The New Nation - Internet Edition

Necessary support for NRBs underscored

Former chief adviser of the caretaker government
Justice Habibur Rahman speaking at a roundtable on 'The role
of Expatriates in national development and Dual Citizenship
issue' at the National Press Club on Saturday. NN
photo

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a roundtable here on Saturday called for providing necessary supports to the Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), enabling them to contribute more to the development process.

Describing the NRBs working in different countries as the nation's pride, they said remittances being sent by them have long been making a significant contribution to the growth of national economy.

Former Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Justice Habibur Rahman was the chief guest at the roundtable on 'Contribution of NRB's to National Development and Dual Citizenship Issue', organized by the SAARC Citizens' Council at the Jatiya Press Club here.

Chairman of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) Prof Dr Muzaffer Ahmed, Awami League Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu, Former Adviser Brig (retd) Dr Abdul Malek, Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Former Chairman of Dhaka Board Prof Shaheda Obaed and Chairman of Diganta Television Commodore (retd) Ataur Rahman were special guest speakers.

Besides, former lawmaker Delwar Hossain was a guest speaker while Chief Editor of the Canada-based Deshe Bideshe Nazrul Islam Minto presented the keynote paper. Chairman of SAARC Citizens' Council and Freedom Fighter Mustafa Allahma presided over the function.

Lawyers, social workers and expatriate Bangladeshis, among others, also took part in the discussion saying the NRBs have been playing an important role by sending home their hard-earned foreign currencies for further progress in the national economy.

Justice Habibur Rahman said the expatriate Bangladeshis should be included in the voters' list to ensure their rights as the citizens of this country.

"We have to raise the administrative efficiency to provide better service to the expatriate Bangladeshis, so they become more interested in investing in the country," the former chief justice said and asked them to extend their helping hands to the distressed compatriots.

Prof Muzaffer Ahmed called upon the expatriate Bangladeshis to remain united by removing all petty differences among them to strengthen their positions and uphold the country's image abroad.

"The expatriate Bangladeshis should first come forward in aid of their fellow countrymen, who have been suffering for various reasons in different foreign countries," the TIB chairman said.

Amir Hossain Amu said the expatriate Bangladeshis would be increasingly interested in investing their hard-earned foreign currencies in the country provided political stability prevails at home along with smooth and uninterrupted supply of gas, power and water.

He referred to the invaluable contribution of many expatriates during the War of Liberation and said none of them have ever been awarded for such a historic role they played in those turbulent days. "I suggest that their contribution to the War of Liberation should be properly evaluated with awards," he said.

Brig (retd) Dr Abdul Malek urged the government to take immediate steps to encourage the expatriate Bangladeshis in various ways to invest in the country for further progress and prosperity of the national economy.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury said that necessary cooperation should be extended to the expatriate Bangladeshis compared to other South Asian countries to help them get more involved in the country's development process.

Prof Shaheda Obaed urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to teach their children Bangla, infusing the deep sense of patriotism into their tender minds. "The more they speak in Bengali in the foreign soil, the more they feel for the country," she observed.

Nazrul Islam Minto in his keynote paper said that there are 80 lakh Bangladeshis living in different countries across the world, sending home huge remittances every year. "In this respect, we want to have 20 representatives in parliament on behalf of the expatriate Bangladeshis," he said.

Mustafa Allahma placed several suggestions like enrolment of the expatriate Bangladeshis in the voters' list, ensuring their participation in the national and local polls and opportunities for building Probashi Shilpa Palli in Bangladesh.

Obama, Hillary rally together

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama at a rally in New
Hampshire.

Agency, Washington

Hillary Clinton has joined Barack Obama at a rally - their first public event since she pulled out of the race to be the Democratic presidential candidate.

The rally in Unity, New Hampshire, was an opportunity for supporters of the party to come together after the divisive primary battle.

The event follows a joint dinner in Washington where Obama offered help to clear Mrs Clinton's campaign debts.

Mrs Clinton urged supporters at the Democratic rally to vote for Obama.

"If you think we need a new course, a new agenda, then vote for Barack Obama and you will get the change you need," she told the cheering crowd.

"He will work for you, he will fight for you and he will stand up for you every day in the White House." After her speech, Mr Obama joined the crowd in chanting "thank you Hillary".

