The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Prices of vegetables and other essentials remained stable in different city markets on Sunday.

The price of green chilli is ranging between Taka 110 and Taka 120 per kg in the markets as it was during the last two days. At the BDR-run open markets, Chilli is being sold at Taka 100 per kg.

The prices of potato, sugar and lentil remained almost stable.

According to a market report of the BDR, a packet of one-kg flour is being sold at a price between Taka 31 and Taka 32 in open markets. The price of flour is Taka 31 per kg at BDR-run markets and Taka 29 at BDR-run sales centres.

The price of coarse rice in different markets ranged between Taka 22 and Taka 24 per kg. On the other hand, the same rice is being sold at Taka 22.50 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 19 at BDR-run sales centres.

Soybean oil is being sold at Taka 80 per liter in BDR-run open markets while the price of the item is Taka 73 in BDR-run sales cenres. In Kolkata, the price of Soybean oil is Taka 108.93 per liter.

Palm oil is being sold at Taka 74 to Taka 78 per liter in ordinary markets. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil is Taka 101.78 per liter.

Powdered milk is being sold at a price between Taka 400 and Taka 410 per kg. Gram (Chhola) is being sold at Taka 64 to Taka 65 per kg in different retail markets which is available at Taka 55 per kg at BDR-run markets.

The price of hilsha fish ranged between Taka 280 and Taka 350 per kg in different city markets. Imported onion is being sold at Taka 31 to Taka 35 per kg in ordinary city markets while the item is being sold at Taka 32 per kg at BDR- run open markets and Taka 25 at BDR-run sales centers.

BSS, Dhaka

Professor Shahidul Islam, a former BNP lamaker submited his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) here on Sunday.

His wife Selina Shahid submited the wealth statement on behalf of his husband who remained absconding since the announcement of state of emergency in January this year.

According to the wealth statement Shahid has about 1,087 decimals of lands and an 8.25 decimal housing plot in Kushtia and an 8.25 decimal plot at Utara in Dhaka.

He has two vehicles- one Toyota and one Lexus, Taka 1,15,045 balance in six bank accounts, investment of Taka 2,15,700 in share business, insurance of Taka 9,77,075 and savings certificates of Taka 5 lakh, according to the statement

Prof. Shahid in his statement said he has one pistol and a shot- gun.

Selina Shahid has 318 decimals of land and two residential plots of 1,125 sft and 3,000 sft in Kushtia and another 10 decimal plot in Mirpur.

She has also a Toyota car (duty free), Taka 27,777 balance in three bank accounts, investment of Taka 4,62,500 in share business, insurance of Taka 1,77,672, savings certificates of Taka 8.70 lakh and 10 totals of gold ornaments.

BSS, Dhaka

Women living in Sector-5 of Utara in the city on Sunday formed an environment club to transform organic (wet) and inorganic (dry) wastes into resources.

The club named 'Ladies Green Club' was formed under an initiative of a pilot project titled 'Wet (bio-degradable) and Dry (non-biodegradable)', which is being implemented by the 'Utara Sector-5 Welfare Association' for the first time in the country.

Waste Concern (WC), Sky Link, Clean Tech and KATALYST-Swiss Contact will provide necessary assistance for implementing the project, said a press release here on Sunday.

With convener of the club Dr Sunanda Borua in the chair, the inaugural ceremony of the club was addressed, among others, by President of the Utara Ladies Club Jahanara Sultana and President of the Utara Sector-5 Welfare Association Advocate M A Wadud.

The members of the club said they would declare a 'Green Day' in each month and discuss environment pollution and its management to make their area clean.

About 100 women, including housewives, teachers, government officials and lawyers, were present on the occasion.

BSS, Dhaka

An international workshop will be held in Dhaka today on the relative merits of food and cash transfers in alleviating extreme poverty in the country.

In an effort to examine the efficacy of food and cash transfers in enhancing food security and livelihood of the ultra- poor in rural Bangladesh, the World Food Programme (WFP) commissioned the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to conduct the study. The workshop will disseminate major findings of the study.

The day-long workshop titled "Dynamics of food and cash transfers: policy discussion on results of the food and cash efficacy study" will be held at Hotel Sheraton.

The WFP in collaboration with the government and the DFID has organised the workshop.

Announcing the programme on sSunday, DFID Extreme Poverty Coor-dinator Penny Davies commented that Bangladesh has progressed. Now is an opportune moment for the country to review its approach to the safety net programme.

High-level representatives from headquarters of WFP and IFPRI, development partners, donor agencies, GoB and NGO officials, including eminent and foreign researchers, will take part in the workshop.

