The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hindrance to curbing of graft won’t be tolerated

Staff Reporter

Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday warned that the government will not accept any hindrance on the way of curbing corruption.

He also expressed his determination to form an honest and efficient administration in line with the people's expectations.

Ashraful made this remark while talking to reporters at his office at Secretariat on his first working day.

He said, "We will put an end to politicisation of all institutions including the judiciary, Public Service Commission and the Election Commission in order to form an honest and efficient administration in the light of people's hopes."

"They have voted us keeping a lot of expectation in mind. We have strong determination for socio-economic development to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country. We have announced various long-term plan in our election manifesto," he said.

Replying to a question on the rampant corruption in his ministry in the past, Ashraf said: "We will definitely find out the corrupts and punitive action will be taken against them. Corruption is a devastating disease and we have to uproot it"

Asked about the major challenges of the government he said, "Right now, we are faced with three major challenges now - lowering prices of essentials, employment generation and rural infrastructure development."

He expressed dissatisfaction of the tradition of floral tribute to newly appointed ministers by the officials of the ministries and said, "The reception given to ministers by putting up banners, chanting slogans and strewing flowers inside the Secretariat is a detestable offence."

He also asserted that a decision would be made through discussions in the cabinet meeting in this regard.

About trial of the war criminals, he said, "The war criminals will have to be tried according to the election manifesto of the party. The countries that have tried war criminals are eager to provide us assistance in this regard."

"The foreign diplomats also showed their eagerness to assist in trial procedure when they met with the party president. The legal process will be finalised after we get proposals from them." Ashraf also said, "Some 21,000 AL activists were killed during the tenure of the past (BNP-led) regime.The terrorists will not be spared. We will probe the killings."

Israel conditionally takes cease-fire proposal

AP, Gaza

Israel said yesterday that it "welcomes" an Egyptian-French ceasefire proposal for Gaza as long as such a deal guarantees a halt to militant rockets and weapons smuggling, in a possible sign that a bloody 12-day offensive could be winding down.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in Paris that both Israel and the moderate Palestinian leadership in charge of the West Bank had accepted the truce proposal, but Israeli officials did not confirm that. Hamas, for its part, said it would only support a deal if it included an opening of Gaza's borders. In Turkey, meanwhile, a diplomat said that country will be given the task of constructing an international force for Gaza.

Both Israel and Hamas appeared to seek guarantees about the details of a cease-fire, before agreeing to halt the fighting.

Israel said it would support the proposal only if it halts "hostile fire" from Hamas in Gaza and includes measures to prevent the militant group from rearming, said government spokesman Mark Regev.

Hamas said Israel does not seem to be serious about reaching a cease-fire."Israel is still widening and escalating its aggression and is not giving any positive signals in response to these efforts," Ghazi Hammad said.

The precise details of the Egyptian-French proposal remain unclear.

Israel's military scaled back attacks in Gaza for three hours yesterday to allow food and fuel to reach besieged Palestinians.

With criticism rising of the operation's spiraling civilian death toll and Gazans increasingly suffering the effects of nonstop airstrikes and shelling, Israel's military said it would open "humanitarian corridors" to allow aid supplies to reach Palestinians.

Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner said the "recess in offensive operations" was aimed at allowing in supplies and fuel, and would last from from 1 to 4 p.m local time. He said similar lulls in the coming days would be considered.

Lerner said that even during the pause, "For every attack against the army, there will be a response." Gaza residents reported scattered gunfire and explosions even after it was supposed to have gone into effect, but the scale of fighting appeared to drop.

A Damascus-based Hamas leader told Al-Arabiya TV that militants would not fire rockets during the lull, but said that did not mean the group was accepting a cease-fire.

Before Wednesday's brief lull, Israel said it struck 40 Hamas targets during the hours of darkness. Gaza health officials said strikes yesterday morning killed eight people.

Outrage over an Israeli strike Tuesday near a U.N. school continued, with the U.N. agency responsible for the building demanding an "impartial investigation" into the attack. Gaza health officials put the death toll from the strike at 39, while the U.N. says 40 were killed.

Israel says its forces fired at militants who launched mortars from that location.

