The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dhaka Int'l Plastic Industrial Fair begins tomorrow

Staff Reporter

The Fifth Dhaka International Plastic Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair-08 is going to be held at the China Bangladesh Friendship Conference Center from January 28 to 31, 2008.

The Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), in collaboration with the Chan Chao International Company Ltd would jointly organise the largest plastic goods exhibition in the country.

It was announced at a press conference held at the BPGMEA office yesterday in the capital.

The fair will accommodate 300 stalls this year. Among them, 239 stalls have been allocated to 68 foreign companies. Remaining 61 stalls have been allocated among 40 locally leading plastic goods manufacturers, said Muhammad Jashim Uddin, President BPGMEA, while addressing the press conference.

According to him, all participating foreign companies will only display their latest manufacturing machineries, raw materials and services in the fair. "No finished foreign products will be allowed in the fair," he added.

"Through this fair, domestic plastic manufacturers would get a chance to modify and chose the latest and most effective technologies, displayed by the foreign guests," added President BPGMEA.

Besides visitors of all ages would also enjoy the latest plastic products, made in Bangladesh. "It will be a demonstration, how locally produced plastic products could influence our daily livings," he added.

However, affiliation with the Chan Chao International in have made more foreign companies available for the local businesses to explore collaboration in their fields, he ended.

Shahedul Islam, Vice President of BPGMEA further informed that companies from China, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Korea, Turkey and Australia have already registered to participate the fair.

Adviser for Education and Trade Dr Zillur Rehman will formally inaugurate the fair on January 28, 2008 as chief guest.

General Secretary of BPGMEA Muhammad Shamim Ahmed, Representative of the Chan Chao International Company Ltd Zudi Wang and Tiger Leing were also present on the occasion.

The fair will remain open for visitors from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm every day. Entry pass have been fixed at Tk 20 per person.

Admission test of DU 'Kha’ Unit now Feb 15

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University authority revised the date of "Kha' Unit admission test under Arts Faculty for the third time. As per the revised scheduled, the test will be held on February 15 instead of February 1.

However, the date of February 8 of 'Gha" Unit admission test under Social Science Faculty will remain unchanged.

The decision was taken at a Deans Committee meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, at the later's office yesterday.

Sources said the admission test date was earlier shifted following the agitation centering the release of the detained teachers and students of the university.

Bangladeshi student to get Congressional award

BSS, New York

Hasan Askari, a 20-year-old Bangladeshi college student, is going to receive All American Congressional Award for saving the life of a Jewish student from racist attack at a subway in New York last month.

Askari received the Congressional Award in the Capitol Hill on Monday.

He is also invited to attend US President George Bush's annual State of Union address in the Capitol Hill.

He will also attend a luncheon party with the members of the Congress and the Senate in Washington DC. Congressional sources said Hasan Askari likely to be recognised in the State of Union address of President Bush.

Stop ads on tobacco products

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a view exchange meeting in the city urged the government to stop all kinds of advertisements on tobacco and tobacco products.

At present, the amount of fine for violating the Anti-Tobacco Act by tobacco companies in the country is very low. To implement the Act the rate of the fine should be increased considerably, they said.

They urged the government to take effective steps for implementation of the Anti Tobacco Act. Banning of advertisements of tobacco in print and electronic media and increase in smoke free zones in public places across the country have helped implement the Anti Tobacco Act at present, they said.

The view exchange meeting on 'Achievement of controlling use of tobaccos and remedies' jointly organised by non-government organisations, WBB Trust, The Union and Manobik at the National Press Club yesterday.

Dr Shahadat Hossain, Deputy Secretary, moderated the meeting, while Rafiqul Islam Milon, President of Manobik, presented keynote paper. Saifuddin Ahmed, Coordinator of Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance, chaired the meeting.

The speakers said agricultural lands are decreasing and deforestation is increasing across the country due to increase of tobacco cultivation. As a result, public health and economy are being affected.

The government should find out alternative to tobacco cultivation and ban of shots on tobacco products or smoking of actors in films and dramas, they said.

They urged the government to highlight the bad impact of smoking in all types of media. The government should include local community and religious leaders or imams of mosques to dream up support for the anti tobacco movement.

