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The Election Commission (EC) will not take any initiative of mediating among political parties over any election-related issue, report agencies. "It's not the EC's duty to mediate among political parties. I don't need to go to anyone as the EC is an independent body," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Khan Mohammad Nurul Huda told a dialogue with media personalities at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city on Thursday. The dialogue was held as part of its series of talks with different stakeholders ahead of the next general elections. In the two-day talks with journalists, a total of 24 media personalities, including online editors and representatives from electronic media, joined the last-day talks. Election commissioners Mahbub Talukdar, Rafiqul Islam, Begum Kabita Khanam and Brigadier General (Retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, and EC acting Secretary Md Helaluddin Ahmed were present at the dialogue. The CEC said, "If necessary, army will be deployed and only the EC will decide in this regard." Huda said, "The EC is an independent organisation constitutionally... We don't bow down to any pressure and won't go to any person for compromise." "We saw in the past many international mediators had arrived to resolve crisis among political parties, but failed finally. Why will we waste time doing such? It's not our job either," the CEC said. "We've taken oath that we won't bow down to any pressure and we won't go to anyone. This is enough," he said. About the type of election-time government, he said the EC has no role in deciding what will be the nature of government during the election. The Commission cannot play any role in this regard, he said. As the EC is a 'technical' office, it is obliged to conduct elections in the system which is determined by the government, Nurul Huda added. Most of the participants suggested that the Commission can engage the army in the election if the election-time situation demands but some others opposed it. They suggested that the EC show its 'firmness' and 'boldness' for the arrangement of an inclusive and credible election. Among other major suggestions, restoration of 'No Vote' provision, keeping the civil administration and law enforcement agencies under the full control of the EC, creating a level-playing field, keeping it free from the influence of election-time government, keeping biased observers outside the polls and ensuring security to minorities during the election. "It's the EC that will take decisions whether the army will be deployed or not. But the army shouldn't be pushed towards a confrontational situation with people by defining it as a regular law enforcement agency," Ekattor TV managing director Mozammel Babu said. He suggested bringing all polling stations under TV cameras to prevent irregularities in the next election. "We all (TV channels) want to monitor the 40,000 polling stations in a coordinated way. We've the capacity." Bangladesh Correspondent of Voice of America Amir Khasru said, "The army deployment in the general election is important as we know what the role the regular law enforcement agencies played in the polls in the past." He advised the EC to make its neutrality visible first. Independent TV executive editor Khaled Muhiuddin said the EC's job is earning public confidence. "They'll have to do it. The EC will decide if the army is needed." BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad apparently opposed the army deployment. "Still, there're 18 months before the election. Now we don't know whether the army or ansar is needed. We'll have to think if there's an attempt to make the army controversial." NTV head of news Khairul Anwar Mukul said, "We want a credible and participatory election. This is why the EC will have to demonstrate firmness and boldness to do so." At a press briefing, EC acting secretary Helaluddin said the EC will place the suggestions of civil society members and media representatives before political parties during the upcoming dialogue which will start on August 24 next. The EC will also sit in talks with registered political parties, election observers, women leaders and election experts to take opinions over the preparation of 11th national election.....

Published at: 2017-08-18 05:00:04

Five more exportable items have been included in the list of products eligible for the government cash incentive for this fiscal year (FY), 2017-18. Of the five products, information technology (IT)-enabled services and hardware exporters will get 10 per cent cash support, while synthetic and fabric-made footwear exporters will get 15 per cent. Besides, active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) will get 20 per cent cash incentive, accumulator battery 15 per cent, and coconut coir-made products will get 20 per cent cash incentive.  Bangladesh Bank issued a circular to this effect on Thursday. With the latest inclusion, the number of exportable products entitled for cash incentive has reached 27.     arafat_ara@hotmail.com....

Published at: 2017-08-18 05:00:04

Today (Friday) is the third death anniversary of Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, a renowned businessman, politician and philanthropist, said a press release. Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain was a Member of Parliament from Feni- 3 for three consecutive terms, former chairman of the parliamentary standing committee for the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts, former adviser to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, former chairman of Feni District,  former president of BGMEA and BAIRA, sponsor and founder director of The Financial Express's owning company International Publications Limited (IPL) and Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, former chairman of Noakhali Committee, and former managing director of manpower-export company Bay Eastern Limited. Relatives, friends and former colleagues have been requested to pray for the peace of his departed soul.....

