The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hillary, Obama reject 'pause’ in Iraq troop cut

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama

AFP, Washington

Democratic White House rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Monday rejected the notion of pausing US troop drawdowns in Iraq, floated earlier in Baghdad by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Obama said the United States should not be expected to fight a war without end in Iraq, while Clinton said it was time to get US forces out of the middle of a "civil war."

The comments came as the senators fought an intense neck- and-neck battle for the presidential nomination in a party which is vehemently opposed to the war, and President George W. Bush's troop surge strategy implemented last year. "I strongly disagree with the administration's plans to 'pause' the long overdue removal of our combat brigades from Iraq," Obama said in a statement. "We cannot wage war without end in Iraq while ignoring mounting costs to our troops and their families, our security and our economy. "While the administration puts our drawdown on permanent pause, (Osama) bin Laden is on the loose, Afghanistan is sliding toward chaos, and we're spending billions of dollars a week in Baghdad instead of helping Americans who are struggling here at home."

Obama called for a rapid and responsible removal of combat brigades, to relieve the burden on the US military and pressure Iraqi governing factions to reconcile.

Clinton said she was "disheartened" by the remarks made by Gates, after he met the US commander in the country General David Petraeus.

"This means that we will have as many troops in Iraq in the summer of 2008 as we had at the beginning of 2007," Clinton said. "I continue to call on the President to end the war he started, to take responsibility for bringing our young men and women home."

"I will continue to press hard, both in the Congress and on the campaign trail for this President to end this war before he leaves office."

Clinton has said that if elected, she will start withdrawing US forces from Iraq within 60 days, and tell the Iraqi government it does not have a "blank cheque" and needs to take immediate steps towards political reconciliation.

Gates earlier said in Baghdad that a brief period of "consolidation and evaluation" made sense after around 30,000 soldiers had been brought home in July. He said the security situation in Baghdad remained "fragile," a comment echoed on the streets of the capital which was rocked by two car bombings that left 19 people dead just as he was winding up his surprise trip to Iraq. "I think that the notion of a brief period of consolidation and evaluation probably does make sense," he told reporters after a two-hour meeting with Petraeus.

"I must say, in my own thinking, I am headed in that direction as well but one of the keys is how long is that period and what happens after that. It still has to be determined and decided by the president."

The 157,000-strong US force in the insurgency-wracked country is currently on track to come down from 19 brigades to 15 by July, a reduction of at least 20,000 troops plus another 7,000 to 10,000 members of support units, according to military commanders in Iraq.

No new Clinton scandal: Hillary

Bill Clinton

AFP, Washington

Hillary Clinton on Monday assured American voters there would be no new scandals surrounding her husband ex-president Bill Clinton, as she hit out at rival Barack Obama's soaring rhetorical style.

As she battled to get her stalling White House quest back on track, Clinton was asked whether there were any hidden business or personal scandals about her husband which Republicans could use to derail her administration.

"That is not going to happen. You know, none of us can predict the future, no matter who we are and what we're running for, but I'm very confident that that will not happen," she told ABC television's local affiliate here.

The question, sent by a voter to the Politico website co-sponsoring Clinton's appearance, was one of the few occasions when the turmoil that wracked the Clinton White House has been directly raised in the 2008 campaign.

Love lands him in jail

Rajib Samdani

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka yesterday granted bail to City Bank Director Rajib Samdani in a case filed for cheating the wife of a big businessman.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Waliul Islam of the Chief Metropoltan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka passed the orders allowing Samdani bail on a bond of Tk 25,000.

Earlier, Samdani was brought to the hajat inside the court area from the Central Jail. Later when he was being taken to the CMM Court, photo-journalists of different national dailies rushed to take his photograph. At that time his cadres were seen around him, who reportedly manhandled the journalists and took away the cameras of some of them. The cadres allegedly broke some cameras. Later the police on duty somehow brought the situation under control.

Police has told the newsmen that they have received charge of adultery with someones wife against Rajib Sandani. He reportedly compelled that wife to have extra marital relationship with him by putting her in a trap.

Rajib Samdani was arrested on Saturday last from his Baridhara residence of the city and when he was produced before the Court, the Magistrate had ordered to send him to jail.

Big businessman Rudex Karim had filed the case against Sandani with Gulshan Thana of the city for womanising and making fraud and he was arrested in the case.

It was learnt that Samdani was born in a middle-class family of Sylhet. Later he joined a big business firm and married a daughter of his owner. He was making progress rapidly and in 2004 he became a Director of the City Bank.

