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Nimtali Deuri - Last gateway of historic Nimtali Palace

Nimtali Deuri

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Nimtali Deuri, the last remaining gateway to the now-extinct 18th century Nimtali Palace, is now in a tumbledown state due to the lack of necessary steps to preserve it.

The Deuri, which means gateway, is quite 'fragile' now and it needs immediate restoration to preserve the glorious past of the 400-year-old city, said the experts.

During a visit to the Mughal-era building, this correspondent found the coating of the mixture of lime and surki (brick dust) has fallen at places in the structure. Ornate windows, wearing a decrepit look, infuse a regal glory in the structure that bears the history of the Nawabs of Dhaka who resided in the palace till 1743. The magnificent gateway in the middle of the structure stands with an air of splendour that instils a sense of pride into the hearts of the visitors.

Nimtali Palace was built towards the end of the Mughal rule in Dhaka as a residence of the Naib-Nazim (Deputy-Governor) of Dhaka-Niabat (Dhaka Province) in 1765-66. As it was situated in the Nimtali Mahalla (ward) of the city, it was popularly called the Nimtali Kuthi (Nimtali Palace). All but one gateway (Nimtali Deuri) of the palace has now disappeared.

When the capital of the 'Subah-e -Bangala' was shifted from Dhaka to Murshidabad in about 1717, Dhaka was made the seat of a Deputy-Governor of a sub-province comprising approximately the greater part of present Bangladesh. The deputy-governor, usually a close ally of the nawab, resided in one of the many abandoned palaces or forts of Dhaka.

In 1763, when the British Army officer Lt Swinton stormed the city, Nawab Jasarat Khan, the naib-nazim, who lived in the main fort of Dhaka (the present central jail), was not in Dhaka. He was then a prisoner of Nawab Mir Qasim in Bihar. The now-extinct palace consisted of a number of separate buildings and occupied a vast tract of area between the Nimtali mahallah and the High Court building. It was situated at the periphery of the city mostly surrounded by woodlands.

Apart from the gateways, the palace also had inner court, private residences, place of prayers, water tanks, barracks for soldiers and quarters for staff.

According to a description in the Banglapedia by Prof Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Professor of Department of History of Dhaka University, Nimtali Palace occupied a considerable area on the northern side of the city between the modern Nimtali Mahalla and the High Court building and consisted of a number of separate buildings. The site was just at the periphery of the then city, mostly surrounded by woodlands. It is not possible to provide a correct or detailed description of these structures as no contemporary narrative or plan of the site has yet been found. It may, however, be assumed, judging from the only extant gateway, the Nimtali Deuri, that it was built after the usual Mughal palace designs with several gateways, inner court, private residences, place of prayer, tanks or water reservoirs, barracks for soldiers and quarters of staff, gardens and the like.

A narrow channel running from the north would draw water from the Kamalapur River in the east to supply water to the palace.

The palace played a significant role in the social and cultural arena of Dhaka. It was the bastion of Mughal culture in Dhaka patronising classical music and dance, painting, arts, crafts and artisans. One colourful event that took place here regularly was the Eid procession, which used to start from and ended at the Nimtali Deuri.

Bishop Heber who visited Dhaka in 1824 gives a graphic description of the palace complex although most of it was then in ruins.

He mentioned a "Really a handsome gateway (Nimtali Deuri) with an open gallery, where the 'Nobut,' or evening martial music, is performed, a mark of sovereign dignity … a very handsome hall, an octagon, supported by gothic arches, with a verandah round it, and with gothic windows …" One chamber with twelve doors known as 'Baraduari' for the individual entrance of the 12 Sardars (leaders) of the mahallas of the city, Heber also mentioned.

Prof Sirajul Islam of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh said that Nimtali Deuri is an interesting feature of Mughal architecture. From north it looks like a gate and from south it looks like a palace.

Rokeya Hall students ousted by seniors

The research students of Dhaka University residing
in Rokeya Hall met Vice-Chancellor Dr. SMA Fayez yesterday
alleging non-cooperation on the part of the hall
administration. FocusBangla

DU Correspondent

Female students residing at the of Rokeya Hall of Dhaka University have been passing their days in great insecurity in the wake of the tremor on Sunday night.

However, the hall authorities shifted them to the Begum Fazilatunnesa Chowdhurani Hostel situated at the same compound of Rokeya Hall on Monday.

The hostel was being used by the students of M Phil and Ph D. After the accommodating the students of Honours Building in the Begum Fazilatunnesa Chowdhurani Hostel, the M Phill and PhD students residing at the hostel ousted all the students from their dormitory on Monday night.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Provost Committee was held yesterday with DU VC Prof SMA Faiz in the chair.

