News from Bangladesh-Updates and Discussion

[Bilal9]

Gifts for Bangladeshi fishermen

One thousand lifejackets have been donated to Bangladesh fisherman following an initiative launched by the Asia Pacific arm of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF).

Along with member organisation Shanghai Sun Glory Marine Co. Ltd, the IMRF Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (APRC) delivered the lifejackets to the Bangladesh Navy who transported them on two warships – Prottoy and Shandhinota – docked in the city of Qidong, Jiangsu Province China – to Bangladesh. Distribution of the lifejackets was then coordinated by the Bangladesh Coast Guard, said a report by The Maritime Executive: Maritime News | Marine News

“This is a great example of co-operation between charities, a commercial company and the military to provide support for the fishermen of Bangladesh. The country has one of the highest rates of drowning in the world and their fishermen risk their lives on a daily basis” said Bruce Reid, CEO of the IMRF. “We hope to be able to offer more support in the future.”

The provision of the lifejackets stemmed from the loss of life following a large tropical storm in September, 2015 when many fishing boats capsized and there was considerable loss of life because there were no lifejackets on board.

Mr. Mahmud Rahman, a dolphin ecologist with the Tropical Dolphin Research Foundation in the region, had been working with the fishermen to help him understand more about the marine life offshore. He understood the impact that lifejackets could have had and decided to find out what could be done for the villages hardest hit by loss of life.

Jennifer Lewis, Director, Tropical Dolphin Research Foundation said: “We sent an email to the IMRF to see what type of help could be provided. What resulted was an amazing collaboration between charities, government organisations and commercial suppliers. We realize that it may seem a leap from protecting dolphins, but to us conservation involves also protecting humans that share this environment with the dolphins. Doing this, we then have a better chance to preserve all of the nature we love”

Mr. Rahman was instrumental in managing the distribution of 400 of these lifejackets from Bagerhat, where they were stored at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute.

Last week a small ceremony was held at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Bagerhat to celebrate the arrival of the jackets and 21 boats were provided with 14 jackets each. Vessel checks will be made by the local Coast Guard officers to ensure the jackets are maintained on the vessels.

 

[bongbang]

Abbas thanks Bangladesh
Expresses gratitude for supporting Palestinians

Terming Bangladesh an unflinching proponent of his people's just causes, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh for its continued support for his country.

He made a nearly two-hour stopover at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka early yesterday while continuing his tour of three other Asian countries, including Japan.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali welcomed Abbas at the VVIP terminal after he landed around 12:35am, said a press release of the Palestine embassy in Dhaka.

They had a meeting in the airport lounge later.

Abbas briefed Ali on the updates on the Israeli atrocities against Palestinian people and land as well as the longstanding impasse regarding the peace process.

In response, the Bangladesh foreign minister reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of Bangladesh to the Palestinian people for their struggle for an independent homeland.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is always vocal in the UN, OIC, NAM and other international organisations in support of the Palestinian causes, he said.

Ali then called upon the world leaders to take urgent and meaningful initiatives to resolve the Palestinian crisis.

President Abbas expressed sincere thanks for offering opportunities of higher studies for a good number of students as well as training of armed forces members of Palestine in Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister Ali extended an invitation to Abbas and also to his Palestinian counterpart to pay bilateral visit to Bangladesh to witness the “enormous goodwill of the people of Bangladesh for Palestine”.

They exchanged views on different bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest during the meeting.

The Palestinian president was accompanied, among others, by his country's Foreign Minister Reyad Al Malki, President's Spokesman Nahel Abu Rodani, Diplomatic Adviser Majdi Al Khaldi and Economic Adviser Mustafa Abu Al-Rub.

From the Bangladesh side, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and senior officials from the foreign ministry were present.

Charge de Affairs of Palestine Embassy in Dhaka Yousef SY Ramadan, ambassadors of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Charge de Affairs of Oman, Egypt, Iraq and Libya and deputy chief of Mission of Morocco were also present to greet Abbas at the airport.

