Canadian retailers urged to sign RMG safety accord (Reuters, December 19, 2013)
A group that includes Canada’s largest unions is urging Hudson’s Bay Co, Canadian Tire Corp and other Canadian-based retail companies to sign a European-led initiative to improve safety for garment workers in Bangladesh. More than 125 companies, many based in Europe, have already signed the accord. At present, Canada’s largest grocer, Loblaw Co, is the only Canadian signatory of the European-led Accord. Garments sold under Loblaw's Joe Fresh brand were manufactured at the Bangladeshi complex that collapsed in April and killed more than 1,100 workers. The grocer has pledged to pay several months of wages to the workers and families affected by the disaster.
Food stock drops (The Daily Star, December 19, 2013)
The government’s food stock has decreased by about 24 percent over the last three months. Officials apprehend that the stock may fall further if the ongoing political unrest lingers. In the last boro season, the government’s target was to buy 10 lakh tonnes of rice against which 8.3 lakh tonnes were purchased, according to the food ministry. Due to shutdowns and blockades, the farmers are unable to transport their produce, while on the other hand, banks cannot make payment to them due to a cash crunch.
Leather goods, footwear, ceramic exporters to get EDF fund (New Age, December 19, 2013)
The central bank has extended its low-cost Export Development Fund (EDF) facility to the leather and ceramics sectors in a bid to help them tide over the current political situation that has been detrimental to business. Under the EDF, a single party can get a maximum loan of $12 million, with the loans payable upon receipt of export proceeds within 180 days from the date of disbursement. Bangladesh Bank also asked the lenders to be considerate in giving out loans to small and medium enterprises.
Cox’s Bazar tourism goes haywire (The Daily Star, December 18, 2013)
The ongoing political crisis has driven the hospitality industry in Cox’s Bazar to the edge, forcing hoteliers to send many of their employees on leave to minimise losses. Although November to February is the peak season for tourists, the occupancy rate has come down to almost zero, said hoteliers in the town of the world’s longest sea beach. The tourism industry is on the verge of disaster,” said Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh. The occupancy rate has come down to 5-7 percent now though the rate should have been around 80-90 percent now, said the chief executive officer of Seagull Hotel. We have already sent one-third of our 280 staffs on leave to bring down the losses,” he said, adding that they will be forced to close the business if the current situation continues for another two or three months.
Superstores bleed over political chaos (The Daily Star, December 18, 2013)
Superstores are in distress as the frequent strikes and blockades are taking a toll on the business. According to the general secretary of Bangladesh Supermarket Owners’ Association, the overall superstore sales dropped significantly with even a steeper fall of 95 percent for small chain stores. Shaheen Khan, chief operating officer of Meena Bazar said that they are losing 30-40 percent of sales every day due to the unrest. Meena Bazar that operates eighteen outlets across Bangladesh and sources vegetables directly from farmers are facing a challenge in maintaining the supply of perishable goods due to the frequent blockades and strikes.
Near collapse for railway (The Daily Star, December 17, 2013)
Repeated attacks on railway infrastructures during hartals and blockades have pushed rail communications to the verge of collapse as the revenue earnings have dropped dramatically. On a usual day, railway earns around Tk 63 lakh by carrying 45,000 passengers in Dhaka division alone but it has declined to Tk 35 lakh as the number of passengers has fallen to 23,000. Official records show that at least 288 attacks were made on trains during the 16 days of blockades and hartals enforced by the opposition alliance between November 26 and December 16, derailing nine trains. Three passengers were killed while several hundred were injured.
Rajuk move to limit consulting firms to create monopoly (Financial Express, December 17, 2013)
Rajuk plans to engage a limited number of selected firms for providing building designs to the people by curbing thousands of existing professional engineers and architects' businesses sources said. According to the sources if Rajuk finally implements the new procedure people would be restricted in their choice for getting building designs. Currently more than 10,000 professional architects and engineers are engaged in giving designs in building structure, architecture, plumbing, electromechanical, fire and in other areas. Most of them are registered by Bangladesh Professional Engineers Registration Board (BPERB) and they are much more qualified to provide services, the source said. However, Rajuk said that they have planned to provide registration to some eligible firms for providing building designs to avoid accidents.
Blockade hits Bangladesh as economy suffers (Gulf Times, December 17, 2013)
Strikes and blockades have shuttered industries and halted transport for almost a month since the start of November. This has cost the economy more than $4 billion, according to three leading trade groups. The garment industry, the driving force of the economy has been hard hit as some Western customers are rumoured to be moving elsewhere. Farmers nationwide have been forced to dump milk and produce that has been left rotting, with lorries unable to move them to towns and cities for sale, industry groups say.
