The New Nation - Internet Edition

CA suggests Roverscouts of SA: Foster regional cooperation through friendship

UNB, Gazipur

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Sunday advised the Rover Scouts of the SAARC countries to take every opportunity of making new friends in their assembly to foster greater regional cooperation for attaining shared prosperity.

"We will need your contribution in many varied ways to promote the SAARC spirit and to ensure sustainable socioeconomic development of this region," he told a function of Rover Scouts from the South Asian countries.

The head of the caretaker government formally inaugurated the weeklong (12-18 October) 6th SAF Scout Friendship Camp, Bangladesh, at the National Scout Training Center here. The meet has been organized by Bangladesh Scouts in association with South Asia Foundation (SAF).

The theme of the 6th SAF Scout Friendship Camp is 'Scouting for Peace and Friendship'.

SAARC countries have been hosting and organizing SAF Scout Friendship Camps since 2002 in association with SAF. Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively hosted the previous SAF Scout Friendship camps.

The broad objective of such gathering of youths has been the enhancement of solidarity, friendship and cultural exchange through scouting.

A total of 322 rover scouts and scout leaders, including 138 from Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, are participating in the 6th SAF scout camp while the rest from the host Bangladesh.

As the Chief Adviser arrived at the venue, he was adorned with scout scarf. The rovers of the participant countries with their respective national flag introduced themselves to the Chief Adviser.

President of Bangladesh Scouts and Secretary of Education Ministry M Momtajul Islam, Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts M Abul Kalam Azad and president of the organizing committee of the 6th SAF Friendship Camp M Mozammel Haque Khan also spoke at the function.

Chief National Commissioners and National Commissioners of Scouts of SAARC countries, scout leaders and officials, rover scouts, elite and government officials were present at the opening function.

A cultural performance based on Independence of Bangladesh, its social and cultural tradition, particularly tradition of rural life, was displayed at the function.

Addressing the function, the Chief Adviser said he considers Rover Scouts to be young ambassadors of goodwill exchange, conflict management and social development in this region.

Fakhruddin said, "The large youth population of the SAARC countries can benefit from guidance as they develop into the leaders of tomorrow."

He believes scouting can mould character and help provide appropriate life skills to allow scouts to shoulder greater responsibilities in the future.

"I understand that the organizers of this 6th SAF Friendship Camp have designed interesting and challenging programmes for you to participate in and learn from. You will also have the chance to better understanding one another, to exchange ideas related to culture, tradition and common values," he told the gathering of rovers gathered from across the region.

The CA noted there is tremendous scope for increasing scout membership in the SAARC region where population exceeds one billion, and he believes that with combined efforts the quantitative and qualitative improvements in scouting would be visible in this region of the world and bring about positive changes for a better tomorrow.

He said the Chief Commissioners of the SAARC countries may make this assembly a common platform to discuss issues like leadership development, youth involvement in decision-making process, gender equity, poverty alleviation and other issues.

The CA said each of the eight SAARC countries has diversified resources to share and offer, and "If we can tap into the tremendous depth of potential in our large population, this region may in the near future be a model of development in the world".

Fakhruddin suggested revisiting the strategic priorities of scouting and exploring more and more challenging and attractive youth activities which could meet their needs as well as the needs of society.

He mentioned that the national scout organizations in this region, including Bangladesh Scouts, are involving themselves in more diverse and challenging activities such as community- development programmes, education and healthcare, relief and rehabilitation and restoration of cultural heritage.

Tk 2,578 crore project to ease traffic jam, city beautification

BSS, Dhaka

The Local Government Division is implementing a number of projects involving Taka 2,578 crore to ease traffic jam and beautification of Dhaka city.

Officials say, once implemented, these projects would ease vehicular movement on East-West and North-South roads in different areas of the city.

Different types of work under the projects have already been started and some of the projects are nearing completion.

