The New Nation - Internet Edition

CA tells British minister: All political parties will join December 18 elections

British Minister of State for Asia, Africa and the
UN Lord Malloch Brown called on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin
Ahmed at the latter's office yesterday. PID photo

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday told a visiting British minister that his caretaker government hopes that all the political parties would participate in December 18 general election and a new government would take over after the polls.

"Political parties would certainly come as what we are doing, doing by consulting them. The government and the Election Commission are discussing with the political parties. A new government will come through the election," he was quoted as saying to the British Minister for Asia, Africa and the UN, Lord Malloch Brown.

Lord Malloch Brown made a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at his office when election, politics, state of emergency, economy, global financial crisis and food stock came up for discussion.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said about the state of emergency the CA apprised the British Minister of the recent holding of election to four city corporations and nine municipalities fairly and peacefully amid relaxed provisions of the state of emergency for electioneering.

About 70 to 90 percent voter turnedout took place in the local elections, said Fakhruddin, whose interim regime has been carrying on a clean-up drive and politico-electoral reforms since the declaration of emergency in January last year.

"If necessary, whatever has to be done for further relaxing the state of emergency would be done discussing with the political parties for holding the coming parliament election fairly," he told the British minister.

He noted that it would have to be made sure that voters can cast their vote freely without fear, maintaining a congenial law-and-order situation.

The head of the caretaker government said his government's main objective is to hold a free, fair and credible election. Food security and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are also on the priority list of the government, he told the British minister.

About impact of the global financial crisis on Bangladesh, Fakhruddin said it would not have any major impact on the business sector here.

He noted that Bangladesh is conservative on borrowing both locally and internationally. In Bangladesh inflation rate is also low compared to other countries. The British minister appreciated the caretaker government's remarkable achievements and performance under the leadership of Dr Fakhruddin, particularly institutional reforms and completion of voter lists with photographs of over 80 million people in a short time.

On food security, the CA apprised the Minister of two consecutive floods and a powerful cyclone last year which caused massive damage to food crops. The government has tried its best to overcome the situation, he said.

He said the government focused on increased food production, and from its limited resources extended support and supplied agri-inputs to the farmers. And the farmers, by dint of their hard labour, produced bumper food crops, including rice, potatoes and wheat.

The CA said the government built up a food stock and this time has enough food in stock.

Referring to government's various programmes for food-safety net, he said about 15 million people, both in rural and urban areas, were given income and food supports through a number of measures like introducing 100-day programme for employment in the national budget for rural people during lean period and operation of Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice in urban areas.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, British High Commissioner in Dhaka Stephen Nicholas Evans, Head of DFID Bangladesh Chris Austin, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Shafiuddin Ahmed, Secretary of CA's Office Kazi M Aminul Islam and CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim were present at the meeting.

Save folk song music

Quddus Boyati addressing the press conference at
Dhaka Reporters Unity. NN photo

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Folk music has its own language. Through its language folk music can express origin of the people's feelings and voices. Folk music may be described as that type of ancient music, which springs from the heart of a community, based on their natural style of expression, uninfluenced by the rules of classical music and modern popular songs. Any mode or form created by the combination of tune, voice and dance may be described as music. Thus, the combination of folk song, folk dance, and folk tune may be called folk music. For example, baul songs are a combination of tune, music and dance.

In Bangladesh, folk music has great variety, with songs being composed on the culture, festivals, views of life, natural beauty, rivers and rural and riverine life.

Of the folk songs, 'Punthi' has a significant role. Folk music has its own characteristics. The main characteristics are - it is composed by rural folk on the basis of ancient rules transmitted orally, these ancient rules of music have not been influenced by classical or modern music, it is composed and performed by illiterate or semi-literate people and it is a spontaneous expression in easy language and simple tune.

But in reality the folk music in our country is on dilapidated state now. For the survival of folk music some baul and folk artistes organised a press conference under the banner of Bangla Folk Media at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

At the press conference they urged the government to come forward for the survival of the country's traditional folk songs.

They also urged the government to identify the lost songs of the country like 'Punthi,' 'Gainer Geet,' 'Ghatu' songs, 'Pala' songs and others, which are now on verge of ruination.

"It is necessary to patronise those folk artistes who are raising folk songs not only in Bangladesh but also around the world," said the folk artistes and adding the necessity of the security of the folk artistes from the administration during their performance.

Abdul Quddus Boyati, Chairman of Bangla Folk Media, read out a written statement at the conference, while Faruk Shahriar, Executive Director of Bangla Folk Media, among others, were present.

Quddus Boyati said, "It is essential to practicing folk songs for its survival. For this reason, media coverage is also necessary for promoting folk music in the country."

