Tk 590m allocated for ACC to boost its campaign

 The government has allocated Tk 590 million for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the proposed budget for the fiscal 2014-2015 in a bid to expedite the anti-graft campaign. Of the total allocation, Tk 570 million was allocated for non-development sector...

Tax rebate, tax holiday extension for units of least developed areas

The 2014-15 budget has proposed tax rebate and extension of tax holiday facilities for industrial units set up in the least developed areas to ensure sustainable industrialisation without disturbing the civic amenities.  "Industrialisation in the areas other than city corporations...

Land-related taxes see sharp rise

The budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2014-15 has proposed a sharp hike in taxes on transfer of land in a bid to increase domestic revenue from the less-tapped sector. "Undervaluation at the time of registration of land transfer is...

Osmani Medical College closed until June 12 over death of JCD activist

SYLHET, June 5 (UNB): The authorities of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College declared the college closed until June 12 following unrest on the campus over the death of an activist of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) . Principal of the medical...

Political instability in FY \\\'14 causes Tk 110b loss

Political instability and vandalism during the outgoing fiscal year (FY) caused losses to the tune of Tk 110 billion to the national economy which is around 1.0 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product), Finance Minister AMA Muhith said in...

AL leader found dead in M’singh

MYMENSINGH, June 5 (UNB): Police recovered the body of a local Awami League (AL) leader from a paddy field at Shahidnagar under Gafargaon Upazila Thursday. The deceased was identified as Abdul Majid (60), president of Ward No 4 of Shahidnagar...

Quamaruzzaman\\\'s appeal hearing begins

Hearing on the appeal filed for Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Quamaruzzaman started Thursday before a four-judge bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Justice SK Sinha, reports BSS. Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain appeared for the appellant while...

Tk 111.46b allocated for health sector in budget

Finance Minister AMA Muhith Thursday proposed an allocation of Tk 111.46 billion for the health sector in the budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2014-15, up by Tk 20 billion from that of the current fiscal. The proposed health sector...

New steps for the disabled, city cleaners

Finance minister AMA Muhith proposed some new initiatives for the disabled and city cleaners under the social protection programmes keeping the ongoing safety net programmes as usual in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2014-15. Of the fresh measures, an...

Donations to girls\\\' schools, colleges exempted from tax

The 2014-15 budget has proposed waiver of tax on all donations through banking channels to girls' schools or colleges and vocational and technical institutions to promote girls' education and vocational education. It has also proposed extension of the tax facility...

VAT rises on English schools, jewellery

The finance minister in his budget speech Thursday proposed to increase truncated Value Added Tax (VAT) on English medium schools from 4.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent. He also proposed to raise net VAT to 7.5 per cent from...

Rail, road communications receive special focus

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 has highlighted a series of initiatives to be taken for the development of communication infrastructure, like roads and railway. The budget proposal termed the existing road infrastructure insufficient and noted the country would...

Three basic strategies to attain middle income status

Finance Minister AMA Muhith laid out a policy and strategy outline Thursday in the proposed budget to transform the country into a middle income nation by the year 2021. Referring to the 'Vision 2021', he said he has set the...

\\\'bKash\\\' agent shot, robbed of Tk 0.4m in city

Muggers shot an agent of 'bKash' and looted about Tk 0.4 million from him near Bangladesh Television (BTV) Bhaban at Rampura in the city Thursday, reports UNB. The injured was identified as Kazi Ramjan Hossain, 35, a sales executive of...

DEMU train launched on CU route

CHITTAGONG, June 5 (BSS): The Bangladesh Railway (BR) authority today launched DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Units) train service on Chittagong city-Chittagong University (CU) route for the teachers, officials, employees and students of CU. CU pro-vice chancellor Prof Dr Iftekhar Uddin...

Tk 310.43b allocated for interest payment

The government has allocated Tk 310.43 billion on account of interest payment in the proposed national budget for the financial year (FY) 2014-15, which is 12.4 per cent of the total budgetary allocation. The allocation is Tk 44.99 billion higher...

\\\'Malnutrition has damaging effect on friendly bacteria in children\\\'

Malnutrition has a damaging effect on the presence of friendly bacterial communities in the guts of malnourished children, according to a research article published recently in the prestigious journal Nature, reports UNB. The Nature article, titled 'Persistent Gut Microbiota Immaturity...

VAT on kidney dialysis solution waived

Finance Minister AMA Muhith Thursday proposed exemption of kidney dialysis solution from payment of VAT at the local production stage. He said treatment of kidney disease was very expensive in the country. With a view to reducing the expenditure of...

Woman found dead in launch cabin

KERANIGANJ, Jun 5 (UNB): Police recovered the body of an unidentified woman from a launch in the city's Sadarghat Thursday morning. Police said 'MV Parabat-10', a launch from Barisal, reached the Sadarghat Launch Terminal around 8:00 am. While getting down...

Trial against Oishee deferred until July 8

The formal trial of Oishee Rahman along with her two friends in a case filed for killing her police officer father Mahfuzur Rahman and mother Swapna Rahman will now begin on July 8, reports UNB. Judge M Jahurul Haque of...

1.0pc new tax on tobacco imposed

Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed Thursday imposition of a new tax, health development surcharge, at the rate of 1.0 per cent in the new budget for the 2014-15 fiscal on import and production of tobacco products. This tax measure is...

48 gold bars seized at Shahjalal Airport

Customs officials seized 48 gold bars weighing about 5.6kgs from an aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the city early Thursday, reports UNB. Assistant Commissioner (Customs) Ruhul Amin told that a Dhaka-bound 'BG 046 flight' of Biman Bangladesh Airlines...

Mahbubul Alam seriously ill

Veteran journalist Mahbubul Alam is seriously ill. He was admitted to BIRDEM Hospital in the city two days back, reports BSS. As his condition deteriorated he was shifted to ICU of the hospital. Mahbubul Alam was editor of The Independent,...

weather

Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur, Chittagng and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Dhaka divisions with moderately heavy falls at...

Tk 81b for Padma Bridge

An allocation of Tk 81 billion has been proposed for construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge in the financial year (FY) 2014-2015 aiming to complete the bridge by 2018. Giving topmost priority for building the country's mega infrastructure development scheme over...

Photo: Minister for Social Welfare Syed Mohsin Ali speaking

Remittance declines by 4.8pc until April `14

Finance Minister AMA Muhith in his budget speech said Thursday remittance has declined by 4.8 per cent until April, 2014, of the outgoing fiscal year 2013-14 against the previous fiscal year's growth of 12.6 per cent. In this context he...

Clarity sought on tax on interest of businesses

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has proposed amendment to the existing law to clarify provision regarding income tax on profit earned from other businesses by microcredit organisations other than microfinance. Referring to Paragraph 1 of Schedule VI of the Income Tax...

Changes in duty, CC slabs on imported cars proposed

The government in its budget proposals for FY2014-15 has proposed some changes in duty along with reorganising CC slabs on imported cars. According to the proposals, it proposed to unify the existing two slabs of 1,501 to 1,750 CC and...

Increased dynamism sought for power, energy sector

The proposed budget has allocated Tk 115.40 billion for power and energy sector for the fiscal year 2014-15, which is 4.61 per cent of the total budget allocation and around 1.0 per cent of the GDP. For the ADP in...