Zee5 zeroes in on Pakistan, Bangladesh

Source: Zee5. Images for the #ShareTheLove campaign.

Three months after its soft launch across 190+ countries, digital entertainment platform ZEE5 is now focused on Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The #ShareTheLove is themed around the similarities that ZEE5 shares with Pakistan and Bangladesh in terms of culture and entertainment. Bringing in a strong bouquet of content which resonates with audiences in these markets, including Hindi and Bengali original shows like Rangbaaz, Kaali and the upcoming Sharate Aaj, original films like Aranyadeb and Tigers as well as digital premieres like Namaste England and Praktan; ZEE5 shares the love.

Amit Goenka, CEO, ZEE International and Z5 Global, said, "Indian content, especially our TV shows, movies and music gets tremendous love across the globe, and especially so from the sub-continent due to the relatability. We are glad to announce our availability in Bangladesh and Pakistan vide our new campaign #ShareTheLove and we look forward to getting a tremendous response from these markets."

"Good content transcends borders and especially so with Pakistan and Bangladesh where there is so much shared context of culture and language. This high energy TVC captures our innate similarities and showcases the content that we all love to watch, which is now available on ZEE5. With this message at its core, #ShareTheLove is sure to resonate beautifully with audiences in these markets," adds Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global.

ZEE5 offers 1,00,000 hours of Indian movies, TV shows, cine plays, music, videos and exclusive originals across 12 languages - English, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Oriya, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Punjabi. It also offers 60+ popular live TV channels.

Details:

Download the ZEE5 app from Google Play Store or the iOS App Store. ZEE5 is also available . ZEE5 is also available on Samsung Smart TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV.

Watch the TV commercials in Bangladesh and Pakistan

Islamic Development Bank funds power plant project in Bangladesh

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Infrastructure Development Company (IDCOL) have signed a long-term financing facility with Nutan Bidyut Bangladesh (NBB). This is a first co-financing by IsDB in cooperation with AIIB and IDCOL for a Ppblic-private partnership project.

The agreement will see the organisations build, own and operate (BOO) a dual fuel combined cycle power plant in Bhola Island, Bangladesh, for a period of 22 years from the date of start of operations. With net generation capacity of 220 MW under gas and 212 MW under high speed diesel (HSD) operations, the completed plant will generate an estimated energy output of 1,322,000 MWh per annum at an 80% plant load factor.

The purchaser is Bangladesh Power Development Board, the government-owned entity which is the largest electricity generation and distribution entity in the country. IDB is providing a US$60 million ijarah facility with a 18-year door-to-door tenor to support this project. The sponsor, Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital Company, is a part of the Shapoorji Pallonji group, a global institution with a leading presence in several industries, including engineering and construction, infrastructure, real estate, water, energy and financial services.

The project is in line with the IsDB’s commitment to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Energy is the major pillar of the seventh Five-Year Plan - 2016-2021 of the government of Bangladesh (GoB) as one-third of the nation does not have access to electricity.

The project will provide quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure that will contribute to the government's initiative to increase power generation capacity by 17,984 MW by the year 2021. It will provide Bangladesh with cheaper energy as compared to the conventional hydrodeoxygenation (HDO)/HSD-fired capacity.

This announcement follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the AIIB and IsDB on 25 June 2018 to establish a framework for strategic cooperation, including actively seeking to co- finance projects in common areas of operations. The overarching theme of the MoU is Mobilising Financing for Infrastructure: Innovation & Collaboration.

The MoU enables the two banks to jointly foster collaboration, share information and facilitate knowledge exchanges on development finance, Islamic finance and integrity mechanisms. The MoU is expected to have a strong focus on sustainable infrastructure including the development of energy and power, transportation and telecommunications, rural infrastructure, water supply and sanitation, environmental protection, urban development and logistics.

“An agreement between our banks is a natural fit because we are both dedicated to development and helping our members promote growth and economic opportunity,” said AIIB President Jin Liqun. “We have complementary skill sets and expertise. We believe working together on joint investments and initiatives will strengthen our capacity to deliver on our respective missions and benefit our members.”

