The New Nation - Internet Edition

Govt plans amnesty to ease jail congestion: Prisoners who complete half term to be freed

Mamunur Rashid

The Government is considering the release of convicts, who have already served half term of their punishment period, to accommodate those arrested during the ongoing countrywide crackdown.

The authorities concerned in the metropolitan cities and districts are scrutinizing most of the cases owing to accommodation problems in jails.

The Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin told reporters that the ongoing cleansing drive was aimed at improving law and order across the country. Home Secretary Abdul Karim and Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, among others, were present at the press briefing at the Home Ministry.

The Adviser categorically refuted the claim that there was any political motive behind the arrest of party activists across the country.

"The current drive is not being conducted to undermine, harass or arrest anybody with any political motive," he said, adding those who

are being arrested have specific allegations against them.

Home Secretary Abdul Karim also said to ease the accommodation problem in prisons the government was thinking about the release of convicts, who have already served half term of their punishment.

Some 24,062 people were arrested from May 29 to June 12 against 19,362 arrested during the same period last year, said the Adviser, denying the allegation of mass arrest.

Of the arrested, he said 16,997 were nabbed under warrants, 153 under Arms and Explosives Act and 7,521 in connection with other cases, including murder and rape.

The Home Adviser said only 191 people were arrested under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

Asked about sudden deterioration of law and order in the country, the Adviser said that terrorists who had been in hideouts might have surfaced thinking that the law was now relaxed ahead of the national elections.

Matin said special operations have been conducted to improve law and order and remove fear from the public minds. He said the armed forces was helping the police to make the drive successful.

The Adviser said accommodation capacity of the prisons was 27,368, but the number of inmates in prisons was 86,504 as on June 7.

Home Adviser MA Matin emphasised that the Government was not acting in any biased manner regarding the release of former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

"Sheikh Hasina applied for her release, so she was released. Khaleda Zia is still in detention as she has not yet applied for her release," the Adviser said adding, "I do not think any discriminatory attitude has been shown in this matter."

Following Hasina's release, the release of others is under Government consideration, he said. "If former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia applies for her release it will be considered," he reiterated.

Asked whether Hasina, who was released the previous week to seek overseas treatment, would be allowed to address any political meetings, Matin said, "The advisers in charge of political dialogue can answer this question better."

However, the Home Adviser said he believed that under such special conditions of release there was no scope for holding or addressing political meetings.

"The Government has released her on the condition that the Government can cancel the release order at any time," he said.

Asked whether repeated amendments of Emergency Power Rules, during the longest state of emergency in Bangladesh, were a sign of the Government's backtracking, he said, "It cannot be said that Emergency Power Rules have failed."

"An amendment to the rules is not a sign of the Government backtracking. The Government can make such amendments for the sake of the country."

Ashar celebrated

An artiste performing dance at a function organised
by Udichi Shilpa Goshtee at the Institute of Fine Arts
welcoming the rainy reason on Sunday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The first day of Ashar, the month of rains in the Bengali calendar, was celebrated across the country with festivity.

With the advent of the rainy season nature changes its hue and activities.

Although the day was hot and humid, people of all ages welcomed the first day of the rainy season with songs and dances. A brief shower in the afternoon was a delightful gift to the city dwellers.

Many socio-cultural organisations including Udichi Shilpi Gosthi organised various programmes in the city to celebrate the day. Most of the female participants wore azure coloured saris to celebrate the day.

Udichi started the 'Borsha Utsab 1415' at Bakultala of the Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University at 7:00am.

In the programme, dancers of Shilpi Gosthi performed spectacular dance sequences, while singers rendered a number of Rabindra Sangeet based on the rainy season.

Besides, other organisations also organised various programmes to celebrate the day.

According to the met office sources, the next week may see monsoon becoming active.

The maximum temperature in the country yesterday was 36 degrees Celsius at Khulna and the minimum was 24 degrees Celsius at Saidpur.

