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Head lines Shell to wind up its business in Bangladesh Shahnaj Begum, The Independent Shell, the Royal Dutch oil and Gas Exploration Company is likely to wind-up its business from Bangladesh and hand over the operatorship to Cairn, official sources said yesterday. In this regard a special agreement between Petrobangla and Shell will be signed soon. The officials of Shell yesterday expressed their desire to the Energy Minister AKM Mosharrof Hossain at his Secretariat office. Shell is producing gas from the country’s lone offshore field Sangu. Sangu is the only offshore gas field in Bangladesh, located some 40 kilometres south west of Chittagong, in Block 16. The estimated reserve of gas in Sangu is over 1.3 tcf (trillion cubic feet). The annual average production of Sangu is 140 mmcfd. Sources said during the meeting with the Energy Minister, the Shell expressed its grievances about the market constraints in the country and urged the government to allow them to quit. Cairn officials, the official partner of Shell, were also present at the meeting. Though the Shell claimed that they were not interested about the government decision on gas export, but during the meeting it said that there was no market of gas locally. They claimed the slow growth rate of gas consumption in Bangladesh could not support the business of the company like Shell. In 1997 Shell was awarded two new production sharing contracts (PSCs), governing Blocks 5 and 10. These PSCs were signed in July 2001. In 1998 Shell signed the PSC of block 16 and in July 4 it signed the PSC’s of block 5 and 10 with the Petrobangla. The Venture Shell Bangladesh Exploration and Development Bangladesh (SBED) previously explored gas in the south-east of Bangladesh (Block 15 and 11 through a 50/50 partnership with Cairn Energy PLC. In July 1999 Shell took over the operatorship of the Blocks 15 and 16 from Cairn. The Sangu gas field was discovered in February 1996. Shell gained 18.75 per cent of interest. In September 1998 the interest level was raised to 37.5 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. 2-day int’l heart specialists’ meet in city on Dec 1-2 Staff Reporter, The Independent In an apparent bid to establish linkage and interaction with heart specialists from Western countries a two-day international cardiovascular conference has been arranged in the city. According to organisers the conference will begin on 1st December this year. Bangladesh Heart Research Association, a platform of local cardiologists and surgeons, has arranged the conference on the occasion of its 7th Annual General Meeting. "This is going to be the country’s first ever international conference on cardiovascular diseases. This kind of conference is expected to pave the way for sharing expertise on the topic as it would be participated by internationally-renowned cardiac specialists," Secretary General of the Association Prof. S. R. Khan told a meeting with top executives of pharmaceutical companies operating in the country yesterday at Dhaka Club. The conference will substantially help bridge the knowledge gap between local and Western cardiovascular experts, Khan said. The meeting was attended, among others, by Prof Shafiqur Rahman, Prof Hasina Banoo, Prof AAS Majumder, Dr Sumon Nazrul Hosain and Mahbub Husain Khan. Many young doctors do not get the opportunity to attend international seminars on the latest cardiovascular diseases held around the world. Bangladeshi experts will be able to interact with their overseas counterparts, particularly those of South Asian nations, Khan said, explaining the objective of holding such a conference. "There is a need to establish liaison with cardiovascular experts of the SAARC countries," he said. Prof Mahbub Ali said a total of 300 local and overseas cardiologists are expected to attend the conference, Prof Mahbub Ali disclosed. Local pharmaceutical companies will able to showcase their products at an exhibition to be held on the sidelines of the two-day conference, Prof Banoo said. The conference will be a sort of technology transfer as it will help the local experts be oriented to the latest technology being applied to the area of cardiovascular surgery in the developed world, Mahbub Hossain Khan told this correspondent. It will also give an opportunity for updating the knowledge of local experts, Khan said. Quake management system a must: PM Directive to complete seismic centres’ work UNB, DHAKA, The Independent Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday called for developing an adequate management system to face any possible earthquake and handle post-earthquake rescue operation. Begum Khaleda Zia asked the concerned authorities to identify the buildings in Dhaka and other major cities that were constructed without following the Building Code and to inform the residents about the risk of those buildings. She said an effective earthquake management and rescue system would require involving people and all concerned ministries and departments. Begum Zia said steps should be taken to minimize the risks of buildings constructed shoddily. She also instructed that the Building Code must be followed strictly in all construction