Science trade in Bangladesh

As soon as it gained independence in 1971, Bangladesh followed with keen interest and supported Vietnam’s struggle against the U.S. The Government of Bangladesh condemned the U.S.’s bombing in the North of Vietnam. There was a strong nation-wide movement of the Bangladeshi people to support Vietnam’s fighting against the U.S. Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia and second one in Asia to recognize and establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. On February 11, 1973, Vietnam and Bangladesh officially established diplomatic relations. The two sides started exchange of visits and economic and trade interaction. In July 1982, Vietnam closed its Embassy in Dhaka.

In recent years, there have been new and important political and economic progresses in the relations between Vietnam and Bangladesh. In November 1993, Bangladesh opened its Embassy in Ha Noi. Vietnam re-opened its Embassy in Dhaka in January 2003.

The two sides have exchanged a number of high-level visits over the years.  

Vietnam-Bangladesh bilateral trade, though modest, is progressing positively with an average growth rate of 20% per year. Bilateral trade turnover was US$ 14 million in 2002 (Vietnam exported US$ 7 million and imported US$7 million), US$ 20 million in 2003 (Vietnam exported US$ 14 million and imported US$ 7 million), US$ 39 million in 2004 (Vietnam exported US$ 17.8 million and imported US$ 21.2 million), US$ 76 million in 2005 (Vietnam exported US$ 22 million and imported US$ 54 million). During Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s visit to Vietnam in May 2005, the two sides set a target of US$ 100 million of two-way trade by the year 2008. 

 - Vietnam’s main export items to Bangladesh are cloth, plastic products, products made from bamboo, sedge and rattan, rubber, computer, electrics, wood, pottery and porcelain. Vietnam’s main import items from Bangladesh are pharmaceuticals, garments, leather & textile materials, fabric, machinery equipment and tools, electrical spare parts and fertilizers.

 - The cooperation between the two countries in other fields is still at low level, mainly focusing on experience sharing in infrastructure development, small and medium enterprises, aquaculture and environment protection. The two sides are trying to upgrade cooperation in economic and commercial fields and others namely agriculture and fisheries, industry, handicraft, finance and banking, culture, training and education, tourism and health in pace with good political relation.

In an attempt to eliminate epidemic levels of diarrhea and other infectious diseases associated with the use of surface waters, millions of shallow tube wells were drilled into the Ganges Delta alluvium in Bangladesh beginning in the early 1970s. This process reduced the rates of water-related infectious diseases but created a new public health dilemma: a surge in diseases such as skin ailments, diabetes mellitus, and various cancers, all resulting from habitual consumption of groundwater naturally high in arsenic.

A number of interventions have been proposed to help remedy the widespread arsenic exposure, but these interventions may only be bringing the catastrophic water situation in Bangladesh full circle. A new study by epidemiologists led by Kamalini Lokuge of the Australian National University suggests that, while these interventions will eventually result in less disease overall, they may initially cause a steady and considerable increase in diarrheal disease [EHP 112:1172–1177]. The study indicates that any large-scale transition away from household tube wells as a source of drinking water, without proper evaluation of the risks, may be premature.

In attempting to quantify the disease burden resulting both from arsenic exposure and from the potential side effects of widely available arsenic mitigation interventions, Lokuge and her colleagues used previously published information to estimate mortality rates and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Simply put, a DALY is a measure of the burden of disease; it reflects how much a person’s expectancy of healthy life is reduced by premature death as well as by disability caused by disease.

The Australian team used World Health Organization data to estimate the DALYs lost per year to arsenic-related effects including diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and a number of cancers. They calculated that arsenic exposure causes the loss of 174,174 DALYs per year in Bangladeshis exposed to arsenic concentrations above 50 micrograms per liter (μg/L), the nation’s cut-off point for safe drinking water.

trade in science

Then they calculated the DALYs that would be lost to infectious disease, provided Bangladeshis adopted certain arsenic mitigation options currently advocated by the federal Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation and Water Supply Project and immediately accessible to the majority of the Bangladeshi population year-round. These include surface water supplies, uncontaminated community tube wells, and low-cost filtration systems. These alternative options carry the potential for increased water-related infections, compared with household tube wells.

