The New Nation - Internet Edition

Formulate mid-term plan, raise skilled workers: CA

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to formulate a three-year mid-term action plan to raise the number of skilled and semi-skilled workers for overseas employment.

In this respect, he also called for developing a monitoring system for implementation of such an action plan in the greater interest of the country's increased remittance income in future.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed gave the directive after a power-point presentation held at his office here on the overall skill development, training and overseas employment. The Chief Adviser himself took the initiative for holding this presentation.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary to the Chief Adviser Kazi M Aminul Islam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim and Secretaries concerned were present on the occasion.

Briefing the newsmen after the presentation, Syed Fahim Munaim said the country had earned US dollar 6.58 billion in 2007 from the overseas employment sector and was now expecting to earn US dollar 9.00 billion this year.

According to the presentation, the target of trained manpower has been fixed at 49,000 during the current fiscal year through different training institutes under the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Expressing his satisfaction over the skill development activities by different agencies, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed asked the Ministry of Youth to lease out its unutilised technical training centers to the private sector to ensure their optimum use in this field.

Targeting overseas employment for the nurses, he suggested the authorities concerned to start work on taking some centers as model to train such hospital staffs.

The Chief Adviser called for following the model of manpower exporting countries and give incentive to the recruiting agencies to ensure more discipline in this sector.

In this respect, he asked the Bangladesh Missions abroad to explore new markets in the world arena for the country's workforce. The embassies should take up the total responsibilities in this regard, not the labour wings alone," he said.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed put emphasis on learning different foreign languages, which would greatly help the Bangladeshis enter the global job markets in the years to come.

Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary, Education Secretary, Health Secretary, Youth and Sports Secretary, Labour and Employment Secretary and high officials concerned were present.

UK to send observer for local body polls

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the government, if necessary, will consider further relaxation of emergency powers rules for carrying out campaign in the upcoming local bodies elections.

The Chief Adviser made the remark during a courtesy call by new British High Commissioner in Dhaka Stephen Evans at the CA's office.

United Kingdom will send election observers for the August 4 elections to city corporations and municipalities in Bangladesh, Evans told the Chief Adviser.

The High Commissioner said they have already received an invitation letter from the Election Commission and will send election observers along with the European Union.

During the meeting, Dr Fakhruddin, the head of the caretaker government, said emergency power rules have already been relaxed allowing campaign for the elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities on August 4.

The government is further reviewing it and will take steps accordingly, he said.

Evans appreciated the caretaker government's reform activities as well as completion of voter lists with photographs of a large number of voters and termed it as an incredible job done in so short a time.

The Chief Adviser said reforms have been carried out to give a strong foundation for a strong democracy.

As the matter of climate change came up in the meeting, the British High Commissioner said UK would provide 50 million pounds to Bangladesh to address adversities of climate change.

Holding of the conference on climate change in London also featured in the meeting.

The Chief Adviser mentioned that Bangladesh is the worst sufferer of climate change. He said on short term, the country can handle any kind of natural calamities but for mid- and long-term measures it needs international assistance particularly for infrastructures and strong permanent embankments.

Dr Fakhruddin recalled his meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London when the climate change issue was discussed.

He said relation between Bangladesh and UK is multifaceted and the two countries can work closely in the fields of economy, trade and counter-terrorism.

Bangladesh's stand against terrorism is strong, he said, mentioning that not a single bomb was exploded and a single bullet fired in last one and half years in Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh want access for its products to the UK market. After Japan, UK is the big bilateral donor of Bangladesh.

High Commissioner Evans said the two-way flow of trade between the two countries continues to be good. Bangladeshi community in UK is contributing economically, culturally and politically.

He said Bangladesh is doing better economically and socially compared to other developing countries and its economic growth is impressive.

Evans, who was once in Bangladesh in 1991, said bilateral relations between Bangladesh and UK continue to change for better.

When informed that a British Minister is likely to visit Bangladesh on Thursday (July), the Chief Adviser said such high level visit is an indication of good relations between the two countries.

He said Bangladesh is steadily doing well in economic growth. Despite various problems, the country attained the UN millenium development goal (MDG) in gender parity in primary and secondary schools and women empowerment.

Dr Fakhruddin hoped that Bangladesh would move into a mid-income group country in next 15 years.

UK's cooperation for development of Bangladesh catering industry was also discussed in the meeting.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, who was present at the meeting, briefed newsmen afterwards.

Extortion case: Hearing against Hasina adjourned till August 3

BSS, Dhaka

The court on Sunday adjourned the trial proceedings in the extortion case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others.

Judge M Ashraf Hossain set the new date as the defence counsels said a petition for Hasina against an order of the trial Court is now pending before the High Court Division.

Earlier, the trial was stayed while the witnesses were testifying as the High Court halted the proceedings till disposal of a writ petition filed by Sheikh Hasina.

The High Court ordered quashment of the case granting the prayer but the Appellate Division turned down the High Court verdict.

