The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Caretaker Government will hold dialogue with the political parties on reform measure as per decision of the Council of Advisers on Thursday with a view to holding a credible, free and fair elections in the country.

Disclosing this in an address to the nation yesterday evening, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said his Government was considering withdrawal of the restrictions on “indoor politics” outside Dhaka city across the country and relaxing and lifting the state of emergency in phases.

“We have lifted ban on indoor politics in the capital Dhaka for creating a congenial atmosphere. As per our commitment, after the conclusion of dialogue between the Election Commission and the political parties, reforms of the electoral laws and rules will be finalised,” he added.

The Chief Adviser addressed the nation marking the first anniversary of his Caretaker Government. Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed took oath of office as Chief of the military backed interim Government on January 12, 2007, a day after the intervention by the Army that saved the nation from an obvious civil war due to face off between the country’s two major and dynastic political parties-the BNP and the Awami League (AL).

His address to the nation was simultaneously telecast and broadcast live through different electronic media.

During the last one year, the Chief Adviser said the Government has separated the Judiciary from the Executive and reconstituted different constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Service Commission and the University Grants Commission with truly neutral and acceptable people in order to establish good governance in the country.

Expressing the hope that the political parties would seize the opportunity to make themselves democratic and corruption free, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said, “We will expect that the Government, Election Commission and political parties will be able to map out a smooth way for transition to democracy through discussions.”

In his 29 minutes speech, the Chief Adviser asserted saying, “I want to make it clear that Government is committed to hold the next parliamentary elections by December 2008, if possible before that, as per the roadmap announced by the Election Commission. There is no scope of confusion in this regard.”

He made it crystal clear that no political party and political force are the opponent of his Government.

He said he believed that they would be able to create such a pluralistic system in the country at the end of this year, in which the hopes and aspirations of 14.50 crore people would be reflected.

“It will be such a system which will remain sustainable depending on the strength of public opinion,” he said adding that the new institutions that the government have created and strengthened for protecting the actual democratic values will play a supplementary role to this end.

“Like you, I also want to see such a political and government system whose main task will be to fulfill the basic needs of the people. I want to see Bangladesh as a middle income country by eradicating poverty by the next one and half decade,” he said.

Terming his Government as servant of people, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said he wanted to see such a service-oriented Government to be elected in a democratic environment by this day next year.

Explaining the reality under which the present Caretaker Government took over, he said they had got the responsibility to run the state against the backdrop of a critical and chaotic situation.

“After that I have tried to discharge my duties vested on me selflessly. I don’t want that the country will return to the pre-January 11 anarchic situation”, the Chief Adviser said.

He called upon all including the political parties to establish an honest, skilled and competent leaderships at all levels unitedly. He expressed his optimism to hold a terrorism, muscle power, black money and arms free credible election this year as per the desire of the people.

He said, “I want to see that transparency and accountability have established at all spheres of the state through reforms and Bangladesh has been established as a reputed country across the globe as a bright example of religious and anthropological fraternity”.

Mentioning the assistance provided by the patriotic Armed Forces in aid of civil administration to run the country and facing natural calamities as well, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said they were also providing significant assistance currently in curbing crimes, corruption and terrorism as well as conducting relief and post disaster rehabilitation activities.

He said the Armed Forces are very cordial for providing all out cooperation to the Government to establish a real democracy in the country through holding a free, fair and credible election.

He appreciated the Armed Forces for their patriotic, professional and disciplined role.

The Chief Adviser described the 2008 as the most important year in the history of the nation and said, “We will make a transition to real democracy as per the roadmap towards fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people”.

Such spontaneous transition is rare in the world history, he said adding that his Government is going to make it happen as it believes that there is no alternative to democracy.

Terming the recent price hike of essentials including rice as unbearable for the people, he said, the Government has decided to import 10 lakh tonnes of rice officially on an emergency basis. He said, out of this, an agreement for importing three and half lakh tonnes of rice has already been signed.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said a high level delegation is now in Delhi to finalise the arrangement for the import of five lakh tonnes of rice and tender has already been floated for the import of two lakh tonnes of rice from Thailand. Besides, importing rice from Vietnam is being discussed, he added.

The Chief Adviser said the Government started selling rice in every town of the country under OMS (Open Market Sale) from January 9 last. Besides, BDR had started selling rice at its fair price shops in Dhaka well advance, he said adding that in the poverty stricken districts, where those live under below the poverty level, rice is being distributed for them through six lakh VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) cards from this month.

