The New Nation - Internet Edition

600 MW power cut on 1st of Ramzan: Ministry blames shortage of gas supply

Shamim Jahangir

The city residents have experienced 600 MW power shortages on the first day of Ramzan.

Several residents of the city expressed dissatisfaction with the power cut during Ifter and Sehri yesterday.

Earlier, the ministry had already directed the electricity generation units to keep those fully operational during the holy month, and keep electricity supply at the highest level from 6:00pm through 9:00pm for Iftar and Tarabih prayers and from 3:00am to 5:00am for Sehri.

Power Development Board (PDB) has failed to supply 600 MW of power against the demand of 4,400 MW during Ramzan due to shortage of gas supply to the power plants, according to PDB sources.

At present, the peak demand exceeds 4,400 MW, whereas, generation varies from 3,500 MW to 3,800 MW leaving an unmet demand of 600 MW to 900 MW in the last two days due to gas shortage. For this reason, residents in different parts of the country experienced an 8 to 12-hour power outage, sources said.

"Now many of the PDB power units are generating less electricity because of gas shortage and some of the units have remained switched off. The PDB could not generate around 712 MW of electricity yesterday because of gas shortage," the sources added.

Power officials demanded gas supply of more than 700 to 750 mmcfd to increase power generation to keep outage within a tolerable level during Ramzan. The demand for gas for power plants is around 850mmcfd, the sources said.

The residents of Rampura, Jatrabai, Mohammadpur have experienced power cut during Sehri time. Besides, the residents of Banasri, Uttara Syadabad have faced power cut during Ifter period yesterday.

Habiba Mamun, an angry resident of Banasree residential area expressed her dissatisfaction over the power cut during Ifter time yesterday and said, "I cannot understand why the power division couldn't keep up to their promise of supplying uninterrupted electricity."

She called upon the Government to take effective measure to supply power during Ifter, Sehri and Tarabi for the rest of the holy month of Ramzan.

Tarique may be freed today: Anxious crowd waits before BSMMU

Mamunur Rashid

Tarique Rahman, BNP senior Joint Secretary General and eldest son of detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, may be released on bail today, said a prison official.

Inspector General of Prisons, Brig Gen Zakir Hasan said yesterday evening that detainees are not normally released if their papers are not processed by 6:00pm.

Tarique Rahman's wife Zobaida Rahman, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and other visitors left his bedside at BSMMU Hospital around 8:00pm yesterday signaling that the detained BNP leader would not be released on bail before Wednesday.

However, Zobaida arrived at the hospital at 3:30pm driving past crowds of BNP supporters who had gathered to cheer the elder son of detained party chief Khaleda Zia, in the event of his release.

The IGP said that almost all necessary papers for executing the release of Tarique Rahman had reached his office.

A top prison official said his release order was being prepared for his release soon.

"We are only awaiting the last remaining document now, which may be sent to us any time Tuesday. It is possible that Tarique Rahman will be released Wednesday provided the last bit of paper work is complete and it reaches us," Hasan said yesterday morning. The law-enforcement agencies arrested Tarique on March 8, 2007. He is currently under treatment in a prisons cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital.

As many as 16 cases have been filed against Tarique, one case involving Daily Dinkal has been disposed of, while he got bail in 12 on-trial cases. Authorities are yet to press charges in three other cases. The High Court on August 25 granted him six months' interim bail in a Tk 1 crore extortion case and on August 26, another four months' bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Tarique got bail in five cases on August 27, of which three involved extortion charges, one on income tax dodging and another on illegally acquired assets.

On August 28, when the Supreme Court granted him bail in the case involving the suppression of Sabbir murder for which Tarique allegedly took huge sums of money, he got bails in all the 12 cases against him.

Officials and his lawyers then said his release was only a matter of time.

FBCCI concern over gap in wholesale-retail prices: Call for strong market monitoring

Staff Reporter

The Federation of Bangladesh of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Annisul Huq yesterday expressed concern over the gap of prices of essentials between wholesale and retail markets.

"The price gap of necessary commodities between the wholesale and retail markets are reflecting the failure of the business community," he lamented.

He expressed his views while visiting different kitchen markets with the directors of the apex trade body to monitor the price situation at Karwan Bazar wholesale and New Market retail markets.

He was aghast seeing the wide gap of prices in the two markets of Karwanbazaar while the price gap emerged double in cases of some items at the New Market.

He said the FBCCI would wait only for next two days to seek the aid of law enforcing agencies to help tame the prices.

Annisul Huq said the wholesalers at Karwan Bazar have welcomed the move taken by the FBCCI and demanded strengthening of market monitoring.

