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Leading News
Countrywide hartal today
UNB, Dhaka
Mainstream opposition BNP enforces countrywide dawn to
dusk hartal today (Sunday), the first of its kind against
the 18-month old Awami League led grand alliance regime.
The government warned of tough action if any chaos is
created and public life in hampered in the name of hartal,
while the opposition cautioned of 'bad consequences' if
the government obstructs its peaceful hartal.
The opposition claimed that a huge number of BNP leaders
and workers across the country including in the capital
were arrested ahead of the shutdown.
Top echelons of BNP and its front and associated
organizations have carried out field works including mass
contact, leaflet distribution and processions in different
parts of the capital to make the general strike (hartal) a
success.
Partners of BNP led four-party alliance including
Jamaat-e-Islami, BJP, Islami Oikya Jote and like-minded
political parties like JAGPA, NDP, NAP (Bhasani), Labour
Party and NPP will actively participate and picket in
unison with BNP on the hartal day.
On May 19, BNP chairperson and leader of the opposition
Khaleda Zia announced the hartal from her party's grand
rally at Paltan Maidan.
The hartal was called on a number of issues and demands
including to ensure supply of utility services like gas,
electricity and water, halt extortion, tender-manipulation
and grab by the ruling party terrorists and protest
assaults on girl students at different educational
institutions including Eden College.
It was also designed to protest politicization of the
administration and judiciary, demanding scrapping of
'anti-national' agreements signed with India, resignation
of the biased Election Commission, containing the price
hike of essentials and to remove the sufferings of people
and so on.
The police administration has taken massive preparations
to maintain order in the capital during hartal hours.
All kinds of meetings and processions have been banned on
the major streets in the capital.
10,000 law enforcers will be deployed in the capital to
deal with any untoward incident on the hartal day.
It has been learnt that capital Dhaka has been divided
into nine sectors to maintain security during hartal
hours. Police will be posted at 451 picketing points. Some
74 striking mobile teams and 135 mobile patrols will be on
duty.
Moreover, 15 reserve striking forces and 15 camera and
video units will be on duty to collect evidences of
violence during the hartal. DB police in plainclothes will
also be deployed at different points.
Stern
actions if anarchy, unrest are created: Sahara
BSS, Dhaka
Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun on Saturday said that
stern actions would be taken if anarchy and unrest are
created in the country in the name of hartal.
"The hartal was called for hindering the trial process of
the war criminals and to obstruct the development and
advancement of the country," she said while addressing a
discussion to mark the International Day against Abuse of
Drugs and Illegal Trafficking at Bangladesh Shilpakala
Academy here.
Organized by the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC),
the function was addressed, among others, by State
Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku, Acting
Secretary to the Home Ministry Iqbal Khan Chowdhury, First
Everest winner Musa Ibrahim, Acting Director General of
the DNC Md Yusuf Ali and representatives from different
government and non-government offices.
The Home Minister said that the people of this country do
not support the hartal and no indiscipline in the name of
hartal would be tolerated. Those who don't believe in
democracy, they want to create unrest in the name of
hartal for hampering development process of the country,
she said adding that their evil dreams will never be
materialized.
She said that the public health, economy, education and
law and order condition of the country are being hampered
by drug addiction. A portion of the youth community is
being involved in anti-social and terrorist activities, so
that the criminal tendency is increasing day by day, she
added.
The present government has been relentlessly working for
building a country free from drug abuse, dreamt by
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina's
digital Bangladesh, Sahara Khatun said.
She also called upon all including volunteers, teachers
and imams to join their hands with the government and non
government initiatives to make the country free from drug
abuse.
Shamsul Haque Tuku said that the BNP has called the hartal
for protecting the anti-liberation forces and to obstruct
the trial process of the war criminals.
They called hartal for electricity but they could not
generate even single megawatt of electricity during their
tenure, rather, they misappropriated hundreds crore of
Taka from the power section, Tuku added.
Govt
wants to make the country a ‘police-state’: Delwar
UNB, Dhaka
BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Saturday
said the government wants to turn the country into a
'police state' to curb the opposition.
He made the remarks while addressing a press briefing at
the BNP central office in the afternoon over the
government and police threats to arrest party leaders and
workers ahead of Sunday's countrywide dawn to dusk hartal.
The BNP secretary general condemned the arrest of DCC ward
councilor and the party central leader Chowdhury Alam,
expressing concern over not knowing his whereabouts since
his arrest on Friday night.
He also condemned the arrest of NDP chairman AB Khandaker
Gulam Mortaza when he was in campaigning in favour of the
hartal on Sunday.
Delwar said the government is using police in
unprecedented numbers against its opponents.
He alleges that the government has deployed a huge number
of police and RAB to resist the hartal.
He said the government is not allowing the opposition to
hold meetings and processions, whereas not imposing
section 144.
The BNP secretary general cautioned the government of bad
consequences if their peaceful hartal is obstructed.
Five vehicles
burnt, two suffer burn wounds ahead of hartal
UNB, Dhaka
Three passenger buses and two private cars were set afire
at Maghbazar, Bijoynagar, New Market and Mirpur in the
capital Saturday evening, leaving at least two passengers
burnt, hours before the opposition BNP sponsored daylong
hartal.
Witnesses said a private car caught fire near Maghbazar
level crossing at about 8- 45pm. Two passengers of the car
suffered serious burn injuries and they were rushed to
Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Hospital sources said Faruk Hossain 30, son of Mokbul
Hossain suffered 60 percent burn wounds while his friend
Sumon, 28, son of Nuru Mia ten percent injuries. They
reside at Distillery Road in Sutrapur.
Talking to reporters at the hospital, Sumon said some
people poured petrol on their car, ignited fire by a match
stick and fled away.
Meanwhile, a Metro Link bus was set on fire near New
Market over bridge at 9-10pm but none was injured as all
passengers hurriedly got down from the bus. Fire bridge
units rushed to scene and put out the fire.
Two more buses were set afire near Sony Cinema Hall and
German Technical Institute in Mirpur at about 10-20pm.
Fire Brigade units were trying to douse the blaze till
writing this report at 10-40pm.
Earlier, at about 7-40 pm another private car caught fire
at Bijoynagar but it was doused before the fire brigade
car reached the spot. None was hurt in the incident.
Uruguay beats
South Korea
AFP, Port Elizabeth
Uruguay reached the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday
after beating South Korea 2-1 in Port Elizabeth.
Luis Suarez netted after eight minutes only for Lee
Chung-Yong to head the Koreans level in the 68th minute.
But Suarez drove in the winner ten minutes from time to
book a meeting with either the United States or Ghana.
South Korea, semi-finalists in 2002 on home soil, began
well against the 1930 and 1950 champions at the Nelson
Mandela Bay stadium, a superbly-taken freekick by Park Chu
Young from 25 metres coming back off keeper Fernando
Muslera's right-hand post in the fifth minute.
But the Uruguayans promptly took the lead.
Edinson Cavani floated a high ball over to the left for
Diego Forlan and he slipped his marker to drill a
slide-rule pass across the Korean goalmouth.
Keeper Jung Sung Ryong could have dealt with the danger
but reacted slowly and Suarez netted from a tight angle.
Back came the Koreans and Lee headed in midway through the
second half as the rain poured down only for Suarez to
fire home a superb winner in the 80th minute.
Five hurt in
clash between BCL, Jubo League activists at RU
UNB, Rajshahi
Five people were injured in a clash between the activists
of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League at Rajshahi
University on Saturday.
Jubo League worker Robi, also younger brother of Shahidul
Islam, general secretary of No. 30 ward Awami League (AL),
swooped on Majeddul Islam Apu, general secretary of RU
unit BCL, following an altercation between Shahidul and
Apu.
A hammer used by Robi hit the head of BCL worker Fardin
when the latter went to save Apu. Three other BCL workers-Ranju,
Emdad and Takim-were beaten up by rivals when they
protested the attack. Jubo League worker Shohag was also
injured in the incident. The injured were admitted to RU
medical centre.
AL leader Shahid and other Jubo League activists left the
campus as over 50 BCL activists from different halls
chased them.
Later, the BCL activists equipped with sharp weapons
staged demonstration on the campus. Police prevented them
when they were going towards Binodpur AL office through
the main gate of RU. Being prevented, the BCL activists
returned to campus where they again staged demonstration.
Meanwhile, BCL activists beat two outsiders---Mizanur
Rahman and Mustafizur Rahman-suspecting them to be members
of Jubo League. Police later rescued and took them to
thana.
BCL activists alleged that Shahidul Islam helped a Shibir
cadre attend his examination keeping him at his house in
exchange of Tk 30,000. Shahidul denied the charge.
Mannan to go
tough on land grabbers
BSS, Dhaka
State Minister for Housing and Works Advocate Abdul Mannan
on Saturday said he would continue go tough against the
land grabbers and none of them would be spared.
He called upon the people to raise voice against the
illegal occupants of public and private lands in and
outside Dhaka and said: "You all have to help the
government nab culprits." The comments came at a seminar
on 'Mega City and New Realities of Urbanization in
Sub-urban Areas' at a city hotel. Power and Participation
Research Center (PPRC) organized the seminar, where PPRC
chairman Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman presented the keynote
paper.
State Minister for Environment Dr Hassan Mahmood and Lead
Urban Economist of World Bank, South Asia, Songsu Shoi
also spoke on the occasion. Advocate Mannan, popularly
acclaimed for his tough stance against land grabbing in
city, said the government has formulated detailed area
plan (DAP) covering 1,526 square kilometers in and
adjoining areas of Dhaka city and the plan would be
implemented at any cost.
He said the land developers have welcomed the announcement
of DAP through newspaper advertisements, but things turned
opposite when the gazette notification on the plan was
issued last week. The grabbers, he said, have become
scared because of the government's pro-people stance.
The minister said some people might have a feeling that
they are more powerful than the government and these
people would be dealt with first under the existing law of
the land.
He said the democratically elected government of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina has a strong commitment for the
people, environment and balanced development in rural and
urban areas.
Dr Hassan Mahmood said those who grab the land of the poor
people would not be spared under any circumstances. He
said the country would be run based on the rule of law and
fair justice. The entire nation cannot be held hostage at
the hands of a section of powerful people, he said, adding
sustainable programmes should be taken to protect
agricultural lands and water bodies.
Hossain Zillur appreciated the government's tough stance
against land grabbers and said the people of all walks of
life have allout support for it. He, however, said the
government should also focus on planned urbanization and
housing in mufassal areas across Bangladesh, home to 150
million people.
Back Page
PM stresses strict monitoring to
complete dev works
She opens Sultana Kamal Bridge at Demraghat
UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday stressed strict
monitoring of infrastructure development works of the
government to ensure their completion in time. "Issuing
work order is not the final step… monitor the progress of
the particular development work to ensure its completion
in time," she said while inaugurating the 'Sultana Kamal
Bridge' at Demraghat in the city.
Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Habibur Rahman
Molla MP and Golam Dastagir Gazi MP were the special
guests at the inaugural function, chaired by Roads and
Highways Division secretary Mohammad Mozammel Huq Khan.
The Prime Minister said that her government is monitoring
each and every development work very minutely for the
welfare of the people. She said development in the
communication sector is essential in order to have
balanced and overall development across the country.
In this regard, she mentioned that her government puts
considerable priority to developing the water, rail and
road communications across the country. Hasina directed
all concerned to consider seriously about uninterrupted
flow of water before planning construction of any
structure. Bridges and culverts are very much useful in
ensuring obstacle-free flow of water, which is very much
important, she said, adding that constructing bridges and
culverts are a bit costly but in the long run this help a
lot. The Prime Minister asked the officials to maintain
proper distance between two spans of a bridge while going
for construction. She also suggested making the bridges
with good height as during the monsoon the water level of
the rivers rise significantly.
"Sometimes it has been seen that the water transports face
serious difficulties while passing under the bridges that
were not constructed keeping in mind the rise of water
level during the rainy season," she said. Hasina said that
her government put utmost importance on the development of
the communication sector as this plays a good role for the
economic development of the country.
Muhith blame pervasive corruption
for impeding power sector development
UNB, Dhaka
Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Saturday admitted
government's failure to mitigate electricity crisis in its
first year but blamed pervasive corruption for impeding
power sector development.
"It's only because of corruption that we could do nothing…
it compelled us to go for quick rental power plants to
address the demand of electricity in the short-term," he
said at a post-budget discussion in the afternoon.
Bazlur Rahman Foundation arranged the discussion at the
Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) with its chairman Khondkar
Ibrahim Khalid in the chair.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and
Tourism Minister GM Qader, former finance adviser to the
caretaker government Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, economist Dr
Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Rashed Khan Menon MP, former
Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Farash Uddin, economist MM
Akash, outgoing FBCCI president Annisul Huq, editor of the
Financial Express Moazzem Hossain and woman entrepreneur
Selima Ahmed, among others, took part in the discussion.
Speaking as chief guest at the discussion, Finance
Minister Muhith defended the government stand on quick
rental power plants, saying they could not finalize a deal
even after inviting tenders for the fourth time, which
compelled them to opt for quick rental power plants.
He said: "The subsidy that will be required for the power
sector is not high considering the reality… development
works will not be hampered if the government's roadmap for
the power sector is implemented."
Muhith reiterated the government plan to add some 1200
megawatt of electricity in the national grid within this
year.
He said two power plants each having 100 megawatt
generation capacity -one run by diesel and the other by
furnace oil - would go into generation in July and
September. This will improve the power situation.
About the government's road map for power sector
development, he said as it would take time to go for
coal-based power generation, they would allow diesel and
furnace oil-based power generation for maximum two and
five years respectively.
146 killed,
property worth Tk 152 cr damaged in fires in six months
Sangsad Bhaban
A total of 146 people were killed and property worth about
Taka 152,06,68,000 damaged in fires across the country
since January this year, Home Minister Advocate Sahara
Khatun told the House on Saturday.
Replying to a question from treasury bench member Enamul
Haque, she said property worth about Taka 315,17,14, 000
was recovered from the blazes during the period.
Responding to another question from Jatiya Party lawmaker
Golam Kibria Tipu, the home minister said the Prime
Minister has given directives to set up fire stations in
all upazilas across the country.
"To this end, a project has been undertaken to set up fire
stations in 156 upazila headqurters and at important
places, while Muladi upazila has been included in the
project," she said.
Answering to another question from BNP lawmaker Mosammat
Shammi Akhtar, the home minister said the activities for
equipping Fire Service and Civil Defence Department with
modern equipment have been continuing to face any disaster
including fire in big buildings in different cities like
Dhaka.
"Ariel platform ladders and other modern equipment have
been procured for tackling any disasters including fire in
the 16- storey building under projects being implemented
in the department," she added.
Besides, she said, a project proposal is now under
consideration by the Planning Commission to procure more
equipment for the department.
The home minister said the government is considering
turning the existing training complex into a modern
training academy for providing modern training to the
officials and employees of the department.
