The New Nation - Internet Edition

Commentary: A great judgement for ensuring objective of emergency

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Thursday ruled that appellate Courts do not have the jurisdiction to grant bail to people convicted in Special Courts in corruption cases under the Emergency Power Rules, until such appeals are disposed of.

The significant judgment from the full seven-member court of the Appellate division presided over by his lordship the Chief Justice Md. Ruhul Amin followed appeals by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against HC's bail order to corruption convicts Sigma Huda and Barrister Mir Helaluddin

In the judgment the humanitarian aspect was duly recognised by stating that bail may be allowed if convicts are certified critically ill by a duly constituted medical board or the awarded prison term is of less than three years and if appeal could not be heard in the stipulated 90 days for no fault of the appeallant.

The decision coming from the highest court can be taken as an affirmation of the fact that the judiciary is not isolated but an integral part of the statecraft. The country is under emergency. If emergency power rules do not stand in appellate Courts then the constitutional process of declaring emergency during a national crisis becomes meaningless. This cannot be a welcome development. As long as emergency has the constitutional legitimacy the objective of emergency must not be defeated.

It may be recalled that emergency had to be clamped when the government itself collapsed making it impossible for the constitutional process to continue. The politics of greed and corruption was mainly responsible for such dangerously anarchic situation in the country. The whole judiciary would have been under serious uncertainly.

In taking the decision the highest court has thus taken note of the ground realities. The courts also cannot function in isolation detached from constitutional obligations.

The system of administration that is now in place in the absence of an elected government can only be replaced by one to be in charge after the holding of a free, fair and credible election under the Constitution.

Imposition of emergency became unavoidable to save the constitutional process itself. The fight against corruption in high places also became imperative in the interest of restoring democratic accountability and good governance.

It is to be noted that the emergency rules not only prohibited bail, but also provided a time frame for speedy trial. While we welcome the Appellate Division’s unanimous judgment on bail, we emphasise that trial under emergency rules must be disposed of speedily as required by the emergency rules. We further emphasise that during emergency only those corruption cases should be taken up which serve the cause of emergency.

The highest court has also taken note of the need for bail of those convicted persons who are in dire need of it because of serious illness, when appeal remains pending before the appeal Courts.

India hands over 2 top terrorists: Bangladesh CID team back from Kolkata

Top terrorists Imon and Ishak Ali are being handed
over to the Bangladesh police by their Indian counterparts
at the Benapole border yesterday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Two more top terrorists were handed over to Bangladesh by India yesterday at the Benapole check post.

Indian CID Inspector Shantanu Chakraborty formally handed over Imon and Ishaq to Additional Superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Abdullah Aref in presence of officials of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF).

The names of the two terrorists are Sanjedul Islam Imon, son of late Harun-ur-Rashid of Dhanmondi and Ishaq Ali, son of Shawkat Ali of Sutrapur in the city.

Abdullah Aref said Joy, Haris and Dacoit Shahid, whom the Indian police recently arrested, are likely to be handed over to Bangladesh very soon.

Indian Police on December 3 last year pushed back two terrorists, Babul alias Jewel and Rofiq Mollick at the Benapole check post.

On October 7 in 2007 India handed over Taj, Ibrahim and Lamba Selim, three of the most wanted terrorists.

The handing over of Imon and Ishaq follows long high-level negotiations between officials of both the countries. Indian CID authorities handed over the two listed Bangladeshi criminals, who had taken shelter in the Indian State of West Bengal, to their Bangladesh counterparts at about 2:55pm.

Top listed terrorist Imon demanded toll of Tk one crore from a businessman of the old town of the capital over telephone from Kolkata, in November last year. The businessman informed police about the demand from the overseas. After identifying the Kolkata phone number, CID police in Dhaka passed on the information to the Kolkata police.

Kolkata police arrested Imon from his flat at Ghalib Street in Kolkata on December 6 last year, based on the information provided by their Bangladeshi colleagues.

