The New Nation - Internet Edition

Janmashtami celebrated

Members of the Hindu community brought out a rally
in the city celebrating the Janmashtami yesterday.:NN
photo

BSS, Dhaka

The holy Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Sri Krishna, was celebrated in the capital and elsewhere in the country amid festivity and religious fervour on Sunday.

Members of the Hindu community celebrate the day marking the birth of Lord Krishna who preached the message of peace and love among mankind and fought against all evils.

According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Visnu incarnated as Lord Krishna in the prison of Kamsa in the auspicious moment of Krishna Astami Tithi in the month of Bhadra attended by Rohini Nakshatra in the age of Dwapara to protect dharma (righteousness) from the clutches of adharma (unrighteousness).

The Hindu community in an utmost joyous mood celebrated the day through holding colourful rallies, congregations, worships and discussion on the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.

As part of central celebration of the occasion, Mahanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee (MSPC) offered Sri Krishna Puja and staged Geeta Yajna, prayer and brought out historic Janmashtami procession in the city this afternoon.

The Yajna, conducted by Shankar Math of Sitakunda, Chittagong, was offered for the peace and welfare of the nation. Mayor of Dhaka Sadeque Hossain Khoka inaugurated the procession.

In the long procession, the Hindu devotees recited verses from the Bhagabat Geeta and made offerings-pradips, joss-sticks, incense and candles-burnt amid the beating of drums and blowing of conches.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in separate messages greeted the Hindu community members on the occasion.

They said Lord Krishna's philosophy of love would effectively contribute towards cementing the social bond within the framework of good brotherhood and amity.

Power outage triggers protest of Narsinghdi

Power-loom workers put up blockade on Dhaka-Sylhet
Highway in Narsingdi yesterday demanding power supply
without any disruption.: FocusBangla

Narsinghdi Correspondent

Road communications between Dhaka- Narsinghdi and Dhaka- Sylhet highways remained suspended for four hours yesterday as hundreds of angry people of Chowala in Narsinghdi laid blockade due to non-stop power outage at the area on Saturday.

They also smashed several windowpanes and billboards of Narsinghdi Palli Biddut Samaty-2 office and demanded uninterrupted power supply to their areas.

Residents of Chowala rushed to Narsingdi Palli Biddut Samaty-2 office yesterday morning to press their demand for non-stop power supply at their area where they experienced seven hours power outage from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Saturday.

They put up barricade at the entrance of Dhaka- Narsinghdi and Dhaka- Sylhet highways from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM yesterday. This caused immense sufferings to the long distance bus passengers.

They withdrew barricade at 1.00 pm yesterday following the assurance of Joint Forces army for adequate supply of power at the areas.

They demanded resignation of the managing director of Narsinghdi Palli Biddut Samiti-2 for his failure to ensure power.

The power outage also disrupted production in the local mills and industries.

Meanwhile, the 80-MW Tongi power plant has suspended electricity generation yesterday due to leakage developed in its cooling system.

The electricity production of the plant was snapped at 5:35 am when the engineers identified a leakage in the cooling system, sources of Power Development Board (PDB) said.

The engineers of the power plant are repairing the plant, but they could not conform how much time would be needed to resume the plant.

The electricity generation was about 3,300 yesterday against the demand of 5,000 MW, sources said.

The people experienced about 1,700 MW of load shedding at peak hours yesterday.

Cultural scenario of the city: 'Eksho Bosta Chal’ staged, annual function of 'Aponbhuban’ held

Shilpakala Academy staged its theatre production
'Eksho Bosta Chal', Japanese play, at the National Theatre
Hall of the Academy yesterday. Photo: Sharif Khan

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy staged its theatre production 'Eksho Bosta Chal' (One hundred sacks of rice) at the National Theatre Hall of the Academy yesterday.

It was the 22nd staging of the Japanese play of Yuzo Yamamoto. Prof Abdus Selim has translated the play, while Golam Sarwar directed it.

