The New Nation - Internet Edition

Country experiencing a little food crisis, says Moeen: Allout efforts being made to overcome it

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed addressing a
gathering after visiting the Farmers' Market in Bogra on
Wednesday. FocusBangla

UNB, Bogra

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed Wednesday made a suggestion for the people to make a habit of eating potato with rice to reduce demand for the staple, as there has been a bumper harvest of the vegetable this season.

"Eating potato with rice will reduce its (rice) demand alongside fulfilling nutrition requirement. So, a habit should be developed for eating potato," he said after visiting a farmers' market, set up under supervision of Bangladesh Army, in the town. Bogra Area Commander and GOC of 11 Infantry Division Major General Shamim Chowdhury, senior army officials, government officials, farmers and other local eminent people were present. General Moeen admitted that the country was experiencing a little food crisis at present and said, "We are trying our best to overcome the crisis."

He mentioned that Food Department has already started selling rice at fair price on the open market, and to make it a success, the government is increasing rice allocation as well as the number of dealers.

"For this, more people will be able to buy rice at fair price (at Tk 25) and save money," he told his audience.

Appreciating initiative to set up the farmers' market for direct marketing of farm produce, in the wake of price hike, the Army Chief said that the market helped decrease the number of middlemen as farmers could sell their products to the buyers directly here. He also assured the farmers of developing the marketplace as a permanent business hub.

General Moeen said that initiative should be taken so that the market could not be evicted with the change of government. "Under the initiative, the marketplace will be given under the district Administration so that nobody can occupy it."

He mentioned that 78 lakh mts of potato has been produced across the country during the current season and production of wheat also almost doubled.

The Army Chief hoped that the country would also reap a good harvest of boro in the coming season as supply of seeds, fertilizers and power was normal.

He noted that the country faced natural disaster last year, but nobody had to die of starvation. "We all tried and achieved success in tackling the situation," he said.

ACC sues Khoka, wife, son, daughter: Amassing Tk 18cr ill-gotten wealth

Sadek Hossain Khoka

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) finally sued Mayor of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, his wife, son and daughter for allegedly amassing ill-gotten wealth and concealing information thereof.

The Assistant Director of ACC Samsul Alam filed the First Information Report yesterday with Ramna police station against Khoka, his wife Ismat Ara, son Ishrak Hossain and daughter Sarika Sadek.

The Mayor, along with his family, has been accused of acquiring wealth worth about Tk 17.57 crore beyond known sources of their income and covering up information of assets worth about Tk 10 crore in the statement submitted to the anti-graft watchdog under the ongoing purge in the interim period.

The first corruption case against Mayor Khoka was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules 2007.

Earlier, the ACC had approved the filing of the case against Khoka, also President of Dhaka City BNP, the recent past ruling party now in deep trouble in the changed situation.

The DCC mayor is one of the 35 corruption suspects whose names appeared on the fourth and last list published by the ACC on October 4, 2007. He was issued notice on November 18 directing him to submit his wealth statement.

Khoka complied with the Commission's directive on December 6 by submitting his wealth statement. In the statement he showed he and his family have movable and immovable property worth about Tk 10.05 crore. Their wealth includes 11 houses and flats, eight plots, a good acreage of land, Tk 5.5 crore and many other assets.

After months of inquiry, Shamsul, the inquiry officer, submitted his report recommending the filing of case against the quartet suspects.

Meanwhile, the accused DCC mayor vowed to continue legal battle against the charges.

Khoka said, "I will continue legal battle against the case. While replying to a question he said, "I've just heard about it. I didn't see the charges.

I'll be better-placed to comment only after seeing the charges."

Col Hanif Iqbal, Director General (Admin) of ACC, said, "It is too early to say whether the accused, including the Mayor, would be arrested following the filing of the case."

"It's too early to tell if the accused persons will be arrested. There are some processes to be followed," said Hanif Iqbal.

