Bangladesh Economy: News & Updates

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Tata plans truck plant in Kishoreganj

Friday, 02 July 2010 21:35

Tata plans truck plant in Kishoreganj

Tata plans truck plant in Kishoreganj
Bss, New Delhi

Tata Group plans to join hands with Nitol Motors, its car distributor in Bangladesh, to set up a truck plant in Kishoreganj.

The facility will make 30,000-40,000 of its 'Ace' brand pick-ups a year, according to a report published in the Telegraph from Kolkata yesterday.

The report estimated such a manufacturing plant would cost about Rs 1,000 crore.

"What we are looking at is a core plant in Kishoreganj near Dhaka around which an ancillary industry will grow up," Telegraph quoted Matlub Ahmad, chairman of Nitol Niloy Group, the parent company of Nitol Motors, as saying.

Ahmed said his company is planning to sell about 12,000 trucks in Bangladesh, while the rest will be exported to India, Myanmar and other countries where engineering goods from Bangladesh have duty-free access, such as Turkey or other European nations.

Nitol runs a joint venture with the Tata that assembles vehicles of the Indian company at Jessore.

Nitol Motors sells about 700-800 Ace trucks a month in Bangladesh.

The proposed Kishoreganj plant will be a large-scale set-up with a supporting auto ancillary hub capable of exporting vehicles to India.

While the details of the joint venture are not yet clear, Tata will possibly settle for a 50:50 joint venture with Nitol.

Nitol and Tata Motors are also studying the possibility of assembling the Tata's Nano model in Bangladesh, but this "is not on the immediate radar," of the venture, the Telegraph added.

Earlier in April, Tata International signed a deal with Nitol to make cycles for the global market.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

PDB-RPCL to sign MoU: Power plant to be set up to generate 150-225 MW

Saturday, 03 July 2010 22:32

The New Nation - Internet Edition

PDB-RPCL to sign MoU: Power plant to be set up to generate 150-225 MW
Talha Bin Habib

Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) and the Rural Power Company Ltd (RPCL) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today to jointly set up a new power generation plant in the country.

The Chairman of PDB and Managing Director of RPCL and high officials of the concerned ministry will be present at the signing ceremony at PDB Bhaban.

The move is seen as part of the government's ongoing efforts to generate required power aiming to relieve the nation from the present power crisis.

"Initially, the plant, to be set up in Mymensingh or some where in the country, will generate power between 150 MW and 225 MW," a source in PDB told The New Nation yesterday.

The plant would be gas and furnace oil based and the equity will be equal, it said.

The power generation in the country yesterday was 3,900 MW against the targeted demand of 4,900 MW, PDB sources said.

Against the total demand of power between 2,000 MW and 2,100 MW, the total allocation for Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) Ltd, Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) Ltd and Rural Electrification Board (REB) was 1,341MW yesterday, the sources said.

The government has taken short, mid and long-term measurers to generate power to maintain the pace of productivity in the agriculture, industrial and other sectors, said a highly placed source of PDB.

He said the government has a plan to generate 792 MW power in 2010. Besides, it has also a target to generate 9,426 MW by 2015, he mentioned.

Apart from ongoing drive to disconnect illegal power lines, strict instruction to shut down shops after 8 pm, discourage people not to use air conditioner during peak hours and encourage people to use Complicit Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) rather than incandescent bulbs are among the initiatives so far the government has taken to relieve the nation from the nagging power crisis, he said.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

BB to setup 10,000 digital centres in upazilas

Saturday, 03 July 2010 22:31

The New Nation - Internet Edition

BB to setup 10,000 digital centres in upazilas
Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Bank (BB) is going to set up 10,000 digital centres across the country to bring the grassroots level people under the digital facilities so that the citizens can avail essential digital services.

The objectives of the centres are to provide service like payment of different bills, e-top up, e-ticketing, e-commerce, online share trading and lottery, etc.

This was disclosed at a seminar on 'Setting up Digital Centers under SME' at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy (BBTA) at Mirpur which was jointly organised by Bangladesh Bank and SME Foundation on Saturday.

