Bangladeshi Local News

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Help save life of Saiful

2008-09-25T01:52:00.000+06:00

Students and teachers of mass communication and journalism department of Dhaka Uni-versity have urged all to extend financial assistance for the treatment of Saiful Samin, a fourth year student who lost both of his legs in a tragic train accident in June.

The accident took place in Tejgaon area in the city on June 20 when Saiful, who also works with the Prothom Alo, went there to collect information for his report.

He is now undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation. A huge amount of money is needed for the treatment of the meritorious students.

Chairman of the journalism department Prof Sheikh Abdus Salam has appealed to all to extend a helping hand.

The academic committee of the department has opened a bank account for the purpose. Contributions can be sent to Account No. 12100404968, Sonali Bank, Dhaka University Branch.

Currency

2008-09-25T01:51:00.002+06:00

Gas price hike move opposed strongly

2008-09-25T01:50:00.003+06:00

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) yesterday held its first public hearing on the proposed gas price hike up to 65 percent amid strong opposition from businesspeople and consumers.

Stakeholders and representatives of different trade bodies, chambers and Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), who attended the hearing, said the hike would further increase prices of food items. Business people also pointed out that hiking gas prices would double the cost of business.

BERC Chairman Ghulam Rahman and four BERC members were in the judges' panel of the daylong hearing held at the commission's office.

After the hearing former Bangladesh Textile Mills Association president MA Matin, who represented the organisation at the hearing, said the proposed increase in gas prices would definitely hamper investment growth in the industrial and manufacturing sectors.

"The cost of doing business will double if the proposed gas price hike is implemented. The government cannot increase gas prices abnormally since distributing companies can hardly maintain the required supply of gas for smooth running of industrial units," he said.

He, however, said since Petrobangla, the state-owned oil, gas and mineral exploration corporation, has been languishing for making profit over the years, the BERC can propose raise in gas prices to a reasonable level.

Terming the proposed gas price hike abnormal, MA Matin, also managing director of Malek Spinning Mill, said the proposal for increasing gas prices more than 72 percent for captive power plants is discriminatory.

Petrobangla proposed increasing gas prices for commercial users by 26.08 percent, meaning that per-unit (1,000 cubic feet or 1 mcf) price of gas will go up to Tk 291.59 from the existing Tk 233.12.

Earlier, Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed said in the proposal that his organisation's cumulative deficit on account of undercut gas supply to international oil companies is about Tk 2,000 crore.

"If we do not raise gas prices, Petrobangla will have to go bankrupt soon, which will ultimately make it unable to go for further exploration," he had said to justify the merit of the government move.

During his expression of opinions as an independent expertise at the hearing, Prof Nurul Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) strongly supported the proposed hike.

"There is no way but to increase gas prices for minimising the losses of Petrobangla," he said.

He hinted at the lack of transparency in gas distribution by some companies to make a windfall profit. "I firmly believe that smooth supply of gas can be ensured by increasing the price of this natural resource," he said.

Opposing the hike proposal, representatives of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CAB, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation said the prices of foodstuffs would go up again in local markets as the prices of agri-inputs would also go up following the gas price hike.

"As a result, the country's food security will be at a crossroads. So, the price hike should be at a rational level," the representative of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said at the hearing. He expressed concern that stagflation and increase of urban poverty would stem from hiked gas prices.

The representative from the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) also said a fresh price hike of gas would seriously hamper power development.

Earlier, in its proposal submitted to the BERC on June 23, Petrobangla suggested a variable price hike for its different categories of consumers, the average hike being 65 percent.

Petrobangla suggested raising the price to Tk 600 for domestic consumers from the existing Tk 400 for a double-burner oven and Tk 550 for a single-burner oven against the present rate of Tk 350. The rise in this case is 50 percent.

Domestic consumers using meters will have to pay Tk 208 instead of Tk 130 with an increase of 26.81 percent.

For industrial consumers, the proposed per-unit price of gas is Tk 182.25, a 23.03 percent raise over the present rate of Tk 148.13. The same rate will apply to tea-estates.

For captive power plants, the proposed rate is Tk 182.25 per unit, a 72.60 percent increase from the present Tk 105.59.

Petrobangla proposed Tk 93.73 per unit for the PDB, independent power producers, and small power plants instead of Tk 73.91, raising the gas price by 26.81 percent.

For fertiliser industries, Tk 93.73 has been proposed with an increase of 47.81 percent from the present Tk 63.41 per unit gas.

Concluding the hearing, the BERC will announce its final decision by October 30 through an official order to Petrobangla.

BERC Chairman Ghulam Rahman said the BERC would keep records of all pre- and post-hearing public opinions until October 6 and that public opinions would be received during this stipulated timeframe.

DU Eid, Puja vacation from today

2008-09-25T01:50:00.002+06:00

The vacation at Dhaka University (DU) on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja will start today.

All the departments and administrative offices of the university will also remain closed between September 27 and October 5.

The university will open on October 18.

Broadband debate heats up

2008-09-25T01:49:00.001+06:00

Should Bangladesh adopt WiMax technology to spread broadband data transmission facility now, or should it be 3GSM technology? Or maybe Bangladesh should wait a few more months to see if Long Term Evolution (LTE) is making a significant jump in broadband worldwide.

These are some debating points for information technology (IT) experts now. The debate is being fuelled by the Bangladesh Telecommunic-ation Regulatory Commission (BTRC), which floated an auction yesterday to award licences for WiMax technology operation in the country.

The BTRC's tilt to WiMax is in line with 19 other countries that introduced the technology in the recent years. WiMax is still undergoing major evolution. South Korea and Pakistan aside, it is yet to become a dominant technology in any nation. Pakistan is the only country that provides fully functional WiMax coverage. It has also been introduced in India.

Supporters of WiMax say it is now the heavyweight wireless data transmission technology in the market and much superior to 3GSM and more 'evolved' than the newly introduced GSM line of technology named LTE.

Rivals supporting GSM technology say WiMax is not a standardised technology like the GSM; it is very 'single vendor' focussed (all parts of a network set may be manufactured by a single vendor whereas, GSM allows multiple vendors) and it is costly and may take many years to implement.

They argue, the 3G technology that proudly runs 200 networks worldwide can be implemented in six to eight months because all it needs are changes in some hardware of the country's GSM-based mobile telecom network. The cost of upgrading to 3G in Bangladesh will be minimal and for a poor country like Bangladesh, it would mean, customers will not be burdened by high costs.

"WiMax licensing can turn fruitless because of the cost factors. The licences will block precious spectrum and thus hinder implementation of other technologies like LTE for broadband," says an IT expert working for a leading cellular technology company.

A third view about this subject comes from another IT consultant who provides infrastructure support to telecom companies. "WiMax and LTE are in the same footing -- not WiMax and 3G. That’s why, after obtaining multibillion-dollar licensing for 3G many operators in Europe did not go for complete 3G implementation," he said.

"In that light, the BTRC should have really waited until January-February before floating the auction. By that time, the industry expects some major developments worth waiting for," he pointed.

LTE is expected to be a fully ratified standard by the end of this year, with trials occurring in 2009 and deployments in late 2009 or 2010 offering mobile data rates of up to 170Mbps, says a telecom report by Frost and Sullivan Market Insight.

Experts say it is not yet clear whether it is LTE or WiMax that will be the dominant technology like GSM versus CDMA. "Which technology will flourish more will depend on the handset manufacturers," said the IT consultant. "I believe in WiMax because it's being applied in 19 countries while LTE has not been implemented yet."

But the LTE, which is much newer than WiMax, is getting a lot of market incentives. Telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon earlier this year announced LTE deployment. Major market players such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, NEC, NextWave Wireless, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks and Sony Ericsson have joined hands to deal with various aspects of LTE. WiMax is also facing challenges from the popular Wi-Fi technology, which now has a 100-kilometre range.

WiMax handles a huge data transfer that the 3G technology cannot. This means, for an example, WiMax can deliver smooth digital television broadcast in mobile phone, which the 3G cannot.

IT and cellphone players worldwide believe that the future mobile phone market will be demanding a huge data transfer. Mobile phones will act as the communicator, video broadcaster, entertainer and provider of any other everyday services. Hence the debate: Should we choose WiMax or should we follow the GSM path?

GSM technology has made mobile phone cheap and popular and its domination in mobile market is clear. The popularity of GSM was caused by freedom of phone users to use any handset they like (or phone companies using a host of devices not necessarily manufactured by a single company), prompting competition and quality.

Developed internationally by the WiMax Forum, WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) provides broadband speed without the requirement of cables in 50-km area. WiMax technology in cellphones was standardised two years ago.

The top mobile WiMax players include SK Telecom and KT of Korea, BT and France Telecom of Europe, Sprint Nextel of US and KDDI of Japan.

Hasina to sit with Khaleda anytime, anywhere

2008-09-25T01:48:00.002+06:00

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina agreed to sit with her political archrival BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia "anytime, anywhere" for the greater interest of the country if BNP admits to its wrongdoings during its last tenure in power.

In an email addressed to the nation and sent to the email account of a senior AL leader, she said her stance on the proposed talks between herself and Khaleda needed to be clarified. She said, "As discussions have been going on about a meeting between Khaleda Zia and me, I think my stance in this regard should be revealed to the people."

"Under the circumstances, I want to firmly say that I have no objection to any dialogue held in the greater interest of the country. I am ready to sit with anyone anywhere. But a dialogue without a specific issue or objective has the potential to create fresh problems or crises in the country," sources said quoting her as saying in the email.

AL, however, did not make public the email received a few days ago. Only a few senior AL leaders knew about the email. Surprisingly, a number of senior AL leaders including Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu termed the letter a rumour.

A senior AL Presidium member, having close ties to the party chief, read the email to The Daily Star.

AL Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta confirmed reporters about the email and said the AL chief does not think that bringing the two leaders to a single table would be easy.

Hasina said she does not want to be involved in a process that misleads people. She neither wants to be in a dialogue which is not meant for the country's welfare.

"My apprehension is that the dialogue has been proposed so that the blame for one's [Khaleda's] failures could be equally shared by two leaders. The dialogue may attempt to weigh a successful, competent and pro-people government with a dishonest, corrupt and incompetent one [BNP-Jamaat alliance government] on the same scale," she said.

She said she believes that a cordial relationship could be achieved if Khaleda retreats from the path of mistakes and ousts from her party the people who were involved in killing AL men.

Hasina claimed that BNP, assuming power in 2001, tortured and repressed hundreds of AL leaders. She claimed BNP men killed many including Shah AMS Kibria and Ahsanullah Master. She blamed BNP for the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue, which was also an attempt on her life.

"If BNP does not rectify itself, I will have to exchange courtesy at the dialogue with those who killed Kibria, Ahsanullah Master and Ivy Rahman and tried to kill me," the AL president said expressing doubt about how cordial the dialogue would be.

"It has been indicated in the proposal for the dialogue that there is something that can be solved through talks between the two leaders, but I could not find any such thing," she said.

She said high price of essentials and stagnation in foreign investment are the main problems of the country and the government would have to act accordingly to solve the crises. She said a free, fair and credible election is necessary in the country as soon as possible.

It would not be right to shift the blame on two leaders or two parties, she said, adding, "The disorder created by the Anti-Corruption Commission has to be considered."

About her personal relationship with the Zia family, she said she served Tarique Rahman fried fish with her own hands when he came to her home to invite her to his wedding.

The AL chief said she did not get involved in politics for power. "When I assumed power in 1996, I urged BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to work together. Had she [Khaleda] responded to that call, we could have had an episode where the country is run based on consensus between the ruling and opposition parties."

GP teams up with post office

2008-09-25T01:48:00.001+06:00

Grameenphone yesterday sealed a deal with the postal department to boost its revenue by going deeper in rural areas through the postmen working in about 8,300 postal branches.

Under the agreement, the largest cell phone operator will provide 24,000 SIM cards, having the benefit of Flexiload and public phone, for the postmen enabling them offer recharge, local and overseas calling services to the people in remote areas.

The new service will come into effect from November.

GP and Bangladesh Post Office (BPO) said the deal would supplement the income of low-paid runners, as they will enjoy the difference after paying about Tk 1 as charge for every minute of call if the rate is Tk 2.

The commission for recharge will be determined time to time on the basis of market rate. At present, GP offers about 2.75 percent commission to the Flexiload service providers.

While the BPO will get 5 percent of the revenue generated through the process, according to officials.

“We believe this public and private partnership will usher in another dimension to the services in rural areas,” GP Chief Executive Officer Anders Jensen said after signing the agreement with the BPO at The Westin, Dhaka.

The other signatory was BPO Director General Mobasherur Rahman. The BPO had earlier also inked a number of deals with some local and foreign banks to deliver remittances.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Brig Gen MA Malek (retd), Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Iqbal Mahmud and GP Director for Public Relations Syed Yamin Bakht were present among others at the programme.

The cell phone operator, which enjoys the highest number of subscribers at about 21 million till August, has over 70 percent users in cities and district towns.

“The BPO would consider transferring money by mobile phone in future,”said Brig Gen MA Malek at the signing ceremony.

At present, the BPO has about 40,000 employees, majority of which are postmen. Of them, runners providing services in the rural areas receive an honorarium of about Tk 750 a month.

GP extends time for private placement

2008-09-25T01:47:00.003+06:00

Grameenphone, the country's largest mobile phone operator, has extended the deadline for local institutional investors to participate in its private placement offering (PPO).

“Local institutional investors need to be given adequate time to do due diligence and allocate funds for the bidding,” Grameenphone quoted its CEO Anders Jensen as saying in a statement.

“We are working with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to expedite the matter,” Jensen said.

Grameenphone however did not specify any new deadline for the PPO.

"Under the current challenging global capital market conditions in which international investors are hesitant to commit to new investments, it is important to ensure that potential investors in Grameenphone are given adequate time to make investment decisions," the statement said.

Capital market insiders said Grameenphone extended the time for participating in PPO as the offer received poor response from the local institutional investors.

People close to the matter said only a handful local institutions -- including Trust Bank, Prime Bank, ICB, AIMS of Bangladesh, IDLC and Lanka Bangla -- participated in Grameenphone's PPO before its deadline ended last week.

The highest offer for each Grameenphone share during the PPO was Tk 12, while the lowest was Tk 3.

The Grameenphone PPO is scheduled to take place ahead of its planned initial public offering (IPO).

