The New Nation - Internet Edition

CA tells visiting UK minister: Empowerment of community is important policy of govt

British Secretary of Stato for Communities and Local
Government Hazel Blears called on Chief Adviser Dr
Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office yesterday. PID photo

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said his caretaker government has taken steps for strengthening local- government institutions as a strategy to strengthen the

democracy at the grassroots levels as well as make women's voice stronger.

"And the government likes separation of power between central and local bodies," he said talking to visiting UK Secretary of State for Department of Community and Local Government Hazel Blears MP when she made a courtesy call on him at the CA's office.

As she remarked that Bangladesh has good record on micro-credit, the CA said empowerment of communities, particularly women, is an important policy of Bangladesh government. During the meeting, the strengthening of local government, elections, fight against terrorism, climate change and matters of mutual interest were discussed.

The British Minister for Community and Local Government said local-body institutions of Bangladesh and the UK can be linked up for sharing experiences.

The CA responded: it would be helpful.

He also mentioned new Ordinances on strengthening local bodies and the setting up of independent Local Government Commission which would continuously help in strengthening local government institutions.

He also mentioned August 4 city corporation and municipal elections and also general election in December.

The UK Minister said all should give fresh look on bringing institutions close to people.

On terrorism, the CA reiterated Bangladesh's strong stand against terrorism and informed the UK Minister that his government has made an Ordinance on counterterrorism.

Dr Fakhruddin said the visit of the British Secretary of State for Department of Community, first ever to Bangladesh, would give a "fresh impetus to the strategic partnership between Bangladesh and the UK".

On climate change, the CA said Bangladesh is least contributor to climate change but worst suffer and the world body should come forward to help Bangladesh address the adversities of climate change.

Hazel said the UK would support Bangladesh in addressing the problem of climate change.

The UK Secretary of State appreciated the caretaker government's performance, particularly successfully completion of voter list with photograph, terming it "incredible job in a short time".

She also appreciated an impressive economic growth of Bangladesh.

The CA said, "Despite having problems, Bangladesh is doing well in socioeconomic sector."

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed newsmen about the meeting.

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Stephen Evans accompanied the Secretary of State at the meeting.

Journalist killed, in road accident

Journalist Ainul Haq (inset) was killed as a CNG-run
auto-rickshaw was hit by a minibus at Station Road, Bogra,
yesterday. Focus Bangla

UNB, Bogra

A journalist was killed and two others were injured as a minibus rammed a CNG-run auto-rickshaw carrying them in front of Government Azizul Haque College in the district town yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Ainul Haque, 40, a staff reporter of Bogra-based Dainik Muktabarta and district committee member of Awami Jubo League.

Witnesses said the minibus rammed the auto-rickshaw at about 12pm, injuring Ainul Haque and two others - Mahfuz Mondal, staff reporter of Dainik Inqilab's Bogra office, and Asaduzzaman Firoz, 36, staff reporter of Amar Desh Bogra office.

They were taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College where Ainul succumbed to his injury at about 1pm.

Police seized the killer bus but the auto rickshaw driver managed to flee from the scene.

Obaidul Kader falls ill in court

Obaidul Kader

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Awami League joint general secretary Obaidul Kader fell ill yesterday during a court hearing of a bribery case, his lawyer said.

The former state minister was taken to the Special Judge's Court-10 from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital around 10am, Kader's lawyer Kazi Mohammad Nazibullah Hiru told bdnews24.com.

Hiru said his client lost consciousness after he began vomiting in court and was laid down on the floor.

Kader was sent back to BSMMU Hospital on the order of the judge, the lawyer said.

Judge Md Sirajul Islam set Aug 4 for the next hearing as judge AKM Arifur Rahman of the Special Court-10 was not present yesterday.

AL legal affairs secretary, advocate Sahara Khatun told bdnews24.com that Kader, who had been sick for a long time, was being "dragged to court everyday".

"It is very unfortunate," Sahara said.

"He told me that his right side was becoming paralysed, but he had not been given any treatment for the past one week," she added.

Sahara requested authorities to make proper arrangements for the AL leader.

Kader has been carrying 41 pieces of shrapnel in his body since the August 21, 2004, grenade attack on an Awami League rally, Hiru said.

"Apart from that he recently underwent surgery."