After owning crore of Taka he reportedly involved himself in illicit affairs with women. He reportedly owns aristrocratic houses in posh areas of London and Bangkok. Besides, a few day back he purchased land worth some crores at Road No.12 of Baridhara in the city. Moreover, he owns seven series BMW, Klaiser and Jawar cars.

It has also been learnt that the family life of a former Secretary's daughter came to an end because of his attempts to have extra-marital relation with her.

Among others for all these reasons about a year back his wife was compelled to go back to her father's house with their only daughter breaking her conjugal life with Sandani.

Ittefaq’s three unions reject ex-employees’ statement

Staff Reporter

Leaders of three unions of the Daily Ittefaq yesterday said several former journalists and employees of the Daily Ittefaq, giving a statement to newspapers, sought cooperation from the government, civil society and journalist community.

"We strongly condemned issuing such a malicious and undesirable statement to the newspapers," they said.

In the statement the former journalists and employees mentioned that "taking advantage of the state of emergency, some are being retrenched when they are undergoing treatment at hospitals or on leave of absence."

"But, the present management of the Daily Ittefaq has not relieved anyone of service while undergoing treatment.

We vehemently reject such an utter lie, and want to assert that the journalists and employees were retrenched according to the labour laws, instead of taking advantage of the state of emergency," they said.

The three unions leaders said the Ittefaq authorities are grateful to those who contributed to stand the Ittefaq on its own feet. In order to pay the price for it, Ittefaq has been lagging behind. Some of those who had lost job, became much older and some of them were incompetent. In spite of all these things, the Ittefaq authorities paid the dues of many of the retrenched staff lending money. Those who are yet to get their dues have been given assurance to provide in installments. "We want to know which newspaper of the country made this example," they asked.

"We understand the pain of those who took the Ittefaq on the verge of ruination through free-hand looting. It is earnest request to you not to do anymore harm to Ittefaq being enticed by the enemies of Ittefaq. We have got a favourable atmosphere of work and we are in peace," they said.

Protected Teknaf reserve forest unprotected

Staff Reporter

Despite declaring the Teknaf Game Reserve Forest as a protected area, its present condition is deplorable, said environmentalists and experts at a roundtable in the city.

At present, the government is taking initiative to rehabilitate more than 10,000 Rohingya refugees there. "If these refugees take shelter in the protected area, the forest will be ruined within a short time," they said.

They urged the government to rehabilitate the refugees to some other khas land outside the forest area.

The roundtable on 'Remedies to save Teknaf Game Reserve (Protected) Forest' organised by Save Environment Movement (SEM) at SEM auditorium yesterday.

Dr Monirul Khan, Assistant Professor of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University, Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of SEM, Barrister Raihan Khalid, Md Faruk Biswas, forest and environment researcher, among others, spoke at the roundtable.

Speakers said many trees of the forest have already been cut down and roads are being built there. Wood is being burned at brick kilns after chopping trees of the forest there. Brick kiln is the main threat to the natural forest and forest resources.

Though there is a law prohibiting that there should not be any brick kiln within three kilometres of the protected area, but eight brick kilns have already been set up around the protected forest area. As a result, biodiversity of the forest is being hampered every day, they said.

Due to environmental threat to the forest area endangered animals like parailla monkey and short tail lazy monkey have reduced in the last 20 years. Many forest animals like elephants, leopards, small pigs, chimpanzees, wood peacocks, pythons and others are dwindling gradually, they added.

Teknaf is the only game reserve the total area of which is 116 kilometres. Teknaf peninsula was environmentally rich because this is situated in the middle of the Indian and Malayan biodiversity region. But due to environmental degradation biodiversity of this region is under threat. In 1983, the government declared the game reserve a protected area.

Govt to show zero tolerance to non-compliant RMG factories

Staff Reporter

The Government will employ mobile courts to penalise garment factory owners who do not pay their employees the minimum wage, Commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said yesterday.

The decision was taken at a meeting on the garments sector at the commerce ministry yesterday. Following the meeting the Adviser said the government is also mulling over forming participatory committees to mediate between workers and employers in each garment factory.

He warned that the government would take stern action against any employer found not complying with the Government fixed minimum wages.

The Caretaker Government has already filed cases against 47 garment factory owners for not complying with minimum wage laws, he said adding, "The government is closely monitoring the labour issues."

A crisis committee consisting of 15 teams is working in different garment factories to investigate the problems, he informed.

