The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tearful farewell to Mamun

Cultural personalities paying respect to Dramatist
Abdullah-Al-Mamun at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Noted playwright, actor, director and filmmaker Abdullah Al Mamun was laid to rest at 3:30pm at the Banani graveyard in the city amid tears of hundreds of people of all walks of life yesterday.

He was buried beside in the grave of his wife Farida Mamun who died in 1984. His children, relatives, friends, colleagues, admirers and well-wishers were present during the burial. A number of organisations placed wreaths at his grave.

Several hundred people including teachers, students, artistes, dramatists, writers and other cultural personalities and activists attended his namaj-e-janaza at 2:00pm at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University.

His body was taken there from the Central Shaheed Minar at 12:30pm. Group Theatre Federation, of which Mamun was an integral part, and Shammilita Sangskritik Jote jointly organised the public event.

Fans, colleagues, well-wishers and students flocked to the Shaheed Minar and offered flowers to pay their last respects to him.

Awami League leaders Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, JSD General Secretary Jafar Sajjad and representatives from other political and socio-cultural organisations went to the Shaheed Minar.

Earlier, Mamun's body was taken from BIRDEM mortuary to the Central Shaheed Minar. His coffin was taken there from the BIRDEM mortuary at 10:00 am.

Abdullah Al Mamun died of cardiac arrest at 11:25am at the BIRDEM

Hospital in the capital on Thursday. He was 66.

Mamun was admitted to the Square Hospital on July 10 after suffering brain haemorrhage. He had been also suffering from diabetes, hypertension, kidney and liver complexities. He underwent a brain surgery on July 13 and had been kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. A medical board was formed on that day. He was shifted to BIRDEM Hospital on August 19 as his condition deteriorated.

Moscow freezes NATO ties: Georgia withdrawal 'on schedule’

BBC online

Russia says its withdrawal of combat troops from Georgia is going according to plan and that it is not prepared to increase the speed of the operation.

Moscow has set itself a deadline of Friday night to withdraw to "a buffer zone" in Georgia around the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia says it plans a "permanent presence" there, with around 2,000 troops inside Georgia as peacekeepers.

Georgia says it will not accept any "annexation" of its land by Russia.

Diplomatic efforts at the UN have reached deadlock over rival resolutions on the crisis from France and Russia.

The US says it is prepared to veto a Russian resolution at the UN Security Council seeking to implement a six-point ceasefire plan.

Russia has reiterated its opposition to a rival French text, which reaffirms Georgia's territorial integrity.

Russian troops have started dismantling the closest checkpoint to the Georgian capital, at Igoeti, 35km (21 miles) from Tbilisi.

The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse says Russian tanks and armoured vehicles have left and that the remaining soldiers are dismantling roadblocks, removing camouflage and preparing to leave.

BBC correspondents have also seen columns of Russian heavy armour on the move around the flashpoint town of Gori, near South Ossetia.

The deputy chief of the Russian military General Staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said the withdrawal of all combat troops was going according to plan.

"The troop pullback has been started at a rate to make sure that the Russian troops be within the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent by the end of 22 August," he said.

"We are not going to correct this plan or increase the speed of withdrawal."

Gen Nogovitsyn said Russian troops were setting up checkpoints on the borders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia with Georgia. Some would be based in an area including a military airfield at Senaki, he said.

Russia has told Nato it is halting all military co-operation, the bloc says, as the crisis over Georgia deepens.

The Russian move follows a statement by Nato that there would be no "business as usual" with Moscow unless its troops pulled out of Georgia.

However, the alliance had stopped short of freezing co-operation with Moscow.

Meanwhile, a top Russian general said that the withdrawal of the bulk of Russia's troops would be complete in about 10 days.

Gen Vladimir Boldyrev, commander of the Russian ground forces in the region, referred to the pullout of troops "sent to reinforce Russian peacekeepers" in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.

It was not immediately clear how Gen Boldyrev's comments would fit in with a previous Russian commitment to withdraw its forces to behind a buffer zone around South Ossetia by the end of Friday.

Moscow has said it intends to keep some 500 troops in what it called a "zone of responsibility" as part of a peacekeeping mission.

In a separate development, South Ossetia and Abkhazia - another Georgian breakaway region - held mass rallies calling for independence.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow's response to their pleas would depend on the conduct of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Nato spokeswoman Carmen Romero said the alliance "takes note" of Russia's decision to halt co-operation but had no further reaction to it.

Speaking to reporters in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Mr Lavrov said Russia was not going "shut any doors" to future co-operation with Nato.

