The New Nation - Internet Edition

Disaster-related curriculum at school-level stressed

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a seminar here yesterday underlined the need for introducing disaster-related curriculums at school level to minimise disaster losses, which would help achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Acquiring knowledge of facing disaster is important as natural calamities slow down the progress of attaining MDGs of eradicating poverty, universal primary education, gender parity, reducing dropout rate and malnutrition of children, they said on the second day of a two-day seminar here.

The seminar titled 'Disaster and Education' was jointly organised by Advancing Public Interest Trust (APIT) and weekly magazine the Shaptahik with the support of ActionAid at the Jatiya Press Club here.

Yesterday's session titled 'Disaster, Economy and Human Development: Roadblock in Achieving MDG-2 by 2015' was chaired by renowned educationist Professor Muzaffer Ahmed and moderated by editor of the Shaptahik Golam Mortoza. Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh Farah Kabir and Director of Disaster Management Bureau Abu Sadeque spoke as the special guests.

Rayhan Sharif and Maliha Shahjahan of APIT presented papers at the seminar.

Former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU) Prof Moniruzzaman Miah, former education minister Sheikh Shahidul Islam, former MP GM Quader, coordinator of ActionAid Bangladesh Mohammad Muntasim Tanvir, member of secondary curriculum wing NCTB UK Hosneara Begum and Sabbir Bin Shams of APIT took part in the discussion, among others.

In his keynote paper, Rayhan said, minimum 3.5 crore people could be aware about preparedness and post-recovery of disaster through introducing disaster-related education.

"As per 2005 statistics, 2,36,24,210 students were at the formal schools" he said adding "If only 30 percent of them could effectively communicate to their families, 3.47 crore people would be capable to face disaster," he said.

Prof Muzaffer laid emphasise on proper use of country's land and water bodies for achieving the desired development goals.

A comprehensive plan needs to be formulated with joint efforts of academia, government officials and development activists to face the disasters through development of human resources.

Prof Muzaffer suggested intensifying boy scouts and girl guides movement across the country as they can perform as volunteers before and after the disasters.

Director of DMB Abu Sadeque said after the Sidr the government has reviewed the existing Standing Order on Disaster for updating it and as well as prepared a disaster management plan.

He said the country needs a disaster management law and a draft of the proposed law has already been prepared by the ministry. "We have also been working to turn the existing maritime port-cyclone warning signals into a people oriented disaster warning system as all of the coastal areas could easily understand the signals and take necessary steps.

ActionAid Bangladesh chief Farah Kabir stressed the need for considering the disaster management and risk reduction factors during planning any development programme for ensuring a sustainable growth of the country.

The other speakers of the seminar said a holistic learning system and materials related to disaster risk reduction should be included in the both formal and non-formal schools as well as teachers should be trained on disaster management.

The knowledge of disaster risk reduction provides rudimentary information, concepts, skills and capacities for early preparedness, survival during disasters and swift post-disaster recovery, they said

A good number of educationists and disaster experts, representatives of government, non-government and donor organizations took part in the seminar.

Trade ties with Kazakhstan to grow : President

BSS, Dhaka

Newly appointed non-resident Ambassador of Kazakhstan Bakhitbek Shabarbayev on Thursday presented his credential to President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban.

Welcoming the new envoy, the President expressed happiness over the existing friendly and cordial bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Kazakhstan.

He also expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would be further deepened in the days to come.

President Iajuddin called upon the ambassador to lend his efforts to exploit the existing potentials for the betterment of the two countries by boosting bilateral trade. He mentioned that there is a tremendous scope for increasing trade flow between the two countries and hoped that Kazakhstan would import more Bangladeshi products including jute, jute goods, tea, medicine and garments.

He also emphasised the need for bilateral agreement on trade and economic cooperation, cultural exchange programme and formation of joint economic commission to strengthen the relations further between the two countries.

Dr Iajuddin said that Kazakhstan could be benefited by importing skilled manpower like engineers, doctors and teachers from Bangladesh.

The President also briefed the envoy about the holding of next general elections by December this year.

He also apprised the ambassador of Bangladesh's policy to promote and maintain friendly relations with all countries and its role in UN peacekeeping mission.

The envoy, who resides in Islamabad, praised Bangladesh's role in different international issues and its effort to strengthen democracy.

He hoped that Bangladesh would be able to hold free, fair and neutral general elections by December.

Bakhitbek Shabarbayev also expressed his satisfaction over the brotherly relations between Bangladesh and Kazakhstan and hoped that the bilateral relations would be strengthened further in the coming days.

Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohd Aminul Karim, Secretary Md Sirajul Islam, Foreign Secretary Touhid Hosain and Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present.

Earlier, on his arrival at Bangabhaban, a smart contingent of President's Guard Regiment gave the Kazakh Ambassador a guard of honour.

Expand online banking to receive govt bills soon: BB

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has asked all schedule banks to expand their online banking to facilitate the payment of all kinds of bills and fees of government, semi- government and autonomous bodies.

The central bank issued letters to this end to the heads of the scheduled banks recently.

