The New Nation - Internet Edition

10 killed in landslides: Cox's Bazar hit this time: Indiscriminate hill cutting blamed for tragedy

Indiscriminate hill cutting one of the major causes
of mudslides in Chittagong which claims considerable lives
every year.

Chittagong Correspondent

Ten people including seven children of two families were killed and several others injured in three landslides at Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas in Cox's Bazar district in the early hours of Thursday. Heavy downpour for the last three days was blamed for the tragedy.

The officer in charge of Teknaf Thana said the thatched house of day labourer Nurul Alam at village Natun Pallapara collapsed when a huge chunk of mud from a nearby hill fell on it.Nurul Alam's four children- Khurshida Begum, 14, Murshed Alam, 10, Nur Korina,7 and Rahima Begum, 2 died in the worst landslide in the area.

Nurul Alam and his wife Rashida Begum escaped death miraculously. The mishap befell them when they were asleep.

In the second landslide incident at Puran Pallanpara, Abu Tayub,36, his three children- Rehana Akhter,10, Mafiz Alam ,6 and Rashid Alam,4 and a relation of the family Petan Ali met their tragic end of lives.

An unidentified man at Ukhia died under similar circumstances, police sources said.

Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar Sajjadul Hasan and Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Altaf Hossain Chowdhury visited the spots and supervised the burial of the victims.

Govt-AL dialogue held : Upazila polls can be held as per people’s wishes: Lifting of emergency, permanent release of Hasina demanded

Awami League acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful
Islam and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman
briefing newsmen after holding dialogue at the Chief
Adviser's office on Thursday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The Awami League, during its much-talked-about dialogue with the Caretaker Government, yesterday demanded lifting of the state of emergency before all elections and permanent release of former prime minister and AL chief Sheikh Hasina, now abroad for treatment under temporary release on parole.

The 9-member AL delegation led by its acting president Zillur Rahman also demanded for sending AL leader Mohammad Nasim abroad for better treatment, withdrawal of 'false cases' against AL leaders and activists, including party general secretary Abdul Jalil, trial of war criminals, withdrawal of restrictions on trade union activities, canceling the decision of fuel price hike and taking effective measures to control price hikes of essentials.

The government side, led by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, assured the AL delegation that they have taken their calls for complete lifting of the state of emergency ahead of the national polls.

"A final decision on the state of emergency will be taken later through negotiation and an assessment of the situation," said Adviser for Commerce and Education Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman at the joint press briefing following the two-hour dialogue held at Chief Adviser's Office.

He hoped that at a certain stage the lifting of emergency might reach to a logical level for taking decision through creating atmosphere of confidence.

Referring to the government effort to relax some sections of the Emergency Powers Rules (EPR) in areas where schedules of local government elections have been announced, the government side requested AL delegation to inform them if there were more specific rules in EPR for relaxing to help more for election campaign and the government would consider that.

At this moment the government wants to proceed through relaxing specific sections of the Emergency Powers Rules (EPR) ahead of elections to pave the way for carrying out election campaign, the Adviser noted.

About permanent release of Sheikh Hasina, he said that it is the matter of legal process and no answer was given to them at this stage.

AL delegation includes its presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury and Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser.

Adviser for Law and Justice AF Hassan Ariff, Adviser for Communications Ghulam Quader, Adviser for LGRD M Anwarul Iqbal, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Adviser for Education and Commerce Hossain Zillur Rahman took part in the dialogue on behalf of the government.

Hossain Zillur told journalists that the government would advance taking people's strong indication into confidence and the upazila elections would be accomplished according to the expectation of the people.

He referred that the AL has no argument over the upazila polls but questioned the polls schedule.

The Adviser said a decision was taken to hold another dialogue with the AL over qualitative political transition, covering political activities not to cast adverse impact on the economy, post-election stability and institutional and constitutional reforms.

On changing the provision that debars teachers of government MPO-run school and college to contest the local government elections, the Adviser said the government would consider the matter for a change after the ensuing elections of four city corporations and nine pourasabhas.

