The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Making photo voter list for Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) area kicked off Saturday with much enthusiasm as the President and his wife formally became voter.

With the onerous task of making voter list in the populous capital getting off the ground, the countrywide exercise in preparation for next election started coming into culmination. Alongside registration process, the technical part-data entry, taking photograph and fingerprint-of the voter listing by the Election Commission started in different parts of the city.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife Dr Anwara Begum registered their names as voters with photographs at Bangabhaban Primary School Voter Registration Centre.

Dhaka City Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda and other officials concerned were present on the occasion.

The EC is considering the task of DCC voter listing as the toughest part of their ongoing photo voter-list programme.

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Law, Justice and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday urged all to come forward in providing human services in the cyclone-hit areas in the country.

Addressing a universal prayer meeting at the Osmani Memorial Hall in the city the Adviser expressed his gratitude to the people who already have extended their helping hands towards the cyclone-affected people.

The people irrespective of national and religious identities from home and abroad have set up a great example by standing beside the cyclone-affected people from their own position, he said.

Barrister Mainul Hosein said the essence of all great prayers and religions is to follow honesty in life. Humanity is there where there is honesty, he said.

Organised by Hakkani Anjuman, the prayer meeting was attended by leaders of different religions and followers of Hazrat Maulana Sufi Mufti Ajangachi (RH).

They prayed to the Almighty for the salvation of the cyclone victims who died and early recovery of the wounded people.

The Law Adviser said there is no motive behind the anti-corruption drive being carried out by the present government.

This drive has not been carried out being envious of anyone, he said.

Barrister Mainul Hosein called upon all to remain alert so that the human beings are not misguided during the era of science and technology, for petty interest.

Thanking God, he said the number of dead due to the cyclone Sidr remained at a lower level compared to the previous one due to government preparedness.

Vice Chancellor of South East University Dr M Shamser Ali said there is no room for communalism in Islam; rather it teaches to serve the humanity.

"If we want to love the human being we have to get united," he said.

Former DG of Islamic Foundation Syed Asraf Ali called upon the Government to reach meat of sacrificial animals to the cyclone affected people.

Appreciating the Government drive against corruption, he said the Government should also take steps against the people who bribe others.

Former Press Council Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman said Islam is a religion of humanity and it is a religion for all.

Presided over by Maulana Abu Zafar Khan, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by former Vice Chancellor of Asian University Dr Qazi Din Muhammad, Dr Father Tapan D Rozario, Dr John Bose, Srimat Kanti Bandhu Brahmachari, Dr Poresh Chandra Mondal, Shuddhananda Mohathero, Pranesh Somaddar and Bhai Rainder Singh.

The message of present peer and the third Khalifa of Maulana Sufi Mufti Ajangachi (RH) was read out by Abdul Hai.

Earlier, a cheque of Taka three lakh was handed over to the Law Adviser for the cyclone-hit people.

UNB, Dhaka

Freedom fighters Saturday urged the caretaker government to put the war criminals on trial as it is fighting against corruption, terrorism and black money holders. The freedom fighters also demanded special uniforms for them so that everyone could easily identify them.

The demands came from a reunion of freedom fighters organised by Rhythm Cultural Society at the auditorium of Jatiya Press Club in the morning.

Speaking at the function as chief guest, Dr Kamal Hossain said the war criminals must be tried under the law of the land. "There is no one who doesn't want their (war criminals) trial. There is no debate or division about it."

He said: "We'll have to build a prosperous and corruption-free Bangladesh being imbued with the spirit of our glorious liberation war. We couldn't yet show respect to our brave sons and family members of Shaheed freedom fighters as it should have been. It's very unfortunate and shameful for the nation."

The prominent jurist also urged the people to extend their helping hands to the cyclone-affected people as the nation did in 1971. "We' ve to be with them unitedly along with the government to face such a critical problem as we did in the country's most critical time in 1971."

He also said the government should take a national initiative to tackle such a natural disaster to ensure the participation of all. Moktijuddha Commander Mufizur Rahman said, "It's very unfortunate that we've to shout for the trial of war criminals even after the country's 36 years of independence. It's the failure of our political parties."

Nawrin Saba, daughter of Shaheed Major Nazmul Haque of sector-7, also spoke on the occasion. "Being here, I'm feeling the presence of my father and it makes me proud of him. I want immediate trial of the killers of my father," told the function with tears in her eyes. She urged the caretaker government to take steps to preserve the real history of the liberation war so that the next generation could get the right information about the freedom fighters and the independence war.

Staff Reporter

Prices of essential commodities including rice have increased 5 to 10 per cent last week due to short supply.

Meanwhile, prices of milk powder and fish also increased further while price of onion has declined. Other essentials remained somewhat stable.