But he warned that the alliance had to decide what was more important to it - supporting Mr Saakashvili or developing a partnership with Russia.

Housewife struggles for life after wrong treatment

Rajshahi Correspondent

A housewife, who was operated upon against her will for the delivery of a baby at a clinic in Chapainawabganj town about three weeks ago, is now struggling for her life due to wrong handling of her operation by the attending doctor.

Atia Parvin Rani was admitted to Sheba clinic in Chapainawabganj town with labour pain on August 1.After examining her at the clinic, Dr. Emdadul Haque at first said they were expecting a normal delivery and no operation would be needed.

But after a few hours, the doctor performed caesarean operation upon Atia without taking her consent and her relatives who were with her at the clinic.A male child was delivered, according to relatives of Atia.

Atia, wife of Mashiur Rahman, owner of Fashion Garments in Chapainawabganj town,was released from the clinic three days after the delivery of the baby. After returning home, her belly and uterus started swelling abnormally with excruciating pain. She was also running high fever.

When contacted, Dr. Emdadul prescribed some anti-inflammatory tablets.But her condition continued to deteriorate and she finally lost her consciousness.

Later, she was admitted to a clinic in Rajshahi city on August 14.After ultrasound test, the doctors of the clinic removed three bottles of rotten blood, pus and disposable fluids from here uterus.

Allegations have it that Dr. Emdadul, who performed the ceasarean operation, carelessly handled the operation as he stitched the belly of Atia without cleaning the blood, sap and disposable materials which ultimately led to the swelling of her uterus and development of other complications.

Addressing a press conference in Rajshahi city yesterday, Atia's husband demanded arrest of Dr. Emdadul and exemplary punishment to him for the negligence duty and performing operation without the consent of Atia and her relatives.

Covers of two books unveiled

Staff Reporter

Covers of two books styled 'Yunusism' and 'The Revolution,' written by Bangladeshi expatriate in USA young poet Rashidul Bari, were unveiled at a publication ceremony in a city hotel yesterday.

The book Yunusism was written on the life, works and contributions of Nobel laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus and another book the Revolution is a collection of poems.

Former Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahmed and eminent poet of the country Al Mahmud unveiled the books Yunusism and the Revolution respectively at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Poet Al Mahmud said the environment of the planet is not human friendly whereas the poet shows the people dreams to get rid of poverty and rudeness by inspiring them with his poems.

Prof Emajuddin said our next generation should be inspired by love for the country and its people for prosperity of the country.

He also said proper initiatives to utilise the country's natural assets and its implementation were needed for the reduction of poverty in the country.

Lauding Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus, he said it was a great achievement for us that Bangladeshi national Yunus had won the Noble Prize. So far only 28 countries' nationals could achieve the Noble Prize, he added.

The author Rashidul Bari made the welcome speech, while Dr Rasheda Ranak Khan, teacher of Anthropology Department, Jahangirnagar University conducted the function.

Muhammad Mahmudur Rahman, Director, Jatiya Grantho Kendra, AUM Fakhruddin, Associate Editor, Weekly Holiday, Film Director MMR Gulzar and Madhab Chandra Das, Publisher, Trayee Publication also addressed the function.

EU asks shrimp importers to ensure quality

UNB, Khulna

The European Union has warned local shrimp exporters of possible restriction on exports unless they strictly ensure quality.

The warning came following a negative report by an EC delegation that visited Bangladesh recently.

European Commission conveyed their concern of health hazard to Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Fisheries and Livestock Manik Lal Samaddar in a letter on July 23 this year and asked for preventive measures against harmful elements in shrimp.

EC said they would launch a new system of testing shrimp to detect presence of Chloramphenicol, Nitro-furans, tetracycline and Malachite.

They threatened to stop importing shrimp from Bangladesh if more than the permissible level of any harmful chemical and medicine could be detected.

EU sent back 300 containers of shrimp in last few months following detection of harmful antibiotics. Licenses of four shrimp processing factories have also been cancelled as a consequence.

To remedy the fault, Bangladesh officials met with EU deputy assistant director MS Testori Coki in April this year to assure that Bangladesh would go through every necessary test to ensure quality of shrimp for the EU countries.

Export of frozen food, mainly the shrimp, earned for the country US$ 534 million during the last fiscal year, registering a slight increase of about 4 percent as compared to the previous fiscal year. But earnings fell 11 percent short of the target for 2007-08, apparently due to shortcomings in quality, officials said.

Khulna District Fisheries Officer M Abdur Rashed was not aware of the EU warning, but told UNB that they were monitoring the shrimp processing units round the clock to ensure their quality.

