The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syndicate behind unabated price hike of edible oil: Consumers cheated also in weight

Syful Islam

Consumers are not only paying more for edible oil but also suffering additional loss as they get 900 millilitres of edible oil is 1-litre bottles each.

"On Friday I paid Tk 115 to buy a 1-litre bottle of edible oil which actually contains 900 ml. 'Five litre' containers never carry more than 4.5 litres," said Rafiqul Islam, a private company employee in city's Demra area.

None of the retailers are following government fixed price of edible oil and charging Tk 115 to Tk 120 for per litre. The government last week fixed retail price of soybean oil at Tk 106.50 per litre and palm oil at Tk 99.50.

An investigation has shown that one-litre bottle of almost-all oil companies actually contains 900 ml of oil but consumers have to pay price of one litre of oil per bottle. The oil companies are thus breaching the Bangladesh Standards Testing Institute rules.

Informed sources said a strong syndicate is active to make the market of edible oil unstable and to earn extra profit.

"Syndicate is more active taking advantage of soft attitude of the government," said president of Bangladesh Economic Association Qazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed.

The governments 'stop gap' arrangements to market essentials at lower price through RAB and BDR, is not effective, he said.

The government recently identified three companies, which have exported edible oil to neighbouring India at prices that are lower than the local market prices.

The three companies have exported per litre of edible oil at Tk 48 to neighbouring India while the local market price was at Tk 90 per litre. Commerce Secretary Firoz Ahmed said the government has already asked the National Board of Revenue and the Bangladesh Bank to take immediate action against the three exporters.

"This is a financial crime. It should be checked. The three companies, it is believed, under-invoiced oil export. The NBR will take action under the Customs Act while the Bangladesh Bank will find if there is a case of money laundering," Firoz told The New Nation yesterday.

"Three big exporters can export edible oil if the price is reasonable. If the export price is lower than the local market price, then what's the justification?" he asked.

He said last year edible oil export from Bangladesh increased significantly and it has now been recoignised as an item of export.

In the recent past edible oil importers and refiners have raised prices repeatedly crossing all the limits. The mill owners increased price of oil violating the government directives and breaking their commitments to the people. None of the market players--- importers, wholesalers and retailers-are flowing government directives.

The President of the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Banaspati Manufacturers Association MA Rouf Chowdhury on February 13 at a meeting in commerce ministry pledged not to raise edible oil price until February 24. But the price increased by Tk 250 per 40 litres within two days of the meeting.

He told newsmen that prices of oil will be re-fixed in every 15 days in consultation with commerce ministry and the law enforcing agencies. But the price went up again without any notice.

Hasina develops new complications: Jalil critically ill: Govt has to bear all responsibilities if anything happens: Zillur

Awami League leader Abdul Jalil

Staff Reporter

The health condition of detained Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil deteriorated further yesterday, when his kidney became affected seriously coupled with reduced red-blood cell (RBC) counts.

His physician Prof Dr Matiur Rahman and Inspector General (Prisons) Brig General Zakir Hossain told journalists at LabAid Hospital, where Jalil is undergoing treatment, after visiting the ailing leader last afternoon.

Meanwhile, Prof Dr Syed Modasser Ali, the chief physician of detained Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, yesterday said, "She has developed allergy afresh today along with high blood pressure and other complications, including ear problem."

Sheikh Hasina needed to be treated in the USA immediately. Otherwise, her entire body would be collapsed at one stage due hearing impairment, he warned.

"Abdul Jailil's condition is critical, as kidney is not functioning properly," IG (Prisons) Brig General Zakir Hossain said, adding that a six-member medical board was formed with Prof Dr Matiur Rahman as its Chief to examine the Awami League (AL) General Secretary.

"We will make arrangement for his (Jalil's) treatment as per the advice of the medical board," he said.

The medical board examined Abdul Jalil at LabAid Hospital last evening sources close to the board said.

After examining the AL leader, Prof Matiur Rahman said, "His both kidney may fail any moment if dialysis or renal transplant is not done immediately."

He said, "There is no dialysis facility at LabAid. It could be done only at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka city. But Jalil is not interested to take medical treatment in Bangladesh."

The top medicine expert said it is better to send the AL General Secretary to the Singapore hospital, where he was taking medical treatment earlier.

