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Khaleda presides over alliance meet: 4-party to join talks with EC

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia presiding over the
4-party meeting at Eskaton in the city on Tuesday. NN
Photo

Staff Reporter

The BNP-led four-party alliance yesterday at a meeting decided to sit with the Election Commission (EC).

It also demanded of the government to lift the stage of emergency and hold parliament elections before the local body polls and demanded the release of all the party leaders and activists and withdrawal of the cases against them.

" We are always eager to hold dialogue with the EC for holding a free, fair, credible and transparent elections in the country," BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain told the media after a meeting of the four party alliance at the Eskaton residence of Shafique Rehman, former editor of the daily Jai Jai Din.

BNP Chairman Begum Khaleda Zia presided over the meeting.

It was also attended among others by Jamaat-e Islami, Bangladesh Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and Asstt secretary general Mohammad Qamaruzzaman, BJP chairman Barrister Andaleep Rahman and secretary general Shamim Al Mamoon, IOJ senior vice chairman Maulana Mohiuddin Khan and secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami, Ameer of Khalefat Majlis Maulana Ishhaque and secretary general Ahmed Abdul Quader attended the meeting that was followed by Iftar.

Responding to a question Khandaker Delwar said the four party alliance is election oriented.

"We are still in favour of holding a meaningful dialogue with the EC before the parliamentary election ahead of polls to the local bodies," he said.

Asked whether BNP would join the EC sponsored dialogue if other parties of the alliance were not invited by the EC, the BNP secretary general said " We urged the EC to invite component parties of the alliance to the dialogue,".

Replying to a question when the BNP is going for the talks with the EC Delwar said, "As and when the Election Commission desires us to go."

He said it would not be good to keep the other components of the alliance out of dialogue.

Jamaat and IOJ should be invited again as they did not respond to the earlier invitation without BNP.

Earlier the meeting was supposed to be held at the BNP central office at Naya Paltan but it has been shifted to Eskaton to avoid traffic congestion before the Iftar.

Politics goes bipartisan: Mahajote revived before Hasina-Khaleda talks

Hasanuzzaman Khan

The recent initiative to hold a grand meeting between BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has generated controversy in different quarters. Barrister Rafiqul Haque, the common lawyer of the two top leaders, has offered to mediate between them which the Government seems to have taken very seriously. Even he was contacted in Singapore from where he has given consent. The government is learnt to have become a side in the talks.

Hussain Zillur , Adviser for Political Affairs of the Government said, they will exert pressure to make Khaleda-Hasina talks a success. But he did not explain what kind of pressure he is going to apply.

Abdul Jalil, the Awami League General Secretary who was now sidelined, said, the Khaleda-Hasina talks will be successful in view of the current situation in the country. But the much-trumpeted talks which he held with BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan in 2006 did not see the light at the end of the tunnel. Instead the high exposure talks at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban funnelled the public sentiment inviting unforeseen activities in the country some of which still remains unresolved.

The history of the talks between the political leaders in the country was not much of success. Besides the much trumpeted Jalil and Mannan talks, the BNP-AL talks in which C’Wealth official Sir Ninien was facilitator in 1996, was also not conclusive.

It could not be known what were the issues to be discussed in the Khaleda-Hasina meeting. It was guessed that the Government wants to keep proposed national charter on the top of the agenda. About 222 politicians and businessmen who were on the list of corruption suspects would be barred from participating in the election.

Dr. Kamal Hossain, a heavyweight in the legal arena, has expressed his concern in the slide in the anti-corruption drive. The mass enlargement on bail in corruption cases could not be justified in any way. Eight makeshift courts in the Jatiya Sangsad Complex out of ten remain inoperative for last few days. Not many people belonging to the Judiciary could not be seen there. Only two cases concerning Ali Asghar Lobby and Makshdur Rahman Laskar, a government official, were heard this week.

Awami League seems to be in the backfoot after triumphant return of BNP chief Khaleda Zia from Jail to her Mainul Road residence in the cantonment on September 11.

