The New Nation - Internet Edition

Gen Moeen hands over flats in army village

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed handing
over the ownership of 10 flats of Senapalli Project to
recipients at Khejurtak, Savar, Dhaka on Sunday. Banglar
Chokh

BSS, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday handed over newly built residential flats of the army village project to 10 buyers at Khejurtek in Savar.

These 10 flats are located on different floors of the first building of the project. The army chief also laid the foundation of the second building on the same site, an ISPR press release said here.

After handing over keys of the flats, General Moeen said the project was undertaken to solve the personal accommodation problem of the army personnel.

"The army village project being constructed in a planned and cost effective manner with all facilities is expected to ensure a healthy, beautiful and disciplined atmosphere for the next generations of army personnel to help them grow as worthy citizen," he said.

The project was undertaken at the personal initiative of the Army Chief to build 40 buildings with 685 flats on a 632-decimal area for the families of in-service and retired GCO's as well as those of other ranks in the army at Khejurtek, three kilometers to the west of Savar cantonment, the press release said.

As part of the project, it said, construction of the first building was done by the Area Welfare Trust, Savar under the overall management and supervision of the 6th Engineer Battalion of the army.

Quarter Master General Lieutenant General Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Savar Area Commander Major General Mohammad Ashab Uddin and other high army and civil officials were present on the occasion.

Bird flu update: Culling of domestic fowls continues

Staff Reporter

Around 1,290 domestic fowls were culled and 199 eggs destroyed in Birhali village in Pirganj upazila in Rangpur yesterday after the detection of avian influenza, virus of bird flu.

In Bagerhat, some 900 chickens died at a poultry farm at Pashchim Saralia village in Morelganj upazila yesterday. The dead chickens were dumped under the soil.

Bimal Chandra Das, district livestock officer at Rangpur, said 944 chickens, 110 ducks, 11 pigeons and 21 other birds were culled when the bird flu was detected in Pirganj upazila.

Border area adjacent to the state of West Bengal has been sealed off as a precaution measure.

Germicides are being sprayed on the vehicles, particularly to chicken and eggs carrying vehicles, at different check posts to make those free from germs, according to the Livestock Department.

The check posts have also been set up in Goreya, Boda, Debiganj, Pirganj, Setabganj and 29-mile areas, it said.

The district administration also asked the BDR to keep vigil on the border so that chicken and eggs could not be smuggled into the country from India.

In Bagerhat, some dead crows were also found littered on the roadside of the district town.

The Livestock Department was yet to confirm the reason behind the deaths of the fowls but sent the samples of the dead crows and chicken to Dhaka and Barisal for laboratory test.

GMG Airlines: Dhaka-Dubai route inaugurated

Staff Reporter

A wide-bodied aircraft of the GMG Airlines left Zia International Airport yesterday for Dubai as the first private sector airline to have flown to the Middle East in the country's aviation history.

A Boeing 747 passenger aircraft left Dhaka with 543 passengers. The flight with full capacity made the maiden voyage.

"First Class Service All The Way," Managing Director of GMG Airlines Shahab Sattar reminded all staff and crew members of GMG airlines, which was set as the company goal 10 years ago.

"We have entered into airlines business to provide world class service to our valued passengers. It has to be maintained under

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any circumstances," said the MD of GMG Airlines while addressing the inauguration ceremony of GMG flight on Dhaka-Dubai route.

He urged the Government to continue its support to private sector airlines and expected level playing field for business. "We don't want any financial support from the Government, but need level playing field to compete with foreign airlines," he added.

Another Boeing 747 luxurious aircraft will be added to this elite fleet by April 2008, he informed. With the addition, we expect to extend the route to Muscat, Doha, Kuwait City and Karachi, he further added.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Mahbub Jamil congratulated GMG airlines for their achievements and asked to ensure timeliness in flights and friendly service on board.

"I have only two demands to the GMG airlines. Firstly, mention strict flight schedule and secondly, ensure on board friendly behaviour to all passengers," said Mahbub Jamil.

"If the airline service meets these, there would be no shortage of passengers in your flight," he assured.

Ambassador of UAE to Bangladesh Khalfan Battan, Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation Sheikh Altaf Ali, Chairman GMG Airlines Abdus Sattar Noori were also present on the occasion.

'Gas import from Myanmar under consideration’

Staff Reporter

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Power and Energy Ministry Prof M Tamim yesterday said the government is actively considering import of gas from Myanmar to meet gas crisis in the country.

