The New Nation - Internet Edition

5 more MPs take oath

Speaker Barrister Jamiruddn Sircar administering
oath to the newly elected five MPs belonging to one AL, one
LDP and three independent at the Sangsad Bhaban on Sunday.
PID photo

UNB, Dhaka

Five MPs-elect, including LDP leader Col. (retd) Oli Ahmed, were sworn in as members of the 9th parliament on Sunday.

Of the four others, three are from Awami League and one from independent.

Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar administered the oath at the Oath Room on the ground floor of the Sangsad Bhaban at 3:20pm.

The oath was conducted under Article 148 of the Bangladesh Constitution and rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure

Nizami condemns

attack on BNP,

Jamaat activists

Staff Reporter

Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, yesterday accused Awami League (AL) activists of carrying out terrorist activities and attacking on four-party alliance supporters, their houses and offices in Pabna.

In a statement, he said that the AL activists were ransacking houses, looting stores, snatching valuables of BNP and Jamaat supporters in Pabna-1.

He also said, the AL fugitives were indulging in these activities in the acknowledge of the local administration.

He called upon both the interim and the future governments for taking necessary steps to put an end to these vindictive activities for the sake of democracy

BCL observes 61st founding anniversary

Chhatra League leaders and workers bring out a
colourful procession on Dhaka University campus marking the
61st founding anniversary of the organisation on Sunday. NN
photo

DU Correspondent

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of Awami League, yesterday celebrated its 61st founding anniversary on the Dhaka University campus with the slogan "Win hearts of students-Don't grab halls".

Awami League and Chhatra League leaders and activists of different levels inaugurated the day by releasing balloons and pigeons.

On the occasion, the campus turned into a noting point of a large number of BCL activists who came from different dormitories and city's universities and colleges.

They held a rally in front of Aparajeyo Bangla, but no one could deliver speech in the rally as stage suddenly collapsed living three persons injured.

The injured was Awami League leaders Nazrul Islam Babu, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Sultan Mohammad Mansur.

Awami League leaders K M Jahangir, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Obaidul Kader, Iqbalur Rahim, Abdur Rahman, BCL former leaders Bahadur Bepari, Ajoykar Khakan, Balaram Poddar, BCL president Mahmud Hasan Ripon, general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton, DU unit president Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu and DU general secretary Sazzad Sakib Badsha gathered in the programme.

BCL Jahangirnagar University unit observed the day by cutting a cake where former Vice Chancellor Prof MA Baset was chief guest.

On Saturday midnight, BCL cut a 20-pound cake of 20 pound in front of Curzon Hall of the university to celebrate the day.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founded the organisation in 1948.

Present forex reserve stands at $5.78b

Staff Reporter

The Awami League (AL) led grand alliance will start its new tenure with a good size of foreign exchange reserve alongside the negative current account balance.

The present foreign exchange reserve stands at $5.78 billion, while the current account balance deficit until September last was $280 million.

The Taka and USD exchange rate in yesterday's market was Tk 68.95, GBP at Tk 100.18 and Euro at Tk 95.72.

The wage earners' remittance until November of the current fiscal year was $3.74 billion with annual 33.56 per cent increase.

The average rate of inflation on the basis of consumer price index during December'08 came down to below 6 per cent. Due to price fall of fuel oil in the international market the prices of essential commodities are likely to come down bringing down the rate of inflation. But inflation was staying at double digit during the first ten months of 2008. People were facing immense trouble to buy daily needs.

Statistics shows that foreign exchange reserve was $ 3.7 billion during December 2006 before the BNP led four-party alliance government left power. The reserve rose to as high as $6.18 billion during the tenure of caretaker government.

During the rule of Hossain Mohammad Ershad in 1988-99 fiscal year the forex reserve was $ 900 million. The reserve came down to $520 million in 1990.

The reserve started rising during 1991 when BNP took office. In June 1991 it rose to $880 million and rose to $3.7 billion during 1995.

In the current fiscal year the GDP growth has been projected to be 6 per cent. However, following the global financial crisis the World Bank and IMF has predicted that country's GDP growth may come down below 4 per cent. But the Finance Adviser referring statistics said that GDP growth wouldn't come below 6 per cent.

GDP growth may be 8 pc in next decade

BSS, Dhaka

The country's 'best years' of development is lying ahead when the GDP growth may hit up to 8 percent in next decade according to expert projections.

