The New Nation - Internet Edition

Britain urges Bangladesh to lift state of emergency: UK-Bangla terrorist outfits have links, claims Smith

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith addressing a
press conference at the residence of British High
Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in the city on Wednesday. NN
photo

Staff Reporter

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday urged the caretaker government to lift the state of emergency ahead of parliamentary elections planned by the end of the current year.

"Achieving democracy is vital for Bangladesh's future stability," she told a crowded press conference at the British High Commissioner's residence in the city.

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury and Director of the UK Border Agency Mark Sedwill were present at the press conference.

The British Home Secretary arrived in Dhaka late on Tuesday on a three-day visit to discuss the forthcoming election and other bilateral issues.

"We (Bangladesh and Britain) have reached an agreement to share responsibility in tackling terrorism," she said.

Jacqui Smith revealed that terrorist outfits of Britain and Bangladesh have potential linkages.

Senior government and intelligence officials of the two countries would meet in June to work out short-and long-term measures to tackle the extremism.

"Yes, there is a potential linkage between terrorists in Britain and terrorists in Bangladesh and we have shared interest and shared endevaour to tackle it through both short-and long-term measures," she said.

Smith, who had series of meetings with the Chief Adviser, Home Adviser, Foreign Adviser and the Army Chief yesterday, said as short-term mechanism the two countries agreed to share information to catch the terrorists killing people in both Britain and Bangladesh. And long-term measures are to prevent people from joining terrorist acts.

Replying to a question, the Home Secretary said, "We agree with the US analyses about Huji-B as potential threat."

The US State Department on March 5 designated Harkat-Ul-Jihad-i-Islami-Bangladesh (Huji-B) a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization'. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the leader of Huji-B signed the February 1998 fatwa sponsored by Osama bin Laden that declared American civilians to be legitimate targets for attack. Since then, Huji-B has been implicated in a number of terrorist attacks.

"We value our counter-terrorism relationship with Bangladesh very highly," she said, adding, "Sadly, both our countries have known the horrors of indiscriminate terrorist violence and have seen damaging effect of extreme ideology which only nurture divisions, fear and suspicion."

Smith noted that Bangladesh has shown commitment to tackling terrorism and "We welcome recent successes in making arrests. "There can be no room for complacency, however. It is important also to address root causes of radicalization."

Asked about the general election in Bangladesh, Smith said durable and sustainable elections are important for the future of Bangladesh nationally and internationally and expressed her firm optimism that the elections are going to be held according to the announced roadmap.

The visiting Home Secretary said during her talks with the government and the military leaders, she was reassured that institutional reforms, registration of voters and other necessary elements are on the right track to deliver a credible election.

"Achieving democracy that can endure will be vital to Bangladesh's future stability, development and prosperity," she told the journalists, adding that the UK, as a close friend of Bangladesh and its people, supports the process and ambition for transparent, inclusive and fair elections of the highest standard before the end of 2008."

Smith said Britain encourages positive participation in dialogue for inclusive election and consensus over reforms which can sustain democracy in Bangladesh beyond that.

Asked whether the United Kingdom will show liberal attitude to Bangladeshi chefs for British curry industry, the Home Secretary said the matter was raised and discussed at every meeting she had in Dhaka.

She said the British curry industry run by Bangladeshis is making significant contribution to the British economy. And would talk to the catering association in London as to how to develop skills of chefs so they can come under the British point-based immigration policy.

In reply to a question about recovery from abroad of the money

siphoned off by corrupt politicians, Smith said she would certainly look into it and help recover the stolen assets if they could be identified.

Our Sylhet Correspondent reports: The visiting British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said they wanted to see a strong and accountable government in Bangladesh, which would strengthen relations between two countries.

Smith was talking to newsmen during her brief stay in the town yesterday. She hoped that a strong and accountable government would be established in Bangladesh soon.

The British Secretary who flew in here by helicopter opened a campaign against 'forced marriage' by pasting sticker on auto rickshaw in front of circuit house.

Speaking at the function she said Bangladesh has the second highest number of forced marriage in the world. She assured that her government would extend all out cooperation for prevention of forced marriage.

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury was present at the function.

Food crisis won’t go without agri dev: Round table in city told

Staff Reporter

Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman Wednesday stressed increased investment in the agriculture sector.

"We've been neglecting the agriculture since the 80s although it's the backbone of our economy. Investment in this sector has significantly decreased over years. Such negligence must be stopped right now," he said.

He was addressing a roundtable conference on "Food safety and Modernisation of Farm Management" at the BRAC Center yesterday in the capital, jointly organised by BRACK and Weekly 2000.

