The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasina’s lawyers seek court permission Khaleda’s straight 'no’: Move for treatment abroad: AL chief, Koko may fly any time

Sheikh Hasina

Begum Khaleda Zia

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may fly anytime to the USA via London for medical treatment with completion of the legal procedures, while the other detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday renewed her request for sending both of her imprisoned sons-Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko-abroad for the same purpose, saying she would not leave the country on medical grounds.

Arafat Rahman Koko is likely to fly to Singapore any moment for medical treatment.

Informed sources said this, while talking to The New Nation yesterday adding that that the issue was discussed at a high-level meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO).

There were speculations in the capital that Sheikh Hasina and Koko might be flown anytime after midnight last night.

A large number of Awami League and BNP organisers, supporters and journalists converged near the Special Jail on the premises of the sprawling Parliament building complex, where Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina has been held since her arrest in a graft case on July 16 last year, and Bangbandhu Medical University Complex, where Koko is detained at a prison-cabin.

Besides, huge political activists and journalists also gathered at the ZIA International Airport, where security was tightened from last evening.

The ongoing trial of these VIP prisoners, who are facing scrutiny in the court of law in a number of separate corruption charges, will continue even if they were allowed to go abroad on bail or parole, highly placed official sources said.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed, one of the top counsels of Sheikh Hasina, confirmed this while talking to this Correspondent last evening, adding, "All legal barriers have been removed to clear the way for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's going abroad for better medical treatment.

"All Sheikh Hasina now needs is an order from the Government," he said, as the Special Judge's Court-2 on Parliament complex heard an appeal for her release on bail.

Last year the government had taken initiative to send the two former prime ministers for medical treatment abroad when legal proceedings in graft cases had not been started against them. While Sheikh Hasina was agreeable to acceptance of the arrangement, Begum Khaleda Zia was not.

Senior AL Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu, who is one of the key negotiators of the party with the Government, told The New Nation that the AL would pay the cost of treatment of Sheikh Hasina.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who is also detained at the same vicinity, said she would not go for medical treatment abroad since the country has enough medical experts to attend her.

"But, she has requested the Government to send her sons-Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Konko-abroad for medical treatment since both of them are critically ill," BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said after meeting Begum Zia in a special court yesterday.

"The former Prime Minister did not elaborate," he said, adding the Government has already formed a medical board for examining Tarique Rahman, who is also the Senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP.

"The BNP will bear the cost of medical treatment of Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko," Khanfaker Delwar added.

Earlier, on Friday three separate official medical boards submitted their reports to the government after examining Sheikh Hasina, Begum Zia and Arafat Rahman Koko with recommendation to send them abroad for medical treatment immediately.

Sheikh Hasina's scientist husband Dr Wazed Mia, in a letter to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the first week of March this year, requested the Government to release her on parole for treatment abroad, while AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on March 12 pleaded to release her for the same purpose.

Tarique Rahman's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and Koko's wife Sharmily Rahman recently formally applied to the Government to release their husbands on parole for sending them abroad for medical treatment.

Barrister Shafque Ahmed said another appeal seeking exemption for Sheikh Hasina from a legal binding to appear in the Court in person in the Barge-mounted Power Plants Scam case was moved.

The court is expected to deliver its decision today, the lawyer, who met Sheikh Hasina in a Special Court in the afternoon, added.

Second budget of Caretaker Govt today: Revenue expenses up, dev outlay down

Pulack Ghatack

The Government is going to announce the biggest-ever national budget for 2008-09 fiscal year today with a reduced Annual Development Programme (ADP) and increased revenue expenditure.

The ADP will come down by 3.39 per cent than the original ADP of the current fiscal year while the revenue expenditure will go up by about 40 per cent in the new budget.

Heavy subsidy in different sectors and a wide safety-net for poverty stricken people will take big chunk of the development expenditure. The budget will not be visionary, as coping with the ongoing economic crisis will be its main feature, economic analysts observed.

However, Finance Adviser Dr Mirza AB Azizul Islam has said it time and again that poverty reduction and employment generation would be the goal of his fiscal plan.

The total outlay of the budget would be Tk 99,962 crore of which Tk 43,362 crore or 43.38 per cent will account for government's revenue expenditure while deficit for oil and food will eat up around Tk 16000 or 16 per cent.

Tk 25600 crore has already been endorsed as development expenditure which also includes some of the Government's welfare measures like allowances for poor and old-age people, sources in the Finance Ministry said.

