The New Nation - Internet Edition

General Maung meets Army Chief

Visiting Vice Senior General Maung Aye, Vice
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC),
Union of Myanmar called on Chief of Army Staff General Moeen
U Ahmed at Army Headquarters on Wednesday. Photo:
ISPR

UNB, Dhaka

Visiting Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar Vice-senior General Maung Aye paid a courtesy call on Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed at the Army Headquarters Wednesday.

"They exchanged greetings and discussed matters of bilateral interest," said an ISPR release.

General Maung Aye was apprised of different activities of Bangladesh Army in a presentation.

The Army Chief, Principal Staff Officers of Army Headquarters and the entourage of Myanmar General were present at the briefing.

Later, General Maung Aye visited the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) at Mirpur Cantonment. He signed the visitors' book.

Besides, Myanmar General's entourage member Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Air Force Lieutenant General Myat Hein paid a courtesy call on Chief of Air Staff Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman at the Air Headquarters.

He spent some time with the Air Chief, exchanging greetings and discussing bilateral issues.

On his arrival at the Air Headquarters, the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Air Force was presented a guard of honour by a smartly turned-out BAF contingent. He inspected the guard and took salute.

Shushuk Mela begins today

Prof Benazir Ahmed speaking at the press conference
at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. NN photo

Staff Reporter

The first ever 'Shushuk Mela,' an interactive exhibition for introducing the whales & dolphins of Bangladesh, will be inaugurated at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy at 5:30pm today.

Main aim of the exhibition will be to introduce the cetacean diversity and enlighten the ongoing efforts for the conservation of whales and dolphins in Bangladesh. The four-day exhibition will be highlighted by photographs, film shows, games and models of whales and dolphins.

Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project (BCDP) of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will organise the show.

Agriculture and Water Resource Adviser Dr CS Karim will inaugurate the exhibition. Among others, National Professor and former Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh Dr AKM Aminul Haque will attend the inaugural function.

Details of the exhibition were explained at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Prof Benazir Ahmed of the Department of Zoology of Chittagong University, Hasan Mansur, wildlife expert, Brian D Smith, Project Director of BCDP, Rubaiyat Mansur Mowgli, principal researcher, Elisabeth Farhni Mansur, Education and Training Coordinator, Jahangir Alam, Project Coordinator of BCDP, Tanjilur Rahman, filmmaker, among others, were present at the conference.

Prof Benazir said, "The most well known dolphin in Bangladesh is the 'Ganges River Dolphins.' They are strange looking animals with an extraordinary long snout, a tiny dorsal fin and large flippers. They live in the Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Karanaphuli and Sangu Rivers. Today, they are an endangered species. 'Irrawaddy' dolphins are found in rivers and in coastal waters that receive freshwater from rivers. They share habitat with the Gangetic dolphins in the waterways of the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Sadly, all of them are today threatened by fishing and pollution."

He hoped that through photographs, film shows, games and models we can create awareness to support the conservation of these unique aquatic animals.

Rubaiyat Mansur said, "The exhibition is open to all from 9:30am to 8:30pm everyday till October 12."

In conjunction to this event the BCDP will hold a series of seminars on October 11 focusing on research and conservation efforts carried out in Bangladesh so far. A proposed 'Protected Area Network for Cetacean Diversity' will be presented to the public, academic institutions, policy makers and conservation organisations, said Rubaiyat.

The BCDP works to conserve cetacean diversity and abundance in Bangladesh with the help of local communities and institutions, he said.

Three win Nobel prize for Chemistry

Martin Chalfie, Roger Tsien and Osamu
Shimomura

AP, Stockholm

Two Americans and a U.S.-based Japanese scientist won the Nobel Prize in chemistry yesterday for their discovery and development of a protein that literally illuminates key processes such as the spread of cancer inside living organisms. Japan's Osamu Shimomura and Americans Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien shared the prize for their work on green fluorescent protein, or GFP, which was first found in a jellyfish, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

It's widely used to track such processes as the development of brain cells, the growth of bacteria or development of disease. The academy compared the impact of the protein on science to the invention of the microscope. For the past decade, the academy said, the protein has been "a guiding star for biochemists, biologists, medical scientists and other researchers."

