The New Nation - Internet Edition

WB for new deal to fight hunger: 33 countries face potential social unrest

People of low-income group wait in long queue
defying scorching heat to buy rice in fair price from an OMS
shop at Azimpur area in the city on Thursday. Banglar
Chokh

AFP, Washington

The World Bank on Wednesday called on the international community to mount a wide- ranging fight against hunger as skyrocketing food prices critically threaten the world's poor.

"We need a New Deal for Global Food Policy," World Bank president Robert Zoellick said in a speech to a Washington think tank ahead of next week's spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Referring to a 1930s US government initiative to tackle the problems of the Great Depression, Zoellick said that the new New Deal for Global Food Policy should start by helping those who are most immediately threatened with malnutrition and starvation.

Zoellick urged countries to provide the minimum 500 million dollars immediately sought by the World Food Program (WFP) to face the mounting food crisis.

The United States, European Union, Japan, and other developed countries "must act now to fill this gap-or many more people will suffer and starve," he told the Center for Global Development.

The WFP, a United Nations agency, issued "an extraordinary emergency appeal" to governments on March 20 for money to close a widening funding gap created by soaring food and fuel prices. Without such immediate help, the WFP warned it may have to cut food rations.

Zoellick said that the World Bank "will almost double our own lending for agriculture in Africa, from 450 million to 800 million dollars."

He said the World Bank estimates 33 countries face potential social unrest because of the stark rises in food and energy prices.

"For these countries, where food comprises from half to three quarters of consumption, there is no margin for survival," he said in a speech ahead of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's spring meetings on April 12-13 in Washington.

The 185-nation development lender, whose core mission is to reduce poverty, is working in more than 100 countries. Almost one billion people live on less than one dollar a day; 2.5 billion live on less than two dollars a day.

A surge in international prices of most cereals over the past two years has rippled through the price chain, driving up the retail prices of basic foods such as bread, meat and milk.

Zoellick noted the real price of rice last month had hit a 19-year high and that of wheat rose to a 28-year high.

The spiraling prices have forced some developing countries to take emergency measures to guarantee their food stockpiles.

On Tuesday, amid a second day of violent protests against soaring prices in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast government temporarily lifted tariffs on imports of certain food essentials, including rice, wheat flour, sugar, milk and fish.

Vietnam on Friday said it would cut rice exports this year in an effort to secure domestic supplies and stabilise prices now driving double-digit inflation.

Also Friday, Egypt suspended rice exports for six months, from April until October, to try to meet the demands of its own people hit by soaring food prices.

"This New Deal should focus not only on hunger and malnutrition," Zoellick said, but also on "the interconnections with energy, yields, climate change, investment, the marginalization of women and others, and economic resiliency and growth."

The World Bank "can help by backing emergency measures that support the poor while encouraging incentives to produce and market food as part of sustainable development," he added.

Zoellick proposed three other measures to soften the impact of a slowing world economy on the most vulnerable countries: investment in Africa by sovereign wealth funds; strengthening the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, launched in 2002 to improve governance in resource-rich countries; and conclusion of the World Trade Organisation's Doha Round of negotiations.

Accord with India 4 lakh tons rice due shortly

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh has signed an agreement in New Delhi for importing 4 lakh metic tonnes of rice from India.

Commercial Councillor of Bangladesh High Commission Wasi Uddin Ahmed and S Sircar, Chief General Manager of State Trading Corporation of India Limited (STC), YN Bargob, Chief General Manager, Minerals and Trading Corporation (MMTC) and YK Join of National Agriculture Co-operative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and Ravi Kumar, Executive Director of PEC Limited signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides, says a handout of Food and Disaster Management Ministry.

Under the agreement the rice would reach Bangladesh within 60 days from the opening date of Letter of Credit (LC).

As per the deal Bangladesh would import rice at $430 per metric tonne.