The first such forecast came in a report by FBCCI, presented recently to a gathering of business leaders and politicians prior to the general elections. The just released annual report of the Bangladesh Bank made almost similar projections.

These projections echoed the growth roadmap indicators of Awami League which have find place in its election manifesto for the next five years and vision 2021.

The central bank's projections said, the country's GDP growth may reach 6.5 percent in the current fiscal 2008-09 to further accelerate to 7.0 percent in 2009-10 and 7.2 in 2010-11.

This growth performance would however, depend on fulfillment of certain conditions and avoiding certain others.

Political stability coupled with stability of macroeconomic fundamentals, solving power crisis and infrastructure problems and a short lived global recession are some of the conditions which may determine the pace of the growth to attain the targets.

These will be the major challenges for the new government, besides bringing down the prices of essentials and lowering the cost of agricultural inputs and other economic benefits to common people, experts say.

The achievements of these targets will, moreover, depend on increased private sector investment, foreign direct investment, skill development and improving vocational training, expanding the SME sector and achieving greater export diversification.

Experts have emphasized establishing direct linkages between industry and universities and other training institutions to improve education and skill development.

More emphasis should also go to creating more center of academic excellence to promote skilled manpower to meet domestic and external demand now on steady rise.

These are big problems but not insurmountable, said a chamber leader pointing landslide election victory and level of popular support that the AL-led grand alliance received in the just concluded polls to build new institutions and expand existing ones, said the chamber leader.

The business sources said, Bangladesh is highly dependent on RMG export and greater focus now must go to improving the technology to work out new fashion and design to make Bangladesh made apparels more attractive at low cost at a time when global economic recession is affecting export market seriously.

One of the biggest challenges to new government to achieve the projected growth is power shortage and experts have positively taken the AL emphasis to quickly set up new power plants to meet the growing demand gap.

They also laid emphasis on taking exploration work of at least one gas well in the first 100 days of the new government while it should have a target of exploration of at least six gas wells per annum over the next few years.

Shortage of gas is forcing many power plants sitting idle and newly built factories remaining defunct while waiting to go for production due to poor electricity supply and frequent load shedding, business leaders allege.

They said, Bangladesh is poised to go for higher growth in the next couple of years and the new socio-political environment is quite supportive of it at the moment. The growth snags of the past two years may start moving out, they said pinning best hope to new government initiatives now in the offing.

Ajanta Mendis makes Bangladesh struggle

BBC Online

Ajantha Mendis made a successful return to Sri Lanka's Test team, taking 4-71 to bowl out Bangladesh for 208 on day two of the second Test in Chittagong.

Sri Lanka's batting was once against suspect, as they went from an overnight 367-6 to 384 all out, in-form spinner Shakib Al Hasan taking 4-109.

But spinner Mendis struck back as Bangladesh slid to 90-6 and 145-9.

Mashrafe Mortaza then hit an aggressive 63 before being the last man dismissed, and Sri Lanka were 13-0 at the close. Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain did come within one hit of matching Bangladesh's previous best 10th-wicket stand in Tests of 69.

However, after hitting the first ball of a Muttiah Muralitharan over for six, Mortaza was caught on the boundary attempting another to give the veteran off-spinner figures of 3-62. The partnership had at least saved the follow-on, and gave Sri Lanka's opening batsmen a tricky five overs to negotiate before the close. But there were no alarms as they reached stumps with an overall lead of 189.

With Sri Lanka's last four wickets only able to add a further 17 runs to their overnight total, Shakib wrapped up the tail when he obtained three lbw decisions.

Chamara Kapugedera, 93 not out at the start of play, failed to reach a maiden Test century as he fell for 96.

Mendis, arguably the find of 2008 with 26 wickets in his first three Tests and 48 scalps in 18 one-day internationals, had been kept out of the first Test in Mirpur with an ankle injury, and it had been expected he would play no part in this series.

However, having recovered faster than expected, he needed only 12 deliveries to strike for the first time, trapping Raqibul Hasan lbw.

He had two more lbws from as many deliveries and then the charging Mushfiqur Rahim was easily stumped.

Everything was going smoothly for Sri Lanka until Mortaza spoilt the mood with his third Test fifty, but the tourists remained in prime shape to force a victory.

Punishment of killers of Shamsul Haque demanded

Staff Reporter

Shikkhok Kormochary Oikyojote yesterday demanded punishment of those involved in the killing of Samsul Haque Master.

