MONday, JANUARY 11, 2010 Poush 28, 1416, muharram 24, 1430 Hijri

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Leading News

PM in Delhi with wide agenda
Water sharing, other issues will be resolved thru’ discussion, she says

UNB, Dhaka

Raising hopes high for a masterstroke to cut the Gordian knots in the Indo-Bangladesh ties, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday embarked on an important trip to New Delhi for talks with the Indian government.
Before leaving for Delhi Sheikh Hasina said in Dhaka that all issues including water sharing with India will be resolved through discussion.
Her four-day maiden tour of India beginning on the tenth of January holds high implications in that her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, made a historic stopover in Delhi this very day in 1972 on his way from Pakistani captivity to the newly liberated Bangladesh. A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage took off from Dhaka international airport at about 6:22pm.
Hasina is leading a 123-member-strong delegation that includes 50 businesspersons. She is being accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana and son Sajeeb Wajed Joy. Centering Sheikh Hasina's tour with a wide agenda, expectations went high on both sides about redefining the bilateral relations in the changed political perspectives.
The Prime Minister holds official talks with her Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, at 5:30 pm tomorrow (Monday) at Hyderabad House when several agreements or memorandums of understanding (MOU) are going to be signed. The Hasina-Manmohan summit is seen significant insofar as diplomatic circles take it as an appropriate moment to bring a breakthrough in decades of bipartite negotiations for resolving the longstanding issues between the two neighbors.
Before the official talks, the Prime Minister will be given a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhaban in the morning while she will pay tribute to Gandhi Samadji at Rajghat.
She is scheduled to meet Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhaban at 12 noon on the day. Also on Monday, Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, will have bilateral talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janapath and with Indian Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at her hotel suite.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday said all unsolved issues, like water sharing, between Bangladesh and India would be resolved through discussion.
"Discussion on water sharing is held and will be going on. We'll resolve all issues with India through discussion," she said just before flying for New Delhi with the entire gamut of bilateral affairs on her agenda. She dropped the broad hint about her business transaction during the India tour while addressing an Awami League-organized discussion meeting on the homecoming day of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the afternoon.
She asked the opposition leader why she forgot everything, like water sharing, maritime-boundary issue and such other issues, to resolve when she was in power. "Why you always forget these issues when you are in power?"
The Prime Minister said that the motto of the foreign policy of her government is to maintain good relations with all countries, including the neighboring ones, and enmity with none.
Hasina recalled that after assuming power in 1996, her government signed an agreement to share Ganges waters for 30 years. 

 Demonstration tomorrow seeking ban on export of natural resources

UNB, Dhaka

The National Committee of protestors Sunday announced a fresh action plan to stage human-chain demonstrations across the country tomorow (Tuesday) on their 7-point demands, focused on preventing the lease of country's energy turfs to foreign companies on inequitable terms.
As planned, the human chain will be formed at 11 am for one hour at 57 points along the cross-country line from Teknaf to Tentulia. In the capital city, it will be observed in front of the National Press Club and at Jatrabari, Motijheel, Muktangan, Shahbagh, Shyamoli and Saver.
Their 7-point demands include making a law barring export of natural resources, cancelling the proposed model production-sharing contract (PSC) with foreign oil companies, ditching open-pit coal mining and expelling Asia Energy from the country and realizing compensation from foreign gas companies for the blowouts in Magurchhara and Tangratila gas fields.
Prof Anu Mohammad, Member-Secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas -Natural Resources and Power-Port, announced the new programme at a press conference at Mukti Bhaban in the city.
Leaders of the committee at the press conference also demanded an inquiry by the government into the alleged bribery in the deal between Petrobangla and the US-based international oil company Chevron about installation of a gas-compressor station.
"We don't know how much money the Prime Minister's son, Sajib Wazed Joy, and PM's adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury had received from the Chevron, but the government should carry out inquiry into the matter for the sake of transparency," the Economics professor told reporters in response to a question. He said it's true that the compressor contract was awarded to Chevron without any tender. "We have received Petrobangla employee Abu Siddique's letters with documents."
Convenor of the National Committee Engineer Mohammad Shahidullah said the government fired Petrobangla director Yousuf Ali Talukder who raised question about the necessity of the compressor at Muchai point. "This incident proves that there was some corruption," he added. "Bangladesh can only import electricity from India. But many things regarding the proposed deal like tariffs of electricity are not clear," Prof Anu Mohammad said.

 Syed Ashraf defends claim about Musharraf-Chetia meeting

BSS, Dhaka

Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Syed Ashraful Islam Sunday defended his recent claim that ex-prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia's past BNP government had arranged a secret meeting of former Pakistan President Parvez Mosharraf with jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia in Dhaka while it was in power.
"We've the evidence. We've not made any statement without evidence," Syed Ashraf, also Bangladesh Awami League's general secretary, told newsmen at the Bangabandhu Museum here. He briefly added, "I am aware that no comment should be made about a president without any evidence".
His renewed claim came a day after BNP denied the allegation and demanded its proof that United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leader Chetia held a meeting with the visiting Pakistani president for some one and half hours as he was brought to his hotel suit at Dhaka's Sheraton Hotel from Dhaka Central Jail.
"This is an irresponsible allegation . . . come up with the proof if you have any," BNP secretary general Khandakar Delwar Hossain earlier said adding that in no way such comments were expected from a "responsible person like him (Islam)" and "he should not make such hollow remarks".
Islam made the allegation on Friday at a roundtable on Bangladesh-India relations saying "you can guess what was discussed in such a long meeting". The allegation came just three days ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's first official visit to India while the investigators reportedly revealed alleged links between the India's separatist group and the Pakistani Inter Service Intelligence (ISI).
The allegation came as a probe is underway into the country's biggest ever weapon haul in 2004 when Bangladesh police seized 10 truck loads of weapons believed to be destined to ULFA hideouts in northeastern India.
Chetia was arrested from Dhaka during the past 1996-2001 Awami League regime for cross border intrusion. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni recently, however, said the ULFA leader was unlikely to be repatriated.

  Ashraf’s claim on meeting of Musharraf, Chetia false: Delwar
Country’s crisis will deepen if PM’s India tour fails, he says

UNB, Dhaka

Opposition BNP secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain dismissed as "false and baseless" the allegation made by Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam about meeting between ULFA leader Anup Chetia and former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Dhaka.
Addressing a meeting here Friday, Ashraf, also the incumbent LGRD minister, alleged that the four-party alliance government had arranged a one-and-a-half-hour meeting between the Indian insurgent leader and the then visiting Pak President in Dhaka.
Talking to journalists Sunday, the BNP leader also termed the allegation of Ashraf as "politically motivated".
"Such an irresponsible comment by a person holding an important post of government should not be made," said Delwar.
The BNP leader, along with leaders of the newly formed JCD committee, went to place wreaths at the mazar of Shahid Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. He talked to the newsmen after placing wreaths.
"If you have information about that meeting, it should be placed before the nation," said the leader of the former ruling party, adding: "It matters little if you say that you have information about it."
Delwar wished success of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit that began Sunday. He apprehended that "country's crisis would deepen further if her tour proved a failure".
The BNP leader hoped that PM's visit would bring solution to the problems facing Bangladesh, such as sea demarcation, port, mineral resources and Farakka barrage.
Demanding good relations with the neighbour as an independent country, Delwar said his party as opposition "would do whatever it should if Prime Minister's India visit failed".

   Malaysian labour-intensive industries could be relocated to BD: Mahathir

UNB, Dhaka

Former Malaysian Premier Dr. Mahathir Mohammad has urged the Malaysian entrepreneurs to relocate their labour-intensive sunset industries to Bangladesh for the mutual benefits of both the nations.
He made the call while addressing a dinner party organized Saturday as part of Bangladesh's single country trade show titled 'Showcase Bangladesh 2010' in Kuala Lumpur, according to a message received here Sunday.
Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BMCCI) and Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia jointly organized the three-day exposition at the Putra World Trade Centre from Friday.
"There is an ample scope for enhancing trade and economic ties between the two countries," Dr Mahathir said. Mahathir expressed his satisfaction at the economic relation between Bangladesh and Malaysia, and hoped it would be expanded in the days to come.
Dr Mahathir, the architect of modern Malaysia, said Bangladesh needs political stability and pursuance of realistic development strategies to achieve economic progress.
Sharing his vision in modernizing Malaysia, he said massive industrialization, which ensured job and economic sustainability, was the springboard for high degree of socioeconomic progress in his country.
Bangladesh State Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud and business leaders from both the countries were present at the function.
Meanwhile, the exhibition of Bangladesh products continued drawing a significant number of visitors.
Business houses representing ceramics, leather, jute, energy, food, consumer products, textile and banking institutions are participating in the fair.

   Tourism master plans underway for Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata

BSS, Dhaka

Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism GM Qader Sunday said the government is preparing two separate master plans for Cox's Bazar and Kuakata to develop the places as highly attractive tourist spots with global standard.
The minister today presided over a inter-ministerial meeting to review the progress of preparing master plans for the two locations to build those as global standard tourist destinations. He asked the concerned authorities to quickly develop the plans. He said the government has decided to set up Cox's Bazar Development Authority and upgrade Kuakata into a municipal body as part of its plan to refurbish the locations with all tourist facilities.
Acting secretary of the ministry Shafique Al-Mehdi, secretary of forest and environment ministry Dr Mihir Kanty Majumder, chairman of Bangladesh Parjaran Corpo-ration M Hemayet Uddin Talukder took part in the meeting. Representatives of the ministry of public works and housing, ministry of land, communications, cultural affairs, urban development authority, district administration of Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali and project directors of both the plans were present.
The minister asked the authorities that care should be taken in preparing the plans to add new infrastructures and other facilities to both the spots but in doing so the natural beauty and local resources can not be disturbed. They should add more natural beauty in those areas, promote good communication network, hotels, restaurants and other entertainment facilities, new sports outlets including venues for international cricket.
Modern shopping malls and security arrangements should also stay at the center of such plans, he said adding the present government is putting top priority to development of tourism and the master plans are being prepared accordingly.

Back Page

Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day observed
BSS, Dhaka

The nation Sunday recalled the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from Pakistan after country's independence.
On this day in 1972, the architect of the independence and unparalleled leader of the Bengali nation Bangabandhu returned home after nine and a half months of captivity in Pakistan jail.
Pakistani forces arrested Bangabandhu in the night of March 25, 1971 as he proclaimed the Independence of country. The Bengali nation for nine months fought for independence in his absence but obeying his every order. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this morning placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Museum in the capital.
Sheikh Hasina, also eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu as the Prime Minister first and as the president of Bangladesh Awami League later. After that leaders of different front organisations of Awami League also placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangab-andhu. Cabinet colleagues of the Prime Minister including Home Minister Sahara Khatun, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Mini, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister and general secretary of the party Syed Ashraful Islam were present.
Parliament members, senior party leaders including Suranjit Sen Gupta, Abdur Razzak and Tofail Ahmed were also present, among others. Different organizations placed floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu and paid glorious tribute to him. Leader and workers of Bangladesh Sangskritik Jote, Swechhasevak League, Bangabandhu Parishad, Jatiya Sramik League, Hawkers League, Ghat Sramik League, and AL Tarun League placed floral wreaths separately at his portrait.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages marking the day. The programmes of the day included hoisting of national and party flags at the central office of the party, Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices across the country, placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu, discussion and doa and milad mahfil. A delegation of Awami League placed wreaths at the Mazar of Bangabandhu at Tungipara Sunday morning.

  Separate pay scale soon for BB, 3 nationalized banks: Muhith

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Minister AMA Muhith Sunday said the government would formulate a separate pay scale soon for Bangladesh Bank and three state-owned banks.
"There'll be separate pay scale for the central bank and three other nationalized banks-Sonali, Agrani and Janata," he told reporters at Finance Ministry after a meeting on formation of the separate pay scale for the state-owned banks. He said around 60 percent of their business is now in private sector and they will have to keep up pace with other banks to stay afloat in the competitive market.
The Finance Minister said many still like to work with the government banks because jobs are more secure there. "So, we'll form a separate pay scale for them."
Muhith said he has directed the concerned banks to send their recommendations from their Boards about the proposed pay scale for them along with information about their present pay structures. "I've also directed them to put forward their business plans and the additional expenses to be required when the proposed pay scale will be implemented. All the banks-both the public and private ones-now formulate their own business plans," the Finance Minister said.
He said the three state-owned banks-Sonali, Agrani and Janata-will make their own recommendations apart from the one to be made by the Bangladesh Bank. "Then, we'll sit together and take a decision as soon as possible."
Replying to a query, Muhith said the newly formed Bank and Financial Division has been given a bit of independence, as the financial sector has widened. "We think the new division would work better, as the financial sector has got bigger-there are now 48 banks and some financial institutions in addition to the stock exchange." He said the Finance Secretary would coordinate the entire operations of four divisions under the Finance Ministry.
Replying to a question, he said the formation of the new Division would not hamper the autonomy of the Bangladesh Bank nor create any conflict of interest as they are not making any amendment to the concerned law.

