The New Nation - Internet Edition

Structure on other side blamed: Ichhamati shifts into Bangladesh

Massive erosion in the river Ichhamati devouring the
land to the Bangladesh side. NN photo

Rafiqul Islam Azad, back from Satkhira

Bangladesh has been losing large chunks of land along the border with India at different points of the River Ichhamati in Satkhira district due to unrelenting river erosion.

But successive governments did not take effective measures to protect the riverbanks for which the map of the bordering district was gradually changing shape.

According to a Water Development Board (WDP) official, over 500 acres of Bangladesh territory have already gone to India due to the erosion of the Ichhamati during the last eight to 10 years. However, local people, estimate that the total loss was over 1,000 acres.

Abul Kashem, 45, a resident of Townsreepur, told this correspondent a vast tract of agricultural land, a number of residential houses and establishments had been devoured by the river erosion in the last 10 years.

Pointing to a spot in the river, Kashem ruefully said that they had lost their ancestral home to the river due to lack of protective measures against erosion by all the previous governments.

The WDB official said about 5 kilometer of the riverbank of Ichhamati, particularly at Townsreepur, Sushilgati, Kharghat and Khanjia was on the verge of going under the river.

Local people alleged that the Indian government was taking measures to protect riverbank from erosion by training the river, building groins and dumping boulders and brick-chips on the bank along Sodhpur and Jalalpur areas in 24 Parganas.

They also alleged that many brick kilns were built on the Ichhamati riverbank under the patronage of the Indian government on condition that the proprietors of the kilns would dump factory wastes on their side of the bank.

The WDB official said due to river training conducted by India for years the course of the river was being diverted towards Bangladesh territory and char lands were emerging on the Indian side. The Indian nationals were occupying the newly emerged land and building infrastructures, thus populating the areas.

According to the Mujib-Indira Treaty signed in 1974, the midstream of border-rivers defines the boundaries of the two countries.

The WDB official said Bangladesh has so far built 6.80 kilometers of permanent embankment on the bank of River Ichhamati to protect it from erosion. The Government in other places was trying to stop erosion by dumping bamboo-made porcupine-traps, sandbags, twigs and branches of trees as temporary measures.

He said they have submitted fresh proposals to the Government to build additional 5.75 kilometer of permanent embankment to protect the river from erosion.

Replying to a question, the WDB official said they had to face resistance from the Indian side when they tried to take protective measures against river erosion.

He opined that diplomatic initiatives could protect Bangladesh territory and determine the international border between the two countries based on the river course in 1974, when the treaty was signed.

Sources said most of the 40 kilometer long Ichhamati, originating from Bhomra land port, remains unprotected on the Bangladesh side of the border.

News analysis:Shadowy conference at Wilton Park

Hasanuzzaman Khan

The Government is yet to issue any statement on the policy conference on Bangladesh held at Wilton Park in southern England on June 23 and 24. The two-day conference brought together a diverse group of representatives from the Bangladesh Government, political parties, and civil society organisations to discuss the future of democracy in Bangladesh.

A similar conference was held at Harvard in the US a couple of weeks ago. Political observers are dismayed that certain quarters are trying to determine our future in the lecture halls of Wilton Park or Harvard or in the lobby of the House of Commons.

Out of fifty conferences scheduled to be held at Wilton Park, the conference on Bangladesh is the only one that deals exclusively with the internal affairs of the country. It is aimed at giving a global implication of the issue of disrupted democracy in Bangladesh. Political observers wonder whether the issue of temporary disruption of democracy in Bangladesh has become a global issue.

The name Wilton Park is not familiar in Bangladesh. It has featured in media reports here for having organised the conference titled 'prospect of democracy in Bangladesh, ways and means to strengthen it on June 23 and 24.'

Wilton Park was set up in 1946 as a part of an initiative inspired by then British PM Sir Winston Churchill to help establish democracy in Germany after the Second World War. It is an academically independent agency of the UK's Foreign Ministry, which brings together decision makers and opinion framers from around the world. The Wilton Park Conference was designed to facilitate discussion among leading Bangladeshi players on how democracy can be strengthened.

