The New Nation - Internet Edition

No more gas connection in Dhaka, Ctg areas: Shocking for business, says FBCCI

FBCCI President Annisul Haq presiding over a seminar
on 'Current Power Crisis Scenario and Strategy for
Development Initiatives' organised by the Federation at its
auditorium in the city on Monday. Chief Adviser's Special
Assistant in-Charge of the Minis

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Special Assistant for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Prof M Tamim yesterday disclosed that no further household and industrial gas connections would be given in Dhaka and Chittagong due to production shortfall, which has now reached at an alarming proportion.

"We'll provide gas connections only to those consumers who applied for gas in Dhaka and Chittagong earlier," he said, adding that "gas connections for domestic users should also be restricted in district towns also."

He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on 'Current Power Sector Scenario and Strategy for Development Initiatives,' organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at its conference centre in the city.

"Time has come to prioritise how to use natural gases," he cautioned.

Hearing the remarks of the CA Special Assistant's a pall of gloom descended on the industrialists and businessmen attending the seminar. Most of them also expressed their utter frustration when they learnt that the government had become unable to provide further gas connections in Dhaka and Chittagong.

However, the FBCCI president called upon the government to take quick decision on the country's coal reserve.

"Uses of natural gas for CNG-driven vehicles and industrial purposes should get the top priority," he added.

He further said that the country's gas reserve is depleting fast because the last explorations in the country's gas fields were carried out in 1999, more than nine years from now.

The sources of Petrobangla said the reserve of the extracting capacity of gas is now between 28.619 tcf (probable) and 20.63 tcf, which is likely to be exhausted by 2011.

"Right now Bangladesh needs US$4 billion to invest for exploration of new gas fields," Tamim said.

"The government has decided to provide Tk 2000 crore to the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration Corporation (BAPEX) to enhance its role as it would be established as an independent institution within seven years."

Prof Tamim said that the businessmen would not face power crisis as the government prioritises the industrial zone for power supply after agriculture.

He said the government is pursuing a go-slow policy in providing new gas connections due to the supply constraints. "We're going slow, that means, we are cautious about the new gas connection,"hesaid.

The country has been experiencing more than 100 mmcf of gas shortage per day for the last couple of years and the crisis in Chittagong is acute.

Expressing his personal opinion, Tamim said that no fresh household gas connection would be provided to any residential areas.

Referring to the power supply situation in the country, Dr Tamim said he is hopeful of the prospects of power sector.

He informed that a 600-800 megawatt nuclear power plant is being planned to reduce the shortage.

In his presentation on Chittagong region's gas supply scenario, Petrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed made it clear that it would not be possible to provide gas to any new industrial consumer there.

"Certainly, we can't provide gas supply to new consumers in Chittagong," he said.

In an instant reaction, Annisul Huq, president of FBCCI urged the government to consider the decision and said, "Industrialisation will face a serious setback and the whole economy of the country will be badly affected due to gas supply constraints."

"It's a shocking news for businessmen as the government has decided to suspend gas connections to new industrial zones in Chittagong as well as Dhaka," Annisul Huq said, adding, "It would also discourage the new investment as well as halt the industrial growth of the country."

He said that the country's apex chamber body would form a committee to review the whole situation and suggest measures for addressing the problem.

The FBCCI president suggested for quick decision on coal sector development as he found the coal as a good alternative source for power generation to address the nagging electricity crisis.

M Fouzul Kabir Khan, Secretary of Power Division said that the major constrains in power sector were dependency on natural gas, non-transparent procurement, generation, transmission and distribution bottlenecks, weak institutional capacity of power utilizes, power tariff not reflecting costs and limited investments.

M Rezwan Khan, vice chancellor of United International University presented the main keynote paper. He said through Bangladesh is overburdened with a huge population of around 140 million, only a small portion of the whole population have access to electricity. Power generation in the country is heavily dependent on natural gas.

