The New Nation - Internet Edition

5-day Boishakhi Fair begins

Mahila Songstha, a women's organisation, starts the
5-day-long Boishakhi Fair at its office at Bailey Road in
the city on Thursday. Banglar Chokh

UNB, Dhaka

A five-day Boishakhi Fair began on Jatiya Mohila Sangstha premises here yesterday.

Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury inaugurated the fair. Speaking on the occasion, she called upon the women entrepreneurs to work tirelessly for economic empowerment.

It is not possible to bring about development for women and their growth without economic empowerment, she said.

A total of 65 entrepreneurs from across the country are taking part in the fair which will continue till April 14. The fair will remain open for all from 10am to 8pm daily.

DMP opens ELS Cell on April 15

Staff Reporter

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will start the Expatriates Legal Service (ELS) Cell on 15 April to provide legal service to the Bangladeshi expatriates.

DMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed said yesterday to the reporters after a monthly review meeting on crime.

"All of us know that the expatriates are being cheated and harassed in many ways. That's why we are going to introduce the new service cell to remove their problems," he added.

Terming the expatriates as a major source of foreign exchange earner,

he said almost 70 lakh Bangladeshis are now working in many countries. Unfortunately, they sometimes fall prey to frauds while sending money home and many others were defraud in processing work visa for going to aboard.

The DMP commissioner said the newly introduced 8-member cell would scrutinise the allegations to be dropped at the DMP headquarters. If case of allegations were found genuine, the cell would advise the police station concerned to file cases.

The law and order situation in the capital city is under control, he said, adding that the figures of criminal activities in March were slightly lower than in February. There were 24 killings in the city in March as against 24 in February having 29 days.

Besides, 2,049 cases were lodged with 33 police stations in the city in March while the number was 1,782 in February, the Police Commissioner said.

If the month of February were of 31 days, the figure in March would be much bigger, as on are average some 60 to 65 cases were filed daily. This indicates law and order is showing slight improvement, he said.

Budget still depends on foreign aid

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam has brushed aside the country's ability right now to prepare a national budget without foreign aid, saying 40-50 percent of the development budget still depend on external financing.

"It's not possible, if we can't increase revenue earnings and if we' ve to widen and deepen the social safety net programmes," he told a pre-budget meeting with Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the Finance Ministry on Thursday. "We're yet to reach that economic situation… but we can have an objective to come out of the external assistance in the long run," said the Finance Adviser. He also rejected a notion that there would have no conditions against foreign aid, but one could have a look at the conditions whether they were harmful on a broader macro level.

In many cases, he added, a condition should not be considered as harmful when it will be attached on an agreed situation by both the lending agencies and the country.

"Harmful conditions do not come if we can convince the lending agencies," Dr Aziz said, speaking of his experience that Bangladesh could convince the IMF about the contractionery monetary policy as well as adjustment of fuel oil, gas and electricity. "This will be a year of record highest disbursement of subsidy against utility prices (fuel oil, electricity and gas)," he said. About rationing of essential items, he said non-price distribution is bound to create price corruption and massive misuse while there is a lack of delivery mechanism for rationing at this moment.

The Finance Adviser said the government has announced the new employment guarantee scheme, but is yet to design the scope of the programme.

Replying to a question, he said the amount of diesel subsidy, which could not be disbursed this fiscal year, would be carried over to next fiscal year.

He explained that the authorities took time to identify the beneficiaries of the subsidy while card system could not be introduced yet, making disbursement difficult.

Reportedly, the government has so far distributed Tk 250 crore from the Tk 750 crore allocated.

Supplementing the Adviser, Finance secretary Dr Mohammed Tareq said the subsidy only for the agriculture sector would be more than double this fiscal year. It will stand at around Tk 4,000 crore against an allocation of Tk 2,250 crore, he added.

Consumer courts should be set up in all dists

UNB, Dhaka

Consumer courts need to be set up in all districts of the country to make the proposed Consumer Rights Protection Ordinance'2008 consumer-friendly, speakers told a review meeting here yesterday.

They said it is not possible to establish consumer rights with the traditional judiciary system, as it is highly bureaucratic and time-consuming.

Arranged by Commerce Ministry at the conference room of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in the morning, the meeting was attended, among others, by senior officials of different ministries and departments, and representatives from private institutions and security agencies. Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman attended the function as chief guest.

Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed, Law secretary Kazi Habibul Awal, additional secretary of Home Ministry Sheikh Abdur Rashid, additional secretary of Commerce Ministry Golam Mustakin, Director General of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) Azmal Hossain, Chief Controller (Import and Export) Zahirul Alam, Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Shamsul Alam Khan, President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) Latifur Rahman and President of Consumers' Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Borhan Ahmed and businessmen, among others, addressed the meeting. The Commerce Adviser said the proposed consumers act is being reviewed for the last time before its finalisation following directives of the Council of Advisers.

After the meeting, Dr Hossain Zillur told UNB that he hoped the draft would be finalised in June next.

Most of the speakers at the meeting said the common people are unlikely to be benefited from the consumer rights act if it is enacted based on the present draft unless special consumer court is set up in every district of the country.

According to the draft, they said, a consumer is supposed to go to court for justice with the help of BSTI officials and it will take about 90 days to finalise the process of filing a case seeking trial of the accused manufacturer of products. Hence, there should be consumer courts where the common people will have direct access to filing cases.

About the demand for consumer courts, the law secretary admitted the necessity of setting up such consumer courts, but voiced concerned that if the government now wants to set up consumer courts it will take another five years to enact the consumers act.

Representatives of the business community also demanded formation of Arbitration Board for settling possible disputes among the sellers and buyers.

About the arbitration board, the law secretary said it is not necessary to set up such board as "thousands of disputes could be resolved just using our social conscience."

The meeting was told that the draft suggested formation of a Consumers Right Protection Council comprising 21 members headed by the commerce minister that will supervise implementation of the proposed law.

Bid to cut gas consumption: Self-monitoring in industries soon

BSS, Dhaka

Owners of different industries will soon start self-monitoring in their respective units to reduce gas consumption as part of the government's policy to stop misuse of this valuable mineral resource.

Talking to reporters after holding a meeting with the business leaders on Thursday, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Professor Dr M Tamim said they had assured him of giving a feedback report with positive outcome within the next two weeks in this regard.

Leaders of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association (BTMA) attended the meeting, held at the conference room of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral resources.

During the meeting, all important issues regarding rational use of gas and electricity came up for discussion and the business leaders agreed to extend their whole-hearted cooperation to the government's initiative to stop pilferage and reckless consumption of these resources. Dr. Tamim said he had successful talks with the business leaders on the government's plan for balanced use of gas in industries. "The business leaders will carry out self-monitoring in their respective industries to ensure limited use of gas," he said.

BKMEA President Fazlul Haque, BGMEA President Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez and BTMA President Abdul Hye Sarkar said the industry owners would exert their full capacity to stop misuse of gas in their respective units through self-monitoring system.

"There will be no enforcement to millers or industries. The existing problem in the gas sector is for all, not for the government alone. We all must see that our valuable gas is not misused," Dr. Tamim said. It is not easy now to boost gas supply, but we must meet our demand from the available amount, he added.

The Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser also urged the households to stop misuse of gas at home as he said rational as well as less use of this resource at all levels would greatly help reduce the gap between its demand and supply.

He expressed the hope that a positive change would take place in the gas sector within the next few weeks with limited consumption of this mineral resource in industries and households as well.

BGMEA chief said Bangladesh should not depend on gas only, rather the country must take into active consideration the use of coal to meet its power demand in near future.

"If the country's millers go for limiting gas consumption, the production will come down to an annual loss of Taka 120 crore" he said and stressed the need for use of coal to meet the energy challenges ahead.

ACC issues arrest warrant against Joynal Hazari

BSS, Feni

Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) issued another warrant against alleged 'godfather' and Awami League lawmaker Joynal Hazari.

Hazari has been awarded punishment in four cases out of 21 cases filed against him on different charges, including a number of murders.

In the four cases, the alleged godfather was awarded 3-year, 8-year, 7-year and life-term imprisonment respectively. While in the rest 17 cases, warrant were issued against him in some cases and others are now under investigation.

Public Prosecutor Sharfuddin Mahmud told BSS that in the same case another accused Khodeja Hazari, sister of Joynal Hazari, who got bail order from the High Court is keeping valid by the Special Judge M Nazrul Islam.

The court fixed the next date for hearing on May 12 next.

According to the case, ACC Deputy Director M Shafiqur Rahman filed the case with Feni Sadar police station accusing the alleged godfather and his sister Khodeja for hiding information about accumulation of assets.

After investigation, ACC submitted charge sheet before the chief judicial magistrate here on April 3 and later the case was transferred to special judge court for trial.

RU teachers demand withdrawal of explanation letter

RU Correspondent

One hundred and twenty teachers of the Rajshahi University yesterday urged the RU authorities to withdraw the explanation letter issued to a teacher of the university for his write-up in a Dhaka-based Bengali daily last month.

