The New Nation - Internet Edition

Demarcation of constituencies: Polls won’t be hampered due to litigation

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman
addressing a press conference after holding the party's
relief committee meeting at its Dhanmondi office on
Saturday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

The forthcoming general elections would not be hampered if aggrieved persons file writ petitions against the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said this yesterday while addressing a view-exchange meeting on the activities of formulating voter list at Chouddogram Upazila Parishad office.

He said City Corporation elections will be held in April ahead of the general elections. Earlier, debates will be held among the mayoral candidates to ensure the public representatives' accountability.

"Massive discussion is taking place on delimitation issue. There are clear directions about demarcation in article 125 of the Constitution," he said hoping that holding national elections in time would not be hampered due to the writ petition against delimitating the constituencies.

Sakhawat Hossain said according to the current census report, each constituency would be of 415,000 to 435,000 populations.

As of now, some 3.1 crore voters have been registered on the voter list with the direct assistance of the army.

He said preparation of voter list with photographs is a gigantic task and there could be some negligible faults.

"City Corporation elections are to be held in April this year. At that time, debates will be arranged among the mayoral candidates to ensure the public representatives' accountability," The Election Commissioner said.

He said the EC is formulating such laws, rules and codes of conduct that could also be used to hold fair elections in future. He said, government, non-government and army officials of the locality, Union Parishad chairmen and members, and heads of educational institutions were present at the meeting.

300 shanties gutted in city

Slum dwellers now living under the open sky as about
300 shanties were gutted in a devastating fire at Ganderia
in the city on Friday night. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

At least 300 shanties were gutted in a devastating fire that broke out in a slum at Gendaria in the city yesterday.

The fire originated from a shanty at Gendaria Railway Station slum at 1:00am from an electric short circuit and soon spread to the 300 or so shanties, according to the Fire Brigade.

On information, fire-fighters from Postogola, Sadarghat and Fire Headquarters rushed in and doused the blaze after one hour of frantic efforts with the help of local people. One was hurt in the blaze.

The affected people claimed that the extent of the loss from the fire could be over Tk 15 lakh.

Sarkozy marries Bruni

Sarkozy and Bruni

BBC Online

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has married his girlfriend, former model Carla Bruni, in Paris, according to the mayor who performed the ceremony.

Francois Lebel told French Europe-1 radio that the bride wore white and looked "ravishing, as usual".

Earlier, French radio station RTL said the couple wed at the Elysee Palace, the president's official residence.

Sarkozy's romance with Bruni has been the subject of intense speculation in the French press for several months. The president divorced his ex-wife, Cecilia, in October 2007. Sarkozy, 53, and Ms Bruni, 40, were married in the presence of close family and friends, Lebel said.

He added that the ceremony was "a moment of family intimacy for the young newlyweds, of great simplicity and apparently a lot of affection between the spouses".

There has been no official confirmation of the marriage from the president's office.

Lebel called it a "historic moment" and said it was the first time a French president had married while in office.

The couple reportedly met in November, soon after Sarkozy's divorce.

They went public with their relationship during a visit to Disneyland Paris, and they remained in the spotlight during trips to Egypt and Jordan.

Chadian rebels occupy capital, President seized

Idriss Deby

AFP, Ndjamena

Chadian rebels seized the capital Ndjamena Saturday after three hours of fighting with government troops, and President Idriss Deby Itno remained at the presidential palace, a military source said.

"The whole of the city is in the hands of the rebels. It's down to mopping-up operations," the source said, adding that Deby was "still in the presidential palace".

Clashes began around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of the capital, rebels and military sources said, while a French army source later said around 2,000 rebels were engaged in fierce battles with government troops in the city.

The intense gunfire heard in Ndjamena throughout the morning became more sporadic around 12 noon (1100 GMT), an AFP journalist here said.

GMG spreads wings to Dubai from today

Staff Reporter

GMG Airlines, the country's largest and leading private airline, launches its Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka service from today (Sunday).

The flight, a 747-300 Boeing aircraft, will leave Dhaka for Dubai at 2:15pm.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Jamil is likely to inaugurate the GMG's maiden Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka flight at Zia International Airport as chief guest.

With GMG Airlines launching Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka service, the airlines sources said the new airline would play an important role in giving Bangladesh tourism a much-needed boost.

The GMG Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the GMG Group of Companies, has started its operation to the Middle East with a daily flight to Dubai.

