The New Nation - Internet Edition

Flood situation grim: Army deployed to rescue marooned

Army has been deployed to rescue flood-hit people in
Bogra following breaches of Brahmaputra embankment. Focus
Bangla

Staff Reporter

A quarter of the country’s landmass went underwater yesterday, as swelling rivers marooned people deeper in eight districts, prompting the government to deploy army to combat the situation.

The authorities warned the situation would worsen during the weekend as water levels in 16 rivers, continuously swelling, are flowing above the danger mark.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said the low-lying areas in the central region of the country, including Dhaka might be flooded in the next two to three days.

Floods in northern Shariatpur, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Sirajganj, Kurigram and Munshiganj districts worsened yesterday displacing millions of people.

In the next two to three days lowlands of Dhaka's eastern area may go under water, officials in the FFWC said. New areas in Bogra, Tangail, Manikganj, Rajbari, Chandpur, Dhaka's Nawabganj and Dohar and Chapai Nawabganj's Shibganj and Sadar upazila may be flooded.

Flooding has hit 20 of the country's 64 districts, said FFWC director Saiful Hossain.

Parts of the country were experiencing "medium" level floods, which was normal for this time of the year, he said, adding that authorities were preparing for the situation to worsen.

"Twenty-five per cent of the country is flooded, which is normal for this time of the year," he said.

According to our Correspondents and agencies: Low-lying areas in six upazilas of Shariatpur district were inundated in the last four days, as rivers Padma and Kirtinasha were flowing 15cm and 27cm above the danger levels respectively, submerging croplands in six upazilas.

A large number of dwelling houses in Naria, Jazira and Bhedarganj upazilas also submerged by the rolling floodwaters.

In Madaripur, about three lakh people in 30 unions of four upazilas were marooned, as water level in three rivers -- Padma, Arial Kha and Kumer -- rose sharply.

A number of roads in the district town also went under water.

Thirty-five out of 68 unions in seven upazilas of Jamalpur district were flooded as the water level in rivers Jamuna and the Brahmaputra continued to rise.

Officials at the local Agriculture Extension Department said transplanted Aman crop on 36,000 hectare of land in seven upazilas went under floodwater.

Education officials said classes in three secondary schools, 83 government primary schools, 108 registered primary schools and seven community primary schools have been suspended due to the worsening flood situation.

In Kurigram, 58 unions in Nageshwari, Sadar, Ulipur, Chilmari, Roumari, Rajibpur, Rajarhat and Phulbari upazilas went under as water levels of 16 rivers, including Dharla, Teesta, the Brahmaputra and Dudkumar, increased sharply.

Official sources said 22,329 houses, 35 educational institutions, 293 km of kutcha and 7 km of pucca roads were completely damaged by the floodwater, affecting nearly one lakh people.

About one lakh people of 100 villages in four upazilas of Faridpur were affected by flood, as river Padma kept swelling. It was flowing 87cm above the red mark at Goalanda point for the last several days.

Meanwhile, the flood-hit people have taken shelter in safer places.

Officials said 34 government educational institutions have been closed due to the deteriorating flood situation.

According to Agriculture officials, standing crops on 20,000 hectares of land were submerged by the gushing floodwaters.

In Sirajganj a vast track of low-lying areas in Royganj, Kazipur and Sadar upazials were submerged.

In Sherpur the overall flood situation in the district deteriorated further as rain-fed rivers continued to swell inundating a number of fresh areas under 16 unions in Sadar, Sreewardi and Nakla upazilas.

Road communications between northern districts and Sherpur remain snapped, as Sherpur-Jamalpur Highway went under waist-deep floodwater.

According to agriculture officials, some 6,975 hectares of transplanted Aman went under water while over one lakh people were marooned in Char and low-lying areas.

In Munshiganj, rivers Dhaleshwari and Padma were in spate, leaving thousands of people of 25 villages marooned.

A large number of houses, educational institutions and roads in local pourasava went under water, disrupting normal life.

Bangladesh is criss-crossed by a network of 230 rivers and suffers annual floods, with at least a fifth of the country submerged each year.

In July and August last year, flooding killed more than 1,000 people and some 40 per cent of the country went underwater, forcing millions to flee their homes.

FBCCI urges Govt to remove price gap in markets

FBCCI President Annisul Haque on his second day
market monitoring mission at Gulshan yesterday. Focus
Bangla

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) yesterday urged the government to remove the abnormal price gap between the wholesale and retail markets in the city.

