Bangladesh Economy: News & Updates

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Master plan for developing Mongla, Benapole ports underway


Saturday, 10 July 2010 21:08

Master plan for developing Mongla, Benapole ports underway

Master plan for developing Mongla, Benapole ports underway
FHM Humayan Kabir

The government will frame a 20-year "master plan" for modernising seaport Mongla and largest land port Benapole aiming to make them regional business corridors, officials said Saturday.

Bangladesh port authorities said considering the port requirement over the next 20 years the master plan will be prepared to remove complexities in handling the international businesses.

"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting us to prepare the master plan. Within next six months, the plan will be submitted to the government," member (development) of the Bangladesh Port Authority Md. Delwar Hossain told the FE.

The Manila-based lender will appoint consultant for preparing the master plan. It will provide US$0.80 million for the purpose.

Port officials said the master plan will focus on the world-standard infrastructure development, manpower recruitment, area expansion and raising cargo handing and facilities at the Southwestern Mongla sea port and busy Benapole land port.

Mr Delwar Hossian said the ports will be developed in a bid to turn those as the regional corridors for conducting business among the south and south-east Asian nations.

Benapole is the largest land port of the country, which handles more than 80 per cent cross-border trade between Bangladesh and India.

About 90 percent of the imported Indian goods enter Bangladesh through Benapole land port. It handles around 1.4 million tones of cargo a year, which brings about Tk 16 billion in revenue for the government annually.

A railway link between the then East Pakistan now Bangladesh and India through Benapole existed before the war broke out Pakistan and India in September 1965.

The port authority member Delwar Hossain said Bangladesh has already offered Nepal and Bhutan to use the Mongla port, which now remains almost unutilised due to lack of river draught.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Move to start works of Ganges Barrage in 2012

Saturday, 10 July 2010 21:07

The New Nation - Internet Edition

Move to start works of Ganges Barrage in 2012
BSS, Dhaka

Construction of the giant Ganges Barrage, a decades old mega project for sustainable solution to country's socio-economic and environmental problems is expected to begin in 2012.

"We are taking preparation to launch the construction of the Taka 5,900 crore barrage by 2012 to recover the navigability of some tributaries of the major Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system.

The project will help Bangladesh to take counter measures to address the environmental and social-economic hazards caused by Farakka Barrage, officials said.

The project was first conceived in 1964 and several feasibility studies had been done. But successive governments could not finalize a site for the barrage.

After coming to power, the present government asked the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to take over the feasibility study again at Taka 34.35 crore and gave three years timeframe to start the main construction work.

In line with the present government's earnest desire, the BWDB in May, 2009 appointed Development Design Consultants Limited (DDC), an international consortium for study the feasibility and detailed engineering aspects of the project.

Director of the Ganges Barrage Project Ahsanul Alam told BSS that the consulting firm with the overall supervision of the BWDB has primarily selected two sites for construction of the barrage, one at Pangsha of Rajbari district and other at Kumarkhali in Kushtia.

He said about 50 percent work of the feasibility study has been completed in the first phase. In the second phase, he said technical plan and design of the scheme will be prepared. By this time the selection of final site will be completed, he added.

The Ganges Barrage has been designed to save the southwest and northern parts of the country from dryness and salinity of the rivers in the region.

It will bring one-third areas of the country under irrigation and save the world heritage Sundarbans and Bhabadah from salinity, help preserve their bio-diversity and improve overall environment.

The whole riverine system in the southwestern and northern parts of the country would get back their navigability once the barrage is constructed, officials said.

The western part of the country which constitutes 37 percent of the total area of the county and live country's one-third population depends on water of the river Ganges (Padma).

But due to diversion of water in the upstream at Farraka point, the dry season flow of the Ganges decreased significantly causing siltation in the mainstream and its tributaries.

As a result, water uses in agriculture, fish cultivation, forestry, navigation, industry and domestic purposes in the southwestern part of the country have been hindered drastically.

An official study has found Bangladesh incurred an economic loss of around Tk 146 billion in 20 years during 1975-1995, because of unilateral withdrawal of water by India at Farakka point from the international river-the Ganges.

