Mayor Annis transport model to launch before Eid
“Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon will convene the team and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Executive Director Khandokar Rafiqul Islam will serve as member secretary,” the official said. After massive demonstrations by thousands of school and college students demanding road safety, the government has put the franchised transport system for Dhaka on fast track. The idea of colour-coded buses was first proposed by the late Dhaka north mayor Annisul Huq to remodel Dhaka’s broken transport system. “We have already prepared an action plan to implement the colour-coded bus service,” said Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) Executive Director Khandokar Rafiqul Islam. DNCC under Annisul had considered both these studies while drawing up the colour-coded bus plan in 2016.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
August 07, 2018 19:18 UTC
The next hot spot for apparel sourcing
It’s encouraging, therefore, to read a recent survey of international sourcing executives, carried out by McKinsey and Company, that identifies Bangladesh as the next “hot spot” for apparel sourcing -- which is definitely borne out by the sector’s growth since the report was written. What is less encouraging and something that the RMG sector needs to consider, are the five challenges identified by the study, for apparel companies seeking to do business in Bangladesh. Bangladesh currently has 796 woven fabric manufacturers, 31 of which are denim mills and 22 are producing home textiles, with an annual capacity of some 3,850 million metres of fabric. What is obvious about the current situation is that the RMG industry needs to redress the balance between imported woven fabrics and those domestically produced. Mostafiz Uddin is the Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and Bangladesh Denim Expo.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
August 07, 2018 19:18 UTC
Obaidul thanks students for going back to school
“We want to thank all students, guardians, teachers, and school authorities for the students’ return to classrooms and the ceasing of their protest for safe roads,” he said. Obaidul made the statement at a press briefing at the Awami League president’s political office in Dhanmondi on Tuesday. “The government has accepted the demands of the students, and is optimistic about fulfilling those demands,” said Obaidul. The prime minister will inaugurate its construction on Sunday.”Obaidul also said Bangladesh Chhatra League men did not attack students, and that miscreants may have attacked them while posing as Chhatra League activists. Obaidul further said they had informed the United Nations that the allegation that Awami League was torturing students is baseless.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
August 07, 2018 19:18 UTC
Govt not changing savings certificate interest rates before election
Finance Minister AMA Muhith informed the reporters about the decision at a programme in Dhaka on Tuesday. The interest rates of savings certificates were cut for the last time in 2015 by an average 2 percent to rein in sales. Muhith had been saying he would cut the rates further as the government borrowing from the savings certificates is rising along with the sales. File PhotoHe had said he would cut the rates in the budget or after it, but could not do it following pressure from MPs.On Tuesday, he said the central bank and the IRD had been asked to work on the readjustment of the rates and submit a report within two months, based on which the government would take a final decision.Asked from when the new rates would be effective, he said, “No possibility of implementing the new rates before the next election.”He also said an ‘automated system’ would be launched in January to sell savings certificates.The next election will be held by the end of this year.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2018 19:07 UTC
UN secretary-general’s envoy on youth meets Saima Wazed
They have discussed youth development issues in general, and their mental health in particular. Saima, better known by her nickname Putul, is Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh, and also Shuchona Foundation that works on mental health issues. She is a member of WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on mental health. She is the trustee of the Awami League’s research wing CRI. Senior Analyst of CRI Shah Ali Farhad, Research Officer of CRI Anika Ahmed and Nazish Arman of Shuchona Foundation were also present, among others, during the meeting.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2018 19:07 UTC
Japan seeks information on Dhaka terror attack case as security concerns still haunt Tokyo
She wished to “closely cooperate” with Japan in future, the press secretary said. He said the Bangladesh foreign minister told that the government would do in every possible manner for the safety of Japanese people. The Japanese foreign minister touched on the students demonstrations in Dhaka and said that hoped that the issue would be taken care of “peacefully”. He expected that the upcoming general elections be conducted in a “peaceful and democratic way”, his press secretary said. Kono said the Bangladesh minister explained at length those issues which he said “domestic” in nature.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2018 18:49 UTC
2 arrested on drug charges during traffic stop
