|
Leading News
Landslides kill 53 people in Cox’s
Bazar, Bandarban
Five army soldiers among the dead
BSS, Dhaka
Landslides triggered by torrential rains overnight killed
at last 53 people in the districts of Cox's Bazar and
Bandarban with officials saying salvage campaign was
underway as over 12 people were still missing.
Officials and witnesses said of the dead 49 people
including five army soldiers lost their lives under tonnes
of mud in different areas of Cox's Bazar district while
four others were buried alive in nearby Bandarban hill
district as earthen chunks smashed their homes at the
bottom of hills.
"The mudslides struck Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas as a
result of two days of heavy rainfalls while most victims
were asleep," a senior police official told BSS by phone
from Cox's Bazar.
He added that the six army personnel died instantly as the
landslide smashed their makeshift camp at Himchhari near
the Cox's Bazar sea beach.
UNB adds: flood caused by the incessant rain inundated
four places of Cox's Bazar-Teknaf road, disrupting
communications.
About 132 mm rain was recorded in the district in 12 hours
till 9am today (Tuesday). In Bandarban, four members of a
family were killed in a landslide at Uttarpara Baganboni
in Naikhangchhari upazila early Tuesday morning.
The victims were identified as Khairul Bashar, 35, his
wife Parveen Akther, 27, son Sakib, 7, and daughter Fatema.
Local sources said all the four were killed, buried under
a heavy chunk of mud that fell on Khairul's house at the
foot of a hill during heavy downpour. Police with the help
of local people recovered the bodies from under the mud.
Ghumdhum UP chairman Dipak Barua confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, an ISPR press release on Tuesday said,
Bangladesh government handed over res-ponsibility to
Bangladesh Army to construct 24 km long "Marine Drive"
from Cox's Bazar to Inani along the sea belt.
A total of 62 Army personnel engaged in construction work
of the "Marine Drive" were staying in a camp which was
located at the foot of the hill at Himchhari, 8 km away
from Cox's Bazar. Some manpower, equipments and vehicles
were damaged by the landslide Tuesday morning, which
occurred due to heavy rainfall for the last couple of
days.
Rescue operation has already begun. Amount of damages and
loss of lives and properties would be known following the
rescue operation, said the ISPR release.
BSF,BDR
exchange heavy gunfire in Sylhet
TBT Report
Once again there has been exchange of heavy gunfire
between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security
Force (BSF) on Sylhet border. On the last occasion BDR-BSF
gunfire exchange took place on February 28 last.
According to UNB reports from Sylhet, BSF and BDR
exchanged heavy gunfire in Jaintapur and Goainghat border
in Sylhet on Tuesday.
The firing started at 12:45 pm when Indian farmers backed
by BSF trespassed 200 yards into Bangladesh and started
the cultivation at Noljhuri border. Firing extended to
Tamabil and Protappur borders of Goainghat and Dibir Haor
of Jaintapur border. The heavy exchange of firing
continued till 2pm. No casualty was reported. Export and
import through the Tamabil land port was closed because of
gun firing. According to the villagers, both sides
exchanged more than 1,000 fire bullets.
It may be recalled border forces of Bangladesh and India
traded heavy gunfire at Jaintapur border when Indian
nationals backed by BSF trespassed for fishing on 28
February afternoon.
No report of casualty was available. Villagers fleeing
from the border areas for fear of live said gunfire
started at about 3pm continued till 6pm.
It was the fourth time in a month that the border
skirmishes took place as Khasia tribe on the other side of
the border in Meghalaya State deliberately crossed the
border for fishing in Dibir Haor. BSF on February 4
intruded in the area and kidnapped a Nayek of BDR. He was
however set free at a flag meeting, BSF regretting their
action of illegal crossing of the border.
BDR said Indian nationals backed by BSF crossed the border
for fishing in Dibir Haor. On resistance by the fishermen
BSF opened fire. BDR returned the fire and the gunrunning
continued for about three hours until 6pm.
Earlier on February 22, a group of Indian intruders with
direct support of the BSF trespassed into Bangladesh
territory on Bibirhaor border near Jayantapur in Sylhet,
but went back in the face of strong protest by local
people.
The trespassers entered two hundred years into Bangladesh
territory in between Pillar No. 1284 and 1285 and caught
fishes from a pond. The Indian citizens numbering about
100 were backed by heavily armed BSF troops and their
presence made the local people panicky. However the locals
protested the intrusion strongly and ultimately all of the
intruders returned to India with huge fishes caught from
the pond.
The BSF personnel provided security to the Indian
trespassers. The place of incident is quite away from the
BDR camp at Jayantapur. BSF killed 108 Bangladeshis in the
last 13 months including 28 in four months. The number of
Bangladeshis killed by BSF during the nine years period
from January 1, 2000 to February 18, 2010 stands at 831.
ECNEC
approves four projects of Tk 1189 cr
UNB, Dhaka
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC)
on Tuesday approved four development projects involving Tk
1189 crore, including a project to build 11 secondary
schools and 6 colleges in the capital.
ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave
the approval in the ECNEC meeting at the NEC conference
room in the city's Sher-e-Banglanagar.
Of the total amount, Tk 834 crore will come from the
government exchequer, with Tk 355 crore being allocated as
project assistance, said Planning Minister AK Khandaker
while briefing reporters after the meeting.
He said that the project aimed at setting up 11 secondary
schools and 6 colleges in the Dhaka Metropolis under the
Education Ministry would cost Tk 435 crore, to be entirely
borne by the government. The tenure of the project is
January 2010 to December 2013.
"The purpose of setting up government secondary schools
and colleges would be to spread education as well as to
ensure standard education in the proposed schools and
colleges," added the Planning Minister.
The secondary schools would be constructed in the city's
Uttara, Pallabi, Badda, Demra, Kamrangirchar, Hajaribagh,
Shah Ali, Kafrul, Gulshan, Jatrabari and Sabujbagh thanas.
The colleges would be set up in the city's Uttara, Pallabi,
Badda, Demra, Kamrangirchar and Khilgaon thanas. Planning
Secretary Habibullah Majumder was present at the briefing.
The other approved projects included an emergency disaster
rehabilitation project (revised) under the Communications
Ministry involving Tk 436 crore, construction of a bridge
on the River Surma in Sunamganj district (another revised
project under the Communications Ministry) at Tk 65 crore,
and construction of the BMA Bangabandhu Complex at
Bhatiari in Chittagong under the Defense Ministry at a
cost of Tk 253 crore.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia
Chowdhury, Labour and Employment Minister Engineer
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Water Resources Minister
Ramesh Chandra Sen, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan,
Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Shipping
Minister Shahjahan Khan, Education Minister Nurul Islam
Nahid and advisers to the Prime Minister were present,
among others, in the meeting.
Publication
of Amar Desh
SC overrules HC order staying govt action
UNB, Dhaka
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday
overruled the High Court interim order that had stayed for
three months the operation of the government's action
proscribing the daily Amar Desh, over a dispute concerning
its publication rights.
Passing the order upon a government plea, a vacation
chamber judge of the Appellate Division asked the
government to file a regular application for
leave-to-appeal against the impugned High Court orders on
Amar Desh within four weeks.
On June 10, the High Court, upon a writ petition
challenging the validity of the cancellation of the
declaration of Amar Desh, a BNP-leaning daily, issued a
rule that had asked the government to explain why its
action should not be declared illegal.
The HC had also stayed the government order setting aside
the pending application filed by Amar Desh acting editor
Mahmudur Rahman, now in custody, seeking authority as
publisher.
On June 1, the deputy magistrate cancelled the declaration
of the daily's publication on the grounds that the
newspaper has no authorized publisher.
The day's apex court order prohibits the Amar Desh
management from continuing its publication, which resumed
following the June 10 High Court stay order.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, assisted by Additional
Attorney General MK Rahman appeared for the government,
while Barrister Rafique-ul Huq stood for the Amar Desh
management.
Nimtali
fire inquiry
Chemicals in a godown exploded, erupted like volcanic
lava: Sahara
UNB, Dhaka
Explosion of highly combustible chemicals ignited by heat
generated from the wedding ceremony cooking furnace caused
the terrible fire at Nimtoli in old Dhaka on June 3,
according to the inquiry report.
The Nimtoli fire has so far claimed 121 lives.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun, who released the main
findings of the report at a press briefing at her ministry
on Tuesday, said the chemicals stored in a nearby godown
exploded and erupted like 'volcanic lava', which quickly
spread in the area.
A motorbike parked close to the building caught the fire
that spread to the gas pipeline, ultimately engulfing the
entire six-storey building. At that time an electricity
transformer also caught the fire and exploded, snapping
electricity lines in the area.
The inquiry committee in its report held responsible those
who illegally stored the chemicals in the godown and those
who rented the godown. The committee recommended legal
against both of them. In reply to a question the Home
Minister said persons responsible for this massive fire
would be punished. She said a clear picture will emerge
through further investigation and actions will be taken
against the guilty persons.
Sahara said the Dhaka DC office has estimated the property
damaged by the fire at Tk 1, 68, 55, 000. She said the
Dhaka City Corporation could not properly discharge its
responsibilities after the fire. The Home Minister said
the mobile teams have so far realized Tk 3,51,800 in fines
from the illegal chemical godowns.
She said the Nimtoli chemical godown's owner has been
identified as Ohidullah Majumdar, who is now absconding.
Back Page
China ready to extend all cooperation
to development of Bangladesh: Xi Jinping
UNB, Dhaka
China is ready to extend all cooperation and assistance to
Bangladesh, particularly for development of the country' s
infrastructure, agriculture, education and health sectors,
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said Tuesday.
"The two countries (Ban-gladesh and China) are ready to
move ahead with concerted efforts," Jinping said during a
meeting with President Zillur Rahman at Bangabhaban.
The Chinese leader said although China is a developing
country, it is always willing to provide all kinds of
cooperation and assistance to Bangladesh.
Expressing gratitude for the Bangladesh government's
support for 'One China Policy' Jinping said both China and
Bangladesh as neighbors attach importance to strengthening
of bilateral economic and commercial ties.
"We want to gradually enhance our cooperation in trade and
commerce and cultural sectors," he said. Xi described the
present government's Vision-2021 as a 'Master Plan' for
the country and hoped Bangladesh would be turned into a
middle income country by 2021. "China is happy for the
government's Vision-2021."
He said China is currently emphasizing on three sectors-
education, science and technology and human resources to
keep pace with its trend of development.
Xi invited President Zillur to visit China at his
convenience in the near future. Welcoming the Chinese
delegation to Bangabhaban, the President said since
Bangladesh's independence, China as a friendly country has
been giving assistance for development of infrastructures
including construction bridges across the country.
Saying that China would emerge as a giant economic power
within a short period of time, Zillur said existing
cooperation, particularly in economic, social and cultural
fields, would be further deepened between two countries.
Allow more land for
food production: PM
UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said her
government will redesign every village in a planned manner
in order to dedicate greater amount of agricultural land
to increased food production. Addressing the launching of
a three-month tree plantation program of the Bangladesh
Krishak League at Ganobhaban, she said all installations
in a village including schools and hospitals have to be
established according to a pattern that ensures the best
use of agriculture land. Hasina urged the people not to
waste a single inch of agricultural land as she stressed
that increasing food production is a must to ensure
adequate food for the large population of the country.
Hasina said no piece of land should be left uncultivated
as Bangladesh's landmass is limited, but its population
has already taken on massive proportions.
She further said the government will revive the project
"one home, one farm" project in a bid to increase food
production of the country. "If necessary, the government
will give financial assistance to the home owners to
create farms inside their home areas," she said. The Prime
Minister suggested that there will be cooperatives of the
home farmers and the cooperatives will collect the
agriculture produce from the homes and market them.
In this regard, the Prime Minister laid emphasis on
building small and medium industries across the country
and going for processed agriculture products including
organic foods. She said organic foods of Bangladesh enjoy
high demand in the international markets.
Announcing stern action against those felling trees and
damaging the environment, the Prime Minister mentioned her
government's steps to stop recent tree felling in the
coastal areas. "I had directed the authorities concerned
to arrest the persons even if they are from my party" she
said. She requested everyone to plant three saplings of
medicinal, timber and fruit trees to create a balanced
environment in the country. The Prime Minister said after
planting saplings, these have to be preserved with full
care.
She said realizing the indispensability of farmers and
agriculture, Bangladesh Awami League had initiated the
"Save Farmers, Save Country" movement.
Work
on Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover likely to begin this month
BSS, Dhaka
The construction work of long-awaited Jatrabari-Gulistan
flyover is likely to begin this month, officials of Dhaka
City Corporation (DCC), the implementing agency of the
project, said here on Tuesday.
The nine-kilometre-long four-lane flyover is to be
constructed in three years at an estimated cost of about
Taka 1,400 crore, they said.
The amount would come from private investors through a
consortium of local banks and financial institutions that
include the Sonali Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank and few
others.
The flyover will connect Dhania on Dhaka-Chitt-agong
Highway to the capital's Palashi's Shaheed Zahir Raihan
Road through Jatrabari, Saye-dabad, Gulistan, Bang-abandhu
Avenue and Fulbaria, Project Director Engineer Md Ashiqur
Rahman told BSS.
The flyover, he said, will cover Azimpur and Mirpur Road
on the west, Matuail and Demra on the east and Katchpur
and Buriganga bridges on the south and the densely
populated in the north.
In 1999, the previous Awami League (AL) government took
the initiative to construct the country's largest elevated
corridor on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
In 2003, a 7-km bridge was designed and its cost was
estimated at Taka 670 crore. But later it was extended to
9-km and its estimated cost soared to Taka 1,400 crore.
The project was scheduled to be inaugurated on June 12.
Now DCC officials say it may be inaugurated on June 19.
The project director did not specify any reason for the
delay in implementing the project. Asked whether the
appointment of Simplex, an Indian company that had been
blacklisted by Mumbai Metro One PVT Ltd, India, Engineer
Rahman said, "It is nothing unusual, big companies have
that kind of records. One has to look at their annual
turnover."
CCC Poll: Rivals end
campaign amid allegations of dishonesty
UNB, Chittagong
On the last day of electioneering Tuesday, the two
candidates for the post of mayor of the Chittagong City
Corp-oration (CCC) -- ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Manjur
Alam-in separate press conferences accu-sed each other of
trying to influence the election sch-eduled for Thursday.
Chittagong Nagorik Com-mittee candidate Mohiuddin
Chowdhury at his election office in Nandankanan expre-ssed
concern that his rival camp may engage in untoward
activities if they fail to succeed in the election. He
also demanded of the Election Commission and the
government to take necessary steps in this regard.
Reiterating his pledge to establish city government,
Mohiuddin said that it is a concept has been practiced in
different countries around the world.
"This is also included in our election manifesto. The
facilities of the citizens will increase if the city
government is materialized," said the former mayor of the
port city. Mohiuddin, who was elected to the post thrice
in the past, also brought allegations against the leaders
and activists of BNP, saying that they are threatening the
minority community and discouraging them from appearing at
the polling centers to cast their votes. AL leaders Ataur
Rahman Khan Kaiser, former Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud,
Abul Kashem Master MP, Mahjabin Morshed MP, and Dr Bikiron
Prasad Barua, among others, were present during
Mohiuddin's press conference.
