The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talks a stage-managed drama: Khaleda: Key political parties being barred from contesting polls, she says

Begum Khaleda Zia

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia said yesterday the government dialogue with political parties was a "stage-managed drama".

The BNP chairperson alleged that the caretaker administration was plotting a repeat of the 1986 election.

"If the government had really been willing to hold the polls, it would have considered participation of big parties in dialogue. Talks are a stage-managed drama," Khaleda said in a special judge's court on the Jatiya Sangsad complex, during a hearing into charges against her in the GATCO scam case.

Khaleda said the government created a situation to bar prominent political parties from contesting the polls.

She claimed that she was innocent, so were her two sons-Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, now behind bars on charges of corruption.

"Those who are now standing in the dock are all innocent. The cases are false," she said.

The former prime minister said: "I did no wrong. I worked for the country. I want justice. Please make an arrangement to hold the trial in an open court."

Khaleda alleged that her two sons had been tortured in jail.

In her 18-minute speech before judge Shahed Nuruddin, Khaleda demanded withdrawal of the state of emergency by the end of June and the election by October.

"Why is the state of emergency been still in force, when the caretaker government is so popular?" she asked.

She termed the proceeding of the case against her in the special court as an 'camera trial'.

"Judges are not free. They have to do what they are asked to," she said in criticism of the judiciary, which promoting the judge to oppose the statement.

"No. You are not right. Nothing was imposed on us. I am free," the judge said.

Terming the 1/11 as part of a conspiracy against the country, Khaleda said: "Some greedy people made 1/11 happen. It is now clear to the nation. My family is ruined."

"The people involved in the incident were not worried about the country and its people at all."

"Nobody would be successful with their conspiracies. They will only cause us pain for some time," she said.

Khaleda drew attention of the court to the detention of her two sons saying they having been languishing in jail for nine months without trial.

Koko was present in court Wednesday.

Joint forces arrested Khaleda and Koko on Sept 3 last year.

The special judge's court-3 started the hearing in the GATCO case at 11am. Khaleda arrived in the court shortly before the hearing began. She was taken back to special jail at 1.45pm.

A special court yesterday set June 10 for next hearing in Gatco graft case against former prime minister Khaleda Zia and other accused.

Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Special Judge's Court-3, set up on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex fixed the date.

Earlier, Khaleda Zia and her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko were produced in the court.

Koko, who has been under treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University prison cell, was taken to the court at 10:10 am.

Other accused in the case former ministers Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar and Motiur Rahman Nizami were also taken to the court from the jail.

Obama claims Democratic nomination: Hillary yet to concede defeat

Obama

BBC Online

Barack Obama has declared himself "the Democratic nominee for president of the United States".

He was speaking to a cheering crowd on the last day of the primary season, after receiving the support of enough delegates to clinch the nomination.

Of the states that voted, Montana was won by Obama and South Dakota by his rival Hillary Clinton. If confirmed, Obama would be the first black candidate to represent a major party in a US presidential poll.

In her own speech to supporters, Mrs Clinton refused to concede and said she would make a final decision later.

BBC North America editor Justin Webb says a fabulously well-planned and executed campaign helped give him the edge over his rival.

Obama's speech was delivered in St Paul, Minnesota, where Republicans are set to hold their presidential nominating convention.

In the address, he paid tribute to Mrs Clinton and hinted that she would play a role in any future Obama administration.

"What gets Hillary Clinton up in the morning is an unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans," he said.

"When we finally win the battle for universal healthcare in this country, she will be central to that victory."

Obama also praised Republican rival John McCain's "many accomplishments", although he accused the Arizona senator of choosing to deny his own achievements.

Speaking in New York, Mrs Clinton congratulated Obama and his supporters "for all that they have accomplished".

But she said she was making "no decisions tonight" about her continued presence in the race.

She later spoke to Obama by phone, and he repeated an offer to "sit down when it makes sense to you".

Obama's campaign said she responded positively, though no meeting was expected on Wednesday.

