The New Nation - Internet Edition

Eid fair of autistic children

Autistic children display their items at the fair at
the AWF premises at Mohammadpur in the city yesterday. NN
Photo

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Autism, a brain disorder, is a life long developmental disability that prevents individuals from properly understanding what they see, hear and otherwise sense. This results in severe problems relating to social relationship, communication and behaviour.

The exact cause of autism is not known. Research shows that genetic factors are important. Autism may indeed result from a combination of several causes.

The scenario of autistic children of Bangladesh is very dismal. Most of the children are not diagnosed. Many diagnosed cases are totally ignorant of any training or education programme to educate autistic children.

Many older children with autism are diagnosed as mentally retarted and attend school for the mentally retarded. These children are not given any special curriculum. Many children are not given any training at all. They are kept at home and become burdens for their families.

To promote the talents of the autistic children the Autism Welfare Foundation (AWF), a voluntary and non-profitable NGO, organised a 10-day long different type of Eid fair at the AWF Office premises at the PC Culture Housing Society in Mohammadpur in the city. The fair was inaugurated on September 14.

Different types of Eid cards, handicraft and ceramic items including potteries, toys and flower-vases which are made by the autistic children, are on display at the different stalls in the fair. The participant autistic children are presenting their works at the fair.

Dr Rownak Hafiz, Chairperson of AWF and autistic expert, said, "There are some autistic children who are functioning normally or with very high IQ. Their verbal communications is quite good and are attending normal schools. Ultimately these children are rejected by their friends and school authorities due to many unacceptable behaviour or due to their inability to cope with increasing academic pressure. For this reason we have organised the fair to encourage them to express their talents."

The education policy of Bangladesh is not concerned about the physically challenged children much less children with autism. There is no educational or training programme in the national or regional level for children with autism. There is no awareness even at the professional level and the general people do not know about autism, said Dr Rownak.

From this realisation to meet the demands of the autistic children, the AWF established on April 4, 2004 with the aim to give training and education to the autistic children to perform their maximum strengths and interests to making them able to support themselves.

The fair will remain open till September 23 from 10:00am to 2:00pm except Friday and Saturday.

China assures preferential treatment for Bangladeshi products: Three agreements signed at summit talks

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed called on Chinese
President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in
Beijing on Tuesday. PID photo

UNB, Beijing

China will provide special preferential treatment for access of some Bangladeshi products to its market to reduce the prevailing trade imbalance between the two countries and cooperate in paving the way for implementation of the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant undertaken for peaceful purpose.

Beijing will also consider Dhaka's request for engaging China in the Bangladesh-Myanmar Road Link scheme meant for enhancing trade and people-to-people contact.

The hosts at a summit meet here yesterday also assured cooperation in constructing envisaged Meghna and Gomti bridges in Bangladesh, after constructing six friendship bridges in Bangladesh. Besides, they will provide technological support in developing hybrid seeds.

China's assurances came during official talks between Bangladesh and China at the Great Hall of the People at 10am Tuesday, where Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led the Bangladesh side while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao headed the host country.

Three cooperation deals were struck capping the talks.

The top leaders of the present-day economic superpower-its President, Premier and Vice-President-remarked that the Bangladesh-China friendship is "an all-weather friendship" that remains alive overcoming various issues. The Chinese rulers assured all-out cooperation to Bangladesh in accelerating its socioeconomic development.

They commented that the visit of the Chief Adviser to China would remain as a "milestone" in the friendship between Bangladesh and China.

It was hoped at the official talks that a targeted 5 billion-dollar trade volume between the two countries would attained by 2010--and both the sides opined that the figure would further increase.

It was a hectic and fruitful day for the head of the caretaker government of Bangladesh as he held official talks, met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-president Xi Jinping.

As Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed requested China's involvement in Bangladesh-Myanmar road communications to connect Kunming of China in the trans-border road linkage and sought Chinese government's cooperation in constructing a 111-kilometer stretch of the road as some parts of the road have been constructed by Bangladesh.

The meeting emphasized tripartite meeting among Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

Responding positively about Bangladesh's request, the Chinese side said they would talk to Myanmar. Similarly, Bangladesh side said they would also carry it forward with Myanmar.

The talks lasted about an hour, covering politics, trade and economic cooperation and investment as well as agricultural cooperation.

After the talks, one agreement and two memoranda of understanding (MOU) were signed. The accords are: Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, MOU on Hydrological Information on Brahmaputra river and another MOU on Agricultural Technical Cooperation.

