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540 more OMS dealers appointed
across country
UNB, Dhaka
The caretaker government decided to increase the sale of
rice under the open-market sale (OMS) operation to
alleviate public sufferings from high prices of essentials
and appointed 540 more dealers across the country.
Food and Disaster Management Advisor Dr AMM Shawkat Ali on
Sunday informed reporters of the expansion of the
rice-selling operation at his Ministry, a day after a
government-expert consultative meeting talked various
urgent interventions.
"The decision to increase the sale of rice under OMS would
not create any problem for food stock as the country has
now 6 lakh tons of food in storage," he said.
Advisor Dr Shawkat said the government has appointed 540
more dealers for increasing the sale of foodstuffs and
today's meeting of the Advisory Council was going to
decide what kind of foodstuffs would be sold under the OMS
programme.
The Food Advisor said that two dealers in each upazila are
selling food materials now and the government would
appoint one or two more dealers in each to expand the
distribution chain. He also said that the government would
allocate more food for dealers to mitigate public
sufferings.
Responding to a query about Commerce Adviser Hossain
Zillur Rahman's statement that, in view of the bumper
harvest of potatoes, the government is planning to use the
vegetable in place of an amount of the food-grain under
VGF card, Shawkat said the government is considering
selling potatoes along with rice under OMS.
"As there is lack of storage facility following a bumper
production of the crop in several areas of the country so
the government is thinking about using potatoes along with
rice under VGF card," he said. The Food Advisor said that
besides increasing the sale of rice under OMS, the
government also decided to increase BDR shops (shops run
by Bangladesh Rifles) in all divisional headquarters.
Govt decides to give income
support for purchasing essentials
Chief Adviser heads committee to find
options
UNB, Dhaka
The caretaker government on
Sunday decided to form a top-level committee headed by the
Chief Adviser to prepare a package of measures for
providing income support to people for purchasing food
items, which became dear.
A regular weekly meeting of the council of advisers with
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair took the
decision following a thorough stocktaking of the current
food situation and prices of essentials as well as
government interventions in place and possible further
steps in this regard. The proposed committee will sit next
Tuesday to discuss further details and take decision about
possible options to give people support for purchasing
essentials.
In view of the situation, it was decided in the meeting to
continue import of food-grains and OMS operation with an
increased amount of rice. Introduction of Food for Work
Programme, increasing the stock of food-grains, advance
procurement of food and constant supply of food were
discussed in the meeting.
Reactivating the state-run Trading Corporation of
Bangladesh (TCB) was also discussed, as experts have
suggested this in the wake of price hike on the open
market under private trading system. The meeting stressed
inter-ministerial coordination, observing that Food,
Agriculture and Commerce ministries "will have to work
closely".
Besides, the council of advisers approved in principle the
Local Government Commission Ordinance 2008, the proposed
Local Government (Municipality) Ordinance 2008 and the
proposed Local Government (City Corporation) Ordinance
2008 placed by the Local Government Division. The council
meeting asked for placing those Ordinances before the
council again "as soon as possible after vetting by the
Law Ministry for final approval".
The meeting also approved amendment to the Bar Council
Temporary Rules (Ordinance 2007). Chief Adviser's Press
Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed newsmen about the
outcome of the advisory council meeting. Members of the
Advisory Council attended the meeting at the CA's office.
Cabinet Secretary and Secretaries concerned were also
present.
Price
of rice continues to rise
F. M. Masum
Prices of most items of the vegetables
have come down sharply while the prices of edible oil,
pulses and different varieties of rice remain unchanged in
the city markets. But some items of Indian rice have gone
up sharply in the capital's kitchen following India's
decision to halt rice export to Bangladesh. Despite
government initiative, unbearable sufferings of the low
and middle income groups still continue as no positive
impact is seen in the prices of daily commodities and the
people are struggling to procure their essentials by
coping with soaring price. Yesterday lentils was selling
at Tk 95 per kg, up by Tk 5 just in a span of week,
breaking all records and in the retail markets, Soyabean
was selling at Tk 103 per litre yesterday while it was
selling at Tk 110 per litre Saturday.
The government is considering reducing the duty on edible
oil import and different agencies have been asked to
submit reports to the authorities as to whether reduction
in import duty will curb edible oil price or not, after
examining the market situation.
The sources said the caretaker government is facing
serious embarrassment for continuous price hike of daily
commodities and now weighing options including importing
edible oil through Trading Corporation Bangladesh and
Bangladesh Rifles to control the abnormal price hike. With
the assistance of some wholesalers, the government
agencies have already identified some leading edible oil
importers responsible for the continuous price hike of the
highly needed item.
On Friday, coarse rice was selling between Tk 34 and Tk 35
per kg, Pari Tk 33 and TK34 per kg, fine quality
Najirshail Tk 39 and Tk. 44, miniket at Tk 38 and Tk. 44
per kg and Polao rice at Tk 68 and Tk 80 per kg. Besides,
the consumers feared that as the price monitoring is
totally abandoned, so the prices of other commodities
could go up further if the Government does not take
immediate action against the unscrupulous businessmen
responsible for the price hike. Some consumers said, "The
Government should distribute more VGF cards to the poor
families to help them by providing at least two meal a day
. Besides, it also can set up more BDR shops across the
country to make the availability of rice at a lower
price."
Blaming the government for its failure to end the crisis
over rice Import from India, Tanvir Alam, a rice
whole-seller in the city's Jatrabari, said, "The price
hike of Indian rice had a great impact on the rice price
of our country. When India decided that it would not sell
rice to Bangladesh, a certain quarter of businessmen have
increased the price spreading a rumor in the markets
saying, there is limited supply of rice in the markets and
the rice price also has gone up in the international
market. The government some how should have to maintain
congenial relation with India for our food security." But
some retailers alleged that the whole-sellers are
responsible for the rice price hike as even after having
enough supply of rice, they often create artificial crisis
by hoarding rice in their stocks. Yesterday, Ruhi was
selling at Tk 180-220 per kg, Hilsha at Tk 340 per kg.
Beef was selling at Tk 180 per kg and chicken broiler at
Tk 90 per kg, up by Tk 15 per kg.
The price of other commodities including onion also has
gone up by Tk 2-3 per kg while green chilli has come down
but fish price are still on the rise. Yesterday, imported
onion was selling at Tk 17 per kg, local onion at Tk 23,
imported lentils at Tk 95, four at Tk 43 per kg. Potato
was selling at Tk 12, cucumber at Tk 14, tomato at Tk 14,
Korola at tk 18 per kg, bean at Tk 24 per kg.
Summer
may experience 2000mw shortage with electricity
UNB, Dhaka
People's plight for power outages may go from bad to worse
when the summers comes with full heat and humidity as the
country will then experience 1500-2000 megawatts of load
shedding.
This outlook of the already worsening power situation
emerges from a yawning gap between a fast-growing
electricity demand and a slow increase in power
generation. At present, the country generates about
3,600-MW-plus-minus electricity against a demand for over
4,700MW, though the demand is not officially recognized.
Power Ministry officials claimed the demand is to be about
4,350 megawatts.
The Power Development Board (PDB), however, said the
demand would be growing faster with the hot summer
starting from May-June. From their previous experience,
they said that the demand would cross 5,500 this year in
the peak period of summer.
But, because of no major power plants having been
installed in the last one year since the assumption of
office by the post-1/11 caretaker government, the power
sector is going to experience its worst time in recent
years, they said.
In the past year, the government has signed deals to
install a number of small power plants under different
projects whose total capacity will be about 600MW. But,
none of the plants has so far come into operation.