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Source:Daily Sun
August 07, 2018 18:31 UTC
Celebrated Indian photographer Raghu Rai calls for Shahidul Alam’s release in open letter to Hasina
“May I humbly request and plead not to punish the honest, the truthful representative of the youth,” Rai wrote in the letter posted on Facebook on Tuesday. The High Court on Tuesday ordered the law enforcers to transfer Shahidul Alam to hospital from the Detective Branch custody. It reminds me of Pakistani general trying to teach a lesson to the faithfuls,” Rai wrote. “Honourable Prime Minister, I hope you shall honour the humbling of the hearts, for a Shahidul Alam,” he concluded. Meanwhile, journalists demonstrated against the arrest of Shahidul at the Press Club in Mumbai on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2018 18:13 UTC
Please let the press do its duty
It has been a terrible thing to see dozens of journalists from various media outlets being attacked in the last few days, simply for doing their job. Recently, a lot of rumours have been flying around regarding the attack on student protesters, creating a tremendous amount of confusion among the public. That is where the role of press comes in -- to dispel rumours, to set the record straight, and to thereby prevent fake news from going out of control. But the press cannot play this role if journalists are constantly under attack, or have to operate in a climate of fear and repression. We hope these unwarranted attacks on journalists stop, and those responsible for them are brought to book.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
August 07, 2018 18:11 UTC
Brokers milk the crowd at BRTA, offer fail-proof licences
The Mirpur BRTA office usually issues 150-200 new driving licences every day, but since last Thursday, it has issued up to 270-280 licences each day, said BRTA Assistant Director Ali Ahsan Milon. Several 'help booths' had been set up in front of the office, not by BRTA officials but people who appeared to be volunteers. “I am charging more because I am a real broker and I can get you your driving licence within three months,” he said. Generally the BRTA takes six to seven months to issue a driving licence, and charges a fee of Tk3,500. But applicants at the scene told this reporter that the brokers, with the help of BRTA officials, can make this process as short as three months.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
August 07, 2018 18:10 UTC
Japan gives five suggestions to Myanmar for faster Rohingya return
The press secretary said it is “very rare” that Japan foreign minister visit a country twice in a year. Kono encouraged Myanmar government to take “concrete steps” for safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingyas. The press secretary said they shared those so that the Bangladesh foreign minister to be better prepared before his visit to Myanmar from Aug 9. Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali at the joint briefing said Kono and he shared their views on the process for early repatriation and their subsequent resettlement. The Japanese foreign minister will leave for Russia after mid-night.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2018 18:00 UTC
‘Sacha Baron Cohen is the Daniel Day-Lewis of comedy’
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen arrives at the European Premiere of ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’ at a cinema in London, Britain on May 10, 2016 REUTERSShowtime President David Nevins said the channel had taken a “leap of faith” with the series “Who is America?” in which Baron Cohen adopts different personas and pranks American politicians, pop culture figures and others into saying outrageous things. The head of cable channel Showtime on Monday heaped praise on British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, saying the risk of broadcasting his satirical new series had paid off and that he hoped there would be more. Showtime President David Nevins said the channel had taken a “leap of faith” with the series “Who is America?” in which Baron Cohen adopts different personas and pranks American politicians, pop culture figures and others into saying outrageous things. Although the show has attracted the most controversy because of the episodes featuring conservative politicians and public figures, Baron Cohen has also taken aim at political correctness and the cult of celebrity. Clearly we are living in a time of extremes - no question about that,” Nevins said.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
August 07, 2018 17:37 UTC
Almost half the buses on long routes out of service
File photo of long route buses Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune'I am not unhappy. Unfit drivers and vehicles have no right to serve us'Due to lack of proper documentation, such as vehicle licenses, driving licenses, and insurance, almost half of all buses on long routes are out of service. “Some of our buses do not have proper documents, so we are trying to resolve this problem before operating those buses. Usually, there are 75 daily buses from Kallyanpur, Gabtoli to North Bengal, and 10-12 from Mohakhali, but almost half the buses are out of service,” said MdRana, counter master for the Gabtoli counter of SR Travels. Meanwhile, bus drivers have said that they are not worried about the students, but fear police may take advantage of the present situation to “cause mischief.”
Source:Dhaka Tribune
August 07, 2018 17:37 UTC
