The New Nation - Internet Edition

EC considering simultaneous holding of JS, upazila polls: Shamsul Huda at FBCCI election

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda
visiting FBCCI polling venue at Motijheel yesterday.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission is considering holding of national and upazila polls simultaneously, Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda told newsmen yesterday after inspecting the elections of the FBCCI governing body.

The EC, earlier, had planned local government polls ahead of national elections, but the decision ran into fierce opposition from most political parties, including the Awami League.

Meanwhile, Speaker Jamirdduin Sircar Sunday said that the caretaker government must prioritise national elections over the local government polls as he said a parliamentary election is its main job.

The election the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) began at 9:00 am Monday and continued till 4:30pm for the voters to elect 12 directors each from chamber and association groups. Out of 1,551 voters 1,441 have exercised their voting rights.

The rate of casting vote from association group is 91.90 per cent and 96.83 per cent from the chamber group.

Both the panel leaders have expressed their satisfaction over the holding of election in the free and fair environment.

"FBCCI is holding both chamber group and association group elections together here. We are also considering holding the national and upazila polls simultaneously. No decision has been taken on the issue though," said CEC ATM Shamsul Huda.

He said FBCCI is using transparent ballot boxes in the elections. "We'll collect sample boxes and test their suitability."

Meanwhile, 14 directors-seven members from chamber group and seven from association group- have been elected.

All 38 directors will elect the president, one senior vice president and one vice president on Wednesday.

Former BGMEA president Annisul Huq and former FBCCI director MA Rouf Chowdhury are contenders for the president post.

Prof Ali Ashraf, chairman of the election board, told newsmen that elections are being held at the FBCCI using transparent ballot boxes.

"The ballot boxes have been brought in from abroad as a test case, but such boxes can also be made locally," he said.

The CEC has expressed satisfaction over the FBCCI polls, Ashraf said. The national elections can also be held successfully if the Election Commission demonstrates "expected skills and sincerity", he added.

Local observers like FEMA and Democracy Watch have monitored the FBCCI election.

Executive Director of Democracy Watch Taleya Rehman expressed her satisfaction saying that the election was held in a fair manner.

Bangabandhu's birth anniversary observed

All female show: The supporters of the Awami League
and the members of the law-enforcing agency face off
yesterday in front of the Square Hospital where the party
chief Sheikh Hasina is interned. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Awami League and different socio cultural organisations yesterday observed the 88th birth anniversary of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a befitting manner.

The great leader of the country was born on the day in Tungipara under Gopalganj district in 1920.

On the occasion, Awami League has chalked out a two-day programme.

The programme started with hoisting of the national and party flags atop all party offices across the country at around 6am. The AL leaders and its front organisations also placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.

Leaders of AL, its front organisations and different socio-cultural organisations offered Surah Fateha at the Mazar of Sheikh Mujib in Tungipara and placed floral wreaths at about 12:30pm.

A Doa Mahfil was also held at Mazar complex mosque after Johr prayers. Presidium members of the AL Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Abdur Razzak, among others, were present.

The AL will hold a discussion meeting at the Engineers' Institution today with acting president of the party Zillur Rahman in the chair.

Meanwhile Progressive Democratic Party also held discussion meeting in observance of the birth anniversary of the great leader at its office yesterday afternoon.

World Bank MD urges govt: Recover stolen assets to benefit poor

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Staff Reporter

Urging the Government to recover the stolen assets, the visiting World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday suggested the Bangladesh administration to use those assets for improving the lot of the poor and cut subsidy, used for the rich, for unhindered economic growth of the country.

Citing the experiences of successes of her own country in this regard, Ngozi Iweala, who was the Finance Minister of Nigeria, said she was able to recover stolen assets to the tune of US$ 1.2 billion and used the money for the poor in Nigeria.

She said this while talking to journalists after a meeting with Finance Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam at the Finance Ministry. World Bank (WB) Vice-President for South Asia region Praful C Patel and its Country Director Xian Zhu accompanied her during the meeting.