Officials said the Ganges Barrage project has undertaken aiming to ensure availability of fresh water flows, help farmers irrigate farms in Rajshahi and Khulna region and save the Sunderbans, world largest mangrove forest, from salinity.

The project will also help addressing social, economic, environmental and hydro-morphological issues, recovering the navigability of some tributaries and improve flood management in the country, they said.

 

[bd_4_ever]

New drydock to be set up on CDL land in Ctg


BSS, Chittagong

A new drydock will be set up for building modern ocean-going vessels on an area of 17 acres of land of the Chittagong Drydock Limited (CDL) at Patenga in the port city for building modern ocean going vessels.

The process for appointment of a consultant has started as per a decision of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry (PSCSM), considering huge potentiality of exporting ocean going vessels to the world market, CDL officials said here today.

They said facilities for building ocean going vessels up to 10,000 tonne weight were now available at the CDL yard. The CDL authorities want to expand and modernize these facilities and they have already submitted a proposal to the concerned ministry in this connection.

Engineer Enamul Baki, Managing Director of CDL, told BSS that the standing committee at a recent meeting recommended for establishing another drydock for building ocean going vessels for exports.

The CDL officials said a plan for setting up the second drydock for building new vessels and renovating the old ones was taken after the War of Liberation.

The ECNEC during the Bangabandhu's government approved the project on February 20, 1975 in this regard. But, they regretted, the project was shelved through a planning commission meeting held in November, 1979.

The officials said many local and foreign companies have already communicated with the CDL and the shipping ministry showing their keen interest in investing Taka 150 to 200 crore to set up a ship yard on that land under a joint venture.

The standing committee at a joint meeting with the shipping ministry recently recommended that the ministry would expand the CDL through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) rules and it would build new ships for export after carrying out the BMRE very soon.

The meeting held late last month urged the concerned ministry to take steps on emergency basis for setting up another shipyard on the CDL land for building and renovating modern vessels.

Earlier, a three-member parliamentary sub-committee submitted a report to the standing committee in January this year recommending to build another drydock at the CDL area as the demand for ocean going vessels increased in the world market.

The officials said possibility of exporting modern vessels by Bangladesh got up as many vessel exporting countries in Asia including China, Vietnam, India, Korea and Singapore stopped receiving orders to build new vessels till 2014.

Engineer Baki said the establishment of new drydock and BMRE is under active consideration of the government.


The New Nation - Internet Edition

 

[fallstuff]

STS to construct Apollo Hospitals in Chittagong

ECONOMIC REPORTER

Apollo Hospitals Dhaka the first and only JCI accredited hospital in Bangladesh is going to have its second facility in Plot-H1 of CDA Anannya Residential Area with a total land area of 86.7136 Katha;
STS Holdings Limited the sponsor company of the hospital has already completed formal registration and acquisition of the land from CDA.
With an excellent ultramodern and panoramic view, internationally acclaimed architectural consultants will design 300 bed Apollo Hospitals Chittagong having multi disciplinary super specialty facility poised to deliver advanced care of international standards to the people of Chittagong and adjacent area like Cox's Bazar, Maizdee, Feni, Brahmanbaria and Comilla.
STS has an aggressive plan to start operation of Apollo Hospitals Chittagong within next one and half years to meet the demand the people of the locality to have an integrated health care service delivery institution.
Apollo Hospitals Chittagong will provide a complete range of the latest diagnostic, medical and surgical facilities for the care of its patients in the locality.
The hospital will have all the characteristics of a world-class hospital with wide range of services and specialists, equipment, technology and service quality.
Treatment will be provided by highly professional physicians, skilled nurses, expert technologists and administrators aided by state-of-the-art infrastructure for the medical professional in providing healthcare of international standards.

Link:

:: The Daily Independent Bangladesh :.. Internet Edition

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Drug makers post 18pc sales growth

Monday, 12 July 2010 20:47

Drug makers post 18pc sales growth

Drug makers post 18pc sales growth
IMS study points to new investment in the sector



Sayeda Akter

Retail sales of pharmaceutical products grew 18 percent in the 12 months to March year-on-year.

According to a report published by Intercontinental Marketing Services (IMS), the global intelligence agency for the pharmaceutical market, local sales stood at Tk 5,781 crore in the period.

