The New Nation - Internet Edition

Unprovoked firing on BDR personnel: Strong protest lodged with India: BSF kills two more Bangladeshi civilians

Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday lodged a strong protest with the Indian government regarding the recent border incident that entailed an incursion into Bangladeshi territorial waters and the killing of the two BDR personnel by BSF.

The protest note stated that Bangladesh underscores the fact that it views the actions of the BSF as "totally unacceptable."

The note also expressed the hope that the "Indian authorities will take appropriate action against those responsible and ensure that such incidents do not recur."

On Thursday midnight Indian BSF entered the Bangladesh territorial water while chasing some smugglers by speedboats in River Padma, perhaps without informing the BDR force. As a BDR patrol team challenged, the Indian BSF opened fire killing two Bangladeshi border guards on the spot. BDR retaliated forcing the Indian BSF to retreat.

Again yesterday the BSF shot dead two Bangladeshi civilians on Chougachha border in Jessore a day after the Indian border guards killed Havildar Mohammad Abdul Hannan and Lance Nayek Krishna Pada Das of the BDR.

The dead have been identified as Rezaul Islam, 32, and Zainal Abedin, 35, of Sukh Pukuria village under Chougachha.

BDR Jadavpur company commander Mosharraf Hossain alleged that the BSF had killed the two Bangladeshi youths without any "provocation."

"Rezaul Islam and Zainal Abedin were near the barbed wire fence in Panchpirtala border area around 5:00am, Hossain said.

"At the time, BSF members from Moshrumpur border opened fire on them."

Rezaul and Zainal collapsed in a hail of bullets and died on the spot, the BDR officer said.

The patrolling BDR members hearing the gunshots retaliated with rounds of blank fire.

BSF dragged the bodies into the Indian territory, the BDR officer said.

Indian border guards gunned down two BDR men on the Raghunathpur border in Chapainawabganj early Friday, which coincided with a two-day foreign secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and India in New Delhi.

Following the incident, the BDR and BSF members held a flag meeting, at the Zero Point on Panchir frontier yesterday regarding the killing of two Bangladeshi nationals by BSF.

Company commander of BDR and BSF joined the meeting that lasted for 30 minutes beginning at 11:30am. BDR source said.

The Indian border guards assured their Bangladesh counterparts of returning the bodies of two Bangladeshi nationals after autopsy.

Just after the incident, members of BDR and BSF exchanged fire for quite some time, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the Indian citizen, who was arrested early Friday after a border skirmish between Indian and Bangladeshi guards, said the Indian side had opened fire first.

Members of the Bangladesh Rifles arrested the man, Tajemul Haque, after the firefight that left two Bangladeshi security men dead.

Tajemul's statement came as a stark contradiction to what the Indian Border Security Force said about the incident. The BSF officials said that its members had just retaliated after the BDR soldiers opened fire at them.

The BSF made the statement at a flag meeting with the BDR at Masudpur area Friday. The Indian force denied outright that its members first opened fire at their Bangladesh counterparts in the meeting.

The violence occurred at Raghunathpur area along the Bangladesh-India border after the BSF members entered Bangladesh's waters in the dark. The BDR in the district yesterday brought Tajemul before journalists when he narrated the incident. Tajemul said he is a resident of Chalakpara village at Baishnab Nagar thana under Murshidabad district.

Putting details Tajemul said he along with two other smugglers was moving toward Bangladesh with four cows by a motorised boat. At one stage a BSF patrol of Nimtita post under Maldaha district travelling on a speedboat chased and caught them. As the BSF members along with the smugglers and seized cattle started for the camp by the motorised boat its engine went out of order suddenly. The boat was afloat and strong currents pushed the boat toward Bangladesh's waters, he said.

But the BSF members suddenly opened fire after a BDR patrol asked them for their identities. After the BDR retaliated the BSF members on board the speedboat fled the scene towards India, leaving behind Tajemul, his two accomplices, four boatmen and one BSF member.

Tajemul said his accomplices and the crew jumped off the boat, while he and the BSF member got stuck. Meanwhile, another BSF patrol arrived and rescued the BSF member but Tajemul stayed behind.

The BDR people then arrested him after the firefight stopped. A case was filed with Shibganj Police Station Friday against Tajemul on charges of trespassing.

Koko in a Bangkok hospital

Arafat Rahman Koko being taken to the Zia
International Airport yesterday to be flown to Bangkok for
treatment after his release on parole on Thursday.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, yesterday reached Bangkok and got admitted in Burmungrad Hospital.

