The New Nation - Internet Edition

Music Revolution Concert: Blending of rock, metal songs thrill audience

Anila and Topu performing at the concert. Photo:
Sharif Khan

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

The weather was gloomy yesterday afternoon as the torrent rains made city life paralysed for the last couple of days. At the same time yesterday was a weekly holiday. City dwellers had a little bit of space to gather or to enjoy for sometime. As a result, a huge number of people gathered at the Level-7 of Bashundhara City Complex in the evening. A concert was held at the same floor of the shopping complex in the capital.

The concert titled 'Music Revolution Concert' was full of rock melodies with metallic version songs that enthralled the viewers especially the youngsters. Simultaneously this performance also gave a new dimension to the music lovers.

Showbiz Entertainment organised the concert in association with AJI Group where The New Nation, RTV and Amar Desh were media partners of the concert.

The concert started with the solo performance of vocalist Anila. She rendered a good number of songs. She performed in her non-traditional style that enchanted the audience.

Later popular artiste Topu of band group Yaatri came with some of his popular soft melodious songs including 'Ekta gopon kotha,' 'Mithye prem,' 'Bondhu bhabo ki(?)' and 'Nupur.'

It may be mentioned that present leading metal band groups 'Arbovirus' and 'Powersurge' gave a new metallic dimension to the audience. These two bands are the second generation of metal bands in Bangladesh.

Performances of these two bands were absolutely in commanding position by using modern instrumental presentation. They also reminded the audience about the memories of songs of 80's and 90's of the last century when the western world was full of captured by 'nuisance typed sound,' which was for the people of developing countries like Bangladesh.

After evening the concert ground was fully crowded when the popular performer Sumon of band Aurthohin entered the ground. He presented some songs, which made a part of the audience nostalgic. His melodious performance with lyric-based composition gave new element to the music lovers.

Popular musician and composer Fuad came with Sumon. His composition with Sumon gave a new height of the presentation.

Then modern singer Mila came to the stage and sang some of her popular songs.

Thus ended the pleasant yesterday evening.

From the Foreign Press: Newspapers and the web Save the press

Timothy Egan

On the lobby wall of the newspaper where I got my first reporting job are the Thomas Jefferson words that U.S. journalists like to trot out as America's Independence Day nears:

"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."

Of course, Jefferson also said the only reliable truths in newspapers were the advertisements, and that he was happiest when not reading the papers.

But as to his iconic quote, it's no secret that we're trending toward the former. And anyone who cheers the collapse of the newspaper industry should consider why Jefferson put aside his distaste for the vitriol and nonsense of the press for the larger principle of healthy democracies needing informed citizens.

Last week, almost 1,000 jobs were eliminated in the American newspaper industry, perhaps the bloodiest week yet of a year where many papers are fighting for their lives.

You read about the great names in American journalism - the Baltimore Sun, the Boston Globe, the San Jose Mercury News - as if reading the obituary page. Rich U.S. cities like San Francisco can no longer support a profitable daily paper.

Columnists, reporters, editors, cartoonists and photographers who brought to life the daily narrative of a city or region have been swept aside. What started as layoffs and buyouts is edging toward closures and bankruptcies.

And here's the great paradox: All of this bad news is coming at a time when the audience and reach of many newspapers has never been greater. The Internet may kill the daily newspaper as we know it, but it's allowed some papers to increase their readership by tenfold.

Those who revel in the life-threatening trauma that newspapers are going through, saying they brought it upon themselves by being too liberal, too sensationalistic, too banal - choose your insult - miss the point. People are not deserting these complex and contradictory summaries of our collective existence. Not by any stretch.

Measured purely by number of readers in all formats, many newspapers have never been more successful.

Newspaper Web sites attracted more than 66 million unique visitors in the first quarter of 2008 - a record, and a 12 percent increase over a year ago, according to a Nielsen Online analysis. Forty percent of all Internet users visit a newspaper site. A visitor, it should be noted, is different from a reader, but it's the measurement of choice.

The Web is the future. And yet, because online advertising accounts for only about 10 percent of total ad revenue, newspapers are hemorrhaging money. In its present form, and even in best-case projections, the Web format will never generate enough money to keep viable reporting staffs afloat at some of the nation's biggest papers.

That's the business model crisis, an old story by now, the millstones of capitalism crushing an outdated format. Something new will emerge, a print and Web model.

In the meantime, print reporters strap on the old Webcam, charge up their podcast recorder, grab their notebook and dutifully try to cover a story that now needs to be presented in three formats, or more.

What's the alternative? It's possible that some civic-minded nonprofits will end up owning one or two of the nation's great papers, and operating them as trusts, hands off.