Among the projects, deals were signed to install a total
of 10 small power plants, having total capacity of 200MW,
15-year-term six rental power plants having capacity of
150MW and 3-year-term another six rental power units
having a total capacity of 244MW.
But, of the plants, only the 3-year rental plants are
expected to be installed and come into production by the
summer. The rest will come into operation in next year. As
per schedule, the 3-year-term six rental power plants will
be installed and start operation by mid-May.
However, for lack of adequate gas supply, some of the
projects still see uncertainty about timely production.
The country is presently experiencing 100 million cubic
feet (mmcf) of gas shortage per day against a daily demand
for 1,800 Mmcfd. Of the six projects, three plants, each
having 50MW capacity, are planned to be set up in the
greater Sylhet area-at Kumargaon, Fenchuganj and
Shahjibazar.
One 40MW plant will be set up in Khulna, one 20MW plant in
Bogra and one 34MW plant to be set up in Bhola. A senior
official of PDB told UNB that the private sponsors who
were awarded the power projects are working to install
their plants in time.
"Some of the sponsors have already brought their equipment
in the Chittagong port, which are now ready for
transportation to their installation sites," he said.
No
polls without release of Hasina: AL
Jubo Mohila League observes hunger strike
Staff Correspondent
Awami League will not take part on any election with the
ailing party President, Sheikh Hasina, behind bars.
Addressing a post-'Hunger Strike' meeting organised by the
Jubo Mohila League (JML) at Bangabandhu Avenue's AL
Central Office on Sunday, key leaders of AL demanded of
the Caretaker Government to reinstate democracy in the
country through holding a free, fair and credible election
as soon as possible and send Hasina to USA for better
treatment after ensuring unconditional release of the
detained former Prime Minister. Chaired by president of
JML, women youth front of AL, Nazma Ahkter, they expressed
their grave concern over the health condition of Hasina
and urged the jail authorities to disclose what is
happening in the capital's Sqaure Hospital on the name of
treatment.
The AL leaders called upon the partymen to prepare for the
upcoming movement saying, "If the army-backed government
considers our patience and appeal for Hasina's release as
our weakness; there will be no alternative except the mass
movement."
Jubo Mohila League observed six-hour token 'Hunger Strike'
inside the AL Central Office starting at 10 am yesterday.
Demanding immediate release of Hasina, acting AL President
Zillur Rahman said, "Bangladesh is passing the worst time
in its history. None can resolve the present crises in the
country except Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the father of
nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman." AL Presidium
Member Amir Hossain Amu said, "AL expressed solidarity
with the programme and called upon to take preparation for
the next course of directives of the party high command
regarding Hasina's release and treatment." "AL will not
participate in any election without Hasina," said another
AL Presidium Member Abdur Razzaque adding, "The AL knows
very well what it should do in future if our demands are
not met immediately."
Referring to the programme, AL Presidium Member Tofael
Ahmed observed, "The seedlings of movement planted by you
(JML) will spread across the country and speed up the
movement for freeing Hasina and restoring democracy in
Bangladesh." AL leader Siranjit Sengupta cautioned, "If
anything happens to Hasina, the Caretaker Government will
be responsible for that and the nation will not forgive
you."
Acting AL General Secretary Syed Asraful Islam urged the
government not to dishonour the written appeal of AL for
sending Hasina to the USA for better treatment after an
unconditional release." "We are concerned about the health
condition of our leader as the doctors of Hospital and
Hasina's private physicians are not treating her," he said
posing a question, "We want to know what is going on there
and who is treating Hasina?"
Syed Ashraf said, "The government must think of the
sentiments of the people and consequences of not doing so.
We don't want to choose any alternative way to press home
the demand of the mass people in this regard."
Khaleda loyalists demand her immediate release
Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP) on Sunday submitted a memorandum
to the Chief Adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, asking him to
interfere in releasing Begum Khaleda Zia and other
political detainees before March 26 to make the observance
of the Independence Day meaningful.
Acting Office Secretary, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, handed
over the letter written on a BNP letterhead signed by a
party standing committee member, RA Ghani, to a staff of
the Chief Adviser Office at 4 no. Gate.
The letter read, "The people of the country want to see
former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, wife of the
proclaimer of independence Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, free
before the Independence Day on Marcy 26.
The festivity of the Independence Day will not be complete
if Begum Zia is not released before the independence day,
the most significant day to the nation."
"At the same time, we also demand release of the BNP
Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman and his
younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko and other party leaders
and activists," the letter said, adding, "We hope you (the
Chief Adviser) will show due respect to the demand of the
people."
Terming the arrests "full violation of fundamental
rights", the Khaleda loyalists, sought interference of CA
in releasing the BNP leaders saying, "The people of the
country are very much shocked and resented the
government's attitude to them."
"Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda
Zia has been detained since September 3 last year. She was
shown arrest in false and fabricated cases which violated
her fundamental rights," the letter read.
"Though six months of her arrest has elapsed, the
authorities failed to prove any allegation brought against
her," it said, adding, "Even the authorities could not
submit charge sheet as there is no evidence of
accusations."
"There is a move on to gather allegation against her with
a view to keeping her in prison bringing imaginary
allegation against her which totally goes against basic
fundamental rights," the letter said, adding, "This
conspiracy against a successful former Prime Minister is
very much 'unfortunate' and 'condemnable' and eminent
personalities and people of the country have already
protested and condemned it."
Replying to a volley of questions after submitting the
memorandum, Rizvi said, "The party policy makers will
decide the next course of action as to what should be done
to expedite the release of Begum Zia and others, if the
Begum Zia is not released before March 26."
Back Page
Workers' Welfare
your top priority, Iftekhar tells BD Labour Attachés
Staff Correspondent
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar
Ahmed Chowdhury on Sunday urged all Bangladeshis abroad,
workers or officials, to remain conscious and proud of
their Bangladeshi origin, said a Foreign Ministry
statement. "This nation was forged on the fiery anvil of
searing experiences: the betrayal of Plassey, the
sacrifices of the language movement and the spirit of the
war of liberation. We hold dear our sense of sovereign
independence, and will protect it with zeal and passion.
Servility and dependence are matters of the past,"
Iftekhar said while inaugurating a three-day Training
Workshop of all Bangladeshi Labour Attachés abroad at a
local hotel yesterday. The workshop is designed to
inculcate a spirit of service-orientation among the Labour
Secretaries posted in Bangladesh Missions abroad.
"You have three duties towards Bangladeshi workers abroad:
Welfare, welfare, and welfare", said Iftekhar Ahmed
Chowdhury, who is also in charge of the Ministry of
Expatriates. He said today Bangladesh is alleviating
poverty, spreading education, and accelerating growth.
Take back the message that a new tiger is being born in
Asia, this one a Royal Bengal, he added. "Migration and
remittances play a critical role in our economy. Over 4.5
million Bangladeshis live abroad. The past year 832,000
have gone, a record number. During that time we received
back US $6.5 billion, also a record figure. Both flows
continue in a manner as never before," the Adviser told
the officials.
Iftekhar Chowdhury cautioned the officials to remember
that our workers are not simply remittance generating
machines. "Abroad, they are often unfamiliar with host
culture and become vulnerable to exploitation of all
kinds. They need your protection. You must be humane and
understanding, despite your own constraints in resources
and personnel," Iftekhar said. The Adviser urged the
officials to familiarize themselves with the government's
new 7-point strategy to locate newer markets, expand
existing ones and upgrade workers' skills. He said an
integrated policy has been designed, and its
implementation would be the key to maintaining our
manpower exports.
