The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syed Zahirul Abedin

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday hailed the country's political parties for launching relief operations among the cyclone-affected people in the southern districts.

On the other hand, Communications Adviser Major General MA Matin said the foreign forces, including the US Marines were delivering food, water and medical supplies to the cyclone-affected areas along with the Bangladesh defence forces.

Charge d Affaires of the US Embassy in Bangladesh Geeta Pasi assured of continuous help for the cyclone-affected people of Bangladesh.

After visiting different cyclone affected areas, including Swarankhola in Bagerhat, Mathbaria in Pirojpur and Amuya under Kathalia upazila in Jhalakathi yesterday, Dr Fakhruddin was replying the queries of journalists at the Central Relief and Rehabilitation Coordination Center premises at Barisal Airport yesterday afternoon.

The Chief Adviser hailed starting relief distribution work by different political parties and organisations saying that it was the duties and responsibilities of political parties to stand beside the distressed people and help them to overcome the crisis. The political parties would be benefited in the long run for their tasks for this noble cause.

He also urged the political parties to carry out their relief activities in coordination with local administration and local government.

Communications Adviser and Chief Coordinator of Relief and Rehabilitation Work Major General (Retd) MA Matin, GOC of 55 Division of Bangladesh Army Major General Rafiqul Islam, senior officials of the district and divisional administration and Armed Forces were present during the press briefing of the Chief Adviser at Barisal Airport.

Meanwhile, US Charge d Affairs Geeta Pasi said yesterday that Bangladesh was a good friend of the United States and the assistance for the distressed people in the cyclone-affected areas of Bangladesh would continue as long as they needed.

While talking with journalists at Barisal Airport, she said both the United States and Bangladesh had been working side by side over the years, including the all times of joy and sorrow.

"The United States feels very anxiousness about the Sidr hit people of Bangladesh and the US forces are carrying out relief operations under the guidance of the Bangladesh government, and they are accompanied by the Bangladeshi officials to the affected areas," she said.

"We're satisfied about the relief and rehabilitation activities and steps taken by the Bangladesh government in before and after the cyclone Sidr as well as their success in disaster management.

The US will provide additional 10 million dollars to help distressed people," she also said.

Brigadier General Ronald L Bailey, Brigade Commander of the Third Marine Expeditionary Brigade of the USA, also accompanied the US envoy to the affected areas during her visits.

Meanwhile, Communi-cations Adviser Major General MA Matin said yesterday that there was no scope of raising controversies about the movement of foreign forces in the cyclone Sidr affected areas.

Reiterating his earlier comments, Matin said the foreign forces, including US Marines came to serve the distressed people in Bangladesh and would not stay for a single more day than required for relief and rehabilitation operations.

Meanwhile, the US Navy helicopters yesterday resumed delivery of emergency supplies to survivors of the deadly cyclone along the country's southern coast in a joint relief operation, officials said.

Helicopters from the USS Kearsarge started airlifting 5,000 water containers on Monday to remote areas of Dublar Char, Bagherat and Barguna, the worst affected districts in the November 15 cyclone that killed more than 3,200 people.

Survivors of the storm, many of them without food, water or shelter, welcomed the aid.

"They have come all the way from a distant country to help us. It is a blessing from Allah," said Abdus Salam, a 65-year-old farmer in Barguna district.

"They are bringing us water and food. That is what we now need most," said Salam, who lost two children in the cyclone.

In the coming days, US troops also will deliver food and other supplies, help set up water purification plants and provide medical care to victims.

"I believe our operation is going very well," said Rear Admiral Carol Pottenger, the commander of USS Kearsarge, yesterday.

Pottenger said her teams are working in cooperation with Bangladeshi authorities. Clean water, medicines and food remain the most priority need for the desperate survivors, she said.

Bangladesh has received pledges of international aid of more than $500 million, including $250 million from the World Bank.

The US will also help airlift 160 tons of relief goods from Bangladeshi government supplies, the American Embassy said.

A US military KC-130 aircraft arrived at the Zia International Airport to deliver water purification systems to affected areas. A second American ship, the USNS Concord, was nearby to re-supply the Kearsarge, the US Embassy said.

With many wells destroyed by the cyclone, there was a critical need for clean water to prevent the spread of cholera and diarrhea.

The US Embassy also said an Army medical team that had been in Bangladesh on a separate mission was deployed to Pataukhali district along with medics from the Kearsarge.

The Bangladesh military is constructing more than 200 helipads in the coastal region, said the US Embassy sources. The government will give loans and materials to rebuild homes, a source said. More than 4,50,000 homes were damaged by the cyclone.

