The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting urged the government to ensure minimum wages to the garment workers and demanded rationing system for the food security of the workers.

Speakers also urged for a national initiative to face the food crisis. They told this at a discussion on 'Ensure Minimum Wage, Introduce Rationing System to Face Price Hike' organised by Karmajibi Nari, a women workers' organisation in the city yesterday.President of the organisation Shirin Akter presided over the meeting participated by garment workers representatives.

Shirin Akter said the workers were the main fuel of the economy now for their survival a minimum wage was needed.

She urged the government to take initiatives to bring the prices of the essentials down and start rationing system for the workers so that they do not have to worry for food.

General Secretary of Karmajibi Nari Sharmin Kabir, Director Mahmuda Imam, Convenor Arifa Akter Anu and Kazi Siddiqur Rahman, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday approved filing of charge sheet against three persons, including two former lawmakers, for amassing wealth beyond known source of income.

ACC Director General Col Hanif Iqbal said this while briefing journalists at commission office yesterday.

He said the ACC approved filing of change sheet against former BNP lawmaker Md Helaluzzaman Talukder and his wife Shamsun Nahar for earning Tk 43.65 lakh beyond the known source of income.

Hanif Iqbal said the Commission also approved for filing another charge sheet against former BNP MP Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, who was also the Chairman of BRTC, for taking bribe of Tk 25 lakh.

He said the Commission yesterday decided to issue a notice to former BNP lawmaker Md Ilias Ali to submit his wealth statement.

The ACC official said the Commission decided to hold a meeting of anti-corruption resistance committees of 38 upazilas under Sylhet, Moulvibzar, Sunamganj and Habiganj districts on January 22.

He expected that a total of 250 representatives from different committees would participate in the meeting.

UNB, Dhaka

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain alleged a conspiracy is going on to hold a "mock election" keeping the national leaders, including Begum Khaleda Zia, in captivity.

" But the conscious people of the country will not accept it," he said when a delegation of student leaders of the 80s, led by BNP central executive committee member and former student leader Khandaker Babul Chowdhury, called on him at his residence Monday.

He observed that as BNP faced crisis after the promulgation of martial law in 1982 so is it also facing crisis now after January 11, 2007.

"BNP leaders and activists have been passing through bad times as of the years in the 80s," said the leader of the immediate-past ruling party, which has now split over the issue of party reforms, being pressed by the interim regime.

Chittagong Correspondent

The construction work of Rangamati-Kaptai road is going on in full swing and it will complete within 2009, said Ashish Kumar Paul, Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

A total of 50 per cent work of the road started from Ashambosti, a residential area under Rangamati pourashava, has been completed so far on an average, he said.

While asked Subash Tangchangya, a villager of Mitinggachhari area, a place beside the road, about the road he said, "The road would put a very positive impact in our life."

"We will experience advantage not only in plying but also carrying our products for selling in the market," said Subash, a local timber trader.

"If the Army had overseen the construction work of the road, it would be of a better quality," he said.

Villagers spontaneously donated lands for the 24-feet wide road costing Tk 21.51 crore, 24 per cent of which was funded by the Government and the rest by Asian Development Bank (ADB), said Ashish Paul and added the authorities divided the total work of the road into 20 schemes in order to finish rapidly considering to establish smooth communication for the people.

Of the 20 schemes, two have been completed cent percent costing Tk 144.68 lakh, he added.

The newly under construction road not only will add to boost in tourism area but also cut the existing road distance into half Rangamati and Kaptai and people can communicate using the new road with lower cost, said the LGED Executive Engineer.

The length of the existing road that leads to Kaptai upazila from Rangamati town through Ghagra area under Kawkhali upazila is 48 kilometres.

After inauguration work of the road in the 2004-05 fiscal year, the value of land beside the road began to increase gradually, said locals at Ashambosti, Tangchangya Para and Mitingachhari.

"We can create different job opportunities centring the road to boost our economic condition," they hoped.

Staff Reporter

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) yesterday started its illegal structure demolition drive at city's Gulshan area where it had recovered a seven Katha land from Unique Group and asked residents of a six-storied building to leave their home as it was the land of the RAJUK.

The RAJUK would launch further drive in January 23 for land recovery and evicting illegal establishments.

Magistrate of the RAJUK Emdadul Dastagir along with 50 policemen launched the drive yesterday noon.

The RAJUK evicted Unique Group from a seven-Katha land beside Hotel Westin at Road No 35 of Gulshan-2, as they could not show any documents claiming their ownership.

The land was handed over to a development organisation Sanmar, who claim the ownership of the land. During the eviction huge construction materials and about hundred construction workers were present.

Police have been deployed to guard the land and avoid any untoward situation.

In another operation, the RAJUK has asked five families to leave a six-storied building tomorrow at Road No 29 though the families have bought flats from one Mega Builders Group representative of which could not be found during the operation.

It was alleged that the Mega Builders could make some way to build the building and sell flats hobnobbing with RAJUK officials during the BNP-Jamaat regime.

The five families who were asked to leave are in a fix as they had paid for the flats to the Mega Builders and now could not claim the ownership of the flats.

