The New Nation - Internet Edition

Nobel Committee chief meets CA: Poverty alleviation must for world peace

Chairman Nobel Peace Committee Ole Danbolt Mjos,
Norwegian Ambassador Ingebjorg Stofring, Director, Nobel
Peace Centre, Bente Erichsen and Nobel laureate Dr Mohammad
Yunus at a reception accorded to Ole Danbolt Mjos at the
China-Bangladesh Friendship C

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the world community should come forward to address the challenges of climate change that made vulnerable the process of poverty alleviation in countries like Bangladesh.

"Poverty alleviation is a must for lasting peace and sustainable development", he said adding that the climate change is now a major issue for Bangladesh in this context.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said this while the visiting Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjos paid a courtesy call on him at the Chief Adviser's office here.

Nobel laureate Professor Dr Mohammad Younus, Director of the Nobel Peace Center

Ms Bente Erichsen and Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Ms Injebjorg Stofring were accompanying Ole Danbolt Mjos.

Secretary to the Chief Adviser's Office Kazi M Aminul Islam and Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser M Sarwar Alam were also present.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed called upon the forum of Nobel Committee to use its good office internationally to address more effectively the issue of climate change and poverty alleviation.

Dr Yunus put emphasis on fixing a time-frame and ascertain responsibilities of the international community to address the challenges of climate change. "It is not issue for tomorrow, rather it is for today" he asserted.

Referring to the Nobel Peace prize winning by Dr Mohammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, the Chief Adviser said the whole nation celebrated this great event overwhelmingly throughout the country.

"Micro-credit during last two decades brought about a silent revolution in the country, raising the people's capability of tackling the aftermath of natural calamities," he added.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said the Grameen Bank was established as per an act and both the government and non-government organisations could work together as their target of development is the same.

"We are the least responsible for the climate change but the worst sufferer of it," he said adding that Bangladesh needs huge financial assistance for implementing its adaptation strategy of development.

He urged the world community to take visible steps immediately in this regard as there are scientific evidences that global warming and climate changes have been causing repeated natural calamities.

Referring to the last years' two floods and super cyclone Sidr, the Chief Adviser said the extent of damage was less due to rapid steps undertaken by the government.

As a densely populated country, he said, Bangladesh needs more assistance from the international community to build its infrastructure to tackle such calamities in future.

"If you can not fight poverty, you can not win peace" Ole Danbolt Mjos said adding, Dr Yunus and Grameen Bank are ingredients of good work, making contribution to peace and fighting poverty.

He said micro-credit is functioning well in the developed Countries, where the poor people are also getting benefit from it.

"Bad climate has created negative impact on poverty alleviation programme and peace process," Ole Danbolt said adding, it should be faced globally now.

He appreciated the role of Grameen Bank in empowering women and providing them with the capacity negotiation in society.

Return of bad elements to polls worries govt

Staff Reporter

Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA) yesterday demanded abolition of the caretaker government system as it has plunged into a political imbroglio, particularly on the election issue.

"Like the monarchy of Nepal, an end to the so-called Caretaker Government system is the demand of the day," said JAGPA President Shafiul Alam Prodhan at the joint press briefing following their dialogue with the Caretaker Government at the Chief Adviser's Office.

The 9-member JAGPA delegation also demanded relaxation of the state of emergency, rational distribution of power between the President and the Prime Minister.

Regarding transit issue, Prodhan said the government cannot hold any discussion on transit agreements with India unless ongoing problems, including the Farakka barrage, trade deficit and border shootings of Bangladeshi nationals, are resolved first.

In reply, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the government would address the transit issue in upcoming discussions with India in such a way so that national interests remain intact.

'The government will not take such steps that will hamper the national interests," he said

Adviser for Education and Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the government would not act in any way that poses a threat to national interests or sovereignty of the country

Referring to the JAGPA's assessment the 'wrong people' were contesting the ensuing local body polls, he said, "The matter is very significant and an early warning for all of us."

"We must think over the matter," the Adviser said adding that all, particularly political parties, should think over this phenomenon as it comes as an early warning for all.

He said all would have to be careful so that the efforts for a change for a qualitative culture do not fall behind.

Prodhan said question arises in the public mind over the caretaker government's recent soft attitude or compromise on corruption after waging a war against the curse.

In reply, the Education Adviser categorically denied any compromise on corruption by the government.

"The caretaker government is advancing taking the whole nation towards a logical solution on the basis of certain principle where no concession will be given on the question of principle," he said.

On the release of detained former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the Adviser said the government is advancing following legal, humanitarian and political processes for logical solution and the matter would be solved in appropriate time.