Kallyan Party for National and Local Govt polls together
Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh Kallyan Party Chairman Major General Syed
Mohammad Ibrahim (Retd) on Sunday demanded of the
government to hold upazila and national election on the
same day within the stipulated timeframe.
"Showing arguments or causes, government should not defer
the general election. People want to see holding of the
election within this year. As many political parties are
opposing the holding of upazila election before the
general election, we are also demanding upazila and
general elections to be held at the same time to avoid any
interference in general election by the upazila chairmen",
Ibrahim said at a press conference at the party's central
office in Paltan.
He heavily came down on the previous government for
neglecting the local government sectors alleging that in
17 years after the fall of Ershad the subsequent
governments were not attentive towards decentralising the
powers to the people's representatives at upazila and
Union Parishad levels. Although the decentralisation of
power to local bodies is needed for strengthening
democracy, no governments have done so. Even, election to
the upazila parishad was not held during this period.
He called for holding dialogue by the government with the
political parties' leaders as early as possible on the
issues of its political reforms and other important
issues.
"The government should make clear its stand about the
latest development relating to national election and many
important issues. So, it should start dialogue with
political leaders soon", he stated.
About price hike of essentials, he said the government
should introduce subsidised rationing system to ameliorate
the sufferings of the middleclass and low income groups.
If some essential food items are sold through ration, the
prices of those items will come down in other markets
also, he opined.
Niko graft case
ACC scrutinises investigation reports against Khaleda,
Hasina
UNB, Dhaka
The Anti-Corruption Commission is now scrutinising the
investigation reports of the two separate Niko graft
cases, filed against two former Prime Ministers and nine
others, before taking a decision on submission of charge
sheets.
The investigation report of the case against Khaleda and
four others was submitted on March 13, reportedly
recommending submission of charge sheet against a total of
15 persons, including those charged initially.
On the other hand, the investigation officer submitted the
report of another Niko case against Hasina and six others
on Thursday (March 20) with a recommendation of submission
of charge sheet against seven initially charged ones,
including Hasina and reportedly another two persons.
On December 9, ACC assistant director Mahbubul Alam filed
the case with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia,
former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, ex-State
Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former
secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president
(South Asian Affairs) Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited
Kashem Sharif.
They were accused of signing the "illegal" deal with Niko
through corruption that caused a loss of Tk 10,000 crore
to the State.
ACC deputy director Shabbir Hasan filed a separate case on
the same day with the same police station against Hasina,
former State Minister for Power and Energy Rafiqul Islam,
former principal secretary Dr SA Samad, former Power and
Energy secretary Dr Tawfiq E Elahi Chowdhury, former Power
and Energy secretary Akmal Hossain, former Petro Bangla
chairman Dr Mosharraf Hossain and vice-president (South
Asian Affairs) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem
Sharif Kashem Sharif.
They were accused of signing the "corrupt and illegal"
deal with Niko that inflicted a loss of Tk 13630.50 crore
on the national exchequre. During the two-month long
investigation into the case against Khaleda, the
involvement of another 10 persons were reportedly found
apart from the initially accused five persons and which is
why inclusion of these names in the charge sheet has been
recommended. Those additional persons recommended to be
charge-sheeted include former Principal Secretary to Prime
Minister Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, businessman Giasuddin Al
Mamun, former Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan and Law
Ministry joint secretary Noren Das.
In the investigation into the case against Hasina and six
others, it has been reported that the investigation
officer recommended inclusion of another couple of
individuals in the charge sheet apart from the first
seven.
About the state of the two high-profile cases, ACC
director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal, also the
Commission's spokesperson, told UNB that the investigation
report of the Niko case against Khaleda is being
scrutinised at the moment.
About the case against Hasina, he, however, said, "I'm not
sure whether the investigation report of this case was
submitted or not. I didn't inquire about it."
Then, he said, the Commissioner present this report in
front of the full Commission for taking a decision on
submission of charge sheet and who to be included or
excluded.
Hanif said that if the Commission feels necessary it could
discuss legal opinions with lawyers. Replying to a
question, he said the ultimate authority rests with the
Commission as to how many people in a case would be
charge-sheeted.
EC identifies 'risky' polling centres
Bdnews24, Dhaka
The Election
Commission will arrange special security measures at
"risky polling centres" ahead of elections, election
commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hossain said on Sunday.
"We are gathering information on risky polling centres
through intelligence organisations and polling officers,"
Sohul said to reporters at the Election Commission
Secretariat.
"We will decide what measures are appropriate to protect
them against potential breaches of law once we have
finished gathering the information," he said.
The EC is considering holding elections for four city
corporations such as Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet
where the elections of new office bearers are overdue.
The commission is thinking of a similar move for the seven
municipalities of Shariatpur, Shitakunda, Cox's Bazaar,
Gopalganj, Sreepur, Fulbarhia and Manikganj.
Ahead of the cancelled January 2007 national polls, 33,735
polling centres were arranged, where a total of 9.3 crore
voters were to have cast their votes.
In the eighth parliamentary polls, 29,977 polling centres
had been readied for 7.5 crore voters.
The commissioner said the number of polling centres for
the upcoming national polls may surpass 33,000 in which
approximately eight crore voters will be registered.
"The EC is taking steps to proscribe all political slogans
on walls ahead of the elections through changes in the
election code of conduct," the commissioner said.
"We initially wanted to bar all graffiti, although we
changed our minds after a number of organisations wrote to
us saying such a drastic decision would jeopardise the
livelihood of many involved in advertising."
Crime
Bomb
explodes, 6 injured in city
UNB, Dhaka
About 6 people were injured in a bomb explosion in a
house at East Sheorapara under Kafrul thana Saturday
evening.
Locals said five or six bombs exploded simultaneously with
big bangs. It is suspected a small group of unidentified
youths were making bombs in the house No.1264 when those
exploded at about 5:00 pm.
The injured managed to flee or rescued by the comrades.
"I've seen them running away from the house", said a
witness refusing to be identified. He named one of them as
Milon.
Police visited the spot and were trying to trace out Milon.
They also inquired all the hospitals and clinics in the
area if anyone admitted with bomb injuries.
Cop suspended on extortion charge
UNB, Narayanganj
A policeman was suspended on charge of extortion at
Fatullah here Sunday.
Sources said havildar Majedul Haq went to a tailoring shop
at Ramarbagh area along with his two associates Raju Ahmed
and police informer Safiullah at about 10pm Saturday.
Majedul identifying himself as assistant sub-inspector
wanted to arrest four people on charge of gambling who
were then playing ludu in the shop.
Later, Safiullah as a mediator asked the four persons to
pay Tk 20,000 to Majedul to avoid arrest. When they paid
the money Safiullah left the place hurriedly.
But local people at one stage caught Majedul and Raju and
handed them over to Fatullah thana.
Later, Majedul was suspended and case was filed in this
connection.
Terrorist dies in custody
UNB, Jhenidah
A ringleader of a local terrorist gang died of cardiac at
Sadar Hospital on Saturday night.
The deceased was identified as Dabir, 42, of Brahimpur
village in Shailkupa upazila.
Police said, acting on secret information that Dabir along
with his cohorts was holding a clandestine meeting at
Laxmandia of the upazila to commit a robbery, they raided
the area at about 9:00 pm.
Sensing danger all the miscreants but Dabir managed to
flee the scene. Dabir at one stage fell seriously ill with
severe chest pain.
Later police arrested Dabir and admitted him to Sadar
Hospital where died at about 11:30 pm. Police said he was
wanted in a number of criminal cases.
Police also recovered a three-not-three rifle and three
bullets from the spot.