"Generally, a generator unit has an effective life time of around twenty years. In Bangladesh three are generating units that are much older. That is why these units suffer frequent shut down or collapse and need replacement. On the other hand, proper maintenance schedule is not followed, resulting prolong repair time whenever any breakdown occurs," Prof Rezwan said, adding, "Another depressing picture comes out when we look at the heat rate of these age-old machines. The efficiency of the power development board (PDB) generators varies from a low of 22 per cent to a high of 34 per cent. The average efficiency is less than 30 percent. On the other hand, independent power plants (IPP) run their generators at a much higher efficiency with an average of about 36 per cent. This really means that PDB is burning our valuable gas to produce considerably lesser amount of electricity. This is a gross and irresponsible wastage of our national resources."

He observed that Bangladesh urgently needed investment to have increased power production in private sector.

Besides, Prof M Nurul Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, BD Rahmatullah, Jamal Uddin, vice president of BTMA, Monjur Ahmed and among other addressed in the seminar.

No polls without Hasina: Conflict inevitable if dialogue not held: Zillur

Acting President of Awami League Zillur Rahman
breaking the fast of party presidium member Matia Chowdhury
yesterday in the city at the end of a token hunger strike
programme called by the party to drum up support for the
unconditional release of party P

Women activists of Awami League chanting slogan
while they were observing a token hunger strike at the party
office in the city on Monday demanding immediate release of
the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Banglar
chokh

Staff Reporter

The Awami League (AL) will not take part in the parliamentary elections without release of its detained chief Sheikh Hasina.

Acting president of the AL Zillur Rahman made this announcement after the six-hour token hunger strike of the party at Dhanmondi AL office demanding the release of Sheikh Hasina.

Criticising the Election Commission to carry out delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies, other AL leaders told the gathering that the EC's activities created doubt in public mind as to whether the stalled national elections would be held as per the roadmap.

"We have rejected the commission's move, but it is doing everything neglecting our demands.

Then what's the necessity of dialogue," Zillur Rahman questioned apprehending that if there is no dialogue, conflict is inevitable.

The token hunger strike was observed simultaneously at AL Dhanmondi and Bangabandhu offices from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Several hundreds AL leaders and activists took part in the programmes.

Zillur Rahman concluded the programme by offering juice to the fasting leaders and activists while AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu offered juice to the leaders and activists at party central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.

The AL observed the programme to press its demands, including the release of Sheikh Hasina and send her abroad for treatment.

The other demands include withdrawal of state of emergency, holding free and fair elections and bringing down the unusually high prices of essentials.

This is for the first time the AL observed such a programme following the 1/11 changeover in the country.

During the programme, AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said they want to participate in the dialogue as well as the parliamentary polls under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

Abdur Razzaq said the presence of Sheikh Hasina is essential for making the dialogue fruitful and also for creating congenial atmosphere for holding the general election.

Tofael Ahmed said the Government should hold bilateral dialogue with the political parties.

He observed that the presence of Sheikh Hasina in the dialogue would make the talk meaningful.

Favouring the presence of army representatives during the formal dialogue, Suranjit Sengupta said, "We want to sit with those who hold power."

"Army is now at the central point of power so we want to sit with them. We do not want to sit with any employees of armed forces," he said.

AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam apprehended the EC's move for delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies might foil the entire process of election.

Criticising the EC for its move to hold the city corporation and municipality elections, he said it may delay the national election.

About the report on releasing the detained two former premiers Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia on parole to join the dialogue, the AL leader said, "If such a proposal has been made, we would say a good sense has started prevailing on a section of the government advisers."

He said the party would announce its next course of agitation after holding central working committee meeting within a couple of days.

Among others, the programme was also addressed, by Motia Chowdhury, Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Sultan Mansur, Akhtaruzzaman, Abdur Rahman, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Nurul Islam Nahid, Prof Ali Ashraf, ASN Ashikur Rahman, Adv Shahara Khatun, Col (Retd) Faruk Khan, Dr Abdur Razzak, Habibur Rahman Siraj, AKM Jahangir, Shafiul Arefin Tutul, Adv Abdul Mannan Khan and Ashim Kumar Ukil.

Khaleda chargesheeted: Moudud, Mosharraf, Kamal Siddiqui, Mamun among accused in Niko scam

Begum Khaleda Zia

Court Correspondent

Charge sheet was submitted yesterday against former prime Minister Khaleda Zia, former law minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy A K M Mosharraf Hossain, former Secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, Niko South Asia former Vice Chairman Kashem Sharif, former Principal Secretary of Prime Minister's Office Dr Kamaludin Siddiqui and five others in the Niko graft case.

