The New Nation - Internet Edition

Half of city braces for 48-hr gas supply cut: Shut-down of 2 power plants to accentuate people's miseries

Housewives take to crockery shops in the city
yesterday to buy kerosene oven ahead of 48-hour closure of
gas supply for urgent repair works. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

Gas and electricity supply to almost half of the Dhaka city and its outskirts have remained partially suspended from midnight last night for a major repair work on the main gas-transmission line at Daudkandi in Comilla, shutting down kitchens in thousands of households, disrupting industrial production and closing two major power plants.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL), a company of Petrobangla, said the normal supply of gas would be more or less disrupted for 48 hours from Saturday midnight to Monday midnight because of a repair work in the 20-inch diameter BKB-Demra High-Pressure Gas Pipeline under the national grid at Shahidnagar, Daudkandi in Comilla. This pipeline is one of the major sources of gas supply to the capital.

The TGTDCL sources said production in three gas-based power plants would remain suspended during the period due to suspension of gas supply, causing further load shedding and plunging vast areas into darkness.

Load shedding in the capital and elsewhere in the country would increase during the period as power generation would fall by around 600 megawatt, said an official of Power Development Board.

'For the temporary closure of gas supply, about half of the capital city, particularly the southeastern part, will be directly affected as people of the area will have to use alternative sources of energy for cooking and other purposes', a Titas Gas official said.

The gas-based industries will also be affected by the supply disruption.

Besides, treatment and major operations at both Mitford Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital are likely to be affected for the suspension of gas and electricity supply for two days.

Major instruments as well as operation theatres at the DMCH and Mitford Hospital depend on the supply of electricity. Besides, food of some 2,000 patients is cooked at the DMCH everyday.

Sohrab Uddin Khan, administrative officer of the DMCH, said they did not get any such notice from the TGTDCL authorities. He also did not know whether the DMCH was kept out of the

On the other hand, Dr Md Belayet Hossain, assistant director of Mitford Hospital, said they held talks with the Titas Gas authorities about the issue. "The Titas Gas authorities have assured us to maintain normal flow of gas supply to Mitford Hospital," he said.

The affected areas include Demra, Shyampur, Postagola, Jurain, Dhalpur, Bibirbagicha, Jatrabari, Fatullah, Keraniganj, Sutrapur, Kotwali, Lalbagh, Hazaribagh, New Market, Shahbagh, Motijheel, Gopibagh, Kamlapur, Khilgaon, Basabo, Shahjahanpur, Nayatola, Madhubagh, Shantinagar, Siddheswari, Badda, Rampura, Ulan, Paltan, Ramna, Sabujbagh, Khilgaon, Tejgaon Industrial Area, areas under Gulshan, Badda and adjoining areas, Mohakhali, Wari, Gendaria, Nawabpur, Sadarghat, Sutrapur, Banglabazar, Bakshibazar, Islampur, Hazaribagh and Azimpur.

Apart from the city areas, gas supply in some adjoining areas, including Sonargaon, Meghnaghat and Rupganj in Narayanganj, Gazaria in Munshiganj, Daudkandi, Homna and Titas in Commilla, and Banchharampur and Kachua in Chandpur remains remain suspended.

Besides, at least two power plants will have to suspend their operation for two days due to the suspension of gas supply, official sources said.

The power plants, located in Narayanganj, are state-owned Power Development Board (PDB)'s 50-megawatt Haripur Power Plant and the independent power producer (IPP)'s 100-megawatt NEPC power Plant.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company and Bakhrabad gas company will jointly conduct the repairing works on the 20-inch diameter Bakhrabad-Demra gas transmission line.

Titas gas officials said Dhaka city gets gas supply from four transmission sources: Demra, Joydevpur, Ashulia and Elenga.

Titas Managing Director M Abdullah said that his organisation was trying to arrange alternative system to keep the supply normal in the city. But until now it's not certain.

"Since this is a major repair, so we have alerted people about the non-supply of gas during the repairing work," he said.

He said the capital city normally consumes 220 million cubic feet (mmcf) gas per day. About 100mmcfd gas comes through the Bakhrabad-Demra line.

He noted that he is hopeful that the gas supply would be restored by tomorrow (Monday) midnight and then the consumers would get supply as usual.

Sources said the Titas gas company decided to do the repair as the country's largest power plant-450-MW Meghnaghat plant, which gets supply from Bakhrabad-Demra line--is now under overhauling.

