The New Nation - Internet Edition

Roundtable told Media can help protect nat’l resources

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable discussion yesterday stressed the importance of a committed media to protect national resources from foreign companies greed.

They criticised appointment of Dr M Tamim as a special assistant to the Chief Adviser with the charge of the Energy Division of the power, energy and mineral resource ministry, who they said, worked for foreign companies as an energy expert.

Progressive Journalists' Forum (PJF) organised the roundtable discussion on Media for Protecting National Resources at the National Press Club chaired by its convenor Kamal Lohani.

The speakers highlighted the roll of journalists in protecting the nation through criticism and dissemination of information but sounded an alert that some foreign companies are trying to woo the media to their vested interest.

Patriotic journalists in Bangladesh have contributed greatly to upholding the interest of the nation. But, now some foreign companies and their local collaborators are trying to misguide journalists for propagating their purpose, they said.

Justice Golam Rabbani said hatching conspiracy by the foreign companies is easy here as there are so many loopholes in laws prepared in the past colonial rule.

Journalist Kamal Lohani said greed of imperialists and capitalists for our national resources is well known to all. The media will have to take the challenge to take up the challenge of disclosing their conspiracies in this regard.

Convenor of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port Engineer Sheikh Mohammed Shahidullah said all the previous governments more or less failed to protect national resources properly.

Member secretary of the said Committee Prof Anu Muhammed said, huge corruption was committed in signing Profit Sharing Contacts with foreign companies in the past. But the anti corruption drive of the present Government is overlooking that corruption. He urged the journalists to make investigative reports to unearth that corruption.

Editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder said cooperation of the media is a must in the movement to protect national resources. The leaders of this movement should be logical to address the media rather than malign it.

Journalist Kazi Abdul Hannan favoured self-criticism saying, "corruption should be slated whether it is done by politicians, bureaucrats or by the journalists."

Dr Samsul Alam, leaders of the movement to protect national resources Ruhin Hossain Prince, Dr Lenin Chowdhury and Member Secretary of PJF Pulack Ghatack addressed the function, among others. Journalists Badiur Rahman and Anwarul Islam Babu presented two keynote papers in the roundtable discussion.

Speakers urge return to democracy soon

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday called for a national reconciliation for returning to democracy from the present state of emergency.

They said emergency came in the wake of political disputes, corruptions and abuse of power and extreme political confrontations that had taken the country to the brink of civil war.

They were speaking at a roundtable organised by Progotishil Gonatrantik Dal (PDP) at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club yesterday.

Presided over by PDP leader Adv Gulam Kibria, Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, trustee, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) was present as chief guest while four editors of the national dailies Amanullah Kabir, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Mostafa Kamal Majumder and Naimul Islam Khan took part as discussants.

Blaming only the politicians of bringing the 1/11 situation, Prof Mozaffar Ahmed alleged that the post of the president of the republic was seriously misused recently.

He called for a brilliant civil administration along side participatory democracy and said, the government was ruled by the instigation of some vested quarters'.

While taking part at the discussion Daily Amar Desh Editor Amanullah Kabir said, the so-called civil society was also responsible for bringing the country to the present situation.

They are trying to serve the interest of a neighbouring country, he alleged.

Referring to the slow down of remittance, Daily Manabjamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury said, ''I obviously want to return back to the days prior to 1/11 as the current political vacuum is destroying the existence of the state.''

Minus two became plus two, he said adding '' I don't believe that the country is going toward holding a general election.'' Differing with some speakers Mostafa Kamal Majumder, The New Nation Editor urged everyone to give up the bad tendency of delivering reckless speech.

''We must speak specifically to find out the appropriate solution'', he stated.

The ongoing function of the Anti Corruption Commission is to be continued after the withdrawal of the state of emergency, he observed.

Naimul Islam Khan, Editor, Daily Amader Shomoy said, politicians must understand why they are loosing their supremacy.

Will everything run smoothly with Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina behind bars, he questioned

Indicating to the detained BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, PDP Convenor Dr Ferdus Ahmed Koreshi said, no one is above the law.

