The New Nation - Internet Edition

Showbiz concert at Bashundhara today

Showbiz Entertainment, a leading Event Management firm in Bangladesh, has taken an initiative to organise a concert named "Aji Music Revolution Concert". The concert will be held today (Friday) at Bashundhara Exhibition Centre Level -7, Block-C, Panthopath. The gate will be opened at 2.00 PM and the show will start at 3.00 PM. The most popular and prominent Solo and Band group including Fuad Featuring Sumon (Arthohin), Anila, Topu (Yaatri), Niga, Niloy, Arbovirus, Powersurge and Black, is going to perform their appealing performance on an architectural ornamented stage. The Event Director of Showbiz Entertainment Mehedi Hasan said, "We are going to organise this event with some selected musicians who have invented a new trend of Bangladeshi Music. They have taken Bangladeshi Music on top of the chart. The audience of the concert will get special discounted Audio and Video Cassette at the stall of G-Series.

ACC to focus on service sectors: Mashhud

UNB, Dhaka

Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said the reconstituted Commission has spent much of its time on dealing with corruption by political bigwigs and now it would focus on corruption in the service providing sectors.

"Much of the last one and half years' time has been spent mainly on dealing with corruption by political leadership…But I know now the emphasis will shift…," he told the Commission's regular briefing.

Mashhud said, "At some point, we'll have to accept that for the time being enough has been done (about corruption by political leaders). Question doesn't arise to stop it altogether."

"But, we'll have to focus on another area, maybe on service providing sectors. If we don't go to those sectors, there'll be no difference in the TIB report after 6 months or a year," he said.

About the release of corrupt suspects on health and humanitarian ground, the ACC chairman said the Commission has no disagreement with the government in this regard if law and rules are followed.

He also said there is no reason to believe that no decision or step has been taken to make the ACC activities questionable.

The ACC chairman said he is sure that no quarter would try to consider the ACC as opponent to the government and if this is done the greater interest would be harmed.

Responding to a query about arrests of individuals in connection with graft cases, Mashhud said the arrests are not a big deal for the ACC. "When there'll be no emergency rule, one can't be arrested until the submission of charge sheet."

To another query, he said he believes that there would be no influence on courts if the government is changed.

In this regard, he said a relationship of mutual trust and understanding would have to be created with the government and other organisations.

Asked whether the Commission would launch a major anti-corruption drive if necessary because the Home Adviser said there would no major anti-graft campaign, Mashhud replied, "The ACC would do it with pleasure".

About a recent ACC decision to submit quite a few final reports, the ACC chairman said most of the cases the final reports of which already submitted were filed by police. "Out of the 1,122 graft cases, only 412 were filed by ACC while the rest by others and later were forwarded to the Commission."

"The final reports were not submitted to allow anybody to take any advantage," he said.

About the recent Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report that corruption has increased in many sectors, Mashhud said the Commission does not regard the report as a criticism of the ACC. "It' s rather the reflection of practicality."

He said the TIB report would be helpful in the future activities of the Commission. "We want to work as per the recommendations of the report. We won't reject the report as done in the past."

Mashhud also said the activities of the Commission would have to be 'fine-tuned'.

One robbed of Tk 5 lakh from Pallabi

Staff Reporter

A group of muggers shot and wounded an accountant of a cloth-washing factory and snatched Tk five lakh and fifty thousand from him at Pallabi area in Mirpur in the city yesterday.

Sources said a gang of three bandits came riding a motorcycle and waylaid and fired on Mohammad Sentu, 30, in his left thigh near Purabi Cinema Hall in Pallabi at about 1:45pm. They grabbed the money and fled.

Sentu, accountant of Bright International, came under the daylight gun attack while returning to his factory after drawing the money from One Bank's Mirpur-11 Branch.

He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

A case was filed with Pallabi in this connection.

Release of Khaleda, Tarique, Koko demanded

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Nationalist Socio-Cultural Organisation, cultural wing of BNP, yesterday placed seven-point demand including unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and sending her two sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko abroad for the better medical treatment.

Leaders of the wing led by its acting president M A Malek and General Secretary Babul Ahmed articulated the demands at a press conference held at the NAM flat in the city.