The decision was taken at a meeting last September with Secretary of the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) Kazi M Aminul Islam in the chair, according to BB sources.

The scheduled banks have been asked to introduce or expand online banking facilities soon for the payment of all kinds of bills or fees including utility bills on the basis of agreements with the institutions concerned.

The step is aimed to improve the standard of customer services of the banks and infuse dynamism into their activities along with modernising the banking system.

The banks have also been advised to follow all applicable laws and provisions, banking rules and regulations including the Guidelines on Information and Communication Technology for Scheduled Banks and Financial Institutions formulated by the Bangladesh Bank, the Information and Communication Technology Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act for introducing or expanding such facilities in online banking.

Besides, all banks have been instructed to preserve transaction related information for placing before the inspection teams of Bangladesh Bank, the sources said.

3 to die for murder in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

A court here yesterday sentenced three persons to death and two others life imprisonment for killing a man at village Durlobpur under Alamdanga upazila of the district in 1994.

Court sources said the each of the convicts on the death row has been fined Taka one lakh each while those punished with life imprisonment Taka 50 thousand each.

The convicts receiving death sentence are Abul Kalam Azad, son of Haji Akbor Ali of village Jadabpur, Mokim, son of Murad and Jhoru, son of Aksed, of village Durlobpur. The two other convicts are Helal, son of Islam and Amirul, son of Kudrot Ali, of village Durlobpur.

The prosecution story, in brief, is that the convicts as a sequel to previous enmity attacked one Monwar Hossain, son of Bakul Mandol on June 28, 1994 at village Durlobpur with sharp weapons. The victim received fatal injury in the attack.

The injured Monwar was immediately taken to Alamdanga Upazila Health Complex for treatment, but he succumbed to his injures on the way.

A case was filed on the same day with Alamdanga Police Station in this connection accusing 26 persons.

Later, the police submitted charge sheet in the case after investigation.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge-2, Chuadanga, Mr. Monjurul Hoque Khan after examining 24 witnesses passed the judgment. The judge also acquitted 21 accused as the charges brought against them could not be proved.

Body to probe causes of loss in jute sector

BSS, Dhaka

Textiles and Jute Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal yesterday laid emphasis on encouraging jute cultivation by providing marginal and poor farmers with loans and high-yielding seeds.

The adviser was addressing as the chief guest the inaugural session of a function to finalise 'Draft Jute Policy-2008' organised by Jute Diversification Promotion Centre in the city.

The draft has been prepared to update the Jute Policy-2002 to rejuvenate the jute sector.

Secretary of Textiles and Jute Ministry M Abdur Rashid Sarkar presided over the function where the ministry's Joint Secretary M Fazlul Haq presented the draft of 'Jute Policy - 2008'.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) Chairman Ataharul Islam and concerned officials and stakeholders were present.

The adviser said the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) has disbursed microcredits amounting to about Taka 1.46 crore among marginal jute farmers. Besides, Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BRDA) has also disbursed loans among jute farmers.

At present, he said, about 55 lakh bales of jute is produced on 12 to 14 lakh acres of land in the country, but some 70 lakh bales were produced on 20 lakh acres in the sixties.

In the sixties, the demand for raw jute in world market was more than 60 lakh bales, he added. There are 150 public and private jute mills in the country and a remarkable number of people are involved in activities related to jute and jute mills, the adviser said, adding there is no way to deny the socio-economic importance of jute in agricultural Bangladesh.

He said the country is earning about Taka 2,000 crore annually by exporting jute and jute goods. He underscored the need for producing jute goods in line with the demand in world market.

Jute and jute goods are environment-friendly, he mentioned

Anwarul Iqbal said the draft jute policy presented in the function was in conformity with the country's agriculture, industry and trade policies.

Replying to questions from journalists after the function, the adviser said an impartial committee will be formed soon to investigate corruption and other reasons of losses in the jute sector.

Talks over Nizam’s wealth

Internet

India says it will begin negotiations to unfreeze millions of pounds locked up in a London bank vault for over 60 years by wealthy Nizam of Hyderabad.

In 1948, the last ruler of the princely state of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, deposited £1 million in the UK bank.

The money is now expected to have grown to £30 million.

India has to agree a settlement with Pakistan - as well as 470 bickering descendents of the Nizam of Hyderabad - before the money is released.

"We are re-starting the negotiation process," Kapil Sibal, Indian minister for science and technology, was quoting by news agency Reuters as saying.

"How much should the private beneficiary get and then what should be the distribution between the government of India and Pakistan will be negotiated," Sibal said.

The negotiations are to be conducted over 18 months and to involve the Nizam's grandson, now living in a small apartment in Istanbul after losing much of the family fortune.

The last Nizam of Hyderabad was known as the world's richest man, and ruled India's largest princely state.

His fabled wealth included the world-famous Jacob's Diamond - which was the size of an egg - and many pieces of exquisite jewels.

In 1947, when India and Pakistan were created, the Nizam - a Muslim - couldn't decide which country to join. India annexed his state in 1948 and the Nizam's power waned.

Just before the annexation, the Muslim ruler deposited £1m in an account controlled by Pakistan's High Commissioner to London in the National Westminster Bank.

