The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rabindra Sangeet Festival ends today

Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha holding
a cultural soiree yesterday on the second day of the
three-day conference being held at the Central Public
Library auditorium. NN photo

Staff Reporter

The 19th National Rabindra Sangeet Festival organised by the Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha, will conclude today at the Sawkat Osman Memorial Hall of the Central Public Library in the city. It began on Wednesday.

Artiste Kalim Sharafi, President of the organisation, inaugurated the festival with the slogan 'Shuvo Karma Pathe Dhara Nirbhoy Gaan.'

The festival was dedicated to the late veteran artistes Jahanara Nishi and Abinash Chandra Shil, Selim Al Deen and Mahbub-ul-Alam.

The four-day programme features music, recitation and seminar. Cultural activists and Tagore song researcher Prof ABM Nurul Anwar of Mymensingh was present as chief guest in the inaugural session.

Some two hundred artistes from across the country are participating at the festival, said the organisers.

Noted singers including Anup Bhattachariya, Iffat Ara Dewan, Mita Haque, ATM Jahangir, Saiful Islam Khan, Azizur Rahman Tuhin, Anup Kumar Pal, Sharmin Rahman Chaity, among others, took part in the inauguration.

One minute silence was observed in honour of noted publisher Chittaranjan Saha, regional folk singer Shefali Ghosh, film star Aslam Talukder Manna and eminent journalist Bazlur Rahman.

On the second day, the organisers accorded a reception to Nikhil Sen, distinguish cultural personality of Barisal. After that, recitation and Tagore songs were rendered.

On the concluding day of the festival, today, the organisers will hold an open discussion on the use of modern instrument in Tagore's song, beginning at 5:00pm.

Bangladesh’s porous borders make illegal flow of narcotics easy

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh's porous borders make the illegal flow of narcotics from neighboring countries easy and make Bangladesh an attractive transfer point for drugs transiting the region, says International Narcotics Control of Strategy report-2008.

The report says Bangladesh is situated between the Golden Crescent to the west and the Golden Triangle to the east, placing the country at continued risk for transit crimes. Opium-based pharmaceuticals and other medicinal drugs are being smuggled into Bangladesh from India. White (injectable) heroin comes in from Burma.

It says the number of drug users in Bangladesh has been estimated at between 100,000 and 1.7 million, with 20,000-25,000 injecting drug users and 45,000 heroin smokers. Other drugs used in Bangladesh are methamphetamines, marijuana, and a codeine-based cough syrup. After years of unwillingness to recognize narcotics issues, the report says Bangladesh's law enforcement bodies took a stance against drugs in 2006, largely due to two factors: high-profile cases of heroin smuggling to the United Kingdom in 2005 and growing methamphetamine (Thai "yaba" tablets) used among the young elite. Yaba was initially popular among college students who used it to stay awake all night to study for exams, but has since become a popular stimulant at parties and is known as the "sex drug."

'Merchant of Death’ faces charges

BBC News

The United States is seeking the extradition of a suspected top international arms smuggler Viktor Bout from Thailand, where he has been arrested.

Viktor Bout, a 41-year-old Russian, was detained in a luxury hotel in Bangkok after a months-long sting operation.

He had allegedly been trying to secure a major weapons deal with US agents posing as Colombian Farc rebels.

Bout has gained a reputation of mythic proportions for his alleged role in the illegal global arms trade.

He was dubbed the "merchant of death" for allegedly supplying warring parties in Angola and Sierra Leone, and is believed to have inspired Nicolas Cage's character in the 2005 film Lord of War.

The US placed sanctions on Bout in 2006, seizing his fleet of cargo planes and freezing many of his assets, but thus far he has never faced prosecution.

Thai authorities earlier said they would seek to prosecute Bout before he was extradited elsewhere.

US justice department spokesman Dean Boyd told the BBC that Washington would now proceed with an extradition request on charges that Bout was attempting to supply weapons to a group designated as terrorist by the US.

An associate of Bout who faces related charges, Andrew Smulian, is reportedly still being sought.

Herbal water purifier invented

Staff Reporter

Dr Kanetsi Oda, a scientist from Osaka University of Japan, recently invented an herbal product, which will purify the polluted water without any side effect.

By using this product, Polymer Flocculent (PG alpha 21 Ca), polluted water of ponds, rivers and canals would be purified in Bangladesh.

This was disclosed at a press conference organised by Wonderland Children Park at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. GM Mostafizur Rahman, Managing Director of Wonderland Group, the visiting scientist and his 13-member entourage, among others, were present on the occasion.

Dr Oda said, "I came here not to promote business.

I came only for introducing my invention for the welfare of the people of this country."