On the first 30 days 1 lakh metric tons of rice would arrive and rest 3 lakh metric tons of rice reach within another 30 days to Chittagong port.

Meanwhile, 12 thousand metric tonnes of rice have already arrived in the country and 46,700 metirc tonnes would arrive by April 10 under the accord with West Bengal Essential Commodities Supply Corporation (WBECSCL) through ships, trucks and railways.

ACC chief on Truth Commission: None should be given special privilege

UNB, Dhaka

Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said the ACC would have no disagreement if the government wants to form a Truth Commission, but he felt that no one should be given any special privilege.

"We do know what proposals there are. We've made a draft of our statements and we'll send it to the appropriate authority. Our main statement will be that no special group should be given any special privilege and that has to be ensured through a legal process," the ACC chairman told his monthly briefing.

"Anyway…If the government thinks it's necessary to form the Truth Commission, we'll have no disagreement with that (move)," he said.

The anti-graft watchdog received the draft proposal of the proposed Truth Commission in early March and since then it has been thoroughly examining the nitty-gritty of the proposal in light with the ACC's laws and its ongoing activities.

Replying to a question, Mashhud said there would be no chance for the ACC and the Truth Commission to deal with the same person.

Sought comments on the allegations made by BNP leaders that the ACC is being politically used, he said in the last one year the ACC proved that it is not being politically used. "We've been able to maintain transparency and are not influenced by anybody."About the controversy over the appointments to the reconstituted Commission, including his own appointment and two other Commissioners, he said this is being done with a special purpose and they have been assured by the concerned authorities that the proper process has been followed. "It's not for us to see how we were appointed, I don't think any government does this kind of thing leaving any gap."

About the criticism for holding anti-corruption rallies and processions under the state of emergency, he said all these have been done with the government's permission. "I don't think it's a special concession."

Asked about the possibility of announcing any new list of corrupt suspects, the ACC chairman said the Commission is not considering publishing any list right at the moment.

Responding to a question about corruption in allocation of plots in 'Media Village', he said in the future he would like to look into this, but it is not under consideration at this moment.

In reply to a question about looking into corruption by the Bangladesh Army, the former Army chief there has been no specific allegation of corruption against the Army personnel.

When reminded about some complaints made to the ACC by members of the public, he said to his knowledge there is only one such complaint and the Commission would find it out how it would be dealt with - whether as per the military rules or civil law.

"If it falls within the civil law, then the Commission (itself) would deal with it, if it falls under the military law, the Army headquarters and the Army chief would be informed about that," he told the journalists.

In his opening remarks at the briefing, the ACC chairman said the Commission is trying to take forward with new vigour the cases stalled due to writs and stays.

Providing statistics, he said so far there have been 41 verdicts in the cases filed by the Commission and some 60 cases are now in courts.

The works on 22 charge sheets are going on, Mashhud said, adding that the reconstituted Commission has so far filed 174 cases- investigations into 90 cases are on while 90 cases are under inquiry.

Describing the Commission's corruption prevention activities like rallies and processions, he said within a few days there would be some limited preventive activities at the upazila-level too. "There would be some activities like debates, open discussions and extempore speeches for college students."

The ACC chairman said it was supposed to be finalised in today's (Thursday's) meeting between the ACC and Public Service Commission that recruitment would be made as per the ACC's new organogram. "If the PSC agrees, we'll be able to recruit people and we'll be able to increase the volume of our works."

He said the way the Commission is moving forward it would make a satisfactory progress, if there is no unforeseen obstacle.

Asked what obstacles he apprehends, Mashhud mentioned things like organisational and financial independence of the Commission.

Trial adjourned as Hasina falls ill in dock

UNB, Dhaka

The top counsel for detained former premier Sheikh Hasina yesterday opposed prosecution motion for indicting her in the barge-mounted power-plant case, saying that she has been targeted by a powerful vested quarter to destroy her political career forever on fictitious graft charges.

