The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dhaka Polytechnic closed sine die: Violent clash leaves 100 including 50 cops injured: Students asked to vacate dormitories

Police lobbed tear-gas shells at the students after
the students hurled brickbats at the members of law
enforcing agency during a violent clash at Dhaka Polytechnic
Institute at Tejgaon on Saturday. FocusBangla

Students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute leaving the
dormitories as the authorities declared the institute closed
sine die following the violent clashes between police and
students yesterday. FocusBangla

Mamunur Rashid

Angry students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute in Tejgaon area clashed with riot police for the second successive day yesterday over the death of a fellow student leaving more than 100 people including 50 policemen injured.

Police said the students of the Institute took to the streets, damaged passing vehicles in Tejgaon industrial area and clashed with law enforcers to protest the death of Ashiqur Rahman, a 2nd year student of the institute who died when a bus ran over him on Friday night in front of the Institute.

Ashiqur's death led to an instant protest by students who clashed with police resulting in injuries to at least 15 people on Friday night.

The Polytechnic Institute authorities held an emergency meeting and asked the students to vacate the five halls and dormitories by 1.00pm yesterday following direction of the Education Ministry.

But the students didn't leave the Hall and the dormitories till 2:pm. Instead they battled with the police for the second time yesterday. A large number of agitated students came to the "Satrastra" crossing at 9:00am, set ablaze a bus of Himalaya Paribahan and vandalised vehicles passing through the area.

The Firemen rushed to the scene and doused the fire of the bus. The protesters hurled brickbats at the police who were trying to bring the situation under control. Many of the students were seen wielding sticks.

Witnesses said the students from Zahir Hall, Motihar Hall, Latif Hall (West) and Latif Hall (East) joined the protest.

As the situation went beyond control police fired over 200 tear gas shells and rubber bullets. Many students took position on the roofs of their dormitories and hurled brickbats at the police.

The area turned into a veritable battlefield in a short time as hundreds of angry students were locked in a fierce clash with the law enforcers.

Tejgaon Zone DC of Police Mahbubur Rahman, ADC Walid Hossain, OC of Tejgaon Industrial area Sikdar, Inspector (Riot) Babul Miah, Tejgaon thana OC Lutfar Rahman, SI Yakub, ASI Shamsu, and constables Hadi and Masud were among the injured.

Protesters blocked the roads in Tejgaon area and Tongi Diversion Road for seven hours.

This created a serious traffic jam in the capital.

As the students did not vacate the halls and dormitories within the deadline, the authorities of the Poly technique institute held an emergency meeting for the second time and requested the students to leave the campus. The students at first refused to vacate halls and dormitories because of upcoming examinations. Later they started vacating their halls from 3 pm.

Before leaving the campus they placed 12- point demand to the authorities. The demands include compensation to family of the deceased student, installing speed breakers in front of the institute, banning movement of heavy vehicles and half bus fare for the students.

Most of the students of the institute had to face immense problems because of the sudden order to vacate their halls and dormitories.

The principal of the institute, Shamsul Alam, said "We have asked the students to leave the dormitories as the situation went out of control."

Aziz for fuel price hike to reduce subsidy: No tax rate rise in coming budget

Staff Reporter

After raising tariff of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the Government is going to increase prices of fuel oil to adjust it with the soaring prices of petroleum in the global market.

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday put a broad hint about it saying, "Sometimes, somewhere we've to go for price adjustment. It cannot be continued for long." He also gave a good news that people will experience no tax hike but relaxation in some cases in the upcoming budget.

"Fuel prices will surely be increased. We have no alternative," he told reporters on his arrival at Zia International Airport, after attending a meeting of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok and the Asian Development Bank board meeting in Madrid.

He, however, said any final decision would come after consultation with the top brass of the interim administration.

"The import cost has increased manifold. Maintaining balance of payment has turned out to be difficult. Things cannot go this way. It is inevitable that we have no way except increasing the price of oil," the Adviser said.