The invented product is being used in 13 countries across the world at present. This product could be used for water of ponds, canals and rivers of urban or rural areas and could easily drinking water be converted in. This would help to reduce scarcity of pure drinking water in the country, he said.

Nippon Poly Glu Co Ltd of Japan is the manufacturer of the product. According to the Japanese scientist, this product will purify polluted water by recycling process.

Train derails

UNB, Comilla

Communication on Dhaka-Chittagong rail route remained suspended for two and half hours as a train derailed in Chouddagram upazila yesterday.

One bogie of a Chittagong-bound goods train coming from the capital went out of the track at a place between Gunabati and Hasanpur railway stations at 1pm that hampered train movement.

Later, trains running on the route remained stranded at different points causing sufferings to the passengers.

Railway sources said the train movement resumed at about 3:30pm after a relief train from Laksam rushed to the spot and put the derailed bogie back on track.

2 JMB men held in Kurigram

UNB, Kurigram

Two members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh were arrested from frontier Bahalkuri village in Bhurungamari thana yesterday.

Police said acting on a tip-off they raided the village and arrested Hafizur Rahman, 40, and Bitu, 42, from their respective houses early hours. Hafizur and Bitu were wanted in a case for having connection with the militant outfit.

Two arrested JMB men, close associates of alleged JMB chief Matin Mehedy, went into hiding following the arrest of Matin in the town last year.

Bangladesh’s porous borders make illegal flow of narcotics easy

Chad’s 'orphans’ returning home

BBC News

The government of Chad has given permission for 103 children who were caught up in a trafficking scandal to be returned home, Unicef says.

Six French aid workers were convicted last year of trying to take the children to Europe, saying they thought they were orphans from Darfur.

The children will be returned to their families from an orphanage in Chad as soon as possible, Unicef says.

The aid workers have been returned to France to serve out their jail terms.

They said they had been tricked into thinking the children they were preparing to fly to France were Sudanese orphans from Darfur.

However, most of the children were found to be from Chad, which borders the war-torn western Sudanese region, and had parents who were still alive.

CA addresses opinion-exchange meeting at Galachipa Elect honest people in coming polls

UNB, Galachipa

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Friday called upon the people to exercise their valuable right to franchise by casting vote judiciously for honest, dedicated and active persons who think of development and welfare of the country and people.

The Chief Adviser made the call addressing an opinion exchange meeting with upazila level officers, local elite and masses of Galachipa upazila, a cyclone Sidr-hit area, at Galachipa Degree College premises. The local upazila administration arranged the meeting. He said the government is trying to prepare a flawless voter list with photographs, which is one of the prerequisites of holding a free, fair, neutral and acceptable election.

The Chief Adviser stayed overnight in Barisal after he chaired the council of advisers meeting at the Barisal circuit house and held opinion exchange meeting at Rajapur upazila of Jhalakati district on Thursday.

From Barisal, he flew into Galachipa by helicopter on Friday morning and returned to the capital in the afternoon. Earlier, on way from Barisal Circuit House to Barisal Airport, Dr Fakhruddin got down from the car at Gariarpar in Barisal Sadar and talked with roadside people about prices of essentials, and agricultural production and voter listing.

Representatives of farmers, fish traders, businessmen, teachers, journalists, Union Parishad chairmen, women, NGOs and government officials spoke at the function at Galachipa, which was conducted by Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner AGM Mir Mashiur Alam. "If we work en masse we will be able to accomplish many things," Dr Fakhruddin said about the success in facing the aftermath of cyclone 'Sidr through united efforts of civil and military administration and private sector, with the cooperation of people. On long term rehabilitation project in the southern coastal belt, he said work for preparing long-term rehabilitation project has started and after the implementation of the big project the look of the whole region would change. It will take few years to implement the project, he added.

In this regard, the Chief Adviser informed that in his meeting last December with ambassadors and high commissioners of friendly countries and the development partners, he placed the long-term rehabilitation proposal that included strengthening the coastal embankments, improving the road and river communication network and constructing multipurpose cyclone shelters. Assuring all necessary support from the government, he called for increasing agricultural production by using every inch of arable lands cultivating double crops on single-crop land and triple crops on double-crop land.

The Chief Adviser directed the officials concerned to do what the government can do for extending cooperation to the farmers in proper time. This will make it possible to launch an agricultural or green revolution in this region, he said.

He added that there is no alternative to raising agricultural production to keep prices of commodities at tolerable level overcoming the adverse influence of prices in the international market.

Dr Fakhruddin said the government is also trying to keep the prices of commodities at tolerable level through various measures. The objective of the government, he said, is to increase as quickly as possible the agricultural production along with increased production of fishes and milk.

He said a programme of Tk 600 crore agriculture loan has been launched under which Krishi Bank and four nationalized banks would disburse money for helping the farmers as well as the fishermen as far as practicable. Disbursement of loan has already started, he added.