If the allegation against them was proved, the next election can be held without their participation, he observed.

15 hurt as train derails at Gafargaon

The six bogies of Dhaka-bound commuter train
derailed at Gaffargaon Railway Station in Mymensingh
yesterday. Banglar Chokh

BSS, Mymensingh

The train services between Dhaka and Mymensingh remained suspended for nearly six hours as three coaches of a Dhaka-bound commuter train derailed near Gafargaon station yesterday morning.

At least 15 people received minor injuries in the accident that took place at around 10 in the morning, Bangladesh Railway (BR) sources said, adding a relief train, however, put the coaches on tracks at around 4 PM.

Inter-district trains of Teesta, Padma and Agnibina remained stranded for hours due to the accident.

Meanwhile, BR sources said that two trains collided head-on near Kotchandpur in Jhenaidah district early Saturday.

Witnesses said a Khulna-bound passenger train from Goalanda collided head on with an Ishwardi-bound goods train near Rudrapur station, escaping a major damage to lives and property because of slow speed.

None was injured in the accident, the sources said.

BNCC urged to take part in uplift works

JU Correspondent

Adviser for Finance and Planning Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday called upon the cadets of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) to take part in the mission for ceaseless development of the country with sincerity, discipline, unity and effectiveness.

The Adviser was addressing as chief guest at the concluding ceremony of BNCC annual training camp 2008 at BNCC Academy, Baipal, Ashulia.

The Adviser said that the military training among the students of different institutions is playing a vital role to promote the quality of leadership among the youths. He urged the youths to sacrifice their life for the welfare and development of the country and the nation.

Azizul Islam recalled the outstanding contribution of BNCC Cadets in different difficult situations and in natural calamities of the country, especially during the recent cyclone Sidr.

Savar Area Commander Major General Ashab Uddin, Director of BNCC Brigadier General Kazi Anowar-ul-Islam attended the function, among others.

The BNCC Ramna Regiment organised the "Training Camp-2008" at Baipal BNCC Academy of Ashulia with a view to train side by side with academic activities the youths of the region.

Under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Hafiz Uddin, Director of Ramna Regiment, a total of 500 cadets under 5 battalions from 96 academic institutions of the Dhaka Division took part in this training camp, which began from January 5 and concluded yesterday.

Later, the Adviser witnessed colourful display of mock war and different military tactics performed by the BNCC cadets. A cultural function was also held in the evening.

Major General M Aminul Islam, Military Secretary to the President, distributed prizes among the participants.

Bangladesh fair in Tokyo begins January 28

BSS, Dhaka

A weeklong Bangladesh fair begins January 28 in the Japanese capital of Tokyo to promote the country's image aboard in trade, investment and tourism.

The fair titled 'Bangladesh Week: Eyes on the Nation' will be held at Tokyo City Club jointly organized by Embassy of Bangladesh and the Tokyo City Club marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-Japan diplomatic relations.

The week will kick off with a Food Festival - a presentation of a long tradition and wide array of delicious Bangladeshi cuisine by the celebrity Bangladeshi chef Tommy Miah. Senior Vice Foreign Minister of Japan is expected to open the food festival.

On the second day, Taro Aso, MP, President of the Japan Bangladesh Parliamentary League will join the dinner as the chief guest.

A Bangladesh Investment Seminar will be held on the third day of the programme for a target group of entrepreneurs who are leading in their respective fields of business. The Executive Chairman of the Board of Investment of Bangladesh will highlight the investment opportunities in Bangladesh as well as incentives offered in different sectors.

The Chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) who has recently visited Bangladesh will address the seminar.

On the fourth day, a Bangladesh tourism seminar will be held focusing on leading tour operators, airlines, tourist organizations, professional writers and media representatives.

The Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and leading tour operators from Bangladesh will present the tourist attractions in Bangladesh, opportunities for mutual cooperation with Japan and potentials that exist for Japanese investment in different sectors of tourism in Bangladesh.

The Vice President and the General Secretary of the Japan Bangladesh Parliamentary League - Kousuke Ito, MP and Akihiro Nishimura MP- are expected to attend the seminar as chief guest and guest of honor respectively.

