The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tk-21cr Basundhara bribery case: Tarique, Babar among 8 to be chargesheeted

Tarique Rahman and Lutfozzaman Babar

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission is going to charge-sheet eight persons, including BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman, ex-minister Lutfozzaman Babar, Basundhara chairman Shah Alam and his two sons in a Tk-21 crore bribery case.

The huge money was reportedly transacted in bribe for not implicating one of Shah Alam's sons in a sensational murder case filed in 2006.

ACC director general Col Hanif Iqbal said the Commission yesterday approved the submission of charge sheet against eight persons in the case.

Those who would be charge-sheeted are Tarique, Babar, Ahmed Sobhan alias Shah Alam, his two sons Shafiyat Sobhan Sanbir and Sadat Sobhan, Basundhara director Abu Sufian, Tarique's private secretary Mia Nuruddin Apu and Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal.

The names of Tarique and Kamal were not in the first information report (FIR), but their involvement was found during the investigation.

On October 4, 2007, the ACC filed the case with Ramna police station against six persons for transaction of Tk 21 crore in bribe.

ACC director general Hanif said it was found during the investigation that Tk 14 crore was transacted through cheques while Tk 7 crore in cash.

The body of Humayun Kabir Sabbir, 30, a director of Bashundhara Telecommunication Limited, was found in Gulshan on July 5, 2005. As Sanbir's involvement was found in the killing, he along with his father met former state minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar and requested him not to implicate his name in the murder. Following the arrest of Babar, he confessed that Sobhan went to him and agreed to provide Tk 50 crore against his demand of Tk 100 crore in kickback for not implicating Sanbir in the case after investigators detected Sanbeer's involvement in the killing. The detained former state minister for Home also confessed to receiving the bribe with the consent of then premier Khaleda Zia and her eldest son Tarique Rahman.

Later, the ACC came up to deal with the issue.

UN food chief urges crisis action: Silent tsunami sweeping the world

Josette Sheeran

BBC Online

The head of the UN World Food Programme has said urgent action is required to stimulate food production and help the poor cope with soaring food prices.

Josette Sheeran told the BBC that an additional 100 million people, who did not need assistance six months ago, could not now afford to purchase food. She said a silent tsunami is sweeping the world which knows no borders.

Her warning came ahead of a meeting in London to discuss the rise in prices and an EU policy encouraging biofuels.

Biofuels are intended to tackle climate change but can take away farm land.

Earlier, Latin American leaders had warned about the growth in production of biofuels, which are derived from plant crops.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms Sheeran said she would be stressing the urgent need to tackle the global rise in food and commodity prices when she attended the meeting hosted by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday afternoon.

The high food prices are hitting more than 100 million individuals around the world who can no longer afford to purchase the food

"We find that people are being thrown into the urgent category and we really want to make the point that the clock is ticking and we need to help people now meet their nutritional needs," she said.

"We're seeing about 100 million peoplet who maybe didn't need assistance six months ago but today simply can't afford enough food for their family."

Ms Sheeran said the price of rice in Asia had soared from $460 a ton on 3 March to more than $1,000 seven weeks later. The global prices of wheat, rice and maize have nearly doubled in the past year.

Ms Sheeran said the crisis required large-scale, high-level action by the international community, focused on both emergency and longer-term solutions.

Crops used for biofuels can take away land that was used to produce food

In the short term, she said the WFP needed increased donations to make sure it could meet the needs of those who already relied on it, because its budget requirements were rising by several millions of dollars a week in line with the cost of food.

"We can purchase less food than we could in June - in fact, 40% less," she said.

Ms Sheeran said the international community needed to pay attention to the food supply system and look at all the factors that have increased demand.

"Certainly, biofuel is one of those things that is impacting it and we need the experts to sit down and look at how much food is needed and to make sure people can get it at an affordable price," she said.

Writing ahead of Tuesday's meeting, Brown said rising food prices posed as great a threat to world prosperity as the global credit crisis and warned that they threatened to reverse progress made to alleviate poverty in the developing world.

We need to look closely at the impact on food prices and the environment of different production methods and to ensure we are more selective in our support

"Tackling hunger is a moral challenge to each of us and it is also a threat to the political and economic stability of nations," he said in a statement.

Food riots earlier this month in Haiti, which is highly reliant on imports of food and fuel, led to the deaths of at least six people, including a UN peacekeeper.

There has also been unrest in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique and Senegal.

Brown said he feared the use of agricultural land to produce biofuels, which he said were known to be "frequently energy-inefficient", might have been a factor in driving up food prices.

