The government on Monday (May 22) will honour some 44 personalities as commercially important persons (industry) in different categories for their contributions to the country’s overall economy through setting up industries, creating employments and increasing national income in 2021.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque will formally hand over the honour award as the chief guest at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital while Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain and FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin will remain present as special guests.

Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana will preside over the function.

Among the 44 businessmen, six have been selected under the ex-officio category, 25 under large industries, 10 under medium industries, two under small industries and one under micro industries category, said a press release here today.

Every nominated CIP will get a CIP card and enjoy a number of facilities, including priority in seat reservation at government transports in air, road, rail and waterways, getting invitation at national events, could get special facilities in the government hospitals for ensuring treatment of their spouse and children.

The CIPs will be able to use the cards as passes to use the VIP lounge-2 at the airports.

The CIPs nominated as ex-officio are Sheikh Fazle Fahim, former president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Kamran Tanvirur Rahman, former president of Bangladesh Employers Federation, Mohammad Ali Khokon, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, Rupali Haque Chowdhury, president of Foreign Investors Chambers of Commerce and Industry, AKM Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Chambers of Industries.

CIPs from the large-scale industries (manufacturing) are Managing Partner of Square Pharmaceuticals’ Eric S Chowdhury, Chairman of BSRM Steels Ali Hossain Akbar Ali, Pran Dairy Ltd Chairman Md Eleash Mridha, Managing Director (MD) of Olympic Industries Ltd Mubarak Ali, Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Zaber and Zubair Fabrics Ltd Mohammad Abdullah Zaber, MD of ACI Ltd Arif Doula, MD of Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd Mustafizur Rahman, DMD of Abdul Monem Group ASM Mainuddin Monem, Chairman of Fariha Knit Tex Mohammad Mamun Bhuiyan, MD of Square Food and Beverage Anjan Chowdhury, MD of Hams Garments Ltd Md Shafiqur Rahman, Badsha Textile Mills Sponsor Director Kamal Uddin Ahmad, Mir Ceramic Limited Director Mahreen Nasir, Durable Plastic Ltd Director Uzma Chowdhury, Runner Automobiles Ltd Chairman Hafizur Rahman Khan, Winner Stainless Steel Mills Ltd Chairman Sohel Rana, Tasniah Fabrics Ltd Sponsor Director Ahmed Arif Billah, Shohagpur Textiles Mills Ltd Chairman Abdul Hai Sarker, Envoy Textiles Chairman Kutubuddin Ahmed and Confidence Power Holdings Limited Vice-Chairman Imran Karim.

CIPs from the large-scale industries (service) are STS Holdings managing director Khondoker Monir Uddin, SB Tel Enterprises Ltd managing director Zakaria Shahid, The Civil Engineers Limited managing director Eng Md Atiqur Rahman, Concord Real Estate and Development chairman SM Kamal Uddin and Eastern Housing Ltd chairman Manzurul Islam.

CIPs from the medium-scale industries are Biswas Poultry and Fish Feed Ltd Chairman Md Mahbubur Rahman, Incepta Vaccine Limited Vice-Chairman Akter Jahan Hasmeen Muktadir, MD of Auko-tex Ltd Abdus Sobhan, MD of Jinnat Knitwear Ltd Md Abdul Jabbar, MD of Romania Food & Beverage Ltd Humayun Kabir Bablu, MD of Prome Agro Foods Ltd Md Enamul Hasan Khan, Masco Picasso Limited Director Fahima Akter, MD of Torque Fashions Ltd Mohammed Kamal Uddin, Jinnat Apparels Ltd Chairman Abdul Wahed and MD of M/S Citadel Apparels Ltd Md Mahidul Islam.

CIPs from small-scale industry category are Rangpur Foundry Limited Director Chowdhury Kamruzzaman and MD of Erfan Agro Food Ltd Md Mahbub Alam. Owner of Masco Dairy Enterprise MA Sabur has been selected for CIP under the micro industry category.

Association of Bankers, Bangladesh Limited (ABB) today informed that most banks are now regular in foreign payments as foreign currency crisis in the country has eased compared to earlier.

“The foreign currency crisis in the country has eased to some extent compared to the previous year. However, the situation is yet to get back to complete normalcy,” said ABB Chairman Selim RF Hussain.

He said this while addressing a press conference on “Bangladesh Banking Sector Outlook 2023” at BRAC Bank head office in the city.

Among others, ABB Managing Director & CEO of City Bank Limited Mashrur Arefin, Managing Director & CEO of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited Abul Kashem Md. Shirin and Managing Director & CEO of First Security Islami Bank Limited Syed Waseque Md. Ali also spoke on the occasion.

Selim RF Hussain said the foreign correspondent who withdrew the limit before are now coming back as they are satisfied with the country’s current state.

