The New Nation - Internet Edition

Fakhruddin inaugurates Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games: Sports for friendship stressed

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed was inaugurating
the Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games at the Bangabandhu National
Stadium yesterday, Army Chief and President of the
Bangladesh Olympic Association General Moeen-U-Ahmed, Asian
Olympic Council Secretary Raja

Sports Reporter

The gala opening ceremony of the Second Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games was held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday.

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed formally opened the games as the chief guest. Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) arranged the colourful gala opening ceremony. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed spoke at the inaugural ceremony. President of Bangladesh Olympic Association and Chief of the Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed and President of Bengal Olympic Association (India) Paresh Nath Mukherjee also spoke on the occasion. Asian Olympic Council Secretary Raja Randhir Singh was present, among others.

Advisers, Special Assistants to the Chief Adviser, diplomats, high civil, high military officials and a good number of spectators were present at the stadium.

The West Bengal team of India arrived in the country on Wednesday last to take part in the Second Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games scheduled to be held from February 22 to February 27.

The participants of Bangladesh team and the participants of West Bengal team of India took part in the march past at the big bowl.

The paratroopers of Bangladesh Army landed at the stadium from helicopter carrying the flags of Bangladesh, India, Olympic, Bangladesh Olympic Association, Bengal Olympic Association (India) and Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games.

The cavalry marched around the ground carrying those flags. Later, the theme song of the Games was played with colourful folk dance.

Shilpakala Academy showed an eye-catching colourful display at the ground. After that fire works were shone in the sky which entertained the spectators.

Around five hundred fifty five participants from two countries will compete in nine disciplines of 67 gold medals. The disciplines are: Athletics, Swimming, Shooting, Football, Cricket, Basketball, Kabaddi, Kho Kho and Volleyball.

The competitions start today at the different venues across the city.

BSS, adds: Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said sports and games play a vital role for sound health of the individuals and in ensuring social development, nation-building and flourishing civilization.

"Through sports and games, we can sow the seeds of good health in social, state and international life," he said and expressed his firm hope that the sports persons of Bangladesh and India would come closer through this Games and further strengthen the ties of friendship between the two countries.

He expressed his optimism that the week-long Games of both the neighbourly countries would greatly help the participants of both Bangladesh and India to achieve more success in the global sports arena.

Congratulating the organisers and sports persons of India and Bangladesh for holding such a sports competition, the Chief Adviser said the Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games started its journey on Friday with a commitment of upholding the ties of harmony, solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

"Similar games are also being organised for the sports persons of two Punjabs in India and Pakistan," he said adding that the Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games was introduced in Kolkata last year under the initiatives of Bangladesh Olympic Association and the Olympic officials of West Bengal (India).

General Moeen U Ahmed said the Games would help further strengthen socio-economic and cultural friendship between Bangladesh and India. "Such efforts of improving relations between the two neighbours would continue for the benefit of both the peoples," he added.

Draft voter list by June 30: EC has no reason to be partisan, says CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Dr. A T M Shamsul Huda
talking to newsmen at Patiya, Chittagong after inspecting
the local voters registration campaign. Banglar
Chokh

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission will publish the draft voters' list of the whole country by June 30 this year.

Disclosing this, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said there should not be any doubt about holding of the general elections within December this year as per the roadmap. The polls will be held "even earlier if possible", he added.

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) also expressed the hope to conclude the pending dialogue with the BNP on electoral reform by March 31 after the completion of legal process.

He brushed aside the possibility of holding dialogue with both factions of the BNP saying the Election Commission (EC) did not talk to any fractions of a political party previously when it had sit with as many 16 political parties.

The CEC said this, while talking to journalists after inspecting progress in the preparation of voters' list with photograph at two centres of Payia upazila under Chittagong district, according to reports received in the capital last evening.

Terming the EC as absolutely neutral, he said there was no reason for the Commission to deviate from its policy by favouring any particular party. "The two factions of BNP have locked into infighting and the Election Commission had nothing to do with it. They either should solve their problems by themselves or wait for the High Court verdict (in this regard)," he said.

Asked why the two factions of BNP are not being invited to join the dialogue on electoral reforms, he said if the two groups were called it would be tantamount to doing a favour to the BNP. "If we do that then what about the four factions of the Jatiya Party, five of the Islami Okiya Jote (IOJ) and two groups of Workers Party?" he posed the question, adding that 13 of the 16 political parties invited to the talks in the previous phase were divided into more than one faction.

