The New Nation - Internet Edition

No major anti-graft drive ahead of polls: 76 corruption cases out of 222 only priority

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday said that the government would not go for any major anti-corruption drive before general elections slated for December.

"We will not go for any major anti-corruption drive before the general elections," he told reporters when asked whether the government plans to go for major anti-graft drive before the polls. "Rather, our main priority will be to carry on legal process against the 76 listed corrupt individuals."

Matin, who is also the chairman of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Serious Crime and Corruption, made the remarks at the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday after returning to his ministry attending a meeting of the NCC at the Armed Forces Division in Dhaka Cantonment.

The Adviser's remarks on anti-corruption drive came following the announcement of election schedule of four city corporations and nine pourashavas by the Election Commission.

He said out of 222 corruption cases dealt with by the NCC, 76 cases have been prioritised considering the importance of the offence and persons involved in the cases.

"The government has no plan to launch any more major anti-corruption drive. Considering the importance we will carry on the major cases. There are 222 cases and we have given priority to some cases. They include 76 cases. Normal legal proceedings in these cases will continue to go on," he said.

The NCC chairman said the Law Ministry, Anti-Corruption Commission, Attorney General's Office and the NCC have already made the coordination among themselves in dealing with the cases.

With the help of army-led joint forces, the government had launched the much-talked about anti-corruption drive across the country after the 1/11 last year. Later, the National Coordination Committee for Serious Crime and Corruption was formed. In the first phase, the NCC published the list of 101 corrupt suspects and in the second phase, it published the list of 50 corrupt suspects.

Besides, another list of corrupt suspects was prepared. Many of former ministers, members of parliament, leaders of major political parties, businessmen and government officials were arrested on charges of corruption. As many as 222 cases against these corrupt suspects were filed with different police stations of the country.

65 candidates register names in mayoral polls

Staff Reporter

A total of 65 people in four city corporations have registered their names as aspirant mayoral candidates against four mayoral posts of Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet cities.

The candidates include leaders of Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party, Workers Party and PDP but no Jamaat-e-Islami candidate registered their names as prospective candidate to contest the August 4 city corporation polls.

Among the aspirant candidates, the highest number of 32 registered their names to contest in the Barisal City Corporation for the mayoral post while the lowest number of 8 candidates intended to fight for the mayoral post in Rajshahi City Corporation.

The number of aspirant mayoral candidates in Sylhet City Corporation is 15 and in Khulna City Corporation is 10.

Our Barisal Correspondent said the total number of aspirant candidates of Barisal City Corporation election has reached to 517 including 32 for mayor post, 444 for 30 general ward commissioners and 41 for 10 female reserved ward commissioners posts on Sunday, the last date for registration.

The aspirant candidates registered their names with election commission office to participate in an orientation program and workshop be held on June 23 and 26 on rules, regulation and conducts of the candidates of city corporation election.

The 32 mayoral candidates include director FBCCI and president BCCI and former mayor candidate and former district BNP secretary Ebaidul Huq Chan, BNP leader Abdur Rahman Tapan, Jubo Dal leader Ataharul Islam Chowdhury Babul, city AL joint convener Alamgir Hossain Alo, AL leader and former district bar association secretary Advocate Golam Masud Bablu, Jubo League leader Mahmudul Huq

Khan Mamun, PDP leader Sharfuddin Ahmed Santu, district CPB secretary Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, former JP leader and former ward commissioner Advocate Kabiruddin Hannu, former BNP leader, former BCC mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal, social workers AKM Maniruzzaman Khokan, Colonel Zahid Faruk (retired), businessmen Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Rafikul Islam and Shamsuddin Kamal.

Our Khulna Correspondent said a total of 180 intended candidates registered their names to contest the Khulna City Corporation election. Of them, 10 people registered their names as mayoral candidates.

Our Rajshahi Correspondent said a total of 58 aspirant candidates registered their names to fight the ensuing elections. Of them, 8 people, including BNP leader and Acting Mayor Rezaunnabi Dudu, Advocate Enamul Haque, AL leader Khairuzzaman Liton, Workers Party leader Fazle Hossain Badsha and JP leader Darrul Huda, registered their names to contest the polls as mayoral candidate.

