The New Nation - Internet Edition

EC under fire over upazila polls issue: Zillur: Neither CG nor EC has any right to hold local polls prior to national election; BNP demands CEC's resignation for partisan remark

Shamsul Huda: Putting the cart before the
horse

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda came under fire by major parties like BNP and Awami League for the CEC's controversial remarks and plan for holding upazila polls before general election.

Talking to reporters, acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman said the CEC's imbalanced statements created doubts about the holding of general election by the December deadline.

Zillur said, "Neither the caretaker government nor the election commission has any right to organize the local-body elections before the parliamentary polls."

He demanded that the Commission announce the specific date for elections and holding the national elections without delay.

Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta reaffirmed Awami League-led 14-party alliance's stand for holding the general election first. He said after installation of an elected government, the local elections could be held within months' time Likening the Commission's plan to hold upazila election before parliamentary polls to such an awkward act as putting the cart before the horse, Sengupta pointed out that during the two-phase dialogue with Awami League, the Commission had never raised or discussed the matter of upazila elections.

However, he said a decision regarding the upazila polls could be reached on the basis of consensus between the government and the Election Commission and political parties.

BNP joint secretary general Goyeswar Chandra Roy said CEC Huda should resign voluntarily before the raising of demand for his resignation as he said the CEC "lost his neutrality through his partisan remarks".

Talking to reporters at his house, Roy wondered how the CEC could say the incumbent election commission is the product of Awami League's movement and how he could say that Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was illegally expelled from BNP.

The BNP leader blamed the Commission for creating the present deadlock over its dialogue with BNP through sending the invitation letter to a 'wrong address'. The invitation was given to the rebel faction of the immediate-past ruling party.

"The Election Commission itself has created crisis in implementing its roadmap for election," he said, adding that people want a neutral election commission.

Roy said BNP has been run for last 29 years on the basis of the present party constitution. It will not be right to speak beyond this constitution.

He observed that confusion has been created among the people about the holding of parliament elections as the commission now plans upazila elections.

Obama aide quits in monster row

Samantha Power

Agencies

An adviser to Barack Obama has resigned after a Scottish newspaper quoted her calling rival US Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton "a monster".

Samantha Power has expressed "deep regret" over the comments and said she had tried to retract them.

The Scotsman newspaper quoted Ms Power as saying: "She is a monster, too-that is off the record - she is stooping to anything."

Ms Power is a Harvard professor who has advised Obama on foreign policy.

Announcing her resignation as an adviser, she said: "Last Monday, I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign."

Ms Power, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003, was speaking to the Scotsman about Mrs Clinton's campaign strategy in Ohio, a state the New York senator won in Tuesday's primary elections.

A spokesman for the Obama campaign, Bill Burton, said: "Senator Obama decries such characterisations, which have no place in this campaign."

Shortly before Ms Power stepped down, advisers to Mrs Clinton had held a conferencecall with reporters in which they called for her resignation.

Ms Power had already issued an apology and Obama's campaign had already condemned her remarks.

Comments made by Ms Power about Obama's Iraq strategy in an interview with the BBC earlier this week have also caused a stir.

Ms Power said the Illinois senator's position that he would withdraw all troops within 16 months was a "best-case scenario" that he would revisit if he became president.

The Clinton camp criticised her comments as inconsistent with those of Obama on the campaign trail.

"He has attacked me continuously for having no hard exit date, and now we learn he doesn't have one, in fact he doesn't have a plan at all," Mrs Clinton told reporters while campaigning in Mississippi.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe responded that Obama's plan to withdraw about two brigades a month if elected was a "rock solid commitment" to US voters.

Senior Democrats fear that weeks of attacks and mudslinging between the two camps could damage the party and cost it support in November's presidential election.

Howard Dean, chairman of the national Democratic Party, has warned that the tone of the campaign "may get nastier" and that the party must seek to prevent that happening.

Tigers meet Proteas in first ODI today

A scene from the practice session of Bangladesh
Cricket team at the Bir Srestha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium
in Chittagong on Saturday. NN photo

Sports Reporter

BangladeshNational Cricket team led by Mohammad Ashraful will meet South Africa team led by Graeme Smith today in the first One Day International (ODI) match at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong, the port city of the country.

Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live from the big bowl from 9.20 AM.

Earlier, BCB XI made a sensational tie with the touring South Africa on March 7.

Mohammad Ashraful said that it would give them inspiration to face the mighty South Africa. Besides, Bangladesh beat South Africa in the outgoing ICC Cricket World Cup.

Graeme Smith wants to take revenge by beating the hosts in the ODI series.

It may be mentioned that South Africa whitewashed Bangladesh by 2-0 in the Test series.

However, the cricket lovers of the country expect a positive approach from their side against their mighty opponents.

Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 14-member ODI squad for the ensuing three match ODI series.