  Bangabandhu murder case
Law Ministry opines against clemency to condemned convicts

UNB, Dhaka

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sunday opined that though the President has the prerogative to grant mercy, it would not be judicious to pardon the condemned convicts of the Bangabandhu Murder Case
Three of the condemned former army officers-Lt Col (retd) Muhiuddin Ahmed (artillery), Maj (retd) AKM Mohiuddin (lancer) and Major (retd) Bazlul Huda-sought mercy from the President through the jail authority on Saturday.
The Home Ministry sent the three mercy petitions to the Law Ministry this (Sunday) afternoon for legal opinion before forwarding those to the President. Article 49 of the Constitution says the Pres-ident shall have power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority.
In its opinion the Law Ministry said, "The assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and members of his family is an unprecedented massacre in the history. To create an illustration, punishment of such heinous killings sho-uld be executed."
In the mercy petition one convict was learnt to have said he was not involved in the killings. He was assigned to preserve the dead body of Bangabandhu. Another victim said he is a diabetic patient and another said he wants to die a natural death.
The crucial opinion file was signed by Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed at about 5:30pm, official sources told UNB. The file was initiated by Deputy Secretary (Opinion) Hossain Shaheed Ahmed, now in charge of Joint Secretary.
Earlier, mercy petitions of three of the five condemned murderers of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were handed over to Home Ministry Sunday for forwarding those to the President for clemency.
Superintendent of Dhaka Central Jail Touhidul Islam handed the three mercy petitions to Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder in the afternoon.
When contacted, the Home secretary said, "The three petitions have already been sent to the Law Ministry for its opinion."

   Contracts signed to turn Dhaka-Ctg highway into four lanes
BSS, Dhaka

The government Sunday signed agreements with three construction companies to turn the Dhaka-Chittagong national highway into four lanes, one of the priority projects of the government.
Chief Engineer of the Department of Roads and High-ways (R&H) Munsi Mustafizur Rahman, on behalf of the government, signed the agreements with the concerned representatives of the constructing companies at a function in a city hotel here.
Under the plan, 192.30 kilometer of Dhaka-Chittagong highway from Daudkandi to Chittagong City Gate would be made a four-lane expanded road at a cost of Taka 1,655 crore. The project work, divided into ten roadwork packages and three bridgework packages, is scheduled to be completed in 36 months, officials said. The project will have a five-meter wide Median with plantation, a number of bridges having total 1137 meter length, three railway overpasses, 33 steel foot-over-bridges and two underpasses. The underpasses will be constructed at Comilla Cantonment and Chittagong while railway overpasses will be constructed at Comilla, Feni and Chittagong.
Chinese company Sino-hydro Corporation Ltd. was awarded the work of seven road packages as the lowest bidder while two other local construction firms- Reza Construction and TBL-ACL-JV were given the works of three other road packages. The present government took the project as a priority one as the existing two-lane road has become insufficient to carry the present traffic volume. The highway now carries goods of around Taka 4,000 crore annually, but about 400 to 600 people die every year in accidents mostly in head-on collisions.

   ‘BD-India need to face natural disasters together’
UNB, Dhaka

Visiting West Bengal Agric-ultural Marketing and Relief Minister Dr Mortoza Hossain Sunday said Bang-ladesh and India need to strengthen bilateral cooperation to face natural disasters together.
"Both the countries would be benefited if an integrated initiative is taken to face natural disasters together, as the two nations experience similar types of natural disaster," Dr Mortoza said.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque at the latter's office Sunday.
During the meeting, both the ministers discussed various bilateral matters relating to disaster management and relief activities of the two countries. Dr Abdur Razzaque told the West Bengal minister that the government of Sheikh Hasina is giving more emphasis on preparedness activities to tackle natural disasters.
"It's possible to minimize casualties in natural disasters through enhancing cooperation between the two counties," he said.
Razzaque said Ban-gladesh has an ordinance for disaster management, which has specified the responsibilities of all concerned from the Prime Mini-ster to the grassroots-level public representatives.

   Four lakh children work as domestic workers : BBS
BSS, Dhaka

Approximately four lakh children aged between 6 and 17 years are now working as child domestic workers (CDWs) in Bangladesh and of which 1.32 lakh are engaged in Dhaka City alone, said a survey.
Of the total, 74 percent of CDWs are girls and 94 percent work for 24 hours and six percent work part time, it said
At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), senior deputy director (legal wing) of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) Geeta Chakraborti said this quoting statistics of a baseline survey conducted by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) here recently. Chakraborti said domestic work by children has become a largest hazardous child labour sector in the country.
Save the Children, Sweden-Denmark (SCSD) and the ASK jointly organized the press conference on the occasion of a national child domestic worker convention-2010, first of its kind, to be held at 5 pm at the conference room of Osmani Memorial auditorium in the city.
Deputy Country Repre-sentative of the SCSD Shamsul Alam and Moslema Bari, Shaheen Akhter Dolly and Fazlul Haque Chow-dhury of the Together with Working Children (TWC), a network organization, spoke at the press conference. Highlighting the convention, Shamsul Alam said around 1500 people including dome-stic child workers, employees, and their relatives from all six divisions are expected to attend the convention that would put forward a set of recommendations to the government to establish rights of the CDWs in the country.
Findings of a study titled "Child Domestic Workers-Living inside Room and Outside Law and Role of Govt. and Civil Society" would be disclosed in the convention, he said.
Minister for Labour and Employment Eng. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will attend the convention as the chief guest while State Minister for Women and Children Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury will be in the chair.

Editorial

Dhaka-Yangon consensus

It is indeed a good news that Bangladesh and Myanmar have reached a consensus on demarcation of maritime boundary amicably through discussion on the basis of an agreed coordinated policy. According to reports, the two-day high level meeting which ended in Chittagong on Saturday agreed to demarcate the maritime boundary of the two countries through a coordinated policy having the "principle of equity' and 'equidistance system'.
The two countries reached the consensus to formulate the coordinated policy on the last day of the meeting.
Additional Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (retd) M Khorshed Alam, who led the Bangladesh side stated that the two countries would hold another meeting in Myanmar before the month of April to formulate the coordinated policy. He, however, said the talks ended fruitfully. Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar Yu Maung Myint led the Myanmar side. Khorshed Alam said the nature of the coordinated system would be fixed through discussions. During the talks, Bangladesh and Myanmar placed their respective proposals on demarcation of the maritime boundary to resolve the dispute over the mineral-rich waters of the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh proposed fixing the maritime boundary following the 'Principle of Equity' while Myanmar recommended per-line-based 'equidistance system.'
It may be pointed out that the dispute was created over the maritime boundary between the two neighboring countries as Bangladesh protested Myanmar's move for lifting mineral resources from a block in the deep sea during the last caretaker government. After 22 years, Bangladesh and Myanmar sat in a meeting in 2008 to demarcate the maritime boundary, but the talks ended inconclusively. Later, Bangladesh formally raised the issue at the Arbitration Tribunal of the United Nations in October, 2009 for a solution. Meanwhile, neither Bangladesh nor India could extract mineral resources from gas-and-oil blocks in the deep sea, as both the countries claimed the blocks as theirs. Myanmar and India have claimed 18 out of 27 blocks of Bangladesh in the deep sea for long.
It goes without saying that demarcation of maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal to protect our natural resources is very important. However, this is a complicated issue and therefore should be resolved carefully. There may be disputes on different matters between two neighbouring countries and resolving those through discussions with the spirit of mutual trust and good will is the best way. If we look at the international scenario we find in most cases discussions are replacing the policy of confrontation. In our case, the good neighbourly attitude shown by both Bangladesh and Myanmar in a bid to resolve the maritime boundary dispute through talks is a positive line and welcomed by all.
Now that the two sides have reached a consensus on resolving the dispute on the basis of a coordinated policy and to this end the next meeting between Bangladesh and Myanmar is going to be held in April in Yangon it may expected that they will be able resolve the issue peacefully and thus serve the interest of both the countries and ensure regional peace. If a final agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar can be concluded then, hopefully, Bangladesh will be in a position to carry on exploration of oil and gas in the now disputed areas and extract the precious natural resources. In this regard it may also be mentioned and hoped that in the similar way the maritime boundary with India should also be demarcated through discussion in the interest of both the countries.

  Worsening gas crisis

Crises of power, water and gas in the capital city are terrible and chronic. However, during the current winter gas crisis is more acute than power and water crises. In many parts of the capital now dwellers are facing serious gas crisis and using kerosene stoves for cooking purposes. This is causing immense problems and sufferings to them.
According an agency report, people are going back to their old ways of cooking on kerosene stoves while industries are facing setbacks in the wake of worsening gas crisis as the country's energy sector made little progress in increasing production of the fossil fuel, considered a boon for Bangladesh. Critics blamed inefficiencies of Petrobangla management for the hardship. Gas production remained almost same after one year of assumption of office by the Awami League government. Last January, when the Awami League government took over, the country's daily gas production was between 1800 and 1900 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD). After the completion of its one year in power, the gas production remained the same as it was before. On January 6, 2009, the country produced 1,968 MMCFD. The Petrobangla's failure in increasing gas production leads to problem for the country's power sector as it largely depends on gas supply. Because, country's 86 percent of power plants are gas-based.
The situation is alarming as the demand for gas is rising constantly, while the production is not increasing. As a result, not only cooking at homes, but also industries and power production are also facing problems. So the need of the hour to resolve the crisis is to increase the production of gas.

Analysis

Peace is where the media are

No region could possibly want peace more urgently than a subcontinent addled with angst and saddled with two nuclear powers.

M.J Akbar

The advertising is smart enough to be effective, although how long its effect will last could well depend on what appears on the front page of the Times of India rather than the page carrying this ad. The campaign is unique: A joint public-service venture by the Times, India's most powerful media group by a distance, and Jang, Pakistan's most influential news-paper. The theme is unquestionably laudable: Aman ki Asha (Hope for Peace). No region could possibly want peace more urgently than a subcontinent addled with angst and saddled with two nuclear powers.
This could not have happened without a quiet nod from governments in Delhi and Islamabad; and possibly three, if you want to add Washington. The purpose is surely to soften up the street for a deal brewing somewhere within the innards of government. Citizens, so far addicted to conflict at any cost, must slowly be retuned to the wavelength of peace at any cost. It is axiomatic that both countries will have to compromise on some elements of deeply-held positions to create the "give" that will get the solution.
The process of selling the "give" to their own publics has begun, albeit through indirect methods. The choice of Jang is relevant. The true equivalent of the Times would be the Dawn group, but readers of Dawn are probably already amenable to the idea of a rational rapport with India. It is the Jang reader who needs to be turned.
The first advertisement had the kind of headline that makes copywriters give each other awards: Occasionally, peace deserves a war. The amplification in body copy was neo-Buddhist: Peace is passive, serene, good; war is active, violent, destructive. It is obvious that we would not appreciate the value of peace if we did not know the price of war - just, I suppose, as Adam and Eve did not understand the worth of Paradise before they were banished to earth. One wonders, however, if anyone caught the double entendre. Jang means war, unlike, say, the Times of India, which created a newspaper to report on the times of India.
The official explanation is that Jang was launched in 1944, when the world was at war. I doubt if anyone wanted to start an Urdu paper on the subcontinent in order to support the liberation of France from Nazi Germany. 1944 was also the year of a Muslim League slogan: "Ladh ke lenge Pakistan! (We will win Pakistan with war!)" But this is good news. If Jang can reinvent itself as a warrior for peace, then something important and beneficial is happening, or has already happened, among opinion-builders in Pakistan. The problem is with the front page. On Jan. 8, while its inner pages were pushing peace, the Times carried a front-page story saying "700 Jihadis" had been let loose to spread mayhem in Jammu and Kashmir. On the morning of Jan. 9 all papers published taped extracts of conversations between two terrorists who had entered a hotel in Srinagar and their handlers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
When one of the terrorists said they were surrounded and trapped by Indian police, the reply was "Shahadat se pehle zyada se zyada policewalon ko maro, zyada se zyada nuksaan pahunchao (Before martyrdom kill as many policemen as possible, destroy as much as possible)". After one terrorist was killed, the other sent a desperate message, "Khel khatm hone wala hai (The game is about to be over)". The reply he got was "Daro mat, tumhe jaldi Rab mil jaayega (Do not be afraid, you will soon find God)".
I do not know how Jang reported the incident; in the old days the terrorists would have been extolled as "freedom-fighters" and "martyrs". The incident underlines the enormous difficulties in building a peace constituency. But this much is certain, if peace has to come then it will emerge from Page One and not from pages carrying advertisements. One is not suggesting the false equation used all too often by those who have no interest in peace, that a solution can only be crafted after violence ends. A terrorist organization, or even a maverick individual, can always sabotage such a counterproductive condition. But we need news that the government is not a silent agent provocateur, that it has been able to identify and imprison the masterminds of terrorism operating from Pakistan. This is not a specific Indian demand; it is the basic minimum that the international community expects in the global fight against terrorism. Islamabad's compliance is a must.
We should not succumb to hopelessness when terrorists get through our defenses and inflict violence, as they did in Srinagar this week. There may not be unanimity in the Pak establishment on peace, but, as noted, the participation of Jang represents an important reappraisal and it would be extremely foolish to ignore any glimmer.
The initiative taken by media groups also means that they must create a new culture of reporting in which honesty is not undermined by hysteria. The street listens to media in the hope that it is more credible than governments, a hope that is often belied. Peace, like charity, begins at home, and peace is where media are.