"We need to look closely at the impact on food prices and the environment of different production methods and to ensure we are more selective in our support," he added.

"If our UK review shows that we need to change our approach, we will also push for change in EU biofuels targets."

The EU has come under criticism for its target of getting 10% of road transport fuel from crops by 2020, while ethanol production is on course to account for some 30% of the US maize crop by 2010.

Biofuels are being developed in many countries as an alternative to fossil fuels, on the basis that they absorb carbon dioxide while growing and therefore contribute less to climate change.

But there are concerns that forests, which also absorb large amounts of carbon, are being cleared to make way for biofuel crop plantations, as well as that their cultivation is taking land out of food production.

AL to observe countrywide hunger strike Apr 29

Different front organisations of the Awami League
formed a brief human chain in front of the Square Hospital
demanding the release of the party chief Sheikh Hasina
yesterday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Awami League will stage countrywide token hunger strike on April 29 to press for its five-point demand that envisages unconditional release of detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.

This is going to be Awami League's first agitation programme since the state of emergency was imposed on January 11 last year.

Decision of the hunger strike was taken at a meeting of party presidium presided over by acting president Zillur Rahman at his Gulshan house.

Other demands include declaration of the election schedule, containing record high prices of essentials, ensuring

Hasina's treatment abroad, trying war criminals and improving law and order situation.

On March 29, Awami League central working committee decided to stage the hunger strike before April 20.

Briefing newsman after the presidium meeting, acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said district level leaders will map out how they would observe the hunger strike without violating the Emergency Power Rules.

In reply to a question, he said the party's front wings are independent to draw up any programme. "Leaders of the front organizations are launching agitations according to their own strategies. We are not interfering into their programmes."

Asked about the clashes between two factions of Chattra League on DU campus, Ashraf said the presidium meeting expressed concern over the incident and urged them to settle down their dispute through discussion.

Forecasting of cyclone: New radar system at Khepupara opens today

New meteorological radar at Khepupara

UNB, Dhaka

An S-Band Doppler radar system and newly constructed radar-tower building at Khepupara in the coastal district of Patuakhali will be inaugurated today.

The modern radar system has been set up replacing the old and obsolete S-Band Weather Surveillance radar system under a project titled 'Improvement of Meteorological Radar System in Cox's Bazar and Khepupara'.

Defence Secretary Kamrul Hasan will be present at the inaugural ceremony as chief guest while Japanese Ambassador in Bangladesh Masayuki Inoue as special guest.

Director of Meteorology department Arjumand Habib will preside.

A release from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said two radars located at Cox's Bazar and Khepuapara were installed in 1988 under the assistance of Japanese Grant Aid with two modern S-band meteorological radars.

Later in 1994, these radars were connected with the Storm Warning Centre in Dhaka with microwave link to receive radar imageries direct from Cox's Bazar and Khepuapara for real-time use, and in 1999, weather-warning service related to natural disaster was strengthened.

But as the normal lifetime of the radars already expired, "it became necessary to replace within shortest possible time".

Upon the request of Bangladesh Government, JICA as the official agency of implementing Japanese Government's technical assistance and expediting proper execution of the Japan's Grant Aid completed the construction of both the radars.

One S-band Doppler Radar System was set up in Cox's Bazar last year, replacing the old S-Band Weather Surveillance radar system.

Replaced Cox's Bazar and Khepupara meteorological radars are expected to monitor tropical cyclones generated in the Bay of Bengal and provide more accurate forecasts/warning of tropical cyclones over Bangladesh coast.

The project is also expected to contribute to the reduction of devastations and causalities caused by tropical cyclones and other natural disasters through improvement of radar system of Bangladesh meteorological department.

Meanwhile, under the Japanese assistance four radars have been installed in Dhaka, Rangpur, Cox's Bazar and Khepupara and one in Moulvibazar is under construction.

Bumper maize production this season likely

Shamim Jahangir

The maiz farmers across the country are elated over the prospect of its bumper production this season, but at the same time they are worried that they will not get fair price as nearly 50 per cent of the poultry firms have been closed down following the outbreak of bird flu.

Bulk of this crop is purchased by the owners of poultry as it is main poultry farms feed.

Sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said only five to ten percent maize is consumed by the people and the rest is supplied to poultry farms.

A total of 3.33 lakh hectares of land were brought under maize cultivation this season against the target of 2 lakh hectares, sources added.

The production of maize has been estimated at 15 lakh tonnes surpassing the target by 4.64 lakh tones.

