The New Nation - Internet Edition

Democracy cannot function under emergency: Milliband Election will be held even before December, hopes visiting UK Minister

British Foreign Secretary David Milliband talking to
newsmen at the Padma Guest House yesterday. Foreign Affairs
Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Choudhory and British High
Commissioner Anwar Choudhury were also present on the
occasion. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Asking the Government to lift the state of emergency as early as possible, the visiting British Foreign Secretary David Milliband yesterday said a fully functioning democracy could not operate under the emergency.

He said his country wants to see a functional democracy in Bangladesh that would be characterised by strong and independent democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary and free press.

David Milliband, who arrived in Dhaka yesterday afternoon on a two-day visit, said this while talking to journalists after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the state guesthouse Padma in the capital.

During his visit to Bangladesh, he will meet with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chief of the Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed. He will travel to the northeastern districts of Sylhet and Sunamganj to visit projects financed by the UK Department for International Development, Britain's development arm.

The British Minister said his visit to Bangladesh ahead of the general elections was being viewed by the diplomatic community as significant as he was expected to spell out the British Government's position on the state of democracy, economic development and human rights in the country.

He said, "I will be exploring with ministers (advisers) over the next 36 hours discussing more widely how we can ensure as soon as possible Bangladesh last year becomes a full functioning democracy bringing all the benefits to the people."

"We are impressed by the steps taken by the Caretaker Government for over a which was. We got signs of a movement towards democratic election even before December deadline. We certainly look forward to the commitment of the Government being fulfilled," he said.

The UK Minister extended support to the Caretaker Government and expressed the hope that the Caretaker Government would fulfill its commitment to hold free and fair election at the latest by December this year.

The British Foreign Secretary said all knows that a democratic country needs more formal institutions for democratic politics. It requires independent judiciary, a judicial system that deals with all individuals without fear or favour. It also requires development of a free media.

"Britain wants to support strong, independent and effective democratic institutions," he asserted.

Terming Bangladesh a very important country for Britain, he said, "We are proud of links that exist between Britain and Bangladesh."

Bangladesh was increasingly becoming important in the region and its regional role alongside other forces is also important, he added.

Referring to his talks with the Foreign Adviser, David Milliband said issues of climate change, global trade and political extremism were discussed.

He said the leadership of Caretaker Government on issue of climate change is very important. The Chief Adviser played a significant role last year in supporting Britain's drive on UN Security Council discussion on the climate change issue.

On global trade, he said the UK would see how countries like Bangladesh expand its economy through global trade.

On extremism, the Foreign Secretary said political extremism does not respect national boundaries. "It is a threat to nations all over the world…We want to work together to tackle extremism and terrorism wherever it has," he said.

"We have obviously touched domestic situation here in Bangladesh. We are impressed by the steps forward, welcome steps forward, that have been taken over the last difficult year by the Caretaker Government," said the UK Foreign Secretary.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said they have had very fruitful talks on various issues relating to Bangladesh, institution building, climate change, trading, global politics and the needs and reasons for global stability.

"We have also discussed possibility of a compact partnership between Bangladesh and Britain to uphold our common values," he said.

British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry were present at the meeting.

After his meeting with the Foreign Adviser, David Miliband had a meeting with three Election Commissioners, including Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda.

"I had a very positive discussion with three electoral officials. I'm impressed by the professionalism with which they are approaching their task," the British Minister told journalists after his meeting with the Election Commissioners

Miliband referred to the 36 million voters so far registered with photographs under the present Election Commission, which he said shows "real commitment and high level of competence".

"We had discussed the election timetable set by the caretaker government. We had also discussed the importance of local elections," he said.

"I look forward to the completion of compiling the electoral roll," he said.

David Milliband, also the British Secretary of Commonwealth Affairs, later at a function painted a bright future of Bangladesh.

He came up with the observation after an hour-long discussion with 10 young leaders from various sectors in Bangladesh at the British Council here in the afternoon.

