The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bank and NBFI fair opens: Call to bring poor people under banking system

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman addressing
the inaugural function of 'First Bank and Non-Bank Financial
Institutions Fair-'08' at Sheraton Hotel in the city on
Thursday. photo

Staff Reporter

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday called upon the commercial banks and financial institutions to focus more on the poor people for bringing them under the banking services and enhancing the country's ongoing development process.

"Bank and non bank financial institutions (NBFI) could identify potentials clients and invest in new frontier of economy for mutual profits," he said as chief guest while inaugurating a 3-day long 'Bank and Non-bank Financial Institutions Fair 2008' at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Dhaka Sheraton Hotel organised the first ever fair in the country for bringing all the products and services of the banks and non-banks financial institutions under single roof.

Trevor MacDonald, General Manager of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel welcomed the guests.

Nazrul Islam Mazumder, Chairman, Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB), Kazi Mahmood Sattar, Chairman, Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) and Anis A Khan, chairman, Bangladesh Leasing and Finance Companies' Association (BLFCA) also spoke on the occasion.

Mentioning the country's growth Dr Zillur said Bangladesh has achieved the capacity to autopilot an economic growth of 5 percent at any circumstance.

He said if the country witnessed political stability then it could be possible to achieve 10 per cent growth.

"It could be achieved through focussing on the poor at the bottom of the pyramid," he mentioned.

He said Bangladesh is posed on many transitions, including political transition, and embarked most importantly on the economic transition.

Terming the event of bank fair the Commerce Adviser hoped that it would help contribute to the economic development of the country.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the commercial banks had done a good job despite global turmoil.

He called upon them to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by the next decade.

The motto of the banks and non- bank financial institutions should be " to minimise risks and to maximise profits" he mentioned.

He called upon the banks to go for financial inclusion - bringing under the banking system the section of people who still remained outside.

"Financial inclusion is very important for economic development," he mentioned.

Nazrul Islam Mazumder called upon private banks to spend a small portion of their profit for poor people's higher education.

Kazi Mahmood Sattar called upon the banks to focus on the consumers interest alongside from their profits.

The City Bank, Arab Bangladesh Bank Ltd, Mercantile Bank Ltd, Continental Insurance, Dhaka Bank Ltd, Standard Chartered, Trust Bank, United Commercial Bank (UCB), Uttara Finance, Prime Bank Ltd, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Pubali Bank, IDLC, Islamic Finance and Investment Ltd, Green Delta Life, DBH, ICB Capital Management, MIDAS Financing, First Lease, ICB lslamic Bank, National Bank Ltd, National Housing Finance, NCC Bank, One Bank Ltd, Phoenix Finance and Investments Ltd, Premier Bank, Exim Bank, Prime Finance and Social Investment Bank are among the participants of the fair.

The fair will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm for public and will be concluded tomorrow.

Iftekhar talked to Kuwaiti DPM on telephone to resolve workers’ issue

Bangladesh workers who were deported from Kuwait
recently fill up the forms on Thursday at Manpower
Employment and Training Bureau at Kakrail in the city hoping
to get their dues from the Kuwaiti authorities.
FocusBangla

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury had telephonic discussion on last Wednesday night with Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, who is also the Foreign Minister, on issues pertaining to Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait.

The conversation which was extremely "warm and cordial" was organised by the two Foreign Ministers, a release of the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The talk took place after Sheikh Mohammed had received Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury's letter.

Sheikh Mohammed assured Iftekhar that the vast majority of honest, dedicated and hard working Bangladeshis will not suffer for the faults of a few. He recalled the service that Bangladesh had rendered Kuwait by sending soldiers to fight side by side with the Kuwaitis to protect that country's sovereignty.

The Foreign Advisor thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for his personal initiatives with regard to resolution of the problems of Bangladeshi workers and through the Deputy Prime Minister the Cabinet for their recent decision on fixing the minimum wage for foreign workers.

The Kuwaiti Minister said the Foreign Adviser would be most welcome to visit Kuwait at a mutually acceptable time.

The release said Iftekhar's visit to Kuwait may take place even during the current month.