Over 10,000
police to guard streets in capital today
UNB, Dhaka
Over 10,000 police will be deployed in the capital from
early Sunday to maintain peace during the daylong hartal
called by main opposition BNP. Official sources said the
law enforcers will be posted dividing the capital Dhaka
into nine sectors.
Intelligence agencies already identified 451 points of the
city as picketing points where 3 to 5 policemen led by one
Sub-inspector or Asst. Sub-Inspector will be on duty to
prevent picketing.
Besides, 74 striking mobile teams and 135 mobile patrols
will be on duty to stop picketers from damaging vehicles
or shops, markets or other business establishments.
Special plainclothes police of Detective Branch will also
take positions at different strategic points with still
and video cameras so trouble makers could be identified
during the hartal. Moreover, 15 reserve striking forces
and 15 camera and video units will be on duty to collect
evidences of violence during the hartal. DB police in
plainclothes will also be deployed at different points.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police already warned that no body
will be allowed to create obstacles to smooth movement of
vehicles at VIP roads as well as to force shut down of
offices or business houses.
"All kinds of security will be ensured for peaceful hartal,
but chaos and indiscipline in the name of hartal will be
dealt with strong hand," DMP Commissioner Shahidul Haq
told reporters on Friday issuing caution of tough action
for creating any chaos.
TIB for
reconsideration of ACC Act-2004 amendment proposal
UNB, Dhaka
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) demanded
reconsideration of Anti-Corruption Commission Act-2004
Amendment proposal.
The demand was made at an annul meeting of TIB members
held in Dhaka on Saturday morning.
Combating corruption and establishing good governance
would be hampered in the country if the amendment proposal
is implemented, they said.
They demanded of the government to take effective steps
for prevention of corruption everywhere specially in
education and health sectors as per electoral commitment
of the ruling party.
They called for investigating the allegations of political
influence on appointment of doctors and inclusion of
educational institutions in MPO list and taking effective
steps in this regard.
They called upon the government to establish a just, good
governed and democratic Bangladesh by uprooting
corruption.
They stressed the need on transparency and accountability
regarding the expenditure of huge amount of money while
implementing the budget particularly in power, gas and
defence sectors.
Chaired by TIB member Dr Nuruddin, the meeting was
attended, among others, by TIB Trusty Board Chairman M
Hafizuddin Khan, Prof. Khan Sarwar Morshed and Prof.
Mozaffar Ahmed.
Rashedul-Smrity
put on 7-day remand
UNB, Dhaka
A Dhaka court on Saturday placed Rashedul Kabir and his
second wife Razia Sultana Smrity on seven day remand when
police produced the couple before the court at around 4
pm.
Metropolitan Magistrate M Nazrul Islam granted the remand
for seven days instead of 10 days as sought by the police.
Meanwhile, detained journalist Shafiqul Kabir, his wife
Noor Banu, two daughters and son-in-law, accused in 'Jurain
suicide'case, were placed another three-day remand.
Earlier, Detective Branch of police arrested Rashedul and
his wife Smrity from Pizza Hut in Gulshan on Saturday
morning in connection with triple 'suicide' case.
Farzana Kabir Rita, 35, wife of Rashed Kabir, and her son
Ishrat Kabir Pabon, 12, and daughter Raisa Rashmi Payel,
10, were found dead in their Jurain residence on June 10.
Rita's mother Mazeda Begum filed the case against eight
people under the Women and Children Repression Prevention
Act on June 11.
Earlier, Detective Branch arrested Rashedul and his wife
Smrity from Pizza Hut in Gulshan Saturday morning in
connection with triple 'suicide' committed at journalist
Shafiqul Kabir's house in city's Jurain.
Rashedul and his second wife Smrity, accused in the
'suicide' case, were absconding since June 11 when police
recovered the bodies of his first wife Rita and two
children-Pabon and Payel.
Police earlier arrested Shafiqul Kabir, his wife Noor Banu,
two daughters and one son-in-law in connection with the
case.
Rashedul and Smrity may be produced before the Dhaka CMM
court sometime on Saturday.
IDB signs US$
206.5m deal with BD to implement 4 projects
UNB, Dhaka
Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Saturday said the Islamic
Development Bank (IDB) is keen to increase financial
support to Bangladesh and it has already signed a US$
206.5 million deal with Bangladesh for implementing four
projects.
"They're (IDB) willing to increase their financial
support. But it will depend on our becoming active," he
said at a press briefing at Sonargaon Hotel, disclosing
the details of the recently signed deal with IDB in Baku.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith and IDB president Ahmad
Mohammad Ali Al Madani signed the deal on behalf of their
respective sides during the 35th annual meeting of IDB in
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
The four projects for which the deals were signed are:
setting up of 'Single Point Mooring' in Chittagong (US$
129 million), Kurigram Irrigation - North Unit (US$ 41
million), Increasing Quality Seed Production (US$ 35
million), and Flood Damage Rehabilitation Project (US$ 1.5
million).
Meanwhile, IDB also pledged to provide financial aid worth
US$ 549 million for implementing various projects in
Bangladesh in the next three years, said the Finance
Minister.
Editorial
Combating drug abuse
International
Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed in
the country Saturday like elsewhere in the world to fight out
the menace of drug addiction and trafficking. By resolution
42/112 of 7 December 1987, the UN General Assembly had decided
to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse
and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination
to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an
international society free of drug abuse.
On this occasion, in their messages, President M Zillur Rahman
and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for united efforts by
all to establish a narcotic-free healthy and peaceful society.
President Zillur Rahman said the negative impact of narcotics
on the family, society and state is serious. The youth
community is derailing and the trend of crime increasing
because of the abuse of narcotics. This is affecting peace in
family and values in society, he added. The President said the
people of all strata would have to come forward to prevent the
spread of narcotics. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in her
message that the abuse and smuggling of narcotics are man-made
problems. The government is determined to resolve the
problems, she added. The youth community must be freed from
the grip of narcotics, she said.
The call by the President and the Prime minister for
establishing a narcotic free society has come at a time when
the trafficking, sale and use of dangerous drugs are rampant
in the country. Brisk drug trade is going on at cities, towns
and villages in defiance of the law and the drive by the law
enforcers. Dangerous drugs including yaba, heroin, pathedin ,
ganja, wine etc are on sale at different points of the capital
sometimes allegedly under the nose of police. However,
anti-narcotic drives are also being conducted to stop the sale
and use of the drugs generally taken by the young male and
female customers from the affluent families. In such drives
sometimes huge drugs are seized and drug peddlers are
detained, but in spite of that the drug trade along with the
consumption of drugs are on the rise.
It is an open secret that Bangladesh is increasingly being
used as a transit point by drug dealers and the drug mafia,
engaged in trafficking heroin from Pakistan and Afghanistan,
phensidyl from India and yaba from Myanmar and Thailand to
different destinations including India, Middle East and the
West. About 100,000 people, including 30,000 women and
children, are reportedly involved in illegal trade and
trafficking of drugs in the country. Besides, the sale and use
of drugs in Bangladesh as well are growing fast. In the past
there had been a pause in the trade following vigorous
anti-drug drives. But because of relaxation in the drive in
the recent past the trade has started again in full swing.
Young people, both male and feamle are the principal customers
and users of various drugs.
The sale and use of drugs like phensidyl, ganja, charas,
heroin have been rampant in the capital since long. The latest
addition to this world of illegal drugs is yaba which is
reportedly very popular among the young boys and girls of rich
families. With the addition of yaba the situation in this
regard has reportedly become very serious.
The unchecked trafficking, sale and use of drugs are
destroying the morality and health of the young people and
destabilising the social order besides causing economic
losses. In some cases the guardians try to persuade their
wards to desist from drug use, but all in vain in most cases.
In view of this, modern system of treatment for the drug
addicts should be developed in the country. Besides, Stern
measures should be taken to stop the trafficking, sale and use
of drugs in the country. And above all, a strong public
movement against drug abuse should be launched nationwide to
get rid of this social scourge.
Removing dangerous
vehicles
A
move has been initiated to remove the dangerous vehicles from
the city streets. The government announced a crackdown on
Friday on the thousands of decrepit and dangerous vehicles
that ply Dhaka's busy roads in a bid to ease chronic traffic
congestion.
A team of 17 magistrates has been engaged to identify and
remove from service an estimated 12,000 buses, minibuses and
trucks that are over 20 years old, said Communications
Minister Syed Abul Hossain. "This drive will greatly help
reduce traffic jams and accidents in the capital," he said.
Buses that are older than 20 years are already banned from the
capital's streets, but the law is routinely ignored.
Dhaka is one of the most congested cities in the world.
According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA)
the city has 527,285 licensed vehicles, but this is growing by
about 20,000 a year in line with the city's population growth
-- which is up from 20,00,000 in 1974 to 12 million in 2010. A
large number of old, outdated, faulty and illegal buses are
plying the city road and many of those are run by untrained
drivers mostly without having driving licenses. It is because
of this reason that fatal road accidents are taking place in
the city so frequently.
On April 27, the government banned over 20 years old passenger
carrying buses and minibuses and over 25 years old goods
carrying vehicles in the capital and on inter-district
highways. Now, on Thursday an inter-ministerial meeting with
Communication Minister in the chair at his ministry took the
decision that Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will launch a
special drive in the capital to remove old passenger carrying
buses and minibuses and goods carrying trucks and vans, in an
effort to ease traffic congestion and check environmental
pollution. The communication minister informed the meeting of
another decision that trucks will now ply the capital from
12am at night to 4am instead of the earlier scheduled 10pm to
5 am. The decision to remove old vehicles should be
implemented with utmost sincerity in the public interest.
Analysis
The battle behind the frontline
Progress in the Afghan war and plans to
withdraw troops are being hampered by the bickering that led
to McChrystal's sacking.
Con Coughlin
The Afghan
campaign has just suffered its most calamitous casualty. US
President Barack Obama's decision to sack General Stanley
McChrystal, the architect of America's highly controversial
surge strategy for winning the war in Afghanistan, has, at a
stroke, deprived the campaign of its highly respected and
iconic leader. It has also plunged the western alliance into
chaos and raised serious questions about whether this bitter
conflict can be brought to a successful resolution.
In appointing General David Petraeus as his replacement, Obama
insists there will be no change in the strategy that was
personally devised by McChrystal to bring the bloody war in
Afghanistan to a successful conclusion. "I want to tell the
American people that this is a change in personnel but not a
change in policy," Obama said, after confirming that he had
accepted McChrystal's resignation as the US commander of Nato
forces in Afghanistan. He will also need to reassure
Washington's key allies in Europe, particularly Britain, who
have invested much in blood and treasure in supporting the
McChrystal strategy.
However Obama tries to explain McChrystal's dismissal - on
Monday he said the general's unfortunate interview in Rolling
Stone magazine "does not meet the standard that should be set
by a commanding general" - the fact cannot be concealed that
one of America's most accomplished soldiers has been required
to fall on his sword for an undistinguished piece of gonzo
journalism in a rock and roll magazine.
Only McChrystal can explain precisely why he allowed a
freelance journalist working for a title renowned for its
anti-establishment attitude unfettered access to his inner
sanctum for six weeks. What is beyond doubt, and the reason
the Obama administration has responded with unconfined fury,
is that the magazine has succeeded in producing a damning
critique not only of Obama, but of his entire administration.
While Obama is accused of appearing "uncomfortable and
intimidated" when in the company of his senior military
officers, General Jim Jones, Obama's National Security Adviser
and a former Vietnam war hero, is derided as a "clown" who is
"stuck in 1985". Vice-President Joe Biden, who opposed
McChrystal's surge strategy when it was first mooted last
year, is lampooned as a nonentity, while Richard Holbrooke,
the US special envoy for Afghanistan, is portrayed as a man
obsessed that he is about to be sacked at any moment.
Significantly, one of the few senior members of Obama's
national security team not to come in for biting criticism is
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State.
McChrystal might claim that none of these criticisms can be
attributed to him directly, and that most of the remarks were
made by aides who had no authority to speak on his behalf.
Indeed, the aide who organised the Rolling Stone interview,
and who described the "wimps in the White House" as the main
threat to the success of the Afghan mission, has himself been
dismissed by McChrystal.
But the damage has been done, not least because the article,
for the first time since Obama took office 18 months ago,
lifts the lid on the fierce policy battles taking place at the
heart of the Obama administration over the vexed issue of
Afghanistan.
Pivotal figure
In a military campaign dogged by political indecision and the
absence of a clear strategy, the appointment of McChrystal to
command Nato forces in Afghanistan was a defining moment.
Until he took on the job last summer, the prospects of Nato
defeating the Taliban and stabilising a country ravaged by
almost three decades of incessant conflict appeared remote.
Despite the heroic efforts - and sacrifices - made by British
troops and their Nato allies, the threat posed by the Taliban
remained as strong as ever, while progress on the
reconstruction programme was virtually non-existent.
But the man known by his special forces colleagues as "the
Pope" because of his spartan lifestyle - he eats one square
meal, sleeps four hours and jogs 13 kilometres a day - has
almost single-handedly succeeded in transforming the
campaign's prospects from deep pessimism to guarded optimism.
The "McChrystal effect", as it is known within Nato circles,
has resulted in a massive influx of US troops in support of a
military surge that is aimed at inflicting a decisive defeat
on the Taliban, in much the same way that Al Qaida was
eradicated in Iraq. But the military effort is just one
component of the broader counter-insurgency effort that was
devised by McChrystal in conjunction with General David
Petraeus, the head of US Central Command and McChrystal's
immediate superior. While reducing the ability of the Taliban
to terrorise the country's civilian population is central to
the mission's success, the McChrystal doctrine stipulates that
equal effort is invested in establishing political stability
and rebuilding the country's infrastructure.
As in Washington, there are also serious policy differences
within the coalition over how long British troops must remain
in Afghanistan. How much longer Britain will continue to
support a war that is increasingly unpopular with the general
public will, to an extent, depend on whether McChrystal's
well-constructed strategy survives the political firestorm
that is now engulfing Washington. On Monday the Taliban issued
a statement claiming that the McChrystal fiasco was the start
of Washington's political defeat in Afghanistan. For once,
they could be proved right.
India is
facing leadership deficit
After Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi is poised to succeed
him and that makes the current model additionally
irrelevant.
N V Subramanian
While
the Congress and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) are content,
if not happy, to mirror one another in their national
power aims and ambitions, the situation masks a serious
crisis in political leadership that should be apparent
within a year or two although it is not the subject of any
anxious debate within India.
Up to the mid-nineties, both national parties were
creatures or caricatures of their separate and very
different pre-Independence origins. The Congress became
Mahatma Gandhi's vehicle for India's freedom from British
rule, but against his wishes sought and gained national
power after 1947. The BJP or rather its predecessor, the
Jan Sangh, was set up by the extremist RSS (Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh) to placate some of its more
politically-minded leaders again with the hope that it
would be wound up in time.
The Congress was unable to make early adjustments with the
emergence of coalition politics in the
late-eighties/early-nineties. The BJP, meanwhile, surged
ahead as the single largest party in the 1996 elections,
and to make political capital out of it, the RSS agreed to
an NDA (National Democratic Alliance) coalition
arrangement with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the prime
minister.
