Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Highlights of Saturday’s newspapers:
The Financial Express:
-- Sale of apartments has declined by more than 50 per cent over the last two years, prompting realtors to reduce the prices of their unsold flats -- thus attracting buyers with lucrative offers.
-- Knitwear manufacturers are looking for new markets following a drastic fall in export orders during the last two to three months due to economic meltdown in the eurozone countries.
-- The government has decided to allow entry of four more items produced by units under the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) to the local market by paying applicable duties, trade officials said Thursday.
The Daily Star:
-- The fate of over 600 Bangladeshi garment workers, mostly female, in Jordan has become uncertain as Taiwanese factory Maintrend International shut down late last month.
-- The telecom regulator has decided not to allow the import of mobile phone sets without “Bangla keypad” from February next year.
-- Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) yesterday demanded cancellation of the Tipaimukh dam project in India.
The New Age:
-- The government has started a process of promotion for several hundred cadre officials to the ranks of deputy secretary, joint secretary and additional secretary although there are hardly any vacant posts in the formal structure.
-- Many corporate entities and financial organisations have resorted to cost-cutting measures amid the prevailing economic gloom, sources said.
-- Income tax collection soared by around three per cent in the last five years. According to the statistics, the NBR collected Tk 8,721.24 crore income tax in 2006-07 fiscal year but the tax mobilisation witnessed a leap in 2007-08 as the overall collection increased by 34.67 per cent to Tk 11,744.66 crore in 2007-08.
BBN/SSR/AD-26Nov11-10:46 am (BST)