However, the other terrorist, Ishaq Ali, known as second-in-command of Dacoit Shahid, was arrested from Bengal Guesthouse of Puri in the State of Orissa in India on January 20 this year.

Both were wanted in some 15 cases, including of murders and extortions.

Earlier, on February 3, a special CID team from Bangladesh comprising Additional SP Abdullah Aref and Inspector Shyamol Chowdhury went to

Kolkata to discuss repatriation of Bangladesh's most wanted top terrors Khandaker Tanvirul Islam Joy, Haris Ahmed, Sanjidul Islam Imon, Dacoit Shahid and his second-in-command Ishaq Ali, who were then in police custody in Kolkata.

The five criminals who returned last year confessed during interrogation many other terrorists and militant leaders are hiding in India.

Most of the criminals, who were involved in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on Awami League rally, are also in India.

The CID Additional IGP Javed Patwary told the New Nation that the high officials of the two countries met several times to discuss about the exchange of criminals between the two countries.

Dhaka committed to resist terrorism

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh was virtually again pushed to the international focus as the US State Department on March 5 designated Harkat-Ul-Jihad-i-Islami-Bangladesh (HUJI-B) a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization'.

Although the Government banned Huji in 2005, arrested its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and convicted most of its members, Secretary Condoleezza Rice's designation of Huji as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist caused concern among the general people considering its possible impact on future of Bangladesh.

Rice in Washington said the leader of HUJI-B signed the February 1998 fatwa sponsored by Osama bin Laden that declared American civilians to be legitimate targets for attack. Since then, HUJI-B has been implicated in a number of terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and abroad.

Some wondered if HUJI-B signed the bin Laden fatwa in 1998 why the US State Department chose to keep it secret for nearly 10 years.

Earlier, a number of foreign counter terrorism experts who visited Dhaka observed that Bangladeshi terrorist outfits look more locally organized and they may not have any link with international terrorist networks.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry yesterday said the Bangladesh government is firmly determined to combat any kind of terrorism.

Responding to the US State Department designating Huji-Bangladesh as 'foreign terrorist organization', he said the international community must have confidence that Bangladesh is committed to resist any kind of terrorism. Huji was already banned a few years ago in the country, the spokesman said.

Home Secretary Abdul Karim at a recent seminar here said that Islamic militant outfits found in Bangladesh have no operative linkages with international terror network of Al Qaeda or Taliban.

"Weapons or types of explosive they use may have foreign origins or in neighbouring countries, but their financing is arranged internally not from external sources," he told the seminar on 'Trend of Militancy in Bangladesh and Possible Responses' at Bangladesh Enterprise Institute on February 28.

Strategic Analyst Brig Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan said the designation of HUJI-B as foreign terrorist organization might not have any significant impact on Bangladesh, but it might hurt the country's image.

Besides, he said, the government might come under direct or indirect pressure to take legal action against any individual on suspicion of having link with HUJIB-B. Even if any terrorist act occurs in future outside Bangladesh, they may try to link HUJI-B.Khan said the government would have to take both short- and long-term measures in countering terrorism and in anti-terrorism activities. Although it requires time, Bangladesh need to work in a more structured way to eliminate the extremists.

Talking to UNB, Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) chairman and ex-MP Mufti Fazlul Huq Aminee said: "We don't believe in terrorism or extremism. We want to establish Islamic rule through democratic means."

Replying to a question, he said it would be wrong if Islamic parties are indiscriminately branded as terrorist outfits in line with the Huji.

Nejam-e-Islami and IOJ secretary general Abdul Latif Nizami said they do not believe in terrorism, nor involved in any terrorist act. He said the party and those who are in IOJ believe in constitutional movement for establishment of Islam.

He said Islamic terrorist outfits are their (America) creation and "we don't think there is much presence of such terrorist organizations here."