The projects include development and construction of a circular road along Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel area at a cost of Taka 1,500 crore, extension of road on the east of Bijoy Sarani at a cost of Taka 122 crore, construction of road from Zia Colony to Mirpur Cantonment at a cost of Taka 136 crore, and a connecting bridge between the lakes at Gulshan and Banani at a cost of Taka 22 crore.

Besides, projects are under implementation to construct a road from Mirpur Grameen Bank to Agargaon, a four-lane link bridge between Arong at Tejgaon and Gulshan Shooting Club, and an underpass at Banglamotor crossing. Of the projects, construction of the bridge between the lakes at Gulshan and Banani is nearing completion.

Implementation of the project for the development of Hatirjheel area, including the Begunbari canal, has already started. Acquiring of land under the project is going on. Project Director Haidar Ali told BSS that a meeting on progress of the project would be held tomorrow (October 13) at the Local Government Division.

He said, when implemented, this project would improve the environment and enhance beauty in the adjacent areas. Water logging problem in the area would be resolved because of the construction of a 'pondng area' as water reservoir.

Engineers from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), LGED, Dhaka WASA and the engineering corps of Bangladesh Army are implementing the project.

Implementation of Taka 122-crore project for expansion of Bijoy Sarani towards the east will improve road communication between east and the west in Dhaka city. It will improve the overall traffic system and environment. The project will be completed by June next year.

The Taka 136-crore project for construction of road from Zia Colony to Mirpur Cantonment is being implemented to make a new corridor for movement between the east and the west in the city.

When implemented, this road will be used as an alternative to Kachukhet road. Engineering corps of Bangladesh Army is implementing the project, which is scheduled to be complemented by 2010.

Besides, a Taka 84-crore project is under implementation to create another corridor by constructing a road from Mirpur Grameen Bank and Agargaon. Dhaka City Corporation has already started work on the project and it will end in 2010.

The Local Government Division is strictly monitoring the projects to ensure their timely implementation. Regular review meetings are also being held to evaluate progress of the projects. Meanwhile, the contract of Taka 676-crore project for the construction of Jatrabari- Gulistan flyover remains ineffective for flaws in the project. Measures are underway to correct the flaws in the project.

FBCCI to submit economic agenda to political parties: Summits in 6 divisional headquarters planned

Staff Reporter

Business leaders will submit economic agenda to the political parties for the overall development of economy, trade and business and to wipe out corruption. To this affect the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) will hold summits in six divisional headquarters of the country.

It was decided yesterday at an emergency board meeting of the FBCCI in the city with president Annisul Huq in the chair. FBCCI vice president Abul Kashem Ahmed and Abu Alam Chowdhury and the directors were present at the meeting.

Meeting sources said the FBCCI board has decided to prepare a 10-year master plan for the economic development of the country, which will be submitted to the political parties. The meeting gave the sole authority to Annisul Huq to prepare the plan.

After the meeting Annisul Huq told newsmen that businessmen summits will be arranged in six divisional headquarters to review the latest economic situation of the country. The main issue of discussion of the meetings will be economic development policy alongside inviting opinion from the grassroots businessmen about their expectation from the new government.

The summits will ask the local businessmen to present their economic agenda, which will later be coordinated and submitted to the political parties. Replying to a question Annisul Huq said businessmen do not involve themselves in corruption unless they were compelled to do so. "We want the businessmen to run their businesses more openly. FBCCI will be discouraged to keep relations with businessmen who engage themselves in corruption," Huq said.

Huq asserted that businessmen do not want to engage in politics. "We want to respect all and want to get the same from all," he said.

Changes to party constitution Sub-committee accepts: ALCWC proposals

UNB, Dhaka

A sub-committee of the Awami League Sunday okayed some proposals for bringing amendment to the party constitution, a leader said.

The Awami League Central Working Committee pushed forward the proposals on Saturday as bringing necessary changes was a pre-condition to get registered with the Election Commission under the redrawn electoral laws. The committee Saturday adjourned its meeting until 11:00 am Monday.