Kader's mother applied to the chief adviser on July 2 to free her son on parole for proper medical treatment, but no step had been taken yet, the lawyer said.

Ex-Thai PM's wife guilty of fraud

Pojaman Shinawatra

Agency, Bangkok

The wife of Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to three years in jail for tax fraud.

Pojaman Shinawatra was granted bail by a Bangkok court in the first of several cases against the former first family.

Her brother and secretary were also found guilty of evading tax of 546m baht ($16.3m) in a 1997 shares transfer in the family telecoms business.

The ex-PM himself, deposed in a 2006 coup, is being tried in the Supreme Court for alleged corruption.

Pojaman Shinawatra's brother, Bannapot Damapong, was also sentenced to three years, while her secretary was handed a two-year sentence.

The trio were freed on bail of 5m baht ($149,000) each on Thursday, pending an appeal.

Thaksin's wife, who is his most important political and business partner, looked stunned as the court delivered its verdict.

Seconds after the ruling, she reportedly walked over to pat her husband on the back.

Thaksin's spokesman, Pongthep Thepkanjana, said the family would appeal and "fight to the end".

A judge read out the verdicts in a televised ruling, saying that she should have been "a good role model as the wife of the prime minister".

Muslim country with a secular system: Turkey’s Islamic ruling party narrowly avoids ban

AP, Istanbul

Turkey's top court narrowly voted against disbanding the ruling party Wednesday over accusations it is plotting to impose Islamic rule, but the judges cut off millions of dollars in state aid to a party locked in a power struggle with the secular elite.

The decision averted political chaos, at least in the short term, for a country seeking to join the European Union. But the case exposed the vulnerabilities of Western-style democracy in Turkey, where the fate of an Islamic-oriented governing party with strong electoral backing lay in the hands of a panel of 11 judges.

The Constitutional Court delivered a strong - though unspecified - warning to the ruling Justice and Development Party in its decision to deprive it of half of its state funding. The party will lose about $15 million this year.

"It is a serious warning," court chairman Hasim Kilic said. "I hope that this outcome will be assessed and that the necessary measures will be taken."

Kilic said six of the 11 judges wanted to dissolve the party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one less than the seven votes needed to impose a ban.

"The fact that there wasn't unanimity among the judges reflects the divisions that we have in society concerning the party," said Omer Faruk Genckaya, an analyst at Bilkent University in Ankara, the capital.

The decision represented a reprieve for Erdogan and his allies in an overwhelmingly Muslim country with a secular system. A ban on the party would have triggered a sharp escalation in political turmoil in the NATO member, where a bomb attack Sunday killed 17 people in Istanbul.

A ban would have severely damaged Turkey's image as a democracy because the ruling party won a landslide in elections last year. EU leaders had said the ruling party's viability should be decided in elections, not courtrooms.

"The great uncertainty that was blocking Turkey's path has been lifted with this decision," Erdogan said after the verdict. "Our party, which was never the focal point of anti-secular activity, will continue from now on to defend the republic's basic values."

European leaders voiced relief at the ruling and urged Turkey to press ahead with EU-backed reforms that have languished, partly because of the political infighting and partly from Turkish skepticism about the need for changes.

"It needs a new civil and democratic constitution as soon as possible. The articles of the Turkish constitution that allow closing down political parties should be changed immediately," said Joost Lagendijk, chairman of the Turkey-EU delegation in the European Parliament.

Lagendijk urged the ruling party to show more "sensitivity" to concerns of its Turkish critics as well as "clear signs" that it is committed to the secular ideals of the state.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reacted to the court's decision by saying the U.S. would continue to work with the government and encouraging it to "reinvigorate its efforts with the EU."

The court case was the latest battleground between the pious Muslims who run the government, but embrace aspects of Western political and economic systems, and the secular establishment that draws support from the military and judiciary.

The rift has evolved over the last century since national founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk jettisoned Islam as a guiding force in society and politics, instead imposing a strictly secular system amid the ruins of the Ottoman Empire.

In announcing the court decision, Kilic appealed for politicians to seek consensus and said the case exposed the need for legal reforms that will elevate Turkish democracy, which has endured weak coalitions and several military coups over the decades.

Mustafa Ozyurek, deputy chairman of the main opposition party, noted a majority of the judges had effectively agreed the ruling party was a focal point for anti-secular activities.

