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No deal yet on Pak succession: Musharraf still in army-guarded residence: Coalition talks end abruptly

Nawaz Sharif (right) joins coalition partners Asif
Ali Zardari (left) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for talks in
Islamabad.

Agencies, Islamabad

Leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition have met in Islamabad to discuss who will succeed their long-time opponent, former President Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf stepped down on Monday after nine years in power to avoid a move by the government to impeach him.

The coalition, led by the parties of the late Benazir Bhutto and ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, held a first, inconclusive round of talks on Monday.

The coalition partners have agreed to meet again in three days time.

The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan says that it appears that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) need more time to resolve their differences over Musharraf's long-term replacement and over the reappointment of scores of judges sacked by Musharraf last year.

Musharraf himself has been replaced by caretaker President Muhammad Sumroo following his resignation on Monday.

Sumroo, Speaker of the senate and a political ally of Musharraf, will lead the country until a new election is held by parliament.

It is unclear whether Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, will face prosecution now that he is out of power.

Leaders of the PPP, Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (son of Zardari and late Benazir Bhutto) met other members of the coalition in Islamabad on Tuesday to try and hammer out a deal.

Nawaz Sharif, who as PML-N leader heads the second biggest party in the coalition, was greeted by Zardari and Bilawal.

Pakistan's Minister for Law, Farooq Naek, said before the negotiations that the coalition parties would make a "united decision" on the important issues.

But correspondents say that will not happen before the end of the week. The PPP and PML-N distrust each other and have already said different things about Musharraf's future, the BBC's Charles Haviland reports from Islamabad.

Zardari's party said it believed Musharraf might have immunity from prosecution.

But Sharif's party argues he should stand trial for, among other things, abrogating the constitution.

Well known in the West for his support for the US after the 11 September 2001 attacks, President Musharraf had grown increasingly unpopular at home.

With the government on the verge of impeaching him, the former soldier's instinct was to fight on, correspondents say, but in his lengthy address he said he was stepping down for the good of the nation.

Bilawal Bhutto said he hoped the country could move forward after Musharraf's departure.

Mrs Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi in December last year.

The retired army general resigned Monday in the face of impeachment threats from the fragile ruling coalition, which is packed with his foes. He is believed to be in his army-guarded residence near the capital, Islamabad.

How the government deals with his succession - and whether it leads to a power struggle - is a looming question at a critical time.

Law Minister Farooq Naek said Tuesday that the government had not struck an immunity deal with Musharraf, though supporters and foes suggested he had sought guarantees that he would not face criminal prosecution or be forced into exile.

"There is no deal with the president, and he had himself resigned," Naek told reporters.

Musharraf did not specify his plans during his emotional farewell speech on Monday, saying only that his future was in the hands of the people. But local media reports have suggested he might leave the country for security reasons - he is despised by Islamist militants and is widely unpopular among ordinary Pakistanis.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States were being discussed as potential havens.

"He should not be allowed to leave," said Sadiqul Farooq, spokesman for the coalition's second-largest party, which has accused the former president of treason. "He should be tried for his crimes."

Pakistan's president is elected by lawmakers, a process that is supposed to be completed within 30 days.

Commentary: Pervez Musharraf's departure gives a respite but challenges remain

General Pervez Musharraf, the former Pak army chief and key ally of the United States in its campaign against terrorism, resigned as President of nuclear-armed Pakistan on Monday to avoid impeachment, as his efforts to avoid the ultimate ouster through negotiations failed and his foes in the ruling coalition of the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) were determined to push ahead with the impeachment move in case of his failure to step down.

The resignation clearly relieved Pakistan of a tense situation that grew out of Gen Pervez Musharraf's earlier announcement not to resign and instead fight back. This also marked the end of an era. But time is yet to be ripe enough to tell whether this would end the political instability, terrorism and price hike that has made life difficult in the predominantly Muslim country.

The Delhi-born 65-year-old Pervez Musharraf took over power as chief of Pakistan's army in a bloodless coup in 1999 deposing the government of Nawaz Sharif, toppled democracy and formally appointed himself President less than two years later in June 2001.The man who many in the West had shunned as a dictator became a pivotal player in the US-led war on terror. Islamists' back home, however, denounced him as a traitor. In April 2002, Musharraf conducted a widely criticised referendum where he won himself five years in office. By August that year, he had sweeping new powers including the right to dismiss and elect a Parliament.