Said IsDB Group President HE Dr Bandar M.H. Hajjar: “We have a number of common member countries in Asia and also in Africa and a significant overlap in sectors and financing activities. IsDB Group looks forward to jointly strengthening the effectiveness and sustainability of our banks’ operations and to looking for new ways to stimulate the region’s economic growth together. We strongly believe in the power of innovation, science and technology to stimulate growth and will ensure this is a key area of collaboration for the banks going forward.”

Among other activities, the banks intend to share knowledge and exchange experiences among employees through joint temporary assignments, secondments and training.

Eid packages at Seagull Hotel valid till 10 July

Source: Seagull Hotel. Room interior.

Seagull Hotel in Bangladesh has an Eid offer that is in force till 10 July 2017. There are five Eid packages to choose from, beginning from TK16,500, differing only in the choice of rooms.

Eid Package 1, at TK16,500, includes:

• Stay of three days and two nights at Seagull (regular hillside)
• Welcome drinks, newspaper, Wi-Fi and Kids Zone
• Daily buffet breakfast for two persons per room
• Daily Eid Special Lunch or dinner for two persons
• Bottled water (1l per day)
• Swimming pool
• Airport pickup at and dropoff to Cox's Bazar Airport
• A 10% discount on food (ala carte only)
• A 15% discount on sauna and steam bath
• A 40% discount on the gym
• A 20% discount on pool/billiards

The hotel overlooks the Bay of Bengal and has hills nearby, and offers deluxe accommodation in 181 guest rooms and suites.
 
Interested?

Seagull Hotel
Hotel Motel Zone, Cox's Bazar Sea Beach
Cox’s Bazar
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangladesh has sent off nearly 14,500 pilgrims for Hajj 2016

The Hajj pilgrims for the second and third government-managed flights have reached Madinah from Makkah, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bangladesh has reported.


As of August 8, 14,405 pilgrims have reached KSA on 41 flights, out of a total of 101,758 pilgrims. Flights began on August 4, and are expected to end on September 5. One death has occurred, in Makkah.

The KSA Ministry of Haj and Umra reported in early August on the welcome delegation for one of the first batches of Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh to arrive at King Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, as a part of the official receptions for Haj pilgrims and visitors to Al-Masjid An-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque).

The trip, from Bangladesh with 402 pilgrims on board the flight, was received on behalf of HE the Minister of Haj and Umra Dr Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Bentin, by the Director of the Branch of Ministry of Haj and Umra in Jeddah, Abdullah bin Mohammed Marghalani; the ministry's officials; the Director General of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Engineer Abdullah bin Musa'ad Al-Rimi; the head of the National Tawafa Establishment for South Asian Pilgrims, Dr Ra'afat bin Ismael Badr; the Bangladeshi ambassador to the KSA, Golam Moshi; and the airport governmental agencies heads.

Return flights are expected to run from 17 September to 17 October, 2016.

I Read Quran publishes 2016 pricing for qurban in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines

I Read Quran, a Singapore-based Quran teaching centre, also offers qurban and aqiqah services through the Singapore Qurban site.

The organisation works with the United Islamic Cultural Centre of Indonesia (UICCI) in Indonesia; the United Islamic Cultural Centre of the Philippines (UNICEP) in the Philippines and the Camlica Student Hostel & Quran Centre in Bangladesh.

Qurban and aqiqah prices for 2016

Sheep/goat	:	S$200 (Indonesia)
Cow	: :	S$150 (Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh) - one-seventh of a cow S$1,000 (Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh) - whole cow

Interested?

Register for qurban or aqiqah. Those who wish to witness or experience the activity may stay at I Read Quran's Quran Center in Indonesia free.

Bangladesh receives schools designed as cyclone shelters from IDB

Islamic Development Bank representative Dr Mohammad Hassan Salem has formally handed over 34 schools which also double as cyclone shelters as part of the third phase of the Fael Khair Program in Bangladesh. The programme is funded by a grant from the late King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of KSA.

