The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Savar

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Monday urged the youths of SAARC countries to actively participate in nation-building and regional development activities, saying their determination to bring changes in society constitute the most vital ingredients for progress of the countries.

"On our part we remain committed to building partnership with you in activities relevant for our progress. Your passion for change and resolve to lead a life of significance would enable us to turn challenges into opportunities," Dr Fakhruddin told the young men and women taking part in the first-ever SAARC Youth Camp. The head of the caretaker government and SAARC leader Dr Fakhruddin formally declared 'First SARRC Youth Camp 2007' open at National Youth Centre in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka.

He released a bunch of colorful balloons and pigeons in the air marking the inaugural of the four-day youth camp. The main theme of the first SAARC Youth Camp 2007 is 'Connecting South Asian Youths.' The camp arranged in a bid to increase communication, cooperation and fraternity among the youths of the member countries.

It also aimed at creating an opportunity for exchange of experiences and cultures, strengthening friendly relations and developing leadership among the youths of the region.

Around 120 youths are participating in the camp. Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Ifthekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, youth participants Saugat Das from India and Nazmus Sadat from the host country, Youth and Sports Secretary Dr Golam Mostafa Talukder and chairman of the National Organising Committee of SAARC Youth Camp 2007 and DG of Department of Youth Development Ismail Hossain also spoke at the function.

Youth and Sports Adviser Tapan Chowdhury chaired the inaugural function.

The Chief Adviser said this youth camp is an indication of SAARC's determination to connect the minds and hearts of the people of the member countries, generate greater cohesion and understanding, and bridge the gap, if any, in the mindsets of regional countries. "It's aimed at bringing the young people of South Asia under one roof thereby creating an environment for closer interaction among those very people who will lead us to face the challenges of the new millennium," he said.

The Chief Adviser said the SAARC Youth Camp will bring young minds from Mazar-e-Sharif to Male, Quetta to Kathmandu, Colombo to Kolkata, and Thimpu to Dhaka for meeting annually in an institutionalised but informal sittings.

Welcoming the participating youths, the CA said they have already earned recognition as outstanding young people with leadership qualities, strength of character, intellect, knowledge and skills. "The enthusiasm, resilience and courage of our youths make us hopeful about our future. Their ideas, visions, energy, and most importantly willingness to bring about changes in society stimulate us." "Their indomitable urge to overcome the status quo and the courage to take risk constitute the critical elements needed for our progress. They represent our future and remind us our own responsibilities for the future generation," he added.

He said as the countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation strive for a common identity for the 1.6 billion citizens of South Asia, the meeting of the young men and women from the region bears significance.

Dr Fakhruddin said direct interaction with each other might turn out to be the first critical step towards building an enduring relationship of understanding and cooperation that would lead the region to the cherished goal of socioeconomic prosperity. He said SAARC has come a long way over the past two decades in consolidating regional responses to many challenges that confront before them and youths remain at the centre of many of these regional initiatives like education, health, poverty alleviation or tackling socio-cultural vices like drug abuse, human trafficking and violence. However, he said, one important area which had not received due attention in the past was creation of a common forum for direct interaction between youths of the SAARC countries. Bangladesh proposed holding of the Annual SAARC Youth Camps in the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi in April last. "I'm grateful to my colleagues in other South Asian capitals for welcoming my proposal," the Chief Adviser said.

Later, the Chief Adviser visited the display centre of the self-employed youth of Bangladesh at the National Youth centre.

Staff Report

Opening day of the 2nd International Mobile Phone Fair-2007 gained great response yesterday from visitors from all age groups.

The six-day-long mobile fair will remain open till December 14 at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center in the city.

Despite not being formally inaugurated, the fair was put open for all yesterday, which will be inaugurated today. Bangladesh Mobile Phone Businessmen Association (BMBA) organised the fair.

This time, number of mobile manufaturer companies has showcased their latest products and services in the fair.

This has attracted visitors' attention from all levels, said BMBA President Engineer Nizamuddin Zeetu.

Appreciating the impressive gathering at the first day of fair, he expected a successful session this years as well as it was in the previous year.

While visiting the mobile fair, young interested visitors were seen largely to gather around shops, which are offering free download of songs, ring ton services and other facilities to the customers.

Concerned officials of BMBA have expected more visitors in coming days.

Staff Reporter

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) yesterday stressed more on post-cyclone agricultural rehabilitation, than depending on imported food to tackle any crisis.

The think tank suggested a package programme for rehabilitation of agriculture in the cyclone-hit area.

The package should include supply of seed, tillage equipment, low lift pump for irrigation, supply of fertilizer and agricultural loans for purchased inputs.

