wednesday, MAY 12, 2010 BAISHAKH 29, 1417, JAMADIuL AWAL 26, 1431 Hijri

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Leading News

One killed, 3 missing, 29 hurt in Barapukuria coal mine accident

BSS, Dinajpur

One Bangladeshi worker died, 25 injured and three other miners still missing while a roof of a tunnel of the Barapukuria coal mine caved in at Parbartipur here Tuesday.
General Manager of Barapukuria coal mine Abdul Matin said the accident took place while a roof fault inside the mine collapsed on 32 miners including two Chinese nationals at around 10.30 am.
Just after being informed a rescue team of the coal mine started their work and rescued 29 injured workers including a Chinese miner along with the dead body of a Bangladeshi worker identified as Ranjit Kumar, 38, of adjacent village Kamar Para.
Among the injured, eight critically hurt miners were rushed to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital while others were admitted at Phulbari Upazila Health Complex and the own hospital of the Coal Mine.
Matin said three miners including one Chinese are still missing and the operation to rescue them is still continuing.
Operation in Charge of Parbarti Thana told BSS that the dead body of the Bangladeshi miner was sent to the Dinajpur Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The dead body would be handed over to the family members of Ranjit after the autopsy. Acting Deputy Commissioner of the district Shamsul Alam and acting Police Super Shawkat Hasan visited the spot.
Commercial Councilor of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Lin Wei Giang has already left capital to visit the accident place, a source concerned with the Chinese Embassy here confirmed.
Besides, Petrobangla also keeps close contact with the mine authorities about the rescue operation.
UNB adds: Petrobangla chairman Hossain Mansur said the operation to rescue the two workers was still continuing.
The Deputy General Manager of Petrobangla said the accident happened when the workers were excavating coal from phase number 1108 of the mine.
Chainese Embassy spokesmen Zhang Lei said more than 200 people were mobilized for the rescue effort. He could not however give any explanation on the cause of the accident.
The spokesman further said the Chinese Embassy has requested the mine' s Chinese contractors, CMC, to do their best to rescue the trapped workers. Lei said the embassy keeps close contact with relevant authorities of Bangladesh and is making appropriate follow up on the incident.

 PM orders removal of unfit vehicles to ease traffic jam
UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned to take initiatives to introduce specific BRTC bus services for the city's educational institutions, especially schools, and banks to provide the city dwellers with comfortable and timely transport facilities.
Addressing a function marking the inauguration of 100 CNG-run BRTC single-decker buses at the Bashar Base of the Old Airport on Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister also ordered the removal of unfit buses and other vehicles from the city streets to protect the environment and ease traffic congestion.
The new buses, procured from China with loan assistance from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) in addition to funding from the Government of Bangladesh, will soon ply the city streets.
Hasina said: "Formulate policies and guidelines to arrange buses for schools, colleges, banks and other institutions. We want to facilitate the city dwellers with smooth, timely and comfortable public transport."
She assured all necessary assistance from the government to arrange the BRTC buses for various institutions.
About her plan for introducing BRTC bus services on a massive scale, the Prime Minister said a modern bus service can be introduced for all educational institutions.
"If the BRTC buses move around the city everyday and take passengers from the schools and colleges at a certain time from morning to evening, then the students and teachers will not feel it necessary to use their private cars," she said.
In this regard, the Prime Minister suggested that there should be notice boards in front of the educational institutions through which people can come to know about the schedule of the buses.
She said already the government has fixed specific times for schools, and government and non-government offices and BRTC can use the timing to introduce its bus services accordingly.
The Prime Minister declared that the government will provide at least two buses for each of the colleges in the capital.
She further disclosed that the government will collect some 600 more new buses.
Hasina said the government wants to introduce a strong and modern public transport system in the country, particularly for the city dwellers.
Of the 100 buses, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannnath University and Eden University College were given two buses each.
The Prime Minister at the function handed over the keys of the buses to the Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the respective institutions.

 ADP to include Tk 15,000 crore project for Sonadia deep seaport

BSS, Dhaka

With a view to constructing the much- awaited Sonadia Deep Seaport in Cox's Bazar, a Taka 15,000 crore project is being included in the next Annual Development Programme (ADP) in the first phase.
"To this end, the proposed project of the Shipping Ministry has been approved at a recent meeting of the evaluation committee of the Planning Commission," Joint Chief (planning) of the ministry Jayanta Kumar Nandi told BSS Tuesday.
Regarding starting of the construction work of the seaport, its work areas and appointment of experts firm, he said the cabinet has already approved the work areas and its complete design.
The work areas of the seaport, Nandi said, include building infrastructure of the port and jetties, additional channel, specific places for import and export, road and rail communication, linking with internal riverports, transit area, township, helipad, safer places during disasters and construction of gas and power plants.
Besides, the issues of land acquisition and rehabilitation have been included in the work areas of the seaport, he said.
Nandi said the ministry will appoint experts' firm within a month through tender. To this end, work for preparing all documents and necessary papers is going on in full swing, he said.
Terming the Chittagong Port as mainly a riverport, he said at present no ship with 12-15 drafts can enter the port. Due to less depth of the Karnaphuli river, such types of ship have to anchor at the outer anchorage, which is 8-15 km away from the port, while the mother vessels anchor at Kutubdia.
Cost of the goods, he said, goes up because those are brought in the port from outer anchorage or Kutubdia through lighterage. To solve these problems, a high-powered expert team led by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan visited Yangsan and Shanghai ports of China, Penang and Kelang ports of Malaysia, Mumbai and Chennai ports of India and Hong Kong port in January last and witnessed their management and operation system.
Joint Secretary (commerce) of the Shipping Ministry Abdul Quddus said the ministry after scrutiny finalized the workplan for the deep seaport of Bangladesh by taking role model of the Yangsan port of China.

    Scrapping of ‘open-pit-mine’ bid demanded
Anu Mohammed rails against foreign companies

UNB, Dhaka

The government is pushing country's internal security into a dreadful situation by handing over its energy sector to foreign companies, Prof Anu Muhammad alleged on Tuesday.
Prof Anu Muhammad, leader of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Electricity and Port, made the allegation in a press conference held at Moitree Bhaban auditorium today.
Prof Anu Muhammad urged the government to scrap the 'open-pit-mine' bid, cancel Phulbari Coal Project and to expel Asia Energy.
While reading out the written statement in the press conference Anu Muhammad said though they had long been shouting for short, mid and long-term solutions to the power crisis, the government did not pay heed to their demands.
"Rather the government is taking expensive and anti-nation steps through ignoring its short, mid and long-term solution to the power crisis," he said.
He also urged the government to pay attention to solve energy crisis through meeting its seven-point demands.
"If the government goes for 'open-pit-mine' then it (govt) will be accused of betraying with countrymen and their interest," he said. Engineer Sheikh Muhammad Sheedullah, BD Rahamtullah, Sayed Abul Maksud, Mujahidul Islam Selim, Bajlur Rashid Feroj, Ragib Ahsan Munna, Saiful Haq, Moshrefa Mishu, Nazrul Islam and Mehdi Hasan, among others, were present in the press conference.