IG (Prisons) Brig General Zakir Hossain, however, would not say whether the jail authorities would send him abroad for treatment.

Sheikh Hasina's counsel Advocate Quamrul Islam said both the former Prime Minister and Abdul Jalil could be sent abroad for medical treatment on bail if the prosecution lawyers refrain from opposing the bail petition in the Court of Law even under the emergency power rules.

On the critical condition of AL general secretary Abdul Jalil's health, Zillur said: "We needed his advice most now that the top leadership are detained."

"Our general secretary has been arrested without any cause," the party acting president said, adding that Jalil was now in a life and death situation.

Zillur demanded immediate release and proper treatment of party president Sheikh Hasina and Jalil, saying: "If anything happens to them the government will have to bear the responsibility."

Asked whether he had had any talks with anybody in the government about sending Jalil abroad for medical treatment, Zillur said he had not spoken to anyone in the government on the matter. He added: "Doing politics is not a crime. There is no case against Abdul Jalil."

Gen Moeen back from India: Dhaka-Kolkata train service starts soon: Visit termed highly successful

Bangladesh Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed visiting
Gede Rail Station on the West Bengal side of the
international border on Friday. Internet

UNB, Dhaka

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed returned home last night at the end of his weeklong tour of India, which he billed successful.

Talking to reporters during his visit to Shantiniketan Vishwabharati in Kolkata at the fag-end of his visit, he hoped that the planned Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train service would start soon after completion of the tasks concerning the security matters.

"It will be good for all if the train service between India and Bangladesh commences. I hope the train service will be started as soon as possible, after settling the issue of security of the two countries," Gen. Moeen said.

He arrived at Zia International Airport at 8:55pm from the capital of the West Bengal state of India.

During his visit, seen as significant in enhancing the bilateral relations, the Army Chief had meetings with Indian Defence Minister AK Antony, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and chiefs of the Indian three services.

The Indian Army Chief presented six horses to General Moeen as gesture of goodwill and friendship.

He also visited Indian Military Academy at Deradun, military signal unit at Goa, and Ajmer Sharif.

In Kolkata, he met with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and discussed bilateral matters.

At Viswabharati, founded by Nobel-laureate Poet Rabindranath Tagore, Gen. Moeen was given a warm reception with flowers by the Viswabharati authorities.

Moeen told the journalists that Viswabharati has been playing a tremendous role in enriching the music and fine arts of both India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, he said, has got several good singers of Rabindrasangeet as they have taken higher studies from the university.

A message from Krishnagar says, The Kolkata-Dhaka rail route will be opened shortly (in two months), as early as the Bengali New Year, said Gen Moeen-U-Ahmed, Bangladesh's chief of army staff, following a tour of the Gede railway station near the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Bangladesh Army Chief also met Buddhadev, the West Bengal Chief Minister, at Writers' Buildings and said the Kolkata-Dhaka rail route will be in service within two months. He expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements for the rail link between the two countries. When asked about the time frame for the Kolkata-Dhaka rail service to begin, Gen Moeen said: "I am glad to visit the Gede railway station. I am hopeful about the success of the rail service between the two countries. I want the service to start shortly and if the governments of the two countries agree then the rail link could be inaugurated on the first day of the Bengali New Year." Md. Liakat, Bangladeshi High Commissioner and Md Imraan, Deputy Bangladeshi High Commissioner were also present during the inspection of the Gede railway station, which was supervised by the Bangladeshi defence advisor, Brigadier Maksood.

According to Eastern Railway sources, the weekly train that will travel the 345 km between Kolkata and Dhaka will have six coaches, including one air-conditioned chair car and a pantry car.

The journey will take about 12 hours and the fare will range between Rs. 300 and Rs. 800.

'Every year almost 600,000 Bangladeshis come to India. In comparison only 80,000-90,000 Indians go to Bangladesh. After resuming the train service we expect that more people would travel between the two countries,' Kamral Hassain, first secretary of the Bangladesh deputy high commission, said here.

Suchitra Sen on Oxygen

Internet

Suchitra Sen, the reclusive screen goddess of yesteryears who is suffering from a chest infection, is improving but is still on oxygen support, a hospital official said Saturday.