Eight representatives from five political parties - Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and Bikalpa Dhara joined the Wilton Park conference besides dignitaries from international organisations. Among the politicians Dipu Moni and Saber Hossain Chowdhury of Awami League, Mofazzal Karim of BNP reformist faction, Barrister Abdur Razzak of Jamaat-e-Islami and Mahi B Chowdhury of Bikalpa Dhara participated in the conference. The Bangladeshi politicians confided to this correspondent that transition to democracy was the theme of this conference. It was also aimed at building a political consensus among the Bangladesh politicians with a view to restoring democracy in the country.

Besides, former diplomat Faruque Chowdhury, economist Rehman Sobhan, political Scientist Dr. Raunaq Jahan, Dr. Iftekaruzzaam of TIB, economist Dr. Atiur Rahman, political scientist Dr. Dilara Chowdhury of Jahangir Nagar University and Journalist Mahbubul Alam were among the participants. Widower Rehman Sobhan (about 80) and virgin Dr. Raunaq Jahan (65) attended reportedly as newly married couple.

Political developments in Bangladesh have evoked keen interest among development partners. Donors often remind that future relationship with them will be dictated by how things shape up politically in Bangladesh.

Major themes of discussion at the conference were: democratic reform and anti corruption drive, political reform, democracy and good governance and development. Included also were topics on the past performance of the parliament and the post election scenario. About 906 conferences have so far been held in Wilton Park exclusively on Bangladesh. The latest conference was the 39th in last six months.

Wilton Park conferences are exclusive deals. The delegates are to stay in the Wilton Park Hall and remain out of reach of anybody from outside. The delegates are advised not to disclose anything to the media about the topic of the discussion or the contents thereof. Dr Dipu Moni of Awami League said, something sensitive relating to Bangladesh was discussed in the conference, which were tabooed not to be disclosed to media. Even all telephone connections were kept inoperative during the conference.

Yaba tablets recovered: Film actress, model held

Yasmin Shikder Mou and Bipasha Akhter
Munni

Staff Reporter

The officials of the Department of Narcotics Control arrested three people, including a film actress and a TV model and their friend with banned tablets from an apartment in Pallabi in the city Friday night. The arrested were identified as film actress Yasmin Shikder Mou, 22, TV model Bipasha Akhter Munni, 20, and their friend Kaisarul Islam Prince, 21, a first-year student of Mirpur College.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), led by inspector Khandaker Iqbal Hossain, raided the 3rd floor of the 7-storied Eastern Housing Building at Rupnagar in Pallabi area at about 10:00pm and arrested the trio. The DNC members seized 18 illegal Yaba tablets from them.

DNC sources said Mou performed in over 15 movies, while Munni in a number of TV commercials. The arrested were taken into DNC custody for interrogation.

The arrested have a history of peddling Yaba tablets from their apartment, the NDC officials alleged. A case was filed with Pallabi police station.

Nasim still suffering from brain haemorrhage

Mohammad Nasim

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim is still suffering from brain haemorrhage but his health condition is "clinically stable", an official with LabAid Specialised Hospital said yesterday.

AKM Mahbubul Hoque, head of the hospital's medical services, told reporters that different tests had confirmed that Nasim's brain haemorrhage continued. "Mohammad Nasim isn't out of danger yet," Hoque said.

Nasim will be kept under intensive care for some more days.

The former home minister was admitted to the hospital on June 24 after he suffered a stroke in Kashimpur jail in Gazipur. The stroke paralysed the left side of his body and triggered brain haemorrhage.

Joint forces arrested Nasim on Feb 4 last year on charges of corruption.

A Dhaka court has recently convicted the former minister of amassing illegal wealth and sentenced him to 13 years in jail.

AL for lifting emergency before polls

Staff Reporter

Awami League Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed hoped for a fruitful dialogue with the Government with participation of all political parties and demanded immediate withdrawal of emergency for restoration of democracy in the country.

He said his party would extend support to the Government and the Election Commission to hold a free, fair and credible national election.

Tofail made this comments while addressing the leaders and activists at a meeting of Jubo League, a wing of Awami League, at a city hotel yesterday.

He also warned the Government that no polls would be possible under the state of emergency and the people of the country would not accept this.

"The Government can not blame the political parties if they resume to participate in the upazila or national election under the emergency. So the government should create a congenial atmosphere to hold the national election in a fair and credible manner", Tofail asserted.

He urged the Government not to do anything, which will put political parties and the government against each other.

Shafiul Azam Khan Barku, President of Dhaka district Jubo League, presided over the meeting while AL central organizing Secretary Abdul Mannan and Office Secretary Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan also spoke.

