The New Nation - Internet Edition

AL, Workers Party leaders say: Dialogue won’t be meaningful without Hasina’s release

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman
presiding over the party's presidium meeting at his Gulshan
residence in the city on Monday. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Awami League and Workers Party yesterday came out with an agreement on the issue of releasing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from detention before the upcoming political dialogue and both the parties have maintained that the dialogue would be futile without her participation.

The leaders of the two parties held a meeting at the Gulshan residence of Zillur Rahman, Acting President of Awami League.

The Awami League leaders said the Chief Adviser in his recent address to the nation made no mention about the release of Sheikh Hasina. This would make the situation volatile rather than resolving the crisis, they felt.

The leaders also demanded lifting of emergency completely and removal of restriction on political activities as no election would be possible under the emergency.

The leaders also urged the government to implement 6- point demand of Awami League and 11-points demand of Workers Party immediately.

Zillur Rahman said, " We have agreed not to attend the government- sponsored dialogue without Sheikh Hasina. She must be freed immediately to make the dialogue fruitful "

Rashed Khan Menon, President of Workers Party, said, "we cannot accept the Chief Adviser' speech as he set a package of agenda in the name of National Charter. The emergency must be lifted completely and political activities must be allowed to carry on their political activities freely."

Terming the demand for the release of Sheikh Hasina logical, he said," we will talk with the government immediately about this issue as the dialogue will not be fruitful without her."

Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Presidium Member and Syed Ashraful Islam, Acting General Secretary of Awami League and Bimal Biswas, Haider Akbar Khan Rono and Fazle Hossain Badsha of Workers Party were present during the bilateral meeting.

50 injured in Satkhira clash

Law enforcing agency personnel went into action to
quel protestors at Satkhira town yesterday. Focus
Bangla

Satkhira Corrorpondant

At least 50 people including four journalists were seriously injured in a clash in Satkhira town yesterday over manhandling of a poura commissioner.

Sixteen of the injured, including women, were admitted to the Sadar Hospital and local clinics.

Informed sources said Belal Hossain, a member of a law-enforcing agency, was found involved with a call girl in Sundarban residential hotel in the town on April 15. Local ward commissioner Shafiquddoula Sagar came to the scene and handed over Belal to the police.

Satkhira Sadar Police station recording a GD set him free without taking any action in this connection.

A section of law enforcers beat ward commissioner Sagar in front of Sundarban hotel at about 9.00am yesterday. He was beaten

mercilessly that drew attention of the people around who came to his rescue. But the law enforcers did not spare them. They beat them indiscriminately creating terror in the area, said eyewitnesses.

Local journalists have also fallen victim to the excess and some of their cameras were snatched away. Of the injured, ward commissioner Sagar was rushed to the Dhaka and pedestrians Abul Hossain, Hasanur Islam, Shahidul, Shafiqul Islam, Abul Kalam, Zulfiqar Ali, Qamrunnahar, Rahima Khatun, Tanjila, Sufia Khatun, Nimai Mondal, Bakul, Quddus, Shamsuddin and Azibor Rahman were admitted to the hospital and clinic for treatment.

Journalists in an impromptu meeting condemned the excess of the law-enforcing agencies, brought out silent procession and handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding punishment to those involved in the excess and compensation for the lost cameras.

Expressing regret at the incident DC Kefayetullah told the

journalists that he has informed the appropriate agency about the incident.

DC held a law and order committee meeting in the evening to discuss the situation.

Corruption in DoC: Rejoinder and our reply

Six officials of the Department of Cooperatives (DoC) have sent a rejoinder following a report headlined, "Embezzling Tk 3.11cr of Tolarbagh Cooperative Society: Action yet to be taken against 6 DoC officials" published in the May 6, 2008 issue of The New Nation mentioning their alleged involvement in misappropriation of the amount in connivance with three former executives of Tolarbagh Samabaya Samity at Mirpur 1 in the city.

These six officials are: Kazi Mesbah Uddin Ahmed (Assistant Registrar, DoC), Abdul Aziz Howlader (Inspector, District Cooperative Office, Dhaka), Abu Zafar Mia (Metro, Thana Cooperative Officer, Mirpur, Dhaka), Md Alauddin Mia, Inspector, District Cooperative Office, Dhaka, Md Harun-ar-Rashid, Inspector, District Cooperative Office, Dhaka and Md Jahangir Alam, former Assistant Inspector, Metro, Thana Cooperative Office, Mirpur, Dhaka.]

