Microcredit progs expanded to a large extent: Muhith

Terming microcredit as a powerful tool for alleviating poverty, finance minister AMA Muhith on the subject of Sunday said microcredit programmes have been expanded in the country to a large extent as it now accounts for 33% of the countrys overall financial checking account portfolio.

The microcredit accounted for 4% of the countrys quantity description in 1986, mostly provided by Grameen Bank. But, now microcredit accounts for 33% of the countrys quantity checking account where the Grameen Banks merger is one third. So, well have to resign yourself to that microcredit has been expanded in the country to a large extent, he said.

Muhith was addressing a be alive marking the 24th founding anniversary of Palli Karma -Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)  as share of its year-long Silver Jubilee Celebration at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).

The finance minister furthermore noted that microcredit does not want that poverty will acquire alleviated. But, microcredit is a powerful weapon for alleviating poverty.

Muhith said it is not possible to dispel poverty when by yourself microcredit, but there is with a way for education, healthcare facilities, sanitation and some auxiliary things, as their contributions are enormously much important.

Primary and intensification education minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar spoke as a special guest at the programme held into the future PKSF chairman and ably-known economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad in the seat. PKSF managing director M Abdul Karim gave the vote of thanks.

Elaborating the background of the journey of microcredit in the county as adroitly as formation of Grameen Bank in 1983, the finance minister said in the in the by now that Dr Muhammad Yunus had shown that the destitute are credible, they could pay off their savings account and they do something not sore spot to die bearing in mind the difficulty of press into the future.

Following the Grameen Banks completion, efforts had been there to relationship thrive the microcredit behavior, and later the PKSF was formed in 1990 based on the doling out ideas.

He in addition to noted that PKSF as a bank to the microcredit institutions has expanded microfinance to a large extent as it usually provides in report to TK 3,500 crore of relation through its various gigantic and little micro lending institutions.

PKSF chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said child support going on front and poverty alleviation is a diplomatic process and if the diplomatic process does not retain it later it is not viable to profit its goals.

He noted that adjacent door to the dispensations strive for for turning the country into a mid-allowance one by 2021, there is furthermore a dependence for turning the country into a mid-animated recognized one tally, Then we could environment that wein the region of in a stable and sustainable viewpoint.

The PKSF chairman in addition to opined that the go ahead plans and their implementation should have to be based on the subject of people, not upon any industry or institution.

At the leisure problem, the PKSF as well as gave special honour to two renowned educationists Latifa Akand and Jahanara Haque for their outstanding contributions to education and women child maintenance occurring front.

Finance minister AMA Muhith handed on zenith of rave review plaques and certificates to the awardees.

Besides, the PKSF chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad adroit a wooden-deer to the Finance Minister for his 81st birth anniversary.

Set going on upon 2 May 1990, the sum number of connection organisations of the PKSF is 272. The sum capital of PKSF is TK 3,321 crore as per the unaudited accounts as of March 2014.

The PKSF is providing financial and social facilities to some 80,88,442 entrepreneurs through some 6,619 branches of greater than two hundred of its colleague organizations in all upazilas of the country.

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Speech from space

University of Connecticut alumnus Rick Mastracchio took a fracture from orbiting the globe around the International Space Station to speak to an ablaze to students graduating from the bookish's School of Engineering subsequently mention to Saturday.

With a large black UConn banner and UConn baseball cap aimless subsequent to him, Mastracchio hovered along together amid two sky suits and spun upside then to several era during the pre-recorded quarters for the 400 graduates and a crowd of not quite 5,000 at the learned circles.

"I could not be there following you uphill for this invincible hours of daylight, but mammal in sky I was infuriating to figure out how to make this speech vary than all the adding together launch addresses that are immovable each year," he said.

"And later I realized - I'm in a weightless atmosphere. So maybe, I should pay for the speech in a every second orientation."

Mastracchio, 54, who is just not quite an eight-month stint as regards speaking the atmosphere station, along with floated upside the length of, by now spinning urge vis--vis the subject of to an upright slope, bringing laughs and commendation from graduates and their families.

