The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University will reopen on October 28, while the residential halls will be opened on October 23 after a long closure over violent clashes between students and security forces on the campus on August 20 to 22.

However, the other official activities, excluding classes and examinations, will resume today.

The syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university, endorsed the decisions at a meeting yesterday evening. The decisions were taken by the Deans' Commitee at a meeting in the morning.

The students who have already finished their final examinations under different departments could appear in the viva voce examination during the closure and also be able to carry on their other academic activities, especially applying for certificates and testimonials.

Besides, the examinations of the evening courses will be taken during the closure of the university. The postponed examinations will be rescheduled from November 5 although the dates will be announced soon.

The central library, research centres, departmental offices and the hall offices will resume their activities from today.

The examinations of the DU affiliated colleges will begin on September 15 as per the decision of the Deans Commitee meeting, while the academic activities at the colleges resumed yesterday.

Besides, the process of admission tests, including fixing the dates for taking admission tests and publishing admission forms will begin during the closure.

DU Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz presided over the meeting while Pro VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider and Treasurer Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad, among others, were present

The syndicate took the decision to reopen the university that was closed on August 23 for sine die after an order issued by the government in the wake of violent clashes between security forces and the students.

The authorities concerned postponed as many as 518 examinations of the DU itself and also the examinations of affiliated colleges under 26 categories during its closure till October 27.

Of them, 254 examinations scheduled to take place at Arts Building Centre, 164 at Curzon Hall Center and 100 of Business Faculty.

The students of the university have to face acute session jam minimum for five months because of the unscheduled closure of the university for 66 days, said an official of the examination controller office yesterday.

Prof Faiz said that they fixed the dates taking to think everything into consideration so that they could carry on all the academic activities normally.

Admiting the session jam, the DU VC said it is impossible to reduce the session jam giving the extra load on the students.

"We have to conscious in which the university is not closed unnecessary in future," he also said adding that, "He will try to over come the problem taking cooperation of all."

The government and non-government colleges in six divisional cities as well as some universities had resumed their activities from yesterday as per another direction issued by the government on Thursday.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet Agriculture University will open on September10 while the Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mymensingh and the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology will reopen today.

Jahangirnagar University and the Chitagong University will open September 12 and October 24 respectively.

The authority of Jagannath University (JN) will take decision by syndicate meeting about reopening the university today.

Earlier, the National University and the Noakhali University have resumed their activities.

Staff Reporter

Country's readymade garment industry leaders yesterday portrayed an awful scenario of 35 per cent order cut of their targeted US$12 billion export during the last three months.

"We are very much worried that export order in RMG sector fall by 35 per cent during the last three months compared to our target," President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez told a news conference at his office.

Parvez said last year's political unrest in Bangladesh, short winter in the West and price hike of oil in the international market were the reasons behind the fall in export orders.

He feared that such a situation might compel the garment factory owners to stop paying salaries of the next three months and two Eid bonuses in time. In this circumstance the BGMEA chief urged the Government to provide soft loan to the RMG factories for six months through commercial banks.

The BGMEA chief also urged the government to announce RMG as thrust sector and establish a separate ministry--- named apparel ministry--- for the sector to help the sector.

Parvez said some external factors are affecting the sector incredibly that they cannot avoid for the lack of government initiatives. In this context, he mentioned the lack of skilled manpower especially in the mid level management He called upon the government to train the mid level management in the vocational institutes and also include the mid level management of RMG sector in the curriculum of the universities.

"Foreign currency earning to the tune of US$50 billion in the next 10 years is not impossible from the sector if the problems are solved on priority basis," he said. BGMEA director Abdus Salam Murshedi and other directors, among others, were present on the occasion.

Staff Reporter

Newly appointed BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said reform of the party would be done as per its constitution, not under any "design" of his expelled predecessor Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

"There is nothing called mainstream or sub-stream of the BNP," he told journalists at his NAM Building apartment, claiming, "The BNP has only one stream and that is under the leadership of Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia."

He was critical of the Mannan Bhuiyan for announcing the reform proposal with a view to free the party corruption, criminalisation and dynastic politics.

Meanwhile, rebel BNP Secretary General yesterday reiterated his claim that his faction is the mainstream of the party since most of the BNP leaders, former MPs and workers are with him.

"The reform of the party is going on and leaders and workers from all over the country have been maintaining regular contacts with us. We are geting positive response from the leaders and the workers," he said.

"There is no reasons for the honest and democratic leaders and workers of the BNP to support those, who are responsible for massive corruption as well as criminalisation of politics," he asserted while talking to journalists at his Gulshan residence.

