The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dhaka Club honours Kalim Sharafi

Dhaka Club President Sadat Hossain Salim handing
over life-long membership crest to Rabindra vocalist Kalim
Sharafi at the club premises yesterday on the occasion of
the 97th founding anniversary of the Dhaka Club. NN
photo

Staff Reporter

Dhaka Club yesterday gave 'Lifetime Achievement Award' to the renowned cultural personality, Tagore artiste and also member of Dhaka Club Kalim Sharafi at a function for his outstanding contribution to music.

Kalim Sharafi is also the recipient of the Ekushey Padak and Swadhinata Padak for his great contribution in the cultural field.

The function was held at the Dhaka Club Auditorium to celebrate the 97th foundation anniversary of the club.

Sadat Hossain Salim, President of Dhaka Club and Khalid Hassan, Director of Grameen Phone, handed over the award to Kalim Sharafi.

After receiving the award, Kalim Sharafi said, "I am glad to receive the award from an old and prestigious club. Dhaka Club has progressed a long distance."

Sadat Salim said, "It is our great privilege to honour Kalim Sharafi for the service that he rendered to the club as a member and one of the oldest members of the Executive Committee and to the nation as a great exponent and performer of Tagore songs. He has become an icon in the world of Tagore songs. He made the nation and the Dhaka Club proud through his achievements."

Dhaka Club also handed over the award of 'The Club Legend' to 22 elderly members of the club who have enriched the club with their close association for more than four decades.

The 'Award of Excellence' was also given to 14 members who have rendered remarkable service to the club in various fields that including club attendance, cricket, golf, tennis, snooker, squash, health centre and swimming.

Noted cultural personality and drama activist Ramendu Majumder moderated the programme. Eminent litterateur Syed Shamsul Haque recited two Tagore's poems.

After the award ceremony, noted Tagore artistes Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya and Sadi Mohammad rendered Tagore songs.

Former presidents of the club, club members, their spouses and invited guests were present at the function.

Earlier, the club president and the members of the Executive Committee released 97 colourful balloons yesterday afternoon and the Club took a festive look.

6000 Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait again on strike

UNB, Dhaka

Some 6,000 Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait resorted afresh to protests over non-payment and unlawful deductions of their salaries although the Kuwaiti government recently set a minimum monthly wage of KD 40 for labourers to be paid without any curtail.

The Arab Times, a Kuwaiti English-language daily, reported yesterday quoting a Bangladeshi embassy official that thousands of workers of two cleaning companies went on strike over non-payment and unlawful deductions of their salaries.

Some workers of the two companies told the newspaper that some 6,000 workers are on strike since Sunday.

But the daily said the embassy contradicted that figure.

"We have asked the officials of the two companies to provide us the exact number of Bangladeshi workers employed by them," Arab Times quoted the unnamed Bangladeshi official as saying.

The official added that the embassy is making all-out efforts to resolve the workers' grievances and that he was hopeful that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour would take strict action against the two erring companies, the report said.

A striking cleaner, who identified himself as Abdul Hameed, told the Arab Times that his company has not paid its workers salary for over two months and that the company was also using pressure tactics to make them pay the insurance and residency fees.

"We tried all possible ways to resolve our problems with the company in an amicable manner but to no avail. Some supervisors are harassing workers who refuse to pay the medical and residency fees. They are being shuffled from one department to another and this has been going on for sometime now."

He also added that the company is showing no interest for paying heed to their complaints about the abominable living conditions at the camp, even as he said that some air conditioning units had broken down with the company showing little concern in having them fixed.

Another worker of the company, H. Rehman said that the embassy has been slow on acting on their complaints and added that the workers will not call off the strike unless all their demands are met.

He said that the embassy was still getting complaints from workers who alleged that their companies were unlawfully deducting their salaries.

Talking to UNB Abdul Matin Chowdhury, secretary to Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, said some Kuwaiti companies are reportedly not following the Kuwaiti government-fixed salary structure. "So far I know the Kuwaiti government closed down five companies for violating the new labour law. The workers have been asked to inform the Bangladeshi Embassy in Kuwait about all complaints following which the Kuwaiti government is taking action against the Kuwaiti companies," he said.

Chowdhury expressed hope that the upcoming visit of Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekher Ahmed Chowdhury to Kuwait would be a successful one regarding solving the problems of the Bangladeshi workers there.

He said Bangladesh government will continue its hectic efforts to ensure welfare of all Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait and elsewhere of the world.

Only 92 come up to get black money whitened

UNB, Dhaka

Government's last offer for legalizing undisclosed money has got poor response as only 92 persons came up to avail the opportunity, although nearly half the amnesty period goes by.