Abbas thanks Bangladesh | The Daily Star

 

[Bilal9]

Actual Construction of Dhaka Metro first phase starts next month

 

[bongbang]

That time China censored an art summit — in another country

"Last Words." That’s the name of the art exhibit that Beijing does not want you to see.

The piece consists of five small frames containing copies of handwritten letters — the final writings of five of the more than 140 Tibetans who’ve died by burning themselves alive in the last six years.

“We, the six million Tibetans led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, want independence for Tibet,” starts one. “I am setting myself on fire to protest against the Chinese government,” reads another.

Copies of the notes were on display for two days at the Dhaka Art Summit in Bangladesh before the Chinese ambassador stopped by this week and askedthe organizers to shut it down. A rep told Agence France-Presse that they felt “intimidated” and “frightened” by the request, which they then took to the artists, Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam.

Sarin and Sonam were “outraged,” they said, but also did not want to see the entire summit shuttered, so they decided to cover the letters in sheets of white paper — an act they hoped would call attention to the suppression of Tibetan stories.

“We felt that this would make a stronger statement on the nature of censorship and coercion that was taking place, particularly as 'Last Words' comments on exactly the same issues,” they said in an email to The Washington Post.

The censoring did have an impact. Supporters posted pictures of the censored and uncensored frames online, generating interest well beyond the world of art summit attendees. Wasfia Nazreen, a Bangladesh native who is a friend and colleague of the artists, posted the photographs to her Facebook page, and the images quickly spread. Institutions should not be “fearfully bowing down to any foreign government’s threats,” she said.

But sometimes they do. Though China maintains that its foreign policy is guided by the principle of "non-interference" — that is, non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries — it seems increasingly willing toassert itself across borders.

In 2009, Bangladesh police shut down a Tibet-related show at the request of the Chinese. In other cases, people have stood up to Chinese pressure — and paid a price. In 2010, when Sarin and Sonam were scheduled to screen a Tibetan documentary at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Chinese officials asked organizers to pull the film. They did not; two Chinese film entries were subsequently pulled.

The requests can border on ridiculous: This year, Chinese officials reportedly tried three times — in three countries — to ground a hot air balloon painted to look like the Tibetan flag.

Sarin and Sonam said the problem with any type of interference is that event organizers may think twice before including Tibetan artists or Tibet-themed work, just to avoid the hassle. "The danger with this kind of action is that it creates a climate of uncertainty. Self-censorship begins to creep in.”

Diplomats and rights groups also worry that Beijing’s tactics are escalating, that what starts as a strongly worded letter may end somewhere far worse.

Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, drew a line between what happened in Bangladesh this week and the apparent abductions, from Thailand and Hong Kong, of booksellers affiliated with a publishing house that specializes in gossipy books about China’s elite.

“Beijing’s growing desire to control expression inside China is rapidly mutating into a desire to control expression outside China,” she wrote.

Threatening to shut down an art show over five letters speaks to this. The question now: Will Bangladesh give Beijing final say?

That time China censored an art summit — in another country - The Washington Post

 

[Ryuzaki]

Actual Construction of Dhaka Metro first phase starts next month

Looks like good times ahead for Bangladesh

 

[bongbang]

Bangladesh’s joining the Saudi-led military alliance ‘initially’ surprised Russia: Envoy

Bangladesh’s joining the Saudi Arabia-led military alliance to combat terrorism “initially astonished” Russia, says its outgoing ambassador to Dhaka.

But, Alexander Nikolaev said Moscow is not worried now over the present activity of the military coalition.

He said the foreign ministry had assured Moscow many times the Bangladeshi troops will be deployed following UN Security Council resolutions.

This coalition also loses significance after the recent joint statement of the US and the Russia on the cessation of hostilities in Syria.

“Despite our initial astonishments upon (Bangladesh’s) joining this Saudi-Arabia coalition, we are not, for the moment, taking care about further development of this coalition activities,” he said.

The ambassador, who will leave Dhaka on Mar 10 ending his four-year tenure, was interacting with journalists at the Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association, Bangladesh's (DCAB) 'DCABTalk' on Sunday.

DCAB President Angur Nahar Monty and General Secretary Pantho Rahman conducted the discussion at the National Press Club.

