The New Nation - Internet Edition

British council launches part ship linking programme

DU Correspondent

British Council in Dhaka has launched a partnership linking programme styled "INSPIRE" (International Strategic Partnerships in Research and Education) to strengthen strategic partnerships in higher education between UK and the Central South Asia countries.

Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC), yesterday inaugurated the programme at the Sheraton Hotel in the city, while Peter Ashton, acting director of British Council, made welcome address.

Distinguished teachers of different universities including Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi Universities took part in the inaugural session.

Peter Ashton said the purpose of the programme is to collaborate on internationalising institutions, research and higher educational standard among the top universities of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Afghanistan and the UK.

Four vital subjects including 'Environment and Climate Change,' 'Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy,' 'Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering' and 'Fine Arts' will get priority under the programme funded by British Council, he added.

Peter informed that the programme will also include 'Institution to institution strategic partnerships awards, partnership exploratory grants, talented researcher exchange opportunities and education policy dialogues.

Two killed in road accidents

Staff Reporter

Two people, including an old man, were killed in two separate road accidents in Jhenidah and Jessore districts on Sunday.

A bus helper was crushed under the wheels of his bus as he suddenly fell down from his vehicle at Basundia Jamtala on Jessore-Khulna highway.

Police recovered the body of Sagar Kumar Das, 30, and sent it to local hospital morgue for autopsy.

Ranjan Kumar, an old man, who was making bamboo basket sitting beside a road, was killed when a truck hit him at Baidanga Bazaar in Sadar upazila of Jhenidah at about 11:30am.

The truck also fell into roadside ditch after the accident.

Police recovered the body of Ranjan Kumar, 70, and sent it to Sada hospital morgue for autopsy.

EC to hold new dialogue with 16 parties from September 6

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission's attitudes have changed in tune with the country's political paradigm change as reflected in inviting the mainstream BNP to a new round of dialogue with 16 political parties.

"There are some things to be described as contexts. The context that had existed in the past may have changed now," Election Commission Secretary M Humayun Kabir told reporters Monday when asked to explain the latest change of EC attitude to the immediate-past ruling party that was snubbed during previous talks.

Now the third round of pre-poll dialogue begins on September 6, with the BNP loyal to its detained chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia joining the consultation on changes in politico-electoral rules.

Asked whether the EC would give a written statement describing its position following the EC's earlier statement delivered when the reformist BNP group was invited to the dialogue, the EC secretary said the commission's written statement might be given later after making a "historical analysis" of the changing scenario.

He said the commission has already scheduled its dialogue with the political parties to sort out any problem regarding their registration process under the revised rules.

"Everything will be solved if the matters are discussed with the stakeholders," he said, indicating the political parties' objections, especially about the provision of the parties disowning their various fronts.

Replying a question at the briefing at the EC secretariat, Humayun Kabir said the commission has not taken decision on changing voter-registration areas for some difficulties. "There are some rules and restrictions in amending the voter list before the 9th parliamentary elections," he said.

The EC official stressed the need for creating awareness among the country's voters through massive campaigns so that they (voters) could overcome the problems in casting vote using the number.

About the schedule announcement for Dhaka City Corporation polls, he said the Commission has been proceeding to hold all elections, including the DCC polls, but the schedule cannot be announced unless all preparations are completed.

He informed that more than 30 political parties, including Jatiya Party (Ershad), have already collected the registration forms from the Election Commission to get register with the EC in compliance with the reforms done in the interim period.

The new rules have been incorporated in the electoral law under massive reforms undertaken after the January 11, 2007 political crisis over elections issues that led to the current state of emergency in the country.

Senior SC lawyer Ahmed Hossain passes away

UNB, Dhaka

Barrister Dr Ahmed Hossain, a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, died of old age complications at his Sidhweswary residence here on Monday. He was 79.

He was buried at Azimpur graveyard after Isha prayers.

Born in Comilla in 1979, Dr Ahmed Hossain had practiced law in the UK and Bangladesh successfully.

