The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bijoy TV scam: HC stays proceedings against CCC Mayor

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court on Thursday stayed further proceedings of the Bijoy TV scam case against detained Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and its chief executive officer.

The case is now pending with the Chittagong Divisional Special Judge' s Court.

Bijoy TV went on air on December 16, 2006. Later the government stopped its operation after smelling rat in it.

Passing the interim order of stay following a petition, a division bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice MA Hye, issued a rule upon the deputy commissioner of Chittagong to explain why the case against Mohiuddin and CCC chief executive officer Imtiaz Hossain Chowdhury should not be quashed.

On May 27 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case. Later on November 22 submitted the chargesheet against Mayor Mohiuddin, chief engineer Mokhter Alam and CEO Imtiaz Hossain for launching the private channel without prior permission of the government.

Dr Kamal Hossain appeared for the petitioners.

Contribution of Salim-Al-Deen recalled

JU Correspondent

Speakers at a condolence meeting yesterday said that noted playwright Prof Selim-Al-Deen was pride of Bangladesh and his sadden demise is an irreparable loss to the nation.

Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association (JUTA) organised the function at the central auditorium of the University.

JUTA president Prof Ajit Kumar said, "Departure of the great playwright of the post-Tagore era of Bangla drama left a vacuum, which is not likely to be filled soon".

He called upon the colleagues of late Prof Salim to carry on his unfinished tasks for the greater interest of the nation.

JUTA general secretary Prof Mahbub Kabir presided over the meeting, which was addressed, among others, by Prof Sayeed Kamrul Ahsan, Prof Shamsul Alam Salim, Prof Amin Mohammed Ali and Prof Salimullah.

Later they arranged a milad mahfil at the playground of JU School and College after Asr prayer to pray for eternal peace for the departed soul.

JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Khandaker Mustahidur Rahman and Pro-VC Prof Moniruzzaman attended it.

3-day Ctg REHAB fair begins: Housing projects for low and middle-income groups urged

Chittagong Correspondent

Chairman of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Shah Mohammad Akhteruddin said here yesterday that the real estate people and the developers should take up housing projects for addressing the fast growing accommodation crisis in the urban areas.

Praising the role of developers in the recent decade he said that the REHAB had done excellent job in addressing the housing problem though mostly aimed at the wealthier section. He called upon the developers to take up projects focusing the low and middle-income people.

He pledged all possible support from the CDA to the future housing and apartment projects if dedicated for the fixed income people.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day second REHAB fair as the chief guest at the premises of Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong.

Chairman of the IEB here in Chittagong Engineer M Ali Ashraf addressed the inaugural ceremony as the special guest while President of the REHAB (Real Estate Housing Association Bangladesh) Mokaram Hossain Khan presided over it. Convener of the fair Kazi Aynul Haq, Chairman of the fair standing committee architect Sayed Sirajul Haq and General Secretary of the REHAB Engineer Tanvirul Haq Probal addressed it among others.

He informed that an amended building code, which is totally different from RAJUK, had already been sent to Dhaka for approval and it would help reshaping the port city in a planned way.

Chairman of the IEB in Chittagong Engineer M Ali Ashraf quoting recent census said that there had been .7 million families in the city.

Nearly 130 thousand apartments and 13 thousand plots were needed to address the demand of the population in 2001.

He suggested the promoters to lease out apartments to the people mainly depended on rented house at the monthly turn over of their house rent.

The REHAB bigwigs demanded a comprehensive policy for the housing projects in Chittagong what would safeguard the port city's natural beauty and environment.

Co-sponsored by Keary Ltd, Navana Real Estate Ltd and Rangs Properties Ltd, the fair accommodates 45 stalls including a number of commercial banks.

JB’s big loan recovery rate up 162.82 pc

Staff Reporter

Janata Bank Ltd, the second largest commercial bank of the country, has been flourishing in all respect after its corporatisation. The recovery of big loans of the bank increased by 162.82 per cent last year. The bank achieved progress in different indicators during the last calendar year that ended in December.

Proper strategic planning of the board of directors of the bank helped it to develop in all respect, officials of the bank said.

Profit of the bank increased by Tk 120 crore ( 28.36 per cent) comparing previous year. The bank profited Tk 541 crore last year which was Tk 321 crore in the previous year (2006), its annual report says.