In the Sidr hit areas, rice is being distributed among the 26 lakh VGF card holders free of cost for four months since December.

Earlier, during the period between September-2007 and December-2007, a total of 58 lakh people were brought under VGF programme for the consecutive four months. Besides, necessary allocations have been made for the Food for Work Programme and Test Relief.

He said these programmes, particularly the introduction of OMS led to the fall in the price of rice.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed told the nation that all out measures are being taken to ensure highest production in the coming boro season.

He said the Government has taken to supply 28 lakh tonnes fertilizer with a target to boost production of Boro in the upcoming IRRI/Boro season to keep prices of essentials within the capacity of people.

He said the Government has taken steps to distribute fertilizers among the farmers timely at a fair price through 14,000 centres this year. The amount of fertilizers would be three times higher than that of the previous year.

He said the Government was providing huge subsidy to the farmers through fertilizer. The government spends Taka 31 to import one KG of Urea fertilizer and one kg fertilizer is being sold at a rate of Taka five and paisa 30 only, he added.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said the government has taken steps to distribute fertilizer among the farmers at a fair price and on time from 14 thousand centres this year, which is three times higher than the previous year.

Referring to the power supply for irrigation purpose, he said, the Government firmly determined to provide uninterrupted power supply during irrigation season with a view to substantial rise of Boro production in the coming season.

Stressing the importance of research in the agriculture sector, the Government for the first time has allocated Taka 350 crore in the budget, he said, adding “ We hope the research will make valuable contribution for long term agriculture development”. Listing different reform measurers undertaken by the government, he said, it has reconstituted the Election Commission to hold a free, fair and neutral election acceptable to all.

He said, as per the plan of the Election Commission (EC) the work for preparation of voters ID card with photographs are going on in full swing.

Apart from this, the Chief Adviser said the Government was also showing its sincerity for the institutional flourishment of the EC and on giving administrative freedom. In this regard a draft law is now at the final stage, he added.

Referring to the Separation of Judiciary from the Executives, he said, “After 36 years of existence of the independent state, we have separated judiciary from the executive from November 1 last as per the directive of the Constitution.

The day will remain as a milestone in the history of Bangladesh in establishing rule of law”.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said although our political parties in their election manifestoes had spoken about separation of judiciary time and again but they never implemented it after going to power.

DU Correspondent

The academic atmosphere of Dhaka University is deteriorating gradually as the release issue of the detained teachers and students who are in the prison for almost five months remained unresolved.

Students are observing different programmes including silent procession, human chain, class boycott and sit in everyday since January 8 reopening of the university and pledged to continue the protest programme until the detainees were released.

Putting black cloth in the face, students under the banner of 'students against repression’ took out a silent procession from the Aparajeyo Bangla to Curzon Hall after parading campus on 11:00am.

After the programme, another organisation in the name of “chhatra bandhu’ held same programme from Doyel chattar area demanding the release of the detainees.

Meanwhile, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP, met the Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz to press home for withdrawing the cases that was filed against the teachers and the students and to release them soon.

JCD cautioned the VC that the university’s environment would become unstable within a short time if the incarcerated teachers and the students were freed immediately.

Stressing on release of the students, JCD DU Unit senior vice president Mamunur Rahman said the release process of the detained teachers of Rajshahi University should not be applied in the case of DU detainees.

Prof SMA Faiz hoped the detainees would be freed soon as he was continuing negotiation with the government. He will meet Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed today.

Meanwhile, the VC met the President Prof Iajuddin and the Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed several times in this regard.

Admitting the academic loss, he said they would try to make up the losses happened due to unscheduled closure for about three-month.

The four teachers of the university were arrested on charge of fuelling the student unrest on August 20-22.

Later the eight students out of the 15 charge-sheeted ones were arrested.

The Dhaka University Teachers` Association (DUTA) tried to free their colleagues through the university authority at first.

Being failed, the Association placed different programmes that divided the teachers into two groups known as White Panel belonging to the BNP-Jamaat and Blue panel belonging to the Awami League-left leaning organisations.

One group wanted to free the detainees by agitation and another group wanted by legal process.

Staff Reporter

Senior leaders of different political parties, including the BNP and the Awami League, yesterday welcomed Chief Adviser Dr Fakruddin Ahmed’s address to the nation saying it would remove confusions and uncertainty created after the recent reshuffling of the Council of Advisers.