     Ctg City polls on June 17
Army to be deployed for five days: CEC

UNB, Dhaka

Elections to the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) will be held on June 17, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda announced Tuesday.
Declaring the election schedule to journalists at his office in the afternoon, the CEC said the last date for submitting nomination papers has been set for May 20, dates for scrutiny of nomination papers on May 22-23 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature on June 1.
The day of polling is June 17, he said.
Jasmine Tuly, EC deputy secretary, has been appointed as returning officer for the CCC elections, the CEC said. About the candidates, the CEC said candidates for the mayoral elections must be voters of any ward under the city corporation while the councilors have to be voters of their concerned ward to contest the polls. "Otherwise they will not be allowed to contest the poll," he said.
Dr Huda suggested that the prospective candidates who have not been voters of concerned wards should immediately apply to the Election Commission with necessary papers to transfer their voter registration.
The candidates should remove any colored posters and banners before the last date of nomination paper submission (May 20) otherwise their candidacy would not be accepted. "All candidates should follow the code of conduct to peacefully hold the polls," he said, adding that black and white posters as per the election rules should be printed with names of publishers and indicating the quantity.
Dr Huda revealed that police and RAB have been given directives to follow suspected delinquents, and they would continue the arms recovery drives in the CCC areas. From June 9-18, BDR will be deployed there along with the law enforcing agencies to set up check points, he said. The CEC mentioned that a limited army presence would be deployed there for five days----starting from three days prior to the polling day and they would discharge their duties staying out of the polling centers.
Replying to a question, Dr Huda said like local government elections, the CCC polls would be non-political and the candidates would be allocated the election symbols beyond the symbols of the registered 38 political parties.

    Akbar Ali for long-term steps to control inflation, power crisis

UNB, Dhaka

Former adviser of the caretaker government and eminent economist Dr Akbar Ali Khan on Tuesday urged the government to take long-term steps in the upcoming budget to control inflation for reducing poverty in the country.
"Inflation is a great problem for the poor community because the poor people directly become victims of inflation. When inflation rises in a country's economy, poverty increases," he said while addressing a pre-budget discussion at the CIRDAP auditorium on Tuesday noon.
Manusher Jonno Founda-tion and Shamunnay, two non-government organizations, jointly organized the pre-budget discussion titled "An Assessment of the Bangladesh Economy and Imperatives for Budget 2010-2011".
Recalling the adverse impact of inflation from a socio-economic perspective, Akbar Ali Khan said it is not only harmful from the social perspective, but also for polities and that the rate of poverty is "increasing by 10 percent" because of inflation.
He said that government should give emphasis to allocating more money in the upcoming budget for infrastructure development to reduce poverty.
"The government lacks adequate infrastructure like warehouses and cold storage to preserve the food and food gains. So, greater allocation is needed in the next budget for building infrastructures," he said.
About the price hike of the essentials, Akbar Ali Khan said that the government cannot keep the price stable of essential goods alone, the consumers have to come forward in this regard. He stressed the need for establishing consumer cooperation associations in cooperation with the government.
Recalling the emerging crisis of safe drinking water, he said that the government pledged to ensure safe drinking water for the country' s people by 2011 as per election manifesto of the Awami league, but it will be a great challenge for the government.
Referring to the ongoing power crisis of the country, the former adviser said the government is planning to set up rental power plants, but it will not be a viable solution to solve the crisis. "We have to find out other way to solve the power crisis, leaving aside rental power plant."

Back Page

ECNEC approves 5 projects worth Tk 1250 crore
UNB, Dhaka

Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday app-roved five projects costing Tk 1250 crore.
The approval came from a meeting of the ECNEC held at the Planning Commission in the afternoon with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Of the five projects approved, one is the installation of a single point mooring (SPM) in deep sea to facilitate direct petroleum transportation from ships to a refinery near Chittagong port through underground pipeline.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will implement the vital project at a total estimated cost of Tk 954 crore, of which Tk 904 crore will be financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The remaining amount will come from the BPC's own fund and from the government. According to the project profile, the SPM will be installed at Kutubdia area of the Bay of Bengal. A 77-km 36-inch pipeline will be built from the SPM to the state-owned Eastern Refinery in Chittagong port area.
After the installation of the SPM, the huge petroleum-carrier ships will be able to offload fuel directly to the pipeline to take the same to the Eastern Refinery.
But under the current arrangement, big ships usually anchor at deep sea from where lighter vessels receive the imported crude and refined petroleum to carry to the Eastern Refi-nery with the whole process taking 12-15 days.
"But when the SPM will be set up with underground pipeline, it will take just 24-48 hours," Planning Secr-etary Habubullah Majumder told reporters.
At present, the country imports 3.8-4.0 million crude and refined petroleum fuel to meet the annual demands. This import is expected to rise significantly when a number of fuel-fired power plants will be set up in a couple of years.
The other four projects approved by the ECNEC include South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project (Tk 58 crore), setting up Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Eye Hospital and Training Institute at Gop-alganj (Tk 141 crore), setting up Bangababdhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park at Gazipur (Tk 64 crore) and construction of by-lane of Soidabad-Enayetpur (Khaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital) Road (Tk 33 crore).

   Barua admits govt's failure in addressing power crisis
UNB, Dhaka

Industries Minister Dilip Barua has admitted that the government could not proceed as per the "people's expectations" regarding a solution to the power crisis.
"Undoubtedly it's a 'cry of the days' but unfortunately we couldn't address the power crisis as the countrymen expected quickly. It's simply because there has never been a long-term, realistic policy on power generation," the Minister said while addressing a pre-budget discussion at the National Press Club at noon Tuesday.
Barua, however, sought to assure the public that the government would solve the power crisis through the implementation of its short, mid and long-term plans, and sought time from the people to ensure a country free from load-shedding.
Business Reporters Foun-dation and Development (BRFD) hosted the discussion. President of Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BMCCI) Syed Moazzem Hossain, former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries MA Momen, industrialist Sheikh Masudul Islam Masud and journalist Jibon Islam, among others, addressed the discussion. Pointing his finger at the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, Dilip Barua said: "Those who are actually responsible for the ongoing power crisis in the country have suddenly become impatient." He said the government has made much progress in utilizing all avenues to address the power crisis. "It's a pro-people government. Through coordinated efforts power crisis will be solved to encourage both local and foreign entrepreneurs."
Minister Barua said the government would take necessary steps to modernize the power transmission and distribution systems in the country. "Increasing generation alone won't work to solve the power crisis, unless smooth transmission and distribution systems are also ensured." Conte-mplating a long-term solution to the power crisis, he said: "It' s time to go for coal-based power plants. We have world's best quality coal."
Minister Barua emphasized the importance of the transition to an industrialized economy from an agricultural economy.

   Another 100 institutions to be included in MPO: Nahid
BSS,Dhaka

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid Tuesday said his ministry is considering inclusion of another 100 non-government educational institutions in monthly payment order (MPO).
He was talking to journalists at his office here on the latest progress of MPO inclusion.
About additional financial allocation for MPO, he said the education ministry has the discretion to rearrange its budget at the end of the current fiscal for public welfare. Nahid said the education ministry is now reviewing the recent list of MPO inclusion to find out any discrepancies in following the government rules. If any flaw is found, it will be corrected. On the allocation of Taka 112 crore for MPO inclusion against 7,000 secondary schools, colleges, madrasas and technical institutions, he said it is really a tough job to satisfy all by this limited budget which everybody can understand.
Nahid reiterated that the education ministry has maintained all transparency and followed the government rules during inclusion of educational institutions for MPO.
The Ministry of Education, in new phase, included 1,022 educational institutions in MPO recently. MPO inclusion was stopped from 2004 that created huge sufferings for hundreds of teachers and employees.

