The New Nation - Internet Edition

Use of modern technology can double agri production

Talha Bin Habib

Adoption of modern technology and providing high quality of seeds and other necessary agriculture inputs to the farmers could help agriculture production double in the country within the next couple of years, said agriculture experts.

There is no alternative to produce more foodgrains for attaining food autarky and checking the soaring prices of it, they said.

They suggested providing sufficient fund for agriculture research and ensuring high quality seeds and other agriculture inputs to the farmers for producing more foods in the country.

If the necessary agricultural inputs were provided to the farmers then the country could easily attain the sufficiency in food production, they opined.

They said producing more food grains could help mitigate the rising demand of food for the increasing population.

They said that if the population of country continues to increase with its present rate then it would be difficult to ensure more food for additional population.

They said the food grain production can double if all the farmers were provided all kinds of necessary agriculture inputs.

Every year the country is losing nearly 80 thousand hectare of arable lands due to river erosion and building housing and other infrastructure development. As a result 1 per cent of arable land is reducing and the demand of food is increasing at a rate of 1.4 per cent annually, according to the concerned ministry.

The present number of population in the country is nearly 15 crore, who are living in a small land area of 1 lakh 44 thousand square kilometre.

But most of the farmers in the country are still using traditional and backdated technology and low quality of seeds that resulted the low production of food grains.

An agriculture scientist said grassroots level agriculture scientists are now able to invent new variety of agriculture seeds.

If the newly invented high yielding variety of seeds and necessary technology were provided to the farmers then the country could attain self-sufficiency in food production.

Out of total using of seeds, only 20 per cent of high quality is being used in food production, sources of the Agriculture ministry said.

If we increase the use of high quality of seeds to 40 to 50 per cent from the present rate then it would be possible to produce additional 30 to 50 lakh metric tonnes of food annually in the country, it said.

Presently the total demand of paddy seeds is 3 lakh metric tonnes. And out of that only 40 per cent of high quality of seeds are being used for rice production.

Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation is providing only 80 thousand metric tonnes of high quality of seeds to the farmers. And pri vate agriculture farms are providing the rest of that.

A high official of the concerned department said though the rate of using high quality of seeds is increasing but still it is insufficient.

If we ensure 60 per cent of high quality of seeds to the farmers then it will be possible for producing more 3 crore metric tonnes of rice, he said.

He, however, admitted that the government initiatives for distribution of high quality of seeds to the farmers still remain in limited scale.

VC panel finalized for 3 universities

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The government appointed search committee has finalised three panels of probable candidates for the appointment of vice chancellors to three public universities, a committee member said yesterday.

The search committee, in a meeting held in the education ministry, formed the panels to appoint VCs for Jessore University of Science and Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology and Dinajpur Haji Danesh University of Science and Technology.

"We have prepared lists of eligible VC candidates for the universities; each list has names of not more than three. One will be appointed as VC from the panel," said Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, co-chairman of the committee.

Member secretary of the search committee AZM Shafikul Alam, also joint secretary of the education ministry, said: "We have made the selection considering academic qualification, experiences and administrative skills of the candidates."

He said the recommendations will be sent to the chancellor this week for appointment to be finalised next week.

A member of the search committee, preferring not to be named, said that some 36 candidates applied for the VC post of the Jessore University of Science and Technology, 24 for Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology and 45 applications were submitted for Dinajpur Haji Danesh University of Science and Technology.

Marina Mahathir due in Ctg today

Chittagong Correspondent

Marina Mahathir, a human-rights defender and daughter of Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, is expected to arrive here in the port city today.

She will deliver a lecture on 'Leadership in a Time of Crisis: A Personal Journey in the Campaign Against HIV/AIDS in Malaysia' at Hotel Peninsula tomorrow (Wednesday) at about 3:00 p.m.

Asian University for Women (AUW) will host the lecture, which will be followed by a cultural function performed by AUW students.

Earlier, Marina arrived in Dhaka Sunday midnight on a six-day visit.

Marina has already taken part in a seminar on media and gender equity and visits some health, education and micro credit projects run by Grameen Bank and BRAC.

She also met foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Monday.

Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) in a press statement on Saturday said that Marina came in Bangladesh at its invitation to give a talk on media and gender equity.

HC stays tax evasion case against Tarique

Bdnew24.com, Dhaka

The High Court has stayed the proceedings of a tax evasion case against BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman.

The bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Md Abu Tariq passed the stay order on a writ petition by Tarique challenging the legality of the case filed by the National Board of Revenue.

The court also asked the NBR chairman, deputy commissioner and Dhaka special judge's court to explain in six weeks why the case was not without legal basis.