"I have been given an impressive introduction about Bangladesh. The young leaders have presented and discussed the potentials and problems of the country," Milliband told journalists after the discussion titled "The Future of Bangladesh".

He expressed the hope that if such leadership can lead the country, the future of Bangladesh is very bright.

The discussion in the meeting featured current political situation, state of emergency and present political demands and the caretaker government's task for holding the next general election, militant attacks in different parts of the country and reform of constitutional institutions.

Ten Bangladeshi participants in the discussion were Asifa Raihana, President, CSB; Zayed Almer Khan, Managing Editor, The New Age; Zafar Sobhan, Assistant Editor, The Daily Star; Dr Lazeena Muna, Social Mobilization and Partnership Adviser, UNAIDS; Ispy Islam, Managing Partner, Asian Tiger Capital Partner; Asheque Moyeed, Director and Head of Capital Market, Standard Chattered Bank; Shahab Enam Khan, Project Director, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute; Zahir Uddin Swapan; Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh leader Mahi B Chowdhury and Awami League leader Dr Dipu Moni.

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury was also present at the meeting.

WB approves $ 62.60m IDA credit to improve agri-productivity

Staff Reporter

The World Bank yesterday approved an IDA credit of $62.60 million to assist Bangladesh improve agricultural productivity and farm income by revitalising the national agricultural technology system, says a press release.

The National Agricultural Technology Project is designed to enhance the effectiveness of the national agricultural technology system. It will finance activities related to agricultural research, agricultural extension, and supply chain, including strengthening of national institutions involved in agricultural research and extension.

Accounting for about 22 per cent of GDP, agriculture is vital to Bangladesh. Another 33 per cent of GDP is contributed by the rural non-farm economy, which is largely linked to agriculture. Over the last three decades, there has been a significant increase in the production of rice to achieve near self-sufficiency in food grains. However, this is threatened by increasing population, declining land base, and stagnating yields. Diversification into higher value crops is slow with poor post harvest management and limited processing capacity.

"Growth of the agriculture and the rural non-farm sectors is critical to reducing poverty in Bangladesh," said Xian Zhu, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh. "Improved agricultural research and technology will be critical to achieve this growth and accelerate the process of diversification into higher value crops and post-harvest processing."

The project will also support a decentralised demand-led agricultural extension programme with greater accountability and responsiveness to farmers, with a focus on small and marginal farmers.

"By giving greater voice to the farming communities in deciding the priorities for agricultural research, farmer education priorities, and programme monitoring, the project will contribute towards improving governance as well as the quality and efficiency of the delivery of public services," said Paul S. Sidhu, World Bank Senior Agriculture Specialist and project team leader.

To increase and diversify sources of income for small and marginal farmers, the project will support development of supply chains of selected commodities through financing activities related to strengthening farmer-market linkages.

The Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank have agreed that a long-term programmatic approach is needed to revitalise the agricultural technology system. It will be implemented over a period of 15 years in three phases, with a total IDA commitment of about $180 million.

The credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessionary arm, has 40 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period; it carries a service charge of 0.75 percent.

Bird flu update: Fish price soars as people turn away from chicken

Staff Reporter

Culling of chickens is continuing in the country. Some 20,000 fowls were culled and 25 eggs destroyed in Matasagar area of Sadar upazila in Dinajpur yesterday.

Due to the endemic of bird flu across the country 40 per cent poultry farms have shut down and price of fish has increased further in the city kitchen markets. Fish is being sold at Tk 40 to Tk 50 more from the price of the previous weeks taking advantage of the lull in the sale of chicken.

Meanwhile, experts at a press conference in the city urged the Caretaker Government (CG) to take measures so that migratory birds do not come in contact with the local birds.

They also urged the CG to implement the ban on import of poultry and poultry related items from the effected countries for the prevention of avian influenza, virus of bird flu, in Bangladesh.