"But the Commission did not sit with factions of any party and this is our policy," he said.

He said EC does not want to lose its neutrality by doing favour to the BNP, but the election rules would not be finalised without dialogue with the party (BNP).

Dr Huda said, "We will not talk to any party except the mainstream one whether it is big or small. The mainstream of BNP will be determined by the High court verdict. We'll have to wait until then."

He said the EC would be decentralised and its offices would be set up at upazila-level with sufficient workforce.

He said there was no problem in voter registration here (in Patiya) and it is going on in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), where the voters' list would be completed by the last week of April.

Divisional Deputy Election Commissioner Ejharul Haq and District Election Officer Dulal Talukder accompanied the CEC during the visit.

Nation pays homage to language martyrs

President Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr.
Fakhruddin Ahmed paying homage to the Language Martyrs at
the Central Shaheed Minar at midnight-Wednesday. NN
photo

Awami League leaders led by Tofael Ahmed, Amir
Hossain Amu and Matia Choudhury placing wreath at the
Central Shaheed Minar on the occasion of Ekushey February.
NN photo

BNP leaders led by Party Secretary General Khandaker
Delwar Hossain and Brigadier General (retd) Hannan Shah
placing wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar on February
21st night to pay homage to the language martyrs. PID
photo

Staff Reporter

Amar Ekushey February was observed on Thursday with paying huge respect to the language martyrs in the country as well as abroad. The Central Shaheed Minar was be decked with flowers as thousands barefooted, wearing black ribbons and holding bouquets close to their bosoms thronged there to pay homage to the brave sons of the soil who laid down their lives in 1952 for mother tongue Bangla.

At 12:01am, President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar, while Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed followed him.

They stood there in solemn silence for a minute paying their respect to the language movement heroes.

With daybreak people kept flooding in leaving hardly any space for free movement at the Central Shaheed Minar, symbol of the spirit of not bowing to repression.

The road from Shahbagh inter-section to Doyel Chattar turned into a river of people humming the song, "Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February." The roads from Nilkhet, Palashi and Chankharpool top the Shaheed Minar seemed like a human see.

While different organisations placed bouquets with a single rose or a tuberose, toddlers holding their mothers' hands or riding on their fathers' shoulders.

Freedom fighters, language movement veterans, physically challenged people, youths, day labourers, workers, homeless people, academicians, intellectuals, politicians and foreigners walked in queues.

Imbued with the spirit of patriotism, people from all walks of life demanded restoration of democracy, trial of war criminals and establishment of a corruption-free society.

On February 21, 1952, Salam, Barkat, Shafiur, Rafique, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla as one of the state languages of the then Pakistan.

The day has since been observed as the Language Martyrs Day. The UNESCO declared it International Mother Language Day in November 1999.

People outside Dhaka and Bangladesh missions abroad also paid homage to the martyrs placing flowers after midnight at Shaheed Minars.

The Central Shaheed Minar and its surrounding areas received a facelift on the occasion. Streets and their central reservations were decorated with festoons inscribed with Bangla letters and the national flag.

Poetry recitation started long before people started paying homage to the martyrs and continued till 12:00am. After a four-hour break, it continued for five more hours.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Mayor of Dhaka City Corporation, foreign diplomats, representatives of international organisations in Dhaka, Vice Chancellor and teachers of Dhaka University, leaders and workers of different political and socio-cultural organisations as well as thousands of people placed wreaths later.

Bangladesh bundled out for 192: South Africa 76 for 4

Players of South Africa appeal for out of a
Bangladesh batsman during the first day of the first Test
between Bangladesh and South Africa at the Mirpur
Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday. NN photo

BSS, Dhaka

Honours were evenly shared as South Africa were staggering at 76 for four wickets in their first innings when the stumps were drawn on the first day of the first test of the Warid Test Series at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur here on Friday.

Earlier, Bangladesh, electing to bat, were bundled out for 192 in their first innings just after tea.

The debacle behind Bangladesh batting was due to superb bowling by South African pacers---Morne Morkel with five for 50 and Dale Steyn with two for 27. The right-arm South African spinner Johan Botha joined the bowling feast with two for 57. Aftab Ahmed topscored with 44 runs.

Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafee Bin Mortaza and Shahriar Nafees-all made their start but failed to prolong their innings.

After the initial spade work done by South African bowlers, the visitors now looked towards their openers to provide them a flying start enabling them to take the driving seat from the very first day of the match.

But the Bangladesh bowlers were in no mood to bow without any fight. Especially, the tall right-arm pacer Shahadat Hossain, who bowled his heart out, sent the Proteas wobbling at 19 for two wickets.

Both South African openers skipper Graeme Smith and McKenzie fell to Shahadat. First, Smith dragged an incoming delivery to his stumps for 11 and McKenzie, who hardly could settle down, was trapped in front of the wicket for five. Shahadat also had a close appeal turned down.

In-form South African batsmen Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis stopped the rot with an important 35-run partnership. It looked that South Africa got themselves out of troubled waters. But 37- year-old left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique playing in his last test series was waiting to weave his magic web to take the Shahadat's queue.

First, the prized scalp of Kallis by Rafique saw holiday crowd go berserk. Kallis trying to play Rafique by exposing his stump was bowled by a ball keeping rather low for 17.

Hashim Amla was shaping well but was beaten by Rafique's guile as he was trapped in front of the wicket for 25.

Prince and nightwatchman Botha managed to keep their wickets intact as bad light stopped play with eight overs of the day remaining.

Bangladesh skipper Ashraful won the toss and elected to bat first. But South African pacer Steyn dealt a double blow by removing Tamim Iqbal for a duck in the first ball and in his next over in-form Junaide Siddique, who slammed a century against South Africa in the three-day practice match, for one run.

Former captain Habibul Bashar playing his 50th test for Bangladesh could not enjoy the historic moment by playing a wretched shot to be out for 11.

Shahriar Nafees got out when he looked to have weathered the early storm for 25 with Bangladesh score showing 60 for four.

Skipper Ashraful came at the wicket ready to play all his shots not bothered that they have lost four wickets. He played some glorious shots all around the wicket in his 27-ball 34 studded with seven glittering boundaries.

He looked in great touch hitting superb cover drives, square drives, pulls and a brilliant hook shot. His aggressive mood made him pay for his carefree batting as he was caught and bowled by Botha whom he have struck two boundaries in a row.

A 70-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Aftab and Shakib saw Bangladesh give some hope of prolonging their innings but Aftab cutting his aggressive attitude finally played a lofted shot to be dismissed by Botha caught by Ntini for 44 runs staying at the crease for 127 minutes.

Losing his cool, Shakib (30) also followed him on the same score being the victim of Morkel.

Rafique also fell on the same total for a duck adjudged LBW, a very poor decision given by umpire Steve Bucknor when the batsman had edged the ball to his pad.

Bangladesh from 152 for five collapsed to 152 for eight.

Mashrafee playing a gallant knock of 29, saw Bangladesh bowl out for 192 runs.

After the match, Ashraful said tomorrow's (Saturday) first session will be crucial. If his bowler can strike early, they will have the chance to dismiss them cheaply while South African camp still believes they have the possibility to take score past 300 mark.

Zardari, Sharif vow to reinstate judges: US urges next govt to work with Musharraf

Musharraf

Reuters, Islamabad

Pakistan's Opposition election winners were trying to forge a coalition on Friday, raising the prospect of a government intent on forcing U.S. ally President Pervez Musharraf from power.

Leaders of the two parties that won the election, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), or PML-N, vowed on Thursday to work together to form a government but said they still had details to work out.

The main party backing the unpopular Musharraf was dealt a stunning defeat in Monday's general election, leaving the President, one of Washington's top Muslim allies against al Qaeda, vulnerable to a hostile parliament.

"I don't see any problems in them forming a coalition," said political analyst and academic Rasul Baksh Rais.

"They have realised that by working together they can put Pakistan back on a democratic line."

Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister Musharraf overthrew in 1999 and whose PML-N came second in the vote, has demanded the unpopular President step down. But since the election, Musharraf has said he was not ready to resign.

U.S. President George W. Bush's administration has urged the next government to work with Musharraf and says Washington needs Pakistan-which borders Afghanistan where U.S. and NATO forces are fighting Islamist militants-as an ally.