The maximum temperature in Dhaka was 34.9C and minimum 28C, in Chittagong 33.2C and 27C, in Khulna 36C and 27.5C, in Barisal 33.4C and 27.2C and in Sylhet 32.5C and 26.3C.

The day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, according to the met office sources.

The rains may increase during the next two days, the met forecast said. Little change is forecast in extended outlook for weather in another five days.

Tk 1,009.41cr DCC budget

Sadeque Hossain Khoka

Staff Reporter

With the failure to achieve last fiscal year's revenue target Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) announced Tk 1,009.41 crore-budget for the 2008-09 financial year yesterday.

Mayor of DCC Sadeque Hossain Khoka announced the budget at a function at Mahanagar Natyamancha in the city, as he proposed no new tax for the city dwellers for coming year.

The budget for the outgoing 2007-08 fiscal was Tk 1401.88 crore, which was slashed to Tk 717.57 crore as the DCC missed its revenue earning targets.

Instead of imposing fresh taxes, the DCC tried to plug revenue loopholes to collect funds for the development programmes to make city life comfortable, said the Mayor.

The DCC earned tax and revenues from holding, lighting and conservancy, trade licences, advertisement, road digging, rickshaw licences, markets and community centres, he said.

Holding tax is the single biggest source of revenue as the DCC earned Tk 176 crore in the 2007-08 fiscal, trailing the target of Tk 255 crore, he noted.

A sum of Tk 100 crore is expected from the government's block allocation, Tk 100 crore as especial allocation and Tk 242 crore either from the government or foreign sources and private investments, and Tk 9 crore from others, he said. DCC expected government's special allocation of Tk 45.05 crore in the 2007-08 fiscal. But the actual allocation is likely to be less than half this year.

The DCC also failed to generate expected funds from projects and private sector in 2007-08 fiscal. It has so far collected Tk 187.73 crore against the target of Tk 619.43 crore, largely because of stalled development works involving huge private and project funds, said the Mayor.

The target for the new budget from these areas has been set at Tk 242.90 crore, he said.

The DCC set an expenditure target of Tk 979.41 crore for the 2008-09 fiscal year. Of the amount, Tk 692.90 crore will account for development activities. In the 2007-08 fiscal it could spend only Tk 443.43 crore, less than half of its targeted development expenditure of Tk 1098.91 crore, he added.

The allocation for mosquito control programmes for the next year would remain the same at Tk 15 crore, said the Mayor.

The revenue income in 2008-09 is expected to total Tk 527.51 crore up from Tk 478.45 crore during 2007-08 fiscal, he said.

The DCC will emphasis to make a separate project named 'Rivers Development Project' to save rivers around the city, he added.

This was the seventh budget of Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka since he took over as the city mayor on May 14, 2002.

DCC Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka announced his first budget of Tk 677.34 crore for 2002-03 fiscal year, followed by Tk 762.96 crore, Tk 922.01 crore, Tk 1247.72 crore, Tk 1505.85 and Tk 1401.88 in successive years.

Strategic plan for police launched

Nur Mohammad

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Police Sunday launched a strategic plan that outlines its vision, mission, core values and future priorities of the service.

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, launched the 'Strategic Plan for 2008-2010' to be implemented over three years.

"For the first time Bangladesh Police has a defining document that will outline our vision, mission, core values and priorities and will guide us into the future," Nur Mohammad said at a ceremony at Sonargaon Hotel.

N B K Tripura, ndc Additional IGP & National Project Director, Police Reform Programme, Hassan Mahmood Khandker, Director General, RAB, Mohammad Javed Patwary, Additional IGP, CID, A.K.M. Mahfuzul Haque, Rector, Police Staff College and Baharul Alam, Additional IGP, SB, were present.

Development partners, representatives from the NGOs, former senior police officers, civil society members and eminent personalities were also present at the function.

"We have the vision of a Police Service that will work in partnership with the community and become a trusted partner rather than a feared tool of the State," Nur Mohammad said. The plan has been prepared keeping in mind the competing needs or demand of the country and the limited resources that may be available for the implementation of the plan.

