The New Nation - Internet Edition

Comilla Correspondent

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Md Ruhul Amin visited Comilla Zila Judges' Court and inspected the ejlas of the Judicial Magistrates yesterday.

In the morning the Chief Justice visited District and Sessions Judge Showkat Hossain's ejlas and observed the activities of the court. He then visited the Judicial Magistrates Court.

He assured of increasing the number of Judicial Magistrates in Comilla at a view exchange meeting with the lawyers of Comilla Court at the Circuit House. He said the number of Courts would also be increased in future. He requested the judges to solve the cases, which were pending for a long time.

Later, he attended a discussaion meeting with the Judges of Comilla Court where members of the Lawyers Association were present.

Deputy Commissioner Manjurur Rahman, Police Superintendent Mir Shahidul Ali, NDC Altaf Ahmed and senior officers of the district administration accompanied the Chief Justice during his visit.

DU Correspondent

YEES Your Exhibitions and Event Solutions, a private event management company, is going to organise a four-day long Dhaka International Education Fair-2007 at the Basundhara Expo centre from November 9 to 12.

Adv Sultana Kamal, former adviser to the government, will inaugurate the Fair, while Former BGMEA President Anisur Rahman will be present as special guest.

A total of 55 universities from home and abroad, education institutions and related service providers will participe in the fair.

This was disclosed at a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday.

Entry fee was fixed at Tk 10 for each while the institutions registered with Fair will not be required to pay any entry fee.

Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Mohammad Musa and Mohabbat H Chowdhury, among others, were present in the press conference.

The British Council Dhaka is organising a two-day long UK Qualification Fair at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre from November 8.

The first day of the fair will begin at 11:00am and continue till 7:00pm and second day from 10am to 6:00pm.

UK Qualification Fair will start in Chittagong from November 11 to 12 and November 15 in Sylhet. Entry Fee was fixed at Tk. 20- in all venues.

Peter Ashton, Asistant Director of British Council disclosed this at a press conference at its conference room yesterday.

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Monday made a clarion call for the imam community to play a leading role in fulfilling people's aspiration for establishing real democracy and leadership of upright, competent and honest people in the country.

This is imperative to realize "the nation's dream of a justice-based enlightened society free from black money and corruption", he told an assembly the imams of mosques from across the country. Against the backdrop of incidents of violence in the past, the head of the caretaker government also urged them to always remain vigilant against terrorism, bomb blasting and extreme militancy.

He hoped that the imam and ulema community would remain determined to uphold Bangladesh's reputation as a liberal and non-communal country. The Chief Adviser made the call while inaugurating the Human Resource Development Related National Imam Conference 2007 organized at Osmani Memorial Auditorium by Religious Affairs Ministry and sponsored jointly by the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh and the UN population agency UNFPA.

UNFPA acting country Representative Pornchai Suchitta, Religious Affairs Secretary Md Ataur Rahman, Islamic Foundation Director General Md Fazlur Rahman and, on behalf of imams, Maulana Monirul Islam Rafique, Khatib Baitul Wahhab AC Jame Masjid, Halishahor, Chittagong also spoke on the occasion.

Religious Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (Rtd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman presided over the function. Advisers and imams from various districts, among others, attended the function.

Under the UNFPA-funded project launched in 1999 about 37,000 imams have so far got training in various areas, including nursing, child health, safe motherhood, bad effect of dowry and child marriage, gender equity, awareness against social crimes and terrorism, prevention of spread of HIV/AIDS and control of diarrhoea, the function was informed. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin distributed awards and certificates among the best imams in 2007 for various social contributions. He also distributed crests to three young Hafez persons of Bangladesh who won first prizes in international Hifzul Quran competition 2007 in Dubai, Libya and Egypt. Hafez Fazle Rabbi Adel attained first prize with a gold medal and cash award worth Tk 55 lakh in the Hifzul Quran Competition 2007 in Dubai, Hafez Sajeda Khatun won the first prize in the Hifzul Quran competition 2007 in Libya and Hafez Abdullah Al Mahmud stood first in the same competition in 2007 in Egypt.

In his speech, the Chief Adviser, whose interim government is carrying on a purge against serious crime and corruption in high places, hoped that the imams, along with other conscious and honest citizens, would take a tough stand and raise their voice against sins, wrongdoing and crimes in society.

They, he said, have to take the lead in building up strong mass opinion and strengthening public awareness against criminals, women repressors, narcotic addicts, smugglers, dishonest businessmen and the corrupt.

He hoped that imams at Friday Juma prayer Khutba and sermons in other Mahfils would put across the inhibition of the holy Quran regarding sin, serious crime and curse of corruption. "Give the lesson of Islam for becoming a real good person," he said.

