The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dean of diplomatic corps meets Khaleda

Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Dora Rapold
called on BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan
office and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zheng Qingdian
called on Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha
Sadan residence in the c

UNB, Dhaka

Dean of diplomatic corps and Ambassador of Switzerland Dora Rapold met with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday and stressed the need for political stability in the country.

The ambassador declined to talk to the press after coming out of hourlong meeting with Khaleda at her Gulshan office in the evening.

Her adviser Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said they discussed socio-economic situation and steps to strengthen relationship between the two countries.

"It's our internal mater," Chowdhury said when asked if the ambassador talked about the election. "But the envoy hoped of political stability in the country."

Drop idea of postponing : JS polls, Hasina asks govt

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the national elections must be held on December 18 of the sake of restoring democracy in the country and urged the government to shun the idea of deferring the election from the scheduled date.

while addressing a meeting marking the 36th founding anniversary of Awami Juba League at the Engineers Institution.

She raised the question that what type of rule will be imposed on the country, If the elections could not be held on December 18?

"No sooner had the election approaches near hand, Conspiracy is going on to foil the election sensing the certain winning of Awami League. If any party says it has no preparation for election, the election can not be deferred," she said.

She was critical on the various activities of the caretaker government saying, " The government has announced the election roadmap but, after climbing the road, it lost the map. The Government is supposed to arrange the national elections within three months of assuming office, but it could not been hold the election in nearly two years."

"This government has been given enough time. The people do not give any more time. Election must be held on December 18. People want nothing but election," she told the meeting amidst cheers and slogans from her young followers.

"Democracy cannot be ensured without election. The next parliament will have to pass the ordinances promulgated by the President. At the eleventh hour prior to the election, with whom the government is making entente? Why so much indulgence?" she questioned.

She added that the government seemed to be trying to grip the power. But People do not want such government anymore. They want peace and food. The people are waiting for only free and fair elections.

She also called on the people to be alert to resist any manipulation of the election result.

"The people suffered a lot in the past years. So now they want efficient leadership for building a good future of Bangladesh," Hasina said.

She said, "When the caretaker government resumed the power, people had welcomed it for

its anti-corruption drive. But now it seems that the government is out to clean real corrupt who had destroyed the country during the last five years,"

Sheikh Hasina assured that if AL voted to power, they would make education up to honors level free of cost and create more employment opportunities.

Hasina said that AL had planed to eradicate poverty from Bangladesh by 2021,in the year the golden jubilee of independence and emphasised on using strength f the youth in rebuilding a better future of the country.

Awami League presidium members Amir Hossain Amu , Presidium member Sheikh Selim,

among others, address the meeting while Juba League chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak presided over the meeting.

RU students ransack 3 university buses

RU Correspondent

Failing to attend classes and reach examination halls on time due to work abstention programme by a section of transport workers of the Rajshahi University (RU), angry students of the university yesterday ransacked three university buses and assaulted the university proctor, student adviser and others university high officials.

Campus sources said, some of transport workers yesterday observed work abstention programme demanding removal of salary discrimination between third class employees and general employees.

Following the work abstention programme, university buses plied on only 11 routes out of 30. As a result, many students could not come to the university on time. Transport strike on most of the routes forced majority of the teachers, students and other employees to come to the university campus either by rickshaws or on foot.

Later the angry students ransacked three university buses protesting the work abstention by a section of transport workers.

Police, university proctor Enamul Haque, student's advisor Faridul Islam Pintu rushed to the spot and tried to cool down the angry student's agitation.

A serious argument took place between agitating students and the university proctor.

Soon the rampaging students assaulted the university proctor holding him responsible for failing to avert the abstention programme of the university transport employees.

At around 12.45pm, university student's advisor Prof. Faridul Islam Pintu and proctor Dr. Enamul Haque assured the agitating students that all buses would operate from 1.10pm.

Later, the agitating students withdraw their demonstration.

