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Leading News
CNG price increases to Tk 16.75
per unit
Staff Correspondent
The government on Thursday increased the price of
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from taka 8.5 to 16.75 taka
per cubic litre to minimise the staggering loss incurred
by costly fuel imports.
"From now on, CNG will be selling at taka 16.75 per litre,
which was Tk 8.5. However, the government asked the
transport owners not to increase the bus and other
transport fair. The price rate of CNG will be effective
from tomorrow, Friday," a source in the energy ministry
said adding this is an unpleasant decision, but government
had no other option. The price rate of CNG was fixed at Tk
8.50 on July 1, 2004.
The sources said the power and energy ministry at a
meeting yesterday decided to increase the price of CNG to
adjust the subsidy in power and energy sector. Due to this
hike, the transport fair of autorickshaw and other CNG
driven vehicles fare will go up double.
However, transport fare of diesel and petrol driven
vehicles will remain unchanged. The government will
monitor the transport sector strictly, so that none can
raise fares unjustifiably, the said adding the transport
owners would be understanding and would refrain from
unfair hike in transport fares.
BDNEWS 24.COM adds: About 130,000 vehicles, out of about a
million, have been made compatible with the CNG-run
system, especially in Dhaka, Comilla and Chittagong cities
where CNG refuelling stations are available. About 12,000
autorickshaws now run on CNG.
Compressed natural gas was introduced in Bangladesh in
1985 under state-owned RPGCL when its prices were Tk 7.45
per unit, but its use had been limited to Dhaka. In 1985,
octane was priced at about Tk 10 per litre.
In the wake of the rising prices of liquid petroleum fuel
on the international and domestic markets, the government
had encouraged people to convert their vehicles to the CNG
system. The use of CNG as motor fuel gathered steam in
2000 after the government encouraged the private sector to
engage in CNG business by installing conversion plants and
refuelling stations.
Because of low prices, compared to diesel, petrol or
octane, CNG became a popular fuel for motor vehicles of
the middle class. CNG costs almost a fourth of the liquid
petroleum price.
More dramas like Oct 29 imminent in BNP ahead of April
27!
Party workers will foil any ill move:
Hannan Shah
Staff Correspondent
The bifurcated BNP is going to experience a series of
dramas ahead of EC's scheduled dialogue with the EC on
April 27 as the pro-government splinter group of BNP has
taken a new strategy like that of much-talked-about
October 29.
According to competent sources, the reformists are
planning to take more than two standing committee members
out of those five, who wrote letter to the EC, along with
them in the April 27 dialogue ostensibly to brand that
talk as the EC-BNP dialogue.
"The EC has already become controversial giving letter to
Maj (retd) Hafiz and if the EC wraps up its series of
dialogues with the political parties by only holding talks
with us, the EC's credibility will go down further.
Against this backdrop, we will have to ensure the presence
of a majority number of standing committee members in the
dialogue on April 27 in order to save the image of the
EC," a senior reformist told this correspondent on
Thursday.
Sources claimed, in the meantime, two standing committee
members -Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui and M Shamsul
Islam -were summoned twice to the headquarters of an
intelligence agency and were asked to attend April 27
meeting with the EC. Party sources said, party's other
standing committee members as well as other senior leaders
are also being intimidated to unite with the
pro-government splinter group before April 27. Against
this backdrop, most of the senior leaders have started
living outside their own residences at night.
BNP Chairperson's Brig (retd) ASM Hannan Shah during a
press briefing on Thursday alleged that severe pressure
have been put of the mainstream leaders of the party to
attend the April 27 dialogue in favour of Hafiz. "Threats
are being issued to at least two standing committee
members to attend the meeting."
Hannan Shah, however, categorically said, "No leaders of
the mainstream party would join along with the splinter
faction and the party leaders and workers would resist any
move in this regard."
Hannan Shah came down heavily on the Election Commission
saying the commission have lost all its credibility
through their activities and the BNP secretary general has
already said there would be no election under these
Election Commissioners.
"The election commissioners ignored the opinion of six
members of the standing committee and send the invitation
to Hafiz on the opinion of two members of the standing
committee. So we fear that those who would get 20 per cent
votes would be declared elected in the next election and
the candidates who would receive 80 per cent votes would
be ignored," he said adding, "After lifting the ban on
political activities, there would be no existence of the
so called factory-made BNP."
As Hannan's attention was drawn to the Hafiz's demand for
releasing Khaleda, he said it was simply bluff. "Hafiz is
not bestowed with the authority to represent BNP. The
party secretary general on Wednesday declared him persona
non grata," Hannan said
Meanwhile, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, on Thursday emphatically
said a united BNP will join the talks with the Election
Commission on electoral reforms on April 27.
"BNP will participate in the dialogues with Election
Commission on April 27 to suggest them holding fair polls
free from black money and muscle power. And a united BNP
will attend the talks… we are communicating with the other
group of the party. There is no scope to think that BNP is
divided," he said at his Banani home addressing a group of
activists from Demra led by the Demara unit president of
BNP Nabiullah Nabi.
AL not to contest any polls with Hasina in jail
Staff Correspondent
Awami League leaders on Thursday said any election with
party President Sheikh Hasina in jail will be a staged
polls and AL will not take part in that election.
"The release of detained former Prime Minister and AL
chief has become a national demand; we want to realise our
demands through movement without any bloodshed. And we
will not give any floor to the conspirators in this
connection," AL leaders vowed adding "No other polls is
possible across the country before the next general
election."
They were addressing a 'Mass-Signature papers handing over
ceremony' of Ramna and Tejgaon thana units of AL at
Bangabandhu Avenue's AL central office yesterday afternoon
with Dhaka city AL joint-secretary Md Awalad Hossain Murad
in the chair.
AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said, "All the
activities of AL and its front organisations stand by the
demand of Hasina's release. We will proceed towards the
movement. There is no other way to press home our
five-point demands."
"AL believes in democratic and peaceful agitation to
realize their demands. In the changed circumstances, we
don't want to move the cart before the horse. Our aim is
to achieve victory without any bloodshed," he opined
urging the partymen to make the 'Mass Hunger Strike across
the country on April 29' a success.
Referring to the pre-dialogue parley between the Caretaker
Government and AL, Amu said, "In the meeting, we reached
consensus on 90 percent issues, but the rest 10 percent
issues - including unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina,
holding of no other election prior to Jatya Sangsad-
remain still unsettled.
"Our discussion took place on the basis of 23-point
demands of AL-led 14-party combine earlier placed before
the then government by our detained party president Sheikh
Hasina," he added.
Another AL presidium member Motia Chowdhury claimed, "The
incumbent Government wants to arrange a blueprint election
keeping Sheikh Hasina in jail. But the Government should
bear in mind that AL would not contest any polls without
Hasina. AL must take part in the upcoming general election
under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina."
No
compromise with illegal wealth: Finance Adviser
Staff Correspondent
Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam on Thursday made it
clear that the government would not compromise with those
who have amassed wealth illegally and the corrupt people
will have to pay their income taxes at the due time.
"There is a scope for showing the undisclosed legal
incomes, but no consideration will be given as regards the
illegal earnings," explained fiancé adviser while
addressing at a pre budget seminar organized jointly by
National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Federation of
Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at
Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre in the
capital yesterday. He said, "This year, the caretaker
Government will formulate budget based on four principles.
I hope the next budget would be business favorable and
productive which would create a congenial atmosphere in
the country. The government will reduce tax rates but it
would spread the tax area. It would simplify the tax
paying system for greater benefits of the people. Besides,
the power of tax officials would be cut."
Replying to a Journalist query regarding 'food security
council', Aziz said, " The government will have ensure the
supply of all agriculture items including fertilizers,
fuel and power for maximum production of rice and other
foods during the harvesting season." FBBCI and NBR made
some recommendations including setting up atomic energy
power plants for ensuring smooth power supply, bringing
the NGO's under the taxation areas and reducing the
interests' rates for the medium and small entrepreneurs.