Quoting family sources, Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, counsel of Begum Khaleda Zia, told The New Nation last night that Koko has reached in Bangkok at 4:15pm (BST) and got admitted in the Burmungrad Hospital for medical treatment.

Earlier, Koko, along with his family members, left Dhaka for Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight at about 1:00pm.

Family sources said, Koko's wife Sharmila Rahman Tabassum, two daughters-Zahia Rahman and Zafia Rahman-and brother-in-law Mustakim Reza accompanied him.

Amid stringent security measures, Koko was taken to Zia International Airport (ZIA) from his Dhaka Cantonment residence by an ambulance at about 12:15pm.

Huge number of leaders and activists of BNP and its front organisations were found at ZIA. They tried to come near the ambulance carrying Koko but failed due to security measure.

However, they chanted various slogans demanding the release of Begum Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman.

Talking to reporters at ZIA, Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas said all measures have been taken for the treatment of Koko at Burmungrad Hospital in Bangkok.

Koko, who has been suffering from chronic respiratory complications, sought blessing of countrymen before leaving the capital, he said.

Koko was released on Thursday from the prison ward of BSMMU Hospital on parole for two months on medical grounds.

Earlier, a Dhaka court also exempted him from appearing in hearing of a case filed by the Anticorruption Commission (ACC) against him.

Along with his mother, joint forces arrested Koko on September 3 last year as an accused in the GATCO scam case.

During his stay in his Cantonment residence, a limited number of his relatives were permitted to meet him.

AL vows to resist polls under emergency

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman
addressing the partymen while they were observing
mass-hunger strike at the party's central office at
Bangabandhu Avenue on Saturday in protest against the price
hike of essentials and demanding permanent relea

Staff Reporter

Awami League Acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday expressed his determination to refrain from participating in any polls if it is held under the state of emergency.

He vowed to boycott polls under emergency while addressing the party leaders and activists who attended a six-hour long token hunger strike programme at the party's Dhanmondi office.

The party observed the programme from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm protesting soaring price of essentials and demanding unconditional release of party chief Sheikh Hasina.

Zillur said, "All the political parties have been demanding the withdrawal of emergency for the sake of restoration of democracy in the country. But the Government did not pay heed to the demand.

He warned that AL would neither participate nor let any party participate in any election under the emergency rule, as no poll is possible under the emergency.

He termed the Government's move to arrange upazila elections before national elections as a conspiracy.

He also demanded the withdrawal of all the false and fabricated cases lodged against party leaders and activists across the country.

Zillur noted that a silent famine was grasping the country following intolerable price hike of the essentials.

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said, "We are observing hunger strike programme to express solidarity with the masses who are starving due to the price hike."

He warned the Government that the people would compel the Government to release Sheikh Hasina unconditionally, if they do not do so in a peaceful manner.

Expressing solidarity with Zillur Rahman he said AL would not accept any poll under the state of emergency.

Another Presidium Member of AL Tofail Ahmed said, "An nonelected government should not stay in power for a long time. They have proved their incompetence through their activities."

Blaming the Government for the miseries of the people he said that the Government must take necessary steps to control price hike, which has become an issue of much concern to the people.

Tofail also pointed out that the people of the country would not accept any unnecessary amendment to the Representation of People Order Act (RPO) -1972 by a nonelected government.

AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and Matia Chowdhury, among others, were present. At the same time the City Awami League and other front organisations observed the token hunger strike programme at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue central office.

Shamim Iskandar sent to jail

Shamim Eskandar being taken to jail after producing
before the court on Saturday.

UNB, Dhaka

A magistrate's court here on Saturday sent ex-PM Khaleda Zia's younger brother Shamim Isknader to jail on charge of concealing property worth about Tk 20 lakh.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against him with Ramna Thana in May.

Iskandar was arrested Friday night from outside Begum Zia's cantonment house where he and his elder brother Major (Retd) Syed Iskandar had gone to see Arafat Rahman Koko. He was taken to Cantonment police station.

Magistrate AM Zulfiquer Hayat sent him to jail Hajat after he was produced before the court.

Obama in Afghanistan

Barack Obama

BBC Online

US Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan, at the start of a high-profile international tour.

Obama, who flew to Kabul as part of a US congressional team, is expected to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai. He is later expected to visit Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.