However, the charge hearing in its second part was adjourned abruptly as Hasina fell ill in the dock after listening to the submissions by her counsel for an hour in favour of her discharge from the case.

As the submission by Barrister Shafique Ahmed remained inconclusive, the court adjourned the hearing until April 7.

The defence attorney termed the graft charge involving the power-plant deal during her tenure as PM "false, concocted and baseless".

Moving a discharge petition, Barrister Shafique told the special court that, on a plain reading and scrutiny of the First Information Report (FIR), it comes clear that no case has been disclosed or made out against Hasina under section 161/163/164/165/165A/109 of the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

"Ex-facie no case is maintainable against her; but even then, the EPR has been mechanically entertained in utter disregard of law and with an ulterior motive," the counsel pleaded.

Barrister Shafique submitted that there is no material whatsoever to show that any gratification or money or pecuniary advantage was ever received by then Prime Minister Hasina either for herself or for the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust or she aided or abetted the commission of any offence.

He argued that the informant lodged the FIR with Tejgaon police station on 2.9.2007 after about a decade of the alleged commission of the offence although he had ample opportunity to lodge the FIR during BNP-led 4-party alliance rule (2001-2007).

"Moreover," he went on, "the informant has failed to explain the cause of inordinate delay in lodging the FIR after the successive governments have been established."

Barrister Shafique told the court that prima facie there is no material on record to show that Hasina was in any way connected with the alleged offence. Since there is no cogent and credible material and no sufficient ground for proceeding against her, she should be discharged from the proceeding of the case.

He further argued that a plain reading of the FIR, charge sheet, statements of prosecution witnesses and the charge proposed by the prosecution no overt or covert act of taking gratification attracting the ingredients thereof has been alleged against Hasina, also president of Awami League.

"Thus it can be readily perceived that my client does not come within the four corners of the ambit of taking gratification by any stretch of imaginationt And, as such, she cannot be charged as proposed and therefore she should be discharged."

Citing section 241A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the barrister submitted that the court must evaluate all the material and record of the case and discharge the accused, if there be no sufficient grounds for proceeding against her, so that frivolous cases do not occupy the time of the court and innocent persons are not subjected to the rigours and expenses of a full-scale criminal trial.

Today the court resumed at 9:47 am, five minutes after the principal accused, Hasina, was brought before the court from the nearby makeshift sub-jail at the parliament-bhaban complex amid tight security.

Earlier, the special court judge, M Firoz Alam, summarily rejected a defence plea for adjournment of hearing of the discharge petition until Hasina recovers fully.

On March 9, the prosecution proposed framing charge against Hasina and other accused in the Khulna barge-mounted power- plant case.

On September 2 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case, as a countrywide purge in the interim period has been underway since the January 11, 2007 changeover.

The anti-graft watchdog complained that Hasina, the then prime minister, and others in the nexus, through mutual understanding and use of influence, had helped the foreign company and its local partners win the deal for setting up the 100MW power plant in Khulna by depriving the lowest bidder.

Also the case statement says a few days before and after the deal, the three companies had paid Tk 3 crore as largesse, which was spent for buying a house with some land in Dhanmondi for Bangabandhu Memorial Trust set up and controlled by Hasina.

The co-accused include former power and energy secretary Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former Power Development Board (PDB) chairman Noor Uddin Mahmud Kamal, Managing Director of Summit Industries and Mercantile Corporation Private Ltd Aziz Khan and Director Farid Khan, and United Group Chairman Hasan Mahmud Raja and Director Abul Kalam Azad.

Among the 8 accused, Hasina and Dr Towfiq, both in custody, appeared in the court while the rest remained fugitive.

Parole plea for Tarique, Koko Khaleda asks kins to wait

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is learnt to have advised both of her daughter-in-laws-Dr Zubaida Rahman and Sharmily Rahman Shithy-to wait for a few days for her reply to their request for saving their respective husbands from facing possible trial in Nagar Bhaban and Gulisthan-Jatrabari Fly over scams through allowing them to submit petition for their conditional release on parole, informed sources said yesterday.

