The New Nation - Internet Edition

Nazrul championed women’s lib: Sircar

Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar speaking at a
discussion meeting to mark the 109th birth anniversary of
National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at the National Press Club
on Thursday. Bangladesh Sangskritik Academy organised it. NN
photo

Staff Reporter

Speaker Barrister Mohammad Jamiruddin Sircar said yesterday that poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was a poet of humanity because he wrote not only to champion the cause of the nation but also to bring the equality of women and free them from oppression.

The Speaker was addressing a discussion meeting organised to mark the 109th birth anniversary of the poet at the Jatiya Press Club as chief guest.

The function was organised by the Bangladesh Sangskritik Academy. Presided over by Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, former VC of Dhaka University, the function was addressed by among others, by Shah Abdul Hannan, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, Poet Abdul Hye Sikder and Humayun Kabir Bepari.

Barrister Sircar said national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's writings inspired the people to fight for independence and uphold national culture and tradition. His writings on the greatness of the religion of Islam is liked also by those who are not believers of the same faith.

He said poet Nazrul wrote to liberate the oppressed people and on the equality of human more than half a century before others started talking about women's empowerment.

The poet also upheld the importance of various ethnic groups in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi nationalism is based on respect for all ethnic groups living in Bangladesh.

Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said that Nazrul was like a banyan tree in the greater convergence of humanity. He said that during the British rule the Muslims were subjugated to inferior position in the society. Poet Nazrul through his writing inspired them to grow up again and assert themselves.

Shah Abdul Hannan, former secretary of the government, termed Nazrul as a poet of renaissance. He awakened the Muslims during his lifetime; his writings continue to awaken them after his death.

He underscored the need for reading the national poet's writings to get inspirations from those.

Poet Abdul Hye Sikder spoke on the life and works of the poet.

ECNEC approves Tk 1057cr development projects

BSS, Dhaka

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Thursday approved 12 development projects involving Taka 1,057 crore, including the project aid of Taka 117 crore.

The approval was given at a meeting of the committee at NEC conference room at Sher-e-Banglanagar with Chief Adviser and Chairman of ECNEC Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

The projects are construction and reconstruction of 54 fair services and civil defense stations under the home ministry; construction of road from Grameen Bank at Mirpur to Agargaon under local government Department; union connecting road and other infra-structural development in greater Comilla district (Comilla, Chandpur and Brahmanbaria districts);

Construction of union and upazila offices (5th phase) (1st revised) under land ministry; reconstruction of bridges, culverts along with approach road (2nd revised) under communications ministry; digging well to explore oil and gas at Sundalpur and developing Semutang gas field under energy and mineral resources ministry;

Industrial park (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) under industry ministry; establishment of national institute of ENT (1st phase) in Dhaka under health and family welfare ministry; setting up of science and technology university (revised) under education ministry; expanding research and modernization vaccine production technology under fisheries and livestock ministry; excavation of new Dakatia, old Dakatia and Chhota Feni river (2nd phase); south Comilla and part of the coordinated excavation project of Uttar Noakhali under water resources ministry.

Adviser for Finance and Planning and Alternative Chairman of ECNEC Dr AB Mirza M Azizul Islam, Adviser for Shipping, Home and Liberation War Affairs Maj Gen (retd) M A Matin, Adviser for LGRD and Cooperatives, Textiles and Jute, Labour and Employment M Anwarul Iqbal, Adviser for Health and Family Welfare and Food and Disaster Management Dr AMM Shawkat Ali, Adviser for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs AF Hassan Ariff, Adviser for Commerce and Education Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman,

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Industries, Youth and Sports Mahbub Jamil, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Energy and Mineral Resources Professor M Tamim, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Post and Telecommunications and Social Welfare Brig Gen (retd) M A Malek, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Fisheries, Livestock and Science and ICT Manik Lal Samadder attended the meting.