The NBR filed the case against Tarique with a Dhaka Special Judge's Court on Aug 4, accusing him of evading payment of Tk 26.86 lakh in income tax during the fiscal years 2002-03 to 2005-06.

Barrister Rafique-ul-Huq, representing Tarique, said a notice had to be served before filing the tax evasion case, in line with income tax laws. "But in case of Tarique no such notice was served."

The lawyer said Tarique was a registered taxpayer.

"If there was any allegation of income tax evasion, the NBR would seek to recover that tax from him."

"The High Court in an earlier hearing had ordered the NBR to collect Tarique's income tax, but they took no steps to collect it."

Barrister Rafiq added that the duty of the NBR was to realise income tax, not to file cases.

Tarique petitioned the High Court on Aug 10 challenging the legality of the case.

Pressure mounts on Musharraf

BBC, Online

Pakistan's ruling coalition has successfully negotiated another obstacle on its way to impeaching President Pervez Musharraf.

The North West Frontier Province's (NWFP) parliament passed a resolution calling on the president to seek a vote of confidence, or resign.

The coalition has launched a campaign to make him step down or face charges of corruption and abuse of power.

Mr Musharraf has clung to power despite the defeat of his allies in elections.

"We have taken this decision for the future of democracy in the country," former interior minister Aftab Sherpao told reporters after the vote in the NWFP assembly.

Mr Sherpao's Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao) (PPP-S) party, which is part of the coalition, voted for the resolution.

It is part of a series of moves initiated by the coalition government to force Mr Musharraf to resign.

At the moment, that campaign is going in favour of the coalition - the NWFP assembly's resolution is the second is as many days.

On Monday, the Punjab assembly passed a similar resolution with a large majority.

The most interesting thing about both events is that members of the opposition previously thought to be allied to Mr Musharraf are now voting against him.

With no real strategy to counter this shift, it appears the odds are heavily stacked against the president.

At the moment, his allies in Pakistan's establishment - the military and bureaucracy - also appear to have abandoned him.

The impeachment campaign was launched by leaders of the major coalition partners, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), last week.

The move was always on the cards since the defeat of the president's allies in February.

But this time the coalition said they would be launching the campaign immediately.

First they aim to have resolutions passed in all four provinces, calling on the president to seek a vote of confidence from the assemblies as required by law.

The president has failed to do this since the elections.

If he still sticks to this position, the resolution then calls on him to resign in accordance with the law.

The entire process, as the coalition sees it, is drawn out to give Mr Musharraf the chance to resign.

Coalition leaders privately insist that he only has time until charges are filed in parliament. After that, they say, the only way is through impeachment.

But Mr Musharraf has stressed that he will not resign.

He has insisted that he will face the charges which will vindicate his position.

1700 children drown every year: Study

BSS, Dhaka

An estimated 30,000 people including children die of unnatural reasons every year in Bangladesh, of which 17,000 people aged between one to 18 die of drowning, said a survey of the Bangladesh Health and Injury (BHI).

The BHI survey said the death rate of children in the country from various diseases has declined to a satisfactory level during the last two years, while drowning of children has increased to 57 per cent in 2003 from 9 per cent in 1983, another study shows.

Several studies carried out by the ICDDR'B and the BHI revealed that lack of awareness was largely responsible to drowning.

It said that during floods, a good number of mothers and family members keep them busy between 9 am to 2 pm for household management instead of keep their eyes on their kids.

According to UNICEF, during the rainy season between June to August last year as many as 946 incidents of death occurred in the country, of which 816 death incidents took place as a result of drowning mostly children aged below five years.

Talking to BSS, UNICEF Project officer Dr Sumona Safinaz said many of drowning occurred during the flooding in the fur- flung areas and those incidents do not get published due to bad communication facilities.

The rate of drowning of children between one to 17 years of old is more than the death of pneumonia or diarrhoea, according to Children and Mother Affairs Institute of the Health Ministry.

Another survey carried out by the BHI observed that drowning of children happens usually in ponds, ditches, lakes largely even in dry season.

On the other hand, it said, during the rainy season the water bodies get filled due to incessant rain and onrush of hilly waters that causes children drowned.

Dr Sumona said the drowning incident occur when children go to nearby ponds or lakes in absence of their parents or relatives. Moreover, she said, the mothers often keep their children with their relatives those are not capable to rescue if any of the children go to the water-body.

She said mothers of joint families spend enough time to do huge variety of jobs keeping their kids in charge of others. Not only this, Dr Sumona said, "Many children used to go far away beyond the knowledge of their parents and after a long time they search them, but unfortunately found their children floating in nearby pond or other water-body.

The studies suggested creating massive social awareness and said policy makers, health workers as well as local people can play an active role in a coordinated manner in keeping the children at bay from the water-bodies.