BSS, Dhaka

The High Commission of India here in collaboration with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will organise a "Fusion Music Concert" on September 12.

Eminent classical singer Pundit Sarathi Chaterjee from India and James, a famous Rock singer of Bangladesh, will present the concert to be held at National Theatre Auditorium here at 7 pm on the day.

Some of the most popular themes during the performance will be mixing Indian classical music with Bangladeshi rock and folk music, an Indian High Commission press release said on Sunday.

The whole concert is expected to bring the audience to a new world of music, it said.

Complimentary passes for the concert may be collected on a first come basis from the High Commission of India, Indian Cultural Centre and Dance and Music Department, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Segunbagicha.

New Nation Desk

University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in association with the British Council on Saturday hosted a day long International Education conference titled 'Global Best Practice'. The conference for Principals and Head Teachers was opened by Ann Puntis, Chief Executive, University of Cambridge International Examinations.

Speaking on the occasion Ann Puntis said: "CIE is delighted to host the first International Conference for Principals and Head Teachers in Bangladesh. The conference theme, 'Global Best Practice' reflects our ambition to develop successful students by equipping teachers with the tools to provide the best educational experience". She added: "We hope that Principals and Head Teachers will benefit from the conference and workshops from renowned international experts."

The International Education conference was atended by Principals, senior teachers, academicians, representatives from CIE and the British Council. The conference provided an excellent platform for delegates to build upon their expertise in the field of International Education. The conference covered three aspects, each demonstrating how CIE and its partners are playing a role in bringing best practice to education in Bangladesh.

In the morning plenary session, CIE's Chief Executive Ann Puntis was joined by leading practitioners from Bangladesh, including Dr. Monzoor Ahmed, Director Institute of Educational Development, BRAC University who spoke on Professional Development for Teachers, Yasmeen Murshed, Chairperson, Scholastica addressed the gathering on the subject of 'Globalisation of Education'. In his insightful address to the distinguished gathering Mahfuz Anam, Editor Daily Star expressed his thoughts on the Educational Challenges in the 21st Century.

BSS, Rangpur

Distribution of the National Identity Cards (NICs), prepared under the ongoing Pilot Project of Voters' Registration with Photographs and Preparing NICs, began here yesterday in a simple ceremony at Rangpur Zila Parishad Community Centre.

Acting Division Commander of 66 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army Brigadier General Muhammad Ferdous Mia, who atended the ceremony organised by Sadar Upazila Parishad as the chief guest, inaugurated the distribution of NICs among the voters of Rangpur pourashava area.

The first NIC was handed over to valiant freedom fighter and Commissioner of Ward No. 1 Nur Mohammad Mia by the chief guest and subsequently distributed the NICs to voters Abu Hena Emfatul Hasnain, Anjuara Begum, Parveen Akhter, Mina Alam and Lovely Begum.

Later, Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Khondker Atiar Rahman, chairman of Rangpur pourasabha AKM Abdur Rouf Manik, Sadar UNO Mamtaz Uddin and Chief Coordinator of the project Lt Colonel Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury also distributed NICs among 18 more voters.

The chief guest also handed over more than 500 NICs to Sadar UNO in the ceremony for distributing those among the concerned voters.

Among others, Colonel Elias, Lt Colonel Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, Major Salah Uddin, Major Nurus Salam, Deputy Election Commissioner Habibul Alam, District Election Officer Subhash Chandra Sarker, President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu and senior military and civil officials and elite were present in the function.

In his speech, Brig Gen Ferdous said the NICs will help the citizens for exercising their rights and geting many services being provided by the government and thanked all concerned involved with the process in making the project successful through their all-out cooperation.

"It has become possible following cooperation extended by all people and any noble task can be performed successfully by our sons and daughters through united efforts," he said.

He also thanked the media people for their continuous supports and asked them to play their due role in creating mass awareness to make the project successful in the remote areas of greater Rangpur within the stipulated period of next October.

Lt Colonel Shahriar informed the gathering that a total of 1,46,824 voters out of the estimated 1,71,317 voters as per the previous list of Rangpur pourassabha, have so far completed their registrations by last evening.

The registration process that began on August 19 last, is expected to complete in the pourasabha areas by two days ahead of the scheduled September 13 and it has become possible due to the dedicated, sincere and united efforts of all including about 1,000 people directly involved with the project here, he added.

"We have registered 374 physically handicapped, aged and seriously ill people undergoing treatments at the hospitals through door-to-door visits to them and more 236 citizens of the pourasabha area now living in Rangpur Central Jail will be registered today," he said.

BSS, Dhaka

The government is mulling over constructing elevated expressway again to ease the traffic jam in the city.

