The New Nation - Internet Edition

Akbar Ali tells review meet: No constitutional basis for BCS quota system

Former adviser of the caretaker government Dr Akbar
Ali Khan speaking at a seminar on 'Quota System in BCS
examinations' organised by Public Service Commission at a
city hotel yesterday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC) Chairlman Dr Akbar Ali Khan yesterday said that there is no constitutional basis for the present Bangladesh Civil Service quota system.

"There is no basis for the present quota system in the constitution," Akbar Ali said, adding that there should be no such quotas "permanently or for an indefinite period".

He was speaking at the review of a report on the 'Quota system for civil service recruitment in Bangladesh'.

Dr Ali urged the Government to revise BCS quotas and appoint more civil servants through examinations on the basis of merit.

"It gives people an impression that less efficient people get appointments through the quota system and thus the quality of public administration drops."

Akbar Ali, a former adviser to the caretaker government, said allocation of appointments on the basis of quotas should not be greater than on the basis of merit.

At present 45 per cent of appointments are made on the basis of merit and 55 per cent on quotas. Of the quotas, 30 per cent are reserved for freedom fighters, 10 per cent for district level candidates, 10 per cent for women and five per cent for indigenous communities. Akbar Ali proposed raising the share of appointments on the basis of merit to 50 per cent from 45 per cent.

Chairman of the Public Service Commission Saadat Hussain termed the proposal a positive one.

"Discussions will be held at divisional level outside Dhaka to seek public opinion on the quota system in next two months," the PSC chairman said. "Later a concluding seminar will be held and the recommendations submitted to the government," Saadat added. He hoped a revised quota system would be implemented for the 28th BCS examination. "If the revised quotas are approved before the results of the 27th BCS exams are out, then it may even be possible to apply them for this batch," Saadat said.

The assessment report on the civil service quota system was prepared by RRC chairman Akbar Ali Khan and former secretary Kazi Raquib Uddin Ahmed, at the initiative of the Public Service Commission.

The report, with recommendations for revising the quota system, was submitted to PSC chairman Saadat Hussain on Mar 6.

Lawyers, academics, civil servants and civil society representatives took part in Saturday's review meeting held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

Participants said quotas or any other system would not produce good results if the overall education system did not improve.

Akbar Ali said in the past many allegations of injustice and corruption arose due to the quota system.

Ancient brick structure found in Paharpur

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Archaeologists yesterday found an ancient brick-built structure with floor and artefacts under the basement of the main temple at the World Heritage site at Paharpur in Dinajpur, said officials of the Department of Archaeology.

Earlier, two brick-built structures of the Gupta dynasty were found during an excavation, they said.

Mohammad Shafiqul Alam, Director of Department of Archaeology, said the newly found structures were built in the pre-Pal period.

"Most probably the structure of the temple was built by followers of Jain religion," according to him.

Nahid Sultana, a member of the excavation team, said, "The 2.1-metre width brick-built structure crossed the basement of the main temple built by King Dharmapala in the eighth century."

The structure was found in the northeast corner of more than 1,200 years old main temple 'Somapura Maha Vihara,' which is locally known as Paharpur monastery.

Mohammad Mahabub-ul-Alam, Assistant Custodian of Paharpur Museum and excavation team member, said, "A huge number of potsherds have been found under the monastic cell number 21 of the Vihara."

Probably, these were used over 1,500 years ago. It is likely to be the first habitation in this area, he added. Local archaeologists believe that there was a Jain monastery at Paharpur but no trace of it now exists.

There has so far been no structural evidence of existence of Jain temples in Bangladesh. But Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang saw several Jain structures during his visit to Pundranagar in Bogra and adjacent areas in 639 to 645 AD, said Mahabub.

Tarique faces trial in ACC case today

UNB, Dhaka

Almost 13 months after his arrest, BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman, who has been accused in a dozen of cases, is eventually going on trial in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission for amassing illegal wealth.

The anti-graft watchdog is most likely to submit charge sheet in the case against Traique, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, today day for acquiring wealth beyond his known sources of income and concealing information.

"The investigation officer (IO) has already been issued with the Commission's letter. The charge sheet is most likely to be submitted tomorrow. If not, it'll be submitted Monday," a competent source told UNB yesterday.

The ACC Thursday approved the submission of charge sheet against Tarique, his wife Dr Jobaida Rahman and mother-in-law Iqbal Mand Banu for acquiring wealth worth about Tk 2.75 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income, including concealment of information of assets worth over Tk 2.16 crore.

Taufiqul Islam, ACC assistant director and the IO, will submit the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

After submission of the charge sheet, if this case goes to court, it will be the first trial for Tarique in the 12 cases he has been accused. Since his arrest in the early hours of March 8, 2007, 12 cases have been filed against him.