The sources at GMG Airlines, operating domestic, regional, and international services, said that they would launch passenger services to Singapore, Kuwait, Muscat, and Karachi in May 2008, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah in December 2008, and make its European debut with flights to London Heathrow and Milan in the 1st quarter of 2009.

GMG Airlines is the first and only private airline in Bangladesh flying overseas. The airline has 216 flights each week worldwide, while it flies over 8,100 seats internationally per week.

The airline was established in 1997 and started operations on April 6, 1998. It is wholly owned by the industrial conglomerate GMG Group. GMG's current international destinations are Kolkata, Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. It began with domestic operations and launched international services on September 8, 2004, with a service from Chittagong to Kolkata. GMG began regular flights to Bangkok, Delhi, and Kathmandu on October 20, 2006. It started services to Kuala Lumpur on January 24, 2007.

GMG Airlines operates services to the following destinations:

In Bangladesh, Barisal (Barisal Airport), Chittagong (Shah Amanat International Airport), Cox's Bazar (Cox's Bazar Airport), Dhaka (Zia International Airport), Jessore (Jessore Airport), Sylhet (Osmani International Airport).

In South Asia, the airline operates flights to Kolkata (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport), New Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport), Kathmandu, Nepal (Tribhuvan International Airport). It will start flight operations to Karachi, Pakistan (Jinnah International Airport) this year.

In Southeast Asia, GMG Airlines has planned to operate flights to

Hong Kong (Hong Kong International Airport), Singapore (Singapore Changi Airport), Kuwait (Kuwait International Airport)

Muscat (Seeb International Airport), Doha (Doha International Airport), Dammam (King Fahd International Airport), Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International Airport), Riyadh (King Khalid International Airport), Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Dubai International Airport),

Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi International Airport), Milan, Italy (Malpensa International Airport), London, United Kingdom (London Heathrow Airport).

S Korea largest investor in Bangladesh

Mashiur Rahaman

South Korea is reported to be the single largest foreign investor country in Bangladesh in terms of number of investments. The country alone operates 57 industries with 100 per cent ownerships in 10 different Export Processing Zones (EPZs) across the country.

S Korean companies have also established three companies under joint venture agreements with local companies, information revealed by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA).

According to their statistics, total 156 foreign companies with 100 per cent ownership have set-up their industries in different EPZs. Among them, S Korea alone is the largest investor in terms of number. Investment of Japan comes second with 22 complete Japanese ownership and two others in joint venture.

In S Korean investments, RMG and garment accessories production sector were on the top. Total 40 S Korean companies are involved in it. Beside that, production of plastic goods is the second largest S Korean investment sector, the report informed.

Other investment sectors are the footwear, leather goods, metal industry, electronic items and many others, the BEPZA statistics revealed.

Production of electronics and electrical items are the main attention for Japanese investment. Japanese targets total 11 out of 22 complete ownership and one out of two joint venture investments in this particular sector. Plastic goods, metal items and RMG industries attracted remaining Japanese investment, the statistics stated.

Among other major investors in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China stands in the first row. Individually China has set up three complete ownership and six joint venture companies in EPZ areas.

But joint ventures companies by China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have established 23 absolute ownership industries.

In Joint venture agreements with Bangladeshi companies, this triangular alliance has invested to establish seven industries in Bangladesh.

Among the SAARC members, India alone is the largest investor country, holds 11 complete ownership industries and five joint venture industries in BEPZA areas.

Second position goes to Pakistan. The country has established two industries with 100 per cent ownership and also has four others in joint ventures with local companies.

USA and UK operates eight industries each with complete ownership where as Germany operates four, Canada three, Malaysia seven, the statistics further mentioned.

In sector wise investment in different EPZs in Bangladesh, RGM and garment sector have attracted maximum investments. Total 49 RMG and garments accessories producing industries are completely owned and operated by foreign investors. Textile industries are in the second position to attract foreign investment in Bangladesh, where the number is 38 with complete foreign ownership.

Other 10 plastic goods production industries, six agro processing, eight metal industries and 13 electrical items manufacturing companies are absolutely owned by foreign investments, which has been set up in Bangladesh.

According to the Executive Chairman BEPZA Brig. Gen. Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf, this rapidly growing foreign investment in Bangladesh is no longer a matter of surprise in the present global scenario.

