The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh' trade show in USA in Oct

UNB, Dhaka

As in the previous year, "Made in Bangladesh" trade show will be held in the USA this year as well.

Bangladeshi advertising firm Mattra and USA-based First Multipurpose Services (FMS), in association with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), will jointly organise the exclusive exhibition of the Bangladeshi products.

The 5-day fair will begin October 2, 2009 at Penn Plaza Pavilion Exhibition Hall at Manhattan in New York.

Addressing a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday, Mattra and FMS officials said that last year, 34 local firms participated in the 3-day single country fair held at the same venue.

"This year, we are expecting more participation from the local firms as last year's participants got a good business," said Mattra chief Afzal Hossain.

FMS's founder president Hossain Jabbar said they would arrange the buyers-sellers connectivity to further promote the Bangladeshi exports to the USA.

He, however, said the potential business firms would have to secure the US visa at their own responsibility. "Business firms will apply for visa with their own merits and organisers will have no role in this regard," he added.

Mattra chief executive officer Anisur Rahman Mahmud said the registration process for participation in the proposed fair would begin immediately and continue until July next.

The exhibition would take place on a big premises - of 40,000 square feet, he informed.

FMS director of events Raghib Ahsan and managing partner of Mattra Sanaul Arefeen were present at the press conference.

Information cadre to play role in implementing election pledges

UNB, Dhaka

Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad Sunday said the information cadre officers would have to play an important role in implementing the election pledges of the Awami League-led grand-alliance government.

He expressed the new government's firm commitment to keep the prices of essential items under the purchasing capacity of the people and reduce the prices of agri-inputs to increase agricultural production.

"Officers of the information cadre are like a bridge between the government and the people," Azad said.

He urged the cadre officials to discharge their assigned sensitive duties properly and sincerely.

The Minister made the remarks when members of the BCS Information Association led by its acting president and senior deputy principal information officer of PID MA Halim met the new Information Minister at his office to congratulate him.

Principal Information Officer Iftekhar Hossain, DG of Mass Communication Department Abdul Mannan, DG of Film Archives Dr M Jahangir Hossain, DG of DFP Kamrun Nahar, senior member of the association AKM Shamim Chowdhury and officers of all levels of the association were present.

The Information Minister is likely to exchange opinion separately with officials of the information cadre and leaders of journalists soon, said a news release.

PM's directive on fuel-price readjustment

UNB, Dhaka

The Energy Division Sunday sought the Prime Minister's direction on fuel-price reduction after receiving a position paper from Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) as to how much.

Admitting to a fast move made by the new government on this priority task, Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin said his office is working on the matter as it has to consult some other ministries like the Ministry of Finance and also Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).

"Receiving the position paper on fuel price, we have already sought directive from the Prime Minister who is also the minister for Power and Energy Ministry. We're now waiting for the directive," he told UNB.

BPC, the state-owned organisation responsible for importing and marketing petroleum products, moved quickly for cuts in the prices of petroleum fuels following a decision of the new Cabinet.

Sources said BPC completed its calculating to determine how much the prices of petroleum could be reduced.

The Awami League-led Grand Alliance government in its maiden Cabinet meeting Wednesday decided to reduce the petroleum prices, particularly that of diesel used by farmers in irrigation for farming-the most vital concern of recent times in the wake of food crisis the world over.

Lowering the high prices of agri-inputs, including that of diesel, through providing subsidy was one of some outstanding election pledges of the Grand Alliance, and the cabinet took the matter in right earnest.

The immediate-past caretaker government had raised the fuel prices by 36 percent following sharp rises on the international market.

But then, when the prices came down crashing, the caretaker government reduced the prices twice-by 12 percent in September and then by 4.3 percent in December last year. And so the local fuel prices are still higher compared to the international rates.

After the latest price adjustment, diesel and kerosene prices came down to Tk 46, octane to Tk 77 and petrol to Tk 74 per litre on the local market.

Unemployed nurses held demos in city

UNB, Dhaka

Police in the city today intercepted a procession of diploma nurses on way to the Prime Minister's office demanding employment.

Iqbal Hosain Sabuj, secretary of Bekar Diploma Nurses Association, said more than 9,000 trained nurses remained unemployed although post of nurse remained vacant in government hospitals and health complexes.

He blamed the director of Nursing Services for invoking the 1989 rules for recruitment of nurses that ignored seniority and efficiency. The old rules were not followed in recruitment for the last 20 years.

He demanded recruitment based on batches of training, merit and seniority, and cancellation of the notice for recruitment of senior staff nurses, circulated on November 25.

Some 200 jobless nurses after a brief rally at central Shaheed Minar at noon paraded towards the Prime Minister's office. Police halted the procession in front of Fine Arts Institute.

Mahbubey Alam may be made AG

UNB, Dhaka

Senior Advocate Mahbubey Alam may be appointed Attorney General as a new government is now in office, a competent source told UNB on Sunday night.

If appointed, Alam, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, will replace incumbent Attorney-General Salahuddin Ahmed.

He was Additional Attorney General during the previous Awami League rule (1996-2001).