The size of the current year's budget is Tk 87137 crore, including the Tk 7523 crore liabilities of state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.

The new budget will be palliative for the public servants as the Finance Adviser is set to announce 41 per cent salary increase for them in the budget speech.

In absence of parliament, the budget speech will be delivered over national radio and television at 3pm today. The speech, summary of the budget, and books on annual financial statements would be available on internet.

Dr Aziz in his speech is likely to optimism of achieving 6.5 per cent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) with implementation of the new budget against an expected 6.2 per cent at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

Economists, on the contrary, have ruled out the possibility of higher growth, as the already announced development program of the Government is small. Economists, in the backdrop of a murky political scenario, also foresee poor implementation of the small ADP.

Analysing the budgetary information available so far, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue Dr Mostafizur Rahman told The New Nation that the country needed acceleration of GDP growth to reduce poverty.

He said, "more development schemes and proper implementation of the programmes are necessary to this end. But I fear that the small ADP will also not be implemented properly. This will create a negative impact on GDP growth."

The economist, however, welcomed the safety-net measures of the government which would help people to sustain in the economic misery.

Dr Aziz also hopes to pull down the soaring inflation below double digit in the coming year.

The new budget will more than double subsidies for fertiliser, food and oil to ease pressure on households. The fiscal deficit will be about 5 per cent of the GDP the bulk share of which will be covered by bank borrowing.

Officials said the budget will have a domestic borrowing target of Tk 16900 crore to meet oil import needs.

The Government also has an ambitious revenue earning target, which would be Tk 54500 crore, up from the current fiscal year's Tk 45900 crore.

To make the budget more participatory, all information and important documents of the budget could be read and downloaded by any person or institution at home and abroad from the website, www.mof.gov.bd, a Government handout said.

Opinions and recommendations on the budget could be given by filling a feedback form on the website by 5 pm on June 16, 2008. Besides, written opinions and recommendations on the budget can be sent directly or by post.

To ensure wider participation, the link of Finance Division website will also be available on the following government websites - www.bangladesh.gov.bd, www.nbr-bd.org, www.plancomm.gov.bd, www.imed.gov.bd, www.bdpressinform.org and www.cao.gov.bd.

Gen Masud’s service placed under Foreign Ministry

Lt General Masud Uddin Chowdhury

UNB, Dhaka

Lt General Masud Uddin Chowdhury's service was placed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an official of the Establishment Ministry said Sunday about the change in the army hierarchy.

Gen Masud was serving as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division.

Foreign office sources said Gen Masud would be tipped as Ambassador to a foreign country.

Presently, the post of High Commissioner in Australia and of Ambassador in Germany, France, Libya, the Maldives and Morocco are vacant.

Batting failure costs hosts the opener Sports Reporter

Bangladeshi bowlers celebrating after dismissing
Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan during the opening match of
Kitplay Cup Tri-Nation ODI tournament at the Mirpur
Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
FocusBangla

Bangladesh made a disasterous start in the Kitply Cup Tri-Nation ODI tournament when the Tigers tasted massive 70-run defeat by Pakistan Cricket team in their opening One Day International match at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Needing 234 runs to win, Bangladesh were restricted to 163 for 8 off 40 overs.

Pakistani bowlers totally dominated over Bangladesh batsmen and the Tigers threw their wickets hopelessly.

Skipper Mohammad Ashraful hit a captain's knock of 56 off 93 balls.

Besides, Tamin Iqbal scored 29 playing 38 balls.

Shahid Afridi grabbed three wickets giving away 19 runs while Wahab Riaz harpooned three wickets for 22 runs.

Umar Gul took two wickets at the cost of 28 runs.

Earlier, Abdur Razzak and Alok Kapali bowled well and helped the hosts to bundle out Pakistan for 233 off 39.3 overs.

Abdur Razzak removed Shoib Malik for I and dismissed Sohail Tanvir for just 2. Razzak trapped lbw Wahab Riaz for a duck. Abdur Razzak finished as 7.3-0-35-3.

Alok Kapali showed a glorious comeback as he plucked three valuable wickets of Pakistan.

Salman Batt, the opener of Pakistan hit a superb 70 facing 84 balls. He sent the ball 10 times through the ropes before he was caught at long on by Rafiqul Hasan off Alok Kapali.

Alter Alok Kapali dismissed Mohammad Yousuf, who was caught at cover by Abdur Razzak. Yousuf made 59 off 56 balls including seven strokes through the ropes when Pakistan's total was 180 for the loss off five wickets in 30.5 overs.

