The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Patuakhali

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday visited the cyclone-hit areas in Patuakhali to see for himself the extent of devastation and distributed relief materials among the hurricane Sidr victims in the district.

Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury, Chief of Bangladesh Navy Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury accompanied the President during the visit.

Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohd Aminul Karim, Secretary Md Sirajul Islam and Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were also present.

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During the visit Commander of 3rd Field Regiment Artillery of Bangladesh Army Lieutenant Colonel Nurul Momen Khan and deputy commissioner of Patukhali AGM Mir Mashiur Alam briefed the President at Water Development Board Rest House in Kalapara about the loss of life and property as well as extent of the devastation caused by cyclone and tidal surge on November 15 night.

They informed that a total of 315 persons in the district were killed and 109 persons remained missing, most of them feared dead, in the cyclone. Besides, some 79,376 cattles were also killed and crops on 1.03 lakh hectors of land were totally damaged.

They said, over 6,10 lakh people were directly affected while 1.93 lakh houses were badly damaged in the district.

They informed the President that properties and crops worth about Taka 500 crore were damaged in the devastation caused by the cyclone.

They also apprised the President that massive relief and rehabilitation works have been going on under the supervision of the district administration and the Army.

The Relief and Rehabilitation Adviser also gave a run down of the on-going relief operation and rehabilitation work in cyclone hit areas across the country particularly the six districts in the greater Barisal.

Later, President Iajuddin distributed relief materials among the cyclone-victims at Khepupara Secondary High School ground in Kalapara upazila, one of the worst victims of the November 15 night disaster.

The President also flew low by helicopter over the cyclone affected areas in the district. He felt shocked seeing the long trail of devastation caused the hurricane Sidr in the area.

He also asked the district administration and concerned officials to undertake massive relief and rehabilitation programme to save the cyclone-affected people.

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable demanded of the Election Commission to ensure voters' access to the information about the aspiring candidates in both local government and parliamentary elections in an appropriate time.

They also voiced in favour of effective evaluation and distribution of the information among the voters so that they can choose the right candidates.

They also urged the government to take necessary steps for the quick disposal of the writ petition, regarding submission of eight categories of information about the candidates, which is now pending in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

They were speaking at a roundtable on 'Right to Information for Fair and Meaningful Election' organised by Shushashoner Janya Nagorik (Shujan), a coalition of individuals working to achieve good governance, at the National Press Club yesterday.

Moderated by renowned economist Prof Mozzafar Ahmed, Chairman, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), former advisers to the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan, and ASM Shahjahan, columnist Syed Abul Moksud, Justice Goura Gopal Shaha, former parliamentarians Adv Rahamat Ali and Dr Abdur Razzak, women leader Hamida Hossain, Prof Dr Tofayel Ahmed, Prof Asaduzzaman, Mostafizur Rahman and Matiur Rahman Swapan, among others, participated at the discussion while Badiul Alam Mujumder ,Secretary, Sujan presented key-note paper.

Emphasising the need for peoples' right to information, Prof Mozzafar Ahmed said we found in many elections that the people have serious interest to know about the candidates and significantly consider this information in exercising their voting rights.

Differing with the EC proposed Ordinance for submitting information with the nomination forms, TIB boss opined that voters should get information about the candidates in proper time.

He recommended the EC for ordering the interested candidates to submit the information on eight different categories within three days announcement of the election schedule.

The information submitted to the EC should be hung in different public places and be published in websites, he opined adding "Then the EC should verify the information of the nominated candidates only.''

Those who will submit false information must be declared unfit for the election, he added.

Former adviser M Hafizuddin Khan said the mass media can play a very vital role through investigative reports about the candidates and this should start immediately.

Former Adviser ASM Shahjahan said national consensus has been built on submission of the eight-category information about the candidates.

Justice Goura Gopal Shaha said as per the High Court direction, candidates must provide the information as affidavit, not as declaration.

He said there should be provision of counter affidavit by any citizen to challenge the false information submitted by the aspiring candidates.

AP, Islamabad

Despite a blunt call from Washington's No. 2 diplomat that emergency rule must be lifted and political opponents freed ahead of elections, there was no immediate sign that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf would heed the advice.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte delivered the message during a two-hour meeting Saturday with Musharraf and Pakistan's deputy army commander, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani. The envoy's visit was seen as a last best chance to ease the latest political turmoil in Pakistan.