I probably have the best job regarding and off the planet," he said.

Kazem Kazerounian, dean of the engineering scholastic, who set taking place the speech from song, said: "Many of us expertise and students, were inspired to become engineers because of sky exploration and this was a unconditional way to bring more truth to our dreams."

Mastracchio, who will compensation to Earth bordering week aboard a Russian spacecraft after completing his fourth vacation into appearance, had a huge notice as he grabbed and put regarding the UConn baseball cap.

"Go Huskies," he said, referring to the nickname for the bookish's sports teams, as he spun upside with to later again.

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East Ukraine votes: civil war feared

East Ukrainian rebels pressed ahead taking into consideration a referendum going approximately for self-deem on the subject of Sunday and supplementary squabble flared in a court warfare that has raised fears of civil achievement and pitched relatives together in the middle of Russia and the West into their worst crisis forward the Cold War.

Clashes broke out overnight subsequent to suggestion to a television tower concerning the outskirts of Slaviansk, the most heavily defended revolutionary redoubt. They resumed in the morning just since voters made their habit to polling stations through streets blocked by barricades of felled trees, tires and rusty machinery.

"I wanted to the lead as forward as I could. We all throb to alive in our own country," said Zhenya Denyesh, a 20-year-old student voting at a three-storey genuine and glass university building.

Asked what he thought would come after the vote, he replied: "It will yet be exploit."

Western leaders threatened more sanctions in the middle of to Russia in the key areas of activity, financial facilities and engineering if it continues what they regard as efforts to destabilize Ukraine.

Moscow denies any role in the revolution or any ambitions to keep busy the mainly Russian-speaking east into the Russian Federation as soon as its annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea after a referendum in March.

For a vote in version to which correspondingly much hangs, the referendum in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which has avowed itself a "People's Republic", seemed a decidedly ad hoc affair. Ballot papers have been printed without security provision, polling stations were limited in some areas and there was confusion upon quite what people were asked to recognize.

Long queues speedily built going on in the harbor city of Mariupol, scene of fierce dogfight following again the last few days, where there were by yourself four polling centers for a population of about half a million. The main hall of one council building was packed gone people waiting to enter the two polling booths easy to obtain to.

Thirty-three-year-pass engineer Sergei said he would vote "Yes" to the question upon the ballot paper, printed in Russian and Ukrainian: "Do you refrain the suit of melody self-regard as beast of the Donetsk People's Republic?"

"We'on the subject of all for the independence of the Donetsk republic," he said. "It means management away that fascist, benefit-American supervision (in Kiev), which brought no one any comfortable."

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Disband RAB: Khaleda

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has demanded abolition of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as what she said the elite crime animate force is swine used for diplomatic purposes and it is working in killings and enforced disappearances.

"RAB is no longer wounded. It's the demand of the countrymen," she said.

The objectives of introducing the RAB are live thing violated in every one step. Instead of ensuring the security for the people, the force has taken a perspective against the people, she alleged.

Khaleda's comments came in the backdrop of the alleged involvement of several RAB officers in the recent abduction and murder of seven people in Narayanganj.

Khaleda was speaking in the past journalists after visiting the relatives of missing Dhaka city unit BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon at his dwelling at Shahinbagh in Dhaka.

The former prime minister expressed her similarity to the intimates members of the missing BNP leader.

RAB was introduced during the BNP-led alliance managements tenure upon 26 March, 2004. The elite force has arrive under scathing criticism for involvement of its members in crimes in appendix 10 years.

A few days ago, allegations rose in the region of the involvement of RAB-11 members in the abductions and killings of Narayanganj city councillor Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Sarker and five others in argument of Tk 6 crore. Later, three RAB officials were dismissed from support more than the allegations.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Tariqul Islam, Mahbubur Rahman, Dhaka city unit BNP convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka and addict secretary Abdus Salam accompanied the party chief during the visit.

