Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dhaka
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday made a fervent call to the business community to forge unity
against all anarchy, violence and destructive activities that take tolls
She expressed her firm conviction that Bangladesh would be able to make position as a middle-income
country in the world much before 2021 if its present export growth rate continues.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating 20th Dhaka International Trade Fair-2015 at Sher-e-Bangla
Nagar in the city.
Hasina reiterated her governments commitment to extend all out supports to increase the exports volume of
readymade garments to $50 billion by 2021 saying the goal, though looking ambitious, is possible to achieve
together with the government support.
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed and parliamentary standing committee on commerce ministry chairman
Tajul Islam Chowdhury, commerce ministry senior secretary Hedayet ullah Al Mamun, FBCCI president Kazi
Akram Uddin Ahmed spoke, among others, on the inaugural programme of the month-long mega fair being
organised by the Export Promotion Bureau.
Hasina said, You have witnessed the horrible anarchy before 2013 election. Only two days ago they killed a
teacher and hurled petrol bomb on another teacher and her children, injuring them critically.
So, I will request the business community to join your hands against such violence and anarchy. People dont
like violence, they want peace and
development, she said adding her government was striving for fulfilment of the expectation of the people.
She said at present international trade was more challenging than before. World Trade Organisation has
undertaken various programmes for expansion of global trade, which have opened up new opportunities for us
as well as challenges, she said.
The business community and the government have to adopt new strategies for promotion of trade and explore
new markets through overcoming the challenges, she said adding Bangladesh had to earn capacity to face
tough business completion during tax-free regime.
The prime minister said her government was trying its best to develop countrys infrastructure to facilitate
trade and commerce. She said the work for construction of four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Highway would be
completed by June next, which would be turned into six-lane later.
Hasina urged the real business persons to remain aware and identify those the black sheep of the industries
saying those persons have avarice to be rich overnight.
Out of that greediness, Hasina said, those persons take loan from bank in the name of establishing business and
later loot those money in connivance with an unscrupulous section of bank officials and employees.
Though such incident is very few in numbers, but one or two incidents cast negative impacts on overall
banking system, she said adding because of those persons all bankers face trouble and it create difficulties for
real industrial entrepreneurs to get bank loan.
- See more at: http://newagebd.net/82342/pm-seeks-businesses-support-against-anarchy2/#sthash.GjVg61hb.dpuf
Brent crude reversed early gains on Friday to fall to a fresh post-2009 low below $56 a
barrel, as a glut of oil that has halved prices since June outweighed investors
positioning at the start of the year for a possible eventual recovery. Brent has
slumped to its lowest in more than five years, as top exporter Saudi Arabia and other
large Gulf producers have declined to cut production in the face of fast-growing US
shale oil output, despite pleas from other members in the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries. With no production cuts in the offing and a significant demand
response years away, oversupply looks to be with us for a while, said RBN Energy
analyst Rusty Braziel in a note. $100 a barrel crude oil prices are in the rear view
mirror, at least for a couple of years. Brent crude for February delivery was down $1.66
at $55.67 a barrel by 1237 GMT, almost 5 per cent below the days high at $58.54, set
within 30 minutes of the open of trading. Prices touched a post-2009 low of $55.48,
having averaged around $110 a barrel between 2011 and 2013. Traders said a number
of buy orders would have been placed ahead of the start of the New Years trading, with
some willing to bet prices will bounce this year as expensive oil projects are potentially
shuttered or cancelled. Markets were shut on Thursday for the New Year holiday. But
gains on the first trading day of 2015 were short-lived. Front-month US crude CLc1 for
February delivery was down $1.05 a barrel at $52.22, after reaching an intraday high of
$55.11 shortly after the start of trading. Prices faced additional pressure on Friday on
signs that output from some of the worlds largest oil producers continues to rise.
At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra
Dal, the student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, in Bishwanath upazila of Sylhet
Saturday afternoon, United News of Bangladesh reports.
Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bishwanath police station, said convener of the upazila
JCD Matiur Rahman Sumon and convening committee member Shah Amir Uddin had
long been at loggerheads over forming the new committee of the unit.
As the supporters of Matiur were preparing to bring out a procession at the upazila
headquarters on the occasion of JCDs founding anniversary, the followers of Amir Uddin
put the upazila BNP office under lock and key in the afternoon.