Industry insiders say growing health consciousness in both urban and rural areas, advanced manufacturing processes and new investments in the sector boosted local sales.

Drug International Ltd performed the best with 39 percent growth, followed by Opsonin Pharma with 32 percent growth, and Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd with 31 percent growth, the IMS study finds.

However, Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd recorded the highest sales worth Tk 1,116 crore.

The top 10 performers, according to the IMS ranking, also include Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, ACME Laboratories Ltd, Renata Ltd, Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) Ltd and Aristopharma Ltd.

The IMS report points to the retail level sales of pharmaceutical products of different countries for a particular period. This excludes exports, government and other organisational purchase.

Meanwhile, pharma exports increased by 11.39 percent in July-May of the fiscal 2009-10, and the sector earned around Tk 268 crore.

Square Pharmaceuticals, the market leader with a 20 percent share, recorded 14 percent growth during April-March.

Ahmed Kamrul Alam, assistant general manager of Square Pharmaceuticals, said quality of the products and growing health awareness are the main reasons behind the rise in sales. "The company's increasing market share and new sales destinations at home and abroad have also made it possible for Square to record the highest value of sales."

"Besides, we launched some new products last year."

Square recorded 19 percent growth in sales in January-March, with sales standing at Tk 290 crore, said Alam.

Mohammad Quamrul Islam, head of business operations of Eskayef Bangladesh, said increased prescription coverage and an improved quality of products helped the company grow sales.

The company recorded 27 percent growth, with sales totaling Tk 279 crore.

“The first and foremost concern of a consumer is the quality of a product. So, when a drug company produces high quality products, doctors confidently prescribe that company's medicine, which eventually helps increase sales,” Islam said.

“We're constantly trying to improve the quality of our products." The company's marketing strategy also contributed to growing sales in local and international markets.

Eskayef recorded 49 percent growth during January-March of this calendar year, the highest among the local companies, said Islam.

Currently, the local pharmaceutical industry is worth Tk 7,000 crore, said industry insiders.

There are 250 small, medium and large local and multinational pharmaceutical companies operating in Bangladesh. They produce more than 500 types of medicine.

The top 10 pharmaceutical companies take up nearly 70 percent of the total market, according to the IMS survey conducted in 2008.

 

[bd_4_ever]

Dhaka, Kathmandu to finalise transit deal by tomorrow


Bangladesh and Nepal are likely to finalise an agreement on modalities for bilateral transit at their two -day trade talks scheduled to begin in Dhaka today (Wednesday), trade officials said.

The commerce secretaries of Bangladesh and Nepal will lead their respective delegations at the talks. Trade and communication specialists are also included in both the delegations, officials in the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) said.

The talks will be held at the conference room of the MoC. Commerce Secretary of Bangladesh Md. Ghulam Hussain will lead 12-member delegation, while Commerce Secretary of Nepal Purushottam Ojha will lead his side.

The proposed deal, titled, 'Agreement on operating modalities for the carriage of transit/trade cargo between Nepal and Bangladesh', has mentioned only Mongla port for export and import cargoes, sources said.

"Hopefully, the modalities for transit between the countries will be finalized during the secretary level meeting," a high official in the MoC said.

Another high MoC official said both the countries have already held six to seven rounds of negotiations to finalise the modalities for transit agreement during the last five years.

"The modalities are expected to be finalised during the meeting as major discrepancies on the proposed agreement do not exist anymore," the official said.

The route identified for road communication is Banglabandha -Panchagarh-Thakurgaon-Sayedpur-Rangpur-Bogra-Natore-Dasuria-Pakshey-Kushtia-Jhenaidah-Jessore--Khulna-Mongla and the rail route is Rohanpur (Rajshahi)-Rajshahi-Iswardi-Khulna-Mongla.

Ahead of the Commerce Secretary level meeting, Dhaka has proposed another two routes. One is through Benapole-Petrapole and another is Chihati-Haldibari.

"We are hoping Nepalese side will have no objection to the inclusion of the new routes," he said.

Bangladesh and Nepal signed a transit agreement on April 2, 1976 without incorporating any provision for using the territory and ports and routes for entry and exit for Nepalese vehicles that made the agreement almost non-functional, a trade diplomat said.

