The New Nation - Internet Edition

Election-monitoring organisations must be accredited to EC

UNB, Dhaka

The election-monitoring organizations must get registered with the Election Commission for accreditation to observe the upcoming elections, EC secretary M Humayun Kabir said yesterday, as they prepared for calling the next polls.

"The EC has formulated a draft policy about the domestic election observers," he told a press briefing at the EC secretariat in the afternoon.

The EC secretary said the registration of the election observers would be accredited to the commission for one year and they would be able to monitor any election during the term with their accreditation.

He said according to the new policy an election observer would have educational qualification of at least SSC and must be above 25 years of age. "They will be allowed to stay during the ballot counting," he said.

Replying to a question, Humayun Kabir said the commission already had a different policy for the foreign election observers and that also might be amended as per the new domestic observer policy.

He said all the organizations should be individually registered with the EC and two organizations would be allowed to monitor the polls in every upazila area. "In such a way the organizations of election observers will be evenly distributed," he said.

The EC secretary said at least one observer must have to stay in every polling center but maximum one observer would be allowed to stay in each booth.

Replying to a question, he said the circulation for the election observers' registration would be published after finalizing the observation policy within the middle of October.

Mojaheed off to S Arabia for performing Umra

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed along with his wife yesterday afternoon has left here for Saudi Arabia for performing Umra.

He is expected to return home on September 24, said a Jamaat release.

LDP applies for registration with EC

UNB, Dhaka

iberal Democratic Party (LDP) yeseterday applied to the Election Commission for registration, which is mandatory for contesting the general election.

A five-member LDP delegation, led by its presidium member Redwan Ahmed, submitted their necessary documents to the EC joint secretary NI Khan, who is also Chief of Application Scrutiny Committee of the Commission.

A total of 82 political parties except BNP, Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami collected the registration forms from the EC so far.

Among them, LDP at first submitted their application for registration which will continue till October 15, a deadline set by EC.

Two to die in Ctg for murder

UNB, Chittagong

A special court here yesterday found a young man and one of his accomplices guilty of killing his wife after rape nine years ago and sentenced them to death.

The two who will go to the gallows are Lalmohon Jaldas and M Nazim.

They were in the dock during the verdict.

Judge of the Chittagong Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 Shamsul Alam, however, acquitted another two accused-

Shuklal Das and Dulal Das-as the charges brought against them could not be proved.

According to the prosecution, husband Lalmohon, 37, brought her wife Shyamtara, 32, from her father's house on October 29 in 1999 and took her to a party of drunkards at Sonaichhari village in Sitakunda upazila.

The housewife was then raped one after another by the gang members and strangulated to death. She was hung with a tree after the killing.

It was learnt that Shyamtara had earlier gone to her father's house after her scoundrel husband tried to convince her to engage in flesh trade.

Shyamtara's mother Kananbala Jaldas later filed a murder case with Sitakunda upazila.

On February 28, 2000, police submitted charge-sheet against five people in the case.

After examining 11 witnesses, the court delivered the verdict. Additional public prosecutor Mujibur Rahman appeared before the court on behalf of the state.

Nizami hails Khaleda's release

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami has hailed the release of BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

The nation heaved a sigh of relief at her release. We hoped that the countrymen, led by four-party alliance, would take the country towards democratic transition by foiling all conspiracies, said the Jamaat leader in a statement.

Nizami expressed his gratitude to the Almighty and greeted the BNP chief for her release in an honourable manner through legal process.

15 BNP activists hurt in clash between reformist and conformist in Ctg

UNB, Chittagong

Some 15 BNP activists were injured in a clash between reformist and conformist groups in front of city BNP office at Nasimon Bhaban yesterday.

Witnesses said the clash ensued at about 3pm when reformists assaulted former city Chhatra Dal leader Nazimur Rahman as he was heavily criticizing the reformist group at a rally held marking the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

As the rival groups locked in fistfight, police charged them with baton to disperse them.