A lot many others holding the undisclosed, but legally earned, money seem hesitant in view of the nemesis of the moneyed men in the wake of the crackdown or look to a last-hour chance.

The fiscal clemency time ends in October. But, according to the National Board of Revenue, only 92 of the tax delinquents have disclosed a sum of Tk 3,38,14,557 to the NBR paying Tk 23,90,750 in penalty till August 14.

NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid at a press briefing yesterday admitted the lukewarm response and said as per their information the undisclosed money holders were now taking preparation to disclose their money in their income-tax return.

"The taxpayers are trying to include the undisclosed money in their current year's statement as this year's legal income as much as they can, while the rest of the money they will get legalized by paying the penalty. This is the strong reason behind the poor response of the taxpayers until now," he said.

The renewed chance to show undisclosed money earned by legal means, starting from July 1 for a short period of four months, came under the offer given by the present caretaker government while a fight is on against corruption.

This is for a second consecutive time the present non-party government is conceding chance to people who did not disclose their legally earned money, and thereby evaded paying the wealth tax.

Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam in his budget speech on June 9 said that the individual taxpayers could declare their undeclared legal income accrued in any year in a prescribed format.

But the individuals have to pay a penalty at the rate of 7.5 per cent on the tax payable in addition to the regular taxes at the rates applicable for FY 2008-09. This window of opportunity will remain open from July 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008.

The NBR chairman from the press briefing warned the taxpayers that their drive against the tax-dodgers would not stop in the ongoing legalization time.

"Let me confirm you that we did not stop our drive-it is going on and will be continued in tougher form," Mazid said.

Indicating his recent move to the upazila level to motivate the eligible people to come under the tax net and bring 9778 new taxpayers onto the tax net in July, he said, "This doesn't mean that we are leaving the taxpayers in Dhaka-we are strengthening our drive in Dhaka."

For increasing the revenue collection the NBR has taken two strategies -motivate the eligible persons to come under the tax net and dig out the tax-dodgers.

Responding a question the NBR chief said his organization has taken various steps, including introducing one-stop service, to make the tax-payment system easier.

"After adopting total automation in the NBR the taxpayers might be able to pay their taxes in online system."

Call to save Narayanganj from pollution

Staff Reporter

Environmentalists and city dwellers yesterday urged the government to take initiatives for the development of Narayanganj in a planned manner.

They also called upon the government not to sell the acquired government land and establish playground and park for ensuring a healthy environment.

Narayanganj, which is called the Dundee of the east, is facing severe shortage of civic amenities, said ATM Kamal, president, Narayanganj City Development Committee at a press briefing at the VIP auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Narayanganj City Development Committee and environment organisation ' Nirbik' jointly organised the programme.

It was also addressed, among others, by ASM Shahjahan, vice president of BAPA and former adviser of the caretaker government, Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, member, Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, Advocate AB Siddique, president of Narayanganj Nagorik Committee, Alhaj Jannatul Ferdous, joint convenor of Narayanganj City Development Committee, Dr Md Abdul Matin, general secretary , Sharif Jamil, joint secretary general of BAPA, Maksudul Alam Khandaker, panel mayor of Narayanganj city and Jafar Sadek Chancal, coordinator of Nirbik.

ATM Kamal urged the government to stop selling of RAJUK and other public bodies acquired lands rather than utmost utilisation of those lands for city dwellers recreation, handing over all the acquired lands to the city municipality and saving the river 'Sitalakhha' from pollution and encroachment.

36m people in Bangladesh face acute poverty, hunger

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh's high economic growth during the last decade has resulted in significant reductions in poverty. However, 36 million people--about one quarter of the country's population--still face acute poverty and hunger.

Addressing this challenge is the focus of the workshop, "Understanding Chronic Poverty and Poverty Dynamics in Rural Bangladesh," that began in Dhaka yesterday. Government officials, researchers, and civil society representatives will discuss new findings on why some households and communities in rural Bangladesh remain trapped in poverty, while others have successfully moved out. These findings will help identify key factors that keep people poor.

The workshop is being organized by the Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC), Data Analysis and Technical Assistance Ltd. (DATA), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Drawing on information collected from 1,800 households across rural Bangladesh, the study found that while close to half the households surveyed moved out of poverty, around one-fifth remained chronically poor and a small percentage fell into poverty. These households were found to be extremely vulnerable to unexpected shocks, such as illness, dowry and wedding expenses, and floods.

