SUNday, JANUARY 17, 2010 magh 4, 1416, muharram 30, 1430 Hijri

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Leading News

Return to Parliament, discuss India visit
PM Hasina urges opposition leader Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to return to Parliament and discuss specially her much-talked-about official visit to India, as the BNP chairperson is fiercely critical of the outcome of the trip.
Addressing a press conference on the Prime Minster's Office premises on Saturday afternoon, the Prime Minister also requested the opposition party, which has long been abstaining from attending parliament sessions, to uphold national interest above party interest. All high-profile Awami League leaders, including advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu MP, Tofail Ahmed MP, Abdur Razzak MP, Suranjit Sengupta MP, Presidium members Sheikh Selim MP, Deputy leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury MP, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, joint general secretaries Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mahbubul Haque Hanif were present.
The PM was also flanked by AL allies in the ruling Grand Alliance like Jatiya Party Chairman Hossain Mohammad Ershad, Samyabadi Dal chief and Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon MP and JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu.
The Prime Minister alleged that the BNP-Jamaat alliance is propagating falsehood over her India visit to confuse the country's people.
"Let us keep our beloved motherland above party interest and participate in the endeavor for change," she said.
Asked about the opposition party's contentions that Sheikh Hasina has sacrificed national interest during her India tour, the Prime Minister said: "They (opposition party) are habituated to spreading falsehood and canards."
Hasina said she has completely safeguarded country and its people's interests during her visit to India, during which three agreements and two MoUs were signed and a 50-point joint communiqué on the Hasina-Manmohan summit talks was issued with broad accords on major issues between the two neighboring countries. "We never sell out our country. Thirty lakh people, including my father, mother, brothers and almost all other family members, have sacrificed their lives for the independence of Bangladesh. Then, how could I and my party sell out Bangladesh or its interests!" she wondered in her rebuttal to the criticisms.
Hasina said it is Awami League which, during its previous tenure, ensured fair share of the Ganges waters through striking the Ganges water-sharing treaty.
"During my India visit, I also demanded fair share of the waters of all the 54 common rivers. I never forget to say about my country's interests. But when she (Khaleda Zia) visited India during her last tenure, she did not mention share of Bangladesh in the Ganga river," the Prime Minister told the crowded press conference.
In reply to another question on Tipaimukh Dam, she said her Indian
counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, assured her that India would do nothing that can be harmful to Bangladesh and its people.
To another question on BNP-Jamaat' anti-India campaign, the Prime Minister said nothing can be achieved through quarrelling rather mutual understanding and consensus is the only way which can ensure benefits of all in the South Asian region.
Sheikh Hasina described poverty as the biggest enemy of South Asia and emphasized collective efforts to remove poverty completely from the region.
Asked why Bangladesh could not conclude the much-expected Teesta Water-sharing Treaty during her visit, the Prime Minister said its responsibility goes to the BNP-Jamaat alliance. "A big issue like this needs much time to be settled. Then, why the BNP government didn' t take effective steps to advance the process of Teesta treaty?"
She said the BNP-Jamaat alliance did not expedite people's development rather it had stopped some 99 development projects taken up by the past Awami League government.
About the BNP-Jamaat smear campaign that through the bilateral agreements with India the present government has pushed the country's independence and sovereignty under threat, the Prime Minister said when the last Awami League government signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Treaty in 1997, BNP and its allies had said that India would occupy Bangladesh territories up to Feni district.
"But the reality is that India did not occupy our land and she (Khaleda Zia) becomes parliament member from a constituency in the Feni district," she told the journalists. Asked about the BNP statement that Sheikh Hasina's India visit was '100- percent unsuccessful', the Prime Minister quoted some lines from a poem of Rabindranath Tagore and said: " Happyness apart, I wanted to be victorious and I won."

 Yet another killing by BSF
816 Bangladeshis killed on border during 9 years

TBT Report

One more Bangladeshi citizen was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Kazipur border in Gangni upazila in Meherpur early Saturday as the killing spree of BSF on Bangladesh border continues unabated despite India's repeated pledges to stop such killings. With this five Bangladeshis were killed by BSF in first 16 days of 2010 taking the total number of deaths to 91 during the period from January 1, 2009 to January 16, 2010
The number of Bangladeshis killed by BSF during the nine years period from January 1, 2000 to January 16, 2010 stands at 816. BSF also injured 857 and abducted 897 Bangladeshis in the same period.
According to UNB News Agency, a Bangladeshi citizen was shot dead by BSF along Kazipur border in Gangni upazila in Meherpur early Saturday. The victim was identified as Shahidul Islam, 35, son of Sher Ali of the upazila.
BDR sources said BSF troops from Fulbari camp opened fire on Shahidul as he got close to the border for collecting firewood at about 5am. Later, the BSF men dragged the body into Indian territory.
Meanwhile, BDR sent a protest letter to their counterpart and demanded immediate return of the body.
The killings of unarmed Bangladeshis by the BSF on the border are continuing in clear violation of the spirit of good neighborliness as well as international law and despite repeated pledges by the Indian authorities to stop it. In every meeting between BSF and BDR and also between the higher level officials of the two countries, the Indian side assures that killing of Bangladeshis by its forces on the border would come to an end immediately. But this pledge is seldom implemented.

 BNP’s movement to continue until accords with India scrapped: Rafiq

TBT Report

BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia said that the party will launch a movement throughout the country and continue it until cancellation of three accords and memorandums of understanding signed in New Delhi.
He said this while addressing a rally organized by grassroots BNP in front of the party's Naya Paltan central office on Saturday. The rally started from party's central office and ended at the National Press club.
Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina eventually agreed to allow the use of Mongla and Chittagong seaports for movement of goods to and from India on both road and rail routes in a swap for transshipment of commodity consignments from Bhutan and Nepal through Bangladesh's frontier. Seaports, corridor in the name of Asian Highway have already been given to India ignoring country's interest through signing accords. The ruling party is giving emphasis on how to ensure India's interest. If these accords and memorandums of understanding are not cancelled, a time beffeting movement across the country will be launched.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave all sorts of facilities to India but failed to get anything for the welfare of the nation. She failed to manage the longstanding due share of Ganges water through Farakka barrage and resolve Teesta River's water related feud. Through her India visit, country's national interests have been ignored which will never be accepted by the countrymen.
In order to protect country's overall national interest and security, Begum Khaleda Zia will give schedule to go for movement which will have to be made successful with the efforts of the nationalist forces in the country. The nationalist forces will have to be organised and proactive with fresh efforts, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia said.

  Land grabbers control real state sector: Mannan Khan
UNB, Dhaka

Experts at a seminar here Saturday said land grabbers are one of the main obstacles towards the solution of the city's mounting housing problem.
"Land grabbers are a very few in number but unfortunately they're controlling the real estate sector. It cannot be allowed to continue. We can resist them by launching a social movement against them," State Minister for Housing and Public Works Affairs Ministry Abdul Mannan Khan told the seminar.
The seminar titled 'Education, Health and Housing crises; Duties' was organized by 'Dhaka Nagorik' at the National Press Club with its president Md Abul Motin in the chair.
Abdul Mannan said everyone should hate the encroachers and refrain from availing of their facilities. Referring to newspapers owned by some alleged land grabbers, the state minister said, "I consider their newspapers as toilet and tissue papers."
He called upon all to boycott such newspapers in protest against land grabbers' misdeeds and requested journalists not to work in their newspapers.
Abdul Mannan asked REHAB to drive the land grabbers away from the association to intensify the social movement against them.
About the city's housing problem, he said a long-term plan has been taken up for having a solution to the problem. "The government is thinking to solve the housing problem through Public-Private Partnership. Four satellite towns would be set up around Dhaka city soon," he said.
Dr. Shahidullah Shikder, Assistant Professor of BSMMU, presented a keynote paper on health, while journalist Syed Tosharraf on education and architect Iqbal Habib on housing at the seminar.
In his keynote paper, Dr Shahidullah said the city dwellers have been facing different types of health hazards for lack of modern sanitation system and for air and noise pollution in the city. He said modern urbanization with all civic amenities is needed to solve the problems.
Syed Tosharaf, in his article, focused on education facilities for the unprivileged children in the city. Iqbal Habib, in his article, said an appropriate urban planning can resolve the acute housing problem in the capital city.

   DUAA mega reunion calls for restoring values
DU Correspondent

The former students of Dhaka University (DU) urged the current students to restore values in their educational lives as what they said degradation of values is marring the reputation of the university these days.
The former students of the university made the call and recalled their glorious educational lives while celebrating a mega reunion marking 60 years of DU Alumni Association (DUAA) on the DU playground on Saturday.
'Lack of honesty and dignity as well as degradation of values has brought a sorry state of the university today,' Mesbahul Bari Chowdhury, the oldest alumnus, told the Mega Reunion 2010. Mesbahul Bari completed his post graduation in 1940.
Talking to reporters at the programme, former DU Vice Chancellor Moniruzzaman Miah said the university has lost its tradition due to undue entrance of 'ill-politics'.
'To regain the image of the university, it is important to practice of democracy through nourishing good political culture,' he said.
In his speech, president of DUAA and former adviser of the caretaker government Syed Manzur Elahi asked the alumnus to extend best cooperation to uphold the image of the university.
Recalling the contribution of the university in different national movements from 1952 to 1971, Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique said the students have proved their dignity upholding democracy during the military backed interim government. Leaving aside the differences of opinion and ideology, many politicians, intellectuals and others sat together to have a chat and reminisce about their old days.
The last reunion of the association was held on February 24, 2006. DUAA was established on September 24, 1949 with an aim to promote the interests of the university. Late Justice M. Ibrahim was the founding President of the association.

    Work on modification of draft nat’l health policy is on: Ruhal
UNB, Dhaka

Work on modification of the draft National Health Policy-2009 is on through accommodating recommendations of all concerned, aiming to make it pro-people.
"This health policy will be a live document as its follow-up reports would be made public regularly after a particular time gap and be revised after every five years," Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque told a press conference at his ministry Saturday. Currently, there is no health policy in the country to ensure better health services for the people.
Earlier, a draft health policy was prepared during the Ershad regime, which was changed in 2000, while another was formulated during the last caretaker government in 2008. Now the government has formulated the draft health policy 2009 after reviewing the previous two draft policies. Now it has 15 objectives, 18 principles and 49 strategies.
Asked about the timeframe for a final health policy, the Health Minister said it will get the final shape after the inclusion of more recommendations from medical colleges and hospitals. Besides, the minister said, they would elicit recommendations from different stakeholders at district level across the country. "We've already got some 3200 responses since we've posted it on the ministry' s website."
Replying to a query about better services for the poor people, the minister said they are trying to ensure standard medical facilities and primary medical treatment both at the district and upazila levels. Admitting poor management system in the health sector, particularly the lack of health specialists, technicians and infrastructure, he said the health policy would ensure balanced healthcare services both in urban and rural areas.
Ruhal Haque said the aim of the health policy is to make sure that the basic medical utilities reach the people of all strata. "Our plan is to develop a system to ensure easy accessibility of people to health services in both rural and urban areas."

Regional coop needed to address water problems
BSS, Dhaka

Experts at an international workshop here on Saturday stressed the need for regional coordination and cooperation to address the water problems in the interest of peace and welfare of the people of the region. Though the problem of water is mainly a local problem in all of the countries in the region, it could be solved regionally as many of the rivers are shared transboundary systems, they said.
They also said regional coordination and cooperation will inevitably be required for both an increased understanding of the nature of climate challenges and formulation of approaches to address such challenges effectively.
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) and the Strategic Foresight Group, India jointly arranged the workshop on 'Himalayan Sub-regional Cooperation for Water Security' at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel to develop concrete ideas for sub-regional cooperation in the Himalayan river basins. BIPSS President Major General (retd) Muniruzzaman and President of Strategic Foresight Group, India Sundeep Waslekar addressed the inaugural session of the workshop. Terming the Himalayas as a magnificent monument of nature, Muniruzzaman said being the world's highest mountain chain, it is characterized by its great height, complex geological structure, snowcapped peaks, large valley glaciers, deep river gorges and rich vegetation.n

The Himalayan glaciers from the world's largest ice-body outside the polar caps, popularly known as the 'Water Tower of Asia', they are the source of water for rivers that flow across the continent. "But the glaciers, which regulate the water supply to seven major rivers in the region, are believed to be retreating at a rate of about 10-15m (33- 49ft) and it is melting much faster than what was estimated previously," he said.
. General Muniruzzaman said this meltdown of Himalyan glaciers will ultimately reduce the amount of water in the glacier-fed rivers representing a danger not only to the immediate surroundings, but to neighbouring countries as well.

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Tk 7000cr expected as royalty for port use by India, Nepal and Bhutan: PM

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh plans to set ready its two seaports-Chittagong and Mongla-this year for the use of neighboring India, Nepal and Bhutan with an initial estimate of receiving US$ 10 million or Tk 7000 crore in royalty.
"We will have to construct roads and railway infrastructures and we will try to set ready the two seaports this year for optimum utilization," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a crowded press conference on her last week's state visit to India.
She said currently 40 percent of Chittagong seaport and 10 percent of Mongla are being utilized.
The Prime Minister said both the Chittagong and Mongla ports would be the commercial hub of the region and Bangladesh would be economically benefited.
She said India will provide transit to Nepal and Bhutan so their truckloads of commodities can enter Bangladesh as a result of regional connectivity.
Besides, Bangladeshi products will go to Nepal through Rohanpur-Singabad railway where also India will give transit to Bangladesh.
India will also provide transit to Bangladesh for transportation of its goods using Bhutan's roads and railway.
On the killing of Bangladeshi nationals on the border, the Prime Minister said the two border forces would resolve all problems through discussions to stop the killings-and it must be implemented.
Asked why the government didn't take decision on the basis of national consensus to allow India to use the seaports, Hasina said it was in her party's election manifesto which was overwhelmingly supported by the people by ballot.
She said her government will construct a deep-sea port apart from developing the Chittagong port and dredging rivers for the expansion of waterway communications.
Asked whether India has abandoned the Tipaimukh dam project as reported by some Dhaka dailies, Hasina said the Indian Prime Minister reassured her that no steps inimical to Bangladesh's interest would be taken.
Asked about the destination of India's Over Dimensional Consignments (ODCs) to be transported through Ashuganj as the joint communiqué did not mention it, Hasina clarified that the ODCs would be brought to set up their power plant at Platana in Tripura-one of the landlocked northeast Indian states.
She said India will provide 250 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh from their grid.
On India's offer for one-billion-dollar loan for development of Bangladesh's railway sector and river dredging, she said the proposed credit with 1.7 percent interest and five-year grace period to be repaid in 20 years will be beneficial for the country.
She told the newsmen that land customs stations on Sabroom-Ramgarh and Demagiri-Tegamukh frontiers will be operationalized and initiatives would be taken to open more landports.
"Establishment of border haats on the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border would facilitate the local people of both sides for trading in their products," the Prime Minister said.