The cricketers, who have been chosen, are: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice-captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Nazim Uddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Mosharrof Hossain Rubel, Syed Rasel, Farhad Reza and Raqibul Hassan.

Call to hold national convention for women's rights

Women rights activists take vow at the Central
Shaheed Minar yesterday to fight against all sorts of
injustices. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Expressing solidarity with this year's theme-'Investing in Women and Girls'-right groups and sociopolitical organizations yesterday observed the International Women's Day in the country with elaborate programmes.

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), in observance of the day, organized a discussion programme where representatives of different political, social, cultural and human-right organizations stressed the need for a national convention for protecting the rights of working women in the country.

The BILS presentation at the discussion highlighted the necessity of such a convention, as the labour Law 2006 does not cover 80 percent of women in the workforce. It pointed out that more than 90 percent of nearly half a million women who join every year in the workforce are not getting coverage of the labour law.

Marking the day, Mass Communication Department of the government outfitted elaborate campaign across the country through its 68 information offices. Besides, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also conducted mobile campaign in Dhaka Metropolitan City.

Meanwhile, International Women's Day Celebration Committee organized a discussion and cultural programme at Dhanmondi Club at 3:30pm.

South Asia Partnership Bangladesh and Padakshep Manabik Unnayan Kendra jointly brought out a colorful procession from the Shishu Academy at 9am.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Orenda Communication, Chinese Embassy in Dhaka and Bangladesh International Film Movement jointly held 'Personality Award and Film Festival 2008' at the Shilpakala Academy at 4pm.

CARE Bangladesh along with Social Action Committee, facilitated by Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, organized a gathering at the Shaheed Minar at 3PM, where a declaration paper was presented.

Women and Gender Studies Department of Dhaka University observed the day amid colorful procession, poster exhibition and discussion.

BSC allocates three ships: Stalemate over raw jute export goes temporarily

Syful Islam

Deadlock over exporting raw jute is likely to go as the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has allocated three ships for carrying the same for export purpose.

Nearly 7 lakh bales of raw jute worth Tk 40 crore stranded in Mongla Port for the last four months, as the BSC could not provide ship due to shortage of carrier.

A ship named 'Banglar Mukh' is now in Mongla to load nearly 55,000 bales of jute and carry those to the different export destinations.

"The Managing Director of BSC has assured us to give another ship---Banglar Maya---in the first week of April and another in May," Chairman of Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) Rezaul Karim told this correspondent yesterday.

"This will temporarily solve our problem for some days and help continue the export," he said. Bangladesh mainly exports raw jute to Pakistan, India and China. Country's raw jute exports have increased to a large extent and now a days it reached 25 lakh bales against 17 lakh bales of 2/3 years back.

Bangladesh produces nearly 55 lakh bales of raw jute a year of which 30/32 lakh bales is being used locally and the rests are being exported.

According to the statistics available nearly 17,18,511 bales of raw jute have been exported during the July-January period of the current fiscal against last year's 13,40,776 bales of the same period.

Rezaul Karim, also the senor vice chairman of Shippers Council of Bangladesh, said BSC was established for carrying jute and jute goods to the different destinations.

There was an agreement between the BSC and the Pakistan Shipping Corporation that each of these will give a ship per month for carrying jute and jute goods. Pakistan Shipping Corporation stopped allocating ship in 1990's while the ship of BSC became irregular in 2000. It has created immense problem on jute export, he said.

The BJA president said if the shortage of ships of BSC continues and Bangladeshi exporters cannot provide raw jute in time importers will look for other destination resulting a big blow to the sector.

He said at present per 40 kilogram jute is selling between Tk 800 and Tk 1200 depending on quality. Farmers will not get appropriate price if jute cannot be exported due to carrier shortage, he said.

He urged the Government for continuous allocation of ships to carry raw jute abroad and help earn a vast amount of foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Pakistan Jute Mills Association visited Bangladesh last month. They met the different government high officials and requested for allocation of ships to carry raw jute to Pakistan.

Honouring martyred Indian soldiers: Media report termed fabricated

Staff Reporter

The Army Headquarters yesterday at a press release termed false and fabricated some newspaper reports and editorial that the Army Chief during his India visit had stated that Bangladesh would show respect to the martyred Indian soldiers of 1971 on March 25 every year.

The ISPR release said, "As a matter of fact, during his India visit, the Army Chief didn't make any such statement formally or informally.

It said that at different meetings during the visit, apart from entourage of the Army Chief, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to India was present.

"During the meeting of the two Army Chiefs, the Bangladesh Army Chief recalled with respect India's cooperation and sacrifice during the Liberation War and expressed his gratitude," said the release.