Samsul was killed in Comilla allegedly by the terrorist group of Lutas Kamal in the post election violence.

The demand was made at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital.

Chief Coordinator of the organisation Md Selim Bhuiyan read out a written statement at the press conference. Wife of the victim Halima Begum, daughters Shamima Nasreen Bulu and Rukhsana Akhter, son Sharif Ahmed, among others, attended the press conference.

Selim Bhuiyan in his statement said, in the evening of the election day, 10-12 cadres of Lutas Kamal led by Lukman and Bhutta attacked Samsul Haque Master when he was returning home from an Election centre. He died from injuries at a local hospital on January-2.

The terrorists are now threatening family of the victim to withdraw the case, has said and demanded the exemplary punishment of the killers.

Samsul Haque Master was the senior teacher of Hazat Khola High School of Comilla Sadar south.

1.83 cr Indian help for DU Theatre, Music Dept

Staff Reporter

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between the High Commission of India and University of Dhaka to construct a wing for the department of Theatre and Music of the University.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka allocated Tk 1.83 crore to build classrooms, computer lab, library and specialised training room for the department in the 5th floor in the Arts Building of the University.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pinak Ranjan Mitra and SMA Faiz, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU) signed the agreement at the Natmandal of DU.

Prof Israfil Shaheen, Chairman of Theatre and Music thanked to the Indian High Commission for extending financial help to his Department.

This will make bondage of Friendship between the University and the High Commission stronger with this ceremony, he said.

Faiz said Bangladesh and India maintain good relation and this kind of agreement will deepen the friendly relation between the two neighbourly countries.

Pinak said both India and Bangladesh have a shared culture and heritage,

He said, he would be happy to extend more support to the University if the authority proposed anything else.

Prof Sadrul Amin Dean of the faculty of Arts, Prof Harun-or-Rashid Dean of the faculty of Social Sciences and a large number of cultural activists, teachers and students of University, among others, attended the programme.

Hasina asks BCL men to pursue politics of tolerance

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister-designate Sheikh Hasina last night said incidents of torture by BNP-Jamaat supporters on Awami League leaders and workers after the 2001 general election and cases filed at that time would be reinvestigated and legal actions taken against the perpetrators.

During a video conference from her Sudhasadan residence with members of Chhatra League on the occasion of its 61st founding anniversary, Hasina said the perpetrators of BNP and Jamaat suffered a kind of punishment through December 29 elections as they were rejected by the people.

"People gave an appropriate reply to those who committed corruption and terrorism," she said, apparently to pacify those trying for reprisals.

Hasina urged the members of the Chhatra League to hold patience and establish the politics of tolerance and cooperation as they recalled the stories of torture and repression on them by the BNP-Jamaat activists after the 2001 elections.

She assured that her government would look into false cases filed against them during the BNP-Jamaat alliance government.

"Change the culture of politics," she said, adding that she announced the Vision 2021 relying on the members of the Chhatra League. "Don't follow tit-for-tat policy."

Hasina advised them to build them as good citizens by educating themselves.

She planned such videoconferencing with cross-sections of people one a day after forming the government to know their problems and find solutions.

Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury was beside Hasina. BCL president Mahmud Hasan Ripon and general secretary Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury Roton promised that they would restore discipline and peaceful political atmosphere.

No legal bar to Hasina assuming office of PM

UNB, Dhaka

Dismissing TIB chairman Prof Muzaffar Ahmed's contentions, some leading lawyers of the Supreme Court Sunday claimed that there is no legal bar to Sheikh Hasina assuming the office of Prime Minister riding on an outstanding popular mandate.

The group of lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Barrister Shafique Ahmed, secretary Nurul Islam Suzan and ex-SCBA president Mahbubey Alam, said criminal cases against Hasina are pending with the court. She has not been convicted in any case by any court of law.

"In any civilized nation and in accordance with the International Human Rights Declaration an accused in a criminal case is presumed to be innocent until the allegation against the accused is proved by a court," they pleaded to rule out the views of the chief of the local chapter of the international watchdog against corruption.

The lawyers said the notion of 'presumption of innocence' is applicable in the case of Sheikh Hasina who has emerged as an "uncrowned leader" through the December 29 parliament elections.

This is also legally applicable for those who were released on bail and would be inducted into Hasina's cabinet.