The write up by Prof. Rabiul Islam, a teacher of the Social Work Department, was published by

" Janakantha " on March 15.

Sharply reacting to the letter issued on Monday, the teachers of the university in a joint statement said issuance of the letter was a violation of fundamental right and freedom of expression. Asking for the withdrawal of the letter, they pointed out that it was aimed at harassing the teacher and inflicting mental torture on him. The withdrawal of the letter would help establish congenial academic atmosphere on the campus, they noted.

The signatories to the statement include Prof.Abdus Sohan, convener, Progressive Teachers' Society, Prof.Saidur Rahman Khan, former VC of RU, Prof.Mizan Uddin, Prof.Ananda Kumar Saha, Prof.Abul Kashem, Prof. Mahabubur Rahman and Prof.Mukhlesur Rahman.

Temporary food shortage not new: Nothing to do with non-political govt: CA

NB, Narayanganj

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Thursday said political or nonpolitical government is not a mater to reckon regarding the current situation as temporary food shortages have taken place at different times at home and abroad. He struck a note of optimism that if all, including political parties, people of different professions, elite and business community, carry out united efforts, the difficult time the country facing for food-price hike would be over soon.

The head of nonpolitical caretaker government made the remarks when asked if a political government could control price of commodities while he was talking to journalists at the Government Tolaram College crossing in Narayanganj after visiting some open Market Sale (OMS) outlets rationing rice in the district.

He noted that there had been food problem in many countries of the world having elected governments in power.

Mentioning the objective of the visit to OMS centres, he said he came to see how the dealers going on with the sale of rice at cut-down price under a government-sponsored countrywide marketing drive. The CA said he noticed two things - inadequate supply of rice to the centres and lack of efficiency in the management of rice selling. And he informed that they would take decision in this regard shortly. He also said decision to increase the outlets of OMS would be taken On Thursday.

Announcing a further step in the light of his firsthand view of the marketing operation, he further said that the amount of OMS rice would also be increased to some extent, as it was also increased last month.

The Chief Adviser said the government is carrying out efforts to increase supply of rice and efficiency in selling rice so that sufferings of people who come to buy rice are reduced. "The main objective of the government is to supply rice as much as possible before arrival of boro paddy through VGF, VGD, and KABIKHA in rural areas and through OMS in urban areas."

He said food assistance is being provided through about 45 lakh VGF and VGD cards across the country, which covers almost 1.5 crore to 1.8 core people if one family comprises three or four members.

Replying to a question he reiterated that the government would increase allocation for agriculture sector and for employment generation in the next budget. Short-and mid-term steps would be taken to boost production of cereals.

He further said special project for employment generation in public sector would be taken to create an employment-support system as, sometimes, employment opportunity decreases.

On today's Narayanganj tour to see the situation, the Chief Adviser first visited Siddhirganj Pool area OMS centre followed by New Hajiganj and finally at the OMS centre at the Tolaram College crossing in Chashara.

He talked to men, women and children in the queue for buying rice to know about the OMS, their problem, when they came to buy rice and other socioeconomic affairs through direct interaction. Under the open sale, 5kg rice is being sold to a family at Tk 25 per kilo. Dealers are selling the rice in OMS under the control of the Food Department.

On Wednesday, the Chief Adviser visited some BDR fair- price shops in the capital city to know the public impact about the government's steps to provide income support to fixed-income and low-income groups of people.

Ershad takes Raushan back to JP

Staff Report

Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad has cancelled an expulsion order against 11 leaders, including his estranged wife Raushan Ershad, the couple said in separate statements yesterday.

The former president said,'' I have reversed the expulsion decision in line with the party constitution.''

Former presidium members SMM Alam, Golam Mosih and Mashiur Rahman Ranga are among the 11 leaders who have been welcomed back to the party, said Raushan, referring to the party chairman's decision taken on Wednesday.

Raushan said: "I believe the party will be united under the leadership of HM Ershad and find a new way to overcome the national crisis. The party will be more consolidated in future."

Golam Mosih said, "Following the order, the Jatiya Party will be stronger than before. We welcome this decision."

Ershad had drifted away from the JP's active leadership for some time, giving place to Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, now acting chairman.

Later, Ershad took the reins of the party back, which Golam Mosih said was the "reflection of our demand".

Ershad has also withdrawn an expulsion order against JP's front organisation Krishak Party leaders Arshad Hossain and Ishaque Bhuiyan.