There were many ups and downs during the eventful nine-year rule of Gen Pervez Musharraf. The economy grew at an enviable rate compared to the rest of the region. Many believe generous US-backed support for his role in the war on terror helped him achieve this feat. The next few years saw him walking a tightrope to maintain his relationship with the US.

Musharraf's true test however, came in March last year when he fired Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhary, along with about 60 other judges, accusing him of misuse of authority.

In May 2007, large-scale clashes left 35 people dead and then the Pakistan Army raided the Lal Masjid on July 10. Musharraf had been avoiding action against the madrasahs for nearly seven months, but finally, extremism was met with an iron fist.

In October 2007, Musharraf got himself re-elected as the President of Pakistan and went on to impose Emergency in November 2007. Later that month, he handed over the command of the army to General Ashfaq Kayani.

The February 2008 elections saw Bhutto's PPP and the PML-N trounce Musharraf's allies. The election result flung the biggest challenge for Musharraf as it brought the same man he deposed - Nawaz Sharif - closer to power.

Many believe that it was unrealistic for him to believe that he would be able to cling to power by bringing back his foes Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif whom he had accused of being corrupt and sent on exile. His promoters in the West had compelled him to have an understanding with the late Benazir Bhutto and share power with her.

There are many allegations against Pervez Musharraf, but hardly any allegation of his being corrupt is being heard. Leaders of Pakistan's coalition government meanwhile are deadlocked over the judiciary only a day after the President resigned.

Meanwhile Press Trust of India quoted India's Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh as saying the exit of Pervez Musharraf would slow down the Indo-Pak peace process as the new incumbent would take time to push it forward.

Political stability would be a distant cry if the disappearance of Pervez Musharraf from the scene brings back the old rivalries between the PPP and the PML-N. The people of Pakistan can only hope that good sense would prevail on leaders of both the parties to steer the country forward with wisdom and foresight avoiding past lapses.

Ban on human habitation in foothills soon: Probe body visits landslide site: Tk 4.25 lakh handed over to the victims

A large number of locals have established their
homesteads in Rangamati hill sides ignoring government ban
on human habitation at the foot of the hillock. Banglar
Chokh

Chittagong Correspondent

The government is going to ban human habitation in most vulnerable foothills in the port city, Education and Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said while visiting the site of Monday's devastating mudslide where 11 low-income people died on Monday.

"The most vulnerable areas on the foothills will be red-marked and settlement in those areas would be barred soon," he said.

He ordered the local administration to identify those involved in making setting up illegal houses on the foothills.

He also said the mobile courts magistrates would be empowered to check the hill-cutting activities.

Hossain Zillur also declared Tk 4.25 lakh as compensation to the six affected families.

Later, he went round the devastated areas for a spot survey of the mudslide, which occurred little over a year after a devastating hill collapse had taken 128 lives.

Earlier in the morning, Hossain Zillur held a meeting with government officials at the Chittagong Circuit House.

According to the latest reports, rescuers recovered the bodies of four women, four children and two men from under a huge chunk of mud that buried their thatched homes on the foothills while they were asleep early Monday. An eleventh man died on his way to a hospital.

The mudslide destroyed 14 houses of a slum built on a hillside from which the government was relocating families apprehending the danger.

The Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Mohiuddin Ahmed Khan led five-member probe committee started its investigation yesterday. On the first day it interviewed several residents of Hossain Colony and the adjacent slums where the tragic incident occurred. It will submit its report on Thursday.

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) started evacuating people from the foothills under a crash programme. It already evacuated 1,200 people from the danger zone of the foothills in the port city yesterday.

The displaced people are initially being taken to an emergency shelter built at Lalkhan Bazar Government Primary School in the port city. The CCC will provide necessary food and temporary shelter to them free of cost, according to CCC sources.

Pro-BNP White panel sweeps DU deans polls

DU Correspondent

White Panel, a platform of the teachers of Dhaka University (DU) backed by the BNP and Jamaat clinched seven posts while Blue Panel supported by Awami League won the two remaining posts in the Dean Election held yesterday on the campus.

Around 1000 DU teachers cast their votes in the Dean election of nine faculties out of ten. Casting of the vote started at 9:00am and continued till 1:00pm at the game room of Teacher-Student Centre of the university.