Abdus Salam, general secretary of RU Transport Workers Union, told the reporters that they submitted memorandum to RU VC and demanded closing of salary discrimination between third class employees and general employees.

He threatened to give a call for abstention by transport workers if their demands were not met by next 24 hours.

Sources said RU transport director Sayed Rafiqul Islam Rumi requested the transport workers to operate buses on all routers buses.

Following the request, the transport workers operated buses on all routes buses from 1.10pm.

When contacted, RU acting vice chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat, he said that university authorities will discuss the matter on an emergency basis.

Recruitment of mass media graduates urged

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable in the city yesterday underlined the need for placement of mass media graduates raised by universities in mass media organisations for improved communications.

The roundtable was organised by the International University of Bangladesh (IUB) on the "Media Arts and Technology Research" (MATR) in collaboration with the school of Mass Communication of the university.

Shahidul Alam, head of the school of Mass Communication moderated the discussion that was initiated by Pro- Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Omar Rahman.

Speakers at the roundtable felt the need for making the course curriculum practically oriented by enlisting services of successful media professionals. They noted that recruitment at mass media organisations were still being made in an unsystematic way thus reducing the scope of selection of candidates having required academic qualifications.

Some participants pointed out that most mass media organisation in the country do not offer attractive remuneration package to inspire qualified people to join them.

Many candidates again lack the language skills and technical competence to work in mass media organisations, electronic or print.

Ms Mishu Rahman, CEO, MATR, Nawajesh Ali Khan, eminent television programme director, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor of the New Nation, Gousul Alam Shaon of Grey Advertising, Suddangsho Sekkhor Roy of East-West University, Gautom Gosh, CEO, Euro Worldwide, Prof Nazrul Islam of the school of the Liberal Arts and Prof Tanvir Ahmed, registrar of the university spoke at the roundtable.

Hasanat Abdullah to appear before court

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Leaders of Barisal district and upazila Awami League said here yesterday that former Al chief whip Abul Hasanat Abdullah, now on the run to avert imprisonment on corruption and tax evasion charges, will appear before the court soon and contest the upcoming parliamentary election.

Addressing a press conference at the Reporters' Unity office in Barisal city, the local AL leaders claimed that the cases for which Hasanat was sentenced to suffer imprisonment were false and politically motivated.

After 11/1 Hasanat was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment in corruption and tax evasion cases. Trial of another two cases in connection with possessing illegal arms forgery is now pending.

He fled the country just before the 1/11. He could not even be voter as he was staying away from the country during the registration of voters' names.

The name of Hasanat was recommended by local selection committee as the lone candidate for contesting the national election from his home constituency comprising Agoiljhara and Gournadi upazilas.

The name of Hasanat also topped the list of Barisal-2 (Uzirpur-Banaripara upazilas ) and Barisal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi upazilas).

Legal procedures for the surrender of Hasant and enlisting his name as voter are now underway, local AL leaders told the press conference.

The press conference was addressed, among others, by local AL leaders Advocate Abdul Malek Munshi and Advocate Talukder Md.Yunus.

$480m IDA credit deal signed

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh will get US$ 480 million credit from International Development Association (IDA), a soft window of the World Bank, under two agreements signed here yesterday. The fund will be utilised to increase power supply from the Siddirganj plant and to support food crisis development.

Muhammad Mesabahuddin of the Economic Relations Division and Vinaya Swaroop, Acting Country Director of World Bank, penned the agreements.

US$ 350 million will be provided to the Siddhirganj Peaking Power Project for increasing reliable power supply. It is the first integrated gas-to-power project in the country. It will contribute 300MW of generation capacity to help address the country's shortage of power.

A 60km natural gas pipeline from Bakhrabad to Siddhirganj will be laid under the project to improve reliability of gas supply to the Siddhirganj power plant. An 11km power transmission line will be constructed to reach the consumers. Siddhirganj Peaking Power Plant is expected to go into operation in 2011.

The other credit of US$ 130 million is to support for Food Crisis Development Support Credit Project. It relates to the global food price inflation and related spending including social safety net programs.