Adviser for Communications Maj Gen (retd) M A Matin told reporters after a meeting with a delegation of the Italian-Thai Development Public Company in the conference room of the ministry here on Sunday.

Matin said the Thailand-based company conducted a feasibility study for constructing the elevated expressway in 2002. But, the initiative did not progress later.

A three-member delegation of the company is now visiting Bangladesh as the present government contacted the Company again.

Communications Secretary Dr Mahbubur Rahman and Vice- Chancellor of the BRAC University Prof Jamilur Reza and Thai Ambassador in Dhaka Suphal Chitranukroh were present The Thai delegation presented a demonstration on the project at the meeting.

The Thai company proposed construction of the 30-km elevated expressway in the capital in phases. It was estimated that one- lakh vehicles would ply on the expressway having 10 exit points and 10 toll centres.

The construction works of the proposed expressway would be completed within six years at a cost of around Taka 7,700 crore. The first phase of the 11-km elevated way would take two and a half years time.

The Thai company proposed collecting funds for the project from foreign banks, the adviser said adding that additional secretary of the ministry Ismail Hossain has been deputed to verify the project

On September 10, 2007, my father's industries and educational organisations -Sparrow, Crown Wears, Tepantar, Nurjehan Mazhar College, and Dr. Mazharul Islam Folklore Institute-celebrate my father's seventy-ninth birthday. A former Harvard University Professor, world renowned folklorist, researcher, a poet who experienced considerable sufferings in support of Bangladesh sovereignty, human virtues, and excellences exhibited boundless love of mankind. In July, 2007, Director of the Dr. Mazharul Islam Folklore Institute, Dr. Samsujzaman Khan honored Dr. Islam by holding the second Folklore Conference at Rajshahi University.

Dr. Mazharul Islam Folklore Institute recently published Dr. Islam's books Santaranee Nirantor, Aseem Rodane Duleche Jano, Bangalee Jebanee Troee abong Annanna Chinta, Ujanee iferar Pratidhanee, Tagore and Nazrul abong Bengali Sanskriti to commemorate his extraordinary life as a poet, researcher, and folklorist

Dr. Alan Dundes, a world renowned folklorist, said that my father's political work and philosophy must be looked upon in terms of social and cultural progress and his view on folklore and fundamental concern with humanity would be endured forever by us and his American students. Dr. Mazharul Islam, will always be remembered as a man of deep faith in democracy in the eyes of the United States, which is positively sympathetic to his views.

Incepta introduces Insulin

Bangladesh is now manufacturing sophisticated Biotech drugs like recombinant DNA human Insulin. Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd for the first time in Bangladesh introduces 'Maxsulin', preparation of recombinant DNA human Insulin which is a life saving drug to control blood glucose level of diabetic patients, says a press release.

There are about 6 million diabetic patients in our country and of them 1.3 million require insulin. Previously we had to depend completely on imported insulin to fulfil this demand. Every year we had to spend millions of foreign currency to import insulin. Beside, imported insulin often faces supply shortage. This encourages counterfeit insulin to penetrate in the market, which often causes life-threatening situation.

Insulin is a high-tech recombinant DNA product There are some technological challenges in its manufacturing process. Sophisticated equipments and processes are required. Use of conventional stirrer causes breakdown of insulin chain. That is why special type of magnetic equipment like "VIBROMIXER" is required so that insulin can be prepared by maintaining its chain integrity. Incepta has the expertise & technological advancement to manufacture high quality insulin. Each and every batch is being marketed after ensuring its quality according to British Pharmacopeia.

On occasion of the launching of Maxsulin, Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. organised a lively programme with grand feast at Sheraton Hotel on 8th September 2007. Prof A. K. Azad Khan, Prof Hazera Mahtab, Prof Zafor a Latif, Prof Faruk Pathan and many other reputed doctors of this particular sector were present Abdul Muktadir, the managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd pledges to offer many other high-tech life saving drugs to the people of Bangladesh very soon.

Staff Reporter

Abducted Abdur Jabbar Selim's parents demanded of the government to rescue their son who is missing from Gulistan in the city 16 months ago.

Selim's parents also demanded punishment of the abductors and security of their family.

They were holding a press conference at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.

Selim's younger brother Masud filed a case with Paltan Thana Police in this connection on May 17, 2006. The case no-36.

Masud said Selim had conflict with his business partner Shahid Khan. Shahid Khan took Tk 7.5 lakh from Selim in the name of giving possession of a shop at Gaushal Alam Market But Shahid neither gave shop nor returned the money.

Abdur Jabbar Selim, son of Darbesh Ahshan Ullah Bhasanee and Mansura Khatun of Neeyazpur village at Maizdee in Noakhali district

Staff Reporter

A woman Sabina Begum former name Suma Rani Mallick complained that she was being harassed by her mother as she was coverted into Islam and married a muslim.