Disclosing this at a press conference at his ministry he said Myanmar proposed construction of a fertiliser factory in Chittagong in exchange of a portion of the fertiliser.

"We agree to the proposal since Bangladesh will be benefited from it," he said.

The Special Assistant said the government would continue its all out effort to meet the shortage of power and gas by 2009.

Emphasising the need for exploring new gas fields, he said there is no alternative to exploring new gas fields and importing gas to meet the crisis.

He said the exploration activities have to be started in full swing alongside increasing of manpower in the gas sector.

On the overall gas situation, Prof Tamim said effort is being made to supply gas in Chittagong within a short period of time.

Replying to a question on corruption in Titas Gas, he said measures would be taken if such allegation were raised to the ministry.

There should be provisions of punishment in gas law for the corrupt people in the sector, he observed.

Asked whether there should be a task force in Power Development Board to stop corruption, he replied in the positive saying that carrying out anti-corruption drive is needed in all institutions where corruption is practised.

About exploration of gas in the offshore areas, he said the Council of Advisers is expected to approve a PSC model in this regard in its next meeting.

"Exploration activities will start soon after approval of the model. Not only in the offshore, exploration activities might be carried out in onshore areas also," he observed.

Prof Tamim said he is hopeful that repair work would be completed as per schedule.

He said that Titas Gas had to go for the repair works at this time to do the work easily since it is dry season now.

BARVIDA Car Expo fetches Tk 50cr sales

Staff Reporter

Japanese reconditioned cars worth Tk 50 crore were sold at the three-day 'BARVIDA Car Expo' that ended at Basundhara Convention Centre in the city on Saturday.

The exhibition began on Thursday and a large number of visitors visited the exposition on Friday and Saturday. As overwhelming number of visitors visited the exposition, some 20,000 printed tickets were exhausted. Finally, visitors were allowed to enter without tickets.

During the three-day exposition, 458 units of different brands of cars were sold on the spot and orders as much as three times more than the spot sales were received. 'Toyota Probox' brand of cars was the highest selling vehicles at the exposition and its prices range between Tk 6.40 lakh and Tk 6.70 lakh. Cars which were in good position in the selling list were Toyota Corolla, Toyota Allion, Toyota Premio, etc. There are some 500 members of BARVIDA in the country, and 23 of them took part in the exposition. Some members took more than one stalls. At the exposition there were pavilions of lubricants manufacturing companies, tyre importers, banks offering car loans, insurance companies, CNG conversion companies and food pavilions.

A large number of buyers thronged the exposition as attractive discounts were provided there and they were busy to purchase the cars of their choices. Unprecedented responses were received from the buyers as they got opportunities to buy the cars of their choices at the exhibition.

The visitors also felt the necessity of organizing such expositions frequently.

Visitors also showed keen interest about microbuses. But the price of a single microbus has increased by Tk 4 lakh to Tk 5 lakh because of 60 per cent supplementary duty imposed in the current year's national budget. In spite of huge demand, businessmen could not supply adequate number of microbuses at the exposition as the import of microbuses has gone down.

The exposition was ended through distribution of certificates among the participants of the 'BARVIDA Car Export-2008' by BARVIDA president Abdul Huque and secretary general Md Abdul Hamid Sharif.

BCL forms human chain demanding release of Hasina

Staff Reporter

The Bangladesh Chhatra League yesterday formed two human chains in front of Aparajeyo Bangla of the Dhaka University, one demanding unconditional release of their detained party's chief patron former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The other human chain was formed demanding investigation into the cocktail attack on the residence of former president of Dhaka University Teachers Association Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique.

The BCL hinted at launching movement if the party chief was not freed.

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This was the first time since the announcement of the state of emergency that any student front held any programme under the banner of the organisation.

The BCL first held one human chain demanding investigation into the cocktail attack incident at the house of Dr Arefin Siddque.

Chhatra League university wing president Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu said, "Azam J Chowdhury the plaintiff of the extortion case filed against Hasina refuted that he did not file any case against her. It proves that the case was false and was filed for harassing her."

The BCL DU unit president demanded unconditional release of Hasina by withdrawing all cases against her. "If she is not freed now then the student community would free her through a movement," he said.

Meanwhile, students and teachers of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department held a silent procession and sit-in programme on the campus. They demanded proper investigation of the cocktail attack incident on their teacher Arefin Siddique's house and punishment of those involved in it.

Prof Dr Harun-or-Rashid, Dean of Social Sciences Faculty, Prof Dr Abdus Salam, Chairman of Mass Communication and Journalism Department and Prof Akhter Sultana, among others, were present.