After the appointment of investigating officer, if he or she feels that in the interest it is necessary to arrest them, he said adding, "It will be done so in due time."

High-level meet works out modalities : Hasina may be sent abroad on parole Koko's possible conditional release discussed

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was taken to
Square Hospital yesterday for medical check-up.
FocusBangla

Shahidul Islam

Senior officials have started working out modalities for sending detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abroad for treatment on parole, as directive of the Government policymakers, informed sources told The New Nation yesterday.

Top policymakers of the Government at a meeting, on Wednesday took the decision after her scientist husband Dr Wazed Miah met her at the Square Hospital and conveyed to them that Sheikh Hasina gave him a green signal to go abroad on parole.

Dr Wazed Mia, earlier applied to the Chief Adviser to release Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League (AL) President, on parole for treatment abroad. AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Alam, in a formal letter recently, also requested the Chief Adviser to free her to fly to the US for treatment.

Presided over by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office, the meeting was reportedly attended, among others, by four Advisers-Anwarul Iqbal, AF Hassan Ariff, Maj Gen (Retd) Golam Quader and Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and the Chiefs of three services.

The two-hour meeting formed a Secretary-Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder to work out the modalities on four issues-the release of Sheikh Hasina on parole, formation of the National Security Council, elections to the Supreme Court Bar and Dhaka University Teachers' associations.

The Secretary Committee after a meeting yesterday discussed the issue with Adviser of Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin, the sources said, adding that the release of Arafat Rahman Koko, the youngest son of the other detained Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia for treatment was also discussed.

Begum Zia, also the BNP Chairperson, recently demanded of the Government to free her youngest son for treament abroad through her lawyers, who met her in prison.

The Jail Authority brought Sheikh Hasina to Square Hospital for medical check-up yesterday.

Meanwhile, reiterating his demand for immediate release of ailing Sheikh Hasina, AL Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday said, "Her release is the only solution to the problems facing the nation.

Truck rams into roadside house: 5 of a family killed

The poultry-feed laden truck that rammed into a
roadside makeshift hut killing five persons at Batajor in
Barisal yesterday. FocusBangla

Barisal Correspondent

Five members of a family were killed, but their 17-month-old child mysteriously survived when poultry-feed laden truck rammed into their makeshift house on Wednesday early morning at Baichhkhola under Batajore union of Gournadi Upazila on Barisal-Dhaka highway.

The deceased were identified as Khokon Das, 26, a rickshaw van puller, Tapoti Rani Das, 22, his wife, Radha Rani Das, 47, his mother, Ratan Das, 11, his brother and Biren Karmakar, 62, their relative.

Ashesh alias Sagor Das, the 17-month old son of Khokon was the lone survivor.

Locals said the driver of the truck (No. Dhaka-Metro-Ta-14-3941) lost control over the vehicle and crashed into highway-side makeshift house killing of the five of a ill-fated family.

The Truck driver and helpers fled the scene after the accident. Local people rushed to the spot and started rescue operation.

Highway police and Fire Service men recovered the bodies and rescued the 17-month-old child Ashesh alias Sagor who was mysteroiously unhurt and alive. The Police sent the bodies to Barisal SBMCH for postmortem. Tapon Bepari, brother-in-law of Khokon, lodged a case against the truck driver with the Gournadi police station.

Police sources said the truck was carrying poultry-feed from the C P Poultry-feed manufacturing company of Savar Dhaka to Al Amin poultry-feed farm of Jhalakati.

GDP likely to grow at 6 pc in FY 08: Bumper boro, potato crops to ease price hike: ADB

Hua Duo

Staff Reporter

Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Hua Du has expressed her optimism, forecasting the soaring food price is likely to ease in coming fiscal year as the country is expected to reap a bumper potato and rice production in this season.

According to her, GDP growth in Bangladesh could improve to 6.5 per cent and the inflation to moderate at 8 per cent in the next fiscal year.