Other five accused are : former senior GM, Petro-Bangla Meer Mainul Haque, former Secretary Shafiur Rahman, Petro-Bangla's former Senior Asstt. Secretary C M Yusuf Hossain, businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun and former Dhaka Club Limited President Selim Bhuiyan.

Sixty-eight persons were made witness in the case while 14 items were included in the seizure list. Anti-Corruption Commission Asstt. Director, Md Mahbubul Alam filed the case and SM Shahidur Rahman, another Asstt Director of ACC was made the Investigation Officer.

The accused allegedly through conspiracy caused loss of Taka 13,777 crore to the national exchequer giving Canadian Niko company 3 gas fields including a very rich one without floating tender. In the First Information Report five persons were made accused and 6 more accused were included in the charge sheet.

The prosecutor said the accused had entered into a deal with Canada-based oil & gas company NIKO accruing financial benefits that inflicted loss to the nation to the tune of Tk 13,777 crore.

ACC filed two cases against the two former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina and their associates with Kafrul thana on December 9 last year accusing them of entering into separate deals during their rule with NIKO inflicting heavy losses to the country.

Court sources said charge sheet in the other case against Sheikh Hasina and her associates is likely to be submitted today.

The prosecutor of the case against Khaleda and her associates submitted a list of 68 witnesses to probe the charge.

Of the 11 accused, six including Khaleda are in custody while six others remained fugitive. Others in custody are former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, businessmen Giasuddin Al Mamun and Selim Bhuiyan.

Those remained absconding are Kashem Sharif of Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited, former Principal Secretary to PM Dr Kamal Siddiqui, Petro Bangla director CM Yusuf Hussain, former BAPEX senior general manager Meer Moinul Haque and former BAPEX Secretary Shafiur Rahman.

Meanwhile the judgement of extortion case filed against former state minister Amanullah Aman was not pronounced yesterday. Hosne Ara Begum, Judge in-charge adjourned the proceedings of the case till 7 May when Judge Mohammad Altaf Hosain, 6th Additional District and Session Judge of Dhaka will come back. He was on leave became he was ill yesterday.

Meanwhile Md Abu Sufian, accused in the Bashundhara Group Director Sabbir Ahmed murder case, was put on a 3-day remand in Badda Thana's sensational Manik Chandra Murder case. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahin Uddin passed the order in presence of the accused. IO of the case Badda Thana's SI Sohrab Hossain sought a 7-day remand to quiz the accused.

Anwar Choudhury meets Zillur, Delwar: Emergency should go for free, fair polls

Anwar Choudhury

UNB, Dhaka

Outgoing British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury yesterday said the state of emergency should be lifted as soon as possible and a credible level playing field be in place so all parties can participate in the next general election.

" Obviously, it is much preferable to have elections without emergency, but if not totally lifted, it should be lifted to maximum extent as soon as possible so people can organize themselves for elections," he told reporters after separate meetings with acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman and BNP secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain.

Terming his meetings as part of farewell calls, Choudhury did not precisely comment on Awami League and BNP stance on boycott of elections if Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia-the two former premiers detained during the current interim period-were not freed from jail.

"There is a judicial process, and we will not comment on that," he said, adding what is important is that there should be a credible level playing field without any discrimination and disadvantage

"If there is a level playing field, it is up to players to play," he told a questioner in a cryptic reply.

After the 45-minute meeting with Zillur Rahman at his Gulshan house, the outgoing British High Commissioner told the reporters that they discussed "many things-our concerns and the forthcoming elections".

He wouldn't say what are the Awami League's concerns or the British concerns, but said the Awami League raised the issue of its leader Sheikh Hasina's release.

Choudhury said he was pleased to see good progress being made in some critical areas like preparation of voters' list, which should be finished in July. Other reforms seem to be moving ahead, which is very good.

"We hope all things will get together before December," he said, adding, "My hope Bangladesh will look forward and take the country towards a middle- income nation by 2020."

Asked his comment on major parties' opposition to the demarcation of the constituencies, the Bangladeshi-origin British diplomat said this is a technical matter to ensure reasonable distribution of each constituency.

Awami League leader Dr Hassan Mahmud was present.