Addressing as the chief guest in the seminar, the BB governor Dr Atiur Rahman said the people will be easily acquainted with the digital technology by the centres and they would be able to take its opportunity by paying a nominal charge.

The governor urged the bankers to come forward to set up the centres to bring its service in the door step of rural people through electronic system.

Bangladesh Bank has initially planned to set up 10 digital centers in each thana under Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), he said adding that a group of five educated youths would be given Taka five lakh loan from SME fund to establish a center.

However, the Governor said proper implementation of the plan depends on the good intension of banking and financial institutions. This technology based project will reach the banking service to the door step of people, he noted.

Chairman of SME Foundation Aftab-ul Islam, Managing Director Syed Rezwanul Islam, General Manager of SME Special Programme of the central bank Sukomol Singh Chowdhury, among others, addressed the occasion.

Executive Director of BBTA Ebadul Islam was in the chair while Chief Executive of Digital Technology Ltd. Mozammel Haque presented a concept paper.

 

[idune]

If they can come out of Awami vudoo spell "digital" title then this, although far fetch, can do some good. By now we all know Awami "digital deception" has been an utter failed exercise.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Twenty20 World Cup 2014 to be Held in Bangladesh

Twenty20 World Cup 2014 to be Held in Bangladesh

Thursday, July 1, 2010


Following an ICC board meeting held in Singapore today (1 July 2010), it has been announced that Bangladesh will host the Twenty20 World Cup 2014. Some other decisions regarding the major cricket tournaments till 2015 were also made at the meeting.

Sri Lanka will organize the Twenty20 World Cup 2012, while ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be organized jointly by Australia and New Zealand. ICC Champions Trophy 2013 will be held in England who last year hosted the T20 World Cup 2009. ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 will take place in India.

With Bangladesh getting the hosting rights of T20 World Cup 2014, this is going to be the first time Bangladesh will host a World Cup alone. Bangladesh is one of the host countries for the 2011 ICC World Cup which will be held jointly by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has the previous experience of organizing ICC Champions Trophy (formerly known as mini World Cup) in 1998. The South Asian country also hosted ICC U-19 World Cup 2004, Asia Cup Cricket in 1988 and in 2000 and the final match of Asian Test Championship 1998-99. So, the tenth member of the test cricket has enough previous experience of hosting a major tournament like T20 World Cup successfully.

Meanwhile, former BCCI chief, Sharad Pawar, has been announced the new ICC president today and he would now replace outgoing president David Morgan whose two-year tenure came to an end.

 

[eastwatch]

If they can come out of Awami vudoo spell "digital" title then this, although far fetch, can do some good. By now we all know Awami "digital deception" has been an utter failed exercise.

We do not only know AL deception, but we also know the Jamaat deception since 1971. It is so power hungry that it has become just a small tail of BNP. It uses all the BNP privileges while in power. Nizami was an agriculture minister during BNP.

Except that he is honest personally he did nothing that helped the agriculture in BD. Because of his Jamaati policy, BD had to import an extra $600 million worth of food from your favourite RAW country India. So, if today it is AL deception, yesterday it was Razakar DECEPTION.

 

[eastwatch]

RMG exports to Japan rise

Monday, July 5, 2010
RMG exports to Japan rise

Workers pass a busy day at a garment factory. RMG exports to Japan were buoyant in the first 10 months of the immediate past fiscal year.Photo: STAR
Refayet Ullah MirdhaGarment exports to the new destination of Japan maintained a high growth rate in July-April of fiscal 2009-10 riding on the back of high demand for Bangladeshi apparel items there.

According to data from state-owned Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh exported knitwear items worth $60.02 million in the first 10 months of the immediate past fiscal year, which was $18.15 million in the same period of fiscal 2008-09.

In the July-April period of fiscal 2009-10, knitwear exports to Japan grew by 230.65 percent. Bangladesh logged $89.87 million in earnings from woven garment exports, registering a robust 121.46 percent growth over the same period a year ago.

Data showed that RMG exports to Japan were worth $74.38 million in fiscal 2008-09, compared to $28.04 million in fiscal 2007-08.

