The New Nation - Internet Edition

ACC to carry out activities through next govt

Staff Reporter

The Anticorruption Commission (ACC) will take steps to carry out its activities effectively under the next elected government.

"The Commission will hold talks with politicians along with the government officials and the business community so that it can carry on its activities with a minimum level of cooperation," ACC Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said this while briefing reporters at the ACC office yesterday.

Replying to a question, he said the government and Election Commission (EC) would decide whether the corruption suspects could contest the forthcoming general polls.

The ACC Chairman, who was due to go to Barisal on a five-day tour, however said the Commission considered a verdict upheld until an appeal is filed against the verdict or the verdict is overturned.

"We can do nothing if a corrupt person contests and wins the elections. We can only continue our awareness campaigns so that the people do not vote for them," he said.

Asked to comment on possible government moves to withdraw the cases filed against former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, Hasan Mashhud said the Commission was not dealing with the matter.

He said corruption could not be stopped just through accusing persons or parties. That's why the Commission planned to hold a series of parleys with the top government functionaries, politicians and businessmen.

Replying to anther question on Truth Commission's activities, the ACC chief said it should be cross-checked whether the people who were going to TAC were providing correct information.

"If they (corrupt suspects) provide any wrong information, their cases should be reconsidered. If we work all together we will definitely get good outcome," he added.

New Zealand takes sweet revenge

Jacob Oram of New Zealand hits a delivery of
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza during the second ODI match between
Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla
National Stadium on Saturday. FocusBangla

Sports Reporter

New Zealand Cricket team took sweet revenge over Bangladesh Cricket team when the Kiwis defeated the Tigers by 75 runs in the second ODI of the three-match BRAC Bank ODI Series at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

Earlier, Bangladesh outplayed New Zealand in the first ODI at the same venue on October 9.

Sent into bat first, New Zealand made 212 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs and then they bowled out Bangladesh for 137 off 42.4 overs.

New Zealand lost their wickets in regular intervals but Jacob Oram and Jeetan Patel contributed together 45 runs in the unbroken last wicket stand. Jacob Oram earned 25 (6,6,2,6,4,1) runs in the ninth over of spinner Abdur Razzak. It was also the last over of the Kiwis innings. Jacob Oram showed an all-round performance and was adjudged the Man of the Match. Oram, the fifth down batsman of New Zealand remained, undefeated with 75 off 62 balls. He hit four sixes and five fours. Oram also shone with the cherry claiming two wickets at the cost of 23 runs.

Syed Rasel gave an early breakthrough to his team. He dismissed Brendon McCullum (30), Jamie How (0) and Jesse Ryder (12).

Later, Ross Taylor and Daniel Flynn added 33 and 25 runs to the Kiwis total.

Shakib Al Hasan and Naeem Islam bagged a couple of wickets each giving away 20 runs each.

Besides, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took one wicket for 29 runs.

Later, Bangladesh made a meagre start as the hosts lost their early two wickets for 18 runs.

Skipper Mohammad Ashraful and Zunaed Siddique tried to repair the damage adding together 53 runs in the third wicket stand before Zunaed Siddique was caught at mid off by Daniel Vettorie off Tim Southee when the team's total was 71 for the loss of three wickets. Mohammad Ashraful knocked a sedate 40 off 86 balls while Zunaed scored 32 facing 67 deliveries. He hit three fours.

After departure of Mohammad Ashraful most of the Bangladesh batsmen threw their wickets hopelessly.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was the only exception as he notched up a run-a-ball 27 with three fours and a six.

Kyle Mills grabbed three wickets in the space of 13 runs while Tim Southee took one wicket for 33 runs.

It may be mentioned that three of the Bangladesh batsmen were the victims of run out.

Bangladesh will face New Zealand in the third and final ODI in Chittagong on October 14.

IMF, WB meet to tackle global financial crisis

US President George W Bush makes a statement in the
Rose Garden of the White House after meeting with G7 finance
ministers about the financial crisis on Saturday.
Internet

AFP, Washington

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank began their annual meetings Saturday under pressure to tackle the global financial crisis and minimize its impact on the world's poor.

The meetings open after Wall Street's worst weekly rout on record, and as governments around the world struggle to contain the most severe financial meltdown since the 1930s Great Depression.

Finance leaders from the twin institutions' 185 member nations and private financiers gathered in Washington in search of an effective response to the crisis that has slowed the advanced economies to a standstill.