Before that she visited her ailing son Tarique at BSMMU and party office at Nayapaltan where thousands of people lined up to give her a Joyous reception.

Meanwhile Awami League has decided to reactivate the Mahajote (grand alliance) comprising Ershad-led Jatiya Party, 14 parties, and Oli Ahmed- led LDP.

Besides some splinter groups of Islamic Groups are going to be associated with them. It may be mentioned that BNP chief held a meeting of the party standing committee where an attempt of the party sycophants to decorate her as lifelong party chairperson proved abortive. The 'Mahajote’ was formed just before the never-held January 22, 2006 Polls. Mahajote withdrew its candidates from the January 22, 2006 polls. The withdrawal of Mahajote from election scheduled to be held on January 22, 2006 led the country to 1/11 changeover in which the country remains without election for two years. The key leaders of the country were interned and many of whom faced corruption cases. Now the interned political leaders are being enlarged on bail enmasse.

In another development Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina while talking to party acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday over telephone asked him to reactivate the Mahajote in line with the one formed on 18 December 2006.

Awami League seems to be back to pre- 1/11 politics reviving the confrontational posture. Sheikh Hasina is likely to return to the country next-month. Awami league leaders are learnt to have drawn a massive programme to accord reception to their party supremo. Syed Ashraful is learnt to have held preparatory talks with Ershad, Oli Ahmed and the leaders of the Islamic splinter groups. The decision to revive Mahajote was taken in London in July this year where Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina, Jatiya Party Leader Anisul Islam Mahmud and Syed Ashraful were present. After that Jatiya Party leader Ershad started speaking about reviving the Mahajote. But the senior leaders of Awami League including Amir Hossain Amu gave cold shoulder to the utterances of Ershad.The Mahajote was formed on 18 December, 2006 centering now annulled January 22, 2007 election. After promulgation of emergency in January, 2007 there was no existence of Mahajote. The civil society leaders which include prominent economist Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud said, the complexities arising out of creation of Mahajote is leading the country to a great crisis which needs a grand solution. Some time after the emergency was proclaimed the Mahajote became non-functional. Fourteen-party leaders termed the Mahajote a marriage of convenience not an alliance of conviction.

It is a deviation of Awami league from their anti-communalism ideals. Some of the religious extremist groups which took refuge in the Mahajote sentenced women right protagonist Taslima Nasrin to death.

Awami Leage has set up its election office at Dhanmondi where former civil servant-cum-politician A M A Muhit and H T Imam were posted to prepare Awami League election plan. Some retired civil and military bureaucrats were selected to work with Awami League election team.

Oil price cut if rates go under $92 per barrel: ADB foresees political disruption ahead of polls

UNB, Dhaka

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forewarned Bangladesh about political disruptions in the run-up to the parliamentary polls and their outcome as a major risk for the economy of the country.

As politics is back on stream ahead of planned elections, overturning a clean-up drive in the interim period, the donor agency came up with the foreboding in its 'Asian Development Outlook 2008 Update' yesterday.

The Outlook was released yesterday around all the Asian countries simultaneously. Newly appointed ADB country director in Bangladesh Paul J Heytens unveiled the update on economic situation in Bangladesh at the agency's Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM).

The Outlook also pointed out natural disasters as a perennial risk for Bangladesh in the current fiscal as well.

In the 'Asian Development Outlook 2008 Update' the ADB indicted several other risks, including higher-than-assumed oil and commodity prices (stressing the balance-of-payments and fiscal positions), a budget revenue shortfall, lack of a supply response by farmers, and greater-than-expected shortages in power and gas (affecting investment and growth), which the economy would face.

Responding to a question, ADB country programming head Mohammad Zahid Hossain said the government might consider the downslide adjustment of fuel oil prices if the per-barrel price went under US$ 92 on the international market.

In the meantime, news reports said oil prices plunged below $92 a barrel on the Asian market today in a continuing downslide that also brought the prices of other commodities down along its course.