A total of 95 out of 174 planned school-cum-cyclone shelters have been handed over so far. Each building will serve as a modern educational institution for 240 students and can also provide shelter to 2,000 people and 500 cattle during the country’s frequent cyclones.

The late King Abdullah’s grant of US$130 million for relief and assistance to the victims of cyclone Sidr, which hit in 2007, has been utilised as follows:

• US$110 million to construct 174 School-cum-Cyclone Shelters in the coastal belt of Bangladesh
• US$20 million waqf (Editor's note: a endowment made by a Muslim for a cause) as partial support to maintain the buildings and to provide urgent relief and rehabilitation through agricultural and other inputs to the affected population

The buildings are designed to withstand top wind speeds of up to 260 km/h. The green facilities are equipped with solar power and durable school furniture. They also have potable water systems, including rain water harvesting, to supply safe drinking water.

Winners of the 14th IDB Prizes for Science and Technology are from Kuwait, Turkey and Bangladesh

Three scientific institutions have won this year’s 14th IDB Prizes for Science and Technology.

The 2016 winners, chosen by an independent committee are:

• Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KSIR): Overall Outstanding Contribution to Social and Economic Development
KSIR was selected for its scientific and technological contributions and accomplishments, which have had a positive impact on the socioeconomic development of Kuwait and other IDB member countries. Its research and scientific achievements are centred on enhanced oil exploration, innovative desalination, waste water treatment and zero liquid discharge. KISR’s technologies in these fields are being used in the region and around the world. KISR has a longstanding tradition of fostering young talent and promoting innovative scientific research.

• NanoManyetik Bilimsel Cihazlar Sanayi ve Ticaret, Turkey: Most Outstanding Contribution in a Given Scientific Field

NanoManyetik Bilimsel Cihazlar Sanayi ve Ticaret was selected for its high quality of research and its commercial application in applied nanomagnetics. The company specialises in the development of sensing, measurements, characterisation and manipulation of nanosystems.

• Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture: Most Noted Scientific Institution from a Least Developed Member Country The Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture was selected for its outstanding contribution to the field of nuclear technologies in agriculture. The institute was established in 1961 to develop friendly nuclear technologies to enhance the performance of the agriculture sector, one of the major economic drivers in Bangladesh. It has a team of 170 scientists and researchers who focus on biotechnology and crop management. The team has published nearly 300 scientific research papers. The institute has successfully commercialised some of its technologies, with nearly 40 products on the market, and has close collaborations with many scientific institutions globally. 

"IDB is proud of their inspiring feats in the field of scientific and technological research. I hope other universities and scientific centres in member countries benefit from these admirable examples,” said
Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group.

The prize was established in 2002 (1422) to promote science and technology excellence and capacity building in IDB member countries. Each year, three institutions are selected by an independent panel of eminent scientists outside the bank to receive the prizes, which consist of US$100,000 and a trophy.

The award ceremony will be held at the 41st Annual Meeting of IDB’s Board of Governors, which will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia from 15 to 19 May.

ICD invests in AIB, Bangladesh

Source: ICD. Stakeholders pose at the strategic investment signing ceremony between Al-Aradah Islami Bank Limited and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group, has announced its strategic investment partnership with Al-Arafah Islami Bank (AIB), an Islamic bank in Bangladesh. ICD is expected to infuse growth capital of around US$20 million through a 10% equity subscription in the capital of AIB.

The collaboration with AIB exhibits ICD’s long-term vision to bring not only good corporate governance, international best management practice, innovative Islamic products but also to reap stability and confidence in the financial sector in Bangladesh. Khaled Al Aboodi, the CEO of ICD stated that this strategic initiative reflects ICD’s continuous effort to play a catalyst role in the promotion of Islamic finance and private sector development in Bangladesh.

Badiur Rahman, the Chairman of the bank highlighted that with ICD as Islamic multilateral institution, AIB would materialise its vision having the finest Islamic infrastructure by bringing financial solutions in the liquidity management, capital market products (sukuk), infrastructure, real estate, retail and SME sectors with best risk management framework. He further stressed that having ICD as strategic shareholder is the result of the confidence and trust kept on the board and management by all the stakeholders over the last 20 years. This new avenue would strengthen rating of the bank and pave the way for extending network with other international Islamic players in the world.

