The New Nation - Internet Edition

Conjoined babies: Barsha dies, Banya alive

Barsha, one of the conjoined twins, died on
Wednesday night after being separated from Banya at
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Barsha, a four-month-old girl, died at the Bangabandhu Medical University Hospital on Wednesday only one hour after marathon surgery to separate her from her twin sister, the doctor who led the operation said yesterday.

A team of 50 doctors, nurses and technicians took part in the operation to separate conjoined twins, Banya and Barsha.

Paediatric surgeon Shafiqul Haq said Barsha had been on artificial respiration following the surgery.

"In such cases one of the twins is always stronger than the other and in this case Barsha was not strong enough and she died," Haq said.

Doctors were hopeful that Banya would survive. They, however, hastened to add " It is too early to determine whether the surviving twin is risk-free."

Banya and Barsha were born at Rabeya Clinic in Gaibandha on March 24 this year and were transferred to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital a day after.

After undergoing treatment there for ten days, they were admitted to BSMMU on April 4.Since then the twins have been under the supervision of Dr. Shafiq.

Their mother Shahnaz Begum is a nurse and father Golam Kibria a schooteacher.

Helal, Roton freed

Azizul Bari Helal

Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton

DU Correspondent

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Azizul Bari Helal was set free after 11 months languishing in jail while Bangladesh Chhatra League general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton was released after 30 months.

Helal, who was arrested on charge of violating the Emergency Power Rules on August 24 last year, got release from central jail at 10:25am yesterday and Roton, who was arrested under emergency rule on January 16, 2006, from the prison cell of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital at about 4:00pm

JCD leaders and activists welcomed their chief at the jail gate. Later, he went to his Maghbazar residence. The High Court granted interim bail to Helal on Sunday following that he has been released yesterday.

The district chief judicial magistrate granted the bail petition of Roton on Tuesday but he was arrested from jail gate for the second time.

After releasing from jail, Roton came at the House No 32 of Dhanmondi and placed wreath at the memorial of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibor Rahman. Later, he went to his residence located at the DU campus.

Azizul Bari Helal demanded release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman and Tarique to send abroad for better treatment.

He also demanded release of those who were arrested on political grounds.

A series of intense campaign by JCD, student wing of BNP and BCL, student wing of Awami League, was held on the Dhaka University campus, which augmented the release of the two student leaders.

Following the pressure, Prof Faiz met Chief Adviser on Wednesday night, which accelerated the release of the detained student leaders.

Earlier, BCL activists held violent protest at the Registrar Building and broke the windowpanes of the building and destroyed three vehicles-two owned by DU teachers and one by an outsider.

Demanding release of Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman and sending Tarique abroad for treatment, JCD brought out a procession on the campus yesterday while BCL staged demonstration to press home their demand for permanent release of Sheikh Hasina and its general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton.

Later, both organisations separately attempted to siege Home Ministry but police intercepted them near Dowel Chhattar and Gymnasium playground of the university.

Gala opening today

The Beijing National Stadium, where the opening
ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will take place
today. Internet

Sports Reporter

The gala Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be held today in Beijing, the capital city of China. Bangladesh Television will telecast the programme from 6.00 PM (Bangladesh Standard Time). Beijing is prepared to stage 2008 Olympic Games.

The slogan of this Games is One World, One Dream.

A total of 202 countries will take part in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

To watch the entertaining inaugural ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the presidents, prime ministers and the chiefs of the states of the various countries are coming to Beijing.

This is for the second time an Asian country is the host of Olympic Games. Earlier, in the year of 1988 South Korea hosted the Olympic Games.

China has two targets. One is to clinch the highest gold medals and other is to prove her best ability to act as a host.

China has prepared a big Olympic Village, where a total of 16,000 athletes from different countries will be accommodated there.

After crossing 137,000 km roads of six continents the Olympic torch reached Beijing last Wednesday. The opening ceremony and the total Olympic Games will be held amid very tight security.