Learning suspension in gas supply for as many as 48 hours, many city dwellers became scared yesterday. They became worried thinking how they would pass the most difficult 48 hours without gas and electricity at a time when a mild cold wave is sweeping across the country, including the capital. Finding no other alternatives, many of them were found rushing to the markets to buy kerosene stoves and firewood. Taking advantage of the situation, dishonest traders raised the prices of kerosene and kerosene stoves.

Many of the residents in the capital also left for the houses of their relatives and friends yesterday as gas supply would remain suspended for two days.

Tagore's medal theft: Accomplice of Jibon Singh held in city

Shiplu

Staff Reporter

Police yesterday arrested one Shiplu, an accomplice of Indian national Jibon Singh, one of the accused in a case in connection with the theft of Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel prize medal.

Disclosing this, an officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID officer told journalists that police have been interrogating Shiplu with alleged links to the theft. He was arrested in a raid from a house in Lalbagh in the capital on Thursday night.

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The Gold Medal of Nobel Prize of Poet Rabindranath Tagore (Thakur) was stolen from Rabindranath Museum sometimes before March 24, 2004.

The Bengali poet, playwright and author, Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for "Geetanjali," a selection of his poetry in 1913. He was the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize. He died in 1941 at the age of 80.

West Bengal Government at a press briefing on March 24, 2004 told the world that the visitors to the Rabindra museum noticed that the gold medal of Poet Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize and other items were missing from a glass showcase.

The burglary triggered global outcry and later Indian police caught two burglars, who confessed that Indian national Jibon Singh and his accomplices assigned them to steal the medal.

Shiplu, who was arrested from Lalbagh, allegedly provided shelter to Jibon Singh in Dhaka.

Additional Superintendent of police (CID) Mohammad Abdullah Arif yesterday said, "Shiplu is one of the accomplices of Jibon Singh, accused of stealing the medal. Jibon Singh is on the run evading arrest."

He said the Indian authorities had already sought cooperation from Dhaka to arrest Singh, who is believed to be hiding in Bangladesh.

In a November 6 overnight operation, RAB raided a shop in Gulshan in search of Tagore's missing medal and arrested the owner of the shop Abul Hossain and two salespersons on suspicion.

Later the two salespersons were released.

Appellate Division’s observation on High Court stay order on Hasina's trial : 'Such defiance is prone to let loose a judicial anarchy’

UNB, Dhaka

A discord between the two wings of the Supreme Court-the High Court Division and the Appellate division-has surfaced over the extortion case against detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who stands trial under the Emergency Power Rules.

The Appellate Division censured two Judges of a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam for their Jan 17 orders. The apex court accused them of tending to let loose a judicial anarchy.

The apple of discord stemmed from a stay and a counter-stay on each other's orders relating to a Tk 3-crore extortion case against Hasina, the formal trial of which started with deposition making by complainant businessman Azam J Chowdhury on January 30.

The HC orders stalled the further proceedings of Hasina's trial by the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge until the disposal of its pending rule that had asked the government to explain why bringing the extortion case for trial under the Emergency Power Rules should not be declared illegal.

The High Court orders said since the rule is otherwise ready for hearing and as the legality of the initiation and continuation of trial pending before the sessions court is dependent on the decision of the rule, it would be just and fair at this stage to stay its further trial proceedings.

Earlier, on July 30 last year, the High Court, following a writ petition filed by Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, issued a rule staying the case proceedings and granting bail to Hasina.

The EPR bars a detained accused from submitting application seeking bail before any court of the country till the case is settled within a specific timeline.

On Jan 24, the Appellate division, while disposing of a government plea seeking stay on the operation of the Jan 17 High Court order, removed the legal hurdles for the trial proceedings with the observations.

The six-member Appellate division, headed by Justice M Fazlul Karim, says in its order, "It's painfully observed that such order is not only illegal and unwarranted but is also made in utter defiance of our earlier orders."

Its earlier orders passed in August last year reversed the High Court orders removing roadblocks towards smooth trial proceedings subject to get the rule heard as early as possible.

The Appellate division order further says, "Such defiance is prone to let loose a judicial anarchy, as such is deprecated and disapproved."

Meanwhile, the concerned High Court division bench started hearing on the pending rule on the validity of the EPR in question since Jan 23 with appointment of a panel of amicus curiae.

The trial of Hasina under the EPR and its validity hearings run simultaneously that resumed on February 4 (Monday).