A total of 21 candidates divided into two panels-White and Blue took part in the polls for nine posts out of ten as Prof Dr Borhan Uddin Khan of the White Panel was declared elected Dean of the Law Faculty, as no other nomination papers were filed for the post. Prof Borhanuddin also belong to the white panel.

Treasurer of DU Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad was the Election Commissioner. The incumbent Arts Faculty Dean Prof Dr Sadrul Amin, a teacher of English, retained his deanship by getting 116 votes, while his nearest rival from the Blue Panel Fakhrul Alam got 107 votes.

Social Sciences incumbent Dean Harun-or- Rashid of the Blue Panel bagged the deanship by getting 100 votes, while his rival Prof Md Ferdous Hossain of Political Science and White Panel candidate got 53 votes.

Prof Dr Tajmeri SA Islam of Chemistry won the Science Faculty deanship from the White Panel by defeating the Blue Panel candidate Prof Muhibur Rahman of the same department.

Prof Abbas Ali of Management and White Panel candidate won the deanship for the Business Studies by defeating Blue Panel candidate Prof Mizanur Rahaman of Marketing.

White Panel candidate Abul Bashar of Zoology bagged the Bio-Science deanship defeating the incumbent Dean Anwar Hossain from the Blue Panel.

Prof Abdur Rashid, a teacher of Pharmaceutical Chemistry from White Panel won the Pharmacy deanship defeating Farida Begum of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology and the Blue Panel candidate.

Artist Rafiqun Nabi of the Blue Panel candidate for the newly introduced Fine Arts Faculty won the deanship defeating two opponents - Abdus Sattar and Mahmudul Haq, both from the White Panel.

White Panel candidate Shahnaz Haq Hussain of Geography won the position of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Dean defeating the Blue Panel candidate Dr Md Hossain Mansur, a teacher of Soil Science.

White Panel candidate Shahida Rafique won the Engineering and Technology deanship defeating the Blue Panel candidate Neem Chandra Bhowmik, a professor of applied physics.

RMG factory owners conerned over security, admit low wages

Staff Reporter

FBCCI president Annisul Huq yesterday admitted that low wages and high commodity price is creating labour unrest leading to damage of readymade garment factories across the country.

"We cannot deny the genuine cause of labour unrest, the low wages. We are thinking to raise wages," the president of the apex trade body, also a garment factory owner told newsmen at a press briefing urging the government to provide security of their business establishments.

He said, " Strong message from the government can easily stop such labour unrest. A government can give full security to industry if it wants to."

Expressing concern over their factory security and also their own security the industry entrepreneurs in a meeting at the FBCCI board room said they have been facing security threats as several factories came under workers' attack.

The FBCCI president said, "If they (workers) have any complains, they can ask the factory management for its solution."

BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), BKMEA president Fazlul Haque, former BGMEA presidents, ICCB president Mahbubur Rahman, eminent industrialist Syed Manzur Elahi, MCCI president

Latifur Rahman and representatives from other industries were present at the briefing.

Some 147 RMG factories came under attack since January this year, including 22 this month, the press briefing informed.

"Even some highly-rated factories in terms of working conditions and wage payment came under attack," Annisul Huq said, expressing concern over the unrest in the largest export-earning sector.

"The wages may be a reason, but the entrepreneurs do not think that it's the main reason behind the attack," he said.

BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez supplemented the FBCCI president that over 99 per cent factories by now comply with minimum wages as per the tripartite agreement reached in 2006. Of course, few factories do no have the capacity to comply with.

BKMEA president Fazlul Haque added that the motive of the factory attack still remains unknown to the factory owners. He said the administration should identify the problems.

"The entrepreneurs are not responsible for price hike," Annisul Huq said adding that the entrepreneurs too have been struggling to tackle problems like frequent power outages and disruption in gas supply at the cost of their profit margin. "We're not in a comfortable situation either."

The entrepreneurs will meet the Chief Adviser, in a day or two to discuss the question of security of their factories, Annisul Huq informed newsmen.

Steps taken to ensure power supply during Ramzan

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Prof M Tamim yesterday said that the government has taken initiative to keep load shedding to a minimal level during Ramzan.

"The ministry has already directed the electricity generation units to keep fully operational during the holy month, and keep electricity supply at the highest level from 6:00pm through 9:00pm for iftar and tarabih prayers and from 3:00 AM to 5:00am for sehri," Prof Tamim told reporters at a meeting at the Energy Ministry yesterday.