In a separate press conference, Amir Khosru Mahmud
Chowdhury, the chief election agent of Chittagong Unnayan
Andolon mayor candidate Manjur Alam, alleged that the
government is hatching a conspiracy to snatch victory from
Manjur by misusing the administration. Addre-ssing a press
conference at an Agrabad hotel, Amir Khosru said that the
citizens of Chittagong will resist any attempt to deter
the victory of Manjur through vote rigging. Answering a
question, Manjur Alam said: "We are 100 percent confident
of our victory." BNP leaders Salahuddin Qader Cho-wdhury,
Abdullah al Noman and M Morshed Khan were also present at
the press conference.
BGMEA urges government to announce
nat’l coal policy
UNB, Dhaka
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters
Association (BGMEA) has urged the government to announce a
national coal policy to address the country's power crisis
by setting up coal-based power plants.
"As a majority of the power plants are dependent on gas,
and gas crisis has been prevailing across the country, the
government should announce a national coal policy to
generate more power," BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy
said while addressing a post-budget press conference at
the BGMEA auditorium in the city Tuesday noon.
He said if coal is well-utilized to generate power, huge
amounts of gas will be saved and this gas can be supplied
to the newly installed industries in the country.
Referring to the proposed budget for 2010-2011 fiscal, the
BGMEA president said it is a "people, export and
trade-friendly" budget.
"The allocation for agriculture and the rural economy,
energy and power, education, health, poverty reduction,
employment generation, infrastructure development, human
resource development, information and technology, local
government and social safety net sectors have been
increased in the proposed budget," he noted.
Turning to the targeted GDP growth of the government,
Murshedy said the government can achieve GDP growth of 6.7
percent during the 2010-2011 fiscal, but only if they are
able to supply adequate power to industry. The BGMEA
president stressed the need for taking the Public Private
Partnership (PPP) initiative further, in order to develop
the infrastructure for a smooth and trade-friendly
environment in the country.
JS
body criticizes jute ministry for failure to take actions
against officials for losses
BSS, Dhaka
The Parliamentary Standing Committing on Public Accounts
on Tuesday criticised the jute ministry for its
'negligence' to realise money from the responsible
officials for the losses incurred purchase of jute.
The 24th meeting of the standing committee with its
Chairman Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir at the Jatiya Sangsad
(JS) Bhaban recommended actions against the officials
responsible for not realizing Taka 2,51,83,357 from 71
officers and employees of jute procurement centres.
The standing committee would have to be informed about the
progress of actions taken against the officials. Besides,
all secretaries of the ministry since 1999 till date would
have to give explanations on the issue.
The meeting discussed the audit reports of the government
and semi-government commercial organisations and state-run
industries of 2000-2001, said a JS press release.
The meeting expressed dissatisfaction over non-realisation
of Taka 1,28,15,307 that remain outstanding during the
export of jute to Sudan.
Khaleda urges
Beijing to continue support to Dhaka’s, development
UNB, Dhaka
BNP chairperson and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia
on Tuesday urged the visiting Chinese Vice President Xi
Jinpeng to continue Beijing's support to Bangladesh's
infrastructures development, particularly in air-rail-sea
communications.
The leader of the opposition made the request when she
made a courtesy call on Chinese Vice President Xi at
Sonargaon Hotel in the morning. During the meeting that
lasted for about an hour from 10am, the two leaders
discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual
interest.
Khaleda also requested Vice President Xi for Chinese
cooperation in setting up deep seaport at Sonadia in Cox's
Bazar for expanding sea trade globally.
The Chinese leader resp-onded positively, BNP vice
chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury who was present at the
meting told reporters. "You are our old and trusted
friend," Chinese Vice President Xi was quoted as saying to
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Xi recalled the excellent
bilateral and diplomatic relations between Dhaka and
Beijing that had started during the late President Ziaur
Rahman's period and strengthened during the periods of
Khaleda Zia as the Prime Minister.
He said the government and the people of China remember
and respect Khaleda Zia for her special contribution in
expanding and strengthening excellent relations between
the two friendly countries. The Chinese Vice President
specially invited leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia to
visit China and she accepted the invitation. The visit
will take place at a mutually convenient time for the two
sides.
Delwar warns of
tougher movement
UNB, Dhaka
BNP secretary general Khondakar Delwar Hossain on Tuesday
warned of a tougher anti-government movement if the ruling
party creates any obstacle to its observance of the June
27 countrywide hartal.
"If any untoward incident occurs while we are peacefully
observing the hartal, the government will have to bear the
responsibility," the BNP secretary general said while
addressing a roundtable at the National Press Club.
Nagorik Forum, a civil society platform, organized the
roundtable titled "Freedom of Press and Safety of Journal-ists",
presided over by Abdull-ahhil Masud, president of the
forum.
Delwar said people have started the movement against the
government as they are now more conscious than ever and
aware of the government' s misrule.
He said the government itself now realizes how unpo-pular
they have become.
"No-one wants to quit power willingly. People will force
them to quit," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary
general Ali Ahsan Muham-mad Mujaheed said the government
is trying to snatch away the freedom of the press.
"The press isn't free right now due to the government's
interference."
Editorial
Preventing human
trafficking
Discussants
at a daylong divisional workshop at Rajshahi on Monday
underscored the need for concerted efforts of all government
and non-government organizations concerned along with the
public representatives to resist the human trafficking,
particularly the women and children. Terming the human
trafficking as a heinous crime they advocated for forging a
social movement to raise a strong voice for freeing the
society from the social crime. To make the effort a complete
success, importance should be given to creating awareness
among the public representatives and the vulnerable people
especially those living in the frontier areas.
Earlier participants at a seminar in the city recently pointed
out that Bangladesh may have achieved remarkable progress in
different fields in the recent years but it is yet to make any
significant headway in checking human trafficking from the
country. They stated that around 25 thousand children and
young women are being trafficked from Bangladesh by
international smugglers every year. They said Bangladesh is
considered as a seriously vulnerable region for human
trafficking because of its large population, chronic poverty,
illiteracy, large-scale migration from the rural areas and
recurring natural disasters. Bangladeshi women are sold,
traded, exchanged for sexual slavery and prostitution, bonded
labour in different countries including India, Thailand,
Taiwan, Philippines as well as some Middle Eastern countries
including Saudi Arabia. In the words of Secretary to Home
Affairs Ministry : trafficking of women and children from
Bangladesh is increasing day by day. Groups of smugglers in
association with local brokers collect women and children from
different slums and villages assuring lucrative jobs abroad
and smuggle them to various countries.
According to media reports trafficking of women and children
from Bangladesh across the border is continuing unabated. The
number of women and children trafficked from the country to
foreign countries specially India, Pakistan and Middle East
over the last 39 years since independence is estimated
unofficially at over 9 lakhs. Most of those trafficked from
the country are allegedly employed in household works, abused
or forced to play the role of jokies in camel race in the
middle eastern deserts. Hundreds of agents of traffickers are
working across the country to collect women and children
alluring them of lucrative jobs and luxurious life abroad. But
once they cross the border, they mostly find themselves
trapped in brothels in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi or
Lahore or in the harems of Arab Sheikhs. But despite frantic
efforts, most of them fail to return home. The US States
Department Report 2008 on the issue published in July last
year listed Bangladesh as a second grade country in respect of
human trafficking and described it as a source of and transit
route for trafficking of women and children while US Secretary
of States Hillary Clinton said that human trafficking is the
slavery of the modern age. Neither the revelation nor the
comment can be disputed.
Sometimes some human traffickers are arrested and some women
or children being trafficked are rescued, but the trafficking
does not stop and continues to aggravate the social and moral
crises. It cannot be said that the government is indifferent
to this problem. True, efforts are being made to check
trafficking, but the results are far from being satisfactory.
So, time has come to gear up the efforts to stop trafficking
of women and children from the country in the national
interest. Although the country has a tough law in this regard,
there is lack of seriousness in executing it and that may be
one of the reasons behind the limited progress in the fight
against human trafficking. The government should review
thoroughly the whole matter and step up the efforts to check
trafficking of women and children which is taking place in
blatant violation of law and human rights.
Treatment of TB
The
present detection rate of Tuberculosis, a common infectious
disease that kills nearly 70,000 people in the country every
year, is 72 percent, 2 percent higher than the target set by
the World Health Organization (WHO) for Bangladesh."The
success rate of treating TB patients in Bangladesh is even
higher -- 92 percent," according to experts. It is stated that
the government always keeps medicines in stock for some 1.5
lakh TB patients as buffer stock medical resources.
There was a time when Tuberculosis was considered as a
dangerous disease and it used to kill a huge number of people
every year as its treatment was difficult and costly. But now
the situation has changed for the better. Because, the
detection and treatment of TB have become easier and
considerable awareness about the disease has also been created
among the public. TB is now a curable disease and a patient
can come round fast if he takes the prescribed medicines and
food regularly. Treatment of the disease is also easily
available. This is definitely encouraging.
However, there is no scope to be complacent as an estimated
70,000 individuals die of TB each year-one death in every 10
minutes. So, along with strengthening the treatment process
the government should step up the efforts to prevent and
control the spread of TB in the country. It may be pointed out
here that TB disease is more prevalent among the poorer
section of people, specially those who due to abject poverty
face food shortage and malnutrition. So, poverty alleviation
is related to the drive for eradication of TB from the
country. The government should make it a point. Besides,
healthy environment should also be created in the localities
to prevent TB and other diseases.
Analysis
South Asian slaves in Dubai
The oil producing states of the Gulf combine
tribalism, feudalism and rentier capitalism to produce an
egregiously oppressive socio-economic order.
Ishtiaq Ahmed
A
few days ago my older son wrote to me from Stockholm to convey
his shock over a short documentary he saw by BBC's Ben
Anderson entitled 'The Slaves of Dubai'. It is about the
heart-wrenching plight of South Asian workers who arrive in
Dubai in the hope of alleviating the abject poverty they are
born in but end up becoming virtually bonded labour. They can
also be called slaves. He wrote: "I was really shocked and
upset about their situation. If you have not already written
about it, can you please do it in your next column?"
So, this essay is largely to disseminate information about the
construction industry mafia that ruthlessly and relentlessly
exploits South Asian workers, whose labour has created all
those skyscrapers, including the tallest in the world, the
Burj Dubai, penthouses, luxury apartments, 7-star hotels, golf
courses and what not. Now, of course, Dubai has been badly hit
by the global financial crisis but it only magnifies the utter
disregard that the Arab sheikhs have for all the millions of
workers who live in their kingdoms as virtual slaves.
The enslavement process begins in South Asia at the time of
recruitment. Impoverished families somehow manage to raise
money to send a young man to Dubai - it could be any other
country in that region as well. It involves selling whatever
land or other possessions they have, borrowing from relatives
and so on. The agent charges an exorbitant sum for arranging
the passport and visa. Upon arrival in Dubai, the worker's
passport is confiscated and he is sent to a camp where he
lives with thousands of other workers. The documentary showed
that in a small dirty room some eight to nine people 'live';
for some 45 people there are one or two latrines, which are
filthy and nauseating. Once inside the camp the new arrival
becomes practically a slave, working 12 hours a day, six days
a week. The wage that is paid is one-half or one-third of what
was promised. The construction firms that own the labour camps
strictly regulate who comes in and who goes out. In short, the
South Asian workers live in camps that are similar to a POW
camp where soldiers of a defeated army are kept.
The documentary shows that the Dubai government does not
seriously interfere with the way the construction firms run
these camps. Occasionally some fines are imposed but these are
so light that the firms continue to violate the rules and
regulations that should apply to the conditions in the camps.
The general line taken by the Dubai authorities and the
officials of the construction firms is that the workers earn a
better living than if they were living in their own country.
That is probably true, but it only captures the utter
helplessness of millions of our brethren who are denied their
birthright to be treated with respect and dignity, both at
home and when they come to the Gulf in search of work. Ben
Anderson was able to interview one man from Bangladesh who
broke down during the interview as he could not express the
level and depth of his suffering in words and the only
response left to express the emotions was to start weeping.
There is an amazing historical coincidence involved in the
story of the South Asian construction workers and another
architectural marvel from another age. I named my son Sahir to
honour the memory of the great poet, Sahir Ludhianvi
(1921-80), who gained fame by writing his unforgettable poem 'Taj
Mahal' in which the social issue of workers' exploitation is
the main inspiration. Sahir Ludhianvi contrasted the grandeur
and matchless beauty of the Mughals' greatest architectural
wonder - the Taj Mahal was started in 1632 and completed in
1653 - with the fact that those whose labour made it possible
remained unsung, unrecognised and most probably unpaid. That
my Sahir should now request after nearly 350 years to take up
an identical issue without knowing it touched me deeply. So,
his heart beats in the right place, as did that of Sahir
Ludhianvi. That is ample reason for a father to feel proud.
The problem now is that much of the world has moved away from
feudal oppression, and while the ravages of unbridled
capitalism wreck the lives of millions on a daily basis, the
situation in the oil producing states of the Gulf is much
worse. These societies combine tribalism, feudalism and
rentier capitalism to produce an egregiously oppressive
socio-economic order. At least four compartmentalised social
segments are to be found in these countries. The indigenous
Arab populations are the most favoured in that they are given
many welfare facilities. For that they have to keep out of
politics. The second group is that of bankers, financiers and
business executives and high society people who provide such
services that the local populations are not educated or
qualified to perform. In Saudi Arabia, I know Asian and
African qualified people are paid far less than their
counterparts with the same education from the western world.
The situation in Dubai may be somewhat better. The third
segment is semi-skilled workers, shopkeepers and others who
came to the Gulf region in the early years and were able to
establish their relatively independent presence. They earn
well and send remittances to their families in Bangladesh,
India and Pakistan. The fourth group comprises the millions of
workers who live in camps and work day and night but who are
treated as human dregs.
After the Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 26, 2008, I
visited Pakistan to collect material for my book on the
Pakistani military. That gave me an opportunity to interview
some senior officers. To my very great surprise I was told
that a substantial portion of al Qaeda and Taliban funding
came from the Gulf Emirates and not just Saudi Arabia. That
made me really angry that some Gulf Arabs had no qualms of
conscience in treating poor and impoverished Muslims who work
for them as dirt while some of their countrymen finance
terrorist activities, which also exploit mainly individuals
from poor families. The greater puzzle is of course how fairly
educated Pakistanis also join such jihad instead of working
for the overthrow of all rentier states in the Muslim world.
Ishtiaq Ahmed is a Visiting Research Professor at the
Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) and the South Asian
Studies Programme at the National University of Singapore and
Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Stockholm
University. He is currently working on a book, Is Pakistan a
Garrison State? He can be reached at isasia@nus.edu.sg
Games big
corporations play
Bhopal marked the horrific beginning of a new era. One
that signalled the collapse of restraint on corporate
power.
