The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

News Network fellows, at a meeting here on Monday, formed Young Women Journalists Forum (YWJF) to promote the interests of the female journalists of the country. Quamrun Nahar Ruma, a reporter of The Bangladesh Observer, was made convener of the forum while Tasmiah Afrin Mou and Kamrun Nahar Jhumur senior joint convener and joint convener respectively. Most of the fellows are from different media houses, including print and electronic ones, university graduates of Journalism and received training under a six-month fellowship programme on practical journalism offered by the News Network.

Initial objectives of the Forum are to encourage girls to take up journalism as profession, ensure their skill development and organise dialogues and symposiums on important issues. News Network Editor Shahiduzzaman was made Chief Advisor to the Forum. News Network office at Dhanmondi will be used as YWJF's temporary address.

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission Tuesday filed a case against detained Awami League joint general secretary Obaidul Kader for acquiring wealth worth about Tk 62.84 lakh beyond his known sources of income.

ACC assistant director Ashraful Islam filed the case against the AL leader with Raman police station under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section 15(D)(5) of the Emergency Powers Rules 2007.

Police said the complainant alleged that Obaidul Kader acquired the illegal wealth from June 25, 1997 to June 14, 2007. Obaidul Kader, one of the corrupt suspects whose name was appeared on the second list, was arrested on March 9. Later, he was directed by the ACC to submit his wealth statement.

UNB, Dhaka

Charge d' Affaires of US Embassy Geeta Pasi has appreciated the caretaker government for its overall activities, including the ongoing anti-corruption drive.

Her appreciation came when she met Communications Adviser Major General (retd) MA Matin at his Secretariat office on Tuesday. The US Charge d' Affaires discussed with the adviser various issues relating to the process of filing corruption cases, the country's tourism industry and development of Bangladesh Biman. "Bangladesh has huge prospects to earn foreign currencies through these sectors," she said.

The Adviser apprised Geeta Pasi of the programmes taken by the present government to develop various sectors, including the tourism industry and Biman.

BSS, Dhaka

The Central Land Allocation Committee (CLAC) yesterday approved a proposal to acquire 0.56 acres of land to implement two projects in Dhaka and Narayanganj.

The approval was given at the 76th meeting of CLAC held in the conference room of the Land Ministry with Land and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein in the chair, an official handout said.

Acting secretary of Land Ministry Mosleh Uddin and administrator of Siddhirganj Pourasabha Abdul Matin and concerned officials were present at the meeting.

According to the decision, 0.50 acres of land will be acquired in Ati Mouja for the construction of Siddhirganj Pourasabha Bhaban and 0.06 acres in Nawabchar Mouja of Kamrangirchar in Dhaka for the construction of a road for connecting the Lalbag Digital Telephone Exchange with the area.

BSS, Dhaka

The government yesterday formed a 17-member Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC) for modernising century-old government rules and regulations for establishing a dynamic administration in this age of globalisation and regional cooperation.

A government notification here said former adviser of the caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan is the part-time chairman of the RRC.

Part-time members are former advisers of the caretaker government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury and Manzur-e-Elahi, cabinet secretary, governor of Bangladesh Bank, establishment secretary, finance secretary (finance division), home secretary, law secretary, commerce secretary, environment and forest secretary, NBR chairman, BOI executive chairman, FBCCI president, Chairman of Marc Group MA Rouf Chowdhury, executive chairman of PPRC Hossain Zillur Rahman and executive director of CPD Dr Mustafizur Rahman.

The Chief Adviser's office will be the administrative secretariat of the commission, official sources said.

Executive chairman of the BOI (Board of Investment) will perform the responsibilities as the member-secretary of the commission. The BOI will also carry out the secretarial task.

The tenure of the RRC will be one year and any expert may be co-opted as per the terms of reference.

The notification said it has been observed that the rules and regulations related to investment and business in some cases are complex, lengthy and unnecessary, which need to be modernised for accelerating the economic growth.

According the terms of reference, the RRC will review the existing government rules and regulations, and submit recommendations for voiding unnecessary ones.

The RRC will be authorised to gather information from any government, semi-government, autonomous or private organisation and all concerned will cooperate with the commission providing necessary data and facts, the notification said.

It also said, in case of investment, trade and commerce, the commission will be able to take recommendations from development partners of national, regional and international levels, and from Bangladesh Better Business Forum and its working groups.