Economy
JCI Bangladesh to Host “Smart Bangladesh Summit and Expo” for the First Time in the Country
The journey towards building a Smart Bangladesh has already started, and JCI Bangladesh, a leading youth leadership development organization working with youth worldwide, has taken the initiative to strengthen the immense potential of the smart era. “JCI Smart Bangladesh Summit, Expo & CYE Award 2023″ will be held at the International Convention City (ICCB) on June 9-10, 2023, in association with a2i (Aspire to Innovate), ICT Division.
Last Sunday, a press conference was organized with renowned media workers of the country to provide details about the event. Honorable Project Director (Joint Secretary) of A2I (Aspire to Innovate), Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, was present as the chief guest. JCI Bangladesh National President, Ziaul Haque Bhuiyan, was the keynote speaker. JCI Bangladesh Deputy National President, Imran Qadir, and A2I Program Human Development Media Manager, Purabi Matin, were also present on the occasion. The Smart Bangladesh Summit & Expo was initiated by JCI Bangladesh National Officers Tahsin Azim Shezan, Md. Altamis Nabil, Areez Afsar Khan, Md. Azazul Hasan Khan, Rezwan Ul Haque, Steve Benedict D’Silva, Shan Shahed, Shakhawat Hossain, Fahim Ahmed, and Md. Fazle Munim along with few others.
Honorable Project Director (Joint Secretary) of Aspire to Innovate (A2I), Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, said at the press conference, ” The a2i has invented and implemented a series of digital programs round the year to simplify different civic services to accelerate attaining the government’s new vision of building a ‘SMART Bangladesh’ by 2041. The successful implementation of the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ encouraged the government to set the new target”. JCI Bangladesh, an organization of creative youths, deserves appreciation for the special programs organized by them for the implementation of Smart Bangladesh. We will continue to extend our sincere support to them to make this effort a success.”
JCI Bangladesh National President, Ziaul Haque Bhuiyan, said, “We are happy to announce that this is the first such big event in the country titled “Smart Bangladesh”. We believe that the participation of the youth of JCI Bangladesh organization will add a different dimension to the Smart Bangladesh goal of the Government of Bangladesh.” He further said, “The event is introducing the first JCI Creative Young Entrepreneur or CYE Award this year. In this session, 1,000 entrepreneurs will be able to share their business ideas, and the winners will be awarded a cash prize of Taka 3.5 lakhs, an opportunity to showcase their business on JCI’s global platform, and opportunities for further funding generation from venture capitalists.”
The primary objective of JCI Smart Bangladesh Summit and Expo is to present it to the general public through expert discussions. There will be a total of 6 special sessions in the 2-day event, in which experts and speakers from the country and outside the country will be present. The invited guests and panelists will highlight every possible aspect of Smart Bangladesh through the exchange of their experiences, knowledge, and opinions. Apart from this, the Smart Expo will display all the amazing technologies for visitors. A Futuristic Expo will be organized based on what Smart Bangladesh will look like in the future.
On the second day of the event, June 10th, JCI will hold the Creative Young Entrepreneur (CYE) Award for young entrepreneurs. Over 1,000 entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to submit their business ideas, from which winners will be selected to receive a grant of Taka 3.5 lakh. Winners will also receive mentoring and assistance in obtaining larger venture capital. Notable investors and venture capital providers from both domestic and international markets will be present during this phase. Winners of this phase will also compete on the international stage with the winners of the next JCI Asia Pacific region.
During the press conference, a website for the JCI Smart Bangladesh Summit, Expo, and CYE Awards 2023 was launched. The website address is www.jcisummit.com, and all necessary information, including registration details, can be found on the site.
Referring to the countrywide recent havoc and atrocities, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that she had an apprehension there might be a strike like this by the BNP-Jamaat clique to pull down the country’s prosperity.
“. . . they (BNP-Jamaat) had wanted not to hold the elections, but we had arranged the elections. After election they thought it wouldn’t be accepted by all, but we’ve also made it acceptable to all and we’ve formed the government. It was an apprehension to me that there would be a strike like this,” she said.
The Premier made this remarks while exchanging views with editors, senior journalists and head of news of various media outlets, organised by Editors’ Guild at her office (PMO).
She mentioned that before and after the election in 2013-14, the BNP-Jmaat clique unleashed arson attacks and killings that left hundreds of people killed and thousands injured.
“It was little bit understandable that this (the activities and movement of the students) was a grave conspiracy,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that she didn’t want any incident which might invite any unwanted situation that will invite instability in the country. “It was the target to destroy country’s economy,” she said.
She questioned about the understanding level of the people who supported these mayhem aiming to cripple the country’s advancement and prosperity.
Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of Awami League, said that vested quarter is highly interested to destroy country’s independence and the continuation of the democracy that is going on for long 15 years.
She again said that she never wanted to deploy army personnel in the field while the students were there for the sake of their security.
“While they (students) declared that they are not involved in the on going subversive activities then we called for army,” she said.
The premiers also said that she also didn’t want to impose curfew as the country is going through a democratic environment for 15 years.
She requested the people to resist those who have done this bane for the country. “They have destroyed all the structures have been built for their welfare and livelihood. They have struck all those structures. Who will be the worst sufferer? Of course, mass people. Now it is the responsibility of the mass people to resist these terrorism and militancy,” she said.
The premier called for creating mass awareness against the militancy that has opened in the destructive activities.”If the people don’t become aware then what could we do or how much we could do alone,” she said.
She also mentioned that the targets of the recent mayhem was Awami League, Freedom Fighters and pro-liberation forces.
The Prime Minister said that when all demands of the quota-free movement students were accepted why they gave scope to the militants for doing such heinous activities.
“One day the quota-free movement activists have to answer to the nation, why they gave such opportunity to them for this destruction to the country,” she said.
PM’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan moderated the programme, while Editors’ Guild president Mozammel Huq Babu delivered welcome address.
Senior journalist Abed Khan, Bangladesh Pratidin editor Nayeem Nizam, DBC Editor-in-Chief and CEO Monzurul Islam, Bhorer Kagoj Editor and Jatiya Press Club general secretary Shyamol Dutta, Daily Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam, Jatiya Press Club president Farida Yasmin, Dhaka Journal chief editor Syed Istiaque Reza, Head of News Nagorik TV Dip Azad, Amader Somoy Editor Mainul Alam, Bangladesh Journal editor Shajahan Sarder, DBC news editor Zayedul Ahsan Pintu, Ashish Saikat of Independent TV, Bangla Tribune editor Zulfiquer Russell, head of News of 71 TV Shakil Ahmed, Energy and Power Editor Mollah Amzad, Head of News of Kings News Nazmul Huq Saikat and Mamunur Rahman Khan of RTV also spoke.
Britain’s inflation rate held steady in June after returning to the Bank of England’s target the previous month, official data showed Wednesday, confounding expectations for another modest slowdown.
The Consumer Prices Index was unchanged at 2.0 percent in June from the same level in May, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement, compared with market forecasts of 1.9 percent.
“Hotel prices rose strongly, while second-hand car costs fell but by less than this time last year,” said ONS chief executive Grant Fitzner.
“However, these were offset by falling clothing prices, with widespread sales driving down their cost.
“Meanwhile, the cost of both raw materials and goods leaving factories fell on the month, though factory gate prices remain above where they were a year ago.”
Analysts said the data could cause the Bank of England to sit tight for a while longer before starting to cut interest rates.
“The chances of an interest rate cut in August have diminished a bit more,” said Paul Dales, chief UK economist at research consultancy Capital Economics.
Last month, the BoE kept its key interest rate at a 16-year high of 5.25 percent, despite slowing inflation in May.
Britain’s newly elected Labour government welcomed news that inflation remained at the BoE’s target level.
“It is welcome that inflation is at target,” said Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in a statement.
“But we know that for families across Britain prices remain high… (which) is why this government is taking the tough decisions now to fix the foundations” of the UK economy, he said.
Labour, led by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has pledged immediate action to grow the economy after the centre-left party won a landslide general election victory to end 14 years of Conservative rule.
Later on Wednesday, King Charles III will read out Labour’s first programme for government in a decade and a half, when the UK parliament formally reopens following the July 4 election.
Elevated interest rates have worsened a UK cost-of-living squeeze because they increase borrowing repayments, thereby cutting disposable incomes and crimping economic activity.
The BoE began a series of rate hikes in late 2021 to combat inflation, which rose after countries emerged from Covid lockdowns and accelerated after the invasion of Ukraine by key oil and gas producer Russia.
China’s economy grew 4.7 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024, official data showed Monday, less than analysts had expected.
“By quarter, the GDP for the first quarter increased by 5.3 percent year on year and for the second quarter 4.7 percent,” Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement.
The figures were much lower than the 5.1 percent predicted by analysts polled by Bloomberg.
Retail sales — a key gauge of consumption — also slowed to just two percent in June, the NBS said, down from 3.7 percent in May.
The world’s second-largest economy is grappling with a real estate debt crisis, weakening consumption, an ageing population and trade tensions with Western rivals.
Top officials are meeting in Beijing on Monday for a key plenum, with all eyes on how they might kickstart lacklustre growth.