Of the total maize lands, 4,000 hectares of land were brought under Jamalpur, 6,500 hectare under Comilla, 13,100 hectares under Rajshahi, 11,400 hectares under Chapainoabganj, 9,000 hectares under Naogaon, 5,700 hectares under Natore, 18,700 hectares under Bagura, 11,700 hectares under Rangpur, 14,700 hectares under Gaibanda, 27,500 hectares under Lalmonirhat, 18,900 hectares under Dinajpur, 27,500 hectares under Thakurgaon, 17,600 hectares under Jhenadaha, 44,300 hectares under Choadanga, 22,700 hectares under Kushtia and 22,700 hectares under Meherpur.

Abu Raihan, a farmer of Silak in Naogaon district, told the New National that he cultivated maize on over one acre of land. "But I will not get fair price as its price has plummeted in the market," he said.

"The price of maize has dropped by Tk three to Tk five per kilogram with last few days. It is selling at Tk 13 per kilogram now an against Tk 17 per kilogram last month," Raihan further said.

Around 75,000 poultry farmers out of 1.5 lakh have wrapped up their business following massive losses in the wake of bird flu.

Besides, over 60 poultry breeders and hatching industries have stopped their business after sustaining heavy losses.

Mosiur Rahman, General Secretary of the Poultry Breeders and Hatching Association of Bangladesh, said, "we procure near 70 per cent of maize from within the country and the rest from abroad.

The total demand of maize is 10 to 11 lakh metric tonnes in the poultry sector, according to him.

He urged the Government to take initiative for reducing rate of interest on bank loan for the sustenance of poultry industry.

"If the government reduces bank interest from 12 per cent to 6 per cent, the industry will be on its track again," Mosiur hoped.

Developed countries must fund Bangladesh to face climate change

Staff Reporter

Politicians, economists, environmentalists and experts at a meeting yesterday in the city stressed that developed countries must back Bangladesh with fund and grants to enable it to bear expenditures of the adaptation works and acquire ability to mitigate sufferings from future natural calamities as consequences of the global climate change.

Bangladesh will not compromise on the issue of realising funds from the developed countries as global warming is increasing alarmingly due to uncontrolled urbanisation in those countries, they noted.

The discussion meeting on 'Climate Change Adaptation Financing' was jointly organised by Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) and People's Empowerment Trust (PET) at Hotel Sonargaon.

Raja Devasish Roy, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government, who was present as chief guest, said, "We will not approach the developed countries with a 'begging bowl' for financial assistance. It is our right to get the fund."

"Developed countries are responsible for the global warming, but Bangladesh has become the worst victim of global climate change," he added.

He further said at the London meeting on global warming in June, Bangladesh will reiterate its demand for compensation to face the challenges of the global climate change, present how the country is falling victim to climate change and press for necessary fund for facing the challenges in future.

He, however, expressed doubts whether the donors would keep their promise to fund Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh has the right and also the scope to get funds but the previous experiences make me sceptical about the donors," he said.

He suggested formation of a national committee headed by Prime Minister to monitor the coordinated efforts to be taken against the future impacts of global warming in the country.

Presenting the keynote paper at the meeting, Ziaul Haque Mukta, a researcher, said if global warming continues to increase at the present rate some 30 million people of the country will become 'climate refugees' in near future.

Highly industrialised countries are supposed to compensate the least industrialised ones according to the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement signed among the member countries of the United Nations in line with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases. But the United States has not yet signed the agreement that expires in 2012.

MK Anwar, former agriculture minister, Suranjit Sen Gupta, Presidium Member of Awami League, GM Kader, former MP, Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, economist, Rezaul Kabir, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Heather Blackwell, Country Programme Manager of Oxfam GB, Hyder Akbar Khan Rono, Workers Party leader, Md Abdur Razzaque, former MP, Abdus Shahid, former chief whip of the opposition, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahabubur Rahman, Standing Committee Member of BNP, among others spoke, while Khushi Kabir, Chairman of CSRL, chaired the session.

Developed countries including USA, UK, Japan, Netherlands and Denmark and development agencies like World Bank and Asian Development Bank at the 'Bangladesh-UK Conference on Climate Change' held in Dhaka on March 25 promised to help Bangladesh financially for mitigation of greenhouse gas and adaptation to the climate change, the speakers mentioned.

The development partners at the meeting had assured that they would work jointly to create a 'Multi Donor Trust Fund' for Bangladesh, they said.