He said the Democrats needed Mrs Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, if they were to win the presidency.

"We need them badly - not just my campaign, but the American people need their service and their vision and their wisdom," Obama said.

Although he and Mrs Clinton had started the campaign for the Democratic nomination with different agendas, Obama said they had "made history together".

The BBC's North America editor, Justin Webb, says the get-together in Unity is rich in political symbolism.

As well as the name, it is also the town whose Democrats were evenly split - 107 voted for Obama, 107 for Clinton.

Obama and Mrs Clinton greeted each other with a kiss and a handshake when they caught the flight to New Hampshire on Friday. They also sat next to each other on the plane, the Associated Press reported.

Prior to Thursday's dinner, the two had not met in person since two days after the last primaries.

Latest opinion polls suggest that while Obama has made headway in winning over Mrs Clinton's supporters since she withdrew from the nomination race, one in five of them has indicated they will vote for the Republican candidate, John McCain.

Martian soil 'could support life’

BBC Online

Preliminary analysis by the $420m (£210m) Phoenix Mars Lander mission on the planet's soil found it to be much more alkaline than expected.

Scientists working on the spacecraft project said they were "flabbergasted" by the discovery.

The find has raised hopes conditions on Mars may be favourable for life.

"We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life, whether past, present or future," said Sam Kounaves, the project's lead chemist, from the University of Arizona.

Although he said further tests would have to be conducted, Kounaves said the soil seemed "very friendly… there is nothing about it that is toxic," he said.

"It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard - you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well." As well as being far less acidic than anticipated, the soil was also found to contain traces of magnesium, sodium, potassium and other elements.

"We were all flabbergasted at the data we got back," said Kounaves. "It is very exciting for us."

The analysis is based on a cubic centimetre of soil scooped from 2.5cm (one inch) below Mars' surface by the lander's robotic arm.

The sample was then tested using the "wet chemistry" technique, which involves mixing the soil with water brought from Earth and heating the sample in one of the lander's eight ovens.

After a 10-month flight from Earth, Phoenix touched down successfully on Mars' northern plains on 25 May, to undertake a three-month study of the planet's geological history.

The Arctic location where Phoenix touched down is thought to hold large stores of water-ice just below the surface.

Last week, scientists said they were positive there was ice on the planet after eight dice-sized chunks were seen melting away in a series of photographs.

But Phoenix has so far not detected organic carbon - considered an essential building block of life.

Electrical products fair ends on high note

BSS, Dhaka

The three-day 2nd Bangladesh Electrical Products Fair-2008 ended here on Saturday on a high note as the organisers expressed satisfaction over its outcome.

"We are very happy about the outcome of the fair as a huge number of people thronged the fair venue at Sonargaon Hotel every day," said Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, chairman of the fair committee.

Hasanur Rahman Chowdhury, consultant of Elient, the event management company of the fair, said over 10,000 enthusiastic people visited the fair in last three days to enquire about the electrical products.

The sale of the products was quite satisfactory though most of the participating companies joined the fair with a view to showcasing and popularizing their products among potential buyers, he said.

Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association (BEMMA) arranged the fair for the second consecutive year in collaboration with International Finance Corporation (IFC), South Asia Enterprise Development Faculty (SEDF) and Business Promotion Council of the Commerce Ministry.

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman opened the fair on June 26.

Ninety-two stalls were set up at the fair where electrical products like transformers, substation equipment, distribution accessories, electrical wires and cables, switches, sockets, plugs and accessories, lamps, fans, light-fittings, water heaters, welding machines, injection moulding machines and electric irons were put on display.

Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, who is also senior vice-president of BEMMA, said there are huge potentialities of electrical goods in Bangladesh.

1.3cr tonnes Aman output target set

BSS, Dhaka

Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim on Saturday said the government has initially set a target to bring 54 lakh hectares of lands for producing one crore 30 lakhs tonnes of Aman paddy during the current season.

"Presently, we are trying to bring more lands under Aman cultivation through repairing some of sluice gates in greater Barisal district," he told reporters after inaugurating the 24th annual conference of Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM) as the chief guest here.

In the last Boro season, 47 lakh hectares of land were brought under cultivation, he said.