Later, in light of the Appellate Division's order, the metropolitan sessions judge on June 15 referred the case to the special court to restart the trial.

Azam J Chowdhury lodged the case on July 16 last year alleging that he had paid about Taka three crore to Sheikh Hasina through her cousin Sheikh Selim as they threatened to cancel the work order for construction of a power plant when Awami League was in power during 1996-2001.

On that day, Sheikh Hasina was arrested from her residence while Sheikh Selim, a minister in her cabinet, was taken to custody earlier.

In the chargesheet submitted by police, Sheikh Rehana, Hasina's younger sister, was also made an accused following a confessional statement of Sheikh Selim.

The case was later brought under the coverage of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

Better wages, promotion for pry school teachers urged

Staff Reporter

Educationists and experts yesterday called upon the Government to increase salary and facilities for primary teachers to a reasonable level for the shake of ensuring better education for kids.

A very poor salary for teachers is the sign of serious negligence in the primary level education, the speakers observed at a roundtable discussion organised by Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB).

Adviser for Primary and Mass Education ministry, Rasheda K Chowdhury took part in the discussion on 'Problems in Primary Education: The Way Out' at the CIRDAP auditorium as chief guest.

TIB presented a research report at the function pointing out multifarious corruptions, irregularities and weakness in primary level education system in Bangladesh.

TIB placed 32-point recommendation for improvement of primary education. It suggested to introduce some incentive for primary teachers including promotion on the basis of their performance.

TIB trustee board chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmed chaired the roundtable while secretary to the concerned ministry Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, former chairman of Education Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Prof Moniruzzaman Mian delivered their opinion.

They said the teachers' performances are being hampered because of the current salary structure and lack of other facilities.

Rasheda Chowdhury underscored a long term strategic plan for improvement of primary education and said the next elected government would have to have a very strong commitment towards achieving one hundred percent literacy rate.

A string of problems was still hampering the primary education despite some remarkable achievements, the Adviser observed. Muzaffer Ahmed said primary school teachers were gradually losing inspiration to continue their jobs as there was no promotion mechanism in place.

The TIB chairman suggested introduction of "time scale" for the primary school teachers to make the job of a primary teacher more lucrative.

Prof Moniruzzaman said a community school teacher's salary is Tk 40 per day with which one cannot even buy a kilogram of rice.

"Amid such a reality how can a teacher go to school and take classes with a healthy mind and body?"

The TIB rport presented by its research officer Shahidul Islam said almost half (48 per cent) of students are dropping out before completion of their primary education.

Some of the students are going to NGO run schools being lured by some benefits while some others are getting admission into Madrashas where it is easier to pass in the examinations than the normal schools.

The report states of a massive corruption in the registration level of a newly built primary schools.

The TIB in its report said that inadequate teachers and class rooms, high drop-out rate, lack of subject-based skills of the teachers, financial crisis of schools to provide education materials and massive corruption in the primary education administration were crippling the primary education sector.

Ex-BNP MP Nazimuddin Alam held, sent to jail

Staff Reporter

The police yesterday arrested former BNP lawmaker Nazimuddin Alam of Charfasson in Bhola district from the new DOHS apartment of BNP leader Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah.

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka heard the argument for his bail, but the State side argued that he should not be granted bail as he repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite arrest warrants. Later, the court ordered to send Nazimuddin to jail.

Officer-in-charge of Kafrul police station Fazlul Haque told The New Nation that Alam was arrested in connection with four cases filed with the Charfasson Police Station in Bhola. A team of Kafrul Police Station entered the apartment of Hannan Shah and arrested him about 12:30 PM from his drawing room while he was talking with party workers. The officer-in-charge of Charfasson Police Station was present during the arrest.

BNP sources said Alam came to Hannan Shah's apartment in the morning. Police arrested him around midday.

Nazimuddin was the former Assistant General Secretary of Dhaka University Central Students' Union.

10 injured in DEPZ clash

UNB, Savar

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between workers and officials of a garment factory in Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) area yesterday.

Witnesses said the workers of Red Point Jacket Ltd, owned by a German national, had an altercation with the officials of the factory over better lunch allowances, leading to the violence.

The workers threw pieces of bricks at the officials, they said.

The factory's personal manager Bishnupado Saha, quality manager Sajal, production manager Mahbubur Rahman and timekeeper Shaheen were injured in the melee.

Workers Swapan, Ershad, Khaleque, Nurul Islam and Abdul Oli Ullah were also among the injured after the officials loyal to the owner retaliated.

Some 3,500 workers resorted to violence as the factory authorities refused to provide them Tk40 as lunch allowance.

The workers have been demanding the amount for months in place of Tk20. Later, the factory owner raised the amount to Tk25 but the workers were not happy with that.

A DEPZ official said a discussion was on to resolve the crisis.