ICD has already committed US$110 million for the manufacturing, textiles and apparels, construction, and power sector along with US$70 million in lines of financing for the SME sector in Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh gets IDB office

The People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group have signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the launch of the IDB Group’s Country Gateway Office (CGO) in the capital city of Dhaka. CGOs have also been recently established in Turkey and Indonesia.

IDB Group President Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali praised 41 years of solid relations between IDB Group and Bangladesh as a founding and supportive member of the Bank. “Currently, the volume of approved IDB Group financings with Bangladesh stands at US$18.6 billion, the highest amount of financing ever approved by the 56 IDB member countries,” stated Dr Ahmad.

So far the approvals include major funding covering power, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, mining, roads, education and rural development as well as foreign trade operations aimed at enhancing intra-trade amongst member countries.

The IDB Group President further underlined that the decision to launch a CGO in Bangladesh is the culmination of several factors including the country’s outstanding and solid cooperation with the IDB Group, the high economic growth rate in recent years as well as the recent World Bank’s ranking of Bangladesh as a medium income country.

He further expressed hope that the CGO will increase the continued cooperation between Bangladesh and the IDB Group.

posted from Bloggeroid

Muslim case law explained in new book from OUP India

Cases on Muslim Law of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, by Alamgir Muhammad Serajuddin, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, provides an introduction to the basic principles and rules of Muslim law, and shows how case law acts as a social barometer and an instrument of change.

Source: OUP website.

Published by OUP India, the book offers 61 essential cases on Muslim law from pre- and post-independent India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, explains the basic principles and rules of Muslim law, and their application by the courts.

The cases discussed cover such diverse areas as sources and interpretation of law, institution of marriage, polygamous marriages, dower, restitution of conjugal rights, talaq, khula, irreconcilable breakdown of marriage, legitimacy, guardianship, and maintenance of wives and divorced wives. Legislations covered include the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939, Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961, and Muslim Women Act 1986.

The book also shows how religion-based rules of personal law have been interpreted by secular courts during certain epochs in history and how the trend of interpretation has changed over the last 150 years.

Interested?

The book (ISBN 978-0-19-945761-8) is available in hardback for £34.99.

Islamic Development Bank approves contributions to development projects in Bangladesh, Pakistan

The Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) at its 307th meeting on 5 October 2015 approved US$895 million to contribute towards new development projects in IDB member countries, including Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Board also approved seven grants and special assistance packages totalling US$1.13 million under the IDB Waqf Fund for educational and vocational projects for Muslim communities in non-member countries such as India and Fiji. 

The approvals come in the context of IDB’s continued efforts to contribute to economic development and social advancement of member countries as well as Muslim communities in non-member countries.

The project approvals included US$89.3 million for the urban water supply and sanitation in 23 pourashavas (secondary towns) in Bangladesh and US$50 million for Phase I of the FATA temporary displaced persons housing project in Pakistan. 

KSA's Ministry of Interior clarifies number of unidentified dead from Hajj stampede

KSA's Ministry of Interior today said nearly 1,100 photos had been distributed to foreign diplomats to help identify their nationals who had passed away in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

The ministry addressed claims that all 1,100 photos are of people from the Mina stampede, noting that the pictures are of people who passed away over the duration of the entire event, and not just from the disaster in Mina. "The death toll for the Mina tragedy on September 24th remains 769 people, with another 934 injured," it said in a statement.
 
Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour al-Turki said the pictures also include people who died of natural causes, including foreign residents who performed the pilgrimage without the legal permits, as well as laborers from South Asia who choose to work in Saudi Arabia in order to perform the pilgrimage. Major General Al-Turki added that the list also includes unidentified victims from the September 11 crane accident over the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs of Pakistan separately reported that 52 pilgrims had passed away as a result of the Mina incident as of 30 September. Of these 19 had been verified by the Saudi authorities, while details of the others were contributed by eyewitnesses. A list is available here.