Awareness campaign for Cox's Bazar, Sundarbans

BSS, Dhaka

Tourism Industries Association of Bangladesh (TIAB) starts an awareness programme today to encourage people towards voting for Cox's Bazar and the Sundarbans in the ongoing worldwide campaign for new seven wonders of the nature.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club here today, TIAB President Khabir Uddin Ahmed said the awareness campaign would be launched at a function on the premises of Munshiganj College today with the patronage of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC).

The awareness programme includes different District-based activities by involving the people representing all sections of the society, he said. The slogan of the programme is "Vote for Cox's Bazar and Sundarbans: Contribute to the Change Process."

Referring to the ongoing global campaign to select seven new natural wonders, the TIAB chief said, "it is a matter of great pleasure that the world's longest sea beach in Cox's Bazar is occupying the first position in the contest while the position of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forests, is gradually going up."

Khabir said people in large numbers should come forward to vote for the two sites of nature's bounty in Bangladesh. Anyone having an e-mail account can vote on the website - www.new7wonders.com.

TIAB Secretary General Dr Zakaria Hossain, Vice-Presidents Professor Jahangir Chowdhury and Mohammad Ali, BPC Public Relations Officer Parvez Ahmed Chowdhury and Chairman of TIAB campaign committee Talukdar Farid Ahmed, among others, were also present.

The TIAB president said the country's tourism sector has huge potentials to contribute to the national economy more than any other leading sector.

"The potentials of economic development with increased revenue income both in local and foreign currencies are hidden in the tourism sector, which could also alleviate poverty largely," he said.

Despite worldwide boost in the tourism industry, he said, Bangladesh is still lagging behind because of the lack of attention of the past governments to this potential sector.

"Tourism is expanding in conservative Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, where various initiatives are being taken for development of this industry," he said adding that there were seldom any efforts to improve this sector in Bangladesh over the decades.

The number of foreign tourists in Bangladesh was 2.89 lakh in 2007, Khabir Uddin said and added that the country is lagging behind in this sector compared to other South Asian countries.

Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) Shafiq Alam Mehedi is expected to attend the launching ceremony of the awareness campaign as the chief guest. The function will be sponsored by TIAB Vice-President Mohammad Ali, also the Managing Director of Padma Resort.

HAAB urges government to declare Hajj flights

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) urged the government to immediately declare the Hajj flight schedules, otherwise, what they said it would not be possible to sign accommodation rent deal with the Saudi house owners.

They were addressing at a press conference at a city hotel on Thursday.

Maulana Yaqub Sharafati, General Secretary, Mohammad Sharif, President of the HAAB, among others, spoke at the conference.

They said this year about 37,973 pilgrims would perform Hajj under the management of HAAB. And the organisation has already submitted the lists of the pilgrims and their 'muallem' fees to the Saudi Government.

They also called upon the Ministry of Religion Affairs to make coordinated efforts with the HAAB for ensuring hassle free Hajj performance by the local pilgrims.

The HAAB leaders placed a charter of demands that include formation of the National Hajj Management Committee, issuance of the 6-month multiple visit visa to Saudi Arabia, withdrawal of punishment against 62 Hajj agencies, fixing over Hajj flight schedule for at least 30 days, making further scope for those who failed to pay 'muallem' fees, arrangement of security pass for the HAAB members in Jeddah Hajj Terminal, issue entrance passes to the Zia International Airport and stop harassment on them by law enforcing agencies.

Nat’l grid may get power from Siddhirganj plant

UNB, Dhaka

Construction of the 240 MW Siddhirganj peaking power plant is likely to be completed by December next.

According to official sources, about 75 percent installation works of the proposed power plant has already been completed and the rest of the works will be finished within next few months.

Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB), a newly created state-owned public limited company, is implementing the project with a view to feeding the power-hungry national grid during the peak hours.

EGCB officials said that their Indian turnkey contractor -Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) - has been working in full swing with a target to get the plant ready by the stipulated time.

A top EGCB official said most of the civil construction and engineering works of the plant were done. Now, the installation of gas turbine of the 1st unit is

taking place.

He informed that gas turbines and other major equipments are coming from the world famous General Electric (GE).

He said that one of the turbines and a generator have already reached the project site for installation, while another turbine is now being refurbished in the GE's franchise manufacturing plant in India. Another generator is now on the way to Bangladesh.

The second gas turbine met with an accident while being shipped for Bangladesh from the Indian city of Hyderabad. After thorough investigation by the insurance company Lloyds, the second turbine will reach the country by October.