They demanded lifting of the state of emergency, withdrawal of all political cases and release of all political detainees, cancellation of the election schedule for the local government bodies, holding the national election by October 30 and bringing down price of daily's essentials including rice, dal, flour.

The leaders said the dillydally tactics of the government in releasing of Khaleda Zia, and sending Tarique and Koko abroad would not bring any good result.

They alleged that the government was aiming to destroy BNP as a political party.

Tarique's spinal cord was broken during his incarceration, they noted.

Joint General Secretaries of the wing Salauddin Molla and Anisul Islam Goni, Joint secretary Adv Mahfuz, Organising Secretary Mosarraf Ahmed Tagore, among others, were present on the occasion.

Petrobangla fails to submit 3rd round bid report

UNB, Dhaka

Petrobangla has failed to submit the evaluation report of the 3rd round international bidding for hydrocarbon exploration to the Energy Ministry as a member of the committee went abroad without signing the documents.

Official sources said bid evaluation committee member Anwarul Islam, who represents the Foreign Ministry, went abroad 10 days ago without signing the final report.

Anwar is a director of the United Nations Law of the Seas (UNLOS) at the Foreign Ministry.

But all the 12 members of the 13-member committee signed the final report soon after completion of their evaluation.

"Now, we have to wait until he returns and signs the report," an influential member of the committee told UNB.

He said this unexpected delay would ultimately delay the process of awarding the contracts to the selected international oil companies (IOCs).

"We had set a deadline for signing the contracts with IOCs by September this year to start exploration work immediately to utilize the next dry season… but after this delay, it might not be possible," he said.

Earlier, Petrobangla had planned to submit the evaluation report to the Energy Ministry in the last week of June.

They also received advice from eminent lawyer Dr. Kamal Hossain on the evaluation report.

After finalization of the report, Dr. Kamal Hossain as a legal consultant of Petrobangla scrutinized and made some advices for inclusion in the report.

The Petrobangla had invited the international tender for 3rd round bidding in February 15 and received bids on May 7, planning to complete the final awards by September 2008.

Bids were invited for some 28 blocks, of which 8 are shallow-water blocks and 20 are deep-water blocks. Only seven IOCs submitted their offers for 15 blocks, while there was no offer for 13 blocks.

After the evaluation, it was found that only two international companies' offers were responsive for 9 blocks. The US-based ConocoPhilip came out as responsive for a total of 8 Blocks while Tullow emerged responsive for one block.

The caretaker government invited the international bidding for oil and gas exploration when the country is experiencing a shortage of about 100 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas per day against a demand for 1900 mmcf.

Apart from the official record, there is a huge hidden demand for gas from the industries.

Experts believe the shortage will widen in the days ahead as there is no fast track means to increase the production volume to make the two ends meet amid a growing demand. Industry, power and fertiliser sectors are suffering most due to gas shortages.

The existing gas reserve is estimated at around 8.0 trillion cubic feet (tcf), which will hardly meet the energy demand up to 2015.

It has been estimated that to meet the energy demand up to 2025 around 24 tcf gas will be required.

HC stays for six months proceedings of graft case against Tofael's wife

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday stayed for six months the proceedings of a graft case filed against Awami League leader Tofael Ahmed's wife Anwara Ahmed.

Passing the order, a division bench headed by Sharif Uddin Chaklader also issued a rule asking the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain why the graft case "should not be quashed".

The rule is made returnable within three weeks.

On May 29, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna police station against former minister Tofael for amassing illegal wealth and concealment of information. His wife and daughter were also accused in the case of assisting Tofael in committing the offences.

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Bikalpadhara to participate local body elections

UNB, Dhaka

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh secretary general Major (Retd) MA Mannan yesterday said his party would participate in the local body elections scheduled on August 4.

"We want all kinds of election, including the national election, immediately and our party's leaders and activists have been asked to take part in the coming local government elections," he told a press conference at the party office.

Terming the local body election as a test case of the caretaker government, he said: "This should be a great challenge for the government before holding the national election."

Mannan said they want to see a fair and congenial atmosphere in the run up to the election and the government has to create it.