Huji emerged in 1992 as an extremist Islamic organization. In 1996, forty-one of its operatives were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Huji chief Mufti Hannan was arrested on October 1, 2005 and the outfit was banned on October 17 of the same year for its involvement in subversive acts creating law-and-order situation.

On August 2, 2006, Mufti Abdur Rouf, another kingpin of the Huji, was reined in.

So far, 64 militants of the organization have been arrested, official sources said.

Additional Home Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid told reporters on Thursday that the government would drastically put down any clandestine activities of the banned Huji.

He said although there is no open activity by Huji, but if any secret act of the group is noticed, it would be dealt with a strong hand.

In her statement, Secretary Rice, however, said Bangladesh has been a strong partner of the United States in fighting terrorism, and has taken effective action to bring HUJI-B terrorists to justice and to prevent further attacks.

"We applaud Bangladesh's efforts to fight terrorism and are committed to further strengthening this partnership as we redouble our efforts to counter HUJI-B and other terrorist organizations around the globe," she said.

The designation of Huji as a foreign terrorist organization means that it is illegal for persons in the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide material support to HUJI-B; requires U.S. financial institutions to freeze assets held by HUJI-B; freeze all property and interests in property of HUJI-B that are in the United States, come within the United States, or within the control of U.S. persons; and enables the United States to deny visas to representatives of HUJI-B.

Unity among nationalist forces stressed

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable meeting yesterday stressed the need for building unity of nationalist force, national bourgeois and patriotic armed force to carry forward the country.

Addressing the meeting on "37 Years of Bangladesh and Divided Politics," they called upon all politicians to carry on politics of coexistence by giving up the politics of division.

The speakers observed the aim of politics should be protecting independence and sovereignty of the country not only capturing power.

The roundtable meeting, organised by Centre for Democracy and Peace Studies (CDPS), was held at National Press Club in the city with Dainik Amardesh Editor Amanullah Kabir in the chair.

Mahmudur Rahman, who addressed the meeting as chief guest, said coexistence of different opinions in politics is democracy; otherwise the politics would turn into fascism.

He criticised the politicians for their silent role in providing air transit to the neighbouring country.

Referring to branding Harkatul Jihad Bangladesh as international terrorist group by the United States and taking effort to change the inheritance law by the government, he said conspiracy against Bangladesh was not stopped; rather the next target will be militancy in a bid to establish the country as a fundamentalist state.

These are being carried out to create pressure upon the government to materialise the demands of international and regional forces, he observed.

Criticising the government for awarding what he said international brokers, outspoken Mahmudur Rahman said this indicates the government is nothing but their indirect supporters.

He however observed that larger part of the government is still in favour of protecting the interest of the country. Establishment of democracy is possible by creating greater movement involving those people with the mass, he said.

Regarding corruption in Bangladesh he said campaign has been started against the country from the 90s and some institutes, including TIB and World Economic Forum, were created to utilise those as vehicles for the campaign.

"Corruption should to be eliminated through rule of law. Because elimination of corruption by breaking rule of law is itself corruption. Such measure is unsustainable and immoral," he observed.

Amanullah Kabir said campaign is being carried out by western forces against Islam and Muslim.

He said religion is a factor in America and that's why they will not allow any Muslim to lead the nation.

Amanullah Kabir stressed the need for building knowledge-based society to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country.

He termed the divided politics in Bangladesh is nothing but conflict for capturing power.

The division will not be there if all remain busy with their own work, he observed.

Rizvi Ahmed said Islam is the next target of imperialism, as it does not accept monopoly business.

He also alleged that creating division is an old tactic of the imperialists.

Criticising the role of the politicians, the BNP leader said armed forces took over power again and again since the politicians could not achieve skill to run the country properly.

On independence of judiciary he said it should maintain balance with other organs of the state.

He emphasised the need for maintaining continuity of constitutional change to turn the nation into a cohesive nation.

