The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday said the international community "stands solidly with Bangladesh at the hour of our needs."

He said this while talking to the media after briefing members of the diplomatic corps on post-cyclone relief operations at his ministry.

The Foreign Adviser thanked the diplomats for the "huge and enthusiastic support, both moral and material" that Bangladesh has been receiving from their countries.

He said he told the diplomats that the Government's timely preparations saved lives and minimised the consequences of cyclone Sidr. "We have to work in a coordinated fashion," he added.

The Foreign Adviser said the country will overcome this setback and move forward beyond the rehabilitation and reconstruction to development and progress.

He said Bangladesh would need continued support from members of the international community.

In this context, he said leaders of the Commonwealth Summit in Kampala praised this spirit of Bangladesh.

UNB, Dhaka

The Supreme Court chamber judge Tuesday turned down Anti-Corruption Commission and government pleas for stay on the HC rulings scrapping the ACC notice for ex-PM Sheikh Hasina's wealth statement.

However, the chamber judge referred their application to the regular bench of the Appellate Division of the SC for hearing on December 2. The ACC and the government moved the application for halting the High Court judgment delivered on Nov 21 demolishing the ACCC notice asking the former Prime Minister and Awami League president, now detained, to submit statement of her wealth.

Chamber Judge M Hassan Ameen also passed a similar order on government petition seeking stay on operation of the Nov 22 High Court order granting bail to detained BNP leader Big General (retd) ASM Hannan Shah.

UNB, Shoronkhola

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed here Tuesday assured the cyclone-affected people that the present government would carry out relief and rehabilitation work as long as it is needed.

The government has taken all-out preparations for helping the distressed people of the November 15 cyclone-battered coastal areas. The Head of the caretaker government gave the assurance while talking to the local people and newsmen after visiting and distributing relief materials among the victims of cyclone in Gabtola area in Shoronkhola upazila of Bagerhat district.

Earlier, on arrival at Gabtola by a helicopter at 10:10 am today, the Chief Adviser was received by Deputy Commissioner of Bagerhat Syed Shahidul Islam, DIG Police of Khulna Range Asaduzzman Mia, Police Super of Bagerhat Shahidur Rahman and officials of the local administration.

On the third day of his visit to the cyclone-hit coastal areas, Dr Fakhruddin said the caretaker government is doing everything it can to help the affected fishermen, farmers and small traders to restart their shattered life with fresh zeal.

He informed that the government has decided to allocate Tk 90 crore from the budget for providing assistance to the victims of cyclone 'Sidr'. A policy guideline on spending the allocated money has already been formulated, he said.

The Chief Adviser hoped that the affected people would be able to return to a comparatively better life than their pre-Nov 15 days as the avenues of assistance have increased.

He urged different NGOs, whose representatives were present on the spot, to coordinate with the local administration for proper distribution of relief and a balanced rehabilitation.

The Chief adviser talked to some of the affected people and inquired about their wellbeing and requirement.

During the visit, the NGO representatives apprised the Chief Adviser of their relief activities among the cyclone victims. Dr Fakhruddin left here by helicopter at 10:50am for nearby Pirojpur district.

UNB, Barisal

Power supply through the Rural Electrification Board (REB) has not yet been resumed in most of the cyclone affected areas in the Barisal region.

The extent of damages in the power sector has surpassed Tk 100 core and over 50,000 customers have been affected.

REB sources said the catastrophic cyclone 'Sidr' damaged some 20,000 km power lines out of the 25,000 km and 30,000 electricity meters under different Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) in nine districts of Barisal circle including Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Bhola, Jhalakati, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Gopalganj. REB superintending engineer of Barisal circle informed the cyclone also nearly 65 percent houses of their customers and it has become very difficult to connect them with electricity supply until the damaged houses are repaired.

Barisal Correspondent

Super Cyclone SIDR left a trail of destruction on the mass education sector in Barisal. Over 3000 primary schools were severely damaged, causing a loss of about Tk 98 crore.

"Infrastructurer of come 483 primary schools were completely destroyed and 2,777 others were partially damaged by the storm," official from the Directorate of Primary Education, Barisal Office told the New Nation.