The JAGPA demands also include introduction of ration for poor people in rural and urban areas, fixing the state position on the national leaders like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Shere-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq and Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed along with three advisers concerned was present at the dialogue. Adviser for LGRD M Awanrul Iqbal and JAGPA leaders-Khandokar Lutfar Rahman, Rehena Prodhan, Tapan Chakravarty, Shamsul Alam and Mohiuddin Bablu, among others, were also present at the dialogue and the joint press briefing.

Gen Moeen urges farmers: Increase farm output to attain food autarky

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed distributing cash
among the beneficiaries of the army-assisted pisciculture
project in main canal of Teesta Barrage Project in Rangpur
on Wednesday. Banglar Chokh

UNB, Rangpur

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed Wednesday urged farmers to boost their farm produce to help the country attain food autarky, as it is not possible to live on imports.

"It's not possible to control market by importing food-grains. So, we have to achieve food autarky by boosting agricultural production," he said during his visit to Moheshpur village in Sadar upazila.

Earlier, the army chief inaugurated the planting of early variety of Birridhan-33 saplings and released fish fry in the canal of Water Development Board-both are part of measures for enhancing production of food items.

He said cultivation of Birridhan-33 would help mitigate 'Monga' and create

employment opportunity in the region as the early variety of paddy can be harvested nearly 45-50 days before the local varieties-the intervening period when the penury called monga hits the backwater villages.

He mentioned government plan to bring 40,000 hectares of land in the greater Rangpur region, including 10,000 in Rangpur, under the Birridhan-33 cultivation this season.

"Farmers, through farming this variety, would be able to cultivate rabi crops early, which will benefit them economically and socially," he told his audience.

Pointing out fish deficit in Rangpur region, the army chief, whose force is backing the present caretaker government, said if fish is farmed in a planned way here, it would be possible to meet local demand as well as of the country.

Fish farming was started in the WDB's 109-km canal here from 2007 under the supervision of the army.

The army chief witnessed the selling of fish from the canal and released new fish fry in it. He also provided Tk 10,000 each to of the 10 fish-beneficiary farmers of the canal from its profit.

General Moeen also distributed 5-kg granule urea fertilizer each among 100 farmers.

He later inaugurated a tree-planting programme on the bank of the canal. Some 20,000 different species of fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal saplings would be planted along the canal bank under the afforestation scheme.

Major General Fatemi Ahmed Rumi, GOC and also Rangpur Area Commander, and Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan accompanied the army chief during his visit.

Attorney Gen resigns

Fida M Kamal

UNB, Dhaka

Attorney-General Barrister Fida M Kamal yesterday resigned on 'personal grounds', after a prolonged abortive meeting with the Law Adviser of the caretaker government.

Carrying his self-composed resignation letter in his pocket, he went to the office of Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff in the afternoon and submitted the letter addressed to the President, Law Ministry sources said.

According to the sources, prior to his resignation, Fida had a five-hour-long parley with the Law Adviser about his quitting the office of country's chief law officer.

The Law Adviser persistently persuaded him to change his mind, but the 60-year-old Fida stuck to his guns.

For quite some time, the relationship between Fida and the government had been strained over some important cases for their quick disposal.

The latest dispute cropped up over an ordinance related to recruitment of government law officers and its organogram. "He felt insulted as he was never consulted in this matter," a source in the AG office said.

His resignation comes into immediate effect as there is no provision for accepting or rejecting resignation from any such constitutional post of the republic.

On February 5 last year, Fida was appointed Attorney General, as the post fell vacant with the resignation of his predecessor AJ Mohammad Ali.

Ali had stood down on Jan 24 last year in the wake of persisting demand by political parties and lawyers seeking 'depoliticization' of the AG office.

Prior to his elevation to AG, Fida had served as Additional Attorney General since June 2002. He was also tipped as Additional AG by the 4-party alliance government "on political considerations".

Azam sent to jail after surrender

Awami Jubo League General Secretary Mirza Azam being
taken to jail on Wednesday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

General Secretary of Awami Jubo League Mirza Azam was sent to jail yesterday after he surrendered before the court in connection with a graft case. He surrendered before the court after evading arrest for over six months.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Azizul Haque ordered to send Azam to jail rejecting his bail prayer as the case was filed under the Emergency Powers Rules (EPR).

Mobara Khanom, Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), On January 10, lodged the case with Ramna Police Station against the former AL lawmaker and whip, Mirza Azam, on charges of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income and hiding accurate information of his assets.

Azam was accused of masking Tk 64,295 worth of wealth and making wealth worth Tk 53.62 lakh beyond his known sources of income. On July 7, the Deputy Director of ACC SM Mofizul Islam, the investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet to the CMM court of Dhaka showing 34 people as prosecution witnesses.