Govt keeping an eye on price escalation: Aziz

Staff Reporter

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday said the Government is taking different measures to tackle the escalation of price.

He said that it was unrealistic to expect reduction prices of food items including rice as half of the post-harvest crops of this year have arrived in the market that did a little impact on arresting the price hike.

"The government is sincere in tackling the price hike. Both budgetary and non-budgetary measures will check further rise in the prices of essentials," he said as chief guest at a seminar on " Price- hike and Poverty Alleviation- Budget 2008-09" organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in cooperation with Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) and Oxfam International at DCCI auditorium.

He said the government has allocated more fund in the budget for 'social protection' to reduce the sufferings of the marginalised people.

Hossain Khaled, President of DCCI gave the welcome speech and Dr Qazi Koliquzzaman Ahmad, President of BEA presided over the seminar.

Dr M Kabir Hassan, Professor, University of Orleans, USA, Dr Uttam Dev, representative from concerned ministry, businessmen, academics and economists took part in the discussion. Ziaul Hoque Mukta of Oxfam International offered vote of thanks.

The Finance Adviser said that this year farmers have increased their capacity of holding their products. As a result only 20 per cent of Boro harvest has come to the markets that cause a little impact on price situation.

He said that the Government has taken measures to implement employment guarantee scheme for ultra poor in the rural areas during the lean season.

He also said the much-talked-about consumer protection act would see the light of the day within a couple of months.

Dr Aziz sought necessary cooperation from all sections of the society to implement the Government's plans to mitigate the sufferings of the people caused by price hike.

"Concerted public and private efforts are important for full implementation of the programmes," he said and called upon the businessmen to help the Government for implementing the programmes.

He said the government had a plan to increase the oil prices in phases instead of at one-go. But it was not possible due to natural calamities and boro farming.

Replying to a query on fertiliser he said that the subsidy on fertiliser would be Tk 50 per kg even after raising the prices, while the general subsidy on diesel will be of around Tk 10,000 crore annually after raising the diesel price by 40 per cent.

Dr Kholiquzzaman called upon all sections of the society to act properly from their respective fields and cooperate with the Government in its ongoing fight against price hike.

Academic activities of Rangpur Varsity begin this year

BSS, Rangpur

Adviser for Education and Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday reiterated the government's decision to start academic activities of newly launched Rangpur University from this year.

Advertisement for admitting students from the next academic session in six subjects of two faculties of the newly set up full-fledged public university will be given within the next one month and soon after publication of this year's results of the HSC, he added. Dr Hossain Zillur said this while chairing a views-exchanging meeting on Rangpur University relates matters with the members of the civil society of Rangpur yesterday at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner (DC).

Agriculture and Water Resources Adviser Dr C S Karim, Agriculture Secretary M Abdul Aziz, Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner M Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, Deputy Commissioners of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari, were present. Besides, former vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Amirul Islam Chowdhury, Chief Engineer of the Department of Education Engineering A K M Shahjahan Patwari, Director General of the WDB Hossaine Shaheed Mozadded Faruk, Additional Chief Engineer of LGED m Nurul Islam, noted educationists, elite and journalists of the city were present.

Dr Zillur visited the proposed sites for the new public university and several educational institutions with the senior officials from the ministry at Dhaka and said that the classes will primarily be held in hired houses as the university buildings are yet to be completed.

He said, primarily, the admission will be given from this year in two faculties of science and technology and humanities and social science covering six subjects of mathematics, computer science, Bengali, English, Economics and BBA and the number of subjects will be raised to eleven within the next five years.

Dr Zillur said, the academic activities will be launched in such a way that it will meet the need-based demand of the area and country to produce worthy citizens with quality and standard education and ensure the enrolment of higher education in this region.

Besides, a meeting will be held at Dhaka on next July 12 to take necessary steps on a master plan with five years' planning of Rangpur University, for its expansion, building structures, hostels and other establishments, he said.

Asia Cup: Indo-Lanka final today

Sports Reporter

The two titans of world cricket, India and Sri Lanka will face each other today in the final of the Asia Cup at the National Stadium in Karachi, the port city of Pakistan. Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live from 4.00 PM (Bangladesh Standard Time) from the stadium.

Earlier, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh moved to the second round from their respective groups.

India and Sri Lanka confirmed their final berth securing six points each while Pakistan and Bangladesh were ousted from the title race. Pakistan collected four points while Bangladesh failed to earn any point from the second round. The National Stadium is set to prepare to stage the gala final between the two giants of world cricket.