MJ Akbar is an aminent
journalist of India.

  Cloak of invisibility?

Presidential immunity is certainly not what it is made to look like in Pakistan by two belligerent camps, which seemingly have their own axes to grind after the NRO's death.

Saleem Rizvi

In the aftermath of the apex court's current ruling about the validity of the NRO, the public curiosity about the meaning and magnitude of the doctrine of presidential immunity is quite understandable. The future of a sitting president in Pakistan, and by extension the nation's future direction, ride on it.
Is presidential immunity an invisible cloak? The adornment of which can make the president of a country turn invisible in the face of civil or penal charges? Or is it a legitimate constitutional shield rightfully created to protect the president from unnecessary law suits? Does presidential immunity place the president above the law? If not, then, what is presidential immunity and what purpose does it serve? The people of Pakistan rightfully deserve to know. Presidential immunity is certainly not what it is made to look like in Pakistan by two belligerent camps, which seemingly have their own axes to grind after the NRO's death. Between them, the line for a fierce, bloody, legal and political fight revolving around this issue has already been drawn. Tragically, the fight is personality centred and, consequently, their interest in having a legitimate debate on this pivotal issue is non-existent.
On one side of this divide are those who are in the state of complete denial. They do not believe in the existence of any such thing as presidential immunity. To them, the president can be dragged into courts to face all type of charges. They borrow fake legitimacy for their argument by oversimplified and opportunistic use of notions such as "no one is above the law". Their views are narrowly constructed, and have biblical zeal to them.
On the other side of the fence are those legal warriors, who wish to put every thing under the sun in the president immunity sack. Their claim seems to be absolute, categorical, and devoid of any plausible elaboration or explanation. These legal literalists do not wish to see beyond the words written in the constitution. For them, what lies behind the constitutional text does not weigh much. The intent of the framers of the constitution and the purpose for which the presidential immunity was legislated has no meaning for them.
Aside from these two opposing and politically motivated groups, the Pakistani society has a genuine concern in the outcome of this significant constitutional issue. It is for the first time a sitting president in Pakistan is faced with a situation where old criminal charges have been revived against him. Despite what the constitution says about presidential immunity, there in not sufficient jurisprudential guidance available, since the apex court in Pakistan has not had the challenge to decide a case of this nature before.
There aren't many precedent rulings by foreign courts at hand either. In the US, for instance, a sitting president has never faced criminal charges arising out of his official or his private conduct and, therefore, the issue with regard to presidential immunity in criminal context had not come up for judicial consideration. On the other hand, it is well settled through US Supreme Court (SC) decisions that a sitting president has immunity for his "official conduct" in civil actions. Such immunity, nevertheless, does not cover his private conduct.
In this back ground, two cases come to mind. The first was Nixon versus Fitzgerald, a law suit by a government employee who was sacked after he testified before a US congressional sub-committee which did not agree with the executive branch. After pursuing legal remedies at various forums, Fitzgerald finally went before the SC and sought civil damages for wrongful termination. The main issue in the SC was whether the president is entitled to absolute immunity for his official conduct in a civil case for damages for wrongful termination of a federal employee.
The court held that the president has the privilege of immunity for his official conduct, but not for his un-official conduct. As observed by one legal commentator, "the absolute immunity created by the SC is not a special privilege enjoyed solely by one person by the nature of his office. Instead, it is an area carved out by the courts to ensure the official effectively pursues the interests of the public and to perform his functions without fear that his certain actions may draw personal, civil or criminal liabilities. Extending this immunity to the broad power of the president is the necessary step to allow the leader chosen by the people to fulfil the function bestowed by the US Constitution".
The second case is Clinton versus Jones, in which a former employee filed sexual harassment suits against then President Bill Clinton for incidents occurred while the latter was the governor of Arkansas. When this case went before the SC, the issue was whether the sitting president is entitled to "temporary" immunity from a civil case arising out of events that occurred before he took office.
President Clinton's counsel argued that if such civil action was allowed to proceed, it would impose an unacceptable burden on the president's time and energy and, thus, would impair his effective performance of his constitutional duties. The court rejected such reasoning, noting that many US presidents in the past had gone through the judicial process even though the process imposed many burdens on them. It also noted several incidences where former presidents have given disposition and videotaped testimony, including President Nixon who had to produce the tape recording of his conversation with his aids. It is, however, not clear how the US SC would rule if a sitting president were indicted for criminal conduct, as no case ever addressed this question before. There were, however, two incidents where two vice presidents at separate occasions were criminally prosecuted while still in office. In one of the cases, the prosecutor argued that the vice president is not entitled to temporary immunity from criminal indictment, but did acknowledged that the president, while in office, may enjoy temporary immunity from indictment and criminal prosecution.
One feels that it would be logical, prudent, and pragmatic to have temporary immunity available to a sitting US president against criminal indictment if such occasion ever arises. The foremost reason for this is the fact that a US president can be removed from office through another constitutionally created process, known as the impeachment process. Once removed from office through impeachment, he may still be subject to criminal indictment and prosecution, even though he received temporary immunity from prosecution while in office.
Secondly, the US enjoys a presidential form of government, in which the president, as the chief executive, head of state and commander in chief, has been given enormous responsibilities. In this form of government, the principle of separation of power is deeply embedded and operative. Wherefore the feasibility of enforcement of both the judicial process and ruling could be a matter of grave concern. The temporary immunity is just a way to postpone the criminal judicial process until the president is removed or resigned from office, without creating political or constitutional chaos. However, despite some theoretical similarities, the factual grounds here are quite different from what Pakistan is currently witnessing.
In Pakistan, the apex court is being confronted with enormous challenges. While the court needs to assert its constitutionally given authority, it should also be cognizant of the fact that it is bound to step into many legal gray areas, where no clear-cut constitutional direction is readily available. This is exactly where the real challenge for the court lies. It is yet to be seen if the Court will manage to navigate through high tides with vision, vigour, and impartiality in a consistent manner on the long and perilous journey ahead.

The writer is a New York-based attorney.

Gaza’s horror show

Gaza is a tiny coastal strip of land between Egypt and Israel with 1.5 million inhabitants. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but has retained complete control of the territory by sea, air and land.

Tayyab Siddiqui

A human tragedy of enormous proportions has been continuing over the last year in Gaza, and yet it has not stirred the conscience of the international community and those responsible for global peace. The western media has also been a part of this conspiracy of silence. On Dec 27, some 1,200 international activists from 40 countries gathered in Cairo to enter Gaza to display solidarity with the suffering Palestinians. However, this show of sympathy and support by peace activists is significant only in symbolic terms. International NGOs and UN agencies occasionally raise this issue, but find no resonance because the victims are Palestinian and the oppressor is Israel.
Gaza is a tiny coastal strip of land between Egypt and Israel with 1.5 million inhabitants. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but has retained complete control of the territory by sea, air and land.
On Dec 27, 2008, Israel, in supposed retaliation for rocket attacks from Gaza on Israeli territory, unleashed a savage attack that lasted 22 days. The world witnessed the horror show of death and devastation but remained a passive spectator. Nearly 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians including women and children and the elderly, died in the horrific Israeli assault and 5.300 were injured. The international media also reported that an estimated 20,000 houses were destroyed, which left some areas resembling an earthquake zone, and more than 50,000 people were forced to move to temporary shelters. In addition, 48 government offices, 20 mosques and 30 police stations were demolished. Two hundred and nineteen factories were damaged as a result of aerial bombardment, tanks' shelling and armoured bulldozers destroying Gaza's productive capacity and completely ruining the territory's economy. The attack inflicted losses to infrastructure totalling half-a-billion dollars.
The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) used toxic ammunition and white phosphorus in violation of international laws on prohibited weapons. As a result, the Gaza Strip is now home to the highest number of disabled people in the world, in terms of population ratio. About four percent of the residents have some form of disability. According to reports, the use of chemical agents has resulted in a high levels of deformed births and miscarriages." The sufferings are compounded by Israel continuing the blockade and non-availability of medicines in the territory.
Richard Falk, UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Palestinian territory, released his report on the first anniversary of the Gaza carnage. He painted a gruesome picture of pain and suffering of civilians in Gaza and strongly urged the lifting of the blockade. There is a continuing breakdown in the electricity and sanitation systems due to absence of spare-parts. Falk asked for consideration of economic sanction against Israel, which continues to defy international will. In a report the UN Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) has also given accounts of the suffering and miseries of the territory's residents, concluding that Gaza has been bombed "back to the Stone Age."


Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other UN agencies have documented Israeli violation of the laws of war. The conduct of war and use of phosphorus bombs and 155mm shells against helpless civilians and indiscriminate carpet bombing provides enough evidence for the indictment of former prime minister Ehud Olmert and other perpetrators of the Gaza massacre for war crimes.

Viewpoints

Indo-Israeli plot against Pak-Iranian ties

America has also become a part of Indo-Israeli plot in creating instability in Pakistan and Iran so as to complete the hidden agenda.

Sajjad Shaukat

Although the whole of Islamic world is target of Indo-Israeli plot yet the same has intensified in case of Pakistan and Iran. It is because of the fact that Pakistan is a declared atomic country, while Iran is determined to continue its nuclear programme. In this regard US-led some western countries have also been supporting the Indo-Israeli nexus against Islamabad and Tehran overtly or covertly.
However, we cannot blame especially India and Israel including US regarding the conspiracy against Pakistan and Iran without some concrete evidence. In this context, in his interview, published in the Indian weekly outlook on February 18, 2008. Israel's ambassador to India, Mark Sofer explained regarding India's defence arrangements with Israel by disclosing. "We do have a defence relationship with India, which is no secret" and "with all due respect, the secret part will remain a secret." On being asked whether he foresaw joint exercises, Sofer replied, "Certain issues need to remain under wraps for whatever reason."
Indo-Israeli plot remained under wraps till 2003, when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India to officially reveal it. In this respect, Indian 'The Tribune' wrote on September 10, 2003, "India and Israel took giant leaps forward in bolstering the existing strategic ties and forging new ones" and Tel Aviv has "agreed to share its expertise with India in various fields as anti-fidayeen operations, surveillance satellites, intelligence sharing and space exploration". Next day 'Indian Express', disclosed, "From anti-missile systems to hi-tech radars, from sky drones to night-vision equipment, Indo-Israeli defense cooperation has known no bounds in recent times."
As regards the American tactical backing to Indo-Israeli relationship, on September 5, 2003, American Wall street Journal pointed out, "The U.S. finally gave its approval to Israel's delivery of Phalcon Airborne Warning & Controlling Systems (AWACS) to India”. This "sale might affect the conventional weapons balance" in the region.
Now, the matter is not confined to purchasing of military equipment only, Indo-Israeli overt and covert links are part of a dangerous strategic game. In this connection, the then Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu had already stated. "Our ties with India don't have any limitations as long as India and Israel are friendly. It is a strategic gain." But in the aftermath of 9/11, as to how this strategic gain is being obtained can be judged from the latest developments. On October 18, 2009, a deadliest suicide attack killed dozens of officers including the deputy commander for the Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier General Nour Ali Shoushtari and the provincial commander, Brigadier Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh in the Sistan-Baluchistan Jundullah (God's soldiers), a Sunni militant group which is pro-active against the Iranians, claimed responsibility for the incident.
The Revolutionary Guard released a statement after the attack, revealing that there was "no doubt that this violent and inhuman act was part of the strategy of foreigners and enemies of the regime." Afterwards, Iran directly accused US and Britain for their alleged patronage and funding of such type of terrorist attacks for creating instability within Iran. Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani blamed the US, saying. 'We consider the recent terrorist attack to be the result of the US action. This is the sign of America's animosity against our country."
Tehran has also lodged a strong protest with Islamabad over the failure of its law enforcement agencies to dismantle the Jundullah network in its part of Balochistan, while remarking that plan was prepared in Pakistan. Some reports suggest that in confusion, even some Iranian leaders expressed apprehension on some of Pakistan's officials in cooperation with the Jundullah regarding this latest suicide attack. This is what the US, India and Israel wanted.
While condemning the terrorist attack, President Asif Ali Zardari assured President Ahmadinejad that Government of Pakistan would provide all out assistance in arresting all those responsible for the attack, if they are found on Pakistani soil. Afterwards, Islamabad ensured a visiting Iranian delegation for an appropriate investigation in relation to the mayhem. Nevertheless, misunderstanding against Islamabad and Tehran was eliminated.
While taking cognizance of the Indo-Israeli plot against Islamabad and Iran, on October 20, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the suicide attack in Iran's Sistan was a conspiracy against brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran. He further added, "It is obvious that the same forces that are working in Pakistani Balochistan are also working in Iranian Sistan." Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Abdul Basit also pointed out. "There are forces which are out to spoil our relations with Iran. But our ties are strong enough to counter these machinations."
Nonetheless, it is good sign that besides Pakistan, Iranian rulers have also understood that it is Indo-Israeli conspiracy to sabotage Pak-Iranian ties, and is part of their secret strategic game against the Islamic countries. In this respect, on October 26, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei indicated. "The bloody actions being committed in Iraq, Pakistan and Iran are aimed at creating a division between the Shias and Sunnis…. Those who carry out these terrorist actions are directly or indirectly foreign agents."
In fact, America, India and Israel have been backing the Baloch separatists of Pakistan through their secret agencies CIA, RAW and Messad respectively as witnessed by a perrenial wave of subversive acts such as distraction of gas pipelines, attacks on the government buildings and murder of political leaders. They are covertly supporting the Belochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch nationalist leaders and have been fighting for secession of the province. It could be gauged from the fact that when six coal-mine workers were found dead on April 11, 2009, BLA and other separatist groups claimed responsibility.
As regards Jundullah, in past few years the group has conducted multiple terrorist activities like kidnapping and killing of a number of Iranian nationals including suicide attacks in Pakistans side of Balochistan and that of Iran its agents are also behind sectarian violence.
According to some reliable sources, Jundullah is a small group which does not have potential to inflict more than small attacks on security forces in Pakistan and Iran. Like BLA, this militant group is also supported by RAW and Mossad with the technical help of CIA. Now, both BLA and Jundullah have links with each other. And their militants are getting arms and ammunition from Afghanistan where US-led India and Israel have established their secret network not only to crate lawlessness in Pakistan and Iran but also to sabotage good relationship of these countries. Indian consulates located in Afghanistan and Its mission in Zahidan are playing a key role in this conspiracy. Notably, Afghanistan shares a common border with Pakistan and Iran, so it has become easy for these foreign elements to achieve their sinister anti-Pak-Iranian aims.
It is notable that Jewish-Hindu lobbies are collectively working in America and other European countries to manipulate the double standards of the west in relation to terrorism and human rights vis-vis Pakistan and Iran. They also accuse Tehran and Islamabad of sponsoring cross-border terrorism in the related regions of South Asia and the Middle East. Both India and Israel consider Pakistan and Iran as their enemies due to Islamabad's nuclear assets and Tehran's prospective nuclear programme which are also opposed by the US. In this regard, when on September 28, 2009, Iran test-fired Shahab 3, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of up to 2,000 km, Israel openly and India clandestinely took it as a greater threat to their collective interests. Although, Iran denied link between the missile firing and the nuclear activities, but Washington speculated that besides Israel, the regional target which Iran intended to attack was India where America and Israel are investing and increasing their presence. However, these similarities of interest have brought Israel and India to follow a common secret diplomacy with the help of Washington, targeting particularly Pakistan and Iran.
It is mentionable that last year's US-India nuclear deal was part of American desire to make India a major power to counterbalance the rising influence of China in Asia and control Iran. In this context, on May 22, 2009, Islamabad and Tehran signed the gas pipeline project without waiting for New Delhi's participation because the latter was tilted towards Washington, using delaying tactics in this connection.
Moreover, it is owing to the ideal geo-strategic location of Balochistan with Gwadar seaport which could prove to be Pakistan's key junction, connecting rest of the world with Central Asia and further strengthening Pak-Iranian strategic position that America has also become a part of Indo-Israeli plot in creating instability in Pakistan and Iran so as to complete the hidden agenda.