According to him, Barguna district was the worst affected area in the division, where 129 schools were completely demolished by the storm and another 129 were severely damaged. This damage of property would cost Tk 26.11 crore. About 65 primary schools were also destroyed and 288 others were damaged in Patukhali district. Estimated loss in this district is almost Tk17.5 crore.

In Pirojpur district, infrastructure of 34 primary schools were destroyed and 367 others were damaged in the cyclone, causing over Tk 17.1 crore in loss. Buildings of another 27 primary schools have collapsed and 167 were damaged in Bhola district, worth about Tk 89 lakh.

In Jhalakati district, 11 primary school buildings were destroyed and 248 others were partially damaged. Estimated loss was Tk 2.27 crore.

Another Tk 6.15 crore was lost in Barisal district as 21 primary schools were totally damaged and 486 others were partially damaged.

Besides the government primary schools, about 147-registered private primary and 29 community primary schools were destroyed in the division only. Number of partially damaged schools in six districts under Barisal division is 921, which amounts to a loss of about Tk 29 crore.

Affected teachers of government and non-government primary schools have urged the government to build their schools, at least up to a usable condition. "We have to complete annual examination by December 2007. But classes of destroyed schools are being held under the open sky, to save students from a year loss," they said.

UNB, Dhaka

The Power Cell is likely to complete within next week the pre-qualification assessment of the bidders vying for the proposed 450-MW Bibiyana Power Plant project, a vital scheme for the electricity-scant country.

Earlier, the Power Ministry has initiated three large-scale IPP projects-450MW Sirajganj plant, 450MW Meghnaghat phase-III plant and the 450MW Bibiyana.

But, a Power Ministry source said, one of them, the Bibiyana project, is getting utmost priority, as natural gas is available nearby for the plant. Responding to the tender invited by the Power Cell of the Power Ministry, a total of six international and local firms submitted the pre-qualification bids on November 8 for the project.

The aspirants are Korea Electric Power Corporation of South Korea, AES Corporation, GE Energy, and Chevron Corporation of the United States, the consortium of the Summit Industrial Mercantile Corporation Limited of Bangladesh, the consortium of Powertek Berhad and the YTL Power International Berhad of Malaysia, and Siemens Project Ventures GmbH of Germany.

A seven-member tender-evaluation committee, headed by Power Cell director general Abdul Jalil, is evaluating the applications from the companies.

On completion of the pre-qualification assessment, the qualified bidders will be invited to submit their final financial and technical offers under Request for Proposal (RfP) format.

As per the bidding proposal, winning private sponsor will have to implement the Bibiyana Power Plant project on Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis as independent power producer (IPP) in accordance with the Private Sector Power Generation Policy 2004.

The state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) will purchase electricity from the plant for about 22 years.

A site near the Bibiyana gas field in Habiganj has been fixed as location for the power plant. Bibiyana Field has abundant surplus natural gas, which, for lack of infrastructure, will remain unutilized, industry-insiders believe.

On the other hand, the two other projects-Sirajganj and Meghnaghat-III-are still in uncertainty about getting available gas supply.

Despite that, a power Ministry source said, the Power Cell will receive PQ bids until December while PQ bids for Sirajganj project will be invited next year.

Bibiyana is the first large-scale power project for which the caretaker government initiated the physical move to implement project to resolve a nagging power crisis.

The World Bank has made a commitment to finance the project while its private-sector window-the International Finance Corporation (IFC)--has been working as an advisor to assist the Power Cell to deal with the tender process.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has promised to finance the private sponsor to install the Sirajganj and Meghnaghat-III plants.

Industry-insiders said such big projects need more than three years time for implementation after tendering. "Even if the projects are given special care, those are unlikely to come into operation before 2010," said an executive of a private power company.

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday said that the universities should adopt modern curricula for imparting need-based education to make the students worthy enough to face the challenges of the globalisation.

"Bangladesh, a country of immense potential, needs huge capable human resources to cope with the challenges of the 21st century and the educational institutions, particularly the universities, have vital role to play in building a competent and healthy nation by providing quality education to the students", he said.

The President also Chancellor of the universities was addressing the first convocation of Dhaka International University (DIU) held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) at Sher-e- Bangla Nagar in the city.

Chairman of the University Grant Commission (UGC) Professor Nazrul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of the DIU Professor Dr Nurul Momen and Chairman of DIU Board of Governors Dr SK Patwari also spoke on the occasion.

