Intex brings first ‘High Powered’ Phone in Bangladesh

Intex Technologies, the second largest smartphone maker of Indian origin, with a market share of 10% July 09, 2015 launched its high powered handset- Aqua Power+ with long lasting battery (4000mAh) and a big enough memory for Bangladesh market.

A sleek feature-rich brilliance is available at an attractive price of Rs 11,990.

The feature-rich phone is a step above the normal with a 5-inch IPS HD display and a feather smooth touch. Runs on the latest Android OS, 5.0, Lollipop, loaded with 1.3Ghz, Quad CORE processor and a 2GB RAM with a Mediatek Chipset. It is one of the slimmest phones, despite having a heavy 4000mAh battery. The powered battery assures endurance and longevity and provides the verbose user a talk time of up to 20 hours along with a standby time of 500 hours.

For the amateur clickers and selfie lovers, the handset comes with a brilliant 13 MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera to create beautiful selfies with various modes. This light weight device by Intex supports 3G and is a perfect choice at an attractive price.

Commenting on the launch, Mr Vishwas Agarwal, Intenational business Head, Intex Technologies said, ““Our homework on Bangladesh market clearly showed us the need of long-lasting batteries and high memory for mobiles. Today’s launch shows our endeavor to provide the consumers enhanced value by keeping them in sync with ever-changing technology. Ours has been an honest effort to make some difference in peoples’ lives.”

A unique feature of Aqua Power+ is the ‘Air Shuffle”, which allows one to operate the phone with simple hand gestures without even touching the screen.

Continuing with the tradition of placing high importance on Service, Intex provides after-sale support at multiple locations in Bangladesh.

The smartphone has an inbuilt memory of 12 GB, expandable up to 32GB. Additionally, the device has a bunch of pre-loaded apps like Sashakt, One Drive, ASK ME, Flashlight, Intex Play, Intex zone, OLX, Go to reach service, News hunt, FOTA, Matrabhasa, Native Browser, Clean master Maxthon browser, Truecaller, Lets Buy Intex.

Intex Aqua Power+ is available in four premium colors- white, black, champagne and silver. The device comes with a smart flip cover for free. (Source: Press release)

Eight put on three-day remand over Mymensingh stampede

Mymensingh, July 12, 2015: A court in Mymensingh on Sunday placed eight persons, including Zakat donor Mohammad Shamim, his son and six others, on a three-day remand in connection with the 10 July stampede case.

Judge Ahsan Habib of Cognisance Court-1 passed the order after hearing the remand prayer filed yesterday.

Musiur Rahman, sub-inspector of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station and also investigation officer of the case, produced the eight accused before the court yesterday and sought a seven-day remand for each of them.

Twenty three women and four children were killed in the stampede in the town on Friday. The incident took place when over a thousand had gathered near the house of Mohammad Shamim, a local businessman of chewing tobacco, to collect zakat.

Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman visited the spot today.

Meanwhile, different socio-cultural and political organisations have protested the incident demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits. (Source: BSS)

Bangladesh attains success in lowering total fertility rate: Speakers

Rajshahi, July 12, 2015: Speakers at a meeting have said Bangladesh has made substantial progress in the health and population sector in recent times, particularly in reducing fertility and child mortality and in increasing the coverage of health and family planning services to the people.

They also mentioned that the country has witnessed marked improvements in maternal and child health over the last four decades.

Women are having fewer children and these children are increasingly likely to live longer and healthier lives than previous generations.

They are also receiving more skilled assistance during pregnancy and delivery than ever before. The speakers made the observation while giving crests, prizes and certificates among some government and non-government institutions for their laudable contribution to the field of providing maternal and child health services.

Tilottoma Mohila Swechhasebi Sangstha clinched the best position.

Divisional and district offices of the Department of Family Planning organized the discussion in the conference hall of Family Welfare Visitors Training Institute (FWVTI) in observance of the World Population Day-2015 yesterday.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division Helaluddin Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury addressed the meeting as the chief and special guests respectively with divisional director of the Department of Family Planning SM Zahedul Karim in the chair.

In his welcome speech, deputy director-in-charge of the department Tasiqul Islam Amir Hossain gave an overview of the district level family planning activities and, so far, achievements.

Efforts have been made over the past years through increasing access to health care services, with special emphasis on human resource development with a view to reducing the maternal and child mortality and morbidity, the discussants opined.

Maternal and child health services have been given highest priority in the health system. Maternal and child health services are provided through the countrywide facility network.

Further improvements would need effective public-private and NGO partnerships to improve access to and quality of services. Bangladesh also needs to be prepared to deal with the worrying rise in non-communicable illnesses, like hypertension and diabetes.