Prince Aga Khan leaves for home

BSS, Dhaka

Prince Karim Aga Khan, the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim Community, left here yesterday afternoon for home ending his four-day visit to Bangladesh.

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury saw him off at the VVIP terminal of the Zia International Airport.

Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, during his visit called on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

The Chief Adviser hosted a banquet in honour of the distinguished guest at Sonargaon Hotel. The Prince also hosted a banquet in honour of the Chief Adviser.

The Aga Khan was in Dhaka as part of the commemoration of his Golden Jubilee-his 50th year as Imam of the Ismaili community. He acceded to the Ismaili Imamat succeeding his grandfather Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan in 1957.

Aga Khan placed a wreath at the National Monument for unknown martyrs soon after his arrival in Dhaka paying homage to their memories. He held meetings with Finance Adviser Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and Religious Affairs Adviser A F Hassan Ariff.

He laid foundation stones of Aga Khan Academy and Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre at Baridhara in the city. He also met with members of the Ismaili Muslim community.

Gatco scam case: Detained accused not produced in court

Court Correspondent

Detained accuseds of the Gatco scam case were not yesterday produced before the court while Md. Azizul Haque, Metropolitan Session Judge of Dhaka passed order to give advertisement in newspaper asking the fugitives to appear before the court. Earlier, warrant of arrest against the fugitives could not be implemented as they were not available.

In the case, former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her son Arafat Rahman Koko were arrested. Investigation Officer (IO) submitted the chargesheet to be the court on May 14 and the following day warrant of arrest were issued against 12 fugitives of the case.

Meanwhile former LGED minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Information minister M Shamsul Islam, and former Agriculture minister MK Anwar surrendered to the court when they were sent to jail. Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami was arrested from his residence.

At present the fugitives are: former finance minister M Saifur Rahman, commerce minister Ameer Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former secretary Zulfiquer Chowdhury, Gatco Director Shahjahan A Hasib, A K Musa Kajal, Ehsan Yusuf and Jahanara Ansar, wife of late minister retired Col Akbar Hossain.

Two young men tortured to death

Staff Reporter

Two young men were tortured to death and another was critically injured in a hotel in the city's Gulshan area Wednesday night.

The deceased were identified as Md Makhan Khan, 24, son of Muslim Khan, and Anwar Sadat Russell, 25, son of Sona Miah of Karimganj in Kishoreganj.

The injured, Haider, son of Shahadat Ali, was being treated at Pangu Hospital. He also hailed from Karimganj.

Family members of the victims alleged that assailants following previous enmity in Kishoreganj murdered them.

Hospital sources said Sirajul Islam, a pedestrian, found Makhan and Russell with multiple injuries on a footpath in front of Hotel Taj at New Airport Road Wednesday midnight.

They were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where Makhan was declared dead at about 1:30am while Russell at about 2:00am.

Police also rescued Haider and admitted to Pangu Hospital in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, Russell's father Sona Miah filed a murder case with Gulshan police station against 21 people, including the hotel manager.

In his first information report (FIR), Sona Miah alleged that the killers with the help of hotel manager and employees tortured his son Russell, Makhan and Haider in room No 105 of the hotel after 10:30pm Wednesday.

Amend unislamic aspects of women dev policy: Ulema

Staff Reporter

The ulema at a roundtable in the capital yesterday urged the government to amend the Women's Development Policy in the light of the recommendations put by the committee headed by the acting Khatib of the Baitul Muqarram National Mosque, or else they would have no option but to wage a strong movement to get the demand realised.

The roundtable was organised by the Islami Khalefat Majlis at the Jatiya Press Club VIP Lounge. Ameer of the Party Shaikhul Hadit Allama Azizul Huq was present at the roundtable which was addressed by Moulana Muhiuddin Khan, chief of Jamayat-e-Ulameye Islam, Moulana Zafarullah Khan, secretary general, Bangladesh Khelafat Andonal, Moulana Abdur Rab Yusufi and Moulana Ashraf Ali, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Khelafat Majlis, Principal Abul Kalam Azad, Moulana Mosaddeq Al-Madani of Islami Shashantantra Andolan, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, president, JAGPA, and Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor, The New Nation.