The roundtable was moderated by BRACK executive director Dr Mahbub Hossain, where Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim shared his views.

After long discussion, the roundtable came up with a unanimous opinion that Bangladesh, as a country, would never be able to get rid of "food crisis" if it continues to neglect the agriculture sector in the name of industrialisation.

"We have to make the farmer and farming sector the focal point of national policy," said Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur.

He recommended short- and long-term projects for food safety and said: "We have started discussion on how we can stock Boro paddy. We have also increased the quantity of rice to be sold in the open market to one lakh ton."

"We must understand that nobody is going to help us tackle the food crisis. We will have to find out a solution to our own problem. And return to the agro-based economy is the only way-out," Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim told the roundtable.

Former Agriculture Ministers Matia Chowdhury and MK Anwar were also present at the round table.

Dr CS Karim laid emphasis on public-private partnership for the modernisation of agriculture in Bangladesh.

He, however, appreciated the past governments for development of infrastructures in the agriculture sectors, but voiced concern over the rapid shrinking of croplands in the country and called for measures to check it.

He said from now on the country's universities, government and non-government institutions must increase research works aiming to give a further boost to farm output.

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the agriculture has to be retaken in the focal point of the country's economy.

Former Agriculture Minister MK Anwar said the present food crisis is nothing but the consequence of a severe negligence of the agriculture sector.

Delwar sets conditions, Hafiz to have talks: AL demands Hasina’s release before dialogue

Delwar

Hafiz

Shahidul Islam

The Government is expected to abandon its plan to hold a joint formal dialogue with all political parties, as the Awami League and Jatiya Party (Ershad) have categorically refused to sit for such a (joint) meeting, if leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and war criminals were invited.

Instead, the formal dialogue would be held bilaterally with each party separately like that of the two earlier rounds of parleys held between the Election Commission (EC) and politicians, sources close to the Political Committee of Council of Advisers told The New Nation last night after their informal meeting with the leaders of Jatiya Party (Ershad) yesterday.

"The Government can neither ignore the two major political parties nor the Jamaat-e-Islami, which is one of the four major political parties of the country according to their representation in the last Parliament," an Adviser, who attended the meeting told this Correspondent seeking anonymity.

When contacted, AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed, who led his party's delegation to the informal talks on Monday, and Jatiya Party (JP) Acting Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, who led his party's team, confirmed the development.

The AL and JP, however, agreed with the Government proposal for the presence of important stakeholders, like the FBCCI, BGMEA and media representatives during the formal talks, Tofail and Barrister Anis added.

Meanwhile, Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, who is maintaining liaison with the political leaders, contacted AL Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday seeking appointment for the second round of informal talks, amid preconditions set on the same day by the AL leaders and BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain. Both the major political parties called upon the Government to create an atmosphere congenial for the talks.

The AL's preconditions include the unconditional release of all political prisoners, particularly the party Chief and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and an immediate meeting between the detained BNP Chairperson and former premier Begum Khaleda Zia and Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who leads the anti-reform faction of the BNP.

Acting Secretary General of the BNP (pro-reform) Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, however, disagreed with the assertion saying, "The pre-conditions for the release of the two detained former Prime Ministers would not only foil the dialogue it would ultimately push the country backward to the politics of confrontations and civil war, which was averted by the January 11 changeover."

AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam after a meeting of the party's Presidium, the highest policymaking body, with Acting President Zillur Rahman in the chair at his Ivy Tower residence in Gulshan, said that his party would not sit for a second round of informal talks with the Government if it did not get a formal invitation.

Pahela Boishakh to be celebrated in New York

Preparation for the celebration of the first day of
the Bengali New Year, Pahela Baishakh, in full swing at the
Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University yesterday.
FocusBangla

BSS, New York

Various socio-cultural organisations are taking preparations to celebrate 'Pahela Boishakh', the first day of Bengali New Year, here.

The main function of Pahela Boishakh will be organized by Dramas Circle, New York. This organization has been organizing Bengali New Year celebrations for more than a decade.

The Drama Circle is taking preparations to hold a function at Dhaka Club in New York on April 13, the day before Pahela Boishakh, to celebrate the first hour of the Bengali calendar year.

The programme will begin at 7 pm local time and continue till midnight. Organizers said 'panta-ilish' (soaked rice and hilsha fish) will be available in the function.

New US envoy James Moriarty arrives today

James Moriarty

Staff Reporter

The US Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh, James F. Moriarty, arrives Dhaka today (Thursday) to take up his new assignment.

