The New Nation - Internet Edition

Furore over jail parleys: BNP won’t participate in polls under emergency

Khaleda Zia

Staff Reporter

The three-hour long parley of secretaries general of BNP and Jamaat with detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the sub jail has created a furore in the political circle.

Leaders of different political parties, particularly the Awami League and left leaning parties criticised the meeting branding it a Government conspiracy to bring back the BNP-Jamaat alliance to power through a compromise.

However, senior BNP and Jamaat leaders see nothing wrong with the meeting as the Government felt the necessity for holding such a parley to break the prevailing political impasse.

While rejecting the allegation of compromise with the Government they said that any compromise was out of the question.

Awami League Presidium Member Matiya Chowdhury told a private TV channel that the Government allowed them to meet with detained BNP chief to pave the way for handing over power to them by strengthening the four-party alliance.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the meeting was arranged as part of rehabilitation of the four-party alliance in the political arena.

Acting General Secretary of Awami League Ashraful Islam told reporters that it was not an ordinary meeting.

"The three-hour meeting with the detained leader means that there was an entente between the Government and the BNP-Jamaat alliance," he alleged.

Meanwhile, BNP Vice President MK Anwar yesterday told reporters Khaleda Zia would not buy her freedom through any understanding or compromise with the Government.

"She would come out free soon through legal process," he said while talking to reporters after a meeting at the NAM flat of BNP secretary general Khondoker Delwar Hossain.

He said that BNP would not take part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections under the state of emergency even after the release of the party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman.

"It was the responsibility of the Government to create the environment for our participation in the polls," he said.

Outspoken BNP leader Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah said, "It is out of question to get involve in any entente with the Government."

He said the BNP Chairperson would be freed through legal process.

BNP reformist leader Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said that he considers it as a positive sign.

"We are waiting for the release of the party chief Khaleda Zia. Immediately after her release, the party's various factions would be united under her leadership," he said.

It may be mentioned that BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed met with the detained BNP Chairperson on Thursday.

McCain chooses Sarah Palin as running mate

Sarah Palin

AFP, Dayton

Republican John McCain unveiled a major surprise in the White House race Friday with his pick of first woman governor of the oil-rich state of Alaska, Sarah Palin, as his running-mate.

"Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president," the McCain campaign said in announcing the choice.

"She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington," it said in a communique.

McCain was due to present Palin formally as his running mate at a midday (1600 GMT) rally here.

The choice of Palin, a 44-year-old mother of five, marks a huge political risk by McCain, and a blatant bid to win over disgruntled supporters of failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The timing of the announcement was clearly designed to overshadow the campaign of McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama, the morning after he accepted his party's presidential nomination in a nationally televised extravaganza in a Denver sports stadium.

Prices of essentials show uptrend as Ramzan approaches

Imported dates are being sold in a city shop. NN
photo

Talha Bin Habib

The price of different varieties of rice, lentils, fishes, sugar and vegetables are on high trend in the city kitchen market yesterday despite the measures taken by the Government to contain it.

Price of different categories of soybean oil have slightly reduced while the prices of all iftar items like puffed rice (muri), bason, gram and dates have increased abruptly causing a fresh concern for the consumers as the holy month of Ramzan is just couple of days ahead.

Customers said, the high trends of essential price were forcing them to pay extra money of their limited income.

They said that some unscrupulous businessmen were hoarding the essentials commodities and deliberately increasing the prices of commodities to make windfall of profit despite sufficient supply of necessary items to the markets.

If this upward trend of commodity price is continued then it would not be possible for us to manage meagre quantity of itfar items for our family members, they added.

They urged the Government to start market price monitoring and surveillance so that none could hoard any commodity for making unethical profit.

We know that the Government has taken some measures for arresting the skyrocketing prices of essentials but so far it did not create any positive impact on the market price, said Abul Baten, a private service holder at Khilgaon Bazar.

Traders said that they were not hoarding any essential items rather selling those to the customers with minimal margin of profits.

The ongoing rainfalls were causing obstacles to the smooth supply of vegetables to the markets and had made a little increase of vegetables price, they claimed.

The prices of onion and lentils have gone high despite sufficient stock and supply to the markets.

Coarse variety of rice was sold at Tk 33 to 34, minincate Tk 40 to 44, lata between Tk 37 and Tk 38, nazirshail Tk 42 to 44 yesterday.

Per packet of ata containing two kg was sold at Tk 75 that was Tk 78 and sugar at Tk 36 that was Tk 34 during the last week. Per kg of soybean was sold at Tk 108 to 110 yesterday, which was Tk 114 to Tk 116 during the last week. Super soybean was sold at Tk 88 to 90 that was Tk 96 per kg over the past week.

