The New Nation - Internet Edition

RMC closed till Oct 10 Violent BCL-JCD clash leaves 20 students injured

The students of Rajshahi Medical College are leaving
the dormitories following clash between two groups of
students yesterday. The College was declared closed for a
month. FocusBangla

Rajshahi Correspondent

The Rajshahi Medical College has been closed till October 10 following a clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists last night that left 20 students injured.

The RMC authority also asked the students to vacate their dormitories by 6:00pm on Friday.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the academic council of RMC held at the college yesterday morning with Principal Prof Dr Fazlur Rahman in the chair.

Police said a group of JCD workers ransacked room No 205 of Dr Pinku Hostel of the college Thursday night following an altercation with the BCL activists over possession of a seat in the hostel.

As the news spread, BCL men locked the main gate of the hostel and vandalized room No 008 at about 11:00pm that led to the clash.

A chase and counter chase also took place between the activists of the two students' organisations during the half an hour clash, leaving 20 students, including college unit JCD president Mahmudul Haque Raju injured.

At one stage, BCL activists drove out the JCD workers and ransacked JCD occupied rooms No 201, 202, 204, 218, and 223. Later, the BCL men also left the hostel. On information, police rushed to the spot at midnight and brought the situation under control. Additional police force was deployed on the campus to fend off further violence.

Market supervision yields result: Downtrend in prices of essentials

The Eid marketing is getting momentum in the city
with every passing day. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

The prices of most of the essential items are showing a downtrend in the city kitchen markets yesterday.

On the second week of Ramzan, the prices of rice, onion, soybean and some vegetables are showing downtrend in comparison with the last week prices.

But the price of beef, mutton, fishes and chicken meat have remained high as in the last week.

"As the new winter vegetables are started arriving, so the prices of those are reducing gradually in the city kitchen markets," said traders.

"There is a little possibility of further price hike of essential commodities during the month of Ramzan," said an influential trader at Karwan Bazar yesterday.

Customers in the city markets said they are a little bit happy over the downtrend of vegetables and some other essential commodities.

"Public and private initiatives as well as the ongoing efforts by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) with the wholesalers and retailers for containing the prices of essentials to a tolerable level have started proving efficacious," said markets experts.

They said that the price stability in the markets was dependent on the smooth supply of commodities and mass awareness and cooperation at all levels.

If such initiatives went on throughout the year then the prices of essentials must come down to a tolerable level, they added.

They, however, opined that without the assistance of law enforcing agencies the prices of essentials commodities could be kept reasonable.

The prices of essentials will come down within a short time if we carry out our efforts continuously," said FBCCI President Annisul Huq.

Coarse variety of rice was sold between Tk 31 and Tk 32 per kg which was Tk 33 to Tk 34 in the last few weeks. Minicate was sold between Tk 39 and Tk 44 and Nazirshail was Tk 37 to Tk 42.

Soybean was sold at between Tk 106 and Tk 108 per kg, which was Tk 110 to Tk 112 in the last week. Super soybean was sold between Tk 90 and Tk 92 which was Tk 100 and palm oil between Tk 73 and Tk 78 per kg which was Tk 82 to Tk 86 in the last week.

Local variety of onion was sold between Tk 30 and Tk 32 and imported one at Tk 24 to Tk 25 per kg. Green Chilli was sold Tk 50 and Tk 60, aubergine between Tk 35 and Tk 40 and papaya between Tk 10 and Tk 12.

Beef was sold between Tk 190 and Tk 210, mutton Tk 250 and Tk 280 and broiler chicken Tk 110 and Tk 120 per kg. Ruhi fish was sold between Tk 160 and Tk 180 per kg and a medium size of hilsha fish was sold between Tk 280 and Tk 300 yesterday.

Jalil 'syndrome’not yet resolved: Ashraful asked to continue as Acting Secy

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday said that Syed Ashraful Islam will continue to work as general secretary of Awami league till the party president Sheikh Hasina returns home from the United States of America after completing her treatment.

The decision on Abdul Jalil's resumption of the post of general secretary rests with Sheikh Hasina and a final decision on him will be taken after she returns home, Zillur added.

Talking to reporters at his Gulshan residence, Zillur said the party was unable to restore Jallil to the party post he held before his internment due to some technical problems.

He at the same breath reminded that Jalil announced his retirement from active politics and resignation from the post of general secretary during his incarceration.

