The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jalil released on parole for treatment abroad: Similar actions may follow for ailing leaders including Khaleda, Hasina

Bangladesh Awami League Secretary General Abdul
Jalil

Shahidul Islam

In a dramatic move, ailing Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil was released on parole yesterday evening to be flown to Singapore for medical treatment anytime at night.

The ailing AL leader along with his wife Rehana Jalil was scheduled to fly either by a Singapore Airlines SQ 435 at 11:55pm yesterday or by an air ambulance early hours today from Dhaka to Singapore to get admitted at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital there, sources close to his family and senior Government officials said.

In the morning, the key-policymakers of the Government at an emergency meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair at his office decided to set Abdul Jalil free on parole for one month under special consideration on humanitarian ground as per recommendation of the medical board.

The meeting also formed a high-powered medical board, which recommended to send him abroad for medical treatment after examining the Awami League (AL) General Secretary at LabAid Cardiac Hospital for two hours from noon to afternoon.

Later in the evening, reviewing the health condition of Abdul Jalil and recommendations of the high-powered medical board at a meeting, the Advisory Council decided to take similar action for other detained political leaders (VIP prisoners), including two former Prime Ministers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, on parole on humanitarian ground if they were advised by medical boards to send abroad for treatment.

Disclosing this after the meeting at a press briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office, Syed Fahim Munayem, the Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, said the Government decided to compromise (by pass) the legal bar on humanitarian ground to save Abdul Jalil's life.

The significant development coincided with the presence of former Caretaker President of Pakistan Wasim Sajjad, also sitting Senator, and former US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis in the capital.

However, neither the US Embassy nor Pakistan High Commission disclosed the objectives of the sudden visits of the two foreign dignitaries.

Abdul Jalil, who was arrested on May 29, 2007 on corruption charge, was suffering from various health complications, including heart and kidney ailments, and receiving treatment at the capital's Labaid Cardiac Hospital from July 29 last year.

Earlier, on Saturday, his wife Rehana Jalil in a formal letter, to the Chief Adviser and Adviser of Home Affairs, requested the Government to free him on parole for medical treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, citing medical board's recommendations that Jalil needed urgent renal transplant or dialysis. She pleaded that Jalil and their family prefer kidney transplantation instead of dialysis at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

"The Government would do the same for other VIP prisoners, particularly former Prime Ministers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-if they suffer from similar critical condition like that of Abdul Jalil," Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin told journalists.

Inspector General (Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hasan told journalists that Abdul Jalil was set free in the evening on an one-month parole so that he could take treatment from Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Replying to a question, he said no jail guards would be provided for Jalil during the time of parole, tied with a string of conditions set by the caretaker-government authorities so he couldn't do anything having political implications.

"I hope Mr Jalil will maintain self-discipline and return on completion of his treatment," said Brig Gen Zakir Hasan, adding, "Under the conditions of release, the Awami League leader will be on parole for a maximum of 30 days,"n The Government, earlier, took the decision to set him free on parole after a six-member medical board led by Prof Dr Matiur Rahman prescribed on Saturday that the AL General Secretary to be sent abroad for treatment of his damaged kidney.

"If he goes abroad for treatment, he or his close relatives will have to inform Bangladesh mission about his health conditions every three days," said a Government announcement on the parole.

"He cannot take part in any political, business or any other activities; he cannot make any contact with any organisation or person except on physical grounds,"

The release said he should inform the Government soon after completion of his treatment and return to the country.

Briefing reporters, Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin said Jalil, who is now being treated at Lab Aid Hospital, would be sent abroad on parole. "His condition is really bad."

Matin said a new five-member high-powered medical board for Abdul Jalil was formed yesterday and the government would send him abroad on parole if recommended by the newly constituted medical board.

He said the Government did not make any delay and they are aware of his health condition from the beginning. But previous medical boards did not make any recommendation to send him abroad.

Asked if the law is being compromised for sending him abroad, he said law is compromised in a special situation and his condition is "bad."

Gen Matin said he himself was constant touch with both the hospital and jail authorities, who have assured him that the health condition of former Prime Ministers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-was not as bad as Abdul Jalil.

Butenis on low key sojourn: Sajjad in Dhaka

Patricia A Butenis and Wasim Sajjad

Staff Reporter

The sudden visit of former US Ambassador to Bangladesh Patricia A Butenis to Dhaka has triggered many speculations in the country's political arena.

Many believe that Butenis, who suddenly arrived in Dhaka on Saturday morning, has come to Bangladesh with 'a special assignment.'

They said that Butenis arrived Dhaka at a time when Bangladesh is going through a very critical situation.