She was addressing a news briefing yesterday at the ADB office, while unveiling the agency's "Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2008."

"Greater efforts will be required to lift agriculture productivity to sustain food self-sufficiency in the face of increased threats from natural calamities intensified by climate change," Hua Du told a press briefing at the ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission.

The ADO report said the economic outlook considered several downside risks that could derail projections - the main risk was political developments in the lead up to the general elections scheduled to be held by end 2008, and their outcome.

"In macroeconomic management, the major risk is rapidly growing inflation: failure to rein it in could seriously undermine macroeconomic and political stability," it said, adding that the perennial vulnerability to natural disasters also presents a risk.

Hua Du pointed out that natural disasters have worsened growth and inflation indicators, but uncertainty created among investors by the ongoing anti-corruption drives has started to ease.

The GDP growth is forecast to improve to 6.5 per cent in 2008-09 due to improved external and domestic demand, and a recovery in agriculture, she added.

It is also assumed that the authorities would pursue well-coordinated fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies with a focus on curbing inflation and raising revenues, she further added.

"A final assumption is that the Government will at least partly rationalise fuel prices," she said.

The report said, greater investment is needed in power generation, the Chittagong seaport needs to continue contracting out operations and management to the private sector, including those of the New Mooring container terminal.

Formulation of an appropriate coal policy is especially important so as to expedite decisions on some of the other foreign investment proposals worth US$ 11 billion in important sectors, it added.

ADB's Dhaka office chief economist Rezaul Karim Khan, however, said the projected eight per cent inflation for the next fiscal was still worrying.

He advised the government to take measures to increase domestic agricultural production to bring inflation down to a satisfactory level.

He said the country's budget was under pressure since costs of importing food, fertiliser and oil have increased substantially.

EIU prediction on Bangladesh polls: AL, BNP minus Hasina, Khaleda to fight each other

UNB, Dhaka

London's Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) forecasts that, belying electoral reforms, dominance of the existing political parties will remain intact and the parliamentary contest again pit the Awami League against BNP.

"The next election is likely to be fought with new leaders at the helm of both parties…given the fact that the BNP has split into two factions, the AL is in a favourable position to win the election," says the EIU in its latest outlook on Bangladesh politics.

It said charges of corruption filed against two former prime ministers-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-are likely to prevent them both from taking part in the elections.

The EIU said full constitutional rights are unlikely to be reinstated before the second half of this year, and "we expect the state of emergency to re main firmly in place until the parliamentary election".

The London-based long-range economic intelligence figures out that the country's baroque political scenario could be back to square one, despite the implementation of electoral reforms. After the polls, "the political scene will continue to be dominated by the existing political parties", it forecasts.

The EIU, the intelligence wing of the world-famous magazine 'The Economist', says the caretaker government may relax some restrictions under the current state of emergency. The nationwide ban on indoor political meetings may be dropped to allow political parties to discuss reform measures proposed by the Election Commission.

It said the government may even suspend emergency rule temporarily in the districts scheduled for municipal and city corporation elections. However, full constitutional rights are unlikely to be reinstated before the parliamentary elections.

For new law governing the Police

Mostafa Kamal Majumder

The Bangladesh Police has been seeking opinion of cross sections of the people on a 'Bangladesh Police Ordinance' draft. The aim is to update the 1861 Police Act introduced by the colonial British rulers that was enacted to suit their purposes by letting loose steam-rollers of oppression as and when needed to make sure that any threat of civic strife was nipped in the bud.

Another express purpose is to make the law governing the police services suited to the demands and requirements of a democratic country and its citizens by upholding their fundamental human rights, and to free the institution from undue influence of political parties in power.

Booklets on the rationale of framing a new law also mentions that the 147-year-old law had made the police only an instrument of coercion of the government, and so the present aim is to institutionalise the force while providing for checks and balances so that members of the force remain under strict administrative control.

