The New Nation - Internet Edition

Indian export ban in pvt sector Hundreds of rice-laden trucks stranded on other side of border: State level import of 5 lakh tons remains unaffected

Staff Reporter

Import of rice at private level remains suspended following the restriction imposed by the Indian government suddenly on export of non-Basmati rice.

Hundreds of rice-laden trucks have now remained stranded at the Indian side of the landports with Bangladesh. Bangladeshi importers said the sudden decision by India halted import of 100,000 tonnes of rice through the private sector.

Food and Disaster Management Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali yesterday said the government has nothing to do as the restriction applies to the trading arrangement under private sector. "The Bangladesh government will not respond to the Indian government decision," he said.

He also termed India's ban on rice export their "internal matter."

However, the Adviser said the import of 5 lakh tones of rice at government level would not be affected by the India's latest decision as the price of per metric tonne of rice was fixed at US$399 by both the Bangladesh and Indian sides.

The customs commissioner of Kolkata Thursday announced the export ban in an order to the Indian exporters.

The Indian traders said that the customs office made the order as it was asked by the Indian central government to do so. The Indian businessmen then informed Bangladesh importers about the government's decision.

On the other hand, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka has said that the export restriction on non-basmati rice notified on February 7 is applicable to all countries, and is not specific to Bangladesh. The wholesale rice traders in Chittagong yesterday expressed their deep concern at imposition of restriction on export by the Indian government.

They said that the India's restriction on export of rice might lead to yet another rice crisis in the country.

The traders also called upon the government to import rice from other countries to meet the growing demand of rice in Bangladesh market.

Our Jessore Correspondent reported from Benapole yesterday that hundreds of trucks with rice imported by the local importers from India have remained stranded at Petrapole. These trucks have become unable to enter Bangladesh, as the Indian customs authorities are not giving them permission to enter Bangladesh.

Our Dinajpur Correspondent reported that hundreds of rice-laden trucks remained stranded at Hili landport over the last several days. These rice have been imported by the Bangladeshi importers at US$500 per tonne. But, the Indian customs authorities have not been allowing these trucks to enter Bangladesh following the restriction on export imposed by the Indian government.

Local rice importers said they were facing financial losses because of the sudden decision and some 300 rice trucks ready to enter Bangladesh were left stranded on the Indian side of the land port.

They said they would have to incur colossal losses due to the delay in releasing the consignments of rice by the Indian customs authorities.

The importers said they would have no alternative, but to sell the imported rice at higher prices in local markets to meet the losses. It will result it yet another instability in the local rice markets.

On the other hand, prices of different varieties of coarse rice in local markets have gone up by Tk 70 per maund following the restriction of private level export by the Indian government on Thursday.

Importers viewed that the sudden ban on rice export by Indian government was intended to further raise the price creating an instable and volatile situation in the rice markets of Bangladesh.

Internal rice procurement price in West Bengal is Rs 11.30 when the open market price is around Rs 13 per kilogram, equivalent to Tk 22.88 (official rate).

Finding the demand from Bangladesh, India has raised export price by about US$ 100 per ton over the year. "They want to further jack up the price at the cost of our difficulty," said an importer.

Meanwhile, overlooking India's ban on rice export to Bangladesh as their internal matter, Food and Disaster Management Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali yesterday said the government has nothing to do as the restriction applies to the trading arrangement under private sector.

"India imposed the ban on export of rice by private exporters, so we don't have authority to take decision in this regard. But, this would not hamper the import of 5 lakh metric tonnes of rice from India as pledged by the Indian government after Sidr attack," he said while talking to journalists at his ministry yesterday.

Besides those 5 lakh metric tonnes, the government has given order for importing more 2.10 lakh metric tones rice in an alternative way to help make stable the market, he informed the media.

Adviser Shawkat assured that the government would talk to the Indian authority so that the restriction does not leave any impact on those importers who have opened L/Cs earlier.