Musharraf faces impeachment

AP, Islamabad

Pakistan's ruling coalition said yesterday it would seek the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf, alleging the U.S.-backed former general had "eroded the trust of the nation" and increasing pressure on him to resign.

Despite his unpopularity in Pakistan, Musharraf has so far resisted calls to step down and insisted he will serve out his current five-year term after he was elected in a contentious parliamentary vote in October. Impeaching a president requires a two-thirds majority support of lawmakers in a joint session of both houses of Parliament.

Musharraf dominated Pakistan for eight years and became a close U.S. ally after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but ceded control of the powerful army last year and has been largely sidelined since the coalition parties trounced his allies in February parliamentary elections.

Ruling party chief Asif Ali Zardari declared the decision yesterday was "good news for democracy" in Pakistan. Announcing a joint statement alongside his coalition partners after two days of talks, he said it was "imperative" for them to move for Musharraf's impeachment.

Policies pursued by Musharraf during his eight years in power "have brought Pakistan to a critical economic impasse," said Zardari, the widowed husband of former premier Benazir Bhutto who took charge of her party following her assassination in December.

"His policies have weakened the federation and eroded the trust of the nation in national institutions," Zardari added.

Zardari claimed Musharraf had given a "clear commitment" to resign if his party lost in the February elections and had failed to honor a pledge made by his attorney to the Supreme Court to seek a vote of confidence from the new Parliament.

Zardari also claimed Musharraf had "conspired" with the opposition party against Pakistan's democratic transition.

"The coalition further decided that it will immediately initiate impeachment proceedings. The coalition leadership will present a charge sheet against Gen. Musharraf," Zardari told a news conference, alongside leaders of the other coalition parties.

Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted as prime minister in Musharraf's 1999 coup and is the leader of the second-largest coalition party, said the process of impeachment would start "in the next few days."

Musharraf loyalists maintain the coalition would struggle to muster the needed two-thirds majority, but Zardari expressed confidence they would succeed.

"We hope that 90 percent of the lawmakers will support us," Zardari said.

Tariq Azeem, a spokesman for the main pro-Musharraf opposition party, said it would oppose any impeachment of the president.

"We have backed him and voted for him so we are duty bound to support him t We will oppose impeachment," he said.

He said there were more pressing issues facing the nation, including "runaway inflation" and sharp hikes in the price of food.

Azeem said he did not think the ruling coalition had the numbers in Parliament to impeach Musharraf, but conceded "things could go either way."

Inflation in Pakistan is running at over 20 percent, and the country suffers hours of power outages daily. Food prices have soared. The current government is also struggling to contain violent Islamic extremism.

Zardari also said the four provincial assemblies should demand Musharraf take a vote of confidence immediately.

Shortly before the announcement, the Foreign Office said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would represent Pakistan at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics - rather than Musharraf as originally planned.

That immediately fueled speculation the president had canceled his trip because of the imminent moves to oust him.

The ruling coalition has a comfortable majority in the National Assembly, or lower house, but Musharraf's supporters retain about half the seats in the Senate, or upper house.

Political analyst Rasul Bakhsh Rais said, "There is a strong likelihood, but not certainty, that the ruling coalition can impeach him."

Retired general Talat Masood said he did not think Musharraf could survive politically and that his best option was to resign.

He said the president could face a backlash if he tried to exercise his constitutional power to dissolve Parliament in an effort to forestall the impeachment bid. Masood said to exercise that power would require the support of the army.

"The army would be crazy for doing that. The army needs to improve its reputation and image with the people of Pakistan," he said.

The coalition also agreed to restore judges sacked by Musharraf when he declared a state of emergency and rounded up thousands of opponents last November - just as the Supreme Court was to rule on the legality of the October presidential vote.

Thursday's decision could heal rifts in the coalition, which had been split over the judges issue and how to handle Musharraf.

The ruling party now expects Sharif's party to rejoin the federal Cabinet. It had pulled out in May because of the differences.

The president, a stalwart U.S. ally, has in recent weeks made more public appearances and comments - seen by some in Pakistan as an attempt to show he remains a political force.

