The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The 31st death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be observed today in the country in a befiting manner.

Various socio-cultural organisations will place wreaths at the poet's mazar on the Dhaka University campus in the morning and organise various programmes, including discussions and cultural functions, to mark the day.

The Nazrul Institute chalked out a three-day elaborate programme in observance of the death anniversary of the poet

The institute's programme began Saturday with art and recitation competitions for children and juveniles, and would end tomorrow by holding a discussion at 4 am at the institute's auditorium. The discussion will be followed by a cultural function.

Chairman of the Nazrul Institute Trusty Board Professor Rafiqul Islam will chair the discussion while Joint Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry Suraiya Begum will be the special guest

Member of the Trusty Board Professor Ahmed Kabir and granddaughter of the national poet Khil Khil Kazi will be present as discussants.

As part of the observance programme, a children and juveniles song competition was held at the Institute yesterday.

Besides, the Bangla Academy will organise discussion, recitation and musical function on the occasion of the rebel poet's death anniversary at its seminar room today evening, Academy sources said.

Professor Hayath Mamud will preside over the function while Dr Mahbubul Huq will present a paper on the poet's life.

The Shilpakala Academy will also organise a discussion and musical soiree at its national natyashala auditorium here.

Textiles and Jute Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rashid Sarkar will atend the function as the chief guest and Secretary of the President office Muhammad Sirajul Islam the special guest Director General of the Shilpakala Academy Qamrul Hasan will chair the function.

The Bangladesh Sangskriti Kendra will hold another discussion to observe the day on the Protyasha premises here.

Pro-vice Chancellor of the Asian University Dr Qazi Din Mohammad will atend the discussion as the chief guest while editor of the daily Naya Digonta Alamgir Mohiuddin will be the key speaker.

UNB, Dhaka

Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury on Sunday admited that total uprooting of corruption from country may not be possible overnight, but the objective should to minimise its scale.

"Free Bangladesh of corruption may not be a doable proposition, at least, for the time being. So, we should decide on a more pragmatic objective which could be to minimise corruption," he said while speaking as guest of honour at the monthly luncheon meeting of the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) at Radisson Hotel.

Corruption may be a fact of life but it should not be allowed to be a way of life, he observed.

He said that there is a two-fold ways and means to curb corruption-prevention and prosecution. "Prevention is beter than cure…It is necessary to kill few chickens to scare a monkey."

About the means to fight the country's rampant corruption, Mashhud said strong political will, a set of transparent but tough laws, agencies to enforce these laws effectively and a well-motivated society are required to deal with corruption.

On the Commission's efforts in achieving the goals, he said, "We are trying to achieve our goals in phases."

About Bangladesh being billed as one of the most corrupt nations on earth, he said, " 'Reputation' of being a corrupt nation is rather sticky. We have to find the effective solution to remove the stain. It may take time. At the end, with your cooperation, it will work."

The ACC Chairman urged the FICCI members to join the campaign against corruption, saying that they are expected to follow the best practices and should encourage others in doing business cleanly.

About doing business in Bangladesh, he said that doing clean businesses might be difficult now, "But through working together we can change things for beter."

"I have been told that over the point of corruption things are under control, people are behaving," Mashhud said. "No, this is not the actual picture. Big businesses are still suffering specially when it comes to sophisticated methods of taking advantage of doing good businesses."

In this regard, he narrated a grim picture of the Custom House in Chitagong where bribe is a common feature. But, he hoped that following the posting of one of ACC directors there, things would improve.

The ACC Chairman said that corrupts do corruption because of high reward low risk proposition, but it should be the other way round. "We will change it"

About the fear factors mentioned by the FICCI President in his speech earlier, he said he is not the man to address the problem. "Some other agencies, specifically the government, should come up with some brighter ideas to remove the fear factors.

Mashhud said he does not have any problem in constituting a Reconciliation Commission like that in South Africa.

"It has been proposed to me…Could there be an arrangement if so and so agrees to clear out the path of old sins, he will be considered as a clean man and he should not be bothered anymore and they referred to the famous Reconciliation Council or Commitee in South Africa."

"Is it that bad?" he questioned. "If it is that bad…Then do have a Reconciliation Council. I have no problem with that"

Again on removing the fear factors, the ACC Chairman said, "Removing fear factors, I believe, should primarily depend on those agencies, which make things difficult for people to conduct their daily businesses cleanly.

He noted that it is not the whole business community or the whole section of people, who are scared. "We know who are scared."

Mashhud said he does not have any problem if the government decides to find some means by which this fear factor can be overcome and let people come out clean. "My point was why should some people be let off. And those people, who lectured you and me about paying taxes."

He assured the business community that his Commission would not scare anyone for nothing.

Replying to a question about the ACC's relation with the National Coordination Commitee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption, Mashhud said the NCC is only for the much part of the emergency period and the Commission is taking the advantage of the NCC resources.

"The ACC will take decisions on its own, Inshallah," he said adding that the Commission would resist if there is a bit of arm twisting on the part of NCC.

On a question about the legal and institutional safeguard of the ACC during a political government, the ACC Chairman said, "It was one of the reasons for which I did not want to take the job. I know it very well… things will change very fast the moment the emergency will be off."

He said, "By the time the emergency is over and a political government is about to take over we should be able to have a social conviction that things would not be allowed to roll back."

He hoped to have an independent Commission of some nature in future when people could work independently.

Among others, British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury, Australian High Commissioner Douglas Fosket, Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson and US Charge De Affairs Geeta Pasi were present at the meeting.

AFP, Islamabad

A power struggle between Pakistan opposition parties is underway after courts ruled an ex-premier can return from exile and as the walls close in on President Pervez Musharraf, analysts say.

Nawaz Sharif-the sworn enemy of the embatled general, who toppled him in a coup in 1999 -- has vowed to be back within weeks to contest elections following the judgement that overturned his banishment from Pakistan.

The ruling was a blow to another former prime minister, Benazir Bhuto, who has been in secret talks with Musharraf on a power-sharing deal-yet her options also remain broad ahead of her own promised homecoming.

Musharraf, a key US ally in the "war on terror", now faces a double challenge to his authority amid widespread anger at his aim to be reelected next month, in defiance of the constitution, as the army chief-cum-president

General elections are also due by early 2008, causing further tension. If former commando Musharraf is backed into a corner, analysts say he could yet declare a state of emergency-which he rejected earlier this month under US pressure-or even martial law.

"Pakistan is heading towards a long period of confusion and uncertainty and the basic root is Musharraf's desire to hold on to power on his terms," political analyst Hasan Askari told AFP.

"The first three weeks of September will determine the direction of Musharraf's political future and the direction of Pakistani politics," said Askari, former head of political science at Lahore's Punjab University. Musharraf has been embroiled in crisis since a botched bid to fire Pakistan's chief justice backfired and sparked the biggest protests of his eight- year military rule.

The Supreme Court's reinstatement of top judge Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in July unleashed a torrent of rulings that weakened the government, including the one that permits Sharif and his brother Shahbaz to return.

Musharraf has also faced unprecedented pressure from Washington to crack down on Al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal zone bordering Afghanistan, as well as threats of unilateral US military action.

The United States has repeatedly urged Musharraf to allow free and fair elections-a further sign that it is losing its patience with the man who abandoned Pakistan's support for the Taliban post-9/11.

PTI adds: Refusing to abide by the recent Supreme Court judgement, President Pervez Musharraf has said that exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would not be allowed to return to Pakistan to take part in the general elections slated for later this year.

"The government will neither allow the Sharif brothers to come back nor would they be given a free hand if they chose to return. If Nawaz Sharif is not honouring his 'exile' deal, the government will put him behind bars or send him back to Saudi Arabia," 'The News' quoted Musharraf as saying here.

Considering petitions filed by the deposed Premier and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, the apex court had ruled on Thursday that they were free to return to the Islamic nation after seven years in "forced" exile.

Staff Reporter

Panic spread among the small investors in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) on early Sunday as the system was producing abnormal result in the index calculation.

Trading on the DSE began two hours late at 12pm on the day instead of 10 am. Normally trading in the DSE starts at 10am.

One DSE official said, "We faced problems in index calculation. We were geting abnormal results."

To make up lost hours, the bourse extended trading hours to 3pm from 2pm.

"The problem may have arisen from a hasty shutdown of the system on Wednesday," DSE senior vice president Ahmad Rashid Lali told newsmen.

DSE sources said trading in the stock market continued until 3pm, said DSE chief executive Salahuddin Ahmed Khan. But hours for on-the-spot trading remain unchanged, he said.

However, share indices closed higher with the gainers outnumbering the losers during the day's trading.

The DSE General Index (DGEN) increased about 42 points or 1.79 per cent to close at 2377.68 points yesterday while the All Share Price Index rose 42 points or over 2 per cent to close at 1982 points.

The DSE-20 index of selective shares was also 25 points or 1.29 per cent up to close at 1939 points.

Of some 185 issues traded, 128 gained, 43 incurred loss and 14 remained unchanged. The total turnover stood at Tk 116 crore.

Market operators said the market went up belying the country's situation on expectation that the unrest would be mitigated further in the days ahead. "The investors might have ignored the country situation to act in the market," said one of them.

Another perception is that investors' participation in the stock market is higher than other sectors as they might have felt investment is safe in the capital market in the present day situation of the country.

The indices fell sharply on the previous two trading days last week--- Tuesday and Wednesday -- following the unrest at Dhaka University that led to the imposition of curfew in capital Dhaka and five other divisional cities.

The DSE remained closed on Thursday due to the curfew.

DU Correspondent

Not a single examinee in 60 educational institutions including 23 Alia madrasas could come out successful in this year's HSC or equivalent examination.

However, the number of colleges and madraras with zero success rate was 86 in last year and 131 in 2005, 278 in 2004, 298 in 2003 and 553 in 2002.

Nine colleges under Technical Education Board 8 colleges under Rajshahi Board, 5 under Jessore board, 3 under Chitagong Board, 6 under Barisal Board and 6 under Dhaka Board are also on the list of no-success institutions but the Colleges under Comilla Board became hundred per cent success in this year's examination even in last year.

On the other hand, 434 colleges and madrashas across the country achieved brilliant result with 100 per cent pass while the number was 363 in last year. Of the 434 all-success institutions, 356 are madrasas.

Besides, 38 all-pass institutions are under the technical education Board, 18 under Dhaka board, 8 under Rajshahi board, 6 under Sylhet board, one under Comilla board, two each under Chitagong, three under Barisal board and two under Jessore Board.

Additional Secretary of Education Ministry Abdul Awal Majumder said they would take stern action against those institutions pass rate of which were zero.

On the other hand, the institutions that secured 100 per cent pass will be given incentive and all kind of assistances including infrastructure development

DU Correspondent

A total of 930 students got GPA-5 under the Madrasah Board in this year`s Alim examination where 277 students secured the GPA-5 from ten institutions.

The top ten Institutions securing GPA-5 under the Madrasah Board are given below.

The Institutions that obtained highest result based on GPA-5 are Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah (Demra), Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah (Tongi), Darunnazat Siddikia Kamil Madrasah (Demra), Dhap Satgara Baitul Mukarrm Kamil Madrasah (Rangpur),

Namazgar gausul Azam Kamil Madrasah (Naogaon), Jhalokathi N S Kamil Madrasah (Jhalokathi), Jameya-E-Kasemia Kamil Madrasah (Narsingdi), Sarsina Darussunnat Kamil Madrasah, (Nesarabad, Pirojpur), Jameya Ahmmadia Sunnia Kamil Madrasah (Chitagong) and Baitus Saraf Ideal Kamil Madrasah (Chitagong).

Besides, the Institutions obtaining 100 per cent pass are given below.

The Institutions are Dhap Satgara Baitul Mukarram Kamil Madrasah (Rangpur), Madinatul Ulum Kamil Madrasah (Rajshahi), Noyatola AUN Kamil Madrasah (Dhaka), Tumchar SE Fazil Madrasah (Laximpur), Idrisia Alim Madrasah (Sherpur), Dhampti Islamia Kamil Madrasah (Comilla), Madinatul Ulum ModelInstitute Girls` Kamil Madrasah (Dhaka), Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah Mohila Shaka (Demra), Balanagar Fazil Madrasah (Rajshahi) and Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah (Tongi).

Rajshahi Correspondent

Abu Saleh Shaikh Md. Zahirul Islam,additional session judge of Rajshahi has awarded Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor and Ex MP Mizanur Rahman Minu and 10 others to suffer 13 years and one month rigorous imprisonment and a fine of taka 10,500 yesterday in an extortion case. In failure of providing the fined amount they are to suffer 5 months additional imprisonment, the judge delivered the judgement in a packed court room.

The case in brief is Shamsul Islam khan ,member of the managing commitee of the Evergreen Model College of Rajshahi City filed an extortion case against City Mayor and 10 others on April 21,2007 with Rajpara police station.The complainant in his case mentioned that BNP Rajshahi City Ex general secretary Shafiqul haque Milon,BNP Rajshahi City Ex Vice president Nazrul Huda and others 8 persons at the directive of Mizanur Rahman Minu, Rajshahi City Mayor demanded an amount of Taka 4 lakh from him if he wished to be a member of the managing commitee to run the college and threatened him to death if he could not provide them the demanded amount on July 4,2006.The alleged persons again demanded the same amount and in failure of that threatened him to death on March 29,2007 and tortured him. Investigating officer of the case Sub inspector of Rajpara police station Abdur Rahman submited the charge sheet against 11 persons on May 16,2007.

The judge delivered the judgement after examining the 9 witnesses yesterday. Additional public prosecutor Masum Ahmed Tipu and APP Shahadat Hossain stood on behalf of the complainant while Advocate Ankur Sen, Mizanul Islam and Ali Ashraf Masum pleaded for the defendants.

UNB, Dhaka

A special court Sunday sentenced detained Awami Swechhasebak League general secretary Pankaj Devnath to 13 years imprisonment and his wife to six years in a graft case. The court also fined Pankaj Tk 10,00,000, in default to suffer one year more in jail while his wife Tk 200,000, in default to suffer six months more in prison.

After examining the prosecution witnesses and records, judge M Firoze Alam pronounced the verdict and ordered confiscating their wealth worth about Tk 65 lakh they amassed "illegally".

In its judgment, the court, however, commuted to half the prison term of Pankaj's wife, Monika Devnath, who was tried in absentia. She would have to serve three years simple imprisonment instead of six years. The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against them for concealing information in their wealth statement submited to the ACC, as part of the current purge launched by the interim regime against corruption.

The couple was accused of amassing wealth worth about Tk 65 lakh, "disproportionate to their known sources of income".

BSS, Dhaka

The government will not deviate from its goals and objectives to hold elections by December 2008, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told heads of diplomatic missions and international agencies based in Dhaka on Sunday.

Later, briefing the reporters at his office, he said that as adviser in charge of the foreign ministry he apprised them of the prevailing situation in the country. He said, "We are moving ahead as per the Road Map of the Election Commission to hold polls by the end of 2008."

Dr Iftekhar said the government has taken all measures to ensure full security to the members of the diplomatic missions and the situation is under control. He said curfew is being relaxed and will be relaxed further.

The reform measures of the government, Dr Chowdhury said will continue and there was praise for the government's stability from the international community. In this context, he said, they have extended full support to the government

Regarding relief goods received from foreign countries, the foreign adviser said such materials were being fully utilized. Though Bangladesh did not make any formal appeal, Dhaka has received adequate relief materials from foreign countries. There is no report of any pilferage of relief goods.

He said that his Iranian counterpart in a telephonic talk with him yesterday conveyed his country's sympathy to Bangladesh for the floods and also assured of necessary support

He rejected the reported allegation made by Andhra Pradesh chief minister that outlawed Harkatul Jihad of Bangladesh was behind the bomb incidents in Hyderabad. He strongly condemned such acts of terrorism.

The foreign adviser said Bangladesh will send peace keepers to Darfur in Sudan.