Published at: 2017-08-18 05:00:04

A new study has shown that consuming fortified rice can significantly reduce anaemia and zinc deficiencies among the poorest women in Bangladesh, reports bdnews24.com. Conducted by the research centre icddr,b and on behalf of the United Nations World Food Programme or WFP, the study measured the impact of providing rice enriched with micronutrients to women participating in the government's vulnerable group development (VGD) programme. The study, released on Thursday in Dhaka, also found that fortified rice, when combined with training and cash grants for investment, can also contribute to women's empowerment. The study determined that the prevalence of anaemia dropped by 4.8 per cent and zinc deficiency reduced by 6 per cent among women consuming fortified rice. The research compared VGD women who received 30kg of fortified rice and an investment grant of Tk 15,000 ($185), with those who received 30kg of normal (non-fortified) rice per month. This is the first time that the use of fortified rice in a government safety net programme has been tested in Bangladesh.  Fortification in salt (with iodine) and oil (with vitamin A) is common in Bangladesh. The VGD programme reaches more than one million ultra-poor women and their families, totalling about five million people. "The findings are very promising," said Christa Räder, WFP representative in Bangladesh. "Now we have a much better understanding of how integrating fortified rice into government safety net programmes can help improve women's micronutrient status." The overall objective of rice fortification is to fight micronutrient deficiencies among the poorest. Low dietary diversity and scanty intake of nutrient-rich foods remain a challenge in Bangladesh, despite a significant decline in poverty in recent years. With rice being the main commodity distributed through the government's food-based social safety nets reaching the ultra-poor, the introduction of fortified rice can address the widespread nutritional deficiencies and help ensure an active and healthy life. Fortified rice kernels look, taste and cook like ordinary rice but are enhanced with essential micronutrients. They are combined with regular rice at a WHO approved ratio of 1 to 100 which means in 10kg regular rice 100 gram fortified rice can be added. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, her ministry's Secretary Nasima Begum, and Ambassador of the Netherlands Leoni Margaretha Cuelenaere were also present at the launch of study findings. Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, senior director of the nutrition and clinical services division of icddr,b, presented the findings. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has allocated more than $1 million to distribute fortified rice in 35 upazilas covered by the VGD programme in fiscal 2017-2018. The Scaling-up Rice Fortification Initiative is supported by the Embassy of Netherlands in Bangladesh and implemented by government agencies in collaboration with WFP. The WFP said they would take further steps to support the private sector in making fortified rice commercially available at affordable prices and creating demand among consumers. The state minister said the government would finance the continuous scaling-up of fortification in the VGD programme. The ambassador of Netherlands, Cuelenaere, said the research is relevant to the government, the development partners and garments sector and private partners.....

Published at: 2017-08-18 05:00:04

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) will protect common investors and work to create a better investment climate for them, said its chairman C Q K Mustaq Ahmed on Thursday. "The FRC came into existence as common investor's wish and it will protect their interests," he said while speaking at a conference. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) organised the Members' Conference on 'Financial Reporting Oversight: Global Practice and Bangladesh' at its auditorium in the city. Mr Ahmed said it is justifiable to have a regulator of the regulators as there are some other regulatory frameworks in accountancy, auditing and financial management. The newly appointed chairman said the prime goal of the FRC is to ensure good governance in financial reporting, which will ultimately create a good investment climate in the country. He assured the professional accountants that the FRC will not be tough and rigid, but the offenders will not be spared. ICAB President Adeeb Hossain Khan said expectations from the FRC are very high as good quality financial reporting should also be responsibility of several other regulators such as capital market regulators and banking regulators. He said high quality financial reporting needs to be truly demanded, appreciated and valued. "Those who reach that level should receive tangible benefits like preferential lending rates, and premium pricing of securities etc," he added. Past president of ICAB Muhammed Farhad Hussain conducted and chaired the conference while Assistant Professor of Accounting & Information Systems at Dhaka University Dr Ranjan Kumar Mitra presented the Keynote paper and Mostafa Kamal FCA, Member-Council & Vice President (E&T) ICAB, made concluding remarks. FRC Bangladesh has been formed in line with Financial Reporting Act 2015 with a view to achieving a well-controlled framework in financial reporting function of public interest entities (PIEs) by accomplishment setting standards and its proper implementation, monitoring financial reporting, audit practice review and enforcement.     bdsmile@gmail.com....

Published at: 2017-08-18 05:00:04