The Strategic Plan 2008 - 2010 identifies five key strategic areas for fulfilling the vision of Bangladesh Police. The first strategy of Organizational Reform is the foundation for the implementation of other priorities as it deals with legal and organisation reform. The second strategic direction is Community Policing which will foster real partnerships with the community and develop operational priorities that will address community needs.

The capacity to train and develop Police personnel is critical to appropriate service delivery and Police personnel need to be prepared to face challenges. Women Police and Gender Policy have been identified as an important strategic direction to move the police into a modern policing service.

The importance of computerization is now the cornerstone of the provision of modern policing service and the Bangladesh Police wish to position themselves to take full advantage of any advances in technology.

"The proposed strategies are just the first step towards a modern service orientated police organisation that our community will be proud of. Our credibility depends on how we will implement these strategies," the IGP said.

He noted that Bangladesh Police have the vision of a Police Service that will work in partnership with the community and become a trusted partner rather than a feared tool of the State.

"We envision our role to be a professional, service orientated and people friendly department that is free from extraneous influences and remains accountable to the law and to the people," he said.

N B K Tripura ndc, said that the entire police service of the country will be involved in achieving the outcomes that the Strategic Plan envisages.

"The suggestions contained in the plan are our own; these are generated through in-house discussions held in different forums. We are confident that the ideas or thoughts contained in this document will improve and expand our services, make our service more efficient and effective and potentially open up the gateway to improve the image of Bangladesh Police," Tripura said.

The Strategic Plan envisages transformation and transition of Bangladesh Police from the colonial culture of 'ruling' to a contemporary culture of 'serving' the people. It also emphasises on proactive policing to replace reactive policing and brought a major cultural shift - from 'Force' to 'Service'.

The PRP has supported the development of the Strategic Plan (2008-2010) for Bangladesh Police.

In 2005, Bangladesh government, UNDP and the DFID launched the first phase of the PRP that aims at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bangladesh Police by supporting key areas of access to justice; including investigations, police operations and prosecutions; human resource management and training; and strategic capacity and oversight.

The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bangladesh Police. The European Commission is also a major partner in the programme.

The overall purpose of the PRP is to develop a safer and more secure environment based on respect for human rights and equitable access to justice through police reform, transforming it from a colonial government order model to a public service, which is responsive to all of the Bangladesh population including the poor, vulnerable, women, and children.

AL terms budget bulky with huge deficit

Awami League Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed
addressing a press conference on 'Proposed budget-2008-'09'
at the party's Dhanmondi office on Sunday. Banglar
Chokh

Staff Reporter

Awami League yesterday said that the Caretaker Government presented a bulky budget for 2008-09 fiscal with heavy deficit, as it will not have to bear the responsibility of implementing it.

The major political party, which ran the government from 1996-2001, also put a broad hint to revise the budget if it assumes power at the mid time of the fiscal year.

The caretaker government violated the Constitution by proposing budget twice outside parliament, the party leaders said, at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office to give its reaction on the proposed budget.

Awami League's Finance and Planning secretary Dr Ali Ashraf in a written statement described the budget as an account full of "false hopes to woo people."

Asked if Awami League would revise the budget if elected to power in December, Tofael said, "We will take necessary steps responding to the demands of the situation of that time."

He, however, suggested the Government to consult with political parties and bring necessary changes in the proposed budget in line with their suggestions.

He said it is the Government's responsibility to maintain political stability in absence of which implementation of the budget will be impossible.

"There is no possibility of political instability if the Government holds election," by December' the seasoned politician said.

Dr Ali Ashraf said Government's effort to curb inflation would go in vain as the government will have to for huge borrowing to cover the Tk 30,500 crore deficit.

He further said if the government failed to get the foreign aid (6.4 percent) and loans (17 percent), then it must have to borrow from the banks which will create liquidity crisis that will cause reduced investment in the country.

Party presidium member Matia Chowdhury and Suranjit Sengupta, among others, were present at the press conference.