This arrangement continued for six years in two terms in
which the Congress gained the wisdom of permitting the
government to make and accumulate several mistakes with
which to challenge and overcome the BJP/NDA in the next
decisive election. Meanwhile, the RSS and sister
organisations like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM,
advocating autarchy) and Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS,
India's largest trade union) set themselves as opposition
entities to the Vajpayee government. The idea was that
both the ruling and opposition spaces would be grabbed by
the BJP-RSS and its affiliates leaving the Congress high
and dry. The 2004 polls proved that the Congress strategy
was right.
Six years on and with a Congress-led Manmohan Singh
government in its second term, the political strategies of
the NDA years are being replayed. The BJP/NDA is hoping
that the accumulated mistakes of the ruling dispensation
will assist it in the next election. This is one reason
the BJP has asked the government to apologise for
permitting the Union Carbide Corporation CEO during the
Bhopal disaster, Warren Anderson, to escape justice and
not pushed for its unseating. It was also careful during
the last budget session to support a cut motion while
making clear it had no designs on the government.
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are playing "good cop" to the "bad
cop" of government. The first year of Manmohan Singh's
second term has been an unmitigated disaster with raging
food inflation, unabated crisis in agriculture, jobless
growth and no vision to raise mass employment to reduce
poverty. By staying away from government and opposing from
time to time Singh's Washington consensus-based economic
policies, Sonia and Rahul are playing the same role as the
RSS, SJM and the BMS portrayed during Vajpayee's six
years, which is, being the faux opposition to their own
government.
Whether all this smoke and mirrors will pay dividends only
the next general elections will tell. However, it will
expose the country to a nasty leadership deficit.
Currently, while the BJP is groping in the dark to return
to power, it claims to have two models of governance, one
of Narendra Modi (Gujarat, but probably nationally
unacceptable) and the other of Shivraj Singh Chauhan
(Madhya Pradesh, but nationally untested).
On the other hand, the Congress is smugly in power, but it
has no model to perpetuate, not least the existing one.
The present model, where Manmohan Singh is Prime Minister
on Sonia Gandhi's sufferance, is a farce and has proved
unworkable. After Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi is poised
to succeed him and that makes the current model
additionally irrelevant. Rahul has so far shown no
inclination for office and does not have prime-ministerial
mettle. The Congress has a second-generation leadership,
but they are all sons and daughters of Congress
politicians who have not shown any worth so far.
India is one of the most complex countries to understand
and few have governed it with any depth and knowledge. The
generation of political leaders from before Independence
has mostly passed away with exceptions like Vajpayee who
is perhaps the last of them to have been intuitively able
to engage with the country. The BJP has no more use for
Vajpayee and the Congress has no one of a similar stature
to learn from. As the country hurtles forward to become a
great power, there is no one truly to lead India.
At the moment, both parties seem to be content trying to
outwit one another with varieties of political parlour
games. At a most serious and momentous time for India,
there is at the top a frightfully unserious set, and
nobody seems to care.
N.V. Subramanian is editor, News Insight, and writes
internationally on strategic affairs. He has authored two
novels, University of Love and Courtesan of Storms.
Russia’s slow
modernisation
Medvedev's ability to influence the way Putin runs the
country is limited. But he may be gaining in confidence.
Simon Tisdall
President
Dmitry Medvedev this week stepped up his campaign to
convince the West that Russia can be counted on as a
reliable political and business partner. But even as he
toured California and talked of creating a Russian
equivalent of Silicon Valley, Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin was up to his old tricks.
While continuing to deny Russia uses its energy exports as
a geopolitical weapon, Putin, the former president, warned
neighbouring Belarus it could face a total shutdown in gas
supplies unless it knuckled under. On Thursday Russian gas
producer Gazprom said it was resuming supplies to Belarus
after it paid Ł133m for previous shipments.
The row was ostensibly about the debt. But the context is
Kremlin displeasure at Minsk's decision to take in the
deposed president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, ousted
in a Moscow-backed coup this year. The dispute recalled
rows with Ukraine that caused energy shortages across
Europe. Ukraine elected a more amenable government, which
agreed to extend the Russian Black Sea fleet's lease on
port facilities in Sevastopol. As if by magic, Gazprom
lowered gas prices for Kiev.
Against this backdrop, Medvedev took his message of a
modernising Russia to the White House, where he and Barack
Obama were expected to discuss economic cooperation. He is
due to meet the British premier David Cameron at the G8
summit in Canada. But Obama and Cameron face a similar
dilemma.
The US has tried to 'reset' relations with Moscow since
George Bush left office, brokering deals on nuclear
weapons reductions and Iran sanctions. Yet it is concerned
about authoritarian trends within Russia and strategic
issues such as the government's uncompromising stance
towards former Soviet republics within its 'sphere of
influence'.
Recent moves to enhance the surveillance powers of the FSB
(the successor to Putin's KGB), attempts to block a book
about Putin by opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, the
politicised trial of former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky
and the failure to solve more than a dozen murders
involving human rights advocates and investigative
journalists appear at odds with Medvedev's vision of a
transformed Russia.
Last week Mikhail Gorbachev, the reformist former Soviet
leader, said Russia was halfway through the transition
from communist monolith to modern state. "Modernisation
can be carried out but only if the people are included ...
We need democracy, we need improvement of the electoral
system. Without that, it will not succeed," he said.
British officials say Cameron is hoping for a
"substantive" meeting with Medvedev; the Russian
ambassador to London has suggested a fresh page could be
turned in bilateral relations. But Britain shares
Washington's concerns and has some of its own, notably
Russia's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoy, a former KGB
officer sought in connection with the 2006 murder of
Alexander Litvinenko in London.
Still, Obama and Cameron are likely to encourage
Medvedev's modernisation campaign, hoping perhaps to
strengthen his hand in what may become a power struggle
with Putin ahead of the 2012 presidential election. Putin
has refused to say whether he will stand.
Working in Medvedev's favour is the growing realisation
that a more diversified economy, less state control and
more private sector businesses are essential for the
country's long-term health. Russia's economy contracted
last year by 7.9 per cent, following worldwide falls in
commodity prices, boosting Medvedev's argument that it is
too reliant on energy exports.
Medvedev's ability to influence the way Putin runs the
country is limited. But he may be gaining in confidence.
Viewpoints
The best revenge
The ballot
in the box is the first step towards an oasis, not the oasis
itself. But here we sit, drinking sand and wondering why we
are still parched.
Zaair Hussain
The
ballot in the box is the first step towards an oasis, not the
oasis itself. But here we sit, drinking sand and wondering why
we are still parched.
The last couple of decades have been fertile breeding grounds
for buzzwords, those favourite crutches of mediocre minds that
seek to obfuscate simple ideas with (always incorrectly used)
complex jargon. By definition, a buzzword is a technical term
that achieves mainstream status and is then abused ruthlessly,
its origin and true meaning left for dead.
In this day and age, mocking buzzwords that make bloated
monstrosities of elegant, if unoriginal, ideas - leveraging
synergies and so forth - is nearly as trite as the buzzwords
themselves. It is poor sport to go after such hobbled targets.
Instead, I would like to draw attention to a word that fits
snugly into the definition but is rarely accorded the buzzword
status it so richly deserves: democracy.
The word is sprayed around like confetti during the last
parade on earth. More unsubstantiated miracles have been
attributed to democracy than to Santa Claus. It brings
freedom, prosperity, and presumably chocolates everywhere it
goes, leaving in its wake only united families, competent
leaders and plucky little kids with a twinkle in their eye and
a dream in their heart. It cures corruption, oppression,
inequalities, injustice and migraines with a wave of what one
can only assume is its wand. In Pakistan, it is apparently the
best revenge.
Strip the word of its excellent and meaningless PR, however,
and what we are left with is the root concept. Democracy is a
technical, legal and philosophical term that has been debated
by some of the finest minds in the world over millennia. Its
forms are legion and are distinct. The institutions required
to support it must all be robust and independent (free media,
the courts, etc). And yet, for all the wealth of information
and discourse on democracy, for all the structures it must
erect to be truly viable, the buzzword disease has taken hold
and almost no one, from layman to student to politician, can
say or hear the word without the mind's eye turning to a
single sort of image: a voter submitting a ballot, his or her
hopes and dreams writ large upon that folded piece of paper,
given form by the box it slides into. And all is well and
right with the world.
It is an attractive (and therefore dangerous) myth. Put a
ballot in the box, and the democracy fairy will leave a
functioning state under your pillow while you sleep. In none
of its myriad forms has democracy ever posited itself as a
gateway to utopia. Indeed, this is one of its greatest
strengths. Only autocrats and madmen believe that a utopia can
be fashioned by human hands. It is no coincidence, I believe,
that virtually every attempt to superimpose utopia upon the
real world has created instead a nightmare upon a mountain of
human suffering.
Democracy, conversely, recognises the intrinsic disorderliness
and messiness of human nature. It recognises the importance of
troublemakers and the horrors inherent in slavishly following
majority opinion. It creates inconveniences by deliberately
pitting governmental institutions against one another, whereas
a utopian model would have every organ of the state humming
together in perfect and ominous harmony.
It is anything but simple.
To believe in the buzzword is a dangerous mirage. Voting is
not a panacea for all the ills that plague the body politic of
a nation. If it were, the countries upon which the US has
inflicted democracy with extreme prejudice would surely be
better off than they are. The ballot in the box is the first
step towards an oasis, not the oasis itself. But here we sit,
drinking sand and wondering why we are still parched.
To vote is not enough. Not for combating the issues that
plague the civic spirit, not for uplifting the downtrodden and
certainly not for democracy. For that we need stable
institutions, not egocentric and powerful individuals with
cultish followings. We need people to vote for parties and
platforms, not familiar families. The courts must become truly
independent, neither lackeys of the government, nor bitter
adversaries.
Our media, which styles itself as a watchdog, should fulfil
that role with honesty and equity. To be 'anti-establishment'
is a fine role for the watchers of a young and struggling
state, but no part of the 'establishment' - of which the
elected government comprises only a part, and not the most
powerful part - should be exempt from media scrutiny and
criticism.
We are justly impatient with the democratic leaders fate has
seen fit to strew in the nation's path like rakes in a garden.
Who could begrudge us our frustration? We must see to it,
however, that our frustration does not blind us to the greater
good. Transparency and accountability from our elected leaders
is the skin and musculature of a robust democracy, but only
consistency can comprise the skeleton.
One of the main problems with democracy in Pakistan is that it
behaves like an impeccably mannered guest: it comes calling
every so often, but never stays so long as to make its hosts
think it will be a permanent fixture. In the context of South
Asian countries, political issues such as corruption are not
death sentences to progress. Constant political uprootings,
however, absolutely are. We are a strong country, in many
ways. We have suffered crises both natural and manmade and we
have emerged, scarred but unbroken.
But what democracy requires from us is not strength, but
constitution. It requires us to suffer many fools and a
thousand petty failures, to take every painstaking step in a
long journey, complaining all the while, perhaps, but never
straying from the path. There is no other way.
Winston Churchill, exhibiting his characteristic wit and/or
inebriation, once said, "Democracy is the worst form of
government except for all those others that have been tried."
Staggering hypocrisy aside (Churchill was a firm advocate of
maintaining the British colonies, including greater India),
the sentiment rings true.
Zaair Hussain is a Lahore-based freelance writer. He can be
reached at zaairhussain@gmail.com
Rise of the
drugs trade
If Afghanistan could discover a legal export -- gold and
gemstones being possibilities - to match opium, it might
yet prove the pessimists wrong.
Huzaima Bukhari and Dr Ikramul Haq
Since
the wanton attack on September 11, 2001 on New York's twin
towers, symbols of America's economic might, the world is
a changed place. It has changed for the worse. In the name
of fighting terrorism certain vested interests are
colonising oil- and mineral-rich countries and lending
support to the drug trade and mass acceptance of fascism
in the name of reforming the world. Strangely, the
terrorist groups are thriving on drug money -- see details
in well-researched book, Seeds of Terrorism by Gretchen
Peters -- but the forces in Afghanistan are looking the
other way.
The Taliban regime of Afghanistan, according to a report
in The Economist (August 16-22, 2003), had clamped down on
poppy cultivation with an iron fist. It banned it
completely in 2000. Production collapsed from its peak of
over 4,500 tonnes in 1999 to 185 tonnes in 2001. However,
the ban did not cover trade, and opiates kept on flowing
into Central Asia. After the demise of the Taliban, poppy
cultivation reappeared with a vengeance, with the brother
of Hamid Karzai accused of leading the heroin trade.
According to UN estimates, production was 4,400 tonnes in
2009. Afghanistan dominates the world production of opium,
with almost three-quarters of the total annual global
yield. Afghanistan is a marginal country. About 80 per
cent of Afghans depend on what they can grow. But
Afghanistan lacks water and cultivable land. Even in the
halcyon 1970s, less than 5 per cent of the land was
irrigated. The war halved that. Then during the
seven-year-long drought in some places, most of the
livestock died and staple crops failed. In the south and
south-west of the country, water tables are dangerously
low. Even with the best possible governance, that part of
Afghanistan is a poor proposition.
In the 1980s, the Afghan mujahideen resisting Soviet
occupation had received generous American support. But in
1989, when Russian troops packed their bags and went home,
American interest in Afghanistan waned. Once the Central
Asian countries had become independent from the former
Soviet Union in 1991, America concentrated its attention
in the region on Soviet nuclear leftovers, the
decommissioning of which it hailed as a great success.
When the Taliban took over in 1996, the Americans did not
seem overly concerned that the bearded rulers and their Al
Qaeda friends were supporting radical Islamic groups in
Central Asia.
The ground for religious extremism remains fertile.
Poverty, lack of political freedom, ignorance about Islam
that is exploited by ruthless outsiders and money from the
drug trade make up an explosive cocktail. Most of the
region's economies have still not fully recovered from the
collapse of the Soviet system. Poverty is widespread in
all the countries, especially in rural areas, and the gap
between the rich and the poor is widening. For many local
politicians, such economic factors, along with natural
disasters and border problems, constitute far bigger
headaches than Islamist radicalism. Opposition forces in
Central Asia, together with human-rights activists, argue
that the Islamist threat is being exaggerated to crush all
forms of dissent, religious or otherwise. But even those
who think that Islamist radicalism and terrorism are real
dangers criticise the governments' heavy-handed methods of
controlling religion.
For many Afghans living in rural areas, producing opium is
the only way to survive. Before the 2000 ban, prices had
slumped to $35 a kilo, or $1,100 a hectare, an income
close to that for legal crops. But since then prices have
risen again, making poppy cultivation correspondingly more
attractive. At the end of 2009, farmers could get $540 a
kilo, or over $16,000 a hectare, which no other crop could
rival. In 2009, opium production in Afghanistan generated
up to $1.2 billion, or almost 20 per cent of GDP.