Meanwhile, oil jumped to a record $126 a barrel yesterday on the international market, extending gains to more than 11 per cent since the start of the month on fuel supply concerns and a rush of speculator buying. US crude settled up $2.27 at $125.96 a barrel before rising to a record $126.25 in late post-settlement trade. London Brent crude gained $2.56 to settle at $125.40 a barrel, off the earlier high of $125.90.

Mirza Aziz said the international prices of oil have soared so high that the subsidy on fuel oil would increase even after adjustment of the prices in the domestic market.

The Finance Adviser, however, said that the price adjustment should be done in a manner that would relatively affect only a small portion of the people. "Some social protection measures have to be taken to save the low-income group of people from the impact."

The amount of subsidy on fuel for irrigation would be increased in the next budget, he said.

Replying to another question, the Finance Adviser said the tax policy would be made as business-friendly as possible in the next budget and there would be no hike in tax rates. "We're examining how the tax policy could be made business-friendly," he added.

"The tax coverage is going to be widened in the budget for 2008-09, but the tax rates would not be increased. Instead, the tax rates may be reduced in few cases."

He said the Government was thinking of expanding the social safety net emphasising elderly allowance, allowance for freedom fighters, widows and destitute people.

"More people will be brought under the social safety umbrella," Mirza Aziz said.

Turning to the fuel price issue, the Finance Adviser said he also pointed out the possibility of social discontent over the fuel oil price at the UNESCAP annual meeting in Bangkok on April 28.

He called for initiatives by the international community to help Bangladesh face the increased pressure on the budget due to the price hike of fuel oil, food and fertiliser as well as increased import costs.

He urged the oil-surplus countries to provide the net oil-importing countries like Bangladesh financial assistance from the extra-profit they made of the increased oil prices.

"The climate change has caused the food crisis where Bangladesh has no contribution, but has become the worst victim of it," he said, urging the developed countries to take initiatives to offset the losses.

The Adviser said the ADB has already undertaken some positive steps in this regard and pledged for an additional assistance of US$ 40 million to Bangladesh in the wake of increased food prices.

Move to reunify BNP factions: Mannan, Hannan meet

Rafiqul Islam Azad

A senior leader of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP has taken a fresh move to reunite two factions of the party amid multiple crisis and twist and turns in the leadership.

BNP chairperson's adviser Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah took the initiative after Saifur Rahman's statement that he was no longer chairman of the party; rather Begum Khaleda Zia is the chairperson of the party.

As part of the initiative, the outspoken BNP leader held an exclusive meeting with former secretary general of BNP Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan at a Gulshan residence in the city on Thursday.

During the two-hour meeting, they discussed different issues, including the strategies and means to reunite the party factions.

Sources, however, said leaders of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP including its secretary general Khondoker Delwar

Hossain are in the dark about the move of Hannan Shah, who earlier had taken such initiatives for reunification of the party, but failed.

They observed reunification of the BNP depends on them and no discussion would be successful without consulting its secretary general Khondoker Delwar Hossain.

Leaders of pro-reformist faction of BNP are holding series of meetings and reviewing the latest development in the political arena and overall situation in the party following Saifur Rahman's statement, which frustrated them to stay in previous position.

A number of leaders of reformist group including, ZA Khan, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Nazir Hossain, Ali Newaz Khaiyam, Dr Ziaul Haque Mollah, Abdul Khaleq Chantu, Shahiduzzaman Beltu, Delwar Hossain Khan Dulu, Anwarul Islam Khan Chowdhury, Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, Mofiqul Hassan Tripti and Nabiullah Nabi yesterday met acting secretary general Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed at his Banani residence in the city.

Leaders of reformist faction do not want to make any comment on the move of Hannan Shah. However, sources said they are still sticking to their stand to bring about reform in the party.

They are hopeful about reunification of the party and continuing the discussion among the party leadership about the possibility of unity.

After determination of the party stand, an announcement may come out within a couple of days, sources indicated.

Talking to The New Nation, Brig Hannan Shah admitted that he had held a meeting with Mannan Bhuiyan.

Asked about the possibility of reunification of the party, the outspoken leader said the reformist leaders now are reviewing the situation and would take a decision soon.

