The New Nation - Internet Edition

Willes science fair ends

University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Nazrul
Islam distributing prizes to the winners of the two-day
science fair at Willes Little Flower School and College in
the city yesterday. NN photo

Staff Reporter

The two-day Science fair of Willes Little Flower Higher Secondary School and College ended yesterday with the vow to make an analytical and enlightened nation through the development of innovativeness, discovery and creativity of the students.

Prof Nazrul Islam, Chairman of University Grant Commission, became spellbound and praised the innovations of the tiny scientists cum students.

In his concluding speech, he mentioned that such fairs would gift famous scientists to the nation in future.

He opined that the attempt to encourage students through science fair along with pedagogic study was appreciable. He thanked the principal and teachers of the institution for arranging the fair.

Lt Col Mohammad Moinul Islam, Principal of the institution, vowed to enrich the institution in the days to come. The Chief Guest gave away prizes and certificates to the students for their success.

About 2,000 students participated in the fair in 393 different projects.

Photo show on '400 years of Dhaka’ opens

Visitors watching photographs at a photo show on
'400 years of Dhaka' as capital organised by HSBC Bank at
Drik Gallery in the city. NN photo

Staff Reporter

A 10-day long photography exhibition on '400 years of Dhaka' was inaugurated at the Drik Gallery in the city yesterday.

Steve Banner, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), which sponsored the exhibition, inaugurated the show.

Mustafizur R Khan of Marketing and Communications of HSBC, among others, were present at the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Steve said that HSBC was delighted to be able to sponsor an exhibition that so artistically showcases some of Dhaka's rich cultural heritage.

Works of three famous photographers of Bangladesh, Babu Ahmed, Munem Wasef and Taimur were put on display at the exhibition. Besides, photographs of Urban Study Group found place in the show. The exhibition was organised by Traditional Photo Gallery.

The gallery remains open from 3:00pm to 8:00pm everyday till July 22.

The exhibition was a part of various programmes including seminars, photography exhibition, theatre, fashion show to celebrate the 400 years of Dhaka city as a capital city.Two seminars will be held on July 14 and 15 at the Drik Gallery. On July 14 (today) Dr Enamul Haque and architect Taimur Islam will present a paper, while Muntasir Mamun and Dr Abu Sayeed M Ahmed will present another paper on July 15.

Theatre group Palakar will stage play 'Bayannabazar Teppannagali' from July 17 to 21 at Jatiya Natyashala of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. From July 17 to 19, invited guests will be present, while on July 20 and 21, theatre hall will be opened for all.

Another presentation of Palakar group will be held at 7:00pm at Jahir Raihan Auditorium at Loharpool Gandaria in the city on August 1.

'Extortions have more impact in developing countries’

BSS, Dhaka

Extortions might have a more serious impact in the developing countries, while the developed countries are more likely to thwart it with their well-developed legal and institutional structures.

This was highlighted in a seminar paper titled "Bribery versus extortion: allowing the lesser of the two evils," presented by Fahad Khalil of Department of Economics of the University of Washington, Seattle.

The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) organised the seminar at its conference room here on Sunday. Director General of the BIDS Dr Quazi Shahabuddin chaired it while former Finance secretary turned minister AMA Muhit, Research Director of the BIDS Dr M Asaduzzaman, among others, spoke.

Both bribery and extortion weaken the power of incentives, Fahad Khalil said in his paper, adding that there is a tradeoff in fighting the two since rewards to prevent supervisors from accepting bribes create incentives for extortion.

He said, a fear of inducing extortion may make it optimal to allow bribery, but extortion is never tolerated and added that extortion penalises the agent after "good behavior", while bribery penalises the agent after "bad behaviour".

Extortion is a more serious issue when incentives are primarily based on soft information and the agent has a greater bargaining power in negotiating an illegal payment or has a weaker outside opportunities, he opined.