City, pourasabha polls free, fair: Watchers

Staff Reporter

The just concluded city and pourashava elections were held fairly and peacefully under the state of emergency despite some flaws in the electoral process.

This was stated by 'Brotee', an election monitoring organisation yesterday at a discussion session entitled "City and Poura Elections Observation 2008: Findings and Future Implications" at the Dhaka Reporters' unity auditorium.

The representatives of the organization said participation of voters has increased by 32 per cent compared to the city corporation polls in 2002. However, the participation of female voters rose by 6 per cent, they noted.

The spontaneous participation of the voters was the results of improvement of law and order in the country. The terrorist activities centering the election, which were a common scenario during the past local and national elections, almost vanished this time because of prevailing emergency rule in the country, they claimed.

According to Brotee, 12 city mayoral candidates out of 46 concealed information about their actual wealth, educational qualifications and other matters. Besides, the election expenditures of most of the candidates far surpassed the amount fixed by the election commission, according to them.

Sharmeen Murshid, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brotee, said that under the changed political situation the people of the country expected that educated,honest and qualified persons would come forward to contest the elections, but their expectation remained unfulfilled.

"Although the election atmosphere and management system greatly improved under the caretaker government and the emergency rule, but the quality of the candidates was not upto the mark,she noted.

About this report economist professor Abul Barkat said, "Some positive changes in the political arena have come. It is the responsibility of all to sustain it, he stressed.

Terming the report objective one, M Hafiz Khan, former adviser to the caretaker government said, "We are waiting for that days when the people will be able to exercise their franchise without fear or panic under a political government. To reach the goal the political leaders should develop their mindset", he added.

Dr. Dipu Moni, Women Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League central committee, also spoke.

FBCCI holds meeting: Traders vow to keep market stable

Staff Reporter

Businessmen yesterday made a commitment to bring down the prices of essentials and keep market stable during Ramazan.

The commitment came from a meeting arranged by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) at its office yesterday.

FBCCI president Annisul Huq moderated the meeting attended by local business leaders including presidents of district level chambers of commerce and industries. In the meeting, importers, big traders and wholesale businessmen blamed the retailers for price hike in the market.

Business leaders identified a huge gap between retail and wholesale prices of essentials for unreasonable price hike in the commodity market.

"Retailers don't fear to charge skyrocketing prices from customers arbitrarily. There is no accountability for the retailers. Their memo books should be checked regularly to see at what prices they buy and what prices they sell goods," Enayet Hossayn, member of the price monitoring cell of the FBCCI, said.

The business leaders informed that prices of palm oil has decreased by Tk 10 per titre in the international market. But the retail price in Bangladesh is yet to come down.

Wholesale price of Soyabean oil is Tk 107 per litre which is being sold at Tk 116-117 in the retail market, they said.

Kamaluddin Ahmed, Convenor of Price Monitoring Cell of the FBCCI, admitted the existence of "limited syndications" by a section of importers or traders behind excess prices of some essential items.

"You cannot term it as businessmen's syndication for tampering prices. If a countrywide group of businessmen in an axis to increase prices, you could blame it so," said the top-level importer cum business leader.

However, some of the businessmen denied the existence of 'syndicate.' "It is absurd… a creation of the media," said Golam Moula, general secretary of Moulovy Bazaar Babosayee Samaty, who is also a major importer and supplier of sugar, oil and some other items.

"The traders do not reveal the real situation of their stock of goods even before the local chamber of commerce, the meeting was informed. So, it is a tough job to disseminate accurate information on market and control the prices," FBCCI president Annisul Huq said, replying to a question.

At the start of the meeting, in presence of journalists, the FBCCI chief categorically wanted to know from local business leaders, when and to what extent the prices of essentials will come down.

Journalists also sought specific announcement of business leaders about their commitment on price cut.

But the importers and business leaders could not say how much the prices will come down.

However, the business leaders promised to stop profiteering during Ramjan. District level business bodies including chambers of commerce will operate temporary shops during the month to sell rice, oil, pulse and some other goods at cheaper rates to poor people.