Khandaker Delwar said, "Mannan Bhuiyan had been the party Secretary General for 11 years, but he did not take any initiative to reform the party during his tenure,"

As Mannan Bhuiyan stuck to the reform of the party, he claimed that the BNP had undergone many reforms since 1991. More reforms might be brought about according to the proposal of the party councilors.

"The Councillors will submit the proposals to the Secretary General, who will submit those to the Chairperson and the Standing Commitee. The proposals will go to the Council after scrutiny and approval of the Chairperson," Khandaker Delwar said.

Mannan Bhuiyan said the reform was necessary in the party to restore BNP's public image, which was badly tarnished due to massive corruption during its government

"Reform should have to be done in the state machinery as well as for the development of the country and welfare of its people," he said.

Referring to tremendous response he was receiving from the party leaders and the workers to his reform proposals, Mannan Bhuiyan reiterated his hope that they would win the next general election.

Member of the BNP Advisory Council Major General (retd) ZA Khan said they still respect Begum Khaleda Zia as the BNP Chairperson.

Staff Reporter

Detained Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that she is being denied justice and fundamental rights as a citizen of the country.

Her lawyer Advocate Toufique Newaz made her statement public after his meeting with the former Prime Minister at the Special Jail on the premises of the Sangshad Bhaban (Parliament Building) Complex.

Sheikh Hasina made this comment apparently irked by a recent judgment of a High Court Division Bench of the Supreme Court, which said, she would have to face trial in the lower court in Mid-29 scam case.

About denial of her civic rights, Advocate Toufique Newaz said, " The detained Awami League President has the legal right to talk with her relatives over telephone."

He claimed, "According to the jail code, a detained person can talk over the telephone. We have informed the jail authorities of this."

Advocate Newaz, however, did not cite the exact section of the Jail Code, which provided for the prisoners to talk to their relatives abroad over telephone.

He also refrained from citing a precedence of such talks.

When asked, Advocate Newaz said, "The relationship the Awami League president and I have is that of a lawyer and his client Therefore, most of what we talked about is 'privileged information' which I cannot divulge."

"I can only say we discussed whether she was receiving her constitutional rights. Things are currently happening which are not consistent with the Constitution. Many flaws remain in the process," he claimed.

Advocate Newaz demanded of the authorities concerned that he should be given more time to discuss Sheikh Hasina's cases.

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday formed a 10-member medical board for treatment of detained Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Koko is undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) as he has been suffering from pain in the chest and has some neurological problems, medical sources said.

The board headed by Dr KMHS Sirajul Haq, Chairman of Cardiology Department of the BSMMU, examined Koko last night and said he should be kept in Coronary Care Unit (CCU) for some days.

Arafat Rahman Koko was arrested on September 3 along with his mother BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on graft charges and was taken to police remand. He was sent to jail on Thursday before completion of the remand. Later he was shifted to BSMMU hospital Friday afternoon. Tariq Rahman, elder son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is also in Jail on the same charge.

No deal with IMF against national interest: Adviser

Staff Reporter

The government would not sign any deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that goes against the interest of the country, no mater whatever amount of money the global funding agency offers to lend, said the Finance Adviser.

"I will not accept any condition that undermines the interest of the country and I will not sign any treaty that goes against the interest of my country," Dr Mirza Azizul Islam said after a meeting with the visiting IMF team at his Planning Commission office in the city yesterday morning.

However, the Washington-based multilateral lending agency that oversees the global financial system by observing exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering financial and technical assistance, does not want that Bangladesh stops taking loans from it The IMF, an organization of 185 countries, has also become desperate to sign a new treaty with the Bangladesh government

The IMF mission is in Dhaka at a time when the donor agency has been pressing the Bangladesh government to sign an umbrella treaty for providing policy support, although there have been criticisms about such deals as the critics think this could bind the country to policy dictates.

Responding to questions from reporters about the much-talked-about Policy Support Instruments (PSI) treaty proposed by the IMF, he said still there has not been any discussion about the so-called PSI treaty. "But I can assure you that I will not take any money, whatever the amount, giving away the interest of the country," he said.

But, after the meeting, IMF Asia-Pacific Department adviser Thomas R Rumbaugh said that his organisation has many aspects, avenues and options to help Bangladesh, and they are interested to tie up themselves under a treaty with Bangladesh.

"There are several options; PSI is one of the options, while PRGF is another. But it depends on the government of Bangladesh under which treaty they want it," he said.

