The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reform in political parties must for democracy

TIB Chairman Prof Muzaffar Ahmed speaking at a
round-table on 'Reforms in Political Parties for an
Effective Democracy' organised by Sujan at the National
Press Club yesterday. NN photo

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable said reform in political parties is a must for an effective democracy in Bangladesh. However, they told that the reforms should be carried out by the parties themselves.

They suggested the government to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible.

They were speaking at a roundtable on 'Reforms of Political Parties for an Effective Democracy' organised by Sojan, a civil society forum, at the National Press Club yesterday.

Prof Mozzafar Ahmad, Chairman, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) moderated the discussion while Sojan General Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Mojumder presented the paper.

Gona Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain, former advisers of the caretaker government Hafizuddin Khan, ASM Shahjahan, Unity for Political Reforms convener ASM Abdur Rab, BNP leader Mofazzal Karim, Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta, Col (Retd) Faruk Khan, Jatiya Party leader GM Kader and eminent columnist and researcher Syed Abul Moksud, among others, took part at the discussion.

Prof Muzzafar Ahmad said people have questions about the structure of political parties, its management system , decision making process, finance and other various issues.

Suggesting a qualitative change in the constitution of the political parties he said, ''We want to see democratic norms in practice''.

Democracy in the country could not be established without internal democracy in the political parties, he observed.

Dr Kamal Hossain said the existing electoral process are to be changed and for this reason the present electoral laws should be amended at first.

He urged all not to make the word 'reform' controversial and added. "It is the word of the people, conscious and responsible citizens.

Terming the reform as a continuous process ASM Shahjahan said it must be 'do it yourself' subject while Hafizuddin Khan observed that no one should claim that there is no need of reform or reform has already been completed.

Suranjit Sen Gupta said though reform is a must we must not forget the history of the political parties. Without involving the political parties, reform will not be successful, he stated .

ASM Abdur Rab observed that compromise among political parties is needed to enact a law in bringing reform inside the parties .

Monitoring of 9 items to be strengthened

Staff Reporter

The caretaker government will strengthen its monitoring on nine essential items, including five core food products, to curb price-hike.

Of the items, five core food products are rice, wheat, lentil, edible oil and powdered milk, while the rest four are salt, sugar, potato and onion.

Commerce Adviser Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman said this yesterday after a meeting at the Commerce Ministry with traders, business leaders, economists and chiefs of different public institutions and organisations like NBR, Bangladesh Bank, Agriculture Extension Department, Bangladesh Rifles and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

FBCCI administrator and former adviser to caretaker government Syed Manzur Elahi was present at the briefing.

"These nine items are of a core food basket. We have decided to keep special focus on these items and monitor the market on a regular basis," the Commerce Adviser said.

He mentioned that the meeting was convened as part of the government's ongoing efforts to identify the reasons behind the instability in the market and take necessary measures to address the problem.

The government, he said, is giving utmost importance on keeping the prices of essential under control through an informative-based market management system.

"The government can take quick steps, including import if knows about the scarcity of essential products from earlier in the country," he said.

Dr Hossain Zillur said the government is working to achieve three goals--ensuring stability in the market, enhancing efficiency in the marketing process and keeping the poor-consumers foods cheap by giving subsidy.

To achieve the goal, he said, the government is in a continuous process to have interactions with different stakeholders.

He said that getting information on products in proper time and making a forecast on that basis could help a lot in keeping the market stable.

"If we can harmonize between demand and supply, and can make early forecast, the prices will come down and instability will go."

The Commerce Adviser said one of the main jobs of the government is to do something for the poor so that they can get foods at cheaper price.

He said the traders and business leaders have agreed to work together with the government and exchange information on the local production and international market situation.

"If it works, this will have positive impact on the market and prices will come down," said the economist-turned-Adviser of the caretaker government.

He sought cooperation from the journalists in the government's efforts and said the Commerce Ministry will regularly arrange briefing session on the market situation.

Banks asked to provide SME loans

Staff Reporter

Commercial Banks in Bangladesh seem to be reluctant to lend to for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), complained Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.

He also blamed the commercial banks, which provides loan to this sector for charging higher interest rates. He, however, urged them to cut their interest rates lower in order to patronise SME industries development in Bangladesh.

The Governor of Bangladesh Bank also called upon PKSF and partner NGOs to provide loans to the SMEs at lower interest rate as banks and financial institutions (FIs) are reluctant.

