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The real estate sector has been witnessing a dull business as apartment sales slumped in last two months after the army-led joint forces launched vigorous anti-corruption drive in mid-January, industry leaders said.
   Flat booking at the housing fair in February this year was Tk 250 crore, less than half of the amount recorded at the previous year’s fair. The 2005 fair generated Tk 600 crore in revenues from fresh booking of apartments, leaders of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh said at a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka Tuesday.
   ‘Housing business is in a serious crisis and other relevant industries are also feeling the pinch,’ said Mohammad Abdul Awal, stating that sales of construction and indoor fitting materials like bricks, rod, cement, paints, ceramic tiles, electric and sanitary equipments, aluminum and furniture marked significant drops.
   Some leaders indirectly attributed the slumps to the panic created by the crackdown on corruption suspects.
   ‘The ongoing crackdown on the black money holders might have scared the potential buyers of apartments,’ said a leader of the association.
   ‘The announcement of door-to-door check to determine incomes of the individuals has generated fresh panic among well-off people, who are usual buyers of flats,’ said Tanveerul Haque Probal, the general secretary of the association, said adding that the ongoing drive discouraged the potential buyers.
   Former president of the association Taufiq M Seraj said, ‘When a housing company sells a flat to a buyer, it is not the company’s responsibility to see whether the money is black or white.’
   He said REHAB intends to point out the problems that hamper the real estate sector and allied industries so that the government can initiate proper steps to help the businesses survive.
   ‘A large number of buyers are expatriates. Most of them live abroad illegally and they are unable to remit money through proper channels. Intensified queries about the source of money has also frightened them and led to further declines in flat sales,’ said Masadul Alam, a leader of Bangladesh Re-rolling Mills Association.
   The industry leaders demanded withdrawal of value added tax on flat sales, reduction in individual income tax and significant cuts in property transfer tax in the next budget to help the real estate sector offset its dull business.

A conference on homeland security is scheduled to be held in Dhaka in May with the
   aim of enhancing the US-Bangladesh strategic partnership as well as ensuring economic security.
   This was stated by US Congressman Curt Weldon on Tuesday at a press conference in the National Press Club.
   Weldon led a five-member delegation of the Global Alliance for Homeland Security Asian Regional Chapter which arrived in Dhaka on Monday.
   He said, ‘The premise of the conference is ensuring economic security for people. You cannot secure (sic) a nation unless you have economic security for your people in terms of providing decent jobs, healthcare, education and housing for them.’
   ‘This conference is not just about physically protecting the people of Bangladesh and America from terrorists and natural threats but is also designed to focus on ways of impr-
   oving your nation,’ he told reporters.
   ‘We do not just want to come here in May to focus on the traditional role of homeland security, we want to focus on economic security too,’ he said.
   The US Congressman, dwelling on the objectives of their organisation, said, ‘We want to bring nations together to protect nations against the kind of attack that we saw in 9/11 and the kind of attack the people of Bangladesh saw in August 2005.’
   He was referring to the chain-bombing by JMB activists in almost all the districts of the country.
   He told newsmen that they wanted to ‘feel the pain as well as the success of Bangladesh’. They also wanted to give Bangladesh a plan of action that focuses on the nation as a nation and also as a strategic national ally of the US.
   Replying to a question about Bangladesh being considered to be a strategic partner of the US, Weldon said, ‘We consider it because of its volatile position, its democracy and its Muslim majority.’
   Referring to the current situation, he said, ‘We know that you have gone through some political turmoil and we understand your position. Democracy is never perfect. There is no perfect government.’
   ‘You identified your shortcomings and weaknesses and you are doing that right now as a nation,’ he added.
   On the issue of corruption Weldon said, ‘It’s healthy to weed out corruption. If there are corrupt politicians and corrupt corporate leaders, they should be held accountable.’
   ‘These are all the basic tenets of democracy and right now you are going through the process of making sure that your democracy works in that way,’ he added.
   Referring to his discussion with the top brass of the army, he said, ‘Our support is for them for what they are doing, but the final fact is that you are in fact a democracy. And eventually you will return to the premise (sic) of your constitution of free and fair election.’
   Convener of the Global Alliance for Homeland Security Bangladesh Chapter, Imam Anwar Hossain, also spoke at the press conference.