Demanding immediate lifting of the state of emergency, MA Mannan said if they are unable then they should further relax the emergency so that candidates in the election can conduct their election campaign independently.

He said they would propose to the government soon for arranging all party consultation meetings to salvage the country from all crises.

About the hike of fuel prices, he said the government's move to raise 37 percent of the fuel prices was not a right decision. Though fuel prices had increased internationally, purchasing power of the country' s people did not rise even a little bit.

"Sufferings of the people will deepen more by such government move," he added.

Bikalpadhara general secretary said the government should be more active to control spiraling prices of the daily essentials that made public life very difficult.

Referring to various problems like poverty, electricity crisis and traffic jam, he said the government should come up with an effective master plan to solve such problems.

Responding to a question, he said: "Being a citizen of the country, we definitely want trial of war criminals as they are the big criminals than any others."

Asked whether his party would make any coalition in the general election, he said they would forge alliance with the like-minded parties.

The party also announced a 301-member national organizing committee which would be coordinated by its general secretary Major (Retd) MA Mannan.

HC declares valid decision cancelling selection of 757 cops

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday declared valid the February 2007 decision of the interim government cancelling the selection of 757 police sub-inspectors, including sergeants.

After hearing both parties, a division bench, comprising Justice MA Rashid and Justice M Ashfaqul Islam, delivered the judgment, discharging its rule issued on February 19 last year following a writ petition filed by a dozen aggrieved persons.

In February last year, the police authorities, after a probe report, cancelled the selection of cops recruited through gross irregularities like bribery, political influence and nepotism at the fag end of the immediate-past BNP-led four-party rule.

About 90 percent of those recruits were learnt to have been workers of BNP, its student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jamaat-e-Islami's student front Islami Chhatra Shibir and relatives of the then ruling-coalition high-ups, the probe report said.

19 shops reclaimed from illegal occupation

UNB, Dhaka

Nineteen shops, illegally occupied by some businessmen, were reclaimed at New Super Market of Baitul Mukarram Market yesterday.

Executive Magistrate of Dhaka Collectorate Mohammad Quamruzzaman with the help of DMP in a drive reclaimed the shops from the illegal possession of the businessmen who had occupied them for a long time.

The illegal occupants fled away after removing their goods from the shops.

The shops worth about Tk. 20 crore were handed over to Islamic Foundation authorities.

Customs House fines: Bureau Veritas Tk 12 crore

UNB, Chittagong

Chittagong Customs House (CCH) has fined pre-shipment inspection (PSI) agency Bureau Veritas Tk 12 crore on charges of abetting importers to evade duty.

An official said their investigation has found that the agency helped traders to evade import duty for 27,700 tonnes of sugar in November, 2005.

The CCH yesterday sent an official letter to the PSI agency to deposit the money to the government exchequer in 10 days.

Earlier, the CCH had sought opinion from the office of the Attorney General (AG) about possible action against the traders involved in such surreptitious import of sugar.

The customs sent a letter to the AG office for its opinion after the joint forces recently detected some cases of duty evasion worth around Tk 400 crore in FY 2004-05 on the import of sugar from Brazil.

The investigation by the joint forces suggested that the evasion was committed by a pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company, importers and customs officials.

IMF's to ease external shock

window to help economy

UNB, Dhaka

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is simplifying its procedure of 'External Shock' window to help countries that are under economic pressure because of external factors.

Bangladesh could be a potential gainer because of the IMF move since skyrocketing oil and food prices on the global market are severely hurting the economy.

The notion came as an IMF team met with Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday.

"The visiting IMF team informed me that they are now easing the procedure of its 'External Shock' window from where Bangladesh could get monetary help to mitigate deficit in balance of payment," the Adviser told reporters at a post meeting briefing.

He said the team, led by IMF Asia Pacific adviser Thomas Rumbaugh, informed him that the simplification tasks will be complete in a couple of months.

The Adviser said the IMF team in general supported the budget for fiscal year 2008-09.

"Like me they also believe that the projection of revenue generation in the current fiscal year is achievable," he said, adding that the IMF is not concerned about the budget deficit.

In reply to a query, the Adviser said the government would not take any monetary policy that will affect production.