They said that the Women's Development Policy was violative of some provisions of the holy Qur'an and the Khatib Committee had suggested suitable amendments to the same. But instead of following the suggestion wrong messages were being spread about the objectives and targets of the ulema.

They said that Islam granted more rights to property for woman than man, and compared to other religions it was the most progressive in this regard. But some quarters influenced by western propaganda were talking about equality of women.

This they termed as a conspiracy to disintegrate the Bangladesh society by turning it to the western norms. The West has lost the family norms and was looking to the east to restore those, they said adding that some half-educated people were painting a bleak picture of a progressive religion to the West to gain financially.

The ulema, however, also cautioned that as a bad social practice sisters were in many families being deprived of their right to property of their parents, while the practice of dowry amounted to dishonouring women. These practices should be changed and the Islamic shariah in these respects followed to right the wrongs.

Absence of political govt hampers export business

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the export oriented business bodies yesterday said the absence of a political government and a sense of uncertainty about political future are hampering the country's export business.

They said this after a closed-door meeting at the office of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The meeting held as part of the exporters move to line up 26 business bodies, representing the respective export sectors, under a common umbrella aiming at facing the issues of their common concern jointly. Anwarul Azam Chowdhury, President of the host organisation BGMEA, chaired the meeting.

The exporters in the meeting were highly critical of the government as well as of its bureaucracy who, they said, have a negative mindset about businessmen, insiders said.

"Political stability is the number one condition for export growth. Importers across the world do not repose faith on a country that is not led by a democratic government," Anwarul Azam said at a press briefing following the meeting.

"At present, we have to interact with the bureaucrats, who have a particular mindset. But changes are taking place in the world everyday. Now they cannot give any decision, let alone direction for progress," he added while replying to a question.

The business leader narrated several events of complexities created by the bureaucrats before the journalists and urged the government to remove the tangles that is barring business. He also stressed removal of disparity in government supports to local businessmen and foreigners.

The Government is giving special facilities to the foreign firms in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Expressway has been established to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the EPZs. Whereas, local exporters are not getting the same facilities, Anwarul Azam lamented.

He said the government cannot give any quick decision when the exporters are facing acute competition in the international market. Global recession has turned the situation worse.

He requested the government to provide necessary support so that the exporters can go on with their business smoothly.

Explaining the cause of building a common platform of export oriented business organisations, despite existence of apex business body FBCCI, Anwarul Azam said, exporters have some common issues, which are not related to local business. It will be easier and more effective to address the issues of common interest by the forum, representing all the export sectors.

Some 26 organisations were invited in the meeting. However, presidents or the top leaders of 16 business organisations were represented.

Business leaders Fazlul Hoque, Tipu Sultan, Shafiullah Chowdhury, Abu Alam Chowdhury, Major (Retd) Ekram Uddin Siddique, Md Shafiqur Rahman, SM Jahangir Hossain, Golam Ahsan, Anwar hossain, Lt Co (Retd) M Anisuzzaman, Saiful Islam, Alauddin Ahmed and SM Shafiuzzaman were present.

The business leaders will talk to other organisations and will hold another meeting within two weeks to shape the new federal body of the organisations.

Dialogue will be fruitless without participation of Hasina, says Zillur

Staff Reporter

Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday warned that the dialogue with political parties would be fruitless without the participation of Sheikh Hasina and urged the Government to take initiative to get her free as soon as possible.

"The Awami League has not taken a final decision on whether to go to the dialogue or not," Zillur told reporters after a bilateral meeting with leaders of Samyabadi Dal at his Gulshan residence.