Cherie
Blair requests govt to send Hasina to USA for treatment
UNB, Dhaka
Cheire Blair QC on Thursday expressed concern over the
health condition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
and requested the government to send her to USA for
treatment.
Cherie, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
had 23-minute one-to-one consultations with Hasina in the
court room.
Hasina again fell sick in the dock prompting the special
court to adjourn the defence-discharge hearing in the
barge-mounted power plant case till April 30.
Hasina was brought to Square Hospital from the special
court.
"I'm concerned about her health. Her health is not good.
In any way, the government should send her to USA for her
treatment," Cherie Blair told reporters after the
consultation with Hasina.
Cherie, who came here to observe the case proceedings and
to advise Hasina's attorneys, said the judicial process in
Bangladesh must comply with international standard and
human rights.
SC Bar censures SC ruling scrapping HC’s bail jurisdiction
over EPR cases
UNB, Dhaka
The Supreme
Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday censured on
Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling stripping the High Court
of its jurisdiction to deal with bail petition in EPR
cases.
A censure motion came from an emergency general meeting of
the association following the apex court's ruling.
Terming the SC edict disappointing, the meeting observed
that the balance in dispensation of justice would be
"jeopardized in society following the judgment".
The meeting also demanded the rescinding of section 19 (GHA)
of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) that revoked the right
to bail of an accused in a criminal case being tried under
the stringent EPR.
The meeting endorsed a resolution by voice vote declaring
not to give traditional retirement farewell to incumbent
Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin and reception to new Chief
Justice as a mark of protest.
The meeting, presided over by SCBA president Barrister M
Amir-Ul Islam, was addressed by Barrister Rafique-ul Huq,
Shafique Ahmed, SCBA secretary M Amin Uddin, former SCBA
secretary M Enayetur Rahim and SM Shawkat Ali.
Ex-minister Abbas, AL leaders Mohiuddin, Shamim Osman, ex-Sonali
Bank MD to be charge-sheeted
UNB, Dhaka
The
Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to submit charge
sheets in the graft cases filed against former minister
Mirza Abbas, Awami League leaders Mohiuddin and Shamim
Osman, and former managing director of Sonali Bank
Tahmilur Rahman.
The Commission has also decided to file cases against AL
presidium member Kazi Zafar Ullah, former chief engineer
of Roads and Highways department Faizur Rahman and AL
leader AKM Rahmat Ullah's son Hedayetullah.
ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the
Commission's regular briefing Thursday that the Commission
has approved the submission of the four charge sheets and
filing of the three cases.
Former Works Minister Mirza Abbas and his wife Afroza
Abbas will be charge-sheeted in the case filed with Ramna
police station on August 16, 2007 for possessing unearned
wealth worth Tk 5.67 crore and hiding information of
assets worth Tk 39 lakh.
The charge sheet will be submitted under sections 26(2)
and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004,
section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the
Emergency Power Rules (EPR), 2007.
Munshiganj district AL president Mohiuddin will be
charge-sheeted in the case filed against him with
Mohammadpur police station on January 2, 2008 for amassing
assets worth Tk 3.74 crore disproportionate to his known
sources of income and hiding information of wealth worth
Tk 1.25 crore.
He will be charge-sheeted under sections 26(2) and 27(1)
of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and section 15
of the EPR.
Former AL MP from Narayanganj Shamim Osman and his wife
Salma Osman will be charge-sheeted in the case filed with
Fatullah police station on September 27, 2007 for making
false donation worth about Tk 1 crore and acquiring wealth
worth Tk 1.28 crore beyond his known sources of income.
The charge sheet will be submitted under sections 27(1) of
the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section 5(2) of
the Corruption Prevention Act, 1947 and sections
420/467/471/109 of the Penal Code.
The anti-graft watchdog will submit charge sheet in
another case filed with Ramna police station on December
11, 2007 against former Sonali Bank managing director
Tahmilur Rahman and his wife Shamima Begum for having
unearned wealth worth Tk 1.18 crore and concealment of
information of assets worth Tk 77.84 lakh.
The couple will be charge-sheeted under sections 26(2) and
27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section
109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the EPR.
The Commission has approved the filing of a case against
AL presidium member Kazi Zafar Ullah under the Anti-Money
Laundering Ordinance, 2007 (amendment) for illegally
earning/ transforming/ transferring Tk 6.3 crore.
A first information report (FIR) will be lodged against AL
leader Rahmat Ullah's son Hedayetullah under sections
26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act,
2004 for having ill-gotten wealth worth Tk 4.04 crore and
hiding information of assets worth Tk 4.37 lakh. A case
will be filed against chief engineer of former Roads and
Highways department Faizur Rahman under sections 26(2) and
27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and
section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act, 1947 for
acquiring wealth worth Tk 9.35 crore and hiding
information of assets worth Tk 97.91 lakh.
Meanwhile, the Commission has approved the issuance of a
notice to Islam Group chairman Manjurul Islam Babu
directing him to submit his wealth statement.
Back Page
Entrepreneurs not
investing in capital market : SEC
Staff Correspondent
Security Exchange Commission
(SEC) Chairman Faruq Ahmad Siddiqi on Thursday urged the
leaders of business chambers to find out the reasons of
entrepreneurs' unwillingness to invest in the capital
markets.
"We should identify the cause why the entrepreneurs are
not encouraged to invest in the capital market. I think
the entrepreneurs are not coming into capital market due
to lack of awareness, problems relating to family
ownership and want of IPO facilities and proper
disclosure" he told at discussion on capital market held
at Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the
city.
The SEC Chairman said government is trying to float
quality share in the market to encourage the
entrepreneurs. "Taking loan from the bank, if the
entrepreneurs invest in the capital market instead of
setting up industries, they will be able to make more
profit due to cheaper cost".
Faruq Ahmad Siddiqi called upon the local entrepreneurs to
spend their money in the capital market. "If the local
entrepreneurs would not come forward to invest in the
capital market, why would foreign investors show interest
to invest in the capital market," he asked.
Addressing the meeting, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
and Industries (MCC) President Latifur Rahman said, "Well
performing private limited companies will go public when
there is incentive for the same. Similarly, public limited
companies will go for public offering if there is adequate
fiscal incentive".
For ensuring fair price to the entrepreneurs who come
forward with quality shares Mr Rahaman stressed for
introduction of Book-Building method which will strengthen
the capital market.
Underscoring the need for setting up proper training
institution he said "proper training institution should be
set up which will impart training to the professionals of
merchant banks as well as others involved in the
securities market.Given proper capacity building, merchant
banks can play a grater role in bringing savings of small
investors including those of the non- resident
Bangladeshis (NRB) in the investment market"
Indicating the requirement that a private limited company
needs to go public if its paid up capital exceeds Tk. 40
crore and public limited company to make a public offering
of at least 30 % if its paid up capital exceeds Tk. 50
crore is retrogressive, he added.
Pabna
Mental Hospital
Patients ill treated by doctors, staffs;
prefer private clinics
Fahmida Rahman Karobi back from Pabna
Cheats and middlemen start pestering people as soon as
they come with their mental patients to the Pabna Mental
Hospital, country's only specialized mental treatment
hospital.
The doctors and consultants, who are employed in the
hospital, maintain strong links with two other private
mental clinics grownup beside the hospital. Whenever any
one enters the Mental Hospital compound, they start
alluring him with offers of better treatment at the
private clinics. The physicians assigned to give treatment
to government mental hospital, through their middlemen are
always snatching the patients and taking them to the
private clinics.
"No steps have been taken so far to protect the people
from the hassle of the doctors, cheats and middlemen. If
anybody wants to avoid the gang, he is manhandled by them.
If this trend is not stopped, the present situation may
worsen further. We are urging the government to take
action against these two private clinics," a highly placed
source in the hospital told The Bangladesh Today.