Rafiqul Islam Khan said the country could not go forward as per the desire and expectation of the people due to divided politics in the country.

He said the politics of division was started from 1974 by establishing BAKSAL snatching the fundamental rights of the people.

The Jamaat leader observed all should unite on national issues to carry forward the country and maintaining democratic system there.

The meeting was also addressed, among others, by Dr Hedayet Hossain, Dr Abu Yusuf, Rois Uddin Arif, Barrister Imran Siddiqui, Rezauddin Stalin, Sheikh Samidul Islam, Tanzim Afroz, Khandaker Sajjadul Karim, AKM Abu Siddiqui, Sheemanti Ahmed and Mostafizur Rahman. CDPS Executive Director Sadeq Rahman moderated the function.

Nipah virus claims one more life

Staff Reporter

A teenaged boy died of suspected attack by Nipah virus at Faridpur Medical College Hospital on Thursday.

According to the upazila health complex sources, Tauhidul Islam, 16, son of Moksed Ali of Mangalpur village, started vomiting after he took date juice on Monday.

Meanwhile, health experts of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and ICDDR,B in a study report said that basic preventive measures like hand washing, not sharing beds or food and minimising the number of contacts can limit person-to-person transmission of Nipah virus that still remains a risk.

The central and northwestern part of the country remains at risk for future outbreaks of Nipah virus especially in January through May, the report warned.

So far in the past weeks, eight people, including four children, have died and 10 others badly affected in the latest outbreak of the Nipah virus in Manikganj and Rajbari.

The IEDCR confirmed that the first spell of the Nipah outbreak on February 29 based on the samples collected from the bodies of the three children of Bishnupur village at Daulatpur upazila in Manikganj.

Nipah virus, a new member of the 'paramyxovirus' family, was named after Sungai Nipah, one of the Malaysian villages affected by the virus. Dr Chua Kaw Bing from the University of Malaya discovered the virus on March 18, 1999.

The IEDCR and ICDDR,B study suggested that when clinicians see patients with fever and mental status change, they should inquire if anyone else in their community has experienced a similar illness in the preceding two weeks.

Any clustering encephalitis cases should be immediately reported to the district authority, it also suggested.

The repeated outbreaks of Nipah virus in the country that result from person to person transmission underscored the importance of developing strategies to interrupt the transmission of saliva transmitted viruses, both at home and in hospitals, said the study.

Our Faridpur correspondent said the deceased teenager was first admitted to Rajbari sadar hospital and later shifted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Tauhidul, a student of Class IX of Jamtala Dakhil Madrasah, died at Faridpur Medical College Hospital on Thursday evening.

Necessary samples of the affected boy have been sent to Dhaka for determining the exact cause of his death, said local physicians.

Meanwhile, local authorities start a campaign today advising people to remain alert about Nipah virus.

AL gives 7-day ultimatum for release of Hasina : Opposes local polls before nat’l election

Awami League leaders led by acting party President
Zillur Rahman placing wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Bhavan yesterday on
the occasion of historic Seventh March.
FocusBangla

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Awami League yesterday gave the incumbent caretaker government seven days for the unconditional release of detained ailing party president Sheikh Hasina to facilitate her treatment in the USA.

The ultimatum came from a discussion organized by the party in observance of the historical 7th March at Diploma Engineers' Institute. Acting AL president Zillur Rahman presided over the meeting.

Zillur urged the party leaders and workers to get united and prepare to join any kind of movement that would be launched to free Hasina. "We do hope that the government will set her free and we'll join the parliamentary polls under her leadership," he said.

Party presidium member Amir Hossain Amu demanded unconditional release of Hasina. "You (govt) release Sheikh Hasina and we (AL) will take the responsibility of her better treatment." Another presidium member Abdur Razzak alleged that a deep conspiracy is on to foil the parliamentary polls and demanded of the Election Commission to declare the election schedule.