"The government has to fix the amount to be given in the fuel-oil sector as subsidy. If the subsidy level is fixed, it would be easy for the government to determine the adjustment time to time," he said.

The Update raises the average inflation projection for FY2009 to 9 percent, though improved from the 9.9 percent outcome in FY2008.

"The projection takes into account the likely effects of the July 2008 domestic oil-price rise but assumes no further price adjustments. The Monetary Policy Statement of Bangladesh Bank stresses that an accommodative credit policy will stimulate production of essential food and other basic consumer items and thus will soften inflation pressures."

The economic watchdog noted that substantial risks are involved in this supply-side approach to stabilizing the economy as its first-round effects of expanding credits without a quick or substantial supply response could trigger higher inflation.

There are also risks that policies and assumptions could be upset by higher- than-expected prices for international commodities and misjudgment about the second-round effects of the July 2008 fuel-price hike.

"The central bank may need to raise interest rates to anchor inflation expectations and keep second-round effects under control," the ADB prescribes in its Outlook.

In preface to the Bangladesh chapter in the Outlook, the ADB said that for the Bangladesh economic growth and the current-account surplus were close to earlier projections as the economy showed resilience in recovering from natural disasters.

However, inflation and budgetary pressures grew.

The caretaker government that was appointed when parliamentary elections were postponed in January 2007 has undertaken economic reforms, pursued a marked anticorruption effort, and has pushed through important electoral reforms in preparation for elections expected by end-2008.

"Future economic performance will depend on the Government's ability to deepen the economic reforms recently started," the donor agency said, in this context.

Criticizing the power sector of the country, the ADB said power shortages have increasingly blocked industrial expansion, and, therefore, the country crucially needs a large expansion in generation capacity, as well as an upgrading of transmission and distribution networks.

More immediately, power supply is likely to improve somewhat in FY2009 with several public and private-sector projects coming on stream, ADB projected.

Industrial growth was also restricted by lower contribution from construction activity as growth fell (to 5.9 percent) from the prior year on a slowing in private-sector investment, the high price of construction materials, and a downsizing of the Government's Annual Development Program (ADP), it noted.

The Asian Bank further reappraised that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) also fell. After long negotiations, Tata Group of India abandoned, in July 2008, its $3 billion investment proposal for a package of power, steel, and fertilizer projects in Bangladesh.

Declining export volumes of goods and services damped growth more than in the previous year, it noted about the downside of the economic scenario.

"Inflation moved up to 10 percent on a 12-month moving average basis in March 2008. Supply-side factors dominated, particularly higher international commodity prices and the shortfall in domestic food-grain production. Large spending on flood and cyclone rehabilitation; higher bank credits for agriculture, industry and services; and the rise in demand from the rapid growth in remittances were also factors. In response, among other measures, the Government reduced import duties on food items; and for food grain, subsidized sales, lowered the interest rate on import credit, and boosted imports."

The ADB appreciated the performance of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for its robust revenue collection in FY2008 that jumped to 11.2 percent of GDP, or 1.0 percentage point of GDP higher than in FY2007.

The donor agency stressed further reforms in value-added tax (VAT) and income-tax laws, simplifying tax procedures, and modernizing tax administration to mobilize greater revenues.

ICL unveils Dhaka Warriors: BCB to axe 6 rebel cricketers

Sports Reporter

Habibul Bashar, Aftab Ahmed, Shahriar Nafees, Farhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh, Mosharrof Hossain Rubel, the six national crickters of Bangladesh National Cricket team who submitted their resignation letters to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on 14th September as the six players decided to take part in the forthcoming Indian Cricket League (ICL) did not attend the meeting with the officials of BCB yesterday.

The six national cricketers have already signed their contract with Indian Cricket League.

Thirteen players from Bangladesh will make up the Dhaka Warriors, the new team announced for the second season of Indian Cricket League (ICL). The side will be captained by Habibul Bashar, the former Bangladesh captain, and includes recent internationals Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, Shahriar Nafees, Farhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh and Mosharraf Hossain.