Late Friday, the finance chiefs of the Group of Seven richest industrialised countries agreed to use "all available tools" to support major banks and prevent their failure as they sought to dampen a financial firestorm threatening more mayhem.

Their broad five-point action plan followed another day of massive falls on the markets as investors rushed to the exits, putting G7 officials under intense pressure to come up with a convincing accord.

US President George W. Bush, speaking early Saturday after hosting G7 crisis talks attended by the IMF and World Bank leaders, said that all agreed the world financial meltdown required "a serious global response."

Bush was joined by the G7 finance ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, as well as International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and World Bank President Robert Zoellick and other officials.

The central bank chiefs and finance ministers of the Group of 20, a grouping that includes rich and emerging nations, are to hold a crisis meeting Saturday in Washington.

US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said late Friday he expects emerging nations in the G20 to sign up to the G7 five- point action plan.

"I would be surprised t if they didn't look at the action plans and didn't endorse them," Paulson told reporters.

"Never have all of us been so dependent on the other and so interdependent. We need to work together."

Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush said on Saturday after crisis talks with finance ministers from the G7 rich countries that all agreed the world financial meltdown required "a serious global response".

"All of us recognize that this is a serious global crisis and therefore requires a serious global response for the good of our people," Bush said in the White House Rose Garden after the roughly 40-minute meeting.

"The United States has a special role to play in leading the response to this crisis. That's why I convened this morning's meeting here at the White House and it is why our government will continue using all the tools at our disposal to resolve this crisis," he declared.

Bush was joined by finance ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, as well as International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and World Bank President Robert Zoellick and other officials.

With some warning that the crisis may be the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s, Bush vowed no repeat of steps that deepened that crisis, such as enacting protectionist steps that choke off trade.

"There have been moments of crisis in the past when powerful nations turned their energies against each other, or sought to wall themselves off from the world," said the US president.

"This time is different: the leaders gathered in Washington this weekend are all working towards the same goals," he said. "We're in this together, we'll come through it together."

Bush hailed international cooperation thus far, and said the Group of Seven would work with an enlarged forum known as the Group of 20 that includes other major economies like China, India and Russia.

"As our nations confront challenges unique to our individual financial systems, we must continue to work collaboratively, and ensure that our actions are coordinated," he said.

"We must ensure the actions of one country do not contradict or undermine the actions of another. In an interconnected world, no nation will gain by driving down the fortunes of another," he warned.

AL won’t go to election without Hasina: CWC decides to maintain associate organisations

Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful
Islam speaking at the press briefing following the party's
central working committee meeting at its Dhanmondi office on
Saturday. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC), yesterday decided to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election only under the leadership of the party chief Sheikh Hasina and to boycott the elections if she is deferred from participating the polls.

The central leaders also vowed to retain party's all the associate organisations within the country and all the overseas units who need to operate as per laws and rules of the host country.

Syed Ashraful Isalm, Acting General Secretary of AL, yesterday disclosed this while talking to the reporters emerging from the four-hour long ALCWC meeting at the party's Dhanmondi Office, which has been adjourned till Monday.

He reiterated the demand of withdrawal of all the 'false and fabricated' cases filed against Sheikh Hasina and other AL leaders.

Ashraful Islam demanded the cancellation of the provision in the election code of conduct that the EC may scrap candidacy of any contestant for any mistake even after the finalisation of candidates' list after scrutiny of the nomination papers. He said this provision was undemocratic and illogical.

He also demanded the withdrawal of the provision of declaring one ineligible to contest the parliamentary polls if he was a bill defaulter (Gas bill, water bill, electricity bill, telephone bill etc).

About the delimitation of the constituencies, he said, "The process of delimitation requires huge time. But the national election is knocking at the door. So the Government should arrange the national election according to the previous electoral areas."

Urging the Government and the EC to defer the date of upazila election he said, "We are not against the uapzila election. But the government and the EC should announce an logical date for upazila election where at least one month gap between the two elections is a must."

A committee headed by AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed, has been formed to Analyse and review the provisions of the party's constitution to bring necessary amendment to get registered with the EC. The committee will submit drafted proposal to the ALCWC on Monday.

The committee includes all the AL presidium members, AL Advisory Committee members and former Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, Advisory Council members Hossain Toufique Imam, Organising Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Abdul Mannan, Information and Research Secretary Nouh-Ul-Alam Lenin, ALCWC member Latif Siddique and KM Jahangir.