Dhaka announced joining the coalition in December last year when Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir made a request to his Bangladesh counterpart AH Mahmood Ali.

But the foreign ministry never said they would deploy troops under this coalition.

The Russian ambassador said currently, there are three such coalitions to fight against terrorism, including the Saudi-led one.

But he said Russia always gets support from its “partner” Bangladesh in the UN and other international platforms.

“Moscow sees Dhaka as a reliable and time-tested partner in promoting multi-polar global architecture and fair economic and financial system,” he said.

The ambassador touched on issues of international politics and relations with Bangladesh during his interactions.

Referring to the Syrian crisis, Nikolaev said last year had been challenging for diplomacy globally.

He said at the end of the year, Bangladesh had also found itself in “an intrigued international environment”as he referenced the murder of foreigners and subsequent travel alerts and statements by the Western countries.

Bangladesh, he said, had “come under the kind of international pressure (at the time) which hampers its development efforts”.

“We see Bangladesh as a very promising country. We believe that it will be able to achieve its development goals by 2021 and 2030, and Russia remains its friend and partner in its efforts,”Nikolaev said.

He said he would be leaving Dhaka with “a great sense of satisfaction of a well-done job”.

During his tenure, the ambassador said, the bilateral trade made visible progress, and Russia became the “most significant” investor in the energy sector which is “a crucial factor” for sustainable development of any nation.

“Cultural contacts has start blossoming. Education cooperation is on the rise. Both countries share the same opinion in the UN and different international platforms.

“I think my new ambassador will face a big challenge to move further what has been done in recent years. I am sure he’ll succeed in the mutual interest of the governments,” he said.

Dhaka-Moscow relations go back a long way as Russia supported the 1971 War of Independence.

The relations took a new turn in the last four years, particularly after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Moscow visit in 2013, first in 40 years by a Bangladesh leader.

Bangladesh embarked on an ambitious nuclear power plant pact with Russia, apart from deals related to the purchase of military weapons.

Ambassador Nikolaev said this nuclear power deal marked the beginning of a “new stage” of relations.

He once again said this project has support of the other political parties.

“I recall, a couple of year back, a proud chairperson of the BNP had told me personally that initially the idea of nuclear power plant was floated long ago during the time of BNP in power,” he said.

He said the political ties between Dhaka and Moscow were getting “stronger day by day”.

The relations with the present government were “excellent” and this was in the interest of both nations.

He believed the relations would continue to grow under any government.

The ambassador maintained that Russia never interferes in domestic affairs of a country as it “respects sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all the countries”.

Bangladesh’s joining the Saudi-led military alliance ‘initially’ surprised Russia: Envoy -
bdnews24.com

 

[bongbang]

A new era of Bangladesh-Latin America bonhomie begins

The door to doing business in Latin American and the Caribbean countries is open for Bangladesh, envoys say, as Dhaka steps up its efforts “to unlock the potentials” of those markets.

The foreign ministry for the first time brought non-resident Latin American and Caribbean ambassadors together on Sunday to discuss ways in which their countries and Bangladesh could improve people-to-people contacts, enhance economic cooperation and work together on new global development agendas.

“Geographically, Latin America may be a far away continent, but it is close to our heart,” state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam said.

“Bangladesh views Latin America not just as a market for its exports, but as a valued partner with whom its people could share its culture,” he said.

Ecuador Ambassador Mentor Villagomez said the discussion demonstrated “the government’s intent to strengthen relations”.

“I can assure you that it is shared by Latin America. We are ready to do business with Bangladesh. This is the first step and I welcome this opportunity,” he said.

Bangladesh and Latin American countries have shared cultural and emotional ties for long, though Bangladesh has only two missions – in Brazil and Mexico – in the entire region. Brazil is the only Latin American country that has a mission in Dhaka.

The Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was a major literary figure in South America during his time and many of his works have been translated in Spanish.

His works influenced other literary figures of his age, such as José Ortegay Gassett, a leading Spanish intellectual of the time, Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda in Chile and Octavio Paz in Mexico.