Pak military intelligence under civil control

Reuters, Islamabad

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani put the military's main spy agency under the control of the Interior Ministry on Saturday, a move seen as asserting civilian authority over the intelligence network.

The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency is known to have wielded great influence on foreign and security policies, especially towards India and Afghanistan.

Critics say it played a major role in the creation of the Islamist Taliban movement which took control of Afghanistan in the 1990s and harboured al Qaeda until it was forced from power by U.S.-led forces in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Last month, Pakistan denied accusations by Afghan authorities that the ISI was behind an attempt by Taliban militants to kill Afghan President Hamid Karzai in April.

"The Prime Minister (has) approved the placement of Intelligence Bureau and Inter Services Intelligence under the administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Division with immediate effect," the Pakistani government said in a statement on Saturday.

The Intelligence Bureau is Pakistan's main civilian security agency.

Security analysts said the decision was the first move by the civilian government formed after February elections, led by the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, to assert its authority over Pakistan's intelligence network.

"Undoubtedly, it's a good decision. It will ensure better coordination between the intelligence agencies," former general turned analyst Talat Masood said.

"It's an effort to assert civilian oversight on the affairs of the intelligence agencies."

The government announcement came hours after Gilani embarked on his first official visit to the United States.

Pakistan dropped support for the Taliban and joined the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks organised by Osama bin Laden, a guest of the Taliban.

But it has been unable to completely dispel suspicion that for various national security reasons, some elements of its security forces are still helping the Taliban.

Military issues are always closely watched in Pakistan, which has been ruled by generals for more than half of its 60 years of independence.

Dodging income tax: Case filed against Dr Mosharraf accepted

Court Correspondent

Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka yesterday accepted a case filed against former Health Minister detained Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain for dodging income-tax and passed order to produce him before the court on July 30.

NBR (National Board of Revenue) Deputy Income Tax Commissioner Md. Mahtasibur Rahman Sunday filed the case with Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court of Dhaka accusing him of dodging income tax to the tune of Taka 63,23,602/- through concealing facts about his wealth worth Taka 2,69,53,554/- in his income-tax returns since 1966 to 2006.

2 outlaw leaders killed in shootouts

UNB, Noagaon

Top leader and theorist of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (ML-Lalpotaka) Dr Tutul was killed in a shootout between police and his accomplices here early yesterday.

Police said Dr Tutul alias Dr Mizanur Rahman alias Masud alias Dadabhai was wanted in over 200 cases including murders in 16 northern districts including of greater Rajshahi and greater Pabna.

He was a suspect of police killings and arms loot incidents at Randhunibari police camp in Sirajganj, Bamihal police camp in Natore and Tahirpur police camp in Rajshahi and at Choubariahat in Naogaon.

Police said acting on a tip off, they raided Kaligram Eidgah ground in Raninagar upazila where 50/60 extremists were holding a clandestine meeting.

"Sensing police presence the outlaws opened fire on them forcing the law enforcers to retaliate that triggered a gun fight. At one stage the extremists fled the scene", said a police official giving an account of the spot.

Police later recovered the bullet-hit body of Dr Tutul from the scene. When he was taken to the upazila health complex the attending doctors declared him dead. He hailed from Kotchandpur upazila of Jhenidah district.

5 suspected JMB men arrested

UNB, Gopalganj

Rapid Action Battalion members arrested five suspected JMB men from Government Bangabandhu University College campus on Saturday night.

Acting on a tip-off, the elite force caught Shahinuzzaman, 45, Aiyub Ali, 35, Selim Mollah, Jasim Mollah, 25, and Alamgir.

Some leaflets and books on JMB were also recovered from their possessions.

A case was filed in this connection.

1.2 m lose job as industrial units close down in Khulna

Staff Reporter

About 1.2 million workers and officials become unemployed in the last five years, as many industries in 21 districts of greater Khulna had been closed during this period for want of natural gas.

Brihattar Khulna Unnayan Sangram Somannay Committee yesterday said this at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU).

Md Fakhruddin, Vice President, Haider Gazi Salauddin Runu, Acting President, Shaiek Ashraf-uz-Zaman, Secretary General and Liaquat Ali member of the committee addressed the press conference.

Speakers said, "Greater Khulna lags behind in economic development as power plant cannot ensure continuous electricity supply to many small and large industries."

Referring to the indifference of the previous governments speakers said about 40 million people who constitute 24 per cent of the total population of the country are deprived of using natural gas as the past governments did not take any attempts to bring the southwest zone under the gas supply network.

They called for linking 150 km long pipeline with the national grid from the Shahbazpur gas field of Bhola district, which has a resource of 1.2 TCF of gas to ensure gas supply to the southwest zone including Khulna, Bhola and Barisal. They pointed out if the pipeline were connected to Shahbazpur gas field, the existing crisis of gas throughout the country could be solved.

Speakers hoped that the government should accelerate gas supply to Khulna districts for the sake of national economic development.

They also stressed on forming a national committee in this regard.