They also stressed the need for conducting regular market monitoring by government agencies to keep the prices of essentials within the purchasing power of the common people.

The FBCCI's observation came while a delegation of the apex trade body led by its president visited the different city markets yesterday. Annisul Huq, president of FBCCI called upon the administration to re move startling price gap of essentials between wholesale and retail markets in the city.

"It is not only possible for the FBCCI or the media to monitor the prices of essentials regularly rather the government has such mechanism to carry on regular monitoring," he expressed his opinion with the media after visiting Gulshan-2 and Mohammadpur kitchen market.

Mentioning the dissimilarities of prices he said some commodities were selling at Karwan Bazar at 20-25 percent higher rate than that of Shyam Bazar.

Huq said the prices of essential commodities in retail markets might remain unchanged compared with the last week's prices.

He said that the retailers charge the prices 20-25 percent higher than wholesale prices from customers. The profit margin of the retailers should be around 10 to 15 percent, said the president of FBCCI.

"The business body would meet importers of soybean oil tomorrow with a view to keeping the food prices within the buying capacity of middle income group," he informed.

Retailers informed the FBCCI president that the wholesalers of Karwan Bazar did not provide them voucher of their purchased commodities, about which the president said that the retailers need to be provided with vouchers.

Change in govt attitude encourages others to seek bail: SQ, OK released

BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Awami
League leader Obaidul Kader were released from Kashimpur
jail and BSMMU prison cell yesterday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Awami League joint secretary Obaidul Kader were released on bail from jail yesterday.

Jail sources said SQ Chowdhury was released from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur at about 11:45am, while his wife and son received him at the jail gate.

Chowdhury, who was arrested by the joint forces on February 04, 2007, got bail in all the six cases filed against him on charges of extortion and acquiring illegal wealth.

The Anticorruption Commission filed case against him on charges of acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 9.46 crore and concealing of information on assets worth Tk 91 lakh in his wealth statement.

Obaidul Kader, who faces six cases including one for acquiring illegal assets and breach of emergency powers rules, was released from prison cell of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital at 12:15pm.

Kader, who was arrested on March 9, 2007 on charges of income tax evasion, bribery and concealing of information on illegally acquired assets, was admitted into the hospital for urgent medical treatment.

Despite release Obaidul Kader has stayed back in the BSMU for treatment. It may be mentioned that the BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman is also receiving treatment in BSMU after release on bail from different cases.

A political analyst told this correspondent that it could be a simple coincident, or it might be a subtle incident of striking a balance between the two competing largest parties in the country who never like to lag behind each other.

Meanwhile, encouraged by the changing situation BNP leader and former Minister Abdullah Al Noman and BNP leader Syed Wahidul Alam have returned from foreign hidings and were granted bail by the court.

Awami League leader and recently elected Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Badruddin Ahmed Kamran has also been released on bail.

Informed circles say that BNP leaders and former ministers M Morshed Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmood Chowdhury will also return to Bangladesh from foreign hidings with the hope that they shall also get the similar privilege which has been awarded to others.

Observers opine that the spurt of bailment and the government's apparent change of attitude shall encourage others to return home and pray for bail from law courts.

After the release, SQ Chowdhury told the journalist that it is a "normal matter" for a politician to go to the jail.

He mentioned that while he (SQ Chowdhury) was sent to the jail, the price of per kg rice was Tk 16 but now the price is Tk 40.

He also demanded unconditional release of Begum Khaleda Zia, BNP chairperson and former prime minister.

Recently many political leaders, who were detained during the anti-corruption drive taken the by the caretaker government after 1/11 political changeover on various corruption charges, have been released on parole, executive order or bail.

Govt blamed for non promotion of tourism sector

Shamim Jahangir

Despite huge prospect to earn foreign currency from tourism sector, all the successive governments have failed to take proper steps to promote the sector in the national development efforts.

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) has got received any fund yet from the government to run its activities during the current fiscal.

In 1999, a total of 1,72,781 foreigners came to visit Bangladesh. Since than the numbers of visitors have been steadily increasing reaching almost 3 lakh a year. In January 2008 alone 39,345 foreigners visited the country.

The government had earned Tk 2,451.90 million in 1999. Then onwards the amount had increased which in 2007 amounted to Tk 5,265.19 in 2007.