The mental hospital built in 1957 on 111.25 acres of land,
now it is proving treatment over 1000 patents. On the
other hand, about 500 patients are provided treatment at
the outdoor everyday. But the doctors don't look after the
patients properly as they are very busy with their
respective private clinics. Patients are being treated at
a total of 18 wards. Of them 13 has been selected for male
while five for female.
"Government has created 504 various posts including
physicians, consultants, psychiatrist, residential medical
officers, officials and employee for treating the mental
patients. But we have only 364 manpower against the
increased demand. It is very difficult for us to work
smoothly. I am the Director of the hospital but I am also
discharging additional responsibility as superintendent,"
talking to this correspondent Mahfuz Hossain, Director of
Mental Hospital told this correspondent.
He further said urgent repairs to the building are needed.
"Since the inception of the building, it has not yet been
repaired. Simultaneously the condition of toilets are very
poor. On the other, the female patients have been facing
serious problems due to unhygienic toilet," he added.
Government sanctioned taka 80 lakh for developing the
hospital but the Public Work Department (PWD) is yet take
any step in this regard. "All works are being implemented
through the PWD. We told the PWD several times to
implement the work but it didn't respond to our call," the
Director said.
Apart from these, local influentials in association with
physicians and employees of the hospital during different
political government, misappropriated huge money.
Corruption and mismanagement had engulfed the hospital. As
a result many infrastructure development work was not
implemented, an official of the hospital further said.
It may be pointed out that a large number mental patients
are still staying in the hospital since independence.
Their relatives didn't visit the hospital till date when
they were admitted to the hospital. Government should take
step about these mental patients. Replying to a query the
official said sufficient medicines are being supplied to
the hospital but 'we would have to ensure proper
distribution'.
Cable operators realising more money from the clients
Ainul Haque Royal
A section of unscrupulous cable operators influenced by
local ward commissioners are involved in criminal
activities for different reasons including internal feud
and over-controlling their respective areas.
According to sources, around 400 cable operators in the
capital are running their business realizing excessive
rent from their clients. The authority fixed maximum Tk
270 per month for a cable connection while the operators
are collecting Tk 300 to Tk 450 per month. Despite the
steps taken by the government, the situation of the cable
sector remains unchanged.
Centering the cable operating business, at least 11 people
were murdered and other criminal activities increased at
different parts of the capital during last one year.
Besides, many of the cable traders are accused in several
cases including extortion, drug trading and murder,
according to sources.
The source further said, the traders in association with
the ward commissioner are collecting toll from the city
dwellers on the occasion of different local and national
festivals and even they also collect money from the
businessmen, but they often spend this money for their own
benefits. There is an also an allegation that they
sometime spend this money in arranging anti-social
activities.
Cable operators Shamsur Rahman Shimul of Uttara, Syed
Habib of Mirpur and Mosharaf Ali Chanchal of Dhanmondi
areas alleged that the criminals in association with some
ward commissioners are collecting toll from clients
ignoring the terms and conditions of the COAB. Due to
their unlawful activities the cable business is facing a
serious setback at the present time.
Crime
12 to die
for murder
UNB, Bagerhat
Twelve persons were on Thursday sentenced to death, one of
them in absentia, for murder of a shrimp gher owner out of
enmity at Rampal about seven years ago.
Additional district and session's judge Rezaul Karim
handed down the death penalty to Meer Mohammad, Salam
Laskar, Akter Mollah, Mokaddes Mollah, Rabbani Kazi,
Miskat Gazi, Islam Laskar, Liton Sheikh, Jumman Ali,
Shefat Sheikh, Alfaz Sheikh and Hafizur Rahman (in
absentia).
The condemned persons aged between 30 and 50 broke down in
tears as the judge pronounced the verdict in a crowded
court in the afternoon. Their families present also cried
out. Fuli Begum, wife of Meer Mohammad, fell unconscious
on the court verandah after hearing the verdict. The
accused are all shrimp cultivators and residents of Borni
village of Rampal upazila.
Unhappy at the verdict the defence counsel said they would
move the higher court challenging the judgment. According
to the prosecution, shrimp gher owner Noor Mohammad Mallik,
also local Awami League leader, earned enmity of the small
shrimp cultivators who had threatened him of his life. On
October 7, 2001 apprehending attack Noor Mohammad fled
home and took shelter at his shrimp gher at Borni village.
The accused held him at the gher and beaten mercilessly
with stick and rod. Fatally wounded he died on way to the
hospital.
His son Sohag Mallik filed the case with Rampal thana
against 63 villagers. Twelve of them faced the trial when
the court recorded deposition of 17 prosecution witnesses.
Housewife burned to death
UNB, Noakhali
A housewife was burned to death in a fire at her house at
Char Ziauddin in Suborno Char upazila on Tuesday.
Police said being informed by the local people they
recovered the charred body of Nur Nesa, 26, wife of Md
Hossain, from the house gutted by fire. Her husband
Hossain, who is a leader of local landless people, was not
at home when the incident occurred.Local people said there
was a longstanding rivalry over land between the landless
people and shrimp enclosure owners of the area. Police
said the rivals might have set fire to the house and
burned the woman to death following the past enmity.
Police arrested Selim and Kaiyum from the area on
suspicion of their involvement in the incident.
UP chairman sued on charge of VGF rice embezzling
UNB, Goalanda
A case was filed against a UP chairman on charge of
embezzling 90 kg of VGF rice here on Tuesday.
Local BNP leader Yunus Ali Sheikh filed the case against
chairman of Ujanchar union parishad Abul Hossain Fakir.
Being informed by the BNP leader, police seized a rickshaw
with the 90 kg of VGF rice and also detained the
rickshaw-puller Abdur Razzak for interrogation. In his
complaint, Yunus Ali mentioned that Chairman Abul Hossain
sent a sack of 90-kg VGF rice to his house by a rickshaw
and he waylaid the rickshaw on the way and informed the
police.
Later, police also recovered six slips of the rice from
the UP chairman, who started distributing the VGF rice
among the destitute on April 17. Abul Hossain, however,
denied the allegation and said that the rice was allocated
for six families of the union but as they didn't come, the
rice was being sent to their houses.
The UP chairman termed it as a conspiracy against him by
the BNP leader as he protested his anti-social activities
in the past.
Banks file 7,328 certificate cases
UNB, Comilla
Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and three other nationalized
banks filed 7,328 certificate cases till last February for
realising outstanding loans of Tk 28.01 crore from the
farmers.
Many farmers were arrested so far and arrest warrants have
been issued against several others, local sources said.
District Agriculture Loan Monitoring Committee sources
said BKB filed 6,115 cases for realising Tk 26.33 crore,
Agrani Bank filed 600 cases for realizing Tk 76.19 lakh,
Janata Bank filed 399 cases for Tk 45.64 lakh and Sonali
Bank filed 214 cases for Tk 45.56 lakh.
Robber busted
A Correspondent, Faridpur
Police arrested a bandit from Hamirdi old rail crossing
aria at Bhanga upazilla in Faridpur on Tuesday night.
The arrested was identified as Sordar Amir Ali Shikder,
32, in the upazilla.
On secrete information; Bhanga thana police in a drive at
the old rail crossing area arrested him. A case was filed
at Bhanga thana in district.
One arrested, shutter gun recovered
A Correspondent, Chapainawabganj
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 arrested a man along with
an Indian shutter gun in Monakosha in the district at
Wednesday night.
Sources said, acting on secret information a squad of
RAB-5 reached Humayan Reza High School field and arrested
Mokhlesur Rahman, 27, son of Monsur Ghona of Raninagar
village under Shibganj upazila in the district. A case was
field with the Shibganj Thana.
Statue of Radha recovered
UNB, Jhenidah
An ancient idol of Radha made of gold and brass metals was
recovered from a house at Neatmatpur village in Kaliganj
upazila at Wednesday midnight.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB raided the house of
Hasan Ali and recovered the idol weighing 8.50 kg.