On the final day of the week, the programme will conclude with a cultural show titled Bangladesh Lifestyle Party performed by Tokyo based Bangladeshi local artistes.

The show will project our rich culture, tradition and the invaluable treasures through performance of songs, music and dance to enthrall the distinguished audience. In addition, throughout the week, works of prominent Bangladeshi painters, Bangladeshi ceramics and handicrafts will also be on display.

It is highly commendable that in this endeavour a number of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and artists living in Tokyo have enthusiastically come forward to cooperate with the Embassy by sponsoring some of the events and also putting up a great show for enthralling the distinguished audience, said a Foreign Ministry official.

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury will pay an official visit to Japan soon in response to an invitation from the Japanese Foreign Minister.

Bird flu spreading fast in West Bengal

Reuters, Kolkata

Bird flu spread to two new districts in an eastern Indian state, officials confirmed on Saturday, as veterinary staff struggled to cull thousands of birds in the face of resistance from farmers.

The H5N1 virus was found in dead birds in Burdwan and Nadia, taking to five the number of infected districts in West Bengal state.

The virus was also spreading to new areas within already infected districts.

India, which is witnessing its fourth bird flu outbreak in poultry since 2006, has not reported any human infection.

Officials said they were immediately extending culling operations to the newly affected areas. West Bengal began culling more than 400,000 chickens and ducks in three districts this week. So far, only about 50,000 birds had been culled.

"This news is indeed distressing and we are looking to intensify culling in both districts from tomorrow," Anisur Rahaman, West Bengal's animal resources minister, said.

But containment efforts continued to be hampered because farmers insisted that their chickens and ducks were healthy and refused to hand them over for culling.

Scant respect for hygiene among poor and illiterate villagers was also a stumbling block, said veterinary volunteers who collected dead birds dumped in village wells and ponds by villagers ignorant about the risks from the H5N1 virus.

Rahaman asked health workers to intensify an awareness drive.

Health workers were watching for people with flu symptoms in the affected areas.

The virus has killed more than 45,000 chickens and birds in West Bengal in the past two weeks.

Bird flu has begun taking a toll on India's poultry business with Oman banning the import of all Indian poultry products. Domestic sales have also been affected.

Cold wave hits normal life in northern dists

BSS, Rangpur

Normal life remained affected and vehicular traffic hampered as the cold wave coupled with dense fogs continued sweeping over the northern districts in the sub- Himalayan region for the third consecutive day yesterday.

Though the maximum and minimum temperatures remained almost unchanged during the past 24 hours till last evening, the overall cold wave marked some deterioration due to thick layers of fog in the air.

Very few people were seen out of their houses while the day-labourers and farm workers worked under adverse condition in the crop fields due to biting cold coupled with densely foggy air almost throughout the day.

The movement of vehicles on roads and highways was seriously affected from 9 PM on Friday night to 9 AM on Saturday morning as thick layers of fog totally covered the air reducing visibility to less than 10 to 15 metres.

The vehicles were found plying with their headlights on the roads and highways to avert accidents almost throughout the day yesterday.

The sun was seen only for a while last afternoon and the situation again started worsening from the evening when the public places started becoming deserted in Rangpur and adjoining northern districts.

The common people in Rangpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Bogra and adjoining districts on the Brahmaputra and Ganges are badly exposed to the cold wave and foggy weather.

Sufferings of the char people living in char villages of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Bogra and Sirajganj districts on the river basins mounted due to dense fog and blowing of cooler and stronger winds from the north and northwestern directions.

Met Office recorded the minimum temperature at 13 degrees Celsius yesterday against 12.1 degrees on Friday at Rangpur while the highest temperate dipped to 24.6 degrees against 25.7 degrees Celsius in the town on Friday.

According to the Met Office sources, the situation may improve during the next few days and another cold spell might come in the last week of January in the sub-Himalayan region.

The armed forces, joint forces, BDR, police, district administrations and dozens of non-governmental and charitable organisations have intensified distribution of warm clothes among the distressed people everywhere in the sub-Himalayans northern districts, officials said.