The adviser said the meeting had discussed the initial findings of a report from a committee tasked with investigating recent incidents of unrest in the garments sector. The meeting also addressed labour rights and development of the sector.

Dr Zillur said 42 per cent of garment factories were found to be paying the minimum wage in June last year. By September the figure reached 48 per cent, while in December the figure rose to 56 per cent. The adviser conceded that the number of factories found to be complying with the law fell in January to 51 per cent.

Miners resume work at Barapukuria coal field

Staff Reporter

Local miners yesterday returned to their work after a three-day strike at the state-run Barapukuria coal field under Phulbari upazila in northern Dinajpur district.

The workers, who went on strike demanding a 90 per cent pay hike and shorter working hours, yesterday resumed production as the Barapukuria Coal Mining Co Ltd (BCMCL) met their demand.

It was, however, could not be ascertained as to how much of their wages was increased and working hours reduced by the coal mine management.

The miners were demanding a pay rise of more than 90 per cent and shorter working hours by 2 hours to 6 hours since October last year,

The BCMCL has started since mid-January coal extraction from the mine located nearly 340 kilometres north west of Dhaka. Talking to journalists after the resumption of mining, BCMCL Managing Director Abdul Aziz Khan said the workers were now satisfied as the company has fulfilled their basic demands.

He said at least 4,000 tonnes of coal could not be extracted from the mine due to the three-day strike. More than 700 local miners had stopped extraction of coal used to fire two coal-based power-plants with egawatts. However, no Chinese miners joined the work stoppage, Aziz Khan said.

BCMCL developed the coal field with technical assistance from Chinese coal firm China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC). Both firms extract more than 2,000 tonnes of coal every day.

Most of the country's five coal fields with around 2.55 billion tonnes of reserves are located in Dinajpur area.

Extortion case: Sheikh Helal jailed for 7-yr

UNB, Dhaka

Sheikh Helal, cousin of detained former premier Sheikh Hasina, and another person were yesterday sentenced to serve 7 years in jail in an extortion case instituted under the current drive against corruption.

They are also fined to pay Tk 1 lakh or suffer another 6 months in prison. The convicts are Sheikh Helal and his associate Saiduzzaman.

Both are on the run.

Prosecution story is that "when Sheikh Hasina was in power the accused, on several occasions, realized Tk 2 crore 2 lakh 40 thousand from RCL construction firm".

With the change of time, an officer of the firm, Momtajuddin, sued the duo in Kafrul police station on May 21, 2007.

Sustainable foundation for democracy is our goal: CA

UNB, Safipur

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Tuesday said the ultimate goal of the caretaker government is to give a sustainable foundation for democracy to flourish in the country in long term.

"The government is taking all necessary steps to hold free and fair election within this year. We've taken multi-dimensional initiative also in social uplift and people's welfare," he said at the 28th National Assembly 2008 of Ansar and VDP at the parade ground of Ansar-VDP Academy.

Dr Fakhruddin said so far, it has not been possible to establish a self-reliant prosperous Bangladesh for lack of proper distribution of resources and dedicated initiative. "In last one year, in 2007 after January 11, we've taken a good number of important and farsighted steps considering the national interest. At the same time, we've strengthened our stand against corruption," he told the function.

The head of the caretaker government said massive improvement of law and order has taken place now and also the separation of judiciary from the executive has been accomplished as per directive of the Constitution.

Preparation of voter list with photograph is being implemented smoothly under the supervision of the recast Election Commission, he mentioned.

The Chief Adviser gave a four-point directive to all members of Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) for playing a more vibrant and effective role in building up the country.

As per the directives, Ansar-VDP will have to be more sincere in preventing crimes and ensuring security in economic activities at the grassroots level, as they have scope and opportunity to make more contributions in establishing good governance at grassroots level and establishing reliable and cordial relations with the people and the government.

The directives also include ensuring security of public life through strengthening the local government and building up the Ansar-VDP as a well-knit force for alleviating poverty, expansion of social security network and intensifying efforts to involve members of Ansar-VDP more effectively in facing disaster.

Dr Fakhruddin said all citizens of the country would have to make best efforts from their respective position to turn the beloved motherland into a modern and developed country.

He praised the activities of Ansar, Battalion Ansar and VDP in maintaining law and order, curbing crimes and terrorism, and contributing in socioeconomic development.

