News Watch (30-03-2018)

Washington mayor declares March 26 as Bangladesh Day
The Mayor of Washington DC has declared Bangladesh's Independence and National Day as the 'Bangladesh Day', according to a press release of Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC received in Dhaka on Thursday. A representative of Mayor Muriel Bowser formally conveyed the decision to Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin at the Independence Day reception at the embassy, organised on Wednesday evening. — BSS

NBR starts pre-budget talks on Apr 1
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will start holding month-long pre-budget discussion for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 with the trade associations, leading chambers and other stakeholders from April 1. It will hold a total of 22 meetings with the stakeholders to make the budget participatory. The NBR issued the schedule of the pre-budget meetings on Thursday. On April 12, the 39th meeting of the budget consultative committee comprising NBR and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) will be held. — FE Report

Hajj flights begin on July 14
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal said on Thursday the Hajj flights carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims will begin on July 14. This year a total of 1,27,198 pilgrims -- 7,198 under govt management and 120,000 under private management -- will perform Hajj from Bangladesh. — BSS