But that's a limited solution, fraught with problems of control and flexibility, and it won't keep reporters at city hall in Sioux Falls or the statehouse in Santa Fe.

Another response is goodbye, and so what. Look at the auto industry numbers from this week, with General Motors slouching toward bankruptcy.

Besides, there's plenty of gossip, political spin and original insight on sites like the Drudge Report or The Huffington Post - even though they are built on the backs of the wire services and other factories of honest fact-gathering. One day soon these Web info-slingers will find that you can't produce journalism without journalists, and a search engine is no replacement for a curious reporter.

And just how much do most contributors at the The Huffington Post make? Nothing! "Not our financial model," as the cofounder, Ken Lerer famously said. From low pay to no pay - the New Journalism at a place that calls itself an Internet newspaper.

Yes, the Brentwood bold-face types who grace HuffPo's home page can afford to work for free, but it's un-American, to say the least.

Long ago, I was a member of the steelworkers union, and also a longshoreman. If any of those guys on the docks heard that I was now part of a profession that asked people to labor for nothing, they'd laugh in their lunch buckets - then probably shut The Huffington Post down. Doesn't the "progressive" agenda, much touted on their pages, include a living wage?

We could be left with a snark brigade, sniping at the remaining dailies in their pajamas, never rubbing shoulders with a cop, a defense attorney or a distressed family in a Red Cross shelter after a flood.

My lament this year as we Americans celebrate Independence Day is to ask readers to see newspapers as not just another casualty in the churn of business. Sure, reporters say stupid things and write idiotic stories. Everyone stumbles. But on its best days, a newspaper is a marvel of style and wit, of small-type discoveries and large-type overstatements, a diary of our deeds.

We may still prove Jefferson's preference wrong: Perhaps a nation can function without newspapers. But it would be a confederacy of dunces.

(Timothy Egan worked for 18 years as a writer for The New York Times, first as the Pacific Northwest correspondent, then as a national enterprise reporter.)

Weekly review: Uptrend in kitchen market

Talha Bin Habib

The prices of the essential items including rice, soybean oil and lentil continue to maintain a high trend in different kitchen markets of the city.

The price of soybean oil jumped by Tk 10 to Tk 12 per kg yesterday. The other necessary items have also shown an upward trend.

The high prices of essentials items have hit hard the people of low and middle-income groups.

Some of the consumers of these two groups said skyrocketing prices of everyday necessities have put a heavy strain on their limited budget.

"We are unable of to maintain our monthly family expenditure as the prices of essential commodities are going up by leaps and bound.' said a second class government employee of Bangladesh Secretariat at Kawran Bazar yesterday.

We are already reeling under high prices of daily necessities including rice and other items, said some other consumers

They said if this trend goes on unabated they might not be able to maintain a decent life with their family members.

They called upon the government to check the volatile market situation immediately.

Abus Salam, a rickshaw puller, said he earns Tk 150 to Tk 200 per day.

"But with this meagre amount I can ill afford to support my four-member family," he noted.

"In the past, I used to save a small amount of money even after meeting my family's monthly expenditures. But in recent days it is no longer possible for me to do that," he said with a voice of anguish and despair.

As per market survey yesterday the coarse variety of rice 'lata' was sold at Tk 33 to Tk 34 yesterday which was Tk 32 to Tk 33, 'minicate' between Tk 42 and Tk 44 which was Tk 38 to Tk 40 , 'nazirshail' (depending on variety) from Tk 42 to Tk 44 which was Tk 40 to Tk 42, BR-28 at Tk 36 to Tk 37 which was Tk 35 and BR-29 at Tk 37 to Tk 38 which was Tk 36 and 'sarna' Tk 36 and Tk 38 which was Tk 34 to Tk 36 per kg in the retail markets.

Rice traders in the city markets said high transport fare due to fuel price hike has pushed up the price of rice. They also said that the current rainfalls have also been hampering rice production in the mills and hindering smooth supply of rice to the city markets.

They, however, hoped that the prices of rice might be come down to a tolerable level once the mills resume smooth production of rice.

Per kg of soyabean oil was sold at Tk 122 to Tk 124 yesterday, which was at Tk 112 to Tk 114 per kg in the last week, and palm oil was sold at from Tk 110 to Tk 112, which was Tk 106 and Tk 108 per kg. Five litre canned of different brands of soybean oil was sold at Tk 610 which was Tk 560 to Tk 565.

Retailers at Moulvi Bazar said short supply of soybean oil from the mills coupled with its high price in international markets contributed to its high price in the local markets.

They said that the price of soybean might come down if the government reduced 15 per cent value added tax (VAT).

