High Level border conference held between BSF and BGB; Sixth meeting of the India-Bangladesh joint steering committee on cooperation in the power sector held in New Delhi; Bangladesh Government approves $45.9 million for conducting surveys and feasibility
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    • (JUNE 24-30)

    Reports noted that a high-level border conference between Border Guards Bangladesh and Indian Border Security Force was held at Party Point Community Centre in Rajshahi city on June 26, 2013.1

    In another development, reports noted that the sixth meeting of the India-Bangladesh joint steering committee on cooperation in the power sector was held on June 26-27, 2013 in New Delhi. 2

    According to reports, Bangladesh Government on June 23, 2013 approved $45.9 million for conducting surveys and feasibility studies for construction of Rooppur nuclear power plant in Pabna, to produce 2,000 megawatt (MW) of electricity. The cabinet committee on purchase, chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith awarded the work to the Russian state-owned company Atomstroyexport for constructing the plant. 3

    Reports noted that Bangladesh signed a contract with Russian state corporation Rosatom to conduct three vital studies to complete preparation for the construction of Rooppur nuclear power project on June 27, 2013. The first component of the deal was to conduct a feasibility study to determine the technical and economic aspects of the project. The second component involves conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and developing an environmental impact monitoring programme that would act as one of the watchdogs of the plant. And the third component deals with conducting a site engineering survey and an environmental study to characterise the project site based on which the power plant will be designed. Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Abu Sayeed Mohammad Feroz and head of Rosatom’s affiliate company NIAEP-ASE Valeriy Limarenko signed the deal on the sideline of the “International Conference on Nuclear Power for 21st Century” held in St Petersburg, Russia. To be implemented in 18 months, the arrangement will be financed under a $ 500 million loan with Russia that was secured in January at a rate of 3 percent interest. 4
    In other developments, reports noted that Bangladesh recorded a rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2012, bucking a global downturn in cross-border investments, Bangladesh Board of Investment (BoI) said on June 26, 2013. Actual FDI inflows rose 13.75 percent to $1.29 billion in 2012, the highest ever in the history of Bangladesh, said BoI referring to the World Investment Report 2013 by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). 5
    According to reports, the US has suspended trade privileges for Bangladesh after a six-year review exposed “serious shortcomings” in safety and labour standards. The decision will bring tariffs back on some of Bangladesh’s exports to US markets under the programme known as the Generalised System of Preferences. However, the scheme does not apply to Bangladesh’s main export: garment. The suspension underlines the lack of progress by the government in improving factory conditions. 6

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