The WB Managing Director (MD) assured Bangladesh of her bank's assistance to recover the stolen assets and effective use of those wealth.

She also offered the WB's support for investment in power and infrastructure sectors, taking a long-term plan to cope with climate change and facing the problem of increased food prices.

About her meeting with the Finance Adviser, Ngozi Iweala said they have discussed Bangladesh's good progress at around 6 per cent (GDP) in the last few years and said the country has the growth potentials at about 8 per cent per annum, depending on some reforms that would create more jobs.

She said they had discussions on high food and fuel oil prices in the domestic market as well as stressed the need for some substantial cut in subsidy in a "smarter way".

"We spoke about the subsidy cut from those who can afford the high prices. That's not easy but some way has to find out," she said.

The WB MD said the Government could look at those people, who have been suffering from the increased prices of food staffs and fuel oil. "For instance the farmers could be exempted from the subsidy cut," the recommended.

"Those who are at the bottom of the ladder, they should get the subsidy. We don't need to have to have general subsidy," she asserted, adding that they had talks about the need for more investment in power and infrastructure sectors, where the WB could provide necessary support.

Ngozi Iweala said, "Bangladesh also has a serious problem due to climate change where the country should have a long-term plan and the World Bank could provide necessary support."

Asked about the recovery of stolen assets, Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Aziz said the money recovered so far would not be too much and was deposited under the head of unexpected income while the money would be absorbed in the overall budget. It has not been decided yet how the money could be used later, he added.

He further said the WB suggested forming a small team, which would be dedicated to investigate the stolen assets cases. "We will consider the suggestion,." he promised.

On the WB support for climate change, the Finance Adviser said, "They (WB) expressed their interest to support Bangladesh, but the details would be sorted out later."

He could not provide the figure off-hand when asked as to how much amount of subsidy the Government has so far spent for post-floods and cyclone's damage recovery, including that of the agricultural subsidy.

He. However, hastened to add saying, "The spending for this purpose has already doubled than that of the budgetary estimate.

Dr Mirza Aziz said the poor are getting the subsidy, while there is a built-in mechanism so that the subsidy goes to the poorer sections of the society.

Pak Parliament meets, MPs sworn-in: This is the last day of dictatorship: Zardari

Asif Ali Zardari

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan's new parliament met for the first time on Monday, with opponents of US-backed President Pervez Musharraf vowing to end his "dictatorship" after beating his allies in elections.

Slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's party will head a hostile coalition government after winning the most seats in the February 18 vote, with the grouping of former premier Nawaz Sharif as its junior partner.

Nine years after ousting Sharif in a military coup, Musharraf now faces a fight for his political survival as well as public anger over rising Islamist bloodshed and a host of economic problems.

"This is the last day of dictatorship," Bhutto's widower and de facto Pakistan People's Party chief Asif Ali Zardari told reporters after meeting Sharif in the heavily-guarded parliament building.

"This is our first step. We have conveyed a message to the world community to support democracy, which defeats dictatorship," Zardari said. Sharif said the coalition's strategy was "very clear-our agenda is democracy versus dictatorship. It has to end, it has to be defeated."

Security was tight for Monday's inauguration, following a bombing targeting foreigners at an Islamabad restaurant on Saturday that left a Turkish woman dead and several western diplomats hurt.

The session began with a recitation from the Koran, the Muslim holy book, after which members of the 342-seat national assembly were sworn in, AFP reporters said.

Mourning prayers were also held for Bhutto, assassinated in a suicide attack at an election rally on December 27.

The biggest threat facing Musharraf from the Bhutto and Sharif parties is their pledge to pass legislation within 30 days to restore some 60 judges whom Musharraf sacked in November under a state of emergency.

Musharraf deposed his arch-foe, chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and the other judges to ward off legal challenges to his re-election as president by the outgoing loyalist parliament in October.

If the judges are restored, the Supreme Court could overturn Musharraf's re- election.

