Govt urged to prepare gender-sensitive health policy

Women leaders called upon the government to formulate a gender-sensitive health policy and allocate funds in budget’s health sector for women for establishing their right to health, reports UNB.
A delegation of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad placed the demand when they called on Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Haque at the ministry Thursday.
The minister informed them about the steps taken by government for ensuring female health.
The minister assured the delegation that “effort would be made to turn the national health policy, formulated during the previous AL government, into gender-sensitive and women-friendly after revaluating it”.
President of the Parishad Ayesha Khanam led the eight- member delegation. Vice-president Prof. Dr Nazmunnahar and Dr Fauzia Moslem were on the delegation.

Investment-friendly environment helpful for industrialisation

Speakers at a day-long dialogue in Rajshahi Wednesday revealed that infrastructural development, creation of investment-friendly atmosphere and availability of updated business information could help flourish various industries in the region, reports BSS.
They also stressed the need for creating business-friendly atmosphere in the region for bolstering the economic condition and said economic situation of the region could not be taken to the cherished goal unless its business infrastructure is strengthened.
In the District Public Private Dialogue (DPPD), the speakers discussed various issues like trade and business, industry, agriculture, power supply, import and export, SME development and expansion and bank interest rate.
The Asia Foundation arranged the dialogue at Nanking Darbar Hall aimed at developing industrial sector and trade along with creating pro-investment atmosphere here.
Officials concerned of Better Business Forum of Bangladesh Government, Bangladesh Regulatory Reforms Commission and concerned ministries and local business and chamber leaders attended the programme and suggested ways and means on how the region could be developed industrially.
Divisional Director of Board of Investment Abdul Hakim, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abdul Barique, Regional Director of Asia Foundation Veronik Salaj Lozak and Director of Local Economic Governance Program Syed Al Muti addressed the dialogue as resource persons.
The speakers reviewed the existing problems related to local enterprises and possible solutions of those and sought cooperation of all quarters for flourishing industrial sector.
Veronik Lozak highlighted the importance and benefits of the DPPD referring to the instance of different countries and said the organization would work with business organizations, government office and media.
Taking part in the discussion, the local business leaders said due attention should be given for expansion of SME sector in the region through making the loan process easier.
“Both public and private banks should be brought under motivation in this regard,” they said adding many interested businessmen don’t come forward to this sector due to lengthy process in getting loan.
Referring to the agriculture sector they observed that surplus production of vegetables and other seasonal fruits could be utilized properly through setting up an agro-based export- processing zone in the region. For urged the authorities to expedite the process of gas supply to Rajshahi region.

Iran wants to set up hospital, varsity in Bangladesh

Iranian government has expressed interest to set up a hospital and a university in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
Iranian ambassador in Dhaka Hassan Farazandeh made the disclosure when he called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’ s Office (PMO) on Thursday morning.
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the meeting. The envoy formally handed over a letter of felicitation from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Hasina on her assumption of office as the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister thanked the Iran government for its cooperation in the holding of the December 29 parliamentary elections in a free, fair, neutral and acceptable manner to restore and strengthen democracy in Bangladesh. Apprising the Prime Minister about various development projects of Iran in Bangladesh, Ambassador Farazandeh said Iran wants to set up one hospital and one university in Bangladesh.
Besides, Iran is also interested to invest in larger volume in various development sectors here, he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Iranian ambassador recalled the glorious history of long cultural ties between Iran and Bangladesh and hoped that the friendly bilateral relations will be strengthened further in the days to come.
The Prime Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s foreign policy of ‘friendship for all, malice towards none.’

FAO to continue support in food for all scheme

Resident representative of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Ad Spijkers called on Planning Minister Air Vice-Marshal (retd) AK Khandoker at his office in the city Thursday, reports BSS.
During the meeting, they discussed issues related to Bangladesh’s agriculture, arable land, water, seeds, fisheries and livestock resources.
Spijkers said the FAO had provided massive assistance in the sectors of agriculture, livestock and fisheries to rehabilitate the cyclone Sidr-battered coastal areas of the country. The FAO would continue its support to the present government’s programme- Food for All, he said.
“Bangladesh can utilize experiences of the neighboring countries, including China, in boosting her agro products,” he added.
The minister said the FAO has been providing assistance to Bangladesh since its independence.

GP revenue earning rises

News Report

The revenue earning of Grameenphone went up by 13% to about 6,100 crore in 2008 compared to that of 2007. The number of subscription increased by 45 lakhs during this time. t the end of 2008, subscription number reported about 2.1 crore with a subscription market share of 47%.
Grameenphone Chief Eecutive Officer (CEO) Oddvar Hesjedal disclosed this at a press conference in the city on Wednesday.
“While it continues to grow, our subscriber growth is effected by the existing high SIM tax, which limits affordability for customers with limited incomes,” said Oddvar Hesjedal. “Nonetheless, we have consolidated our position in the market and closed the year on a positive curve,” he added.
Accordingly, Grameenphone’s net add in the fourth quarter of 2008 was 164,000 compared to 521,000 of third quarter. At the same time, the company continued its sincere effort to ensure compliant sales as per Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) subscription registration directive.
The total revenue of 2008 increased by 13 percent compared to 2007 mainly due to good contribution from customers, revenues from international gateway (IGW) and interconnect revenues from Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL).
EBITDA margin in 2008 increased to 46.4% compared with 45.9% of last year mainly due to higher revenue. Grameenphone has paid Bangladesh Government BDT 3,172 crore in 2008 on account of direct tax, VAT and duties and through BTRC. In addition, Grameenphone paid BDT 335 crore through commercial agreements with Bangladesh Railway (BR) and Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL).
GP has invested over BDT 2,700 crore in 2008, which includes BDT 592 crore investments on acquiring additional 7.4 MHz GSM frequency on 1800 band in the fourth quarter. This brings Grameenphone’s accumulated investment to about BDT 14,000 crore since inception to date.
Grameenphone submitted its IPO application to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 11th December 2008 and subsequently made its final submission of prospectus incorporating SEC’s feedback on 28th January 2009.
The company’s network presently covers almost the entire population with more than 11,800 base stations located in over 6,800 sites in operation around the country. The network is also fully EDGE/GPRS enabled, allowing the customers to access high-speed internet from anywhere within its coverage area.