If the ruling party "draws a lesson from this decision, then there will be no problem," said Ozyurek, a member of the Republican People's Party. "But if it does not, then Turkey will be dragged into chaos once again."

Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, the military chief, did not comment directly on the verdict, but stressed the role of the military as a guardian of secularism.

In March, Turkey's chief prosecutor asked the Constitutional Court to disband Erdogan's party and bar him and 70 other party members from joining any other political party for five years. President Abdullah Gul was also on the prosecutor's list.

Prominent leaders in the government have backgrounds in political Islam, and the party itself is a successor to parties that were banned in the past. Those leaders now say they are not following an Islamic agenda, citing the EU-backed reforms as proof.

The judges began hearing the case Monday, a day after two bombs exploded on a packed Istanbul square. It was the deadliest attack in Turkey in almost five years. Turkish officials blamed Kurdish separatists, who denied responsibility.

The timing of the attack raised speculation over a possible link to the political fight. Prosecutors are preparing a case against alleged coup plotters, including retired army officers, who are accused of trying to bring down the Islamic-oriented government by fomenting chaos in Turkey.

This year, the ruling party attempted to lift a decades-old ban on the wearing of head scarves at universities, but the top court overturned that bill, saying it was anti-secularist. Chief prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya cited the head scarf bill as proof the government was trying to scrap secularist principles in the constitution.

Who is in charge of ISI? Bush asks Pak defence minister

Agencies

Pakistan says its intelligence agents have been accused by the US of alerting al-Qaeda linked militants before the US launches missile attacks against them.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said members of Inter-Services Intelligence were accused of "tipping off" militants before strikes in the tribal areas.

Mukhtar said that the Americans "mistrusted" the ISI.

His unusual public admission of the rebuke seems to mark a new low in ties between the US and Pakistan's spies.

Mukhtar was speaking in Washington, where he is accompanying Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on his first visit to the US.

Speaking on Pakistan's Geo TV, he said the Americans had alleged that information about targets was being "leaked".

"The burning issue of course is as to who controls the ISI," he said.

"In their [the Americans'] view there are some people at some level in the ISI who tip off the Taleban at some level about impending missile attacks when these are shared with the Pakistanis.

"They [the Americans] have expressed displeasure over this."

Mukhtar also openly admitted that President Bush had asked who was really in charge of the ISI during the visit to Washington. The BBC's security correspondent Rob Watson says that relations between the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the ISI appear decidedly strained.

Our correspondent says that the stern message apparently being delivered to Islamabad was that Pakistan has to do more to tackle ties between the ISI and Islamic extremists based in the country's tribal areas.

American unhappiness with Pakistan's recently-elected civilian government could also embarrass President Musharraf and the Pakistani army, in addition to raising new concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed state.

The US no longer gives Pakistan advance notice when it targets militants in tribal areas, correspondents say.

The ISI is the main intelligence wing of the army, which directs its operations, although under the law it reports to the prime minister.

Elements within the ISI have long been accused by politicians and foreign governments alike of supporting the Taleban.

On Saturday, the government said the ISI would be brought under the control of the Interior Ministry.

But the decision was revoked within hours, apparently following intervention from the army.

Prime Minister Gilani - whose Pakistan People's Party has a history of run-ins with the ISI - recently called it a "great institution".

He said that he did not believe reports that some members of the ISI were sympathetic to the militants.

Raise general level of scientific efficiency for uplift: President

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Thursday emphasised the need for taking coordinated efforts for raising the general level of scientific efficiency so that the nation could apply the results of science to the fullest possible extent for national economic development.

"The role of science, as you know, is boundless in chronological development of the human civilisation.

In consequence of immense progress of science and technology, human tread has been possible at every corner of the globe," he added.

The President said this while addressing the Academy Gold Medal Award Ceremony 2008 organised by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences at Bangladesh National Museum at Shahabagh here.

President of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Professor Dr M. Shamsher Ali, Vice-President National Professor Dr AKM Aminul Haque and Secretary Professor Dr Naiyyum Choudhury also spoke on the occasion.

The President awarded 13 scientists of the country for their great contribution to the development of science and technology.

Professor Iajuddin said formal recognition to the scientists of the country would usher a new horizon in uplifting innovative and creative activities as well as research and development in the field of science and technology.