They also don't think that Butenis has not arrived in Dhaka only on a private visit.

However, brushing aside any speculation about her visit to Dhaka, Butenis yesterday said she is purely on a 'private visit.'

"It is a private visit in this country where I served not long ago," she smilingly said on reports appeared yesterday in newspapers.

Butenis attended at a function hosted by UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Ms Renata Dessallien to celebrate the halfway mark of voter registration with photographs.

The former US Ambassador lauded the work done so far by the Election Commission in cooperation with others and described it excellent.

Butenis, who came to Bangladesh as the Ambassador of United States on March 17, 2006, left Dhaka in April last year to take up her new assignment in Iraq as deputy chief of mission in Baghdad. Since then she has been working at the US Embassy in Baghdad.

On her arrival in Dhaka, Butenis got into the residence of US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi at Gulshan and has been staying there.

She also attended a dinner hosted by Canadian High Commissioner Ms Barbara Richardson at her residence in honour of her. The dinner was also attended by some foreign diplomats.

Earlier, Pakistan's interim president Wasim Sajjad arrived in Dhaka on a secret visit to Bangladesh. In honour of him, a party was hosted at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday night. The party was attended by US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi, BNP's two leaders-Dr Osman Farruk and Reaz Rahman, and The Independent editor Mahbubul Alam.

However, it could not be known anything else about the visit of Wasim Sajjad to Dhaka.

Meanwhile, visiting chairman of Pakistan Senate Wasim Sajjad appreciated the caretaker government's efforts, particularly preparation of voter list with photograph, towards holding a free, fair and neutral election in Bangladesh.

He made the appreciation when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office yesterday and discussed matters of bilateral and mutual interest.

The Chief Adviser recalled and thanked Pakistan government and its people for "instantly extending cooperation and assistance for the November 15 cyclone 'Sidr'-affected people in the country's coastal belt".

The recent general election in Pakistan also came up during the discussion.

Both sides hoped that the existing friendly relations between the two countries would expand in the days ahead.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim was also present.

Photo voter list halfway mark : A history in the making: Gen Moeen

Staff Reporter

Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed said yesterday that a history is in the making as the photo voter list project has made the halfway mark and is expected to complete its task within the time frame fixed by the Election Commission.

He was addressing a reception organised by the United Nations Development Programme at the Radisson Hotel to celebrate the halfway mark of the voter registration process. Gen. Moeen said the completion of the photo voter list would enable the people to exercise their right of franchise freely.

Terming the achievements made so far in this remarkable Moeen U Ahmed said this was possible because of the hard work done by the members of the armed forces by sacrificing their leisure and family time.

Gen Moeen praised the UNDP and the donors for their support to make the landmark project a success.

Ms Renata Dessallien, the UN Resident Coordinator told guests at the reception, "We are making a lot of noise today about the voter list because its preparation has been so remarkable and, once completed, I have not doubt it will put Bangladesh on the map globally. You will have a lot of countries knocking at your door for advice on how to prepare a gold standard voter list, she said.

"This is not only a remarkable achievement in its own right, it is also an important landmark on the nation's roadmap to elections later this year. And it is on schedule, it is on target", she said.

The registration of voters with photographs was launched through a pilot project inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda on 10 June 2007 in Sreepour Pourashava in Gazipur district. Since November-December the project has been running in full swing registering 10 million voters each month. On February 27 last the estimated halfway mark was reached - with 40 million voters registered.

Dr Shamsul Huda told the guests at the reception that the project has laid to rest all doubts and misgivings about the response of the people and the practicability of the enterprise. The project would be completed within the fixed schedule, he added.

A short film on photo voter listing was screened at the reception attended by politicians, Chief of Bangladesh Navy, the Bangladesh Air Force, senior government officials, members of foreign diplomatic missions, and journalists.

CG approves ordinance: Contempt of Court redefined

UNB, Dhaka

The Council of Advisers of the caretaker government Sunday approved in principle the draft Contempt of Court Ordinance 2008 redefining contempt-of-court offence to remove a mist of confusion over it.

The existing Act of 1926 regarding contempt of court is inadequate and unclear, and definition of contempt-of-court offence was not given in the age-old law.

In this situation, there remains confusion among people regarding contempt of court. Similarly, confusion crops up in court on the question of applying power in this matter. "So the Ordinance has been formulated to overcome the situation," it is sated in the objective of the new ordinance.

As per proposed definition, willingly or in writing or verbally or by sign or indication or through any visible medium violation of any verdict, decree, order, writ or warrant of a court, ill propaganda against any judge concerned on the subject during discharging responsibilities as judge, affecting the normal course of trial process, will be treated as contempt of court.

