The New Nation - Internet Edition

PM warns cabinet members: Stern action if allegations found

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her way to the
conference room of the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh
Secretariat before holding separate meetings with cabinet
members and secretaries of different ministries and
divisions yesterday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday cautioned her cabinet members that stern action would be taken if allegations were found against any of the cabinet members.

Sheikh Hasina asked her cabinet members to take full charge of their respective ministries within seven days and work hard with honesty to fulfil the election pledges.

The Prime Minister gave the instruction during one and half an hours long meeting with the ministers, state ministers and advisers to the PM at her secretariat office.

After the meeting, Commerce Minister Col (retd) Farook Khan told the waiting reporters that the Prime Minister reminded all that appropriate action will be taken in case of any allegation against any minister."

In reply to a question about transport cost, he said it would be come down with the reduction in the diesel price. To another question, Col (retd) Farooq said there would be no problem in working with bureaucrats if all discharge their respective duties as per rules.

Hasina's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters that the cabinet would meet every Monday at the Cabinet Division Conference room. In another meeting with the secretaries of different ministries and divisions Sheikh Hasina asked instructed the top civil servants to work fearlessly and neutrally for the welfare of the people and to make the country poverty free.

She also assured the secretaries that they would not face any impediment or pressure in the way of their neutral activities.

"You must be careful that there is no partisanship when you do your job", she said. She asked them to work in compliance with rules and regulations to fulfil the AL's election the pledges to the people and to ensure good governance.

"If the law itself becomes a hurdle to discharge works for public welfare, it will be amended. I do not want to hear that you cannot implement public welfare projects for legal obstacles. I want you all to finish work according to rule without any files left," she said.

Hasina said she was not happy about the pace of implementation of Annual Development Programme which stood at just 18 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal. "The pace of progress should be higher. With such a slow ADP implementation rate, the country will not progress. The government wants to increase the rate of ADP implementation to 90-95 percent in the next fiscal, " she said.

She directed the secretaries to send a list to her office regarding the projects to be implemented and projects they would not be able to implement in the next six months.

The meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council would be held on Tuesdays. "The meeting will review budget", she said.

She pointed out the country did not see the desired progress in the last 38 years after independence. The rate of literacy did not rise and the rate of poverty did not decline sufficiently, she noted.

She said people cast their vote freely in the election and got opportunity to express their view. She thanked all staffers in the administration for their help in holding election properly.

Army to remain deployed Jan 20 to 24: Law, order foremost during UZ polls: CEC

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamshul Huda said army would be deployed from January 20 for five days to maintain law and order situation during the upcoming upazila elections and also to curb post-poll violence.

He said the decision was taken at a meeting with field-level government and security officials to ensure that every body can cast their votes in a fearless environment.

In the meeting, Dr Huda directed the officials to put off voting if any poll centre's condition gets out of control. He also asked them to stay alert to prevent any move of vote rigging.

Elections to 481 upazila parishads are going to be held across the country after long 19 years. A total of 3,116 candidates are running for upazila chairmen in 481 upazilas. Some 2,879 are contesting for male vice-chairmen and 1,936 for female vice-chairmen fray.

CEC hoped turnout of voters would be more than 80 as witnessed in the December 29 general election.

"The Army will remain on duty from January 20 to January 24 to maintain law and order situation during the elections and thwart post-poll violence," CEC told journalists following the meeting.

The meeting at NEC auditorium was attended by deputy commissioners, also returning officers, chiefs of police, BDR, RAB, Ansar and representatives of the Armed Forces Division.

He directed the officials concerned to stop polling immediately in the event of law and order situation goes beyond control in any centre during the upazila elections.

"If we want to see a high voters' turnout in the upazilla elections, we need to make sure that they (voters) can cast their vote without facing any obstacle," Huda said.

He also informed that the EC yesterday started sending election materials to different upazillas.

Humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza

Biplabi Chhatra Front organised a programme in front
of the National Press Club yesterday in protest against the
Israeli aggression on Gaza. NN photo

BBC Online

Gaza is "on the cusp of catastrophe", a senior UN official currently in Gaza City has said. Aid agencies say the already fragile humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated dramatically since Israel began its military offensive.

Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza for the past 18 months, allowing little more than humanitarian basics into the coastal territory.

Health, energy and water infrastructure were already close to breaking point before the fighting broke out.

Now paramedics are struggling to secure safe access to the wounded. Hospitals are short of medical supplies and intensive care patients' lives are dependent on ageing back-up generators.

Much of the population is without electricity, about half are without running water, and food deliveries to 750,000 have been seriously disrupted.