Chickens of only affected farms to be culled

BSS, Savar

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Fisheries and Livestock Manik Lal Samaddar yesterday said the government will cull only the chickens of the bird flu- affected poultry farms in future on an experimental basis.

The poultry farms within one kilometre of the affected ones will be kept under monitoring, and backyard poultry within half kilometre will be culled, he told a seminar at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute [BLRI]. Samaddar said a notification would be issued soon to this effect on the basis of the report of a committee formed in this regard. He said considering the financial losses incurred by the farmers this year, the government has withdrawn duty on the import of poultry feed, simplified the bank loan process and lowered the interest rate.

BLRI Director General Dr Jahangir Alam presided over the seminar on "Outbreak, Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza in Bangladesh," said a press release.

Director General of Department of Livestock Sunil Chandra Ghosh and former director general Dr Nazir Ahmed also addressed the seminar, among others. Prof Dr Mansurul Amin of Bangladesh Agriculture University and BLRI Senior Scientific Officer Dr M Giasuddin presented the keynote paper.

Among other issues, procrastination in the culling of chickens, unplanned slaughtering of chickens in markets and mismanagement in waste disposal were mentioned in the keynote paper as the main causes for the spread of bird flu.

To prevent these, it was recommended that there should have a general policy for setting up poultry farms, and registration of farms should be made compulsory.

After the seminar, the special assistant to chief adviser visited the national bird flu reference laboratory, the press release said.

$50m project for Sidr-hit people being launched

UNB, Dhaka

The US$ 50 million livelihood restoration project taken for the sidr-hit people is going to be launched this month with four worst affected upazilas being covered in the first phase.

The second phase would be the formal project launch, which would take place simultaneously in all the proposed unions by the end of June this year, said a World Bank information note yesterday.

Social Development Foundation (SDF) would implement the project to meet the emergency need to support restoration of livelihoods with financial assistance from the World Bank.

A recent World Bank mission appraised the implementing agency about the project and discussed the scope of the first year work programme and its implementation plan.

The project would be implemented as part of the government's ongoing programme-Social Investment Programme Project (SIPP).

With a focus on sustainable livelihoods and empowerment of the poor communities, the ongoing SIPP is being implemented in the poorest districts of the northwest region covering 2 million people.

Given the emergency need to provide quick livelihood support to the cyclone-affected communities, the government and the World Bank have agreed to expand the project to the southern districts to address the livelihoods restoration needs of the affected people.

The objectives of the proposed project would remain consistent with those of the ongoing SIPP project, which aims to empower the poorest and most vulnerable and improve their livelihoods and quality of life by providing them with resources for small-scale infrastructure, training and skill development, and income-generating activities.

Given the nature of the post-Sidr emergency, the proposed project would facilitate the restoration and recovery from the damage to livelihoods, assets, and infrastructures.

It would also build long-term preparedness by mainstreaming disaster risk reduction measures into the lives of the communities under the framework of the original SIPP.

"This is a holistic project that includes infrastructures, livelihoods, and institutional development interventions required for sustainable livelihoods opportunities and risk reduction."

The additional financing would focus on the worst-affected districts (including Patuakhali, Barguna, Bagerhat and Pirojpur) covering about 12 to 14 of the most affected Upazilas and about 150 Unions. About 150,000 affected families will be directly benefited from the livelihood support activities.

However, the infrastructure rehabilitation and local-level institutional development will indirectly benefit approximately 1.0 million people.

"We want development, not relief. However, we'll need some help to get back on our own feet," the information note quoted a community member from a remote island in Patuakhali district as saying.

"The ideas of self-help and sustainable livelihoods opportunities this project would be like Notun Jibon (New Life) to us," he said.

Injunction on DUTA election

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka yesterday issued temporary injunction on the election of Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA).

Shaikh Merina Sultana, Assistant Judge, 10th Court of Dhaka heard the case and fixed May 29 for submission of written statement and hearing. The DUTA election was scheduled to be held on April 12.

Shafiqul Islam, a fourth year honours students of Accounting Department of the University filed the case on April 3 and on April 6 the Judge issued show cause notice upon the Vice Chancellor of DU, concerned election commission, Metropolitan Police Commissioner and 3 others to show cause with in 2 days as to why order will not be issued to postpone the election. The plaintiff has mentioned in his plaint that if election is held when Emergency Power Rules 2007 is in force the law and order situation of the University may hamper causing harm to the overall academic life of the university. Advocate Syed Shahidur Rahman conducted the case on behalf of the plaintiff white Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder moved the case on behalf of the defedants.