The Finance Adviser made it clear that the government would not refuse any budgetary support from any donor organisations or countries unless they tag any impossible condition binding the aid package.

Defending his stance on taking budgetary supports, he said that the government can tackle the relief activities with its domestic resources, but the post-flood rehabilitation programme would need external support

"Different ministries are yet to send their post-flood demands. When it will start to come, we will need budgetary support then."

When his atention was drawn to some countries having said goodbye to the IMF for its policy advocacy that has allegedly done more harm than good to them, he said that geting out from the grip of IMF depends on what type of assistance needed. "Many countries again enter in the IMF after they get out," he said, apparently disapproving of such suggestion.

To a query whether it needs to enter into any treaty with the IMF for money when the Balance-of-Payments (BoP) situation is good, he said it not means to enter into a new treaty, it means to get budgetary supports. "BoP and budgetary support is totally different issues--BoP

is the part of remitance, it is not part of the government"

He also refused to have any link with the closing down of jute mills and signing treaty with the IMF, the twin of the World Bank that has

sponsored drastic reforms and denationalization of state-owned enterprises, which involves layoffs and retrenchments.

About the discussion points with the IMF, Dr Aziz said that they discussed revenue reform, income-tax law, reform in revenue management, revenue collection, inflation and financial-sector reform.

About the IMF's proposal for separating revenue-policy body and collecting body, he said, "I am agreed with it and once upon a time it was separate in the country. But we have some administrative issues to do that"

The Finance Adviser said that the IMF team appreciated his government's effort to increase the revenue collection and reform initiative for financial sector.

Terming the present state of inflation 'import price-driven inflation', not 'excess demand-driven inflation', he apprised the IMF team that the prices of essentials did not rise up on a par with the price hike on the international market

In recent weeks the IMF's role in Bangladesh has become controversial as its reform prescriptions in various fields of the country economy has strongly been criticised by the civil society, business community and academicians.

They observed that the IMF's prescriptions, if implemented, would bring disaster to the country's overall economy.

The role of this Breton Woods institution has also been controversial since the late Cold War period. Critics claim that IMF policy makers deliberately supported capitalistic military dictatorships friendly to American and European corporations.

Critics also claim that the IMF is generally apathetic or hostile to their views of democracy, human rights, and labour rights.

Overall the IMF success record is perceived as limited. While it was created to help stabilise the global economy, since 1980 critics claim over 100 countries have experienced a banking collapse that they claim have reduced GDP by four percent or more, far more than at any time in Post-Depression history.

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh is bracing for yet another devastating flooding as major rivers are now flowing above their danger levels due to heavy downpour across the country and in neighbouring India, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

A flood-bypass dam built at Teesta barrage project collapsed in Lalmonirhat under the thrust of onrush of river waters Friday night

Different districts, including Sirajganj, Sylhet, Sherpur, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Noakhali and Khagrachhari have been flooded again due to heavy rainfalls and onrush of waters from the hilly regions bordering India.

The FFWC said in a bulleting yesterday that monsoon remains vigorously active over the Ganges, Meghna Brahmaputra basins both in and outside the country and also over the south-eastern hill basin.

Quoting the Indian Meteorological Department forecast, the FFWC said widespread rainfall with scatered heavy to very heavy falls is likely over Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Gangetic West Bengal and East Utar Pradesh under the Ganges basin, Assam and Meghalaya and Arunachal

Pradesh under the Brahmaputra basin during next three to four days. Fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is also likely over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura under the Meghna basin during next 2-3 days.

Bangladesh meteorological Department also forecast for heavy to very heavy rainfall at places over the country during next 24 hours.

Under the influence of active monsoon, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at places over all the six divisions of the country in the next 24 hours till 9am today (Sunday), said a Met Office bulletin.

High flood situation prevails in Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Sonitpur and Sivsagar districts in the Indian state Assam and the flood water will automatically be drained by the Brahmaputra through Bangladesh.

Northern districts like Kurigram. Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Gaibandha are experiencing flash flood as the Sub-Himalayan West Bengal discharging huge runoff (generated from very heavy rainfall during last couple of days) through flashy rivers the Teesta, Dharla and Dudkumar.

The prevailing flood situation in Sylhet is likely to deteriorate further and will spread ove Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Netrokona in the next 24-48 hours.

South-eastern Feni, Chitagonj, Rangamati, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar are experiencing flash flood and the situation may deteriorate in the next 24 hours.