Professor Iajuddin, however said, science education in the country has been decreasing day by day owing to manifold reasons, depriving the nation from the services of the talented students. "We have to address the major causes with putting utmost importance in this regard," he added.

He also hoped that the government would consider the expansion of science education in the country on priority basis for the sake of the national interest.

He suggested extensive and special programmes such as stipend activities for science education, laboratory facilities, special incentives and training programme for the science teachers should be taken at the secondary and higher secondary levels for popularising science education in the country.

The President said in spite of very limited infrastructure and environment, the scientists in the country have been contributing to the nation through their untiring efforts.

"It is not possible to evaluate the contribution and achievement of a scientist by any scale or means; their contribution is universal transcending the boundaries of time and territory," he said.

"Let our scientists march forward with the firm steps to apply science and technology for the socio- economic development of the country," he added.

Professor Iajuddin welcomed the scientists who have made immense contributions to the nation building activities through their brilliant endeavours.

He also thanked the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences for awarding the talented scientists with gold medals, providing them fellowships, grants and other supports for promoting science education in secondary and higher secondary levels.

EC urged to provide detail information of candidates

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a press briefing here on Thursday urged the Election Commission (EC) to provide detail information of all candidates including income tax return and affidavits with view to elect honest, competent and visionary leaders in the upcoming local government polls.

They also underscored the need for streamlining the election process and strengthening some vital institutions belongs to the EC for the sake of powerful democratic system in the country.

Sushashaner Jannya Nagorik (Sujan), a local NGO, organised the press briefing at the Jatiya Press Club here. Former Advisers to the Caretaker Government M Hafiz Uddin Khan, M Shahjahan, Columnist Syed Abul Maksud and Sujan secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder spoke on the occasion.

Hafiz Uddin Khan said "We believe that there are many competent candidates who are willing to contest in the forthcoming elections. They are better than the previous contestants who had not only polluted politics but also plundered national wealth."

He pointed out that as a result of recent political reforms, a number of dedicated and honest leaders have emerged. He called for submitting all data of the candidates before polls so that voters could elect better candidates from among them.

Shahajahan claimed that some candidates who are willing to contest in the forthcoming local government polls found pursuing the voters through providing them with money. He strongly demanded to bring them to justice.

He said a poor number of candidates have submitted their tax returns and affidavits and of them, information of some candidates are consistent with their lifestyle.

Hafiz Uddin said the upcoming election would not be free and fair if the EC do not take any action against those who submitted false information.

Dr Badiul Alam said terrorists, corrupts, black money holders, convicts, loan defaulters must be barred from contesting polls to avoid vote rigging and other unscrupulous practices as rigging and unethical practices eventually invite corrupt leaders in the state power.

SAFMA’s Colombo declaration adopted

BSS, Colombo

The fourth SAARC Journalists Summit adopted the Colombo Declaration on Thursday, with a call for taking concrete remedial measures to remove hindrances towards greater connectivity, partnerships, people to people contact, and free movement of information, goods and services across borders.

The declaration, adopted after consultation among attending journalists, urged the members states of SAARC to take short and long term comprehensive measures to eradicate extremism and violent practices by both the state and non-state actors against civilians and journalists.

It called on SAARC and professional associations to struggle at all levels in stemming and eradicating the tide of intolerance and violence against one section of the people or the other, journalists in particular.

The declaration said media is inseparable from the fundamental human and civil rights guaranteed by the constitutions and enforceable through an independent judiciary in a democratic system where both the state and society respect freedoms, show tolerance to dissent and practice pluralism.

It urged the SAARC countries to investigate into all acts of violence and intimidation against media professionals in their territory, and bring persons or outfits who have allegedly committed such crimes to justice with proper compensation to the victims.

The declaration urged the multilateral and bilateral institutes to make any cooperation and financial assistance to any country based on the indicators which would project the degree of its respect for freedom of expression and effective protection of press freedom.

It called for complying with the commitment of UNESCO Resolution 29 to promote legislation with the intention of investigating and prosecuting the killers of journalists and combat impunity.

The declaration laid stress on adopting SAFMA's Protocol on Freedom of Information and implement SAFMA's Protocol on free flow of information and movement of journalists across borders.

The declaration called for taking resolute action against all expressions of intolerance towards freedom of expression and for the safety of journalists in risky situations to ensure respect for their professional independence.