CPD in association with BRAC, the largest NGO, conducted an assessment of the agricultural damage caused by Sidr and released a report at a press conference yesterday.

A team comprising experts of CPD and BRAC visited different areas in Madaripur, Barisal, Barguna, Pirojpur, Bagerhat and Gopalganj districts and Bhanga upazila on December 6-8. They had several meetings with cyclone-affected people, including farmers.

BRAC executive director Mahbub Hossain and CPD senior research fellow Uttam Deb narrated their experiences gathered from their visit to the ravaged coastal belt.

The economists did not rule out the possibility of severe food crisis but were optimistic to say that with integrated effort of all stakeholders Bangladesh will successfully overcome the challenges posed by Sidr and move forward.

"To tackle the apprehended crisis, the government should be aware of maintaining the supply chain and purchasing power of the people," Executive Director of CPD Prof Mustafizur Rahman said.

"Historically all the previous famines in the world occurred due to disruption of food distribution mechanism and erosion in purchasing power of people rather than shortage of food," he said.

The economists suggested all to provide the support to farmers in their endeavour to stand on their feet and at the same time enable the nation to maintain food security. Describing the distribution of fertilisers as the main y, Mahbub Hossain said the rationing process of the fertilisers proved that the government is now in some kind of problems with the fertilisers, although they are not admitting it.

"It will be the best solution to make available fertilisers in the country to slightly recover the deficit of rice," he said.

Quoting the farmers he said that the normal micro-credit that requires for weekly repayment was not suitable for the crop loan. They prefer seasonal crop loans, which may be recovered in one or two instalments after the harvest of crops.

Mahbub Hossain said loan requirement for fish farmers is high. They (farmers) ask for a loan of Tk 20,000 to Tk. 50,000 for fish cultivation in one-bigha of pond. They can repay the loan over a period of two years, in monthly instalments, after a four to six months grace period.

Dr Uttam Deb said irrigation facilities are almost absent and there is inadequate supply of tillage equipment in the Sidr-hit area. Timely tillage has become a critical constrain in view of huge loss of livestock.

He said power pumps and power tillers in adequate numbers have to be made available within a short period of time and arrangements should be made to provide their services to small and marginal farmers on easy terms.

The economists in their written statement said the cash requirement for crop cultivation, including the cost of fuel for tillage and irrigation is estimated at Tk 4000 per bigha for high yielding variety (HYV) rice and Hybrid maize.

Mahbub Hossain said for a farm household targeting two bighas of land for dry season farming, the demand for loan should be about Tk 8000.

The BRAC executive director said that his non-governmental organisation would go for providing seasonal loans to the farmers like the BKB, setting aside their traditional micro-credit operations.

He also said that due to the two recent floods and cyclone the total loss of rice would amount to Tk 26,000 crore.

Staff Reporter

A four-day-long national workshop on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector development in OIC countries started yesterday in the capital. The workshop will continue till December 13.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) have jointly organised the session.

The 52 participants are from host Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cameroon, Kirgistan, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Togo, Cyprus, Uganda and Yemen.

Terming the SME sector as a major source of employment in almost all developing and underdeveloped countries, President FBCCI Syed Manjur Elahi emphasised on exchanging information and different field experiences for a better understanding.

He was presiding a press conference on the opening day of the workshop, at the FBCCI Bhaban.

"This workshop is likely to help all participating countries and all SME sectors to build a bridge of communication and cooperation," said the President of FBCCI.

Secretary, the Ministry of Industries of Dr Muhammad Nurul Amin and Chairman of Islamic Bank Bangladesh Abu Naser Muhammad Abduz Zaher were also present on the opening session.

They expected this workshop will boost business understanding and would strengthen bilateral relationship between all participating countries in SME sector.

Reuters, Bali

The United States urged a U.N. climate meeting on Monday to drop a 2020 target for deep cuts in greenhouse gases by rich nations from guidelines for a new pact to slow global warming beyond 2012.

"It's prejudging what the outcome should be," chief U.S. negotiator Harlan Watson said of a draft text suggesting that developed nations should aim to axe emissions of heat-trapping gases by between 25 and 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. The United Nations wants the December 3-14 talks in Bali, gathering more than 10,000 participants, to agree to launch negotiations on a new global climate treaty to be adopted at a U.N. meeting in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.

"We don't want to start out with numbers," Watson told a news conference of the hunt for a new pact to fight rising temperatures that could bring more floods, droughts, melt Himalayan glaciers and raise sea levels.