When exposed to ultraviolet light, the protein glows green. So it can act as a tracer to expose the movements of other, invisible proteins it is attached to as they go about their business. Tsien extended the color palette to a variety of colors so that multiple proteins can be followed simultaneously.

In the 1960s, Shimomura first isolated GFP from a jellyfish found off the west coast of North America and discovered that it glowed bright green under ultraviolet light.

Three decades later, Chalfie showed GFP's value "as a luminous genetic tag," while Tsien contributed "to our general understanding of how GFP fluoresces," the academy said in its citation.

It said that their work has enabled "scientists to follow several different biological processes at the same time." That means that researchers have been able to use GFP to track nerve cell damage from Alzheimer's disease or see how insulin-producing beta-cells are created in the pancreas of a growing embryo.

"In one spectacular experiment, researchers succeeded in tagging different nerve cells in the brain of a mouse with a kaleidoscope of colors," the citation said. The experiment was called the "brainbow."

Shimomura, born in 1928, works at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and the Boston University Medical School.

Chalfie, born in 1947, is a professor at Columbia University in New York, while Tsien, born in 1952, is a professor at the University of California, San Diego.

The trio will split the 10 million kronor (US$1.4 million) award. Speaking to reporters by telephone from California, Tsien said he was surprised to receive the award.

"There had been some rumors, but from sources whose reliability was questionable," he said.

The winners of the Nobel Prizes in medicine and physics were presented earlier this week. The prizes for literature, peace and economics are due to be announced Thursday, Friday and Monday. The awards include the money, a diploma and an invitation to the prize ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.

Last year's chemistry award went to Gerhard Ertl of Germany for studies of chemical reactions on solid surfaces, which are key to understanding such questions as why the ozone layer is thinning.

Conspirators out to foil polls

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Kallyan Party (BKP) Chairman Major General (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Pratik, yesterday said conspiracy is being hatched by a section of evil quarters to foil the forthcoming parliamentary polls.

"BKP along with the people would resist that conspiracy," he said while exchanging views with the leaders and activists of the party at the party's chairman office, New DOHS, Mohakhali in the city.

Abul Kalam Azad, Secretary General, Sadek Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Ali Sarker, Sanowar Hossain, Kahir Mahmud Munna, Shahidur Rahman Tamanna, Abdul Malek Chowdhury, Roksana Rita, Prodip Kumar Das, Anil Kumar Das, Banna Rani and Boby Das among others were present.

Muhammad Ibrahim called upon the government to maintain its accountability and transparency to the people.

He greeted the Hindu Community on the occasion of Mahanavami, the fourth of the five-day of 'Durga Puja' festival being celebrated throughout the country.

" If voted to power the BKP would play due role in resolving the problems related with the minority community," he said in a message.

Road transport workers threaten strike from Oct 14

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Road Transport Owner-Worker Oikkya Parishad yesterday reiterated its decision to go on a transport strike from October 14 unless their demand was met by October 12.

A press statement signed by joint convener of the Parishad Shajahan Khan said a meeting between the Parishad leaders and the LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal was held yesterday at his office where the Adviser agreed with the demands of the Parishad.

A high-powered committee was formed at the meeting to review the 11-point demand of the Parishad.

Shajahan Khan urged the transport owners and the workers to be prepared for the strike from October 14. "The transport strike will only be withdrawn after the demands were met," he said.

Dhaka-London can work jointly in capacity building: CA

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Wednesday said, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom could work together to build people's capacity in different fields for national development.

He said this while the visiting British MP and Chairman of the select committee of UK's Ministry of Home Affairs Keith Vaz paid a courtesy call on him at his office here.

Keith Vaz is leading a seven-member delegation of British MPs, who are the members of select committee.

After the call on, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Syed Fahim Munaim told journalists that the delegation members appreciated the caretaker government for accomplishing a good number of reforms for public welfare with dignity and courage in a short period of time.

The delegation members said, the UK government always welcomes people of bright career to visit that country. Young Bangladeshis are now working in different challenging professions, besides curry industry in UK, they added.

The UK delegation is here to oversee how the point-based new visa system is working here.

They suggested taking accreditation of the Curry Institute established in Sylhet so that its students can avail rightful opportunities in getting visa and job abroad.

