India delivers the last 88 of the 428 different types of buses procured for BRTC under India’s LoC; Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits Belarus; EU launches global agreement for Bangladesh to improve labour rights, working conditions and factory safety in
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    • (JULY 8-14)

    Reports noted that India on July 13, 2013 delivered the last 88 of the 428 different types of buses procured for Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) at a cost of US $36.85 million under India’s US $1 billion line of credit (LoC). Of the buses, supplied by the Indian firm Ashok Leyland, delivery of 290 double decker buses was completed on October 30, 2012 and that of 50 articulated buses on April 2013. The project for procurement of the buses was included in the LoC agreed upon by the two countries on August 7, 2010 for various infrastructure developments in Bangladesh. US $200 million of the LoC was later converted to a grant. Of it, India so far disbursed US $150 million, which Bangladesh has said would be used for the construction project of the Padma bridge. Under the Indian LoC, Bangladesh took up a total of 16 projects for development of infrastructure in the transport sector.1

    In another development, according to reports, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Belarus on July 8, 2013 on a three-day official visit, wrapping up her four-day stay in the UK. 2 After official talk between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Belarus counterpart Mikhail V Myasnikovich, ministers and officials concerned of the two countries signed seven deals, including two agreements: agreement on avoidance of double taxation and framework agreement on commodity export credit; and four memorandums of understanding on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, cultural cooperation, cooperation between diplomatic training academies of the two countries, MoU between Shahjalal University and Belarus University; and a joint declaration of intent on preferential export loan. 3

    In other developments, according to reports, the European Union on July 8, 2013 launched a major global agreement for Bangladesh to improve labour rights, working conditions and factory safety in the country’s readymade garment industry. The agreement came following a high-level meeting with the EU trade commissioner, representatives from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and major US retailers in Geneva. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni led the Bangladesh side in the meeting. 4

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