Breastfed babies safer from diseases

Staff Reporter

The World Breastfeeding Week ended yesterday with a call to the global community for taking concrete steps to solve the problems in the way of ensuring breastfeeding to the children.

The call was made at the concluding ceremony of the week organised by Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) at the ICDDR,B auditorium in the city.

Speakers at the function emphasised the need for providing support to mothers practicing breastfeeding saying that the breast-fed babies, are safers from diseases.

They said child mortality rate could be reduced to a great extent if mothers breastfeed their babies.

"Global initiative is needed to redress the problem since Bangladesh has no control over alternative milk," said Uzzal Bikash Datta, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while addressing the function as the chief guest.

He emphasised the need for creating awareness about breastfeeding among the masses saying that such awareness programme has to be carried out round the year instead of observing only a week.

Datta also called upon for spreading the awareness throughout the country and make it asuccess as like the expanded programme on immunisation (EPI).

BBF Chairperson Dr SK Roy, who chaired the function, termed exclusive breastfeeding for six months one of the most effective tolls in reducing the child mortality.

He said breastfeeding protects health of both the child and the mother.

Dr Roy, also a senior scientist of the ICDDR,B, called upon all to work together to ensure breastfeeding to every child within one hour after his/her birth.

He called for the formation of `Mother Support Group' in all localities across the country.

The function was also addressed, among others, by Dr MA Salam, Acting Executive Director of the ICDDR,B, Nick Southern, Country Representative of Care Bangladesh, Vincent Edwards, Executive Director of World Vision, Prof Fatima Parveen Chowdhury, Director of IPHN, Biman Kumar Saha, Executive Director of NNP and Prof Soofia Khatoon, Secretary of BBF.

In cooperation with government organisations and development partners, the BBF observed the World Breastfeeding Week arranging discussion meetings, seminars, workshops, rallies, debates, paintings and quiz competitions, exhibition of film and poster, distribution of prizes among successful mothers across the country.

High Court stays delimitation of 84 JS constituencies

BSS, Dhaka

The High Court on Thursday stayed for three months the operation of the Gazette Notification issued by the Election Commission (EC) delimiting 84 constituencies of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS).

A two-member bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Masuk Hossain Ahmed issued the order of stay after hearing a writ petition.

The petition, filed by former lawmaker from Dhaka-2 Md Abdul Mannan, stated that according to the election law, the census would be carried out after the JS elections and the delimitation should be done before making the electoral roll.

It said the EC is obligated to hold the JS polls within 90 days after dissolution of the Parliament. But the EC delimited the JS constituencies ignoring the constitutional obligations.

The HC also issued a Rule asking the EC to show cause in two weeks why its Gazette Notification published on July 10 on delimitation of the JS constituencies should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority.

Allout UK help for holding fair polls assured

BSS, Dhaka

Visiting British Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Transport Jim Fitzpatrick, MP, on Thursday assured his government's full support for holding a free, fair and credible election in Bangladesh at the end of December this year.

"The UK supports the caretaker government for holding a credible poll in Bangladesh in December," the British junior minister told reporters after meeting Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his office on Thursday afternoon.

The UK minister further said the British Government and European Union wanted to see that free, fair and credible elections 'happen' in Bangladesh. "Elections in December will go ahead." He said the followed Monday's local body elections and was very pleased to see that people could exercise their rights of franchise in a free and fairly manner.

Parrying a question whether his country would support holding elections under the state of emergency, the British minister said, "We are keen to see that elections take place in Bangladesh. We want to do whatever is possible. UK supports the caretaker government for holding polls."

Fitzpatrick said both the caretaker government and the UK government want that elections do take place by December.

Commenting on the issue, the foreign adviser said that this government is absolutely firm to hold free, fair and credible elections. He said some provisions of the emergency were relaxed during Monday's elections.

Dr Iftekhar said he was unaware at what extent the emergency provisions would be relaxed during the upcoming national polls. "But we want to see that every Bangladeshi can go to polling booth and cast vote for the candidate of his/her choice," he added.