Regarding withdrawal of cases against AL leaders and activists he said the government would consider it through investigation of the specific cases.

Replying to a question, Hossain Zillur said the government and the Election Commission have alertness so that timeframe of parliamentary polls do not become questionable. He hoped that the EC would be able to complete local polls within October.

On unbiased administrative postings before elections, he said the government assured the AL delegation that administrative postings would not create any obstacle towards fair elections.

Replying to a question about BNP participation in the dialogue, he referred that the government has invited them and is awaiting their reply.

He hoped that BNP would also join in the dialogue since the government's efforts to create atmosphere of confidence is on.

Acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraf said they are not against local government polls, particularly upazila parishad elections but parliamentary election should be held first.

He said they would sit with the government in the future over timing of the upazila elections.

Asked whether there was any entente between AL and government over holding elections to four city corporations and nine pourasabhas for which nominations were filed yesterday, the AL leader rejected the notion saying that AL does not believe in the politics of entente.

He said the AL supports upazila elections in principle but prefers holding the parliamentary polls first.

Replying to a question Syed Ashraf mentioned that AL had supported the government since party chief had attended the oath taking ceremony of the incumbent Chief Adviser.

The AL secretary said they want a free, fair and peaceful election with participation of all political parties.

He said the AL would support the proposed women's development policy but if the AL is voted to power, it would implement the women development policy drafted in 1997.

Rain paralyses life in country

Secretariat, the prime seat of the Administration,
was submerged following yesterday's heavy downpour.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The life in the major cities and different parts of the country has come to standstill due to heavy rainfall during the last three days.

People from all walks of life, particularly, the office-goers, garments workers, students and day-labourers had to face difficulties in reaching their destination and move from here and there.

Traffic congestions also caused huge suffering to the people and forced them to wait for hours together on the roads.

In the capital city of Dhaka, the heavy downpour continued in the first half of the day yesterday and upset life and business of the city-dwellers. Meanwhile, the Met Office yesterday

said that light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at most places in all the six divisions in the next 24 hours till 6:00pm today. Moderately heavy-to-heavy rainfalls are also likely at places, it said.

Our Chittagong Correspondent adds: Moderate to heavy rainfall has almost paralysed normal activities of the people in the port city and its adjoining districts for the third consecutive day yesterday.

The downward rush of water from uplands has washed away standing crops, many dwelling houses and structures. Besides,flashflood has inundated low-lying areas in the city and Bandarban and Cox's Bazaar districts.

The three main rivers in the region, Karnaphuli, Matamuhuri and Sangu were stated to be flowing been flowing near the danger mark.

The stagnant rainwater has reportedly marooned many people both in the port city and in the remote hill prairies disrupting movement of vehicles on the Keranihat-Bandarban road.

The rain water and flash flood have danaged standing crops at Satkania, Pekua, Ramu, Chakaria, Ukhia and at the valleys and prairies in Bandarban hill district.

Dozens of dwelling were washed away when an embankment at Deangpara under Ramu collapsed under the pressure of rainwater from the hills.

The tidal surge in the bay inundated two thirds of the port city yesterday.

Local weathermen predicted no improvement of monsoon within next couple of days. More than 290 millimeters of rainfall was recorded here in the port city over the last 24 hours ending at 6:00 p.m. yesterday.

Sources at Shah Amanat International Airport (SAIA) in Chittagong said that many of the flights, both domestic and international, had to take off behind the schedule because of the inclement weather.

Presence of commuters on the city streets dropped significantly. Many employees of both public and private offices left their workplaces far ahead of scheduled time

Torrential rain has accentuated the sufferings of the poor people living in the slum areas of the port city .

City, pourashava polls: Festivities mark nomination filing

All set for city and pourasabha polls: From left
Awami League leader Khairuzzaman Liton, Workers Party leader
Fazle Hossain Badsha, in Rajshahi, Shaukat Hossain Hiron of
AL, Awlad Hossain of BNP in Barisal and wife and son of
Badaruddin Kamran and Misbah

Candidates' rush at the Returning Officer's office
for filing their nomination papers in Sitakunda Pourashava
election of Chittagong on Thursday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Thousands of candidates for four city corporations and nine pourasava elections yesterday filed their nomination papers amid great enthusiasm and festive atmosphere.

