The New Nation - Internet Edition

Release of Khaleda demanded

Staff Reporter

Thirteen former leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in a joint statement yesterday warned the government that the nation would never tolerate any political and mental pressure on former prime minister and also BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia against her will.

They demanded immediate release of the political detainees including Khaleda Zia, her two sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko.

They also strongly condemned the evil designs to harass and destroy Zia's family.

The JCD leaders also demanded probe as to how Tarique's spinal cord has broken after he was detained.

According to a press release issued by former JCD president Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, the signatories to the statement are former JCD conveners (1979) Kazi Asaduzzaman, former JCD presidents Prof Enamul Karim Shahid, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Jamal Sharif Hero, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee and Shahabuddin Laltu, former general secretaries Dr AKM Golam Hossain, Elias Ali, Nazimuddin Alam and Habibun Nabi Shohel.

Export of recycled garment wastage faces setback

UNB, Dhaka

The export of recycled and processed garment wastage appears to face a serious setback and the blame for this goes to the absence of a separate HS Code.

Sources said the present HS Code for garment wastage and that for spinning mills are now the same (HS Code 52029910), even though these are totally different wastage and used differently.

There are currently over 10-12 thousand machines with employment of 300,000 people producing some 300,000 metric tons of recycled and processed items a year that is used for making mattresses.

Of the total production, 250,000 metric tons are exported to India at a rate of US$ 150 per ton.

Meanwhile, the government has taken a move to fix the export price at US$ 1.60 per kg for cotton waste, a byproduct from spinning mills, following a proposal from Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).

According to the sources, all formalities have already been finalised and the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) in this connection will be circulated soon.

But, the export of recycled and processed garment wastage is apprehended to be affected seriously, as the HS Code of the two items are the same.

Talking to UNB, Bangladesh Textile and Garments Waste Processors and Exporters Association senior vice president Md. Nazir Hossain said, "It's totally ridiculous! Why will these two items be considered under the one HS Code."

He also hinted that there might be a conspiracy against this small but potential sector.

19.35 spices production target set

Staff Reporter

The target of spices production has been fixed at 19.35 lakh tonnes from 4.85 lakh hectares of land in the 2008-09 fiscal surpassing the last year's target by .73 lakh tonnes, according to Agriculture Ministry sources.

Of the total quantity, the onion production target has been fixed at 9.60 lakh tonnes from 1.60 lakh hectares of lands, garlic at 3.90 lakh tonnes from 0.65 lakh hectares, chilly at 2.25 lakh tonnes from 1.25 lakh hectares.

Besides, ginger production target has been estimated at 1.88 lakh tonnes from 0.15 lakh hectares of lands, corundum at .44 lakh tonnes from 0.35 lakh hectares and dry turmeric at 0.90 lakh tonnes from 0.30 lakh hectares of land.

The chilly production has been projected at 2.63 lakh tonnes next year from 2.32 lakh tonnes last year.

The target of production of spices could not achieve last year due to two floods and devastating cyclone.

A high official of the Agriculture Ministry said, "our farmers will be able achieve the target next fiscal year if they get fertilisers and irrigation facilities on time."

Hasina's lawyer terms Kamal a mystery man

UNB, Dhaka

A lawyer of Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now in Washington, reacted angrily to Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain's comment on her release and called him a mystery man in Bangladesh's politics.

In a more vitriolic attack, Advocate Kamrul Islam called the eminent jurist-turned politician 'madcap'.

"Dr Kamal like all other lawyers should know well under which legal process Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was released. But it is unfortunate that he is repeatedly issuing statements like a madcap, which is a manifestation of his immaturity," the Hasina counsel said in a press statement yesterday.

Kamrul Islam said the government can free any person under trial by executive order as per section 4(A) of the clause no 401 of the criminal procedure act. And the court exempted Sheikh Hasina from personal presence before court as per provision 540(A) of the act.

"In fact, Dr Kamal Hossain is a mysterious person in the country's politics," said Kamrul, also the acting general secretary of Dhaka city AL, in the rebuttal in which he looked far back into Dr Kamal's political career.

Returning from abroad in the late 60s and getting close to Bangabandhu, arrest drama with the Pak force in 1971, coming back home with Bangabandhu on January 10 in 1972, staying abroad in 1975 and playing a puzzling role, pushing AL into election in 1986 and at last leaving AL in 1990 prove that he is a "mystery man", Kamrul said.

"But, after the 1/11 changeover, the mysterious person has appeared with his real face and is now dreaming to go to power," he said about Dr Kamal, who was a foreign minister of the post-liberation Awami League government.

Kamrul observed that following the release of Sheikh Hasina, an overall change has come to the country's political scenario. "Dr Kamal's dream was dashed like the dream of a hunch-back man who wants to sleep flat on bed," he said.

He further observed that Dr Kamal, who all his life represents the elite class, should know that all political leaders are not corrupt.

The lawyer-politician posed a question as to how much money Dr Kamal has paid in tax though he earned "crores of taka" as a lawyer.

Process for Khaleda's release proceeds: Hossain Zillur

UNB, Dhaka

Legal steps regarding release of detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia are in progress, Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said.

"Her (Khaleda) release is a legal matter. All the processes to free the former premier are progressing," Dr Zillur told reporters after a meeting with Communications Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader at the Works Ministry.

Asked when Khaleda could get release, the Commerce Adviser said specific result about her release could be known after completion of the legal processes.

Hannan Shah questions govt's morality in keeping Khaleda in jail

UNB, Dhaka

BNP leader Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah Monday questioned the morality of the government in detaining 4-party alliance leader Khaleda Zia while freeing Awami League president Sheikh Hasina with all privileges and protocols.

"On which moral ground have you kept our leader Begum Khaleda Zia detained?" he asked the government at a discussion on Palasey Day at the National Press Club.

Shah, also adviser to the BNP chairperson, said no individual filed any case against Khaleda Zia but it is the government that filed cases against her.

On the contrary, he said individuals filed bribery cases against the leader (Hasina) of another party.

Nevertheless, he said the leader (Hasina) was released and even the Bangladesh High Commissioner and the Ambassador received her at London Heathrow and Boston airports.

Ridiculing the perceived understanding between Awami League and the caretaker government, Shah said receiving favour from the government that party is now saying that the present government is the fruit of their movement.

"Begum Zia is still kept detained because of this entente," he told the discussion.

The BNP leader alleged that Begum Zia's two sons are being pushed towards death by not allowing their proper treatment abroad.

Shah advised the caretaker government not to consider people as their counterpart and transfer power to an elected government by holding elections reflecting the sentiment of the people.

Arranged by Chirantan Bangladesh, the discussion was addressed, among others, by former Justice Abdur Rouf. Its president Dr Mustafizur Rahman Iran chaired the discussion.

President suffers from viral fever

UNB, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed fell sick and put off his scheduled programmes at Bangabhaban yesterday.

Secretary to the President office Sirajul Islam told UNB that the President is suffering from viral fever.

Outgoing Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson was scheduled to make a farewell call on the President at 12:30 pm while President of Helen Keller International Kathy Spahn was to make a courtesy call on him at 1:30pm.

But both the programmes were called off because of the indisposition of the President.