Drama and Film Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organised the play.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury was present as chief guest at the inaugural session, while Masayuki Inoue, Japanese Ambassador, was present as special guest on the occasion.

Md Sharful Alam, Cultural Affairs Secretary chaired the session.

After the inauguration, at the second part of the programme, 'Eksho Bosta Chal,' the Bengali translation of a Japanese play was staged.

Meanwhile, annual cultural function and cultural function of 'Aponbhuban,' a children organisation, was held at the Music and Dance Centre Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Noted drama personality Atiqul Haque Chowdhury, Director of Labour and Manpower Employment Bureau Dr Md Kawsar, Professor of the Department of Library Science and Mass Library Management of Dhaka University Dr Md Hanif Uddin, Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Md Mojibor Rahman, recitation artiste Dr Vaskor Bandopaddhya, Chairman of British Columbia School, TV personality Tarana Halim, Wahiduzzaman Sohag, Director of 'Apaonbhuban,' among others, spoke at the function. Educationist Dr Iffat Ara Samsad chaired the event.

After the discussion and award giving ceremony students of 'Aponbhuban' presented a cultural function.

Meanwhile, the Coffee House of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy celebrated its second anniversary yesterday.

To celebrate the day, an anniversary celebration function was held at the coffee shop yesterday evening. Many cultural activists, renowned persons gathered at the Coffee Shop.

Embassies asked to solve workers’ plight abroad

BSS, Dhaka

The government has instructed embassies in Kuwait and other Gulf countries to remain alert about any untoward incident involving Bangladeshi workers and to take prompt action.

"At home, the government is taking steps to clean up the recruitment process that lie at the root of the plight of the Bangladeshi workers working abroad," a foreign ministry press release said here on Sunday.

Elaborating the recent incidents centering Bangladeshi workers serving in Kuwait and other Gulf countries, the foreign ministry said during the last few weeks, a large number of press reports as well as commentaries have been printed in Bangladeshi newspapers on the plight of Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait. The electronic media has also broadcast a number of programs on this issue.

Kuwait is an important destination for Bangladeshi workers. At present there are about 2,50,000 Bangladeshis working in Kuwait. In 2007-2008 Bangladesh received a remittance amounting to US$ 779.4 million from Kuwait. The welfare of the workers is a prime concern of the government and the recent unfortunate events surrounding the Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait has been a cause of deep concern for the government.

On 20 July about 5000 workers of a local cleaning company went on strike against long standing grievances that included payment of lower salaries than the contracted amount, non payment of salary, long working hours with no holidays or leave, non payment of overtime, poor living conditions, inadequate medical facilities, maltreatment by supervisors including physical abuse, deduction of fees for Iquma (Residency permit) contrary to contract provisions etc.

A large number of workers of other companies also joined the strike. At one stage the striking workers resorted to some violent activities including damaging vehicle.

Soon after the trouble started, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Adviser, spoke to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al- Sabah. In this very fruitful conversation, Dr. Al-Sabah agreed to look into the grievances and to issue instructions to resolve the impasse. He also assured the Dr Iftekhar that innocent workers would not be subjected to any harassment.

Following this, an intense negotiation was arranged involving the labour representatives, company owners, the officials of the Kuwaiti government and the Embassy of Bangladesh and a deal was struck. Under this agreement, the authority concerned gave assurance to fulfil the demands of the workers and consequently, the workers called off their strike. Following the successful negotiations, more than 80 thousand workers of 27 companies resumed their work.

In line with the four party negotiations, the press release said Kuwaiti government was very prompt in implementing the provisions of the deal by enacting a bill in the parliament. The Government of Kuwait, through this bill, took a decision to fix the minimum salary of the workers to KD 40 (earlier there was no statutory minimum salary and workers were often paid KD 18-20).

The Government of Kuwait also declared that no company can make any kind of deduction from the salary of the workers for renewal of residency, medical, insurance or for any other work related fees. The employing companies were also asked to strictly abide by the new regulations. So the diplomatic efforts launched by Bangladesh authorities proved fruitful.