Anwarul Haque, Joint Secretary of Law Ministry, Mainul Kabir, Deputy Secretary, Masud Mannan, Director General of Foreign Ministry, Md Rasheduzzaman, Deputy Secretary, Abu Taleb Mollah, Deputy Secretary of Home Ministry, Dr Salek, researcher, Dr Habibullah Talukder, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Cancer Foundation, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Dhaka, Islamabad need to sign FTA to reduce trade gap

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh and Pakistan need to sign bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in order to reduce trade deficit between the two friendly countries, speakers said in a seminar on Bangladesh Pakistan Trade Opportunities Under SAFTA, held yesterday in the capital.

According to them, confidence building and enhancing inter country trade communication is vital to bring the two countries closer in terms of trade relations.

Trade deficit between the two countries stood at US$13.39 crore in the last fiscal, the seminar was told.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. Speaking on the occasion, Joint Chief of Bangladesh Tariff Commission Dr Mostafa Abid Khan informed, in 2006-07 FY, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at US$256 million. During the period, Bangladesh alone imported goods worth US$195 million and exported goods worth US$61 million.

"Due to some geo-political complications like sensitive item list or quota, one may not see any visible benefit in trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan. But these are potential and we need to avail through signing FTA," he added.

FBCCI administrator Syed Manjur Elahi chaired the seminar while Director General of Pakistan Foreign Trade Institute (FTIP) Dr Safdar A Sohail presented keynote papers. Pakistan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Alamgir Bashar Khan Babar was also present at the seminar as special guest.

Neurological recovery can cure unstable spine patients

Staff Reporter

Experts stressed the need for good neurological recovery of patients with unstable spines to prevent complications. Stabilising the spine using implements is very effective for early mobility of the victims.

In Bangladesh, spinal stabilisation for unstable spines is not yet a standardised practices due to lack of various instruments and implants necessary for the surgery, they said.

This was said at the workshop on 'Spinal Surgery' jointly organised by Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BMSSU) and Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society (BOS) at BMSSU yesterday. Prof Mohammad Tahir, Vice Chancellor of BMSSU, was present as chief guest, while Prof Sirajuddin Ahmed, Chairman of Orthopaedic Department of BMSSU, chaired the inaugural session.

Dr Sanjay Dhar, Associate Professor and Head of Unit of Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of TN Medical College of Mumbai in India and Dr Mihir Bapat, Consultant Spine Surgeon of PD Hinduja Hospital of Mumbai, presented two keynote papers.

The speakers urged the government to give more priority to the treatment of spinal problems and to establish spinal surgery as a separate department in all medical colleges in the country. On the findings of physical examination and the patients' ability to return to work or to normal activity, about 80 per cent were considered to have satisfactory outcome at the end of minimum one-year follow-up, the keynote paper said.

In the country's experience with spinal stabilisation, using locally available instruments and implants, compares favourably with the findings of those using modern techniques for spinal stabilisation, speakers said.

As developing country resources are very limited in Bangladesh, nonetheless the results are satisfactory and positive, they added.

Independent inquiry body needed to ensure rule of law: Acting CJ

BSS, Dhaka

Acting Chief Justice Fazlul Karim yesterday underscored the need for independent inquiry committee and judicial system to help ensure the rule of law and justice.

He was inaugurating a workshop on 'Justice System Education Initiatives on gender Equality Issues' organized by Khan Foundation at Momenbagh in the city.

A total of 45 participants including Public Prosecutors, Assistant Public Prosecutors and women lawyers attended the workshop, according to a press release.

Attorney General Fida M Kamal attended the afternoon session as the chief guest.

Former additional attorney general Advocate Abdur Rezzak Khan presented the keynote paper while Advocate Rokhsana Khandaker moderated.

False cases, economic hardship, attitude of lawyers, social conditions were attributed as some of the major causes in getting proper justice for women at the workshop.

They expressed the hope that independent inquiry committee and independent judicial system would ensure justice for all.

Former minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan stressed on the economic freedom of the women for getting justice.