'She is fine. She is recovering well. She slept well and ate well. There is no cause for worry,' Pradip Tandon, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Belle Vue Clinic, where the actress was admitted, told IANS.

'When she can be discharged is too early to say but she is definitely improving,' he said.

Tandon, however, said Sen is still on oxygen.

Suchitra Sen was admitted to Belle Vue Clinic Monday night with chest infection, which caused breathlessness.

A three-member team of doctors, including physician Subrata Moitra, is treating her.

Daughter Moonmoon Sen, who visited her, said Bollywood starlets Raima and Riya Sen, granddaughters of the veteran actress, would also come to see her soon.

Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand, two giants of Hindi cinema with whom Suchitra paired in films like 'Devdas' and 'Bombai Ka Babu' respectively, wished her speedy recovery.

In October last year, Sen was admitted to the same nursing home with high fever.

Suchitra, who dominated the Bengali film industry in the 1950s and 60s, left the industry in 1978 after a career spanning over 25 years, and since then has been living in seclusion.

CA urges doctors to show sympathy with patients

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday urged the physicians to show sympathy to the patients following the medical ethics.

"Ensuring highest welfare of patients would be the main objective of the physicians. Honesty, transparency and professional skill should be demonstrated while providing services to the patients," he added.

Dr Fakhruddin made this call while addressing the 10th Convocation-2008 ceremony of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre here yesterday morning.

Health and Family Welfare Adviser Dr AMM Shawkat Ali and Health Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan also spoke on the occasion.

The convocation was attended by 557 members and fellows of BCPS who received certificates yesterday.

BCPS President Prof. Mobin Khan conducted the oath taking ceremony of the members and fellows. Prof AKM Mahbubur Rahman gave address of welcome while Prof MA Majid gave vote of thanks.

The Chief Adviser distributed gold medals and certificates among the fellows and members for their outstanding performance.

Dr Fakhruddin put emphasis on coordination between public and private sectors and professional bodies in the country for extending health services.

He said the development of health sector should be based on demand of people, technology oriented and harmoniums with the ability of the people.

The Chief adviser also laid stress on maintaining balance between income and expenditure as well as the issue of human welfare.

He called upon all to make more effective, selfless and meaningful contribution to ensure good public health through joint effort of all concerned.

Referring to return of the disease like tuberculosis, possibility of spreading AIDS, poisonous effect of arsenic, cancer, heart diseases, rheumatic and lung ailment, the Chief Adviser said the specialist doctors will have to make proper strategy and apply their knowledge in a best way to face the above challenges.

Terming medical profession a noble one, Dr Fakhruddin said service to humanity is its main aim, not mere earning money.

Health services are not limited in providing only treatment to the patients, he said adding it also included health education, awareness and resistance of diseases that make the health sector an important factor of nation building.

Wishing professional success of the young and talented physicians, Dr Fakhruddin expressed satisfaction over the performance of BCPS in fulfilling the demand for higher education of the physicians for last three and half decades.

He hoped that the young doctors will be devoted themselves in ensuring an effective and pro-people trend in health services.

The Chief Adviser said skilled and professional manpower is essential to face the multidimensional challenges of health sector.

Dr Fakhruddin said the doctors should be attentive to ensure good service-management to the patients besides providing treatment.

The doctors take the leadership in health services where nurses, paramedics and other professionals also work together, he pointed out.

The doctors should be sincere in following professional code of conduct and discipline, if there is deviation, he said BCPS can play a vital role to correct it.

South Africa set new opening mark

Mohammad Rafique

Sports Desk

Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie set a world record opening stand of 415 as South Africa assumed total control in the second Test against Bangladesh.

Resuming on 405 in Chittagong, Smith hit a single in the third over of day two to take the pair to the new mark.

The previous best of 413 was set by India's Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand in Chennai in 1956.

South Africa declared their first innings on 583-7 and in reply the hosts reached 60-3 at stumps on day two.

The tourists began resumed needing just nine runs to break the record and Smith, captaining the Proteas for a record 54th time, bludgeoned a boundary off Shakib Al Hasan in the opening over before retaining the strike with a single.

The left-hander notched two further runs before a single from McKenzie brought the pair level with the 52-year-old mark.

Smith wasted little time before stroking a single past square leg four balls later to break the record.