Our Sylhet Correspondent said over 320 aspirant candidates registered their names. Of them 15 candidates want to fight the election for mayoral post.

The mayoral candidates include Mesbahuddin Siraj of AL, Nasim Hossain of BNP and former district parishad chairman Mukit Khan.

New British HC arrives today

Stephen Evans

BSS, Dhaka

Stephen Evans, the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, will arrive here today.

During his 28-year diplomatic career, Evans has served as British Ambassador to Afghanistan, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Head of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office's South Asia Department, said a press release.

"I am delighted to have been appointed to serve in Bangladesh," he said on his appointment as the High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

"The relationship between the UK and Bangladesh is a special one. There is broad and positive engagement on a wide range of common interests-development, democracy, security, education, trade, migration," he added.

Evans said "Our futures are inter-linked in so many ways. And there is a unique thread running through each aspect of our relationship it is the people of our two countries, bound be deep personal and historical ties and our shared values. look forward to extending this close friendship even further".

Mr. Evans is married to Sharon Ann Evans, with whom he has one son and two daughters.

Bureaucratic tangle hits social safety programme

Talha Bin Habib

Bureaucratic tangles, shortages of manpower and inflexibility in detecting the genuine target groups were the major stumbling block for the full implementation of the Social Safety Net Programmes during the current fiscal year.

The proposed budget has set aside Tk 169.32 billion to bring more poor and vulnerable people under this programme. The amount is 48 percent higher than the revised allocation of Tk 114.67 billion in FY08.

The cash incentives programmes for the next fiscal will include widowed and deserted women, destitute children, orphanages, insolvent freedom fighters, elderly and disabled people.

But most of the cash incentives programmes under social safety net in the current fiscal have remained half done although only a couple of days are left of the current fiscal.

Experts said that strict monitoring of the distribution of allocated funds among the target groups would guarantee the full implementation of Social Safety Net Programmes.

The insolvent freedom fighters were deprived of the full benefits of this programme during the on-going fiscal, sources said.

Tk 99 crore 50 lakh was allocated for the current fiscal for distribution among one lakh freedom fighters at the rate of Tk 600 per month each. But so far only Tk 33 crore and 40 lakh has been distributed.

For the poor students, Tk 52 crore and 80 lakh was allocated under the finance and stipend programmes. But only Tk 34 crore and 65 lakh has been distributed among 1 lakh and 75 thousand students.

Tk 10 crore was earmarked for 6000 thousand acid burnt women. But only Tk 4 core and 48 lakh has been distributed among 5000 women.

Under the Old Age Allowance Programme, Tk 448 crore 80 lakh was reserved but, only Tk 331 crore and 17 lakh has so far been distributed among them at the rate of Tk 220 per head per month.

Tk 20.00 billion will be spent in the next fiscal under the new programme titled '100 Days Employment Generation' for two million unemployed people.

Besides, a new project titled 'Rural Employment and Road Maintenance Programme' (RERMP) will be implemented next year at a cost of Tk 9.43 billion. It is expected to generate 80 thousand jobs in 4926 unions.

The next fiscal budget proposed a further allocation of Tk 15.78 billion for the Freedom Fighters Welfare (FFW) programmes, which will create more jobs for them.

The programme for distribution of 30 kg rice/ wheat per head for 750 thousand women under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) will continue.

This programme will be extended to provide a monthly allowance of Tk 400 per head of an additional 40 thousand women of eight northern districts.

Rate of allowance for widowed, deserted and destitute women has been increased from Tk 220 crore to Tk 250 crore and the number of beneficiaries have been raised from 825 thousand to 900 thousand.

The subsistence allowance for children and orphanage has been enhanced and the allocation for stipend programme for the disabled students will be increased to Tk 6 crore from Tk 5 crore.

AL reform on the card

Pankaj Karmakar

The Awami League is eager to bring reform within the party as per the proposal of the Election Commission to ensure transparency in the party activities.