Exporters said RMG exports to Japan are buoyant as the Asian giant reduced its dependence on China, the largest supplier of apparel items globally because of the government's recent adoption of the China+1 policy.

A major exporter to Japan said Japanese importers are coming to Bangladesh for competitive prices and the labour crisis in China. Japan was dependent on Chinese apparel makers over the last 20 years.

"Moreover, the Japanese government has recently decided to divert outsourcing of apparel items to other countries, like Bangladesh and Vietnam," he said, requesting anonymity.

The Bangladesh government's incentives for entering new destinations is also inspiring exporters to achieve the high export growth to Japan, he said.

He said many Chinese manufacturers are failing to carry out the orders because of a shortage of labour, higher wages and continuous labour unrest.

"Bangladesh should deepen diplomatic relations with Japan, so that we continue such export growth to this potential market," he said.

However, he warned that if the government fails to provide an adequate supply of gas and power to the manufacturing units, exporters would not be able to maintain the lead-time set by international buyers.

"If this happens, we will lose our potential customers."

Viyellatex Group Chairman and Managing Director David Hasanat said Bangladesh has a lot of opportunity in the Japanese market, as the big buyers of the country are entering Bangladesh.

He said the Japanese apparel market is worth more than $35 billion a year. "We have an opportunity to grab a significant amount of this figure if we go for aggressive marketing drives."

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

RMG exports to Japan rise

Monday, July 5, 2010
RMG exports to Japan rise

Workers pass a busy day at a garment factory. RMG exports to Japan were buoyant in the first 10 months of the immediate past fiscal year.Photo: STAR
Refayet Ullah MirdhaGarment exports to the new destination of Japan maintained a high growth rate in July-April of fiscal 2009-10 riding on the back of high demand for Bangladeshi apparel items there.

According to data from state-owned Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh exported knitwear items worth $60.02 million in the first 10 months of the immediate past fiscal year, which was $18.15 million in the same period of fiscal 2008-09.

In the July-April period of fiscal 2009-10, knitwear exports to Japan grew by 230.65 percent. Bangladesh logged $89.87 million in earnings from woven garment exports, registering a robust 121.46 percent growth over the same period a year ago.

Data showed that RMG exports to Japan were worth $74.38 million in fiscal 2008-09, compared to $28.04 million in fiscal 2007-08.

Exporters said RMG exports to Japan are buoyant as the Asian giant reduced its dependence on China, the largest supplier of apparel items globally because of the government's recent adoption of the China+1 policy.

A major exporter to Japan said Japanese importers are coming to Bangladesh for competitive prices and the labour crisis in China. Japan was dependent on Chinese apparel makers over the last 20 years.

"Moreover, the Japanese government has recently decided to divert outsourcing of apparel items to other countries, like Bangladesh and Vietnam," he said, requesting anonymity.

The Bangladesh government's incentives for entering new destinations is also inspiring exporters to achieve the high export growth to Japan, he said.

He said many Chinese manufacturers are failing to carry out the orders because of a shortage of labour, higher wages and continuous labour unrest.

"Bangladesh should deepen diplomatic relations with Japan, so that we continue such export growth to this potential market," he said.

However, he warned that if the government fails to provide an adequate supply of gas and power to the manufacturing units, exporters would not be able to maintain the lead-time set by international buyers.

"If this happens, we will lose our potential customers."

Viyellatex Group Chairman and Managing Director David Hasanat said Bangladesh has a lot of opportunity in the Japanese market, as the big buyers of the country are entering Bangladesh.

He said the Japanese apparel market is worth more than $35 billion a year. "We have an opportunity to grab a significant amount of this figure if we go for aggressive marketing drives."

The factory people should be kept happy and specially now when the busy season of Xmas shopping is coming up , last year I bought so many made in Bangladesh Tommy Hilfiger on boxing day.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Plan to set up 3,000km power transmission line underway

Sunday, 04 July 2010 21:37

Plan to set up 3,000km power transmission line underway

Plan to set up 3,000km power transmission line underway
Govt plans big to rev up generation

M Azizur Rahman

The government has embarked on setting up a massive 3,000-kilometre high- quality, upgraded electricity transmission line set-up worth over US$ 1.0 billion to transmit newly produced power to consumers across the country, officials said Tuesday.

