The New Nation - Internet Edition

37-storey City Centre sinking

The City Centre¾ a 37-storey under-construction
building at Motijheel area developed cracks on Saturday. NN
photo

Mamunur Rashid

The under construction 37-storey City Centre, the tallest skyscraper in the city's commercial hub Motijheel, developed cracks forcing several banks and companies to vacate their offices yesterday.

A number of cracks were found on the walls of the ground floor of the City Centre building, housing offices of important banks and companies including Standard Chartered and HSBC banks and Grameen Phone.

Standard Chartered Bank officials were the first to detect the cracks on the building, when they were engaged in interior designing of their office and informed the authority of the matter.

Part of the building's western side has sunk causing the brickwork to cave in, while the front of the building has developed cracks. The building has begun sinking well before completion, said witnesses.

Mayor of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Sadek Hossain Khoka, visited the site yesterday evening and said that the building was being 'examined.'

Khoka also said the DCC had informed the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the Army Engineering Corps of the matter.

"The cracks, which were found yesterday, were the cracks on the false walls. The main structure of the building remains safe. The Engineering Corps of the Army will visit and examine the building today. Experts from BUET will also examine it," said the DCC Mayor.

The brick wall of the first two storeys was badly affected, but the building on the whole was not damaged, he added.

On how the situation would affect people who had their offices in nearby buildings, Khoka said, "We are giving more importance to security of life and property than to the building itself. Everything is being done to ensure security."

However, he refused to term the building 'risky' ahead of any expert opinion.

The Centre was designed to comprise 37 floors of office space, a convention centre, a business lounge, gymnasium, food court, recreational areas and a large car park.

The Orion Group is developing the site, which is also a partner of Belhasa-Accom that constructed the 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

Belhasa-Accom, the third lowest bidder, was awarded the work order for the construction of this building, after disqualifying the first and second lowest bidders on grounds of design flaws, sources said.

KM Nurul Islam, Project Director of the city centre, said 20 storeys have already been completed of the Tk 100 crore project. The DCC owns the entire space from the basement to the 10th floor and the remaining space by the construction company. All office spaces in the building have been sold in advance.

The Chief Engineer of the DCC Col Asfaqur Islam said earthquakes might have caused the cracks on the building.

The DMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmad visited the cracked building and said, "Security in and around the building has been beefed up to make sure no life is lost and the law and order maintained."

At a press briefing at Hotel Purbani yesterday evening, officials of the construction company assured that the main structure remains safe despite the cracks on the false wall.

This assurance has done little to assuage the fear that has gripped the occupants of the offices on the three sides of the City Centre, the Uttara Bank Head Office, Janata Bank Tower, Karim Chamber, the BCIC and National Life Insurance buildings.

No food deficit, bumper boro harvest expected: Indian export price hike won’t affect us, says Food Sec; 5 kg rice per person under OMS

Staff Reporter

Though India has suddenly raised the minimum price for non-basmati rice exports by $350 per tonne, the government yesterday ruled out any possibility of food shortage in the country.

"The government has enough stock of rice to meet the demands of the next three months," said Food and Disaster Management Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman yesterday.

Addressing a press conference at the Food Ministry conference room, the Food Secretary asserted that there is no shortage in supply of rice from the government's godowns although the prices of coarse rice have increased in the market.

"At present the government has a stock of 3.22 lakh metric tones of rice and 1.58 lakh metric tonne of wheat. With this adequate stock, we'll be able to meet our food requirements for the next three months till the Boro harvest," he said.

He also said the government has already decided to sell five kilograms of rice per person under the OMS (open market sale) in place of the previous three kilograms.

Regarding the food price hike in international market, the Food Secretary said,"We won't be benefitted by thinking what other countries have done." However, he admitted that Bangladesh had not to face such a food shortage situation during the last three decades.

When his attention was drawn to the sudden price hike of non-basmati rice by $350 per tonne by the Indian government on Thursday, apparently in a bid to discourage exports, Mollah Wahiduzzaman said that the move would have no impact on stock of food in Bangladesh at all.

He said: "It may be a tactic of India to discourage rice exports. But, it will have no impact on our import of rice from India."

The Food Secretary further said that the Indian government had mainly re-fixed the export price of fine rice. "But, we are importing coarse rice. Moreover, we are expecting bumper boro harvest within two to three months. We have enough stock to meet the requirements of rice up to the Boro harvest," he said.

According to the officials at the Food Ministry, Boro production is expected to break all previous records this year.