“The shareholders of Grameenphone remain committed to the IPO, development of the Bangladesh capital market and share Grameenphone's success with its future shareholders,” the press release said, quoting the Grameenphone CEO.

3 injured in Barapukuria mine fire

2008-09-25T01:47:00.001+06:00

A fire inside Barapukuria coal mine Tuesday night left two miners including a Chinese national seriously injured.

The fire originated from an electrical short circuit, Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) sources said.

The injured were identified as Sultan Mahmud, 28, and Hu Chong Ziang of XMC. Sultan's state is critical as almost 70 percent of his body was burnt, family sources and fellow miners said. The right part of Hu Chong's body was burnt in the fire, according to BCMCL sources.

Sources said both the injured were sent to Dhaka early Wednesday as their conditions were critical. BCMCL official said all necessary actions have been taken for their treatment.

Miners were mining in Phase-1104 around 11:45pm Tuesday and at the same time a number of Bangladeshi and Chinese workers were repairing an electric wire on the wall of Phase-1104. Suddenly the wire caught fire and burnt the two workers.

BCMCL officials told The Daily Star that a few thousand metres of electric cables are down there and the short-circuit incident was a major one.

Sources said the authorities are likely to start the fire investigation today as Bangladeshi and Chinese workforces in the mine are blaming each other for the incident.

Cut in land registration fee suggested

2008-09-25T01:46:00.001+06:00

Regulatory Reform Commission (RRC) yesterday approved its taskforce's recommendations regarding digitisation of land records and land registration system and suggested that the land registration fees be reduced.

The high-powered government committee on "Modernised Land Management and Registration", formed on February 12 and headed by former adviser to the caretaker government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, submitted its recommendations to the RRC meeting yesterday.

The RRC meeting approved the recommendations with some additional suggestions. Now the recommendations will be placed before the cabinet committee following the approval of the Chief Adviser's Office.

As the present tax rate is high and it promotes corruption, the RRC members suggested that the taskforce to revise and reduce the land registration tariffs.

The taskforce recommended digitisation of the country's entire land records and turning district administration offices into monitoring bodies from its present role of service provider to ensure transparency and reduce corruption.

The five-member taskforce said a commission should be formed comprising government and non-government experts to spearhead modernisation of records and land registration system.

But the RRC differed from the view put forward by the taskforce about forming a commission. It suggested that a committee be formed comprised of government, non-government and representatives from business communities in digitisation of land records and registration system.

Transparent ballot boxes start to arrive

2008-09-25T01:45:00.001+06:00

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday received the first consignment of transparent ballot boxes and soon started sending those to some district election offices in Dhaka division.

Around 36,000 ballot boxes of the latest brand, out of some 2.40 lakh sought for a massive voting fray in a new context, reached the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kamalapur in the capital yesterday.

These imports are going to be used--for the first time in Bangladesh--for polling in the parliamentary elections scheduled for December 18, closely followed by upazila polls on December 24 and 28.

EC Joint Secretary Md Rafiqul Islam and Deputy Election Commissioner for Dhaka Division Biswas Lutfar Rahman received the consignment on behalf of the commission in the morning. And, in no time, the EC officials began sending 17,000 boxes to the election offices.

EC sources said these transparent ballot boxes are being brought from abroad by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), under a recipe meant for the country's democratic development.

The UN agency was also involved in the preparation of the new digitised photo voter list under a reform scheme undertaken following the past crisis over the issues of general election that was eventually cancelled in January last year.

Rafiqul Islam said the remaining ballot boxes will arrive by October 30.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhwat Hossain yesterday told reporters that one trainer from Canada would conduct a training programme for one hour with 30 people to teach them how to use the transparent ballot boxes.

6 advisers abroad

2008-09-25T01:44:00.001+06:00

Administrative activities at the Bangladesh Secretariat have slowed down as half a dozen advisers in charge of 12 ministries are now outside the country on official tours.

The ongoing administrative shake-up from late last month also added to the laid-back atmosphere, officials said.

"The absence of so many advisers all at a time has nearly stalled the administrative functioning of the ministries they head," a senior official at the education ministry told The Daily Star yesterday.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed's Council of Advisers consists of 11 advisers. As the chief executive of their ministries, the advisers preside over policymaking meetings.

Barring routine work, the official cial said no policy or important decisions are taken in their absence.

Fakhruddin, who is in charge of the establishment and information ministries, is attending the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City.

He also heads the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat and the Cabinet Division.

He ended a five-day official visit to China on Friday and left the country the following day on a 10-day tour hours after announcing dates for the parliamentary and upazila polls.

He is expected to return home on September 30.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who also heads the crucial expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry, is accompanying the chief adviser.

Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury, holding three ministries: primary and mass education, women and children affairs and the cultural affairs, has been abroad since September 17.

She left the country on a personal visit on September 17 and was supposed to join the CA-led delegation at the annual UNGA session. Officials at the primary and mass education ministry said she is unlikely to come back before Eid-ul-Fitr.

Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman flew over to the United States on September 17 to attend an international seminar on education. He is expected to return home on September 30.

Finance and Planning Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam went to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. During his visit he will meet Islamic Development Bank President Dr Ahmed Mohammed Ali in Jeddah and discuss matters of mutual interest.

He is scheduled to fly back on September 29, said an official release.

Communications Adviser Ghulam Quader, also in charge of the public works and housing ministry, left Dhaka on September 15 for a seminar in Geneva. He was scheduled to come back Monday, but later changed it to today.

Govt keenly fights Hasina's bail bid

2008-09-25T01:41:00.000+06:00

In a move contrary to an apparent understanding with the Awami League (AL), the government yesterday strongly opposed a bail prayer of Sheikh Hasina at the High Court (HC) in an extortion case filed by businessman Noor Ali.

The opposition surprised AL President Hasina's counsel barrister Rafique-ul-Huq who was asked by the caretaker government's law adviser earlier yesterday to obtain Hasina's bail from the HC so that she can sit in a meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

But within hours, the government attorneys opposed the bail petition which, according to barrister Rafique, jeopardised the possible dialogue between the two former premiers to "remove political crisis ahead of the next parliamentary elections".

Rafique, who also represents Khaleda, had taken an initiative to bring the two leaders to a dialogue.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Mansur Habib, who represented the government in the HC, told newsmen that he opposed Hasina's bail prayer at the instructions of the "authorities concerned".

Talking to journalists, barrister Rafique said Hasina--now abroad on parole for treatment--should come back home as a free person having secured bail in all cases she is standing trial.

In a situation where Khaleda got released on bail and Hasina is on parole, no dialogue can be held between them, he said.

"Now Sheikh Hasina can say--and she has every right to say it--that she will not have any meeting with Khaleda Zia. I will not have anything to do if Sheikh Hasina said she would not sit in any meeting with Khaleda Zia without getting released on bail," said barrister Rafique.

Based on an apparent understanding with the government earlier this month, Khaleda got bail in four cases and the government attorneys did not oppose filing of the bail petitions in favour of Khaleda at that time.

Earlier on September 23, a vacation bench of the HC sent back two bail petitions filed on behalf of Hasina in the Niko and barge-mounted power plant corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission since the HC bench did not have the jurisdiction to hear the petitions.

Following submissions from both sides, an HC vacation bench comprised of Justice Sheikh Rezowan Ali and Justice Md Rais Uddin fixed September 29 for passing order on Hasina's bail petition in the Tk 5 crore extortion case filed by Noor Ali.

The HC bench also asked the AAG to submit within this period a Supreme Court order that granted bail to Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman on health grounds for considering Hasina's bail petition on similar grounds.

AAG Mansur opposed the bail prayer, saying Hasina, who is now on parole, sought bail for taking part in the next general elections.

"Sheikh Hasina has been travelling to different European countries and even recently attended a marriage ceremony in the Netherlands. She was released on parole on health grounds on the basis of a medical report prepared in June this year. The medical reports of her recent health condition needed to be scrutinised for considering her bail prayers," he said.

The AL chief's lawyers said they would submit the petitions to another HC bench on September 29 for hearing.

Rafique-ul-Huq said both he and the government had been trying to seat the two leaders together, but now the government's policy about Hasina's release seemed unclear to them.

"I am confused if the attorney general's office is complying with the instructions of the law ministry and if it has any communication with the ministry. How will the meeting between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina be held if Hasina does not get released on bail?" he said.

He, however, expressed hope about holding of the meeting between the two former premiers.

Earlier yesterday, he prayed to the HC to grant Hasina bail on health grounds saying both the Appellate and HC divisions had granted bail to several accused including Tarique Rahman, Sigma Huda, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir in similar cases.

Replying to a question, AAG Mansur told reporters that he had not opposed Hasina's bail petition in the Tk 3 crore extortion case filed by Azam J Chowdhury since his client, the government, did not supply him with sufficient materials for contesting the prayer.

Noor Ali, managing director of Unique Group of Companies, filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on June 13 last year, accusing Hasina and her two relatives of extorting Tk 5 crore for mediating between the Power Development Board and his firm for a power plant deal back in 1997.

The government on July 16 last year brought the case under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) and a magistrate's court ordered on July 29 that Hasina be shown arrested in the case.

2pc of hijras infected with HIV/AIDS

2008-09-25T01:38:00.000+06:00

Speakers at a seminar said about two percent of the estimated 10-15 thousand hermaphrodite (Hijra) populace in the country are infected with HIV/AIDS.

Bandhu Social Welfare Society organised the seminar titled 'Hijra: HIV/AIDS and human rights, role of civil society and other stakeholders' at Biam auditorium in the city on Tuesday.

The speakers also said that HIV intervention programmes for this community are negligible.

The objectives of the seminar were to help raising their voice and establish their dignity in the society, to identify the role of the civil society and other stakeholders to reduce the discrimination and violation of human rights.

More than 35 delegates from UN agencies, NGOs and donor agencies including representatives of hermaphrodite community attended the seminar.

Tk 26 lakh for eye patients

2008-09-25T01:37:00.001+06:00

In an effort to enhance eye treatment to ultra poor in the society Bank Asia Limited donated Tk 20 lakh and Muslim Commercial Bank of Pakistan donated Tk 6 lakh for construction of two wards at Islamia Eye Hospital, says a press release.

Bank Asia Chairman Anisur Rahman Sinha and President and Managing Director Syed Anisul Huq handed over both the cheques to Zahida Ispahani, adviser of Islamia Eye Hospital, at ceremony at the hospital in the city on Tuesday.

Earlier, Muslim Commercial Bank donated Tk 14 lakh for construction of a ward in the hospital.

Girl killed in roof collapse in Savar

2008-09-25T01:35:00.000+06:00

A girl was killed and two others were injured in a roof collapse incident at Jamgara in the upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Ankhi, 14.

Witnesses said the roof of a bathroom of Ali Akbar's house collapsed at about 7:00am, killing his tenant's daughter Ankhi on the spot.

Injured Rahima, 22, and Anik, 28, were admitted to hospital.

Prof Nizam made Scouts National Commissioner

2008-09-25T01:34:00.002+06:00

Prof Nizamuddin Ahmed, a Scouts Woodbadger, was appointed a National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts.

President and Chief Scout Iajuddin Ahmed has given consent to the appointment of Prof Nizam, says a press release.

Chief National Commissioner Md Abul Kalam Azad has entrusted Prof Nizam with the charge of Extension Scouting and of the Scouts Foundation.

A Paul Harris Fellow, Prof Nizam is presently serving as deputy district governor of Rotary International Bangladesh.

A teacher and architect by profession, he has also been contributing to The Daily Star as a columnist since 1995.

CA to address Bangladeshis in US today

2008-09-25T01:32:00.000+06:00

Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed, who is now in the US to join the UN General Assembly (UNGA), will address the Bangladeshi community in New York this morning, reports News World, a US-based news agency.

Bangladesh Ambassador to US M Humayun Kabir has initiated the meeting of the community with the CA. He will also answer to various questions there.

Meanwhile, chief adviser joined the UNGA on Tuesday to listen to the address of US President George W Bush.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh at the UN Ismat Zahan and Ambassador Humayun Kabir also took part.

Rabiul Husain chairman of IAPB in South East Asia

2008-09-25T01:31:00.000+06:00

Renowned eye specialist Rabiul Husain, the founding managing trustee of Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Centre, has been elected the chairman of International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in South East Asian region.

He was elected chairman for the next four years for the second consecutive term at the world convention of the organisation held in Argentina on August 23, 2008.

IAPB is continuing blindness prevention and protection activities across the globe under seven zones.

Alongside fighting blindness, IAPB also continued activities against hunger, poverty, unemployment, ignorance, superstitions and other diseases for betterment of around one forth of the world's population in its southeast zone that comprises eleven countries, said a press release.

Meena Day Celebrated - 'Promote inclusive education to end exclusion'

2008-09-25T01:28:00.001+06:00

Bangladesh yesterday celebrated "Meena Day" under the theme of 'Inclusive education -- Quality education to end exclusion'.

The celebration of Meena Day was marked by the launch of four new Meena TV spots and episodes by M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, secretary, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education at Biam auditorium.

These new Meena cartoons, produced with UNICEF support, promote equal participation in education, teacher's positive role, love of books and child-friendly school environment. The episodes are: 'Let's go to school together', 'Teacher helps to learn,' 'We love books' and 'My school is fun.'

As part of Meena Day programme, children disguised as Meena, Razu and Mithu participated in a parade on the streets of Dhaka. Bangladesh Shishu Academy also organised cultural programmes to observe the day. Children's groups performed drama on different parts of the city to increase awareness on the importance of quality education to end exclusion.

Bangladesh has recorded remarkable successes in increasing national rates of school enrollment over the past decade. However, some groups of children remain out of school or drop out before reaching grade 5.

These include children with special needs, children living in urban slums or in remote rural areas, working children, children from very poor families and from ethnic minorities. Only a small fraction of disabled children enroll in school.

Of all the surveyed population groups, children living in the urban slums have the lowest rates of net school attendance-far below national averages.

'Without access to quality education, these children are denied the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, capacities, skills and self -confidence required to break the inter-generational poverty cycle and therefore move out of exclusion', said UNICEF representative Carel de Rooy.

"This is why it is important to have a special attention for these groups of vulnerable children. We need to ensure that they are offered the same quality education than the majority of children in Bangladesh,” Rooy added.