One of the provisions of the draft ordinance states that the proceedings of contempt of court against any person will have to be disposed of within 2 yeas of its beginning. "After the lapse of two years, that proceedings will stand canceled automatically."

If any contempt-of-court proceedings begin against any person concerned with the Republic that will have to be disposed of within one year-and after this time that would be cancelled automatically.

If contempt of court against any person proved, maximum 6 months simple imprisonment or fines not more than Tk 20,000 or both would be awarded simultaneously.

The regular weekly meeting of the council of advisers with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair also approved in principle Bangladesh Telecom Company Ltd (BTCL) Ordinance 2008 to convert Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) to a public limited company.

The meeting asked the Law and Establishment Ministries to place it again before the meeting of council of advisers by April 30 after further examination and addition of suggestions. It would be the first purely government institution to be turned into public limited company.

The meeting also approved Rangpur University Ordinance 2008 to establish a public university in Rangpur for the spread of higher education in greater Rangpur-Dinajpur region.

Besides, the meeting approved the Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance 2008 with some changes to the definition of money laundering.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed newsmen about the outcome of the council-of-advisers meeting.

Members of the Advisory Council attended the meeting at the CA's office. Cabinet Secretary and Secretaries concerned were also present.

Nipah virus returns Claims 8 lives so far

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

At least, eight people died in the last 48 hours due to latest outbreak of Nipah virus, health officials confirmed yesterday.

Nipah outbreak is the latest among the recent waves of biological invasions like bird flu in the country.

Nipah induces flu-like symptoms that often lead to encephalitis and coma, with at least a 70 per cent mortality rate in Bangladesh. Earlier, the latest outbreak was confirmed on Friday. Mahmudur Rahman, a senior health official, said.

"So far eight people including four children have died in the latest outbreak of the Nipah virus in Manikganj and Rajbari districts,"

"Several others are in critical condition. We told people not to be panicked. We have also increased surveillance in the affected area," he said.

"Basically Nipah virus outbreak occurs from drinking bat eaten date juice. We request people not to leave uncovered the pots for collecting date juice and to boil the juice properly before drinking. In case of urban areas, risk is low, but in rural areas, people could get easily infected with the virus by drinking date juice," said Mahmudur.

At least 89 people have died of the virus since the first outbreak in 2001. The government has set up a detection laboratory to speed up testing for any outbreak.

In 2004, the same two districts reported the worst outbreak, when nearly 40 people died, and the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDCP) was called in to help combat the disease.

The virus, named after the Malaysian village where it was first detected, jumped the species barrier from fruit bats to pigs and then to humans in October 1998.

In 1999, 256 people in Malaysia fell ill with the disease, and four in 10 patients died. More than a million pigs were slaughtered to help curb its spread.

Of 265 confirmed cases in Malaysia and Singapore, 105 had died. And even among the survivors the virus has taken awful toll - half of the survivors were left with some degree of brain damage.

Govt approves procurement of power from rental plant

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday approved procurement of power from a 50-MW plant to be installed in the private sector at Ashuganj on rental basis.

The move is to help meet the demand of electricity in the coming days of summer when load shedding becomes matter of concern. A joint-venture consortium of three private firms -- Green Power Ltd, Concord Pragatee Ltd and EVA AB -- will bring the power plant from abroad and install it in one of the biggest power-hub of the country.

The Power Development Board (PDB) will buy the electricity at a rate of 4.87 US Cents per kilowatt-hour (per unit) for three years. The rate is equivalent to local currency Tk 3.40 per unit.

The government will pay the selling agency in foreign currency for the electricity purchase, according to the terms and conditions.

The Advisers Committee on Public Purchase approved the proposal for purchase of electricity from the latest such makeshift plant.

This is the seventh rental power plant the post-1/11 caretaker government approved under a crash course undertaken to cater a fast-growing demand for power. The total capacity of the 7 rental plants would come to around 300 megawatts.

As per condition of the contract, the private bidder will have to install the plant within 120 days from the signing of the deal.

Against the backdrop of severe power crisis, the caretaker government undertook the rental power-plant project for a quick remedy. But some of the plants for which agreements were signed earlier are now facing procedural problems in the way of installation.

At present, the country produces about 3,600 MW against a known demand for about 5,000 MW.

The purchase committee meeting, presided over by Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, also approved another proposal for installing 6600 electric transformers for rural areas.

The Rural Electrification Board (REB) will procure the equipment at a cost of about Tk 27 crore.

