KATHMANDU, July 30 : The main South Asian regional group on Tuesday took new steps toward eliminating tariffs to boost trade in the region, reports AFP. Senior officials from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries began a three-day meeting here to set an agenda for bringing down tariffs. The inter-governmental group on trade liberalisation will make recommendations to the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on how to free up trade. The meeting was inaugurated by SAARC Secretary General Naeem U Hasan who stressed the importance of regional cooperation for developing regional trade and commerce through concessional tariffs. The member nations set up the South Asian Preferential...
The government has decided to appoint Major General Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Bir Protik (BP), PSC as Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of Morocco, an official handout said yesterday, reports BSS.
...Labour and Manpower Minister Abdul Mannan yesterday left for Port Louis, the capital of Mauritious on a four countries visit. The minister who is leading a five-member delegation will review the labour laws relating to EPZ and other concerned affairs of Mauritious, India, Sri Lanka and China.
Other members of the delegation are Director General at Prime Minister's Office Muhammad Abu Hafiz, Joint Secretary (Labour) of the Labour and Manpower Ministry Muhammad Dalil Uddin Mondol, Executive Chairman of BEPZA Brigadier M A B Siddique Talukder and BEPZA Member (Investment and Development) Abdul Aziz Sarker.
Renowned US historian Dr Stanley A Wolpert yesterday called on Speaker Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury at his residence as a part of collecting information for his book "Bangabandhu and Contemporary history of Bangladesh", reports UNB.
...The Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Admiral Dennis C. Blair left city yesterday ending his three-day goodwill visit to Bangladesh, reports BSS.
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, Bir Bikram, Begum Rasheda Mustafiz and senior army officers saw off the US Pacific Commander-in-Chief at the Zia International Airport.
The US Ambassador in Bangladesh, John C. Holzman, and officials of the US Embassy in Dhaka were also present at the airport.
Visiting Commander in Chief (C-in-C) of US Pacific Command Admiral Dennis Cutler Blair made a courtesy call on President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday, reports UNB.
...When President Chandrika Kumaratunga called for a snap presidential election last month her central objective was to emerge politically stronger to be able to deliver peace to her war-torn country. She hoped for a solid mandate-better than one she was accorded in 1994 - to end the prevailing political impasse and shore up her peace mission. After the way the events unfolded during her five years of presidency she was left only with her twintrack policy of 'war for peace' which aimed at seeking a consensus on her devolution package to isolate the LTTE politically while at the same time conducting a war to weaken the Tigers for their acceptance of a political settlement.
...India and Pakistan are once again engaged in a bitter game of accusations and counter-accusations, which bear ill for peace and stability in South Asia. Benazir Bhutto expalins
...Protests by Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia are forcing Dhaka to deal with devious recruiters who trick people out of their money with promises of lucrative jobs abroad.
...A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Dhaka and the Chonbuk National University (CNU) of Korea was signed yesterday at the residence of Vice Chancellor.
...The 'hijack drama' showed that India needs to go out of its way in improving its relationship with neighbours, says Pran Chopra
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