China has totally maintained secrecy about the gala opening ceremony. But it is expected that the programme of opening ceremony will be based on the 5000 year's heritage of China.

It may be mentioned that Bangladesh Olympic team will also participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Swimmer Rubel Rana will carry the national flag in the grand inaugural ceremony.

Athlete Mohammad Abu Abdullah and athlete Nazmun Nahar Beauty will compete in the 100 metre sprint respectively.

Swimmer Rubel Rana will take part in the men's 50 m backstroke while swimmer Doly Akhter will participate in the women's 50 metre freestyle.

The participants of Bangladesh have no target to achieve the medal. They are taking part in the grand Beijing 2008 Olympic Games for experience only.

They are taking part in the Games as a part of world friendship.

TAC sets September 1 clemency deadline

Staff Reporter

The newly constituted Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) yesterday said that corrupt people can voluntarily file application to the commission about their ill-gotten wealth by September 1.

The quasi-judicial body said in a statement said that any person intending to disclose voluntarily the information about his corruption can file application to the commission.

The statement further said that the persons concerned could also file petitions seeking secrecy of the information they would provide.

According to the TAC statement, any corruption suspect could seek the high-powered body's intervention to evade charges and trial under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

It would also receive cases to be referred by the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC), the National Coordination Committee on serious Crime and the appropriate courts subject to the written applications of the persons concerned willing to disclose their corruptions voluntarily.

"The Truth and Accountability Commission has been constituted by the President for quick disposal of graft related crimes in an alternative mechanism against the backdrop of uncontrolled and massive corruptions in all spheres of the statecraft and society affecting normal economic growth, democracy and rule of law," the statement said.

Officials earlier said the current commission would initially run for five months with the three members and its tenure could be extended under the Right to Voluntary Disclosure Ordinance 2008.

According to the ordinance's provisions, anybody already convicted in a graft case with a sentence of two years or less will get the scope of leniency if he confesses and returns any illegal earnings within a given timeframe.

But the government earlier said those who "crossed some sort of threshold", would not be allowed for appearing before the Commission.

A committee of legal experts earlier submitted a draft proposing the constitution of the commission when its critics, including a number of politicians and legal experts, feared the system could allow the high profile corruption suspects to escape imprisonment.

Under the law, the commission was entrusted with the authority to summon anybody suspected to be or found to be involved in corruption. It will also have the authority to confiscate the ill-gotten wealth.

The commission will not generally sentence anyone making disclosure of their corruption to any prison term. But violation of the commission's directives will constitute an offence punishable with imprisonment for a maximum five years.

Persons disclosing their corruption will be debarred from national or local elections for five years, holding any public office, executive positions in any collective bargaining agents, associations or banks or financial institutions.

The anti-graft body has been constituted as the caretaker government is spearheading a massive anti-graft campaign that has so far witnessed the imprisonment of more than 150 high profile people, mostly politicians, including the two former premiers.

Dozens others former ministers and lawmakers fled the country or went into hiding since the anti-graft crackdown was kicked off last year engaging army-led taskforces.

Earlier on July 30, President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed signed an order constituting the high powered commission to provide corruption suspects with an avenue to avoid imprisonment in exchange of their confessions and surrender of their illegally earned wealth to the state.

Maj. Gen (retd) Manzur Rashid Khan and former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Asif Ali were appointed as members of the three- member commission constituted as part of the massive anti- graft campaign being spearheaded by the caretaker government.

Amendment in RPO: Major parties challenge CG’s jurisdiction

Staff Reporter

Leaders of major political parties called upon the government for reconsidering the approval of the Representation of the People Ordinance (Amendment) 2008.

However, Jatiya Party supported the amendment to the RPO, particularly inclusion of the provision not to allow front organisations and options of 'No' vote in the ballot paper.

The Council of Advisers in a meeting on Wednesday night approved the Representation of the People Ordinance (amendment) 2008 that provides for formation of electoral alliance among the registered and unregistered political parties.