P. Sainath
Over
20,000 killed. Over half a million victims maimed,
disabled or otherwise affected. Compensation of around
Rs.12,414 per victim on average on the 1989 value of the
rupee. ($470 million or Rs.713 crore. And that divided
among 574,367 victims.) Over a quarter-of-a-century's
wait. To see seven former officials of Union Carbide
Corporation's Indian subsidiary sentenced to two years in
prison and fined Rs.1 lakh each. Not a single person from
the far more responsible parent U.S. company punished.
Yet, the notion that the main injustice to Bhopal is the
failure to extradite then UCC chief Warren Anderson from
America is mildly ridiculous. Trying to evade the lessons
the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster threw up on the tyranny of
giant corporations is completely so. Well over two decades
after its MIC gas slaughtered 20,000 (mostly very poor)
human beings, Bhopal still pays the price of Carbide's
criminality. (Evident from the long-term impact on the
health of the gas-affected. And from the poisoned soil and
water around the former Carbide plant.) While the Indian
government's appalling Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
Bill, if adopted, would give legal cover to such conduct
across the country.
Bhopal marked the horrific beginning of a new era. One
that signalled the collapse of restraint on corporate
power. The ongoing BP spill in the Mexican Gulf - with
estimates ranging from 30,000-80,000 barrels a day - tops
off a quarter-of-a-century where corporations could (and
have) done anything in the pursuit of profit, at any human
cost. Barack Obama's 'hard words' on BP are mostly
pre-November poll-rants. The BP can take a lot of comfort
from two U.S. Supreme Court judgments in the past two
years.
The first of these came in 2008. That was in the case of
the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989 - till then the biggest
recorded (or admitted to) oil spill in history. Simply
put, BP's blowout is recreating an Exxon Valdez every
eight days or so. And has been doing that since late
April. In the Exxon case, a jury in 1994 imposed penalties
of $5 billion on the company. In 2006, points out Sharon
Smith in an incisive piece in counterpunch.org, "an
appeals court halved the punitive claim to $2.5 billion."
And in June 2008, "the Supreme Court reduced that amount
by 80 per cent, to roughly $500 million - an average of
$15,000 per plaintiff." Exxon CEO Lee Raymond who fiercely
fought the damages, retired with a $400 million package
all for himself. While Exxon Valdez's victims, points out
Smith, ended up with roughly the same amount - only, it
was shared among 33,000 of them. That is about 10 per cent
of the original award and roughly $15,000 per victim.
In September the same year, Wall Street's kleptocrats
famously tanked the world economy. Their actions cost
millions in America and elsewhere their jobs and
livelihoods. Yet, U.S. CEOs took home billions in bonuses
that very year. Even The New York Times felt the need to
say in a lead editorial at the time: "Just weeks after the
Treasury Department gave nine of the nation's top banks
$125 billion in taxpayer dollars to save them from
unprecedented calamity, bank executives are salting money
away in billionaire bonus pools to reward themselves for
their performance." (In that election year, Big Oil also
drummed up support for offshore drilling with this cheery
slogan: 'Drill, Baby, Drill.' What'll it be now? 'Spill,
Baby, Spill?')
This year, barely three months before BP turned the Gulf
of Mexico into a sludge pond, the U.S. Supreme Court
further strengthened corporate power with its ruling in
the Citizens United versus Federal Election Commission
case. As Ralph Nader put it: "With this decision,
corporations can now directly pour vast amounts of
corporate money ... into the electoral swamp already
flooded with ... [corporate] dollars ... corporations can
[now] reward or intimidate people running for office at
the local, state, and national levels." Mason Gaffney
makes the point in the Counterpunch Newsletter that "The
ideas behind this are that a corporation is a 'legal
person,' with all the rights [if not all the duties] of a
human being; that, as such, it has a right of free speech;
and that donating money is a form of speech." So chin up,
BP, there's still hope. Remember how many who make it to
Congress and Senate get there on Big Oil's big bucks.
While on the BP spill, spare a thought for the victims of
such disasters who are not American or white-skinned. As
Foreign Policy in Focus columnist Conn Hallinan points
out: "Nigerian government figures show there have been
more than 9000 spills between 1970 and 2000, and there are
currently 2,000 official spill sites." But then, what are
African lives worth?
Seven years after Bhopal, Larry Summers, then chief
economist at the World Bank, wrote his infamous memo. This
said, among other things: "Just between you and me,
shouldn't the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of
the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed
Countries]?" Summers suggested that "the economic logic
behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage
country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
Summers was to later say that he was joking, being
sarcastic, and so on. Few buy that pathetic plea. Still,
he went on to become President of Harvard and is now
President Obama's chief economic adviser. And his memo's
logic holds in the real world. It is exactly what has
happened since Bhopal.
The UPA's response to the Bhopal sentences shows the
government's ethics to be as despicable as they were in
1984. To mourn Bhopal and ready the nuclear liability bill
is a hypocrisy hard to match. Bhopal was a post-facto
sell-out. With the nuclear liability bill, the government
sells out in advance. Is it only governments that have
something to hide from Bhopal 1984? Even at the time,
newspapers gladly carried planted stories suggesting
"sabotage by Carbide's workers" had caused the disaster.
Four years later, a UCC-funded 'study' claimed to prove
that the disaster was caused by a disgruntled worker at
the plant. Carbide also ensured it could not be sued in
U.S. courts. In December 1985, some of India's great legal
luminaries, including Nani Palkhivala, helped persuade
U.S. courts that Indian courts were the appropriate forum
to deal with the case. (With results that we now live
with.) That spared Carbide the relatively much higher
damages the U.S. courts might have imposed.
Barely 10 years later, Enron emerged as the symbol of the
new era of liberalisation. Top academics, 'experts,' and
columnists worked hard to tell us what nice guys the Enron
mob were. All this, after much initial criticism of the
Enron deal. The change of heart was possibly a transplant
funded by tens of millions of dollars set up by that
company to "educate" Indian opinion-makers, lawmakers,
etc. Advertising, too, flowed freely. One famous newspaper
started out very critical of Enron, only to switch to
being one of its cheerleaders. Many others, too, did the
same. I guess that kind of fund buys a lot of education.
For Maharashtra and India, it bought disaster. The once
profit-making State electricity board piled up millions in
losses. The State, in turn, slashed money from welfare
projects and services. Enron, fraud that it was, collapsed
in the U.S., some of its top guns turning fugitives from
the law. The mess remains with us. The one chance of
evading disaster vanished when the Supreme Court threw out
a petition against the Enron deal brought by the CITU and
Abhay Mehta, and that was that.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obama's rhetoric seems to have hurt British
sentiments. The truth is that the U.S. has helped, even
subsidised, BP in the past. In what Alexander Cockburn
calls "the biggest bailout in history," the CIA staged a
now infamous coup in Iran in 1953 to get rid of Mohammed
Mossadegh's government. The Iranian Parliament had by
unanimous vote nationalised the exploitative Anglo-Iranian
Oil Company. Mossadegh was toppled. Installed in his place
was "Shah Reza Pahlevi, the creature of the West's oil
companies, with full tyrannical powers. The AIOC got back
40 per cent of its old concession and became an
internationally owned consortium, renamed - British
Petroleum." The lists of corporate-sponsored coups in the
third world would fill volumes.
All that the Union Carbide did and got away with in Bhopal
is shocking. But not, alas, surprising. In the
quarter-of-a-century since then, corporate power has only
grown. Bhopals happen when societies privilege corporates
over communities, and private profit over public interest.
Curb corporate power, Indian or American, or it will rip
you apart.
Remember too, that important thing Bhopal victims say over
and over again: "we should see that this can never happen
again." However, we seem to be ensuring quite the
opposite. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill in
its present form ensures that U.S. corporations causing
any nuclear accidents on Indian soil will get away with
minimal damages. A compensation now seen as a crime in
Bhopal could be a legal norm in the future. Welcome back,
Larry Summers.
Viewpoints
Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan
A bleak
Ghazni Province seems to offer little, but a Pentagon study
says it may have among the world's largest deposits of
lithium.
James Risen
The
United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped
mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously
known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan
economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself, according to senior
American government officials.
The previously unknown deposits - including huge veins of
iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like
lithium - are so big and include so many minerals that are
essential to modern industry that Afghanistan could eventually
be transformed into one of the most important mining centers
in the world, the United States officials believe.
An internal Pentagon memo, for example, states that
Afghanistan could become the "Saudi Arabia of lithium," a key
raw material in the manufacture of batteries for laptops and
BlackBerrys.
The vast scale of Afghanistan's mineral wealth was discovered
by a small team of Pentagon officials and American geologists.
The Afghan government and President Hamid Karzai were recently
briefed, American officials said.
While it could take many years to develop a mining industry,
the potential is so great that officials and executives in the
industry believe it could attract heavy investment even before
mines are profitable, providing the possibility of jobs that
could distract from generations of war.
"There is stunning potential here," Gen. David H. Petraeus,
commander of the United States Central Command, said in an
interview on Saturday. "There are a lot of ifs, of course, but
I think potentially it is hugely significant."
The value of the newly discovered mineral deposits dwarfs the
size of Afghanistan's existing war-bedraggled economy, which
is based largely on opium production and narcotics trafficking
as well as aid from the United States and other industrialized
countries. Afghanistan's gross domestic product is only about
$12 billion.
"This will become the backbone of the Afghan economy," said
Jalil Jumriany, an adviser to the Afghan minister of mines.
American and Afghan officials agreed to discuss the mineral
discoveries at a difficult moment in the war in Afghanistan.
The American-led offensive in Marja in southern Afghanistan
has achieved only limited gains. Meanwhile, charges of
corruption and favoritism continue to plague the Karzai
government, and Mr. Karzai seems increasingly embittered
toward the White House.
So the Obama administration is hungry for some positive news
to come out of Afghanistan. Yet the American officials also
recognize that the mineral discoveries will almost certainly
have a double-edged impact.
Instead of bringing peace, the newfound mineral wealth could
lead the Taliban to battle even more fiercely to regain
control of the country.
The corruption that is already rampant in the Karzai
government could also be amplified by the new wealth,
particularly if a handful of well-connected oligarchs, some
with personal ties to the president, gain control of the
resources. Just last year, Afghanistan's minister of mines was
accused by American officials of accepting a $30 million bribe
to award China the rights to develop its copper mine. The
minister has since been replaced.
Endless fights could erupt between the central government in
Kabul and provincial and tribal leaders in mineral-rich
districts. Afghanistan has a national mining law, written with
the help of advisers from the World Bank, but it has never
faced a serious challenge.
"No one has tested that law; no one knows how it will stand up
in a fight between the central government and the provinces,"
observed Paul A. Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense
for business and leader of the Pentagon team that discovered
the deposits.
At the same time, American officials fear resource-hungry
China will try to dominate the development of Afghanistan's
mineral wealth, which could upset the United States, given its
heavy investment in the region. After winning the bid for its
Aynak copper mine in Logar Province, China clearly wants more,
American officials said.
Another complication is that because Afghanistan has never had
much heavy industry before, it has little or no history of
environmental protection either. "The big question is, can
this be developed in a responsible way, in a way that is
environmentally and socially responsible?" Mr. Brinkley said.
"No one knows how this will work."
With virtually no mining industry or infrastructure in place
today, it will take decades for Afghanistan to exploit its
mineral wealth fully. "This is a country that has no mining
culture," said Jack Medlin, a geologist in the United States
Geological Survey's international affairs program. "They've
had some small artisanal mines, but now there could be some
very, very large mines that will require more than just a gold
pan."
The mineral deposits are scattered throughout the country,
including in the southern and eastern regions along the border
with Pakistan that have had some of the most intense combat in
the American-led war against the Taliban insurgency.
Israel cannot
be its own judge and jury
Once again,
the White House has set aside right in favor of Israel's
self-interest.
Linda Heard
Once
again, the White House has set aside right in favor of
Israel's self-interest. The United Nations and the
majority of its member countries seek an international
inquiry into the killing of eight Turkish activists and
one American of Turkish origin who tried to break Israel's
blockade on Gaza. Turkey is adamant that an independent,
transparent process should take place and demands that the
siege be lifted.
But Israel rejects calls to end its blockade and says it
would not cooperate with any such investigation. Instead,
it plans to investigate itself. Nothing surprising there!
But it is certainly galling for those who care that
justice is seen to be done that the United States has
apparently blessed Israel's plan, which is akin to
allowing an individual accused of murder to set up his own
court of law and try himself. No other country on the
planet would be given a similar green light.
Moreover, the White House has endorsed Israel's rejection
of an international inquiry with a statement that reads,
"Israel has a military justice system that meets
international standards and is capable of conducting a
serious and credible investigation." This is simply
laughable. When has anyone in the Israeli Defense Forces
been held accountable for anything apart from minor
infractions during past decades? Even the few declared to
have done wrong get away with a rap on the knuckles.
It's particularly telling that although Ariel Sharon was
found by an Israeli commission to have been "indirectly"
responsible for the massacre of Palestinians in Lebanon's
Sabra and Shatilla camps, he was eventually rewarded with
the post of prime minister. Since then, dozens of soldiers
who would be declared war criminals by any other nation
have been awarded medals.
A striking example of this is the drunken IDF bulldozer
driver Moshe Nissim nicknamed "Kurdi Bear" who, in 2002,
demolished homes in the Jenin refugee camp without caring
whether anyone was inside them. "If I am sorry for
anything, it is for not tearing the whole camp down," he
said, before launching into how much he enjoyed his work.
For that, he became a national hero and received a medal
of honor from the Israeli Army. The UN actually set up a
team to investigate Jenin while the evidence was still in
place but as soon as Israel said, "we're not playing ball"
they all went home.
Likewise, Israel has heaped honors on Jewish terrorists
involved in what came to be known as the 1950s "the Lavon
Affair"- people who placed bombs inside American and
British installations within Egypt as part of a false-flag
operation endorsed by the Israel's current President
Shimon Peres. After decades of denying any connection with
the terrorists, in 2005, Israel showered the surviving
operatives with medals. The then US President George W.
Bush didn't care about the admission that Israel had
authorized the bombing of American buildings in the same
way that no US leader has cared to punish Israel for its
attack on America's research ship the USS Liberty in 1967.
President Barack Obama is either incredibly naïve and
misinformed or is being willfully blind for fear of
upsetting America's pro-Israel Congress and lobby. How on
earth can he believe that Israel will conduct an honest
and fair inquiry when it has torn up the Goldstone report
on Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" in Gaza suggesting that
Israelis may have committed war crimes and crimes against
humanity?
Even more to the point in this particular instance is the
fact that Israel's hard-line, right-wing Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and his propaganda machine have been
spewing lies since the flotilla incident took place.
They've called the peace activists terrorists with links
to Al-Qaeda and have suggested they were armed and ready
to murder Israeli commandoes.