However, the AL acting president claimed Samyabadi Dal was going to the dialogue in some confusion. "The party will tell the government that the dialogue without the Awami League will not be successful," Zillur said.

"The Chief Adviser spoke of a 'national charter' in his address to the nation. We don't know what will be in the charter," he said.

Zillur said the AL and Samyabadi Dal agreed in Thursday's meeting that the constitution of 1972 would be their charter. "That charter could be reformed if necessary."

Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua said: "We decided to go to dialogue. We hope that the Awami League, too, will go."

But he added that his party would demand that the participation of AL in the dialogue be ensured. "Dialogue can't be meaningful without AL's participation," Dilip Barua said.

Dilip Barua said the state of emergency must be lifted soon and an unelected government was not entitled to formulate a national charter. "It is only parliament that can create a national charter."

At the evening hour the Awami league held another meeting with the Islamic Front of Bangladesh at the Gulshan residence of Zillur Rahman, Acting President of Awami League.

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

Zillur Rahman urged the leaders of IFB to be organised to go for massive movement to release Sheikh Hasina and to revive democracy in the coubtry.

Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed said, "In 1970 Ayub Khan invited us to attend in a round table keeping Sheikh Mujibur Rahman behind the bar. But we got him released through a massive movement and attended the roundtable led by him. Similarly we will make Sheikh Hasina free at any cost and participated in the upcoming dialogue and parliamentary election led by her."

Criticising the recent address of the Chief Adviser he said " we no need another National Charter, as we believe our constitution drafted in 1972 is the main national charter.'

Allama syed Mohammad Bahadur Sha Mujadeddi, Chairman of IFB said, "The government has detained Sheikh Hasina illegally, as no allegation against her could be proved. This is the violation of human rights."

He assured the Awami League leaders to take part in the movement for releasing Sheikh Hasina.

He also urged the government to get free Sheikh Hasina immediately to make a positive atmosphere to achieve the desired outcomes from the dialogue.

Allama Khandaker Golam Mawla Nakshibadi, Vice President of IFB asked the people of Bangladesh to bear the ideology of independence in mind and to participate in the movement for releasing Sheikh Hasina, as Awami League played the vital role during the liberation war.

A number of leaders of both the parties were present at the bilateral.

EC has taken up full preparation for holding JS polls: Sakhawat

UNB, Brahmanbaria

The Election Commission has taken up full preparation for holding the parliamentary elections, Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain.

The Election Commissioner stated this while addressing a meeting of district development coordination committee at DC office yesterday.

To date, about 7.9 crore people have been enlisted on voter list, he said. "There is no relation between casting votes and national ID card. National IC card is needed for availing various facilities while one has to be included in list for casting vote," he said. Throwing a damper on the controversy over delimitation of constituencies, he said it should have been done much earlier.

The Election Commissioner warned that severe legal actions would be taken against any election official or member of law-enforcing agencies for violating election code of conduct.

DC Abdul Hye and Police Super Ataul Kibria, among others, attended the meeting.

Australia to give Tk 520 cr to alleviate poverty

BSS, Dhaka

The Australian Government will provide Taka 520 crore to Bangladesh to help alleviate poverty as well as improve health status of poor women and children.

Of the amount, Taka 236 crore would be given to BRAC for implementing one of its project, which will lift over four million people out of poverty by the next four years, Australian High Commission sources said.

Under the programme, grants will be provided to enable poor women to set up small enterprises including livestock, poultry and grow vegetables for improving their family's resilience to price shocks as the cost of staple foods continued to increase.

The programme will also provide modest income support to the women while they establish their business as well as facilitate their access to health service.

The rest of Taka 284 crore will be provided to BRAC and UNICEF to help extend their ongoing 'Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival Project' implementing in ten districts.

The AusAID expects that after getting the fund the number of beneficiary women of the project would be double, the sources said.

Australian government will provide the fund through its aid agency AusAID. Richard Moore, visiting Deputy Director General of AusAID, yesterday signed an agreement with representatives of BRAC and UNICEF here on Thursday.