Hundreds of workers, supporters and well-wishers accompanied the candidates braving the inclement weather.

However, because of the restrictions under the new election laws, no procession or fanfare were witnessed anywhere in the country except some stray incidents.

According to the election schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC) for local government polls, the last date for filing nomination papers was yesterday. Immediately after submitting the nomination papers the candidates started their election campaigns visiting door to door at different parts of the country.

Apart from Awami League and its allies, thousands of candidates belonging to BNP, Jamaat and other political parties filed nomination papers to contest the elections.

A total of 66 candiates filed nomination papers for mayoral posts and 916 for the posts of councilors yesterday for the forthcoming four city corporation elections.

Elections to the four city corporations-Barisal City Corporation, Rajshahi City Corporation, Khulna City Corporation and Sylhet City Corporation--are scheuled to be held on October 4.

Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on July 6 and 7 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 13.

Our Barisal Correspondent reports: More than 225 candidates submitted nomination papers for the elections in 41 constituencies under the Barisal City Corporation yesterday.

A total of 227 candidates submitted nomination papers yesterday although 246 candiadtes earlier collected nomination papers to contest for 41 seats in Barisal City Corporation election scheduled to be held on August 4.

These 227 candidates are: 15 for mayoral posts, 180 for 30 general councilors posts in 30 wards and 32 female councilors for 10 reserved seats.

The candidates submitted their nomination papers till 5:00pm yesterday at the office of deputy election commissioner in Barisal city amid daylong heavy downpour.

Manirul Islam, returning officer of the BCC election, who is also the district election officer and deputy election commissioner in charge of Barisal division, said that he received nomination papers from 15 mayoral candidates including Adv Principal Enayet Pir Khan, president Nagorik Parishad and principal of Barisal Law College, Ebadul Huq Chan, director, FBCCI and president BCCI, former mayoral candidate and former district BNP secretary Ahsan Habib Kamal, former BNP leader, municipal chairman and Barisal City Corporation mayor in charge Shawkat Hossain Hiron, city AL convener Alamgir Hossain Alo, city AL joint convener Mahmudul Huq Khan Mamun, city Jubo League joint convener Rezaul Huq Harun, district AL joint convener Rafiqul Islam Gafur, district JP(Ershad) secretary Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, district CPB secretary Sharfuddin Ahmed Santu, PDP leader Advocate Kabiruddin Hannu, former JP leader and former ward commissioner Advocate Jahirul Huq, Syed Abdullah Sahid, former joint district judge Rafiqul Islam Russel, businessmen and Awlad Hossain Dilu, ward commissioner and Mayor in charge.

Some candidates submitted more than one set of nomination papers and so number of candidates may vary after the ending of scrutinizing the papers, the EC official said.

After filing nomination papers, it became clear that four major candidates--Ebaidul Huq Chan and Ahsan Habib Kamal, two belonging to the four-party alliance and Advocate Enayet Pir Khan and Shawkat Hossain Hiron, two belonging to the 14 party alliance found contesting the Mayoral post.

Earlier, 517 aspirant candidates including 32 for mayoral post, 444 for 30 general ward councilors and 41 for 10 female reserved ward councilor posts registered their names for participation in orientation programme on election rules and conducts.

Later 246 candidates including 17 for mayoral posts, 193 for general ward councilors and 36 for female reserve ward councilor posts collected nomination papers.

On behalf of detained BCC Mayor Majibor Rahman Sarwar, a nomination paper was also collected as aspirant mayor candidate to contest in Barisal City Corporation election. However, it was not subsequently filed as the our party alliance decided to boycott the local government elections.

Barisal City Corporation, comprising 45 square kilometers of area with 2,18,925 voters, has 30 general councilor seats and 10 reserved female councilor seats in 30 wards.