Voter-listing is of international standard despite few errors

Staff Reporter

The voter-listing process of 2008 is fabulous one and maintains international standard despite having some errors and missing voters, said two researchers at a press conference at a city hotel yesterday,

They disclosed this after a month-long survey on 'Monitoring Voter Listing Process and Focus Group Research' to evaluate the process and investigate possible causes of errors.

They selected three areas: Rajshahi City Corporation, Raozan Pourashava of Chittagong and Tahirpur Upazila of Sunamganj district for monitoring the voter listing and focus group analysis.

With the financial support of Department For International Development (DFID) of UK and United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), the international consultants-Dr Owen Lippert and Dr Mohammad Yusuf conducted the survey.

The survey report says that most participants appreciated the presence of army, their help in orderly voter listing and recommended their presence during the election time.

"There is no doubt that the voter-listing process in 2008 is internationally standard. The estimated voting-age persons are some 6417 in RCC, 1925 in Raozan and 1451 in Tahirpur areas. "Some 0.0 percent in Rajshahi, 0.1 percent in Raozan and 0.3 percent in Tahirpur of error-names were found on the report," said Yusuf while reading out the survey report.

About the estimated missing from the voter rolls, he said scrutiny of the listed persons shows that names missing from the rolls are of 1.63 percent in Rajshahi, 2.24 percent in Raozan, while 1.33 percent in Tahirpur due to absence during listing and failing to be photographed. Describing the suggestion of FGD's participants, Dr Yusuf viewed that "NGOs and civil society cannot be trusted and they should not be involved in the preparation of the voter rolls anyway.

Dhaka should stick to campaign for duty-free access of RMG

Staff Reporter

Owners of garment industries, labour leaders and economists at a seminar in the city yesterday maintained that Bangladesh should stick to its on going campaign to realise duty free access of ready made garment products into the US markets.

They said if the US Government allows duty free access of Bangladeshi products into its market it will create an employment opportunity for 1,80,000 people including 1,44,000 women.

They were of the view that RMG sector could play an important role in alleviating poverty of our proper by earning increased foreign currency through expanding its foreign markets.

They called upon the US Government as well as policy makers to ensure duty free access of Bangladeshi products to their markets.

The speakers made these observations at a seminar titled on "Livelihood Implication of Ready Made Garments (RMG) Industry, organised by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at its office in the capital.

Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain was present as chief guest while economist Edward Gresser, Director of Trade and Global Markets Project of Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) of US, attended it as guest of honour.

Abdus Salam, first Vice- President of BGMEA, delivered the welcome speech while Faisal Samad, second Vice- President of the organisation, moderated the seminar.

Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, Joint Chief of Bangladesh Tariff Commission, presented the keynote paper on livelihood of ready-made garment sectors of the country.

Terming the RMG as most potential and flourishing sector of the country, Dr Kamal Hossain said dynamic young people engaged in this sector are not only promoting the country's economy and growth but also contributing to global development.

"Involvement of a large number of women in this sector has created a revolution of self-dependency," he said and called upon the owners to protect the interests of the buyers and workers to maintain the continuity of notable growth of this industry.

He opined that problems relating to the garments industries could amicably be resolved through discussions by the owners, workers and the Government.

"Interaction among all the stakeholders is necessary for resolving any issue of the garment industries," he noted.

Dr Kamal said many import oriented countries have turned into exporter ones due to human resources development, up to date knowledge and information.

He called upon BGMEA to give more stress on research and interaction with a view to coping with the challenges facing to this sector.

Edward Gresser said the overall export volume of Bangladeshi products to the US market has increased despite decrease of export from some other countries.

Bangladesh is the sixth largest exporters of apparel in the world after China, European Union (EU), Hong Kong, Turkey and India. The number of garment industries has increased steadily since 80s and it stood at 4,330 last year.

ACC files cases against Koko, Sheikh Selim

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed separate cases against ex-PM Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and Awami League presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim for amassing illegal wealth and hiding information.

ACC deputy director Abu Sayeed filed a first information report (FIR) with Ramna police station against detained Koko for his ill-gotten wealth worth Tk 2.23 crore and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 11.2 lakh in his statement submitted to the Commission.

The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.

This is the second case against Koko filed by the anti-graft watchdog. On September 2, 2007, the ACC filed the Gatco case based on which he along with his mother was arrested the following day from their cantonment residence.

Koko was issued with a notice by the ACC on December 18, 2007 directing him to submit his wealth statement. The Commission received Koko's statement on January 10 through prison authorities.

The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.

This is the second case against Koko filed by the anti-graft watchdog. On September 2, 2007, the ACC filed the Gatco case based on which he along with his mother was arrested the following day from their cantonment residence.