Factors such as poor quality of teaching, weak school management, curriculum irrelevance and language also lead to marginalisation and exclusion of children, even for those who are attending schools.

Children may sit in the classroom, but feel excluded from learning in the classroom because of the teachers' and peers' attitudes.

To address this situation, inclusive education is incorporated into all components of the second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II) and at all levels of the education sector from the ministry to the classroom.

This approach aims at removing all barriers to learning and acknowledging individual children's needs and potential. Such barriers include culture, gender, work, negative attitudes, illness, school facilities, location, language, disability, lack of awareness about the importance of education, race, malnutrition and poverty.

Many children could attend school if families, communities, schools and the education system at large were more responsive to their requirements.

Fazle Hasan Abed receives Rockefeller award

2008-09-25T01:27:00.001+06:00

Brac founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed received this year's David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award in New York on Tuesday in recognition of his contribution to eradicating poverty and fighting social injustice.

He was honoured at an annual event titled 'University for a Night' at Lincoln Centre, attended by distinguished faculty and experts with diverse backgrounds and interests from around the world, reports News World.

Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan also received the award for her contribution to social service.

Wangari Maathai, a Nobel peace laureate and founder of the Green Belt Movement, Jeff Skoll, founding president of eBay and chairman of the Skoll Foundation and Participant Media, Peggy Dulany, Synergos founder and chair, Robert H Dunn, Synergos president, and David Rockefeller addressed the award giving ceremony.

The speakers said Fazle Hasan Abed has instilled a new hope in the poor people of the world who had been suffering from frustration. Bangladesh is a good example of it where thousands of people have become self-reliant by breaking out of the web of poverty.

Wangari Maathai called for worldwide concerted efforts to fight poverty and social injustice.

Receiving the award, Abed said Bangladesh once used to depend on others. "We've now become self-reliant. It's a great success," he said, referring to the success of Brac's microcredit programme.

Synergos confers the award each year on persons and organisations who work for the 'common good' by showing vision and courage in bringing people together to address global poverty and equity.

Last year, the award went to former South African president Nelson Mandela and Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates and William H Gates Sr, co-chairs of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Call to uphold global tobacco treaty

2008-09-25T01:24:00.002+06:00

Tobacco companies are the biggest threat to tobacco control efforts in the country, as they are violating the Tobacco Control Act 2005 and the global tobacco treaty, speakers at a press conference said yesterday.

They also called on the government to take steps to uphold the global tobacco treaty.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) organised the press conference at its auditorium in the city in association with Corporate Accountability International and Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnational (NATT) to mark the 9th International Week of Resistance to Tobacco Transnationals.

Presided over by DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam, the press conference was attended by Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital Managing Director M Fazlur Rahman, Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) General Secretary Kazi Faruq and Welfare Association of Cancer Care General Secretary Kuheli Mustafa.

The speakers criticised the big tobacco companies for aggressively promoting their products by flouting public health policies. But no legal action has been taken against them, they added.

They said the tobacco companies are distributing gift items, posters, stickers, leaflets and promotional products and sponsoring various events, which are threatening the anti-tobacco campaign.

'The 2008 Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide: Protecting Against Tobacco Industry Interference' was also released at the press conference as part of the international release of the action guide.

Law enforcers get 80 complaints a day

2008-09-25T01:24:00.001+06:00

Law enforcement agencies receive around 80 complaints a day from city residents about extortion demands from criminals over phones.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have set up special cells to deal with such complaints and take necessary steps against the culprits.

DMP sources said they received 70 such complaints after the special cell was opened on September 22. A top Rab official said they also receive around 50 complaints a day.

The DMP has so far received over 1,000 complaints and the connection of at least 600 mobile phones has been cut off following requests from the DMP, sources said.

Masudur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of police, told The Daily Star, "We received 70 complaints from September 23 to 24. Organised criminals called from 150 mobile phone numbers demanding extortion from many city residents."

Rab sources said they found in investigations that frauds and petty criminals made the calls using the names of high-profile criminals.

Organised criminals are demanding extortion from well-off people including businessmen over phone, said a press released signed by DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed yesterday.

The DMP and Rab have requested the city dwellers to provide them with phone numbers of the callers demanding extortion.

Threat for toll rises in 10 SW dists ahead of Eid

2008-09-25T01:20:00.001+06:00

Incidents of threat for extortion by criminals including outlaws and gang groups marked a sudden increased in ten southwestern districts ahead of the Eid.

At least fifty such incidents took place in the region in last fifteen days, according to police sources and victims.

Police however claimed it is a 'sudden phenomenon' and said drive against the criminals is on.

The criminals are demanding toll from people and threatening them with death, the victims said. Some of the victims lodged General Dairy (GD) with police seeking security. In Kushtia, police arrested one of the alleged extortionists recently.

The victims included government officials, NGO men, teachers of schools and colleges, businessmen and contractors.

At least five GDs were lodged with police stations in Bagerhat in last seven days.

Some NGO officials involved in credit programmes said criminals are threatening them for extortion. At places, criminals threaten to stop credit programmes if they are not paid toll.

“My four field workers have been threatened by a local gang group for toll a couple of days ago when they were returning to office after collecting loan installments in Gangni and Mujibnagar upazilas in Meherpur,” told an executive of a local NGO.

Some businessmen in Meherpur and Chuadanga said outlaws phone them for toll ranging from Tk 5 to 10 lakh. A contractor in Kushtia filed a GD with the Sadar police station on September 21 naming a BNP cadre who is close to a former local BNP lawmaker. The cadre demanded Tk 2 lakh from the contractor who is doing a construction work in Kushtia civil surgeon office.

Police arrested the BNP cadre on September 8. Now his accomplices are threatening the contractor to withdraw the case.

Day labourer Asadul of Simulia village in Mirpur upazila in Kushtia is being treated at Kushtia General Hospital. He was beaten severely for Tk 2000 toll aftyer he took a loan of Tk 10,000 from a NGO on Saturday. A case has been lodged with Mirpur police.

“It is too hard to crush the criminals in the region overnight as they have a good network in the region”, a high police official in Khulna told this correspondent over cell phone yesterday.

He said a special drive is on in the ten districts since September 1. Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) is also in the field, he said.

Six criminals belonging to different outlawed parties and gang groups were killed, three each in Kushtia and Jhenidah, in 10 days of the current month, police records said. Police arrested at least 50 alleged cadres during the period and recovered firearms.

At least 13 outlawed parties with 5,000 of cadres are active in the 10 districts.

Razzak Ali will not return to BNP

2008-09-25T01:19:00.002+06:00

Former speaker Sheikh Razzak Ali has said he has no intention to go back to BNP as he was compelled to quit the party.

“I was compelled to leave BNP due to intra-party squabbles in Khulna BNP”.

But there is a chance of forming an alliance between BNP and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he said while talking to this correspondent yesterday. Razzak Ali joined LDP on October 26, 2006 in Dhaka

Sheikh Razzak Ali said that he had to quit BNP with a 'heavy heart' to get rid of sharp intra-party squabbles in Khulna and also at its central level.

There has been speculation in Khulna for last few days that Razzak Ali would join BNP on request from Begum Khaleda Zia.

Sheikh Razzak Ali while denying any such contact with Begum Zia regarding his going back to the party did not rule out possibility of an a electoral alliance with BNP.

Sources said both factions of Khulna BNP have been trying to convince Razzak Ali to come back to BNP.

“We will congratulate him if he returns to BNP”, said prominent party leader and ex-lawmaker M Nurul Islam Dadu. Dadu also recalled Razzak Ali's contributions as central leader of BNP since its birth in 1977.

Leader of another faction of Khulna BNP Shaharuzzaman Mortuza said that strong lobbying is going on to take Razzak Ali back to BNP to fill in the leadership gap in Khulna and also at the central level after one-eleven changeover in the country.

“We hope the founder member will come back”, Martuza said.

Sheikh Razzak Ali was elected a member of Jatiya Sangsad first in 1979 from Khulna-6 and twice from Khulna-2 constituency in 1991 and 1996. He was speaker of Jatiya Sangsad from 1991 to 1996.

Sheikh Razzak Ali also served as Bangladesh High Commissioner to Britain for about two years. Distance between him and BNP high command widened as he was not given nomination from any of the six constituencies in Khulna in 2001 general election.

The gap widened further after he filed nomination paper from Khulna-2 constituency as an independent candidate to contest against BNP chairperson Begum Zia. He however withdrew his nomination paper under pressure from local and central BNP leaders.

Begum Zia was elected lawmaker from Khulna-2 seat winning a landslide victory against her nearest rival slain advocate Manjural Imam of Khulna Awami League.

Later, Ali Asgar Lobi was elected unopposed in bye-election as the seat fell vacant after Begum Zia relinquished it.

Show cause on 2 mayoral,19 councillor candidates

2008-09-25T01:19:00.001+06:00

The Election Commission has sent show cause notices by post to 21 persons including two mayoral and 19 councillor candidates in August 4 Barisal City Corporation (BCC) elections for not submitting statements on their polls expenditure.

The EC will take action against those who disregarded the instruction about submitting statement of election expenditure, Manirul Islam, deputy election commissioner and returning officer for the August 4 BCC polls, said.

Two mayoral contestants advocate Kabiruddin Hannu and Rafiqul Islam Russel did not submit their election expenditure report within stipulated time frame of September 13, the returning officer said.

Nineteen out of 184 councillor candidates have also failed to submit their election expenditure statement to the Election Commission office in compliance with the polls rules, he said.

Barisal EC office sources said each contestant for the mayor was allowed to spend highest Tk 5.75 lakh as election expenditures, including those for public meetings, mass contact, different types of campaign, election camps and personal and agents' expenses.

Computer training for Tangail prisoners

2008-09-25T01:16:00.000+06:00

Computer training course for inmates of Tangail district jail was started yesterday to make them self reliant and lead normal life after release.

District Jail Superintendent Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman inaugurated the programme.

In the first phase, 40 educated prisoners will be given the training. Three of inmates, who have been trained, will work as trainers, jail sources said.

JMB cadre held in Khulna

2008-09-25T01:15:00.001+06:00

Detective police yesterday arrested four persons including an alleged cadre of outlawed JMB from a house at Zahidur Rahman road under Khulna Sadar police station.

The arrested JMB cadre was identified as Tanvir Ahmed, 26.

Police recovered from him a photocopy of his passport, licence of a motorcycle and a bank cheque book.

Assistant commissioner KMP DB Abu Sayem said he had led the operation to arrested the JMB cadre Tanvir Ahmed, his mother Mahumuda Begum, 48, sister-in-law Hajera Khatoon, 18 and daughter Hadsa, 5.

Assistant Commissioner of DB said Tanvir, a cadre of Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) had rented an apartment of the building of Abdur Rashid four months ago identifying him as an official of Desh Pharmaceuticals.

During interrogation Tanvir at first identified himself as an inhabitant of Manikganj district.

But later it was found in his ID card that he is son of Baig Shamsuddin of Barhopara village under Berha upazila of Pabna district, the police official said.

Police said many unknown persons would come to Tanvir's house.

Pabna Medical College starts this session

2008-09-25T01:14:00.000+06:00

Fifty students will be admitted to Pabna Medical College this session while the Ministry of Education has instructed renting a house for operating proposed Pabna Technology University.

The classes of the medical college will be held on the premises of Pabna Mental Hospital until establishment of the infrastructure of Pabna Medical College, health department sources said.

“As the government has recently issued an order, 50 students will be admitted to Pabna Medical College in the first batch this year. Admission forms will be available from September 29,” said Prof Dr Enayet Karim, director of Pabna Mental Hospital.

The health department has already sanctioned 33 acres of lands of Pabna Mental Hospital to the new medical college.

Earlier a medical college started functioning in 1981 but the then government stopped running the institution after two years.

The present caretaker government took initiative to set up a medical college and a university in Pabna, much to the delight and satisfaction of the people of the district.

BDR shops to be shut down

2008-09-24T01:24:00.001+06:00

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) is set to close its fair price outlets across the country from September 29 after running those for over one and a half years due to low volume of sale.

Another reason behind the move to close the outlets is the decision to engage the BDR members in maintaining law and order and border security ahead of upcoming national elections, sources said.

BDR in the meantime officially stopped selling powdered milk imported from China at its outlets.

Visiting several outlets in the capital yesterday, The Daily Star correspondent found a few consumers many of whom were yet to know about the closure of the sale as no notice had so far been hung as of yesterday.

BDR officials, however, said they had been informed about the closure yesterday.

The fair price outlets sources said low volume of sale at the outlets, maintaining border security and law and order ahead of election prompted the authorities to take the decision to withdraw BDR personnel necessitating the closure of the outlets.

Besides, government's reluctance to run the outlets is also a reason behind their shutting down, said the sources.

Talking to The Daily Star, BDR Dhaka Sector Commander Col Mujibul Huq said the fair price outlets had been initiated on March 15, 2007 with a view to reining in the skyrocketing prices of essentials and selling them at a reasonable price.

“BDR feels no necessity to run the outlets as the prices of essentials had already begun to plummet in the markets across the country,” he said.

He, however, denied any kind of government's pressure to close the outlets.

“We will continue to sell essentials at the outlets till September 28 and the rest will be up for an auction after the Eid,” Col Huq said, adding, “The makeshift outlets will be removed gradually after September 29.

Another BDR official said they imported 500 tonnes of powder milk from China last year after a thorough examination but they had sold only about 100 tonnes. They will sell the rest 400 tonnes of powder milk on auction, he said.

Consumers, however, alleged that the quality of most of the products including rice being sold in most outlets is substandard and stinky and which is why consumers are reluctant to buy them and prices of them are almost same comparing to other markets except for the rice price which is a bit low at the outlets, they said.

Govt considering promulgating police ordinance

2008-09-24T01:21:00.002+06:00

The government is considering promulgating the Bangladesh Police Ordinance 2007, Home Adviser MA Matin yesterday said.

"This is a big task and a sensitive issue. We've got to go through some steps. We'll try to promulgate it after that," he told reporters after a meeting of the monitoring cell on sensational cases at the home ministry.

He ruled out any dithering over passing the ordinance. "No government official is hindering, halting its implementation."

The meeting decided to submit charge sheets in two cases filed in connection with the bomb attacks on Pahela Baishak celebrations at Ramna Batamul on April 14 in 2001, inside sources said. The grisly attacks killed 10 people.

The adviser instructed the officials concerned to further investigate the murder of former finance minister SAMS Kibria and the death of ActionAid country director Nasreen Huq.

