JS
body suggests high duty on polythene raw materials (New Age, May 30, 2014)
The parliamentary standing committee on textiles and jute ministry on Thursday recommended the government for imposing high import duties on raw materials of polythene with a view to discouraging polythene bags and encouraging jute-packing. We want to increase the domestic use of jute-goods and low price of polythene has been identified as major obstacles in this field. “We have recommended imposing high import duties on raw materials of polythene,” said the committee chief, Saber Hossain.
Divided Dhaka nearly out of service (The Daily Star, May 29, 2014)
The division of Dhaka City Corporation without any financial capability assessment has resulted in severe fund crisis for the southern part of it, stalling almost all its development work. The north city corporation, which is comparatively healthy in overall annual budget, is also complaining of a fund crunch in basic public services like road repairs and mosquito control. At least half of around 2,500km city roads are in a battered state requiring urgent attention, according to information available and field visits.
City's garbage management in a shambles (The Daily Star, May 29, 2014)
The garbage management service of the two city corporations has reached a pitiable state. Many of the city streets have heaps of waste lying in the open, emitting foul odour and causing public nuisance. The city service managers, however, blame mainly the shortage of land for setting up primary garbage collection points, from where the wastes are collected for final disposal. Shortage of manpower and vehicles is another hurdle to proper waste management, they say. According to the city corporations, the city generates 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day of which at least 500 tonnes remain uncollected. The two city corporations have around 8,000 street sweepers and drain cleaners around 500 garbage carrying vehicle.
ILO: Developing countries see swelling middle class (Dhaka Tribune, May 28, 2014)
Workers in developing countries are increasingly moving to better jobs and joining the middle class, but 839 million workers still earn less than $2 a day, the International Labour Organization said. According to the agency’s annual World of Work Report released yesterday, between 1980 and 2011, per capita income in the developing countries like Senegal, Vietnam and Tunisia on average grew 3.3% each year, which is far faster than the 1.8% growth seen in advanced economies. In its analysis of the situation in 140 developing and emerging economies, the ILO concluded that nations that tackled working poverty, invested in creating quality jobs and in getting workers out of precarious employment had weathered the global financial crisis far better than those that did not.
Frozen food exports set to top $600m this year (The Financial Express, May 28, 2014)
Bangladesh's frozen food shipment is set to exceed US$600 million this financial year on the back of price hike in the world market earlier this year, exporters say. According to a senior vice president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), the price rose following the bacterial infection known as 'Early Mortality Syndrome' that struck shrimp farms in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Vietnam. Last month, the price of 31-40 count shrimp was US$ 7.0 per pound and the price of 16-20 count was US$ 9.50 per pound, although the price came down to $ 5.0 and $ 8.0 respectively.
Half-built seven footbridges await completion (Dhaka Tribune, May 27, 2014)
The construction of several footbridges at key points of the capital has remained suspended because of alleged negligence by the authorities concerned. Under the World Bank-funded Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) project, seven footbridges have remained under-construction for more than a year. Since the project was launched in mid-2009, authorities concerned have, however, completed the construction of 13 footbridges, while the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has also installed an escalator as part of a footbridge in the capital’s Banani.
Mandatory installation of solar panels on building roofs goes (The Financial Express, May 27, 2014)
The government has decided to withdraw the mandatory requirement of installing solar panels on the rooftop of buildings for getting new electricity connections to households, officials said. According to the new rule, a customer will have to deposit the cost of a solar panel to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) fund which will help build green power plants for rural areas that are still out of electricity. In November 2010, the government made it mandatory for the customers to install solar panels for getting new electricity connections to households but it was very expensive and the government failed to achieve its desired goal. Following the rule many customers have taken electricity connections hiring solar panels.
