Postal charges to increase from Jan 1

Council of Advisers yesterday decided to increase postal charges of Bangladesh Postal Department both for domestic and foreign posts considering the increase in various related costs.
The decision will come into force from January 1, 2008.
A regular weekly meeting of the Council of Advisers with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair approved a proposal of raising the postal charges.
The charge of postcard has been fixed at Tk 1.50 from existing Tk 1, envelope price fixed at Tk 3 from Tk 2 and an additional 20 percent service charge will be added to the actual cost of sending all foreign mails.
The meeting was told that postal charges for foreign mails were not increased since 1984 while those of domestic mails not raised since 1989. But the airfare, service charge and other related costs have increased manifold over the years.
The meeting also approved a proposal to sign an `Additional Protocol' between Bangladesh and Qatar governments regarding recruitment of Bangladeshi manpower in Qatar. The additional protocol will be signed to update the agreement signed by the two countries in 1988.
It is expected that the additional protocol will be signed during the possible visit of a high powered delegation from Qatar led by its Labour and Social Affairs Minister to Bangladesh on January 6 or 7, according to an official.
Drafts of Bangladesh Environment Conservation (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 and Environment Court Ordinance 2007 were placed in the meeting.
After thorough discussion, the meeting asked for further review and examination of the two ordinances and placed before the Council again.
Cultural Affairs Adviser Ayub Quadri apprised the meeting of the latest situation on the artefacts, which were to be sent to Guimet Museum in France for exhibition, and the steps taken by the government in this regard.
The meeting was also told that the country has so far received 380 million US dollar as money pledged by the development partners for rehabilitation of cyclone-hit coastal areas.
A committee headed by Planning Secretary has been working for assessing the financial need for rehabilitation work in the coastal belt battered by the November 15 super cyclone 'Sidr'.
The meeting was informed that 10 villages in the 'Sidr'-hit areas has been selected against an offer made by India to exclusively reconstruct those villages. The Foreign Ministry will inform it to the Indian government. Besides, another village has also been selected as a British Company proposed to rebuild one cyclone-hit village.
The meeting also discussed procurement of rice, according to Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim.