The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Experts at a seminar on 'Saving Dhaka from Flood and Other Environmental Hazards' yesterday said that unless the drainage system is revived and illegally occupied city canals and water bodies are recovered, no measures would be successful to save Dhaka from flood.

The seminar organised by the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) was held at its auditorium where Dr AMM Safiullah, Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Science and Technology (BUET) spoke as the chief guest Dr Mohammad Mujibur Rahman, Professor of Civil Engineering Department of the BUET, Dr Monowar Hosain, Professor of Water Resources Engineering and Technology Department of BUET, and Mohammad Shamsuddoha, Lecturer of Civil Engineering Department of the MIST, presented three separate keynote papers on the event

At the seminar, BUET VC Professor AMM Safiullah criticized various plans and projects implemented by different governments.

He also held responsible the unscrupulous officials and personnel saying, "Our forefathers and the city fathers did not consider future of their next generation." Explaining his own experience, the VC said that after the flood in 1988, the embankment around the capital city was constructed without taking the suggestions from the experts. He blamed the unplanned embankment for the flood in the city.

The VC mentioned that the main cause of flood in the city is rainy water logging as it cannot pass away as the drainage system cannot work due to various obstacles created by the unscrupulous people.

Dr Mohammad Mujibur Rahman said due to filling of the canals and lakes, the drainage system is not working. He also protested the construction of box-culverts and suggested to activate the open and flowing khals and canals.

At the seminar, the speakers emphasised to consider the proposed 'Eastern Bypass' for saving Dhaka from flood and also strengthening pumping out of the stranded water.

The experts explained the condition of changes in Ozone Layer, Green House effects and biological causes of environmental hazards.

BSS, Dhaka

Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury expressed his firm commitment to fight against corruption and keep the commission completely out of the political influence saying it has no other agenda or objective accept making the country free of corruption.

"I can assure you that I have no other agenda. I have no political angle, reason or objective. I tell you again that the ACC would never be involved in politics," he said during his monthly briefing to reporters at his office here on Thursday.

The ACC chairman said the actions against the corrupts would continue even if the government stops its present procedure of making lists of corrupt persons in phases. "The ACC will not be dysfunctional or will not close its offices if the lists of corrupts are not prepared as we have no relation with making such lists. It's good if the lists are prepared. It helps us to work. But, if such lists are not prepared then, Inshallah, we are able to make our own lists," he said.

Justifying the actions by the ACC to file corruption cases against the two former prime ministers, he said, "We have started filing corruption cases as the allegations of corruption against them have been found in the investigation."

"We have to start from a point and then many persons would come under the process gradually. We have the options to file cases on the basis of wealth statements or of the corruption charges against a person," he said. So far the ACC activities have been involved in the wealth statements. Now, the commission will expand its activities in all peripheries, which come under the definition of corruption, he said.

"We started work with 'wealth-statement' as it was easy to make people understand about our goal. Now, we can take actions against all activities, which are defined as corruption, he said. Pointing out the progress of the reconstitution of the district and upazila level social commitees against corruption, Hasan Mashhud said necessary data collection for the commitees has been completed.

The commission is now verifying the complaints so far available through press and different sources. Army officers at divisional headquarters would go to the spot and gather more information about the persons selected for the proposed commitees, he said.Soon after Ramadan, formation of the commitees would be completed and then programmes will be taken to inform the members of the commitees about their duties, the chairman said.

He noted that the activities of these commitees would be completely for motivational and preventative purposes. These commitees will have no legal power to dictate the commission, he said adding that we want to get involve local people as we want to give it a shape of social movement, he said.

With a view to making the ACC functional across the country, Hasan Mashhud said as part of the programme the commission has taken measures to reorganise the district offices and reduce their number.

"The number is not important in modern management Control and management are important," he said adding that the number of offices of the ACC at the district level would be reduced to 23 from the existing 54 as many offices had no function actually during the last three years.

Under the new plan, a divisional officer would look into the affairs of about six district offices instead of about 18 before reorganisation, he said. However, if required, the number of districts would be increased, he added.

Hasan Mashhud said the commission has taken a decision to change its existing rules of scrutiny of the allegations regarding corruption curtailing the authorities of the district offices to scrutinise an allegation.

"I don't know why the provision was created. I think the mater is illogical. Why a person of Nilphamari lives in Dhaka would not be allowed to submit a complain in Dhaka," he commented.

Moreover, the scrutiny commitees under the existing rules might be manipulated during the time of political governments as there has a provision for giving nomination of so-called 'honest person' in the scrutiny commitee, he said.

Hasan Mashud said, "I think it was not done from clear conception. This was done to follow a bureaucratic procedure," he said.

"It's practical to me, where I will get a message of corruption, I must go for action without depending on anybody. So, we are changing the rules. The ministry agrees to change the rules," he added.

Replying to a question on the investigation of corruption and irregularities in appointment of election officials in the Election Commission (EC), the ACC chairman said the EC must probe the case first

"There is no problem if it is acceptable to all. But, if it is not acceptable, then we can go for further investigation," he said laying importance to taking departmental action first against any corruption.

About the allegation of harassment raised by businessmen, the ACC chairman said everybody likes to do anything according his own advantage even going beyond the law. When you go for executing any law perfectly and disallow them to do anything beyond the law, then they take it as harassment

He said the commission would prepare necessary rules to inform people about the fate of their complaints they submited to the commission.

Replying to another question, Hasan Mashhud said he will keep the channel open to meet common man to hear their complaints against corruption. I stopped the public hearing because of time constraint and an increased number of people coming to the commission with complaints.

"I am sorry to my inability to meet them. But I will keep the channel open and after formulating necessary rules I will hear common man as much as possible," he said.

Staff Reporter

Eklimur Reza, 65, an employee of The New Nation, died of cardiac arrest at about 2:30pm at his residence at Dakkhingaon, Basabo, in the city yesterday (Inna Lillahe………Rajeun).

Eklimur Reza used to work as the in-charge of Retouching Section of the daily. He had been working in the newspaper since 1981.

He left his wife, two sons, three daughters and huge number of well wishers and relatives.

He was buried at Jurain graveyard after his second namaz-e-janaja in front of Itefaq Bhaban after Esha prayer. His longtime colleagues paid tribute to him when his remains was taken at the Itefaq Bhaban at about 9:30pm.

The first namaz-e-janaja was held at Dakkhingaon Jame Mosque at Basabo in the city.

Eklimur Reza, son of late Abbas Ali, hailed from Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj district

Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein has expressed his deep sorrow at the sudden demise of Eklemur Reza, in-charge of Re-touching section of The New Nation.

M. Akmal Husain, Advisory Editor of The New Nation along with the New Nation family condoled the death of their colleague Eklemur Reza.

Qulkhwani and Milad Mahfil will be held at the residence of Eklimur Reza at 80 Dakkhingaon, Road No. 3, Madartek Basabo on Sunday.

UNB, Dhaka

Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman Thursday demanded lifting of ban on indoor politics and also withdrawal of the state of emergency.

"Because no circumstances exist in the country now to continue the state of emergency," he said at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence in the afternoon.

"Under the ongoing state of emergency, there is no fundamental rights of the people," Zillur added. The AL leader said they would decide at the party's working commitee meeting after the ban on indoor politics is lifted as to who would go and what are the maters to be discussed with the Election Commission.

"Dialogue with the Election Commission won't be fruitful if the ban on indoor politics doesn't go."

Zillur reiterated that no council would be held in the absence of party chief Sheikh Hasina and the AL would not participate in the general election without her.

Replying to a query, he said it would not be possible to curb corruption by merely filing 10-12 cases against an individual. "And it will also not be possible by harassing or making any list" He said the government should create public opinion to curb corruption.

About the High Court order discharging Sheikh Hasina's petition for quashing the long pending Mig-29 scam case, the AL leader said: "It doesn't mean she is guilty."

"We are hopeful about the case as the victory of truth is inevitable," he said adding that they would appeal in the higher court as soon as possible.

About expelled BNP secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan's current stand, Zillur said he doesn't believe in frequent change of stand by anyone. "Today, we chant slogan in favour of someone and after someday speak against the same person…I don't believe in such practice," he added. AL leaders Motia Chowdhury, Adv Rahmat Ali, Maj Gen (retd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan, Habibur Rahman Seraj and Faridun Nahar Lailee were, among others, present at the briefing.

BSS, Dhaka

The major rivers---the Brahmaputra- Jamuna and the Ganges-Padma---are on the rise again, the Jamuna still remaining under danger level (DL), sources in the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said on Thursday.

The Padma may cross its DL during the next 24-48 hours at Goalundo and Bhagyakul points with chances of floods stalking the south-central districts of Rajbari, Faridpur, Manikganj and Munshiganj again, the FFWC said. The sources, however, said the clear picture would not be available about the fresh floods sweeping these districts before the next 48 hours, when the monsoon may slow down from its current level of active state over the country.

Heavy rains upstream and also in the northern, northwestern and northeastern regions have also swelled the Teesta, Surma, Kushiyara and the Kobadak in the southwest, which are all flowing above their DL, the FFWC sources said. Except these all other rivers in the country are flowing below their DL, the FFWC said in its latest observation report on Thursday.

The prevailing flood situation in the district of Sylhet is likely to deteriorate slightly during the next 24-48 hours with the monsoon vigorously active over the region, the FFWC report noted.

During the next 24 hours, however, the Meghna, carrying the combined flows of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna, the Ganges-Padma and the rain-fed northeastern rivers before emptying at the Bay of Bengal, is likely to remain steady at Bhairab Bazaar, flowing 52 cm below its DL.

During the same period the Brahmaputra-Jamuna at Sirajganj is likely to rise by 37 cm but flow three cm below DL. The Padma at Goalundo is likely to rise by 19 cm and may flow 13 cm above the DL.

The river is likely to rise by 17 cm at Bhagyakul and may flow 16 cm above the DL. The Teesta at Dalia marked rise by 29 cm and was flowing above the DL by 34 cm in the morning of on Thursday.

The Kobadak at Jhikargacha remained steady, flowing above the DL by 15 cm. The Surma flowing above the DL by 107 cm at Kanaighat but fell there by one cm, remained steady at Sylhet, recorded a rise by five cm at Sunamganj.

The Kushiyara recorded fall by 1 5cm at Amalshid and six cm at Sheola. The river was flowing above the DL by 127 cm at Amalshid and 31 cm at Sheola this morning.

The Manu fell by 39 cm at Manu railway bridge and 38 cm at Moulvibazar, the Gumti recorded a rise by 10 cm at Comilla and six cm at Debidwar.

The Feni rose by seven cm at Ramgarh, the Halda at Narayanhat rose by 17 cm and the Matamuhuri rose by 35 cm at Lama while the Muhuri at Parshuram fell by 11 cm and the Sangu also fell by 20 cm at Bandarban on Thursday, the FFWC report on other rivers stated.

Staff Reporter

The Government of Japan and the Asian Development Bank will assist Bangladesh in ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of development projects meant to bring the South Asian nation closer towards achieving the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.

The assistance will focus on strengthening the organisational capacity of concerned government agencies of Bangladesh, including the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division and the Foreign-Aided Projects Audit Directorate.

The assistance will facilitate changes in structures, functions, reporting relationships, monitoring and evaluation, and audit capacity of the two agencies. The Government of Japan will provide a grant of US$800,000 to fund most of the US$1 million cost of the project The Government of Bangladesh will cover the balance.

ADB already provided a grant for Bangladesh's Strengthening Project Portfolio Performance, which was implemented from 1999 to 2006. The project addressed weaknesses in the two concerned agencies, specifically in implementing ADB-assisted projects. Both agencies have sought a continuation of the support

"This will enable the organisations to monitor the development results and support monitoring of the implementation of the government's poverty reduction strategy and the achievement of the millennium development goals, in partnership with the government's line ministries," said Stefan Ekelund, senior transport specialist of ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission. "The project is expected to lead to improved accountability and enhanced performance in delivering development programs."

Bangladesh ataches high importance to effective project implementation and effective monitoring and evaluation of projects and sectors, which is one of the reasons it sought the assistance of ADB on the mater.

The Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division is particularly concerned with addressing new challenges arising from its critical role in monitoring achievements of results of the development cooperation under Bangladesh's poverty reduction strategy to assess progress made toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, which were established in 2000 by the UN Millennium Summit to alleviate poverty and improve lives.

UNB, Dhaka

The government has decided to set up two new urea fertilizer factories in the country in the wake of increasing demand in the agricultural sector.

One of the proposed factories, North-West Fertilizer Factory Limited will be set up in Sirajganj while the other, Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory Limited, will be set up to replace the Natural Gas Fertilizer Factory (NGFF) Limited in Fenchuganj.

The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Industries Ministry on Thursday with Industries Adviser Geeteara Safiya Chowdhury in the chair.

The meeting hoped that two factories would be able to produce 11.20 lakh metric tons of fertilizer annually -- 5.60 lakh metric tones each. It was informed that the Chinese government has already expressed its eagerness to finance the seting up of the North-West Fertilizer Factory in Sirajganj.

The meeting directed the ERD to setle within next one month the long pending Czech Republic offer relating to financing the establishment of Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory Limited in Fenchuganj. It was decided that if the Czech government do not set up the fertilizer factory, the government, either with its own resources or through joint venture, would take immediate initiative set up the Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory Limited in Fenchuganj. Industries secretary Dr M Nurul Amin, Planning Commission member Ehsanul Fatah, Energy and Mineral Resources secretary AMM Nasiruddin, director general (Monitoring Cell) of Finance Division Dr Chowdhury Saleh Ahmed, ERD additional secretary of ERD M Shaidul Haq, BCIC chairman Mokhlesur Rahman and Petrobangla chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed were, among others, present at the meeting.

BBC Online

World renowned tenor Luciano Pavaroti has died at his home in the northern Italian city of Modena.

The singer, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, was 71.

His charismatic performances - particularly alongside fellow tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras - helped bring a new audience to opera.

Pavaroti had cancer surgery in July 2006 in New York, five months after his last performance. He had not made any public appearances since then.

He underwent five bouts of chemotherapy in the past year, and was admited to hospital with a fever on 8 August He was released two weeks later following diagnostic tests.

Fellow tenor Domingo said he had "always admired the God-given glory" of Pavaroti's voice, while Carreras called him "one of the most important tenors of all time".

The Vienna State Opera raised a black flag in mourning, while Modena said it would name its theatre after its famous son.

Manager Terri Robson said in a statement that the tenor died at 0500 local time (0400 BST) on Thursday.

"The Maestro fought a long, tough batle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life," she said.

"In fiting with the approach that characterised his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness."

The funeral will be held at Modena Cathedral on Saturday, the city's mayor Giorgio Pighi told Sky TG24 television, according to the AFP news agency.

One of the tenor's doctors, Antonio Frassoldati, told Sky TG24 the singer had been "always totally conscious of the situation, he always sought to fight the diseaset and he was very calm".

Pavaroti enjoyed 40 years on the world stage and became one of the world's biggest-selling artists.

His music reached far beyond the usual opera audience, particularly his signature tune Nessun Dorma, from Puccini's Turandot, which became associated with the 1990 football World Cup.

His performances with Domingo and Jose Carerras at this time - in the Three Tenors concerts - were seen around the world.

"We've reached 1.5 billion people with opera," Pavaroti told critics of the shows.

"If you want to use the word commercial, or something more derogatory, we don't care. Use whatever you want"

In a statement from Los Angeles, Domingo said he had fond memories of the Three Tenors shows.

