Haque Specialized Group's News

China has proposed that North Korea suspend its tests of missile and nuclear technology to "defuse a looming crisis". Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that in exchange, the US and South Korea could halt annual joint military drills, which consistently infuriate the North. The appeal comes after North Korea test-launched four missiles on Monday, breaking international sanctions. In response, the US began rolling out a missile defence system in South Korea. Speaking on the sidelines of China's annual parliamentary meeting, Wang said the Korean peninsula was like "two accelerating trains, coming toward each other with neither side willing to give way". "Are the two sides really ready for a head-on collision?" he asked. A mutual halt of military operations would be the first step towards easing tensions and reopening negotiations, he said. THAAD 'no threat to China' Three of the North Korean missiles came down inside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Monday, prompting Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump to say the region had entered "a new stage of threat". The UN Security Council earlier strongly condemned the launch in a unanimous statement, calling it a grave violation of North Korea's international obligations, which risked destabilising the region. The Council, which will meet later on Wednesday, also threatened to "take further significant measures" against North Korea, which could imply efforts to introduce a fresh round of sanctions. Meanwhile, the US has again sought to reassure Beijing over deployment of an extensive missile defence system in South Korea. The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) is designed to protect South Korea, and US troops based there, from North Korean missile attacks. The first elements of it were moved into place on Tuesday, hours after the North's latest launch. The THAAD deployment, originally agreed under the Obama administration, is controversial. South Koreans living in areas which will host defence batteries are concerned they could become targets. China has said its radar capabilities go far beyond what is required for defence and represents an encroachment of US military power and that it will "resolutely take necessary measures to defend our own security interest". At a news briefing on Tuesday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner repeated US reassurances to China. He said the US had been "very clear in our conversations with China that this is not meant to be a threat, and is not a threat, to them or any other power in the region". The US was "actively engaged" with its regional partners, he said, to address North Korea's "continuing provocative behaviour and actions". Toner said that North Korea would be discussed next week when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson makes his first official visits to South Korea, Japan, and China.....

Published at: 2017-03-08 00:00:04

BRAC Bank Limited is taking part in “Banker-SME Women Entrepreneur Gathering & Product Fair-2017” on the eve of International Women’s Day. Bangladesh Bank organised the fair at Mohila Samity, Baily Road that will run till March 11.  State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki inaugurated the fair on March 6. Governor of Bangladesh Bank Mr. Fazle Kabir and Secretary of Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Nasima Begum, NDC were also present. The State Minister and the senior officials handed over a SME loan to BRAC Bank’s Small Business customer, “Ma Tailors” (proprietor: Ms. Dipa Akter) at the inaugural programme as a new woman entrepreneur. Mr. Syed Abdul Momen, Acting Head of SME Banking, BRAC Bank, was also present. At the fair, BRAC Bank’s Small Business customer, Ms. Nasima Parveen is showcasing her Jany Fashion’s boutique products at BRAC Bank stall, said a statement. -rmc//  ....

Published at: 2017-03-08 00:00:04

Counterterrorism police are conducting a raid on a house in Chittagong since late on Tuesday following the attack on a police check-post in Comilla. Chittagong's Superintendent of Police Nure Alam Mina said a team of counterterrorism officers and Comilla police has sealed off a two-storey building around 11pm on Tuesday. An officer of Mirsharai police, on condition of anonymity, said the building at the Upazila town's College Road was cordoned-off in the morning, reports bdnews24.com. A counterterrorism officer in Dhaka, also wishing to remain anonymous, said,"Those who were arrested in Comilla yesterday, had been in that Mirsharai house. Explosives have been found in that house during the raid." He said the raid concluded at 2pm and that counterterrorism officers are conducting raids at several other places. The Dhaka-based senior officer did not reveal any other details citing that the raid was still underway. On Tuesday, law-enforcers manning a check-post on a highway in Comilla were attacked with bombs. Highway police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Atiqul Islam said two suspected militants hurled bombs at policemen during a regular search of a bus on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. Around 11am, a Dhaka-bound bus was stopped at the highway check-post for speeding. "When the police were going through the documents, two men came down from the bus and hurled bombs shouting 'Allahu Akbar.' No one was injured as the bombs did not explode," DIG Islam said on Tuesday. Police said one of the two men ran immediately after hurling bombs. Police managed to nab him with help from the locals. The other one threatened to explode a bomb in his hand, but was later caught. DIG Islam said that the two were coming from the hill tract district of Bandarban and that six more crude bombs were found in their possession.       ....

Published at: 2017-03-08 00:00:04

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 24 alleged human traffickers and rescued 37 victims from different areas, including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport of Dhaka on Tuesday night, reports UNB. Tipped off, separate teams of the elite force conducted the drives at night and arrested the 24 suspected human traffickers and rescued 37 victims, said Senior Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman. Of the victims, 27 people were deported from Libya after they had been trafficked to that country, while 10 others were being trafficked to Malaysia, the SSP said. The elite force also seized Tk six lakh and confiscated a huge number of passports, fake visas, and fake visa-making materials from their possessions.....

Published at: 2017-03-08 00:00:04

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said Monday the lion's share of investment for the country's development should come from the capital market. "The lion's share of the investment for the country's development should come from capital market and the merchant bankers could play an important role in this regard," he told a reception accorded to him by the Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association (BMBA) in a city hotel. The 84-year-old minister said he lived a life of a successful human being as whatever he dreamt has become true. "I can die in peace," he said in an emotion-choked voice. He said Bangladesh was born poor and now has become prosperous country during the last two and half decades. Speaking at the function, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the finance minister has been playing a great role in implementing a roadmap towards making Bangladesh a middle income country. Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) chairman Dr. M. Khairul Hossain said the finance minister has a development policy to eradicate inequality from the country. He said the minister always thought about the capital market as a source of long-term capital for the development of the country. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and BMBA president Md Sayadur Rahman also spoke at the function. bdsmile@gmail.com....

Published at: 2017-03-07 00:00:04