The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The government of Germany has announced that a German financial commitment of 46 million Euro for the year 2008-09 for development of Bangladesh will be advanced to 2007, which will bring about earlier implementation of projects.

A press release of German embassy said here on Tuesday this measure has been taken as a further expression of support of the German Government for the democratic reform efforts of the Caretaker Government. The decision came at the annual Bangladesh-German governmental consultations on bilateral development cooperation that took place on 25 and 26 November.

The Bangladesh Delegation was headed by Aslam Iqbal, Joint Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Government of the people's Republic of Bangladesh.

The German Delegation was headed by Udo Weber, Deputy Head of Division for Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Federal Ministry for economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ).

The delegations reviewed the implementation progress of German funded projects in Bangladesh in power, energy, local governance, rural infrastructure and empowerment of women and discussed future German assistance for the country in various sectors.

The next governmental negotiations between the two countries will take place in Dhaka in 2008.

The consultations concluded with both sides expressing the confidence that development cooperation between the countries will grow further in the days to come.

BSS, Dhaka

Professor Dr. Reuben Firestone of the Southern University of California, USA, donated 229 rare books to the department of World Religions of Dhaka University.

These books were formally received by Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Aminul Islam on behalf of the University authority, a press release said on Tuesday.

Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam, the Founder Chairman of the Department and a friend of Dr. Firestone, handed over the list of the books to Professor Islam.

Professor K.A.M. Saad Uddin, former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of DU, Professor Akhteruzzaman, Provost of Jasimuddin Hall and Professor Eva Sadia Saad, Chairperson of the Department of World Religions spoke on the occasion.

They expressed their thanks and gratitude to Dr. Reuben Firestone for donating so many rare books to Dhaka University.

Professor Aminul Islam said these books would not only enrich the library of the department of World Religions but would also be a treasure for anybody who will be interested in doing research on world religions.

BSS, Dhaka

The visiting Iranian trade delegation, led by Gholam Hossein Shafeai, today called on Adviser for Industries Geeti Ara Safiya Chowdhury at her Textile and Jute Ministry's secretariat office here on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they discussed the ways of boosting economic relations and possibility of cooperation in different fields between the two countries, an official handout said.

The delegation told the adviser that there are lot of possibilities for expansion of trade and business between Bangladesh and Iran. It further said both the countries could be benefited in this regard.

Gholam Hossein Shafeai, who is also President of Mashad Chamber of Commerce, offered to provide training facilities to the Bangladeshi labour to make them skill industrial workers.

The delegation also expressed their keen interest to provide cooperation in the fields of agri-product, processing, heavy and light transports sector.

They also offered tax-free trade and business in the interest of Bangladeshi goods exporting to the middleeastern Asian countries through exporting processing zone of Khorasan province of Iran.

The adviser urged the Iranian trade delegation to import more jute and jute goods from Bangladesh. She also sought cooperation from the delegation in fulfilling the demand of fertilizers.

Geeti Ara Safiya Chowdhury assured the delegation of considering their proposals with significance.

Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Hassan Fwiazandes was present.

BSS, Dhaka

The American people through the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) pledged to make available more than 10 million US dollars of Food for Peace assistance for the relief and immediate recovery efforts for the Cyclone SIDR response in Bangladesh.

A USAID press release said here on Monday that this 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.

Including the food aid being distributed by CARE and Save the Children, the United States has provided more than 14.4 million US dollars in emergency funds, commodities and transportation to assist relief efforts in Bangladesh to date.

"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.

The U.S. Government is mobilizing all appropriate resources to support Bangladesh in responding to and recovering from the cyclone.

A nine-person USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is in Bangladesh to help manage the U.S. response in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh.

The DART composed of sectoral specialists including those in food security, water and sanitation, health, shelter, and livelihoods-is working alongside local authorities to conduct field assessments that will identify additional needs and areas where the U.S. might be of assistance.

In coordination with the government of Bangladesh, the U.S.S. Kearsarge and the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are conducting Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief efforts in the affected areas.

The U.S.S. Tarawa is en route to Bangladesh to assist as well. An 18-person U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) medical team and a 23-member DOD Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team is also assisting in relief efforts.