The neighbours of Afghanistan are making profits from the
windfall: criminal groups from Central Asia, says the UN,
made profits of $4.2 billion from the trafficking of
opiates in 2009, equivalent to 7 per cent of the region's
GDP. Tajikistan is by far the worst affected by the drug
plague, thanks to a combination of history, poverty and
geography. During the civil war, drugs were a valuable
source of cash for buying weapons. Although the conflict
officially ended in 1997, warlords and officials continued
to draw on this source of income.
In the late 1990s, the drugs trade was believed to be a
source of finance for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan,
a terrorist group which had bases in Afghanistan and
Tajikistan. After the war in Afghanistan, the IMU lost
most of its influence, but the drugs trade continues, with
organised criminals taking the place of political or
religious activists. In a survey conducted by the Open
Society Institute, eight out of ten of those polled said,
hardly surprisingly, that the main reason to turn to drug
trafficking was to make big money. Geography also
contributes to Tajikistan's drugs problem: at 1,400
kilometres, the country's border with Afghanistan is
longer than its Cen
The Afghan government has made some progress.
Poppy-growing has been declared illegal. A new policy
body, the Counter-Narcotics Department, or CND, has been
instituted to direct drug policy in key ministries. The
CND is being bankrolled by the British government. But it
remains woefully ill-equipped. Almost none of its staff
officers has any relevant experience. There is little
money for communications or vehicles and nothing at all
for intelligence-gathering. An attempt to buy out farmers
only encouraged more areas to be planted with poppies, so
something more radical and innovative is needed: the
insertion of several hundred counter-narcotics police
officers about the country. The narco-cops would need to
eradicate poppy cultivation. They would have to be
supported with EU-funded initiatives such as the purchase
of wheat at above market prices and money for irrigation,
husbandry and rural credit schemes.
All those who played a part in wrecking Afghanistan have a
responsibility to help put it back together. Few expect
Russia to cough up for the carnage unleashed by the Soviet
Union, but it could supply survey maps and geologists to
help Afghanistan exploit its own natural resources. If
Afghanistan could discover a legal export -- gold and
gemstones being possibilities - to match opium, it might
yet prove the pessimists wrong.
(June 26 marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse
and Illicit Trafficking).
The writers are visiting professors at LUMS. Email:
huzaima@huzaimaikram.com and ikram@huzaimaikram.com
An historic moment for Gaza
The fascinating issue today is not whether Israel is
making any major changes in its policies. It is not. It is
only making cosmetic changes to ward off foreign
pressures.
Rami G. Khouri
The
Israeli decision to ease the three-year-old siege of Gaza
is being mildly welcomed in many quarters, and deep
scepticism in others.
The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has pleaded with
the world via the Quartet to pressure Israel to fully lift
its siege, while Lebanese and Iranian groups are planning
to send more humanitarian aid ships to Gaza to challenge
and break the Israeli blockade.
These two approaches reflect differing positions on the
bigger question of how one reacts to Israeli power, and
what one does to change conditions when power is applied
unfairly, brutally or illegally. Does one negotiate with
Israel and ask Western powers to pressure it to obey
international law and stop behaving criminally? Or does
one confront and challenge Israel, at the risk of being
arrested, injured or killed?
The experience of the Free Gaza Movement over the past few
years, which sent half a dozen boat expeditions to deliver
humanitarian aid to Gazans, suggests to many that
in-your-face confrontation is the most effective way to
challenge Israel and force it to change its policies.
Israel's reduced siege of Gaza is the fourth example of
its changing a policy under pressure. The three other
cases were the withdrawals from south Lebanon and Gaza's
heartland in the face of Hizbollah- and Hamas-led
resistance, and the partial suspension of some settlements
for ten months last year in response to American
government pressure.
So the question now is: How will people and states in the
Arab region and nearby lands, like Iran and Turkey, react
to the latest lesson in challenging Israel with forceful
action, rather than making only meek pleas?
Israel is already initiating two new aggressive acts that
will quickly test the mettle of both its friends and foes.
It will destroy several dozen Palestinian Arab homes in
occupied East Jerusalem to build an Israeli tourism
facility, and it will initiate work on the ground to build
another 600 houses for settler-colonial Zionists in the
Jerusalem area.
The fascinating issue today is not whether Israel is
making any major changes in its policies. It is not. It is
only making cosmetic changes to ward off foreign
pressures. The really important new development is the
growing Arab and international realisation that the
criminal and inhuman excesses of Zionism - colonialism,
discrimination, collective punishment, racism, siege and
starvation, murder on the high seas, mass incarcerations
and many others - can best be confronted using the same
tactics that fina?ly brought down the two major examples
of racism and inequity in modern times: the civil rights
movement that broke the back of official racism in the
United States, and the anti-apartheid movement that forced
the South African white minority government to throw in
the towel and accept a fully democratic system.
I suspect that the Free Gaza Movement's siege-breaking
ships will go down in modern history as critical elements
in the struggle for justice in Palestine, aiming for
conditions that allow Jews, Christians and Muslims, and
all other residents or visitors, to live in this land with
equal rights.
Israel is perfectly willing to keep attacking aid convoys
and killing innocent humanitarian activists. But what
happens when the next ship sails with a crew of Christian
priests chanting verses about God's love of justice and
mercy and the divine dictate to assist those in need,
right from the book of Isaiah and the book of John? What
will Israel do when a convoy of ships sails for Gaza
carrying only schoolteachers and bags of marshmallows for
the children of Gaza? How about when a convoy of ships
approach?s Gaza with only nurses and diapers for the
babies of Gaza?
An important corner has been turned in the strip, as the
relationship between the coloniser and the colonised is
reversed. When the colonised is no longer afraid of being
hurt, or killed, the power of the coloniser to intimidate
vanishes.
Lebanese and Iranians understand this because in their own
ways, many of them have already experienced liberating
episodes that reflect their determination to live in
freedom and dignity. Palestinians have been trying to do
this for decades, with limited success.
In every struggle for liberation against colonialism,
oppression or racism, a moment occurs when the barrier of
fear is broken in a very public manner. Ultimately, this
forces a renegotiation of the power equation in a manner
that restores the human rights and collective security and
dignity of all concerned.
Jews, Christians and Muslims may well remember the
challenge and collapse of the Israeli siege of Gaza as
that pivotal moment in the struggle between Zionism and
Arabism in Palestine. The ships to come will clarify this
in due course, because they do not challenge Israel's
existence or security, but only its inhumanity towards the
Palestinians.
International
Kashmir
protesters defy curfew after killings
AFP, Srinagar
Thousands of demonstrators defied a curfew in revolt-hit
Indian Kashmir on Saturday to protest against the killing
of two young men by security forces a day earlier, police
said.
The demonstrators poured into the streets of Sopore town
in Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir shouting: "We want
freedom" and "blood for blood" after the men, both in
their early 20s, were shot dead by security forces on
Friday.
"Tensions are high in the town," a police officer told AFP,
asking not to be named. He added that clashes erupted when
police fired teargas and used batons in a bid to disperse
the protesters.
Police said the two men died in Sopore, 50 kilometres (31
miles) north of Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar, when
troops opened fire after protesters pelted their vehicle
with stones.
Police imposed the curfew late Friday after thousands
poured into the streets, torched a security vehicle and
attacked a police station to protest against the killing
of the two men.
Saturday's demonstration in Sopore came as a top
separatist leader in Indian Kashmir demanded the
resignation of the state's chief minister over the
killings.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah "should resign because he has
failed to protect the lives of Kashmiris," said Mirwaiz
Umar Farooq, a leading separatist public figure and head
of the region's main mosque.
Tensions have been rising in recent months in Indian
Kashmir, where two decades of rebellion against New
Delhi's rule have left thousands dead.
Farooq made his demand as a general strike called by
separatists in protest at the latest killings paralysed
Srinagar and other towns in the mainly Muslim Kashmir
valley.
The deaths of the two young men brought to five the number
of civilian killings in which Indian security forces have
been implicated during the past two weeks.
Friday's killings are the latest crisis to shake the
government of 40-year-old Abdullah, who took over the
reins of the state 18 months ago.
"Abdullah's government is allowing India to oppress
Kashmir," said Farooq, who wields strong influence among
ordinary Kashmiris.
Afghan president
cautions about mineral windfall
AFP, Kabul
Afghanistan's stunning untapped mineral wealth could prove
to be a curse rather than a blessing for the war-ravaged
country if it is not managed properly, the nation's
president said on Saturday.
Afghan government officials recently said the country's
mineral deposits could be worth up to three trillion
dollars, tripling an earlier US estimate.
"If our country does not have a very solid government
foundation and if we do not set up strong regulations for
exploration of minerals, 10 years from now these very same
rich underground resources could become disastrous for
us," President Hamid Karzai said.
He told a gathering of hundreds of people that Afghans
should to be cautious of plots to weaken the government to
extract Afghanistan's huge reserves of lithium, iron,
copper, gold, niobium, mercury, cobalt and other minerals.
"These companies do not come here for our interests --
they are after their own interests even if it's at the
cost of weakening the government, the people and feeding
and strengthening corruption so they can easily exploit,"
he said.
Karzai went on to say that Iran in the 1950s and several
African countries were examples of countries that were
destabilised so that their rich natural resources could be
exploited by foreign companies.
Afghanistan already has a reputation as one of the most
corrupt countries in the world.
The former minister of mines was dropped from the cabinet
in February after being accused of accepting a 30 million
dollar in bribe in return for awarding a Chinese company
the country's biggest copper mine contract.
India presses Pakistan to
try more Mumbai suspects
AFP, Islamabad
India urged Pakistan on Saturday to put more suspects on
trial for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, highlighting lingering
tension between the nuclear-armed rivals even as they
strive to improve ties.
The tough message came as the country's Home Minister P.
Chidambaram held talks with his Pakistani counterpart
Rehman Malik on the sidelines of a regional conference.
The neighbours have embarked on a tentative reconciliation
process since relations crashed to a new low after
Islamist gunmen went on a rampage in Mumbai in November
2008, leaving 166 people dead.
Delhi blames the attack on Pakistan-based militant group
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and wants more action from Islamabad
to bring the masterminds to justice.
The group's founder, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, and key
operative Zarar Shah are on trial in Pakistan. India also
blames Hafiz Saeed, head of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity,
which is seen as a front for the LeT.
"We know that seven people are being prosecuted in the
case. How far that prosecution has proceeded is for the
Pakistan government to say," Chidambaram said.
"We think that more people stay behind the terrorist
attack and more people should be prosecuted."
Chidambaram met Malik as a meeting of South Asian interior
ministers in Islamabad ended with a resolution to develop
a common anti-terrorism strategy.
"We will try to beat the threat relating to security, that
is natural, that is very normal and that is what Mr Rehman
Malik and I tried to do in our meeting. Then we identify
what needs to be done and what has already been done," the
Indian minister said. "We are trying to pick up the pace
again, foreign ministers are talking to each other, the
prime ministers have met and home and interior ministers
meet, obviously the focus will be on terrorism.
"I have conveyed whatever was necessary to convey to my
counterpart and he conveyed what... he felt necessary to
convey to me and I remain positive that something good
will emerge out of this meeting and interaction," he
added.
US military chief holds
security talks in Islamabad
AFP, Islamabad
US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen held security talks
with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday as
he toured the region after the sacking of the top US
commander in Afghanistan.
The two were joined by Pakistani military chief Ashfaq
Parvez Kayani and US Ambassador Anne Patterson,
state-owned television said.
"Pak-US bilateral relations, fight against militancy and
regional security situation were discussed during the
meeting," it said.
Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said
earlier he was visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan to
reassure leaders that Washington's strategy would be
unaffected by the shock departure of the head of US and
NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal.
Ahead of his visit, the chief of staff of the US air
force, General Norton Schwartz, also arrived in Pakistan
and visited the country's air force headquarters, a
separate statement by the US embassy said.
Schwartz placed a wreath at a monument to perished
Pakistani air force pilots "to honour the sacrifices made
by Pakistan's security forces and citizens in their fight
against violent extremists," the embassy added.
Pakistani media reported Saturday that three F-16 Fighting
Falcon jets had reached Pakistan as part of a delivery of
18 new F-16 jets from the United States.
The delivery marks a renewal of aircraft sales by the
United States to Pakistan that took place in the 1980s but
were halted in the 1990s, a US embassy statement issued on
Friday said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other US officials
"have spoken out about 'not repeating the mistakes' of the
US halt in relations with Pakistan in the late 1980s and
early 1990s," it added.
Record rain drenches China
as rivers threaten to burst
AFP, Beijing
Relentless rains were swelling rivers to record levels in
south and central China on Saturday as the nation braced
for more flood-related disasters that have already taken
the lives of 235 people.
Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei warned regional
officials that their jobs were at stake if they failed to
protect people from the effects of the deluge, his
ministry said on its website.
"We must fully bring into play our monitoring and alert
system and immediately announce disaster forecasts and
thoroughly implement contingency plans and measures to
avert mass disaster," Chen said in a Friday meeting.
Workers and soldiers in central China's Hunan province
meanwhile scrambled to shore up dykes as water reached
record levels along the Xiang river as it passed through
Changsha city, where over six million people live.
After the Xiang surpassed danger marks by 2.5 metres
(eight feet) Friday-the highest water level in a
decade-flood prevention experts were bracing for "historic
highs" on the river in coming days, China National Radio
said.
In the heart of Changsha, Zhuzizhou island, a famed
tourist spot, was largely submerged by the swollen Xiang,
it said.
Television footage showed small towns and rural areas
upriver from Changsha deluged with water as residents
evacuated low-lying areas and scrambled to higher ground
carting food and other supplies.
At least 235 people have died and 109 gone missing in
flooding and landslides triggered by torrential rains that
have pounded south and central China since June 13, the
civil affairs ministry said.
The rains have caused 53 billion yuan (7.8 billion
dollars) in economic losses, with over three million
people forced to evacuate, it said.
Myanmar destroys drugs
worth 76 million dollars
AFP, Naypyidaw
Myanmar burned drugs worth around 76 million dollars on
Saturday as the military government said there were signs
of surging narcotics production in the country's restive
north-eastern regions.
Around 10 tonnes of illicit substances of all kinds were
incinerated in four provinces across the country to mark
the United Nations' international anti-drugs day.
Myanmar has seen a steep increase in seizures of
amphetamine since 2008, with the number of tablets
captured rising from 1.1 million two years ago to 23.8
million in 2009.
And 7.6 million tablets were found in the first four
months of 2010, according to police figures.
"Most of the paraphernalia and chemicals used in
manufacturing psychotropic substances were seized in
north-eastern parts of Myanmar during 2009," home affairs
minister Maung Oo said during a ceremony to mark the UN's
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking in Naypyidaw.
Some minority groups are believed to be cashing in on
drugs amid an increasing sense of vulnerability in the
run-up to Myanmar's first elections in two decades.
Armed minorities in Shan and Karen states continue to
fight the government along the country's eastern border,
claiming they are victims of neglect and mistreatment.