India's key batsmen are: Gautam Gambhir, Virendar Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni. Their key bowlers are: RP Singh, Irfan Pathan and Praveen Kumar.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka have world class batsmen like Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara.

Besides, skipper Mahela Jayawardene is also capable to resist debacle. Sri Lanka's bowling line up is marvellous as they have two weapons like pacer Chaminda Vaas and wizard spinner Muralitharan.

However, the spectators of the whole world want to watch entertaining final between the two World Cup champions.

Govt to make new law to restore vested properties

Staff Reporter

The government is going to promulgate an ordinance for scrutiny and disposal of much-talked-about vested (enemy) properties with a view to returning lands confiscated from the religious minorities under the Vested Property Act, it is learnt.

The new law titled, 'Scrutiny and Disposal of Vested Properties Ordinance-2008' will take the place of Vested Properties Return Act 2001, which was passed during the Awami League government to restore ownership of the lost land to affected families of religious minorities.

The draft ordinance stipulates that land seized under the Vested Property Act, and remaining under the control of the government, must be returned to the original owners or their heirs, as long as they are resident citizens and have not left the country.

The draft ordinance, however, states that the proprietorship status of the vested property will not be challenged if the property was transferred to the government, a government institution, or to a private individual, or has been sold or has been handed over permanently by the government at the directives of a court. It will not even be possible to challenge such cases in court, sources in the Land Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Hindu leaders and human rights bodies have opposed the government move saying it will increase hazards of the deprived people.

In a statement, Bangladesh Hindu, Bouddha and Christian Oikkya Parishad yesterday demanded the implementation of the Vested Properties Return Act 2001.

While talking to The New Nation, General Secretary of the Parishad Prof Nim Chandra Bhowmik alleged that the caretaker government was not transparent to draft the new law. The government also did not discuss the matter with them.

Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Member Secretary of the Vested Properties Act Resistance Movement, said suffering of the Hindus would mount if the ordinance was promulgated. The new ordinance will allow the government to confiscate more lands from Hindus as it lacks a timeframe for gadget.

In November 2002, with a BNP government in power, the Vested Property Return Bill was amended by the Parliament, allowing the government unlimited time to return vested properties to their owners. In the absence of a specific date for the return, there is no way to monitor that the property is in fact being returned.

Various study reports earlier showed that members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh have lost 26 lakh acres of land from 1965 to 2006 caused by the Enemy (Vested) Property Act.

The price of the land and other moveable properties lost by 12 lakh Hindu families has been estimated at Tk 3,50,412 crore, said a study carried out by economist Prof Abul Barakat.

The government has identified only seven lakh acres of vested land, of which two lakh acres have been leased out and five lakh acres remain under the control of the grabbers.

In the study, Prof Barakat said, "Only five lakh people who were in power grabbed the land. This problem needs an immediate solution."

Nearly two lakh Hindu families have lost 1.22 lakh bighas of land, including their houses, in the six years since the `Vested Property Act' was annulled in 2001 to return property to their original owners.

The study claims that the scrapping of the Act has not ended deprivation of the Hindu community due to `deliberate delay' and `criminalisation of the political economy.'

Political elements, locally influential people in collaboration with the land administration, trickery by land officials and employees themselves, use of force and crookedness, fake documentation, contracted farmers and death or exile of original owners have also been blamed for land grabbing and perpetuation of the `vested properties.'

According to a report of the Land Ministry submitted to a parliamentary standing committee in October 2004, "Total 445,726 acres of vested property out of 643,140 acres ended up in encroachment across the country. "Grabbers gabbled up more than two thirds of vested property as the government lost control over the lands as the custodian and its long-line dithering blocked anti-encroachment efforts," the report said.

Govt considering BNP as their rival: Delwar

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday branded the caretaker government as opponent of the BNP and nationalist forces adding that it is neither a caretaker nor impar tial government.

He said the government has set free the chief of a political party but it is meeting out different treatment towards BNP chief and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, her two sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko and other BNP leaders.

BNP Secretary General was addressing a view exchange meeting with the leaders of BNP Dinajpur district unit and its front organisations at his NAM flat at Manik Mia Avenue.

He accused the government of harassing Tarique and Koko by registering fresh cases against them instead of sending them abroad for better medical treatment.