Dr Zubaida Rahman, the wife of her detained eldest son and political heir Tarique Rahman and Sharmily Rahman Shithy, the wife of her imprisoned and ailing youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko, recently made the plea meeting Begum Zia, also the BNP Chairperson, at her prison bungalow recently.

Dr Zubaidah and Sharmily also pleaded their mother-in-law to go abroad along with both of her sons, now undergoing treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, accepting the official parole conditions, which include a guarantee to refrain from calling anti-government campaign and returning the illegally amassed money that her eldest son Tarique Rahman, also the Senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP, laundered abroad.

Assuring her daughter-in-laws that she would actively consider their plea shortly, the BNP Chief, however, issued a statement to release her youngest son-Koko-for treatment abroad.

She made the statement through her lawyers, who met her recently.

Sources close to the leadership of the anti-reform faction of the BNP yesterday disclosed that a section of their leaders were trying to launch an anti-government movement within the shortest possible time unitedly with rightists forces, including some components of the previous four-party alliance and some pro-Islamic political parties, which might have infuse a more vigour in Begum Zia, who is termed by her followers as the 'uncompromising leader”.

Special Court Judgement: Huda jailed, Sigma acquitted Janakantha editor Masud, wife sentenced

Staff Reporter

A Special Court, trying high-profile corruption cases, yesterday sentenced detained former Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda to 12 years imprisonment in graft charge, but acquitted his wife Sigma.

Judge M Ashraf Hossain sentenced the BNP leader to 10 years in jail for amassing wealth illegally and another two years for concealing information about his actual assets.

Another Special Court yesterday jailed business tycoon and Janakantha editor Atiqullah Khan Masud for 13 years and his fugitive wife for three years for making illegal wealth.

With yesterday prison sentences, Barrister Huda and Masud both have been jailed in more than one graft case after they were arrested under the ongoing purge against high-profile corruption suspects in the interim period.

The Court found Barrister Huda guilty on two counts - amassing wealth illegally and concealing information on his wealth. Huda turned out to be a powerful leader of BNP, as one of his brother-in-laws married cousin sister of late president Ziaur Rahman that help him amassing huge amount of illegal wealth while in power.

The court also fined Barrister Huda to pay Tk 10 million (one crore) or, in default, to serve one year more in jail.

Besides, the court ordered the government to confiscate Tk 1 crore of Huda, including his pleasure villa.

On July 11 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against the Huda couple for a mismatch between their wealth and the wealth statements they had submitted earlier to the watchdog.

ACC assistant director Talebur Rahman filed the case with Dhanmondi Police Station accusing Barrister Huda and his wife, Sigma Huda, of amassing wealth worth Tk 83 million (8.3 crore) by illegal means.

The complainant stated that the Huda couple did not mention wealth worth Tk 21.9 million (2.19 crore) in the statement.

The couple in their wealth account to the ACC disclosed assets worth Tk 40.2 million (4.02 crore).

On investigation, the anti-graft watchdog found another chunk of Tk 68.5 million (6.85 crore) in their possession.

Earlier, On August 27 last year, a similar special court sentenced Huda to seven years in prison while his wife Sigma Huda given three years imprisonment in another graft case.

Meanwhile, Janakantha editor Atiqullah Khan Masud, already serving a jail term of seven years in a building-fraud case involving his real-estate business, was again sentenced yesterday for 13 years for owning ill-gotten wealth and concealing information thereof.

The special trial court also sentenced his wife Shamima A Khan, tried in absentia, to three years imprisonment for aiding and abetting her husband in protecting the property.