Hasan and his associates Abdul Khaleque, Wadud Ali and
Ismail Sheikh were arrested suspecting their involvement
in smuggling out antiques of the country.
Rapist gets life
UNB, Kurigram
A court here on Wednesday sentenced a man to life term
imprisonment for violating a madrassah girl.
The lifer is Jahangir, 24, son of Shahabul Hossain of
Ramratan village in Rajarhat upazila.
According to the prosecution, Jahangir raped the teenage
girl of nearby Chhinaihat village on March 22, 2002. After
examining the eight witnesses and records, District and
Sessions Judge Bhabani Prasad Singh handed down the
verdict.
Mobile court shuts down 3 clinics, diagnostic centres
UNB, Satkhira
A mobile court on Wednesday sealed off two clinics and a
diagnostic centre in the district town for alleged illegal
operation.
The court, led by magistrate AKM Azadur Rahman, conducted
raids at different clinics and diagnostic centres in
Polashpole and Sadar Hospital crossing and sealed off
Babla Memorial Hospital, Shimul Memorial Clinic and Khulna
Diagnostic Centre for running illegally. The court also
realised Tk 18,000 as fine from these establishments.
Current nets seized
BSS, Rajbari
In a bid to stop catching hilsha fry "jatka" in the Padma
river a task force recovered 1000 meters of banned current
net from the costal area of the district on Wednesday.
Rajbari District Fisheries Department Moklesur Rahman
D.F.O. Rajbari and sources said, the task force led by a
first class Magistrate Md Maniruzzaman UNO of Goalondo
upazila and Rezaul Shafiq, senior upazila Fisheries
officer of Goalondo recovered the nets and bamboo used for
Jatka catching worth about Tk. 2,50 lakh during the raid.
The fishermen who were catching jatka fled away. Later the
task force members burnt the nets and bamboo in front of
local people .
BSS from Chandpur adds: A large quantities of current nets
worth Tk five lakh was seized by TNO Haimchar of Chandpur
on Monday from the river Meghna used for catching of
Hilsha fish fries called "Jatka".
Bombs, bullets recovered
UNB, Khulna
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-6 members recovered three
bombs and three rounds of bullets from an abandoned godown
in Khalishpur area of the town Tuesday night.
Acting on a secret information, a team of RAB-6 went to
the abandoned godown and recovered the bombs and bullets.
But none was arrested in this connection.
The seized bombs and bullets were handed over to
Khalishpur thana police. A case was filed.
3 held, firearm, drugs seized
BSS, Rajshahi
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5, in different
anticrime drives, arrested three suspected criminals
including two drug- peddlers and seized a firearm, huge
phensidyl and ganja from different areas in four northern
districts during the last 24 hours till this afternoon,
RAB sources here said.
On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a sudden
raid at Kharial village under Shibgonj upazila of
Chapainawabgonj district and arrested an alleged
arms-cadre identified as Mukhlesur Rahman, 30, son of
Monsur Rahman with a country made shutter gun.
They also arrested the drug-peddlers identified as Bablu
Mian, 25, and Mojaffar Hossain, 42, and seized 2368
bottles and 5.5 liters of loose phensidyl and 15 kilograms
of ganja from their possessions during four separate
drives at different places in Rajshahi, Dinajpur and
Rangpur districts. The arrested persons and the seized
goods were handed over to the concerned police stations
after recording separate cases in this connection.
Editorial
ICT could bring about a Revolution
That
we are living in an era of Information and Communication
technology (ICT) needs no emphasis but in Bangladesh we are
far away from the technology which makes communication easy
and the free-flow of information possible. This is so by
design, by choice or by compulsion; our governments are
reluctant to formulate regulations or provide infrastructural
support for the expansion of communications and the flow of
information and our businessmen are reluctant to invest in
sectors which do not bring about immediate and large profits.
It also needs no emphasis that information is the basis of all
knowledge; knowledge being nothing but the collection,
collation, evaluation and analysis of information. Taking this
into consideration we would go as far as to suggest that
education is but the systematic and formal dissemination of
information and herein, in its broader aspects lies the
importance of the ICT in bringing about a revolution in the
way we go about our daily lives. If we can and we must educate
our entire population, we would need to first "empower" them
to access, to seek and obtain information through networks of
communication and information such as the Internet and the
mobile phone.
This awareness about the revolutionary impact of the ICT needs
to go in much deeper and wider, beyond the limited horizons of
the educated bourgeoisie middle-class to the vast mass of the
general populace - and this is where we need to put the
emphasis on otherwise there remains the danger of a section of
the population becoming the purveyors and holders of
information while the general mass of the people remains in
its typical and historical dependency position as far as
communication and information is concerned. This will be more
so in an age where information is a "commodity" with vast
economic implications. Also this is so not merely within a
nation or a state but also between nations; we are already
seeing the development of a new group of haves and have-nots -
those who have access to communication and information and
those who do not.
The opening up of the Internet and the cell-phone in the early
1970s had made it theoretically possible to access any sort of
information by anyone willing to do so. But there are two
obstacles on the way and both are economic obstacles: firstly,
internet and mobile communication is only available to only
those who can afford to have the necessary tools, that is,
computers and mobile phones; secondly, much of internet
information at the level of knowledge has to be paid for in
hard cash. These two obstacles precludes and prevents most of
our populace from taking advantage of this 21st Century
technological innovation and entering into this new "age of
information".
The Age of Information, we take note, is not merely about
information; it is that too ofcourse, but it is more about
economics and finance. The information highway is paved with
money and it is not for nothing that Bill Gates and others
like him are the "great capitalist" of the age of information.
We need to be not only aware about all these, we also need to
be prepare ourselves through government policies, acts and
laws; through investments in communication and information
infrastructures and through education to be part of this new
"global economy of information" - only then will there be a
revolution in the way we think, act and live.
Diesel subsidy for farmers
The decision to
provide the farmers with cash money as subsidy for purchasing
diesel has been a welcome step, but unfortunately poor farmers
are allegedly not getting the much needed agricultural
incentive. Many of them even do not know wherefrom they will
get the money. This was revealed at a discussion meeting on
diesel subsidy programme for poor farmers organized by BIDS in
the city on Wednesday. Agriculture Adviser C S Karim, who was
the chief guest at the discussion, said "The local
administrations have been directed to ensure proper
distribution of subsidy among the poor farmers and we are
emphasizing on accountability and transparency."
But apart from the revelation made at the seminar, newspaper
reports also alleged that many poor farmers are being deprived
of the subsidy due to irregularities in the distribution
system. In the past the agricultural subsidy for purchasing
diesel was distributed through the chairmen and members of the
union parishads who used to indulge in corrupt practices to
help their relatives and close associates get the subsidy at
the cost of deserving farmers. With a view to stopping this
practice, and helping the marginal farmers get subsidy
directly without any hassle the decision was taken this year
to disburse Taka 250 crore as diesel subsidy in cash to the
poor farmers. But it is reported that this money is not
reaching the deserving people as most of them are in dark
about the new arrangement for disbursement of the subsidy
money.
As the aim of the decision to distribute diesel subsidy in
cash directly to the poor farmers is to boost agricultural
production specially in view of the urgent need of meeting the
growing demand for food, all out efforts must be made to
ensure that the money reaches those who really deserve this.
Any lapse in this respect should not be allowed at any level.
Moreover, transparency and accountability in distribution of
the subsidy must be maintained.
Analysis
Paris '68- the wrong story
As a matter of fact, I hope a revolutionary
will strive for the best in humanity, not the worst."
Jonathan Power
If
May '68 in Paris was a turning point in European-American
culture, which I doubt, when did the mood begin? With the
songs of the Beatles who started in 1961? (And to my mind the
most enjoyable film of the last decade, "Across the Universe",
makes that claim as well as it can be made.) Or was it the
founding of Amnesty International in the same country also in
1961 which brilliantly merged the growing post war sense of
the importance of the individual with the urge to browbeat the
collective will of both left and right wing governments?