Ahsan Iqbal, spokesman for Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party, told parliament the election win showed the "people of Pakistan have rejected the step taken on October 12, 1999"-referring to the coup that brought Musharraf to power.

Neither Zardari nor Sharif actually has seats in the assembly, and both had to watch the ceremony from the gallery, seated side-by-side.

An announcement on the country's new prime minister is expected later this week. Zardari is slated to take the post but will need to contest a by-election to become eligible.

The parliament is meeting with Musharraf's popularity at an all-time low, and with his power already weakened by his resignation as army chief in November. His successor has vowed to keep the army out of politics.

Nylon net, polythene bags equally harmful

Nynol net

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Nylon net shopping bags - given by shopkeepers all over the country to customers for carrying purchased goods considering them an alternative to hazardous and banned polyethylene bags - are in fact equally harmful to the environment, said environmentalists.

Consumers are also using plastic or paper bags made out of fertiliser or cement bags - being unaware of the toxic residue left inside, which is hazardous to public health and the environment alike.

Out of all the hazardous bags, the polyethylene bags are wreaking havoc on the nature with its escalating use.

At Karwan Bazar market, one kilogram of nylon net shopping bag sells at Tk 120, while a single bag costs Tk 2. Without revealing his name, one of the manufacturers and a wholesaler said, "The government said polyethylene is bad. So we moved on to sell other items. How are we supposed to know whether nylon is bad or not? We are just trying to make a living here."

Dr Tariq Bin Yousuf of Waste Management Division of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) said, "These nylon net bags that widely replaced polyethylene shopping bags all around the country are also non-biodegradable like polyethylene and can cause harm to the environment."

"Taking longer time to decompose means it might have a negative chemical reaction in the soil, changing its nature, disrupting growth of the vegetation and habitat of micro-organism and other

"If materials like these are recycled, it will cause less harm. However, it is hard to tell at this point whether these bags are being reused since no study has been conducted on the issue," he added.

"Non-biodegradable materials such as polyethylene or plastic also disrupt the process of groundwater recharge with rainwater. Rain water usually recharge the groundwater, but if there's too much biodegradable material in the soil, the water cannot seep through the surface," said another environmentalist.

As DCC is able to collect and dispose of nearly 60 per cent of the total solid wastes from Dhaka city, the remainder of the wastes, along with a considerable quantity of harmful plastic objects and polyethylene or nylon net bags, eventually end up in the sewer system and water-bodies in and around the city.

On January 1, 2002, the government imposed a ban on the production, marketing and use of polyethylene bags (bellow 100 micron) in Dhaka city, followed by a nationwide ban on April 8 the same year.

The decision was taken after hazardous and non-biodegradable polyethylene materials severely collapsed the public sanitation system.

The alarmingly increased use of the environmentally hazardous net bags will have the same impact on the environment, said experts.

"It is not possible for the law to specifically mention the names of every single hazardous item there is. The law provides a general idea about harmful elements," said a lawyer of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).

"The Environment Conservation Act 1997 specially puts emphasis on polyethylene and banned its use because of the extremely negative impact it had on the environment," he added.

Polyethylene is back in full swing - in fact, its use had never stopped because the government failed to provide an environment-friendly alternative to it and because of poor law enforcement. People would use whatever available to them such as the nylon net bags.

He stressed on the importance of having a proper waste management regulation, which the country lacks.

Raquibul Amin, environmentalist of World Conservation Union (IUCN), said, "We need a regulation that will give direction about safe waste disposal, collection and its reuse so that harmful elements like polyethylene or nylon net bags do not end up in the water body."

Besides, littering is not a crime in Bangladesh and anyone can toss anything on the street. Therefore, public awareness is also very important, he said.

Pre-budget discussion: Call to raise income tax exemption limit

UNB, Dhaka

Economists yesterday recommended the government to raise income tax exemption limit, strengthen social protection in the new budget and take more diplomatic initiatives to ensure rice import to contain its spiraling prices.

At a pre-budget meeting with Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam at his ministry, they also suggested revisiting the subsidy as they think an unsustainable subsidy regime has emerged now.