    Ministers, MPs should pay tax on their remuneration: FBCCI

UNB, Dhaka

The leaders of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) on Tuesday demanded that the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) should have to take permission from the apex body prior to filing a case against any businessman.
The FBCCI also suggested in their budget proposal to raise the individual income tax ceiling, re-fixing the corporate tax rate and forming a national tax tribunal.
It also wanted that the lawmakers and cabinet members pay tax on their remunerations.
The FBCCI, however, in their budget proposal did not mention anything about the legalization of untaxed money, popularly known as black money, as the apex body president said there was not much response in this regard. The demands were placed at the 31st Consultative Committee Meeting of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) held at a city hotel, organized jointly by NBR and the FBCCI.
Taking part in the discussion, Hameem Group chairman AK Azad, also a president candidate in the upcoming FBCCI election, demanded that the ACC take permission from the FBCCI prior to filing cases against businessmen. In this connection, he mentioned that the ACC needs permission from the government for filing cases against government officials.
Echoing with the opinion, FBCCI president Annisul Huq said the ACC would have to wait for the approval from the apex trade body before they sue any businessman.
Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Mashiur Rahman spoke on the occasion as chief guest as Finance Minister AMA Muhith could not attend the function due to sudden illness. Chaired by FBCCI president Annisul Huq, the function was also addressed, among others, by NBR chairman Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed. FBCCI first vice president Abul Kashem Ahmed gave the welcome address.
Speaking as chief guest, Dr. Mashiur Rahman said that rational and efficient tax regime should be established in the country. "The rates should remain stable for a long time. If the customs and tax rates do not remain stable, investment might suffer."
"The present government is not liable for the power crisis. Although the government is now taking some decisions in this regard, but it seems we have to suffer for some time." He said that the government is yet to take decision on coal policy and emphasized releasing infrastructure and power bonds in the market.

    ‘How white money transforms into white’, Hanif asks BNP
BSS, Dhaka

Awami League (AL) acting general secretary Mahbub ul Alam Hanif Tuesday demanded elaborate explanation from BNP leaders how white money transformed into white.
He was addressing a press conference in the office of the AL President here.
Hanif raised question, why fine was realised if white money were made white. He said, Begum Zia made legal her undisclosed money earned through corruption. She made black money white by giving fine and tax that was looted during the four-party alliance period, he added. Referring to economic theory and law of the land, Hanif said whatever may be the source black money is not a legal income.
Anybody can be owner of black money earned through bribe, corruption, black-marketing and misappropriating state fund, he added. Hanif said Begum Zia during the regime of caretaker government to avoid case and punishment made legal a part of her hidden income that tarnished country's image. They should seek apology to the nation for this, he added.
Refuting a statement of Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan, Hanif asked how Begum Zia discharged the duty of Prime Minister, if she could not understand the matter of paying income tax.

     Journalist Montu’s wife wins compensation from Transcom

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court on Tuesday upheld the lower court verdict that ordered Transcom Beverage Company Ltd to pay compensation to the family of deceased Mozammel Hossain Montu, the then news editor of the Daily Sangbad, who was run over by its mini truck in the capital two decades ago.
An HC division bench headed by Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader, however, trimmed down the compensation from Tk 3.52 to Tk 2.1 crore.
On December 3 in 1989, senior journalist Montu was run over by a mini truck loaded with 7up and Pepsi-Cola when he was crossing the road in front of Ananda Bhaban in Shantinagar. Later, he was admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment in critical condition. After a 2-week fight for survival, Montu succumbed to his injuries.
On January 1, 1991, victim's wife Rawshan Akhter filed a case with the Court of 3rd Joint District Judge, Dhaka against the company and its truck driver claiming Tk 3.52 crore in compensation for the death of her husband.
On March 20, 2005, the lower court delivered the verdict in her favour.
Advocate Khalilur Rahman appeared for Rawshan Akhter while Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh stood for the company that lost the legal battle.

Editorial

Ensuring safe fruits

In yet another commendable move the High Court has asked law enforcers to sue unscrupulous traders who are mixing toxic chemical ingredients in a bid to ripen and preserve seasonal fruits prematurely under the Special Powers Act. Passing the interim order upon a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ petition, a HC division bench on Monday also issued a rule upon the government to explain within three weeks why a directive should not be given to take effective measures against the abusers to prevent public health. In addition, the HC division bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chow-dhury and Justice M Delwar Hossain issued a five-point directive on the respondents.
Secretaries to the Ministries of Commerce, Food and Home Affairs have been asked to form a monitoring cell to look into the matter and submit a report before the court within a fortnight, along with recommendations for preventing the abuse of toxic chemical ingredients into the seasonal fruits like mango, jackfruit and watermelon. The Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been asked to stop importing chemical-mixed fruits at all import points and submit a follow up report within a fortnight. The Directors General of BSTI and RAB have been asked to remain vigilant round the clock at fruit store houses in the capital and test the fruits before marketing.
It is a matter of great satisfaction as well as pride for the citizens of the country that the High Court has on many occasions taken stand in favour of major issues of public interest when the administration was unwilling or unable to protect the interest of the people. In the present case also the High Court has taken just the same positive stand at a time when the public health is at severe risk as hardly any fruit without chemical contamination is available in the market. The greedy and unscrupulous traders mix toxic chemicals to ripen fruits or preserve those for long. But no stringent action is taken against them.
In fact, large scale adulteration and contamination of food items including local and imported fruits of various kinds on sale in the markets have become a matter of grave concern. The markets are flooded with adulterated items and the consumers do not get fresh goods even after paying high prices. Large scale use of toxic chemical in various items specially fruits is pushing consumers' life into serious health hazard. Not only fruits and fast food, vegetables are also chemical contaminated nowadays. According to experts, over one crore people of Dhaka city consume 50 tons of vegetables every day. Of them 30 tons of vegetables are mixed with toxic pesticides. The toxic pesticides keep harmful effect in human body as the action of toxic chemical is not removed even after cooking these vegetables.
There is a law titled Consumers' Rights Act, but it is failing to protect consumers' rights. In the absence of strict enforcement of the law the consumers are virtually held hostages by a section of profit monger business syndicates, wholesalers, middlemen and retailers who are responsible for adulteration and raising prices of essentials. The market situation has reached a critical stage plunging the consumers into a grave crisis. It is reassuring that the High Court has asked the authorities to take action against the traders who are mixing toxic chemical ingredients with fruits and take other steps ensure safe fruits and necessary to protect public health. Everyone hopes that the court directive will be carried out and the public interest will be safeguarded.

  The unruly BCL

Only the other day newspaper reports said that the present committee of the pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League would be dissolved and a new committee would be formed in July. It has been long overdue. The present central committee formed for two years tenure has already spent four years in 'office'. At last, however, initiative has been taken to reorganize the committee in the backdrop of massive allegations of violence, in-fighting, tender manipulation and admission trade by its activists.
But move to recast the committee of the BCL could hardly deter its unruly activists from being locked in factional clashes. At least 15 BCL activists were injured in a factional clash at Jagnnath University on Monday morning. The clash took place between BCL activists led by Kamrul Hasan Ripon, president, university unit and rival group of BCL, led by general secretary Gazi Abu Syed. Besides, Seven BCL activists were injured in a factional clash at Government Commerce College in Chittagong on Monday. Police said when Qader group was creating pressure on the college authority demanding quota in the honours course admission another BCL faction, led by city BCL leader A Z M Nasir Uddin, protested it, triggering a clash between the two groups. Earlier, on May 4 last 25 activists were injured in clashes between rival groups of BCL at Dhaka University (DU) and Barisal Polytechnic Institute.
In fact, there seems to be no end to the factional feuds and violent activities of the activists of the BCL mostly over supremacy on the campus ,tender manipulation and admission trade. Many such incidents took place in the recent past. BCL is a renowned student organization having glorious past. But a section of its activists became unruly since Bangladesh Awami League won the 2008 general elections. The time is running out for Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) Chief Sheikh Hasina to bring the unruly BCL activists under control. If she fails to do so, the AL will have to pay a heavy price.

