The New Nation - Internet Edition

Iftekhar "concerned" at Israeli attack on Palestinians

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has expressed concern over the deadly attack by Israel on the Palestinians in Gaza that left nearly half a dozen dead. The Adviser, who is now in Japan on an official visit, was speaking to the media in Tokyo on Wednesday.

"Violence begets violence and a recurrence of attacks by Israel of this type can never contribute to the peace that both sides, and the world community, desire" Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said.

Peerganj thana OC closed

UNB, Thakurgaon

Peerganj thana officer-in-charge Shahabuddin Khalifa was closed yesterday following allegation of irregularities against him were probed.

Police said earlier ten UP chairmen pointing out misdeeds of Shahabudding had requested the police super for his immediate withdrawal. On investigation the allegations were probed and the OC was closed today to police super's office for further action against him.

Police administration in the district has gone radical purge this month. Police super Masud-ul-Hasan was ordered stand release, Thakurgaon thana OC Sohrab Ali suspended, SI Rezaul Islam and Ruhia outpost in-charge Shamsuzzaman were suspended.

Ten criminals arrested in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 arrested nine suspected drug-peddlers and a wanted criminal, and seized phensidyl, ganja and scrap materials from various areas in five northern districts during the last 24 hours till on Wednes afternoon.

The arrested included Samad Khan, 35, Shahidul Islam, 35, Azgar Ali, 40, Suman Kumar, 25, Sabirunnessa, 30, Monirul Islam, 18, Abul Hossain, 19, Abdul Karim, 30, and Azgar Ali, 40.

The seized drugs were 390 bottles of phensidyl, one bottle of wine and eight kilograms of ganja during seven separate drives in Naogaon, Rajshahi, Gaibandha, Joypurhat and Rangpur districts.

They also seized 40 kilograms of copper and brass scrap materials, which were being smuggled out to India, during a sudden raid at Bulanpur under Rajpara police station in the city. However, none could be arrested.

In another raid at Punchbibi Bazar in Joypurhat district, another RAB team arrested a wanted criminal identified as Mijanur Rahman, 26, son of late Kasim Uddin.

The arrested and the seized goods were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases.

Poura chairman held in Cox's Bazar

UNB, Cox's Bazar

An acting poura chairman of Moheshkhali upazila was arrested yesterday afternoon on charge of misappropriation and corruption.

Navy personnel arrested Purna Chandra Dey, chairman of Moheshkhali pourasava, and handed him over to the police. He was sent to the jail later.

The team also raided his pourasava office on Tuesday and seized a number of documents.

Gen Quader joins public to decry unabated price hike

UNB, Dhaka

Communications Adviser Major General (Retd) Ghulam Quader yesterday vented his dissatisfaction over the unabated price hike of essentials, at a time when reports have it that business tycoons once again jacked up soybean-oil prices.

"Not only the public but also I myself am unhappy over the continued price hike of essentials," he said while talking to reporters at a press briefing at his office at the Communications Ministry.

A latest market survey showed that soybean-oil price was increased by Tk 2.50 per litre just after the government in a meeting with the traders concerned on Monday fixed the prices of soybean and palm oil.

The Adviser lamented that it's "government's misfortunate that people are unhappy with the government for price hike".

Responding to a query about people's confusion over holding election, the retired army general said confusion among the people about holding polls would be removed in December 2008 as elections must be held within this year.

He, however, said he didn't see any person confused over the question of holding election in 2008. "But if there be any uncertainty among the people, it would be removed in December."

Responding to a query about the timeframe of lifting state of emergency, the Adviser said, "Earlier I had said that emergency would not be there for even one hour when not needed anymore."

He said they all want that the state of emergency be gone as early as possible, but it is not possible to mention any timeframe.

Call to ensure treatment, support of AIDS patients

Staff Reporter

Speakers at an advocacy meeting yesterday urged all concerned to come forward to ensure proper treatment, care and support of the HIV infected people in the country to stop spread of the deadly disease.

