The New Nation - Internet Edition

Holiday mood still persists in city

Miss Secretariat seems to be the lone attendant in
an office at the prime seat of the administration in the
capital on the first working day after Eid vacation.
FocusBangla

BSS, Dhaka

The holiday mood still persists in the capital city though a three-day closure on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr ended on Saturday.

Government and private offices as well as public and private banks and other commercial establishments reopened today, but attendance of officers and employees was thin. Besides business houses are yet to resume full work.

Most shopping malls and markets remain closed. The city witnessed no traffic jam as most dwellers are yet to return from their homes.

An assistant director of a government office told BSS that "only I myself and three of my superiors from among 18 are present in the office today. But she added that those who are not present they have taken leave duly."

Like other important parts of the city, the busy Motijheel Commercial Area passed a lazy day. A small number of cars and cabs besides some private buses were plying, but the number of rickshaws is a little higher than the previous days," said an on- duty traffic constable. Besides the absence of traffic congestion, the hustle and bustle of street vendors and honks of vehicles disappeared during the holiday.

The holiday mood somehow may continue till October 9, the official holiday for Durga Puja, said traffic officials.

The city will get usual look with overcrowding by people, vehicles and pavement hawkers after October 12, the day for opening most educational institutions that remain closed on the occasions of Ramadan, Eid and Puja, said a beverage supplier.

The trader said his targeted sales for the current month will start from October 13. The transport workers will start returning to their work within a couple of days.

Withdrawal of cases against Hasanat Abdullah demanded

Police intercepted the Awami League activists as
they were trying to form a human chain on Dhaka-Barisal
Highway from Bhurghata to Barisal town yesterday demanding
unconditional release of the party chief Sheikh Hasina and
the withdrawal of cases against

Barisal Correspondent

Awami League observed long human chain programme on different bus stoppages and road sides of Barisal-Dhaka highway from Barisal central bus terminal to Vurghata bus stand under Barisal district amid interference of police on Sunday.

Barisal district, city and different upazila branches of Awami League and its front organisations organised this programme from 10:30 to 11:30 am on Sunday morning on this 45 kilometers long route demanding immediate withdrawal of cases against Abul Hasanat Abdullah, Barisal district AL Secretary, former Chief Whip and cousin of Sheikh Hasina and cancellation of convictions awarded to him.

A large number of AL activists including Mahbubuddin Birbikram, Balaram Poddar, Habibur Rahman Habib, Manirunnahar Moni,central leaders, Laskar Nurul Huq, Afzalul Karim, Talukdar Md. Yunus, district leaders, Kalia Daman Guha, Shah Alam Khan, upazila leaders and others participated in the programme.

Additional police forces called from district and different upazila police lines to interfere and foil the programme and they snatched away banners and festoons from Kashipur, Joyosri, Rahamatpur, Gournadi, Bhurghata, Barthi, Illa bus stands.

However police failed to foil the programme due to unwaveringness of the participants and it ends peacefully and successfully, claimed the organisers.

From the Foreign Press: The power of negative thinking

Barbara Ehrenreich

Greed - and its crafty sibling, speculation - are the designated culprits for the financial crisis. But another, much admired, habit of mind should get its share of the blame: the delusional optimism of mainstream, all-American, positive thinking.

As promoted by Oprah Winfrey, scores of megachurch pastors and an endless flow of self-help best sellers, the idea is to firmly believe that you will get what you want, not only because it will make you feel better to do so, but because “visualising” something - ardently and with concentration - actually makes it happen.

You will be able to pay that adjustable-rate mortgage or, at the other end of the transaction, turn thousands of bad mortgages into giga-profits if only you believe that you can.

Positive thinking is endemic to American culture - from weight loss programmes to cancer support groups - and in the last two decades it has put down deep roots in the corporate world as well. Everyone knows that you won’t get a job paying more than $15 an hour unless you’re a “positive person,” and no one becomes a chief executive by issuing warnings of possible disaster.

The tomes in airport bookstores’ business sections warn against “negativity” and advise the reader to be at all times upbeat, optimistic, brimming with confidence. It’s a message companies relentlessly reinforced - treating their white-collar employees to manic motivational speakers and revival-like motivational events, while sending the top guys off to exotic locales to get pumped by the likes of Tony Robbins and other success gurus. Those who failed to get with the programme would be subjected to personal “coaching” or shown the door.