It also provides not taking gift or donation or grant from any other country or NGO assisted by foreign aid and non-Bangladeshi, banning on front organisation of political parties and keeping unchanged the provision of 'No' vote option in ballot paper.

The political parties those opposing the amendment questioned the jurisdiction of the Caretaker Government to bring amendment to the RPO, particularly on fundamental issues.

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman said the conditions applied on the proposed ordinance are very harsh.

He said inclusion of "No vote option in the ballot paper is ridiculous.

The AL leader said provisions of banning front organisations of a political party was objectionable because these bodies are formed for the welfare of the people and to strengthen the party's organisational base.

He also opposed the provision that elected mayors and councillors would have to quit their respective party posts.

BNP Vice President MK Anwar yesterday expressed his concern over the amendment and demanded it should be reviewed.

He said bringing changes to party constitution in line with the proposed Representation of People (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 was not possible with emergency rule in place.

"Implementing the new RPO will necessitate bringing changes in the constitutions of political parties which is not possible at the moment since political activities remained suspended amid the state of emergency," he said adding, "Political parties cannot be controlled by enacting such laws."

The former minister, who was released on bail from jail recently, also protested inclusion some new provisions like option of 'No' votes in the polls and banning of political parties' front organisations.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed told The New Nation that bringing such amendment is beyond the jurisdiction of the Caretaker Government.

"Only an elected government or a Parliament has the authority to bring any change in fundamental issues," he observed.

The Jamaat leader suggested the government should reconsider the approval to the RPO amendment showing respect to the recent court verdict in this regard.

Jatiya Party Presidium Member GM Quader told The New Nation that the draft proposals for brining amendment to the RPO placed by the Election Commission was not unacceptable to them.

Expressing his support to the amendment he said, from our part we agree with the amendment brought to the RPO."

Physiotherapy college on NITOR campus: Treatment facilities threatened

Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to start the academic activities of the Bangladesh College of Physiotherapy (BCP) on the same campus of National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) by ignoring the acute shortages of space and physical facilities of NITOR.

Academic council members of NITOR in an application urged the ministry to shift the college to another place.

They said if the activities of the BCP are started on the campus of NITOR then it would seriously hamper the academic activities of the latter. The medical services to the orthopaedic patients would also be hampered, they mentioned.

They demanded of the government to expand the area of the country's only public orthopaedic hospital with a view to easing the increasing pressure from the patients.

Eminent American physician RJ Garst was instrumental in establishing the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in 1972. The NITOR is the outcome of the effort of the treatment for the wounded freedom fighters.

Later, a considerable part of its land along with buildings were annexed to the adjacent Child Hospital, said a prominent doctor on condition of anonymity.

He said, presently the country's prime orthopaedic hospital has been facing severe accommodation crisis. As a result the academic activities and dispensing of medical services to the patients are badly hampered.

He said, every day about 500 patients come to NITOR for treatment. But most of the deserving patients cannot be admitted to the hospital due to accommodation problem. Besides, limited resources have also deprived them from availing of proper treatment.

He regretted that only 100 beds have so far been added to the existing ones even after 37 years of NITOR's inception.

The Public Works Department recently has declared the hospital outdoor and paraplegic ward 'risky' and vulnerable.

Academic council members of NITOR said if the undergraduate level physiotherapy course starts on the orthopaedic hospital campus then the post graduate level course of the orthopaedic discipline would be seriously hampered.

They called upon the government to shift the undergraduate level physiotherapy course to another suitable place.

RPO (amendment) okayed: Political parties can’t have front organisations

UNB, Dhaka

Council of Advisers on Wednesday night approved the Representation of People (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.

Draft of the amendment to the existing Ordinance was approved in a lengthy six-hour meeting ending at 9-30pm. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed presided over the meeting at his office.

The proposed amendment provides for formation of electoral alliance among the registered and unregistered political parties.

