The New Nation - Internet Edition

CA, 3 service chiefs at May Day function: Sustainable state system with civil, military support to be evolved

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed inaugurating May
Day fair at the Osmany Memorial Hall on May 1. Army Chief
General Moeen U Ahmed, Air Force Chief Air Marshal Shah
Ziaur Rahman and Navy Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Nizam were
also present. PID photo

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Thursday urged the owners to ensure fair wages of workers, timely payment, well-defined work-hours and safe and healthy working environment.

He made the call while addressing a state function marking the May Day 2008 and inaugurating May Day Fair organised at Osmani Memorial auditorium by Labour and Employment Ministry.

The CA expressed his firm expectation that the country would be able to attain an accountable, just, sustainable state system with the unqualified support and active cooperation of civil-military administration and the countrymen.

He made a clarion call for all irrespective of party and opinion to work together to establish a progressive, welfare, meaningful democratic state to materialise the expectation of the mass people and dream of the great Liberation War.

A total of 44 institutions are participating in the 3-day May Day Fair 2008, arranged to add productive festivity to the May Day celebrations.

The CA also unwrapped the cover of multimedia documentation titled 'Made in Bangladesh' prepared by BGMEA and the Labour and Employment Ministry to project country's world-class products in the outer world.

Labour and Employment Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal, Director of ILO area office Dhaka Panudda Boonpala, president of Bangladesh Employers Federation Kamran T Rahman as representative of the owners, Umme Salma Parveen as representative of workers and Labour Director Shyamol Kanti Ghosh also spoke at the function presided over by Mahfujul Huq, acting secretary to the Labour and Employment Ministry.

Workers and owners, chiefs of the three services, distinguished personalities and senior civil and military officials were present at the function. The Chief Adviser observed that in a labour-intensive populous country like Bangladesh improvement of the nation's fate is largely interlinked with change of fortune of the working-class people. So the government is giving highest priority, to ensuring basic rights of the working people in all spheres.

He said, in fact, it is impracticable to keep the wheels of development moving without ensuring the just interests and welfare of those who are putting direct contribution in production and development.

"So, the government is working to expand the scope of labour welfare as major precondition for advancement of industrialisation," he told the meet.

On readymade garment industry, the highest export earner for the country, the CA noted that recent incidents of labour unrest and chaos in the sector gave rise to question in the external world about the image of the country and owners' attitude to workers.

In this context, the head of interim government categorically said that there should be no scope for excuses in full implementation of the tripartite agreement among the government, owners and workers.

He said the government is making out all-out effort to ensure child labour-and discrimination-free environment friendly to 'decent work' apart from ensuring health and security of workers at workplace.

Dr Fakhruddin said the government is giving compliance issue in garment sector highest priority and he directed the Labour Ministry to be more active and responsible in ensuring compliance properly in each factory.

He noted that a healthy worker community is a big national wealth of the country and one of the main focal points to attract local and foreign investment. This labour force will have to be involved in the mainstream of development.

Terming workers and owners as complementary to each other, he said it is essential to maintain mutual respect and cordiality between workers and owners by any means for development of industry-factory, trade and commerce and increased production.

He said the total matter of maintaining peace and stability in industrial enterprises and labour unrest should be seen and analysed with positive attitude and "all should come out from the culture of exchanging blames".

On behalf of government, businessmen, industrialists and workers, the CA requested all concerned to carry out responsibility maintaining discipline, honesty, sincerity and intimacy in everybody's respective sphere to further smoothen the path of advances in the competitive world.

On trade union, he said the role of effective, strong and well-disciplined trade union organisation is undeniable in establishing permanent peace and good industrial relations.

He called upon the leaders of trade unions to take wisely more realistic activities evaluating national and international situations for the country's industrialisation and attaining the rights of workers.

Mentioning the country's time-worthy Labour Law and close monitoring of its implementation, he said one's right cannot be ensured only by formulating laws, and rules and regulations or by the single effort of the government-it needs confidence and respect to law by all concerned and commitment of all for its application.

Thailand for OPEC-like rice cartel

Harvesting of rice in full swing. Banglar
Chokh

Agency, Bangkok

Thailand wants to form an Opec-style rice cartel to give it more control over international rice prices.

