The New Nation - Internet Edition

EC replies to AL CEC says door is open for all

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said the Election Commission asked the Awami league to determine topics of the intended dialogue with the commission.

"We've received their (AL) letter and we've replied asking for details on topics of the discussion," Dr Huda told reporters at EC Secretariat in the afternoon.

On Tuesday in a letter to the CEC, the AL said it wants to know about the EC's stance over holding the upazila polls and announcement of the parliamentary polls schedule.

Replying to a question, Dr Huda said anybody could sit in dialogue with the commission and "the door is open for all". The time of sitting with the AL was not fixed yet, he said.

Asked, the CEC said the elections would be held in 300-350 upazilas, but nothing was finalised till today.

"The Commission will fix the number of upazilas for polls in a meeting after making necessary rules," he said.

On Tuesday the AL sought appointments with the Chief Adviser and the Chief Election Commissioner for immediate talks on parliamentary elections and upazila polls.

They gave hints that if the government and the EC stick to their position to hold upazila polls before the parliamentary ones, they would propose holding polls to only 50-60 upazilas instead of 300 out of 482.

CNG products exhibition starts Novr 22

Staff Reporter

The first ever three day long international exhibition on CNG products and services will be held from November 22 this year at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC).

The exhibition will provide a great scope to enthusiastic people to have first hand knowledge about the new CNG related products and services available in the world markets, said Kamal Uzzaman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Management Services (GEMS) at a press briefing at the VIP lounge of the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

AKM Shariful Ahsan, Shamim Azad and Raquibul Hassan of the organisation among others were also present.

Kamal Uzzaman said the planned event will play an important role to encourage foreign investors to invest in CNG sector in the country and assembling all the products and service providers of this industry in one platform. The event will be concluded on November 24.

Seoul thanks Dhaka for role in Korean issue at NAM meet

UNB, Dhaka

South Korea has highly appreciated Bangladesh's role in drafting the final NAM declaration at the recent Tehran meet, in which the issue of the Korean peninsula was addressed.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received a letter of thanks from his South Korean counterpart Yu Myung-hwan for the contribution the Bangladesh delegation made at the Non-Aligned Ministerial Conference in the Iranian capital.

The Bangladesh delegation rendered strong support in resolving the "drafting issue" with regard to the paragraph on the Korean Peninsula in the Final Declaration.

"The strong support rendered by your delegation throughout the drafting process was of great value in our endeavours to ensure that the article reflect all the past inter-Korean agreements in a comprehensive and balanced manner," the South Korean Minister said.

"We highly appreciate the close cooperation and goodwill extended by your Government," he further said.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan also stated that he looked forward to "further strengthening of Korea-Bangladesh cooperation at the bilateral as well as multilateral levels".

Commenting on it, Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said, "This is indicative of the key and positive diplomatic role that Bangladesh is playing in the wider international arena."

More research-based climate modelling underscored

BSS, Dhaka

Meteorological scientists began a two-day seminar here on Wednesday emphasising the need for more research-based climate modelling through the SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) to cope with climate change.

SAARC member states are incurring losses of millions of dollars every year due to frequent meteorological catastrophes such as tropical cyclones, storm surges, severe thunderstorms and nor'westers, they said.

They observed that regional cooperation among the SAARC member states must be strengthened utilising respective resources to face the climate change.

The seminar on 'Nor'wester and Tornadoes over the SAARC and their Forecasting and Preparedness' organised by SMRC of the Ministry of Defence in its conference hall here.

Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain inaugurated the seminar as the chief guest, while Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Kamrul Hasan was present as the special guest.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Brigadier General Shah Md Sultan Uddin Iqbal and head of synoptic division of the SMRC Dr Nazrul Islam were present. Representatives of meteorological scientists from the SAARC member states also participated in it.

Touhid Hossain said the entire SAARC region is one of the most disaster-prone areas of the world and the disaster risk is gradually increasing with increasing population.

He said an efficient disaster management system along with proper measures for climate change adaptation and mitigation is required for sustainable environment and livelihood.

Kamrul Hasan said about 300 to 500 people die in thunderstorms every year in Bangladesh. He said the government has given top priority to regional cooperation for facing climate change in a coordinated manner.

Sultan Uddin Iqbal, who is also chairman of SMRC governing board, said Bangladesh, India, Nepal are badly affected by thunderbolts, tornadoes and nor'westers.

He stressed the need for executing research-based modelling on climate change coordinated by the SAARC member states for tackling climate change impacts.

The speakers underscored the need for better climate change forecasting by assimilating modern remote sensing platforms such as Doppler radar and satellites for accurate meteorological forecasting and timely warning of the impending calamities.

Talking to BSS, Dr Nazrul Islam said in view of looming impact of climate change, the government has taken a 10-year implementation plan under the framework of Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to improve sustainable water resource management in Bangladesh.

The GEOSS will help improve the country's water resources management through sharing data and information system as part of regional cooperation among the South Asian countries, he said.

Dr Nazrul Islam said as part of the move, Asian Water Cycle Initiative (AWCI) under the GEOSS, a comprehensive environmental data and information provider worldwide, has selected Bangladesh's Meghna river basin as a model basin.