Of the cases, 10 are of extortion, one of fraud and one of concealing information and amassing illegal wealth. Most of the cases have been filed under the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

The first case against Tarique was filed right after his arrest on March 8. Amin Ahmed Bhuiyan, a construction contractor, filed the Tk-1 crore extortion case with Gulshan police station. And, the investigation into the case is complete.

But the High Court passed a stay order on the case. Later, the Appellate Division upheld the verdict. Tarique did not have to face trial in the case, as there were legal flaws in the process of filing the case.

Apart from the above-mentioned two cases, investigation into the 10 other cases are yet to be completed.

On March 27, 2007 Aftab Uddin, a businessman of Gulshan, filed a Tk-1.32 crore extortion case against Tarique, his business associate Giasuddin Al Mamun and others.

Syed Abu Shahed Sohel, an official of a construction firm, filed a case on May 4, 2007 with Gulshan police station accusing Mamun and his associates of extorting Tk 4.89 lakh. Mamun in his confessional statement mentioned the name of Tarique.

On April 1 last year, a Tk 5-crore extortion case was filed with Dhanmondi police station by businessman Mir Zahid Hossain against Mamun and his six associates. Later, Tarique was made accused in this case.

Khairul Bashar, general manager of Abdul Momen Limited, filed a Tk-10.3 crore extortion case with Shahbagh police station accusing Mamun and six others. Based on Mamun's confessional statement, Tarique was shown arrested in this case.

Tarique was made one of the accused in the Tk-16 lakh extortion case filed by Aftab Uddin, managing director of a contractor firm, with Kafrul police station against Mamun and his associates.

On March 27, 2007, Harun Ferdousi, the proprietor of Panchagarh's Jazz Distillery, filed yet another extortion case against Tarique.

Businessman Mir Zahid Hossain filed another extortion case against Mamun and Tarique, according to Mamun's confessional statement, was made accused in this case.

A fraud case was filed against Mamun for misappropriation of Tk 8.4 crore and in the court Mamun confessed that Tarique had hands in this matter. Tarique was shown arrested in this case too.

A Tk 5-crore extortion case was filed with Shahbagh police station against Mamun by a local project representative of a Chinese company. In the confessional statement, Mamun said he took the money for Tarique.

Another case was filed with Keraniganj police station accusing Tarique and Mamun of seeking toll from a cow trader.

On September 26, 2007, the anti-graft watchdog filed a case with Kafrul police station against Tarique, his wife Dr Jobaida Rahman and mother-in-law Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu for concealing information of assets worth about Tk 4.23 crore and acquiring wealth worth about Tk 4.81 crore beyond their known sources of income.

The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15(D)(5) of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

Jt Commission meet: Saudi team to visit Dhaka in April

BSS, Dhaka

A high-level 16-member Saudi delegation led by Deputy Labour Minister Ahmed Abdulraham Al- Mansour will visit Bangladesh on April 7-8 in connection with the Joint Commission dialogue between the two countries.

A spokesman of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment yesterday said issues pertaining to Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia would be a major topic on the agenda.

The delegation will pay a courtesy call on Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

It may be mentioned that over 1.7 million Bangladeshis are currently working in Saudi Arabia. The media has reported on some serious problems that some of them are facing.

During the recent OIC summit in Dakar, the Foreign Adviser held bilateral meetings with the Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Nizar Obeid Madani and Deputy Minister Prince Turki Bin Mohammed bin Saud el Kabir. They assured the Foreign Adviser that the issues raised would be looked into, the spokesman said.

A website which had been disseminating anti-Bangladesh propaganda has now been shut down following intense lobbying by Bangladesh authorities. Also, the minimum salary of Bangladeshi workers has been raised from 400 SR to 550 SR.

Saudi Arabia, while imposing a temporary ban of household and agricultural workers, has said they would welcome more skilled labour force from Bangladesh.

"Saudi Arabia will remain an important market for us for a long time. We must keep in mind their requirements while developing our work-force capabilities. We should no longer suffer exploitation due to lower skills," the Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said.

Call to amend coop law

Staff Reporter

Speakers called on the government to amend the cooperative law and to announce the month of March as the month of savings at a discussion meeting organised by Kingsu Multi Purpose Cooperative Society at Engineers Institute auditorium in the capital yesterday.

Professor Mozaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, said, in the age of Open market economy the cooperative societies can play a vital role to develop country's economy. He urged the government to provide technical support to make these cooperative organisations self-depended. During the previous years most of the government tried to politicise these organisations for their self-interest.

He also urged the policy makers of these organisations to decentralise their activities in the rural area to inspire the investors to invest in agricultural sector.

