The New Nation - Internet Edition

National polls schedule at October-end: Local govt polls as per roadmap

Our Correspondent, Khulna

The schedule of the national polls will be announced at the end of October, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said.

"The parliamentary election will be held in the third week of December and the nation will get a new democratic government next year," Dr Huda said after attending a hearing on objections to delimitation of parliamentary

seats of Khulna Division at Khulna Deputy Commissioner's Conference room.

Dr Huda said work on the preparation of voter list would be completed by October after preparing the nationwide draft voter list by September. Then, the EC will declare the schedule of the national election, he added.

"The Election Commission (EC) has taken a decision to hold local body elections ahead of the national election at the request of the government. Election fever has been prevailing in the city corporations and municipalities for which the EC announced election schedule," according to him.

He noted it is not a matter of the Election Commission to see who participate in the election or who not. Parliamentary seats have been delimitated on the basis of population, Dr Huda said.

Election Commissioners M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain and Commission Secretary M Humayun Kabir , among others, were present.

Hearing on objections to draft delimitation of six parliamentary constituencies of Khulna Division was held yesterday. The seats are Khulna-5, Khulna-6, Jessore-4, Jessore-5, Jessore-6 and Satkhira-3.

EC said it would review some of the objections regarding demarcation.

Manekshaw dead

Former Indian Army chief Field Marshal Sam
Manekshaw

AFP, New Delhi

Former Indian Army chief Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was the Chief of the Bangladesh-India Joint Force during the War of Liberation in 1971, died at the age of 94, officials said on Friday.

He led his country to victory against Pakistan in 1971 resulting in the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent state after a nine-month bloody war.

Celebrated as a master strategist, Sam died of illness at a military hospital in southern India in the early hours of yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.

Manekshaw joined the military when India was under British rule and led a counter-offensive against the Japanese Army in Burma, now Myanmar, during World War II. He is best remembered for his role in the India-Pakistan war of 1971.

"He masterminded the rout of the Pakistan Army in one of the quickest victories in recent military history," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"Field Marshal Manekshaw was without doubt one of India's greatest soldiers and a truly inspiring leader," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in condolence message.

The government has announced a state funeral for Manekshaw.

In 1973, only a fortnight before he retired, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, one of only two Indian army generals to rise to the post.

Sam Manekshaw was born in Amritsar in 1914.

A documentary film made about him. In one sequence Field Marshal Manekshaw recalls how, following the 1971 war against Pakistan, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi confronted him about rumours that he was planning a coup against her.

"Don't you think I would not be a worthy replacement for you Madam prime minister? You have a long nose, so have I. I don't poke my nose in other people's affairs," he joked.

In the film, Field Marshal Manekshaw also said that India lost a golden opportunity to solve the Kashmir issue once and for all at the Shimla summit with Pakistan which was held soon after the 1971 war.

In retirement, the Field Marshal remained reticent and eager to keep a low profile despite being much adored by his countrymen.

He recently refused to comment on the war in Iraq despite a huge gathering of journalists bombarding him with questions.

Sam Manekshaw, who had been battling a series of illnesses, died at a military hospital in Wellington in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, where he had lived since retiring.

Indian Defence Minister AK Antony said the nation "had lost a great soldier, a true patriot and a noble son".

Foreign Advisor, Army Chief condole Manekshaw's death

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury expressed profound sorrow and grief condolence at the death of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

In a message of condolence to Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Foreign Advisor said Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw combined in him the rare qualities of a great soldier, military strategist and a leader of people he worked with.

"The people and the government of Bangladesh will always recall with warm gratitude his signal contribution to our war of liberation and his association with a glorious epoch in the history of Bangladesh's evolution," Iftekhar said.

The Advisor conveyed deep sympathy for members of the bereaved family.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed has also conveyed his condolence to the bereaved family of Field Marshal Manekshaw and also to the Chief of Staff of Indian Army.

Ariff injured in car plunge

AF Hassan Ariff

Khagrachhari Correspondent

Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff was injured in a road accident at Manikchhari upazila in Khagrachhari hill district yesterday afternoon.

Sources said the Adviser sustained minor injuries in his head and hand in the accident when he was returning to Chittagong after holding dialogue with the leaders of the tribal communities at Khagrachhari.

Fatikchhari police said the car carrying the Adviser fell into a roadside ditch as it reached Mohamoni on the Manikchhari road at 4:45 pm.

The Adviser's personal assistant, bodyguard and the driver of the car were also injured in the accident.

The nature of injury of the bodyguard was stated to be serious.

Local people rescued all the injured persons and admitted them to Manikchhari health complex where they received first aid.