In their rejoinder, they said that the report claiming their involvement in misappropriation of the amount was 'false, fabricated and baseless."

They said they were not involved in misappropriation of the amount in any way. We regret for it.

The New Nation carried the report on the basis of an inquiry report conducted by the Deputy Registrar (Credit) of Department of Cooperatives at Agargaon in the city. The investigation was carried out by the Deputy Registrar (Credit) at the directive of former DoC Registrar Mosharraf Hossain, who was later transferred to the Planning Commission. During the investigation, the Deputy Registrar (Credit) himself detected corruption by six of his colleagues for their alleged involvement in misappropriating the fund of Tolarbagh Samabaya Samity at Tolarbagh, Mirpur. Subsequently, he submitted the inquiry report to the Registrar of the DoC and He also recommended necessary actions on the basis of his findings.

The New Nation reporter was neither involved in preparing the report nor he had any malicious intention against any official or employee of DoC. It just published the report on the basis of the inquiry report by DoC. If any individual is affected, we regret for it.

DMP to set up 8

new police stations

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is going to set up eight new police stations within the next 2-3 months in a bid to improve the law and order situation of this densely populated city.

The new police stations will be set up in crime-prone Darus Salam, Bangshal, Kalabagan, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Chawkbazar, Gendaria, Rampura and Kadamtoli (Basabu) areas of the city. With these new police stations, the number of DMP's police stations will rise to 41 as the sprawling city has already got 33 police stations.

"We're looking for private places on rent for setting up the police stations as we didn't find government land for the police stations," DMP Commissioner Nayem Ahmed told reporters after attending a monthly crime review meeting at Razarbagh Police Lines yesterday afternoon.

"We do hope that the DMP will be able to start launching the new police stations within the next 2-3 months and that will definitely help reduce criminal activities in the city," he said.

The DMP Commissioner said they have selected the areas mentioned earlier for setting up the police stations, as those are known as the most crime-prone areas of the city.

JP to attend dialogue to ascertain poll date

Staff Reporter

Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad yesterday said his party would attend the forthcoming dialogue with the government to ascertain the date of national election.

He said that his party is eagerly waiting to know the date of the parliament elections.

"We will attend the government proposed dialogue to have a date for the long-awaited national election," he said at a party rally prior to observe nationwide demonstration programmes of his party today (Tuesday) at the Diploma Engineers Institution

Replying to a query the JP Chairman said the aim of attending the dialogue is not sign a charter. "It is not the Government, but the people who will make the charter. If necessary, Jatiya Party will make a charter," he mentioned. Asked whether the election would be held in due time Ersahd hoped that as per the roadmap of the Election Commission (EC) the parliamentary election will be held in December.

He, however, warned the government of bad consequences if it failed to hold the stalled parliament election in time.

On the issue of local government elections before parliament polls the JP Chairman supported the EC's decision for holding local body elections before the parliamentary polls.

Eradication of corruption a must

Staff Reporter

Former Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government and former Chief Justice Latifur Rahman yesterday called upon the people to be imbued with sense of morality and honesty in every professional work to eradicate corruption from the country.

Former Chief Adviser said corruption has permeated every sector in the society due to lack of sense of morality.

He said reform of leadership was needed both in the public and private sectors adding the country is facing severe leadership crisis in all sectors.

He was addressing "Career Guide Line Conference for SSC and Dakhil examinees and reception ceremony for the class eight scholarship winners" organised by the Scholars Forum at the Supreme Court Bar Association Auditorium in the city. Chairman of the Forum Prof Dr Matiyar Rahman presided over the function while Chairman of Bangladesh Council for Science and Industrial Research Prof Chowdhury Mahmud Hasan, Chairman of Banking Department of Dhaka University (DU) Prof Muzahidul Islam, Abu Said Khan and Mirza Galib, among others, addressed it.

Latifur Rahman called for maintaining sense of morality and honesty in every sphere of activity, otherwise the society would suffer from moral degradation.

He also urged the students to prepare themselves as the worthy citizens of the country so that they can discharge the social responsibilities along with their profession.

Prof Chowdhury Mahmud Hasan said humanitarian values should be infused among the people to eliminate corruption and exploitation from the society.

Prof Muzahidul Islam said it would not be possible to build a balanced society without basic change in attitude in the acquisition and distribution of wealth.

