The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Sector Commanders' Forum and seventy other socio-cultural organisations yesterday announced a joint declaration for the trial of the war criminals of the Liberation War in 1971 and demanded of the government to constitute a special tribunal for their trial.

The organisations extended their support to the movement of the SCF for the trial of the war criminals and they would assist the forum in all programmes to campaign for the demand for the trial of the war criminals.

Chairman of the SCF and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Army Air Vice Marshal (Retd) AK Khandoker yesterday said this at a press conference at the BILIA auditorium in the city yesterday.

Air Vice Marshal AK Khandoker said they had discussed with the political parties and urged them to include the clause for the trial of the war criminals in their parties' election manifestos.

"If any political party allies with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the war criminals then we will work against them so that they will not be able to win the elections," said the Liberation War hero.

He said the forum issued letters to the Chief Adviser, Army Chief and Chief Election Commissioner to meet with them in this issue and would hold view exchange meetings at divisional level from the next month.

National Professor Kabir Chowdhury presided over the press conference moderated by former Army Chief Lt Gen (Retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid.

"The trial of the war criminals can be done only by constituting a special tribunal and which can be done according to the constitution of the country under the International Crimes Tribunal Act-73," justice KM Hasan said.

He also urged the public not to file cases against the war criminals in the criminal courts. He said a quarter were provoking people to file cases against the war criminals under criminal court so that the war criminals could find escape route.

National Professor Kabir Chowdhury said the unity now formed on the demand for the trial of the killers of the Liberation War was not seen before.

The outburst of the unity was the boycotting of the ceremony of Bangabhaban on the Victory Day.

He said the present government should at least start the process of the trial by constituting special tribunal.

The brother of the martyred intellectual Munir Chowdhury dismissed the claims that the trial did not take place in the past 36 years saying, "After the killing of Bangabandhu in '75, there were no pro-liberation war government so the killers were not punished."

The SCF urged all organisations believing on the ideologies of the Liberation War other than the Jamaat and its organs to join with them in the movement.

President of Peshajibi Shamonnay Parishad Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Hena Das, eminent journalist Shahariar Kabir, President of Sammilito Sanskritik Jote Nasir Uddin Yousuf, President of Prajanma 71 Shaheen Reza Noor and President of Ganotantrik Ainjibi Parishad, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed, among others, spoke on behalf of the signatories of the declaration.

BBC Online

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated. An attacker fired shots at her and then blew himself up as she left an election rally on Thursday.

Below is a selection of quotes from one of the world's foremost female political leaders.

Recalling A Visit To Her Father, Former Pm Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Before His Execution In 1979: "I told him on my oath in his death cell, I would carry on his work."

Speaking In 1999, After Being Convicted Of Corruption: "I never influenced the awarding of a contract, and until my dying day I'll stand by it. They have tried to ruin me because they want to ruin the concept of a pluralistic, liberal Pakistan. To be accused of robbing, that really pains me."

Speaking After Escaping Twin Suicide Bombings In October After Returning From Exile: "What I really need to ask myself is: do I give up, do I let the militants determine the agenda?"

"I've been having a party meeting and, believe me, the spirit amongst the party is one that I'm so proud of because they say we can't let the militants dictate to us what's going to happen, and that we have to try and save Pakistan by saving democracy. So my supporters are ready."

On The Declaration Of A State Of Emergency In Pakistan On 3 November: "I do buy the argument that Pakistan was under growing threat due to the increase in activities by the militants, but I don't agree with the solution. I believe dictatorship has fuelled extremism. The extremists need dictatorship to flourish, and dictatorship needs the extremists as a pre-text to continue in place.

"I believe the solution lies in breaking the nexus, and that means bringing democracy."

Speaking On Sharing Power With Gen Musharraf, After Being Freed From House Arrest On 9 November: "I can't see how I can team up with somebody who raises hopes and dashes themt He talked to me about a roadmap to democracy and imposed martial law."

Building Support On 10 November For A "Long March" On Islamabad In Protest At Emergency Rule : "Pakistan under dictatorship is a pressure cooker."

"Without a place to vent, the passion of our people for liberty threatens to explodet There is not enough barbed wire, or bullets, or bayonets to defeat my people's unquestionable desire for democracy."

On The Upcoming Parliamentary Election: "Pakistan is at a crossroads. We citizens are faced with a decisive choice this January 8th, election day. We can turn our backs on the years of dictatorship, fundamentalism, and economic decline."

Speaking At The Rally In Rawalpindi On 27 December Shortly Before Being Assassinated: "I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried. We will bring the country out of this crisis."

On Dictatorship (1986) : "Every dictator uses religion as a prop to keep himself in power."

