The New Nation - Internet Edition

Share market slide continues

Small investors formed a human chain in front of
Dhaka Stock Exchange building yesterday demanding the
removal of all existing anomalies in the DSE.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The share market prices slipped marginally at both the bourses in Dhaka and Chittagong yesterday, triggering demonstrations and slogans against market regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and also against the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) authorities.

However, the numbers of losers and gainers at DSE were almost on an equal level yesterday while the losers outnumbered the gainers at Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).

Total 222 issues were traded at DSE yesterday of which 105 advanced, 104 plunged and 13 remained unchanged. At CSE, 143 issues were traded yesterday. Of them, 60 gained, 79 declined and four remained unchanged.

The DSI or all-share price index slipped 2.38 points or 0.09 per cent, closing at 2585.61. The blue-chip DSE-20 finished at 2598.20, gaining 33.79 points or 1.31 per cent.

The opening day of the week, however, marked an increased investors participation, which led turnover on the country's prime bourse to stand at Tk 312 crore-from 19,232,521 shares changing hands.

At CSE, All Share Price Index (CASPI) declined by 0.05 per cent to close at 9107.46 points. The CSE-30 Index also shed 0.20 per cent to close at 8201.34 points.

The CSCX or selective categories index shed 6.37 points or 0.10 per cent to end on 5897.74. The CSE-30 blue-chip advanced 17.11 points or 0.20 per cent to 8201.34.

Turnover on the port city bourse amounted to Tk 43.38 crore from trading of 4,618,921 shares and debentures.

The first half of the day saw heavy buying while selling dominated the end of trading.

DSE chief executive Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters that the trend in the market was rational. "Investors are getting matured which has been reflected in the blue chip index," he said.

At DSE, the benchmark DGEN or general index remained in a positive territory until the midday session. It maintained a downward curve afterwards to edge up 1.15 points or .03 per cent to finish at 3020.30.

ACI topped the turnover board, closing 11.70 per cent higher at Tk 383.60. Square Pharmaceuticals ended on Tk 5302.50, down by 2.01 per cent.

Lanka Bangla Finance advanced 4.18 per cent to Tk 226.80. Beximco finished at Tk 96.40, rising 17.13 per cent from last week's closing price. AIMS 1st Mutual Fund also gained 3.22 per cent to Tk 16.01.

The other scrips on the turnover board-Beximco Pharma, Fareast Islami Life Insurance, Keya Cosmetics, Prime Finance and Investments and NBL-also rose.

WFP new representative in Dhaka

John Aylieff

John Aylieff has assumed responsibility as the WFP Representative in Bangladesh. He brings with him 18 years of experience in the humanitarian and development sector, much of which was gained in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Aylieff has handled a number of international emergency operations throughout his career. He earlier served as the Emergency Coordinator and Director, Assessment, Analysis and Preparedness Division in WFP Head Quarters in Rome, Italy. Mr. Aylieff successfully managed WFP's largest ever special operation, aimed at providing logistics support to the delivery and monitoring of food across Iraq in 2003 while working at Larnaca, Cyprus.

From 2003 to 2006, he served WFP Brussels office as Director, European Commission Relations Division.

"I am delighted to have been appointed to serve in Bangladesh," he said on his appointment as the WFP Representative in Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is one of the key partners for WFP, With the 3rd largest number of poor and hungry people in the country, our work here has a great implication for achieving the global MDGs," he added. WFP assists nearly 5 million of Bangladesh's poorest through number of targeted interventions, which use food and cash to encourage recipients to enhance both technical and social skills.

Mr. Aylieff jointed WFP in Ethiopia in 1992. He is married with one son.

Settlement of Bihari issue: Baroness Tonge arrives today

Baroness Tonge

UNB, Dhaka

Baroness Tonge will arrive here on Monday on a 3-day to officially launch the Dhaka Initiative's report on 'Bihari Settlements in Bangladesh".

The Dhaka Initiative was set up to establish the wishes of the Biharis and to help them achieve a sustainable future.

A British Council release said a survey of camp dwellers, carried out on behalf of the Dhaka Initiative and covered in the report, revealed that 80% per cent were born after liberation and that 98% wanted to participate fully in Bangladeshi society as equal citizens.

During her visit, Baroness Tonge will meet the Law Adviser, Trustees of the Dhaka Initiative and the Acting Head of DFID in Bangladesh.

She will also visit the DFID funded project in Narayanganj - "Urban Partnerships for Poverty Reduction" and will have a luncheon meeting with international organisations and attend a press conference.

Baroness Tonge of Kew, Member, House of Lords, elected as an MP in 1997, and became peer in the dissolution honours in 2005. She joined the Liberal Party at UCL in 1959. She became a regular election helper and campaigner, including Chair of Richmond and Barnes Liberal Party in 1978.