The party leaders termed the proposed budget as extra constitutional, as according to Article 58(d) of the Constitution, interim caretaker government has no jurisdiction to propose the budget.

Citing Article 83 of the Constitution, Dr Ashraf said tax cannot be levied or collected without sanction of parliament.

The Awami League leaders also said the caretaker government should have declared an interim budget as it will get only six months to implement a budget.

"There is no way but to hold the election by December this year. So the government has only six months to go. Then, it should have declared an interim budget in line with its tenure," Tofael Ahmed said.

Tofael and Ali Ashraf both said the next elected government would have to suffer for such "ambitious and unrealistic" budget.

He further said despite several positive attempts by the government, its aim to overcome the economic crisis would not be fulfilled due to its failure to control inflation, reduction of development allocation, high amount of bank borrowings, possible rise of fuel price in the global market.

Dr Ashraf said the millennium development goals which are supposed to be achieved by 2015 would remain a far cry if the growth rate cannot be raised up to 7-8 percent.

He said country's agriculture sector would not be benefited getting only subsidies. The government would have to come up with specific plans for fundamental research for production of hybrid seeds, crop preservation, flourishing agro-industry and innovation of alternative fuels, he suggested.

Dr Ashraf was also critical of the budget as the size of Annual Development Programmes (ADP) has been reduced in the proposed budget, saying that employment opportunities will be reduced in the country.

He also voiced concern that the country's export sector could collapse because of government indifference to provide adequate gas and electricity to the industries.

He also demanded increased dearness allowances for non-government employees, teachers, workers and others.

Move for high powered body to oversee public accounts

Staff Reporter

A move is afoot to form a new high-powered advisory committee for the interim period to assist the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the next Parliament.

The World Bank has provided technical assistance to the government for forming an ad-hoc committee based on international precedents.

An overwhelming number of outstanding reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General have accumulated due to the absence of Parliamentary Accounting Committee. Such a situation pushes the government to consider an alternative.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), like any other Parliamentary Committees, is not meeting since the Parliament has dissolved. No auditing reports were reviewed since then while approximately 800 audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General awaits review.

A follow up process must be put in place in absence of the PAC to track the work of the Committee and to ensure proper action on the recommendations of the CAG report by the various audit organisations, said a World Bank press release yesterday.

The ad-hoc PAC will not be a replacement for the PAC as it does not have the constitutional authority, parliamentary members, or the ability to uphold sanctions.

Rather, the proposed "High Powered Advisory Committee" can be made up of independent members who would provide advice to the President and to the incoming PAC, when it is constituted, on how to prioritise and clear the backlog of CAG reports.

A World Bank team recently visited Bangladesh and met with various government departments to explore ways on how such a committee is made up of non parliamentarians while the Constitution is still in effect. During the visit, a series of discussion and training sessions took place.

The government and the World Bank discussed on how the country would benefit from interim arrangements which will review audit findings and suggest measures for quick disposal of audit objections.

They discussed ways and the challenges of possible formation, relationship to new PAC when established, and how the Ministry of Finance would support the ad hoc Committee.

ICT policy to be reviewed

Staff Reporter

The Caretaker Government has taken initiative to review the Information and Communication Technology Policy 2002 in a view to present a compact ICT policy within 2021 through public opinion and media campaign.

The collection of public opinion and media campaign of the policy have already started, the review committee members said in a press conference at Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

"We have tried to present a compact ICT policy for all the citizens within 2011. At that time, the committee will advise the short term, medium term and long term vision to the government for sustainable policy making in this sector," Mustafa Jabbar, President of Bangladesh Computer Samity and also a member of the review committee said.

He said that the previous governments had failed to keep full attention in ICT sector as they had prioritised the other sectors.

It will be possible to hold ICT on a right track by the regime of the caretaker government within December, he added.

Md Zabed Ali Sarker, a member of the committee said that we have launched a website as ictpolicybd@yahoogroups.com and seek opinion from all stakeholders for reviewing the policy.

"The committee will submit its report to the government on July next," he said.

