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Delta Life Insurance earns Tk 341cr premium income BUSINESS REPORT Delta Life Insurance Company Ltd earned total premium of more than Tk 341 crore in 2007 as disclosed in its annua

UNB, Dhaka

Journalists boycotted for the second day on Thursday a special court that holds trial of ex-Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina in Khulna barge mounted power plant case. Around 25 boycotting journalists have been demanding withdrawal of a police officer and his unconditional apology for his misbehavior with them on April 15.

Detained Sheikh Hasina who was present at the court today said without the presence of journalists, it would turn into a camera trial.

The prosecution and the defence also supported the presence of journalists to report the case proceedings.

Till 11:45am today the journalists were staying outside the special court set up in the highly secured parliament building complex.

Australian HC donates Tk 13 lakh to two local NGOs

UNB, Dhaka

Australian High Commissioner Douglas Foskett on Wednesday handed over cheques totalling Tk 13 Lakh to Society for Peoples' Actions in Change and Equity (SPACE) and PARTNER. The two NGOs are working towards the welfare of the poor and distressed in Bangladesh and the funding was made as part of the High Commission's Direct Aid Programme.

Foskett said he was delighted to start this Bengali New year by extending Australia's support to those who need it and hoped it would contribute to a better and brighter year ahead for the beneficiaries. In Manikgonj district, SPACE will build 60 EcoSan toilets, part of an innovative sanitation system that is sustainable, cost effective, and environment friendly. EcoSan toilets can also be used to produce organic fertilizers. SPACE will provide the owners of the installed toilets training on proper utilization, maintenance, and management of ecological sanitation.

PARTNER, on the other hand, will provide necessary prenatal and antenatal care to 50 pregnant Shaotal women and their children, as well as all immunization, vitamin, and nutritional support with the DAP fund. The NGO will also ensure safe water supply for the community and organize health camps to provide basic medical checkups and treatments of 344 Shaotal families that are covered by the NGO. Azahar Ali Pramanik, Executive Director of SPACE and Abdus Sobhan Meah, Executive Director of PARTNER received the cheques from Mr Foskett on April 14, 2008.

Amu warns of 'conspiracy' against AL

Bdnews24.com, Meherpur

Awami League presidium member Amir Hossain Amu yesterday advised the party's leadership and rank and file to be cautious over its demand to have party chief Sheikh Hasina released from detention.

"There are conspiracies against the party. Do not be over enthusiastic in your demand for the immediate release of our leader," said Amu at a meeting in Sadar upazila in Meherpur to mark Mujibnagar Day.

"We have to protect our leader and democracy through careful programmes," Amu said.

The presidium member stressed the importance of the party remaining united in defence of "our hard-earned democracy".

Amu also called upon the party faithful to remain cautious during the crises period, saying: "It will jeopardise the country if we make any more mistakes."

On a separate issue, the AL leader took a swipe at the caretaker administration, saying they had demonstrably failed to take any action against known "war criminals" and anti-liberation forces in the country.

"While the Awami League has to take permission to hold a simple meeting during the emergency, Islamist organisations, including the anti-liberation force Jamaat-e-Islami, stage demonstrations without permission," he said.

"The government failed to take action against them," he added.

State-run jute mills to privatized

UNB, Dhaka

State-run jute mills incurring heavy losses will be privatized in phases, said a draft jute policy-2008 discussed at a daylong workshop in the city yesterday.

Jute and textile Adviser Anwarul Iqbal opened the workshop at the International Jute Study Group office that was participated by jute experts, private mill owners and farmers.

"Efforts are underway to revive the past glory of jute," assured the Adviser. Jute is environment friendly and has demand across the world.

The draft policy envisaged incentives to jute growers in the shape of easy loan, improved seeds and necessary inputs for intensive cultivation. This is intended to reduce the cost of jute production. Besides, interests of workers of the offloaded mills will be protected.

The Adviser assured that investigation committee would be formed soon to probe into alleged corruption and mismanagement resulting colossal loss and closer of state-run jute mills one after another.

The world's largest jute mill, Adamjee Jute Mills, that had earned fame and huge foreign exchange was closed down under the pressure of donors when it incurred heavy loss.

The draft policies also envisaged promotion of extensive research in jute for multifarious use of the golden fire and create demand of its goods in the world market.

Iqbal informed the workshop that cultivation of jute and production has declined. He estimated the last year's production at around 55 lakh bales as against 70 lakh bales in 60s.

Laying significance of jute a recent UNCTAD report said one dollar earned from jute sector is equivalent to four dollars earned from readymade garments.

Farmers present at the workshop blamed the government indifference for the debacle of the jute sector. Large-scale corruption by officials has ruined the mills. Growers were deprived of fair price. State run jute mills still owe millions of taka to jute suppliers.

73 oxygenetors, 30 pacemakers allocated for free transplant in hearts patients

UNB, Dhaka

Seventy-three oxygenetors and 30 pacemakers were allocated yesterday from the Chief Adviser's quota in favour of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital (NICVD) for transplant of hearts in poor patients for free.

The allocation was made following Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed's approval to a proposal of NICVD, according to an official of the CA's office.

Speakers pay tribute to Dr Asaduzzaman

UNB, Dhaka

Speakers at a condolence meeting on late Prof. Dr M Asaduzzaman of Public Administration Department of Dhaka University yesterday paid deep tribute to his memory.

Vice Chancellor of DU Prof. Dr SMA Faiz, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr AFM Yusuf Haider, Asaduzzaman's wife Fatema Zaman, among others, addressed the meeting at RC Majumder Arts auditorium of DU.

Social Science Faculty of DU organized the meeting, which was chaired by its Dean Prof. Dr Haurn-ar-Rashid.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Faiz paid deep tribute to the memory of late Asaduzzaman, saying that the nation with deep respect would forever remember the contribution made by Dr Asad in the country's educational arena.

In his address, Prof. Yusuf Haider termed Dr Asad as a dedicated and ideal teacher.

All the speakers prayed for peace of the departed soul and conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Police foils CPB's human chain attempt

Staff Reporter

Police yesterday foiled an attempt by the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) to form a human chain at the Muktangon in the capital in protest against the price hike of essentials including rice, pulses and edible oil.

CPB's planned token human chain was also aimed at pressing its demand for the introduction of rationing system and holding trial of the business cartels responsible for the price spiral of daily necessities.

Shahidullah Chowdhury, Ruhin Hossain Prince and Ahasan Habib Lablu, acting president, secretary, central committee and general secretary respectively of CPB gathered at the Muktangon accompanied about 100 supporters. But the police intervened immediately, tore down several posters and dispersed them.