The US$130 million support in Food Crisis Development Support Credit Project will benefit the poor families affected by the high food prices. The food price inflation has caused enormous hardship for the poor families causing many of them to cut on their food intake while others have cut back education and other expenditure for their children.

According to a World Bank projection, the food price shock has increased Bangladesh's poverty rate by around 3 percentage points. The project will help the Government mitigate the impact of food price increases.

The credits bearing 0.75 percent service charge will mature in 40 years with a 10-year grace period.

Two killed in city

Staff Reporter

Two people died, including a listed criminal in the city in separate incidents at Kadomtoli and Motijheel areas yesterday.

Police suspect that his cohorts at East Dhulaipar under Kadomtoli stabbed him to death.

The deceased was identified as Saikat Chandra Das, 25, son of Sumit Chandra Das and resident of 27/28 Lalmohon Das Lane under Sutrapur police station.

Saikat, who came out from prison 5 days ago, was wanted by Sutrapur police in 5 criminal cases, a police officer said, adding he was arrested late last month in connection with firing and injuring a young man and was sent to jail.

Witnesses said local people first spotted Saikat's body lying on Dhulaipar bazar road before dawn and informed the police who recovered the body at about 6:30am and sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The body contained marks of stab injuries, police said.

Police registered a murder case with Kadomtoli police station and was investigating into the motive behind the killing. But they suspect previous enmity with his associates might be behind Saikat's death.

In another incident, some local alleged terrorists shot an unidentified man at AGB colony in Motijheel area in the city yesterday.

Source said a gang of terrorists shot the unidentified man at 11:40pm on Wednesday. The victim fell on the spot. Local people rushed him to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Hospital doctors declared him dead at the 1:15am. His body is lying in DMCH morgue.

Police said they are investigating into the motive behind the killing.

A case was filed with the Motijheel Police Station in this connection.

Fall of building material’s prices: Low-cost houses still a far cry

Shamim Jahangir

Despite decrease in price of almost all the construction materials, the real estate builders are reluctant to reduce the price of readymade flats.

According to the Bangladesh Re-Rolling Mills Association (BRMA), the price of MS rod, one of the main materials for construction sector dropped significantly in the local market following reduction of consumption of the rod in the international market.

The price of 40-grade MS (mild steel) rod stands at Tk 40,000 a tone while the 60-grade rod at Tk 55,000 per tone in the local market yesterday. The price of 40-grad MS rod was at Tk 60,000 a tone while 60-grade at Tk 75,000 per tone three month before.

Steel traders here have incurred huge loss due to sudden fall of rod price in the local market, joint secretary of BRMA Mohammed Hymuyun Kabir said.

The government withdrew 15 per cent duty fees from imported steel following the price hike of steel couple months ago in the local market, he said, adding that the government should impose duty again to save the local producer.

In a letter sent to the Chief Adviser recently, Bangladesh Steel Mill Owners Association said the sector would loss around Tk 1,000 crore by selling their 5 Lakh tonnes reserved MS rod.

The steel mill owners and ship breakers urged the government to provide strong support to face the tough situation.

Besides the price of cement, another raw material stands at Tk 340 to Tk 350 per bag in the local market. It was selling at Tk 360 to Tk 370 before six months.

Secretary of Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association Azizur Rahman said that the cement manufacturers are now selling a bag of cement between Tk 340 and 360.

"It is Tk 20 to Tk 30 less for a bag from six months ago," he said.

He added that the price of cement would be reduced again if the fright fare and oil price will reduce further.

However, one thousand pieces of bricks are selling at Tk 6,000 to Tk 8,000 now varying upon their quality. It was selling at Tk 9,000 to Tk 12,000 of the one thousand before six months, a brick trader said.

A truck of sand is being selling at Tk 12,00 to 15,00 now. It was selling at Tk 1,800 six months ago.

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh REHAB President Eng Tanveerul Haque Probal said that they were not thinking about reduction in the flat price.