But an official in the president's office, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk with the media, said Saturday that Musharraf told Negroponte the emergency was needed to hold a successful vote.

And on Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Sadiq said the government was taking steps to hold free and fair elections. He said any decision on lifting the emergency would "be taken according to the ground situation."

Speaking during a news conference at the U.S. embassy earlier Sunday, Negroponte said he "urged the government to stop such actions, lift the state of emergency and release all political detainees" and that "Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair and credible elections."

It's a view shared by opposition leaders, who insist that any vote held while thousands of opponents are in jail cannot be considered credible. They say most of those targeted in the emergency are pro-Western moderates, not the Islamic extremists Musharraf said he needed to combat.

The state of emergency came into effect Nov. 3, and since then, thousands of opponents have been jailed, Supreme Court judges purged and independent TV stations muffled.

Just ahead of Negroponte's visit, Musharraf made some concessions - freeing opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and a leading human rights activist, and loosening his restrictions on several independent television news outlets.

Though measured in his comments, Negroponte expressed some impatience with Musharraf, saying he hoped to see more steps toward democracy soon. "There remain some other issues that are yet to be considered, or yet to be undertaken," he said, without going into detail.

But despite Musharraf's apparent intransigence, Negroponte would not characterize his trip as a failure. "In diplomacy, as you know, we don't get instant replies when we have these kinds of dialogue," he said. "I'm sure the president is seriously considering the exchange we had."

Negroponte also praised Musharraf's efforts in the war on terror, and said he was heartened by the announcement that elections would be held by Jan. 9.

"President Musharraf has been and continues to be a strong voice against extremism," he said. "We value our partnership with the government of Pakistan under the leadership of President Musharraf."

Going into Saturday's meeting, senior Bush administration officials were clear on what they wanted: an end to the emergency, a date set for legislative elections in January, the release of opposition leaders and that Musharraf step down as army chief.

Kayani is widely expected to take over the powerful role of military chief when Musharraf sheds his uniform and starts his second term as president in the coming weeks.

Shortly after arriving in Pakistan, Negroponte phoned Bhutto, the highest-level U.S. contact with the Pakistani opposition leader since the emergency rule began.

In their discussion, Negroponte underscored Washington's opposition to the emergency and its desire to see her and other opposition figures free to peacefully take part in Pakistani politics, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. The conversation came just hours after Bhutto was released from house arrest.

Bhutto and Musharraf had been negotiating a power-sharing arrangement, but talks apparently collapsed as the general moved against the opposition following his decision to suspend the constitution.

On Sunday, Negroponte urged the two to restart talks and ease "the atmosphere of brinkmanship and political confrontation."

"If steps were taken by both sides to move back toward the kind of reconciliation discussions they were having recently, we think that would be very positive and could help improve the political environment," he said.

Bhutto has in recent days made increasingly strident demands for Musharraf to resign, and has proposed the opposition form a unity front to serve as a transition government ahead of elections.

Musharraf has steadfastly refused. Instead, he's expressed exasperation with the mounting Western pressure and has pressed ahead with plans for elections, swearing in an interim government Friday charged with preparing for the vote.

BSS, Dhaka

Works for restoration of roads, tele-communications and power supply along with massive relief operations are progressing fast in the country's hurricane Sidr affected areas to mitigate the sufferings of the victims.

This was informed at a meeting of the Council of Advisers held here yesterday with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair. The meeting thoroughly discussed the latest situation after the devastating cyclone, extent of devastation and damages as well as steps taken by the all levels to overcome the post- catastrophe hardship.

Making a presentation, communications secretary Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman apprised the meeting that communications have been resumed in Bagerhat, Chitalmari, Khulna and Mongla roads while ferry services at six places out of 18 in the southern districts have been restored so far.

Besides, one each satellite phone was set up in Amtali, Dublar Char, Kalapara, Dashmina, Mirjaganj, Mathbaria, Bhandaria and Kathalia to maintain tele-communications with these places, said the telecommunications secretary at the meeting.

Relief and Disaster Management Secretary Dr Ayub Mia informed the meeting that the government had made an allocation of 4092 MT of GR rice for the cyclone affected people till yesterday. On the other hand, 10,000 pieces of blankets and 7.3 million water purification tablets were distributed in these areas so far and more 15,000 pieces will be sent for the victims.