In 1981, she was elected as a Liberal Councillor for the Kew Ward in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. She chaired the Social Services Committee for four years. During her nine years as a Councillor, she served on almost every major Council Committee. She was also Chair of Governors at Waldegrave School She was Head of Women's Services for Ealing Health Authority 1983-89, Medical Officer to London Youth Advisory Service 1989-92, Community Services Manager in Southall from 1992. She was the Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary until standing down in 2003.

55th anniversary of RU celebrated

Teachers and students of Rajshahi University brought
out a procession on campus celebrating the 55th founding
anniversary of the university on Sunday. Banglar
Chokh

RU Correspondent

Rajshahi University observed it's 55th founding anniversary with no fanfare yesterday.

Celebration of the day began with hoisting the National flag and the University flag and releasing baloons in the sky by its Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr. Mamnunul Keramat at 10:00 am at the Sabash Bangladesh Chatter of the University.

Later students, teachers and officials led by VC Prof Keramat brought out a procession and marched on the campus.

Besides, a tree plantation programme at the Teachers Students Cultural Centre (TSCC) and a discussion meeting were also held.

VC Prof Mamnunul Keramat presided over the discussion meeting addressed by former VCs Prof Moslem Huda, Prof Faisul Islam Faruqi and Prof M. Anisur Rahman, former Pro-VC Shahadat Hossain Mondol, student Adviser Prof Faridul Islam, Director of TSCC Prof Abdur Rahman Siddiki and Dean of Social Science Prof Sadekul Islam. About 200 RU students, teachers, hall provosts and other officials were present on the occasion.

However, different students organisations of Rajshahi University like JCD, BCL and left-leaning organisations in several press releases criticised the authorities, as there was no festivities in the observance.

President of the celebration committee Prof Sadekul Islam said the day could not be observed in the befitting manner and in the festive mood due to sufficient budget and added that the budget for the programme was only Tk 8800.

Rajshahi University was established on July 06, 1953 at Rajshahi with only 161 students.

Climate change analysis absent at SAARC meet

Staff Reporter

The analysis of the main reasons of climate change was absent at the ministerial level SAARC conference claimed the Equity and Justice Working Group (EJWG), a non-governmental organisation at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity premises.

Without political process and people's participation the implementation of the SAARC programme to protect climate change will be impossible, claimed EJWG.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Convener, Bazlur Rahman, Shahadat Islam Chowdhury, M Kamal Hossain and Sarmin Islam Daizy, members of the organisation attended at the press conference.

Equity BD proposed that all member countries ratify the proposal of establishing a SAARC Food Bank to meet the food crisis of the region. It urged that the proposed SAARC Food Bank would not in any way give opportunity to any member country to take advantage of the food crisis of any other country.

EJWG has urged the government of Bangladesh to impress upon other SAARC countries to make provision so that Bangladesh nationals can easily go to SAARC and other countries.

As developed countries emit carbon for which the people of the least developed countries like Bangladesh suffers, the emission of carbon should be considered as 'Ecological Debt' in the SAARC Summit. The countries of SAARC should estimate the amount of loss by environment hazard and demand compensation from the developed countries.

EJWG demanded that Bangladesh should take initiative to amend the charter of SAARC so that member countries can freely talk and ask for redress about non-availability of water, salinity and other problems in any country by the action of any other member country.

EJWG observed that the effort of creating a SAARC Development Fund is good. It may be turned to SAARC Development Bank so that member countries do not need to go to existing multinational banks for fund of stringent conditions.

118 high profile citizens convicted in 14 months

BSS, Dhaka

As many as 118 high profile citizens including Ministers, State Ministers, Lawmakers, Bureaucrats and Businessmen were jailed for different terms by the special courts over the last 14 months.

A total of 10 special courts were set up after the present caretaker government came to power to try the graft cases field by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the National Board of revenue (NBR)

Most of them were convicted in 71 cases for amassing wealth through illegal means and concealing facts in the wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and also for evading tax. ACC and NBR lodged the cases with different police stations and also with courts.

The government initiated a process to set up these special courts on May 6 last year aimed at expediting the trial proceedings of the corruption cases.

The first verdict was pronounced by M Ashraf Hossain, judge of a special court, by awarding three years' sentence to Haris Chowdhury, former political secretary to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, for non-complying a notice of the ACC, which asked for submitting his wealth statement. The verdict was announced in his absence as he was absconding since the case was lodged.

According to official sources, judgements in 75 graft cases lodged by the ACC were announced by different courts awarding punishments to a good number of former ministers.