He said the police are working independently under the present caretaker government.

"There's no influence from the government or any other quarter over the activities of the police department," he told reporters.

Matin said the proposed police ordinance was prepared in English and was later translated into Bangla.

He said they will seek feedback on the draft from stakeholders, including lawyers and police regulatory committee.

"We'll move to the next steps after getting their opinion," he said.

Home Secretary Abdul Karim and senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.

Public hearing from today on proposed 65pc gas price hike

2008-09-24T01:21:00.001+06:00

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will hold public hearings from today on proposed hike in gas prices ranging up to 65 percent.

On conclusion of the hearings, the commission will announce its final decision by October 30.

The state-owned Petrobangla has proposed the price hike. Earlier, BERC in an initial hearing had accepted the proposal placed by the Petrobangla subject to eliciting public opinion about the raise.

BERC sources said the hearings may continue for two days as the commission will hear the views of different stakeholders alongside the Petrobangla proposal.

In the proposal, Petrobangla suggested a variable price hike for its different categories of consumers. The average hike will come to 65 percent.

As per the proposal, Petrobangla, for domestic consumers, suggested raising the gas price to Tk 600 from the existing rate of Tk 400 for a double-burner oven while Tk 550 for single-burner oven against the present rate of Tk 350.

The proposal is for a 50 percent raise over the existing rates for domestic gas users.

The metered domestic consumers will have to pay Tk 208 instead of Tk 130 with a price increase of 26.81 percent. Similarly, Petrobangla proposed to increase gas price for commercial users by 26.08 percent, meaning that per-unit (1000 cubic feet or 1 mcf) price will go up to Tk 291.59 from the current price of Tk 233.12.

For the industrial consumers, the proposed per-unit price is Tk 182.25, up from the present rate of Tk 148.13, with a 23.03 percent raise.

The same rate will apply to tea-estates.

For captive power plants, the new rate is proposed to be Tk 182.25 per unit, up from the present rate of Tk 105.59, by a 72.60 percent raise.

The Petrobangla proposed Tk 93.73 per-unit as gas price for the Power Development Board (PDB), independent power producer (IPP) and small power plant (SPP) instead of Tk 73.91, with a 26.81 percent raise.

For fertiliser industries, the new rate is envisaged to be Tk 93.73 instead of Tk 63.41 per unit by a raise of 47.81 percent.

Presenting the price-hike proposal, Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed said his organisation's cumulative deficit on account of undercut gas supply to international oil companies (IOCs) is about Tk 2000 crore.

"If we don't raise gas prices, Petrobangla will have to go bankrupt shortly, which will ultimately make it unable to go for further exploration," he said to justify the merit of the government move in the interim period.

Second Dhaka-Ctg highway in limbo

2008-09-24T01:19:00.000+06:00

The project of the second Dhaka-Chittagong highway is gathering dust for over a year after the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) failed to find a suitable firm for the construction in July last year.

Officials concerned say though they are ready to take a fresh move they have yet to get the government nod about it and have no idea when they might avail it.

The RHD is however preparing ground so that it can invite firms for the pre-qualification race soon after getting the permission.

Although initiated in 2005 and approved by the cabinet in July 2006, there is hardly any headway in the project except issuing of an invitation for pre-qualification race in July last year.

"We're waiting for the government nod. We'll issue fresh invitation for pre-qualification of the prospective firms once we get it," Project Director (PD) Kazi Golam Mostafa told The Daily Star yesterday.

He said the project has stopped midway and remains stalled since then as four pre-qualified firms failed to fulfil all the "tough" criteria set by the government.

He said criteria for pre-qualification would be relaxed in the fresh invitation. "The criterion of having experience in constructing 200 kilometres of road in a single project is going to be relaxed."

The four-lane dual carriageway spanning 215 kilometres from Dhaka to Chittagong will be constructed on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis.

This would be the first expressway in the country with facilities like adequate parking space, fuelling stations, food courts and rest houses at regular intervals.

This expressway, once built, would cut the journey time between the two major cities to three hours from existing seven to eight hours. It would also help develop the economic corridor between the capital and the port city.

"It will not only ensure safe journey in a smooth traffic environment but also cut operation cost saving fuel," said the PD, adding the proposed highway would provide higher level of service with uninterrupted traffic flow.

A three-route option has been kept open from which one would be selected for the highway.

The first runs parallel to the existing highway, while the second route starts from Jatrabari towards Narayanganj and then moving to the south to cross the Dhaleswari river, Munsiganj, the Meghna and finally reaches Chittagong through Chandpur and Noakhali.

The third probable route begins from Jatrabari to reach Chittagong by crossing Laksham and Feni and will be the shortest and most direct one.

The then cabinet of BNP-led coalition government approved construction of the second highway with private investment on July 4, 2006 on the basis of a proposal made by Malaysia-based construction firm Azimat Consortium.

In its proposal, the firm said it would take five years to complete the construction. After operating for 30 years and recovering the investment through collecting toll, the expressway will be handed over to the government, it proposed.

The communications ministry upon securitisation forwarded the proposal to the high-powered private infrastructure committee (PICOM). The proposal was then placed before the cabinet for final approval.

The proposal includes an option that 20 percent of the construction work would be given to local contractors and an "umbrella scheme" would be implemented to assist them.

The PD said the government would look for the companies who would take bigger risk to invest in the project. He expressed the hope that construction of the highway would begin after a year by completing all formalities.

Asked about the Malaysian firm, he said it will be considered pre-qualified due to its proposal but it has to take part in the race with other firms.

The narrow Dhaka-Chittagong Highway is now in a dismal state which not only eats up valuable time but also incurs huge loss to economy.

"The national highway is considered to be the most important highway and lifeline of commerce in Bangladesh; and carries port and other traffic to Dhaka and other places in the country," reads the executive summary of the project.

Officials at RHD say the second national highway is crucial for smooth passage of increasing number of vehicles and to check deaths of hundreds of people in accidents every year.

A group of adibashi performers in Netrakona

2008-09-22T05:45:00.001+06:00

‘Ramola Dancing Group' at Gopalpur, under Durgapur upazila in Netrakona district, is fast gaining recognition in the area.

Ramola Hajong, an artiste trained at the Birishiri Upajatiyo Cultural Academy, formed the dance group two years ago. Currently the group has 20 members -- all of whom are members of the Hajong community and have been trained by Ramola with the help of Rasimoni Kalayan Trust and SARA (two local NGOs in Durgapur).

The dance group usually performs traditional pieces at programmes. The founder of the group Ramola said, “I want to emphasise on and represent our indigenous traditions through the group's performances.”

She added that there was no Hajong cultural troupe and she wanted to represent the community she belonged to and introduce traditional dance of the Hajongs to the outsiders. Ramola said that she received help from Sawpon Hajong, general secretary of Rasimoni Kalayan Trust, in this regard.

An optimistic Ramola seems eager to work towards her goal.

Bangladeshi and Thai landscapes on canvas Exhibition at Drik Gallery

2008-09-22T05:44:00.002+06:00

To celebrate the 36th anniversary of Bangladesh-Thailand diplomatic relations, the Royal Thai Embassy has organised a joint watercolour exhibition at the Drik Gallery in Dhanmondi to highlight Thailand as seen by budding Bangladeshi artists, as well as Bangladesh seen by a prominent Thai watercolourist Dr. Suchart Vongthong. This veteran painter has also organised a workshop, which aims at sharing his experiences and skills with the promising painters of Bangladesh.

Watercolour is a medium where an artist can emphasise on serenity. The medium is very significant for its transparent, lucid temperament. Besides, it is an easy, economical and concise medium that can easily express the emotions, illusions and sensibility of the artist. The simplification of colour and its absorbing process are the main feature of watercolour technique.

In this exhibition, Bangladeshi painters have portrayed markets, temples, culture, traditions, festivals, landscapes, the way of life and the scenic beauty of Siam. A total of 28 painters have participated in the workshop conducted by Dr. Vongthong with nature as the dominant facet. The works are very vibrant and object-oriented. The mystery of mountains is incorporated in an animated way.

Another aspect of the participants' works is the expression of pure and pleasant perspectives. Most of the paintings try to avoid extraneous objects. And because of that, the paintings have a feeling of openness and freedom.

On the other hand, Dr. Vongthong is fascinated by the urban life in Dhaka. The city seems cheerful and humming with activity to the artist. City dwellers appear in his works. Other subjects are rickshaws, traffic jams, fruit markets, elderly women, life on Buriganga and different portions of Narayanganj.

Brilliant colours forming landscapes complemented by figures form a trademark in Dr. Vongthong's works. His paintings are tranquil depictions of nature and his strokes are refined and polished. In his uncomplicated compositions, colours like reds, blacks, emerald green, beige, yellow, azure and crimson are dominating. The themes are simple but his skilled artistic hand transforms them into something extraordinary.

The exhibition ends on September 27.

Mufti Hannan among 6 Huji men charge-sheeted

2008-09-22T05:44:00.001+06:00

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday filed charge sheet against outlawed Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and five other Huji men in the case for much-talked grenade attack in front of Gulshan Centre in Sylhet city four years ago.

Investigation officer Inspector Zubayer Ahmed of CID, Sylhet submitted the charge sheet with the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court for the incident that claimed the life of an Awami League leader and injured about 40 others.

Sylhet Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran escaped unhurt it as he had left the scene minutes ago.

As a meeting of the city AL ended and party men were coming out of Gulshan Centre at about 8:00pm of August 7 in 2004, a grenade exploded on the premises of the multi-storied hotel. City AL's publicity secretary Md Ibrahim Ali died in the hospital while 40 others sustained wounds. Several people had to take treatment abroad for months and a few others became crippled. The blast also destroyed two cars on the spot.

The then senior ASP Munshi Atiqur Rahman of CID was made the investigation officer, who managed a so-called confessional statement from Belal Ahmed, a guard of a house adjacent to the hotel. Belal in his statement hinted the grenade was thrown by a bearded man like Ibrahim.

Following the attack, law enforcers arrested expatriate AL leader SM Nunu Miah from the hotel and about 30 others including Jubo League and Chhatra league activists, triggering much commotion among the AL's rank and file. The arrestees were, however, later released on bail.

After Munshi went on retirement in October last year, Inspector Zubayer was made investigation officer, who later claimed major development in the investigation.

He told The Daily Star yesterday that the statement given by Belal is not at all acceptable while expatriate AL leader SM Nunu Miah and several other arrestees had no link with the grenade attack.

“Charges against eight people in connection with the case have been established. We submitted charge sheet against six people while one is dead and the other's whereabouts could not be known,” he said.

Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and his accomplice Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul had already given confessional statement in this regard, sources said.

Mufti in his statement before a Dhaka court and Bipul in his statement in a Sylhet court said the attackers wanted to crush the AL leadership in Sylhet region. The plan of attack was taken at a house at Badda in the capital while Mufti Hannan was the main planner.

The six charge-sheeted accused are Mufti Abdul Hannan, Abu Zandal alias Mufti Main Uddin, Mufti Hannan's brother Muhibullah alias Mofizul Islam alias Ovi, Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul, Delwar Hossain Ripon and Humayun Kabir Himu. The first five people are in jail while Himu had been absconding, the charge sheet said.

Accused Ahsanullah Kajol earlier died. Another accused Fakhrul Islam Fahim has been missing. He would be included in the charge sheet after getting his whereabouts, Inspector Zubayer said.

About 50 party men including city AL Secretary Misbah Uddin Siraj gave their statements before the law enforcers in this connection.

Pirates rule coasts as shoals of hilsha in water Prices fall by Tk 100 per kg following good catches but 35 trawlers looted, 30 fishermen abducted in

2008-09-22T05:43:00.002+06:00

Hilsa fishes are being netted in plenty in Patuakhali and Barguna coasts for last four days but fishermen are afraid of going to the sea due to rampant piracy.

At least 35 fishing trawlers were looted and 30 fishermen abducted by pirates in last five says. The victim fishermen brought freedom after payment of ransom and returned to Kakata and Pathorghata coasts.

With arrival of boatloads of Hilsha, both fishermen and traders are busy; and fish landing stations and markets are abuzz.

Prices of the delicious fish have also come down in local markets.

said at least 300 trawlers from the area are busy netting Hilsa in the Bay.

Thirty to forty trawlers reach Mohipur daily with Hilsa. “We are getting Hilsa as per our expectation since Friday, said Fazlu Gazi, president of fishing trawlers owners association in Mohipur.

Five to ten truckloads of Hilsa leave Mohipur for Dhaka and bordering areas of Khuna, Jessore and Benapole with export consignments, said its secretary Nimai Chandra.

This correspondent while visiting Mohipur yesterday saw one mound (40 kgs) of big size Hilsa (over 1 kg apiece) was sold at Tk 10,500 to 12,000, which was Tk 14,000 to 14,500 a week back. Prices of Hilsa less then one kilogram was Tk 10,000 to 11,500 a maund, which was Tk 11,500 to 12,000 two days back.

In local markets, per kg Hilsa is sells at Tk 250 to 300, which was Tk 350 to 400 two days back.

Fishermen and traders said the prices would reduce further if piracy can be stopped.

On Saturday, six fishermen were kidnapped and 12 trawlers were looted in the deep sea, trawler owners said.

On September 19, about Tk one crore was looted in fishes, nets, fuel and cash from 12 trawlers. Ten fishermen were abducted and 13 injured in the attack on trawlers that included FB Sapan, FB Rakib and FB Mayer Doa.

On September 17 pirates kidnapped 14 fishermen from 10 fishing trawlers on the sea about 50 kilometres southeast of Pathorghata in Barguna coast. The looted trawlers included FB Janasi, FB Molla , FB Mohima and FB Kabir.

On September 14, a pirate was killed in a fight with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-8) at Pathorghata under Barguna when the gang was preparing for piracy. Rab members recovered a revolver and a made pipe gun.

Piracy increased as lots of Hilsa are netted now, said Abdus Salam, president of trawler owners association in Mohipur.

The victim fishermen said pirate gangs have introduced 'token' for trawlers, which have to be collected after meeting their demands.

They showed a token in which name of the trawler is written on one side and signature of the issuing person on the other side.

When contacted, Maj. Habibur Rahmab of Rab-8 in Patuakhali, said, “We are trying our best to nab the pirates.

