The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

'Zikr' means remembrance and 'Zikrullah' means remembrance of Allah. It is a great spiritual virtue and has special significance in the month of fasting. Because fasting enables the believers to have continuous remembrance of Allah. It needs to be conscious about the ordained responsibility of abstaining from prohibited activities.

The holy Quran reveals: "Therefore remember me, I will remember you." (Sura Baqara: 152)

"And remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt And Allah knows (the deeds) that ye do". (Sura Ankabut: 45)

There are other verses on remembrance of Allah.

Hazrat Abu Hurayra (RA) narrated: "Rasulullah (SM) said, there is a group of angels of Allah, who go on searching the people in the streets who remember Allah…." (Bukhari and Muslim Sharif). This is a detailed hadith, which concludes that those who are related with the remembrance of Allah, are not deprived of the blessings, mercy and salvation from Allah.

Hazrat Abu Musa (RA) quoted Hazrat Muhammad (SM) to have said, "The person who remembers his Lord and the person who does not remember, their example is like the living and the dead." (Bukhari and Muslim Sharif)

BSS, New York

Russian Foreign Minister and head of Russian delegation to the UN General Assembly session, Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday said that Moscow was keen to expand cooperation with Dhaka in bilateral areas as well as in the international arena.

The Russian Foreign Minister stated this when he paid a call on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at the UN headquarters here on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session.

He said that Russia supported the initiatives being taken by the present caretaker government in Bangladesh.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed thanked Foreign Minister Lavrov for the very warm reception accorded to Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury when he visited Russia recently.

Both the delegations stated that steps are now underway in both the countries on follow-up actions to the agreements reached during the visit

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said Bangladesh sees Russia as a "historic friend", and were eager to extend their cooperation in the areas of trade, development and politics.

They also discussed the possibilities of procurement of wheat and fertiliser by Bangladesh from Russia and also increase of imports of Bangladeshi products into the Russian market

Possible cooperation in the area of nuclear power was also discussed. It was agreed that the two countries would continue to work together for mutual benefits.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ismat Jahan were present during the meeting on behalf of Bangladesh.

BSS, New York

World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Tuesday assured Dhaka of their support further for various development projects of Bangladesh.

The assurance came when the WB President called on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at UN building on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

During the meeting, the WB chief expressed his satisfaction over the steps taken by the present caretaker government on electoral, governance and economic reforms.

The World Bank will focus its assistance on, among other things, infrastructural support, especially roads, ports and bridges including co-financing of the major Padma Bridge project

Zoellick enquired about the post-flood rehabilitation being carried out by the present government and underscored the Bank's interest in rural credit delivery.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed explained the current macro-economic situation and the measures being undertaken to accelerate growth and development as well as alleviation of poverty.

The possibilities of the use of micronutrients in the agriculture sector were also discussed. The Chief Adviser also explained the announced roadmap leading to elections "before the end of December 2008, or if possible, even at an earlier date".

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh's global raking in regulatory environment for doing business remains same at 107 out of 178 economies this year as the Doing Business 2008 report released in Washington DC yesterday, according to a press release received yesterday.

Singapore tops the ranking for the second consecutive year while Democratic Republic of Congo placed at the botom of it, according to the report, the fifth in a series of annual report issued by the World Bank and IFC.

In South Asia, Bangladesh's position about the "Ease of Doing Business" is in the middle out of nine economies where the Maldives came out top followed by Pakistan. And Afghanistan is at the botom after India.

India's global ranking of doing business is at 120, improving its position by 12 places from last year, but remained much behind Bangladesh's position although they picked up reforms.

The report said starting a business in Bangladesh requires 74 days while obtaining a business license needs 252 days, registering a property 425 days and cost to export a container needs US$ 844. Doing Business finds that the time to obtain a business license in India ranges from 159-522 days, time to register property ranges from 35 to 155 days. Regionally, South Asia picked up the pace of regulatory reform over the past year to become the second-fastest reforming region in the world, on par with the speed of reform in the countries of the OECD, finds the Doing Business 2008.

Last year, South Asia ranked lowest on the rate of reform and this year two-thirds of its countries had at least one reform.

The pickup in reform was led by India, which rose by 12 places on the ease of doing business and made the reform of business regulation a policy objective.

India was the top reformer worldwide in trading across borders. Bhutan and Sri Lanka are the other top reformers in South Asia this year. Bhutan introduced the country's first fundamental labor protections. Sri Lanka made it easier to start a business and to trade across borders.