Three thieves arrested, electric equipment
recovered
A Correspondent, Chapainawabganj
A special squad of Sadar thana police conducted drives
and arrested three thieves, Shamsul Alom (57), lineman of
PDB, Satyam Kumar (23) and Suruj Ali (20) along with
electrical equipments worth about Tk two lakh from three
separate areas of Chapainawabganj town on Saturday night.
Sources said acting on secret information a squad of Sadar
thana police led by O.C Amirul Islam conducted drives
Majhpara, Mohadanga, Huzrapur Khalghat area in the town
and arrested one PDB staff, lineman Shamsul Alom (57) son
of late Dabir Uddin, Satyam Kumar (23) son of late Bhadu
Lal Chowdhuri and rickshaw puller Suruj Ali (20) son of
Md. Abul Hossain on Saturday night and recovered lot of
sub-marine cable, electric cable and others electric
goods.
A case was filed with the thana in this connection.
Housewife violated, two held
UNB, Sherpur
A housewife was gang-raped by miscreants in Sheikh
Hati area of the town Friday night.
Police said Suman, 38, hailed from Mymensingh, borrowed
some money from his neighbour woman, aged around 37, few
months ago. Later, when the woman, a nurse of local
hospital, exerted pressure on him to repay the loan, Suman
deserting his village home came to Sherpur and started
living in Sheikh Hati area.
On Friday Suman asked the housewife, mother of three
children, to come to his residence to take the money back.
As per the information when the housewife came to the area
at night, Suman along with his cohorts Ramjan Ali, 26,
Liton, 30, Murad, 25, and Badshah, 27 forcibly took her to
an abandoned house in the area and violated her one after
another leaving her critically injured.
Later, hearing her cry for help local people rescued the
woman and admitted her to a local hospital.
Police arrested two lechers Ramjan Ali and Liton from the
area. A case was filed.
Fake DB arrested
A Correspondent, Netrakona
Madan thana Police arrested a fake DB Police form Bousa
bazar under Madan upazila of Netrakona district on last
Monday.
The arrested was identified as Syed Ashraful Islam Imon,
24, son for Ali Newaz at the village of Sekandar Nagor
under Tarial upazila of Kishorgonj district.
Police Super said, Imon have been collecting money from
the people under duress at Bausa bazar in Madan upazila of
the district. On information, Sub-Inspector of Madan thana,
Harunur Rashid, reached there and arrested him.
A case was filed with Madan thana in this regard.
Trader slaughtered
UNB, Sylhet
Assailants slaughtered a trader at Mohammadpur in
Goainghat upazila Saturday midnight.
The dead was identified as Ismail Hossain, 22, son of Abul
Hossain.
Local sources said assailants slaughtered Ismail sometime
Saturday night.
Family members found Ismail's slaughtered body in the
morning and informed police. Police held two workers of a
local stone quarry in connection with the killing.
One killed, 2 injured in clash
UNB, Magura
A man was killed and two others were injured in a clash at
Budhorpar village in Sadar upazila Sunday morning.
Police said the clash ensued when a group of people went
to cut earth from a disputed land adjacent to the house of
Milon Biswas and were resisted by him.
During the clash, the rivals hit three people, including
Milon Biswas, with sharp weapons leaving them critically
injured.
They were admitted to Sadar Hospital where Milon Biswas
succumbed later. A case was filed.
Alleged terror busted
BSS, Rangamati
An alleged terrorist who was detained on March 20 from
Baghaichhari upazila was sent to jail after producing
before the court on Saturday, police said. He was
identified as Bhubon Joy Chakma, 48, of Baghaihat area of
the upazila.
Being informed, joint forces raided Sajik area at 11:30 pm
on March 20 and detained him with a local gun.
A case was filed against him with Baghaichhari thana.
Four get life term
A Correspondent, Mathbaria, Pirojpur
A trial court in Barisal awarded life term imprisonment to
four absconding accused for killing two of their
associates during a gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion
in Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur district in 2006.
The convicted are Afzal Munshi, Abdul Latif, Alamgir and
Zahangir Hossain of Debottar village under Mathbaria
upazila and each of them were also fined ten thousand Tk
or to serve more one year in custody in default. Other
eleven accused were acquitted from charges after found not
guilty as per verdict announced by Barisal divisional
speedy trial tribunal on Thursday afternoon.
Editorial
Freedom Fighters’ Convention
Attended
by thousands of freedom fighters, the convention arranged by
the Sector Commanders' Forum on 21March 2008 in Dhaka, raised
some unique and interesting questions. Question such as: Is it
possible to hold trials of war criminals 37 years after the
event? Is genocide a crime against individuals or against the
State? Is the State liable to bring to justice those people
who have not only opposed its Independence but also carried
out genocide to prevent it? The answers to these questions
will largely dictate whether this or the next government will
hold trails for bringing to trial the War Criminals of 1971.
To a very large extent answers to such questions have already
been provided by similar events which have taken place and are
still taking place around the world over the last 6 decades
starting with the Nuremberg War Crime Trials. What all of such
trials have proved is that crimes such as genocide and mass
murders during wars are crimes not only against individuals
but against humanity as a whole and therefore States and
international organizations such as the UN are liable to bring
to justice those who have committed such acts of violence
against their own or other people. This bringing to justice is
not really time-bound or time-framed; trials can and are held
years and even decades after the event.
In the case of Bangladesh one is bound to say that since our
Independence in 1971, our politics has prevented us from
bringing to trial and justice the criminals who had committed
atrocities against our people and our State. The issue of war
crimes and criminals who perpetrated those atrocities is not
going to go away however much governments, past, present and
future may try to ignore it. Not being able to bring to
justice war criminals is not only a blot on our national
conscience; it is a searing, festering wound in our individual
and collective psyche.
Generations of Bangladeshis have been born and brought up in
an independent Bangladesh; many perspectives and priorities
have changed but the facts of what happened in 1971, both good
and evil, have not. Culture, civilization and life continues
from the past to the present towards the future carrying along
with them the facts and the myths of history and that is why
37 years after 1971, people from every walk of life, from
every generation are insistently demanding inquiries into the
mass murders, genocide and atrocities of 1971 and trials of
those people who committed those crimes. Consider, for example
the wide response, across the political spectrum, that the
Sector Commanders' Forum has received nationwide when they
picked up the issue of the trial of war criminals. Right now
the freedom fighters, the Sector Commanders' Forum and the
general public is demanding of this Emergency Government the
formulation of laws and formation of a tribunal to try the war
criminals and if that is not easily forthcoming, some 3
million freedom fighters might well decide to organize
themselves into a potent political force to force this or the
next government to comply with their demands and in this they
will have the ethical and moral support of the entire Nation.
Comprehensive
measures needed
According
to press reports, the government is considering increasing the
quantum of rice to be sold under the Open Market Sale (OMS)
programme and expand the areas of its operation to redress the
sufferings of the people belonging to the low income groups,
specially those working in the RMG sector. The government may
also expand the OMS operation to the union level. These were
revealed at a meeting at the Commerce ministry on Saturday
with Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman in the chair. He
told journalists after the meeting that the government was
considering providing dearness allowances for the government
employees.
Earlier, the Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam had told
reporters recently that increasing the salaries and allowances
of government employees was under the consideration of the
government. In the wake of the finance adviser's assertion
speculation was rife that government employees would get
dearness allowances soon.
If the salaries and allowances of the government employees are
increased, demand for pay rise will be raised immediately by 4
to 5 lakh employees of the autonomous bodies and the workers
of private organisations. And if the demands of all of them
are met even partially a huge amount of money will reach the
market fuelling further the alarming inflation rate. And as a
result crores of general people will face another round of
economic hardship as they will get no financial respite.