Millions mark Shia ritual in Iraq after clashes

Reuters, Kerbala

Iraqi forces imposed tight security on the city of Kerbala as 2.5 million pilgrims marked the climax of a major Shia rite on Saturday, a day after gunmen attacked worshippers and police in other southern cities.

Police said sporadic fighting between security forces and gunmen from a messianic Shia cult called the "Soldiers of Heaven" had broken out again in the cities of Basra and Nassiriya on Saturday. There was no information on casualties.

Nearly 70 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in gunbattles on Friday after gunmen from the cult launched nearly simultaneous attacks in the two cities.

In Kerbala, pilgrims thronged streets and narrow alleyways for the end of the 10-day Ashura ritual, in which Shi'ites mourn the slaying over 13 centuries ago of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein near the holy city.

Among the pilgrims were hundreds of men wearing white robes, who marched through the streets striking their heads with swords to show their grief at the killing of Imam Hussein.

Blood flowed down their robes. Others beat their chests to the sound of drums and religious chants. Medics carrying first aid kits walked through the crowd, ready to staunch head wounds.

Imam Hussein's death in 680 entrenched the schism between Shia and Sunni Muslims over whom they recognized as the successors of Mohammed.

The split still sharply divides Iraq, with tens of thousands killed in sectarian fighting since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, although violence has dropped in recent months.

Officials said 25,000 Iraqi police and soldiers were deployed across Kerbala, 110 km (70 miles) south of Baghdad.

"The security situation in Kerbala is under control," Kerbala police chief Brigadier-General Raad Shaker told Reuters. Iraqi helicopters circled over Kerbala while pilgrims were frisked up to 10 times before they could reach the focus of the ceremonies, the Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines in the heart of its Old City. Crowds, including black-clad mourners flagellating themselves, jammed into a courtyard that links the two mosques.

"I am very happy to see these security measures, but I am afraid something may happen at any moment," said Jaber Yusif, 43, who said he had traveled from the nearby city of Hilla.

In the northern city of Kirkuk, a bomb killed two Shia pilgrims heading to a mosque for Ashura, police said.

The governor of Kerbala province said 2.5 million people were in the city for Ashura, one of the holiest events in the ShiaMuslim religious calendar.

Iraqi security forces had launched major operations across mainly Shi'ite southern Iraq to protect pilgrims, but clashes erupted in Basra and Nassiriya on Friday.

A statement from the prime minister's office said a number of "heretics" had been detained after they attacked Ashura processions in Basra and tried to seize a municipal building.

Security officials said police had thwarted similar attacks in Hilla on Friday by detaining 26 "terrorists."

The "Soldiers of Heaven" cult was once led by a man who claimed to be the mahdi, an Islamic messiah-like figure.

A man who said he was from the movement told Reuters in Basra their fighters had decided to attack security forces on Friday because of persecution he said the cult had suffered.

The "Soldiers of Heaven" cult fought a major battle with Iraqi and U.S. security forces a year ago near the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf. The government said at the time the cult had planned to kill top Shi'ite clerics at the peak of Ashura.

Ashura has been a target in the past for Sunni al Qaeda militants who view Shi'ites, a majority in Iraq but a minority in the Muslim world, as heretics.

The ritual was severely curtailed under Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab. Shi'ites have dominated politics since his ouster.

A paramilitary surveillance helicopter flies during a Shi'ite religious procession ahead of the Ashura festival in Karachi January 19, 2008. Pakistani police said on Saturday they had averted a disaster with the arrest of five militants planning to attack Shi'ite Muslim processions with cyanide and suicide bombs. Ashura, a 10-day-long event, commemorates the death of Prophet Mohammad's grandson Iman Hussein in a battle in the Iraqi city of Karbala 1,300 years ago.

Sundari is dying

Staff Reporter

Sundari, a species of tree that gave its name to Bangladesh's Sundarbans, home to the Royal Bengal tiger, is dying following a severe cyclone late last year, forest officials said yesterday.

