The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

US Navy emergency relief operations in Bangladesh's cyclone-battered coastal districts were formerly ended yesterday after two weeks of operation.

However, USAID would continue post-cyclone rehabilitation efforts.

USS Kearsarge and USS Tarawa, anchored off the coast of the Bay of Bengal, have conducted the "Operation Sea Angel II" emergency relief operation in two phases since November 23.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed formally announced the ending of the US military emergency relief operations in the country's cyclone affected districts on board the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa in the Bay of Bengal.

US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury and senior Bangladesh Army and US Marine officials, including Col Doug Stilwell, Commanding Officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and Captain David F. Bean, Executive Officer of USS Tarawa were present.

The Army Chief, in a valedictory speech on board the USS Tarawa in the Bay of Bengal yesterday said the military relief operation had come to an end and Tarawa would leave soon.

General Moeen said with the help of US navy the government had succeeded to send food and drinking water to the cyclone-affected people.

The Army Chief said, "Though the government said that 2.6 million VGF (vulnerable group feeding) cards will be issued in the affected areas, we will provide as many VGF cards as required among the cyclone affected people."

"We'll also repair the affected schools in the cyclone battered areas."

US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi, who was present on board the USS Tarawa, said civilian aid agencies, including the USAID, would carry on relief efforts in the cyclone affected areas.

"We call the US Navy's relief operation as the "Operation Sea Angel II as the local people have termed it as Ashar Alo (Light of Hope), and we want to give Ashar Alo to the people of Bangladesh," she said.

The Marines, with their long-range CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from the USS Tarawa, made final sorties yesterday, dropping food, water and medicine. The overall operations involved a fleet of 20 helicopters. USS Tarawa took over from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge on November 3 in the Bay of Bengal.

During the relief operation by USS Tarawa, American sailors and marines, and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit delivered more than 113,000 kilograms of food and medicines and 54,000 liters (14,000 gallons) of drinking water. The US ships' medical teams also treated 2,355 men, women and children suffering from bronchitis, skin problems, upper respiratory tract infections, ear infections and diarrhoea, the officials said.

The Tarawa also participated in relief operations in 1991 - dubbed Sea Angel I - when a powerful cyclone killed about 140,000 people in Chittagong region.

Earlier, Army Chief General Mooen U Ahmed visited the Central Relief Coordination Cell at Barisal Airport in the morning.

Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury accompanied the Army Chief.

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday said measures for proper care and treatment of children should be taken in order to ensure brighter future of the country.

"Today's children are the future leaders of our country. So we should look after their health to help make a better country. It is the responsibility of all of us to establish necessary treatment facilities for their sound health," he said while addressing the second International Scientific Conference on the children's kidney

diseases organised by Pediatric Nephrology Society of Bangladesh (PNSB) at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.

The Adviser said, the country spends huge amounts of money for the treatment of children and we receive massive help from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UNICEF for the purpose. But there are allegations of misappropriation of funds, he said.

Presided over by Prof M Moazzem Hossain, president of the society, the conference was also addressed by National Prof MR Khan, Prof M Tahir, Vice Chancellor of BSMMU, Prof MA Mannan, president of Bangladesh Pediatric Association, Prof Mohammad Hanif and Prof G Muin Uddin.

Barrister Mainul Hosein stressed the need for identifying and treating of kidney diseases of children at the early stage so that they do not turn complicated.

He said though there are many experienced doctors and experts in the country for the treatment of children with kidney diseases, there is lack of utilisation of their skills and experiences.

He said children with kidney diseases would be benefited if kidney departments are opened at least in hospitals at divisional cities.

The Adviser regretted that the quality of service in government hospitals is not satisfactory though government is spending huge amounts of money in the sector.

He said services of the government hospitals could have been better if there was people's participation in the managements of those institutions.

Prof MR Khan emphasised the need for ensuring better treatment of children with kidney diseases so that the guardians of the patients do not have to depend on treatment abroad.

He said, "We need to increase the number of experts for the treatment of child kidney diseases and introduce separate kidney departments for children in all medical college hospitals to ensure proper treatment.

Prof M Tahir called upon doctors concerned to ensure better treatment of children with kidney diseases.

Prof Moazzem Hossain said most of the kidney diseases were due to degradation of the environment and infection.

It is possible to remedy child kidney diseases if those are identified at an early stage; otherwise the conditions of patients might deteriorate and even lead to death, he observed.

Prof MA Mannan said the treatment of child with kidney disease is now available in Bangladesh. "The people of the country expect international standard of treatment. So the doctors should determine their plan of action to meet their expectations, he said.

About 350 pediatric surgeons from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh took part in the day-long conference.