At least 13 Bangladesh navy ships also were involved in relief work, distributing food and clothes. India and Pakistan have also sent military planes and hospital ships.

The Asian Development Bank said natural disasters in Bangladesh this year might bring down the country's GDP growth to below 6 per cent, from 6.5 percent predicted earlier.

The ADB said economic losses from floods have amounted to $1.4 billion. The bank was still assessing the losses from the latest cyclone.

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Bank will do all to absorb the shock of cyclone Sidr and will also release dollar from its reserve for food import, if necessary, Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said yesterday.

The central bank chief urged the banks to forget about making profits this year as the country is passing through a tough time following successive shocks of floods and cyclone.

Dr Salehuddin was talking to journalists after a meeting with the executives of public and private commercial banks.

"It's a very challenging time, a difficult situation for the economy," he said and urged the banks to be aware of the social commitment. "Banks may be able to double their profits in the long run if economic activities can be rejuvenated," he added.

He said the central bank is ready to provide any assistance to raise domestic food production and food imports to face up the food deficit.

Replying to a question he said that Bangladesh Bank is yet to make specific analysis how much pressure would come on the foreign exchange reserve due to food import requirement.

"We'll be able to meet whatever the demand may be," he added.

The central bank has $5 billion in foreign currency reserve right now with which it will be possible to bear import costs for more than three months, he informed.

"We're careful about the food shortage. We're ready to provide any support to keep inflation at tolerable level," he said. However, he expressed Bangladesh Bank's limitation to control other factors that influence the market.

Dr Salahuddin predicted that inflation could rise cross the double digit due to disruption in supply chain in the cyclone-affected areas. Inflation reached 10.10 per cent in Oct from 9.60 per cent in Sept, he added.

He informed that the excess liquidity with banks has to some extent and now stands at Tk 11,000 crore declining from Tk 14,000 crore in June.

"Despite the huge liquidity, the monetary policy remained accommodative in practice instead of the earlier announced cautious policy," he said.

Dr Salehuddin requested banks to provide easy-term loans from the huge liquidity to small economic activities of the disaster-affected people so that they could rejuvenate their economic life and help maintain the country's economic growth.

The Governor instructed them to provide loans to the timber traders and fishermen as well as small housing and agriculture loans in the cyclone-hit areas at lowest possible and tolerable rate of interest.

Private banks having inadequate branches in the affected areas could even link them up with NGOs to operate lending programmes, he added.

Dr Salehuddin called upon the senior bankers to visit the affected areas to supervise lending operations as Bangladesh Bank has been informed that some bank officers were not active enough to perform their duties in consistent with the emergency.

On fears of a fall in GDP growth, the governor said: "It won't fall as ADB and other donor agencies have predicted. In the last fiscal year GDP was 6.5 per cent, this year it might be a little less. But it won't decline below 6 per cent."

"The industry and service sectors are running smoothly. So it won't impact on GDP," Salehuddin said.

Staff Reporter

Two more leaders of banned Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Isam (HUJI) and also the suspects of the August 21 grenade attack who were arrested from the city's Mohammadpur area were taken on a five-day remand yesterday.

Mohammadpur police said that they were arrested from a mess house in connection with the August 21 grenade attack at the Awami League rally in 2004 that killed at least 24 AL leaders and activists, including Ivy Rahman, and injured over 200 others. They were identified as HUJI leaders Maulana Mohammad Manir Hossain, and Maulana Mohammad Idris.

According to police, they produced them before the court in the afternoon seeking remand and the court granted the prayer.

Sources said they were the very close allies of HIJU chief Maulana Mufti Hannan, who was awarded life imprisonment on charge of an attempt to kill AL president Sheikh Hasina in Kotalipara in 2000.

Besides, Maulana Idris is the brother-in-law of Maulana Abu Taher, a senior leader of the HUJI, and Manir is a relative of Idris.

Mohammadpur thana officer-in-charge (OC) Shibli Noman said they arrested Idris and Manir following the confessions of detained HUJI leaders Mufti Hannan and Taher.

He said during the CID interrogation, the HUJI leaders admitted that they had made the attacks on the AL rally at Bangabandhu Avenue to kill Hasina.

"The arrested HUJI leaders are involved in all the grenade-bomb attacks in the country, including at CPB rally, Ramna Batamul on Pohela Boishakh and countrywide series bomb attack on August 17 in 2005", the OC said.

According to sources, the CID is also trying to bring back some other HUJI leaders from India.