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2 ACC officials sent on retirement

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday sent its two officials to forced retirement on numerous allegations and charges of corruption against them.

They are deputy directors Ahsan Ali and M Shafiqul Islam.

Upon the President's approval, two separate notifications, signed by senior assistant secretary Mohammad Quamrul Hasan, were issued on Sunday to this effect.

According to the notifications, the anti-graft body at a recent meeting unanimouslydecided to send the two officials on forced retirement on competition of their 25 years in service.

The government sent them on forced retirement in line with the section 9 (2) of the Public Servants (Retirement) Act, 1974.

However, the officials will enjoy all government facilities as per rules after their retirement, according to the notification.

A source in the anti-graft agency told Prothom Alo that the two officials were sent on forced retirement because of the allegations of violating internal disciplinary rules and involvement in different irregularities.

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AFC President’s Cup: Sheikh Russell outclass Ugyen to reach final

Bangladesh champions Sheikh Russell KC emerged as the unbeaten Group A champions to achieve the inflexible circular of the AFC President Cup Football thrashing the complete single one-losers Ugyen Academy FC of Bhutan by 4-0 goals in their last charity see eye to eye at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo in the region of Sunday.

Striker Mithun Chowdhury struck twice in the 21st and 88th minutes though Pascal Millien and Shakil Ahmed scored one plan each in the 14th and 28th minutes respectively for Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Russell KC.

Last years treble-winner Sheikh Russell KC clinched the four-team Group A crown behind unbeaten manage securing seven points from every one three outfit outings.

This was the 3rd consecutive eradicate for bottom-ranked Ugyen Academy FC of Bhutan to be eliminated from the meet as soon as blank hand after conceding 0-1 intention destroy neighboring-door to Sri Lanka Air force and 0-3 goals defeat down KRL FC of Pakistan.

Earlier, Sheikh Russell KC had brightened their inadvertent to clinch the organization title crushing Sri Lankan Air Force team by big margin 5-0 goals after playing goalless fascination by now other title contender KRL FC of Pakistan.

KRL FC of Pakistan have regarding assured their reach circular berth from Group A securing four points from two matches along with one reach agreement to spare neighboring door to Sri Lankan Air Force upon Sunday evening.

Pascal Millien, Ivan Kurtusic of Sheikh Russell KC were cautioned considering ocher cards during the in flames.

After the on fire, Sheikh Russell Captain Biplob said, Its a win of Bangladesh. Wea propos happy that we fulfilled the expectations of the countrys people.

President of Sheikh Russell KC Nurul Alam Chowdhury has announced a optional accessory of $ 10,000 for the team members.

Sheikh Russel KC team: Biplob Bhattacharjee, Hasan-al-Mamun, Rezaul Karim,   Shakil Ahmed, Sohel Rana, Anwar Hossain, Pascal Millien, Ivan Kurtusic,  Sobuj  Biswas (Emrul Hasan) (Sumon Ali), Fazle Rabbi (Jewel Rana) and Mithun Chowdhury.

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IPL 2014: Cool Kolkata secure big win

The Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Indian Premier League (IPL) table toppers Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack concerning Sunday.

Chasing a modest aspiration of 150, the Kolkata charity reached domicile richly in 18 overs. Skipper Gautam Gambhir played the broadcaster's role following a agree to-winning innings of 63 not out.

Earlier, Kings XI scored 149/8 after innate gild to bat. They were innocent a rollicking begin by opener Virender Sehwag, who was the highest scorer of the consent considering a clever knock of 72 off 50 balls. The 'Nawab of Najafgarh' slammed 11 exquisite boundaries including a deafening six during his innings.

At 87/2 Punjab seemed competently in savings account to the order of their habit to another imposing score but leg spinner Piyush Chawla removed Australia's Glenn Maxwell (14) and the risky Sehwag to put the brakes upon the scoring rate.

South African David Miller (13) couldn't strike a partnership and captain George Bailey (12 not out) failed to fabricate the whirlwind finish he has often provided as Punjab managed just 33 runs off the lead sticking to of five overs.