Yet Israel not only released those "terrorists" to their
home countries, the only weapons on display from the Mavi
Marmara were chair legs, slingshots, marbles and metal
bars. Let's face it, could you honestly imagine that
Al-Qaeda guys would board that ship with marbles to face
off against the full might of the Israeli military? And,
secondly, if it was their pre-planned intention to kill
Israelis, why did they leave alive the three Israelis who
were captured and deprived of their guns?
It's interesting that the US Defense Minister Robert Gates
blames the European Union's reluctance to embrace Turkey's
membership for Ankara's drift away from the EU and Israel
toward new partnerships in the Middle East. In this case,
is he also prepared to blame President Obama for throwing
Turkey to the wolves in an effort to appease Tel Aviv and
its rah-rah crowd in Washington?
The signs are clear. Israel's murderous attack on the
flotilla will be pushed under the carpet like every other
nefarious thing it has perpetrated. And even though the
blockade of Gaza has been deemed illegal by the UN it's
not about to be lifted. The International Committee of the
Red Cross has described it as "collective punishment"
which violates the Geneva Conventions and is a "crime
under international law" but who's listening? I suspect
that Israel will ease the flow of goods into Gaza for a
while to take some heat of itself and then everything will
return to the status quo, which is an insult to those
courageous Turks who sacrificed their lives.
Now, there's another storm brewing. Uri Brodsky, an
Israeli wanted by Germany in connection with illegally
obtaining the German passport that was used by an alleged
Mossad agent to assassinate a Hamas commander in Dubai has
been arrested in Poland.
Germany seeks his extradition but Israel insists he should
be flown to Tel Aviv for investigation there. Here we go
again! Israel admits that the accused is an Israeli
citizen and is demanding his return so an Israeli probe
can be launched. I know. Feel free to laugh out loud. All
eyes are now on Warsaw to see which way this dedicated
friend to Israel will jump.
In the meantime, Dubai is mulling whether or not to
request extradition itself which will largely depend on
whether Brodsky is directly linked to the assassination.
Dubai's police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim says Israel is not
a country governed by laws but one that settles its scores
"in a gang-like manner". At least there's one person in
the world who says it like it is! n
Lead from the front, Mr Prez
The unemployment numbers are looking grim, the prospect of
contagion from the European debt crisis grows, our allies
in Asia are disheartened, the Taleban remains on the
offensive, and tensions with Iran and North Korea loom.
Fareed Zakaria
I
agree with virtually everyone out there who's complaining
on camera and in print that our response to the oil spill
in the Gulf of Mexico has been just terrible. Except that
by "our" I don't mean the government's or the country's
but ours-the media's.
Reporting on a massive technological breakdown that is
having huge environmental consequences, our focus over the
last week has been on whether the president is offering
enough public displays ?of emotion?
This demand for a show of presidential fury is not coming
from a few obscure people. New York Times columnists want
to see Obama angry; the filmmaker Spike Lee is demanding
that the president "go off"; Democratic strategist James
Carville wants "rage." Whole cable shows have been devoted
to the question. One Fox anchorwoman complained about what
Obama was wearing when he visited the Gulf Coast.
Reflecting the media frenzy, the Today show's Matt Lauer
informed the president that his critics were saying, "This
is not the time to meet with experts and advisers, this is
the time to…kick some butt."
Have we gone mad? We face monumental engineering
challenges: to plug a hole in the deep sea, separate oil
from water, clean up the coastline, and restore the gulf.
But let's forget about talking to experts and seeking
technical solutions. That's for nerds. Let's put on battle
fatigues and kick some butt. Commentators have been
begging for some symbol of Obama's resolve, as when George
W. Bush stood at the World Trade Center site after 9/11
and promised revenge for the attacks. If the president
were to invade another country, would that show he cared?
The fact is that the federal government has a limited
capacity to "plug the damn hole," as Obama reportedly said
in his best effort to muster up some anger. When Adm. Thad
Allen was urged at a press conference to push BP, the oil
company responsible for the spill, out of the way, he
responded with a question: "[And] replace them with
what?...To work down there you need remotely operated
vehicles; you need to do very technical work at 5,000
feet. You need equipment and expertise that's not
generally within the…federal government in terms of
competency, capability, or capacity." The government can
help protect and clean the coastline and coastal waters.
And it has deployed people in force-17,500 National
Guardsmen, plus 20,000 other people and 1,900 boats that
are helping in the effort. It's laid out 4.3 million feet
of boom to protect the coastline, all of which adds up to
the largest response to an environmental disaster in
American history. What else should the ?government do?
Calls for more government are coming from the most
unlikely quarters. Carville's wife, Mary Matalin, argues
that the cleanup is very much the federal government's
responsibility. Yet in response to the only comparable US
oil disaster in recent history, the Exxon Valdez spill,
the George H.W. Bush administration, for which she worked,
specifically denied that the federal government bore any
responsibility ?for the cleanup.
In fact, Transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner declared
that government involvement would be "counterproductive."
Conservatives who have long urged limits on the federal
government are now suddenly discovering their inner FDRs.
To read and watch the coverage of the Exxon Valdez is to
be transported back to a different time. There was no
effort to implicate Bush in the accident, few calls for
him to emote more, no great clamour that he magically "do
something" to get the awful images off the television
screen. In fact, he never travelled to see the oil spill.
This time the president has cancelled a trip to Asia, has
held more meetings on this topic than on any other since
the AfPak review, and speaks almost exclusively about this
tragedy. Government officials hold briefings on the topic
daily, even when these are simply designed to convey the
impression of action. It is government as theatre.
Meanwhile, the unemployment numbers are looking grim, the
prospect of contagion from the European debt crisis grows,
our allies in Asia are disheartened, the Taleban remains
on the offensive, and tensions with Iran and North Korea
loom. These are issues on which the federal government has
specific and unique responsibilities. But what the hell.
The president of the United States has now trash-talked
against the CEO of BP, is wearing more casual clothes, and
has announced that he intends to "kick ass." Thank
goodness for the free press!
Fareed Zakaria is Editor of Newsweek International and
author of Illiberal Democracy
International
Asian
states airlift nationals from Kyrgyzstan
AFP, Beijing
Governments across Asia were evacuating hundreds of their
nationals from Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday after days of deadly
ethnic clashes in the central Asian nation.
China, India, Pakistan and South Korea all organised
flights to rescue citizens living and working in the
troubled south of the country after violence that has left
170 people dead.
Two charter flights carrying 195 Chinese citizens landed
early Tuesday in Urumqi, the capital of China's Xinjiang
region bordering on Kyrgyzstan, the foreign ministry in
Beijing said.
About 600 Chinese living in the southern Kyrgyz city of
Osh have requested evacuation, the official Xinhua news
agency said, citing foreign ministry officials.
The China Daily reported that about 7,000 Chinese
nationals live in the Osh region. Most of them are
businessmen, but some are construction workers.
Two more planes were sent to Osh during the day, state
media said.
So far, no Chinese nationals have been counted among the
170 dead and nearly 1,800 injured as ethnic Kyrgyz gangs
attacked the shops and homes of ethnic Uzbeks.
Tens of thousands of ethnic Uzbeks have fled across the
border into Uzbekistan.
Chinese authorities have urged nationals living in
Kyrgyzstan to remain in their homes after reports that
Chinese-owned businesses were looted.
Pakistan flew home more than 130 citizens and students on
Tuesday and immediately dispatched the same military plane
to pick up scores more.
Foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told AFP that 134
Pakistanis had arrived safely home on the first flight and
that about the same number were due to be repatriated on
the second journey.
The body of a Pakistani student who was killed during the
riots in Osh would be on the second flight, officials
said.
About 1,200 to 1,500 Pakistanis, mostly students, live in
Kyrgyzstan.
India said on Tuesday it had evacuated all its nationals
from the south of the country.
About 116 Indians-mainly students-were flown from the
towns of Osh and Jalalabad to the relatively stable
capital Bishkek and would arrive back in India in next few
days, the foreign ministry in New Delhi said.
It said in a statement that the airlift was arranged "with
the active cooperation and support of the Kyrgyz
authorities."
South Korea said it had evacuated 74 citizens from Osh on
Monday via a chartered flight.
Three South Koreans remained in Osh at their own wishes,
the foreign ministry said.
About 100 Japanese were staying in Bishkek, but there was
no plan to evacuate them, a foreign ministry official
said.
Second plane with
remaining Pakistanis departs from Osh
Dawn Online
A second plane carrying remaining Pakistani nationals
stranded in violence-hit Kyrgyzstan departed from the
Kyrgyz city of Osh on Tuesday, DawnNews reported.
The special flight is also bringing the body of Ali Raza,
a Pakistani student killed during ethnic clashes in Osh.
Earlier, a PAF-C130 landed at Chaklala Airbase, bringing
134 Pakistani nationals including students from Osh, late
Monday night, the Foreign Office said.
The government on Monday decided to send three C-130
aircraft to Kyrgyzstan for bringing back the 269 Pakistani
students stranded in that country after the outbreak of
violence. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani,
underlining the gravity of the matter, himself briefed
legislators during a session of the National Assembly.
The turmoil in Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second largest city, has
left at least one Pakistani student dead.
The prime minister expressed concern over the plight of
the students in Kyrgyzstan, assuring their families that
the government would do its utmost to get them safely back
home.
He said the National Disaster Management Authority and the
foreign ministry had been assigned the job of ensuring
safe return of Pakistani students as well as bringing the
body of Ali Raza from Osh.
The three aircraft will be carrying seven tons of blankets
and tents and another seven tons of food and medicines, on
the request of the Kyrgyz government.
Our Correspondent in Sukkur adds:As more than 200
Pakistani students were at Osh airport to board the C-130
aircraft on Monday night, about 300 others were awaiting
evacuation from troubled areas of the city.
Ambreen, a third-year medical student at the Osh State
University, told Ubaidullah Ansari, who had returned to
Jacobabad on Thursday from Kyrgyzstan, that she was at the
airport and the plane had landed there.She said the
conditions in Osh had deteriorated and the Kyrgyz army had
taken the students to the airport.She said the Kyrgyz
government was making efforts to shift the Pakistani
students who were stranded in the city to safe places.She
also confirmed the death of one Pakistani student, Ali
Raza.
The fate of a student of a medical university, Sumayya,
could not be ascertained and efforts to contact her
sisters Amna Ghaffar and Lubna Ghaffar at the Osh airport
failed.
Indian rebels lift state
blockade after troop threat
AFP, Guwahati
Tribal rebels in northeast India agreed on Tuesday to lift
a blockade that had cut off the remote state of Manipur
for over two months after the government threatened to
send in troops.
Several Naga tribal groups had blocked highways into the
state, which borders Myanmar, to protest against a
government decision preventing their separatist leader
Thuingaleng Muivah from visiting his birthplace.
"We are temporarily suspending the economic blockade
following personal requests by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh after we met him in New Delhi," Naga Students
Federation (NSF) president Mutsiikhoyo Yhobu told AFP by
telephone.
The blockade, which was spearheaded by the NSF, led to
severe shortages of food and medical supplies as well as
soaring prices.
State police said that paramilitary troops were now not
needed to break the blockade but would still be used to
escort trucks into Manipur.
"In view of the NSF decision, we have decided not to use
force for the time being," a senior police official said,
requesting not to be named.
On Monday, top interior ministry official G.K. Pillai had
vowed to use troops to ensure essential supplies could get
in to Manipur from the neighbouring state of Assam.
The blockage was due to be lifted on Tuesday evening and
trucks were expected to enter Manipur the following day,
local officials said.
Muivah's National Socialist Council of Nagaland has been
campaigning for decades for a Naga homeland to be carved
out from three of India's seven northeastern states,
including Manipur.
The state government had banned Muivah's trip to his home
village, saying it could stoke unrest. On May 6, up to six
tribal protesters are said to have been killed and 70
injured during demonstrations over the ban.
"We may resume our agitation once again if the Manipur
government fails to address our primary demands," the
NSF's Yhobu warned on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka challenges war
crimes allegations
AFP, Colombo
Sri Lanka's top defence official challenged international
rights groups Tuesday to produce evidence of war crimes
allegedly committed in the final months of the country's
civil war.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said those making
the allegations should present evidence before Sri Lankan
courts instead of talking to the international media.
"If there is evidence, it can be brought to the notice of
the established Sri Lankan judicial system," Rajapakse
told the Sinhalese-language Lankadeepa newspaper. "They
can even go through lawyers and inform the police."
Sri Lanka has consistently resisted international calls to
probe allegations that thousands of Tamil civilians were
killed during the final months of fighting against the
Tamil Tiger rebels last year.
"I challenge them to produce evidence (of war crimes).
There is no point in giving photographs and videos to the
media. We have an established legal system. Use it,"
Rajapakse added.
His remarks came ahead of visit to the island by UN chief
Ban Ki-moon's top political adviser, Lynn Pascoe, and a
top Japanese envoy, Yasushi Akashi.
Both envoys are expected to push Sri Lanka to swiftly move
towards ethnic reconciliation a year after defeating the
separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
guerrillas, who were fighting for a Tamil homeland.
South Korea, Turkey sign
nuclear power accord
AFP, Seoul
Signed an accord Tuesday to cooperate in nuclear energy,
raising the hopes of Korean companies that are chasing a
deal to build an atomic power plant on the Turkish coast.
President Lee Myung-Bak and his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul agreed to expand "substantial cooperation in
various fields" such as trade, investment, energy,
construction and the defence industry, Lee's office said.
The leaders also attended a ceremony at which their energy
ministers signed the memorandum of understanding on
nuclear cooperation. State firms from the two countries
forged a preliminary deal in March to build a nuclear
power plant at Sinop on Turkey's Black Sea coast. But
Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz has said Ankara
remains open to proposals from other companies if they
offer better terms. South Korea, which generates 30
percent of its electricity from nuclear power, is eager to
export its expertise. A consortium led by the state-run
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) last year won a
20.4-billion-dollar contract to build four nuclear power
plants in the United Arab Emirates by 2020.
Singapore lashes out at US
over trafficking report
AFP, Singapore
Singapore reacted indignantly Tuesday to a US government
report putting it on a human-trafficking watchlist and
bluntly told Washington to examine its own record on
immigration.
The 2010 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report by the State
Department listed Singapore, a staunch US ally, along with
Thailand and Vietnam as countries that failed to prevent
women from being forced into prostitution.
"We have read the latest TIP report. It is rather puzzling
because the US has not satisfactorily explained how it had
arrived at its conclusions," Singapore's foreign ministry
said in a written reply to media queries.
"The Singapore government is committed to tackling the TIP
issue, and our efforts in dealing with this issue have
certainly not weakened since last year. We will respond in
detail as appropriate in due course."
Thousands of women from poorer Asian countries such as
China, the Philippines and Thailand work as call girls and
bar hostesses in wealthy Singapore, a bustling port city
where prostitution is legal in designated zones.
Explaining the downgrade for Singapore to the "Tier Two
Watch List" where it sits alongside impoverished
countries, the US report said some women were tricked into
coming to the city-state with promises of legitimate
employment but coerced into the sex trade. The report said
that while Singapore launched "some significant new steps"
against trafficking, there were no "quantifiable
indicators" that the government was identifying more
victims or prosecuting more culprits.