The press conference on 'Upcoming bird flu disaster in Bangladesh: Ways to remedies' organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) at Moni Singh- Farhad Trust Auditorium yesterday.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, President of BAPA, presided over the conference, while Dr SK Roy, scientist of ICDDR,B, Dr Md Abdul Motin, General Secretary of BAPA, spoke on the occasion.

The speakers urged the CG to increase quality and number of laboratory with facilities for virus identification of chicken and ensuring use of mobile laboratory kits across the country.

They demanded to increase ability, manpower and financial assistance of the national avian influenza task force.

In Dinajpur, district livestock officials said they culled the fowls and destroyed the eggs in six poultry farms from Wednesday night to yesterday morning after detection of the bird flu in the area.

About 50,000 fowls, ducks and pigeons were culled and one-lakh eggs destroyed in the last one week in the district, they said.

DCC Commissioner Qayyum dies in custody: BNP leaders term death mysterious and demand probe

BNP Secretary General Khandoker Delwar Hossain
consoling the family members of deceased city ward
commissioner Qayyum Khan at the Dhaka Medical College
Hospital yesterday.

Staff Reporter

BNP leader and Ward Commissioner Mohammad Qaiyum Khan died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday morning while in custody. He was 45.

He left behind his wife, three daughters and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death

Commissioner of Ward number 16 under Kafrul thana in Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and Cultural Secretary of Dhaka City BNP, Qaiyum had been detained in Dhaka Central Jail from January 12 last year.

His body was handed over to his family members after autopsy at the DMCH.

His family members complained that Commissioner Qaiyum died of physical and mental torture in the prison, while BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and DCC Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, who rushed to the DMCH to see the body, demanded a high-powered enquiry into his death.

DCC Commissioners Quazi Abul Bashar, Shamsul Huda, Abdul Latif, Sajjad Zahir, Haji Liaqat, Anwar Hossain Bir Pratik, Ahsan Ullah Hasan, Azizullah Aziz, Mohammad Mohan, MA Samad, Mokbul Islam Tipu, Atiq Ullah Atiq, Abul Khayer Bablu, Mir Hossain Miru, Atiqul Islam Matin, ADM Badsha, Mozammel Hossain Mukta, Mozammel Hossain Sikder, Bazlul Basit Anju, Hazi Rafiq, Abdul Majid and Ariful Islam also visited DMCH to see the deceased.

DIG (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told journalists that Qaiyum Khan suddenly fell down on the ground in the jail and became unconscious at about 7:45am.

"After checking his physical condition by the jail doctors, Qaiyum Khan was taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead at about 8:30am," he said.

However, family members of the deceased Commissioner alleged that he died at the central jail at about 4:30am due to physical and mental torture by the jail authority.

Asked about his family's allegation, the DIG (Prisons) said family members of the deceased did not want to have an autopsy on his body, but "We are doing the autopsy to see whether it is a natural death or not."

Qaiyum Khan was buried at his family graveyard after namaz-e-Janaza in front of Tamannan Complex at Kafrul in the city last night.

Terming his death mysterious, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain expressed deep concern about the fate of other detained party leaders, who, he claimed, were tortured inside the prison.

Demanding a high-powered probe into the death of the Ward Commissioner, he said, "The Government should inform the people as to why he died in custody."

Khandaker Delwar said Qaiyum was detained illegally as he was released on bail by the High Court early this month.

He said this while talking to journalists at DMCH, where he went to see the deceased.

The BNP Secretary General stayed at the hospital for sometimes and consoled the bereaved family members.

Talking to journalists at DMCH, Dhaka City BNP President Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka demanded of the Government to conduct a thorough enquiry into the whole affairs beginning from the arrest of Commissioner Qaiyum, who, he said, was detained without any specific case.

He said the High Court on January 10 this year released the Kaiyum on bail but he was rearrested from the jail gate immediately after the release.

"I demand to higher authorities of this Government to conduct a detail enquiry into the whole affairs unto Commissioner Qaiyum's death beginning from his arrest," Mayor Khoka said.