The study focused on three key aspects of poverty in rural Bangladesh: poor people's perceptions of what makes them poor; the factors that create and perpetuate their poverty; and the patterns of loss and gain that they directly experience.

"Unlike previous studies, this research integrates two types of important data-household survey data and individual life histories-to provide a deeper understanding of the causes of chronic poverty in rural Bangladesh," said Bob Baulch, coordinator for the poverty dynamics and economic mobility theme at CPRC.

The study found that those households that have lower education levels, own less land, hold fewer non-land assets and livestock, and have many young children and elderly members, face the most difficulty escaping poverty. Unexpected shocks, such as injuries, illness and livestock deaths, significantly increase the likelihood of chronic poverty. Dowry payments and wedding expenses are a heavy burden for most households.

"This study makes it clear that rural households are particularly vulnerable to crises," said Md Zihadul Hassan, managing director of DATA. "The impact of a crisis, however, greatly depends on how much schooling the head of a household has received, whether property has been divided, and household ownership of livestock and other assets."

Additionally, the study documented eight types of life trajectories based on accounts by people of their direct experiences of moving in and out of poverty. Many of these life trajectories displayed a "saw-tooth" pattern in which improvements in people's lives are reversed by illnesses and large medical expenses, wedding expenses, and legal disputes.

"The life histories collected for this study reveal how improvements in poor people's lives tend to occur gradually, while declines occur suddenly," said Peter Davis, lecturer at the University of Bath and co-researcher of this study. "People's lives follow upward and downward patterns, not a smooth pattern of either progress or decline which is often suggested by more conventional research approaches."

The households in the study are based in 102 villages located in 14 of the country's 64 districts and were originally interviewed between eight and 14 years ago. The researchers revisited the same households in late 2006 and early 2007 to assess the changes in poverty and well-being that occurred over time.

"Unexpected shocks keep people in poverty and prevent them from moving out," said Agnes Quisumbing, senior research fellow at IFPRI. "This study provides a better understanding of these issues and can guide the design of more effective social protection systems for poor people in rural Bangladesh."

Two to die for killing FF

Court Correspondent

A Court of Dhaka yesterday sentenced 2 persons to death and awarded life term rigorous imprisonment (RI) to 6 persons while acquitting 10 others as charge against them was not proved in the sensational Bhanga Thana freedom fighter Abul murder case.

Md. Masder Hossain, Judge, Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 of Dhaka handed down the verdict in his crowded court room.

The death sentenced convicts are Ayub Munshi and fugitive Kamrul Matubbar, while the life term convicts are : Nurul Islam, Zahurul Hossain, Magrib Hossain, Abdur Razzaque, Billal Hossain and Badsha Mia. They were also fined Taka 50,000 each in default they will suffer one year more in prison.

The acquitted accused are : fugitive Shaheen and Abu Zyeed, while other acquitted accused were present in the court room. They are : Alamgir Hossain, Mahabub, Fakhrul Islam, Habibur Rahman Hawlader, Meer Nazrul Islam, Zillur Rahman, Zinnat Meer and Mofazzal Matubbar.

Brief prosecution story is, on June 20, 2005 at about 10 AM freedom fighter Commander Abul Hossain of Bhanga Thana under Faridpur was killed in his own village. The convicted accused stopped him while he was going on a motor-cycle and killed him while seriously injuring his son and brothers. Later victim's son Sohag Hossain filed the murder case with Banga Thana.

As the murder was very sensational, the case was transferred to Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 of Dhaka for quick trial.

Advocate Feroz Hasan conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution while Advocates Raihan Morshed, Badsha Hossain and others moved the case on behalf of defence.

Finalisation of maritime boundary with Myanmar stressed

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Tuesday stressed the need for finalisation of the country's maritime with Myanmar in the interest of two neighbouring states.

The president made the assertion while the newly appointed Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh U Phae Thann Oo presented his credentials to him at Bangabhaban.

Welcoming the new envoy to the Bangabhaban, the President said, "I hope Myanmar will understand Bangladesh's position on maritime issues."

He expressed satisfaction over the existing excellent bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries and said Myanmar is a dependable trade and development partner of Bangladesh.

The President said there is a scope for further expanding the trade relations between the two countries. "Myanmar would be benefited from increasing import of pharmaceuticals and other products including melamine, leather and jute goods from Bangladesh at a very competitive price," he added.

Prof Iajuddin emphasized holding of single country trade fairs in both the countries for further augmenting the trade volume.

He underlined the need for exchanging high-powered delegations from both the sides to strengthen the bilateral relations and solve minor problems.

Prof. Iajuddin hoped that the long-standing issue of Rohyinga refugees would be solved through bilateral negotiations.