Staff Reporter

Cautiousness and bitter trade experiences from Jamuna Petroleum kept investors away from the shares of Meghna Petroleum Ltd on its first trading day, which has confined the state owned share price within Tk 350 per share maximum.

Investors showed their watchfulness in buying the new share on its opening day. Unlike the Jamuna Petroleum share opening, buying spree was absent in the new script, said a buyer at the end of trading day.

"Besides that, there were very few shares available in the market. The company and its representative released the share at the eleventh hour of trading," said an unhappy buyer to The New Nation.

Total 15,700 shares, worth Tk 49.31 lacs were traded on the first trading day. Opening at Tk 350 per share, the script failed to reach the green territory ever and closed at Tk 300 per share.

"I couldn't buy the new shares of Meghna Oil today for their unavailability. But considering myself lucky as it lost Tk 50 per share in the very first trading," said an investor with humor. Market investors, however, condemned the authority for keeping the shares unavailable in the market. "Its unavailability actually plunged their price in the market today. It was a violating of SEC rules as well, said a market expert.

Talking to The New Nation, CEO-DSE Salahuddin Ahmed Khan said, his office is monitoring the market movements of the both two new entries. Regarding the deliberate share unavailability of Meghna Oil he said, "We have informed the SEC to investigate the matter and to take necessary steps."

The shares of another state owned petroleum script showed disappoint traded yesterday. According to the DSE market closure notification, shares of Jamuna Petroleum closed at Tk 449 per share. It witnessed its highest gain at Tk 952 per share last week, which kept trickling down in every trading session.

Market indicates more fall in this script, might reach Tk 200 per share, said an expert. The script touched Tk 295 per share yesterday as the lowest price.

If the share price of Jamuna oil continues trading in such depression, it is likely to influence the new comer Meghna Petroleum as well, said experts.

Experts suggested avoiding major buying in both the script.

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Monday said Bangladesh firmly believes that SAARC and regional cooperation and sharing of resources among the member countries can help remove poverty from this region.

He said the majority of the people living below the poverty line are in South Asian region.

The Chief Adviser made the remarks when outgoing Secretary General of SAARC Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji made a farewell call on him at his office. Dorji said Bangladesh has been playing a major role in promoting the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and said the 13th and 14th SAARC Summits took major decisions which were the turning points of the forum in terms of time-bound and result-oriented decisions and events.

The 13th summit was held in Dhaka while the 14th in New Delhi in April last.

Expressing gratitude to Bangladesh government's support in discharging his duties, the SAARC secretary general said most of his tenure was during the period of Bangladesh's SAARC Chairmanship.

Dorji said Bangladesh has successfully hosted three SAARC Summits since its inception. "Bangladesh is the only country which carried out most of the SAARC activities, including holding of 14 ministerial meetings out of about 42 meetings, which demonstrates the country's commitment to the regional forum."

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin who attended the 14th SAARC Summit said the 14th summit has focused on addressing four major areas-water, power, energy and climate change.

He appreciated the contribution of Chenkyab Dorjii as SAARC secretary general and termed his tenure as successful and productive, according to CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim who was present at the meeting.

Referring to the progress of the forum, Dorji informed that Mauritius and Australia have applied for being SAARC observers.

He also said the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank and Japan have shown interest in funding SAARC.

The SG said SAARC Secretariat has taken initiatives for an orientation programme to make new SAARC members like Afghanistan familiarise with the SAARC process.

He said SAARC observer countries Japan, China and South Korea also want to participate in the forum's activities.

The CA said he had noticed in the last SAARC Summit that the observer countries showed a lot of interest to participate in the forum's activities.

Staff Reporter

The President of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) urged the government to take immediate initiatives to control the rapid price spiral of building construction materials, particularly of steel rods.

Price of this major construction material witnessed over 12 percent rise within a week. Similar condition is prevailing with other materials, which is significantly escalating construction cost and putting the construction companies out of business, said REHAB President Mukarram Husain Khan.

"Still rods were sold at Tk 52,000 per ton just a week ago. Today its price is over Tk 60,000 for the same amount. We can't overcharge our clients as they have signed agreements before two years from the handing over date," he explained.

This reckless price hike is threatening the existence of many construction firms in the country. If action is not taken immediately, the sector, where the maximum number of unskilled labours are employed, will be unemployed soon, he added.

As controlling the price hike of rice is essential for the government, it should also be the same for the construction materials. Because both the food and shelter are basic needs for every citizen, said REHAB President.

He suggested relaxing production and import taxes to ease the price in local market.

He was addressing a press conference yesterday to formally announce the date of REHAB Fair Chittagong-2008 at the National Press Club in the capital. The three-day long fair has been scheduled to start from January 17, 2008 at the Engineers Institutions, Chittagong.

He also asked the Government to provide house finance to middle-income people with easier installment policy and longer period to pay back the loans. "As governments of many developed countries give house finance loans with 20 to 25 years period, Bangladesh government also should follow their policies to secure shelters for every Bangladeshi," he emphasised.

