The New Nation - Internet Edition

Student's role in fight against terrorism urged

UNB, Dhaka

Speakers at a dialogue in the city yesterday said the new government in its fight against terrorism should put emphasize on the role of student community.

"Students have a big role to play - to understand and combat terrorism. Terrorists use students in their nefarious activities, often luring them with cash incentives and exploiting their religious beliefs and even some international incidents," they said.

The dialogue, titled 'Understanding Terrorism in Bangladesh and Its Impacts on Youth', was organized by BEI Student Forum at Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) conference room in the city's Gulshan.

BEI president Farooq Sobhan chaired the inaugural session of the dialogue while Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr SMA Faiz was the chief guest.

Speakers blamed poverty, unemployment, lack of trust in political culture, especially in student politics, as well as drug addiction, availability of illegal arms and explosives, and police-criminal nexus for students to become a terrorist in South Asia, including Bangladesh.

Terrorists also misguide the madrasah students exploiting their emotions and religious values, they said, adding that lack of proper Islamic knowledge creates "Islamist militants."

BEI president Farooq Sobhan said they have already made some recommendations to the immediate past caretaker government on counter- terrorism measures. These recommendations could be considered by the new government, he suggested.

BEI vice-president and former Ambassador Tariq Karim, Canadian High Commissioner Robert McDougall, Turkish Ambassador Sakir Ozkan Torular, Prof Dr Imtiaz Ahmed of the Dhaka University and Air Commodore (retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury of University of Asia Pacific, among others, took part in the working sessions of the dialogue.

Dhaka University student Sifat Uddin, Ishtiaque Alam Russel of Jahangirnagar University and a madrasah student, Aminul Islam, presented three keynote papers at the dialogue.

BCIC men urged to work hard to supply fertilizers to farmers

UNB, Dhaka

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday asked officials and employees of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to work hard for supplying fertilizers to the farmers as per their requirement during the current Irri-Boro season.

He said smooth supply of fertilizers to the farmers will be an 'acid-test' for the BCIC officials and warned that the new government headed by Sheikh Hasina would not spare anybody for trying to create any artificial crisis of agricultural inputs.

While paying a visit to the BCIC head office, Barua addressed concerned officials discussing production and supply of agricultural inputs by the state-run factories.

He said the government has a responsibility to ensure timely supply of fertilizers to the farmers.

The government will take short, long and middle term plans to renovate the aging fertilizer factories to increase their production, he added.

The Ministry's acting Secretary Ilias Ahmed and BCIC Chairman M Mokhlesur Rahman also addressed the meeting which was attended, among others, by the chiefs of the different BCIC Divisions.

Dr Aziz assures Muhit not to worry about economy

UNB, Dhaka

Former Finance Adviser of the immediate past caretaker government Dr Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday assured his successor, new Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, that there is no reason for him to worry about the economy this (calendar) year.

"He (Muhit) has no reason to worry about the economy this fiscal year and even until the end of this (calendar) year," Dr Aziz told reporters, after a meeting with the Finance Minister at his office.

Muhit invited the former Finance Adviser to share views on the current economic situation. They exchanged ideas for over one hour.

Dr Aziz said the economic condition remained sound and it would continue so this year, but advised the new government to be cautious about the possible impact of global recession.

He said the economic growth has been sound and inflation was showing a declining trend while investment, though weakened, increased to some extent relative to GDP.

He, however, advised the minister to remain alert about the impact of recession on the country's exports, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and wage earners remittance.

Replying to a question, Dr Aziz said the new government has no worry about the food security as the caretaker government left a comfortable food stock of 1.3 million (13 lakh) tons. "By the grace of Allah, and due to the efforts by the farmers, we have had a bumper production."

Replying to another question, he said reduction of diesel and kerosene price by Tk 2 per litre was a realistic decision considering the economic situation. "A cut by more than Tk 2 would have made financial management difficult," he said welcoming the decision.

Dr Aziz further explained that a deeper cut would encourage smuggling of fuel oil to the neighbouring countries.

He also suggested looking into whether the consumers were getting the benefit of the price cut.

Finance Minister AMA Muhit defended the decision on the fuel oil price considering the current economic situation. "We tried to give a signal (to the market)," he said.

Fire hazard in Navy ship off Ctg seaport

UNB, Chittagong

A fire broke out in Bangladesh Navy ship 'DURDANDO' while going for a sea trial near outer anchorage of the seaport following a repair work in its engine.

"It is apprehended that the fire occurred because of excessive heat emitted from its aft engine room," says an ISPR release.

The fire hazards were brought under control by the help of self-firefighting equipment of the ship and with the assistance of naval ship and dredger 'KHANAK' of Chittagong Port Authority operating in that area.

"Minor damage sustained to the ship," said the press release.

Meanwhile, the naval authority started investigating the cause of the fire.

AL leade killed in Bagerhat road mishap

UNB, Bagerhat

A local Awami League leader was killed and two other people were injured as a car rammed into a motorcycle near Goalmath in Kachua upazila yesterday morning.

The dead was identified as Delwar Hossain Ratan, 54, AL vice-president of Bogi ward unit in Southkhali union of Sharankhola upazila.

Police said a private car crashed into a motorcycle when Delwar along with Jubo League activist Abu Hanif was going to Amlapara in the town by the hired motorcycle at about 10 am.

Delwar died on the spot while Hanif and Abu Saleh, motorcycle driver, were admitted to Sadar Hospital in critical condition.

The accident took place when Delwar and Hanif were going to meet the newly elected MP from Bagerhat-4 constituency Dr Mozammel Hossain at his Amlapara residence.

Police seized the private car but could not arrest the driver.

Knitwear sector seek steps against miscreants

UNB, Dhaka

Knitwear businessmen yesterday sought the administrative help from the Commerce Minister to tackle the newly mushrooming miscreants in 'jhut' (garment-waste) business.

"We've started feeling insecure with the recent emergence of so-called 'jhut' (garment-waste) businesses in different areas," a BKMEA leader reportedly told Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Farook Khan during a meeting at his ministry.

A delegation of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), led by its president AKM Fazlul Haque, met the new commerce minister to discuss various issues of their business.

Meeting sources said the BKMEA leaders urged the Commerce Minister to instruct the local administrations, particularly in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj and Gazipur, for immediate steps to rein in the new troublemakers in the economy's second highest export earning sector.

BKMEA president Fazlul Haque said the disturbances in the garment-waste business have been a serious obstacle to the development of the sector. He sought administrative steps to ensure highest security in the garment and knitwear business sector.

There are allegations that some local musclemen groups, with political influence, have recently emerged in different apparel industrial areas to control the garment-waste business.

Such conflicts between the old garment-waste business groups and new ones often lead to untoward incidents, which ultimately create troubles in the garment business.

Responding to the appeal of the knitwear business leaders, the Commerce Minister suggested them to first inform the local police station for action against miscreants.

"If the local thana fails to take action, please call me over my mobile phone, then I'll look into the matter," he told the leaders and also assured them of ensuring highest security in the garment and knitwear sector.

The BKMEA leaders informed the minister that the knitwear sector has achieved a 34 percent growth despite the global recession.

They said there is no such situation in the global market that could yet cause any major setback to Bangladesh knitwear industry.

They, however, urged the Commerce Minister to form a taskforce as a precautionary measure to deal with any possible impact of the global economic downturn.

The BKMEA leaders suggested the government for increasing cash incentives to the sector and also administrative help for the sick industries.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) also separately met the Commerce Minister.