Making presentation, power secretary Dr Fawzul Kabir apprised the meeting that they would be able to restore power supply across the country by November 30. He was optimistic about restoration of electricity supply before the stipulated time if everything goes well.

Giving details, he told the meeting that a total of 3221 MW power was produced today against the country's total demand of 3350 MW. He also informed the meeting that a seven-member fact finding committee has been formed to investigate the cause behind power failure at the national grid during Thursday's devastating cyclone.

It was informed that the government is actively considering formulation of a cyclone preparedness plan similar to the flood preparedness plan in the future.

The meeting put emphasis on strengthening flood protection embankments across the country to protect the land and properties from natural calamities.

After the presentation, the Chief Adviser gave some directives to the concerned ministries to restore road, telecom and power supply on an urgent basis to reduce sufferings of the cyclone victims.

Apart from this, the Council of Advisers approved a proposal of the internal procurement of Aman rice, its time limit, price and target for the year 2007. This year the procurement price of Aman paddy has been fixed at Taka 12 per KG and Aman rice at the rate of Taka 20 per KG. A total of two lakh metric tonnes of rice will be procured from internal markets this year that would be continued from November 20 this year to February 28 next year.

The Council of Advisers also approved a proposal of amending of the rules and regulations for operating passenger flight at private level in Bangladesh. With the amendments the Bangladeshi private airliners possessing government licence will be able to operate foreign flights under the government's Open Sky System policy.

It also approved another proposal to transfer the proceedings, summaries and circulars of the cabinet meetings to the National Archives.

Advisers of the caretaker government attended the meeting held at the Chief Adviser's Office here. Cabinet Secretary, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Secretary to the Chief Adviser's office and concerned secretaries were present.

UNB, Dhaka

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) had for the second time extended the deadline of submitting income tax return, but it failed to get the desired response from the taxpayers. In the last 15 days, only 55,535 persons submitted their income tax returns that enriched the national exchequer by Tk 39.95 crore. The NBR extended the time for submitting income tax return by one month to October 31 on poor response from taxpayers to meet the first deadline set for September 30.

NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Majid, defending the second extension of deadline, said he was not satisfied with the income tax returns submitted so far. But he was hopeful of a significant rise in the number on setting the new deadline till November 30. But the first 15 days of the extended deadline belied his expectation of receiving large number of tax returns.

On October 31, some 301,421 persons submitted their income tax returns depositing Tk 513.87 crore to the national exchequer. This seemed unsatisfactory to the NBR chief.

At present, there are more than two million (20 lakh) Tax Identification Number (TIN) holders in the country. As of November 15, NBR received Tk 553.82 crore from 356,956 persons against their tax returns.

Of the amount, Tk 344.78 crore came from 134,326 taxpayers who submitted general tax returns, Tk 128.40 crore from 118,350 persons who filed self-assessment returns and Tk 80.63 crore from 104,280 individuals opting for universal self-assessment.

The number of income tax returns submitted last year was 535,994 with the government earning Tk 252.11 crore for the national exchequer. Talking to UNB, a senior NBR official expressed his dissatisfaction over the "very poor" response from the taxpayers in submitting income tax returns during the newly extended deadline (Nov 30). "Really, I am very much dissatisfied at the very poor number of tax returns submitted in the first 15 days of this month," he said. There is very little chance to have a big boost in the submission of tax returns over the last 15 days, he added.

The NBR official indicated that from December 1 next, they would start their usual drive against the tax dodgers.

The government has set a revenue target of Tk 10,838 crore from income tax sector for the fiscal 2007-08.

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting on 'Role of Maulana Bhasani in founding Foundation of Bangladesh' said Bhasani was the dreamer of the nation and demanded inclusion of Bhasani's biography in the textbooks of schools.

They said Bhasani was the first to call for the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan so he was the founder of our independence.

Speakers said this at the discussion meeting organised by National Democratic Party in observance of the 31st death anniversary of Maulana Bhasani.

Standing Committee member of BNP and former Army Chief Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman was the chief discussant at the meeting presided

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over by NDP Chairman Khondoker Golam Mortoza while former minister and NAP chairman Shafiqul Ghani Swapan, LDP presidium member Syed Didar Bakht, journalist Gias Kamal Chowdhury, journalist Sadek Khan and poet Abdul Hai Sikder, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbub said Bhasani was an institution, who always stood beside deprived and violated people and against imperialism and reactionary forces.