Prof Abdus Salam said this was the sixth such attack on Arefin Siddique. "An evil force is trying to disturb the academic atmosphere of the University, we are protesting the evil force."

"The intelligence agencies and the government will investigate the incident and punish the people involved in it," he added.

Kalima inscribed football Probe body formed

Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Youth and Sports yesterday formed a two-member inquiry committee to investigate the import and marketing of footballs inscribed with Kalima.

The committee headed by Deputy Secretary (Sports) Mohammad Mahfuzar Rahman Sarker, has been asked to submit report after investigation into the matter.

The other member of the committee is Director (Sports) of the National Sports Council Mohammad Haizul Kaiyum, according to a press release issued by the ministry yesterday.

The press release termed the marketing of such footballs a heinous and condemnable act.

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Referring to the newspaper reports it said attention have been drawn to footballs inscribed with Kalima in a national flag are available in the markets which hurt the feelings of the Muslims.

The ministry has requested concerned importers and traders of sports items not to import and market such footballs in future, which could hurt religious feelings of the countrymen.

The ministry has also sought cooperation of the ministries of home and commerce in this regard.

Romney wins Maine primary: Obama will be Bush-like 'leap of faith’: Hillary

AFP, Tucson

Hillary Clinton Saturday likened her Democratic White House rival Barack Obama to President George W. Bush, arguing he was an untested neophyte who would be a "leap of faith" for voters.

"We cannot afford to elect someone as we did with George Bush and then be somewhat surprised by the decisions that are made, the direction that he leads the country," the New York senator told reporters aboard her campaign plane.

"And the best way to avoid that is to have a candidate who tells you what she will do and then is held accountable for doing it once she's in office," she said, arguing that Obama had been too vague on policy.

The former first lady has previously described her Illinois senate colleague as a charismatic politician-but stressed that voters had regretted their decision to vote for Bush because of his own charm and likability.

Clinton refused to predict the outcome of "Super Tuesday" when 22 states will be in play for the Democratic nomination, but said either she or her African-American colleague "would change history by becoming president."

"The question is who would change the country. I believe that I am both tested and ready to turn the economy around, to beat the Republicans, and to be commander-in-chief on day one," she said.

"I'm not asking voters to take a leap of faith. You know where I stand, you know my record, I've been vetted, I've been tested, probably more than anybody in the country who's in politics right now."

Super Tuesday is an unprecedented challenge for the Democratic and Republican candidates as they criss-cross the country for what is effectively the first-ever national primary.

"There's never been anybody having to do this before so obviously we're all making it up as we go.

But I feel good, very good about where we are in a lot of the states," Clinton said.

Presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney won Saturday's Republican primary election in the northeastern state of Maine, the Republican Party said.

With 57 percent of votes counted, Romney took 52 percent, followed by the national frontrunner, Arizona Senator John McCain with 22 percent, Ron Paul with 19 percent and Mike Huckabee 5 percent.

"With those results it is very sure that former governor Romney wins the contest," Maine Republican Party vice chair Scott Kauffman told AFP.

Although the Maine primary carries little weight in the national nominating contest, it does provide a symbolic boost for the conservative candidate in his attempt to overtake McCain in national opinion polls ahead of the key "Super Tuesday" event when more than 20 states are at stake.

"Today the people of Maine joined those from across the nation in casting their vote for conservative change in Washington," Romney, 60, said after the results were announced.

The Maine primary elects delegates to the state convention in May, which in turn will name delegates to the Republican national convention in September to choose the candidate.

Maine's Republican primary, however, is non-binding, with the 21 chosen delegates free to vote for whomever they chose at the state convention.

The Democratic Party will hold its primary in Maine on February 10.

Call to protect wetland for sake of human existence

Staff Reporter

Experts at a meeting in the city said we should protect the wetlands for the sake of human existence and present developments needs should not compromise with the needs of the future generation.

There should be strong surveillance and monitoring of the wetland areas especially those that are leased to ensure that the activities are undertaken in a manner that is environment friendly and sustainable, they said.

There should be a re-evolution of the 'Jalmahal' system in the country in consultation with the key stakeholders, they added.

Communities and local leaders have to be introduced to the concept of fish sanctuaries as a strategy that will not deprive them of fishing areas but if properly implemented will eventually increase fish production and ensure sustainability of fish production, the experts said.

