Others
Govt honours 24 companies on Nat’l Occupational Health, Safety Day
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB) - Bangladesh celebrated its fourth National Occupational Health and Safety Day on Sunday with morning rallies and truck shows in various districts, including the capital city.
Migration sector of Bangladesh under brokers’ control
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB)- Brokers are controlling the migration sector of Bangladesh as there is no formal institution or legal process to maintain this sector, said speakers at a programme held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Sunday.
DAM organized training for Drug Addiction Treatment Professionals
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB)- A five-day long training campaign was arranged by the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) for the drug addiction treatment professionals in Dhaka.
Govt to appoint professional librarian in every educational institute
Dhaka, Apr 28(UNB) - State Minister for Culture KM Khalid on Sunday said the government is taking effective measures to appoint professional librarian in every institute aiming to develop the reading habit.
The State Minister said this while delivering his speech as chief guest at the programme of 'National Policy workshop on the Development of Public Libraries' in the city.
Public Library Department and the British Council Bangladesh organised the workshop at the Windy Town Hall of Bangabhandhu International Conference Centre as part of the Library Unlimited project.
Chief guest K M Khalid said the main purpose of the workshop was to create a time-bound and modern public library policy under the British Council Bangladesh Libraries Unlimited project.
"If it does successfully, it will be a great achievement for the Ministry of Culture. And to create such a policy, the participation of all stakeholders regarding the public library and their well-thought-out opinions is needed," he said.
Presided over by Director General of Public Library Department Ashish Kumar Sarker, Kirsty Croft, Programme Manager of British Council Bangladesh Library Limited spoke in the event.
British Council Bangladesh Deputy Director Andrew Newton as a guest of honour and Additional Director of Public Library Director (Joint Secretary) AJM Abdullael Baki also spoke on the occasion.
The participants came from different districts of Dhaka and representatives of public and non-public library, library professionals, representatives of various ministries and government institutions, academics, researchers, representatives of publishing houses, libraries, representatives of various professional organizations, users of library sector, NGOs and various media representatives.
Robo2Mation launched in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB)- Robo2Mation, an entirely different kind of robot that works with a software installed in any computer, has been launched in the country as the first Robotic automation.
Tobacco companies campaign to influence national budget: Progga
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB)- Progga, an anti-tobacco organisation on Sunday alleged that tobacco companies have started media campaign to obstruct government attempt to increase tobacco tax and prices in the upcoming national budget 2019-20.
Decline in tobacco consumption fails to meet expectations
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB)- Tobacco consumption in Bangladesh has not been reduced to the expected level, even though the country is scheduled to be declared as a tobacco-free nation by 2040 as Prime minister Sheikh Hasina announced earlier.
Capital market not under govt control: Kamal
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB) - Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Sunday said the capital market of the country is not under government control while its banking sector is now in a fragile condition.
“The capital market is not under government control, but I won’t say it’s fully beyond government control,” he said while responding to a supplementary question from ruling party MP Ahsanul Huq Tito.
The minister said the strength of the economy of a country is reflected on the capital market first. In the whole world, the capital market and economy are related this way, the Finance Minister said.
“We’ve identified the problems in the capital market, we’ll resolve those one after another,” he said adding that he has already held meetings with the stakeholders of the market and will have more in the coming days.
“We’ll try to run the market as it is run in other countries. The loopholes of the market will surely be removed,” Kamal said.
He assured that the government will do whatever is needed to run the capital market strongly.
Responding to another ruling party MP Israfil Alam, the minister said the country’s banking sector is now in a delicate position. “Our banking sector is now in a delicate position. There’s no problem to accept that.”
Kamal mentioned that such a situation may be there in every country as it is not possible all the time in a developing country to run all the sectors in a balanced way.
“In this situation, I won’t say our banking sector is doing bad,” he said.
Kamal mentioned that Bangladesh is now in the first five countries as per GDP growth. “Only two countries -- China and India -- are at the same level. “This achievement can’t be attained without banking sector.”
He said the interest rate on bank loan in the country is comparatively higher than other countries. “In the whole world, no country has the 14-15 percent interest rate.”
“We’ll formulate a rate integrating system with the other countries of the world. If we can implement that interest rate, it’ll be a turning point for the history of the economic sector of Bangladesh,” he said.
The Finance Minister mentioned that if the interest rate cannot be brought down to single a digit one there will be repeated write-off loans increasing non-performing loans.
“The weak areas will be weaker, we don’t want that repetition. We’ve started our work. Now it’s time to implement it. We’ll reduce the interest rate,” he told the House.
Tk 81,945 cr paid against foreign loans in 10 years: Minister
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB) – Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Sunday told Parliament that the government paid some Tk 81,945 crore against foreign loans in the last 10 fiscal years.
ACC chief for concerted efforts to fight corruption
Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB) - Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood on Sunday underscored the need for taking concerted initiatives by politicians, bureaucrats, civil society, media, intellectuals, NGOs and businesspeople to stamp out corruption from the country.