A Coast Guard official in Bhola told this correspondent over cell phone that a drive against pirates would be launched in the Bay soon. He however said they have shortage of vessels.

Party men boycott 'reformist' ex-BNP MP Anwar in Pabna

2008-09-22T05:43:00.001+06:00

Majority of BNP leaders boycotted a party meeting of Chatmohor unit of the party called by 'reformist' leader and former lawmaker Anwarul Islam on Saturday, party sources said.

This was the first meeting of the party unit, held at his residence, since allowing political activities.

Former MP KM Anwarul Islam, elected from Pabna-3 constituency, was accused in several cases including one for misappropriating government CI sheets. Taking the permanent bail from the High Court, the former MP came to Chatmohar and started political activities again. But most party leaders boycotted the meeting, branding him a reformist, the sources said. Anwarul is also president of Chatmaohar upazila BNP.

“Most BNP leaders here boycotted Anwar as he sided with reformists”, said party leader Mohammed Ali, chairman of Chatmohar Upazila Parishad.

At least 40 leaders holding party posts in the upazila including vice- president Sultan Mahmud, joint secretary Ismail Hossain, law affairs secretary Gias Uddin Chairman boycotted the meeting, he said.

“Former MP Anwar is a reformist. So mainstream BNP leaders and activists boycotted him”, said Md. Gias Uddin.

Anwar went into hiding after joint forces recovered CI sheets from his house. Later, some cases were filed against him.

Mof Chatmohar municipality and president of Chatmohar Uoura BNP Md. Abdul Mannan said Anwar does not belong to the mainstream of BNP. So he has no relation with the party mainstream, he said.

Twenty-five to thirty activists loyal to him attended the meeting, he claimed..

When contacted, Anwar refuted the allegation. “Most of the party men took part in the meeting”, he said.

Some party men who do not like me boycotted the meeting.

He said party chief Begum Zia ordered all to work together for the coming national polls.

BNP-Jamaat try to dominate Satkhira Red Crescent Life members want cancellation of Sept 25 meet

2008-09-22T05:42:00.004+06:00

The life members of Satkhira Red Crescent Society at a meeting yesterday protested convening the general meeting of local Red Crescent Society by its local officials violating the constitution.

The so-called general meeting was called at Kharibilla, about five kilometres off the district town, to form the unit committee with local leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat, they said at the protest meeting at Satkhira Press Club.

Most of the life and general members are yet to get notice of the meeting announced for September 25 as BNP and Jamaat leaders who are still working as its officials are hatching conspiracy to form the committee with leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat, they said.

Similar case happened during the rule of immediate past BNP-Jamaat-led alliance rule, they said.

They urged the government and central Red Crescent Society authorities to stop the meeting that was convened to form a partisan committee.

They also urged people to resist local BNP-Jamaat leaders' move to politicise the reputable international organisation.

They said acting president of the society Dr Shahidul Alam, also a central leader of BNP-backed organisation DAB, a , distributed 1,500 forms to district Jamaat secretary Nurul Huda, BNP leaders Sirajul Islam and Asduzzaman Asad who secretly enlisted their party activists as general members.

Dr Shahidul Alam who got BNP ticket to contest postponed parliamentary election on January 22 last year from Satkhira-4 (Kaliganj-Debhata) constituency is an aspirant to contest the next election.

Speakers at the meeting at Satkhira Press Club urged the life members to join another meeting on the same venue today to chalk out further course of action.

They said they will submit a memorandum to the chief adviser to the caretaker government tomorrow to press home their demand.

Among others, advocate Abdur Rahim, Firoz Ahmed, Sheikh Nizam Uddin, Ramkrishna Chakraborty, M Kamruzzaman, Saiful Karim Sabu, Ruhul Quddus, Mostafizur Rahman Ujjal, Kazi Moina, Sheikh Touhidur Rahman Dablu addressed the meeting presided over by Prof Abu Ahmed.

The meeting also formed a 13-member action committee with advocate Abdur Rahim and Prof Abu Ahmed as convenor and member secretary to resist 'the conspiracy'.

Khagrachhari dist BNP convening body dissolved

2008-09-22T05:42:00.003+06:00

Khagrachhari District BNP convening committee which was formed by some BNP leaders on September 9 was dissolved yesterday following protests from Wadud Bhuiyan's group, party sources said.

The 11-member convening committee was formed to operate party activities in eight upazilas ignoring former law maker Wadud Bhuiyan and other dedicated leaders, they said.

District BNP press secretary Mohammad Nazrul Islam, in a press release issued here yesterday, declared abolition of the committee.

The committee was dissolved as most of party leaders protested its formation causing division in party, he said.

Wadud Bhuiyan also suggested dissolution of the 11- member committee locally known as Belayet-Salam-Nazrul committee, sources said.

The committee was formed at a meeting held at the residence of Khagrachhari Hill District Council chairman Monindra Lal Tripura where 'corrupt' Ramghor Upazila BNP president Belayet Hossen Bhuiyan was made its convener, they said.

Belayet Bhuiyan came out of jail on August 10 after being granted bail in 18 corruption cases.

Record coal extracted at Barapukuria Smooth running of power plant stressed

2008-09-22T05:42:00.001+06:00

Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) on Saturday made a new record by extracting the highest quantity coal in a day since it started operation in 2005.

The mining authorities feared that the coal yard might be filled up within next month, creating a threat of 'spontaneous combustion' of coal if two units of the technically-flawed 250megawatt (MW) power plant is not run continuously.

The mining company extracted 4,475 metric tonnes (MT) of coal from Coal Phase-1104 on Saturday. Miners have been extracting coal from the phase at the pace of 4,100MT coal per day for the last 10 days, mining officials said.

The two-unit power plant, commissioned in December 2005, seldom ran except for the period of June and July 2006.

Since January 2008, the power plant was shut down 11 times either for technical glitches or scheduled maintenance.

The two units consume 2,000 tonnes of coal daily if they operate properly.

Khagrachhari dist BNP convening body dissolved

2008-09-22T05:41:00.003+06:00

First Jatiya Mahle Festival in Rajshahi today

2008-09-22T05:41:00.001+06:00

Leaders of indigenous Mahle community in Rajshahi have demanded constitutional recognition of their rights and protection of their lands from grabbers.

Mahli Adibashi Artho-Samajik (socio-economical) Unnayan Sangastha (MASAUS) and Mahle Dighar Baisi Bangladesh on Sunday jointly held a press conference at Rajshahi Press Club where their leaders announced that the first Jitiya Mahle Festival will be held on Monday at Baganpara village in Godagari upazila.

There are around 30,000 Mahle indigenous peoples in the country, they said.

Vast lands fallow for want of a culvert

2008-09-22T05:40:00.002+06:00

In absence of a culvert on a road of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), serious waterlogging has affected Sanjabpur village in Kamalganj upazila under the district.

Thirty-five acres of paddy field and several dwelling houses have already been damaged due to the waterlogging, villagers said.

Due to the situation, this year farmers have left much of their Aus and Aman paddy lands uncultivated and it caused loss of several lakh taka.

Affected farmers Alkas Ali, Tajul Islam, Salam Miah, Mokaddas Ali, Mujahid Ali and Tajammul Ali said they have submitted applications to Moulvibazar deputy commissioner, Kamalganj upazila nirbahi officer and RHD executive engineer at Moulvibazar several times to solve the problem.

One of them said he received 'unwanted behaviour' from the executive engineer of RHD at Moulvibazar when he went to submit an application on September 18.

When this correspondent tried to contact with the Executive Engineer of RHD over telephone two times, he received phone calls but soon the connections were cut.

Contacted, Kamalganj UNO Musammat Hazera Begum said she will take steps to solve the waterlogging problem in Sanjabpur village.

Selectors bring back trio

2008-09-22T05:40:00.001+06:00

As expected new faces have crowded when the national selectors announced a 24-member preliminary squad on Sunday for the upcoming home series against New Zealand and the tour of South Africa.

The departure of some national players who have joined rebel Indian Cricket League (NCL) to receive a ten-year ban by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) forced the selectors to bring back opener Nafis Iqbal, middle-order batsmen Tushar Imran and Rajin Saleh and left-arm spinner Enamul Haque.

On the other hand, uncapped players like opener Imrul Kayes, young middle order batsmen Shamsur Rahman and Nayeem Islam, left-arm spinner Suharwardi Shuvo, paceman Mahbubul Alam and wicketkeeper Sahagir Hossain were drafted into the senior side to fill up the vacuum. Except Sahagir, all the uncapped players are now touring with the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team in Sri Lanka.

The training camp under the guidance of Jamie Siddons, who returned from Australia early morning of Sunday, will start today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur for next month's three-match one-day and two-match Test series against New Zealand.

The Tigers will play one Twenty20 International, three ODIs and two Tests in South Africa in November-December.

Nafis Iqbal, the nephew of former national skipper Akram Khan and the elder brother of national opener Tamim Iqbal, whose inclusion was the most significant as the right-hander, who played 11 Tests and 16 ODIs, returned to the national fold after more than two years of wilderness.

"There is no question about his potential and sometimes he wasn't consider because of injury. Nafis's last season domestic performance was also not bad. He informed me that he is not fit and practicing but we can only confirm about his fitness while our national physio (Darryl Lifson) gave the green signal," said chief selector Rafiqul Alam.

"Players like Rajin (Saleh) and Tushar (Imran) were always in our consideration but definitely the sudden vacuum made the way for them to be recalled in the national side. And you must understand that we always have limited options," he said.

The former national player was very much optimistic with the fresh inclusions.

"We were lucky enough that these particular players had been playing continuously with the A team or the Academy. And I believe there are some players who have the potential to serve the national team for long," Rafiqul hoped.

"Lets see how these young guys take the opportunity. You never know they might be better than the lost ones," he said.

Rafiqul informed that left-arm seamer Syed Rasel is fully fit but middle-order batsman Rokibul Hasan, who suffered finger-injury during the one-day series in Australia, will be fit within the first week of next month.

"Rasel is fully fit but Rokibul will be okay before the series. On the other hand Mashrafe (Bin Mortaza) is sick," he informed.

PRELIMINARY SQUAD
Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Mohammad Ashraful, Rokibul Hassan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Nazmul Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Dollar Mahmud, Nafis Iqbal, Rajin Saleh, Tushar Imran, Enamul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Shamsur Rahman, Nayeem Islam, Sohrawordi Shuvo, Mahbubul Alam and Sahagir Hossain (wicketkeeper).

Ctg MSC stop Russel

2008-09-22T05:39:00.000+06:00

Sheikh Russel's bid to remain on top of the City-cell B. League table after two rounds came to a pause when they drew 1-1 away at Chittagong against the local Mohammedan.

It was Chittagong Mohamme-dan's second draw that came after their Guinean captain Camara converted a 57th minute penalty to cancel the visitors' first-half lead given by Alfaz Ahmed at the MA Aziz Stadium here yesterday.

Parvez Babu, who conceded the spotkick, was later sent off for a second bookable offence as Russel -- 3-2 winners against Farashganj in the opening round -- were reduced to ten men for the last 20 minutes.

The visitors went ahead after 37 minutes when veteran striker Alfaz, who had also opened Russel's scoring against Farashganj, utilised a through-pass from Moroccan midfielder Said who won a first-team place after missing the first game.

Parvez Babu then threw a lifeline to the local side when the former national midfielder-turned fullback tackled Mohammedan substitute Touhid inside penalty area.

Camara made no mistake to fire the ball past Russel's second-choice keeper Azam Biplab to equalise and push their collection to two points after a 1-1 opening round against Brothers Union.

The port-city Black and Whites, whose short-pass based game created several chances, could not add to the scoring due to poor finishing.

Liberian forward Anthony Doe headed a throw-in from right sideline over the Russel goal after 14 minutes while Guinean recruit Raphael, who went past the whole rival backline on a dazzling run minutes after the Alfaz goal, saw his powerful strike palmed away by the Blues custodian.

Camara also came close to level before the break but the midfielder's weak effort four minutes form halftime gave Azam no trouble.

Both teams got desperate for a winner after 1-1 and it resulted in a several cautions for the two sides and Parvez got his second yellow card for the marching order from referee Azad Rahman in the 71st minute for another foul on Touhid.

Bulbul, who started as Alfaz's striking partner in absence of Moroccan captain Touati Youness, raised hopes of full three points for the Dhaka giants but Mamun Khan made a fine save in the 65th minute under the Mohammedan goal, making all the top five of last season drop points inside the first two rounds.

Mohammedan coach Nazrul Islam Ledu, however, expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of his team.

"Our players could not give their fifty percent as we were expecting to win due to absence of two of Russel's key Moroccan players Youness and Bourdif," Ledu said.

He also expressed his worries over the fixture as they will have to play their next round match in Dhaka on Wednesday.

"Tomorrow (Monday) is rest day for the players and we have to start for Dhaka on Tuesday to face Abahani. We don't know when our players will practise," he said adding that the authority should have considered the matter before preparing the fixture.

On the other hand, Russel's assistant coach Milon Molla blamed bad referring for their failure to win.

"The match was in our favour. But the 'controversial' penalty did not allow us to win," the former Dhaka Premier League goalkeeper said.

"Our target is win the league and this result was unexpected," he rued.

TEAMS

CHITTAGONG MOHAMMEDAN: Mamun, Sharif, Shawkat, Dhiman, Pradip, Lincoln (Touhid), Daulat, Camara, Doe (Jitu), Ridon (Chowmrin ) and Raphael.
SHEIKH RUSSEL: Biplab, Aminul, Hasan, Zahirul, Parvez, Saiful (Mobarak and Shahidur), Ighir, Said, Tanveer (Rakibul), Alfaz and Bulbul.

Match fees for footballers

2008-09-22T05:38:00.000+06:00

The National Team Management Committee (NTMC) is looking forward to introduce match fees for national footballers in near future.

"We are trying to inspire the players to work harder for the national team. So we have thought about bringing them under payroll," told NTMC chairman and Bangladesh Football Federation vice-president Badal Roy yesterday.

However, that would not be possible right at this moment and would have to wait until we get a sponsor to support them," told the former national captain.

"But for now, we want give them some incentive so they become more competitive and professional. Also, this support would give the booters feeling that they won't be deprived playing for the nation.

"We are contemplating 60 dollars match fee for each player of the starting line-up in an international match, 40 dollars for the reserve bench and 25 dollars for the standbys.