They said the holding dialogue with the political parties, as per his announcement, would bridge the gap between the politicians and the Government removing the uncertainty over holding the general elections as well.

However, they suggested the Government to announce specific dates for lifting the restrictions on indoor politics outside Dhaka and the state of emergency.

“We welcome the Chief Adviser’s announcement about holding talks with the parties. We were the first to demand it and the Government is a must to sit with political parties except the Jamaat-e-Islami,” said Acting President of Awami League (AL) Zillur Rahman.

“The Government should take steps immediately to regain confidence of the political parties and create an environment so that political parties can take part in the election,” he added.

BNP Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed expressed satisfaction at the CA’s speech, saying that the nation is assured about the elections this year to switch over to democracy.

He said it would have been good if the Chief Advisor had set a specific date for withdrawing restrictions on open politics and hoped the state of emergency would be phased out.

AL Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta also echoed same voice saying dialogue with political parties was the demand of the nation.

“The dialogue is essential. The Government responded to our demand,” he said.

Suranjit said the restrictions on indoor politics outside Dhaka should be removed immediately. A way of understanding must be worked out by reposing trust on political parties.

BNP Joint Secretary General Gayeswar Chandra Roy of the other faction of the immediate-past ruling party termed the dialogue offer as a positive development. He, however, observed that presence of the two detained former premiers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-would help make the talks effective.

Jatiya Party (Ershad) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader hailed the dialogue initiative and expressed the hope that the Government would do it. He also welcomed the Chief Adviser’s assurance of lifting the restrictions on indoor politics outside Dhaka.

Left leaning political parties, however, were more cautious and sceptic to hail the speech of Chief Adviser.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the Government realised the necessity of sitting with political parties, which is welcoming. The sooner the dialogue taken place is the better.

He suggested to creat an atmosphere conducive to dialogue by quickly lifting restrictions on indoor politics across the country, outside Dhaka, wherein he said 13 crore people live.

About lifting the state of emergency, he said since the Chief Adviser claimed that law-and-order situation is good, there is no necessity of keeping the emergency in force.

JSD President Hasanul Huq Inu said the decision to sit with political parties by shirking the 'go-alone policy’ was a welcome development. It would have been realistic and trustworthy if the Chief Adviser had announced specific dates for lifting the state of emergency and ban on open politics.

The JSD leader said it was unfortunate that the Chief Adviser sidetracked the question of resolving problems of Dhaka University teachers and students.

“It appeared mysterious to keep silent on issues of militancy and war criminals,” he further observed.

CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said the Chief Adviser should be more frank to admit its shortcomings. The delay in holding talks with political parties has become detrimental to the nation. Government should open dialogue since its initiation.

But, now the dialogue should not be used as an excuse for delaying the national election and stick to power.

The Government should go ahead to its main agenda of arranging an election free from black money and muscle power.

Gono Forum Presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya said, “We have got trust and confidence through the Chief Adviser’s speech. We don’t find any reason for doubt about the elections. We hope all misgivings will come to an end.”

He said the Government decision on dialogue would make an important contribution to uniting the nation.

Staff Reporter

Secretaries general of both the factions of BNP-Khondoker Delwar Hossain and Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed yesterday echoed that both the Awami League and BNP were equally responsible for 1/11 change over.

Pro-Khaleda leader Khondoker Delwar Hossain said 1/11 was not inevitable; rather it was created under a priorplan to obstruct democracy. On the other hand, reformists’ leader Hafiz Uddin Ahmed termed it as a milestone in the national history and said the reforms would bring qualitative changes to the political arena.

Both the leaders were addressing separate press conference at their Sangsad Bhaban NAM flat and Banani home respectively.

Khondoker Delwar Hossain, who was nominated Secretary General of BNP by its detained Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, placed a seven-point charter of demands, immediate unconditional release of Begum Zia and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina for restoration of an environment for election.

”Free and fair election is not possible without two leaders-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. We want free and fair elections and to ensure it all the arrested leaders and workers must be freed,” he said

Delwar said any staged managed election would not be acceptable to the people at home and abroad.

The other demands made by Delwar include immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency, a stop to filing of cases against politicians for what he said was meant to harass them, allowing outdoor politics, withdrawal of cases against political detainees including Khaleda and release of the arrested DU teachers and students.