But just one run later the partnership was broken by Abdur Razzak as Smith was bowled for 232 attempting to sweep the slow left-armer.

McKenzie reached his double hundred off 350 balls, hitting 24 fours and three sixes in the process, before being bowled by Shahadat Hossain for 226 - his highest Test knock.

Shahadat also accounted for Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince before Saqibul Hasan rattled AB de Villiers' stumps and Mohammad Rafique took the wickets of Mark Boucher and Robin Peterson.

On a pitch still conducive to high scoring, Bangladesh made a positive start in response but a triple strike from Dale Steyn left them reeling.

Tamim Iqbal Khan and Junaid Siddique made 39 before the former was caught by de Villiers and the latter edged behind to Boucher.

Captain Mohammad Ashraful then also nicked to Boucher for a golden duck to leave Shahriar Nafees and Razzak at the crease with a massive uphill task.

Mohammad Rafique, the left-arm spinner of Bangladesh bagged his 100th Test wicket yesterday.

ECNEC approves 12 projects of Tk 2,524 crore

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday asked the officials concerned to take measures for quick implementation of development projects.

"Be attentive to quick implementation of ADP (Annual Development Programme)," Planning secretary Zafar Ahmed Chowdhury quoted the Chief Adviser as saying, after an ECNEC meeting at the NEC conference room.

The Chief Adviser, also the chairman of the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council), presided over the meeting that approved 12 projects involving Tk 2,524 crore, including Tk 1,088 crore in foreign aid.

Finance Adviser and ECNEC alternative chairman Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, advisers and senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.

Three of the projects to be implemented with foreign aid were Bakhrabad-Siddhirganj Gas Distribution Pipeline of Tk 685 crore, including Tk 429 crore in aid, National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP) of Tk 622 crore, including Tk 574 crore in aid, and Char Development Settlement Project of Tk 94 crore, including Tk 85 crore in aid.

Nine of the projects to be implemented completely with local resources include Emergency Rehabilitation and Expansion of Urban Areas Power Distribution System Under Chittagong Zone, and Rehabilitation of Destroyed Distribution System Under Rural Electrification Programme for Sidr-hit areas.

The other locally funded projects are Procurement of Modern Equipment for Fire Service and Civil Defense, Environment Disasters and Resources Monitoring System, Construction and Development of Airport Road to Mirpur Cantonment Road, Construction of water supply and sewerage system in 18 district towns, and Protection of Betil and Enayetpur Bazar areas from Erosion by Jamuna River, Union Parisad Development, and Rural Roads and Bazaar Infrastructure Development.

BCL, JCD groups clash in DU: Ten including Zahurul Haq Hall Provost hurt

DU VC Dr SMA Faiz yesterday visited Jahurul Haque
Hall and sat in a meeting with the Hall Provost and the hall
officials to take stock of the campus situation.

Staff Reporter

At least nine students and the Provost of Zahurul Haque Hall were injured in a clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at the Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall playground on the Dhaka University campus yesterday.

The clash occurred after a quarrel between the leaders and activists of the rival student groups over a football match, which was played between JCD hall unit and central unit.

Provost of the hall Prof Dr Zahidul Islam said, "Two groups of JCD students wanted to play a friendship football match at the playground of the hall by taking my permission. But the BCL leaders of the hall complained, the JCD members were here for a showdown by bringing outsiders to the hall."

"At one stage BCL and JCD got involved in a clash . I was injured while I tried age to disengage them from battle," he said.

Six students of the BCL and three of the JCD were injured. The injured are BCL activists Shamsul Kabir Rahat, 4th year, Mizanur Rahman Rubel, 3rd year, Ashraf Ali, MSS, Mazhar 3rd year, Nayan, 3rd year, Saqline, 3rd year and JCD activists Rokonuzzaman 3rd year student of Zia Hall, Shahazada and Faisal 4th year students of Zahurul Haque Hall.

The incident triggered tension between members of the two student organisations in Jagannath Hall and Ziaur Rahman Hall. Sources said activists of the two student organisations took position in different halls. Police were deployed at the Zia Hall.

The Vice Chancellor of the university Prof SMA Faiz visited the hall and asked the provost to take steps to maintain peace in the hall. Proctor AK Firoz Ahmed was with him .