The BSM conference with the theme of 'Microbes in the Food and Environment' was held at IFST auditorium of BCSIR with its chairman Professor Sirajul Islam Khan in the chair.

Chief Executive of PRAN-RFL Group Major General (retd) Amjad Khan Chowdhury spoke as the special guest while BCSIR Chairman Professor Choudhury Mahmood Hasan gave the welcome speech.

BSM general secretary Prof M Anwar Hossain and secretary of the conference organizing committee Dr M Manjurul Karim also spoke on the occasion.

In his speech, the Adviser urged the microbiologists to invent new varieties of bacteria resistance crops with more immunity and bio-fertilizers to help the country ensuring food security.

The scientists should engage themselves more in research activities to invent high-yielding varieties to face the prevailing food crisis across the world, he said.

Karim termed the adaptation to adverse affect of climate change as the major challenge of the country to ensure food security for the next generation.

"We need more drought, flood and salinity resistance crops to adapt with the climate change," he said.

He underlined the need for establishing a strong linkage between industries and scientists to carry out more demand focus researches in the country.

"The development of the country depends on the successful activation of public-private partnership in all sectors," Dr Karim said.

He urged the agro-entrepreneurs to set up modern laboratories and quality control centres through their own initiatives to contribute more in crop production.

Amjad said coordination among all stakeholders including government, non-government organizations and multi-lateral donors is needed to expedite the progress of agriculture researches in the country.

"All research works should be carried out on the basis of business and market to reach the maximum benefits," he said.

Prof Sirajul said the country's crop production could be increased by double or more through conducting fruitful works by using modern technology and equipment.

Professor Mahmood urged the government to provide more fund and incentive to the scientists as they could involved themselves more in the research works.

"Policymakers of the country need to have more understanding of science and technology," he said.

More than 200 microbiologists across the country attended the conference.

City AL leaders vow to strengthen party

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Dhaka City Awami League took oath to work together to strengthen the base of the party overlooking any conflict among the party men.

The leaders took the decision at an executive committee meeting at the party central office in the city yesterday, which was adjourned after continuing four hours.

Acting President of city AL MA Aziz presided over the meeting, while acting Secretary Adv Kamrul Islam, Fayezuddin Miah, Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, Abdul Haque Sabuj, Abdus Quddus, Adv Mehbub Alam, Makbul Hossain, Dr Dilip Roy and Jahanara Begum were present on the occasion.

In the meeting the city unit reached a consensus that they would no longer discuss about those leaders who kept themselves isolated from the party.

M A Aziz said, "We will abide by the decision to be made by the party chief Sheikh Hasina on the dissidents."

The acting General Secretary of AL Syed Ashraful Islam on Friday forwarded a letter toward the city AL leaders to be silent on the dissidents saying that party Chief Sheikh Hasina would take decision in this regard.

Following this order the city AL held the meeting and decided not to talk about the isolated leaders.

Adv Kamrul Islam discussed the objectives of the party at the beginning of the meeting, held a day after the AL decided to go for the much-debated local polls.

Call to formulate new rules for CNG bus fare

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Passengers Right, a non-political organisation, yesterday demanded of the government to formulate new rules for regulating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) run bus fares.

They said that if the new rules were implemented than the fares of CNG run buses would be drastically reduced which would lessen the financial burden on the passengers.

They also called upon the Government to ban all diesel run buses in Dhaka and Chittagong and ensure compensations for the road accident victims.

Their observation came at a press conference held at a city hotel. Kutub Uddin Ahmed, senior president of the organisation read out a written statement. It was also attended, among others, by Lion engineer Shahjahan Ahmed, President, Muslehuddin Masud, general secretary, senior presidents engineer M Monzurul Haq, M A Karim and MH Babul and Asaduzzaman Biplob, organising secretary of the organisation.

They alleged that after increase of CNG price buses of different routes have also increased fares from 40 per cent to 60 per cent that cause financial losses of the passengers.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA's) has fixed at Tk 0.87 per kilometre bus fare of 12 kilometres distance between Dhaka and Narayanganj route. According to that fixation the bus fare should be at Tk 10.44 for per passenger.

But the owners of the CNG run buses had previously realised Tk 16 from per passenger. After the recent increase of CNG price the fare has jumped to Tk 24, which is too high for the passengers.

