Main Page «
Front Page «
Metro «
Business «
International «
Sports «
Editorial «
Op-Ed «
Home «
Timeout «
Letters «

Archive «
Launch Supplement «
Special Supplements «

Former Transparency International Bangladesh chairman Professor Muzaffer Ahmad said on Saturday the TIB would welcome any move from any quarters to investigate irregularities of corruption by the watchdog body.
   He made the remark after attending a roundtable discussion on ‘Transparency and Liability of NGOs: Recent Experiences’ organised by Neeti Gobeshona Kendro at the national press club.
   Responding to a query, the TIB trustee also ruled out the allegation made by prime minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament on Thursday that TIB’s report on quorum crisis was ill-motivated to undermine the parliament.
   ‘The comment made by the prime minister about me and TIB is unfortunate,’ he said.
   Earlier, addressing the roundtable discussion as chief guest, Muzaffer Ahmad stressed the need for bringing transparency and accountability in the activities of the NGOs.
   He alleged that NGOs had divided the society. ‘The People, who have been working in the NGO sector, are ignoring the importance of human resource development. Besides, the NGOs are not working to ascertain their cost-benefits,’ he added.
   Prof. Muzaffer also underlined the urgency of forming self-correction bodies by the NGOs to ensure transparency in their activities.
   The executive director of TIB, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, said the NGOs have been running their activities without discharging their obligations.
   Prof. SM Atiqur Rahman of social welfare institute of Dhaka University alleged the NGOs have purchased the leading members of the civil society. ‘Sometimes it seems that NGOs are more powerful than the government. We need to launch a tough movement against the controversial role of the members of the civil society,’ he observed.
   M Aminuzzaman, a professor of public administration at Dhaka University, said the NGOs have been failing to alleviate poverty. He suggested that a high-powered regulatory body should be formed to oversee the activities of the NGOs. ‘There are allegations of some NGO involvement in terrorist and militant activities,’ he added.
   Advocate Elina Khan of Bangladesh Manabadhikar Bastobayan Sangstha alleged that both the government and NGOs were responsible for the pervasive corruption in the country.
   Sheikh Toufiq M Haque, a researcher of Neeti Gobeshona Kendro, presented a keynote paper where he outlined the importance of bringing transparency and accountability in the activities of NGOs.

Only 5.2 per cent among 55.8 per cent users of the family planning methods are male while about 17.6 per cent able couple still remained out of the methods despite having huge demand among them.
   The health minister, Ruhal Haque, said this in a discussion arranged at Osmani Memorial Auditorium Saturday marking the World Population Day.
   ‘We must make efforts to increase number of males in using contraceptives,’ he said adding family planning should be given priority along side with marriage of boys and girls at proper age to ensure maternal and child health”.
   Prime minister’s adviser on health and family welfare, Syed Modasser Ali, director generals of department of family planning, Mohammad Abdul Qaiyum, director general of department of health, Shah Monir Hossain, addressed among others, on the occasion held with secretary of the ministry of health, Sheikh Altaf Ali, in the chair.
   The day was observed in Bangladesh like other UN member countries with the theme ‘Investing in Women and Girl’.
   Marking the day, a colourful procession was brought out in the city from National Museum to Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
   The president, Zillur Rahman, and the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, urged all to accelerate efforts to achieve universal access to reproductive health.
   Zillur Rahman in his message said, ‘There is no other option, but to keep the size of the family small in the current social and economic situation of the country.’ He said all have to play a responsible role to motivate the people for adopting family planning methods.
   Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the country’s population would be doubled after 49 years if the current 1.39 per cent growth rate continues.
   The PM said the government is pledge-bound to achieve the Millenium Development Goals in health, nutrition and population sectors along with materializing the Visison-2021.
   The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in a message said, ‘There is no better path than the focus of this year’s World Population Day’s: Investing in Women and girls’.
   The health minister released a commemorative stamp and a first day cover issued by Bangladesh Postal Department marking the day.
   Addressing the discussion at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, the health minister underscored the need for more investment in mother and child healthcare.
   Referring to the present government’s priority on constructing community clinics across the country, he said the clinics would make revolutionary role in reaching the health, nutrition and family planning services to the doorstep of the people.
   The minister said the population growth rate has declined to 1.39 per cent in 2008 from 3 per cent in 1971 while Total Fertility Rate has been reduced to 2.7 per cent in 2007 from 6.3 in 1971.
   ‘But, there is no scope for delight’ he said adding that we will have to raise the number of family planning users to 72 per cent as we have to reduce TFR to 2.2 and Net Fertility Rate to one percent by next two years.