On Democracy (1989): "Democracy needs support and the best support for democracy comes from other democracies. Democratic nations shouldt come together in an association designed to help each other and promote what is a universal value - democracy."

On Death (April 2007) : "I don't fear death."

"I don't think it can happen unless God wants it to happen because so many people have tried to kill me."

Staff Reporter

Best Air, country's new private airliner, will start its operation on January 14, 2008 with Boeing 737, the first ever in Bangladesh, through a flight from Dhaka to Chittagong.

At the initial stage, the company will start its operation with one Boeing 737 aircraft, which has a capacity of 118 passengers.

In each of their flight they would provide a free seat for the freedom fighters and Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus will avail the free seat whenever he travels.

M Haider Uzzaman, Chairman of Best Air, disclosed this at the unveiling ceremony of Boeing 737 fleet air at a city hotel yesterday.

He said, "By the middle of the next month, another Boeing 737 will be added to the fleet. The Boeing 737 airplane is the most sought-after passenger carrier aircraft of all times."

The plan of the Best Air is to operate flights between Dhaka and other domestic and international destinations, including Chittagong and Sylhet in Bangladesh, Kolkata and Chennai in India, Bangkok in Thailand and Kunming in China in the first phases, he mentioned.

In the second phase it will include the Far East, the Middle East, Europe and the USA by using 'Wide Bodied Aircraft,' he said and adding, "The first leg of operations will be Dhaka-Chittagong and others will follow suit shortly."

Best Aviation started its operations in 1999 as a helicopter operator and it started as a 'Freighter Airline' in 2000. Best Air has been operating different types of freighter in the domestic and international sectors, said Haider Uzzaman.

Best Air obtained license in 2006 from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh to operate passenger service in the international and domestic sectors, he added.

Group Capt (Retd) M Alamgir, Head of Operations of Best Air, Farhad Hossain, Head of Marketing and Sales, M Moniruzzaman, Head of Customer Service, among others, were present at the conference.

Staff Reporter

Dhaka City Unit of Awami League asked the central committee to announce a programme not contradicting the state of emergency fearing that the party Chief Sheikh Hasina could not be freed through a legal battle alone.

This was said at the city executive committee meeting held at the party headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city yesterday.

Acting President of Dhaka city Awami League (AL) MA Aziz chaired the meeting, while advocate Kamrul Islam, acting general secretary of Dhaka city AL, among others, were present on the occasion.

In the meeting the leaders demanded withdrawal of the emergency rule and unconditional release of Dhaka University teachers.

The meeting also decided to give the ongoing movement for trial of war criminals some force.

The meeting termed the cases against Sheikh Hasina false, fabricated and baseless.

Advocate Kamrul said, "Sheikh Hasina could not be freed only through a legal battle. So we recommend a movement be launched besides the legal battle. We have also asked the central committee to emphasis the need to build public opinion."

"We may go for any legitimate programme," he said.

BSS, Dhaka

Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) yesterday expressed their utmost eagerness to make the best use of their expertise and investment to enhance the skill of the country's manpower and improve the quality of the education and transport system.

The enthusiasm came on the last day of the first ever three- day NBR conference held in the city with joint collaboration of local experts. Four seminars on various development issues were held during the conference.

The seminars dealt with the issues of upgrading the skill of Bangladeshi workforce to international standard, developing a sustainable transportation system, improvement of education and creating a congenial environment for investment.

The three-day conference began on December 27 with the aim of establishing a bridge between the scholars and investors living in the country and thousands of such individuals residing abroad.

Mohammad K Haq, Vice President, International Partnership, CWI Institute of Canada said, Bangladesh must educate and build its citizens to become worthy of competing in the global economy.

"NBR's could offer their expertise and experience to help developing the skills of county's manpower as per international standard," he said while presenting the keynote paper at a seminar. He was presenting key-note paper at a seminar titled 'Skill Development of Bangladesh For Global Market Place' where he also gave a Bangladesh model of skill development where NRB's could assist. Eminent Economist Dr Atiur Rahman urged the NRBs to set up a skill development centre here where they could volunteer their expertise for developing the skills of the Bangladeshi workforce as per the international standard.

"You need to come forward to help your country, where from you originated on your own way rather blaming the government for not facilitating NRBs", In another seminar on development of sustainable transportation systems for the Dhaka city, the NRB experts suggested making an integrated policy and planning on land use and transportation.

Traffic engineering and transportation planning specialist of Washington DC, Habib Shaheen Trafdar and Development Budget Adviser of Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan Dr Abu Reza spoke about various aspects of traffic management.

They underlined the need for developing a long-term inter- model transportation system by well integrating the non- motorized, motorized and mass transportation moods.

