Dutch investors consider Bangladesh as ideal place for investment

DHAKA, Jan 30, 2015 (BSS)- A group of Dutch investors termed Bangladesh as a land of untapped potential with huge market size and said Bangladesh is slowly but surely emerging as the gateway to the South Asia given its geostrategic location with both China and India on either side of its border.

The rise of ASEAN common market makes Bangladesh even more auspicious for the potential investors to consider Bangladesh as their next investment destination, they said while speaking at an investment seminar on "Bangladesh: Opportunities and Best Practices" held at Hague, the Netherlands, on Thursday.

Bangladesh Embassy in Hague hosted the seminar in collaboration with Nyenrode University, the Netherlands.
Over 50 Dutch investors attended the seminar which was moderated by Andre Nijhof of Nyenrode. The Dutch investors who have investments in Bangladesh shared their experience with other participants, according to the information received here today.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal also spoke at the seminar.
Peter Van Bergen, proprietor of Budgetview and Impel IT solutions with big IT offices in Amsterdam and Dhaka and Vicenta Ariza, representative of Maruboshi Europe BV in Bangladesh shared their experience with the participants about the overall business atmosphere in Bangladesh.

Rene Beerepoot of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) made a presentation on Dutch assistance for firms to expand their business in Bangladesh.
He said there is a Dutch fund of 750 million Euro for Dutch businesses willing to expand their business in the world's 66 countries including Bangladesh. Dutch SMEs, if approved, could receive low interest loan for up to 10 to 15 million Euro for expansion of business in Bangladesh, he added.
While sharing experience, Peter Van Bergen said he found the commitment of the people of Bangladesh as highly praiseworthy and also he found the level of spoken English very satisfactory.

He said he found working in Bangladesh 'easier' compared to other countries.
Vicenta Ariza said he found 'commitment' and 'enthusiasm' of the people of Bangladesh unparallel. Expressing his plan to stay in Bangladesh at least next 10-15 years, he said despite 'strike' or 'hartal' his shippers in Bangladesh never failed to deliver.

Workers Party to observe Anti-Violence and Subversion Day on Feb 10

DHAKA, Jan 30, 2015 (BSS)- The Workers Party, an ally of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, will observe Anti-Violence and Subversion Day across the country on February 10.
A resolution to this effect was taken at a meeting of the politburo of the Workers Party (WP) today (Friday).
WP president Rashed Khan Menon presided over the meeting in which a political report on current political situation now prevailing in the country was presented by WP general secretary Fazle Hossain Badsha.
In the report on political analysis, the WP observed that the conspiracy of Jamaat has been implemented to thwart the ongoing trial of the war criminals by killing people by torching them in the name of siege-hartal, according to a press release.
The WP laid emphasis on building people's resistance against those involved in subversive acts.
In another resolution, the WP observed that the demand for imposition of a ban on the politics of Jamaat is the demand of the hour. WP leaders Anisur Rahman Mallick, Bimal Biswas, Nurul Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Manik, Shafiuddin Ahmed, Nur Ahmed Bakul, Iqbal Kabir Zahid, Hazera Sultana, Aminul Islam Golap and Kamrul Ahsan took part in deliberations at the meeting.

Quader urges politicians to build bridge of love & cooperation

CHITTAGONG, Jan 30, 2015 (BSS)- Road Transport and Bridges Minister
Obaidul Quader on Friday urged the politicians to build bridges of love and cooperation among themselves shunning the politics of violence.
He said politics involving conflict and clash is harmful for
both the country and democracy and called for breaking the wall
of political distance for greater welfare of the country.
"You know the people of Bangladesh love democracy. Having differences of opinion in a democratic society is the essence and beauty of democracy. That's why it's important to practise
democratic norms and values," he said.
The Minister said this while speaking as chief guest at the biennial conference of Television Journalist Association Chittagong (TJAC) held at Chittagong Press Club (CPC) auditorium
this afternoon.
The minister said the political programmes which cannot earn love from the people should be stopped and the politics of arson and anarchy should be removed for the welfare of the general
mass.
"It is a matter of sorrow that many innocent people have been killed recently in petrol bomb attacks on vehicles. It is not a democratic movement. People who are involved in the atrocities are the enemies of democracy, humanity and civilization", Quader viewed.
The minister called upon all to create awareness among people against all acts of anarchy and sabotage in the name of democratic movement. Quader also informed that construction work
of the much-awaited tunnel under the river Karnaphuli would be inaugurated by November this year.
The minister said Chinese president Shi Jinping is expected to inaugurate the construction work of the tunnel to be built at a cost of US$ 100 crore.
TJAC President Shamsul Haq Haidory presided over the function while CPC President Kalim Sarwar,

General Secretary (GS)
Mohsin Chowdhury, GS of Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) Hasan Ferdous, GS of Chittagong Metropolitan Union of Journalists (CMUJ) Mohammad Shah Nowaz and TJAC GS Chowdhury Farid, among others, addressed the function.