The New Nation - Internet Edition

BAF winter exercise "Wintex-2008" concludes

BSS, Dhaka

Five-day long Winter Exercise "Wintex- 2008" of Bangladesh Air Force concluded here on Tuesday.

Main objectives of this exercise was to assess and evaluate the operational capability of Bangladesh Air Force, an ISPR release said.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman participated on Tuesday in the exercise by flying a FT-7 fighter aircraft and visited different Air Force Bases involved in the Winter Exercise "Wintex-2008".

All types of BAF aircraft, helicopters and Radar Squadrons of different Bases took part in the exercise.

As a part of this exercise BAF fighter aircraft and helicopters participated in air to ground live firing at Rasulpur Firing Range, Tangail. Besides, Army, Navy and Civil Defence also participated in the exercise.

Italian envoy calls on Foreign Adviser

BSS, Dhaka

The newly appointed Italian envoy to Bangladesh Dr. Itala Maria Marta Occhi on Tuesday made a courtesy call on Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the foreign ministry here.

They discussed the prospects of expanding economic and political relations between the two friendly countries.

"Italy is an important member of the European Union and so Bangladesh places a great significance on cooperation with Italy both bilaterally and as a member of that important regional group," Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury told the new ambassador.

The adviser invited Italian investments to Bangladesh and hoped that during the ambassador's tenure the trade relations between the two countries would also grow.

Bangladesh wishes to be a key partner of S Africa : Iftekhar

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told the visiting South African envoy to Bangladesh Ms. Buyisiwe Maureen Pheto that Bangladesh wishes to be a key partner of South Africa both in terms of bilateral relations and also in the international arena.

"Our people have always championed South Africa and seen Nelson Mandela as a hero of our times," Dr. Chowdhury told the envoy, who is based in Colombo.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury said, "Bangladesh and South Africa have already been cooperating on micro-finance, women's empowerment and social issues. There are great prospects in collaboration with other areas as well."

It was agreed that a delegation from South Africa would visit Bangladesh to inquire into possibilities of expanding investment and trade relations, a foreign office press release said.

CA donates Tk 70,000 for Ashik's treatment

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed on Tuesday donated Taka 70,000 instantly for the treatment of ailing Ashik Ehsan Shashi, 19, a BBA student of Daffodil International University.

The amount has been donated from the Chief Adviser's discretionary fund.

The Chief Adviser on Monday came to know about serious illness of Shashi from a report published in a daily newspaper.

Shashi has been in coma for the last 12 days. He is undergoing treatment at the ICU of LabAid hospital in the city.

Family sources said, Shashi met head injury on February 19 at his residence while climbing the stairs.

Shashi is the son of Dhaka district administrative judge Shahinul Islam. His elder brother Shahriar Islam Sabuj is a student of Dhaka University.

Huge fishing dragnets seized

BSS, Dhaka

The ships of Bangladesh Navy in 54 raids since February 10, 2008 have impounded around 57,11,540 meter fishing dragnets worth about Taka 30 crore from Chittagong and Khulna zones.

The fishing nets were destroyed in presence of the officials of local administration, law enforcing agencies and department of fisheries, an ISPR press release said.

Ten contingents in five navy ships are actively taking part in the raids as part of the drive "Operation Jhatka" to protect the Hilsha fishes which will continue till May 31.

Apart from seizing the dragnets, the navy contingents are relentlessly campaigning against the impact of catching Hilsha fries among coastal fishermen.

Asian NGO coalition formed

BSS, Dhaka

Representatives of the National NGO Platforms of 12 Asian countries, in a conference in Bangkok on February 25-26, formed the Asian Coalition for National Platforms of NGOs, a press release said here on Tuesday.

The objective of the coalition is to take coordinated position on various important global issues and to strengthen the non-government dimension in the international diplomacy on such issues.

A six-member interim Steering Board has been elected for 2008 with Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, Chair of NGO Federation (Bangladesh), as convenor and Paresh Tewary, Executive Director of Indian NGO Network (VANI), as the co-convenor.

