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The Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority has designed a master plan for developing the sewerage
   system in the city and ensuring water supply in areas on the southern bank of the River Karnaphuli.
   CWASA sources said they had already finalised the draft master plan in the past week that would be implemented in two phases involving Tk 250,000 crore.
   The first phase of the project includes measures to ensure water supply on the southern bank of the Karnaphuli with the Korean Export Processing Zone and setting up a garbage treatment plant at Halishahar.
   It is expected to be implemented by 2012 involving Tk 1,470 crore.
   Implementation of the first phase will ensure proper facilities for the disposal of sewerage and water supply in 60 per cent areas of the city including Bahadderhat, Agrabad and Halishahar, the sources added.
   The second phase will cover the areas under the detailed area plan of the Chittagong Development Authority and will be accomplished by 2031.
   The Korean Water Resources Corporation with financial assistance from the Korean International Cooperation Bank has been conducting a feasibility study on the master plan that will be completed by January 2009, the sources said.
   Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, chief engineer of the CWASA, said they had been communicating with the donor agencies for getting funds to implement the master plan.
   A number of agencies from Korea and Japan had expressed their interest in this regard, he said.
   ‘Implementation of the master plan is a must to get rid of water logging and easing acute water crisis in the city,’ he said, adding that the project cannot be implemented without foreign assistance.

The bus operators in Khulna have started collecting increased fare from passengers on some inter-district routes from Khulna on Tuesday following oil price hike.
   On the other hand, the drivers of two-stroke auto-rickshaws continued their indefinite strike on Tuesday demanding approval for carrying four passengers in their vehicles.
   The buses have been charging increased fare from the passengers to compensate the increased transportation costs following the oil price hike, said the drivers.
   The passengers coming from different places to Sonadanga KDA bus terminal in the city had to lock into altercations with transport workers over paying increased fare.
   A number of passengers said the bus staff have been charging Tk 140 to Tk 150 against
   the charge of Tk 110 to Tk 120 earlier from Khulna to Pirojpur, Tk 135 to Tk 140 from
   Khulna to Munshiganj against Tk 110, Tk 55 against Tk 45 to Tk 50 from Khulna to Satkhira, Tk 50 to Tk 55 instead of Tk 45 to Tk 50 from Khulna to Paikgachha.
   Transport workers said they have been taking increased fare from the passengers mostly on their way, without giving tickets, as the fare was not officially increased.
   Md Abdur Rahim, a transport worker on Khulna-Pirojpur route, told New Age that they have been facing tough altercation from the passengers as they have been charging extra fare.
   Sheikh Hedayet Ullah of Gutudia under Dumuria upazila in Khulna, said he had to pay Tk 12 to come to Khulna Tuesday morning, though he had been paying Tk 10 for the distance.
   Md Rabiul Karim, general secretary of Khulna divisional bus-minibus owners’ association, said they have not increased the fare officially following the oil price hike, but they will revise the fare soon.

Speakers said not a single agenda for disabled women including their rights was included in the national women’s rights movement.
   They said still there was a confusion in the ministry of women and children affairs and the ministry of social welfare about handling the issue of disabled women as they did not know which ministry would take the responsibility.
   Speakers came up with these issues at a report launching ceremony of the ‘women with disabilities in Bangladesh’, organised at the BIAM auditorium in Dhaka on Tuesday.
   The Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for the Physically Vulnerable, Bangladesh, conducted a survey to collect information on disabled women’s life and the constraints they face in their daily life.
   Professor Akhter Hossain of Dhaka University presented the survey report at the programme.
   While presenting the report, he said the survey had found that of 300 disabled women of different ages in six divisions, women with physical disabilities constituted about 77 per cent, and women with impaired hearing constituted 10 per cent. The rest included other disabilities including metal and ocular disabilities.
   More than 44 per cent respondents had said they were born with disabilities and others became disabled in the later stages of their lives, the report said.
   According to the report, more than half of the disabled women are illiterate and 19 per cent of them have received primary education.
   About half of the respondents are involved with household activities. 14 per cent of them are students and 3.8 per cent are involved with handicraft works.
   The study found that lack of job opportunities and family support were the reasons for their non-involvement in the economic activities.
   Disabled women also face hazards while communicating with the people and participating in any social functions or gathering, said the report adding that about 79 per cent of the surveyed disabled women were not aware of their civil rights.
   Nafeesur Rahman, director of the national forum of organizations working with the disabled, suggested inclusion of other issues about disabled women in the report.
   Mahbub Kabir, from Action Aid, said disabled women also faced violence and sexual harassment at home and other places.
   Rina Roy, director of Manusher Jonna Foundation and Nirjharinee Hasan, fund coordinator of the Canadian High Commission, also spoke at the programme, among others.