Koko was issued with a notice by the ACC on December 18, 2007 directing him to submit his wealth statement. The Commission received Koko's statement on January 10 through prison authorities.

In his wealth statement, Koko stated that there is movable and immovable property worth Tk 8.08 crore in his name and the names of his wife and two daughters. He also mentioned that he had liabilities worth Tk 37.78 lakh.

ACC deputy director Abdul Karim filed the FIR against detained Selim with the same police station for amassing wealth worth Tk 3.38 crore beyond his known sources of income and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 22.39 lakh.

The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the

Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cousin Sheikh Selim, one of the listed corrupt suspects, was issued with a notice by the Commission on July 7, 2007 asking him to submit his wealth statement. The ACC received his statement on July 23, 2007 through jail authorities.

UK for lifting of emergency before polls

UNB, Dhaka

Outgoing British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury yesterday said they would hope that the state of emergency would be lifted ahead of holding elections so people can take preparations for joining the polls without any hurdles.

He made the crucial remark to reporters after making a farewell call on Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman at the Commerce Ministry.

"In Bangladesh people want freedom during election period as people take election as a festival. So, we hope that this situation will be created through withdrawal of the state of emergency ahead of the elections," said the Bangladeshi-origin British diplomat. Asked what if the emergency is not lifted, he said if emergency is not lifted ahead of the elections, then emergency should be relaxed to a maximum extent for holding a free, fair, credible and safe election.

"But all have to consider normal law-and-order situation, and for that we said about relaxation of the emergency in maximum level. We hope that it would be lifted," Anwar said, adding that a situation should be created so people can go around doing election campaign in a safe atmosphere.

On people's doubt about the holding of the election in appropriate time, the High Commissioner said that he is hopeful about holding election as per electoral roadmap as he is an "optimist".

"If people have any doubt about the election in time…Their past experience is responsible for that. But, we are not observing any doubt about the holding of election according to the scheduled time," he said.

Anwar said the government would have to take initiative to remove the uncertainty from public mind. "Declaration of election schedule can remove people's doubt over holding elections."

The HC said people believe that election would be held in December or earlier, but the declaration of election schedule could make people confident in this regard.

"Caretaker government gave assurance several times of holding election before the end of 2008 and we have no doubt about it."

Asked about government's pre-dialogue talks with political parties, the outgoing envoy said he is not the right person to make any comment on this point but he hopes a successful dialogue.

"We want fruitful dialogue and through it political parties would come to a commitment and will move forward," Anwar said.

SKOP seminar: Tk 4500 should be minimum basic wage of workers

Staff Reporter

The minimum basic wage for workers should be TK 4500 per month speakers in a seminar said yesterday considering the present unstable economic situation of the country.

Dearness allowance system which would be adjusted every year along with inflation should be introduced permanently they also said.

Referring the present economic crisis prominent economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said only the hard labour of workers could ease the present situation if they are promoted through well payment.

Kholiquzzaman said we could not identify the problems of workers since trade union activities are banned under the state of emergency and urged the government to put off prohibition over it.

"I want the emancipation of the people which will be possible through the participation of ordinary mass in every sector", he said and added considering all the matters a commission should be formed to shield the workers from the whip of poverty.

Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) arranged the seminar titled "The Announcement of National Wages Rational to Rising Prices and Its Implementation" at the National Press Club.

The SKOP in its keynotes, read by Ray Ramesh Chandra, recommended to introduce rationing system and supply rice, pulse and oil at cheap rate through OMS for the workers.

Abdul Kader Hawlader, chairman of the SKOP, Dr Mostafizur Rahaman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue and Shah Muhammad Abu Jafar took part in the seminar as discussants.

Five killed in Dhamrai road accident

UNB, Savar

At least five people, including a truck driver, were killed and 35 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck on Dhaka-Aricha highway near Bathuli Bus Stand in Dhamrai upazila yesterday morning.

Truck-driver Abdul Karim, 30, and bus passengers Masum Billah, 25, and Mujibar Rahman, 27, and Mizanur Rahman died on the spot.

Mosharraf Hossain, 52, hailed from Jhalakati district, died at Savar Gonoshyasthya Kendra on arrival.

Police and witnesses said the fatal accident occurred at about 5am when the Dhaka-bound bus from Pirojpur collided with the goods-laden truck from Dhaka, leaving four people dead on the spot and 35 others wounded.

Of the injured, 10 were admitted to different hospitals where their condition was stated "critical". The rest were given first aid.

Four of the injured were sent to Pangu Hospital in Dhaka.