The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Khustia

Farmers Tuesday blocked the Kushtia-Khulna highway at Agaromile in Sadar upazila for four hours demanding the adequate supply of fertilizer.

Witnesses said several thousands farmers from nearby areas thronged the Britipara Bazar early morning to collect fertilizer from dealers and they got angry after failing to get the fertilizer. The farmers then put up barricade on the highway disrupting traffic movement till 10am. Receiving information, army personnel went to the spot and brought the situation under control by assuring farmers of giving sufficient fertilizer.

Farmers blamed the dealers for fertilizer crisis while the dealers denied the charge saying that they stopped distribution of fertilizer due to its shortage.

Joint forces Tuesday evening arrested Abdalpur Union Parishad chairman Liakat Ali following allegation of the farmers about his involvement in the scandal.

Chitagong Bureau

Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce Firoz Ahmed at a colloquium here at the port city on Thursday urged the businessmen to run their business without fear and anxiety.

Referring to the initiatives taken by the caretaker government for ensuring smoother field for business, he called upon the executives to take proper measures in supplying essentials to the consumers in an affordable price.

He also stressed the need for strengthening the private sectors for the greater interest of expediting the country's economy and said that the caretaker government has already taken steps to bring the private sectors within the ongoing reforms.

The commerce secretary was addressing a colloquium on 'Government's perspective on the country's business and industry sectors' held at the conference room of Chitagong Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CCC&I) as the chief guest

Ministry of Commerce and the CCC&I jointly organized the colloquium with the different trade body leaders, businessmen and civil society men of Chitagong Division.

Divisional Commissioner in Chitagong Hosain Jamil presided over the colloquium while Secretary to the Chief Advisor's Office Kazi Mohammed Aminul Islam, Deputy Commandant of the East Bangle Regiment Center (EBRC) Colonel Rejanur Rahman Khan and President of the CCC&I Saifuzzaman Chowdhury addressed the colloquium as the special guests.

Kazi Mohammed Aminul Islam in his speech praised the government's move to form a Beter Business Forum (BBF) and a Regulatory Reform Commission (RFC) as per the announcement of Chief Advisor to accelerate the country's business sectors.

He also underscored the need for making a supply chain involving larger number of retailers for bringing the price of essentials down to the reach of the commoners.

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) demanded price review of the government-controlled drugs, which remained stalled since 1994.

The Drug Administration controls the prices of 117 essential drug items, but the government is supposed to review their prices every year based on inflation and exchange rates in accordance with the pricing policy.

The manufacturers of controlled category of drugs were facing huge losses due to rise in the prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients on the international market, said a statement of BAPI yesterday.

The prices of pharmaceuticals are hardly controlled anywhere in the world excepting Bangladesh and India. In Bangladesh, such control and irrational pricing of drugs have discouraged the local manufacturers to produce some essential drugs where their selling price does not cover even the production cost

The BAPI said, "This has encouraged illegal entry of imported products and the patients are paying 15 to 20 times more."

For example, the approved price of Phenobarbitone is Tk 0.30 per tablet compared to Tk 1.92 in India and Bangladesh, but patients are buying Indian substitutes of the same item at Tk 5 as it comes through illegal ways, it also said.

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable meeting yesterday urged the government to step up measures so that vehicle owners do not increase transport fare during Eid-ul-Fitr. They also demanded adequate number of bus and train services for reducing the misery of commuters during the holy occasion.

Citizens Rights Movement organised the roundtable on the issue at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.

The rights group also demanded introduction of 1000 more double-decker buses of the government-run BRTC to bring dynamism in the transport system, thus reducing traffic congestion in the city roads.

Chairman of Bangladesh Roads and Transports Corporation (BRTC) Hadaitullah Al-Mamun said all BRTC buses would be roadworthy and will run as "Eid Specials." The inoperative buses of the BRTC are being repaired for the occasion.