works. She also asked for speedy completion of the works of seismic centers in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Rangpur. The Prime Minister was presiding over a high-level meeting on possible risk of earthquake in the country and preparedness to face the situation at her office. The meeting was arranged in the backdrop of recent tremors that jolted Chittagong and the Hill Tracts. Public Works and Housing Minister Mirza Abbas informed the meeting that the existing Building Code was not followed in many cases while constructing high-rise buildings in Dhaka city. Director of Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) Mir Fazlul Karim presented a paper on earthquake risks in Bangladesh and different preparedness measures. The Prime Minister stressed on raising massive public awareness about earthquake so that loss of lives and property could be reduced through individual, collective and institutional initiatives. Khaleda Zia said that the concerned departments should be alert and prepared to face any eventuality instantly. Secretary for Disaster Management BMM Majharul Huq informed the meeting that a strong volunteer corps has already been formed to face any earthquake situation. They would be given proper training, he added. The PM also suggested for introducing auto-shut mechanism at power, water and gas supply systems during any natural disaster to reduce the extent of damage. She further stressed the need for building wider roads having emergency lanes so that fire service and rescue vehicles can easily move during any emergency. Begum Zia laid importance on exchange of information and experiences related to earthquake at regional and international levels. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, Deputy Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Asadul Habib Dulu, Chiefs of concerned departments among others officials were present at the meeting. 'Empower elected women members of local govts' Staff
Correspondent, The Daily Star They also identified 'reserved seats' as one of the main obstacles to women's participation in development activities and observed that introduction of direct elections to the women's seats would have positive impact on local government administration.
They also identified 'reserved seats' as one of the main obstacles to women's participation in development activities and observed that introduction of direct elections to the women's seats would have positive impact on local government administration. The Khan Foundation organised the workshop on 'Active participation of the elected women members in local development' at its auditorium in the city, with State Minister for Cultural Affairs Begum Selima Rahman as chief guest. Former advisor of the caretaker government Rokia A Rahman was present as guest of honour while LGED Chief Engineer Shahidul Hasan as special guest. Foundation Executive Director Advocate Rokhsana Khandkar presided. Begum Selima Rahman said the provision of reserved seats hinders effective participation of women in the development programme. She called on the political parties to nominate more women so that they can contest directly in the general elections. She said women can expedite the pace of development as they do not resort to corruption. Rokia A Rahman said that Bangladesh has been a model in terms of women's progress in today's world and the micro-credit programme for women has been acclaimed worldwide. She called on women to come forward to make sure their active participation in the development programmes and work together with the men. ADB representative Ferdousi Sultana and Prof. Dalim Chandra Barman of Dhaka University also spoke. Women members of the Union Parishads, women Ward Commissioners of Dhaka City Corporation, lawyers and members of the civil society attended the workshop. The Khan Foundation organised the workshop on 'Active participation of the elected women members in local development' at its auditorium in the city, with State Minister for Cultural Affairs Begum Selima Rahman as chief guest. Former advisor of the caretaker government Rokia A Rahman was present as guest of honour while LGED Chief Engineer Shahidul Hasan as special guest. Foundation Executive Director Advocate Rokhsana Khandkar presided. Begum Selima Rahman said the provision of reserved seats hinders effective participation of women in the development programme. She called on the political parties to nominate more women so that they can contest directly in the general elections. She said women can expedite the pace of development as they do not resort to corruption. Rokia A Rahman said that Bangladesh has been a model in terms of women's progress in today's world and the micro-credit programme for women has been acclaimed worldwide. She called on women to come forward to make sure their active participation in the development programmes and work together with the men. ADB representative Ferdousi Sultana and Prof. Dalim Chandra Barman of Dhaka University also spoke. Women members of the Union Parishads, women Ward Commissioners of Dhaka City Corporation, lawyers and members of the civil society attended the workshop. |
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