Later, the High Commissioner had one-and-a-half-hour meeting with BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain at his NAM apartment. BNP leaders Brig Gen (rtd) Hannan Shah, Goyeswar Chandra Roy and Rizvi Ahmed were present.

Talking to the reporters, Chowdhury said they covered lots of issues during the meeting. "We hope elections will be free, fair and credible and everybody will participate."

He favoured the lifting of the state of emergency as soon as possible to allow people to prepare for the polls.

Referring to the comments made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and British Foreign Minister David Miliband, who recently visited Dhaka, Chowdhury said, "We support Bangladesh's desire for a sustainable democracy and a very good election."

He noted that institutional reforms like the reforms of the Election Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the judiciary would help establish democracy on a strong footing.

Asked about human-rights situation, Choudhury said it is a mixed situation as in some areas progress was made like the case of extrajudicial killing while in the case of freedom of expression, it is clearly "worst" because of the state of emergency.

Long travel time, customs hassle: 'Maitry’ euphoria over

Shamim Jahangir

Customs and immigration hassles mainly on the Indian territory and long travel time have taken away much of initial euphoria of the people intending to visit either Bangladesh or India by the Dhaka-Kolkata train service styled "Maitry Express".

Many people of the two neighbouring countries were ecstatic when the Maitry Express was launched on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year, amid much fanfare and hope.

The train service between Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) and India was snapped close on the heels of the war between the two countries in 1965. Naturally, people felt elated when the Maitry Express was introduced after a lapse of 43 years.

Affordable fares, comfort of travel and safety of journey from the point of accident and other hazards inspired many of the people to avail themselves of this train service to visit either of the two countries.

Moitree charges Tk 560 for Shovan chair, Tk 840 for AC chair and Tk 1,400 for AC cabin as against Tk 1,500 for travel by bus.

Despite cheap fares and other facilities many now feel discouraged to travel by Moitree as it takes twelve hours and a half to Chitpur Railway Station on the outskirts of Kolkata, capital of the Indian state of West Bengal from the Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station. The distance between the two terminal points is 538 kilometres of which 418 kilometres are within Bangladesh.

Unfriendly behaviour of the customs and immigration officials at Gede check point in West Bengal serves as irritant for underaking journey by train, according to some sufferers.

Completion of customs and immigration formalities take nearly five hours on both sides, according to passengers.

Rafiqul Bashar, a Kolkata-bound passenger from Dhaka, told The New Nation that train journey by Moitree Express would be more enjoyable and attractive if the customs and immigration formalities are completed on board the train.

He further said one can reach Kolkata in nine hours from Dhaka by bus. Journey time by train can be cut by three to four hours if the customs formalities are carried out with the train, he suggested.

Kali Kanta, Assistant Director of Bangladesh Railway, said they have written to the Indian authority for a meeting to devise means reduce travel time to 10 and a half hours from 12 and a half hours.

The once a week Moitree Express has not yet been able to attract passengers to the level of expectation. The trains between the two countries carry passengers much below their capacity. The Kolkata-bound train from Dhaka has 418 seats.

It carried 131 passengers from the Dhaka Cantonment Station on Sunday. Only 59 passengers came to Dhaka from the other end the same day. The Dhaka bound train from Kolkata has 367 seats, according to sources.

The fragile tourism industry will get a boost if the train facilities between the two countries are improved and updated keeping in view the hopes of the passengers.

30,000 sued for Sadarghat arson

Police force has been deployed at the Sadarghat
Launch Terminal yesterday following the incident of arson,
in which two passenger launches were destroyed on Sunday.
Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

At least 30,000 unidentified people were accused in two cases filed with South Keraniganj Police Station yesterday for Sunday's riot and arson over the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority's (BIWTA) closure of Simpson Ghat on the River Buriganga.

A case was filed by Sohagh Dhali, owner of MV Riaz-4 for damaging

and setting fire to the launch, while police Sub-Inspector Manjur Morshed filed another case for rioting, assaulting police and hindering officials from discharging government duties.

Thousands of people, including shop owners and employees of Zilla Parishad Market, Alam Market, Chowdhury Nagar Market and Nuru Market of Charkaliganj in South Keraniganj area, on the opposite side of Simpson Ghat Mosque, ran riot and set fire to MV Riaz-4 and MV Abhijan and vandalised 10 other launches protesting setting up of three pontoons closing the river ghat.