He said, "Bhasani always came forward in the crisis situation of the country and now the country needs to be united to stand beside the cyclone-hit people in the crisis situation of the country".

Shafiqul Ghani Swapan said Bhasani was not given the proper recognition. We all need to exercise the spirit of Bhashani.

Staff Reporter

The 7th REHAB Fair Dhaka-2007 will begin tomorrow at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Barrister Mainul Hosein, Adviser for the Ministry of Housing and Public Works will inaugurate the fair at 11:00 am on November 20 at the Ball Room of the hotel while Secretary of the Ministry ASM Rashidul Hye will be present as special guest.

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) authorities yesterday disclosed the programme schedule of the fair at a press conference held at the National Press Club.

Mukarram Hussain Khan, President of REHAB said they will also observe the REHAB Week-2007 from today to November 25 like the past years. The observance will begin through a view exchange meeting on "the prospect of private housing industry and

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future duties" at Grand Ball Room of West Inn Hotel at Gulshan at 11:00 am today.

Engr Tanveerul Haque Probal, General Secretary of REHAB, Syed Sirajul Haque, Chairman of Fair Committee, Rabiul Haque, Chairman REHAB Week Standing Committee and Eng Enamul Haque, Convener to Dhaka Fair Sub-Committee 2007, among others, were present at the conference.

The programmes of the fair are the Inaugural Session on Tuesday, extempore speeches by the college students at 11:00 am on Wednesday, day-long blood and posthumous eye donation programmes on Thursday at the fair ground of the hotel, painting competition for children on Friday at the Ball Room, REHAB gold crests distribution programme at 7:00 pm on Saturday and the closing session of the Fair at 6:30 pm on Sunday at Utsab Hall of Radisson Hotel.

There will be 141 stalls in the fair for 136 members of REHAB and five sponsoring institutions. The sponsors will be allowed to attend the fair for the first time of its history.

Besides, 11 co-sponsoring institutions will take part in the fair. The institutions are Concord Real Estate and Building Products Ltd, Eastern Housing Ltd, Mission Energy and Properties Ltd, Rangs Properties Ltd, Sagupta NM Housing Ltd, Shadesh Properties Ltd, East West Property Development (Pvt) Ltd, Ideal Real Estate Ltd, Navana Real Estate Ltd, Rupayan Housing Estate Ltd and Shanta Properties Ltd.

Father of Architect Muzharul Islam will receive the REHAB gold crest for this year on behalf of his son.

The REHAB will organise a Raffle Draw on December 1. The winners of the draw will be from among the buyers in the fair.

Staff Reporter

The Power Development Board (PDB) has curtailed its power generation target from 4000 MW to 3300 MW, PDB sources said.

According to sources, following the tropical storm SIDR Thursday night, the demand of power declined due to disruption in supply and distribution systems, mainly in the south and southwestern zones.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (DESA) could not supply electricity in Dhanmondi and adjacent areas in the city as two of its Power Grid Transformers went out of order since the National Power Grid failure Thursday night.

The residents of those areas will have to suffer power crisis, as it would take four more days to repair the two damaged grid transformers having 100 MW capacity.

PDP has allocated only 1300 MW for (DESA) against its 1500 to 1600 MW demand.

DESA and PDP officials said the power demand during the winter season is less than the summer season.

PDB's engineers said yesterday they had fixed the power generation target up to 3219 MW. Till 8:00pm, they had generated 3099 MW and it would increase up to 3200 MW by Sunday night while its normal generation capacity is about 4200 MW.

Sources said the demand of power decreased as the supply and distribution systems in the south and the southwestern zones are out of order following the lashing of SIDR hit.

As the SIDR tore apart the electric lines and uprooted thousands of poles, the distribution system in south and southwestern zones went out of order. Therefore, there is no system to supply power in the areas. Private Western Zone Company Ltd, which consumes about 430 MW distributes power in those zones.

According to DESA, some 230 feeder-stations of 11-KV out of 379 and 27 feeder-stations of 33KV out of 65 and seven sub-stations in Dhaka went down due to the cyclone.

According to Rural Electrification Board figures, 29 Palli Bidyut Samity (associations) out of 70 in the country were damaged by the cyclone, with some 1,722 electric poles and 700km of cable uprooted or split apart.

