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Homebound people started leaving the capital city by bus, train and launch with sufferings caused by inclement weather.
   The passengers bound for the southern districts were worst sufferers as buses which left Khulna Monday night couldn’t reach Dhaka on schedule due to suspension of ferry service caused by bad weather.
   The passengers had to wait at least six hours for the buses. Many buses running on southern district routes avoided the ferry service and took alternative route via Jamuna Bridge, bus operators said.
   Toufiq Inam, a lawyer of the Supreme Court, left Dhaka for Magura at about 2:00pm by a Khulna-bound bus of Sohagh Paribahan, although the bus was scheduled to start journey at 8:00am on Tuesday from Malibagh.
   A good number of passengers of different schedules had also to wait up to 1:30pm on Tuesday for their buses
   which left Khulna Monday night but couldn’t reach Dhaka on time.
   The passengers after waiting for a long time got angry and damaged computers at Malibagh office of Sohagh Paribahan at about 1:00pm, said Toufiq, an eyewitness.
   ‘Due to the suspension of ferry service for rough weather, the buses from Khulna reached Dhaka using Jamuna Bridge,’ said Sabrina, a reservation officer of Sohagh Paribahan at Malibagh office.
   Alamgir, a sales officer of another luxury air-conditioned bus service Green Line,
   admitting the fact said, ‘Our buses came to Dhaka
   using Jamuna Bridge, resulting in a delay by at least two hours.’
   An employee of Hanif Enterprise echoed the same and said the buses couldn’t leave Dhaka on schedule due to disruption of ferry service.
   There was a rush of homebound people at three inter-district bus terminals — Sayedabad, Mohakhali and Gabtali.
   Train passengers who bought advance tickets on October 4 for the journey on October 9 left the capital as usual. The environment of Kamalapur railway station returned to normal as sale of advance tickets ended on October 8.
   Abu Sayed Ahmed, station manger, told New Age, ‘A total of 15 inter-city trains left Dhaka on schedule. We faced no major trouble in train schedule despite rough weather.’ ‘Five more inter-city trains will leave Kamalapur station by 12:00 noon,’ he added.
   Launches left Sadarghat terminal for different districts as usual but there was not
   rush of passengers, said Shahabuddin Milon, vice-president of the Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passengers vessel) Association.
   He said about 200 big and small launches ply from Sadarghat on different routes in southern districts.
   The fare for per kilometre is Tk 1 up to first 100 kilometres. After 100 kilometres, the
   fare is Tk 0.90 per kilometre, he said.

Sale of Eid cards in the Dhaka city has sharply fallen this year as people now opt for using mobile phone and internet to greet their near and dear ones on any such festival.
   Widespread use of cell phone and access to internet has squeezed the market of Eid greeting cards, said a sales executive of a greeting card outlet in the city.
   The declining trend in sale of Eid cards has been witnessed for the last few years and this year is the worse for the business, he added.
   Earlier, people particularly boys and girls shared joy and happiness with their near and dear ones to celebrate the biggest festival by sending greeting cards.
   But now the scenario has changed as modern electronic means like mobile phones and e-mail on the internet have replaced the traditional form of sending greetings. Md Sirajul Islam, manager of greeting card outlet Ideal Products said, ‘In the recent years this business is experiencing dull seasons as the internet and mobile phones have gained much popularity.’
   Another sales executive at a greeting cards outlet said this year is very dull for the greeting card business because of political uncertainty and recent floods.
   ‘Earlier, we got a significant number of buyers from different districts every year before Ramadan, but the number has sharply declined,’ he added.
   Mizanur Rahman, a lecturer of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said, ‘SMS, E-cards besides the popular webs, have gained popularity in the festive seasons’.
   ‘Through these webs, anyone can now send animated E-cards to wish Eid greetings, Mizanur said. ‘I personally got used to e-greetings or SMS greetings.’
   Greeting cards of both local and foreign production houses are available in the city markets. The houses produce special Eid greeting cards for corporate companies as well as personal, official and family gifts.
   The graphics of the Eid cards contain either the image of flowers, birds, paintings, rare photos or some typical Eid motifs. ‘Eid Mubarak’ is written in different calligraphy either in Bangla or in English. Eye-catching hand-made cards are also available at various outlets including Aarong, Ideas, Kumudini and Jatra. Fine Art students are also marketing handmade Eid cards.
   Azad Products and Ideal Products are the two big names in the greeting card industry of the country. Special cards with the price ranging from Tk 3 to Tk 100 are available here.
   Archies and Hallmark are the two foreign outlets of greeting cards in the capital. The prices of their products vary from Tk 20 to Tk 250.