Analysis

New talks, old fears

While Delhi clearly prefers a step-by-step, confidence-building approach Islamabad wants the process to transition quickly to a broader dialogue that aims at dispute resolution.

Dr Maleeha Lodhi

Last month's meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India yielded an agreement to resume the stalled dialogue between the two countries. The diplomatic challenge now is to find a way of reconciling different visions of how that dialogue should proceed and what it should address.
The format and agenda of future talks were not discussed at Thimphu. This means that the very ambiguities that enabled an agreement to emerge can frustrate further progress.
The diplomatic ice was broken by an hour-long conversation between Prime Ministers Yusuf Raza Gilani and Manmohan Singh that took place on the sidelines of the 16th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). The two leaders agreed that their foreign ministers and foreign secretaries should meet to figure out modalities for future talks. The foreign ministers' meeting is now expected after the budget session of the Lok Sabha.
The outcome was welcomed in both nations as a necessary step to prevent further regression in the fraught relationship. But it was also accompanied by doubts whether the latest effort at rapprochement would set relations on a more normal course.
What was revived was not the dialogue suspended by Delhi in November 2008 in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attack, but a process of talks whose details have yet to be settled.
If the most meaningful aspect of the thaw at Thimphu was that the next stage of diplomatic engagement is more talks about talks, then caution
is in order. There is a long way to go before the way is cleared for the renewal of a broad-based and purposeful dialogue.
Both Delhi and Islamabad conceded ground to break the diplomatic impasse. Until now India had insisted that Pakistan take prior action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks before the renewal of broader talks. Pakistan, on the other hand, wanted a return to the composite dialogue of 2004-08 that was halted by India after Mumbai. In the past year India has
flatly refused to resume the composite talks, while engaging sporadically
with Pakistan and indicating that it
was prepared to only talk about terrorism.
The agreement at Thimphu meant Delhi put aside its "terrorism only" approach to talks, while Islamabad gave up the term "composite" dialogue to move the process forward. The apparent Indian willingness to discuss "all issues of mutual concern" seemed to give Pakistan reason not to insist on "nomenclature" on the premise that it would be able to pursue the composite dialogue in all but name.
For its part, the Pakistani side accommodated not only the Indian insistence on dropping the term "composite" but also the suggestion that no reference be made to the earlier understanding reached in July 2009 at Sharm el-Sheikh (where the composite dialogue was decoupled from the terrorism issue following the meeting between the two prime ministers). Pakistani officials also reiterated the assurance that Pakistan's territory will not be allowed to be used for terrorist attacks against India.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi confidently declared that "all eight issues that were discussed in the composite dialogue will be part" of the upcoming talks with Delhi.
This is by no means assured when the format, scope and agenda of the process have yet to be agreed. Caution is also urged by recent experience. The February talks between the foreign secretaries that aimed at repairing relations and kick-starting the dialogue ended in disappointment. No agreement emerged on even a schedule for further talks.
This suggests that the diplomatic reengagement will creep rather than leap forward, on what can be expected to be a bumpy road.
The path to a full-fledged dialogue is strewn with many difficulties and obstacles. For now the foreign ministers and their secretaries have been mandated to meet to assess the reasons for the current stalemate. The Indian view conveyed in the discussions at Bhutan was that trust and confidence had to first be restored for the process to advance.
What this means in practice is yet to be ascertained. But it could involve a protracted diplomatic dance aimed at trust-building before substantive exchanges get underway. In his May 3 statement to parliament the Indian foreign minister cited Manmohan Singh as telling Gilani that "if the trust deficit between India and Pakistan can be eliminated, all issues can be resolved through dialogue." This seems like a big "if" for wider talks.
While Delhi clearly prefers a step-by-step, confidence-building approach Islamabad wants the process to transition quickly to a broader dialogue that aims at dispute resolution.
Many Pakistani officials fear that a graduated step-by-step approach may provide Delhi the means to use each stage of that process as a lever to press Islamabad on Delhi's demands. Indian papers have quoted their officials to say that the dialogue will be focused on "confidence-building measures relating to terrorism."
From this perspective, building trust could mean that the contours of future engagement will be determined by actions Islamabad takes to satisfy Delhi.
This presents the diplomatic challenge of finding a way to address mutual doubts and reconcile the differing priorities and concerns of the two sides in order to move towards normalisation.
Although Delhi has signalled the willingness to take up "all issues," it continues to avoid returning to the framework of the "composite" dialogue. In the past year's exchanges with Islamabad, Indian officials have questioned the utility and relevance of the composite process and conveyed to Pakistan that the issues that warrant priority attention are different today. This raises the question of how Delhi will seek to recast the dialogue.
The merit of the "composite" dialogue construct was that by identifying eight baskets of issues, it was able to craft a common agenda because the broad-based format reflected the varying priorities of the two countries. Originally Islamabad's phrase of choice to describe this framework was "integrated" dialogue, while Delhi preferred to call it a "composite" process.
The principles that informed Pakistan's approach in fashioning this architecture for engagement are worth recalling. The agenda of eight issue areas tied together by the notion of "integrated" dialogue meant that the principle of "simultaneity" was injected into the process.
The expectation was that all issue areas would be addressed simultaneously, and not consecutively--i.e., placing one issue before the other, or making the resolution of any one issue a precondition for discussion of the others. This was also meant to prevent one side from cherry picking and moving only on issues of its concern and not responding to the other's priorities.
This "mutuality" helped sustain a wide-gauge process that involved multilayered talks and the creation of a web of multiple interactions across different ministries.
A second principle was that of broad-based engagement, so as to bring to the dialogue a comprehensive-not selective-approach, as the latter would expose the peace process to fragmentation, even disruption. This also meant the rejection of a step-by-step approach.
A pragmatic consideration also lay behind the construct of the "integrated dialogue." As progress on all tracks would not proceed at the same speed or make similar advancement, "integrated" dialogue aimed to ensure that all tracks of engagement would remain in play, with no issue ignored or cast aside because of its difficult or vexed nature.
The third principle that undergirds this dialogue was the pursuit of "comprehensive" peace, without which the normalisation process was deemed to be shallow and vulnerable to deadlock.
Looking ahead, these principles--which served the interests of both sides in the past--can offer an instructive guide to finding a mutually agreed framework for the pursuit of peace. And while process is important, it is the substance of the engagement that will determine whether the latest diplomatic effort heralds a new beginning or turns into another false start.


The writer is a former envoy of Pakistan to the US and the UK, and a former editor of The News.

  Afghans are grateful to the US

Success in Afghanistan will define the course of this young century. Afghans are a grateful people. Once we are on our feet, our partners can count on our commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder.
 