  Quake sparks massive exodus from Haitian capital
AFP, Port-Au-Prince

Standing at a bus station next to her husband and four children, Talulum Saint Fils looks determined to get out of the Haitian capital that some now refer to as "hell".
"I'd go to any place but away from this city," she repeats again and again.
And many Haitians share her scathing view of Port-au-Prince, massively destroyed by Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
Thousands of residents have fled the city in recent days, saying they were tired of sleeping in the street, afraid of being robbed by ruthless gangs, or simply fearful of new powerful aftershocks that might destroy buildings that still remain standing.
If the city dwellers have relatives in the country, they gather what's left of their personal belongings and hit the road in the hope of waiting out the catastrophe in parts of Haiti that have suffered less damage.
"The streets smell of death," Saint Fils goes on in distress. "There is no assistance of any kind, and our children simply cannot live like animals."
To buy one-way tickets to Fodernerg, a small city three hours away from the capital, the family had to sell jewelry to come up with 400 gourdes (10 dollars) -- twice the usual fare.
"I'd like to rebuild our house, but where will we get the money to do it?" she asks.
When the bus comes, it is packed, and those who could not squeeze themselves on it cannot hide their anger. But bus operators just shake their heads.
"We carry twice as many passengers as usual and we have doubled the fare because there is no gasoline and no security in the city," argues Jaino Nony, owner of several buses. "But that's the right price for getting out of hell."

   Security agreement with India jeopardizes national security: Nizami

UNB, Sylhet

Jamaat chief Maulana Matiur Rahman Saturday viewed that the security agreement with India signed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her recent visit to New Delhi will jeopardize the national security and independence.
Addressing an anti-Tipaimukh Dam which is under construction by India on Borak River across the Sylhet border the Jamaat leader said the Prime Minister brought from New Delhi only a khetab and nothing else.
He said Awami League always stood against Islam and democracy whenever it came to power. He warned that the move to ban politics based on religion and convert the country into a secular state will isolate Bangladesh from the Muslim world. Such a decision will be suicidal for the nation.
Politics on religion are in vogue in many countries, even in Inida and Britain, he added.
Describing the Tipaimukh Dam a potential bomb Nizami said the move should be resisted unitedly and with all force. The nation should prepare for an all out movement against it.
He referred to the Farakka Barrage and narrated its painful impact on Bangladesh. Obstruction of natural flow of the river by the barrage turned 20 lakh acres barren. Besides, inroad of saline water made another 64 lakh acres uncultivable.

   ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’ to be compulsory: Shafique
BSS, Dhaka

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Shafique Ahmed said on Saturday the government is going to make the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) compulsory to stop harassment to justice seekers and hasten disposal of under-trial long-pending cases.
The Law Commission has already been asked to provide opinions and necessary laws would be revised in this regard, the minister said while inaugurating a training course for judges of Woman & Child Repression Prevention Tribunals at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in the city.
Presided over by JATI director general Justice M Hamidul Haque, the inaugural session was addressed, among others, by JATRI director Ashraf-ul-Haque.
Barrister Shafique said nearly eight lakh cases are now under the trial process and pointed out that justice seekers are now being harassed in disposing cases in many ways. He said the government has taken multifarious steps to ease sufferings of the people.
Referring to the option of the ADR applied in various countries of the world, he said 97 percent civil cases are being disposed of in Canada through the ADR.
Lawyers can play significant role in supplementing the government's efforts in this regard, the minister said adding that it would benefit the lawyers too.
The government would arrange necessary trainings for those lawyers who will play the role of mediators in making the ADR compulsory, said Barrister Shafique.
The minister said a financial support centre has already been set up in seven districts of the country. From where financial assistance would be provided for poor justice seekers so that they can keep continues their cases. By now, he said poor people have already started getting the benefit, he added.

    Hamid urges MPs to take firm stand against poverty
BSS, Dhaka

Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Abdul Hamid Advocate on Saturday urged the lawmakers to take a firm stand against poverty so that people don't anymore pronounce the words- 'poor', 'ultra poor' and 'extreme poor' in future.
"Parliament member irrespective of their party affiliations have to take determined stand against poverty and their efforts must be in work, not only in deed," he said.
The Speaker was addressing the closing ceremony of the Leadership Orientation Course on Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh for parliament members at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here on Saturday.
Advocate Hamid said "we have to stamp out poverty to fulfill the expectations of the people and sustain democracy."
The parliament members have to play a pioneering role to this end, he said.
Twenty parliament members from different political parties took part in the orientation course, organized by All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).
President of Bangladesh Orthaniti Society Dr Kazi
Kholiquazzaman Ahmed, Vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Agriculture University Prof. MA Sattar Mondol and Prof. Joe Divine of UK presented three papers at the function.
The orientation course was on climate change, right to information, trade policy, poverty alleviation, population control and other contemporary issues to enhance the experience and knowledge of the parliamentarians.
The orientation courses of the parliament members have already started giving result, the Speaker said adding their ideas and knowledge have already been reflected in their speeches in the House.
He also assured the parliament members of continuing similar training course for them in future.
The Speaker announced that he would constitute an all-party parliamentary group on poverty to report on the present situation of poverty as well as finding out ways for its eradication.

   Dhaka-Delhi study on 2 coal power plants from March
BSS, Dhaka

A joint technical team of Bangladesh and India will start a feasibility study next March to examine the pros and cons of installing two coal fired power plants in the country.
"We (officials of the two countries) will sit on February 18 for the preparation of a feasibility study for two coal fired power projects," ASM Alamgir Kabir, Chairman of BPDB (Bangladesh Power Development Board), told BSS on Saturday.
"One of these projects would be developed by NTPC (National Thermal Power Company) in joint venture with BPDB," he said.
As per the agreement of the first steering committee for power sector cooperation between Bangladesh and India, a six- member technical body will be formed in the proposed meeting.
The technical body will work out every detail of the MoU (memorandum of understanding) on the grid inter-connection as well as cooperation between NTPC and BPDB.
The BPDB chairman said they have selected two sites, Khulna and Chittagong. The capacity of each of the power plant is likely to be 1,320 MW, he added.

Editorial

Campus violence

Violence on the campus is nothing new in the country. The Chhatra League-Chhatra Maitra clash of January 7 on Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute resulting in the death of Maitra leader Rezanur Chowdhury Sunny is still a topic of discussion everywhere. But what happened on Friday is different. On this single day fierce clashes took place between the activists of Chhatra League and Chhatra Shibit at three places -Khulna BL College, Meherpur Government college and Dinajpur Government college leaving around 80 injured.
The three places were turned into battle grounds due to the clashes between the activists of the two rival student organisations on the occasion of welcoming the admission seekers. Dinajpur Government College has been closed sine die following the clash. At Daulatpur BL College five photo journalists of ntv, Bangla Vision, Diganta TV Deshtv, and the daily Prothom Alo were also injured during the clash.
The admission seekers could have been welcomed peacefully by both Chhatra League and Shibir. But that was not to be because like national politics the student politics too in our country has lost the right direction. It is very unfortunate that the campuses of educational institutions are so frequently turning into battlefields and rival activists are using words of weapons against each other instead of reasoning and ideals.
A ray of hope was raised when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 6 pledged in her address to the nation to introduce a healthy and positive trend in country's politics. But before any progress was attained to that end violence on the campuses of four colleges in nine days rather created added agony in public minds about the future political trend in the country. These violent incidents call for urgent action by the government to establish peaceful atmosphere on the campuses.
Since the Awami League assumed office in January, 2009, three students were killed, more than 1,000 injured and about 25 educational institutions were closed following Chhatra League's infighting or clashes with other student organisations. Apparently fed up with the activities of BCL activists Sheikh Hasina has already quit the post of the 'Organisational Head' of the organisation. But nothing has been able to dissuade the BCL activists from creating violence. Now, the Prime Minister has to take drastic action against the trouble makers including those of her own camp.

  Plight of prisoners

The plight of the prisoners in country's different jails knows no bounds as the accommodation problem is acute there and most of the jails are unable to provide medical and other facilities for the inmates. According to a report published in a national daily on Saturday, 57 out of 67 jails across the country are running without a single doctor, while convicts with rigorous imprisonment are engaged in nursing the patients as no prison has a serving nurse. The Directorate of Prisons in July 2007 sought 58 additional doctors but the proposal did not mention requirement for any nurse. However, no new doctor was posted and rather three doctors have meanwhile left the jails. Now the jail authorities have only 13 doctors for around 90,000 prisoners.
The Dhaka Central Jail has a 172-bed hospital with three doctors and the hospital remains always crowed with 250-300 patients. Chittagong Central Jail have two doctors, while Rajshahi, Sylhet, Jessore, Pabna, Kashimpur-2, Mymensingh, Dinajpur and Comilla jails have one doctor each. Over 50 jails have no hospital facilities and the authorities send the patients to nearby hospitals if their condition deteriorates. All the 67 jails are now facing acute accommodation problems as they .have prisoners over three times higher than their capacity of accommodating 27,000 inmates.As a result, the jail authorities have been facing serious difficulties.
It is not difficult to realise the appalling situation prevailing in the jails as 90 thousand prisoners have been kept in the 67 jails of the country against the capacity of 27 thousands. The jail inmates in most cases cannot be provided with the required space and facilities. The plight of the jail inmates knows no bound as almost four are accommodated in the space meant for one. Naturally they face crisis of space and almost in every jail the inmates have to sleep in shifts.
Moreover, there are other problems including lack of different facilities necessary for human beings. Whether convicts or under-trials, every prisoner is entitled to some basic rights including accommodation, food, medical care etc. But in many cases inmates of jails in Bangladesh are reportedly not getting those properly as their number is much more than the capacities of the jails.
To bring about improvement in the dismal condition prevailing in the jails steps should be taken immediately. Arrangements should be made for speedy disposal of the cases of the under-trial prisoners to enable the innocent ones to be released and thus ease the space crisis in the jails. Some new jails should be constructed on emergency basis to transfer some detainees from the overcrowded jails and also to accommodate the growing number of arrestees. Above all, adequate arrangements must be made for proper medical treatment of the prisoners considering this as their human right. To this end immediate steps should be taken to establish hospitals in all jails and to post doctors and nurses there. We must not forget that the inmates of jails- convicts or under-trials- are also human beings and entitled under law of the land to be treated so.

Analysis

Joint venture for peace

We can only succeed in eradicating the terrorism, in all its forms with concerted efforts and joint line of action between our two countries, without any further loss of time.