The world's biggest rice exporter plans to talk to Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam about co-operating on prices.

Rice prices have tripled so far this year with countries such as India and Vietnam restricting their exports.

A Thai government spokesman confirmed that the cartel idea had been discussed in talks between the prime ministers of Thailand and Myanmar on Wednesday.

"With the oil price rising so much, we import expensive oil but sell rice very cheaply and that's unfair to us and hurts our trade balance," spokesman Vichienchot Sukchokrat said.

Cambodia has supported the idea of a cartel in the past and the government of Laos has also said it would seriously consider the proposal.

"By forming an association, we can help prevent a price war and exchange information about food security," Cambodia's government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.

But the proposal has met with opposition from other quarters.

Vietnam's government disputed claims that a cartel was close, telling the Bangkok Post that Thai negotiators scheduled to visit Vietnam to discuss the issue last month had not turned up.

Vietnam announced in March that it would cut its exports by 22% this year, although it said that was to make sure there was enough for domestic consumption rather than to manipulate prices.

The Philippines, the world's biggest importer of rice, also raised objections.

"Almost three billion people are rice eaters," said Edgardo Angara, chairman of its senate committee on agriculture.

"It's not a good idea, it's a bad idea. It will create an oligopoly and it's against humanity."

The president of Thailand's own Rice Exporters Association also criticised the idea.

"When there is a crisis with rice, they [the government] talk about this cartel," Chookiat Ophaswongse said.

"You cannot control farmers growing or not growing rice. It's not like oil."

The United Nations World Food Programme has described rising food prices as a "silent tsunami" hitting poor countries.

Poor harvests, rising demand from growing populations as well as hoarding on the expectation of further price rises have all been blamed for soaring prices.

The price of regional benchmark Thai grade B rice rose above $1000 a tonne for the first time last month, up from $383 in January.

The idea of a South-East Asian rice cartel has cropped up periodically for several years but political differences have so far prevented its creation.

Nargis hits Myanmar

Rescue personnel hoisted danger signal at the Cox's
Bazar sea beach on Friday advising the tourists and other
people to keep themselves at bay from the tidal bore.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The severe cyclone 'Nargis' hit outlying coastal regions of Myanmar yesterday evening skipping Bangladesh, according to reports received in Dhaka from Yangon, the main city of erstwhile Burma.

As per the satellite image, the track of the Nargis, was packing winds of 120 to 150 miles (192 to 240 kilometres) similar to that of the super Cyclone 'Sidr', was moving to hit Myanmar's main city Yangon at night, meteorologists in Dhaka said.

Meanwhile, foreign news agencies from Yangon reported that the severe cyclone Nargis had already hit outlying coastal regions and was packing winds of 120 to 150 miles (192 to 240 kilometres) per hour, Tun Lwin, Director General of the Meteorological Department in Yangon, told journalists yesterday evening.

The storm was centred about 210 kilometres west of Haing Gyi island at the mouth of the Ayeyawaddy (Irrawaddy) River, or about 430 kilometres southwest of Yangon at about 5:30 Bangladesh time (BDT).

"The cyclone started to hit Ayeyawaddy Division since this (Friday) morning. It will hit Ayeyawaddy, Yangon and Bago Divisions in late evening. The tide could be increased by 10 to 12 feet (three to 3.5 metres)," the top meteorologist of Myamar said.

Myanmar's state-run electronic and print media have been constantly running warnings about the impending storm.

Haing Gyi Island could not be contacted for further information after it was hit.

The Myanmar Meteorological Department, however, could not tell anything about the extent of damage or casualties that storm had caused.

Many fishermen of Myanmar landed in different areas of Teknaf Police Station under Cox's Bazar district in Bangladesh with their boats and trawlers to evade the wrath of the cyclone.

Senior officials of Met Office in Dhaka said the fishing crews have been told to stay close to the shore and not to venture into the Bay of Bengal, after fears it would slam into the southeast coast.

Senior meteorologist Ayesha Khatun said the Bangladesh was likely to escape the impact of Nargis.