Law and order in Kuwait being very strict, some workers who engaged in violent activities were arrested either on the spot or later on the basis of video evidence. Some workers have subsequently been deported to Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait, inspite of its limited resources, made active endeavors to resolve the problem and contain the damage. From the beginning of the situation mission officials engaged with both the striking workers and the Kuwaiti authorities.

It was through their active role in the four-party negotiations that many of the longstanding grievances were removed. Three hundred of the detained workers were also released through their efforts and arrear of the deported workers would be realised from the companies.

On 17 August 5000 workers of Al Zohora Cleaning Company started a fresh strike, but due to prompt intervention by the mission and Kuwaiti authorities, the workers called off their strike on 18 August 2008 and resumed their duties.

It may also be noted that there are some workers from Bangladesh as well as from other countries who do not have valid and appropriate documentation. Deportation of such workers is a routine matter that goes on round the year.

It must be borne in mind that diplomacy with the Gulf countries have to be conducted very subtlety. Sometimes they prefer telephonic and written communications and informal discussions to formal visits of delegations which run the risk of being seen as exertion of public pressure. Different cultures prefer to deal with foreigners in different ways, and Bangladeshi diplomacy is required to appreciate that and act accordingly, the release contained.

New tension at post-cold war low US warship in Georgia

AP, Aboard the USS Mcfaul

A U.S. Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid anchored at the Georgian port of Batumi on Sunday, sending a strong signal of support to an embattled ally as Russian forces built up around two separatist regions.

Ahead of the USS McFaul's arrival, a top Russian general suggested that the presence of U.S. and other NATO ships in the Black Sea would worsen tensions already at a post-Cold War low.

Russia pulled the bulk of its troops and tanks from its small southern neighbor Friday after a brief but intense war, but built up its forces in and around two separatist regions - South Ossetia and Abkhazia - and left other military posts deep inside Georgia.

In central Georgia, an oil train exploded and caught fire, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. A Georgian official said the train hit a land mine and blamed the explosion on departing Russian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry declined to comment.

The guided missile destroyer USS McFaul, loaded with some 80 pallets containing about 55 tons of humanitarian aid, is the first of five American ships scheduled to arrive this week, according to the U.S. Embassy. The aid includes baby food, diapers, bottled water, and milk.

The much-needed aid and the damaged train were a stark reminder that it will take substantial aid and many months of rebuilding before Georgia can recover from the war with Russia. Five days of fighting damaged cities and towns across the country and displaced tens of thousands of Georgians.

The commander of the five-ship U.S. task force, Navy Capt. John Moore, downplayed the significance of a destroyer bringing aid. "We really are here on a humanitarian mission," he said.

The McFaul, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is also outfitted with an array of weaponry, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads, and a sophisticated radar system. For security reasons the Navy does not say if ships are carrying nuclear weapons, but they usually do not.

At dockside in Batumi, with the McFaul anchored offshore, U.S. Navy officials in crisp white uniforms were met Sunday by Georgian officials, including Defense Minister David Kezerashvili.

Speaking to The Associated Press on the aft missile deck of the McFaul, anchored a mile offshore, Kezerashvili said Georgians would feel safer now.

"They will feel safe not because the destroyer is here but because they will feel they are not alone facing the Russian aggression," he said.

The deputy chief of Russia's general staff suggested that the arrival of the ship and those of other NATO members would increase tensions in the Black Sea. Russia shares the sea with NATO members Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria as well as Georgia and Ukraine, whose pro-Western president also is leading a drive for NATO membership.

"I don't think such a buildup will foster the stabilization of the atmosphere in the region," Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn as saying Saturday.

The conflict between Russia and Georgia, a small ex-Soviet republic whose pro-Western leaders have tried to shed Moscow's influence and sought NATO membership, has strained Russian-U.S. relations.

