even though Bangladesh managed a comfortable 2-0 win over Bhutan on Saturday coach Saiful Bari Titu was not happy with the way his team played.
‘We wasted many chances in the latter half,’ Titu said over the phone on Sunday.
‘The result could have been 4-0 but it did not happen due to some silly mistakes.’
Titu put the hosts ahead before facing them in their own ground.
‘They are technically better than us and they used to play 4-4-2 formation so we have to stop both of their strikers.’
-With New Age input
The post Bangladesh face Nepal today appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Titu mulls options as SAFF U-19 gets underway appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>Bangladesh coach Saiful Bari Titu closely monitored both the sides from the stands and said that it will be a tough task for his charges to overcome the hurdle of both Nepal and Bhutan.
‘As the hosts, Nepal obviously pose a strong challenge for us but I was really amazed to see the way Bhutan played,’ Titu told New Age over phone after the Thursday’s match.
‘Even though they [Bhutan] lost but they played really well. Nepal players usually play on the artificial turf of the ANFA academy complex so made their experience count.
Titu thinks that his side is technically better than their first match opponents, Bhutan.
‘Though their [Bhutan’s players] physical strength are better than us but we are better than them in terms of techniques and tactics,’ he said.
‘Three or four players are really talented in the Bhutan team and we will make special plan for them.’
Titu, however, admitted that his players are suffering with the altitude problems of Kathmandu.
‘The altitude is a big problem for us and we are trying to cope with the condition.
‘We have made some extra plans to overcome it. I told my players not to get fatigued by running needlessly.’
Titu also said the recent success of the Under-16 Bangladesh team in SAFF Championship boosted the reputation of his side.
‘After the success everyone is treating my team differently,’ Titu said.
-With New Age input
The post Titu mulls options as SAFF U-19 gets underway appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Nepal, India, Bangladesh on Ganga water, hydropower appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>According to a note prepared by the Ministries of Power, Water Resources and External Affairs the Ganga Basin has tremendous potential for development of water resources and hydropower.
Therefore, the role of the Ganga in the agriculture, hydro-power, fisheries, navigation, and environmental sectors and in the economy of the co-basin countries is vital. The joint initiative will contribute to poverty eradication and better socio-economic integration.
The note states that the NIB initiative will explore technically and geographically feasible means for augmentation and equitable distribution of this augmented supply of water and power. There shall be a Committee of Water Resources and Power Ministries of the NIB which will be the highest decision-making body, subject to the approval of the respective governments. The Ministers for Water Resources or Irrigation shall be co-chair, while the Ministers responsible for Power shall be co-vice chair. The NIB Committee will be supported by a Technical Advisory Committee comprising the Secretaries of Water Resources or Irrigation, Power or Electricity and at least two technical experts representing water sources and power and one representative from the MEA of each of the three countries.
Similarly, in order to derive optimum benefits from the Brahmaputra Basin, Bhutan, India and Bangladesh have agreed to work jointly towards cooperative development and management of water resources and hydropower in an integrated and holistic manner. For this, the three countries have agreed to cooperate on the Bhutan, Bangladesh and India (BIB) Initiative.
“The basic aim of these initiatives is to implement programmes in partnership with member-states that will contribute to strengthening the cooperation mechanism and to long-term sustainable development, economic growth and sub-regional cooperation,” a senior official of the Ministry of Power said.
-With The Independent input
The post Nepal, India, Bangladesh on Ganga water, hydropower appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Dipu Moni seeks Nepal’s cooperation in water resources, hydropower appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>Dipu Moni said this in her meeting with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal Narayan Kaji Shreshtha yesterday.
At the meeting, Shreshtha shared his government’s appreciation of the various initiatives being undertaken by Bangladesh involving Nepal and assured that they would be happy to join in any collaborative venture in this regard.
Dipu Moni recalled that Bangladesh had already formally agreed that Nepal should use Chittagong and Mongla seaports and noted that Nepal could start using these facilities once the instruments were in place.
She also noted that Rohanpur-Singabad route was available to the Nepalese traders as an alternative route and hoped that they would use the facilities.