Extortion is a particularly debilitating form of corruption that lead not only to inefficiencies but the alienation of citizens from their government, Fahad Khalil mentioned in his paper.

Why both should not be deterred, although extortion is worse than bribery, he questioned referring a study suggesting that even if it is feasible to deter both, it is optimal to allow bribery when information is soft, but most of the studies suggested that deterring bribery is the optimal.

Muhit said, bribery encourages extortion and both forms of corruption should be deterred.

BCL, JCD rallies demand release of leaders

DU Correspondent

Different student organisations including Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) yesterday raised slogans against the caretaker government on Dhaka University campus demanding freeing of political leaders, national election before all other polls and reducing price of commodities.

JCD, student wing of BNP, and BCL, student wing of Awami League, formed a human chain separately on the Dhaka University campus at noon while 'Nirjaton Protirod Chhatra Andolan,' a platform of general students, staged a demonstration.

The student wings gathered a large number of party supporters, who came from different universities and colleges of the city, on the campus to attend their pre -scheduled programmes.

JCD formed a human chain that stretched from TSC Road Island upto Shahbag intersection and Bangla Academy.

JCD Acting president Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, general secretary Shafiul Bari Babu, vice president Ekramul Haque Biplab, Jayanta Kumar Kunda, Nurul Islam Nayan, organising secretary Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel, Bazlul Chowdhury Abed, DU Unit president Hasan Mamun, among others, participated in the human chain.

BCL formed a human chain in front of Arts Building of the university, which started from central library and stretched towards western side of the Arts Building.

BCL president Mahmudul Hasan Ripon, acting general secretary Syed Abul Kalam Azad, vice president Golam Sarwar Kabir, Aminul Haque Kabir, Nazmul Hossain Jonny, DU unit president Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, general secretary Sazzad Sakib Badsha, among others, participated in their scheduled programme.

Police intercepted the procession of 'Nirjaton Protirod Chhatra Andolan,' near High Court at 1:00pm while they were going towards the secretariat to observe their pre declared 'gherao' programme.

On being barred, they held a rally on the spot where Khomeny Ihsan, convener of the organisation, among others, spoke.

Only elected govt can protect sovereignty: Delwar

UNB, Dhaka

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain said Sunday that the caretaker government should follow the path of the constitution if it thinks that it is a non-party administration.

He said that an unexpected situation might originate if the government did anything beyond the constitutional mandate.

He made the statement at a meeting with Tejgaon thana unit BNP at his NAM apartment in the city.

Referring to the recent statement by Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury that this government would not do anything that would go against the sovereignty, Delwar said only an elected government can protect the sovereignty.

Pointing at the transit facilities as sought by India, the foreign adviser had made the statement. The BNP and its allies are against any move by the government to give transit facilities to India.

Delwar again came down heavily on the government for its failure to arrest soaring prices of daily commodities and asked the party activists to prepare for any future call for a bigger movement.

"You have to stand ready for implementing any future programme," he said.

He repeated his demand for the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her two sons for their treatment abroad.

He said that they would not accept any decision to move Tarique Rahman to any city hospital from the prison cell of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Medical University.

BNP's joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan, Krishak Dal general secretary Shamsuzzaman Dudu, acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed and Tejgaon unit president Jalal Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.

Jail killing case: Appeal hearing begins

UNB, Dhaka

After a lapse of nearly four years, the hearing on the appeals against the trial court verdict in the Jail Killing case began on Sunday before the High Court to confirm the destiny of the convicts, all of them former army officers.

A division bench comprising Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury and Ataur Rahman Khan took up the appeals for hearing.

On October 20, 2004, a Dhaka court sentenced three to death, awarded life imprisonment to 12 and acquitted five in the long-awaited verdict in the historic Jail Killing Case.

The carnage took place inside Dhaka Central Jail in the early hours of November 3, 1975 killing four national leaders-Syed Nazrul Islam, the acting president of Bangladesh government in exile, Tajuddin Ahmed, prime minister, M Mansur Ali, finance minister, and AHM Qamaruzzaman, minister of home affairs, relief and rehabilitation.