State-owned Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB) has been entrusted with the task of building modern East-West and North-South transmission lines and upgrade necessary infrastructure with a view to transmitting 20,000mw of electricity, five times higher than the present 4,000mw capacity.

PGCB, the country's lone electricity transmission entity, has already initiated work for implementing some 16 electricity transmission projects, a senior Power Ministry official told the FE.

He said 60,000 kilometers of electricity distribution lines would also be set up under the government's mega plan, under which it has earmarked the generation of 9,426mw of additional electricity in next five years.

Under the mega plan, an additional 792mw of power will be generated in 2010, 920mw in 2011, 2269mw in 2012, 1675mw in 2013, 1170mw in 2014 and 2600mw in 2015.

Officials said at present the country has 8,000km electricity transmission lines, most of which are aging, and lack efficiency to carry around 4,000mw of electricity.

The PGCB collects wheeling charges from power entities for carrying electricity through its transmission lines.

The state-owned electricity transmission company is now implementing seven foreign funded projects under Annual Development Programme (ADP), which include installation of 4,000km optical fibre ground wire for smooth supply of electricity across the country.

Chittagong-Meghnaghat 400 kilo-volt (KV) 260km electricity transmission line, Aminbazar-Khulna 400 KV 200km transmission line, Bibyana-Kaliakoir 400 KV 194km transmission line, Fenchuganj-Comilla 230 KV 160km transmission line and Barisal-Bhola 230 KV 60km electricity transmission line projects are among the major projects which the PGCB is set to implement within the shortest possible time.

All these projects were put on offer before the investors from home and abroad for investment during Saturday's day-long conference titled "Investment in Power Sector of Bangladesh: Opportunities and Challenges."

The PGCB is also working for electricity interconnection between Tripura and the eastern region of Bangladesh to facilitate power import from India.

The company has also decided to implement the Anowara-Meghnaghhat 400 KV transmission line, Goalpara-Bagerhat 132 KV single circuit transmission line, Ishwardi-Rajshahi 230 KV transmission line, Rauzan-Shikalbaha 230 KV transmission line and Hathazari-Khulshi 230 KV transmission line shortly.

It has also eyed construction of 230 KV power sub-stations at Syampur, Jhenaidah, Bheramara and Sripur.

The PGCB has also planned to construct Chandraghona-Khagrachhari 132 KV transmission line, Mymensingh-Tangail 132 KV double-circuit transmission line and Brahmanbaria-Narsingdi 132 KV double-circuit transmission lines.

The company is also working to enhance the existing capacity of grid sub-stations and transmission lines to supply newly generated electricity smoothly at different voltage levels.

To implement the government's mega plan of augmenting electricity generation, the power ministry has already approved installation of over a dozen oil-based rental power plants and half a dozen public sector peaking power plants.

Seven combined cycle power plants having an aggregated generation capacity of 1650mw, eight peaking power plants having 700mw generation capacity, 2600mw capacity imported coal based steam plant, renewable energy based power plant to generate 109mw are among the power projects the government has planned to set up on build own and operate (BOO) basis in next five years.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Plan for 2,000MW more for national grid

Sunday, 04 July 2010 21:38

:: The Daily Independent Bangladesh :.. Internet Edition

Plan for 2,000MW more for national grid
BPDB, RPCL sign deal to generate electricity
BSS, DHAKA

Nearly 2,000 megawatt of electricity will be added to the national grid before next summer starts in March, hopes Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), as it struck a deal for a 150-225mw plant yesterday.

The agreement is largely viewed as part of government's frantic efforts to feed the power hungry country, which has now an average shortage of 1,000 mw electricity during evening peak hours against a total generation hovering around 4,000 mw everyday.

BPDB signed the agreement with Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) to generate electricity from the plant based on both gas and furnace oil.

The agreement is second of its kind for RPCL, which provides 175 mw to national grid everyday from its Shambhuganj plants.

Secretary of BPDB Azizul Islam and Managing Director of RPCL Abdus Sabur inked the pact that involves a cost of 12.7 crore Euro. The plant is likely to be set up somewhere in Gazipur district, sources said.