She also noted that the commerce secretaries of the two countries met in July. Issues including deepening of tariff reduction, removal of non-tariff barriers and operationalisation of the standard operating procedure allowing Nepalese trucks up to 200 metres of the zero line inside Bangladesh would have a salutary effect on the bilateral trade, she said.
-With The Daily Star input
The post Dipu Moni seeks Nepal’s cooperation in water resources, hydropower appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Nepal to get access to Ctg, Mongla ports appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>Bangladesh is working towards providing Nepal with transit to access Chittagong and Mongla seaports, said Foreign Minister Dipu Moni yesterday.
She said this to Durga Prasad Bhattarai, visiting foreign secretary of Nepal, when he called on her at the foreign ministry in the capital.
Dipu Moni informed Bhattarai that Rohanpur-Singabad rail transit route is available to Nepal, adding that the standard operating procedure is operational, which allows Nepalese cargo trucks to enter 200 metres into the zero point of Bangladesh at Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh.
The foreign minister stressed the need for cooperation in managing water resources and hydropower for mutual benefits.
Dipu Moni invited Bhattarai to attend a meeting of joint working group that Bangladesh is going to host in September. She said Bangladesh attaches high importance to its relations with Nepal.
Bangladesh and Nepal on July 31 signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral consultations between the foreign ministries of both.
Bhattarai thanked Bangladesh government for allowing Nepal to use Chittagong and Mongla ports. He said he is looking forward to holding the next round of foreign office consultations by the end of this year.
-With The Daily Star input
The post Nepal to get access to Ctg, Mongla ports appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Eyes on hydropower appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>With an aim to import 1000 megawatt of electricity, Bangladesh has agreed to cooperate with Nepal in managing water resources and hydropower.
The two countries also stressed the need for a trilateral discussion with India, in this regard, soon.
At a foreign secretary level meeting yesterday, Bangladesh and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering sectors that include water resources, trade and investment, connectivity, tourism and education.
Bangladesh also intends to import hydropower from Bhutan, through sub-regional talks.
Official sources said Dhaka expects to host a meeting of joint working group in September. The joint working group would aim to ensure cooperation among the three countries in managing the rivers shared by Nepal and Bhutan and help involve Bangladesh in the proposed hydropower projects in Shaptakushi of Nepal and Sankush of Bhutan.
Bangladesh and India have suggested names of the experts for the two joint working groups, while Nepal and Bhutan are yet to nominate their experts.
Officials said Nepal has approximately 40,000 MW of economically feasible potential hydropower. It has also been working on another project since 1996 to generate 3,000 MW of hydropower from Shaptakushi River.
Even with a deadline as close as February 2013, Nepal has not made any significant progress in the project, creating an opportunity for Bangladesh to import 1000 mw electricity through extending its cooperation.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said a technical team from Power Division of Bangladesh had recently visited Kathmandu to exchange views with their Nepalese counterparts.
Similarly, Bhutan and India have several hydropower projects with a potential to generate 10,000 MW in which Bangladesh also showed its interest.
“We are expecting both Nepal and Bhutan to nominate their experts for the joint working groups soon,” said a senior official of the foreign ministry, adding, “We hope to hold at least one group meeting in Dhaka”.
-With The Daily Star input
The post Eyes on hydropower appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Nepal’s 100 items may get duty-free entry to Bangladesh appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>Currently Bangladesh and Nepal are in talks to boost bilateral trade through a reduction in duties in overseas trade.
In the ongoing fourth secretary-level meeting in its capital Kathmandu, Nepal also demanded transit facility for smooth transportation of goods between the two countries, said the official.
In the discussion, which began on Sunday, Nepal also called upon Bangladesh to sign the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement as many Nepalese students come to Bangladesh for higher studies. Nepal has already signed such a deal with India.
“During the meeting Nepal proposed allowing a duty-free access of 100 of its products, especially farm and vegetables,” Hussain told The Daily Star over telephone from Nepal.