The government had allocated only Tk 89.17 crore from its exchequer to the BPC since its inception in 1972.

The government had allocated Tk 361.40 lakh in 2000-2001 which has hardly increased in later years. But, in 2004-05 and 2005-06 no allocation was given to the corporation. This year also BPC has not received any fund.

The National Tourism Policy of 1992, has identified tourism as a multidimensional industry and also felt the necessity to have an effective coordination among various ministries, departments and agencies to promote the sector.

"To make tourism industry popular, government allocation has to be increased for publicity and promotion of tourism industry at national and international levels, to encourage the private sector, increase investment, special tourism sector will be established only for foreign tourists," According to National Tourism Policy 1992 said.

"The governments have not taken any worthwhile steps to promote the sector. Besides, most of projects to promote the tourism sector remained unimplemented due to lack of government financing," a high official of the BPC told the New Nation.

"We have several archaeological sites including Paharpur, Mahasthangarh, Mainamati and Lalbagh fort etc. Besides, we have Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest, Cox's Bazar, the longest sandy beach, Saint Martine's, three hill districts, Madhabkunda, Tamabil-Jaflong, Srimangal Tea Garden, Kaptai Lake in Chittagong, Kantazi temple, Sitakunda, Lawachara Rain Forest. But, due to lack of government initiative, we have been deprived of earning huge foreign currency," he said.

Foreign visitors will increase in the country, if the government takes effective role in the sector, he added.

He blamed the government for not promoting of the tourism industry in the country.

Rice prices further down, ifter items remain dearer

Staff Reporter

The prices of different varieties of rice have come down by Tk 2 to 3 per kg while those of lentils, vegetables and fishes have remained high despite their smooth supply to the markets and price monitoring by FBCCI in the city retail markets yesterday.

All iftar items like puffed rice (muri), dates, lemon, aubergine, cucumber and different fruits were also sold at high rate and hitting hard the people of low-income groups.

Market experts blamed the dishonest businessmen for raising the prices of essential commodities for making windfall profits.

We cannot understand why the prices of essentials are still high even after the ongoing market monitoring by the concerned bodies, said customers yesterday.

All the initiatives taken by the government to contain the prices of essentials have proved abortive and that has forced us to pay extra money for buying them, said Abul Hasem, a rickshaw puller yesterday.

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

Coarse variety of rice was sold at Tk 31 to 32 per kg yesterday as against Tk 33 to 34 in the past weeks. Per kg of minincate was sold at between Tk 40 and Tk 42 as against Tk 44 to 46 in the past weeks and lata was sold at Tk 35 and Tk 36 as against Tk 37 to 38 and nazirshail was sold at Tk 42 to 44 yesterday which was Tk 46 per kg in the previous weeks.

Per kg of soybean oil was sold at Tk 110 yesterday, as against Tk 112 to 116 during the last week. Super soybean was sold at Tk 88 to 90 per kg that was Tk 96 per over the past week.

Muri (puffed rice) was sold between Tk 60 and Tk 80 depending on their quality and bason was sold between Tk 90 and Tk 110 per kg and gram was sold at Tk 55 per kg yesterday which was almost same in the last couple of weeks.

Different varieties of dates were selling between Tk 80 and Tk 180 per kg yesterday. Apple was sold at Tk 120 per kg, malta at Tk 70 to Tk 80 per kg , grapes was sold at Tk 300 per kg and Mango was sold at between Tk 120 to Tk 150 per kg yesterday.

Local variety of onion was sold at Tk 35 to Tk 36 per kg and imported ones was sold between Tk 24 to Tk 25 per kg and local variety of 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, aubergine was at Tk 35 to Tk 60 , papaya at Tk 10 to Tk 12, green chilli at Tk 90 to Tk 100 kg per kg and four pieces of different varieties of lemon were sold at between Tk 10 to Tk 12 yesterday.

Medium size of hilsha fish was sold at Tk 300 to Tk 350 and ruhi fish was sold at Tk 150 to Tk 180 per kg. Beef was sold at Tk 200 to 210 and mutton was sold at Tk 250 to Tk 260 yesterday.

Meanwhile, to ease the price burden during the month of Ramzan the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is selling essential commodities at reasonable prices to the city dwellers through 8 mobile trucks.

Five-litre canned soybean oil was sold at Tk 540, sugar at Tk 30, onion at Tk 20 and gram at Tk 50 per kg yesterday.

