The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the three unions of the Daily Ittefaq in a joint statement said the wage board award for journalists and employees had nothing to do with the slander made by a leader of a faction of journalists' union while speaking at a rally of journalists, workers and employees in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday. The rally demanded the amendment of the 6th Wage Board Award.

Instead of raising the demands of journalists and employees through a constructive review of the wage board award, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, the leader of one faction of BFUJ, made attacking remarks targeting the Daily Ittefaq and Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein, which cannot be accepted by conscious and professional journalists silently.

The journalists, workers and employees of the Daily Ittefaq rejected outright his intentional vilification which was contrary to the principles and values of journalism.

The journalists and workers of the Ittefaq blamed the leadership of Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury for occupying the Bangladesh Observer and forcing its journalists, workers and employees to pass inhuman life.

At the same time, they expressed gratitude to the almighty Allah for saving the Ittefaq from the hands of harmful elements.

They also said that it still remained a mystery why Chowdhury had passed an entire night in the Ittefaq office when the first incident of killing took place at the Ittefaq Bhaban. The journalists, workers and employees of the Ittefaq strongly condemned his unfounded and slanderous remarks made against one of the owners of the Ittefaq. At the time, they hailed Barrister Mainul Hosein for directing the Inspector General of Police and Director-General of RAB to investigate the incidents of killing in the Ittefaq.

On behalf of the journalists, workers and employees of the Daily Ittefaq, the joint statement was signed by Deputy Unit Chief of the Ittefaq Unit of Dhaka Union of Journalists Khondaker Abul Hossain, president of the Daily Ittefaq Karmachari Union Kazi Bazlur Rahman and General Secretary Jahanara Begum, and Asadullah and Alamgir Hossain, Senior Vice-President and General Secretary respectively of the NNP Workers Union.

Agencies

Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling.

Agreement was reached after a U-turn from the US, which had wanted firmer commitments from developing countries. The US and the EU earlier agreed that industrialised countries would not set firm emissions targets at this stage. The "Bali roadmap" initiates a two-year process of negotiations designed to agree a new set of emissions targets to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol. "I think we have come a long way here," said Paula Dobriansky, head of the US delegation.

"In this, the United States is very committed to this effort and just wants to really ensure we all act together." "This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change," said Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, who served as conference president.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he appreciated "the spirit of flexibility" shown by key delegations - and was aware that "there is divide of position between and among countries".

"But as this global warming is an issue which affects the whole humanity, whole planet earth, we must have co-ordinated and concerted efforts to address this issue," Ban said.

Environmental groups and some delegates have criticised the draft as being weak and a missed opportunity.

The US acceptance came just minutes after it had signalled it would reject the compromise, a statement that drew boos from delegates in the conference hall.

The EU had earlier thrashed out the compromise text with developing countries including China.

They had complained that language on reducing their emissions was too strong, and would commit them to measures that could retard their economic development.

They also wanted the West to pledge more action on transferring clean technology to developing societies.

Observers spoke of emotional scenes in the conference hall - the UN's top climate official Yvo de Boer in tears after being accused by China of procedural irregularities, and cheers and hugs when the US indicated its acceptance.

Talks have been intense, and the meeting has run more than a day beyond its scheduled close, with several night-time sessions.

The document coming out of the meeting, the "Bali roadmap", contains text on emissions cuts, the transfer of clean technology to developing countries, halting deforestation and helping poorer nations protect their economies and societies against impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels and falling crop yields.

The roadmap sets the parameters and aims for a further set of negotiations to be finalised by the 2009 UN climate conference, to be held in Denmark.

By that stage, parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol should have agreed on a comprehensive plan for curbing global warming and adapting to its impacts.

This will include firm emissions targets for industrialised countries to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol which expire in 2012, some softer form of targets or ambitions for major developing countries, and mechanisms for leveraging funds from carbon trading to protect forests and fund adaptation projects.