IMF to support poverty reduction spending

The visiting IMF director for Asia and Pacific department, Anoop Singh, today said the government is working to raise development spending to keep domestic demand high to support efforts towards unimpeded economic growth, reports BSS.
Briefing reporters at Bangladesh Bank after meeting senior government leaders, the IMF functionary who came on a one-day visit to Bangladesh earlier in the day said the government spending is focused to increase growth and reduce poverty and IMF has the support to it.
IMF resident representative Jonathan Dunn was present in the press briefing.
Annop Singh said there is certain flexibility available in the economy to use expansionary spending to cut back poverty before it is hitting inflation to become soaring. Replying to a question, he said spending directed to raise domestic demand may be pursued in a sustainable way.
The Bangladesh economy is having this room, he suggested. He said Bangladesh economy is so far somewhat protected from the impact of global economic recession but its has already started to bring slowdown in growth. The GDP growth this year may be moderate as a result of it, he said.
Anoop Singh said he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) A K Khandoker, Finance Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman and Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
He said his visit this time is to know the new leadership, exchange views with them and tell them about the support the IMF is ready to extend in pursuing the development activities of the new government.
Annop Singh said Bangladesh economy has so far been able to retain the growth momentum from favourable agricultural growth and from a fall in the prices of food, fuel and other essential commodities in the global market.
He said the country’s limited capital account dependence has largely protected its banks, stocks and other institutions from the impact of global meltdown.
On a question, he said the country’s garments export may not be affected in the short-run.
He said although demand for apparels is folding back in Europe and American markets, export order booking from Bangladesh is quite strong up to April this year and there is not any sudden risk of a still decline thereafter.
Remittance remained robust although there is a decline in the number of workers leaving Bangladesh for employment abroad, he said.
He said the new government is looking for increasing investment to lead to expansionary growth in the economy through public and private sector partnership.
It is working to increase spending in infrastructure projects and social investment to boost the economy’s medium term growth potential to bring significant reduction in the poverty level. The IMF will continue to support such activities, he said.

HSBC sees Asia recovering first from meltdown

HONG KONG, Feb 12: Asia should be the first region to recover from global recession, thanks to the consumption power of its growing middle class, Sandy Flockhart, Asia-Pacific head of banking giant HSBC said on Thursday, reports Reuters.
“The bad news is we are experiencing a severe global economic downturn. Global GDP should shrink in 2009,” Flockhart told a conference in Hong Kong.
“China and India continue to have high growth rates. The good news is that this region will be the first to recover from the crisis,” he said, citing a growing middle class as one of Asia’s stronger characteristics.
Flockhart’s view contrasts with that of IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who said last week that Asia would not pull through the global economic downturn on its own.
Asian exports have plunged at double-digit rates in the past month as a result of weaker European and American consumer spending. China on Wednesday reported an unexpectedly sharp 17.5 percent drop in January exports, the steepest decline since records began in 1993. Weak exports have pushed Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore into recession and economists say Taiwan and South Korea are heading for recession.
Economic development in emerging Asia, however, is boosting the number of medium-income households and the region is relying on them to spur consumer spending and offset the export slump.
Flockhart said sweeping measures by governments around the world to stimulate growth were positive moves.
China believes it can still achieve 8 percent economic growth this year, helped by a 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) fiscal stimulus package announced late last year. India expects its economy to grow by 7.1 percent in 2008/09, a six-year low, and has also introduced fiscal measures, but Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwali said this week that further stimulus would be needed to sustain growth.

Thai consumer confidence rises

BANGKOK, Feb 12: Thai consumer confidence rose for the second consecutive month in January with the agreement of fiscal stimulus measures and a lull in recent political turmoil, researchers said Thursday, reports AFP.
The consumer confidence index rose to 75.2 points in January, up from 74.8 in December last year, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said.
A score below 100 indicates pessimists outweigh optimists about the economy’s prospects.
“The index increased in nearly all categories. Consumers became more confident in the political situation and Thailand’s economic outlook for the next six months,” pollster Thanavath Phonvichai told reporters.
The rise in the index was due mainly to the agreement of a 116.7-billion- baht (3.3-billion-dollar) package aimed at boosting the economy, hit by last year’s airport blockades and the world financial crisis.
The plan is a mixture of cash handouts for low earners, tax cuts, expanded free education and subsidies for transport and utilities, and was approved in an initial parliament reading on January 29.
A cut in interest rates to two percent also boosted confidence along with the ending of six months of political protests with the formation of a new Democrat-led coalition government in mid-December.
Other confidence markers revealed continuing concern in Thailand’s economy however.
Current confidence in Thailand’s economy fell to 65.7, the lowest level since June 2002, while confidence in job prospects also fell to 65.0.
“Overall, consumers are still worried about the Thai and global economic situation and job losses,” Thanavath said.
The index is based on a survey of about 2,000 people nationwide.
Oil won’t reach 70-75 dollars before 2011

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