The New Nation - Internet Edition

Freedom of media must for democracy: Akbar

Former Adviser of the Caretaker government Dr Akbar
Ali Khan speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on 'Press
Freedom and the Safety of Journalists' at the National Press
Club on Saturday. TIB Chairman Prof Muzaffar Ahmed was
present. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

Without freedom of media democracy is meaningless. The contribution of mass media to establish the social, political and cultural rights of the people is commendable, said Akbar Ali Khan, Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government and Chairman of Regulatory Reform Commission.

Emphasising on freedom of press he said the Government should ensure three types of security for the journalists to work independently. These are Regulation security, financial security and physical security.

Khan made these comments at a discussion meeting titled "Freedom of Press and Security for Journalists" and a prize giving ceremony of "UNESCO Club Journalism Award-2008" marking the World Press freedom Day organised by National Association of UNESCO Club in Bangladesh at the National Press club yesterday.

Professor Mozzaffar Ahmad, Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, said, freedom of press means the freedom of expression, which would be used for the interest of masses or the victims. Too much terrorism and feeble security system are the major cause for assaulting journalists. The mass media cannot publish or broadcast the financial crime of individuals or organisations due to the corporatisation of mass media.

He also urged the Government to implement the act of Information Rights immediately to create an objective atmosphere in the country.

Terming the media as the parliament of the masses Professor Aminul Islam of Philosophy Department of Dhaka University said, the media men should work for establishing truth, goodness and equal justice in the society.

Showkat Mahmud, President of the National Press Club, said, strong restriction is prevailing over the mass media in the country due to the absence of democracy.

He urged the government to re-establish democracy so that the journalists can work independently.

Dr Mahmud Hasan, Secretary of National Commission of UNESCO in Bangladesh, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Juglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Editor of BSS also spoke.

Ten young journalists were awarded for their outstanding performance. The recipients are: Mustafiz Shafi of Dainik Samokal, Manir Haider of Dainik Ittefaq, Shahnaz Munni of ATN Bangla, Shamim Al Amin of Channel One, Shakila Jesmin of Channel I, Mahabuba Jannat of Daily Star, Mujib Masud of Dainik Jugantor, Shahed Alam of N tv, Ziaul Islam Zia of Dainik Prothom Alo and TV actor Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.

Mandela still on US terrorist watchlist

Nelson Mandela

PTI, Washington

Nobel Peace Prize winner anti- apartheid icon Nelson Mandela still figures on the U.S. terrorist watchlist and needs special permission to visit America.

The requirement applies to Mandela and other members of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (A.N.C.), the once- banned anti-apartheid organisation.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has termed the situation "embarrassing," and some members of the Congress have vowed to fix it, the U.S.A. Today reported.

In the 1970s and '80s, the A.N.C. was officially designated a terrorist group by the country's ruling white minority. Other countries, including the U.S., followed suit.

Because of this, Rice told a Senate committee recently, her department has to issue waivers for A.N.C. members to travel to the U.S.A.

"This is a country with which we now have excellent relations, South Africa, but it's frankly a rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterpart, the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader Nelson Mandela," Rice said.

Chairman of the House International Relations Committee Howard Berman is pushing a bill that would remove current and former A.N.C. leaders from the watch lists. Supporters hope to get it passed before Mandela's 90th birthday on July 18.

"What an indignity," Berman said. "The ANC set an important example: It successfully made the change from armed struggle to peace. We should celebrate the transformation."

Mandela, the hero of movement against apartheid, a repressive regime that subjugated black South Africans, was imprisoned for 27 years before being freed in 1990. He was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994.

Republican Senator Judd Gregg called A.N.C. members' inclusion on watch lists a "bureaucratic snafu" and pledged to fix the problem.

Members of other groups deemed a terrorist threat, such as Hamas, also are on the watchlists.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said "common sense" suggests Mandela should be removed. He said the issue "raises a troubling and difficult debate about what groups are considered terrorists and which are not."

When A.N.C. members apply for visas to the U.S.A., they are flagged for questioning and need a waiver to be allowed in the country.

