Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Covid-19: Bangladesh receives more medical assistance from India
India on Wednesday handed over the third tranche of emergency medical assistance consisting of RT-PCR Covid-19 test kits capable of running 30,000 tests in Bangladesh.
PM shocked at Habibur Rahman Mollah’s death
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Awami League MP (Dhaka-5) and valiant freedom fighter Habibur Rahman Mollah.
Buddha Purnima being celebrated
Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, is being celebrated in the country today (Wednesday).
Buddha Purnima tomorrow
Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, will be celebrated across the country on Wednesday.
Business bigwigs to stay involved in directing govt’s assistance for small fry
President of the country’s apex trade organization FBCCI Sheikh Fazle Fahim on Monday said that they would remain involved in the working capital loan/investment disbursement process of the government-announced Tk 20,000 crore financial assistance package for cottage, micro, small and medium enterprise (CMSME) organisations.
He also said that the FBCCI (Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in its rarely used full form) would always strive to revive the economy by providing all possible assistance in case of any problem, according to a press release.
On April 5, Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina declared a financial assistance package of Tk 20,000 crore on low-interest for working capital loan/investment facility through the banking system to retain the capacity of CMSME entrepreneurs affected by the coronavirus and to keep the manpower working.
In light of her announcement, FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim submitted a proposal to Bangladesh Bank to make the loan/investment disbursement process easier for the entrepreneurs of CMSME as well.
“Most of the CMSME entrepreneurs, entitled to have the current capital loan/investment facility, have minimal infrastructures and relationship with bankers than those of the others. As a result, if these entrepreneurs were selected upon reviewing their basic standards, financial statements and ICRRS, many would fail to meet required qualifications to avail the loans and investment benefits," he said.
Meanwhile, the FBCCI president said: "If the loan amount is not determined and the demand is not coordinated with it, we will not get desired results.”
The Prime Minister has already allocated Tk 70,000 crore as refinancing for the smooth implementation of loan/investment and other facilities under various financial assistance packages, announced so far, to keep economic activities uninterrupted during the Coronavirus pandemic, he added.
Fahim expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal for the initiative.
The FBCCI proposal included that cottage, micro, small and medium enterprise (CMSME) organisations such as trade, factory, shop, dealer, retailer, distributor, pharmacy, restaurant, petrol pump, travel/tourism/resort, transport, fashion house, beauty parlour, women entrepreneur, saloon, small cottage and middle industry could avail the facility if recommended by the respective district chamber. Necessary recovery time will also be provided by the association.
He also urged easy access to credit for all media outlets.
Fahim called upon the individuals and organisations to inform FBCCI if any bank or financial institution does not provide proper assistance to them The FBCCI will also monitor the implementation of these guidelines.
Meanwhile, he said, a demand was also raised to facilitate media, newspapers, TV, trucks, cargo, launches, and backward exports, with the loan/investment facility on the basis of salary statements and as per the advice of the association concerned.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) believes the business community will particularly be benefited from the facility. The central bank took the initiative following the FBCCI's proposal regarding easy loan access by entrepreneurs in the CMSME sector, the press release added.
As per the instruction, separate help desks will be set up in each branch of the bank/financial institutions to assist the entrepreneurs so that information about financial aid packages can be found easily.
Transport goods across country: PM to Railway
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked Bangladesh Railway to transport goods across the country strengthening its luggage-van services during this ongoing crisis caused by novel coronavirus outbreak.
General holidays to continue until May 15: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the government wants to extend the ongoing general holidays until May 15.
Coronavirus: PM holding videoconference with Rangpur division
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is holding a videoconference with the public representatives and officials of the districts of Rangpur division over the COVID-19 issue on Monday.
The Prime Minister’s videoconference started at 11 am from Ganabhaban to coordinate ongoing activities to tackle coronavirus.
The districts under Rangpur division are-- Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur and Gaibandha.
Earlier, the prime minister exchanged views with the public representatives and officials of 59 districts of Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Mymensingh and Rajshahi divisions in six phases.
Gonoshasthaya kit test: Dr Zafrullah thanks PM
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for creating a scope for conducting the performance study of the Covid-19 rapid testing kits developed by their organisation.
Budget discussions set to formally commence on May 5
Ordinary citizens alongside stakeholders will be allowed to submit their own suggestions on the upcoming national budget on the website of Finance Division, though it remains unclear how much resource or effort would be expended on incorporating them.