The amount of deposit stood at Tk 19654.80 crore with an increase of Tk 1516 .04 crore in the single year. The rate of growth here is Tk 8.36 year comparing the previous year.

The banks export business grew by 8.36 per cent (Tk 99.07 crore). The bank provided Tk 7188.73 crore export support to the businessmen.

The fees, commission and exchange earnings in total reached Tk 341.26 crore, which is an increase by 14.59 per cent. With Tk 752.07 crore increase, foreign remittance earning by the bank reached to Tk 3678.80 crore. The rate of growth in this field is 25.70 per cent. The recovery amount of the bank stood at 379 crore against the targeted amount of Tk 512 crore. According an MoU of Bangladesh Bank the targeted amount of recovery was Tk 27 crore fro, its top 20 borrowers.

The recovery position against this target was 43.96 crore which is an increase by 162.82 per cent. Board of directors quick decision-making, effective working plan, speedy disposal of business decisions and utmost efforts of its officers and employees is being attributed to this success.

Janata Bank has an authorized capital of US$ 145.45 million, paid up capital of US$ 47.16 million and reserve of US$ 6.67 million. The Bank has a total asset of US$ 1886.50 million. Immediately after the emergence of Bangladesh in 1971, the erstwhile United Bank Limited and Union Bank Limited were nationalized and renamed as Janata Bank.

Janata Bank operates through 847 branches including 4 overseas branches at United Arab Emirates. It is linked with 1221 foreign correspondents all over the world. The Bank employs more than sixteen thousand persons.

The mission of the bank is to actively participate in the socio- economic development of the nation by operating a commercially sound banking organization, providing credit to viable borrowers, efficiently delivered and competitively priced, simultaneously protecting depositors funds and providing a satisfactory return on equity to the owners.

The Board of Directors is composed of 7 (seven) members headed by a Chairman. The Directors are representatives from both public and private sectors. The Bank is headed by the Managing Director (Chief Executive), who is a reputed banker.

Hillary wins Michigan, closes gap in South Carolina McCain holds steady lead

Agencies

A win is a win is a win, but what if the victory is over nothing? Or, in the case of New York Senator Hillary Clinton's walkover in the Michigan primary Tuesday night, no one?

As punishment to the state for moving up the date of its primary, the Democratic National Committee had stripped Michigan of its delegates, and the other major Democratic presidential candidates, Senator Barack Obama and former Senator John Edwards, had taken themselves off the ballot. But Clinton remained in the race and managed to grab 55 percent of the vote, putting her more than 50 points ahead of the next-closest named competitor, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who earned 4 percent.

But a potentially troubling result for Clinton is that 40 percent of Michigan voters (236,723 in total) opted to declare themselves "uncommitted," many in protest of the DNC's decision to withhold the delegates. Even worse, in a number of precincts, Clinton was actually beaten by the uncommitted vote, in some cases by as much as 5 percentage points.

Over the past few days, Hillary Clinton has closed the gap in South Carolina's Presidential Primary and pulled to within five points of Barack Obama. Last week, Obama was leading by twelve.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in South Carolina shows Obama earning 38% of the vote, Clinton attracting 33%, and John Edwards at 17%.

While Obama's lead has slipped, his support is more solid than Clinton's at this point in time. Eighty-two percent (82%) of Obama supporters say they are "certain" they will vote for him on January 26. Just 67% of Clinton voters are that "certain" along with 65% of those currently supporting Edwards.

Among white voters, Clinton leads Obama 40% to 21% with John Edwards picking up 31% of the vote. Among African-American voters, Obama leads Clinton by 23 percentage points. This racial divide is also found in national polling.

Clinton leads Obama by three points among women in South Carolina but trails by sixteen among men.

In December, Obama and Clinton were tied in South Carolina at 33%. In November, Clinton had a ten-point advantage.

Eighty percent (80%) have a favorable opinion of Clinton, 77% say the same about Obama, Clinton, and 74% offer a positive assessment of Edwards.

Among African-American voters, 86% have a favorable opinion of Obama while 82% say the same about Clinton. At the same time, 78% of white voters offer a favorable assessment of Clinton. Just 66% of white voters say the same about Obama. In South Carolina, roughly half of the Democratic voters are expected to be African-American.