"Our financial structure is for the top borrowers only," he said, expressing dissatisfaction over the unwillingness of banks and FIs to reduce interest rate for SMEs and becoming pro-active to help them prepare loan appraisals.

He was talking to the media yesterday after a workshop on Finance for Enterprise Development and Employment Creation (FEDEC)" project, at the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) auditorium in the city.

According to the FEDEC presentation, the project costing US$ 57.8 million, including IFAD support of US$ 35 million, is a part of the government's effort to develop micro-enterprise, create employment and help reduce poverty.

Around 118,000 micro-entrepreneurs will get loan facilities of US$ 53.7 million through PKSF and its 118 partner NGOs to expand existing business or start a new business under the project.

The project activities will include loan facilities for micro-enterprises, market-chain development, training and project management activities.

PKSF managing director Dr Quazi Mesbahuddin Ahmed, PKSF DMD Parveen Mahmud, project coordinator Mohammed Fazlul Kader and IFAD representative Nigel Brett also spoke at the meeting.

Businessmen urged at city seminar: Raise quality of products to enter EU market

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar yesterday emphasised the need for raising quality of products to enter in the European market for promotion of Bangladeshi export.

They also stressed the need of relaxation of rules of origin for proper utilisation of the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) facilities granted by the European Union.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the seminar titled 'how to get access to the European market for promotion of export' with Secretary General Syed Jamaluddin in the chair.

Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain in his speech urged the businessmen for increasing quality of products and to explore new markets around the globe. "A big part of potential markets are still unexplored… please explore the Nordic countries also to boost export," he said.

The Secretary also urged the businessmen to be compliant to meet the EU requirements so that GSP facilities can be utilised increasing the export. Expanding the product basket will also help access to the EU market, he added.

Touhid, however, asked the businessmen not to practice unfair activities like helping the third countries utilising Bangladeshi GSP certificates. "Reputation of Bangladeshi products should be kept."

Trade Adviser of European Commission Zillul Hye Razi in his keynote speech said nearly 52 per cent of Bangladeshi exports go to EU market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement.

Bangladesh is enjoying the GSP facilities of the EU since 1982.

He said apart from the readymade garment, country's pharmaceuticals export increased significantly utilising the GSP credit.

He identified some constraints of utilising EU GSP that includes technical barriers to trade like sanitary and phyto-sanitary, rules of origin, supply capacity, consumer demand and duty structure.

BTMA president Abdul Hye, Jewellery Association president Anwa Hossain, Silk Manufacturers' Association president Alauddin Ahmed Garment Buying Association president Kyum Reza Chowdhury and FBCCI secretary (International) Mir Muniruzzaman also spoke, among others, on the occasion.

Govt urged to achieve food autarky

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar urged the government to achieve self-sufficiency in production rather than import food items to ensure food security in the country.

They said this yesterday at a seminar on 'Food Security and Import dependency VS Technological Breakthrough for Self Sufficiency' organised by Equity and Justice Working Group at the National Press Club.

Agriculture adviser Chowdhury Sazzadul Karim was the chief guest at the seminar while FAO chief of Bangladesh Mission Ad Spicekars was special guest.

CS Karim said, "We do not want to keep our next generation hungry. We must increase our self-sufficiency in production at any cost."

"For this the government would provide the farmers with sufficient agricultural inputs at the same time it would emphasise on research and development for technological capacity building at the grassroots level," said the Adviser.

The EJWG General Secretary Md Shamsuddoha, presented keynote paper at the seminar. In his paper Shamsuddoha said Bangladesh can produce about 27 million metric tons of food items but its internal demand was 30 million metric tons. About 3 million each year has to be imported by Bangladesh.

He said production had fallen worldwide caused by climate change and food items had been used to produce bio fuel, which increased the price of food items in the international market. "In this circumstances it is must to achieve self-sufficiency in production," he said.

Agriculture economist Dr Abdus Sattar Mandal, Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Dr MA Razzak Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Mahidul Islam and Dr Mahabub Hossain, among others, spoke at the seminar.

Extortion case: Ex-MP Fazlul Haque taken on 2-day remand

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka yesterday placed former MP detained AKM Fazlul Haque Milon on a 2-day remand in an extortion case.

The former lawmaker and student leader was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka and the Investigation Officer (IO) Azharul Islam Fakir sought a 7-day remand to quiz the accused former MP of Gazipur-3 to find out the names and addresses of other accused and important facts about the case, while Metropolitan Magistrate Al-Mamun granted remand for two days and also ordered the prosecution to interrogate the accused with caution.