NBRs, who are working in the transport sector in different country's, could come forward with their experience and expertise to help formulate a appropriate policy as higher technologies, appropriate decision making tools and innovative financial strategies are required to develop a transportation system.

Communication Secretary Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman addressed the seminar as the chief guest while former Secretary Dr Kamrul Islam Siddique, chairman of WASA Abdullah Haroon Pasha spoke as special guests.

Mahbubur Rahman urged all transport engineers, working home and abroad, to sit together for arriving at a consensus to form a long term transport planning by optimum use of limited land resources.

Urging the NRB experts to participate in the development process of the country as consultants, he said, if NRBs offer their service, we won't require to hire foreigners.

Counter terrorism expert of Bangladesh Army Brigadier General Dr ATM Amin at another seminar on Investment Environment in Bangladesh said, an estimated easily derivable 10 billion US dollar investment by expatriate Bangladeshis could revamp Bangladesh economy.

He said Bangladesh so far got foreign investments from the other spill over economies while the "expatriates can contribute to a large extent to the economic growth in the country.

US-based financial institute executives Nasim Ali and Sabbir Ahmed presented another paper on investment environment saying expatriates were missing factors in economic partnership while the public and private sectors needed to form an engagement with the Bangladeshis living abroad.

In the seminar on Development of Education System, the NRBs suggested strengthening English education in the country as Bangladeshis have been paying very dearly for lack proficiency in the language.

English education centers must be set up to train teachers to make them good English instructors and NRBs could come forward with their skills and investment in the field, they said.

Syful Islam

The outgoing year 2007 will be remembered as the 'year of price hike' as price of almost all commodities increased significantly.

Inflation rose to as high as 10 per cent officially in the year but informally it climbed more than 20 per cent in some areas.

Inflation reached intolerable level following the two phases of floods and devastating cyclone Sidr that extensively damaged crops.

According to the statistics of the government market-monitoring arm the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), price of coarse rice rose throughout the year and reached Tk 28 in December 2007 from the previous years Tk 18. Price of rice rose by 44.74 per cent over the year.

Price of flour reached as high as Tk 38 during the last quarter of the current year marking a 41.51 per cent rise. Middle and low income people experienced intolerable pressure following the price hike of flour after coarse rice.

Per kilogram of edible oil is now being sold between Tk 86 and Tk 92 from last year's Tk 60, marking a 40.16 per cent rise in the price. Per kilogram of milk powder is now selling at Tk 515, which was selling at Tk 330 last year. Price of mutton rose by 38.10 per cent over the year while price of beef rose by 19.35 per cent, according to the TCB statistics.

Other essential commodities like price of potato rose by 10 per cent, lentil by 10 per cent and onion by 6 to 10 per cent over the year.

In the middle of 2007 price of most of the essential commodities rose by over 50 per cent on an average. At that time per kilogram (kg) of flour was selling at Tk 31 from last years same period's Tk 19 marking a rise by 56.41 per cent. In the mid 2007 last year's Tk 50 per litre loose Soyabean oil was selling at Tk 86, which marked a rise by 50 per cent.

That time onion price rose by 85 per cent. Per kg of onion was sold at Tk 40, which was Tk 24 last year. For the imported onion, price hike recorded 105.88 per cent, while the local varieties 65.22 per cent compared to the previous year.

The price hike of most of the essential commodities has compounded the misery of people, especially the middle and lower income people.

However, several measures of the government including, duty withdrawal failed to make any dent on the commodity outlay, as unscrupulous businessmen were bent upon earning huge profit.

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a seminar here yesterday laid emphasis on easy access to finance for the growth of agro-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to further develop the agriculture sector, GDP's largest contributor.

They also underscored the need for bridging the gap between bankers and entrepreneurs, so the banks could provide more monetary assistance to them.

The seminar on 'Access to finance for Agro-based Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SME)' was organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in its seminar room.

Agriculture Secretary M Abdul Aziz was present as the chief guest while DCCI President Hossain Khaled was in the chair.

General Manager of Bangladesh Bank Dasgupta Ashim Kumar presented a keynote paper on 'Availability of Financing and Development of Agriculture Entrepreneurs'.

Former lawmaker Fakhrul Islam Munshi, Deputy general manager of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Dr Jashim Uddin and Deputy managing director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank Nurul Huda Chowdhury, among others, also took part in the discussion.

M Abdul Aziz said the SMEs sector, playing a significant role in terms of stimulating private ownership and generating employment opportunities, is one of the key economic drivers in achieving industrialisation and faster economic growth.

The principal objective of the government is to create income generating scopes and more equitable distribution of income by giving top priority on the SMEs sector, he said.