Earlier, on July 13 the draft Ordinance approved in principle had prohibited alliance of registered political parties with non-registered ones. Under the fresh approved Ordinance, registered political parties can receive donation from person, company or group of companies. The ceiling of donation, property or services from person should not exceed Tk 5 lakh and Tk 25 lakh from group of companies.No registered political party can take gift or donation or grant from any other country, NGO assisted by foreign aid and non-Bangladeshi.

The provision of 'No' vote in ballot paper remains unchanged in the Ordinance.

All members of the Advisory Council attended the meeting. Cabinet Secretary, Secretary to CA's office, CA's press secretary and Secretaries concerned were also present.

CA's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting.

Amendment to the Ordinance prohibits front organizations of political parties in educational institutions, teachers and other areas. But they can independently for organisations.

If any political party desires to register with the Election Commission, it has to satisfy one of the following conditions that include:

win at least one parliamentary seat with the party symbol since independence candidate must have secured at least 5 percent of total votes caste party must have a central office, at least 10 offices in districts and 50 offices in upazilas 33 percent posts for women in a committee of each tier of the party, to be implemented by 2020.

5) if any independent MP joins a unregistered political party, the party will not be qualified for registration.

An independent candidate in Jatiya Sangsad will not require signature of one percent voters of the constituency for candidature.

7) highest decision making body of a political party according to its constitution can dissolve the party and the resolution signed by chairman and secretary general or anyone holding equivalent position has to be submitted to the Election Commission.

The proposed amendment provides a maximum of Tk 4.50 crore election expenses of a political party that puts up 200 and above candidates. The maximum expenditure set at Tk 3 crore for a party that set 100 or less than 200 candidates, Tk 1.50 crore having more than 50 candidates and Tk 75 lakh having less than 50 candidates.

An individual candidate can spend maximum Tk 15 lakh for election purposes.

A political party receiving donation more than Tk 20,000 for election purposes should take in cheque.

Each political party should have bank account and give receipts for donations.

BB Quarterly released: Rice price decline depends on next Aman output

UNB, Dhaka

Consumers will have to wait apparently until the next aman harvest to witness if there is any declining trend in the price of rice as projected by Bangladesh Bank chief economist Dr MK Mujeri.

"The price of rice is likely to come down if there is a good harvest of next aman," he said yesterday, releasing Bangladesh Bank Quarterly for April-June period of 2008.

Dr Mujeri said the price of rice did not come down as such as expected after the bumper boro harvest due to stocks by large farmers and traders on expectation of higher price.

"If there is a good aman production, the hoarding capacity would be reduced and the price may come down," he said, adding that the price would also depend on how the traders are going to behave responding to a declining inflation expectation.

From the quarterly report, Dr Mujeri said the inflation witnessed a bit declining trend since March, but it was not too strong. However, there was a good indication that the non-food inflation declined in the rural areas as compared to the urban areas.

About possible price situation during the month of Ramzan, he said the Ministry of Commerce must considering measures for the occasional rise of prices.

Asked whether the edible oil traders should have declared that the price of edible oil would reduce in keeping with the declining international price, the BB chief economist chose not to say anything.

Instead of an announcement for bringing down the prices in consistence with the international price, Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman Wednesday said that the edible oil price would not increase during the month of Ramzan.

It has become well established that the importers and traders increase the prices of commodities within minutes it goes up in the international market. But, when the prices decline in the international market, it is hardly adjusted.

In a short-term outlook, the BB quarterly said that in the present situation, softening of the inflationary pressure would require higher growth and increased production of essential food and other items in the face of tight and unstable world market.

It stressed on striking a balance between growth and price stability to counter any threat to macroeconomic stability and poverty reduction goals.

"Although monetary tightening can bring down inflation, it has unacceptably high cost in terms of foregone output and employment," it added.

The quarterly expected that the targeted GDP growth of 6.5 percent for the current fiscal would be achieved as indications suggest, but it would face several downside risks making economic management challenging in the near term.