"A cultural function on 'Punthi Path' to be held at Dehunda village of Karimganj in Kishoreganj on October 26 to memorise the famous 'Punthi' artiste Munshi Azimuddin. Chishtia Shilpi Goshthi will give all support to arrange the programme, " he said.

Md Shorful Alam, Cultural Affairs Secretary, is expected to be present as chief guest at the function. Dr Syed Mohammad Shahed, Director General of Bangla Academy, ASM Mahbubul Alam, DC of Kishoreganj, Md Atikur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Karimganj, Sayed Milky, Communication Specialist of the UNICEF, among others, will be present at the event, said the organisers.

UN team meets Nizami

Staff Reporter

Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Ameer Moulana Motiur Rahman Nizami yesterday said the nation is eagerly waiting for holding free and fair elections in the country. And the representative from the United Nations (UN) also want to see a peaceful polls.

He said this while exchanging views with a three-member UN delegation for Political Affairs on South Asia and Asia and Pacific region at the central office of Jamaat at Moghbazar in the city.

Hitoki Den led the delegation. The other members of the delegation are Andrew Bruce, Peter Eicher and Renata Dessallien, UN representative to Bangladesh among others, were also present.

Ali Ahsan Mohamad Mujaheed, Secretary General, Assistant Secretaries General Mohammad Qumaruzzman and Barrister Abdur Rajjak of the party were also present.

JN Hall tragedy Homage paid to 39 victims

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University (DU) authorities yesterday paid homage to the memories of 39 students and employees killed in a building collapse at university's Jagannath Hall on October 15 in 1985, marking its 23rd anniversary.

The DU authorities and other organisations organised different programmes to observe the mourning day.

Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, Pro-VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, provosts of different residential dormitories and other teachers of the university placed wreaths at the memorial inside the hall in the morning.

Black flags were hoisted atop of all buildings in the university, while university flag was at half-mast in front of the Arts Building.

University authorities, teachers and students wearing black badges took part in a mourning procession that began from the foot of Aparayeo Bangla.

Special prayers were also organised at Jagannath Hall premises in the morning and at DU central mosque after Asr prayer.

Family members and relatives of the victims also paid homage to their lost kinsmen.

Jagannath Hall authorities arranged an painting exhibition on victims of the building collapse marking the day.

As the clock struck half past eight in that tragic night of the hall's history after the war of independence, the auditorium of the ramshackle building became overcrowded with the students and employees of the hall.

They thronged there to watch a popular drama 'Shuktara' on Bangladesh Television. Manan Adhikari, a resident student of the hall, was one of the performers in the drama serial.

As the students were enjoying the serial, based on the lifestyle of middle-class, the roof caved in on them.

The sudden disaster struck the residents of the capital as the volunteers appealed for bloods through public announcement systems at midnight. Hundreds of people queued in at the hospitals to give bloods, but it could not save the lives of 39 students and employees.

The university authorities later arranged jobs for eight of the students, who survived and six of them joined the jobs.

City’s educational institutions asked to start classes at 7:30am

UNB, Dhaka

In a bid to ease the city's vexing traffic jam, the Ministry of Education has asked the authorities of all educational institutions in the capital to start their classes at 7:30am.

The educational institutions have been asked to comply with the directive regardless of their single or double shifts, said a handout yesterday.

A total of 12 vigilance teams, led by 12 Deputy Secretaries of the ministry, have formed to strictly enforce the directive.

The team members will make separate visits to the educational institutions and submit their reports to the ministry by October 20. The ministry has urged all concerned to cooperate with the vigilance teams during their visits.

17 former, serving BRTA, BTCL officials summoned: Money pledged by corrupts nominal: TAC

Staff Reporter

The Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) has summoned 17 high officials of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) next week for their alleged involvement in corruption.

Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, Chairman of TAC, stated this at the Commission's regular weekly press briefing in the capital yesterday.

He also informed that more such notices would be issued to some other officials very soon.

"Under provision of 28(6) of the commission ordinance, TAC can summon any clemency seeker during hearing. If they refuse to appear before the TAC, We will take legal action against them by referring them to courts," he noted.

Asked if the summoned officials were found involved in corruption, TAC chairman said they would ask the concerned officials to take the advantage of the Commission by voluntarily disclosing their ill-gotten wealth.

Justice Khan informed that so far 313 individuals have applied to the Commission for clemency in exchange for their ill-gotten wealth. Of them, 253 are government servants, 27 are wives of some of them, 24 businessmen and nine belong to other professions.

Of the applicants, 17 individuals have applied directly, 167 through the National Coordination Committee on serious crime and corruption, 126 through the Anti-Corruption Commission and three through courts, Justice Habibur Rahman informed.

He also said hearing of 150 clemency seekers has already been completed and they have pledged to pay about Tk 20 crore. Of them, Tk 10.17 crore has already been deposited to the government Treasury.