The worldwide top 10 reformers are Egypt, Croatia, Ghana, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, China, and Bulgaria.

Reformers made it simpler to start a business, strengthened property rights, enhanced investor protections, increased access to credit, eased tax burdens, and expedited trade while reducing costs.

In all, 200 reforms-in 98 economies-were introduced between April 2006 and June 2007.

Singapore, for the second year running, tops the aggregate rankings on the ease of doing business. The top-ranking countries in South Asia are the Maldives (60) and Pakistan (76). India improved its ranking to 120th this year - achieving a bigger gain than China, which rose by nine places to the 83rd.

"The report finds that equity returns are highest in countries that are reforming the most," said Michael Klein, World Bank/IFC Vice President for Financial and Private Sector Development

"Investors are looking for upside potential, and they find it in economies that are reforming-regardless of their starting point," he added.

Large emerging markets are reforming fast: China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Egypt all improved in the ease of doing business. The report also finds that more businesses are starting up due to regulatory reforms.

The report also finds that higher rankings on the ease of doing business are associated with higher percentages of women among entrepreneurs and employees.

The rankings are based on 10 indicators of business regulation that track the time and cost to meet government requirements in business start-up, operation, trade, taxation, and closure.

The rankings do not reflect such areas as macroeconomic policy, quality of infrastructure, currency volatility, investor perceptions, or crime rates. Since 2003 Doing Business has inspired or informed more than 113 reforms around the world.

Staff Reporter

The first major international exhibition of Bangladeshi archeological masterpieces scheduled to begin at Guimet Museum in Paris from October 23 is virtually threatened by disputes over sending 188 items.

The exhibits from five Bangladesh museums were scheduled to be on display at exhibition under an agreement signed between the French

Ambassador to Bangladesh and the Secretary of Cultural Affairs Ministry on July 31.

But a group of Bangladesh citizens raised the legality of the contract and filed a public litigation case in the High Court that ordered to stop sending the exhibits for next two months pending disposal of the mater. The litigants feared that the precious items to be sent to the Paris museum might not be returned to Bangladesh.

The 188 items were selected from Dhaka National Museum, museums of Paharpur, Mahasthan Garh, Mainamati and Varendra.

Under the agreement Guimet Museum is to bear the entire cost US$ 700,000 to organize the single country exhibition on Bangladeshi artifacts.

French Ambassador Jacques-Andre Costilhes at a press conference at Hotel La Vinci yesterday sharply reacted to the objection. He said the "image of France has been greatly tarnished by some individuals of the civil society of Bangladesh who have accused France of ploting to steal the archeological artifacts of Bangladeshi museum through this exhibition in my country."

Citing such international exhibitions being held around the world, the Ambassador said the British Museum recently held an exhibition of artifacts from China on one of the main archeological discoveries of the 20th century.

He said the Louvre Museum of Paris is exhibiting in Beijing 130 statues and vases of classical Greece of the 5th and 4th century BC in November.

Ambassador Costilhes would not comment on legal aspects and the court proceedings but claimed "such exhibition in Paris is safe."

He said its purpose is to bring even more closer the people of France and Bangladesh in a very noble field of cooperation: Culture and dialogue of Cultures, and that it can only benefit the image of their country worldwide.

Jean Romnicianu, Deputy Head of the Mission, allaying fear of missing or damage of the items to said under the agreement all items are listed, photographed and numbered. The list and condition of the

items are checked before and after each transport Asked if cancellation of the exhibition would adversely affect Bangladesh-France bilateral relations, the Ambassador replied in the negative.

He said the Bangladesh government was extending all cooperation in holding the exhibition. But some individuals want to 'sabotage' and "jeopardise" the exhibition.

In reply to a question, the Ambassador said the exhibition might be cancelled if delayed by two months.

Those who filed the litigation in the High Court were also invited at the press conference. They opposed the Ambassador's words " sabotage" and "jeopardize".

BSS, New York

The Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Tuesday showed keen interest to invest more in Bangladesh.

During a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he highly appreciated Bangladesh's active role in the area of climate change important for both the countries.

Explaining the favourable investment opportunities that exist for foreign investors in Bangladesh, Dr Fakhruddin said Italian companies would be most welcomed.

He said ideal conditions for investments are present in power, infrastructure and energy sectors.

The Chief Adviser also underscored the fact that Bangladesh was in a position to expand the export basket to Italy, particularly with larger components of pharmaceuticals and leather in addition to RMG and knitwear.