The other recommendations included expediting ADP implementation, making ADP more realistic, giving more emphasis on agriculture and SME investments, increasing allocation for improving nutrition and setting regional targets to remove disparities. "We'll try to implement the recommendations practicably," Dr Aziz told reporters after the meeting.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Finance Secretary Dr Mohammed Tareq, senior officials, former finance advisers, finance secretaries, economists and academics took part in the pre-budget discussion.

"The government should boldly face it (subsidy regime)… you (government) will have to look at the present regime, which is just too excess," Dr Aziz quoted economists to have told the meeting.

He said the international price of petroleum oil was US$ 62 per barrel when the domestic price of fuel oil was last adjusted, but the international price has now soared as high as US$ 110 per barrel. Similarly, the price of fertilizer has marked a lot of increase by now.

"Agriculture is one of our top priority sectors. We'll not do anything that could affect the sector," the Finance Adviser said, replying to a question whether revisiting subsidy could further enhance the food prices.

He added that a bit increase in fertilizer prices is unlikely to create a major problem as the price of cereals also increased to a great extent, making a high-profit margin for the producers.

The Adviser said the economists suggested increasing the income tax exemption limit from Tk 1,50,000 to Tk 2,00,000 in the next budget considering the problem being faced by the fixed income group people due to the price situation.

"You cannot do a lot in containing prices due to the international prices," he was quoted to have been told by the economists.

About Annual Development Programme (ADP), he said the economists noted that the ADP implementation has been historically much lower than the respective estimates and suggested giving proper attention to the implementation.

They suggested making a realistic ADP so it could be implemented, he added.

Replying to a question, the Adviser said he has no plan at this stage to invite political leaders to the pre-budget discussions, which he started from the port city of Chittagong on Saturday. "It'll not be appropriate for me to invite them before the political dialogue at the high levels."

In a supplementary, he said the next elected government would have two options-they will have a parliament to give a new budget and would have an opportunity to revise it, if necessary, under the proposed Fiscal Responsibility Act.

He said the Council of Advisers has already approved the proposed Act, which is awaiting promulgation as ordinance.

Dhaka-Berlin business picking up: German Envoy

UNB, Dhaka

After a slowdown in two-way trade between Bangladesh and Germany last year, the volume of export and import between the two countries has marked an increase since the end of December-January as buyers started getting back confidence.

"I think some kind of confidence has started returning among German buyers and companies, and the business is picking up," German Deputy head of Mission Holger Fraider told a group of reporters at a local hotel yesterday.

In reply to a question, Fraider said because of unrest in the garment sector here, some buyers have shifted their orders from here to other countries. "The situation has now started improving with export increasing," he said.

Contd on page 2 Col-3

The bilateral trade developed well from 2002 to 2006 registering 88% increase in just 4 years. In 2006, the bilateral trade increased by 29%. Bangladesh exports to Germany increased by 33 % and imports from Germany increased by 18 %.

However, in 2007 the bilateral trade has declined. The two-way trade amounted to 1.71 bil Euro compared to 1.88 bil Euro of 2006, showing a decrease of about 8.8%.

Bangladesh export to Germany in 2007 amounted to 1.50 bil Euro, showing a decrease of 4.8% and Bangladesh import from Germany amounted to 215 mil Euro, showing a decrease of more than 29% during the above period.

Boris Alex, a correspondent for German Office for Foreign Trade who is in the city to explore business and investment potentials here and exchange views with chamber leaders said German companies will be interested to put their money in textile, infrastructure, energy and other sectors.

Alex, however, stressed the need for political stability and continuity to attract overseas investments to Bangladesh.

He said German companies might be waiting to see political developments in the next few months and the election schedule to establish an elected government in the country.

Alex noted that any investor looks at the long-term policy of a government, stability and continuity before making any investment.

In reply to a question, Alex said he would report his observation on

business and investment prospects in Bangladesh to the German Foreign office.