Referring to the current trend of inflation he indicated that external factors are behind such a situation.

"When external factors create a situation like this, domestic measures can hardly make any big impact," he said.

When his attention was drawn to the budgetary measures that could help put the inflation rate below 9 percent, he said it is difficult for anybody to be accurate on such forecast.

The IMF team also wanted to know about what happened to the Rupali Bank after a Saudi Prince showed interest in the bank but finally backed out.

"I told them nobody came to me with similar offer," the Adviser said.

Mig-29 scam case: 'Ex-PM implicated in violation of constitutional provision'

UNB, Dhaka

A defence counsel yesterday contended that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was implicated in the Mig-29 purchase graft case in gross violation of Article 31 of the Constitution that guarantees right to protection of law to every citizen.

"The case does not lie after the High Court ruling upon a writ petition that declared valid both the agreements relating to purchase of Mig-29 and Bangladesh-Russia Defence Technical Co-operation," Hasina's counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed told the court while encountering the prosecution proposal for indicting her.

At first, the Bangladesh-Russia Defence Technical Cooperation Agreement was signed on February 9, 1999, said Shafique, adding that in the light of the pact the Mig-29 purchase deal was signed on June 28, 1999 "safeguarding country's sovereignty and national interest".

Barrister Shafique further pointed out that the Air Force had made a proposal to the Armed Forces Division about the need for buying the warplanes. Later on, several committees were formed for scrutiny and finalizing the proposal.

Terming 'mala fide' the revival of the case by the interim government, Shafique cited the High Court judgment delivered on March 14-15, 2000 that clearly viewed that both the agreements were made in accordance with the law. "So, the matter ends following the High Court judgment."

As the Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's court, relocated to the high-security parliament complex, resumed for charge hearing, Barrister Shafique put forward a copy of the HC judgment, as asked for.

The hearings remained inconclusive. The court was adjourned till July 8.

Earlier, the six other accused, now on bail, appeared in the court. They are former army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, former air force chief Air Marshal (Retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed, retired defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, Air Commodore (retd) Mirza Akhtar Maruf, retired defence joint-secretary Mohammad Hossain Serniabat and businessman Noor Ali.

Advocate Sahara Khatun represented Hasina as she was dispensed with personal attendance during trial proceedings for her treatment abroad.

On June 2, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor proposed framing charges against the Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, and the six other accused.

According to the case filed with Tejgaon Police Station, the purchase of the Mig-29 aircraft caused a loss of Tk 700 crore to the state coffer.

Shortly after the BNP-led four-party alliance came to power, the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed the Mig-scam case in December 2001.

The incumbent caretaker government revived the stalled case through legal battle, as a clean-up drive against corruption is now underway.

Launch fares re-fixed

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday re-fixed fares of passenger launches in the wake of diesel price hike.

The decision to re-fix the fares was taken at a joint meeting of BIWTA officials and representatives of Passenger Launch Owners Association here, said a press release.

Passengers will be charged Tk. 0.88 instead of existing Tk. 0.80 per km for traveling more than 100 km while Tk. 1.18 instead of existing Tk. 1.00 per km for traveling less than 100 km.

The minimum fare has been re-fixed at Tk. 10.00 from Tk. 9.00 earlier.

The new rate of launch fares comes into effect from today.

Rejoinder

Staff Reporter

The Carrier Overseas Consultants Ltd has contradicted a news item published in The New Nation on June 29 titled 'shady deals of agents, employers put job workers abroad at bay'.

In a rejoinder, they said the statement of Jahangir Alam as published is totally false, and far away from the truth. Jahangir went to Saudi Arabia to work as a Store Keeper in Dallah Group with a monthly salary of SAR 850 and other usual benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of the employment duly signed by him.

"Jahangir never lodged any complain to the Carrier Overseas about his problems from Saudi Arabia or even reaching Bangladesh. If he would have been communicated to us, we would have been taken adequate measures to solve his problems, if they are found to be genuine," the rejoinder said.

Jahangir is trying to create a situation to hide his guilt and in-efficiencies without even completing his contractual agreement. This is nothing but a way to obtain monitory benefit.

