The New Nation - Internet Edition

Frequent power cut in rural areas: People take Iftar, Sehri in candle light

Shamim Jahangir

No remarkable improvement of power supply to the rural areas has been marked during the holy month of Ramzan as people continue to take their meals in candle light due to frequent power cut at the time of Iftar and Sehri.

The rural people under the Rural Electrification Board (REB) have experienced on the average 700 MW to 750 MW power shortages from the first day of Ramzan till yesterday last.

Angry consumers of REB gheraoed several Palli Bidyut Samity offices demanding non-stop power supply during Iftar, Sehri and Tarabih prayer in Ramzan. Recently, workers of Jute and Textile Mills set ablaze to 12 vehicles of Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samity-2 at its Chouala office demanding non-stop power supply in their factories.

REB has supplied 1307.27 MW of electricity against the demand of 1962.80 MW yesterday, according to REB sources.

During Ramzan, the peak demand exceeds 1,950 MW, whereas, the people of rural areas have received on the average 1,200 MW of electricity. On the first day of Ramzan, the REB consumers got 1,101 MW of power against the demand of 1,926 MW, 1,139 MW in second day, 1,130 MW in third day, 1,426 MW in fourth day and 1,307 MW in fifth day of Ramzan.

"Electricity supply to rural areas have increased in the last couple of days but it is not remarkable where the demand of power is increasing gradually in the month of Ramzan," a senior official of REB told the New Nation.

He added that the REB has no alternative to increase power supply if the power development board is unwilling to supply power against the demand.

Md Rafiq, a resident of Fatickchari thana, who is also the consumer of REB told the New Nation that we get electricity supply during Iftar from the first of Ramzan. "But I have to take my Sehri and prayed Tarabih in candle light," he said adding the power division should keep up to their promise of supplying uninterrupted electricity during Iftar, Sehri and Tarabih prayer."

Steps to be taken for durable solution of river erosion: CA

UNB, Sariakandi

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Sunday said his government is giving attention towards permanent solution to river-erosion havoc through building permanent flood-protection embankment and other necessary measures in the flood-prone areas of the country.

He made the remarks talking to journalists in the Spar-1 area of Sariakandi flood-protection embankment after distributing relief materials, including rice, pulses and edible oils, among flood-affected people.

Earlier, he visited the eroding portion of the flood embankment on the Jamuna river at Talukdarpara of Chandonbaisha in Sariakandi of Bogra district.

Dr Fakhruddin said he has already given instruction for finishing all types of development works in dry season as well as for completing tender process by December.

He said he has discussed with Water Development Board and Water Resources Ministry the ways of permanent prevention of river erosion and sudden flooding caused by the erosion.

Assuring all necessary support to flood-affected people, the head of the caretaker government said local administration, joint forces and local government are working together to alleviate the sufferings of flood victims.

He said medical center has been opened as well as attention is being given to ensuring supplying of pure drinking water in the flooded areas.

Deputy Commissioner of Bogra Humayun Kabir briefed the Chief Adviser about the reason of the collapse of a portion of the flood-protection embankment of Jamuna River at Talukdarpara in Sariakandi, damage done by floods and relief operation in Sariakandi. The CA visited Naukhila PN High School flood shelter at Sariakandi to see condition of the flood refugees there and talked to them, assuring that the government is beside them.

Later at around 11:30 am, the Chief Adviser flew from Sariakandi to Sirajganj by helicopter and visited flood-hit areas of Ekdala and Gunergati in Sirajganj sadar upazila.

He first went to the hard point of Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment along the Jamuna River at Ekdala. Later, he went to nearby Gunergati of Khokshabari and distributed rice, pulses, dates and edible oils among flood victims.

Talking to reporters after distributing relief, the CA said floodwater didn't flow into Sirajganj town this time around following quick approval of a project on construction of embankment after last year's devastating floods and completion the works.

He hoped that construction of spar over the Jamuna in Sirajganj would be completed within this year.

"If necessary, house-building loan will be given by the government," he said on a note of assurance for the people who are perennially afflicted by flooding calamity.

In Sirajganj, the number of flood-affected upazilas is five, unions 33 while villages 163. The number of affected families is 19,963 and total people 86,530.

The number of marooned families in Sariakandi is 3,050, affected people 12,510, the number of flood shelter eight, and the number of affected families in shelter is 366.

Three medical teams are working in Sariakandi.

Five educational institutions have been damaged in the flooding, it was informed in the briefing.

The Chief Adviser flew back to Dhaka in the afternoon on completion of his relief mission for the people in distress.

ACC hands over annual report to President

UNB, Dhaka

A delegation of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) led by its chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury called on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban here Sunday.