Hasina was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with the extortion case filed by Azam J Chowdhury with Gulshan police station on June 13 the same year.

Trial of another graft case against Hasina begins today

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that the Government suddenly decided to begin trial of the second graft case against her sensing she could not be punished in Azam J Chowdhury's case.

Her Counsel Advocate Quamrul Islam said this after meeting her at the Special Jail on the premises of Parliament building. Sheikh Hasina is the President of Awami League (AL).

"The Government is clear that I could not be punished in Azam J Chowdhury's case as he did not identify me as an accused in the Court. As such, the Government has hurriedly decided to start trial of the second case," Sheikh Hasina was quoted to have told her visiting lawyer in the prison, where she is detained.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court, set up at the MP Hostel in Parliament Building, is scheduled to begin hearing another graft case for allegedly taking Tk 3 crore extortion money from two business houses- Summit Group and United Group.

"Expressing deep concern about the fairness of the trial of the new case, Sheikh Hasina apprehended that she might not get justice," said Advocate Quamrul Islam, who is also the Acting General Secretary of Dhaka City AL. Senior Advocate Golam Arif Tipu was also present during the two-hour meeting. He however, did not talk to the media.

Meanwhile, Acting AL President Zillur Rahman yesterday demanded the release of all 'political detainees', including party Chief Sheikh Hasina, and holding the general election in a free, fair and credible manner immediately.

"We are demanding of the Caretaker Government to free all the political detainees, including our leader Sheikh Hasina immediately," Zillur Rahman told a press conference, adding, "We want to see the general election is held in a free and fair manner as early as possible."

Held at the party's Dhanmondi office in the morning on conclusion on the AL's relief operation to help Cyclone Sidr victims, the press conference was attended, among others, by its Relief Committee Chairman Abdur Razzak and AL Presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofael Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Begum Matia Chowdhury and Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraf Hossain.

AL Relief Committee for Sidr victims, led by its Presidium member Abdur Razzak, presented statistics on relief materials, including the cash, distributed by the party among Sidr victims in the country's southwestern districts, to the journalists.

Zillur Rahman also urged the Caretaker Government to lift the state of emergency soon saying that their struggle for the freedom of Sheikh Hasina and restoration of democracy would continue until their demands are met.

He thanked the AL leaders and activists both at home and abroad for their outstanding efforts to help the thousands of Sidr-affected people.

"Soon after Cyclone Sidr hit the country, our party chief Sheikh Hasina had directed us to stand by its victims. Then we formed a committee to send relief materials for the victims. Our party leaders and workers both at home and abroad have come forward with outstanding efforts in aid of the Sidr victims. I, on behalf of my party, thank the warriors," Zillur said.

Relief Committee Chairman Abdur Razzak told journalists that since January 31, a total of Tk 1,78,61,170 was deposited to the relief fund and the whole amount has been distributed as aid for the Sidr victims of 10 districts.

"The entire money has been collected from AL workers across the country and abroad during the last two and half months' relief activities. We have spent the money first for those families who've lost their members in the Sidr attack," he said.

"Money has also been spent by providing clothes, rice, pulse and a big amount was spent on agri-rehabilitation programmes in the affected areas," he said, adding, "Medicines for thousands of people were also provided under the supervision of the Relief Committee."

Razzak said their relief activities for the Sidr victims have come to an end now, but money and other relief materials are still coming in and that will be deposited to AL 's central relief fund.

Int'l recession, labour unrest in RMG sector: Does Bangladesh face export downturn like Cambodia?

Staff Reporter

Does Bangladesh face downturn in garment exports like Cambodia due to economic recession in the United States and continuing labour disputes at home?

This question has become relevant as Cambodian readymade garment exports plummeted by 46 per cent during the last quarter of 2007 due to these two factors, chairman of the Cambodian Garment Manufacturers Association Van Sou Ieng was quoted by AFP as saying.

President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez said, "Country's RMG export was on the right track until January. The ongoing labour unrest is yet to show any adverse effect. But then it will hit hard the industry if it continues."

He said the US economic recession will continue for the next 6/7 years. If Bangladesh fails to handle the labour issues it will fail to get advantage of the New Partnership Development Bill. And this may result in a fall in export to the US.

"Labour issue is one of the main concerns in the US," he said.

Parvez said the ongoing labour unrest is hampering production in the factories, increasing the cost of goods and also casting negative impacts on the country's image.