On behalf of Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary M Touhid Hossain and Bangladesh Ambassador in Beijing Munshi Faiz Ahmed signed the deals. On the Chinese side, two vice-Ministers and head of Agriculture Academy signed the deals. Chief Adviser Fakhruddin and the Chinese Premier witnessed the signing ceremony at the Great Hall.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossian, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, Bangladesh Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmed and Secretary of CA's Office Kazi Aminul Islam from Bangladesh side while Chinese Foreign Minister, Vice-Minister of Commerce, Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs were among others present at the official talks.

Responding to the request of the Chief Adviser, the Chinese side instantly declared that they would double the present number of Bangladesh's student scholarships from 50 to 100.

At the official talks it was told that China would send a delegation to Bangladesh over the matter of Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The meeting observed that the friendship between Bangladesh and China is "excellent", based on comprehensive cooperation of partnership.

After the talks and meetings, the Foreign Adviser, Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, and CA's Press Secretary briefed newsmen about the outcome of official talks, meetings with the Chinese President and the Vice-President.

6 AL, BNP leaders get bail

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Six BNP and Awami League leaders, facing charges from tax-dodge to extortion to corruption, secured three months' interim bails yesterday from the High Court.

Former BNP health minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain and his wife Bilkis Akhter Hossain, former housing and public works minister Mirza Abbas, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, former Barisal mayor Mojibur Rahman Sarwar and his wife Syeda Nilima Sarwar, former BNP lawmaker Mosaddek Ali Falu and Awami Jubo League general secretary Mirza Azam were granted bails.

The vacation bench of Justice Mirza Hossein Haider and Justice Mamnun Rahman on separate appeals gave the orders and also halted proceedings of the cases for that period.

"The court has given three months' anticipatory bail to Khandker Mosharraf in a tender-related corruption case and his wife Bilkis Akhter Hossain in a tax-dodge case. The court also stayed the proceedings of the cases for that period," advocate Mahbubuddin Khokan, lawyer for Mosharraf and his wife Bilkis and Mojibur Rahman Sarwar and his wife, told bdnews24.com.

"Mojibur Rahman Sarwar and his wife got three months' anticipatory bail in separate cases against them on charges of tax evasion. The court also stayed the proceedings of the cases against them for the said time."

Mirza Azam's lawyer Motahar Hossain Saju said he had been granted bail in a corruption case amassing illegal wealth.

The High Court also gave bail to Falu in a relief embezzlement case and Mirza Abbas in a money laundering case.

Our court correspondent confirmed that Babar also secured three months' interim bail in the case that accuses him of taking bribe for suppressing the murder of Bashundhara Group director Humayun Kabir Sabbir.

Agri-credit disbursement to be mandatory for banks

UNB, Dhaka

Agriculture credit disbursement is going to be compulsory for all commercial banks from this fiscal year as Bangladesh Bank decided on Tuesday.

"Bangladesh Bank will issue necessary circular immediately," deputy governor Nazrul Huda told reporters after a meeting in this regard at the central bank.

He chaired the meeting of the high-powered Agricultural Credit Monitoring Committee comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and commercial banks.

"The recent experience has made it clear that there is no alternative to investment in agriculture to face the challenge of food security in the global price situation," Huda said, explaining the need for enhanced agriculture credit.

He added that the practice of directed lending has been absent since the inception of Financial Sector Reform Programme (FSRP) undertaken in 1990, resulting in the freedom of the commercial banks whether they would provide agriculture credit.

He said Bangladesh Bank would not impose the credit target of the banks concerned, but would take measures to ensure a rational target.

"We'll impose a certain percentage of banks' annual credit for agriculture unless the banks comply with the directive on their own," warned the deputy governor. Asked about the interest rate, he said the interest rate was not the problem of the farmer, but access to credit is their problem. "I will appreciate an even lower interest rate though the commercial banks are already providing agriculture credit at lower rate of interest," he added.

Asked if Bangladesh Bank would provide enhanced refinance facility for the commercial banks against agri-credit, Nazrul Huda said Bangladesh Bank would consider it.

He said Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, having a very low deposit base, share about 50 percent of the total agriculture credit and they were dependent on the Bangladesh Bank refinance.

Earlier, Bangladesh Bank set an agriculture credit target of Tk 4,900 crore for the current fiscal year, which is 13 percent more than the last fiscal year, considering the need for increasing domestic food production.

The BB deputy governor said they would also introduce a new mechanism of revolving crop credit limit for a three-year term to relieve farmers of fresh applications, documentation, approvals and often middlemen again for a fresh loan.

He said disbursement loan would be effective on the basis of area approach, selecting the areas on the basis of intensity of crop production.

Huda said the new mechanism would facilitate the loan account of a farmer automatically renewed immediately after full repayment of the earlier loan of a particular product cycle and the farmers would be entitled to a fresh crop loan without any new application.