On Wednesday Israel began daily three-hour lulls in the fighting to allow Palestinians to leave their homes and stock up on supplies. It also says it is allowing safe passage for the transportation of goods from the border to Gaza City, and for fuel to the power plant.

But the UN said a daily three-hour window would make "no difference" to its operations, because of the scale of the needs. Some 750,000 people - half Gaza's population - are dependent on food hand-outs from the UN relief agency, Unrwa.

Distribution has been hampered by security problems and was suspended for a day on Friday 9 January after a truck driver for the UN was killed. The UN blamed Israeli fire, which the Israeli military later denied.

In the month before the Israeli operation, Unrwa had to suspend distribution at times because it ran out of flour after Israel closed the border crossings into Gaza repeatedly. It has said throughout the operation that the supplies it has will last "days, not weeks".

During the hostilities about three times as many trucks of goods, mainly food, have entered Gaza than were doing so in November because of crossing closures.

But Unrwa stresses that the necessary volumes of grain cannot be shipped unless the conveyor belt at the Karni crossing - close to the scene of heavy ground clashes - is re-opened.

Early in the operation, Save the Children said there was a "severe shortage of food".

On 6 January, the UN said only nine of Gaza's 47 bakeries were operating because of shortages of flour and cooking gas, causing bread prices to double.

Israel's destruction of smuggling tunnels, used to bring in both weapons and other products, together with the fact that Israeli forces have blocked the main north-south road, has disrupted the flow of other food items.

The World Food Programme said there are shortages of rice, sugar, dairy products, milk, canned foods and fresh meat.

Prices for many food stuffs have risen - one shopper, for example, told Reuters the price of tomatoes had quadrupled since November.

And, because of the long-term economic impact of the blockade, plus shortages of bank notes, many Gazans cannot afford to buy much in the first place.

The UN says that if Israel gave permission for bakeries to access their 70 tonnes of cooking gas stored near the border, more bakeries could operate.

Gaza's health system is close to collapse, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Hospitals are overwhelmed and do not have enough intensive care beds or operating theatres, medical workers are exhausted from working round-the-clock, and urgently needed life-saving supplies are piling up at the border, the WHO says.

The UN says there are about 2,000 hospital beds in Gaza, including only 164 intensive care beds. Some 3,500 people have been wounded, many with serious injuries.

The WHO says the flow of trucks into the Strip has been insufficient, and there have been difficulties getting medical supplies to the places where they are needed.

Emergency workers are struggling to reach the wounded. Palestinian health officials say 10 have died trying. Electricity outages mean hospitals have been relying on back-up generators, many in need of spare parts and not designed for continuous use.

Fuel supplies for these are "precariously low", the UN said on 8 January. In Shifa hospital, Gaza's largest, some 70 patients' lives depend on machines powered by the generators.

Fuel shortages have already forced generators to shut down for a period at some ambulance stations and vaccine stores, the UN said.

Save the Children says it fears newborn and sick babies may be dying because their parents are unable to reach hospitals.

At the Rafah crossing, Egyptian and foreign doctors have been prevented from entering Gaza from Egypt. Egypt, with Israel, closed the border when Hamas came to power in 2007.

The UN says about two-thirds of Gaza's 1.5m people are without power.

Gaza's only power plant, which supplies much of Gaza City, has been shut down since 30 December because it ran out fuel.

As of 9 January, even though a small quantity of fuel had reached the plant, it was unable to operate because of a broken power line in the west of the Strip.

Several power lines from Israel and Egypt were damaged in the fighting, although all but one have now been repaired.

There have been severe shortages of cooking gas for many weeks. The UN says it has received reports of people burning their furniture to bake bread.

Israel says it has been working with international agencies to co-ordinate the delivery of fuel for hospital generators in the north of Gaza.

About half of Gaza's population are without running water, according to Unrwa. This means they are dependent on their own storage tanks, or risking leaving their homes to buy from private water sellers.

One Gaza resident told the BBC he and many other people had been forced to resort to drinking water from the toilet.

On Wednesday the World Bank said "nearly all" sewage and water pumps had stopped operating due to fuel and power shortages.

It said sewage was flowing into residential areas in the northern areas of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya.

The Bank also warned that an already fragile sewage lagoon in Beit Lahiya could burst because of nearby explosions and the failure of pumps that normally relieve pressure on it, which it said was putting 10,000 people at risk of drowning.

The UN says 21,200 people have fled their homes for shelters set up in UN-run schools, despite the fact that 43 people died when Israel bombed one of these on 7 January.

Israel says militants fired at its forces from the premises.

