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Books on Bangladesh
REPUBLICAN REFERENCE
Area (sq.km)
144,000
Population
144,319,628
Capital
Dhaka
Currency
taka (BDT)
President
Iajuddin Ahmed
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Update No: 007 - (31/07/06)
POLITICS
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been rather optimistic about the
participation of her countrymen in programs for development, peace and
prosperity. Addressing a huge public meeting at Chaubari High School field in
Kamarkhand Upazila, Begum Zia remarked that people do not like those who are
pursuing the politics of anarchy, chaos, indiscipline, terrorism and corpses (laash).
The speech comes at a time, when, Zia is trying to garner maximum votes for her
party. Sensing that the BNP-led alliance will once again come to power, with the
people's mandate, the Opposition is trying to create a crisis in the country by
issuing threats of boycotting and disrupting the next polls. But Khaleda Zia has
expressed her confidence in the people and stated that the electorates are
united for the BNP-led alliance and would collectively fight the terrorists and
anti-social elements. The Prime Minister said three elections had been held in
the past under the supervision of a caretaker government. According to Zia,
people are now beginning to respond and react positively to the BNP initiated
reforms. Construction of roads and bridges, the setting up of new mills and
factories, supply of electricity and creation of employment are the signs of
development.
FOREIGN RELATIONS: THE SAARC SUMMIT
The two-day meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Council of Ministers is all set to begin in Dhaka on August 1st, 2006 with a
number of items on the agenda; most significant of which is providing observer
status to China and Japan and approval of US$1.3 million budget for the SAARC
Secretariat for 2007. Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Rangin Dadfar Spanta and
Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmoud Saikal will join the meeting as special invitees
from Afghanistan. Recently, the European Union (EU) expressed its interest to
also become an observer in the group. Bangladesh has been extremely positive to
this initiative from the EU. Australia and Russia are among other countries that
are showing similar interest in joining this group. Bhutanese Foreign Minister
Khandu Wangchuk, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed,
Maldives Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood
Kasuri, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and host and SAARC chair
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan will lead their respective
countries in the meeting. According to official sources, the Council will
conduct a comprehensive review of eight regional centres under the SAARC and
finalize the decision for launching the SAARC Centre for Disaster Management in
New Delhi. They also plan to discuss the setting up of a South Asian University
and inaugurating a SAARC Media Year. Among other issues, Dhaka will also raise
the issue of the killing of innocent Bangladeshis by Indian Border Security
Force (BSF) personnel. The two Foreign Ministers from both India and Bangladesh
plan to meet during the summit to discuss this issue. "We will discuss the
matter with the Indian side when we will meet on the sideline," the foreign
minister told the newsmen, when asked about the matter.
FDI Rising
A 10-member UAE investment and business delegation headed by Khalifa
Mohammad Al Muhairi, Member, Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, will is visiting Bangladesh from July 30-31. The delegation will
comprise members of leading enterprises from the UAE with interest in the field
of real estate, property development, tourism, banking and insurance, financial
service, oil and gas service, power, infrastructure and telecommunications,
among others. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bangladesh has increased by 84
per cent, to $845.3 million in 2005, from $460 million in 2004. The
Telecommunication sector has been able to attract maximum investment followed by
manufacturing sector. Bangladesh has an abundant supply of natural gas and low
cost labour force, even by regional standards, which is a lucrative aspect for
investment here. Despite enormous increase in the price of petroleum products
the country has been able to register nearly seven per cent economic growth rate
during the fiscal year 2005-2006. Of late more and more multinational companies
are investing in Bangladesh as most of the Bangladeshi products enjoy complete
duty and quota free access to European Union, Japan, USA, Australia and most of
the developed countries. A number of UAE entrepreneurs have already invested in
Bangladesh, prominent amongst them being Dhabi Group in telecommunication and
banking, Belhasa group in infrastructure and property development, RAK Group in
ceramics. The UAE delegation will hold meetings with the Federation of
Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Board of Investment (BOI).