Internecine conflict weakens Rajshahi city AL

Rajshahi Correspondent

The Rajshahi Metropolitan unit of Awami League is now in the mire of leadership crisis following resignation of AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, mayor elect of Rajshahi City Corporation, from the post of general secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan unit of AL.

Intra-party conflict has further weakened the party in Rajshahi city. The recommendations of the local committee of AL to expel Masudul Haque Bhulu,President, Metropolitan unit of AL , for contesting the mayoral election against Liton violating the party directive and Mostaque Ahmed Lablu, Vice-president from party posts and issuance of show cause notice on 12 local Al leaders including three vice-presidents of the metropolitan unit have pushed the party into corner in the city, according to activists of the party.

The three vice-presidents on whom the show cause notice has been served are Prof. Bazlur Rahman, Mir Iqbal Hossain and Dr. Tabibur Rahman Sheikh.

Party insiders said Liton, son of very influential Awami League central Leader late AHM Kamruzzan, wielded immense influence in local politics.

He had the guts and power to take any decision independently and promptly. With his resignation from the party post, the city Al is drifting in the sea of uncertainty, chaos and conflict.

Meanwhile, expressing their sharp reaction to their expulsion decision, both Dulu and Labu said that the local AL committee has no right to take such decision. The indecision of the AL central committee about the recommendations of the local AL committee on these disgruntled local leaders has further complicated the condition of the city Awami league, party insiders said.

There is now a scramble among the city AL leaders to occupy the coveted posts president, vice-presidents and general secretary of the city Awami League.

Though Linton has resigned from the party, he still retains enough power to pull the string from behind the scene and chart out the future course of the city and district Awami league, party activists said.

Zardari certain to win Pak president polls

Reuters

Pakistan's new president, almost certain to be the widower of Benazir Bhutto, will have to contend with a host of critical problems including militant violence and an economy in crisis.

Investors, longing for an end to political uncertainty that has helped drag stocks and the rupee down, hope Saturday's presidential vote by members of the two-chamber parliament and four provincial assemblies will usher in a period of stability.

But the chances of that appear slim, not least because of militant violence spilling out of the northwest that this week apparently brought an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Analysts say an election win by Asif Ali Zardari, the controversial husband of former prime minister Bhutto, is virtually a foregone conclusion.

Zardari was thrust into the centre of politics by his wife's assassination on December 27, and then to the centre of power by a February parliamentary election victory by their Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

His decision in August to begin impeachment proceedings against former president Pervez Musharraf led to the latter's resignation, and cleared the way for Zardari to win the top job.

But political uncertainty, exacerbated by a split in the PPP-led coalition last month, security worries and a sagging economy have sapped investor confidence and dragged Pakistan's main stock index down 34 percent this year.

The index rose 1 percent on Friday, partly helped by optimism Saturday's vote will bring some political clarity. The rupee has lost 20 percent to the dollar this year but firmed to 76.40/50.

Pakistan's dwindling foreign exchange reserves, widening current account deficit and sliding currency could result in a ratings downgrade as doubts mount over its ability to meet external debt obligations.

But it will probably avoid sovereign debt default as its stability is such an important geopolitical factor institutions such as the International Monetary Fund will eventually help it meet obligations, analysts say.

GATCO, NIKO cases: Lawyers to submit bail petitions tomorrow for Khaleda's release

Staff Reporter

Lawyers for detained former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia are planning to submit bail petitions in the High Court vacation bench tomorrow seeking her bail in the GATCO and Niko corruption cases.

"We'll file appeals in the High Court on Sunday (today) for her bail in the GATCO and Niko cases," said Khaleda's lawyer Barrister Nasiruddin Ashim while talking to reporters yesterday.

He hoped that Begum Zia would get bail in the two cases as other accused persons in the cases have been granted bail earlier.

Barrister Asim said Khaleda's bail in the cases would be secured through legal process.

Out of four, Begum Zia has already secured bail in two cases-Zia Orphanage Trust and Baropukuria Coalmine cases.

After obtaining bail in the GATCO and Niko corruption cases, all obstacles will be removed from Begum Zia's release on bail.

It is reported that the BNP Chairperson refused to be released on parole or on the basis of executive order, rather she wanted freedom through legal process.

Adviser for Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Thursday told reporters that the former prime minister would get released if she gets bail in the two cases.

He also said the government would not oppose her bail petitions.