The mighty Brahmaputra-Jamuna is rising alarmingly and may cross danger level at Bahadurabad, Chilmari and Aricha by next 24 hours. The river is flowing 35cm above danger level at Sirajganj and the rising trend is likely to continue in the next 24-72 hours.

The Ganges-Padma is also in rising trend and flowing 25cm and 18cm above danger level at Goalundo and Bhagyakul respectively. The river is likely to rise further in the next 24-72 hours.

North, north-central and south-central parts of the country are in a threat of second spell of flooding by next 48-72 hours.

Our Lalmonirhat district correspondent reports: Flood-bypass dam built at Teesta barrage project around the Teesta river in Hatibanda upazila of the district collapsed.

Sources said some 75 villages in four upazilas of the district were flooded at about 11pm, leaving about two lakh people marooned. Crops on the huge tract of lands went under the floodwaters.Valuables worth several crores were also destroyed in the flooding.

The floodwaters also washed away huge fishes of many ponds and water bodies in Hatibanda, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Sadar Upasilas.

The Teesta river was flowing 52cm above its danger level at Teesta barrage point DC Rafiqul Islam, SP Jamsher Ali and officials of local administration visited the spot

Staff Reporter

Renowned economists of the country including the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, at a seminar yesterday, identified a number of reasons behind inflation, which may accelerate further and lead the nation towards economic stagflation.

Some of the economists explained that excess prices of foreign currencies, especially of Indian Rupee, against Taka pushed prices of many imported items up accelerating inflation.

Bangladesh Bank could influence the forex market, without hoarding a huge foreign currency in its locker. A buffer stock of goods could be made to cope with any possible crisis, some of the economists opined.

But, Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed turned down the suggestion, saying that he needs to pursue a "pragmatic and cautious policy" in maintaining reserve so that any abrupt shock in future does not jeopardise the economy.

"If we release some amount from the reserve at this moment, there're some risks … It can cause a massive disaster to the economy," he said, adding that it's very difficult to assess the exact impact of depreciation of Tk on the economy. "It can have a reverse impact too."

Prof SR Osmani of University of Ulster, UK, and visiting Professor of BRAC University presented the keynote paper on 'Interpreting Recent Inflationary Trends in Bangladesh and Policy Options' at the seminar organised by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the BRAC Centre Inn Auditorium in the city. Professor Rehman Sobhan chaired it

Analysing last 5-year's inflationary trends he said that rising external prices of food is a plausible explanation of inflation, but not a complete one.

"A couple of policy variables have played important roles in accelerating inflation," he said arguing, "First, an accommodating monetary policy has helped to translate a change in relative price into generalised inflation; Second, the exchange rate policy of allowing Taka to depreciate has exacerbated the inflationary pressure."

Price rise of goods in the international market, depreciation of Taka, expansion of some monetary aggregates, fiscal expansion, inappropriate suggestions of IMF, siphoning off currency, political instability, anti-corruption drive of the Caretaker Government, disruption in marketing channel, supply shortage, unethical hoarding of goods, price syndication by corrupt businessmen, less production of food grains and the recent floods were identified by the experts as short term or long term reasons of painful race of inflation.

Professor Rehman Sobhan said that innflation has emerged as a national problem and it should be addressed nationally. Bangladesh Bank alone will not be able to tackle it, for it has not all the tools to deal with it

Real economy and fiscal measures are integral part of it So, all the policy makers including the Finance Adviser should work with it in coordination.

Addressing the central bank governor the seasoned economist said, "You will not be able to tackle inflation just following the suggestions of IMF. You have not enough tools to curb it alone. Take into consideration what the Bangladeshi experts say."

Turning to suggestions for fighting inflation, Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud stressed the need for giving more concentration on cereal production due to recent phenomenon of diversification of farm products on expectation of more prices.

He suggested variable duty rate on import of essential items in a manner when local production will be increased, higher import duty should be imposed and when prices on the international market will appreciate and import duty should be reduced.

Prof Mahmud also suggested developing buffer stock to avert sudden short supply of food.

Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Farashuddin Ahmed echoed the suggestion of increasing local production and making food stock as he experienced beter results during his tenure as Governor when forex reserve plunged as low as US$ 1.3 billion.

Former Finance Minister M Sayeduzzaman said he does not feel the reserve is comfortable as only one shock of energy price or food price could deplete the forex reserve position.

Economist Dr Atiur Rahman stressed the need for looking beyond whether there are cases of stocking dollars or there is any massive capital flight taking place due to political reasons.

The Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin, however, explained that the relation between the exchange rate and inflation is very insignificant in the economy. "Exchange rate manipulation is not really the way of achieving macroeconomic target (inflation)."