Tagore’s friendship with the Argentine writer and intellectual Victoria Ocampo inspired him in displaying his art works to audiences in South America. His visit to Latin America also led to new songs being composed by him.

Literary personalities like Pablo Neruda, Garcia Márquez, Diego Rivera are familiar names even with the new generation of Bengalis.

Footballer Pele, Maradona and Messi are household names in Bangladesh, as the country has very strong support for Argentine and Brazilian football.

“We have commonalities in our aspirations, emotions and values. We also have similar understanding on common global, social and economic crisis,” the state minister said.

The people of Latin America supported Bangladesh in its struggle for independence.

Mexican Ambassador Melba Pria recalled her childhood and said she could still remember those days when her mother was standing with a placard, ‘Free Bangladesh’, in her hand, holding her with the other hand.

“In my lifetime Bangladesh has moved from that ‘free Bangladesh’ to grow to this stage of 15 years of continuous economic growth in a row,” she said while inviting Bangladesh to invest in her country.

“There is a huge potential for engagement with Bangladesh. We are open for business,” she said.

The ambassador- designate of the Dominican Republic, Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos, said the major two keys of relations had been achieved. “You invited us all and our countries allowed us”.

“We look forward to keep coming,” he said, suggesting holding a “business conclave” as the next step.


Augusto Montiel, ambassador- designate of Venezuela, said he even wanted to come to Bangladesh for New Year celebrations.

He also suggested a Bangladesh-Latin America ‘fair’.

Prof Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director of CPD, said Bangladesh could seek Latin American partnership in this “crucial time” when the country was transforming itself into a middle-income country.

He said Latin America had a $9.5 trillion GDP in purchasing parity and imported $1.5 trillion.

“It’s a very big economy, higher than India and Japan. But Bangladesh exports only 1.5 percent of its total exports to Latin America and imports only 3.5 percent of the total imports”.

He said those countries can invest in Bangladesh and then export to their own countries and other countries, including the EU, where Bangladesh enjoys duty free market access.

He said the new special economic zone initiative of the government could give them a “window of opportunity”.

The ambassadors of Peru, Colombia, Cuba, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Guyana also spoke at the seminar at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).

Bangla Academy published a book of translated Latin literature for the occasion.

A new era of Bangladesh-Latin America bonhomie begins -
bdnews24.com


Bangladesh opens embassy in Ethiopia
Bangladesh opens embassy in Ethiopia -
bdnews24.com

Bangladesh sends financial aid for Fiji tornado victims
Bangladesh sends financial aid for Fiji tornado victims -
bdnews24.com

Bangladesh foreign minister calls Muslim world to unite for Palestine
Bangladesh foreign minister calls Muslim world to unite for Palestine -
bdnews24.com

Qatar emir, PM plan to visit Bangladesh
Qatar emir, PM plan to visit Bangladesh -
bdnews24.com

 

[Bilal9]

Bangladesh ICT Expo 2016 kicks off
Tribune Report

Note: This is not a show emphasizing or showcasing software producers, it is more of a expo for checking out and buying latest computer hardware, primarily from East Asian Manufacturers.

Bangladesh ICT Expo 2016, a three-day exposition on information technology, kicked off yesterday in the capital.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal inaugurated the expo while Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), the apex trade body of technology industry, along with ICT Division of the ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and ICT hosted the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, AHM Mustafa Kamal said: “Planning Ministry has allocated over TK8,000 crore to construct ICT infrastructure of the country, so the ICT industry can grow here rapidly.”

“We would be able to create 15% tech-based work force by 2021 which is now only 7%. All forecast on Bangladesh in ICT sector has been implemented due to government’s initiatives. In the next couple of years, a major change will come which is called ‘Total Digitisation’,” said Kamal.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT Division said: “Bangladesh would be a digital device manufacturing destination for global world instead of only a user country.”

“Bangladesh will earn US$5 billion through digital export by 2021 as we have established a hi-tech park in Kaliakoir where smartphone and laptops will be assembled,” said Palak.