They said Boro rice has been cultivated in all 64 districts for first time.

The agriculture officials also expect that the boro production is likely to hit an all-time high this time if the risk factors do not take their toll on it.

They said, boro paddy was cultivated in all the 64 districts of the country for the first time. "This is a good sign and we're expecting a bumper output this time around," a senior official of the Department of Agricultural Extension said yesterday.

"We've set the production target at 1.75 crore metric tons from 45 lakh hectares of land brought under boro cultivation across the country this year. There is every possibility that the output will exceed the target if things go well," he said referring to some risk factors," the official further said.

In a notification on Thursday the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, an arm of the Commerce Ministry of India, asked their rice exporters to export rice at newly fixed price.

Local importers expressed the apprehension that fresh problems might arise to import rice from India due to this latest step.

On the other hand, contract was signed with the India government for importing one, out of five lakh metric tonnes of rice, through the official channels and that one lakh tonne of rice has already started to coming to Bangladesh. But, the price of the rest four lakh metric tones is yet to be decided.

However, Indian High Comissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty yesterday said the Indian government would provide Bangladesh with four lakh tones of rice as part of the agreement for five lakh tones.

"One lakh tonne of rice has already reached Bangladesh and an Indian delegation recently visited Bangladesh to settle the issue," he said while speaking at a discussion as the chief guest at the National Museum auditorium in the city marking the 37th anniversary of the Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh-India Friendship Society organised the discussion.

Sources concerned said that India, the third largest rice exporter in the world, has taken such a decision to maintain its sufficient food stock. In fact, India has been trying to impose minimum ceiling on rice export to control overseas sales of rice. Earlier, the Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade fixed the export prices of non-basmati rice at $650 per tonne.

Dr Wazed meets Hasina at Square Hospital: AL announces action plan

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman
presiding over the party's central working committee meeting
at its Dhanmondi office on Saturday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

The Awami League yesterday decided to stage a daylong countrywide mass hunger strike before April 20 with a view to force the Caretaker Government to release former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) at its President's office at Dhanamondi Residential Area with its Acting Chief Zillur Rahman in the chair.

Charting out a five-point demand, including the announcement of election schedules, bringing down the price of essentials, especially foodstuff and edible oil and the withdrawal of state of emergency immediately. The ALCWC approved Dhaka City Committee and Jubo Mohila League programmes of a mass signature campaign for the release of the party president Sheikh Hasina and directed all district units to take up similar programmes.

The AL leaders underscored the need for keeping the party united at any cost.

Meanwhile, her scientist husband Dr Wazed Mia, who earlier applied to the Chief Adviser for releasing her on parole for treatment abroad, met Sheikh Hasina yesterday at Square Hospital, as her health recently deteriorated.

The AL central leaders, including the ALCWC members and leading former MPs, held the meeting amid deployment of heavy contingent of police in front of the venue, situated on Road No 3/A and its adjoining areas. It was the first session of the ALCWC to discuss an agitation programme for the release of the party supremo after the January 11 (2007) changeover.

The deployment of over one platoon of police personnel, a large number of AL activists and supporters in the area created panic among the local residents.

When asked, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Dhanmondi Police Station said it was a 'normal' deployment to avert any untoward incident. "Police are usually deployed when a political party holds a programme," he added.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, acting AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam announced the mass hunger strike saying that the planned hunger strike is the beginning of their future 'constructive movement' for unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina and other party leaders.

"We earlier sent an application to the Chief Adviser with a request to release Sheikh Hasina for her proper treatment in the USA. But, the government didn't pay heed to our demandtNow we strongly demand her unconditional release," Ashraful said.

The meeting criticised the caretaker government for failing to handle the spiralling price-hike of daily essentials and observed that mismanagement, indifference and indecision of the government was responsible for the soaring price, which was pushing the country towards famine-like situation.

"Control the prices of essentials. Otherwise, people will lose their patience leading to an awkward situation and it would not be good for the nation," Ashraf warned.

AL called for immediate holding of the proposed dialogue between the government and the political parties ahead of parliamentary election, but cautioned that if the war criminals were invited to the dialogue, the party would boycott it.

"We want bilateral dialogue like that of the Election Commission and we hope the government will refrain from any move that might hamper the dialogue process and it would not bring any good to the nation," Ashraful said.

The meeting asked the caretaker government to withdraw the 14-month-old state of emergency and lift the ban on political activities across the country to create congenial atmosphere for holding the elections.