BM College VP killed in encounter with RAB

Moshiul Alam Sentu

UNB, Barisal

Vice President of Barisal BM College Students Union was killed in an encounter between RAB and his associates at Kashipur in Sadar upazila early Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Moshiul Alam Sentu, 35, also president of city unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).

Acting on secret information, RAB personnel arrested Sentu from Kataban area in the capital Tuesday evening.

According to his statement, a team of RAB along with Sentu went to Kashipur at about 4:30am to arrest his cohorts and recover hidden arms.

But, as they reached near the Kashipur den of terrorists, Sentu's sidekicks opened fire on them forcing the law enforcers to fire back that triggered a gun battle. "Sentu was caught in the line of fire while trying to flee and died on the spot," said an eyewitness account of the gun battle.

RAB recovered one AK-47 rifle, a shutter gun, a revolver and a short gun from the scene.

Captain Anis of RAB-8 said there were a number of allegations against Sentu. But he could not confirm whether there was any case against him with the police.

Frequent foreign tour : Fisheries Ministry activities hamper

Staff Reporter

Frequent foreign visits by a top official of the Ministry of Fisheries is badly hampering normal activities of the ministry and departments under it, sources in the Ministry said.

The top official is now staying in China on a 9-day-long study tour. During the last five months he also visited Nepal, Belgium, South Africa and USA, and is scheduled to go to Thailand in August, sources added.

Such frequent visits by said official has delayed decisions on many important files of different programmes and projects under the ministry. Besides, participation of the top official in petty programmes has created resentment among the lower level officials of the ministry who are deprived of the same privilege.

Fisheries Secretary Syed Ataur Rahman is now in China to participate in a study tour on 'Waterways leasing system'. He went there on July 12 and is scheduled to return on July 20. Officials said such a study tour is suitable for junior level officials. The low level officials can participate in such study tour and submit report to the high officials, according to sources.

Syed Ataur Rahman led a four-member delegation to US from June 14 to June 21 to have talks with the United States Trade Representatives (USTR) officials on labour rights and child labour issues.

In May this year the Secretary visited South Africa to attend a seminar. He visital Belgium from April 17 to April 24 to attend European Sea Food Fair. In March this year, he attended a programme on fisheries in Nepal.

An official said due to the frequent foreign tours of the secretary decisions on many important issues of national interest have been left pending.

Development of tourism sector stressed

Talha Bin Habib

Bureaucratic efficiency, proper training to manpower, formulation of comprehensive strategic plan and necessary campaign could significantly attract tourists which in turn would spur the country's economy.

The was stated by travel experts and those associated with the country's tourism industry in course of talks with the New Nation.

They regretted that no government in the past gave any serious attention to the promotion of this vital sector, which has great potential of earning huge foreign exchange and generating employment opportunities on a large scale.

They called upon the government to support the tourism sector by providing security and ensuring conducive environment for tourists.

Raqib Siddique, a travel operator said every year this sector is yielding substantial revenue to the state exchequer, but development of tourism industry always went by default in the past.

He pointed out that though the National Tourism Council was constituted in 1992, nothing has been to activate it and it exists in name only.

Hasan Mansur, who is associated with the tourism industry, said our national carrier Bangladesh Biman could play a key role in attracting overseas tourists by offering tourism package at cheaper rate and other facilities within the country.

Some tour operators said the tourism sector of the country has started picking up and they want the government to play as a facilitator by building infrastructures and developing communication.

About 2 lakh and 70 thousand people visited Bangladesh last year, According to World Tourism Organisation (WTO). Except Bhutan Bangladesh lacks behind all the SAARC countries.

Special Assistant to Chief Adviser in charge of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Jamil said the caretaker government has initiated an effort to create a new National Tourism Organisation (NTO) with a view to putting tourism on the right track and kick start its development.

When asked a high official of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) said the national tourism organisation has taken different measures to catch up more foreign tourists in the country.

Coordination between public and private organisations, proper planning, allocation of more funds, implementation of National Tourism Policies, encouraging private sector initiatives, improving law and order, right projection of the country and maintaining flexibility in issuing visa and regular exchange of knowledge and information with other countries could ensure sustainable development of tourism sector in the country.

SQ Chy, Pintu, Hashem granted bail

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted one-month interim bail to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, former BNP MP Nasir Uddin Pintu, and Partex Group chairman and ex-BNP MP MA Hashem.

All three are in jail custody in separate corruption cases.

Granting bail upon separate petitions, a division bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice Emdadul Haque Azad stayed for one month the proceedings of the cases faced by them.