Staff Reporter

The enactment of a law to free the Election Commission from the Government control is being delayed due to bureaucratic tangle.

Disclosing this yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said many of the political parties do not practise democracy although claimed themselves as the champions of the pluralist system.

"Many of the political parties, including BNP, which lack practise of democracy within the organisation, cannot register with the Election Commission unless they amend their existing party constitutions," he told journalists after a dialogue with the Workers' Party on electoral reform at the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat.

Turning to the BNP, the CEC said, "I, personally, examined the BNP constitution closely. It will also have to amend its constitution. Otherwise, this party cannot get registered with the Election Commission." He said, "It is not fair to 'shout' for democracy when they (political leaders) themselves do not practise it within the party forum."

"There are many other political parties like that. If they come to us without amending their Constitution, we will simply say sorry to them," Dr Shamsul Huda said, asserting, " political parties, who do not practise democracy within party forum, will also do not get registration unless their constitutions were democratised through amendment."

Expressing the same sentiment, Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon said, "We also think so. This is not fair to talk about democracy unless they themselves practise it within the party."

"The parties which did not practise democracy within will have to change their existing party constitutions," he advised.

According to the polls roadmap declared by the EC for holding the stalled general elections, the registration of the political parties would be completed by June next year.

Menon, who was leading a 10-member party delegation to the talks, demanded of the EC not to resister Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party for their anti-independence role during the Liberation War.

He said his party would not take part in the EC's proposed all-party meeting if the Jamaat-e-Islami was invited to it.

Election Commissioners Mohammad Sohul Hossain and Brig Gen (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain were present at the dialogue, which was attended, among others, by Workers Party leaders, by Bimal Biswas, Haider Akbar Khan Rano and Fazle Hossain Badsha.

Staff Reporter

The Government yesterday requested donors to provide 500,000 tons of food-grains assistance to meet the deficit caused by severe cyclone Sidr and maintain food security in the country.

Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury sought the assistance during a meeting with envoys of the donor countries and representatives of international donor agencies yesterday.

"To keep the minimum food stock of one million tons, the Government needs immediate assistance of 500,000 tons," Tapan Chowdhury told journalists after the meeting.

He said presently the Government has a stock of 700,000 tons of food-grains, of which 200,000 tons would be sent to the cyclone-affected areas immediately.

The Adviser requested the donor countries, who want to provide food aid to purchase the food-grain from outside Bangladesh so that it does not affect the domestic market.

The devastating cyclone, one of the fiercest cyclones that hit Bangladesh in last 131 year, affected 34 out of the country's 64 districts, leaving over 3,278 people dead, over 1,000 missing and millions homeless. Crops on about 1.7 million acres of land were damaged, as per official estimate. The cyclone was preceded by two successive floods, which had inundated 40 per cent of the country's landmass this year and causing severe damage to the economy.

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, who was present at the meeting, said his Government would provide US 10 million dollars in emergency aid, which would be disbursed through DFID and other NGOs.

He said British Telecom would help restore the telecommunications system damaged by the storm without any cost.

An aircraft carrying British relief, including 41,000 blankets and 40,000 hurricanes, will arrive in Dhaka today, he added.

The High Commissioner said according to their estimate as many as 7,000 people have died in the cyclone Sidr, which he said was more powerful than hurricane Katrina that had struck USA.

Appreciating the Government's relief operation, Anwar Chowdhury said the affected people were now feeling the presence of the Government.

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Renata Lok Dessallien said Bangladesh should do emergency work in six sectors-immediate food supply, pure water, sanitation, rehabilitation, security, and health.

Some 7 million people have been affected by the cyclone, she said, appreciating Government's relief-distribution plan, she added.

The UN Resident Coordinator pointed out saying, "There are some difficulties in coordination in carrying out relief and rehabilitation work."

Meanwhile, the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have pledged more than $10 million of Food for the relief and immediate recovery efforts and Turkish Ambassador Ferit Ergin yesterday donated US 1 million dollars for the cyclone survivors in Bangladesh.

The USAID assistance includes more than 3,000 tons of food for Peace assistance already in Bangladesh as part of CARE and Save the Children grants provided through USAID. These in-country stocks will be distributed immediately, and additional commodities will follow, said a press release yesterday.

"This food aid is not just a life-saving measure but a visible demonstration of the goodwill of the American people to Bangladeshis in their time of need," said Michael Hess, USAID Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received a cheque of US 1 million dollars from Turkish Ambassador Ferit Ergin yesterday afternoon.