The lawyers noted that there is no difference between the release on parole or bail in the context wherein Prof Muzaffar made the contentious remarks.

On December 31, Prof Muzaffar at a seminar said Sheikh Hasina, now on parole, should not take oath as Prime Minister until the pending cases against her are disposed of.

He also stated that Hasina should not distribute ministerial portfolios to those who were convicted or awarded jail terms or now free on bail from jail following the pre-election turnaround from a massive clean-up drive conducted by the interim regime after the 1/11 changeover.

With all respect to Prof Muzaffar, the lawyers said that there is no link between his remarks and legal jurisprudence and law. "Since Prof Muzaffar is not a legal expert, his remarks are tantamount to misinterpretation of law," the group of jurists noted.Other signatories to the statement are Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, SM Rezaul Karim, Enayetur Rahim, AM Aminuddin, Mahbub Ali, AFM Mezbahuddin, Momtaz Uddin Mehedi, Nahid Sultana Juthi, Hassan Foiz Siddique, Nizamul Huq Nasim, Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, Dr Belal Hossain Joy and Zead Al Malum.

144 ordns promulgated by CG to be placed in JS

Staff Reporter

A total of 144 ordinances have been promulgated during the rule of the present Caretaker Government that brought a lot of changes in legal, politico-electoral and other sectors.

This was disclosed at the last meeting of the Council of Advisers at Chief Adviser's Office with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

The meeting was also informed that a total of 664 decisions had been made at a total of 142 meetings of the Advisers' Council. Of the decisions, 512 (77%) were implemented during the two year period of the government that assumed power after the 1/11 changeover.

In its latest business transaction the Council yesterday approved the draft of the Local Government (Union Parishad) (Amendment) Ordinance 2009.

The meeting reviewed the progress of the execution of different decisions taken in the Advisers' council meetings so far.

The meeting thanked the people and government officials- employees for extending their cooperation to the outgoing caretaker government in completing its tasks.

The meeting also was informed that a total of 133 development projects, involving Tk 84,224 crore, have been undertaken during the period to carry out country's economic activity and development process.

Members of the advisory council, CA's special assistants, Cabinet Secretary and other secretaries concerned were present at the meeting.

Better Aman output likely

Staff Reporter

Better Aman production is likely to achieve this year, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension sources.

"The farmers have already received 1,23,78,905 tonnes of Aman paddy from 52,08,230 hectares of land across the country, a senior official of DAE," said, adding, " The Aman paddy was received from total of the 94 per cent of cultivated 55,42,445 hectares of Aman land."

The rest of 6 per cent standing Aman will be harvested this week, DAE field wing director Dewan Md Intajul Islam said.

He said that the government will achieve its targeted 130.09 lakh tonnes of Aman paddy as farmer are getting better Aman yield this year.

Farmers have got 1.55 tonnes paddy per hectares from local variety and 2.68 tonnes per hectares from hybrid variety this year, he further said.

Six killed, 43 hurt in road accidents

UNB, Dhaka

Six people were killed and 43 others injured in separate road accidents in Faridpur and Joypurhat districts on Sunday.

In Faridpur, four people were killed and 40 others injured when a passenger bus plunged into a road-side ditch on Faridpur-Barisal Highway in Bhanga upazila Sunday noon.

Police and locals said the Dhaka-bound bus from Madaripur fell into the ditch at Hamirdi at about 1:15 pm when its driver lost control over the steering, killing three passengers on the spot and another on way to hospital.

On information, police rushed to the spot and rescued the injured with the help of local people.

Three of the deceased were identified as Ferdous (38), Zakir Hossain (32), and Sania Begum (35). The identity of a man could not be known. All the dead hailed from Madaripur district.

Of the injured, 26 were admitted to Bhanga Health Complex while six to Faripur Medical College hospital. Condition of the six injured was stated to be critical, hospital sources said.

In Joypurhat, a speeding bus ran over two people and injured three others at Shibpur Charmatha in Khetlal upazila this morning.

Witnesses said the bus ran over the pedestrians at about 11am when the driver lost his control over steering, killing the two on the spot.

The deceased were identified as Zillur Rahman of Shibpur cluster village in Khetlal upazila, and Tafizar Rahman of Karimpur village in Kalai upazila. The injured were admitted to Dupchanchia Health Complex of neighbouring Bogra district.