"We have stopped issuing plots allocation to garments industries in all our EPZs. Still now, the number of applications we are receiving from foreign investors, we would need to establish another 10 EPZs to accommodate these companies," he said while addressing a press conference at his BEPZA office earlier.

According to him, the BEPZA has earned total US$451.82 million during the first half of 2007-08 FY from investment accords. It was net 36 percent growth against the previous years earning of US$333.72 million.

Moreover, export from the BEPZA during the first half of 2007-08 FY also grew to US$1076.96 million against US$1015million in the same period of the previous fiscal," he additionally added.

"Now what we need is to establish more EPZs as early as possible. Because the investors are showing their interest on Bangladesh for some geopolitical advantages," he said.

If we can't provide land for establishing these industries, our competitors like India, China, Thailand, Vietnam would avail the opportunity, he ended.

Six robbers held, stolen car recovered

Staff Reporter

Six members of an organised gang of robbers were arrested by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in the city yesterday.

Besides, a private car was recovered from their possession. The DB sources said the arrested robbers intercepted a Toyota Corolla XE Salon private car (Dhaka Metro Ga-15-4945) at Kakoli area in Banani at about 8:00pm on January 28 last introducing themselves as the members of the DB of police.

Afterward, they forced the private car driver Habibur to get into their car and took control of the private car.

At one stage, they crossed the Mohakhali flyover and fled with the private car beating the driver up.

Following the incident, driver Habibur filed a case with the Gulshan Police Station and the case was handed over to the DB.

Taking over the case, the DB members arrested Towhidur Rahman Towhid from Mirpur area along with the plaintiff's looted mobile phone. After interrogating them, the detectives arrested Biplob Ali Molla alias Asad, 35. During interrogation, Asad disclosed the names of other robbers.

According to their confessions, the detectives later arrested Shamsul Alam, 45, Mofiz, 38, Suruj Mia, 41 and Abul Kalam, 31. Besides, the detectives recovered the private car from South Kuril area.

The DB said the arrested persons were the members of an organised gang of robbers. Legal steps have been taken against them.

Two cocktails hurled at Dr Arefin’s flat

UNB, Dhaka

Miscreants hurled two cocktails targeting the flat of former president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique at North Road of Green Road in the city Saturday evening.

Witnesses said the miscreants hurled the two cocktails at about 7:25pm. "One of the cocktails went off with a big bang on the first floor balcony of the four-storied building, while another was recovered live in front of the main gate of the house," said a neighbour.

When contacted, Dr Arefin, a professor of Dhaka Univer-sity's Mass Communi-cation and Journalism department, confirmed the incident.

"I was not at home when the incident took place and no one was hurt in it," he said.

Climate change: Bangladesh faces serious threat

BSS, Dhaka

Most people in Bangladesh think that climate change is confusing; they can't see how it relates to them; won't affect them personally; is a problem for the future, not now; and can't be affected by their individual actions, because the problem is so big".These are the challenges we need to face for fighting climate change, leading expert and IUCN Bangladesh country director Dr Ainun Nishat told environmental journalists and added," We can prepare for the challenges if we believe something can be done. Firstly, we need to change these attitudes".

Climate change, Dr Nishat asserted, is happening now. Bangladesh is already suffering from its present impacts, said another climate scientist and BIDS research director Dr M Asaduzzaman. Quoting current scientific understanding, globally acclaimed climate scientist Dr Atiq A Rahman of BCAS warned, the state of well-being and survival of the people in Bangladesh will be under serious threat from climate change over the coming decades.

They echoed each other saying, particularly the poorest of the poor of Bangladesh are the most vulnerable to the climate threats and they already are and will continue to suffer most .

Extreme weather and events like cyclone, flood, storm surges will intensify, becomes more frequent and unpredictable, the climate experts told members of FEJB at their 12 biennial general meeting held here.

Changes in the temperature and rainfall pattern will be significant, with grave implications on our natural resources base, agriculture and related sectors.

Livelihood at risk droughts and flash foods, untimely hailstorm, mists will increase and take place more frequently. In addition, changes that take place gradually over years and sometimes decades, such as salinity intrusion, desertification and sea level rise will compound our risks and national development goals, particularly poverty reductions.

" As a nation we must face up to this challenge. For Bangladesh, climate change is everyone's concern," said FEJB chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury.

" Therefore we must all understand the challenge and act now. Everyone has a stake and therefore a role to play in their respective capacity. Adequate and appropriate understanding of climate challenges begins with accurate information, knowledge and communication," he added.