The governement does have the responsibility to look after all
the citizens of the country. And instead of thinking over
retrieving the whole nation from the crisis it should not
think of doing something for the respite of the government
employees alone who are comparatively better placed than the
general people.
We are not against any government move to ease the hardship of
the government employees, but that move should cover all
sections of people. The government should work out
comprehensive measures to provide respite for government
employees, RMG workers, professionals, peasants, middleclass,
jobless and poor people. Releasing increased quantum of rice
under OMS and expanding its operation will be good steps.
Alongside, massive food for work programme should be launched
in the rural areas immediately. Besides, rationing system
should be introduced at least in the urban areas immediately
as the middle class people are unable to avail of the
opportunity to collect rice, atta, oil, dal from the limited
number of fair price shops in the cities. After all, the
government is for the entire nation and it should work for all
the people of the country.
Analysis
A Long Road in Iraq
The best way to contain the threat of regional
violence five years into war may be to leave Iraq all
together.
Greg Bruno
On
the eve of the U.S.-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein,
President Bush offered this rationale: “We have no ambition in
Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that
country to its own people.” But five years later, the U.S.
military continues its fight to “restore control,” and so far
a divided Iraqi government has been unable to reconcile
important economic and political issues. The U.S. public,
meanwhile, has gone through a cycle of emotions on Iraq. In
March 2003, a poll showed 71 percent of Americans supported
going to war (WashPost). An ABC News/Washington Post poll in
March 2008 paints a different picture: 63 percent felt the war
was not worth fighting. And yet a slight majority of
Americans—53 percent—believe the U.S. effort in Iraq will one
day succeed , despite nearly 4,000 dead and over 29,000
wounded soldiers.
Washington’s day of victory may be far off; American
involvement in Iraq is no longer viewed in the short term.
Bush warned in his 2003 speech that conflict “could be longer
and more difficult that some predict.” Five years later, he
expressed a similar sentiment: “There’s still hard work to be
done in Iraq. The gains we have made are fragile and
reversible.” Analysts today talk of the “long war” (WashPost)
on terrorism, and a longer war in Iraq. CFR’s Stephen Biddle
writes in The National Interest that the United States will
need to maintain a peacekeeping presence in Iraq “for many
years” to maintain the fragile truce currently observed by
some militant groups.
Many experts believe the next U.S. president will have little
choice but to agree. Democratic presidential candidates
Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) vow to
begin a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq within
months after taking office. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the
presumptive GOP nominee, opposes steep troop withdrawals and
says Americans should be prepared for a long troop commitment
in Iraq to achieve success. (McCain traveled to Iraq on March
16 to visit with Iraqi and American officials). The Pentagon,
meanwhile, is pushing for “a brief pause” (NYT) in the
reduction of troops on the ground and projects 140,000 U.S.
troops will still be in Iraq in July 2008. Washington is also
negotiating a status-of-forces agreement with the Iraqi
government, a long-term deal spelling out the future of U.S.
military cooperation with Baghdad. William M. Arkin, a defense
analyst who writes the Early Warning blog for the Washington
Post, notes another trend. He says one way for the Pentagon to
limit the impact of further force reductions—should the next
U.S. president demand them—is to shift mission capabilities to
other Persian Gulf states. That’s “already underway,” Arkin
writes.
Military analysts acknowledge violence has declined as a
result of the additional troops sent to Baghdad in early 2007.
A March 2008 Defense Department analysis notes that
ethno-sectarian violence is down “nearly 90 percent” from June
2007, and coalition and civilians deaths are down 70 percent.
Politically, Baghdad also has inched forward, with the passage
of an on-time budget in February 2007, and a law allowing some
Sunni Baathists to return to government. Yet signs of progress
are fraying. On the security side of the ledger, the rapid
decline of violence in the first half of 2007 has since
leveled out , and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq notes
while Baghdad is largely stabilized, security has
“deteriorated” in places like Mosul and Diyala. Politically
the story is equally frustrating: Iraqi leaders have passed
just four of 18 benchmarks created by Washington.
The bigger question may be how the U.S. mission in Iraq alters
Mideast geopolitical dynamics. Jeffrey Goldberg, writing in
the Atlantic, argues that a sustained U.S. war could spread
instability beyond Iraq’s borders, to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan,
and Pakistan. To limit that possibility, Bradley L. Bowman, a
U.S. army major and CFR international affairs fellow, suggests
the Pentagon should “resist the temptation” to redeploy forces
to other Gulf States. “Protecting U.S. interests in the region
does not require an obtrusive U.S. military footprint,” Bowman
writes in The Washington Quarterly. Yet others say the best
way to contain the threat of regional violence five years into
war may be to leave Iraq all together. In a co-authored op-ed
in the Washington Post, CFR’s Ray Takeyh writes that ending
the war could compel neighbor states to “mediate rather than
inflame.”
(Greg Bruno is a Staff Writer for Council on Foreign
Relations. Source:www.cfr.org)
Empowering
Women: a challenge and an opportunity
We seek to nurture the organization of women’s groups at the
grassroots to help them achieve true equality in
decision-making at the highest levels.
Karen Abuzayd
NEW
YORK—International Women’s Day is an occasion to reflect on
the indispensable role played by women in every community and
nation. It is a time to recognize and celebrate the
distinctive contribution women everywhere make to the
well-being, cohesion and advancement of human society. The
unique place of women assumes the greatest significance in
times of stress and emergency. In my years of working with
refugees on every continent, I have witnessed time and time
again how societies in crisis rely for their survivial and
recovery on the innate strength, resilience and creativity of
women. Regardless of how dire the calamity, wherever there are
grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, - there is always a
solid - even if unspoken - conviction that the desperate times
will be withstood and normalcy will one day return.
My work with Palestine refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon,
Gaza and the West Bank has affirmed my respect for the role
women play as custodians of strength, survival and renewal for
communities under stress. Women are the bedrock of Palestine
refugee communities, serving as a potent force for family and
societal cohesion. Now more than ever, women are weaving the
threads that form the social fabric of their community, by
pursuing new opportunities in education and employment,
advancing their civil rights and carving out a stronger and
fairer role for themselves within Palestinian society.
As the UN marks International Women’s Day and launches a
campaign to end violence against women world-wide, it is
especially important that international standards of equality,
non-discrimination, equal opportunity and protection for women
are reflected in concrete ways throughout Palestinian
communities. The global statistics are shocking: according to
UN estimates, at least one out of every three women in the
world is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise
abused in her lifetime. Palestine refugee women should not
have to suffer such abuse in their homes and places of work in
addition to the travails of their 60-year exile and the brutal
hardships of the occupation in the West Bank and Gaza.
In Gaza, where women face fresh challenges from within their
own, now increasingly conservative society, there is a
resounding desire for positive change and an unshakeable will
to make change happen. UNRWA’s “Equality in Action” programme
is designed to support and assist Palestinian and Palestine
refugee women to realize their wish for empowerment, equality,
and dignity and freedom, that is, freedom from violence and
abuse as well as freedom to express themselves and to achieve
their dreams.
Under the Equality in Action Programme, UNRWA, along with our
NGO partners provides refugee women with opportunities in
education, training, and micro-enterprise, thus helping to
broaden their horizons and enhance their potential for gainful
employment. There are now programmes to foster constructive
debate in the community about the costs of the internal
factional conflict and the role of women in resolving it.