Loyalist group led by Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury got most of the beating at the hands of reformist group loyal to Abdullah Al Noman.

Special prayers for Khaleda's release

UNB, Dhaka

BNP has announced a programme to sponsor special prayers at mosques across the country after Juma prayers today for expressing gratitude to the Almighty for Khaleda Zia's release.

Party secretary general Advocate Khandaker Delwar Hossain called upon all, including leaders and workers of party and its front organizations, to attend the prayers, which is also aimed at early recovery of Tarique Rahman.

Delwar takes chair in office for first time

Bnews24.com, Dhaka

Khandaker Delwar Hossain sat in the chair of secretary general at the BNP headquarters on Thursday for the first time since he was appointed to the post more than a year ago.

Before party chief Khaleda Zia's release yesterday police opened the lock of the office that has been the bone of contention for months for the two factions of the party.

Khaleda expelled BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and thrusted Delwar into job minutes before her arrest on Sept 3 last year.

Delwar came to the Naya Paltan office at 3:30pm and took seat at the secretary general's chamber on the second floor of the complex that houses the party office.

Policymaking standing committee member M Shamsul Islam, office secretary Rizvy Ahmed and scores of supporters welcomed him.

Delwar then spoke to bdnews24.com.

"Police kept the BNP office under lock and key unjustly for long. Of late, they realised their mistake today. I have taken the seat in this office yesterday as secretary general.

"I seek cooperation of all party leaders and workers in the days ahead," he said.

Ahead of Khaleda's arrival, party supporters in the morning cleaned the building, decorated it with flowers, built an arch at the main gate and rolled out carpet.

Supporters came in streaming and chanted slogans on the arrival of Khaleda.

After the changeover on Jan 11 last year and imposition of the state of emergency, the offices of all political parties were shut down.

When the ban on indoor politics was relaxed on Nov 1 that year, the offices of other political parties opened but the BNP's remained closed.

Delwar tried to enter the office along with his supporters but police obstructed.

Hafizuddin Ahmed, elected secretary general by the standing committee on November 14 that year as a counterweight to Delwar, had come to the BNP office with followers of the so-called reformist faction and sat in the chamber of the secretary general.

Other pro-reform leaders including M Saifur Rahman, who was nominated acting party chief by the same committee, also went there. The next day, police again locked the office.

Absence of navigability in Meghna

BIWTA survey team reaches Barisal to find alternative route

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A hydrological survey team of BIWTA reached at the spot on Thursday to find out alternative channel to resume ferry services and road communication of southern region with Chittagong suspended since last Monday due to lack of navigability of channel in Meghna.

BIWTC and BIWTA sources in Barisal said this survey team will visit the area and study feasibility about opening of newly found alternative channels on this route. If the BIWTC and BIWTA regularly scan the hydrological surveys, then new and alternative channels can be easily found downstream, they opined.

Abdul Mannan Howlader, Chairman and Emdadul Huq, Director Conservancy of BIWTA, told the journalists that after completing the survey BIWTA will set up navigation marking and give approval for using that channel for water transportation within a short time.

It will be very risky to resume the ferry service through the new channel without proper hydrological survey and without installing navigation signs and markings using manual means for measuring the depth of water with plumb lines or bamboo poles, even at high tide, they said.

Local businessmen warned that long suspension of ferry services, that link many places with business hub Chittagong, may have a very bad impact on regional business, Ramzan and the Eid market.

Now the businessmen of southern region have to import goods from Chittagong moving more 350 kilometres extra distance via Dhaka and it made the carrying cost almost double, they added.

It may be mentioned that Bhola-Laxmipur ferry service linking southern region with Chittagong was officially inaugurated on February 26, 2008.

Road communications in the southern region and Chittagong have been disrupted after the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation announced suspension of ferry services on the Bhola-Lakshmipur route on Meghna River since Monday morning.

