The New Nation - Internet Edition

President at Independent Varsity convocation: Expand job market to employ fresh graduates

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed addressing the 12th
convocation of the Independent University at
Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city on
Sunday. PID photo

UNB, Dhaka

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed called upon all concerned to help upgrade the standard of higher education and expand job market to provide fresh graduates so the nation could be more benefited by using their talent and potential.

"As we all are aware, a good number of graduates, passing out every year from different universities, are adding themselves to the job market as job-seekers. But they are not getting sufficient room there due to less employment opportunity," he said.

The President made the call while addressing the 12th Convocation of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on Sunday.

Education Adviser Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Convocation Speaker Prof. Charles L. Choguill, Vice-chancellor of the University Prof. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury and its chairman Towhid Samad also spoke on the occasion.

Reminding that Bangladesh is a country of immense potential, the President, also the Chancellor of the University, said the country needs huge capable and efficient human resources for exploring all avenues of its possibilities.

"Therefore, we must have to build a knowledge-based society to make our country prosperous with their knowledge and wisdom," he said.

President Iajuddin said a good number of private universities have been established since the Private University Act was enacted in 1992.

But the President observed that the imparting of education being provided by the many private universities could not reach up to the desired level.

"Therefore, time has come to evaluate the standard of education which is imparted by the universities, particularly private universities," he said.

Against this backdrop, Dr Ahmed called upon all concerned to provide congenial atmosphere of education, including efficient teaching staff, state-of-the-art curricula, sufficient library facilities and extracurricular activities etc in order to ensure quality education.

The President earnestly urged all to uphold the sanctity of the valued institution keeping national interest above.

He pointed out that due to huge fees in the Private Universities, many students of low-income group could not afford the expenses of their higher education.

In this connection, Dr Ahmed urged the authorities to create more opportunities for the meritorious but poor students in order to build a caring society.

Reminding graduated students to live up to the expectations of the nation, he said the students must strive to improve their skill at every stage of their life.

"I believe you would uphold moral responsibility and demonstrate the highest degree of personal integrity in your professional arena imbued with the sense of patriotism and obligation to the nation," he said.

Shabana Azmi made SAARC goodwill ambassador

Shabana Azmi

PTI, New Delhi

Renowned actress and social activist Shabana Azmi has been appointed as the SAARC goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS programmes for SAARC region.

South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member nations, which met in Kathmandu in the April this year, selected Azmi and Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya as SAARC Goodwill ambassadors for HIV/AIDS.

Azmi's name was recommended by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The conferment of the title and the launch of the programme for goodwill ambassadors is likely to take place during the 15th SAARC summit to be held in Colombo on August 2-3.

The SAARC member countries include India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Bush all praise for Sarkozy’s wife

BBC Online

US President George Bush has complimented his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on his choice of wife, on the latest leg of his European tour.

Mr Bush heaped praise on French first lady Carla Bruni, describing her as "a really smart, capable woman".

"I can see why you married her," he told the French president in Paris.

French-US policy differences over Iraq took a back seat as the men exchanged banter on what is seen as Mr Bush's farewell European tour.

Referring to Mr Sarkozy by his first name, Mr Bush recalled that "America's first friend was France", helping win independence from Britain.

The US president went on to compliment the man referred to in some French media as "Sarkozy l'Americain" (Sarkozy the American).

U.S. President George W. Bush, right, is welcomed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for a dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris

Mr Bush consistently referred to Mr Sarkozy by his first name "He's an interesting guy," said Mr Bush.

"He is full of energy. He's full of wisdom. He tells me what's on his mind. And every time I've met with him we've had very meaningful discussions."

Mr Sarkozy, for his part, said warm relations between the countries had endured for more than 200 years.

Since taking office a year ago, the French president has made great efforts to build relations with Washington, which went into deep freeze under his predecessor Jacques Chirac.

During a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace, the two men emphasised the strength of relations between their two countries.

While they discussed a range of issues including Iran's nuclear ambitions and co-operation over Afghanistan, correspondents say the mood of the meeting was dominated by the extent to which France and the US see eye to eye.

The visit is seen as a sign of further reconciliation between the US and France, after tensions over Iraq.