In its reaction, the Singapore foreign ministry said the
annual US report "is more a political ritual than an
objective study."
India police probe gruesome
suspected ‘honour killing’
AFP, New Delhi
New Delhi police said Tuesday they had arrested the father
and uncle of a girl found stabbed, gagged and electrocuted
along with her boyfriend in an apparent gruesome case of "honour
killing."
Asha Saini, 19, was found dead Tuesday in northwest Delhi
in a low-income neighbourhood, along with her 19-year-old
boyfriend Yogesh Kumar, whom she wanted to marry despite
objections from her family, according to reports.
"When we found the bodies, the couple's legs and hands
were tied and they were bleeding," said deputy
commissioner of Delhi police N.S. Bundela at a news
conference in the capital.
"The couple was electrocuted as well, but we will wait for
the full post-mortem report."
He added that the father and uncle of the girl had been
arrested, "but three suspects still remain at bay."
The Hindustan Times newspaper recounted claims from
neighbours that they rushed to the house where the couple
were being held, but were turned away by the girl's uncle
claiming that a family matter was being discussed. There
are no official figures for the number of "honour
killings" in India, but social activists say hundreds of
young men and women die every year-especially in northern
states such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Kyrgyz
violence eases but humanitarian crisis grows
AFP, Osh
The humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of refugees
who fled ethnic fighting in Kyrgyzstan is intensifying,
officials warned Tuesday, even as signs emerged of a
slackening of the unrest.
Uzbekistan has struggled to cope with the flood of ethnic
Uzbek refugees who crossed the border to escape five
bloody days of clashes with ethnic Kyrgyz that have left
at least 170 people dead and almost 1,800 wounded.
The fighting has turned much of the southern cities of Osh
and Jalalabad into smoking wrecks and raised fears over
the future stability of the country of 5.3 million where
Uzbeks make up 14 percent of the population.
With estimates of up to 100,000 refugees already inside
Uzbekistan after fleeing the southern cities, the Central
Asian state said the border would now be shut, leaving
thousands more would-be refugees marooned outside. The
ambassadors of the UN Security Council called for a return
of the rule of law to Kyrgyzstan while Russia warned that
the "intolerable" situation in the country risked spinning
out of control.
"The humanitarian situation in the conflict zone is
worsening. There are many refugees in need of help and
attention," said Kazakh diplomat Zhanibek Karibzhanov, the
special envoy of the transatlantic OSCE security group.
"One of the main tasks in the south of Kyrgyzstan is to
stabilise the situation and not allow the conflict to
spread into other territories," he told reporters in the
capital Bishkek.
There was sporadic gunfire in Osh during the night and
tension remained high in the city on Tuesday. But only a
few gunshots were heard as a prisoner exchange took place,
in contrast to the steady firing of recent days.
AFP journalists in Osh watched the exchange of captives
from the fighting as ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks approached
each other across the empty no-man's land separating the
two ethnic groups in the city.
As the exchanges took place, men in the Uzbek enclave were
busy felling trees and erecting new barricades of logs,
cargo containers and wrecked vehicles in the streets to
protect their homes and shops.
Local Uzbek residents said they had seen fresh corpses on
streets just outside the protected perimeter of their
neighborhood but said it was still too dangerous for them
to move into the area to retrieve the bodies.
Iran nuclear fuel
swap deal ‘still alive:’ Ahmadinejad
AFP, Tehran
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran's nuclear fuel
swap deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey last month was
"still alive," state television reported on its website on
Tuesday.
"The Tehran declaration is still alive and can play a role
in international relations even if the arrogant (Western)
powers are upset and angry," he said in a meeting with
visiting Turkish parliament speaker Mehmet Ali Shahin.
Under the May 17 accord with Brazil and Turkey, Iran
agreed to send 1,200 kilogrammes of its low-enriched
uranium to Turkey, after which the Islamic republic, at a
later date, would be supplied with higher grade fuel from
Russia and France for a research reactor.
The proposal aimed to counter an arrangement drafted by
the UN atomic watchdog that had been deadlocked for
several months.
The May 17 offer, however, was cold-shouldered by world
powers which, led by Washington, imposed a fourth set of
sanctions on Iran last week for refusing to halt its
sensitive uranium enrichment programme.
The West suspects the enrichment masks a nuclear weapons
drive, a charge denied by Tehran.
US child activists
launch Bhopal appeal
AFP, New York
US child activists made an impassioned plea Monday for the
90-year-old former boss of Union Carbide to help victims
of the deadliest ever industrial disaster in Bhopal,
India.
The Indian government said last week the case against the
chemical group's former CEO, Warren Anderson, was still
open amid outrage over the lenient sentencing of some of
the culprits.
Dow Chemical purchased Union Carbide in 1999, but says all
liabilities related to the accident were cleared in a
470-million-dollar out-of-court settlement with the Indian
government in 1989.
Young activists from the New York-based group, "Kids for a
Better Future," failed to gain access to the Dow
headquarters here and instead read out a statement from
the group's 12-year-old founder Akash Mehta on the street.
"Mr. Warren Anderson, today you are known only for your
role in the disaster, your name is met only with hatred by
hundreds of thousands of Bhopalis, and people all over the
world," it said.
"The only way that you can change that, to clear your
name, is to make a moral statement for justice in Bhopal.
And then, you can live the rest of your life in peace,
with your head held high, knowing that you made a
difference."
Anderson was arrested in India after the accident, which
killed tens of thousands of people, but he then fled the
country before requests for his extradition were turned
down by US authorities.
He, like the local managers of Union Carbide's subsidiary
in India, faced charges of criminal negligence. Seven of
the local managers were finally convicted on June 7, while
Anderson was named as an absconder.
Amid anger in India about the perceived leniency of the
sentences given to the Indian managers-two years in prison
pending appeal-Anderson has again become a target and a
lightning rod for a general feeling of injustice.
A lethal plume of gas escaped from a storage tank in the
early hours of December 3, 1984, killing thousands
instantly as they choked to death. Research shows that
25,000 people have died from the consequences of exposure
since 1984.
UN warns rival Koreas
against escalating tension
AFP, United
Nations
The UN Security Council warned South and North Korea
Monday against escalating regional tension after hearing
briefings by both sides on the sinking of a South Korean
warship which Seoul blames on the North.
The Security Council made a "strong call to the parties to
refrain from any act that could escalate tension in the
region" and to preserve peace and stability on the Korean
peninsula, according to its president, Mexican Ambassador
Claude Heller.
Heller told reporters after the twin briefings that the
council "is gravely concerned" about the incident and "its
impact on peace and stability on the Korean peninsula."
Earlier Monday, a South Korean envoy called on the council
to take action against the Stalinist North after giving
evidence linking Pyongyang to the March sinking of a South
Korean warship.
"We hope that... the Security Council will take timely and
appropriate measures against the provocation of North
Korea," said Yoon Duk-Yong, a physics and material science
expert at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and
Technology.
He did not go into specifics, noting that it was up to the
15-member council to decide how it planned to respond.
Yoon and his team found that a North Korean midget
submarine fired a torpedo on March 26, sinking the Cheonan,
a South Korean corvette, and killing 46 sailors.
"We identified the torpedo as a North Korean CHT02D on the
basis of our recovered pieces of the torpedo, which was
the propulsion part, including two propellers, a shaft, a
steering plate and a motor," he added.
UN Security Council to be briefed on
Kyrgyzstan unrest
AFP, United Nations
The UN Security Council is to take up the bloody ethnic
clashes in restive Kyrgyzstan later Monday, its president
said.
Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller said a top official of
the UN department of political affairs would brief the 15
council members on the violence which, according to
authorities, has left at least 124 dead and more than
1,600 injured over the past four days.
Earlier Monday, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights, called on Kyrgyz authorities to act firmly
to end the clashes which she noted appeared to be
"orchestrated, targeted and well-planned."
Uzbekistan has ordered its frontier closed to a mass
exodus of refugees fleeing clashes between rival groups in
Kyrgyzstan.
The International Committee of the Red Cross estimated
that 80,000 people have already fled into Uzbekistan,
while another 15,000 were waiting at the Kyrgyz border to
cross over this morning.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees office meanwhile
said it was preparing to deploy both aid supplies and
staff with experience in dealing with emergencies to help
the new arrivals in Uzbekistan.
The southern Kyrgyz city of Osh has been the worst
affected by the violence, but there have been reports of
widespread killing, looting and marauding in Jalalabad and
several rural districts as well.
Kyrgyzstan has been wracked by unrest this year and in
early April a violent uprising ousted then-president
Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
Kyrgyzstan withdraws
foreign troops demand
AFP, Osh
Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday withdrew a demand for foreign
peacekeepers to calm deadly ethnic unrest in its south
that created tens of thousands of refugees and fears of a
humanitarian catastrophe.
Interim leader Roza Otunbayeva said the forces were no
longer needed as the unrest between ethnic Uzbeks and
Kyrgyz around the cities of Jalalabad and Osh was abating
after five days of bitter clashes that claimed at least
170 lives.
Uzbekistan accepted tens of thousands of ethnic Uzbek
refugees who crossed the border but has now shut the
frontier, leaving thousands waiting to cross it in
desperate conditions, AFP correspondents reported.
Osh has now essentially been split into two along ethnic
lines, with ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz-heavily armed with
guns and spiked baseball bats-hunkering down in their own
districts and not venturing outside.
The fighting has turned much of the southern cities of Osh
and Jalalabad into smoking wrecks and raised fears over
the future viability of the country of 5.3 million where
Uzbeks make up 14 percent of the population.
"There is not a need to send peacekeeping forces," interim
leader Roza Otunbayeva told a news conference. "We hope to
deal with this situation with our own forces," she added,
saying the clashes were now "on the wane".
Otunbayeva had at the weekend appealed to Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev to send military forces, saying
that the situation in the south of the country was out of
control.
She also said that a nationwide referendum planned on June
27 over constitutional reform after the ousting of
ex-president Kurmanbek Bakiyev would "take place at the
scheduled time".
Simple drug could save
100,000 lives each year: Lancet
AFP, Paris
An easy-to-use blood-clotting drug that costs just a few
dollars could save up to 100,000 lives each year from road
accidents and violence, according to a paper published on
Tuesday by The Lancet.
Doctors at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine tested an off-patent treatment called tranexamic
acid (TXA) among 20,000 severely-injured adults in 274
hospitals in 40 countries. Participants received either
one gram of TXA by injection followed by another one gram
in a drip over the following eight hours, or a dummy
lookalike.
TXA reduced the risk of death by any cause by 10 percent
compared with the placebo, the paper said.
When it came to the risk of death by bleeding, TXA scored
a reduction of 15 percent over the placebo.
Each year, more than a million people die as a result of
traffic injuries, and another 1.6 million die as a result
of acts of violence, and many could be saved by swift
action to stop haemorrhaging, the researchers said.
"Each year about 600,000 injured patients bleed to death
worldwide," said lead author Ian Roberts, a professor of
epidemiology.
"Injuries may be accidental, for example, road crashes, or
intentional, such as shootings, stabbings or land-mine
injuries, and the majority of deaths occur soon after
injury." TXA works by reducing the breakdown of clots. The
drug is manufactured by a number of companies, and a gram
of it costs about 4.50 dollars.
If TXA became widely available and was used promptly, it
could save as many as 100,000 lives a year, 13,000 of them
in India and 12,000 in China, where road deaths are
surging, the paper said.
"The drug is inexpensive and could be given in hospitals
worldwide," said Etienne Krug, director of violence and
injury prevention and disability at the UN's World Health
Organisation (WHO).
Business/Economy
BMCCI
terms budget ‘business-friendly but not export-friendly’
UNB, Dhaka
Terming the proposed budget for the coming fiscal
'business-friendly' but not export-friendly,
Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI)
thinks there is a chance cost of doing business too will
increase due to imposition of taxes in many areas.
"The proposed budget is business-friendly but it's not
export friendly. The imposition of taxes will affect
competitiveness and hamper exports," said BMCCI President
Syed Moazzam Hossain on Tuesday.
Speaking at a post-budget press briefing held at the Dhaka
Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium, the BMCCI president said
the increase of Value Added Tax (VAT) on both retail and
wholesales level sales and Advanced Trade Vat on all
imported items would increase prices of commodities.
"Ultimately, consumers will have to shoulder the burden.
So the government should continue the existing rate and
withdraw the proposed rate," he said.
Syed Moazzam Hossain pointed out that there is a provision
in the budget for Tk 2000 crore as incentives for the
exporters, but the tax has been increased from 0.25
percent to 1.0 percent on the total export value of
knitwear and woven garments, which will totally discourage
export.
Appreciating the proposal for expansion of the tax net,
the BMCCI president suggested bringing the maximum number
of people under the tax net by offering a nominal amount
instead of increasing the tax rate.
"The government could not utilize a single penny out of
the Tk 2500 crore allocated for the PPP (public private
partnership) in the outgoing fiscal. The PPP allocation in
the coming fiscal (Tk 3000 crore) will remain unutilized
if proper policy guidelines are not finalized in a timely
fashion," Syed Moazzam Hossain said.
He said proper policy guidelines are immediately needed to
attract both local and foreign investors and boost their
confidence in the PPP projects.
The BMCCI president appreciated the government for
prioritizing the power, energy and transportation sectors,
which are prerequisites for the country's development.
Talking about the overall size of the budget, he said:
"The budget is not at all ambitious in consideration of
the country's 160 million people."
He said if the government can ensure the implementation of
the budget and establish good governance, the GDP (gross
domestic product) would be higher than predicted.
Pakistan
to welcome India joining pipeline project
PTI, New Delhi
A day after sealing final pacts with Iran on a long-talked
gas pipeline, Pakistan on Monday said it will welcome
India joining the project and will guarantee safe delivery
of the fuel.
With New Delhi boycotting talks on Iran-Pakistan-India
pipeline over pricing and security concerns, Iran and
Pakistan Sunday signed government guarantees - the last of
a series of agreements - that commits the Islamic republic
to supply its eastern neighbour with natural gas from
2014.
"We have kept open the option of India joining the project
(at a later date). We will welcome India (in the
project)," Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry, Additional Secretary in
Pakistan's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources,
told PTI from Islamabad.
India fears terrorists may hold the pipeline hostage to
their demands and even cut supplies by blowing it to hurt
the interest of world's second fastest growing economy.
Also, it is upset with frequent changes in pricing of gas
by Iran and has boycotted talks for almost three years
now.
New Delhi has now proposed talks with Iran to sort out
impediments but the two are yet to agree on mutually
acceptable dates.
"We yesterday signed government guarantees, letters of
comfort and condition precedents for the project,"
Chaudhry said.
Pakistan had in July last year signed a gas sale and
purchase agreement and in March signed among other pacts a
gas transportation agreement (GTA).