Imran Ahmed, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on Posts, Telecommunications and ICT ministry, Michelle Simmons, president South East Asia of Microsoft, Harjeet Singh Rekhi, general manager of Dell (South Asia), Shyam Sunder Sikder, secretary of ICT Division, AHM Mahfuzul Arif, president of Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) also spoke on the occasion.

The expo will remain open from 10am to 8pm while the BCS also informed the Bangladesh ICT Expo-2015 will be organised on 50,000 square feet space of BICC and nearly 400,000 visitors are expected to visit the exposition.

Second edition of ‘Bangladesh ICT Expo’ will be organised by the Information Communication division collaboration with Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), while some other government organisations and trade bodies also take part with the event.

The exposition, one of the biggest ever expositions in the ICT sector of the country, would be assemblage of local and international experts who will share and exchange knowledge on ICT advancement and challenges in the seminars to be organised during the event, said organiser.

The exposition, showcasing technology-based innovations, new tech products and aimed at unlocking the economic potential of the IT sector.

- See more at: Bangladesh ICT Expo 2016 kicks off | Dhaka Tribune

 

[neolithic]

Police action leaves 50 injured
Pregnant nurse kicked in the abdomen during scuffle in front of (Health minister) Nasim’s house

 

[Michael Corleone]

Staff Correspondent

Attaining the status of a role model for its neighbours, Bangladesh has become an open defecation free country from 34 percent to 99 percent sanitation coverage in the last decade, said representatives of South Asian countries at a discussion yesterday.

The discussion titled “Beyond Just Toilets – Fast Tracking an Open Defecation Free South Asia”, organised by Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Foundation India and Geneva based Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, was held at Hotel Sonargaon on the occasion of “The 6th South Asian Conference on Sanitation” (SACOSAN-VI) that starts today at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

With the slogan “Better Sanitation, Better life”, more than 500 delegates and participants from different corners of South Asia will participate in the conference, organised by the Local Government Division (LGD) of Bangladesh.

What do they mean by this? Like there isn't any area where open drainage can be found? Or clogged drainage with sewer water on the roads? Because wari is full of that shit.

 

[24 Hours]

What do they mean by this? Like there isn't any area where open drainage can be found? Or clogged drainage with sewer water on the roads? Because wari is full of that shit.

Open defecation refers to the practice whereby people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water, or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to defecate.

This is the UNICEF definition.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Open defecation refers to the practice whereby people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water, or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to defecate.

This is the UNICEF definition.

Well then, I can prove universe wrong. Just make them go to hatirjheel at night or go to roads at mignight... Rickshaw peddlers do their business in the open....

 

[neolithic]

According to Rina Akter, President of the Unemployed Nurses' Association, Salma, a protestor who was three months pregnant, was kicked on her abdomen and she started to bleed. Eventually, she had a miscarriage.

 

[Arthur]

Home > Economy
Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves cross $29-billion mark again
Abdur Rahim Harmachi, bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-06-10 12:19:48.0 BdST Updated: 2016-06-10 12:23:35.0 BdST

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Foreign exchange reserves of Bangladesh have crossed the $29-billion mark again.


The foreign currency reserves had crossed that mark for the first time on Apr 25, amidst widespread criticism over February’s $81 million cyber theft from the central bank’s account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The reserves had dropped in the first week of May after paying $900 million in bills of Asian Clearing Union (ACU) for March and April, but went past $29 billion again in the past few days.

The amount stood at $29.23 billion at the end of Thursday, Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Shubhankar Saha told bdnews24.com.

That is sufficient to meet the country’s import bills for the next eight months.

The official said the reserves were in a ‘satisfactory’ condition for the past few years due to increase in export income and decrease in imports.

In February, hackers had tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the central bank's account at the New York Fed.

One fraudulent transfer to a Sri Lankan entity was reversed, but four transfers for a combined $81 million went to the Philippines and wound up being laundered through casinos and casino agents there. Most of the money remains missing.



The reserves crossed $28 billion for the first time on Feb 25. It dropped after the ACU bills for January and February were cleared in the first week of March and rose over $28 billion again.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh sold goods worth $30.66 billion abroad in the 11 months (July-May) of the current 2015-16 financial year.

Exports are 9 percent higher than at the same time during the previous fiscal.