The eligible farmers for the credit would be identified from the farmers' ID cards the Department Agriculture Extension (DAE) was providing through a survey.

Huda said the central bank would also take steps to provide collateral-free agriculture loans to sharecroppers and fishermen.

Bangladesh Bank, he said, would further strengthen the role of the District Agriculture Credit Committees to ensure proper supply of fertilizer and quality seeds.

Tarique undergoes medical check up

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The health condition of Tarique Rahman, the elder son of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, remains stable since his arrival in London.

Sources said Tarique Rahman yesterday took advise from doctors of Kings Oak Hospital in North London.

MA Malek, General Secretary of United Kingdom Branch of BNP, said last night that visitors were not allowed to visit Tarique Rahman.

He said the physicians might start his treatment within a day or two or decide whether the treatment of his complicated disease is possible in the hospital. The BNP leader said it is not possible to assume timeframe for his treatment before his admission in the hospital.

He said hundreds of BNP leaders from different countries including Europe expressed eagerness to visit Tarique.

On Friday special munajat was offered in at least 20 mosques in London for the early recovery of Tarique Rahman, who left Dhaka for London on Thursday night.

Holy Ramzan: Read the Quran more seriously

According to the verse of Al-Quran, the importance, significance and superiority of Holy Ramzan lies in the fact that Al-Quran itself was revealed in this month. Razman thus bears a special place in the Islamic calendar.

The Quran says. "So everyone of you who is present (at his house) during that month should spend it in fastingt.."(2:185). Recitation (tilawat) of the Quran is a great virtue. It is more virtuous in this month. There is a Hadith in the Sahih Bukhari that Rasulullah (Sm) used to recite Quran more and more in this month in comparison with other months. He said, '' tt.whoever recites an ayat (verse) from the Quran (in Ramzan) will receive a similar reward as the one who recites the whole Quran in other months."

"He (The Prophet) said. "ttInvoke your Lord in right earnest with hearts that are free of sin and evil, to enable you to fast and to recite His Book (Al Quran)." (Prophet's Sermons : Uyun Akhbar Al-Ridha).

Imam Baqir (R) says "Everything has a spring time and the spring-time of the Quran is the month of Ramzan."

The Quran has oceanic treasures of gems--unique Message for the Muslims and the humanity. It needs to be pondered and discovered. We should recite the verses and should also try to go deep into the treasures of the Quran.

-Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

Meter tampering by WASA men rampant

Mahbubur Rahman Khan

The bill collectors of Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) are trapping consumers in the capital by meter tampering and in the process making huge amount of money.

In connivance with some insincere officials of WASA they present inflated water bills to the consumers, especially before Eid festivals.

"A bill collector came and wanted to know if there was any water meter in the house. After inspecting the meter he came up with a lame excuse that the meter runs slowly," a sufferer of Mirhajirbagh told the New Nation yesterday.

When asked for a remedy. The man suggested a long procedure and of course involving a huge amount of money to be paid in easy installments.

"Seeing my concern writ large on my forehead he proposed an easy way out, though illegal. He asked me to give him Tk 400 per month for reducing the bill to what he called a tolerable level," the man confided to this correspondent.

The amount was fixed at Tk 200 per month after a protracted negotiation, a sufferer, the consumer said.

It was reliably learnt that there are hundreds of metered water connections where the consumers receive non-meter bills every month.

In case of meter connection with supply line the meter remains hidden, so whenever the WASA officials increase the bill it becomes difficult for the consumer to check it out. "Therefore, we easily surrender to the illegal payment system," said Serajul Haque Khan another victim of bill collector's trap.

The people who do not have meter pay 37 per cent of annual holding tax in monthly installments. Consumers with ineffective meters pay an average of last three months of meter read bills.

Sufferers opine that the complex and cumbersome system of paying bills give these dishonest staff and officials opportunity to manipulate with the billing system.

"Being tired of these illegal employees' activities and unaware of a way out of this WASA trap we succumb to pay bribes," a schoolteacher in the city said.

When New Nation contacted WASA officials on the matter, an official seeking anonymity said, "No one lodges complaints with us in this regard."

There are 2, 54,276 consumers of WASA supply line, out of which 73,359 do not have meters.

The official further said that there is help desks in every office of WASA where the consumers can submit complaints. He asserted that if anyone was found guilty action would be taken against him.

Governance of honest leadership stressed

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion in the city yesterday said governance with the leadership of the honest, patriotic and pious could build the country a corruption free society.

They also stressed on leadership maintaining the Islamic rules for building Bangladesh as a model and prosperous country.