The EU came to the talks demanding that industrialised nations commit to cuts of 25-40% by 2020, a bid that was implacably opposed by a bloc containing the US, Canada and Japan.

This dispute was resolved with a text that did not mention specific emissions targets but did acknowledge that "deep cuts in global emissions will be required to achieve the ultimate objective".

France's Deputy Ecology Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet acknowledged the deal amounted to far less than the EU had wanted.

But, she told the AFP news agency: "The public can understand that we brought the United States into the negotiations.

"It's a framework that is quite weak but which still moves forward."

Earlier, consensus was reached on the principle of rewarding poorer countries to protect their forests.

This is widely acknowledged as the cheapest single way of curbing climate change, and brings benefits in other environmental areas such as biodiversity and fresh water conservation.

Delegates agreed on a framework that could allow richer nations and companies to earn "carbon credits" by paying for forest protection in developing countries.

"We need to find a new mechanism that values standing forests," said Andrew Mitchell, executive director of the Global Canopy Programme, an alliance of research institutions.

"Ultimately, if this does its job, [deforestation] goes down to nothing."

Mitchell said the only feasible source of sufficient funds was a global carbon market.

But many economists believe mandatory emissions targets are needed to create a meaningful global market.

Staff Reporter

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is going to set up 12 cattle markets for this year's Eid-ul-Azha. These cattle markets will start from December 18.

There were 13 open air cattle markets last year, but this year the market near Kamalapur Railway Station has been dropped for other use by the Bangladesh Railway, said DCC sources. Against the bidding of the 12 cattle markets, the DCC received an amount of Tk five crore but there would be re-tender for two markets as the quotation was lower than expected.

A meeting between DCC authority and the law enforcers was held last week in the city to ensure security in the cattle markets.

But this year the price of sacrificial animals is expected to be high due to the rise in transportation cost and short supply of cattle from across the border.

The import of cows and buffaloes from India is very low due to the enhanced security on the border this year, said a cattle trader.

Last year during this period four to five thousand cattle were imported through the Sultanganj border under Chapainawabganj but this year it dropped to nearly half, said a local cattle trader from Chapainawabganj.

Staff Reporter

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Noor Mohammad yesterday said there is no possibility of any subversive attack by Islamic militants on the eve of the Victory Day today.

"But we do not rule out such likelihood," he told reporters when asked whether there was any apprehension of subversive attacks in the country.

He was talking to reporters following the Annual General Meeting of Bangladesh Retired Police Officers Welfare Association at Rajarbagh Police Telecom Auditorium in the city. The IGP said sufficient

number of law enforcers, including police and RAB would keep strict vigil on law and order during different programmes of the Victory Day.

"Police, RAB and other law enforcers will keep close watch during the Victory Day and Eid-ul-Azha programmes across the country," he said.

Noor Mohammad said the law enforcing agencies have the necessary preparation to make Victory Day and Holy Eid-ul-Azha programmes a success.

Earlier, addressing the meeting of the welfare association as chief guest IGP Noor Mohammad said police should not be the cause of people's discomfiture.

"The policeman should remember that people seek help of police when they face troubles. You (police) should perform your responsibilities positively to regain the departments lost image," he said.

Presided over by former IGP and president of the organisation, ABMG Kibria, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by former IGPs Dr Enamul Haque, SM Khaleque and Modabbir Hossain and DMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed.

Officer-in-Charge (O/C) of Sundarganj Police Station in Gaibandha district Abu Jafar and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chuadanga Sadar Police Station Rabiul Islam were given SM Ahsan Memorial Award at the function for their outstanding performances.

Reuters, Islamabad

President Pervez Musharraf lifted emergency rule in Pakistan and restored the constitution on Saturday, in a move Western nations hope will stabilize the nuclear-armed state as Islamic militant violence spirals.

But critics say curbs on the media and a purged judiciary will remain in place and Musharraf can still manipulate a January 8 general election victory for his parliamentary allies and secure a power base despite his unpopularity.