Georgia straddles a key westward route for oil from Azerbaijan and other Caspian Sea nations including Kazakhstan, giving it added strategic importance as the U.S. and the European Union seek to decrease Russia's dominance of oil and gas exports from the former Soviet Union.

The director of Georgia's railways, Irakli Ezugbaia said the train that exploded on Sunday was carrying crude oil from Kazakhstan to a Georgian Black Sea port.

An Associated Press reporter saw 12 derailed tanker cars, some askew on the railway line and others flipped onto their sides. Firefighters hosed down the wreckage.

Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the train hit a mine, as did the country's railway director. Utiashvili said there were no casualties, but the blast had also set off explosions at an abandoned munitions dump nearby.

Utiashvili blamed the explosion on the Russians. Georgian officials say Russian forces have sabotaged infrastructure to weaken Georgia, and accused them of blowing up a train bridge last week.

Ezugbaia said other mines were found on the tracks, and Georgian forces removed a large artillery shell that was jammed under the tracks and covered with stones.

Hundreds of Georgians flocked back to Gori on Saturday, one day after the Russians withdrew, to begin rebuilding their lives. Their homecoming was laced with despair, disbelief and anger.

"Barbarians, that's what they are. They kill innocent people here t how many kilometers outside the battlefield? They bombed all over Georgia," Zurab Gvarientashvili, a 31-year-old engineer, said as he viewed his apartment, destroyed by a Russian bomb.

Gori is 20 miles south of the capital of the separatist region South Ossetia, where Georgian forces launched an assault on Aug. 7, sparking the war and an international crisis.

South Ossetian officials accused Georgia on Sunday of building up military forces along the edge of South Ossetia and claimed a Georgian unit fired sporadically at villages overnight. There were no reports of casualties, but South Ossetian spokeswoman Irina Gagloyeva said residents were asking to be evacuated.

Georgian Security Council chief Alexander Lomaia denied that Georgian forces had fired any shots but said Russian forces were obligated to leave positions in the area, which is in Georgia.

Lomaia also said Russian forces were still holding 12 of 22 Georgian servicemen taken prisoner in Poti last week.

Next to one bomb crater in Gori, Merdiko Peredze's goats grazed on burnt grass.

Peredze said he was refugee twice over - once after fleeing his home amid fighting in the early 1990s in Abkhazia and now again, with his house in Gori in tatters.

"I'm an old man but I will return to Abkhazia," he vowed. "Russian, Georgians, Ossetians - we should all be living in peace together, like we did under Stalin."

Timely JS election to save country’s existence stressed

UNB, Dhaka

Political leaders, academics, senior journalists and economists at a meet Sunday made a strong plea for holding the stalled parliamentary elections timely to save country's existence through the flourishing of democratic institutions.

Against the backdrop of the past debacle of democracy, they emphasized ensuring sustainable democracy, building consensus among political parties on some national issues and instituting National Security Council in the country to protect greater national interest.

"Democracy cannot flourish in the country without bringing back the 'cordial atmosphere among the political parties," Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta told the seminar.

Bangladesh Perspective Research Foundation (BPRF) organized the national seminar on 'Democratic Transformation in Bangladesh: Opportunities and Challenges' at the CIRDAP auditorium.

Presided over by noted economist and BPRF president Prof Dr Mahbub Ullah, the seminar was also attended by senior journalist and columnists Sadeq Khan and Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, former state minister Abul Hassan Chowdhury, Professor of Government and Politics Department of Jahangirnagar University Dr Dilara Chowdhury and poet Abdul Hye Shikder.

President of the Political Science Association of Bangladesh Prof Dr M Ataur Rahman presented a keynote paper at the seminar.

Suranjit urged the present caretaker government to immediately hold the parliamentary elections after fully lifting the emergency and hand over power to elected representatives. "Emergency should be removed for the sake of democracy," he said.

Saying that politics of consensus and the democratization of political parties are an imperative, the Awami League leader, who took a stand for political reforms in the changed context, said parliamentary executive commission should be built for democratization.