Of the total 21 charge-sheeted accused, three are in custody, five on bail, 12 fugitives, and one is long dead and buried in the passage of time.

Three of the 12 awarded life term in jail-Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farook Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan and Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda-are in the Dhaka Central Jail now.

The killings, seen as a desperate act of power usurpers, came 79 days after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family on August 15, 1975.

In a belated trial, the court convicted and ordered to go to the gallows Resalder (retd) Muslemuddin, Dafadar (dismissed) Marfat Ali Shah and Dafadar (dismissed) Abul Hashem Mridha-all on the run.

Those awarded life imprisonment are Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farook Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda, Lt Col (dismissed) Khondaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haq Dalim, Lt Col (retd) SHMB Noor Chowdhury, Maj (Retd) AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, Lt Col (retd) AM Rashed Chowdhury, Major (relieved) Ahmed Sharful Hossain, Capt (retd) Abdul Mazed, Captain (relieved) Kismat Hashem, and Captain (relieved) Nazmul Hossain Ansar.

Farook Rahman, Shahriar Rashid, Bazlul Huda and AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed are in jail while the rest of the convicts are on the run.

Ten of the convicts in this case were earlier awarded death penalty in the Bangabandhu Murder Case, now pending with the Supreme Court for appeal hearings.

Mehdi Hassan hospitalised

PTI, Lahore

Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan was Sunday admitted to a hospital in this eastern Pakistani city after he complained of a chest infection and aching feet.

Doctors treating Hasan, 81, at the emergency ward said his blood pressure had shot up.

They had conducted preliminary medical tests and were hopeful of his early recovery, Geo News channel reported. Hassan, born into a family of traditional musicians in Luna village in Rajasthan, has a large fan following in the subcontinent.

His family migrated to Pakistan at the time of partition. Hassan cut back on his performances in the late 1980s due to illness.

CMC classes resume today

BSS, Chittagong

The academic activities of Chittagong Medical College (CMC) will resume today amid tight rules and security measures on the campus to avert any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, residential students have been allowed to enter their respective dormitories from this morning as per earlier decision.

The academic activities of CMC were suspended and students were asked to vacate the hostels following a fierce clash between the activists of Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal ( JCD) and Islami Chattra Shibir (ICS) centering occupying of two seats of main hostel on Thursday night.

At least 15 supports of both the organizations were injured, huge valuables of students were torched and several hostel facilities were damaged during the clash.

The CMC authority formed 2 separate inquiry committee to probe the incident and asses the extent of damage.

CMC authorities have set some strict rules and measures for maintaining congenial academic atmosphere and to avert any clash further. According to the new rules, no student will be allowed to enter or stay at hostel without showing identity card to the hostel authority and on-duty law enforcers.

Besides respective hostel authorities, members of the on-duty law enforcing agencies were empowered to check student's identity card and other relevant documents while entering the dormitories and other places of the campus, the source added.

The teachers responsible for running the hostel affairs have been asked to present at entry point of the hostel and to ensure that each eligible student could stay at his allocated room.

The authorities have also served a general notice prohibiting gathering of over 3 students inside the campus for the sake of peaceful campus atmosphere. Huge members of the law enforcing agencies have been deployed on the CMC campus and at the dormitory areas.

Aziz blasts affluent society for casting dark cloud: Economy doing reasonably well compared to neighbours

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam Sunday came down heavily on the affluent society in the capital for casting dark clouds over the economy although it has been doing reasonably well compared to neighbouring countries.

"Those of us living in the capital city always see dark clouds all over, there's no silver lining. We say the economy tumbled," he told a meeting of foreign investors, operating in Bangladesh, at Hotel Sheraton.

Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) president Wali Bhuiyan welcomed the guests at their monthly luncheon meeting, pointing out downside risks of budget related to deficit, bank borrowing, lending rate hike and budget implementation.

"The heat of inflation is definitely a dark cloud, which we've not been able to avoid. Though we're not engulfed, the poor people were really hit," the Finance Adviser said about the lone challenge of the economy.

He, however, said Bangladesh was not doing so bad as compared to food surplus countries like India and Vietnam who were respectively suffering from 11.9 and 25 percent inflation.

Dr Aziz encountered criticisms over rising inflation, falling investment, budget deficit, external debt servicing, bank borrowing, deposit as well as lending rate hike, and crowding out private sector credit.

He dubbed the "cloud" as contradictory to resilient and hard working people of the country who despite facing so many challenges were contributing to an estimated economic growth of 6.21 per cent in 2007-08.

The Adviser said the slightly lower GDP growth than previous fiscal year's 6.43 per cent would be achieved, although the economy is confronted with so many challenges both from internal (two successive floods followed by devastating cyclone) and external (food, fuel and fertilizer price) shocks.

"Despite the challenges, the economy has been doing reasonably well," he said, appreciating the contributions of the people while the government was by their side.

Compared with regional economic growth, he said, the economy "certainly is not dismal, even we can say satisfactory." He added that the growth of Chinese and Indian economy would at least be one percent lower than their earlier estimates.

Dr Aziz said one would see a little decline in investment as the just out fiscal year registered investment at 24.2 percent of GDP as compared to 24.46 per cent of the previous fiscal year. "This is by no means alarming."

About the criticism that the government has mortgaged the country's future to external debt, he argued that the debt service as proportionate to exports rather declined to 5.1 per cent in 2007-08 from 5.5 per cent in the previous fiscal year.

The Finance Adviser dismissed the allegation that the banking system was suffering from the liquidity crisis to dry up private sector lending.

He said he carried out an investigation in a bank that had claimed liquidity problem and found an additional fund of Tk 166 crore. He pointed out that the deposit growth registered 12 per cent during the July-April period of the last fiscal year as compared to 16 per cent in the same period of previous fiscal year.

But, what is interesting was that the banks received higher time deposit than demand deposit, getting greater access to long term fund, said the Adviser.

He added that agriculture credit increased by 61 percent and industrial credit rose by 66 percent (July-March) during the last fiscal year while the industrialists did not keep the borrowed money under mattress.

"The overall private sector credit grew 19.5 per cent during July-April period of the last fiscal year," he said, adding that the credit growth was by no means lower.

During July-April period of the last fiscal year, capital machinery imports fell by US$ 126 million, in terms of L/C settlement, than the same period previous fiscal year.

But, in terms of L/C opening, the figure was US$ 218 million plus, indicating increased confidence on business climate. The Finance Adviser said that with the L/Cs settled, the capital machinery imports would cross the figure of previous fiscal year by US$ 204 million.

"Clearly, therefore, despite the challenges the economy is doing reasonably well… despite all odds, I've no reason to think the economy is in doldrums," he reiterated, expecting that the growth would be even faster unless there is any big disaster.

He called upon the business community to drive the economy for its accelerated growth.

Turning to global economic slowdown, Dr Aziz pointed his finger to the "ice of recession, fire of inflation" phenomenon and said Bangladesh was also hovering at an inflation of around 10 percent.

But, he said, the poor are hit hard by the inflation having no savings to draw down. To mitigate their sufferings, the current budget went for massive social protection measures to increase the purchasing power of the poor and to increase food production, he said.

Replying to a question, the Finance Adviser said the bank deposit rate increased due to rise in inflation. "Banks are offering a minimum positive rate of return to the savers… even it will not entail a significant rise in lending rate."

Iran to 'cut hands’ off any attacker

Reuters, Tehran

Iran's president said that even before its enemies "get their hands on the trigger" the country's military would cut them off, media said on Sunday, in a growing war of words that has intensified Middle East tension.