The delegation included ACC commissioners Abul Hasan Habibur Rahman and Manzur Mannan.

During the meeting, the delegation handed over the ACC's annual report (February 2007-June 2008) to the President and apprised him of different aspects of the report.

They informed that the Anti Corruption Commission Act was promulgated in 2004 and the Rules in 2007. The activities of ACC are being run according to its Act and Rules.

The ACC delegation also informed the President that about 1,300 cases were filed by the Commission of which verdicts in 75 cases were given, while appeals made on a number of cases.

Earlier, it required prior permission from the government to file some cases. But now it does not require any permission, they said.

The delegation told the President that this is the first time the ACC published its annual report, though according to section 29 of the ACC Act 2004 the commission shall submit a report of its activities to the President every year.

The delegation informed the President that the Commission has taken motivational programmes outside capital Dhaka to create awareness among the people against corruption.

The President expressed his satisfaction over the preparation of such a report by the ACC. He hoped that the report would help people to know about the activities of the Commission.

Secretary of the President's Office Md Sirajul Islam, Military Secretary to the President Maj Gen Mohammad Ruhul Amin and President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howleder were also present.

Tk 1,200 cr project for export infrastructure

BSS, Dhaka

A Taka 1200-crore export infrastructure development project has been approved to reduce growing pressure of export and import on the Chittagong Seaport.

The project, which includes an inland container depot (ICD) at Dhirashrom near Tongi, construction of double railway lines from Chittagong Port to Foujdarhat, and procurement of 10 railway engines and 120 flat wagons, has received the approval of the project committee of the Planning Commission.

The process for approval of the export infrastructure development project began in 2003. But the process was delayed and the construction work could not begin by June 2008. Now, the construction work under the project will begin in November 2009 and will complete in 2014, Bangladesh Railway sources said.

After completion of the project, there will be a scope for handling 15 per cent of the containers in Chittagong through the ICD by 2016 and 30 per cent by 2026.

The Shridham ICD under the project will be the country's second ICD with a capacity of 3.54 TEUs (twenty equivalent units). The ICD will be constructed on 137 acres of land at a cost of Taka 500 crore.

The country's first ICD was constructed at Kamalapur in 1987. Its capacity is 90,000 TEUs. Pressure is increasing on the ICD every year since its inception.

In fiscal 2007-08, a total of 82,000 containers were handled in the ICD. But this number is only 10 percent of the containers handled in the Chittagong Port.

China to invest Tk 34 crore in Karnaphuli EPZ

UNB, Dhaka

A chinese company will set up a garments manufacturing industry in the Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) with an investment of Tk 34 crore.

The 100 percent foreign owned company, M/s Blossom Textile Limited, will produce T-shirts, Polo shirts, pants and jackets. Some 1,950 Bangladeshi people and 50 foreigners will be employed at the factory.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and M/s Blossom Textile Limited in BEPZA complex here recently.

Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA Prasanta Bhushan Barua and Operation Manager of M/s Blossom Textile Limited Achmad Salkhu signed the agreement on behalf of their organisations.

HSC result on Sept 10

UNB, Dhaka

Results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations under seven education boards and Alim, Fazil and Kamil examinations under Madrasa Education Board will be published on Wednesday (Sept 10).

HSC (Business Management), HSC (Vocational) and Diploma in-Commerce will also be published simultaneously.

The examinees have been advised to collect their results from respective examination centres or institutions at 2:00 pm.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Inter-Educational Boards Coordination committee on Sunday.

Committee President Prof M Atiqur Rahman presided over the meeting where chairmen of all the education boards were also present.The results will also be available on websites of the education boards. The website address is : www.educationboard.gov.bd This year's HSC examination was held from June 10 to July 10.

NAEM favours general election sans emergency

Staff Reporter

The forthcoming parliamentary election should not be held under the state of emergency, said National Alliance for Election Monitoring (NAEM) yesterday at its launching ceremony in the city.

It, however, expressed its satisfaction that the local bodies elections were held freely at some places under the state of emergency.

NAEM groups eight civic, electoral and human rights and research based organisations. They are Unnayan Dhara, Unnayan Shamannay, Save the Underprivileged and Needy, Power, Participation and Research Centre, Nagorik Uddyog, Bangladesh Nari Progoti Shangha, Indigenous People's Development Services and Brottee.

Representatives of the organisations addressed the launching ceremony.

Sharmeen Murshid of Brotee said that their alliance will ensure comprehensive, systematic and methodological monitoring of the electoral process. It has experiences of working with elections, women, ethnic and religious minority and conducting nationwide surveys with precision she added.

NAEM would give emphasis on establishing a broader base to strengthen citizen's vigilance over the electoral process and make democracy in Bangladesh work, she hoped.