He sought Italy's support for simplification of rules of origin of Bangladesh exports to the European Union.

Romano Prodi also praised the Bangladeshi workers in Italy stating that they are "peaceful, disciplined and economically active".

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said this was a win-win situation for both the countries, creating employment for Bangladesh and economic growth for Italy.

The Chief Adviser also explained the steps taken by the caretaker government to ensure the timely holding of a free, fair and credible election.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed extended a very warm invitation to the Italian Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh.

Chitagong Correspondent

A minor boy and a girl smashed to death together when an old boundary wall collapsed on them Wednesday morning at Middle Rampur area in the city.

The victims were identified as Panna (10), daughter of Abdul Malek and Sohel (8), son of Mohammad Selim. Both of them reportedly hailed from Maijdee Court in Noakhali.

Civil defense people with the assistance of locals recovered the bodies and handed those over to Halisahar police. Police sent the bodies to Chitagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for autopsy.

Rescuers and police said that the children had been walking beside the decayed boundary wall at about 11:20 a.m. Suddenly, a big portion of the collapsing wall fell on them. Both the children died instantly.

Duty officer at Halisahar police station Debashis Debu told this correspondent that a case of unnatural death would be recorded after autopsy report comes.

Chitagong Correspondent

A joint squad of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Rapid Action Batalion (RAB) on Wednesday nabbed the Chief Engineer of Chitagong Water and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) and two of his subordinates on graft charges.

The ACC sources confirmed the arrest of Chief Engineer Safiqul Islam, Superintendent Engineer Safiullah and Assistant Engineer Abdul Quddus. They had been at the court custody till the time of dispatching this report

Chitagong WASA came under intensive watch and monitoring of the joint forces after Major Zulfikar Ali Majumder took over the divisional unit of the ACC in Chitagong. In another such move the ACC arrested a Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Livestock directorate on charge of bribery.

Head of the ACC's divisional wing here in the port city Major Julfikar Ali Majumdar and second-in-command at the RAB-7 headquarters at Patenga Major Anis supervised the drive.

The detainees were later produced before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Amitav Sarkar. The court denied bail for the detainees and ordered to put them into jail custody. According to the eye accounts, the RAB and the ACC men first cordoned the WASA building before entering into the offices of their hunts at about 10:40 a.m. The squad returned to their vehicles picking up three big shots of the WASA.

The ACC on May 24, 2004 recorded a case with Kotwali police station accusing five people including the three of defalcating public funds and willful manipulations.

The other co-accused were identified as Assistant Engineer (Retd) of the WASA Abu Taher and a Contractor AN Farouque Alam.

The two co-accused went into hiding. Kotwali police quoting the First Information Report (FIR) said that the accused in had deceived the WASA and its consumers by approving a partially done subsoil water supply line. The contractor of the subsoil pipe-commissioning project in fact built only 986 meters pipeline instead of 3000 meters.

The ACC in its initial investigation found that the WASA engineers had misappropriated Taka 1.7 million from this project and subsequently held them libel for this.

Staff Reporter

Trading of the shares of Trust Bank Ltd is likely to begin on both Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chitagong Stock Exchange (CSE) October 1 next

The DSE board in a meeting Tuesday fixed the tentative date for the debut trading of the newly listed banking issue, a source of the country's major capital market told The New Nation yesterday.

"Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, who is also the chairman of the board of directors of Trust Bank Ltd, is likely to be present as chief guest on the occasion. That is why we have not yet finalised the debut trading date," the DSE source said. The source said the DSE board meeting also decided that Phoenix Finance and Investments Ltd, a non-banking financial institution (NBFI), will be traded from today.

Trust Bank Ltd floated a total of 4,666,700 shares worth Tk 700 million. The subscription ended July 28 last

The offer price of per share of the banking issue was Tk 150 with a premium of Tk 50 each.

Trust Bank Ltd's IPO was oversubscribed by about 11 times. With the listing of Trust Bank Ltd, only one private commercial bank (PCB) -- First Security Bank - now remains a non-listed bank.

First Security Bank Ltd will hopefully go public by the end of June, 2008.

UNB, Dhaka

A 52-km underground train service could be introduced on six routes in the city at a cost of Tk 6,500 crore. A private organisation came up with the proposal at a meeting at Communications Ministry today (Wednesday).