G20 countries
largely withstand protectionist pressures
Xinhua, Geneva
Despite the global financial crisis, the Group of 20 (G20)
governments have largely resisted pressures to impose
investment restrictions, according to a report released
here on Monday.
"By and large, G20 governments have continued to honor
their commitment, taken at the Washington, London and
Pittsburgh summits, to refrain from raising new barriers
to international investment," said the joint report by the
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD).
"Most of the general investment policy measures pointed
toward greater openness and transparency for foreign
investors."
It said G20 leaders "are to be commended" for resisting
protectionist pressures, thereby contributing to a return
to growth and boosting investor confidence.
The report, reviewing G20 investment and
investment-related measures taken between November and
May, was the third of a series prepared at the request of
G20 leaders to be submitted to the G20 Summit to be held
in Toronto on June 26-27.
According to the document, managing the investment impacts
of emergency measures taken in response to the crisis
still constitutes a great challenge for G20 governments.
"Although these measures are not, on the whole, overtly
discriminatory toward foreign investors, they pose serious
threats to market competition in general and to
competition operating through international investment in
particular."
It urged G20 governments to ensure that their emergency
measures and programs "are wound down at an appropriate
pace and that the crisis is not used as a pretext to
discriminate directly or indirectly against certain
investors, including foreign investors."
The report also warned that protectionist pressures would
persist as long as the impact and aftershocks of the
crisis weigh on the recovery.
It urged G20 leaders to extend their commitment to resist
investment protectionism beyond the end of 2010, as
"openness to international investment is a precondition
for strong global economy, job creation, and innovation."
In a separated report released on Monday, the World Trade
Organization (WTO) also confirmed that G20 governments
"have largely resisted resort to trade barriers" over the
same period.
However, the WTO report warned of the "growing risk" of a
potential accumulation of trade-restricting measures
implemented since the outbreak of the global financial
crisis.
"This risk is compounded by a relatively slow pace of
removal of previously adopted restrictive measures.
Exiting current restricting measures should be a
priority."
"Given the current economic environment and the risks
ahead, governments should remain vigilant to preserve the
level of trade openness and act to remove the most trade
restrictive measures taken over previous periods," added
the report, which will also be submitted to the Toronto
summit.
Emerging giants recovering, crop prices to rise:
UN/OECD
AFP, Rome
A "two-speed recovery" from the global economic crisis
favours poor countries, and several factors may push crop
prices higher, the UN food agency and the OECD club of
wealthy nations said on Tuesday.
"A two-speed recovery appears to be under way
characterised by weak and hesitant growth with high
unemployment in many OECD countries and by stronger growth
and faster recovery in the large developing countries," a
joint report concluded.
The recovery "is slowly spreading to the rest of the
developing world and helping to fuel world income growth,"
the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
said.
"On a per capita basis, production growth in least
developed countries is struggling to keep up with rapid
population growth," said the annual Agricultural Outlook
for the coming decade. Overall, "average crop prices over
the next 10 years ... are projected to be above the levels
of the decade prior to the 2007/08 peaks," it said.
Despite "a number of severe shocks in recent years with
record high oil prices, commodity price spikes, food
security fears and resultant trade restrictions, not to
mention the most serious global economic recession since
the 1930s, (agriculture) has shown remarkable resilience,"
it said.
"Still, many governments remain concerned about the
potential for a repetition of significant shocks to such
key factors as energy prices, exchange rates, and/or the
macroeconomic performance of key countries and regions,
and about the consequences that such shocks have on market
volatility," it added.
The long-term outlook for food production is positive, the
report said.
"Global agricultural production is anticipated to grow
more slowly in the next decade than in the past one, but
in the absence of unexpected shocks, growth remains on
track with estimated longer-term requirements of a 70
percent increase in global food production by 2050."
Emerging economies will drive growth in world agricultural
production, consumption and trade, the report said.
"Demand from developing countries is driven by rising per
capita incomes and urbanisation, reinforced by population
growth, which remains nearly twice that of the OECD area,"
it noted.
EU leaders feel rising global debt
pressure
AFP, Brussels
European leaders will try to nail down credible strategies
at a summit on Thursday to slash debts and tighten
cross-border "economic government", amid rapidly
intensifying global pressure.
As fears grow over Spain's debt exposure, subtle prods
administered before a Greek emergency rescue are turning
into blunt demands for action in the United States, Japan
and Canada-the G7 partners with Europe's big four of
Germany, France, Britain and Italy.
While the new British prime minister and summit debutant,
David Cameron, has other issues on which he may put up
obstacles, German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted in
Berlin late Monday that "Spain, or any country, knows that
it can make use of this mechanism at any time, if
necessary.
"If there are problems-and I don't think we should bring
it about by talking about it-then this mechanism can be
activated at any time. The conditions are clear," she
said.
G7 finance ministers fear that problems with Spain's
economy-which is far bigger than that of Greece, with its
banks heavily involved in Latin America-could undermine
global recovery.
The Spanish parliament approved a fresh 15-billion-euro
austerity plan last month, after 50 billion euros of
radical cuts announced in January.
Madrid was also expecting a warning on Tuesday that more
will likely be required next year, along with other weak
economies in breach of EU deficit limits including
politically paralysed Belgium.
"We are all concerned... with the need for certain
vulnerable European economies to act quickly to fiscally
consolidate," said Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty
on Monday.
National
Bumper jute production likely as
farming target finally exceeds in N-region
BSS, Rangpur
A bumper jute production is expected this season in
northern Bangladesh as the farmers finally exceeded its
farming target by 44 percent by continuing sowing the
seeds till the end of the last month, official sources
said on Tuesday.
Earlier, the farming target could not be achieved till the
optimum sowing period of jute seeds by last April
following initial seed crisis, droughts, lack of soil
moistures and crop diversification in the region this
season.
Finally, the farmers have cultivated jute on 1,99,833
hectares land, which is 44 percent higher than the fixed
target of bringing 1,38,731 hectares land under its
farming this season in the region and they are expecting
excellent market prices of jute this year.
Harvest of the jute, sowed comparatively earlier, is
expected to begin from the middle of the next month and it
may continue till the end of August next as the prolonged
sowing period continued from April to the end of May, the
sources said.
The jute growers said that they first faced initial seed
crisis when the government imported it on an emergency
basis and timely supplied the same to them and then a
drought like situation continued for a long time hampering
timely sowing of the seeds. Following late but adequate
rainfalls, the farmers of eight districts under Rangpur
Zone could finally bring 92,490 hectares land under jute
farming till May 31 last against the fixed target of
bringing 66,940 hectares under the programme. Similarly,
the farmers in the other eight districts under Rajshahi
Zone have finally sowed the jute seed on 1,07,343 hectares
against the fixed target of bringing 71,791 hectares under
its farming.
Meanwhile, the jute plants including the lately sowed
tender plants are growing excellent creating eye-catching
looks everywhere in the region now following frequent
rainfalls in recent weeks amid favourable climatic
conditions, the sources said.
The officials are expecting a bumper jute production up to
22 lakh bales as its farming target has been exceeded by
44 percent than the fixed target of producing 14,74,777
bales from 1,38,731 hectares during the current season in
northern Bangladesh.
Dinajpur Hub Manager of Cereal Systems Initiative for
South Asia and noted agri-scientist Dr MA Mazid told BSS
that a bumper jute production is expected though the
farmers continued sowing its seeds till the end of May
under changed climatic patterns.
"The farmers should cultivate fine variety T-Aman rice
like Lotishail, Binashail, Nazirshail, BR-5 and BRRI Dhan
34 instead of the other variety T-Aman rice after
harvesting the lately sowed jute on the same land to get
better rice yields," he added. The farmers have finally
brought 11,648 hectares under jute farming in Rangpur,
10,419 hectares in Gaibandha, 19,085 hectares in Kurigram,
9,602 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 11,735 hectares in
Nilphamari, 8,298 hectares in Dinajpur, 7,758 hectares in
Panchagarh and 13,945 hectares in Thakurgaon.
They have cultivated jute on 3,066 hectares in Joypurhat,
15,026 hectares in Bogra, 13,135 hectares in Rajshahi,
29,020 hectares in Pabna, 22,300 hectares in Sirajganj,
8,270 hectares in Naogaon, 16,018 hectares in Natore and
508 hectares in Chapainawabganj.
Talking to BSS, DAE officials said jute farming target was
not achieved last season and the same has been exceeded
this time by 44 percent following special steps taken by
the government to make the jute farming programmes
successful in the region.
Jute farming helps regaining lost soil health and the
farmers would get more interest in it if they were
provided with quality seeds and good prices as demand of
the fibre has been increasing very fast in the
international markets, they added.
Philanthropy practice can help reduce dependence on
foreign aid
BSS, Rajshahi
Speakers at a discussion here on Monday viewed that
philanthropy practice could help reduce dependence on
foreign aid for the purpose of implementation of uplift
projects.
Referring to the glorious historic records and the
existing instances they said once upon a time different
types of educational institutions, hospitals and other
charities had been established in the country at
initiatives of the philanthropists.
But, such types of initiatives have been reduced
enormously at present, they lamented. They were addressing
the discussion styled "Book Launching of Diaspora
Philanthropy in Bangladesh" jointly organized by
Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (BFF) and Center for
Capacity Building for Voluntary Organization (CCBVO) at
Hotel Aristocrat.
Dean of Social Science Faculty of Rajshahi University Prof
Dr Mijan Uddin addressed the ceremony as the chief guest
while Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of Geology and Mining
Department of the same varsity and Program Manager of BFF
Majharul Islam as special guests with Chief Executive of
CCBVO Sarwar-E-Kamal Swapan in the chair.
Development Organizer and Aboriginals Specialist Everest
Hembom addressed the session as the main discussant on the
book jointly edited by Rashida Ahmed, Safi Rahman Khan and
Mazharul Islam.
The speakers said the richer-class and well-to-do sections
of the society could supplement the government efforts
relating to the nation building activities like education
and healthcare through philanthropy practice. "We have
large numbers of philanthropic instances in the country,
but now we are becoming dependence on foreign aid for
implementing development programs due to lack of social
initiatives," said Prof Mijan Uddin adding that a
collective effort has become indispensable to make the
country economically solvent.
"In spite of laudable role of the foreign remittance to
the country's social sector the contribution remained
unknown to the public in general due to lack of major
research in this sector," he said after reviewing the
book.
Whereas, he said the lion portion of the remittance is
spent to the family purposes and the small rest is
trickled down to the social development activities.
He, however, hoped that the publication will shed some
light on diaspora philanthropy in Bangladesh as well as
motivate others to further venture into this area so that
it can be better organized and its potential further
realized. Among others, social workers Dr Sultan Ahmed,
Joytuna Khatun, Mozammel Haque, Syed Shalah Uddin and
Proshanta Shaha, Assistant Professor of Rajshahi
University College Rozety Naznin, Language Veteran
Mosharraf Hossain Akunji and Advocate Abu Raihan Masum
took part in the open discussion highlighting the major
aspects of philanthropic activities in the nation building
process.
Morocco’s heat-tolerant wheat varieties show bright
prospect in BD
BSS, Chittagong
Two heat-tolerant Moroccan varieties of sweet wheat have
shown their bright prospects in Bangladesh soil after
scientists harvested a good yield in five seed trial plots
across the country this year. Bangladesh Agriculture
Development Corporation (BADC) sources said the seed trial
plots in Dattanagar, Meherpur, Madhupur, Thakurgaon and
Dinajpur have yielded 3.8 metric tons of wheat per
hectare, 500-kg higher production than local varieties.
"We have got encouraging results initially from our five
testing fields and the seeds of the heat-tolerant Moroccan
varieties would be distributed among farmers after
approval from National Seed Board," BADC Chairman Dr SM
Nazmul Islam told BSS on Tuesday. Dr Nazmul said the flour
of the wheat is very tasty and sweater than that of the
local varieties.
He said these varieties of wheat, mostly used to produce
bakery items such as biscuit, bread, cake, would help the
country reducing dependence on foreign flour.
The chairman, who himself brought two kilograms of seed
from Morocco, said the mass expansion of the Moroccan
varieties especially under changed climatic conditions,
would help Bangladesh growing better wheat amid droughts.
He said the varieties have the specialty to give good
yield amid high temperatures and those seldom come under
pest attacks.
Member of BADC Mohammad Nuruzzaman said his chief has
handed the seeds over to Agriculture Minister Begum Matia
Chowdhury, who took the initiative to have trials in local
soils and see the prospect of the varieties in Bangladesh.
"Thanks to Allah that we have gotten a very good result at
our initial trials," he said adding that 75 kgs of seeds
have been developed from a kilogram of seeds planted for
trials.
He said massive trials of the varieties are now being held
to see their suitability again in Bangladesh, a country
battered by extreme weather conditions such as flood,
cyclone and drought due to climate change.
Director of Dinajpur Wheat Research Institute Dr Mohammad
Sirajul Islam said the Moroccan varieties were tested at
his file site and positive results recorded after the
harvests.
He said the new varieties of wheat would help improve the
quality of confectionery items and act as an import
substitute to save to foreign currency.
Ensuring govt. services to common people for development
stressed
BSS, Gaibandha
The speakers at a function on Sunday stressed the need for
ensuring the government services to the grassroots level
common people aimed at bringing them under the mainstream
of their overall development.
"As the majority people of the country are poor and they
live under the poverty line, it is quite impossible to
advance the nation towards development without changing
the socio-
economic condition of the poor particularly the
marginalized ones," they said.
They said this to a workshop entitled "Poor People's
Access to Government Services" organized by Sundarganj
Upazila Parishad in its auditorium in the district on June
14 in cooperation with RDRS- Bangladesh under its
Empowering the Poor through Federations Project funded by
European Union, Dan Church Aid, Fin Church Aid, Church of
Sweden and Norwegian Church Aid.
Presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) M. Shamsul
Azam, the workshop was also addressed, among others, by
upazila health and family planning officer Dr. Shah Wazed
Ali, upazila agriculture officer Aftab Hossain, assistant
secondary education
officer Ziaul Haque, assistant primary education officer
Zahangir Alam, senior manager of materials development M.
Rahmatullah, senior manager Zaheda Khatun and journalist
Shajahan Miah.
In the workshop, the upazila level government officials
answered to various questions raised by the poor and also
gave instant solutions to some of the problems related to
government services.
Urging the upazila level officials to perform their duties
with transparency and accountability the UNO in his speech
called upon all to reach their respective services to the
doorsteps of the poor to change their fates and build a
poverty free society.
The participants also thanked the RDRS-Bangladesh for
arranging such a function here for the first time and
helping the poor get desired information and services from
the government service providers working in the upazila
directly. Upazila level
all officials, public representatives, local elite,
political leaders, NGO and social workers, federation
leaders including journalists took part in the workshop.
47 alleged criminals arrested in Joypurhat
BSS, Joypurhat
Police in separate anti-crime drives arrested 47 persons
including suspected criminals from different places of
five upazilas in the district during the last 48 hours
still Tuesday morning.
Police sources said the arrested persons were absconding
warrantees, cheats, thieves, terrorists, accused persons
in different areas and other anti-social elements.