Crest was given to 450 students at the function. Of them 400 were SSC and Dakhil examinees and 50 were government scholarship winners from class eight.

DU student Asadullah, English Department made a presentation on "the Prosperous Bangladesh."

Help for Bangladesh to continue: RI Chief

BSS, Dhaka

Visiting Rotary International (RI) President Wilfried J Wilkinson yesterday said his organisation will continue its support for purifying water, and controlling leprosy, polio, malaria and HIV/AIDS besides education and health in Bangladesh.

He said the RI is working for relief distribution and rehabilitation in SIDR-affected areas as part of serving the humanity.

The RI chief was addressing a press conference at a city hotel after ending his three-day visit to Bangladesh.

J Wilkinson, who arrived in Dhaka on May 17, highly appreciated the government for controlling polio in the country.

During his courtesy calls on President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, he discussed various activities of the RI in the country.

The rotary leader said President Iajuddin praised the humanitarian and disaster relief programmes of the RI for the distressed people as well as its active cooperation in survival of the victims of different natural disasters like the cyclone SIDR and other activities in health and education sectors in Bangladesh.

The RI president said the Chief Adviser urged Rotarians to concentrate on their rehabilitation programmes, especially in SIDR-hit areas, to provide maximum benefit for the affected people.

Describing Bangladeshi people as hard-working, Canadian citizen Wilkinson said Bangladeshis living in Canada are also contributing to economic activities there.

During his visit, Wilkinson visited different projects undertaken by the RI.

RI Bangladesh District Governor Rafiq Ahmed Siddiqui, former governor Shamsuddin Ahmed and Prof Hafizullah, among others, were present at the press conference.

National savings yet to be computerized

Shamim Jahangir

The Directorate of National Savings (DNS) is yet to be brought under computerisation system though it has been playing a vital role in domestic resources mobilisation.

Lack of access to computer system has been hampering the activities of DNS, an important wing of the Finance Ministry, to a great extent, according to DNS sources.

Besides, this organization is now faced with multifarious problems including shortage of manpower, sources added.

"We have 68 divisional and branch offices in 64 districts across the country. Of the offices, only the principal office of the Directorate of National Savings has far been brought under computerised system," said DNS director Saifuddin Ahmed Mojumder.

He told the New Nation that after the independence of the country DNS started its activities with 484 employees. But the manpower of this was reduced to 376 in 1981 on the recommendation of the Anam Commission.

The manpower strength of DNS now stands at 344 as against the minimum requirement of 500,he added.

Besides, the poor accommodation facilities in all the branches of DNS have been hampering overall activities of the officials and staff members, he noted.

The volume of investment and size of internal resources mobilisation have been declining over the years as DNS could not motivate people to savings due to shortage of manpower, informed sources said.

The sources pointed out that the neat investment under 13 schemes of DNS was 1800 crore till April 2007-08 fiscal compared to Tk 4,174.92 crore in 2006-07, Tk 2,966.58 crore in 2005-06, Tk 2496.07 crore in 2004-05, Tk 3905.58 crore in 2003-04, Tk 4306.02 crore in 2002-03, Tk 4666.73 crore in 2001-02, Tk 4237.26 crore in 2000-01 and Tk 3243.18 crore in 1999-2000.

During his recent visit to DNS, Morshid Kuli Khan, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, underscored the need for modernising the organization for gearing up its activities for internal resources mobilization.

Mobasherur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh Post Office, said shortage of manpower in post offices was the main hurdle in the activities of deposit savings. 8,000 posts of rural post offices out of total 10,000 across the country had no role to play in savings activities due to shortage of manpower, he mentioned.

China stands still to mourn quake victims

AP, Beijing

China stood still Monday in mourning over tens of thousands of earthquake victims, and the government appealed for more international aid to cope with the country's deadliest disaster in a generation.

Construction workers, shopkeepers and bureaucrats across the bustling nation of 1.3 billion people paused for three minutes at 2:28 p.m. - exactly one week after the magnitude 7.9 quake hit central China.

Air-raid sirens and the horns of cars and buses sounded in memory of the dead.

In Beijing's Tiananmen Square, thousands of people bowed their heads and then began shouting "Long Live China!" and thrusting their fists in the air. Traffic on the capital's highways and roads stopped, and some drivers got out of their cars.

The confirmed death toll from the May 12 quake rose to 34,073, the State Council, China's Cabinet, said Monday. Another 9,500 remained buried in Sichuan and more than 29,000 were missing, the provincial government said, according to Xinhua.