TAC member Maj Gen (retd) Manjur Rashid dismissed the allegation of creating panic by summoning government high officials.

He said, "During hearing, clemency seekers told us that they are not only the ones who took money, there are also others involved in it."

"We have noticed huge corruption in different offices. There is systemic percentage system in those offices. Employees and officials used to take monthly honorarium ranging from Tk 15,000-20,000 to one lakh," He pointed out.

Asif Ali, another TAC member, said the TAC would ask the government to provide guidance in the form of counselling or behavioural treatment for officials of graft-ridden bodies organisations in a bid to prevent institutional corruption.

He said during hearing of the clemency seekers, the TAC members tried to find out the causes of corruption and found that the officials and others indulged in corruption due to social reasons, greed, systems etc.

He also suggested psychiatric counselling in each government offices to eliminate corruption.

"It's not possible to stop corruption by only striking people on the head," he observed.

COAB demands amendment to Cable TV Rules

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) yesterday demanded an amendment to Cable TV Rules 2006 in the interest of the country.

They also called upon the concerned authority for proper implementation of the rules.

SM Anwar Parveez, President, of the organization made the demand at a press conference at the auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

It was also attended among others by Erfanul Haque Nahid, President and Qamrul Islam Shamim, General Secretary of Spectators Forum.

HC extends Jalil’s bail by another six months

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday extended by another six months the bail for Awami League General Secretary M Abdul Jalil in a case involving charges of earning wealth illegally.

It passed the order following a petition by Jalil's counsel barrister Shafique Ahmed.

On September 10, the High Court granted him a temporary bail until October 20 on surrender before it.

On December 18 last year, the Anti Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna police station accusing Jalil of acquiring wealth worth Tk 35.08 lakh beyond his known sources of income. He also faces charges of concealing information about his assets worth Tk 36.04 lakh.

On May 28 last year, the Army-led joint-forces arrested Jalil during a nationwide campaign against corruption.

Stakes high as Obama, McCain head for final debate

Republican John McCain is looking to turnaround his fortunes in the final presidential debate with Democrat Barack Obama, a forum focused on pocketbook issues and domestic policy Wednesday night.

Both candidates released proposals this week designed to boost the economy as financial institutions wobble and voters feel the pinch of a faltering economy. The debate is at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., with the candidates seated at a table with moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS.

With the economic crisis fueling public unease, Obama has built leads nationally and in key states as the turmoil has returned the nation's focus to the policies of the unpopular President Bush. The burden now is on McCain to try to reverse his slide.

To that end, the Arizona senator took a new approach this week, positioning himself as a fighter for the American middle class and easing off his most direct attacks on Obama, an Illinois senator. McCain also took pains to separate himself from Bush.

"We cannot spend the next four years as we have spent much of the last eight: waiting for our luck to change. t As president I intend to act, quickly and decisively," McCain said Tuesday in battleground Pennsylvania.

He announced a $52.5 billion economic plan Tuesday that calls for halving the tax rate on capital gains and reducing the tax on withdrawals from retirement accounts, among other measures. A day earlier, Obama unveiled a $60 billion proposal that includes an extension of unemployment benefits, a 90-day freeze on home foreclosures, penalty-free withdrawals from retirement funds and a $3,000 tax credit for each new job.

Both candidates call for doing away with the tax on unemployment benefits.

McCain has suggested that he is likely to bring up Obama's links to William Ayers, a radical during the Vietnam War era. Ayers was a member of the violent Weather Underground group but later became a university professor in Chicago and an expert on education.

Madonna guy to divorce

AP, Los Angeles

Madonna's spokeswoman says the singer and her husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie, will divorce after 7 ½ years together.

A statement e-mailed to The Associated Press from spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg says the couple has agreed to divorce, and asks the media to respect their privacy.

The statement, co-signed by Ritchie's representative, says the couple had not agreed to a settlement.

Madonna and filmmaker Guy Ritchie will end their marriage after nearly eight years, British newspapers reported yesterday. Citing unnamed sources, The Sun and Daily Mail said the couple hoped to have a divorce finalized by Christmas. The Sun said that Madonna, 50, had wanted to wait until her latest world tour wraps up in Brazil in December before announcing the split.

Barbara Charone, Madonna's spokeswoman in London, declined comment on the reports. Ritchie's mother, Lady Amber Leighton, told reporters the family wouldn't be making any statement. This is the second time this year that the superstar couple's marriage has come under the media microscope. Over the summer, Madonna was linked - unfairly, she said - to the breakup of New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his ex-wife Cynthia. In July, Madonna's U.S. publicist released a statement that said the singer and Ritchie had "no plans to divorce."

Madonna and Ritchie married in December 2000 at a Scottish castle. The couple have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.

The couple are reportedly worth some $525 million, the bulk of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and a 1,200-acre retreat in Wiltshire, England.