Welcoming the delegation, Dr Fakhruddin apprised the delegation of the institutional reforms done by the government.

He also apprised them of the background of declaring state of emergency in the country 19 months back and said, it is not affecting common people.

Referring to success stories, Dr Fakhruddin said, Bangladesh is now exporting ships to Denmark as well as quality pharmaceuticals and garment in the markets.

Present growth rate is about 6.2 percent, which is expected to reach seven percent soon despite floods, cyclones and natural calamities, he added.

The Chief Adviser expressed gratitude to UK government for continued support to Bangladesh's development efforts and standing beside the country during hurricane Sidr and floods.

Secretary to the CAO Kazi M Aminul Islam and Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim were present.

President for rice, gas import from Myanmar

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Wednesday expressed his keen interest to import gas, hydroelectricity and rice from Myanmar apart from establishing direct road link and finalising maritime boundary with the country.

The President said this while the visiting Vice Senior General and Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar Maung Aye made goodwill call on him at Bangabhaban. Welcoming the Vice Senior General, the President mentioned Myanmar as a true, trustworthy friend and a good neighbour of the country.

During the call, Prof Iajuddin expressed his satisfaction at the existing excellent bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries and considers it to be a dependable trade and development partner.

The president underlined the need for early implementation of the direct road link between the two countries, which would also widen the opportunity for linking with China.

Prof Iajuddin said the route would give a tremendous boost to trade opportunities between the two countries.

Terming the discussion as a fruitful one, after the call, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told the reporters that both the sides gave assurance to provide optimum cooperation to each other for increasing the volume of commerce and trade between the two countries.

The president said Myanmar could export its gas to Bangladesh through pipeline and by using that gas, Bangladesh can produce fertilizer and export that to Myanmar, Dr Iftekhar said.

Referring to historical bonds of friendship and culture between the two countries, the President said Bangladesh and Myanmar may help each other in developing their education sectors.

The foreign adviser said the Myanmar delegation assured that they would export 50,000 to one lakh tonnes of rice to Bangladesh regularly.

The foreign adviser also informed the reporters that the discussions on maritime boundary demarcation and contact farming are going on between the two sides and it has already decided that the next round of technical committee meeting on maritime boundary will be held in Dhaka in November next.

Dr Iftekhar hoped that the exiting bilateral relations between the two countries would reach a new height because of this high level visit as seven ministers of Myanmar are included in the delegation.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Major General Abu Roshde Rokonuddawla and Myanmer Ambassador to Bangladesh U Phae Thann were present during the call.

Secretary of the President's Office Md Sirajul Islam, Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohammad Ruhul Amin and the President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were also present.

TAC to summon high govt officials in a week

UNB, Dhaka

The Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) starts summoning high officials of different government departments in a week, as it found their involvement in corruption while hearing the clemency pleas of lower grade employees of those departments.

"While dealing with small cases, we came to know about big things. Having looked at files, we'll summon them. There is a provision in the law to do so," Tac chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan told the Commission's regular briefing yesterday.

Asked when the Commission would start summoning the high officials, he said, "Within seven days."

Tac member Maj Gen (retd) Manjur Rashid who also attended the briefing said from the clemency seekers, mostly the low-level employees of different departments, the Commission came to know about others' involvement in corruption.

Asked about the level of officers involved in malpractices, he said, "We no longer have any interest about small fry…Our eyes are on big ones."

"We have got a good idea about what happened in high places," Maj Gen (retd) Manjur Rashid further said adding that the issue of involvement of the high-ups would be in the report that would be prepared for the government.

Responding to a question, the Tac chairman said those who would be summoned do not include any ministers or state ministers. He parried a question when journalists wanted to know the number of government officials going to receive Tac summons.

Justice Khan said as of Tuesday the Commission has heard the clemency pleas of 126 corrupt individuals who have pledged to pay Tk 18.10. Of the amount, Tk 8.73 crore has already deposited with the government treasury.

Asked whether the amount of the pledged money is very small given to the perception prior to the formation of the Commission that a substantial amount would be deposited with the Exchequer from high-profile corrupt politicians and businessmen, he said, "Money is not a big deal.

He told another questioner, "Don't worry about money…See the social aspects."