"We have finalised the proposals in light of the decisions put by the working committee Saturday. These proposals will be placed with the working committee when the meeting resumes on Monday," sub-committee chief Tofail Ahmed told reporters after a meeting at the Dhanmondi office of party chief Sheikh Hasina.

Sub-committee members Abdur Razzak, Matia Chowdhury, among others, were present in the meeting.

Tofail would not go into details on Sunday's meeting.

"There's nothing new. We have just accepted the working committee proposals," he said.

"The working committee will take the final decision on the possible changes Monday," he said. Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Saturday said that the working committee had decided to keep the party's associate organisations intact at home, but all front organisations would be dissolved in line with the Representation of the People Order (RPO) Ordinance 2008.

He also said the working committee decided that "pro-Awami League organizations" abroad would exist. The Election Commission said that to get registered with it the parties would require abolishing their front organisations at home and abroad in line with the RPO.

Replying to a query, Tofail said that the sub-committee meeting Sunday discussed how overseas organisations tied to the Awami League could be kept functional.

Tofail also repeated the working committee decision that the party would nominate candidates from the grassroots for next polls slated for December 18.

WB commits $1b help for Bangladesh by Dec

BSS, Washington

The World Bank on Sunday indicated its commitment to provide Bangladesh with US $ 1 billion assistance package by December this year against 7 projects, a record level of financial support for the country.

The indication of commitment came when Finance Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam who is in Washington now in connection with the Annual Bank-Fund meetings had a meeting on Sunday with the Bangladesh country Team in the World Bank led by the Vice President, South Asia Region, Isabel Gurrero, according to a release of the Bangladesh Embassy in USA.

They reviewed the assistance package for Bangladesh for the current year and it was decided that 4 projects, namely, Budgetary Support Under Global Food Crisis Response Programme, Siddhirgonj Peaking Power Project, Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project and Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project which have already been negotiated with the government will be approved by the World Bank by the end of December.

This year the World Bank commitment will amount to approximately US $1.3 billion.

During the meeting, Dr Mirza Aziz and Isabel also reviewed the likely projects to be taken up in the next year to utilise World Bank aid envelop amounting to $1.3 billion in the next fiscal.

They also decided that the World Bank will field a project identification mission next month to prepare project proposal in association with the government in light of government's priority.

The World Bank support to the Padma Bridge is also likely to be scaled up.

Earlier, the Finance Adviser delivered a key note speech titled "Economic Policy Reforms in Bangladesh: A retrospective" which was attended by the staff of the World Bank involved in the World Bank Group Operations in Bangladesh as well as representatives of country delegations of different countries attending the Annual Meetings.

In his keynote speech, Dr Mirza Aziz highlighted the progress Bangladesh is making in accelerating growth and poverty reduction as well as attaining other MDGs.

He mentioned that despite food and energy price hike, Bangladesh has successfully managed macro economic stability and all the macro economic indicators are positive and better than many other developing countries including those in the region.

The Adviser also highlighted the reasons for the economic achievement of Bangladesh including the reforms in economic and institutional governance initiated and implemented by the present Caretaker Government.

He opined that all these reforms have produced tangible positive results and hoped that the next elected government would not only sustain these reforms but further strengthen them to accelerate growth and poverty reduction.

AROs asked to strictly remain neutral

BSS, Dhaka

Election Commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain on Sunday asked the Assistant Returning Officers (ARO) to strictly remain neutral in official duty during elections.

He made the comment at the opening of a training programme for the AROs held at the Election Training Institute at city's Agargaon district. He warned them saying if allegations come relating to their neutrality, EC will take actions against them as per the service rule.

The training programme has been arranged for AROs ahead of the announced national and upazila elections to refresh their ideas and knowledge about election laws, rules and regulations.