Mashrur Arefin, also vice chairman of the ABB, said net opening position of dollar holdings of banks turned to positive from the negative trajectory as remittance inflow and deposit is increasing.

“Besides, the dollar rate is now higher in the formal and informal markets, which means the banking sector has returned to stability,” he added.

“The Bangladesh Bank’s intervention helped to stabilise the market,” he said.

Realising the sufferings of the homeless marginal and ultra-poor people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after comingto power in 1996, envisioned the Ashrayan project for  rehabilitation of the millions.

“In all shabby weatherparticularly during monsoon and winter, we had to face unbound sufferings,as I virtually lived underthe open sky,” according to Monira Begum, one of the beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Ashrayan Project.
Now, smiles glowed on Monira’s face after receiving her dream home at Lakshmipur district, about 190 km from capital Dhaka.

Like Monira, a small piece of land and home on it has made thousands of shelter-less people happy as they got it as ‘gift’, free of cost from the Prime Minister.
“Ashrayan project has changed the lifestyle of my family, as the home provided me with the  sourcesof livelihood and creating some other facilities as well like water supply, hygiene and sanitation,” according to Monira.

In rural Bangladesh, thousands of people, since country’s independence, used to live floating from one place to another to sustain their lives. They had no permanent address.

“After 50 years of independence we have got our permanent address at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s noble gesture,” Monira observed.

The Ashrayan project- home for the homeless- is seen as a “Sheikh Hasina Model” for inclusive development. So far, around 10 lakh families received such homes across the country, giving shelter to more than 3.5 million people.

According to the officials, in the first phase of their project, a total of 63,999 houses were distributed among poor while 53,330 houses were given in the second phase and 59,133 houses in the third phase.

With the success of the Ashrayan Project-1 the government initiated for the Ashrayan Project-2. And under the project, a total of 39365 houses have so far been allocated among poor, bring their total number of houses to 2,15,827.

In 1972 after independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had initiated the programme for housing of the poor. But, after his brutal murder in 1975, the rulers kept the programme in abeyance, leading to increase the number of homeless people due to river erosion and other natural disasters.

So, the Ashrayan Project, envisaged by Sheikh Hasina was just reinforcement of the footprint of Bangabandhu for welfare of the toiling messes.

Under the Ashrayan projects the government has rehabilitated 5,54,597 families and out of them 2,16,704 families were rehabilitated in different programmes under various ministries.

Through contributing the shelter to ultra-poor, the Prime Minister has boosted up the confidence of the downtrodden people to live with their basic rights of shelter, alleviate their poverty and live in the society with dignity.

Of course, after getting their homes, the beneficiaries would expresstheir gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for making their dream true and lives meaningful.

Under their project, their prime minister handed-over the deeds of the two-decimal land and keys of the two-room home with separate kitchen and veranda to the beneficiaries.

The Ashrayan project is a life-changinginitiative of the government for welfare of the country’s poor who can now dream for a new life.

Amena Begum, a 49-year-old of the district narrated BSS about her long sufferings with sick and physically challenged children.

Amena used to work as a maidservant from house to house,keeping her children unsafe in a makeshift slum. Now, she has a shelter in the Ashrayan project.

Pramila Karmakar married RanjitKarmakar30 years back and had beenliving in a rented house. The couple, day labourers by profession, has given marriage their three daughters, but could not arrange their own home in their struggling life.

“When my sons-in-law came to my house I could not provide them a place to sit. Now, I am very happy as I’m owner of a home,” Pramila said.

A 42-year-old Arefin from Dolnarchar of Daudkandi said, “I never imagined that I would have a permanent house on my own land.”

Arefin planted vegetables and fruity trees around his house, attracting attention of local people.

He also runs a shop in a corner of the house and lives with his only daughter and mother.

“I loved this home very much and after coming here I did not even go anywhere for a moment, Arefin said as tears rolled down his cheek.

Daudkandi Upazila Parishad chairman Muhammad Ali Sumon told BSS that every human being has a fundamental right to have access to their housing. Ashrayan project is a real manifestation of realizing the rights of the people.

Many underprivileged people, including transgender, tea garden worker, leprosy patients have found their shelter in the Ashrayan project in his area, the chairman said, extending gratitude to the Prime Minister and her government for taking this great reformative initiative.

Daudkandi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohinul Hasan recalled the prime minister’s announcement on the occasion of the Mujib Barsha, saying they are working to ensure that none would be left without home in the country.

Under the Ashrayan project a total of 487 homeless people were enlisted in Daudkandi Upazila and out of them 300 houses were already handed over. The remaining houses would be allocated in the month of June, the UNO said.

By Syed: Shukur Ali Shuvo