The party will need to amend its constitution to be registered with the Election Commission as a political party, party leaders said.

The party constitution encoded that it required a national council to enact, change, improve or amend the constitution.

The constitution of Awami League was last amended through a national council held on December 26, 2002.

Awami League Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told The New Nation, "We are ready to amend the constitution. But it is a tough task under the emergency rule to convene the party's National Council for the approval of constitutional amendment."

Ashraful also informed that the party would request the Government at the formal dialogue to create a positive atmosphere to hold a national council to bring about the required change in the constitution.

According to the current constitution an 11-member parliamentary board was all in all to nominate the candidates for the parliamentary constituencies. But in line with the changed situation a section of the partymen proposed the policymakers to amend the provision to ensure transparency in the candidate selection process. At the party's extended meeting on 26th May the grassroots level leaders and activists also voiced for changing the process.

Talking to the New Nation, the acting AL general secretary said, "The grassroots level leaders will select three to five names for the party candidates for every electoral constituency. The party high command will select the appropriate candidate from the short list."

Out of 74 organisational districts the party could not organise council sessions in 11 districts and in other 11 districts it could not complete the council session though it started its procedure.

"We have taken all necessary steps to complete the district councils to resolve intra-party conflicts before the parliamentary polls. The organising secretaries of these committees would report to the party presidium in this regard after the central leaders end their countrywide tour", he noted.

Real estate policy soon: Move to protect rights of beneficiaries

Staff Reporter

The government will introduce real estate ordinance within a month to protect the right of beneficiaries in this sector, Housing and Public Affairs Secretary ASM Rasidul Hai said yesterday.

Addressing a seminar on "The Real Problems of the Real-Estate Sector" at Jatiya Press Club, he said the real estate is now contributing 12 to 15 per cent to the country's GDP. Besides, around 25 lakh people are directly involved in this sector, he added

He pointed out that cheating of some real estate companies has tarnished its image.

The Bangladesh Journalists' Forum for Consumers and Investors (BJFCI) and Bazaar Information and Development (BID) jointly organised the seminar. Fareq Ahmed, President of BJFCI, presided over it.

He accused the real estate companies of failing to hand over the flats to the clients within schedule time frame as well as charging additional cash beyond contract.

He called upon the leaders of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) to identify the wrong doers and bring them to book for the sake of development of this important sector.

He also urged the real estate owners to expand their projects outside the Dhaka and Chittagong cities to ease the housing problem .

Eng Tanvirul Hoq Probal, President of REHAB, told the seminar that out of total 661 real estate companies across the country, 361 are under REHAB. The non-REHAB real estate companies are mostly involved in irregularities and malpractices, according to him.

He was of the view that introduction of the real estate ordinance in a hurry will create confusion. What we need to overcome the problems of this is a public and private partnership, he added.

He again said that the real estate companies failed to hand over flats to the customers according to scheduule as the government agencies could not provide utility services as per their demand.

Md Abdul Quiyum, Chairman of Housing and Public Affairs, said that the government has taken up housing projects outside the Dhaka and Chittagong cities to expand housing facilities to the citizens.

"We have already acquired 200 acres of land at Narshingdi and also conducting survey at Karanigonj, Gazipur, Manikgonj, Kishoregonj, Comilla and some other areas for this purpose" he informed.

Saiful Islam, Deputy Manager of Amin Developers and Builders Ltd ,said that the developers in this sector have been facing image crisis due to lack of information.

Developers will be able to earn the confidence of the customers if they are transparent and accountable in their activities, he noted.

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, the editor, Bangladesh Observer, said that there is no regulatory body to save the personal lands from the land grabbers in real estate sector. "An integrated policy will be needed urgently to protect the consumers right," he said.

Alamgir Mohiuddin, the Editor of daily Nayadiganta, said the government has failed to ensure the right of the consumers as a regulator and facilitator in this sector. There is no need of framing real estate law if the government fails to implement it, he said.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Editor of BSS, said cooperation between public and private sectors will ensure fair price of flats to the bulk of the consumers.

