The New Nation - Internet Edition

Special courts convicts 35 in graft charges so far

BSS, Dhaka

Thirty-five enlisted persons have so far been convicted of graft charges and given imprisonment of different terms in the last 11 months since the special courts became functional in May 2007.

During the period, the special courts punished other 95 co-accused by disposing of 75 cases while 95 cases are now under trial.

Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), also the spokesperson of the anti-graft watchdog, Colonel Hanif Iqbal on Monday told reporters in his regular briefing at ACC conference room.

The DG said now a total of 29 special courts are functioning in the country, including 10 in Dhaka and so far 170 cases have been filed with the courts.

The trials of 76 cases are now going on in the special courts in Dhaka, 12 in Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, one in Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and six in the courts outside the capital, he said.

Atiqullah Khan Masud, editor of the Daily Janakantha and proprietor of Globe Construction Ltd., received the highest 45 years imprisonment.

Most of the convicted persons were given punishment for acquiring illegal wealth beyond their known sources of income. They include former ministers, civil servants, parliament members, CBA leaders, forest officials, businessmen, ward commissioners and their spouses who allegedly aided them earning illegal property.

The convicted former ministers are Barrister Nazmul Huda and his wife Sigma Huda, Mohammad Nasim and his wife Laila Arzumand Banu, Aman Ullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman, Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin and his son Mir Helal Uddin, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Salauddin Ahmed and his wife Hasina Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and his wife Romana Mahmud, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Abul Hasnat Abdullah, Shajahan Siraj and his wife Rabeya Siraj, Barrister Shajahan Omar, Anwar Hossain Monju and his wife Tasmima Hossain and Barrister Aminul Haque.

The convicted former parliament members are- Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, Shamim Osman, Joynal Hazari, Ali Asgar Lobbi and his wife Khushnud Asgar, Monjurul Ahsan Munshi and his wife Majeda Ahsan, Sheik Helal and his wife Rupa Chowdhury, Dr HBM Iqbal, Mostafa Rashidi Suja, Mufti Shahidul Islam, M Naser Rahman and his wife Rezina Rahman, Shajahan Chowdhury, Hazi Selim and his wife Gulshan Ara, Haji Moqbul Hossain and his wife Golam Fatema Tahera Khanam, Mosaddek Ali Falu, advocate Taimur Alam Khandakar and Hafiz Ibrahim, The special courts also handed down imprisonment of different terms to former civil servant Dr Firoz Mahmud Iqbal, ANH Akhter Hossain and his wife Naznin Banu, Munsi Anwarul Islam, Mahfuzur Rahman, ATM Sarwar Hossain, Ismail Zabiullah and his wife Ayesha Zabiullah, Osman Gani and his wife Mohsenara Gani, Shahidullah Khan (ex add. DIG) and his wife Mahmuda Khanam for amassing huge illegal wealth.

Other persons convicted on graft changes are former political secretary to the prime minister Harris Chowdhury, CBA leaders Firoz Mia and his wife Rowshan Ara, Bakir Hossain and his wife Nazma Hossain, secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr AZM Jahid Hossain, businessman Obaidul Karim, Gias Uddin Al Mamun, ward commissioner Chowdhury Alam, Jubo League leader Pankaj Devnath and his wife Monika Devnath.

Colonel Hanif Iqbal said the former parliament member from Comilla Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has been relieved of the charge of corruption as the allegation against him of acquiring illegal wealth was not proved true during the investigation.

Hossain Zillur tells JP leaders: Corrupt, convicts won’t be allowed to take part in polls

BSS, Dhaka

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Monday reiterated the Government's firm stand against the participation of corrupt, convicted and listed criminals in the upcoming polls.

"Our position is clear about their participation in the coming elections and there is no room to make any change of our position to keep them out of the electoral race," he said.

The Commerce Adviser was speaking at a joint press briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) here after a political dialogue with the leaders of Jatiya Party (Ershad).

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed attended the talks, 20th of its kind, while Acting Chairman of JP Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud led a nine-member delegation of the party.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, LGRD Adviser Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal, Law Adviser A F Hassan Ariff and Communications Adviser Maj. Gen. Ghulam Quader (Rtd) were present at the briefing.

The Commerce Adviser, however, made it clear that the ongoing drive against corruption and terrorism will be continued effectively and skillfully towards fulfilling the objectives of the government.

He said holding of high standard and meaningful elections with the participation of honest and capable persons will be made possible if the parties nominate quality candidates in the polls.

The Election Commission has taken a number of decisions so that honest and dedicate candidates can contest in the polls, Dr Zillur said.

About launching of rationing system for the lower middle class people due to price hike for essentials, Dr Hossain Zillur said the government is implementing different programmes on the basis of financial ability for economic emancipation of the people.