Responding to the various demands of the local people, he assured to solve those step by step on priority basis and informed that many demands like Kalapara-Kuakata road communication remain in the long-term rehabilitation project.

The Chief Adviser, however, said the decision for operating a ferry service over Galachipa river would be taken as well as some bridges would be built quickly.

Regarding setting up of fish and agricultural products processing industries in the region having immense potential, he said the government would provide all necessary support to the private sector in this regard.

2 revolvers, 39 bullets recovered in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered two sophisticated revolvers and 39 bullets from the bank of a pond on the outskirts of the town yesterday afternoon, RAB sources said.

On a tip-off, a special RAB team conducted a raid on the bank of the pond of Milan Mia in Balatari College Para area to the northeast of Rangpur Carmichael University College at 1.30 pm.

The elite force found one England-made and one Japan-made six-bore revolvers and 39 bullets of revolvers, SLR and .22 bore rifles on the spot in an abandoned condition. One of the recovered revolvers was loaded with six bullets.

UN rights chief steps down

Internet

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour says she is stepping down after four years in the post.

Ms Arbour, a Canadian legal expert, told the Human Rights Council she would quit when her term expired in June. She said it was for personal reasons.

Correspondents say she has angered some UN member states by taking a tough stance on their human rights records.

They say that, like her predecessors, Ms Arbour faced criticism from a wide range of countries.

However she denied that was the reason she was quitting.

"It is very much for personal reasons. I'm not prepared to make this commitment for another four years," she told the Council.

Padma Bridge to raise GDP 1.20 pc

BSS, Dhaka

Implementation of the proposed Mawa-Jajira Padma Bridge project will help increase GDP growth by 1.20 percent nationally and 35 percent growth in southwestern region.

This was revealed in 'Economic Update December '08', quarterly report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Side by side improving the internal communication system, the proposed bridge will also play a particular role in establishing a coordinated transport network in South Asia, the report said.

The 5.5-kilometre proposed bridge will reduce distance between Dhaka and the southern districts of the country by 100 kilometres.

The ADB report said, the Padma bridge will play an important role in improving Bangladesh's trade relations with Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal.

It is expected that the railway link of the Padma Bridge will bring good results in inter-regional economic cooperation, the report said and added, it will reduce distance between Dhaka and Kolkata remarkably.

After construction of the Padma bridge, the distance between Dhaka and Benapole will reduce to 200-kilometre from the existing 518-kilometer via the Jamuna Bridge.

11 parties support 33 pc women representation

UNB, Dhaka

Only 11 among the 15 political parties that sat with the Election Commission for talks on electoral reforms have agreed to ensure at least 33 percent representation of women in their party committees by 2020, a condition the Commission likes to set for the parties for having registration.

The Election Commission wants the country's political parties to increase representation of women in their committees in a bid to empower women politically.

The 11 parties that have given nod to the EC proposal are Bangladesh Awami League, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), Samyabadi Dal of Bangladesh (ML), Workers Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Jatiya Party (Ershad), National Awami Party (Nap-Muzaffar), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab), Jatiya Party (JP), Ganotantrik Party and Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL). However, Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) directly and Jammat Islam-e-Bangladesh indirectly opposed the proposal. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) suggested the EC to advance the time to 2015, while Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said that it should be by 2028. Talking to UNB, joint secretary of the Delwar-led faction of BNP Nazrul Islam Khan said it would not be wise to make a condition for this right now. "We want empowerment of women and their equal participation in politics. But, we don't think that any party will accept it if it is made obligatory," he said.

But, secretary general of the reformist faction of BNP Maj (retd) Hafizuddin said they think it should be done gradually. "It should be 20 percent at this moment, which can be increased gradually in the future," he said.

BNP is one of the two major political parties in the country that has only 15 women in its 269-member central committee and only one woman-party chairperson Khaleda Zia-in its 15-member presidium committee.

"We have not yet decided the method how the women representation in party committees will be monitored. Besides, dialogue is still pending with one party (BNP)," Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain told UNB.

Bangladesh Awami League, the other major political party, has only three women in its 12-member presidium committee, while only seven women in its 68-meber central committee.

"It's their (EC) proposal. It's the parties that will take the decision," Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid told UNB after their dialogue with the EC on Feb 26. The party already has 52 women in its 251-member central Majlish-e-Shura, the highest policymaking body of the party.

Among the 15 political parties, only IOJ suggested the EC to drop the provision. "There is no women representation in any Islamic party," IOJ secretary general M Abdul Latif Nejami told UNB. After their dialogue with the EC on Feb 25, JSD leader Shirin Akhter said, "We suggested the Commission to advance the time to 2015. By the time, there will be two national elections and we'll be able to do the job. The empowerment of women will be delayed if the pressure is not there."