About 300 of the more than 670 Palestinians killed so far are civilians, according to Palestinian and U.N. figures. Of those killed, at least 130 are children age 16 and under, says the Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which tracks casualties.

The number of armed fighters killed remains unclear. Gaza residents say Hamas fighters have begun wearing civilian clothes, and the organization is keeping its casualties secret and housing its wounded and dead in undisclosed locations.

Israel has lost six soldiers since launching a ground offensive on Saturday - four of them in "friendly fire" incidents - and four other Israelis have been killed by rocket fire, three of them civilians.

Israel's lull in operations could ease the plight of civilians in Gaza, where much of the territory has no power or running water, because pumps are dependent on electricity.

More than 500 aid trucks have been shipped into Gaza since operations began. But even when aid crosses into Gaza military operations have prevented officials from distributing it, leading to food shortages in some areas.

New int’l airport in Dhaka to be built

Staff Reporter

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader yesterday said that the newly elected Awami League government would take initiative to establish a new international airport adjacent to Dhaka.

"We would look for land for establishing the airport adjacent to Dhaka," he told the reporters in his maiden appearance after assuming ministry yesterday.

Quader said, "The Zia International Airport is now jam-packed with high-rise buildings and other structures surrounding it. So, it will not be possible to expand the airport. For this, we want to establish a new airport."

Talking about the international flight routes of Biman, the Civil Aviation Minister pointed out that the ministry would take initiative to stop the losing routes of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited.

He said, "We would expand the new routes in Middle East and other countries where from the flow of remittance will become easier."

Quader further said that the Aviation Ministry will take initiative to reduce excessive manpower

About Tourism Ministry, GM Quader said that we have huge diversity of natural beauty. "By exploring the information of the natural beauty of the country to promote the tourism sector, the government will take initiative to ensure security of the tourists," he further said.

He informed that the Sheraton Hotel Dhaka authority has extended its term for stay in the country till March 31.

Rehana's daughter: Make politics easy for better future

DU Correspondent

Sheikh Rehana's daughter Tulip Siddiq yesterday asked the country's politicians to make access of grassroots to politics easy for a better and participatory democracy in Bangladesh.

She made the call as the key speaker at a special talk on 'Bringing About Change: US and Bangladesh Elections-2008' at RC Mojumder auditorium of Dhaka University (DU).

DU Social Sciences Faculty organised the discussion where Faculty Dean Harun-or-Rashid, International Relations Department teacher Delwar Hossain and Peace and Conflict Department teacher Dalim Chandra Barman were present among others.

Sharing her experience in the recent US presidential elections, Tulip said the desire of the people of Bangladesh and the people of US was almost same as both the nations seek for change and the complete taste of democracy.

"I came to know talking to the people of all walks of life here that they want to live in a stable and peaceful atmosphere. They yearn for change in the culture of politics. They do not want politics of revenge and violence", Tulip said in line with her observation in the December 29 parliamentary elections.

Tulip thinks that the people have spontaneously cast their votes for the AL-led grand alliance for rapid development, more women members in parliament and decrease in prices of essentials.

In reply to a query, Tulip said she supported the Democratic Party in USA and campaigned for Obama in the presidential elections, as the party is against the Iraq war, formulates public-oriented healthcare policy, friendly foreign policy and tends to do what the people want.

Regarding the trial of war criminals, Tulip, who completed her master degree in English Literature from the Kings College in London and now a master student in Government, Policy and Politics, said they must be tried in the soil of Bangladesh.

She said to the youths, 'You the young people are the future of Bangladesh and can contribute most to bring about change in here'.

"People will speak out and take the decision if any elected government does not do what the people want", Tulip said in reply to another query.

Fundamental changes in health sector seen

Staff Reporter

Newly appointed Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr AFM Ruhul Haque yesterday said he would try to bring some fundamental changes in the health sector.

"I will try my best to bring some fundamental changes in health sector and reach health facilities to the grassroots level," he said while addressing an introductory meeting with officials and employees of his ministry.

Dr Haque said the health system of Bangladesh was well expanded than any other country of the region, but the facilities need to be utilized properly.

