The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to integrate physically disabled into mainstream

Staff Reporter

Physically challenged people would get opportunity to participate in every sphere of life, if mental disability of common people could be removed. This was said yesterday at a roundtable in the city.

Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organised the roundtable on "Right to Education for Students with Disabilities: Barriers and Moving Forward to Inclusion into Mainstream" at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban Conference Hall of the University of Dhaka (DU).

Prof SMA Faiz, Vice-Chancellor of DU, Prof Dr AFM Yusuf Haider, Pro-VC of DU, Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Educationalist, Prof Md Muinuddin Hossain, VC of ASA University, Prof M Anower Hossain, Dean of Faculty of Biological Science of DU Naimul Islam Khan, Editor of the Daily Amader Samoy, and Anisul Haque Deputy Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo addressed the programme.

Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director of ADD moderated the programme. Mozammel Haque, Advocacy Coordinator of ADD presented the Keynote papers.

SMA Faiz said civil society would be formed if state, educational institutions and corporate world perform their responsibility for the welfare of physically challenged people well.

Addressing the attending physically challenged students of DU he said, "It will be easier to solve any problems if you inform it personally."

SMA Faiz also assured a student of full scholarship on the spot and asked her to submit necessary documents in this regard.

He also said the authority of DU would set up lift and ramp at different buildings to lessen the sufferings of the students.

Sirajul Islam Chowdhury said our society was discriminatory which is patronised by the state. "We want horizontal development like the flow of the river rather than a vertical development", he said while referring to horizontal development, which includes physically challenged people.

Anower Hossain said the increase of quota for physically challenged students in the University would not help improve them until their participation in primary, secondary and higher secondary level could be ensured.

Naimul Islam Khan said the micro consciousness and sympathy toward physically challenged people would develop their conditions.

Anisul Haque said that we could be disabled at any time therefore we should change our mentality towards them and stretch out our helping hand to them.

Mozammel Haque demanded facilities of lift, ramp, reserve seat, increase of per cent of quota in admission test, scholarship, and ground floor as exam hall for the physically challenged students in his keynote speech.

Among others 61 physically challenged students participated in the programme. A few of them narrated their bitter experience of hall life.

SAARC Summit productive for region’s people: Iftekhar

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday said the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo was "productive for the region's peoples" and that Bangladesh, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed "made a significant contribution to its outcome."

Iftekhar who returned to Dhaka from Colombo this evening said the Summit made advances on four key issues-food security, energy, trade and climate change, all of which are priority for Bangladesh. Programs related to all four were approved.

Besides, he said several new agreements were signed, primary among which were the South Asian Development Fund (SDF) Charter, and the South Asian Standard Organization (SARSO), whose headquarters would be located in Dhaka.

Iftekhar said the Chief Adviser raised two new issues: one was the need for a common strategy to negotiate the welfare and protect the rights of South Asian migrant workers in the other parts of the world, and the second one was the proposal to set up a mechanism for interaction between senior military officers in the region.

He said the South Asian countries also endorsed Bangladesh's candidacy for membership of the UN Security Council in 2015. "Similarly we endorsed Maldives for 2018. This idea of common candidacy is a new and positive development in SAARC," he sid.

Iftekhar said the Chief Adviser held bilateral meetings with each one of the eight leaders attending. Each of these meetings led to useful outcomes, "he added.

The Advisor said this was also an important year in the sense that many SAARC nations are undergoing major constitutional and political transformations. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives are among them.

"We ourselves will be holding elections in December. The meeting provided us an occasion to exchange experiences and learn from one another, "Iftekhar said.

The Advisor said "South Asia is seen as politically a major force in global politics. That is why a large number of countries and organizations are keen to join as observer. We already have on the list European Union, the US, Japan, China, South Korea, Iran, Mauritius, Australia, and Myanmar. We have now decided to put a three year moratorium on fresh membership and are drawing up a set of modalities in that correction."

He said "it is true that the development of SAARC is not spectacular. That is understandable given the nature of our history. But the future is bright and I have every confidence that the future belongs to South Asia."

Iftekhar said "every achievement of SAARC fills Bangladesh with pride as it is Bangladesh which conceived the idea that led to the establishment of this body."

Weak foreign policy blamed for unstable Indo-Bangla ties

UNB, Dhaka

Experts at a seminar in the city yesterday blamed weak foreign policy for deteriorating the relationship between India and Bangladesh.

Mahmudur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Policy Forum and ex-executive chairman of Board of Investment, said the representatives of the country always take part in discussions with India on different issues with compromising or flexible attitudes.