Through such activities, and the work of women groups and
women programme centers in the refugee communities in Jordan,
Syria, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory, women
are making strides towards building strong and inclusive
communities; communities where values are shared, inequalities
minimized and traditional gender-roles re-oriented for the
good of the society. We seek to nurture the organization of
women’s groups at the grassroots to help them achieve true
equality in decision-making at the highest levels.
Groups such as the General Union of Palestinian Women (the
umbrella organization for female representatives in the PLO)
ensure a female presence in the political sphere through which
the needs and rights of women and girls can be heard and
addressed. Women are now well-placed to play a critical role
in bringing about legislative changes, whether pertaining to
electoral law, legal rights or workplace regulations. I
applaud this and welcome their achievement.
Traditionally, the burden of finding ways to feed, clothe and
educate their children falls on women and as unemployment
levels rise across the occupied Palestinian territory, women
are making sacrifices to provide for their families. Mothers
go hungry so that their children do not.
Within the family, women nurture the emotional, social,
intellectual, and personal development of their children: they
inculcate social values in children, the values that form
civil society. Where decision-making lies with men, mothers
often advocate for their daughters – to receive formal
education, to go to university, to work outside the home. The
value of female education is recognized among Palestinians,
and the results can be seen in figures: across the West Bank,
thousands of young women are enrolled in university courses,
intending to use their qualifications to pursue careers that
previously were the domain of men.
Yet what could be achieved if the situation were different? If
women were never prevented from traveling to class; if the
electricity on which focus groups rely were not so
intermittent; if social attitudes progressed further towards
equality and justice for women; if resources for these
initiatives were plentiful? Peace, human rights that are
respected and meaningful development all require the active
presence of women. It is impossible to separate the struggle
to end the oppression of the Palestinian people from the
struggle for equal rights for all segments of their society.
Both struggles call for a monumental effort on the part of
everyone – men and women alike, working together to overcome
the impediments that are inherent in the realities of refugee
life. But it is an effort that is being met nonetheless by
Palestinian women everywhere with courage, determination, and
an ever-increasing degree of success.
(Karen Abuzayd is the Commissioner General of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Source: United Nations, 08 March 2008, www.un.org
Copyright permission is granted for publication.)
Building
Ecotopia: Green Clothing
If you’re not required to abide by any
strict dress code at work, congratulations! You’re one step
closer to greening your wardrobe.
Chuck Hall
Unfortunately, clothing is more about status these days than
about utilitarian value. The more clothes you have with
designer names on them, the more status you have in the
fashion hierarchy. Thinking about green clothing involves
thinking about the purposes that clothing serves in the first
place. Is it about comfort? Is it about modesty? Is it about
protection from the elements? Is it about looking stylish? Is
it about ‘one-upping’ your neighbors? What does clothing mean
to you, and how will this affect your own personal definition
of ‘green clothing?’
I mention the style and status aspect of clothing because
environmentalists aren’t immune to the dangers of clothing as
a status symbol just because they choose greener alternatives.
I’m sure we’ve all seen environmentalist fashion victims as
well. The point is, that having a closet full of green
clothing that you wear maybe one time a year is no different,
and not much better for the environment, than having a closet
full of commercially produced clothing that you only wear one
time a year. It has been estimated that if everyone switched
to natural fibers, the entire planet couldn’t keep up with the
demand for new clothing at the current rate of consumption.
Rampant materialism isn’t any more sustainable just because
it’s green. When choosing to live sustainably, less is more.
The type of work you do will also be a factor in the type of
clothing you can choose. Many places of employment have dress
codes to consider. If you are required to adhere to a dress
code where you work, look for green alternatives in your
clothing choices. If you are required to wear a uniform, you
may want to check to see if your uniforms are available in
green alternatives. If so, talk to your employer about making
the switch. You may be pleasantly surprised at the reaction.
Given the awareness of and interest in environmental policies
right now, it may be a good marketing strategy for your place
of employment. It never looks bad on an advertisement to
declare that your business’s uniforms are environmentally
friendly!
If you’re not required to abide by any strict dress code at
work, congratulations! You’re one step closer to greening your
wardrobe. The next step would be to review your wardrobe to
see what’s indispensable and what you can do without. Since
sustainability is about simplification, it’s better to have a
few favorite garments than a whole closet full of stuff you
never wear. Design a few outfits for each season, make a list,
and plan to purchase environmentally friendly versions of each
garment in that list. Don’t rush out and buy a whole new
wardrobe, though. Another principle of sustainability is to
get the most use out of everything before recycling it. So
unless you’re planning to donate your whole wardrobe to
charity so you can start over from scratch, just replace items
one-at-a-time as needed with greener choices. That way you’re
getting the maximum utility out of clothing you’ve already
purchased. You can also find out which designs and materials
work best for you and your lifestyle. And please don’t throw
away your old garments! They can be donated to a charity like
Salvation Army or Goodwill, or they can be used for any number
of household needs. You can make dust rags out of them, or
quilt them into shopping bags, or if you’re artistic you can
even shred them and make your own handmade paper with them.
The possibilities are endless!
(Chuck Hall is an internationally renowned columnist
writing on climate change and environmental issues. You may
contact Chuck by email at: chuck@cultureartist.org.)
Viewpoints
Who will pay US$ 80
billion to halve the number of people without basic
sanitation?
To put the spotlight on sanitation the United
Nations General Assembly declared the year 2008 as the
International Year of Sanitation.
Bobby Ramakant
How
will Bangladesh and other countries in the world achieve the
millennium development goal (MDG) target to reduce by half the
proportion of 2.6 billion people who have no access to basic
sanitation by 2015?
On this year’s World Water Day (22 March 2008), to put the
spotlight on sanitation the United Nations General Assembly
declared the year 2008 as the International Year of
Sanitation. The goal is to raise awareness and to accelerate
progress towards the MDG targets to halve the number of people
without access to basic sanitation by 2015.
Where is the estimated US$ 10 billion annual cost to achieve
this MDG target by 2015 going to come from? From 2008-2015, we
will need US$ 80 billion to achieve this target which will
halve the number of 2.6 billion people who presently have no
access to basic sanitation and even if we achieve this MDG
target it will still leave the other half (1.3 billion people)
without access to basic sanitation in 2015!.This amount is
less than 1% of world military spending in 2005, one-third of
the estimated global spending on bottled water, or about as
much as Europeans spend on ice cream each year.
“Private corporations, including the bottled water companies,
who have largely demonstrated ruthless capital-intensive
approach with blatant disregard to environmental or ecological
aspects depriving local communities from access to natural
resources, should be the ones to foot this bill. Not the
public sector or governments of developing countries” says Dr
Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay awardee (2002) and Convener of
National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM).
Aggressive marketing targeted at those ‘who-have-money-to-pay’
has contributed extensively to exacerbate the gap between the
rich and poor communities. This has not only jeopardized basic
human rights to life and dignity of the underserved
communities, but also left the ‘rich’ with a mountainous
burden of lifestyle diseases to deal with.
Water is a public good, not a commodity to be bought and sold.
Increasing corporate control of water is undoubtedly
alarming. “Corporations are contributing to, and then
profiting from, the global water crisis,” had said Kathryn
Mulvey, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability
International (www.stopcorporateabuse.org). She stressed
further that “One of the greatest threats to people’s access
to water today is that corporate use of water is often
prioritized over people’s daily use.”