The court also issued separate rules asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the cases against them should not be quashed.

The rules are returnable in four weeks.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq appeared for them while Advocate Moazzem Hossain for the ACC.

The anti-graft watchdog filed separate cases against SQ Chowdhury, Pintu and Hashem for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information.

The same bench stayed for two months the proceeding of a graft case filed against Awami League presidium member Tofael Ahmed's daughter Dr Taslima Ahmed Zaman. She has been made a co-accused in the case against her father for acquiring illegal wealth and hiding information.

The bench also issued a rule asking the ACC to explain why the graft case against former BNP lawmaker MAH Selim alias Silver Selim should not be quashed. The rule is returnable in four weeks.

Govt borrows Tk 1500 crore every month from banks

Pulack Ghatack

Bangladesh Bank has been withdrawing money from banks through repeated auctions of reverse repo and treasury bills, as the banking system is flooded with huge extra liquidity, informed sources said.

Since first week of July, the Government has also started to borrow money from the banking system by issuing treasury bonds and bills as it projected to receive in the new fiscal year's budget. Government yesterday received Tk 400 crore long-term loans by issuing bonds.

The Government will take Tk 1050 crore from the banking sector on an average per month to fulfil its budgetary target of around Tk 13,500 crore loan to cover a part of Tk 30,580 crore deficit.

The present caretaker government will not have to repay the loans during its tenure, as the loans are termed for one year to 20 years.

The government is set to borrow Tk 13,498 crore from banks to finance the heavily indebted budget of Tk 99,962 crore for the 2008-09 fiscal year, which the businesses fear would create a crowd-out situation for the private sector.

Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday accepted five bids of one-day reverse repos worth 748 crore taka at a 6.50 percent interest rate.

On Monday, the bank also accepted seven bids of one-to-seven day reverse repos worth 918 crore taka at the same interest rate.

Officials of the central bank said that it would auction 125 crore taka worth of 20-year government treasury bonds next Tuesday.

Currently, government treasury bills (T-bills) are sold through auctions to adjust government borrowing from the banking system. The T-bills have 28-day, 91-day, 182-day and 364-day maturity periods.

Some officials of various banks also admitted of having as much as Tk 1000 crore excess liquidity with them.

"Actually we are putting the money with the central bank as the market does not demand the excess liquidity that we have," a fund manager of a private commercial bank told this correspondent yesterday.

He, however, said, "The situation will not last long. You will see the money market to face shortfall tomorrow (Thursday). Call money demand will also rise."

At present the call money rate is far below single digit. It was only 6.5 per cent yesterday.

There had been a decrease in the excess liquidity amounting to Tk 2859 crore in the banking system in April, as demand for private sector credit increased.

Excess liquidity on April 30 stood at Tk 9337 core, which was Tk 12196 crore on March 30 of this year and Tk 14279 crore on June 30 in 2007.

Clash at Patuakhali varsity: 12 injured

GM Babar Ali with SM Imran

Patuakhali Science and Technology University on Tuesday night turned into a veritable battlefield for four hours in a sequel to a dispute with outsiders over a film festival leaving 12 persons, including two teachers injured.

In protest against the incident, the students of the University announced class-boycott programme demanding proper investigation into the incident and termination of the teacher responsible for it.

The students demonstrated inside the University closing the main gate of the campus from 7:00pm to 11:00pm on Tuesday since some outsiders tried to enter the film festival venue forcibly and mounted an attack on a student.

Sources said, Anisur Rahman, a lecturer of the University allegedly handed over his VIP ticket to an outsider, Saidul, to watch a film show. He tried to enter the festival venue with more five outsiders ignoring objection from the volunteer students.

Later, Saidul and his friend Shahin came across one of the volunteer students at the local bazar and beaten him up severely.

Soon after spreading of the news, the students of the university gathered on the campus and demonstrated against the incident. At one stage they also manhandled Prof Dr Rabiul Haque Fitu and Prof Md Nizamuddin when they tried to break up their demonstration.

Police dispersed the angry students at about 9:00pm. UNO of Dumki upazila Sanjoy directed the police to arrest Saidul and Shahin and requested the students to refrain from staging demonstration.

Bail for Khoka extended till July 31

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday extended till July 31 the ad-interim anticipatory bail granted to Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Passing the order, a division bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Emdadul Haque Azad also extended the stay on the case proceedings till July 31.

On July 7, the same bench granted the Dhaka Mayor the interim bail till July 16 and stayed the case proceedings until then (July 16).

The ACC lodged an appeal with the Appellate Division against the High Court orders and it is scheduled to hear on July 24 the appeal of the ACC against the High Court orders.