Sharif met Asif Ali Zardari, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's widower and leader of her PPP since her murder on Dec. 27, in Islamabad on Thursday evening for their first face-to-face talks since the election.

If they forge a coalition, it will be the first time in Pakistan's history the two main parties have come together. Musharraf's 1999 coup ended a chaotic decade of civilian rule alternating between Bhutto and Sharif governments.

Zardari met the PPP's winning candidates, and a party statement said more consultative meetings were expected over the next three days.

Zardari and Sharif also separately met with leaders of the Awami National Party, a Pashtun nationalist party set to join them in a coalition after sweeping Islamists out of power in North West Frontier Province.

The Election Commission is expected to issue official results on March 1.

Musharraf should then convene an inaugural session of the National Assembly. But how soon after may depend on whether there is a government-in-waiting, as the President has to invite a member commanding the confidence of the majority to become Prime Minister.

Sharif told a news conference after his meeting with Zardari that the two parties would work together to form a government.

Zardari, whose party won the most seats but not an overall majority, said he wanted a broad government but one excluding the main party that backs Musharraf.

He said the PPP and Sharif's party would "stay together" but they had lots of details to work out.

"We have a lot of modalities to cover. We have a lot of ground to cover," he said. "We will be meeting off and on. In principle, we have agreed to stay together."

Sharif's party had yet to decide whether to join a PPP-led government or support it without being part of it.

"Either is possible. It is being worked out," said party chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq.

In another sign of looming trouble for Musharraf, Sharif said he and Zardari had agreed in principle to restore judges Musharraf fired when he imposed emergency rule in November.

The judges, if reinstated, can be expected to take up the question of the eligibility of Musharraf to stand for re-election as President while still Army Chief last October. They were expected to rule against Musharraf when he imposed the emergency.

The Karachi Stock Exchange 100 share index closed virtually flat, but a tiny 0.06 percent rise was enough to notch a record closing high for a third consecutive day.

The index has risen 4.37 percent this week largely due to relief the elections were less violent and fairer than most people anticipated. Dealers said sentiment was still positive and investors were looking forward to a new coalition.

Karachi is the only share market in Asia to have gained this year, up 6.3 percent. Its gains over the past 12 months are ranked behind only China and Indonesia, though many investors still consider it a difficult and illiquid market.

The index has risen about 900 percent since 2000.

Sloan barred from holding press confce

UNB, Dhaka

International Human Rights lawyer William Sloan was barred from holding his pre-departure press conference at Sonargaon Hotel here yesterday afternoon.

Plainclothes security personnel also stopped media men at the main entrance of the hotel.

A hotel security man told the media men the press conference scheduled for 4:30pm was cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances.

At around 4:40pm, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, counsel for detained AL president Sheikh Hasina, Advocate Shahera Khatun, Advocate Abdul Mannan, Advocate Kamrul Islam and Barrister Tapash came out of the hotel and alleged that the government has posted police in front of Sloan's room in the hotel and he was not allowed to come out of it.

"William Sloan has booked Chitra room to hold the press conference, but we found that the room has been kept under lock and key, and the hotel management said the press conference has been cancelled," Barrister Shafique said.

He said the hotel authorities would not say who has cancelled the press conference.

Sloan, also the president of American Association of Jurists, the Canadian chapter, came here on Feb 16 to witness the case proceedings against Sheikh Hasina as well as human rights situation. He is scheduled to leave for Canada today (Saturday).

He made an attempt to see Sheikh Hasina at the special court Tuesday but the security men did not allow him to enter the court on the ground that he has no permission from the authorities concerned.

Barrister Shafique said, "The press conference was called by Sloan, but he didn't cancel it. You can clearly understand from this that the government doesn't want William Sloan to speak to the press."

He mentioned that Sloan came to Bangladesh as a lawyer and human rights activist. "The act of the government will tarnish the country' s image a bit," he said.

Responding to a question, Barrister Shafique said, they also came to the hotel to listen to Sloan "like you", he did not say anything yet, but the government, apprehending something, stopped the press conference.

He expressed his regret in favour of Sloan as they could not attend the press conference due to the restriction.

Earlier Wednesday, Sloan exchanged views with Supreme Court lawyers when he said the world is keeping eyes on the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as he was doubtful about the transparency of its proceedings.