Myanmar is also the world's second largest producer of
opiates after Afghanistan, although there has been a
general decline in trade of these drugs since the 1990s.
"We find that the production of both opium and heroin,
compared to that of the last decades, has declined
markedly," Maung Oo said.
He said the government is working with China to monitor
opium cultivation in northern parts of Myanmar using
satellites.
Blast shakes Kabul as US
military chief visits
AFP, Kabul
The Afghan capital was rocked Saturday by an accidental
blast as Washington's military chief promised business as
usual despite the sacking of the US commander of foreign
forces.
The blast, near the foreign ministry in Kabul's embassy
district, happened when an anti-personnel mine in an
Afghan army vehicle accidentally detonated, a spokesman
for NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.
It was not an attack by Taliban-linked insurgents,
Lieutenant-Commander Ian Baxter told AFP of the blast,
which happened around 9:55 am (0525 GMT).
The blast shook Kabul after US Admiral Mike Mullen,
chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived late
Friday on a mission to reassure Afghan leaders following
the sacking of the top commander.
Police on the scene of the blast told AFP there were no
casualties.
General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the defence
minister, said the Afghan National Army driver of the
truck had been detained for questioning.
During his meeting with President Hamid Karzai, Mullen
said NATO troops would still "spare no efforts avoiding
civilian casualties" while continuing to strengthen and
cooperate with Afghan forces, a statement said.
The statement from Karzai's office said that the Afghan
leader welcomed the appointment of David Petraeus as the
new commander of foreign forces.
Mullen went to meet Karzai and other officials in Kabul
after US General Stanley McChrystal was sacked this week
for insubordination, and had been expected to explain the
circumstances leading to the firing.
During his one-day visit, Mullen also met the Afghan
defence minister, US and NATO officials, the US embassy
and Afghan government said.
US,
Russia mark improved ties but still face pitfalls
AFP, Washington
The Obama administration and Russia have put a modern and
friendly gloss to ties that have made genuine progress
since the 2008 war in Georgia, but they still face
pitfalls, analysts say.
The good atmospherics were created last week when Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev enjoyed both his trip to Silicon
Valley and his lunch with US President Barack Obama at a
burger joint outside the US capital in Virginia.
His visit to the cradle of US high-tech innovation
highlighted an economic dimension to cooperation that has
focused on reducing and fighting the spread of nuclear
weapons, defeating terrorism and stabilizing Afghanistan.
"Certainly the atmosphere has been improved," Stephen
Cohen, a Russia expert at New York University, told AFP.
"And certainly some cooperation that had been more or less
vaporized by (former US president George W.) Bush has been
restored and some new cooperation achieved," Cohen said.
He was referring to Russia's cooperation within the UN
Security Council to impose a fourth set of sanctions on
Iran for its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear work. But
he warned that Moscow's cooperation with Washington on
Iran may run up against limits if the Islamic republic
decides to support Islamist movements in Russia, which has
25 million Muslim citizens.
"If it suddenly decided Russia was a heathen and not a
friend, Iran could become a supplier of all sorts of
destabilizing things to Islamic insurgents or even foment
unrest in the Caucusus and elsewhere," he said.
He also warned that the new Strategic Arms Reduction
Treaty (START) -- signed to great fanfare in Prague on
April 8 as the first disarmament treaty of its scale in
years-contained a potential "timebomb" in its prologue.
The language gives Russia the right to withdraw from the
treaty if the United States pursues missile defense plans
in a way the Kremlin feels threatens its security.
The language, he said, is an ominous reminder of the deep
mistrust Moscow still feels toward Washington about
matters it deems within "its sphere of influence," fears
that lie dormant but can still flare up dangerously.
The Obama administration has been less aggressive than the
previous Bush administration in pursuing both missile
defense plans in eastern Europe as well as the expansion
of NATO to include Ukraine and Georgia, on Russia's
borders. But it has stopped short of actually abandoning
such policies.
US expansion under the umbrella of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, Cohen said, sparked a dangerous
US-Russia proxy war in August 2008 when Russia sent troops
in support of breakaway regions of neighboring Georgia, a
US ally.
Turkey must
demonstrate commitment to West: US
AP, Washington
The United States is warning Turkey that it is alienating
U.S. supporters and needs to demonstrate its commitment to
partnership with the West.
The remarks by Philip Gordon, the Obama administration's
top diplomat on European affairs, were a rare admonishment
of a crucial NATO ally.
"We think Turkey remains committed to NATO, Europe and the
United States, but that needs to be demonstrated," Gordon
told The Associated Press in an interview. "There are
people asking questions about it in a way that is new, and
that in itself is a bad thing that makes it harder for the
United States to support some of the things that Turkey
would like to see us support." Gordon cited Turkey's vote
against a U.S.-backed United Nations Security Council
resolution on new sanctions against Iran and noted Turkish
rhetoric after Israel's deadly assault on a Gaza-bound
flotilla last month. The Security Council vote came
shortly after Turkey and Brazil, to Washington's
annoyance, had brokered a nuclear fuel-swap deal with Iran
as an effort to delay or avoid new sanctions.
Some U.S. lawmakers who have supported Turkey have lashed
out and warned of consequences for Ankara since the
Security Council vote and the flotilla raid that left
eight Turks and one Turkish-American dead. The lawmakers
accused Turkey of supporting a flotilla that aimed to
undermine Israel's blockade of Gaza and of cozying up to
Iran. The raid has led to chilling of ties between Turkey
and Israel, countries that have long maintained a
strategic alliance in the Middle East. Turkey's ambassador
to the United States, Namik Tan, expressed surprise at
Gordon's comments. He said Turkey's commitment to NATO
remains strong and should not be questioned. "I think this
is unfair," he said. Tan said Turkish officials have
explained repeatedly to U.S. counterparts that voting
against the proposed sanctions was the only credible
decision after the Turkish-brokered deal with Iran. Turkey
has opposed sanctions as ineffective and damaging to its
interests with an important neighbor. It has said that it
hopes to maintain channels with Tehran to continue looking
for a solution to the standoff over Iran's alleged nuclear
arms ambitions. "We couldn't have voted otherwise," Tan
said. "We put our own credibility behind this thing."
Tan said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
was expected to discuss these issues with U.S. President
Barack Obama on the margins of a summit of world economic
powers in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday.
Gordon said Turkey's explanations of the U.N. episode have
not been widely understood in Washington. "There is a lot
of questioning going on about Turkey's orientation and its
ongoing commitment to strategic partnership with the
United States," he said. "Turkey, as a NATO ally and a
strong partner of the United States not only didn't
abstain but voted no, and I think that Americans haven't
understood why."
Kyrgyzstan prepares
for referendum despite warnings
AFP, Osh
Kyrgyzstan on Saturday prepared to hold a referendum on a
new constitution, defying warnings the poll risked
sparking a resurgence of this month's deadly inter-ethnic
violence.
The authorities cancelled a curfew in the southern city of
Osh that was the epicentre of the violence that killed at
least 264 people to pave the way for the vote Sunday and
insisted that the poll would go ahead.
The referendum is the centrepiece of the interim
government's blueprint for Kyrgyzstan after the ousting of
president Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April riots and officials
have said the latest violence was aimed at derailing the
vote.
The deadly clashes between the majority Kyrgyz and
minority Uzbek populations forced tens of thousands from
their homes and prompted the imposition of a
round-the-clock curfew in the region.
"The inhabitants of Osh had asked the leadership to extend
the curfew," said deputy interior minister Baktybek
Alymbekov, announcing the decision to cancel the curfew on
national television.
"But the decision was taken to examine this question
according to the situation after the referendum has taken
place," he added.
In Osh, many residents were vowing to cast their votes in
the referendum although others said it was too early to
hold the poll.
"I will go and vote so that life gets better and these
events are never repeated," said Aftanguel Aidaraliyev, a
Kyrgyz resident of Osh.
But fellow voter Ogozgul Bektanova said: "The situation
has still not normalised. I will not go and vote, I am not
ready for that and the city is not ready either."
The new constitution proposed in the referendum would
significantly reduce the powers of the president and make
the country Central Asia's first parliamentary republic.
The referendum would set the stage for parliamentary
elections that authorities have scheduled for early
September in an effort to bring in a permanent government
as quickly as possible.
World summit turning
attention to nuclear threats
AP, Huntsville
After failing to resolve their differences on economic
strategy, world leaders are turning their attention to
grappling with some of the globe's toughest foreign policy
problems.
President Barack Obama and other leaders of the Group of
Eight major industrial countries were scheduled to open
their second day of talks Saturday focused on nuclear
standoffs with Iran and North Korea.
On Iran, the U.S. and European nations will push other
major powers to join them in imposing tough new sanctions
on Tehran over its suspect nuclear program, a move that
would build on expanded U.N. Security Council measures
adopted this month. But China and Russia only reluctantly
supported those sanctions and have balked at new
unilateral steps against Iran.
The foreign policy discussions among the leaders of the
G-8 - the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain,
Italy, Canada and Russia - were taking place after an
opening day of talks during which the group failed to
resolve a dispute over the proper mix of government
spending and deficit reductions needed to keep the global
economy on track.
Obama made the case that the global economy remained
fragile and should not be put at risk by countries moving
too rapidly to trim their bulging deficits through
spending cuts and tax increases, which can slow economic
growth.
Palestinian rivals trade
blame over Gaza power cuts
AFP, Gaza City
Rival Palestinian governments on Saturday traded blame
after the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip's sole power plant shut
down, worsening already frequent electricity cuts.
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA) in the
occupied West Bank accused Hamas of manufacturing the
crisis to "incite" against it, insisting that it was
covering the monthly cost of industrial fuel for the
plant.
"The crisis is the result of politics and the exploitation
of the suffering of the people in order to gain sympathy
and to incite against the Palestinian Authority," PA
spokesman Ghassan Khatib told AFP.
"The Palestinian Authority covers 95 to 97 percent of the
total cost of power consumed in Gaza, and we expect the
power distribution company to improve its collection
efforts and to cover a fraction of the cost," he said.
The deputy head of the Hamas-run power authority denied
the accusations, insisting that authorities were
collecting fees and transferring them to the West Bank
political capital Ramallah in order to pay for the fuel.
"The actions (of the PA) reveal its desire to punish and
besiege the people of Gaza, because the power company has
continually sent the price of the fuel to the finance
ministry," Kanaan Obeid told AFP.
He said the plant shutdown would cause power outages of
around 18 hours a day in much of the territory.
Suheil Skeik, another official in the power company, said
the Palestinian Authority had been paying four million
dollars (three million euros) a month for fuel for the
plant, but this month had paid only two million.
Somaliland votes under
tight security
AFP, Hargeisa
The self-proclaimed state of Somaliland closed its borders
Saturday as voters chose their president amid fears
Islamists from neighbouring Somalia could try to disrupt
the polls.
The northern territory has been more stable than Somalia
since it broke away in 1991 but a message warning voters
to stay home by the leader of the Al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab
movement drew draconian security measures.
"All our country's forces are locking the borders.
Movements and transport inside Somaliland are also
forbidden except for those authorised by the national
election commission (NEC)," police chief Mohamed Saqadi
Dubad said.
Somaliland, which is more tribally homogenous than the
rest of Somalia, has been striving to attain international
recognition for almost two decades and many voters saw the
election as a fresh opportunity to demonstrate their
aspiring state's democratic credentials.
In the capital Hargeisa, queues started forming in the
middle of the night, hours before polling stations opened,
amid tight police and army scrutiny.
"I will travel to my polling station now and sleep there,"
said Ismail Maalin Mohamoud, a tailor, as he prepared to
set off late Friday. "I want to vote for Kulmiye," he
said.
Kulmiye, which won the largest number of seats in the
latest parliamentary elections, is the party of Ahmed
Mohamed Silaanyo, seen as President Dahir Riyale Kahin's
main rival in Saturday's poll.
The Justice and Welfare party is the country's third
parliamentary force and its leader Faisal Ali Warabe the
other top contestant.
Earlier this week, overall Shebab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane,
a native of Somaliland, issued an audio message warning
the breakaway state's population that they would "face the
consequences" if they cast their ballot.
"Do we say yes to Allah and accept his ruling or follow
the infidels who want to lead us in the path of the
evil?", Godane said.
Somaliland has strong ties with Shebab arch-foe Ethiopia.
The territory's unilateral secession from the rest of the
country is also a challenge to the nationalistic vision of
a unified Somalia essential to some of the Shebab's Somali
leaders.
Business/Economy
More
investment in clothing sector likely on availability of
power, gas: BGMEA chief
BSS, Dhaka
Bangladesh is considered as an investment destination to
both foreign and local entrepreneurs and investment in
garments sector should not only be for producing readymade
garments, rather many entrepreneurs would make investments
for setting textiles, spinning, washing, dyeing, printing,
finishing and accessories units.
"Huge investments have already been made in clothing
sector as it has been noticed that our manufacturers
produce everything required for the sector," Abdus Salam
Murshedy, President of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers
and Exporters Association (BGMEA) told BSS.
Bangladesh garments manufacturers do not require to import
garments accessories and it meets 99 percent local demands
for accessories from button to cartons and poly bags, he
said adding other requirements are also being met since
most of those are produced in Bangladesh. A total of 20 to
25 denim mills have been setup in the country recently, he
said, these investment made in garments and textiles
indicates a growing interest and if encouraged, can be
translated into a large scale investment in this mega
sector.
But new investments are not coming now due to shortage of
power and gas, he said adding government has also agreed
to this. "I thank the finance minister as he declared that
no new connection could be installed at this moment, which
was an honest announcement as any investor after making
investment would face obstacles if power and gas supply
could not be established." "I know about 30 new industries
have installed huge machineries with approval from Board
of Investment (BOI) but haven't yet got connections," he
said. After receiving approval from BOI, any investor,
either a local or an FDI, believes that all connections
for that unit should be given, Abdus Salam Murshedy added.
"May be no new industry would be set up at this moment due
to unavailability of connection, but there are lot of
hopes and opportunities are there for textile investment,"
he said. To avail those opportunities and also to get
benefit from the image that the buyers posses regarding
Bangladesh garments, we need to make some infrastructure
changes, like ensuring uninterrupted supply of power and
gas immediately, reducing banking charges and bank
interests to tolerable level. The banking charges and
interests rates should be fixed at a level so that those
are similar to our competitors economies, Murshedy said as
the produces have to compete with other foreign made
items. The charges at ports in Bangladesh are higher than
those in the neighbouring countries like India, Nepal and
services at the ports like turnover time are also factors.
"We have to remember that Bangladesh is at an odd place
geographically as we cannot operate mother vessels and for
this we have to avail feeders as a result shipments become
delayed," he said adding it takes 35 days to reach to USA
market, 25 days in Europe, while China needs 25 days in
USA and 20 days in Europe." "Since we are in a
disadvantageous position in shipments schedule, if we
could advance increase productivity through supporting
other factors, then overall clothing sector would get a
boost."