AFP, Riyadh

Twenty-eight people were killed when a fire broke out on a gas pipeline in an oil-rich desert area of Saudi Arabia on Sunday, the state oil firm said.

"Twenty-eight people, including five employees of Aramco, died," a spokesperson for oil conglomerate Saudi Aramco told AFP, without giving further details or nationalities of the dead.

The incident near a major gas plant in the oil-rich Eastern Province occurred while OPEC powerhouse Saudi Arabia was hosting a rare summit of the oil producers cartel in the capital Riyadh which wraps up on Sunday.

An Aramco statement said it had confirmed "the deaths of 28 workers, including five company employees, so far," suggesting this may not be a final toll. Aramco said the blaze erupted on the Haradh-Uthmaniyah gas pipeline, 30 kilometres (18 miles) from a major gas processing plant at Hawiyah, as maintenance work was being carried out.

There was no immediate suggestion of a terrorist link in the incident.

Saudi Arabia has been fighting suspected Al-Qaeda extremists for more than four years, and in February 2006 announced it had foiled an attempt to blow up an oil processing plant, the world's largest, in the Eastern Province.

The fire broke out at 00:25 am (2125 GMT Saturday) and was later brought under control, said Aramco, which runs the oil and gas operations of the world's top crude producer.

A high-level technical committee has been set up to probe the incident, it said.

Staff Reporter

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, a platform against the collaborators of the Liberation War, yesterday urged the Government to hold the trial of the war criminals constituting a special tribunal under the International Crime Tribunal Act.

They suggested the Government to form a commission to collect information of the crimes committed by the war criminals during the Liberation War.

The leaders of the organisation met at a view exchange meeting at the house of the president of advisory council of the Nirmul Committee National professor Kabir Chowdhury where they discussed how to gear up the movement for the trail of the war criminals.

The leaders of the organisations also urged the government to ban the rights of politics of the Jamaat and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Prof Kabir Chowdhury said to ensure the rule of law and justice in the country trial of the war criminals must be conducted. "The young generation should know about the history and the spirit of the great Liberation War," he added.

Justice KM Sobhan said, "We hope that the Election Commission would not give chance to the self declared war criminals to participate in the elections."

Chairman of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Principal Abdul Ahad Chowdhury said to spread the movement at the grassroots level posters and leaflets should be published describing the crimes of the Razakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams had committed in Bangladesh during the Liberation War.

Among others Sector Commander of the Liberation War Col (Retd) Abu Osman Chowdhury, member secretary of Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad Md Shahjahan Kabir and Sculptor Ferdousi Priyavashini were present at the meeting.

Chairman of the Mutijoddha Sanghati Parishad Col (Retd) Shawkat Ali said the pro-liberation forces should be united for the trial of the war criminals and to ban religion based politics.

UNB, Dhaka

Asia Energy incurred a loss of 3,286,000 Pound Sterling in 12 months till June 30, 2007 at its Phulbari Coal Mine project in Bangladesh.

According to an annual report of the Global Coal Management (GCM) plc, which owns the Asia Energy Bangladesh Corporation as its sister concern, the loss was relating to exploration expenditure in the Phulbari Coal Project. The loss was 7,643,000 Pound Sterling in the previous year ending June 30, 2006.

Despite the loss, GCM is still hopeful of getting Bangladesh government's approval to its development plan for Phulbari project. The UK-based company submitted the development plan along with a feasibility study to the government nearly two years back. The GCM in the latest annual report, released recently worldwide, mentioned that "the Group completed the feasibility study and reduced activity while awaiting approval from the Government of Bangladesh to proceed with the next stage of the Phulbari Coal Project." About the Phulbari project, the GCM in its annual report mentioned that even though it has been a period of uncertainty regarding the Phulbari Coal Project, it has also been an exciting period with new additions to the Company's portfolio.

The development of the Phulbari Coal Project has been delayed following the Government's "failure" todate to approve the Scheme of Development, it said.

The GCM report said many dynamic changes to the national political situation have placed a strain on the investment climate in Bangladesh.

It mentioned that while the political situation remains uncertain, there is general optimism in the business community that the policy makers would address the critical issues facing the country today, including the key issue of energy and power supply. "Despite these setbacks and the tragic events that occurred at Phulbari in August 2006, we remain committed to working with the Government to find an acceptable and harmonious way to implement the exciting Phulbari Coal Project for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh and our shareholders and all other stakeholders," said the report.