Abdus Salam sounded desperate when he said he would rather die if he did not get any urea soon. He said he did not get a single sack of urea since he had planted paddy at the beginning of the season almost two months ago.
   Rice plants on his 15 bighas (33 decimals equal one bigha), in Lakshmipur under Baliadanga union of Chapainawabganj, is turning yellow for want of nitrogen, which mainly comes from urea.
   ‘If I do not get fertiliser soon, it is better to die,’ Salam kept repeating as he clutched little slips of paper that the block superviser of the Department of Agricultural Extension had given him with requirement for urea. According to the date mentioned Salam should have gotten his sack of urea over two weeks ago but he did not get any till Monday.
   Large tracts of paddy in Chapai Nawabganj sadar are turning yellow due to the prevailing urea crisis.
   Although the acute crisis that pervaded across the country, especially in the northern districts, at the beginning of the season has been averted partially, there remain pockets in several districts where farmers have not been able to apply fertiliser for even a single time.
   The deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Asim Kumar Malakar, admitted there was a fertiliser crisis. He told New Age on Tuesday, the situation at Chapai sadar and two unions of Shibganj upazila were particularly bad because farmers had to trek miles and cross at least one river to get to the distribution centres.
   He also pointed out that maize had been cultivated on almost double the target area this season, which resulted in added demand for urea. The agriculture department had estimated that maize would be grown on some 3,500 hectares. ‘But farmers have cultivated it on almost 6,000 hectares.’
   According to Asim the regular demand for urea in the district is some 14,000 tonnes while the department has been supplied with 12,000 tonnes.
   A meeting of the fertiliser monitoring committee had apparently submitted a demand for an additional 3,000 tonnes of urea. But officials said there had been no response in this regard from the higher authorities.
   Given that fertiliser availability is absolutely random at dealers’ outlets, farmers line up from early morning, while some stay the entire night.
   Montaj Ali, another farmer at Daniul Islam Traders, the designated dealer for Baliadanga union under Chapai sadar, said he had waited in line for two days and two nights and still not gotten the two sacks of urea he needed for a second dose of fertiliser on five bighas of land he had cultivated with paddy this season.
   ‘The first time I came to buy fertiliser, they asked me to take two sacks and get another two later. I had agreed since there was no crisis at that time and the people had assured me there would not be one later.’
   Golam Mostafa with eight bighas under paddy this season said he had not been able to get a single sack of urea since the beginning of the season. ‘Every time I lined up for urea, I could not even reach within 200 yards of the outlet by the time the stocks ran out. The line is so long.’ He said, ‘If farmers have to run around all day long after fertiliser, how will they work on their fields or feed their families?’
   And even after all that waiting, one bag is being distributed for every four slips instead of on bag per slip, said Golam.
   While there are no allegations that dealers are charging higher prices this year, farmers have, however, alleged that the distribution of slips, which is done by the block supervisers under the supervision of union council chairmen, has not been fair.
   Mahbubur Rahman, a designated urea dealer in Rangpur, told New Age on Tuesday that he had himself found discrepancy and irregularity. ‘I had 520 bags to distribute and the block superviser was supposed to give out just that number of slips. Instead there were at least 100 extra slips that had been distributed with the same serial numbers.’
   Mahbub said, at least a thousand people had lined up for the 520 bags of urea he had in his stock. ‘I only distributed one bag per slip, but then I found there were duplicates distributed by the block superviser and naturally many farmers were agitated for not getting the fertiliser.’
   He said it was quite obvious that chairmen were favouring people who were not genuine farmers. Farmers told him they had enough money and were ready to pay.
   Farmers have also raised the question that fertiliser distribution has not been even, since the authorities were distributing the same amount regardless of the area of cultivated land.
   Mohammad Shamsul Huda, a farmer of Amnura, about 15 kilometres from Chapai sadar, said pointing to the yellowing tract of land cultivated with paddy, ‘There will not be any crop this year my friend. The time to put some fertiliser is within another week at most. After that there is no point.’