Lab Aid denies charge

Staff Reporter

Lab Aid Hospital authority yesterday at a press conference denied all allegations made recently by a number of relatives of victims, who allegedly suffered or died due to neglect of duties or wrong treatment given by the doctors of the hospital.

Managing Director of Lab Aid Hospital Dr AM Shamim begged apology for the circumstances leading to the cancellation of a press conference organised by a child's father at Dhaka Reporters Unity recently.

While facing a barrage of questions from the journalists present at the conference, he said, "Is there anybody among you (journalists) who will support me now?"

The press conference was held at a city hotel organised by Lab Aid Cardiac Hospital.

Brig Gen (Retd) Dr Manzur A Molla, Chief Administrator of Lab Aid Hospital, read out an eight-page written statement at the briefing.

Dr Shamim denied any allegation against the treatment facilities of the hospital and said, "Lab Aid is not running its business in the name of giving treatment to the patients at reasonable cost. We are trying to give better treatment to our patients."

He also denied that doctors of the hospital have failed to treat critical patients.

The hospital authority said any death that occurred in the hospital, was due to bringing of patients so late that the hospital authority had nothing to do at the eleventh hour.

While replying to another question, Dr Shamim said the hospital authority has been paying income tax to the government regularly.

Draft law finalized: Separate secretariats for Supreme Court, EC

Staff Reporter

The Law Ministry has finalised the draft of a new law to set up separate Secretariats for the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.

The law will be sent to the Council of Advisers soon for approval.

Disclosing this, Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advocate AF Hassan Ariff yesterday said the Government would establish separate Secretariats for the Supreme Court and the Election Commission (EC) much ahead of the general elections.

He said this while inaugurating a national conference on 'Model Legal Aid in Bangladesh' at the Bangla-desh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.

He expressed the optimism that the Caretaker Government would be able to bring about a progressive reform of the justice-delivery system and strengthen the legal system to the extent that no elected Government could revert them.

Hassan Ariff said future elected Government would get a strong legal system and institutional framework to ensure rule of law in the country.

"Our Government is committed to progressive justice system reform and to strengthening the rule of law," he said, adding that a strong, efficient and publicly respected justice system was essential for good governance in a modern country. He said, the Caretaker Government has taken many necessary steps towards strengthening the rule of law in the country, including a strong anti-corruption drive.

He also named the Separation of the Judiciary from the Executive control and announcement of a National Human Rights Commission as major contributions of the Government.

Replying to a question, the Law Adviser expressed the hope that the political parties would arrive at a consensus during the political dialogue that the country would not return to pre-January 11 (2007) situation (politics of confrontation).

"The political leaders will have to commit to the nation, during the dialogue, that they would not go back to the pre-1/11 situation, "he said.

He avoided a direct reply when asked to comment on Azam J Chowdhury's statement that he did not directly file a case against detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He, however, hastened to add saying, " The Court can include anybody in a case during the trial.

Hassan Ariff termed the conference on 'Model Legal Aid in Bangladesh' timely event since many poor and disadvantaged people still do not have access to justice to vindicate their rights.

"Unfortunately, many are deprived of basic services, which comprises their entitlement to fundamental human rights, dignity and justice," he said in a frank admission.

He said ensuring the access to justice for the poor was a collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including the lawyers, NGOs and judges in particular in the justice-delivery system.

He noted that one of these stakeholders is Government and the Government in 2000 addressed this responsibility with passage of the Legal Aid Service Act, which established a scheme for delivering legal aid through district legal aid committees.

"This was a good and modest start-but much more remains to be done," the Law Adviser said.

He expressed his gratitude to the government of Canada for providing financial and technical assistance in developing legal-aid administration in Bangladesh.

The inaugural session was presided over by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs secretary-in-charge Kazi Habibul Awal. Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson was present as special guest.

National Project Director-in-Charge, CIDA (Bangladesh) Legal Reform Project, Khademul Islam M Belal, Deputy Project Director Nasreen Begum, legal-aid specialist Ms Chantal Tie and Director of National Legal Aid Services Organisation Hussain Shaheed Ahmad also spoke on the occasion.

The Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson, told the conference that her government was committed to making an effective justice-delivery system in Bangladesh by providing legal, financial and technical assistance.