"Don't mislead the people. Holding the parliamentary election is your only responsibility, not the local-body elections," he reminded the government, adding that the elected government would take steps to hold the local-body elections.

Razzak also demanded of the government to set free Hsina and send her abroad for her treatment. "If something happens to her, the government will have to shoulder the responsibility."

Party presidium member Tofael Ahmed asked the caretaker government to hold dialogue with political parties and create a congenial atmosphere for the parliamentary polls.

"A confusion is there in public mind whether the elections would be held as per the roadmap due to contradictory remarks by the Chief Adviser and Advisers over holding the parliamentary polls and the local-body ones," he said.

Suranjit Sengupta, another presidium member of the party, said holding local-body elections ahead of the parliamentary polls is violation of the constitution.

He said contradictory remarks by the Chief Adviser and the Chief Election Commissioner gives the indication of a conspiracy to stay away from the national election.

AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam gave the government the seven-day ultimatum to release Hasina and send her to Florida. "Her ear treatment is only possible in Florida as she took treatment over there several times in the past."

AL central leader Abdul Latif Siddiqui accused the government of doing politics sidelining the real politicians.

He said Awami League would not accept any other elections ahead of the parliamentary polls.

Siddiqui blamed the government for not being able to hold elections in two years "but the people had liberated the country in nine months under the directive of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman".

AL leaders Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, Abu Sayeed, Ali Ashraf, AKM Jahangir, engineer Yafes Osman, Sultan Mohammad Mansur, Dr Hasan Mahamud, Asaduzzaman Noor, Habibur Rahman, Ma Aziz and Adv Qumrul Islam also spoke on the occasion. AL leader Asim Kumar Ukil conducted the programme.

Kamal proposes dialogue among govt, parties, EC No bar to hold local polls before national one

Staff Reporter

Gano Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said there was no bar in the Constitution to hold local government elections before the national election but the matter should be finalised at the dialogue to be held between the government and the political parties.

He also said the state of emergency should be lifted before the elections and a national dialogue among the Government, Election Commission and political parties should be held to finalise the time when it would be withdrawn.

Dr Kamal said this after a meeting with the Ganotanri party at his residence at Baily Road in the city.

He said, "There is no bar in the Constitution to hold the local government elections before the parliamentary election."

"The state of emergency should be lifted before the elections and political parties, the Government and the EC should hold a national dialogue on this issue. We hope that the elections will be held in a normal situation," said Dr Kamal.

The meeting was a part of the Gano Forum's talks with like-minded political parties. Earlier it held meeting with Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Communist party of Bangladesh, Workers party of Bangladesh and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.

Answering a question whether the GF would hold meeting with the Awami League Dr Kamal not specifying the name of AL said, "We will not only hold meetings with the progressive and pro-liberation political parties but also with different socio-cultural organisations."

About the trial of war criminals Dr Kamal said the demand should be raised at the dialogue with the government and the public demand should be met through the dialogue.

The Gano Forum president said the government had promised to hold the election within this December and they should keep their promise.

Ganotantri Party president Nurul Islam said, "If the war criminals were not punished then our independence would be under question mark."

He said national understanding should be built to meet national crisis.

Acting general secretary of Gano forum Adv Subrata Chowdhury, presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya, office secretary Nawab Ali, Aminul Haque Bhuyian, Ganotantri party leaders Enamul Haque Mollah, Bhupendra Bhowmik Dolon and Rejaul Karim Lebu, among others, were present at the meeting.

JCD demands release of Khaleda, Tarique, Arafat

UNB, Dhaka

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) yesterday demanded immediate release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, and her sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman to create ground for a free and fair election.

JCD made the demand at a press conference at the Dhaka University's Madhu's canteen.

JCD leaders said they, along with the support of other student forces, would initiate tough movement shortly if the detainees are not freed.

Acting JCD president Sultan Salauddin Tuku, general secretary Shafiul Bari Babu, vice-president Joyonta Kondo, DU unit president Hasan Mamun, general secretary Saiful Islam Firoz, among others, addressed the press conference.