While visiting different city markets this correspondent found that per kilogram of rice of fine variety 'najirshail' was selling at Tk 42 to Tk 44 as against Tk 38 to Tk 40 a week ago and Tk 36 to Tk 38 a month back in different retail city outlets.

At Karwan Bazar, the wholesale rate of fine grade 'najirshail' per maund (37.3 kilogram) was Tk 1,520 to Tk 1,540. Wholesale rate of old stock 'najirshail' was between Tk 1,320 and Tk 1,340 two weeks ago.

Abu Hanif, a rice wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, said, "It is unbelievable that the price of fine rice kept rising even after the completion of harvest when we find a significant fall in the rice price. The rice price is increasing as the farmers in the country's northern regions are stocking up the just harvested paddy."

Meanwhile, consumer rights activists said that the sharp and latest round of rise in rice prices were adding to the miseries of the fixed and limited income-group people as they were already struggling to cope with the sharp rise in the prices of major essential commodities.

Moreover, a rice miller hailing from a northern district said that newly harvested 'paijam' and 'najirshail' varieties of paddy were selling at Tk 750 to Tk 780 while the old stocks between Tk 550 and Tk 580.

Rice millers are not finding adequate supply of rice in local markets as farmers are unwilling to sell their stocks as the forecast of the post cyclone SIDR food shortage is prompting them to continue the stock for getting the higher prices in the coming days, he added.

Coarse rice was selling at Tk 26 to Tk 27 as against Tk 23 to Tk 25 a week ago and Tk 22 to Tk 24 a month back.

Traders opined that the rumour of a food shortage might also result in further increase in the prices of coarse rice, as the harvest of 'boro,' will begin after at least five months.

Meanwhile, prices of onion started to become cheaper as its supply increased significantly following the withdrawal of ban on onion exports by India.

In the city markets, Indian onion was selling at Tk 22 to Tk 26 per kilogram yesterday, down from Tk 44 to Tk 48 a week ago and Tk 52 to Tk 60 two weeks back.

Despite the significant fall, the price of local variety of onion was still high with a kilogram selling at Tk 40 to Tk 55 against Tk 68 to Tk 72 a week ago and Tk 70 to Tk 76 two weeks back.

Prices of vegetables continued to decline in the past week with satisfactory supply of winter produce. Potato price was stable at its high rate of Tk 26 to Tk 28 per kilogram.

The prices of some other commodities that remained stable are cooking oil, flour, chilli, beef and broiler.

The non-packed soyabean oil was selling at Tk 90 to Tk 92 per kilogram, bottled soyabean per litre at Tk 88 to Tk 92, sugar at Tk 30 to Tk 32, packed flour at Tk 38 to Tk 40 and chilli at Tk 66 to Tk 80.

Beef was selling at Tk 170 to Tk 180 per kilogram, broiler at Tk 75 to Tk 80. The price of fishes continued to rise due to declining supply.

Price of milk powder also increased further this week. It was selling at Tk 515 to Tk 525 per kilogram, up from Tk 510 to Tk 520 a week ago.

Staff Reporter

The risk of diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections and other cold related diseases continue to pose a serious threat to children in the cyclone Sidr hit areas.

An estimated 300,000 children under the age of 5 are living throughout the disaster zone in makeshift camps with their families, surviving on meager food and water, without proper shelter or access to basic amenities, a UNICEF report dispatched from Geneva said.

"Children often bear the greatest brunt of natural disasters, needing the greatest assistance and care," said Louis-Georges Arsenault, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh. Acknowledging the difficulties in access and the logistical challenge of providing relief on a massive scale, Arsenault nevertheless stressed the urgent need for providing supplementary food for children.

"Food alone is not enough to alleviate the disease burden. If they are not fed micronutrients quickly and are not protected by vitamins and iron, and if diarrhoeal diseases spread, they will die," said Arsenault.

Diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia, fever and typhoid have already been reported in the media. The risk of diarrhoeal diseases spreading multiplies as people resort to drinking and cooking with water from rivers and canals, polluted with storm debris and the remains of dead animals, the UNICEF report feared.

The already high prevalence of chronic and acute malnutrition among children in Bangladesh makes them even more susceptible to illnesses, report added.

To address immediate needs, UNICEF is poised to commence a mass distribution of BP5 biscuits and family kits from the beginning of December, to children under three years of age and pregnant and lactating women. Distribution of these BP5 biscuits should be by road and sea to the six most severely affected districts: Patuakhali, Barguna, Barisal, Bagerhat, Pirojpur and Jhalokathi.

The distribution is being carried out jointly with the World Food Programme (WFP), Save the Children USA and local NGOs. BP-5, a high energy and ready to eat biscuit containing proteins and micronutrients, will be provided for several days followed by blended foods from WFP and the government.

UNICEF and the Save the Children Alliance are working with local partners and government bodies to ensure that their basic needs are being met as quickly as possible, the report said.