Dhiraj Kumar Nath, Formar Adviser to the Caretaker Government, said the Government should draw more attention to the cooperative organisations so that they can run their activities for contributing in country's economy. He also urged the leaders of different cooperative societies to take initiative to open a private cooperative bank.

ANM Badrul Amin, Managing Director of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, said, people of all classes should come under cooperative society to survive. These societies could reach their aims, as the government did not sponsor cordially. As a result it has a negative influence in the country's economy. He urged the government to take initiative to overcome the problem.

Professor Tofail Ahmed, SA Mahmudi, Chief Executive of Kingsu Multi Purpose Cooperative Society, among others, were present in the discussion meeting.

UP representatives’ confce in Rajshahi: Free strong local govt urged

Rajshahi Correspondent

The local government representatives at a grand conference at the local Zilla Parishad auditorium here yesterday demanded intervention-free strong local government.

The conference attended by 2,000 representatives of the local bodies including 600 UP chairmen from eight districts in Rajshahi division placed a 12-point demand to the government. The demands called for ensuring transparency, democratic culture and accountability in running affairs of the local bodies and holding upazila and district council elections prior to holding of the parliamentary elections.

Speakers at the conference pointed out that the constitution of the country has recognised the local government as " government" and vested the local government representatives with powers to run the local bodies, and monitor the implementation of development projects and public works.But they regretted that the local government bodies have been kept inoperational and powerless through the intervention of political leaders and MPs and non-allocation of funds for running these bodies effectively.

They also pleaded for increasing the honorarium and monthly salaries of the union parishad chairmen and the members at a reasonable level, determination of the ' warrant of precedence for the union parishad chairmen and the members, freeing the union parishads from undue bureaucratic control, holding of dialogues with the local body representatives and representatives from all professional groups and political leaders before holding of parliamentary election.

They made a plea for forming an independent local government commission to ensure independence of the local government and allocation of 40 percent of budget for the local governments direct from the government lump grants; cancelling of provision of unjust intervention and removal of the elected union parishad chairmen through the no-confidence motion by the members.

The said it was the cherished desire of the people at the grassroots level to strengthen the local government bodies and the present government has expressed its support and promise to accelerate and strengthen the local government bodies. They hoped that the government would give due attention to their demands.

BCL activists stage demo for Hasina’s release

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Some 200 student activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League staged demonstrations yesterday at Dhaka University campus demanding the release of detained Awami League president Sheikh Hasina.

The activists began the protest at 12.30 pm from Modhur Canteen, chanting slogans for the release of Sheikh Hasina, sending Hasina abroad for better treatment and holding national elections immediately.

They thronged at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla. DU Chhatra League president Sohel Rana Tipu presided over the gathering.

Hannan cautions govt of dire consequences

UNB, Dhaka

Brig (Rtd) ASM Hannan Shah, adviser to BNP chairperson, yesterday warned of dire consequences to the present government for its oppression and maladministration.

"Holding of election alone will not save you. You have indulged in conspiracy, unduly enjoyed the cream and cheese. Don't think people will allow you to flee the country after doing the mischief," Shah said directing his finger at the caretaker government.

"Don't think you can suppress the people by continuing the emergency for long. No autocratic government survived by suppressing the people," added the BNP leader Shah who was arrested thrice but enlarged on bail.

Shah was speaking at a discussion marking the Independence and National Day organised at the press club by Shaheed Zia Srmiti Sangsad in the afternoon. Referring to the demand by BNP front organizations for programme of movement against the government Shah said it would not be necessary if the caretaker government hand over power after holding a credible poll.

Tk 85,000 cr budget likely: People’s demands to be reflected: Finance Adviser

UNB, Barisal

Finance Advisor Dr Mirza Azizul Islam disclosed that the caretaker government plans to announce a Tk 85,000-crore budget for the coming fiscal year, accommodating demands of the common man.

He said the coming budget would be prepared in keeping with the demands of the mass people although the present government is not an elected and political government.

He, however, observed that no budget in the world could satisfy all corners and never could fulfill all demands of the people. "Though the government is planning to announce a budget of Tk 85,000 crore, Tk 5,000 crore higher than the current budget allocation, it too wouldn't satisfy all."

The Finance Advisor was speaking at a pre-budget discussion and exchange-of-views program held at Barisal circuit house yesterday morning.

He said rehabilitation in Sidr-affected regions and sectors, power supply, communications, transportation, and human resource development would get priority in the next budget. But this government won't try to establish any large-scale industry in public sector because of the experiences of failure of the past governments, he told his audience in the southern city. He said Bangladesh is one of the lowest income tax-collecting countries of the world as the people pay very small amounts of tax.

The Finance Adviser further said the rate of subsidy has been on the increase in public sector due to price hike on the international market.

The amount of subsidy would reach up to 19% in the new budget, amounting to Tk 15,600 core, this fiscal, from Tk 6000 core of the previous fiscal year, he said.