To another question, he said cheap labour is not always a point to attract foreign investment. It is important for labour intensive industries but skilled manpower is vital for high-tech modern industries. He thinks Bangladesh needs to strengthen its education system to produce high skilled manpower for IT and other sectors.

Alex said Germany companies might come up in a big way in the next two years if political stability and continuity of policy persist.

Germany continues to be the biggest market for Bangladesh goods in Europe and the second biggest export market for Bangladesh worldwide.

Among German goods sold in Bangladesh, the largest single product group is machineries for textile, leather and other industries amounting to one third of German exports to Bangladesh in 2007.

Telecommunications equipment amount to 12 % followed by electronic equipment with 11 %. The chemical product accounts for 7% and medical equipment for 5%. The remaining part is spread over a large number of product groups.

Regarding import from Bangladesh, 96% of Bangladesh exports to Germany consisted of RMG articles, seafood only achieved 1.5 % and jute and jute products less than 1 %.

Credible polls motto of this govt: CA

UNB, London

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has said the main motto of his administration is to hold free and acceptable parliamentary polls by the set deadline as no one wants to return to the nightmarish days before January 11 2007.

"More than half of the voter list has been prepared, election rules and regulations are at the final stage and we're going to have a free, fair and credible election," he told a meeting with representatives of the Bangladeshi community at Baden Powell Assembly Hall here Sunday evening.

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Dr Ahmed, now in London on a 3-day official visit after attending the 11th summit of the OIC at Dakar, said his government is working hard to establish sustainable democracy, fundamental rights of the people and coexistence of all religious faiths through various reforms.

He said the expatriate Bangladeshis will be enlisted as voters and assured that his administration will remove any complicacy over having the double citizenship.

On the controversy over the National Women Development Policy, the Chief Adviser said his government has no intention to frame any law that will go against holy Quran and Sunnah.

About holding trial of the 1971 war criminals, he said although he wants the trail of the war criminals but no government in the past had done it. Because of time constraint, he said, it will not be possible for the incumbent government to initiate the process as too many things still need to be done.

On the soaring prices of essentials, the Chief Adviser admitted that the low income group people have been hit hard by the price-hike caused by record high prices of petroleum and food on the international market.

He said there is no alternative to boosting agriculture production to face the situation. Realizing the fact, he said the government has focused on smooth supply of fertilizer and uninterrupted irrigation to enhance the food production.

As the Chief Adviser arrived here, BNP London chapter organized protests outside the Baden Powell Assembly Hall and Awami Juba League outside Dorchester Hotel, where he is staying, demanding release of Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

Dr Ahmed said his government is to bring to justice those who are accused of corruption. He said a strategy paper is being prepared to stop massive corruption in the future.

Bangladesh High Commission to London Shafi U Ahmed made welcome remarks at the meeting. Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury was present.

The Chief Adviser praised the contributions of the expatriate Bangladeshi community to socioeconomic and political development in the UK as well as to Bangladesh economy through their remittances.

He said the country eared a record amount of $ 700 million in remittance in January this year while a record number of Bangladeshi workers left for overseas job last year.

Dr Ahmed said the government is trying to implement the recommendations made at the first NRB conference in Dhaka to ensure the Non-Resident Bangladeshis' participation in the economic development of Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser hoped that the existing excellent relations between Bangladesh and Britain will be further flourished with the pro-active role to be played by the Bangladeshi community in Britain.

During his 45-minute engagement with the Bangladeshi community leaders, the Chief Adviser gave a resume of reforms so far done in administrative, financial and judicial sectors.

He said a Local Government Commission will be set up to see how to expand the financial authority and decentralise power through the local government bodies, which are important for strengthening the base of democracy.

The Chief Adviser also said a Judicial Commission is going to be set up to appoint efficient judges to the High Court with the approval of the President to ensure justice for the people.

Dr Ahmed also mentioned the separation of the judiciary from the executive, reconstitution of the Public Service Commission, University Grants Commission and forming Regulatory Reforms Commission, Rights to Information Act and Consumers Right Act which are also designed to make the government accountable and transparent for sustainable democracy and betterment of the people.