The team will be coached by Balwinder Singh Sandhu, the former India player. The ICL's latest signings include four players who have represented Bangladesh in the past - retired left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, Tapash Baisya, Manjarul Islam and Mohammad Sharif, as well as Golam Mabud and Mahbubul Karim, who were part of the Bangladesh Academy team currently touring Sri Lanka.

Nazim Uddin and Alok Kapali have submitted ignation letters to BCB on Tuesday.

Yesterday was the last day for registration to participate in the ICL.

Meanwhile, Cricket Wetfare Association of Bangladesh condemned the decision of six national cricketers as the players announced their retirement from Bangladesh National Cricket team for their personal benefit. They had avoided their patriotism before they took decision to play in the ICL.

It may be mentioned that Habibul Bashar earned TK 1,07,96,495 in the year of 2005 to 2008 playing for Bangladesh National Cricket team. Aftab Ahmed rarned TK 1,09,37,131, Shahriar Nafees earned TK 1,02,51,787, Farhad Reza earned TK 46,81,627, Dhiman Ghosh earned TK 12,26,411and Mosharrof Hossain earned TK 3,41,311. The earnings include monthly salary, match fees, performance bonus, win bonus, prize money and medical insurance benefit.

Today the officials of BCB will take decision about the rebel six national crickters, who will take part in the ICL.

Earlier, Bengal Tigers, the official fan club of Bangladesh National Cricket team condemned the decision of six national cricketers. who announced thir retirement for their own benefit not for the country. Bengal Tigers urged to BCB to declare them 'persona non grata.'

AL begins polls preparation

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League yesterday asked the government to withdraw all the cases against its president and ex-PM Sheikh Hasina as the party plans to jumpstart preparation for the parliamentary polls just after her return from the United States.

Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters that as Hasina is now granted bail in the last case that stood in the way, the AL would now try its best so that the court dismissed all the cases against her.

"Sheikh Hasina's bail is a good sign ahead of the election. From all documents, it has been proved that the cases filed against Sheikh Hasina were false and manufactured. Now we hope, before her return, government will withdraw her cases," he said.

"In no time after Sheikh Hasina returns home from abroad, we'll start preparing for the parliamentary polls," Ashraful Islam said.

He was talking to reporters when Swechhasebak League leaders led by their acting general secretary Matiur Rahman Mati came to meet AL acting president Zillur Rahman at his residence at noon.

Awami League presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Abdur Razzak, among others, addressed the brief gathering.

Syed Ashraful Islam informed the journalists about the AL's current thinking and plan for contesting the upcoming national elections, previously stalled following a political crisis over the election issues.

He said AL started contacting those people who were involved in electoral activities of the party in the last national elections.

"We are looking for a place to open media centre during the parliamentary polls," he told the journalists, indicating that Awami League is all agog about going to the polls, the schedule for which is expected anytime so soon.

Ashraf further said the grand alliance that was forged ahead of the stalled parliamentary polls would remain active in the upcoming election, too, while AL and the grand alliance will look for yet greater unity for election purposes.

"Our grand alliance will continue to exist-and we will also try to attain a far greater unity," he said, as reports said the centrist former ruling party is in search of more allies, even from the rightwing.

Asked about drawing religion-based parties in the grand alliance, Ashraful Islam said Islami Oikya Jote will be in the grand alliance "as they are anti-jamaat and pro-liberation."

But Ashraful hinted that the number of parties in the grand alliance may increase and decrease also.

Addressing the Swechhasebak League delegation, party's acting president Zillur Rahman accused the government of hatching conspiracy to bring the BNP-Jamaat alliance in power again.

"The BNP-Jamaat-led evil force was defeated by the country's people through the political changeover of 1/11. But now the caretaker government is trying to rehabilitate the fallen force," Zillur said.

He was also critical of the government for making a move to bring Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to the negotiation table. "Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda is not the same thing. The government should not weigh Khaleda and Sheikh Hasina on the same scales."