Aziz stressed the need for more SMEs to supplement the government efforts in further developing the agriculture sector. The government, he added, allocated an additional Taka 100 crore for the Equity Entrepreneurship Fund (EEF).

Other speakers suggested distribution of a part of the idle money amounting to Taka 15,000 crore lying with Bangladesh Bank among the SMEs to help further accelerate the agriculture activities in the country.

Referring to the Banks' more interest for funding the large corporate bodies than the agro-based SMEs, they said the entrepreneurs have been facing problems from factors like high inflation rate and the Banks' increased transition cost due to this policy.

Dasgupta Ashim Kumar in his keynote paper said the banks and financial instructions claimed that about 38 percent of the agriculture loans was already defaulted although the interest rate was only eight percent.

"Taka 14,670 crore has so far been disbursed as agriculture loan, of which Taka only 967 crore was sanctioned by the private banks," he said and termed this trend "definitely not a positive sign" for the country's macro-economic development.

Nurul Huda Chowdhury said the government has allocated Taka 300 crore for SME development, and the money will be disbursed through 15 branches of Bangladesh Krishi Bank.

UNB, Dhaka

Documents for the third-round bidding for gas blocks now await Cabinet nod as the Energy Division has recently sent up those instruments of negotiations for endorsement.

The Energy Ministry sent the international bidding documents recently after completion of the necessary vetting by the Law Ministry and the National Board of Revenue.

The Energy Division also held an inter-ministerial meeting before sending the documents to the Cabinet Division.

According to official sources, if the Council of Advisors approves the bidding documents, Petrobangla, the national hydrocarbon agency, will invite international tender for exploration of hydrocarbons in the country's maritime territory. The sources said the Government has earmarked 28 new gas blocks in the maritime belt for exploration in shallow and deep-sea zones.

Each of the blocks will have an area of 2,000 to 7,000Skm.

Officials said the 3rd-round bidding would have little scope for negotiation.

"We will want everything done on the basis of the merit of the offers," said one official, preferring anonymity.

A model production-sharing contract (PSC) has been prepared for this latest round of bidding which will be the main basis for the international tender. As per new PSC, Petrobangla will always have a stake in every block along with the selected bidder.

The move for inviting 3rd-round international bidding was initiated by the previous BNP-led alliance government about two years ago. But it stalled for various reasons.

Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin had said his ministry has a plan to float the tender by first month of the new year and complete the process of awarding contract by August 2008.

Staff Reporter

Fair and Lovely Foundation has awarded education scholarships to 375 talented female students to support their higher education in various disciplines.

The foundation, a part of the Unilever Bangladesh Limited, awarded the students, who were selected from across the country on the basis of their previous educational records.

Each student was awarded a share of her Tk 25000 scholarship money during an award giving ceremony yesterday at a local hotel in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Adviser for the Women and Children, Getiara Safia Chaudhury appreciated Unilever Bangladesh for their effort to empower Bangladeshi women who are still deprived of basic rights. She was addressing the ceremony as chief guest.

"This award would not only support the students in their higher education but also likely to advance their confidence level in future competitions," she said.

It is a noble contribution by a multi-national company, which should be followed by all other companies," she added.

To the awarded students on the occasion, she also said that this award would broaden their responsibilities to the society and help them do better in future life. Brands and Development Director of Unilever Bangladesh Naushad Chaudhury and Marketing Manager Javed Akhter were also present on the occasion.

Police disarmed in Mexican town

BBC ONLINE: The Mexican army has confiscated guns from the entire police force of the town of Rosarito, near the Mexican border with the US. Mexican authorities suspect that the town's police have been colluding with drug trafficking gangs. Mexican troops carried out a similar crackdown in January on Tijuana police. The Rosarito force's 200 guns will be examined to see whether any were used in an attack on the town's police chief earlier this month. One of his bodyguards was killed in the attack. "We recognise that the enemy is inside our house and for this reason we are purging the ranks - we need to have confidence in our police," Baja California state police chief Daniel de la Rosa said. Drug gangs are strong in Mexico's border region, which includes Rosarito, a beach resort town south of Tijuana. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has deployed about 25,000 troops to the region, and to the neighbouring province of Michoacan, since taking office 12 months ago.

Nurse abducted

BBC ONLINE: The Somali security forces are hunting for the gang which kidnapped two women who work for an aid agency. The pair, a Spanish doctor and an Argentine nurse, were seized near the northern port of Bossasso, in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. They work for the aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). A French journalist was freed on Monday more than a week after being captured in the same region. Police denied that any ransom had been paid. A Puntland official told the AP news agency that the kidnappers were "holed up in a mountainous area". Another official, Ahmed Aaid Aw-Nour, said one of the kidnappers was arrested during the kidnap.