Taking the situation into account, the meeting empowered the Rokeya Hall authorities to take any decision in this regard.

At the meeting, Prof Faiz said the students of Begum Fazilatunnesa Chowdhurani Hostel should realize the problems of the students of Honours Building. Everybody should extend cooperation to resolve the seat crisis facing by the students at the dormitories, he suggested.

The committee also took decision to repair and renovate the dilapidated buildings of DU soon.

Earlier, Fazilatunnesa Chowdhurani Hostel students met the VC and urged him to shift the students to another place.

Sources said maximum students of the hostel have been living in the hall for years in the name of research. Some of them are doing job and some engaged with politics that helping to live here.

Striking workers join duties in Kuwait

BSS, Dhaka

A good number of demonstrating Bangladeshi workers in the oil rich Kuwait have joined their duties while the remaining workers are likely to join by today, foreign ministry sources said.

Acting foreign secretary MAK Mahmood quoting the CDA of Bangladesh embassy in Kuwait said that some of the protesting Bangladeshi workers yesterday joined their place of work.

He said that the Kuwait police have arrested some Bangladeshi workers who had been demonstrating in the streets, by identifying them from the video clippings. "But the actual number of arrestees could not be ascertained," Mahmood said.

"I have instructed the CDA to maintain contact with the Kuwait authorities and request them to look into the matter on humanitarian ground," he said adding "We are in it and we trying to pursue the matter."

"The Bangladesh embassy in Kuwait already held successful negotiations with the concerned authorities there who assured us of resolving the salary related problem in next two weeks," Mahmood earlier said.

The acting foreign secretary on Monday had asked the Bangladeshi workers to remain respectful to the law of Kuwait refraining from creating law and order situation there as "none of us expect Bangladesh's image is destroyed abroad."

Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullatif Ali Al-Mawash had called on Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his office on Monday and mentioned about a possibility of a visit by the foreign adviser to Kuwait at an "early date."

$136.07 m plan to streamline rural power lines

Shamim Jahangir

The government is likely to implement two projects for reducing the system loss and improvement of the existing distribution lines of Rural Electrification Board (REB).

"If the Government is able to implement the projects, the system loss will be reduced at least two per cent," a high official of REB said adding "We have now 15.03 per cent system loss due to old age distribution lines which was installed in 1978 when Palli Biddut Samity was established."

He further said that the distribution system of REB would be more reliable after the up-gradation and improvement of lines through the projects.

"The projects will help reduce accident in the distribution lines," he added.

The joint venture projects will be implemented by the government and Japan International Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) at a cost of $136.07 million dollar.

The two projects are--Up-gradation and Improvement of Existing Distribution System in Rajshahi Division under Rural Electrification Board (phase-1) and Up-gradation and Improvement of Existing Distribution System in Khulna-Barisal Division under Rural Electrification Programme.

Under the projects, the authority will install 230 new Mega Vault Ampere (MVA). They will also upgrade 135 MVA under 73 Palli Biddut Samity (PBS).

Besides it will also install 661 kilometres 33 KV new lines and up-gradation of 945 kilometres existing lines.

Of the expenditure, $58.65 million dollar will be spent for the Up-gradation and Improvement of Existing Distribution System in Rajshahi Division under Rural Electrification Board (phase-1) project while $77.42 million dollar will be spent for Improvement of Existing Distribution System in Khulna-Barisal Division under Rural Electrification Programme projects.

"We have already met with the officials of JBIC several times. They agreed to assist us to implement the projects," he informed.

"The two projects will create employment of 216 people including 98 officers, 72 staff and 46 daily basis employees," a high official of REB said.

The REB is hopeful to start implementation of the projects within December next.

Bush approves soldier's execution

Agency

US President George W Bush has approved the US Army's request to execute a soldier convicted of several charges of rape and murder.

It is the first time in more than 50 years that an American president has authorized a death sentence for a member of the armed forces.

Private Ronald Gray was convicted in 1988 over crimes committed while he was based with the army in North Carolina. US military justice requires the president to approve a death sentence. "While approving a sentence of death for a member of our armed services is a serious and difficult decision for a commander in chief, the president believes the facts of this case leave no doubt that the sentence is just and warranted," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said a statement.

Economists say: Many factors hampering industrial growth

Talha Bin Habib

The high interest on bank loan, excessive price increase of raw materials, increase of transport and shipment cost have been hampering industrial growth in the country, said economists.

The targeted 7 per cent growth set for the current fiscal year would not be possible without setting up of new industries and significant increase in investments, they added.

Up gradation of technology, enhancement of productivity, modification of products and improvement of design capability are also vital factors for gearing up industrial productivity and growth of the country.