He said the major challenge of the economy is not to let the inflation rise further through increasing supply in a situation when the economy is facing a kind of slowdown, if not stagflation yet

Dr Mujeri, Dr Morshed, and former lawmaker GM Kader also took part in the discussion.

Staff Reporter

The three-day long Banglalink Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair 2007 ended yesterday at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.

A large number of people yesterday gathered at the fair and visited the different stalls related to tourism.

Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) organised a concluding ceremony where Nepal Chandra Singh, Tourism Minister of Assam, Sheikh Altaf Ali, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary, Himangsha Shekhor Das, Principal Secretary of Assam State Government, Hafizur Rahman, Chairman, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Omar Rashid of Banglalink, among others, addressed the function .

They stressed the need for enhancing the facilities of travelling to strengthen the existing friendly relations among the neighbouring countries.

Travelling from one country to another and people to people contact is a must for building peaceful bilateral relation.

They said, if proper initiatives are taken to develop tourism industries, every year a large number of tourists would come in this region from the western countries.

The natural beauty of these areas is unique in the world, they observed.

Most of the travel and tour operators and other related organisations offered incentives to atract more and more tourists.

Visitors from different ages are seen visiting the different stalls .

UNB, Dhaka

Dialogues between the Election Commission and political parties, scheduled to start on September 12, are unlikely to get off on time as the politicians are yet to be prepared for the consultation under the ban on politics.

However, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda Saturday told UNB that the EC would again sit with the government to discuss the mater of removing the roadblocks.

"And if the ban doesn't go till September 11, the dates may need to be rescheduled," he said.

"We feel the necessity of holding the dialogue, but for that formal decision of the party is needed. We are waiting to see government step," said M Abdul Latif Nizami, secretary general of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) which was scheduled to sit for the opening round of discussion with the EC on September 12.

"Why should we violate the sate of emergency? Our decision of holding dialogue will depend on circumstances. The decision can be taken even at the last moment," the IOJ secretary general said talking to UNB Saturday.

The dialogue on electoral reforms between the EC and Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) is scheduled for September 16. However, KSJL president Kader Siddiqui told the news agency Saturday that on September 10, they would take party members' opinion as to whether they would go for dialogue or not

"We are very much interested about the dialogue… We will definitely go for discussion if suitable environment is created. Otherwise, we won't go… Still taking part in the discussion is under question," said the outspoken politician.

Taking decision on holding dialogue with the EC is difficult as indoor politics is closed now, the KSJL president said. Till now, he added, they are maintaining the state of emergency and government's request for not doing politics as they believe that it should be done in greater interest of the country. On the other hand, dialogue between EC and Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) is scheduled for September 27, but the party applied to the EC for deferring the date into October as their secretary general would not be available on the scheduled date.

"We believe in dialogue in any circumstances… We would go for it, no mater whether the ban on indoor politics goes or not," JP presidium member Ziauddin Bablu told UNB Saturday.

"We hoped the ban on indoor politics would be lifted before schedule… there are still a couple of days… If it doesn't go before September 11, we would again need to discuss the issue with the government," CEC Dr Huda told UNB.

"There may be some problem of the government about lifting the ban on indoor politics… But my assertion is why it wouldn't take place when we the stakeholders (EC and government) took the decision after discussing the mater," he said.

"But that doesn't mean that we are deviated from our target… There could be some five or six days' delay and the dates could be rescheduled," CEC Huda said when asked if the dialogue was poised to run into trouble at the very outset

The CEC observed that there is flexibility in the EC-proposed dialogue schedule. "If the schedule was to be in October, it wouldn't be any problem as the draft reform proposals that we are to discuss with the political parties could be finalized even after six months," he said.

The EC on July 15 announced its roadmap towards election by the end of 2008, with plan for holding dialogue with the political parties from September to November this year.

On August 12, the EC announced that they would primarily sit with the representatives of 15 political parties selected.

The schedules for the selected parties are: IOJ Sept 12, Krishak Sramik Janata League Sept 16, Ganotantrik Dal Sept 20, Jatiya Party (Ershad) Sept 27, Jatiya Party (Manju) Oct 4,JSD (Inu) Oct 9, JSD (Rab) Oct 22, Jamaat-e-Islami Oct 25, NAP (Mozaffar) Oct 28, Bangladesh Awami League on November 4, Workers Party Nov 11, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Naziur) Nov 15, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on November 22, CPB Nov 25 and Samyabadi Dal Nov 29.