A new pact would widen the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol, which binds 36 industrial nations to cut emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, by 5 percent below 1990 by 2008-12. The United States has rejected Kyoto and developing nations in the pact, such as China and India, have no 2008-12 targets.

Delegates said Washington and Tokyo argued strongly in meetings on Monday against mention of a range for long-term emissions cuts in a draft text, which lays out the guidelines for any future negotiations.

The draft also refers to scientific evidence that world emissions will have to be cut by at least 50 percent below 2000 levels by 2050 to avert the worst impacts of global warming. Poor nations want the rich to commit to the deepest cuts.

"The numbers are still in the text. There has been a lot of pressure to take them out," one delegate with intimate knowledge of the draft negotiations said. He corrected a statement earlier in the day that they had been cut out.

A total of 176 countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol agreed in August to the 25-40 percent goal as a non-binding guide for developed nations.

"This is unacceptable," Hans Verolme of the WWF environmental group said of efforts to cut out goals.

He noted that the U.N. Climate Panel -- on whose work the 25-40 percent range was based -- collected the Nobel Peace Prize on Monday in Oslo.

"Our opinion about Kyoto has not changed," Watson said. President George W. Bush opposes Kyoto, saying it would damage the U.S. economy and wrongly excludes 2008-2012 goals for developing nations, such as China, India and Brazil.

Bush says the United States will join a new global pact.

And in Oslo, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore -- defeated by Bush for the presidency in the narrow 2000 election -- said it was time to stop waging war on the earth and make peace with the planet. He also said the 2008 election campaign was not focusing enough on climate.

U.S. Senator John Kerry arrived in Bali on Monday, saying an administration run by the Democrats would mean the difference between night and day on policies to fight global warming.

Kerry said the Democrats would, unlike Bush, back mandatory emissions targets and pass a bill to create a cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide emissions.

On the margins of the main talks, about 40 deputy finance ministers held unprecedented talks about ways to ensure that efforts to slow climate change do not derail the world economy.

"Having the finance ministers meeting t itself is a breakthrough," Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said. The meeting will prepare for talks by about 20 finance ministers in Bali on Tuesday.

BSS, Dhaka

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) will hear tomorrow the leave to appeal against the high court order staying proceedings of the extortion case against former prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, filed by Azam J Chowdhury.

As the prosecution referred the matter, the chamber judge of the supreme court Justice M Hasan Amin sent the appeal to the full court of the Appellate Division for hearing today.

On June 13 this year, Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of East Coast Trading Private limited, filed an extortion case with the city's Gulshan police station against Sheikh Hasina and her cousin former Heath Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim.

In the complaint, Azam accused Hasian and Selim of extorting Taka 2,99,65,000 from him. After investigation, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station, Obaidul Haq submitted chargesheet against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Sheikh Rehana on July 24 last. Police implicated Sheikh Rehana in the case as per confessional statement of Sheik Selim recorded under the section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The high court (HC) on Sunday stayed for three months the proceedings of the extortion case pending with a special tribunal set up on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex.

Sheikh Hasina was arrested from her Dhanmondi Shudha Sadan residence on July 16 and Sheikh Selim was arrested on May 21 in connection with the extortion case.

Barrister Rafiq-ul Haque and Barrister Shafiq Ahmed appeared for the defendants while Additional Attorney General Salauddin Ahmed stood for the state.

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a seminar here yesterday underscored the need for formulation of Human Rights (HR) policies as per the UN declaration with a view to ensuring human rights for all.

They said human rights have repeatedly been violated across the world since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948

The speakers were addressing the seminar on 'Human Rights in Bangladesh' on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day-2007 at a hotel here. National Commission for UNESCO organised the seminar in cooperation with UNESCO Dhaka office.

Former Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Justice Habibur Rahman was present as the chief guest while Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz and representative of UNESCO in Bangladesh Malama Milashia were present as special guests.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar chaired the seminar.

Executive Director of Khan Foundation Advocate Rokeya Khandaker presented a keynote paper on 'Education and Education initiative: A two pronged Approach to Ensuring Human Rights' in the seminar.

Justice Habibur Rahman, in his speech, said the country has achieved tremendous success in various fields including education and health but those will not be sustained if the human rights are not ensured for all.

Advocate Rokeya, in her keynote paper, said human rights would be ensured for all by keeping the large portion of womenfolk in the mainstream of the country's development process.

Prof of Rajshahi University ANM Saleh laid emphasis on implementation of laws related to human rights for establishing all kinds of human rights in the country.

AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar said unless the people are aware of their rights, all efforts to make the society free from corruption will be meaningless.