Responding to a question, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman said the government wants to move forward together to present a peaceful and credible election. He expressed the hope that all stakeholders would participate in their march.

The Commerce Adviser said the government is working to create an environment conducive to hold a credible election and the political parties should extend their support to the government's efforts as their responsibilities in this regard.

He said the government is defusing confusions of all quarters through dialogue about demarcation of constituencies, flawless voters list and independence of local government bodies.

Barrister Anisur Islam Mahmud said they held an open discussion with the government on the future of the country's politics and holding of elections.

He said the JP appreciated the government for its firm stand against corruption and terrorism which earned huge popular support as well as restructuring the Election Commission, Public Service Commission and Anti corruption Commission.

The JP Acting Chairman, however, urged the government to further strengthen its stand against the corruption and terrorism for the interest of the nation.

Hailing the government for taking steps in holding the local government elections along with Upazila polls, he said these were long term demands of the Jatiya Party.

He also thanked the government for separating judiciary from the executives and preparation of voters list with the help of the army.

Barrister Anisul Islam put emphasis on bringing some amendments to the draft of Upazila Parishad Ordinance to reduce the influence of bureaucracy at the grassroots level.

He also appreciated the government for introducing the Upazila system and urged it to bring the court at the Upazila levels aimed at reaching judiciary to the door steps of the people.

The 9-member JP delegation to the dialogue also included ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, TIM Fazley Rabbi, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu , Md. Golam Habib Dulal and Mostafa Jamal Haider.

Opinion of disabled should reflect in policy formulation

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a dialogue yesterday said the opinion of the physically disadvantaged persons should be considered in the formulation of policy for the well being of the disabled and to save them during natural calamities.

They said a national level initiative with the leadership role of the disabled person should be taken bringing together groups looking after the disabled and the emergency management organisations.

Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organised the national dialogue on Disability Inclusive Disaster Management Programme at Brac Centre Inn in the city.

AHN Abdullah, Director, Planning and Training, Disaster Management Bureau, Mohammad Mobin, Assistant Country Director, Concern Worldwide, Alfred Osunsanya, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Shashanka Sadi, Team Leader, Humanitarian Response Team, UNDP, Shaila Rahman, Social Development Adviser, DFID, Akther Hossain, President, National Grassroots Disabled Organisation, Fazlul Wahab, Director, Cyclone Preparedness Programme, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, AHM Noman Khan, Executive Director, Centre for Disability in Development, among others, addressed the dialogue chaired by Country Director of ADD Mosharraf Hossain.

Nayeem Wahra of Disaster Forum moderated the function, while Hasan Shafie, teacher of Dhaka University presented research paper.

They said the organisations looking after the welfare of the disabled should encourage the local and national emergency managers to address the people with disabilities separately from other vulnerable groups.

Disaster management in Bangladesh has been praised, but looking after the disabled persons at the time of disaster has not been worth mentioning.

AHN Abdullah said the government was fully aware of the rights of the disabled in the country.

He said the Government would finalise the draft of the Disaster Management Act with views from all quarters.

The Government ratified the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Disabled Persons-2006 respecting their rights, he added.

Three per cent quota was reserved for the disabled in all the government's services excluding Public Service Commission.

The research paper recommended that staff and beneficiaries of disability organisations should implement systematic training and education.

An education and training curriculum should be developed around effective organisational disaster response and recovery plans for disability organisations across the country, it suggested.

Two extremist leaders killed in crossfire

BSS, Pabna

The district commander of the outlawed Purbobanglar Communist Party (ML) Janajuddha faction and chief of Swapan Group Mohammad Swapan and second in command Zahurul were killed in a gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Swargram village under Ataikula upazila of the district on Sunday.

RAB sources said the shootout ensued as the Janajuddha cadres opened fire on a squad of the elite force as they cordoned off the extremists while holding a secret meeting on the backside of local Dakhil madrasa.

During the half an hour gunfight the extremist leaders Swapan and Zuhurul died on the spot.

The RAB members recovered one single barrel rifle and one 32-bore foreign revolver and five bullets from the spot.

Swapan, son of Waziuddin Pramanik of Swargram village, was an accused in nine criminal cases, including seven murders, pending with Ataikula, Sathia and Sujanagar thanas of the district.

Zahurul, son of Hamid Pramanik of Bowkola village, was an accused in 10 cases, including five murders, pending with different thanas of the district.

3-year plan to improve quake preparedness

BSS, Dhaka

A Taka 10 crore three-year project is likely to be launched soon to strengthen search and rescue operation of Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) department as part of the government's preparedness programme for any disasters, especially earthquake.

Under the project planned for 2009-2011, fire fighting activities will be made more dynamic and finer by equipping them with modern equipment and necessary logistic supports, FSCD Director General Brig Gen Abu Nayem Md Sahidullah told BSS Monday.