A member of Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Businessmen Organisation, however, said that there is no possibility of coming down the prices of soybean to a tolerable level in a near future of its high price in the international markets.

In the retail markets per kg of local variety of lentil (masur) was selling from Tk 108 to Tk 110 which which was between Tk 98 and Tk 102 per kg. Imported lentil was sold at Tk 105 per kg that was Tk 96 per kg in the last week.

The prices of most vegetable items were selling within the purchasing power of the common people.

The price of different types of fish still remain high as Ruhi was selling from Tk 150 to Tk 180 per kg , medium size Hilsha from Tk 280 to Tk 350. Prices of beef was at Tk 190 to Tk 200, while mutton from Tk 260 to Tk 280 per kg. And Per hali (4-pieces) of eggs was between Tk 28 and Tk 26 which was 22 and Tk 24.

Fobana conference kicks off in New York

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Dhaka University vice chancellor Prof SMA Faiz inaugurated the 22nd annual gathering of Fobana at New York's Hilton Hotel on Friday (Thursday evening EST).

The main three-day conference of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (Fobana) is set to take place over the July 4-6 weekend, organised by the America-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Conference convenor Gias Ahmed and Fobana member secretary Hasanuzzaman Hasan gave addresses of welcome, describing the annual conference as a bridge between Bangladesh and its cultures with that of mainstream America, with the first day of the main event also marking Independence Day in the US.

SMA Faiz called on American expatriates to project a positive image of the country: "You have a unique scope for spreading Bangladeshi culture throughout the world. Expatriate Bangladeshis must work together in this regard."

Hasanuzzaman, who is also a member of ABCCI, told bdnews24.com: "The conference includes seminars on social, economic and political matters."

Congressmen and senators, including Congressman Joseph Crawley, will attend the conference, he said.

"The three-day event will also be marked by arts and music shows, exhibitions of Bangladeshi products and commodities, and other activities showcasing Bangladeshi culture and heritage."

Artistes from Bangladesh and India will feature in the shows, the Fobana member secretary added.

The main programme of seminars will continue till July 5 and the cultural functions will be held on July 6, the concluding day of the gathering.

"A good number of Bangladeshis from Canada have arrived to attend the conference, in addition to the huge assembly of American Bangladeshis," said Hasanuzzaman.

Organisers said George Harrison and Ravi Shankar will be awarded citations at this year's conference for their unique roles in Bangladesh's fight for independence.

A number of special guests invited from Bangladesh-Workers Party politburo member Haider Akbar Khan Rono, Dainik Ittefaq editor Rahat Khan, Naya Diganta editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, New Age editor Nurul Kabir and bdnews24.com editor-in-chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi-were among those present at the inauguration ceremony.

Row over nuclear deal with US: Manmohan set to get divorce from Left

Reuters

Facing the likely withdrawal of left allies, India's government moved closer on Friday to clinching political support it needs to avoid early elections and to force through a nuclear energy deal with the United States.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his senior officials spent the day meeting with leaders of a key regional party, who gave their strongest hint yet they will back the Congress party-led ruling coalition in parliament if the communists walk away.

The Samajwadi Party (SP), a key regional party from Uttar Pradesh state, has a history of pragmatic alliances with national parties and would be burying years of bitter relations with Congress if it comes to the rescue.

"The prime minister's clarifications on the nuclear deal are quite satisfactory," SP General Secretary Amar Singh told reporters after meeting the prime minister.

Soon after, the four communist parties that give the coalition a majority in parliament said the government must tell them by Monday if it plans to press ahead with the next step in finalizing the civilian energy deal, which they strongly oppose.

With time fast running out, the government needs to seek approval for the deal from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the next international move needed to make the agreement operational.

2,750 gram cocaine recovered

BSS, C'nawabganj

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) recovered 2,750 grams of cocaine from the Polladanga frontier under Alatuli union of Sadar Upazila on Thursday night.

BDR sources on Friday said members of the 39 Rifle Battalion chased a group of smugglers when they entered the Bangladesh territory through the border pillar No 41/8 with the cocaine.

The smugglers fled away leaving the cocaine there, the sources said.

First ever fair poll to be held this time : Ershad

BSS, Rajshahi

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday confidently said the first ever free, fair and neutral election would be held in the country under the present caretaker government.

"I am very much positive of the present government that it is determined to make both the local government and the national elections free, fair, neutral and acceptable to all", he said while exchanging views with newsmen at Circuit House here this afternoon.

In this context, the JP chairman said the present government has prepared a flawless voter list along with photographs for the first time in the country as a result all the elections to be held under the government would be meaningful.