A maximum of 25 Nepalese transports would be allowed to ply through the Bangladesh territory at a time. The trucks and railway will have to carry pilfer-proof containers or wagons, according to the draft agreement.

'Arrangement must be there for sealing the tarpaulin-covered truck in a pilfer-proof manner. Normally the seal of the truck shall be examined at the entry point of the authorized route in Bangladesh.' reads the agreement.

'The transit cargo shall not be subjected to usual customs examinations and other checks as long as the seals have not been tampered with or unless there are valid reasons to do so.' said the draft.

The goods like firearms and ammunition, gold and silver bullion, antiques, narcotics and psychotropic substances would not be allowed for transit through Bangladesh, the draft agreement said further.

The registration number of Nepalese trucks has to be inscribed in a different colour of plate number to make the transit cargoes easily recognizable, added the agreement.

The Nepalese vehicles will not be allowed to remain in the country for more than 10 days.

The country would be enormously benefited out of the transit and transport agreement with Nepal, an official claimed saying that the earning of the Mongla port, the capacity of which has remained largely unutilized, would increase, he said.

Besides the issue of transit, the two-day meeting will discuss on expansion of both way trade, trade preferences, full-fledged operation of Kakarbhitta-Panitanki-phulbari-Banglabandha corridor, railway connectivity, Dhaka-Katmandu bus service and issuance of arrival visa for the Nationals of Nepal, sources said.

Officials said Dhaka is set to decide on issuance of visa on arrival for Nepalese nationals as Katmandu issues similar visa for Bangladeshi nationals.


Dhaka, Kathmandu to finalise transit deal by tomorrow

 

[nForce]

I had been reading some this thread for some time.Frankly,I could not cover all the thread,but read some of it nonetheless.Its good to positive economic developments in the neighbourhood.

Keep it up!!!

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

RAK adjudged world's ‘largest tile manufacturer’

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:19

RAK adjudged world's ‘largest tile manufacturer’

RAK adjudged world's ‘largest tile manufacturer’

RAK Ceramics has been officially recognised as the world's largest ceramic tile manufacturer by the Ceramic World Review, the best known and most widely circulated international magazine devoted to ceramic tile and sanitary ware production technologies.

RAK Ceramics dominated the rankings of the top 25 ceramic tile manufacturers in 2009 with a total production output of 115 million square metres from 15 manufacturing facilities located in six countries.

RAK Ceramics further revealed that it remains in a strong position to boost its current production capacity of 117 million square metres as expansion programmes are underway to cater to new markets in different parts of the world.

RAK Ceramics CEO Dr Khater Massaad said, "Being recognised as the biggest tile manufacturer in the world underlines RAK Ceramics' unmatched ability to consistently satisfy the demands of customers in terms of product quality and quantity. These distinctions from the Ceramic World Review likewise validate the success of our strategy to target and strengthen our presence in high-growth markets around the world, cementing RAK Ceramics' status as a premier global brand and the number one choice for all types of ceramic tiling requirements."

"The Ceramic World Review has noted that the internationalisation of production has been a common trend among companies that have figured prominently on the list.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Aftab Auto on fast lane

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:20

Aftab Auto on fast lane

Aftab Auto on fast lane
Company assembles AC buses at 28pc reduced costs



Sohel Parvez

Aftab Automobiles Ltd has sped up efforts to construct bodies for Hino RM-2 air-conditioned buses at reduced costs in Bangladesh to meet the rising demand for comfortable travel.

Inspired by the initial success of building two bus-bodies since May, the company now expects to roll out six units a month.

Aftab Auto, a sister concern of Navana Group, will supply buses at about Tk 1.25 crore each, which is 28 percent less than an imported, finished Hino RM-2 bus.

“We have undertaken the scheme by considering the rise in demand for comfortable road travel. Our initiative will bring these luxury buses within the reach of long-haul bus operators,” said Tarun Koiri, deputy general manager.

The company has been engaged in assembling Hino buses for nearly three decades now. Its latest move came at a time when long-distance bus operators are revving efforts to induct luxury vehicles in their fleet.

According to company officials, nearly 175 air-conditioned buses, such as Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Hino RM-2 and Scania, are plying highways to carry upmarket travellers.