The clash ensued when the followers of Sumon tried to enter the BNP office breaking
the lock.
A chase and counter-chase took place during the melee that left at least 10 people
injured from the both sides.
Being informed, police rushed in and bought the situation under control.
Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble.
The country is heading for anarchy. There is no sign the political deadlock will be over anytime
soon, Tofail, also a governance expert, told New Age.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday put forward a seven-point proposal, including an election-time
non-party government for immediate holding of a fair and competitive election on the basis of consensus
among the contesting parties, to put an end to the suffocating situation in the country.
At a press conference in the city, she demanded reconstitution of the Election Commission before
announcement of the election date with neutral, qualified and honest persons acceptable to all contesting
parties so that necessary amendments to the RPO could be made, biased officials could be withdrawn from EC
secretariat and field level.
But Awami League promptly rejected Khaleda Zias demand for a dialogue to hold early polls under a nonpartisan government.
The caretaker government will never come back. So there is no scope for holding dialogue on the issue, AL
publicity secretary Hasan Mahmud put it bluntly. He ruled out any chance of holding the next general elections
before 2019.
Asked for comments, BNP standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman said that their movement for a free
and participatory election was gaining momentum with the support of the people.
BNPs demand for fresh elections is not for its own interest, but for democracy. It is more important to see
how much committed the government is to democracy than pointing the finger at BNP for its failure to press
home its demand, said the BNP leader, also a former army chief.
The AL-led government initially said that BNP must shun the politics of violence, sever links with terror
outfits and accept the incumbent government as conditions for an effective dialogue between them.
In his address to the first session of the 10th parliament, president Abdul Hamid on January 29 appealed to the
parties that had boycotted the January 5 polls to help democracy flourish through dialogue with the
government.
The controversial 10th Jatiya Sangsad began its session with the party in the opposition sharing power in the
government and major political parties staying out.
A day after assuming office, LGRD and cooperatives minister Syed Ashraful Islam claimed that the Awami
League had intensified the talks that had began with the BNP before the January 5 polls to reach a political
consensus.
He hinted that the talks for negotiations were going on offstage after a series of meetings between the AL and
BNP at the secretary level which was brokered by the United Nations for an inclusive poll.
But there was no progress in terms of political negotiations for a participatory election as time passed by,
according to policymakers in the government.
The government is going ahead with its five-year routine plan focusing more on issues relating to good
governance and development in various sectors taking into consideration its previous lapses, according to
several ministers.
It was rather trying to brighten the countrys image across the globe in bid to remove the controversies over the
January 5 polls at home and abroad, said officials.
The police on Saturday night laid siege to Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zias Gulshan
office forcing her along with a few female leaders to stay inside.
Khaleda Zia at about 11:45pm tried to go out to visit BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed,
who was reportedly admitted to Apollo Hospital in the city in police custody. The police, however, did not
allow her to leave the office.
Gulshan police station officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam told New Age at about 12:30am today that they would
not allow Khaleda to go anywhere except her house considering her security.
The police action came amid simmering tension over counter programmes of the ruling Awami League and
the BNP over the one year of the January 5, 2014 elections, boycotted by all opposition parties.
Police in riot gear were seen deployed in front of the office, while Rapid Action Battalion personnel took
position in front of Khaledas Gulshan house restricting traffic in the areas.
Armored personnel vehicles and water cannons were kept standby at both the places.
A platoon of female police was also deployed in front of Khaledas office.
Khaledas special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas at a briefing at about 1:15am in front of the office
said that the police neither allowed her to visit Rizvi at the hospital nor to go to her house.
Khaleda was still staying at her office until 2:15am.
Earlier, Rizvi was taken to Apollo Hospital from the BNP central office at about 11:00pm on Saturday in an
ambulance under police protection, party sources said.
Paltan police station officer-in-charge Morshed Alam said that the police took him to the hospital after he
suddenly fell sick.
The BNP was yet to get permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold its rally in the capital scheduled
for Monday to observe Democracy Killing Day on January 5.
When asked, the state minister for home, Asaduzzaman Kamal, said, It is up to the DMP to decide whether to
allow the BNP to hold the rally.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner [headquarters] Anwar Hossain told New Age, What
permission? We are not giving the slightest thought to it.
BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the government started mass arrest ahead of
Metropolitan Police this morning on any rally in the capital until further order.