"That's why they (India) tend to impose many illogical things on us in the name of discussion and we keep mum considering India as a mighty and powerful state," he said.

Bangladesh Policy Forum (BPF) organized the seminar on "Border Security and Bangladesh-India Relationship' at the Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon with Forum president Mahmudur Rahman in the chair.

Former director general of Bangladesh Rifles Maj Gen (retd) Fazlur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the seminar. Dr Mahbub Ullah, Professor, Department of Development Studies of Dhaka University, and Zobaidur Rahman, associate editor of daily Inqilab, among others, took part in the discussion.

Mahmudur Rahman, also former adviser of Energy and Mineral Resources under the BNP-led alliance government, said the caretaker government has come to power "with the blessings of external forces. So, they have to rely on them before taking any decision."

He said that being citizens of peaceful Bangladesh, "we definitely want negotiation to resolve any problem with India, but we should negotiate on equal footing so that it does not become one-sided."

He added: "I don't treat India either as our friend or enemy. I identify them as one of the biggest competitors of Bangladesh as we are competing with India at every stage - like global trade and manpower."

Maj Gen (retd) Fazlur Rahman, in his key note, said India should not be given the transit facilities as this is not an economic or commercial issue for them, but a military and security issue to control rebels who have been demanding independence in some states.

The former BDR director general, who had led gun battles in beating the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) three times at Padua and Baraibari frontiers, mentioned that India captured Sikkim, a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas, in 1975. India has similar designs about Bangladesh, he alleged.

He said: "They (India) also started grooming agents in the country capitalizing on the liberation war as they helped Bangladesh in the war in 1971 just 14 days ahead of its victory. And we've to be aware about it."

Fazlur Rahman said the BSF forces gunned down two BDR jawans after entering into the country when a secretary-level meeting was going on in New Delhi on July 18. "This is their true character, and we've to take and apply different strategy for protecting the country's sovereignty."

He said the Indian forces fought for the independence of the country only for 13 days and after Bangladesh achieved independence they looted resources worth Tk 80,000 crore from the country.

The former BDR chief said soon after the devastating super cyclone Sidr struck the southern part of Bangladesh, the Indian external affairs minister had announced that they would export 500,000 metric tons of rice to Bangladesh on emergency basis at US$ 340 per ton. But later, they increased the price to US$ 1000 per ton. "They never keep their words," he said.

Dr Mahbub Ullah alleged that a major lack in the country's foreign policy is that it is Delhi-centred, not Dhaka.

"We've to increase our friends and adopt a policy to isolate India as they do to put them under pressure always."

Conspiracy against country’s sovereignty on, says Delwar

Staff reporter

The conspiracy to undermine the sovereignty of Bangladesh, which began immediately after of the Liberation War, is still going on, said BNP Secretary General Khandoker Delwar Hossain yesterday.

Late President Ziaur Rahman fell prey to wrath of the hegemonic power and was assassinated as he tried to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of the country.

Delwar was exchanging views with leaders of Nilphamari District BNP unit and its front organizations at his NAM-flat residence in the city yesterday.

The BNP Secretary General urged the followers of the ideology of martyred President Ziaur Rahman to come forward to resist all conspiracies aimed at making Bangladesh dependent country.

He also asked the party leaders and activists to work for the success of the programmes, which have been launched for securing the release of the party political detainees including its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan, Office Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, fomer BNP MP Bilkis Islam, BNP leaders Zahurul Alam, Anisur Rahman, Shahidul Islam and Chhatra Dal leader Farhad Hossain, among others, also were present in the view exchange meeting presided over President of BNP Nilphamari Poura unit Aziz Ahmed.

Graft cases: Arrest warrants against Khaleda’s nephew, Sajeda Chy’s son

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka yesterday passed warrant of arrest orders against former Premier Khaleda Zia's nephew fugitive Shahrin Islam Tuhin and Awami League presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury's son fugitive Shahab Akbar in two separate graft cases.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka Md Azizul Haque fixed August 7 for compliance of both warrant orders.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Tuhin with Gulshan Police Station of the city on December 19 last year for accumulation of wealth worth Taka 65,18,750 illegally and conceading facts about his wealth to the tune of Taka 1,43,35,996 in his wealth statement.

Meanwhile, on February 19 this year Shahab Akbar was accused of concealing information about his assets worth Taka 95.38 lakh and amassing wealth worth Taka 1,24,40,209 beyond his known source of income.