The members of this committee will sit today to analyse the provisions, which might be amended.

Syed Ashraf said, "The party's nomination process is yet to start. As per the party constitution AL's nomination process would start from the grassroots level."

He demanded withdrawal of the state of emergency and release of all detained leaders and workers of the AL.

He also urged the government to create a congenial atmosphere ahead of the national election for the sake of free and fair election.

He informed the journalists that AL would sit with its allies very soon to talk about the poll preparation and distribution of seats for contesting in the national election.

Presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Motia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, among others, were present on the occasion.

WB opposes signing bilateral FAT’s: Dhaka fails to narrow trade gap with SAARC states

Syful Islam

Opposition from World Bank keeps Bangladesh away from signing bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with SAARC member countries, a top official of the Commerce Ministry said yesterday.

"We want to sign FTA with member states of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). But World Bank is opposing the signing deal arguing that other existing agreements are enough for bilateral trade," the high official said preferring anonymity.

The top official said there are several FTA's among the SAARC member countries. "But when we take any initiative to sign FTA. The World Bank opposes the move and we do not get approval from the high level, he said.

Bangladesh has received proposals for signing FTA's from SAARC countries such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In August Bhutan proposed the same at a meeting between Bangladesh's Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed and Bhutans Economic Affairs Secretary Dasho Sonan Tshering in Thimphu. However, in the meeting Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed could not give any positive reply to his counterpart other than saying, " Signing of FTA's require a major policy decision by the government."

Informed sources said the government is studying the costs, benefits and implications of signing of the FTA's. "The process will also require consultations with stakeholders and their views and opinions have to be taken into account."

In the Thimphu meeting Feroz Ahmed said, "As SAFTA has already come into force signing of FTA's with SAARC member countries will have to be SAFTA plus and has to include other components." He also stated about the need to create the conditions and basis including through confidence building measures such as early harvest programme before FAT's can be signed.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and head of FTA cell Mustafa Mohiuddin said Bangladesh can bridge the huge trade imbalance with SAARC member countries through signing the FAT's. Bangladesh has huge trade gap with giant India.

He said there is no possibility of signing FTA's with the SAARC member countries due to various factors. However, he did not elaborate the reasons.

Earlier a report of World Bank titled 'India-Bangladesh Trade, Trade Policies and Potential Free Trade Agreement' said, "India and Bangladesh could still greatly benefit from cooperation in other areas, without necessarily implementing an FTA. There is no compelling case for India and Bangladesh to pursue a bilateral FTA. A broader-based liberalisation would be more beneficial for both countries."

"Improvements in the transport, storage and administrative infrastructure at land borders would yield substantial benefits. Greater harmonisation and cooperation in Customs administration and banking relationships would also be highly beneficial."

The study suggests improved infrastructure at land border Customs posts; streamlined Customs procedures and administration; expanded facilities at smaller Customs border post. Added to this, Bangladesh needs to bring down its protective tariffs to levels closer to those of its competitors in South Asia and elsewhere, it said.

Land dispute: 50 injured in Ctg clashes

BSS, Chittagong

At least 50 persons were injured, 10 of them seriously, were injured when two rival groups were locked into fierce clashes centering a land dispute and misappropriation of funds of a local mosque at Charkhagaria village of Satkania Upazila in the district Friday afternoon and this morning.

Police and local sources said both the groups of the same locality used lethal weapons and firearms to attack each other during the clashes.

Among the injured, 10 were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and the rest are being treated at local health complex.

The police arrested 13 persons on charges of their involvement in the fierce clashes. The arrested included Tajul Mulluk, 50, Mizanur Rahman, 27, Kamal Uddin, 25, Nurul Amin, 20, Ahmed Nabi, 45, Lokman, 20, Nasir Uddin, 25, Mohammed Sohel, 20, Mansur Ali, 20, Joinal Abedin, 27, Rubel, 16, Mohammed Bashir, 30, and Nazim Uddin, 25.

The rival groups one led by local UP Chairman Ahmedur Rahman Badsha and another by his former counterpart Nur Mohammed attacked each other at one stage of arbitration meeting to resolve the land dispute between Mohammed Musa and Sultan Ahmed of the same locality.

Badsha allegedly supported Sultan Ahmed while Nur Mohammed favoured Mohammed Musa. Both the groups had also a previous enmity over transaction and alleged misappropriation of funds of a local Mosque.