Planning secretary Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury, Finance Secretary Dr. Md Tarek, chairman of the National Board of Revenue Abdul Majid and Vice-chancellor of Patuakhali Science and Technology University Dr. Abdul Latif Masum participated in discussion.

The discussants emphasized taking measures for controlling price of essentials, regional infrastructural development, power supply, natural gas exploration and supply, subsidy in agricultural sector, tax holiday for the new and affected business entrepreneurs and industrialists, subsidy in education sector and in the Sidr-affected region.

Degree (Pass), subsidiary exams begin tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

The Degree (pass) and subsidiary examinations-2007 under the National University will begin tomorrow.

This year, a total of 2,23,844 students of 1,403 colleges will sit for the exams in 490 centres.

National University authorities, educational institutions concerned and local administrations have taken necessary measures for holding the examination in a fair and peaceful manner.

Chinese Embassy blames Dalai Lama for Tibet violence

UNB, Dhaka

The Chinese Embassy here Saturday said the Dalai clique inclemently provoked and escalated violent incidents in Tibet to press the Chinese government, disturb the Beijing Olympics and jeopardise her stability.

"What Dalai Lama has said and done for decades has proved that he has never given up his separatist proposition nor ceased separatist activities," the Embassy said in a statement.

It said the violent incidents in Tibet was premeditated, organised and instigated by the Dalai clique, and perpetrated by the separatist forces for "Tibetan Independence" both in and outside China acting in collusion.

The statement said the incident has again exposed the separatist nature of the Dalai clique, as well as the hypocrisy and deception of their claimed "peace" and "nonviolence."

The statement said the violent crimes committed by the Dalai Lama clique aroused grave indignation and strong condemnation among the people of all ethnicities in Tibet.

Voting rights, ID cards for Urdu speaking people demanded

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a national consultation in the city demanded voting rights and national identity cards for the camp based Urdu speaking community living in the country.

They observed that these 160,000 Urdu speaking people languishing in 116 settlements in different parts of the country are citizens of Bangladesh and should enjoy rights to education, health and employment as well.

There is no coherent policy in the registration of voter list for them, though the inter-ministerial meeting decided in principle to bestow citizenship to them. Apparently the Law Ministry vetted against it, said the speakers.

Registration of the camp based people has been completed in Khulna regions. But the registration was denied in Dhaka and Chittagong regions, they said. The consultation on 'Claiming Effective Citizenship Rights: Inclusion of Urdu speaking people in voter list and national ID card scheme' organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) of Dhaka University under the aegis of Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty was held at the National Press Club yesterday.

Dr CR Abrar, Professor of Department of International Relations of Dhaka University, presented keynote paper, while Nurul Kabir, Editor of New Age, moderated the session.

"A growing number of the young generation in particular now consider themselves to be Bangladeshis and their eligibility under the laws of citizenship of Bangladesh has been further cemented by pronouncements of the higher judiciary," said Dr Abrar.

In practice very little has changed for the majority of the community and effective citizenship rights have never been realised, he noted.

Nurul Kabir said, "The camp based Urdu speaking people are now living in Bangladesh without having any state. They have no voting right. We cannot play any effective role for them till now. No human rights organisation has come forward for them. It is a concerned matter not only for them but also for us."

"We should give them opportunity for survival of their livelihood," he said.

Speakers urged the government to give effective citizenship rights to the camp based Urdu-speaking people.

They also urged all to pressurise Election Commission (EC) to give them opportunity of voting rights.

Rashed Khan Menon, President of Workers Party, Farida Akhter, women activist, Mohammad Asaduzzaman, lawyer, MI Faruqui, legal expert, Dr Pias Karim, Professor of Law Department of BRAC University, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Judges sacked by Musharraf to be reinstated: Pak PM vows to fight terror

Agency, Islamabad

Pakistan's new Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gillani, has told parliament in Islamabad that his top priority will be the fight against terrorism.

Setting out plans for the first 100 days of his coalition government, he told MPs that "terrorism and extremism" were the country's "greatest problems". The National Assembly endorsed him without a vote of confidence.

Gillani is a member of the Pakistan People's Party, whose leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December.

He was sworn in as prime minister on Tuesday at the head of a coalition between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The parties' success in the 18 February general election was seen as a blow to President Pervez Musharraf.

"It is our first priority to bring peace to the country and fight terrorism," Gillani told parliament.

The government, he added, was willing to talk to militants who laid down their arms.

Gillani also announced measures that could lead to integrating Pakistan's lawless tribal areas into the rest of the country, granting tribesmen political and social rights they do not currently have.

The prime minister promised to reduce perks for government ministers, a gesture acknowledging the growing economic hardships for most Pakistanis.