JS polls will be held in time: Says Kemal Dervis: Holding local election earlier no harm

UNB, Dhaka

UNDP administrator Kemal Dervis yesterday said he is fully confident that the stalled national election in Bangladesh would be held in time - by the end of this year.

"I've full confidence and expectation that the election will be held by the end of this year. Everything I heard in my meetings (with concerned policymakers) that the election will be held in time. There will be a good and fair election," he told a questioner in a press briefing at the VIP lounge of the Zia International Airport prior to his departure.

The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) chief said everybody would have to make sure that this election brings the country together.

Asked whether the holding of local elections earlier will jeopardise the national election, he said there is no reason for as there are many countries that hold local elections ahead of general election.

Dervis said Bangladesh stands at an important juncture in its history and it is determined to build stronger democratic institutions and deeper practices of democracy.

At the same time, he said, Bangladesh is facing important challenges such as rebuilding works after devastating floods and cyclone Sidr, and responding to global price shocks.

About voter registration, the UNDP boss said the electoral registration is part of a larger agenda of transitioning back to democracy. "The caretaker government is carrying out governance reforms on many fronts like anti-corruption drive, judicial reform, public administration reform, law enforcement reform and regulatory reform.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress of election preparations, he said 47 out of possible 80 million voters have already been registered, which is a good progress.

Dervis said the task of voter registration might be completed by July this year.

"These are all important steps towards creating checks and balances and necessary to make government more transparent and more responsive to the needs of average citizens," he said adding that 'winner-takes-all' system often exclude large portions of legitimate participants in democratic process that can lead to unsustainable tensions.

Dervis said a peaceful, successful and democratic Bangladesh is not only important for Bangladeshis but also for the whole world.

About the economy, he said for an export-oriented economy like Bangladesh, what happens to the world economy is vitally important. "The world economy is at a crossroad. It's too early to tell whether the upheavals over the last few months signal a recession or a merely a slowing down. What's clear, however, is that the world market will provide both opportunities and new challenges for Bangladesh."

Dervis said, "This is an extraordinary important chapter in history of Bangladesh. The country is facing important decisions on how to further growth in a difficult global economic environment and how to make sure that democracy deepens and endures.

Replying to a question, he said a healthy political system is needed for foreign and local investments. "We can't separate political progress from economic progress. There is no doubt there will be more economic progress if there is confidence in political system."

To a query about lifting state of emergency that is in place since January 11, 2007, Dervis said he did not have any specific discussion on that issue.

He also called for protecting human rights of those detained on corruption charges saying that no one is guilty until his or her offence is proven.

Make bread not war, Egypt President tells army

AFP, Cairo

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has mobilised the army's ovens to deal with the country's massive bread shortages amid rising social unrest, official media reported on Monday.

Mubarak has told the army and the interior ministry, which control bakeries usually used to make bread for the troops, to increase their production in order to "put an end to the bread crisis," Al-Ahram daily said.

Egypt is in the grip of a serious bread crisis brought on by a combination of the rising cost of wheat on world markets and sky-rocketing inflation.

Four people have been killed in fights that broke out in bread queues in recent weeks, a security official told AFP.

Mubarak said that the phenomenon of bread queues "must disappear."

While most bread in Egypt is subsidised, the price of non-subsidised bread has risen by more than 26 percent over the last year.

"Where's the problem?" the official MENA news agency quoted Mubarak as asking. "If it's the production, then it should be increased. If it's the distribution, then new distribution points should be opened."

Twenty percent of Egypt's population of 78 million lives under the poverty line of two dollars a day, with another 20 percent hovering just above. Around four percent of Egyptians live in extreme poverty, the World Bank said.

At least 70 people were killed when bread riots erupted in 1977 after the government tried to reduce subsidies on the staple, of which Egyptians are the world's biggest consumers.

DUTA polls Mar 27: Nomination papers submitted

DU Correspondent

The teachers who were selected by their respective groups for contesting different posts in the election of Dhaka University Teachers` Association (DUTA) submitted nomination papers yesterday.