JCD leaders also urged the government to form a judicial inquiry committee to investigate into the alleged torture on Tarique and Arafat inside the jail.

Salauddin Tuku said the detainees got bail from the court several times, but the government continues to file cases which are baseless and false.

Shafiul Bari said some quarters are conducting propaganda against the Zia family.

"Tarique Rahman has been accused of smuggling money abroad. But, the government has not been able to probe the allegation yet. Then, why our leader will be kept captive in jail?" Bari asked.

They demanded release of Azizul Bari Helal, president of the BNP's student wing.

JCD think tanks said that from now they will arrange "peaceful" demonstration to press for their demands. As a part of their programmes, a human chain will be formed tomorrow (Saturday) at the foot of Aparajeya Bangla at 11am.

Nation celebrates historic 7th March

Staff Reporter

The historic 7th March, which shaped the War of Liberation in 1971, was celebrated in different areas, including the capital and divisional headquarters, of the country without pomp and grandeur yesterday.

This day in 1971 Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced non-cooperation movement against Pakistani ruling junta, when it refused to implement the democratic verdict of the people for handing over power to his party the Awami League that singularly won the majority seats in the elections to the National Assembly held on December 17, 1970, at massive gathering in Dhaka city.

Asking the Bangalee nation for making the non-cooperation movement and take preparation for the War of Independence, Bangabandhu declared, "The struggle is the struggle for freedom, this struggle is the struggle for the independence, Joy Bangla."

The millions, representing 7.5 crore people, at the rally on the sprawling historic Suhrawardy Uddayan (the then Race Course Maidan) responded positively like a roaring ocean during hurricane.

Bangabandhu's speech inspired the entire Bangalee nation to join the armed struggle for independence that led to the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign country on December 16, 1971 in exchange of supreme sacrifice made by 30 lakh people, including children and women, fighting out the barbarous Pakistani occupation army, its local collaborators-Razakars and Al-Badr-and pushing aside the opposition from the main super power of the world.

In observance of the day, leaders of Awami League (AL) and its front organisations placed wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhamondi of the capital in the morning.

Party leaders, activists and well-wishers handed over flowers to the jail authorities to present the detained AL President Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu and one of the two living members of his family. The other person is his younger daughter Sheikh Rehana, now living in London.

Besides, National and party flags atop all AL offices across the country were hoisted after dawn. A discussion marking the day was held at the Diploma Engineers Institute auditorium.

Private TV channels aired special programmes, including parts of the recorded speech of Bangabandhu at the Suhrawardy Uddayan's rally on 7th March, while newspapers carried out special supplement or articles on the occasion. Political leaders, including the then Members of the National Assembly (Parliament) and artists, who attended the rally were interviewed by both electronic and print media on the day.

Acting AL President Zillur Rahman, who delivered the presidential speech at the discussion meeting marking the 7th March at the Diploma Engineers Institute in the city, paid glowing tributes to memories of Bangabandhu and his family members and the four national leaders-Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, AHM Quamruzzaman and Captain Monsur Ali-all of whom were killed either in August 15 coup de etat or in November 3 Jail killing in 1975.

Urging the Government to finish the construction of the "Swadinata Stamva" (Independence Monument), which is being built for last 10 years, the AL leaders urged the people and the administration to materialise the dreams of three million martyrs, the freedom fighters and the assassinated leaders of the Liberation War.

They also asked the Government to try war criminals, who were responsible for the genocide of 1971, under the International War Crime Tribunal Act-1973.

2 hundi traders held in C’ nawabganj, Tk 12 lakh recovered

UNB, Chapainawabganj

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), in separate drives, arrested two hundi traders and recovered over Tk 12 lakh and 1,500 bottles of phensidyl in Shibganj and Sadar upazila on Thursday night.