The committee also approved appointment of a consultant for Health and Family Welfare Ministry's HNPSP project and earth filling at the proposed Keraniganj Central Jail site also get nod of the highest procurement body of the state.

Problems, prospects of buying house discussed

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh has achieved three per cent of the total garment market in the world that earns about Tk 63,000 crore per year. More than 70 per cent of the revenue of the garment sector is contributed by buying houses.

The officials of "Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association" (BGBA) disclose this in the annual conference in a city hotel yesterday.

In this connection a discussion meeting on "The Role of Buying House in RMG Sector, Problem and Prospects" was held.

Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, Department of International Relations of Dhaka University, presented keynote paper. "He said it's the age of globalisation and garment sector plays an important role in the process. We should make products of world standard. Without quality products it's impossible to survive in the international market."

He hoped that Bangladesh would manage to play a vital role to reverse the globalisation process through the garment sector. He also suggested BGBA to negotiate with Dhaka University authority to establish Department of Fashion and take initiative to introduce fashion TV channel.

Mohammad Abdur Rouf Chowdhuary, Member of the Regulatory Commission, said, "we should consult with non-resident Bangladeshis in UK and America to expand the market across the world."

He suggested BGBA to work with not only RMG sector but also with multi product sectors such as fish, leather, jute etc.

Prof Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue, said, "we should follow inter garment diversification and product diversification policies to develop buying house business."

SA Nasir, secretary general of BGBA, alleged that buying house had become the victim of serious harassment and the lengthy process as the Bangladesh Bank is compelling them to be registered through wrong application of the law. Due to lengthy process to give permission regarding L/C transfer, a number of orders are lost every year. He requested the authority concerned to take proper initiatives to solve those problems immediately.

Qayuum Reza Chowdhuary, President of BGBA and a number of officials were present.

Tokyo to join Padma Bridge project: Japan eyes potential in Bangladesh

Staff Reporter

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Japan would join with the $1.2 billion Padma Bridge project in its rolling plan next year.

Feasibility study of the proposed bridge has been completed, which would be constructed with joint financing from Japanese Government, World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

He was addressing the media on the outcome of his three-day official visit to Tokyo at his office yesterday. The Adviser had gone to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura.

Dr Iftekhar said, the Japanese government and business world see great potentials for Bangladesh and acknowledge its immense possibilities of transformation into yet another Asian economic powerhouse.

During the visit, Dr Iftekhar held formal talks with his Japanese counterpart and signed notes for loan agreement for $60 million for "Emergency Disaster Rehabilitation Project".

He said the Japanese showed great interest in investing in different projects in Bangladesh, and also in cooperating on nuclear energy.

Iftekhar also met with Japanese Parliament Speaker Kono Yohei, and a Senior Minister Nobutaka Machimura. Besides, he held talks with a number of government and opposition Members of Parliament, including former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who is also the Chairmanship of Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary League.

Discussions were held with the Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation and senior Vice President of Japan International Cooperation

Agency. He also had a session with Toshio Takaino, President of Japan International Treasury Corporation.

Iftekhar said most of those he met praised the stability and peaceful nature of the socio-political developments in Bangladesh in an otherwise turbulent region and expressed their interest in the country's economic progress.

The Adviser urged them to ensure greater market access for Bangladeshi manufacturers.

He stressed that Bangladesh would like to see Japan succeed as Chairman of the next G-8 Summit and that in this age of Asia's economic dominance all Asian states would need to cooperate in harmony.

EC may call small-party leaders to dialogue

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The Election Commission is planning to hold talks with prominent political leaders of smaller parties, who have been left out of the two previous dialogues on electoral reforms, according to informed sources.

A number of political parties were not invited to the dialogues, as they could not fulfil the criterion set by the Election Commission (EC) to take part in the dialogues that began on September 12 last year.

According to the EC criterion the political parties, which had bagged at least one Parliamentary seat in any Parliament after the independence or those have party offices in at least half of the districts and upazilas.

However, the EC did not allow those political parties for the dialogue, who have no activities and election symbol even though having Parliamentary seats.

The EC would hold talks with prominent leaders of those parties on political reforms. A formal decision in this regard, will be taken within a couple of days, sources said.

Important among those political parties, who had direct or indirect representation in any Parliament after the independence, included-Gano Forum, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Kallyan Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), two groups of Islami Oikya Jote, Muslim League, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa) and National Awami Party-NAP (Bhashani).

Political parties having former MPs like Gano Forum, PDP and Kallyan Party are considered to have indirect representation in the previous Parliaments, as some of their leaders are former MPs, though not won the polls under the banner of parties they belong at present.

When contacted Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Muhammad Sakhawat Hussain told The New Nation that the door of Commission is open for those who are interested to talk on electoral reforms.