Kapali also removed Shahid Afridi for 20 off 17 balls.

Alok Kapali completed as 8-0-49-3.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the country's best medium pacer' was the other bowler who shone with the cherry. Mashrafe bagged a couple of wickets for 36 runs.

It may be mentioned that the game started at 5.10 PM instead of 3.00 PM due to wet weather. The match was fixed as 40-overs a-side due to inclement weather.

Hearing of petition against validity of EPR sections begins

UNB, Dhaka

The hearing on a writ petition challenging the validity of certain sections of the unassailable Emergency Power Rules (EPR), including denial of bail, began before the High Court On Sunday.

Moving the petition, Barrister Amir-Ul Islam, the counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the EPR on one hand has curbed the citizens' rights to seek bail and taken away the High Court's power to grant bail on the other.

"The constitution cannot be amended by an ordinance," he said before the division bench comprising Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Farid Ahmed.

Barrister Amir said the promulgation of the Emergency Power Ordinance hit the basic structure of the constitution.

"Even the bureaucrats have been given both the executive and legislative powers," he added.

After a brief argument by Amir, the hearing was adjourned for a week.

The writ petition challenging the validity of certain sections of the EPR denying bail was filed Thursday by former adviser of caretaker government Sultana Kamal, New Age editor Nurul Kabir and associate professor of Dhaka University Hafizur Rahman Curzon.

They are challenging the validity of the EPR sections 11(3), 19 (gha) and 19 (uma). The EPR Section 11(3) bars bail to any convict-appellant tried under the EPR.

The section 19 (gha) forbids seeking bail by an accused facing criminal case under the EPR during the inquiry, investigation and trial of the case no matter what is stated in sections 497 and 498 of the Criminal Procedure Code or any other law.

The legality of another section under the EPR 19 (uma) has also been challenged. It negates rights of an accused to seek redress from any higher courts against any order given by any court or tribunal before or during the trial until the delivery of the final verdict.

1,550 more arrested in combing drive

Staff Reporter

At least 18,500 people been arrested so far by Joint Forces in the anti-crime crackdown launched across the country under emergency power rules.

The mass arrests, included Awami League, BNP, Jamaat and Jatiya Party leaders.

A press release issued by the Police headquarters yesterday said 1,548 people were arrested in the past 24 hours. The law enforcers also recovered 17 firearms, seven crude bombs, 12 cocktails and 56 rounds of bullet during the period, it added.

Besides, 62 motorbikes were seized for not having valid documents and 3030 cases filed under the Motor Vehicle Act during the drive.

In Chandpur, Joint Forces recovered 46 rounds of bullet and a bayonet from an abandoned godown of the Kachua upazila administrative building on Saturday.

Sources said some workers found the bullets and bayonet in the godown when they were cleaning it at noon and informed the officials.

Later, on information, Joint Forces rushed to the spot and recovered the weapon and bullets. None was arrested in this connection.

Khulna, Elite force RAB arrested Rupsha upazila unit BNP vice president Julfikar Ali Julu along with a firearm and seven cocktails from his house at Aichghati village yesterday.

Being tipped off, a team of RAB-6 raided the house of Julfikar, also chairman of Aichghati Union Parishad at about 3:00am and arrested him. They recovered one pipe gun the cocktails from his possession.

He was later handed over to local police in the morning. A case was filed against him under Arms Act.

In Narsingdi the Joint Forces arrested former general secretary of Chattra Dal Nasiruddin Ahmed. He was the son of former MP Samsul Ahmed Ishak.

He was later handed over to local police in the morning.

In Jhenidah, three powerful bombs were recovered at Mathpara village in Shailakupa upazila yesterday.

Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team of the district recovered the bombs and two knives wrapped in a polythene bag at about 2:30pm.

The bombs and knives were taken to Shailakupa Police Station.

In Satkhira, elite force RAB arrested a woman drug peddler and recovered 1.5 kg of hemp at Bankal village in Sadar upazila on Saturday.

Acting on a tip off, a team of RAB-6 raided the house of Alfia Begum at noon and arrested her along with the hemp.

Later, she was handed over to the police.

Police said Alfia has been involved with drug smuggling since long.

News Analysis: Let the urge for change in US benefit all

Mostafa Kamal Majumder

As the prolonged campaign drew to a close on Saturday with Hillary Rodham Clinton withdrawing from the race and endorsing the nomination of Barack Obama, new annals have been added to the history of the United States - an African American can become president of the world's most powerful nation and that women are equally acceptable for the post.