The once-sober finance industry was not immune. On their Web sites, motivational speakers proudly list companies like Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch among their clients. What’s more, for those at the very top of the corporate hierarchy, all this positive thinking must not have seemed delusional at all. With the rise in executive compensation, bosses could have almost anything they wanted, just by expressing the desire. No one was psychologically prepared for hard times when they hit, because, according to the tenets of positive thinking, even to think of trouble is to bring it on.

Americans did not start out as deluded optimists. The original ethos, at least of white Protestant settlers and their descendants, was a grim Calvinism that offered wealth only through hard work and savings, and even then made no promises at all. You might work hard and still fail; you certainly wouldn’t get anywhere by adjusting your attitude or dreamily “visualising” success.

Calvinists thought “negatively,” as we would say today, carrying a weight of guilt and foreboding that sometimes broke their spirits. It was in response to this harsh attitude that positive thinking arose - among mystics, lay healers and transcendentalists - in the 19th century, with its crowd-pleasing message that God, or the universe, is really on your side, that you can actually have whatever you want, if the wanting is focused enough.

When it comes to how we think, “negative” is not the only alternative to “positive.” As the case histories of depressives show, consistent pessimism can be just as baseless and deluded as its opposite. The alternative to both is realism - seeing the risks, having the courage to bear bad news and being prepared for famine as well as plenty. We Americans ought to give it a try.

-International Herald Tribune

Afghan war can’t be won: UK commander

Reuters

Britain's commander in Afghanistan has said the war against the Taliban cannot be won, the Sunday Times reported.

It quoted Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith as saying in an interview that if the Taliban were willing to talk, then that might be "precisely the sort of progress" needed to end the insurgency.

"We're not going to win this war. It's about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that's not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan army," he said.

He said his forces had "taken the sting out of the Taliban for 2008" but that troops may well leave Afghanistan with there still being a low level of insurgency. But Afghanistan's Defense Minister expressed his disappointment on Sunday at the commander's statements, maintaining the insurgency had to be defeated.

"I think this is the personal opinion of that commander," Abdul Rahim Wardak told reporters.

"The main objective of the Afghan government and the whole international community is that we have to defeat this war of terror and be successful," he said.

Wardak said success also depended on how British forces were approaching the problems they faced in Helmand but did not say whether their current strategy was the right one.

Asked if the commander's comments came as a disappointment, Wardak said: "Yes, it is disappointing, for sure."

Britain has around 8,000 troops based in Afghanistan, most of them in the volatile southern province of Helmand, where they face daily battles with a growing insurgency.

NATO commanders and diplomats have been saying for some time that the Taliban insurgency cannot be defeated by military means alone and that negotiations with the militants will ultimately be needed to bring an end to the conflict.

"If the Taliban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that's precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this," Carleton-Smith said. "That shouldn't make people uncomfortable."

But a spokesman for the Taliban said on Sunday there would be no negotiations with foreigners and repeated calls made by Taliban commanders for the unconditional withdrawal of the more than 70,000 international troops from Afghanistan.

"They should know that Taliban will never hold talks with the invaders," Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf told the Pakistan-based Afghan news agency, AIP.

"What we had said in the past, we also say once again, that foreign forces should leave without any condition," he said.

Violence in Afghanistan has increased to its worst level since 2001, when U.S.-led and Afghan forces overthrew the ruling Taliban following the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said last week he had asked the king of Saudi Arabia to mediate in talks with the insurgents and called on Taliban leader Mullah Omar to return to his homeland and to make peace.

CA to launch Ctg Port customs house automation today

BSS, Dhaka

The automation of the Chittagong Customs House will come into effect from today opening a new chapter of computerised handling of customer services bringing efficiency and transparency in port operations.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will formally inaugurate the automation services at a function to be held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city switching on the on-line computerised network.

President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Saifuzzaman Chowdhury briefed reporters yesterday at the Jatiya Press Club about the launching of the Customs automation by the Chief Adviser tomorrow.

