News in brief
Govt to build exploitation free Sonar Bangla: Khasru
BSS, Netrakona
State minister for fisheries and livestock Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, MP, said on Wednesday that the present government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is putting best efforts for emancipation of toiling masses. He said the present government is striving hard to build poverty and hunger free Sonar Bangla, as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The state minister was addressing as chief guest at a discussion on May Day arranged by local administration at Mukto-Mona Moncha at old collectorate office here. With deputy commissioner Main-Ul-Islam in the chair, it was addressed, among others, by chairman of Netrakona zila parishad Prosanta Kumar Ray, president of district Awami League Motiur Rahman Khan, additional police super Ashraful Alam, mayor of Netrakona pourasava Nazrul Islam Khan, organizing secretary of the district Awami League Professor Bojan Sarker and labor affairs secretary of district Awami League Gazi Muzammel Hussain Tuku.The meeting was followed by a musical soiree. Later, a colorful rally was brought out from the Mukto-Mona-Moncha under the auspices of the district administration. Khasru accompanied by deputy commissioner Main-ul-Islam and local public representatives led the rally.
Importers stop brining in stones after duty hike
Our Correspondents, Lalmonirhat
Importers have suspended stone imports through different land ports in north western Bangladesh for an indefinite period to protest against the sudden hike in assessment value on stones imported from India. As a result, port authorities are losing significant revenue everyday. Sources at Burimari port claimed that revenue worth more than Tk. 50 lakh could not be realised in the last few days due to the suspension enforced by stone importers. It was learnt that recently, the per tonne assessment value was raised to USD 12 from USD 10 on stones imported from India. To protest against the hike, importers decided to stop importing stone through the Burimari land port in Lalmonirhat, the Sona Haat land port in Kurigram, and the Bangla Bandha land port in Panchagarh. As a result, several thousand labourers in these ports have become idle and jobless. Abu Taher Faraeji, president of the Importers and Exporters Association of the Sona Haat land port, said that the imports were stopped after the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a directive to raise the assessment value on stone imports. Abu Sayed Newaj, general secretary of Burimari Importers and Exporters Association, said mainly stones are imported through the third largest land port in Bangladesh, while some other goods are also imported at a smaller scale. However, stone importers from Lalmonirhat have now stopped bringing in consignments from India to protest against the NBR decision to hike rates. The importers have placed a demand to withdraw the hike, Newaj added. When contacted, revenue officer of the Burimari Customs, Anjon Kumar Bala, said that the hike was only worth USD 2 per tonne. According to him, although importers stopped bringing in stones from India from April 24, all other activities at the port remained normal.
Arms, ammo seized in Cnawabganj
Our correspondent, Chapainawabganj
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered firearms and ammunitions from frontier Refugeepara area on Wednesday night. BGB said, on secret information, a special patrol team led by BGB commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel SM Salahuddin raided Refugee para area at around 11:20 pm and seized a motorcycle along with fire arms and ammunitions. They also recovered four one shooter guns, two 9mm pistols, three magazines and 16 rounds of bullet from the motorbike.