Muri (puffed rice) was sold between Tk 54 and Tk 70 that was Tk 48 to Tk 50 and bason was sold between Tk 90 and Tk 110 per kg and gram was at Tk 55 to Tk 60 per kg yesterday which was sold at Tk 48 per kg during the last week.

Different variety of dates were selling between Tk 80 and TK 400 per kg yesterday, which was Tk 55 to Tk 60, and Tk 350 to Tk 360 per kg respectively during the last week.

Local variety of onion was sold at Tk 34 to Tk 35 per kg yesterday which was Tk 32 and imported ones was sold between Tk 24 to Tk 25 per kg which was Tk 22 over the past few weeks.

Pulse of Kheshari variety was sold between Tk 52 and Tk 54 per kg yesterday which was Tk 48 in the past week and red lentils (masur) was sold at Tk 108 to Tk 110 per kg yesterday which has almost remained unchanged during the last couple of weeks.

Potato was sold at Tk 17 to Tk 18, papaya at Tk 14 to Tk 16, green chilli at Tk 70 to Tk 80 which was between Tk 40 to Tk 50 over the past few weeks and tomato was sold at Tk 65 to Tk 70 per kg yesterday.

Role of renewable energy stressed for solving rural power crisis

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a view exchange meeting yesterday said that the renewable energy can play a vital role for solving power crisis in the rural areas of the country.

If the government withdraws all duty fees and other taxes on the import the machineries, the volume of the private sector investment will increase to produce electricity, they opined.

The speakers expressed their views at the meeting after visiting several biogas plants at Mawna and Baratopa in Gazipur district yesterday. The Grameen Sakti (GS), Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCL) and Renewable Energy Journalists' Forum of Bangladesh (REJFB) jointly organised the view exchange meeting.

Abser Kamal, General Manager of Grameen Sakti said that the government should withdraw tax and duty on the imported equipment for the installation of renewable energy plants." It is the fast growing sector in our country.If the government provides adequate support, we will be able to produce enough electricity to meet its demand for the rural people", he maintained.

MA Gofran, a biogas consultant of GS, said, " we have failed to utilise cow dung properly for producing biogas due to lack of knowledge."

"About 22 million of cattle generate 220 million kilograms of dung per day in our country. This quantity of dung can produce huge amount of biogas in the country," he said adding, "The climate of Bangladesh is suitable for most of the renewable energy technologies like biogas, solar, wind, wave, improved cook stoves and geothermal."

SM Monirul Islam, General Manager of IDCOL, said that the government has provided subsidy to set up renewable energy plants. "We have provided financial as well as logistic support to different organisations to expand the renewable energy plants in the country," he added. Moinuddin Ahmed, Convenor of REJFB, also spoke on the occasion.

During the visit to some biogas plants at Mawna and Baratopa, the owners of the plants expressed their satisfaction over the performances of the plants and benefits of such venture in rural areas.

Abdur Razzaque, an owner of a biogas plant at Mawna Bazaar, said that he installed a biogas plant at a cost of Tk 28,825 with a loan from GS." My monthly earnings now stand at Tk 4,700 by selling biogas to my nine neighbours", he added.

8 killed, 4 injured in road accidents

Staff Reporter

At least eight people were killed and four others injured in separate road accidents at different districts of the country on Friday.

In the first accident, two betel leaf traders were killed and another was injured in a collision between two trucks at Prembagh on Jessore-Benapole road yesterday morning.

Police and eyewitnesses said the betel leaf-laden truck collided head on with another jute-laden lorry coming from opposite direction in the morning that resulted the death of trader Nasir Sheikh, 44, on the spot.

Injured Shahjahan, 40, and Abdur Rashid, 37, were admitted to Jessore General Hospital where Shahjahan died.

Three traders of Bibhagdi village in Avoynagar upazila in Jessore were going to Rupdia Bazar in the district from said the upazila with betel leaf when the tragedy struck them down.

A bicycle rider was crushed under the wheels of a bus at Kagojpukur in Jessore yesterday morning.

Witnesses said Jabbar Ali, 40, of Lawtara village in Sharsha upazila injured seriously when the speeding bus knocked down his bicycle and crushed him.

He, later, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

A truck ran over Laily Begum, 50, wife of late Ramzan Ali of Baro Achra village under Benapole upazila in Jessore while the was crossing road in front of export terminal of the land port.