"It is not going to hit Bangladesh. It will hit Myanmar later Friday. Teknaf, the southern tip of Bangladesh could be affected," she said.

When contacted, Taslim, a local journalist from Cox' Bazar, told The New Nation last night that Nargis did neither hit Teknaf nor any islands of the southern-most district of the country.

"There were rains accompanied with winds in slow speed in some places, including Balukhali, under Ukhiya upazila, which I visited this afternoon," he said, there was no damage in those areas.

The latest Met Office bulletin in Dhaka, last night, said, "The severe cyclonic storm with a core of hurricane winds, 'Nargis' over east central Bay and adjoining area, moved eastwards and was crossing Myanmar coast near Bassein at 6.00 pm Friday."

The Met Office has advised the maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla to hoist distant warning signal number two.

Earlier, the Government took all preparations to face the cyclone Nargis and alerted the coastal district administrations. Some 42,000 volunteers were also ready for the evacuation of the coastal people, if necessary.

The cyclone 'Nargis' formed on Sunday last and created panic among people of the south and southeastern coastal areas while the whole nation was apprehending another crop loss during harvesting period of Boro paddy, the single major source of domestic rice production.

The country is still picking up the pieces of the November 15 (2007) devastating cyclone Sidr, which smashed into the south and southwester coasts and battered major parts of the country, left a trail of destruction and killing more than 4,300 people. Preceded by two successive floods, Sidr along with the flooding caused 2 million tonnes of food shortage, which the nation was still struggling to manage.

Half a million people perished in a cyclone on November 12 in 1970. Some 168,000 died in another cyclone on April 29 in 1991.

Traffickers flee: 6 boys rescued from Jessore

Six children were recovered from Benapole Border
Checkpost on Thursday night while they were being trafficked
to India. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Police rescued six children, while being trafficked to India, from Sadipur border at Jessore yesterday.

The rescued children are Pappu, 12, of Chouddagram upazila in Comilla, Faruq, 7, of Sadar upazila in Kishoreganj, Kamrul, 8, of Nandail upazila in Mymensingh, Parvez, 10, of Borshijora thana in Moulvibazar, Sattar, 9, of Bhanga upazila in Faridpur and Najmul, 10, of Muladi upazila in Barisal district.

Police said a gang of human traffickers brought the children to Khulna from the capital on Tuesday and later took them to Benapole by train promising them good jobs in India.

But when the traffickers along with them were passing the check post the children cried out for help seeing the police. Sensing danger the traffickers fled the scene leaving the children behind.

Police said they would hand over the children to their guardians.

1,50,000 South Asian people trafficked annually: UN report identifies India as main transit point

Mamunur Rashid

At least 1,50,000 people are trafficked annually within South Asia, according to UNODC (United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime).

As the second biggest crime after arms and drugs, human trafficking is a serious threat to humanity and also a kind of intellectual terrorism.

The ever-increasing number of female and child trafficking is very alarming especially in South Asia. According to UNODC India is an origin transit and destination country for trafficking in person. There are no numbers to measure the extent and magnitude of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in India. According to an estimate trafficking from migration with approximately 2.17 per cent from Bangladesh.

Trafficking of women has grown at a faster pace due to modern transportation and communication. Today, it is easier to bring in girls than drugs, source said.

Most of the trafficked women are forced into prostitution and the demand for prostituted sex is growing under kingpins of organised human trade, who are also well protected by big shots including law enforcers. There are cases where law enforcers in connivances with these kingpins run the inhuman business. Thus, it creates a big hurdle for the victim to come to normal situation.

According to the United Nation Protocol on Human Trafficking, trafficking is deemed a crime "when a person/migrant labour is moved against his/her will from one place to another to be pushed into a situation of exploitation."

The law regarding this crime is not holistic. There is no institutional mechanism to deal with the increasing incidence of the trade in this country. The government should take serious action to prevent human trafficking; awareness should be rising regarding their rights and the illegibility of trafficking. Identify and address the underlying causes and the root factors leading to sexual exploitations and trafficking and implement preventive strategies against exploitation and trafficking.