The market for AC buses expands by about 30 percent a year, said Dilip Ahmed, deputy general manager (marketing) of Aftab Auto.

"People prefer to travel by AC bus because of a rise in temperature. One of the reasons behind the rise in temperature is climate change,” he said.

“The rising purchasing capacity of people also brings a boon to the AC bus business."

Ahmed expects the market for luxury buses will continue to grow in the next decade, buoyed mainly by a rise in regional travel.

“With regional road connectivity with Myanmar and the northeastern states of India in sight, transport by high-end buses will increase,” said Ahmed.

In addition, the construction of four lanes on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway and Padma Bridge will also boost travel, added the official.

Aftab had previously imported these buses in a 'built form'. But high duties and freight charges caused prices to rise.

“Now, we import the buses in a CKD (completely knocked down) form with less import costs,” Ahmed said.

“We will assemble the chassis and engine parts to build the buses with an objective to cater to both the domestic and regional market in future.”

Officials of Aftab Auto, a listed company on the stock exchanges, expect the scheme to assemble the bodies of buses will contribute nearly 15 percent of sales a year.

The company posted un-audited net profit worth Tk 6.32 crore in its third quarter to May 31, rising from Tk 1.13 crore a year ago.

The shares of Aftab Auto edged up 0.57 percent to Tk 297.20 on Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday. The face value is at Tk 10.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Revenue earnings exceed target by Tk 1,700cr


Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:18

:: The Daily Independent Bangladesh :.. Internet Edition

Revenue earnings exceed target by Tk 1,700cr
BSS, DHAKA

National Board of Revenue (NBR) has recorded highest revenue collection in the last fiscal (2009-10) exceeding its target, the first time under any democratic government since 2000, showing a growth rate of 18.05 per cent.

As part of this achievement , the NBR exceeded the 2009-10 revenue target by a healthy amount of Taka 1,700 crore. The revenue target was Taka 61,000 crore for the last financial year when the earning was Taka 62,700.47 crore.

NRB Chairman Dr Nasir Uddin Ahmed attributed the achievement to the government's efforts to increase public awareness, streamlining of the NBR and proactive cooperation of media.

"This is the first time after 2001 that the revenue earnings surpassed the target under an elected government," the NBR Chairman noted.

The earnings, however, were higher than the target during the two-year emergency period of the past caretaker government.

The increased collection of VAT (value added tax) and income tax contributed to the outstanding rise in the revenue income though the collection of duty and other taxes faced a setback of the global recession in the past fiscal.

The VAT collection was higher by Taka 908 crore when NBR earned Taka 21,643 crore as VAT against its target of Taka 20,735 crore. The income tax collection was also up by Taka 300 crore against its target of Taka 16,650 crore.

The income tax collection was Taka 17087.14 crore against the target of Taka 16,650 crore. The increase in the income tax earning was Taka 434.14 crore.

The revenue authorities collected Taka 22,891.37 crore as import duty against the target of Taka 23,236 crore when the income from other duty and taxes declined by over Taka 84 crore from the target of Taka 469 crore.

Some 1,923 persons disclosed their under-table income of Taka 212.20 crore under the money whitening facility, which the government offered last year, but did not continue for the current 2010-11 financial year.

The revenue target for the current 2010-11 fiscal year has been set at Taka 7,259 crore, which the economists believe would be a major challenge for the tax departments.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Elevated expressway work to start in Jan



Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:17

Elevated expressway work to start in Jan

Elevated expressway work to start in Jan
Feasibility study on city circular rail soon
Staff Correspondent

Construction of an elevated expressway between Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Narayanganj is likely to begin next January.

The government will also take up a project this fiscal year to conduct a feasibility study for construction of circular rail line around the city.

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said this in parliament yesterday while replying to lawmakers' queries on reducing the horrid traffic congestion in the city.

On construction of the much talked about elevated expressway, he said four out of nine bidders were selected in the investors' pre-qualification process.

The four joint bidders are from India-France, Korea-Bangladesh, China-Bangladesh and Thailand-Italy

"We will invite proposals from the four bidders soon. We hope we will be able to sign an agreement with the selected bidder at the end of this year for the construction work," he said.

