The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasina will return home on Nov 6

Sheikh Hasina

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina will now return home on November 6 after staying abroad for five months for treatment.

Sheikh Hasina's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad, who had telephonic talk with Hasina, told The New Nation that she would fly for Dhaka from London on the night of November 5 and reach Dhaka at 8am next day by an Emirates flight.

Earlier Sheikh Hasina was scheduled to return home on November 10.

On her return home Sheikh Hasina will have to grapple with many thorny issues before the general election. These include nomination of candidates and formation of grand alliance as part of election preparations.

The party leaders have been making hectic preparation to accord a grand reception to hasina on the day of her return home.

Sheikh Hasina was released on parole on June 11 under an executive order of the government on medical ground and left for USA on June 12.

Hasina has been facing five graft cases. She has obtained bail in two cases, the High Court has ordered not to arrest or harass her in connection with two other graft cases. She was denied bail in the fifth case on Thursday.

Her parole was extended on several times and it expires on November 6.

CA for OIC academic scholarship in IUT

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed distributing
certificates among the graduates at the 22nd convocation
ceremony of Islamic University of Technology in Gazipur on
Monday. PID Photo

BSS, Dhaka

Environment Secretary AHM Rezaul Kabir has sought the support of Islamic countries and express solidarity with Bangladesh for establishing an International Adaptation Center in Dhaka.

"Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, we have proposed to establish an International Adaptation Centre in Bangladesh, as we consider that Bangladesh is a natural laboratory for Adaptation activities considering her vulnerability and resilience of the people to resist it," he told third Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers at Rabat held from October 29-31 as leader of Bangladesh delegation.

Rezaul said, Bangladesh will present a detailed outline of the Centre in the upcoming UNFCCC conference of parties (COP) 14 in Poznan, Poland where the support of the Islamic countries would be crucial.

He also supported the proposed project for establishment of an Islamic Environment Information Centre and said, as an integral part of Islamic Ummah, Dhaka proposed that Islamic Conference should consider establishing an Islamic Adaptation Information Center, an organ of the proposed project, in Bangladesh, if not separately may be within the greater framework of proposed International Adaptation Centre.

In the field of Disaster Management, the environment secretary said, Bangladesh would like to volunteer her wide range of experience to manage natural disasters and disaster preparedness. Though over the years we have not lost lives and properties due to cyclones and tidal surges in our coastal areas' but we have slowly build up our ability to evacuate and provide the coastal people safe shelters in the shortest possible time with the support of thousands of Red Crescent Society Volunteers, he added.

Rezaul said, our defense forces are also equipped with all sorts of logistics to respond instantly when they are asked to " in aid to civil power" to evacuate the marooned people.

He thanked the ISESCO for extending their support to Bangladesh with Books of Islamic Culture and Informatics Hardware. No doubt, this would cement our ties with Islamic heritage and cultural values in our bid to highlight the essence of Islam, which is the culture of peace.

The environment secretary urged member countries to gear up their own educational activities, particularly education to women as it is still to get due importance in our countries compared to other countries of the world.

"If we can attain better literacy rate of women and children, this will exert not only lasting impact on the improvement of our quality of life, better health for mother and child and ensure sustainable development, but also ensure dispensation of equal opportunity and justice to all, the fundamentals of human rights as enshrined in the tenants of Islam," he added.

Rezaul said, to ensure sustainable development of the country Bangladesh has already prepared her National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) while the vision of it is to ensure sustained economic growth, environment protection and social justice.

This, he said, includes reduction of poverty, ensuring wise use of natural resources, good governance and pro-people development with their participation.

The environment secretary told the conference that Bangladesh in her country submission to UNFCCC, highlight that all our climate resilient development activities will be designed to ensure four securities, namely food, water, energy and livelihood.

He said, Bangladesh adopted her Climate Change Strategy and Action plan to combat climate change challenges and crisis. This strategy and Action plan is targeted to ensure mainstreaming of development plans and programmes for climate resilient economic growth considering our vulnerability to adverse impacts of climate change.