  Muslim World’s Dilemma

A lot more can be said but in short, for the Muslim World, this decade has been a "Decade of War and Misunderstandings."

Javed Malik 

As the world celebrates the arrival of a new decade starting with year 2010 I find myself reflecting on how turbulent this decade has been for the Muslim World.
It was in this decade that Mr. Bush launched his 'Crusade', which became the 'war on terror' and targeted at least two Muslim countries - Afghanistan and Iraq - and threatened several others including Iran and Syria. This decade also saw the Israeli aggression expanding into Lebanon, which caused more destruction.
The Palestinian people continued to suffer throughout this decade and nothing was done to find a resolution to any of the outstanding issues facing the Muslim World, such as the Kashmir issue. Instead, we saw some of the worst human rights violations against the Muslim inmates at Abu Gharaib prison and the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
The shocking images that came out of these prisons stunned everyone who believes in human rights, and added insult to the injuries of the Muslims around the world.
Europe saw a rise in community tensions between its indigenous and Muslim populations that were sparked either by the Danish cartoons mocking the Prophet of Islam or by a ban preventing women from wearing headscarves in France or more recently a ban on Minarets on Mosques by Switzerland.
It was also rather depressing to see that negative stereotyping of Muslims continued to dominate the western media igniting Islamophobia.
A lot more can be said but in short, for the Muslim World, this decade has been a "Decade of War and Misunderstandings."
It can be said that this was a manifestation of misplaced theories like The Clash of Civilisations, which suggest an inherent conflict between the Muslim & western civilisations. I disagree with such theories because they fuel nothing but conflicts and war.
In my opinion, the events or lessons of the last decade have made the western strategists review their stance because they are now realising that none of these warmongering ideologies have achieved anything for them. In fact, they have made the world much more volatile than before. An ideology of "clash" leads to nothing but war, and war has nothing to offer but destruction. It is as simple as that.
Perhaps, the US policy makers have also realised that despite their claims of giving freedom to the people of Iraq it did not endear them to the Iraqi people who saw them as nothing more than an occupying army.
We all know how a certain Muntazir Al Zaidi in Iraq welcomed Bush. Maybe it reflected the frustrations of a common man, or maybe it did not. In either case, it was not a happy ending to Bush's expedition.
However, one thing was clear that gulf of understanding between the Muslim World and the west had become even wider. It was obvious that it could not be overcome by war, the only way forward is dialogue.
It was for this reason that one of the first things President Obama did was to reach out and start a dialogue with the Muslim world through his speech at Cairo University. He did that because the Nobel Peace Prize winning President Obama understands that this is the only way forward to ensure ?world peace.
He also understands that there are more than 1.3 billion people in this world that call themselves Muslims. That's one in every five human beings. Fifty-seven countries in this world have Islam as their official religion, and many others that host sizeable Muslim minorities within them as the second or third largest population group. It is widely acknowledged that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world with many more people turning to Islam than any other faith.
So, in my view the lesson from the events of the last decade is clear and simple, and it makes perfect sense to renew the efforts to "Engage with the Muslim World" rather than antagonising them further.
The responsibility to reach out to the Muslims world is not for the western leaders alone. Steps have to be taken by the modern intellectual and political leadership on both sides to cultivate a tradition of open exchange between the two major civilisations. Both have to shun the fear of conspiracy theories against each other, and engage with a positive mindset to resolve their misunderstandings.
Unfortunately, this form of true intellectual dialogue - both at the individual and the government level - has been largely absent, and both the west and the Muslim world are equally to blame for not doing enough to promote it. It is their collective failure to encourage this tradition of open exchange and discussions that caused a lot of war ?and destruction.
An objective view of the Muslim and western civilisations would tell you that what brings the two civilisations together is far more powerful than what divides them.
For instance, Muslims and the Christians (the Western World), have the same heritage originating from the same Abrahamic tradition. Both are 'people of the Book' with a common monotheistic view of the Almighty God.
They share almost identical beliefs about life, and accountability after death, The Day of Judgment, heaven and hell, angels and prophets. Even their moral code is equally identical in that they both encourage the quest and respect for knowledge, establishment of justice, compassion for the poor through charity, and tolerance of ?other faiths.
In conclusion, there is a lot more in common between these civilisations than there is in conflict. This provides us with a perfect starting point for Dialogue. President's Obama's speech to the Muslim World at Cairo University was just the beginning of this dialogue, we must ensure that it continues and words are translated?into action.
In the last decade we have seen so much time, effort and money being spent on various military operations in the 'war on terror' but it has caused nothing but destruction and loss of life on all sides.
If the Western leaders in general and United States in particular commit a fraction of this energy, finances and efforts to advancing the dialogue and engagement with the Muslim World and the leaders in the Muslim world also make a sincere effort to become their partners in this dialogue then we can truly start this new year, and with it the new decade with hope and optimism for a peaceful world where people from all cultures, religions and civilisations can peacefully co-exist.
If that were to happen then we can collectively celebrate the new year, because we have the power to make the coming decade "A Decade of ?Peaceful co-existence."

Javed Malik is a noted television journalist & Executive Director of The World Forum

  Not ‘our British friends’

Obama's cold approach to Brown underlines the high-level political discord playing havoc with the British-American 'special relationship'

Toby Harnden

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's admission that he had not spoken to US President Barack Obama since the attempted Christmas Day bombing speaks volumes about the fracture in the relationship between Downing Street and the White House.
So too did an extraordinary 24 hours in which Brown's spokesman indicated that MI5 had passed on the name of Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, the Detroit bomber, to American intelligence in 2008 a claim that at first mystified the White House.
Mystification turned to frustration that Downing Street appeared incapable of unequivocally retracting the claim. But then there was a bewildering turnaround as the White House stepped back from briefing that the British were mistaken.
White House officials had initially emphatically denied that Abdul Mutallab's name was provided by the British at any stage before the attack a denial supported by British diplomatic sources. Then, utter confusion reigned.
Whereas Tony Blair and George W. Bush would speak sometimes several times a week, this confusion demonstrated transatlantic relations at the highest level are distant and disconnected.
After the September 11 attacks, officials from Downing Street and the British Embassy in Washington were seconded to an 'Office of Global Communications' in the Old Executive Office Building where they worked alongside Bush administration officials.
Despite the ideological chasm between them, Alastair Campbell, Blair's spin doctor, and Karen Hughes, the Texan former television reporter who shaped Bush's image, scarcely took a decision on how to present a foreign policy issue without consulting.
Intelligence and military cooperation between the US and Britain remains close. British intelligence liaison officers are frequent visitors to CIA and FBI headquarters.
But there is discord in the political sphere. The White House was livid about the release by the Scottish administration of the Lockerbie bomber last August.
To Americans, Brown's government seems at best in disarray over the issue and at worst duplicitous. For some, the words 'our British friends' became a term of irony.
Obama rebuffed five requests for a private meeting with Brown when he visited the United Nations in New York.
Some suggest Obama dislikes Britain, perhaps even because of the experience of his grandfather who was imprisoned in 1949 and, the president claims, was tortured by the British during the Kenyan struggle for independence. "The facts are, Obama hates the Brits," said one person close to the administration.
"Something to do with his grandfather in Kenya. A colonial hangover. And there is nothing you can do about it."
Others attribute perceived 'snubs' and transatlantic 'rifts' as a British obsession with the 'special relationship' that betrays a lack of national self-confidence.

The Guardian, London

International

MQM legislators want to part ways with PPP
Dawn Online

In a major development that may have a far-reaching impact on the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition government at the centre, parliamentarians belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement have told their party high command that they want to quit treasury benches and sit on opposition benches because of what they described as an "irresponsible attitude of the Sindh government".
An MQM statement issued here on Saturday said that all members of the National Assembly and the Senate belonging to the MQM had urged the party's coordination committee to allow them to sit on opposition benches in parliament.
They complained that although the PPP was enjoying full powers in the federal and provincial governments, MQM workers had been falling victim to targeted killings in Karachi.
They alleged that Lyari gangsters were behind the killing spree. "They are being supported by certain influential elements of the Sindh government."
They sought permission of the coordination committee to sit on the opposition benches.
The next session of the National Assembly is to begin on Monday and the government may face embarrassment if the MQM MNAs opt to sit on opposition benches. If the 25 MNAs of the MQM part ways with the PPP, then the government will lose majority in the lower house.
However, well-placed sources in the MQM said that although the coordination committee was considering the parliamentarians' demand, no final decision had so far been taken.
A senior MQM leader told Dawn that he believed the party would continue to support Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in parliament even if it decided to sit in opposition. "We do not want to derail the democratic system, but we fail to understand as to why the federal government is not trying to check killing of our workers," he said.
He maintained that the final decision would only be taken by MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
Another senior leader told Dawn that the MQM was ready to quit the Sindh government. "We know the PPP does not need us in the province. Most of us believed that we can play a better and constructive role if we leave the coalition and join the opposition in the province."
GILANI CALLS ALTAF: An MQM leader confirmed that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called Altaf Hussain and discussed the Karachi situation. However, he did not elaborate.
Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik contacted the London-based members of the MQM coordination committee, assuring them that the government would take action against those involved in target killings.