Later the adviser and other injured were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). From CMCH the law adviser was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital of Chittagong.

News Analysis : Speculation, not production, caused oil price hike

An analyst

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has made it amply clear that it is not shortfall in production in OPEC countries, as the US and other western countries allege, but in-country tax, higher consumption and speculation by traders that escalated the price of petroleum oil. The Saudi King has termed the act of the speculators as abhorrent. The activities of the speculators is also dangerous for the developing countries of the world.

Saudi Arabia has shown the highest concern over oil price and its serious impacts on the developing countries. Saudi Arabia and OPEC (organisation of petroleum exporting countries) partners convened a one-day summit on 23rd June in Jeddah to explain to the major petroleum consuming countries and the world at large the actual situation and her intention to increase daily oil production to ease the situation and to create a fund of 1.5 billion dollars to help the developing countries who have been hit hard by oil price hike.

The Saudis have done so without anyone asking for it. This is a truly great and unprecedented gesture. The world, especially the northern hemisphere, has a good lesson to take from it.

Experts say oil is the lifeblood of the modern economy. God Almighty has blessed the Arabs with this lifeblood most. Four countries of the region Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait hold 58 per cent of the world petroleum oil reserve. Saudi Arabia is the top among the oil fortunates.

The recent OPEC summit and the Saudi gesture of 1.5 billion dollar fund is a clear testimony of concern for other countries. It is not the Arab countries which raised the price of petroleum oil so high, but the speculators and the overall trend of the global economy combined to give the push.

Contd on page-2 Col-6

At the beginning of the 20th century, price of per barrel petroleum oil was only 3 US dollars. At that time extraction of oil was meagre, demand was low and so was the price. For several decades price was stable and hike was steady and commensurate with other items. US support to Israel in the 1973 war on Arabs made the latter to impose embargo on US and the crisis led to price hike of oil. During the Iran-Iraq war in late 1970s, however, oil prices remained by and large stable. In 2003 the US-led invasion of Iraq, and finally occupation of the country, had impacts on the price of oil as several trillion barrels of petroleum was burnt as a result of bombing on Iraqi oil fields.

Speculation by seven big oil companies of which five are from the US and two from Europe contribute to price hike. They dictate the oil markets in America and other oil importing countries.

It is not OPEC, rather the speculators who dictate oil price. The Saudi King has hinted at them without naming anyone.

AL to take part in city, pourashava polls

Staff Reporter

The Awami League yesterday formally decided to participate in election of four city corporations and nine municipalities scheduled for August 4.

The party’s Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday disclosed this at a press briefing after a three-hour central working committee meeting, at their Dhanmondi office.

“We have collectively taken the decision of participating in the local government polls before the parliamentary election for the sake of re-restoration of democracy and improvement of law and order in the country”, said Zillur.

He emphasised on complete lifting of emergency to create a congenial atmosphere for taking preparation for the polls.

“We have repeatedly asked the government for lifting emergency instead of relaxing it. But they did not heed to our request. The Election commission always tried to overlook the demand’, Zillur complained.

He hoped that the government would withdraw emergency before the polls.

The AL leader also demanded the extension of date of nomination submission as the present date was the similar date of government sponsored dialogue with the AL.

Zillur asked the government to announce the national election for December as per the roadmap and unconditional release of party chief Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on treatment being released for eight weeks on June 11.

He demanded that ailing Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim be sent abroad immediately for better treatment.

He diplored that Nasim has not been sent abroad till now despite assurances from the government.

Earlier, the Awami League top brass, including Zillur Rahman, had termed the announcement of local-body election schedule conspiratorial and farcical.

The AL leadership did allege that holding of the local elections would hamper the general election. Some presidium members had stated that no election was possible under the state of emergency.

The party leaders later said a final decision would be taken in the Awami League presidium and working committee meetings, which was held yesterday.

4-party stand on local polls Sunday

UNB, Dhaka

BNP-led four-party alliance will sit tomorrow to finalize its position on elections to city corporations and municipalities as well as future programme.

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain declined to give instant reaction to Awami League's decision on joining the local body election set for August 4. Acting BNP office secretary Rizvi Ahmed told UNB that the alliance meeting will take stock of the latest development, decide their position on local election and future programme.

The alliance meeting will be held at Jatiya Party (Manzu) chairman Andalib Rahman's house at 3pm.

Dhaka seeks Myanmar farm land on lease

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh urged Myanmar on Thursday to lease its farm land near the border for rice cultivation to meet its growing food demand, agencies reported.

Vast lands have been left untilled in Myanmar's Rakhine state, bordering Bangladesh's Cox's Bazaar district, as Myanmar produces enough rice to feed its 54 million people, officials in Bangladesh said.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed formally made the request during a farewell call by Myanmar's Ambassador Nyan Lynn on Thursday.