It should be recalled here that on July 2, 2007, Jalil forwarded a letter to the President Iazuddin Ahmed and the Chief Adviser Fakruddin Ahmed informing his decision to quit politics.

After a few days, Jalil's wife Rehana Jalil arranged a press conference at their Gulshan residence and handed over copies of Jalil's letter to journalists.

According to the letter Jalil notified his sickness and family obligations as reasons for retiring from active politics. "I have decided to quit politics considering my health, which is deteriorating day by day and my family," he said.

In the letter he also said, "The Awami League has now lost its democratic character and turned into an autocratic party. There is no way out of the iron grip of our president, who enjoys total authority, which has ruined the party today."

Zillur further said the party was not restoring him on the post for some technical problem since Jalil had decided to retire from politics.

Asked to explain the technical problem, Zillur said that Jalil had resigned his party general secretary's position under special circumstances. His resignation issue was yet to be finalised, he noted.

He termed Jalil's announcement after obtaining bail order that he would continue to act as party general secretary 'a hasty decision'.

Asked if there will be any adverse effect on the party for giving the post of party general secretary to a joint general secretary, Zillur avoided direct reply and simply said, "Jalil will always be with us. We have not lost him."

Reporters failed to track Jalil till yesterday. He could neither be reached over telephone.

4 advisers meet Khaleda at Cantt residence

Staff Reporter

Four advisers of the Caretaker Government yesterday held talks with former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at her Cantonment residence, after a day of her release from detention on bail.

Sources said Adviser for Law and Justice AF Hassan Ariff, Adviser for Communications Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader, Adviser for LGRD M Anwarul Iqbal and Adviser for Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman went to Khaleda Zia's residence at Shaheed Mainul Road at Dhaka Cantonment at 9:45pm.

The advisers, who held similar meeting with another former prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, soon after her release from detention on June 11, began talks with Begum Zia at 10:00pm.

Party insiders said, during the informal talks the advisers were expected to discuss the joining of BNP in the dialogue with the Election Commission and eventual participation in the general election to be held in December.

The meeting was continuing till filing of this report late last night. Party sources said, Zillur is expected to brief journalists after the meeting at DOHS Community Centre at Banani.

Climate change confce in London: Bangladesh’s interest squandered away

Staff Reporter

The country's interest was squandered away in the Bangladesh-UK climate change conference, speakers yesterday said at a press briefing.

The declaration of the conference and the speech of Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam have alienated Bangladesh from the G77 and other least developed countries' goal, the speakers said.

"If the declaration was implemented the G8 countries and the international financing corporations like World Bank, International Monitory Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank (ADB) would be able to exploit other countries by using Bangladesh as a showcase.

Speakers said this while addressing a press conference organised by Equity and Justice Working Group (Equity BD) at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

Convenor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and member AHM Bazlur Rahman, Shahadat Islam Chowdhury and Mostafa Kamal Akhanda of Equity BD addressed the conference.

They said according to Kyoto Protocol the developed countries should reduce their emission by 20 to 40 per cent by 2020. The G77 and other least developed countries are bargaining with developed countries on the issue. Bangladesh deviated from its avowed position by signing the declaration, where it is mentioned that the developed countries would reduce emission by 50 per cent by 2050.

At the Bali conference it was decided that adaptation and mitigation were not mandatory for the developing countries rather developed countries should adopt mitigation programme.

The speakers regretted that in the declaration Bangladesh admitted that it would adopt low carbon technology. This self-contradictory step would alienate the country from the goal of the developing countries.

Terming the Adviser's speech at the London conference 'isolationist,' where he mentioned, "Is there any meaning of demanding compensation when there is no such research on who polluted and to what extent? " they said, "Since advanced countries were held responsible for climate change and they too admitted it in the Kyoto Protocol, the Adviser's statement was illogical and self-destructive.

Speakers said as per the dictates of the international financing organisations many adjunct institutions of agriculture have been closed, subsidy in agricultural sector reduced to 1 per cent from 30 per cent, jute industries shut down and no investment made in the power sector, handing over the control of climate fund to these organisations would surely be destructive for the country's economy.

Equity BD demanded that the declaration be treated as a draft action plan for approval at the next national assembly.

They called for the cancellation of WB's participation in the fund management.

They also suggested for a Public Commission on Ecological Debt Assessment to fix the rate of compensation.

Tarique Rahman arrives in London for treatment

UNB, London

Ailing Tarique Rahman, elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, along with his family members arrived here by an Emirates flight on Friday morning for treatment.

