Economy
PM Hasina to inaugurate ‘Made in Bangladesh Week 2022’ on Sunday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the “Made in Bangladesh Week 2022” on Sunday, November 13.
After the grand opening, a display zone at the Carnival Hall, titled “Experience the Transformation of RMG Towards Sustainability & Innovation”, will remain open till 6pm, said BGMEA President Faruque Hassan in a news conference in Dhaka on Saturday, 12 November.
The week-long event will be inaugurated at the Hall of Fame of Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).
Sheikh Hasina will also launch two coffee table books, on which the BGMEA has been working since the beginning of this year.
The first book titled “The Untold Stories of Bangladesh RMG Industry: Economic, Social and Environmental Good Practices” aims to highlight the positive changes that have occurred in the industry throughout the years.
The second book is titled “Beauty of Bangladesh” through which BGMEA tried to articulate the unseen beauty of Bangladesh.
Apart from these two books, BGMEA will launch two other coffee table books after the events. One will be titled “Heritage of Bangladesh” and another will be prepared by compiling all the pictures received for Made in Bangladesh (MIB) photography award.
“Through this mega event, we want to brand Bangladesh and showcase the innovations in our industry,” said the BGMEA chief while responding to a question.
Speaking on the global economy, he said, “We cannot control the global economy, but we want to do our job and boost our exports to the global market.”
“We will call ourselves successful if we can do that. And we need all of you with us to pull this off,” he added.
The BGMEA president said they are in discussion with the government to address the energy supply challenges.
“We’ve had challenges. We have challenges. We need to move ahead overcoming the challenges,” he said.
He also said there will be no pressure on the foreign exchange, forex reserves but the event will help earn some foreign currency as many foreigners will be attending it.
The mega event “Made in Bangladesh Week 2022” has in fact started on Saturday morning through a golf tournament at Kurmitola Golf Club, said the BGMEA president.
People from home and abroad, especially international buyers and associates, joined the tournament.
With the theme “Care for Fashion”, the week-long event will continue until November 18.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