Joypurhat thana police arrested 10 persons, Panchbibi 11,
Kalai 12, Khetlal 10 and Akkelpur four during the period.
The arrested persons were sent to jail after being
produced before different courts here, the sources said.
One gets life for killings senior lawyer in Netrakona
BSS, Netrakona
The Additional District and Sessions Judge in Netrakona on
Monday sentenced to one person to life imprisonment for
killing a senior lawyer at Durgapur upazila town of the
district in 2007.
The court also fined the convict Taka 50,000, in default,
to suffer another six months of rigorous imprisonment.
Court sources said the convict was identified as Arshad
Hussain Swapan (35), son of Abdul Hamid of the village
Majiail under the Durgapur upazila of the district. The
prosecution story, in brief, is that on September 22,
2007, the convict mercilessly beat up a senior lawyer of
Durgapur Bar Association Advocate Sader Ali (72) in broad
daylight in Durgapur Bazar area.
The lawyer suffered critical injury in the attack. He was
admitted to Durgapur Upazila Health Complex and later
shifted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. As his
condition deteriorated further, Sarder Ali was finally
transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where
succumbed to his injuries on the following day. Later, the
deceased's son Jahirul Haque Chandan filed a murder case
with the Durgapur Upazila police station against Swapan on
September 24. Police after investigating the killing
submitted chargesheet before the court against the
accused.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Netrakona Ekramul
Haque Chowdhury after examining the witnesses and
evidences found the Arshad Hussain Swapan guilty and
pronounced the verdict in a crowded court room here.
Call to forge social movement to uproot violence against
children
BSS, Rajshahi
Participants at a media campaign here on Tuesday
unequivocally called for forging social movement to
eliminate violence against children.
In this context, they stated that only the government or
any single organization is not capable to attain the goal
as the social crime has already been gone into far depth.
Referring to various forms of violence they stated that
the girls' age between 9 and 18 are being subjected to
kidnapping, trafficking, rape, killing and provocative
suicide more than that of other ages.
Eight Youth Performers revealed the information quoting
media reports published in three local newspapers.
Association for Community Development (ACD), a human
rights-based non-government development organization,
under its 'Actions for Combating Trafficking-in- Persons
Program' organized the meeting at its conference hall.
ACD Program Officer Azmul Huda Mithu, Program Manager
Naheed Sultana and youth performers Salma Khatun Mala,
Abdur Rashid and Salma Akhter and Journalists Shafiqul
Islam, Mahtab Chowdhury and Tabibur Rahman Masum addressed
the session, among others.
The speakers underlined the need for a concerted effort of
all quarters to protect the street children from all sorts
of violence including sexual exploitation.
In this regard, they viewed that most of the vulnerable
group children are subjected to repression and various
inhuman behaviors by their surroundings that led to their
life into more endangered.
General discussion in Parliament
Budget to reach country to path of high performing growth
Sangsad Bhaban
General discussion on the proposed budget for fiscal year
2010-2011 began in the Jatiya Sangsad here on Tuesday as
the lawmakers terming the new fiscal document as visionary
to help the country score a high performing growth.
The budget will help the country reach a high performing
growth supported by advanced and innovative technology
with prices of commodities to remain stabile side by side
with income and poverty, they said adding that the market
remained stable after announcement of the budget, which
was unlikely in the previous years.
The discussion was one-sided as the oppositions remained
absent from the session. However, the House saw a lively
discussion with witty remarks, humours and drollery of the
members with the presence of the Leader of the House Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina.
On the first day, Communications Minister Syed Abul
Hossain, State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr
Hasan Mahmud and JSD member Shah Zikrur Rahman, Narayan C.
Chanda, Kamal Ahmed Majumder and Moslem Uddin took part in
the discussion. The proceedings of House began with Deputy
Speaker M Shawkat Ali in the chair while panel chairman
Mohamad Mujibul Haque chaired the session after the Asr
prayer.
The lawmakers said the budget would help ensure health and
education for all, creating efficient manpower,
strengthening social justice and reducing social
disparity.
Besides, the information and communication technology
promoted in the budget would take the country to a new
height of excellence giving the country a new identity to
be branded as Digital Bangladesh, they added.
They also termed the budget as environment friendly saying
the measures taken for water management, river dredging,
flood control, expansion of irrigation facilities,
protection against salinity would help tackle the adverse
effects of climate change.
Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain termed the
budget a farsighted and realistic budget and said the
Finance Minister has given priority to rural development
in the proposed budget.
He thanked the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister for
giving priority to power sector, social safety net and
poverty alleviation and agriculture and allocating Taka
1,208 crore for construction of the Padma Bridge.
Listing different projects undertaken by the communication
ministry, the minister said the budget has given due
allocation for implementing the government plan to put in
place a balanced communication system in the country.
The discussants said the budget envisaged for collecting
Tk. 16,805 crore (2.6 percent of GDP) from non-tax sources
with total estimated revenue income of Tk. 92,847 crore
without imposing any additional tax burden on people.
It is also appreciating that allocation for
non-development budget stands at Tk. 93,670 crore (12.0
percent of GDP) in the coming year and for ADP it is Tk.
38,500 crore (4.9 percent of GDP).
They said one of the unique features of the overall budget
deficit in the coming year will be Tk. 39,323 crore, which
is 5 percent of GDP. The deficit will be financed up to 2
percent of GDP from external sources and 3 percent of GDP
from domestic sources.
While lauding enhanced allocations in agro-sector for
providing subsidized fertilizers to the farmers,
allocation of funds for construction of much awaited Padma
Bridge and additional allocations for increasing
allowances under social safety net programme, some members
were very much critical against Opposition bench for their
role in the parliament.
APUB appeals for withdrawal of proposed VAT
BSS, Dhaka
The Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB)
on Tuesday expressed its concern over the proposal for
introduction of VAT on the students of Non-Government
Universities (NGUs) in the proposed budget.
The Association, its member universities, students,
guardians and the academic community viewed that the new
proposal is detrimental to the cause of higher education
in the country and should be withdrawn in the greater
public interest, a press release said here today.
The imposition of VAT would adversely affect more than two
lakh students presently studying in NGUs and would shrink
the scope of higher education.
The press release said that the NGUs are educational
institutions and has no conceptual linkage with VAT, and
the burden of the VAT will increase the cost of education.
NGUs are self-funding organization while government bears
the cost of education of all students in public
universities. Thus imposing VAT on NGU students only is
discriminatory, unjust and inequitable, it added.
Such proposal is also inconsistent with the GOB's declared
policy on priority to higher education, human resource
development, digital Bangladesh and private sector led
growth.
Thus, the NGU community involving students, teachers,
guardians, founders and others concerned with higher
education strongly feel that the proposal for 4.5% VAT on
the students of the NGUs be withdrawn on the grounds of
pragmatism, social justice, equity and non-discrimination
as well as promotion of higher education for skilled
manpower development in the country.
Produce quality drugs: Health Minister
BSS, Dhaka
Health and Family
Welfare Minister Prof. Dr AFM Ruhal Haque on Tuesday
appreciated the progress of local pharmaceutical
industries, but urged the companies to ensure high quality
of medicine for both local and international consumptions.
"Its a matter of great happiness that the local
pharmaceutical companies have been meeting 97 percent of
domestic demands for medicine, but the quality of such
drugs must be ensured," he said at a scientific seminar on
'Osteoporosis' at a city hotel in Dhaka. Osteoporosis, a
disease of hip, waist and spine, caused from abnormal loss
of bony tissue that results in fragile porous bones owing
to lack of calcium.
During osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is
reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the
amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered.
The disease, mostly common in postmenopausal women, leads
to an increased risk of bone fracture. Ruhal Haque, also a
noted orthopedic surgeon, said steps have been taken to
ensure marketing of quality drugs in the country.
As part of it, he said, the drug administration has been
upgraded along with provisions for new staffs.
Besides, steps have also been taken to set up an active
pharmaceutical ingredient (API) park in the outskirts of
the capital city to ensure smooth supply of raw materials
for medicine production. An international standard drug
testing laboratory would also be established soon in the
country to control quality of drugs produced in
Bangladesh, he added.
The minister said the government has not only focusing on
quality control of locally produced rugs, but also has
taken steps to check pilferage and malpractice of drug
procurement and distribution in public hospitals.
Imams should play vital role in building communalism-free
Bangladesh: Liton
BSS, Rajshahi
Mayor of Rajshahi AHM Khairuzzaman Liton has said the Imam
community should play a vital role in building
communalism-free sound Bangladesh. To this end, he said
the present government has started involving the imams in
various social and state level development activities for
overall development of the nation.
He was addressing the divisional conference-2010 of the
trained Imams organized by the divisional office of
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh at its auditorium in
Rajshahi on Tuesday as the chief guest.
Mayor Liton said the Religious leaders could play a vital
role in building a time-fitting social system and freeing
the youths from drug addiction as the time-fitting social
system could change the socio-economic condition of the
country. "We have no alternative to follow the religious
rules and regulations to maintain individual and social
disciplines in every spheres of life," he added.
Liton said the imams have a pivotal role to play for
making society free from all sorts of superstitions and
militancy as desired by the present government led by
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Terming early marriage,
dowry, polygamy, domestic violence, drug addiction and
illiteracy as the social ills, he called for collective
efforts by all quarters especially the religious leaders
to end the malpractices.
Forex reserve stands at $10,255 millions
BSS, Sangsad
Bhaban
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith informed the House
on Tuesday that the country's foreign exchange till June 9
last was US$ 10,255.02 million.
Replying to a question raised by BNP lawmaker Nazim Uddin
Ahmed, the finance minister the country's forex reserve
till June 30 last year was US$ 10,003.82 million.
Responding to another question from treasury bench member
Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, the finance minister said US $
10,717.73 million was remitted to the country last year.
"Bangladeshi expatriates from Saudi Arabia remitted the
highest US$ 3,194.31 million last year. It was followed by
US$ 1,958.12 million from the United Arab Emirates and US$
1,514.74 from the United States," he said.
Muhith told ruling party lawmaker Giasuddin Ahmed that the
country earned Taka 62.85 crore by exporting ships till
May this year. "The earnings from the ship export in
2008-09 was Taka 45.84 crore," he said.
Replying to another question from BNP lawmaker Jafrul
Islam Chowdhury, the finance minister said a total of US$
1113.13 million in foreign loans was repaid during the
period from January 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010.
Of them, he said, US$ 865.60 million was repaid as
principal amount, while US$ 247.53 million was repaid as
interest.
Sports
Last-gasp All Whites snatch historic
point
AFP, Rustenburg
A stoppage time equaliser by defender Winston Reid saw New
Zealand claim the first World Cup point in their history with
a 1-1 draw with Slovakia on Tuesday.
The All Whites, who lost all three matches in their only other
finals appearance in 1982, looked destined for defeat after
Robert Vittek had headed Slovakia into a 50th-minute lead in
the Group F match.
But three minutes into injury time, Reid popped up at the back
post to head Shane Smeltz's cross in off the post to deny
Slovakia victory in their first World Cup match as an
independent nation.
It was no more than New Zealand deserved from a scrappy
encounter in which Slovakia did little that will worry group
rivals Italy or Paraguay, who also drew 1-1 when they met on
Monday.
With Slovakia struggling to get their passing game going in
cold, windy conditions, it was the All Whites who had the
better of the chances with both Chris Killen and Smeltz
(twice) failing to take good chances before Reid found the
net.
Middlesbrough's Killen needed only five minutes to underline
the threat he poses in the air, outjumping both centrebacks to
meet Simon Elliott's inswinging free-kick with a header that
was directed straight at Slovakia's goalkeeper Jan Mucha.
Twenty minutes had elapsed before Slovakia produced a moment
of menace, captain Marek Hamsik curling a shot beyond the far
post.
Gradually they began to assert themselves and, after being
played into the box by the lively Vladimir Weiss, Stanislav
Sestak toe-poked a shot inches wide of Mark Paston's left-hand
upright.
Paston, who had already flapped hesitantly at one cross, was
fortunate to escape unpunished after completely missing the
ball as he attempted to punt the ball clear from the left edge
of his box.
Vittek then sent a long range effort wide before New Zealand's
best chance of the opening period fell to Smeltz. The
forward's strike from a tight angle was cleanly struck but
Mucha's touch was enough to deflect it into the side netting.
Hamsik's dipping shot had to palmed over by Paston just before
half-time and, five minutes after the restart, the Slovakians
broke the deadlock.
Allowed time on the right, Sestak whipped in a cross and
Vittek, who may have been fractionally offside, got away from
Reid to send a header beyond Paston and into the bottom
corner.
Vittek should have made it two at the end of a sweeping
counterattack with 20 minutes left, only to be frustrated by
Reid's full-stretch block. With three minutes left, Smeltz got
above Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel only to steer his
header wide. New Zealand's last chance looked to have gone but
Reid had other ideas.
Result in a World Cup Group F match here on Tuesday between
New Zealand and Slovakia: New Zealand 1 (Reid 90+3) Slovakia 1
(Vittek 50)
Pakistan
keep Sri Lanka down to 242-9
AFP, Dambulla
Shoaib Akhtar made an impressive return to international
cricket as Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to 242-9 in the
opening match of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.
The mercurial fast bowler, 34, worked up a tidy pace to claim
three wickets for 41 runs from 10 overs in his first game for
Pakistan since May last year after recovering from a knee
injury. Left-arm seamer Mohammad Aamer chipped in with two for
57 after Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and
elected to bat on a slow wicket at the Rangiri stadium in
Dambulla.
Sri Lanka slipped to 36-2 by the ninth over, before Sangakkara
(42) and Mahela Jayawar-dene (54) put on 83 for the third
wicket.
The hosts, who won the last Asia Cup in Pakistan two years
ago, moved to 150-3 before four wickets fell for just 18 runs
as soon as Jayawardene was trapped leg-before by Shoaib Malik.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews hit an unbeaten 55 off 61 balls to
help the defending champions set a challenging target under
lights after they were reduced to 168-7 by the 37th over.
India and Bangladesh are the other teams in the four-nation
tournament, the symbol of limited-overs superiority in the
region which hosts the World Cup next year.
Do-or-die
for Aussies against Ghana
AFP, Johannesburg
Australia's players are keen to quickly redeem themselves
after their embarrassing 4-0 demolition by Germany at the
World Cup.
The Socceroos were overrun by the rampant three-time world
champions in Durban last Sunday and face a do-or-die
showdown with Ghana in Rustenburg on Saturday in Group D.
Anything less than three points against the sole African
winners so far at the 2010 World Cup will end their hopes
of qualifying for the second round - a feat they managed
four years ago before losing to eventual winners Italy to
a dubious penalty.
Amid general despondency back home over their limp first
performance, the Socceroos want to try and put things
right against Ghana with a more positive effort. "Both of
our remaining games are now finals for us," veteran
central defender Craig Moore said on Tuesday.
"It would be nice if the Ghana match was in a couple of
days (rather than a six-day break between games).
