The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agriculture to be accorded highest priority in coming budget: CA: Farmers urged to keep trend of bumper harvest up to Aman

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed inaugurating the
Boro harvest at Cheradaugi in Dinajpur yesterday. Focus
Bangla

UNB, Dinajpur

Overwhelmed by the sight of bumper paddy harvest at a time of food crisis worldwide, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday urged country's farmers to keep the trend of bountiful crop production up to the incoming Aush-Aman season the way they proved that they can stand straight facing natural calamity.

Dr Fakhruddin assured that government's cooperation, assistance and subsidy for farmers and agriculture would not only continue but be increased in the future, and he himself would monitor those incentives.

He informed his audience from the peasantry that his caretaker government provided around Tk 3,900-crore subsidy for agriculture in different ways in the current year.

Eulogizing farmers as successful entrepreneurs, he said all credit goes to the farmers for the bumper borrow production and expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah for His blessings and good climate during the boro farming.

The head of caretaker government made the appeal and held out assurances at a Farmers Gathering under Boro Paddy Production Activities 2008 programme at Cheradangi High School ground, surrounded by ripe boro paddies, about 8 kilometers off this district town.

Before addressing the assembly, the Chief Adviser along with some farmers, including septuagenarian Year Mohammd, the owner of the paddy land, cut with a sickle ripened BRRI 28 paddy amid a pageant of dance and song of harvesting crop.

Shantal men and women, attired in colorful dresses, sang and danced along the boundaries of the paddies in a pastoral scene of the old times in this agrarian region.

After mowing the paddy for some time, Dr Fakhruddin went on a walkabout along the ridges of cropland sharing the joy with farmers for bumper paddy harvest, against the backdrop of last monsoon's crop failure for floods and cyclone.

Expressing his feelings, he said when he was walking beside the golden paddy land, it was his most pleasant moment in his life.

He heard about bumper production of borro paddy from media and the Ministries concerned, but he came over here to see for himself the bumper production.On behalf of himself and the nation, the Chief Adviser thanked the country's farmers for their remarkable achievement by dint of hard labour as they sowed boro paddy allover the country, as much as possible, including in haor-baor wetlands, which would remain as shining example for the nation. "It has been proved that this nation can move around as farmers showed that they know how to increase crop production facing cyclone 'Sidr' and floods," he told the gathering.

The Chief Adviser informed that agriculture would be given highest priority in the incoming national budget, saying that male and female farmers deserved to get highest priority.

Referring to price fixation for rice and paddy procurement at increased rates by the government compared to last year's procurement price, he said price of rice has been fixed at Tk 28 per kg, Tk 10 higher than last year's.

He said following the increase in price, an additional Tk 1,700 crore would reach the farmers, which would have positive impact on revitalizing the rural economy.

This higher procurement rate will increase the income of farmers and strengthen the rural economy.

He said, "The government would monitor closely procurement of paddy and rice to make sure that farmers are getting fair price of their produce."

Mobile teams will be formed for monitoring the procurement drive.

Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim, DG of the Agricultural

Extension Department M Shamsul Alam, peasant representatives M Matiur Rahman and M Abul Hossian of Dinajpur also spoke at the gathering presided over by Secretary of Agriculture Ministry M Abdul Aziz.

The formal harvesting programme was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.

Stock review: DSE ended flat trading week in red

Staff Reporter

The trading index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed a buying surge yesterday, which eventually ended in green. The market ended the weeks trading on the day in red, after witnessing a week of flat trading.

"We had to deal with huge buying orders in almost every sector," a brokerage house official told the New Nation at the end of the day. Profit taking was relatively on the day, he added.

Turnover on the bourses also recorded a substantial increase from the previous day as the lower depth market made investors confused.

On weekly comparison, DSE General index ended the trading week with 39.44 points loss. Index of this particular category initiated trading at 3092 points and ended with 3052.51 points, losing 1.28 per cent within the week.

DSE 20 index, however, have witnessed a positive trading week, enjoyed 51.89 points gain after a week trading. The index opened weekly trading at 2375.18 points and ended 2355.25 points.

The DSE All Share Price Index also witnessed 22.41 points loss after a week trading, ending the week at 2589.77 points.