"The speaker, the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition must forge a consensus on the national issues," he said, apparently underscoring the need for redefining the democratic dispensation for a fresh start.

Mahbub Ullah said it's necessary to return the democracy in the country through holding the parliamentary elections timely for its own existence. "If there is no timely election here, this chance can be taken by external forces," he said.

Criticizing the "partisan" role of the parliament in the country, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, chief editor of the official news agency BSS, said the speakers of the House are seen playing 'one-eyed' role in parliament.

"Democracy is not the most ideal form of government but it's the best form of government," he said.

He viewed that the January 11, 2007 changeover would play a positive role in the future government functioning in the country.

The change in the corridors of power with military aid put into a pause 15 years of democratic practice as it ended up in a deepening political crisis over the issues of the general election that was eventually cancelled following the changeover.

Rashed Khan Menon dismissed the changeover as an outcome of long-term conspiracy cooked up by western countries. He said the people should be awakened about such plots of alien powers.

"The election has to be held in the country as early as possible. The election, of course, should not be held under the state of emergency," said the leader of the leftwing party which is a component of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance.

Dr Dilara Chowdhury noted that parliament is a forum where all kinds of conflicts are to be resolved. "But the political leaders could not create impartial office of the Speaker for the last 15 years," she said.

The Professor of Government and Politics made a stark observation that "terrorism and corruption" had been seen in the country's democratic arena for the 15 years.

Conspiracy on to make country failed state: Amu

BSS, Dhaka

Awami League Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu on Sunday alleged that a vested quarters particularly the anti-liberation forces are hatching a conspiracy to make Bangladesh a failed state.

"The successive governments after assassination of Bangabandhu took initiatives to rehabilitate criminals, who were involved in heinous crimes like looting, raping and killing during the war of liberation and they gave a final shape to the conspiracy by sharing state power with them," he said while addressing a discussion marking the national mourning day.

Dainik Bangajanani organised the discussion on the 33rd martyrdom day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Independent Bangladesh, at Jatiya Press Club here on Sunday morning.

Presided over by Dr Major (retd) Mujibur Rahman, advisory editor of the daily, the discussion was addressed, among others, by AL Labour Affair Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, former lawmaker and labour leader Shahjahan Khan, editor of Bangladesh Observer Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Omar Faruque, Juba League leader Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, Adviser of ATN Bangla (programme) Nowajesh Ali Khan and Bangajanani Editor Quamruzzaman Zia.

Paying tribute to the memories of Bangabandhu, AL leader Amu said the defeated forces in the war of liberation created August 15 under a different identity.

These forces again staged the August 21 carnage to eliminate Awami League and pro-liberation forces, he added. The AL leader also reiterated his party's demand to hold general election by October and other elections, including the upazila polls, after it.

The other speakers demanded immediate execution of the verdict in Bangabandhu murder case and to declare Bangabandhu as father of the nation officially.

Describing the long history of Independence movement, they said many leaders tried to make contribution in this regard, but Bangabandhu had presented an Independent Bangladesh to the Bengali Nation.

The discussants urged leaders and workers and the people from all strata to be imbued with the politics of sacrifice discarding greed and gain for establishing the ideals and spirit of Bangabandhu.

Emphasis on human resources development

Staff Reporter

Economists, experts and bankers at a seminar yesterday laid emphasis on human resources development for ensuring the economic growth of the country.

A county could not progress without human resources development and transforming the human resources into human capital is also important for achieving this goal, they said.

It is essential to transform our human resources into human capital for enhancing our GDP growth and the elevating country to the status of a middle-income category, according to them.

They were speaking at the seminar on 'Human Capital Formation and Policy Modelling: A Strategic Study for Bangladesh Economy' organised by Islamic Economics Research Bureau (IERB) at its office in the capital.

Prof Ayubur Rahman Bhuiyan, senior vice president of IERB chaired the function, while Prof M Shahidul Islam, Department of Operation Management of American International University of Bangladesh (AIUB), presented the keynote paper.