Clothing sector has ensured women empowerment, he said
adding not only they have become earning persons, also
their social respects, lifestyles and their decision
making in the families and society are increasing and side
by side they become conscious about their reproductive
health and family planning.
The buyers have chosen Bangladesh for purchasing garments
goods as it is recognized that Bangladesh produces
international standard garments and also because they get
garments at lower prices. "We have maintained our
commitments to our customers," he said adding for ensuring
supply of goods on time we sent items through air by
paying Taka 1500 to 1600 crore foreign currencies to make
the buyers happy."
This has been possible due to skills and capabilities of
local entrepreneurs and contributions of labor and
workforces, he said adding: "Labors in Bangladesh garments
industry have made a tremendous contribution to the growth
of the sector."
"The Bangladesh garments sector is not at a comfortable
position at this moment due to production hamper for
shortage of power and gas," he said adding if we could
maintain uninterrupted production, we would have been able
to capture the international market even at cheaper
prices."
S'Asian
trade reduces by 21pc due to tariff and non-tariff
barriers: Faruk
BSS, Dhaka
Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan on Saturday
said the South Asian (SA) regional trade was reduced by 21
percent from 25 over the last four decades as a result of
tariff and non-tariff barriers. "S'Asian countries have
now only three to four percent trade, down from 20 to 25
percent in 1947, due to tariff and non-tariff barriers,"
he said and held bureaucratic tangle and lack of political
will responsible for the fall in regional trade over the
decades.
The minister made the observations at a conference
organized by Policy Research Institute (PRI) on 'Tariff
and Non-Tariff Barriers in South Asia', joined, among
others, by financial analysts and researchers from
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
PRI executive director Dr Ahsan Mansur and economic
adviser of Commonwealth Secretariat Dr MA Razzaque gave
the welcome remarks on the occasion with Vice-Chairman of
PRI Dr Sadiq Ahmed presiding. Chairman of PRI Dr Zaidi
Sattar presented Bangladesh Country paper on 'Tariffs and
Non-Tariff Barriers Impede South Asia Regional Trade'
while Prof of Indian Council for Research on International
Economic Relations (ICRIER) Dr Nisha Taneja presented the
India Country Paper.
Director of Ministry of Commerce of India Babni Lal and
senior director (South Asia) Public Policy and Business
Development Ashutosh Bajpai commented on the key findings
of the keynote papers. Faruk Khan said it is unfortunate
that both Bangladesh and India could not reduce the tariff
and non-tariff barriers, which were clearly prescribed in
the article 32 of the Bangladesh-India joint communique,.
"We need to move fast at the bureaucracy level of the two
countries to further accelerate the implementation of the
joint- communique," he said and referred to the further
strengthening of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing
Institution (BSTI) with the technical support of India,
clearly mentioned in the joint- communique. Referring to
the good practices of UK and USA, Khan said the South
Asian countries should follow these countries in further
developing their economies to benefit all sections of the
people in the region.
Dr Zaidi Sattar said the global trade growth over the last
century trounced the income growth except in South Asia
but it led to lowering the South Asian trade integration.
"The South Asian tariff is still high compared to other
regions," he said and mentioned trade diverting and border
restrictions as key restrictions for South Asian Free
Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The South Asian traders
reportedly find it difficult to apply for benefits under
the SAFTA due to cumbersome procedures, Dr Nisha Taneja
said and claimed, "India is more generous in its bilateral
agreements." Ashutosh Bajpai said a lot of companies are
looking for investment in the South Asian region but it
lacks enabling environment due to the reasons like trade
related barriers.
G8 leaders seek common
ground on debt crisis
AFP, Huntsville, Canada
Europe and the United States tried Friday to bridge
differences over how to sustain fragile global economic
recovery and sought common ground on dealing with
ballooning deficits.
As the G8 summit of the world's major developed economies
got underway in Canada, all eyes were on a potential clash
between European leaders bent on slashing spending and a
Washington fearful of stifling growth.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel showed her hand early,
insisting members must move fast to cut soaring public
deficits and ensure financial stability.
But both she and US officials stressed this did not
represent a split with the United States, and said both
European and other G8 powers were looking for a balance
between debt reduction and support for growth.
"I have made it clear that we need sustainable growth and
that growth and intelligent austerity measures don't have
to be contradictions," Merkel said.
"The discussion was not controversial, there was a lot of
mutual understanding," she told journalists after the
first exchanges of the summit in an exclusive lakeside
resort north of the Canadian city of Toronto. A senior US
official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed
the meeting had gone well and that Merkel and US President
Barack Obama had not fallen out over Germany's call for
immediate fiscal tightening.
"The president sees deficit reduction as part of a medium
and long-term growth strategy. Coming to the G8 and G20
his main focus is these things are not exclusive," the
administration official told reporters. "Taking the steps
necessary to sustain demand and the economic recovery that
has begun is absolutely necessary. But also any kind of
medium and long-term growth strategy has to incorporate
fiscal consolidation," he said.
On Saturday, the talks are due to move onto international
security problems. "The session tomorrow is going to focus
on peace and security, Iran and North Korea will be
discussed," said another senior US official. "Tomorrow is
also the day the president has bilateral meetings with
South Korea in particular, so we expect it to be a topic
of discussion with them, as well as with China and Japan
the next day." The leaders-from Britain, Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States-held
closed door talks at an exclusive lakeside resort among
themselves and with a group of African leaders. Europe has
been spooked by a sovereign debt crisis that has pushed
some eurozone members such as Greece to the brink of
default-threatening the stability of the euro and of some
European financial institutions.
Merkel has led the way in pushing for governments to rein
in their record deficits, and has vowed to slash Germany's
own spending by 80 billion euros (98 billion dollars) over
the next four years.
New Vice
Chairmen of Bank Asia
TBT Economy Desk
Mohd Safwan Choudhury and Mohammed Lakiotullah have been
elected Vice Chairmen of Bank Asia. They were elected at a
meeting of the Board of Directors of the bank in the
capital on Wednesday, says a press release.
Vice Chairman Mohd Safwan Choudhury is an eminent
industrialist of the country. Former President of Sylhet
Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Choudhury is the
Managing Director of M. Ahmed Tea & Lands Co. Ltd,
Phulbaria Tea Estates Ltd., M Ahmed Cold Storage Ltd.,
Premier Dyeing & Calendering Ltd. and M. Ahmed Food &
Spices Ltd. He is the Sr. Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Tea
Association and President of Friends in Village
Development in Bangladesh.
Vice Chairman Mohammed Lakiotullah, an eminent and
respected banker of the country, has also been appointed
an Independent Director of Bank Asia. He has 38 years of
experience in banking. Lakiotullah was the founder
Managing Director of Export Import Bank of Bangladesh (Exim)
Ltd where he served for eight years. Exim Bank witnessed a
notable success as a new generation bank under his keen
supervision. He was also former Managing Director of
Jamuna Bank Ltd.
Indian rice
exporters expect bumper harvest
AFP, New Delhi
Indian rice exporters say the country's rice production
could touch nearly 100 million tonnes in the next crop
year, helped by plentiful monsoon rains. India is the
world's second-biggest producer and consumer of rice after
China.
"Better rains coupled with government spending on hybrid
seeds may help the country produce more than 99 million
tonnes of rice" in the next crop year, All-India Rice
Exporters' Association President Vijay Setia said.
The agriculture ministry forecasts India's rice production
in the crop year to June 2010 will shrink by about 10
percent to 89.31 million tonnes, lower than the previous
year's record 99.2 million tonnes.
Rice production was hurt by a bad monsoon in 2009 when
India received the scantiest rainfall in nearly four
decades.
The production outlook for the rice crop year that starts
July 1 came late Friday after India's weather office said
it expected the monsoon would be better than earlier
expected.
The India Meteorological Department said this year's rains
would be 102 percent of the 50-year average, higher than
an April projection of 98 percent. Summer crops, such as
rice, sugar cane, cotton and oilseeds, are sown in July
and harvested from October.
‘Time to reduce
the deficits’
AFP, Huntsville
German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted Friday that G8
members immediately should start to cut their deficits,
despite fears in some capitals that this could kill the
global recovery.
"It is time to reduce the deficits. Europe has experienced
what it means to have too big deficits," she told
journalists on arrival at the Group of Eight summit in
Canada, which began Friday.
Europe has come under increasing pressure from the United
States to focus on measures to stimulate and protect
economic growth, rather than to rein in spending programs
put in place to combat the worst recession in decades.
But Merkel, head of Europe's largest economy, has led
moves to slash spending in the wake of the eurozone debt
crisis that forced Berlin to stump up the lion's share of
cash for an unprecedented rescue mechanism.
Critics have said that the more than 80 billion euros (98
billion dollars) in savings announced by Merkel over the
next four years, which mirror similar efforts in other
European countries like Britain, will hit growth.
"We need growth that doesn't rely on debt but is based on
real grounds," Merkel insisted here Friday. "The world
needs a new architecture for the financial markets and me
and the EU will advertise for that very intensively," she
added. But she said there was still disagreement over a
proposals to slap a new levy on banks and a financial
transactions tax aimed at making financial institutions
pay for any future crisis.
"We will have to keep working on this, we will have a very
open debate about it," Merkel pledged.
"We have to finalize the new architecture for the
financial markets, that does include to have the financial
sector pay for the costs of crisis." The United States and
Germany agree on the need for the new taxes on banks, but
have hit opposition from Canada, Australia and emerging
economies such as China, Brazil, and India which were
largely spared by the economic crisis.
Opponents argue such taxes will only penalize their
financial insitutions which played no part in fuelling the
economic meltdown, triggered largely by the collapse of
the US housing bubble.
AOC launches new
products in Bangladesh
BSS, Dhaka
AOC, the in-house brand of TPV Technology, the world's
largest manufacturer of display products, has launched its
new products in Bangladesh..
The new products that were launched at a function on
Thursday night at a city hotel include AOC LCD monitor, TV
and All-in-One PC.
On the occasion a press conference was held where Senior
Director of AOC Mukesh Gupta, Managing Director of EZY
Infotech Private Ltd Rezwanur Rab Zia and Vice President
of EZY Infotech Private Ltd Ramesh Umashankar spoke, among
others.
Mukesh Gupta said that AOC is thinking positively about
Bangladeshi market and is planning to launch more products
within a short period.
He said the new AOC LCD monitor is one of the best in its
class and is coming with enhanced and updated
technological features. "The AOC TV would enhance the
viewing experience with excellent features. On the other
hand, the AOC All-in-One PC is aimed at meeting all the
requirements of the users of all kind," he said.
Mukesh Gupta further said that AOC is hopeful of getting a
positive feedback from the Bangladesh market.
At the function, EZY Infotech Private Ltd has been
appointed as the distributor for AOC products in
Bangladesh.
AOC has been present in the Bangladesh market for quite a
few years now. Since its beginning, it has grown
exponentially both in terms of market share and customers'
satisfaction.
Apart from that, the company's global brand equity is also
playing a pivotal role in equipping Bangladeshi customers
with the right product.
National
Water bodies to be preserved in
capital city to ensure sustainability
UNB, Dhaka
To ensure the capital's sustainability, the government
should prioritise preserving water bodies in implementing
the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) to protect surface water by
controlling pollution, encroachment and reviving water
bodies.
Emphasizing augmentation of the navigation system by
dredging water bodies to control floods during the rainy
season, the environmentalists urged the government to take
immediate measures to stop encroachment of water bodies to
keep water flow viable in the city.
"Surface water is the only resource for Dhaka City as well
as for the country," said Dr Mohammed Ataur Rahman,
Director of the Program on Education for Sustainability of
IUBAT (International University of Business Agriculture
and Technology).
He said people should protect surface water to meet all
necessary demands as the country's groundwater is
decreasing and gradually seeping further into the ground.
"Preservation of surface water can help enrich
groundwater, and that can ensure sustainable development."
Dr Rahman mentioned that the rising crisis of drinking
water in the country's rural and urban areas can be
mitigated through recycling water for the households,
along with proper treatment of domestic and industrial
waste before they are discharged into the water bodies
like rivers and canals. The authorities concerned should
take immediate measures for creating mass awareness to
stop misuse of water and also move to take legal steps to
protect the country's natural resources for sustainable
development, he said. Describing water as an indispensable
natural resource without which existence is impossible,
the IUBAT professor said on average, a minimum of 200
liters of water is used by each person a day in the cities
and plants absorb millions of liters of water everyday.
After mentioning that at least 2,000 liters of water are
required to produce a single kg of rice (paddy), Dr Rahman
said people are paying only a small fraction of the cost
of water, as actual cost of purification/treatment and
supply to the utilities are much high.
"Therefore, we should be very careful about any misuse of
water." He suggested that taps and showers must not run
continuously when we take a bath or wash crockery,
utensils and clothes. Any leakage of pipes and broken
water taps should immediately be repaired or replaced.
"Used-water of bathrooms should be re-used for washing
commodes; kitchen-used-water should be used for watering
kitchen garden," the IUBAT professor said.
Describing sources of water as oceans, underground water,
glaciers, lakes, soil moisture, atmospheric vapors, and
rivers, he said although water is a non-depletable
resource like cosmic or solar energy, fresh water may be
regarded as a depletable resource because acute shortage
of water has arisen in many areas of the world. Although
the total water of the earth is still inexhaustible, a
great scarcity of fresh water exists in Bangladesh, where
average rainfall is as high as 2000 mm/year and 143,000
cusec of water flows in the rivers, he said. Dhaka city
with a population of 13 million people needs
200x13,000,000 liters or 2,600,000,000 liters or 2,600,000
mł of fresh water a day. Moreover, everyday, a huge
quantity of water is used in the industries, urban and
peri-urban agriculture, home gardening, turfs and
fountains, vehicle-washing, construction etc.
Major rivers mark ups and downs with sporadic erosions at
places in N-region
BSS, Rangpur
Major rivers and their tributaries marked both rises and
falls during the past 24 hours till this morning in the
Brahmaputra and Ganges basins due to lower rate onrush of
waters from the up streams amid scattered rainfalls.
The stronger river currents have been causing some
sporadic incidents of riverside erosions at places in
Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts
where some more riverside lands were devoured during the
past two days, local sources said.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Nurul Islam, Kurigram DC
Habibur Rahman and Bhurungamari UNO Hamidul Haque visited
the erosion-hit areas of Paikerchhara, Gochhidanga,
Gonairkuthi, Char Boldia and Heldanga villages in
Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram.
However, there is no flood situation anywhere in the
northern region along the Brahmaputra and Ganges basins so
far and there is no possibility of flash floods in coming
days in the region, Water Development Board (WDB)
officials predicted today.
The WDB authorities and district administrations are
continuously monitoring the situation everywhere and
taking all necessary precautionary measures at this moment
in the area, the officials said.
The flood-like situation, which was created a few days ago
when the Teesta crossed its Danger Mark (DM) throughout
its courses in Nilphamari and adjoining areas, has now
been improved as the river is now flowing below its DM at
all points in greater Rangpur.
Temporary flood waters that partially inundated few
low-lying areas have already been receded from the very
low-lying areas in three upazilas of Nilphamari and
adjoining several upazilas in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat
districts in the other river basin.