The countries, which already joined the coalition, included Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Japan, Pakistan, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

An interim secretariat will assist the Board in formulating a draft constitution for the coalition as well as in taking the initial steps towards its objects, the release said.

Road mishap victims: Bodies of 4 Bangladeshis arrive

BSS, Dhaka

The bodies of four Bangladeshi workers, who were killed in a tragic road accident in Saudi Arabia, arrived here yesterday morning by a Bangladesh Biman flight.

Adviser for Foreign Affairs and expatriate welfare and overseas employment Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received the bodies and handed those over to their relatives, according to a press release.

A munajat was also offered on the occasion seeking divine blessings for the victims.

Twelve Bangladeshi workers were killed in a tragic road accident in Riyadh on January 31. Of the deceased, four bodies reached yesterday while one was buried in Saudi Arabia as per the wish of the family and the remaining seven bodies will reach here next week.

Talking to newsmen, the Adviser said that the Government and the entire nation have been deeply shocked at the deaths of the 12 Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia.

He told that the beneficiaries of the deceased would get Taka one lakh from the Wage Earners Welfare Fund as compensation and Taka 20 thousand for burial purpose.

The bodies which reached yesterday are: Abdul Kader of Gabtali upazila under Bogra district, Arifur Rahman of Srirampur upazila under Narail district, Harun of Begumganj upazila under Noakhali and Selim Bhuiya of Pakundia upazila under Kishoreganj.

Dhaka stresses close ties with pretoria

Staff Reporter

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Bangladesh wishes to be a key partner of South Africa in bilateral relations and in international forums.

"Our people have always championed South Africa and seen Nelson Mandela as a hero of our times", the Foreign Adviser said when visiting South African High Commissioner Buyisiwe Maureen Pheto, based in Colombo and accredited to Dhaka, called on him yesterday.

Speaking to the media Dr Iftekhar said, "Bangladesh and South Africa have already been cooperating on micro-finance, women's empowerment and social issues. There are great prospects in collaboration in other areas as well."

During the meeting, it was agreed that a delegation from South Africa would visit Bangladesh to inquire into possibilities of expanding investment and trade relations.

The newly appointed Italian ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr Itala Maria Marta Occhi, also met with the Adviser in his office and discussed the prospects of expanding economic and political relations between the two friendly countries.

"Italy is an important member of the European Union and so Bangladesh places a great significance on cooperation with Italy both bilaterally and as a member of that important regional group," Dr Iftekhar told the ambassador.

He invited Italian investments and hoped that during the tenure of Dr Itala, trade relations will grow.

EC political dialogue: Some leaders demand invitation

Staff Reporter

Leaders of some nationalist and Islamic minded parties at a joint press conference urged the Election Commission (EC) to invite them to the ongoing political dialogue.

They criticised the recent decision, which was taken by the EC inviting leaders or representatives of those political parties, which had at least one MP elected to Pareliament and said, "The EC did not follow its own rule inviting leaders of some political parties which had no representation in Parliament."

The press conference jointly organised by Bangladesh Jatiyo Party (BJP), Muslim League, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP), Jatiyo Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA), Bangladesh Islamic Party and National Awami Party (NAP) was held at the National Press Club yesterday.

Prof Dr MA Matin, former deputy prime minister and Chairman of BJP, presided over the conference, while ANM Yusuf, President of Muslim League, M Nazimuddin Al Azad, former minister and Chairman of BLDP, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, President of JAGPA, among others, were present on the occasion.

Tata still hopeful about its investment in Bangladesh

UNB, Dhaka

Indian industrial giant Tata Group is still hopeful of having its proposed 3 billion investment in place in Bangladesh.

S Manzer Hussain, the resident director of the company, gave the indication at a function organised on the occasion of Tata's founding anniversary on Monday.

"We're still hopeful…, we want to continue our relations with Bangladesh whatever the business we do…" said Manzer.