Outlining the planned project, Nayem said its main objective is to ensure effective emergency response and minimise loss of life and property in time of disasters, especially earthquake.

The authorities have already identified the most earthquake- prone areas of the country and taken a programme to train nearly 50,000 volunteers, he said.

Director of FSCD Major Motiur Rahman said prior to launching of the planned three-year project, a 6-month pilot project will be initiated in September next incorporating most vulnerable 60 wards of Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet city corporations.

Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) under the Food and Disaster Management Ministry is providing technical support in this regard.

As part of the pilot project, the CDMP have provided the FSCD with modern apparatus like firemen suits, heat protective asbestos suits and breathing equipment.

Experts said earthquake is one of the feared natural disasters which had caused huge loss of lives and properties worldwide.

Rapid urbanisation, engineering works, industrialisation of cities, constructing modern buildings and concentration of population in some hazardous areas have been identified as growing concerns for the earthquake, they said.

The experts suggested carrying out more studies and analysis of the seismicity of Bangladesh with a view to reducing the risk of earthquake.

Quota system must be reviewed, says PSC Chairman

BSS, Dhaka

Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Dr Sadat Hussain on Monday stressed the need for an urgent review of the present quota system in the public administration.

"The present quota system should not be a permanent one. Rather, more talents should be inducted into public jobs," he said while presiding over a seminar on "Quota system for civil service recruitment in Bangladesh," at the Spectra Convention Centre in the city.

The seminar was organised to discuss a study report on appointment to the government jobs under the present quota system. Director of the PSC Rawshan Ara Zaman presented the keynote paper.

He felt the necessity of keeping the quota for women, children of freedom fighters and tribal people for the administrative divisions.

Professor of the Sociology Department of Rajshahi University Dr Abdul Kader Bhuiyan said the quota system may continue for another 10 years, but it should be reviewed every three years.

He proposed forming a monitoring cell at the PSC saying that there is no alternative to talents for a competent administration.

Chairman of the Department of Political Science of Dhaka University Dr Kamaluddin Ahmed and Professor Dr Khondokar Bazlul Haque spoke.

Budgetary goals are achievable: Dr Aziz

BSS, Dhaka

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam on Monday said the government has already taken steps to meet challenges facing the implementation of the budget.

He was talking to reporters at Bangabhaban after meeting President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed.

The President approved the budget for 2008-09 in the meeting and also signed the appropriation (supplementary) Ordinance 2008.

"There are two main challenges - increasing the collection of revenue and improving the administrative performance of the bureaucracy," he said of the main budgetary challenges.

"I think its goals are achievable as the tax and duty were kept at much lower levels to encourage investment in the private sector to boost economic activities," he added.

He said the President gave the assent to the budget after adjustments in some proposals.

The finance adviser said the budgetary expenditure in the new year would increase due to significant expansion of social safety net. The government has increased the monthly allowances for distressed and war injured freedom fighters by 50 percent, he said.

The allowances for teachers of the community-based schools have also been raised by 40 percent, he said adding these adjustments have been made following public suggestions on the proposed budget.

Accordingly, the limit for tax free income of individual taxpayers has been raised to Taka 165,000 and those for 70-over old people and the disadvantaged have been raised to Taka 1,80,000.

Tax on dividend of company shares has been lowered at 20 percent. The government would also modify the income tax ordinance to exempt tax at source on interest or profit from deposit pension scheme.

Income from 'zero coupon bond' would be tax free except for banks, insurance and other financial institutions, a handout distributed on the occasion said.

It said import duty on refined sugar will be Taka 7,000 per ton from Taka 5,000 ton now. Duty on writing and printing paper would continue at 25 percent.

Duty on printed paper will increase to 25 percent from 15 percent, in addition to a 20 percent supplementary duty at import stage to protect domestic printing industry.

Duty on children's picture, drawing and colouring books will be at 25 percent instead of 10 percent, but the VAT on the same will be 7 percent from the proposed 15 percent.

Duty on MS ingot and billet has been fixed at Taka 2,500 per ton while duty on zinc ingot will be 7 percent from the proposed 15 percent. On import of aircraft, aircraft engine and parts there will be zero duty.

VAT on the satellite channels will be 25 percent, down from proposed 35 percent. VAT on plastic sandals and shoes will be applicable to price ceiling at Taka 60 instead of Taka 45 now.

The price slab of cigarettes for tariff valuation will be Taka 41, keeping the supplementary duty at 57 percent unchanged in the approved budget.

Final voter list by Oct-end, JS poll in 3rd week of Dec: CEC

BSS, Rajshahi

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda here yesterday said the schedule for the national election would be announced soon after getting the final voter list at the end of October and the poll would be held in the third week of December.

"We will do nothing from October to December except the matters related to the holding of the Jatiya Sangsad election," Dr Huda told the journalists after attending the closing hearing of objections to delimitation of parliamentary constituencies in Rajshahi Division in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner of the district.