In response to a question, she said, "Fundamentally we emphasise that the parliamentary election should not be held under the state of emergency though under the state of emergency the last local poll was held without any exercise of masculinity. As a result, all sections of people including those belonging to minority community were able to cast their vote fearlessly, she noted.

The alliance will apply various methodological tools of inquiry including qualitative and quantitative. A common methodology will be applied by the Alliance and findings will be shared and both individual view and aggregate of views will have a place.

ACC sends 4th list to TAC

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has sent a fourth list of seven individuals to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) for considering their clemency applications.

"Yes, we sent today (Sunday) a list of seven persons to TAC. The relevant documents have also been sent with the list," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told UNB.

He said the seven individuals include a union parishad chairman, engineers from Roads and Highways and Water Development Board, and two of their wives.

With the day's list, the ACC has now forwarded four lists to the TAC containing a total of 55 corrupt persons.

Meanwhile, Col Hanif informed that ACC chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury flies for Norway Sunday night at 9:30 to attend a seminar.

The ACC chairman is expected to return on September 18, he said.

Tax evasion case Pintu, his wife granted bail

BSS, Dhaka

The High Court on Sunday granted four-month ad interim bail to former BNP lawmaker Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu and his wife Nasima Akhter Kalpana in a tax evasion case.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) filed the case against them on August 31 of evading tax of over Taka 11.22 crore and Taka 58.26 lakh respectively.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Hyder and Justice Mamnun Rahman issued the order of bail and stayed the trial proceedings of the case for four months after hearing a writ petition.

The court also asked the authorities concerned by issuing a rule to show cause why the case should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority.

Iftar with Jamaat: Sector Commanders Forum take swipe at AL

Staff Reporter

The Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) has slated Awami League leadership for partaking Iftar together with Jamaat-e-Islami leaders at the Saudi envoy's residence.

It supported the left leaning allies of Awami League who alleged that the AL leadership breached the alliance's agreement on boycott of the War Criminals socially and politically.

The platform of 1971 War heroes also expressed concern to see the retreat of Awami League from its commitment.

An SCF press statement, signed by its media co-ordinator Anwar Kabir yesterday, said Awami League earlier made a commitment to boycott war criminals socially and politically.

AL's policymakers are facing a barrage of questions after they joined the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders at the iftar party of the Saudi ambassador on Friday.

Holy Ramzan: Fasting helps fight some diseases

A healthy person is an asset. Fasting has some advantages from health consideration. Medical science has also acknowledged many benefits of fasting. Firstly, it is an effective treatment for psychological disorders by strengthening one's conviction and mental health.

Physically fasting has proved to be very much positive to contribute to curing diseases. Inflammation of colon, indigestion, liver diseases, chronic stomach ache and obesity, high blood pressure, asthma, diphtheria, including many other diseases are controlled or cured through the process of month-long fasting.

In the book Scientific Indications in the Quran published by the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, the researchers have commented: "Allah clearly declares that fasting in Ramzan is good for mankind." t "There is slow, harmless and mild loss of weight in 80% of fasting subjects. The loss of body-weight may be useful as a therapeutic method to treat the patients for obesity (over weight)." They also said that fasting has positive effect on abnormal gastric acidity and peptic ulcer. They further added : "Incidence of peptic ulcer is much less in Muslim majority countries"t. "This may be due to regular Ramzan fasting and absence of alcohol in their diets."

-Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

Aid forum urged to ensure accountability of donors

UNB, Dhaka

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam has urged the donors to establish a system of accountability of donors in an effort to make foreign aid effective.

"There is no system of establishing accountability of donors," he told the ministerial session of the high level 'Forum on Aid Effectiveness' in Accra, Ghana on Thursday, according to a message received here on Sunday.

By contrast, he said, the recipient countries still have to go through diverse conditions by the donors.

The Adviser led a 3-member delegation to the 3rd Forum held September 2-4. He co-chaired the opening session of the Forum with OECD Secretary General, while Ghana President John Agyekum Kufuor delivered the address of welcome.

Dr Aziz said the aid architecture and its effectiveness have improved to a large extent since the inception of Paris Declaration in 2005.

"The commitment of the developed countries to provide 0.7 percent of their GNP as ODA, as embodied in the first International Development Strategy adopted in 1960s, remained unfulfilled even after five decades," he reminded the donors.

The Adviser stressed that the objectives of the third Forum to enhance effectiveness deserve support and it should not detract attention from the need for increasing the volume of aid to the developing countries.

Te consensus embodied in Accra Declaration is actually owned by capitals of donor countries and headquarters of multilateral donor agencies, he said and urged the donors to empower their country offices to implement the decisions on the ground.