The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Md Ruhul Amin yesterday said people would now easily know about the existing laws of the country after publication of the 38-part Bangladesh Code launched recently.

He said this after Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein handed over 11 sets of the Bangladesh Code, including its index, to the Chief Justice as presentation of the government.

The Chief Justice said all laws of the land have been accommodated in the Bangladesh Code and justice seekers as well as lawyers and judges will get all laws together.

The Bangladesh Code would help reduce waste of time for the judges while preparing their judgments, he added.

Later, while briefing newsmen, the Law Adviser said the Government is trying to establish honesty and responsibility in all spheres of life.

He said judicial magistrates are working sincerely after separation of the judiciary. It was told previously that many cases would remain unresolved but now it has been proved untrue as everyone, including judges, has taken it as a challenge, he added.

"They have taken it as a challenge to protect the image of the judiciary," Barrister Mainul said.

In reply to a question, the adviser said the Chief Justice

is cautious about the reputation of the judiciary. We have to be careful to uphold the image of the Supreme Court, he added.

He emphasised the need for conducting investigation into any irregularity or complaint, if any, in order to protect the reputation of the judiciary so that people's doubt about the judiciary could be eliminated.

Later, the Adviser visited renovation work of the Supreme Court Building and work of a construction project at the Supreme Court Complex.

Earlier, head of the one-member investigation committee on the recent incident of the Dhaka University Justice Habibur Rahman gave a copy of the report to the law adviser at the latter's office.

Barrister Mainul thanked Justice Habibur Rahman for paying much time, patience and labour in conducting investigation and preparing a report on the incident.

BSS, Barisal

Adviser for Communications Major General (retd) MA Matin, also coordinator of relief operations, yesterday visited here to see for himself the relief distributions by the service personnel from the USA, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, four US medical teams have started working in Southkhali, Sharankhola, Bamna, Patharghata, Rangabali, Dashmina and Dublarchar. They have also distributed relief materials.

Earlier, the Pakistani medical team started working in Kathalia and Bamna upazilas. A coordination cell of the forces from the USA, Pakistan and Bangladesh was formed yesterday at a meeting. Wing Commander Shamim Ahmed is heading the cell.

Matin expressed his deep satisfaction reviewing the distribution of relief goods among the cyclone-hit people in the region. He asked the officials to work sincerely at the crucial period of the nation in distributing the relief materials and rebuilding homes for the SIDR victims.

Meanwhile, the cyclone-affected people are going back to their normal life with the cooperation from the government and the army from home and abroad, and local institutions.

A total of 143.13 tonnes of relief goods, including rice, pulses, biscuits, utensils and materials, were distributed among the cyclone-affected people from the government side.

Staff Reporter

Visiting Iranian business delegation called for setting up of a joint research and information centre, to reduce information gap and to enhance trade collaboration between the two friendly countries.

"Iran-Bangladesh trade relation have a great potential but set behind the expectation due to lack of adequate information," said the leader of the Iran business delegation Gholamhosein Shaferi.

"As both the countries have opened up all possible ways to strengthen existing trade relations, they should establish a joint research and information centre to ensure frequent flow of information among both the parties," he said while addressing a meeting with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, yesterday.

According to him, major drawback to boost bilateral trade relation between the two countries is inadequate information availability to all concerned. "Availability of information's could be vital to review our trade relationship," he said.

Addressing the DCCI meeting, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Dhaka Hasan Farazandeh urged Bangladeshi business leaders to take advantage of Iran's natural resources and its strategic superiorities.

"Iran offers a great potential for Bangladeshi investors to utilise its natural resources, including the petroleum and landscape. It has developed investment friendly infrastructures up to the European standard. It could enhance your business a lot," said the Iran envoy to Dhaka.

He also suggested Bangladeshi businessmen to exploit Iran's strategic advantage as gateway to enter Europe and Middle Eastern markets.

Chairing the meeting with the Iran business delegation, President DCCI Hossain Khalid proposed Iranian business collaboration with locals as joint venture in various sectors, keeping the low trade volume in mind.

"Despite our long cultural and conceptual closeness, our export to Iran remained only US50.18 million dollar and Import from Iran at US29.48 million dollar in 2006-07," he said.

He proposed to hold extensive business talks in the sector of cement, textile, steel, food products, jute products, ceramics manufacturing among the to parties.

"Prospective can only be fruitful, if proper utilization takes place. It requires discussion over how we can improve our trade relation," he added.

The 14-member Iran business delegation has visited some major sites, inspected infrastructures and held meeting with local business leaders since last couple of days, as informed.

Staff Reporter

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury demanded of the government to declare the three mostly affected districts as disaster zone immediately.