"After a game like the one against Germany you just want
to get out there and try to put things right as soon as
possible."
Australia's cause for redemption will not be helped by the
suspension of star Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, who was
given a straight red card for his clattering tackle on
German Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Further complicating matters is that captain Lucas Neill,
midfielder Carl Valeri and Moore are all sitting on yellow
cards for the Ghana match, meaning that one more caution
will lead to a suspension for the final group match
against Serbia in Nelspruit on June 23.
"Anything we got out of the German game was always going
to be a bonus," Neill said.
"This is not the way we planned it but the next two games
were always going to be the ones we had to win."
Veteran left-back Scott Chipperfield, who was exposed in
defence against Germany, said it is time for senior team
member Harry Kewell to play and lead the Australian attack
against Ghana. "I would like to see Harry back," the
Swiss-based Chipperfield said.
"He looks sharp at training, he looks good, but obviously
it's different in a game than in training. "It would have
been nice to see him get 20 or 30 minutes (against
Germany) but it's the manager's decision.
"We need something to spark us. At the moment we're not
looking too dangerous going forward." Aus-tralia can take
some heart that they have beaten Ghana four times in their
five meetings leading into this weekend's showdown.
US Open return to Pebble promises
major magic
AFP, Pebble
Beach, California
The US Open returns this week to Pebble Beach, where four
previous editions have seen some of golf's greats produce
enduring major championship memories.
The four US Open winners at Pebble Beach own a total of 41
major titles, proof, according to Australian Geoff Ogilvy,
that the scenic course hugging the Pacific coast is a
worthy championship venue.
"Great venues have great winners," Ogilvy said. "It's
great champions that validate a golf course, don't you
think? And they've all been great tournaments."
In 1972, Jack Nicklaus won the first US Open to be held
here, a triumph highlighted by his one-iron that hit the
pin at the par-three 17th.
Ten years later Tom Watson chipped in for birdie from
ankle-deep rough at the same hole. Tom Kite's victory in
1992 included a memorable pitch from the rough at the
par-three seventh, while Tiger Woods' victory in 2000 was
memorable not so much for a moment as a margin - a
crushing 15-stroke victory that still stands as a record
for a major championship.
"You look at the players that have won the Open here, and
they are arguably the very best players at that time,"
said US Golf Associ-ation president Jim Hyler. "It's just
a magical place ..." The course designed by amateur
golfers Jack Neville and Douglas Grant and opened in 1919
has since undergone plenty of changes.
The 18th was transformed in 1921 from a straightforward
par-four to a signature par-five in 1921. Nicklaus
designed a new fifth hole in the 1990s and since the 2000
US Open several bunkers, greens and fairways have been
modified under the direction of Arnold Palmer, now a
co-owner.
Three new teeing grounds have been created, on nine, 10
and 13, with the added length at the par-four ninth and
par-four 10th likely to put the driver back in players
hands. Among the most significant changes were to shift
some fairways closer to the cliffs. With little rough on
the seaward side at six, eight, nine and 10, the rocks and
waves beckon.
"You rarely ever saw players hitting their tee shots - or
even thinking about it - into the ocean, but now the ocean
has become very strategic," said US Golf Association
director of rules and competitions Mike Davis. "It will
make players really think - and carefully choose their
options. That's the way Pebble Beach used to be." For all
the tinkering, Pebble Beach remains essentially itself. "I
think it's one of the best golf courses in the world. The
scenery is unbelievable," said Vijay Singh, who won the
PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am here in 2004.
Singh sought and received a special exemption to get into
this Open. "The golf course is tough. Old-style golf
courses never change. I think 50 years from now, it's
still going to be one of the best golf courses. I think
it's one of the favorites for everybody."
Spain opens World Cup
campaign against Switzerland
AP/UNB, Durban
European champion Spain will be one of the last two teams
in action in the opening flight of group matches, a
position the perennial World Cup underachiever also hopes
to be in at the end of South Africa 2010.
Spain takes on Switzerland in Durban on Wednesday knowing
that if it plays to its vast potential it can add the
world title to its 2008 European Championship crown.
While those kinds of predictions have weighed down Spain
in the past, now the team made up almost entirely of stars
from Barcelona and Real Madrid is enjoying them.
"There's high expectations because of our trajectory over
the past years, people see we can play well and that's
positive," striker David Villa said. "I wouldn't say it's
pressure, it's more like flattery."
Spain and Switzerland have had a long wait to get their
World Cup campaigns under way. They'll be the last teams
to play their first games in South Africa when they meet
at Moses Mabhida Stadium. But for Switzerland, the Group H
match still comes too soon, with its experienced captain
Alex Frei and West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami both out
injured.
"I have decided that Alex Frei is not yet fit to play,"
said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, adding that he would also
leave out Behrami in an attempt to have both players fit
for the following match against Chile.
Hitzfeld dismissed speculation that Frei's World Cup is
already over because of a right ankle injury as "absurd."
Frei, whose 40-goal international tally is a Swiss record,
was hurt in the final squad practice before flying to
South Africa last week.
Behrami strained a left thigh muscle in Switzerland's
final warmup game, a 1-1 draw against Italy on June 5.
Striker Frei may not have been busy anyway against Spain,
but Switzerland will need all its defensive skills to
contain Vicente del Bosque's attacking team and its swift
passing game. "We respect to the maximum level but we know
if we play at our level we've got chances of winning,"
said Villa, who was top scorer at the 2008 European
Championship with four goals. Spain has not advanced past
the World Cup quarterfinals since it's best finish -
fourth - in 1950.
And while Switzerland has injury worries, Spain's talented
squad is at near full strength, with Barcelona midfielder
Andres Iniesta declared fit by Del Bosque.
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is recovering from a
right leg injury and may not start. In that case, Del
Bosque will likely start Villa as a lone striker in front
of a five-man midfield made up of Xavi Hernandez, Xabi
Alonso, David Silva and Sergio Busquets along with either
Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Jesus Navas or Pedro Rodriguez.
Spain's defense should contain Carles Puyol and Gerard
Pique as centerbacks with Sergio Ramos and Joan Capdevila
as fullbacks, and captain Iker Casillas in goal.
Hosts more confident
now opening game has gone
AP/UNB, Johannesburg
Now that the pressure and tension of the opening day draw
with Mexico is out of the way, South Africa is gaining
confidence ahead of Wednesday's match against a Uruguay
lineup that could well field three strikers.
Although Mexico hit back in a 1-1 draw to deny the South
Africans a victory at Soccer City on Friday, the hosts are
satisfied that their overall performance in the game
boosted their chances of beating two-time World Cup winner
Uruguay at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.
"We will be more relaxed against Uruguay now that we have
Mexico out of the way. We were all nervous in that first
game," midfielder Steven Pienaar said. "But we got our act
together in the second half and need to continue from
there against Uruguay." With a match against France to
follow at Bloemfontein on June 22, South Africa must avoid
a loss against the Uruguayans, who opened with a scoreless
draw against France to leave all four Group A teams with
one point apiece. The French face Mexico at Polokwane on
Thursday and both those teams will know exactly what they
have to do to go top.
"We simply cannot afford to lose as that would mean
playing catch-up in our final group match against France,"
Pienaar said. "We have to be fully focused against
Uruguay, who are a well organized side defensively and
have good attacking players. But the way we played in the
second half against Mexico has given us a huge boost."
Siphiwe Tshabalala's stunning strike against the Mexicans
was one of the best ever goals in an opening game and
lifted the confidence of a South African team under great
pressure from the nation hosting the first World Cup on
the African continent.
South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is likely to
recall experienced leftback Tsepo Masilela to the starting
lineup in the only expected change. He replaced Lucas
Thwala in the second half against the Mexicans.
Rightback Siboniso Gaxa said he and Masilela hoped to get
forward against Uruguay.
"We will have to use our wingbacks more instead of pushing
into the center of the field to try and pull the Uruguay
defense away," Gaxa said. "We have been working on this
and aim to surprise Uruguay."
Nicolas Lodeiro is missing for Uruguay after being sent
off in the draw with France but he was not expected to
start anyway. Coach Oscar Tabarez has made other changes
and adjusted his lineup to play with three forwards.
Diego Forlan is expected to drop deeper and play behind
Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani.
"This is a different game and another rival with totally
different tactics than ... France," Tabarez said. "While
we try not to depend too much on our rivals, we have to
take into account what our rivals do.
"With our group all level, we are not going to attack in
desperation nor are we going to defend deeply. We have to
show balance and patience."
Lippi unconcerned by
sluggish start
AFP, Irene
Coach Marcello Lippi was calm and confident on Tuesday
despite reigning champions Italy's failure to win their
opening match of the World Cup.
Daniele De Rossi scored a second half equaliser to earn
the Azzurri a 1-1 draw against an ultra-defensive Paraguay
in Cape Town on Monday night. And with games against New
Zealand and Slovakia to come, Lippi insisted that he was
satisfied with their start.
"I have never seen a big team come to a World Cup Finals
and start at 100 percent. Teams need to grow throughout a
tournament and they do that through their results," he
said at Italy's Casa Azzurri base here, just to the south
of Pretoria. "We're not at 100 percent but that's the same
for everyone. I'm very satisfied with the progress the
team is making.
"I would say 70 percent of the players are there and when
the rest improve physically and tactically we'll score
goals and create more chances. "There's nothing to worry
about."
He was also far from disappointed at Italy's inability to
break down Paraguay's stubborn backline more than once.
"They're a good team and they only moved over the half way
line four times in the whole match," he added. "I don't
think we showed them too much respect, I think we gave
them just the right amount, maybe it was them who showed
us too much given the waiting game they played." Lippi may
have had a point about the big teams as England and France
also failed to win their openers, but that was not the
case for Germany, Argentina and the Netherlands. "For
every team it depends on your opponents. Germany had the
best start but Australia are probably less strong and less
organised than for example the USA (England's opponents).
"Argentina played well and showed what they are capable of
but Nigeria had their chances too, even if they could have
conceded a second (they lost 1-0)."
After a glut of draws, some have suggested that this World
Cup is short on quality, but Lippi said it is too early to
say. "As for whether or not it's a mediocre tournament
we'll have to wait and see, we haven't even finished the
first round of group games yet," he said before explaining
that some people and teams play their way into form.
"In 1982 Paolo Rossi didn't even touch the ball in the
first three games but our coach at the time, Enzo Bearzot
knew that to do something special in the tournament he
needed this player to explode and he was waiting for that.
"Italy had three draws in the group stages, Rossi was in
dreadful form but then he exploded in the fifth game with
a hat-trick against Brazil.
Shahzad gets England
call for Australia series
AFP, London
Yorkshire pace bowler Ajmal Shahzad was added to England's
squad for their one-day international series against
Australia on Tuesday after Ryan Sidebottom suffered a
hamstring injury.
World Twenty20 winning left-arm quick Sidebottom, who will
remain with the England squad to undergo further
assessment and rehabilitation, sustained a grade one
strain to his left hamstring during Nottinghamshire's
six-wicket win over Worcestershire on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Shahzad, who took four wickets
on his Test debut earlier this month against Bangladesh at
Old Trafford, will join the one-day squad later on Tuesday
at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough,
central England.
"It's a shame Ryan has picked up this injury as he's been
injury-free for some time now and bowling well," said
England national selector, Geoff Miller.
"Thankfully it's a relatively minor injury and we look
forward to him making a full recovery soon," the former
England off-spinner added.
Shahzad took one wicket for 55 runs on his one-day
international debut in Chittagong in March and Miller
said: "Ajmal Shahzad is a strong addition to the squad and
he'll no doubt be looking to build on his maiden ODI
appearance for England in Bangladesh over the winter."
England play Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday before
facing Australia, the team they defeated in last month's
World Twenty20 final in Barbados, in the first of five
one-day internationals at Hampshire's Rose Bowl on June
22.
Goalkeepers facing a
net loss
AFP, Paris
England goalkeeper Robert Green and Algerian guardian
Faouzi Chaouchi may have been subjected to ridicule after
their howlers in their respective weekend World Cup
matches, but it is nothing new for people who have
occupied that isolated position.
It may be a team game but goalkeeping errors are the ones
that stick in people's memories, whilst outfield players
who miss penalties get a sympathetic pat on the back and
generally sensitive press coverage.
While strikers more often than not grab the glory it is
the goalkeeper who is the regular butt of people's humour
and ire.
Green was well advised to take to the golf course on
Sunday, after his error gifted the Americans an equaliser
in the 1-1 draw, than read headlines such as 'Hand of
Clod' and 'This is one spill that the Americans would have
liked' - the latter referring to the ongoing spat between
the two countries over BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf
of Mexico.
Green and Chaouchi - who also was at fault for Slovenia's
goal in the 1-0 defeat - have not resorted to blaming the
much-maligned Jabulani official football, though, several
of their counterparts such as Iker Casillas and Gianluigi
Buffon have given it the thumbs down.
"Rotten" opined Spain's Casillas, "unpredictable"
commented Italy's World Cup winning 'keeper Buffon, who
went on to say that it was 'a disgrace that such a rotten
ball was being used in such a great tournament'.
However, Green and Chaouchi will not be the last 'keepers
to have their mistakes emblazoned all over the internet or
on TV - and they are the latest in a long list to be
pilloried.
Rare is it that goalkeepers are remembered for winning
games, even Gordon Banks' stunning save from Pele in a
1970 World Cup group match ended in a 1-0 defeat.
However, Banks was much-needed when having been laid-low
through illness his replacement Peter Bonetti did not live
up to his nickname 'The Cat' as West Germany defeated
England 3-2 in the quarter-final with Bonetti being blamed
for the defeat.
Malouda denies bust-up
with coach Domenech
AFP, Knysna
French winger Florent Malouda insisted on Tuesday rumours
he had been left out of the starting line-up in the
opening World Cup Group A match with Uruguay was because
of a heated row with coach Raymond Domenech were wrong.
The 30-year-old Chelsea star - who has had several public
bust-ups with the French coach in the past six years
notably at Euro 2008 - was a surprise omission from the
starting XI in the 0-0 draw with the Uruguyans having
played an important role in the warm-up matches.
However, Malouda - a member of the side that reached the
2006 World Cup final - was adamant that an incident at
training on the eve of the match had not forced Domenech's
hand in punishing him by leaving him out as had been
reported by several media outlets.
"Honestly, we did not have a row," said the former Lyon
player, who is widely believed to be certain to start in
the second match against Mexico on Thursday.
"On the eve of the Uruguay match I committed two fouls
during the training session, he (Domenech) raised his
voice, he believed I was being overly aggressive, but
there was no shouting match, we moved on to other things,
and I am trying to be ready for the next game," added the
French Guyana-born Malouda.
Malouda denied he had committed the fouls after learning
that he was not going to start against Uruguay.
"No, during this session, I took two freekicks that hit a
player, who was in the starting line-up," he explained.
Malouda, who was an integral part of the Chelsea side that
won the 'double' last season, was also at pains to deny
another reason for his absence from the team which was
selected for the Uruguay match was over a difference of
opinion on his position.
|
|