Wood trader shot dead

Staff Reporter

Unidentified gunmen shot dead a wood trader, yesterday when he was crossing Distillery Road, in old parts in the city

The victim was named Asaduzzaman Rajib, 30, son of late Farhad Uddin.

He lived at Rajani Chowdhury Road in Gendaria Bagicha.

Witnesses said five gunmen ambushed at Distillery Road and triggered their guns at Rajib as he was passing through the area by a motorcycle at about 6:15 pm. The witnesses said the armed goons fled the scene, leaving Rajib in a pool of blood. He sustained bullets in his head, chest and back.

Taijuddin, a pedestrian, also received bullet injuries in his hand. They were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where Rajib was pronounced dead, said hospital sources.

Reasons behind the killing could not be ascertained immediately.

AL won’t contest any election before national polls: Zillur

UNB, Dhaka

Awami Legue's acting president Zillur Rahman

yesterday categorically said his party would not take part in any future election under the state of emergency.

Zillur said his party would not participate in "upazila or whatever elections" before the general elections.

He made the remarks to reporters after a meeting with a Chinese delegation at his Gulshan home.

In reply to a question, he said if the caretaker administration

insists on holding polls under the emergency, his party will take "appropriate steps" considering the given situation.

The Chinese delegation include Chief of Political Section Mu Youngpeng, Political Counselor Weng Yu, Attache Ge Mingdong. AL organising secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury also attended the meeting.

About the Representation of People (Amendment) Order Ordinance 2008 approved by the Council of Advisors last night, Zillur said the conditions of the proposed Ordinance are very tough. He said "no vote" provision in the Ordinance is ludicrous.

The leader said provisions of banning front organisations of a political party was objectionable "because these bodies are meant for the welfare of the people".

Zillur also opposed the provision that elected Mayors and Councilors would have to quit their respective party posts.

Bangladesh faces hearing before USTR in Oct on labour issue

Syful Islam

Bangladesh will again face public hearing before the United States Trade Representative (USTR) next month over child labour and labour rights issue, informed sources said.

In the hearing the Bangladeshi officials will have to inform the progress made during the last one year regarding child labour and labour rights issue.

Bangladeshi representatives will be given 5 minutes of time for testimony followed by a question-answer session from a panel of officials headed by the Executive Director of Generalised System of Preference (GSP) programme Merideth Joy Sandler on labour rights issue.

Before the public hearing the country has to submit a pre-hearing brief this month.

Under the GSP programme Bangladesh ships 1 per cent of its total exports to US market free of duty.

Bangladesh is facing charges of labour rights denial and existence of child labour in the factories. The American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) filed petition before the USTR on June 22, 2007 to remove Bangladesh from the eligible beneficiary list of GSP facilities.

The US labour federation alleged violation of domestic and internationally recognised workers rights in the Export Procession Zones (EPZs).

It also alleged labour standards in the readymade garment sector and in the shrimp and fish processing industries.

The labour body also drew the notice of USTR, to harassment and negation of rights by government security forces against the trade union leaders and activists.

On October 4, 2007 Bangladesh government officials stand before the USTR in Washington on the hearing and gave a presentation on Bangladesh's stand on labour rights issue. Later, they will also send the reply to some queries made by the USTR.

A three-member USTR delegation visited Dhaka from 14 to 16 April this year to scrutinise the progress made by the country.

To inform the Bangladesh's position a four-member Bangladesh team led by Fisheries Secretary Syed Ataur Rahman visited USTR office from June 16 to June 20. The team informed the USTR that no child labour was working in Bangladesh's shrimp industry.

The USTR expressed its satisfaction over child labour situation in Bangladesh following confirmation by the Bangladeshi team that no juvenile were employed in the industry.

Bangladesh is trying for a long time to get duty free access of its products to the US market. A bill seeking duty-free access of products of Bangladesh and 13 other Least Developed Countries (LDC) to the United States market was raised in the US Congress in 2005 but is yet to make any headway.

A new trade bill titled "The New Partnership for Development Act of 2007" allowing duty free access of goods of least developed countries to the US market is facing strong opposition from the US textile lobby and the African countries.