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

The President also called upon the students to demonstrate their highest degree of personal honesty and integrity in professional arena to serve the nation with utmost dedication and sense of patriotism.

"You are the architects of our beloved country. The nation expects a lot from you. I am confident that you are now fully prepared to shoulder the responsibility of the nation", he added.

Turning to the devastation caused by cyclone Sidr in the southwestern districts of the country, President Iajuddin said the most forceful cyclone of the recent time has devastated thousands of lives and huge property in the coastal belt and bio-diversity at the Sundarbans.

He said the whole nation is deeply shocked at the sufferings of the victims and the government has given its highest efforts to provide basic needs including food, drinking water, shelter, medicine, warm-clothes, baby food for the cyclone-hit people on an urgent basis.

Dr Iajuddin also praised the role of university authorities, friendly countries and international organisations for extending their whole-hearted support and cooperation at the time of prime need.

He also thanked the countrymen including the members of the Armed Forces and civil administration who have been rendering their dedicated services to help the cyclone-hit people.

"I would like to mention that it is not possible to stop natural catastrophe but by adopting more precautions and appropriate management strategy we can reduce the loss of lives and property", he added.

Referring to the Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) impact assessments on global warming and climate change, Dr Iajuddin said the issue of global warming is an alarming phenomenon for the developing countries like Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh as one of the most 'susceptible countries' of the world to the negative impacts of climate change as the impacts range from an overall increase in sea level, atmospheric temperature and rainfall to more intense natural disasters in the forms of floods, cyclones, storm surges and drought", he added.

In this context, the President underscored the need for developing regional and national comprehensive plan to address the issues of global warming.

The President formally conferred degrees to the graduated students of the University and distributed gold medals among the students who have obtained brilliant results at the convocation.

AP, Rawalpindi

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf paid a ceremonial farewell to his troops Tuesday, a day before he bows to worldwide pressure and quits as army chief to become a civilian leader.

Amid mounting anger over his three-week-old state of emergency, the embattled US ally received guards of honour as he launched a two-day valedictory tour of the army, navy and air force. He is to resign as chief of army staff on Wednesday. The next day he will take the oath for a second five-year term as president-this time without the uniform that he has described as being like his skin. A military band played martial tunes and the national anthem as Musharraf visited the joint staff headquarters in Rawalpindi. Soldiers marched past and saluted Musharraf, who wore ceremonial dress, medals and a green sash.

Musharraf later received colourful send-offs at the headquarters of the air force and navy in Islamabad and exchanged souvenirs with senior commanders. "It's part of army tradition that the outgoing chief visits the troops and thanks them for their services before relinquishing his command," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Baseer Haider told AFP.

"The command changing ceremony will take place tomorrow." On Wednesday, Musharraf will be driven to the army's general headquarters to hand over his position as head of the nuclear-armed military to his heir apparent, former spy chief General Ashfaq Kiyani.

By resigning from the military, Musharraf, who grabbed power in a coup in 1999 and then signed up to the US-led fight against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, is meeting a key demand of the international community.

UNB, Dhaka

The World Bank has invited innovative approaches to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS in South Asia region, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The bank with United Nations and private sector partners launched in Washington on Wednesday a competitive Development Marketplace in this regard, aimed at identifying and funding innovative approaches, according to a message received here on Tuesday.

Titled "Tackling HIV and AIDS Stigma and Discrimination: From Insights to Action," the Development Market-place competition is reaching out to communities across South Asia seeking proposals for local, small-scale projects with the potential to be scaled up and replicated.

An international jury of World Bank and independent HIV and AIDS experts would select the winners at a Development Marketplace event on May 15, 2008 in Mumbai, India.

"Stigma and discrimination seriously undermines efforts to fight HIV and AIDS," said Praful Patel, World Bank Vice President for the South Asia region.

He said it also marginalizes people at risk and living with the disease contributing further to their social isolation and rejection.

"This competition offers a unique opportunity to channel small grants directly to community organizations and NGOs to implement imaginative approaches that will help change the attitudes and practices that undermine effective programs," he added.

In South Asia, anecdotal evidence and research are demonstrating the extent of the role of stigma in hampering prevention, treatment, and care of HIV and AIDS, said a statement.