" We need to help people understand that climate change is a serious challenge, but one that we can do something about. We want to communicate a positive vision of what we are collectively trying to achieve," said Mohammad Reazuddin of DOE.

Mohammad Kamaluddin of climate cell of DOE underscored the need for working together to prepare and address climate change challenges faced by this generation and generations to come.

" Initially we need to focus on making climate change easily understood and a 'here and now', front of mind' issue. We also want people to have an increased awareness of what needs to be done to tackle it. We want to avoid giving the impression that it is solely the responsibility of individuals to take action. Everyone in society- government and its agencies, business, industry and the public-needs to tackle climate change together," emphasised Dr Atiq.

They also pointed out that among the general public, few people understand what is actually causing climate change. The first and most important thing is to change the way people think about climate change. Then we can try to change their behaviour, they added.

Call to enact law for making Bengali a court language

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a press conference demanded of the Government to enact a law for making Bengali as court's language and give state honour to the language heroes.

They also urged the Government to formulate a language policy in the country.

They were speaking at a press conference organised by the Bhasha Andolon Museum at its Dhanmondi office in the city yesterday.

Presided over by Begum Piary Mahbub, Convener, Bhasha Andolon Museum, Prof Munsur Musa, former Director General, Bangla Academy, Prof AKM Fazlul Haque, Chairman, Department of Bengali , University of Dhaka, Syed Ziaul Haque and Mili Rahman, among others, addressed the press conference.

M R Mahbub, member secretary , Bhasha Andolon Museum, in his written speech said the Central Shaheed Minar should be taken under the government management.

He alleged that only on February 21, the Government shows their responsibilities by decorating the monument.

The Government should take the state guests to the Shaheed Minar to honour the language heroes he said adding, the language heroes are also to be buried with state honour like freedom fighters.

Prof Munsur Musa said, ''Though we fought for our mother language, we are yet to formulate the language policy in Bangladesh.''

Prof AKM Fazlul Haque said in all forms of education, learning Bengali is to be mandatory.

The students of the English medium do not know the history and culture of their own country that is why they tend to follow the foreign culture rather than their own.

They stressed the need for launching a social movement to press home the demands.

Bird flu watch: Virus detected in dead crow in Ctg

Staff Reporter

Around 22,000 chickens of eight poultry farms were culled in Savar and more than 1,600 domestic fowls were culled in Gopalganj yesterday after the detection of Avian Influenza, virus of bird flu.

Another case of bird flu was detected in a dead crow in Pathantuli in Chittagong.

In Savar, livestock officials conducted the culling operation with the help of joint forces. As some chickens of Rahman poultry farm of Kuturia at Ashulia died on Wednesday the fram owner sent the sample of dead chickens to Livestock Research centre in the upazila.

As the disease was detected, 1,550 chickens of the farm were culled on Friday night.

Livestock authority culled yesterday around 22,000 chickens of eight other farms located within one kilometre of Rahman poultry. Those included 7,800 chickens of Dipa poultry, 2,500 of SA poultry, 3,135 of Munnu and Muku poultry, 2,030 of Haji poultry, 2,200 of Tasmina poultry, 1,100 of Salam poultry, 1,400 of Zubair poultry and 1,150 of Happy poultry.

In Gopalganj, our correspondent said two officials of the local veterinary hospital examined the samples of the chickens of the farm of one M Abu Hossain of Thanapara Friday night and detected avian influenza, virus of bird flu.

The livestock officials with the help of district and police administrations conducted a drive in 208 homesteads of the area from Friday midnight to 5:00am yesterday.

During the drive, some 762 chickens, 524 pigeons and 316 ducks were culled and buried underneath the ground.

Meanwhile, the district administration yesterday decided to cull some 7,000 chickens in Shailkupa upazila headquarters in Jhenaidah district after detection of bird flu.

In Chittagong, the discovery prompted an emergency meeting of senior officials from district administration of Chittagong, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and district livestock office yesterday to draw out prevention measures.

The entry of poultry and eggs from outside the district has been strictly controlled and two check posts have been set up at Shubhapur Bridge and Mirersarai police station to spray disinfectant.

The district administration and CCC have opened control rooms in addition to spraying 'Vicron' in high-risk markets of the port city everyday.

Ashraf Shamim, Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong, said, "Bird flu has been found in a crow, but the virus has not been found in any chicken or eggs anywhere in the district."