Kamal Uddin Sabuj, General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club, called upon the real estate developers to extend the real estate business outside the city to reduce the pressure of residents in Dhaka city.

MA Matin, a Real Estate Researcher, BID executive editor Shamim Ara Ahmed, Md Enamul Hoq and Anisur Rahman, vice president and General secretary of BJFCI addressed at the seminar.

No liquidity crisis in banks: BB Governor: Businessmen having substantial loans

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday said that there was no liquidity crisis in the banking sector and the businessmen are drawing substantial loans from the banks.

"The banking sector as a whole is in a healthy position as both deposits and credits in banks have increased substantially. So the allegation that the private sector is being elbowed out from loan facility is not authentic," the Governor told journalists at his chamber at BB head office in Dhaka.

The Governor's comment came in support of Finance Adviser Dr Mirza AB Azizul Islam who on Saturday at a function debated with President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq over liquidity.

The Finance Adviser opposed the business leader, who said that a liquidity crisis in banks was preventing businessmen from investing in new projects.

"Banks are not disbursing loans. Even a syndicate of banks could not pay a loan of Tk 50 crore," the chief of the country's apex trade body said urging the central bank to open an investigation to find out if banknotes with Tk 500 denomination had been stockpiled in "border areas".

Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam rejected the proposal for an investigation and quoted the central bank's figure that said that the banks had an extra liquidity of Tk 12,000 crore two months back.

In this backdrop Dr Salehuddin yesterday said, "The latest figures show that deposits and credits in the banks increased compared to the previous year."

The Governor, however, refused to reveal the exact figure of liquidity saying he needs to have a further look before making them public soon.

"Few banks may have promised before their clients to lend more money than their ability and ultimately faced some shortfall. But it is not the general phenomena of the banking sector," he added.

The Governor said that the private sector credit, including the manufacturing sector, grew over 23 per cent in July-April period of the current fiscal year compared to the same period of the previous fiscal.

"Definitely we'll look at how we can ensure funds for the private sector as we're committed (not to disturb private sector credit)," he said, replying to a question.

He added that the central bank would examine the situation and address the problems, if any, in the half-yearly monetary policy to be released early July.

Replying to a question, the Governor said currency circulation has increased and did not decline in proportion to the deposits. Asked about the progress of issuing notes of Tk 1,000 denomination, he expected that the notes would be issued by October this year.

Young man slaughtered in city

Staff Reporter

A plastic factory worker was slaughtered at Shaheed Nagar at Lalbagh in the old part of the city yesterday.

The victim was identified as Ramzan, 17, son of Badiuzzaman. He was a worker at a plastic factory at Islambagh.

Family sources said Ramzan went out of his house at Postagola at about 8:00pm on Saturday but did not return.

Having failed to find Ramzan, his family members informed the police.

Later, police found the slaughtered body of Ramzan near a drain of an abandoned house at Shaheed Nagar yesterday and sent it to Mitford Hospital morgue for autopsy. "The killers stabbed Ramzan indiscriminately and slaughtered him to confirm his death," police said.

The reason behind the killing could not be known immediately. Police suspected Ramzan's associates might have slaughtered him following internal conflict.

A case was filed with Lalbagh Police Station in this connection.

Businessman shot, robbed of Tk 3 lakh

Staff Reporter

A group of muggers shot and wounded a businessman and snatched Tk three lakh from him at Palash Nagar in Mirpur in the city yesterday.

Injured Ilias Mollick, 48, is the owner of Mollick Sandal Factory. Police said three-armed muggers riding a motorbike intercepted a rickshaw carrying Mollick, at Palash Nagar gate at noon, while he was returning home after withdrawing Tk 3,00,000 from Mirpur-11 branch of BRAC Bank.

The miscreants shot Mollick on his right leg and banged his head with a pistol and fled the scene with the loot.

Critically injured Mollick was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment, later the victims family members admitted him to a private clinic. A case was filed with Pallabi Police Station.

None was arrested in this connection.