The money required to achieve MDG goals by halving the number
of people who don’t have access to basic sanitation is
ONE-THIRD of the global spending on bottled water. “If
one-third of the profits from bottled water companies can help
1.3 billion people to get access to basic sanitation, not
doing that and letting bottled water companies mint money is
outrageous” asserts Dr Pandey. As water becomes more precious,
corporations like Coke, Pepsi, Nestlé, Suez and Veolia are
increasingly trying to control and profit from it. Ironically
enough, at the same time, these corporations are trying to
position themselves as ‘improving’ people’s access to water.
As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water
can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and
the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of
water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water
has been accepted as a natural, social fact. That is why
governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their
water rights. On this World Water Day and beyond, not only we
need to challenge the alarming corporate control of water, but
also stake a claim to financial and natural resources that
rightfully should be utilized to provide access to basic
sanitation to all.
(Bobby Ramakant is a senior journalist, member of Network
for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals and can be
contacted at: bobbyramakant@yahoo.com)
Dhaka needs not to be the Second
Dirtiest City on Earth
Dhaka is dirty because population and people at
large in Dhaka are not clean in their habit and day to day
life.
Tayeb Husain
Dhaka’s
name is again in the media headline, not as the capital of the
most corrupt country but she has captured world’s attention
now as the second dirtiest city in the world. Baku in
Azerbaijan has the honour to be the first filthiest city in
order of ranking. Kabul, Kathmandu, Kanpur or even the capital
cities of the poorest African countries like Monrovia
(Liberia, GNI US$130), Lilongwe (Malawi, GNI US$160) or Niamey
(Niger, GNI US$240) are much less polluted and filthy than
Dhaka.
Dhaka is now ruled by a gentleman called Mr. Khoka; he was a
great freedom fighter (!) we are told and if I remember it
correctly, this gentleman, exactly in July 2007, proudly
announced as Dhaka city mayor, that ‘No New Tax’ for the city
dwellers. But to please whom he made such unwise proclamation
we do not know. Dhaka is now worse than any African sub-Sahara
region’s city or town. In Africa it is Addis Ababa, capital of
Ethiopia (GNI US$160 and Bangladesh’s US$470), which is placed
in the 6th position as the dirtiest city. This placement was
based on 2007 data available on Health and Sanitation Rankings
by Mercer Human Resource Consulting and published in Forbes
Magazine. Worldwide 215 cities were ranked on Quality of Life
on the basis of levels of air pollution, waste management,
water portability, hospital services, medical supplies and the
presence of infectious diseases. The base city was New York
(USA) with an index score of 100 and the dirtiest city
designation went serially to Baku in Azerbaijan (first), Dhaka
in Bangladesh (second), Antananarivo in Madagascar (3rd), Port
au Prince in Haiti (4th), Mexico City in Mexico (5th) and
Addis Ababa in Ethiopia(6th). The best city in this ranking
was Calgary in Canada with a score of 131.7 (first).
Does Dhaka need to be so dirty and polluted? Is Dhaka is such
a poor city? How much does it cost to keep Dhaka neat and
clean? These are critical questions one should ask before
drawing any conclusion on Dhaka’s pathetic situation as the
second dirtiest city on earth.
Dhaka is dirty because population and people at large in Dhaka
are not clean in their habit and day to day life. Many would
feel insulted reading this unkind remark but if one looks
around in Dhaka, the truth turns quite apparent of this harsh
remark. In my last 2 visits in Dhaka in 2006 and 2007 I was
living in Gulshan, one of the posh residential areas of the
monster city and the house I was living costs over 3 Crore or
so Takas. The lake-side house was beautiful but the lake was
full of dirt and filths, all sorts of it you name, including
human excrements. It smelt like hell indeed when you open the
window for fresh air. You go out and find similar houses,
hundred in number. Stockholm or Copenhagen capitals of rich
Sweden and Denmark, hardly have any such private palace like
houses, I can assure the readers. And I say it clearly and
loudly that I would not live in any of those houses in Dhaka
if it is given even free to me (nobody would do that I know).
The reason is very simple. Houses are beautiful no doubt but
you can not live inside the house 24 hours. Then mosquitoes
make hell with your life. When you go out, the roads have
hardly any footpath and dirt everywhere and dust and smells
make you vomit. Construction materials block roads and people
put anything on the footpath or right on the middle of the
road. I had the good luck and opportunity to travel a little
bit in many countries of the world but Dhaka makes me sick and
tired. I am sorry for talking ill about my city where I lived
in my youth and all my friends and relations live there today.
I want to visit Dhaka every year and I need to do that to meet
my near and dear ones and my best friends, of course. But I
always get sick due to dust and pollution of that dirty city.
This year I was supposed to be in Dhaka in last Jan/Feb but I
changed my mind. I do not like to put my foot on Dhaka but
again, I see the tearful eyes of my niece when I told her over
phone that I would not come to Dhaka as I planned and have
already cancelled my programme.
No doubt I fondly remember Dhaka, the seat of my Alma Meter
Dhaka University and my temporary abode there in sixties, the
S. M. Hall. Surely I would have liked to be there now and then
when opportunity occurs but dirt, pollution, noises, frighten
me greatly even when I think about a short trip to Dhaka. I
know many expatriates who live in Western countries feel the
same and face similar dilemma like mine while considering
visiting Dhaka.
Dhaka is not a poor city but those who rule Dhaka are
miserable people and they have kept the city and the country
hostage to dirt, filth, pollution and mosquitoes and it is not
only economic bondage, misrule and horrendous corruption of
these people that have made the country and Dhaka a hell on
earth.
The country has developed by all means and no doubt Bangladesh
was never better off as it is today in spite of the fact of
thievery and high corruption of those who have been governing
Bangladesh or Dhaka never got the full benefit of the
independent status of the country. It is individuals’ hard
work that has raised per capita income of Bangladesh. But
economic benefit that the country achieved has been stolen by
a few corrupts and criminals. They love showing off their
flashy houses and cars but hardly know how to share their
ill-earned wealth and make their own and other peoples’ life a
little better. They do not understand what is called communal
living for the pleasure and welfare of every citizen. These
people do not know that their comfort and security can never
be guaranteed without making ordinary peoples’ life and living
tolerable if not better and comfortable.
Dhaka has everything that can make her population be happy.
But that did not happen because the people in leadership who
run Dhaka, like the people who ran or running government of
Bangladesh, are mostly thieves, lack imagination and do not
know how to plan a city. They are great experts and innovators
of ways and means for stealing public fund and making money at
peoples’ misery.
I do not blame Mr. Khoka alone. The civil society (if it is
civil by any standard), politicians, bureaucrat or in short
everybody in power or position in Dhaka is responsible for the
pathetic situation of the city. The city has grown-up without
proper planning. Why in the heart of the city there must be
the cantonment? The boat in front of the naval HQ must be the
laughing matter for anybody if he/she in not insane. Well,
that is another problem of Dhaka. Everybody must live in
Dhaka, does not matter how congested the city is or how it’s
air, noise and pollution levels are.
Management of the city administration is poor and miserable.
With a little imagination the face of the city can be changed
within 6 months and the cost would be minimal. But what would
be the benefit? Direct benefit would be clean air, no dirt or
filth, no mosquito, no filthy smell and a beautiful city to
live in. The indirect benefit for the Dhaka dwellers would be
good health and long life. If the present situation prevails
longer many people would die in Dhaka every coming year of
cancer, jaundice, asthma and many other dirt and pollution
related sickness and the real cost of which nobody can
calculate in monetary term.
Now how to keep Dhaka clean?
