Haque Specialized Group's News

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Jakarta on Monday morning on a three-day official visit to Indonesia to attend the Leaders' Summit in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). During the visit, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines VVIP flight (BG-1086) carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Jakarta at 8.55 am (BST). The flight is scheduled to land at Halim Pardana Kusuma International Airport, Jakarta at 3pm (local time). Female Empowerment and Children Protection Minister Yohana Susana and Bangladesh Ambassador to Indonesia Major General Azmal Kabir will receive the Prime Minister at the airport, reports UNB. Sheikh Hasina will then go through a ceremonial motorcade to Hotel Shangri-La at Central Jakarta City, a special capital region of Jakarta, where she will be staying during her visit. On the first day of her tour, the Prime Minister will attend the Leaders' Welcoming Dinner at the Plenary Hall of Jakarta Convention Center (JCC). On the 2nd day on Tuesday, Hasina will join the opening ceremony at the Assembly Hall- 3 of the Jakarta Convention Centre. She will later attend the opening session of the summit on 'Adoption of the Agenda and Programme of Work'. Sheikh Hasina will then attend the general debate on 'Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean Rim' and deliver her statement in the event. The Prime Minister will join the social lunch to be hosted for the heads of delegation, and then hold bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. She will hold another bilateral meeting with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. Hasina is also expected to join the closing ceremony of the summit. After concluding her three-day visit, Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to depart Halim Pardana Kusuma International Airport, Jakarta for Dhaka 10.30 am Indonesia time on Wednesday by a VVIP flight of Biman (BG1087). The Biman flight carrying the Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka at 2.40 pm (BST) the same day. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM's Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, and a 60-member business delegation, headed by FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed, are accompanying the Prime Minister.  ....

Published at: 2017-03-06 00:00:04

Customs officials arrested two people along with two kilograms of gold at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport of Dhaka on Sunday night, reports UNB. Tipped off, customs officials challenged two passengers-- Rubel Hossain and Romen Chandra Das--while passing the green channel and confiscated eight gold bars weighing 800 grams from Rubel and 12 gold bars weighing 1200 grams from Romen after searching their luggage, said Sumon Chakma, assistant commissioner (AC) of Customs. The duo came from Singapore in a 'Regent Airways' flight around 11:15am, the official said.....

Published at: 2017-03-06 00:00:04

Oil prices slipped in Asian trade on Monday, wiping out some of the gains of the previous session amid ongoing concern over Russia's compliance with a global deal to cut oil output. Figures released last week showed Russia's February oil output was unchanged from January at 11.11 million barrels per day (bpd), energy ministry data showed, casting doubt on Russia's moves to rein in output as part of a pact with oil producers last year, reports Reuters. US crude futures, also known as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), fell 19 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $53.14 a barrel as of 0109 GMT (8:09 p.m. ET on Sunday) after closing the previous session up 1.4 per cent. Brent crude futures dropped 13 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $55.77 a barrel after settling 1.5 per cent in the previous session. Oil prices rose on Friday as the dollar weakened modestly after a speech by US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, which suggested a rate increase would come at the end of its two-day meeting on March 15.  A weaker dollar bolsters commodity prices, including oil. While a rate hike would be supportive for the US dollar, analysts said a near-term hike was already largely priced in. Crude oil prices were also supported by news of increasing supply disruptions in the Middle East, ANZ said in a note on Monday. That followed new doubts over Libya's attempts to revive its oil production after an armed faction entered two major oil ports on Friday, pushing back forces that captured and reopened the terminals in September. However, US drilling figures undermined support for oil prices. Baker Hughes reported an increase in the number of drilling rigs added by US drillers last week. The number rose 609, the highest since October 2015 and the seventh straight week rig numbers have risen. ....

Published at: 2017-03-06 00:00:04

The Israeli government has taken steps to reduce the penalties for personal marijuana use. It backed plans to issue fines initially, and only resort to criminal charges for repeat offenders, reports BBC. Selling, buying, and producing the drug will remain illegal and the move must still be ratified by parliament. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, almost 9 per cent of Israelis use cannabis, though some experts believe the figure to be higher. The move follows recommendations by a committee set up to study the issue, and moves by a number of US states and European nations to decriminalise use of the drug. "On the one hand we are opening ourselves up to the future. On the other hand, we understand the dangers and will try to balance the two," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet ahead of the vote. Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said: "Israel cannot shut its eyes to the changes being made across the world in respect to marijuana consumption and its effects." Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan added that the move was "an important step on the way to implementing a new policy that will emphasise education and treatment instead of criminal enforcement". Under the new system, first-time personal users who are caught and confess will be fined 1,000 shekels ($270), with this doubling on the second occasion. Probation will apply the third time and only a fourth case would lead to criminal charges. Israel is one of the world leaders in research into medical use of marijuana.....

Published at: 2017-03-06 00:00:04

Deepankar Sanwalka, PwC Advisory Leader for India-Bangladesh arrived Dhaka for a 3-day visit Monday. Deepankar is scheduled to meet senior officials of Government and esteemed clients of PwC Bangladesh. Deepankar joined PwC India in 2014. He has over 20 years of experience in forensics, governance, internal audit, revenue assurance, financial risk management, sustainability, development sector practices as well as accounting advisory services with a specialisation in forensics accounting. Deepankar is a member of the International Arbitration Council of ICC, the ASSOCHAM Committee on Internal Audit and Corporate Fraud, said a statement. -rmc//  ....

Published at: 2017-03-06 00:00:04