Obama will be tempted to offer Mrs Clinton some inducement to play ball, but may also be tempted to be rid of her and her husband and to strike out on his own, Justin Webb reports.

Earlier, she told congressional backers that she was "open" to the idea of being Obama's vice-presidential running-mate.

Obama was only a few delegates short of the 2,118 needed ahead of the polls closing in South Dakota and Montana.

And although he failed to win in South Dakota, he had managed to pick up enough endorsements during the day from the remaining uncommitted "super-delegates" - party officials with a free choice over who to support - to pass the winning post as soon as polls closed in the state.

His projected victory in Montana added even more delegates to his tally.

In South Dakota, Mrs Clinton won with 55% of the vote to Obama's 45%.

In Montana, with 96% of the results in, Obama had garnered 56% of the vote against Mrs Clinton's 41%.

Before the voting was complete, Republican presumptive nominee John McCain delivered a speech to supporters in Louisiana, in which he declared that "the primary season is over, and the general election campaign has begun".

He attacked Obama for being "the wrong change", and defended himself against the Obama campaign's criticism that he will continue President Bush's policies, saying he had "not seen eye to eye" with the president on many issues.

$249m plan to modernise railway

Illegal kitchen market encroaching upon a long
stretch of railway tracks at Jurain poses threat of fatal
accident anytime a train crosses the area.
FocusBangla

Shamim Jahangir

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) has taken up a project styled "Railway Modernisation Project" at a cost of $249 million dollar to modernise the railway within 2015. The BR has already completed the feasibility study of the project, said the official sources.

The World Bank financed project is learnt to be launched from next year.

Of the total outlay of the project, the World Bank will provide $200 million dollar and Bangladesh government $49.50 million dollar.

Under the project, the Government will start rehabilitation of 71 kilometres long Akhaura-Lakhsam section railway route including improvement of signalling at a cost of $60 million.

The authority will also set up double tracking of Akhaura-Lakhsam section at $100 million, said sources.

The BR will purchase about 15 meter gauge diesel electric locomotives at cost of $45 million and about 50 meters gauge coaches at $25 million.

Besides the BR will also conduct a Dhaka-Lakhsam Chord Line detailed engineering and environmental and social impact management study in coordination with Asian Development Bank at a cost of $3.50 million and environmental audit, design supervision consultancy, various studies and implementation support at $16 million.

According to Railway sources, the Government has already started to reform the railway sector to fulfill the condition of the World Bank to get a loan of US$200 million under Railway Modernisation Project of BR.

After getting the proposal from Bangladesh, the World Bank conditioned that the government would have to complete reform of the Railway sector.

"We shall start our detail study plan after disbursement of loan next year," said a high official of the railway department.

While talking with the New Nation, Belayet Hossain, Director General of the Bangladesh Railway said, "We shall hopefully start the project within 2009."

He said that the travel by train between Dhaka and Chittagong take five and half hours from Kamalapur Railway Station to Chittagong Railway Station.

"The Journey time by train can be cut by two hours after establishing chord line between Akhaura-Laksam section," he said, adding, " We can reduce locomotives crisis by implementing the project.

Countrywide drive: 1,976 more nabbed

Family members including babies and women waiting at
the gate of Dhaka Central Jail on Wednesday in a bid to meet
the detainees, who were arrested during the ongoing
countrywide combing operation. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The country's 67 jails have now become overcrowded with thousands of detainees following the wholesale arrest of people by joint forces under the ongoing special anti-crime drives.

More than 12,500 people were arrested by joint forces during the last eight days of countrywide crackdown.

A total of 1,976 people were arrested from different parts of the country yesterday alone. Of them, 191 were arrested from different areas of the Dhaka city from Tuesday midnight to yesterday morning. Most of these detainees, who became the victims of wholesale arrests, are belonged to lower income groups. Many of these detainees were either small traders, vendors, garment workers, and day-labourers. They were arrested from slums, messes, roads, and footpaths.

After the arrest, the detainees are taken to the nearby police stations and put into the cells where they are to pass the whole night anxiously cursing their fates. In the morning, they are taken to the court through prison vans. Then they are produced before courts and the courts send them to jails.