Two people were killed and three others injured when a truck rammed into a microbus on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway at Auskandi in Nabiganj upazila early Friday in Sylhet Abed Miah, 50, of Modhubagh Plaza in Dhaka and Monwara Khatun, 30, of Mizmizi village under Narayanganj district died instantly.

Police said the accident took place at dead of night when a truck rammed into a microbus, coming from the opposite direction, killing the two microbus passengers on the spot and injuring three others.

The injured persons were admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

A case was filed with Shayestaganj Highway police station.

A Jessore bound private car dashed a standing truck from behind and got twisted at Daulatdia Canal ghat on Daulatdia-Khulna highway at 4pm, killing the car owner Sanjay Tarapad on the spot.

Seriously injured Kona, 32, Sanjay's wife, their daughter Oishi, 12, and the car driver were first rushed to Faridpur Medical College Hospital in critical condition and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police seized the truck but the driver managed to escape.

A minor boy was crushed under the wheels of a bus near Jamindar Bridge on the same highway in the morning.

The deceased was identified as Mohammad Nuru, 8, a student of class II. Police seized the bus and arrested its driver. Separate cases were filed.

Bangladesh face Australia in first ODI today

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team will face mighty Australia National Cricket team today in the first One Day International (ODI) match at Darwin in Australia. The match starts at 6.00 a.m ( Bangladesh Standard Time). Star Sports will telecast the match live from the stadium.

Bangladesh and Australia faced 13 times each other. Of them, Bangladesh won only one match while world champions Australia won 12 games. Bangladesh beat Australia in Cardiff in 2005.

After arriving in Australia, Bangladesh played five practice one-dayers against the different sides of Australia. Bangladesh registered two wins while conceded three defeats.

It may be mentioned that Bangladesh won just one of its last 12 ODIs. The victory came against United Arab Emirates.

Jamie Siddons, the coach of Bangladesh team said yesterday that his team had shown it could upset the best in the world, but with just 40 wins in 184 ODIs they needed to do so far more often.

Siddons said, 'We are trying to be more consistently competitive.'

On the other hand, Michael Clarke, who will lead Australia in the absence of Ricky Ponting, said Australia would not be taking their opponents lightly.

'As soon as you take things for granted I think you find yourself asking questions why you have lost that game.'

The pitch has flattened out and by Saturday should be reasonable for batting. A total of 220 to 240 might be competitive, considering the early start which may help the seamers.

Greater BIMSTEC economic role stressed

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said yesterday BIMSTEC carries immense potential for creating wider space for greater economic interaction, flow of trade and investment for the member states.

"We need to ensure that this opportunity is not lost," the Foreign Adviser said at the opening session of the 10th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi, India.

The adviser touched various issues including free trade agreement, terrorism, agriculture and climate change, saying BIMSTEC could work as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. The region has brought together nearly 1.3 billion people, or 21 percent of the world population.

BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation in which Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Nepal are the members.

"Regional cooperation is not a zero-sum game, it brings benefit to all," he said, referring to EU, ASEAN, NAFTA and many other such regional bodies.

Iftekhar, a former envoy to the United Nations, said the region should intensely focus on poverty reduction "despite the phenomenal economic growth rate that has been achieved in the recent years".

"A continued focus on poverty alleviation and in a larger context the broad area of social development is of paramount importance and the group must accord the highest priority to this area," he said.

He referred to the first BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation, which was held last month in Dhaka, and said some progresses were made in identifying ways to collectively address this issue.

Talking about agriculture, the adviser said:

"Apart from the fact that the majority of our population is dependent on agriculture, the impact of rising food prices and food shortages is worst felt by the rural population".

He laid emphasis on developing strategic action plan to increase agricultural productivity in the short, medium and long term.

Referring to SAARC Food Bank, he said: "We may consider establishing similar mechanism under BIMSTEC."

He expressed concern over the increasing trend of criminal activities in the region, saying such criminal elements have potentials to disrupt peace and stability.

"Bangladesh is committed to deal with these issues firmly and decisively. We are heartened at the finalization of BIMSTEC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking," he said.

Mentioning the BIMSTEC Climate and Weather Centre and BIMSTEC Energy Centre, which would be set up in New Delhi soon, the Foreign Adviser hoped that the centres would be transformed themselves into centres of excellence to meet the need of the member states.

"We compliment the Government of India for their initiatives in this regard. As we have two similar centres under SAARC, the Energy Centre in Islamabad and SAARC Meteorological Research Centre in Dhaka, I hope the two new ones would be complementary to each other," he said.

Moving towards the issue of Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he said FTA is one such measure that holds the promise to increase intra-regional trade.