Complainant Md Shamsul Huda, Managing Director of a corrent factory filed the First Informant Report (FIR) on January 23 of this year with Shahbagh Thana of the city although the incident allegedly took place on September 9, 2003.

The lawyers of the accused vehemently opposed the remand prayer. Advocates Sanaullah Mia, Joynal Abedin Mesba, Md Selim Khan, Bakhtiar Hasan and others moved the case on behalf of the accused.

Meanwhile, former Communication Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda and his wife were yesterday produced before the Metropolitan Special Tribunal 12 of Dhaka for charge hearing in an extortion case filed under Sections 385 and 386 of the Penal Code. A time petition was submitted to the court on behalf of the accused and Judge Mohammad Safiul Azam refixed February 10 for charge hearing.

Again, a graft case filed against former chief whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah was transferred to Special Court No 10 while another similar case filed against former chairman of BRTC detained Taimur Alam Khandaker was transferred to Special Court No 9, set up at the Parliament House Complex of Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital. The Judge fixed February 7 for charge pressing in both cases.

'Don’t evict hawkers, without rehab plan’

Staff Reporter

Leaders of National Hawkers Alliance Council urged the Caretaker Government not to evict hawkers from the city pavements without a permanent rehabilitation plan.

They demanded arrest of toll collectors, who are engaged in extortion in the city streets in the name of giving hawkers allocation of spots.

This was urged at a press conference organised by hawkers' alliance at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Kamal Siddiki, Convener of the alliance council, chaired the conference, while MA Kashem, member secretary of the association, read out a written statement.

Leaders of the association said Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) gave permission to hawkers to open shops in 20 spots out of 200 in the city. In some places, 'linemen' are collecting tolls from the hawkers for handing over the places there.

The hawkers, who have been evicted from the city streets, are passing inhuman life now, they said.

They strongly urged the government to take action against the toll collectors, who are collecting tolls, and give them proper punishment.

'Contract migration’ from Monga-hit areas

UNB, Dhaka

The government Monday decided that a number of measures would be taken to encourage export of labour from 'monga' areas of greater Rangpur to alleviate poverty.

The decision was taken at a meeting with Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury in the chair.

The decision is in line with 14-point package announced by Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed following an Advisory Council meeting at Rangpur on Saturday.

Iftekhar who is also the Adviser for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment told reporters that a steering committee would be set up headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to supervise this effort.

Representatives of Foreign Ministry, BMET, BOESL, Labour Ministry, Bangladesh Bank and Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) will be on the steering committee.

Iftekhar said that targeted poor would be provided credit support by NGO's and Banks. He said the Technical Training Centre (TTC) in Rangpur would be inaugurated soon, and the one in Lalmonirhat would be strengthened to upgrade skills of workers to meet international demand.

He said recruiting agents could also be given a quota for recruitment in Monga affected region.

The Adviser said it will be important to change the mindset of the people and the culture of the region so that overseas employment becomes more appealing to them.

He said already the existing actions of the government was bearing fruit and in 2007 nearly 10,000 workers went abroad from that area compared to less than 3000 the year before.

President for grooming talented youths to accelerate uplift

UNB, Gazipur

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed has stressed the need for grooming all the talented youths through providing proper education and training to them for accelerating the country's socioeconomic development.

"We should help them by grooming their good qualities, including patriotism, honesty, sincerity, benevolent activities and responsibility. Scouting can play a vital role in achieving that," he said while addressing the inaugural programme of the 36th annual general meeting of the National Council of Bangladesh Scouts at National Scout Training centre in Mouchak here.

Paying rich tributes to Lord Baden Powell, the pioneer of scouting, Dr Iajuddin expressed the hope that the scout movement could be greatly promoted and expanded through united efforts of all and proper leadership.

The President mentioned the participation of Bangladesh Scout members in relief operation in the Sidr-affected areas and said: "It's the expectation of the nation that the youth, imbued with the sprit of serving the distressed humanity, would stand beside the people when the country needs it."

Describing various successful scout events both at the national and international levels marking the celebrations of scout centennial founding anniversary, he said, "We all will have to uphold this reputation through multifarious development activities."

He also urged the top scout national leaders to increase the number of scouts in the country and give special attention to scouting so that its movement does not remain limited in urban areas and depend only on formalities.

"Although scouting is visible in urban schools and colleges, its activities is limited in rural educational institutions. I think it is imperative to give a clear idea to teachers and guardians to further expand and make popular this activity," he observed.