At a press conference yesterday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity she said this to the journalists.

Sabina said that she had been in love with Rajedul islam zaher of Mehendiganj upozila under Barisal district and married him in July last year by converting into Islam.

Her mother Babita Rani Mallick filed a kidnapping case against Zaher and police arrested her, she said.

"I got bail by saying that I would go to my father-in-law's house but my mother is still harassing my husband with the false kidnapping case " Sabina said.

UNB, Noakhali

Robbers looted cash and gold ornaments worth about Tk 40 lakh from a jewelry shop at Bashurhat bazar in Companyganj upazila Friday night

Police said a gang of bandits entered the Bhai Bhai Jewelry breaking its wall during heavy downpour at dead of night

Later, they looted Tk 1.20 lakh in cash and 222 tolas of gold ornaments valued nearly Tk 38 lakh from the shop.

Owner of the shop Sirajul Islam filed a case with the local police station.

Another report from Narsingdi adds: Dacoits looted cash and valuables worth about Tk 2 lakh from three shops at Court Road in the town Friday night

Police said a gang of armed bandits entered the shops of Shafiqul, Hanif Mia and Manik Mia at about 3am breaking shuters. They looted cash and valuables from the shops keeping shop employees hostage at gunpoint

A case was filed.

UNB, Dhaka

Speakers at a donor-sponsored meet here Sunday underscored the need for strengthening the audit system to develop a robust and efficient financial management for the all-inclusive Bangladesh Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Program (HNPSP). "The age of unilateral auditing is gone and good teamwork is required between both the auditor and auditee for improving quality of audits and speedy setlement process for an effective audit," said Asif Ali, Comptroller and Auditor General, while inaugurating the workshop on 'Health Sector Audit'.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan and World Bank Country Director Xian Zhu also spoke at the meet organised jointly by the government of Bangladesh and the World Bank at the C&AG office.

Acknowledging the efforts taken by the C&AG office in improving the audit system, Zhu said the Bank is supporting the Health and Family Welfare Ministry in its effort to strengthen its audit systems and develop new procedures to ensure that new initiatives are fully aligned with the overall country financial management system. AKM Zafar Ullah Khan said this workshop provided a good platform to come to a common understanding about the key challenges in the financial management system and work out ways forward through brainstorming.

The Financial Management system of HNPSP covers areas from internal controls, budgeting, financing, accounting, reporting and audit, by following the Government's systems, rules and regulations. Suraiya Zannath Khan, Senior Financial Management Specialist of the World Bank, made a presentation on the potential problems and prospects of the health-sector audit This was followed by an open discussion on the presentation and other pertinent issues of the financial management system of HNPSP.

Officials of the C&AG office, Directorate of Health, Directorate of Family Planning, Foreign Aided Projects Audit Directorate (FAPAD) and MOHFW atended the workshop that concluded with an action plan, to be implemented over the next few months.

UNB, Dhaka

Clearing his stance against further extension of time of amnesty for legalizing undisclosed money earned honest way, the NBR chairman said they knew how to collect income tax. "If the undisclosed money holders do not disclose their money by September 30, we will put our all strength to dig them out and my organization is very much capable to do that," NBR chairman Badiur Rahman told UNB.

About his next action towards the undisclosed money holders he said that he has lot of information about the undisclosed money holders. "Address of house, number of cars, bank account - we have all the information. That is not the end, my intelligence cell working closely to identify the undisclosed money holders for a long time," he said.

Badiur said NBR would not only dig out the undisclosed money but also walk the legal path.

"We have already filed more than 25 cases under the income tax law that is very much new after the independence and we did not spare the big-shots. This is just a message to others that no one is above the law," he said.

The NBR chief said that they would hold another board meeting Today when couple of names would be included.

"We are just waiting to finish the period of amnesty," he said. of corruption and inefficiency of a section of NBR officials he said, "We have already punished some of them. Action against some others is in the process."

Describing various measurers taken for the current fiscal year, the NBR chief said that if the response from the tax-payers is positive, the ceiling of tax exemption will be raised further. The ceiling was raised to Tk 1.50 lakh from 1.20 lakh last year.

Meanwhile, the visiting IMF team met with the NBR chairman this morning.

"We discussed the revenue policy, tax reforms and GDP-tax ratio, Badiur Rahman said.

He said he told the IMF team his seven months experience showed that culture of nonpayment of tax, low salary of NBR officials are the main impediments to collection of higher revenue.

About the remedies, he pointed to the measures taken. He said he was optimistic of achieving revenue target set for this year.