Reacting on the statement of Zillur Rahman Barrister Ashim said Begum Zia would be released through legal process and there is no scope here for the government to intervene in court matters.

The GATCO case was filed on September 2 last year and the NIKO case on May 5 against Khaleda Zia and some members of her cabinet.

It has been alleged in the charge sheet of GATCO case that the accused persons by misusing power gave work of operating Chittagong Port and Kamalapur Container Depot to Global Agro Trade Company (GATCO) while that Niko case alleges that the agreement with the Canadian company on exploration of oil and gas made the state count about Tk 13,777 crore in losses.

EC dialogue with major parties begins today

Staff Reporter

The dialogue of the Election Commission (EC) with major political parties begins today to discuss the party registration process.

A total of 16 political parties, including the BNP and the Awami League, are expected to attend the dialogue to be held at the Commission Secretariat.

The EC for the third time is going to hold dialogue with political parties after taking office during the present caretaker government aiming at discussing the objections made by the political parties regarding their registration that has been made mandatory to contest the polls.

On the opening day today, four political parties would sit for the dialogue with the EC. They are Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (ML), Ganotantri Party and Jatiya Party.

According to the schedule, the dialogue will be held with Workers Party of Bangladesh at 10:30am while Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (ML) at 11:30am, Ganotantri Party at 12:30pm and Jatiya Party at 2:00pm.

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

Amid latest developments in the political arena, the EC has invited the BNP faction loyal to Khaleda Zia and led by its Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain to attend the fresh round of dialogue on behalf of the BNP.

The faction was not invited during the two previous round of dialogues that questioned the sincerity of the EC.

As part of the programme, the dialogue with Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) will be held at 10:30am tomorrow while with 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.

Gas price may be hiked: ERC

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Power tariffs might not be increased until January for the small-scale users, but gas prices might, the chairman of Energy Regulatory Commission has said.

Golam Rahman told bdnews24.com Thursday power prices might be hiked for the big customers, which means the domestic users may not see any immediate rise.

Since the government would like to finalise such decisions by September 30, a public hearing will be held on Sept 24 on gas price enhancement, Rahman said.

Earlier, another public hearing was held on August 20 on the Power Development Board proposal placed with the ERC on June 15.

The PDB proposed enhancing power tariffs on average by 41 percent.

PDB's large customers include DESA, DPDC, DESCO, OJOPADICO and REB.

They will in turn be able to propose power tariff increases for their customers, once the PDB enhances them, said an ERC official. Holding public hearing and relevant verifications may take at least three months, said the official who did not want to be named.

The increases, therefore, might not be possible to implement before January.

Narsingdi industrial belt in death throes: Owners threaten gas supply disruption to Dhaka

Staff Reporter

A number of businessmen yesterday threatened to disrupt gas supply to the east zone of the city, if the authority fails to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas to the industries in Araihazar, Rupganj and Bhulta areas.

About 700 industries of these areas are about to shut down due to be low pressure in the pipeline.

"Due to low pressure of gas we, the businessmen of Araihazar, Rupganj and Bhulta are incurring heavy loss for the last 3 to 4 months. Though we have requested the officials of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company and the Government in times to address the problem, the condition of gas supply has not been improved", they said.

The Businessmen mentioned that the industries of the neighbour areas- Narshingdi, Jaydebpur, Katchpur and Shampur were getting required quantity of gas whereas their industries are facing death.

Terming the gas crisis in the area sabotage, they said, "We will disconnect gas supply of the gas pipeline that passes through Araihazar, Rupganj and Bhulta if the government does not take any steps soon."

The Businessmen of Araihazar, Rupganj and Bhulta organised the press conference on 'Industrial Shut Down on Account of Natural Gas Supply Shortage in Araihazar, Rupganj and Bhulta' at Jatiya Press Club.

They claimed though gas should be transmitted at 150-psi rate in the pipeline, only 15-psi rate of transmission is found at times.

They also alleged that though they get low pressure of gas, they were paying user charges.

Jatiya varsity degree exams results tomorrow

Staff Reporter

The results of Degree Pass, Subsidiary and Certificate courses examinations under the National University (NU) will be published simultaneously at 4.00 PM tomorrow (September 7).

The results have already sent to all the deputy commissioners' offices across the country, according to NU press release.

Students will get results from their respective college campus or NU website through login--www.nuresults.net or sending from mobile message nudegroll to 4636 number.