Ambassador Moriarty was nominated by President Bush on September 5, 2007 and confirmed by the US Senate on March 13. He was sworn-in by Secretary of State Rice in Washington on March 26.

Ambassador Moriarty is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, rank of Minister-Counselor.

Prior to this assignment, he served as US Ambassador to Nepal between 2004 and 2007.

Before moving to Nepal, Ambassador Moriarty served in 2002-2004 as Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director at the National Security Council.

He was responsible for advising on and coordinating U.S. policy on East Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific region. Ambassador Moriarty also worked in the White House in 2001-2002 as NSC Director for China Affairs.

Steps taken to increase food stock: CA

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the government has taken steps to increase food stock through import and local procurement aiming at ensuring food safety in the country.

"It (government) has undertaken various programmes including Open Market Sale (OMS) as the prime objective of the present government is to keep prices of essential commodities within a tolerable limit," he said.

The Chief Adviser made the remarks while talking to press after making surprise visits to three BDR-run OMS outlets in the city's Mirpur, Agargaon and Pallabi areas.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said the government attaches special importance to agriculture in the next budget to boost production, as there is no alternative of increasing production to keep the prices of essential commodities stable.

He said the government also gives utmost priority to employment generation to increase the purchasing capacity of people.

Listing various programmes of the government, he said VGD and VGF programmes have been intensified across the country as part of increasing social safety net.

Referring to seasonal employment, he said the present government has taken various steps for raising periodic job opportunities across the country especially in the rural areas.

In this connection, the Chief Adviser said the ministry of food has taken a Taka 100 crore project while the ministry of communications and LGED have taken similar programmes to this end.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed called upon the media to play a due role to keep the prices of essential commodities at a tolerable level under the present situation.

During his visit, the Chief Adviser talked to the waiting people, who came to buy rice from the BDR outlets, and enquired about whether they were facing any trouble in getting consumer goods from the OMS outlets.

The people requested the Chief Adviser to take steps so that one person could get 10-KG of rice instead of the existing five- KG.

In reply, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed told the people standing in long queues outside the BDR-run OMS outlet to keep patients saying Boro harvest has already been started. "You have no need to be worried and if necessary quantity would be increased," he added.

At Government Music College in Agargaon, the people informed the Chief Adviser that they are getting five-KG of rice per head at a cost of Taka 25 per KG. They also told him that they had to wait for long to get the rice due to the long queue.

The Chief Adviser told them that steps would be taken so that people could get the rice in a shortest possible time. In this context, he stressed increasing number of counters in every outlet to facilitate the process.

Later, he also visited the BDR-run OMS outlets near Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in Mirpur-2 and Kalayanpur BRTC Depot where he also talked to the people standing in long queues to buy rice from the BDR-run OMS outlets.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) is selling rice from its 50 OMS outlets in the city. The number of outlets would be increased to 75 from next week due to demand of the people, sources said.

Secretary to the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) Kazi M. Aminul Islam and Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim, among others, accompanied the Chief Adviser during his visit.

Buriganga Bridge-III project shelved

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

The under-construction project of Buriganga Bridge-III in Basila has been shelved due to fund constraints.

Earlier, the authorities of the project sought financial assistance from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) for construction of the approach road, linking Satmasjid Road to the bridge, said official of the project.

The KFAED authority had, at the start of the project, rejected the request for funding the approach road, said officials of the Roads and Highways Department (R&HD).

The bridge would lose its meaning without the approach road. Currently a twenty-foot wide road winds its way to link up the Beri Bandh (cross-dam) with Basila, they added.

The R&HD was again writing to the KFAED authority through the ERD seeking financial assistance for the approach road. Only a small area needed to be acquired to extend the Satmasjid Road up to Beri Bandh and thus create easy access to the Basila Bridge, said an engineer of the department.

"The original master plan shows Satmasjid Road continuing up to Beri Bandh, but it was never possible because a powerful politically-backed syndicate of land grabbers illegally occupied the area and built a tin-shed market," said an official of the project.

Recently, the syndicate put up a huge signboard announcing launching of a construction work of a multi-storied commercial-cum-housing project.

"The area is clearly a public land under the Ministry of Land, I cannot understand how these people could get Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) permission to build such a project on a public land," said the project official.

"If this planned high-rise building is constructed on the designated approach road it would be time consuming to demolish it, now is the time for the government to take over the area," said residents of Katashur in Mohammadpur area.

The officials of the R&HD are hopeful of a positive response from the KFAED. They said anyone would understand how vital it is for the bridge to have a wide approach road for smooth flow of traffic.