In 2002, former A.N.C. chairman Tokyo Sexwale was denied a visa. In 2007, Barbara Masekela, South Africa's ambassador to the United States from 2002 to 2006, was denied a visa to visit her ailing cousin and didn't get a waiver until after the cousin had died, Berman's legislation said.

Seismic survey at Lawachhara: Environmentalists express concern

Staff Reporter

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the decision of the US oil company Chevron to resume a 3-D seismic survey at the protected Lawachhara forest in Maulvibazar.

The survey is planned to obtain a better image of the gas reserves in the field, now producing around 75 million cubic feet of gas per day. The survey work is likely to double the reserve.

Many environmental organisations claimed that the survey would disrupt the environment of Lawachhara forest, which has an extremely sound ecosystem. It reportedly sustained that at least 167 high profile and valuable plant species, four species of amphibians, six species of reptiles, 246 species of birds and 20 species of mammals. During the 1950s, it was such a dense forest that its interior was dark even at midday. Some of the 1959 movie 'Around The World in 80 Days' was filmed in the Lawachhara forest.

At present, the forest is at a low level. There has been large-scale tree cutting because of the Forestry Department pay for itself. The Department's annual recurrent expenses happen to be the same as the Government's revenue target of about $14.4 million. Revenue is generated from logging operations, auctions of seized timber and permit issuance.

To protect some forest areas from illegal cutting, the Nishorgo Support Project was started, financed by the US Agency for International Development and implemented by the International Resource Group (IRG). It is mentioned that many members of the guard teams had earlier been involved in illegal trade.

In response to the environmentalists' demands, the Ministry of Environment and Forests asked the International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to form an independent expert body to guide the survey work in the protected and sensitive forest areas, to ensure that it is carried out in accordance with the approved environmental impact assessment.

Steve Wilson, President of Chevron's Bangladesh operations, said that the company is in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. It will use only light equipment and will not cut any tree. If gas is found, there will be no drilling in the forest; diagonal drilling will be used instead. After the rainy season, "There will be no trace of a seismic survey in the area," he said.

Chevron began the survey in January this year and will complete it next June. According to Wilson, new drilling will take place if the seismic proves the presence of gas in new reserves. Production may take place at the end of 2009.

Bangladesh produces about 1,700 MMcfd, against a demand for 1,800 MMcfd. According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2006 the country's total gas reserves were estimated to be 5,000 billion cubic feet.

Crowley urges: Bangladeshi immigrants to do mainstream politics

Fakir Selim, New York

Chairman of the Bangladesh Caucus in US Congress Joseph Crowley urged the Bangladeshi immigrants in America to get more involved in the mainstream politics to boost up their community.

Speaking at a fund raising dinner on Thursday at the restaurant in Queens Blvd, Joseph Crowley appreciated the role of the Bangladeshi immigrants in different fields.

He said the Bangladeshis in the USA are doing better in different profession including business, construction, real estate and even the job market. But the involvement of them is not noticeable in the mainstream politics.

Joseph Crowley was speaking at the fund raising dinner of his cousin Elizabeth Crowley who is going to compete as the New York City Council election soon. The immigrants of different ethnic communities including Bangladesh and India were present at the function.

Among the Bangladeshi immigrants it was attended by district leader M Aminullah, Gias Ahmed, Hasanuzzaman Hasan, Zakaria Masud Ziko, NTV director Sayeed Hossain, and Dr. Delwar.

ASEAN states to help each other to maintain rice price stability

AFP, Jakarta

ASEAN trade ministers agreed Saturday to help each other during the global food crisis and to take measures to maintain the stability of rice prices and boost production.

"(ASEAN) will help each other in stabilising the global (food) price and not take steps that will disrupt the price of rice," Indonesian Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu said on Elshinta radio.

"Ensuring the stability of rice (price) is the priority," she said.

Pangestu said the ministers had agreed to continue exports provided domestic needs were being met.