This was said at the discussion meeting on 'Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People' jointly organised by Ministry of Environment and Forest and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) at CIRDAP auditorium to mark the World Wetlands Day.

Dr Ainun Nishat, Country Representative of IUCN, Raja Devesish Roy, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Md Kamar Munir, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Asif Munir of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Director of CNRS, among others, spoke, while AHM Rezaul Kabir, Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forest, chaired the meeting.

Raquibul Amin, Programme Coordinator of IUCN, and Jafar Siddique, National Project Director of CWBMP, presented two keynote papers.

Speakers said there should be benefit-sharing mechanism in wetland management system. The benefit should be shared by the government as owner and the people and other stakeholders. They stressed that the poor people living around the wetland should be the main focus of all development efforts concerning wetlands.

Provision of alternative livelihood should be there that would benefit the poorest of the poor among the stakeholders. Alternative livelihood selection and options must be done with the affected communities ensuring that income-generating activities are eco-friendly and sustainable. Continuous technical support must be ensured in the course of the implementation of the alternative livelihoods, they said.

Tanguar Haor's approach to successful management was mainly through protection and law enforcement by the district administration of Sunamganj with the participation of the local government and community. Other government departments have also helped the haor region, its reed lands, swamp forest, bird habitat and fish production. After three years of protection Tanguar Haor's production exceeded 200 crores, said the experts.

DU teachers, students demand probe into bomb attack on Arefin's house

UNB, Dhaka

Teachers and students of Dhaka University Sunday demanded fair investigation into the bomb attack at the residence of former DUTA president Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department (MCJ). To press home their demand, teachers and students of the MCJ department and the DU unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League staged separate demonstrations on the campus in the morning.

Teachers and students of the MCJ Department brought out a silent procession in the campus at about 11am. Later, they held a rally at the foot of Aparajeya Bangla.

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MCJ Department chairman Prof Sheikh Abdus Salam, Prof Akhter Sultana, associate professors Mofizur Rahman and Shamim Reza and lecturer Shamim Mahmud addressed the rally.

Speaking at the rally, Prof Salam said the culprits behind the bomb attack would have to be found out through proper investigation for the sake of security of the teachers and students. "The DU teachers are repeatedly being victimized by terrorist attacks. Few years ago, in this month of February, late Prof Dr Humayun Azad came under terrorist attack. But the state has failed to ensure security of its leading citizens," he said.

Govt wants to eradicate monga forever: CA

UNB, Gangachhara

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Sunday announced an action plan for removing 'Monga' from the country' s northern region forever through well-coordinated programmes of the government, NGOs and private sector, as the lean-season dearth of food and work put people in misery.

"The government is keeping strict and intense attention about Monga. It is a temporary problem - temporary unemployment problem," he told an exchange-of- opinion meeting in the morning on the second day of his stay in this backwater northern district.

The head of caretaker government was exchanging views with people of different professions and officials of Gangachhara upazila at the meet organized by the local administration at the upazila parishad ground.

Commander of Muktijoddha Sangsad of the upazila M Azizul Islam, president of the Gangachhara imam association AKM Nurunnabi Ansari, Nure Alam Sarker of BRAC, president of Gangachhara press club Sazu Ahmed Lal, principal of Gangachhara Degree College Anisur Rahman, union parishad chairman Anwarul Islam, president of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mostafa Azad Chowdhury and UNO of Gangachhara Mukesh Chandra Biswas, among others, spoke at the meeting presided over by Rangpur deputy commissioner Khandokar M Atiar Rahman.

Gangachhara is a Monga-prone area of the greater Rangpur district. The seasonal crisis of unemployment and food usually occurs during October-November period in the agrarian northern region, lacking in industries and other income-generating modern vocations.

Focusing on ways of eradicating Monga, he said a committee headed by the Commerce Adviser was formed at Saturday's Advisory Council meeting in Rangpur to coordinate all ongoing projects regarding Monga-and poverty-alleviation programes of the government and NGOs and other organizations aiming to formulate a multidimensional plan of action to permanently end this endemic penury.

The Chief Adviser suggested cultivation of diversified food and other crops, undertaking income-generation projects and massive export of manpower to foreign countries from the northern region through imparting training to them at various training centres and institutes in the country.