He also told the imams to consider translating Khutba into Bengali alongside Arabic for easy understanding by the common man. He urged them to spread great teachings and tenets of Islam.

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting demanded ban on exporting country's oil, gas, coal and other byproducts by formulating a law immediately.

They also urged the government not to allow open mining destroying country's land, environment and economy even on an experimental basis.

They were speaking at a discussion meeting organised by National Committee for Protection of Oil, Gas, Natural Resources, Power and Port at National Press Club yesterday.

Presided over by Eng Sheikh Shahidullah, convener of the committee, eminent economist Prof Dr Anu Mohammad and Hossain Munsur, among others, participated in the discussion. Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, economist Dr Kholiquzzaman also attended the programme while Prof M Shamshul Alam presented keynote paper.

Protesting the interference of the donor agencies, including International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) in country's economic policy, Prof Dr Anu Mohammad questioned who has given them such rights.

He said, '' In these days of advancement in science and technology, it is possible to produce coal without destroying the soil of the underground in the name of open mining.''

We can easily meet our energy demand in these safe ways of coal mining instead of 'destructive' open mining, he observed.

Referring to the 80 per cent preservation of the total mineral resources by the Indian government, Hossain Munsur said, ''People want coal mining only for their interest and they do not want coal exports even at the cost of their own lives which they proved at Kansat.

Prof M Shamshul Alam in his keynote paper alleged that Tk 30 thousand crore was sent abroad by decreasing the royalty from 20 per cent to 6 per cent without bank guarantee.

He termed this as one of the biggest corruptions in energy and power sector of the country.

When the government is conducting massive drives against corruption, some vested quarters became very active with coal policy and open mining of the Asian Energy, he stated.

He suggested the government to strengthen the state-owned BAPEX and introduce more such organisations for the protection of highly valuable natural resources.

Otherwise, the interests of the nation could not be protected, he warned.

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Food and Disaster Management Tapan Chowdhury yesterday said the prices of essentials would decline from March next year, as the government expects stability in the international market from that period.

Briefing journalists at his Secretariat office the Adviser said the price of essentials hikes due to increase of those prices in the international markets.

He, however, said that there is no possibility of occurring any food crisis in the country since there is sufficient stock of rice. According to him the current foodgrain stock is about 7.16 lakh metric tones. Of these, the quantity of rice is 5.60 lakh metric tones while wheat is one lakh and 56 thousand metric tones. The stock of foodgrain was 6.29 lakh metric tons last year, he said. He said the Government has increased the stocks through local procurements as well as from the international market.

Tapan Chowdhury, who is also the Adviser for Power and Energy, said the government would launch procuring Aman paddy and rice soon at a rate of Tk 20 per kg.

The government has set the target to procure two lakh metric tons of rice during the current aman season. Asked whether the target will be fulfilled, as the price of rice in the market is high in the market, the Adviser said the government target is to increase supply of rice in the market.

If the procurement drive is not successful, the government would also import rice from abroad, he said.

The Adviser said the government distributed 3.23 lakh metric tons of foodgrains throughout the country through its Open Market System (OMS) and Voluntary Group

Feeding (VGF) programme during the period in between July and August.

Currently, he said, 29.83 lakh families were enjoying VGF support. The government planned to distribute 1.86 lakh metric tons of rice in the coming days to support 58.70 lakh more families in 64 districts, he added.

Replying to a question, he said the government imported 1.50 lakh metric tons of rice and 28.70 thousand metric tons of wheat against the target of 1.83 lakh tons of rice and 67 thousand metric tons of wheat.

Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management Dr M Aiyub Miah and other senior officers were present.

Staff Reporter

Leading private sector Bank, the United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL), continues to expand its investment portfolio to cater to the need of the entrepreneurs in various sectors conducive to socio-economic growth and development.

Recently the bank signed an agreement with Industrial and Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited (IIDFC) under which IIDFC will receive Tk 20 crore as term loan, Tk 10 crore as L/C facility and Tk 1 crore as guarantee facility for lease financing in different sectors for accelerating industrial growth and development. The Credit Line will be utilized in the field of leasing of plant and machineries, transport, professional equipments etc.

Sponsored by some dynamic and reputed entrepreneurs and eminent industrialists of the country and also participated by the government, UCBL started its operation in mid 1983 and has since been able to establish one of the largest network of 84 branches until December 2006 among the first generation banks in the private sector.

With its firm commitment to the economic development of the country, the Bank has already made a distinct mark in the realm of Private Sector Banking through personalised service, innovative practices, dynamic approach and efficient Management. The Bank, aiming to play a leading role in the economic activities of the country, is firmly engaged in the development of trade, commerce and industry thorough a creative credit policy.