Hamid Karzai

Nearly nine years ago, terrorists killed thousands of civilians and destroyed iconic symbols of American prosperity and progress. Before that, the same terrorists had taken Afghanistan hostage and had killed and tortured our people for years. These terrible conditions brought the two nations together in a partnership. As in any genuine partnership, this has not been an easy ride. We have had our share of disagreements over some issues and approaches. What has kept us together is an overriding strategic vision of an Afghanistan whose peace and stability can guarantee the safety of the Afghan and the American peoples.
The many sacrifices of both Afghans and Americans have led to tremendous achievements. We are grateful for America's contributions and will always remember its resolve in standing by us. Now and during my visit to Washington this week, I hope to convey my deepest condolences to families of those who lost their lives in Afghanistan.
When I began my second term as president, I put forth a vision for our nation of Afghan leadership, sovereignty and full ownership of providing security, governance, justice, education, health and economic opportunity. That is a vision I know that US President Barack Obama shares.
Our common success in fighting terrorism and improving security rests on building institutions of the state to enable Afghanistan to deliver all the necessary services and protection to its people. We have, in abundance, courage and the desire to take responsibility for our own security and governance. To that end, it is vital that Afghan security forces be institutionalised and equipped with necessary and sustainable tools. The international community has been doing this, with the United States taking on the largest role, but more support is needed.
As I said in my inaugural address in November and again at the London conference in January, delivering good governance and rooting out corruption are among my government's top priorities. Recently, we have made systematic progress by launching a local governance policy that gives greater budgeting and implementation powers to provincial and district officials. I have also issued a decree giving unprecedented powers to the High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption to investigate cases within the government. And we are determined to do more.
This September, Afghanistan will hold its second parliamentary elections in the past five years. As I write, thousands of Afghans, including a great number of women, have registered to campaign. Our democracy has steadily taken root. Our people jealously guard their democratic achievements.
While we continue to battle terrorism, to help end violence in our country and ensure the safe return of America's sons and daughters, my government is convening a Consultative Peace Jirga - a historic forum of the Afghan people - to chart a way forward for engaging those who fight against us. Fifteen hundred representatives of the Afghan people will deliberate and advise us on reconciliation and reintegration. I emphasise that our arms are open only to those who are not part of Al Qaida or any other terrorist network, who denounce violence and who will return to normal life respecting the Afghan Constitution.
Regional cooperation
We recognise that more is needed to eradicate terrorism and for our reconciliation and reintegration to succeed. Sincere and effective regional cooperation backed by our allies is the best guarantee for success.
The Afghan people greatly value and want to strengthen their strategic partnership with the United States. We have travelled far together, but the international effort in Afghanistan still has miles to go. We are not yet delivering security to large portions of the country. I have consistently noted the urgency of addressing the problem of sanctuaries, training and other support that terrorists receive beyond Afghanistan's borders. This problem is far from solved. Ending night raids and house searches, as well as transferring control of detention facilities on our soil to Afghans will also go a long way in setting us up for success. Civilian casualties are harming our cause. General Stanley McChrystal's leadership has done a lot to address this, but more needs to be done.
Greater coordination of the international effort is also necessary as we strive to build capable Afghan institutions. Removing parallel structures that undermine the authority of our government is key. Addressing corruption and waste in the delivery mechanisms, including contractual systems, is imperative. Obama's decision to channel more funds through the Afghan government is a good step forward.
Success in Afghanistan will define the course of this young century. Afghans are a grateful people. Once we are on our feet, our partners can count on our commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder. Ensuring that terrorists no longer threaten our common security will take more patience and sacrifices. We have hard and essential work ahead. I am determined to see it through. I am reminded daily, as Robert Frost said, "the woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep".


Hamid Karzai is the President
of Afghanistan..

Viewpoints

Lib Dems: The accidental kingmakers

Were it not for a hung Parliament which has catapulted him into the position of a kingmaker, Nick Clegg would have struggled to keep his job after the election debacle.

Hasan Suroor

The most intriguing story of the British elections and one which has gone almost unnoticed in the drama over the hung Parliament is the virtual collapse of the Liberal Democrats, the stars of the campaign. At one stage - after their leader Nick Clegg's "victory" in the television debates - they seemed to be the only show in town, the ultimate answer to the political duopoly of Labour and the Tories.
The media spoke of a "Cleggmania" sweeping the country with Labour and the Tories under "pressure to respond to the Clegg phenomenon", as The Sunday Times breathlessly reported after the first debate. Polls after polls had the Lib Dems neck-and-neck with the Tories and way ahead of Labour. Indeed, such was the hype that Mr. Clegg secretly started fancying himself as the next Prime Minister portraying the election as a "two-horse race" between his party and the Tories.
In the event, it turned out to be a disaster. The party lost as many as 13 sitting MPs, including several high-profile figures, and despite picking up some new seats it ended up with fewer seats than it had in the outgoing Parliament. And this when it was predicted to double its tally. As an Observer writer noted: "All that publicity, that huge push, the media hand-holding and they still come third, with fewer seats than they had before. Clegg led them like the dad who didn't think to empty out the potatoes for the school sack race."
Were it not for a hung Parliament which has catapulted him into the position of a kingmaker, Mr. Clegg would have struggled to keep his job. Some of his predecessors were sacked for lesser offences. He has been forced to acknowledge the party's pathetic performance but has blamed it on the quirks of the current first-past-the-post system saying that "even though more people voted for us than ever before, even though we had a higher proportion of the vote than ever before …we have returned to Parliament with fewer MPs than ever before".
But not everyone is buying his line and there have been calls for a serious review of the party's tactics that, critics believe, failed to build on the momentum created by the first two TV debates. There is a view that, ultimately, the party became a victim of the post-debate hype which led it to overestimate its strength. Also, the party's policies seemed to crumble under closer scrutiny - and Mr. Clegg started to sound more and more like any other politician as he kept repeating the mantra of "change" without offering a concrete vision. According to Andrew Cooper of polling agency, Populus, about 70 per cent of voters believe that while the Lib Dems "seem like decent people …their policies probably don't add up".
But what does it say about the impact of television debates which, we were told, had "transformed" the campaign from a predictable two-horse race into an exciting three-way contest and done wonders in helping people "re-engage" with politics? Whatever happened to the "millions" of voters who were said to be "flocking" to the Lib Dems after being "galvanised" into action by the debates?
On the other hand, we had Gordon Brown who was widely ridiculed for his stuttering performance which threatened to push Labour into third position. Yet, Labour alone among the three main parties did better than what the post-debate polls had predicted.
If the Lib Dems failed to take off despite Mr. Clegg's "electrifying" television feat, so did the Tories despite David Cameron's supposedly barnstorming appearance.
There is anger in the party over its disappointing election results which have left it begging the Lib Dems for support. According to the pro-Tory Times the anger is "bubbling dangerously close to the surface" with critics blaming the poor showing on the way the campaign was conducted by Mr. Cameron and a small inner circle of friends and aides. One senior MP was reported in the Observer as saying that Mr. Cameron ran the campaign "from the back of his Jaguar with a smug, smarmy little clique".
"He should get rid of all of them. The party will settle for nothing less," he said.
Meanwhile, other "surprises", overshadowed by the excitement over the hung Parliament, included the unlamented electoral demise of the far-Right British National Party (BNP) which failed to win even a single seat, suffering huge losses even in its supposed strongholds. Its leader Nick Griffin's ambition to be elected to Parliament as his party's first-ever MP was dashed despite a high-profile and often intimidating campaign. The party fielded a record number of candidates hoping to exploit anti-immigration backlash among white, working-class voters. But a spirited campaign, Hope not Hate, by Labour and anti-racist activists put paid to its hopes. It shows how fragile the BNP's support base was; and how wrong Labour and other mainstream parties had been in overestimating its strength which had led them to start imitating its tactics in order to woo disaffected white voters.
Another casualty of the elections was the maverick George Galloway, who became the darling of Britain's Muslim community after he was thrown out of the Labour party for opposing the Iraq invasion. He formed his own Respect party and won the 2005 election from East London defeating a high-profile sitting Labour MP, mostly with the support of the local Bangladeshi community. Post-Iraq, however, his magic evaporated and as many of his former supporters turned against him, he was forced to move to another neighbouring constituency but was defeated. In an ironical twist, his erstwhile seat was won by a young Labour candidate of Bangladeshi descent Rushanara Ali.