Directives have also been given for backup supplies to mosques, if needed, Tamim said.

We are holding meetings with the business community so that any misuse can be curbed and they can be more economical in using power during Ramzan, the Special Assistant said.

There would be a ban on illumination at the shopping centres during Ramzan across the country, he added.

"The total electricity demand for Ramzan will be 4,200 MW a day. But the total generation will be between 3,600 to 3,800 MW. There will be an unavoidable shortage of 400 to 600 MW," Tamim pointed out.

He said that though all power plants in the country were operating, production was being hampered due to lack of water supply at Kaptai Power Plant and failure to ensure gas supply in Chittagong. "All units together are currently generating an average of 3,300 MW per day," he said.

"This average will be increased during the evenings during Ramzan, by keeping generation to a maximum of 3,200 MW during the day so that the supply can be boosted to a maximum of 4,000 MW in the evening."

Tamim vowed to ensure constant supplies throughout the country, but added, "It will not be possible to make up for the shortage of 150 MW of electricity in Chittagong."

Asked how long it would take to overcome power crisis, the special assistant said, "We will be able to boost average daily production by another 300 to 500 MW by October with the introduction of rental power plants."

"The government has signed a deal to purchase a total 1,100 MW from these plants in the following months," he said.

The special assistant yesterday also met with power production and supply agencies including Dhaka Power Distribution Company, Dhaka Electric Supply Company and the Power Development Board and asked them to stabilise power supplies across the country during the holy month of Ramzan.

Development activities must continue on local funds

Staff Reporter

Country's developmental activities must continue on state funds for the prosperity of the country instead of depending on foreign aid, speakers yesterday said at a seminar.

They also said that the developed countries and international donor agencies could not change our fate until we take our own initiatives to develop the country.

The number of Least Developed Countries rose to 49 from 24 in the last 37 years.

LDC Watch, South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) and Equity and Justice Working Group (Equity BD), Bangladesh jointly organised the seminar on 'Least Development Countries and Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA)' in the city. Golam Mortuja, Editor of Weekly Saptahik, said the least developed countries, like Bangladesh, could not reach their goal, as they follow the advice of international donor agencies like the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"These agencies lead us to the level from where we will not be able to turn around," he added.

The indifference of politicians helps these agencies to worsen the economic woe of the country, he said.

Terming the development brought about in the country by these international agencies momentary, former minister GM Kader said, "Economic collapse can occur at any time."

If we could refrain from depending on these organisations and think only about the welfare of the country, we would certainly succeed regardless of the pain involved in achieving something good, he said.

In his keynote paper, Md Shamsuddoha of Equity BD urged for the implementation of the goal of Brussels Programme of Action within 2010.

He proposed stable macroeconomic framework, sound investment, reduction of TB and malaria deaths and prevalence by half within 2010.He also called for good governance, rule of law and transparency in financial, monetary and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system.

Among others, Dr Hasan Mahmud of Awami League, Rizvi Ahmed of BNP, Dr Arjun Karki, President of Democracy Watch, Rashed Al Titumir, chairman of Unnayan Anneshan, Rokeya Kabir of SAAPE and Asjadul Kibria addressed the seminar.

Tk. 28 per kg rice under OMS from today

Staff Reporter

The Directorate General of Food is going to sell rice through Open Market Sale (OMS) across the country from today to maintain the rice markets stable during the holy month of Ramzan

A total of 925 shops and 25 trucks dealers have been appointed to sell rice at key locations and 90 wards of the capital city.

As per the decision, per kg of rice would be Tk 28 and a person could buy only 3 kg's from the said dealers.

Each shop dealer could sell rice between 750 to 765 kg while every truck dealer 3 thousand kg's of rice every day.

The limited income group of people could buy rice through OMS with affordable rate said a high official of the department.

All the dealers have already been given directives for hanging red cloth banner that reads ' OMS of rice is going on', he added.

A high official of Chief Controller of Dhaka Rationing office said they would monitor the OMS programme strictly, so nobody could deprive the genuine customers.

Bangladesh Rifles has already started selling of rice through OMS at different shopping outlets in the city. BDR also sells rice Tk 28 per kg.

Some business bodies have also decided to sell rice through OMS during the month of Ramzan.

They will open shops in the capital and other district towns to sell rice, soybean oil, gram, lentils, onion and other essential items to the consumers at affordable prices.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), Ansar, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) are among the public and private business organisations which would sell those commodities during the month.