Referring to the reports published by Indian English daily The Hindu on February 26 and Bangladesh Today on February 27 and Sadeq Khan's editorial published in daily Naya Diganta on March 7, the release said the Army Chief is well aware that there is no link of martyred Indian soldiers with March 25 and 26. Therefore, such commitment is completely absurd, it said.

There was no journalist present at the Army Chief's meetings and exchange of opinions during the visit. So there was no scope for collecting such information, it further noted.

This is fabricated and false information, which was published with a motive, said ISPR adding, "The Army Chief has never made such statement and the Army Chief is completely aware of his jurisdiction and terms of reference."

DCCI chief says: Economy has slowed down due to drive against corruption

Staff Reporter

"The economy of the country has slowed down due to the Anti Corruption drive against businessmen. We want a free and fair election to establish democracy to make the national economy vibrant," said Hossain Khaled, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at a press briefing on "Golden Jubilee Celebration" at its auditorium yesterday.

The DCCI was also seizing the opportunity to commemorate the 400th years of declaration of Dhaka as a capital city. A documentary on Dhaka's transition (gradual development of commercial Dhaka) was shown in the function. Cake-cutting ceremony and unveiling of Golden Jubilee pneumonic were the major segments of the celebration.

Khaled said Bangladesh business has now reached a crossroad and unless it re-invents itself it will not be able to reap the benefits of globalisation. For this purpose, we are now emphasising on branding business of Bangladesh. He sought for support from the business community to sensitise everyone on branding.

He said "we have developed six characteristics around which the business of Bangladesh must grow and we hope to have brand ambassadors in import sectors of our national economy who will carry our message."

He expressed hope to hold two International Economic Seminars in September and October of this year that would be participated by UK minister of Trade Digby Jones and other important persons including Nobel Laureates.

Former ambassador Daud Borhan, former president of DCCI AKM Kashem, MH Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman and Directors of DCCI, among others, were present in the function.

Fuel price rise: Govt refuses to heed ADB advice

Staff Reporter

The Government is learnt to have brushed aside the Asian Development Bank's advice for the increase of fuel prices immediately to avoid further price hike of essentials and sufferings of the people.

"We will not raise oil prices until the end of boro season in April," said Dr M Tamim, a Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, who is in charge of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

Boro is the major variety of rice in the country, which is suffering from 20 lakh (2 million) tonnes of foodgrains due to the damage caused by the Super Cyclone Sidr that had hit in November and two

consecutive floods from May to September last year.

In April 2007, the Government raised prices for diesel and kerosene by about 21 per cent, but the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it was not enough.

"Even after this price adjustment, the implicit subsidy for diesel and kerosene is estimated at US $1.2 billion or 1.6 per cent of GDP in the fiscal year of 2008," the Asian Development Bank said in a report published last week.

The domestic price of diesel and kerosene is at least 45 per cent lower than in international markets.

The government has said it needed to keep fuel prices much below international levels to bring down soaring inflation and protect the poor.

The ADB said, however, low domestic costs were benefiting the rich and suggested direct fuel subsidies to the poor as a better solution.

The ADB said in its latest quarterly report on Bangladesh's economy that the administered prices of petroleum products combined with rising world crude prices had already generated substantial fiscal costs to government.

"Underpricing of energy products poses considerable risk in macroeconomic management," the report argued justifying its suggestion for raising the fuel price.

The Government shouldered a liability to the tune of US $1.1 billion of the state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), the sole importer and distributor of oil, in the current fiscal 2007-2008 for smooth functioning of the company.

BPC will have to spend 35 per cent more on fuel imports than that of last year due to high world prices of the petroleum, official sources said.

Ruling out a fuel price hike immediately as per the ADB advice, Dr M Tamim said another fuel price hike would jeopardise Boro production, the economy and push the prices of the essentials upward further.

Niko graft case: Probe against Khaleda at final stage

UNB, Dhaka

Investigation into the Niko case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission against Khaleda Zia is at the final stage and the investigation officer is going to submit his report to the Commission soon.

But the investigation into Sheikh Hasina's Niko case is still at the stage of seizing files and documents, although the two cases against the two ex-premiers were filed by the Commission on the same day, according to concerned sources.

However, the sources said, the investigation into the case against Hasina began later than that of Khaleda's. The investigation against Khaleda began on December 13 while that into Hasina's case on December 26. The investigation officers (IOs) have 60 working days to submit their reports.

According to the sources, Sahidur Rahman, the investigation officer of the case against Khaleda, has almost completed his task and is going to submit the memo of evidence (investigation report) to the Commission soon.

At the final stage of his investigation, Khaleda, the prime accused, was questioned on Thursday at the makeshift jail. Prior to that, a number of people, including the two ex-ministers, were grilled in connection with the case along with seizure of documents and sport visits.

During the investigation, two more persons - businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun and ex-Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan - were shown arrested in the case. Law Ministry joint secretary Noren Das, who confessed to accepting a laptop computer from Niko in bribe, is likely to be one of the accused in the case.