It urged to sensitise news organizations, editors and managers about the dangers surrounding their colleagues, when covering investigative stories, particularly at locals levels.

The declaration also called for promoting actions that secure safety of journalists. The actions include training for journalists, safety codes, healthcare, life insurance and equal access to social protection for the freelance journalists like full-time staffs.

It encouraged journalism schools and mass communication departments to include in curricula about the impact of crimes against journalists and subsequent impunity in democratic societies.

The SAARC journalists summit, the largest gathering of journalists in south Asia, under the theme "freedom of media in conflicts situations" began in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Wednesday.

More than 200 journalists from eight SAARC countries are attending the summit, fourth since its inception, at Hotel Trans Asia ahead of the 15th SAARC summit set for August 2.

The members of Bangladesh delegation included President of SAMC Bangladesh chapter Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley and General Secretary Shaukat Mahmud, Editor of The Independent Mahbubul Alam, former ambassador Mohammad Zamir, Editor of Bangladesh Obserber Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, SAFMA General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Faruque, BFUJ President M Mozammel Huq and Secretary General Ruhul Amin Gazi, BFUJ President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Kamaluddin Shabuj, Chief News Editor of NTV Khairul Anwar and Advocate Elina Khan.

Dhaka for effective SAARC to tackle regional, global issues

UNB, Colombo

Dhaka called for making SAARC more effective to enable it to tackle the major regional and global contemporary problems like food security, trade, energy and climate change.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury made the call while addressing the first session of the SAARC Council of Ministers in the Sri Lankan capital yesterday morning, in the run-up to the forum's summit on August 2-3.

The Foreign Adviser underscored the need for a continued focus on poverty alleviation within the broad context of social development.

He made the statement on Food Security that is to be issued by the Heads of Government in SAARC. He asked for the early operationalisation of the Food Bank.

Dr Iftekhar described the South Asian Free Trade Area as a "vehicle of progress in trade and investment" and asked for the removal of all non -tariff barriers that impeded intra-SAARC commerce and posed difficulties for least developed country members of the grouping.

The Foreign Adviser stressed the need for a holistic approach to climate change and the need to adopt cooperative measures to reduce the impact of natural disasters and help the member-countries adapt to the changes.

On security, he urged on the need for a comprehensive regional strategy.

Given the fact that the SAARC region provides the preponderant proportion of UN peacekeepers and given that there are already bilateral contacts among the militaries, Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury proposed a structure of collaboration within the SAARC umbrella of meetings and collaboration of senior military officers of the region.

He welcomed the headquartering of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization in Dhaka.

He also emphasized the need to give the ownership of SAARC to the people of the region so that the organization truly becomes a "peoples' SAARC".

Earlier, the chairmanship of the Council was transferred from Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitatha Bogollagama.

Tata abandons $3b investment plan

Desk Report

Indian industrial giant Tata Group yesterday formally announced to abandon its long-awaited US$ 3 billion investment plan in Bangladesh due to 'delay in the government's decision making process.

"It is clear that the government will not be in a position, in the foreseeable future, to grant the projects the natural gas commitment they would require," the Indian conglomerate said in a statement on its website.

Tata officials has also communicated its latest position on the proposed plan to relevant authorities in Bangladesh.

However, the group assured to continue developing its other interests in the country.

It said before the announcement, Christabelle Noronha, Vice President Media & Publications of Tata Sons Ltd and Manzer Hussain, Group Director Communications of Tata Steel Ltd, also communicated Tata's latest decision to the Board of Investment (BoI) executive chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed.

After receiving a official letter from TATA, Md Kamaluddin Ahmed, executive chairman of the Board of Investment, told reporters that it was not possible for Bangladesh to supply the huge amount of gas Tata would need for its project.

"Tata has informed us that it will not pursue the proposal for gas-based projects in Bangladesh," Ahmed said.

Most of the Tata proposals were based on coal, he said. "We need to make the coal policy before having talks on the issue."

The much-publicized ambitious Tata investment offer for Bangladesh ran into trouble since the Group signed an expression of Interest with Board of Investment (BoI) in 2004 to implement its proposed 3 billion dollar investment. It includes setting up a steel mill, a fertilizer factory, a power plant and also developing a coal mine in Bangladesh.