"Bangladesh sees Turkey as a close friend and partner, and I told the Turkish Ambassador so", said Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury told journalists, adding that they also discussed matters pertaining to the bilateral economic and political issues, a Foreign Ministry press release said.

BSS, Gaibandha

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed on Tuesday said the Bangladesh Army is working relentlessly for the interest of people of the country.

He said, "Activities of the Army have been very visible since January 11 as they want development of the country."

General Moeen said this as the chief guest while addressing the inaugural function of the 'Four Cows Combined Small Farm Project (FCCSFP)' at the Ansar Academy of the town on Tuesday.

The Army Chief said every work must be successful if it is done carefully and sincerely.

The FCCSFP has been taken up experimentally in the district to eradicate 'monga', he said seeking cooperation from all to make the project a success.

General Moeen also said local cows can meet only 20 percent demand for milk of the country and the rest 80 percent milk is imported from other countries at a high price. He stressed the need for setting up more dairy farms to meet the demand.

The Army Chief directed the district administrations to lease out the water bodies for fish farming to increase the revenue of the country.

People are not the burden on the country. They are the human resources, he said adding that 30 crore hands of 15 crore people have to be turned into working hands by providing them with training.

Earlier, General Moeen distributed certificates and documents among the beneficiaries of the project.

Deputy Commissioner of the district Quazi M Anwarul Hakim, Executive Director of the TMSS Prof Hosne Ara and Sahapara Union Parishad Chairman M Mahbubur Rahman, among others, addressed the function.

Rangpur Area Commander of the Army GOC Major General Syed Fatemi Ahmed Roomy, Commander of the 66 Artillery Brigade Brigadier Ibrahim Jamal, local Commanding Officer of the joint forces Lt Col Syed Fazley Ahmed Kader, district level Army and civil officials, and journalists were present on the occasion.

After the function, General Moeen inaugurated a biogas plant by igniting at the house of Jamila Begum at Bhabanipur of Sahapara union of Sadar upazila as the chief guest.

The Bangladesh Army, the Sahapara UP, the district administration, the Livestock Department and local voluntary organisations jointly implemented the plant at a cost of Taka 63,22,500.

A total of 25 poor families of Sahapara UP have been brought under the project.

Each family had to spend Taka 2,55,700 to buy four cows to set up the biogas plant, build a cowshed and do other things. Taka 5,000 was also given to each family for accessory work.

Out of Taka 2,55,700, the Bangladesh Army gave Taka 1,52,100 as grant, a local NGO Taka 79,000 as loan and a local voluntary organisation Taka 24,000 as grant to run the project. The loan will be paid with the four percent service charge in installments within the five years.

If the project is successful in this union, it will be extended to other parts of the districts of the northern region.

Earlier, the Army Chief visited Nilphamari and released fish fries in the canal of the Teesta Barrage.

Addressing a function on the occasion, he urged people to stand by the cyclone survivors in the southern part of the country.

He flew to Chowadangi High School ground of Jaldhaka upazila and released fries of various species of fish and distributed blankets among poor people.

Court Correspondent

Awami League and former Prime Minister detained Sheikh Hasina and her cousin former Health Minister Sheikh Selim will be produced today (Wednesday) before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka in extortion case to frame charge against them in their presence.

As other accused Sheikh Rehana has been absconding trial process had started earlier in her absence. On June 13, this year Ajam J Chowdhury, Managing Director of Eastcoast Trading Private Limited filed the case with Gulshan Thana of the city under sections 385 and 386 of the Penal Code. They have been accused of compelling the complainant to give them Taka 2,99,65,500 through 8 cheques of Standard Chartered Bank Limited and South East Bank Limited for getting the work to upgrade Siddhirganj Power Station of Narayanganj in 2000 and 2001.

Meanwhile, Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, will be produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka for remand hearing in a case filed against Koko with Gulshan Thana. Investigation Officer (IO) of the case sought a 7-day remand.

Meanwhile, Md. Azizul Haque, Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka yesterday ordered attachment of the property of Awami League leader and former MP fugitive Dr. HBM Iqbal, his wife, two sons and daughter in a graft case. Similarly, the Judge ordered attachment of the property of Juba League leader Mirza Azam in another case and fixed December 2, as next date of both the cases.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka ordered to transfer the graft case filed against former Communication Minister Barrister Najmul Huda and his wife Advocate Sigma Huda to Special Court set up in the Parliament House. Besides, another case filed against 25 persons including former Works Minister Mirza Abbas in connection with the sale of 25 houses, was also transferred to the Special Court of Parliament House yesterday.