We can hold talks with some prominent political leaders who are involved with politics for long time, he said adding there is problem to hold talks over the issue.

Regarding dialogue with the BNP, the Election Commissioner hoped that the matter would be resolved soon after the decision of higher court.

A total of 15 political parties, including the Awami League (AL), Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) took part in the two-round of dialogues with the EC that ended on February 29.

However, the EC could not hold talks with the BNP due to legal complication as a writ petition is pending with the higher court as to which faction should be invited to the dialogue.

Earlier in April and May last year, the EC also held separate talks with members of the civil society, the NGOs and senior journalists of the electoral reform proposals.

Now, the EC is busy preparing its report on the basis of recommendations made by the political parties during the dialogues.

All barriers to import rice from India go

BSS, Dhaka

India in its latest decision has removed all legal complexities to export 450,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh, that has been awaiting for clearance officially for a couple of months.

All the barriers have been removed at a meeting of the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India held in New Delhi on Friday, according to an official Notification available here on Sunday.

"The prohibition imposed by this notification on the export of non-Basmati rice shall not be applicable to export of 450,000 tonnes of non-Basmati rice to Bangladesh," according the document signed on February 29 by Director General of the Foreign Trade Department of India R S Gujral.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka and External Affairs Minister of India Pronab Mukherjee last year assured Bangladesh of exporting 500,000 tonnes of rice, but a complete ban on the rice export by India in mid-October put Bangladesh in legal complexities to import rice.

Biman board meeting today: Move to procure more planes

UNB, Dhaka

The board of directors of Bangladesh Biman Airlines Limited will decide the purchase of aircraft in its meeting On Monday for profitable run of the resurrected national flag carrier.

Meanwhile, the fleet committee constituted to review the purchase proposal submitted its proposal on Sunday to the Biman management.

A competent source on the fleet committee told UNB that they had done the financial analysis and calculation.

The panel on Saturday had a marathon discussion on their draft proposal with the Biman officials concerned and finalized the proposal. The board will discuss that final proposal in Monday's board meeting.

Biman, which has only 11 old aircraft in its fleet, has taken a move to procure more airplanes after its transformation into a public limited company on July 23 last year. The re-born Biman took off on August 1.

While it remains a 100-percent state-owned company, the PLC entity allows Biman's Board of Directors to make its own decisions, including procurement of new aircraft.

The airliners get frequently grounded for technical reasons due to its aging fleet, which has only old-generation aircraft, aged between 17 and 29 years, except two. Such nosedive of planes is wreaking havoc on its flight schedule, chipping away at its market share. Biman presently owns three types of aircraft-four DC10-30s, four F-28s, and three A310-300s. Production of DC10-30s and F-28s has been discontinued because of their lack of viability in business. Out of the four DC10-30s, three are 29 years old while the other is 17-year old, the four F-28s are 31 years old, and two of the A310-300s are 11 years old while the other is 7- year old. Sources confirmed that the fleet committee has given a long-term proposal that is about 22 years long.

"It is not possible for us to procure and make the Biman a profitable concern like the world's renowned airliners at this moment, that's why we gave 22 years' proposal," said one fleet-committee member. Reliable sources from Biman said that the fleet committee proposed to buy at least ten new-generation aircraft right now to run the airliner smoothly on its existing routes.

Hamstrung with shortage of aircraft, Biman now can operate flights to 18 countries although it has Air Service Agreement (ASA) with 42 countries.

The board would likely to discuss the procurement policy for Biman. As per the government rule, the government organisation will have to follow the Public Procurement Regulation (PPR). When made into a company, such a government undertaking can formulate their own procurement rules and regulations.

A committee of Biman has already formulated their 100-page procurement rules and regulations and submitted to the management. The procurement rules would be discussed at the board meeting. Besides, the board meeting is likely to look into the proposal of IFC, a wing of the World Bank, for conducting a study on Biman. The IFC proposed to the government to conduct the study at a cost of US$ 2 million to find ways of making the aviation industry profitable. But the IFC in their proposal said that Biman would not have to provide the money as the World Bank window will collect the funds from donors.

Citi Bank NA couple of years back had conducted such study on Biman and given some proposals on bailout of the national airline, which was pushed into a tailspin through wanton corruption and mismanagement.

"But those proposals could not be implemented for reasons not known," said a high official of the Biman.

The caretaker government on February 24 reconstituted the Biman board of directors, appointing Mahbub Jamil, special assistant to chief adviser on civil aviation and tourism, as its head. On Monday board meeting will be a second one of the reconstituted board.