Iqbal Haider

In the most gloomy atmosphere around us in Pakistan, we had no reason to celebrate New Year's Eve. The morning of Jan 1, 2010, however, gave us a pleasant surprise when we read that the editors of the Jang group in Pakistan and of the Times of India group have taken a bold initiative to join hands for promotion of peace, economic prosperity, education and health much needed by the one-and-half-billion people of our two countries.
This was not the only good news on Jan 1. The civil society in Pakistan, realising the importance of peace had also observed a solidarity day under the banner of "Aman Ittehad" and took out rallies in more than 35 cities of Pakistan on Jan 1. Despite a hartaal in Sindh and fear of the terrorists, the peace rallies all over Pakistan were well attended by exuberant citizens from all walks of life. These successful demonstrations once again vindicated the burning desire of the people for peace.
I can state with confidence that the ordinary people of India equally desire peace with the same keenness, desire and sprit. It is for this reason that supporters of peace in India have once again convened a conference in New Delhi on Jan 10 in search of "A Road Map Towards Peace." We greatly appreciate this initiative of the intellectuals, political leaders, human right activists, NGOs, journalists and people from different walks of life, including Mr I K Gujral, former prime minister of India and Kuldip Nayar, a former member of the Rajya Sabha, who are two of the hosts of this conference.
The vast majority of the people do agree that war is not the solution. Over the past 62 years, the three wars with India and two battles of Siachen in 1987 and Kargil in 1999 could not help in resolving any issue. The untimely and unwarranted recent expressions of persons like Gen Deepak Kapoor about his determination to prepare for "two-front war" with China and Pakistan and deal with asymmetric and fourth-generation warfare, enhance strategic reach and joint operations with the air force and navy, etc., do cause alarm and promote a war of words between the generals of the two countries.
Pakistan is already at an unending war for the past over three years, with the worst enemies -- i.e., terrorists within Pakistan. I hope all thinking sections of the public in India would appreciate that, now or in future, Pakistan cannot afford to indulge in any aggressive designs or adventurism against India. Hence, there is nothing to fear from Pakistan. However, such expressions of war preparation, by any of the civil or military leaders of the two countries, only result in promotion of tension and strain our relations further. These statements also make the task of the peace activist much more difficult.
Not only were the wars in the past six decades destructive, but equally counterproductive and destructive was the strategy to promote jihad and jihadi organisations in Pakistan, on the pretext of keeping the Kashmir issue alive. The activities of the jihadis and extremist militant religious terrorist in the past three decades have only resulted in further loss of life, places of worship and properties not only of the Kashmiris but more so in Pakistan. The so-called jihad could not force India to budge an inch or motivate any country, including our closest allies, to pressure India to resolve the issue peacefully. Nor was the Indian economy or its image damaged by the jihadis in any significant manner.
On the contrary, it is Pakistan that is bleeding profusely on account of the undeclared ,endless war unleashed from within by the terrorists, by whatever name they may be called: Al Qaeda, or Taliban Pakistani or Afghan or any other segments of he Taliban or Fazlullah or Sufi Mohammad or Baitullah Mehsud or any other brand of terrorists. They all have a common agenda to take over the state institutions and resources of Pakistan.
Indeed, the people of India have suffered many terrorist attacks, including the attack on the Houses of Parliament of India, the tragedy of Nov 26 in Mumbai and bombing of the markets in Delhi are some of the most heinous, condemnable crimes against the state and people of India, I share the grief of the people of India and join them in condemning these terrorist forces. I would however, draw the attention of the people in India to the fact that the people of Pakistan are suffering such disasters and barbaric incidents of far worst terrorism almost every day in every nook and corner of Pakistan, where several thousands innocent citizens have lost their lives and properties. Hence, peace is our need not only for our country but also for the entire region. We can only succeed in eradicating the terrorism, in all its forms with concerted efforts and joint line of action between our two countries, without any further loss of time.
Not only the people but also the governments of the two countries agree that all disputes can be resolved through dialogue, with sincerity of purpose. In terms of priority, the first and foremost issue that needs to be addressed immediately is the futile war over Siachen.
The presence of the army of the two countries on the glaciers of Siachen is not only an avoidable heavy burden on the exchequer of the two countries but is also rapidly destroying most precious reserves of water. How ironic is the reality that the people of the two countries are already facing acute scarcity of water, but this unending war is destroying the water reserves, which will be needed by our future generations also. Hence, it is of utmost importance that the armies of the two countries must withdraw forthwith from Siachen and resolve the issue of boundaries on the table, rather than on the mountains.
I urge both India and Pakistan to show flexibility in their respective pronounced positions on Kashmir. Instead of insisting on resolving the Kashmir issue first, the emphasis should be on an end to hostilities in all forms and building confidence and trust between the two countries which is imperative for meaningful dialogues. I am not suggesting that the issue of Kashmir should be shelved or given up. All that I want to emphasise is: don't give Kashmir priority over the wider national interests of the two countries.
Our national interest always warranted "peaceful co-existence" with our neighbours. Hence, in the first place dialogues between the two countries must resume unconditionally and with the sincere commitment to resolve the issues. There is no harm if both the countries agree to accept the Line of Control, with some necessary adjustments, as the international border, at least de fecto, for the time being. With this agreement, it would be most prudent and in the best interest of the people of Pakistan, India and Kashmir, if the two countries agree to establish visa-free borders or at least visa on arrival on all points of entry and exit, as well as free exchange of economic, cultural, academic, intellectual groups and free access to the electronic and print media, etc., in all walks of life.
I am conscious of the fact that such bold decisions cannot be implemented without mobilisation of not only the opinion of the public but also of their leaders. Here I see the most vital positive role that can be played by the media of the two countries. We are fortunate that at this crucial juncture, the two biggest groups of publications -- i.e., the Jang group and the Times of India group in India -- have come forward to save one-and-a-half billion people of our region from wars, prejudices, terrorism and poverty which are most detrimental to their interest, prosperity and protection of their life and property. The two media giants, owning largely circulated print media and most popular television channels in the respective countries, are bound to succeed in influencing the opinion of the people and their leaders in breaking the deadlock and creating the environment for a meaningful dialogue between the two countries, for achievement of the aforesaid objectives of utmost importance and national interest of the people of the entire SAARC region.


The writer is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, and a former Senator, attorney general and federal minister for law, justice, parliamentary affairs and human rights. Email: ihaider45@yahoo.com

  Obama’s Rhetoric and Reality

While Iraq and Afghanistan are still burning and Pakistan is hurtling down the precipice, the hawks at Pentagon and Capitol Hill are sharpening their claws for Yemen and Somalia.

Aijaz Zaka Syed

A dear friend and fellow traveller, who like me started cheering for Barack Obama early on in his run for the presidency, these days keeps asking me: 'Do you still believe in him?'
And every time I tell her rather timidly, 'yes, I still believe in him. It's too early to give up on Obama. Our man will deliver before he leaves the White House.' And my friend, who doggedly continues to speak for the voiceless and clings on to hope, says, 'I hope you are right. I don't want him to fail either.'
But now, like the legion of other Obama supporters around the world, I am beginning to have my doubts. Even though one still springs up in his defence whenever conversations turn to his stance and the US policies and wars in the Middle East, one has this uneasy, sinking feeling that we have been here before.
True, this President is still far better; perhaps a million times better, than his predecessor. In fact, he is everything that George W Bush was not and thank God for that. It's not a small feat, not being W. Unlike his predecessor, Obama believes in what he says: From America's place in the world to the noble ideals and guiding principles that inspired its founding fathers. I don't have to quote from Obama's heart-warming speeches, full of sublime rhetoric, to make my point.
Unlike Bush 43, America's first non-white president clearly believes in dialogue and reconciliation with the world, rather than conflict and confrontation. This has been made repeatedly apparent in his reaching out to the world, including Muslims.
From breaking bread with alienated Russian and Chinese leaders to shaking hands with Venezuela's devil-hunting Chavez, Obama has gone where perhaps no US president has before. This is precisely why he has been rewarded with the Peace Nobel of course, in his first year in the White House.
However, if you pause for a moment and look beyond what Obama says, we are still stuck where W had left us a year ago. The chasm between this Cicero like president's rhetoric and reality of America's policies and actions is as breathtaking as ever. Obama's soaring eloquence is yet to translate itself into action. The change Obama has promised us all this while has yet to manifest itself on the ground, in the Middle East and beyond. In fact, absurd as it might sound, America's wars and empire project seem to be expanding under its Nobel laureate President.
While Iraq and Afghanistan are still burning and Pakistan is hurtling down the precipice, the hawks at Pentagon and Capitol Hill are sharpening their claws for Yemen and Somalia.
I agree, and I have myself gone to great lengths to emphasise that the mess America finds itself in today is not of Obama's making. From Iraq to Afghanistan, and from the continuing horror in the Holy Land to the Guantanamo Bay, he has inherited everything from his predecessor. (God, will we ever get over Bush!) But how long can Obama's ardent admirers and supporters, and that includes me, defend their hero with this fig leaf of logic? W, with his brigade of zealot supporters, is gone and is part of history.
Unfortunately, what's happening today in Iraq, in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim world is happening on President Obama's watch. He may not like it but it's past time he took responsibility for America's policies and actions. We cannot go on blaming everything on Bush, especially when he isn't around.
Like it or not, President Obama has become a prisoner of America's past. He's left holding Bush's baby-in Iraq, in Afghanistan-Pakistan and the Holy Land. Most ominously, in less than a year in office, Obama is beginning to sound and act more and more like the former president.
On issues such as tackling Afghanistan and Pakistan, which he sees as the "epicentre of Al Qaeda," and on fighting the US war on terror around the world, our Captain Courageous is beginning to speak the language of the folks who have turned our world upside down. They are the people who have been firmly and effectively rejected by the US voters, gifting a historic mandate for "real and meaningful change" to a new leader.
This administration's response and even the choice of words with regard to the latest alleged Al Qaeda plot involving a Nigerian student and targeting a Detroit-bound flight sounds so eerily similar to that of the Bush administration after 9/11 attacks. The same jingoistic 'Us Versus Them' rhetoric and attitude that have been at the heart of America's current woes and its dangerous confrontation with the Islamic world persists. No mention anywhere, nary a fleeting thought to the sources that continue to fuel this conflict, sending wave after wave of desperate but determined men to attack America.
It's now established that the Nigerian underwear bomber and the Jordanian doctor Humam Khalil Al-Balawi, who blew himself up with eight CIA operatives in Afghanistan, were motivated by the suffering wrought by the lopsided US policies in the Middle East, especially its blind support for Israel. But who cares? Who wants this conflict to end even if it makes America, and the rest of the West, an inviting, sitting-duck target of extremists?
In fact, instead of learning from the recent US mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 'bomb-them-to-the-Stone-Age' campaign of the US Right has expanded now to target Pakistan, Iran and Yemen. On the Palestine-Israel front, an initial burst of enthusiasm that generated euphoria and hopes around the world has given way to the same callous indifference in Washington that is so familiar to us. It seems Obama's promise of 'change we can' has crashed itself against the steely wall of lobbies and friends in high places that Israel has built around itself. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has the cheek to taunt and mock Obama's much hyped peace initiative and unveils a new settlement on Palestinian land on a daily basis. But then what's new? Obama is not the first US president who has surrendered himself before Israel at the first sign of resistance. And he won't be the last.
Will this ever change? As Obama completes one year in White House next week, it is time for him to think long and hard where the US and the world are headed under his leadership.
It's still not over yet. He can still take charge of his administration and free it from the oppressive legacy he's inherited. Obama can still lead the world to the dawn of hope and peace that he once promised us. It would be an epic tragedy if he allows his vision and promise of change to die a silent, and unwept death in the cynical corridors of Washington and its labyrinth of lobbies and special interests. It's now up to him to determine if he wants to perpetuate the legacy of war and oppression or leave behind a world that is more peaceful, secure and more just.
In his interview with People magazine this week, in which he rejected the talk of sending "US boots" into Yemen and Somalia, Obama talked of sending the "right message to the Muslim world."
It shows that he hasn't totally given up on his vision and ideals. However, the real, right message that Obama could send the Islamic world is not by way of more sweet-sounding, nice words but by action. We are long past the time for rhetoric, Mr President! It's time for action - real, visible action, from Palestine to Iraq and Afghanistan. After all, they are all linked.


Aijaz Zaka Syed is Opinion Editor of Khaleej Times. Write to him at aijaz@khaleejtimes.com

Viewpoints

Ban on burqa: Some questions

Is stopping a woman from wearing a form of religious dress not an infringement of her right to practice her religion freely?

Iman Kurdi

There is a man in Britain who is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison yet could walk free if he agreed to do something we all do every day. Stephen Gough is known as the naked rambler. Twice he has walked from Land's End to John O'Groats - the two extremities of Britain - wearing nothing but socks and a pair of boots. And on both occasions and on numerous occasions since, he has been arrested and thrown in jail for appearing naked in public. Every time he leaves jail, he is told he can be free if he puts some clothes on. But no sooner is he out of the gates of the jail than he strips naked again and is arrested for doing so. The result is that he has spent most of the last seven years in prison and might spend the rest of his life in prison unless he changes his mind and starts to wear clothes.
Why? Why would anyone choose to walk around naked? To most of us his lifestyle choice seems not only bizarre but insane. Gough claims he is making a stand for individual freedom. He should have the right to wear clothes or not; it is a matter of individual choice. The law disagrees. It is an offense to appear naked in public.
At the other end of the scale, it may soon become an offense to walk down the street entirely covered from head to toe. Not in Britain, but in neighboring France. The covering could be any kind of clothing but is likely to be the black cloth that covers head, body and face known as the burqa. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has made it clear that some kind of legislation will be implemented and has stated that the burqa "is not welcome in France". And why is it not welcome? Because it runs "contrary to French values and contrary to French ideas of a woman's dignity."
This last word, "dignity", is the key. Politicians and commentators use it again and again on this matter. Take for instance Fadela Amara, the French secretary of state for urban policies, a Muslim woman and a veteran feminist campaigner. She has stated that she is against the burqa because it diminishes the dignity of women. For her it is not a religious issue but a gender equality issue. It is in order to protect the rights of women that the burqa is to be banned.
WHY would any woman choose to walk around covered from head to toe? To most Europeans, this lifestyle choice seems bizarre and though not necessarily insane, somewhat perverted and extreme. There is also the widespread belief that women do not do it out of free choice but out of coercion. Add to that the niqab is in many ways the physical embodiment of a view of Muslim women as oppressed and subjugated and it is easy to see why it could be considered incompatible with French republican values. But banning it?
There are two immediate issues. The first concerns religious freedom. The second concerns implementation.
Is stopping a woman from wearing a form of religious dress not an infringement of her right to practice her religion freely? For that to be the case wearing the burqa must be seen to be a religious requirement. If you consider a face veil to be part of a woman's religious duty then yes. If you do not think that Islam requires women to cover their faces then no. The parliamentary inquiry charged with examining the issue of the burqa in France is due to report next week.
You can bet two things. The first is that it will report that conventional Muslim thinking does not recognize the covering of the face as part of a Muslim woman's religious duty. The second is that wearing the burqa goes against French republican values and must, therefore, be banned.
BUT how do you implement such a ban? Is a woman who walks down the street wearing a burqa going to be thrown in jail for doing so? The first proposal, put forward by Jean-François Copé, the leader of the ruling parliamentary party, proposes a fine of 750 euros for anyone who appears totally covered in a public place. Copé's proposal is not only unworkable but also likely to be easily challenged either by the French constitutional court or by European human rights legislators. In any case, the proposal is a political stance by Copé, eager to make a name for himself, and is unlikely to become law in its present form. What we are likely to see is first a parliamentary resolution stating that the burqa is incompatible with French values. This resolution would not have any legal binding, but it would pave the way for ensuing legislation banning the burqa in specific instances and specific settings.
People should be free to dress as they please. It should have no importance to others whether a person chooses to wear a skirt or a pair of trousers, whether they choose to cover their hair with a scarf or a hat and their face with a veil or a mask à la Michael Jackson.
But do you remember how Michael Jackson was branded a "whacko" for hiding his face in public? Clothing is one thing, hiding your face is another. By doing so you withhold your identity and you place a screen between yourself and others.
Why is a naked man so offensive? He may be free to do as he wishes except that in doing so he exposes us, the public, to his nudity, a sight that offends us.
Conversely a woman may choose to cover herself up entirely as she walks down a French street, but her choice, if free choice it is, may be offensive to those who behold her. She may think she is upholding her dignity by covering her flesh from prying eyes. Indeed personal dignity may be the very reason she chooses this form of dress, but to Western eyes it is the very opposite. Covering up her identity is equivalent to saying, "I wish to be a blank, I do not want you to know anything about me except that I am a woman and I am a Muslim." It is a refusal to engage with others as well as a refusal to blend in with the prevailing culture.
I don't like the burqa and I would rather not see French Muslim women wearing it, but banning it is wrong. Whatever politicians say, it is an attack on Muslims. When Sarkozy says the burqa is not welcome in France, he is saying that a certain visible minority of Muslims are not welcome in France, and that is religious discrimination. Banning it will also encourage the further politicization of a subject that should be left alone. It is giving ammunition to the extremists on both sides. Besides, at the end of the day, is a piece of black cloth really that offensive?