Our Rajshahi Correspondent reports: Eighteen mayoral candidates for the Rajshahi City Corporation election submitted theor nomination papers, according to the Deputy Election Commission office in the city.

The mayoral candidates included RCC Mayor-in-Charge Rezaunnabi Dudu, Workers Party leader Fazle Hossain Badsha, Awami League leaders Masudul Huq Dulu and AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, BNP leaders Advocate Enamul Huq and Mosaddeque Hossain Bulbul, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh leader Akhtaruzzaman Bablu, Jatiya Party leader Nurul Huda, 11-party leader Ruhul Quddus Tunu, PDP leader Advocate Abu Raihan Masud and independent Abdul Matin Khan.

Besides, 242 candiadtes submitted their nomination papers for the posts of 30 general councilors and 64 for the posts of councilors reserved for women.

Our Khulna Correspondent reports: Fifteen candidates filed nomination papers for the mayoral posts. They included present Mayor (in charge) Moniruzzaman Moni (BNP), former state minister and president of Khulna City Awami League Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Adv Firoze Ahmed (CPB), Abdul Gaffar Biswas (Jatiya Party) and Sharif Shafiqul Hamid Chandan (Kalyan Party).

Besides, 47 candiadtes submitted nomination papers for 10 reserve seats for women and 266 candidates submitted nomination papers for 31 posts of councilor.

A large number of candidates who proicured nomination papers earlier, were mostly from BNP did not file their nomination papers in the context of the party's decision of not taking part in the electiuon.

Our Sylhet Correspondent reports: Nineteen candidates filed nomination papers for the mayoral post, 221 candidates for general councilor posts and 49 for reserved posts fo women councilors in the Sylhet City Corporation election yesterday.

The mayoral candidates were Awami League leader Dewan Farid Gazi, Awami League leader Iftekhar Ahmed, incumbent mayor and AL leader Badruddin Ahmed Kamran, former pourashava chairman AFM Kamal, former district BNP president MA Huq, former upazila chairman Babul Hossain, Liberal Democratic Party leader Mukit Khan, City BNP general secretary Nasim Hossain and Mesbah Uddin Siraj.

No let up in price hike of essentials, cost of living: Public life under severe stress

Syful Islam

Multifarious economic factors including price hike of essentials and recent hike of fuel oil price make people's life miserable.

The price hike of fuel oil immediately hit the people's pocket as the transport sector raised fare the same day. Transport owners raised fare at their sweet will paying no heed to government directive. Earlier, the gas run transport owners did the same following price hike of compressed nitrogen gas (CNG).

Informed sources said the government is considering increase of electricity price soon. Experts say probable rise of power price will also hit common people leaving their life to more vulnerable position.

In recent days price of almost all commodities have gone out of the reach of common people forcing them to forego their one or two meals. People are passing through tough time due to price hike of essentials and increase in their living costs.

The price rise of fuel oil skyrocketed the price of essential commodities mounting people's sufferings. Rice price in the city's kitchen market have risen by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kilogram due to higher transportation costs. Stakeholders said most of the rice supplied to the city comes from Nowgaon and Kushtia districts. Following the fuel price hike fare of truck from the two areas to Dhaka city have risen by Tk 2,000 and Tk 3,000.

The increased transportation cost has affected every sphere of people's life. Price of essential and non-essential commodities continue to rise. Common people will fall into big problem if the rise continues, experts apprehend. They said the fuel price increase will further rise inflation rate.

A close market monitoring has been suggested so that the unscrupulous businessmen cannot continue to increase price of commodities.

On the other hand, volume of investment has declined drastically in the recent days creating a gap in the employment generation. Educated youths are staying out of employment. This is creating a big social problem in an environment of high price.

SAARC action plan to fight climate change

Staff Reporter

Environment ministers from South Asian countries yesterday adopted a three-year SAARC action plan for regional cooperation to combat climate change effects, focusing on seven priority areas.