Assuming that mitigation efforts were undertaken only in those areas where the arsenic concentration of drinking water is highest (100–300 μg/L), the team found that the long-range benefits of arsenic mitigation in terms of DALYs gained and deaths avoided would outweigh any initial decline in public health due to water-related infectious diseases. However, there would initially be a period of some years (the number of which is still unknown) before any benefit would accrue, and some additional years until the total benefit outweighed the cost of the water-related infectious disease increase. The investigators also conclude, moreover, that if the Bangladeshi people gradually stop using the alternative water sources and processes (for example, because of the inconvenience of maintenance or complacency as disease drops off), the initial DALY-based cost of water-related infectious diseases would remain while the long-range benefits would disappear.

The study demonstrates that implementation of any arsenic-mitigating intervention must take into account not only the strategy’s effectiveness in reducing arsenic exposure but also its safety in terms of water-related infectious diseases, the likelihood of population-wide compliance, and different exposure levels within the population. The investigators contend that such information is vital to developing appropriate policies toward resolving the drinking water crisis in Bangladesh.

Among the most renowned banks in Bangladesh, Citi Bank NA is such a name what plays an important role not only in the investment banking and trade operations but also in the overall industrial development in Bangladesh. After starting of their business in Bangladesh it has been running with its financial strength, technological strength, customized products and dynamic employees. Citi’s Cash Management Department and Trading department are working successfully with wide product line, maintaining good customers relationship and strong MIS (management information System). In Cash management department Citi basically works with the accounts opening, inward remittance, outward remittance, receivable management, foreign currency exchange etc. Trade department works with the LC opening of import and export, LC amendment, advising, import bill and export bill processing system. In case of local operation process of trade department it concentrate on some specific areas like- dealing with only their listed customer, providing LC authorization form as that bank is the authorized dealer of Bangladesh Bank, LC issuance and amendment local import and export LC amendment advising, NULC (Not under letter of credit), delivery order and shipping guarantee and import and export bill. From the beginning of LC opening to product shipment and receiving payment, every thing uploaded in the international server TCS Eserve, local server Trim, and Central image system. They maintain different data storage system and different files of same elements to make dual control of the system. Citi’s successful trade operation is made through its excellent customer relation service, Audit system and internal management information system with their dynamic employees. Though trade department has been working successfully from the starting but their insufficient employees, too much work load makes the existing employees demotivated. So I think overcoming these two problems Trading Department of Citi will be unbeatable in the banking sector.

Russia (the USSR at that time) and Bangladesh started developing friendly and mutually beneficial ties in the early 70s, from the very first days of Bangladesh as an independent state. Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Bangladesh were established on January 25, 1972. However the foundation for friendship between our countries had been laid even before that. The Soviet government raised its voice on the international arena against the atrocities being done to the people fighting for their freedom in 1971 and that was not simply a political decision but the manifestation of the deep and sincere sentiments of the Soviet people who were outspoken in their support for national-liberation movements all over the world. Immediately after the Liberation War the Soviet Union extended its helping hand to the Bangladeshi people and assisted the newly-born state in reestablishment and development of its economy. The USSR also provided its support to Bangladesh in acquiring international recognition and joining the UN.

trade in science

The cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh has always been comprehensive and has been developing in a wide range of spheres from politics to culture. Over the years Russia and Bangladesh have been holding close or similar positions on the numerous pressing issues of the international agenda, such as matters of global security, fight against terrorism, dialog between civilizations, mitigation of negative effects of climate change. Russia has always seen Bangladesh as a reliable partner in promoting principles of multipolar global architecture and fair international economic system.
The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is a community of advocates for responsible U.S. relations with Africa. AFJN stresses issues of peacebuilding, human rights and social justice that tie directly into Catholic social teaching. AFJN works closely with Catholic missionary congregations and numerous Africa-focused coalitions of all persuasions to advocate for U.S. economic and political policies that will benefit Africa's poor majority, facilitate an end to armed conflict, establish equitable trade and investment with Africa and promote sustainable development.
  China’s June trade data on Tuesday stoked anxiety about the strength of domestic demand in the world’s second biggest economy as imports rose at only half the pace expected, signaling a need for Beijing to do more to bolster growth.