But President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also suggested Iran would consider any proposal by the United States for a U.S. interests section in the Islamic Republic, if it was forthcoming. The two countries have not had diplomatic ties since 1980.

Amid the mounting tensions over Iran's nuclear plans, U.S. media have reported that the State Department was considering opening an interests section that could mean some U.S. diplomats returning to Tehran but operating under another country's flag.

U.S. officials have said there are no concrete plans on such an idea. But Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said this month at the United Nations in New York that any such proposal, if made, could be examined.

"Iran favours actions that would result in enhanced ties between nations of the world," Ahmadinejad said when asked about the issue, according to the website of state-run Press TV.

"We are ready to consider all proposals in this regard."

The Swiss embassy currently handles U.S. interests in Iran but there are no U.S. diplomats working there.

But Ahmadinejad also echoed comments by other Iranian officials and commanders that Iran's response to any attack over its disputed nuclear programme would be quick.

"Before the enemies get their hands on the trigger the armed forces will cut off their hands," the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as telling reporters.

The United States has refused to rule out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the nuclear row. Washington says Tehran is seeking nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies, saying its aim is to generate electricity.

Police can do good job with help of people: IGP

UNB, Rangpur

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad on Sunday said police can do good job if they get cooperation from the people.

"It is not possible for the police alone to ensure wellbeing of the people. It needs public support," he said at a meeting with the members of police forces as chief guest at the Rangpur Police Community Hall.

RAB Director General Hassan Mahmud Khan, DIG of Rajshahi Range Police Mokhlesur Rahman and Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Khandaker Atiar Rahman, among others attended the meeting, chaired by Police Super Hasib Aziz.

The IGP said police could not discharge their duties properly in the past due to interference by various quarters. But now the administration is totally free from any pressure under the present government.

The police administration has now been built up to provide service to the people, not to rule over them, he added.

The IGP said: "Now it is time for police reform and we have already started the process ourselves. Nobody imposed it on us."

He asked police to be accountable to the people, saying that people are compelled to go to them for help in different situations and there is no alternative to it.

Licences of 40 rice mills cancelled in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

The district food control office have cancelled licenses of 40 rice mills in the district as owners of the mills did not renew their licenses and make any contract for supplying rice to the government.

Food control office sources said on Sunday the licenses of 27 rice mills in Jamalpur sadar, two in Sarishabari, seven in Madarganj, three in Islampur and one in Bokshiganj upazilas were cancelled.

Plaintiff gunned down in city

Staff Reporter

The complainant of a murder case was gunned down at Askona in Dakhhinkhan area on the city's outskirts yesterday.

Family sources alleged Israfil, 35, was killed by those who had killed his younger brother so that he couldn't tell the trial court the tale of his brother's murder.

His younger brother, Abdur Rauf alias Abu, was killed in 2003 and he was the plaintiff in the case.

Police said some miscreants intercepted Israfil at Askona while he was going to his business-house 'Prime Cable Network and VCD Center' at about 10:30am and fired into the victim's head and chest.

"Fatally wounded in the daylight shootings, he was rushed to a local clinic. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead," says a spot account of the murder.

A case was filed with Dakhhinkhan police station.

Aug 21 grenade attack: Charge framing deferred

Court Correspondent

A Court of Dhaka did not press charge yesterday in the case filed in connection with the grenade attack on a meeting of the Awami League on August 21, 2004 at Bangabandhu Avenue of the city, as many of the accused were not present in the court-room.

Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Second Court of Dhaka Rasheduzzaman Raza refixed July 22 for pressing charge. Of the 22 accused 6 have been absconding, while of the 14 accused who are in custody 8 were produced before the court. They are : former Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, Mufti Abdul Hannan, Arif Hasan Sumon, Hafez Moulana Abu Taher, Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul, Mafizur Rahman Mohibullah, Uzzal and Rafiqul Islam.