He however asked the Government to reduce installment rate from 12 percent to 10 per cent in its existing house finance scheme for the citizens of Dhaka.

Echoing REHAB President, General Secretary Eng Tanveerul Haque Probal pointed some other problems related to construction business in present, including the revised building code and One Stop Solution policy of Bangladesh Government.

One Step Solution strategy, which was initiated by the present government in order to solve all kinds of formalities in acquiring design approval, is not working as effectively as expected, said the REHAB Secretary General.

According to him, almost every design approval is crossing the maximum fixed duration, 45 days. And in case of a project design over 10 floors, you should not expect any approval as they are rarely approved, he added.

"It is a failure of RAJUK, the Government office, entitled for this job. And Government needs to look into the matter immediately," added by REHAB Secretary General.

However, total 45 stalls have confirmed to set their stalls in the second REHAB fair in Chittagong. Three construction companies, KEARI Limited, Navana Real Estate Limited and Rangs Properties Limited are co-sponsoring the fair, as announced.

BSS, Dhaka

Several centuries ago Portuguese, Harmad and Mog pirates used to raid many places of Bangladesh to capture young girls and sell them to various parts of the world. One does not require explaining what would happen to their life.

In contemporary Bangla-desh, it is not the foreign pirates but the local traffickers are taking away poor young girls, widows or abandoned women and poverty stricken children to India, Pakistan and other countries of the Middle East on the promise of providing jobs and smuggling them.

They are large in number. The number of such unfortunate women and children stands at around 10,000 annually. Over the last 30 years, a large number of women and children were smuggled out to India and Pakistan.

These unfortunate human beings agreed to make way abroad either knowingly or not aware of the consequences due to frustration and long suffering from poverty.

Sources at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police said since Bangladesh is largely free from HIV/AIDS, so its women have more demand abroad.

Statistics show the country has total 4,222 kilometres of border and the number of women smuggled out from 1997 to 2002 was 566. More than 2,000 women are being smuggled out annually to the Middle East under the cover of tourist visas. Statistics provided by some non-government organisations (NGOs) said about 200 women are smuggled out of the country per month.

John Davis, technical adviser, of a project titled 'development of children and protecting child trafficking' under the ministry of women and children affairs in his report said although human trafficking has significantly declined in the Middle-Western Europe and the Commonwealth countries, the trafficking scenario in the South Asian countries still remains at a dangerous level.

This region witnesses the trafficking of about 1.5 lakh women and children every year. A section of human faced animals target these helpless people taking advantage of their poverty and ignorance. They are not hesitating to throw these unfortunate people to darkness of life in exchange of some money that they get for it.

Zaida is a victim of such treachery. She is 22. She was waiting over long time to find a better remunerative job to overcome the curse of poverty that her family was through. She almost became frustrated from long waiting. In such situation, a women of Zaida's village, Kamela Khatoon lured her to go to Dhaka where she said Zaida will get a better remunerative job.

Zaida did not think of its far reaching consequences and readily agreed. She did not know Kamela was involved in a group engaged in trafficking of women and children. But she was lucky during their smuggling, Zaida and Kamela were nabbed by the police along with some others.

Infant Mamun, young boy Ripon, Babu and Pervez spent almost eight years of inhuman life as 'camel jockeys' at Dubai in the Middle East. The police arrested two women and a man there as part of an international trafficking gang and recovered five persons from their custody, including a women.

Mamun, who is one of the recovered victims said, eight years ago when he was playing in the street, some traffickers lured him to eat cake with them and took him their captive. This is how they use different tactics to lure women and children to end up them in smuggling.

In Bangladesh, the main reason behind women and child trafficking is poverty. They collect women promising them with good working opportunities at home and abroad. They are then put to sex business under the guise of employment.

Bangladesh has enacted a new law in 1995 titled 'Prevention of Torturing of Women and Children Special Act' to stop the trafficking of women and children. It not only provides for speedy trial of traffickers and also their punishment up to life long imprisonment.

Concerned sources at the ministry of home affairs said the government has strengthened the watch on women and child trafficking at all airports and land ports. The home ministry has also set up a special monitoring cell and a task force.

BBC Online

Princess Diana's former butler has told the inquest into her death he had not been given the impression that Dodi Al Fayed was "the one".

Paul Burrell worked for Diana for more than 10 years. He described Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed as "a very new friendship which developed into something more". He also said that he "connected all the princess's friends and all her world" and was "at the hub of the wheel, everybody was at the spokes".

He told the High Court in London that he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Al Fayed's yacht at the end of July 1997.

Instead he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked. Diana had taken a holiday on Mohamed al Fayed's yacht the Jonikal with her sons, Princes William and Harry.

When asked by Ian Burnett QC, representing the inquest, about the early nature of the relationship, Burnell replied: "It was very fresh, new and exciting."

Burnett also asked: "By that stage had you any sense from the Princess thatt to use a hackneyed phrase that has appeared in so many media reports, Dodi was 'the one'?" Burrell replied: "No, I didn't have that impression.

"I certainly don't think the romance started on the first holiday. I think that would have been inappropriate with William and Harry being in attendance."