Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Highlights of Saturday’s newspapers:
The Financial Express:
--Authorities concerned can facilitate transporting goods to, and from, northeastern states of India via Bangladesh by utilising the still-operational provisions of the country's export policy, before implementation of a massive investment programme for offering full rail, road and riverline transit on a regular basis to India, traders and experts said on Friday.
-- A full-fledged river transit facility through the Ashuganj port is unlikely to be given to India in the 'near future' due to the absence of necessary infrastructure, a senior government official said.
-- Local tanners are worried about the ongoing financial crisis in Eurozone, the major market of Bangladeshi leather products, saying it might hit their business badly, industry insiders told the FE.
The Daily Star:
-- The government did not deploy the army in Narayanganj city yesterday, ignoring the Election Commission's requirement of troops to maintain law and order during tomorrow's polls. The returning officer for the Narayanganj City Corporation polls informed the EC yesterday morning that the army would not be deployed.
-- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said it is unfortunate that opposition leader Khaleda Zia “stands against the trial of war criminals.” “In line with the aspiration of the mass people, process is underway to try the war criminals of 1971 Liberation War. But unfortunately, our opposition leader has opposed the trial. Not only this, she is trying to protect the war criminals by launching movement,” she said.
-- Bangladesh may not achieve energy security by 2021 if the government continues to provide huge subsidies, a leading expert said yesterday. “We will never reach energy security by 2021 if the low price of energy continues,” Prof Ijaz Hossain of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) said.
The New Age:
-- The economy that is laming under the burden of a huge budget deficit is yet to receive from the authorities concerned a release and utilisation process of the Gas Development Fund even after 27 months of its formation, while around Tk 1,200 crore accrued in the fund over the period is lying unutilised.
-- The parliamentary party of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday demanded withdrawal of what was discussed in the house on Wednesday under rule 68 and alleged that the discussion had violated the rule itself.
-- The liquidity crisis in the banking sector might hit the rawhide procurement process this time as banks are reportedly in predicament whether they will be able to meet the credit demand of their clients. Though the tanners have sought nearly Tk 600 crore in loan, the banks will ultimately come up with Tk 250 to Tk 300 crore before Eid-ul-Azha, industry insiders said.
BBN/SSR/AD-29Oct11-10:59 am (BST)