Bangladesh's per capita income sees rise (Global Post, May 27, 2014)
Bangladesh's per capita income is expected to reach nearly 1,200 U.S. dollars in the current 2013- 2014 fiscal year ending next month. Quoting provisional statistics, the state-run statistical bureau official said that "per capita income in 2013-2014 fiscal year will rise about 14 percent to $1,190." Poverty in Bangladesh stays one of the highest in the world. According to the governmental statistics, about a third of its population is living below the poverty line and earn less than two U.S. dollars a day.
The parliamentary standing committee on textiles and jute ministry on Thursday recommended the government for imposing high import duties on raw materials of polythene with a view to discouraging polythene bags and encouraging jute-packing. We want to increase the domestic use of jute-goods and low price of polythene has been identified as major obstacles in this field. “We have recommended imposing high import duties on raw materials of polythene,” said the committee chief, Saber Hossain.
Divided Dhaka nearly out of service (The Daily Star, May 29, 2014)
The division of Dhaka City Corporation without any financial capability assessment has resulted in severe fund crisis for the southern part of it, stalling almost all its development work. The north city corporation, which is comparatively healthy in overall annual budget, is also complaining of a fund crunch in basic public services like road repairs and mosquito control. At least half of around 2,500km city roads are in a battered state requiring urgent attention, according to information available and field visits.
City's garbage management in a shambles (The Daily Star, May 29, 2014)
The garbage management service of the two city corporations has reached a pitiable state. Many of the city streets have heaps of waste lying in the open, emitting foul odour and causing public nuisance. The city service managers, however, blame mainly the shortage of land for setting up primary garbage collection points, from where the wastes are collected for final disposal. Shortage of manpower and vehicles is another hurdle to proper waste management, they say. According to the city corporations, the city generates 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day of which at least 500 tonnes remain uncollected. The two city corporations have around 8,000 street sweepers and drain cleaners around 500 garbage carrying vehicle.
ILO: Developing countries see swelling middle class (Dhaka Tribune, May 28, 2014)
Workers in developing countries are increasingly moving to better jobs and joining the middle class, but 839 million workers still earn less than $2 a day, the International Labour Organization said. According to the agency’s annual World of Work Report released yesterday, between 1980 and 2011, per capita income in the developing countries like Senegal, Vietnam and Tunisia on average grew 3.3% each year, which is far faster than the 1.8% growth seen in advanced economies. In its analysis of the situation in 140 developing and emerging economies, the ILO concluded that nations that tackled working poverty, invested in creating quality jobs and in getting workers out of precarious employment had weathered the global financial crisis far better than those that did not.
Frozen food exports set to top $600m this year (The Financial Express, May 28, 2014)
Bangladesh's frozen food shipment is set to exceed US$600 million this financial year on the back of price hike in the world market earlier this year, exporters say. According to a senior vice president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), the price rose following the bacterial infection known as 'Early Mortality Syndrome' that struck shrimp farms in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Vietnam. Last month, the price of 31-40 count shrimp was US$ 7.0 per pound and the price of 16-20 count was US$ 9.50 per pound, although the price came down to $ 5.0 and $ 8.0 respectively.
Half-built seven footbridges await completion (Dhaka Tribune, May 27, 2014)
The construction of several footbridges at key points of the capital has remained suspended because of alleged negligence by the authorities concerned. Under the World Bank-funded Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) project, seven footbridges have remained under-construction for more than a year. Since the project was launched in mid-2009, authorities concerned have, however, completed the construction of 13 footbridges, while the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has also installed an escalator as part of a footbridge in the capital’s Banani.
Mandatory installation of solar panels on building roofs goes (The Financial Express, May 27, 2014)
The government has decided to withdraw the mandatory requirement of installing solar panels on the rooftop of buildings for getting new electricity connections to households, officials said. According to the new rule, a customer will have to deposit the cost of a solar panel to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) fund which will help build green power plants for rural areas that are still out of electricity. In November 2010, the government made it mandatory for the customers to install solar panels for getting new electricity connections to households but it was very expensive and the government failed to achieve its desired goal. Following the rule many customers have taken electricity connections hiring solar panels.