Criticising the Government for its failure to contain prices of essentials, Delwar said their prices have shot up almost two times during the last one and a half years of the caretaker government. Now there is a cry of distress all over the country, he noted.

He alleged that the Government is not interested in controlling the prices of daily necessities rather they were busy to hold on to power. Now the common people are battered by high prices of the essentials.

The Government is careless about the people's rights as it has no mandate of the people, he observed.

Delwar said a deep rooted conspiracy is now being hatched to make Bangladesh vassal state.

BNP leaders Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqi, Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan and Shamsuzzaman Dudu also addressed the view exchange. BNP office secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, former MP Sohrab Uddin, Shah Narul Kabir Shahin, Habib un Nabi Sohel, MA Jalil, among others, were present on the occasion.

Among the BNP leaders of Dinajpur district unit, Vice president Abdul Halim and general secretary Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, Chhatra Dal president Mostafa Kamal Milon, Mukut Chowdhury, Soliaman Molla and Syed Jakir Hossain were present in the function.

Young man gunned down at Kafrul

Staff Reporter

A young man was gunned down by unknown assailants at Old Kachukhet in the city's Kafrul area yesterday evening.

Police said gunmen sprayed bullets on Abul Khayer, 35, at Old Kachukhet bazaar at about 6:00pm.

On information, police rushed to the spot and took the victim to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Details of the victim or motive behind the murder were not immediately known.

Swindled man demands return of his money

Staff Reporter

A young man in the city demanded the arrest of a swindler, owner of a travel agency, and the return of his money.

Mizanur Rahman, an orphan from Barisal, paid Tk 200,000 to Belal Hossain, owner of Hasnae Tours and Travels at Karwan Bazar in the city, for going to Saudi Arabia on a work visa one year ago.

Mizan alleged that Ali Akbar the broker of Hasnae Tours and Travels tried to send him to Saudi Arabia at least 7 to 8 times but when he failed, he and Akbar contacted the Government approved medical centre for cross checking his medical report. There they came to know that someone else had already flown to Saudi Arabia on his papers.

"I filed a GD with Tejgaon Police Station in this connection," he said.

Mizan demanded the return of his money and a stop to the death threat being issued by Belal to him.

Live TV dialogue of Mayoral candidates from June 15

BSS, Dhaka

The Election Commission (EC) has arranged live television dialogue between mayoral candidates and voters of the concerned areas.

The first dialogue between mayoral candidates of Barisal City Corporation and voters of the area will be held on July 15 in Barisal Auditorium at Band Road, Public Relations Officer of EC SM Asaduzzaman told BSS yesterday.

The dialogue of Khulna City Corporation will be held on July 21 at Zia Hall, Rajshahi City Corporation on July 25 in Rajshahi Medical College Auditorium and Sylhet City Corporation on July 31 in Sylhet Jalalabad Gas Auditorium.

Two-day dialogue will be arranged for the city corporation that has more mayoral candidates than other city corporations.

At the dialogue, mayoral candidates will face voters and inform them about their future development and welfare plans, if they are elected.

Editor of BBC Bangla Service in London Kamal Ahmed will act as moderator of the dialogues to be held from 8.45 pm to 9.55 pm on the set dates.

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast the programme live, and interested private TV channels can air the programme live taking the feed from BTV.

BTV and BBC, under the supervision of EC, are carrying out all responsibilities, including recording and broadcasting of the programme.

The scrutiny of listeners and viewers is going on and those who are interested in taking part in the dialogue have been asked by BBC and EC to contact at mobile phone Nos. 0172-7174400 (Barisal), 0172-7174411 (Khulna), 0172-7174422 (Rajshahi), 0172- 7174433 (Sylhet) or email bengali@bbc.co.uk or BBC Bangla Service, Postbox-2060, Dhaka-1000 by July 8.

Questions will not be accepted by telephone and selected viewers, who will contact by July 8, can participate in the programme, EC sources said.

A tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between EC, BTV and BBC on Thursday in this regard.

BTV Deputy Director General (Programme) Quamrunnesa Hasan, BBC Bangla Service Chief Sabir Mustafa and EC Public Relations Officer SM Asaduzzaman signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

According to the EC schedule, the elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities will be held on August 4. The last date for filing nomination papers was July 3.

The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on July 7 and 8 and the last date for withdrawal of the nomination papers is July 13.

Sixty-eight mayoral candidates submitted nomination papers in four city corporations, the EC sources said.