" We have developed Environmental Curricula for our primary and secondary schools, trained teachers in all the 64 districts of Bangladesh. I believe, this environmental education will carry a positive impact for the country in the long run," he added.

He suggested that governments should take initiative to allocate additional resources to address concerns of environment for the sake of sustainable development.

" If we fail to ensure sustainable development for reducing poverty, this will give rise to increased social unrest and eventually political instability and to an extreme scenario, terrorism. This vicious cycle of global warming induced extreme natural catastrophe threatening sustainable development leading to increased poverty should be stopped without further delay," he said.

Islamic Ummah, he said, as it has always been, should continue, to be vocal as a body in UNFCCC conferences urging the Annex-I countries, for adhering to the UN Conventions and Protocols for GHG reduction to break this vicious cycle.

Islamic conference, he said, may also consider increasing their contribution as financial assistance to the worst affected and most vulnerable Muslim brothers like ours, in the latter's programme for adaptation and mitigation as well as transfer of appropriate technology.

DSE advises investors not to be panicked Staff Reporter

Small investors stage a demonstration in front of
Dhaka Stock Exchange on Monday following the continuous fall
of share prices. Banglar Chokh

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday urged the investors not to be panicked over the fall of share prices.

"The world share markets has bounced back and is regaining position. Bangladesh's share markets will gain their position, too. There is nothing to be panicked," Chief Operating Officer of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Salahuddin Ahmed Khan told newsmen addressing an emergency press conference at his office.

He advised the investors not to sell shares on rumour.

Earlier, in the noon some small investors staged agitation in front of the DSE following continuous fall of share prices.

Khan said foreigners had taken the Bangladesh stock markets as second market for investment. Some merchant banks and one foreign bank have bought huge shares Monday, he said.

He informed newsmen that 60 companies have declared dividend Monday of which 26 increased the rate, nine reduced and 25 kept similar to last year. The economic data of last three months is positive, he informed.

The DSE CEO advised the merchant banks to invest in their own portfolio.

Replying to a question Khan said holding of election will obviously help market to regain its position.

The DSE General Index (DGEN), shed by 51 points or 1.89 per cent and closed at 2633 points yesterday. The All Share Price Index (DSI) also fall by 43 points or 1.91 per cent and closed at 2185 points.

International health seminar told: Love can bring change in drug addicts life

Staff Reporter

Archbishop of Dhaka Paulinus Costa yesterday said that only love and care could bring about positive changes in the life of the drug addicted people.

Addressing an international conference 'Drug Treatment Organisations: Sustainability, Quality and Diversity' in the city he said the drug addicts also have equal rights to all levels of care.

Caritas Bangladesh and Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Centre for Addicts (BARACA), in cooperation with Caritas Germany International Department with financial support of the German Government organised the three-day-long workshop.

The Archbishop said, "There are multidimensional affects of drugs in the world today. Drug addiction is one of the main causes of the disastrous situation of human being. Around 205 million people use banned drugs, which is 5 per cent of the total population."

He said the person, family, society, country and the world as a whole are badly affected by the huge number of drug users. "Drug use, specially the injecting drug use fuels the rapid spread of the disastrous disease like HIV and hepatitis. This problem cannot be solved by a person or an organisation or a country alone. It needs the united cooperation of all," he said.

Speaking in the seminar the German Ambassador in Bangladesh Frank Meyke described his country's contribution to Bangladesh's health sector.

He said, "One of the three focal sectors of German-Bangladesh intergovernmental Development cooperation is health. Germany substantially contributes to the sector-wide approach of the Health Nutrition and Population Sector Programme of Bangladesh."

Md Yousuf Ali, Additional Director General, Department of Narcotics Control, Dr. Benedict Alo D' Rozario, Executive Director, Caritas Bangladesh; Robi T Purification, Director, BARACA; Dr Efrem Milanese, Consultant, Caritas Germany and Angela Gartner of Caritas Germany spoke on the inaugural ceremony.

Dr D'Rozario quoting an estimation of Lancer said, "Around 16 million people of the world inject illegal drugs and nearly one in five of them have the AIDS virus. Nearly one in five IDUs may have HIV."