Former Ministers of the immediate past four-party alliance government Barrister Nazmul Huda, Barrister Aminul Haque, Mirza Abbas and Shahjahan Siraj; former State Ministers Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, Amanullah Aman, Salauddin Ahmed and Barrister Shahjahan Omar; former lawmakers Ali Asgar Lobi, Musaddek Ali Falu, Engineer Monzurul Ahsan Munshi, M Rasiduzzman Millat, M Naser Rahman and Hafiz Ibrahim, former BRTC Chairman Advocate Toymur Alam Khandaker, Rabeya Siraj, Chowdhury Shahrin Islam Tuhin; Ward Commissioners Chowdhury Alam, Mirza Khokan and Monwar Hossain Dipzol and CBA leaders BM Bakir Hossain and Firoz Miah were jailed in different graft cases for several terms.

Awami League leaders convicted in such graft cases during the period included former Chief Whip Abul Hasanat Abdullah, former lawmakers Quazi Jafarullah, Dr H B M Iqbal, Hazi Mokbul Ahmed, Hazi Selim, Sheikh Helal Uddin, former Minister Mohammad Nasim, former State Ministers Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Mufazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Awami Sechhasebak League leader Pankaj Debnath.

Besides, Jatiya Party chief and former Minister Anwar Hossain Monju, his wife and former Lawmaker Tasmima Hossain, former Jammet-e- Islami lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury and Islami Oykko Jote leader and former lawmaker Mufti Shahidul Islam were also awarded jail for several terms.

Among the bureaucrats, former Secretaries Ismail Jabiullah and ANM Akhter Hossain, former Additional Inspector General of Police Shahidullah Khan, former Chief Conservator of Forests Osman Ghani and former NBR member ATM Sorwar Hossain were sentenced to different terms of jail for corruption.

Chairman of Basundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Chairman of Orion Group Obaidul Karim and Chairman of Globe-Janakhanta group Atiqullah Khan Masud were also convicted in different graft cases.

According to the ACC sources, a total of 332 cases have so far been lodged under the graft charges and chargesheets have been submitted in 207 cases while investigation is going on in 66 cases. Final reports in 50 cases have already been submitted to the concerned courts during this period.

Several cases against former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia along with others were pending before different courts under graft and extortion charges, the sources said.

Dhaka's proposals accepted in D-8 draft declaration

BSS, Kuala Lumpur

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Sunday said that at least three major proposals made by the Bangladesh delegation have been included in the draft declaration that the D-8 is expected to issue at the end of the current Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

"These have to do with the rights of migrant workers, the recognition of Climate Change as a major threat to all including D-8 countries, and the establishment of a food bank by the group, all these of which are of major interest to Bangladesh", the foreign adviser said.

He added that the Foreign Ministers of the D-8 are yet to agree on the Preferential Trade Agreement.

"Some differences still remain, which will have to be worked out. We would like decisions to be on the basis of consensus. I am sure we will be able to reach agreement on this as well," Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury stated.

"The D-8 is a significant grouping of eight of the largest Muslim-majority developing courtiers. If we can work together, and I am sure we can, we may be able to emerge as a significant force in international politics, " the Foreign Adviser remarked.

The Heads of government for the summit are scheduled to arrive in Kula Lumpur tomorrow. The Bangladesh delegation to the summit will be led by Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed.

Govt still adamant to implement 'minus two' formula: Delwar

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday said the caretaker government was still adamant in implementing "the Minus two formula" and added that the government was trying to send BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia abroad.

Khondoker Delwar was speaking on the occasion of token hunger strike organised by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal, BNP weavers' wing, at Manik Mia Avenue in the city.

The hunger strike was staged to press home its six-point demands including unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

The BNP Secretary General said the Government was going to hold the local government election ignoring the demands of the people and political parties.The government is holding the local government polls ahead of the general election only to mislead the people, he maintained.

He warned that the government will have to bear the full responsibility if any awkward situation is created for holding the local government polls first.

Delwar said, "We urged the government repeatedly to withdraw the state of emergency, but the govt did not pay any heed. It is going ahead deviating from the main task."

Former MPs Kalimuddin and Ahmed Milon also spoke on the occasion. President of the front freedom fighter Humayan Islam Khan and its general secretary Abul Kalam Azad, among others, were present.

Priority to SAARC food security plan urged

BSS, Dhaka

SAARC, one of the most venerable regions in the world to climate adversities, might be benefited the highest by showing respect to the problems of each other and making the forum as a potent platform to get due share of 'carbon credit' from developed countries.

SAARC member countries should come to an urgent agreement to ensure food security for their people, constitute one third of global population, considering the demand of food which according to the experts would be seriously be effected due to climate change.

Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD), a non- government advocacy forum working with a number of international organizations for sustainable development, said this at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) here on Sunday.