South Asia Media Forum inaugurated: Free Press can foster regional understanding

UNB, Dhaka

Eminent jurist and former Foreign Minister Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said the media can play a critical role in fostering mutual understanding, trust and cooperation among South Asian nations by making accurate portrayals and representation of neighbours.

"Unfortunately, the media have not always fulfilled their role in promoting regional cooperation by giving undue coverage to negative aspects of relations between South Asian countries," he said inaugurating the first South Asian Media Forum (SAMF)-2008 with a theme "Harnessing the Media to Enhance South Asian Cooperation" at PIB.

Dr Kamal, who is also the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Chapter of South Asian Foundation, said the doubts and suspicions, which generate negative attitude and barriers to regional cooperation, need to be overcome.

"What needed are hard-headed analyses of the costs and benefits of schemes for regional cooperation…where win-win situation can be achieved," he told the inaugural session of the Forum held marking the World Press Freedom Day on Saturday.

Dr Kamal said political will to take the bold initiatives must be built upon public opinion and a strong growing consensus within the region.

"Minds and hearts across the region engaged creatively and imaginatively to realize the vision for South Asia which through regional cooperation can build a better future for all."

Jointly organized by Singapore-based AMIC, UNESCO and United News of Bangladesh (UNB), the opening session of the daylong seminar was also addressed by AMIC secretary general Indrajit Banerjee, UNB chairman Amanullah Khan, UNESCO Representative Malama Meleisea and PIB DG Nazrul Islam Khan. Brian Shoesmith, Director, Media Communications, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), conducted the session.

Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, was the keynote speaker at the opening session chaired by Maj Gen Maniruzzaman, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies.

Twenty foreign journalists, experts and academics from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore, Malaysia and UK joined the seminar.

The seminar was split into plenary sessions and roundtable discussions on 'Media and Development in South Asia', 'Good Neighbours, Bad Neighbours: Media representation and realities' and 'Harnessing the Media to Enhance South Asian Cooperation'.

Dr Kamal said the media can play a critical role by greater coverage of regional issues and by more balanced and informative coverage of South Asian nations.

On opportunities for the media in South Asia, he said much can be accomplished through exchange of radio and television programs between South Asian nations, training of journalists, and visits by journalists to other South Asian countries to gain better understanding of the political, legal, economic and cultural facets of these nations.

Dr Kamal said a free press can contribute significantly to democracy and development by holding governments and corporations accountable to citizens by enhancing good governance and by informing citizens of their rights and responsibilities.

"Press freedom is thus very important for South Asian nations and although we have made significant stride in developing press freedom, much work needs to be done to ensure that the press is given the freedom to operate without fear or favour and perform its duty with responsibility," he said.

UNB chairman Amnullah Khan said despite common historical root, shared vision and more or less identical cultural heritage, the countries in the region remain deeply divided and suspicious of each other's motives and intentions. The countries are locked in a struggle to attain economic prosperity for their massive populations.

UNESCO Representative Malama Meleisea said issues like environment, climate change, terrorism and food crisis cannot be solved by national governments alone as it needs minds and resources to overcome the problems in the region. And the media can be a part of this process.

He said the media in South Asia has come a long way and much needs to be done.

Appreciating the objectives of SAMF, Meleisa said UNESCO would extend help in implementing the recommendations to be made at the seminar.

PIB DG Nazrul Islam Khan said Bangladeshi people believe that unrestrained freedom of the press is a pre-condition for institutionalization of democracy.

He said the Bangladesh government has formulated a draft 'Right to Information' ordinance to ensure access to information and empowerment of the common people, which is expected to be promulgated soon.

UNB Chief Editor Enayetullah Khan presented UNB crests among the guests at the inaugural session.

Speakers at the programme laid emphasis on ensuring free movement of journalists across the South Asian countries for their smooth access to regionally important information and to ensure freedom of the press.

They said unless the South Asian countries can come out of the concept of nationalism, expectation for the regional well-balanced development would remain a far cry.

In his keynote address, Ambassador Farooq Sobhan suggested providing the journalists with 'SAARC Visa' so the media can successfully bond the South Asian countries with the spirit of regional integration and harmony.