Robi said, " Drug abuse is not only a problem of Bangladesh or Asia it is a big problem of the world. A drug addict needs longer time to grow confidence and need socialisation to stay drug free. So there is no alternative to remain drug free without proper guidance, counselling, treatment of rehab centers."

A total of 11 specialists from six countries namely Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Germany, and Bangladesh participating in the workshop.

ACC okays submission of final reports on 36 cases

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission approved in October this year the submission of final reports on 36 cases against 56 individuals as the proof of their involvement in the charges brought against them was not found during investigations.

The accused include former Environment Minister Tariqul Islam and former MPs Gazi Nazrul Islam and Shamsuzzoha Khan.

ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the Commission's regular briefing yesterday that seven of the 36 cases are bribe-related, 28 are related to misappropriation of money, rice and CI sheet while one was relating to looting.

Earlier, the anti-graft watchdog submitted the final reports on 121 graft cases involving 250 individuals.

Col Hanif told the briefing that the ACC has already referred 143 names to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) for considering their clemency applications.

"Another 75 applications are under process of which 53 are ready to be sent," he said adding that they would be sent to Tac after the approval of the ACC.

About the only politician applying to the ACC for referring his case to Tac, the ACC spokesperson said, "He is one of 53. Hopefully, his name will be referred."

On the complaint of ex-Energy Adviser Mahmudur Rahman against the ACC chairman, he said the Commission is looking into aspects like how to take the complaint against the chief of a State organization and whether the complaint would be taken into consideration at all.

"Legal aspects will also have to be considered," Hanif said adding that issues like motive of the complaint, personal and state interests are to also to be considered.

Freed BRAC officials to leave Kabul for home today

BSS, Dhaka

The two abducted Bangladeshi officials of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), released unilaterally by their captors on Sunday night in Afghanistan, will leave Kabul for home by November 4, the BRAC officials said here on Monday.

"If any of the two seats can be arranged in a return flight for the just freed officials, even they may leave Kabul today en route Dubai, the officials said.

Four gunman abducted Mohammad Shahjahan Ali and Akhter Ali, BRAC area managers posted in Ghazni on October 23, when they went to visit Moi Mobarak branch office of BRAC in Ghazni city, southwest of Afghan capital Kabul.

However, the captors who had been unstressed with the two Bangladeshi hostages since the kidnap was taken place left the hostages at the Moi Mobarak branch office, said the officers. BRAC Afghan officials found the hostages in good health.

Their identity is yet to be ascertained. But all of them including a French cut, are bearded, said the BRAC officials in Dhaka.

The hostages had been received related better treatments from their captors with modest foods and did not face any physical tortures, said the sources.

But they were kept in a dark room throughout their captivity.

They were served traditional Afghan or Pashtun bread with raw tea, a menu of common Pashtuns in Afghanistan during the breakfasts.

During the launch they were served with potato and the same type of bread. Twice they were served with traditional Afgahan rice, a kind of "Polau" as supper.

The BRAC officials in Dhaka said they did not ask the freed officials as yet about the language of the Kidneppers, a tool to identify the nationality of any Afghan groups.

"Even we are not so much interested to know. Because good sense had prevailed on them," said the officials.

The two abducted persons arrived at the Kabul headquarters of BRAC at 11.00 this morning by road. The two released staff members have since been in contact with their families In Bangladesh, said a BRAC press release.

An official of BRAC told BSS that the captors had set them free after they were confirmed that the hostages were Muslims.

Meanwhile, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Sunday welcomed the release of two abducted Bangladeshi BRAC employees in Afghanistan.

He also conveyed his gratitude to those who had helped in the efforts leading to the release of Md Akhter Ali and Md Shahjahan, a foreign office press release said here.

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury earlier sent a letter to his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta in this regard and thereafter issued an appeal through media to the alleged abductors for the release of two BRAC employees.

Besides, the Foreign Adviser raised the matter with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon seeking assistance of the world body to help rescue the two Bangladeshis.

The BRAC Chairperson expressed great relief and joy at the release of the two BRAC officials.