He said the automation scheme will cover all clearing and forwarding-related activities including manifestation of export and imports, writ management, law and litigation management, duty and valuation assessment, bill of entry license, security and auction system.

He said the automation will reduce the number of steps to only five from 42 in the process from tariff valuation to releasing the cargo. It will moreover, simplify tariff fixation procedure, reduce harassment of businessmen and other undue intervention from vested quarters and on top, increase government revenue to a large extent.

He said the CCCI has carried out the automation project under a five-year agreement with the port authority and the government making it a unique example of public-private partnership.

The project has been implemented within six months since the signing of the agreement in April 13 this year where as such work require several years in preparing the project and carrying out implementation by foreign firms.

He said the CCCI has developed the project under 'build own- operate and transfer' basis and all stakeholders using the port customs house have lent their support to it making sure that it will continue to work without destabilisation.

Legal framework for private postal operators

UNB, Dhaka

The Advisory Council of the caretaker government Sunday approved in principle The Post Office (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 to bring private postal operators under legal framework.

A meeting of the Advisory Council with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair approved the Ordinance in principle in the light of discussion and suggestions.

However, the council asked the Ministry concerned for placing the draft ordinance again at the advisory council meeting after vetting by the Law Ministry.

The Post and Telecommunications Ministry placed the draft Ordinance proposing to amend two sections of the Post Office Act 1898.

The meeting also discussed the draft Dearness Allowance (Constitutional Post) Ordinance 2008 to provide dearness allowance to persons positioned in the constitutional posts.

It asked the Law Ministry for reexamining the draft Ordinance incorporating all constitutional posts and placing again at the council-of-advisers meeting.

The meeting also discussed a proposal on re-fixing the value of lands under Housing and Works Ministry and increase in the fees and service charges on transfer of lands and flats.

The meeting asked for placing comprehensive proposals by holding joint meeting of Finance, Law, and Housing and Works Ministries.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed newsmen about the outcome of the meeting.

Members of the council of advisers attended the meeting at the CA's Office. Cabinet Secretary, CA's Press Secretary and Secretaries concerned were also present.

Durga Puja begins with rituals

Staff Reporter

Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival for Bangalee Hindus, began amidst festivity and with due religious fervour yesterday.

The five-day celebrations are formally launched with 'Devi Bodhon', when the goddess Durga is invited to visit earth.

Spectacular pandals have been erected in a line from Shakaribazar to Tatibazar and Laxmibazar giving a colourful look in in the capital's old dictrict.

This year, Durga Puja is being held in over 22,000 mandaps, about 1,000 more than the last year's number, across the country. In the city a total of 165 puja are being held giving a colourful look in the respective areas.

Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee is centrally organizing the annual festivity at Dhakeshwari Mandir of the capital. Other important venues are Dhakeshwari Mandir, Ramna Kali Mandir, Shahkari Bazar, Siddheswari Kali Mandir, Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Kalabagan playground, Tanti Bazar, Bangla Bazar, Mohakhali, Farm Gate and Gulshan.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Hindu community, in the beginning of the festival, renewed their vow to establish a peaceful, harmonious and secular Bangladesh by restoration of the 1972 constitution annulling the Fifth and Eighth amendment to it.

On behalf of the community Liberation War Sector Commander Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutta demanded banning of Islam as state religion and to uphold the spirit of the liberation struggle.

At a press conference of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad at the

Dhakeswari Temple in the city yesterday he said, "We didn't fight for liberation in 1971 for making Islam state religion. The spirit of War of Liberation was to establish a nation free from communalism."

The Puja Udjapon Parishad placed a 32-point charter of demands including declaration of a four-day general vacation for Durga Puja celebration, recognition of the Dhakeswari Temple as the national temple, tariff-free supplies of water and electricity to all temples and Mandaps across the country, distribution of rich diet to orphanages, jails and hospitals on the day of Bhijaya Dashami, the final day of the celebration.

The Parishad submitted a five-point memorandum to the government on yesterday.

The leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad urged the government to take initiative for celebrating the Puja with more active patronization of the government.