Abdur Razzak said the government is trying to undermine the dignity of Sheikh Hasina by comparing her with Khaleda.

Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed asked the government to immediately declare specific date and schedule of the general election.

They warned the government against doing any other experiment in the country and asked it to declare specific date for the long-awaited elections.

Last hurdle to Hasina’s release lifted

UNB, Dhaka

Former Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on parole, Tuesday secured bail from the High Court in an extortion case in the last-ditch effort for her release.

Responding to a petition, a vacation bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Mamnoon Rahman granted her ad-interim bail for three months.

The HC also stayed the trial proceedings of the case, filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury, up to one week after the reopening of the court.

The case is now pending with a special court set up at the high-security parliament-building complex that deals with high-profile corruption cases filed under the now-ebbing purge launched by the interim regime following the 1/11 changeover.

Emerging from the court, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, a top counsel for Hasina, told reporters that following yesterday's bail order there be no legal bar to release of his client from incarceration.

On a separate application, co-accused in the case Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, the ex-health minister of her cabinet and her cousin, also got bail for 3 months on health grounds.

The former premier filed the petition Sunday. This latest move was seen as the last-ditch legal bid for freeing her on bail to join the current political process of resolving various tricky issues standing in the way to the polls for transition from the interim regime.

She faces a total of 15 graft cases, and the bail in this extortion case cleared the way for her interim release.

As to the rest of the cases, she has either secured bail in some of those in the meantime or has not been shown arrested in some others.

Now that both the former premiers are out of jail, the caretaker government could pursue their plan of a Hasina-Khaleda meeting to clear all the roadblocks to democratic transition through the holding of the stalled national elections.

Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman has earlier said the Awami League chief's release through legal course would pave the way for her political summit meet with the recently-released BNP chairperson and ex-PM, Khaleda Zia.

Storm over Bay: 100 missing as 25 trawlers sink

UNB, Bagerhat

Over 100 fishermen were reported missing as 25 trawlers capsized in the Bay off different costal areas on Monday night as the sea turned rough due to a depression.

Survivors who sailed back to the coast said 25 trawlers with over 300 fishermen on board were caught in gusty winds and went under.

"Of them, about 200 managed to swim ashore while over 100 remained still missing," said one trawler owner, Alauddin, from Kachikhai.

Coast Guard sources said search for the missing fishermen was going on.

The meteorological department in Dhaka said a well-marked low over the northwest Bay and adjoining area moved west-northwestwards and intensified into a monsoon depression.

The depression was lying over the northwest Bay and adjoining area off Orissa coast.

"It is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction and may cross Orissa coast of India near Paradwip by evening or night today," the Met Office said in a bulletin.

Under its influence squally weather may continue to affect the maritime ports and adjoining coastal regions of Bangladesh.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 44 kms of the depression centre is about 40 kph, rising to 50 kph in gusts/squalls. "Sea will remain moderate," the bulletin said.

Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three ® three.

All fishing-boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to take shelter immediately and remain in shelter until further notice.

Awareness campaign against sound pollution

Staff Reporter

Department of Environment in the city is conducting awareness campaign among the transports' drivers and passengers about the sound pollution.

As part of the awareness programmes the department yesterday conducted drives to enhance awareness among the transports' drivers and passengers in the city's Eskaton area and Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, where various leaflets were distributed and awareness stickers were attached with the transports.

The operation led by Deputy Director (Implementation) of the department Billal Hossain was participated by members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and officials of Bangladesh Roads and Transport Authority.

In the meantime, 14 cases were filed against transports vehicles including bus, minibus and taxi, while four transport vehicles were seized and Hydraulic Horns were detached from five others.

Sound pollution is a serious issue in Dhaka and throughout Bangladesh. Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world.

Saudi envoy hosts reception

Staff Reporter

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday told journalists that he would try his best to pursue the Saudi King and the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, Abdallah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to visit Bangladesh, if the post election government invites him.

The Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr Abdullah bin Naser Al-Bosairi, was talking to senior journalists after an iftar party hosted by him at his residence at Gulshan in the city.