22 CIPs named

BSS, Dhaka

The government yesterday named 22 businessmen as commercially important persons(CIP) under industries category for their pioneering role in setting up industries, promoting manufacturing, creating jobs and generating national income.

The special assistant to the Chief Adviser, Mahbub Jamil, FBCCI president Annisul Haque and leaders of different trade and chamber bodies including the recipients of the awards attended the event held at the conference room of the Ministry of Industries here.

Secretary of the Ministry Dr Nurul Amin presided over the function, said a press release.

Among the recipients, seven are office bearers of important national trade bodies, eight for their outstanding contribution in manufacturing and related job creation.

Another five, got it for developing medium industries and two for making significant contribution in promoting small industries.

The seven ex-officio recipients include FBCCI president Annisul Haque, president of the foreign investors chamber of commerce and industry Waliur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saifuzzaman Chowdhury.

They also include president of national association of small and cottage industries, Bangladesh Mirza Nurul Ghani, Chairman of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association Abdul Hye Sarkar, president of Women Entrepreneur Association of Bangladesh Nasrin Awal Minto and acting president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries M A Shahid.

The eight CIPs selected for contribution in setting up big industries are: chairman of Deshbandhu Sugar Mills Gulam Mostafa, Managing Director of the Burger Paints and Jenson and Nicholson of Bangladesh Ltd Maseh-ul-Karim, Managing director of Bangladesh Steel Re-rolling Mills Ltd Ali Hossain Akbar Ali.

They also include the Managing Director of Epelion Group Reazuddin Al-Mamun, Chairman Jalal Ahmed Spinning Mills Ltd Md Shahjahan, Managing Director of F S Sweters Gulam Faruq, Director of Agricultural Marketing Co Ltd Ahsan Khan Chowdhury and Managing Director of Singer Bangladesh Ltd Mahbub Jamil.

The recipients of the CIP awards in the medium industries group include Managing Director of Pran Group Maj Gen (retd) Amzad Khan Chowdhury, Managing Director of BRB Polymer Ltd Mojibur Rahman, Director of M/s Sagar Garments Ltd Eng Md Nurul Haque, Managing Director of Kiyaam Metal Industries Ltd Md Misbar Rahman, and Managing Director of MP Sweters Ltd M Miraj Hossain.

The recipients in the small industries group include Managing Director of MBM Garments Ltd Mahmudur Rahman, and chairman of M/s Tushuka Fashion Ltd Ershad Jamal.

The CIPs may use their identity and accreditation cards as entry pass to the secretariat, will receive invitation at various national functions including those of the city corporations.

Moreover, during visit abroad, they will receive priority treatment in getting tickets and seats while traveling by public transport on road, railway and air. Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue note-verbal for them to foreign embassies to help them get visas.

The wife, children and other dependents of them will get preference in getting the booking of hospital beds and other treatment facilities. The CIPs will also be entitled to use the VIP lounge of the airport.

Non-govt school, college teachers to get 20% DA

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam on Sunday made it clear that the teachers and employees of MPO enlisted non-government schools and colleges will get the 20 percent dearness allowance as proposed in the budget for 2008-09.

"It has not been clear in the budget speech," he told reporters, after a meeting with Jatiyo Shikkhok-Karmachari Front at the Planning Ministry.

The Finance Adviser asked the Front to submit through the Ministry of Education their 11-point proposal for developing the education system and ensure welfare of the teachers and employees as well as the 6-point proposal for improving quality of education and human resources development.

The Front's proposals included allocation for resisting dropouts from higher secondary level and ensuring dearness allowance for the teachers and employees of non-government schools and colleges.

They also pleaded providing unemployment allowance for the post-graduate students until they get a job and encouraging them for self-employment projects.

Bussairy appointed Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh

Bussairy

Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al Bussairy of Saudi Arabia has been appointed Ambassador to Bangladesh. He will present his credentials to the President soon. Bussairy was councillor of Saudi Embassy in Dhaka 20 years back. He performed important assignments at Saudi embassies in Kuwait, Sudan and Indonesia.