Civil society members, journalists and NGO activists at a view-exchange meeting on Tuesday said ensuring safe drinking water and proper sanitation are the preconditions for sound health that can able to prevent many water and airborne diseases.
   Effective initiatives should be taken to make the common people, particularly the rural and poor people, aware of attaining the goal, they said at the meeting held in the GDRC conference hall in Rajshahi.
   Barind Unnayan Forum, a network working for promoting gender equality, good governance and human rights, in collaboration with Steps Towards Development arranged the meeting styled ‘national women development policy: health, water and sanitation’.
   Some 35 journalists, members of civil society and representatives of government and non-governmental organisations took part in the discussion.
   With Muhammad Lalan, executive director of Nishkrity, a primary healthcare-based development organisation, in the chair, senior health education officer Nazrul Islam, journalists Akbarul Hassan Millat, Sharif Suman and Shafiqul Islam and development activist Abdus Saleque Khan, among others, took part in the discussion.
   They said many people suffer a lot due to shortage of pure drinking water and
   sanitary latrines during and post-natural calamities, especially flood, in scattered char areas.
   To overcome the problem, they said importance should be given on disseminating adequate knowledge about collection of drinking water from alternative resources and using latrine among the affected people.

The Canadian high commissioner, Barbara Richardson, distributed Eid gifts among acid survivors at a ceremony at Acid Survivors Foundation in the capital on Tuesday.
   Acid survivors Durjoy, Bably and Dolly took the gifts on behalf of other survivors.
   Twenty-six recipients of total 40 are working with the ASF and 14 others are undergoing treatment at ASF-run hospital Jiban Tara in Banani.
   Barbara said acid throwing is absolutely unaccepted and
   a vicious crime. People
   who commit such crime should be brought to justice, she said.
   Barbara also said, ‘Ramadan and Eid celebrations are a reminder of the importance of tolerance and sense of community. It is an opportunity to unite, network and mobilise for more meaningful change.’
   ASF executive director Monira Rahman, acting chairman SAM Showket Hossain and acid survivor Hasina Akter spoke at the ceremony.
   Hasina said, ‘We, the acid survivors, almost forget to enjoy or celebrate the festivals but after getting new dresses, we hope that we can celebrate Eid with festivity.’

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority will launch a crackdown in the Dhaka city after Eid on the drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws and taxicabs for charging extra fare and refusal to go desired destinations.
   The BRTA authorities have taken the tougher decision as its mobile court has failed to control the CNG auto-rickshaws and taxicab drivers, BRTA chairman ABM Shahjahan told New Age.
   ‘We will launch a weeklong crackdown after Eid on the CNG-run auto-rickshaw and taxicab drivers as they continue to charge extra fare and refuse to go to desired destinations, the BRTA chairman said..
   The city will be divided into four to six zones to conduct the drive, he said, adding that BRTA officials, mobile courts and the joint forces would be involved in it.
   ‘There is no other ways left to check the whims of the drivers of the three wheelers and taxicabs as they have gone out of control. They still charge additional fare and refuse to go desired destinations although the government has increased the fare of CNG auto-rickshaws,’ the BRTA chief said.
   The BRTA-run mobile courts have failed to check the whims of drivers even after sentencing a good many drivers to jail and imposing fine on, he added.
   At least 20 drivers mostly of CNG-run auto-rickshaws have been jailed in last few months and a good many fined and route permit of seven three-wheelers has been temporarily cancelled but still the drivers remain unbridled.
   The past BNP-led alliance government introduced the meter fare for four-stroke CNG auto-rickshaws and taxicabs in the capital after phasing out two-stroke three-wheelers responsible for air pollution.
   The drivers of CNG auto-rickshaws and taxicabs are bound to go to the desired destinations of the passengers as they are committed to following it during giving them route permit.
   But still they refuse to go to short distances and charge extra fare to the passengers. Even in some cases, they refuse to go to long distances. In the long-distance journey, the drivers often demand Tk 10 to Tk 20 more than the actual fare the meter reads and sometimes they make contract with passengers.
   In April this year, the government raised the fare of CNG auto-rickshaws with effect from May 1 with a commitment by the drivers and owners that they will go to passengers’ desired destinations and never claim extra fare.
   According to the revised chart fixed by the government, fare for the first two kilometres has been raised to Tk 13.50 from Tk 12 and for the subsequent kilometres it has fixed at Tk 5.5 against Tk 5.
   The minimum fare for short distance was fixed at Tk 15 and daily deposit for owners was increased to Tk 450 from Tk 300.
   According to BRTA sources, around 13,000 CNG auto-rickshaw and 10,000 taxicabs ply the city streets.

