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

October 9th, 2015 | Volume: 1 - 6/10

BANGLADESH PM Sheikh Hasina stresses timely completion of development projects BSS / The Daily Star | 8th October  Inaugurating and laying foundation stones of 15 development projects including three power plants in seven districts, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the authorities concerned to complete all schemes properly and timely for rapid development of the country. Bangladesh fully free of major FATF (Financial Action Task Force) concern: Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur RehmanThe Financial Express| 8th October  Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said Bangladesh has been freed from any drug or terrorism related FATF (Financial Action Task Force) related concern. Murder of foreigners may impact tourism, fear Bangladesh tour operatorsbdnews24 | 8th October  Murders of two foreign nationals at the beginning of tourist season in Bangladesh have heightened fears of an adverse impact on the industry. Combating extremism – Editorial The Daily Star | 8th October A recently organised seminar by this paper titled “Extremism and Challenges for Bangladesh” brought together security analysts, researchers and leading editors to discuss ways and means to tackle the threat extremism poses to the country.  BHUTAN Trade department warns businesses to switch to commercial LPG, again KUENSEL | 8th October Hotels, restaurants, and canteens across the country have 18 days from today to surrender their subsidised Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders they are currently using for commercial purposes. These establishments will have to switch to commercial LPG supplied by Bhutan Industrial Gas (BIG) from October 26. In a letter circulated to hotels and restaurants across the country, the trade department has promised ad-hoc inspections in all hotels, restaurants, and canteens after October 26. Should they find the businesses still using subsidised gas, the cylinders will be seized and the users penalised Nu 10,000. The trade department will also seize the security deposit and price of the cylinder. Subsequent offences will lead to cancellation of business licenses. A unique visit: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee KUENSEL | 8th October West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that it was a great honour to meet His Majesty The King, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen and the Members of the Royal Family in Bhutan. She said that Bhutan is a beautiful country with peace-loving people. She described her visit to the country as unique. “It was a unique meeting,” she said. MALDIVES India pushes for local solution over jailed Maldives ex-president Haveeru Online | 8th October Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters in Indian capital New Delhi that India expected Nasheed’s case to be “handled in accordance with laws and regulations of Maldives”. India, being committed to peace, stability and progress in the Maldives, hopes that a solution is found soon, he added. Maldives economic growth lower than govt estimates, says World Bank Haveeru Online | 8th October Despite the government’s earlier estimation of a 10.5 percent economic growth in the Maldives, the World Bank’s estimation is 5 percent lower. World Bank’s report highlighted certain positive points of the Maldivian economy, such as overcoming the economic difficulties of 2012 and reducing inflation. NEPAL NOC invites global tender for fuel supply The Kathmandu Post | 9th October The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Friday invited bids from interested firms to supply petroleum products in a bid to ease fuel crisis ahead of the country’s biggest festivals—Dashain and Tihar. The state-owned oil monopoly has given suppliers three days to submit their letter of intent regarding import of fuel from any country through any medium on a daily basis for at least 15 days. House to vote for new PM The Kathmandu Post | 9th OctoberAs the parties fail to form a new government on the basis of consensus, a Parliament meeting on Friday will initiate the process to elect the new prime minister. President Ram Baran Yadav will formally write to the Parliament Secretariat, asking it to initiate the voting process. A weeklong deadline served by the President to install a unity government expired on Thursday without any progress. According to Parliament Secretariat co-spokesman Sudarshan Kuinkel, Speaker Subas Nembang, after reading out the letter from President Yadav, will instruct the secretariat general secretary to publish the PM election timetable. Asian Development Bank (ADB)  provides USD 15 million grant to Nepal post-quake recovery Rastriya Samachar Samiti / The Himalayan Times | 8th OctoberThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved a new USD 15 million grant to rebuild schools, provide microloans to help restore livelihoods and to boost awareness of disasters in the 14 districts most severely affected by the recent earthquakes in Nepal. China agrees to open Gorkha border point throughout the year Rastriya Samachar Samiti / The Kathmandu Post | 8th October The Tibetan Foreign Office sent a letter to Nepal's Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and Home Ministry apprising of the decision to operate the border point throughout the year. The Chinese market places closest to Chekampar point is Sya and Jong markets in Tibet. Earlier, the Chinese government had been opening the Chekampar border point only for a period usually from mid July to mid August. After the massive 7.6 Richter scale earthquake on April 25, the Gorkha District Administration Office had made repeated attempts to open up the border point. PAKISTAN Islamabad to assist talks if both Kabul, Taliban willing The Express Tribune | 9th October Pakistan on Thursday said it will facilitate another round of peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban provided that both sides are willing to re-engage with each other, hinting at a shift in its policy towards reconciliation in Afghanistan. “Pakistan supported and hosted the first round of intra-Afghan dialogue for peace and reconciliation [in early July] and if both sides agree to it, we are ready to offer our cooperation to them for future talks,” Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said at his weekly news conference. Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar proposes intra-Afghan talks without foreign mediation The Nation | 9th OctoberHizb-i-Islami Afghanistan chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has proposed intra-Afghan talks, “without mediation from any foreign power”. In a written interview to The Nation, he also gave a formula for peace in his war-ravaged country, an end to war across the country being an important component of it. Pakistan seeking US cooperation on civil nuclear energy The Express Tribune|8th OctoberPakistan said on Thursday it is seeking cooperation of the international community, including the US, on civil nuclear energy. War of words between PML-N, PTI intensifies DAWN | 9th October With the ruling PML-N and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) set to flex their political muscles in the by-election for NA-122 constituency on Sunday, the war of allegations between them has intensified. According to analysts, the by-election has triggered a harsh blame game because it has turned into a high-stakes battle between the two parties. SRI LANKA European Union grants Sri Lanka assistance of Euro 43.7 million for development Colombo Page | 8th October The program intends to improve livelihood, income level, health and nutrition of low income receivers in the two provinces and to strengthen the social and economic services rendered by Local Government Institutions, Community Organizations, and Private Institutions. Sri Lanka considers restarting China-funded Colombo Port City Project in six months Colombo Page | 8th October The Sri Lankan government, considering to restart the controversial China-funded Colombo Port City Project, has received approval from the Cabinet of Ministers to appoint a new committee to review the agreement with Chinese agencies on the project. Japan loans Sri Lanka Rs. 45 billion to construct a new bridge over Kelani River Colombo Page | 8th October The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has granted Sri Lanka a loan amount of Japanese Yen 35 billion (approximately Rs. 41 billion) to construct a new bridge over the Kelani River. Two former LTTE cadres arrested for killing Tamil MP in Sri Lanka Colombo Page | 8th October The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka police Thursday arrested two former cadres of the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the assassination of Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham.

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