At the end of this week total 10.82 crore shares worth Tk350.59 crore were traded throughout the week. In a week time, total turnover decreased by increased by 22.95 per cent as reported. However, the DSE opened with total Tk 86018.58 crore Market Capitalization and closed the trading week with Tk 85431.43 crore. It was 0.68 per cent lower than the opening.

However, the DGEN or general index maintained an upward curve across the day yesterday and gained 32.85 points or 1.08 per cent to close at 3052.61 points.

The DSI or all-share price index ended on 2589.76, advancing 28.04 points or 1.09 per cent from the previous day. The bourse's blue chip DSE-20 rose 23.23 points or 0.96 percent to 2427.19.

Turnover increased to Tk 4.05 billion from Wednesday's Tk 3.50 billion, with 23,159,207 shares changing hands.

Of the traded issues, 120 gained and 108 declined, with 11 issues holding steady.

Underground water crisis in 15 years

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday said Bangladesh may face a severe underground water crisis after 10 to 15 years due to drying up of rivers.

They said if India continues to withdraw river water, the country's underground water level would fall from 10 to15 feet per year.

They were addressing the roundtable on "Depriving Bangladesh of Water" organised by Deshmati Website in co-operation with Nagorik Forum, Shadesh Forum, Green and Peace and Environment and Development Research Institution (EDRI) at the National Press Club in the city.

Prof Moniruzzaman Mian, former Vice-Chancellor, Dhaka University addressed the function as chief guest, while President of International Farakka Committee Prof Dr Jasim Uddin Ahmed, also former Vice-Chancellor, Jahangirnagar University, Prof Dr Mohammad Abdur Rab, Chairman of the Red-Crescent Society, Shawkat Hossain Nilu, Chairman of National Peoples Party (NPP), Engr Nurul Amin Bhuiyan, among others, spoke.

Chowdhury Mohammad Faruk, contact person, Deshmati website, presented keynote paper in the roundtable, while journalist Mahedi Hasan Palash conducted it.

Prof Moniruzzaman said patriotism and unity among the country's people, strong political leaders like Moulana Bhasani and skilled government are needed to solve the trans-national (Bangladesh-India) river water crisis.

He said all the Indian and Nepalis are united on the issue of trans-national rivers, but it was unfortunate that the people of Bangladesh are not united on the issue.

Terming the River Water Treaty with India of1996 as a sham, he said in the treaty India was not compelled to provide water to Bangladesh in the dry session.

Enhancing negotiation skill of the concerned experts and authorities is essential to deal properly the joint river issues.

Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmed said source of 7 to 9 per cent of water in Bangladesh is rainfall, while 91 per cent is Bangladesh-India joint rivers.

Prof Abdur Rab said although Bangladesh is gifted with rivers, if India continues to divert the river flow, the country's bio diversity will be destroyed.

Grabbing of forest land: ACC to sue Siraj, Shamsul, Mamun, Karim

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to file two cases against nine individuals, including former BNP ministers Shamsul Islam and Shajahan Siraj, and businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, for causing losses to the state coffer through illegally making permanent allocation of about 24 acres of forestland in Bhawal National Park, Gazipur.

The nine accused also include Orion Group chairman Obaidul Karim, Shajahan Siraj's son, two incumbent senior government officials and a retired secretary.

ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the Commission's regular briefing that the anti-graft watchdog yesterday approved the filing of the cases for corruption relating to forestland.

The first case will be filed against eight individuals for alleged corruption in making permanent allocation of 13 acres of forestland. The accused will be Shamsul, Siraj, Mamun, Karim, Siraj's son Rajib Siraj Apu, former Gazipur deputy commissioner Sahab Ullah (currently EPB vice-chairman), former Gazipur additional deputy commissioner Rafiqul Islam (currently member of Bangladesh Science and Industry Research Council) and former Land secretary Azad Ruhul Amin.

The second case will be filed also against eight individuals for making permanent allocation of 10.75 acres of forestland. Apart from Orion Group chairman Karim, seven others of the first case will also be implicated in the second case. The eighth person to be implicated in the second case is Mujibul Haque, managing director of Green House Organic Farms Ltd.

The nine individuals will be accused of fraudulence, abuse of power and taking illegal route in allocating the forestland. Both the cases will be filed under section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act, 1947 and section 109 of the Penal Code.