The civil society and human rights personalities of different South Asian countries at a workshop in Dhaka formed an alliance with an aim to establish rights of the women and indigenous people to the land, water, forest and natural resources in the region.
   The two-day workshop, held at the office of the Association for Land Reform and Development, also adopted a regional action plan to pursue the respective governments for getting the issues implemented, and monitor the governments’ steps.
   Representatives of 30 non-government organisations from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Nepal took part in the workshop styled Access to Land, Water and Forest Resources of the Poor, Women and Indigenous People, held on June 29 and 30.
   The outcome of the workshop was shared at a press conference at the National Press Club conference lounge on Tuesday.
   The ALRD chairperson Khushi Kabir said that the ultra poor and indigenous people were being robbed of their rights to land, water and forest resources because of development activities in the name of urbanisation in the South Asian region.
   She said the workshop had appealed to the governments of the region to impose a ban on using forest land and resources for commercial and other purposes.
   At the same time, the governments should take stern measures against those involved in destroying the inhabitants of the forests including animals and birds, she added.
   The workshop urged the governments to immediately stop industrial shrimp production and other such exclusively export-oriented commercial and environmentally destructive use of productive natural resources.
   The workshop also urged the SAARC member states to include people’s voice in the policies to establish their rights to land, water, forestry and other natural resources, without which the regional cooperation would not be fruitful.
   The conference was attended, among others, by ALRD executive director Shamsul Huda, its programme coor-
   dinator Rawshan Jahan Moni, representative of Nepal Jagat Basnet, Indian represen-
   tative Rohini Reddy and Pakistani representative Mahjabeen Khan.

A Bangladesh Road Transport Authority mobile court Tuesday filed eight cases and realised Tk 25,900 in fines from a CNG-run bus company, CNG auto-rickshaws and drivers in the city for collecting extra fare and not having driving licences.
   Besides, the court seized a CNG-run bus of Tarango Paribahan and a black taxicab for not having necessary documents.
   The court, led by BRTA executive magistrate (deputy secretary) Abdur Rashid, filed the cases during the drive conducted in Mohammadpur areas against a CNG-run bus, CNG-auto-rickshaws and drivers. All the cases were filed under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, the magistrate said.
   In the wake of charging extra fare by the CNG-run buses, BRTA started the drive against the vehicle operators and it, according to BRTA officials, will continue the drive until the malpractice is stopped.
   The government has recently fixed bus fare for CNG-run buses at Tk 1.20 a kilometre for big CNG-run buses and Tk 1.10 a km for minibuses but the bus companies started charging fare at will.
   The BRTA on April 16, 2007 launched the drive mainly against the drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws and taxicabs who bypassing the meter-fare started carrying out passengers on contract.

Jubilant celebrations and fanfare by the students and teachers defying inclement monsoon weather on Tuesday marked the Dhaka University Day, the 87th founding anniversary of the country’s leading university.
   The day-long celebration began with the vice-chancellor, SMA Faiz, releasing 88 balloons marking the 88 years of the university. Senior teachers, present and former students of DU were present on the occasion.
   The day’s programmes included a discussion at the Teacher-Student Centre auditorium followed by a festive procession that paraded the campus streets.
   Students of yesteryears, who later also served the university in different capacities, came up with memories of their student life and shared thoughts about the university at the discussion.
   They observed that the university was not given proper importance by the state rather being used as a tool of the state politics.
   The just appointed professor emeritus, Serajul Islam Chaudhury, found the university’s role in the country’s social and political formation as its best contribution.
   ‘The university was established during a crucial juncture of this part of the soil and it was continuing to discharge its duty till date,’ he said.
   Another professor emeritus, Anisuzzaman, said the university needs to maintain its character of a residential university to make the students aware about their role in society.
   He also stressed on holding elections to the university central students’ union and the hall unions.
   A former vice-chancellor of the university, AK Azad Chowdhury, found that the university, which developed the country’s intelligentsia, was loosing its past glory as the political leaders were now hell-bent to use the institution to realise their political interests.
   He said the degrees conferred from the university were yet to reach international standard putting the students behind in the present competitive market.
   Former vice-chancellor Maniruzzaman Miah said a university was the place of researches and should be provided the highest importance in an era of globalisation.
   The university pro-vice-chancellor, AFM Yusuf Haider, in a defending tone said despite passing through adverse situation the university was keeping significant contributions in the society.
   He cited the funds crunch, disproportionate amenity for the students and shortage of teaching staff as some of the adverse situations faced by the Dhaka University.
   Sports events like friendly matches of football and volleyball between present and former students were also organised during the day.
   The artistes of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy staged a drama ‘One Hundred Sacks of Rice’ in association with the Japanese embassy in Dhaka on the occasion.

Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday called upon the media professionals to work for stopping avoidable deaths caused by blood shortage by making people aware of blood donation programmes.
   They were addressing a seminar organised by the Sandhani central committee to observe the World Blood Donor Day at the National Press Club.
   Editor of the daily Independent, Mahbubul Alam, was present as chief guest while president of the Sandhani central committee, Mir Rashed Alam Ovi, chaired the seminar.

Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at most places over all the six divisions in the next 24 hours till 6:00pm today.
   Moderately heavy to very heavy rainfalls is also likely at places over Chittagong, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Barisal divisions, Met Office said, predicting nearly unchanged day temperature over the country.
   Country’s highest temperature 32.5 degree Celsius was recorded on Tuesday at Satkhira and lowest 23.1 degrees at Sandwip.
   The sun sets in the capital today at 6:50 pm and rises tomorrow at 5:15 am.

One person was killed in landslide, a child was drowned and several hundred houses were inundated in Cox’s Bazar as heavy rainfall, and flash flood caused by onrush of hill water hit the district over the last four days till Tuesday.
   Four to five feet floodwater has marooned around 50,000 people at Sadar, Ramu, Ukhiya, Moheskhali and Chakoria upazilas. The sea remained rough due to a low over the Bay of Bengal.
   Rain and hill water-triggered mudslide disrupted road communications between Tekhola and Thainkhali under Ukhiya, and Gorakghata and Janata Bazar under Moheskhali upazilas. Breaches developed at four points on the Gorakghata-Janata Bazar road.
   Local Met office advised the Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong and Mongla seaports to hoist cautionary signal no. 3. The Met office recorded 350 millimetre rainfall during the last 57 hours till 3:00 pm on Tuesday. It continued raining heavily during filing this report.
   According to the sadar upazila nirbahi officer, some five houses were damaged in Hajji Para, BISIC Para, Pahartali areas in rain triggered landslide.
   A tow-year old child, Obaidul Alam, drowned in floodwater at Kolatali village under Cox’s Bazar municipality Tuesday morning.
   Flash flood inundated several hundred houses at Fadanar Dail, Kutubdia Para, Kolatoli, Noniharchada, Nazirartek and Charpara under Cox’s Bazar municipality, Sarwar Kamal, chairman of the municipality informed.
   Ukhiya UNO Shamim Al Razi, said eighty houses were damaged at Ropbati, Monkhali, Cepotkhali, Choankhali of his upazila. Landslide cut off the road link between Thainkhali and Telkhola. At least 400 people had taken refugee at the local government primary school- cum-cyclone shelter as flash flood damaged their houses.
   Shrimps worth Tk 50:00 lakh were washed away in floodwater from hundreds of shrimp projects at sadar, Teknaf, Ukhiya, Ramu and Chakoria upazilas.
   One Faridul Alam, 30, was killed in landslide at Nayapara village of Moheskhali upazila on Monday while he was working in his betel leaf garden. At least ten houses were also damaged in the landslide. The rivers Matamohori and Bagkhali were flowing over the danger level.

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has provided a total of Tk 4,44,30000 to some 2,962 Sidr-affected families in the south for rebuilding their livelihood and helping them stand on their own feet.
   With the TK 15,000 cash grant received by each family from the SDC, each household has bought cows, fishing nets and boats and some families have invested money in small businesses and agricultural farming or other income generating activities, said a release of the Swiss embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
   A disabled person Momin, of Chal Rayenda village, has bought a milking cow and hopes that he will be able to support his family by selling the milk. Ripia Begum, of village Jilbunia, has restarted the business of selling clothes in the neighbourhood. Under the SDC’s ‘Cash for Livelihood’ project, TK 15,000 was paid unconditionally to each of the families of the worst affected Rayenda and Southkhali Unions of Sarankhola Upazila in Bagerhat during May.
   The selection of beneficiaries and disbursement of the cash were completed in collaboration with the local administration, elected representatives of the Union Parishads and local NGO partners.
   The total SDC assistance for the SIDR affected region amounts to $7 million now.

The newly formed Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited that took over operations of the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board on Tuesday has formulated a new chart of reduced call charges.
   As per the revised tariff proposal, the BTCL subscribers will now pay call charges at the rate of Tk 0.15 per minute during peak hours and at the rate of Tk 0.10 per minute during off peak hours.
   The inter zonal or NWD call charge will be Tk 1.00 per minute during peak hours and Tk 0.70 per minute during off peak hours instead of Tk 1.50 per minute.
   The call charge for BTCL to other PSTN operators will be Tk 0.80 per minute during peak hours and Tk 0.70 per minute during off peak hours instead of Tk 1.50 per minute.
   For making calls to mobile phones, subscribers will have to pay Tk 1.00 per minute and Tk 0.70 per minute during peak and off-peak hours respectively instead of Tk 1.50 per minute.
   The installation charge of a BTCL phone line including connection charge and security deposit has been fixed at Tk 2000 in Dhaka and Tk 1000 in Chittagong.
   The subscribers of the BTCL will be able to get internet connections without any charges and the call charge for logging in internet will be the same. Earlier the BTTB used to take Tk 2000 as the internet connection charge.
   ‘A reduced tariff for subscribers has been formulated to make the BTCL a competitive entity,’ said special assistant to the chief adviser MA Malek on Monday.