DU human chain demands release of Pankaj Debnath

DU Correspondent

Mathematics Department and Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University organised a human chain yesterday on the campus demanding release of Pankaj Debnath, former general secretary of the hall Students Union and General Secretary of Awami Secchasebok League.

Hall Provost Prof Dr Ajoy Kumar Das, Professor of the Institution of Education and Research Dr Wahiduzzaman Chan, Prof Dr KM Saifullah, former VP of the hall Adv Satten Chandra Bhakta, member of the Supreme Court Bar Association Adv Mohammed Abu Kaiser, Awami Secchasebok League Secretary Motiur Rahman Mati, general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton, Nirmol Chaterjee, among others, participated in the human chain at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla.

Speakers said they were appealing on humanitarian grounds to release Pankaj Debanath, who was injured in the 21st August grenade attack on the Awami League programme in the city.

After the programme Ajoy Kumar thanked all the participants and demanded the unconditional release of Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina and withdrawal all false cases against the party leaders.

Clashes over cricket match at DU: 30 hurt

DU Correspondent

At least 30 students of Dhaka University were injured in a series of clashes between the students of two dormitories over a cricket match on yesterday.

Witnesses said during the clash between the students of Zahurul Haq Hall and severely beat up five residents of A F Rahman Hall over talking control of the playground of Mohsin Hall for playing cricket at around 4.oo pm.

When the news spread, a group of students of A F Rahman Hall came in and attacked the students of Zahurul Haq Hall with iron sticks, triggering a series of clashes between residents of the two dormitories.

During the marathon chase and counter chase, both the groups attacked each other, leaving the 30 injured on both sides.

The injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and DU Medical center where they received first aid.

Additional police were deployed on the campus overt further trouble.

DCC ward commissioner aspirant shot

Staff Reporter

A DCC ward commissioner aspirant was shot yesterday by a gang of terrorists in Swamibagh Lane under Sutrapur police station in the city.

The victim Hashibul Haq Zahid, 32, son of Najibul Haq, lived at 36/1, Karati Tola Road in Swamibagh. He was a businessman. He began mass contact in his area, as he was seeking Ward Commissioner nomination for Ward No-76 in the upcoming local elections.

Witnesses said four to five gunmen ambushed him at Karati Tola and shot him point blank as he was passing through the area after attending the janaza of his neighbour at about 12:30 pm.

The witnesses said the armed goons fled the scene, leaving Zahid, in a pool of blood. He sustained bullet wounds in his head.

Local people rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Later, he was transferred to Square Hospital in the city for better treatment. He was stated to be in a serious condition.

AK Azad, Duty Officer of Sutrapur police station, told the New Nation that the associates of Dakat Shahid and Pichi Kalu might be behind the attempt to murder Zahid.

Comprehensive agrarian reform to reduce plight of farmers urged

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a national convention on agriculture have urged comprehensive agrarian reform programme in the country to help reduce plight of farmers.

"I want land rights", said Hamida Begum, from a landless family in Satkhira district. "There is a lot of free land around for everyone to use, but influential people have forcibly taken it and keep it for their own use," she said describing her plight.

Her message was echoed by Kamola Mrong, an indigenous farmer from Madhupur, whose voice cracked with tears as she told a packed conference hall of how her family had been expelled from their land without any compensation.

She said many indigenous banana farmers had been forced out of their traditional lands and had to move to the cities in search of work.

"You applaud us as people who provide you with food; but we are the most vulnerable group in the country", said Golam Mustafa, another farmer from Jhenaidah, calling for workers to be paid a fair price for their agricultural products.

Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), a network of more than 150 civic groups, organised the convention at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Centre.

Dr Abul Barakat, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association, supported their demands and urged the creation of a permanent national land-water-forest reform commission.

"We have food in the market, but you cannot buy it; you live on land, but it is not yours", he said, referring to the problems faced by many of the rural workers and farmers attending the conference.

In the meeting the CSRL launched a detailed policy document. The CSRL is being supported by the Oxfam.