Besides, the Hindu Community leaders called for uninterrupted power supply during the festival and adequate safety measures including deployment of security personnel on the day of immersion of the idols on October 9 to avert any untoward incident. In the evening the Puja Mandaps will be kept illuminated in the evenings during the celebration.

President of the Parisad, Professor Nim Chandra Bhowmik, said this year the number had risen to about 22,000.

President of Dhaka City Sarbajanin Puja Committee Kazal Debnath said: "We had meetings with the home adviser as well as senior police and RAB officials. They assured us of security measures, we have no doubt about the safety of Puja celebrations."

Bhowmik mentioned, however, that pandals had been attacked in some districts including Bagerhat, Satkhira, Gopalganj, Narsingdi and Chittagong.

"The government is yet to take all necessary steps so that Puja celebrations can take place peacefully throughout the country," he said.

Meanwhile, for peaceful celebration of the Puja, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has deployed special teams in different parts of the city and adequate number of police force has also been deployed in all Puja Mandaps. A central police control room has been opened at the Dhakeshwari Temple.

Different socio-cultural organizations of the Hindu community as well as Mandir managements will organize blood donation programme. Adviser for Home Major Gen. (retd) MA Matin will distribute clothes among poor at Dhakaswari Temple today.

Inaugurating festival at Banani Law Adviser of the Caretaker Government assured the Hindu community of all kinds of co-operation from the Government.

In response to the longstanding demand of the Hindu community he said, "Hindu Foundation will be established in place of the Hindu Kallyan Trust."

Special Aid to the Chief Adviser Manik Lal Samaddar and leaders of Hindu community were present.

The festival will come to an end on Oct 9 through the sacrifice of the Durga idols on Dashamee day.

Ashraful harbours no doubt on Dec 18 polls

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Isalm yesterday said that he has no apprehension about the holding of the parliamentary election on December 18.

Talking to reporters at the Gulshan residence of AL acting president Zullur Rahman, he said crucial issues like complete withdrawal of emergency and unconditional release of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina could be resolved through discussions with the caretaker government ahead of the polls.

He said, "We firmly believe that the elections will be held in a free and fair manner on the date already announced by the government."

He further said the Government is pledge-bound to hold the national election on December 18. The people of the country are enthusiastic to exercise their right of franchise in a fair national election. It will be the violation of promise if the government delays the national election, he added.

He demanded complete withdrawal of the emergency to pave the way for holding a free, fair and credible parliamentary election.

About the proposed Hasina-Khaleda dialogue ahead of the long-awaited national elections, Ashraf said such dialogue would not bear fruit without setting agenda before the talks.

German bank at risk of collapse

Agency, Berlin

A top German bank is on the brink of collapse after a 35bn euro ($48bn; £27.2bn) rescue plan collapsed.

Germany's second-largest commercial property lender, Hypo Real Estate, said a banking consortium had withdrawn their support for the deal.

Correspondents say its failure will put further strain on financial institutions in other countries.

The news came after EU leaders at a Paris summit refused to commit to a US-style rescue plan for banks.

Hypo Real Estate, which has large amounts of bad debt, has suffered from the credit squeeze in international markets.

The bank said a consortium of German financial institutions involved in a government-led rescue plan pulled out of the negotiations after refusing to come up with nearly 35bn euros ($50bn; £28bn) for a bail-out.

The reasons why the consortium pulled out are unclear but a Hypo Real Estate spokesman said the property lender was fighting for its survival.

Some analysts are saying the bank will not last more than a few days without a rescue package, so action must be taken before the markets open on Monday.

Another meeting of government representatives and private bankers is expected to take place on Sunday.

Correspondents say if Hypo Real Estate does collapse it could plunge already volatile markets even further into debt.

It has to be indicated to the marketst that European countries will not react as every man for himself Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF head

News of the failed plan came as leaders of the major European economies met in the French capital for talks hosted by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Britain, Germany, Italy and France all agreed to work together to support financial institutions but did not agree to set up a big rescue fund similar to that of the US.

They decided instead to seek a relaxation of the EU rules governing the amount of money individual states can borrow.

The leaders also issued a joint call for a G8 summit "as soon as possible" to review the rules governing financial markets.

Mr Sarkozy announced a series of other measures - including unspecified action against the executives of failed banks.

