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Why so many people in China are becoming mermaids
Shawdesh Desk: On a normal day, the Ambassador Lagoon inside China’s Atlantis Sanya resort on the island of Hainan is home to about 86,000 marine creatures from over 280 animalReadMore
Spain hopes for tourists as EU votes on digital passports
Shawdesh Desk: Spain has said it hopes to open up to overseas travellers from June, as plans for an EU-wide digital certificate go before the European Parliament. Tourism minister FernandoReadMore
Iran bans flights from India and Pakistan
Shawdesh Desk: Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency is reporting the country’s civil aviation agency has banned all flights to and from India and Pakistan because of the dramatic surge inReadMore
Cruise ships head back to Venice despite ban
Shawdesh desk: It’s set to be one of the first cruises to take to the waters after things start back up this summer. Departing June 5, the sumptuous MSC OrchestraReadMore
How American Airlines pulls planes from pandemic storage
Shawdesh Desk: Roger Steele’s mission is preparing a plane for your summer vacation. Steele, an assistant manager at American Airlines’ largest maintenance base, is leading a team of mechanics unwrapping,ReadMore
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the government is feeling well over the latest GDP growth projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it has upped its projection. “Our forecasts are always based on actual facts and figures. But their (IMF, World Bank) projections are usually based on assumptions… yet, they (IMF) have mentioned well and it’s good news for us. The “feel factor” is good and we all are feeling well,” he said. The finance minister was responding to questions from reporters after chairing virtually two separate meetings on Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP). The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its projection for the economic growth of Bangladesh to 5 per cent for 2021, up from 4.4 per cent it forecast in October. The Washington-based multilateral lender came up with the projection in its World Economic Outlook, which was published yesterday (Tuesday). According to the IMF, the country will return to its high growth trajectory next year, when the gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to expand by 7.5 per cent. The GDP will grow by 7.2 per cent in 2026. According to the IMF’s projection, India’s GDP would grow by 12.5 percent in 2021, Sri Lanka by 4 percent, Nepal by 2.9 per cent, and Pakistan by 1.5 per cent. Earlier on March 31, the World Bank projected Bangladesh’s GDP to grow as high as 5.6 per cent in the fiscal year 2020-21. The finance minister said the World Bank and the IMF makes projections about the global economies from time to time while it is a flexible sort of thing as they often raise and lower those. But, he said, no matter the lending agencies give what kinds of projections, the government would have to accomplish its own tasks and thus move forward. “We’ll have to accomplish our tasks pursuing practical aspects instead of theoretical aspects as to ensure how we can unleash much more development. Our goal is to implement the ideas of our policy perspectives in a timely and nice manner,” he added. Asked whether the Ministry of Finance would come up with something to ease the sufferings of the low-income group people during the countrywide lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19, Kamal said the concerned authority is looking into the matter and necessary arrangements and decisions would be taken considering the interests, safety and security of the common people. He, however, said his ministry always takes measures to ensure welfare of the people of the country and also to ensure that the common people are not affected. Replying to another question, the finance minister said that the stimulus packages announced so far are the outcome of farsighted thoughts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while the Ministry of Finance is executing those. Kamal told another questioner that the approvals for rice import are being given as per the requirements while the government changes the supplier of rice and switch to another source when the assigned supplier failed to provide rice in due time. He said that the government would not procure more quantity of rice as it will hurt the farmers, on the other hand, it would not procure rice less than its requirements as it would also hurt the consumers. “We work on this after making a coordination.” Kamal mentioned that such rice purchase is being done by the Ministry of Food in alignment with the Ministry of Agriculture. Responding to another question over the possibility of availing a possible tranche from the IMF, he said the government would approach when it would hold a meeting with the IMF.
Shawdesh desk: Dubai may already boast the world’s tallest building, but now it’s also home to the world’s highest infinity pool! Located on the 77th floor of the Address BeachReadMore
Delta cancels about 100 flights, opens some middle seats
Shawdesh Desk: Delta Air Lines canceled about 100 flights Sunday due to staff shortages, and it opened up middle seats a month earlier than expected in order to carry moreReadMore
How to move to Dubai and work remotely for a year
Shawdesh desk: As global business and travel hubs remain largely closed off to the masses, Dubai is making entry easier than ever for international visitors. The glitzy city, as wellReadMore
