The New Nation - Internet Edition

Memo filed for Hasina's release

Procession by the activists of Jubo Mahila League
towards the Home Ministry demanding the withdrawal of what
they said the false cares against the Awami League President
Sheikh Hasina was intercepted by police at Bangabandhu
Avenue yesterday. NN photo

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Jubo Mohila League, an associate organisation of the Awami League, yesterday submitted a memorandum to the government demanding permanent release of AL president Sheikh Hasina.

Jubo Mohila League president Najma Akter and general secretary Opu Ukil handed the memorandum to Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, private secretary to the home affairs adviser at 12.

NDC team meets FBCCI leaders

Staff Reporter

The visiting delegation of the Indian National Defence College (NDC) held a meeting with the leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) yesterday.

Ashok Kuamr Gupta, IAS, Joint Secretary and SDS (CS) led the 17 members Indian NDC team.

Annisul Huq, President of FBCCI presided over the meeting while Abul Kashem Ahmed, first Vice President of the apex trade body offered vote of thanks.

Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad, Secretary General of FBCCI made a presentation on the overall economy of the country and the vision of FBCCI by 2020.

They discussed matter relating to bilateral trade, investment, export and SAFTA issues at the boardroom of the apex trade body.

Abu Alam Chowdhury, Vice President and directors of FBCCI and Aftab-ul- Islam, FCA, Kamran T Rahman, Obaidur Rahman and Abdul Matlub Ahmad and Brigadier level officers of India, Australia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Senegal were present in the meeting.

Ashok Kumar Gupta said their visit to FBCCI was the part of their curriculum.

He also appreciates the role of FBCCI in the country's economy and expressed gratitude for the educative and informative meeting organised by FBCCI.

Annisul Huq said that the globalisation has brought in many challenges and opportunities for the private enterprises.

"FBCCI is playing a pivotal role through dialogues, consultations and interactions with the government to improve the environment for doing business," he added.

Dhaka for multi-donor trust fund to tackle climate change

UNB, London

Finance Adviser Dr ABM Mirza Aziz said here

yesterday the flow of funds from multilateral channels to combat the adverse effects of climate change is not only too little but fragmented saying that the least developed countries, including Bangladesh, need immediate international support to build their resilience to global warming.

Aziz who led a 39-member Bangladesh delegation to the UK-Bangladesh Climate Change Conference said the actual multilateral financing delivered by mid 2007 amounted to US $ 26 million, which is equivalent to one week's worth spending on flood defence in the UK.

However, he said, the World bank and ADB as well as other developed countries like @Cool Earth of Government of Japan and :Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund of the European Commission bring hopes for the LDCs.

Aziz said Bangladesh would require USD 6 billion over the next 15 years for mitigation and adaptation programme, as the UK made a fresh pledge of £ 75 million to Bangladesh for climate change projects in the next five years.

The Finance Adviser said the assessment is based on five pillars of risk identification, strengthening emergency preparedness, infrastructure investment for risk mitigation, institutional capacity building and risk financing. He said this is a serious burden for a country like Bangladesh reeling from the external shocks to the economy transmitted through the dramatic increase in the prices of food, fuel and fertilizer.

"This shocks compelled us to widen the social safety net programme in the country from our own resources at the expense of other priority investments," he told the conference.

The Adviser said despite the resource constraints, the Bangladesh government is committed to facing the challenge of climate change, and urged he international community to help implement the country Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2008.

He said the Bangladesh government has also established a dedicated Climate Change Fund with an initial endowment of USD 45 million.

The Adviser proposed the establishment of a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to supplement the government efforts in implementing the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan of Bangladesh.

He said the World Bank may be given the responsibility to act as Administrator of the proposed MDFT, at least for the first few years until the government is prepared to assume the full charge for managing the fund.

Aziz said MDTF would be a window for the NGOs and CSs to directly have access to funds for climate related activities.

EC to unveil JS, upazila polls plan Sunday

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission is likely to announce the tentative dates for the parliamentary and upazila polls on Sunday next.

"We'll formally give our version on upazila and parliamentary elections on Sunday," Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said this yesterday while talking to reporters after opening a training programme for field-level election officials at the Local Government Training Institute in the city.

He said the Commission is thinking of a possible date for the parliamentary polls but it is not possible to declare the polls schedule right now.

The statement came amid growing demand by major political parties that national polls must be held first.

About upazila election, the CEC said during the latest spell of the dialogue with the political parties, they got so many opinions.

The CEC said there was a little chance for the Commission to declare the election schedule as the voter list had not been finalised yet.

Regarding dialogue with the CEC hoped that the Commission would soon sit with the BNP, as the process of releasing its Chairperson Begum Zia has started rolling on.