He also demanded of the Government to let the people know as to why Kaiyum Khan was rearrested after his release by the High Court order and how and why he had died while in custody.

Mayor Khoka and Dhaka City BNP General Secretary Abdus Salam, in a joint statement, last night expressed deep shock at the death of Qaiyum, who was also the Vice-president of Kafrul thana BNP.

Import from India, Myanmar in pipeline: Rice market to stabilise soon

Pulack Ghatack

The domestic rice market is expected to become stable within a short time as the Government and the private traders have taken hectic moves for importing the essential from India and Myanmar.

Some 9,62,470 tonnes of rice were imported through Benapole, Bhomra and Darshana land-ports in the last 7 months of the current fiscal year, sources concerned said.

Rice traders are also importing 180,000 tonnes of white rice from neighbouring Myanmar. Some 30,000 tonnes of rice has already been shipped to Chittagong port and the rest will reach the country by early March, they informed.

Benapole customs sources said that importers brought some 9,62,470 tonnes of rice into Bangladesh since July 2007 till January 3, 2008. Rice traders imported some 2,16,622 tonnes of rice in January 2008 and 6,713 tonnes of rice were imported in the first three days of February this year.

The first consignment of rice from India, in a state-to-state deal, is expected to reach here by next week after New Delhi agreed to supply the commodity at the rate of US$ 399 per tonne.

The cargo will start reaching Bangladesh by the end of the month after the final approval of the decision by the two governments, officials in Dhaka said on Thursday. The shipment is expected to be completed by late March.

Bangladesh and Indian officials fixed the price after four days of talks in Kolkata on Wednesday. Bangladesh will import 500,000 tonnes of non-basmati pre-boiled rice from India in a state-to-state deal.

"India's West Bengal Essential Commodities Supply Corporation Limited will supply a total 500,000 tonnes of non-basmati pre-boiled rice with average price at $399 per tonne," Food Secretary Mohammad Ayub Miah told newsmen.

Dhaka would take steps to import rice through rail, road and river ways after it received the necessary papers from Indian authorities, he added.

India had recently lifted a ban on export of rice up to 5.5 lakh tonnes to Bangladesh following the attack of Cyclone Sidr that ravaged the country's coastlines last year.

The cyclone and two spells of flooding in July-September destroyed nearly 2.0 million tonnes of rice in the fields, according to official estimates. The Government would import one million tonnes of rice to cover the loss.

Inflation rate of food items in urban areas reached 15.77 per cent and 13.91 per cent in rural areas on point-to-point basis in December last year shooting up further the prices of essentials, especially rice and flour, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics says.

AL to form grand alliance of like-minded parties

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League is planning to form a grand alliance with democratic, progressive and pro-liberation fronts ahead of the parliamentary elections.

"Not only the 14 parties, Awami League is trying to form even a greater alliance involving others ahead of the elections and for this it'll contact the leaders of its allies and like-minded parties," acting AL president Zillur Rahman said.

He was talking to reporters as leaders of Krishak League, the farmers' wing of the party, met him at his Gulshan house yesterday.

The AL leader renewed the demand that the stalled parliamentary elections be held by March-April. "The Chief Election Commissioner said that the Election Commission might announce the election schedule in September…if it's so then it's not possible to conclude the election process by 2008," Zillur said adding that it would rather create a crisis.

He said the incumbent caretaker government must hand over power by holding polls within 2008 as it pledged earlier.

"The government has no way to transfer power other than holding a free and neutral election," Zillur said adding that handing over power to an elected government holding the election without delay is good for all.

Referring to the High Court verdict quashing the entire trial proceedings of the extortion case against former premier Sheikh Hasina under the Emergency Power Rules, Zillur hoped that the Appellate Division would uphold the High Court judgment.

Al leaders Abdul Mannan and Dr Abdur Razzak and Krishak League leaders Mirza MA Jalil, Mothaher Hossain Mollah and Engineer Shakawat Hossain were, among others, present at the programme.