BSMMU doctor says Tarique’s body partially paralysed

UNB, Dhaka

A joint surgery expert with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University said yesterday detained BNP leader Tarique Rahman's body has become partially paralysed.

Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolon, head of the Department of Arthroscopy and Joint Replacement and a member of a five-member doctors' panel, said risks are there that Tarique would be fully paralysed if he is not sent abroad immediately.

This panel of doctors, appointed by the prison authorities, has been treating Tarique, also elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, at the prison cell of BSMMU since 31 January.

Talking to UNB by phone Dolon said ensuring overseas treatment for Tarique is a must as the country has no proper facility to cure his troubles.

Johnson wins gold in gymnastics

Agencies, Beijing

Shawn Johnson finally stepped up to the top of the Olympic gymnastics medal platform after three near misses and helped the U.S. women edge China. Johnson, the all-around world champion and at 16 already the leader of the U.S. women's team, won the balance beam on the last night of competition.

She beat teammate Nastia Liukin, the world champion on the apparatus and the only other U.S. woman to take a gold in Beijing, with the all-around title last week.

``I remember saying, `Finally,''' Johnson told reporters. ``I'll probably sleep with it, I'm so excited.''

The U.S. won the women's gymnastics medal race over China 8-6 and tied at two golds each, with the Americans getting five runner-up finishes. China's men beat the U.S. 8-2 overall and 7- 0 in the gold-medal count, as the nation won the total medal race 14-10.

``I am very happy,'' said Martha Karolyi, the U.S. women's team coordinator. ``This is the right way to conclude the Olympic Games. It proved the supremacy of American gymnastics.''

Johnson finished eighth on the beam at the 2007 world championships in Stuttgart, Germany, where she won championships on the U.S. team and in the all-around and floor exercise.

The U.S. finished second to China in the Olympic team event, and Liukin nipped Johnson for the all-around title. Johnson also finished second to Romania's Sandra Izbasa in the floor exercise.

``She came in with a possibility of winning a few gold medals, but that didn't happen,'' U.S. coach Chow Liang said. ``We were running out of chances and she did a great job.''

Tonight, there was no question Johnson would get her first gold from the moment she hopped on the beam.

She finished with 16.225 points to 16.025 for Liukin, who lost the gold in uneven bars to China's He Kexin in a tiebreaker last night. They were the only two who scored above 16 on the beam in the new two-tiered judging. Cheng Fai of China was third at 15.950.

``I think this showed how strong we are,'' said Liukin, who now has five Olympic medals, one more than her father-coach, Valeri. ``After the silver in the team final, some people were saying, `What is all this talk?' This now shows we are the best.''

She beat teammate Nastia Liukin, the world champion on the apparatus and the only other U.S. woman to take a gold in Beijing, with the all-around title last week.

``I remember saying, `Finally,''' Johnson told reporters. ``I'll probably sleep with it, I'm so excited.''

The U.S. won the women's gymnastics medal race over China 8-6 and tied at two golds each, with the Americans getting five runner-up finishes. China's men beat the U.S. 8-2 overall and 7- 0 in the gold-medal count, as the nation won the total medal race 14-10.

``I am very happy,'' said Martha Karolyi, the U.S. women's team coordinator. ``This is the right way to conclude the Olympic Games. It proved the supremacy of American gymnastics.''

Johnson finished eighth on the beam at the 2007 world championships in Stuttgart, Germany, where she won championships on the U.S. team and in the all-around and floor exercise.

The U.S. finished second to China in the Olympic team event, and Liukin nipped Johnson for the all-around title. Johnson also finished second to Romania's Sandra Izbasa in the floor exercise.

``She came in with a possibility of winning a few gold medals, but that didn't happen,'' U.S. coach Chow Liang said. ``We were running out of chances and she did a great job.''

Tonight, there was no question Johnson would get her first gold from the moment she hopped on the beam.

She finished with 16.225 points to 16.025 for Liukin, who lost the gold in uneven bars to China's He Kexin in a tiebreaker last night. They were the only two who scored above 16 on the beam in the new two-tiered judging. Cheng Fai of China was third at 15.950.

``I think this showed how strong we are,'' said Liukin, who now has five Olympic medals, one more than her father-coach, Valeri. ``After the silver in the team final, some people were saying, `What is all this talk?' This now shows we are the best.''