Apart from conventional weapons, they also traded eight rounds of gunshots during the clash that left at least 50 persons of the both the side wounded.

Being informed, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

UNO of Satkania Parimal Sarker and ASP of Police (Satkania Circle) Kazi Helal visited the area and asked the people to maintain peace.

They also assured them of taking legal actions against the persons responsible for the incident.

A team of police has been deployed in the locality to avert further clashes as a tense situation was prevailing there, the sources said.

Bidding time for Sirajganj power project extended

UNB, Dhaka

Though there are no chances of getting any more competitors, the government extended the bid-submission deadline for contracting out the proposed 450-MW Sirajganj power-plant project.

According to official sources, now the last date for submission of bid for the Sirajganj project has been fixed January 31, instead of earlier date of September 25 this year.

So far, apart from a single bidder-Malaysia-based Powertek Barhad-none else has shown any interest in joining the final bidding for the project.

However, initially, five international bidders had vied for the project and three of them qualified in the pre-qualification round of bidding.

These three qualified bidders are Powertek, South Korea-based KEPCO and USA-based AES Corporation.

After the pre-qualification round, the Power Cell, a reform implementation wing of the Power Ministry which invited the bid, asked the bidders to submit their respective technical and financial offers in the final round of bidding under request for proposal (RfP) format. But only Powertek was found to be interested to get the project.

Powertek purchased the RFP documents for final bid submission. But the two other qualified bidders-KEPCO and AES-refrained from purchasing the documents. Rather, they have communicated to the government their unwillingness to further proceed.

Despite their messages, the Power Ministry recently decided to extend the time limit for the bid submission.

Industry-insiders were inquisitive about this decision as there is no scope for submission of bids without getting pre-qualified for the project.

In the meantime, the government has also been in a serious problem in dealing with a single bid for another proposed 450-MW power plant project where, again, the Powertek appeared to be a lone bidder.

Decision on acceptance of the single bid for the Bibiyana project remained pending for the government's highest policymaking body. Last week, the interim cabinet returned the Powertek's proposal to the Power Ministry for a further review.

As such, the Sirajganj project might be another problem for taking a decision as, so far, it has got a single proposal, the industry-insiders said, adding that "finally the government may go for re-tender".

Cocktails found on HC judge’s residence lawn

Staff Reporter

Two bombs were found on the lawn of High Court Judge Sharif Uddin Chaklader's residence at the Judges' Complex in the city's Kakrail area yesterday.

Source said a domestic help of the house found the two homemade bombs (cocktails) under a jackfruit tree on the lawn at about 4:00pm. The domestic help threw one of the

cocktails that exploded with a big bang. Creating panic in the area. On information the Ramna police rushed to the spot and recovered the other unexploded bomb. No one claimed responsibility for planting the cocktails over there and police also could not ascertain the motive behind it.

Senior police officers visited the spot last night.

A similar incident took place at the residence of another High Court Judge Tariq ul Hakim, a neighbour of Chaklader, during iftar in the month of Ramzan.

Daulat Akbar Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ramna Police Station told the New Nation that police would investigate the matter to find out those involved in this incident.

EC may extend registration deadline

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Election Commission has said it will respond positively to calls for extending the deadline for party registration, but cannot give any concessions over re-demarcation of constituencies and recent alterations to the new Representation of the People Ordinance.

The EC does not have any time in hand for major reversals before announcement of the election schedule by Nov 2, the top election officials told bdnews24.com yesterday

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda and commissioners Muhammed Sohul Hussain and M Sakhawat Hussain spoke to bdnews24.com on the EC's latest position on the continued demands of political parties.

"The EC does not have any plan yet to extend the deadline for registration of political parties. However, if it gets any 'written proposal' in this regard it may be taken into consideration," Huda told bdnews24.com Saturday afternoon.

Earlier on Saturday, BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain told reporters: "The four-party alliance will take a decision regarding registration after the scheduled dialogue with the government."

"Later we will send a formal proposal asking the EC to extend the deadline for registration of political parties."

On any specific request by BNP, the CEC said:

"There is yet some time before the October 15 deadline passes. However, if any written proposal comes explaining why the deadline has to be extended and what the problems are then it would be considered."

Commissioner Sakhawat Hussain told bdnews24.com: "BNP's dialogue with the government is on October 14. They can still apply for registration after that."

"Besides, there is no direct relation between the dialogue with the government and registration with the EC. We hope, they will complete registration in time."