The death toll for the Bangladesh Hajj season stands at 102 for all causes as at 30 September. Of these, 95 passed away in Makkah. Flights back to Bangladesh have begun, with 10,996 pilgrims already back in the country. Return flights began on 28 September, 2015, and the last return flight from the Hajj will be on 28 October.

(Update of 1 October 2015: the Haj Committee of India said that 51 pilgrims had passed away as a result of the Mina stampede.)

More than two-thirds of Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh already in KSA

The daily Hajj bulletin of 6 September from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Bangladesh has announced that 68,919 Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to date. A total of 101,758 pilgrims from Bangladesh are expected this year.

A total of 19 pilgrims have passed away, 13 in Makkah and six in Madinah.

The Hajj is estimated to begin on 22 September, 2015, with the exact date subject to the sighting of the moon to mark the first of the month.  

The first batch of pilgrims departed for KSA on 16 August 2015, and the first
return flight to Bangladesh will be on 28 September 2015. The last departure flight to KSA is on 18 September 2015 and the last return flight to Bangladesh will be 28 October 2015.

Bangladesh ambassador holds talks on Hajj with Minister of Hajj, KSA

Source: Ministry of Hajj, KSA. HH the Minister of Hajj, Dr Bandar.

His Highness the Minister of Hajj, Dr Bandar ibn Muhammad Hajjar, met His Excellency the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom, Golam Moshi, on 16 March. 

During the meeting, issues relevant to the affairs of the Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims for 1436 were discussed. His Excellency the Ambassador praised the efforts exerted and the projects which have been accomplished in the Two Holy Mosques and at the Sacred Sites and praised the efficient coordination and collaboration between the Ministry of Hajj, the agencies affiliated to it, other governmental agencies, and all the offices of Hajj affairs.  

Six countries house more than half of the Muslims around the world

Source: Pew Research website.

Muslims are concentrated in the Asia Pacific region, where six-in-ten (62%) of all Muslims reside, says 2012 figures from Pew Research. Against the total population by region, about one-in-four people (24%) are Muslims. The Middle East-North Africa region is almost wholly Muslim (93%), but represent only about 20% of the world’s Muslims.

The largest share of Muslims live in Indonesia (13%), followed by India (11%), Pakistan (11%), Bangladesh (8%), Nigeria (5%), Egypt (5%), Iran (5%), Turkey (5%), Algeria (2%) and Morocco (2%)*.

In August 2014, Pew Research updated its figures in a 'Fact Tank' about where people from different religions are clustered around the world. The top six nations where Muslims live together account for 53% of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims, the consultancy said, accounting for 30% of the world’s population.

Pew Research also created an infographic in 2013 about the world's Muslims which can be viewed here.

*The difference between the rankings in this report, which states that India comes before Pakistan, and previous reports, where Pakistan was ranked larger than India, is primarily due to a downward revision by the United Nations Population Division of its estimate of the size of Pakistan’s total population and an upward revision of the UN estimate of India’s total population.

Islamic Development Bank approves grants for projects in Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE

The Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which met at in conjunction with the 39th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB, have approved US$447.6 million towards financing new development projects in a number of their 57 member countries.

Source: IDB.

The major part of the financing, US$304 million, went to the energy sector, including US$220 million for a power grid extension project in Bangladesh. Other approved financing includes US$87.5 million for the improvement of wastewater management and sanitary services in Al Ghadir Drainage Basin, Lebanon; as well as an additional US$25 million for the second phase of Queen Alia Airport Expansion Project, Jordan, raising the IDB financing for the Queen Alia airport expansion to US$125 million.

The members of the board further approved of IDB's continued contribution to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai, UAE, as the centre represents a successful example of mutual cooperation between the Bank and the UAE. ICBA has developed into a research centre with an international team of scientists and researchers working on innovative solutions to improve the status of poor farmers and to implement development programmes aimed at upgrading productivity in agricultural regions. 

ICBA was launched at the initiative of the IDB, in recognition of the important role by the Gulf states in line with supporting the Bank. The Bank cooperated with the UAE in management and operating of ICBA until April 2010, when the responsibility was transferred to UAE's Ministry of Environment and Water.