"We will not export if our domestic needs are not enough. Like Thailand, they have announced that they have a surplus in rice production and they will not stop exports," she added.

Pangestu added that although Indonesia is producing enough rice for domestic consumption, there is not enough surplus to start exporting.

She said the ministers also agreed to increase production and the approach would be further discussed by agriculture ministers.

Global food prices have nearly doubled in three years, according to the World Bank, sparking riots last month in Egypt and Haiti, protests in other countries and restrictions on food exports from Brazil, Vietnam, India and Egypt.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick has said two billion people across the world are struggling with high food prices, and 100 million people in poor countries may be pushed deeper into poverty by the crisis.

Storms kill 6 in Natore, Rajbari, Sirajganj

Agencies

Nor'wester that swept over Natore, Rajbari and Sirajganj districts Friday night killed six people and damaged huge thatched houses.

In Natore, three people, including two of a family, were killed and over 50 injured in tree and house collapse when a severe nor'wester swept over Gurudaspur upazila.

Local administration sources said Moyna Begum, wife of Rashid Sardar, and her three-year-old daughter Dalim died when their house collapsed on them at Uzirpara village.

At the same time, Golam Mahmood of Dharisha village died of tree collapse. The storm also damaged over 50 thatched houses and uprooted a large number of trees.

A woman was killed when a tree fell on her at village Pakurikanda in Sadar upazila of Rajbari district at night.

The deceased was identified as Tarabanu, 70.

Thatched houses were also damaged and trees uprooted during the storm.

A severe nor'wester overnight lashed six unions of Sirajganj killing at least two people and injuring some 20, officials and local residents said here yesterday.

They said the 30-minute storm also damaged over 100 houses, standing crops on a huge area and uprooted a large number of trees as it ravaged five unions of Tarash and one union in neighbouring Gurudaspur upazila.

Officials confirmed the deaths, saying Dalim Khatun and her three-year old child Shimla Khatun died instantly as the house they were staying collapsed during the storm.

District and upazila administration officials, police and joint forces visited the affected villages.

Significant growth in export items

Mashiur Rahaman

Various export items have witnessed significant growth in export earning during last couple of months. More new and traditional items, which were considered less potential, are gradually joining the group of profitable export items for Bangladesh.

According to the export performance report of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), a total of 14 items have shown significant growths in export earning compared to the record of their previous year. Moreover, five items, out of 14, have already crossed over their strategic export targets, set for the year, the EPB statistics showed.

Led by Petroleum by product exportable items like agricultural products; tea, ceramics and other primary commodities have shown significant growth in export and exceeded their export targets during July-February period in current financial year.

During the period, export of petroleum by-products reached at $98.55 million, successfully exceeding its targeted $61.09 million, set for July-Feb period of 2007-08 FY. Strategic export target for this particular product was set at $95million for the whole year.

It recorded 55.32 per cent growth in July-February period, comparing with export earning during the same period in 2007-08FY.

Similarly, export of agricultural products recorded $83.39 million export earning, crossing its targeted $64.31 million. Tea product recorded $12.6 million in place of $5.12 million target. Export of ceramic products also crossed its $22.51 million strategic export target, which reached $25.09 million, EPB record shows.

The exports of knitwear, woven garments, home textile, raw jute, jute goods, terry towels, electronic, other manufacturing goods and chemical products also recorded higher growth over the same period of FY07 but fell short of their targets. Despite the fact that their growth rate failed to meet their strategic target, but their comparative year-to-year gain was impressive, said experts.

According to the quarterly statement by the central bank, the growth of exports exceeded the double digit (11.3 per cent) during the July-February period of FY08.

This is due to high export growth achieved during January-February period of Q3 FY08, which increased sharply by 35.1 per cent over the same period of FY07.

On the other hand, exports of handicrafts, computer services and bicycle recorded declines over their corresponding July-February FY07 levels as well as fell short of their targets.

Bangladesh faces serious unemployment problem

M Syfullah

The unemployment problem poses a serious threat to the country at the moment, according to economists.