Let us start with the garbage. Scattered garbage makes the
city nasty and filthy and it is the number one pollutant in
Dhaka. To arrest that nuisance it must be made compulsory for
every family to have a garbage-can at home where each
household must put all garbage and every day empty it in a
closed container placed at a particular place near each and
every residential area. This garbage must be, again, collected
at a particular time by garbage collectors every day and drive
it away to a particular place far away where it shall be used
as fuel to generate electricity. The technology is simple and
any country can do it provided one wants to get it done. The
cost for collecting garbage should be covered by fees
collected on the basis of the household’s income and type of
house or flat one lives in.
So far Dhaka is concerned, her low-lying area can be raised
with garbage and clear-up all stagnant water, the breeding
space for mosquitoes. There are some garbage containers in
Dhaka even now but those are not managed properly and people
throw any garbage recklessly in it. I saw a few garbage
containers, one at Eskaton garden, the residential area of top
civil servants. I found its management totally miserable.
There is no lid, the container is full and litters everywhere
around it. I had to wait 3 / 4 minutes, about 100 meters from
the container, for my friend to pick me up. My god, I will
never forget the smell that the container was spreading.
If the city authority was intelligent this ‘garbage’ could be
a source of employment for some people instead of being the
cause of filth and disease like jaundice, asthma etc. for
Dhaka dwellers. Garbage collector’s job could also be a
pleasant one provided the garbage is packed properly to fill
the containers and the collectors get and use proper uniform,
sanitary mask and hand gloves. Garbage collectors’ job could
be also cleaning and removing dirt from roads every day.
Strong rules and regulations should be introduced to punish
those who are careless and throw dirt on the road. Even some
inspectors could be employed to oversee the cleaning job of
the city.
Stagnant water is the breeding grounds of mosquitoes.
Everybody knows what mosquitoes do to Dhaka dwellers. And how
much it costs to keep Dhaka city free from stagnant water? Is
it a big job to fill-up holes and low laying spots near the
roads and housing complexes? Can our rich people with
million-dollar palaces afford to contribute a little to a
project for getting rid of holes, low lying spots etc and make
sure that there is no stagnant water? How many extra jobs
could be created for organising a company with full
responsibility and overseeing of the problem of stagnant
water?
Human excreta are another great nuisance for Dhaka city
dwellers. Can the city authority build a few hundred public
toilets in Dhaka, especially in slum areas which would produce
biogas and save Dhaka from this filth and also generate some
jobs for the unemployed and gas for street lighting or cooking
food by the slum dwellers?
Everything needs money to get go and implement any project but
money is nothing but human labour in another way to look at
it. In Dhaka thousands of people are loitering around looking
for jobs but job does not fall from the heaven; job needs to
be created. Dhaka city, by good management with a little
imagination, can create thousands of jobs on one side while
keep the city neat and clean, perhaps not like Stockholm or
Copenhagen but surely quite clean and acceptable. And for
turning these two objectives into reality, an initial tax
imposition of 2 Taka per head for the poor and 15-25 Takas a
month for the rich would be enough.
(Tayeb Husain is a Bangladesh resident in Sweden)
The new prime
minister
WITH Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari ostensibly clearing the nomination of the PPP's
candidate for the coveted post, the way has been cleared for
Yusuf Raza Gilani to take the oath of office on Tuesday as
Pakistan's 25th prime minister. A party loyalist who passed
years in jail while on trial for charges which a court later
found bogus, Gilani acquires the rare distinction of becoming
the first PPP prime minister who is not a Bhutto. Tomorrow's
vote is a formality, but with the MQM joining the PPP-PML-N
coalition, Gilani is likely to get more votes than Ms Fehmida
Mirza did when she was elected Speaker with a two-thirds
majority. While the uncertainty about the prime minister's
office is behind us, one cannot but notice the fissures in the
PPP and question the leadership's decision-making process,
marked as it has been by vacillation and diffidence. The Amin
Fahim episode serves to highlight the absence of a well-oiled
consultative mechanism, and one is appalled that the PPP
Central Executive Committee, which includes some stalwarts
since the ZAB days, needed a 19-year-old to sell its decision
to the party rank and file. If this is the beginning of the
new, democratic era, one wonders how things will go when the
PPP government is finally in the saddle and goes about meeting
the gargantuan challenges facing the nation.A list of
priorities for the Gilani government is not difficult to draw.
The economy and the menace of terrorism overshadow all other
issues, including the nightmarish power crisis. The prices
have registered an overall increase, oil prices have been
raised twice in a fortnight, and the rate of food inflation is
tormenting the people. Yet no crash programme was devised to
give some interim relief to the pauperised people, because
crisis after crisis - beginning with the sacking of the Chief
Justice last March - seemed to have paralysed the government
machinery. A major task before the new government will,
therefore, be to restore the nation's confidence in the
administration's ability to look after the people's welfare
and work with speed to ameliorate the citizen's
hardships.Religious extremism and terrorism are destroying the
very fabric of our society. Yet, in spite of our role in the
war on terror as a much-flaunted 'front-line state', our
people are less safe than they were seven years ago. While
campaigning, the PPP and the PML-N had both pledged to
continue the fight against terrorism. But the issue is far
more complex than the rhetoric would have us believe. The
frequency of suicide bombings has increased, and terrorists
are striking deep into sensitive, no-go areas. Reliance on
force alone is not going to deliver. Which means the new
government has to develop a new policy based on national
consensus to deflate the terrorists and make Fata part of the
national mainstream. We hope the country will have a prime
minister empowered to tackle the challenges, rather than a
puppet on a string with real authority lying elsewhere in the
party hierarchy.
Source: www.dawn.com
International
Musharraf says he
brought real democracy to Pakistan
AFP, Islamabad
Embattled Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Sunday said
that a real democratic era had begun in his country
following elections and he would give full support to the
new government.
Musharraf's opponents trounced his allies in February 18
general elections and the new coalition government appears
set for a confrontation after vowing to reinstate judges
whom the president sacked during a state of emergency in
November.
"My brothers and sisters, you are seeing that a real
democratic era has begun in Pakistan," Musharraf said
addressing the Pakistan Day military parade in capital
Islamabad.
Musharraf, who grabbed power in October 1999 after
overthrowing the government of Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless
coup, took credit for the average seven percent economic
growth during the past eight years.
"We are proud that during the past eight years, not only
we laid the foundation of a real democracy, but we also
put Pakistan on the path of progress and prosperity," he
said.
Musharraf is set to swear in new premier Yousuf Raza
Gilani Tuesday from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of
slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, which is forming the
coalition with Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League.
Bhutto was killed in a suicide and gun attack on December
27 in Rawalpindi and had stayed in exile in London and
Dubai during Musharraf's military rule.
Musharraf has repeatedly said that he will work with the
new government, refusing to quit over the defeat of his
allies.
"Whichever new government is formed, it will have my full
support," he reiterated, saying that he hoped that it will
maintain peace, economic growth and vigorously combat
terrorism and extremism.
Western governments are closely watching the political
scene in Pakistan amid concerns that instability will hurt
the fight against Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants behind a
wave of recent violence.
A New York Times report that Bhutto's widower and party
co-chairman Asif Zardari and Sharif intend to start
negotiations with Islamic militants in the hope of ending
a spate of bombings has caused further jitters in the
West.
China accuses Dalai Lama of taking Olympics ‘hostage’
Reuters, Beijing
China has
accused the Dalai Lama of planning bloodshed in Tibet and
colluding with Uighur terrorists in Xinjiang as it pushes
a security and propaganda drive to stifle anti-Chinese
unrest in its remote west.
Anti-government protests by Buddhist monks erupted in
Tibet's capital, Lhasa, from March 10 and five days later
anti- Chinese rioting shook the city, killing a policeman
and 18 innocent civilians, burnt or hacked to death,
authorities have said.
Protests |