Safety problems found in 19 garment factories
The North American-led Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, which includes Hudson’s Bay Company and Canadian Tire, says it has now shut down or partially closed 19 factories in the country due to safety concerns.
The Alliance, which represents 27 big brands operating in Bangladesh, was formed after the devastating Rana Plaza factory disaster, which killed nearly 1,129 people on April 24, 2013, and injured thousands more.
It began an inspection program in the 600 garment factories in which the big brands operate, looking for structural or electrical defects and fire safety concerns. The results of the inspection reports are released on the Alliance’s website.
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Spending on infrastructure falls on increased debt
The country’s public spending in physical and socio-economic infrastructure has come down substantially on jump in per capita debt, share of debt in GDP and debt service payment as well.
These are also escalating intergenerational debt burden in the future. The domestic debt might reach Tk. 260,498.44 crore and Tk 318,953.08 crore in FY15 and FY16 respectively, which was Tk 202,044 crore in FY14.
The 
(UO), an independent multidisciplinary think-tank, in its October issue of Bangladesh Economic Update 2014, rev...
(UO), an independent multidisciplinary think-tank, in its October issue of Bangladesh Economic Update 2014, rev...
Bangladesh’s S&T revolution has hitch
Vision 2021, Bangladesh’s development strategy, sees the country becoming a middle-income nation by 2021, in large part by super-charging its science and technology (S&T) sector to drive economic growth.
A ‘digital Bangladesh’ revolution is already underway with the introduction of machine-readable passports; electronic voting cards; driving licences and vehicle number plates; online public services for checking exam results; registering land and tax and using mobile phones to buy train tickets.
In 2010 Parliament passed a new S&a...
In 2010 Parliament passed a new S&a...
Improving water stewardship in textile industry
Bangladesh’s history, culture and religion is symbolised by water. The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin and 230 inland rivers act as lifelines for food, transport and livelihood for the majority of the population in Bangladesh.
In 2014 Bangladesh experienced the highest temperature in 54 years, which has led to an acute water shortage in rivers and low lying areas. It is not only the dry season affects the country; heavy rainfall within short periods also causes severe floods and river banks to erode and overflow. Due to the extremely flat topography, the country often has too much water flowing in its 57 transboundary rivers connected to the upper riparian country. These heavy changes - flooding in monsoon and drought in dry season – are causing a socio-economic disaster for Banglade...
A peek into Bangladesh’s new aid platform
In the previous fiscal year ending June 2014, Bangladesh received more than $700 million in aid from its development partners.
But that could’ve been more, if donors were able to meet their $5.35 billion total planned disbursements, according to the country’s newly launched aid database, which further reveals that while grants comprised the majority of disbursements last year, loans now account for the bulk of current aid spending.
But just how accurate is this data?
A government official involved in the management of the Aid Information Management System told Devex the current information in the database actually came from donors themselves. Up to 17 of Bangladesh’s development partners have agreed to manually enter data into the system, which then automatically generates that...
6th ‘Charm of Korea’ begins in city Nov 6
As a part of the cultural exchange programs between Bangladesh and South Korea, an event titled ‘Charm of Korea V: Korean Folklore Music Group, COREYAH’ will take place in the city on November 6.
A musical group comprising six musicians will render a variety of beautiful international songs and Bangla music at 7:00 p.m. at the National Theatre Hall of Shilpakala Academy. This concert is open for all.
This will be the sixth music event since last year to celebrate the long-standing friendship between Korea and Bangladesh.
Previous music ev...
This will be the sixth music event since last year to celebrate the long-standing friendship between Korea and Bangladesh.
Previous music ev...