It was also informed that already 30 child centers have been established serving the needs of around 5000 children in three districts Patuakhali, Barguna and Pirojpur. A total of 380 planned in the coming weeks across all 9 cyclone affected districts.

Staff Reporter

Top level business leaders and economists have observed that a sort of stagnation in the country's economy is still prevailing mainly because of lack of confidence among businessmen.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of new building of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) at the city's Eskaton Garden Road yesterday morning, they suggested the government to take necessary steps for reducing the gap with the private sector for overcoming the economic stagnation.

The opening ceremony was attended by noted economists, researchers, and entrepreneurs of the private sector.

BEA President Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed presi-ded over the function.

Eminent economists Prof Nurul Islam, Prof Rehman Sobhan, Dr Abul

Barakat and BIDS Director General Dr Kazi Shahabuddin, among others, addressed the function. While speaking at the opening ceremony, industrialist Syed Manzur Elahi said reduction in import of capital machinery proved that businrssmen were not interested about making new investments.

"Import of capital machinery has gone down substantially. Businessmen are not opening L/Cs due to lack of confidence although there is a liquidity of Tk 11,000 crore with banking system. The government should take initiative to start dialogues with the private sector.

"There is a gap between government and private sector which must be brought down to restore business confidence," he said.

Manzur Elahi, however, appreciated the government steps to improve the situation as the government has formed a Better Business Forum and Regulatory Reforms Commission in this regard.

"The steps are good, but implementation of the decisions is important," he told reporters after the function, adding that the government knows well how to deal with the situation.

He stressed the need for increased interaction between the government and the private sector as a tool to reduce the gap.

Manzur Elahi, however, expressed the hope that the situation would change positively with the efforts of the Bangladesh Bank and the government.

According to Bangladesh Bank figures, the excess liquidity of the banking system stood at around Tk 14,000 crore in June this year, but declined to around Tk 11,000 crore by now.

Dr Barakat said the inauguration of the new BEA building is a good news when the country is passing through a frustrating situation.

BSS, Dhaka

President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mir Nasir Hossain said yesterday they want establishment of the rule of law, and transparency and accountability at all levels which are the core requirements for development of the economy and the nation.

The government is working for achieving these objectives and holding an acceptable election to put the national politics on a clean platform.

Mir Nasir said this while addressing the annual general meeting (AGM) of the FBCCI at its the conference centre in the city. He chaired the AGM while First Vice-President Mohammad Ali, Vice-President Dewan Sultan Ahmed, directors, heads of member bodies and general body members attended the meeting.

Mir Nasir welcomed the government's decision for formation of a Truth Commission to bring a change to procedure of trial of corrupt businessmen, a Regulatory Reforms Commission and a Bangladesh Better Business Forum (BBBF).

"These forums will contribute a lot to our economy besides strengthening public-private coordination," he said.

The FBCCI chief said just after the end of the term of the political government on October 27 last year, the overall situation in the country had deteriorated due to violence and anarchy.

The board of directors of the FBCCI at its emergency meeting on January 6 this year expressed their deep concern over the situation, he said.

The FBCCI chief said a sense of relief returned to public life after assumption of responsibility by the present caretaker government on January 11 which has undertaken many reforms.

Agencies

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has launched her party's manifesto for January's elections, focusing on domestic issues.

She said her Pakistan People's Party was taking part in the polls under protest and could still boycott them.

Another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, is calling on all parties to join in a boycott.

President Musharraf has promised to end emergency rule on 16 December, six weeks after he imposed it.

On Wednesday he stepped down as head of the army.

Bhutto told journalists in the capital Islamabad that the PPP's policies were based on what she called the five Es: employment, education, energy, environment and equality. But she refused to firmly commit to taking part in the parliamentary and provincial assembly elections.

"We are taking part in elections under protest, we are not giving them any legitimacy. But if we do not participate we leave the field for others," she said. She also outlined a number of concerns about the fairness of preparations for the elections.

Former Pakistani prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif will meet early next week to discuss whether or not to boycott the upcoming election, party officials said Saturday.

Bhutto has said that her Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) will participate in the election scheduled for January 8 under protest but Sharif has said the polls would be meaningless unless the judiciary is restored to its pre-emergency rule status.

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday called upon all to spread book reading movement across the country for building a rational, progressive and knowledge-based society.

He made the call while inaugurating the fortnight-long Dhaka Book Fair-2007 organised by Jatiya Grantha Kendra (National Book Centre) at the National Parade Square in the city.

The Chief Adviser said books play a significant role in the development of civilization and knowledge harnessed from the books brings prosperity for the human lives.

Referring to importance of national book fair, he said, such fair has an important role for creating social harmony and bringing prosperity in the social lives of the country.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed identified a very close relationship between book movement, library and book fair and said such movement has to be strengthened to build a skilled and creative human resource in the country.