Around 50 people, including a dozen policemen, were also injured in the incident.

The Chairman of the BIWTA Abdul Mannan Hawlader said, "One pontoon has already been removed for ferrying people and goods through Simpson Ghat."

"Within one month, the removed pontoon will be set up again and two new ghats will be constructed 60 feet on the right side of the existing ghat," he said yesterday.

"The decision for setting up of the pontoons were taken several years ago. It will reduce the incidents of boat capsize after shifting of the ghat," said the BIWTA Chairman.

Every year there are 100 accidents between boats and motor launches because of the disadvantaged position of the existing ghat, according to the local sources.

Mobile phone network in 3 hill towns allowed

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has approved all mobile and PSTN operators to expand their service to the district headquarters of the three hilly districts.

BTRC Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Monzurul Alam officially approved the operation at a meeting with all mobile and PSTN operators at his office yesterday. He asked them to immediately start installing their networks in the three hilly districts.

With this expansion of cell phone operation, the three CHT districts will come under the coverage of modern telecommunication.

However, the approval of mobile and PSTN operation was subjected to some terms and condition set by BTRC to ensure national security and to prevent possible misuse.

BTRC Chairman laid emphasis on SIM registrations.

He also asked the operators to install networks in municipal areas of the three hill districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban -- as per the government's directive.

He advised mobile operators to share basic infrastructures of networking.

Moreover, establishment and operation of all customer care centres will be entirely operators' responsibility, he added.

The mobile and PSTN operating companies have welcomed the BTRC decision.

"We welcome the government decision to allow mobile phone operation in CHT. Warid is ready to launch its service at the earliest possible time in compliance with the guidelines put in place by the Government," said Muneer Farooqui, CEO Warid Telecom.

This approval will put Bangladesh telecommunication sector a step forward, said Mujibur Rahman, Managing Director of Teletalk Bangladesh.

Discussion meet told: 'Given consensus Bangladesh can face external pressure’

Staff Reporter

Mahbubul Alam, former adviser to the caretaker government told a discussion meeting in Dhaka that Bangladesh is capable of withstanding any foreign pressure and charting its own track towards development provided there was successful consensus building in the country.

Delivering his address at the meet organised by the Advanced Bangladesh Centre for Development (ABCD) he cited the example of Nepal where major foreign powers were now showing eagerness to work with the Maoists who had earlier been branded as terrorists.

The former adviser who is also the editor of The Independent said Bangladesh has many advantages like a homogenous population which would help accelerate the march towards progress and prosperity.

"The country belongs to us, we should steer its towards democracy and progress," he said.

Presided over by Prof Mahfuz Parvez, the discussion meeting was also addressed by Prof. Jashimuddin Ahmed, former Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, Prof. Sukomal Barua of Dhaka University, Abul Kalam Azad of Bhashanir Haq Katha, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor, The New Nation, Mostafa Allama and Sheikh Raquib Uddin among others.

Prof. Jashimuddin Ahmed underlined the need for steering the nation clear of corrupt influences for ensuring its rapid development. He said the country has tremendous potentials and had recently become self-sufficient in food grains production even though the population doubled during the last 36 years.

Referring to some obstacles faced by Bangladesh he made mention of the diversion of water of common rivers from upper reaches and said this has the potential of turning the country as a desert. Sahara desert is the outcome of salinity incursion to a fertile agricultural area which once used to grow huge quantities of food during the hay day of the Roman Empire, he added.

Mostafa Kamal Majumder called for steering the country towards election which forced political parties and their leaders to tune themselves to the needs and desires of the people. Terming elections as the greatest path of political reform he said democracy in the country suffered from intolerance, failure of election and big corruption which should be dealt with through farsightedness.

Prof. Sukomal Barua underlined the need for healthy debate and discussion and tolerance in the society with a view to building national unity for progress and prosperity. Politicians should change their mental make-up and give up the paths of intolerance and conflict in the interest of democracy, he said.

CA's address to aim at enhancing people’s confidence

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in an address to the nation within a week is expected to announce the guidelines of the national dialogue between the Government and political parties and different citizens' groups.