The draft policy was produced after more than 70 consultation sessions at national and rural levels (involving the participation of marginalised farmers and labourers, professionals, agriculturalists, civic leaders and politicians) and calls on all political parties to support a range of policies aimed at promoting and ensuring a fairer distribution of assets, resources and incomes for those working in the agricultural sector.

Key proposals in the policy document include reducing the price of agricultural inputs like fertiliser, pesticides, electricity and seeds, through government subsidies; ensuring farmers are paid a fair price for commodities and market access; safeguarding customary land rights and protecting specific national agricultural products from import surges.

The CSRL hoped that policy recommendations will be incorporated by political parties as they draft their election manifestos ahead of December polls.

Govt urged to utilise NRBs' expertise

Staff Reporter

Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf yesterday said at a seminar the government should take initiatives to make room for the Non Resident Bangladeshis to invest their funds and to utilize their expertises.

The seminar on "Prospective Investment by Non Resident Bangladeshis and the Issue of Dual Citizenship" was held at the National Press Club Auditorium in the city to mark the 18th anniversary of publication of the weekly Dhaka Post and Justice Rouf was speaking as chief guest.

The weekly Dhaka Post organised the seminar, where Former chairman of Investment Board Engineer Mahmudur Rahman presided over the programme.

The seminar conducted jointly by Jayed Ikbal and Mousumi Akter, while former deputy governor of Bangladesh Shah Abdul Hannan, former director general of National Education Management Prof Shaheda Obayed, Chief Editor of BSS Zaglul A Chowdhury, Senior lawyer of Bangladesh Supreme Court Advocate Sheikh Sirajul Islam, Professor of Dhaka University M Mujahidul Islam, President o Bangladesh -Dutch Chamber Commerce in Natherlands Fred Oldenhuizing, Dr Wali Tasir Uddin, Moulana Shuyeb Ahmed, Atiquer Rahman, also attented as special guests.

Editor of the weekly Dhaka Post Prof Omar Faruque delivered Welcome Speech.

Justice Rouf called upon the government to change the system of administration to ensure the security of Non Resident Bangladeshis at airport, when they will return there homeland.

Mahmubur Rahman said, the possibility of investment in the country of expatriates and Non Resident is very bright. If it is possible to resist the political violence, Non Resident will be interested to invest in their beloved country.

The speakers demanded to government that the expatriates must be included in the Voter List.

Farid Uddin Ahmad, Managing Director of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd, Presented the Keynote Speech.

He mentioned at present, about five millions migrants are working in different countries in the world.

He suggested the Bangladeshi Banks with the cooperation of the government can establish special Industrial Park or Trade Zone that would make the Non Resident Bangladeshis interested to join the economic development of the country.

In the seminar Dhaka Post Gold Medel-2008 Awards was distributed among Ten Investors from Non Resident Bangladeshis.

After seminar a cultural function was held.

Business personalities and community leaders from home and aboard participated at the programme.

Chamber leaders urge politicians: Be friendly to business people

Chittagong Correspondent

Trade leaders for the first time formally vowed to establish their rights of doing undisturbed business and asked the political forces to shun anarchy and destruction in the name of politics.

The leaders urged the politicians to make the parliament a focal point of all activities.

They said that the voice of the trade communities would have to be heard with due attention and priority because they have been sourcing the lion's share of the state expenses in the forms of tax and duty.

They were addressing a grand conference of merchants and traders of Chittagong and Sylhet Divisions at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the city yesterday.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCC&I) jointly hosted the conference.

President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCC&I) Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed chaired the conference where President of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Haque made deliberation as the chief guest.

The conference also put forward a 13-point proposal for the upcoming regime drawn in the interest of sustainable socioeconomic development and in improvement of the business environment in the country.

Introduction of federal system of governance, office of ombudsman, public-private partnership, corruption checking, empowerment of local trade and decision-giving agencies, development of co-ordination cell for all regions, empowerment of anti-corruption commission, slashing the interest rate at the private and public banks, scrapping PSI system and slashing import duty were among the proposals.