He urged the South Asian media to play the role of protagonist in enhancing regional cooperation rather than remaining skeptic to each other on bilateral and regional issues.

Referring to some recent developments in diplomatic relations like India-China and China-ASEAN, the former ambassador said SAARC is being considered as the integral part of such important processes. "And the South Asian media can foster the implications of SAARC countries with the Asian and global relations."

He identified energy security, disastrous impact of global warming, free trade and combating terrorism as the key sectors where the journalists and governments of the South Asian countries can work shoulder to shoulder.

Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul A Chowdhury and former ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, among others, took part in the discussion on the keynote address.

The inaugural session and keynote address were followed by two plenary sessions and a roundtable respectively on 'Media and Development in South Asia: the Journey so far', 'Good Neighbours, Bad Neighbours: Media Representation and Realities', and 'Harnessing the Media to Enhance South Asian Cooperation.'

Speakers at the 1st plenary session chaired by Dr Andrew Taussig suggested for visa-free movement of journalists in the South Asian region.

Prof. Akhtar Sultana of Dhaka University's Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Syed Fasieh Iqbal of Baluchistan Times, Pakistan, Nurul Kabir, Editor, The New Age, Dhaka, Rajpal Abeynayake, Lakbima News, Srilanka, and Dr Binod C. Agarwal of Taleem Research Foundation, India, addressed the session.

Prof. Akhtar Sultana suggested 30 minutes' broadcast of South Asian news in the member states every week, saying that it would be helpful in increasing coverage of smaller countries like Bhutan and Maldives.

Editor Nurul Kabir placed a proposal of exchanging contents of newspapers and electronic media of each of the SAARC members. Such exchange, he said, would reduce monopoly of the Western wire services and thus increase news coverage of Bhutan and other small countries.

Syed Fasieh Iqbal said the SAARC members can arrange cross-border training and higher education for the region's journalists for their professional maturity and skill development.

Dr Binod C Agarwarl underscored the need for holistic documentation of the South Asian cultural heritages in front of the world by the media for enhancing the process of inter-state connectivity.

Javed Nazir and Shyam Tekwani of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Ghama Raj Luitel, Sagramata Radio, Nepal addressed the second plenary session.

The roundtable, chaired by AMIC secretary general Dr. Indrajit Banerjee, was addressed by Mahfuz Anam, Editor, The Daily Star, Bangladesh, Ravi Veloor, Singapore Press Holdings, India, and Shaheen Salahuddin of Indus News TV, Pakistan.

Participating in the discussion, Mahfuz Anam said media in South Asia should change their mindset and act as "watch towers, not watchdog" taking a broad perspective of the region to address such impending calamities like climate change.

The closing session of the daylong conference was also addressed by UNB Editor-in-Chief Enayetullah Khan.

Press Freedom Day today

BSS, Dhaka

The World Press Freedom Day will be observed across the country like rest of the globe today. Different organisations chalked out elaborate programmes marking the day.

On the eve of the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a message said, " From the education of the youngest members of society to the full public engagement of citizens with their political leadership, access to information empowers each one of us to transform our lives and our communities".

" Just as water is essential for life to grow, knowledge sustains our capacity to imagine and to change.

When information flows freely, people are equipped with tools to take control of their lives. When the flow of information is hindered-whether for political or technological reasons-our capacity to function is stunted," the UN Secretary General said.

Sixty years ago, Ban Ki-moon recalled, the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared in Article 19 that the right of everyone to freedom of opinion and expression "includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers ".

As the rapid pace of globalisation has strengthened the development of a free, pluralistic, independent and professional media, the significance of this right has never been more evident Technological advances have promoted media and information literacy as right for all to access equally, he added.

A free secure and independent media is one of the foundations of peace and democracy, the UN Secretary General said adding, "Attacks on freedom of press are attacks against international law, against humanity, against freedom itself-against everything the United Nations stands for, I am therefore, all the more alarmed at the way journalists are increasingly being targeted around the world and dismayed when such crimes are not thoroughly investigated and prosecuted".

" On this world Press Freedom Day, and in this year when we mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I call on all societies to spare no effort in bringing to justice the perpetrators of attacks on journalists".