Former MP and Chairman of Bangladesh Bus and Truck Owners Association GM Siraj and President of Bangladesh Launch owners' Association Badiuzzaman Badol said no additional fare would be charged on the occasion from the passengers violating the fixed fare rate of the government

The rights group requested launch and bus owners not to raise transport fare, as the lower and lower-middle sections of the society are suffering financially due to price hike of essential commodities.

They asked the Government to form "Inter-district Road Transport Coordinating Council" comprising representatives of the Communication Ministry, BRTA, Traffic Police, transports' owners and workers and civil society.

Former MP Col (Retd) Faruk Khan demanded renovation of footpaths of the city roads for making those suitable for pedestrians to walk.

Besides, Freedom fighter Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury, former MP GM Kader, Chairman of Bangladesh Roads and Transports Association (BRTA) ABM Shahjahan, former MP and former Army Chief Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, former MP engineer Kazi Mohammad Sheesh, eminent columnist Abul Muksud, former MP and President of Bangladesh Transport Workers' Federation Shahjahan Khan, Former Secretary of the government Mohiuddin Ahmed and Executive Member of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan Dr Abdul Hai Majumdar, among others, addressed the meeting.

Jasim Uddin, Vice President of the rights group, presided over the meeting, while Tushar Rehman, Secretary General, read out a writen statement

Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

The Holy Ramzan bears a special and unique position in the Islamic calendar because the holy Quran was revealed in this month.

Tilawat (recitation from the holy Quran) is a great virtue. It is more virtious in this month. The Messenger of Allah used to recite Quran more and more in this month in conparison with other months. He said, "Whover recites an Ayat (verse) from the Quran (in Ramzan ) will receive a similar reward as the one who recites the whole Quran in other months." (Bukhari Sharif)

He said, "Invoke your Lord in right earnest with hearts that are free of sin and evil, to enable you to fast and to recite His book (Al Quran)." (Sermon of Rasulullah (SM))

Imam Baqir (R) says : "Everything has a spring time and the spring time of the Quran is the month of Ramzan''.

Though recitation of the verses of the Quran is of great merit and virtue, it will be more virtuous to try to understand the mearing and significance of the verses. So, those who recite Quran, should try to go deep into the Message of Allah.

Staff Reporter

Chief Coordinator of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Ferdous Ahmed Quoreshy said the time to lift the state of emergency from the country has not yet come and election could be held even under the state of emergency, for which politics should be allowed.

He said the way political parties were holding parleys with the Election Commission was conventional and they were not interested in participating in such a dialogue.

The PDP chief said this while addressing a press conference at the party's head office at Segun Bagicha yesterday.

About PDP's right to atend the dialogue with the EC Quoreshy said the EC criteria to atend such talks is each party must have one MP who was elected in any past general election. In his party there were about 100 MPs then it was up to the EC to decide what was legal.

Staff Reporter

Ericsson has signed a new frame agreement with leading Bangladeshi operator TM International (Bangladesh) Ltd (TMIB) to upgrade and expand its EDGE-enabled GPRS/GSM network, and provide mobile broadband services.

Under the agreement, Ericsson will provide new radio base stations and mobile softswitch equipment that will enable TMIB to minimise network costs while evolving towards an all-IP network.

Software upgrades to increase capacity and network performance will also enable TMIB to add new subscribers simply and efficiently while ensuring a high-quality service for end users.

The project includes more than 1000 sites--covering half the country's population--in and between the Dhaka and Chitagong regions.

Chitagong Correspondent

Despite massive opposition from different corners on the move to build a concrete-pillar supported bridge on the river Karnaphuli, construction of Karnaphuli Bridge-III project is progressing fast

Officials of China Major Bridge Engineering Company, authorized contractor of the bridge, said that they had been working smoothly to build the bridge under the approved design and technology.

If nothing happens wrong, they hoped that the construction work would finish approximately six to eight months before the stipulated 38-month time.