She made the call while a group of journalists led by Shawkat Mahmud met with her on Sunday afternoon at
her Gulshan office, besieged by the law enforcers since Saturday night.
The journalist team led by Shawkat Mahmud entered the office at about 1:30pm.
Emerging from the office at about 3:15pm, Shawkat Mahmud conveyed Khaledas message to waiting
reporters in front of the office.
Khaleda will hold the rally at any cost and continue the movement, Shawkat said.
Earlier, the Supreme Court Bar Association president, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, also the Bangladesh Bar
Council vice-chairman, along with some other lawyers, came out of the office at about 3:10pm after an hourlong meeting with Khaleda.
Khandker Mahbub told reporters that the BNP chief urged people and all the parties to join the movement for
saving democracy and voting rights without waiting for her directions as she was confined.
The movement will continue until the downfall of the government, Mahbub quoted Khaleda as telling the
lawyer delegation.
Khaleda called for a unity of all parties in the transition of the country and urged all to join the movement,
Mahbub said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the nation tomorrow on the first
anniversary of the January 5 national elections.
The prime minister is scheduled to appear public around 7:15pm on Monday, an official
of the PMs press wing told The Daily Star seeking anonymity.
The media appearance will be aired live on national television Bangladesh Television
(BTV), Bangladesh Betar and other private channels.
Ruling Awami League announced that the party on tomorrow (January 5) will celebrate
the first anniversary of the one-sided election as "victory day for democracy".
Meanwhile, BNP-led 20-party alliance vowed that they will hold rally in the capital
denouncing the January 5 elections.
Following this, AL leaders have threatened that they wouldn't allow BNP men to take to
the streets tomorrow and its supporters will be ready to resist BNP on the streets.
(Reuters) - Iran's president said on Friday that a framework for a nuclear deal was just
the first step toward building a new relationship with the world, after Iranians greeted the
announcement of the accord with celebrations in the streets.
Iran must commit to recognizing Israel's right to exist in final deal - Netanyahu
RELATED COVERAGE
White House 'confident' on finalizing details for Iran nuclear deal
China says Iran deal good for Sino-U.S. relations
Netanyahu says in any nuclear deal Iran must recognize Israel's right to exist
Iran deal is step to better foreign relations: Rouhani
DECADES OF HOSTILITY
Under terms reached on Thursday, Iran would cut back
its stockpiles of enriched uranium that could be used to
make a nuclear bomb and dismantle most of the
centrifuges it could use to make more. Intensive
international inspections would prevent it from violating
the terms in secret. Washington said the settlement
would extend the "breakout time" needed for Iran to
make a bomb to a full year, from 2-3 months now.
For Iran, it would eventually lead to the end of
sanctions that have cut the oil exports underpinning
its economy by more than half over the past three
years.
Still, decades of hostility color the relationship
between Iran and the United States. Obama and
Rouhani, who both took risks to open the dialogue with
secret talks two years ago, will also have to sell the
deal to skeptical conservatives at home.
U.S. Republicans have demanded that Congress be
given the right to review the deal. The White House
expressed confidence about hammering out final
details as Obama called the four top leaders in the U.S.
House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate representing Republicans and his own Democratic
Party - on Friday to discuss the framework agreement.
TEHRAN CELEBRATES
(Reuters) - U.S. employers added the fewest number of jobs in more than a year in
March, the latest sign of weakness in the economy and one likely to further delay an
anticipated interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve.
From where I'm standing, the city-sized Baogang Steel and Rare Earth complex
dominates the horizon, its endless cooling towers and chimneys reaching up into
grey, washed-out sky. Between it and me, stretching into the distance, lies an
artificial lake filled with a black, barely-liquid, toxic sludge.
Id seen some photos before I left for Inner Mongolia, but nothing prepared me for the
sight The alien environment at Baotou lake
Dozens of pipes line the shore, churning out a torrent of thick, black, chemical waste
from the refineries that surround the lake. The smell of sulphur and the roar of the
pipes invades my senses. It feels like hell on Earth.
Welcome to Baotou, the largest industrial city in Inner Mongolia. I'm here with a
group of architects and designers called the Unknown Fields Division, and this is the
final stop on a three-week-long journey up the global supply chain, tracing back the
route consumer goods take from China to our shops and homes, via container
ships and factories.