Acting on a tip-off, a BDR team intercepted a motorbike at Masudpur border in Shibganj upazila at about 7:30pm.

They arrested bike riders Noman Ali, 50, and Fazlur Rahman, 35, and recovered hundi money amounting to over Tk 12 lakh from their possession.

Meanwhile, another team of BDR seized 1,500 bottles of contraband cough syrup from Clubghat area of Hakimpur in Sadar upazila on Thursday midnight.

Int’l Women's Day today: More women enter global labour force than before: ILO

Acid Survivors Foundation organised a candle light
vigil at the Rabindra Sarobar open stage at Dhanmondi last
night on the occasion of the Internatonal Women's Day-2008
to be observed today. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

International Women's Day will be observed today in the country as elsewhere around the world with various programmes by women rights groups and international organisations. This year's theme for the day is 'Investing in Women and Girls'.

International Women's Day traces it origins to this day in 1857, when female workers of a sewing factory in New York, USA fought with local police in protest against a 12-hour workday, low pay and unhealthy condition in workplaces.

The day was later declared International Women's Day during the second International Socialist Women's Conference in Copenhagen in 1910 following a proposal by German Socialist Movement leader Klara Jatekin.

International Labour Office (ILO) prepared a report to mark the Day today.

According to the report, which was released yesterday, more women are entering the global labour force in record numbers, but they still face higher unemployment rates and lower wages and represent 60 per cent of the 550 million working poor in the world.

However, the report says the rate of success in crashing through the invisible, symbolic barrier to top managerial jobs remains "slow, uneven and sometimes discouraging".

"Women must have an equal chance of reaching the top of the jobs ladder. And, unless progress is made in taking women out of poverty by creating productive and decent employment, the Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty by 2015 will remain out of reach in most regions of the world," said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia.

The report said the explosive growth in the female workforce has not been accompanied by true socio-economic empowerment for women.

Nor has it led to equal pay for work of equal value or balanced benefits that would make women equal to men across nearly all occupations. "In short, true equality in the world of work is still out of reach," the report added.

The study found that while the gap between the number of men and women in the labour force (the sum of the unemployed and employed) has been decreasing in all regions of the world since 1993, this decrease has varied widely.

While women in the transition economies and East Asia - where the number of women working per 100 men is 91 and 83 respectively - have nearly closed the gap, in other regions of the world such as the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, only 40 women per 100 men are economically active, the report said.

Meanwhile, female unemployment in 2003 was slightly higher than male unemployment for the world as a whole (6.4 per cent for female, 6.1 per cent for male), the ILO said, leaving 77.8 million women who were willing to work and looking for work without employment. Only in East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa did the regional male unemployment rate exceed that of women, with 3.7 per cent male unemployment in East Asia compared to 2.7 per cent female unemployment, and 11.8 per cent unemployment for men in sub-Saharan Africa compared to 9.6 per cent female unemployment.

In developing countries, women simply cannot afford to not work, the report says, noting that low unemployment rates thus mask the problem.

The challenge for women in these countries is not gaining employment - they have to take whatever work is available and are likely to wind up in informal sector work such as agriculture with little, if any, social security benefits and a high degree of vulnerability - but in gaining decent and productive employment, the report added.

The report also found that women typically earn less than men. In the six occupations studied, women still earn less of what their male co-workers earn, even in "typically female" occupations such as nursing and teaching.

"Creating enough decent jobs for women is only possible if policy makers place employment at the centre of social and economic polices and recognise that women face more substantial challenges in the workplace than men", Somavia said.

In politics, the proportion of women representatives in national parliaments remains low, increasing from 13 per cent to 15.2 per cent between 1999 and 2003. However, the update did find recent increases in the number of women in traditionally male-dominated cabinet posts, such as foreign affairs, finance and defence, the report said.

The study said some employers are beginning to shift attitudes and businesses now understand that family-friendly policies, improved access to training, and stronger mentoring systems encourage female staff retention and can improve productivity.