Adaptation to climate change and mitigation, actions for technology transfer, finance and investment, education and awareness, management of impacts and risks due to climate change, and capacity building for international negotiations process are the priority areas of the plan.

The SAARC ministerial meeting also adopted a 4-point Dhaka Declaration calling for enhancing south-south cooperation in technology development and transfer for mitigation of and adaptation to climate-change adversities.

The ministers also agreed in principle to set up a fund to fight climate change, which was proposed by Bangladesh.

"More discussions in this regard would take place at the SAARC Colombo summit," Raja Devasish Roy, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Environment and Forest Ministry, said at a press conference after the meeting.

Devasish Roy, presided over the inaugural function of the ministerial meeting.

SAARC member countries -Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - agreed to adopt common position on global environment issues, so that the region's, voice carries greater weight.

The countries blamed industrialised nations for global warming and asked them to fulfil their commitment as per the UN climate change conference in Bali to provide additional resources to other countries.

"The industrialised economies must provide adaptation funds and facilitate technology transfer without any conditionality," said Chief Adviser of interim Bangladesh Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, in opening the one-day meeting.

He urged the SAARC states to work together in international forums, including the UN climate change meeting scheduled to take place in Copenhagen in December 2009.

"Between now and Copenhagen, we must work closely to take a common position on mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology transfers," Dr Fakruddin said.

The chief adviser announced that Bangladesh was trying to establish an international climate adaption centre to share knowledge and best practices.

Dr Fakhruddin said climate change would cost millions of poor people their livelihoods

and intensify the havoc of floods, droughts and salinity.

"It will unleash the gravest tragedy in human history, far graver than the 'Black Death' or the atrocities of World War II." "We cannot, and must not, sit idle and let this happen."

Echoing the chief adviser, SAARC Secretary-General Sheel Kant Sharma told the meeting: "SAARC believes that the way forward must include, among others, binding greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments by developed countries with effective timeframes."

Foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury also addressed the inaugural session.

The SAARC meeting came shortly before the annual G8 summit of leading industrialized nations in Japan next week, where climate change is expected to be a leading topic and an agreement may be reached on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The one-day SAARC ministerial meeting was preceded by an expert-level meeting on July 1 and 2, which made an in-depth assessment of the impact of climate change and suggested steps to tackle the situation through regional cooperation.

The experts meeting said that across the South Asian region, warmer weather could cause more intense and more frequent cyclones and storm surges, leading to more salt water fouling waterways and crop lands.

Crop yield in South Asia could decrease up to 30 percent by the mid-21st century, they added.

130m people from S Asia may become climate migrants’

Agency

Environment ministers from the South Asian regional grouping, Saarc, have gathered in Bangladesh to discuss a plan to tackle climate change.

Experts say millions of people in the region could be at risk from rising seas, melting glaciers, floods, droughts and cyclone.

Bangladesh is proposing the creation of a joint fund to help communities adapt to the changing climate.

It says South Asian countries should counter the challenges jointly.

The BBC's Mark Dummett in Dhaka says the South Asian environment ministers have

chosen a good time to come to Bangladesh's capital for Thursday's meeting.

The monsoon is in full swing and flood waters are beginning to rise - a reminder of how exposed this region is to the climate.

In a matter of weeks, as it happens every year, half the country will be covered with water.

The fate of the 140 million people living in Bangladesh is closely tied to the weather.

They are squeezed between the Bay of Bengal and the huge rivers which flow down from the Himalayas.

As temperatures rise, scientists forecast that sea levels will inundate coastal regions, and storms will become more frequent.

As the Himalayan glaciers melt, there could be worse floods and then droughts.

It is not only Bangladesh which faces this bleak scenario.

On Monday, India unveiled a national action plan to confront the threat posed by climate change.

The plan envisaged a gradual shift to greater reliance on sustainable sources of energy.

A recent Greenpeace report on climate change in South Asia warned that if greenhouse gas emissions grow at their present rate, the region could face a major human crisis.

It estimated that 75 million people in Bangladesh will lose their homes.

The report also predicted that about 45 million people in India will also become "climate migrants".