Tata is expected to wait until a stable situation comes back in Bangladesh.

The Tata Group had signed an expression of interest with the Board of Investment (BoI) in 2004 to implement its proposed investment, which includes setting up a steel mill, a fertilizer factory and installing a power plant.

But at one state of negotiations the previous BNP government had decided that the next elected government should take the final decision, prompting Tata to suspended its project in Bangladesh in 2006.

Despite the suspension, the Tata Group's top executives expressed their intention on several occasions to move forward with the project.

3 killed, 35 injured in bus plunge

UNB, Rangpur

Three people, including a female schoolteacher, were killed and 35 others injured when a bus plunged into a roadside ditch at Choupathi in Taraganj upazila yesterday.

One of the deceased was identified as Shahanaj Parveen, a teacher of Sunflowers Kindergarten in Syedpur Upazila headquarters, while the others could not be known immediately.

Police said the Rangpur-bound bus from Nilphamari skidded off the highway while giving side to a bicycle at about 4pm.

Fourteen of the injured were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital in critical condition while the rest to Taraganj Health Complex.

Aircraft purchase Biman board meeting bails to take discussion

UNB, Dhaka

The board of directors of Bangladesh Biman Airlines Limited meeting Monday night failed to arrive at any decision for purchase of aircraft for the national flag carrier.

Sources close to the marathon meeting said starting at 7pm it continued till the midnight before adjourned to meet again on Sunday.

The fleet committee constituted to review the purchase proposal submitted its proposal to the Biman management.

Biman, which has only 11 old aircraft in its fleet, has taken a move to procure more aircraft after its transformation into 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.

Sources confirmed that the fleet committee has given a long-term proposal to make Biman well operational and profitable. It proposed for buying 8 aircraft - four for long routes and four for medium routes. Two more may be procured for short routes, if feasible.

Bedeviled by shortage of aircraft Biman can hardly operate flights to 18 countries although it has Air Service Agreement (ASA) with 42 countries.

The aging airliners get frequently grounded for technical reasons disrupting the flight schedule, thus chipping away its market share.

The board is likely to look into the proposal of IFC, a wing of the World Bank, for conducting study on Biman that will cost US$ 2 million.

The 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.

Media must serve public interests: Geeta Pasi

UNB, Dhaka

US Charge d' Affaires in Dhaka Geeta Pasi yesterday urged the country's journalists to report fairly keeping in mind that the media serves the public interests.

"Journalists and editors have a responsibility to themselves (above all), their news agencies, and their audience to report fairly, accurately, and independently," Geeta said.

She was addressing a function marking the 50th founding anniversary of Bangla Service of Voice of America (VOA) at a city hotel in the afternoon.

Former Chief Adviser to caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman attended the programme as chief guest.

The 27th director of the Voice of America, Dan Austin, and Bangla service chief Iqbal Bahar Choudhury, among others, attended the function. The present and former broadcasters and reporters of the worldwide radio station were present.

Geeta Pasi said the media plays a critical role in a democracy as its lifeblood because it acts as a primary source of information to the people. "A free press helps make citizens responsible through information."

Geeta lauded the role of VOA's Bangla service saying that over the past half century it provided accurate and timely information on current events, education and culture to millions of listeners. "We' re very proud that Bangladesh boasts the second highest single country VOA audience in the world," she said.

Geeta further said VOA has increasingly highlighted the growing role of Muslims, including those of Bangladeshi origin, in the United States and the American people through its superb programming.

Referring to VOA Fan Club in Bangladesh, Dan Austin said VOA broadcasts programmes for an audience of about 115 million people every week around the world.

"We do that in 45 different languages but nowhere, nowhere else do we have a such a response, such a rapport with the listening audience what you have done with the Fan Clubs to help your communities, help your country," he said.

Austin also appreciated the role of VOA fan club when the country's southwestern districts were hit by Cyclone Sidr in November last year.