"The power crisis is not going to disappear very shortly, but things would certainly improve before next summer," a senior official of power development board told the news agency on the sidelines of the agreement signing ceremony held at WAPDA Bhaban.

The official said 1,200 megawatts of power would come from quick rental power plants, while 792 mw would be available from four rental plants, and three power stations at Shikalbaha, Siddhirganj and Fenchuganj before March, 2011. The BPDB earlier signed agreements for 617 mw of electricity from quick rental power plants that are supposed to supply electricity to national grid within 3-7 months.

The rest of the agreements are expected to be initialled by next two weeks, sources said.

BPDB said the shortage of power during next summer days would be eased, reducing the sufferings of the people from all over the country.

The department has not only been looking into increasing the generation but also consulting agencies concerned for ensuring efficient uses of energy in Bangladesh.

The country has marked a record generation of 4,606 mw of electricity on April 14, coinciding with Bengali New Year's Pahela Boishakh, against a derated total capacity of 5,376 mw from both public and private sector plants. The crisis of gas, major source of energy for power plants, has forced to cut 692 mw during last summer, BPDB sources said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Kuwait, which has a stake in Bangladesh energy and power sector, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow. The delegation will hold discussions with their local counterparts on power sector development in Bangladesh and visit a power plant in Chittagong before leaving Dhaka on July 16, BPDB sources said.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Forex reserve crosses $10b

Sunday, 04 July 2010 21:35

:: The Daily Independent Bangladesh :.. Internet Edition

Forex reserve crosses $10b
STAFF REPORTER

The country's foreign exchange reserve crossed $10 billion at the end of the just concluded fiscal year, according to the Bangladesh Bank.

According to a statement issued by the central bank yesterday, rise in remittance inflow, moderate exports and declining import payments together helped increase the country's foreign exchange reserve up to $10,752.82 million in June.

It said remittance rose by over 14 per cent while a significant decline took place in import payments mainly with the foodgrain imports.

In November last year, the foreign exchange reserve crossed $10 billion for the first time and the increasing trend continued till end of the fiscal year 2009-10.

The central bank governor, Atiur Rahman, in a press conference termed the reserve a historic and rare achievement for the country.

The foreign exchange reserve was $9 billion in September 2009 and $7.47 billion in June 2009, he said.

In June 2007, it was slightly above $5 billion.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Investing in the power sector

Sunday, 04 July 2010 21:41

Investing in the power sector

Investing in the power sector

Policy makers in Bangladesh have been reiterating their goal about accelerating the growth rate of the economy from nearly six per cent to eight per cent at the fastest. In order to accomplish this goal, power generation capacities need to increase by at least 24 per cent annually. The government has, thus, been looking for investments in the power sector to the tune of $ 10 billion in the next five years to raise power generation to 10,000 mw. In pursuit of this, road shows were organised in London, New York and Singapore to attract potential foreign investors to invest in the country's power sector.

Foreign investments in this sector are needed in view of the great urgency to substantially increase power generation. The power crisis is not only holding back investments in different sectors of the economy but also hindering the operations of the established industries and services at capacity that has led to under-productivity. Power insufficiency and ways and means to overcome the same merit, therefore, to be at the top of the public policy agenda.

In this situation, a conference was held at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka last Saturday. Reportedly, the foreign investors in the conference were mostly the ones who earlier showed interest in the road shows last year. They have now been briefed more and well on the prospects of investments in the country's power sector. They have been appraised that Bangladesh happens to be punctual in dealing with foreign investors in the sector. The foreign investors who have already a presence in the country know it that the government here has never defaulted in paying its dues to them in time. They must have realized from attending the conference that this country offers a good opportunity for investments since its policies are sound and that there would be no worries about marketing of power to be produced since its economy as a whole is aspiring to grow on a higher growth track.

Besides, the macro-economic fundamentals of the country are also sound and internationally renowned credit rating agencies have predicted the continuity of such favourable conditions in the foreseeable future. Bangladesh maintains a highly up-to-date currency convertibility system and foreign investors should have otherwise no difficulty in repatriating their profits and capital. Donor agencies namely the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have committed to provide funds for the development of Bangladesh's power sector. Besides, Bangladesh has otherwise very attractive policy environment in the region to create appeal among foreign investors.