On the other hand, relatives of the detainees have been crowding before the jails, including the Dhaka Central Jail every day. They throng the jail gate area from early in the morning to see their near and dear ones. The scenario of Dhaka Central Jail gate area has

totally changed following the mass arrest of people.

Relatives of majority of the detainees alleged that they were arrested just on suspicion. The detainees were not involved in any kind of criminal acts during their lifetime. Even, there are no cases against many of the detainees.

Some 50-60 prisoners were used to put into the Dhaka Central Jail earlier. But, following the special drive launched by the military-backed caretaker government, some 200 prisoners are being put into the Dhaka Central Jail every day.

Sources said at present the country's 67 jails have the accommodation capacity of 26,500 prisoners though 86,000 inmates stay inside the jails round the year. The Dhaka Central Jail has about 9,500 prisoners against its capacity of 2,682.

The conditions in jails have aggravated following the large-scale arrest of people from all over the country. As a result, the detainees are to live in suffocating and subhuman conditions in jails. A miserable condition has created in jails with so many detainees in just a few days.

The number of inmates in Dhaka Central Jail crossed 11,000 yesterday against the accommodation capacity of 2,600 prisoners.

There are allegations that the inmates in jails are not properly treated. They are kept in sub-human conditions.

Facilities and amenities for jail inmates are so scanty that they are now passing their days through a horrible situation.

Many of the prisoners have been falling sick everyday though there are only 16 doctors to treat about 86,000 inmates in the country's jails. None of the prisons and jail hospitals has a single nurse.

Visiting the Dhaka Central Jail yesterday morning this correspondent found that a large number of relatives thronged the jail gate to meet their near and dear ones. They brought clothes, foods and other essential items for the inmates. They were also eagerly looking for their arrested relatives who were arrested by joint forces during the last eight days. Some of the relatives were found crying failing to find their near and dear ones.

Fuel price needs to be adjusted upward: CPD

Staff Reporter

The fuel price needs to be adjusted with the international market to reduce the pressure on the budget for the next fiscal said Prof Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at press briefing in the city yesterday.

He was revealing a report on "Independent Review of Bangladesh's Development (IRBD)" on macroeconomic performance during the current fiscal at its office.

The subsidy on diesel, octane and petrol need to be readjusted in line with the international market price. However, farmers and poor people should be provided subsidised diesel and kerosene, he added.

He said the next fiscal would be a challenging year, as a large part of the money would have to be spent by the elected Government to ensure development management in line with Poverty Reduction Strategy objectives. Maintaining macroeconomic stability and economic growth, containing inflation and narrowing fiscal deficit and addressing acute power and energy shortages and poverty will be a big challenge for the Government in FY 2008-09.

"The Government might have to go for a higher deficit budget in the next fiscal. The total budget deficit during July-February of FY08 was Tk 16,678.6 crore against

the deficit of Tk 7,479.5 crore during the corresponding FY-07," he added.

"The estimated 8.0 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of current gas reserve will not be able to meet the national demand after the year of 2015," CPD Executive Director noted and suggested to finalise the National Coal Policy and develop the country's power sector for ensuring the uninterrupted economic growth of the country.

Prof Mustafizur Rahman said without the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) more employment could not be created.

He also said higher revenue collection, excellent exports performance, higher remittance inflow, comfortable foreign reserve, bumper Boro production and efficient handling of post flood and Sidr management are the positive developments in the present fiscal.

On the issue of inflation the reports said the annual average rate of inflation increased to 10 per cent from March 2007 to March 2008.

The point-to-point inflation in rural areas in March was 10.08 per cent and in urban areas 10.02 per cent. Food inflation increased from 8 per cent in March 2007 to 11.79 per cent in March 2008. Non-food inflation rate increased from 5.42 per cent to 7.33 per cent during the same period.

The reports also mentioned of producing at least 32 million tons of rice for the next fiscal as food security. Increased budgetary support and input supply required for higher food production in FY2008-09. Reinvestment of profit and income from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by foreign companies need to be encouraged.