He said the way the trial is being held "keeping the people in the dark" will not be acceptable to the international community.

"I've been asked by my Association to watch the trial process and the human rights situation here. I'll submit my report to the Association and the report will be published," he said, adding, "I haven't come here to defend anyone."

Artefacts to return from Paris today

UNB, Dhaka

The 42 artefacts of Bangladesh that were sent to the Guimet Museum in Paris for an exhibition will be brought back home on Saturday amid a strong apprehension whether the country is getting back the orginal ones.

However, the government has formed an 18-member committee, headed by Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury, to make sure the country is receiving the artefacts intact.

Concerned sources said a cargo flight of Air France, carrying the artefacts, will land at the Zia International Airport early in the morning.

Of the artefacts, 14 were taken from Barindra Research Museum, 10 from National Museum and 18 from Mohasthangarh, Paharpur and Moinamoti Museum.

Adequate security measures have been taken to bring back the archaeological objects to the National Museum from the airport, the sources said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs settled the matter of bringing back the antiques and their financial cost after talks with the French government.

According to the sources, the French government agreed to bear over 60 percent of the total cost for bringing back the artefacts. Meanwhile, packing of the archaeological artefacts began in France on Monday in presence of the Charge d' Affaires of Bangladesh Embassy, officials of three museums of Bangladesh, Guimet Museum authorities and customs officials of France.

The Bangladesh government sent the archaeological masterpieces to Guimet Museum on December 1, 2007 under a cultural exchange agreement signed between the governments of Bangladesh and France.

The government cancelled the exhibition of the rare pieces at the museum on December 25, 2007 after two statues of Vishnu were stolen at the Zia International Airport en route to Paris.

A group of Bangladeshi citizens had also raised their voice against sending the artefacts to Paris and filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case with the High Court.

Call to form agri commission: Task force needed to address food shortage

Staff Reporter

Requesting the Government to set up taskforce to suggest allocation in the coming budget to address food shortage for next three years, some noted economists yesterday urged to form an "Agriculture Commission" to chart out a national strategy for smooth development of the sector instead of following the World Bank prescription on investment in agriculture.

They said there was no chance to reduce food grains price in the international market in next two to three years and so the Government should increase allocation to meet the shortfall, which cannot be meet up boosting up domestic production by so short time.

Former Adviser Dr Akbar Ali Khan and Dr Zayed Bakth said this while talking to a private TV channel yesterday.

Terming the agriculture as the key sector in a farming based economy like Bangladesh, they regretted that the sector was bypassed in development planning of the mainly due to the World Bank (WB) advice that always stressed the need for increasing investment in service and manufacturing sectors.

They said the WB, previously used to advice planners to put less importance on agriculture, while it was now suggesting the Government to enhance investment in the sector mainly to serve the purposes of the western developed countries.

They opined that the country has enough skilled planners to chart out development strategy

ontd on page 2 Col-3

for agriculture sector or the economy as a whole and does not need the WB advice for planning. The WB help is only needed for the implementation, they added.

Dr Akbar Ali Khan, a noted economist of the country, identified the WB implementation of the WB suggestions as the main bottleneck that was responsible for holding the nation back both in economic development and boosting agricultural production.

"We should not bother about the World Bank's prescriptions in development planning be it in agriculture sector or industry, as we have enough experts with required skills. They can efficiently plan development strategy," he said, adding, "Policymakers must decide not to approach the World Bank other than aid request for project implementation."

He said the policymakers of the country bypassed the agriculture in development planning more long for which the nation has no agriculture policy. Bangladesh is an agrarian economy and thus there is no scope to avoid agriculture.

The former Adviser of the Caretaker Government said, the administration should immediately decide as to how much highbred seeds the country should use for boosting production and how much subsidy should be given for fertilizer and electricity for augmenting agriculture production.

"Otherwise, we may lead towards an ecological and economic disaster," he warned.

"For this, the formation of a National Agriculture Commission to chart out the policy and long term development planning in agriculture, which will continue to remain as the vital sector economy for years to come," Dr Akbar Ali Khan concluded.

Dr Zayed Bakth said noted that the WB determines it investment priorities on the basis of the needs and interests of the western developed countries. "Considering the actual development necessities of the aid recipient country is absent in the World Bank's agenda that often pushes the less developed countries backward," he said.