REHAB faces split over poll results

Staff Reporter

The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) yesterday declared names of 21 elected members of its executive committee, but ten of them belonging to green panel refused to accept the results stating that the election procedure was not rightly followed.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel, the dissident members said as per election articles of REHAB the election result was to be officially announced on April 18, but the Election Commission chief announced the result yesterday violating the article, said Mokarram Husain Khan, one of the dissident elected member of the executive committee.

He said that secret ballot is a fundamental right of every member and this process is universally accepted as the most fair from of election. Unfortunately, due to reasons unknown to us, the election was staged with the 'show of hands'. We vehemently protest this system, he said.

He told the pressmen the election results were unacceptable to them for tempering the due procedure.

We shall take the help of law of the land against this irregular practice of election.

The dissident ten members are Mokarram Husain Khan. M.G.R. Nasir, Shahriar Kamal. Major(Ret) Jamshed Hassan. Psc, MD. Wahiduzzaman, Ahmed Riad Momen, Rezaul Karim Khan, Syed Abubakar Siddique. Anisur Rahman Khan, Sultana Shaheda Islam.

The Green Panel won 10 posts of director out of total 21 posts in the first ever election of REHAB. Tanvirul Haq Probal was elected new president of REHAB. The ten other newly elected directors are Nasrul Hamid, Md Abdur Rahim Khan, Sayed Nazrul Biddut, Ln Khalled Mohammed Jewel Mollah, Mohammed Akter Biswas, Murad Iqbal Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman Dewan, Md mohsin Miah, Arshi Haider.

Moazzem Hussain Khan, former president of REHAB belonging to Nobodhara panel, was defeated in the election. He contested the post of president.

Out of total 354 REHAB members, 318 members cast their votes .50 candidates were in the race for 21 posts in the election, which was held for the first time since its establishment 16 years ago.

Hidden hunger persists in country, not famine, says Adviser

Staff Reporter

Disagreeing with the recent observation by an economist that a 'silent famine' has been prevailing in the country, the Food and Disaster Management Adviser Dr AMM Sawkat Ali yesterday categorically said a 'hidden hunger' is now persisting in the country rather than famine.

"When people die on a large scale due to starvation for scarcity of food then it can be termed as 'famine'," he said while speaking at a press briefing at the conference room of the Food and Disaster Management Ministry.

Listing the government initiatives for providing food to the marginalized people at affordable price, the Adviser, who is also in charge of the ministries of Health and Family Welfare said so far 137 metric tons of rice have been distributed under the Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice throughout the country. A total of 47 trucks have been engaged for selling of OMS rice throughout the country from the beginning of this month, he added.

He said that 40 more OMS rice trucks have added to the existing 15 in the capital city form yesterday.

He informed that 3 lakk 91 thousand and 228 people would get food under VGF programme up to the month of June as against 2 lakh 30 thousand and 328 people in the last year.

"Besides the VGF programme 44 thousand 5 hundred and 63 metric tons of rice would be provided to the distressed people under Gracious Relief (GR) programme" the Adviser said while mentioning different initiatives for the providing food to the poor of low income group.

Replying to a query he said rice has started arriving from India.

"The government has signed a contact with a private firm of India for importing 50 thousand metric tons of rice at a price of $ 397 per metric ton" he mentioned

He further said that USAID would provide 90 thousand metic tons of rice and 'Care' would supply it to the poor people.

He hoped that with the arrival of new harvest 'Boro' there would be no food crisis in the country.

Highlighting the importance of employment for the marginalized people Dr Sawkat Ali said Tk 100 crore has already been distributed to the District Commissioners (DC's) for creating employment and income generating projects for the poor people.

He said that per person will get Tk 150 as wage per day labour under Food for Work Programme, repairing roads and embankments, canal digging, tree plantation and nurturing.

"Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) is also working with different programmes at 118 upazilas of the country for employment of the poor people," the Adviser added.

Secretary and high officials of the Food and Disaster Management ministry among others, were present on the occasion.