Mr Bush will travel to the UK on Sunday, where he is expected to meet Queen Elizabeth II and hold talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The US president had arrived in Paris from Rome, where he had been afforded a special audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

US launches "Progati" to help fight corruption

BSS, Dhaka

The US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently launched PROGATI, a four-year project designed to control corruption by strengthening public oversight of government funds.

PROGATI, an acronym for Promoting Governance, Accountability, Transparency and Integrity will work together with government agencies, civil society organisations, NGOs and media outlets to promote improved governance of public resources.

According to a US embassy press release here on Sunday, PROGATI will introduce participatory activities in four thematic areas.

First, it will work with the next Parliament and assist them with the management of national budgets and the monitoring of government expenses.

Second, PROGATI activities will also help monitor the usage of public resources to establish a more transparent and accountable relationship with the people.

Third, to increase citizen's understanding and participation in the national budget process, PROGATI will collaborate with civil society organizations that play an important role in promoting reform.

Finally, the project will collaborate with media outlets and journalists to raise professional standards and build a culture of investigative journalism that encourages reporting on corruption issues.

The US government works closely with NGOs, local government and major political parties in Bangladesh to increase the country's capacity for participatory democracy, strengthen its institutions of good governance and support its culture of tolerance.

"Our activities support political party reform and credible elections, promote transparent and accountable government, support effective and participatory local governance, combat trafficking in persons, and encourage civic engagement by key leaders of influence," the press release said. The US government has a long history of extending assistance to Bangladesh to recover from disasters, try to escape poverty and engage in democratic reforms, it added.

Through USAID and other agencies, the US government's assistance to Bangladesh includes support for the return to democracy through free, fair and credible elections and more transparent and accountable governance; support for a better educated, healthier and more productive population; and assistance to increase economic opportunities through equitable economic growth, improved food security and disaster mitigation.

Tk 728 m CU budget

Chittagong Correspondent

The 44th meeting of Chittagong University Finance Committee and the syndicate ended yesterday evening with Vice Chancellor Professor M Badiul Alam in the chair.

The meeting approved the amended budget of 2007-08 fiscal and estimated budgets for 2008-09 fiscal. The Controller of Accounts of the university Mohammad Abdul Monem presented the budget.

The syndicate members reviewed the different aspects of proposed budget and took part in budget discussion spontaneously and thanked the CU authority for presenting a factual budget.

The syndicate approved amended budget at Tk. 692 million and next budget 728 million for the fiscal 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. The draft budget will be placed before the budget session on June 28 next.

Poverty reduction plan in budget stressed

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion yesterday laid emphasis on streamlining the budget formulating process for eliminating poverty from the country.

In the last fifteen years the real income of the poor people has plummeted significantly. The poverty is increasing in the country and the gap between rich and poor is widening, they added.

They also said that pro-poor growth was essential for eliminating poverty.

They called upon the Government to extend the range of social safety net for the welfare of the marginalised people by containing the inflation.

Their observation came at a post budget discussion on " Poverty, Discrimination and National Budget" organised by the Hunger Project at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, President of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) chaired the discussion and Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Country Director of the Hunger Project presented the keynote paper.

It was also attended, among others, by Dr Abdur Razzak of Awami League, GM Kader of Jatiya Party, Waliur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Heritage Foundation, Ajoy Roy, President of Sammilito Nagorik Andolon, Md Jalaluddin Ahmed, Director of FBCCI, Prof Hannan Ara Begum, Dr Abul Hai Majumder, Dr AKM Saifur Rasheed, Sekendar Ali Mandal, Tajima Hossain Majumder, Lili Huq, Rafiqul Islam Sarker and MN Islam Tapan.

They also criticised the Government for reducing the size of ADP in the proposed budget for the next fiscal.

Favouring the big size of budget Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said there should be transparency in the government expenditure.

He said the public accounts committee is not effective due to the absence of the accountability culture in the country.

He called upon the businessmen to pay more taxes for the benefit of the country's economy.

He suggested establishment of national and human security schemes in the country for the betterment of the people.

" Unless administrative quality is improved all the commissions formed by the Government will fail to give good results," he said.

Dr Abdur Razzak said there is no clear assurance of getting foreign aid and grant for meeting the budget deficit. He demanded allocation of more money for the agriculture research.

GM Kader said the current fiscal budget need to be reviewed after six months. He suggested adjustment of the budget in line with the international price.

Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said though the budget has taken some measures for social safety net programme and generate employment and it has no clear mechanism for significant reduction of poverty.

He opined that the Government's borrowing from the internal resources for meeting the budget deficit might create a liquidity crisis and hamper private investment.

He suggested establishment of national and human security schemes in the country for the betterment of the people.

" Unless administrative quality is improved all the commissions formed by the Government will fail to give good results," he said.

Dr Abdur Razzak said there is no clear assurance of getting foreign aid and grant for meeting the budget deficit. He demanded allocation of more money for the agriculture research.

GM Kader said the current fiscal budget need to be reviewed after six months. He suggested adjustment of the budget in line with the international price.

Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said though the budget has taken some measures for social safety net programme and generate employment and it has no clear mechanism for significant reduction of poverty.

He opined that the Government's borrowing from the internal resources for meeting the budget deficit might create a liquidity crisis and hamper private investment.

Some emergency provisions challenged: Rule issued

BSS, Dhaka

The High Court on Sunday issued a Rule upon the authorities concerned asking to show cause why some sections of the Emergency Power Ordinance (EPO) and Emergency Power Rules (EPR) would not be declared ultra vires of the Constitution and of no legal effect.

A two-member Bench issued the Rule after hearing a writ petition jointly brought by former Advisor of the Caretaker Government Sultana Kamal, Daily New Age Editor Nurul Kabir and Dhaka University teacher Hafizur Rahman Karzon.

The petition challenged sections 3 (3) Kha and 3(4) of the Emergency Power Ordinane (EPO) and rules 11 (3), 19 (Gha) and 19 (Uma) of the Emergency Power Rules-2007, saying these are inconsistent with the inherent rights of a citizen and also inherent power of the High Court Division.

The petition also sought an order of stay on the operation of the concerned sections till disposal of the writ petition.

These sections provide for punishment under the EPO, giving retrospective effect of the EPO, barring granting bail on appeal and staying the operation of the trial Court verdict etc.

The Division Bench comprising Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Farid Ahmed issued the rule, returnable within four weeks, but did not issue any stay order.

167 JU teachers demand release of Khaleda Zia

JU Correspondent

The Nationalist Teacher's Forum and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit yesterday demanded the unconditional release of detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and her two sons immediately.

167 teachers of the Nationalist Teachers Forum of the University said in the written statement that the Government should set unconditional release of the former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and her two sons immediately.

On the other hand, the leaders of JCD of JU unit urged the government at a ground rally the same demand.

Later they brought out a procession in the campus and paraded the whole campus to press home their demand.

Setting up of agro-industries to create employment urged

UNB, Dhaka

Political leaders, economists and experts at a roundtable on Sunday stressed the need for setting up more agro-based industries to create employment to fight against poverty.

They also emphasized on strengthening the country's local government institutions to remove poverty through implementation of village plans in rural areas.

"The village plans have to be created. The local government has to take the responsibility of formulating the village plans," Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, an eminent economists and Chairman of Transparency International, Bangladesh, said.

The roundtable on 'Poverty, Inequality and National Budget' was organized by Hunger-project, Bangladesh at the CIRDAP auditorium.

He said an effective local government system is necessary to implement the development budget. "The central government has to provide necessary revenues to the local government institutions proportionate to their levels."

Prof Ahmed said the country's water bodies including rivers, canals and beels should be rescued from land grabbers and properly utilized for agro-based development.

Sugar is produced in the field not in the factory, he pointed out, adding that sugarcane and jute production should be increased in the country as the markets for these products have increased in the world.

The TIB Chairman urged the country's businessmen and entrepreneurs to pay their taxes regularly to help increase the government revenues.

There are some 33,000 millionaires in the country and they should be asked if they pay the taxes or not, he said.

He urged the government to take account of the funds of the fugitive politicians and businessmen who are living abroad with their family members by paying through Bangladeshi currency to ascertain the exact figure of Gross National Income.

Mozaffar Ahmed said a national health insurance system should be introduced in the country to remove the health disparity between rural and urban people through ensuring the social security.

Former Member of Parliaments Dr Abdur Razzak and GM Kader, Country Director of Hunger project, Bangladesh Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, FBCCI member Jamal Uddin, President of Samajik Andolon Ajoy Roy and former Vice President of Bangladesh Economic Association Prof Hanna Begum, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Describing the proposed budget as unrealistic Dr Abdur Razzak said the government has tried to please the people but eventually there is a doubt among people as to how it would benefit them.