Election Commissioner Mohammad Sohul Hossain was also present. EC Secretary Mohammad Humayun Kabir was in the chair. Sohul Hossain said, the AROs can help ensure a free, fair and acceptable election to the nation.

He asked the AROs to take the election as a top priority job. There is no other work that may be more important and they should not listen to any others from now, he observed.

No one should fear losing the job now if they work neutrally, rather one would lose the job if he takes partial stand, the EC observed.

Sakhawat Hossain said, elections would be held on the announced dates and the EC has taken all preparations to that end. He said, if election faces stalemate for any reason, people behind it would remain responsible for it.

The EC said, election laws have been significantly recast to make the election transparent, free and fair. He said, party registration has been made compulsory to promote democracy and bring transparency in the use of party fund.

It has been done to help actual political parties taking part in election. He said, EC will not see which party is big or small. Politics will remain open to parties both taking registration with the Election Commission or not, but for taking part in election, they should have registration, there is no alternative to it.

He ruled out any new amendment to the people's representation ordinance, for any more change parties will have to wait for the next parliament. He said, only the EC will have the right to cancel the candidacy of a candidate in the election. It will be applied if allegation of severe violation of election rules were brought and proved against a candidate.

The concerned person will have the right to defend his case and also take the case to court of law later on.

The EC will train 481 AROs in 15 batches up to the next election. They will work as trainers of the presiding officers. Seventy AROs are taking part in the course launched today.

French envoy meets Ashraful

Staff reporter

The French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Charley Causseret, yesterday expressed the hope that a free and fair parliamentary election will be held on schedule.

The envoy told reporters at the end of a bilateral meeting with Awami League Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam at the latter's NAM apartment.

Asked whether the European Union (EU) will send observers even if the upcoming national elections were held under the state of emergency, he replied that they were yet to take a decision on this issue. "So I cannot make any commitment right now," he added.

Since the presidency of EU is with France, Charley is representing the EU in Bangladesh.

Asked about the agenda of the meeting, he said, "We have discussed a wide range of political issues, the upcoming polls and socio-economic issues of the country."

Briefing newsmen Syed Ashraful Islam said current political and economic issues as well as election and security matters were discussed in the meeting with the French envoy.

"During the meeting, we discussed the question of lifting of the state of emergency ahead of the National polls, as elections cannot be free and fair under emergency rules," he said.

Ashraful also observed that the law and order could be maintained by enforcing country's existing laws during the election, so it was unnecessary to prolong the emergency rule on the excuse of the parliamentary elections.

Referring to the return of Sheikh Hasina to the country he said that he had urged the government to ensure special security for her ahead of parliamentary polls, since he apprehended that Hasina might come under militant and other terrorist attacks at the time of the elections.

He requested the French Ambassador to send observers during the parliamentary polls.

Ashraful said AL will hold further talks with other European countries in the first week of November, on the suggestion of the French envoy.

Babu murder: Another suspected killer held

Staff Reporter

Detective Branch (DB) of Police arrested another suspected killer of industrialist Abdus Salam Babu from the city's Jatrabari area Saturday afternoon.

He was identified as Ramjan.

With the latest arrest, the detective police managed to arrest all the suspects of a five-member gang who allegedly gunned down Babu, a director of Yolk Garments Ltd and partner of Yolk Group.

The attack was made at Bijoy Nagar crossing on September 15 while Babu was going to his office at Purana Paltan by a car. Earlier, the detectives had arrested Minto, Sakhawat Hossain alias Saka, Jewel, and the gang's suspected ringleader Shamim alias Pichhi Shahim in separate raids in the city.

The DB police claimed that during remand Pichhi Shamim admitted that he along with his four accomplices killed Babu over garment waste (jhut) business. He mentioned the name of Ramjan as one of his accomplices and said the revolver that was used in the killing was with Ramjan.