The teachers divided into two groups--BNP-Jamaat backed White Panel and Awami League and Left leaning backed Blue Panel- will field candidates in the election against 15 posts.

As the election commissioner, Prof Dalim Chandra Barman will conduct the election that will be held on March 27.

Current DUTA president Prof Sadrul Amin, Dean of the Arts Faculty will vie for President post from White Panel, while current secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Dean of Bio-science Faculty for the same post from the Blue Panel.

Prof Sirajul Islam, Dean of the Commerce faculty will contest against Prof Mohammad Samad, convener of Blue Panel, for Secretary post.

Prof Lailanur Islam and Prof Akhteruzzaman, former secretary of the organisation will compete against the Vice President post.

Prof ABM Obaidul Islam and Prof Ashrafuddin will vie for treasurer post while Dr Abul Hasnat and Dr Kamal Uddin will compete for joint secretary from White and Blue Panel respectively.

Besides, the candidates for member posts from White Panel, are Prof Tazmery SA Islam, current Vice President, Prof Shahjahan Mia, Prof Razia Banu Akhter, Prof Abdul Hakim, Prof Shamsuddin Ahmed, Prof ABM Mahbubuddin Chowdhury, Prof Mamun Ahmed, Prof Tahmina Akhter Trophi, Dr Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Prof Lutfur Rahman.

Member candidates from blue panel are Prof AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, Prof Harun-or-Rashid, Prof Abul Barkat, Prof Muhibur Rahman, Prof Badrul Islam, Prof Zaheda Ahmed, Prof Nim Chandra Bhaumik, Prof SM Enamul Haque, Dr Zinat Huda and Makbul Hossain.

Sources said the candidates of the election are trying to draw attention of the voters showing their various activities that had been done in the past for the welfare of the teachers and students of the university.

There are 1,512 teachers will give vote in the election as voters.

Supreme Judicial Commission Ordinance: Modalities to appoint SC, HC judges worked out

UNB, Dhaka

The President has promulgated an ordinance providing for Supreme Judicial Commission that will recommend to the President efficient candidates for appointment of Additional Judges of the High Court and judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

The ordinance notified in the gazette on March 16 provides for a nine-member Supreme Judicial Commission with the Chief Justice as its chairman.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, two senior most judges of the Appellate Division, Attorney General, an MP to be nominated by parliament, an MP to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association will be members of the Commission. The Law Secretary will act as its member-secretary.

The Commission will recommend two names to the President for appointment as Additional Judges to vacancies in the High Court. It will recommend three to five names among the High Court judges for elevation to the Appellate Division.

During the selection procession of Additional Judges, the Commission is to examine the academic qualification, professional aptitude, goodwill and honesty of the candidates.

For the post of the Appellate Division, the Commission is examine the competence of the judges in dispensation of justice, honesty and goodwill.

3 Indian Navy ships visit Ctg port

Three Indian Naval Ships, INS Ranjit, INS Khanjar and INS Vinash have arrived at Chittagong Port on 17 March 2008, on a three-day goodwill visit. The visit of the Naval Ships is part of ongoing defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh.

2. Among the ships, INS Ranjit is a sophisticated Guided Missile Destroyer, which had visited Chittagong Port in 2005 also. INS Khanjar and INS Vinash are indigenously-built Missile Corvettes of the Indian Navy. The 3 ships are part of the Eastern Fleet of Indian Navy, which had also participated in Bangladesh's Liberation War and played a critical role in ensuring early termination of hostilities through blockade of ports.

3. The naval contingent is being commanded by Flag Officer Commanding-in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan AVSM, VSM. He and other senior officers of the Indian Navy would be calling on the senior Bangladeshi Navy, Army and Air force authorities in Chittagong, to exchange views. Indian Naval personnel on the ships also plan to offer community service at BAWA Children Home, Nandan Kanan on 18 March and set up a medical and blood donation camp on 19 March, in coordination with Bangladesh Navy.