The WDB sources said that the Teesta marked a rise by only
5cm during the past 24 hours and was flowing 45cm below
the DM at Dalia point under Dimla upazila in Nilphamari at
6 am this morning.
However, the Teesta marked a sharp fall by 36cm at Kawnia
point in Rangpur during the period and it was flowing
162cm below its DM there and the Dharla marked a fall by
19cm and was flowing 108cm below the DM at Kurigram point
this morning.
The Brahmaputra marked rise by 3cm during the period and
was flowing 98cm below the DM at Chilmari and also rose by
11cm and was flowing 237cm below its DM at Noonkhawa point
in Kurigram this morning.
The Karatoa rose by 49cm at Chak Rahimpur during the
period and was flowing 259cm below its DM there and fell
by 70cm to flow 275cm below the DM at Panchagarh point at
6 am today.
The Jamuna remained stable at Bahadurabad point and marked
rises by 3cm and 9cm at Sirajganj and Aricha points during
the period and the rivers were flowing 89cm, 98cm and
165cm below its respective DM at these points at 6 am this
morning.
Two-day Japanese drama staging begins in Rangpur
BSS, Rangpur
Two-day staging of Japanese drama 'Eksho Bosta Chal' (One
Hundred Sacs Rice) jointly organised by Bangladesh
Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and Japanese Embassy began at
Rangpur Town Hall auditorium on Saturday.
Under the arrangements of Rangpur district unit of BSA and
managements of Rangpur district administration, the drama
written by noted Japanese dramatist Yuzo Yamamto and
translated by Prof Abdus Selim will also be staged at the
same venue tomorrow.
Noted drama artists of Rangpur Nattya Kendra (RNK) and
other cultural organisations are playing various roles in
the drama that has attracted special attention of the
people of all ages in the newly formed divisional city of
Rangpur.
Earlier, President of RNK and District Sammilito
Sangskritik Jyote President Kazi M Junnon welcomed a
delegation led by Deputy Head of Information and Culture
Division of Japanese Embassy at Dhaka Ms Yuosie Ihara on
arrival at Rangpur Circuit House today.
General Secretary of RNK Razzaque Murad and artists of RNK
were also present to welcome Deputy Director of BSA Golam
Sarwar, who is also the Director of the drama, and other
members of the delegation including drama artists.
Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur BM Enamul Haque was present
as the chief guest in the inaugural ceremony of the
two-day staging programme of the famous Japanese drama 'Eksho
Bosta Chal' today.
Renowned cultural personalities of the city, noted
dramatists, political personalities, professionals,
educationists, socio-cultural activists, public
representatives and people from all walks in the society
were present on the inaugural day today.
Tk 122 cr master plan for fish cultivation in CHT
BSS, Bandarban
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas said
the government has adopted a Taka 122 crore master plan
for the development and expansion of fish cultivation in
the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region.
"The government has stepped up special endeavours to
increase fish production in the Kaptai Lake," he said,
adding that after implementation of the master plan, the
CHT region would be the hub of fish supply to other
districts of the country. The minister was addressing the
inaugural function of the newly established 'Mini Fish
Hatchery Project' in Bandarban on Friday. The hatchery
project was established at a cost of Taka 2.13 crore on
five acres of land in Sualok area of the district aimed at
boosting fish production, one of the potential sectors of
the CHT region. Referring to the development of the
Chittagong hill districts, the minister said the present
government has allocated a huge amount of money for
economic development of CHT as well as welfare of the
neglected and underprivileged people of the hilly region.
Deputy Commissioner Mizanur Rahman, director of the
fishery project Altaf Hossain, police super Kamrul Ahsan
and member of the CHT parishad Kazi Mojibur Rahman spoke
on the occasion.
Muktijoddah Sangsad
central command council, district, upazila polls held
BSS, Rajshahi
Election of Muktijoddah Sangsad Central Command Council,
District and Upazila Command held in the city and nine
upazilas here on Saturday with great enthusiasm. Since the
morning, members of the Sangshad flocked in the DC and UNO
offices to cast their long cherished votes. They exchanged
greetings and recalled memories of the war of liberation
with deep emotion.
Some wounded and sick freedom fighters also turned up in
the venues. Some of them met first time after the freedom
fight in 1971. Mostly they expressed despair at their
present situation.
In Rajshahi district command four panels are contesting
led by Farhad Ali Mia, Sayeedur Rahman, Shafiqur Rahman
Raja and Matiur Rahman. Farhad and Sayeedur supported Ahad
Ali panel in central commamd and Raja supported Helal
Murshed and Matiur supported Ismat Gama panel.
In nine upazilas more than one panel contested. About 90
percent of 1976 voters have coasted their votes from nine
am to four pm.
Court premises wear a decorated look as the contesting
panels have created their election booth with posters and
banners. Report from upazilas also said of such festive
atmosphere.
Freedom fighters have expressed satisfaction at the voting
through secret ballot at the upazila level. All the
contesting district commanders have thanked the present
government and specially Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for
holding the election.
This election will unite freedom fighters for greater
cause of achieving goals of freedom fight. First Commander
of Boalia Thana Command, Nazrul Islam expressed with great
dissatisfaction that he noticed that about 40 percent of
enlisted voters are not genuine freedom fighters.
They were enlisted during four party alliance governments
of BNP and Jamaat. He demanded screening of the list and
make Sangsad absolutely of genuine freedom fighters.
Flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Moulvibazar
improve
BSS, Dhaka
The prevailing flood situation of Sylhet, Sunamganj and
Moulvibazar districts is improving and this trend will
continue during the next 24 hours. The rainfall situation
is improved over the north-eastern part of the country and
adjoining parts of India, a press release of Flood
Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said here on
Saturday.
The major river systems, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the
Ganges-Padma are in rising trend but both the river
systems are still flowing below their respective danger
levels.
The FFWC monitored water levels at 73, out of which 44
stations recorded rise and 23 stations recorded fall
across the country.
Water level at six stations are above danger level, it
added.
A total of six stations, including the river Kushiyara at
Amalshid, Sheola, and Sherpur and Surma at Kanaighat
Sunamganj and Kangsha at Jariajanjail are flowing above
40cm, 52cm, 28cm, 78cm, 11cm and 29cm, danger levels
respectively.
Salinity increasing rapidly: study
BSS, Dhaka
Salinity due to the adverse impacts of climate change has
already affected around 10.56 lakh out of 16.89 lakh
hectares of land in the coastal region of the country.
Soil scientists disclosed this at the inaugural session of
an annual technical workshop, organized by Soil Resource
Development Institute (SRDI), in the auditorium of
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARC) here
this morning. Quoting a recent SRDI study on 'salinity
survey and salinity monitoring programme' that was
released in June, they said the country had 8.33 lakh
hectare saline-hit area in the coastal region in 1973 but
it rose to 10.20 lakh hectares in 2000.
In 2009, the salinity has increased to 10.56 lakh hectares
of land from the earlier 10.20 lakh hectares which means
salinity has constantly affected 35,510 hectares of land
during the last nine years, said the study. Director
General of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) M
Sayeed Ali attended the function as the chief guest and
Member-Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Research
Council (BARC) Dr Sheikh Gulam Hussain as the special
guest. Director of SRDI Mainul Ahsan was in the chair.
The study said that new areas in Satkhira, Patuakhali,
Barguna, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Jessore, Narail,
Gopalganj and Madaripur districts are being affected by
different degrees of salinity.
Very slight to strong soil salinity, perennial
waterlogging due to inadequate drainage facilities,
scarcity of quality irrigation water during dry season,
moderately deep flooding in monsoon season and flash flood
have been identified as the major constraints for
agricultural development in the coastal area, the study
pointed out.
Prolonged artificial waterlogging with saline water for
aquaculture, existence of toxic potential acid sulphate in
soil and cyclone and tidal bore are the other major
factors that are affecting agriculture. Regarding the
initiative to develop agricultural production in the
southern region, M Sayeed Ali said the government already
has taken a measure to disseminate stress-tolerant rice
variety in the region for increasing production.
The meeting also discussed the challenges of agriculture
including supply of adequate quality seeds, nutrient
deficiency in the soil and disproportionate use of
fertilizer that are barriers to increasing the overall
agricultural production.
Steps taken to rehabilitate Aila affected fishermen in
Chandpur
UNB, Chandpur
Cyclone Aila affected fishermen and fish culturists under
a rehabilitation scheme were provided with supporting
materials at a function held at Jahirabad UP complex
premises in Matlab North Upazila on Thursday afternoon.
Upazila Fisheries Office took the initiative to
rehabilitate the affected fishermen and fish culturists of
the upazila.
Kamal Uddin Chowdhury, Chairman of Jahirabad UP presided
over the function while Upazilla Chairman Mizanur Rahman
was present as the chief guest.
Upazilla Vice Chairman Aiyub Ali, Upazilla Fisheries
Officer Jahirul Haque and local Awami League organizing
secretary Shahjahan Prodhan attended the function as
special guests.
In the function, a total of 50 fishermen and fish
culturists of Jahirabad UP and 41 fishermen and fish
culturists of Shatnol UP of the upazila were provided with
necessary inputs including 5,800 kg lime, 4,000 kg urea
fertilizer, 2240 kg TSP fertilizer and 26,000 fish-fries
of various species free of cost.
To make proper use of these inputs the fishermen will be
imparted training, officials said.
Note of budget discussion in JS always taken: Speaker
UNB, Sangsad Bhaban
Speaker Abdul Hamid Advocate Saturday said in Parliament
that representatives from the Finance Ministry always take
notes of general debate on the proposed national budget in
the House. The Speaker's remark was apparently intended to
clear the misconception that none take notes on the budget
discussion in absence of the Finance Minister.
On Thursday, treasury bench member Suranjit Sengupta
expressed regret saying that he often observed that in
absence of the Finance Minister none concerned takes note
of speeches delivered by the lawmakers in general
discussion on the budget in parliament.
Speaker Abdul Hamid informed the House on Saturday
afternoon that representatives from the Finance Ministry
always take notes from the general gallery in parliament,
which possibly "you (MPs) and I don't notice."
Knowing of the matter, the Speaker said he asked for their
sitting at the VIP gallery in parliament from Saturday.
He also showed the lawmakers that people from the Finance
Ministry were taking notes from the VIP gallery on
Saturday.
Sports
Spain beats Chile 2-1 at WC
AP, Pretoria
David Villa and Andres Iniesta scored a goal each Friday to
help Spain beat 10-man Chile 2-1 and send both teams into the
round of 16 from Group H. Villa scored from 45 meters (yards)
in the 24th minute at Loftus Versfeld. He ran on to a loose
ball and curled a left-footed shot into an open goal after
Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo had rushed out of the area to
clear Xabi Alonso's long ball.
Iniesta, who returned from a right leg injury, jumped on a
loose ball in the midfield and eventually worked it to Villa
down the left. The Barcelona striker drew defenders Arturo
Vidal and Mauricio Isla before passing back to Iniesta to
side-foot past Bravo in the 37th.
Marco Estrada was sent off after being booked for a second
time during the buildup to the second goal. After replacing
the suspended Carlos Carmona as holding midfielder, Estrada
was first booked in the 21st and shown a red card for tripping
Fernando Torres. Chile substitute Rodrigo Millar pulled one
back for the South American team, scoring from a deflected
shot in the 47th. Spain finished at the top of Group H with
six points and will play Portugal in the next round, while
Chile also has six points and will face Brazil after finishing
second on goal difference. In the other group match, Honduras
held Switzerland to a 0-0 draw, eliminating both teams.
Estrada's sending off gave Spain space to work its quick-touch
passing game and hold better possession after a bruising start
when the Chileans were able to knock the Spanish off the ball
and looked dangerous on the counterattack.
With Spain starting the second half slowly, Millar - who
replaced Mark Gonzalez to start the half - took advantage of
the time and space given to him at the edge of the area for a
shot that deflected off Gerard Pique and leave goalkeeper Iker
Casillas without a chance.
But Spain held on for a win that ensured one of the
pre-tournament favorites advanced despite not being at its
sharpest. Spain's passing game - its usual strength - was far
from crisp as it was slow in the buildup to goal although
Torres had a valid penalty shout after being pushed to the
ground by Vidal inside the area in the 36th.
Torres was replaced by Cesc Fabregas in the 55th as the
Liverpool striker struggled again in his second start since
undergoing right knee surgery.
Villa, who became Spain's all-time leading World Cup scorer
with his sixth goal, joined Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain
and Robert Vittek of Slovakia as leading scorers in South
Africa with three goals.
Chile was the first South American team to lose a match at
this year's World Cup.
Maradona
unlikely to risk Samuel for Mexico
AFP, Pretoria
Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Saturday revealed that Inter
Milan centre-back Walter Samuel is almost certain to miss
Sunday's second round clash against Mexico.
Samuel has a hamstring problem and will likely be replaced by
club team-mate Nicolas Burdisso, who will play alongside
Bayern Munich's Martin Demichelis.
Speaking at the official pre-match press conference at the
Loftus Versfeld stadium here, Maradona said he would unlikely
risk Samuel. "He felt good at the beginning of training but
then we had some doubts. I have some doubts and he may harbour
some doubts as well," said the World Cup winning captain from
1986.
"I will field the player who is in the better condition to
play, probably Nicolas, we don't want to risk anyone.
"In this match, when you get long balls, you need someone who
can run fast, we can't afford to be giving away chances. "We
have to be 100 percent in top shape and if he (Samuel) can't
perform that way, we need him to work for all his team-mates.
"From the first day I said I'll field my best possible team.
We have 23 players who knew they would have the possibilty to
play. "I'm looking for my gala team, my luxury team because
this is what Argentina deserves."
Spain,
Portugal fly flag for faltering Europeans
AFP, Johannesburg
Spain set-up a mouthwatering World Cup showdown with
Portugal on Friday, but Europe's challenge in South Africa
still wilted to an all-time low.
Only six European sides have qualified for the last 16, a
depressing statistic for the sport's financial engine room
made worse by the shock first round exits of holders and
four-times champions Italy as well as 1998 winners France.
Just two European former champions remain with three-time
winners Germany facing 1966 champions England on Sunday.
European champions Spain, one of the favourites for the
title, finished top of Group H with a 2-1 win over Chile,
who must tackle five-time champions Brazil, while
Switzerland and Honduras, who drew 0-0, were eliminated.
Earlier Brazil and Portugal drew 0-0 in Group E, a result
which saw Ivory Coast, who saw off North Korea 3-0,
knocked out.
Ghana, who face the USA on Saturday, are the only African
nation left in the tournament, the first to be staged on
the continent.
New Barcelona singing David Villa grabbed his third goal
of the World Cup to set Spain on their way, taking
advantage of an embarrassing blunder by Chile goalkeeper
Claudio Bravo who sprinted out of his goal to leave Villa
with a target to hit from 40 yards.
Andres Iniesta hit the second goal with Chile midfielder
Marco Estrada red-carded for a trip on Fernando Torres in
the build-up.