About 50 workers of a garment factory were injured in a stampede following a fire alarm at Sreepur in Gazipur on Tuesday.
   According to locals and police, the workers of SM Knitting at Natun Bazar of Sreepur were frightened by a fire alarm that rang after a sudden fire in electric motor on the second floor of the six-storey building in the morning.
   As they all tried to come down at the same time and wrestled in the narrow stair-cases, many of them fell victims of stampede. Some workers were hurt as they jumped from the upper floors.
   Local people and police rescued the injured and took them to nearby Al-Hera Hospital at Maona Chowrasta.
   Admitting the incident, assistant administrative officer of the factory, Ali Hossain, said that about 10 workers were injured.
   But the hospital director, Abul Hossain, said that they released 29 workers after first aid and 10 were admitted.

Mobile phone operator Banglalink and the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services have begun the second phase of the early flood warning dissemination project recently to warn people of 12 upazilas in eight districts about possible flood, said a news release.
   Under the project, CEGIS will be able to send early flood warning messages to disaster managers of respective areas in time through SMS, and the managers will warn the vulnerable people, it said.
   The first phase of the project started in August 2007.
   This year 2,200 disaster managers will be communicated to cover 14 lakh highly vulnerable people of 12 upazilas, the release said adding that last year the number of disaster managers was 500 and it covered 4 lakh people of two upazilas.
   The release said a survey of CEGIS in the pilot areas on the first phase of the project found 66 per cent of the community people got early flood warning from the disaster managers while 34 per cent received information from other media.

Additional registrar of Jahangirnagar University Abu Bakar Siddique has been appointed as the acting registrar.
   Siddique, who joined the university as a deputy registrar in 1993, was appointed the additional registrar in 2006, a JU press release said on Tuesday.
   He obtained his honour’s degree in 1977 and the master’s degree in 1979 in Economics from the university, the release said.

Dipalok Sangskritik Sangsad, a cultural organisation, arranged a cultural programme and a discussion meeting at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on the occasion of the 109th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
   Former information secretary Syed Marghub Morshed inaugurated the programme held on Friday. Shafiq Alam Mehedi, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, attended the programme as chief guest while AAMS Arefin Siddique, former president of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, as special guest.

A tree plantation programme was inaugurated on the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology campus on Tuesday.
   Vice-chancellor AMM Safiullah inaugurated the programme by planting a sapling on the campus. Rotary Club of Dhanmondi organised the programme.
   The club handed over 1,100 saplings of trees to the university authorities at the programme aimed at increasing the beauty of the campus as well as maintaining the ecological balance.
   A discussion on tree plantation was also held at the BUET Council Bhaban with Syed Mukarram Ali, president of the club, in the chair.

The BRAC Human Rights and Legal Services will host a talk on ‘health rights through litigation: bridging the gap between public health and law’ at BRAC Centre Inn today.
   The objective of the talk is to examine litigation as a strategy to secure accountability for health rights and the challenges it raises. The presentation will explore and share the importance of using legal strategies to achieve progress on urgently needed public health priorities in Bangladesh.
   The programme will foster a dialogue amongst lawyers, doctors, representatives of social movements and community organisations, independent journalists, researchers, human and health rights activists and build strong links between the fields of public health, law and human rights.
   Dr Vineeta Gupta, who has travelled widely in Europe and the USA addressing the impact of international policies on global south countries, will be one of the main speakers.
   In addition to her work in health rights, Gupta has investigated, documented and litigated many human rights cases and her work has been acknowledged by many national and international organisations.
   The BRAC Human Rights and Legal Services programme was established in 1998 to provide legal and human rights education and awareness, and legal services to rural poor.

US missions to remain closed tomorrow
US Embassy offices, including The American Centre, Archer K Blood American Centre Library, the students’ counselling service and the Consular Section will remain closed tomorrow on the occasion of the American Independence Day.
— UNB

Jagannath Univ launches bus service
Authorities of Jagannath University on Tuesday launched a bus service for providing students with a better transport facility in the city and its outskirts. Four double-deckers rented from Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation will carry the students between the university campus and Mirpur, Uttara, Khilgaon and Chashara of Narayanganj, campus sources said.
— BSS

Three held at Sutrapur
Rapid Action Battalion arrested three people at Banianagar in the city’s Sutrapur area and seized two firearms from their possession on Monday. The arrested are Mohammad Azahar alias Suman, 22, Sanjit Saha, 25, and Mohammad Shahidul Islam, 27.
— UNB