  US drone war delivers results, but at what price?
AFP, Islamabad

The US drone war in Pakistan has made gains in annihilating Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders, but the reliance on the unmanned, remotely controlled aircraft risks fanning Islamist violence.
While tens of thousands of US troops are fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, their presence is unwelcome in ally Pakistan and drone strikes have become the main combat tactic against militants on the ground.
The Long War Journal, a website tracking the strikes, says US missiles have killed 15 senior Al-Qaeda leaders, and 16 "mid-level" Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives, since January 2008.
Among the scalps was Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban.
Despite Mehsud's death in August, the TTP are killing more people than ever and Al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri-both believed to be sheltering along the Afghan-Pakistan border-remain at large.
"I don't think the group (TTP) has necessarily been weakened at all," said Ben Venzke, head of IntelCenter, a private contractor working in support of the US and European intelligence communities.
"In fact we're seeing more large-scale bombings and attacks in Pakistan than we've ever seen and with a very large casualty count," he said. President Barack Obama has ordered 51,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan, hoping to turn the tide in the war and deny Al-Qaeda sanctuary, but tribal experts fear drone attacks could spawn a war of revenge for years.
A Jordanian doctor turned "Al-Qaeda double agent" blew himself up and killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan on December 30, in the deadliest attack against the US spy agency since 1983.
The bomber, Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, appeared posthumously in a video broadcast Saturday, vowing to avenge Baitullah Mehsud's death.
"The way they are now attacking with their drones, trying to hit local militants-maybe local militants are not a big threat to America but in the future they could become a threat," said tribal expert Rahimullah Yusufzai.
Local residents contacted by AFP in North Waziristan-a district where 22 of the last 24 attacks have struck-said families lived in fear over the prospect of a Hellfire missile annihilating their home without warning.

  ‘Fazlullah will not surrender until Sharia implemented’
Dawn Online

The mother of militant leader Fazlullah said on Saturday that her son will not surrender until Sharia is implemented. Fazlullah's mother and teacher were presented before the media in Swat.
His teacher, Waliullah Kabal-Girami stated that he had taught his former student that any kind of violence is against the teachings of Islam and had urged him to remain on the righteous path.
Fazlullah's mother said that the Army was looking after her well and that she had no complaints. She also said that she had exhorted her son to not pursue the murderous path. However, he had refused to budge.
His teacher said that on numerous occasions he had taught his pupil that Islam prohibits suicide bombing and that it offers no mercy from the senseless blood shedding that is being wrought in the country's north.

  Indian troops kill two rebels in protest-hit Kashmir
AFP, Srinagar, India

Indian troops killed two suspected Islamic rebels during a gunbattle in Kashmir, the army said Sunday, as eight people were hurt in clashes during a second day of anti-government protests.
The militants were killed Sunday during a fierce clash with Indian troops in southern Reasi district, army spokesman Biplab Nath told AFP.
"One of our officers was injured during the gunbattle," he said.
On Thursday, Indian commandos stormed a hotel in the Kashmiri state summer capital Srinigar where two militants had been holed up for nearly 24 hours, killing the gunmen and bringing an end to the siege.
Eight people were injured Sunday when police fired teargas and swung batons to disperse several demonstrations by residents protesting the death of a 16-year old student in an alleged police shooting, police and witnesses said.
Protesters said the Muslim boy was fatally injured in firing by police during an anti-government demonstration on Friday in Srinagar. The teenager died in hospital Saturday, sparking protests.
Police said they were investigating the death.
Kashmir is in the grip of a two-decade-long insurgency against Indian rule that has so far left more than 47,000 people dead by official count.

  Afghans agree to take over US prison at Bagram
Reuters, Kabul

Afghan officials agreed on Saturday to take over responsibility for the U.S. military's Bagram prison north of Kabul, a move that could close a chapter in the troubled history of U.S. detentions since 2001.
The jail at Bagram, where U.S. troops beat to death two prisoners in 2002, stands beside Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and Abu Ghraib in Iraq as a symbol of harsh treatment of detainees under the administration of U.S. ex-President George W. Bush.
Set up to hold prisoners caught in the campaign against the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, it was housed for eight years in an ex-Soviet aircraft hangar, until last month when that was shut and replaced with a purpose-built $60 million prison Washington says meets international standards.
U.S. forces have long said the goal was eventually to hand the prison over to Afghans. President Hamid Karzai has called for an end to detentions by foreign countries on Afghan soil.
The Afghan Defence Ministry said in a statement an agreement had been signed that would see the Afghan government take over operation of the prison and responsibility for "investigating, detaining, observing and trying" its inmates. "The Afghan Defence Ministry will begin in a few days to train a unit which will take responsibility for the prison," it said.
Colonel Stephen Clutter, spokesman for U.S. military detainee operations in Afghanistan, said Saturday's agreement was a memorandum signed by Afghan ministries, setting out their responsibilities.

  Attacks on Christian targets stoke tensions in ‘Allah’ row
France24

A convent school and a church in Malaysia became the latest targets of arson attempts on Sunday amid a continuing dispute over the Christian community's right to use the word "Allah" when referring to God.
Reuters - Wouldbe arsonists in mostly Muslim Malaysia struck at a convent school and a fifth church on Sunday while church leaders called for calm in a row over Christians' use of the word "Allah" to refer to God.
The attacks threaten Prime Minister Najib Razak's plan to win back non-Muslim support before elections due by 2013 and may scare investors away from Malaysia that has trailed Thailand and Indonesia for foreign investment.
Police in the sleepy city of Taiping, around 300 km (185 miles) from the capital Kuala Lumpur, said a petrol bomb was thrown at the guard house of a Catholic convent school but failed to go off.
They also said they had found several broken bottles including paint thinners outside one of the country's oldest Anglican churches, All Saints, Taiping, and said one of the building's walls had been blackened.
The row, over a court ruling that allowed a Catholic newspaper to use "Allah" in its Malay-language editions, had prompted Muslims to protest at mosques and sparked arson attacks on four churches that saw one Pentecostalist church gutted.
On Sunday, Malaysians packed churches to listen to sermons of "reaching out in friendship to all, including Muslims" and "keeping the peace in multi-religious Malaysia" but many felt their religious rights were being trampled.

  Six held after Tokyo heist may belong to crime group
AFP, Hong Kong

Six people arrested in Hong Kong following a multi-million US dollar jewellery heist in Tokyo may belong to an international crime gang behind similar robberies, a report said Sunday.
The gang-known for boring through walls to gain access to jewellery stores-usually leaves the country after a robbery, Japanese press reports said.
Acting on a tip, Hong Kong police said they raided several flats in the southern Chinese city after thieves stole 200 luxury watches and jewellery from a store in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district between December 31 and January 2.
Police would not confirm whether the people they arrested last week-three men and three women-are connected to other robberies in Japan.
"At the moment, the only information we have is that these people are involved in the (latest) robbery in Tokyo," a police spokesman said.
But the daily South China Morning Post quoted Superintendent Adrian Kwan of Hong Kong's Organised Crime and Triad Bureau as saying: "We believe this was not the first time they have stolen in Japan. They chose Japan as the target because they found the shops were easier (to rob)."
Most of the suspects in previous incidents were of Chinese origin, as were the six detained in the latest three-million US dollar heist.

 Ahmedinejad dismisses UN’s nuclear sanctions
AFP, Tehran

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that further UN Security Council sanction will not deter Tehran from pursuing its nuclear programme. The hardliner also vowed that Iran will not back down "one iota" in the face of international pressures over the atomic work, which the West fears may be a cover for weapons development despite Iran's persistent denial.
"They issued several resolutions and sanctioned Iran ... They think Iranians will fall on their knees over these things but they are mistaken," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in southern Iran carried live on state television. "We are not interested in conflicts (but) you are continually demanding things," he said to world powers, led by the United States, which are seeking to curb Iran's atomic ambitions. "They should not think they can put up obstacles in Iranians' way ... I assure the people ... that the government will whole-heartedly defend Iran's rights and will not back down one iota," he said. Iran is already under three sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its defiance and refusal to suspend enrichment, which lies at the heart of international fears about its nuclear programme.
Besides, a top US military commander responsible for the Middle East and the Gulf region said the United States has developed contingency plans to deal with Iran's nuclear facilities, insisting that they "can be bombed."
"Well, they certainly can be bombed," General David Petraeus, head of US Central Command, told CNN television as he commented on suggestions that Iranian nuclear facilities were heavily fortified. "The level of effect would vary with who it is that carries it out, what ordnance they have, and what capability they can bring to bear," he added.

  Israel demolishes 20 houses in West Bank
It vows ‘powerful response’ to Gaza attacks

AFP, Nablus, West Bank

The Israeli army on Sunday demolished 20 houses in the northern West Bank after evacuating some 40 families who were living there, Palestinian witnesses said.
The ramshackle houses used by local shepherds were in the farming village of Tana near Nablus in the so-called Area C, a closed military zone where Israel exercises full control.
Residents said the army had told them to evacuate the buildings a month ago. An Israeli military spokesman said the structures "were built without permits in an area where the military conducts exercises with live ammunition." "The residents had been repeatedly warned that they put their lives in danger by remaining in the area," he said.
Meanwhile, Israel on Sunday dismissed an implicit threat by a top US official to apply financial pressure on its close ally in order to advance peace talks.
President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell said in an interview with PBS television earlier in the week that under US law, Washington "can withhold support on loan guarantees to Israel."
But Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Sunday that "we have no indication that there is any intention to pressure us through the guarantees... only a few months ago we reached an agreement with the US treasury and state departments on the extension of their guarantees."
The United States offered Israel 10 billion dollars in loan guarantees in the early 1990s to assist the Jewish state in the absorption of hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
Reuters adds: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to launch an "immediate and powerful response" to any rocket fire at Israel after days of increased tension along the border with Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Medics in Gaza reported two Palestinians were killed in cross-border fire on Sunday, but rescue workers found no remains at the site where explosions were heard in northern Gaza. An Israeli military spokesman denied any troops had operated there.
Netanyahu told a weekly cabinet session 20 mortar bombs and rockets had been fired at Israel from the Hamas-ruled territory last week, adding: "I view this very seriously.

  Top democratic senator apologises after racial remarks
France24

US Senate majority leader Harry Reid has apologised on Saturday for referring to Barack Obama as "light-skinned" and with "no Negro dialect" during the 2008 presidential campaign.
AFP-Top US senator Harry Reid apologized Saturday for racially loaded comments about President Barack Obama's appeal to voters during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Reid, the Senate's Democratic majority leader, was quoted as saying Obama was popular with voters because he is "light skinned" and "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one." The comments, reported in a new book about the 2008 White House race, prompted the Nevada Democrat to issue a statement saying he was sorry, and pointing to his work with African-Americans.
"I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans for my improper comments," Reid said in a statement.
"Throughout my career... I have worked hard to advance issues important to the African American community." Obama later issued a statement accepting Reid's apology "without question."
"Harry Reid called me today and apologized for an unfortunate comment reported today," the president said. "I accepted Harry's apology without question because I've known him for years, I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart. "As far as I am concerned, the book is closed."
Senate leader Reid plays a key role in rallying lawmakers behind Obama's legislative agenda, from passing a controversial economic stimulus package to healthcare reform.

  China ‘strongly’ urges US to immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan

Xinhua, Beijing

China "strongly" urged the United States to respect its core interests and grave concerns, and immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan to avoid harms to the Sino-U.S. cooperation.
The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan undermined China's national security as well as the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told Xinhua in an exclusive interview, once again voicing China's "resolute opposition" to the sales.
This was the sixth official announcement made by China over the issue in a week, as spokespersons with the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry had repeatedly denounced the U.S. move.
He said that in response to the U.S. government's recent approval of Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin Corp. to sell weapons to Taiwan, the Chinese side had made solemn representations with the U.S. side.
The two U.S. Companies' sales plan was part of the arms sales package announced in October 2008 under the Bush Administration, which included weapons and equipments such as Patriot III anti-missile system. The sales of weapons to Taiwan seriously violated the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, in particular the principles enshrined in the August 17 Communique, said He, adding China's stance on this issue was always "consistent, clear and unswerving."
He said the Taiwan issue was "the most important and sensitive issue at the core of Sino-U.S. relations."
Noting the Sino-U.S. relations had maintained a steady momentum of development since U.S. President Barack Obama took office, He said this progress was hard-earned and should be valued by both countries.

  Most Iraq families of Blackwater victims accept settlement
AFP, Baghdad

All but one of the families of 17 Iraqis killed in a 2007 shooting by US security guards have accepted compensation from the Blackwater firm, a lawyer wounded in the attack said on Sunday.
Confirmation of the payouts comes less than two weeks after a US federal judge dismissed charges against five guards of the American private security firm accused of killing the civilians in an unprovoked attack.
"All of the families of the dead agreed, except for one family," said 42-year-old lawyer Hassan Jabbar Salman, who himself was injured in an arm, the chest and legs in the attack. He said the family of each person killed in the Nisur Square shooting in central Baghdad was offered 100,000 dollars, while those wounded rece-ived between 20,000 and 50,000 dollars.
Salman declined to specify how much he was to receive in compensation, which has yet to be deposited in his bank account.
Investigators said shortly after the September 16, 2007, shooting that Salman's car alone was hit with 73 bullets.
"I agreed to drop the civil complaint, but the criminal complaint, US prosecutors are still handling it, and they have invited me to attend the trial," he told AFP, referring to a possible appeal. Salman said a Blackwater lawyer met in late November with victims' families in Istanbul, where the settlement was reached.
Blackwater, which has since been renamed Xe, took the families' signatures and fingerprints and later also recorded video statements of them accepting the settlement terms, he said.
Since then, however, nine of the families have petitioned the office of Khaled al-Attiya, parliament's deputy speaker, for the deals to be nullified, saying they were forced to accept the deal under pressure. "We were afraid, we signed the documents under duress," said 45-year-old Mehdi Abdul Khaddhar, a day labourer who lost one of his eyes in the shooting.