The Sundari species of trees, are dying of a disease called "top-dying, that has intensified following the cyclone." The Sundarbans, some 400 km (250 miles) southwest of Dhaka, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cyclone Sidr struck the coast of the impoverished South Asian country on November 15 with winds of 250 kph (155 mph). It killed around 3,500 people, made millions of others homeless and destroyed a large part of the Sundarbans. At least 60 per cent of the 6,000 sq km (2,320 sq mile) mangrove swamps that are home to more than 400 Royal Bengal tigers was devastated by the cyclone.

Top-dying disease was already endemic among Sundari trees, but it has spread and intensified since the cyclone, threatening the existence of the forest, forest officials said yesterday.

Sundari trees constitute 70 per cent of trees grown in the swampy forest. The trees grow up to 70 feet in height and are mostly used in boat building and house construction.

Experts have yet to find a cause of the top-dying disease, but they suspect that increased salinity may have something to do with the intensification of the disease.

"Gradual decreasing of oxygen in the soil of the forest may also be a factor for this (top-dying disease)," AF Fazlul Haq, a Professor in the Forestry Department of the Khulna University told journalists.

Some other experts and forest officials say the salinity has been increasing due to decreasing water flow across the forest, which is criss-crossed by a number of rivers and canals.

Water flow has decreased due to urbanisation and the construction of dams further upstream on the rivers, most of which flow in from neighbouring India before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

The Sundarbans stretch 4,000 sq km (1,545 sq miles) into India's eastern state of West Bengal.

Two injured in bomb, gun attack in city

UNB, Dhaka

Two youths were injured in bomb and gun attack by some assailants near Victoria park in Sadarghat area of the capital Saturday.

The injured were identified as Nayan Ghosh,28 and Hasan,18. Local sources said the assailants attacked the youths at about 4am.

They opened fire and exploded bombs, leaving both of them injured. The injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The condition of Nayan was stated to be critical, hospital sources said.

1st nat’l confce on consumer rights January 21

Staff Reporter

To create awareness among the sellers and consumers of their rights and obligations, the first national conference on consumer movement will be held at BIAM auditorium in the city on January 21.

About 65 per cent of the population are deprived of electricity connections in the country at present. Power and energy sectors will be the focal issue in the day-long conference.

This was disclosed at a press conference organised by Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Khalilur Rahman Sajal of CAB readout a written statement, while Quazi Faruque, General Secretary and Borhan Ahmed, President of CAB, spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said, "Stet type of problems are prevailing in the power and energy sector in the country, how this could be solved and role of consumers will be discussed in the conference."

To aware the consumers about the role and duty of the Energy Regulatory Commission so that they could approach the commission for readdress, they said.

The aim of the conference will be to strengthen the consumers' movement and to give all information and knowledge so that community leaders could play an important role in future, they added.

Other aim of the conference will be to include those people who are involved in the consumers' rights movement across the country, the speakers said.

Missions abroad instructed to prioritise workers’ welfare

UNB, Dhaka

All Bangladeshi Missions abroad are being instructed to accord utmost priority to welfare of Bangladeshi workers abroad, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said Saturday. Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has directed that the Missions would report on the situation of expatriate Bangladeshis to the Ministry regularly on a pro-forma basis.

The report would include information on total numbers of workers, professions, problems facing them, numbers in jail, prospects of future employment and proposals to improve their conditions. "I believe such reports would not only enhance better policy coordination but also link the Missions even more to the Bangladeshi community abroad", Iftekhar added.

He said that expatriate Bangladeshis have sent remittances that touch nearly 7 billion dollars last year, which is a record for all times. "Most certainly, they need better looking after". The Advisor said "Today, we have "second generation non-Resident Bangladeshis who are keen to retain their connections at home by investing."

He said Chinese and Indian expatriate investors have played a huge role in development of their respective economies. The Foreign Ministry will work very closely with the Board of Investment to facilitate this phenomenon.

Iftekhar also indicated that the government is contemplating setting up of Special Economic Zones in order to attract expatriate Bangladeshi investments.