IMF approves $217.7 m aid for Sidr victims

UNB, Dhaka

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday approved SDR 133 million (about $217.7 million) in emergency assistance to Bangladesh to assist the government's efforts to deal with the impact of severe damage caused by cyclone Sidr that hit the country on November 15 last year.

Cyclone Sidr and two preceding floods resulted in at least 4,400 deaths and disrupted the lives of millions of people in one of the poorest and most vulnerable regions of the country.

IMF says total damage, mainly to agriculture, housing and infrastructure, is estimated at US$2.7 billion, or 3.7% of Bangladesh's GDP.

The IMF's emergency assistance will support Bangladesh's international reserve position that has been put under pressure in the face of a sharp rise in disaster-related imports, including large volumes of food.

The IMF provides emergency assistance to member countries hit by natural disasters to help them meet immediate balance of payments financing needs, and to maintain or restore macroeconomic stability. Emergency assistance is repayable in eight equal quarterly installments over 3¼ to 5 years from the disbursement date. In line with the Executive Board's decision to subsidize emergency assistance for PRGF-eligible countries hit by natural disaster, the rate of charge on the assistance will be subsidized to 0.5 percent per annum, subject to resource availability, according to an IMF release issued on April 2.

At the conclusion of the Executive Board's discussion on Bangladesh, Takatoshi Kato, Deputy Managing Director and acting Chair, said: "We extend our deepest sympathy to the people of Bangladesh. The destruction, suffering, and loss of life caused by the floods of July-September and the cyclone of November 15 were devastating. It will take years to repair the physical damage, while the human loss is irretrievable."

He said: "The government, with the support of the international community, responded swiftly to the catastrophe. The authorities allocated food to expand the Vulnerable Group Feeding Program and provide for open market sales of rice. Budgetary funds have been allocated to augment social safety nets and to fund additional subsidies for fertilizer and fuel."

Kato said increased revenue collections, the reallocation of funds within the budget, and additional donor assistance have kept the budgetary impact of the disaster response within the parameters of the FY2008 budget.

"Damage to the agricultural sector will reduce economic growth in FY2008. The balance of payments has been adversely affected by the disasters, largely owing to a substantial rise in food imports, which has led to some pressure on international reserves," he added. The IMF official said support from the international community, including emergency assistance from the IMF, will therefore be crucial for financing needed imports while allowing international reserves to remain at about three months of import coverage. Ensuring that pledged aid commitments from donors are effectively mobilized and efficiently used will be crucial for the ultimate success of the recovery and reconstruction program.

Kato said as relief and reconstruction efforts proceed, the limits to implementation capacity and potential inflationary pressures will be an important consideration. In this regard, it is reassuring that the authorities intend to contain domestic financing of the government to budgeted levels.

He said a recovery in agricultural production, reconstruction activity, and an improved business climate should allow growth to recover in FY2009 to Bangladesh's medium-term potential growth path. The government is also working with stakeholders and donors to further improve the institutional setting for disaster management by developing a specific Disaster Response Fund, exploring other means of financial support, and establishing a dialogue with all development partners on a risk mitigation agenda related to global climate change.

Kato said the government has indicated their intention to maintain macroeconomic stability and pursue important reforms in the areas of revenue administration and policy, expenditure management, energy pricing, and state-bank reform.

44th convocation of DU on April 7

BSS, Dhaka

The 44th Convocation of Dhaka University (DU) will be held on April 7 at its playground.

A total of 3,885 graduates, including 2,042 female and 1,843 male students, will receive their certificates at the convocation. The DU Authorities will award 67 gold medals to 52 students for their outstanding academic performances on the occasion.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, who is also the Chancellor of the university, will chair the function. The convocation will be attended by advisers of the caretaker government, representatives from the foreign missions in Bangladesh and other dignitaries.

Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin will attend it as the convocation speaker.

The DU authorities have decided to confer Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degrees on two language heroes---Gaziul Haque and Abdul Matin---at the convocation.