They alleged that the retailers create wide margin between the wholesale and retail prices to make extra profits.

The FBCCI formed a monitoring cell in its secretariat recently to help control the prices of essential items as a follow up of several meetings with law enforcing agencies, including Bangladesh Rifles.

During the meetings, Bangladesh Rifles, in the face of demand from the business community, had assured that the law enforcing agencies would not go to the kitchen markets to create panic if the business community takes the charge of monitoring the markets.

The FBCCI delegation found green chilly selling at Tk 100-110 per kg at the retail markets while it was Tk 75-85 at the wholesale market of Karwan Bazaar.

Brinjal was sold at Tk 70 per Kg at the retail markets as against Tk 50 to Tk 55

at the wholesale market while garlic was sold at Tk 35 per Kg at the retail market and Tk 18 to Tk 20 at the wholesale market.

Commentary: Major political reform depends on disposal of corruption cases

Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury told a regular briefing meeting the other day that the image of toughness of the ACC is being affected by the recent bails granted to a significant number of accused individuals and stay orders on its cases.

It was the drive against corruption on which the reform process initiated by the present government was largely dependent. Tainting of the image of the commission that spearheaded the drive might make people think that the anti-graft campaign is not going on as before and that reforms can be evaded.

The ACC chairman wants amendments to the ACC law so that in the higher courts it becomes a party in relation to writs, bails and stay orders about the cases filed by the Commission under the clean-up drive launched following the 1/11 changeover.

Asked if the government's attitude towards the anti-graft campaign has changed, he said in the light of so many aspects, including political one, people might view the government activities differently, but "our activities are as before".

He acknowledged that recently the ACC had been preoccupied with writs, bails and stay orders, so it could not pay enough attention to the lower courts where the high-profile corruption suspects were being tried.

As to whether cases by ACC were not properly prepared, he said there had been verdicts in 70-80 cases and the same process is being followed in all the cases. "We have not changed the process."

The realisation of the ACC chief about the need to vigorously continue pursuing the anti-graft cases, though late, should be reflected through activities that might ensure speedy disposal of such cases.

Politics of corruption that had rotten the system requiring the declaration of emergency for a turn around, should have been reformed by now had the anti-graft cases been disposed of through speedy preparatory work. Better late than never.

Flood situation worsens

UNB, Dhaka

Flood situation deteriorated in parts of the country yesterday, as many rivers continued to swell further.

The official Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said more low-lying areas in the districts of Sirajganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Dohar and Nawabganj of Dhaka district, Shibganj and Sadar of Chapai-Nawabganj district are likely to inundate by next 24-48 hours.

The Ganges-Padma and the Meghna continued rising while the Brahmaputra and Jamuna registered fall at upstream points but continued rising at downstream points, the FFWC said in its latest bulletin.

The warning centre said small rivers in the north-eastern part of the country finally accumulated at upper Meghna (at Bhairab Bazar) which is rising as well and the increasing trend will further continue for next 2-3 days.

It however said flood situation in the north and north-eastern part of the country has started improving.

Meanwhile, UNB reporters from Sherpur, Chapainawabganj, Faridpur, Madaripur and Rajbari districts said new areas have been flooded.

In Sherpur, 30 villages of four unions in char areas under Sadar upazila were flooded due to rise in water of the Old Brahmaputra over past 24 hours till Tuesday afternoon.

In Madaripur, low-lying areas of 24 unions in Shibchar, Sadar, Kalkini and Rajoir upazilas were submerged, leaving around two lakh people marooned.

UNB Chapainawabganj correspondent said around 2,000 people have been marooned as low lying areas of nine unions in Sadar and Shibganj upazilas went under floodwater. Affected people took shelter on higher ground and nearby schools.

In Goalanda (Rajbari), the River Padma was flowing around 85 cms above danger level at Goalanda point on Tuesday, aggravating flood situation.

Around 50,000 people have been marooned in the upazila due to rise of water level. Crops on 1,480 hectares of land were damaged by the annual menace.

In Faridpur, around 7,000 flood-affected people moved to safer places in Charbhadrason and Sadar upazilas as rivers continued to swell in the area.

44 parties collect registration forms: EC-political parties set for talks

Staff Reporter

The dialogue of the Election Commission (EC) with major political parties begins on September 6 with a view to working out the party registration process.

The EC has already invited 16 political parties to attend the dialogue to be held at the Commission Secretariat.

According to the Commission schedule the dialogue will begin with Bangladesh Workers Party at 10:30am followed by Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (ML) at 11:30am, Gonotantri Party at 12:30pm and Jatiya Party at 2:00pm on September 6.