He mentioned that Indian exporters also reacted to the ban, which, meanwhile, reportedly caused consignments of rice to have been stranded on the Indian side.

Replying to a query over the soaring price of rice on the domestic market, the Adviser of the caretaker government admitted that the price hike would cause a bit of problem to the middle-class people.

Poorer sections are getting rice under OMS, VGF and other interventions in the wake of the dearth.

"The government is monitoring the market to control prices of essential commodities. But, no timeframe could be given in this regard," Shawkat said.

The Indian government has recently slapped a ban on rice export to Bangladesh by private exporters. The brake was pressed last Thursday as the millers refused to sell 50 percent of their product to the government.

Meanwhile, India clarified that the export restriction is applicable to all countries and not specifically to Bangladesh

Referring to the press reports on export restriction imposed by India

on non-basmati rice, a press release from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka last night said: "Some of these reports suggest that the restriction is applicable to Bangladesh only. The export restriction on non-basmati rice notified on February 7 is applicable to all countries, and is not specific to Bangladesh."

Regarding waiver of ban on export of rice up to 5 lakh metric tonnes to Bangladesh, announced during the visit of the External Affairs Minister of India to Bangladesh on December 1, 2007, the release said, "It is clarified that the notification, dated February 7, 2008 will not affect procurement of 5 lakh metric tonnes of rice by the Bangladesh government from designated Indian entities".

"The process of procurement of 5 lakh metric tones of rice is underway," it added.

BNP unity move fails: Reformist leaders reject Delwar's pre-conditions

BNP reformists led by Saifur Rahman held a meeting
at his Jalalabad residence at Gulshan yesterday. Banglar
Chokh

Staff Reporter

Rejecting the preconditions put up by top leader of the party's anti-reformist group, BNP Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman yesterday said there would be no unity talks with party Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain unless the latter withdraws his preconditions.

"We want unity, but Khandaker Delwar is against it. How Delwar, who does not even believe in Begum Kahleda Zia's message about unity, could want unity in BNP," Saifur told journalists after meeting with party leaders, including 42 former MPs, at his Gulshan residence last afternoon.

Standing Committee members Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan, Mofazzal Karim, Shah Mohammad Abul Hossain, Prof Rezaul Karim and MA Hakim.

Recently, Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who was appointed Secretary General purging the incumbent by party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia moments before her arrest in October last year, set three preconditions-1) scrapping of the decision of October 29 Standing Committee meeting, 2) leaving of the reform agenda and 3) left the fate of expelled party leaders, including former Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, uncertain-before the unity.

"Unity talks can only continue if Khandaker Delwar withdraw his preconditions," Saifur Rahman said, adding that the leaders of his faction would continue the effort for the reunification of the party as per the detained Chairperson's directive.

Imprisoned former Prime Minister Begum Zia, through her lawyers, recently asked leaders of her divided party to get united immediately and unify the 'nationalist force' before the coming general elections. She had also asked them to join elections even without her.

Saifur Rahman said unity was not possible until Delwar group changes its mindset and drops the precondition. "If Delwar does not lift his precondition, there will be no talks."

Briefing journalists Maj Hafiz said the meeting welcomed Begum Zia's "message for unity" in the BNP. "The unity must be achieved at any cost," he asserted.

He regretted that Saifur Rahman also called for unity, but Khandaker Delwar Hossain did not respond to it.

Hafiz said they were hurt by the remarks from a senior leader like Khandaker Delwar regarding the precondition for reunification. "Begum Zia did not speak about any precondition, but Delwar is setting conditions."

He said Saifur Rahman, being the senior most in the party hierarchy, was made Acting Chairman to run BNP in absence of Begum Zia.

The moment unity will be reached giving BNP a complete shape, he would quit his responsibility as Acting Secretary General, Hafiz said. "We will do our best to forge the unity based on the message of our leader."

Defending reforms in BNP, he said there is no alternative to it, as Begum Zia also wants reforms in the party. To establish the ideals of late President Zia as well as honest leadership, reforms are essential.