  Fallout From Copenhagen

The EU had virtually no presence in Copenhagen; it was little more than a bystander: all ghost, no Hamlet!

Jean-Pierre Lehmann  

The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference marked the end of a decade of numerous global conferences and summits not with a bang but with a fairly pathetic whimper.
What they underlined were the profound transformations in the global balance of power that had taken place in a decade. None perhaps was more visible than the decline of the European Union, a major "victim" of Copenhagen.
Prior to Europe's uncontestable global dominance being shattered by WWI and the subsequent rise of the US, in 1900 to 1910 the region had reached its apogee. In spite of the introduction of the Euro and the expansion of the EU's membership to include countries formerly under the Soviet imperialist yoke and its still considerable economic weight - 22 percent of world GDP - 2000 to 2010 would appear to be Europe's swan song as a pre-eminent global power, with Copenhagen as the not-so-grand finale.
During this period the EU failed to adjust to the global transformation that has witnessed the remarkable rise of a number of new emerging economic and geopolitical powers, as it has also failed to refurbish the transatlantic relationship, which for the entire second half of the 20th century was the bedrock of global governance and of Europe's role and position in the world. The demise of the transatlantic alliance will be seen as one of the legacies of this decade.
Europe's major failure has been its incapacity to get its act together. Throughout the decade, it acted not as a cohesive grouping but a collection of states running in different directions. This last decade abounds with examples. When the US invaded Iraq, the EU split between the adamant supporters, led by the UK, and the adamant opponents, led by France and Germany. It is difficult to imagine that the simple appointment of an EU trade policy supremo, as is now the case, will suffice to bridge these kinds of profound geopolitical differences.
A somewhat less dramatic but nevertheless revealing example was the split between a liberal North (the Scandinavian countries, The Netherlands, Germany and the UK) and a protectionist South (the Mediterranean countries with some allies in the East, e.g. Poland) in what was known as the 2005 "bra war" between the EU and China; this erupted as a result of an alleged "invasion" of the European market of Chinese textiles and garments (including bras) following the ending of the multi-fiber agreement, something which had been agreed to by WTO members ten years earlier. Things are calmer on the EU trade front at the moment, but that is primarily because the US has stalled the Doha Round.
In all previous rounds, outcomes were determined by whatever arrangement was reached between the EU and US. That same tactic was attempted shortly before the WTO Cancun ministerial meeting in 2003 and lamentably failed. Today, the US will need other allies in trade, as in other areas - notably Brazil, India and/or China. Europe's inability to get its economic act together was also well illustrated in the absence of a united response to the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 - leading former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer to describe EU policy as "half-baked". The most egregious example of the EU muddle has been the saga of the "Constitution/Lisbon Treaty".
This was a top-down process, whereby the EU leaders proposed to impose upon its citizens, without consultation and relatively sparse explanation, initially a Constitution, which, when rejected by referendums in France and The Netherlands in the spring of 2004, changed into a treaty signed in the Portuguese capital.
The decade ended in December 2009 with the farcical spectacle of the appointment of an EU President and Foreign Policy Supremo, the Belgian Hermann van Rompuy and the British Lady (Catherine) Ashton, neither of whom have any significant global or even European experience.
The obsolescent nature of global governance in the 21st century is illustrated by many institutions, notably by the G7 where the EU is over-represented - France, Germany, Italy and the UK are members. This anomaly was partly rectified with the inauguration of the first G20 Summit in Washington in November 2008 and then with the confirmation at the Pittsburgh Summit in September 2009 that henceforth it would serve as the body of global economic governance.
The EU instead of getting its act together through a coherent and cohesive single European representation, not only insisted on retaining the original four states of the G7, but three more - the Netherlands, Spain and the European Commission - were added. EU governance emerges as a noisy bundle of contradictions.
As European influence and prestige waned, one area where it could still claim leadership was in the climate change agenda. But even that eroded. The Copenhagen Conference has generally been seen as a failure, in some cases a fiasco. For the EU it was a humiliation. As the European host of what was supposed to be an event of immense significance, Denmark displayed an astonishing logistical and organizational ineptitude. That in itself was embarrassing.
What was humiliating was the fact that the adamant position EU leaders had taken that Copenhagen should deliver a precise deal on carbon emissions was ignored. The EU had virtually no presence in Copenhagen; it was little more than a bystander: all ghost, no Hamlet!
From a more global perspective, a key lesson of Copenhagen is that US unilateralism is dead; multilateralism is the only option. But the new multilateralism as it has emerged this decade and was confirmed in Copenhagen places the EU more as a spectator than an actor. Copenhagen shows that the transatlantic alliance is moribund. President Obama's time was mainly spent in seeking to woo the so-called "BASIC" countries - Brazil, South Africa, India and China. The "accord" that was reached had no EU input. The President of the European Commission learned of the deal in a text message on his cell phone.
On the basis of trends in the first decade of the 21st century, so vividly highlighted by Copenhagen, the next decade risks seeing an acceleration of European decline and increasing global irrelevance. This is regrettable. For all its failures and foibles, Europe - including in this vital area of climate change - has a good deal to offer. No trend is irreversible; hence these trends of European decline and irrelevance could conceivably be reversed.
This would require, however, a major transformation in European mindsets - not just of the leadership but of the public as well - that at the dawn of the second decade of the 21st century is difficult to fathom.

Jean-Pierre Lehmann is professor of International Political Economy and the founding director of The Evian Group at IMD. The paper was written for the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization

  Of Faulty US Intelligence

Millions of dollars of aid and development projects being poured into conflict and radicalised areas are not going to help matters when they are perceived as blood money.

Faryal Leghari 

Forward Operating Base Chapman is likely to gain case-study status in the hushed corridors of Langley. It denotes a fatal error in security at the CIA base in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. As a result, the agency credibility has suffered a serious blow.
In a highly successful suicide attack, the CIA recruited asset, Jordanian national Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi, managed to kill seven agents, including the base chief. A recent US Central Command (CENTCOM) report has criticised the state of intelligence in Afghanistan and called for sweeping reforms, an imperative war requirement. Given, that intelligence is immensely crucial to the counter-insurgency/terrorism war currently underway; the recent performance on that front does not bode well for the coalition.
The fact that Balawi also worked for Al Qaeda and the Jordanian Intelligence has added a complex mix to the brew. Double and even triple agents are nothing new in the sifting sands of the espionage world. However, Balawi's success in hoodwinking the CIA and Jordanian intelligence speaks volumes for his mastery in gaining their trust and the desperation of the agencies to grab any chance at getting through to the inner ring of Al Qaeda high command. Apparently, Balawi was being used to get to Ayman al Zawahiri, second in command to Osama bin Laden.
To top it all a recently aired video shows Balawi sitting next to Hakimullah Mehsud, the new head of Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan, implying a definite Pakistani Taleban connection. While Al Qaeda has already claimed the attack, Balawi in his pre-attack video (date unknown) speaks of avenging the death of Baitullah Mehsud the former TTP head. It confirms recent assertions made by the TTP that it was targeting US operations in Afghanistan. Who exactly masterminded Base Chapman operation is not that important. The fact that it was successfully realised is what counts. Security analysts and intelligence specialists are of the opinion that different groups may be working in collusion in the region. Finally, they seem to have woken up to the realisation that the bad boys of all stripes -the Taleban, Al Qaeda, the Haqqani network, the TTP etc-have entered a strategic insurgency alliance aimed at defeating the international forces. A typical consequence of foreign forces presence in areas populated by tribes and insurgent groups. It is ironic that different groups, even those who are engaged in power struggle, somehow cast aside differences and work in tandem in the face of an outside threat. Even if outside foreign military presence comes with good intentions, it is perceived as an occupying force and a threat.
A largely Al Qaeda import from Iraq to Pakistan, suicide attacks are now staple occurrence especially among the TTP cadres and a choice method of warfare. However, to date, the TTP has targeted only the Pakistani state. While former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination is believed to be carried out by TTP, the organisation's claim to fame came from its successful cultivation of a terror network, hardened recruits and employment of brutal tactics, including butchering and slaying of captive soldiers.
With the Pakistan armed forces targeting TTP positions in South Waziristan, many of the operatives reportedly dispersed in surrounding agencies and fled across the border in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taleban have rejected claims made by TTP leadership of their support in Afghanistan, but the recent video confirms these assertions to some extent. While Balawi had obvious links with TTP leadership, the attack itself is likely to have been an Al Qaeda operation.
Balawi's case deserves more than a cursory viewing. It reaffirms the argument of the elite jihadist, a concept that negates the typical formula of poverty + lack of education + social betterment opportunities = radicalisation. An insight into what tripped Balawi towards an extremist path came from his family. The fact that the Jordanian doctor was picked up and interrogated by the Jordanian intelligence for three days at the time of the last Israeli offence in Gaza led to his decision of adopting a radical line. It may well have been the catalyst that pushed him over to the extreme. Balawi is believed to have been writing in support of Palestinians on some extremist websites. It is not certain when or how he may have established contact with Al Qaeda. What is noteworthy is that in such a short period of time, Balawi proved his worth as a valuable asset. More interesting is the reaction of the Balawi's close family members who have defended his attack against Americans. The impassioned avowal of supporting such acts is mind boggling for many in the US. What has America done to deserve such hatred and suffer such attacks? The answer may well come from an honest appraisal of its policies. Something, Washington is loathe to do. What is incomprehensible to US policy makers is the connection between Muslim grievances and the war on terror. The US fails to realise that a perpetuation of its policies especially the ones in support of Israel and its couched foreign policy agenda including invasion of Iraq and its presence in Afghanistan has spawned Muslim radicalism to an extent that it is a global phenomenon. Drone strikes, killing of innocent civilians, subjecting injustices in Abu Ghuraib, Guantanamo Bay and Bagram have all contributed to strengthening the perception that US agenda is anti Muslims. It is well exploited by Al Qaeda and others.
No wonder that hundreds of cellular organisations have cropped up worldwide and have established allegiance with Al Qaeda. That is why killing or capturing bin laden or Zawahiri is hardly going to sweep the board clean or make homeland America a safer place.
The core issue of Palestine is especially significant for its inadvertent impact on shaping a radical mindset. Procrastination on resolving the Palestine-Israel dispute marked by an obvious reluctance to push Israel anymore- beyond the initial freeze settlements demand that quickly turned to a quiet 'restraint'- is hardly helping matters. President Obama as a result has damaged his credibility and lost goodwill and trust of millions of Muslims worldwide who were more than willing to give him a chance to redeem the sins of the previous regimes. Similarly Kashmir long relegated to the backburner needs immediate addressing.
Millions of dollars of aid and development projects being poured into conflict and radicalised areas are not going to help matters when they are perceived as blood money.
Washington may deply another half a million soldiers in Afghanistan but it cannot achieve its objectives unless it is ready to fight its own demons. It needs to disassociate itself from allies that have only managed to contribute to its downfall and have caused irreparable damage to its image. More than that all the good and positive embodied in the US system stands nullified when it chooses to pursue a course of self destruction. It is time for a change within.


Faryal Leghari is Assistant Editor of Khaleej Times and can be reached at faryal@khaaleejtimes.com

International

Pak govt files review petition against NRO verdict
Dawn Online

Pakistan government has filed a review petition against the short order of the Supreme Court's National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict. The verdict had ordered the reopening of criminal and corruption cases against politicians including President Asif Ali Zardari. The government had appointed the Advocate on record Raja Abdul Ghafoor to file the review petition against the verdict's short order.
January 16 was the declared deadline for filing a review petition to challenge the court's verdict.
In addition, Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Naveed Ahsan and Additional Prosecutor General NAB will also be filing a review petition.
Former attorney general Malik Qayyum will also file a review petition to clear his name as mentioned in the short order.
On December 16, the 17-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary, declared the NRO unconstitutional and illegal. The detailed judgment on the NRO case is still awaited.
Former Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum moved a review petition in the Supreme Court on Friday, requesting it to remove the adverse observations it made against him while deciding the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), explaining that whatever he had done was under instructions of the then government.
Headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, a 17-judge Supreme Court bench had, on Dec 16, 2009, ordered the federal government to proceed against Malik Qayyum for his unauthorised, unconstitutional and illegal acts of conveying to Swiss authorities willingness of the Pakistan government to withdraw money laundering cases pending in Swiss courts against President Asif Ali Zardari.
In its short order, the court was bitter that no order or any authority was established authorising the former AG to address unauthorised communication and thus the conduct of Malik Qayyum resulted in unlawful abandonment of claims of the Pakistan government to $60 million allegedly laundered money lying in foreign countries, including Switzerland.

  Afghan MPs reject many new Karzai cabinet nominees
Dawn Online

The Afghan parliament has rejected 10 of 17 new cabinet nominees suggested by President Hamid Karzai.
The vote comes two weeks after MPs turned down most of Mr Karzai's first choices, dealing him a serious blow.
Two key posts were approved - Mr Karzai's former security adviser Zalmay Rasul as foreign minister and Habibullah Ghalib as justice minister.
However, MPs backed only one of the three women nominees, Amina Afzali, as work and social affairs minister. The two women put forward for the posts of public health and women's affairs were rejected.
The BBC's Mark Dummett, in Kabul, says Mr Karzai had hoped to have his new cabinet in place before a crucial donor conference in London on 28 January, but that now appears impossible.
However despite the setback, the president now has 14 of 24 ministers confirmed including the most powerful ones in charge of foreign, defence and interior ministries, our correspondent adds.
It is not yet clear when the president will propose names to fill the vacant positions and when Parliament will vote for these candidates.
After the first vote on 2 January, Mr Karzai ordered MPs to cancel their winter break to speed up progress towards getting a functioning government in place.
The rejection of 17 of Mr Karzai's 24 original choices was seen as a blow to his authority, already damaged after an election marred by fraud in August.
The new list included none of the previously rejected nominees.
MPs spent the last week questioning the new candidates ahead of Saturday's vote, which was carried out by secret ballot.