He also urged the government to launch 'work for cash' programme in the cyclone affected area. He was speaking at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity after returning from the SIDR affected area.

Barguna, Pirojpur and Bagerhat districts must be declared disaster zone while the Sundarbans should be treated separately, he said.

Placing short term and long term recommendations for rehabilitation programme he said, '' To increase the purchasing capacity of the cyclone affected people, Government must start 'work for cash' programme instead of work for food.'' While replying to a question of the newsmen, Bikalpa Dhara President said, ''The government will be only responsible, if the US warships do not go back after completing the relief operation.''

It is good if the warships carry 'relief items' instead of weapons, he observed.

B Chowdhury , also former president refused to reply to a question from this correspondent whether they would support or oppose if the government accepts any offer of Israeli humanitarian assistance for the cyclone affected distressed people, he said,'' The question is a hypothetical ''.

However, his son Mahi B Chowdhury , organising secretary of the party told The New Nation, '' If the Israeli government really wants to provide relief, they can do the job easily through any third party like the USA.''

Prof B Chowdhury claimed, there is no relation between relief operation and lifting of emergency from the country.

Major (Retd) Abdul Mannan, Secretary General, Bikalpa Dhara suggested the government to provide VGF cards, seeds and agricultural loans as part of a rehabilitation programme.

Bikalpa Dhara presidium member Prof Dr Nurul Amin Bepari, Maj Gen(Retd) M Halim, Joynal Abedin, Giasuddin Chowdhury and central member Saju Kamal, among others, were present at the press briefing.

Staff Reporter

Recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in the country has been a great concern for the government. But there is no official report on the number of poultry death and no suspected human cases of the deadly disease reported from any part of the country.

This was stated by environmentalists and experts at a media briefing held in connection with the arrival of migratory water birds in the country.

They urged all to welcome migratory waterfowls and allow them to stay without any hindrance in the country.

They said that there was a widespread misunderstanding of the different ways in which the virus of the disease might spread and misinformation had led to wild birds being automatically blamed.

Although it has been found that numerous species of wild bird specially water birds are susceptible to be infected by the virus of the disease and are likely to have contributed to further spread. The actual importance of this mechanism is still unclear to all, they said.

Up to October 2007, country's 19 districts were affected by Avian Influenza, 54 farms have confirmed virus infection and so far 2,45,180 birds of 77 farms were culled, the report disclosed.

Comprehensive surveillance programmes are essential for better understanding of Avian Influenza, monitoring its development and contributing to early warning systems, speakers said.

Bio-security needs to be enhanced to reduce the risks associated with contact between poultry and waterfowls. A long-term solution would be to separate poultry operations and wetlands used by wild birds in order to avoid shared access and cross-contamination, they added.

The media briefing on 'Migratory Waterbirds and Avian Influenza' organised by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Bangladesh and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) at the National Press Club yesterday.

Dr Ainun Nishat, Country Representative of IUCN, Dr Ray Webb, bird flue expert and FAO Chief Technical Adviser, among others, spoke at the briefing.

Dr Nishat said, "Migratory birds are also affected by Avian Influenza. We must be alert. If the government takes proper management programme migratory birds can be safe in Bangladesh."

Dr Ray Webb said till October 2007, around 700,000 deaths were reported from across the world due to the outbreak of Avian Influenza.

Farmers can help to reduce the risks of direct transmission of poultry and cross-infection between wild and domestic birds, for example by improving hygiene and bio-security standards in farms and during the transportation of birds, they said.

The loss of wetlands around the world may force many wild birds to look for alternative sites like farm ponds and paddy fields, bringing them into direct contact with chickens, ducks, geese and other domestic fowls, they added.

Experts suggested that wild birds and poultry occurring in the same region should not use the same water areas and should not have direct contact with each other.

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, expressed his "satisfaction" over the Indian Supreme Court's interim order on Friday that would allow limestone quarrying in forest areas of Meghalaya for transport to Lafarge's cement Plant in Chhattak, Sylhet.

The ruling was facilitated by the withdrawal of objection by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Environment.

For sometime, Bangladesh had been making efforts for such no objection through diplomatic means.

"I see this withdrawal of objection by the concerned Indian Ministry as a positive gesture in line with our growing bilateral relations," said Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury, speaking in comments to the Media.

BBC online

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has filed nomination papers for the country's general elections, but insists he may boycott the poll.

Sharif says he will not stand for election unless President Pervez Musharraf lifts the state of emergency.

Benazir Bhutto has now filed papers for three parliamentary seats. There are signs that Gen Musharraf will step down as head of the army and be sworn in for another term as president this week.

Sharif, who was toppled by Gen Musharraf in 1999, returned to Pakistan on Sunday after seven years in exile.