Talking to reporters yesterday, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz said that the two language veterans would be awarded with honorary degrees for their outstanding contributions towards establishing Bengali as the state language through movement in 1952.

The total cost of the convocation has been earmarked at Taka 62 lakh, the VC said.

A colourful procession will be brought out from the Curzon Hall of the university at the beginning of the convocation.

Graduates and guests of the convocation have been asked to take their seats at the venue by 9:15 AM on April 7.

There will be separate entrances to the venue for the graduates and guests, who will not be allowed to carry cameras, cellphones or handbags.

Security measures have been beefed up on the campus for the high-profile programme.

Int'l rice price hits record high

Agency, London

The price of rice has hit a record on fears demand will outstrip supply as governments move to curb exports of the staple food.

Rough rice for May delivery hit a record of $20.26 per 100lb, according to Bloomberg data.

Export restrictions are in place in major rice producing countries such as India, China, Vietnam and Egypt.

International rice prices have increased about 20% since the beginning of the year.

Rice is the staple food for about three billion people worldwide.

"Demand remained strong and there were several inquiries, especially demand for parboiled rice from African countries," said one rice trader in Bangkok.

Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter.

The Thai Rice Exporters Association said exporters fulfilled orders for 2,000 tonnes of rice on Thursday, while 10,000 tonnes were ordered.

The World Bank estimates 33 countries face potential social unrest because of rising food and energy prices.

The price of soybeans, corn and wheat are also near historic highs.

On Tuesday, India, the third largest rice exporter, banned the export of non-basmati rice to help control soaring domestic food costs.

The price for exports of aromatic basmati rice has also been raised to $1,200 per tonne to discourage exports.

AL, BNP welcome govt move for dialogue

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League and BNP yesterday welcomed the government-sponsored dialogue to be held this month, aiming to hold the stalled general election in a free, fair and credible manner.

"We welcome the dialogue, we're waiting for it as we first raised the demand for it to reach a national consensus," Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told UNB.

In reply to a question, he said issues like price-hike, state of emergency, pre-election atmosphere, law and order and reforms of different constitutional bodies will be raised by Awami League at the dialogue. "We'll also discuss the pre- and post-election situation," he said.

Asked whether the release of Sheikh Hasina will be raised, Ashraf said, "We hope our leader will be sent abroad for treatment before the dialogue. So, we would not require to raise the issue."

BNP joint secretary general Goyeshwar Chandra Roy said the planned dialogue would help remove unrest and distrust between political parties and the government.

He, however, suggested the presence of detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and detained Awami League president Sheikh Hasina to make the dialogue effective.

Pro-reform BNP acting secretary general Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said they would raise three points - transition to democracy, bringing down the soaring prices to a tolerable level and the release of Khaleda Zia-at the dialogue.

He hoped that the dialogue would be held without any condition from the government side.

EC lags behind in following polls roadmap

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday admitted that the Election Commission has lagged behind in following the election roadmap, as its electoral reforms could not be finalised timely due to the crisis over electoral dialogue with BNP.

"The electoral reforms were scheduled to complete by March (this year) as per the election roadmap that we couldn't. And it can be said that we've slipped at this point only, not in any other points," he told journalists when asked about the delay in finalising the electoral reforms.

A decision on the proposed dialogue with BNP is expected to come on April 10 following the hearing of a writ filed with the High Court.

Detained former Prime Minister and party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia challenged the EC decision inviting the Saifur-Hafiz BNP faction to the electoral dialogue.

Asked whether the EC is considering any alternative options in case the defeated faction of BNP made an appeal against the verdict, Huda said, "Do I know what'll be the verdict? Let it come first, we'll see then."

The CEC expected that the matter would be resolved on April 10 allowing the EC to quickly complete its pending tasks.

"The government has an expectation of its own and we've ours. The expectations of both of us are supplementary to each other and at the same time independent too," the CEC remarked when journalists said the government hopes that the EC needs to complete its electoral reforms soon.