Or was it Martin Luther King's March on Washington in 1963
when he said, "I have a dream". Or was it earlier in 1955, the
year of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott that first
precipitated Dr King to fame and which was catalyzed by a
middle aged black lady, Rosa Parks, refusing to give up her
seat on a bus to the white male who demanded it- an act of
individual defiance, the like of which helped precipitate the
forming of Amnesty International and which defined all that
was best, but was too often forgotten, in the West's
supposedly democratic culture?
Or was it 1964, the year of the first serious student protests
over university governance, which first took off in Berkeley,
California? Or was it the growing mass of anti-Vietnam
protests in American universities in the following years which
were fueled mainly by fear of the draft, even if they borrowed
the tactics and idealism of the civil rights movement?
Surely it can't be the cobble-stoning days of May '68 in
Paris, when only three months later Warsaw Pact tanks rolled
into Czechoslovakia to be met by the most effective campaign
of non-violent resistance seen on European soil since the
Danes refused to allow the transportation of their Jews to
German concentration camps, and most people in the West, even
on the left, realized that the capitalist West, for all its
serious faults, was a much better place to live in than
"socialist" Russia.
Yet 40 years later, if my journalistic antennae are still in
working order, I sense that the May '68 coverage, just as it
did at the time, is going to crowd out the memory of these
other events. It still gives off a romantic glow- Jean Paul
Sartre arm in arm with Simone de Beauvoir, after breakfasting
on croissants and fine coffee at the Cafe Lipp, at the head of
mass columns of students. They shouted a handsome range of
pithy anti-capitalist slogans, although they were only really
protesting the petty rules of their fine universities and
appeared to have little concern about the emancipation of
America's blacks, the war in Vietnam (which their country had
started), or the growing paranoia of the Soviet military.
Hundreds of journalists descended on Paris to watch and record
them throwing Hausemann-laid cobblestones at Les flics under
the light of ancient gas street lamps.
The press loved this story with a passion. But what did it
mark? At the time I was doing quite a lot of reporting on the
civil rights and black power movements in America and I asked
the militant leader Stokely Carmichael this question and I
think he got it exactly right: "They don't seem to be fighting
for a distribution of wealth." he said scornfully. "They are
fighting for sex, pot and the freedom to curse. I'm sorry. But
I don't think one is revolutionary just because one curses
publicly, or if one smokes pot, or if one is promiscuous. As a
matter of fact, I hope a revolutionary will strive for the
best in humanity, not the worst."
I've worked in the media for 41 years and I still detest the
way it often makes its priorities. The fickle and fast-moving
eye of television, and to a lesser extent the newspapers, can
demand attention one minute, only to ignore the issue the
next. This is reporting dangerously close to entertainment.
The danger is cumulative. As we are fed a random diet of
suffering and upheaval, based on misleading criteria of what
is important, we lose over time not only our discernment but
our confidence in our ability to make intelligent priorities.
So when the re-cycled Paris '68 story starts to break early
next month I will not take much notice of it. Instead I'll be
focusing my nervous energy (I have no vote) on the election of
Barack Obama to be the first black president of America. It
was Martin Luther King's remaining words on the Washington
march that define our age: "I have a dream that one day my
children will be judged by the content of their character not
by the color of their skin." With America in sight of electing
Obama- because its society has remarkably matured to this
dream point- it has made the cultural history that really
counts.
(Jonathan Power is an internationally renowned freelance
columnist. Copyright Jonathan Power. Dateline London; April
24th 2008.E-mail: JonatPower@aol.com or phone: +46 706 510879)
Promise of a democratic Bangladesh
We
believe the interim government alone has to bear the
responsibility for this price hike.
Manwar
Islam Khan
Caretaker
government took over in January 2007 with the responsibility
of creating an atmosphere in the country for a free, fair and
credible election, which is expected to take place at the end
of 2008. This government has promised to clean up corruption
before the elections, and has set up fast-track courts to
prosecute dozens of high profile political figures. Some of
the big shots who were involved with corruption have already
been apprehended along with other hundreds of politicians who
have been charged with corruption. This without a doubt is a
praiseworthy and much needed move by this government. But some
of the major corrupts are still left, spared and untouched by
presenting their loyalty to the army backed government - which
may shrink public faith in the ongoing anti-graft drives.
Couple of huge tasks and projects that the army-backed
government has started will indeed be rather difficult to
implement given the limited timeframe. One such issue has been
touted as establishing a national security council. Recently
this topic got headlines in newspapers where Chief Adviser
Fakhruddin Ahmed approved the proposals to set up the National
Security Council.
We can see this concept being implemented by some developed
countries.
The USA has NSC. It has been created under the chairmanship of
the President, with the Secretaries of State and Defense as
its key members, to coordinate foreign policy and defense
policy, and to reconcile diplomatic and military commitments
and requirements. The United States NSC advises and assist the
President in integrating all aspects of national security
policy as it affects the United States - domestic, foreign,
military, intelligence, and economics (in conjunction with the
National Economic Council (NEC)). The NSC system is a process
to coordinate executive departments and agencies in the
effective development and implementation of those national
security policies. Our neighbor India has NSC which was
established by the Vajpayee government in 1998. Major roles
are to co-ordinate crisis management, identify and assess
short, medium and long-term threats to national security and
facilitate a co-coordinated flow of intelligence, assessments,
intellectual and operational inputs to the political
decision-makers of the NSC and help them in formulating an
adequate policy and/or action response.
We saw in a newspaper our army chief General Moeen's comments
on this issue" 'If the neighboring country like India and
Pakistan could form National Security Council, then what is
the problem with Bangladesh?'
The circumstances of India and Pakistan are way more different
from Bangladesh.
National Security Council was formed in India during the
Kargil conflict when the Vajpayee government had determined to
go to war against Pakistan. If we look into Pakistan's
scenario - Gen. Musharaff was forced to create a national
security council after it went into several wars with India.
The situation for Bangladesh cannot in any circumstances be
mapped or compared with the above scenario.
Now a question arises regarding this circumstance: Is the
security of our country facing an external threat which we are
not aware of?
Instead of imitating another country's concept right away-
can't we have a discussion in the parliament? Does not it
require a national consensus? If the presence of a National
Security Council is so much required, should not it be left
for the next elected government to decide on? Of course people
of Bangladesh do not want to go back to a situation existing
before the proclamation of the state of emergency but that
does not mean a national security council has to be formed to
ensure that so called "Peace" in the country.
Another major issue that has been affecting directly and has
become a major concern for all the citizens of this country is
the recent Price Hike of daily essentials. This may prompt
political and social disturbances in our country. We believe
the interim government alone has to bear the responsibility
for this price hike.
The Finance Adviser has made a habit of giving illuminating
pictures of the economy since the day he assumed office, which
is evident from his recent comment that the budget has no
relation with prices of essentials. Being an economist
himself, how can the Finance Adviser make such an illiterate
comment in a country's crucial moment, when he knows along
with the rest of the country that budget determines the
oscillation of prices and this in turns effects the livelihood
of millions of poor people of Bangladesh.
Right now the government should concentrate more on dealing
with the everyday troubles of our people like price hikes
rather than arresting, trailing and exiling political figures.
I am not saying that the government should completely stop
going after the corrupt; my point is that the suffering of our
people should be as much a part of this "Emergency Situation"
as the arresting of corrupt.
Everyday, the actions of the caretaker government seems less
transparent and its motive and motion seems to be directed
towards settling political scores than re-establishing
democracy.
We have seen in the newspapers that recently couple of High
Court Judges received invitations for Tea at Bangabhaban and
also mentioned that the invitation was outside the standard
protocol. One of Bengali newspapers Prothom Alo's (March 10,
2008) have disclosed that in that tea party couple of High
Court judges have been asked to step down willingly. Some
judges of the higher judiciary declined invitation the by the
President. Now there are some murmurs that the army backed
Caretaker Government is discussing with country's top senior
lawyers to find out possibilities of commencing Supreme
Judicial Council Proceedings against those judges.