Assuring of his all-out cooperation as the chief scout, Dr Ahmed called upon all concerned to come forward in expending the activities of scouts.

President of Bangladesh Scouts Dr Shah Mohammed Farid presided over the meeting. Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts Mohd Fazlur Rahman, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Traders welcome SEC decision: DSE’s new turnover record

Mashiur Rahaman

The Dhaka Stock Exchange reached a new all time high turnover record yesterday. The prime equity market closed with 3.44 crore shares, traded within a single trading session.

The last highest turnover was recorded at 3.17 shares traded on October 10, 2007.

It was a big appreciation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for their recent decisions, said traders while talking to The New Nation. "Investors have enjoyed trading freedom after the SEC green signal to netting trade, issue last week," said a trader.

On the other hand, recent SEC notification to rise margin loan ratio from 1:05 to 1:1 to the merchant banks have generated hope among investors, said an official from the DSE.

"Both the SEC decision was the key factor what we have witnessed today. It is a sign for the market to retreat its lost status, which was also off coursed by another SEC notice to shrink loans margin," said a market expert.

According to him, SEC has issued a notice to all merchant banks, allowing double loan issue against investors' capital. It was meant to increase capital inflow in the equity market, which is in a kind of capital shortage situation after the involvement of two state-owned petroleum companies.

"Capital market was badly in need of capital inflow. After the involvement of Jamuna and Meghna Petroleum in capital business, near about Tk1000 crore were squeezed out of the market, causing shortage of floating capital," said a market expert.

In this circumstances, SEC order would allow merchant banks to inflow more trading capital as investment loans. It was a wise decision to take, he added.

On the other hand, some market experts couldn't find such hope in the SEC permission on rising margin of merchant bank loan.

"It is the Clause-7 of SEC notice, troubling merchant bankers. Order to calculate Net Asset Value (NAV) in issuing loans, does not really allow us to issue loan as 1:1 ratio," said a source from the merchant bank. According to him, the clause-7 of SEC notice directs banks to add closing value (CV) of a particular share with NAV, then divide the total amount with two [CV+NAV/2].

Following this order, a trader with Tk1000 net capital will not get the same amount as bank loans. It means, the SEC order has not allowed the merchant bankers to issue 1:1 trading loan, he explained.

"Obviously, we do appreciate the rise of loan margin by SEC but this particular clause will cause confusion among our clients. It was unnecessary at this position," he added.

However, he informed that the merchant banks are considering to set a common loan issuance strategy, which would be near about 1:0.75 ratio.

Regarding yesterday's record turnover, he termed it unwise move by new traders. He also advised traders to avoid craze trading.

The DSE general index witnessed 1.72 per cent growth yesterday, added 49.67 points. The index closed at 2939.92 points at closing. Both the DSE-20 and DSI index also enjoyed with gain on the day added 37.09 and 40.09 points respectively.

Total shares of 159 companies were reported advanced, 64 declined and 13 remained unchanged. Market capitalisation on the day was Tk 343.77 crore, as reported.

Sarkozy's private life worries French people

AFP, Paris

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's popularity plunged in a new poll released Sunday while his ruling party also suffered an election defeat which some leaders have blamed on the President's private life.

With Sarkozy at the centre of a mew media blitz surrounding his marriage to former supermodel Carla Bruni, an LH2 poll for Liberation newspaper said 55 percent of those surveyed had a negative opinion of Sarkozy. Just 41 percent had a favourable view, a 13 percentage point drop from a month ago.

The poll was conducted both before and after the announcement Saturday of the 53-year-old President's marriage to Italian Bruni after a whirlwind romance.

Other polls in the past few weeks have showed an erosion of public support for Sarkozy, who was elected President in May. Analysts say the public feels Sarkozy, who was only divorced in October, spends more time worrying about his private life than he does the concerns of the French people.

In July, Sarkozy had a 67 percent approval rating and in January it stood at 54 percent.

Pollster Francois Miquet-Marty at LH2 said such a sudden poll slump was rare and that "there are few examples of such massive defections," apart from President Jacques Chirac in 1995 after a failed bid to reform pensions.

Ambassador Khurshid Hamid dead

Staff Reporter

Ambassador Khurshid Hamid, Bangladesh's former ambassador to Yugoslavia died yesterday.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury expressed his profound shock at the death of former Ambassador Khurshid Hamid.

In a message, he praised Ambassador Hamid's services to the nation. Iftekhar prayed the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.