No mark of development in haor regions in 37 years: Gen Moeen opens solar-power project at Itna

Alam Sarwar Titu

from Kishoreganj

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday called for electing good leadership for the development of Haor regions, as no touch of development has taken place in the Haor regions although 37 years have already been passed after the country's independence.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a civic rally on the occasion of inaugurating a Solar-Power project at Itna Upazila Parishad Auditorium in the district.

The Army Chief handed over naval ambulance and sports goods to 14 educational institutions of Itna while inaugurating the Solar-Power project.

Moeen U Ahmed said the country should not rely only on electricity, rather electricity would have to generate from solar-power, biogas, and solar energy.

Identifying the population boom as one of the major problems, he called upon the educated people and members of the civil society to help check population boom giving emphasis on family planning.

Emphasising on fish farming at haor areas, the Army Chief called for cultivating fish through the netting method apart from the traditional method. In this regard, he mentioned that fish farming was going on through the netting system in many places, including Chandpur of the country. It is a profitable way of fish farming, he said.

Moen U Ahmed also mentioned that there had been good production of Aman crops in the country's southern region. He also called for following modern system of cultivation to raise crop production.

Referring to education, the Army Chief said education is the backbone of a nation. People in every village of the country would have to be made educated.

He laid emphasis on creating playing fields in each thana and union of the country.

General Moeen also directed the police super concerned to take necessary steps for checking murders, riverine dacoity, and extortion in haor areas.

The Army Chief was accompanied by Major General AKM Mujahid Uddin, GOC of 19 Infantry Division, Brigadier Zahidur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Sultan Ahmed, Police Super Mizanur Rahman, Civil Surgeon Dr Abdul Huque and Major Salahuddin.

ACC, TAC at loggerheads: Compromise with big corruption won’t be accepted: Mashhud

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission chairman, Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said that it would not be acceptable to ACC if the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) compromises with any big corruption.

"If big corruption is compromised (by TAC), it won't not be acceptable to us," he told a regular press briefing in reply to questions relating to the newly formed TAC that began functioning on Sunday.

The ACC chairman, however, hoped that both his Commission and the TAC would work based on understating and there would be no bitterness.

Asked if the Commission has sent TAC any list of individuals seeking clemency, he said the ACC is not sending any list at the moment. "At some stage, we will have to take a stance. If anything is to be done as per the need and decision of TAC, we will do it after discussion with them."

About the prosecution and legal activities of the ACC, Mashhud said despite creation of different obstacles, these activities continued and the Commission is not startled by such obstacles.

Referring to some orders of higher courts relating to graft cases filed by the Commission, he said, "We were prepared. Since these are high-profile cases we knew there would be attempts to create obstacles. We are on track about the case-related matters."

Responding to a question, he said the Commission is going to propose certain amendments to its law and rules.

Without elaborating, the ACC chairman said amendments are being proposed based on experience of last one and half year where the Commission faced obstacles and there were problems with interpretations.

"We are making a draft proposal and within few days it will be placed before the government," he said.

Asked if the ACC cases are being scrapped by the High Court, as they were not well prepared, Mashhud said, "To the best of my knowledge, we have not taken any case to court with obvious weakness."

Asked if the Commission's men are losing interests in working due to High Court orders, he said there is no reason to be disheartened before the verdicts of the highest court.

He said the Commission is mentally prepared to improve the processes of work.

About the writ challenging the legality of the Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, the ACC chairman said, "We will have to wait for the court verdict."

He, however, said that if the ordinance is cancelled, not only the ACC many organizations would be affected.

On asking for accounts of wealth of spouses and children along with the corrupt suspects, Mashhud said, "There is provision in the law. I will not agree that the process is wrong until the verdict of the highest court. We are still doing it."

He said that if the court orders ACC would issue notices separately.

Replying to a question on seeking wealth statements from corrupt officials of Titas Gas, he said the ACC is waiting for time and opportunity to do so and the Commission is aware about the top corrupt officials.

Titas Gas to introduce digital ledger system

UNB, Dhaka

Titas Gas's domestic consumers are likely to come into computerised ledger system from January next, official sources said.

According to the sources, Tatas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited is now implementing a project-"Domestic Customer Ledger Computerisation"- to build a customer database and bring its accounting system under the programme.

Titas Gas is a state-owned organisation responsible for transmission and distribution of natural gas to Dhaka city and its adjoining areas that include Jinjira, Savar, Manikganj, Dhamrai, Aricha, Tongi and Joydevpur.