There were jubilant scenes as cheering supporters met him at Lahore airport.

He handed in his nomination papers in Lahore for two seats in January's general elections on Monday, the closing date. Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister who recently returned to Pakistan, filed a nomination paper on Sunday for one of the seats reserved for women.

On Monday she filed papers in her Larkana constituency for two regular seats. She, too, has left open the possibility of a boycott. Sharif's return to Pakistan on Sunday was his second attempt in the past three months to end his exile. The last time, in September, he was deported within hours of his arrival. The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Lahore says it is believed that Gen Musharraf is hoping that Sharif will be able to dent Benazir Bhutto's prospects in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Correspondents say there are signs that the Ministry of Defence will soon officially announce that Gen Musharraf will step down as head of the army in the next few days.

He has come under intense international pressure to make the move before taking his oath of office for a second term as president.

Nawaz Sharif told cheering crowds on Sunday that his return was "not the result of any deal" with Gen Musharraf, referring to reports that he had come home under an arrangement with the military ruler. "My deal is with you, the people of Pakistan," he said.

Sharif also said that emergency conditions imposed by General Musharraf on 3 November were "not conducive" to free and fair elections.

Staff Reporter

Former President HM Ershad yesterday put forward a seven-point suggestion to save thousands of people living in the coastal areas in the country from the fury of natural calamities like cyclone and tidal surge.

The suggestions include setting up of 10-foot high embankments and at least three shelter centres at each union in the coastal areas, undertaking low cost housing projects, sinking tube-wells immediately for pure drinking water arranging village rationing, loan waiver for the worst affected people and disbursing farm loan and launching a massive afforestation programme to protect the ecological balance.

Placing the set of suggestions at a press conference at Jatiya Party's Banani office after his three-day visit to the cyclone-affected areas from November 23, the Jatiya Party Chairman said the state if emergency is not a problem in carrying out relief works by political parties.

He emphasised the need for taking long-term action plans to face natural disasters in the future.

"People living in southeastern region have to fight with natural disasters. Only massive long-term plans can save them from unfortunate deaths," he said.

The former President thanked the civil administration, army, joint forces and the foreign countries for standing beside the cyclone victims in the coastal areas.

Ershad narrated his experiences during his visit to cyclone-hit areas.

Jatiya Party leaders-Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu, among others, were present at the press conference.

Staff Reporter

The government has decided on the formation of anti-drug committees in all educational institutions including schools and colleges to prevent drugs from spreading among youths.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Narcotics Control Broad held at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday with Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein in the chair.The meeting was informed that about 36,000 cases, relating to narcotics, are pending for trial while the number of the accused, involved in these cases, is 45,000.

Adviser for Finance Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam, Adviser for Health and Family Welfare Dr ASM Motiur Rahman, Adviser for LGRD Anwarul Iqbal, Adviser for Industries Geetiara Safiya Chowdhury, among others, attended the two-hour long meeting.

Briefing journalists after the meeting Home Secretary Md Abdul Karim said that the meeting reviewed the narcotics related cases and directed the narcotics department to resolve the cases as soon as possible. The previous meeting of the Board was held on June 1, 2005, he said.

He said the meeting decided to form an inter-ministerial committee headed by the Additional Home Secretary to find out the ways to review and resolve the drug cases.

The meeting directed the narcotics department to intensify its anti-drug drive across the country despite having constraint in manpower.

He said the meeting also asked the department to take necessary measure to examine drug in the laboratories of the narcotics department accurately, he said.

The Home Secretary said the meeting decided to issue armed licenses to the drug officials and continue bar licenses in five stars hotels in accordance with the existing rules and regulations of the department of narcotics.

He said the meeting emphasised the need for increasing advocacy programme involving people from civil society and NGOs to create awareness among the people about the bad effect of taking drug.

Abdul Karim said the meeting asked the ministry of health and family welfare to implement the anti-smoking law.

The meeting discussed the duties and responsibilities of the narcotics department and opined that it would prepare a policy on drug control and take necessary decisions.

Replying to a question, he said the narcotics department has been asked to determine the number of addicted persons and ensure accountability in its activities.

Board members-Zafrullah Chowdhury, Abdullah Abu Sayed, Dr Arup Ratan, Shawkat Mahmud, Prof MR Khan and government high officials were present at the meeting.

Chittagong Correspondent

Speakers at training workshop here on Sunday said that the development of reproductive health of women workers was profoundly related to the economic growth of Bangladesh. "Ninety percent of nearly 25 lakhs garments workers across the country are women and they are the main driving force of our economy this is why the women issue must get priority as part the social responsibility", they said.