  Anti-terror war has paralysed Pakistan economy, US told
Dawn Online

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday that the US-led war against terrorism in the region and the consequent violence in Pakistan had almost paralysed the country' economy.
The president was talking to a US delegation led by the Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke. US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson was also present.
The president said that Pakistan's industrial growth and export potential had been severely restricted - first, because the region was a theatre of war against a rival ideology in the past, and second, because of rising militancy in the country as a consequence of the first.
According a handout, Mr Zardari criticised new US measures for screening Pakistanis at airports and said the policy had triggered a "negative social and political impact" in Pakistan.
According to the president's press secretary Taimoor Azmat Usman, Mr Zardari told the American delegation that the policy had "generated disappointing and damaging response" in Pakistan. "These (screening) procedures are no doubt derogatory for the people of Pakistan," he added.
Expressing his "personal concern" over the new screening policy, Mr Holbrooke assured the president that the decision would be reviewed soon.
He said the policy had been framed by the Homeland Security Department, but it would "come under a review shortly".
Issues relating to drone attacks, war against militancy, reconstruction opportunity zones in Fata, Coalition Support Fund arrears and economic assistance also came under discussion.
The president pointed that drone strikes had undermined the consensus against the war on militancy. He reiterated his government's demand for transfer of drone technology to Pakistan.
The delegation informed the president that the US administration was clearing $349 million left over from 2008 dues. In addition, $1.4 billion in dues of 2009 are going through accounting process and will be released shortly. This should clear all dues under the Coalition Support Fund, they added.
According to the president's spokesman Farhatullah Babar, Mr Zardari also called for greater access to US and European markets and told the delegation that economic cost of the war against terror had touched a staggering $35 billion.
The US officials said they understood the arguments, but such matters needed time-consuming legislation. "The process has already begun."
The US, they added, was also expediting the legislative process for creating reconstruction opportunity zones and some kind of preferential tariff regime for goods from Pakistan.

  Malaysia mosque vandalised amid Allah row
Reuters, Kuala Lumpur

A Malaysian mosque was vandalised following attacks on 11 churches, threatening to deepen a row over the use of the word "Allah" to refer to the Christian God in this mainly Muslim but multiracial country.
The Saturday incident in the Borneo island state of Sarawak is the first against a mosque after the arson and vandalism attacks on churches, and could stoke anger among Malay Muslims who make up 60 percent of the country's 28 million population.
Malaysia's deputy police chief Ismail Omar said police found broken glass near the outside wall of the mosque, and warned troublemakers against whipping up emotions*.
"Don't make any speculation. We are investigating this incident. The situation remains peaceful and no one should take advantage of this to create something bad," Ismail told Reuters. Ismail could not confirm whether the bottles thrown at the mosque were that of alcoholic beverages, which is forbidden to Muslims, but said he believed the act was vandalism.
Court Ruling
The row stems from a court ruling that allowed a Catholic newspaper to use "Allah" in its Malay-language editions, which caused Muslims to protest outside mosques on Friday last week. Most of the attacks have been against churches but a Sikh temple was also vandalised on Wednesday.
The office of the lawyer representing the Catholic publication in the court case over the use of the word was broken into and ransacked on Thursday.
The use of "Allah" is common among Malay-speaking Christians, who account for 9.1 percent of the population, especially in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Opinions are split, but many Malays have expressed unhappiness over allowing the word to be used by Christians.
A page created in the online networking site Facebook to protest the use of the word by non-Muslims has so far attracted more than 220,000 users.
The Berita Harian Malay language newspaper reported on Saturday that 70 Muslim-Malay groups would submit on Monday a memorandum appealing for intervention from the titular Malay rulers who oversee Islamic affairs in their respective states.
The government has warned that laws, including the Internal Security Act that allows detention without trial, would be deployed to keep tensions from boiling over.
A 25-year-old Malay student was charged in court on Friday with threatening public safety following a comment he reportedly made on his Facebook page offering to throw petrol bombs.

  US releases names of prisoners at Bagram, Afghanistan
BBC Online

US authorities have released the names of 645 prisoners held at Bagram air base in Afghanistan in response to a freedom of information lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sought documents related to the detention and treatment of prisoners at the base. The ACLU said vital details about the prisoners had been withheld. US officials had previously refused to publish the list. One lawyer said the move was "completely unprecedented". Melissa Goodman, a lawyer at ACLU, said the publication of the names was "an important step toward transparency and accountability at the secretive Bagram prison". But she said it was only a first step.
"Full transparency and accountability about Bagram requires disclosing how long these people have been imprisoned, where they are from and whether they were captured far from any battlefield or in other countries far from Afghanistan," she said.
A separate letter released by the US Defense Department on Friday said a "very small number" of prisoners were under 16 years of age, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Internet adds: ACLU Asks for Documents on Bagram Prison, Where the US Still Holds 600 Prisoners.
The Obama administration argues that the prisoners at Bagram-some who have been there 6 years-do not have habeas corpus rights. That's not looking backwards. It is current policy.

  US, Norway deny funding ouster of Sri Lanka president
AFP, Colombo

The United States and Norway on Saturday denied funding Sri Lanka's main opposition to defeat President Mahinda Rajapakse's re-election bid later this month. The US embassy in Colombo said it "strongly" rejected the charges made by a ruling party legislator that he was given 30 million rupees (265,000 dollars) that had come from the US and Norwegian embassies to defect to the opposition. Legislator Mohamed Musammil told reporters in Colombo Friday that he was given a suitcase full of the cash to defect and support the main opposition presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka.
"This is the money which had come from the US embassy, the Norwegian embassy," Musammil said.
The US and Norwegian embassies in separate statements denied the allegation and said they were ready to work with whomever won the January 26 election. The two countries had backed Colombo's failed peace bid with Tamil separatists.
"The United States is neutral and we strongly condemn allegations that we are supporting one side over another," the US statement said.
Norway, which was the peace broker until the Rajapakse administration withdrew from a faltering truce and escalated a military campaign against the Tigers early last year, denied it was funding the opposition in Colombo.

  Rocket strikes diplomatic area in Afghan capital
AP/ UNB, Kabul

A rocket slammed into a Kabul district housing several embassies, the latest in a series of attacks in the Afghan capital despite heavy security measures.
In southern Afghanistan, two NATO service members were killed Friday by a roadside bomb, the alliance said without giving their nationalities.
No casualties were reported in Friday's nighttime blast in Kabul, which occurred in the Wazir Akbar Khan district that includes the German, Japanese and British embassies. Police said the rocket landed on side street and broke a few windows. Such attacks are far rarer in Kabul than in Baghdad during the height of the Iraq war, when the Iraqi capital was shaken daily by numerous explosions.
However, a rocket exploded Dec. 26 inside the grounds of the Afghan Defense Ministry in the center of Kabul near the presidential palace, causing no casualties.

 Russia says chances remain for Iran nuclear talks
Xinhua, Moscow

Russia has urged relevant parties to exert more efforts in a search for mutually acceptable solutions to the Iranian nuclear issue, while eying on possible negotiation, said a spokesman for Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday.
"We believe that there is still some room for maneuvering on the negotiating track," Andrei Nesterenko told a press briefing.
"Iran stated more than once that the country would launch the additional enrichment of its low-enriched uranium to 20 percent independently," said Nesterenko, "We believe that at the current stage it is important to focus efforts on the search for mutually acceptable solutions."
Under a draft deal brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency, most of Iran's existing low-grade enriched uranium should be shipped to Russia and France, where it would be processed into fuel rods with the purity of 20 percent. The higher-level enriched uranium will then be transported back to Iran. However, Tehran rejected a Dec. 31 deadline imposed by the U.S. administration to accept the deal and posed its own ultimatum earlier this month.
Expectations low for big powers' meeting on Iran
Meanwhile Diplomats from six major powers meet on Saturday to discuss whether Iran should face new U.N. sanctions for refusing to halt sensitive nuclear work, but Western envoys said China's decision to send a low-level official ruled out a quick deal.
The meeting comes after Tehran ignored a year-end 2009 deadline set by U.S. President Barack Obama for the Islamic Republic to respond to an offer from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China of economic and political incentives in exchange for Iran halting its nuclear enrichment program.
Five of the six nations that made the offer are sending senior Foreign Ministry officials-so-called political directors-to the meeting.
But China decided not to send its political director. Instead, Beijing is expected to send a low-level diplomat from its U.N. mission, diplomats in New York told Reuters.
"We're expecting a political expert from the Chinese mission who won't have any decision-making authority," a diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
China's virtual snub of the six-power meeting has caused consternation among the four Western powers in the group, which had hoped to use Saturday's meeting to reach an agreement on whether to begin drafting a new Security Council resolution on a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Tehran.
Diplomats said they did not know China's motive, speculating it might be to illustrate Beijing's resistance to punishing Iran with more sanctions or dismay at U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing views as a renegade province. "There's not much point in having the meeting in light of the Chinese representation but we're going to have it," a diplomat from one of the six countries said. "We need to send a message to Iran that we're not dropping this issue."

  Qaeda has never abandoned Yemen, just getting stronger
AFP, Sanaa

Recent activity by the Yemen branch of Al-Qaeda, including its claimed bid to bring down a US airliner, means the group is getting stronger in the region rather than having opened a new front, analysts say.
The jihadist network founded by Osama bin Laden, whose ancestral home is this impoverished corner of the Arabian peninsula, has remained entrenched in Yemen even under a crackdown by the authorities, they say.
Its numbers have in recent months been swelled by fighters fleeing neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where life has become increasingly precarious for them.
Even so, the government continues its relentless campaign to eradicate the group, and claimed on Friday to have killed six of its leaders.
Yemeni analyst Said al-Jemhi cautions that "one must never forget that Al-Qaeda has its origins in Yemen.
"The country has been a refuge, even if only temporarily, for Arab fighters returning victorious from the jihad against the (Soviets) in the 1980s."
Here, unlike in their home countries where they were viewed with suspicion, they were welcomed as heros. Some of the Yemenis among them were even incorporated into the country's security apparatus.
Al-Qaeda's history of attacks against American targets dates back to December 29, 1992, when the first such incident took place in Yemen's port city of Aden but had an unexpected twist to it.
Bombers targeted a hotel in the port of Aden thought to be housing US marines en route to Somalia. But the marines had already left and the only victims were non-Americans, said alternately to be two tourists, or a tourist and a hotel employee.

  Former Iraq PM unveils alliance to fight election
AFP, Baghdad

Iraq's former pro-Western prime minister Iyad Allawi on Saturday unveiled a broad secular alliance of candidates to contest the country's general election on March 7.
Allawi, a Shiite politician who in exile mounted an opposition movement against Saddam Hussein, was provisionally appointed by Washington as Iraq's first premier after the dictator's ouster in the US-led invasion of 2003.
He held the post for just under a year.
His public profile and influence has since slipped-he currently has no ministers in the war-torn nation's government-but he is a sworn foe of current Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whom he aims to unseat. "We are a national political entity, committed to serving all Iraqis and we call on them to join us," Rafa al-Essawi, the country's Sunni deputy prime minister, told hundreds of people at a glitzy Baghdad ceremony.
Allawi did not speak at the gathering where candidates for his Al-Iraqiya Alliance were unveiled but he was flanked by Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi who fired an opening verbal salvo at Maliki.
"He (Maliki) has failed to create a state of citizens to replace a state of (religious) communities," Hashemi told candidates and onlookers at the launch ceremony held at Al-Rasheed Hotel.
The prominent Sunni lawmaker Saleh al-Mutlak, who has been banned from competing in the March poll for alleged links to Saddam's former regime, is also a member of Allawi's alliance and was at the ceremony.
Allawi served as prime minister from June 2004 until being replaced by transitional premier Ibrahim Jaafari in May 2005, who in turn was succeeded by Maliki in Iraq's first parliamentary elections in December the same year.

  Fort Hood shooting was terrorism, U.S. says
Reuters, Washington

The shooting rampage at a U.S. Army base in November was "an act of terrorism," an Obama administration official said on Friday, as the Pentagon ordered an overhaul of protocols to spot threats within the military.
Reviews ordered on Friday by the Pentagon and White House exposed shortcomings in both intelligence and oversight before the Nov. 5 shooting, which authorities blame on a military psychiatrist.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said his department was still "burdened by 20th century processes and attitudes mostly rooted in the Cold War," and needed to do more to combat self-radicalization. "Our counterintelligence procedures are mostly designed to combat an external threat such as a foreign intelligence service," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon, adding there was not enough focus "on internal threats."
Major Nidal Malik Hasan faces 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder for the rampage at Fort Hood Army base in Texas.
The case has drawn criticism after it became known Hasan had been in contact with a Muslim figure sympathetic to al Qaeda.
A senior official in President Barack Obama's administration declined to say whether Hasan might have been taking orders from abroad but did call the shooting "an act of terrorism."
It was a rare use of the phrase by an administration official to describe the Fort Hood killing spree.
SPYING ON MOSQUES?
How exactly the military aim to spot self-radicalization among U.S. forces-the kind U.S. officials believe preceded the shooting-remains an open question.
Authors of the Pentagon-ordered review who recommended greater attention to any internal threat within the military ruled out sending spies into mosques, for example.
"Do we want commanders (eavesdropping) in the mosque? No. Do we want anybody there? No," said Togo West, a former Army secretary who helped lead the review for the Pentagon.
"What we want is commanders' awareness of what's happening in their units and what's happening with their people."

  Palestinians fight settlements with new planned suburb
AFP, Ramallah

Bulldozers are carving out a new suburb on a hilltop in the occupied West Bank. For once it isn't a Jewish settlement but the first ever planned Palestinian suburb.
The developers of Rawabi, as the community is known, hope it will one day provide much-needed housing for some 40,000 people and help cement Palestinian claims to the territory amid similar communities built by settlers.
"The city is not a settlement," says Bashar al-Masri, head of the Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, which is carrying out the 700-million-dollar (480-million-euro) project along with Qatar's Diar Real Estate Company.
"Instead it can be considered a Palestinian attempt to keep Palestinians on their land in order to contain Israeli settlement," he says.
The building of a modern suburb in the West Bank, which is governed by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and receives considerable international aid, is in sharp contrast to the lingering devastation in the Gaza Strip, which has been under strict closure since the Hamas movement seized power in 2007.
The first phase of the Rawabi project calls for the construction of some 22 residential buildings housing 20,000 people within three years. The second phase will double the occupancy over the following three years.
The city will include schools and hospitals, and the homes will be within the means of middle-class Palestinians, with units selling for 50,000 to 80,000 dollars (35,000 to 55,000 euros). Covering some 630 hectares (1,500 acres), it will be one of the largest investment projects in the occupied territories, and has won the enthusiastic support of the Palestinian Authority.