The UN Secretary General in his message paid tribute to all who work in difficult and dangerous conditions to provide us with free, unbiased information.

He called on everyone to work for the freedom-and the safety- of the press everywhere.

AL rejects EC's delimitation move: Showcause on Suranjit for third party theory

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League yesterday disapproved the Election Commission's move for delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies saying that constitutionally the EC has no jurisdiction to do that.

"As per the constitution, the Election Commission is entrusted with the job of holding only parliamentary elections. It cannot get involved in policy works like delimitation process. We fully reject the EC move," AL's acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told newsmen tonight.

He was briefing the journalists after a party presidium meeting held at the Gulshan residence of its acting president Zillur Rahman. Zillur presided over the meeting.

Ashraful Islam apprehended that if the EC continues to engage itself in the activities that are out of its jurisdiction, the electoral roadmap would obviously be hampered.

"The EC has already fallen behind by three months from the election roadmap. They should move just straight. If it wants to see the right and left, people will doubt it," he said.

Ashraful also alleged that the EC has failed to work as per its promises it made during its dialogues with Awami League.

"The EC had promised us that it would delimit not more than 50 seats. But now we're seeing something else. There is no similarity between its (EC's) words and actions," he said.

Referring to another party presidium's decision, Ashraful said it would not accept the presence of any 'third party' during the formal dialogue with the government.

The issue of 'third party' arises as AL presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta Wednesday proposed military presence during the AL-government meeting.

The AL general secretary said the party presidium meeting also decided to formally ask Suranjit to explain why he proposed for army presence during the dialogue with the government.

About the government stand against the AL's hunger strike programme scheduled for May 5, Ashraful said they have not yet sought permission from the government.

AL will apply to the government tomorrow (Saturday) for permission to stage the hunger strike programme in the capital. "We'll not do anything that'll break the state of emergency. AL hopes the government will permit it to observe the programme."

AL presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Matia Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak and Amir Hossain Amu were present at the meeting.

Bush offers $770m for food aid

BBC online

George W Bush has offered $770m (£390m) in international food aid to help ease the effects of surging food prices that have sparked riots in some countries.

The US president said he was asking Congress to approve his request. Soaring food and fuel prices have squeezed poor families at home and abroad, putting the White House under intense pressure to step in.

The move has been broadly welcomed, though critics point out the money will only be available from October.

That is because it is included in a funding measure that applies to the next fiscal year.

Critics also highlight what they say is the administration's contradictory policy of backing huge increases in the agricultural land devoted to biofuels.

"We're sending a clear message to the world that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come," said Bush, announcing the funding plan.

The new aid comprises $620m in direct food aid shipments, mainly to needy African nations, and $150m in long-term projects to help farmers in developing countries.

The new money would come in addition to some $200m the US president released for emergency food aid two weeks ago, but Bush warned that "more needs to be done".

"In some of the world's poorest nations, rising prices can mean the difference between getting a daily meal and going without food," he said.

"The American people are generous people and compassionate people. We believe in the timeless truth, to whom much is given, much is expected."

The new money is tied to a wider, $70bn spending measure that also covers funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009.

The proposal has received broad approval, though some have criticised the fact that the funds will only be available in the next fiscal year.

Coordination among police, media, HR bodies stressed

Staff Reporter

Speakers stressed on coordination among police force, mass media and human rights organisations to implement human rights in the country at a roundtable yesterday.

Organisation of Social Environment and Human Rights Implementation (OSEHI) organised the roundtable titled "Coordination Among Police Force, Mass Media and Human Rights Organisations" at the National Press Club.

These three organisations are working for the interest of social development and for the welfare of people. People's expectation from these organisations could never be fulfilled, as they do not work in cooperation with one another.

That is why the nation is deprived of the facilities from these organisations, said Goni Mia Babul, Vice Chairman of OSEHI.

An excellent inter-relation among these organisations can establish peace and discipline in the society and make democracy fruitful, he added.

Professor Mozaffar Ahmad, Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, emphasised on reformation of the police force by providing them high remuneration and quality training for developing their skills.