Bringing more women into contact with the public and private health care system early in pregnancy is critical to improving maternal and newborn health. (Source: BSS)

Top Bangladesh VAT payers awarded

Dhaka, July 12, 2015: The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Sunday awarded 119 top VAT (value added tax) paying companies and individuals for their outstanding contribution to the national exchequer.

Among the awarded 119 business organisations and individuals, the highest nine companies were awarded on national level while the rest 110 companies and individuals were honoured from district level for paying the highest amount of VAT during 2013-14 financial year (FY14).

The VAT payers on the national level and Dhaka division received the award at a function held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center, with Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith as the chief guest.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Finance Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Ministry Dr Md. Abdur Razzak and President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Abdul Matlub Ahmed, were present at the function.

The highest VAT-paying companies and the individuals were awarded crests and certificates under three categories - production, service and business.

The awardees will enjoy some privileges for the next one year, including priority while reserving seats in public transports and access to VIP lounges at the airports. Their spouses and children will also get the priority while reserving cabins in the public hospitals. The awardees will also be invited to national programmes, organised by the municipalities and city corporations.

Under the national category, Titash Gas Field (Brahmanbaria), Koilastila Gas Field (Sylhet) and Rashidpur Condensate Fractionate Plant (Habiganj) topped the list in production category while Rural Electrification Board (Joar Sahara, Dhaka), Chowdhury Tea Warehouse (Chittagong), and National Television Ltd (NTV) topped the list under service category.

Gallery Apex (Tongi), Aarong (Lalmatia, Dhaka) and Mostafa Mart Pvt. Limited (Bashundhara City) secured positions in the top three from the business category.

At the district level, 39 companies were honored under production category while 35 under services and 36 under business.

The VAT award winning companies from major districts includes Prome Agro Foods Ltd, Fibre at Home Ltd and Panna Distribution Ltd from Dhaka; Olympic Industries Ltd biscuit and confectionery unit, Meghna Energy Ltd and RH Trading Ltd from Narayanganj; Jenson and Nicholson BD Ltd, KCJ & Associate Ltd and Interfold Trading from Chittagong; PEB Steel Alliance Ltd, Matri Bhander and Asian Paints from Comilla; Suntek Energy Ltd, Panch Bhai Restaurant and Aaarong from Sylhet; Abdullah Battery Co Pvt Ltd, City Inn Ltd and Asian Paints from Khulna, Padma Buoying Ltd, Best Food Garden and Messer’s Abdul Matin Mridha from Barisal; Muslim Ayurvedic, Rajshahi Mistanna Bhandar and Pride Sari from Rajshahi and Prime Pusti Ltd from Rangpur.

PRAN Dairy Ltd, Bajaj, Ashuganj Fertiliser and Chemical Company, Square Pharmaceuticals, Igloo Foods and BRB Cables were also awarded from the district criteria.

The companies received the crest and certificates at programmes, organised by the divisional headquarters in Chittagong, Sylhet, Comilla, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Jessore. (Source: BSS)

Bangladesh finance minister assures businessmen of friendly VAT regime

Dhaka, July 12, 2015: Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Sunday assured businessmen of establishing a friendly VAT (value added tax) system, which would also be more transparent, simple and modern.

“Our aim is to establish and ensure a VAT system, which will be more business-friendly, simple and transparent,” the minister said at a programme in the capital city.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) organised the programme at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), marking the VAT Day and the VAT Week, being observed across the country from July 10-16 for the fifth consecutive year.

“Pay the VAT timely to contribute to the development of the country” is the main message of this year’s VAT Day and VAT Week.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Finance Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Ministry Dr Md. Abdur Razzak and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Abdul Matlub Ahmed, participated in the discussion.

Muhith said that the VAT Law and Supplementary Duty Act 2012 would be fully implemented next year.

“We had a lot of discussions on the new VAT law, and a committee was also working on it,” the minister said, adding that a business-friendly and transparent system would also ensure accountability within the arrangement.

Muhith observed that the VAT is a very business-friendly system, but said that the system requires accurate accounting procedure. “The tax burden would be low should we ensure accuracy in accounting system,” he said while reminding that the businesses would have one more year to prepare themselves for the new system.

He said besides introducing the new VAT law, the tax authorities had also been working on modernising tax system by incorporating modern information and communication technology.

Member of VAT implementation and IT Md Enayetur Rahman presented a keynote paper on the VAT Day and implementation of the VAT Law and Supplementary Duty Act 2012. NBR Member Farid Uddin presided over the programme.

At the programme, the revenue authorities awarded 119 top VAT paying companies for their outstanding contribution to the national exchequer. (Source: BSS)