  Bipolar diagnosis jumps in young children
Reuters, Boston

The number of children aged 2 to 5 who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed powerful antipsychotic drugs has doubled over the past decade, according to research released on Friday.
The research suggests that while it is still rare to prescribe powerful psychiatric drugs to 2-year-olds, the practice is becoming more frequent.
The data, compiled from 2000 to 2007, and published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, could inform testimony at the upcoming Boston-area murder trials of the parents of 4-year-old Rebecca Riley. The girl died of an overdose of mood-stabilizing medication in 2006.
A Boston child psychiatrist, Kayoko Kifuji, diagnosed Riley with bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder when she was 30 months old, and placed her on several powerful drugs: Depakote, an antiseizure medication also used for bipolar disorder, and clonidine, a blood pressure medication.
Kifuji's testimony may be crucial to the fate of Michael and Carolyn Riley, who face first-degree murder charges. A grand jury and a review by the state's medical licensing board cleared the doctor of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors claim the Rileys deliberately overmedicated their daughter to subdue her. The couple say they were following Kifuji's instructions and their daughter died of pneumonia.
BIPOLAR TODDLERS?
Bipolar disorder, characterized by severe mood swings, was once thought to emerge only during adolescence or later. But Dr. Joseph Biederman, a child psychiatrist at Harvard University, transformed views on the subject by arguing that children could have the disorder at extremely young ages.
He is credited with spearheading a more than 40-fold increase in the number of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder over the past decade.

  Iran 'fully supports' Lebanon unity
AFP, Beirut

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Tajeddini said his government fully supports the "unity and independence" of Lebanon during a visit to Beirut on Saturday, the Lebanese president's office said.
"The Iranian official conveyed President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad's appreciation for President (Michel) Sleiman's efforts to strengthen the atmosphere of consensus in Lebanon and emphasised President Ahmadinejad's full support for the unity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon and its territory," a statement from Sleiman's office said.
Tajeddini, who is vice president for parliamentary affairs and was in Beirut for an Arab and international forum on resistance movements, also met with speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri."I would like to reiterate the unchanging principles of Iranian foreign policy which... are reflected through our embrace of and support for all resistance against the enemies of Arab and Islamic nations, primarily the Zionist entity," a statement released by Hariri's office quoted Tajeddini as saying.

Business/Economy

Policy for shipping-breaking industry soon
UNB, Dhaka

The government will soon formulate a policy for the shipping-breaking industry to ensure environment-friendly growth of the sector, which is evidently facing agonizing teething troubles.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua said this Saturday while inaugurating a two-day workshop titled 'Chemical Hazards, Safety and Environment' at Mokarram Hossain Khandaker science building auditorium at Dhaka University. Institute of Chemists and Chemical Technologists Bangladesh (ICCTB) and Bangladesh Chemical Society (BCS) jointly organized the workshop on risks of chemical contamination of the environs. As planned in the proposed policy, all ship-breaking industries will be brought under legal framework and control.
"Besides, the construction of Dumping Yard for the recycling of hospital wastes is also under government's consideration," the Minister told the function.
At the workshop the speakers emphasized establishing environment-friendly industries to face the challenges of global climate change.
They pointed out that unplanned and irresponsible use of chemicals has become a threat to human body, biodiversity and environment. The experts suggested creating awareness among people about the effects of chemicals as well as ensuring strict enforcement of the law to ban the use of chemicals.
Their concerns came when reports are rife that indiscriminate use of chemicals as food preservatives and coloring posed serious public health hazards. BCS president M Muhibur Rahman chaired the function. Dhaka University Vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Science Faculty Dean Prof Tajmeri S A Islam and ICCTB director- general Prof Abu Jafar Mahmud, among others, also spoke at the function. BSS adds:Industries Minister Dilip Barua on Saturday stressed on establishing knowledge-based industry without hampering our natural environment and ecology. He said, "We have given priority on establishing knowledge-based industry without hampering our natural environment and ecology."
The Minister said our industry owners are not enough aware of environmental issues.
In few cases they intentionally overlooked the environmental safety issues at the time of setting up industrial units. As a result the level of environmental pollution is worsening day by day.
Environmental risk, water and air pollution, health and safety hazards are increasing gradually, the minister said.

 Malaysia to encourage firms to hire locals over foreigners
BSS/PTI, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysian companies will be encouraged to hire local workers to replace over 25 lakh foreign labourers, including Indians, working in sectors like hospitality and security by increasing wages.
Human Resources Minister Datuk S Subramaniam said there are around 1.5 lakh Indians living in Malaysia "illegally" and both the Malaysian and Indian governments are taking steps to reduce the number.
"Currently we have 2.5 million foreign workers both legal and illegal who are working in industries like plantation, restaurants and security.
"We have porous borders with Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines and we have people coming from those countries on a daily basis," he told visiting Indian journalists.
"We want to reduce the amount of foreign labourers in the country and replace them with locals. Locals are not willing to work in these sectors as the pay is very less for those working in these sectors," he said.
People from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand work in restaurants and plantations in large numbers here.
The Minister said the government would bring a new legislation to raise the salaries of the people working in these sectors.
"Then the locals will also start working in these sectors," he said, adding Malaysia will take steps to increase skills and productivity.
Subramaniam, who is also an ethnic Indian, said there are around 1.5 lakh Indians living "illegally" in Malaysia and were working in restaurants and other low-key sectors.
The Minister noted that majority of these came by visa-on- arrival facility and that is the one of the reasons why Malaysia stopped the facility from Indian cities.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had on Monday told the Indian journalists that 39,046 Indians are 'missing' in Malaysia and that most of these were from Tamil Nadu who had entered Malaysia through the facility.
Subramaniam said India and Malaysia have signed an MoU in 2009 to streamline the immigration under which the Indian agent should specify to his clients about the place of work and other things before leaving the country's shores.
"Through this we plan to reduce the number of illegal immigrants... It is very clear that now the agent should tell the workers about the place of work and other things prior to their departure, otherwise action would be taken against him," he said.
The Minister said Malaysia wants people to come legally and if they do so the country will give all protection.

  Obama defends banking fee
AFP, Washington

US President Barack Obama on Saturday defended a fee he had proposed imposing on the country's largest financial firms, saying his administration will not allow Wall Street to "take the money and run."
"Those who oppose this fee say the banks can't afford to pay back the American people without passing on the costs to their shareholders and customers," the president said in his weekly radio address.
"But that's hard to believe when there are reports that Wall Street is going to hand out more money in bonuses and compensation just this year than the cost of this fee over the next ten years," he continued. "If the big financial firms can afford massive bonuses, they can afford to pay back the American people."
On Thursday, Obama proposed a new fee on risky assets of big financial institutions, saying it would help recoup the cost of a massive bailout of the sector than began in 2008.
The plan, which requires congressional approval, would raise 90 billion dollars over 10 years and could be kept for 12 years to offset the full 117 billion dollar shortfall now estimated for the so-called TARP program. The fee will be assessed on the largest banks, excluding community banks and other TARP recipients such as automakers General Motors and Chrysler. But the banking industry said the proposal was aimed at the "wrong parties" and could harm the economic recovery. Obama said such reasoning was unacceptable to him and to the American people.
"We're not going to let Wall Street take the money and run,' he said. "We're going to pass this fee into law. And I'm going to continue to work with Congress on common-sense financial reforms to protect people and the economy from the kind of costly and painful crisis we've just been through."

  Top US businesses offer $43m for Haiti
AFP, Washington

Major US businesses have pooled at least 43 million dollars in cash and in-kind aid to help victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake, an association said Friday.
The US Chamber of Commerce said the 43 million dollars includes contributions from at least 122 companies, with 22 of them donating one million dollars or more.
The total includes US units of foreign companies, such as Nestle Waters North America, which contributed one million dollars.
"It is amazing to see how many companies have responded to the urgency of this tragedy," said Stephen Jordan, senior vice president and executive director of the group's Business Civil Leadership Center.
"We are encouraged by the early outpouring of support but we are well aware that this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. The business community stands ready to work with the authorities as the recovery process gets under way."
The Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of large US companies, said aid pledges from its members amounted to 17 million dollars, including one million dollars each from PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, which were offering bottled water and supplies in addition to cash.
Other firms donating cash or supplies included McKesson, Merck, Procter & Gamble, ITT Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores.
"Business Roundtable CEOs and our member companies are deeply saddened by the loss of life and infrastructure damage in Haiti," said Michael Dan, head of the Business Roundtable's Partnership for Disaster Response.
Scores of other US businesses have also donated cash or other forms of aid, and some have matched employee contributions.

  Banks unlikely to get any new bailouts: Strauss-Kahn
AFP, Washington

International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Friday bailout-weary governments are unlikely to rescue banks if another financial crisis develops. The former French finance minister said he could not imagine lawmakers in developed countries agreeing to any fresh bank rescues.
"I'm convinced that most parliaments, the Congress here in the United States, the National Assembly in France, Westminster in the UK, others, will be very reluctant, to say the least, to give money again to the financial sector," the IMF chief said at a news conference in Washington organized by the French American Chamber of Commerce.
"Especially when they see how the financial sector behaves just in the aftermath of the crisis," he added, referring to the continued payment of lavish bonuses blamed for encouraging excessive risk taking that caused the global financial crisis. Strauss-Kahn stressed the need for new means to address the problems that had spun the global economy into its worst downturn in decades. "We have 12 months or 24 months to be able to set up something which would be... safer and which would be more likely to resist, avoid the kind of problem we just had," he said.
The IMF estimates that the Group of 20 major developed and emerging economies spent more than 1.9 trillion dollars to support their financial systems between 2008 and August 2009 amid the global crisis.

 JAL, Delta reach deal over tie-up
AFP, Tokyo

Japan Airlines has reached an agreement on a tie-up with Delta Air Lines as the troubled Japanese carrier readies for a court- led rehabilitation, a newspaper said on Saturday.
The two companies are likely officially to sign the deal, which will allow
them to run code-share flights, as soon as JAL's new management endorses it, the Yomiuri Shimbun said, quoting company sources.
The agreement means Asia's biggest airline will switch from the Oneworld alliance to the SkyTeam group, to which Delta belongs.
JAL and Delta will ask US authorities for antitrust immunity by mid- February, the paper said. If the request is accepted, the two firms will be able to run combined flights over their Pacific routes in what amounts to business integration.
The report came after American Airlines and its partners lifted their proposed investment in JAL to 1.4 billion dollars, from a previous offer of 1.1 billion dollars in a bidding war with rival Delta for a stake in JAL.
On Friday, Japan's government said it would announce a restructuring package for JAL on January 19, when the troubled carrier is widely expected to file for bankruptcy protection.
JAL is believed to be on the verge of seeking court protection from creditors and delisting its shares from the Tokyo Stock Exchange to make it easier to restructure its debt and slash costs.
JAL, which lost about 1.5 billion dollars in the six months to September, is seeking public aid in the face of mounting debts. JAL is reportedly set to slash more than 15,000 jobs and sell non-core assets such as hotels.

 Germany to raise 2010 growth forecast
AFP, Berlin

The German government will raise its growth rate forecast for 2010 from 1.2 percent to 1.5 percent in its annual economic report, according to the weekly Der Spiegel. Unemployment should also stay below the four million threshold, the weekly said, quoting the report to be presented by Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle on January 27.
Europe's biggest economy suffered its worst post-war recession last year, contracting by five percent in the global slump, official figures showed on Wednesday.
Amid the gloom, however, employment held up much better than expected and the public deficit was much less than feared, despite additional government spending to soften the blow from the sharpest global downturn since the 1930s.
Germany releases fourth-quarter and final 2009 gross domestic product figures on February 12.
This year, the finance ministry expects the deficit to exceed 5.0 percent as the government spurs the economy with more stimulus measures in an effort to get it back on track.
The country's export-oriented economy was slammed by the global slowdown but should benefit from fresh emerging market demand for capital goods such as machine tools and motor vehicles needed for their own output.
Bruederle was upbeat Wednesday, saying the worst was over.
Unemployment has been limited by Germany's short-time schemes under which the state subsidises shorter hours for workers to avoid widespread layoffs.
The number of jobless is still likely to reach more than 3.8 million this year, after averaging 3.42 million, or 8.2 percent of the workforce, in 2009, experts say.

  EU must change energy priorities: Spain
AFP, Seville, Spain

The European Union must change its budget priorities to finance common objectives in the energy sector and diversify its sources of production and supply, the Spanish EU presidency said Friday.
"Changes in the financial perspective will be needed if we are to achieve the targets set for 2020," Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian said after chairing a meeting of his EU counterparts in the southern Spanish city of Seville.
Under its ambitious climate plan for 2020, the EU is committed to reducing emissions of greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent compared to 1990 levels, to bringing to 20 percent its share of renewable energy among consumers and to achieving energy savings of 20 percent.
Funding will also be necessary for interconnections in the energy sector to improve the safety of supply and reduce cost, said Sebastian, whose country took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU on Janaury 1. "The market is not enough. There needs a little help from public authorities and from the EU to carry out these projects," he said after the meeting of the EU's informal Energy Council.
The EU leaders must decide on a plan of action in the energy sector for the period 2010-2014, and this could be done at a summit in Brussels in March, he said.
Low carbon technologies require significant funding for research and development and the idea of changing the priorities within the EU budget is gaining weight, Sebastian said.
He said 40 percent of expenditure currently goes on the Common Agricultural Policy.
Outoing EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs disagreed.
"It is premature to say it will cut into agricultural or other policies. Cutting here and there is not the right approach, it's wrong."
Piebalgs is be replaced in his post by Germany's Guenther Oettinger and will instead take over Development, an EU portfolio that is also seeking funds in the common budget of the bloc.