The meeting decided to exchange views with divisional level leaders of the party to know their opinions about the elections and the movement. Such exchanges will be completed by mid-April.

"The only task of the caretaker government is to hold general elections and hand over power to an elected government and for this the government should announce election schedule immediately, as people are doubtful about holding of the election in due time," Ashraful said.

He said an elected government can solve people's misery and handing over power to an elected government is the only solution to overcome the present impasse.

Meeting sources said the AL would continue a series of 'constructive agitations' in a bid to make the common people aware that they would ultimately intensify the movement to realise their demands.

At the ALCWC meeting, some leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the activities of its student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL). They suggested reorganisation of the BCL to make it more effective.

India raises rice export price to $1000 per ton

BBC Online

India has raised the minimum price at which it exports non-basmati rice in a renewed effort to discourage exports and control domestic food costs.

This is the second time in a month that India has raised its minimum price for exporting rice. The price has gone up from $650 to $1,000 per tonne for non-basmati rice.

India is the second-largest rice producer in the world. It usually exports more than four million tonnes of rice a year.

The government imposed a total ban on non-basmati rice exports last October but lifted it following protests from exporters. Traders were hoping to increase their exports by more than 30% this year - mainly to meet increased demands from east Asia and the Middle East. But the latest government measures mean they may not achieve their targets.

"The price hike by the Indian government will affect our sales in the Middle East," Sheikh Dawood, a rice trader in Dubai, told the BBC Tamil service.

"We can't afford that price in the long run. If this trend continues, many South Asian immigrants in the region will be affected."

The government announcement coincides with reports that India's inflation is rising to a 13-month high.

Indian traders say rice prices went up by about 10% last year because of shortages in the domestic market.

In an attempt to bolster its stocks, India last week abolished import duties on rice as well.

India ended its reliance on food imports in the 1970s, largely to the government's so-called Green Revolution.

But two years ago, it imported wheat for the first time in six years following a significant drop in its stockpiles.

The government wants to avoid a similar situation for its rice stocks.

The problem is an international one, as global rice stocks have reached a 25-year low.

India's neighbour Bangladesh desperately needs rice imports after last year's cyclone wiped out nearly all of its rice harvest.

The head of the International Rice Research Institute, Robert Zeigler, recently warned that countries like Bangladesh face a real threat of social unrest because of shortages of rice.

India wants to avoid a similar situation and is taking precautionary measures to bolster its domestic stocks in the coming months.

But experts warn that these measures are temporary and that fast growing economies like India need to look beyond the current crisis.

They say the government should first stop converting farm land for industrial and housing purposes and invest more in irrigation and agricultural research.

The experts say growth in the farm sector is vital as more than 60% of the people in the region are still dependent on agriculture.

Formation of NSC urged

Staff Reporter

Leaders of political parties, representatives of professional groups and military officials at a roundtable yesterday extended their support to forming the National Security Council (NSC) comprising military and civilians to deal with internal and external security issues.

Addressing the meeting on National Security Council at Hotel Sheraton in the city, they observed that formation of such a platform would help cement the relationship of government, military and civilians and pave the way to identify and solve national issues.

The speakers suggested formation of a core group body headed by the President and comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, three Chiefs of Staff and other important stakeholders.

They stressed the need for determining the structures and objectives of the proposed body by involving political parties in the process and giving legal mandate to the NSC.

The meeting, organised by newly floated Bangladesh Institute of Leadership and Security Studies (BILSS), was chaired jointly by former Adviser to the Caretaker Government Mahbubul Alam and former minister Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley. Prof Dr Ataur Rahman, President of BILSS, presented keynote paper and acted as the moderator. Ataur Rahman said formation of the NSC is necessary to ensure internal security, including food and energy, and to protect national security.

"We do not want to see the recurrence of 1/11 changeover by the military," he said adding, contribution of military can be institutionalised and democracy can be restored through formation of the NSC comprising co-ordinated leadership. He said formation of such a body is not contrary to the Constitution.

In his keynote paper, Ataur Rahman said geo-strategic location, stage of economic development, unique demographic profile of the country pose multifaceted security challenges including political violence, destabilisation, religious extremism, cross-border crimes, arms trafficking and drugs, what he termed more dangerous than inter-state conflicts.

He said the NSC should ideally be a part of the Constitution with a new Article inserted or can be enacted as an Ordinance now-to be incorporated later in the Constitution.

He said, "The NSC should be located with the President to create an appropriate check and balance with the Prime Minister's power."

