Expert suggests Ctg port takeover by int’l operators

The management of the country’s main sea port Chittagong should be handed over to an international port management entity to increase its efficiency. Over the next five years, the number of ships arriving at the Chittagong port will increase by 100 per cent. International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) organised the seminar. At present, there are 16 berths for container ships. Out of those, three have been operating gantry cranes. Three more cranes are being installed. However, if all 16 berths have gantry cranes, then the time for loading and unloading will be reduced to less than two days. At the same time, the number of ships that can be handled will increase to about 2200. In this context, he recommended that 10 more cranes be installed immediately to cover all 16 berths. At the same time, plans should be laid out immediately for a bayside terminal with sufficient capacity to install 16 berths. As part of boosting the shipping and other transport logistics in the country, we have already increased the number of berth at Chittagong port from 6 to 16 while the number of cranes will be increased to 10 this year. A total of 10 new land ports have been established in last nine years while we have plan to establish 12 more land ports.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/expert-suggests-ctg-port-takeover-by-intl-operators-1537119131

BD loses $6.5b to urban pollution a year, says WB

Bangladesh loses about US$ 6.5 billion due to pollution and environmental degradation in its urban areas every year, according to a World Bank (WB) report. The amount is equivalent to 3.4 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015. The economic cost of mortality in terms of foregone labour output is estimated at $ 1.40 billion in the urban areas, which is equivalent to 0.7 per cent of Bangladesh’s GDP in that year. Of the foregone labour output, $ 310 million, equivalent to 0.2 per cent of GDP, is estimated to have incurred in Dhaka alone. The WB report said pollution, which has reached an alarming level, caused about 80,000 deaths in the cities in 2015. Twenty eight per cent of all deaths were from diseases caused by pollution across the country, compared to the global average of 16 per cent. Although textile sector plays an important role in driving the national economy forward, the report revealed that the sector produces 2.81 million tonnes of wastes annually as of 2012. Nearly one million people in Bangladesh, mostly poor, are at risk of lead contamination. Besides, in the last 40 years, Dhaka lost about 75 per cent of its wetlands. Some 18,000 deaths from environmental pollution occurred in 2015 in Dhaka, the second least live able city in the world. In addition, 578,000 life years were lost in the capital in that year alone, showing the urgency to immediately fix its environment, noted the report. Regarding the weak enforcement of law, the minister opined that Bangladesh is at a low level due to some compulsions and complications.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/bd-loses-65b-to-urban-pollution-a-year-says-wb-1537119226

Robi set to transfer 20pc stake to edotco at $120m

Mobile operator Robi is set to offload its 20 per cent stake valued at US$120 million to edotco Bangladesh, a Malaysia-based telecommunications infrastructure services company. Bangladesh’s second largest mobile phone operator has taken the latest initiative to facilitate edotco Bangladesh Co. Ltd. (edotco BD) for complying with the rules to be eligible for the license of tower company which will operate mobile towers across the country. Malaysia-based edotco Group holds 80 per cent shares of edotco BD while Robi, which is also a subsidiary of Axiata Group, holds rest of 20 per cent shares. The edotco Bangladesh is now taking preparations to apply to the BRTC with all relevant documents by October for receiving the license, a telecom sector source told the FE. License acquisition fee and annual fee have already been set at Tk 250 million and Tk 50 million respectively. Besides, licensees will have to share 5.5 per cent of their revenue with the government and another 1.0 per cent with the social obligation fund from the second year of getting licenses. Each licensee will also have to provide performance bank guarantee worth Tk 200 million to the BTRC. Established in 2012, edotco is the first regional and integrated telecommunications infrastructure services company in Asia, providing end-to-end solutions in the tower services sector from tower leasing, co-locations, build-to-suit, energy, transmission and operations and maintenance.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/robi-set-to-transfer-20pc-stake-to-edotco-at-120m-1537119300