Businessmen protest at political violence (New Age, December 16, 2013)
In a desperate move to stay afloat, the business community of Bangladesh held white-flag rallies across the country on December 15, demanding a peaceful end to the ongoing political crisis . The Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) office called the countrywide programme to protest against the current political impasse and the mounting losses due to continuous agitation by the opposition alliance.
Pharma sector struck by political unrest (The Daily Star, December 16, 2013)
The pharmaceutical sector has incurred losses of around Tk 1,000 crore over the last two months due to political unrest, which has almost broken down the supply chain. According to Momenul Haq, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, the supply shortage has started to reflect in the prices in rural areas, which are difficult to reach during shutdowns and blockades. On the other hand, medicine manufacturers are struggling to bring in raw materials from the Chittagong port due to arson on the highways, he said. At present, the pharmaceutical industry consists of 250 companies which meet 97 percent of the local demand and exports to more than 88 countries.
BGMEA to form company for industrial park (Dhaka Tribune, December 15, 2013)
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will form a company by this month to establish an industrial park at Bausia in Munshiganj for the country’s apparel makers. The industrial park will be established on 532 acres of land, of which 30% will be used for infrastructural development and the rest for factories. The park will have facilities such as power station, fire brigade, child care, police station, bank, river port, pump house, solid wastage pump, central effluent treatment plant (CETP) and dumping yard. The BGMEA president said that they have received over 1,700 applications from the garment makers against 432 units to be allocated in the proposed park.
Govt assessing production, demand of 20 major essential items(The Financial Express, December 14, 2013)
The government has started a process of assessing production and demand of 20 major essential items to help check their untoward supply crisis and price spiral in the domestic market, official sources said. The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has advised the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to provide information about the total production and demand of 20 commodities including rice, sugar, edible oil, pulses, onion, garlic, ginger, dry chilly, turmeric and various spices in the country.
Transport owners count huge losses (The Daily Star, December 13, 2013)
Political violence has taken a heavy toll on the road transport sector, with around 3,000 vehicles vandalised and 1,000 burnt in the last one and a half years. Between June 2012 and December 8 this year, at least 42 drivers, helpers and conductors of vehicles such as bus, minibus, truck and CNG-run auto rickshaw were killed in violence, mainly arson attacks while 500 were injured. The transport sector suffered a loss of around Tk 4,200 crore during the period, according to Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, a platform of transport workers. Around seven million transport workers, who earn Tk 500 to Tk 1,200 each on usual days, remain jobless during blockades or shutdowns, said Osman Ali, general secretary of the platform.
A group that includes Canada’s largest unions is urging Hudson’s Bay Co, Canadian Tire Corp and other Canadian-based retail companies to sign a European-led initiative to improve safety for garment workers in Bangladesh. More than 125 companies, many based in Europe, have already signed the accord. At present, Canada’s largest grocer, Loblaw Co, is the only Canadian signatory of the European-led Accord. Garments sold under Loblaw's Joe Fresh brand were manufactured at the Bangladeshi complex that collapsed in April and killed more than 1,100 workers. The grocer has pledged to pay several months of wages to the workers and families affected by the disaster.
Food stock drops (The Daily Star, December 19, 2013)
The government’s food stock has decreased by about 24 percent over the last three months. Officials apprehend that the stock may fall further if the ongoing political unrest lingers. In the last boro season, the government’s target was to buy 10 lakh tonnes of rice against which 8.3 lakh tonnes were purchased, according to the food ministry. Due to shutdowns and blockades, the farmers are unable to transport their produce, while on the other hand, banks cannot make payment to them due to a cash crunch.
Leather goods, footwear, ceramic exporters to get EDF fund (New Age, December 19, 2013)
The central bank has extended its low-cost Export Development Fund (EDF) facility to the leather and ceramics sectors in a bid to help them tide over the current political situation that has been detrimental to business. Under the EDF, a single party can get a maximum loan of $12 million, with the loans payable upon receipt of export proceeds within 180 days from the date of disbursement. Bangladesh Bank also asked the lenders to be considerate in giving out loans to small and medium enterprises.
Cox’s Bazar tourism goes haywire (The Daily Star, December 18, 2013)
The ongoing political crisis has driven the hospitality industry in Cox’s Bazar to the edge, forcing hoteliers to send many of their employees on leave to minimise losses. Although November to February is the peak season for tourists, the occupancy rate has come down to almost zero, said hoteliers in the town of the world’s longest sea beach. The tourism industry is on the verge of disaster,” said Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh. The occupancy rate has come down to 5-7 percent now though the rate should have been around 80-90 percent now, said the chief executive officer of Seagull Hotel. We have already sent one-third of our 280 staffs on leave to bring down the losses,” he said, adding that they will be forced to close the business if the current situation continues for another two or three months.