Presently, about 30,0000 Ansars are playing courageous role for ensuring security of life and property at airports, seaports, industries and other important establishments, he said. Through this, he added, it was possible to ensure suitable environment for production and investment, which is playing a positive role in keeping the wheels of economy running. The Chief Adviser said the Village Defence Party, apart from helping to maintain law and order for last 32 years, are investing voluntary labour for self-development and accelerating the rural economy. He expressed his firm belief that over 43 lakh trained male and female members of VDP can launch revolution in the field of socioeconomic development in 80,000 villages of Bangladesh. Dr Fakhruddin mentioned the courageous role of the members of Ansar Battalion in curbing terrorism and performing their responsibilities shoulder to shoulder with army in Chittagong Hill Tracts for protecting the country's sovereignty and integrity.

He said that Ansars after passing nearly 60 years and the VDP completing 32 years today have turned into matured forces. Before addressing the function, the Chief Adviser distributed Bangladesh Ansar Padak (Award), Rashtrapati (President) Ansar Padak, Bangladesh VDP Padak and Rashtrapati VDP Padak among Ansars and VDP members for their heroic role in curbing terrorism, crimes and in maintaining law and order as well as outstanding contributions in socioeconomic development.

Earlier, a parade by members of Battalion Ansars, general Ansars, VDP and Town Defence Party, both male and female members, gave a guard of honour to the Chief Adviser at the parade ground. The Chief Adviser inspected the parade from on board an open jeep.

The joint parade in a splendid march past gave salute to the Chief Adviser who took salute from a decorated podium.

Later, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin witnessed a colorful cultural event presented by by the male and female members of Ansars and VDP at the Academy premises.

Earlier, on arrival at the venue, Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin and DG Ansar-VDP Maj Gen Abdul Hafiz welcomed and received the Chief Adviser.

Rank and file of Ansar-VDP, distinguished personalities and senior civil and military officials were present at the function.

4 officials of Sundarbans forest arrested

UNB, Bagerhat

Four official and employees of Sundarbans East Zone were suspended yesterday for taking bribe from the fishermen.

Local Forest Department took the punitive action against acting officer of Shela outpost KM Kabir Uddin, forest guards Abu Musa and Zulfiker Ali and boatman Golam Mostafa.

Deputy Forest Officer of Sundarbans East Zone SM Shahidullah said the accused took Tk 17,400 bribe from 15 fishermen for allowing them for fishing in the restricted zone. The accused, however, refund the money to the fishermen on February 8.

Govt plans to contain greenhouse gas emissions: Two-stroke vehicles to go off dist towns, cities

UNB, Dhaka

The caretaker government plans to knock out two-stroke-engine vehicles from all district headquarters and metropolitan cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to hazardous global warming.

"Government is thinking about making cities and district towns clean by getting rid of two-stroke engine as it causes massive air pollution," Raja Devasish Roy, special assistant to chief adviser on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and Forest Affairs, told UNB.

He said the government would take steps to create awareness among the people against the use of two-stroke engines.

Earlier, two-stroke engines were banned from the capital city of Dhaka and port-city Chittagong.

Raja Devasish, who had a meeting with Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue, said the envoy sought Bangladesh's support in tackling climate change-a red-hot issue that is going to be raised at the G8 summit to be held in Japan.

The Ambassador said Japan's government is willing to assist Bangladesh for adaptation and mitigation from the adverse impact of the changes in climate, which are already putting the country in perils-like droughts, floods and cyclones.

Devasish told the envoy that Bangladesh is not responsible for global warming, but it may face significant risks for this change.

He requested the Ambassador to highlight the issue at the G8 meet of the world's richest nations, who are being mostly blamed for the global warming.

"To reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, Bangladesh government is taking initiatives through forestation, but it is not possible only by the government. It needs initiatives from the mass people and public awareness," he observed.

SC upholds HC order granting bail to Dr Towfiq

UNB, Dhaka

The Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the High Court order that had granted interim bail to detained former power and energy secretary Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury in the case of alleged corruption in the deal for Khulna barge-mounted power plant. A seven-member full court of the Appellate Division, in dealing with a government plea, passed the order vacating its earlier weeklong stay on operation of the HC order.

On Feb 3, a High Court division bench, upon a writ petition filed by Dr Towfiq challenging the government action in placing the corruption case for trial under the Emergency Power Rules, had granted interim bail to the petitioner.

The court had also issued a rule upon the government to explain why its action 'should not be declared illegal'.

On Jan 16, Dr Towfiq was sent to jail by an order of a magistrate court. He was denied bail after he surrendered to the court. The case, in which detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has also been made one of the accused, is now set for trial at the special judge's court set up at the parliament bhaban complex. The chare-hearing on the case will be held on Wednesday.