The UN says 80-90% of the mobile telephone network is down, and a "huge number" of landlines are not working because of damage and power cuts.

The humanitarian lull has allowed the Gaza phone company to refuel back-up generators powering its switchboards and mobile telephone masts, but this will last less than a week.

Decision on diesel price, fertiliser subsidy today

UNB, Dhaka

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury Sunday said the government would decide on Monday about reduction of diesel price and increase in subsidy on fertilizers as part of measures envisaged for boosting food production.

"The government has already decided in principle. Everyone will be informed after meetings at ministry and expert levels. We'll reach a decision in the cabinet meeting tomorrow," she told reporters at the Secretariat.

In the first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the new Awami League government decided in principle to cut the price of diesel and provide subsidy on fertilizers.

The Agriculture Minister said that calculation is involved in the process and if there were not three-day holidays, things would have been worked out. Both Finance and Agriculture Ministries are working on the matter.

About reports regarding pledge to provide free fertilizers and per-kg rice at Tk 10, she said, "BNP is saying this. It's the statement of Begum Zia. We haven't said (so) anywhere."

Matia noted that there is no mention of such things in the Awami League's election manifesto and pre-poll nationwide speech on Radio and Television on December 27.

Asked why BNP is doing so, she told reporters to ask BNP this question as "I am not holding their brief".

Matia, an AL presidium member, said what they had pledged was to increase subsidy on fertilizers, make its availability easier and reduce the high prices of rice.

Asked what directives the Prime Minister gave to her cabinet colleagues in today's secretariat meeting, she said, "She (Hasina) said: You can talk to me anytime. She also said she will talk to the ministers before formal meetings."

Matia also said the Prime Minister prefers holding cabinet meetings at the Secretariat as ministers would be available there all the time.

About challenges facing her ministry in the future, she said, "Let me manage the upcoming

Boro season. There are also more challenges. The (cultivable) land is decreasing and production will have to be increased in the reduced land."

About job of ministers, Matia said, "We are not enjoying minister-ship. We are under pressure of responsibilities."

She said the government would work as per their election manifesto, and if it failed, the people would take that in cognizance. She asked not to impose anything outside manifesto.

Business leaders urged to avoid market distortions

BSS, Dhaka

Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruq Khan yesterday asked leaders of the business community to avoid market distortions and help bring prices of essentials further down.

He told reporters after a meeting with the leaders of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) and the owners of several big business houses that the price situation should further improve and become affordable to common people.

The business delegation met the Minister at his secretariat office yesterday afternoon. FBCCI president Annisul Haque led the delegation.

Faruq Khan said business played significant role in establishing the democratic government and time has come it should play important role in helping the newly-elected government in facing the market challenges.

He said the business has also many problems and the government would work with them to resolve it. He said he would routinely sit with the Chamber leaders and the leaders of specific business groups and organisations to take the issue further down to the roots to wipe out market distortions.

The Minister said the government would take all steps to save people from the impact of soaring market prices and its distortions.

The FBCCI president said the new government has come with the mandate to bring down prices and the business would lend all support to it in this matter. He said the new government is also trying to know the problems of the business to solve them.

Referring to the price situation in the market, he said the prices were higher last year because the global commodity market was on the high side. It fell over the past couple of months leading the import cost of essentials to come down with it.

Annisul Haque said prices of soybean oil has drastically fallen in the market over the past couple of days as the import of cheaper edible oil reached the domestic market early this month.

FBCCI Director Rouf Chowdhury said there nothing as such in the market and the idea is all but a ghost tale to heap unnecessary blame on business.

The business leaders also tried to dispel the notion that an unholy syndicate is dominating the market.

Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe today

Sports Reporter

Mighty Sri Lanka will take on confident and spirited Zimbabwe today in the second match of the Grameenphone Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The match starts at 9.00 AM.

Earlier. Zimbabwe defeated Bangladesh in the opening match of the tournament by 38 runs at the same venue on January 10.

It is mentionable that Sri Lanka whitewashed Zimbabwe by 3-0 one and a half months ago. But the African side fought against Sri Lanka in the outgoing three ODI matches and they lost to their migty counterpart by marginal difference. Zimbabwe lost to the tourists by five runs in the first ODI and then, the African side were defeated by their stronger Asian counterpart by two wickets in the second ODI. Zimbabwe lost to Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the last ODI match.

Spirited Zimbabwe almost confirmed their final berth beating Bangladesh by 38 runs in the first match of the tournament.

Besides, Zimbabwe started their Bangladesh campaign with a happy note as the African side thrashed GP-BCB National Academy by 195 runs in the practice three-dayer match on January 8.