Correspondents say Obama is hoping to address security issues, seen as the weakest aspect of his presidential bid.

Opinion polls suggest Americans regard Republican John McCain as a better potential commander-in-chief.

After landing in Kabul, Obama flew by helicopter to the east of the country where he was to visit troops, a US military spokesman said.

I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking Barack Obama.

The area has seen an upsurge in fighting with pro-Taleban rebels in recent months, notably along the border with Pakistan.

Last Sunday, nine US soldiers were killed after a Taleban attack on a remote military outpost in the area.

In a speech earlier this week, Obama promised to commit at least two more combat brigades - up to 10,000 men - to Afghanistan, if he wins November's election.

He also said the US military should focus on that country rather than Iraq.

Speaking to reporters before leaving, he added: "I'm going over there as a US senator. We have one president at a time, so it's the president's job to deliver those messages."

Obama also said he would talk to commanders both in Afghanistan and Iraq to find out about their concerns.

This BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says the visit is widely seen as an attempt by the Democratic hopeful to strengthen his security credentials.

He will be accompanied by news anchors from America's major television networks during his foreign tour.

Correspondents say the McCain campaign will seize on every perceived misstep during Obama's trip, and will also point out that McCain's earlier visits to Iraq and elsewhere attracted far less public attention.

In his own foreign policy speech, the Republican candidate said Obama's strategy of winning in Afghanistan by pulling out of Iraq "has it exactly backwards".

"It is precisely the success of the surge in Iraq that shows us the way to succeed in Afghanistan," he said on Tuesday.

15 students, cop hurt in JN varsity clash

A Chhatra Mukti activist being assaulted by the
Chhatra League activists on Dhaka University campus
yesterday. Banglar Chokh

DU Correspondent

At least 15 students and a policeman sustained injuries in a factional clash among Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) centring establishment of dominance on the Jagannath University campus yesterday.

The clash ensued among two BCL groups-one led by JN unit president Kamrul Hasan Ripon and another led by general secretary Kazi Abu Sayeed after a joint demonstration of the two groups demanding halls for the students.

Among the injured were Sraban, Najmul Hossain, Tanvir, Jibon, Jasim, Himel and Arup of Ripon group and Selim, Shibbir Ahmad, Saiful Islam, Shariful and Riaz of Sayeed group and Policeman Akbar Hossain.

They were rushed to private medical hospitals in the city.

The two BCL groups came to the university campus yesterday amid tense situation created following an altercation between the two groups on Thursday.

Police arrested three BCL activists in this connection. The arrested were Arifuzzaman, Jasim Uddin and Sumon Ahmed.

Chase and counter chase between the two groups occurred for 30 minutes in which brickbats were thrown and sticks freely used, which created panic among the general students of the university. Later, police brought the situation under control.

Proctor of the university Kazi Asaduzzaman said the authority would take action against those responsible for creating anarchy on the campus.

Meanwhile, a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists swooped on a procession of Bangladesh Chhatra Mukti on the Dhaka University campus yesterday leaving two injured.

The attack was made on Chhatra Mukti, a student organisation of Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh, while they were demonstrating on the campus protesting the killing of two BDR members by BSF on Friday.

The injured were identified as Mizanur Rahman, a master degree students of Statistics Department and Javed, a fourth-year student of Political Science Department of the university, who took first aid from the University Medical Centre.

BCL observed a hunger strike at Dhaka University Central Student Union (DUCSU) from 11:00am to 2:30pm as part of its parent organisation's programme demanding unconditional release of former Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and release of BCL general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton.

Besides, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) also brought out a demonstration on the campus demanding probe into the killing of Moshiul Alam Sentu, JCD Barisal Division unit president and also vice president of the central committee, and punishment to those responsible for this.

They held a rally in front of DUCSU building and demanded release of former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and JCD president Azizul Bari Helal.

Acting JCD president Sultan Salauddin Tuku, general secretary Shafiul Bari Babu, Vice Presidents Mostafa Khan Safary, Jayanta Kumar Kundu and Nurul Islam Nayan, organising secretary Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel, DU unit president Hasan Mamun, JCD leaders Bazlul Chowdhury Abed and Manunur Rashid Mamun participated in the rally.

Nutrition programme hits snag

Talha Bin Habib

Shortage of funds and posting of non -technical persons to technical sectors are hampering the implementation of the nutrition programmes for all in the country.

The ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the assistance of donors launched a Health and Population Sector Programme (HPSP) in 1998 for the improvement of health and family planning conditions of the country by ensuring nutrition for mother and children.

After ending of the HPSP programme in 2003 the government initiated another Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Programme (HNPSP) where 'nutrition' was also included as a sub-sector.

The HNPSP emphasises reducing malnutrition, mortality and fertility, promoting healthy life styles and reducing risk factors to human health from environmental, economic, social and behavioural causes.

Lack of coordination among concerned officials, negligence to duties and allocation of inadequate fund and posting of non-professional persons are seriously hampering the implementation of the programmes, said nutrition experts.

They claimed that appointment of non-technical persons to the key posts of the National Nutrition Programme (NNP) and Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN) is widely responsible for improper implementation of the national nutrition programme.

Out of Tk 32,000 crore budget for HNPSP programmes, only Tk 1,000 crore has been allocated for nutrition programme which is insufficient for the implementation of the programme, they added.

If the concerned ministry followed the recruitment rules by appointing the BCS officials (Health) who are experts on nutrition in the two said institutions then bringing dynamism in the field of health and nutrition sector could be possible.

Otherwise, the improvement of public health and socio-economic development of the country will not be possible, they opined.

Oil price drops in volatile market

Agency

The price of oil has recorded its biggest weekly drop, slipping under $130 a barrel on Friday.

Crude prices have fallen more than 11% over the past four days, knocking $15 off a barrel of oil in that period.

Fears of high prices weakening the US economy set oil off on one of the biggest weekly falls since 1983.

Sweet crude for August delivery fell 41 cents to settle at $128.88 in New York - far off the record of more than $147, reached one week ago.

A key reason for this week's decline was evidence of falling demand for gasoline in the US, despite it being the peak summer driving season, analysts said.

Another key factor was the easing of tensions in the Middle East and Nigeria, both major production points for crude.

"From both a demand and supply perspective, the fundamental picture has turned more bearish," said Walter de Wet, an analyst at Standard Bank in Johannesburg.

It has been a volatile month for commodities. Oil prices edged up after the IMF raised its global economic forecast for 2008 earlier this week.

And although a pipeline in Nigeria belonging to Italian energy group Eni was blown up, another pipeline belonging to Chevron in the country has been repaired after sabotage in June.

Also, the US said on Wednesday it was sending an envoy to Geneva to join nuclear talks with Iran for the first time.

Military action against Iran could lead to the closure of the Straits of Hormuz, through which nearly half of the world's traded oil moves.

Roy Mason, of oil consultancy Oil Movements, estimated on Thursday that Opec oil exports, excluding Angola and Ecuador, would rise by 560,000 barrels per day in the four weeks to the beginning of August.

No more gas-based power plant: Tamim: Call for consensus on energy-related issues

Staff Reporter

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof M Tamim yesterday called upon the political parties to reach a national consensus on energy related issues for ensuring energy security for all in 2020 in the country.

Dr Tamim said, no more gas-based power plant would be set up in the country as there is a shortage of the fossil fuel.

"No more gas-based power plant to be set up in the country," he said while addressing a seminar titled 'Bangladesh's main challenges to meet future electricity demand'.

Referring to the country's chronic gas crisis that hampers the electricity generation, Dr Tamim said a team is now visiting the gas-based power plants to identify their efficiency level.

Terming the present gas crisis as a legacy of the past, Dr Tamim, a former professor of Petroleum Engineering of Buet, said only one gas field was discovered in the country in the last 10 years. "So, the present government has to think about gas import."

He said the use of electricity is increasing day by day because of its cheaper price.

"The Caretaker Government will hand over the power to the politicians immediately. For this reason, they would have understood about the energy security. If it was not possible to them, they can appoint experts for making plan in energy sector," he said.

Former Secretary Quamrul Islam Siddique presented the keynote paper while Mollah Amzad Hossain, Editor of the Energy and Power moderated the seminar.

Tamim said that it was not possible to ensure energy security without consensus of the political parties.

"It is easy to criticise the failure of the government on energy related issues but solving the problem is too much difficult," he said adding, "We have needed exploration of new gas field as well as coal mine development."

"If we can ensure coal, renewable energy as well as improving efficiency, it will be possible to ensure energy for all in 2020," he hoped.

We have tremendous shortage of skilled manpower in the sector, Dr Tamim said, adding that we have needed knowledgeable, skilled manpower to ensure energy security in the country.