  Towards green socialism

The arguments against the two systems can be summed up in one short sentence. Socialism is not workable; capitalism is not equitable; and neither is sustainable.

Iqbal Jafar

That there is something wrong with the old socialist model, especially the Soviet version of it, is now widely accepted. That there is something wrong with the capitalist model too is not as widely accepted even after the recent global demonstration of its ruinous flaws. So the debate goes on.
The arguments against the two systems can be summed up in one short sentence. Socialism is not workable; capitalism is not equitable; and neither is sustainable. To elaborate: socialism is not sustainable due to its bureaucratic inefficiency in catering to the needs of the people; and capitalism is not sustainable due to its acknowledged efficiency in ravaging the world resources to cater to the insatiable greed that it arouses among people across the world.
Since the ideological debates and experiments remained inconclusive, a compromise had to emerge. And it did in the form of the Third Way, popularised by the left-of-centre political parties in Europe, Australia, Canada and the US. It was supposed to represent a centrist convergence of the two systems, but in practice it turned out to be no better than good old capitalism with a little flavour of social responsibility, and that too, especially in the US, as an electoral expediency. With the exception of the Scandinavian countries, it did not encourage meaningful social responsibility or discourage the consumerist culture on which the capitalist economy thrives.
While the old debate goes on, a new situation has arisen that compels us to see old issues from a new perspective. The new situation is the ongoing despoiling interaction between human society and the rest of the ecosystem. This is the third phase of the capitalist economy.
In its first phase, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, capitalism was seen as an enemy of the working class. In its second phase, as a promoter of imperialism, it was seen as an enemy of the weaker nations. While neither the first nor the second phase is over yet, the capitalist economy has entered its third and most lethal phase. Having graduated from being an enemy of individuals (workers) to the enemy of the nations (colonies), it is now an enemy of all life, not just human life. As a promoter of ever-escalating consumerism it has brought human society into conflict with its environment.
Global warming, dying forests, vanishing life-forms, polluted soil, air and water, fast depletion of non-renewable resources, are some of the wages of our sins against Mother Nature. The earth, ravaged, mauled and battered by greedy humans would, in time, be a desolate place where birds may sing no more nor flowers bloom.
Each of those catastrophic changes in ecological equations can be traced to unrestrained consumerism that feeds on human greed and the primordial instinct of acquisition, intensified by saturation advertising that makes invention the mother of necessity. It has created what Alvin Toffler calls 'throwaway culture' where the level of prosperity can be measured by the amount of garbage produced. It has been calculated that if the whole world were to consume at the level of a typical West European consumer, we would need the resources of two more planets like this earth. India and China alone would need one whole planet for themselves.
The time has come, therefore, for the international community to choose the kind of values and objectives it should pursue instead of being a helpless spectator. It has to decide whether material wealth, measured as GDP, should remain the touchstone of progress and development or if the pursuit of societal peace and happiness should be the objective. It is obvious by now that the GDP rat race can only lead to global disaster, whereas societal peace and happiness is achievable at a much lower cost with no violence to the ecosystem. Fortunately for us, it is no more vague and wishful thinking, but a measurable objective.
The New Economics Foundation of the UK has so far published two reports on The Happy Planet Index that provide data for 143 countries on three indicators: life expectancy, life satisfaction and ecological footprint. The data collected by the foundation in respect of life satisfaction measured on a scale of 0 to 10 shows that Costa Rica, with a GDP per capita of only $10,950, leads the world with a score of 8.5.
Even the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, with $7,890 and $4,690, respectively, have managed to score as high as 7.6. While at a life satisfaction score of 8.0 or a little less, the US and some European countries with GDP per capita as huge as $35,000 to $ 58,000 are not only behind Costa Rica but not much ahead of Guatemala. Also interesting is the fact that Japan too, with a GDP per capita of $35,220 and life satisfaction score of only 6.8, is significantly behind the Latin Americans. There is, thus, enough evidence to show that the pursuit of GDP does not lead to correspondingly happier society.
Another interesting conclusion reached by the foundation is that GDP does matter but only up to a point (up to about $10,000), and thereafter it ceases to be of much relevance for the societal happiness that depends on many other factors like social justice and societal bonds. It is good to know that the global per capita GDP has already reached $10,357. Thus the world is producing enough wealth to achieve global societal happiness if we can get our priorities right.
Keeping in view our past experience and future possibilities, the following conclusions are self-evident: without private ownership of means of production and trade, efficient creation of wealth is not achievable; without equitable distribution of income, eradication of poverty and social justice is not possible; and without life-friendly control over consumption and production, sustainable economic activity is not possible.
Sooner or later the world will have to accept these principles. An economy that is not based on these principles cannot provide an environment and people-friendly dispensation which is also sustainable. Nor can it save this living planet.

  Israel can’t conceal nukes now

There is a subtle shift in US policy that indicates Israel can no longer conceal its nuclear weapons under its so-called policy of "nuclear ambiguity."