The discussion meeting styled "lesson of the Holy Ramadan to Build an deal and Prosperous Country" organised by Khelafat Andolan in the city's Paltan area.

Ameer of Khelafat Andolan Moulana Shah Ahmadullah Asraf addressed the discussion as chief guest, while its Secretary General Moulana Zafarullah Khan, organising secretary Abu Jafar Kasemi, among others, also addressed it with city unit Ameer Mujibur Rahman Hamidi in the chair.

Rice procurement target unlikely to be achieved

Shamim Janangir

The Government rice procurement target is unlikely to be achieved even with extending timeframe a month as 10 per cent of the rice mill owners are yet to provide their rice to the government go-downs.

The Government has fixed the procurement target at 12 lakh tonnes of rice and three lakh tonnes of paddy this year. The four and a half months' food procurement drive scheduled on April 15 to August 31.Despite extended timeframe of a month to achieve its target, the Government has so far procured 8,67,539 tonnes of rice and paddy.

"We are collecting 7,000 tonnes of rice daily. If it continues, we will be able to procure 10 lakh tonnes of rice and paddy within extended the timeframe on September 30," a senior official of directorate of food told the New Nation.

He said that 90 percent of rice mills owners including 160 auto rice mills and 1855 other mills have contacted us to provide their rice.

"Ten percent of rice mills owners didn't contact us as they were selling their rice in high price outside the government targeted price," he added.

Earlier, the authority announced the revised rate of Tk 29.25 per kilogram from the previous rate of Tk 28 on August 10 in view of the reluctance of the traders to sell rice to the government and following representations from the rice mills owners to the Directorate of Food.

A rice mill owner of North Bengal Rice Mills Owner Association said we have incurred loss Tk 1.25 from a kilogram of rice to sell government.

"We have now sufficient stock of rice. A total of 11.52 lakh tonnes of rice out of capacity 12.75 tonnes have stocked in government go-down. So, we have slowly advanced our procurement process," another high official told the New Nation.

Pius Costa, Director General of the Directorate of Food, told the New Nation that the rice procurement process was running in full swing and at an expected level.

About 6,21,414 tonnes of rice have been collected till now from Rajshahi division which is alone slated to supply 8,02,391 tonnes of rice of the total procurement target.

The latest procurement figure of rice from the Dhaka division stands at 1,23,596 tonnes of rice out of 2,02488 tonnes of rice. Procurement of rice from the Khulna division to-date is 81,127 tonnes of rice against the target of 1,41,561 tonnes.

Besides, the procurement of rice from the Chittagong and Sylhet division are 9,325 tonnes and 2,075 tonnes.

Pius Costa, Director General of the Directorate of Food, told the New Nation that the rice procurement process was running in full swing and at an expected level.

The authorities have so far cancelled licences of 1,969 rice mills mostly in the country's northern areas for not selling rice and paddy to the government at the officially fixed rate.

Ctg RMG stakeholders in unison to avert unrest

BSS, Chittagong

Local Administration, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and persons concerned have been working in unison to avert any sorts of labour unrest in the garments sector centering monthly salary and festival bonus ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

Though the port city of Chittagong, the second domain of country's readymade garment industry, is relatively enjoying a cordial and peaceful working environment in comparison with Dhaka and its outskirts, the industry leaders, administration officials and owners here are much apprehensive of agitation by workers this year.

There are over 700 RMG factories in the port city and its outskirts, of them, 500 plus are in operation while 300 out of over 500 factories are exporting their products directly, sources said.

" We have already asked the owners to pay due salary first and if possible bonus to their workers before end of this month" Mohammad Ferdous, acting first vice president of BGMEA told BSS on Tuesday.

He said we are watching the situation in every nock and corner of the industry round-the-clock for not to avoid merely the trouble, but ensure that our beloved workers will get their legitimate wages and other benefits before the festival.

Industry leaders opined that situation in the current year is unique and sensitive for both the owners and workers as the entrepreneurs have been facing a tougher time due to global sluggish economic trend while the workers are struggling with meeting their daily needs with limited earnings following unusual hike of prices of essentials.

People urged to use domestic products

DU Correspondent

Woman and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury yesterday underscored the need for making awareness among the mass people about using of domestic products.

Addressing an inaugural function of Eid Fair organised by women entrepreneurs at its premises, she said there is no alternative but to develop domestic production.

Women Entrepreneurs arranged the fair to exhibit the local production in view of coming Eid.

Seven-day-long fair will be opened from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. A total of 74 stalls of fabrics, garments, scarf, household items, sarees, three-pieces, and handicrafts and food items took part in the fair.

The officials of the Ministry and NGO`s representatives were, among others, present in the function.