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh Coast Guard vessel 'Patuakhali' has dispatched 50 blankets, four sacks of clothes, 24 sacks rice, four sacks chira, one sack molasses, 20 sacks date, 45 packet biscuits, 5,700 litres drinking water and medicines to Shorankhola in Bagerhat district on Monday.

Another Coast Guard ship 'Tanveer' has been engaged in setting up tents at cyclone affected Gabtali union under Shorankhola upazila, said a press release yesterday.

Besides, Coast Guard vessel 'Pabna' has been providing medicare facilities and distributing relief materials at Shorankhola, Chadeshwer and sluitch Gate area.

BSS, Dhaka

A relief team on behalf of the inhabitants of Kalachandpur at Ghulshan will distribute relief goods and money among the cyclone- hit people of Satkhira.

The team led by Monir Hossain, Ruhul Amin and Abdul Jabbar Mollah will left here for the affected areas on Tuesday.

The relief goods included 1000 jars of safe water, 1,200 pieces of blankets, 1,000 pieces of plates, 1,000 pieces of glasses, 4,000 pieces of oral saline, Chira-Muri, biscuit and one truck old clothes and Taka about one lakh.

A 10-member Thai delegation led by Lt. General Surapong Suwana-adth handed over the relief goods for cyclone-hit people to Lt. General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division at AFD on Tuesday.

The relief materials included medicine, medical products, rice, halal canned food etc, says a press release. Earlier in morning Royal Thai Air Force Aircraft C-130H reached at Zia International Airport with the said relief materials. Major General Anup Kumar Chakma, Master General of Ordinance received them at the Airport.

The first death anniversary of Mayor Mohammad Hanif will be observed today. On the occasion Mayor Mohammad Hanif Memorial Foundation organises a doa and Milad Mahfil at Nazira Bazaar Jame Mosque after Magrib prayers, says a press release.

Besides, Dhaka Mahanagar Awami League different socio-cultural and political organisations organises doa and Milad Mahfil. His family members requested all to attend the doa mahfil and pray for the salvation of the departed soul.

The book launching ceremony of the research work Mitford Hospital and Dhaka Medical School: History and Heritage, 1858-1947 by the noted urban historian and Prof of Dhaka University, Dr. Sharif Uddin Ahmed will be held today at the Begum Sufia Kamal Auditorium, Bangladesh National Museum, Shahbag, Dhaka, at 4:30 PM, says a press release.

Former Adviser of the Caretaker Government and former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Akbar Ali Khan will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Professor Abdul Momin Chowdhury, former Vice-Chancellor of National University. Prof K. M. Mohsin, former member of University Grants Commission, Dr. Ahmed Kamal, Chairman and Prof of History Department, Dhaka University will be present as discussants.

Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley, Chairman of Academic Press and Publishers Library and CDRB will preside over the function.

Relief materials have been sent through the committee of relief and disaster management of the Government and the relief centre of the Armed Forces Division for distributing among cyclone-affected people from the relief cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University purchased from the amount of one-day salary as donated by the teachers, doctors, officers and employees of the University, says a press release.

Relief materials have so far been sent include rice 8115 kg, pulse 1250 kg, potato 840 kg, dry chilli 170 kg, salt 750 kg, blanket 125 pcs and the huge amount of life-saving drugs.

Overall activities of the relief cell of the University are being supervised by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Md. Tahir.

BSS, Jakarta

Former Indonesian dictator Suharto transferred millions of dollars in state money from a charitable foundation he chaired to a company linked to one of his close associates, a witness told a court Tuesday.

Suharto, who stepped down in 1998 as Indonesian leader, and the Supersemar Foundation that he chaired, are facing a civil suit brought by the Indonesian government seeking 1.4 billion dollars in returned assets and damages.

State prosecutors allege the Foundation siphoned off millions of dollars in cash intended for education and social programmes to Suharto's cronies.

Achmad Kuntjoro, former finance director of Kiani Sakti, told the South Jakarta district court that the pulp and paper company received 150 billion rupiah (160 million dollars) from the Foundation.

The company was owned by Bob Hasan, one of Suharto's closest and most trusted associates.

Kuntjoro said that the Foundation gave the money to the company as a loan. But asked by the judge what kind of loan guarantee was provided, he replied: "There was no loan guarantee for that."