Cabinet to meet every Monday, Wednesday

UNB, Dhaka

The new government will hold two cabinet meetings a week, every Monday and Wednesday, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to set the country on a fast track to realize her party' s charter of change.

Under the changed schedule, the regular weekly cabinet meeting will be held on Mondays at Bangladesh Secretariat while, depending on workload, another additional meeting will be held on Wednesdays at the Prime Minister Office (PMO).

This was revealed by Cabinet Secretary M Abdul Aziz after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had her maiden meeting with the Secretaries of all ministries in the conference room of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat.

Abdul Aziz also said the weekly meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council would be held on Tuesdays.

Adv Hamid likely next Speaker

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Former speaker Abdul Hamid Advocate is likely to be the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament in the first session which begins on January 25, informed sources said.

Abdul Hamid, who has been elected MP for eighth time since 1970, has a record of running sessions of the Seventh Parliament.

When contacted the former speaker told The New Nation that he did not know about the Awami League's choice of the next Speaker. The new Speaker and the Deputy Speaker will be elected at the inaugural session of Parliament.

According to election manifesto of the Awami League (AL), the Deputy Speaker will be elected from the opposition.

BNP sources said some senior BNP leaders, including MK Anwar MP-elect are likely to be named for the post.

The BNP MPs-elect are expected to take oath during the inaugural session of Parliament.

No fertiliser crisis during Boro season

BSS, Dhaka

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday said there would be no fertiliser crisis during the Boro season this year.

He gave the assurance while talking to reporters after a meeting he had with officials and employees of the Ministry of Industries at his office here.

"There are over 2.5 lakh tonnes of fertilizer in stocks now more than the required level," Barua said and warned that the government would take tough action against those who would create artificial crisis by illegal hoarding.

The minister said the total stock of urea fertilizer would be 14,58,000 tonnes against the demand of 12,10,000 tonnes during the Boro season.

"There were 5.15 lakh tonnes of urea fertilizer in stock on January 1 while another 3.62 lakh tonnes have been targeted to be produced from January 9 to March 9," he said.

Besides, Dilip Barua said, a total of 1.95 lakh tonnes of urea fertilizer will be purchased from KAFKO, 1.48 lakh tonnes will be imported from abroad and 2.38 tonnes will be purchased through tender from January 9 to March 9.

In a reply to a question, the minister said his main task is to reach fertilizer to the farmers at fair prices. "The new industries polices will be formulated in line with the election manifesto of the party in power," he said.

DU VC likely to resign soon: 48-hr ultimatum by JCD to restore normalcy on campus

DU Correspondent

Vice-Chancellor of the Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz said yesterday that he would resign to uphold the dignity and honour of the post. He further said that he was preparing his resignation letter to be submitted to proper authority soon.

Prof Faiz expressed his intention to resign when a delegation of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP, met and gave a 48- hour ultimatum to him to bring normalcy on the campus to enable students to pursue their academic activities.

During the meeting, the JCD leaders blamed the vice-chancellor for his failure to maintain congenial academic atmosphere on the campus. They also urged the VC to take steps to stop vandalism and brutalism on the campus.

Later, the JCD leaders held a press conference at the Modhu`s canteen and

Recounted the vandalism unleashed by the BCL cadres on the JCD activists and their followers.

They claimed that some 50 JCD activists and journalists came under BCL attacks on the campus after the national election and it is still continuing. They criticised the university authority for its failure to give protection to the innocent students.

Before holding press conference, BCL men beat up another two JCD activists known as Surgeon, a third year students of Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall and Foysal, a fourth year students of Shahidullah Hall.

JCD leader Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel, Nurul Isalam Nayan, Dulal Hossain, Amirul Islam Alim, DU unit president Hasan Mamun, general secretary Saiful Islam Firoz, Mamunur Rashid Mamun, Obaidul Haq Nasir, Akram Hossain, among others, were present in the press conference.

Noakhali-1 poll today

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission has completed its preparations to hold election to Noakhali-1 (Chatkhil-Sunaimuri) parliamentary constituency today that was stalled on death of Ganotantri Party president Nurul Islam.

Eleven candidates including HM Ibrahim of Awami League and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan of BNP are in the race.

Returning officer Abdul Haq said that all preparations have been completed for holding the polls smooth and peaceful. Polling will be held at 105 centres equipped by equal number of presiding officers and 559 assistant presiding officers.

Local administration has identified 58 polling centers as 'vulnerable'. Three-tier security blanket has been ensured in and around the polling centers to avert any wrongdoings.