The time for submitting registration applications was set from Aug 26 to Oct 15. After scrutiny, the EC will give parties a registration certificate by Oct 30.

Awami League also has some demands and announced on Saturday that it had decided to keep "all the associate organisations" and overseas units of the party.

The party's demands also include scrapping of two clauses of the new RPO-that gave the EC powers to cancel candidature and declare utility bill defaulters unfit-and the forthcoming national elections to be held under the previous demarcation of constituencies.

"Many leaders and workers still do not know in which parliamentary constituency they belong. So for the sake of fair election national polls have to be held keeping the former boundary intact," the party's acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said Saturday.

On demarcation of constituencies, the CEC said: "The gazette in this regard has already been published. However, a writ petition challenging the new demarcation is being heard in the High Court. The whole matter is now sub-judice."

Commissioner Sohul Hussain said the court verdict is expected anytime this month. "The election schedule will be announced based on that. The demarcation has to be completed before announcement of the schedule."

Expressing the hope that the election would be held according to new demarcations, he added: "There is no more scope to hold elections according to earlier electoral boundaries."

The Election Commission gazetted the redrawn boundaries of 133 out of 300 parliamnetary constituencies on July 10.

Khaleda foresees 4-party victory in next polls

UNB, Dhaka

Embroiled former premier and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia tonight (Saturday night) predicted that her 4-party alliance would return to power with massive popular mandate provided elections are held in a free, fair and neutral manner.

Emerging from her Gulshan office at about 9:30pm, she told waiting reporters that a "deep-rooted conspiracy" is being cooked up against the country and all would have to remain alert about it.

The immediate-past Prime Minister, who has recently been

released from prison on bail from all the four graft cases filed against her amid a purge after the January 11, 2007 changeover following a political crisis over election issues, observed the country had been dragged far behind in the last two years and was now heading for a "dangerous crisis".

"People are starving for want of food. They must be saved and all must make their contribution," she told the journalists.

Khaleda said BNP is a pro-election party and wants to join the election, now provisionally set for December 18 after passing through perils in the country's political arena following the January 2007 crisis over election issues.

"We want to join the dialogue too" with the government, she said, as the caretaker government today set October 14 for the belated pre-poll dialogue with the BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami.

The BNP chairperson said she allocated organizational works and future policy matters to her party leaders at today's meeting with them. "This will help foil the conspiracy that was cooked up to destroy nationalist force BNP."

Khaleda demanded solving the problems facing the peasantry and supply of agricultural inputs at affordable prices to the farmers.

BNP’s dialogue with govt now October 14: May request EC to extend registration deadline

Staff Reporter

The much-awaited government sponsored dialogue with the BNP and Jammat-e-Islami Bangladesh would be held on October 14 instead of 15.

"The government has set October 14 for dialogue with BNP at 10:30 am and will sit with the Jamaat at 3:00 pm," the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said yesterday.

Sources from BNP said the date for dialogue was reset in consultation with the BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia with the Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman at her cantonment residence on Friday.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakruddin Ahmed will led the government side. Five Advisers Major General (Retd) Ghulam Quader, AF Hassan Ariff, Anwarul Iqbal, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowhury and Hossain Zillur Rahman will also be present in the dialogue.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain said that his party will sit with the government for dialogue.

"BNP will sit with the government in the interest of holding free, fair and credible elections," he told the media at his NAM flat yesterday.

He said that during the dialogue with the government his party would raise five points of demand.

Replying to a question on the deadline of registration on October 15 set by the Election Commission (EC), BNP Secretary General said " We will request to the EC to extend the deadline for registration,".

He, however, said the four party alliances will decide about registration after talks with the government.

A special committee of BNP held a meeting yesterday at the office of party Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan at Dhanmondi in the city.

BNP Vice Chairman MK Anwar, former lawmaker Abdul Mannan and office secretary Rizvi Ahmed among others were also present.

After the meeting MK Anwar said that the special committee has yet to finalised the discussion points of the dialogue.

" We have not finalised the discussion points of the dialogue," he added.

He also said that the committee would submit a report on the same to the BNP Secretary General soon after it's completion.

Asked on what would be the discussion points of the party with the government during dialogue he said that lifting sate of emergency, defer the upazila polls, withdrawal of all cases and release of all detained party leaders and activist and ensuring a level playing field for all parties to participate in the parliamentary elections.