Yeasmin Ahmed said human rights could only be ensured by empowering the women through providing them with proper education.

Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Secretary of Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO Dr Md Mahmudul Hassan, Director General of National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM) Prof Hosne Ara Feroj and Former Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Azad Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

Najmul Alam Nobin

Student politics at the Dhaka University is gaining pace as some leaders of the student wings of the main political parties are trying to start their political activities on the campus.

The leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student-wing of BNP are equally divided on the issue of reforms like their parent organisation.

Mid-ranking leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the Awami League are making their way back on the campus to revive student politics after a long time. The leaders of the student organisations were out of the field for a long time after the three-day campus violence in August. After the lifting of the ban on indoor politics they started to reorganise themselves.

As the JCD top leaders are either in jail or absconding, mid-ranking leaders and activists are gathering under the leadership of either Saeed Iqbal Titu, an expelled JCD leader who is renowned on the campus as a reformist student leader or Akram Hossain, Joint Secretary of JCD who leads the loyalists faction of the JCD.

Sources said leaders and activists who were deprived in the past from party posts and other facilities are joining under the banner of the reformist leaders. They regularly meet at the Madhu's Canteen, while the loyalist faction normally gathers at the Hakim Chattar on the campus.

Junior activists of the party are gathering under the fold of the loyalist faction. Both the factions gather on the campus regularly for occasional showdown.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that some leaders along with the reformists have hobnobbed with the police administration to get away with breaching emergency power rules.

Abdul Karim Sarker alias Tehari Karim, General Secretary of JCD Surya Sen Hall unit, sued in a case of breaching the EPR on March 7, for bringing out procession on the campus after the arrest of the party Senior Joint Secretary Tarek Rahman has returned to the hall and started his political activities, sources in the Surya Sen Hall said.

A mid-ranking leader loyal to the loyalists faction of JCD told The New Nation that they had been waiting for a change and also for a unified BNP so that they do not harm their political career by joining one faction of the party.

However, both the factions of JCD have taken stance against the leaders who took favours during the BNP regime and fled when the party faced crisis.

The BCL has started their politics, which is mainly focusing on the relief operations. The BCL leaders and activists are also staging small-scale showdown on the campus under the leadership of Sohel Rana Tipu, president of BCL of Dhaka University unit.

Though there is no division within the BCL regarding the party reform issue but there have been groupings inside the BCL. A group is still known as the rebel the party under the leadership of Sohel and Mizan of SM Hall and Zahurul Haque, who were deprived of due posts in the committee.

The student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, which is virtually underground is organising their party within the halls. They were alleged to be favoured by some hall administrations. Incidents took place on the campus this year on this issue at Muhsin Hall and Zahurul Haque Hall, where general students demonstrated against the hall authorities.

Meanwhile, the leftist student organisations have mainly engaged themselves in the post cyclone relief work.

Staff Reporter

Japan is committed to continuously support the people and the government of Bangladesh, as seen from emergency relief and post-cyclone rehabilitation operations in the Sidr affected areas, said Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue.

Ambassador Inoue was addressing a reception to celebrate the 74th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan at the Japanese Ambassador's residence at Baridhara in Dhaka on Sunday night.

LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Mohammed Anwarul Iqbal attended the reception as the guest of honour.

Politicians, diplomats, former ministers, senior government officials, businessmen, writers, artists and journalists attended the reception.

The Ambassador said this year has been special for Japan and Bangladesh, as it is the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"During these years, we have seen strengthening our relationship in a wide range of areas-from diplomatic relations, trade and investment and development cooperation to cultural exchanges," he said. "Since the independence of Bangladesh, we, Japan and Bangladesh, have been building up our friendly and stable relationship."

Ambassador Inoue said Japan truly appreciates Bangladesh for its continuous friendship.

He also expressed his sincere feeling of gratitude for being such a good friend of Japan.

Addressing the reception, Adviser Mohammed Anwarul Iqbal said Japan's overseas development assistance (ODA) has made visible positive impact on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, particularly in the fields of infrastructure, poverty alleviation, human resources development, education, culture, health, science and technology.

Japan is also a significant source of foreign direct investment and has turned out to become an important trading partner of Bangladesh, he said.

"We're happy at the increasing quantum of bilateral trade between our two countries in the recent years and we hope, Bangladesh's export to Japan would witness an accelerated growth in the days ahead," the Adviser said.

Moreover, he said the cultural exchanges and the people-to-people visits have strengthened the bond of friendship between the two countries and peoples based on mutual respect and understanding.

Iqbal, who is also the Adviser for Labour and Manpower, said the historical links between Bangladesh and Japan are age-old, manifest not only in cultural exchanges, but also in genuine appreciation of each other's heritage.