The executive director of BRAC and the acting representative of UNICEF were also present at the function.

Over 4,12,000 people fall sick due to adulterated food every year

Staff Reporter

Over 4,12,000 people are becoming victim of cancer, diabeties and other critical diseases every year in the country due to the adulterated food.

Disclosing this yesterday at a seminar in the city, experts urged the Government to enforce the Consumers' Protection Law and create awareness among people to resist marketing of adulterated foodstuffs.

The adulterated food caused harm to pregnant women and even disturbed natural birth process, handicapping children in the womb of mothers before labour, they added.

Bangladesh Council of Science and Industrial Research and Paribesh Bachao Andolon (PABA) jointly organised the seminar on "Adulteration Free Food: Present Condition and Our Duty" at the auditorium of Institute of Food, Science and Technology (IFST).

Presided over by Acting Director of the IFST and BCSIR Fahima Rokhsana, the seminar was attended by among others, Chairman of the BCSIR Prof Dr Chowdhury Mahmud Hasan, Convener of Toxic Free Food Movement of the PABA Syed Abul Maksud and chairman of the PABA Abu Naser Khan. Dr KM Farmujul Haq, Acting Director of BCSIR presented the keynote paper.

Farmujul haq said to ripe vegetables and fruit dishonest businessmen use toxic chemicals like DDT, which harmed our body severely and cause deadly diseases in the long run.

Addressing the seminar he informed that researchers found toxic colour in vegetables and said that doctors even fear to prescribe vegetables to the patients due to adulteration.

Farmujul Haq noted that they also found toxic chemical in dried fishes like lakkha, vetki, rupchanda.

He urged the Government to implement the consumer right act effectively.

Holding lack of morality responsible for adulteration Chowdhury Mahmud Hasan said adequate knowledge could prevent us from mixing toxic elements into foods.

If the person who worked for the prevention of the adulteration should be paid well, the adulterating process could be minimised he said and added united efforts of people of all sections were needed to stop adulteration of food.

UK co to invest Tk 4 crore in Uttara EPZ

BSS, Dhaka

A British company, Oasis Transformation Ltd, will set up an agro processing industry in Uttara Export Processing Zone by investing Taka four crore.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and the British company at the BEPZA complex here on Thursday, said a BEPZA press release.

The 100 per cent foreign owned company will produce, among other things, interior screens, tableware, tables and chairs from local bamboo. It will create employment for 46 Bangladeshis.

Member (Investment Promotion) of the BEPZA and Managing Director of the Oasis Transformation inked the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

BEPZA Executive Chairman Brig Gen Jamil Ahmed Khan and officials of both sides were present on the occasion.

ICT policy 2000 to be reviewed

BSS, Dhaka

The Government has taken an initiative to review the National ICT Policy-2002.

The Review Committee, headed by Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, has already started working on the policy, a press release said on Thursday.

The first meeting of the committee was held on May 17 at Bangladesh Computer Council.

Former adviser of the caretaker government Abdul Muyeed attended the meeting as the representative of the Bangladesh Telecentre Network (BTN).

Besides, ICT professionals, industry leaders, academicians and high officials of the government were present.

The meeting decided to seek opinion and recommendations from all stakeholders.

Interested persons or agencies can send their recommendations in writing.

The recommendations or opinion should reach by June 13, the press release said.

Bangladeshi cattle trader killed by BSF

UNB, Kurigram

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down a Bangladeshi cattle trader at a border point in Roumari upazila early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Kafil Uddin, 38, resident of Bhundur Char in Roumari upazila. BDR said BSF Jawans fired five gun shots as Kafil, who was going to India, reached the zero line of Baraibari border, killing him on the spot.

Later, the Indian border guards dragged away his body to their land. Meanwhile, company commander of Baraibari BOP has protested the killing of the Bangladeshi by BSF.