Besides, Hanif told the briefing that the Commission has approved the filing of a case against Tangail pourasava chairman Jamilur Rahman Miron and his wife Zannat Ferdous for amassing wealth worth Tk 20.41 lakh beyond their known sources of income and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 3.88 lakh.

Quake death toll in China may rise above 50,000

Reuters, Wenchuan, China

The death toll from China's massive earthquake could soar to more than 50,000, state media reported yesterday, as rescuers struggled to help survivors and hope faded for the thousands buried under rubble.

Already some 20,000 are confirmed dead as a result of Monday's 7.9 magnitude quake and 25,000 remained buried in areas rescuers have struggled to reach, battling landslides, buckled roads, collapsed bridges and wet weather. The Communist Party leadership told officials to "ensure social stability" in rescue efforts, as the quake spawned rumors of chemical spills, fears of dam bursts and scenes of collective desperation.

Rescuers in the city of Dujiangyan, in the worst-hit province of Sichuan, wrapped corpses dragged from the rubble in tarpaulins and sped them to morgues.

They were so busy that a notice outside one collapsed school asked parents to search for missing children in shifts.

About 130,000 army and paramilitary troops assisted the search and rescue effort in Sichuan, sifting through dozens of towns turned to rubble.

But three days after the quake, hopes of pulling survivors from the ruins dimmed and the waves of rescuers appear to be hampered by lack of specialized equipment.

Still, there were moments of joy and relief. "Thank you, thank you," one 22-year-old said after she was eventually pulled to safety, covering her face against the light in Dujiangyan. She had been trapped, unable to move, under the ruins of a hospital.

The strains from tens of thousands of homeless were also growing. "There is enough food but not enough water. We have only had bottled mineral water the past few days, nothing to cook with," said Wang Yujie, a teacher whose school withstood the quake.

More aid was arriving and efforts at coordination were also improving, with Sichuan setting up a hotline for victims and ambulances with Beijing license plates on the roads.

More than 12.5 tonnes of relief goods had been airdropped and scores of helicopters were flying in rescuers and aid.

Official said quilts, tents, food and satellite phones were needed most. The Health Ministry's Gao Qiang said medical needs ranged from basics like bandages and antibiotics to sophisticated equipment such as ventilators and kidney dialysis machines.

Dhaka to request: Yangon to receive world aid for Nargis victims

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh will request Myanmar regime to receive international humanitarian aid for the victims of cyclone Nargis that ravaged the country on May 3.

"We've very good relations with Myanmar. We'll certainly use our good offices for the Myanmar people," Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters after a meeting with US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty.

During an hour-long meeting, the US Ambassador sought Bangladesh's support to woo the Myanmar government to receive the world aid for the cyclone victims as well as independence of Kosovo, two aircraft for Darfur and US candidature for IOM leadership. On Kosovo, the Adviser said Bangladesh always support the cause of Muslim brothers in Kosovo and is contemplating about Kosovo's recognition.

He said Muslim countries would be able to take collective decision at the Islamic Foreign Minister Conference (ICFM) to be held in Uganda in July.

3 lakh people in Sidr-hit areas still live in polythene hut, tents

UNB, Bagerhat

Some 2,86,000 people in 12 coastal districts which were severely ravaged by super cyclone Sidr last November are still living in tents or polythene-made huts.

After successfully handling the immediate post-Sidr humanitarian assistance by providing food and non-food items to the victims, the government, development partners and non-government organizations seem to have been failed to provide permanent shelters to the affected people.

Officials in the Shelter Working Group (SWG), a conglomerate of around 200 organisations encompassing government, NGOs, UN agencies, and civil society groups, said only a quarter of the required rehabilitation has been completed in last six months.

Local people and administrations said sufferings of the people might take a serious turn during the upcoming Monsoon season as the polythene huts and tents are not enough to protect them from rains or storms.

Absconder drug kingpin arrested

Staff Reporter

Kotwali thana police arrested Mostakin, a drug dealer from a house at Aga Sadek Road in the city on Wednesday.

Mostakin (45), was son of one Saizuddin of Aga Fateh Road under Kotwali Thana.

The police said they arrested the absconder Mostakin, convicted in three firearms cases, while he was trying to flee sensing the police presence from a house at Aga Sadek Road yesterday afternoon in the old part of Dhaka.

He was also arrested for possessing 105 packets of heroine in 2002.