Obama under threat: Castro

Former Cuban president Fidel Castro has claimed it is a "pure miracle" that US presidential candidate Barack Obama has not been assassinated.

Mr Castro also accused American society of being marked by "profound racism", as he revealed his thoughts on the race for the White House ahead of the election on November 4.

He wrote: "Millions of whites cannot reconcile in their minds with the idea that a black man with his wife and children would move into the White House, which is called just like that - White".

He added that it was a "pure miracle" the Illinois senator, who became the first black politician to win the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, has not been the target of an assassination attempt.

The ailing Cuban communist leader described Mr Obama as a politician who "has the habit of looking at his opponent with serenity and laughing at his rhetorical attacks."

Mr Castro, who handed power to his brother Raul earlier this year, made his remarks in a commentary that appeared on the website Cubadebate.

Policy guidelines for small power plants approved

BSS, Dhaka

The Council of Advisers on Sunday approved a proposal to amend the policy guidelines for Small Power Plants (SPP) enabling them to sell their surplus power to the government organisations.

The approval was given at a regular meeting of the council of advisers held here with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

With the amendments, the government organisations will now be able to buy power from SPP like Captive Power Plant (CPP), said Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, he said, the council took the decision for improving the existing power situation in the country.

The meeting also approved Medical and Dental Council (2nd Amendment) Ordinance-2008 put forward by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Besides, the council held a detailed discussion on a draft proposal placed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to approve National Poultry Development Policy-2008.

It asked the authorities concerned to place again the proposal after comprehensive review of it incorporating various aspects of the country's poultry industry and its development.

Govt help to solve problems in housing sector demanded

BSS, Dhaka

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) on Sunday sought cooperation and direct help from the government to remove the existing problems in the housing sector.

"The activities of the developers are being hindered due to high ambition of the land owners, non-cooperation between the utility service providers, price spiral of construction materials and, above all, delay in approving the designs", REHAB President Tanveerul Haque Probal told at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club here.

The association organised the press conference on the eve of their housing fairs in New York from October 18-20 and Florida from October 24-26 to woo the expatriate Bangladeshis living in the United States for buying apartments and plots in their homeland.

We have been organising fairs in New York since 2004 with positive responses. Now we are going to organise fair in Florida for the first time to explore markets, Murad Iqbal Chowdhury, chairman of REHAB fair standing committee, said while explaining different aspects of the fair.

REHAB general secretary Khaled Mohammad Jewel Mollah and convener of REHAB Housing Fair, Florida, Sabbir Hossain Khan were present.

Replying to a query whether the prices of flats would be reduced as material costs lowered, Probal said " We have no plan to reduce the price of flats as material costs are still high".

We are taking action against our member companies if any allegation of misdeeds comes to us, he said.

The REHAB is expecting a better response from the expatriate Bangladeshis in the US this year as new banking law of that country would discourage them to deposit money in the banks.

A total of 57 leading housing companies are going to participate in the New York Fair to be held in Hilton Hotel, New York, and 30 companies will participate in the Florida Fair to be held in Miami Convention Center.

Bangladeshi Consul General in the US Shamsul Haque will inaugurate the New York fair while former Bangladeshi football player Abdul Gaffar, now residing in Miami, will open the Florida fair.

The fairs will remain open for the visitors from 11 am to 10 pm every day.

NDP for lifting emergency

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a meeting called upon the caretaker to cancel the representation of people order and lift the state of emergency.

National Democratic Party (NDP) organised the meeting at Photojournalist Association auditorium in the city. The NDP Chairman Khondaker Golam Mortoza presided over the meeting while NDP Secretary General Alamgir Mojumder, Mowlana Mohiuddin Khan, senior vice president of Islami Ukka Jote, NDP joint Secretary General Golam Mostafa, National Awami Party Chairman Sheikh Anwarul Hoq, Krishak Sramik Janata League Secretary General Habibur Rahman Talukder, among others, addressed the meeting.