"We recall with gratitude that Japan was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh on February 10, 1972. Since then our close bilateral cooperation has steadily grown and become multifaceted," he said.

The Adviser also mentioned that Bangladesh and Japan shared common values and aspirations in matters of regional and international concerns. Both the countries are closely working together in various regional and international forums, including the United Nations, especially for promotion of peace, stability and development across the world.

"We appreciate the contribution of Japan in SAARC and hope that Japan would be able to make further contribution to SAARC as an observer," he said.

The Adviser said: "We believe, our commonalities of interests will lead the two countries to march together for shaping a better future. We sincerely hope that the partnership between our two countries will continue to flourish in the years to come."

Conveying the warmest felicitations to the government and people of Japan on the occasion of Japan's National Day and the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor, Iqbal said the government and people of Bangladesh acknowledge the significance of the Monarchy of Japan as a national symbol and it is through the Imperial Throne that the Japanese people identify themselves as truly Japanese.

"This great day marks the glorious history of Japan's unprecedented economic, commercial, cultural and social achievements," he said.

The Adviser also expressed his sincere thanks to Ambassador Inoue and his colleagues at the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka for contributing significantly towards strengthening the relations between the two friendly countries and the peoples.

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday approved procuring of 43,000 metric tons of non-Bashmoti rice from the local suppliers.

A meeting of the Advisers Committee on Public Purchase approved the procurement proposal placed by the Ministry of Food.

The Cabinet Purchase Committee also approved a proposal of the Ministry of Industries to appoint a foreign firm at a cost of Tk 103 crore to repair and rehabilitate the burnt Gas Compressor and Turbine of the Ghorasal Fertiliser Factory.

According to the Food Ministry proposal the local traders will supply the rice at the rates between Tk 25.49 and Tk 27.65 per kilogram. The total price of the 43,000 metric tons of rice will be Tk 115.52 crore.

Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam, after the meeting, told newsmen that the rice, imported by private sector, is already in different storages.

According to the Food Ministry officials the purchase is part of the government efforts to build up a good stock of rice to tackle any situation.

Earlier, the Food Adviser had said that the government is trying to procure huge quantity of food grains from different sources to meet the demands in the days ahead.

The Food Ministry already announced its plan to import 5 lakh tons of rice from neighbouring India and other countries to meet the shortages to be caused due to repeated flooding and cyclone Sidr attack.

Staff Reporter

Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury called for ensuring human rights for all and eliminating corruption and terrorism from the society.

"Corruption would not be there if human rights could be ensured," he said.

He said this at a seminar on 'The Role of human rights movement in building corruption and terrorism free Bangladesh' at the National Press Club yesterday organised by Human Rights Observation Association to mark the World Human Rights Day.

ACC Chairman said, "Time has come for us all to fight against corruption and we must utilize this opportunity to get a positive result. If we do not get positive outcome, we will change our methods."

While addressing a link between corruption and terrorism he said, "We all know corruption and terrorism coexist and terrorism patronise corruption. Terrorism must be uprooted to curb corruption."

Prof Jalaluddin Ahmed, Justice Abdur Razzak, Prof Dr Showkat Ara Hossain, Col (Retd) Nazmul Huq of International Migration Organisation, among others, spoke at the seminar.

Later, the Association awarded Human Rights Padak 2007 to Dr Tuhin Malik for his contribution to human rights movement.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) organised observed the day with various functions across the country.

Putin's successor?

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has backed First Deputy PM Dmitry Medvedev to replace him as president next year, Russian media report. "I fully support this candidacy," Putin was quoted as saying. Mr Medvedev was nominated by Putin's United Russia Party and three other pro-Kremlin parties on Monday. Medvedev was previously Putin's chief of staff and is chairman of the gas giant Gazprom. He hails from Putin's native St Petersburg. The 42-year-old former lawyer managed Mr Putin's election campaign in 2000.

Merchant of fear

India's election officials have sought an explanation from a ruling party leader over remarks she made during an election meeting in western Gujarat. Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi reportedly described the opposition-ruled government in the state as "merchants of fear and death". Gujarat, ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP, has been criticised for the treatment of its religious minorities. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in religious riots in 2002.

Saudi succession body

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's ruling monarch has appointed his half-brother to head a committee that will choose the desert kingdom's future kings and crown princes, the official SPA news agency reported on Monday. King Abdullah chose Prince Meshal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud to lead the 35-member committee, set up to ensure a smooth transition of power in the world's biggest oil producer, ruled by the al-Saud dynasty for 75 years.