The campaign for the nomination was close and although Barack Obama had been in the leading position for some time, it was impossible to draw a clear conclusion till last Tuesday when more than 2118 super delegates declared to be on Obama's side. Never before a black man was nominated to contest for president of the US and a woman came so close to nomination.

Many explanations are now being given to the success of Obama in the nomination race and Hillary's nail-biting finish, but judged from what they have achieved it can be asserted without hesitation that both won in their own ways. They won as the workers of the Democratic Party wanted them to win because they want change which both promised.

US news agencies termed the two candidates as representing cultural and political milestones in US history. Hillary Rodham Clinton was quoted as saying Saturday in her farewell address, "Children today will grow up taking for granted that an African-American or a woman can, yes, become the president of the United States."

President George W Bush praised the symbolism of the 2008 field. "I thought it was a really good statement, powerful moment when a major political party nominates an African-American man to be their standard bearer," he said in an interview Friday with an Italian journalist. "And it's good for our democracy that that happened. And we also had a major contender being a woman. Obviously Hillary Clinton was a major contender. So, I think it's a good sign for American democracy."

Snap polls are now shedding lights on the factors leading to the nomination of Barack Obama. Social researches on the same would continue for years. But by all counts the nomination reflects the greatness of the American people who appears to have overcome, even if not yet completely, gender and racial divides.

Son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, Obama was raised literally and metaphorically offshore, in Indonesia by his white mother and in Hawaii by his white grandparents. A majority of Americans said the country was ready for a black president, but that was yet to be put to test.

However, Obama's achievement is that much of what it represents is not about the colour of his skin. Obama, 46, has run a race that, at least when possible, has been deliberately not about race. He steered clear of a campaign like Jesse Jackson's, which shaped itself as a fight for the rights of minorities and the poor.

Instead, he promised an era of change, an idea that found broad support among different groups of voters. He excluded many of the civil rights leaders and others - from Jackson to Al Sharpton - who would have defined him as a black candidate. He spoke about himself not primarily as a black man, but as a man whose story was uniquely American.

People in the rest of the world would now keenly observe if the urge of the American people for change also benefits them, because US is virtually the lone global player in the present unipolar world, which can and does influence their destiny. The wars of hatred and revenge, lack of concern for the laws, norms and principles on which international relations flourished in the post -World War-II period, have created uncertainties that were not experienced in the last six decades. They should give way to a world which is peaceful and congenial for upholding human dignity and promoting progress in all corners of the globe.

Jamaat’s no to dialogue with govt: Release of top leaders demanded

Staff Reporter

Jammat-e-Islami Bangladesh yesterday said it would not participate in the government sponsored ongoing political dialogue without the release of BNP Chariperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Ameer of Jammat Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami from detention.

The leaders of Jammat also demanded of the Government for lifting the state of emergency and holding parliamentary polls by October next.

"We want unconditional release of all detained political leaders including Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and withdrawl of all cases including those related to Gatco and Boropukuria Coal," said Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Secretary General of the party at a press briefing held at its Moghbazar office.

Criticising the Government and the Election Commission (EC) for not holding election within 90 days of assuming power, he said the Government and the EC have taken so many issues, which have delayed the election.

"We hope good sense will prevail on the Government and they will release political detainees for the betterment of the nation," he added.

He also called upon the Government not to take any steps relating to constitutional amendments.

Replying to a question on recent statement of BNP Secretary General Kondokar Delwar Hossain for unity among political parties, he termed it 'liberal democratic gesture'.

Condemning the blanket arrest across the country, he said in the name of curbing terrorism the Government has unleashed repression on political activists.

The Government must stop harassment on political leaders and activists, he noted.

The Jammat would continue its mass signature campaign till 15 June across the country and form human chain at all metropolitan cities and district to drum up support for their five-point demand.

Moqbal Ahemd, Nayebe Ameer, Maulana Delwar Hossain Saydee, member of Central Executive Committee, Abdul Kader Moll, Assistant Secretary General, ATM Azharul Islam and Prof Tasnim Alam, among others, attended the press briefing.

BPDC survey reveals: 25,000 legal arms being used in illegal means

BSS, Dhaka

Director of Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre (BPDC) on Sunday said more than 25,000 out of 1,30,000 licensed arms in the country, are being used in various illegal means.

"We carried out a survey across the county which showed that around 25,000 to 30,000 arms under legal arms licences are being rented to criminals," BPDC director Sharif K Kafi said at a press conference.