"We are interested to sign an agreement with Myanmar on farming as soon as possible," a spokesman for Fakhruddin quoted him as telling the envoy.

But no details were given.

Bangladesh, which has a population of nearly 150 million people, produces some 30 million tonnes of rice annually, but it often faces scarcity due to natural calamities.

The country lost around 3 million tonnes of its main staple rice due to flooding between July and September last year and from Cyclone Sidr in November which killed around 4,500 people, displaced millions and damaged infrastructure worth billions of dollars.

Trade gaps with India, China widen

Pulack Ghatack

Bangladesh’s trade gaps with India and China are widening alarmingly leading the country’s overall trade deficit to increase by 65.16 per cent to US $3.921 billion in the first nine months of this fiscal year.

Trade deficit between Bangladesh and China crossed more than 2.50 billion dollars in the last financial year.

Currently the annual volume of trade between Bangladesh and India is more than U$2.80 billion, with 2.40 billion deficit tilted towards India.

India has made an agreement to annually import two million garments from Bangladesh without levying duties, in a bid to reduce the yawning trade gap between the two neighbours.

As an LDC, Bangladesh enjoys preferential and duty-free quota free market access to many countries including India, Pakistan, EU, Japan, Thailand and Korea.

But China is yet to offer any facility. Diplomatic initiative from Bangladesh side to gain duty free access to China market is not visible.

Bangladesh saw a 7.9 per cent annual increase in bilateral trade with China reaching US$3.44 billion, of which US$3.33 billion was import trade from, according to official estimate.

China became the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh in 2006 while Bangladesh is now China's third-largest trade partner in South Asia, he said.

Meanwhile, India has regained its position as the number one import source for Bangladesh, beating China, in the first nine months of the current fiscal due mainly to large-scale imports of rice and onion from India, official figures said.

Bangladesh's rice import bill from India soared to US$730 million in the July-March, up from only US$170 million in the whole 2006/07 financial year.

China has been the number one import source for Bangladesh during 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The country imported Chinese goods worth US$2.2921 billion during July-March of the current fiscal year. The amount was 15 per cent of the country's total imports during the period.

But imports from India figured US$2.454 billion or 16 per cent of overall imports.

Low-cost Indian and Chinese products are making Bangladesh more dependent on the Asian economic giant, contributing to a widening trade gap of more than one and a half billion dollars between the two countries in just six months of the current fiscal year.

Bangladesh now imports raw cotton, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, knitted fabrics, man-made staple fibre and man-made filament, electric machinery and equipment, fertiliser, buses and covered vans, organic chemicals and special woven fabrics from China.

On the other hand, China imports raw jute, leather, frozen foods, jute and jute goods and chemicals from Bangladesh.

The business leaders noted that import from China surged mainly due to its wide range of products and prices.

Although China has been the dominating source of woven fabrics and raw cotton for long, all types of machinery and electronics imports from China have also gone up in the recent times.

In terms of price, Chinese products are unbeatable no matter how their quality is. There are high-quality Chinese products, but they are hardly being imported. They observed that Chinese goods are cheaper compared to the same standard products of India. China offers goods with wide price range and importers cling to China because of its easy trade procedure and speedy shipment.

2 extremist leaders killed in shootout

Kushtia Correspondent

Two top-listed extremist leaders were killed in a "crossfire" during an encounter with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Goneshpur of Khoksha upazila in Kushtia yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Golam Hossain Alias Akash, 35, brother of slain Janajuddho chief Dada Tapan and Abdur Rashid alias Tikka, 32, chief of notorious Tikka Bahini.

Tikka, who was wanted in various cases including eight murders, joined Janajuddha after an understanding with party chief Abdur Rashid Malitha alias Dada Tapan. RAB sources said police arrested Golam Hossain from a hideout of Dada Tapan at Bhodibari at Sadar uapzila on June 18 after Tapan was killed in a shootout with RAB on the same day.

According to Akash's statement, a team of RAB-12 went to Khoksha upazila for recovering hidden arms and ammunition of Dada Tapan and nabbing his associates.

"As soon as RAB force reached a place near Goneshpur Eidgah ground, the extremists opened fire on them forcing the law enforcers to fire back.

During the gun battle, Akash escaped from RAB custody and joined the extremists, sources said.

Police rushed to the spot and recovered the bullet-ridden body of Tikka from the scene.

Later, the body of Akash was recovered 50 yards away from the scene. One AK-56 SMG, two guns, one .303 LG, one revolver, 14 rounds of bullet were recovered from the place of gun battle..

Three RAB members were also injured in the shootout.