"If the approach road is not built, a permanent traffic jam would grip the Mohammadpur area and many people would avoid using the bridge," said an engineer of the R&HD.

The Buriganga Bridge-III project costs Tk 49 crore is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

More than 30 per cent of the work has been completed well ahead of schedule. But the work is currently passing through a hurdle due to complications arising from further land acquisition.

Once completed the bridge would connect a vast area in Keraniganj linking Mawa in the south and Savar road in the north. With the start of the construction work, prices of land in Keraniganj have soared.

A huge volume of traffic, including heavy goods-loaded vehicle, will use the vital link between Dhaka and the southern and northern parts of the country, said traffic management experts.

Four advisers meet JP leaders

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Four caretaker government advisers held an informal meeting with Jatiya Party leaders at the Rail Bhaban on Captain Abdul Gani Road yesterday, a JP leader said.

The meeting, meant to discuss the dialogue between the government and political parties, began shortly before 7.00pm.

Acting JP chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud, secretary general advocate Ruhul Amin Hawladar, presidium member GM Quader and Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu were present at the meeting.

After the meeting, the acting JP chairman told reporters: "We had talks with the four advisers on holding a peaceful polls and post-election government."

"The advisers sought our opinion," he said.

Barrister Anisul said the government would hold dialogue after the pre-dialogue talks with the political parties.

"The advisers told us that they want to hold a peaceful election by December."

The JP leader said they had talked about the demand for lifting the state of emergency and brining qualitative changes to different constitutional organisations.

Communications adviser Ghulam Quader, foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, LGRD adviser Anwarul Iqbal and education adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman represented the government at the meeting.

Barrister Anisul had earlier told bdnews24.com that an adviser had invited them for informal talks.

Law adviser AFM Hassan Ariff, Ghulam Quader, Anwarul Iqbal, Iftekhar Ahmed and Hossain Zillur held a meeting with Awami League leaders Monday.

The government approached both factions of the BNP Tuesday for similar informal talks leading up to the proposed formal dialogue between the government and political parties.

JCD, BCL gear up agitation on DU campus: Release of Khaleda, Hasina demanded

DU Correspondent

Student wings of the two major political parties are gearing up their agitation on the Dhaka University campus to press their demand for the release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.

The two organisations, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)-yesterday staged demonstration separately on the campus as part of their movement.

A good number of JCD activists took part in the demonstration and held a rally at the 'Battala' near the Arts Building of the university. It was addressed by JCD central general secretary Shafiul Bari Babu, senior vice-president Sultan Salah Uddin Tuku, organising secretary Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel, DU unit president Hasan Mamu and general secretary Saiful islam Firoz, among others.

BCL also brought out a procession from Modhu`s Canteen and held a rally at the Aparajeyo Bangla. Addressing the rally BCL president Mahmud Hasan Ripon urged the government to release Sheikh Hasina for her better treatment. Otherwise, the government would have to face tougher mass movement, he warned.

"The government has no right to delay the national election on different pleas because its only one function is to hand over the power to the elected representatives of the people by holding polls," he said.

BCL DU unit president Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, general secretary Sazzad Sakib Badsha, among others, spoke at the rally.

A group of students under the banner of 'Protest oppression student movement" held a rally at the Aparajeyo Bangla alleging that India is trying to create famine in the country in a planned way.

Later, they moved toward the Indian Embassy as per their previous decision but the police intercepted them at the Shahbagh intersection.

GMG air-hijack drama: KL airport suspends security officer

UNB, Dhaka

Malaysia's airport authorities suspended a security officer yesterday as a passenger took out a knife aboard a GMG flight and used it to cut an apple.

The GMG Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka made an emergency landing in Bangkok Tuesday after the passenger took out a fruit knife.

Kamaruddin Mohamed Ismail, a senior official of Malaysia Airports, said authorities were investigating how the man could take the knife aboard the plane. "The security officer on duty has been suspended pending further investigation," he said in a statement.

He said the man had carried "a fruit knife which he used to cut an apple."

Thai police had said Tuesday that the passenger brandished a 10-centimeter (4-inch) knife and threatened to hurt other passengers. Police described the man as mentally unstable.

New agency AP said the Thai police took him off the plane at Bangkok's Don Muang airport to send him to Bangladesh with airline security personnel on another flight of GMG, a low-cost Bangladeshi airline.

A flight of GMG Airlines, the country's first private airliner, made an emergency landing at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok Tuesday as an onboard passenger took out a knife.

The pilot of the GMG Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka asked for an emergency landing at 9:30 am (0230 GMT) after a passenger, Harun Or Rashid, took out the knife.