Businessmen said the optimum level of industrialisation in the country has not been achieved due to non-reduction of interest rate on commercial bank loans.

Besides the number of setting up heavy industry in the country has sharply fallen in the last couple of years.

And there is no significant investment in the labour intensive industries. As a result the scope for creating new jobs are narrowing day by day, said owner of an industry on condition of anonymity.

The flow of investment in Readymade Garment (RMG) sector was continuing. But no notable investment was visible in the backward linkage industries and textile sector.

Frequent power outrage coupled with severe crisis of gas is deterring entrepreneurs to setting up new industry in the country.

Decrease of local products demand in the international markets is forcing many industrial units to cut down their production volume and minimise their production cost and in some cases it also led to shut down of many industrial units.

Most of the commercial banks receive deposit from the clients with 6 per cent interest rate and give industrial loan with 16 per cent interest rate that is too high for the private sector entrepreneurs, said businessmen.

They said that the high interest rates of banks were discouraging the entrepreneurs for setting up new industrial units.

Banks should not only consider their profit margin rather to look after the interest of the country's entrepreneurs, they added.

They called upon the commercial banks to drastically cut the lending rates for massive industrialisation and maintaining upward industrial growth.

A high official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) admitted that most of the scheduled banks are charging high interest rate from the entrepreneurs despite the central bank's specific direction regarding this matter.

An influential leader of Bangladesh Association of Banks said some commercial banks have already reduced the interest rate to 14 per cent from 16 per cent.

If the government reduce corporate tax from 45 per cent to 40 per cent then it would be possible for us to cut the interest rate, he mentioned.

According to CPD during the last 13 years gross investment (as a percentage of GDP) increased from 20.0 per cent to only 24.02 per cent in the country.

Urban volunteers to fight quake aftermath stressed

BSS, Dhaka

Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) has proposed for creating urban volunteers in country's major cities attuned to the model of cyclone volunteers to act immediately after earthquakes.

"We are the only country where 48,000 volunteers are kept ready to face cyclones. Now in the backdrop of earthquake threats, we need such volunteers in urban areas for rescue and search operations after tremor," Director General of DMB KHM Masud Siddiqui at a press briefing here on Tuesday.

The briefing was organized at the Disaster Management And Relief Bhaban at Mohakhali to disseminate government's preparations to face earthquake, a phenomena that have become major concerns for government and citizens after repeated mild and moderate shocks.

The country has experienced a moderate earthquake on July 26, which developed cracks in buildings in Dhaka and Chittagong, but left none dead.

Siddiqui said the government has taken initiative to buy different search and rescue equipment worth Taka 90 crore for earthquake in two phases. "Some equipment are at our hands already and others to come by September," he said.

The equipments includes, cranes, search camera, gas cutter, rubble removing bag, panther saw, lock cutter, stretcher, crow bag, spade, chemical light stick, wheel dozer, heavy and light excavators, fork lift, concrete cutter, power chain saw, multi purpose cutter, ram jack, and berating apparatus.

These would be handed over to Bangladesh army, fire service and civil defense and city corporation, who are suppose to be deployed immediate after earthquake, he said.

He said the government has taken many initiatives on earthquake preparedness including preparing a Seismic Microzonation Mapping to detect the most vulnerable areas in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet cities.

Technical capacity of all concerned organisations related to disaster management are being strengthened, while leaflets and posters are being distributed to make people aware about facing post-disaster situations.

The draft of the Disaster Management Act is at the final stage, he said, adding that a coordination agency to be formed under the act manage future tremblers.

DMB director Mohammad Abu Sadeque, deputy director of Bangladesh Geological Survey Reshad M Karim Ali and Dr Maksud Kamal of Dhaka University also spoke.

Training on handling hazardous earthquake would be provided to students, teachers, imams and city dwellers as 80 per cent rescue operations are usually done by local communities in case of earthquake, Sadeque said.

US, Pakistan stress close ties

Agency

George Bush and Yousuf Raza Gilani address reporters after their meeting. The US still considers Pakistan a key ally in its "war on terror", President George W Bush has told visiting Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani.

After talks, Mr Bush said Mr Gilani had made a strong commitment to securing Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

The issue has caused strain in recent months, with the US urging Pakistan to move against Islamic militants.

The talks came as a top al-Qaeda figure was reported to have been killed in a missile strike in the border area.

Midhat Mursi al-Sayid Umar, a leading chemical weapons expert who the US says trained militants in Afghanistan, was reportedly killed along with six others in South Waziristan in a strike on Monday.

It was suspected to be a strike by US forces, but this has not been confirmed.