"Also we are planning to announce dollars 200 bonus for every player of the squad for an international win and 100 dollars for a draw," Badal informed.

The NTMC chief, however, mentioned that the whole thing was in the planning stage and will be discussed in the NTMC's meeting this week.

"The NMC will send the recommendations to the BFF for approval of the executive committee and I feel that this will get the nod for the players' sake. If we get the BFF's approval, it will be introduced from next month's Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.

"We will also offer payments only during national camps till we find a sponsor."

Badal added that the national players will be insured and will have Tk 20,000 coverage in case of accidental death, Tk 10,000 for natural death and about Tk 5-7 lakh for injuries.

It would only be applicable for one year after a player loses his place in the national team.

Ziaur saves Academy

2008-09-22T05:37:00.000+06:00

GP-BCB National Cricket Academy must thank Ziaur Rahman after his allround show helped them manage an exciting one-wicket victory against Sri Lanka Academy in the first one-dayer of the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

The Khulna fast bowler struck an unbeaten 16-ball 35 with three sixes and as many fours as the visitors reached 128 for nine in 38.2 overs, after the hosts were bowled out for 127 in 36.3 overs.

Arafat Sunny was unbeaten on 14 with Zia as the last pair saw Academy home by the tiniest of margin. Imrul Kayes topscored with 45.

Earlier, Zia claimed three wickets for 17 but Nasir Hossain made the damage for Sri Lanka Academy by claiming four wickets for 13 runs in ten overs with his off-spin.

The second one-day will be held tomorrow at the SSC ground and the final on September 25 at the NCC ground.

Cotecna serves notice on NBR

2008-09-22T05:36:00.002+06:00

Cotecna yesterday served a legal notice on the government, seeking cancellation in seven days of an NBR letter that denied the pre-shipment inspection company a new deal.

Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates served the notice on the Internal Resources Division secretary, who is also the chairman of National Board of Revenue, and an NBR member (customs).

The legal notice quoted the NBR member in the June 23 letter as saying: "We regret to inform you that your company has not been short-listed (for a new deal)."

The notice termed the NBR move illegal.

Cotecna urged the government to reconsider its expression of interest in line with the law and inform the company in seven days. Cotecna has threatened to take legal action against the government in failure to comply with its demand.

Cotecna officials said they would go for a lawsuit with the international court against the government after completion of some procedures on October 4, seeking up to $100 million in damages.

In March, the NBR cancelled the licence of the PSI company six months before completion of a three-year contract on charges of violating rules.

"The earlier agreement with our client (Cotecna) was terminated by the NBR in a most illegal and arbitrary manner," Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed and Associates said in the legal notice.

BB pulls out of risky foreign ventures

2008-09-22T05:36:00.001+06:00

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has pulled its foreign currency investment out of different risky ventures in the face of a financial crisis in the US and some other parts of the world.

A high-profile forex investment committee of the central bank monitors the situation every day and, accordingly, changes the investment pattern with its foreign currency, said a senior official of the BB.

Apparently alarmed by the snowballing crisis, the committee headed by a deputy governor of the BB started monitoring the situation on a daily basis instead of every 15 days.

But a senior World Bank (WB) economist thinks Bangladesh should not be panicked by the economic fallout from the US credit crisis.

Zahid Hussain, a senior economist for the multilateral lending agency's Dhaka office, said the crisis would help Bangladesh benefit from a falling oil price that went down under $100 a barrel from $140 a couple of weeks ago.

The central bank's forex investment is estimated at around $5 billion, Yasin Ali, executive director of BB, told The Daily Star. "There is no risk as the investment has been made cautiously."

“We have already withdrawn investments from a few institutions affected by the US recession,” Ali said. The BB has investments in some institutions such as Wachovia Corp and a few mortgage companies in the US.

The BB also has an investment worth $5 million in Bear Stearns that was purchased by JP Morgan, another central official said, adding that it has no investment in badly-affected Lehman Brothers.

Zahid Hussain of WB said Bangladesh does not need to worry too much about the financial crisis in the US.

“I don't see any major impact on Bangladesh's economy,” Hussain said.

Even he finds some benefits for Bangladesh from the US meltdown.

“Bangladesh is already benefiting from a significant reduction in oil prices."

The price of oil that reached over $140 a barrel, now has come down to around $100 because of sluggish demand in the US, the largest economy in the world.

Bangladesh is saved, at least temporarily, from losses for financing pricey oil, he added.

Hussain rules out any negative impact on Bangladesh's exports as the country sells mainly low-end basic products to the US market. Most of Bangladesh's remittances come from the Middle East countries that are not affected by the US turmoil, he added.

“As far as I know the BB does not invest in risky ventures such as Lehman Brothers. BB invests in zero-risk US government treasury bonds,” Hussain noted.

But he said he was not aware of whether any private commercial bank had invested in any problem-ridden US venture.

Yasin Ali of BB said local commercial banks have no risks of loss as transactions for forward booking are made under strict scrutinisation of the regulator. There is little demand for hedging at the moment as prices of oil and other commodities are falling down, he said.

Although the US economy is sliding, its currency is becoming stronger than the euro and the pound sterling, BB officials said.

The central bank has invested 45 percent of its forex holdings in the US dollar, which was 26 percent a couple of months ago, another BB official said, asking not to be named.

However, the WB economist urged the BB and Bangladesh embassies in different countries to stay vigilant although the current US crisis is not as severe as it was in the 1930s, as so many safeguard measures have been taken to absorb shocks.

The current financial turmoil is rooted in the subprime crisis. During boom years, mortgage brokers enticed by the lure of big commissions, talked buyers with poor credit into accepting housing mortgages with little or no down payment and without credit checks.

Banks and financial institutions often repackaged debts with other high-risk debts and sold them to worldwide investors creating financial instruments called CDOs or collateralised debt obligations. The serious subprime mortgage crisis began in June 2007 when two Bear Stearns hedge funds collapsed.

The Federal Reserve Bank and European Central Bank have already pumped $100 billion in liquidity into the system that calmed the market for a short period.

Easy loans drive car imports

2008-09-22T05:35:00.000+06:00

Easy car loans for officers and employees in the private sector corporate world, including banks, have considerably helped recent car imports surge, according to a central bank report.

In addition, a section of the society that holds a large chunk of black money is also fuelling the car market growth.

Currently, the Chittagong port premises are crowded with 5,500 cars, while 1,000 more are aboard different ships.

As many as 25,000 cars were imported through the port in the last eight months, while the figure was 13,000 during the previous eight months, the Chittagong port data says.

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) report filed in early September shows $78 million letters of credit (LCs) settled by importers in the May-June period, while the previous year witnessed $35.84 million LC settlements for car imports.

Usually, the two-month period is the peak time for importers.

The report also pointed out that most of the LC this time were opened before June 30, as the importers feared the current budget (FY 2008-09) would propose a rise in duties on motor vehicles.

The budget indeed restructured supplementary duties on cars by 60, 100, 250 and 350 percent depending on the horsepower. The previous duty rates were 20, 35, 65, 100, 250 and 350 percent.

The redefinition of 'reconditioned' car might be another reason for the increased car imports. The budget defined that a reconditioned car would be at least 365 days old. But before June 30, the definition of a reconditioned car was at least 120 days old. This definition encouraged traders to import almost brand new cars.

But the up-trend is mainly triggered by car facilities offered to mid-rank officers in the corporate world. The number of mid-rank officers is huge. The corporate offers include easy loans and large sums of car maintenance remuneration.

"Demand for cars has gone up in the last few years," the central bank report further says.

According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), until 1999, Dhaka had registered around 96,000 cars and in the following eight years until 2007, another 1.10 lakh were added.

Bappi, a small car dealer, finds his business running well on the rise in the number of buyers from banking and large private companies.

"Even teachers of the private universities, coaching centres are now buying cars because the lending facilities are good. Cars are also considered safe transport system in the present society," he said

The numbers of importers in Bangladesh and exporters in Japan have increased in recent years. Japanese exporters are typically Bangladeshi expatriates, Bappi pointed out.

The CNG conversion facilities offering a cheaper fuel alternative have also stimulated the car market. Most of the imported cars are from Japan. Car traders say Toyota Corolla tops the foreign cars in popularity, with prices ranging between Tk 8 lakh and Tk 20 lakh.

6 govt officials claim to have only Tk 3 lakh Another list of 18 sent to Tac

2008-09-22T05:34:00.002+06:00

Six more government officials accused in graft cases confessed to having ill-gotten wealth worth only Tk 3 lakh to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) yesterday.

Meanwhile the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday sent another list of 18 persons accused in corruption cases to Tac who had applied to the ACC for disclosing information about their ill-gotten wealth voluntarily.

The ACC, however, did not send the name of former BNP state minister Maj (retd) Kamrul Islam, as the summery report of the investigation was not yet ready. Kamrul applied to the ACC on August 18 for making voluntary disclosure before Tac.

The six persons faced Tac yesterday were from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa).

Meanwhile, the ACC has already stopped the enquiry into the wealth statement submitted by Kamrul Islam as the commission is preparing to send his name to Tac.

Kamrul submitted his wealth statement worth over Tk 7 crore after ACC had served him with notice in November asking him to submit wealth statement.

Rajshahi Hizb ut-Tahrir men denied bail

2008-09-22T05:34:00.001+06:00

A Rajshahi court yesterday rejected bail prayers of the 10 Hizb ut-Tahrir leaders and activists who were arrested September 18 on suspicion of their involvement in militancy and anti-state activities.

The Court of Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate BM Tarikul Kabir denied the bail prayers after police claimed that investigation was still going on against the accused.

The arrestees were not produced before the court and only their prayers were sent to the court. They are detained under section 54 of the CrPC.

"We also said verification of their previous criminal records, if any, is yet to be completed in police stations concerned," said Court Inspector Mahbubul Kuddus Siddiki.

Hizb ut-Tahrir Coordinator and Dhaka University teacher Syed Golam Mowla and Ahmed Jamal Iqbal, teacher of South East University and a senior member of the Islamist group, were arrested along with eight others on September 18 in Rajshahi.

However, police did not lodge any case against them, as of filing of this report last night, as they reportedly did not receive the go-ahead from government high-ups.

Officials of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) said they are yet to get any signal from the government high-ups about bringing sedition charge against the arrestees.

They said the arrestees were engaged in anti-state activities and provoking people against the country and the government through leaflets which called for toppling the government and establishing Khelafat in the country.

They said they are investigating whether there is a link between Hizb ut-Tahiri and the JMB threat made on Saturday.

Ramjan Ali, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station, told The Daily Star, "The investigation is on. We will submit remand prayers against the arrestees when the investigation demands."

Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Naim Ahmed yesterday said even though Hizb ut-Tahrir threatened the government and gave a 48-hour ultimatum, they are yet to see any activity in this connection.

During a press conference held at Rajarbagh Police Lines Auditorium, the DMP Commissioner said, "We are seriously observing their activities."

On Thursday, Hizb ut-Tahrir leaders in a meeting at the city's Engineers Institute demanded immediate release of the 10 leaders.

All 13 acquitted in Barisal serial blasts case

2008-09-22T05:33:00.002+06:00

A Barisal court yesterday acquitted all the 13 accused in a case filed in connection with the August 17 serial bomb blasts in Barisal city.

Of the acquitted persons, Golam Morshed Chowdhury Reza, Jalal Arefin, Hafez Saiful Islam, Abu Yusuf Majumdar, Abu Solaiman Sujan, Md Maruf, Jasimuddin, Abdus Sobahan, and Giasuddin are in custody while Sarwar, Abdur Rahim, Zahid Babu, and Ziaur Rahman Zia are on the run.

Barisal Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Rabiul Hassan also passed an order to release the nine arrestees if they are not accused in any other cases.

The court examined 20 out of 23 witnesses in the case

According to the prosecution, the police filed 12 cases after the serial bomb blasts at 12 places in Barisal city on August 17, 2005.

Assistant sub-inspector Anwar Hossain of Barisal Kotwali Police Station filed the 7th case for blasting bombs at a place between Bottala police checkpoint and a city mosque on August 17, 2005.

Sub-inspector Matiar Rahman submitted the charge sheet against 14 people on December 25, 2005.

With this judgment, the trial proceedings of eight out the 12 cases have been completed.

Only in one case seven people were sentenced to life imprisonment by the same court on July 30, 2008.

Advocate Kazi Munir Hussein, special prosecutor-in-charge of the tribunal, said the accused in such cases get acquitted due to flaws in investigation.

AL kicks off preparation for JS polls

2008-09-22T05:33:00.001+06:00

A day after the chief adviser announced the date for the ninth parliamentary election, Awami League (AL) formally began preparing for the election following directives of its chief Sheikh Hasina.

AL Election Conducting Committee, formed ahead of the stalled parliamentary polls of January 22, 2007, sat in Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi to revive its sub-committees created for election preparation.

AL will use the party chief's office as campaign headquarters. Logistic support has already been provided for the purpose.

"With directions of party chief Sheikh Hasina we sat to revive and rearrange our different election related committees so that they can start working for the next election," HT Imam, an AL advisory council member and the head of the committee, told The Daily Star last night.

"As all the election related committees were formed a couple of years ago, we have to revive them," he said.

Chaired by Imam, also a former cabinet secretary, the meeting analysed different strategic and technical issues and discussed coordination between committees related to the polls.

He said establishing communication with thana-, upazila- and district-level leaders is important for election preparations.

The AL leader said they also discussed how they could train their party leaders and workers to give them a clearer concept of the new electoral laws and code of conduct.

Around 30 members of the committee including a number of retired government officials attended the meeting. The committee will sit almost regularly.

Talking to The Daily Star a committee member, however, said they were called in so that they could teach the candidates and the polling agents about the new electoral laws and code of conduct.

AL acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, after a meeting of the party Presidium at acting President Zillur Rahman's Gulshan home, told reporters that they are 100 percent prepared to contest in the election.

AL Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta said they will not face any problems regarding preparations as they had prepared ahead of the stalled January, 22, 2007 polls.

Hasina's trial in MiG-29 case adjourned until Oct 21

2008-09-22T05:32:00.002+06:00

A Dhaka Court yesterday adjourned the trial proceedings of the MiG-29 warplane purchase scam case against former premier Sheikh Hasina and five others till October 21.

Judge Golam Mortuza Majumder of the Special Judge's Court, Dhaka Division, located on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises, adjourned the proceedings upon receiving the copy of the High Court order that had stayed the case proceedings.