Scores of workers of BNP and its front organizations received him at Gatwick Airport at 7:15am (local time).

Tarique is accompanied by wife Dr Jubaida Rahman, daughter Jaima Jarnaz Rahman, wife's elder sister Shahina Khan and her husband Air Commodore (retd) Shafiuzzaman as well as his personal physician Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolan.

From the airport, he straight went to the Southgate in central London where he will be staying at a house arranged earlier for him.

Before getting admitted to a London hospital, two physicians will examine him at this house on the advice of the physicians. Tarique might be admitted to Hammersmith Hospital in West London.

Tarique Rahman flew for London on Thursday night along with his family members shortly after his just-released mother gave him a tearful sendoff.

His scheduled trip was postponed on Wednesday night following last-minute complications, as his mother, who was detained in a sub-jail, wished to see him before he left the country.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia visited Tarique at BSMMU Hospital on Thursday afternoon in an emotional reunion between the mother and the son after their release from prison.

The ex-Prime Minister was released on bail from the makeshift jail in the parliament complex earlier in the day.

Tarique was released on bail on September 3 from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) after nearly 18 months in detention and drama in power politics.

Tarique, 43, considered a political heir of the Zia family, was arrested on March 7 last year from their cantonment residence by army-led joint forces amid a purge against crime and corruption after the 11/1 changeover following a political crisis over election issues.

His mother Khaleda Zia and younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko were also arrested on graft charges. Koko was released on July 17 on health grounds and is now undergoing treatment for respiratory complications at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok.

Of the 13 pending cases against Tarique, nine were filed by police and individuals on various charges, including extortion, three by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charges of graft, and another by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for tax evasion.

Delay in approval of BPC’s plan hampers tourism

Shamim Jahangir

To earn Tk 31,967.23 million from 17 lakh foreigners in tourism sector in the year 2021, the Bangladesh Parjaton Corporation has placed a consolidated development plan to the Ministry of Tourism.

The consolidated development plan, which was placed in December last, is yet to get government knock due to bureaucratic redtapism, according to BPC sources.

"The BPC will be able to earn Tk 5,641.28 million from three lakh foreign tourists in 2008, Tk 7,521.70 million from four lakh foreigners in 2009, Tk 9,402.13 million from five lakh foreigners in 2010, Tk 13,162.98 million from seven lakh tourists in 2011, Tk 16,923.83 million from nine lakh tourists in 2013, Tk 28,206.38 million from 15 lakh tourists in 2020 and Tk 31,967.23 lakh from 17 lakh foreign tourists in 2021," according to consolidated development plan of BPC.

"The government should implement 115 short term, long term and midterm projects to make the BPC dream possible," a high official of BPC said.

"We have placed the plan on the basis of increasing rate of foreign tourists in the country over the last couple of years," a high official of the BPC told the New Nation.

"If the government approves the plan, it will change the entire picture of the country's tourism sector," he said

The government is not taking any initiative to approve the mega plan due to its financial constrain, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

BPC has proposed to divide the whole Bangladesh into eight separate regions to expand the tourism sector of the country through its proposed plan. The regions are--greater Sylhet, greater Mymensingh, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tract districts, Costal and Island, greater Rajshahi and the whole Northern region, greater Khulna and Sundarbans region and greater Dhaka region.

The tourism sector could not flourish as the government didn't prioritise the tourism in national plan, no allocation for the sector in the national budget, no strong statutory tourism development organisation in the country, low investment from private sector in tourism sector, image crisis of Bangladesh outside the country, complexity to get visa to visit the country, insecurity of the foreign visitors, poor quality of service in air route, shortage of skilled manpower, proper policy of maintenance and management of tourism attraction areas, the consolidated development plan found out for the failure of tourism sector in the country.

"We are now in the right track to expand the tourism sector as the Cox's Bazar, the longest sandy beach in the world and Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest are now securing first and second position of the seven natural wonders contest," another high official said, adding, "If the government approves the consolidated plan, BPC will be able to draw attention of the foreigners through its promotional activities."

Workers detain ED’s of 2 fertiliser factories for pay scale

Narsingdi Correspondent

Hundreds of workers of Ghorasal Urea Fertiliser Factory Limited (GUFFL) and Palash Urea Fertiliser Factory Limited (PUFFL) on Tuesday detained executive directors of the two factories for five hours protesting postponement of revised wage scale.

Hundreds of workers on Tuesday rushed at GUFFL and PUFFL hearing the news that their revised wage scale has been kept in abeyance, sources said.