Two teachers and 10 students were injured critically as the pillar of Gerakul Government Primary School at Gournadi in Barisal collapsed on them when classes were going on at about 9:00am on Saturday.
   The injured are Amulaya Ratan Kar and Mokhlesur Rahman, both teachers, Fatima, Sharmin, Mukta, Shihab, Faisal, Khadiza, Kulsum, Sakina, Sharmin and Sakib, students.
   They were admitted to Gournadi Upazila Health Complex.
   Nasima Begum, headmistress of the school, said the building was constructed in 1995.
   ‘We informed the higher authorities of the bad condition of the building, but the government was yet to take any measure in this regard. As we have no alternative, we are using the building for teaching the students,’ she said.

Members of the Sylhet Division Development Student Union on Saturday set fire to symbolic Indian products in front of the faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University in protest at building the Tipaimukh dam project.
   The union members later in a rally said there is no alternative to avoiding Indian products in Bangladesh to protest against the move.
   They said that the Bangladesh delegation that was supposed to visit the dam site did not have minimum information and they would definitely serve the interest of the Indian government.
   People across the country should launch movement together to save
   the Sylhet region from desertification, the speakers said.
   They demanded immediate release of the Lamppost activists who were arrested last week when they were demonstrating against the move in front of the Indian high commission.
   They also demanded strong movement against Indian high commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty for his audacious comment about Bangladeshi water experts.

The information minister Abul Kalam Azad Saturday said the present government will hold the trial of all killings of journalists in the country and withdraw the false cases filed against them.
   The minister disclosed the government decision while addressing a function marking the distribution of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity ‘Best Report Award 2008’ and certificates of English Language Course among the participants of the DRU members at its office in the morning.
   Presided over by the DRU president, Shamim Ahmad, the function was also addressed by DRU founder president, Shafiqul Kabir, its incumbent general secretary, Pathik Shaha and Dhaka Language Club president, Masud A Khan.
   The minister distributed the best report awards and language course certificates among the recipients and participants.Eleven reporters of various dailies and TV channels got eight awards, including three jointly, in various fields.
   Sharifuzzman Pintu (Prothom Alo) got award for report on education, Afroza Naznin (Khabarpatra) on women and children repression, Zahur Hossain Memorial Award, Zulfikar Ali Manik (Daily Star) and Syed Ashraful Huq (Daily Star) jointly on economic investigation report, Helal Uddin (Jugantor) and Mizan Chowdhury (Janakantha) jointly on objective economic report, Masud Alam (Prothom Alo) on sports award, Helimul Alam Biplob (Daily Star) on liberation war, Selim Zahid (Samokal) and Kishoar Laila (Bangla Vision) jointly on humanitarian affairs and Keramat Ullah Biplob on investigative city affairs.
   Addressing the function, the minister said the role of journalists is important in establishing transparency and accountability in society.
   He mentioned the passage of Right To Information Act by the present parliament saying it would help journalists carry out their duties more objectively.
   About language, the minister said the present government gives emphasis on learning and practicing both English and Arabic.
   He said the importance of English as an international language is enormous while Bangladeshis need to know Arabic because a large number of people go to the Middle East.’