Urging the Government to become cautious about the WB's intention in development planning, he said, "We must decide and plan our development goals ourselves."

Otherwise, the BIDS Fellow said we would never be able to overcome the economic backwardness.

Sequel to bird flu outbreak: Nutritional crisis feared

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Due to attack of bird flu, health and nutrition experts are now surmising a nutritional crisis as people of all income groups depend on poultry products to meet their required demand for protein, minerals and vitamins.

Prof Shah Mohammad Keramat Ali, Professor Clinical Nutrition Department of Nutrition and Food Science Institute of Dhaka University, said, "People of almost all income groups, including the poor, eat the poultry product egg, which is an important source of protein, essential vitamins and minerals and makes a significant contribution to a healthy diet." "They will be deprived of these cheap sources of protein, minerals and vitamins if the bird flu spread is not checked right now. It is really unfortunate for us that we as a poor nation might be the great loser of protein that we collect from eggs," said Prof Keramat.

The virus of bird flu easily spreads through affected fowls, their eggs, faeces, egg crates and even vehicles that are used to transport poultry products to markets. It can spread during slaughtering, plucking, processing and preparation of the poultry for cooking, according to the veterinary surgeons.

As part of the adverse effect of bird flu, it decreases the nutritional status of the country's poor people. Egg-protein is of high biological value as it contains all the essential amino acids needed by the human body, according to the nutritionists.

Prof Keramat said, "Eggs contain most of the recognised vitamins with the exception of vitamin C. It contains most of the minerals that the human body requires. In particular, eggs are an excellent source of iodine, required to produce the thyroid hormone and phosphorus, needed for bone health."

The egg provides significant amounts of zinc, important for wound healing and growth and fighting infection, selenium, an important antioxidant and calcium, which is needed for bone, growth of structure and nerve function.

Professor Nazmul Hasan, Director of Nutrition and Food Science Institute of Dhaka University, said, "In terms of nutritional status, Bangladesh is facing deficiency of protein, iron, minerals and vitamins. My work experience in community nutrition says that scores of people depend on low priced eggs and chickens."

Poor people also depend on chicken, as the price of beef and mutton is higher. They might face difficulties in getting this food that fulfils the demand of high proteins required for health, he said.

"At the moment, we have to take extreme precautions because the fast spreading virus may transmit to human beings. In the case of human infection, it is quite difficult to differentiate the avian flu from the regular seasonal flu. But there is a 90 per cent chance of full recovery if anti-viral medicine is applied within 48 hours of being infected with the H5N1 virus," said epidemiologists.

To prevent the bird flu, World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that meat be cooked thoroughly so all parts of the meat reach an internal temperature of 70 degrees Celsius as this temperature destroys the virus.

Prof Khurshid Jahan, Professor of Clinical Nutrition of Nutrition and Food Science Institute of Dhaka University, suggested eating pulse with rice and vegetable for a balanced diet required for healthy life.

Call to declare poultry industry policy

Staff Reporter

Experts at a seminar in the city urged the government to take early preventive steps after detection of bird flu virus anywhere in the country.

They also urged the government to give compensation for the affected farm owners within short time and form a specialist panel with virologists and microbiologists.

They recommended the government to monitor poultry markets regularly and declare the National Poultry Industry Policy.

The seminar on 'Remedies to face challenges of poultry industry' organised by Krishi Unnayan Kendra at the National Press Club yesterday.

National Professor Dr AKM Aminul Haque presided over the seminar, while Prof Dr Md Abdul Karim, Professor of Bangladesh Agriculture University, chaired the session.

Dr Md Jahangir Alam, Director General of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Golam Rabbani, agriculturist, Prod Dr ATM Mahbub-e-Ilahi, Professor of Microbiology Department of Sylhet Agriculture University, Prof Dr Mokbul Hossain, Professor of Pathology Department of BAU, Dr Md Ruhul Amin, Head of Physiology Department of Dhaka Medical College, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Speakers urged the Government to train the farm owners and workers and not to give permission to set up poultry farm without ensuring bio-security measures. Awareness is essential rather than being panicked after detection of bird flu virus, they said.

They recommended the government to stop import of non-permitted one-day aged chicks from outside of the country by smuggling.