For 60 years, the money has remained untouched.

India, Pakistan and Nizam's hundreds of heirs have all claimed it as their own.

In 1957, after several rounds of litigation between the Nizam and the Pakistani government, the case reached Britain's House of Lords, which ruled that the account could only be unfrozen with the agreement of all the parties.

Now, that agreement may at last be in prospect.

Call to cancel agri trade deal with WB

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion in the capital yesterday called upon the government to cancel the Agriculture Trade Agreement with the World Bank as it does not protect the interest of the farmers.

They made this call at a discussion organised jointly by La Via Campesina, aninternational organization of the farmers and several farmers' organisations in the country in observance of the Farmers' Emancipation Day.

The discussion titled "Agriculture of Bangladesh and Land Reformation" was held at Progoti Auditorium of CPB office.

Sixteen countries including Bangladesh have been observing the day in homage to 19 farmers who were killed by the law enforcing agency of Brazil on April 17,1996 when they came out on the streets of that country to press home their demands

Addressing the discussion,AKM Masud, an agricultural researcher, alleged that the western countries were trying to damage the agriculture sector in Bangladesh by patronizing the use chemical fertiliser and insecticides on the farm lands to make them infertile. Once these chemicals are applied on the lands the farmers will never be able to grow crops and vegetables without using them. Some foreign countries are now involved in the conspiracy to make our country dependent on imported fertilisers, pesticides and other ingredients for their business gains, he noted.

Advocate Sabur, Executive Director of Bangladesh Krishok Samity, said the World Bank and other international organisations are responsible for the current food crisis in the country. The government should pay compensation in the agricultural sector to support the farmers in their struggle for survival, he stressed.

He also urged the government to give due attention for the improvement of the lot of the farmers.

Eng. Sheikh Mohammad Sahidullah, convener of National Committee of oil, gas, mineral resources, electricity and port protection; Mohammad Ali, General Secretary of Bangladesh Krishok Samity; Foyez Hossain, representative of La Via Campesina, among others, were present at the meeting.

Mujibnagar Day observed

UNB, Meherpur

The historic 'Mujibnagar Day' was observed yesterday with political leaders demanding trial of the war criminals of 1971.

Having denied permission to hold its scheduled meeting at the foot of Mujibnagar mausoleum, local Awami League under the banner of 'Mujibnagar Day Celebration Committee' arranged a meeting at Sadar upazila auditorium, 17 km off the mausoleum.

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu attended the meeting as chief guest.

Other party central leaders, including Abdur Razzak, Abu Sayeed, Barrister Amirul Islam, and leaders of different districts also addressed the meeting and regretted the cancellation of the programme scheduled to be held at Mujibnagar mausoleum.

Sangskritik Jote and Sector Commanders Forum held their cultural programme at Mujibnagar upazila auditorium as they were denied permission to hold it at the Mujibnagar mausoleum.

Ex-PSC member Mahfuz gets 13yrs jail

Staff Reporter

A special anti-graft court yesterday sentenced former Public Service Commission (PSC) member Mahfuzur Rahman to 13 years' imprisonment for accumulating wealth illegally and concealing the information.

The judge of the Special Court-10 set up on the Sangsad Bhaban premises also fined him Tk 50 lakh. If he fails to pay the money, he will have to serve two more years behind bars, the court ruling said.

The court also ordered the authorities concerned to confiscate his wealth worth about Tk 5 crore 2 lakh.

On September 24 last year, Assistant Director Helal Uddin Sharif of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Kafrul Police Station accusing Mahfuz of accumulating wealth illegally and concealing information and giving false information in their wealth statements submitted to the anti-graft commission.

Call to stop import of sub-standard Indian sugar

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Sugar Dealers Businessmen Association yesterday urged the Government to stop import of substandard Indian sugar, re-fixation of import duty and reduce price of sugar produced by the local mills.

They made the request at a meeting with the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Mahbub Zamil at his Industries Ministry office.

President Mustafizur Rahman Babul and General Secretary Dewan Zinnah represented the Association.

They said substandard Indian sugar, harmful for human body, is swarming in the local market. Recently the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation raised sugar price to Tk 34,000 per ton within few days from Tk 25,000 per ton.

This has stuck selling of sugar of government mills. Sugar worth Tk 100 crore became dumped last year due to wrong decision of the Corporation, they said. The leaders urged the Government to reduce sugar price to Tk 28,000 per ton, re-fix import duty to Tk 5,000 for raw sugar and Tk 10,000 for white sugar per ton.

The Special Adviser Mahbub Jamil assured the leaders that he will consider the demands and take necessary steps accordingly.

Ex secy Shahidul Islam arrested in Niko case

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

ACC officials yesterday arrested former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam in connection with the Niko corruption case, police said.

Dhanmondi police chief Monwar Hossain told bdnews24.com that the ACC officials had made the arrest and handed Shahidul, former secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, to the police.

He refused to give further details.

The Anticorruption Commission filed the case against five people including former prime minister Khaleda Zia on Dec 9, 2007.