The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A four-day first SAARC youth camp 2007 begins in Savar toady (Monday) in a bid to increase communication, cooperation and fraternity among the youths of the member countries.

The youth camp also aimed at creating an opportunity for exchanging the culture and the experience, strengthening the friendly relation and developing the leadership among the youths of the region.

Youth and Sports Adviser Tapan Chowdhury disclosed this on Sunday at a press briefing at the PID conference room in the Secretariat.

He said that as per the decision approved at the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi, the first SAARC youth camp would take place in Bangladesh from December 10-13 through various programmes.

Tapan Chowdhury said Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed would inaugurate the SAARC youth camp today (Monday) at 10am at the National Youth Center of Department of Youth Development in Savar.

The main theme of the first SAARC Youth Camp 2007 is 'Connecting South Asian Youth.'

Adviser Tapan Chowdhury said some 150 youths from SAARC countries including Bangladesh are expected to participate in the programme. "Some 13 youths from India, 11 from Bhutan, four from Maldives, three from Sri Lanka, and two from Nepal already confirmed their participation in the camp."

He said that about 80 youths, both male and female, would represent host Bangladesh in the camp. "All participants' age will be between 16 and 22 years."

Terming the youths as the most committed, creative and productive human resources, the Youth and Sports Adviser said they could play important role in facing the many problems including HIV/AIDS and drug abuse in the SAARC countries.

Youth and Sports secretary Dr Md Golam Mostafa Talukder, joint secretary Mushfiqur Rahman and director general of Youth Department Ismail Hossain were present at the press briefing.

UNB, Dhaka

Sangbadik-Sramik-Karmachary Oikya Parishad on Sunday rejected the newly declared 6th wage board and threatened to go for agitation programme to realise the demands.

The parishad at an emergency meeting decided to observe a token work-abstention from 10am to 2pm in all newspaper and news agency offices on December 12. The meeting deeply resented the wage board award that failed the expectations.

Presided by the Parishad convenor Mozammel Haque was attended by Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Ruhul Amin Gazi, Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Altaf Mahmud and Azizul Haque Bana.

The leaders condemned the government's one-sided move. They said the award came after 13 years had not raised benefits but slashed some of the existing facilities.

An extended meeting will be held on December 11 to discuss the next course of action. All unit chiefs and DUJ and BFUJ leaders have been requested to attend the meeting.

UNB, Dhaka

A Bangladeshi staying in Qatar on Sunday announced that he would build 100 houses for the cyclone victims.

Addressing a press conference at Jatiya Press Club expatriate Alamgir Noor Hossain said he would build 100 houses at Banoripara upazila in Barisal district at a cost of Tk 15 lakh.

"I have already started contacting with the local officials asking to help him," said Alamgir, General Manager of Doha-based Khalid Trading Establishment. He said he would provide the entire fund from his own.

"As a Bangladeshi I had been very shocked to hear about the devastating cyclone that left more than 3,500 people dead and millions homeless," Alamgir said.

He informed that one of his friends living in Qatar has planed to build another 100 houses for the victims.

He said he has selected Banoripara since adequate relief has not reached there.

UNB, Dhaka

The council of ministers of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has decided to give observer status to Mauritius, an African country on the Indian Ocean.

"SAARC is an emerging power block. Mauritius and Australia have shown interest to become SAARC observers. And the decision has been taken to give Mauritius the observer status," Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said.

He was briefing reporters at the Foreign Ministry on his return on Sunday from the just concluded SAARC council of ministers' meeting in New Delhi.

About giving observer status to Australia, the Foreign Adviser said there is a new government in Australia. If the new government wants, Australia too would be made an observer.

He said the council of ministers also discussed in the meeting as to whether the regional organisation would give any more observer status. But no has been taken in this regard.

About the 500,000 tons of rice India committed to export to Bangladesh, Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said the government has requested India to arrange the rice quickly and they assured to do so.

He said the Indian government wants to send the rice through state agency, but "we requested them to let us know the method."

He further informed that the council of ministers has decided to set up a SAARC development fund and establish at least one SAARC village in each member state, and accepted a Bangladesh declaration on climate change to be raised in Bali conference by Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayyum.

On climate change, the Adviser said that after the Bali conference, the SAARC ministers would come to Dhaka to discuss the effect of climate change in this region.

He said the next SAARC summit would be held in Sri Lanka, as Maldives is unable to host the summit due to elections in the country next year.

Replying to a query, the Foreign Adviser said there was no discussion with the Indian authorities about controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, now residing in India.

Asked about direct train service between Bangladesh and India, he said Bangladesh already sent a draft agreement to the Indians and requested them to respond quickly.

He said there was no discussion on SAARC transit issue in the meeting.

About the release of BRAC official Nurul Islam, the Foreign Adviser said his release came with the help of the Afghan government.

He said that during his stay in the Indian capital, he had meetings with the Indian Vice-President, Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister.

About India's offer to rebuild 10 cyclone-affected coastal villages, Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said this proposal would be tied with the Comprehensive Development Programme announced by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

About manpower export to Korea, he said an agreement has been signed in this regard and the process of exporting manpower to that country would begin soon.

UNB, Dhaka

BRAC Founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed expressed gratitude at the release of BRAC Area Manager Noor Islam, who was kidnapped in Afghanistan on September 16.

In a message, Abed said, "I am particularly happy that Noor was released by his abductors unharmed and we are working to expedite his return to Bangladesh and to his family, who have been enduring a long, painful wait."

Abed expressed his gratitude to Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed and Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, for taking a personal interest in the matter.

He also thanked the Afghan authorities, in particular, Minister Mohammad Ehsan Zia of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), for their cooperation.

"BRAC will continue to work to ensure the safety and security of its dedicated staff members wherever they are working in the service of humanity", Abed added.

UNB, Dhaka

In an uncompromising stance, BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain Sunday said unity in the party is possible only if the reformists give up their programme and other activities accepting the decisions of chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Talking to the newsmen at his NAM flat giving his reaction to the unity move in BNP, he admitted that the reformists' leader, M Saifur Rahman, had contacted him by phone seeking unity in BNP.

"But I've told him that the BNP is already united under the leadership of Khaleda Zia. They should give up their programme and other activities, and accept decisions of the chairperson to return to the party," said Delwar.

"I've also told him (Saifur) that no decision can be taken without the permission of the chairperson," he added in an uncompromising tone.

Apprehending that Khaleda Zia, now under detention, will soon be brought to trial on charge of corruption, Delwar reiterated the demand for trial of all political leaders under the laws existing before the emergency, sans the Emergency Powers Rules that restricted bail to the accused.

He said lawyers, civil society and the people at large are in doubt if the trial under the Emergency Powers Rules and emergency would be fair. It must be ensured that the judges of the special courts, holding trial of the political leaders, are not influenced or biased.

About the future polls, the BNP secretary general said no election would be acceptable if the major parties are not allowed to contest on ground of democratization within the party. Emergency has to be lifted for holding a meaningful election.

"Doubts are being voiced in different circles about the election. The government will have to take steps for the restoration of confidence among the parties and the people that election will be free and fair," he added.

Delwar said it is essential to release the detained BNP and Awami League chiefs and lifting emergency to create political atmosphere and confidence.

He also demanded release of teachers and students of Dhaka and Rajshahi universities who were arrested during the campus violence that spilled over to the streets in August.