Students clash at Polytechnic:50 injured

An injured student being carried to the hospital
(left) after BCL and Shibir activists locked in clashes at
the Govt Polytechnic Institute at Tejgaon in the city
yesterday. Photo: Agencies

UNB, Dhaka

At least 50 students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute were injured in a violent clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists following a brawl over sitting in the dining-room of a dorm.

Principal of the institute Shamsul Alam told UNB that they asked all of its students to vacate their dormitories by 5pm "so we can control the whole situation".

Students told reporters that an altercation occurred between BCL and ICS activists at about 11 Saturday night over sitting in the dining-room of Latif Hall. At the night it did not turn into violence. But the pent-up anger on both sides erupted on Sunday morning into a clash that lasted long from 10am to 1pm, leaving at least 50 students injured, campus sources said.

Among the injured, seven were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, six to Al Razi Hospital and four to Orthopedic Hospital. Amid widespread chase and counter-chase, at least 10 rooms, windows, doors and furniture of the college and its dorms were vandalized. On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control at about 1pm.

Rafique, a Shibir activist, alleged that a group of BSL men suddenly attacked them this morning and "started beating one after another after locking the main gate of Latif Hall".

But the BSL side refuted the allegation and blamed the Chhatra Shibir activists for triggering the trouble.

Meanwhile, hundreds of students of Jagannath University on Sunday staged demonstrations demanding repair its 11 dormitories and return of the halls to the students.

Police said some 500 students came in a procession and dropped a memorandum of their demand into the office of Vice-chancellor Dr Sirajul Islam at about 1pm.

"The demonstrating students also locked in a clash with policemen when they tried to get out of the campus with their procession," says a spot account of the scene.

Rallies and processions are prohibited under the current state of emergency in the country.

However, no one was injured in the incident.

Series of incidents in Mirersarai: 6 killed in mob action

Chittagong Correspondent

Six people including five alleged miscreants were killed in the back-to-back incidents of shootout and mob beating here at village Azampur in Mirersarai hours before dawn yesterday.

Several versions of the incidents have been received from the cops, some of the eye-witnesses and the neighbours.

Neighbours called it the outcome of a long standing family feud while eye-witnesses narrated it as a robbery bid and the retreating bandits shooting. Police found clues of planned killing in the incidents.

Two of the six victims have so far been identified by the villagers and the cops till the time of dispatching this report at 6:30 p.m. today. Three of the miscreants have been taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

Victims identified by villagers and cops were Nazrul Islam Shipon (19) son of late Mulkutur Rahman. He was a captive water fish farmer and Rezaul Karim Sabuj (29), son of late Mahbubul Haque. Sabu, had been the President of Osmanpur Union Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal (JJD) and an accused of several criminal cases. Neighbours of the victims described the incident as a sequel to an old hostility between two families mainly over land sharing. They claimed that Nizamuddin and his son Shajahan, maternal grandfather and uncle respectively of Shipon, had long been in conflict with the victim's family.

It was alleged that a group of hired miscreants was engaged for killing Shipon and Jasimuddin. The hired goons in their first sniper attempt gunned down Shipon in front of a shop at Azampur Bazar at about 3:35 a.m. He died on the spot.

The report of the gunshots woke up people of the neighbourhood who came out en-masse with lethal weapons and pursued the attackers.

The miscreants fired several blank shots but could not make good their escape.

The frenzied villagers at a stage caught five of the seven miscreants and beat them mercilessly. Three of the alleged miscreants died on the spot while two others succumbed to their wounds on the way to hospital.

Some of the eye-witnesses claimed that the gunmen shot at Shipon when he attempted to resist them (gunmen) from looting a shop at Azampur Bazar. The nearby mosques raised alarm by loudspeaker and mobilised the villagers who finally caught five of the seven bandits and lynched them subsequently.

Duty officer of Mirsarai police station admitted that they had received several direct and indirect evidences of murder plot. They have taken three of the alleged miscreants into custody. A case has been recorded with Mirsarai police station in this connection.