Officials have said they expect final death toll to exceed 50,000, with more than 245,000 reported as injured. Quake-related losses to companies totaled $9.5 billion, Deputy Industry Minister Xi Guohua said.

In an indication of the challenge in dealing with millions of homeless and injured survivors, China said it would accept foreign medical teams and issued an international appeal for tents.

"China requests the international community donate tents as a priority when they donate materials because many houses were toppled in the quake and because it is the rainy season," ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement, also thanking the international community for its help so far.

In the disaster area, more than 200 relief workers were reported buried over the past three days by mudslides while working to repair roads in Sichuan, Xinhua reported.

An official confirmed mudslides had caused some deaths but gave no details. "The total death toll is still being counted," said the official at the Sichuan provincial Communications Department who only gave his last name, Shi.

More potential landslides were predicted by the Central Meteorological Observatory, with heavy rains forecast this week for some areas close to the epicenter.

Meanwhile, 14 Taiwanese escaped a massive landslide in Sichuan. They were located by authorities using satellite positioning data from the group's tour bus on Friday, Chinese authorities said, and were set to head home Monday.

Jamaat condemns arrest of Nizami

Staff Reporter

Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned and protested the arrest of its Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami in the GATCO scam case.

In an emergency meeting of its central executive council yesterday, Jamaat-e-Islami demanded the government to release all the detained top political leaders, including Khaleda Zia, Sheikh Hasina and Maulana Nizami.

The meeting said the release of all detained top political leaders is necessary for creating a democratic environment to hold free and fair elections with the participation of all parties.

It alleged that the Government arrested its party chief to harass him politically and preventing him from participating in the next elections. "People do not expect such an act of revenge from a non-political government," it said.

The central executive council refereed that Maulana Nizami had run two ministries with efficiency and honesty for five years as a cabinet minister of the four-party alliance government and said nobody could come up with any proof of misappropriation of even only Tk 1 against him.

The meeting chaired by party Nayeb-e-Amir AKM Nazir Ahmed said with the arrest and harassment of the country's top political leaders, the environment for holding the next general elections and government-sponsored dialogue with political parties has been ineffective.

2,50,000 people affected with Hepatitis-B every year

Staff Reporter

Every year about 2,50,000 people are affected with deadly Hepatitis B and C virus in the country medical experts said at a seminar yesterday.

They identified pregnant women as the most vulnerable group of population to the deadly disease.

About 3.5 per cent pregnant women of the country had been infected with Hepatitis B and C virus according to a latest study.

Liver Foundation of Bangladesh (LFB) organised the seminar at the Shaheed Zia auditorium of National Museum with its President Prof Dr SN Samad Chowdhury in the chair.

The seminar was arranged in observation of the first World Hepatitis Day yesterday. The day was observed by 200 institutions in asmany as 57 countries of the world. The seminar was attended, among others, by National Professor Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Malek, who is the founder Secretary General of National Heart Foundation, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University Prof Zamilur Reza Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of Directorate of Social Welfare Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, LFB General Secretary Prof Mohammad Ali, Director of Directorate of Health Prof Mohammad Abul Fayez and President of Bangladesh Diabetic Society Prof AK Azad Khan.

National Professor Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Malek called upon the both public and private institutions concerned to create mass-awareness on the prevention of hepatitis B and C.

Renowned architect and former Adviser Prof Zamilur Reza Chowdhury lauded different efforts including free vaccination campaign of LFB to create awareness among the people to combat Hepatitis B and C.

LFB General Secretary Mohammad Ali said, "Hepatitis B is one hundred times more infectious than the HIV. But, more emphasis is being given on HIV globally."

He pointed out Hepatitis B and C, the silent killer destroys liver and metabolic system of human body.Awareness among common people and united endeavor to prevent the deadly viruses are highly necessary to protect health of the nation he added.

He urged Government to give more emphasis on prevention than cure hepatitis infection following the method successfully applied in the country that became successful to reduce the rate of hepatitis attacks.

Moulana Yousuf acting Ameer of Jamaat

BSS, Dhaka

Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Moulana Abul Kalam Mohammad Yousuf was made the acting ameer of the party following the arrest of Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami on Sunday night.

Before his arrest, Ameer of Jamaat Moulana Nizami handed over the responsibilities of the party chief to Moulana Yousuf after discussing the matter at an extended meeting of the Jamaat's central executive committee, a party press release said here yesterday.