The press briefing jointly organised by BPDC, Bangladesh Network on Small Arms (BNSA) with the support of South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPI) and International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) at the Jatiya Press Club.

The conference was held to mark the concluding day of

Global 'Week of Action Against Gun Violence-08' to raise awareness, campaign for better gun laws and push for stronger regulation of the global arms trade.

BPDC chairperson Masuda Farouk Ratna, members of SAAPI Dr Wajed-ul Islam Khan and Dr Mahbub-e-Rashid and representative of BANSA Sharmina Afroz were also present at the conference.

Sharif urged the government to formulate regulations under the existing arms act as well as canceling the permission of unlimited use of ammunition to strictly control the smuggling and trafficking of illegal arms.

"A vested quarter, who had received permission to buy unlimited ammunition under their arms licenses, is selling bullets in the black markets," he said.

At the press briefing, Sharif placed an 11-point recommendations to the government for controlling illegal arms.

Under the recommendations, he urged the government to form an independent national peace and security commission for checking use of illegal arms and counter terrorism in the country.

The recommendations also include updating the arms law, reforming arms licensing rules, bringing madrasa education under general education system, allocating adequate budget to create employment opportunity, taking measures in the light of UN action and establishing a network with the neighbouring countries.

He also said, it should be ensured that the law enforce agencies of the country could perform their duty without any political influence to free the country from counter terrorism.

They have also submitted copies of recommendations to the Chief Adviser, Advisers, and to the heads of the SAARC states, he said.

The global week was observed across the world from June 2 ahead of United Nations biennial review meeting scheduled on July 14 to 18 in New York to review progress on the UN Programme of 'Action on Small Arms'.

As part of marking the week, the BPDC and BNSA have already organised human chain programmes, discussion and rally in Dhaka, Gazipur, Kurigram Jessore and Satkhira.

US presidential race enters new phase

AP, Washington

While many people will work on their tans this summer, or on summer reading lists or on not working too hard, two exceptions - John McCain and Barack Obama - and their underlings will be working.

Working industriously on an election that only one can win.

With 11 weeks to the start of the Democratic convention - and the GOP event just days later - Republican McCain and Democrat Obama will be focused on strategy, fundraising, shoring up weak spots and exploiting opportunities to prepare themselves for the sprint to Nov. 4.

Here's what they'll be worrying about:

Shrinking the electoral map.

From now on, the great majority of Americans can be excused if they barely realize a presidential election is under way. They will see virtually no TV ads, visits by candidates or local news coverage.

That's because this campaign, like the last two, will focus on about 15 competitive states. Both parties see the other states as reliably in their camps and not needing attention, or totally out of reach and not worth the effort and expense of trying to win them. In either case, these states will largely be ignored.

McCain will start by trying to hold the 31 states President Bush won in 2004 (which are almost identical to the 30 he won in 2000). If he succeeds, he will be president.

Obama must claim one or more of those states, while losing few if any of the ones Al Gore and John Kerry won in their narrow losses to Bush.

The magic number is 18. That's how many electoral votes Obama must add to Kerry's 252, from four years ago, to secure the presidency. For example, if Obama carries Iowa (seven electoral votes) and Missouri (11) without losing any Kerry states, he would become president.

Other states Obama will target as possible pickups are Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and at least one - Virginia - not normally within the Democrats' reach.

He must play defense elsewhere in hopes of keeping McCain from snatching Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, New Hampshire and possibly Maine, all of which Kerry won.

One possible scenario would be excruciating for McCain. If he carried every state Bush won in 2004 except Nevada, New Mexico and Iowa - a plausible outcome - then he and Obama would each have 269 electoral votes. The House of Representatives would break the tie, with each state delegation having one vote. Democrats control more state delegations than Republicans, so Obama almost surely would be named president.

Choosing a running mate.

Analysts question whether a vice presidential choice seriously affects a presidential election, but Obama calls it the most important decision he will make before Election Day. He and McCain have appointed small groups to vet contenders and, if nothing else, the process will fascinate the political chattering class for a while.

Obama first must decide whether to tap Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who battled him to the end and has legions of fans who want her on the ticket. Many political insiders think he will turn elsewhere, but they do not agree on a front-runner.

Possibilities include four vanquished presidential rivals (besides Clinton): New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, and Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, and Chris Dodd of Connecticut. Former Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia is often mentioned, as are two prominent female supporters of Obama: Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Less conventional choices for Obama would be Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, or a prominent Clinton supporter, such as Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana. Virginia alone (a GOP-leaning state Obama would love to win) has three possible running mates: Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Jim Webb and former Gov. Mark Warner, who is running for the Senate.