JSD only has three women in its 101-member central executive committee and one in its 15-member standing committee. LDP told the Commission that the parties should be given until 2028 to fulfill the condition. "It's very difficult to ensure 33 percent representation of woment give us some more time," LDP president Col Oli Ahmed told the EC at its dialogue on Feb 28. There are only 12 women in its current committee of 100-member as the 151-member national executive committee of LDP is still under process, while there are only 10 women in its 51-member district committee.

The BDB central committee is also under process and there is no woman representation in its 9-member presidium committee. And similarly, there is no woman in its 17-member central committee of Samyabadi Dal. Workers Party has got two women in its 40-member central committee, while CPB four in its 35-member central committee, Jatiya Party (Ershad) two in its 31-member presidium committee, and JSD (Rab) one woman in its 171-member central executive committee, and there is no woman in its 10-member standing committee. JP (Manju) has got three women in its 11-member presidium committee while Ganotantrik Party three in its 15-member presidium committee and seven in its 61-member central committee. KSJL chief Quader Siddiqui told UNB that there are 5-6 women in its 101-member party central committee.

Google banned from filming inside US bases

Agency, London

The US defence department has banned the giant internet search engine Google from filming inside and making detailed studies of US military bases.

Close-up, ground-level imagery of US military sites posed a "potential threat" to security, it said.

The move follows the discovery of images of the Fort Sam Houston army base in Texas on Google Maps.

A Google spokesman said that where the US military had expressed concerns, images had been removed.

Google has now been barred from filming and conducting detailed studies of bases, following the discovery of detailed, three-dimensional panoramas online - and in particular, views of the Texan base. "Images include 360-degree views of the covered area to include access control points, barriers, headquarters, facilities and community areas," said the defence department in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.

It said such detailed mapping could pose a threat.

Google spokesman Larry Yu said the decision by a Google team to enter the Texas base, which is in San Antonio, and undertake a detailed survey, had been "a mistake".

He told the BBC that it was "not our policy to request access to military installations, but in this instance the operator of the vehicle with the camera on top - which is how we go about capturing imagery for Street-View - requested permission to access a military installation, was given access, and after learning of the incident we quickly removed the imagery".

Military officials are currently looking into exactly what imagery is available - though it may not be able to order its removal if images are taken from public streets.

Mar 2008: Pentagon bans Google map-makers filming inside military bases

Feb 2008: Heathrow expansion protesters use Google Earth (GE) to plan House of Commons rooftop demo

Oct 2007: Al-Aqsa Martyrs' brigade reportedly using GE to plot rocket attacks on Israel

July 2007: New Chinese Jin-class nuclear sub spotted in port by users of GE

Feb 2007: India demands sensitive sites be blurred amid concern over extremists

Aug 2006: Morrocco begins blocking access to GE, giving no reason

Dec 2005: GE obscures view of Washington mansion of Vice-President Dick Cheney

Aug 2005: South Korea voices "security concerns" at images of its military bases and presidential mansion

Among the popular mapping services offered by Google are Street View, which allows web users to "drive" along virtual US landscapes with ground-level views, and Google Earth, which offers detailed satellite and 3D images of locations around the world.

In this case, it was imagery offered on Street View that caused the concern.

But both have provoked complaints - from individuals depicted in the images and from governments concerned that satellite images could compromise security.

Gary Ross, a spokesman for the US Northern Command, told AFP that although such services could be useful, "there has to be a balance".

But Mr Yu said Google would listen to concerns about privacy and security.

"We try to have a compliant image removal policy - not only relative to the military but to consumers also," said Mr Yu.

"If people have concerns, they should contact us."

Pak Army stands behind democratic process Musharraf opponents get MPs’ boost

Agency, Karachi

Eleven Pakistani MPs have reportedly joined the main parties opposed to President Pervez Musharraf that could form a coalition government.

Seven independent MPs joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) while four MPs joined its ally, the PML-N, the election commission said.

Final figures for last month's polls show the coalition lacks the majority needed to impeach Musharraf. Pakistan's army chief has urged the president and coalition to co-operate. Gen Ashfaq Kayani also said the army would "stay out of the political process".

He told a meeting of top commanders on Thursday that the powerful military "fully stands behind the democratic process and is committed tot support the elected government".

International pressure forced President Musharraf to give up his dual role as army chief to Gen Kayani last year.

February's parliamentary elections - regarded as a key step in Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule - delivered a crushing defeat to parties loyal to President Musharraf.

The election commission on Thursday night finalised its tally from the election, announcing the results for 331 of the 342 seats in the national assembly.

The Commission also completed its proportional allocation of seats to women and minorities. The 11 seats that have yet to be declared are subject to legal challenges and other delays.