He, however, said that if they want to be reunited they should abide by the decision of Begum Khaleda Zia and cancel the resolution of October 29 meeting from where the reformist faction was formed.

Meanwhile, Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday called upon partymen to remain united saying, "You must not be frustrated. "BNP remained united. "We will come out successful by tearing down the nets of the conspirators."

He said this while party leaders of Rajshahi and Natore districts who met him at his NAM Flat residence.

AL allies differ on local polls: Election boycott will harm Hasina personally: Amu

Shahidul Islam

Component political parties of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance are reorganising their respective houses, keeping the coalition dormant after the January 11 (2007) changeover, apprehending that hobnobbing with the AL may be counterproductive, if it boycotts the next general election over the release of the party Chief Sheikh Hasina.

Most of the 14-party alliance partners, including the Gano Forum, Workers Party and JSD (Inu), are taking preparations for participating in the local government polls although some of them were issuing statements demanding the holding of parliamentary elections before all other polls similar to that of the Awami League (AL) demand, mainly to woo the leading party openly, influential leaders of the alliance told The New Nation yesterday.

Gano Forum (GF) President Dr Kamal Hossain on Friday announced that his party would participate in all local government elections, including the upazila, if held before the general elections as per the roadmap of the Election Commission (EC), while Workers Party (WP) engaged one of its influential activists to organise the Union Parishad Chairman Samgram Parishad (UP Chairmen Action Council) and Upazila Restoration Council (URC)-both of which were launching countrywide campaigns for holding local elections before the parliamentary polls.

Dr Kamal made the announcement after a recent meeting with JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu, who is also a front ranking proponent of forming a Government of national consensus after the next general elections like the GF Chief and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Chief former President Prof Dr AKM Badrtuddoza Chowdhury. The AL formally differed with this issue.

It is interesting to note that the Union Parishad Chairmen Action Council (UPCAC) and URC were formed by current and former Chairmen of the Union Councils and defunct upazilas and many paursavas, including the grassroots level leaders of different political parties, including those belonging to the BNP and the AL. All of these current and former chairmen of different tiers of the local bodies are against the intervention of the MPs in local development affairs.

Issuing a threat to move the higher court of law to implement a previous verdict of the Supreme Court, which directed the Government to hold upazila polls a decade ago, leaders UPCAC and URC at a recent press conference apprehended that the politicians would never hold the upazila polls and MPs would neither refrain from intervening in the local government bodies nor politicising local development projects if a political government could get elected before the local body polls.

Leaders of the smaller components of the 14-party alliance feel that they would be in a better position to bargain with the AL demanding more parliamentary seats, if they could capture some posts of the Chairmen in different tiers of the local government bodies, including city corporations, municipalities and upazilas. For example most of the groupings central leaders, including those of the AL, agree that WP leader Fazle Hossain Badsha would be a sure winner in the Mayoral election of Rajshahi City Corporation, as he was the candidate of the 14-party alliance during last polls, when the AL boycotted Dhaka City Corporation elections. They noted that the rival BNP had become disorganised following the arrest of number of its leaders on charges of corruption and links with the JMB militants, which brighten the chances for Badsha further.

Meanwhile, serious disagreements on joining the next general elections with or without party Chief Sheikh Hasina among the top leaders of the AL has surfaced on Friday, when influential party Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu opposed a statement made by its Acting President Zillur Rahman that party would not participate in the polls if the detained former Prime Minister was not set free before.

Opposing the idea, Amir Hossain Amu yesterday reiterated saying, "The boycott of the general elections will obviously affect Sheikh Hasina personally and the Awami League as a democratic political party."

Talking to this Correspondent last evening, Amu referred to a comment reportedly made by Sheikh Hasina that persons, who were pressing for imposing adventurous action programme of the AL in the name of her release were actually doing harm to the party.

In the meantime, a comment reportedly made by the 14-party alliance's Coordinator and influential AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed that the GF was no more in the 14-party alliance after Dr Kamal Hossain's statement against Sheikh Hasina.