Dr Huda said, "We have completed the nationwide objection hearing with the today's one and are expecting that the gazette of the seat delimitation would be published by July 10 next. We are also committed to doing nothing that can hinder or create obstacles to the holding of the national poll."

He said work for the voter registration was completed today and preparation of the final voter list would be completed by October after preparing the nationwide draft voter list. No election will be held in September, as it is the month of Ramadan.

The CEC said the EC has announced poll schedules for four city corporations and nine pourasabhas where preparation of the final voter list is completed. It will also announce the election schedule of the Dhaka City Corporation and necessary preparation is being taken.

Dr Huda said there is no chance of changing the election schedule, which has already been announced.

"A nationwide complete final voter list is essential for holding the national election as it is held in a day across the country, but there is no need for the list for holding the local government election," he said replying to a query relating to the violation of the Constitution.

In this regard, Election Commissioner (EC) Sohul Hussain said the holding of the local body election before the national election is legitimate.

Referring to the seat delimitation, the CEC said parliamentary seats have been delimitated on the basis of population and only for the election purposes. He said the EC would review some of the objections regarding the demarcation.

Election Commissioners M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, and some EC officials, among others, were present.

Hearing of the objections to draft delimitation of 13 parliamentary constituencies in the four districts under the Rajshahi division was held today. The seats are Rajshahi-6, Kurigram 2 and 3, Bogra 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, and Sirajganj 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Strategic food reserve to meet exigencies suggested

UNB, Dhaka

Agriculture Advisor Dr CS Karim and Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury came up with various theories behind the rising prices of rice despite a bumper Boro harvest as journalists caught them off-guard at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

As the Advisors emerged from a meeting with the Russian and Moroccan Ambassadors on procurement of fertilizer, they were asked why the rice prices did not climb down and whether the government, as such, would import food-grains.

Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar said Boro and Aman production this year would hopefully exceed 30 million tons. In spite of this, he said, the government wants to build up a strategic reserve of food-grains. "The government food policy has been a great success and it has been appreciated at home and abroad."

Asked about import of rice from India following the deals signed earlier, Agriculture Advisor Dr CS Karim said rice is coming from India. When pointed out that it did not come at the crisis time, he said, "It is a continuous process."

Echoing his colleague's observations, CS Karim said the government needs to have a strategic reserve of food to support programs like Food for Works and G.R and meet any exigencies.

Asked why the rice prices did not come down after a plenteous Boro harvest, belying the hope given to the commoners, the Advisor said for last few days unrest has been noticed on the market, which requires analysis.

"If there is raining, supply of rice to market slows down. It results in slight ups and downs," Karim said, adding, "You will have to see the long-term impact on the market."

Bringing forth the demand-supply theory, the Agriculture Advisor said there are some factors that work on the market prices beyond demand and supply of goods. "We are trying to keep the prices within the purchasing capacity of the general people," he said.

Asked whether it is a failure of the government to contain the rice prices, the Advisor did not give any straight reply. He said food security does not depend on prices only. "Despite having money in pockets, sometimes people cannot buy food."

Asked if people have money in their pockets, Karim said the government has launched a 100-day employment program so the people could buy their food.

Being pressed whether or not the price of rice will come down, Karim posed a question: what does economics indicate? It is not the 10 Advisors' job alone, the journalists also need to pay visit to the marketplaces and find out the reasons behind the soaring process.

Intervening, Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar said, "Indeed, farmers are getting the prices and it will work as incentive to expand agricultural production."

When a correspondent stated that money is going to middlemen and syndicates, Karim said much of the procurement money goes to farmers. Giving statistics, he said the government procures 1.75 crore tons at Tk 28 per kg. This means Tk 10,000 crore goes to villages and it would help build food-security system.

Spread of bird flu: Migratory birds not to be blamed

UNB, Dhaka

Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB) has said that migratory birds might be responsible for initial introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Bangladesh, but "not mainly responsible" for outbreak of avian influenza (AI) in the country.

Referring to a report published in a Daily under a headline 'Migratory Birds Responsible for Bird Flu', the WTB said the report based on a FAO-BLRI joint study is an "obvious misrepresentation of fact."

In a press release, the WTB said that the sensational headline and the leading line of the news report can only mislead people and be counter-productive to what FAO has been doing in Bangladesh and the world over to contain AI.

"The news report makes no mention of the fact that no HPAI has been found in the migratory birds in Bangladesh so far," it said.

The WTB press release mentioned that HPAI has been found in only six cases out of 350,000 migratory birds tested all over the world.

The web-site of the Scientific Task Force on AI

(http://www.aiweb.info) has up-to-date information on AI. It has found no direct evidence of contamination of poultry with AI by the migratory birds anywhere in the world, the release noted.