Ahmed Hossain Khan, joint secretary of Ministry of Science and ICT and Habibullah N Karim were present at the press briefing.

Council of Advisers approves Upazila Parishad Ordinance

BSS, Dhaka

The Council of Advisers on Sunday gave final approval to the Local Government Upazila Parishad Ordinance-2008 with a view to ensuring good governance, transparency and accountability at the grassroots level of administration.

The ordinance has provisions for one elected chairman and two vice-chairmen in the Upazila Parishad. One of the posts of vice- chairman will be reserved for women.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed chaired the regular meeting held at his office here, attended by the members of the Council of Advisers and special assistants to the Chief Adviser.

Later, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim told the reporters that the meeting also approved the Rangpur University Ordinance-2008.

According to this Ordinance, Prime Minister will be the Chancellor of the University while students with disabilities will be given special privilege in admission to this institution.

The meeting also approved, in principle, proposal to amend Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority Act -1990 with a view to improving the power supply situation in the capital and the neighbouring areas.

The newly formed Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) Ltd will get the responsibility of power distribution in these areas.

The Council also okayed a proposal for Bangladesh's ratification of the amended and revised Charter of OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference), which was adopted in the last OIC conference in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

Cabinet Secretary, Press Secretary and Secretaries concerned were present.

The Press Secretary also said that a dialogue with the Union Parishad Chairmen, members and female members would be held today at the Chief Adviser's Office.

NBR hunt for tax-dodgers still on: Four-month amnesty for undisclosed money holders

UNB, Dhaka

The National Board of Revenue won't stop its hunt for the tax-dodgers notwithstanding the government-declared amnesty for undisclosed money holders for four months in the new budget, as the NBR taxmen are to run after a huge revenue target of Tk 54,500 crore in the coming fiscal year.

"The chase to net tax-evaders will continue and we will go specific way as per information of the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC). We will conduct the drive sector-wise," NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid told reporters at a post- budget briefing at his office Sunday.

He said chasing tax-evaders is a continuous process. NBR did that, is doing that and will do that as there were tax- evaders in the country, there are now and the evaders will remain in the future.

The caretaker government, which had launched a crackdown on high-profile pecuniary delinquents in the interim period, took a soft stance for the next fiscal in dealing with those who earned the money by legal means but kept it hidden, to give them one last opportunity to have their stashed money washed white.

By paying a set penalty, the undisclosed money holders will get another four months to make the disclosure. This benefit shall remain in force from July 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008.

The individual taxpayers can declare their undeclared legal income accrued in any year in a prescribed format by paying a penalty at the rate of 7 percent on the tax payable in addition to the regular taxes at the rates applicable for FY 2008-09.

Furthermore, tax-evaders will have to pay another 10 percent for each year of evasion.

"At present, penal actions for detection of undisclosed income are quite elusive and harsh," Finance Adviser Dr Azizul Islam said in his budget speech.

Currently, one is subject to a fine starting from zero to a maximum of five times of the untaxed amount of money.

"I propose to revise the provision of imposing this fine at a fixed rate of 10 percent for each year of evasion," said Dr Aziz, who has set a total revenue target of Tk 69,382 crore in the Tk 99,962-crore budget.

The NBR chairman said that to hook more new taxpayers onto the tax net his office would start the drive in a bigger way from July 1, the commencement of the next fiscal.

"This time we will go to district and upazila levels. Our aim is to establish one office of NBR in each district from where we will conduct our activities down to upazila level," he said.

About the giving of the opportunity to the undisclosed money holders to disclose their money at the rate of 7 percent additional penalty for each year, he said this is an incentive to the tax fugitives. But that does not mean that they are free from any future action by any government agency.

Responding to a question, the NBR chairman said his organization does not apprehend any shortfall of tax collection after six months as there will be an election and a political government will run the government.

"It seems to me the candidates who will contest the election will pay more taxes, we will cash more money from them," he said.

Replying to a query, Mazid said that it would be regretful if the satellite channel distributors increase their charges that ultimately would have to be paid by the viewers.