A study in India found that 34 percent of students, faculty, and technical staff of the public health services would not associate with people living with HIV and AIDS.

The HIV epidemic in South Asia is mainly driven by high-risk practices such as sex work, injecting drug use and unprotected sex between men.

"Many of the people most at risk for HIV around the world deal with stigma on a regular basis, posing challenges to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support," said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot.

"It is encouraging to see innovative steps being taken towards addressing these issues in South Asia, where stigma and discrimination remain serious problems," he added.

The South Asia Regional Development Marketplace is implemented in partnership with UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNODC, UNDP, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, GFATM and with the private sector.

The market is open to all-civil society groups, social entrepreneurs, youth organizations, private foundations, academia, and private sector corporations - with unique ideas that may not attract funding from traditional sources of finance.

The maximum award will be US$40,000 per proposal. Proposals will be accepted until January 21, 2008.

The Development Marketplace is a World Bank program that uses a competitive and transparent process to support grassroots initiatives with innovative approaches to solving challenging development issues.

The program has awarded nearly $34 million to roughly 800 small-scale projects over the last seven years.

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the Dhaka Development Forum (DDF) urged the government to enact a separate law to prevent domestic violence against women.

"Existing family law has proven inadequate to protect women against domestic violence. Because of its rapidly growth, forming separate law for in house women rights protection law is a must," said the President of DDF Dr Mahmudur Rahman.

According to him, one woman in Bangladesh out of two is tortured, either mentally or physically, within her own house. Existing family law cannot protect woman if her close family member tortures her.

"Because of this weakness in existing family law, tears of numerous women remain unseen. This situation is worsening day after day. To unveil those shameful crime against humanity, separate law is a demand of the time," Dr Mahmudur said.

He was addressing a press briefing yesterday, marking International Violence Against Women-2007, from November 25 to December 10.

"According to the UN report, Bangladesh stands second in violation against wife by her husband," said Director DDF Rekha Shah.

Moreover, the same UN report has also revealed that almost 50 to 60 per cent of our women are somehow tortured within her family. Another organisation, One Stop Crisis Center, has revealed, 79 per cent cases of female sexual harassments takes place within her household, she added.

"Domestic violation against women has become a social trend in our society. To control this immoral tendency, separate law is required, protecting the women through adequate punishment," she added.

To mark the International Violence Against Women 2007, different functions have been undertaken in the city. DDF and its collaborating social groups will hold rallies, meetings, cultural activities and many other functions to generate mass awareness of the issue.

Barisal Correspondent

The district and divisional offices of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Barisal have been facing acute manpower crisis hampering all regular activities, including the ongoing anti-corruption drives by the present government.

The crisis became more severe after the government ordered to revive 187 old cases of these offices, including Barisal divisional, district and Bhola and Jhalakati district offices.

ACC sources said 18, out of 32 sanctioned posts of officials and staffs in Barisal district and divisional offices have been lying vacant for long.

Due to this crisis one official is performing the duties of four officials and employees. Constables or office assistances are doing the jobs of investigation officers.

Sources said Jhalakati and Bhola districts ACC offices are under jurisdiction of Barisal district ACC office.

Posts of two assistant directors, two deputy assistant directors, two court assistants, two upper division assistants, one driver, one data entry controller and one constable are now lying vacant in this office.

One deputy director of this office is performing extra-duties of one field officer, of one data entry controller and even of a constable.

In Barisal divisional office of the ACC, seven out of eleven sanctioned posts are lying vacant.

This office has posts of one director, one deputy director, one assistant director, one deputy assistant director, one upper division assistant, one driver, one data entry controller, one accountant, one MLSS, one guard, and one constable.

Of them, only one deputy director, one assistant director and one constable and one accountant are now working.

AKM Fazlul Huq, deputy director of Barisal district ACC and in charge of Divisional ACC Office acknowledged that he himself was performing four duties--the duties of a director-in-charge of Barisal Divisional Office of the ACC, deputy director of Bhola district office of the ACC, prosecution officer and officer on deputation in task force of anti-corruption drive.

After the passing of Bureau of Anti-Corruption Act of 2004 the department was upgraded as Anti-Corruption Commission on November 21, 2004. New posts were also created under the ACC, but manpower was not given appointment in the sanctioned posts for the last three years.