The mass media are strongly controlled by the Government in Bangladesh. So the mass media cannot work independently. The Government should play key role for coordination among these organisations, he added.

Barrister Amirul Islam, former president of Supreme Court Bar Association, said, a number of assaults on journalists by the police occurred in the previous year. The police think the journalists as their rivals. At first the norms and values of the police force should be changed for their ethical development.

He also urged the government to formulate a new cell of police force, which would be engaged to investigate crimes and not for any other purpose.

Ashraful Huda, former Inspector General of Police, said, the police force were misused by the political leaders several times. The political leaders interfered in transferring or awarding promotion of the police violating the chain of command of police force. All the previous government deployed the police force several times to achieve political gains rather than to maintain discipline or control crime.

The low scale remuneration of police is another cause of being corrupt. The Government should concentrate on overcoming these problems.

Alena Khan, Executive Director of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangshta, Mostafa Alammah, Chairman of Muktijoddha Sangbadik Parisad, Habibur Rahman, Vice Chairman of Jamuna Bank Ltd, Saiful Islam, Joint Secretary of Democracy Right Movement, also spoke while HM Ibrahim, Chairman of OSEHI, presided over the roundtable.

TIB for creating police ombudsman

BSS, Dhaka

Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Prof Muzaffer Ahmed on Friday underlined the importance of introducing 'police ombudsman' to build an efficient and honest police force.

"Establishment of police ombudsman is necessary for building an efficient, accountable, transparent and honest police force side by side with reforms of police law," he told a roundtable at Jatiya Press Club here.

The roundtable on "Coordination of Police, mass media and human rights organisations" was organised by Samajik Paribesh O Manabadhikar Bastabayan Sangstha. Chairman of the organisation HM Ibrahim presided.

Renowned lawyer Barrister Amir-ul-Islam, former inspector general of police Ashraful Huda, executive director of Bangladesh Manabadhikar Bastabayan Sangstha, Advocate Elena Khan also spoke on the occasion.

The TIB chairman also stressed the need for coordination among the police, mass media and human rights organisations for establishing meaningful democracy and good governance in the country.

"Mass media has to present accurate and objective reports as conscience of the nation," Prof Muzaffer said. He said human rights organisations should play a responsible role in protecting human rights of people.

He contended that only increase in salary and other benefits would not help establish a corruption-free police administration. Moral values are important in this regard, he added.

Barrister Amir-ul-Islam said coordination of police force, mass media and human rights organisations are essential to establish true democracy in the country.

He also emphasised the need for institutional reforms and amendment of police law for an efficient police administration.

Political arena to remain unsettled over food price

UNB, Dhaka

London-based Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) has said political scene in Bangladesh will remain unsettled during the early part of 2008-09, as mounting discontent over rising food prices could lead to widespread demonstration.

In its Country Report for May, EIU said the public discontent would "test the caretaker government's ability to govern and could prolong the state of emergency."

The report, released on May 1, said despite the introduction of a range of electoral reforms, the next election battle would be fought between long-standing rivals, the Awami League and the BNP - the two largest political parties. "To ensure that the elections are free, fair and transparent, it will need all the main political parties to take part, following the cancellation of the parliamentary poll in January 2007."

It said that ahead of the dialogue, Awami League and BNP are likely to use the opportunity to press for the release of their respective leaders, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

Members of the BNP have already threatened to boycott the election unless Begum Zia is released, while the AL have organised a nationwide hunger strike to press for the release of Sheikh Hasina.

It said preparations for the parliamentary polls could be hampered by mounting discontent over food prices. Garment workers in the capital, Dhaka, defied the state of emergency in April by holding strikes to demand higher wages to cover the cost of rising food prices.

The situation is unlikely to improve over the short-term, despite reports of a bumper rice harvest, and further demonstrations are likely, which will test the caretaker government's ability to govern and in turn could prolong the state of emergency.

Assuming that the main political parties decide to take part in the next election, the caretaker government will be able to claim that it has reinforced the electoral process, the report said. "What it will not be able to do, however, is to move the country away from a two-party political system," it said, adding that political opinion is so strongly polarised in Bangladesh that the parliamentary contest will once again pit the Awami League against the BNP.