McCain is likely to look at Republican Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Charlie Crist of Florida, two battleground states. Other possibilities include former Massachusetts governor and presidential rival Mitt Romney; Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman; South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford; Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin; and former congressman and White House budget director Rob Portman of Ohio, another key state.

A private-sector choice might be Carly Fiorina, former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard.

Defining your opponent before he defines you.

Campaign pollsters say the average person still knows relatively little about Obama or McCain. Both men and their allies will race to fill in the blanks with appealing portraits of themselves and unflattering pictures of the other.

Obama's theme is "change," and he constantly says McCain would carry out "a third term" of President Bush, whose approval ratings approach historic lows. McCain portrays Obama as inexperienced, naive and more talk than action.

Youth and age will be a key subtext. Obama does not directly allude to McCain's age, which will hit 72 on the eve of the GOP convention. But their age difference, 25 years, is the largest in history for major party nominees. Obama must show he's mature and ready; McCain must show he's sharp and vigorous.

Raising money.

Obama has assembled an unprecedented political fundraising machine, raking in $264 million in 16 months. McCain has raised $115 million in 17 months. McCain, assured of his eventual nomination, had his best fundraising month in May, raising $21.5 million. Obama, reeling from controversies over his former pastor and still battling Clinton, raised nearly $32 million in April.

Obama should manage to continue this extraordinary accumulation of cash. McCain is improving as he works with the Republican National Committee to expand his donor base.

The Democrats' challenge is to build the party's finances. The RNC, now operating with McCain strategists in place, raised nearly $24 million in May and had $53.6 million on hand at the beginning of June. The Democratic National Committee raised nearly $5 million in May and ended the month with $4 million in the bank.

Obama is putting his stamp on the DNC, and has installed a top strategist to oversee general election operations.

McCain is preparing to accept about $85 million in public financing. But he needs approval from the Federal Election Commission, which cannot act until the Senate confirms nominees required for a quorum.

Obama is expected to turn down the hefty check and rely on private donors to finance his run.

Production of rice, wheat surpasses target

Shamim Jahangir

About 358.27 lakh tonnes of rice and wheat and 225.58 lakh tonnes of non-serial food items such as maize, potato, vegetables and pulses were produced in the country in the 2007-8 fiscal, according to Agriculture Ministry sources.

Rice and wheat were cultivated on 119.05 lakh hectares of land and non-serial food items on 29.41 hectares during the period under review.

The production of rice and wheat surpassed the target by 22.47 lakh tonnes while the non-serial items by 29.41 lakh tonnes, sources added.

The production of rice was 348.91 lakh tonnes against the target of 327.60 lakh tonnes.

About 9.56 lakh tonnes of wheat were producing whereas the target was 8.40 lakh tonnes. The production of maize rose to 23.61 lakh tonnes from the 13.14 lakh tonnes. It was cultivating on 2.30 lakh hectares of land.

The production of potato was 92.37 lakh tonnes exceeding the target by 21.37 lakh tonnes.

The production of vegetables was 89.10 lakh tonnes as it surpassing the target by 8.10 lakh tonnes.

Mustard seeds production was 5.52 lakh tonnes from the 5.57 lakh hectors of lands, peanut 2.50 lakh tonnes from 0.85 lakh hectares, pulse 5.52 lakh tonnes and lentil 2.25 lakh metric tonnes.

A high official of the Agricultural Ministry told the New Nation that the farmers of the country have achieved the target set by the government through their hard labour.

Favourable weather also helped for the better production of crops, he added.

Breach of electoral rules, code to cost candidature: CEC

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said the electoral rules and code of conduct would be applied strongly during the next general elections.

"Candidature will be cancelled immediately if any candidate violates the electoral rules and code of conducts, he said while addressing the concluding ceremony of three-day workshop on electoral rules and code of conduct at Election Commission (EC) Secretariat in the city.

The CEC said publication of multicolour posters, showdown during submission of nomination papers, carrying out election campaign occupying roads and using mosques and temples for the purpose have been banned.

He, however, said that candidates would be able to carryout election campaign door-to-door abiding by the electoral rules and the code of conduct.

On budget of the EC, Dr Huda said they have no special desire. He mentioned that the Government has assured the EC to allocate necessary budget to conduct the general elections scheduled to be held in December next. Among others, EC Secretary Humayun Kabir and EC official Mihir Murshed were present on the occasion.