The draft ordinance and small booklets on it, and the age-old law replacement of which has been aimed at, have been distributed among citizens at open house day functions of the police, and the opinions on those have been recorded. Copies of the main draft and booklets on the rationale of framing a new law have been circulated also with questionnaire to get feed-backs.

Needless to say the very initiative to take the people into confidence before going ahead with demand for enactment of the draft ordinance deserved accolade. Because the people, most of whom are good, want to see the police force comprising their children, brothers, cousins, nephews or grandchildren to be friends not oppressors. The police are also members of the society and definitely want to live with honour and dignity.

The booklets circulated at open house day programmes of police came under critical review for sounding like statements made at public meetings and most of the discourse being against undue political influence. Speakers pointed out at such meetings that the police should accept the reality of political parties and their influence if they want to be in a democratic set-up which is unthinkable without parties. What is needed is doing away with undue influence of even those who are not elected representatives, but only office- bearers of different units of the party in power.

Provision have been proposed for the constitution of a police commission which would oversee the activities of the police force. It would comprise four members of Parliament, four neutral competent persons to be chosen through a transparent method, the Inspector General of Police and the Home Minister who would be its chief.

One thing that might immediately come to one's mind is, whether this commission would be in conflict with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs. Would these two bodies create dyarchy and confusion instead of streamlining police administration?. Again, if non-elected members have a greater say in the proposed commission, would the minister in charge or the Cabinet that would be in power take responsibility for any failure?

The draft ordinance also provides for an authority to receive complaints against the Police. The proposal is to keep it - comprising competent persons having requisite experience - above the structure of the force. The question is, would this body come into conflict with the discipline wing of the Police. Here it is worth noting that the Constitution provides for the institution of Ombudsman to receive and hear complaints against the administration and give verdicts. Sweden, where this institution was born and flourished, has ombudsmen for various departments. The concerned quarters may think over the institution of a police ombudsman with similar functions. This might help remove the scope of conflicts and contradictions among organisations looking after the police.

The Ordinance draft also proposes the setting up within the force a Police Policy Group for research and brainstorming on different aspects of management of the force. The idea is good. Probably it would be even better if the said policy group comprises experts from outside the police force and is supported adequately to carry out its activities. Or if the Police considers it convenient to have its own research wing, another policy group should be promoted to function outside the force. This would create a think tank with an independent mental makeup and would prove very useful in the long run.

Finally, identification of the problem is called half its solution. We believe since the police has succeeded to identify the problems facing the force, it would also be able to help solve those.

No fertilizer crisis: Sugar, salt stock sufficient

Staff Reporter

Special Assistant to the Chief Mahbub Jamil yesterday said that the urea fertilizer, sugar and salt have now buffer stock against the demand in the country.

"We have no crisis of urea fertilizer now" he said at a press briefing at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Industries yesterday.

He, however, admitted that in the last fiscal year there had been a fertilizer crisis in the country due to the lack of co-ordination between the district level administration and private dealers. However, media reports from across the country say farmers are neither get adequate quantity of fertilizer on time nor in subsidised price despite the government's claim for the stock and the distribution in 'fair' price.

Refraining from elaborating the ground reality of fertiliser crisis, the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser said "We are taking step to sign an inter-state level agreement with the Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar for five years to tackle the fertilizer crisis, the Special Assistant said," he mentioned.

Besides, the Government also finalises to sign with an agreement with Morocco to import the raw materials for TSP and DFP fertilizer, he informed.

A three member delegation led by the Industry Secretary Nurul Amin would go to the three countries to make deals to be in force for five years, he said.

He hoped that Bangladesh would not face fertilizer crisis for next five years after resumption of Ghorashal fertilizer factory within June and completing the inter-state agreement with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Morocco.

Jamil said, "We had to reel from the crisis last year as the private importers failed to provide adequate supply. That's why the Government has started to import fertiliser on its own from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar."