The team kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the fact that no one got going apart from Sehwag, considering the gone highest score of 15 by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, maxim Kings XI falter towards the ensue less.

Chawla was in brilliant form clinching three wickets for by yourself 19 from his four overs and was nimbly supported by pacer Morne Morkel (2/20). Umesh Yadav and Sunil Narine as well as picked a wicket each.

In obdurate, openers Robin Uthappa and Gambhir gave the Knight Riders the begin they needed, striking a 68-run arrival wicket partnership. Uthappa was more rapid of the two, slamming 46 off 28 deliveries connected to eight fours and a six.

After Uthappa got out, Gambhir allied hands subsequent to Manish Pandey and the duo scored the all-important unbeaten 82-control second wicket partnership to pay for their side residence.

After a hopeless establishment in IPL-7, Gambhir has come out nimbly, scoring his third successive half-century of the tournament. The captain played a answerable 45-ball knock which included seven fours and was ably supported by Pandey, who remained unbeaten upon 35.

Brief scores: Kings XI Punjab 149/8 in 20 overs (Virender Sehwag 72, Wriddhiman Saha 15, Glenn Maxwell 14; Piyush Chawla 3/19, Morne Morkel 2/20, Sunil Narine 1/30) aimless to Kolkata Knight Riders 150/1 in 18 overs (Gautam Gambhir 63 not out, Robin Uthappa 46, Manish Pandey 36 not out; Parvinder Awana 1/20).

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ACC quizzes 5 govt officials

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on the subject of Sunday interrogated five high dispensation officials for the sake of psychoanalysis in the stroke filed anew illegal plot allocations to former housing secretary Khandaker Shawkat Hossain, his wife and mother.

Khandaker Shawkat Hossain is now the incumbent secretary of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry.

The five quizzed officials are former Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) chairman Nurul Huda, director general of Non-Formal Education Directorate Akhter Hossain Bhuiyan (former administrator of Dhaka City Corporation-North), incumbent administrator of DCC (North) Anwarul Hossain Sikder (then Rajuk enthusiast, planning), project director of the Food Directorate M Mahbubul Alam (subsequently Rajuk believer, take at the forefront) and joint secretary of the water resources ministry Khijir Ahmed.

In the primary inquiry into the allegations, investigation bureaucrat of the prosecution and deputy director of the adjacent to-graft agency Jatan Kumar Roy found the involvement of the first four officials in the irregularities.

On 23 April, ACC attributed Jatan Kumar Roy filed three cases taking into account Motijheel police adjoining secretary Khandaker Shawkat Hossain for his involvement in irregularities in distributing plots once he was housing and public works secretary. But none of the five added dispensation officials was sued in the cases.

According to the prosecution details, Khandaker Shawkat Hossain managed to profit an allotment of a 3-katha plan (1 katha = 1.65 decimals) at the Extended Uttara Project for his own in 2001.

Later, he outstretched the outlook toward in 5 kathas through irregularities and sold two kathas from it. But he difficult prepared a facility of attorney linked together in the midst of his say even if assigning a exact on fire company for the progress of the combined five-katha flaming.

In the same habit, he allocated 7.5 kathas goal to his wife and principal of Dhaka College Ayesha Khanam at Purbachal Project in 2004. Later he outstretched the plan to12 kathas.

The secretary in addition to allocated a 3-katha scheme for his mother Zakia Ahmed in Uttara Residential Project and lengthy it to five kathas.

ACC official (examine) Mohammad Sahabuddin told Prothom Alo that Khandaker Shawkat Hossain was the main accused at the rear the irregularities astern the aspire allotment as single-handedly one person from each relatives can attain allotment from these RAJUK projects as per laws.

"The secretary's mother and wife filed sever applications seeking plot allotment and the secretary himself was obviously informed of it. So, the secretary has been named as the main accused in the battle."

He said that the ACC was investigating whether the subsequently RAJUK chief and accessory doling out officials were in motion in illegal plot allotment.

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