The district administration had directed upazila officers to ensure the cleanliness of markets and spray disinfectant in poultry retailers' shops, he said.

Initiatives have also been taken to monitor all poultry farms and raise awareness among the workers and owners.

Khairul Alam, Chief Executive Officer of CCC, said the cleanliness drive had been intensified in the city from yesterday and adding, "Not only poultry shops, but also market refuse dumps are being sprayed. Ward commissioners are supervising the work."

Meanwhile, Abdul Mannan, Chittagong district livestock officer, confirmed that no bird flu virus had yet been detected in any chicken or duck in Chittagong.

Chittagong has no laboratory to test for the virus, he said and adding, "Specimens have to be sent to FDIL in Feni for testing. It takes a few days to get a report back from them."

"Only the dead crow found in Pathantuli had been sent for testing The Directorate of Livestock has the necessary vaccines and medicines to meet any epidemic including bird flu," said the district livestock officer.

Sales intensify as close nears : Huge rush at trade fair

Staff Reporter

The Dhaka International Trade Fair experienced huge crowd on Saturday, the weekly holiday, as people rushed there to buy necessary household items before the trade event concludes.

The month long fair which began January 1 is scheduled to end on February 7 as the organisers have extended it for a week.

Mahiuddin Khan Moin of Jubok Ceramic expressed his satisfaction with the daily turnover and said his products have attained huge customer attention in the fair.

In the Jubok Ceramic stall a well-designed mug is selling between Tk 25 and Tk 150, a flower vase between Tk 200 and Tk 400, show-piece between Tk 30 and Tk 1,500, bowls between Tk 40 and Tk 300 and flower tub between Tk 150 and Tk 300.

Stall attended Shafiqul Islam said nearly 800 different ceramic products are available in the stall. They have already received huge sales order both from the local and international buyers.

Harun-ur-Rashid, owner of the Asian Textile Mills Ltd said, from the very first day of this year's fair, sales has been satisfactory.

At the fag end of the fair, sale of goods increased a lot. "We re happy that the organisers have extended the time of the fair favouring us for some extra sale," Harun said.

He said the Asian Textile brought some new products in this fair like the previous years, which have attracted people's attention.

Rush of customers was also seen in the stalls and pavilions of the mobile telephone service providers as most of those came with special offers. GrameenPhone, Banglalink, Teletalk, RanksTel and Dhaka Phone are offering different special packages and spot service in the fair ground.

Grameenphone is providing on the spot solutions to the GP Internet users.

Banglalink is giving Tk 50 reduction for each new connection with free talk times. Teletalk also offering different facilities on the occasion of trade fair.

RanksTel is selling its pre-paid package at Tk 3,500 while two post paid connections with phone set at Tk 6,500 and three at Tk 9,500. Dhaka Phone is selling pre-paid package at Tk 2500 while only connections at Tk 75.

Unity against 'unethical’ globalisation stressed

Staff Reporter

Global Economic Justice Forum (GEJF) yesterday, announced an 11-point charter of demands for establishing economic justice in the world with equal participation of small and large countries.

The NGO platform has called upon all to be united against unethical and cruel process of globalisation that has turned human lives and civilisations into goods of corporate business.

Mohsin Ali, Organising Member of the forum read out the written announcement at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium in the city.

Organising Members Ahmed Swapon, Ashraful Alam Tutu, Rafiqul Alam and Aminul Rasul Babul also addressed the function. Members of the forum Hilal Fayejee, Abdul Awal, Firoja Begum, Imam Uddin, Pradip Kumar and Dipu Hasan also attended the press conference.They stressed on building a hunger free and exploitation free world. They urged the world community to work for humanitarian globalisation and to resist all kinds of communalism and racism. They said along with Neo-liberalisaton, aggressive corporate trade is going on in the world recklessly. "Only few developed countries are enjoying the sole benefit of it. Free market economy has turned into an open plundering ground. As a result economic injustice has been mounting."

They said decision-making authority of the less-developed countries including Bangladesh is being curtailed due to the pressure of multinational lending agencies. The foreigners are unwarrantedly intruding into natural resources, infrastructures and homogeneous cultures of the nation.

The GEJF earlier organised a three-day international conference in Dhaka from January 29 to January 31 to raise voice against worldwide economic exploitation in the name of globalisation. More than 50 organisations both local and foreign took part in the conference.