"The Gano Forum is a part and parcel of the 14-party alliance from the very beginning whether Tofail Ahmed likes it or not," WP General Secretary Bimal Biswas told The New Nation yesterday. GF Presidium member Pankoj Bhattachariya added saying, "No person or party can oust Gano Forum from the alliance without a meeting of is central steering committee."

When asked, Amir Hossain Amu said the AL Presidium would sit this afternoon to decide its stand on joining the general elections and activating or not the 14-party alliance.

Call to return to golden days of jute fibre

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a dialogue yesterday said there is a bright prospect of jute in the county despite closing down of public mills that incurred huge financial loss.

However, they were highly critical of the role of World Bank for the present dismal condition of the country's leading economic sector.

They said there is no reason to close down any jute mills on the argument that there was no prospect of the jute sector.

The scope of enhancing use of jute goods at domestic level could be possible if the current ban on polythene was implemented properly. It would also create a great opportunity for exporting jute and jute goods to the neighbouring countries.

They called for providing high quality seeds and other inputs to the jute farmers for increasing production of high quality jute and streamlining the present jute policy.

They called upon the Government to form an independent ' Jute Board' with the representation of all major stakeholders. The board will set plan of action, guidelines, monitor performance and provide support on a daily basis. It needs to establish 'rules of the game' so that all public and private mills are operated on a market-based approach.

Their observation came at a dialogue on "In Search of a Future for the Jute Sector: Constraints, Opportunities and Policy Options" organised by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at BRAC Inn in the city.

Prof Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD presided over and Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles and Jute, was present as special guest.

Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Fellow of CPD presented keynote paper based on a recent study on jute farmers and manufacturing units. The study examines a spectrum of relevant issues including jute production, productivity, technology, export and marketing, cost and profit aspects, capacity utilisation, efficiency aspects and relative role of private and public sectors.

It was also attended, among others, by Atar-ul-Islam, Chairman, BJMC, Sohel Ahmed Chowdhury, former Commerce Secretary, Dr Uttam Deb, head research fellow of CPD, Shahidullah Chowdhury, Md Rezaul Karim, Chairman, Bangladesh Jute Association, Join Convener, Jute- Textile- Cotton Mill Workers Employers Action Committee, Shah Alam, Secretary, Peoples' Committee of Jute and Jute Industry, Shirin Akter, President of Karmojibi Nari, Maj (Retd) Akteruzzaman,

Moazzem said rationalisation of the size of workforce in Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) is urgently necessary.

He said there are opportunities for setting up new jute mills with repair and maintenance of unused machineries of closed mills that would create new jobs.

Sarker said there is a bright prospect of jute and the Government has taken measures for augmenting jute production.

He, however, said the CPD's study on jute maintains some unrealistic information.

Terming the jute sector as one of the maonomic sector of the country on which depended the livelihood of many people, Prof Rehman Sobhan said Bangladesh is the only country, which remains a leading grower of quality jute and producer of jute goods.

Highlighting the importance for rejuvenating and revitalising the jute sector he said public and private partnership as well as a credible 'jute policy' are required for the betterment of this sector.

He hoped the next elected government would take proper initiatives for the overall improvement of jute sector.

Army Chief leaves for Kuwait, Greece tomorrow

BSS, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed leaves here on May 12 on a 10-day official visit to Kuwait and Greece.

General Moeen will be visiting Kuwait at the invitation of the Chief of the Kuwait Armed Forces. During his stay there, he will make a courtesy call on the Amir and meet high officials.

The Army Chief will also visit the Bangladesh contingent stationed in Kuwait and address the troops, according to an ISPR press release on Saturday.

As the Chairman of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), he will visit Greece and attend a conference of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

General Moeen will return home on May 22.

Anti-graft drive may face challenge after emergency is lifted, says Mashhud

Staff Reporter

Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdury said yesterday the on-going anti-corruption drive might be facing a challenge if it did not get spontaneous co-operation of all sections of people after the lifting of the state of emergency.

He pointed out that the anti-corruption drive is now getting all-out co-operation of the people. Corruption and terrorism are a disgrace for the country and bring shame to the nation, he added.