  Russia kills ‘militant chief’ in Dagestan
AFP, Moscow

Russian security forces on Sunday killed a leading local Islamist militant in a clash in the southern Caucasus region of Dagestan, news agencies reported.
Madrid Begov, described as the head of the "Makhachkala-Shamkhal terrorist sabotage group", was killed during an operation by security forces in Makhachkala, the main city of Dagestan.
The clash took place when the forces surrounded a suspected militant safe house on the outskirts of the city, security sources in Dagestan told the news agencies. "After being asked to surrender, Begov replied with gunfire. In the resulting storm (of the house), Begov was eliminated," a spokesman for the FSB security service told the ITAR-TASS news agency. Begov, 35, had been wanted for attempting last April to murder a senior FSB operative in Makhachkala.
Colonel Zulkaid Kaidov, had been lured into the meeting after Begov's brother telephoned him to say Madrid Begov wanted to surrender. He was wounded but survived the attack.
The Interfax news agency said Begov had worked for the OMON, the special forces of the Russian police, but had been sacked in 2004. He then went to study in Egypt and became part of the militant underground.
Concerns have mounted over increased militant attacks throughout Russia's Caucasus region, where Islamist militants have been battling pro-Kremlin local authorities and Russian security forces in a sporadic ins-urgency.
In Dagestan, a region on the Caspian Sea, the tensions have been particularly acute in recent months and last week five policemen were killed in a suicide bombing in Makh-achkala.

  Blast at parliament follows warning call to newspaper
France24

An explosive device went off outside the Greek parliament in Athens on Saturday but police said no injuries were reported. The explosion was preceded by a call to the Eleftherotypia newspaper warning of the blast.
AFP - An explosive device went off outside the Greek parliament in Athens on Saturday, but no one was injured and no damage was immediately reported, police said.
The device exploded around 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) and was preceded by a telephone call to the Eleftherotypia newspaper warning of the blast.
Police evacuated the area around the site where passers-by normally stroll close to the monument of the Fallen Soldiers guarded by the presidential Evzones guards.
The explosives went off 10 minutes after the call at the time given by the anonymous caller. He said the device was hidden in a garbage bin.

Business/Economy

Insurance business turnover exceeds Tk 6,000cr
BSS, Dhaka

The country's insurance companies performed well last year beating back the anticipated impact of global economic recession as business returned to normalcy under the new democratic government.
Insurance business turnover surpassed Taka 6,000 crore last year with life insurance alone having a record of Taka 5,000 crore deals. Its growth rate stood at 20 to 25 percent, a functionary of Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) told BSS.
Business turnover of general insurance covered the remaining volume of business and its growth rate is estimated at 15 to 20 percent, the BIA functionary said. Insurance business in 2008 stood at Taka 4,713 crore, while business of life insurance at Taka 3,597 crore, the sources said.
Top insurance functionaries said global economic meltdown has little impact on the country's insurance business. Almost all companies netted good business in the year ending in December last. The business growth figure has been estimated on the basis of premium income report presented by 22 life insurance and general insurance companies to BIA for the period up to September last year.
The country has 60 insurance companies of which the number of general insurance companies is 43. The remaining 17 firms are life insurance companies. General insurance deals with risk coverage in business while life insurance companies deal with health and death risks of clients.
The business sources said premium income of general insurance rises with the growth of business, especially with imports, so also business turnover of life insurance rises with the rise in income of common people and especially from a steady rise of remittance.
Chairman of BIA Rafiqul Islam told the agency that the main reason for the rise in general insurance business relates to a steady rise in volume and value of imports. From a steady rise in remittance, life insurance also significantly increased with small insurers taking interest in it.
He said Parliament is expected to pass the 'Insurance Act Amendment Bill' in its present session and BIA is looking forward that the amended law will make significant contributions to bring growth and discipline in the business.
Managing Director of Bangladesh General Insurance Company A K Azizul Haque Chowdhury told the agency that the country's insurance business remained protected as the global economic recession has left hardly any impact on it.
Moreover, as the loan disbursement to industrial sector increased last year insurance companies premium income has also increased along with it.

 DSE single-day transaction hits new record
BSS, Dhaka

The single-day transaction at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) hit a new record on Sunday, the opening day of the second week of 2010.
Total value of the day's traded 3.95 crore shares reached to Taka 1,324 crore, the highest-ever single-day transaction on DSE.
According to some brokers, the transaction in value increased significantly on the day on profit-taking buying of big issues.
DSE data shows that the big issues including Bextex, Beximco, Beximcophara, GP and Aims 1st Mutual Fund were traded with a huge volume when prices of most issues increased marginally.
Brokers said the demand on the market was also strong enough thanks to the institutional buying that had been continuing since the beginning of the year.
Some issues with good fundamentals like Lankabangla, Prime Bank and AB Bank decline on profit-taking selling. The day's major losing issues at close, however, were 2nd ICB, Mithun Kinit, BLTC, Monno Jutex and Standard Insurance.
The most advanced issues at closing included S. Alam CRST, Bata Shoes, Gemeni Sea Foods, Modern Dyeing and Global Insurance.
A total of 127 issues gained Sunday when prices of 113 issues declined.
The price index of DSE also reached to a new high on the day on steady rally that continued for the second week since December 20, 2009.
DGEN, the main index of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) finished at 4730.74 on Sunday from 4722.09 of last week's closing on Thursday.

  Britain to shrug off wintry economic chill
AFP, London

The British economy, forecast to emerge soon from recession, will likely shrug off the most brutal winter in decades as many Britons simply delay purchases and work from home to beat the big freeze.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the nation's biggest employers' organisation, admitted that the cold weather was causing "massive disruption" for companies already suffering from weak demand in the downturn.
The CBI also argued, however, that the economic impact will be mitigated by the growing adoption of high-speed Internet services that allow many to shop or work from the comfort of their own homes.
Economist Howard Archer, who covers Britain and Europe for IHS Global Insight, played down the effects of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
"These things tend not to have as much impact as often feared," Archer told AFP.
"Obviously, the longer it persists the more it will hit retail spending and affect some business activity but these things tend to be made up once conditions return to normal.
"For example, people tend to delay their retail spending rather than cancel it," he added.
With icy conditions making it almost impossible to travel, many people are choosing instead to sit on their sofas, flick on the heating and power up their home computers and laptops.
Consumers will also transfer their spending to other items, said Collin Ellis, economist at Daiwa Capital Markets Europe.
"I would not expect (the bad weather) to have a big impact on economic growth," Ellis said. "Obviously if people are struggling to get to work, that means it may take longer to fill orders.
"But I suspect the most likely outcome may be a further transfer between different types of consumption-more meals at home versus eating out."
Britain's big freeze will slash around 1.0 billion pounds (1.1 billion euros, 1.6 billion dollars) from the nation's daily economic output, according to forecasts from the Centre for Economics and Business Research consultancy.

  Inflation rate now below than previous fiscal: Muhith
UNB, Dhaka

Finance Minister AMA Muhith Sunday said the present inflation rate is now below the previous fiscal level against the projection of 6.5 percent in 2009-10.
"The projection of inflation was 6.5 percent for this fiscal. I think the inflation rate is still below the level of previous fiscal (2008-09)," he told reporters at the Finance Ministry after a meeting of the Coordination Council on macro economy.
As per the Financial Accountability Law, he said, they are bound to submit the economical statement after every three months, "But, three more months have already elapsed from the July-August period. We're yet to review it. We hope to do it next month. You'll get a full review next month." He said they would place the revised budget in March next.
Referring to International Monetary Fund's (IMF) projection that the inflation rate in the country would hit the double digit, Muhith said, "We don't accept it all."
If the economy keeps up the present momentum, the Finance Minister said, the country would see a GDP growth of 6 percent.
"The possibility of achieving the revenue collection target is better and the projection of foreign assistance will be a bit more," Muhith told the journalists.
About the implementation of Annual Development Programme (ADP), Muhith said the ADP implementation in the first six months of the fiscal is 28 percent compared to 23 percent of the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
"This is also a significant development in terms of ratio and volume, as the ADP was Tk 26,000 crore in the previous fiscal compared to Tk 30,500 crore of the current fiscal," he added.
He said they have already started the budgetary process of the next fiscal and made the expenditure review last month.
About investment, he said positive changes are also there, as the import of capital machineries have increased and the export is on the rise.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman, the Finance Division Secretary, the ERD Secretary and other high officials were, among others, present at the meeting.

  Pearl Fashion Institute to launch courses on Fashion Designing to support RMG sector

TBT Economy Desk

The annual press meet of Pearl Fashion Institute (PFI) was held at National Press Club in the capital on Sunday, says a press release.
The press meet was arranged to announce the launch of 4-year BA (honours) courses from February, 2010.
Besides, the course curriculum, education system and other salient features of education imparted by PF1 were also presented.
Executive Director of PFI Garima Srivastava said that Bangladesh has already emerged as a very important country in the RMG sector for its high quality and cost effective production. Skilled workforces, support of government and non-government bodies and investment in technology have been instrumental in bringing the industry to this level of success.
However, there has been a gap in availability of skilled local managerial level personnel and design development capabilities. The youth needs to be equipped to take the challenge to be self dependent and lead the industry to greater heights, Srivastava added
Taking into account the requirements of the industry as well as the aspirations of the students and guardians, PFI (Pearl Fashion Institute) started its journey in the year 2006.
To fulfill the demand of the RMG sector, PIT is going to introduce 4-year graduation programmes in Fashion Designing & Merchandising and Production Technology from February, 2010, the executive director said.

  JAL won't forge capital tie-up with US carrier
AFP, Tokyo

Troubled Japan Airlines (JAL) is unlikely to form a capital tie-up with a US carrier and will limit the partnership to a business tie-up for now, an economic daily reported Sunday.
JAL has been offered financial help by both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which are competing to take a stake in the company and increase their respective shares of the lucrative Asian market.
Debt-ridden JAL has studied a capital tie-up with one or other of the airlines as it would limit the amount of taxpayer money needed for an out-of-court rehabilitation.
But the Japanese airline is now expected to file for bankruptcy with a guarantee of public support next week under a rescue plan mapped out by the state-backed Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp (ETIC), Japanese media reported.
The ETIC, which is overseeing JAL's restructuring, believes a capital tie-up with a US carrier would complicate the government-led rehabilitation process and narrow the options of the soon-to-be-selected new management, the Nikkei said, citing unnamed sources. The ETIC originally planned to pick a foreign partner by the end of this month but is now expected to make a final decision no earlier than February, the Nikkei said.
Since autumn, both Delta and American have held talks with JAL in hopes of securing a capital and business alliance and have shown willingness to inject around 100 billion yen (1.08 billion dollars) worth of loans and investments.
Media reports have suggested JAL was leaning towards a capital tie-up with Delta and joining the SkyTeam alliance, leaving the OneWorld group, which includes American Airlines.
American Airlines reported last week it had increased its investment offer by 300 million dollars to 1.4 billion dollars.
In the meantime, media reports say the government and the ETIC have asked Kazuo Inamori, founder of precision equipment maker Kyocera and number two telecom operator KDDI, to become JAL's new chief executive. Inamori, who is 77 and now honorary chairman of Kyocera, is expected to respond this week, the Nikkei and Jiji Press said.
JAL's current president, Haruka Nishimatsu, and most other board members are to step down when the ETIC finalises the rescue plan.

  Germany needs big spending cuts to reduce deficit
AFP, Berlin

Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble says the centre-right government faces the "colossal" task of making major spending cuts to reduce the public deficit starting in 2011.
Germany's 2010 budget foresees a record 85.8 billion euros (123.1 billion dollars) in public debt, and the government will need to start "preparing the citizens for spending cuts" to take effect next year, said Schaeuble in an interview with the Tagesspiegel am Sonntag newspaper to be published Sunday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition of the Christian-Democrat bloc and the business-friendly Free Democrats, formed after victory in September's polls, must deal with this "colossal" task which will call for "a lot of political agreement," Schaeuble added.
The government expects the economy to grow 1.2 percent this year after slumping around five percent in 2009 in the worst decline since World War II.
Stimulating growth in Europe's biggest economy has been one the most contentious issues for the new coalition with experts saying the country can ill-afford proposed further tax cuts.
The conservative Merkel only narrowly succeeded in December to push through the upper house of parliament a first wave of tax cuts, worth 8.5 billion euros.
To help pull Germany out of recession, the government had decided to allow the deficit to grow in the short term, mainly by lowering taxes.
Schaeuble said the measures taken to reduce the deficit "will depend in part on how the economy is doing by May and, on other hand, what spending cuts the coalition is prepared to make."
He added: "Everyone needs to realise that we can only stimulate growth with lower taxes if at the same time we reduce spending."
Schaeuble also said Germany aims to bring the public deficit below the eurozone limit of three percent of gross domestic product by 2013.
Meanwhile, the newsmagazine Der Spiegel has reported the finance minister plans to delay the anticipated fiscal reforms until after 2011.
A spokesman for the minister, when contacted by AFP about the report, said it was "pure speculation".