It recommended inclusion of education related to drowning in schools and social organisations and holding discussions with imams at mosques and distributing leaflets and posters door-to- door.

While contacted, Dr Ahmed Jamal Saief said ignorance of parents in dealing with children who slipped into waterdodies and swallowed enough water.

Five students of Mirpur MDC Model High School between 13 to 15 years of old drowned recently in a boat capsize at City's Mirpur area. The accident took place when a total of 10 students Went on a boat journey at a Mirpur lake as their school ended earlier on that day.

Five of the students swam ashore while others drowned.

Two days after the Mirpur incident, seven students drowned at Signal point in Cox's Bazar beach while they were taking baths. Three students were rescued with the help of divers and police.

High-rise Rangs now demolished down to 9th floor

UNB, Dhaka

Housing and Public Works and Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader directed expediting the building-demolition drive to clear the way as he Tuesday visited the construction work of road between Bijoy Sarani and Tejgaon industrial hub.

He was informed that Tk 122 crore would be spent on construction of the 1114-metre-long and 18.29-metre-wide road.

As the government acquired the land of Rangs building and the area behind it to develop the road to interconnect two broadways to lessen the traffic congestion in the capital,

RAJUk started demolishing the 22-storied high-rise on August 3, 2007.

Demolishing is now continuing on the 9th floor of the Rangs building, while the process of removing 23 more establishments from the area is also going on to clear the way. "Of the total, nine have already been pulled down while five will be removed this month," he was told during the site inspection.

Removal work on the rest nine establishments will be started after completing the legal process.

Housing Secretary ASM Rashidul Hai and RAJUK Chairman M Shafiqul Islam accompanied the Adviser during his visit.

After visiting the road-construction work, the Adviser inquired about the progress in demolishing the Rangs building and asked the officials concerned to "expedite the work".

DNA of septuplets does not match DIG's : HC sets today for order on public-interest litigation writ

DNA test finds no genetic similarities among the
much-talked-about seven children. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

The DNA test carried out on the much-talked-about minor septuplets of ex-DIG of Police Anisur Rahman, shows no genetic similarities among the children and their purported father, according to medical report.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) authorities yesterday submitted the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) test report before a High Court Division Bench in compliance with its earlier order.

On August 6, the High Court asked Dhaka Medical College authorities to carry out the test at its DNA Lab under the supervision of the Supreme

Court authorities upon separate petitions filed by Bangladesh National Lawyers Association (BNWLA) and Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) in 2006.

As the court resumed yesterday, BSEHR Executive Director Advocate Alena Khan put forward the report before the court of Justice Syed Mahmud

Hossain and Justice Farid Ahmed. She also read out the findings laid down in the test report that revealed no genetic similarity among the seven babies aged about three and a half years.

After accepting the report, the HC set today for order on a public-interest litigation writ petition filed by BNWLA that sought custody of the seven infants, airing doubt about the parenthood of the children and apprehending a racket for trafficking them out.

The former DIG, Anisur Rahman, and his wife have been claiming that the seven kids were "septuplets".

UAE's Ras Al Khaimah to build tourist zone at Sonadia Island

UNB, Dhaka

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) investment group has expressed interest in building an exclusive tourist zone only for foreigners at Sonadia Island in Cox's Bazar, as world's longest unbroken sea beach in the district holds huge untapped tourism prospects.

Investment Authority of Ras Al Khaimah, an emirate of the United Arab Emirates, has set its sights on the panoramic site on the beach of the Bay of Bengal.

Following the proposal from the investment group of the oil-rich Gulf state, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism is now conducting a feasibility study.

"Few days back, a representative of Ras Al Khaimah authority made a visit to Sonadia Island. They want to build an exclusive tourist zone at the Island. After that, the Tourism Ministry has asked the Parjatan Corporation to conduct a feasibility study," Syed Mohammad Zobaer, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, told UNB.

Sonadia Island is about seven kilometers off Cox's Bazar and about nine-square-kilometer in area in the embrace of the Bay. The western side of the island is sandy and different kinds of shells are found on the beach. Off the northern part of the island, there are beds of windowpane oysters.

During winter, fishermen set up temporary camps on the island and dry their catches of sea fish.

The secretary said the Ras Al Khaimah group has a plan to develop the tourist zone with all modern facilities and arrangements maintaining global standards.

Asked about the feasibility of the proposed Sonadia Exclusive Tourist Zone, he said in terms of natural beauty, the island is very much full of prospects. But the main concern is the environmental aspect of the island.

"All tidal surges, cyclones at first hit the Sonadia island. So we are examining the environmental aspect very carefully and scientifically. Moreover, the commercial aspect is also being considered with great importance," said the top bureaucrat.