Linda Heard

There is a subtle shift in US policy that indicates Israel can no longer conceal its nuclear weapons under its so-called policy of "nuclear ambiguity."
For decades, American leaderships have emulated the three wise monkeys whenever anyone has challenged them on the topic. When it comes to their Middle East ally Israel, they've chosen to see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil, even when such a stance has made them vulnerable to accusations of bias and cut the ground from under their WMD disarmament arguments vis-à-vis the rest of the planet.
American officials regularly shy away from the subject seen as an absolute taboo in Washington akin to Holocaust denial, but behind closed doors many would say that there is no moral equivalence between a responsible democracy such as Israel being armed with nuclear weapons and Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions. Translated, this means that Israel is "our friend" whereas Iran isn't.
However, given that Israel has twice been on the point of unleashing its nukes, such arguments fail to stand up to scrutiny. Ernst David Bergmann, the man who from 1954 to 1966 was the chairman of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, said it all: "There is no distinction between nuclear energy for peaceful purposes or warlike ones…We shall never again be led as lambs to the slaughter."
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan together with many of the region's leaders has frequently condemned "the West's silence" on the topic.
When Middle East leaders have called for a nuclear-free Middle East, until recently, Washington has shown little enthusiasm because the only country in the region that actually possesses nuclear bombs - as far as is known with any certainty - is Israel. Indeed, in 2006, then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert admitted as much during an interview when he said Iran aspires "to have a nuclear weapon as America, France, Israel and Russia." Olmert subsequently attempted to eat his words by saying the quote was taken out of context.
Worse, Israel has been handed carte blanche to accuse other nations of covertly developing nukes and attack them. The irony is that Israel has had an undeclared nuclear weapons program since the 1960s and is estimated to possess more than 400 thermonuclear weapons and warheads as well as nuclear submarines. Israel is also alleged to have undeclared capabilities for biological and chemical warfare.
In June, 1981, Israel bombed Iraq's French-built Osirak reactor at Tuwaitha, which resulted in Saddam Hussein ordering his nuclear scientists to build a bomb. Then in September, 2007, Israel attacked an unused military site in Syria's eastern desert, while accusing Damascus of colluding with North Korea to construct a nuclear facility. In both instances, Israel got away scot-free with its unprovoked military aggression.
But signs are that Israel may not be able to wrap an invisible cloak around its nuclear weapons for very much longer. In the first place, Iran has agreed in principle to a uranium exchange scheme proposed by its allies Brazil and Turkey. This would involve Tehran swapping its low-level enriched uranium with nuclear rods enriched abroad to a level of 20 percent, required for medical purposes. If Iran were to accept the plan - monitored by the nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - it would go a long way to dousing the international heat on that country leaving Israel trapped in the headlights.
Secondly, and more importantly, US President Barack Obama says he is committed to turning the Middle East into a nuclear-free zone and is believed to be working closely with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to arrange a conference on ways to tackle this.
Egypt has long attempted to create a level playing field with calls to bring Israel's nukes out of the shadows. "If major countries wish to address Iran's nuclear dossier, they can do that by bringing Israel and Iran to the negotiating table," said Egypt's Ambassador to the UN Maged Abdelaziz during a recent newspaper interview.
Thirdly, following an NPT Review Conference held last week in New York, the United Nations Security Council issued a statement urging all states to join the NPT and confirming its members' commitment to a nuclear-free Middle East. The five permanent UNSC members are also open to studying proposals "aimed at taking concrete steps in this direction." The statement is clearly targeted at Israel since Iran is already a signatory to the NPT, under the terms of which Tehran has been obliged to open its doors to IAEA inspection and monitoring.
And last but not least, for the first time ever, an IAEA board meeting scheduled for June 7 is set to focus on "Israel's nuclear capabilities", according to a leaked provisional agenda. However, there are no guarantees, as objections from the usual pro-Israel suspects the US, Britain and France could quash the discussion. If those countries decide not to interfere, this would go a long way in assuring the rest of the world that, at last, the international community is serious about its non-nuclear weapons objectives.
But let's not get too excited. Until now, Washington's references to Israeli nukes have been couched or implicit. Unless President Obama takes Israel publicly to task on the issue and spells his demands out clearly, Israel will remain off the hook. Naming and shaming Israel is important else Obama's motives may come into question. Does he seriously want Israel to abandon its policy of nuclear ambiguity and join the NPT? Or is this a ploy designed to persuade Arab nations to put pressure on Iran and/or to "encourage" Israel to quit settlement expansion and pursue peace.
Whatever President Obama's true intentions, Israelis are getting nervous. "Jerusalem is increasingly jittery that cracks are appearing in the nearly half-century-old US policy of upholding Israel's right to maintain its nuclear ambiguity," writes the Jerusalem Post. I, for one, can't wait to see whether those "cracks" will be wide enough to shatter Israel's nuclear fortress ending its status of exceptionality once and for all.

International

Pak Senators ‘up in arms' against Clinton’s ‘dire consequences’ diatribe

ANI, Islamabad

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's blunt talking has not gone down well with Pakistani law makers, who have urged the government to ask the Obama Administration to clarify its stand over her statement, that Pakistan may have to face 'very dire consequences' if country based terrorists succeeded in attacking America.
Speaking during a discussion in the National Assembly, senators from all the major political parties asked the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) led government to adopt a clear policy on Clinton's statements.
Clinton, during an interview, had warned Pakistan of 'severe consequences' if a successful terror attack is traced back to that country.
She had also said that there are people in the Pakistan Government who know the whereabouts of Al Qaeda chieftain Osama bin Laden and Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Omar, but Islamabad has not shared enough evidence regarding that.
"I'm not saying that they're at the highest levels but I believe that somewhere in this government are people who know where Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda is, where Mullah Omar and the leadership of the Afghan Taliban is and we expect more cooperation to help us bring to justice, capture or kill, those who attacked us on 9/11," Clinton had said during CBS' 60 minute.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Zafar Ali Shah demanded an explanation from Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, to which he replied that only the foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was authorised to speak on the issue.
"The foreign minister himself seemed to be publicly defending India by saying it was not violating the Indus Water Treaty.

   Nisar sees ‘no change’ after 18th Amendment
Dawn Online, Islamabad

A month after parliament passed the empowering Eighteenth Amendment, the government heard opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan charge in the National Assembly on Monday its "muddled" governance style had not changed, his main target, as usual, being what now constitutionally is a figurehead president.
Opening a debate on President Asif Ali Zardari's address to parliament last month, the PML-N leader accused the government of playing tricks to the detriment of the landmark constitutional amendments that transferred some key presidential powers to the prime minister but assured it of opposition's cooperation to help solve people's problems.
He cited what he saw as a continued reliance on reissuing expired ordinances and alleged stone-walling of Supreme Court decisions and influencing of decision-making by the president through a "core committee" of the ruling PPP, and said: "All these things mean nothing has changed."
He said it was now Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's responsibility - due to powers given by last month's constitutional changes - to put things on the right course, but added the government was "playing tricks" to block the impact of the Eighteenth Amendment. Chaudhry Nisar's was the only speech of the day after the house passed a motion to dispense with the question hour and the private members' day (as on Tuesday) for the duration of the debate on the April 5 presidential address to a joint sitting of parliament.

  Kayani was not asked to launch new operation: US
Dawn Online, Washington

The top US commander in Afghanistan said on Monday that he never asked the Pakistani army chief to do more while the White House rejected an impression that the United States and Pakistan were on a collision course over how to deal with the Taliban.
The two statements, given at a briefing on Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to Washington, negates claims that last week's botched attempt to bomb Times Square by a Pakistani-American may be the beginning of an end of the US-Pakistan partnership.
Soon after the bombing attempt, the US media reported that Gen McChrystal met Gen Asfhfaq Parvez Kayani in Islamabad and asked him to launch a military operation in North Waziristan.
The claim was backed up with other reports in the media, saying that the United States wanted an immediate military operation in North Waziristan and is urging Pakistan to further expand the fight against the militants in other areas as well.
"Yes, there was an unfortunate news story that came out that was completely inaccurate that represented that I had expressed to Gen Kayani US policy on doing more, and that just didn't happen," said Gen Stanley McChrystal, who commands US and Nato forces in Afghanistan.
"It was a one-on-one meeting and it (the demand) did not occur. And I'd made it clear to Gen Kayani that I did not represent it that way," the US commander told a White House briefing.
The new US stance also clarifies earlier remarks by other American officials, creating an impression that Pakistan needs to launch a major military operation against the militants now or face America's ire.
"The Pakistani government recognises the threat that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan poses to them, just as we recognise the threat it poses to us," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

  Aquino set for landslide win in Philippines election
AFP, Manila

Benigno Aquino was set Tuesday to become the new Philippine president, pledging to fight corruption after riding on a wave of support from the "People Power" movement of his democracy hero parents.
Aquino told AFP in an interview even before being formally proclaimed the winner that he would "lead by example" and bring in clean government after almost a decade under the corruption-tainted rule of President Gloria Arroyo.
The reserved 50-year-old senator steamrolled his rivals, with latest results showing him grabbing over 40 percent of the estimated 37.5 million votes cast Monday in the country's first automated polls.
Election officials said final results may take a few more days because data from outlying precincts were not being fed into the central tabulation centre, requiring some technical adjustments.
A proclamation can only be done after 100 percent of the data arrives.
In the interview, Aquino also said that once in office he would ensure that Arroyo, one of the Philippines' most unpopular leaders, would be investigated for alleged vote-rigging in the last election in 2004.
"I want to lead by example. We talk about corruption. I did make a public vow, I will never steal," he said, adding that this would give him the "moral authority" to make others conform.
Millions of Filipinos had turned out to vote Monday despite deadly bouts of violence and problems with ballot-counting machines that led to long queues.
"Noynoy" Aquino, the son of the Philippines' most revered democracy heroes, wooed the country during a tumultuous election campaign with his mantra of clean government and pledges to reduce poverty.