Asked if the Commission is a case of failure, Justice Khan said, "I don't think so. It'll definitely bring some good for the country."

He said some 266 corrupt individuals have applied to his Commission for clemency in return for their ill-gotten money. Of them, 13 applied directly, 83 were referred by the Anti-Corruption Commission, 167 by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption while three cases were referred by courts.

Justice Khan pointed out that Tac, either directly or through ACC or NCC, has not yet received any application from the employees of departments like Rajuk, Customs, Dhaka City Corporation, LGED, Wasa, Passport Office and state banks that are perceived to be the places of rampant corruption. "What does it mean? Isn't corruption taking places in these offices? I'll be happy if corruption doesn't take place in these offices."

The Tac chairman lamented the fact that no corrupt politician has applied to the Commission for clemency so far.

Explaining the reasons, he said in the changed situation amid election fervor the corrupt politicians have started believing that they are 'free birds' and they have nothing to fear about.

Sounding a note of warning, the former High Court judge said, "There is no reason for them to be so sure. At some stage, they'll have to face the consequences."

In this regard, he referred to the ACC chairman's remarks who said the activities of the anti-graft watchdog would be strengthened in the days to come.

About the present activities of the ACC, Justice Khan said the pace of the ACC activities is a bit slow at the moment and people do want the anti-graft body to gear up.

He said if the ACC accelerates its activities, either the corrupt persons would be brought to books by them or they themselves would come to Tac.

Striking a note of optimism, Justice Khan said, "There is no reason to be frustrated. I see the light at the end of tunnel."

Responding to a query, he hoped that within the next seven to 10 days some high-profile politicians and businessmen would come up to take advantage of the Commission.

About the ACC activities, Tac member Manjur Rashid said the anti-graft body might have made some mistakes in running its cases for some reasons.

CA visits Puja mandap

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday afternoon visited the puja mandap at Dhakesawri national temple in the city's Palashi area on the occasion of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu Community.

Addressing briefly a gathering of Hindu devotees on the mandap premises, the Chief Adviser said, "Bangladesh is a country of harmony and amity."

He said that he believes the tradition of tolerance and amity of Bangladesh that has existed for long would be upheld in the future.

Referring to peaceful celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja almost simultaneously last year, the head of the caretaker government said this time also Eid and Puja passed by in close proximity "in a very nice, peaceful and disciplined manner".

For this, he said, credit goes to the people. He thanked all, particularly the members of the law-enforcing agencies.

The Chief Adviser wished unimpeachable happiness, peace and wellbeing of each citizen of the country.

Chief Adviser of the Mohanagar Sarbajanin Puja Udjapan Committee Maj Gen (Retd) CR Dutta Bir Uttam also spoke on the occasion.

Maj Gen (Rtd) CR Dutta and adviser of Mohanagar Sarbajanin Puja Udjapan Committee Swapan Kumar Saha, among others, received Chief Adviser Fakhruddin at the Puja venue.

Khaleda greets Hindu community

Staff Reporter

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday in separate messages greeted the Hindu Community on the occasion of Mahanavami, the fourth of the five-day 'Durga Puja' festival being celebrated throughout the country.

In her message Begum Khaleda Zia said the main theme of all religions is to establish human welfare and peace. It is our responsibility to establish peace, harmony and cordiality in society by defeating all evil forces.

Bangladesh is a land of communal harmony that has to be upheld by all citizens of the country. People of this country irrespective of their cast, creed and religion have been living peacefully.

She said Durga Puja is a part of the customary Bengali culture and is celebrated amid great festivity.

She hoped that the Durga Puja will strengthen the bond of harmony and amity among all people of the country.

Khondoker Delwar Hossain has also felicitated the members of the Hindu community. He wished uninterrupted happiness, peace and welfare of all citizens of the country including members of the Hindu community.

SAF Scout Friendship Camp begins Oct 12

Staff Reporter

A week-long 6 th SAF Scout Friendship Camp begins at Mouchack in Gazipur on October 12. The main theme of the camp is ' Scouting for Peace and Friendship'.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will inaugurate the camp. President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed will be present in the youth parliament to be held on October 16 as chief guest.

Md Abul Kalam Azad , Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts, outlined the programmes of the camp to the media at the national headquarters of Bangladesh Scouts at Karkrail in the city.