“We are in talks now. Nothing is finalised yet. Nepal demanded the duty-free benefit. We have formed some committees for conducting feasibility studies on the demand,” he said without elaborating further.
An eight-member Bangladeshi delegation is in Nepal to attend the secretary-level meeting and to discuss bilateral trade issues. Hussain is leading the team, which returns home today.
As lentil is the major export item of Nepal, the country particularly demanded the duty-free access for lentil and tomato as its exporters face difficulties while exporting these produce to Bangladesh due to higher duties.
Another senior official of the commerce ministry said Bangladesh wants Nepal to use Mongla Port instead of premier Chittagong Port, which is already burdened with cargoes.
Trade between the two countries is in favour of Nepal as Bangladesh imports bulk lentils from Nepal.
Bangladesh exports electronics goods, garment items, agro-processed food items and pharmaceuticals products to Nepal.
According to data from the commerce ministry, Bangladesh exported goods worth $10.84 million to Nepal in fiscal 2010-11, while imported products of $49.00 million.
-With The Daily Star input
The post Nepal’s 100 items may get duty-free entry to Bangladesh appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Bangladesh, Nepal currencies likely to turn readily convertible appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>Regional currency conversion is under consideration at the regional forum of SAARC but Dhaka and Kathmandu could proceed bilaterally too, a foreign ministry official told the news agency.
Commerce secretary Ghulam Hossain will discuss the issue with his counterpart at the secretary-level meeting to be held in Nepal Saturday, he said.
Kathmandu and New Delhi have a similar agreement which allows the Indian currency to become readily acceptable at the financial establishments. A similar agreement with Bangladesh would mean that the taka would also have the same currency in Nepal, the official explained.
It would also help Bangladesh as trade balance is tilted towards Nepal, he added.
Bangladesh’s exports to Nepal in 2010-11 were worth just over $1.3 million while imported from there were worth almost four times as much ($5 million).
In addition to that about 30,000 Bangladeshi tourists visit Nepal and spend foreign currency, both formally and informally, the official said.
Both the secretaries will discuss trade expansion and tariff cut of five percent on food, clothes, tissue paper, electrical goods, pharmaceuticals and construction materials.
‘These goods have good demand in Nepal,’ the official said.
Kathmandu sought zero-duty access of vegetables and fruits and in return would also allow zero-tariff access of Bangladeshi primary agriculture items, fish and other products, he said.
Bangladesh provides preferential treatment to Bhutan and many Nepalese products are exported to Dhaka through Thimphu, he added.
Bangladesh is actively considering direct bus service between the two countries, which would be routed through India as the two countries don’t share borders at any point.
Kathmandu has already sent a draft of the bus service agreement and Dhaka is working on finalising it, the foreign ministry official said.
‘Our commerce secretary will discuss it in the meeting. We hope to reach a final agreement soon,’ he added.
Bangladesh and Nepal is going to sign a memorandum of understanding to hold regular foreign office consultation.
Nepalese foreign secretary Durga Prasad Bhattarai will come to Dhaka on July 30 to sign the agreement, as he meets his Bangladeshi opposite number Mijarul Quayes.
There are similar agreements with Islamabad and New Delhi, he said.
Nepal allowed operation of a Bangladesh mission on October 7, 1971, even before the Pakistani forces had surrendered.
Bangladesh is working with Nepal bilaterally and sub-regionally on hydro-electricity cooperation and exploring possibilities of importing power.
-With New Age input
The post Bangladesh, Nepal currencies likely to turn readily convertible appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post Nepal plane crash kills all 19 aboard appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The turboprop plane belonging to Buddha Air was carrying 13 foreign tourists, three Nepalese passengers and three crew members when it crashed in Bisankunarayan village, just a few miles (kilometers) south of the capital, Katmandu.
Rewant Kuwar, an official at Katmandu’s international airport rescue office, said that 18 bodies were pulled out of the plane’s wreckage, and that another victim died later after being rushed to a hospital.
Among the foreigners who died in the crash, 10 were Indian nationals, two were US citizens and the other was Japanese, Tourism Secretary Ganeshraj Joshi said.