They placed several points of demand that include giving financial compensation to the family members of decreased BIRDEM employee Abdul Mannan, who had died from a fatal road accident, taking actions against those creating anarchy in the transport sector and initiatives to turn the BRTA as a real public service oriented organisation.

Salimullah shaped the future of Muslims of subcontinent

Staff Reporter

Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar yesterday underscored the need for talented people like Nawab Sir Salimullah for the progress and prosperity of the nation.

Addressing a Nawab Sir Salimullah memorial citation programme organised by the Jatiya Lekhak Forum at the Shilpakala Academy as the chief guest he said the political process initiated by Nawab Salimullah led to the creation of Pakistan and then the independence of Bangladesh.

The recipients of the Nawab Salimullah memorial citation include Prof Anwarullah Chowdhury and Prof SM Lutfur Rahman of Dhaka University, Enayetur Rahman of Ntv, Mohammad Abdul Mannan of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd, Dr Syed Naquin Muslim, Chairman of Tariff Commission, Music Director Azad Rahman, Editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Idol of Dhaka Cinema Abdur Razzak, Alhajj Golam Nabi Alamgir, Shayamal Chandra Saha, Abu Zafar Chowdhury, Md Abdus Shukur and Dr AHM Iskandar Ali.

Justice Abdur Rouf, former CEC, was the special guest at the award distribution ceremony, which was presided over by Mohammad Anwar Hossain, President of the forum.

Jamiruddin Sircar said Sir Salimullah made huge of the initiative taken by the British rulers after the Sepoy Revolution of 1857 to involve natives with the administration and facilitated the 1905 partition of Bengal to help improve the lot of the people of the region. When the partition faced stiff resistance he founded the All India Muslim League that subsequently shaped the future of the subcontinent as the spokesman of the Muslims.

The Speaker also made mention of Nawab Salimullah's role in the establishment of Dhaka University. This institution helped create the educated middle class that led this part of the subcontinent in different spheres of life.

A history of the subcontinent cannot be complete without making mention of contribution of this great soul.

Justice Abdur Rouf thanked the Lekhak Forum for honouring people for their contribution to different fields through the distribution of Salimullah memorial awards.

He deplored that the present generation of people have started forgetting the contributions of great leaders who laid the foundation of the country.

Justice Rouf called for developing the population of Bangladesh into the human resources to ensure rapid development of the country and drew the attention of the recipients of the award to this.

Release of Khaleda demanded

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal, the BNP weavers' wing, yesterday demanded unconditional release of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia within 72 hours.

Placing six-point demand, the leaders also declared their programme schedules in support of the demand at a press conference held at NAM-Flat-6 of Manik Mia Avenue in the city.

President of the organisation freedom fighter Humayan Islam Khan read out written speech, while it's leaders including general secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present.

They also demanded unconditional release of Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko and their better medical treatment abroad.

They alleged that the spinal cord of Tarique Rahman were broken due to barbarous torture on him during the remand after he had been arrested.

The programme' schedules of Tanti Dal include disclosure of memorandum to the Chief Adviser at 11:00 am on July 2, Doa and Milad-Mahfil praying for salvation of Khaleda Zia, her two sons Tarique and Koko from the diseases at NAM flat-6 after Asar Prayer on July 5 and token hunger strike of the leaders of the organisation from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Jule 6.

Police official accused of stealing cell phone

Staff Reporter

A mobile phone of a Thai female passenger was stolen at Zia International Airport on Friday. A police official who was also her co-passenger was blamed for this theft.

The complainant is Piath Sarapak de Costa.

Airport immigration officer Nazir Hossain Dewan said that de Costa and police officer Md Mohiuddin Faruque, both coming from Thailand by a Thai Airways flight, had quarrelled over the 'theft'.

An intelligence officer said the Thai woman had accused Mohiuddin of stealing the phone set and slapped Mohiuddin who had been claiming himself to be a police officer.

Airport officials intervened and Mohiuddin was made to give the woman a mobile phone set from his pocket.

Mohiuddin, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), working at the National Central Bureau at the Police Headquarters, were returning from an Interpol seminar held in Thailand.

Airport police released him after interrogation, police said.

De Costa had come to Dhaka with her Bangladeshi spouse.