JU Day today

JU Correspondent

The authorities of Jahangirnar University (JU) will observe the 38th founding anniversary day of the university in the campus in a befitting manner today (January 12), an official hand out said.

A colourful procession would be brought out in the campus at 10.30 in the morning and parade the main thoroughfares of the campus to mark the day.

JU acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammed Muniruzzaman will inaugurate the procession after a brief discussion at the premises of the Life Science faculty of the university. Teachers, students, and officials both present and former, have been asked to participate in the function.

Two buses carrying the intending participants will start from Bangabazar to university campus at 9 am on the day.

The JU started its journey from 1971 as the sole full-fledge residential university of the country.

5 cops among 25 hurt in clash in N'ganj

UNB, Narayanganj

At least 25 people were injured, including five police men, in a clash between garment workers, police and locals at Lamapara area in Fatullah thana on Sunday morning.

Police said Salahuddin, a worker of Rupashi Garments at Lampara, came to join his work this morning after remaining absent for about a week without informing the management.

The floor in-charge of the garments then asked Salahuddin to inform the matter to the management at first.

Being angered, Salahuddin informed the matter to his colleagues and asked them to come out of the factory.

Responding to his call, 200/300 workers went out of the factory and ransacked five adjacent garment factories-Liberty, Pallmal, Metro, Mishwar and Salman-at Katherpool.

The clash erupted when the locals tried to resist the garments workers from ransacking the factories that left 20 people injured.

On information, police rushed to the spot but they were attacked by the agitated workers. A sub inspector and four constables were injured in the attack.

The law enforcers later brought the situation under control.

Fifteen of the injured, including SI Monirul and constables Morshed, Ishaq, Qader and Mainuddin, were admitted to the local hospitals and clinics where condition of five was stated to be critical.

Tk 18,614 cr collects as revenue in five months

UNB, Dhaka

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) in the first five months of the fiscal year collected one third of its total revenue target.

The NBR managed to collect Tk 18,614 crore in the first five months (July-November) against the target of Tk 54,500 crore during the fiscal. The last year's collection in the first five months was Tk 16,140 crore.

NBR sources said that the revenue earnings from housing, telecom and gas field sectors were not satisfactory.

They said the Board would continue its motivational programme simultaneously with its drive against the tax dodgers.

The collection in the first five months of the fiscal 2008-09 from VAT was Tk 7,575 crore, from import duty, supplementary duty (import and local level), excise tax and turnover tax Tk 7,084 crore, and from income tax Tk 3,776 crore.

2 killed in city

UNB, Dhaka

Two young men were murdered in the capital's Kotwali and Demra areas Sunday, apparently in the wake of an upturn in the incidence of crime in the transitional time.

One victim was identified as Wahiduzzman Into, 26, son of the late Ameer Hossain of Aga Sadeq Lane under Kotwali police station, while the other remained unidentified.

Police recovered the slaughtered body of Wahiduzzaman from his bedroom on Sunday morning.

Quoting family sources, police said he used to have a chat with his friends every night in his bedroom.

Like previous nights, Wahid also gossiped with his friends on Saturday night, family sources claimed. They said they found the victim "lying in a pool of blood" in his bedroom in the morning.

In another incident, police recovered the body of the unidentified young man, aged about 26, from a paddy field at Shuknatenga village in Demra thana command area on Sunday morning.

Two separate cases were filed with respective police stations.

It will not be wise to become President: Ershad

UNB, Rangpur

Retracting his earlier hope of becoming the President of the country Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad today said it would not be wise to get confined in the presidency.

"I think it would not be wise for me to become the President because it would make me leave politics for ever," he told reporters replying to a question at his Palli Nibash resident.

He was reminded of his repeated claim during the election campaign that he joined the AL led grand alliance on promise that he would be made the country's president if elected in the December 29 election.

"I would have to relinquish the parliamentary seat of Dhaka if I become the President," he said giving another reason for not insisting for the post.

Ershad dropped a positive hint that he would accept the position of deputy leader of the house. "I will welcome the proposal," he said about an offer speculated by a section of the media.

About the proportionate representation of Jatiya Party in the cabinet he said more ministers might be inducted from his party in an enlarged cabinet. GM Qader is now the lone minister taken from JP.

Ershad lauded the cabinet saying honest and clean personalities chosen as ministers would enhance the image of the government.

Condemned convict of seven-murder case arrested in city

UNB, Dhaka

A fugitive convict, who was sentenced to death in sensational seven-murder case in the city's Lalbagh area, was arrested from Banga Bazaar in Shahbagh thana on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of DB police arrested Zahid Hossain alias Natka Babu, 45, when he along with his associates were collecting toll from the businessmen at Banga Bazaar.

Two people, including Zahid, were sentenced to death and nine others to life term imprisonment in seven-murder case on May 7, 2008.

According to the prosecution, seven people were killed when the cadres of Abdul Aziz opened fire on the supporters of Humayun Kabir in Lalbagh area on January 31, 1994.

The terrorists made the attack as Kabir was elected commissioner from Ward no 59 in the city corporation election defeating Aziz.

Later, a case was filed against 21 people, including Zahid, said a DMP press release.