It also operate distribution business in Tangail, Narayanganj, Sonargaon, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Ghorashal, Brahmanbaria, Ashuganj, Bhairab Bazar, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Tarakandi, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Kishoreganj, Bhaluka, Trishal and Gaffargaon.

It has a total of 11 lakh domestic customers across the city and elsewhere.

But initially, the ledger computerisation system will be introduced for its domestic customers in capital city and adjoining Jinjira area.

At present, the Titas consumers have to frequently face one problem to ensure that the Gas bills they pay through prescribed banks are subsequently recorded in official ledger books.

As a result, the customers are often issued notices saying that they have defaulted in payments and asked to clear their 'arrears'.

"To address the problem, we're going to introduce computerised ledger system so that payments are recorded as soon as the bills are paid," said Titas managing director M Abdullah.

He said a local IT firm was appointed for the purpose under the project at a cost of about Tk 3 crore.

The Titas MD hoped that after introduction of the computerised ledger system, the Titas customers will get better service and that they would not have to face any problem in getting timely bill clearance certificate.

Nobel laureate Solzhenitsyn passes away

BBC Online

World figures have paid tribute to Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a day after his death aged 89.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev lauded him as one of the first to speak up about Stalin's regime, and France's Nicolas Sarkozy hailed his courage.

The author, who exposed Stalin's prison system in his novels and spent 20 years in exile, will lie in state in Moscow on Tuesday, according to Russian media.

His funeral will take place the next day, the Interfax news agency said.

He will be buried at Moscow's historic Donskoi Monastery, Russian media quoted church officials as saying.

The author of The Gulag Archipelago and One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich died of heart failure on Sunday at his home near Moscow, his son said.

Solzhenitsyn had returned to Russia in 1994, following two decades in exile in the West.

Attack on police: HC grants 6 months' bail to Nasim

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted bail for six months to detained former home minister Mohammad Nasim in a case that accused him of attacking police on September 12, 2006 during street a agitation programme of Awami League-led 14-party combine.

Granting interim bail following a petition, a Division Bench comprising Justice Sikder Mokbul Haque and Justice M Fazlur Rahman issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks as to why Nasim should not be allowed regular bail.

A front ranking Awami League leader, Nasim is now under treatment at private LabAid specialized hospital following a massive brain haemorrhage on June 14. He is serving a 13-year jail term for amassing wealth illegally and hiding information about it.

At present, Nasim also stands trial by a special court set up at high security parliament building complex in a case of abusing power as Telecommunications minister to allow WorldTel Holdings Limited for installing 300,000 digital telephones in the country without tender.

Aktel launches call block service

Staff Reporter

Cell phone company Aktel yesterday launched 'Call Block' service which will offer customers full control over who they want to talk and who they don't.

Customers will be able to enjoy the service at monthly subscription fee of Tk 30.

At a press conference yesterday at Spectra Convention Centre in the city Aktel officials said Aktel fully understand its customers' needs and to ensure safe and enriched mobile experience, it always tries to introduce new and convenient value added services.

"Aktel expects this new service will further enhance customers' communication experience and give them freedom as well," they said. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Aktel, Jefri Ahmad Tambi said, " Aktel is happy to be the first operator in Bangladesh to be able to launch this service, staying true to the commitment of keeping Aktel customers clearly ahead."

"This launch is yet another small step to come even closer to the people of Bangladesh, and win their hearts through developing truly customer-oriented products and services," he said adding, " In the days to come, it is expected that Aktel will bring in many more services to benefit its customers."

"Aktel Call Block is just another exclusive and innovative service that will serve our customers like an efficient personal assistant and keep them away from unwanted calls," said Bidyut Kumar Basu, Chief Commercial Officer of Aktel.

Chief Financial Officer- Nora Junita Hussaini, Head of Corporate Affairs- Javed Tariq, Head of Marketing Zafrul Hassan and other officials were also present on the occasion.

HC seeks Tarique’s medical report by Thursday

BSS, Dhaka

The High Court on Monday's asked the authorities concerned to submit the medical board report on BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman, now detained in jail, by next Thursday.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice Emdadul Haque Azad issued the order on a petition seeking quashment of the charge of taking bribes from Basundhara Group.

Tarique and former state minister Lutfuzzman Babar were accused of taking bribes amounting to Taka 21 crore from Basundhara Group for clearing its chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, his two sons and director Abu Sufian from the charges of killing Sabbir, a director of the Information Technology (IT) department of the group. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted the charge sheet on May 6 against eight persons including Tarique and Babar.