They said HIV/AIDS cannot be prevented even by spending crore of Taka if proper treatment, care and support are not provided to the HIV positive people.

Organised by Mukto Akash Bangladesh, a community base organisation, the advocacy meeting on "Role of Media Personnel on Treatment of PLHIV" was held at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the city.

Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor of The New Nation, addressing the meeting as the chief guest emphasised the need for creating awareness among the masses about the consequences of the HIV/AIDS.

"If we are not cautious about the disease from now on it may create major obstacles in health and development sectors," he observed.

He regretted that the activities being carried out by the NGOs in the field are timid and dependent on blessings from STD/AIDS programme officials.

The New Nation Editor said since the programme is being run under the Health Directorate under the Ministry of Health its activities have not taken a multi-sectoral dimension that it deserves.

He suggested that the HIV/AIDS related activities should have been under broad-based body like the nutrition programme so that it could work speedily through inter-ministerial efforts.

He called upon journalists to take the challenge of playing vital roles to help prevent the deadly disease before it took serious turn.

Mukti, Executive Director of the organisation, presided over the meeting while two presentations were made by Dr Tareq Salahuddin of the Daily Star and AKM Anisuzzaman, Programme Manager of MAB. Raju Rozario gave his welcome address. Journalist and human rights activist Khairuzzaman Kamal moderated the function.

Raju Rozario emphasised the need for introducing the treatment of HIV infected people in all the government hospitals.

He said media could play a vital role to reduce social stigma and discrimination about the HIV positive people.

Mukti said all should come forward and speak to ensure the proper treatment, care and support of the HIV infected people.

She emphasised the need for changing the behaviour towards HIV positive people and maintaining their confidentiality so that they can effectively cooperate in the fight against the spread of HIV infections.

US cautions Pakistan over Taleban

BBC News

The US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said that any new government in Pakistan should be wary of holding talks with pro-Taleban insurgents.

Gates told the BBC the previous administration's efforts to negotiate with the militants had not worked out.

Opposition parties are uniting to form Pakistan's next government after faring well in last week's polls. President Pervez Musharraf's allies fared poorly.

Speaking in Delhi, Gates said the polls had been bad for Musharraf.

But Gates said the US hoped to continue working with the man he described as the elected president of Pakistan.

President Musharraf was re-elected to the presidency last year in a parliamentary vote boycotted by opposition parties as unconstitutional.

The former general has been a key US ally in the "war on terror" but his domestic popularity has plummeted amid accusations of incompetence and authoritarianism.

The army has been locked in a faltering campaign against Islamist pro-Taleban militants based along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, particularly in the Waziristan region.

Mr Gates said a new government would have to face the reality that al-Qaeda militants and insurgents were operating along the frontier.

"Even the Musharraf government tried talking and doing deals in Waziristan. That didn't work out very well," he said.

"Maybe this new government in Pakistan will have to go through the same experience itself."

Opposition leaders have hinted they are willing to talk to the insurgents, with a view to drawing them into the political process.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties hoping to form Pakistan's next government have urged President Musharraf to approve a new parliament.

The call was made in Islamabad at a gathering of opposition MPs, billed as a show of force.

A spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which won the most seats in the elections, said the meeting was "a public demonstration of the strength of the democratic forces in the parliament and their determination to push ahead with their agenda".

Farhatullah Babar told the Associated Press news agency that parliament ought be convened in early March.

"There is no escape from it. I don't think Musharraf can in any way delay that."

The PPP and its chief coalition ally, the PML-N, are trying to attract independent MPs in an effort to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Such a majority would increase their leverage over President Musharraf - though it is unclear if they will seek to oust him.

Both main opposition parties - until recently, bitter rivals - are associated with former prime ministers of Pakistan.

The PPP is led by Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former PM Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in December.

The PML-N is led by Nawaz Sharif, who led the country until he was ousted in 1999 in a military coup engineered by the then-Gen Musharraf.