DU Correspondent

Teachers of Dhaka University formed a human chain in front of the Aparajeo Bangla demanding the release of detained teachers and students of the university.

The teachers thronged the Aparajeo Bangla at 11:30am and stayed there till noon.

Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof MM Akash, Prof Akhteruzzaman, Prof CR Abrar, Prof Geeti Ara Nasreen, Prof Akmal Hossain, Prof M Samad and Prof Ayesha Banu, among others, participated in the programme.

Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury said he was participating in the programme out of a sense of responsibility and added that the detention of teachers was unexpected and an interference on the autonomy of the university.

Prof Anisuzzaman said the government should solve the issue outside the court.

Prof MM Akash said they would take further programmes after a teachers meeting today.

Earlier, general students of the university formed a human chain on the campus for the same reason and handed over a memorandum to the Chancellor Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed through the Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz.

Staff Reporter

Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said time has come to remove the blemish of corruption from the country. December is the month to stand against corruption.

The ACC chairman was speaking at a view exchange meeting on 'Anti-Corruption Drive' at the Shilpakala Academy auditorium.

Gen Mashhud exchanged views with representatives of civil society and public representatives from the Dhaka Division at the meeting. He said without giving direction or advice everybody should stand against corruption right now.

He said he would travel to many parts of the country to create awareness among the people at the grassroots level.

The ACC Chairman said every citizen would be able to live in full dignity if the corruption was removed from the country.

He said, "Corruption is the enemy of the country, so we cannot tolerate corruption"

Deputy Inspector General of Dhaka Range Najmul Haque and Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka Iqram Ahmed were present at the meeting.

The DIG of police said the police had declared war against corruption and the anti corruption drive had already started within the police department.

Staff Reporter

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court yesterday gave Tarique Rahman, BNP Joint Secretary General, to one-day police remand in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Golam Rabbani

granted one-day remand after the Investigation Officer sought seven days remand for interrogation.

The ACC filed the case implicating Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, his wife and mother-in-law in amassing wealth to the tune of Tk 4.82 crore and concealing it in their wealth statements.

Opposing the remand petition, the counsel of the accused said, Tarique Rahman was not aware as to who or how the land at Gazipur was registered in his name. And that he does not own Daily Dinkal, which was shown as part of his property in the case.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman was taken on police remand for ten days for interrogation in separate extortion cases.

Staff Reporter

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan worth US$ 17.6 million to help in the project preparation for the construction of Padma Bridge linking the economically depressed southwest zone of the country to the more advanced eastern zone.

ADB said Bangladesh will provide US$ 4.4 million to complete the funding for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Design Project, which involves the preparation of a detailed design and engineering documents for the construction of the Padma Bridge, including river-training works and approach roads.

The proposed bridge will be a large-scale infrastructure project, and its construction and operation will significantly benefit various sectors of the economy, both in Bangladesh and in south Asia as a whole, ADB said.

The distance from Dhaka to nearly all major destinations in the southwest will be reduced by 100 kilometres or more once the bridge is operational and there will also be huge savings in passenger and commodity transport costs, the ADB added.

BSS, Dhaka

The BRAC has decided to write off microfinance loans of about Taka 100 crore in the cyclone-hit areas.

The decision was taken yesterday basing on initial assessment of the Sidr-affected areas.

The BRAC had earlier decided not to collect microfinance installments from its borrowers in the cyclone-hit areas of the southern region till March. However, new loans to the affected borrowers will continue to be disbursed with a view to generating economic activities.

It is undertaking massive rehabilitation programmes in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors in the cyclone-hit region.

The BRAC responded to the cyclone disaster by immediately engaging in relief operations and deploying some 2,500 staff for distribution of food and cash relief.

Till Friday, relief worth more than Taka 12 crore has been distributed to 1,84,000 households comprising mainly food rations of rice, lentil, biscuits and milk packets. Cash grants of Taka 3 crore has been disbursed.

The BRAC has raised Taka 40 crore for rehabilitation in the first phase and is planning to raise at least Taka 200 crore more for long-term rehabilitation and disaster protection activities.

Thirteen medical teams comprising one medical officer and two paramedics in each team in the affected region have treated 18,520 patients. Over 550 ponds have been cleaned and disinfected for supplying potable water.

Staff Reporter

Assistant Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Dr Kent Hill will arrive in Dhaka today on a three-day visit to Bangladesh.

Dr Hill is head of the Agency's Bureau of Global Health whose programmes represent the commitment and determination of the US government to prevent suffering, save lives, and create a brighter future for families in the developing world.

With an annual budget of over US $1.6 billion, USAID's health programmes are confronting global health challenges by improving the quality, availability and use of essential health services, said a press release of the American Center yesterday.