Superstores bleed over political chaos (The Daily Star, December 18, 2013)
Superstores are in distress as the frequent strikes and blockades are taking a toll on the business. According to the general secretary of Bangladesh Supermarket Owners’ Association, the overall superstore sales dropped significantly with even a steeper fall of 95 percent for small chain stores. Shaheen Khan, chief operating officer of Meena Bazar said that they are losing 30-40 percent of sales every day due to the unrest. Meena Bazar that operates eighteen outlets across Bangladesh and sources vegetables directly from farmers are facing a challenge in maintaining the supply of perishable goods due to the frequent blockades and strikes.
Near collapse for railway (The Daily Star, December 17, 2013)
Repeated attacks on railway infrastructures during hartals and blockades have pushed rail communications to the verge of collapse as the revenue earnings have dropped dramatically. On a usual day, railway earns around Tk 63 lakh by carrying 45,000 passengers in Dhaka division alone but it has declined to Tk 35 lakh as the number of passengers has fallen to 23,000. Official records show that at least 288 attacks were made on trains during the 16 days of blockades and hartals enforced by the opposition alliance between November 26 and December 16, derailing nine trains. Three passengers were killed while several hundred were injured.
Rajuk move to limit consulting firms to create monopoly (Financial Express, December 17, 2013)
Rajuk plans to engage a limited number of selected firms for providing building designs to the people by curbing thousands of existing professional engineers and architects' businesses sources said. According to the sources if Rajuk finally implements the new procedure people would be restricted in their choice for getting building designs. Currently more than 10,000 professional architects and engineers are engaged in giving designs in building structure, architecture, plumbing, electromechanical, fire and in other areas. Most of them are registered by Bangladesh Professional Engineers Registration Board (BPERB) and they are much more qualified to provide services, the source said. However, Rajuk said that they have planned to provide registration to some eligible firms for providing building designs to avoid accidents.
Blockade hits Bangladesh as economy suffers (Gulf Times, December 17, 2013)
Strikes and blockades have shuttered industries and halted transport for almost a month since the start of November. This has cost the economy more than $4 billion, according to three leading trade groups. The garment industry, the driving force of the economy has been hard hit as some Western customers are rumoured to be moving elsewhere. Farmers nationwide have been forced to dump milk and produce that has been left rotting, with lorries unable to move them to towns and cities for sale, industry groups say.
Businessmen protest at political violence (New Age, December 16, 2013)
In a desperate move to stay afloat, the business community of Bangladesh held white-flag rallies across the country on December 15, demanding a peaceful end to the ongoing political crisis . The Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) office called the countrywide programme to protest against the current political impasse and the mounting losses due to continuous agitation by the opposition alliance.
Pharma sector struck by political unrest (The Daily Star, December 16, 2013)
The pharmaceutical sector has incurred losses of around Tk 1,000 crore over the last two months due to political unrest, which has almost broken down the supply chain. According to Momenul Haq, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, the supply shortage has started to reflect in the prices in rural areas, which are difficult to reach during shutdowns and blockades. On the other hand, medicine manufacturers are struggling to bring in raw materials from the Chittagong port due to arson on the highways, he said. At present, the pharmaceutical industry consists of 250 companies which meet 97 percent of the local demand and exports to more than 88 countries.
BGMEA to form company for industrial park (Dhaka Tribune, December 15, 2013)
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will form a company by this month to establish an industrial park at Bausia in Munshiganj for the country’s apparel makers. The industrial park will be established on 532 acres of land, of which 30% will be used for infrastructural development and the rest for factories. The park will have facilities such as power station, fire brigade, child care, police station, bank, river port, pump house, solid wastage pump, central effluent treatment plant (CETP) and dumping yard. The BGMEA president said that they have received over 1,700 applications from the garment makers against 432 units to be allocated in the proposed park.
Govt assessing production, demand of 20 major essential items(The Financial Express, December 14, 2013)
The government has started a process of assessing production and demand of 20 major essential items to help check their untoward supply crisis and price spiral in the domestic market, official sources said. The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has advised the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to provide information about the total production and demand of 20 commodities including rice, sugar, edible oil, pulses, onion, garlic, ginger, dry chilly, turmeric and various spices in the country.
Transport owners count huge losses (The Daily Star, December 13, 2013)
Political violence has taken a heavy toll on the road transport sector, with around 3,000 vehicles vandalised and 1,000 burnt in the last one and a half years. Between June 2012 and December 8 this year, at least 42 drivers, helpers and conductors of vehicles such as bus, minibus, truck and CNG-run auto rickshaw were killed in violence, mainly arson attacks while 500 were injured. The transport sector suffered a loss of around Tk 4,200 crore during the period, according to Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, a platform of transport workers. Around seven million transport workers, who earn Tk 500 to Tk 1,200 each on usual days, remain jobless during blockades or shutdowns, said Osman Ali, general secretary of the platform.
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