Today is the sixth anniversary of death of the country’s law legend Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed.
   The family, Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Smriti Parishad, people in the arena of law and judiciary and admirers will remember the former adviser to the caretaker government through various programmes.
   On the occasion, flowers will be placed and prayers will be offered at his grave at Banani in the capital.
   Besides, a prayer session will be held at an orphanage, said a press release of Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Smriti Parishad.
   Ishtiaq, who had a chequered career spanning several decades, contributed a lot to the legal arena of Bangladesh. He acted as attorney general and took office as adviser to the caretaker governments in 1996 and 2001.
   He also made notable contributions to the democratic movements in the country.
   Ishtiaq was outstanding in his university career in showing leadership, organising ability, persuasiveness and singleness of purpose.
   A few days before the language movement on the 21st February 1952, he was struck unfortunately with jaundice that physica1ly prevented him from taking any active part in it.
   He was a vanguard in the preparatory stages of the movement and remained a dedicated pursuer of the ongoing movement after his recovery.
   He was arrested with others while attending a secret meeting of the leaders of language movement and was kept in prison for some time in 1954.

Sarwar Jahan, a senior journalist and freedom fighter, died of cardiac arrest in Lab Aid Hospital in Dhaka on Friday. He was 60.
   He was a news consultant of The Financial Express, associate editor of The Economic Times and permanent member of the National Press Club.
   His namaj-e-janaza was held on Saturday in his village home in Bogra and he was buried in his family graveyard.
   Sarwar is survived by his wife and three daughters.
   He was a member of Psychological Welfare Unity in 1971 and war correspondent of weekly Joybangla. He also worked with Charampatra, Daily Banglarmukh and daily Desh. He played an important role in television journalism.
   The National Press Club expressed condolence at his death. The club president, Shawkat Mahmud, and its general secretary, Kamal Uddin Sabuj, in a condolence message mourned his death. They paid tributes to him and extended sympathy for the bereaved family.

Delay in forming Dhaka University hall unit committees of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, associate organisation of the ruling Awami League, is causing resentment in the organisation.
   The BCL could not yet form its DU hall unit committees despite directives from the Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.
   Hasina, the just-resigned constitutional leader of BCL, one of the country’s oldest student organisations, had directed the leaders of its university unit a month ago to form full-fledged committees for the hall units to strengthen the organisation.
   Senior leaders of the BCL’s Dhaka University unit said they had sat several times with the central committee to select leaders for the hall units but failed to reach a consensus for a ‘cold war’ between the central and university unit leaders over choosing the candidates.
   A top leader of the DU unit Chhatra League said the move got stalled as the central leaders wanted persons loyal to them in the hall committees. The university unit leaders were dead against any intervention by the central committee in the selection process.
   Junior leaders of the organisation’s university unit, who are also aspirants for position in the committees, are eagerly waiting for announcement of the committees.
   They gather at Madhu’s canteen along with their followers almost everyday in a show of strength.
   ‘We have been waiting for the past one month. Senior leaders are dillydallying over forming the committees and giving us false assurances that it would be done the next day…,’ said SM Riaz Uddin Chowdhury of Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall.
   Riaz accused the leaders of both the university and central committees of trying to establish regionalism in forming the hall committees. ‘A person from Faridpur, Barisal or a northern district becomes is more important to them than the struggles of dedicated activists,’ he said.
   ‘We expect that our central and university leaders will recognise the contribution of the hall leaders in the last seven years’, he added.
   Chandra Shekhar Haldar Milton of Jagannath Hall said that the main cause for the delay was a conflict between the central and university leaders over distribution of posts ‘as all of them want their men in the committees.’
   President of the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra League, Sohel Rana Tipu, said, ‘We want non-controversial persons for the positions in the hall committees who have no bad reputation. There are many such leaders in the university and it takes time to select the best.’
   ‘We are trying to select regular students who reside in the halls and against whom there are no allegations of illegal tender-related activities or groupings. We will also consider the contribution of the dedicated activists,’ he said.

The activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Bangladesh Chhatra Union and Bangladesh Chhatra Maitri vandalised two rooms of the political science department at Government BL College in Khulna on Saturday.
   They conducted the vandalism as a teacher in a meeting for allocating dormitory seats to the students allegedly made a bad comment on the children of freedom fighters.
   Meeting sources said the political science department head of the college and also teacher-in-charge of students’ union of the college Sarwar Jahan Kabir allegedly made bad comments on freedom fighters after the BCL, BSU and SUB leaders demanded quota for the freedom fighters.
   The teachers and student leaders had participated in the meeting which was presided over by the college vice-principal.
   Following the comment, the BCL, BCU and SUB leaders protested the comment at the meeting and quitted the meeting. They brought out a procession on the college campus, demanding resignation of Sarwar Jahan Kabir from the post of teacher-in-charge of college students’ union.
   A section of the protesters also vandalised two rooms of the political science department of the college.
   The students’ leaders of the organisations again came to the meeting and demanded resignation of the teacher from his post and Sarwar Jahan Kabir said he would resign as teacher-in-charge of the students’ union, the sources said.
   Sarwar Jahan Kabir could not be reached for comments after several attempts on Saturday evening.
   Professor Mostofa Kamal, vice-principal of BL College, who presided over the meeting, claimed the teacher-in-charge of the students union did not make any bad comment on ‘freedom fighters’.

Speakers at a regional seminar at the Islamic University in Kushtia on Saturday stressed the need for making people aware of the dangerous effect of tobacco.
   The economics department, in association with the Bangladesh Economic Association, organised the seminar titled ‘economic issues related to South-Western region of Bangladesh’ at the Shah Azizur Rahaman Auditorium of the university.
   The speakers urged all to raise voice against tobacco cultivation.
   The speakers said about five million people die every year due to tobacco-related diseases and the number is increasing alarmingly. If the rate continues, about 10 million people will die every year from 2030, they added.
   The speakers warned that the south-western region of Bangladesh will lose food security soon as the farmers of this region are increasingly engaging themselves in cultivating tobacco than food crops for more benefits.
   They urged the government to provide the farmers with easy credit facilities and subsidy in a bid to encourage them to cultivate food crops instead of tobacco.
   The university vice-chancellor, Professor M Alauddin, was chief guest in the seminar, with economics department chairman Professor Ainul Islam in the chair.

Speakers at a meeting on ‘resisting acid violence’ in a Khulna city hotel on Saturday demanded separate tribunal to ensure quick trial of acid violence.
   Arranged by the Acid Survivors Foundation and Jagrata Juba Sangha, the meeting was attended by top government officials, civil society representatives, human rights activists, journalists and NGO personnel.
   Chaired by Khulna deputy commissioner NM Zeaul Alam, the meeting was also addressed by Khulna district and sessions judge Md Safiuddin, Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Md Lutfor Rahman Khan, KCC panel mayor Ruma Khatun, advocate Md Abdul Maleq, JJS director ATM Zakir Hossain, senior journalist Mokbul Hossain Mintu and Arjumand Banu Mily of ASF, among others.
   ASF statistics presented in the meeting said a total of 2,853 persons, including 1,429 women, 711 men and 713 children, became victim of acid violence from May 1999 to May 2009 in the country.
   The statistics also showed that a total of 85 persons, including 53 women, 14 men and 18 children, became victim of acid violence from January 1996 to April 2009 in the Khulna city and district.
   The speakers said the acid violence victims suffer not only physically but also mentally and socially and gave a call to the people concerned to reduce availability of acid in the markets to eradicate acid violence from the society.
   Import, export, transport, sale and use of acid without license is prohibited and crime according to the acid control act–2002 but the acts regarding acid is not implemented actively, alleged the speakers.
   They gave a call to the government to make the district acid control committee active immediately to resist acid violence. They also urged the government to take steps to implement acid-related acts actively so that none can dare to commit acid violence.
   The speakers demanded that at least one burn unit should be opened in each of the district level government hospitals so that the acid violence victims can get treatment immediately and easily after the violence.
   They said mass awareness of acid violence should be created to prevent acid violence and a chapter on ‘acid violence’ may be included in the secondary level textbook to make the students aware about it.
   They said the acid violence victims often cannot get justice for lengthy process of trial and unavailability of witnesses and demanded separate tribunal for trial of the acid violence cases and adequate security for the witnesses in the cases.