Speaking after the meeting at a joint news conference, he said the four had agreed that the leaders of a financial institution that had to be rescued should be "sanctioned".

Medicine award kicks off Nobel Prize announcements

AP, Stockholm

Two scientists who have already won acclaim for research into the growth of cancer cells could be candidates for the Nobel Prize in medicine when the 2008 winners are presented on Monday, kicking off six days of Nobel announcements. Australian-born U.S. citizen Elizabeth Blackburn and American Carol Greider have already won a series of medical honors for their enzyme research and experts say they could be among the front-runners for a Nobel.

Only seven women have won the medicine prize since the first Nobel Prizes were handed out in 1901. The last female winner was U.S. researcher Linda Buck in 2004, who shared the prize with Richard Axel.

Among the pair's possible rivals are Frenchman Pierre Chambon and Americans Ronald Evans and Elwood Jensen, who opened up the field of studying proteins called nuclear hormone receptors. As usual, the tightlipped award committee is giving no hints about who is in the running before presenting its decision in a news conference at Stockholm's Karolinska institute. Alfred Nobel, the Swede who invented dynamite, established the prizes in his will in the categories of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace. The economics prize is technically not a Nobel but a 1968 creation of Sweden's central bank. Nobel left few instructions on how to select winners, but medicine winners are typically awarded for a specific breakthrough rather than a body of research.

BCB announces warm-up squad

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Bangladesh Cricket Board Sunday announced the name of BCB XI for the lone one-day practice match against visitors New Zealand to be held on Tuesday at Fatullah Cricket Stadium in Narayanganj.

The selectors picked all 12 players from the 24-member provisional squad for the series against New Zealand and South Africa with Rajin Saleh leading the side.

The BCB will announce its squad for the three one-day international home series against New Zealand on Monday as the first ODI is scheduled for Thursday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Squad: Rajin Salah (captain), Nafis Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Imrul Kayes, Shamsur Rahman, Tushar Imran, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Enamul Haque Jr, Nazmul Hossain, Syed Rasel, Dollar Mahmud and Sahagir Hossain (wicketkeeper).

Officials: Mohammad Salahuddin (coach), Tariquzzaman Munir (Manager) and Debashish Chowdhury (team doctor).

DSE maintains up-trend after Eid vacation

UNB, Dhaka

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) resumed trading after a nine-day eid-vacation on Sunday, maintaining pre-eid upward trend with the benchmark index crossing 3,000 marks after three months.

Before the vacation, the country's primer bourse registered gains for a 5th straight day while finished the pre-eid trading on September 25 with a sharp rise.

Brokers said the US financial sector rescue plan might have an impact on the market, in addition to the market factors of striking significant turnover and market capitalisation while most shares registered gains on the day.

The DSE General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, rose 34 points or 1.16 percent to close at 3,001 points on Sunday from 2,967 points on the last trading day on September 25 while the DSE-20 index of selective shares also gained 20 points or 0.83 percent to close at 2,487 points.

The All Shares Price Index (DSI), however, declined 12 points or 0.46 percent to close at 2,487 points.

Of the total 222 issues traded on the day, 137 gained, 80 declined and five remained unchanged. The day's total turnover reduced to Tk 4.50 billion from Tk 4.79 billion on the last trading day. Market Capitalisation dropped a little to Tk 1.036 trillion from Tk 1.039 trillion on September 25.

BEXIMCO, Beximco Pharma, Summit Power, Titas Gas, ACI, Lanka Bangla Finance, GRAMEENS2, Keya Cosmetics, DESCO and Power Grid were the day' s turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, GRAMEENS2, Beximco Textiles, Beximco Pharma, BEXIMCO, Keya Cosmetics, Goldenson, Ran Foundry, Keya Detergent and Grameen 1.

Top gainers of the day were Golden Son, All Tex, Excelsior Shoes, Ran Foundry, BD Thai, BD Finance, Meghna Shrimp, Keya Detergent, Lexco and Apex Tannery. Top losers were Rupali Bank, BSC, Shyampur Sugar, Progressive Life Insurance, Midas Finance, Prime Life Insurance, Sandhani Insurance, Far East Life Insurance and Delta BRAC Housing.