Though the prices of MS rod declined in the international market, the registration fees of flats has not been reduced, he said.

He called upon the government to reduce the registration fees of flats.

DSE vulnerability persists

Staff Reporter

Vulnerability of Dhaka's stock market, which began following US economic tumble, still persists as individual investors are yet to regain confidence.

During the last couple of weeks prices of shares in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) fell drastically creating panic among the small investors. As the small investors started selling their stocks being panicked by the world stock market fall, the Dhaka stock market trimmed down.

For some days stock price rose to some extent but fell the following day. The DSE yesterday fell again after gaining sharply on the day before as investors took profit on maturity of their shares bought in the sluggish market.

Stockbrokers said the investors, who have taken position with low-priced shares in the sluggish market of last few days, took profit as soon as the market was going up in the morning session.

They said the market opened with a gaining trend in the morning and the benchmark index rose as high as 2,733 points at around 10:30 am, prompting investors to place sales orders and take quick profits. During the day's trading, the DSE General Index (DGEN) fell 16 points or 0.61 per cent to close at 2,677 from 2,693 on Wednesday while the All Shares Price Index (DSI) dropped 14 points or 0.62 per cent to close at 2,232 and the DSE-20 index for selective shares declined 7 points or 0.31 per cent to close at 2,259 points. Of the total 236 issues traded on the day, 64 registered gains while 163 incurred losses and nine remained unchanged.

The day's total turnover fell to Tk 2.34 billion from Tk 2.67 billion on Wednesday while the market capitalization dropped to Tk 965billion from Tk 970 billion on the day before.

Beximco Pharma, Beximco, ACI, Titas Gas, GrameenS2, Uttara Bank, Lankabangla Finance, DESCO, AIMS 1st Mutual Fund and Dutch-Bangla Bank were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value. The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, Beximco Pharma, GRAMEENS2, Beximco Textiles, Beximco, Fine Foods, Golden Son, BD Com, Fu-Wang Foods and Quasem Dry Cell. Top gainers of the day were Fine Foods, Meghna Shrimp, Meghna Pet, Fu-wang Ceramics, Gachihata, Bionic Food, Beach Hatchery, Rose Heaven

Ball, Niloy Cement and Paper Processing. Top losers were Janata Insurance, Sreepur Textiles, BD Thai, City General Insurance, Goldenson, Phoenix Finance, Bengal Biscuits, Prime Insurance, Maq Enterprise and M Hossain Garments.

UK expatriates want stability for investment

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladeshi expatriate business leaders in UK meeting in the city yesterday expressed hope the next elected government would maintain political stability, which is the key to investment and development.

Expressing satisfaction at the current business atmosphere they said the government has to ensure political stability for attraction of investment.

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry arranged the discussion meeting with the delegation of Bangladesh-British Chamber of Commerce (BBCC) at its auditorium.

BBCC chairman Shahagir Bakht Faruk, who led the 30-member business delegation, said Bangladesh is a potential place for investors. But the country needs political stability to exploit the opportunity.

FBCCI president Annisul Haq said the major problem of investment is lack of infrastructure including gas and electricity. The investors want a secured land for their investment.

Iqbal Ahmed, a noted businessman of UK, said that the high fluctuation of Pound-Taka rates is also seen as an obstruction to investment. The government should fix the rate of pound sterling as is done in case of US dollar.

Speakers at the meeting also urged the UK and Bangladesh governments to ease immigration and visa processing system for traders in UK.

BBCC director MA Quyyum, FBCCI vice president Abul Kashem Ahmed and director MA Rouf Chowdhury were present at the meeting.

BIMSTEC leaders identify areas of cooperation

BSS, New Delhi

Leaders of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) at a joint post summit press briefing yesterday said they have identified 13 areas of multi-sectoral regional cooperation and the seven member countries will be benefited from it.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and other BIMSTEC leaders attended the briefing held in the Durbar Hall of Hotel Taj Palace.

In his opening remarks, Dr Manmohan Singh said BIMSTEC is the bridge between SAARC and ASEAN and will help build people to people contact in the region.