"The commission has sent letter inviting BNP to the dialogue. We have heard that the party chief has already secured bail in all cases. "We hope there is no problem to the dialogue now," he said.

The CEC said the third round dialogue with the political parties was held to settle the contentious issues tied to upazila and general polls.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Training of Trainers (ToT) he renewed his office's determination to hold a free, fair and influence-free election.

Dr Huda asked the trainers including EC's field-level officials, returning officers and upazila election officers to go by the laws of the land.

"The returning boss is the 'supreme boss' in the elections. No person or army officer has right to disobey him. A returning officer can seek assistance from the election commissioners or Election Commission secretaries, if necessary," he said.

The CEC asked the returning officers not to listen to any suggestions from any organisations or persons.

He advised the returning officers to stay alert during the ballot counting so that capturing polling centres and hijacking ballot boxes could be averted.

Referring to the August 4 local government elections, he said steps should be in place to shun violence and vote rigging.

According the EC's roadmap, the final countrywide voter list is to be ready by October, the schedule for national election is to be announced in the first week of November, and to be held in the third week of December.

The CEC said they would also brief the media on the outcome of the third-round electoral dialogue with the political parties on Sunday.

Divisional deputy election officers, district election commissioners and about 300 Upazila polls officials are participating in the training programme.

Call to hold credible polls

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion yesterday underscored the need for holding a free, fair and transparent election in the country with a view to putting the democracy on the right tracks and making the country self reliant and developed.

"We need to consolidate our democracy since we have been witnessing the absence of it for the last 37 years," they said at a discussion cum Iftar Party organised by the National Democratic Party (NDP) marking the 19th founding anniversary of the party at a city hotel.

Khandaker Golam Mortaza, Chairman of NDP presided over and Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary General of the party moderated the discussion.

"If we fail to establish unity among the honest and patriotic forces then the evil forces might try to destabilise our country," they added.

Brigadier General (Retd) Hannan Shah, former minister and adviser to the BNP Chairperson said building unity among the nationalists and democratic forces is a must for resolving all national issues.

ASM Abdur Rab, former minister and coordinator of UPR said no scope should be given to the defeated forces for re-establishing in the political arena.

It was also, attended among others, by Alamgir Majumder, General Secretary of NDP, Nurul Huq Medhi, Chairman of National Front, Shafiul Alma Prodan, President of Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (JAGPA), Maulana Abdur Rob Yousuf, Nayabe Ameer of Khelafat Majlish, Habibur Talukeder Khoka, Bir Protik, General Secretary of Krishak Sramik Janata League, Maulana Abdul Latif Nezami, General Secretary of Islami Oikkya Jote, Sheikh Anwarul Huq, Chairman of National Awami Party (NAP), Atiqul Islam, General Secretary of Muslim League, Abu Naser Md Rahmatullah, acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Advocate Abdul Mobin, General Secretary of Islamic Party, Saifuddin Ahmed Moni, Joint Secretary of Democratic League (DL), presidium members Mokbul Hossain Sarkar, S Bari Sarcar, Maulana Ainul Islam, Mahabubul Alam Farooq, Subrata Barori, office secretary, Hafez Sheik Naser, assistant office secretary, Rana Sahedur Rahman, assistant publicity secretary, M Gafur Mster and Mizanur Rahman Billal of NDP.

Expend in charity open handedly

Rasulullah (Sm) said, "This is the month of helping and cooperating with the poor and the needy, through which the livelihood of 'mumin' increases."

Islam lays great emphasis on charitable activities and humanitarian services. According to the holy Hadith mentioned above, it (charity) has special significance in this month.

About charity the Holy Quran reveals: "Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers:t." (2:215)

And the holy verse: "If ye disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach those (really) in need, that is best for you. It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evilt."(2:271)

In his commentary on the Holy Quran Allama Yusuf Ali commented on charity in the following way: "It is better to seek no publicity in charity. But if it is known there is no harm. If it is for public purposes, it must necessarily be known, and a pedantic show of concealment may itself be a fault. The harm of publicity lies in motives of ostentation. We can better reach the really deserving poor by quietly seeking for them."

Allah reveals: "And whatever ye spend in charity or devotion, be sure Allah knows it allt." (2:270)

The noblest life of the Messenger of Allah reflected this Message. Thus, the devotees should be open handed in rendering charitable deeds during the Ramzan as emphasised by Allah and His Messenger.

-Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

Fitra fixed at Tk 66

BSS, Dhaka

The Fitra has been fixed at Taka 66 for Dhaka city and its adjoining areas for this year considering the market price of one kilogram and 650 grams of ata.

The decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting for fixing 'Sadkatul Fitr' in the conference room of the Islamic Foundation with Director General of the foundation Hasan Jahangir Alam in the chair, an official handout said.

The meeting also decided that the Fitra in other places of the country has been fixed at the price of one kilogram and 650 grams of ata in local markets.

Only govt officials approaching: TAC for clemency

UNB, Dhaka

Most of the 209 individuals who have so far applied to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) for clemency since its inception are government officials and employees.

Prior to and after Tac's formation, people were made to believe that the Commission was meant for corrupt politicians and businessmen. Tac secretary Khandaker M Asaduzzaman told the Commission's weekly briefing yesterday that some 209 corrupt individuals have so far applied to Tac seeking clemency in return for their ill-gotten wealth.

He said of them 191 applicants are government employees and officials, 13 are some of their wives, three businessmen and two belong to other professions.

No politician has approached Tac yet since its formation more than a month ago, he said.

Of the applicants, Asaduzzaman said, five individuals have applied directly, 153 through the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption and 51 through the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

He said prescribed forms have been distributed among 195 individuals of which 161 submitted the filled-in forms to the Commission. The Tac secretary said as of today the Commission heard the clemency pleas of 46 persons, including 6 today (Wednesday). Those whose pleas have been heard so far by Tac have pledged to pay about Tk 15 crore to the Exchequer in return for clemency, he added.

He said those whose clemency pleas have been accepted by Tac would be given minimum seven days to maximum 21 for depositing their ill-gotten wealth to the Bangladesh Bank.

The Tac secretary informed that the Commission has written to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the ACC to reopen the frozen bank accounts of these clemency seekers to enable them to withdraw money to be deposited to the government treasury.

Asked whether any corrupt person has deposited his or her ill-gotten wealth yet to the government treasury, Asaduzzaman said depositing wealth began yesterday. "Many contacted Tac to know as to how the money would be deposited," he added.

Britain to fall into recession

BBC Online

The UK, Germany and Spain will fall into recession in 2008, the European Commission has predicted.

Brussels said the three countries would see two negative quarters of economic growth in a row, which is the technical definition of a recession.

In its latest economic forecast, the commission also downgraded its outlook for eurozone growth again.

It said the eurozone would now grow by 1.3% this year, against previous projections of 1.7%.

Earlier this month, data showed the region's economy shrank by 0.2% between April and June - the bloc's first decline since its creation in 1999.

The contraction was driven by a slowdown in exports and consumer spending.

But high inflation in the region led policy makers at the European Central Bank to keep interest rates at 4.25% at its latest meeting, allowing no relief for the eurozone's slowing economies.

In its latest report, the commission believed that inflation was now likely to creep up to 3.6% in the eurozone - above its previous predictions of 3.2% and way above the government's target of 2%. Gloomy outlook

Shaken by a housing slump and volatile financial markets, the Brussels-based organisation predicts that the UK economy, which is not a member of the eurozone, will shrink by an annual rate of 0.2% in each of the next two quarters.

A second quarter of negative growth is also expected in the German and Spanish economies, which are expected to contract by 0.2% and 0.1% respectively.

The grim outlook echoes forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) out earlier this week, which were even worse.

Students of 10 Cadet Colleges farewell in HSC

DU Correspondent

The students of country's ten Cadet Colleges conducted by the army came out successful in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Examinations with a record 87.29 GPA-5.

As many as 480 students from the cadet colleges appeared in this year's HSC examination and all students passed with 419 securing GPA-5.

In Fouzderhut Cadet College, 46 of the 46 examinees secured hundred per cent pass with 42 GPA-5 followed by 50 students from Jinaidah Cadet College with 40 GPA-5, 45 from Mirzapur Cadet College with 41 GPA-5, 47 from Rajshahi Cadet College with 44 GPA-5, 53 from Sylhet Cadet College with 46 GPA-5, 48 from Rangpur Cadet College with GPA-41, 43 from Barisal Cadet College with 40 GPA-5, 48 from Pabna Cadet College with 40 GPA-5, 53 from Mymensingh Cadet College with 39 GPA-5 and 47 from Comilla Cadet College with 46 GPA-5.

Six politicians get bails for 3 months

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted ad interim bails for three months each to detained six suspected corrupt politicians of both BNP and Awami League.

They are ex-communications minister Barrister Nazmul Huda ex-works minister Mirza Abbas, ex-state ministers Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, deputy minister Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu and former BNP MP Mosaddek Ali Falu in corruption cases.

Of them, Nazmul Huda secured bail in three cases, including that of extortion and land grabbing.

A vacation Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Mamnoon Rahman, passed the orders following separate petitions.