Emphasising the need for taking necessary steps should be taken to reopen the closed community clinics," the Health Minister said programmes would be taken to ensure heath services at an affordable price in remote areas.

Dr Haque said health services up to the upazila level would be strengthened to reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary care hospitals in cities and towns. He asked the ministry officials and employees to help the government bring the total health sector under a digitised information system.

Health Secretary AMM Nasir Uddin and Additional Secretary M Abdul Kalam Azad, among others, were present.

Demand for autonomy to Betar, BTV

Staff Reporter

Speakers demanded at a meeting yesterday to the newly elected government to establish a non-communal and progressive Bangladesh.

They said qualitative changes should come in our political arena after two-year rule of a non-political government.

The view-exchange meeting was organised by the Citizens Rights Movement at the conference room of the National Press Club in the capital.

Secretary General of the Organisation, Tushar Rehman read out the written keynote paper. In the keynote he presented 18 points of demand to the elected government.

He demanded autonomy to the Bangladesh Betar and the Bangladesh Television within 2009.

Terming the mass media as a 'fourth estate' of the country Tushar said this government would have to establish the freedom of press.

Syad Abul Maksud, Columnist said, this government had to maintain good governance for well-being of the people. If the government could control the price level of essentials under the buying capacity of the people, it would be able to retain public support.

Major Ziauddin Zia, a freedom fighter, said this government has to eliminate every kind of corruption from the ministry of Liberation War and ensure the accountability.

Sarder Md Amin, Engineer, Md Enamul Karim, Zoologist, among others, attended the meeting.

Planning Minister hopeful about trial of war criminals

Staff Reporter

Planning Minister and Chairman of the Sector Commanders Forum (SCF) Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) AK Khandaker is optimistic about starting trial of war criminals shortly.

While talking to reporters at his Planning Ministry office yesterday, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation War was emphatic to underscore the need to bring the 1971 war criminals to justice.

"The trial is very important for the nation, what the people of Bangladesh also desire," he said.

"Most of the war criminals failed to get elected. It is the successful outcome of the Sector Commanders' Forum's work and I thank each and every member of it," he said.

Khandaker thanked voters, especially "the 52 percent young voters" for rejecting war criminals in the election.

Meanwhile, the SCF is yet to decide whether AK Khandaker would continue to hold the top post of the Liberation War heroes after taking oath as a cabinet member or not.

"The Forum may discuss the issue at a meeting today," said Harun Habib, Chairman of Media and Publication Committee of SCF.

However, the close associates of AK Khandaker do not find any problem in continuing the duty as the SCF is not a profitable or registered organisation.

"SCF is not a profitable or registered organisation. So the Minister may not need to resign," said Anwar Kabir, Media coordinator of the Forum.

About his activities with the Planning Ministry AK Khandaker said that they would develop it as the think-tank of the government.

"The Planning Ministry should always act as the think-tank of the government," he told reporters on his first day at work at the planning ministry yesterday.

The new Planning Minister said the size of the annual development programme (ADP) should be kept within the reach of the country's economy.

"However, there can be exceptions in some cases," he said.

The ex-air force chief was greeted by his civil servants led by planning secretary Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury upon his arrival around 10.30am.

Khandaker held a meeting with secretaries, members of the Planning Commission and planning division officials.

"We are aiming to implement projects through strict monitoring so that the quality of the projects can improve and the money is spent meaningfully."

He said, the country would be on track to development if promises stated in Awami League's manifesto are implemented.

He thanked voters, especially "the 52 percent young voters" for rejecting war criminals in the election.

Govt to review CG ordinances

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The government will sort through a raft of ordinances promulgated by the caretaker government over the next two to three days, the newly appointed law minister said yesterday.

"We will review all the ordinances," law, justice and parliamentary affairs minister Shafique Ahmed told reporters at the Secretariat after joining office.

The interim government, headed by chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, during its two-year tenure promulgated over 100 ordinances.

It sent at least 100 ordinances to the parliament secretariat in December for sorting ahead of being tabled at the first sitting of the ninth Jatiya Sangsad.