Jermaine Jackson, an American Grammy Award-winning singer and bass guitarist, arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday for fundraising for the poor children in Bangladesh.
   Jermaine, also a former member of The Jackson 5 and brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, came here as an ambassador of the Muslim-Aid, an international organisation dedicated to the welfare of the Muslims. He along with his team members, comprising wife Halima Rashid, will visit a number of places in Pabna, Sirajganj and Chittagong during his four-day visit.
   He will inaugurate an interest-free micro-credit programme of the Muslim-Aid in Chittagong, and visit a hospital in Sirajganj and an orphanage in Pabna.
   Jermaine Jackson converted to a Muslim and took a Muslim name, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, in 1989, will also visit ‘a destitute women rehabilitation project’ at Mirpur and the Muslim Aid Technical Institute at Shyamoli in Dhaka on Wednesday.
   He will address two press conferences on March 22 and 23 in Chittagong and Dhaka respectively.
   The team will leave Dhaka on March 24.
   Set up in 1985 by leading British Muslims, Muslim Aid, supports a good number of projects in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.

At least 300 people fell sick Tuesday after dining at a function in Satkania upazila town.
   Local sources said more than 1000 people attended the jeafat, a ceremonial dinner, hosted by Shahidul Islam, a former union parishad chairman, at Satipara Monday.
   Many of the guests started vomiting in the morning next day and at least 300 of them were admitted to different hospitals and clinics in the town and adjoining upazilas till Tuesday afternoon.
   However, no death was reported. Doctors and families suspected the illness was caused by food poisoning.

The visiting team of US security experts said on Tuesday they had identified Bangladesh as a ‘strategically important’ place for strengthening cooperation in many areas including business.
   The team of non-government and non-profit Global Alliance for Homeland Security comprising several retired officials of the US armed forces and led by Congressman Curt Weldon met the leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers and Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.
   At the meeting presided over by FBCCI vice-president Mohammed Ali, the US Congressman said that there was scope for enhancing bilateral relations with Bangladesh as, he pointed out, a sustained culture of democracy, strong military and a booming economy, energized by hardworking citizens, existed here.
   ‘There is scope for refocusing on bilateral relationship in different areas as Bangladesh has recently been spotted as a very important place in this part of Asia,’ said Weldon, a former vice-chair of the House Homeland Security Committee.
   Weldon, who is also a former vice-chair of the House Armed Forces Committee, said that Bangladesh had a strong military which, he felt, was required for safeguarding a democratic country.
   ‘There’s scope for further developing relations between forces in US and Bangladesh,’ he added.
   The Congressman said that political leadership was essential to guide a nation and hoped that Bangladesh would have a democratic election soon ‘to put a new parliament and new leaders in action’.
   Bangladesh has vast potential to be the prime source for products in US market, he said adding: ‘If parties concerned in US and Bangladesh work together to accelerate economic activities here, Bangladesh’s economy may outshine its prospering neighbours—India and China.’
   Weldon assured local businessmen that the Global Alliance would promote Bangladesh in different forums in US, arrange trade promotion events and inspire US investors to come to Bangladesh.
   Earlier on Monday Weldon and his colleagues met the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and expressed their eagerness to help the government and industries here to develop efficient security monitoring systems in production facilities and supply chain infrastructures including ports.
   He pointed out that as after 9/11 security issues became vital to US government as well as to businesses there, ‘Bangladesh can boost its trade with US and attract more US investors ensuring efficient security systems in production and transport stations’.
   In both the meetings Weldon was accompanied by Major General (retd) Ron Bath, former deputy assistant to the chief of staff of the United States Air Force, Bruce Weinrod, former deputy assistant secretary of defence for Europe and
   NATO policy, Commander (retd) Michel Kearny, a port and harbour security expert with US coast guard,
   Colonel (retd) Timothy Ringgold, CEO of defence solution incorporation and the author of 2002 White House study on critical infrastructure protection.