Revenue collection posted a rise of 26.8 per cent during the July-March of the FY-08 and targeted growth was 22.3 per cent. Declaring of undisclosed money also contributed to high income tax and revenue earnings.

The total earnings of the country during the first three quarters (July-March) of FY-2008 stood at $ 10,159.78 million. Total foreign aid inflow stood at US $ 1127.41 million, which is more than twice the amount, received during July- February of FY 2007.

The reports suggested raising the efficiency of implementation of Annual Development Programme (ADP) rather than reducing the size and lauded Bangladesh Bank (BB) for taking accommodative monetary policy rather than the International Monetary Fund (IMF's) suggested contractionary policy.

BGMEA for action against trouble-mongers

UNB, Dhaka

The government knew the masterminds of the trouble in the garments sector but it was shy of taking action against them, BGMEA president Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez told a press conference yesterday.

"The security agencies of the government know well the miscreants who have spread anarchy in some factories for the last couple of days. But it is unfortunate and mysterious as well why action is not taken against the evil forces," he said.

The BGMEA president alleged that some trade unions and so-called NGOs tried to foment the trouble by instigating the innocent workers by making controversial statements.

Parvez declined to identify the labour unions and NGOs involved in creating the trouble. He also blamed a section of police officials and private Radio Today for Tuesday's turmoil in some garments factories at Ashulia. "None was killed in road accident but police and Radio Today dished out information of death of a worker igniting the trouble … We hope, in future they will be careful."

BGMEA president suggested immediate formation of 'Industrial Police' for protection of the country's garment factories, which existed during the Pakistan days. "We want security of our lives and factories."

He said the garment factories were set up in cluster format and deployment of industrial police is essential for their safety.

Parvez informed that more than 200 garment factories have been shut down for lack of electricity, gas and high interest rate of bank loans that rendered them sick.

The factories cannot operate more than 10-12 hours due to social compliance. On top of that 5 to 6 working hours are lost for load shedding. Recently some factories were forcibly shut down by a group of terrorists. But they were not yet brought to book, alleged Parvez.

"On June 1, at Kalurghat in Chittagong, a group of terrorists ransacked three factories and compelled the owners to suspend operation. At Ashulia 50 factories were ransacked by unruly people following a rumor," said BGMEA president and questioned why the government failed to provide adequate security in those areas.

He has threatened to close down the garment factories if the government fails to protect them.

India raises fuel price

BBC Online

India has raised fuel prices by 10%, the second such increase this year, because of the rising cost of oil.

India imports nearly 75% of its crude oil requirements and controls the price of domestic fuel products to help contain inflation and protect the poor.

The latest increase is being heavily criticised by business leaders who say it will fuel inflation. Communist parties, which support the government, are also opposed and plan nationwide protests over the move.

Many Indians are already lining up at petrol stations to fill up their vehicles ahead of the hike which comes into effect after midnight.

An increase in domestic fuel prices was long expected in India because of the record rise in global oil prices.

We were left with no optiont due to the relentless increase in international oil prices

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora

But this being an election year, the matter was debated for 10 days before the cabinet announced a 10% increase in retail fuel prices.

While petrol prices have been increased by five rupees (13 cents) a litre, diesel prices have been raised by three rupees (eight cents).

And a cylinder of cooking gas will now cost 50 rupees ($1.25) more than before. The price of kerosene remains unchanged.

India's Petroleum Minister, Murli Deora, said the move was necessary because state-owned oil companies were losing tens of millions of dollars.

Mother, son reunion

UNB, Dhaka

It was an emotional moment for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia when she saw her youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko in wheelchair getting in the courtroom where mother and son appeared yesterday to face a graft charge.

It was their first meeting after nine months since both the mother and son were arrested from their

Cantonment residence on September 3 last year in a change of luck. Since then, they had been detached-and even they could not see each other when they were set free on parole after the death of Begum Zia's mother.