  Crisis-hit Romania hopes for recovery in 2010
AFP, Bucharest

Among the European countries worst hit by the global slump, Romania sets out in 2010 in slightly better shape-a new government is in place, an aid deal with the IMF could be revitalised and growth may return.
On the downside, however, Romania has had to pay a very high price for its troubles and the social cost be higher still for its 22 million people, analysts warn.
"In 2010, the economy is likely to recover but from a social point of view things are likely to worsen," Nicolae Chidesciuc, chief economist at ING Bank Romania, told AFP.
While expecting growth this year, ING analysts see unemployment jumping to 10 percent from 7.8 percent at the end of 2009. The jobless rate was 4.4 percent in December 2008, before the global economic crisis hit.
The economy is likely to have contracted 7.0 percent in 2009 after 10 years of steady growth, suffering much more than other former Communist countries such as the Czech Republic, down 4.4 percent, or Poland which held onto positive figures.
The situation was made worse by political turmoil between the main parties, holding up the formation of a new government that the International Monetary Fund could work with.

National

36 species of paddy on verge of extinction
BSS, Khulna

Farmers in the district have set an example by bringing a portion of land under cultivation of 36 near extinct species of paddy at Amtala village of Gangarampur union under Batiaghata upazila.
Earlier, the farmers of the area had been growing these species of paddy in saline affected lands without using any chemical fertilizer.
Increase in hybrid paddy farming during the last two decades, local species of paddy were disappeared from Khulna region.
Organized by NGO, Lokoz, the farmers achieved a great success by bringing a portion of their lands under near extinct 36 varieties of paddy.
While talking to executive director of Lokoz, Dev Prasad Sarker told BSS that seeds of local variety paddy would be supplied among the interested farmers from the exhibition plots.
The local varieties of paddy which were being cultivated are; 'Balam', 'Kalmilata', 'Chini Kalai', 'Charo Balam', 'Rupeshwar', 'Kalojira', 'Benapol', 'Halde', 'Gotal', 'LalGotal', 'Sada Gotal', 'Khezur Chari', 'Kanchra', 'Jol Paira', 'Moynamoty', 'Sada Mota', 'Kalo Mota', 'Bazro Muri', Marich Salai', 'Zamai Naru', 'Chanp Shal', 'Bhute Salot', 'Saheb Kachi', 'Brohini', 'Dak Shail', 'Kumri- Gor', 'Rani Salut', 'Karangal', 'Monteshwar', Mota', ' Nona Kachi', 'BR-11', and 'BR-12'.
An official of the Department of Agriculturist Extension Mohon Kumar told BSS that farmers of different areas of the country should preserve the near extinct variety of paddy. He also thanked the organizers of Lokoz, who are trying to preserve the near extinct varieties of paddy.

  Boro seedbeds damaged due to cold, fog in Natore
UNB, Natore

Farmers of the district have become frustrated as a big portion of their Boro seedbeds have been damaged due to persisting severe cold and dense fog for the last two weeks.
Department of Agricultural Extension sources said a target was set to bring 71,536 hectares of land under Boro cultivation in the current season and 4000 hectares seedbeds were prepared for implementing the scheme.
But the seedbeds are turning yellowish due to the biting cold, causing frustration among the farmers as their production cost has also increased for saving their seedbeds.
The seedbeds in Ekdala, Lachangarh, Bangabaria, Piprul, Chhatni, Bhatpara, Dolderbhog, Kasarigacca, Chandpur, Atgharia, Ruerbhag and Baliadanga of Sadar upazila are the worst affected. Farmers are also apprehending crisis of seedlings.
Farmers said they did not get good harvest in the last Boro season due to irrigation crisis. Their Aman harvest was also not satisfactory due to drought like situation.
They prepared seedbeds this season with much hope but the cold attack in seedbeds made them frustrated. Natore Sadar upazila Agriculture office Mojdar Hossain said farmers of many areas will have to prepare seedbeds again to cultivate Boro paddy.

   300 villages in 3 districts brought under flood protection programme

UNB, Dhaka

Some 300 flood-affected villages in districts have been brought under a Flood Protection and Recovery Assistance Programme, being implemented with assistance from the World Bank.
Of the flood-affected villages, 150 are in Jamalpur district, 100 in Gaibandha and 50 in Sirajganj district.
Social Development Foundation (SDF) and Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) are implementing the 25-million US$ programme in the districts devastated by floods in 2007.
SDF recently distributed Tk 4 lakh as initiation fund under the project in four villages in Sadar upazila of Sirajganj, said a press release on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion at Patal village, acting Managing Director of SDF Md Abdul Momen said SDF has launched the unique project-
Social Investment Program Project (SIPP)-- for poverty alleviation in rural Bangladesh and hoped that it would be able to bring about a basic change in the lives of the poor people.
In response to the government's request for rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance in the aftermath of the 2007 floods, the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank came up with the US$25 million emergency programme.
About 150,000 flood-affected families will be benefited directly from the livelihood support activities.

  Begum Rokeya was greatest social philosopher of her time: Gaffar Chy

BSS, Rangpur

Renowned literary personality, journalist and columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury on Sunday said Begum Rokeya was the unparallel greatest female social philosopher of that time, some 150 years ago.
The womenfolk can achieve their full rights in all spheres in the society and can save themselves from all sorts of repressions, exploitations and deprivations if they are properly educated, he said.
He also suggested the authorities of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) for launching Faculty of Rokeya Studies' at the varsity with a view to continuing research on the pioneer of women renaissance and her philosophy of achieving women's rights.
He said this as the guest of honour at a reception ceremony organised for the freshers of the BRUR at its temporary campus at Rangpur Teachers' Training College ground here in the city. Chaired by convener of the freshers' reception committee of BRUR Dr M Motiur Rahman, the ceremony was attended by Vice Chancellor of the varsity Prof Dr M Abdul Jalil Miah as the chief guest.
Renowned poet and literary personality Asad Chowdhury, Dr Tayeb Hossain, Aminul Haque Badsha, Prof Dr M Rezaul Haq, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science Dr Sharifa Salwa Dina, DC of Rangpur BM Enamul Haque, addressed as special guests.
Students of the varsity Tariqul Islam Chanchal, Smriti Rani Sarker and Bulbul Ahmed, spoke on the occasion that was attended by heads of all 11 departments under three faculties of the varsity, teachers and students, officials and employees.

  Online fertiliser recommendation service likely by June
BSS, Dhaka

The government is planning to introduce online fertiliser recommendation service for the farmers across the country by June 2010 to increase yield of crops at reduced production cost.
The Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) has already started database updating of the land linked to the soil fertility to this end in view, the agriculture ministry sources said here on Sunday.
Under the service, the farmers will get crop-base information on balanced fertiliser application through the mobile phone community information centre (CIC) or dialling a specific number like 7676 of Banglalink helpline.
The government has already launched a pilot phase digital fertiliser recommendation system for the farmers of 30 upazilas.
Officials of the SRDI and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) are motivating the farmers about the service through organizing yard meeting.
Every day they are organizing at least five yard meetings in each upazila and at least 50 farmers are participating in the meeting.
Senior scientific officer of SRDI Md Moqbul Hossain told BSS on Sunday that they have included the soil fertility data of 100 upazials under the update database.
He said farmers will get fertiliser recommendations by providing six basic information like name of the crop, type of land, name of the union, upazila and district.

  Health workers asked to ensure total vaccination coverage
BSS, Dhaka

Health and Family Welfare Minister Prof AFM Ruhal Haque Sunday asked health workers to ensure total polio vaccination coverage across the country in the stipulated time.
He called upon guardians to cooperate with the government by administering their children at the nearest vaccination camps with a view to making the countrywide vaccination programme a success.
The health workers have been directed to have door-to-door visits to administer polio vaccines from tomorrow to January 14 to the under-5 children who could not be brought under the coverage during the first round.
The minister made the call while inspecting a polio centre at Dhamrai Hardish High School in the city, said a press release.
Ruhal said there is no doubt about the effectiveness and accuracy of the polio vaccine and worm vaccine.
Lawmaker Benzir Ahmed, director general of health services Prof Shah Monir Hossain, president of Bangladesh Medical association (BMA) Prof Mahmud Hassan, secretary general Prof Sharfuddin Ahmed and member secretary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust Sheikh Habibur Rahman were present.

  Draft report on mismanagement and existing problems of FDC finalized

BSS, Dhaka

Draft report on mismanagement and existing problems of Bangladesh Film Deve-lopment Corporation (BFDC) was finalized here Sunday.
The draft was finalised at the sixth meeting of no 1 sub- committee formed by the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Information at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, a parliament secretariat press release said.
Chairman of the committee Reza Ali, MP, presided over the meeting. Other members of the committee- Joynul Abedin Faruq, Sarah Begum Kabari and Sukumar Ranjan Ghosh attended the meeting.

  Weather deteriorates sharply again as temperatures fall in N- region

BSS, Rangpur

The overall weather again sharply deteriorated since Sunday afternoon in the northern Bangladesh adding sufferings to the common people after four comparatively better days till Saturday.
The weather was almost better with a sunny sky since this morning but started sharply deteriorating from the afternoon when the sun went behind the clouds and thinner fogs amid blowing cooler winds from the western and northwestern directions.
The minimum temperatures dipped by one to two degrees Celsius during the past 24 hours and ranged in between 8.2 and 11.5 degrees today, but the deteriorating situation caused biting cold forcing the people to stay indoors.
However, the overall vehicular traffic on roads and highways, plying of trains and water vessels remained normal throughout the day today though the public places became deserted from the afternoon.
The district and upazila administrations, NGOs, voluntary, socio-cultural and charitable organisations and affluent people have been continuing distribution of warm clothes among the poor and the district administrations sought more warm clothes.
The number of people, seen out of their houses on urgent needs at the bazaars, bus stands and rails stations, was lower from this afternoon though their number was normal till this noon in the region.
Reports reaching here from the remote areas said sufferings of the people living in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Bogra, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Sirajganj districts again mounted today.
The situation in the sandy char areas on the Brahmaputra basin worsened further due to blowing cooler and stronger winds that caused immense sufferings to the char people today.
Head of Agriculture of Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) and environmentalist MG Neogi told BSS today that the weather has been behaving very peculiarly with unpredictability this season due to adverse impacts of the global climate changes.
Met office sources said the country's lowest temperature of 6.9 degrees Celsius was recorded today at Srimangal.
The minimum temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius was recorded today at Rangpur, 10.6 degrees at Dinajpur, 11 degrees at Syedpur, 10.6 degrees at Bogra, 8.5 degrees at Rajshahi and 8.2 degrees Celsius at Ishwardi in Pabna.

Ensuring fundamental rights of underprivileged people stressed

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a meeting here Sunday unequivocally called for ensuring fundamental rights of the underprivileged and disadvantaged people for overall development of the nation.
They also underscored the need for bringing the poor and marginal people under mainstream of the nation's development process terming them as the integral part of the society.
Governance Coalition and Lokomorcha jointly organized the annual conference of the Lokomorcha's grassroots members at Safawang Community Center with financial support from the Wave Foundation.
Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, addressed the conference as the chief guest while Chief Health Officer of Rajshahi City Corporation Dr Abul Fazal, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Anwarul Azim, Editor of Daily Sonali Sangbad Liaqat Ali and Deputy Director of Department of Family Planning Abdus Sattar as special guests.
Fazley Hossain Badsha mentioned that around seven crore people of the country's total population have been passing their days in helpless condition and around 10 crore people are deprived of the light of education.
To overcome the miseries, he underscored the need for intensifying the movement of establishing the rights of the dressed people as not a single right could be established without movement.
He also viewed that there are many public level service- delivery organizations like education, healthcare, local governance and agriculture but, in many cases, the marginal people have no access to the services.

Sports

Citycell Bangladesh League football
Shuktara posts maiden victory over Ctg Abahani 

TBT Report

Shuktara Jubo Sangsad earned its first win in the Citycell 3rd Bangladesh League football defeating Chittagong Abahani by a solitary goal at Osmani Stadium in Narayanganj on Sunday.
Shuktara, which suffered three defeats and drew thrice in its previous six matches, dominated the most part of the match and scored the only goal through Sohel after 33 minutes to claim full three points for the first time in the league.
Leading the first session, Shuktara tried hard to increase the margin after the change of ends but its efforts were not enough to breach the visitors' defence again.
Chittagong Abahani also carved out several attempts to stage a comeback but its goal-shy forwards wasted their chances to convert them into a goal.
Shuktara secured six points from seven matches, while Chittagong Abahani collected five points from seven outings.
Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society and Feni Soccer Club shared points following a scoreless draw in the other match of the day at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Mohammad Mustafa Stadium in Dhaka.
Rahmatganj, which lost to the defending champion Dhaka Abahani and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club in its previous two matches, gleaned its second point in the seventh match. Feni Soccer Club earned nine points after its seventh round fixture.
Today's Match: Arambagh Krira Sangha vs Mukti-joddha Sangsad Krira Chakra (Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Mohammad Mustafa Sta-dium at 2:45pm).