Midhat Mursi al-Sayid Umar has been reported killed before. In an interview with CNN just hours after the talks, Mr Gilani said that if the strike was proven to be a US operation then it would be a violation of his country's sovereignty.

Mr Gilani called on the US not to act "unilaterally" against Islamic militants in Pakistan, but added that "basically Americans are a little impatient".

"We must have more co-operation with each other and it's our job because we are fighting the war for ourselves," he said.

US and Afghan officials say Taleban and al-Qaeda militants have established their strongholds on Pakistan's western border from where they carry out attacks into Afghanistan.

The US has recently expressed misgivings about Pakistan's handling of Islamic militancy in the area, while Pakistan has complained that attacks inside its borders could threaten bilateral relations.

In a joint news conference following the talks, Mr Bush twice said that he respected Pakistan's sovereignty.

He said the pair had talked of the "common threat" posed by extremists, and he praised the Pakistani prime minister as a reliable partner in tackling terrorism.

"Pakistan is a strong ally," Mr Bush told reporters.

On his first trip to Washington since taking power in February, Mr Gilani sought to assure the US that most Pakistanis want peace and want to co-operate.

"We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists who are destroying and making the world not safe.

"This is our own war - this is a war which is against Pakistan," he said.

But the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says that despite Mr Bush's public praise, it was expected that Mr Gilani would hear some tough words.

Washington has said it is concerned about peace deals that Islamabad has been signing with some of the radical groups in its western tribal-dominated areas.

25 lakh drug addicts spoil Tk 8,000 crore every year

BSS, Dhaka

The number of drug addicts in the country is 25 lakh and the annual expenditure for narcotics is about Taka 8,000 crore.

On an average, a drug addict spends Taka 87 a day on narcotics, and the total expenditure in a month in the country is Taka 656 crore, according to sources in Narcotics Control Department and private organisations working against narcotics.

According to surveys conducted by private organisations, the number of youth aged between 15 and 29 years are more among the drug addicts which is 85 per cent of the total number. Fifty-five per cent of the addicts are unmarried.

Among the drug addicts, 43 percent completed seven to 12 years in education, and 25 percent from one to six years in education.

Thirty-six percent of the addicts are unemployed who become addicted out of frustration while 25 percent do regular jobs. Twelve per cent of the addicts are students.

Former Chairman of Law Department in Dhaka University, Prof Azizur Rahman Chowdhury said, in a essay, there are allegations of law breaking against 44 per cent of the drug addicts.

According to sources, the money spent on narcotics in a year is enough to construct two big bridges like the Jamuna Bridge every year.

The whole volume of narcotics in the country comes through the borders. Wine, ganja, heroine, phensydil, yaba are smuggled into the country through the vast borders with India and Myanmar. The trade in narcotics has become easy in the last 10 years for availability of mobile phones.

The officials of Narcotics Control Department become helpless at times in the face of modern network of the narcotics smuggling syndicates.

However, drives against narcotics are going on during the present caretaker government.

The government is working with a firm determination to eliminate narcotics from the country, said director general of Narcotics Control Department, M Humayun Kabir. Efforts are on to determine work- plans to find out those involved in trading of narcotics, he told the BSS.

Replying to a question, he said it is possible to eliminate narcotics in the country with the concerted efforts of all.

Stressing the need for creation of social awareness, Humayun Kabir said along with the law enforcers, socio-cultural organisations, NOGs, imams of mosques, local government representatives and media personnel should have to come forward to contain the drug menace.

Consumption of edible palm oil rapidly increasing

BSS, Dhaka

The consumption of edible palm oil is rapidly increasing in the country and the market forecast says Bangladesh will join the million metric tons importers' club of palm oil in the next few years.

However, there is no indication that the prices will cool down from the present over heating. "The global market is volatile fuelling the escalating prices," an industry source said.

"It appears from projections that in 2011, Bangladesh would be a member of one million metric tons club for import of crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm olein (CPL) of 10,11000 tonnes," said the market forecast.

The Malaysian Palm Oil magazine 'Fortune' in its recent publication made the forecast. It said the country's import of CPO and CPL; which is partially refined, was only 170,000 tonnes in 2000 but by the year 2006 the import reached the 878,908 tonnes level.

It is a 417 per cent rise to make Bangladesh an important South Asian destination of Malaysian palm oil and its position will only further consolidate over the next couple of years, the magazine said.

The industry statistics however showed the year 2007 was an exceptionally bad year when palm oil imports declined by 33.87 per cent in the backdrop of soaring rise in its prices along with prices of other edible oils and fats in global market. But the decline turned into a positive growth again this year as the imports for January-April period showed a 29 perb cent growth to a total of 260,792 tonnes over the corresponding period of the year 2007.