He said India offers additional 150 scholarships in ITEC programme to the students of BIMSTEC region, which was 300 earlier.

Replying to a question, Dr Manmohan said setting up of a BIMSTEC Food Bank is under consideration, but before that agricultural research and productivity should be raised through regional cooperation.

The Indian Prime Minister said the 13 areas of cooperation included trade and investment, energy and food safety, fishing, agriculture, health, tourism, environment, counter-terrorism and culture.

He said a balanced development is possible through BIMSTEC initiatives and the countries can face global economic challenges jointly.

As a developing economy, these nations are not threatened by global financial crisis, but the developed nations should take care so that small economies are not hampered and the pace of MDGs remains smooth, he said.

Manmohan said BIMSTEC Business summit held on Wednesday here discussed energy, hydropower, agri- business, fisheries and transportation. President of Sri Lanka and prime ministers of Bhutan and Nepal also responded to the press.

Akramuddin seeks AL nomination from Dhaka-8 JS seat

Staff Reporter

Alhaj Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed, Member of the Advisory Council of Awami League, Co-Chairman of the Industry and Commerce Sub-committee of Awami League and Chairman of Standard Bank Ltd, has sought nomination of Awami League to contest the coming parliamentary elections in the Dhaka-8 constituency of Jatiya Sangsad.

He submitted his nomination paper to the central office of Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue on November 7 last in presence of hundreds of people of Motijheel, Arambagh, Gulbagh, South Shahjahanpur, Gopibagh, Purana Paltan, Shahbagh, South Shahjahanpur and Malibagh area.

Importers seek help to sustain business

Staff Reporter

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday advised businessmen to take up sector-wise problems to a secretary- level committee for quick resolve of those problems.

Headed by Finance Secretary-the committee has formed to monitor the impact of global economic recession.

"Notify sector-wise problems to the secretary-level committee," he told a delegation of importers led by FBCCI President Annisul Huq at the Ministry of Finance.

The delegation apprised the adviser of the problems of import business due to falling prices of commodities in the international market as the fallout of global financial crisis.

Annisul Huq told reporters that they have apprised the adviser of the impact on import business.

Case filed for declaring 36 persons war criminals

Court Correspondent

Two lawyers yesterday filed a case with the Judge's Court of Dhaka for declaring 36 persons including the former and incumbent Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Professor Golam Azam and Moulana Motiur Rahman Nizami respectively as war criminals for their role during the Liberation War, while the Judge M Istiaque Hossain accepted the case and fixed November 16 for hearing.

Advocates M Safayet Hossain and M Liton filed the case with the plea for declaring also Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, other leaders Qamruzzaman and Delwar Hossain Saidee as war criminals. The entire hierarchy of Jamaat was included in the list of the alleged war criminals.

The plaintiffs have appealed for a ban on the politics of the listed people and declaring them ineligible to take part in the election.

Extortion case: FRT not submitted against Hasina

Court Correspondent

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka did not pass any order yesterday till completing this report on whether the final report (FRT) submitted earlier in the extortion case filed against Awami League President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her cousin former lawmaker Sheikh Helal and his wife Rupa Chowdhury, was accepted or not. Yesterday was fixed for passing order in the case.

Besides, the court did not pass any other order for reinvestigation of the case. When asked, the concerned employees of the court did not disclose anything about what happened.

The police on November 5 submitted the report without making any charge against any of the three accused. Lutfor Rahman Khan, Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon Thana and Investigation Officer (IO) of the case had submitted the final report to the CMM Court on November 5, when Sheikh Hasina, also a former Premier, returned home.

Businessman Noor Ali filed the extortion case with Tejgaon Thana of the city on June 13 last year. Later, on July 17, Government brought the case under Emergency Power rules 2007 and a day before Sheikh Hasina was arrested in another extortion case filed by businessman Ajam J Chowdhury. She was released on June 11 this year by an executive order of the Government for her treatment and she went abroad for treatment.