"The industry leaders, government and also the media have to tactfully handle the labour issue to keep the sector alive."

Bangladesh's labour unrest is mainly linked to low wages and unfavourable working environment in the factories. Continuous deprivation of the workers by the factory owners and misbehaviour by the mid-level management creates unrest among the RMG workers.

However, the factory owners always have denied the allegations. They said most of the factories have implemented the government fixed low wages and are paying the other facilities in line with the labour laws.

Bangladesh's RMG export increased significantly in the last couple of years and last year export earnings from it reached US$ 7.8 billion. During the July-November period of fiscal year 2007-08 woven export fell by 3.17 per cent while knitwear export increased by 6.19 per cent.

An economic downturn in the United States, which buys 70 per cent of all Cambodian textiles, and continuing domestic labour disputes contributed to the plunge, said Van Sou Ieng, chairman of the Garment Manufacturers' Association of Cambodia.

Until last year, the sector had enjoyed annual growth of up to 20 per cent, he added. But export growth for all of 2007 stood at only 2.4 per cent, representing 2.9 billion dollars, Van Sou Ieng told AFP, adding that the outlook for 2008 'surely was not good.'

"Definitely some factories will close, some people will lose their jobs," he said adding deteriorating labour relations are also weakening the sector.

Industry officials said an estimated 1,100 separate unions are operating in Cambodia's 300 garment factories, with some manufacturers having to deal with as many as seven workers' groups at one time.

The minimum wage for garment workers in Cambodia hovers around 50 dollars per month, the AFP report adds.

Bodies of 11 Bangladeshi workers to be flown back

Staff Reporter

Bodies of 11 Bangladeshi construction workers who were killed in a tragic road accident in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night will be brought back to the country soon.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has taken necessary measures to send back the bodies of the Bangladeshi workers to the country, said sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

The bodies are likely to reach Bangladesh very soon, one of the sources said.

The eleven Bangladeshi workers and three Pakistanis were killed and 16 others injured in the road accident at Aqaik, near Dammam, some 400 kms off capital Riyadh, around 6:00pm Saudi time on Thursday.

The dead Bangladeshis were identified as Arifur Rahman, son of Tayebur Rahman, Abdul Kader, son of Akbar, Monirul Islam, son of Khokon Ali, Mintu, son of Halim Mannan, Abdul Halim, son of Habibullah, Mahbubur Rahman, son of Ahad Ali, Al-Amin Khan, son of Ziauddin, Billal, son of Muzahid, Solaiman, son of Mohammad Khurshid, Selim Mia, son of Shahadat, and Yasin.

The accident happened as a bus carrying the workers from their work site to their hostel collided with a pick-up van at Aqaik around 9:00pm Bangladesh time on Thursday.

Quoting Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ikramul Huque, the sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The New Nation yesterday that the dead bodies were sent to the morgue of a hospital in Dammam for postmortem. After the postmortem, the bodies will be sent to Dhaka.

All the dead Bangladeshis were construction workers and nine of them were working for the Saudi Electric Company, a source said.

A few of the injured, whose conditions were not very critical, were admitted to a hospital in Dammam, King Fahd Hospital and Al Aqaik General Hospital.

The Foreign Ministry source said the Bangladesh Embassy officials have already contacted with the employers to pay any outstanding salaries and other facilities and insurance benefits of the deceased workers. The authorities will also probe the accident and the responsible will have to compensate for the loss of lives and injuries to the workers.

But, it will be difficult to realise compensation for any irregular worker, the Foreign Ministry source also said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekher Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday also instructed to immediately bring back bodies of Bangladeshi workers from Saudi Arabia.

The Adviser, also in-charge of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, gave the instruction while talking to Foreign

Secretary M Tawhid Hossain over telephone from Gaibandha.

Chowdhury, in a condolence message, expressed profound shock at the death of Bangladeshi construction workers. He prayed for the salvation of the departed souls and conveyed sympathy to the members of the bereaved families.

The adviser said the bodies of the Bangladeshi workers would be flown in as soon as possible.

He also said the Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia has been instructed to send an elaborate report on the cause of the accident.

Saudi Arabia is the largest labour market for Bangladesh with around 15 lakh Bangladeshis working there.

European Parliament members for lifting emergency

UNB, Dhaka

A group of European Parliament members urged the caretaker government to lift the state of emergency and announce an election date as soon as possible.