He said that the Government has not taken any plan to install gas based new power plant due to shortage of gas.

We would have cancelled the existing gas running power plant due to the same reason, he added.

He informed that the government is trying to solve the energy crisis.

"The Government is trying to import gas due to shortage," he added.

"We are taking step for producing electricity in private sector. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will take initiative in this regard," he further said.

Quamrul Islam Siddique in his keynote paper said that the Government would need to install 1000 MW of electricity per year to ensure power to citizen in 2020.

"Energy conservation can reduce investment in power sector," he said.

It will need to set up large load power plant in Bheramara, Khulna and Sirajgonj in west zone and Chandpur, Meghnaghat, Haripur and Siddhirganj in estern zone for energy security, Siddique suggested.

ERD Secretary M Nasir Uddin said the Government should hold an energy week for creating awareness on energy related issues to public.

"The solar energy and wind energy are the best solution for energy security. The government should be involved in the private sector in this regard," he said.

BERC Chairman Ghulam Rahman said that the government should need to take step for inviting national private sector.

"It will not be possible to solve the energy crisis without public and private partnership," he said adding, "It will also need a strong policy in energy sector."

Director General of Power Cell Mohammed Abdul Jalil, Rural Electrification Board Director BD Rahmatullah, Director of Petrobangla Maqbul-e-Elahi, Lt Col Moin Uddin, Prof Khalil M Chowdhury, Executive Director of IFC Nazrul Islam, SA Monsur, Basirul Hoq and Dr Khorsid Islam addressed at the seminar.

Inflation to go up further: IMF

Staff Reporter

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast that inflation would go further high this month and will stay above double digit throughout the financial year.

The lending agency said that salaries of public servants should not be raised abruptly this year, in view of the economic condition. It rather, suggested the government to increase their wages phase by phase so that the economy can absorb the inflationary pressure.

"Inflation is likely to return to double digit this month (in July) and remain there throughout the 2008-09 fiscal," the IMF said in Bangladesh-2008 Article IV Consultation: Concluding Statement.

"Increase in pay scales will need to be phased in to make the fiscal burden manageable," it suggested. Further increases in fuel prices will also need to adjust it with the global petroleum prices, IMF observed.

High credit growth and government spending, emerging wage pressures, soaring international commodity prices and maintaining accommodative monetary policy will be responsible for high inflation, said the IMF.

The rise in domestic inflation was fed by food inflation, which went up to 11.93 per cent in May 2008 from 8.11 per cent in June 2007, while non-food inflation rose to 6.72 per cent from 5.90 per cent over the same period, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB).

The IMF said that a sustained increase in oil prices would put the balance of payments and fiscal position under significant stress and further reduce near-term growth prospects.

Risks also stem from the political environment-if uncertainty increases as the nation passes through local and national elections, it says.

The IMF said the medium-term growth path envisaged in the macroeconomic framework will require accelerated progress in structural reform areas, particularly in strengthening the fiscal and financial sectors, and deepening the foreign exchange market.

It said volatility in international commodity markets makes it unusually difficult to forecast the fiscal burden of administered prices for state-owned enterprises. Assuming no further domestic price increases, budget provisions for fuel subsidies will require international oil prices to return to around $110 a barrel, current projections of an average price of around $125 a barrel would imply a further Tk 30 billion in subsidies to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

In addition, escalation in international fertiliser prices means that around Tk 10 billion in additional transfers to BCIC would be required.

It said the need to deal with any additional SOE losses, should they arise, should be met, by further price increases so that other priority spending on key social and development programmes are not compromised.

In the medium term, increased revenue is crucial to allow fiscal policy to return to a lower deficit path. The FY09 budget should be a temporary deviation from the restrained fiscal position-an overall deficit below 4 per cent of GDP and domestic financing below 2 per cent of GDP-that has served Bangladesh well in the recent past, it said.

Council of Advisers meets in Sylhet tomorrow

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury today said that the Council of Advisers meeting at Sylhet on July 21 will be significant for the development of greater Sylhet.

In a statement here yesterday, the foreign adviser said the entire country would be benefited if the potentials of greater Sylhet are fully utilized. He hoped that the

natural resources of greater Sylhet would substantially contribute to the country's economy. He expressed the hope that the decisions of the Council of Advisers would fulfil the long-felt hopes and aspirations of the people of the region.

The Council of Advisers meeting will be preceded by a regional dialogue today in Srimongal.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will be present at the dialogue.