The BILSS President suggested that there is considerable variation in the number of NSC members from 7 to 13 usually with an effective Secretariat and back up policy and research support groups.

Former minister and BNP leader M Osman Faruk said such a civilian military platform would be able to participate in policy making.

He underlined the need for deciding the goals of NSC first, then to take measures to give it a constitutional shape.

The BNP leader suggested formation of the NSC with small core structure with the provision to consult with more people.

Referring to the 1/11 changeover he said political leaders are not only responsible for the incident since military had interfered in the past, also.

Former minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf said, the country needs a NSC maintaining the supremacy of Parliament.

He said there should be a properly balanced platform comprising government, military and civilians to deal with security issues.

Jatiya Party leader GM Kader said it would be better to form such a body with the minimum number of members.

Authority and jurisdiction of the proposed NSC has to be determined. There should be accountability of the body, he said.

BJP leader Dr MA Matin said formation of a NSC is logical since the experiences of previous four Parliaments are not so comfortable.

He said the design of the proposed NSC has to be determined in view of the socio-economic political conditions of the country.

JSD President ASM Abdur Rab said there is no alternative of formation of National Security Council involving the Armed Forces.

Formation of BAKSAL, proclamation of state of emergency and emergence of 1/11 change over would not have happened, if there was a participatory rule involving army and other professionals, he observed.

Former minister and PDP leader Abul Hasan Chowdhury said that military and civilian relation is very unique in the country.

"The military helped the civil administration during all national calamities and in the war of liberation," he mentioned.

Brig Gen (Retd) Mainul Hossain said the title of the proposed body could be National Security and Development Council.

Lt Gen Abu Tayeb Muhammed Zahirul Alam, Commandant of National Defence College, termed the proposal of formation of NSC viable saying the country is facing more internal problems than external ones.

The meeting was also addressed, among others, by Raziya Foyez and Rabeya Bhuiyan of Jatiya Party, journalist Sadeq Khan, former MP MM Shahin, Air Commodore (Retd) Mahmud, Dr Hassan Mahmud, Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, Ambassador Rashed Ahmed, former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain, Barrister Zafar Ahmed, Jon Darilowicz of US Embassy in Dhaka, Adv Shahiduzzaman, Ruhul Amin, Sharif A Kafi and Selim Akhter Khan.

Earlier, Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley formally inaugurated the floating of the BILSS.

CPD for WTO support to offset negative pressure of export subsidy cut

Staff Reporter

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) yesterday suggested the government to demand special support for food-importing countries from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to offset the negative pressure of gradual elimination of export subsidies.

"Elimination of export subsidies as well as domestic supports are likely to increase globally, which will negatively affect the net food-importing countries like Bangladesh. Bangladesh must demand special support for net food-importing countries," CPD executive director Prof Mustafizur Rahman told a press briefing describing their findings in Geneva visit.

A four-member CPD team, including Prof Mustafizur Rahman, Uttam Kumar Deb, Fahmida Khatun and Khandaker Golam Moazzem had been in Geneva for a week and had a series of meetings with different stakeholders of the WTO.

CPD has been closely following the negotiations on the Doha round agenda in Geneva. Former Executive Director of CPD Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya is now posted as the permanent representative of Bangladesh to Geneva.

Mustafizur Rahman said reduction in domestic support and export subsidy for agriculture by developed countries is likely to increase relative advantage of some Bangladeshi agricultural products (fruits, vegetables etc.).

The CPD executive director said Bangladesh may be able to offset the negative pressure if she can export more of their other agricultural produces, particularly fruits and vegetables.

He said Bangladesh should raise its voice to take funds under aid-for-trade on any condition. "The government has to prepare its own list of projects, which may be submitted for funding under aid for trade."

Mustafiz said the Bangladesh mission in Geneva is contributing a lot in advancing Bangladesh's interests, but the capacity of the mission is over-stretched. "The mission needs to be further strengthened with additional resources," he added.

Saudi visas for Bangladeshis fully from today

BSS, Dhaka

The outgoing Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah M Al Obaid Al Namlah yesterday apprised Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed that the visa issuance procedure for Bangladeshis to Saudi Arabia will be fully functional from today.

The Embassy authorities in Dhaka have taken all out measurers to remove all impediments, including problems in computer server, for issuance of visa today, Namlah said.

The Saudi Ambassador made the assertion while paying a farewell call on Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office here yesterday.