Mostakin controlled heroine business in the old town and its adjacent area since 1996. He was earlier arrested several times by police.

He was released from Dhaka central jail on bail two months back. Since then he was absconding.

Sources said a total of 20 cases were pending with different police stations against him.

Dhaka for global action to fight food crisis

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh calls for immediate global action to address three major global challenges - food crisis, increased oil price and climate change.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, Ismat Jahan, made this call while speaking on behalf of the least developed countries at the high level segment of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in New York Wednesday. Ambassador Jahan said that the price of food grains had surged to its record high, affecting the LDCs most disproportionately. "In the LDCs where poor households spend nearly 70% of their income on food items, a sharp increase in food price was bound to have strong adverse impact on the incidence of poverty and human development", she said.

She expressed deep concern that at a time when the poor countries had expected increased global support, food market had become further distorted. "Many food exporting countries had adopted restrictive measures through both tariff and non tariff barriers", she added. Ismat Jahan urged strategization of the global response to the food crisis through a coherent and multi-pronged approach, addressing short, medium and long-term needs, said a press release received here today.

In the immediate short run, she urged removal of the supply side constraints and to ensure adequate food supply. She underlined the need for providing targeted cash transfers and other direct support measures to vulnerable groups.

Four bombs seized in Jessore

BSS, Jessore

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered four powerful bombs from East Barandi Para of the town in an abandoned state on Wednesday night.

RAB sources said, acting on secret information, a team of the elite force conducted a drive at East Barandipara and recovered four bombs from the side of a drain behind the house of one Sheikh Obaidul Islam.

Obama sorry for 'sweetie’ comment

Internet

Barack Obama, candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination to run for US president, has apologised to a reporter for calling her "sweetie".

Reporter Peggy Agar, of the WXYZ television network in Michigan, had shouted a question as Obama toured a Chrysler car plant in Detroit.

Obama said: "Hold on one second, sweetie" and did not answer.

He later left a message for Ms Agar saying it was a "bad habit" and he "meant no disrespect".

Ms Agar told the Detroit News: "I've been called worse."

Obama has been in Michigan to bolster his campaign as his battle for the Democratic nomination with rival Hillary Clinton reaches its climax.

During his visit he has secured the endorsement of former US Democratic presidential contender, John Edwards.

On his trip to the Chrysler LLC plant, Ms Agar shouted out: "How are you going to help the American auto workers?"

Obama said: "Hold on one second, sweetie, we'll do a press [session], thanks."

The Illinois senator later left a phone message that was played on the television station.

In it he said: "That's a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and so I am duly chastened on that front.

"Feel free to call me back. I expect that my press team will be happy to try to make it up to you whenever we are in Detroit next."

Nizam heirs fight over fortune

Internet

A grandson of the last ruler of the Indian princely state of Hyderabad has joined the claims for a share of a fortune frozen in a London bank.

The Nizam of Hyderabad deposited £1m in the bank in 1948. It is now estimated to be worth £30m.

India, Pakistan and other descendants of the Nizam have to agree a settlement before it is released.

The grandson, Najaf Ali Khan, has lobbied the Indian prime minister for his help in the case.

Last month, India said it would begin negotiations with Pakistan to settle the dispute.

So far, the best known claimant has been Mukarram Jah, the Nizam's oldest grandson who inherited his title.

But Najaf Ali Khan is disputing the claim.

"Mukarram Jah is not the only legal heir and for that reason I have led a team of family members to meet the prime minister," Khan told journalists in Delhi where he was accompanied by his sister and 10 other descendants.

"We have requested Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the issue with the Pakistan government when he visits Islamabad next week," he said.

The Nizam was widely believed to be the world's richest man

"When India and Pakistan discuss ways to disburse £30m they should remember that in all there are 96 descendants."

He said news of the negotiations between India and Pakistan made them decide to make their claims public.

"We have never been in the media. Mukarram Jah and his younger brother Muffakham Jah have always been in the limelight," he said hinting at their wealthy cousins' exalted economic status.

The origins of the dispute go back to 1947 when India and Pakistan were created.

The Nizam - a Muslim and widely believed to be the world's richest man could not decide whether his princely state should become part of India or Pakistan.

India annexed the state in 1948. But just before that, the Nizam deposited £1m in an account controlled by Pakistan's High Commissioner to London in the National Westminster Bank.