The captain made the request at 9.15am and two fighter jets from the Thai Air Force escorted the plane to land at the airport, which caters for domestic flights.

No charge was made against Harun as he did not commit any offence or harm passengers and crew.

Harun was being escorted to Bangkok's international airport, where he placed on a flight to Dhaka Tuesday afternoon.

Aviation officials could not explain how Harun Ali had got onto the plane with a knife.

The GMG flight, which had about 60 passengers, was grounded for about two hours in Bangkok before resuming its journey to Dhaka and it landed at Zia International Airport at 2:20pm.

Dialogue with EC: HC judgment on BNP leadership row today

UNB, Dhaka

All eyes are set on the High Court as it delivers judgment on the politically significant BNP leadership dispute centering upon the stalled dialogue on electoral reforms initiated by the Election Commission ahead of next general election.

The BNP leadership controversy surfaced when on November 5 last year the EC, ignoring Khaleda-appointed BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain, sent a letter to the reformist faction of Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed to participate in the dialogue.

As the immediate-past ruling party fell in trouble in the interim period following the EC decision, detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a writ petition before the High Court challenging validity of the Commission's letter inviting the reformist faction for the dialogue.

On November 18 last year, four days before the proposed dialogue, the High Court, responding to Khaleda's writ, had stayed operation of the EC letter to Major Hafiz, throwing the EC-sponsored per-poll dialogue into dilemmas.

The High Court had also issued a rule upon the EC in this regard.

Khaleda Zia had sought two remedies from the High Court-a declaration that the November 5 EC letter to Hafiz to represent the BNP and participate in the dialogue scheduled for Nov 22 is without lawful authority and a direction for the EC to invite Khandker Delwar Hossain for the dialogue.

On September 2 last year, hours before her arrest in connection with a corruption case, the ex-PM had sacked her secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan on charge of anti-party activities and handpicked Delwar as new secretary general.

Meanwhile, after eight weeks, on October 29, the reformist group led by M Saifur Rahman held a standing-committee meeting at his Gulshan house and appointed Maj (retd) Hafiz acting BNP secretary general.

Since the BNP leadership depends on the decision of the High Court ruling, the EC could not complete its dialogue programme with the political parties on electoral reforms.

On Feb 27 this year, the rule hearing on the writ petition began before the High Court division bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Mamnoon Rahman.

On March 24, the High Court concluded the legal battle after exhausting eleven working days and set April 10 for judgment.

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain appeared for the EC and senior advocate TH Khan for Khaleda Zia in the case of high political import.

Bangladesh-UK relations based on firm partnership, says Foreign Adviser

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has said the relationship between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom are rooted in history, and those shared values have been translated into an active 'strategic partnership' in contemporary times.

He made the remarks after a meeting Ms. Jacqui Smith, the UK Home Minister at State Guest House Padma yesterday afternoon.

The Foreign Adviser reportedly had asked for a 'special scheme' to allow for Bangladeshi restaurants in the UK to recruit from Bangladeshi cooks and chefs for their industry, which has an annual turn-over of over 3.5 billion pound.

"We also discussed key current issues including Climate Change and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, two areas in which our two countries are working closely together", Iftekhar said.

He said "We have appreciated British support to education and post-sidr rehabilitations. The recent talks between the Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Gordon Brown at No. 10 Downing Street took our relations to new heights."

Iftekhar said "Issues of counter-terrorism and how this can be best addressed also came up in the discussions."

5 of a family burnt alive in Ctg

Chittagong Correspondent

Four brothers and a sister had to die together when they were trapped inside a blazing room at village Eastern Gohira in Anwara slightly after zero hours on Wednesday.

The victims were identified as Rojina Akhter (10), a student of class IV of local primary school, Akbar Ali (8), Ali Asgar (7), Nizamuddin (5) and Abdul Karim (2). They were the sons and daughter of Mohammad Elias Ali.

Police quoting the neighborhoods said that frantic efforts of the kids to get out of the blazing hut went useless, as their parent had been out closing the kids from outside.

The fire is believed to have originated from mosquito coil that had been placed near the mosquito net at about 10:45 p.m. and spread over their hut quickly roasting the kids alive.

Neighbors said that Elias Ali and his spouse Rahima Khatun went to see one of their relations at a nearby village during the fire incident. The kids had been sleeping at that time.

Collective efforts of the neighborhoods and fellow villagers though doused the flames at about 12:20 a.m. all five kids were charred by then.

Police recovered the charred remains of the kids and took those to morgue for autopsy.

The incident made the villagers shocked like anything. Union Parishad Chairman and senior villagers visited the spot.