US Ambassador Moriarty calls on Faruk Khan BSS

US Ambassador Moriarty calls on Faruk Khan BSS, DhakaCommerce Minister Faruk Khan on Sunday sought cooperation of US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty in getting duty-free and quota-free market access of Bangladeshi products to the US market.He was talking to Moriarty who made a courtesy call-on him at his secretariat office here. During the meeting, they reviewed the existing trade relations between the two countries and the scope of further expanding the ties to benefit the two countries. Faruk Khan urged the US Ambassador to take to his government the request of Bangladesh to offer special trade access to Dhaka's exports similar to one now being offered to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.He also informed the ambassador of the significant progress that Bangladesh achieved in offering the social security to the country's work force, especially the garment workers.Moriarty said he would take the issue to his government.Commerce Secretary Feroze Ahmed and director general of WTO cell Amitab Chakravarty were present.
Commerce Minister asks cable operators to reduce costs, improve serviceBSS, DhakaCommerce Minister Lt Col (Retd) Faruq Khan on Sunday said all would have to work together, correcting past mistakes to face the challenges of the 21st century.He said this when a delegation of Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) called on him at the commerce ministry. COAB President SM Anowar Parvez led the 22-member delegation.The minister said the present government is pledge-bound to do whatever necessary to take the country forward.He suggested the cable operators to provide services to their clients through improved and modern wireless system instead of the traditional cable system. He advised them to reduce costs and raise efficiency in the sector.The COAB leaders demanded declaration of their sector as an industry and bank loan and insurance facilities. Additional Secretary of Commerce Ministry Selim Mostakim was present at the meeting, among others.
Local chapter of UN global impact opens todayBSS, DhakaThe local chapter of the United Nations' Global Compact, at the initiative of the United Nations' for socially responsible business, will be launched today (Monday).The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), The CSR Center, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are jointly organizing the function. Commerce Minister Faruq Khan will address the function as the chief guest, said a press release of BEI. Renata Lok Dessallien, Resident Coordinator for the United Nations in Bangladesh, will inaugurate the programme. Soren Peterson, Head of Global Compact Networks at the UN Headquarters in New York, will deliver the keynote speech at the function. Farooq Sobhan, President of BEI and former ambassador, will deliver the opening remarks. Representatives from all the 40 members of the Global Compact in Bangladesh including the powerhouses of the private sector such as Rahimafrooz, ACL, Square and Abdul Monem Group will attend the function. Besides, representatives from the cross-section of Bangladeshi civil society as well as foreign experts and dignitaries will also attend.
Dhaka seeks continued WHO assistance for development of health sectorBSS, DhakaHealth and Family Welfare Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Haq has sought continued assistance of World Health Organization (WHO) and other development agencies for implementation of government's pledges in health sector.Addressing a press conference at the conference room of the health ministry, the minister said he sought the cooperation when he attended the current 124th session of the executive council of WHO at Geneva in Switzerland.The conference began on January 19 and will continue until January 29. The health minister, however, returned home from Geneva yesterday to attend the first session of the 9th parliament on Sunday.The minister said he told WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan that there will be no problem to continue development activities in health sector in Bangladesh, despite the global economic slowdown, if the development agencies continue their support.He expressed firm determination of the present government to implement pledges in the health sector and attain the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), despite multifarious challenges in the economic sector.The health minister said the WHO director general assured all possible assistance to implement the pledges of the government. The WHO official also appreciated Bangladesh for sending an expert team to Zimbabwe to tackle cholera epidemic in that country recently. In the Geneva conference, the health minister stressed the need for enhancing international and regional cooperation for reduction of maternal mortality and development of reproductive health.He proposed formation of a task force under the WHO to collect and review information on the possible effects of the global economic recession. He also conveyed Bangladesh's concerns over the human disaster in Gaza of Palestine and called upon the WHO and other international agencies to offer necessary assistance for rehabilitation and rebuilding there.Besides, the minister took part in a review session on 'Health Impacts of the Current Financial and Economic Crisis' and held a separate meeting with the WHO director general.
JU admission tests from Feb 3BSS, SavarAdmission tests for the first year honours courses under the 2008-09 academic session of Jahangirnagar University (JU) will begin from February 3. The one-hour written tests of the departments of Physics, Statistics and Chemistry under 'Ka unit' will be held on February 3 and those of the departments of Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, and Geological Sciences of the same unit on February 4.The admission tests of the departments of Pharmacy and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology under 'Gha unit' will be held on February 5, Botanical Science and Microbiology Department on February 7 and Zoology Department on February 8.The admission test of the Department of Economics under 'Kha unit' will be held on February 8, departments of Urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration and Business Administration on February 9, and the departments of Anthropology, Geography and Environment, and Government and Politics of the same unit on February 10.The admission tests of Archaeology and English Department under 'Ga unit' will be held on February 11, History and International Relations on February 12 and departments of Bangla, Philosophy, and Drama and Dramatics on February 14.Details about the admission tests are available on the university's notice board and on website www.juniv.edu.
75 hurt in continued post-polls violencebdnews24.com, DhakaAt least 75 people were hurt in continued post-polls violence in Sunamganj, Barguna, Bogra, Netrakona, Feni and Kurigram on Saturday. Some 50 people were injured in Ashuganj of Brahmanbaria district alone on Friday afternoon. There were reports of lootings and arson attacks around the country besides incidents of attacks on the UNO office in Feni and a defeated female candidate in Satkhira. One person was killed in Brahmanbaria on Thursday and two others in Narail and Faridpur the following day. On Thursday, when Upazila elections were held, polls at Belkuchi in Sirajganj, Barura in Comilla, Brahmanbaria Sadar and Ramganj in Luxmipur districts were called off due to alleged snatching of ballot papers, occupation of polling centres, rigging and clashes. bdnews24.com correspondents report 17 people including women were hurt in Sunamganj, four in Barguna, 22 in Bogra, at least 14 in Netrakona, two in Feni, one in Satkhira, five in Kurigram, and at least 50 in Brahmanbaria.