The communications minister said major portion of the construction work would be completed during the tenure of the current government.

On metro railway in the city, he said the Japanese government has given a hint that they will finance 80 percent of the project on condition that they would conduct feasibility study for it through Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

He hoped that major portion of the construction work of the metro railway would also be completed during the present government's tenure.

Citing a number of projects both ongoing and under process, he hoped that the traffic situation would come to a tolerable level during the tenure of the current government.

On building an overpass at Jurain level crossing, upgrading Jatrabari-Demra-Kanchpur road into a dual carriageway, upgrading Jatrabari-Kanchpur portion of Dhaka-Chittagong Highway into eight lanes, construction of Gabtoli-Swarighat and Madartek-Nandipara-Trimohoni roads are among the projects under process, the communications minister said.

He said the government has also planned to upgrade Dhaka bypass road into a dual carriageway.

He said upgrading work to make Dhaka-Chittagong highway into a dual carriageway will have full pace in October this year and is likely to be completed by 2013.

DRIVE AGAINST OLD VEHICLES

In response to another query, the communications minister said 15 more executive magistrates will start running mobile courts tomorrow to take action against bus and minibus over 20 years old and goods carrying vehicles over 25 years old.

The government has already banned those vehicles from plying the city streets. Two executive magistrates have been running mobile courts to take actions against those vehicle, he said.

 

[bd_4_ever]

Govt executes record 91pc ADP in FY '10


The government has implemented record 91 per cent of the annual development programme (ADP) in the just concluded 2009-10 fiscal, which is the highest in the country's history, officials said Wednesday.

Planning Commission officials said the project implementing agencies have spent Tk 259.3 billion of Tk 285 billion ADP outlay in the FY 2010, ended in June.

The public expenditure is Tk 50 billion higher than the previous highest expenditure of Tk 19.67 billion in FY 2009.

Officials said performance of the 10 large ministries and divisions was impressive during the previous fiscal that helped to boost the public investment for developing the country's infrastructure and social sectors.

Among the top 10 development budget holders that grabbed 82 per cent of the total Tk 285 billion ADP fund, the Local Government Division and Primary and Mass Education Ministry are on the top of the spenders' list, the officials said.

"The spending under the ADP in FY 2010 is the highest in the history. The government for the first time spent more than Tk 259 billion funds during the last fiscal," secretary of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) M Abdul Malek told the FE.

Mr Malek said the present government had taken various steps from early in the year to boost the implementation capacity of the agencies and utilise maximum funds from the ADP outlay that ensured the record expenditure in FY 2010.

The IMED statistics showed that the government agencies spent Tk 185.55 billion or 82 per cent of Tk 225 billion outlay in FY 2009, and Tk 179.17 billion or 83 per cent from Tk 216 billion allocation in FY 2008.

The government every year undertakes development projects under the ADP for investing public money to improve its impoverished infrastructure and social sectors to achieve double-digit growth by 2017.

The government also framed an 'ambitious' Tk 305 billion development budget for the current fiscal to execute 886 projects under the ADP. But the dismal 29 per cent ADP implementation rate during the first half of the current fiscal forced to cut the budget size by Tk 20 billion to Tk 285 billion in the early third quarter.

The present government took dozens of measures including issuance of several circulars and review of the projects to speed up the ADP implementation process.

Before election, the ruling Awami League pledged to ensure maximum and quality utilisation of the public fund to facilitate the country's development.

Govt executes record 91pc ADP in FY '10

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Summit to establish 100km optical fiber cable

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 21:12

Summit to establish 100km optical fiber cable

Summit to establish 100km optical fiber cable
FE Report

Summit Communications Limited (SCL), a Nationwide Tclecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN), Wednesday disclosed that it will establish a 100km underground optical fiber cable network in the capital for providing nationwide transmission service.

Under the agreement, the SCL will lease the I 00km optical fiber network to 12 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) throughout the next three years. The SCL to this effect signed an agreement with 12 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) at a city hotel.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SCL Arif Al Islam and authorized personnel of respective ISPs signed the agreement. President of ISP Association of Bangladesh Aktaruzzarnan Monju spoke on the occasion as the chief guest.