In a joint statement they expressed concern over recent political developments in Bangladesh as well as health condition of detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"As members of the European Parliament we are ready to support further cooperation with Bangladesh as a long lasting development partner, if the present government restores civic and political liberties and arranges as soon as possible free and fair democratic elections under the presence of international observers," they said.

Some 21 members of European parliament issued the statement on January 22 which was released by Awami League office on Saturday. The signatories include Michael Gahler (Germany), member of the sub-committee on Human Rights and Vice-Chairman of the committee on Foreign Affairs, Johan Van Parke (Belgium), Dr Charles Pannock (UK), Eija-Rika Konhola (Finland), Baroness Sarah Lubford (UK), Sajjad M Karim (UK), Ignasi Guardans Cambo (Spain), Dan Mulder (Netherlands), Toina Manders (Netherlands), Irena Belochorske (Slovakia), Therry Cornillet (France), Luisa Morgantini (Italy) and Maroo Cappato (Italy).

They said the Bangladesh caretaker government has declared to have taken several measures to fight corruption, restore law and order and reform institutions.

However, they noted recent reports on 'systematic oppression and implication of party leaders under the Emergency Rules have caused serious concern.'

"We have learnt that the human rights situation in Bangladesh is deteriorating day by day. We believe that the government can make progress through negotiations and dialogue with all the political actors," they observed.

They said, "Furthermore, we are faced with alarming reports on the physical conditions of former Prime Minister H.E. Sheikh Hasina, who has been in jail for several months now, even though she is advised by specialists to get medical treatment aboard. We, therefore, emphasise the need for additional measures to address shortcomings in the implementation of justice."

Foreign jobs for monga-hit people

UNB, Gaibandha

Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said it was the policy of the government to encourage more people from the 'monga' areas of greater Rangpur region to obtain foreign employment.

Iftekhar who is also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment made the remarks at a gathering of officials, media and public representatives at Gaibandha Circuit House Friday evening.

The Foreign Adviser said measures were being adopted to upgrade skills of workers through technical training institutes throughout North Bengal.

He said six such institutes were already operating in the region and three more will be opened

The Advisor paid a visit to the Technical Training Centre (TTC) in Bogra earlier Friday.

Iftekhar stressed the fact that the country has no option but to achieve self-sufficiency in food and to that end the 'boro' harvest this season will be most significant.

He hoped that Gaibandha would be surplus district and assured all concerned that the government will ensure adequate supplies of inputs. The Advisor informed the meeting that the purpose of the Advisory Council meeting in Rangpur was to take the government to the doorsteps of people.

He expressed the hope that more such Advisory Council meetings would be held away from the capital.

2 held with heroin worth Tk 2cr

Staff Reporter

Two persons along with heroin worth Tk 2 crore were arrested by the officials of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) from the city's Uttara area early yesterday.

The DNC officials conducted a raid into a residential flat at the 3rd floor of House No. 3, Sector No. 14 at Uttara after Friday midnight and seized heroin weighing 2kgs 300 grams worth Tk 2 crore and about Tk 70,000 in cash searching different rooms of the flat.

Besides, two drug traders---Jalaluddin and Jasim-were arrested by the DNC officials from the flat. A case was filed against the arrested persons with the Uttara Police Station.

Khaleda asks party to join elections: Saifur welcomes her unity call

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has directed her party leaders to participate in the coming general elections, with or without her.

Her counsel Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, who met her on Friday at the Special Jail on the premises of Parliament building, told a private TV channel yesterday.

Meanwhile, BNP Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman yesterday welcomed Begum Zia's call for reunification of the party.

The former Finance Minister, who was appointed by the BNP Standing Committee late last year as the party Acting Chairman and Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed as Acting Secretary General thereby creating a separate party faction parallel to the one led by Begum Zia appointed Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hoosain, appreciated her call in an exclusive interview with Channel I private tv yesterday.

"I shall not block the way of the reunification of the party," M Saifur Rahman said, adding, "To my mind, Begum Zia will have reconsider her decision to expel two party leaders (Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain) if she wants unity of the party."

Dropping a broad hint that he would relinquish his post for its reunification, the top BNP reformist made the comment a day after his meeting with Khandaker Delwar appointed Acting Office Secretary Rizvee Ahmed.

Party sources said Rizvee Ahmed might have conveyed Saifur Rahman a message from Begum Zia, who is dictating her party through her lawyers, who often visit her in the prison.