Khaleda entered the courtroom at around 11am. The moment she saw Koko sitting in the wheelchair, she forgot everything around and rushed to her son and embraced with all affection of a mother.

Tears rolled down their chicks as they embraced each other. A melancholic strain pervaded the courtroom for a while, and all present over there looked on at the mother and son's reunion.

Khaleda patted Koko to hold patience and enquired about his health from an attending doctor.

During the court hours, Koko felt respiratory problem and oxygen mask was provided to him immediately.

As his lawyer Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon drew attention of the court to Koko's illness and his indisposition to attend the court proceedings, he was taken out of the courtroom and kept in a standby ambulance.

Yet another chance likely to legalise undisclosed income

Staff Reporter

Responding to the businessmen plea the government is likely to allow legalising of undisclosed money in the next budget with a minimum penal tax of 7.0 per cent over the normal tax rate, informed sources said.

Sources said the special offer of legalising money may remain for four months from July to October of the next fiscal year. However, the time span could be changed, the sources said.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has taken the decision to offer the opportunity of legalising undisclosed money despite opposition within the government, sources added.

The apex trade body, FBCCI, in its budget proposal has requested the government to allow legalising of lawfully earned undisclosed money so that huge money can come into the formal chain. They also urged the government to allow the undisclosed money to be invested in some job-creating industrial sectors without any penalty.

Economists believe that hundreds of billions of Taka remains in the informal chain and could not contribute to the economy. They consider that allowing of those money will put a positive impact to uplift the country's economy.

Businesses think that lot of people will avail the opportunity of legalising undisclosed money boosting the Government's exchequer.

Last year the Caretaker Government offered the opportunity of legalising undisclosed income for four months from June to September. Then people had to pay a penal tax of 5.0 per cent plus normal tax rate to avail the opportunity.

Only Tk 52.13 billion undisclosed income was 'legalised' last year from which the Government earned an extra tax of Tk 8.02 billion. NBR officials said last year's initiative failed to attract handsome amount of money.

Last year only 42,459 people availed the opportunity. Big fishes did not respond to the special offer; only people belonging to the middle-income group responded.

NBR sources said this year's special offer to legalise undisclosed money will be only for those who earned money legally but have not disclosed those in any form. Ill-gotten income which was earned through corruption or crimes such as smuggling will not enjoy the opportunity, they said.

BNP’s Dhaka city committee dissolved

UNB, Dhaka

The Dhaka city committee of crisis ridden BNP has been dissolved.

Secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain dissolved the committee yesterday as its president, secretary and some members and officials are involved in activities against the party's interest and discipline, said a press release.

It is believed that the action was taken on instruction from the detained party chairperson Khaleda Zia. Delwar had consultation with her in the court yesterday.

Signed by acting office secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi the press release said the committee became inactive under the political situation prevailing in the country.

"Under the circumstances, Secretary General advocate Khandker Delwar Hossain dissolved the city committee for preserving the party interest and to rejuvenate its activities," said the press release.

Environment Day today

BSS, Dhaka

The World Environment Day will be observed in the country today as in other parts of the world amid growing concern over climate change.

The day is very significant for Bangladesh due to its vulnerability to natural disasters caused by global warming and impacts of climate change on its nature, economy and physical existence. As dependence on carbon-based energy has caused a significant build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the main reason for global warming, the UN has chose 'Kick the Habit: Towards a Low Carbon Economy' as the theme of the day.

Another hotel blast victim dies

UNB, Dhaka

Another victim of Sunday night's serial hotel explosions succumbed to his fatal burn injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday morning, raising the death toll to two.

The deceased was identified as Meer Hossain alias Miron, 21, a hotel boy hailed from Noakhali.

Police said Miron died at the burn unit of DMCH at about 10:30am, after fighting for life since the serial explosions wrecked Hotel Orchard Plaza at Naya Paltan in the city. The explosions left around 50 people injured, including some foreigners.

On Monday last, Ali Azam Chowdhury, one of the housekeeping supervisors of the hotel, died at City Hospital in the city's Mohammadpur area.