Jordan, Canada sign free trade agreement

AMMAN, Aug 27 (Xinhua): Jordan and Canada has inked a preliminary free trade agreement yesterday, the first one Canada signed with the Arab world, the Jordanian official news agency Petra reported.The agreement is expected to be signed in final form...

Power : Strange delay in opting for the best option

The daily production of power in the country is far short of its effective total demand at around 5000 mw. Total production of power by the government's Power Development Board (PDB) being in the neighbourhood of some 3,200 mw or...

The business in the 21st century

Farooq Sobhan with Shayan S. KhanHARNESSING the consequences and benefits of globalisation effectively and equitably has emerged as one of the most important challenges facing mankind in the 21st Century. Contrary to what contemporary wisdom might have one believe, globalisation...

China's cotton price keeps falling in spite of state purchase

BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua): China's cotton price has continuously dropped as a result of sufficient market supply and less demand.The country has completed purchase of cotton for state reserve in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which is China's largest cotton...

Euro rises in Asia as traders take profits

TOKYO, Aug 27 (AFP): The euro rebounded in Asia today from a six-month low against the dollar as traders took profits from the greenback's recent rally while awaiting fresh economic data, dealers said.The dollar eased to 109.11 yen in Tokyo...

Strong demands, higher prices feature the market

There was a strong market following improved demand from all sections of the market. As a result, prices were higher. Blenders and Packeteers were more active with good support from the Loose tea buyers. There was fair interest from Pakistan....

corporatewatch

The shares of Peoples Insurance will be placed in "A" category from existing "Z" category with effect from today (Thursday), as the authorities of the company have confirmed disbursement of 10 per cent cash dividend for the year that ended...

Vietnam's rice export earnings surge in 8 months

HANOI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua): Vietnam has so far this year exported over 3 million tons of rice worth nearly 1.8 billion US dollars, down nearly 1.7 per cent in volume but up 94 per cent in value against the same...

CIL MD, co secy off to Mumbai

Managing Director (MD) of Continental Insurance Limited (CIL) Md Hashmat Ali and Company Secretary M Qamrul Munir left the city for Mumbai to attend a conference on " India's Investors Forum" to be held Thursday and Friday, organised by the...

Nadal, Dementieva advance at US Open

NEW YORK, Aug 26 (AFP): Reigning Olympic champions Rafael Nadal and Elena Dementieva got their US Opens off and running Monday, facing stiff challenges from a pair of unseeded players.Nadal, who goes into a Grand Slam ranked No. 1 in...

Stakeholders suggest setting up of permanent bench in HC

The country's capital market investors, market players and economists want an early establishment of a separate permanent bench in the High Court (HC) division to help resolve a mounting number of cases involving the listed companies."An effective bench would ensure...

Philanthropic body disburses money among poor people

Khaza Mozammel Haque Memorial Foundation (KMHMF) Tuesday disbursed money in cash among a good number of poor and needy people to make them self-reliant.The Foundation organised a function in this connection at the city's Institute of Engineers Bangladesh where its...

Dhaka stocks' rally continues

Dhaka stocks continued to rally Tuesday for the fourth straight session with mutual funds, insurance, leasing, IT, pharmaceutical, power and energy issues leading the way.The market barometers -- benchmark DSE General Index (DGEN), All Shares Price Index (DSI) and DSE-20...

Nelson signs for Real Betis

LISBON, Aug 26 (AFP): Benfica's Portuguese defender Nelson Augusto Tomar Marcos has signed a five-year deal with Spanish outfit Real Betis, his Portuguese club said Tuesday.The 24-year-old, who has been at Benfica since 2005, will arrive in Seville later Tuesday...

Call rate, dollar stay on steady track

The inter-bank call money rate was unchanged Tuesday, despite higher demand for fund, mainly due to injection of fresh cash into the market. The US dollar remained stable against Bangladesh taka (BDT) in the inter-bank foreign exchange market because of...

Mirpur Road mkts

Owners and employees of 18 markets of the Mirpur Road area in the city kept their businesses closed Tuesday demanding punishment to those responsible for the death of a trader.The trader, identified as Jahangir Alam, owner of Rafi Fashion, died...

The dilemma over foreign aid

Does Bangladesh need foreign aid?None, including Finance and Planning Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam and economists of repute, while attending a CPD (Centre for Policy Dialogue) dialogue, seemingly, was certain that the country could manage without foreign aid.But most speakers felt...

China considers expansion of insider trading ban

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua): Employees of financial institutes who take advantage of non-public information for personal gains in trading will face criminal prosecution, according to the draft amendment to the Criminal Law submitted to China's top legislature yesterday.Employees of fund...

Protests in Indian Kashmir despite curfew

SRINAGAR, Aug 26 (AFP): Indian police used teargas and gunfire to disperse hundreds of protesters in Kashmir on Tuesday as the death toll among defiant demonstrators rose to five, officials said.Officers said they also used batons as protesters broke a...

400,000 skilled manpower may go to foreign mkts this year: Adviser

JESSORE, Aug 26 (UNB): Bangladesh is targeting to export 400,000 skilled manpower to foreign markets this year.Adviser for Foreign Affairs and in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said this while addressing the...

Some suggestions in the fight against corruption

Last week alone, a number of reports on corruption were published throughout the world. It shows that Bangladesh is not alone in the fight against corruption. Many countries are very serious against corruption, abuse and misuse. Case in point, government...

CPA allows Lankan owner 15 days to rescue sunken vessel

CHITTAGONG, Aug 26: Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has asked the owner of the Sri Lankan flag carrier MV Badua Velli loaded with Indian rice to rescue it within 15 days which sank in the outer anchorage earlier. The surrounding site...

Suicide bomber kills 28 in strike on Iraq recruits

BAGHDAD, Aug 26 (Reuters): A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up in a crowd of Iraqi police recruits Tuesday, killing 28 people and wounding 45, police said.Initial reports had earlier described the attack, in the town of...

Aviana launches Dhaka-Saidpur flights

The Aviana Airways Ltd. launched Tuesday its regular flights on Dhaka-Saidpur route.A simple ceremony was held at the ZIA domestic lounge on the occasion.Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, who attended the flight inaugural ceremony, said the...

EXIM Bank AGM held

The ninth annual general (AGM) meeting of Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Ltd was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference centre in the city Tuesday.Chairman of the bank Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder presided over the meeting, said a press release.7.0...

Reception to DIIT freshers

The freshers' reception to the students of March and September Sessions '08 of the DIIT was held on its Dhanmondi main campus in the city recently, said a press release.The chief guest of the programme was Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Executive Director...

Russia recognises independence of Georgian areas

MOSCOW, Aug 26(Internet): Russia Tuesday formally recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two enclaves in Georgia whose separatist aspirations stirred the fierce conflict this month.The step, which goes beyond Russia's military operation and is intended to consolidate...

White panel condemn speech of blue panel

The 'white panel' teachers of Dhaka University (DU) Tuesday strongly condemned the speech of the 'blue panel' teachers about manipulating the recent dean election by the university administration.The 'white panel', backed by the BNP-Jamaat, in a written statement claimed the...

Food-price shock pushes 4.0m people below poverty line

Four million people of the country were pushed back anew to below poverty line due to sky-rocketing prices of foodgrains in the international market and damage caused to a major rice crop by natural calamities last year, World Bank (WB)...

Asif to appear before drug tribunal next week

RAWALPINDI, Aug 26 (AP): Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif will appear before a drug tribunal in India next week, local media reported Tuesday.Asif faces a ban of up to two years after the B sample of a drug test taken...