CCC councilors observe hunger strike: Release of Mayor Mohiuddin demanded

UNB, Chittagong

Ward councilors of Chittagong City Corporation yesterday observed a four-hour token hunger strike demanding immediate release of their detained mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

All the 41 ward councilors and 11 reserved-seat female councilors observed the fast from 10am to 2pm on Chittagong Press Club premises.

Addressing the programme, acting CCC mayor M Manjurul Alam urged the government to release the ailing Mayor Mohiuddin "immediately for his treatment abroad".

Joint forces arrested Mayor Mohiuddin on March 7 last year under a crackdown on the political arena following the January 11, 2007 changeover.

2nd round of talks: AL seeks schedule from Govt

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) yesterday handed over a letter to the Chief Adviser's office of the Caretaker government demanding schedule of the next round of government-sponsored dialogue to talk about some vital issues like the national election and subsequently the upazila polls to restore democracy in the country.

AL Office Secretary Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan and Deputy Office Secretary BM Mozammel Haq, accompanied by Deputy Publicity Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil handed over the letter signed by AL Acting General secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.

Quazi M Aminul Islam, Secretary to the CA received the letter at 2:00pm. Through the letter to the CA, AL General

Secretary said that dialogue between AL and the government should be held immediately for the sake of public interest over the national election and upazila polls.

He also noted that the people of the country were suffering from confusion over the holding of national election as per the roadmap.

Ashraful Islam added that the partymen were enthusiastic on holding the dialogue again aiming to remind the Chief Adviser as well as other advisers about party's proposed six point demand including declaration of the date of parliamentary polls and subsequently upazila elections.

Earlier, the Government held dialogue with AL president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other central leaders at Sudhasadan immediately after her release from jail on June 11, ending a confrontation since her arrest through a crackdown on the political arena following the January 11, 2007, as the Caretaker government resumed the power.

At the meeting Hasina made a phone call to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and talked about national elections.

Besides this AL Acting President Zillur Rahman also asked again the government to announce specific date for holding parliamentary elections and demanded withdrawal of state of emergency before the election.

Zillur yesterday made this demand while addressing a commemorative meeting marking the 33rd death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the auditorium of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University (BSMMU).

Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad organised the meeting with its BSMMU unit Chief Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed in the chair.

AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, party leader Dr Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin and AFM Ruhul Haq, chief of the Parishad, among others, also spoke at the meeting.

Income Tax Day to be introduced

Staff Reporter

The Government is going to introduce a 'National Income Tax Day' in honour of taxpayers to encourage people to pay their due income tax regularly.

We will honour some taxpayers on the day, Chairman of the National Board Revenue (NBR) Muhammad Abdul Mazid told reporters at a press briefing at his office yesterday.

He said, the NBR will find out a day of September for declaring it as 'Income Tax Day' in convenience with the schedule of Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in whose presence the taxpayers will be honoured.

Five taxpayers of each district will be awarded; of them two will be selected for paying taxes regularly over a long period and three who have paid most taxes.

The NBR has invited proposals through all circle offices to identify the top taxpayers for the award, the NBR chief said.

The best VAT paying organisation of each district will also be rewarded. But how many will be rewarded is yet to be decided, he informed.

"We will show all kinds of flexibility to self-motivated taxpayers who have taken new taxpayers identification number (TIN) under the motivational scheme," Mazid said.

Replying to a question the NBR chief said, "Measures against tax evasion is an ongoing process and it will continue countrywide round the year."

"Nobody will be exempt; allegations will be investigated, and necessary steps will be taken against them in line with the income tax laws," he added.

In reply to another question, he said, "The NBR will assist the Election Commission as much as it needs in the interests of a free and fair election."

The NBR is still working to further extend the tax net outside Dhaka, the chairman said, adding that he and other officials were visiting districts and upazilas to that end.

"We are getting positive responses," he said.

In July, the NBR netted 9,778 new taxpayers from the local areas. They enlisted themselves, requesting Tax Identification Numbers, voluntarily.

"Many people are coming forward to paying income taxes willingly," the NRB boss said.

Mazid also mentioned successful revenue collection in the first month of current fiscal year. "We have got a positive response at the very beginning of the year."

"We have realised revenue of Tk 3,709.52 crore in July, which is 6.81 percent more than the target and 23.67 percent more than achieved in the same.j month of the previous fiscal," he said.