According to the constitutional provisions, any ordinances promulgated in absence of parliament must be placed at the first sitting of the next parliament.

If parliament approves, the ordinances will be enacted. Otherwise, they will be automatically annulled.

"The ordinances of public importance will be enacted," said the new law minister yesterday

"It can be done in different ways - either we can ratify all ordinances through an order, later they can be amended if necessary or we can evaluate their validity."

"Some of the ordinances have already expired," he added.

"We will do everything required for consolidating democracy and establishing the rule of law," said the new minister.

On whether there would be changes to the constitution, he said: "If parliament thinks so. All the members of parliament will consider the matter for the sake of the country."

"We have to work towards an effective judicial system t so that people can secure justice."

"We believe that there should be a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court that can oversee the activities of the justices and provide logistic support," said barrister Shafique, a Supreme Court lawyer.

In reply to a query, he said: "When a partisan government comes to power it exerts an influence in recruitment of judges. I do not like the notion personally. The judges should be honest, qualified and fair."

No war with India: ISI chief

Reuters, Islamabad

The chief of Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency has said there will not be a war with India over November's militant attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai, Der Spiegel reported. Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha told the German magazine in an interview terrorism, not India, was Pakistan's enemy, and he said he took orders from the civilian president.

"There will not be a war," Pasha said. "We are distancing ourselves from conflict with India, both now and in general."

India blames Pakistan militants for the attack on Mumbai by 10 gunmen who killed 179 people. It has revived tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors who have fought three wars since 1947.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stepped up a war of words Tuesday, saying for the first time the assault "must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan."

Pakistan has denied any involvement by state agencies and rejected Singh's accusation, saying India was ratcheting up tension and risked destroying all prospects of a serious and objective investigation.

Pasha said that soon after the Mumbai attack, Pakistan had anticipated an India military response.

"At first we thought there would be a military reaction. The Indians, after the attacks, were deeply offended and furious, but they are also clever," he said.

"We may be crazy in Pakistan, but not completely out of our minds. We know full well that terror is our enemy, not India."

The Pakistani government had initially offered to send Pasha to India to help with the investigation but withdrew the offer, apparently after objections from the top brass.

Pasha told Der Spiegel he had been willing to go to India.

"Many people here are simply not ready," he said in the interview, published on Spiegel Onlne.

India sent evidence Monday to Pakistan that it said linked Pakistani militants to the attacks, including data from satellite phones and what it describes as the confession of a surviving attacker Pakistan said it had got a dossier and was examining it.

Pasha, a former chief of military operations, was appointed director-general of the military's main security agency in September, two months after the government that came to power after February elections tried to bring it under the ambit of the Interior Ministry.

The government dropped the attempt in the face of objections from the military.

Airport siege in Thailand costs $8.3b: Central Bank

BSS, Bangkok

Anti-government protests that shut down Bangkok's airports last year have cost Thailand 290 billion baht (8.3 billion dollars), a central bank study said Wednesday.

Demonstrators opposed to the previous government's ties to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra occupied the capital's international and domestic airports for more than a week from late November to early December.

The protesters from the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy movement dispersed after a court verdict brought down the government, but a Bank of Thailand study said the economic damage from the siege was huge.

"The political unrest has not only affected the tourism industry but also other related industries," said the study, titled "Thailand's Tourism Industry After The Closure Of Airports."

"Based on analysis, total losses were 290 billion baht, equivalent to 3.0 of nominal GDP (gross domestic product)," the study added.

It said the losses included 120 billion baht in the service industry, 90 billion baht in logistics and 60 billion baht in industry.

The shutdown of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports between November 25 and December 4 prevented 3.4 million tourists from visiting Thailand.

"The losses are more serious than SARS and the tsunami because those two were short-term," the study said, referring to the global Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2003 and the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The study predicted that tourist arrivals in Thailand this year would fall 8.8 per cent year on year to 12.8 million.

Thailand's tourism industry accounts for five per cent of GDP and employs some two million people or up to seven percent of the country's total workforce.

The losses from the airport blockade have added to the economic challenges that Thailand faces as a result of the global financial crisis, with the export-dependent kingdom's trading partners struggling.