Rizvee Ahmed visited Saifur Rahman's Gulshan residence on Friday evening.

Earlier, Saifur had an exclusive meeting with Major Hafiz at his residence.

Council of Advisers meets: Full-fledged varsity to be set up in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

The Council of Advisers of Bangladesh caretaker government at a meeting here yesterday decided to set up a full-fledged university in Rangpur.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed presided over the meeting held at the local Circuit House.

Advisers of the caretaker government and special assistants to the chief adviser attended the meeting held for the first time outside Dhaka with an aim to bring the government to the doorstep of people.

"Directive has been given to start work for preparing a project for the university in Rangpur," the chief adviser said while talking to journalists after the meeting.

The meeting also decided to expedite the ongoing initiatives of the government for agricultural diversification, employment generation and expansion of massive tourism considering the different historic sites in the northern region.

It directed the authorities concerned for vigorous and round-the-clock monitoring to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and fertiliser, and irrigation during the upcoming IRRI-Boro season.

However, the council has formed a committee headed by Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman to formulate a work plan for an integrated and speedy step to solve the multi-dimensional 'monga' in the region.

The meeting directed the authorities concerned to make programmes on a priority basis to construct and repair roads, rail lines, culverts and bridges in the region.

It was informed that the government had received a proposal from expatriate Bangladeshis to run Biman services at Syedpur, Ishwardi and Thakurgaon airports.

The meeting directed the ministries concerned to make Biral, Banglaband and Sonarhat land ports effective with an aim to expedite economic activities in the northern region.

The council gave responsibilities to the secretary of the chief adviser's office to take steps for creating skilled manpower by integrating training programmes conducted by various ministries, separately in the northern districts.

The meeting was informed that the government is actively considering providing licences for various recruiting agencies in the areas aiming at increasing exports of local manpower to boost the economy.

The council also directed the authorities concerned to take steps for ensuring adequate doctors, nurses and other manpower in the hospitals to improve health services in the region.

The meeting was informed that the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs would look after the affairs of the "Begum Rokeya Memorial Centre" at Pairabandh of Mithapukur upazila and formulate a work plan within the next three months for development of the centre.

Later, the chief adviser at a press briefing at Rangpur Circuit House this afternoon said the government for the first time has been brought to the doorstep of the people by holding such meeting of the council outside Dhaka. "Holding such meeting outside Dhaka will contribute a lot to solve local problems to a great extent," he added.

Replying to a question, he said the government will take steps to implement the development proposals for the region gradually.

Responding to another question, he said hopes and aspiration of the people are to hold a free, fair and credible election so that the honest and competent persons could win the polls.

About preparation of a correct voter list, he said a flawless electoral roll would help make all elections transparent in future.

The chief adviser said the government has a plan to hold such meetings in other areas of the country.

Two suspected extremists shot dead

UNB, Pabna

Terrorists shot dead two suspected extremists at remote Ramnarayanpur in Bera upazila on Friday night.

Police recovered the bodies from the bank of the Padma river Saturday morning and sent to Pabna General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police said outlawed party member Bacchu,20, of Bera upazila, and his unidentified associate, aged about 27, were shot and then slaughtered by their rival party members at sometime Friday night.

They were wanted in various cases including of robbery and murder, police said. A case was filed with Bera thana in connection with the double murder.

Move to bring Quazis under LGRD ministry protested

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Marriage Registrars' Association urged the government not to bring the marriage registration sector under the Local Government Ministry from the Law Ministry.

They also urged the government not to introduce the new provision of making compulsory payment of 80 per cent of Marriage Registration fees to the Government exchequer as revenue, as the act would impact gravely on the livelihood of the Marriage Registrars in the country.

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The Association made the demands at a press conference in the National Press Club yesterday. President of the Association Moulana Ruhul Amin read out the paper.

He said, they would go for tough action programmes, if the Government denies their demands.

He said it tarnishes their image and social status, if they were brought under the Union Council Chairman they night become victims of village politics.

"The interference of the chairman may hamper in the marriage registrars' regular official activities," he added.

Secretary general of the Association Moulana Abdul Hye Talukder, leaders of the Marriage Registrars Moulana Mobarak Hossain Farazee, Moulana Shamsul Haque and Moulana Alamgir Hossain, among others, were present at the conference.

The Association leaders said the area allocated to a marriage registrar was comparatively smaller than before. Their livelihood depends on the profession only, they added.