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Highlights from the local media of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

September 16th, 2015 | Volume: 1 - 12/9

Ananta Aspen Centre is pleased to inform you that from today (16th September, 2015) we are including important news as reported in the local media of Bhutan and Maldives in this newsletter and in due course would also add news regarding important developments from the other South Asian countries. Hope you find this initiative informative and useful. BANGLADESH UN to take more Bangladeshi peacekeepers in commanding positions The Daily Star | 16th September Lauding Bangladeshi peacekeepers' professionalism and contribution to UN missions, UN Under-Secretary General for Field Support Atul Khare yesterday said the UN was ready to appoint more Bangladeshis to commanding positions soon. Chinese investors to get special economic zone Dhaka Tribune | 16th September Chinese investors are set to get a special economic zone in Bangladesh as Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved the proposal for establishing an exclusive economic and industrial zone for them. Iranian foreign minister arrives to brief Bangladesh leaders on July nuclear deal bdnews 24 | 16th September Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has arrived in Dhaka to brief Bangladesh’s leadership on the nuclear deal that the world powers struck with his country. Once implemented, the July deal will see the decade-old sanctions that crippled the oil and gas-rich Iran’s economy lifted in exchange for long-term curbs on its nuclear programme. Four million tax-payers by 2020: Bangladesh Finance Minister AMA Muhith The Financial Express | 15th September Addressing a programme on the National Income Tax Day at a city hotel, the Finance Minister said currently 11 lakh people submit income tax, which is less than 1.0 percent of the total population, a BSS report said. "The number would be 4 million if we can bring in at least 2.0 percent of the total population under tax-net", he said, adding that the target may sound highly ambitious, but we should figure out the way to raise the number of tax-payers at a higher rate. BHUTAN Economy rebounds to 6.08% KUENSEL | 14th September The country’s economy rebounded from all time low of 2.05 percent in 2013 to 6.08 percent as of 2014. The economic affairs minister, Norbu Wangchuk said the economy is showing signs of improvement with lifting of the restriction credit restrictions. Apple orchards shrinking KUENSEL | 15th September Apple orchards are shrinking by the year in the four apple-growing districts mainly in Paro and Thimphu to other land use. Agriculture officials attribute the decline mainly to construction of houses and other activities eating into orchard space.  MALDIVES Opposition can never again overthrow a govt from the streets, Maldives president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom says  Haveeru Online | 15th September Speaking after the signing ceremony of some Raa Atoll Councilors to the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) president explained that it would be wrong for the opposition to believe that it can topple the government by taking to the streets as long as the government is run within the rule of law and worked for the development of the people. Nasheed's (jailed former president) Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government was prematurely ousted after months of opposition led protests capped off by a police mutiny. A Finance Expo to be held in the Maldives for the first time Sun Online | 15th SeptemberGovernor of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), Azima Adham has said that a Financial Expo would be held in the Maldives for the first time on 5 October. “The most important reason for the financial expo is to inform the public of the financial services and financial information available in the country.” Governor Azima said.   PAKISTAN Sharif-Modi meeting in US unlikelyDawn | 15th September Indian and Pakistani prime ministers will be in New York next week for the UN General Assembly but a bilateral meeting between the two leaders “is not on the cards”, diplomatic sources told Dawn. Pak-China military relations to reach unprecedented heights:  Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Dawn | 15th September Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif said on Tuesday that the military relations between China and Pakistan will reached unprecedented heights, according to a statement issued on the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) website. Army Major, 5 Militants Killed in Checkpost AttackPakistan Observer | 15th September A major-ranked officer of the Pakistan Army and five militants were killed during an attack on a checkpost in Spin Wam area of North Waziristan tribal region’s Mirali tehsil, Pakistan, security sources said on Monday. PM Nawaz Sharif announces Rs341 billion relief package for farmers The Express Tribune | 15th September Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced on Tuesday an agriculture relief package worth Rs341 billion for farmers. SRI LANKA Modi gives thumbs up to Ranil’s Government Colombo Gazette | 15th SeptemberSpeaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi, Modi said that India was “deeply honoured” that Wickremesinghe had chosen India as his first overseas destination. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and India discuss Geneva developments Colombo Gazette | 15th September Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe briefed India on developments taking place at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Modi urged to push for ICJ probe on Lanka Colombo Gazette | 15th September Indian MP and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stress on his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe for an international judicial probe into the alleged war crimes in the island nation during the final stages of the civil war, The Hindu newspaper reported. Policy decision taken on Indo – Sri Lanka bridge Colombo Gazette | 15th September Indian Union Minister Kalraj Mishra said that the Indian Government has taken a policy decision on building a bridge linking Talaimannar in Sri Lanka with Danushkodi. Lankan Tamil in special camp on Tiruchi attempts suicide Colombo Gazette | 15th September The Sri Lankan Tamil, Yugapriyan, against whom a case booked by the Kanniyakumari Q Branch unit was pending, was admitted to the Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital for treatment, The Hindu newspaper reported. Indian Minister discusses $5.19 billion India-Lanka road project with Sri Lankan PM Colombo Page | 15th September India's Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has held discussions with the visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today on an ambitious US$ 5.19 billion road project linking the two countries. Indo-Lanka trade surge 27% in 2014, 2015 first-half trade tops $ 2.6 billion Colombo Page | 15th September According to the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and India has surged 27 percent year-on-year in 2014 to a $ 4.6 billion and in the first half of this year the trade reached US$ 2.6 billion