It was also addressed, among others, by Dr SM Ali Akkas, director (planning and development) of Bangladesh Open University, Nurul Islam Khalifa, executive vice president of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd, and Prof Md Sharif Hussain, general secretary of IERB.

They also called upon all to come forward to join the ongoing human development efforts by education for all with a view to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's).

They said that it was essential to determine the characteristics of existing labour force for producing human capital from human resources and production of human capital must be identified for strategic planning.

Prof Md Sharif Hussain said the Quranic lessons and ideologies greatly ensure the welfare of human being.

Prof M Shahidul Islam said the education at the secondary and tertiary levels is not adequately linked to the job market. Therefore a huge number of unskilled labour force is coming to the labour market that is absorbed in non- formal sector.

"Over 60 per cent labours have no specific academic skill and for these reasons they are considered as floating labour. And this existing huge number of unskilled labours can be transformed into semi or skilled labour force as human capital (HC) or intermediate goods," he mentioned.

These intermediate goods can be the engines of growth of Bangladesh and it will not be much ambitious to expect Bangladesh would be middle-income country within a short- period of time, he observed.

After satisfying the local market demand Bangladesh could export HC to the global markets as intermediate goods in order to increase remittance flow into the country, he said.

In the current competitive arena and global concept, our low cost labour force is no more condition to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and HC can contribute to increase FDI flow into country for rapid economic growth.

During the fiscal year 2006-07, about 5.5 millions skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labours were employed in foreign countries and have contributed 7.5 billion dollar, according to him.

Dr Zillur vows to raise trade with Ankara

BSS, Turkey

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman has hoped that the trade volume of Bangladesh and Turkey would reach one billion US dollars in near future.

Hossain Zillur, who is leading a Bangladesh delegation to the 77th Izmir International Fair in Turkey, said this while having a discussion with Minister for Industries and Trade of Turkey Mehmet Zafer Caglayan on Saturday.

The adviser underscored that Turkey as the seventh largest economy in the world could be the key destination for Bangladesh exports.

He mentioned that the export target for Turkey in 2007-08 was US$ 220 million, within the first five months the target had been achieved, and present Bangladesh's export to Turkey is US$ 289 million out of the total trade volume of US$ 352 million.

He stated that readymade garments (RMG), pharmaceuticals, textile, energy and petroleum and leather and ceramic could be the most potential sectors for future trade and investment between the two countries.

He added that Turkish investors could take advantage of the cheap labour, tax holidays and other infrastructural supports for investment in Bangladesh.

Dr Hossain Zillur sated that exchange of high-level business delegation in the state and private level will revitalise the trade relations between the two brotherly countries and open immense opportunities for mutual trade benefits.

He requested the Turkish trade minister to ease the banking system in Turkey, so that businessmen of the two countries can easily remit and receive currencies.

He laid stress on technology transfer and knowledge and information sharing between the two brotherly countries.

The adviser invited the trade minister to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenience. Caglayan warmly accepted the invitation and assured his visit to Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity.

Recalling the historical ties between the two countries, the trade minister of Turkey expressed deep satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations and reiterated his vow to further strengthen it.

During the discussion, Caglayan mentioned that Bangladesh and Turkey can unify their strength for competing in the world market.

He stressed that Bangladesh-Turkey joint ventures can easily compete well in the world market. He also stated that RMG, shipbuilding and textile could be the most potential fields of cooperation.

Later in the evening, Dr Hossain Zillur attended the formal inaugural ceremony of the 77th Izmir International Fair and also visited the Bangladesh stall in the fair.

Taslima may leave India

PTI, New Delhi

Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin who returned to India from Sweden early this month is likely to leave the country again for some destination in Europe as her movement is being restricted due to security concerns.

The 45-year-old Bangladeshi writer returned to India recently from Sweden and was whisked away by security agencies to an undisclosed destination in the nation capital.