Dr Hill will visit some noted USAID health projects in Tongi and Bhaluka, including a Smiling Sun Health Clinic, the Social Marketing Company (SMC) oral rehydration salts factory, SMC Blue Star Pharmacy as well as the Bangladesh HIV/AIDS programme in Dhaka.

"As part of USAID's effort to improve the overall health condition of the Bangladeshi people, USAID will provide US$173 million over the next five years to fund programmes. It supports maternal and child health, family planning, tuberculosis eradication and HIV/AIDS mitigation under the health and population agreement with Bangladesh government," the American Center release said.

UNB, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed Thursday said the government would continue to stand by the cyclone-hit people until they rebuild their lives and unveiled a new livelihood plan.

He called upon local people to start cooperative-based business instead of loan-based for their welfare. "We will stand by you and provide service as long as you need," he said.

Addressing the inauguration of rice rationing through VGF card at Gabtala village in Sharankhola upazila, General Moeen said that necessary steps would be taken for proper rehabilitation of those affected by storm.

He announced that steps would be taken for buying boats and nets, as people of the fishing communities along the coast lost their means of livelihood.

"Already one-crore taka has been given for helping the victims buy boats and fishing-nets. All those affected by the Sidr would be given VGF card. The Army will stand by you until all of you get settled in normal life," the army chief told his audience.

General Moeen asserted that none would have to die without treatment. "If necessary, those injured during storm would be taken to the capital for improved treatment."

Referring to earlier government decision to keep sawmills closed in the area, close by the battered Sunderbans, General Moeen assured of taking steps for lifting the official ban. He also assured setting up cyclone shelters for livestock.

He called for proper utilization of funds given for affected schools. The SSC examinees who have lost their books in the storm would get books.

General Moeen distributed relief goods among cyclone-hit people in Sharankhola upazila, the worst hit by the cyclone Sidr, which has taken a total human toll of over 3,000 people dead.

Earlier, General Moeen arrived at Gabtala village in Sharankhola upazila by a helicopter at about 2:40pm.

After arrival, he distributed cheque for Tk 10,000 among each of 10 relatives of those killed in cyclone in the area.

Then, he inaugurated rice distribution through VGF card at Gabtala cyclone shelter. Some 11,00 people of north Southkhali village would receive 15 kg rice under the Vulnerable Group Feeding programme.

The army chief visited different cyclone-hit areas in Gabtala village and distributed blankets, baby foods, saris and cash among the victims.

He left here for the capital at about 4pm. During his visit, local affected people placed their various demands to the army chief.

GOC of Jessore Major General Rafiqul Islam, and local civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

Staff Reporter

Kuwait will provide US$13 million to finance the ongoing Greater Chittagong Power Transmission and Distribution Development Project (Phase-III) in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong district.

A loan agreement in this regard was signed yesterday by representatives from Bangla-desh government and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic

Development (KFAED). The KFAED, a mechanism through which the gulf country could extend loans and aid to Arab and other developing countries, has been involved as a development partner of Bangladesh for over three decades.

During this period, it has provided soft loan worth US$419.15 million for 17 development projects, including infra-structural development and two grants, with a view to promoting "socioeconomic benefit of the people of Bangladesh," a news release said.

The loans are mostly in the three important sectors of power and energy, road communications and agriculture.

Staff Reporter

French government along its citizens and French companies who are operational in Bangladesh have mobilized around 14 lacs Euro all together to help the Sidr victims. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs alone has granted 300,000 Euro as emergency relief.

Granted three lacs Euro will be channeled through "Friendship", an NGO who has been on site since November 16 to look after the health, sanitation, relief and rehabilitation issues, said the French Charge' d' Affairs Jean Romnicianu at a press conference held yesterday at a local hotel in the city.

Replying why the French authority is financing an NGO instead of direct donation to the Chief Advisors Relief Fund, the French envoy simply replied, "An small NGO can jump into action more easily."

"We preffered to help the suffering people with our small amount till the bigger donors take over," he added.

The envoy also mentioned, the European Union so far have donated more than 8 million Euros, of which the French contribution is 16 per cent. "As France is not a development partner for Bangladesh, all major donations from French Authorities have to come through EU platform," said the French Charge' d' Affairs.

Additionally, he also informed that the post-cyclone reconstruction support is under consideration of French government but nothing has yet decided.

Mrs. Runa Khan, Executive Director of Friendship and Dr. Régis Garrigue of Help Doctors were present at the conference.

Referring to immediate relief operation in the cyclone-hit areas; Romnicianu said six doctors from French NGO "Helpdoctors" have benefited 'Friendship' from a two-week mission.

The other French NGOs present in Bangladesh, Handicap, ACF and Partenaires, also have organized relief operations, which will amount to some 500.000 Euros.