According to the leaders of the EquityBD the SAARC action plan adopted at the ministerial meeting last week in Dhaka to face the impacts of climate change has only reflected the vision of the bureaucracy, not of the people.

They praised the Bangladesh government's initiative for convening the SAARC environment ministers meeting at a very crucial time. But, the expectations of the people have reflected very little in the three-year action plan on climate change, they said.

The group urged the SAARC leaders to enrich the action plan by including the opinion of the people who are the main victims of the climate change at the upcoming SAARC summit in Colombo.

Convenor of the group Razaul Karim Chowdhury said, the SAARC itself has infrastructure problem to adapt 'peoples' voice'. But, as far as climate issues are concerned the SAARC leaders should weigh in the concerns of masses and civil society members like other international forums, he said.

EquityBD particularly gave emphasis on three key areas- firstly- ratification of the proposal for food security, secondly- easy migration of affected people, and thirdly- using SAARC as a regional forum to realize due share from the international funds created for adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer.

The EquityBD with some other forum like Jubilee South, LDC Watch and South Asia Association for Poverty Alleviation will urge SAARC leaders from "People SAARC" to be held in Colombo on July 18-20 preceding the Summit of the regional grouping to improve the Action Plan on Climate Change, he told the press conference.

Member of the group AHM Bazlur Rahman was present among others.

Rich nations poised to tackle soaring oil, food prices

AFP, Toyako

The United States and Japan called Sunday for urgent action on red-hot oil and food prices that could derail the global economy on the eve of a summit of the world's richest nations.

As US President George W. Bush arrived at this mountain resort, authorities sealed off Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, with demonstrations relegated to its largest city, Sapporo.

Group of Eight leaders will hold three days of talks in the resort town of Toyako that will be dominated by the fragile world economy, global warming and problems ranging from Zimbabwe to North Korea and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda that also touched on climate change, North Korea's nuclear programme and aid to Africa.

Fukuda said the leaders of the world's two largest economies had agreed that urgent efforts are needed to tackle surging oil and food prices.

The dual-crises "are having a negative impact on the world economy," Fukuda told a joint press conference. "We agreed there's a need for swift efforts on these fronts."

Security was formidable across picturesque Hokkaido, with around 21,000 police deployed to protect the leaders as they huddle in a luxury hilltop hotel.

The leaders of the G8 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Russia and the United States-will be joined by those of some 15 other countries including China, India, Brazil, Australia and eight African states for expanded sessions on global warming and poverty alleviation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the G8 leaders would agree on steps to fight the soaring price of food and to guarantee supplies.

The steps will provide short-term relief to the crisis and a long-term strategy to increase world agricultural production.

Rising food prices have pushed 100 million people below the poverty line, the World Bank estimates, and have sparked street riots around the world.

Japanese press reports have said the G8 will agree to set up a task force on the food crisis or create a system of food reserves much like oil reserves.

But aid groups warned that record food and oil prices should not be allowed to derail the leaders' talks on Africa on Monday as the crisis had simply worsened the plight of the poor. On Wednesday, climate change will top the agenda when an expanded group of nations meets.

The leaders are expected to pledge to spearhead efforts to halve emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 after agreeing a year ago to "consider seriously" that goal.

Petrobangla may call fresh tender in 3rd round bidding

UNB, Dhaka

After receiving very poor response, the Petrobangla is likely to invite fresh international bids for hydrocarbon exploration in the country's maritime territory, official sources said.

According to the sources, in the recently held 3rd round international bidding, only seven IOCs submitted their offers for 15 out of the 28 blocks -- 8 shallow-water blocks and 20 deep-water blocks. There was no offer for 13 blocks.

After evaluation, it was found that only two international companies' offers are responsive for 9 blocks. Of these, the US-based ConocoPhilip alone came out as responsive for 8 blocks -- 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21, while Tullow emerged as responsive bidder for Block 5.

The bidding took place on May 7 in Dhaka. Petrobangla, however, was not able to submit its evaluation report to the Energy Ministry. The Petyrobangla had a plan to sign contracts with the selected IOCs and make the final award by September 2008.

After such poor participation by the IOCs, the Petrobangla top officials are trying to figure out the reasons for the poor response with most oil majors opting out from submitting their bids.

They feel that there were a number of reasons behind the poor response. Firstly, when Bangladesh invited the 3rd round bids, at the same time neighbouring Myanmar and India also invited tenders and most of the oil majors were busy submitting bids against the Indian tender.

Secondly, Bangladesh did not make adequate campaign abroad. Particularly, there was no international road show outside the country. Normally, any country wishing to invite such bids organizes road show in some important cities like Singapore, Dubai, Paris, London and New York.

Thirdly, Bangladesh had not acquired adequate seismic data on the hydrocarbon blocks for which it invited tenders. This ultimately failed to attract major oil companies.