"I understand the negotiation on a BIMSTEC FTA has been going on for quite sometime now. While we expected the FTA to be concluded and come into effect by July 2006, it is yet be finalised," Iftekhar said.

Putting importance on approaching the issue with a greater sense of urgency, and demonstrating flexibility and accommodation to conclude the agreement without delay, he said: "Bangladesh has withheld announcing a date for next BIMSTEC Trade Ministers Meeting pending the outcome and finalisation of the draft FTA."

"We urge the Trade Negotiation Committee to conclude their negotiations at their next meeting."

He stressed that BIMSTEC FTA would be a more meaningful instrument in contributing towards increasing intra-regional trade "if we are able to remove and dismantle all tariff and non-tariff barriers."

Referring to progress of BIMSTEC Business Visa Scheme, Iftekhar expressed hope that all member states would accord due priority to this to smoothen and facilitate the movement of the business community.

"Easier movement of professionals and people at large as well as simplification of all related procedures would ultimately bring our people closer," he said.

The Foreign Adviser said Bangladesh attaches high importance to connectivity in the region, as it believes to facilitate movement of goods and people across the region.

The BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistic and Study (BTILS), which has just been concluded, provides useful insight into the existing weaknesses in transport infrastructure in the member states, he added.

The adviser vowed to continue Bangladesh's stronger engagement to move BIMSTEC forward.

"Bangladesh has been in the forefront of all efforts to institutionalise regional cooperation. I would like to reiterate Bangladesh's offer to host the permanent Secretariat of BIMSTEC in Dhaka," he said.

UNHCR for probe into Kashmir killers

BBC Online

India has dismissed United Nations' comments on the recent violent clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir as "unwarranted" and "irresponsible".

A foreign ministry spokesman said India did not require any advice on the protection and promotion of human rights of its citizens. The UN has called for an inquiry into the killings of civilians protesters. India troops have killed nearly 40 protesters since June, most of them in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley. The protests were triggered by the allocation of land to a Hindu trust.

They have developed into the most serious protests in Indian-administered Kashmir in years.

On Wednesday, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement in Switzerland "calling on the Indian authorities and in particular security forces to respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression, and comply with international human rights principles in controlling the demonstrators".

"The use of force should be proportionate to the threat posed and firearms must only be used in dispersing a violent assembly to protect individuals against an imminent threat of death or serious injury," it said.

The United Nations called for a thorough and independent investigation into the killings.

It has also called on demonstrators "to protest using peaceful means only".

Indian-administered Kashmir has been hit by protests since June, after the government there granted land to a Hindu group that manages pilgrimage to a sacred Hindu shrine.

2 traders shot dead in city

Staff Reporter

Two businessmen were shot in separate incidents at Kafrul and Sabujbagh in the city Thursday midnight and yesterday.

Source said some unknown assailants shot to death Rakib Hossain, alias Abu, 28, a tea-stall owner-cum-cab driver of 99, Purbo Kazipara in the city's Kafrul yesterday.

Police and witnesses said 4 to 5 gunmen called out Abu from his tea-stall at about 2:10pm and shot him in front of his stall, leaving him seriously injured.

He was taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where doctors pronounced him dead soon after admission.

Victim's nephew Mosharaf Hossain said just before the shooting incident, Abu Hossain settled a brawl between a rickshaw-puller and his passenger.

But the rickshaw passenger seemed unhappy with Abu Hossain's mediation and threatened him with dire consequences.

In another incident, some unidentified gunmen intercepted sweetmeat shop owner Jasim Uddin, 37, at Jheelpaar of North Mugdapara in Sabujbagh than and opened fire on him on way to his Mayakanan residence at about 11:45pm Thursday midnight, police said.

Critically injured Jasim was rushed to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The reason behind the killing could not be immediately known.

Police, however, suspected that extortion or previous enmity could be the reason behind the killing.

Separate cases were filed with the police.

Security issues to dominate home secy-level talks with India

BSS, Dhaka

Dhaka and New Delhi are set to hold a two-day bilateral meeting on cross-border security and crimes as the Indian home secretary arrived here on Friday on a two-day consultation with his Bangladesh counterpart, officials said.

Indian Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta arrived here for the annual talks with Bangladesh home secretary Abdul Karim from today, a month after foreign secretaries of the two countries met in their routine annual consultation in the Indian capital of New Delhi.

Senior Home Ministry and Indian High Commission officials received Gupta on his arrival this afternoon.