Another French company Degremont-Suez Environnement, active in water sanitation in Bangladesh, has given two water purification units worth around 100.000 euros to the Bangladeshi Army and has sent two technicians to help for a week.

Eight other French NGO have sent teams and is now beginning their operations. Among them, the Islamic Relief France has pledged 200.000 euros for Bangladesh and the NGO Solidarités is mobilizing 240.000 euros in connection with the French company Véolia (water sanitation).

Dr, Regis Garrigue of "Helpdoctors" whose team treated some 8,000 patients in Sarankhola Upazila and adjacent areas deplored the lack of immediate response from international NGOs. " This is shame and disappointing," he said.

Court Correspondent

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Tejgaon Thana of the city yesterday returned the petition submitted Wednesday to CMM Court for filing sedition case against Jamaat-i-Islami Bangladesh Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah and former Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited Shah Md Abdul Hannan.

OC Lutfor Rahman has disclosed, after hearing Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Emran Hossain Chowdhury Wednesday directed him to register it as a regular case and submit a report after proper investigation, but prior permission of Home Ministry under Sections 121(A) and 123(A) of the Penal Code, to file the sedition case against the Jamaat leaders and former secretary Shah Abdul Hannan was not given with it and as such, the petition was returned. It may be noted both the sections of the Penal Code deal with sedition charges and punishment for committing such offences.

Section 121-A says whoever within or without Bangladesh conspires to commit any of the offences to deprive Bangladesh of the sovereignty of her territories or any part thereof, or conspires to overawe by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or any shorter term.

However, the permission of the Home Ministry is a necessity for filing such sedition case against anybody. Mohammad Fazlur Rahman of Keraniganj Thana in Dhaka claiming himself a freedom fighter submitted the petition Wednesday to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka.

AFP, Islamabad

Riot police have blocked former premier Nawaz Sharif from meeting Pakistan's deposed chief justice, who is under effective house arrest for refusing to endorse emergency rule, witnesses said Thursday.

Opposition leader Sharif was turned back by around 300 policemen manning concrete and barbed wire barricades near the Islamabad residence of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, an AFP reporter saw.

Hundreds of Sharif's supporters chanted "Long live Nawaz Sharif" after their leader was turned back and burned a large poster of President Pervez Musharraf, who imposed a state of emergency on November 3.

"I have come here to express solidarity with the chief justice and other judges," Sharif told the crowd after police wielding batons and wearing helmets and body armour refused to let him through.

"I want to tell them that the entire nation stands by them. We will not rest until all these judges are restored to their pre-November 3 positions," he said.

Chaudhry was sacked as chief justice after refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to Musharraf under emergency legislation.

He was among 37 judges who were forcibly retired by the government for the same reason this week.

"All judges are virtually under house arrest. They can only move in the judges' enclave," said sacked Supreme Court judge Rana Bhagwandas, referring to the area which Sharif had tried to enter.

"Chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is completely under solitary confinement. Neither is he allowed to move in and outside his house nor can he meet anyone," Bhagwandas told Dawn News television by phone.

"When I talked to him, he regretted that police deployed at his house are not even allowing him and his wife to take a walk."

Bhagwandas also condemned the government for ordering the judges to leave their official houses, saying it was an "attempt to demoralise the judges."

Police prevented another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, from meeting Chaudhry last month.

Sharif and Bhutto have both recently returned from exile, and their parties are expected to finalise a joint list of demands Thursday which they say the government must meet to stop them boycotting elections next month.

The two opposition supremos agreed on Monday to join forces to press Musharraf to hold free and fair elections on January 8 and drop the state of emergency.

Musharraf has pledged to end the emergency on December 16 but Sharif said the government was not playing fair. Sharif's own candidacy for the polls was rejected by electoral officials on Monday.

"There is no level playing field," Sharif told reporters after meeting diplomats from several Muslim nations.

He said he would not go through the courts to fight against the rejection of his nomination papers, saying that he did not have any confidence in the judges installed since Chaudhry and his colleagues were sacked.

A court in the eastern city of Lahore meanwhile granted bail to Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, in a nine-year-old murder case.

Government sources said Shahbaz faces criminal charges in an anti-terrorism court for ordering the killing of five Islamic students during his 1997-99 tenure as chief minister in Punjab province.

Musharraf has been at loggerheads with the judiciary since he first tried to sack Chaudhry in March, a move that led to massive street protests and sent his popularity plummeting.

Critics say Musharraf's main motivation for imposing the emergency was to purge the Supreme Court of hostile judges amid fears that they would overturn his victory in an October 6 presidential election.

The new-look court rubber-stamped his election win last month and Musharraf was subsequently sworn in for a second term as president, albeit this time as a civilian after quitting his dual role as army chief.