It urged monitoring the challenges and implementing timely policy response to face the challenges like the need for increasing productivity that has been suffering from continuing power shortages, other infrastructure bottlenecks and socio-political events.

Asked about the possible impact of deportation of workforce from abroad, Dr Mujeri informed that the central bank has already expressed its concern and requested the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Expatriate Welfare & Overseas Employment to take necessary measures in this regard.

"I hope things would change soon," he said.

2 lakh tonnes of non-urea fertilisers to be imported

BSS, Dhaka

The government has reached an agreement with Tunisia and Morocco to import two lakh tonnes of non-urea fertilizers under the state-level deals.

If required, the import volume of fertilisers could be increased to three lakh tonnes, said an Agriculture Ministry press release. The fertilisers will begin arriving in the country in October this year and continue through 2009. There is scope in the deals for ensuring import of fertilisers from those countries for the next three years as per the demand.

Besides, talks are going on with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to import PMO and urea fertilisers. The government has a plan to send high-level delegations to those countries soon, the press release said.

Recently, a six-member high-level delegation, led by Agriculture Secretary M Abdul Aziz, visited Morocco and Tunisia to sign deals on import of non-urea fertilisers.

Other members of the delegation were BCSIC Chairman M Mokhlesur Rahman, BADC Chairman Abdur Razzak, Additional Secretary of Finance Ministry Fazle Kabir, Foreign Ministry Director General (MEA) Dr M Hamidur Rashid and IMED Director General (CPTU) Amulya Kumar Debnath, the press release said.

Appointment of judge: HC strips President of special power

Bdnew24.com, Dhaka

The High Court has seized the president's special power to discount the recommendations of the Supreme Judicial Commission in appointing judges to the higher court.

A three- member strong special bench of justices MA Rashid, Nazmun Ara Sultana and Md Ashfaqul Islam yesterday scrapped Section 9 (4) of the Supreme Judicial Commission Ordinance that gave the president the special power-by 2 to 1 votes.

Senior judge Rashid termed the entire Supreme Judicial Commission ordinance unconstitutional and ruled it cancelled after a writ petition had been filed.

The other two judges commented that the president's special power was against the spirit of the ordinance and that it rendered the ordinance pointless, a consideration that prompted them to scrap section 9 (4) of the ordinance that vested the special power on the head of the state.

It means the High Court has partially scrapped the Supreme Judicial Council Ordinance. However, since the issue involved legal issues and constitutional explanation, the court observed that the petitioner might appeal against the verdict.

Writ petitioner Idrisur Rahman and his counsel Dr Shahdin Malik said they had won "90 percent in the verdict".

LGRD Adviser says: General polls to be held under emergency

UNB, Dhaka

The coming general election would also be held under the state of emergency as "everybody appreciated" the recent holding of local elections smoothly, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said yesterday.

"It matters little who made what comment…NO candidate did complain officially about the elections," the Local Government adviser told reporters at the Secretariat.

To justify government plans for holding the national polls too keeping the emergency in force, he stated that the August 4 elections were held amid emergency without any problem.

He said the government thinks that there would be no problem during the next polls, too.

Replying to a question the adviser said if necessary, they would talk to foreign election observers.

He stated this as the European Union has a standing policy against sending poll observers where elections are held under emergency.

The adviser further informed that during the dialogue with political parties, they had assured that if they felt any problem, the emergency would be further relaxed for the hustings.

ACC to expedite trap cases to check bribery

BSS, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to expedite the activities of trap cases across the country to check bribery at the field level.

The Commission has taken the decision following reports of different studies and information from public hearsay that most of the incidents of corruption at field level are related to bribery, ACC Director General (DG) Colonel Hanif told reporters here on Thursday.

He said the commission in principle has decided to give away attractive awards to the persons providing information on bribery or helping arrest of the persons involved in bribery red-handed.

A directive in this regard will be sent to all divisional and coordinated district offices very soon, the DG added.