He was addressing a seminar styled "the Role of the Lawyers in Uprooting Corruption and Terrorism" organised by Bangladesh Lawyers' Forum (BLF) at Dhaka Engineers' Institute in the city.

Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Prof Dr Muzaffar Ahmed, Inspector General (IG) of Police Nur Mohammad, Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Hasan Masud Khandoker, Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council

Khandoker Mahbub Hossain, among others, addressed the seminar. BLF Convener Adv Abu Jahid Sento chaired it.

Adv Rafiqul Islam Mahedi presented the keynote paper at the function.

Hasan Mashud Chowdhury hoped that all professionals in the law and justice sector will continue to lend their support to the anti-corruption drive.

"We can firmly say that we are not being influenced by any one in our crusade against corruption, he mentioned.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said if corruption was not uprooted from the courts the people of the country would be deprived of justice.

He said corruption has permeated all sections in the society including the education sector.The ways and systems that promote corruption in the scoeity should be changed and reformed. Reforms in the country's administrative system are also the crying need of the hour, he stressed.

IG of Police Nur Mohammad said only good governance could ensure the rule of the law.

He urged all to play a brave role in eliminating corruption and terrorism from the society.

DG of RAB Hasan Masud Khandoker said holistic approach was needed to contain and eradicate corruption and terrorism.

He said the law and order situation has improved considerably across the country during the last 16 months.

Advocate of the Supreme Court ABM Nurul Islam said, "Poverty breeds corruption. If people are provided with basic needs such as food, education, medicare and housing, the degree of corruption would come down by at least 50 percent."

He further said that anti-people and unethical laws introduced during the British period needed immediate change and amendments. Most of the laws on corruption are defective, he claimed.

Call to strengthen fair trade movement

Staff Reporter

People should work for strengthening the Fair Trade movement to extend its market excess throughout the country to establish social and environmental justice.

Fair trade experts made the call at a workshop on Fair Trade for Eco Friendly Earth organised by National Fair Trade Network of Bangladesh (ECOTA) at CIRDAP auditorium yesterday.

Fair Trade is an organised social movement, which promotes sustainable development by improving market access for the disadvantaged producers. It seeks to overcome poverty through a partnership between all those involved in the trading process.

"Fair trade favours the sustainable development, use of natural resources and production method that are not capital and energy intensive, favouring hand production and organic agriculture to reduce the carbon footprint. Because fair Trade in committed to pay adequate wage to workers, it enables producer to invest in environmentally friendly production. In turn, this initiative promotes environmental awareness locally and internationally." said Mahfujullah, Chairman of Center for Sustainable Development (CEDS), while presenting the key notepaper.

The world is going to face a massive environmental disaster. People should consume the products, which comes from nature to make the environment safer, he added.

Prof Piyas Karim of Sociology and Political Science of Culver-Stockton College of USA, said, "Fair Trade is an alternative way of business to keep the environment safe, as industrialisation is creating pressure on the environment. The policymaker of the Government should create the opportunity to strengthen the movement in the country."

Raihan Ali, Chairman of ECOTA, Dr Atique Rahman, Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Advance Studies spoke in the workshop.

Int’l Mother’s Day today

UNB, Dhaka

International Mother's Day will be observed across the country today elsewhere in the world, honouring mothers with giving gifts and greetings.

The International Mother's Day has been celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year for the last few years.

The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honour of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent, "Mothering Sunday" honoured the mothers of England.

In the United States, the Mother's Day was started in 1872 by peace activist Julia Ward Howe, who was horrified by the carnage and suffering of the Civil War and wrote a proclamation calling on women to unite and oppose war.

However, more than 40 countries, including Bangladesh, observe the day following American culture that originated from the thought that Anna Jarvis, daughter of Anna Reeves Jarvis, was the power behind the official establishment of Mother's Day in 1905.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honour of those mothers whose sons had died in war.

The day is celebrated in Bangladesh through different programmes in electronic media and according grand reception to mothers of jewels recognizing their contribution to family, society and nation. Restaurants and shopping malls give special offers on the occasion.