The Swiss National Bank in its annual report titled "Banks in Switzerland 2016" showed that the deposit of Bangladesh nationals' increased by 20.18 percent in 2016.
The deposit was 661.96 million in Swiss franc or Tk 5,575 crore in 2016.
The amount was Tk 4,423 crore in 2015 and Tk 4,283 crore in 2014, as per the report of the bank.
The deposits went up in case of Bangladesh despite an ongoing global crack down on the famous secrecy wall of Swiss banking system.
Swiss banks have come under global pressure in recent times, as a number of countries, including India, are stepping up efforts to crack down on black money.
A Europe-led clampdown has also been launched on tax evasion and corruption.
Experts, however, say data from the Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based
research organisation, gives a comprehensive picture about money laundered out of a country.
Bangladesh lost between $6 billion and $9 billion to illegal money outflows in 2014, according to a GFI report.
A Bangladesh Bank official not to be named told the reporter, deposits in Swiss banks does not mean that money was laundered from Bangladesh only.
Bangladeshis living abroad also deposit their money in Swiss banks, he said.
Bangladesh Bank might bring back the money only when it will be proved that the money was siphoned off of the country, he opined.
Speaking at the Jatiya Sangsad on June 6, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said it was true that money was being laundered, but it was not possible to stop the outflow of money completely.
"What we can do is to lessen the opportunity of siphoning off money. That means taking of measures to stop generation of black money."The government is taking steps in this regard, which would be visible next month, the minister said.
At the same time, Indian nationals' deposits in Swiss banks dropped to 664 million franc last year from 1.2 billion of the previous year.
In November 2016, India became one of a select group of countries to get benefits from an annual automatic exchange of banking information with Switzerland. This would ensure that financial information on bank accounts held by Indian citizens in Switzerland and vice-versa would be shared annually.
Pakistani nationals' deposits in Swiss banks also fell to 1.386 billion franc last year from 1.477 billion franc a year ago.
A country's political neutrality, stability and tradition of bank secrecy have kept their fortunes beyond the reach of national governments and even the most determined tax collectors.
Over the last several decades, Switzerland has provided wealthy families around the globe with a convenient and safe place to stash their money. Offshore accounts are not illegal, but many people use them to hide cash from the tax authorities, say experts.
Saturday, 1 July 2017
Suzana, Selim, Shimu, Apurba work together in Eid play Sorry
National Film Award winner noted actor Shahiduzzaman Selim, Ziaul Faruk Apurba, Sumaiya Shimu and Suzana for the first time worked together in a play.
Directed by Iftekhar Ahmed Fahmi they for the first time worked together in a play titled Sorry. Shooting of the play was done before Eid. They acted in four challenging roles in this exceptional story based play.
While talking about the play its director Fahmi told this correspondent, “I have made the play cordially but did not want to disclose its story right now. Because I want viewers watch the play at least attentively.”
Actor Shahiduzzaman Selim said, “Fahmi has tried to present a nice play for the viewers. We were with him.”
Apurba shared his feelings by this way, “All of us worked sincerely while working in the play. We believe viewers will enjoy the play.”
Sumaiya Shimu expressed her feelings by this way, “Earlier I worked under Fahmi’s direction. There is no need to take make-up while taking part in shooting of his play. It is good in one side because there is no extra pressure to concentrate on receiving make-up during shooting time. As a result, neutrality comes forward by this way.”
“To work in Fahmi’s played, I have returned to acting after a break. I have cordially and sincerely worked in his play. I am very much eager to watch my acting on the screen now,” Suzana said this while sharing her feelings about the play.
The play Sorry will be aired on Rtv at 11:05pm on seventh day of Eid (Sunday).
Meanwhile, right now Shahiduzzaman Selim is outside the country. Apurba has started shooting from Friday after celebrating Eid and his birthday.
himu informed that she is now staying in Cox’s Bazar with full family. After enjoying there she will return to Dhaka and will set up her schedules after few days. On the other hand, Suzana is passing days at her mother’s residence in the city’s Mirpur area now.
Jerry O’Connell Is Returning to Television
Jerry O’Connell, who seemed to be in just about every single TV show over the last five years or so, is coming back to television after what has so far been a quiet 2017. O’Connell will star in Carter, a new lighthearted procedural set to air on AXN, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series follows an actor named Harley Mackay who played a popular television detective, but after a public meltdown in Hollywood, leaves the business and returns to his sleepy hometown. There, he uses the skills he “learned” from playing a TV detective to become a real-life gumshoe. Yes, the similarities to Rob Lowe’s The Grinder-- which saw a former TV lawyer practice law in Boise -- did not escape us. Also starring in Carter will be Chicago P.D.’s Sydney Poitier as Mackay’s old pal and new partner. O’Connell’s last regular series role was on CBS’ We Are Men, but he’s made appearances on The League, The Mysteries of Laura, Billions, Mistresses and many other shows since. He was also a contender for the Kelly Ripa’s Live cohost, which ultimately went to Ryan Seacrest.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to act as glamorous singer in Fanney Khan
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s last on-screen appearance as a sensuous poetess in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had left the audience waiting for more. Now, the fans can rejoice as the actor would come back with her glamorous avatar in her next, Fanney Khan, and this time as a singer. Giving few more details, Prernaa Arora of KriArj Entertainment says, “Aishwarya is a stunning and an extremely talented actress. In Fanney Khan, she will be seen completely different avatar from all our recent past films. She is the spunky, enchanting female protagonist who will make you smile with her screen presence.” Talking about Aishwarya making her singing debut, Prernaa Arora says, “For now she is not singing, but yes she is playing a singer in the film but in reality we still have to wait for that big moment when she decides to sing.” Interestingly, Faaney Khan’s lead actor Anil Kapoor is known to be singing not one or two but multiple songs for the musical-drama. The team starts building the set in Mumbai next month and Anil will kick off shooting in the first week of August. Aishwarya joins him by the month-end and the film will wrap up in a start-to-finish schedule by October. Aishwarya and Anil have shared the screen space in Shubhash Ghai’s Taal and 2000 release Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hai. So, would they be able to spread the same magic? Well, only future has the answer to it. Meanwhile, Anil is prepping up for the release of Mubarakan, also starring Arjun Kapoor, Ileana D Cruz and Athiya Shetty in the lead role.