We, the citizens of Bangladesh, can't claim firmly that our
upper judiciary is 'spotless,' or does not need reformation.
But what we are wondering is - can a Caretaker Government
exercise the authority to initiate such reforms? How genuine
are these initiatives? What purpose such actions could
possibly serve?
Conducting a free and fair election by December 2008- is now a
challenge for this army-backed caretaker government. We do
understand that our country needed an "emergency situation"
under the circumstances of extreme corruption and misuse of
power by the previous political parties, But we also believe
the consequences of a long lasting 'Emergency Rule' can never
be a solvent nor a strategic solution for the future of our
country. Bangladesh is an independent and democratic country
with enormous potential of development and prosperity. We need
an elected government to run this country, a government which
has the approval of the people of Bangladesh. We agree that
our interim government have to focus on the key sectors like
elections commissions, judicial department, anti-corruption
body etc to make sure that these administrations can never be
influenced by the future political governments, but the
government should not drift away from their key responsibility
- which is holding a fair election in time. Millions of eyes
and hearts are directed towards a uncertainty that will change
lives, with a belief that that the present caretaker
government will keep its promise and bring back the word of
its people back to its land....the promise of a democratic
Bangladesh.
(Manwar Khan,Systems Analyst, Corporate Applications,
Ministry of Service Alberta / Government of Alberta Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. Email: manwar.khan@gov.
ab.ca.Phone:780-427-1793)
Letter from Toronto 6
Shahriar
Shibley
From
1880 to 1950 Canada's immigration policies almost exclusively
favored whites. In 1880 Head Tax was imposed on Chinese
immigrants (mostly workers working to build Trans Canada Rail
Road) Every Chinese immigrant had to pay a tax merely for
their presence in Canada. From 1920 to 1950, immigrant visas
were issued to British, French, Irish, citizens of white
dominions of British Commonwealth and Americans. In 1962, a
new immigration policy inclusive of all race, religion and
national origin was introduced. During Pierre Trudeau's
administration (1968 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984) that policy was
practiced very fairly.
Since 2001, South Asians, Chinese and blacks accounted for
seventy-five percent of Canada's new immigrants. These
non-white groups collectively are referred to as visible
minority. There are now five million visible minorities in
Canada which represent 16 percent of the population. South
Asians (mostly Indians, Pakistani, Tamil Sri Lankans and
Bangladeshis) now slightly out number Chinese. Toronto is
often called the most multi-cultural city in the world. Here,
42.9 percent of the population identifies themselves as
visible minorities and of that, 27.8 percent were born in
Canada. In Toronto's population, there are 684,070 South
Asians, 486,325 Chinese and 352,220 blacks.
It is exciting to see true democracy at work in multi-cultural
Canada. Different ethnic groups are realizing their need to
represent their people in government. At the same time, people
want to merge in the main stream Canada. They want to go
beyond their communities and try their popularity in
unfamiliar turfs. South Asians are getting into politics in
significant numbers. Among South Asians, Sikhs have edge over
others, because they were among the first to immigrate to
Canada. But they did not receive a rosy reception. About five
to six thousand Sikhs immigrated to Canada before 1908. In
1914, a group of Sikhs headed by Baba Gurdit Singh, a wealthy
businessman from Singapore, chartered a steamer called
Kamagata Maru and started their voyage towards Canada. On May
23, 1914 it reached Vancouver. None of the 350 new immigrants
were allowed to set foot in Canada, in spite of the fact that
they were citizens of same British empire as Canadians. On
July 23, 1914 the ship was turned away. When it reached India,
the ship was shot upon, 19 died, a few escaped and the rest
were jailed till the end of first world war.
Today Sikhs are business and political leaders. They hold
about 6 out of 308 seats of federal parliament. In the
previous two administrations, Herb Dhaliwal and Ujjal Dosanjh
(two Sikhs) were federal Cabinet ministers. Muslims are making
headway in Canadian politics. They hold about 4 seats in the
parliament. Muslims of South Asian origin enjoy a broader
support from Muslims across Canada. It is good to know that
some Bangladeshis are trying for political office. We haven't
had any success yet but there are good reasons for optimism.
There are about 16 political parties registered in the federal
level. But only four political parties have seats in the
parliament. Progressive Conservative Party, which is a right
wing party, is currently in power with 127 seats. Liberal
Party of Canada which is somewhat moderate is in second
position with 96 seats. The Block Quebecois which is a party
from province of Quebec and supports separation of Quebec from
Canada is in third position with 48 seats. The National
Democratic Party (NDP) which is little skewed towards left is
in fourth position with 30 seats. It is often accused a tax
and spend party. It advocated higher minimum wages for workers
and more social services. The Liberal party and NDP are
parties of choice of South Asians. There are 4 seats held by
independents and 3 seats vacant waiting to be filled. The
Conservative government is a minority government and can
easily be brought down by the Liberals. But they seem not to
be interested. Polls are showing that they cannot win a
majority government at the moment, in spite of the fact, that
they ruled Canada from Nov 4, 1993 to Feb 6, 2006. They will
let the Conservative finish their term of 4 years.
Canadian politicians are realizing the potentials of South
Asian voters. Even Conservatives are launching special
campaigns to attract ethnic voters. Politicians are frequent
visitors of Mosques, Mandirs, Gurudoyaras, Pagodas and ethnic
cultural events to drum up support.
The Queen of England has no influence on Canadian affairs.
Even though her face is still on dollar bills and coins, talks
often arises of putting some famous Canadian faces on the
currency. A former foreign minister John Manley was most vocal
about it. French Canadians are all for it. But a slight
majority of politicians are still in favor of keeping the
queen as nominal head of state. Saving tax payer dollars is
often cited the reason. It is argued that creating an office
of the head of the state would cost government millions of
dollars every year. The sitting prime minister appoints a
Governor General who acts as virtual representative of the
queen whose most important job is to call an election when the
parliament falls and hand Order of Canada awards to
distinguished Canadians once a year.
In the context of Head of State, Bangladesh is much better
off. We have our own sovereign head of state. Canada, like
Bangladesh has a parliamentary form of government. If one
party loses the election, they accept the loss gracefully;
continue to work in parliament with constructive criticism.
Oppositions take advantage of government's mistakes to build
up support for next election. Violence is never incited by any
party (which is very easy to do in multi- cultural
environment). Fairness in election is never an issue. There is
no need for caretaker government in between parliaments.
In Bangladesh we need the caretaker government. We have the
history of ruling party's reluctance to relinquish power. Our
current caretaker government is not democratically elected
government, but one can argue that it is a democratically
selected government. We all remember what was happening before
1-11. This government calmed our nerves. Lot of good things
came out of the current leadership. First of all our current
Cabinet (if you call it a Cabinet) has a high concentration of
PhD's. They are among the best of the brightest of our nation.
It is good to see a think tank working for our country. The
image of our country has greatly improved abroad. The
credibility of the government has increased tremendously. Law
an order strengthened significantly. Judiciary became neutral.
Corruption in all walks of life came under scrutiny. This is
how things are supposed to be. But we are so much used to the
other way that current situation seems abnormal to us.
The caretaker government is excellent in handling crisis. Two
floods and cyclone Sidr were dealt with most proficiently.
Chief Advisor's Relief Fund was able raise a huge amount of
money both at home and abroad because the credibility of the
leadership was there. The aftermath of flood and cyclone was
the food shortage. That was addressed in the most efficient
way. The government proved to be far-sighted in ensuring
fertilizer supply to the farmers, which resulted in bumper
Boro crop and potato harvest.
The army is playing the role of a real people's army. The army
is backing the government. There is nothing wrong with that.
The army is supposed to back all the governments. They
assisted in law and order. They assisted in disaster relief.