Md Mozammel Haque Khan, Chairman of the SAF Scout Friendship Camp organising committee and National Commissioners, Deputy National Commissioners and Executive Secretary of Bangladesh Scouts among others, were present at the press conference.

Abul Kalam said that Rover Scouts and the leaders from 8 SAARC countries are expected to participate in the camp.

The Chief Commissioner of the National Scout Organisations in the SAARC countries and the official of the World Scout Bureau of Asia and Pacific region will visit the camp.

A total of 350 Rover Scouts and leaders from member countries of SAARC are expected to attend the SAF camp ending on October 18.

Higher education summit ends

UNB, Dhaka

The three-day Asia Regional Higher Education Summit concluded in Dhaka yesterday with organizers announcing five new Fulbright scholarships for Bangladesh.

No declaration or statement was issued at the close of the summit in capital's Westin Hotel, but officials said the outcome of the Dhaka deliberations will be announced later through a press briefing.

Speaking at Wednesday's last session, US ambassador James F. Moriarty said that the U.S. Government, through the State Department's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, had authorized five new Fulbright positions for studies in Bangladesh's food security areas.

"We heard the message that food security is a great concern and that higher education is key to developing a solution. These five new Fulbrighters will pursue master's degree programmes in the US in the area of food security. We heard, we listened and we acted. I challenge you all to do the same," Moriarty said.

On the just-concluded summit, the US ambassador said that it opened the next chapter for new partnerships, new networks and new ideas.

Terming the Dhaka summit a "great success" Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr SMA Faiz said it was focused on four specific global challenges for the Asia region, including food security, women' s entrepreneurship, teacher training, and natural disaster management and mitigation.

The summit put forward significant recommendations that would help the policy makers, educators and researchers alike, he added.

Vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Prof Dr AMM Safiullah and USAID mission director in Bangladesh Denise Rollins also spoke on the occasion.

More than 100 participants from different universities and other organizations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the United States, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam took part in the summit.

Five killed in Manikganj road accident

UNB, Manikganj

Five people were killed and 48 injured in a violent collision between two buses on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in front of the British-America Tobacco Company office in Sadar upazila yesterday.

Bus driver of Village-Line Paribahan Mohiuddin, 30, of Aminbazar in Savar and Rekha, 2, of Chartilli village in Saturia upazila of the district died instantly.

Police said the fatal accident occurred at about 2:15pm when a bus of Sohagh Paribahan from Sathkhira rammed into a bus of the Village-Line Paribahan from Gabtali in Dhaka, killing the two on the spot and injuring 50 others.

Dipak, 20, a student of Singgair Degree Collage, and Santunu Roy, 33, died on way to Dhaka Medical Collage Hospital (DMCH).

Of the injured, 24 were admitted to district Sadar Hospital where an unidentified man died on arrival. Twelve others were sent to DMCH in critical condition.

As the head-on collision between the two buses brought a gloom down on the scene, vehicular movement on the busy highway snapped for about an hour.

Deputy Commission Saleh Uddin Ahmed and Police Super Sheikh Muhammad Maruf Hasan visited the spot.

ACC files 15 graft cases against 24 CDA engineers

UNB, Chittagong

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed 15 corruption cases against 24 persons, including engineers and contractors of Chittagong Development Authority, on charge of misappropriating CDA funds and committing irregularities in road construction.

After preliminary investigation, ACC Deputy Assistant Director Shamsuddin Ahmed filed the cases with Kotwali thana Wednesday against the accused, seven of them CDA engineers.

CDA Chief Engineer Iqbal Hossain Majumder, Superintending Engineer Hassan Bin Shamsher and Assistant Engineer Nurul Amin Bhuiyan were among the engineers sued for corruption under the ongoing countrywide purge in the interim period.

The rest of the accused are contractors and their staffers.

According to the anti-graft watchdog body, CDA started its construction work on a 6-km road from Oxygen crossing in the city to Kuwaish on Kaptai road at a cost of Tk 80.67 lakh through 15 sub-tenders in November 2001. It set a target to complete the project works by June 2007.

During the period, CDA drew all the allocation but 45 percent of the works were yet to be completed.

Moreover, the ACC also found many irregularities in the construction works.