EGCB officials are hopeful that if the installation works go with the current pace, the plant would be able to produce electricity in full swing from the beginning of the next summer.

If the Siddhirganj plant could come into operation within the stipulated time, then it would be a great achievement of the present caretaker government, as the contract was signed just after their assumption of office in January 2007.

The officials said that this plant was mainly designed to supply additional electricity to Dhaka city and its adjoining areas during the peak hours.

"So, after installation of the plant, the power supply situation in Dhaka city will substantially improve with load shedding declining," one EGCB official told UNB.

Robbery, killings rise sharply in city

UNB, Dhaka

Incidents of crime, including robbery and killing, in the capital increased in three months from May to July this year compared to the same period last year.

According to the DMP figures, 93 incidents of killing were recorded at police stations in the city from May 1 to July 31 this year as against 80 recorded during the same period last year.

The number of robbery was also higher this time around compared with the corresponding period of last year with 110 robbery recorded in May-July last year as against 176 in the same period this year.

A total of 42 robbery incidents was recorded in May, 62 in June and 72 in July this year, compared to 34 in May, 38 in June and 38 in July last year.

New polls laws aim at curbing political parties: BNP

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The BNP has said the new electoral laws, including mandatory registration of political parties and a ban on their powerful student and labour front organisations, are designed to keep political parties on a tight rein.

The laws enforced on Thursday are aimed to reduce political parties to mere branches of the Election Commission, it said.

"By enforcing such ordinances the government wants to make political parties front offices of the Election Commission. They are doing this to control political parties," secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain said yesterday.

He questioned if the caretaker government had the constitutional mandate to enforce the Representation of the People Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2008. The interim cabinet approved the RPO last month.

Delwar made the remarks at the inaugural function of the fifth council session of four-party alliance component Khelafat Majlish at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium. Several thousand councillors participated in the council session.

"The caretaker government has no jurisdiction to frame any new law. Their responsibility is solely to hold a free and fair election in 90 days. But they are making one law after another and illegally making important state decisions."

President Iajuddin Ahmed on August 19 signed the 1972 Representation of the People Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 that came into force through publication of a circular on Thursday.

The new laws have provisions for "no" vote-giving voters the option to reject all candidates on the ballot if they think no-one is suitable-

and allows a person to run for a maximum of three seats simultaneously, instead of previous five. One needs to be voter to become a candidate and the candidate has to provide eight pieces of information.

Delwar again asked the government to release party chief Khaleda Zia and send her son Tarique Rahman abroad for treatment.

Without taking names, he said, on the one hand, the government was releasing the chief, general secretary and others of a party and allowing them to go abroad but unjustly keeping the BNP chief in confinement, on the other.

The High Court had put freezes on the trail of the cases against Khaleda and a medical board had said Tarique needed immediate treatment abroad, but the government would not let go of them.

"Such behaviour of the government is discriminatory."

He also condemned the police obstruction to the four-party alliance's planned march on Thursday to submit a memorandum to the chief adviser.

Khelafat Majlish chief Mohammad Ishaque presided over council where Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Muhammad Qamaruzzaman, Khelafat Majlish secretary general Ahmed Abdul Quader also spoke.

Business tax can make UPs self-reliant

BSS, Dhaka

Tax on business entities at local levels has been identified as potential income sources for the survival of union parishads (UPs), the oldest and strongest tier of the local government bodies in the country.

An action research of RTI, a USAID-supported organisation, said the 'business tax' could help UPs to generate an amount that is sufficient to meet their annual expenses for office and staffs, now coming from the central government.

The research conducted in five UPs in Natore district between 2006-08 showed that annual income from commercial enterprises in Tebaria, Dighapatia, Baraharishpur, Walia and Majgaon shot up by 20 to 176 percent after piloting started in the areas two years ago.

"Business tax is a major potential sector for UPs to raise income from own sources to be self-reliant. But it is often ignored as the elected representatives lack of proper planning and expertise and fear of losing popularity," Dr Saiful Islam, programme coordinator of RTI, told BSS on Friday.

Saiful, however, said the assessment and collection of the business tax, which is an addition to the income tax and licence fees, was a big challenge for the UPs, who are mainly run by grants from the government with a meagre income from their own. "This way the UPs can move forward towards achieving self- reliance or independence," Saiful said, adding a UP in remote areas can earn Taka between 50,000 and 120,000 annually from business tax, which is determined on the basis of the size of the enterprises. The average annual budget for all activities of a UP ranges from Taka five to twenty lakh.