Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Jan 29) has directed the  the authority concerned to reduce the import duty on four most essential items – rice, edible oil, sugar and date ahead of the upcoming Ramadan. PM Sheikh Hasina delivered this directive from the Cabinet meeting at her office in the capital. “The prime minister has given a clear directive to decrease the duty on four items – edible oil, sugar, rice and date — on the occasion of the upcoming Ramadan,” said Md Mahbub Hossain, the Cabinet Secretary, while briefing reporters at the Secretariat. Highlighting the instructions of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary said that the supply of edible oil, sugar, dates and rice should not be reduced during Ramadan. Therefore, the Prime Minister has given instructions to reduce the duty rate of edible oil, sugar, dates and rice on the occasion of upcoming Ramadan. Mahbub Hossain said, "The National Board of Revenue (NBR) would assess how much the duty can be curtailed."  

President Mohammed Shahabuddin (Dec 17) gave consent to deploy military personnel to help ensure free, fair and peaceful Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls. "The president consented to deploy members of armed forces division (AFD) for holding next polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner. . . The military personnel will assist the civil administration," President's Press Secretary Md Joinal Abedin told BSS this noon. He said the president provided his assent as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal called on him at Bangabhaban to offer formal request for armed forces deployment before and after next general elections. According to Abedin, the president said the decision for the military deployment was taken to maintain law and order and fair atmosphere during the pre-and post-election period. The head of the state, however, said the date and time of the troops' deployment will be announced later in consultation with all concerned stakeholders. During the meeting, the president was apprised by the CEC of the overall Election Commission (EC) preparations for the upcoming polls. Expressing satisfaction over the polls preparation by the EC, the head of the state assured the EC of providing all necessary cooperation to make the elections fair and peaceful. The president also expressed his hope that with the cooperation of all, a free, fair and credible election will be held in Bangladesh. Secretaries concerned to the president were present at the meeting. Source: BSS

India imposed an anti-dumping duty on some Chinese steel for five years, according to a government notification. On Sep 4, India's steel secretary, Nagendra Nath Sinha, said New Delhi was monitoring the steel imports situation after the steel industry raised concerns over potential dumping by Chinese sellers. During April-July, China was the second biggest steel exporter to India, after South Korea, selling 0.6 million metric tons, up 62 per cent from the same period a year earlier. In all, India imported 2 million metric tons of finished steel in the period, the highest since 2020 and up 23 per cent from a year earlier. China, the world's top steel producer, exported mostly cold- rolled coil or sheets to India. Source: channelnewsasia

Eight Sialkot police officers and employees have been sacked in Pakistan over their involvement in murder and corruption cases and absence from government duty, Dawn reported. According to the department, DPOHasan Iqbal took action against 135 officials after complaints of people and departmental inquiries. The department forcibly retired ASI Ijaz Ahmed for receiving a bribe from a person and ASI Murtaza Ghamman over their involvement in a murder case. Constable Muhammad Rashid has been dismissed for his involvement in a murder case in Shakargarh. Meanwhile, Azmat Ali was dismissed for his involvement in the Satrah police station murder case, as per the Dawn report. Furthermore, constables Zeeshan Ahmed, Shiraz Ahmed and Adeel Ashraf and police van driver Yasin were sacked for continuous absence from government duty. The department ordered the confiscation of services of 85 police and traffic police officers and employees for their negligence in duty. DPOHasan Iqbal directed 43 police officers and employees to continue their work and warned them regarding departmental disqualification, as per the Dawn report. Meanwhile, the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) police, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, raided Shah Latif Town police station and recovered two youngsters who were abducted for ransom by Karachi Police, The News International reported. The two kidnapped youths - Asad and Arman were abducted from Zakaria Goth for a ransom of Rs 50 lakh, but a deal was settled for Rs 10 lakh. During the raid, the AVCC police arrested four suspects, including two policemen, as per the news report. A case has been lodged against them while the search for another suspect, who happens to be the incharge of a special party of Malir Division police, is being conducted. SHO Shah Latif denied his involvement in the kidnapping of the two youths, as per The News International report. However, he has been suspended and the District Malir SSP has started an inquiry to find how the abducted youths were brought and kept at the Shah Latif police station. "I have no link with the kidnapping," the suspended Shah Latif SHO, Malik Mazhar Iqbal Awan, said as he spoke to The News. He further said, "Those who were involved in the kidnapping have been arrested and a case against them registered."

Doctors have declared Biden "healthy" and "vigorous." At 80 years of age, he is the oldest person to serve as US president and is readying for an expected second run in 2024. United States President Joe Biden has been declared "fit for duty" following a a three-hour physical examination on Thursday. The results of the exam were keenly awaited as the 80-year-old gears up for his expected run for a second term in 2024. What did Biden's doctor say? Some relatively minor issues were found during the extensive testing at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. That included removing a lesion from his chest. However, doctors declared him free of symptoms of long COVID after his double bout of the virus last year. "President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," Biden's doctor, Kevin O'Connor, said in a letter published by the White House. "The president remains fit for duty, and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations." The doctor reported that Biden was clear of any serious neurological problems such as "stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis." Joe Biden and a potential second run for office Biden is the oldest person ever to serve as US president. In an interview with PBS last week, he said anyone concerned about his age should "watch me" as president. However, several surveys indicate that voters have concerns about his ability to serve four more years if he wins a second term. He would be 86 by the end of a second term, 13 years older than the average life expectancy for males in the US.