However, remittance from the Bangladeshi expatriates dropped 3.05 percent in this period.

On the other hand, the number of Letters of Credit (LC) opened in 10 months (July-April) of the current fiscal has gone down by 2 percent.

The amount involving the LCs to import fuel oil and food also dropped around 40 percent and over 38.52 percent, respectively.

http://bdnews24.com/economy/2016/06...exchange-reserves-cross-29-billion-mark-again

 

[Arthur]

Home > Economy
Bangladesh records lowest inflation rate in a decade
Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-06-13 23:24:44.0 BdST Updated: 2016-06-13 23:58:17.0 BdST

The inflation rate in the 11 months of the ongoing fiscal ending on June 30 has slightly dropped in Bangladesh, pushing the average inflation to its lowest in a decade.
The point-to-point inflation rate (monthly) fell to 5.45 percent in May.

It means a product or service that cost Tk 100 in May last year now costs Tk 105.45.

On a point-to-point basis, the inflation rate was 5.61 percent in April and 5.65 percent in March.

The average inflation rate in the past one year – from May 2015 to May 2016 – was 5.97 percent.

It was 6.40 percent between May 2014 and May 2015.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal disclosed the figures and made the observations while releasing the monthly inflation update of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) at a media call at the National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday.

He attributed the drop in inflation in May to massive Boro harvest and stability in the prices of essentials in the international market.

Kamal said uninterrupted import and domestic productivity had also played a role in bringing the general inflation down.



At the beginning of current 2015-16 financial year, the government had targeted to bring inflation down to 6.2 percent.

Referring to the inflation rate in May, the minister hoped it will remain under the target rate when this fiscal ends.

He said the overall inflation on a point-to-point basis in rural areas declined to 4.59 percent in May. It was 4.75 percent in April.

The overall inflation in urban areas also declined to 7.06 percent in the period. It was 7.22 percent in April.

In May, food inflation fell to 3.81 percent against 3.84 percent in April.

Non-food inflation also dropped to 7.92 percent last month from April’s 8.34 percent.

Kamal added that the drop in the inflation rate had also led to the increase in wage rates in May. On a point-to-point basis, the wage rate went up 6.07 percent from April’s 6.13 percent.




http://bdnews24.com/economy/2016/06/13/bangladesh-records-lowest-inflation-rate-in-a-decade

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Home > Economy
Bangladesh records lowest inflation rate in a decade
Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-06-13 23:24:44.0 BdST Updated: 2016-06-13 23:58:17.0 BdST

The inflation rate in the 11 months of the ongoing fiscal ending on June 30 has slightly dropped in Bangladesh, pushing the average inflation to its lowest in a decade.

The point-to-point inflation rate (monthly) fell to 5.45 percent in May.

It means a product or service that cost Tk 100 in May last year now costs Tk 105.45.

On a point-to-point basis, the inflation rate was 5.61 percent in April and 5.65 percent in March.

The average inflation rate in the past one year – from May 2015 to May 2016 – was 5.97 percent.

It was 6.40 percent between May 2014 and May 2015.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal disclosed the figures and made the observations while releasing the monthly inflation update of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) at a media call at the National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday.

He attributed the drop in inflation in May to massive Boro harvest and stability in the prices of essentials in the international market.

Kamal said uninterrupted import and domestic productivity had also played a role in bringing the general inflation down.



At the beginning of current 2015-16 financial year, the government had targeted to bring inflation down to 6.2 percent.

Referring to the inflation rate in May, the minister hoped it will remain under the target rate when this fiscal ends.

He said the overall inflation on a point-to-point basis in rural areas declined to 4.59 percent in May. It was 4.75 percent in April.

The overall inflation in urban areas also declined to 7.06 percent in the period. It was 7.22 percent in April.

In May, food inflation fell to 3.81 percent against 3.84 percent in April.

Non-food inflation also dropped to 7.92 percent last month from April’s 8.34 percent.

Kamal added that the drop in the inflation rate had also led to the increase in wage rates in May. On a point-to-point basis, the wage rate went up 6.07 percent from April’s 6.13 percent.