The seminar on "Reproductive Rights, Health and Gender situation of Garments Workers in Chittagong' was jointly organized by UNFPA and BGMEA and held at Hotel Peninsula in the city yesterday. Speakers also said that the initiative that had taken by UNFPA and BGMEA for the growth of reproductive health needs more attention. Prof. Dr. Iftekharuddin Ahmed Chowdhury presented keynote paper while Representative of UNFPA in Bangladesh Mohammed Nurul Amin and Project Director Sharifuddin Ahmed Sharif attended it as chief guest and special guest respectively.

MA Salam, first vice president of BGMEA delivered the well-come speech and Mahbubul Alam, former first vice-president of BGMEA moderated the seminar. In his speech Dr. Iftekheruddin Chowdhury said that 30,549 women had received the healthcare facilities from BGMEA and UNFPA till September last. As a result, the rate of reproductive health has increased to 82 percent from 25 percent during last three years since 2003. The multidimensional pragmatic initiatives that were taken for the women is to flourish their latent strength and it these made remarkable success , they said .

Alhajj Khalilur Rahman, former first vice president of BGMEA, Ershadullah, Director of BGMEA, M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, former director of BGMEA Nasiruddin Chowdhury, professor of Chittagong University SM Monirul Hasan, Indrajeet Kundu, Journalist Hafiz Enam Emam, Ali Haider, NGO activist Shamsun Nahar Paran, Pervin Sultana Paru addressed the seminar among others.

Nurul Amin in his speech said that United Nations in cooperation with BGMEA had achieved significant success on reproductive health in last decade.

The work that had been done in this field will certainly flourish the hidden progress of Bangladesh, he added.

MA Salam said, BGMEA has taken different responsibilities of 25 lakhs workers out of social liabilities.

BGMEA not only wants to provide the proper care of reproductive health but also wants to human dignity of the impoverished and oppressed women.

Some speakers said many components are directly and indirectly involved in the development of reproductive health. How many women were employed is not the main issue rather how many women were provided security and self - confidence is praiseworthy.

The seminar was followed by a day-long policy dialogue was held in the city's Asian Hotel on reproductive health and gender issue yesterday, jointly organized by UNFPA and BGMEA. The leaders of the bothorganizations were present in the dialogue.

Staff Reporter

Following the call of Pope Benedict the XVIth, made from the Vatican on the 19th November, Caritas Bangladesh has, so far, received pledges for over US$4 million from a number of Catholic agencies from all over the world.

In a meeting held on November 24 Archbishop has suggested Caritas to double its efforts using its experience and capacity to reach the most affected people with food and non-food items, says a press release.

Caritas, the Development Agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB), has reviewed its short-term and long-term relief and rehabilitation plan during a meeting held Saturday last at Archbishop's House, Kakrail in the presence of Archbishop Paulinus Costa, the President of the CBCB; Bishop Theotonius Gomes, CSC, the President of Caritas; Dr Benedict Alo D'Rozario, Executive Director of Caritas and Francis Atul Sarker, Development Director.

The Caritas short-term and mid-term relief and rehabilitation plan, based on the field assessment report, will include: food and non-food distribution to 51,000 families, cash for work for 9,000 families; professional rehabilitation for 4,500 families; house repair for 2,800 families; low cost house for 7,300 families and repair of 57 damaged schools.

For all of these activities Caritas planned to spend about US$9.4 million. In its long-long term plan; Caritas will also construct at least 50 cyclone shelters across the country.

Meanwhile, Caritas has received pledges from many Catholic Organisations including Caritas Italiana; Caritas Germany; Caritas Switzerland; Catholic Relief Service, USA; CORDAID - Caritas Netherlands; CAFOD - Caritas England and Wales; Caritas Australia; Caritas Austria; Caritas New Zealand; TROCAIRE - Caritas Ireland; Caritas-Poland, Caritas Spain and Caritas Luxembourg.

Through its ongoing food and non-food relief distribution programme Caritas has planned to spend over Tk 11 crore to reach 51,000 families with food and non-food items, the release added.

UNB, Dhaka

Some 2,000 retired workers of six state-run jute mills in Khulna and Jessore region began a three-day token hunger strike Monday in front of their mills here and in Jessore to realize their demands.

The demands include payment of gratuity, provident fund money and other arrears as per Wage Commission.

The mills are Crescent Jute Mills, Platinum Jute Mills, Star Jute Mills, Carpeting Jute Mills and Eastern Jute Mills in Khulna, and Jessore Jute Industry in Jessore.

The workers, who went on retirement at the age of 57 and 60, said they would observe hunger strike from 9am to 5pm daily.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation Chairman Ataharul Islam said the concerned ministry has been informed about the demands of the workers. He said that on availability of necessary funds they would get their dues.

Workers alleged that they have long been urging the authorities concerned to pay their due arrears.