Hafizuddin Ahmed, who was nominated, acting secretary general of BNP by its standing committee members, also placed a five-point recommendations.

In his five-point recommendations, he urged the government to create investment-friendly environment, shore up eroding confidence of businesses, take quick steps to boost the economy, build up food security and take steps to increase foreign currency earnings.

Khandaker Delwar Hossain termed the government un-elected one and said it could not stay in power for years together as per the Constitution.

He apprehended that the present food deficit might lead to a food crisis in the country.

Evaluating the one-year rule of the government, he said though one year has elapsed, election could not be held and people’s rights were curbed, which is tantamount to violation of human rights.

He called upon the government to hold political dialogue saying that political issues must be resolved politically.

The President was forced to impose the state of emergency as Awami League and its allies had staged a rein of terror through 'logi, baitha’ in the name of movement before January 10, he alleged.

He said leaders of BNP have been repressed most in the last one-year and machination is still on to mutilate BNP.

Besides, he said, motivated cases were filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and others to disqualify them from contesting elections.

He also alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has failed to prove its neutrality by inviting what he said the 'illegal committee’ to dialogue and handing over to them the key of the party central office.

Delwar demanded holding the election before the EC deadline and hand over power to elected representatives in the interest of the nation.

Meanwhile, Hafizuddin Ahmed sought the vote in line with the roadmap.

The BNP leader refuted acting AL president Zillur Rahman's allegation made at a press briefing on Friday that BNP was responsible for the Jan 11 changeover.

He said the caretaker government has both successes and failures to its credit, but success stories are more than that of failures.

Hafiz said the prime task of the incumbent government is to hold a fair election after the completion of electoral roll.

He said the government-political party dialogue would help contribute to holding credible elections.

Staff Reporter

Transport experts and environmentalists at a roundtable in the city urged the Government to provide adequate facilities for pedestrians including improving conditions of footpaths and earmarking frequent street-level crossings.

They also urged the Government to improve conditions of public transit and fuel-free transport like bicycles and rickshaws and to introduce separate bus lanes and other priority measures for existing public transit.

Introducing a knowledge-based and participatory transport planning process involving all stakeholders including the most deprived section of the society could help to strengthen Strategic Transport Plan (STP) and a positive transport plan for Dhaka city.

This was urged at the roundtable on 'Environment-friendly, fuel-efficient and pro-people transportation system: Situation in Dhaka’ organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) was held at the National Press Club yesterday.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, President of BAPA, presided over the roundtable, while Dr Mahabubul Bari, Senior Assistant Manager of Transport for London in UK, presented a keynote paper.

The speakers said the government is now planning to build an underground metro. Although this is positive in the sense of recognising the importance of public transit, metro is an extremely expensive and demanding system, requiring enormous amounts of money to build and operate and a large and steady supply of electricity.

The plan of building metro in the STP to allocate over 63 per cent resources to metro, on the assumption that eight per cent of trips will occur by that mode, represents an enormous inequity. It is difficult to imagine the justification for spending the majority of the money on a mode that will account for less than 10 per cent of all trips, they said.

The idea that the metro budget can be reduced drastically is more likely motivated by politics than by economic realities. Such projects often vastly exceed the anticipated budget and insufficient funding will guarantee a system that will be of little use to anyone, the keynote paper said.

They urged the Government to ensure high quality rail service for inter-city travel, including maintaining Kamalapur Rail Station in its existing location and expanding rail networks and develop improved rickshaws that are more comfortable for passengers and easier on the pullers and provide licenses for all mechanically fit rickshaws, they said.

They also urged the government to reduce fuel use by providing government officials with staff bus services, reduce parking spaces inside government office premises and provide economic incentives for those who walk or cycle to work and develop a hierarchical transport model suite for the greater Dhaka Metropolitan Area for evolution of different land use and transport development options.

Road-based public transit, be it tram or bus rapid transit, would cost a fraction of metro to build and operate, and thus for the same budget, could cover far more of the city and operate with lower fares and subsidies, benefiting more of the population, the speakers said.

Reuters, Jakarta

As Indonesia’s former President Suharto lay critically ill in hospital on Saturday, the military and police rushed to prepare the Suharto family’s mausoleum in central Java for his burial.

The 86-year-old Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for more than three decades, suffered multiple organ failure on Friday and was put on a ventilator to help him breathe. On Saturday, doctors said his condition had improved and that he showed a response.