Those army helicopters came in real handy in reaching remote
places. In North America, army is called in any time things go
out of hand. In 1992, army was called in to stop the race riot
in Los Angeles. Army handled relief operation after Hurricane
Katrina in 2005. In Toronto, Mayor Mel Lastman called in the
army to clear the streets after the snow storm of 1999. It was
recorded that 89 lives were saved because of army
intervention. Today, in Egypt, the army bakes bread and sells
to low income population. These are examples of good roles
played by people's army. Army should not just stay in
barracks. They should help the government when there is any
need.
Our current government showed us a good leadership which we
have not seen in a long time. In a true democracy, if a
leadership is good, we re-elect it to continue the leadership.
But in current situation, if everything goes according to the
schedule, in 8 months or so, we will return to the politics of
chaos, the politics of feud between two families. Politics of
politicians who cannot accept defeat when they loose and
incite violence as a form of revenge. Politics of politicians
who cannot agree to disagree and co-operate each other to
improve the lot of the nation.
Our listing of voters is progressing according to schedule.
This is the first time we are going to get nationwide
identification system. In Canada, once someone becomes
citizen, ElectionsCanada (federal election commission) is
automatically notified and that individual is automatically
included in the voter list. Even when you are filing your tax,
you have the option to pass your information to "ElectionsCanada".
In Canadian elections, the ballot paper contains the names of
all candidates. At the end of the list there is a blank line
where a voter can write in some ones name. Sometime third
parties campaign for write in candidates. Our ballots should
have a line for write in candidate. And we should all write in
Chief Advisor's name on that line. We ought to send a message
to our politicians, come up with responsible leadership, or
else, we will keep the one we have.
(Shahriar Shibley, e-mail: globalsymi@msn.com)
Viewpoints
Containing Impending Crisis
There is a time for politicking and a time for
governance, one cannot be permanently on a campaign trail,
there must be a transition from politicking to providing good
governance.
Ikram Sehgal
A
reputed Singaporean think tank says the world is well on its
way to its worst recession in 30 years. The US has been
showing tell-tale signs for months; one expected the EU
countries not be as badly hit. Developed Asian countries like
China, India, Japan, the ASEAN countries, etc are expected to
generally fare better than Europe. The situation has been
further complicated by constantly rising oil prices. The level
of economic pain may differ but all countries almost without
exception will face some economic meltdown, competent crisis
governance dictating how much each country suffers. Food
shortages in Asia, particularly rice, has virtually dried up
exports as countries scramble to feed their own population,
Africa will suffer greatly. Pakistan's ability to withstand
economic disaster has been unfortunately considerably
weakened, economic governance shortcomings contributing to
multiplying multi-faceted domestic and political problems. We
must shuffle and re-allocate resources to contain the
situation turning to anarchy. The world may be facing a
multi-dimensional "Tsunami"-like situation, Pakistan is facing
a full-blown catastrophe. The elections rigging gameplan
failed spectacularly because the Army did not play ball,
democracy with all its imperfections in glorious view is now
in full flow. However some very visible remnants of the old
order remain, pull their teeth by putting them out to pasture.
A major sword of Damocles is the judges' issue; political
differences will force-multiply the impending economic and
food crisis. We must put this behind us, sooner rather than
later.
As stated a few months earlier, shortage of "Roti, Bijli and
Pani" could be our undoing. Constant provision of "atta" to
the masses is a must, as the temporary shortage in Islamabad
graphically illustrated. The govt has moved to curb/eliminate
smuggling to Afghanistan by empowering the Frontier Corps (FCs)
in Balochistan and NWFP. Implement this fully by enacting a
law enhancing considerably the punishment to food smugglers,
making public examples of the fatcats indulging in hoarding
and/or smuggling. The Philippines has recently promulgated a
law declaring hoarding of rice "economic sabotage". The only
wheat allowed into Afghanistan should be that imported by the
Afghans on the Afghan Trade Transit Agreement (coincidentally
the acronym spells ATTA). The priority must be to feed the
people of Pakistan, not excluding the 3 million Afghan
refugees who still enjoy our hospitality, Hamid Karzai and
company's ingratitude notwithstanding. Find me another nation
in the world having so many refugees, a heavenly tailor-made
recruiting ground for the Taliban. Unfortunately when they go
across the Durand Line these Afghans become "Pakistanis". Per
capita refugee Pakistan is the recipient of the least support
in the world. Even at US$ 1 per day per head for food, that is
a cool US$ 3 million per day or US$ 1 billion approximately
annually. Send the Afghan Refugees back to Karzai, with our
love!
With fuel prices running astronomically, something must be
done about electricity shortages, the summer months will
generate more than heat. Our elected representatives must be
part of awareness campaign for energy conservation and a
planned rotating load-shedding campaign, priority being given
to hospitals and communication centres followed by
manufacturing units. Industries without electricity will
create unemployment, with food shortages and rising food
prices, loss of jobs will cause even greater frustration and
desperation, evil twins that need to be kept in control to
prevent anarchy. Small power generating units, including
second-hand ones, should be sourced and set-up on a makeshift
basis, speed being of the essence.
Rains in the catchments areas have ensured minimum water
levels. Whether further augmentation will sustain quantity
requirements through summer one does not know, one must plan
for water scarcity throughout the country, directing minimum
flows to agriculture, and distributed equitably. Watch for
greedy land owners who deny water to the tail-enders by
diverting the major flows for their own use. Provision of
potable water being a dire necessity, particularly in areas of
perennial shortages. Conservation of water has to be a
national effort. One of the major failures of the Musharraf
regime was to let the Kalabagh Dam issue slide into becoming a
political hot potato. A national crisis issue for the future,
one doubts the politicians have the will to impress upon the
population, particularly in NWFP and Sindh, the vital urgency
for having storage dams, production of electricity would be a
double blessing.
We tend to mix up militancy with terrorism. All militants are
not terrorists; we can negotiate with them but from a position
of strength. Terrorists are another matter, attacking soft
targets like funeral processions, women and children; they are
clearly outside the pale of civilized society. One cannot (and
should not) negotiate with terrorists. Baitullah Mahsud is a
terrorist, showing scant regard for human lives, particularly
non-combatants. Kayani's briefing of major political heads
must have had some effect; Mian Nawaz Sharif thereafter has
not been as voluble about being friendly with the Taliban (and
by extension Al-Qaeda) as he once was. We need to augment our
heliborne capacity urgently and coordinate electronic means
with firepower. By creating bases within FATA we have not only
annoyed the tribals we have allowed initiative to pass to the
militants. Remember the age-old military maxim, "let us not
reinforce failure". Moving out of FATA does not mean
abandoning the war against terrorism; it gives greater balance
for effective combat. The Army's action a couple of weeks
before Feb 18 must have caused grievous damage because
Baitullah Mahsud immediately asked for a ceasefire, those who
fight and runaway live to fight another day! The Army gave
them space for negotiations instead of pressing home the
offensive; one hopes that they do not live to regret this.
Good information will be helpful in ferreting out terrorist
cells; a well-coordinated plan based on "actionable
intelligence" will be the key to eliminating this menace from
our streets.
We have had several wars with India and yet we talk to them,
dialogue being the only way to narrow down our differences. If
one can sit down and have civil conversation with those we
once considered implacable enemies, why can't we enter into
constructive dialogue within the country between the opposing
political parties? PPP and PML (N) were hereditary foes,
constantly lunging at each other throats till Musharraf
managed to unite them. Why wait for tomorrow and all our
sorrows, if Mian Sahib and Asif Zardari can sit in a
coalition, why not a national unity govt of all political
parties to meet the impending multi-faceted impending national
crisis? The PML (Q) and MQM must be drawn into the process.
While the whole population will suffer, most misery and
privation will be the lot of the under-privileged; more than
50% fit the category.