Meanwhile, piling works of the two pillars of north side of the river was already completed while piling works of the other five pillars and works of the connecting roads in both the riversides are continuing

in full swing. Immediate past Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, now in jail, formally laid the foundation stone of the 950 meters long and 24 meters wide Karnaphuli Bridge-III on April 19, 2003 and the groundbreaking of the bridge has started on August 8, 2006.

According to experts' opinions, the pillar-supported Karnaphuli Bridge-III may cause quick rising of the riverbed in the down stream of the river Karnaphuli.

They also feared that the pillar supported bridge would ultimately destroy the navigation channel of Chitagong maritime port in near future.

Staff Reporter

Mark Renton, Asia Pacific Head of Investment Banking for Citigroup arrives Dhaka on a daylong visit today (Wednesday).

During his visit Mark will call on capital markets regulators, Citigroup's clients and remain present at the formal inauguration of Citigroup's Global Markets Bangladesh Private Limited, which was awarded its full-fledged merchant banking licence recently as the first ever Bangladesh incorporated entity of Citigroup, the world's largest financial services company.

Mark, a seasoned investment banker, joined one of the predecessor firms of Citigroup, Salomon Brothers in 1987 and has many large investment banking deal closures to his credit

Chitagong Correspondent

Although the domestic consumers of natural gas are contributing much in the growth of Bakhrabad Gas System Limited (BGSL), a distribution and marketing company, it gives a litle for this vast segment of consumers other than plight and harassment

Existing consumers have myriads of complaints against the company like pressure fluctuations, unnoticed suspension of supply and customer harassment, while the would-be consumers are geting discouraged because of the company's complicated registering system.

According to some future clients, the company's recent decision of not approving single gas burner for domestic purpose has frustrated a significant quantity of potential would-be subscribers. Lengthy and time-consuming process for becoming registered users is the key reason for making the new clients disgusted. The BGSL approved contractor's inefficiency and negligence are widely believed the reasons behind the complications.

Manzur Rony, a would-be consumer, told this correspondent that he had submited an application for a double-burner connection couple of months ago. The application allegedly did not make any progress until today.

An insider of the company hinted that piles of applications had been gathering dust on the tables of the officials as the company had refrained from approving single-burner connection.

The stories of would-be consumer's plight do not end here, new clients hardly can get gas connection without hiring contractors particularly loyal to a section of the BGSL officials.

Although the company supposes to provide domestic connection to any individual, unless disqualified for the amenity, within six months, there are many instances of more than a year wait to get gas connections alone in the port city.

When contacted, Deputy General Manager (DGM-Revenue) of the BGSL Mohammad Abdus Sobhan Mojumdar declined to talk to this correspondent He referred him to DGM (Distribution) Engineer Firoz Alam for information.

The DGM (Distribution) had been away from his office and his Personal Assistant (PA) advised this correspondent to contact the company's central office in Comilla.

UNB, Dhaka

National champions Abdullah Al Rakib emerged the 4th Grandmaster of Bangladesh as the World Chess Federation (FIDE) approved his Grandmaster title in its 3rd quarter presidential board meeting in Mexico City on September 13-14.

The three other Grandmasters are Niaz Murshed (1987), Ziaur Rahman (2002) and Reefat Bin Satar (2006). FIDE Elishta (Russia) office confirmed the GM title of Rakib through an e-mail to the Bangladesh Chess Federation on Tuesday.

Rakib achieved his 1st GM norm from the 2nd Asian Individual Chess Championship held in Kolkata in 2001, earned his 2nd GM norm from Leonine Chess Club GM Chess Tournament in Dhaka in 2004 and confirmed GM title from Mercantile Bank 33rd National Chess Championship in Dhaka this year. Rakib was born in December 2, 1980.

UNB, Dhaka

The caretaker government is likely to dissolve the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) in January next to hand over its operation to the newly formed Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC).