Disclosing this yesterday after a meeting of four of the five Advisers, who were entrusted with the responsibility preparing the grounds for the much awaited talks, Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said they were trying to enhance the level of confidence and trust that had been created between the Government and political parties leaders during the pre-dialogues so that formal moots are successful.

As per the previous official announcement the formal dialogue between the Government and political as well as other stakeholders is expected to begin later this month.

The Chief Adviser, in his address to the nation, may announce specific dates for the beginning of the formal dialogue, its agenda and his Government's stance on some important demands, including a possible schedule of the national polls, the release of political leaders and the lifting of the state of emergency that the political leaders demanded during the pre-dialogues, an informed source said last evening preferring anonymity.

The Government will send separate formal letters of invitation to every political party and citizens' or professional bodies-like that of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), with whom it had pre-talks parleys recently.

It, however, could not be clear till filing of this report yesterday as to whether the representatives of citizens' bodies, like that of the FBCCI and other business leaders, who were pressing for the political parties to commit during the formal dialogue that they would not resort to disruptive programmes-hartal and street agitations and would not return to the pre-January 11 (2007) chaotic situations, would be attending meetings with political parties as observers or not.

The formal dialogue between the Government and political parties would be held separately, as a number of important parties, including the Awami League (AL), Jatiya Party (Ershad), Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDP), LDP, Gano Forum, Workers Party and JSD (Inu) refused to sit with Jamaat-e-Islami, the source said, adding, "Both groups of the BNP will be invited to the talks separately."

According to Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, the Advisers of the Caretaker Government during their pre-dialogues with political parties were able to arrive at a consensus on pressing national issues, which, he refused to divulge.

Sources close to the Government and major political parties, including the AL, the BNP (reformist), Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jamaat-e-Islami, BDB and PDP, have already arrived at a consensus on some issues, including the holding of general elections and local body polls, the extent of lifting the state of emergency during the polls, the formation of the National Security Council and the amendment to the Constitution to legitimise their rule and institutional reforms of this Caretaker Government and strike a balance of power between the offices of the Head of the State (the President) and the head of the Government (the Prime Minister).

Briefing journalists at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works after their meeting, Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the Government would discuss at the formal phase all the major issues, including the release of two detained former Prime Ministers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-raised by the political parties during the pre-dialogues.

"We will discuss everything the political leaders have already suggested," he said in reply to a question, adding that the Government was in constant contact with the political parties in order to consolidate further the trust already built between the two sides.

The AL and the conformist faction of BNP led by Khandaker Delwar Hossain categorically demanded that their respective party chiefs-Sheikh Hasina and Begum Zia-should be released and allowed to take part in the general elections if not at the formal dialogue.

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar repeatedly maintained that the national dialogue might end up as a meaningless exercise if the two former Prime Ministers were not allowed to attend the formal talks.

Although AL leaders, including its Acting President Zillur Rahman, made the same demand, its detained President Sheikh Hasina on Sunday, through her lawyers indicated that she was not willing to sit across the dialogue table. Besides, she advised the AL leaders to refrain from taking 'adventurous' agitation programme in the name of her release so that the entire progress does not get upside down, party sources said.

To another question, Dr Hossain Zillur said the Government has not yet decided as to whether representatives of the Army would be present at the formal dialogue as a separate identity or not.

Meanwhile, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday reiterated that his party would not oppose if the Armed Forces participate in the dialogue.

However, top leaders of both factions of the BNP-Secretary General (conformist) Khandaker Delwar Hossain and Acting Secretary General (reformist) Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed opposed the idea of military participation in the formal dialogue, saying the Army is part of the Government, not a third party.

Dr Hossain Zillur said they (four Advisers) have discussed different aspects of the preparation of the formal dialogue during their yesterday's meeting. "The preparations are at the final stage," he told journalists.

Housing and Public Works Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Golam Quader, LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Anwarul Iqbal and Law Adviser Hassan Ariff were present at the meeting.

Bangladeshi girl gets Bill Gates Scholarship

Staff Reporter

Lamia Ahmed, a Bangladeshi girl who was born in the USA, has been awarded prestigious Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship this year in recognition of her outstanding academic success.

Because of being awarded the scholarship, she will be able to carry on her education for the rest of her academic life at free of cost.

Lamia has been living in Virginia with her parents, who came from Bangladesh, and all along doing excellent academic results.