"We consider the lifting of the state of emergency an important step forward," opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto told reporters in the southwestern city of Quetta soon after the end of the emergency was announced.

"But more needs to be done for the restoration of democracy." Citing militant violence and a meddling judiciary, Musharraf imposed the emergency on November 3, suspended the constitution and purged the Supreme Court to fend off challenges to his re-election, which new hand-picked judges later rubber-stamped.

But he faced international condemnation for his actions, with Western countries worried he would only further polarize Pakistan and leave a vacuum that Islamic militants fighting an insurgency near the border with Afghanistan could fill. Two soldiers and three civilians were killed near a Pakistani army camp by a suicide bomber on a bicycle on Saturday, underscoring a growing number of insurgent attacks this year in which hundreds of people have been killed.

Musharraf, who will address the nation on TV and radio on Saturday night, took fresh oaths of office from the Supreme Court judges appointed after he imposed the emergency.

Musharraf also issued a decree protecting him from legal challenges over his actions during the emergency, something previous military rulers in Pakistan have done.

Some lawyers and judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who were deposed by Musharraf are still under house arrest. The Pakistani media criticized this week a ban on live broadcasts as an attempt to control election coverage.

The end of the emergency may not change that.

"This emergency was staged to perpetuate one-man rule," said Akbar Ali, an employee at a car leasing company in the main northwestern city of Peshawar. "There is no guarantee he won't stage this emergency again if he sees his rule in danger."

Election monitors and many politicians fear Musharraf, despite calls for a fair vote, can rig the polls through a network of district chiefs, bogus votes and by excluding opposition supporters from ballot stations.

Critics point out that Musharraf, who came to power in a 1999 coup but stepped down as army chief last month, still lives in his army house.

The election is essentially a three-way battle between parties loyal to Musharraf and the parties of two main opposition leaders, former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Bhutto.

An opposition-run parliament could move to impeach the general over accusations he acted unconstitutionally in securing a new term as president.

Staff Reporter

The government will disburse Tk 175 crore this year to the hide and skin traders to buy raw hides from around the country on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha.

President of Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather goods and Footwear Exporters Association Md Tipu Munshi yesterday told The New Nation that loan will be sanctioned based on bank-client relationship.

The loan disbursement will be started from Monday, he informed. Tipu said despite the loss of cattle heads in the cyclone Sidr there will be no shortage this year as people in Pabna, Ishwardi, Dinajpur, Kustia, Sirajganj and Mymensingh are farming a good number of cattleheads.

This type of farming, targeting the Eid-ul-Azha, is being done for the last 4/5 years, he said.

Quoting the border sources the BFLLFEA president said the flow of cattle head from the neighbouring countries is satisfactory, thus there will be no shortage.

"We were expecting a growth this year in the number of hides and skin but there is no chance at all," he said.

According to him every year they collect nearly 25 lakh cow hides and 45 lakh goat hides during the Eid-ul-Azha.

Nearly 40 per cent of the total hide and skins are being collected during the Eid season. The size and quality of hide and skins, collected during Eid season, is higher than the yearly average.

Last year tannery owners bought per square feet of cow hide at Tk 70 and Tk 60 in and outside of Dhaka respectively while per square feet of goat hide was priced at Tk 40.

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed Saturday said the reform measures taken for the financial sector would help Bangladesh have a faster economic growth, paving the way for it to become a middle-income country by the end of the next decade.

"The strategies that have been initiated and the reform programmes taken in the financial sector with the support and help from all concerned would not only help the economy grow at a faster rate but also pave the way for Bangladesh to become a member of the middle income countries by the end of the next decade," he told the inaugural session of a workshop here.