He said an inquiry committee would be formed to investigate the matter, and police would be deployed at the hall gate to ensure peaceful atmosphere on the campus.

Injured activist of BCL Rahat said, they were trying to know from the provost if the JCD members had taken any permission to play in the hall ground.

"We told the provost the JCD were here for a showdown and when we were talking with him JCD activists attacked us and beat us in front of our provost," said Rahat.

He alleged that the JCD activists had snatched his mobile phone from him.

Dr Zahid accused BCL members of interfering intentionally with a political motive in into what he called a peaceful football match.

"The BCL activists interfered in the match intentionally to give some political colour and create an issue," he said. He assured that he would ensure peace in the hall through co-existence of both the students groups in the hall.

The JCD leaders said they were playing on the ground after taking permission of the hall administration and BCL activists did not have any authority to challenge them.

Mizanur Rahman Shohag, Law Secretary of DU unit JCD said, "We were playing a friendly football match between senior and junior leaders of our organisation. The BCL activists behaved roughly with the provost charging him as to why he gave permission without consulting them."

"Then we resisted them with the help of the general students," he said.

Top leaders of both student wings said they had told their activists to remain calm on the campus.

Parties decry EC's contradictory approaches

Staff Reporter

Leaders of BJP, Muslim League, BLDP, Jagpa, Islamic Party and NAP yesterday at a view exchange meeting said people would not accept the 'contradictory dialogue' organised by Election Commission without inviting nationalist and religion based political parties.

Former MP ANM Yusuf, President of Muslim League, chaired the meeting, while Prof MA Matin, former minister and Chairman of Jatiya Party, M Nazimuddin Al Azad, former minister and Chairman of BLDP, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, President of JAGPA, advocate Abdul Mobin, Secretary General of Islamic Party, Altaf Hossain Munna, Senior Vice Chairman of NAP, and Atikul Islam, Secretary General of Muslim League, spoke on the occasion.

The meeting was held at residence of MA Matin in the city.

They will organise a press conference at 4:00pm at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club tomorrow (Monday).

Interpol to get a Bangladesh police officer as candidate : Interpol secy-general Noble says

Donald K Noble

Staff Reporter

Interpol secretary-general Donald K Noble yesterday announced that the Paris-based international policing organization would work hard to have a Bangladeshi police officer as a candidate or attached with the Interpol.

"We decided-the Inspector General and I decided in the first time of the history that Interpol will work hard to try and get a Bangladeshi police officer as a candidate of Interpol… And I myself committed to raise money for that purpose," he told a crowded media conference at Hotel Sonargaon at the end of his tour of Bangladesh, first by an Interpol chief executive.

Noble, who inaugurated a Criminal Intelligence Analysis Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the capital yesterday evening, said two analysts from the Interpol would come Dhaka for a two-week session to impart advanced training to Bangladesh Police for analytical work.

"We hope Bangladesh Police and Interpol will work closely together in future," he said.

Bangladesh joined Interpol in 1976 and, Noble said, since then Dhaka has been attending important conferences and meeting sessions and making contributions to the international police.

Bangladesh also offered assistance when Interpol required. He said Dhaka sent a bomb-disposal unit during the last cricket World Cup in the Caribbean to ensure security of dignitaries.

In reply to a question how Interpol can help in repatriation of Bangladeshi criminals hiding in a neighboring country in the absence of extradition treaty, Noble said Interpol believes in police-to-police cooperation and also believes in sovereignty of each of its 186 member-states.

"What we try to do to is set up border-protection system to prevent movement of criminals from one country to another. Criminals are vulnerable at border and they can be caught by identifying their passport and travel documents and sent back to their countries," he told a correspondent.

Asked if the Interpol found any Islamic militant outfits of Bangladesh having link with Al-Qaeda or international terrorist network, Noble said they don't use the term 'Islamic terrorist', they use only ' terrorist', and they have developed database of criminals.

He said Interpol helps its member-country to detect any criminal it seeks for by matching his fingerprint, DNA, passport address or telephone number.

Now, he said, some 12,000 suspected terrorists are on Interpol database. But, he could not say if there is any Bangladeshi on the database.

Additional IGP N.B.K. Tripura told the press that, so far, 16,000 international criminals, who were the subjects of Interpol red notices or diffusions, had been arrested in last seven years.