On the first day, AL held yesterday a meeting of the Barisal district and

February 09,2010

Bangladesh Awami League formally started its move yesterday to strengthen the party's grassroots level activities, resolve conflicts and promote coordination among the party leaders, workers and lawmakers, according to a decision taken at its extended meeting on January 30. On the first day AL held yesterday a meeting of the Barisal district and city units. AL central leaders would also start massive district level tours soon to hold district level councils. While addressing the party's extended meeting here at the Circuit House conference room, the leaders also demanded punishment of the BNP-Jamaat men who tortured the AL activists during the four party-led government's rule between 2001 and 2006. Barisal district unit AL General Secretary Abul Hasanat Abdullah's primary party membership was the first to be renewed under the process. AL presidium member Yusuf Hossain Humayun was present as chief guest at the meeting with Mokhlesur Rahman, acting president of Barisal district AL, in the chair. AL Organising Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, who is in charge of looking after the party activities in Barisal division, and central leader Afzal Hossain, Barisal City Corporation Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron, AL lawmakers Talukder Mohammad Yunus, Monirul Islam Moni, and Pervin Talukder and leaders of city, upazila, municipality units and associated bodies also spoke at the meeting. The meeting started around 11:00am and continued till 5:30pm without any break. Addressing the meeting Barisal City unit AL Convenor Hiron demanded party councils of the district, city and upazila units. Hiron said change in the leadership is necessary to avert debacle in the next election. Barisal city AL leader Anisuddin also demanded new leadership in all tiers. Yusuf Mollah, president of Agailjhara upazila AL, demanded punishment to the BNP men who tortured AL men while the BNP-Jamaat coalition was in power. Bahauddin Nasim directed the local leaders to bring an end to the misunderstanding among the party leaders and to remain united to strengthen the organisation. Nasim said the contribution of the grassroots level leaders would have to be evaluated. He also directed the party men not to get involved in tender manipulations. Afzal Hossain urged all to remain cautious about the anti-government propaganda by the main opposition. Hasanat Abdullah directed the local leaders not to get involved in criminal activities.

Kuwait agrees to invest Bangladesh's development sector, Sheikh Hasina had talk with Kuwaiti Speaker of parliament also

February 08,2010

Visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had separate meetings with Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and her Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Nasser Al- Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah here. Kuwait today showed keen interest in providing all-out support to different development projects in Bangladesh and also expansion of bilateral trade and business between the two brotherly Muslim countries. The Bangladesh premier spent a very busy day in the Kuwait city today, the second day of her three-day state visit in the oil rich Arab country. During the meetings, they discussed matters related to different bilateral interests and expansion of trade and business between Bangladesh and Kuwait for the mutual benefits of two peoples. Other important issues like Bangladeshi manpower export, river dredging and Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh's development sector also came up prominently for discussion during these meetings. Referring to the Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina urged the Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh taking advantage of her government's "lucrative" investment policy. In this context, she said her government would provide possible assistance for foreign investment in Bangladesh and laid emphasis on exchange of visits programmes of the businessmen of two countries to widen the way for further enhancing the trade relations between the two countries. About the manpower export, she said her government is providing training to the Bangladeshi workers on the language, customs, laws and technical know-how to enable them to work efficiently in different host countries.

February 08,2010

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Kuwaiti business leaders and entrepreneurs to import world-class products from Bangladesh and make investment in the country’s promising sectors under an attractive package of incentives. “In fact, there is ample scope for diversifying and increasing our two-way trade. We only need to work together to identify areas of cooperation to harness the existing potential,” she told her audience at a luncheon meeting hosted by Kuwait Chamber of Commerce in her honor. The Prime Minister said Kuwait could import from Bangladesh high-quality garments, ceramics and pharmaceuticals, which have been established as popular items in the developed world. The other items she put on offer, which also have equal recognition in an increasingly environment-conscious world, are finished leather and leather products, furniture, handicrafts, and, particularly, jute and jute products. Sheikh Hasina said another important area of immense possibility is investment by the State of Kuwait in Bangladesh. “Our government has been successful in creating an attractive investment climate with liberal fiscal and financial policies.” She listed the significant facilities on stake for investment, like tax holiday, concessionary duty on imported machinery, avoidance of double taxation, remittance of royalty, technical know-how, technical assistance fee, allowing 100 percent foreign equity, unrestricted exit policy, and full repatriation of capital and capital gains in the event of exit. A huge domestic market of 150 million people, abundant skilled labor, the presence of homegrown entrepreneur class, supportive legal regime, and, above all, commitment of the government are added attractions for foreign investors, the PM told the leading Kuwaiti businesspeople.