The Special Assistant said that the Government has moved to set up two fertiliser factories to reduce dependence in import of urea fertiliser.

Industry Secretary Nurul Amin said that the two factories would be able to produce 11 lakh tonnes of fertiliser. One will be set up in the northern region while the other will be establishrd at Fenchuganj in Sylhet."

"The total cost to build each of the factories has been estimated at $500 crore to $600 crore," he said.

"The two new factories and the resumption of Ghorashal factory will allow production of the same amount of fertiliser that we have to import now," Amin said.

"The government has now stocked 72, 325 metric ton of Urea Fertilizer from March 31 at its godown," he informed the journalists.

The government has produced 15 lakh metric ton of Urea fertilizer at the six BCIC run Industries. Besides, it has procured 13 lakh metric ton of urea fertilizer collected from KAFCO and other countries to meet the rest of demand.

Anti-quota DU students urge Govt to resolve issue forthwith

DU Correspondent

Students of Dhaka University agitating against the quota system in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) at a press conference yesterday urged the government to resolve the issue forthwith.

They said the government should follow the proposal of 'Samikhkha' Report coordinated by former Adviser Dr Akbar Ali Khan but they rejected the proposal of 50 per cent merit competition that was put forward at a seminar held earlier in the city.

The demonstrating students urged the authorities to consider their demand by April 10 or face a tough movement.

"If our demand is not met within the stipulated time, we will launch movement against PSC Chairman Dr Sadat Hossain demanding his resignation," said KM Selim, the convener of the platform at the office of Dhaka University Journalists' Association (DUJA) yesterday.

The students said if the majority of appointment is made under the quota system, the majority of talented candidates would be deprived of getting a chance in the civil service resulting in an intellectual vacancy in the administration.

"Though the teachers, students as well as intellectuals are now convinced to reduce the quota to a rational level, the PSC Chairman is not paying any heed to this demand. But we postponed our street agitating after getting assurance from the government," they said.

The Dhaka University students under the banner 'general students' have been demonstrating on the campus for some days demanding rationalisation of the BCS quota system.

In the BCS examination, total 55 per cent appointment is made under four quotas including freedom fighters quota (30 per cent), women quota and district quota (10 per cent each) and indigenous quota (five per cent).

Govt extremely cautious of applying emergency on freedom of expression: President

UNB, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed said the government is extremely cautious of applying the emergency in freedom of expression.

"The press remains free," the President said this when newly appointed non-resident Ambassador designated of Portugal Luis Filipe Carrilho de Castro Mendes presented his credential to him at Bangabhaban here Wednesday.

While talking to the Envoy, the President emphasized on exchange programmes among professional experts, including IT, scientists, physicians, engineers and academics between the two countries. He underscored the need for increasing trade relations between the two countries saying, "there is a huge scope for expansion of our trade relations."

Dr Ahmed hoped that the bilateral trade between the two countries would get new impetus during the tenure of the newly appointed Portugal Ambassador.

The president apprised the envoy about the imposing of State of Emergency in the country and also the progress in the preparation of holding the elections as per the roadmap of the Election Commission. The Portugal Ambassador appreciated the on going process of issuing voter ID cards and said that he was hopeful about return of democracy in the country.

Terming Bangladesh as a 'moderate' Muslim country, the envoy said, "communal harmony prevails in the country". Praising Bangladeshi nationals staying in Portugal, he said, "Bangladeshi people are very good".

Secretary to President's Office Md Sirajul Islam, Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain and President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present.

Musharraf ally dropped as Pak intelligence chief

AFP, Islamabad

A key ally of President Pervez Musharraf has been dropped from his position as head of one of the country's top intelligence services, the military said Wednesday.

Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani appointed Major General Mohammad Asif to take over as head of the powerful Military Intelligence (MI) outfit from the current holder of the post, Major General Nadeem Ejaz.

MI is one of Pakistan's three main spy agencies. The others are Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which is also run by the army, and the Intelligence Bureau, which is a civilian organisation.