Syful Islam

Recently freed business tycoon Abdul Awal Mintoo is working with his three books he wrote during five months in jail.

"I wrote three books on 'my jail life', 'jail reform' and 'politics after 1/11'. I will be publishing those once the emergency is lifted," Mintoo told The New Nation Monday night.

Replying to a question he said, "It was for the first time for me in jail. I hope it will be the last time, too."

The former FBCCI president hesitated to utter a single word on his future plans.

"I received many requests from different local and international media for interview but I declined those. On Sunday, for the first time after being set free from jail, I gave a long interview to The New York Times."

The business magnate, who is always fond of commenting on different issues and also plays a mysterious role in the national politics, said, "Allow me some more days to observe the situation… its not proper time to comment."

On his books, Mintoo said, one book will contain the descriptions of the moments, the times, day-to-day affairs and about his VIP jail mates'.

"The second book will contain issues related to reform in jail," said the reformist business leader who proposed a detailed reform of Bangladesh politics during his presidential role of apex trade body FBCCI.

And the rest will come with Mintoo's observation on political situation in the country after 1/11. In the book Mintoo may come up with the reason behind his arrest and many more.

Joint forces arrested former FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo on May 29 last from near Naval Headquarters in Banani at night on his way back from Bogra.

He was accused of owning huge money misusing his position as the former President of FBCCI and his relations with the Government. He was given detention on different charges. Mintoo was freed from jail on November 8.

Rajshahi Correspondent

Rajshahi speedy trial court yesterday fixed December 6 for delivering verdict in the case against 14 persons including two Rajshahi University teachers for torching DGFI vehicle during campus violence on August 22.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate M Ruhul Amin heard the day-long arguments of state and defense lawyers and fixed the date of verdict.

Two teachers, Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal, Dr Sabbir Sattar Tapu and RU deputy chief information officer Sadekul Islam and former RU vice chancellor Faisul Islam Faruki's driver Ataur Rahman were produced before the court.

Additional public prosecutor Masum Ahmed Tipu and court sub inspector Shamsul Alam claimed in argument that the prosecution proved allegations on the basis of a video cassette, mobile phone call list and 24 prosecution witnesses (PW). They demanded highest punishment against the accused persons under the law.

Defense lawyers Golam Arif Tipu, Hamidul Haque and Mansur Ahmed argued for the accused.

Defence Lawyer Tipu claimed, implicating two RU teachers in the case was a conspiracy and allegations against them of ordering the torching of DGFI vehicle over mobile phones is false.

He pointed out, the prosecution submitted mobile phone call lists of a period between 9.38am to 12.30pm, but the DGFI vehicle entered the campus on 2.15pm and the incident occurred at 2.30pm.

Moreover, the investigation officer could not describe what was told (by the teachers) while ordering the attack on DGFI vehicle, he said.

He added, the mobile phone call list was collected on September 23, but the allegation of ordering through mobile phones was made on August 23 and charges were pressed on September 1.

Hamidul Haque in his argument cited the mobile phone call list issue and said, there are things in the first information report and the charge sheet as if the Ramayana had been written before the birth of Ram.

He said, the prosecution side claimed a video footage was the main basis of the case, but the video footage was never displayed before the court despite requests.

Depositions of plaintiff and PWs revealed that the video footage was seen on August 26 and 30, how then the accused persons were identified on August 23 as claimed in the FIR.

The defense lawyers said, the two teachers (who are key-witnesses of RU professor S Taher Ahmed murder case against six persons including RU teacher Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin and Shibir leader Salehi) are victims of a conspiracy by a vested quarter in the university.

Shawkat Ali, an assistant director of Rajshahi DGFI lodged the case on August 23 accusing two teachers and four students. Later on September 1, the sub inspector Mukhtar Hossain pressed charges against total 14 persons.

The plaintiff alleged that he was assaulted and his government vehicle was torched during the campus violence on August 22. He alleged the two teachers instigation the violent students over mobile phones to set fire to his vehicle.

Absconding accused are -- Bangladesh Chhatra League RU unit secretary Ayenuddin, Dipayan Sarkar, Mizanur Rahman Mithu, Sardar Ayaz, SM Fakrul Islam Raihan, Abu Sayem, Shamim Ahmed, Kazi A Latif, Shakhawat Hossain, Aziz Bin Kamal.

Meanwhile, the verdict in another case against six RU teachers for observing strike, bringing out protest procession on August 21 and instigating students to be violent on August 22 violating the emergency power rules is likely to be given on December 4.