The Bank has in its management a combination of highly skilled and eminent bankers of the country of varied experience and expertise successfully led by Hamidul Huq, a dynamic banker, as its Managing Director and well educated young, energetic and dedicated officers working with missionary zeal for the growth and progress of the institution.

Mirza Mahmud Rafiqur Rahman, a senior banker and Executive Vice President, is working as Secretary of the Bank. In the early October UCBL has donated 50 Laptop Computers worth about Tk 44 lakh to the Chief of Army Staff for the Election Commission's Voter ID programme. Hajee Yunus Ahmed, Chairman, Board of Directors along with Md Jahangir Alam Khan, EC Chairman and M A Sabur, Director were present on the occasion.

Recently the bank donated an amount of Tk 25 lakh to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund in a bid to help the people in distress due to devastating flood in the country. Earlier, UCBL handed over a Payment Order of Tk 25 lakh to the Communication Adviser M A Matin for victims of devastating landslides following torrential rain in Chittagong.

The bank is providing excellent service to the customers. Some of the products and services of the bank includes: SMS Banking Service, Online Service, Credit Card, One Stop Service, Time Deposit Scheme, Monthly Savings Scheme, Deposit Insurance Scheme, Inward and Outward Remittances, Travellers Cheques, Import Finance, Export Finance, Working Capital Finance, Loan Syndication, Underwriting and Bridge Financing, Trade Finance, Industrial Finance, Foreign Currency Deposit A/C, NFCD (Non Resident Foreign Currency Deposit Account), RFCD (Resident Foreign Currency Deposit Account ), Consumer Credit Scheme and Locker Service. The bank collects Foreign Remittance through Western Union and some other channels.

UNB, Dhaka

The government is going to undertake a project titled 'Secondary Education Quality, Access Enhancement Project' (SEQAEP), involving US $ 140 million, from July 2008 with financial assistance from the World Bank.

Of the total amount, the World Bank will provide $ 130 while the rest $ 10 million will come from the Bangladesh government, sources in the Education Ministry said.

Sources said the proposed SEQAEP project will be implemented as supplementary one of the Female Secondary School Assistance Project (FSSAP) scheduled to be completed in June 2008. The objectives of the proposed project are to improve the quality of schooling, strengthen capacity to systemically assess and monitor learning outcomes and improve equitable access to project upazilas, the sources said.

They said the project will act following some indicators, including completion rates in secondary school cycle, pass rates in SSC examination, institutional capacity to monitor learning levels, boys-girls ratio in secondary school enrollment, poor-non-poor ratio in secondary school enrolment.

The project will also offer some incentive awards to teachers and students for improving education quality and capacity to monitor learning levels. Under the incentive plan, eight students per school will be awarded for each grade based on achievement after annual exams. Besides, eligible teachers will be enlisted under the project for additional support of the students out of school hours for those students who are weak in mathematics and English.

Staff Reporter

Detained former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the refusal of NBR to receive her income tax return on undeclared income.

The petition said she had deposited Tk 9.45 lakh as tax on her undeclared income of Tk 36 lakh she earned from house rent. The money was deposited on advice from NBR issued on September 26.

But the NBR in a letter issued on October 4 refused to accept the tax.

On behalf of Khaleda Zia, Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon filed the writ petition in the division bench comprising Justice MA Rashid and Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdury. The court is likely to take up the petition for hearing today (Tuesday). Barrister Rafiq-ul-Huq will conduct the writ petition as the principal counsel of Khaleda Zia.

Staff Reporter

Teletalk, state-run mobile operator, launched its new package titled 'Shadhin' (independent) yesterday. Md Aminul Hasan, Managing Director of Teletalk, inaugurated the package at a press conference at Hotel Lake Shore in the city.

Md Habibur Rahman, General Manager (Marketing), discussed about the brief information of the new package. He said, "In Shadhin, users of Teletalk will get facility as they can talk in two FnF (Friend and Family) numbers of Teletalk to Teletalk at Tk 0.25 per minute and two FnF with other operators at Tk 0.99 per minute."

Price of each SIM of Shadhin package will be Tk 100, he also said. In Shadhin package, validity will be 10 days for recharge of Tk 10 and 100 days for recharge of Tk 100 or more. Migration from any existing prepaid package to this package is free of charge. Details of migration process will be advertised. Promotional offer from 10:00am to 6:00pm will be Tk 1.10 per minute to any other phone, he added.

Aminul Hasan said, "There are one million users of Teletalk at present. There are 13 customer care centres across the country."

Md Asir Uddin, Deputy General Manager (Marketing), among others, were present at the launching ceremony.