And governments and unions are advocating the reform of employment and welfare legislation to ensure that mothers can maintain seniority, benefits, and earning potential, the report observed.

Women's liberation must for greater human good

Staff Reporter

The Muslim scholars of the contemporary world have a positive view of women's rights and adherence to the tenets of Islam would help establish those, a seminar was told by speakers in the city yesterday.

The seminar was organised by The Witness and the Assembly for Protection of Hijab, Bangladesh to mark the International Women's Day at the Jatiya Press Club.

The speakers said that as a very progressive religion Islam liberated the humanity from various forms of oppression, and this included the liberation of women.

Dr Syeda Sultana Razia, presented a paper on 'Freedom of Women in the 21st century' at the seminar presided over by Dr Meera Momtaz Sabeka. Former secretary to the government Hannah Abdul Shah, former DG, Bangladesh Shishu Academy Zubaida Gulshan Ara, editor of the New Nation, Mostafa Kamal Majumder were special guests at the function. Shahnaj Hamid, Mahbuba Rahman, Sardar Farid Ahmed and Kaniz Fatima took part in the discussion.

In her paper Syeda Sultana Razia drew a historical background to the movement for women's rights and said that the economically weak people mostly run the risk of being deprived of their rights. This applied more to women who are considered weak physically and mentally. The worldwide movement for empowerment of women thus basically called for making women economically self-reliant so that they acquire the ability and the power to take decisions independently.

She said that opposition to the movement for the establishment of women's rights in the Indian Sub-continent came from not political organisations but religious and social practices. Thus the liberation of women here was slow. Women's progress would get a boost in the present century of globalisation and satellite communication which has both good and bad aspects. The mass media alongside the social infrastructure would play an important role in settling the women's position in society in this era, she said.

Shah Abdul Hannan emphasised the need for viewing the case of women's liberation from the perspective of liberation of the humanity from oppression. As human beings women should have their rights, more so as mothers.

He cautioned against a reported move to amend the Muslim family law and urged the government to refrain from making such attempts that might had far reaching adverse consequences.

Zubaida Gulshan Ara said that women should establish their rights not by physical force but through the use of wisdom using which they should carry men along. She called for proper awareness about rights at a time when global powers were carrying out large-scale destruction in one part of the planet on the plea of the establishment of peace.

Mostafa Kamal Majumder underscored the need for having a comparative analysis of women's rights situation under other religions and in different societies for a proper appreciation of their rights in our society. He said women's rights should be pursued in a modern, efficient and smart way instead of sounding like going backward.

Call to withdraw emergency within two months

Staff Reporter

A bilateral meeting between Bikalpahara Bangladesh and Jatiya Ganatronti Party was held at the Bikalpadhara central party office yesterday.

The leaders of both of the parties urged the caretaker government to withdraw the emergency within the next two months to hold election by December 2008 according to the roadmap.

Maj (Retd) Abdul Mannan, Sectary General of Bikalpadhara, said we discussed about the current political situation, the rising price of daily essentials, next election and its roadmap. We agreed to work together to make the next election fair and meaningful.

He requested the caretaker government to take steps so that the corrupt politicians and black money holders could not take part in the next election. He expressed his confusion weather the next election would be fair and free from black money. He hoped to continue such bilateral meetings with other political parties to make the election fair and credible.

Mohammad Nurul Islam, President of Jatiya Ganatronti Party said sustainable development depends on sustainable democracy. The caretaker government should put emphasis on holding election to re-establish democracy in the country.

He urged the Election Commission to be more sincere about political dialogue. He called on all the political parties to work hand in hand to single out the anti-liberation individuals and groups to punish them.

Arshaduzzaman, Jainal Abedin Khan (Bir Protik), Kazi Kamal, Prof Shariful Islam of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and mahmudur Rahman Babu, nurur Rahman Selim, Sharafat Ali Hira, among others, were present in the meeting.