To protect domestic manufacturers and companies from cheap imports from the neighbouring country, India has imposed anti-dumping duty on five Chinese products, including some aluminium items and chemicals for five years. What is anti-dumping? Countries initiate anti-dumping investigations to determine whether the domestic industry has suffered from an increase in imports below costs. As a counter-measure, they impose tariffs under the multilateral WTO regime. Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade and provide equal opportunities to the domestic industry. Both India and China are members of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO). India has initiated maximum anti-dumping cases against dumped imports from China. The Products included As per separate notifications of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the duty has been imposed on certain flat-rolled products of aluminium; Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) component R-32; silicone sealant (used in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic modules and thermal power applications); sodium hydrosulfite (used in the dye industry); and hydrofluorocarbon mixtures (both have found use in the refrigeration industry). Reason for dumping duties on such products The duty has been imposed following the recommendations of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the investigative arm of the Ministry of Commerce. In a separate investigation, the DGTR has concluded that these products have been exported to the Indian markets at below normal value, which has resulted in dumping. DGTR has stated that the domestic industry has suffered material injury due to dumping.“The anti-dumping duty levied under this notification (on silicone sealant) shall be levied for five years from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette and shall be payable in Indian currency,” the CBIC said. CBIC has also imposed a duty on a vehicle component – axle for trailers in CKD/SKD (complete and semi-knocked down) to protect domestic manufacturers from cheap Chinese imports. Similarly, it has also imposed duty for five years on imports of calcined gypsum powder from the United Arab Emir Source: News 18

The commerce ministry has requested National Board of Revenue (NBR) to withdraw duty over onion import as well as to withdraw duty imposed on none refined soyabean oil, palm oil and sugar as prices of these items have soared in the recent times. The request was made in a meeting organized with a view to keep stock, supply, import, price situation normal and static of the essential commodities held at the commerce ministry conference room on Monday afternoon. At the beginning of the meeting Import and Internal Trade division additional secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman said, recently prices of some essential commodities (such as edible oil, sugar, onion and lentil) have gone up influenced by the international market. As a result commerce ministry has taken some steps to keep the stock, import, supply and price situation static in the market. He said, prices of onion have gone up because of sudden rain in India but there is no crisis of the commodity against the demand. About the high price of edible oil the secretary said, the government will investigate about the issue of increased price. In the meeting Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was connected virtually. AH 

National Board of Revenue (NBR) has withdrawn the import duty on onion to control the prices. Now traders can import onion without imposed duty till March 31, 2021. The information was delivered through a press release of the public relations department of finance ministry on Sunday. The release said that the duty on onion has been withdrawn in this lean period following direction of the Prime Minister. Of the total imported onions more than 90 percent come from neighboring country India. As India suspended onion export on September 14, the price of this kind of spice went up by 50 taka per kilogram within one day of difference. During the budget of 2020-21 fiscal year five percent duty was imposed on onion import to discourage import and to ensure proper price for the onion growers in the country. As the price has gone up at the moment importers recommended for withdrawing the duty to the commerce ministry. On pretext of the demand of the businessmen commerce ministry recommended to NBR to withdraw the duty through a letter. AH

The government has waived the import duty and taxes on 12 medical items needed for protection from the coronavirus. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued an SRO on Sunday in this regard. It waived the full import duty, regulatory duty, supplementary duty, VAT, advance tax and advance income tax on medical items under 17 HS codes which will remain in force until June 30. The items include isopropyl alcohol, COVID-19 test kits, disinfectants, three-layer surgical masks, protective garments made from plastic sheeting, plastic face shields, protective garments for surgical or medical use, full body woven suit impregnated with plastics, medical protective gear and protective spectacles and goggles. This facility will be applicable for importing items approved by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). The DGDA will regularly monitor and ensure the standard of the imported items. Source: UNB AH

  Rtv online report To discourage import of rice National Board of Revenue (NBR) has increased the regulatory duty on its import to 25 percent, from what was 3 percent previously. The information came through a notice signed by NBR Senior Information Officer Syed A Mumen on Wednesday afternoon. The notice said, according to the government decision to discourage import NBR has imposed 25 percent regulatory duty on rice import from the previous 3 percent including the existing 25 percent tariff. Besides the notice said that 5 percent advance income tax is imposed on these commodities. As a result the businessmen have to count 55 percent tax and duty on rice import. In this regard NBR Chairman Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said, in the first 10 months of the current 2018-19 fiscal year total 3 lakh 3 thousand metric tons of rice was imported. For this reason farmers of the country have to sell their rice less than the production cost. As a result the farmers are facing huge loss financially. He said, we have increased the duty on rice import according to the instruction of the Prime Minister to save the farmers from financial loss. AH