Around 130 million people now live in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in what are called low elevation coastal zones, which comprise coastal regions that are less than 10m above average sea level.

Workshop to update mediation

DU Correspondent

A three-day training workshop titled 'Update on Mediation' began yesterday at the city's Judicial Administration Training Institute with 40 judges and lawyers as participants.

As a step towards Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) the training has been organised to update the mediation skills of the participants who later shall train 300 newly recruited judicial officers and lawyers in six divisions of the country. The purpose of the training is to introduce mediation as the initial step for dispensation of justice.

Former Adviser to the caretaker government and Inspector General of Police (IGP) ASM Shahjahan inaugurated the training course as the chief guest while Law Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal attended the function as the special guest.

Martha Gibson, Acting Director of British Council delivered the welcome address on the occasion and presented a brief outline of the programme.

Two British experts- Lawrence Kershen and Carey Haslam and three Bangladeshi experts- Justice Mustafa Kamal, Justice KM Hasan and Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque will conduct different sessions of the training seminar.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest ASM Shahjahan said, ADR could be made mandatory at the initial stage of justice to make the justice delivery system easier to save expenses and time in judicial process.

He said the complicated and dilatory system of dispensation of justice ultimately amount to denial of justice. He laid emphasis on rehabilitation of the victims alongside ensuring punishment for the criminals.

Kazi Habibul Awal said, a case could be disposed off within very short period by applying ADR, as both the two sides of the case might have a win-win situation in process of mediation.

4-party denounces fuel price hike

UNB, Dhaka

The BNP-led four-party alliance yesterday denounced the raised fuel prices, saying that the decision by the caretaker administration will severely hurt the economy.

In a joint statement signed by the BNP's acting office secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, the alliance said the decision was "unjust" and "anti-people".

"…we from the four-party alliance condemn the decision," it said. "We strongly demand the government scrap the decision immediately," the statement said.

The statement was issued on behalf of BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Khelafat Majlish chief Muhammad Ishaq, Bangladesh Jatiya Party chairman barrister Andalib Rahman Partho and IOJ secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami.

The government on Monday raised fuel prices by up to 67 percent on the ground of cutting revenue losses in the heavily subsidised sector.

Under the new rates, the price of a litre of octane has been raised 34 percent to Tk90 while diesel and kerosene prices were raised 37.5 percent to Tk55.

Liquefied petroleum gas --- mostly used for cooking--- saw the largest hike of 66.67 percent, with a cylinder now costing Tk1,000, instead of Tk600.

Referring to reactions by experts and economists, the political alliance said sufferings of the people would increase manifold because of the decision.

It said the industrial sector, especially the garment sector, would suffer immensely because of the hike in fuel prices.

"Many factories will collapse. It will fuel unemployment," it said.

On reports of possible increase in electricity price, the alliance also asked the government not to go for such a decision.

Biman DC-10 inoperative: Flight take off, landing at ZIA suspended for three hours

Staff Reporter

Take off and landing of all flights at Zia International Airport in Dhaka remained suspended for as many as three hours following a DC-10 aircraft of Bangladesh Biman went on inoperative on the runway yesterday morning.

Witnesses said landing and take off of all international flights at ZIA were declared suspended after a DC-10 aircraft of Bangladesh Biman coming to Dhaka from Oman's capital Muscat via Chittagong suddenly stopped on the runway while it was trying to land on the runway.

Sources said the Biman's aircraft was stopped on the runway due to a puncture developed on one of its eight wheels. All the eight wheels of the aircraft were not functioning at that time.

However, none of the passengers was injured inside the flight although they became seriously scared due to sudden stopping of the flight on the runway. Some of them also started crying inside the aircraft.

Instantly, the Civil Aviation Authority officials at ZIA cautioned all incoming and departing flights asking them not to land at or take off from the airport as major accident might happen due to collision of the airplanes on the runway.

Later, the Biman was taken to the hanger complex near the runway for necessary repairing and the runway was opened to other aircrafts for take off and landing after almost three hours.