Dr Razzak, an Awami League leader, stressed the need for taking proper initiatives for establishing agro-based industries with allocation of adequate funds for that. Jute and sugar industries can never be losing sectors in the country, he added.

GM Kader, Jatiya Party leader, said the budget should be implemented properly so that the poor classes can get their proportionate share. He also suggested a review of the budget every six-month.

He said there is a big challenge for Bangladesh to put in place a stable economy. "The political situation will not be stable if the economic condition remains unstable."

Dr Badiul Alam Majumder presented a keynote paper at the roundtable where he said poverty might increase in the country unless inflation is kept at a tolerable level.

Budgetary allocation to develop tourism demanded

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the Tourism Developers Association of Bangladesh (TDAP) demanded of the government to allocate a portion in the budget for the development of the country's tourism sector.

They made this demand at a press conference in the Dhaka Reporters' Unity yesterday. TDAP Chairman Zamiul Ahmed, General Secretary Mohiuddin Helal, Joint General Secretary Aminur Rahman Bhuiyan and Member Adv Ashzaqul Kazim addressed the press conference.

They said the tourism sector has been neglected in the proposed national budget like previous consecutive years.

They also said the government allocated nothing in the proposed budget for the development of the sector adding that the Government allocated only for the maintenance of the Tourism Ministry.

TDAP Chairman Zamiul Ahmed said though the tourism was declared as industry, it was not being given advantages of the industry.

The sector could not be booming up due to lack of finance, initiatives and proper plans, he added.

TDAB General Secretary Mohiuddin Helal said the Government formulated tourism policy, but did not implement the policy.

AL keen on party reform, Ashraful tells German envoy

Staff Reporter

Awami League Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said they would begin reformation within the party after the Election Commission implements the Electoral Reform Law.

Ashraful Islam told this while talking to reporters after a meeting with the German Ambassador Frank Meyke at the Gulshan residence of Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman.

"If the law is passed, reforms will take place in the parties. We have to change our party constitution. Otherwise, we will not get registered", said Ashraful.

The German envoy told reporters that Awami League was very eager to bring reform within the party.

He suggested that all the political parties should be reformed to end the political conflict in the country.

He said the German investors wanted to see a sustained democracy and political stability in Bangladesh for the sake of business.

The Awami League leader hoped the caretaker government would ensure a congenial atmosphere for reforms of political parties.

About the ongoing political dialogue, he said, "The dialogue will continue until a consensus is reached on issues including the election schedule, withdrawal of emergency, the election itself and how a favourable environment will be created."

The Awami League will talk with its 14 alliance partners before joining the dialogue to gather their opinion on different issues, Ashraful added.

'Govt have to take blame for Tarique-Koko plight’

UNB, Dhaka

Expressing worries at deteriorating condition of BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman and his brother Koko in custody Khandker Delwar yesterday cautioned the government will bear the burnt if anything happened to them for lack of better treatment.

BNP secretary general pointed to the views of the physicians attending the two sons of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and said their condition is really serious.

Stressing the urgency of sending them abroad for treatment Delwar quoted the doctors as saying that Tarique is totally bed ridden. He cannot stand up nor sit on the bed.

"It's our demand, the demand of the 4-party alliance and people as a whole that they should be sent abroad for better treatment without wasting time," Delwar said while speaking at a discussion at the Institute of Diploma Engineers marking the death anniversary of BNP founding president Ziaur Rahman.

Repeating his earlier allegation Delwar said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was detained in false cases. She must be set free immediately.

Khaleda and her two sons face trial in a number of corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Delwar said it is now clear to the people that the judiciary was chained by the emergency rules. "Trial of the corruption cases is held at the behest of the administration."

The BNP leader estimated that four lakh people including political workers and leaders have been detained since the present government came to power 18 months ago. Thousands of others went into hiding to avoid detention.

Referring to the government's much talked about minus two policy Delwar urged the administration to shun the attitude of revenge. People will not accept election keeping out Khaleda from the field.

Earlier in the morning Jubo Dal acting president Mia Mohammad Selim briefing the press strongly sought for implementation of its 11-point demand, including release of Khaleda and Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami and sending Tarique and Koko abroad for better treatment.