The high authorities of police denied the allegation of theft against the police officer.

He said the accused officer was not on the scene at the time of the incident.

Nasim’s health condition remains stable

UNB, Dhaka

The condition of Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim who suffered a brain stroke last Tuesday was stable, doctors at LabAid hospital said yesterday.

Briefing reporters on latest health condition of Nasim, who suffered a brain stroke, Major (Retd) Dr AKM Mahbubul Haque said there was no active bleeding point at his brain but he apprehended haemorrhage might occur at any time.

He said an eight-member medical board formed for Nasim's treatment was scheduled to meet this evening to decide the next step of his treatment.

Responding to a query, Dr Haque said Nasim's family is bearing the expenses of his treatment. Asked why the hospital authority does not provide medical report to Nasim's family, the doctor said they got the patients from the jail authority so they provide the medical report to the jail authority. He said if the jail authority asks them, they can provide the medical report to Nasim's family members as well.

About the condition of Nasim's left eye, Dr Haque said Nasim's eye was not damaged rather he suffers from short of sight as left side of his body became paralysed.

Imposter held

Staff Reporter

The Detective Branch of police (DB) yesterday raided Rayer Bazaar area and arrested a man who allegedly used to extort money from businessmen and others introducing himself as Subrata Bain, a top terrorist.

A team of DB police raided the area in Mohammadpur immediately after Friday midnight and arrested Amit Kumar Mitra, 42, the alleged imposter.

The detectives also seized two mobile phone sets, two SIMs and 44 pieces of small papers with names and phone numbers of his potential preys --- top businessmen, physicians and engineers.

During an initial questioning, Amit told the interrogators that he used to fake himself as Subrata Bain to threaten wealthy people for money, the officials said. Amit maintains a group of accomplices to commit the crimes, they said.

A DB official said they have caught him after they investigated complaints from several garment factory owners of Narayanganj that they had received calls from "Subrata Bain" between May 7 and May 17.

Reforms must in end sector to face globalisation

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a roundtable on Saturday underscored the need for bringing reforms in education sector by attaching priority to technical and vocational education to face the challenges of globalisation.

Participating in the roundtable on "Job Oriented Education to Face the Challenges of Globalisation", they said the country's huge manpower could be turned into human resources by giving importance to technical and vocational education in the reforms.

The daily Shamakal and the BSB Cambrian College organised the roundtable at BIAM auditorium here. Chairman of the college Lion MK Bashar gave address of welcome at the function.

Presided over by Shamakal Editor Abed Khan, the function was addressed, among others, by joint secretary of education ministry Humayun Khalid, former president of Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) Professor AASM Arefin Siddiq, secretary of DUTA Prof Anwar Hossain, Director General of Technical Education Directorate Prof Abul Bashar, Principal of the college Prof Karunamoy Gowshami, writer Dr Hayat Mahmud, Chief Coordinator of National Teachers- Employees Front Principal Kazi Faruk Ahmed and Chief Coordinator of Teachers-Employees Oikkajote M Salim Bhuiyan.

Prof Arefin Siddiq said education is the base of a nation's social, economic, political and cultural foundation.

He urged the government to implement the report of Dr Kudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission to accelerate the activities of technical and vocational education.

Abed Khan laid stress on bringing reforms in the education sector to make it time-befitting for facing the challenges of globalisation.

He said huge manpower of the country could be made human resources in a planned way through providing proper education. Policymakers should give more importance to technical and vocational education to make the plan a success, he added.

Bangla Festival begins in New York

BSS, New York

A three-day "Bangla Festival and Book Fair" was inaugurated by noted poet Rafiq Azad at Mary Louis Academy here on Friday night.

A Bengali Heritage rally, participated by children and juvenile wearing traditional Bengali mask, was held on the occasion.

A number of local politicians like New York State Senator Frank Padaven, City Councilman Heram Monsorat and Immigration Commissioner of Mayor office Guillermo Linaress also took part in the rally.

Poet Rafiq Azad, Sunil Gangopadhay, Dilera Hafiz, Shahida Begum, Fazlul Alam and litterateurs attended the festival.

Samay Publication, Mowla Brothers' from Bangladesh and Shahityam publishers from Kolkata are participating in the book fair.