But at the Suharto family’s mausoleum, 35 km (21 mile) northeast of the Javanese royal city of Solo, soldiers and military police guarded the complex as workmen unloaded tents and an excavator was brought in to prepare Suharto’s grave.

Reporters in Solo were issued with press IDs saying “Press - Funeral of Grand General (Retired) H.M. Soeharto.”

“We are anticipating all possibilities. It is part of the police job,” said Dodi Sumantyawan, the central Java police chief, after surveying the Suharto family mausoleum.

The Giribangun mausoleum, a three-tiered building with wooden pillars and a stupa-like roof, is perched on a hilltop and surrounded by trees.

Suharto’s wife Tien, who was a member of the Solo royal family, is buried there in a chamber with walls of intricately carved wood.

A few visitors stopped by at the mausoleum.

Sumiarsih, who traveled from the neighboring district of Sragen with her son and husband to pay homage at Tien’s grave, said she prayed for Suharto’s recovery.

“He’s done a great service to the nation and we hope he can be well again,” she said.

With the former strongman in a critical condition, the question of whether to continue legal proceedings against him for corruption is being vigorously debated by politicians and members of the public.

In an apparent attempt to defuse the debate and avoid openly criticizing Suharto, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told a news conference on Saturday afternoon that this was not an appropriate time to discuss the legal case against Suharto.

“I’m still of the opinion that it’s not right to talk about it given the current health condition of Pak Harto,” the president said, referring to Suharto by his popular name.

“Pak Harto was a leader of this nation. His contributions to this nation are not small. As a human being, however, like other people, Pak Harto has weaknesses and mistakes.”

Critics say Suharto and his family amassed as much as $45 billion in kickbacks or deals where political influence was a key to who won a contract, charges he and his family denied.

After he quit office, Suharto was charged with embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars of state funds, but the government later dropped the case due to his poor health.

Last year, state prosecutors filed a civil suit seeking a total of $440 million of state funds and a further $1 billion in damages for the alleged misuse of money held by one of Suharto’s charitable foundations.

The sudden deterioration in Suharto’s health last weekend prompted some politicians to call for legal proceedings against him to be dropped.

However, the attorney-general, who visited the ailing Suharto and his family in hospital overnight, told reporters that the government would still seek an out-of-court settlement in a graft case against the former general.

“The President gave instructions to me to pursue the family of Suharto to finalize an out-of-court settlement of the civil case,” Attorney-General Hendarman Supandji told reporters at the hospital.

Staff Reporter

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday came down heavily on nationalised banks for failing to be more competitive against the private sector ones despite enjoying different government facilities.

“You are losing in the competition---you are lagging behind although you have got all the government facilities,” the Adviser said addressing the inaugural session of the Zonal Head’s Conference of the Agrani Bank Ltd at a city hotel.

Agrani Bank Board of Directors Chairman Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury presided over the inaugural session where Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and Finance Secretary Dr Mohammad Tareq were special guests.

The Adviser expressed his dissatisfaction over the slow rate of depository numbers with the Agrani Bank Ltd.

Dr Aziz also took a swipe at the private banks for their higher interest rates to the borrowers. “You are giving a lower interest rates to the depositors but taking pretty higher interest rates from the borrowers,” he said.

The Adviser stressed development of professional competence of NCB officials to mark a major role in the banking sector of the country.

Asking for making banking a service oriented sector Dr Aziz said, “You have to keep in mind that your major task is to give service to the customers.”

He asked the bankers not to harass the bank clients for transacting over Tk 7 lakh-the ceiling for free transaction without question. “Bangladesh Bank asked you to send the report to them; you must not harass the customer saying that what you (customer) will do with this money or from where you got the money. This is not your job,” the Adviser said.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed asked the Agrani Bank officials to give more attention to the big loan defaulters rather than giving attention to the certificate cases, mainly against the poor farmers.

“From more than 25,000 certificate cases you will get only Tk 25 crore, but from a few cases pending with the Aurtho Rin Adalat you can get huge amount of defaulted money. You have to take the bull by the horns, not by the tail,” he said.

But, he said, the bank officials must not forget to pursue the certificate cases. “Be cautious that your move must not create harassment for the poor farmers,” said the banking- sector boss.

Dr Salehuddin alleged that the classified loan of Agrani Bank is now over 26 per cent and asked the bank officials to put down this rate as soon as possible.