There is a time for politicking and a time for governance, one
cannot be permanently on a campaign trail, there must be a
transition from politicking to providing good governance. Our
leaders must put substance before rhetoric, national necessity
before personal ambition. Posturing and political drama for
advantage is the stuff of nonsense; we owe it to the poorest
of the poor to curb our prejudices and our individual
ambitions for the greater national good. Our leaders have to
show political maturity and bite the bullet; otherwise ground
realities will make them bite the dust. The poor of Pakistan
should not have to swallow that dust, without water, because
of the inadequacies and shortcomings of our leaders.n
(Ikram Sehgal is an internationally renowned columnist and the
Editor of the Pakistan Defence Journal)
Maoist movement gets a fillip in India
In the
event New Delhi grants Gyanendra political asylum, India will
become the home of two giant adversaries, one of China and the
other of Nepal.
Shamsuddin Ahmed
The prediction
of Gwynne Dyer has come true. From thousands of miles away in
London, the veteran columnist wrote in 2006 that the Maoists
in Nepal 'are only miles away from taking over power'. The
victory of the Maoists has belied the expectation of most
diplomats in Katmandu who were given to believe that the
people of Nepal revered the King as incarnation of god. They
would not vote for the party that declared an end to the
centuries old monarchy in its election manifesto. Election
results came to the consternation of Maoists' rivals--Nepali
Congress and associates, who have long ruled the impoverished
country--and most commentators as well.
Until King Gyanendra bowed to mass upsurge two years ago, the
Maoists had fought guerrilla war against government forces for
a decade. The US government had declared the Maoists 'a
terrorist group'. Former US president Jimmy Carter, who was in
Nepal as election observer during the voting, has expressed
the hope that his country would change its attitude towards
the Maoists and recognize the elected government in Nepal.
During the Maoist insurgency, India used to accuse China of
arming, training and financing the Maoists, whose aim is to
overthrow the world's only Hindu monarchy and establish a
people's republic. Sunanda K Datta Ray, the former Editor of
Statesman, as back as 2002, saw the rise of Maoists as 'a
danger for India in Nepal'. He wrote (International Herald
Tribune June 6, 2002) "That is why Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee's government agreed to … give full military and
political support to Nepal to fight the guerillas." BJP in a
resolution on April 18 said, "Now Nepal is being declared a
secular state. We hope Nepal will not become anti-Hindu and
anti-India." It said India should keep a watch on the
developments in Nepal and take 'timely steps'.
Indian media manifested a shock at the Maoist victory. "There
is a collective shock in the Indian government about the
Maoists sweeping to power in Nepal … India read the tea leaves
so desperately wrong," commented Times of India. India's
concern is not without reason. First, it sees the end of 1950
peace and friendship treaty with Nepal. Second, which is
considered more ominous is, Maoist rule in Nepal will
encourage the Maoist movement in the Indian States, especially
those bordering on Nepal, which are heavily infested by
Maoists.
Under the Indo-Nepal peace and friendship treaty people of
both the countries could freely travel across the border and
reside in either place, and do preferential trade. India
maintains security posts in Nepal's northern border with China
and Indian military mission in Katmandu for ensuring its
security needs. Any traveler to Katmandu will find the
business and economic interests wholly controlled by the
Indian nationals. Indian currency is accepted in hotels and by
retailers. Maoist leaders have recently sounded about
scrapping the peace and friendship treaty and review of water
and irrigation agreements with India, which they consider
detrimental to the interest of the country. Young Communist
League, the youth front of the Maoist communist party, is
louder in demanding the scrapping of the peace treaty and
withdrawal of Indian troops, estimated at 6,000, from the
Nepalese soil at Kalapani close to the border with China.
Indian institute of conflict management in its recent report
said Maoist violence affects a total of 192 districts in 16
states. Former chief of Intelligence Bureau said nearly 40
percent of India's landmass and 35 percent of the population
are affected by the Maoist insurgency. Reuters reported on
August 10, 2007 "77 percent of people earn Rs 20 a day in
Shining India" that gave rise to Maoist insurgency. Jagmohan
writing in Frontline in its February 2, 2008 issue said Maoist
movement has entered a stronger phase. Three major groups -
Maoist Communist Centre, People's War Group and CPI (ML) -
have merged to form a united outfit, CPI (Maoist), with the
objective of seizure of power. It supports the struggle of the
sub-nationalities for self-determination, including right to
secession.
This being the internal situation, the worries of New Delhi
have intensified. Bangladesh is a close neighbor of Nepal but
has no common territorial border. Political observers here do
not see the prospect, even in distant future, of Maoist
movement and has little or no impact of the emergence of
Maoists in power in Nepal. The ideology had long melted away
with the passing of hardcore Maoist Abdul Haq and Mohammad
Toaha who had worked underground since 60s (Toaha later
shunned the path and was placated by Ziaur Rahman to be
elected to parliament). Their followers have been derailed
from the true Maoist ideology and few are still thriving in
southwestern districts on extortion in the name of class
struggle. Police intelligence says most of the activists have
fled across the border or returned to normal life under strict
vigilance of the law-enforcing agencies.
Political observers here keenly monitoring the developments in
Nepal believe that whatever Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal
alias Prachanda had said so far, he is to walk the tightrope
in dealing with India. He cannot nor is likely to venture for
scrapping the peace treaty or throw out Indian soldiers from
the Nepalese soil until and unless he has secured alternative
supply lanes to his landlocked country.
It is widely speculated that king Gyanendra will live in
political asylum in India, which, however, has been dismissed
by his press secretary. But will he live at home as a
commoner? Prachanda has already urged the king to leave the
palace or be forced out. In the event New Delhi grants
Gyanendra political asylum, India will become the home of two
giant adversaries, one of China and the other of Nepal, with
governments in exile. New Delhi has virtually accorded Dalai
Lama's office at Dharmashala the status of a government in
exile. A deputy secretary-level officer from the foreign
ministry remained deputed to the court of Dalai Lama to
percolate the government policy and guide the Dalai Lama. One
lakh Tibetans allowed to live in India are seeking
independence of from China..
(Shamsuddin Ahmed/UNB/April 22, 2008)
The Changing Nature of US Enemies in
Iraq
We
need another Saddam Hussein, only this time, one less
antagonistic to the United States. But this would be a
resolution we could not support, because it would make a
mockery of our entire misadventure in Iraq.
Why
is the Iraq war different from all other American wars? In
each of our other wars, American soldiers fought the same
adversaries from start to finish. We fought the British in the
Revolution and the War of 1812, Mexico in the Mexican War and
so on. Only in the Korean War did we have to engage an
additional nation's army (that of China) after the war began -
and if Douglas MacArthur hadn't pushed to the Chinese border,
we might have fought only North Korea. In a number of wars,
our enemies received aid from other nations (Vietnam from the
Soviet Union, for instance), but the actual combat involved
fighting only our original adversary.
Not so in Iraq, where we are now fighting our third distinct
enemy. In the war's first phase, we engaged Saddam Hussein's
government and, after it fell, pro-Saddam Hussein and other
Sunni forces that waged a guerrilla war against us. In its
second phase, we fought a group that hadn't even existed when
the invasion began, Al-Qaeda in Iraq. By our own military's
admission, Al-Qaeda in Iraq was never responsible for more
than a small fraction of the violence there, but it was the
group most implacably hostile to our soldiers and to much of
the civilian population. In this, we were greatly aided by the
Sunni forces that had been our main adversaries in the war's
first phase but which had come to loathe Al-Qaeda. As the
Sunni resistance took up arms against Al-Qaeda, we
reclassified the Sunnis as friends and armed them, though they
remained opposed to the Shiite-dominated national government
we claim as our primary ally.
Now, according to the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus and
Ambassador Ryan Crocker before Congress last week, our main
adversaries in Iraq are the Shiite forces being aided by Iran,
the Shiite power next door. Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been largely
confined to the area around Mosul, and most of the attacks on
US forces and on the authority of the Iraqi government, they
said, come from Iranian-backed Shiite militias, many aligned
with Moqtada Sadr, who has spent the past several months in
Iran. Then again, Iran also backs |