Reporter's Note

The report was made based on complaint lodged to the BMET by Jahangir Alam.

When contacted to Jahnagir Alam yesterday, following the rejoinder submitted by Carrier Overseas, he said he has successfully finished the probation period of 90 days and got the residence permit and Akama. So, there is no question of inefficiency. He said the SAR 850 contract he signed being forced by the Carrier Overseas authority in Zia International Airport before boarding aircraft.

"The Carrier Overseas official Mizan told me that this is a formality. You will get SAR 2500 basic salary while in Jeddah. But the company did not pay me accordingly," he said.

According to some documents available to The New Nation, Carrier Overseas sent Saudi Arabia some labourers who are getting now SAR 250 as salary and SAR 150 for food. But according to the Bangladesh labour law no labour can be sent abroad for job at less then SAR 600 as salary.

Isabel Guerrero made replaces Praful Patel

UNB, Dhaka

World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick has appointed Isabel Guerrero as Vice President for South Asia Region.

Ms Guerrero took over from retiring Vice President Praful Patel on July 2, a World Bank release said on Thursday.

Guerrero, who moves to her new position from that of County Director for India joined the bank as a "young professional" in 1982. Early in her career she worked as a country economist for the Philippines, Myanmar, Morocco and the Central Asian Republics with a focus on macroeconomics, trade and poverty.

For the past eleven years she has been a country director, for Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru (1997-2002); Colombia and Mexico (2002-2007); and most recently India, where she took up the position in March 2007.

"It is a most special privilege to be invited to take on this role in one of the most important regions of the world as measured by the development agenda," Guerrero said in Washington.

She said "South Asia is a region of extraordinary hope as demonstrated by its aggressive growth over the past decade. It is also a region in which the range of profound human challenges stand out starkly, from poverty to conflict to tremendous environmental management issues. Finding solutions in South Asia means finding solutions to some of the most intractable problems facing our world."

Guerrero said her time in India had also demonstrated to her the region's phenomenal capacity to find those solutions with the sort of innovation and intellectual creativity that was already driving the sub-continent into the world's imagination.

Announcing her appointment Zoellick said she brought to the task a strong track record in development and a commitment to finding cutting-edge solutions that would serve the region and her clients well.

During her first months in the position Guerrero will visit all the countries of South Asia.

Ex-state minister for energy Prof Rafiqul undergoes surgery

UNB, Dhaka

Doctors at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Thursday successfully operated on the left foot of former state minister for energy Prof Rafiqul Islam.

Specialist surgeon Dr Dipak Kumar Das led a team to conduct the surgery, said a statement by his family.

Doctors had previously conducted surgery twice in his two legs, and now he is suffering from multiple health complications.

The family has sought doa from all for his quick recovery.

Dhaka for GlobalFood Fund

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh has called for establishing a Global Food Bank and an International Food Fund within the auspices of United Nations to ensure long term food security for developing countries, particularly for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Ismat Jahan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, made the proposal while addressing a high-level segment of the Sustentative Sessions of the UN Economic and Social Council in Washington on Wednesday.

She was speaking on behalf of the LDCs on the theme "promoting an integrated approach to rural development in developing countries for poverty eradication and sustainable development," according to a message received here.

Ismat Jahan expressed deep concern that the deepening global economic slowdown, soaring oil and food prices and the growing threats of climate change posed significant challenges to the development prospects of the developing countries, particularly those of the LDCs.

She stressed the need for undertaking an in-depth inter-governmental policy discussions on how the current global challenges could be best addressed in an integrated manner. She urged the UN to take a lead role in this regard.

The Ambassador also expressed her concern that over the years, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the agricultural sector in the LDCs had drastically reduced.

She called upon the developed countries to fulfill their ODA commitment of 0.2 percent of their GNI to LDCs by 2010 as agreed during the 3rd UN Conference on LDCs in 2001.

Ismat Jahan urged the donors to give ODA as direct budgetary support to LDCs in a predictable and flexible manner.

She urged the developed and the developing countries in a position to do so to provide duty-free and quota free market access to all products from all LDCs, unilaterally and without discriminations, even before the conclusion of the Doha Round.