Three peoples have been killed in two separate road accidents in Pakuakhali district on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
   Syed Delwar Hossain, officer in charge of Sadar police station of Patuakhai and victims family sources said the night coach of Druti Paribahan on Barguna-Dhaka route, while over taking another night coach, crushed two cyclists under wheels at Basak Bazar area of Patuakhali sadar upazila at about 9:30pm Monday.
   Bashir Jamaddar, 20, died at the spot and another cyclist Jamal Mia, 22, succumbed to his injuries at Barisal SBMCH Tuesday.
   Police detained the killer coach and arrested driver Shahjahan Sheikh in this connection.
   In another incident a Tomtom (locally assembled tempo) crushed Aiub Ali, 11, near bridge-2 area of Patuakhali Sadar Tuesday.
   In Jessore, two persons were killed in separate road accidents at Nawapara industrial town and Jessore-Narail Road in the district on Monday.
   The deceased were Fazlul Haq, 65, of Laldighi area in the town and Moslem Uddin, 60, of Bagerhat.
   The first accident took place at Jamdia on Jessore-Narail Road while a Narail-bound bus hit a road-side tree as the driver lost his control over the steering to save a child in the evening killing one on the spot and injuring at least 30 others.
   Another accident took place at Nawapar industrial town while a loaded truck ran over Moslem Uddin, 60, a passer-by, killing him on the spot.
   Both the bodies were sent to Jessore General Hospital for post mortem.
   In Lalmonirhat, a rickshaw puller, Harun, was killed in a road accident at Chaparhat under Kaligonj upazila Monday night while the rickshaw was dashed by a power tiller van on the Lalmoni-Chaparhat road.

A woman ward commissioner of the Dhaka City Corporation was sent to jail Tuesday on charges of assaulting a lady seeking citizenship certificate.
   Rina Nasir alias Madhobi, one of the 30 selected woman commissioners, was picked by the joint forces from her office at Suchona community centre Monday night and handed over to Mohammadpur police.
   She was produced in the chief metropolitan magistrate court Tuesday.
   Madhobi, commissioner for wards 41, 42 and 43, reportedly beat a lady and drove her away from the commissioner office, denying her citizenship certificate. The police did not give the identity of the lady.
   The court of metropolitan magistrate Shamsul Alam passed an order to send her to jail on a 30-day detention.
   Rina was among the few women leaders of the BNP and its front organisations who were present at the court premises when BNP’s senior joint secretary general, Tarique Rahman, was produced in court on March 12.

The court of Dhaka metropolitan sessions judge Tuesday rejected the bail petition of BNP central leader and former communications minister Nazmul Huda in a case filed relating to recovery of foreign currencies from his residence.
   The joint forces arrested him during the crackdown on corruption suspects launched after the present caretaker government took over on January 11.
   Metropolitan magistrate earlier on February 22 refused bail to Huda.

Justice M Hassan Ameen, the senior most judge of the High Court, has been elevated to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
   President Iajuddin Ahmed gave the appointment on Tuesday.
   One post in the seven-member Appellate Division fell vacant following the retirement of former chief justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain on February 28.
   ‘The appointment takes effect from his taking oath of office,’ said an official announcement.
   Justice Ameen is to be sworn in this morning. Chief justice M Ruhul Amin will administer the oath at the judges’ lounge, court sources said.
   Justice Ameen was superceded by justice M Joynul Abedin, who was elevated to the Appellate Division in October 2006 after retirement of justice MA Aziz.

Abul Kalam Azad, officer in charge of Charvadrasan thana in Faridpur district has been stand-released to Munshigonj district on charges of taking bribe from a local businessman Monday night.
   According to local sources the OC claimed Tk 20,000 as bribe from Yusuf Hossain, a businessman of the upazila town. He summoned the businessman to the police station on 17 March and locked up him as he refused to pay the money. At last the bribe was settled to Tk 10,000, the source added.
   Kusum Dewan, police supper of Faridpur, closed the OC under an order from of DIG Dhaka range.