The decision was taken after 'Ketoki' and 'Kamini', two K-type ferries, loaded with numerous vehicles and passengers got stuck because of shoals in the Bongar Char channel of the Meghna River.

AL, Jamaat others hail Khaleda's release

Staff Reporter

Different political parties including Awami League have welcomed the release of former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Awami League (AL) Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday welcomed the release of Khaleda Zia and subsequently demanded the unconditional release of AL chief Sheikh Hasina immediately.

Zillur was talking to the reporters at his Gulshan residence immediately after Khaleda Zia was released.

"The release of Khaleda Zia will reduce BNP's internal clash, which may leave positive impacts for the country and countrymen and it will help to restore democracy in the country," said Zilur.

Referring to the call of Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman to negotiate between major two parties' chiefs for the political development, he said that She (Hasina) would not talk with the government or any other section until she was freed unconditionally.

Moreover, Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the partners of the BNP-led four party alliance, also hailed the release of its alliance chief Khaleda Zia.

At a statement Jamaat Ameer Moulana Motiur Rahman Nizami said, "I thank Allah and congratulate BNP Chairperson Khaleda on her release. She was released through a legal process not executive order. The nation has breathed sigh of relief on her release."

He hoped that four-party alliance would lead the country torwards democracy.

Among others, Islami Oakyajote (IOJ) and Khelafat Majlish welcomed the release.

IOJ Secretary General Latifur Rhaman said his party welcomed the release, which was a pro-election step and subsequently demanded lifting of the state of the emergency and the parliamentary election first.

Khalafat Majlish Ameer Moulana Ishaq told the New Nation Reporter that now after the release the four-party alliance would be stronger under the leadership of Begum Zia.

Reformists' leaders want return with due honour

Staff Reporter

Senior leaders of the reformists' faction of the BNP yesterday refrained from joining the programmes of the just released BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

However a number of less known MPs and leaders, who were with the reformist group, were found with the mainstream leaders yesterday.

Talking to journalists, Begum Zia, however, said that there are no factions in BNP and she called upon her party leaders and activists to work together.

Meanwhile, senior reformist leaders and some MPs held a meeting at a Gulshan residence to discuss the latest situation following the release of their party leader Begum Khaleda Zia.

Expressing their soldiery with the leadership of Begum Zia, they hoped that the party Chairperson would bring them back under the party umbrella.

BGMEA conducts social compliance audit on 1,386 factories

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) as part of social compliance audited 1,381 member factories out of 2,435 to support the overall monitoring activities of organisation.

The audit was carried out in collaboration with IFC Advisory Services for South Asia-South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (IFC-SEDF) as of August 19 this year, a press release said.

Based on a questionnaire developed by the BGMEA and IFC- SEDF, the factories have been monitored by 12 BGMEA compliance officers.

This monitoring data is now being stored in database software. This software will allow BGMEA to efficiently evaluate and assess the compliance standard of the garment industry and take actions for further improvement. This is the first comprehensive approach to evaluate the social compliance scenario of the industry.

BGMEA will also provide some specific recommendations for those factories that need further improvement and periodically monitor the progress.

IFC-SEDF and BGMEA signed a MoU on June 17 this year under which IFC-SEDF would assist BGMEA in designing and implementing industry-wide audit of social compliance in the garment sector.

BNP reformists remain conspicuously away from Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka

Most of the once-trusted cabinet colleagues of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia were conspicuously absent from receiving her when she was set free from detention yesterday nor did they join her at the mazar of Ziaur Rahman and the party central office.

Informed sources said known as reformist in BNP, they refrained from attending the scheduled programme of the party to avoid a repeat of an ugly incident when some of them were physically assaulted when they went to greet Tarique Rahman, senior joint secretary general, on his release from detention last week.

Prominent among the reformist leaders, M Saifur Rahman and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan declined to respond to telephone calls. Major (rtd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, who was acting secretary general of the group, expressed satisfaction at the release of Khaleda Zia.

Asked why he did not attend the party programme to greet the chairperson, Hafiz said he wanted to avoid 'scrambles and huddles'.