Thus, all these possibilities weigh favourably, on Bangladesh side, in its expectation about attracting the badly needed investments to the power sector. But as the saying goes that nothing succeeds like success, the government should engage in fast track follow-up negotiations with the likely investors after the conference. It should give some clear signals about the pricing policy in the power sector. It is important for all investors to assess the marketing situation in a predictable manner, without expecting any policy flip-flop. Furthermore, there is also the great need to prepare and unfurl the coal policy at the quickest. Some major power plants to be built are planned to be coal-based. For all power plants to operate successfully, investors will need to get beforehand a comprehensive picture about the source of power generation. Meanwhile, all-out efforts should be made to find out new reserves of gas. Newly found good reserves of gas will inspire the investors to come forward to set up easily more gas-fired power plants.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Bangladesh may benefit from rising labour costs in China


Sunday, 04 July 2010 21:44

Bangladesh may benefit from rising labour costs in China

Bangladesh may benefit from rising labour costs in China

JAKARTA, July 4 (AFP): Labour costs and the value of China's currency are sending ripples around Asia as countries jostle to lure manufacturers that are rethinking their Chinese operations, analysts and officials said.

Worker unrest at foreign-owned factories and the prospect of higher wage costs are forcing some manufacturers to consider countries such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, where wages remain relatively low.

Bangladesh, which has the lowest minimum wage in the world at just 25 dollars a month, is poised to reap the benefits as long as it can resolve its own chronic labour disputes and fix its crumbling infrastructure, experts say.

"Bangladesh has a huge opportunity to capitalise on rising costs in China," said Ifty Islam, an investment banker at Dhaka-based Asian Tiger Capital.

"But it is difficult to get more foreign firms to come if we can't prevent labour unrest," he said.

In September a subsidiary of Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, MHI Aerospace Vietnam, opened the country's first aircraft parts plant, citing Vietnam's relatively low wages.

A study by the Japan External Trade Organization found that a Vietnamese manufacturing worker earned 101 dollars a month against 217 in China.

Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn recently said the Japanese automaker was paying "a lot of attention" to strike action in China but this did not mean there would be any change in its plans to ramp up production in the country.

Even so, Ghosn announced last week that the company intended to double capacity of its assembly plant in Indonesia, which he said could become an "export force" if it improved its creaking infrastructure.

His point underscored the fact that despite the slight appreciation of its currency and corresponding higher wage costs, China was light years ahead of its rivals in terms of supply-chain infrastructure like ports and railways.

Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said in January that there was a "permanent trend" of shoe manufacturers shifting from China to Indonesia, resulting in 1.8 billion dollars of investment over the last four years.

Bruce Tsao, an analyst with Capital Securities in Taipei, said dramatic wage hikes in the mainland were "adding more woe to labour-intensive industries in China already troubled by low profit margins".

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

We do not only know AL deception, but we also know the Jamaat deception since 1971. It is so power hungry that it has become just a small tail of BNP. It uses all the BNP privileges while in power. Nizami was an agriculture minister during BNP.

Except that he is honest personally he did nothing that helped the agriculture in BD. Because of his Jamaati policy, BD had to import an extra $600 million worth of food from your favourite RAW country India. So, if today it is AL deception, yesterday it was Razakar DECEPTION.

Nizami story is a long past story.... what the military backed caretaker government did.... what the awami government is doing regarding importing food from RAW country india???

Will you clarify this to me?

 

[idune]

Plan to set up 3,000km power transmission line underway
Govt plans big to rev up generation

M Azizur Rahman

The government has embarked on setting up a massive 3,000-kilometre high- quality, upgraded electricity transmission line set-up worth over US$ 1.0 billion to transmit newly produced power to consumers across the country, officials said Tuesday.

Awami regime is setting up another scheme for looting money from transmission line scam. They could not even supply electricity to existing lines and users. What these new lines will do sitting idle making some Awami looters rich.