"The talks between India's home secretary Madhukar Gupta and our home secretary Abdul Karim, are expected to dominate the security and other cross-border issues which concern both the neighbours," a Bangladesh home ministry spokesman told BSS.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty said the two secretaries were expected to discuss on an earlier New Delhi proposal for signing an extradition treaty to exchange fugitive "criminals".

"The talks are also expected to explore ways for increased cooperation to counter terrorism and develop a legal framework for exchange of fugitive criminals," the envoy said.

Bangladesh, however, earlier maintained that the proposed extradition treaty should take in all members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) while the recent summit of the regional grouping in Colombo signed an agreement on mutual legal cooperation on counter-terrorism and extradition issue.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Border Security Force (BSF) of India last week exchanged lists of fugitive "criminals" as chiefs of the two frontier guards held a four-day biennial meeting in Dhaka.

Bangladesh handed over an updated list of 1,648 Bangladeshi criminals hiding in India while the Indian side gave a list of 464 Indian criminals.

The home ministry officials said Dhaka would also press for the implementation of the 1974 Mujib-Indira Land Boundary Agreement, which Bangladesh ratified in 1974 and has been demanding its ratification by New Delhi for exchange of enclaves and land in areas of adverse possession.

Zardari moves to new location over security fear

BSS, Karachi

Pakistan presidential hopeful Asif Ali Zardari has moved to a top security location in Islamabad due to fears of attacks being made on his life, the country's prime minister said Friday.

Zardari, the widower of assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto, plans to run in the September 6 poll to succeed Pervez Musharraf who resigned the presidency earlier this month under threat of impeachment.

"Asif Zardari has shifted to the prime minister's house because of security concerns," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters in the southern port city of Karachi.

"He has shifted there because of dangers involved to his life, especially at present when his political activities and mobility is hectic."

Zardari had been living in his family home in another area of Islamabad.

Former premier Bhutto was killed in a gun and suicide attack in December last year moments after speaking at a campaign rally in Rawalpindi near the capital.

Violence has spiked in Pakistan in recent weeks in reaction to the military's crackdown on Taliban-inspired militancy in the country's northwest.

Zardari is seen as close to the United States which is putting Pakistan under pressure to crush rebels who have taken sanctuary on the border with Afghanistan.

There has been speculation in local media this week that Zardari may quit the presidential race because of the controversy surrounding his candidacy.

He acquired the notorious nickname "Mr 10 percent" after being accused of pocketing commission on government deals signed during his wife's two terms as prime minister. He also spent a total of 11 years in prison on corruption and other criminal charges.

But Gilani emphatically denied that Zardari would withdraw.

"Any reports about Asif Zardari's withdrawal from the presidential elections are untrue," Gilani said. "He is not withdrawing."

Zardari, who took the leadership of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) following her death, saw the party win a majority of the seats in February general elections.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif, who quit the ruling coalition on Monday over differences on the restoration of judges, has nominated retired supreme court chief judge Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqui to challenge Zardari for his party.

1 held with gold worth Tk 16 lakh at ZIA

Staff Reporter

Customs at the Zia International Airport (ZIA) yesterday seized 60 ounces of gold worth about Tk 16 lakh from an incoming passenger and arrested him.

Airport police identified the passenger as Mohammad Azam.

Azam arrived at the airport yesterday noon from Dubai by Emirates. Customs officers searched him among others and found 60 ounces of gold and arrested him as he failed to produce any purchase documents. Airport authority filed a case on this regard with the Airport Police Station.

Container terminal to be leased to a private firm

Chittagong Correspondent

The Shipping Ministry has decided to lease out the newly built New Mooring Container Terminal (NMCT) to a private operator for at least 30 years with a view to ensuring its smooth maintenance and operation.

The advisory council on August 18 approved the leasing of the NMCT to a private firm on the recommendation of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), sources in the CPA said.

The NMCT will be leased out on the basis of "Supply, Operate and Transfer (SOT)" under Bangladesh Private Sector Infrastructure Guideline 2004, according to sources.

Earlier, an eight-member expert-committee led by the then Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Commodore M Farouque drafted the leasing outline.

As part of its port reform and modernisation strategy, the government plans to develop and operate the port through private sector participation to increase its efficiency and reduce the cost of the port users. sources added.

The CPA has floated international tender (pre-qualification) on August 25 inviting applications from interested firms having the requisite qualifications and experience as well as investment capabilities for this purpose.

Copies of the tender have already been sent to Bangladesh foreign missions for facilitating the participation of foreign bidders of international repute. A short-list of qualified applicants will be prepared from among the applicants.

Messrs China Harbor Engineering Company built the terminal at a cost of Taka 5038.30 million with the CPA's own funding.