An eyewitness, Haribol Poudel, told Avenues Television that the plane had hit the roof of a house in the village and disintegrated into several pieces. No casualties were reported on the ground.
Poudel said it was foggy, and that visibility was very low in the mountainous area.
The Beechcraft 1900D plane — manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft, now known as Hawker Beechcraft — had taken the passengers to view Mount Everest and other high peaks and was returning to Katmandu. The one-hour “mountain flight” takes tourists over the Everest region, and passengers can view some of the world’s highest peaks from the airplane windows.
-With bbc.co.uk input
The post Nepal plane crash kills all 19 aboard appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post New policy to promote tourism industry appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>
The Nepali government has brought new tourism policy to promote tourism industry, The Himalayan Times reports.Addressing a press meeting, Minister for Tourism and Civial Aviation Hisila Yami said the ministry is planning a curriculum regarding tourism and the development of a separate Tourism University.
“European arrivals are declining due to the global financial crisis as they are investing in short distance tourist destinations,” she said, adding that the focus of Nepal will now be on boosting regional tourism.
“The new policy will also promote rural, agro, adventure, health and educational tourism,” Yami said. The ministry is planning to include tourism industry in Special Economic Zones.
The government is planning to construct a second international airport in Nijgadh of Bara district in central Nepal to avoid congestion. “Korean company LMW has shown interest in the construction of a second international airport and submitted a proposal that is under consideration,” Yami said.
“To provide air services to people in rural areas also, single-engine aircraft, cargo and air taxis will soon become operational and that will reduce airfare by 25 percent in the Karnali and western regions,” said Yami.
The ministry is also reviewing the Air Service Agreements (ASAs) with India and Qatar. “The ASAs with Bahrain and Sri Lanka were reviewed recently,” she said.
“To make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 a grand success, the government has formed 14 different sub-committees along with regional committees,” the minister said, adding that to develop the tourism industry, Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Airlines Corporation and Hotel Association of Nepal are jointly working on special packages.
There are also some modifications in the civil aviation sector aiming at reducing air congestion.” We are planning separate parking places for helicopters and Twin Otters,” said Yami.
According to the daily, the Nepali government will provide 10 Nepali rupees (0.125 U.S. dollar) subsidy on diesel and has withdrawn electricity demand charge for hotels, just like manufacturing industries.
After posting hopeful growth of 26 and 12 percent in January and February, respectively, tourist arrivals via air in March fell into single digit growth. Arrivals in March grew by just 4.6 percent due to decline in arrivals from Europe.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)’s statistics show growth in tourist arrivals slowed down in the first three months (January-March) of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. According to NTB, arrivals grew by 12.5 percent in the first three months of 2011, while the growth during the same period last year was at 29.78 percent.
The Nepal Tourism Year has targeted 700,000 tourists and March is considered one of the prime tourist seasons. European arrivals posted a negative growth of 12.6 percent in March. Arrivals from the major European markets such as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland registered negative growth of 27 percent, 16.1 percent, 20.3 percent, 43 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively.
Travel trade entrepreneurs are surprised by the decline in European arrivals. “We are also surprised why the European market is declining,” said Ashok Pokharel, president of the Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO). He added that there was a need to think seriously about the downturn in the European market which is a source of high-end travellers. Some entrepreneurs attribute this decline to increase in international airfares catalysed by rising aviation fuel price. “The major reason behind the decline in the number of European tourists is a hike in airfares with the price of aviation fuel rising continuously in the global market,” said Rajendra Bajgai, general secretary of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN). “Coming to Nepal from Europe without direct connectivity is very expensive.”
Gandaki Tours and Travels Managing Director Ram Kazi Koney agrees with Bajgai. Koney said lack of direct flights between Nepal and Europe is one of the reasons behind the slump. “Moreover, promotion and marketing of Nepal Tourism Year-2011 has not been carried out in Europe, and this has also affected growth in the Europe segment,” Koney added.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that fuel prices could increase and the global aviation industry will face a setback. In addition, Japan produces 3-4 percent of the global jet fuel supply, some of which is exported to Asia. Some of this refinery has been lost due to damages caused by the earthquake. This supply restriction could lead to higher jet fuel prices. “Airfares are rising already with numbers of international airlines increasing fuel surcharges because costs for fuel increased drastically,” said IATA.