Earlier, Awami League's Faridpur district unit handed over Tk 50,000 to Zillur Rahman for the party's relief fund to use it for Sidr victims.

Riyadh embassy asked to seek clemency for Bangladeshi convicts

Staff Reporter

Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain yesterday instructed Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh to approach the Saudi government seeking mercy for eight convicted Bangladeshis.

Besides, family members of the eight Bangladeshis urged the Caretaker Government (CG) to take immediate steps to bring them back home alive.

A total of 14 Bangladeshis had been accused of killing an Egyptian national in Saudi Arabia and eight of them were condemned to death. However, two of the accused 14 Bangladeshis managed to flee back to home, they said.

After the conviction, the eight convicts appealed to the High Court in Saudi Arabia.

The Bangladeshis who condemned to death are - Mamun, 25, son of Mannan Sarker, Shafiqul, 23, son of Khwazauddin and Masud, 25, son of Shamsul Haque of Tangail, Faruk, 38, son of Jamal Uddin of Comilla, Sumon, 25, son of Abdul Hye of Kishoregonj, Masud Rana, 25 of Brahmanbaria and Motiur Rahman, 28, son of Shahid Khan of Faridpur. The identity of another person could not be determined.

Meanwhile, parents of the convicted Bangladeshis said their sons intercepted an Egyptian on April 28 last year while he was stealing electric cable from Al Tuek Co in Riyadh where the Bangladeshis used to work.

They opposed and said the Egyptian along with his associates attacked the Bangladeshis triggering a clash in which the Egyptian died. Then the Saudi government arrested the Bangladeshis in connection with the murder.

Future of Bangladesh is very bright: Milliband

UNB, Dhaka

Visiting British Foreign Secretary David Milliband yesterday said that future of Bangladesh is very bright.

He came up with the observation after an hour-long discussion with 10 young leaders from various sectors in Bangladesh at the British Council here in the afternoon.

"I've been given an impressive introduction about Bangladesh. The young leaders have presented and discussed the potentials and problems of the country," Milliband told reporters after the discussion titled 'The Future of Bangladesh'.

He hoped that if such leadership can lead the country, the future of Bangladesh is very bright.

The discussion in the meeting featured current political situation, state of emergency and present political demands and the caretaker government's task for holding the next general election, militant attacks in different parts of the country and reform of constitutional institutions.

Ten Bangladeshi participants in the discussion were Asifa Raihana, President, CSB; Zayed Almer Khan, Managing Editor, The New Age; Zafar Sobhan, Assistant Editor, The Daily Star; Dr Lazeena Muna, Social Mobilization and Partnership Adviser, UNAIDS; Ispy Islam, Managing Partner, Asian Tiger Capital Partner; Asheque Moyeed, Director and Head of Capital Market, Standard Chattered Bank; Shahab Enam Khan, Project Director, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute; Zahir Uddin Swapan; Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh leader Mahi B Chowdhury and Awami League leader Dr Dipu Moni.

Ex-BNP MP Alal arrested from city

UNB, Dhaka

Former BNP lawmaker of Barisal Adv Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal was arrested from a house in the city's Lalmatia area Friday morning on charge of breaching the Emergency Powers Rules.

Officer-in-Charge (O/C) of Mohammadpur police station told UNB that they arrested Moazzem Hossain Alal at about 8:30am from his city residence at 1/6, Lucky Apartments in Lalmatia. He said Alal was arrested in connection with a case filed with Mohammadpur police station under section 16(2) of the Emergency Powers Rules-2007.

"Alal has already been sent to the court," he said.

DCC sets up control room on bird-flu

BSS, Dhaka

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) yesterday has set up a control room in the DCC to receive any information on outbreak of bird-flu and called for removal of the dead chicken, duck, pigeon or crow in the city area.

An emergency review meeting of the DCC today took the decision for setting up of the control room with telephone numbers 9556014 and 9004734.

Veterinary officer of the DCC Dr Azmat Ali will be in charge of the control room.