"We had trouble remembering we were giving a concert before a paying audience, because we had so much fun between ourselves," he said.

Nessun Dorma was part of Pavaroti's final performance, at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Turin in February 2006.

Pavaroti was married to his first wife Adua, with whom he had three daughters, for 35 years until they split in 1996.

He then got together with his secretary Nicoleta Mantovani, who was 26 years old at the time. In 2003, they had been due to have twins, but only one survived, a daughter called Alice.

The couple married in a lavish, star-studded ceremony later that year.

UNB, Dhaka

The government Thursday turned down a plea for further cut in taxes on import of edible oil for complexities in legal procedures and lack of commitment by the importers to reduce the price at consumer level.

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam rejected the request by Bangladesh Edible Oil Association when they met with the Adviser at the Finance Ministry conference room. Commerce secretary Firoz Ahmed and NBR chairman Badiur Rahman were present

"The meeting ended inconclusively," the Adviser told reporters after the meeting, adding that it would require amendment to the existing law, which is time consuming.

Even then the government would have considered a further cut in taxes had there been any commitment that the prices would come down, he said. Dr Aziz referred to the previous experience when the government made import of edible oil at zero percent customs duty, but the price did not come down.

The importers sought a further cut from only a total of 18.75 percent VAT and advance income tax, presently applicable at import stage, on some 150,000 tons of edible oil already imported and kept under bond. "There are enough stocks for the month of Ramadan," association president A Rouf Chowdhury told reporters after the meeting, explaining the need for the tax-cut to release the imported oil at reduced cost

Replying to a question, he said the importers are selling soybean oil at Tk 73-74 per litre at the mill gates, but they do not have control over around 200,000 retailers across the country.

Replying to another question, he said there would be no supply shortage of edible oil during the month of Ramadan, but problem could arise after the month unless the tax is reduced.

Staff Reporter

Local government should be more effective to mobilize the development budget Without implementing Annual Development Program (ADP), national economy would be slowed down.

Dr. Atiur Rahman, an eminent economist said this while talking to journalists at a view exchange meeting yesterday where he introduced "Budget Sahaj Path", an easy book explaining budget by Shamunnay.

He said that the main cause of our economic crisis is our political and economic confusion. To overcome this situation, he suggested that the government should take positive action and the NBR should extend cooperation to the businessmen.

Dr. Atiur lays emphasis on the budget awareness among the mass people through which, the government will know about public opinion. And this experience could be implemented in the national budget By this the budget of the financial year will be more authentic and acceptable to the general people, he said.

To recognize the participation of the people Shamunnay, works to publish such kind of easy explainable book.

About inflation, he said that price rises could not be controlled without increasing production and import For this, he stressed more importance in the agricultural sector.

He said, though the research in the past year would be implemented, the agricultural production increases about 30 percent

In the view-exchange meeting, AKM Muksudul Alam, coordinator of Shamunnay, Humaun Kabir, the UP Chairman of Auliapur, amo0ng others, were present

Staff Reporter

The verdict in the gold smuggling case against former President and Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, which was scheduled to be pronounced yesterday, was deferred again by the court

With this the verdict has been deferred by the court for the seventh time.

Wearing black spectacles, 1st Additional Session Judge Abul Bashar arrived at the court yesterday morning and re-fixed the date of delivering the verdict for September 18.

Sources said the judge deferred the verdict as he fell sick and was suffering from eye disease.

Earlier, Ershad along with his party's leaders and workers went to the CMM Court at about 10:30am. Just after 20 minutes, Ershad left the court in his private car. A British and a German nationals were arrested at Zia International Airport for smuggling of gold bars weighing 3,000 bhories and worth Tk 2.40 crore on July 16, 1990. Later, they were tried and punished. The investigation officer of the case found that Ershad was allegedly involved in smuggling the gold bars into the country and in a supplementary charge sheet accused HM Ershad for his involvement in the gold smuggling.

The lengthy trial was completed early this year and the verdict is awaited.