On September 18, the HC stayed for three months the trial proceedings of the case filed during the BNP-led four-party alliance rule.

As the court sat yesterday morning, the defence councils submitted the stay order copy. The court then fixed the date.

Hasina's counsel advocate Sahara Khatun represented her as she was spared from appearing at the court hearings in person on June 9.

The other accused in the case are former air force chief Jamaluddin Ahmed, former defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, Air Commodore (retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Serniabat, and Unique Group Managing Director Nur Ali.

Former army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman was also an accused, but the court dropped his name on August 12 after his death on August 3.

The now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on December 11, 2001, stating that the accused caused a loss of Tk 700 crore to the state exchequer by purchasing eight MiG-29 jet fighters when the Awami League was in power.

Meantime, former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim yesterday submitted the bail bond to the trial court in the Tk 2.99 crore extortion case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury.

Chowdhury, Managing Director of Eastcoast Trading Pvt Ltd, filed the case with Gulshan Police Station against former premier Sheikh Hasina and her cousin Sheikh Selim on June 13 last year on charge of extorting Tk 2.99 crore from him in exchange for awarding a contract to set up Siddhirganj Power Plant.

Hasina files bail petition in extortion case

2008-09-22T05:32:00.001+06:00

A bail petition for Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case was filed with the High Court (HC) yesterday.

The former premier is now abroad on parole for treatment.

Hasina's counsel Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh submitted the petition to a vacation bench of the HC comprised of Justice Sheikh Rezowan Ali and Justice Md Rais Uddin.

The HC bench will hear the petition today, the counsel told newsmen later.

The extortion case was filed by businessman Noor Ali.

The AL chief's counsel also said they will file two more petitions with the HC today for her bail in Niko and barge-mounted power plant corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Noor Ali, managing director of Unique Group of Companies, filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on June 13, 2007 accusing Hasina and her two relatives of extorting Tk 5 crore for mediating between Power Development Board (PDB) and his firm for a power plant deal back in 1997.

The government on July 16 last year put the case under the emergency power rules (EPR), and a magistrate's court on July 29 the same year ordered that Hasina be shown arrested in the case.

Following a writ petition on August 7 last year, the HC granted bail to Hasina in this case, and asked the government to explain why bringing the case under the EPR should not be declared illegal.

Later, the Supreme Court upon a petition filed by the government stayed the HC order till disposal of the rule.

Govt asks 8,000 to chip in for Zakat

2008-09-22T05:31:00.002+06:00

The government has sent letters to 8,000 affluent individuals including businessmen - the first ever instance in the country - requesting them to contribute to the government Zakat Board as the holy Eid-ul-Fitre approaches.

The letters were sent in a bid to encourage people to donate Zakat in the government fund, as the amount deposited with the board so far is not up to the expectation.

A meager amount of Tk 6.70 crore has been deposited so far as Zakat over the last 26 years since the board was established in 1982.

With a view to increasing Zakat collection, Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) were also directed to collect a fixed amount of Zakat from their respective areas.

The information was given at a press briefing at the secretariat yesterday afternoon.

"We did not send letters to well-to-do people earlier. This is the first time we have taken an initiative like this. The government would not have to launch any poverty alleviation programs had people offered Zakat to the government fund," said Director General (DG) of the Islamic Foundation Mohammad Fazlur Rahman.

The government has also taken initiative to broadcast programs on television to encourage people to offer Zakat and let them know about the significance of it.

He also informed that Tk 6.09 crore has been spent from the Zakat fund so far, under which 5.43 lakh poor people have already been benefited.

Mufti Mohammad Nuruddin, acting khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, was also present at the press briefing.

The projects financed by Zakat fund include a children hospital in Tongi, sewing training program, student scholarship, widow rehabilitation, poverty alleviation program, financial assistance, and relief material distribution.

The government Zakat board is consisted of 13 members.

Toxic Chinese Milk Powder 2 companies to lose licence

2008-09-22T05:31:00.001+06:00

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will cancel licences of All Way Trading Company and Mou Enterprise for marketing Chinese baby milk formulas before getting clearance they applied for.

Meantime, an inter-ministerial meeting decided to not release any new milk-powder consignments from port before the BSTI reports on whether any of the 36 samples it collected Saturday is contaminated with melamine.

BSTI Director General Azmal Hossain said they will publish their findings in a week.

"We hope to find a way to detect the presence of melamine in milk in a day or two in association with the chemistry department at Dhaka University," he said.

He said they will cancel licences of the two importers.

The two importers began marketing Yashili 1, Yashili 2 and Sweet Baby 2 brands before getting registration from the Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN).

The IPHN has already halted processing the registration application for Yashili brands and issued a letter on the marketer to withdraw their products from the market.

The inter-ministerial meeting decided to keep people from purchasing, selling and stocking of San Lu, Sun Care and Yashili brands for the time being.

Officials from the Customs, BSTI, Atomic Energy Commission, health directorate, health and commerce ministries attended the meeting, presided over by Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed.

AL’s yes to nearly all

2008-09-22T05:30:00.002+06:00

The Awami League (AL) yesterday categorically demanded that the government and the Election Commission (EC) implement the Representation of the People Order (RPO) except some of the provisions it had opposed.

"We want full implementation of RPO, party registration, and electoral code of conduct," said AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam at a press conference after a meeting of the AL presidium.

“We have some difference of opinions on some provisions in RPO but we fully agree other provisions," Ashraf added.

During the recent talks with EC, AL demanded cancellation of some of the newly framed criteria for registration, which imposed restrictions on parties' having front organisations of professionals, and overseas units terming the criterion unconstitutional.

The AL also wants the national election to be held under the newly framed electoral law and rules in a bid to make the upcoming polls free and fair and ensure participation of honest and competent candidates.

"We think the electoral laws and rules reforms are very necessary to prevent goons and black money holders from contesting the upcoming elections again," Ashraf said, adding, "We want nomination to be given based on recommendation of the grassroots level and an election free from all influence of black money and mussel power."

The party's highest policymaking body sat at AL acting president Zillur Rahman's Gulshan residence to review the chief adviser's speech. The meeting with Zillur in the chair formally welcomed the speech for announcing the national election date first.

Addressing the press conference, Ashraf said the AL-led grand alliance had forged movement to carry out necessary reforms in electoral laws and for that the January 22 "conspiratorial" election could not be held.

"The 1/11 is the outcome of the Awami League-led grand alliance's movement and electoral reforms are the outcome of the 1/11; so we can not allow these reforms go ruin for a party."

The BNP and its alliance partners during its talks with EC on Saturday demanded that the new electoral laws and rules be scrapped or suspended till the national election is over.

The AL leader said those who [BNP] want the election be held under the 2001 electoral rules do not want a free and fair election in the country. They want to arrange a farcical election again with collaboration. The BNP wants the goons and black money holders take part in the upcoming polls again, he added.

Saying that there is no lack of honest and competent candidates in AL, he said his party would nominate only honest, eligible and acceptable candidates for the parliamentary polls.

AL presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and Motia Chowdhury attended the meeting with Zillur in the chair.

"The chief adviser has assured the nation by saying that his government's attempts were to hand over power to an elected government through holding a free, fair and credible election by December. We thank the chief adviser, the Election Commission and the council of advisers," Ashraf said hoping that the government and EC would concentrate their best efforts on presenting the nation with national elections acceptable to all.

He expressed the hope that voter list in each electoral area would be finalised ahead of announcement of election schedule. The AL thanked the government and EC for preparing a dependable voter list.

He also praised them for announcing upazila elections date after the national elections. He however said there are some practical and technical problems with holding upazila elections just five days after the national polls.

It would be very tough to handle administrative preparations and law and order, he said, adding it would not also be possible for the government to hold the local body election in a free and fair manner.

The AL spokesman said his party would discuss the matter with the government.

Ashraf demanded immediate withdrawal the state of emergency before announcing the election schedule. He said holding of national election as well as casting of votes could not be held under emergency.

He also suggested that the government strictly implement the existing laws to ensure that all black-money holders, criminals and armed goons are barred effectively from the polls.

Asked about the news that EC should not be blamed in case the polls are hindered by BNP's non-cooperation, the AL leader condemned the way BNP and some other parties behaved with EC at the dialogue. He however expressed the hope that all the political parties including BNP would take part in the elections.

About holding party council to amend the AL constitution to get registered with EC, Ashraf said there is no need to hold the council since EC has agreed to accept the changes in the party constitution with approval from the central working committee.

Replying to a query, he said, "The decision about the grand alliance will be taken after Sheikh Hasina returns home. Awami League will take part in the election under the banner of grand alliance and under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.”

BNP says no to all

2008-09-22T05:30:00.001+06:00

BNP and its allies might not even apply for registration with the Election Commission (EC) since they do not accept the new provisions in the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

They will reconsider their stance only if the EC agrees to relax the criteria for registration, said sources close to the parties.

BNP and its partners in the four-party alliance want the commission to have the new provisions scrapped or suspended till the upcoming polls are over.

They will continue to press the EC to hold the December 18 national election under the previous laws, added the sources.

The military-backed caretaker government had a number of additions to the RPO 1972 through an ordinance last month.

Of the latest provisions, the ones providing for no-vote option and mandatory registration on meeting conditions like severing ties with front organisations and overseas chapters appear to be the most contentious.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday reiterated that registration is a must for participation in the parliamentary polls.

Talking to reporters, he however said they are working to make the procedure easier.

“Registration is mandatory. But we are thinking about some alternatives.”

Declining to elaborate on the plans, he said the EC will announce its next course of action today. It will also talk about registration and outcome of the dialogue with political parties.

The same day secretaries general of the four parties--BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) and Bangladesher Jatiya Party (BJP)--will meet at BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain's residence to discuss their strategies with regard to the amended RPO, particularly the registration rules.

According to the EC announcement, October 15 is the closing date for submitting registration applications.

BNP standing committee member Chowdhury Tanbir Ahmed Siddiky yesterday told The Daily Star, “It is utterly illogical to expect the parties to hold councils under the state of emergency and bring changes to their constitutions to fulfil the registration criteria.”

BNP's Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said, “We have already told the Election Commission that it's not possible for us to meet the conditions at such short notice.”

As per the electoral laws of 1982, registration can be done after the election, he added.

Meanwhile, a number of BNP leaders said the party's opposition to almost every decision of the EC baffles them.

They told The Daily Star they are worried that wholesale disagreement might hinder the efforts to restore democracy.

“We shouldn't do anything that might prolong the non-elected regime,” said a former lawmaker.

Some others believe BNP would rather be the gainer if it can make the EC concede its demands.

Poverty ups despite bumper Boro output FAO-WFP report underlines impact of rising food prices

2008-09-22T05:29:00.000+06:00

Bangladesh's undernourished population has increased by 7.3 million -- from 39.6 million to 46.9 million -- largely because of the impact of higher food prices and the damage of Aman rice last year, says a report of FAO and WFP.

The report says that as a result of rising food prices and general inflation, more than half of the country's 145 million population is now food insecure and nearly one-third is understood as severely food insecure.

The special report prepared by FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Bangladesh was released on August 28.

"Of particular concern is the finding that most of this growth has occurred within the ranks of the more severely food insecure; meaning those consume below the 1805 kilo calories per day," the report says.

The Mission assessed the 2008 Boro and wheat production and estimated Boro rice output at 17.54 million tonnes, increased by some 17.2 percent from the previous year and 29.3 percent above the five-year average.

This increase of production was mainly due to favourable weather conditions and extra efforts made by farmers and government in response to the high rice price and production loss of 1.4 million tonnes in 2007 Aman season following severe flooding and Cyclone Sidr.

The total cereal output in the 2007-08 (November/October), including 2007 Aman, 2008 Boro and Aus seasons, is estimated at 28.85 million tonnes, 5.6 percent above the previous year. Total cereal import requirement in the 2007-08 is estimated at about 3.07 million tones.

The report says, "Though good production of Boro has been achieved nationally, this does not fully compensate for the heavy losses some farmers suffered in the previous Aman season in the south and east of the country."

The wholesale and retail prices of coarse rice, the nation's major food staple, have increased by 78 and 82 percent, respectively, from June 2006 to June 2008.

Rapid price rise of rice and other essential foods is putting immense pressure on the poor urban and rural households, forcing them to abandon consumption of protein foods and causing an increase in malnutrition at all levels.

According to the report, the Mission estimates that the increase in food prices has raised the number of the Absolute Poor by 9 million people, to a total of 80 million (58.3 in rural and 21.4 in urban), and raised the prevalence of undernourishment to over 55 percent.

The Mission also estimates the food assistance needs of the country to be 1.76 million tonnes, of which 35,000 tonnes are for vulnerable households affected by Cyclone Sidr. To meet this need, 500,000 tonnes will be imported and 1.26 million tonnes purchased locally.

Producer prices of rice have increased for Boro season. Wet paddy price in 2008 is Tk 18-20 per kg compared to Tk 10-12 last year, milled rice prices vary from Tk 30-40 compared to Tk 15-16 per kg last year.

"But due to sharecropping arrangements and lack of working capital which forces forward sales, many farmers did not get the full benefit of these price increases," the FAO-WFP report observes.

Prior to the 2007-08 shocks, an estimated about 7.58 crore individuals in Bangladesh were below the food consumption threshold of 2122 kilocalories per person a day. Within this group, an estimated 3.96 crore people fell below the more severe poverty line food consumption threshold of 1805 kilocalories per person per day.

"Rice and other food commodity prices have been rising since early 2007, but rose more rapidly between late 2007 and the first four months of 2008. Prices have decreased somewhat since their peak in April 2008, but still remain at relatively high levels," the report observes.

Abandoned flyover project structures add to Gulistan woe

2008-09-22T05:27:00.002+06:00

Heaped in the middle on a busy Gulistan road, the dismantled structures of the ditched Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover project only add to the everyday traffic woes in the bustling Gulistan-Fulbaria area.

Buses and rickshaws routinely jostle to make way through the 150-metre squeezed stretch on both sides of the road.

The situation reaches dizzy heights during rush hours.

Construction materials piled or not, Gulistan and Fulbaria areas are riddled with traffic more often than not on any given day as most buses taking the roads there use the Golap Shah Mazar point and the stretch between the south gate of Baitul Mokarram Mosque and Gulistan underpass for stop.