The industries minister, Dilip Barua, has said the present government has been working relentlessly for building an industry-enriched Bangladesh.
   He said ‘We have no alternative to make the nation industrially bolstered to build Digital Bangladesh by 2021 as announced by the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.’
   The minister said the government has taken initiatives to establish a ‘Special economic zone’ in the northwestern Bangladesh in a bid to flourish the agro-based industries as it has enormous prospect.
   He made this observation while exchanging views with businessmen on local trade and business related issues at the conference hall of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
   The minister said the existing agricultural system is not capable of bearing the expenditure of the nation’s huge population. So, due importance should be given to intensify the industrialization process for creating job opportunities and take the nation forward.
   To make the effort a total success, Dilip Barua said the government has been giving utmost priority to the potential industrial sectors like ICT, agro-based, small and cottage, silk, plastic, leather and leather-based and drugs.
   Besides, steps have also been taken to revitalise the silk and weaving sectors to regain traditional heritage of those side by side with upgrading the region’s economic position.
   He said the government would not establish any more industry excepting the specialized ones and provide all sorts of necessary logistic supports for the private entrepreneurs to encourage them in the investment process.
   The government will provide special logistic support for the entrepreneurs like reduced bank interest, optimum power and gas supply, sound law and order, and stable political situation so that they could make their enterprises profitable and sustainable, he added.
   He favoured the single digit bank interest for successful industrialization in the region. Mayor of Rajshahi AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Fazley Hossain Badsha, and commissioner of Rajshahi division, Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, also addressed the meeting as special guests.
   DIG of the Rajshahi Range police, Mukhlesur Rahman, RMP commissioner Naosher Ali, deputy commissioner, Shefaul Karim and RCCI directors were also present on the occasion.
   Dilip Barua said the government is committed to reopen the closed mills and factories, and the process has already been started for reopening the BCIC in Chittagong and the public- private partnership initiative.
   He said the past four-party alliance government had closed huge mills and factories due to its disinvestment policy forcing huge workers and employees jobless.
   Chaired by RCCI president, Abu Bakkar Ali, the meeting was addressed, among others, by businessmen Jamat Khan, Matiur Rahman, Liakat Ali, Rozety Naznin, Abdul Momin, Anzuman Ara Parvin, Sadrul Amin, Sekendar Ali, Merajul Alam, Abdus Samad and Mustafizur Rahman Sawdagar.

A total of 25 Razakar (collaborator) suspects were sued for mass killing in the district during the War of Liberation in 1971.
   Freedom fighter Khalil Mallik of Santoshpur of Rampal filed the case with the sadar thana on Thursday for killing nine people.
   The accused were Halim Patowari, 60, Mujibur Hawlader, 68, Rafiqul Islam, 65, Farukuzzaman, 58, Siraj Master alias Kasai Siraj, 70, Abul Kashem Master, 80, Samad Hawlader, 80, Razzak Biswas, 71, Shajahan Biswas, 70, Abdul Barek, 62, Mohammad Mollah, 70, Sayed Gazi, 73, Abdul Latif, 66, Abu Sayeed Sheikh, 62, Zinnat Fakir, 70, Atiar Rahman, 73, Idris Joardar, 75, Jabbar Sheikh, 69, Nazrul Joardar, 59, Iman Ali Sheikh, 70, Shajahan Fakir, 65, Moslem Mallik, 60, Ashraf Ali, 66, Amzad Hawlader, 65, and Arman Jamadar.
   In his case, the plaintiff alleged that the Razakars gunned down Santosh Debnath, Jogeshwar Roy, Khorshed Mallik, Sadhan Debnath, Swapan Debnath, Rakhal Debnath, Narayan Debnath, Bijoy Debnath and Sunil Debnath at Chulkathi of sadar upazila on October 14, 1971. They hailed from different villages in Bagerhat and Khulna.
   The Razakars also looted valuables from 60 houses and set ablaze many houses.
   Sources said with this, a total of 25 cases were filed against 419 suspected war criminals for killing 80 people in six thanas of the district.

