“Countries like Indonesia or Thailand do not have that much good governance but they have been achieving growth steadily for years,” he said while speaking at a book launching programme in the city Wednesday.

The book ‘Bodle Deoar Orthoniti (Economy for Change) was written by banker Mamun Rashid. The book contains a number of articles on contemporary economic issues, that were published in different Bangla and English newspapers.

Mirza Azizul Islam said Bangladesh does not need to be pessimistic for not having high growth as there are enormous prospects in Bangladesh.

“But it is right that good governance would bring higher growth for Bangladesh,” he said.

He suggested forming of an alternative supply source to meet sudden excessive demand in the market.

“Controlling market is not a good thing in a free market economy,” he said adding: Yet, sometimes the government has to interfere if there is less supply against excessive demand.

He expressed the opinion that present Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), which was formed to meet such demand, was not capable of providing proper supply in times of need.

The former adviser suggested forming an institution like consumer cooperative which would make balance among all parties including the producers and the consumers.

Another former adviser of the caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan at the programme welcomed the author’s initiative in writing in the mother tongue as there were very few writings in Bangla on economics.

Chairman of the programme, BRAC University Vice Chancellor Ainun Nishat also welcomed the author for writing difficult academic topics in a popular manner.

He said all the articles have definite suggestions for the policy makers on what to in a particular economic situation.

“Economic writers usually avoid giving suggestions on any issue during the time of happening,” he said.

World Bank Country Director Zahid Hossain, Associate Editor of the daily Samakal Ajay Dasgupta and ICE Business Times Editor Ekram Kabir, among others, spoke on the occasion.

source: www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com

They also demanded withdrawal of the general diary lodged by the businessman, Mir Iftekhar, against the mayor and his family members with the police station within seven days otherwise the representatives of the CCC will observe pen-down programme.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the councillors, female councillors in the reserved wards and the penal mayors at the CCC Nagar Bhaban this morning.

The councillors warned they “will not be held responsible if their pen-down programme from next week causes sufferings to the city people.”

The meeting was attended, among others, by penal mayors Md Hossain, Zobaida Nargis Khan Chowdhury, Hasan Mahmud Hasni, councillors Sayed Golam Haider Mintu, AKM Jafrul Islam, Md Tayab, Bijoy Kishan Chowdhury, Niaz Md Khan, Jaharlal Hazari, Ferdous Begum Munni, Rekha Alam Chowdhury and Rehana Begum Ranu.

source: www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com

Members of the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) and Panchagarh district AL, presidents and general secretaries of AL associate bodies of the district, local party lawmakers, party-backed upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen in the district, and presidents and general secretaries of upazila, municipality and union units will attend the meeting.

source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com

He said the political uncertainty is holding back the economic progress and desired level of growth in the country.

“Our confrontational politics is holding back us from achieving desired level of growth. Confrontational politics- hartals and streets violence- needs to be addressed by the politicians for the sake of country’s economy,” he said as the chief guest at a seminar in the capital.

Policy Research Centre (PRC), an initiative of Darul Ihsan University, organised the seminar on “Trade and Commerce in Bangladesh: Challenges Ahead” at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.

Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Akbaruddin Ahmad presided over the event.

Ambassador of Denmark in Dhaka Svend Olling as the special guest in the seminar laid emphasis on ending confrontational politics in Bangladesh. He said that Bangladesh has the potential to be a middle income country by 2021.

“Bangladesh is absolutely ready to be our major economic partner and middle income country by 2021,” he said and adding that more than 17 Danish companies are now operating here.

Dr Mirza Azizul said, “We (Bangladesh) have a large population. The per capita income of the country is satisfactory to international standard with young and dynamic entrepreneurs in the private sector that have been contributing a lot to the nation’s economy”.

“Our trade GDP (gross domestic product) ratio is significant due mainly to increased number of private sector’s involvement in the county’s economy,” he mentioned.

He laid emphasis on reining in corruption and establishing good governance for achieving sound economic growth that could also ensure level playing field to flourish private sector.

He suggested government to streamlining trade and industrial policy.

“Our education and trading system should be developed as we are still relying on foreign nationals for handling mid-level activities in garment industries in the country that cost a big foreign currency,” he mentioned.

The Danish envoy has said that Bangladesh is very competitive country considering its cheap labour force, good geographical location that would help emerge a middle income country by 2021.

He has said that Bangladeshi people are hard working and industries that are the strength of the country.

“The people (Bangladeshis) are industries and hard working that are the strength of the country. We (Denmark) want expand business with Bangladesh,” he added.

Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury said that unnecessary items should be discouraged to import.

He said that the volume of imports was higher than export in recent days that put pressure on balance of payment.

“Our (Bangladesh) economy is not in bad shape rather it has been facing some challenges which are achievable”.

He said that PPP (public-private partnership) had been finalised for infrastructure development of the country.

Dr M Monwar Hossain of Darul Ihsan University in the key note paper has said that inflation appears as permanent phenomenon in the country’s economy.