Nearly two dozen leading entrepreneurs of Chittagong, Dhaka and Sylhet addressed the conference highlighting the issues of micro and macro economic realities apart from sliding trade and commerce due to economic recessions in the western nations in recent months.

Senior Vice-President of the CCC&I MA Latif, president of SCC&I Junnun Mahmood Khan, Vice-President of FBCCI Abu Alam Chowdhury, 1st vice-president of FBCCI Abul Quashem Ahmed, vice-president of CCC&I Mahbub Alam, former president of CCC&I Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, BGMEA leaders MA Salam, Mahbub Ali, MA Maleq, Akhtar Hossain, Abdul Matlub Ahmed, Khalilur Rahman and Gazi Dastagir were among the speakers.

FBCCI president Annisul Haque said that the nation had been passing through a critical time after the liberation war.

He said that trading communities had been worried over the post-election reaction of the political parties apart from reversing the existing import, export, monetary, tax and trade policies.

The FBCCI leader cautioned that the national economy would suffer a serious setback if the politics reverts to its old style and gets on the streets over election results. "Well planned strategy and collective efforts can be the only weapons to better tackle the bad time and let the nation to take a smoother transition to democracy," he said urging all concerned to play reciprocal roles in this regard.

Expressing disappointment over the deliberate negligence to the industrialists by the successive governments, he said that none of them had formulated a national policy for the sick industries which became sick because of the economic fluctuations prompted by political instability.

He urged the next elected government to take up coal exploration project on priority basis and outline optimisation of the resources.

Regarding Chittagong port, the FBCCI president said that the port's operation had been streamlined over the last two years and the trade community would love to see the port's uninterrupted operation even during the regime of the political forces.

He demanded shifting of weekend to Sunday instead of Friday. He said that the existing weekend had been creating problems for the local business people.

Former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mir Nasir Hossain said that the traders had always been the inner wheel of the economy and inseparable part of politics.

"Economy-driven politics helps sustainable development and social tranquillity while mismatch to this can lead a nation to total mess," he commented and urged the future caretakers of the state to concentrate more on economic issues and create congenial environment for trade and commerce.

He demanded insertion of common policy matters and specific development programmes in the election manifesto of the political parties so that the people could better exercise their rights of voting.

Former President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Awal Mintoo claimed that the merchants and traders had been running the country, not the politicians.

"We've every right to do politics and comment over the good and bad impacts of the political activities as our money runs the state," he justified his involvement in politics and aspiration for mayoral office of Dhaka City Corporation.

President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCC&I) Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed said that the traders are not opposed to the politicians. "We want to work together," he said and urged the politicians to be friendly to the business people.

Qualified 27th: BCS candidates seek appointment

Staff Reporter

The finally qualified candidates of the 27th BCS viva examination urged the President and the concerned authority to appoint them as early as possible.

They dismissed the allegations of nepotism or any other unfair means in the examination process by those who were unsuccessful.

They said this at a press briefing at the National Press Club yesterday.

Md Al Alemul Imam, a successful candidate, said 3,239 qualified examinees have been eagerly waiting for the last 3 years and 7 months to serve the nation.

He said around 76 per cent qualified examinees of the 1st time qualified in this term, and 13 more ethnic minorities qualified in the 2nd term viva than the previous viva.

Tahmina Zakaria, one other qualified, said, "I can't sleep as they are calling us children of collaborators."

Anwar Saddat and Mehedi Hasan the sons of freedom fighters said 101 more examinees had become successful in the 2nd term viva than the 1st time.

They said those who qualified had good academic results. They got chance on their own merit and by hard work.

Cops disperse stock market traders

Staff Reporter

Police dispersed a group of angry traders demonstrating outside Dhaka's Stock Exchange yesterday after share prices sank to a three months low.

The country capital's benchmark DSE General Index - largely unscathed by the global economic turmoil - fell nearly 2 per cent in the morning trade after shedding more than 2 per cent on Sunday.

Fazlur Rahman officer in charge of Motijheel Police Station said that about 40 stock market workers gathered outside the exchange demanding that its president resign.

''They shouted 'why is the stock price falling?' They also called for the president to quit,'' Rahman said.