Terming ignorance as the great enemy, Dr Fakhruddin said it is universally recognised that there was no alternative to books in establishing a knowledge-based society.

He laid emphasis on increasing reading habits by setting up libraries at every neighbourhood, village and union aiming at leading the society towards progress and prosperity.

The Chief Adviser hoped that the local government institutions could play a significant role in setting up libraries at every neighbourhood, village and union in future.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed also called upon the countrymen to buy at least one book in a month according to their ability and give books as gifts to their beloved ones in social functions.

Chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs ABM Abdul Haque Chowdhury, the inaugural function was also addressed, by former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Professor Zillur Rahman Siddique, Mohiuddin Ahmed of University Press Limited (UPL) and Director of National Book Centre Mahmudur Rahman.

Adviser for LGRD and Cooperatives M Anwarul Iqbal, secretaries, academics, writers, publishers and high civil and military officials were present.

Later, the Chief Adviser went round different stalls and talked to the publishers.

A total of 123 publishing houses have been set up stalls in the fair.

UNB, Dhaka

Commercial banks, including NCBs, have no guideline and budget to provide loans to fishermen, forcing the banks to refrain from launching such lending programmes in the Sidr-hit areas so far.

The bankers have sought an immediate guideline in this regard either from Bangladesh Bank or the government as the central bank offices in Barisal and Khulna convened two separate meetings on November 25, seeking views in this regard.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed is also scheduled to hold meetings with the bankers in Barisal and Khulna on Sunday and Tuesday respectively to have a reality check about the necessary intervention.

He will also have meetings with the business community in the affected areas to know their needs to overcome the economic losses and design possible financing programmes.

Bangladesh Bank executive director Khandkar Mazharul Huq will accompany the Governor during the visit.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Bank at a meeting of bankers on Tuesday urged the nationalised, specialised and private commercial banks to come forward with their helping hands to rejuvenate economic activities in the cyclone-hit areas through soft loans. It called upon the bankers to provide loans to fishermen and timber traders and sacrifice, if necessary, bank profits to some extent in the interest of the country's economy hit hard by 'Sidr'. The bankers of Barisal and Khulna regions apprised the preparatory meeting on November 25 that the commercial banks had never any lending programmes or budget for the fishermen, keeping them away from loan facilities.

They urged the central bank to formulate a guideline in this regard so the banks could have a new programme for borrowers like fishermen.

CHT Correspondent

Experts have urged the people including tourists to remain away from migratory birds that take refuge at the Kaptai Lake as these are some of the carriers of bird flu, a deadly contagious disease which can attack humans.

Guest birds are a carrier of bird flu and different types of birds from aboard gather at the Kaptai Lake with the onset of winter, so the lake has been designated as bird flu risk zone, Priyonath Barua, District Livestock Officer (DLO) of Rangamati said.

He suggested poultry farmers to keep eye stringently on their domestic birds, especially duck so that they cannot mix with migratory birds.

Migratory bird handling is also a risk, the DLO said adding that none should trap and kill migratory birds or eat meat of such birds in order to avoid the risk of bird flu.

There is no reason to believe that the 68,300 hectares lake becomes bird flu-free during post-winter period, because the virus causing the deadly disease might remain spread in its water through stool of migratory birds, the livestock officer opined.

The bird flu virus can remain alive for long, the DLO informed advising the people living in the area and tourists to be cautious in using water of the largest manmade lake in the Southeast Asia.

Howard unseated

SYDNEY: The defeat of Australia's outgoing prime minister John Howard appeared complete Saturday when his opponent claimed victory in the parliamentary seat he held for 33 years. Howard's conservative government had already been tossed out by voters in elections last Saturday, but counting had continued for his own Sydney seat of Bennelong, which was too close to call. With the tally of postal and other votes now almost complete, former television journalist Maxine McKew claimed the seat for the centre-left Labour Party led by prime minister-elect Kevin Rudd.

No tsunami threat

JAKARTA: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the western coast of Indonesia's Sumatra on Saturday but there was no threat of a tsunami and no immediate word of damage, meteorologists said. The earthquake, which hit at 8:44 AM (0144 GMT), occurred at sea 33 kilometres (18 miles) southwest of the city of Singkil Baru in Aceh province, at a depth of 18 kilometres. A meteorological official, Ali Imron, said that the quake had no tsunami potential.

Deadliest heroin

HANOI: Twelve people were sentenced to death after a Vietnamese court found them guilty Friday of trafficking more than 70 kilograms (154 pounds) of heroin, state media said Saturday. Judges in the five-day trial in the northern province of Quang Ninh also handed life prison terms to eight others, while another nine members of the same gang were jailed for between 18 months and 30 years, the ruling Communist Party's daily Nhan Dan newspaper said. The defendants, several of whom were related, were convicted of trafficking the heroin from several northern provinces between 2005 and May 2006.