The EIU expects the budget deficit in fiscal year 2007/08 (July-June) to rise to the equivalent of 5% of GDP, compared with the official target of 4.7%.

It said real GDP is expected to grow by 5.7% in 2007/08 and by 6% in 2008/09 while consumer price inflation is expected to average 8.9% in 2008, after averaging an estimated 9.1% in 2007.

The report said the trade deficit is expected to swell to record levels in 2008-09 as demand for industrial raw materials strengthens and international oil prices stay high.

The caretaker government has secured a loan from the IMF to help finance imports, the cost of which has increased substantially on the back of high international prices for fuel and food.

The latest external trade data pointed to a recovery in the textile sector, it mentioned.

On outlook for 2008-09 fiscal policy, EIU said Bangladesh would continue to post a budget deficit in the forecast period, as revenue expansion fails to keep pace with growth in spending.

It said the interim government faces a difficult task in achieving its revenue target, owing to the narrow tax base and low rates of revenue collection. At the equivalent of 10% of GDP in fiscal year 2006/07 (July-June), the revenue collection rate in Bangladesh is one of the lowest in the world.

Despite the measures outlined in the 2007/08 budget to boost collection, the EIU report said revenue is expected to remain low as a proportion of GDP during the forecast period.

Cop killed, 4 injured in extremists attack

BSS, Rajshahi

One constable of police was killed and four others were injured when a big gang of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) sprayed bullets on them

at Taherpur Cattle Market under Bagmara upazila of the district this evening.

Quoting witnesses police said a gang of 20/25 extremists suddenly attacked and sprayed bullets on the on-duty five-member police team at around 6.45 p.m.

Shortly after the attack, they snatched their five rifles along with the loaded ammunition and fled the scene chanting slogans of the outlawed party.

Constable Mijan, 28, was killed on the spot while the others received serious injury in the attack.

The injured persons were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). The condition of the injured was stated to be critical, RMCH sources said.

Police and RAB have been jointly conducting a combing operation in the area following the incident. Some 10/12 suspected attackers have so far been arrested, police said.

BNP factions toughen stance: Talks not acceptable without Khaleda, Hasina's release

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Both the factions of BNP yesterday said that the election would not be meaningful and acceptable without the participation of the two top leaders-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

With this the Awami League and two factions of BNP reached a common stand at least on a single issue, that is the release of the leaders of the two major political parties and get them involved with the election process to make it acceptable.

Apparently to change his previous stance, Acting Chairman of the reformist faction of BNP M Saifur Rahman yesterday said the election would not be meaningful and sustainable without the involvement of Begum Khaleda Zia of BNP and Sheikh Hasina of Awami League.

"I do not think that the election would be meaningful and sustainable without the two leaders," he said while addressing a group of BNP leaders from Sylhet who met him at his Gulshan residence in the city.

Two weeks ago, Saifur Rahman, however, expressed his determination to participate in the election even if the party chairperson Begum Zia is not freed.

On the other hand, Secretary General of Pro-Khaleda faction of BNP Khondoker Delwar Hossain addressing a meeting of Sramik Dal to mark the May Day said the election would not be acceptable if the election were held keeping the two leaders in jail.

He also called upon all political parties to resist any move to hold a stage-managed election in the country.

Most of the Awami League leaders have repeatedly said that no election would be held without participation of their party chief Sheikh Hasina.

The Awami League was also carrying out different programmes demanding the release of Sheikh Hasina and sending her abroad for treatment.

Saifur Rahman, standing by former party secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, said, "We will participate in the elections taking Khaleda Zia with us and we will win two-thirds of the seats like in the past."

"If there were no support of the majority of the people of the country, the election would not be acceptable. It will be similar to that of the 15 February'96 elections," the former finance minister said, adding, "We do not want to see such elections rather, we want to start proper democratic process."

He said the two parties (BNP and Awami League) would have to participate in the elections to establish a genuine democracy in the country.

Khondoker Delwar Hossain branded the "Election Commission as the 'stooge of the government,' and called upon people to resist an stage-managed election of the EC.