  US unemployment hits blacks, Hispanics worst
AFP, Washington

Unemployment rates in the United States are expected to remain high in 2010, but a new study says black and Hispanic workers will suffer significantly more than their white counterparts.
"The gap between white and minority unemployment rates has already grown dramatically during this recession and it is expected to continue growing," said Kai Filion, author of the study produced by the Economic Policy Institute.
The study predicts the unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2010 will be 9.0 percent for white Americans, up from 8.1 percent at present and compared to 10 percent across the board.
But for black workers, the rate will be as high as 17.2 percent, and for Hispanics, up to 13.9 percent, the study said.
In five US states among the worst affected by the recession-Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and South Carolina-the unemployment rate for black workers is forecast to exceed 20 percent.
The study predicts that the unemployment rate for white workers will have grown by 5.0 percentage points from the beginning of the US recession in December 2007 to the third quarter of 2010.
For black workers, a total increase of 8.6 percent is forecast, and for Hispanics a rise of 7.9 percentage points.
Despite the economic downturn, a separate study by the Pew Research Center found that black Americans are more optimistic about the state of black progress than at anytime in last 25 years.
A year after President Barack Obama's election, 39 percent of black Americans said they were better off now than five years earlier, a 19 point increase since 2007. The survey, which questioned 2,884 people -- 812 of them black-at the end of 2009, also found 56 percent thought the standard of living gap between blacks and white had narrowed over the last decade.
Another 53 percent said they thought the future for black Americans "will be better," a nine-point increase from 2007.

National

PM asks for increasing number of scouts to 1.5 million in next 3 yrs

UNB, Gazipur

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the authorities concerned to increase the number of scouts to 1.5 million by 2013 through creating more than one scout team in each school of the country.
"The number of scouts is increasing in the country along with its growing population. But this number (scouts) has to be increased further. I urge for increasing the number to 1.5 million by 2013 through creating more than scout team in each school," she said. The Prime Minister gave the directive while inaugurating the 8th National Scout Jamboree at Mouchak in Gazipur.
The theme of this year jamboree is 'Scouting for change'. The Prime Minister said scout is a movement for youths which is accepted worldwide for its voluntary and educational services. She said the role of scout movement is very much important for children and youths to build them as honest, self-confident and ideal citizens alongside carrying out their education.
Hasina said her government wants to make the country free from poverty and hunger. "I hope that you'll make the country free from hunger by building yourselves as qualified leaders," she asked the scouts. The Prime Minister said there was no hunger, Monga and food scarcity in the last one year of the present government. "We ensured that in the last one year." Hasina said the youth will participate in the programme of building 'Digital Bangladesh' by coping with the pace of modern information technology emerging in the world.
"Development activities have got a momentum across the globe… Bangladesh will have to move keeping pace with that. You can contribute in a greater way (in this regard)," she told the function. She said the responsibilities of the scouts will grow along with their age. The jamboree started on January 14 and will continue till January 22. A total of 13,000 scouts, including 143 from India and Nepal, are participating in the jamboree. Hasina said the scouts will have to increase their participation in different social voluntary services. She appreciated the role of scouts during different natural calamities that hit the country on various occasions in the past, and asked the scouts to increase their voluntary services.
The PM said she was very much delighted when she came to know that disabled youths are also participating in the 8th National Scout Jamboree. "I'll request you to build a closer and cordial relationship with the disabled youths so that they do not feel that they are different from you, and get the impression that you are very much close to them." She regretted that the disabled are always victims of negligence and said her government is taking programmes so that these disabled people do not feel that they are isolated.
Hasina expressed her satisfaction when she saw street children engaged in scouting. "I'm very much delighted to see you in the scouting. It'll help you grow up you as good citizens apart earning your livelihoods."
She asked the scout officials to modernize the scouting further, as the country's scouts could face new challenges. Sheikh Hasina informed that Education and Primary and Mass Education Ministries are providing funds for two projects for expanding scouting and cub-scouting, and employment of youths and building 'Digital Bangladesh'. "Special initiatives have been taken by Science and Information & Communication Technology Ministry aiming to involve the scouts. The government will provide all sorts of assistance in this connection."
In 1999, Hasina said, she had announced that the training center of scouts would be built as the International Adventure Training Center and that pledge was partly implemented during her previous tenure, but could not implement it fully as her government was not in power.
She said this time her government would extend all necessary support to complete it. The Prime Minister also said her government would take necessary initiatives to accommodate more scouts in the jamboree.
Earlier, the Prime Minister took salute from flag-carrying teams of different scouts that came from home and abroad. She also released commemorative stamps and a first-day cover using a special canceller.
Jamboree Chief M Abul Kalam Azad handed over a scout crest to the Prime Minister and a scout scarf.
Presided over by President of Bangladesh Scouts M Momtajul Islam, the function was also addressed by Bangladesh Scout National Commissioner M Mozammel Huq Khan.
After the inaugural ceremony, the Prime Minister visited the camps of scouts and talked to scouts.

  Steps taken for development of herbal medicine: Shawkat
BSS, Dhaka

Deputy speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shawkat Ali said here on Saturday the present government has stepped up different efforts for the development of herbal medicine to ensure health care services for rural masses.
"That's why the government is considering to appoint herbal medicine practitioners to different medical college hospitals of the country,' he added.
The deputy speaker said this while inaugurating the completion of 28 years celebration of Modern Herbal Group (MHG) at Bangabandhu International Conference Center here. He said at present the MHG is producing international standard medicines and various other products. The MHG is also playing an important role in creating job opportunity as well as contributing a lot to the economic prosperity of the country.
Shawkat Ali hoped that different organizations would cultivate more plants with medicinal value for producing Unani and Ayurvedic medicines.
Chaired by MGH chairman Dr.Alamgir Moti, the function was also addressed, among others, by Commerce Minister Lt.Col. (Retd) Faruq Khan and Lion Engineer M.Shahjahan Khadam.

   Target of potato production in northern region may be missed

UNB, Dinajpur

Target of potato production in the northern region may not be achieved as vast fields of potato crop were attacked by potato blight.
Field reports received from eight districts of the region said the disease has damaged the potato crops causing massive losses to the farmer.
Agriculturists blamed outbreak of the potato blight due to dense fog and cloudy weather on and off in January and sowing of low quality seeds in some areas.
If there are fungi in potato seeds or soil, they attack plants when there is thick fog and cloudy weather, they said.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said a target was set to bring 150,344 hectares of land under potato cultivation in eight districts of the region, including Rangpur and Dinajpur with an output target of 24,80,676 metric tons.
After visiting many areas it was found that the disease has badly affected potato crops in most areas of the region raising fears that the production target in the current season might not be achieved.
Farmers said the new varieties of potato 'Fancila' and 'Proventu' were attacked mostly by the fungal disease than the BADC's diamond variety. Farmers said potato price has fallen sharply due to its huge supply in local markets as the disease forced them to untimely harvest potato. They said they were incurring huge loss due to the outbreak of the potato blight.

  Taka 37.62 cr development works of LGED progressing in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Various development projects being conducted by Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) here at the cost of Taka about 37.62 crore for the current fiscal
year, are progressing in the district, officials said Saturday.
According to the LGED officials here, the government allocated a total of Taka about 37.62 crore for implementation of various development projects during the current fiscal year.
They said that progress of various ongoing development projects for the current fiscal runs satisfactorily and hoped that they could finish the projects ensuring best quality works by next June.
The projects include construction works of rural infrastructures like bridges, culverts, rural roads, repairing and renovations works of communication infrastructures and various ongoing developments activities involving distressed rural women etc.
The repairing and renovation works of rural roads and culverts at Taka 5.44 crore have been progressing fast in all eight upazilas in the district and the involved rural distressed women will get Taka 93 lakh of the amount for their works in the projects.
Besides, Taka 3.81 crore JBIC projects and Taka 8.72 crore RIRMP projects have also been progressing satisfactorily and a large number of rural distressed and poor women have been earning their wages by working in these projects.
A total of about 2,500 rural women are involved with the ongoing rural infrastructural development activities that will be completed by next June throughout the district.
Thirty more projects under the loan schemes of LGED have also been running smoothly in Sadar, Pirgachha, Taraganj, Pirganj, Kawnia, Mithapukur and Badarganj upazilas for constructions of the roads, hats and bazaars, the sources said.
Besides, the development works under the Prime Minister's Priority Projects at the cost of Taka 89 lakh for development of the roads and communication networks have been progressing faster in Mithapukur upazila.
The LGED officials also said that completion of the ongoing uplift projects will accelerate the developments of the rural infrastructures, communications, poverty alleviation and economic activities in the district.

  Rearing of cattle heads can bring economic self-reliance: speakers

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers here at a prize distribution ceremony Friday said that expanded rearing of cattle heads including cows could bring economic self-reliance and eradicate poverty for advancement of the society in a shorter period. They said this at the ceremony organised by Arang Milk BRAC Chilling Centre on the occasion of distributing prizes among the 52 successful cow rearer women and men in Burirhat area under Sadar upazila in the district.
Chaired by noted social worker of the area Shahanur Islam, the ceremony was attended by former union parishad chairman Ataur Rahman Atiar as the chief guest. Poultry trader Fazle Rabbi, teacher Kamal Chandra Roy and local branch manager of BRAC Abul Hossain addressed as the special guests. Besides, assistant branch manager of BRAC Morshed Ali, Anwar Hossain, director of Bandhan Telecom Harunur Rashid and journalist Rabiul Islam Roman were present. After the discussion, the chief guest distributed cash money and other prizes among all of the 52 successful women and men for their huge successes in attaining economic self-reliance and well-being through rearing cows and selling milk in recent years.

Call for implementation of Nazrul’s non-communal, equity-based spirit

BSS, Rajshahi

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ministry Promod Mankin has called for proper implementation of spirit of rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam to establish non-communal and equity-based society in the country. "Nazrul's creations will all-along inspire us to build a modern and digital Bangladesh dreamt by the present government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he further said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of a two-day Divisional Nazrul Conference organized by Nazrul Institute at Rajshahi Medical College Auditorium as the chief guest here Saturday.
Promod Mankin said the present government has adopted various steps to make the life and literary works of the rebel poet familiar to the fresh generation across the country and added that the conference is an instance of the time-fitting steps. Besides, he termed the current politics of opposition party relating to the Prime Minister's visit to India as bogus and unacceptable to the people and urged all to supplement the government's effort to build cordial relation with the neighbors. "We are very much positive towards protecting sovereignty, integrity and independence of the nation along with welfare of its people," he categorically said adding that the general public would adjudge the government's activities as a whole.

Two-day long international seminar ended at RU
BSS, Rajshahi University

A two-day long international seminar titled "Rajshahi City: Past and Present" ended at the senate building of Rajshahi University here Saturday. Organised by Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS) of RU, the seminar attended by Rajshahi University vice-chancellor Prof. Abdus Sobhan as the chief guest.
Chaired by IBS Director Prof. Dr Mahbubur Rahman, the opening ceremony was addressed, among others, by Prof. Rafiqul Alam Rumi, Prof. Dr. M Mostofa Kamal, Prof. AKM Hossain, Prof. Sahanara Hossain and Dr Ranjit Sen from India.
Addressing the seminar, the speakers said the Rajshahi, located on the center point of Barind tract, has been adjudged as an educational city since the British rule.
Besides, it was famous for silk and blue trades. In terms of area, Rajshahi is the fourth largest city of Bangladesh, they said.
They said Rajshahi was constituted as thana consisting two villages-Rampur and Boalia-in the early 18th century and subsequently it turned into a district town.
Saturday's Rajshahi city is enriched with diversified educational institutions. They urged the government to save the history, heritage and culture of Rajshahi to enrich Bangladeshi culture.

Identify illegal occupants of public land: Hira
BSS, Sherpur

Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira on Saturday asked the land officials of the district to clearly identify illegal occupants of public land and take legal actions against them.
The minister also asked them to take steps to distribute undisputed public land among 101 landless people of the district by June this year. This is part of the Prime Minister's election pledge and the government will continue to distribute land among the poor accordingly, he added.
District deputy commissioner Nasiruzzaman, additional deputy commissioner M Abdul Qader, acting police super Anisur Rahman and Sadar upazila officer Kamaql Hossain, among others, were present on the occasion.
Hira also inaugurated the newly-built Sherpur Diabetic Samity and hospital building in a separate function. The government is committed to reaching health services to the doorsteps of common man, he said on this occasion.
State minister for heath Captain (retd) Mujibur Rahman Fakir and local MP Atiar Rahman Atiq, president of Bangladesh Diabetic Samity Prof AK Azad Khan, secretary M Saifuddin, Sher-pur upazila chairman Elias Uddin and Razia Samad spoke on the occasion.

Razzak urges scouts to be imbued with patriotism
BSS, Gazipur

Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzak on Saturday called upon members of Bangladesh Scouts to be imbued with the spirit of patriotism and sacrifices to build a modern and developed nation.
The minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Global Develop-ment Village Programme of National Scout Jamboree-2010 at Scout Training Centre here, an official handout said.
Referring to the sacrifices of people in the War of Liberation, the minister said people rarely get this kind of opportunity to make sacrifices for the nation.
The freedom fighters, who made their supreme sacrifices in the War of Liberation, are the pride of the nation, he said urging the Scouts to complete the unfinished tasks of the freedom fighters.

Sports

Hot-shot Klose hitting World Cup form
AFP, Berlin

Germany's Number One striker Miroslav Klose looks set to again terrorise defences at this summer's World Cup after the Bayern Munich star admitted he is recapturing his best form.
With 48 goals in 93 appearances for Germany, the 31-year-old has a deserved reputation as a lethal finisher having been both the top-scorer at the 2006 World Cup and also in qualification for this year's global tournament.
But Klose has struggled with injury this season which limited him to just eight Bundesliga starts and he began Friday's 2-0 win over Hoffenheim on the bench as third-choice striker for Bayern.
Having scored twice for Munich in the 3-1 friendly win over Basel last Tuesday, Klose then broke his Bundesliga drought with a late goal against Hoffenheim to prove his form to both Bayern coach Louis van Gaal and national handler Joachim Loew.
"My goal was to start 2010 well," said the Poland-born forward. "The warm-up friendly went well, and now I've scored again at last. "I'm hoping to recapture my best form."
Klose is battling Germany team-mate Mario Gomez and Croatia forward Ivica Olic for one of the two strikers roles and Gomez admitted last week: "I always feel Miro breathing down my neck in training".
Bayern face title-rivals Bremen, mid-table Mainz, who beat them earlier this season, and defending champions Wolfsburg in the next few weeks, but van Gaal now has an abundance of strikers who are in form. "It's very competitive among the forwards, but we all get on very well together," said Klose.
"Our rivalry in training is hard but fair, and it's nice for the coach to have such a great choice.
"The start to the second half of the season is challenging, but we want to extend our good run."
While Klose has had to prove himself at Bayern, he is without question Germany's Number One striker in the eyes of national trainer Loew.
"I do not have any concerns about Miro," Loew told television channel ARD.
"I have known him for a long time, he will play for Bayern throughout the rest of the season and will have match fitness under his belt."