The routes are Sayedabad-Gabtoli (17 kms), Tongi Bridge-Mohakhali (13.5 kms), Pallabi-Parliament (6.5 kms), Shaymoli-Shahbagh (7 kms), Sayedabad-Bangla Motor (6 kms) and Gulistan-Sadarghat (2 kms).

Communications Adviser Major General (retd) MA Matin, Secretary Dr Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman and Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Department M Mahbubur Rahman were present at the meeting. The Communications Adviser said the government is considering introducing underground train services in the city to ease over-ground traffic jams.

Representatives of the organisation, which placed the proposal, told the meeting that underground train fare for the routes could be fixed at Tk 5 to Tk 25.

Adviser MA Matin said the government would implement the proposed underground train project and two-storied roads on the basis of expert opinions and its own policy.

An expert commitee will be formed to determine whether implementation of the underground train project would be feasible, he said.

AP, Jerusalem

The Israeli military announced an open-ended closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip Wednesday, ahead of the weeklong Jewish holiday of Succot, which begins at sunset Blanket closures, including travel bans within the Palestinian areas, are usually imposed during Jewish holidays, and restrictions are eased - though not lifted - once the holidays are over. The most recent one, Yom Kippur, ended Saturday.

"In light of the significant terror threat during the Jewish holidayta general closure will be implementedtduring the holiday period," a military statement said. "It will be lifted in accordance with security assessments." It said that passage would be allowed for urgent humanitarian cases.

The statement said journalists could not use the Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza but they were free to enter and leave the West Bank. It gave no explanation for the Gaza ban.

The military said aircraft struck Wednesday at Palestinian rocket launch sites in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian officials said two people were slightly injured in the strikes, near the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya.

The raids came after Palestinians in the area fired six rockets at Israel but the rockets caused no injury or damage, the military said. .

The army said Palestinians also lobbed 20 mortar shells into Israel from the southern part of the strip, but no casualties were reported.

Israel last week declared the Gaza strip - which has been ruled by the violent Islamic Hamas since a June takeover - an "enemy entity " as a prelude to possible punitive cuts of utilities to the territory, but has so far taken no operative steps.

The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday that a commitee of security advisers set up following the declaration has recommended imposing a seven-hour power outage after each rocket atack that causes extensive damage or casualties.

BSS, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday hosted an ifter in honour of war- injured freedom fighters at Senakunja here yesterday evening.

More than 300 injured veterans atended the iftar, also joined by Adviser for Liberation War Affairs Major General (retd) M A Matin, Bir Bikrom as the chief guest

The adviser and the army chief exchanged greetings with the 1971 veterans when General Moeen asked army doctors to arrange treatment of two ailing elderly freedom fighters Shukkur Ali and Mohammad Shamsuddin at the combined military hospital in Dhaka.

A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for continued peace, advancement and prosperity of the country and nation in the iftar party.

Secretary of the Liberation War Affairs Dr Abul Kasem Mahbubul Alam and the Convenor of Muktijoddha Sangshad Masud Ahmed and senior military officials were present on the occasion.

Staff Reporter

Former president and now chief of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury is likely to announce his next political course.

He will express his position in the country's politics today at a press conference at KC Memorial Clinic at Baridhara.

Yesterday at an Iftar party organised by the youth front of the LDP Ganotantrik Jubo Dhara (GJD), the LDP president said he was no more with the proved corrupt persons and politics of revenge scheme.

"To bring the country out of this crisis situation and make it go in the right direction everybody has to sacrifice a lot," the ex-president said.

He urged all political parties to forge greater unity to face corruption.

He said, "Let us purify ourselves and go ahead to create a good political environment Time has come now to leave the politics of revenge."

The LDP chief said, "We do not want politics of revenge, we want politics of competition."

Central leaders of the party Mahi B Chowdhury, Major (retd) Mannan, Brigadier General (retd) Giasuddin Bir Bikram, among others, were present at the Iftar Party.

Staff Reporter

Nine non-government organisations, including Care Bangladesh, Action Aid, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum and Durjoy Nari Sangha demanded basic rights for sex workers' children.

These NGO's also launched a joint watch group titled "Networking and Advocacy for Children Rights in Bangladesh" to monitor the implementation of the rights of the sex workers' children. They said this at a press conference at the Reporters Unity yesterday in the city.

The new organisation will also work to enhance sex workers' position in society so that their children could enter the mainstream. They said Bangladesh, as a state constitutionally determined to ensure children's rights. But society does not accept them like other children, who were known by their father's identity.