The dialogue with the BNP will be held on September 7, while Jatiya Party (JP) and Jamaat-e-Islami on September 8 and Awami League on September 9.

Meeting scheduled on September 7 with Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) at 10:30am, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh at 11:30am, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) at 12:30pm and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at 2:00pm.

On September 8, the Commission will hold dialogue with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at 10:30am while Islami Oikya Jote at 11:30am, Jatiya Party (JP) at 12:30pm and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh at 2:00pm.

Dialogue with Krishak Sramik Janata League will be held at 10:30am on September 9 while with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob) at 11:30am, National Awami Party (Mozaffar) at 12:30pm and Bangladesh Awami League at 2:00pm.

The Commission sources said the dialogue is being held with political parties to settle some objections being raised over the party-registration process.

Chief Election Commissioner earlier told reporters the objections, especially on registration time, will be solved through discussion with the political parties.

Meanwhile, a total of 44 political parties so far collected application forms from the Commission to get registered in accordance with the new electoral laws.

The political parties are: Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islami Biplobi Parishad, Bangladesh Nezami Islami Party, Muktijoddha Janata Dal, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Bangladesh Labour Party, Janamukti Party, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party, Jatiya Biplobi Front, (NRF), Bangladesh Naya Samajik Dal, Bangladesh Muslim League, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL), Islamic Front Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Jamiyat-e-Ulamaye Islami Bangladesh, Islamic Constitutional Movement, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlsh, Jaker Party, Jatiya Party, Janatar Sanghati, Bangladesh LLB, Gano Forum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Muktijoddah Communism Democratic Party, Sammoyabadi Dal of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Awami Party, Jatiya League, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Progressive Democratic Party, Freedom Party, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, Chetonar Bangali, Samajik Rajnaitik Andolon, Pakmon People's Party, Public Party, Forward Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Sacheton Nagorik Mancha, Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh Muktijoddah Krishak Sramik Oikya Jote, National People's Party and Nirdoliya Jano Andolon.

The registration process began on August 27 will be continued till October 15.

BNP vows to continue movement

Staff Reporter

BNP-led four-party alliance will continue its ongoing movement till its demands are fulfilled, said BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain.

He was addressing a rally held in protest of police attack on the alliance's August 27 human chain programme at the Institute of Engineers in the city yesterday.

He also announced fresh schedule of programme meetings and rallies across the country on September 9 to press home for five-point of demand.

The demands include release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, and Tarique Rahman, lifting of the state of emergency, holding of the parliamentary election ahead of upazila election, bringing down the price of essentials within reach, and scraping of Election Commission's Representation of People Ordinance (RPO).

He said now people were in panic and could not exercise their freedom of movement due to police harassment and false and politically motivated cases. The Caretaker Government was lingering the panic situation by extending the state of emergency violating the Constitution, he added.

"Prolonging the state of emergency year after year is illegal, anti-constitutional and anti-democratic, he added.

Referring to the cases filed against Khaleda, he urged the Government to refrain from pursuing false and politically motivated cases.

He condemned the police attack on the alliance's peaceful human chain programme across the country on August 27 formed to drum up support for the release of Khaleda Zia and sending her eldest son Tarique Rahman abroad for better medical treatment.

"BNP wants peaceful handing of power through fair and free election," Delwar noted.

The government and its collaborators will bear the responsibility, if they pull the country to an instable situation,

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed said the Government could not complete the voter list yet, which was their failure.

He cautioned the government that if the upzila polls were held before the parliamentary election, the alliance would go for a tough programme.

He warned the Caretaker Government that the people would never tolerate dillydally tactics on the release of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.

Mojaheed urged the Government to withdraw cases filed against the alliance Khulna unit leaders on charge of violation of the emergency rules during observing its August 27 human chain programme in Khulna city adding, "If you (the government) will not withdraw the case, its will be considered as provocative."

"It seems that no movement will be held during the Ramzan, but spontaneous movement can never be repressed," he added.

BJP Chairman Andalib Rahman Partha, Secretary General Shamim Al Mamun, Khelafat Majlish Ameer Moulana Ishaq, Islami Oikyajote Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami, Jamaat Assistant Secretaries General Abdul Kader Molla and ATM Azharul Islam and BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, among others, addressed the rally.

UK supports all steps for free, credible polls in December

UNB, Dhaka

The United Kingdom supports all steps taken by the caretaker government and the Election Commission to hold free, fair and credible elections in Bangladesh, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans said yesterday.

Stephen made the remarks to reporters after nearly a 45-minute meeting with Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his office, where the matters of the general election came up prominently, among other issues. The Advisor said the caretaker government is determined to hold the general election in December, and the Foreign Ministry is working to that end.