The DPDC was formed early this year as a new entity like DESCO (Dhaka Electric Supply Company) as part of reform programme to turn the existing DESA into a corporate body. Official sources said the DPDC has already got registered with the Joint Stock Commission as a Public Limited Company (PLC) and started functioning as a new corporate body with a new and independent management in March this year. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing technical assistance to the new corporate body as part of its commitment to implement reform programmes.

The government has already appointed managing director and some other directors to the DPDC on contract basis. A consulting firm is now working with the DESA to formulate its organisational structure and ascertain its financial and technical responsibilities. Power Ministry officials said the government formed the DPDC following DESCO's success in reducing system loss, enhancing revenue collection and improving its services.

"DESCO has been a successful entity in power sector as a financially viable and technically sound public limited company (PLC)…. Even it got a huge response when it floated its shares through the stock market," said a Power Ministry top official.

UNB, Dhaka

The World Bank will provide $ 25 million in assistance for a government-run project, 'Disability and Children-at-Risk Project (DCRP), to be launched next year for beter care and rehabilitation of the country's disabled people. The DCRP project seeks to improve health, education and employment opportunities for people with disability and raising public awareness about their empowerment

The DCRP will focus on three areas-disability services, awareness and capacity building; children-at-risk services and capacity building of the Ministry of Social Welfare.

Social Welfare Advisor Geetiara Safia Chowdhury in a meeting with the World Bank officials on September 17 signed documents on the project outlining plans for restructuring of a key institution involved in the project implementation, World Bank sources said. As per the new outline, the sources said, a center of excellence like Palli Karma Sangsthan Foundation (PKSF) and Social Development Fund (SDF) will be created by restructuring the existing National Foundation for the Development of Disabled Persons (NFDDP).

Staff Reporter

Commercial banks will not have to inform Bangladesh Bank about transactions of cash less than Tk 7 lakh from now on.

The central bank issued a circular yesterday raising the ceiling of submission of monthly Cash Transaction Report (CTR) from existing Tk 5 lakh to Tk 7 lakh.

This will make wealthy persons and businessmen freer to withdraw cash and deposit the same to their accounts, without being questioned by any authority about the causes of transactions.

Bangladesh bank did it in line with the Government's move to bring back businessmen's confidence, sources concerned said. The circular will be effective from the current month (September).

The CTR for the month of September should be submited by October 21, 2007 and the report will have to be prepared only on the cash transactions of Tk 700,000 or above.

A senior Bangladesh Bank official explained it saying, "The amount cash transaction was too small to inform the central bank." Bankers and businessmen had been demanding to raise the ceiling, he added.

However, the commercial banks can inform the central bank about any suspicious transaction to cheque money laundering and other kinds of corruption.

Commercial banks will have to continue submiting Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) besides the CTR, as the two reports are completely different, explained an official.

The issue was also discussed at the meetings of Anti-Money Laundering National Task Force before raising the ceiling.

Staff Reporter

People's Forum for MDGs (PFM), Bangladesh said yesterday that following a series of roundtables with civil society groups (PFM members like CPD, BUP, SUPRO, VOICE, ActionAid and Bangladesh Economic Association) who severely criticised the World Bank and IMF policies, the Bangladesh government has decided not to concede to IMF pressure and declared its stance against signing the controversial Policy Support Instrument (PSI).

The civil society groups have maintained that IMF strings have consistently lead Bangladesh to get into deeper debts with its hard conditionality and it is high time that we turn around and say no to such conditionalities imposed by institutions like the IMF. The government decision not to succumb to pressure and its stance against signing the PSI is a wise move on the part of the caretaker government and was hailed by all.

The High Court has also issued a rule in response to a writ petition filed by some activists/anti-poverty campaigners asking the government why it should not refrain from negotiating with IMF.

We, at PFM as part of GCAP's movement against unfair aid and trade, will always be part of this type of civil society campaigns all over the world.