Due to this problem, huge allegations of corruptions reaching the Barisal district and divisional offices of the ACC are being piled up and stocked in sacks, as there is not sufficient manpower to scrutiny and investigate the allegations, Huq said.

"Not only that we have also been facing the problems of residential accommodation facilities as well as transportation, stationeries, allowances and budgets although we have been performing extra duties without any incentives," he further said.

Staff Reporter

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday caught red-handed one Mohammad Sayed Miah on charge of offering bribe to officials at RAB-1 office in the city's Sutrapur.

RAB-1 said Sayed went to the RAB-1 office to free his brother Mohammad Nahid in exchange of a bribe of Tk 49,900. Nahid was arrested recently on charge of phensidyl peddling.

Meanwhile, Gulshan police arrested another person in connection with looting of foreign currencies and other valuables worth about Tk14,00,000 Monday night. The arrested was identified as Mohammad Selim Alam. Police said Selim, his associates Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Sujan, Nasima Nasrin and some other miscreants looted 11,500 US dollars, 3,500 Euro, 4 mobile phone sets and wristwatches from complainant Mohammad Islam Sheikh and his three friends.

Chittagong Correspondent

Approximately eleven thousand subscribers of Bangladesh telephone and Telegraph Board (BTTB) here in the port city will get caller identification (CI) facilities soon without charges, according BTTB officials.

Subscribers of BTTB land-phones under Agrabad and Nandankanon exchange have been brought under the conversion program. Apart of getting caller identification facility, the existing numbers will also be changed at the same time.

Though majority of the subscribers welcomed the decision for availing caller identification facilities without any cost, some of the subscribers expressed their dissatisfaction over the decision of changing existing telephone numbers.

Rashedul hasan Tushar, a subscriber of the BTTB said that it would bring extra burden on them because his number has already been distributed to all. "If the number has ultimately been changed I'll have to inform it to all again," he said adding that who will address the costs of informing people about new numbers?

The BTTB officials however, said that the program would not create any complexity. "The existing telephone numbers will be changed in such a way so that anybody can feel free to memorize it comparing previous one," they added.

Telephone numbers from 840000 to 843999 under Nandankanon Exchange and 810000 to 816999 under Agrabad exchange will be changed under the program.

Sources said that only first two digits of the existing numbers will be changed. As for example, the existing number 840000 will be changed into 2860000 while 810000 will be changed into 2520000. That means last four digits of the existing number will remain unchanged.

Subscribers have been asked to communicate with Nandankanon and Agrabad exchanges for any further information about the proposed program. Subscribers will be able to communicate over phone by these number 711100 (Agrabad) and 623366

Chittagong Correspondent

Thousands of jute mills workers on Tuesday observed token hunger strike protesting government's bid to lease out five state-owned jute mills including immediate payment of their arrears.

Tofazzal Hossain, regional coordinator of Collective Bargaining Agent CBA) told the reporters that the Government decided to lease out five jute mills to private sectors to make these profitable.

The workers attached to the jute mills came down in the street to protest it and demanding their arrears. The jute mills are Hafiz Jute Mills, Amin Jute Mills, Dhaka Carpet, Bagdad Carpet Mills and SM Jute Mill. The workers took stand in front of their respective jute mills in the morning as part of their protest program. They observed the program for more than two hours almost peacefully.

Sources said that they would unite again on Wednesday for the same reason. While addressing in the programs, the leaders urged the government to pay their arrears immediately and to take effective steps for their rehabilitation.

They said that it will be a suicidal decision if the government decides to lease out the jute mills to the private sectors without addressing the arrears of the workers.

They warned that they would soon go for tougher program if their demands are not met immediately.

They claimed that a good numbers of workers went on retirement either voluntary or forcibly but they did not get their arrear till now.

Neither the government nor the management of the organizations did take any step to pay the arrears of the jute mills workers those wnt in retirement.

Even the management failed to pay the weekly salary of the workers, they said.

Officials at the operative jute mills said that production was normal during the program observed by the workers. They termed it as logical program. Production became normal after 11:00 a.m., they claimed.

Sources said that the government had finalized to lease out five state-owned jute mills among eight to private sectors.