Traffic police say they are helpless. "Buses are coming and going all day long, taking and dropping passengers on the roads here," said a traffic sergeant wishing anonymity.

He said bus-parking bays are necessary, even if it means dismantling portions of markets, to ease the traffic congestion.

"It pretty much takes half an hour during rush hours to get through from Rajuk Bhaban to Zero Point," said bus driver Mohammad Alam, who regularly takes the Mirpur-Motijheel route via Gulistan.

As is ubiquitous elsewhere in the capital, footpaths and part of the roads in the areas are occupied by hawkers, pushing people farther onto the roads.

Traffic sergeants were seen pushing people aside so that drivers can stop their buses at kerb between Baitul Mokarram south gate and Gulistan underpass.

Fruit vendors, imitation jewellery hawkers and a few others with sugarcane crushers and weight scales were seen occupying the road on the western side of Sergeant Ahad Police Box on Wednesday afternoon.

"When police come, we run away; when they leave, we come back," quipped jewellery hawker Mohammad Zahid.

Cars were seen parked on the road by the Ramna Bhaban. People were pushing and shoving to make way through a tangle of rickshaws and motorised vehicles as hawkers squatted the footpath.

Traffic jam will ease to some extent once debris from the dismantled structures of the flyover project and construction materials heaped on south side of Gulistan Park are cleared and taken away, said Fakruzzaman, assistant commissioner (traffic) of Motijheel Zone of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

A staffer of the firm, Belhasa Accom JV and Associates, said they need three to four more days to take away their equipment.

But, this alone is not going to ease the traffic snarl there.

Businesses ask parties to shun vindictive politics to end crisis

2008-09-22T05:27:00.001+06:00

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) urged Awami League (AL) and BNP to give up vindictive politics and to resolve the country's prevailing crises through discussions, at an iftar party where senior leaders of both political parties were present.

FBCCI President Annisul Huq urged the parties to announce a charter for building a nation free of confrontational politics, and for accelerating the pace of the country's economic growth before the national poll on December 18.

The iftar party organised by FBCCI was in Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Leaders of the two major parties however did not respond well to the FBCCI call.

"I am short of hearing lately, so I could not understand the speeches of the businessmen. I will be able to respond better, if I get a written proposal," BNP Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain quipped to reporters afterwards.

”There is logic to having discussions, but there are some specific pledges of the parties too. Those who forged alliance with fundamentalist anti-liberation forces, unity with them is not possible, and dialogues with them will also not be successful," said AL Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed.

He however said there can be a consensus on national issues, but in the parliament.

In addition to leaders of AL and BNP, civil society representatives, editors of newspapers and the electronic media, and entrepreneurs attended the event.

The gathering was aimed at creating congenial feelings among the leaders of the two parties ahead of the national election.

AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu and BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain were seen sitting next to each other.

After the iftar, AL and BNP leaders were also seen shaking hands.

"Another chance is coming this December for bringing a lot of positive changes, to build a new future for the nation. It's only you who can do that. Let's not miss the train," Annisul Huq said in his welcome address.

The FBCCI chief demanded from the parties an effective and transparent parliament, continuing clear stand against corruptionists, an accountable and neutral civil administration, and promises of shunning hartals and strikes.

"This is high time for starting a politics of change for building a better Bangladesh," he said adding, "We want you to be visionaries and more tolerant than before," he added.

Barrister Rafiq -ul Huq, who recently took an initiative to bring AL President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to a discussion table, said his mission seemed already partly successful as senior leaders of the two parties sat together yesterday.

"I sincerely expect the two top leaders will sit together for a discussion, as both already gave their consent," he said adding, "Today senior leaders of the two parties have reduced the gap by coming here."

Talking to reporters about the government proposed all-party policy summit, Delwar said they have no objection to sitting with other parties to reach a national consensus on crucial national issues.

But, AL's Tofail Ahmed opposed the policy summit, saying such a meeting ahead of the parliamentary poll is unrealistic.

Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Motia Chowdhury, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, Asaduzzaman Noor, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Abdul Mannan, and Dr Hasan Mahmud were present from AL while from BNP Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, RA Gani, MK Anwar, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Abdullah Al Noman, Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Barkat Ullah Bulu, and Moazzem Hossain Alal were present.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman and Syed Ashraful Islam did not attend the event although they had accepted the invitation.

From the civil society, CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, Abdullah Abu Sayeed, former advisers to caretaker governments Mahbubul Alam and CM Shafi Sami, economists Dr Atiur Rahman and Abu Ahmed, editors and senior journalists Ataus Samad, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Golam Sarwar, Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, Abed Khan, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Shaymol Dutta, Moazzem Hossain, and Naimul Islam Khan were present among others.

Time running out for 2 vital poll tasks

2008-09-22T05:26:00.002+06:00

The Election Commission (EC) finds itself in a tight corner in gearing up for the December 18 poll as two of its vital tasks -- preparing the constituency wise electoral rolls and finalising the list of polling stations -- remain suspended because of a High Court (HC) stay on recent re-demarcation of the constituencies.

The stay order will expire on November 6 while the EC must announce the detailed poll schedule in early November in order to allow a required gap of 42 to 45 days between the polling date and the date of announcing the detailed schedule.

And constituency wise voter lists are required before announcing the detailed poll schedule.

EC officials said at least a week will be needed to have the constituency wise voter lists ready, which must be available at the offices of returning officers for prospective candidates, as soon as the detailed poll schedule is announced.

Prospective candidates are also not being able to start their election preparations with the uncertainty about the constituencies still dogging the electoral process.

Many of them already communicated with the EC to know about the fate of the recent re-demarcation, the EC officials said.

Following a writ petition filed by former BNP lawmaker Abdul Mannan challenging the EC's July 10 gazette notification which finalised the re-demarcation of 300 parliamentary constituencies, the HC on August 7 stayed the effectiveness of the notification for three months.

It also issued a ruling on the government and the EC to show cause in two weeks as to why the gazette notification should not be declared unconstitutional and illegal.

Worried by the tight spot it found itself in due to the HC stay order, the EC scrambled to get the matter resolved before the Supreme Court (SC) went into vacation, but it failed.

Now the EC is not being able to predict a tentative timeframe for the adjudication of the writ petition against its re-demarcation of the constituencies.

Meanwhile, pro-BNP lawyers practicing in the SC are preparing to initiate steps to win the legal battle against the EC, upon directives from the party that vehemently opposes the recent re-demarcation.

Counsels of both sides are supposed to appear before a vacation bench of the HC Division of Supreme Court (SC) today for scheduling a hearing, while the counsels of the petitioner are not willing to get the matter heard by the vacation bench.

"The Election Commission is eager to get the mater heard to resolve the only remaining legal obstacle to holding the parliamentary poll," EC's counsel Shadeen Malik told The Daily Star yesterday.

But, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia, a counsel of the petitioner, said the matter should not be heard by a vacation bench.

"It's an important national issue which should be heard by a regular bench after the Supreme Court comes back from vacation," Rafiqul told The Daily Star adding, "We will convey our opinion to the court."

Asked whether they will appear before the HC vacation bench today for scheduling the hearing, Rafiqul said they were not even aware when and where they are expected to appear. He said the counsel of the EC did not inform them about the details.

Shahdeen Malik however said he did send the necessary documents about today's appearance before the court to the petitioner's legal team.

"We hope that the petitioner will cooperate in getting the matter heard without any delay," Malik said.

Legal experts observed that the counsels of the petitioner are not bound to participate in a hearing before the vacation bench of HC.

The Supreme Court will return from vacation on October 12.

The legal experts and EC officials said the commission might face difficulties in proceeding with its plans if the issue is not resolved soon, as the preparatory work for the December 18 national election, which should have already been in full swing, is rather gigantic.

Referring to the unwillingness of the counsels of the petitioner to participate in the hearing before the vacation bench, the legal experts said if the matter is not adjudicated till after October 12, the EC might end up facing a severe time crunch.

Besides, any party of the case will also have the option of filing appeals against whatever decision the HC takes, which will end up killing more time, the experts added.

The day the HC stayed the EC's gazette notification, Attorney General Salauddin Ahmed said the order might end up hampering the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary poll.

Another gazette notification on parliamentary constituencies had been published earlier in 2006 in a bid to hold the ninth parliamentary poll on January 22, 2007.

But the poll could not be held due to violent political turmoil in the country that led to the declaration of the ongoing state of emergency.

On July 10 this year, the EC published a new gazette notification re-demarcating the parliamentary constituencies, repealing the previous delimitation.

RPO of contention

2008-09-22T05:26:00.001+06:00

The Representation of the People Ordinance promulgated on August 19 has already become the centrepoint of a debate about how the parties should behave themselves in elections and how they should reform themselves for fair polls. As the political parties are widely divided on changes to the RPO, it is worthwhile to take a look at the basic changes the new rules. Following are the highlights of the amendments for the readers to understand how relevant the rules are and what their aim is:
• Registration of political parties with the Election Commission is made compulsory and a ban is slapped on having front organisations and overseas units of political parties.
• Loan defaulters and war criminals, declared by a local or international court, are made ineligible to run in elections.
• An option to cast no-vote is given to voters and if 50 percent of votes are no-votes then the constituency will have re-election.
• Public or defence officials who have resigned or retired have to wait three years before they can run in elections.
• No candidate will be able to contest in more than three constituencies.
• Candidates must be voters and must submit eight pieces of information in the nomination papers.
• The EC is empowered to cancel candidature for violation of electoral laws and code of conduct.
• Parties with no parliamentary seats won since independence and with less than five percent votes secured in constituencies concerned will be disqualified for registration.
• Parties are required to give nominations on the basis of recommendations made by local level party committees in every constituency.
• Political parties must have their own constitution.
• Political parties must incorporate provisions in their constitutions to get elected members in all their committees.
• Political parties must incorporate provisions in their constitutions to get 33 percent women leaders in all committees by 2012.

All major political parties will have to amend their constitutions to fulfil the criteria laid down for registration.

'Tk 1cr man' becomes broke in front of Tac

2008-09-22T04:35:00.000+06:00

Younus Ali, a junior-level officer of Titas Gas, is one of 135 employees of the state-owned company found by National Coordination Committee (NCC) on corruption and serious crime to have amassed ill-gotten wealth worth at least Tk 1 crore each.

Interestingly, when NCC sent Younus' name to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) for voluntary disclosure following his application, he rejected outright of having any ill-gotten wealth.

He rather alleges he was branded as a corruption-suspect because of his involvement in politics since he was an employees' union member in Titas. He claims he has been "honest" throughout his life.

The commission now has no other way to justify the claims of the graft-suspects and no alternative to listening and believing their tales as it doesn't have authority to conduct an investigation into these claims, sources in Tac and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) observe.

The Tac now believes every word of Younus, feels sympathy for him, and considers pardoning him and others like him out of sympathy, Tac sources add.

The NCC taskforce in February tracked huge anomalies in Titas and found 135 of its staffs are millionaires, each owning at last Tk 1 crore.

Among them, 107 applied through NGC to face Tac and Younus is one of them, the sources say.

Jalal Uddin, junior accounts assistant, is another on the list of 107 sent by NCC to Tac. However, Jalal also claimed before Tac he did not have any ill-gotten wealth to disclose or surrender. He claimed to have been "victimised" by politics, as he was a member of a pro-BNP trade union group.

At one stage of hearing, Jalal, however, confessed to having ill-gotten property worth Tk 25,000, the lowest willingly reported by the 49 corrupt-accused so far.

He had earlier confessed before NCC to having illegal wealth worth Tk 37,000, which he termed before Tac a forced confession under pressure.

The NCC did not send to Tac any investigation report along with the list of corruption-suspects and only mentioned what the corruption-suspects confessed.

Confirming that a number of government officials are claiming not to own any ill-gotten wealth, Tac Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan told The Daily Star, "We'll not disclose what we think about disposal of our cases. We the commission members will decide about the matter after hearing from the corruption-suspects."

Justice Habibur denied giving any details regarding the matter.

The chairman has recently said, "Whether the graft-accused disclose full information about their ill-gotten wealth or not, it's clear to me that they feel repentant by depositing parts of their ill-gotten wealth. I have seen it. I have seen sign of repentance in their faces."

"What would I disclose before Tac when I don't own any such wealth? I told Tac I was branded as a corruption-suspect just because I was a member of Titas Gas employees' union," Younus told The Daily Star over phone.

"I asked the commission to initiate investigation into my case once again if they don't believe me. But the commission said they don't have the option to conduct an investigation and heard me kindly," Jalal said.

"It's interesting and frustrating at the same time that some of the corruption-suspects are likely to be free without confessing to their corruption," says a Tac official.

The NCC list to the Tac includes deputy director general, assistant manager, deputy manager, meter readers, account assistants, supervisors, junior technicians and junior development assistants of Titas.

The Tac has heard 89 corruption-accused, mostly government staffs, and primarily ordered them to deposit only about Tk 16.53 crore to the state. Over 30 Titas officials were heard who have so far confessed to having ill-gotten wealth worth about Tk 40 lakh only.

Rail link snapped

2008-09-22T04:31:00.003+06:00

Train communications on the Santahar-Bonarpara railway had been disrupted for more than three hours after an accident in the Sabgram level crossing in Bogra on Saturday. Witnesses said the accident took place at about 11:10am when a local train headed for Santahar from Lalmonirhat hit a truck which got stuck on the railway when it was passing by. The truck was dragged for about a kilometre towards west from the level crossing. Train passengers sad at least two people, one on the railway and the other in the train engine, were killed. After the accident, at least two trains had been stranded at other stations. The train services on the route resumed at about 2:20pm after the truck was removed. Local residents and railway officials said there was no gate in the level crossing. The train's assistant driver Fazlul Haque said the accident had taken place because of inexperience of the truck driver. Bogra railway police outpost in-charge assistant subinspector Jahangir said they had not found any body around the spot after a search. Two people were earlier killed as a train hit a car in the same level crossing on August 15.

Another low likely in Bay

2008-09-22T04:31:00.001+06:00

Another low-pressure area is likely to develop in the northern Bay of Bengal as a trough of low was sighted there on Saturday, Met Office officials said. If developed, it could be the second low pressure in the northern bay since the departure of a deep depression from the northwest bay towards the Orissa and West Bengal coasts on September 17, which developed off a low pressure on September 13. The new low pressure could help a moribund monsoon get buoyed up to bolster the dying rains in the country.