The workshop, 'Emerging Changes in the Financial Sector of Bangladesh' was organised by the Institute of Cost Management Accounts of Bangladesh (ICMAB) at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

The Bangladesh Bank Governor expressed the optimism at a time when the country has suffered two back-to-back floods and one devastating cyclone. To get a faster growth, Dr Salehuddin said, there are some challenges, including implementation of Basel II, for the financial sector. "Compliance of Basel Core Principles (BCPs) requires providing a solid foundation for the eventual implementation of the new accord," he said.

The central bank big boss said they had indicated five risks-credit risk, asset and liability/balance sheet risk, foreign exchange risk, internal control and compliance risk and money laundering risk -- in implementing the accord.

Stressing the importance of the role of management accountants, Dr Salehuddin said the management accountants with their trained mind of accounting, finance, commerce, regulatory framework with analytical ability can better serve the banks in discharging their obligations to the stakeholders, regulators and above all the society.

National News

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said rehabilitation programme is getting momentum along with the continuation of relief activities in the cyclone-affected areas of the country.

He said the government has started rehabilitation activities on a massive scale side by side with conducting relief operations in the affected districts so that the victims could begin their normal economic activities soon.

The chief adviser said these while receiving donations from different government institutions, private organisations and individuals at his office in aid of the cyclone-affected people in the southwestern region of the country. Expressing gratitude to those who donated for the affected people, he said the lion's share of the donated money would be spent for rebuilding the dwelling houses damaged in the devastating cyclone on the night of November 15.

Dr Fakhruddin said Taka 120 crore has already been sent to the affected areas in this regard.

The head of the non-party caretaker government expressed his satisfaction over the distribution of relief and said the government and private organisations in aid of local people have been conducting relief operations in a coordinated manner.

He especially thanked the students who came forward to help the cyclone victims, saying that the good gesture from the student community, the future of the nation, is a role model for all of us.

The chief adviser said the government is sending the money, donated to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund, to all the affected districts quickly so that the victims could immensely benefit from the donations.

As many as 27 government institutions, private organisations and individuals today handed over cheques for their donated money to the Chief Adviser.

They are Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Commerce, Secretary of President's Office and Chairman of Karmasangsthan (Employment) Bank, Shahjalal Science and Technology University, Department of Public Administration of Rajshahi University, Retired Armed Forces Welfare Association, Nandail, Mymensingh, Khulna Shipyard Ltd, Prof Hosneara Begum, Holcim Ltd and Transcom Ltd, Akij Group, Bangladesh Jute Spinners' Association, DU Alumni Association (Batch 1977), Economics Department of Chittagong University, M/S S. B Distributors Ltd, BUET '82 Club, District Lawyers' Association, Brahmanbaria, Women Volunteers Association, Udayan High School, Private Inland Container Depot Ltd, Anirban.com, Chapainawabganj District Mill Owners and Rice Traders Association, Begum Ferdousi Abdullah, Bangladesh Photographic Association, Dr Abdul Gaffar, Bangladesh Aluminum Manufacturers Association, Dewan Fazlur Rahman and Green Delta Insurance Co Ltd.

See Mars now: Red Planet shines bright

Mars will be closer to Earth this month than any time until the year 2016. The red planet is now the brightest "star" in the evening sky and is already above the horizon as evening twilight fades away. But give it at least two more hours-until about 8 p.m.-for it to climb above the poor atmospheric seeing that's near the horizon. By then, this brilliant yellow-orange world will be at an altitude of around 30 degrees as seen from mid-northern latitudes. Your clenched fist held at arm's length is roughly equal to 10 degrees, so by 8 p.m. Mars will be about "three-fists" up from the east-northeast horizon.

US Senate passes Iraq funds bill

BBC ONLINE: The US Senate has authorised more spending for the Iraq war, without tying the bill to a timetable for troop withdrawal-a key Democratic demand. In a 90-3 vote, it approved a further $189bn (£94bn) for the campaigns in Iraq and also in Afghanistan. Democrats, who have a 51-49 majority in the Senate, accepted the measure after failing to impose the timetable demand. The bill had passed in the House of Representatives. President Bush is now expected to sign it into law.