Officials singled out the debt crisis in the European Union – China’s biggest trading partner – as key to Beijing’s ability to meet its 10 percent target for trade growth this year, with softening sales to the EU in the first half of 2012 seeing the United States overtake it as China’s top export destination.

Exports are better than expected, but I don’t this means that we shouldn’t be concerned about exports,” Sun Junwei, Beijing-based China economist with HSBC, said.

Customs spokesman, Zheng Yuesheng, said as much in a news conference to release the data.

“China’s exports to the European Union actually fell in the first half. Our exports to Germany have been falling for four consecutive months and exports to France have been on decline for three straight months, too. Our exports to Italy have been falling for 10 straight months since September,” Zheng said.

“The United States replaced Europe to become our largest exporting market in the first half. However, U.S. economic recovery is not stable yet, and its demand for our goods has not returned to the level seen before.”

China’s exports to the EU fell 0.8 percent in the first half of 2012 to $163.1 billion, while to the United States they rose 13.6 percent to $165.3 billion. China imported $65.8 billion worth of U.S. goods in the first six months, up 7.9 percent.

Data on Monday showed China’s consumer and producer prices eased more than expected in June, signaling falling demand for goods from the manufacturing capital of the world and the likelihood of more policy moves to support the slowing economy.

The People’s Bank of China unexpectedly cut benchmark interest rates last week for the second time in a month in a bid to bolster growth. It has also lowered banks’ required reserves ratios (RRR) in three 50 basis point steps since November 2011, freeing an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan ($190 billion) to lend.

But that has not stopped economists and investors scaling back their growth calls for China’s economy this year and steadily pushing back the consensus view on when the growth cycle is set to bottom from Q1 to Q2 and, increasingly, into Q3.

Analysts polled by Reuters last week forecast China’s annual rate of GDP growth will have eased to 7.6 percent in the second quarter of the year versus 8.1 percent in Q1. GDP data is due on Friday.

It is likely to be the slowest quarter of growth in the country since the first three months of 2009, in the depths of the global financial crisis when world trade ground to a halt.

Ting Lu, China economist with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong, wrote in a note to clients that June’s trade data confirmed that the current situation was not that bad.

overnment sent letters to three development finance institutions on Wednesday requesting them to form a consortium for arranging funding for the troubled Padma Bridge project, officials said.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith sent the letters to presidents of the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) requesting them to arrange a syndication loan for the dream project, a senior finance ministry official told the FE.
Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserve has crossed US$10 billion mark again as the inflow of foreign currencies increased, officials said.
The foreign exchange reserve rose to US$10.02 billion on Wednesday from $9.93 billion of the previous working day, according to the central bank statistics.
The prices of detergent products of different companies are on the rise on the retail markets across the country as manufacturers are hiking the prices of the items frequently, retailers said.
Stocks bounced back on Wednesday, breaking a losing streak of seven days, on the back of a buying pressure from institutional investors.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni has urged the world community to reach a legally binding agreement on carbon emission cuts in order to face onslaughts of climate change.
She also sought a global consensus on four recognized tracks of action in global warming –adaptation, mitigation, financing and technology transfer.
Dipu Moni made the appeal while she was speaking at a function marking the 19th ministerial meeting of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) here on Wednesday.
Foreign Ministers from ASEAN countries and the major Asia- Pacific countries including China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France, UK, USA, Russia, Canada, India and Pakistan participated in the conference.
Terming Bangladesh as the most vulnerable countries to global climate change, Dipu Moni stressed upon the engagement of the developed countries for effective action on adaptation and mitigation projects in developing countries.
She said Bangladesh has been facing multiple challenges. Bangladesh Foreign Minister also had bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of China and Myanmar on the side-line of ARF meeting, where she had discussed important bilateral issues and issues of common concerns.
They have discussed ways and means to strengthen the trade, commerce, investment and establishment of physical connectivity for the smooth movement of goods and people.

trade in science