A Khulna court on Tuesday sentenced a journalist to two years’ rigorous imprisonment for taking bribe from a man.
   The judge of the district speedy trial tribunal, Shefina Begum, handed down the verdict against Jamirul Islam, Khulna correspondent of the Daily Alor Diganta.
   According to the prosecution, the army-led joint forces arrested Jamirul in Khulna court area on August 19 while he was taking Tk 1500 as bribe from Aris Sheikh of Baratia village in the district.
   Aris filed a case against Jamirul with the Khulna police station the same day under speedy trial act. The police submitted charge sheet on August 26.
   After examining witnesses, the judge announced the verdict against the convict.

Dhaka University will observe the mourning day on October 15 marking its Jagannath Hall tragedy in which 39 students were killed as the roof of the assembly building auditorium of the hall collapsed on them in 1985.
   The victims were watching a popular drama ‘Shuktara’ on television during the incident.
   The DU authorities will organise various programmes, including hoisting of black flags atop all student dormitories, and academic and administrative buildings while the university flag will be hoisted half-mast on the day.
   Students, teachers, officials and employees of the university will bring out a mourning procession from Aparajeya Bangla.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at most places over Dhaka, Rajshahi and Sylhet divisions and many places over Chittagong, Barisal and Khulna divisions till 6:00pm today.
   Moderately heavy to heavy rainfalls are also likely at one or two places over the country, Met Office said, predicting that day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
   Country’s highest temperature 32.0 degrees Celsius was recorded on Tuesday at Patuakhali and lowest 22.8 degrees at Maijdee court.
   The sun sets in the capital today at 5:37pm and rises tomorrow at 5:54am.

The number of extra-judicial killings has been raised to 153 in the country in the 270 days from January 11 till October 8, reported Odhikar, a human rights organisation, on Tuesday. The ongoing state of emergency was declared on January 11 this year.
   Nineteen persons were killed extra-judicially in the last 30 days (till Monday), according to the report on the state of human rights in Bangladesh released by Odhikar.
   Of the 153 people who lost their lives, the Rapid Action Battalion killed 78, the police 52, RAB and the police jointly three, the army-led joint forces seven, the army seven, the navy three, the jail police one, and the Department of Narcotics Control one, said the report.
   Of the total number of decedents, 97 were killed in so-called crossfire incidents, 25 were reportedly tortured to death, 13 were shot dead, and the remaining 11 were killed in allegedly questionable circumstances, added the report.
   Of the 153 decedents, eight were members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, four were from Awami League, one from the Jatiya Shamajtantrik Dal, one from the United Peoples Democratic Front, eight from the Purbo Banglar Communist Party, nine from the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Jonojuddho), seven from the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Red Flag), three from the Biplobi Communist Party, one from the New Biplobi Communist Party, three from the New Biplobi Communist Party (Mrinal Group), six from the Gono Mukti Fouz, four from the Sromojibi Mukti Andolon, four from the Sharbahara Party and two from the Gana Bahini.
   ‘Disregard for due process of law and the selective application of the law are violations of the people’s human rights. There is serious and widespread cause for concern that the actions of this government in many aspects of policy — prosecution and judicial process, judicial inquiries and the impunity of law enforcement agencies — are dictated less and less by the law,’ said Odhikar.
   It added that the government must move fast to change its policy and approach to ensure that disregard for the rule of law and selective application of the law does not become the defining characteristic of this regime.
   Odhikar’s concerns relate to equal access of corruption suspects to the proposed Truth Commission, inclusion in the Habibur Rahman Khan Commission’s investigation of the events at Aziz Supermarket on 23 August, 2007 and the alarming increase in the number of extra-judicial killings under the state of emergency.
   Odhikar made some recommendations to the government in its report. They include a public commitment to publish in full the report of Justice Habibur Rahman Khan commission formed to probe the August student unrest, following the due process of law in every case against corruption suspects and stopping the selective application of the law, and an independent judicial inquiry into the every incident of extra-judicial killing.

The High Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman after he had surrendered in court fearing arrest in connection with a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in the past week.
   The vacation bench of Justice AFM Abdur Rahman issued the order after hearing a petition filed by Mahmud with the High Court.
   Mahmud, also former managing director of the Shinepukur Holdings Ltd, its chairman Sohel F Rahman, vice-chairman Salman F Rahman and four others, including two former top Sonali Bank officials, were accused of embezzling more than Tk 108 crore from the bank.

Habibur Rahman alias Naimur Rahman Taj, one of the three crime suspects sent back from India, reportedly said he, along with Kala Jahangir, had worked for a state minister in the 2001 general elections.
   Naimur, along with Mohammad Sohel alias Ibrahim and Biplob Rahman alias Lambu Selim, was being interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department in its headquarters on Tuesday, the first of their seven days in custody.
   Six teams, each of three officers, continued interrogation of the three in shifts.
   ‘The minister sheltered me when Jahangir left for India as the government announced cash reward on his arrest after the elections,’ a source close to the investigation quoted Taj as saying.
   He left the country along with Ibrahim and Selim when the Rapid Action Battalion began a crackdown on criminals, who were killed in the ‘crossfire’ in 2004.
   Naimur ran his gang over telephone and his men sent him money by hundi during his stay in Kolkata. Two other ward commissioners and a female ward commissioner, also wife of a television channel reporter, of the Dhaka City Corporation also sent him money by hundi, Naimur said.
   As for killing of college student Momin, Taj reportedly said the boy had contacted him saying that they had problems over their land and Taj asked him to pay a handsome amount. But Momin’s father did not pay the money and his men killed Momin although he had not directed his men to do so.
   As for his joining the gang, he said he was a broker at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority after his SSC examinations. He was later introduced to Kala Jahangir.
   Referring to the killing of ward commissioner Newton, Ibrahim said he had no hands in the killing, but he was indicted on the charge.
   Selim said he used to control the gang of BNP leader Imam Hossain, one of the 23 most wanted criminals, the sources said.

The chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, on Tuesday called on the people from all walks of life to join the campaign against corruption and help establish good governance.
   ‘Corruption cannot be eradicated from the society only by the activities of the Anti-Corruption Commission; people from all sections should be aware of the devastating effects of corruption and raise their voice against bad governance,’ he said.
   He was speaking at the launch of a book titled ‘Good Governance and People’s Freedom: Horrifying Scenario’, authored by Dr Osman Ghani, at the National Press Club in the morning.
   Justice Golam Rabbani chaired the ceremony also attended by former chairman of the National Board of Revenue, Nurul Hossain, academician Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley, former Awami League chief whip Abdus Shahid, Jatiya Party secretary general Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Amin Ahmed Chowdhury Bir Bikram, and Dr A Latif Mallik.
   Mashhud said much studies and researches had been done on the causes of bad governance and corruption in Bangladesh showing the trend was on the rise.
   He said every family should motivate their children so that the next generation would not engage themselves in corruption.
   Justice Golam Rabbani said the opportunity the nation had found to get rid of corruption would never come again and asked all concerned to fight the menace.
   He said the commission would not be able to fight against corruption alone; people should be involved in the campaign and for that the local governments should be strengthened.
    Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley said good politics was needed to ensure good governance and urged the interim administration to separate the judiciary from the administration and ensure check and balance in the administration.
   He also suggested increase in the salaries and perks of the officials and employees in the administration to reduce corruption.

The interim cabinet on Tuesday extended the workers’ right to trade unionism in the export processing zones up to October 31, 2010.
   The council of advisers at a meeting in the Chief Adviser’s Office approved a proposal for the amendment to the EPZ Workers and Industry Relations Act 2004 extending the trade union rights of workers by two years from October 31, 2008, sources attending the meeting said.
   According to the act, the trade union rights of the workers in the EPZs will expire on October 31, 2008.
   Chaired by the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, the meeting also approved in principle a draft of the Building Construction (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 to make further amendments to the Building Construction Act 1952.
   Under mounting pressure from the US government for allowing the workers to form the trade union for ‘increasing labour standards,’ the parliament on July 18, 2004 enacted the EPZ Workers and Industry Relations Act.
   The EPZ law allows trade unions to be in force from November 1, 2006 to October 31, 2008.

The chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, on Tuesday hosted an iftar party for war-wounded freedom fighters and naval commandos at BNS Haji Mohsin in Dhaka Cantonment.
   Freedom fighters and naval commandos who actively took part in the country’s war of independence in 1971 in various sectors attended the iftar party.

ICDDR,B gets
APUA Award
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh received Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics Leadership Award 2007. Massachusetts-based APUA gave the award in recognition of the centre as international leader in infectious disease research, treatment and advocacy to promote appropriate antimicrobial practice in the developing world, said a release on Tuesday. ICDDR,B executive director Dr Alejandro Cravioto and researchers Dr Wasif Ali Khan and Ms Sabeena Ahamed received the award on behalf of the centre. The award presentation was held in Chicago, USA. APUA is the world’s leading global organisation conducting applied antimicrobial resistance research, education, capacity building and advocacy at the global and grassroots levels which has affiliated chapters in over 50 countries.
— BSS

707 arrested
in capital
The Rapid Action Battalion arrested 707 people, including 21 druggers, in the Dhaka city in last three weeks from September 14. A press release issued by RAB said 202 were arrested on charge of mugging, possessing illegal weapons and extortion while 377 on charge of drug peddling. RAB also seized seven containers of balm and chilli powder used in making people unconscious. Some 76 weapons, 125 rounds of bullet, 11 bombs, 3 magazines, 5 kilograms of heroine, 9,501 bottles of Phensidyl, 186 kilograms and 1,556 packets of cannabis and 524 seductive injections were also seized during the period.
— UNB