BANGLADESH AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
Dr Kim Howells, Member of Parliament and UK State Minister for Foreign
Affairs for South Asia and the Middle East has applauded Bangladesh's role in
combating terrorism both within its soil and overseas. Howells has admiration
for the present government's action in eliminating extremist terrorist groups
such as JMB and the arrest and trial of the kingpin JMB activists such as Bangla
Bhai, Siddiqur Rahman and others. Dr Howells also commended the government for
achieving sustained levels of economic stability and improved socio- economic
indicators for the people of Bangladesh. Referring to the upcoming general
elections, the minister underlined that as Bangladesh's development partner the
UK is attaching high priority to holding free and fair elections in Bangladesh
and strengthening the country's democratic institutions.
BANGLADESH AND IRAN
The governments of Bangladesh and Iran are holding a Joint Economic
Commission (JEC) meeting in Tehran between July 24 and July 25 after a gap of
about eight years. Trade and economic cooperation are expected to dominate the
talks where Dhaka would seek duty-free access of its export items in Iranian
markets. The JEC meeting is taking place after eight years since the last
meeting that was held in Dhaka in March, 1998. This is an important step since
both countries have had very little interaction together. Bangladesh exports
jute yarn and twine, jute products, raw jute, padding, pharmaceuticals and
garments to Iran. The two-way trade stands in favour of Bangladesh. In 2004-05
fiscal, the export figure was US$48.78 million while it was US$34.74 million in
the previous year (2003-04). The import from Iran was US$23.87 million in
2004-05 fiscal while it was US$19.45 in fiscal year 2003-04. Last year, Iranian
Commerce Minister Shariatmadari visited Dhaka and signed a trade deal. He also
offered jobs for Bangladeshi doctors, engineers and professionals. Dhaka and
Tehran already discussed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries
at relevant experts' level and the documents were also exchanged between the two
governments.
ECONOMY
There has been speculation amongst economists that spiralling oil prices
will have varied effects on the economy with the rise in government's overall
import bill and subsidy on fuel oil in the internal market. The Bangladesh
economy has been facing challenges, mainly due to continued rise in fuel oil
prices. "Bangladesh is a net fuel importing country and the government is
also supplying fuel oil at subsidized rates. So, a further rise in oil prices
will severely affect the economy," said President of the Federation of
Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mir Nasir Hossain. He said
the government will have to spend more for the import of fuel oil that will
force the government to borrow more from the country's banking system. The Dhaka
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President MA Momen expressed concern
over the fuel price hike in the international market.
If the government raises fuel price in line with international prices, the
country's booming small and medium enterprises (SME) will suffer largely. Hence,
the government should encourage people to use CNG ( a form of natural gas) for
their vehicles to reduce the dependence on fuel oil.
Bangladesh adopted the National Policy Guidelines on Biotechnology with the
overarching goal of pushing for multidimensional biotechnological research for
augmenting human welfare in all respects -- food security, health and a sound
environment in particular, report agencies. The broad objectives of the policy
are aimed at increasing production and preservation capacities of various crops,
fishes, and medicinal items as well as restoring various extinct useful species
and ensuring safety of public health and the environment.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan presented
the national policy guidelines on ICT, Fisheries and Livestock Minister
Abduallah Al Noman presented national policy guidelines on Fisheries and
Livestock, Health Minister Khandokar Mosharraf Hossain put forward national
policy guidelines on Medical Technology while Environment and Forest Minister
Tariqul Islam presented bio-safety guidelines for Bangladesh. Addressing the
meeting Prime Minister Khaleda Zia asked for formulating a 20-year national
roadmap on biotechnology "on priority basis" to utilize the
potentialities and scope for development, research and application of
biotechnology to alleviate poverty, increase food security and improve health,
nutrition and livelihood of the people of Bangladesh.
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