The country is now burdened with about four crore unemployed people, said economist Prof. Abul Barakat at a recent seminar in the capital. But the government put the number of unemployed people at 22 lakh.

Barakat said nearly one crore people lost their job during the last one and a half years due to 'wrong policy' of the government. The eviction drive alone threw 30 lakh hawkers and small traders out of employment, he claimed.

According to the draft Labour Force Survey (LFS) report 2005-06 of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the growth rate of employment has reduced by 50 percent while unemployment rose by 50 percent since 2003. Bangladesh's unemployed amounted to some 2.1 million people in 2006, the report added.

The Labour Force Survey 2005-06 of the BBS defined those people 'unemployed' who do not work for even a single hour a day.

Total paid employment declined from 16 million in 1999-2000 to 15 million in 2002-03 and 15.2 million in 2005-06.

The survey pointed out that annual employment growth was 2.2 percent during 2003-2006 compared to 4.4 percent in 2000-2003. But the unemployment rate increased from 16.6 percent in 2000 to 24.5 percent in 2006, it noted.

More than two million people, who constitute 4.3 percent of the labour force, were unemployed, according to the LFS 2002-03.

The survey also said that over 15 million people, or 34.2 percent of the labour force, were underemployed with limited working opportunities. Absolute unemployment increased in all these years because of the government's inability to generate new jobs, it mentioned.

Of the total employed population of 47.4 million, 19.9 million were self-employed, 10.3 million unpaid family workers and 8.6 million people day labourers, the LFS 2005-06 said.

The unemployment crisis may to be aggravated further in future if the government fails to take proper steps for creating employment opportunities as more than three million new faces are being added to the country's labour force, according to economists.

President of the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) Prof Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman told a recent seminar natural calamities like and flood and cyclone accentuated the sufferings of the common people and left many of them jobless.

He also attributed the high rate of unemployment to the fall in the volume of investment in recent times.

Jamaat rejects EC’s re-demarcation of 133 constituencies

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid yesterday demanded withdrawal of the Election Commission's draft gazette notification re-demarcating 133 out of 300 parliamentary constituencies.

In a statement, Mujahid said the EC took the unilateral decision disregarding public opinion.

The Jamaat leader said following the re-demarcation, confusion has deepened among political parties as well as the people whether the parliamentary elections would be held in time as per the roadmap.

Two shot dead by hijackers

UNB, Shariatpur

Hijackers shot two youths to death and took away a motorbike at Sajanpur in Bhederganj upazila Friday night.

Family sources said deceased Mintu Khan,20, of Abura village and Alamgir Hossain,20 of Bhulalar village in Sadar upazila, used to rent their motorbikes to earn their livelihood. Police and locals said a gang of five hijackers, in the guise of passengers, hired Mintu and Alamgir from a motorcycle stand in the district town at 10 pm Friday for going to Bhederganj.

Later a patrol team of police found the bullet-hit body of the two youths near an abandoned cinema hall at Sajanpur on Chandpur-Shariatpur road at about 10:45pm.

'Nargis’ slams into Yangon, airport shut

Reuters, Yangon

A tropical cyclone slammed into Myanmar's main city on Saturday, ripping off roofs, felling trees and power lines and forcing the military authorities to close the airport.

The electricity supply-hit-and-miss at the best of times in one of Asia's poorest countries-failed after Cyclone Nargis, packing winds of up to 120 mph, first started to lash the former capital on Friday evening.

There were no reports of deaths, although meteorological officials in the former Burma said the cyclone could trigger a storm surge of up to 12 feet in coastal areas.

State-run MRTV and Yangon City Radio were off the air, as were the normally shaky Internet services.

Buses and trains were not operating due to extensive flooding in residential areas of the city, which sits on the floodplains of the mighty Irrawaddy river. An official at Yangon International Airport said all incoming flights had been diverted to the second city of Mandalay, in the middle of the southeast Asian nation, and all departures from Yangon had been cancelled. Weather officials said Nargis was expected to keep moving northeast from Yangon and cross into northern Thailand in the next 24 hours.