  Zaheer, Mishra restrict Sri Lanka to 213
AFP, Dhaka

Zaheer Khan and Amit Mishra shared six wickets as India restricted Sri Lanka to 213 in a triangular one-day series match here on Sunday despite half-centuries from Kumar Sangakkara and Suraj Randiv.
Skipper Sangakkara top-scored with 68 for his 54th half-century and lower-order batsman Randiv made 56 for his maiden fifty, but Sri Lanka still failed to set a stiff target in the day-night match.
Left-arm paceman Zaheer finished with 3-38 off 10 disciplined overs, while leg-spinner Mishra took 3-40.
Sri Lanka have already made it to the final with three successive wins, while India have so far posted one victory in two games. Bangladesh have lost all of their three matches.
Sri Lanka were struggling at 84-6 after electing to bat, but Randiv added 59 for the seventh wicket with Sangakkara and as many runs for the next wicket with Thilan Thushara (28).
Sangakkara fell in the 30th over, caught by Suresh Raina at mid-wicket while attempting to pull part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh after hitting nine fours in his 78-ball knock.
Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Upul Tharanga was caught at first slip by Dinesh Karthik off seamer Sudeep Tyagi in the opening over. Tharanga, who made a century in the last match, failed to open his account this time.
Tillakaratne Dilshan, who missed the last two games because of an injury, looked in punishing mood as he cracked five fours in Tyagi's successive overs.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni replaced Tyagi with Zaheer, who struck in his opening over when he had Dilshan caught by Gautam Gambhir. Dilshan hit eight fours in his 17-ball 33.
Sri Lanka's chances of reaching a challenging total receded sharply when they lost Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby and Thissara Perera in the space of 24 runs.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka:
U. Tharanga c Karthik b Tyagi 0
T. Dilshan c Gambhir b Zaheer 33
K. Sangakkara c Raina b Yuvraj 68
M. Jayawardene c Kohli b Zaheer 5
T. Samaraweera lbw b Sreesanth 0
T. Kandamby run out 1
T. Perera c Yuvraj b Mishra 11
S. Randiv b Mishra 56
T. Thushara c Yuvraj b Zaheer 28
C. Welegedara st Dhoni b Mishra 1
S. Lakmal not out 0
Extras: (lb3, nb1, w6) 10
Total: (for all out; 46.1 overs) 213
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Tharanga), 2-42 (Dilshan), 3-60 (Jayawardene), 4-61 (Samaraweera), 5-66 (Kandamby), 6-84 (Perera), 7-143 (Sangakkara), 8-202 (Thushara), 9-209 (Randiv), 10-213 (Welegedara).
Bowling: Tyagi 7-1-46-1, Sreesanth 7-0-38-1 (w1), Zaheer 10-2-38-3, Mishra 9.1-1-40-3 (nb1, w3), Jadeja 6-1-21-0 (w1), Yuvraj 4-0-18-1 (w1), Raina 3-0-9-0.
Toss: Sri Lanka
Umpires: Enamul Haque (BAN) and Ian Gould (ENG)
TV umpire: Sharfuddoula Shahid (BAN)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).

  Bangladesh weightlifting team announced
TBT Report

Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation (BWF) announ-ced an 11-member Bangla-desh weightlifting squad, eight players and three officials, for the forthcoming 11th South Asian Games (SAG).
Bangladesh players worked hard during the last one year and are hoping to fight for golds in the impending South Asian contest, the coach of Bangladesh weightlifting team Faruk Ahmed Kajal said at a news conference at Olympic Bhaban in the city on Sunday.
"Hamidul Islam (77 kg category) and Feroj Mahmood (105+ kg category) are having good chances to shine in the competition. It would be premature to say that they will win gold but we hope they'll put up good performance," Kajal said.
Players: Akramul Haque (56 kg), Shimul Kanti Singha (62 kg), Abdullah Al Mamun (85 kg), Hamidul Islam and Monoranjan Roy (77 kg), Farhad Ali (94 kg), Bidyut Kumar Roy (105 kg), Feroj Mahmood (105+ kg).
Officials: Faruk Ahmed Kajal and Mohammad Mota-leb (Coach) and Shah Re-zaur Rahman (Manager).

  Roddick storms to victory
AFP, Brisbane

American Andy Roddick held off a magnificent fight-back from Radek Stepanek to claim a thrilling 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (9/7) victory in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday.
Stepanek saved six match points in the second set tie-break but couldn't save a seventh and when he served a double fault at 7-8, Roddick claimed the first title of the year.
Roddick seemed to be headed for a straightforward victory when he won the first set and led 5-1 in the second. But in a match reminiscent of the women's final on Saturday when Justine Henin came back from an almost identical position against Kim Clijsters, Stepanek stormed back against an increasingly agitated Roddick.
Stepanek won five straight games to lead 6-5 but once the set went to 6-6, tie-break specialist Roddick had the advantage.
The American raced to a 6-1 lead before Stepanek came back again, winning the next five points to make it 6-6.
However, the huge effort on a stiflingly hot Brisbane day seemed to take its toll on the 31-year-old Czech as his tired-looking second serve sailed just over the service line.
"It was weird-I don't think I've ever squandered a lead where I've been putting in first serves and making approach shots," Roddick said.
"The first time I served for it I had a double fault, but I don't know that I missed a ball apart from that.
"The next one I actually made five out of six first serves and again was coming in.
"Once he got down he kind of loosened up and played more aggressively.
"In the breaker I think it was the same deal," he added.
The title is the 28th of Roddick's career and his first in Australia.
"I certainly don't know if I expected to come and win my first tournament after a pretty extended lay-off," he said.

   United scrapes draw 1-1
AFP, Birmingham

Alex McLeish came desperately close to inflicting a defeat upon former manager Alex Ferguson as Birmingham City drew 1-1 at home to English champions Manchester United here on Saturday.
Victory would have seen United go top of the Premier League, with leaders Chelsea not in action this weekend after their match against Hull was one of several fixtures to fall victim to the freezing conditions affecting Britain.
The result was made worse for United by the sight of Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher being sent-off late on at St Andrews.
Cameron Jerome put Birmingham, now a club record 12 top-flight games unbeaten, ahead in the 39th minute before Scott Dann's second-half own-goal prevented the Blues from beating United for the first time in 31 years.
McLeish, who played in the trophy-winning Aber-deen side of the early 1980s managed by Ferguson, claimed before kick-off his former boss had mellowed with age and no longer threw too many tea-cups.
But it would have been no surprise if the floor of the visitors' dressing room had been covered in shards of pottery at half-time after what must have been the worst 45 minutes produced by a United side in several years.
If Ferguson was less than impressed with the performance of his team in the shock FA Cup defeat by third-tier Leeds seven days earlier, this was worse when you consider the Scot had ripped up the starting XI from Old Trafford and made no fewer than seven changes in an attempt to correct what he hoped a mere blip.
United were fortunate to only be a solitary goal behind at the break, after an insipid 45 minutes which highlighted how ineffective the champions can be without Cristiano Ronaldo.
The visitors created just one clear chance when Joe Hart saved superbly at the feet of Wayne Rooney, following Antonio Valencia's 30-yard diagonal pass.
Birmingham's relentless endeavour and determination to frustrate United deserved some kind of tangible reward just 24 hours after McLeish collected the poisoned chalice of the manager of the month award for December and it came six minutes before the interval.
Lee Bowyer's sheer will to beat Rafael to James McFadden's corner underlined United's tentative defensive work and that was compounded when Johnny Evans instinctively stuck out a leg and diverted the ball directly into the path of Jerome, five yards out and the striker accepted the gift for his fifth goal of the campaign.
But for the poor awareness and execution of Ecuador striker Christian Benitez, Jerome could have doubled the lead moments later after his partner was unable to find the correct pass in a two-on-one situation.
Whatever Ferguson said during the interval appeared to go unheeded and only a fine save from Tomas Kuszczak prevented Benitez from putting Birmingham 2-0 in front.
It was a key turning point and United, without finding any fluency, somehow managed to fashion an equaliser. Even then they needed the assistance of the unfortunate Dann, who did not deserve to be the victim, after a sterling performance alongside Roger Johnson at the heart of the Blues' defence.

  Togo pulls out of Nations Cup after gun attack
AFP, Luanda

Togo pulled out of the African Nations Cup on Saturday after at least two people were killed in a rebel ambush on its squad's convoy, despite Angola's efforts to allay security concerns ahead of kick-off.
"The Togolese government has decided to recall its team," Togolese government spokesman Pascal Bodjona said.
"We cannot in such a dramatic circumstance continue the African Nations Cup competition. This is necessary because the players are in shock." Togo's assistant coach and its squad spokesman died Friday after hooded gunmen opened fire as the team's buses crossed into the restive Angolan enclave of Cabinda, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The attack was claimed by a separatist group embroiled in a struggle for independence in the oil-rich territory.
Prime Minister Paulo Kassoma met with Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou to reassure player safety ahead of the opening match of Africa's largest football festival on Sunday.
"The prime minister considers the incident in Cabinda as an isolated act and repeated that the security of Togo's team and the other squads is guaranteed," his office said in a statement. Football teams competing in the 22-day tournament expressed deep unease about the shooting, initally reported to have wounded nine in the Togo squad, but backed the decision to continue. Togo were heading home despite an attempt by Nations Cup organisers to convince them to stay.
"If you choose to remain with us we will help you overcome your pain," Hayatou said when he met the team in Cabinda, according to a statement delivered by CAF secretary general Moustapha Fahmi in Luanda late Saturday. "If you choose to leave the competition we will understand your decision and we will accept it. It's a difficult choice. The decision is yours, and yours alone."
CAF had not received any official notification of Togo's decision to leave Angola, he said.
CAF official Kodjo Samlan said earlier reports that one of the bus drivers had been killed were incorrect. Players and others cowered under seats for 20 minutes to escape the bullets. Squad member Thomas Dossevi said they had been "fired on like dogs".
"We are all a little shocked and we're asking why CAF were holding games in Cabinda. How can you organise a tournament in a state of war?" Dossevi told AFP Saturday. On Saturday evening, goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was in a stable condition in a Johannesburg hospital where he was expected to undergo surgery after being airlifted to South Africa.

  Dementieva, Kuznetsova reach Sydney second round
AFP, Sydney

Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova toiled for over two and a half hours in sapping heat to beat Alisa Kleybanova in an all-Russian first round encounter at the Sydney International here on Sunday.
The reigning French Open champion needed three sets to put away the 29th-ranked Kleybanova, 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 on Ken Rosewall Arena after coming back from 0-3 down in the deciding set.
Kuznetsova, who will play either Dominika Cibulkova or a qualifier in the second round, said the win was important ahead of the year's opening grand slam tournament in Melbourne, starting on January 18.
"I was down 0-3 but I pushed back when I needed most and it worked for me. I played good at the important moments in the third set," Kuznetsova said.
"Alisa started to play definitely better, she started to serve better and it was difficult for me.
"I need some matches, I am happy in some way to play a long match today," she said.
"It's not good for me not to close out the match when I have to, but to have a long fight it's also good because you play lots of points and you get adjusted to the court and get tested."
Defending champion Elena Dementieva had an easier path into the second round with a comfortable 6-2, 7-5 win over Francesca Schiavone of Italy.
"I am very proud to be able to defend my title and I am looking forward to playing some tough matches here in preparation for the Australian Open," the Russian fifth seed said.
Dementieva will face Daniela Hantuchova in the second round after the unseeded Slovak brushed aside Virginie Razzano of France 6-3, 6-0.
Hantuchova, who is ranked 26, took just over an hour to see off Razzano and said the work of her Australian coach Darren Cahill was making her a better player.
"He is great, he gives me so much advice and so much more confidence and I feel a different player now and I am really thankful for the opportunity to work with him," she said. "Just listening to him and what he has to say about my game and how to set out my goals has really helped me."

  Roma beats Chievo to go fourth
AFP, Rome

AS Roma survived the 11th-minute sending off of goalkeeper Doni to beat a woeful Chievo 1-0 and move up to fourth in Serie A on Saturday.
Daniele De Rossi scored the only goal of the game in the opening minute as former Italy striker Luca Toni made his debut following his loan move from Bayern Munich.
Coach Claudio Ranieri paid tribute to his new striker, who was only replaced late on due to tiredness.
"I hoped that Toni would be as ready as this for the commitment of a match, he played well and was a great help to us," he said.
"With 11 against 11 he would have run less but even so he managed to keep us high up the pitch, he created the chance for a penalty, he fought hard and won many battles."
But that Roma managed to dominate a match in which they played almost 80 minutes with a numerical disadvantage said more about Chievo's ineptitude than their own ability.
However, Ranieri was relieved not to see the same late collapse that saw them lose a 2-0 lead in injury
time away to Cagliari in midweek.