Describing the progress of the project as "significant", she said the cooperation in this regard would continue.

She disclosed that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has committed to provide $15,000,000(CND) for the 5-year project of Bangladesh Legal Reform.

The inaugural session was told that the Government allocated Tk 3,70,00,000 for legal assistance to the National Legal Aid fund. Of the amount, Tk 3,16,79,000 was distributed to the District Legal Aid Committees. According to the report of 55 district committees out of 61 districts, a total of about Tk 3 crore was spent as lawyers' remuneration and other ancillary purposes.

As a result, some 56,211 poor and disadvantaged people, including women and children, had been rendered legal aid services. Besides, some 1020 persons had been provided legal aid services through 890 jail appeals in the Supreme Court.

The Law Secretary-in-charge in his presidential address underscored the need for an institutional setup along with supporting staff and logistic facilities to effectively face the challenge of access to justice for the poor and disadvantaged people.

Judges of lower Courts, Government officials, lawyers and representatives of NGOs participated in the conference.

From the Foreign Press: Selfish capitalism is bad for your health

Oliver James

By far the most significant consequence of "selfish capitalism" (Thatch/Blatcherism) has been a startling increase in the incidence of mental illness in both children and adults since the 1970s.

As I report in my book, The Selfish Capitalist- Origins of Affluenza, World Health Organisation and nationally representative studies in the United States, Britain and Australia, reveal that it almost doubled between the early 80s and the turn of the century. These increases are very unlikely to be due to greater preparedness to acknowledge distress - the psychobabbling therapy culture was already established.

Add to this the astonishing fact that citizens of Selfish Capitalist, English-speaking nations (which tend to be one and the same) are twice as likely to suffer mental illness as those from mainland western Europe, which is largely Unselfish Capitalist in its political economy. An average 23% of Americans, Britons, Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians suffered in the last 12 months, but only 11.5% of Germans, Italians, French, Belgians, Spaniards and Dutch. The message could not be clearer. Selfish Capitalism, much more than genes, is extremely bad for your mental health. But why is it so toxic?

Readers will need little reminding that Selfish Capitalism has massively increased the wealth of the wealthy, robbing the average earner to give to the rich. There was no "trickle-down effect" after all.

The real wage of the average English-speaking person has remained the same-or, in the case of the US, decreased-since the 1970s. By more than halving the taxes of the richest and transferring the burden to the general population, Margaret Thatcher reinstated the rich's capital wealth after three postwar decades in which they had steadily become poorer.

What does the damage is the combination of inequality with the widespread relative materialism of Affluenza-placing a high value on money, possessions, appearances and fame when you already have enough income to meet your fundamental psychological needs. Survival materialism is healthy. If you need money for medicine or to buy a house, becoming very concerned about getting them does not make you mentally ill.

But Selfish Capitalism stokes up relative materialism: unrealistic aspirations and the expectation that they can be fulfilled. It does so to stimulate consumerism in order to increase profits and promote short-term economic growth. Indeed, I maintain that high levels of mental illness are essential to Selfish Capitalism, because needy, miserable people make greedy consumers and can be more easily suckered into perfectionist, competitive workaholism.

We desperately need a passionate, charismatic, probably female leader who advocates the Unselfish Capitalism of our neighbours. The pitch is simple. Not only would reduced consumerism and greater equality make us more ecologically sustainable, it would halve the prevalence of mental illness within a generation.

The Right Wing are of course, out in force on the Guardian web site trying to rubbish what Oliver James has to say, largely using the facts of increased material well-being. All of which shows they can count but know nothing of value, and that they can't or aren't willing to read James' article.

That article does of course exclude argument for one obvious policy we must commit to if we are to see increased well-being in the English speaking developed world, and that is progressive taxation, something we do not have at present.

(Guardian weekly).

Impersonator held by RAB

Nipa Chowdhury

DU Correspondent

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-3 arrested a woman from Udayan Higher Secondary School for fraud. The woman identifying herself as the wife of an Army official tried to influence the authority to admit two boys in the school.

The school authority filed a deception case with the Shahbagh police station against the woman Nipa Chowdhury a resident of 19/1/B, Sheikh Saheb Bazar in Azimpur of Lalbagh thana.