Regarding this, Ershad categorically said his party would participate in all the forthcoming elections including the upazila and JS without any condition.

"Participation in election is indispensable for forming a democratic government," he said adding that proper democratic government could be established through a proper election that would take place this time.

Terming the local body election before the JS as legitimate, the JP chairman opined that all the forthcoming elections should be held under the emergency power rules (EPR).

Hasina wants to return home by August-end

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now in Canada, has expressed her desire to return home at the end of August on completion of her medical treatment.

"Sheikh Hasina has told me that she wants to come back home in the last week of August on completion of her treatment," Hasina's personal physician in Dhaka Dr Syed Mudasser told newsmen at her clinic yesterday.

Hasina who has been facing a number of graft cases was released on June 11 following an executive order of the government and allowed to go abroad for medical treatment and stay there for eight weeks.

The eight weeks' time will expire in the first week of August, but her doctor Friday said if Hasina's health condition does not deteriorate further, she might come by the end of August.

"Sheikh Hasina's right ear and left eye were almost damaged. Her doctors in the USA are continuing her treatment. But it's not possible to complete the treatment within the eight weeks' time," Dr Mudasser said.

He informed the journalists that the hearing aid of Sheikh Hasina has been readjusted as its date expired when she was in Bangladesh.

With proper treatment, Sheikh Hasina's damaged ear and eye could be cured, Dr Mudasser said.

Despite problem in the eye and the ear, and cardiac complications, Hasina is now feeling better in a homely environment with her daughter and other relatives in Canada, he said.

Iran responds to world powers' nuclear offer

AFP, Tehran

Iran on Friday handed world powers its "constructive and creative" response to their letter outlining proposals to end the five-year standoff over its contested nuclear programme.

"The Islamic republic has prepared and presented a response to the letter of the six countries with a constructive and creative view and a focus on common ground," state television quoted top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili as saying.

A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he had held "positive" talks with the Iranian side, but gave no immediate confirmation of any receipt of a formal response from Tehran.

Jalili's comments came in a telephone call to Solana, who has fronted talks with Tehran on behalf of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

Last month Solana gave Iran a letter from the six foreign ministers and a package offering Tehran technology and negotiations if it suspends uranium enrichment, which the West fears could be used to make atomic weapons.

The semi-official Mehr news agency on Friday quoted an informed source as saying that the response to Solana was handed over by Iran's ambassador to Brussels.

Jalili did not elaborate on the contents of the Iranian response, nor did he say if it would be a simple "yes or no" answer to the package offered or something more vague.

The source quoted by Mehr said the response was specifically to the world powers' letter, implying there could be another response to the package attached to the letter.

Jalili also said both sides had agreed that talks would be held again by the end of the current Iranian month of Tir, which ends in two weeks, without elaborating.

Tough competition for seats in reputed colleges

BSS, Dhaka

Students who scored GPA-5 and above GPA-4 in SSC and equivalent examinations will be facing a tough competition for seats in reputed colleges.

As many as 52,500 examinees scored GPA-5, the highest ever number of GPA-5 achievers in the exams under nine education boards, but there are less than 13,000 seats in about 10 renowned colleges in the capital. There are 19,854 more GPA-5 scorers this year than the last year.

According to official sources, about 40,000 GPA-5 achievers will have to go for second choice colleges.

Students with GPA-4 and above but below GPA-5 are worried that they might not get chance for admission to any reputed city college.

Ahmed Kabir, a GPA-5 scorer from a city school, said, "It will be very unfortunate for a top scorer if he or she does not get chance for admission to a prominent city college."

No qualitative change takes place in democracy after 1/11: Roundtable

UNB, Dhaka

Political Leaders and senior journalists at a roundtable here Friday said there has been no qualitative change in the country's democracy after the 1/11 changeover.

They said the present situation of the country could never be described as better than the situation during the previous political governments.

"It's being said that there have been positive changes in the country' s socioeconomic and political sectors. But where are those positive changes? We cannot feel good just saying that the post-1/11 situation is good," said BNP joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan.

He was addressing a roundtable titled 'The Role of Media in Establishing Sustainable Democracy' arranged by Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon.

Nazrul Islam Khan recognized that it is true politicians are partially responsible for the present political stalemate, but it is also the politicians who can give Bangladesh a sustainable democracy.

He laid emphasis on the role of media in attaining the sustainable democracy.

Former Parliament Speaker and Awami League leader Advocate Abdul Hamid, former caretaker government adviser Sultana Kamal, Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sanghstha (BSS) Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Daily Bhorer Kagoj editor Shaymol Dutt and Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique of Dhaka University, among others, addressed the roundtable.