About the delay in holding city corporation elections, CEC Huda said there is a specific timeline for each of the component of the election roadmap.

"It's being said in the roadmap that the local-body elections will be held from January to October… You're following the starting point, not the cutup point," he said.

"The EC is not lagging behind in following the election roadmap in this regard," the CEC said, adding that they would hold the local-body elections by October next.

Asked if the CEC has any grievance or apprehension as the electoral reforms could not be completed timely, he replied in the negative and said, "What is there to be aggrieved?"

"The fact is we've lagged behind. People feel happy to complete a task timely. We had decided to complete the electoral reforms by March what we couldn't," he said.

About the government's decision on holding dialogue with the political parties this month, much before getting the EC's report on its electoral dialogue, CEC Huda said there is no connection between the government and EC in this regard as the government is doing its job and the EC is theirs. "The government isn't sitting idle with our agenda," he said.

Earlier, the government had declared it would sit with the political parties only after the completion of the electoral dialogue between the EC and political parties.

Besides, CEC Huda said on several occasions that the government is looking forward to the EC's report on its electoral dialogue as there are some different issues came up from its previous dialogue which is beyond the purview of the EC.

He said it is the government that should resolve the matters and the EC could only suggest the government on those.

JCD threatens movement if power not handed over to elected representatives

DU Correspondent

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders warned the government that they would launch a tougher movement like the mass movement of `90 if they did not hand over power to the elected representatives withdrawing the state of emergency soon.

They claimed that the present Caretaker Government had turned the country into a bigger jail.

They said this while addressing a crowded press conference at the Modhu`s Canteen of Dhaka University yesterday.

JCD General Secretary Shafiul Bari Babu accused the government of filing cases one after another against the Zia family with a view to tarnishing its image.

With ill motive, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as per its assignment given by the government filed recently two cases against Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of detained Tarique Rahman and her mother Iqbal Mand Banu, he said.

Demanding the release of two former prime ministers-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, Babu said the government is also oppressing the political detainees in the name of jail code.

The government should give election as soon as possible otherwise they have to face mass uprising, said Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, senior vice president of the organisation. He said they could go in joint movement with Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) if it is necessary.

Vice president Mustafa Khan Safari, Akramul Haque Biplab, Nurul Islam Nayan, Amirul Islam Alim, organising secretary Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel, Bazlul Chowdhury Abed, JCD DU president Hasan Mamun and general secretary Saiful Islam Firoz, among others, were present in the press conference.

Besides, the students under the banner of 'Oppression against student movement' brought out a procession on the DU campus demanding release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia and the Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.

Later, the organisation held a rally at the Aparajeyo Bangla where convener of the organisation Khomeni Ehsan, among others, spoke and demanded immediate release of the aforesaid leaders.

NOAB concern over newsprint price hike

UNB, Dhaka

Newspaper owners expressed deep concern over an "arbitrary" raise to the price of newsprint by local manufacturers.

In a joint statement yesterday, Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) president Mahbubul Alam and acting president of Bangladesh Sangbadpatra Parishad (BSP) Abul Asad said that Shahjalal Newsprint of Bashundhara Group and Capital Newsprint increased the price of newsprint as high as Tk 10,000 per ton.

"The huge price hike would push the newspaper industry into a grave financial crisis," they apprehended in the statement.

They urged local manufacturers to refrain from taking any step puts the newspaper industry in jeopardy.

Condolence meeting on Prof. Asaduzzaman to be held Saturday Created On: 03/04/2008 06:13 PM Dhaka, Apr 3 (UNB) - A condolence meeting in memory of former UGC chairman Prof. Dr M Asaduzzaman will be held at TSC auditorium of Dhaka University at 10am on Saturday (April 5).

Relatives, colleagues, students and well wishers of the late Asaduzzaman have been requested to attend the meeting to be organised by Public Administration Department of DU.