He was a close associate of Dr Aleem-Al-Razee, a renowned parliamentarian and jurist, and was the senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Peoples League founded by Dr Razee.

Khaled Shams made Country Director of Nokia Siemens Networks

UNB, Dhaka

Khaled Shams, an electrical engineer, has been appointed the Country Director of Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) Bangladesh.

Khaled who has more than 16 years of experience in the telecom industry will lead the Bangladesh country management team and work as the primary spokesperson for Nokia Siemens Networks.

He was part of the Siemens communications group for more than 14 years and was the head of Communications division at Siemens Bangladesh prior to NSN's formation.

He was instrumental to establishing Siemens Communications business in Bangladesh. He was also a Director at Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Sangstha (a former JV of Siemens Communications and Bangladesh government) and Telephone Shilpa Sangstha Limited (a former JV of Nokia Siemens Networks and Bangladesh government).

UNDP praises establishment of Human Rights Commission

UNB, Dhaka

UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Renata Lok-Dessallien praised the caretaker government for establishment of the Human Rights Commission that is in effect from today.

"Many governments in the past have failed to do this," she told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his office.

She also said there has been marked improvement in extra judicial killings, "though more remains to be done."

Among other issues, Iftekhar and Renata discussed entire range of Bangladesh-UNDP development cooperation.

The Foreign Advisor underscored the setting up of the Human Rights Commission. He said "not only will this bring benefit to the people of Bangladesh; it will also vastly improve the image of the country abroad."

Iftekhar expressed the hope that the UN would send observers to cover the election in December.

DSE crosses 2,800-mark after one month

UNB, Dhaka

Shares on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) registered gains for the second consecutive day of the week on Monday, dragging up the benchmark index over 2,800-mark after one month.

Earlier on July 30, the main index stood at 2,801 points and started sliding the following trading day to stand at as low as 2,571 points on August 19 before the market continued to register a steady growth till Monday.

"The market faced a sluggish trend amid confusing measures by the regulators, but it bounced back with their holding talks with the institutional investors and the brokers," said a fund manager.

The DSE General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, increased to 29 points or over 1.0 percent to close at 2,820 points on Monday from 2,791 points on Sunday while the All Share Price Index (DSI) rose to 18 points or 0.78 percent to close at 2,408 points.

The DSE-20 index for the selective shares also gained 11 points or 0.47 percent to close at 2,453 points.

Of the total 227 issues traded on the day, 141 registered gains while 76 declined and 10 remained unchanged.

The total turnover increased to Tk 3.35 billion on Monday from Tk 2.67 billion on Sunday while the market capitalization rose to Tk 975.84 billion on the day from Tk 969.87 billion on the day before.

Titas Gas, ACI, Beximco Pharma, Islami Bank, Lankabangla Finance, DBH, BATBC, ICB 2nd NRB, Beximco and Square Pharma were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, Beximco Pharma, BD Com, Titas Gas, Beximco, Beximco Textile, Lankabangla Finance, Keya Cosmetics, Grameen 1 and ISN Limited.

Top gainers of the day were Bangladesh Thai Aluminum, Delta-BRAC Housing, Therapeutics Bangladesh, Maq Paper, Modern Industries, DESCO, ICB 2nd NRB, LEXCO, Pragati Life Insurance and Samorita Hospital.

Top losers were Rupali Bank, Mona Food, Shyampur Sugar, United Insurance, Federal Insurance, Rahima Food, Prime Insurance, Anlima Yarn, Bangas and Eastern Cables.

Meanwhile, trading of the units of Grameen One in Scheme Two (Second Scheme of Grameen Mutual Fund One) will start at DSE under 'A' category from on Tuesday. The trading code is "GRAMEENS2".

During the month of holy Ramadan, the trading of DSE will start at 10 am and continue till 1.30 pm while the DSE office will remain open from 9 am to 3.30 pm. Shares will be received by the clearing house till 2.30 pm.