He said he has instructed the authorities concerned for full-fledged run of Technical Training Centres and Institutes existing in many districts, which virtually remained inoperative, for their best utilization in developing skilled manpower in demanding fields. As part of the new thinking about resolving the nagging problem, the head of interim government suggested that the people of the northern region could migrate for employment to other parts of the country. Mentioning some of the synergized steps taken for resolving the problem last year, he expressed happiness over the outcome and told his audience that early preparation of steps and programmes in the current year would be much wider and coordinated in fighting Monga. Mentioning cultivation of BR-33 rice in this region last year, he urged farmers to cultivate this variety of paddy which is harvested comparatively in short time with less cost. He also mentioned cultivation of cassava in the northern region.

On VGF programme, another government intervention for alleviating the misery of the hardcore poor, the Chief Adviser said usually feeding through VGF cards does not continue during this time of the year but the government is continuing the programme considering damage to crops and property in the floods.

"The objective of VGF is to bring people below poverty line under safety net so that pressures of price of rice don't affect them." About fertilizer affairs, he said the government has preparation to procure 28 Lakh tones of fertilizer and assured that there would be no crisis. Usually, he said, 25 lakh tones of fertilizer had been used in the past in the country annually. Referring to increased numbers of representatives for distribution of fertilizer at union level, he said the government wants to reach the farming input to the doorsteps of farmers.

On open-market sale of fertilizer, as suggested by some in the meeting, the CA said he has no difference of opinion about it but the problem is that government has to give a big subsidy on urea imports. Government has to import one-kg urea at Tk 34 but sell at Tk 6, so Tk 28 has to be given subsidy on each kilogram of fertilizer.

So, if fertilizer is sold on the open market, there remains confusion among many as to where the price would reach. It creates problem when there is a big difference between purchase and sale prices. He sought cooperation of all in this regard, particularly in smooth distribution of fertilizer.

About construction and reconstruction of unfinished roads and bridges in this region, he informed that instructions were given from yesterday's Advisory Council meeting for quickly identifying those cases and it took decision for its implementation.

Later, the Chief Adviser distributed 15-kg rice each to poor families under a special VGF progarmme at the Gangachhara upazila parishad ground. Some 30,000 destitute people will get rice under the VGF operations in Gangachhara till May, starting from January..

On his way back from the venue, he had a stoppage in Moulvibazar area of Gangachhara and intimately talked to cross-sections of people. He wanted to know about their wellbeing, condition of agricultural production and cultivation and food prices. People standing on wayside, including farmers, requested ensuring smooth supply of fertilizer. However, they expressed satisfaction about the government's effort in this regard.

The Chief Adviser assured them that there would be no crisis of fertilizer and suggested using granule urea for reaping higher yields with less cost.

Hundreds of people of all ages were seen lining on both sides of road during the Chief Adviser's movement to and from Rangpur Circuit House to Gangachhara Upazila to welcome the head of government to their far-flung place.

Many of them greeted Dr Fakhruddin with claps and waving hands. The Chief Adviser flew back to the capital in the afternoon. He went to Rangpur Saturday along with the entire hierarchy of his interim government for a close interaction with people living in the far-off places of the country.

African quakes kill 30

Reuters, Kigali

Earthquakes struck Rwanda and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, killing at least 30 people and seriously injuring 350 more, officials said.

The two quakes struck close together in Africa's Great Lakes region hours apart along the western Great Rift Valley fault.

The first quake, with a magnitude of 6.0 and its epicenter in Democratic Republic of Congo, happened at 10:30 a.m. (0730 GMT), followed by another 5.0 quake in densely populated southern Rwanda at 1:56 p.m. (1056 GMT).

"The death toll has now increased to 25 from the earthquake. Two hundred have serious injuries," Deputy Rwandan Police Chief Mary Gahonzire told Reuters. "Rescue efforts are underway but the number of dead could rise, as so many people are trapped."

The acting governor of Congo's South Kivu province, Bernard Watunakanza, told Reuters by telephone from the eastern town of Bukavu that aftershocks were happening "every 20 or 30 minutes."

"Up to now there are five dead and 149 seriously injured. Many people are traumatised," he said.

An official from Congo's U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as MONUC, said buildings had been destroyed in Bukavu.

"There is lots of damage. Many buildings have been hit. Lots of houses have completely collapsed," said Jacqueline Chenard, MONUC spokeswoman in Bukavu.

Earthquakes are common in the western Great Rift Valley-a seismically active fault line straddling western Uganda, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and neighboring Tanzania.

In 1994, a magnitude 6 tremor in the foothills of western Uganda's Rwenzori mountains killed at least six people.

In 1966, a magnitude 7 earthquake killed 157 people and injured more than 1,300 in the Semliki Valley, also in western Uganda.