During the meeting, they discussed a range of other issues that are likely to come up at the UN General Assembly this month on a number of which Bangladesh and the UK are working closely together, particularly those related to climate change, security and millennium development goals.

Evans said the Chief Advisor and the Foreign Advisor would attend the UNGA session. The British Prime Minister and the British Foreign Secretary will also attend the UNGA. They discussed the outlines of these meetings.

The High Commissioner said going back home, he would have meetings with British-Bangladeshi businessmen in London, Manchester and Tower Hamlet and find out how the cooperation could be enhanced and a better situation can be created for them.

Iftekhar said the UK would raise the level of its development cooperation to Bangladesh soon, and "this will have further positive impacts on our already-existing excellent relations".

Rumour fuels garments unrest: 50 hurt

Workers of Diganta Garment Factory go on the rampage
in Gazipur yesterday following rumour of the death of
colleague. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

At least 50 workers were injured yesterday as the workers of Diganta Sweater locked in clash with workers of other factories in the area for their refusal to join in the vandalism.

Garment workers went on the rampage and damaged at least 20 garment factories at Naujor here following the rumour of the death of three employees in a factory.

Witnesses said hundreds of workers of Diganta Sweater took to the street at about 9:00am when the rumour spread that three of their colleagues were found dead in a bathroom of the factory.

The agitated workers blockaded Dhaka-Tangail Highway and Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, disrupting traffic on the roads. This created a serious traffic jam in the area. They also ransacked some vehicles plying on the roads.

The law enforcers rushed to the scene to quell the violence.

Playwright Zia Haider no more

Staff Reporter

Noted playwright, poet and former teacher of the Department of Fine Arts of Chittagong University Zia Haider died of cancer at 7:45am at the City Hospital in the capital yesterday morning. He was 72. He was leading playwright of the country.

The body of Zia Haider was brought at the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla of Dhaka University at 11:00am for people to pay respect to him. Students and teachers of the Department of Drama and Music of Dhaka University organised this.

Later his (Zia) body was taken to the Bangla Academy where his fellow playwrights and poets paid their last respect.

His namaz-e-zanaja was held at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University after Zohr prayers.

He was taken to his brother's house at Mirpur from where he was taken to his hometown Pabna. He was laid to rest at a graveyard in Pabna yesterday.

He was admitted to the City Hospital on Tuesday night where he was administered chemotherapy, as his condition became critical. Earlier he was initially taken to the Tata Hospital in India in May after the cancer was detected.

Zia Haider, one of the icons of the post-liberation drama movement in the country, was born at Doharpara in Pabna in 1936. He was the eldest of fourteen siblings.

He wrote plays, poetry and analytical books on drama.

His well-known plays are - 'Shuvro,' 'Sundar,' 'Kalyani O ananda,' 'Mukti mukti' and 'Ele bele'.

His poetry volumes include 'Ektarate kanna' and 'Bhalobashar poddyo.'

His other published books are 'Theatre er kotha,' 'Stanislavskir tathya,' 'Epic theatre O anyanna,' 'Bangladesh er theatre O anyanno probandha.'

His books on drama are taught at different universities in the country and Rabindra Bharati University in India.

Bangladesh meet Australia in 2nd ODI today

Sports Reporter

After tasting a massive 180-run defeat by Australia in the first One Day International (ODI) match in Darwin of Australia on August 30, Bangladesh will meet Australia today in the second ODI clash in Darwin.

The match starts at 6.00 AM (Bangladesh Standard Time). Star Cricket and Super Sports will telecast the match live from the stadium. Before yesterday's outcome, Bangladesh faced Australia in 14 ODI matches. Of them, mighty Australia registered 13 victories against their opponents. On the other hand, Bangladesh won only one game against the world champions. In the year of 2005 Bangladesh beat Australia, the powerhouse of world cricket in Cardiff of Australia.

Michael Clarke, the captain of Australia said that they did not think about their opponents. He added that they wanted to show their best performance in every game.

On the other hand, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the vice-captain of Bangladesh said, 'I personally think that two or three of our top-order batters did not look confident in the last game. I am not giving Excuses but the drop-it track was difficult for run scoring and we did not look like working our way out of pressure at any time.'

Meanwhile, the pitch yesterday was a little slower and the batsmen have to work hard to find their touch. By letting Australia set a target of more than 250, Bangladesh put themselves on the back foot. If they bowl first on Wednesday, they will be hoping to restrict Australia to around 220.

Weather of Darwin is expected that hot and sunny with a top temperature of 34 degrees.