Four people, including children, went missing as an engine boat capsized in the River Dudhkumar in the district Friday, the police and local residents said.
   The missing passengers were Mosharraf, 40, Sumi Begum, 20, Kalam, 8, and Harun, 10.
   According to the sources, the boat, starting from Raulia Ghat of Kurigram district headquarters with 25 passengers, went down at about 9.30pm due to strong current in the river.
   After the incident, villagers started rescue operation and later members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and NGOs jointed them.
   Being informed, nirbahi officer of Kurigram sadar upazila, Sayeed Kutub, and officer-in-charge of the sadar thana, Humayun Kabir, visited the spot.
   A team of the police rescued Rahela, 35, and her son Aiyub, 6, in a critical condition and admitted them to sadar hospital.

Protests against the ‘barbaric’ attack on members of Lamppost, who demonstrated against Tipaimukh dam, continued on Saturday.
   Twenty-eight intellectuals in a statement condemned the police attack on the peaceful protesters and demanded immediate release of the arrested.
   Journalist Fayez Ahmed, Badruddin Omar, Tipu Bishwas, Anu Muhammad, Pias Karim, Mustak Hossain and Haider Akbar Khan Rano, were prominent among the signatories.
   Ashish Koraya, first secretary of Lamppost, and Prince Mahmud, member of Lamppost secretariat, were arrested during the demonstration in front of Indian high commission in Dhaka on July 5.

Three children were electrocuted and 50 others injured during a wedding ceremony at Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar early Saturday.
   The deceased are Noor Mohammad, 12, son of Yeakob Ali, Nurul Amin, 15, son of Basir Ullha, and Manjor Alam, 14, son of Nurul Alam of village Karontali of same union.
   The police said the house of one Nurul Hasim at Kalaliakata was illuminated for the ceremony.
   A fire broke out in the power supply line and some parts of the house were electrified. The three died on the spot when they came in contact with the wire.

The police arrested an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall of Rajshahi University early Saturday.
   The arrested is Abdus Salam, also a second year student of anthropology department of the university.
   Campus sources said the police raided the hall at around 4:00am and picked him up form Room 203. Later, he was handed over to the Motihar police for taking legal action against him as he was not a residential student of the hall.
   Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, another Shibir activist managed to flee from the hall, the police said.
   RU proctor Professor Chowdhury Mohammed Zakaria said the police raided the hall after they informed them that outsiders were staying in the dormitory.
   The officer-in-charge of the Motihar police station Habibur Rahman said they would talk to the university authorities and then take legal action against the arrested Shibir activist.

Nine-year-old Reaz was crushed under the weight of three sacks-full of rice at Mirpur in the city on Saturday when he went to steal rice for his day’s meal.
   Police said the body, son of Mahmuda Begum ditched by her husband, used to steal rice from the warehouse of Parvez Rice Agency in Shah Ali Mazar area.
   On Saturday, he entered the warehouse with a blade at around noon and slashed a sack in the middle of a pile of sacks, causing rice to pour out. Three sacks fell on him, leaving him dead on the spot.
   Police sent the body to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue in the evening.

Prices of spices, including green chilli, and vegetables marked a sharp rise in the city’s kitchen markets on Saturday.
   Market sources said the price of green chilli soared to Tk 160-Tk 180 per kilogram from Tk 40- Tk 60 last week while that of aubergine to Tk 40 from Tk 24-Tk 28. Per kilogram of dry chilli was selling at Tk 140, up by Tk 20.
   The prices of local onion increased to Tk 40 per kg from Tk 28 while imported Indian onion to Tk 26 from Tk 18 and imported garlic to Tk 45 from Tk 35.
   Retail prices of vegetables jumped by 50-70 per cent. The price of ladies-finger increased to Tk 32 from Tk 16 per kg. Bitter gourd, ridge gourd, long bean and okra were selling at between Tk 35 and Tk 40 a kilogram.
   A dozen eggs were selling at Tk 96 even after poultry farm owners had taken initiatives to control its soaring prices.
   Harun Mia, a retailer at Puran Bazar, said prices of vegetables rose due to early flooding that disrupted the supply. ‘The prices of vegetables may rise further ahead of Ramadan,’ he added.
   Many consumers alleged that a group of traders was making windfall profits in the absence of monitoring by the authorities concerned.
   The prices of edible oil, rice, milk, flour, sugar, pulses, egg and beef remained stable at the markets in comparison with the rate of the previous week.