Saraswati Puja today

BSS, Dhaka

Members of the Hindu community will celebrate one of their religious festival Saraswati Puja today with much fanfare and festivity seeking blessings of the Goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music and art.

The Hindu devotees particularly the students celebrate the Saraswati Puja also known as 'Bani Archana' in different educational institutions and in their home-yards.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in separate messages greeted the members of the Hindu community marking the Saraswati Puja.

The President in a message expressed hope that the members of the Hindu community in their works and thoughts would reflect the ideals and spirit with which they adore the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom.

He wished every success of the Saraswati Puja.

In his message, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said Saraswati is the Goddess of learning, wisdom and music to the members of the Hindu community as well as the source of inspiration of all fair and beautiful work.

He hoped that all members of the Hindu community would continue their efforts in nation building activities and all citizens of the country would remain vigil to uphold the traditional communal harmony and fraternity in the society.

Educational institutions in the city and in several parts of the country will be colourfully decorated while all Puja mandaps will be tastefully illuminated to mark this highly auspicious occasion of the Hindu community.

Like previous years, Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University is likely to be the main attraction for the puja. Puja Udjapan committee officials said this year over 40 puja mandaps will be erected in the capital.

Saraswati puja will be arranged in different residential halls of the Dhaka University, Dhaka College, Eden College, BUET, Dhakeswari Mandir, Siddheswari temple, Ramkrishna Mission and in the temples at Tantibazar, Shankharibazar, Banglabazar, Mohakhali and Farm gate areas of the city.

Ban on wall writing during polls likely: EC dialogue with political parties resumes next week

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) will start its second round of dialogue ban on wall writing with the political parties on electoral reforms next week.

"The Election Commission will sit with 17 political parties separately," said Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain while he was talking to reporters at his office yesterday.

He indicated that the dialogue might be started on 17th or 18th of this month.

Sohul Hussain said a draft ordinance is underway to restrict writings and pasting of posters during the polls. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives will implement the law, he said.

The Election Commissioner said there would be a provision of a fine of Tk 10,000 and in default three months imprisonment for any violation of the law. Any magistrate or mobile court can try such case.

Regarding the second round of dialogue, he said if dialogue with the BNP were delayed, the second round of talks with the other political parties would proceed.

He, however, said that if the court comes to a decision regarding dialogue with the BNP on February 12, the Commission would hold talks with them first. "If that does not happen, we will start talks with the other parties with whom we talked earlier since the time is very limited," he added.

Replying to a question, the Election Commissioner said the second round of dialogue would be shorter one. Discussion will be held only on those aspects of the law under dispute, he hinted.

He said the Commission might hold dialogues with two or three parties a day.

"We think that the task will be easy if the dialogue is held separately with each political party," he observed.

Before starting the second round of dialogue, the EC wants the court decision on holding of the stalled dialogue with BNP.

The EC started its first round of dialogue with political parties in September last year.

It has completed dialogue with 16 parties. Only the BNP has been left out of the dialogue, as a difficulty has surfaced as the EC invited a faction of Saifur-Hafiz led BNP dropping the other faction of BNP led by its Secretary General Khondaker Delwar Hossain.

The EC was originally scheduled to hold talks with the BNP on Nov 22, as part of its series of talks with the political parties on the reform of the election laws.

According to the election roadmap, the dialogues were meant to be completed within three months from last September. The election laws are expected to be finalised by next month.

Meanwhile, a writ petition, filed on behalf of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia with the High Court on Nov 18, resulted in a stay on the effectiveness of the EC's letter of invitation to the party for dialogue.

The order prevented Acting Secretary General of the BNP Hafizuddin Ahmed, who was nominated by the standing committee, from entering into dialogue with the EC.

The same court asked the EC to explain why the letter of invitation should not be declared illegal.

A decision in this regard is expected to come after the hearing on a writ filed in the High Court. Hearing on the writ is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday).