But at one state of negotiation, when the immediate past BNP government decided that the next elected government should take the final decision, the Tata suspended its proposed project in Bangladesh in 2006.

Tata had urged the government to ensure a 20-year gas supply to its proposed projects. But they did get any assurance from Bangladesh which now itself is experiencing a nagging gas supply following a sharp rise in its demand since last year.

According to the Press release, the Tata Group first proposed four large projects in Bangladesh in 2004 and had intensive discussions with the Government of Bangladesh until 2006. At that point the Group suspended further work on the projects, as agreement on key issues with the Government was not possible, it added.

"Since then the Tata Group has had frequent enquiries on the status of the projects and the prospects for reviving negotiations with the Government," said but did not specify whether it had finally decided to close the offer.

Annisul Huq, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said Tata's withdrawal would taint the image of the country abroad.

He feared Tata's decision might affect investment in the country.

The FBCCI president said Tata's decision was pending for long because of political indecision.

"Foreign investment in the country is not good in the country. Tata's withdrawal might put a negative impact on investment," he added.

Zaid Bakht, research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said it was not "unexpected".

"Bangladesh overlooked rising domestic demand for gas over the last few years which widened the gap between demand and supply," he said.

"We had long sat on the proposal. This kind of situation always discourages investors," he added.

Bakht termed Tata's withdrawal from the investment plan as a failure of the caretaker government. "It could have finalised the deal as it had the opportunity to work more dispassionately than political governments."

Breastfeeding cuts import bill by Tk 30,000 crore annually

Staff Reporter

The country would have to spend a total of Tk 300 billion (30,000 cr) annually for import of powder milk if mothers did not go for breastfeeding.

This was disclosed at a press conference organised by Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday on the eve of the World Breastfeeding Week that begins today.

The press conference was informed that the spending on import of infant formula has come down to Tk 4.0 billion per year with the awareness raised about breastfeeding in the country. In Bangladesh, over 90 per cent mothers continue to breastfeed their children upto two years of age, the conference was told. In cooperation with relevant government and donor agencies, the BBF has taken up a countrywide programmes including holding workshops at divisional headquarters, discussion meetings at district and upazila levels, rallies, seminars, debates and reception to successful breastfeeding mothers.

The theme of the week this year is: Mother support: Going for the gold.

The programme of the Breastfeeding Week will be inaugurated at a function at the Institute of Mother and Child Health (IMCH) at Matuail in the outskirts of the city.

Speaking at the press conference, BBF Chairperson Dr SK Roy said working mothers should be extended all sorts of support so that they can breastfeed their children at work.

'Mothers should breastfeed their children exclusively up to six months of age to keep their children free from any food poisoning, which often leads to serious illness,' he said.

Roy said after six months, other complementary foods can be added to the menu.

The BBF leaders emphasised the need for providing social support to mothers to continue breastfeeding.

They said infant mortality rate could be reduced significantly with proper breastfeeding.

UNICEF representative Mohsin Ali said around 57 per cent mothers do not know the proper way of breastfeeding and this ignorance is blamed for infant mortality to some extent.

Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN) Director Dr Fatema Parveen Chowdhury, BBF Secretary Dr Sufia Khatun, board members Dr Nazneen Kabir, Sarwar Zahan, Ishaque Ali, among others, were present at the press conference.

Zillur demands release of Nasim

Staff Reporter

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday demanded immediate release of former home minister Mohammad Nasim from jail and sending him abroad for better treatment, as he is seriously ill.

Zilur reiterated the demand at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence.

He said the Government is playing drama centering the release of Nasim and indulging in killing time. The government will have to bear full responsibility if anything happens to Nasim, he warned.

Zillur regretted that Nasim was being deprived of proper treatment due to inhuman attitude of the government. He is threatened with blindness, paralysis and deafness due to lack of proper treatment, he noted.

He pointed out that Nasim's graft case is now pending with the High Court. But because his serious state of health, Nasim should be released either on parole or adjourning his trial under rule 401.

He criticized the government for its ' dilly -dally' tactics in the release of Nasim although his family has sent application to the Chief Adviser several times seeking his immediate release from jail.

AL presidium member Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, beguem matia Chowdhury, AL central organizing secretary Abdul Mannan and Aktarujjman, Tanvir Shakil Joy, son of Mohammad Nasim, among others, also present in briefing.