"It is the matter of negotiation with them and the foreign channel owners-why the general people should be affected," he said.

The budget for 2008-09 proposed to enhance the existing rate of supplementary duty from 15 percent to 35 percent for the satellite channel distributors.

He said that the local satellite TV channels are subject to payment of 15 percent VAT on the commercials telecast on their channels whereas the foreign TV channels pay no VAT on commercials that are telecast in Bangladesh.

"Although these commercials are not directly targeted towards our local consumers, but they indirectly help in creating import demands for commodities shown on these commercials."

Moreover, he said, different programs, including foreign movies, are freely being shown on various local and foreign TV channels through satellite.

The proprietors or distributors of foreign TV channels are not paying the VAT applicable for commercials that are telecast on their channels, depriving the government of its fair share of revenue, he added.

Govt decision on Tarique, Koko’s treatment abroad soon

Staff Reporter

The government would take decision as to Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, sons of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, would be sent abroad for treatment.

Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin dropped the indication while addressing a press conference at his Ministry yesterday.

"The overseas treatment of Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko depends on the government's decision," he said.

The Adviser said,the Ministry of Home Affairs has already received applications for their treatment abroad.

Except one, all the medical tests of Koko have already been done while application for Tarique's treatment abroad was received on Sunday, he said.

Adviser for Communications Ghulam Quader yesterday told reporters the Government is considering the matter of better treatment for the two detained sons of Begum Khaleda Zia on humanitarian grounds.

Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson's Adviser and pro-reformist leader Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, who hosted a party at his residence in honour of foreign diplomats, yesterday told reporters that foreign diplomats were in favour of the government allowing Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko to go abroad for better treatment.

According to him US Ambassador James F Moriarty, the Canadian High Commissioner and Japanese Ambassador, among other diplomats, attended the party.

He said they seemed supportive of overseas treatment for Tarique and Koko, if necessary.

"We have also stressed that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's medical treatment must be ensured abroad or at home according to her choice," he said.

He referred that medical boards had recommended that Tarique and Koko should be treated abroad as there was no proper facility for their treatment in Bangladesh.

The wife and daughter of Tarique Rahman, elder son of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, yesterday submitted application to the government to send him abroad for better medical treatment.

On behalf of Zubaida Rahman, the application was submitted by the lawyers of Tarique Rahman to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Their daughter Zaima Rahman also signed the application.

The petition cited a series of ailments, including upper back pain, right hip arthopathy (a disease of a joint), narrow-angle glaucoma and chest pain.

Tarique Rahman, who is currently under detention and receiving treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, has also been suffering from severe pain during stepping, limping gait, neck pain and severe back muscle spasm, the application said..

Barrister Nawshad Zamir, a councel of Tarique Rahman told reporters, they have requested the government to approve the application, considering his health reports, and makes arrangements for better treatment abroad.

"We have informed the Home Adviser and Home Secretary that Tarique needs overseas treatment as he is not showing any improvement here," he said.

He said both the Home Adviser and Home Secretary assured him that they would take necessary steps on the matter.

Replying to a question he said no separate appeal will be made on the treatment of Khaleda Zia.

Asked whether any application was made on behalf of Koko, he replied in the negative saying that Koko's family might do it.

TCB to be revived

Chittagong Correspondent

Adviser for Commerce and Education to the Caretaker Government Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman said that the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would soon be revived with newer features so that the essential markets can not bump at the wish of the failure of the agencies engaged in market intervention and better protection of the consumers' rights, the adviser claimed, had prompted the government to take up the TCB's revival.

Though it came into being in the bad days of 1972, it was never given a favorable environment to grow up as a public entity of market overseer and remedy-maker.

"Name and structure of the entity may undergo total overhauling apart from empowering it for procuring and selling of essentials at fair prices", he told reporters late last night while taking a trip to his hometown at Chandnaish. Responding to a question on soaring prices of essentials the adviser said that the government would soon strengthen market monitoring system and workout appropriate measure to stop it.