It is expected that the investigating officer would submit his report recommending the submission of charge sheet against eight persons, including the five charged initially.

On the other hand, Shabbir Hasan, the IO of Hasina's Niko case, is now seizing files and documents relating to the case followed by recording the statements of the accused and witnesses.

The IO of Hasina's case, however, does have the advantage of having the files and documents seized by the IO of Khaleda's case. Following an application from Shabbir, the Commission on Feb 26 gave the go ahead to use the documents of Khaleda's case in the other case.

Separate cases were filed on December 9 with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia, Hasina and eight others accusing them of entering into deals with Niko that inflicted an enormous loss to the state.

ACC assistant director Mahbubul Alam filed the case against Khaleda, former ministers Barrister Moudud Ahmed, AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the illegal deal with Niko through corruption that inflicted a loss of Tk 10,000 crore to State.

ACC deputy director Shabbir Hasan filed another case against Hasina, former state minister for Power and Energy Rafiqul islam, former principal secretary Dr SA Samad, former Power and Energy secretary Dr Tawfiq E Elahi Chowdhury, former Petro Bangla chairman Dr Mosharraf Hossain and Kashem Sharif of Niko.

They were accused of signing the corrupt and illegal deal with Niko that inflicted a loss of Tk 13630.50 crore to the national exchequer.

Power plant graft case : Charge hearing against Hasina today

UNB, Dhaka

A special court, trying high-profile corruption suspects, is scheduled to hear today charges on the barge-mounted power plant graft case against detained ex-premier Sheikh Hasina and six others.

The charge hearing by the court was deferred five times in one month following time

petitions from both the defence and the prosecution lawyers.

The case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on September 2 last year with Tejgaon police station.

The complainant alleged that former PM Sheikh Hasina and six others through mutual understanding and using influence helped a foreign company and its local partners win a deal to set up a barge-mounted 100MW power plant in Khulna, depriving the lowest bidder.

According to the case statement, Awami League President Hasina received Tk 3 crore in kickback from the company who won the deal and the money was used for buying a house for the expansion of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.

Speedy Trial Act extended for two years

UNB, Dhaka

The Advisory Council of the caretaker government yesterday approved extension of the duration of the Speedy Trial Act for next two years by way of approving an amendment to the tough law meant for effectively dealing with serious crimes.

A meeting of the advisory council, with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair, approved the Home Ministry proposal for extending the term of the law through endorsing the Law and Order Disrupting Offences (Speedy Trial) (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.

The Speedy Trial Act 2002 was formulated to ensure quick trial of various serious offenses like extortion, creating obstruction to transport movement, damage to vehicles, destruction of movable and immovable property, snatching, creating the reign of terror and anarchic situation, and tender hooliganism.

The law was enforced on April 10, 2002 primarily for two years. Later in 2004, the duration was extended for another two years and in 2006 given another two-year extension.

Before its validity expires on April 9, 2008, the caretaker government further renewed the act as it still felt the need of such a law.

Imon, Ishaq on 8-day remand

UNB, Dhaka

Listed terrors Sanjedul Islam Imon and Ishaq Ali returned from India on Friday were given to 8-day police remand when produced before the court yesterday.

CID Inspector Shyamol Chowdhury producing them to the metropolitan judicial magistrate and prayed for the remand.

The terrors who had fled to India following crackdown on terrorism last year were held by Kolkata police and handed over to CID police at Benapole border in presence of the border security forces of the two countries.

Imon and Ishaq in their early 30s were wanted in about 15 criminal cases including murder and extortion. Imon hails from Dhanmondi and Ishaq from Sutrapur in the city.

India raises rice export prices

Internet

India has raised the minimum price for exporting non-basmati rice in an effort to discourage exports and control domestic food costs.

The rate has gone up from $500 a tonne to $650.

India imposed a total ban on non-basmati rice exports last October, but lifted it after protests by traders.

The cost of rice in India went up by about 10% last year due to shortages. India is the third largest rice exporter after Thailand and Vietnam.

Miladunnabi on March 21

UNB, Dhaka

The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi marking the birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) will be observed across the country with due religious fervour, festivity and solemnity on March 21 (Friday).

The National Moon-sighting Committee took the decision in a meeting at the Islamic Foundation as the moon of Rabiul Awal was not sighted yesterday and the month will begin from Monday. Chaired by Religious Affairs Secretary Muhammad Ataur Rahman, the meeting was attended, among others, by Islamic Foundation Director General M Fazlur Rahman, principal information officer Iftekhar Hossain and Meteorological Department deputy Director Shah Alam.

On this day, the 12th of Rabiul Awal of the Hijri calendar, Muhammad (SM) was born with divine blessings and messages of peace for humankind. He also passed away the same day.