People pay tribute to Dhaka cafe attack victims
People from all walks of life on Saturday paid their respects by placing wreaths to the victims of Holey Artisan attack.
Representatives of various political parties including Awami League, BNP, Jubo League, various civil societies and police personnel paid their respects.
On the evening of July 1, 2016, five armed militants entered the Holey Artisan Café and Bakery with crude bombs, machetes and pistols, and took several dozen people hostages, including 18 foreigners who gathered for dinner inside the café.
Twenty hostages — nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi-born American and two Bangladeshis — were killed in the attack as the militants sprayed them with bullets indiscriminately or cut their throats to confirm their death.
Besides, two police officers — the then Officer-in Charge of Banani Police Station Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch (DB)’s Assistant Commissioner Robiul Islam — were shot dead when police tried to gain control of the café.
Thirteen people, including three foreigners, were rescued while 20 bodies of the hostages were recovered from the restaurant after a successful operation led by the 1st Para-commando Battalion, an elite force in the Bangladesh Army, the following morning on July 2.
Five militants and one restaurant staff were killed and one suspected militant was arrested during the drive
Crane accident hampers container handling at Chittagong port
Container handling at Chittagong port has been badly hampered for the last four days following an accident during the berthing of a vessel at a jetty on June 25 which left two gantry cranes damaged.
Berthing has remained suspended at the jetty, one of the two at Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), leading to a congestion of container vessels waiting at sea.
An Egyptian flagged container vessel, Xpress Suez, hit two of four gantry cranes positioned over rail tracks at CCT jetty no. 3, said sources in Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).
One gantry crane was derailed while parts of another got broken, they said.
Berthing has remained suspended at the jetty, one of the two at Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), leading to a congestion of container vessels waiting at sea.
An Egyptian flagged container vessel, Xpress Suez, hit two of four gantry cranes positioned over rail tracks at CCT jetty no. 3, said sources in Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).
One gantry crane was derailed while parts of another got broken, they said.
The Chittagong port, with these four gantry cranes, can handle containers from two gearless vessels (those with no cranes on board) at a time at two jetties of CCT.
Meanwhile containers can be handled from eight geared vessels (with container handling equipment like cranes on board) in the conventional way in eight other operational container jetties including four in New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and six jetties in General Cargo Berth (GCB) areas.
The Chittagong port, with these four gantry cranes, can handle containers from two gearless vessels (those with no cranes on board) at a time at two jetties of CCT.
Meanwhile containers can be handled from eight geared vessels (with container handling equipment like cranes on board) in the conventional way in eight other operational container jetties including four in New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and six jetties in General Cargo Berth (GCB) areas.
Officials are now planning to use the affected jetty to handle geared vessels.
CPA Member (admin and planning) Md Zafar Alam said they have already contacted manufacturing firm Mitsubishi for the repairs.
Hoping that the situation would not turn for the worse, Alam said they would encourage liners to bring geared vessels while the repairs were ongoing.Meanwhile, the congestion of vessels has been affecting the port for the last couple of months mainly for an influx of seasonal imports ahead of Ramadan and the national budget, reduced operational hours during Ramadan, unfavourable monsoon weather and cyclonic storms like Mora as well as a shortage of equipment.
According to the traffic department of CPA, 22 container vessels were waiting at the outer anchorage for getting berth till yesterday morning.
Mainline operators, shipping agents as well as businesspeople expressed anxiety over the situation.
A vessel, MV Komati, left the port yesterday, a day after its scheduled departure, leaving behind over 100 export containers as those could not be loaded onto the ship on time, said sources.
Shahed Sarwar, executive director of K Line Bangladesh Limited, said one of their gearless vessels is scheduled to arrive at the outer anchorage on June 2.Sarwar thinks that the vessel needs to wait at sea for at least 10 days to get a berth at the lone jetty.
“We have to cancel the next voyage of the vessel as it is taking much time in this port. We will incur a huge loss if we have to cancel a trip,” he added.
Chittagong port is the principal port of Bangladesh that handled 80 percent of the country's export-import trade worth around $75 billion in 2016-17.
The port has handled nearly 20 lakh twenty-foot equivalent unit (TUEs) of containers in 2015-16, according to CPA statistics.
Stars turn out for Messi's wedding in Rosario
Some of the biggest names in world football gathered in Argentina on Friday to see Barcelona striker Lionel Messi wed his long-time girlfriend Antonela Roccuzzo.
Past and present Barcelona team mates Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano, Neymar and Luis Suarez were all there, as was Gerard Pique and his pop star wife Shakira.
Several Premier League players were also among the 260 guests, including Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas and Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.
An extra 350 police were drafted in to provide security for the event, which took place in Rosario, the city where Messi grew up before heading to Barcelona, where he has spent a playing career that has included winning FIFA's World Player of the Year trophy five times.
The city is in the heart of Argentina's bread basket but drug trafficking in the region has grown in recent years and the homicide rate has soared.
Messi met Roccuzzo, who is also from Rosario, when they were growing up. The couple have two children, Thiago, 4, and Mateo, 21 months.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)