"Could be," he replied when asked if the reformist leaders were apprehensive of assault by the loyalists in the party.

Expressing his unflinching faith in the leadership of Khaleda Zia, Hafiz said she (Khaleda) was today found positive. She wanted unity in the party, forging total unity and advancing for taking part in the election.

Replying to another question he said, "Things will be clear in a couple of days … We hope the chairperson will review the situation in right perspective."

BNP standing-committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, another reformist leader, told UNB that the issue of loyalist and reformist closed today with the release of the party chairperson.

He termed 'ugly' the incident when some of the party leaders were subjected to physical assault on the day Tarique Rahman was released from detention last week. He also admitted that reformist leaders abstained from greeting Khaleda Zia for fear of reprisal from the loyalists.

"Such incidents will certainly cause serious dent to the party," he added.

City's educational institutions to remain closed from Sept 16

UNB, Dhaka

All city schools, colleges and madrasas, including private English medium schools, will remain closed until government holydays for Eid-ul-Fitr from September 16.

Education Ministry yesterday announced the closure of the institutions on the occasion of holy Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, said a handout.

9 cos vie to sell wireless broadband

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Nine companies are vying to operate Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services in Bangladesh.

Yesterday was the deadline for submission of bids to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), who will issue three licenses.

BTRC, who invited bids in August, said a total 12 bid documents were sold, with nine companies eventually submitting bids.

Auction for the licenses will be held on Sept 24.

According to the BWA guidelines, foreign equity is limited to a maximum 60 percent for set up. For non-resident Bangladeshis a maximum 70 percent foreign direct investment is allowed.

Foreign investment shall be made in foreign currency directly equal to percentage of ownership. No bank loan from any Bangladeshi scheduled bank, financial institution or leasing company can be raised for the foreign portion of the investment.

Mobile operators in Bangladesh and anyone having invested in any of these companies will not be allowed to bid for a BWA license.

The licensee has to file for initial public offering (IPO) within three years of the issuance of a license.

The licensee shall not be allowed to transfer any shares before issuance of the IPO without prior written permission from the commission.

The license acquisition fee is to be fixed by auction, and annual License Fee Tk 3 crore [BDT 30 million].

Foreign banks widen rate spread

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Despite a trend that shows the private commercial banks are reducing the gap between lending rate and interest on deposit (spread), the foreign banks are moving in the opposite direction. Their spread is widening further, latest statistics show.

The country's central bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed said he will sit with the foreign banks on this issue.

After Bangladesh Bank, country's central bank, applied moral pressure, some 30 private commercial banks operating in the country has lowered their lending rate. As a result the spread has come down to about 5 percentage point from around 6 percentage point in December 2007. But the foreign banks yet to follow this trend.

According to the latest information of Bangladesh Bank (June 30, 2008), the average spread of 30 private banks was 5.09 percentage point. On the other hand average spread of 9 foreign banks is 8.54 percentage points.

The private banks have started reducing spread as a result of a series of meetings with them.

Earlier, in May the central bank issued a circular directing the banks to reduce their spread.

An analysis of data shows that among the foreign banks the highest spread is of Standard Chartered Bank. The spread of this bank is 11.27 percentage point. The rate of interest on deposit in the bank is only 3.69 per cent. The rate of interest on loan (lending rate) is 14.96 per cent.

Among other foreign banks the spread of Hong Kong and Sanghai Bank (HSBC) is 8.67 point, that of Citibank NA is 7.19 percentage point, State Bank of India 4.43 point, Habib Bank 4.43 point, Commercial Bank of Ceylon 5.38 point, National Bank of Pakistan 3.74 point, Woori Bank 11.29 point and Bank Al Falah Ltd 5.03 percentage point.

Bangladesh Better Business Forum led by chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed established to infuse dynamism in the economy urged the central bank to continue its moral pressure on the banks to keep their spread below 5 percentage points by lowering the lending rate.