Among those who currently plan to vote for John Edwards, 68% have a favorable opinion of Clinton while 56% say the same about Obama.

On the Republican side of the aisle, John McCain received a significant bounce from his victory in New Hampshire and now holds a narrow lead in South Carolina's GOP Primary.

Rasmussen Markets data suggests that Barack Obama is currently favored to win in South Carolina. Current prices imply that Obama has a 79.4 % chance of winning while Clinton has a 22.5 % chance. Numbers in this paragraph reflect results from a prediction market, not a poll. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, RasmussenMarkets.com harnesses competitive passions to becomes a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events.

We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets. It costs nothing to join and add your voice to the collective wisdom of the market.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

Women development policy soon: CA

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday hoped that the government will be able to announce a women's development policy soon.

The policy will reflect the ideals of equality in light of the Constitution, UN charter on abolition of all discriminations to women and the Beijing work plan, he added.

He said the government has meanwhile almost finalised formation of "Citizenship Act" with a view to ensuring equal rights of all citizen of the country.

Dr Fakhruddin said this while inaugurating the three-day 11th national conference of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center here.

Advisers, special assistants, dignitaries and women leaders were present on the occasion. The theme of the conference was "Equality Needs Equal Opportunity."

With BMP President Hena Das in the chair, the function was addressed, by Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh Ingebjorg Stof-ring, BMP general secretary Ayesha Khanam, Selina Khalid and Moududa Begum.

The meeting expressed condolence at the death of eminent persons at home and abroad in recent years.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said the government is considering various recommendations on women development made by BMP. The government is implementing multi-sectoral programmes for women development, he said and added a modern DNA laboratory has been set up in Dhaka to detect women oppressors, he added. Dr Fakhruddin said different initiatives have been taken to increase participation of women in policy making at various levels of civil and military administration.

The Chief Adviser laid emphasis on social awareness and positive values in flourishing the capability of women and called upon all to build social movement side by side with legal process to reduce gender discrimination and resist domestic torture.

Dr Fakhruddin said an overall reform is necessary in the political and socio-economic culture and election process for ensuring equal participation of women in governing the state which would help ensure women empowerment as well.

He firmly hoped that the dream of women awakening of Begum Rokeya, pioneer of women movement in the sub-continent, will take a complete shape in her motherland soon.

Dr Fakhruddin thanked the BMP formed under the leadership of Poet Sufia Kamal, a successor of Begum Rokeya, for playing a positive role during the last 37 years in realizing women's right.

Quoting eminent scholar and academic Dr Muhammad Shahidullah, the Chief Adviser said women and men are associates to each other in the struggle of life and achieving its goals.

He said the presence of women in various working life including risky professions is now visible. The women are the main contributor in the export sector and the micro-credit sector, he added.

Despite the fact, women become victims of discrimination at various stages of national life every day, he said and added it is painful but true that due to dominance of patriarchal mentality, equal rights for men and women are not reflected in reality, although it is in the Constitution.

No change in fine rice price: Coarse rice still dearer for poor people

Staff Reporter

In spite of Government's efforts to bring down the price of rice, people are yet to see any change of outlay of the staple food.

"I am very much upset over the price of rice. There is no change in the price of fine rice," said Shahjahan Sipon, a frustrated lower middle class citizen who is concerned over the price rise of the food grain.

The government introduced open market sale (OMS) of coarse rice at subsidised rates from January 9 to ease pressure on lower income people and also to help bring down price of fine rice.

However, the scheme appeared not to be working because there is no change in the fine rice prices and per kilogram of Nazir and Miniket is selling at Tk 10 higher than the price of one-month back.

Price of per kg of coarse rice fall by up to Tk 5 in the recent days, now selling at Tk 30 but fine rice like Nazir and Miniket is selling now at Tk 43 per kg which was sold at Tk 33 one month back.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) said price of per kg of fine rice rose by 13.70 per cent over the month while coarse rice price up by 19.30 per cent.

The two rounds of heavy monsoon floods, followed by Cyclone Sidr, which devastated paddy fields in 11 of the country's 64 districts last year, has exacerbated the food shortage.