"I am happy to know that Myanmar's Vice Senior General Mong Aye is expected to visit Bangladesh in October next," he said.

He also mentioned that the recent agreement on direct road link between Bangladesh and Myanmar and it would further strengthen the bilateral relations through increasing trade and people to people interactions.

The President hoped that the relations between the two countries would reach a new height of excellence during the tenure of the envoy in Bangladesh.

The envoy expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh for supporting Myanmar in securing the status of an observer in the SAARC.

Phae Thann also thanked Bangladesh for providing relief materials and medical support to overcome the aftermath of cyclone 'Nargis' in his country.

He also widely appreciated Bangladesh's success in preparing voter identity card with photographs.

3 militants held in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in separate drives arrested two cadres of Jama'atul Mujahideen of Bangladesh (JMB) and a member of Allaher Dal from different places of Sundarganj upazila in the district on Monday.

Police said, acting on a tip-off, a team of the RAB led by assistant director M Morteza Ali conducted the drives at different places of the upazila on Monday morning and held them from there.

The arrested JMB members are identified as Afzal, 42, son of Musley Uddin, of Chhicha village, Delwar Hossain, 45, son of late Yaan Ali of Uttar Samash village while the member of Allaher Dal is identified as Raju Miah, 32, son of Khoka Miah, of Paschin Dulal village of the upazila.

They were accused of a number of cases, the sources said.

LDCs must go for pressure, partnership with donors

BSS, Dhaka

LDC Watch President Dr Arjun Karki, now on a visit here, on Tuesday said the world's poorer nations must exploit a 'strategy of pressure and partnership' with the developed world to achieve cooperation for development.

He made the comment while addressing as the chief guest a seminar on 'LDCs and Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA)' at VIP Lounge of Jatiya Press Club.

Dr Karki, a national of Nepal and also president of South Asian Association of Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), further said "political conflicts and poor political culture in our part of the world are responsible for creating and prolonging poverty".

"It is deep-rooted in the social structure," he said, adding, "Political will of the leadership and public pressure for change can only bring the desired transformation to overcome poverty and become developing nations."

"LDCs must go for their own development strategy to achieve sustainable development," he said, adding, "The current global economic order is only increasing the level of poverty and the number of poor nations."

In 1971, only 24 countries were LDCs, but it is now 49, he said, suggesting the world's poorer nations should reject such global economic order and work to develop their own financial and political institutions.

The LDC Watch is a civil society forum with strong national chapters in member states with headquarters in Geneva and regional offices in Asia and Africa.

Nasim sent to Singapore for treatment

UNB, Dhaka

Ailing Awami League leader and former Home Minister Mohammad Nasim, released on bail, left LabAid Hospital on yesterday night for overseas treatment in Singapore.

He had been undergoing treatment under custody at the LabAid Specialized Hospital since June 24.

Media Coordinator of the hospital Mejbaul Azad told UNB by phone that Nasim left the hospital at about 8:25pm.

Family sources said Nasim would leave for Singapore by a flight of Singapore Airlines.

The ailing Nasim is accompanied by his younger son Tonmoy, his brother Reza and his sister who stays in the UK and his son. "He would be admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for follow-up treatment," one family source said.

Earlier on August 16, the prison authorities withdrew the prison guards who guarded Nasim during his treatment at the hospital and released him as he secured a bail from the High Court on August 6 for four months for better treatment.

US Congressional team calls on Army Chief

BSS, Dhaka

Visiting three-member US Congressional Staff delegation from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Peter Yeo, paid a courtesy call on Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed at Army Headquarters here on Tuesday.

They spent some time with the army chief and exchanged greetings. During the meeting, the delegation discussed matters of bilateral interest, an ISPR press release said.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty was present on the occasion.

5 killed, 37 injured in Rangpur road mishap

BSS, Rangpur

Five persons were killed and 37 others injured in a fatal road accident at Shothibari point on the Rangpur-Dhaka highway under Mithapukur upazila here on Tuesday, police sources said.

Two passengers were killed on the spot and 40 others injured when a Dhaka bound day coach JK Paribahan from Rangpur and a Rangpur bound fuel-laden tank lorry from the opposite directions collided head- on at the point at 11:15 AM yesterday.

The injured persons were rushed to Mithapukur Upazila Health Complex and Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) when driver of the coach succumbed to his injuries on his way to the RMCH and his helper and another passenger died at the RMCH after admission.

Conditions of four more injured passengers were stated to be very critical at the RMCH and details about the deceased persons were still awaited, the sources said.