  Bangladesh too ordinary to beat India: Sehwag
AFP, Chittagong

India vice-captain Virender Sehwag has said Bangladesh are an "ordinary side" and cannot beat his world number-one team in a two-Test series starting here today (Sunday).
"I don't think so," Sehwag said on Saturday when asked whether Bangladesh could beat India in Tests.
"Bangladesh can surprise anybody in one-day matches, but not in Tests. It's an ordinary side."
The hosts have won just three of their 61 matches since gaining Test status in 2000, losing 52 and drawing six. They have lost four of their five Tests against India, the lone draw coming in a rain-hit match here in 2007.
Bangladesh beat an under-strength West Indies 2-0 in an away Test series last year, but Sehwag said the hosts did not have the bowlers to put pressure on a strong Indian batting line-up. "The kind of batting line-up we have, I think it's difficult for Bangladesh to take 20 Indian wickets. Even Sri Lanka can't do that. So it's very, very difficult for Bangladesh," said Sehwag.
India's batting has been strengthened with the return of veterans Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman, who were not part of the side that lost a tri-series in Bangladesh recently.
India became the top-ranked team in Tests when they beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in a home series last year, but Sehwag said his side were focused more on playing good cricket than rankings.
"We are playing a Test match tomorrow and we're not thinking that we are number one, number two or number three. Yes, we have a Test against Bangladesh and we have to do well to win the match," he said.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan said his side were capable of giving a good account of themselves. "India have been ranked number one only recently. I think South Africa and Australia are much better than them. It's true that the Indians are playing very good cricket but still they are human.
Siddons also said the team could opt for a three-pronged pace attack because India were very good against spin.
It means Shafiul Islam, a 22-year-old seamer who made his one-day debut in the tri-series, is likely to win a Test cap.
Bangladesh will be without fast bowler and regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, who is recovering from a knee injury.
The second and final Test will begin in Dhaka on January 24.
Bangladesh team: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Raqibul Hossain, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shahriar Nafees, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Enamul Hossain, Mahbubul Alam, Shafiul Islam.
India team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shantha-kumaran Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Sudeep Tyagi.

  Ferguson confident owen has united future  
AFP, Manchester

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is adamant that Michael Owen, who is desperate to feature in the World Cup, has a future at Old Trafford.
Despite a Champions League hat-trick against Wolfsburg, Owen has been on the bench for United's last three games and on Saturday was even overlooked in favour of new recruit Mame Biram Diouf at Birmingham.
Owen's frustrations would not have been eased by the ongoing concerns over Dimitar Berbatov, whose form has been affected by a lingering knee injury.
"Michael needs games and we are going to try and solve the problem," said Ferguson. "It is just about the blend with your strikers. Sometimes, with the strength I have got in midfield, it suits us to play with one striker and we like to see Wayne Rooney through the middle.
"Everyone knows Michael is a last defender player. There is no-one better at that because his movement and positional sense in the last third of the field is excellent. "It is a difficult choice to play two directly through the middle in the modern day game. But Michael is not out of the equation at all. He will come into it."

  Cricket: Rain brings halt to SAfricans progess
AFP, Johannesburg

AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher shared an attacking century partnership on the third day of the fourth and final Test against England at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday before rain again interrupted South Africa's push for a series-levelling win.
South Africa were 382 for six, a first innings lead of 202, when a thunderstorm hit the ground 50 minutes after lunch.
De Villiers (58) and Boucher (79 not out) put on 120 for the sixth wicket, scoring at four runs an over, after three wickets fell early in the day.
De Villiers rode his luck, twice successfully seeking television reviews after being given out by umpire Tony Hill when he was facing off-spinner Graeme Swann, and then seemingly benefitting from a mistake by umpire Steve Davis when he appeared to edge a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior off Ryan Sidebottom.
By then, England had used up both their permitted reviews and they could not seek a further opinion from television umpire Daryl Harper. While De Villiers was not entirely convincing, Boucher was in excellent form, stroking his runs off 95 balls with seven fours.
Only two runs had been added when overnight batsmen Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis were dismissed in successive overs, to be followed by JP Duminy. Amla edged the tenth ball of the day from Stuart Broad for Prior to take a diving catch. Kallis followed in the next over when a ball from Ryan Sidebottom lifted more sharply than expected and an attempted pull looped to gully where James Anderson dived to hold a good catch.
Duminy's troubles against Swann continued when he was beaten by the flight and sharp spin to edge the off-spinner's first ball of the day to slip. It was the third time in the series he had been out to Swann in similar circumstances, twice caught at slip and once by the wicketkeeper.
At that stage South Africa were only 55 runs ahead and with a new ball due within seven overs England appeared to have clawed their way back into the match.

   I never thought of quitting: Sharapova
AFP, Melbourne

Maria Sharapova insists she never considered quitting when a serious shoulder injury forced her out of the game, and warned Saturday the hunger is back again.
The Russian pin-up won the Australian Open in 2008 but was deprived of defending it last year after failing to recover from surgery in time. The injury kept her out of action until May and she has yet to rediscover the form that made her world number one. But despite her interests outside the game, the 22-year-old said she never seriously thought about giving up tennis.
"There's so many ways out during that period of time," she said of her months on the sidelines. "You know, there's so many wake up calls, excuses you could make to not want to be back out there. "But there was never really that thought in my mind, that I didn't want it again. I always wanted to go out there, I wanted to get better, I wanted to compete. "I worked hard to get back on the court. I think that's why I just have to be really grateful and fortunate for every match that I get to play for the rest of my career."
Sharapova has only played an exhibition in Hong Kong as a warm- up for the opening Grand Slam of the season, but said she was happy with her form and feeling good.

  Phelps sees 2010 as crucial to London gold quest
AFP, Long Beach, California

The 2012 London Games are more than two years away, but swimming superstar Michael Phelps's latest Olympic campaign is already building steam.
Phelps, whose unprecedented eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics took his tally of Games gold to 14, said 2010 will be a pivotal year, despite a dearth of major international championships.
"This year is the big year to prepare yourself for the next two years," Phelps said Friday, as he prepared for USA Swimming's Southern California Grand Prix at Long Beach.
"Those are the two most important years that are coming up for me, being able to have a good World Championships next year to set up hopefully a good Olympics."
Phelps's schedule will include US Grand Prix meetings in Missouri and Charlotte, a meeting near his training base in Baltimore and a trip to the Paris Open in June. The US national championships and the Pan Pacific Cham-pionships for Pacific Rim countries in August will determine the US team for the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
While Phelps said he has "personal goals that I always want to achieve," one of the key goals for 2010 is "getting through this year and seeing where we end this year and seeing things we need to change between now and the World Championships."
Phelps is slated to swim five events in Long Beach, which is contested in short-course yards - a format rarely swum outside the United States.
Phelps and coach Bob Bowman said that what they hope to see at this point in the season is simply steady progress.
"He has been training better than he did before our meet in December, which was better than before the meet in November," Bowman said. "I just want to see another step."
Phelps admitted that getting into the swing of training in late 2009 was hard, so his recent stint of altitude training in Colorado was a welcome chance to narrow his focus.
"For me, being able to go out there, I'm eating, swimming, sleeping - that's it. There's no time for anything else there's no distractions, so it's easy for me to get back in a routine, get back in a rhythm," Phelps said.
And with his focus firmly on the future, Phelps admitted he was glad to have the swimsuit furore that gripped the sport behind him.
High-tech polyurethane suits that turned swimming's record-book upside down have been banned, with governing body FINA finally mandating a return to textile suits and a ban on body suits. Phelps said he was happy to return to competing in waist-to-knee suits.
"I'm excited - I can't say it enough," he said. "It's going to be good. It's going to be a lot harder. You're going to have to be in better shape, that's for sure."

  Murakami graduates with honours in qualifying school
AFP, Hua Hin, Thailand

Filipino Artemio Murakami defeated Guido Van Der Valk of Holland in a play-off at the 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage on Saturday.
Murakami and Van Der Valk, who lost their Asian Tour cards last season, returned to the 18th hole after firing a final round 70 and 69 respectively to tie on 12-under-par 275 in regulation play at the Springfield Royal Country Club.
The duo birdied the first play-off hole which led to a dramatic second play-off hole as both their approach shots found water. Van Der Valk failed to recover and hit his fourth shot into the water for the second time.
Murakami's second attempt landed safely on the green and he sank his putt for par and the victory. The 2007 Iskandar Johor Open winner led a total of 45 players who earned their Tour cards.
Mark Foster (69) of England, a one-time European Tour winner, finished in tied third on 276 alongside overnight leader and two-time Japan Tour winner Katsumune Imai (74) of Japan.

Zimbabwe gets serious about return to Test cricket
AFP, Harare

After seven years in the cricket wilderness Zimba-bwe is at last showing real potential for a possible return to full Test status.
A new league structure of regional first class matches, funded jointly by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and local franchising sponsors, is energising the game here. Players are being paid US dollar match fees, win bonuses and awards for centuries or five wicket hauls.
Under a team of full-time coaches headed by David Houghton and former national captain Heath Streak, about 80 young and experienced players have shown such progress over the last three months that convenor of natonal selectors Alistair Campbell is prompted to suggest Zimbabwe will be playing Tests in two years. Houghton believes it might only be one year.
Cricket in Zimbabwe was getting nowhere even seven years after being forced out of Tests following a series of embarrassingly bad results.
Sri Lanka, New Zealand and England were the main instigators by declining to meet future commitments.
But instead of rebuilding through a first class domestic league and concentrating on three- or four-day matches, they almost exclusively played the quick-fire versions.
All that changed with an exploratory visit to Zimbabwe last year by former West Indies captain Conrad Hunte at the head of an ICC delegation. Hunte came up with a plan designed to springboard Zimbabwe's return to Tests on merit.

Australia extend lead to 277 after Butt ton
Cricinfo Online

Salman Butt's third Test century and Ricky Ponting's decision not to enforce the follow-on should ensure the Hobart Test goes for the full five days, although Australia remain in control with a 277-run advantage.
After the second day's play, Ponting talked up the likelihood of making Pakistan bat again straight away, but his mind was changed when it took the bowlers 105.4 overs to dismiss them the first time.
Eventually, after a 60-minute last-wicket partnership between Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif that spanned both sides of the tea break, Nathan Hauritz finished off Pakistan for 301, leaving them 218 short of Australia's total. But Ponting wanted a break for his fast men and, despite the expected showers over the next two days, will set Pakistan a fourth-innings target.
Australia reached 1 for 59 at stumps with Simon Katich on 33 and Ponting on 25 after Shane Watson departed in the second over for 1. Watson skied a catch when he miscued Mohammad Aamer and it was the first time since the summer-opening Gabba Test match that he had failed to post a half-century in either innings.
Batting wasn't difficult on the good surface, as demonstrated by the inability of Australia's fast men to break through with the second new ball when they were trying to prise out Gul and Asif. Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson didn't help their cause by abandoning the key principle of new-ball bowling - pitching up to allow swing - and banged it in far too short against the tailenders.
The pair added 53 for the final wicket and provided some entertaining high-lights, including three powerful sixes from Gul, who finished unbeaten on 38. Asif posted 29, his highest Test score, before he skied a catch to mid-on off Hauritz, who ended up with 3 for 96. The tail-end pluck only served to highlight how disappointing much of Pakistan's batting effort was, with the exception of Butt and Shoaib Malik.
Their fighting three-hour stand that lasted until after lunch was characterised by concentration and patience, two traits that Pakistan's batsmen have so often lacked on this trip. Butt was strong off the back foot through the off side and Malik put in a good audition to permanently return to the Test line-up before the part-time spin of Katich split the pair up.
Katich had Butt caught at slip for 102, which was his first Test century for four years and a much-needed one after he was responsible for running out Mohammad Yousuf and Umar Akmal on the second afternoon. It was enough for Yousuf to brand Butt a "lazy" runner and although the captain wasn't spotted cheering Butt's century, he must surely have been pleased that his opener took on the extra responsibility after his lapses.
The loss of Butt led to a collapse of 5 for 35 as Katich ran through the lower middle-order and finished with 3 for 34, his second-best Test figures. Katich tossed one up across the body of the right-hander Sarfraz Ahmed, who edged to slip for 1, and then drew Aamer into an exotic slog-sweep that flew high in the air and was swallowed by Watson at cover.

Baghdatis beats Gasquet in Sydney final
AFP, Sydney

Former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis capitalised on a shaky tiebreaker from Frenchman Richard Gasquet to claim the Sydney International ATP title here on Saturday.
The 42nd-ranked Cypriot won a rain-interrupted final 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) in one hour 43 minutes to capture his fourth career title just days out from the Australian Open in Melbourne. After recovering from the brink against Lleyton Hewitt and Mardy Fish just to reach the final, Baghdatis completed an ideal Australian Open build-up.
Baghdatis, who lost the 2006 Australian Open final to Roger Federer, broke Gasquet's opening service game and went on to take the first set in 45 minutes before rain suspended play during the first game of the second set.
After a 75-minute delay, Gasquet broke Baghdatis' serve for the only time in the fourth game, when the Cypriot double-faulted on break point and led 5-3.
But he had a shaky service game in the ninth when he went down three break points and Baghdatis broke back and levelled and took the set to a tiebreaker.
Gasquet got the first mini-break in the tiebreaker to lead 2-0 but Baghdatis reeled off the next seven points to take the set and the championship.
Gasquet served two double-faults and made two forehand errors to virtually hand the set and the match to Baghdatis. It was the first meeting at senior level between the two players, although they played each other as juniors.