Workers detained GUFFL Executive Director Md Ali Hossain and PUFFL Executive Director for five hours and demanded implementation for revise pay scale.

Agitated workers also staged demonstration on factories premises, sources said.

The worker withdrew their agitation programme following the assurance from factories management revise pay scale would be implemented by Tuesday.

The factories workers threatened non-stop hunger strike if the authorities fail to fulfil their demand.

RU re-opens on October 12

RU Correspondent

The Rajshahi University (RU) authorities decided to re-open the university on October 12.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the university syndicate on Thursday night.

Earlier on August 20, RU authorities closed the university for an indefinite period following violent clashes between students and local traders that left 60 people injured.

The injured included teachers, students and policemen.

The RU residential halls will open on October 11 for students, sources said.

Campus sources said around 49 scheduled examinations of 29 departments were postponed following the closure of the university for 53 days. The closure of the university will force the students to face fresh six months long session jam.

BNP standing body meets today: Saifur, Mahbub meet Khaleda

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The Standing Committee of the BNP is scheduled to meet today, two days after the release of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from jail.

Most of the members of the Standing Committee are expected to attend the meeting to be held at 3:00pm at party's central office at Naya Paltan in the city. Of the 13-member Standing Committee, KM Obaidur Rahman is dead. Besides, former secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan has been expelled from the party before the arrest of Begum Zia on September 3 last year, Abdul Matin Chowdhury is sick, and Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Barrister Moudud Ahmed are now in jails on corruption charges.

All other members of the Standing Committee are likely to attend the meeting. Former finance minister M Saifur Rahman and former lawmaker and army chief of staff Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, known as reformists, met Begum Zia yesterday for rapprochement.

The two leaders went to Khaleda Zia's residence at Shaheed Moinul Road at Dhaka Cantonment at about 3:30pm and held meeting for about an hour.

About yesterday's meeting, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The New Nation that after Begum Zia's statement for unity for the party, there was now no question of factional feud within the party.

He said that he would join the Standing Committee meeting, which is being held at the party's central office after a along recess.

It may be mentioned that on her release on bail after detention for a year on Thursday, Begum Khaleda Zia said there was no division in the BNP.

Party sources said, there was no particular agenda for the meeting. The meeting is likely to discuss the latest development in the political arena, unity in the party, elections and price hike issues.

Meanwhile, former BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday at a press briefing called for unity of the party under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia.

He expressed his gratitude to the Almighty Allah at the release of Begum Khaleda Zia saying that the countrymen waited for her release.

Former minister Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also spoke to Begum Khaleda Zia over telephone. Briefing journalists, Hafiz accepted Khondoker Delwar Hossain as the party's Secretary General.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, now in Mekkah to perform umrah, exchanged pleasantries with the BNP Chairperson over telephone.

US Congressmen support transition to democracy

UNB, Dhaka

Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) has lauded the contribution of Bangladesh community in the US.

"Bangladesh community in the USA is a positive force for promoting development and diversity in this country," said Howard, also the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during a meeting at his office with Bangladesh Ambassador M Humayun Kabir on Wednesday.

Kabir then briefed the Congressman about the recent developments in Bangladesh, which could facilitate holding of the parliamentary elections during the third week of December 2008 and sought the support of the Congressman to help Bangladesh made this important transition to democracy.

In reply, Congressman Berman promised to do so and accepted the invitation to visit Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity.

On the same day, Kabir also met Congressman Gary Ackerman, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Middle East and South Asia and Congressman Joseph Crowley, Co-Chair of Bangladesh Congressional Caucus.

He briefed them about the evolving situation in Bangladesh, with particular focus on the progress on human rights issues and ongoing dialogue of the political parties with the Election Commission to work out the modalities for the elections.

Both Congressmen Ackerman and Crowley were encouraged by the initiatives of the government and contribution of other stakeholders to energize the process of transition to democracy in Bangladesh, said a message received here on Friday.

Congressman Crowley informed the Ambassador that a high level congressional delegation could visit Bangladesh soon.

He also said that the Congress was considering a resolution to encourage the democratic process in Bangladesh.

Kabir thanked the Congressmen for their support to Bangladesh and expressed the readiness of the Embassy to remain engaged with them with a view to promoting the common bilateral interests.

Deputy Chief of Bangladesh Mission Sheikh Mohammad Belal and First Secretary Monwar Hossain also attended these meetings at the Capitol Hill.