M Zobaer further disclosed that the ministry is currently working for formulating a master plan centering all tourist spots of the country.

"Under the master plan, country's all the tourist zones will be made modern. The tourist zones will be brought under the master plan on priority basis," he said.

The official urged the private institutions and companies with new initiatives and plans to come forward for development of the country' s tourism sector.

By the day, the tourism sector will be privatized and the government will play the role of facilitator, he said.

The Bangladesh government is taking new steps as it plans to appoint local and foreign tourist experts, including tour operators, architects and professionals involved with the hospitality industry, to act as consultants for developing the tourism sector.

Two killed, six injured in road accidents

Sherpur Correspondent

At least two people were killed and six others were injured in separate road accidents at different places of the country on Monday.

A microbus driver was killed and two people were injured in a road accident at Gouradar crossing in Nakla upazila in Sherpur district on Monday.

Police and local people said the accident occurred at about 4pm when a bus rammed a microbus, coming from opposite direction.

The driver of the microbus Anwar Hossain, 22, died on the spot and two of its passengers were seriously injured.

The injured were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Police seized both vehicles.

A driver of a human hauler was killed and its four passengers were injured when it veered off the road at Rupdia in Kotchandpur upazila in Jhenaidah district on Monday. The incident took place at about 10am on Monday.

Driver Salauddin, 40, died on the spot. Separate cases were filed with the respective police stations.

Money laundering: Orion chairman Obaedul jailed for five years

UNB, Dhaka

A special anti-graft court yesterday sentenced the fugitive boss of Orion Group, Obaedul Karim, to five years imprisonment for money laundering, taking his total prison term to 48 years.

The court, however, acquitted two co-accused of the case. Former Awami League lawmaker AHM Mustafa Kamal alias Lotus Kamal is one of the two exonerated.

Trying in absentia, Judge M Ashraf Hossain delivered the sentence, also fining Karim to pay Tk 2 crore or suffer another year behind bars.

It also ordered confiscation of the Orion Group chairman's property worth Tk 2 crore to the state coffer.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the money- laundering case with Gulshan police station in October last year, accusing them of siphoning off Tk 2 crore from the country, as a purge is underway in the interim period.

"The sentence comes into effect after his arrest or surrender to the court," said the court order.

Earlier on June 25, a special court sentenced the Orion Group chairman to 13 years rigorous imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information about it.

Besides, on December 27 last year, another special court jailed Karim, also a major shareholder of the troubled private-sector Oriental Bank, for life for inter-branch debit-account fraud.

DU theatre fest begins

National Professor Kabir Chowdhury and Dhaka
University Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz were present as the
chief and special guests respectively at the inaugural
function of 9-day-long Dhaka University Drama Festival at
Natmondal auditorium on the campus

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Book Club yesterday at a function published a book to celebrate the 70th birth anniversary of Sheikh Akram Ali, founder and President of Bangladesh Book Club, at the Auditorium of Music Centre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city.

Meanwhile, a nine-day theatre festival was inaugurated at the Natmondal Auditorium of Dhaka University yesterday.

National Professor Kabir Chowdhury inaugurated the festival as chief guest, while Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University SMA Faiz was also present as special guest on the occasion.

Eminent writer Syed Shamsul Haque, drama activists Ramendu Majumder, Aly Zaker and Jhuna Chowdhury, Chairman of the Department of Theatre and Music of Dhaka University Dr Israfil Shaheen, among others, were present at the inauguration.

VC of Dhaka University said, "The initiative of the department of Theatre and Music will give opportunity to the students of the department and help them to explore themselves. Earlier, students of the department could not get this opportunity. This will raise their experiences."

Plays of 14 students of the final year of BA (Hons) of the department will direct and perform in the festival. After the inauguration, drama 'Asheshkritya' scripted and directed by Shahman Moisan staged at the Natmondal Auditorium.

Meanwhile, at the Shilpakala Academy, noted musician Azad Rahman was present as chief guest at the publication of book titled 'Kobi Priya Ebong Annanya.'

Journalist Shahidul Haque Khan, drama activist Golam Sarwar, writer and researcher Zillur Rahman, among others, took part in the discussion, while writer and Vice President of Book Club Mohammad Emdadul Haque moderated on the occasion.

Later, a musical soiree and Nazrul literature based Nrityanatya was presented.

Play 'Songram Chalbey,' which was staged on December 18 in 1971 and written by Sheikh Akram Ali, staged at the Music Centre Auditorium of Shilpakala Academy yesterday night.

Theatre group Desh Opera also presented another drama that lasted 40 minutes and directed by researcher Milon Kanti Dey at the same venue.