The meeting decided to provide special drum and container in 50 kitchen markets in the city to keep the dead fowls and leftovers of the poultry birds and carry the wastes in special container to Matuail landfill to bury.

Chief Executive Officer of the DCC M Alauddin presided over the meeting while secretary Golam Mostafa and heads of different sections and senior officials were present.

The meeting discussed the programmes jointly taken by the DCC and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock in the city to control the outbreak of the bird-flu.

Fishermen clash with pirates: 2 killed, 13 held

UNB, Chittagong

Two pirate was killed and 13 others were caught by the fishermen during a clash with them in the deep sea in Moheshkhali of Cox's Bazar district yesterday night.

All the 13 pirates were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in critical condition, said UNB Chittagong correspondent.

Police said the armed pirates, numbering about 15, attacked FV Aziz-1 at Ghatibhanga area at about 11pm and tried to snatch away the belongings of the fishermen.

But, the fishermen started screaming and resisting the pirates with their local made weapons.

Hearing the hue and cry, fishermen on other nearby trawlers rushed in and joined the resistance, killing one of the pirates, Azad, 25, and injuring 13 others.

Fishermen caught the injured pirates and informed police. The injured pirates were rushed to Chittagong and admitted to the CMCH at about 2am yesterday.

The fishermen said that the pirates fired several gunshots to them but caused no injuries.

Prof Muzaffar blames govt for economic crisis

Staff Reporter

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said economic mismanagements of the Government resulted the recent in inflations and economic crises.

Underscoring combined development of the various sections in the agriculture sector of the country, he said immediate rehabilitation of the sector is needed to develop macro economy of the country.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed as chief guest was addressing the roundtable on "Economic achievements in the first six months of the 2007-'08 fiscal year" at the National Press Club yesterday.

Islamic Economics Research Bureau organised the roundtable presided over by former Secretary and Chairman of the Bureau Shah Abdul Hannan, while former member of the Planning Commission Dr Sheikh Maksud Ali spoke as special guest.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said management crises arise due to the disruption in the supply network, but the Government did not take the issue seriously that resulted in further deterioration of the situation.

He urged the government to examine transfer of garment factories outside Dhaka city to reduce the problems of the sector.

Dr Sheikh Maksud Ali urged to form farmers' organisation with a view to modernise agriculture, strengthening the two-phase cooperative system of Comilla model innovated by Dr Akhter Hamid.

Blaming the affluent section of the society for the misuse and default of loans, he urged for action against the guilty persons.

Prof Ayubur Rahman Bhuiyan, former teacher of Economics Department of Dhaka University presented keynote paper at the meeting.

Abdur Rakib, former executive chairman of Islami Bank, Dr Mizanur Rahman, Director (research), Research and Training Institute of the Bank, Columnist Engr Fazley Rabbi, Shawkat Ali, EVP of the bank and Abdur Razzak, among others, participated in the meeting.

Forged electric cables recovered, 4 arrested

UNB, Dhaka

Detective Branch (DB) police seized huge quantity of fake electric cables worth about Tk 600,000 from two unauthorised factories at Shyampur in the city yesterday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of plainclothes police raided the house of Hashmat Ullah at Bat Tola in East Shyampur at about 2:30 am. They arrested Aynal Hossain, 28, Mehedi Hasan, 25, Shahidul Islam, 25, and Mohammad Sohel alias Sony, 20, from two rooms of the house-one used to make spurious BRB cables and another Eastern cables.

Meanwhile, another team of DB police Friday morning arrested nine members of a gang of muggers, including its ringleader, who used to target people withdrawing money from banks.

On a secret information, the DB police arrested gang leader Abdur Rob alias Aangul-Kata Roba, 50, Abbas, 42, Rubel, 22, Rafiqul, 37, and Zakir, 32, from in front of Pir Yemini Market in the city at about 10am.

A DB official said Abdur Rob was earlier arrested on more than 40 occasions for various criminal activities, but managed to get release from the court.