Asked whether he has any plan to invite country's two top political leaders-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-to a party or function, Dr Abdullah said he could invite them on any occasion.

The Saudi envoy, on behalf of the Saudi government and people, greeted the Bangladeshi people before the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on September 23.

He said that the people of Saudi Arabia have respect for the Bangladeshi people. Two million Bangladeshis working in Saudi Arabia bear testimony to the fact.

Law to stop sexual repression on students soon

UNB, Dhaka

The government has taken an initiative to make and enforce a law within two months to prevent sexual harassment and repression in all educational institutions across the country.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has started formulating the new law in this regard, said an Education Ministry announcement yesterday, in the wake of a number of such reported incidents.

"The government is closely observing the situation arising in Jahangirnagar University (JU) out the allegation of sexual harassment on female students. Such a situation can badly tarnish the image of the educational institution alongside casting a negative impact on the overall educational system," it said.

Referring to public universities like JU, run by own rules and regulations, the ministry said, "The government believes that it is possible to resolve such allegations administratively with the own rules of the respective university."

The government will soon sit with the JU syndicate members and UGC for exchange of views for framing policy guidelines in this regard.

$45m paid in bribe in aircraft lease: Biman lacks professionalism Former BAF man made MD

Staff Reporter

Air Commodore (Retd) Zahed Kuddus has been made Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited.

Ending all speculations regarding appointment of a highly professional person to run the national flag carrier competitively, the Board of Directors of Biman yesterday appointed the retired Airforce officer.

Zahed Kuddus was the Air Officer Commanding (Base Commander) of the Operational Flying Bases, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Administration) of the BAF and Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

Biman, in response to its advertisement for appointment of the CEO, received some 24 applications including two from foreign nationals.

Most of the locals who applied for the post were ex-officials of Biman and were blamed for being involved in massive corruption that led to its ruination.

The short listed four persons, Group Captain (Retd) Liakat Ali, Group Captain (Retd) S Jilani Mahbubur Rahman, Col (Retd) Zainul Abedin and Vice president of GMG Airlines Ismail Hossain were called in for interview after scrutiny of their resume on June 5.

Earlier, some 2,500 officials and employees of Biman were retrenched through voluntary retirement after Biman was transformed into a public limited company in July 2007.

After the retrenchment of so many officials and employees, Biman was supposed to be run by persons who have vast experiences in aviation business.

In order to free the Biman from bureaucratic administration, experts were supposed to be appointed by the government. However, no progress was made in this regard at all.

Currently, the national flag carrier has only four aircraft at its disposal to operate on 17 international routes though it has Air Service Agreements with 42 countries.

Biman was bedevilled by corruption, overstaffing and operational losses as it was forced to open new routes by previous governments on political considerations neglecting the obligation of good management.

According to a recent study report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) corruption involving US$ 45 million took place only in the process of taking up lease of aircraft in the last five years.

TIB said no audit has been carried out or assessment of the assets and liabilities of Biman made before turning it into a public limited company.

In its study, the TIB recommended eliminating the prevailing 'dual policy' in Biman's operational structure and not appointing any bureaucrats as the chairman of the Biman's board of directors.

TIB chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said Biman would be able to make profit within a short time, if it can get rid of corruption.

The Government, however, is looking for a strategic partner to run and manage state-owned airline Biman, special assistant for civil aviation Mahbub Jamil informed yesterday.

"We have taken steps to run Biman by a foreign airline through a partnership and that airline can opt for a stake in Biman or just take responsibility for management," he told reporters after appointment of the new MD.

Jamil, however, said a new CEO was likely to be appointed if an airline took over the management adding, "a chief executive may be hired from abroad once Biman goes into international partnership."

"Air Commodore Kuddus showed his ability as a manager in the past. We hope Biman will run well under his leadership," the special assistant said.

On plans to find a management partner, Jamil referred to the Thai Airlines, which he said had been haemorrhaging heavily before being handed to a strategic partner. "They have done very well since then."