Second-half substitute Rodrigo Millar pulled a goal back
in the 47th minute for Chile who finished behind Spain on
goal difference. Switzerland had defeated Spain 1-0 in
their opener but their toothless attack was unable to
break down Honduras in Bloemfontein and both sides packed
for home. Portugal held Brazil goalless to reach the last
16, but the eagerly-awaited clash in Durban was a dreary
affair with more yellow cards (seven) than shots at goal.
"Brazil started strongly and we had to put on our working
overalls but I think we left the match wearing a smoking
jacket," said Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz. Brazil
captain and centreback Lucio said: "We know both teams had
a lot of will to win and went into the game with a lot of
determination and there were some severe tackles."
Federer back to his best as
Roddick rolls on
AFP, London
Roger Federer looked back to his best as he booked his
place Friday in the second week of Wimbledon as Andy
Roddick and Venus Williams also powered into the fourth
round. Exhausted record-breaker John Isner tumbled out in
straight sets as Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin set up a
fourth-round clash of the Belgian comeback queens.
Meanwhile third seed Novak Djokovic set up a tie with the
in-form Lleyton Hewitt.
Men's defending champion Federer finally got through a
match without dropping a set when he saw off Frenchman
Arnaud Clement. Federer had dropped three sets during
unusually sloppy displays against unheralded pair
Alejandro Falla and Ilija Bozoljac in the previous two
rounds.Roddick, the man he beat in last year's dramatic
final, was made to work as he booked his fourth round
place with a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3 win against
Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.
His compatriot Isner dragged his battered body back to the
All England Club after his epic, record-shattering
encounter with French qualifier Nicolas Mahut. The 23rd
seed was clearly feeling the strain, losing his second
round match 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 to Thiemo de Bakker of the
Netherlands.
Less than 20 hours earlier, Isner eventually defeated
Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/3), 70-68 after 11 hours
and five minutes and an incredible 183 games.
In the women's draw, five-times Wimbledon champion
Williams saw off Russian seed Alisa Kleybanova, 6-4, 6-2.
"These players I'm playing against, I definitely feel I'm
holding them at bay," the world number two said.
She faces Australia's in-form Jarmila Groth in round four.
Meanwhile Belgian duo Clijsters and Henin set up a
fourth-round encounter after they both saw off Russian
seeds in straight sets.
The former world number ones are both seeking to add the
Wimbledon crown to their already impressive list of titles
after coming out of retirement.
On Clijsters' last appearance at Wimbledon in 2006, she
was beaten by Henin in the semi-finals.
Eighth seed Clijsters brushed aside 27th seed Maria
Kirilenko 6-3, 6-3 on Court Two.
Henin, the 17th seed, made her first appearance back on
Centre Court since coming out of retirement. She last
contested Wimbledon in 2007.
She defeated 12th seed Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-4.
Serbian men's third seed Djokovic saw off Spain's Albert
Montanes, the 28th seed, in straight sets.
Switzerland, Honduras draw, sending both home
AP, Bloemfontein
Honduras held Switzerland to a 0-0 draw in Group H of the
World Cup on Friday, a result that knocked both teams out
of the tournament.
The Swiss could have locked up a spot in the round of 16
with a two-goal win over Honduras, but Switzerland played
with little urgency or creative flair, and couldn't
translate its domination of possession into quality
scoring opportunities.
Honduras almost stole a win in the 71st, but Switzerland
keeper Diego Benaglio denied an unmarked Edgar Alvarez
with a brilliant one-handed save.
Spain and Chile finished even on six points after Spain's
2-1 win over the South Americans in the other Group H
match. Switzerland finished on four, and Honduras on one.
The Swiss campaign in South Africa started with a 1-0
upset win over European champion Spain, but the team then
lost 1-0 to Chile, and couldn't muster a goal against
winless Honduras. Switzerland went close in the 17th when
Tranquillo Barnetta's cross from the left found Eren
Derdiyok at the back post, but he headed just wide of the
post.
Striker Blaise Nkufo then had two chances just before the
half. The first came in the 43rd, when a cross from
Derdiyok found Nkufo at the back post, but the striker
could only tamely chest the ball across the goal mouth. A
minute later Nkufo headed a free kick from Reto Ziegler
just wide.
After a tight first half, the game opened up in the second
with both teams facing elimination from the competition.
Needing to score, Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld
brought on Hakan Yakin at the break and striker Alexander
Frei in the 69th in an attempt to liven up the Swiss
attack.
Tranquillo Barnetta had a solid chance for Switzerland in
the 60th, finding space in the box only to hit his
right-foot shot straight at keeper Noel Valladares.
Derdiyok had a similar chance three minutes later that
Valladares easily blocked. As the Swiss pushed forward in
desperation, Honduras threatened on the counter.
The Central Americans should have taken the lead in the
53rd, but striker David Suazo flicked his header wide
after clever work by right winger Edgar Alvarez.
Alvarez had his own golden opportunity 18 minutes later on
a swift counter, only to be denied by a one-handed
reaction save from Diego Benaglio.
Capello's England seek to slay ghosts of World Cups
past
AFP, Bloemfontein
Fabio Capello claims England's win over Slovenia has
liberated his squad from the demons of self-doubt that
haunted their faltering first steps at this World Cup.
If he is right, the evidence of a successful exorcism will
be presented here on Sunday in the last 16 clash with
Germany.
On paper, it is a match in which an England side stuffed
with experienced Champions League campaigners should
comfortably prevail over opponents with an average age
below 25. World Cup history suggests it will not be that
simple.
Capello can look back on the 2-1 win an injury-depleted
England side recorded in Berlin in November 2008 as proof
that his side are more than a match for opponents missing
their injured skipper Michael Ballack.
But no England fan will need reminding that the last two
meetings of the countries at international touranments, in
the semi-finals of Italia 90 and Euro 96, ended in
painful, penalty shoot-out defeats.
Form at this World Cup also points to another tense,
finely-balanced encounter with England having come good
only in their final group game while the Germans started
at a sprint against Australia only to find the going
tougher in subsequent matches.
The Italian will demand a repeat of that high-tempo
display against the Germans and the manager's confidence
appears to have been transmitted to his players.
No more Groups of Death for Ivorians, pleads Kalou
AFP, Nelspruit
Salomon Kalou has welcomed his first World Cup experience
against Brazil and Portugal but he wants Ivory Coast to
have some overdue luck with the draw if they qualify for
the next tournament in Brazil.
The young Chelsea forward scored the final goal in the
Elephants' 3-0 win over North Korea at the Mbombela
Stadium on Friday, which was not enough to get Ivory Coast
through to the last 16 of the tournament. Ivory Coast,
stacked almost exclusively with European-based stars, yet
again found it impossible to qualify for the knockout
round.
Four years ago in Germany it was Argentina, Netherlands
and Serbia/Montenegro and this time they were placed in
another 'Group of Death' along with Brazil and Portugal.
"It has been a good experience for us to play Portugal and
Brazil and hopefully at the next World Cup we will have an
easier draw and we make it to the next round," Kalou told
AFP. "It was a difficult group. You can see that Brazil
got seven points, Portugal five and Ivory Coast four, so
it was a hard group to play in. "I hope for an easier
group next time because we need a little push to get to
the next level."
Kalou, who has scored 12 goals in 36 internationals, said
if he leaves South Africa with any regrets it would be the
Elephants' performance in the 3-1 loss to Brazil in their
second match of the tournament.
"If I was to have a regret it would be against Brazil
because I believe that we didn't play at our level, we
didn't play our game, and maybe we were a little
intimidated to play Brazil," he said.
Team skipper Didier Drogba said Ivory Coast could not be
too disappointed with their results at the World Cup.
Drogba, who has 42 goals in 72 internationals, had a word
of praise for former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson
after his short stint as the Ivory Coast handler.
Klinsmann warns of 'outstanding' England
AFP, Bloemfontein
Football legend Jurgen Klinsmann has waded into the debate
on Sunday's epic clash between England and Germany - and
he thinks "outstanding" England could come out on top.
At the beginning of the World Cup, German great Franz
Beckenbauer rekindled the rivalry between the two
footballing powers by criticising England's style of play
and is backing Germany to win in Bloemfontein.
"You need to respect this team but not fear them because
they were poor during their first two matches of this
World Cup," Beckenbauer wrote in his column for German
daily Bild during the week. "Der Kaiser" was backed by his
former team-mate Uwe Seeler, who said England lacked speed
and the element of surprise.
But Klinsmann, like Beckenbauer a former Germany player
and manager, says England have the strength to snuff out
the dreams of the three-times winners.
"We are talking about an England team that, when they are
up to it and have reached their capabilities, is an
outstanding team," he was quoted as saying in Britain's
Sun newspaper. "Just look at the players. You have Steven
Gerrard and Frank Lampard and then Wayne Rooney up front.
"England have players who can really make a difference.
"They have had their problems in South Africa but many
teams have had difficulties. Take Italy, France and
Spain."He said England showed during qualification for the
tournament that they can play good football and he was
expecting the team to "give us a big fight on Sunday."
North Korean
Jong's dream to play in England
AFP, Nelspruit
North Korea's uninhibited striker Jong Tae-Se says it's a
dream of his to play in the English Premier League.
Jong, whose skill and pace was not out of place against
Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast in North Korea's
demanding group at the World Cup, has made some European
clubs sit up and take notice of his form on the
international arena.
"I haven't scored in this World Cup so I have to be
stronger mentally," said Jong, only one of three in the
team who play outside of the reclusive North Korean state.
Jong, 26, who plays with Kawasaki Frontale in the
J-League, has been linked with a move to German side VfL
Bochum, but would ultimately love to play in England.
"I really want to play at an English Premiership club, I
love Manchester United and Chelsea, it is a dream of mine,
but I am contracted to Kawasaki Frontale," he said.
Jong stands alone in the cosseted North Korean squad and
is not afraid to express his opinions in interviews.
Many times at the World Cup he stayed behind in the mixed
zone talking with foreign reporters in English while his
teammates filed out as a group without a sideways glance.
He holds South Korean nationality like his father, who is
a descendant of immigrants from colonial Korea.
But he managed to obtain a North Korean passport after
attending patriotic pro-Pyongyang schools in Japan at the
urging of his mother who has been loyal to the North.
James revelling in chance that almost slipped away
AFP, Bloemfontein
David James will relish the opportunity to try and end
Germany's record of having never lost a penalty shoot-out,
should Sunday's World Cup second round clash with England
come to that. Twice, the 39-year-old has been to World Cup
finals and failed to see as much as a minute's action and
only six months ago he was close to accepting that would
be the limit of his involvement.
Robert Green had replaced him as England's number one and
a season bedevilled by injury had given him cause to
believe he wouldn't even be getting on the plane to South
Africa, far less lining up as England's number one
goalkeeper in the country's biggest match since the 2006
World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal.
James did finally manage to get himself fit in time to
make Capello's final squad but his recovery came too late
for him to dislodge Green from the starting line-up for
England's opening match. Hearing Fabio Capello announce
his team, two hours before that match, was a painful
moment, he admitted.
Dumped Kennedy slams Verbeek's tactics
AFP, Sydney
Striker Josh Kennedy has become the first Socceroo to
speak out against coach Pim Verbeek's tactics that
backfired against Germany at the World Cup, reports said
on Saturday.
Kennedy, who was a surprise omission along with Harry
Kewell and Mark Bresciano for Australia's opening game of
the tournament, told reporters on his arrival home that
the Dutchman had got it wrong.
The Japanese-based forward blamed Verbeek for not sticking
with their familiar game plan and playing a recognised
striker up front.
"We lost 4-0 so obviously those tactics and that game plan
didn't work," Kennedy told the Daily Telegraph.
Kennedy, who played in Australia's 2-1 win over Serbia in
their final group game in Nelspruit last Wednesday, said
he was caught off-guard by Verbeek's tactical about-turn.
"Definitely, I expected to play. I would have loved to
play, that position would have suited me perfectly. Who
knows, it might have changed the game completely, we'll
never know," he said. Kennedy said Australia would have
been better served to play with him and have Tim Cahill
playing in behind him against Germany, as was the case in
the last game against Serbia. "That's the sort of
formation and tactics we played," he said.
"So it was obviously a big surprise that I wasn't in the
starting line-up against Germany. Our formations worked
over the last couple of years. "The boys managed to score
goals and I've scored goals, it was definitely a lot of
hard work but I don't mind doing that.
"Me up front and Timmy behind has always worked.
"At times it's not the prettiest football but it has
worked. I think in the second half of the Serbia game we
showed that it worked. We scored goals and had a couple of
chances to score some others."
Jason Culina said he would not weigh into the debate over
Verbeek's debatable selections and tactics against
Germany.
Verbeek played Culina out of position in that game and
used him as a left-sided midfielder. "Obviously I feel
most comfortable in the middle of the park. That's the
position I have been playing for pretty much the whole
time but we can reflect on it in all different ways," he
said. Australia are shortly to announce a replacement
coach for Verbeek, who has stepped down after 30 months in
charge with a record of 18 wins and nine draws in 32
games.
Cacau ruled out of England clash
AFP, Erasmia
Germany's Brazilian-born striker Cacau has been ruled out
of Sunday's last 16 clash against old rivals England after
pulling a stomach muscle in training.
"The injury means he won't be available," confirmed
Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff on Saturday morning
before his side travelled to Bloemfontein for the
knock-out phase match against Fabio Capello's side.
Both will be given a fitness test during training in
Bloemfontein on Saturday to see if Schweinsteiger has
recovered from his hamstring strain and Boateng from his
calf injury which they suffered in the 1-0 win over Ghana.
Team spirit makes up for our defects: Okada
AFP, George
What Japan lack in individual skill they more than make up
for in team spirit claimed their coach Takeshi Okada as
they prepare for their World Cup last 16 clash with
Paraguay on Tuesday.
Neither side has ever progressed beyond the last 16, but
Okada - who was widely ridiculed before the finals for
predicting they would reach the semi-finals - believes
that while Paraguay are strong defensively and may possess
more individually skilful players the Japanese could still
prevail.
"Paraguay are very strong and we will be the underdogs,"
said Okada, who coached Japan in their World Cup finals
debut in 1998 when they lost all three group matches.
Okada, who took over from ailing Bosnian Ivica Osim in
late 2007, has regained credibility after Japan qualified
for the second round against all expectations with wins
over Cameroon and Denmark and were only beaten 1-0 by the
heavily-fancied Dutch.
The Japanese players main concern was how they could
breach the Paraguay defence, which conceded just one goal
in its three group matches, the 1-1 draw with Italy, as
they finished top of the table. Defensive midfielder Yuki
Abe, who has played the full 90 minutes against Cameroon,
the Netherlands and Denmark in Group E, also pinpointed
the Paraguayan defence as being its bedrock. Abe is one of
12 players in the World Cup squad, who already have
experience of playing Paraguay - a 0-0 draw in May 2008.
In their six encounters, Paraguay have won two, Japan have
won once and the other three have been draws.
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