Himu's Window

Rajshahi Textile Mills (RTM) resumed operations yesterday after nine months of its closure, following a private initiative that is expected to employ around 500 people. Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton formally opened the mill at a ceremony on the mill premises. Trade Exchange, a private cotton trading firm of Narayanganj, signed a two-year agreement with RTM to provide raw materials and collect yarn on the basis of service charge at a rate of Tk 6,200 per bale of cotton. The mill will begin operations with 150 employees and then gradually increase to 500 people in the next few months. The agreement was signed following the approval of Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), said M Ansar Uddin, general manager of RTM. He said officials and employees have not been paid for the last nine months, while the mill is in around Tk 2 crore debt. The RTM failed to manage private investment to run the mill, floating open tenders three times si

Monday, August 3, 2009   Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) yesterday decided to review the holding taxes fixed in its recently announced budget and offered a ten percent tax cut. According to the decision, the city dwellers will have to apply for reviewing their taxes and a review committee will fix affordable rates. The RCC also offered a ten percent cut in the holding taxes for those who will pay off taxes within three months from the beginning of the fiscal year. The decision was taken at a general meeting of the city corporation held at Rajshahi City Bhaban with Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the chair. "We had raised the holding taxes, aiming at providing better services for the citizens. We did not finalise the new taxes. So, there is scope for review. The mayor asked RCC officials concerned to issue tax notices on the citizens as early as possible so that they can avail themselves of the tax cut offer. Meanwhile, the RCC fixed new rates of holding taxes from

Published On: 2009-08-02 Business A lack of specialised economic policy and financial management system, energy and power crisis, and problems in investment and marketing procedures are hindering the development of the country's western region, said speakers at a seminar in Rajshahi yesterday. They also said long-term government plans, effective policies made by experts and responsible role of entrepreneurs can still build a sustainable economic base in the region that can be a powerhouse of the national economy. They were speaking at a regional seminar on 'Problems of economic development in western region and prospects' at Rajshahi University, jointly organised by the economics department of the university and Bangladesh Economics Samity (BES). "The region's economy is dependent on agriculture and some small and medium enterprises, but most of its industries were shut down in the last several decades for faulty policies," said Vice Chancello

Published On: 2009-08-01   Lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha at a discussion in Rajshahi yesterday said an initiative has been taken to form a parliamentary body to resolve the problems of indigenous people in the plain land. The JS body would play role in creating opinions in parliament for the formation of a separate land commission with a view to solving the several decades old land-related problems, he added. "After the body is formed, it will hear opinions of the indigenous people for helping the parliament make a law, if necessary, as well as pressurise the government for establishing social status of the underprivileged ethnic minority," said Badsha. The grand alliance lawmaker warned that many officials in the police and district administrations are still loyal to the four-party alliance and the government is facing problems in functioning properly for them. "The pro-BNP-Jamaat officials are desperate enough to allow BNP hooligans to set fire to the