Hasina's trial under EPR: SC adjourns appeal hearing till Tuesday

Staff Reporter

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday adjourned till Tuesday the hearing of the Government leave-to-appeal against the High Court judgment canceling the trial of an extortion case against detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The six-member full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Acting Chief Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim set Tuesday (February 12) for the hearing as the defence lawyers yesterday raised objection that the filing of the leave-to-appeal petition did not follow all required formalities.

The Supreme Court had earlier fixed Sunday to begin hearing the Government appeal against the Wednesday's High Court verdict that dismissed the case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury against Sheikh Hasina and her co-accused alleging that they forced him to pay Tk 3 crore extortion money when she was the Prime Minister.

The High Court judgment was delivered upon a writ petition filed by Sheikh Hasina challenging the validity of inclusion of the case under the emergency powers rules (EPR).

Attorney General Barrister Fida M Kamal, standing for the Government, yesterday said the Supreme Court had already granted extra time on Thursday upon a request made by Sheikh Hasina's lawyers.

The Government side was ready yesterday morning for the hearing, he said but her lawyers raised a technical point to defer the proceedings.

Sheikh Hasina's Chief counsel Barrister Rafiq-ul-Haq submitted to the Court that the hearing could not be continued until the appellant corrected the flaws in the submission of the appeal.

Otherwise, he said, he would not take part in the hearing if the session was not adjourned.

Barrister Fida M Kamal said the issue was of public importance and so he requested the Appellate Division to continue with the hearing, saying it should not be further deferred.

The Court, at this point told both the sides that all must abide by the rules and the Court should also conduct its business as per the law.

The rule of law must prevail for the judiciary to maintain its efficacy and significance, it added.

The Appellate Division bench ordered the Government side to rectify the flaws in the submission of their appeal.

Back in his office, Attorney General Barrister Fida M Kamal told journalists said such a case of public importance is likely to have crucial impact on other similar cases, but it has now been deferred again as Sheikh Hasina's lawyers have objected to the hearing.

Sheikh Hasina's councel Barrister Shafique Ahmed said the Government did not furnish all the other related documents while filing the appeal, which made the move faulty.

He said the trial Court cannot resume proceedings on Monday of the Azam J Chowdhury case filed against Hasina, as had been earlier scheduled, because the High Court had meanwhile dismissed the case.

Meanwhile, pro-Awami League (AL) and pro-BNP lawyers yesterday adjourned their joint demonstration till Tuesday, apparently to pressurize the Appellate Division's hearing.

NBR move to net more tax dodgers

UNB, Dhaka

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to expand the activities of its Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) and approved the expansion of the wing following considerable success in last three years.

NBR sources said Board chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid recently signed a new organogram of the CIC comprising 58 staffs. At present, 26 people, including nine senior officials, are employed in the CIC.

The newly approved CIC organogram includes two new posts of additional director general, four of joint director general, five deputy director general and 10 assistant director general. It also includes one assistant programmer, four intelligence officer, two investigation officers, three posts each for computer operator and data entry operator, one each for LD store keeper, upper division assistant and cashier, eight posts for driver, 11 posts for MLSS, and one post each for senior attorney and assistant attorney. The expanded CIC will cost Tk 70.30 lakh per annum. In the fiscal 2006-07, CIC detected tax evasions worth Tk 25.35 crore compared to Tk 51.61 crore in fiscal 2005-06 and Tk 55.33 crore in 2004-05.

In recent times, the activities of the CIC were being greatly hampered for lack of adequate manpower.

CIC sources said it was very difficult for the few senior CIC officials to go the offices of suspected tax dodgers to verify their records.

They said the CIC officials are supposed to operate in a wide field of revenue area. The NBR did not suggest any specific field of work for the CIC officials.

The CIC had detected tax evasions by different businesses, including garments, professionals like doctors, lawyers and engineers as well as service-holders, private security agencies, shipping agents, C&F agents and marriage bureaus.