Sources close to the writer said that she had virtually wounded up her residence in Kolkata with the help of her relatives and friends. She refrained herself from going to the city fearing attacks by various fundamentalist groups and CPI (M) workers.

Garment factory shut in DEPZ fearing labour unrest

UNB, Savar

A garment factory, owned by foreign investors, was closed indefinitely on Sunday in old part of Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) here to avert any untoward incident in the wake of labour unrest.

Police and witnesses said around 5,000 workers of Hoplon Garments Factory found the closure notice at its main gate when they came for duty in the morning.

After seeing the notice, the workers tried to stage demonstration but police managed to disperse them peacefully.

Police said a few days back factory authorities terminated two officials and two supervisors following in the wake of continuous demands made by the workers.

Tea farming brings fortunes for Panchagarh formers

BSS, Rangpur

Small-scale tea farming has been changing the overall socio-economic conditions of common people, including marginal farmers and working women, prompting faster growth of the tea sector in Panchagarh.

Officials and experts concerned opined for further government assistance, setting up more tea processing industries, competitive markets at the grassroots for tealeaves and resolving some problems like power crisis for accelerating further growth of the tea sector.

Side by side with the common people, hundreds of females, who lived in utter miseries due to abject poverty, are now changing their fate and achieving self-reliance by earning wages as plucking workers in the tea gardens of the third tea zone of the country.

The growing tea sector has ushered in a new hope for further enhancing the standard of socio-economic life and women empowerment in Panchagarh and adjoining districts in near future, they said.

At present, over 8,000 skilled and unskilled workers, mostly women, have been working in 246 tea gardens, including 18 big estates, 13 medium-size and 215 small-scale gardens set up on about 2,000 acres of land in Tentulia and its surrounding areas.

Small-scale tea growers are now happy as the tea processing factories of Tentulia Tea Company Ltd (TTCL) and Karotoa Tea Garden in Panchagarh area are now purchasing green tealeaves at Taka 11 per kg though the rate was only Taka 9.50 recently.

According to a survey, conducted by Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB), there are 16,000 hectares land suitable for tea farming in Panchagarh area and nearly 2,000 acres have so far been brought under tea farming in the area since 2002.

Employment of 4,000 workers in island district: Khansons Group to set up 2 heavy industries in Bhola

Syful Islam

Establishment of two heavy industries in Bhola, an island district in southern part of the country, is underway as Khansons Group has expressed interest to the Board of Investment (BoI) of Tk 590 crore investment in MS rod and CR coil manufacturing sector.

Besides, the group has decided to establish a 20 to 22 megawatt power plant to run their factories.

Experts said, setting up of heavy industries in this island district will help proper utilisation of natural resources like gas.

Despite huge potentials no heavy industries have been set up in Bhola apart from some ice factories. Gas was found in Borhanuddin of Bhola in 1995 but this natural resource is yet to be utilised. This year gas was also found in the second well of Shahbajpur gas field.

Sources said establishment of gas based 34.5-megawatt power plant in Shahbajpur became uncertain for unknown reason. Supply of gas to households was scheduled after the setting up of the power plant but it is yet to get any shape.

On August 13 the Khansons Group proposed to the Board of Investment that they want to establish MS rod and CR coil factories in Bhola with an investment of Tk 590 crore. The group has an investment of Tk 600 crore in Barisal district.

Khansons Group Chairman AKM Azizur Rahman said discovery of two gas fields will help develop heavy industries on island district Bhola. He said, "We are thinking of establishing the two factories in Bhola this year. If the Government provides adequate facilities many investors will feel encouraged to invest there."

He said establishment of heavy industries in Bhola will be very expensive. "Especially the infrastructure and carrying of machineries and raw materials will be costlier than other to parts of the country," he said.

"We have urged the Government to provide some extra facilities to overcome the extra cost. We have asked for 10 years tax holiday, 20 years uninterrupted gas supply and special loan facilities," he said.

He said setting up of the two factories in Bhola will create employment opportunities for at least 4,000 workers.