In an interview with the Voice of America, Lamia said her parents are Bangladeshis though she was born in the USA.

A high school student, she now enters a new phase of her education life.

Bill Gates and Melinda Gates Foundation introduced this scholarship since 1999.

Storm kills 10,000 in Myanmar: Another 3,000 missing, life back to primitive existence

AFP, Yangon

More than 10,000 people have been killed in a tropical cyclone that struck Myanmar at the weekend, Foreign Minister Nyan Win told state television, adding that his nation would welcome international aid.

"According to the latest information, more than 10,000 people were killed," Nyan Win said, after briefing foreign diplomats.

"Information is still being collected, and there could be more casualties," he added.

Nyan Win also welcomed Thailand's promise to send emergency food and medicine, saying Myanmar would welcome international aid from other countries.

"We will welcome help like this from other countries, because our people are in difficulty," he said.

He said 57 ships had sunk in the Ayeyawaddy (Irrawaddy)

River, adding that smaller boats had also been destroyed.

State television showed images of entire communities that had flooded since Tropical Cyclone Nargis struck late Friday. Earlier, state media said tens of thousands of people may have been killed in the township of Bogalay alone.

The United Nations said hundreds of thousands of people had been left homeless when the storm, packing winds of 190 kilometres (120 miles) per hour, ripped through the countryside, destroying entire villages in its fury.

Thousands of buildings were flattened as the furious cyclone also ripped power lines to shreds, uprooted trees that blocked key roads and disrupted water supplies in the main city and former capital, Yangon.

Listed terrorist shot dead in city

Staff Reporter

Mostafizur Rahman Sohel, a listed terrorist, was shot at his residence at Khilgaon in the city yesterday.

The deceased was the son of Abu Salek, of House No 16, Road No 2, Block No F in Banasree residential area. Sohel was wanted in two cases including a murder case, Police said.

Some assailants opened fire on Sohel when he was strolling on the balcony of his house at 12:30 am, leaving him seriously injured. Sohel died on way to the hospital.

The reason behind the killing could not be known immediately.

Sohel was a listed terrorist of the area, said a police officer of Khilgaon Police Station.

However, police suspected that Sohel might have been killed following his group's internal conflict.

A case was filed.

After 'Nargis,’ Dhaka warned of cyclone ABC

Staff Reporter

After the cyclone Nargis, which spared Bangladesh and swerved to Myanmar killing 351 people, the meteorological office yesterday warned that one more cyclonic storm was developing over the Bay of Bengal.

"At least one cyclonic storm may develop from the depressions in the Bay of Bengal this month," said an official of the met office quoting and making its long-range forecast for May.

The cyclone would be named ABC, from a panel of code names selected for the Bay of Bengal cyclones of this year, said Sujit Kumar Dev, a senior meteorologist and cyclone expert.

According to the report, the northern and central regions of the country may experience five to six moderate to severe thunderstorms. Elsewhere, four to five mild to moderate thunderstorms were likely, the report added. The forecast was issued after a meeting of experts at the met office, said Sujit. A thunderstorm, or nor'wester, killed eight people in Bangladesh last Friday-Saturday in the country's western region. At least 10,000 people were killed and nearly 100,000 left homeless when tropical cyclone Nargis tore through Myanmar, razing thousands of buildings and knocking out power lines, Myanmar's state media said on Sunday.

BKMEA to revise workers’ wages

BSS, Narayanganj

Labour and Employment Adviser Anwarul Iqbal on Monday hoped that Bangladesh Knit Wear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) would revise its workers wages for bringing their economic welfare.

After inaugurating a rice distribution programme among the knit garment workers at Shastapur upazila compound and BSCIC industrial estate at Panchobati, the adviser told the reporters that the generous move initiated by BKMEA to provide rice to the workers at a reduced rate, will inspire other organisations to follow the example set by BKMEA.

The rice distribution programme was organised by BKMEA.

BKMEA president Fazlul Hoq said BKMEA would have to provide Taka eight as subsidy for each kg of rice.

He said each worker would get four kg of rice at the rate of Taka 25 per kg in a week from BKMEA centres.

"We will continue to sell rice at reduced rate until the price of rice comes down at a tolerable rate with the arrival of Boro in the markets.