Bangladesh's per capita income sees rise (Global Post, May 27, 2014)
Bangladesh's per capita income is expected to reach nearly 1,200 U.S. dollars in the current 2013- 2014 fiscal year ending next month. Quoting provisional statistics, the state-run statistical bureau official said that "per capita income in 2013-2014 fiscal year will rise about 14 percent to $1,190." Poverty in Bangladesh stays one of the highest in the world. According to the governmental statistics, about a third of its population is living below the poverty line and earn less than two U.S. dollars a day.
Govt urges Accord
to compensate workers during production halt (The
Financial Express, May 27, 2014)
The
government has formally requested the Accord to share the workers' payment with
the factory owners during closure of any garment factory after inspection,
sources said. Appreciating the Accord's contribution to improve workplace
safety in Bangladesh's garment industry, Labour Ministry sent Monday a
letter to the Accord, requesting the platform of more than 150 global apparel
companies, brands, retailers and trade unions, to pay wages for at least three
months. "For the greater interest of the workers, completion of the
inspection as per schedule and payment of at least three months wages during
closure of factories may be one idea," it said.
46%
food products in market adulterated (Dhaka Tribune, May 27, 2014)
The tests, which were carried out over the last two years at the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) in the Institute of Public Health (IPH), show that 100% of the samples of food products like chocolate, cake, Chhana, yogurt, pickles, dried fish, fruit syrup, sesame oil and vegetable oil (dalda) were adulterated. Around 80-99% of other popular items in the market including ghee, juice, honey, Roshogollah, candy, soybean oil and powdered milk were also found to be adulterated. According to the IPH reports, the laboratory tested 5,322 samples of 50 food items in 2012 and 4,967 samples of 42 food items last year, and found 46 percent of those adulterated. Health specialists say that there has been no nationwide research on food adulteration and its affect on health in spite of the fact that food adulteration is a leading cause behind the increase in non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, stroke, hypertension, and heart and kidney-related ailments.
Google, Costco
and Facebook best employers: US poll (The Financial Express, May 26, 2014)
Google, Facebook and wholesale retailer Costco offer the best pay and benefit packages in the United States, according to employee ratings compiled by the US job site Glassdoor. Apart from Costco, whose generous social benefits stand out, four of the five top employers are high-tech firms, according to the survey. Google came out frst, where a software engineer earns an average base salary of $119,000 a year and where employees have free access to a gym, laundromat, billiards and pet boarding.
ICT
trade bodies demand VAT-free internet (The Daily Star, May 25, 2014)
Leaders of three ICT trade bodies yesterday urged the government to reduce or erase 15 percent value-added tax on internet use in the next budget. Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) and Internet Service Providers Association Bangladesh (ISPAB) made the call at a pre-budget dialogue in Dhaka. They asked the telecoms ministry to request the finance ministry to remove or cut the VAT on internet use in the next budget. The telecoms ministry proposes Tk 3,700 crore for the ICT sector in the budget, which was Tk 1,250 crore last year. The use of internet will get a boost if the VAT on the internet is removed, they said.
Private
investment falls for second year (The Daily Star, May 25, 2014)
Private investment dropped for the second year on the back of political uncertainty. In fiscal 2013-14, private investment as a proportion of gross domestic product stood at 21.39 percent, down 0.36 percentage points, according to a provisional estimate from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Public investment, on the other hand, rose 0.66 percentage points to 7.30 percent, to take the overall investment-GDP ratio to 28.69 percent, up 0.30 percentage point year-on-year. Zahid Hussain, lead economist of WB's Dhaka office, said while the disrupting political unrest has dissipated for now, the risk of it making a comeback hovers around. He went on to recommend setting up of special economic zones to insulate the economy from the effects of political turbulence, as production there would be conducted in a secure environment.
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