"Major General Mohammad Asif has been appointed director general Military Intelligence today, replacing Major General Nadeem Ejaz," chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told AFP.

Asif previously served as Pakistan's defence attache to Russia.

Analysts said Ejaz was a close confidante and a relative by marriage of key US ally President Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999 and was army chief until November last year.

Musharraf appointed Ijaz in 2006. Under Ijaz, MI assumed a greater role in the country's political affairs and Ijaz was one of the key witnesses when Musharraf controversially suspended the country's chief justice in March 2007.

Asif, by contrast, is close to Kayani, who took over from Musharraf last year and has since set about reducing the army's role in politics to focus on tackling Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The MI chief is supposed to be the eyes and ears of the army chief, analysts said.

Govt, political parties' dialogue this month

Staff Reporter

The government will start dialogue with the political parties soon, probably this month, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim told newsmen yesterday after a meeting of the cabinet.

The government is now preparing for the dialogue and working out modalities on the type and format of the dialogue and whether the dialogue with political parties would be held together or separately, he said.

Regarding the threat of a particular political party to launch movement against the government, he said let the dialogue be held and after that movement might not be necessary.

Asked whether there is a possibility of famine in the country in view of the price spiral, he rejected it outright saying, "The question of famine does not arise in the country."

He said there is enough food stock and the government has taken various programmes including launching of open market selling (OMS) and VGF programme.

The government spokesman, however, admitted that there is crisis and the government is trying to solve it.

Asked to comment on the statement made by former Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Akbar Ali Khan that 10 percent people of the country are passing days without food, he disagreed with the contention saying, "Everybody has the right to make any sort of comment but we will expect responsible statement."

The Cabinet meeting, held at the conference room of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair, discussed the food situation and emphasised the need for building enough food stock to deal with the situation.

The Chief Adviser asked all ministries to talk to media people to apprise them of their latest position, he said adding, "From now on, particularly the ministries of food and commerce will brief journalists regularly," he said.

Syed Fahim Munaim said the Chief Adviser asked the authorities concerned to ensure maintenance of power plants when the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Power and Energy Prof Dr M Tamim apprised the meeting of the latest situation of power supply.

The Special Assistant told the meeting that the existing power plants can produce 3900 megawatt power of which 1500 megawatts is being generated from power plants which are more then 25 years old.

The meeting in principle approved bringing about amendment to the two laws-Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority 1980 and EPZ Labour Union and Industries Related Act 2004.

The two-hour long meeting also discussed the Private Plot and Flat Purchasing and Selling Management Ordinance 2008.

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works piloted the Ordinance with a view to reducing people's sufferings in purchasing and selling of plots and flats, controlling the standard and restoring the interests of the buyers and sellers.

The Press Secretary said the meeting reached a consensus on the Ordinance and asked the ministry concerned to place it before the Cabinet meeting later after further consultation with all stakeholders and scrutiny.

He said the Chief Adviser handed over 51 volumes of publication containing minutes, copies of notifications and summaries of Cabinet meetings of 25 years from 1971 to 1980, to National Archives to preserve them.

Govt to sue Niko for Tangratila blowout

Staff Reporter

The Government is likely to take legal action against Canadian petroleum company Niko Resources to ensure compensation for its wrong-doings that led to blowouts in Tangratila gas field, Chhatak in 2005.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Power and Energy Dr Tamim hinted at the move against Niko after meeting with senior officials of the Law Ministry yesterday. "If necessary, we will go to move a case. But before that we will study the legal aspects of the whole matter with Niko," he told reporters.

The law and energy secretaries and attorney general were among those present in the meeting. They analyzed the latest position of the claim for compensation and response of the Canadian company.

The Tangratila gas field experienced blowout twice, first in January and second in June 2005. The second blowout occurred when Niko was drilling a relief well to secure the field for extraction of gas.