It has started to increase since the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2009-10 and continued to rise throughout FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11.

“Inflation has to be controlled to check rise in price level to save lower and middle income groups. The Bangladesh Bank (BB) should control inflationary pressure through intervention in money market and bringing down growth of credit,” he said.

He suggested trade liberalisation programmes needed to focus on reduction in the dispersion and average level of protection, promotion of services export, reduction of the reliance on limited number of goods through diversification of exports, promotion of more efficient handling of custom and border procedures and more efficient duty drawback system.

Executive Editor of the News Today Mahbub Husain Khan and Prof MM Hussain of York University in Toronto, Canada, among others, spoke on the occasion.

source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com

“After the election victory, Awami League indicated to move its election agenda forward. Looking at political, democratisation, economy, etc we can say the ambitious election manifesto has not been realised yet,” he said.

The Ambassador made the remarks at a press briefing at the Dutch Embassy marking the celebration of 40 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the Netherlands.

Referring to the confrontational politics now prevailing, Hennekens said: “We like to see more constructive cooperation between the government and the opposition, keeping above the interest of Bangladesh than that of parties.”

He said Bangladesh has been making continuous efforts to emerge as a middle income economy. “We hope, the government and opposition work together in the interest of Bangladesh.”

Describing Bangladesh as one of the priority countries for the Dutch cooperation, Ambassador Hennekens said the Netherlands will provide 200 million Euro to Bangladesh as bilateral fund and another 100 million Euro through the Dutch NGOs under the Multi-Annual Strategic Plan for 2012-2015.

source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com

Mirza Fakhrul made the remark while addressing a demonstration organised by BNP Dhaka city unit in front of its central office protesting the ‘destruction’ of the stock market by the Awami League (AL) government through its anti-people policy’.

He said they want to observe the Dhaka Cholo (Let’s go to Dhaka) programme on March 12 peacefully and people will not allow any obstruction if they (AL) try to obstruct them.

source: www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com

In a condolence message, Khaleda expressed deep shock at the killing of Maachhranga television news editor Sagor Sarwar and ATN Bangla TV senior reporter Meherun Runi in their West Rajabazar quarters in the capital Friday night.

The opposition leader said the killing of the two journalists proved that there is no guarantee of lives of the ordinary people.

She said the reign of terror unleashed by terrorists, dacoits and anti-social elements has now spread to all spheres of society.

Condemning the killings, Khaleda demanded immediate arrest of the killers and their exemplary punishment.

She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families.

In a separate condolence message, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also expressed shock at the killings of the two journalists.

Meanwhile, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Saturday expressed his deep shock at the double murder of journalists in the capital, saying that the country is gradually turning into a slaughter ground.

“We’ve been repeatedly telling the country is turning into a slaughter ground gradually. This brutal killing again proved there are no rule of law in the country,” he told reporters after visiting the West Rajabazar house of Maasranga TV news editor Sagar Sarwar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi, killed Friday night.

Mirza Fakhrul strongly condemned the dastardly murders and urged the government to stop such killings. “Let the people have guarantee of normal death,” he said.

source: www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com

“The government does not believe in Constitution and the judiciary. It formed the new Election Commission by violating the Constitution in an unlawful and unconstitutional way,” he remarked at a discussion held at the National Press Club on Friday.

Following a series of meetings with political parties, president M Zillur Rahman on Wednesday formed the new five-member EC, based on recommendations made by a search committee he constituted on Jan 22.

New chief election commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and three of the commissioners took oath of office on Thursday.

Hours before their swearing-in, prime minister Sheikh Hasina at a programme had said, “No Election Commission was ever formed so liberally in Bangladesh with any party-led government in power.”

Responding to her remarks, former law minister Moudud Ahmedon Friday said, “The Constitution has nothing in it about forming search committees to form the EC. So the search committee formed by the president is unconstitutional.”

Source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com

“Why should we obstruct them if it is peaceful?” he told UNB over telephone when asked about BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s appeal to the government not to create impediments to her peaceful “Dhaka Cholo” programme and the grand rally in the capital on March 12.

Hanif said: “The present government has not thwarted any peaceful programme of the opposition in the past three years. There is no such instance.”

He, however, said the administration will obviously take action to protect public life and property if BNP resorts to violence, arson or killing in the name of their peaceful programme.

Replying to a question, the AL leader said each programme of the BNP has “hidden agenda” of unleashing violence. On December 29-30, BNP orchestrated violent activities in the name of ‘mass procession’.

“We hope, BNP will observe its programme peacefully. Otherwise, law enforcers will take action to maintain peace in public life,” he added.

Referring to Indian BSF chief UK Bansal’s remark that the firing would not stop totally as they have to prevent the offenders on the border, Hanif said the government has already lodged protest with the Indian government and sought clear explanation of Bansal’s remarks.

“We never expect killing or torture of our people in the frontier,” he said.

Source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com

“Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) is not functional for 22 years though Dhaka University (DU) used to be called as the factory of building leaders,” Tofail said.

source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com