You may not have heard of Baotou, but the mines and factories here help to keep
our modern lives ticking. It is one of the worlds biggest suppliers of rare earth
minerals. These elements can be found in everything from magnets in wind turbines
and electric car motors, to the electronic guts of smartphones and flatscreen TVs. In
2009 China produced 95% of the world's supply of these elements, and it's
estimated that the Bayan Obo mines just north of Baotou contain 70% of the world's
reserves. But, as we would discover, at what cost?
Element of success
Rare earth minerals have played a key role in the transformation and explosive
growth of China's world-beating economy over the last few decades. It's clear from
visiting Baotou that it's had a huge, transformative impact on the city too. As the
centre of this 21st Century gold-rush, Baotou feels very much like a frontier town.
Inside a rare earth mineral processing plant (Credit: Kate Davies/Unknown Fields)
As we are wandering through the factorys hanger-like rooms, its impossible not to
notice that something is missing. Amongst the mazes of pipes, tanks, and
centrifuges, there are no people. In fact theres no activity at all. Apart from our
voices, which echo through the huge sheds, the plant is silent. Its very obviously not
operating. When asked, our guide tells us the plant is closed for maintenance but
theres no sign of that either: no maintenance crews, no cleaning or repairs being
done. When pushed further our guide gets suspicious, wonders why we are asking
so many questions, and clams up. Its a behaviour well encounter a lot in Baotou
a refusal to answer questions or stray off a strictly worded script.
As we leave, one of our party who has visited the area before suggests a possible
explanation: could local industry be artificially controlling market scarcity of products
like cerium oxide, in order to keep rare earth prices high? We cant know for sure
that this was the case the day we visited. Yet it would not be unprecedented: in
2012, for example, the news agency Xinhua reported that Chinas largest rare earth
producer was suspending operations to prevent price drops.
One of Baotous other main exports is neodymium, another rare earth with a variety
of applications. Again it is used to dye glass, especially for making lasers, but
perhaps its most important use is in making powerful yet lightweight magnets.
Neodymium magnets are used in consumer electronics items such as in-ear
headphones, cellphone microphones, and computer hard-drives. At the other end of
the scale they are a vital component in large equipment that requires powerful
magnetic fields, such as wind farm turbines and the motors that power the new
generation of electric cars. Were shown around a neodymium magnet factory by a
guide who seems more open than our friend at the cerium plant. Were even given
some magnets to play with. But again, when our questions stray too far from
applications and to production and associated environmental costs, the answers are
less forthcoming, and pretty soon the visit is over.
The refinement of rare earth minerals, like that done in this factory, can cause toxic
byproducts (Credit: Kate Davies/Unknown Fields)
The intriguing thing about both neodymium and cerium is that while theyre called
rare earth minerals, they're actually fairly common. Neodymium is no rarer than
copper or nickel and quite evenly distributed throughout the worlds crust. While
China produces 90% of the global markets neodymium, only 30% of the worlds
deposits are located there. Arguably, what makes it, and cerium, scarce enough to
be profitable are the hugely hazardous and toxic process needed to extract them
from ore and to refine them into usable products. For example, cerium is extracted
by crushing mineral mixtures and dissolving them in sulphuric and nitric acid, and
to be tested. The clay we collected from the toxic lake tested at around three times
background radiation, he later tells me.
Watch the black byproduct of rare earth mining pouring into the lake at Baotao
(Credit: Richard John Seymour/Unknown Fields)
Unknown Fields has an unusual plan for the stuff. We are using this radioactive clay
to make a series of ceramic vessels modelled on traditional Ming vases, Young
explains, each proportioned based on the amount of toxic waste produced by the
rare earth minerals used in a particular tech gadget. The idea is to illustrate the
impact our consumer goods have on the environment, even when that environment
might be unseen and thousands of miles away.
After seeing the impact of rare earth mining myself, its impossible to view the
gadgets I use everyday in the same way. As I watched Apple announce their smart
watch recently, a thought crossed my mind: once we made watches with minerals
mined from the Earth and treated them like precious heirlooms; now we use even
rarer minerals and we'll want to update them yearly. Technology companies
continually urge us to upgrade; to buy the newest tablet or phone. But I cannot
forget that it all begins in a place like Bautou, and a terrible toxic lake that stretches
to the horizon.