India, which is the major market for Nepal, recorded a growth of 28 percent while Sri Lanka and Pakistan posted a growth of 38.3 percent and 6.8 percent respectively. However, arrivals from Bangladesh declined by 2.5 percent. The South Asian segment registered a growth of 22.5 percent. Arrivals from Asia other than South Asia also recorded a growth of 15.1 percent. Arrivals from China and Japan increased 15.2 percent and 9.6 percent respectively. Similarly, arrivals from South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore increased by 12.1 percent, 51.9 percent, 16.2 percent and 10.8 percent respectively. Tourist arrivals from the US increased 22.7 percent while arrivals from Australia, New Zealand and Canada saw a negative growth of 3.7 percent, 13.5 percent and 5.3 percent respectively.
Meanwhile, the Nepali government has brought new tourism policy to promote tourism industry,
Addressing a press meeting, Minister for Tourism and Civial Aviation Hisila Yami said the ministry is planning a curriculum regarding tourism and the development of a separate Tourism University.
“European arrivals are declining due to the global financial crisis as they are investing in short distance tourist destinations,” she said, adding that the focus of Nepal will now be on boosting regional tourism.
“The new policy will also promote rural, agro, adventure, health and educational tourism,” Yami said. The ministry is planning to include tourism industry in Special Economic Zones.
The government is planning to construct a second international airport in Nijgadh of Bara district in central Nepal to avoid congestion. “Korean company LMW has shown interest in the construction of a second international airport and submitted a proposal that is under consideration,” Yami said.
“To provide air services to people in rural areas also, single-engine aircraft, cargo and air taxis will soon become operational and that will reduce airfare by 25 percent in the Karnali and western regions,” said Yami.
The ministry is also reviewing the Air Service Agreements (ASAs) with India and Qatar. “The ASAs with Bahrain and Sri Lanka were reviewed recently,” she said.
“To make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 a grand success, the government has formed 14 different sub-committees along with regional committees,” the minister said, adding that to develop the tourism industry, Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Airlines Corporation and Hotel Association of Nepal are jointly working on special packages.
There are also some modifications in the civil aviation sector aiming at reducing air congestion.” We are planning separate parking places for helicopters and Twin Otters,” said Yami.
According to the daily, the Nepali government will provide 10 Nepali rupees (0.125 U.S. dollar) subsidy on diesel and has withdrawn electricity demand charge for hotels, just like manufacturing industries. Source : Internet
Nepal emerges as major destination for Asian tourists
Nepal is becoming a major tourism destination for Asian travelers, local media reported.
The World Bank South Asia Economic Update 2010 reveals that travelers from East Asia made up 26.5 percent of the total tourist arrivals in Nepal, according to The Kathmandu Post daily.
The statistics of the Nepal Tourism Board also reflect a similar trend. Tourist arrivals from China, South Korea and Thailand have been increasing in the past few years.
The number of Chinese arrivals in Nepal has increased by 185.97 percent in the last three years. Around 19,000 Chinese tourists visited Nepal in 2009. In the three years, 2006-2009, tourist arrivals from South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia have soared by 68.40 percent, 164.26 percent, 83.48 percent and 46.32 percent respectively.
Travel trade analysts attribute the increment in East Asian arrivals to their rising income levels, desire to visit the birthplace of the Buddha and better air connectivity.
Currently, four Chinese airlines operate flights to Nepal with China Eastern Airlines being the latest entrant last year.
The growth in inbound from East Asia has prompted the concerned stakeholders to pay special attention to the region.
Nepal is expecting 100,000 tourists from China during Nepal Tourism Year 2011 while it has targeted a 20 percent increment in tourist arrivals from other Asian countries.
-With xinhuanet.com input
The post New policy to promote tourism industry appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>