On the occasion, Aktaruzzaman said the initiative would help eliminate hazardous overhead cables in he capital and would create opportunity for telecommunication industry to use the network and expand Internet facilities throughout Bangladesh including rural areas stretching to the villages.

The construction of fiber optics network and its expansion with Internet facilities will work as a one of the foundation of digital Bangladesh, they hoped.

"This will greatly support ICT and Telecom sector complying present government's plan to make 'Overhead Cable Free' Dhaka City and to establish digital Bangladesh with the harmony of providing quality and cheaper telecommunication technological access to mass population," said Arif Al Islam.

He said that utilization of underground fiber optics network would provide a fresh momentum to the development of telecommunication and ICT sector in terms of providing unlimited capacity in bandwidth and ensure security of connectivity.

"We have also a plan to encompass the entire country," he said adding that "in context of upcoming 3G technological developments, requirement of bandwidth will grow exponentially and fibre optic will be the solution for transmission backbone of telecommunications operators.

The SCL also plans to provide quality telecommunication transmission service to all telecommunication operators including ANS operators, Internet Service Providers, IGW, 1CX, IIG and other license holders issued by BTRC.

The SCL got license from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in December last year.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

First BSEL made vessel begins voyage

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 21:14

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=182378

First BSEL made vessel begins voyage
ECONOMIC REPORTER

Bashundhara Steel and Engineering Limited (BSEL), an enterprise of the Bashundhara Group, has recently stepped into the field of marine ship building with its recently built coastal cargo vessel - MV Bashundhara Logistics-21.

The 1800 dead-weight tonnage coastal cargo vessel was built using local resources and workforce under the expert supervision of the United Naval Architect, a private company affiliated with reputed shipbuilders worldwide, says a press release.

The MV Bashundhara Logistics - 21 was pressed into operation from the BSEL shipyard spillways at Kaotail in Narayanganj after a simple ceremony on July 8. Another coastal vessel of similar type is likely to be put on operation by a month or two.

An official of the BSEL said that more than a dozen coastal vessels of even larger tonnage would soon be built. "We like to be a leader in shipbuilding industry," said Captain (Retd) Ruhul Amin, executive director of the BSEL, while narrating the future planning of the company.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

500MW electricity from solar power plants by 2012

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 21:11

:: The Daily Independent Bangladesh :.. Internet Edition

500MW electricity from solar power plants by 2012
bss, DHAKA

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will assist Bangladesh to generate 500 megawatts of electricity from solar power plants by 2012.

Power and Energy Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Taufiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury disclosed this information at a roundtable in the city yesterday when a panel of discussants advised exploring alternative sources to meet the growing energy needs.

Quarterly magazine Power and Energy organized the roundtable on the government's mega plan for the energy sector and the challenges to implement it.

State Minister for Power and Energy Muhammad Enamul Huq, former power and energy minister Ziauddin Bablu, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, Power Development Board (PDB) Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir and Petrobangla Chairman Dr Hussain Mansur took part.

Experts, investors and business leaders participated in the technical and open sessions of the roundtable following a keynote paper by Professor Ijaz Hossain of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Dr Taufiq said that the government had already discussed with the ADB to get its assistance to generate at least 500-mw electricity in the next two years.

"We know the solar power will comparatively be expensive, but the ADB will assist us to get the energy from this alternative source," he said.

The adviser also pointed out the government's efforts to make different sources of energy like coal and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) available so the mega plan for power sector development can be implemented with concerted efforts.

Besides, he said the government discussed with Nepal the issues of production and participation to develop regional power generation and supply chain.

Muhammad Enamul Huq supported open-pit coal development and said the natural resource should be used sooner for generating electricity.

In the keynote, Ijaz Hossain focused on the slow development of the cash- strapped gas sector. He said the power sector development would not be possible without ensuring adequate power and other energy sources.

PDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir said the government was aware about all the challenges and addressed rightly the issues so it can go ahead with the roadmap for the power and energy sector.

Petrobangla Chairman Dr Hussain Mansur said the state-owned exploration company already enhanced gas supply by 100 mmcfd only by sorting out some problems in its existing gas wells.

He said all the three rigs of the company had been working continuously for the development of the gas sector.

Power and Energy Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain moderated the roundtable discussions.