The profit-mongering tendency by the dishonest businessmen fuelled the price list.

The government is running OMS programme through 2,000 dealers nationwide for which 25,000 metric tonnes of coarse rice were allocated. Chief Controller of food ANM Shafiul Alam said the OMS programme may continue until April.

Retailers at Badamtali, Karwan Bazar and Mohammadpur Krishi markets - three major wholesale rice markets in Dhaka, which sell mainly locally produced rice, say the price is high because they buy at high rates from the producers.

"We have to sell at a minimum of 12 per cent higher than the rate at which we procure the commodity. Otherwise, we go broke," said Haji Shahadatullah, a retailer at Krishi market.

The president of the Bangladesh Economic Association Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed recently blamed the government for failing to put in place proper market monitoring and not making timely decisions to increase the commodity's supply.

"Although the twin floods which took place more than three months ago cut down on agricultural production, the government has failed to import food grains to create a buffer stock much ahead of the present crisis," Ahmed said.

Quazi Faruk, General Secretary of the Consumers' Association of Bangladesh said, "The price of food items has got out of reach of the poor and the limited income people."

"It is a matter of disappointment for the people as the government has failed to contain the price spiral of essential commodities. Even OMS is not having any positive impact on the market," Faruk said.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman Wednesday emphasised on building up a proper market management system by utilising correct information to monitor price of essentials.

Knitwear export increases by $115m in five months

Staff Reporter

Export earning in the country's knitwear sector, which has seen a phenomenal growth over the last few years, has increased by US 115 million dollars in the first five months of the current fiscal, industry sources said.

The exports of knitwear, in the first five months of present financial year, which runs through July to June (2007-08), saw a boost of 2.4 per cent reaching US 5.166 billion dollars compared to US 5.045 billion dollar during the corresponding period of last year.

In this period, from July to November (2007-08), knitwear exports rose by 6.19 per cent, earning US 2.03 billion dollars compared to US 1.915 billion dollars during the same period of the previous year.

"The knitwear is one of the fast growing industries of Bangladesh, as fabric for knitwear spinning is easily available in the market and investment required to produce this particular material is quite small compared to other sectors," Mr Farhad Hussain, Senior Executive, BGMEA told journalists, while painting a rosy picture of the knitwear sector.

The BGMEA executive also said that although, the country mainly targets to meet the US demands, however, has explored newer markets like that of Russia, Korea and other North American countries for exports during this period.

Shedding light on the workers front, Mr Hussain said, "Labour, in the country used to be underpaid. The garment sector engages the highest number of women labourers and most of them were unskilled."

"However, in order to diminish the woes of this working class, the Government has increased their wages. This, in turn, proved fruitful for the industry."

Call to take lessons from Ashura

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting yesterday called for upholding the spirit of sacrifice, by taking lessons from the Holy Ashura to build a society based on peace and justice in Bangladesh.

They said that Imam Hossain (R.A) made the supreme sacrifice for upholding truth against falsehood and justice against injustice.

The discussion meeting was organised by the Maulana Bhashani Academy.

Former Chief Election Commissioner justice Abdur Rauf was the chief guest at the function, which was addressed by Prof Shamsher Ali, Vice-Chancellor of Southeast University, Sheikh Anwarul Haque, Chairman of NAP, Irfanul Bari, a close associate of Maulana Bhashani, Comrade Nurul Haque Chowdhury Mehedi of Ganotantrik Karmi Shibir, senior journalist Syed Mahmood, Shafiul Alam Pradhan, President of Jatiya Ganotantrik Party, Hamidur Reza Khan Bhashani and Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor of The New Nation.

The function was presided over by Altaf Hossain Munna, President of the Academy.

The speakers said Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, one of the founders of the then Pakistan and Bangladesh, never compromised with injustice and fought for the cause of the people. The academy named after him was best suited to uphold the spirit of Holy Asura.

They Dwelled on the historical background leading to the Karbala Tragedy and said it was a great lesson for the Muslims that the grandson of the Prophet (SM) of Islam had to lay down his life for the cause of the great faith.

Ershad, Bidisha fight over Eric

Staff Reporter

A senior police officer from Gulshan Thana yesterday visited the President Park to mediate the prevailing conflict between the former President Hossein Mohammad Ershad and his former wife Bidisha.