Namlah also informed the Chief Adviser that a two-day meeting of the Joint Economic Commission of the two countries will begin in Dhaka on April 7 next to discuss bilateral trade, investment and business issues.

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh attaches top priority to its relationship with Saudi Arabia and hoped that the existing bilateral relations will be further strengthened in the years to come.

He expressed gratitude on his behalf as well as the people of Bangladesh to the government and people of Saudi Arabia for their generous and timely support for the cyclone Sidr affected people of the country.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed also requested the ambassador to convey his thanks to the Saudi King for his personal donation for the cyclone victims.

He appreciated the King-the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques-for his magnificent management of this year's Hajj and his cooperation to the Chief Adviser in performing the Hajj properly.

Lauding the ambassador for his eight-year successful tenure in Bangladesh, the Chief Adviser requested him to appraise the Saudi investors of the existing potential investment environment in Bangladesh.

He thanked the ambassador for his role in expanding Bangladesh's relations with other countries during his stay in Dhaka as the Dean of the Diplomatic corps.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed invited the King of Saudi Arabia through the ambassador to visit Bangladesh.

Namlah thanked the government as well as the people of Bangladesh for their hospitalities during his tenure as an ambassador.

Among others, Secretary to the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) Kazi M. Aminul Islam and Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim, were present on the occasion.

Jobs for Bangladeshis UAE overtakes Saudi Arabia

BSS, Dhaka

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now become a preferred destination for Bangladeshi workers for the first time overtaking Saudi Arabia.

The country has attracted over 2,26,000 Bangladeshis in 2007, nearly 22,000 more than Saudi Arabia. The remittances received from the UAE have also hit a record approximately 1 billion US dollar, said a Foreign Ministry press release yesterday.

In a recent meeting of the labour attaches chaired by Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who is also in charge of the

Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, it was decided that measures would be taken to respond to the needs of the booming construction industry in the UAE and the smaller Gulf countries.

"Appropriate training modules will be introduced in our technical training centres to prepare ourselves for this growing market," the adviser said.

India stops uel export to Bangladesh

Mashiur Rahaman

State-owned Indian Oil Companies (IOC) has cancelled petroleum exports to Bangladesh, which was settled under an agreement signed with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). The decision came after the Government of India increased cost of per ton exportable rice from $320 to $1000.

The Indian state company has justified its stand, saying the company doesn't have adequate stock. Currently, Bangladesh imports total 120,000 tons of fuel from India.

Confirming the news, BPC officials have informed that Bangladesh has signed a contract with IOC in January 2008 to import at least 120,000 tons of fuel. Under the contract, the first shipment of 10,000 tons of diesel was scheduled to arrive at the end of March or early April 2008 through river route. But, by this stand, Indian petroleum supply became uncertain, said the official.

"This cut-off of Indian petroleum supply could have negative impact over our local petroleum reserve," said an energy expert.

Though this action is not likely to have immediate impact over Bangladeshi oil market, it might affect our national petroleum reserves.

According to the oil import statistics of BPC, import of Indian oil is financially beneficial for Bangladesh as its transportation cost is considerably lower than the imports from Middle East and Europe.

It may be mentioned that the IOC sent a letter recently to the BPC office, stating that it would not be possible on its part to export fuel to Bangladesh for the time being as it itself is importing oil to meet domestic demand.

Amcham-India business team arrives April 1

Staff Reporter

A twenty-two-member business delegation of American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM-India) will visit Bangladesh on April 01, 2008.

With the aim of exploring expansion of opportunities in the hugely untapped South Asian market while retaining India as its base, American Companies are now targeting Bangladesh as its next destination. The high level AMCHAM-India visit is part of this process, said an official announcement.

According to the announcement, visiting business delegation will comprise representatives of US companies presently operating in India and led by K N Memani, Chairman, AMCHAM and Ramesh Bajpai, Executive Director of AMCHAM India.

The delegation aims to tread into newer territories within the South Asian region. Bangladesh, which has not been fully explored to its full potentials by American businesses, offers a great opportunity for economic cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.

As per schedule, the delegation will meet high-level government officials and private entrepreneurs to eradicate business misunderstanding.

The AMCHAM-India press announcement also stated that the present trade situation in Bangladesh is very promising.

According to latest WTO data, the country's rate of growth in real GDP has been 6 per cent for the time period 2000-2006. The growth in the merchandise trade has also been phenomenal with annual percentage change hovering at 27 per cent in 2006. This is an indication of the huge opportunity for the foreign investors to tap the buoyant Bangladesh economic conditions.