Hasina’s counsel says: Power plant case aims at victimising politicians

UNB, Dhaka

Barrister Shafique Ahmed, senior counsel for detained Awami League president Sheikh Hasina yesterday claimed that there is no single ingredient to implicate her in the barge-mounted power plant corruption case.

Making his submission to a special court, he alleged that a powerful shadow behind the government is trying to victimize the politicians through such defamation for de-politicization.

He said the prosecution has not been able to show any wrong done in awarding the barge-mounted power plant in Khulna. The private sector plant, he said, helped meeting serious power deficit during ex-Prime Minister Hasina's rule.

As Hasina appeared at 9:35 am, the special court of judge M Firoz Alam resumed after five minutes.

"No favour was given in exchange of setting up the power plant," Barrister Shafique told the court. He said the work order was given maintaining all rules and formalities of the government.

He said as a Prime Minister Hasina did not receive an gratification from the agreement with barge-mounted power plant company. The company paid the money as donation to purchase an annexed land for expansion of the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust and the money was received by the owners of the land.

"Here there is no question of taking gratification by the former Prime Minister," he asserted.

Narrating his personal experience for conducting Hasina's case, he said "we're at risk to defend my client."

The Other day, Barrister Shafique said the same powerful shadow compelled them to postpone the Supreme Court Bar Association elections.

"I was taken to a Gulshan house where I was questioned why being a counsel for Hasina, I am contesting in the election," he said, adding that he never ever faced such situation in his long legal practice.

The defence discharge hearing remains inconclusive. It was adjourned till April 15. Adv Yusuf Hossain Humayun and Barrister Towfiq Newaz aided Barrister Shafique.

Maya’s son gets 3 years RI

UNB, Dhaka

A special court trying high- profile corruption suspects yesterday sentenced Sajedul Hossain Chowdhury Dipu, son of former state minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, to three years rigorous imprisonment for non-submission of his wealth statement to the Anti-corruption Commission.

Delivering the judgement, the court also fined the fugitive Dipu to pay Tk 5 lakh or, in default, to serve one year more in jail.

On November 21 last year, ACC assistant director M Ibrahim filed the case with Sutrapur police station against him for not abiding by the edict for submission of his wealth statement under the ongoing purge in the interim period against corruption.

CRP Mirpur founding day observed

Staff Reporter

Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Mirpur yesterday celebrated its fifth founding anniversary with a call to the well-off people of the society to donate for providing standard treatment to the poor, paralysed patients.

The CRP Mirpur established on the 13-storied multipurpose building at Bhasantek in the city, had started its long journey on the day in 2003 with a view to providing treatment to the paralysed patients for the Dhaka city as well as whole country in addition to CRP Savar.

With the slogan "Service to sufferers in service of God" and sincere effort of the CRP founder, popularly known as CRP mother Valerie A Taylor, the attractive building was built in assistance of Hong Kong based Kadoorie Charitable Foundation.

To mark the founding anniversary the CRP Mirpur held a colourful function at its Conference Room in the afternoon.

Addressing the function, CRP Founder Valerie A Taylor called upon the affluent people to extend their support to the CRP in providing better treatment to the poor.

Recalling the history of establishing the CRP Mirpur, she emphasised the need for ensuring financial sustainability of the organisation.

Valerie A Taylor, a dedicated British lady for the humanitarian cause, called upon the officials and employees of the CRP to ensure the development the organisation further.

Maj Gen (Retd) Nurul Haque, Chairman of the CRP Trustee Board, the CRP provides quality of service in providing treatment to the paralysed patients and hoped the service improving the services of the organisation.

Presided over by Rana Chakrabortty, Manager of CRP Mirpur, the function was also addressed, among others, by physiotherapist Alamgir Chowdhury, occupational physiotherapist Debashish Mandol and Rafiqullah Dipu.

In a presentation titled "Five Years Celebration of CRP-Mirpur," Rana Chakrabortty said there are daily general outdoor, orthopaedic and paediatric medical consultancy, weekly neuro-medicine consultancy, surgery and splinting units, physiotherapy and occupational therapy service to both in and out patients, X-ray, pathological and diagnostic facilities in the CRP Mirpur.

He said usually 120 to 130 patients take physiotherapy treatment everyday, while 20 to 30 patients take occupational therapy from the centre.

Among the beneficiaries, Maruf Hasan, Golam Sarwar and Abdus Samad also spoke on the occasion. The function was followed by a colourful cultural event.