Nipa Chowdhury, who took Tk 40,000 from Shahabuddin Manik to manage the admission of his child Abu Sayeed Hira in class four of the school, made a call to the Acting Principal Khaleda Habib some days ago identifying herself as the wife of a high Army official to admit the boy, who had failed in the admission test.

Being suspicious of the repeated call in the name of the wife of a high Army official the school authority informed RAB-3 to cross check her identity.

The RAB personnel earlier recorded the phone conversation of the woman with the school authority and later called her to come to the school yesterday to admit the boy.

The woman told journalists that she called the school authority twice as a guardian.

She, however, wanted a day to prove that the voice recorded by RAB was not her.

Deputy Director of RAB-3 Squadron Leader Khaled Shams said they found that the woman took Tk 40,000 per head from three people.

Shahabuddin Manik, a printing trader, admitted that he gave Tk 40,000 to the woman, as she promised to manage the admission of his child in the school.

Joint statement at WEF meet in Davos: World is facing a development emergency

UNB, Davos

World leaders have issued a joint statement at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos vowing to make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty.

The world is facing a “development emergency”, they said. “We pledge to work together to help the world get back on track to meet the MDGs.”

Leaders spearheading the call to action include UN secretary general

Ban Ki-moon, Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates and founder and Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab

“We are here to say one thing loud and clear: Not on our watch!” said

Ban Ki-moon.

He said “I speak to those who are most vulnerable to climate change and those who suffer the most grinding poverty. Let 2008 be the year of the bottom billion.”

Queen Rania said “We all agree that it is time to move from promise to performance… Let us put our promises back on track for all the world’s children.”

“For us in Africa, the achievement of the MDGs is our sacred duty,” said Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. “One of the major challenges in Africa is the infrastructure gap that is one of the key enablers of the achievement of the MDGs. I welcome this initiative from the global community.”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said “It is right that, here in Davos, we tell the truth that there is a development emergency and that we must summon everyone in a call to action to take measures to meet the MDGs by 2015.”

Bill Gates said “This [call to action] fits in with the idea of creative capitalism.” He said “We can make more progress and it is important to be part of this endeavour.”

The joint statement said at the Millennium Summit in 2000 the international community - every world leader, every international body, almost every country - vowed to spare no effort to achieve the seven key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The statement said halfway to 2015 some vital progresses were made.

The progress include 3 million more children survive every year, 2 million people now receive AIDs treatment, there are 41 million more children in school, 2 million lives are saved every year by immunization, polio, leprosy and neonatal tetanus are on the verge of elimination.

“This progress inspires us all to do more. We know we can make a difference. But we still face an enormous challenge - a development emergency,” the statement noted.

It said 72 million children are still not in school and many who are receive a very poor quality education.

The statement said half of the developing world lack basic sanitation. If current trends continue, the world is likely to miss the MDG sanitation target by almost 600 million people.

It said over half a million women still die each year from treatable and preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

Over 33 million people are living with HIV, and more than 1 million people die of malaria every year, including one child every 30 seconds while 980 million people still live on less than US$ 1 a day.

“So without an extraordinary effort we will fail to achieve the MDGs. 2008 is a critical year, the statement said, adding “If we don’t begin to get back on track we will fail.”

The statement said “today in Davos we - the undersigned - commit to work to make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty. We are pleased to join the 19 countries and 21 private sector companies that are now signed up to the MDG Call to Action. And we pledge to work together to help the world get back on track to meet the

MDGs.”

The joint statement said “we know we will only succeed if governments, the private sector, faith groups, civil society and NGOs work together.”

It said “and to catalyse, inspire and focus activity within this broad coalition - and to measure progress towards the 2015 pledges - today we agree that the world community should set some 2010 milestones towards our 2015 goals.”

More than 2,500 participants from 88 countries are in Davos, Switzerland, including 27 heads of state or government, 113 cabinet ministers, along with religious leaders, media leaders and heads of non-governmental organizations.

Around 60% of the participants are business leaders drawn principally from the Forum's members - 1,000 of the foremost companies from around the world and across all economic sectors.