Ershad and Bidisha have filed cases against one another over the possession of their six year old son Eric Ershad.

Both of them filed two general diaries against each other with Gulshan Thana. Ershad filed his GD on Tuesday ( No-1054) and Bidisha filed GD (No-1114)against Ershad on Wednesday .

Ershad, also the Chairman of Jatiya Party in his FIR alleged that Bidisha captivated his son violating the signed deed between them while Bidisha alleged that Ershad were trying to take Eric under his control in violation of the contact.

According to the contract, Eric is to be cared by his mother and father for seven days at a time.

In her general diary against her former husband, Bidisha said, some JP goons with a lawyer went to her flat at 12:45 pm yesterday and pressed the calling bell. They claimed themselves as policemen from Gulshan Thana .Hearing the presence of police , she opened the door and then the JP cadres forcibly entered her flat , attempted to kidnap her minor son. They also threaten her.

''The JP cadre may try to assault me and my son being instigated by Ershad. I need security for our lives,'' Bidisha complained in her GD against Ershad. The Investigating Officer of the two cases Sub-Inspector Aminur Rashid could not be reached for comment over the matter.

Businessmen not suffering from crisis of confidence, says Mirza Aziz

Staff Reporter

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam Thursday refused to accept that the business community is still suffering from lack of confidence to the detriment of economy.

"I don't believe that there was lack of confidence and that still prevails," he told reporters Thursday at his Planning Ministry office after a meeting with US executive director of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Curtis S Chin.

Pointing to the major economic indicators Dr Aziz said the economic indicators of first five months of the current fiscal year reflected a good sign of the economy. It does not manifest the business community still lacking confidence, he said.

"We have made some reforms in various institutions and some other institutions like Bangladesh Better Business Forum and Regulatory Reform Commission set up to make the environment more conducive for the business people," he added.

The Adviser further said industrial term lending increased 42 percent during the first five months of the year. Credit to the private sector and agriculture sector has jumped.

He, however, admitted that import of capital goods declined during the period. "We can explain that domestically produced instruments might have replaced the imported ones," he said.

Dr Aziz said that import during the first five months increased by 17 percent with 16.4 percent rise in industrial raw materials. Remittance flow increased by 20.5 percent and agricultural credit by 20 percent.

He also said nationalized commercial banks (NCBs) have already disbursed Tk 1300 crore for agriculture during the period, which is the highest ever.

Replying to another question the Adviser said call money rate increased in the recent times. "How can you say idle money is lying in banks and confidence is lacking in business community," he posed a counter question.

About his meeting with US executive director of ADB, Dr Aziz said they have discussed present situation of the country, priorities of the government and role of ADB in the context of the situation.

"He (Curtis S Chin) appreciated the government's move towards good governance and priority list to establish a sustainable economy in the country," he said.

The ADB official stressed the need for promoting entrepreneurship to have a sustainable economy.

The government has to ensure strong atmosphere, better infrastructure including physical and good governance for the private entrepreneurs, he said.

ADB country director Hua Du was also present during the meeting.

Multi-dimensional transport system needed in city

Staff Reporter

An integrated multidimensional transport system should be established for the development of the traffic of the Dhaka city under the Strategic Transport Plan (STP).

Speakers at a discussion meeting on 'Eradicating Traffic Jam of Dhaka City and Remedies for the Development of Transport System' organised by Save Environment Movement at the National Press Club yesterday.

The speakers urged for a combination between the non-fuel and fuel vehicles.

Transport specialist Dr Mahbubul Bari presented keynote paper at the meeting while columnist Syed Abul Moksud, Prof Dr Nasrin Khandoker of Economics of Dhaka University, Chairman of SEM Abu Naser Khan, Barrister Raihan Khalid, among others spoke at the meeting presided over by eminent journalist Kamal Lohani.

They also urged the government to re-evaluate the under-ground rail project saying it would not be economically viable.

The speakers said the present rail system was running with subsidy in such situation the underground rail project would also need subsidy and continuous power supply was needed for the underground rail project but it was difficult for the country to ensure that.

The speakers emphasised on a traffic system, which would encourage big public careers that would carry more passengers and take few space in the road, which would eventually reduce the traffic jam.