  India-Pakistan talks on July 15: Krishna
IANS, New Delhi

The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan will meet in Islamabad July 15, it was announced here Tuesday after the two leaders spoke on the phone.
'The foreign minister of Pakistan has invited me to go to Islamabad on the 15th of July. So I am planning to visit Islamabad for my talks with Foreign Minister (Shah Mehmood) Qureshi, and I am looking forward to the talks,' India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters.
'Let us hope that these talks will be helpful in bringing our two countries closer together,' Krishna said after his phone conversation with Qureshi during which the two discussed steps to carry forward the stalled peace process between India and Pakistan.
He said that the talks would be marked with 'cordiality' and would be 'fruitful'.
According to the Indian minister, outstanding issues would be discussed and resolved by 'mutual trust and mutual respect'.
The telephonic conversation lasted around half hour, informed sources said. The call was scheduled a few hours before Krishna leaves for Kazakhstan on a three-day visit later in the day.
The two foreign ministers were mandated by their prime ministers in Bhutan April 29 to meet and work out modalities for restoring trust between the two countries.
The two ministers were expected to talk Friday but could not do so as Qureshi was busy with other engagements.
Qureshi Monday had pitched for 'uninterrupted dialogue' between the two countries.

  Aung San Suu Kyi asks for her freedom
AP, Yangon

Myanmar's detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is making a final bid for freedom, lawyers said Tuesday after submitting a request for a special appeal against her house arrest.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has already lost two appeals against an August 2009 conviction, most recently at the country's High Court in February. Her last legal option is the Special Appellate Bench, a multi-judge panel in the remote administrative capital of Naypyitaw.
Lawyers filed their appeal Monday at the High Court, which will decide whether to forward the case to the special court for consideration, said attorney Nyan Win.
The 64-year-old Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years. In August 2009, she was convicted of violating the terms of her house arrest for briefly sheltering an American who swam uninvited to her home, and she was ordered to serve three years in prison with hard labor. The trial drew global condemnation.
Suu Kyi's sentence was commuted to 18 months of extended house arrest, which would keep her detained through elections planned for later this year. An initial appeal was rejected in October 2009 and upheld by the High Court in February.

  US, Karzai pledge enduring ties despite sore points
AFP, Washington

The United States and Afghanistan pledged Tuesday to forge ties that will outlast the withdrawal of US combat forces but raised mutual fears over Afghan government corruption and civilian casualties.
On the second of his four-day, red-carpet visit, Afghan President Hamid Karzai sat down with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and their high-level teams to map out what the chief US diplomat called their "shared" future.
Senior officials from both sides later opened broad-ranging talks that included boosting agriculture, fighting drug trafficking and training the Afghan army and police.
The visit comes as the US military gears up for a crucial stage of President Barack Obama's strategy to surge 30,000 extra troops into Afghanistan, in a bid to defeat the Taliban and allow US forces to start coming home next year.
"Let me be clear: As we look toward a responsible, orderly transition in the international combat mission in Afghanistan, we will not abandon the Afghan people," Clinton said as she sat next to Karzai.
"Our civilian commitment will remain long into the future," she told US and Afghan ministers seated at a U-shaped table in a chandeliered room of the State Department. Overlooking his public spats with Washington over charges of corruption and vote-rigging in last year's elections, Karzai said his country will not forget US contributions and sacrifices in Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan is known around the world for being a country that remembers a friend-and for long. And that assurance I can give you on behalf of the Afghan people, Madame Secretary," the Afghan leader said. The pair's remarks set the tone for a day-long series of meetings of ministers aimed at cementing a US-Afghan relationship that has shown many cracks in the first year of the Obama administration.

 Hung parliament: Clegg and Cameron in private talks
BBC Online

Nick Clegg and David Cameron met again in private on Tuesday morning - as a senior Lib Dem told the BBC the Tory offer was the "only deal in town". The two parties have now resumed talks, after the Lib Dem team held discussions with Labour. The BBC's Iain Watson said a senior Lib Dem told him his personal view was the Tory offer was the best option.
But some Tories are angry that the Lib Dems were secretly talking to Labour about forming a possible government. While Labour's Ed Miliband said they had had "good discussions" with the Lib Dems - some Labour figures have warned against a deal. The Tories won the most seats in Thursday's election but were short of an overall majority and are seeking Lib Dem support - either for a coalition or to support them as a minority government. But on Monday, the Lib Dems opened formal talks with Labour, after Gordon Brown said he would quit as leader. Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg said talks had reached a "critical and final phase" and his party would "do our bit to create a stable, good government".
Voting system
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said while many senior Lib Dems had close links to Labour, Mr Clegg would have to weigh up whether a deal with that party - which would still not have enough seats to command an overall majority - could deliver strong and stable government.
He said it would also depend on the extent of opposition to any deal within the Labour Party - with former cabinet ministers David Blunkett and John Reid already warning it could be very damaging for the party.
Both Labour and the Tories are trying to woo the Lib Dems with promises on electoral reform.

   Hizballah, Israel prepare for a war that neither wants
Time Online

With a startled shout from the outcrop above, the Hizballah fighter bounded down the rocky slope and cocked his AK-47 rifle in a dramatic flourish as he drew near. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, his face a mix of anger and astonishment. "This is a military zone. You should not be here."
It turned out that the youthful militant had been guarding a small outpost created by Shi'ite militia on a remote mountaintop in south Lebanon. The location was well chosen, offering the Hizballah men commanding views over the hills and valleys of the southern Bekaa Valley, a likely battlefront if a widely anticipated - and feared - war breaks out between the Iran-backed group and Israel. Whether these rugged hills will see yet another war depends less on the likely combatants than on the U.S. and Iran. Hizballah is viewed as one component of Iran's deterrence against a possible attack on its nuclear sites, should diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the standoff with the West over its enrichment of uranium. And recent conversations with Hizballah fighters reveal an organization at the peak of its military powers, with an army of well-trained, disciplined and highly motivated combatants wielding advanced weaponry, cultivating new tactics and brimming with confidence.
"The next war is coming, 100%, but we don't know when," says Ali, a thickly muscled university student. "We have big plans for it. God willing, you will see the end of Israel."
Like all Hizballah fighters interviewed for this article, Ali requested anonymity, as he was not authorized to talk to the press. Although Hizballah and Israel both insist they do not want another war, neither side has disguised its preparations for that possibility. Since the end of its latest bout with the Israeli military, in July and August 2006, Hizballah has built new defensive lines and firing positions, the fighters say, in the hills flanking the Bekaa and along the rugged, mountainous spine running up the middle of southern Lebanon.
One such position was the observation post near the town of Jezzine onto which a TIME reporter stumbled.

  Pakistani man arrested at US embassy in Chile
Dawn Online, Santiago

A Pakistani man will be charged with violating gun control laws in Chile Tuesday after traces of explosives were detected on his body and belongings during a visit to the US embassy, police said.
The suspicious substance was detected when the man identified as Mohamed Said Uf Rejaman, 28, went through a security checkpoint on Monday, prompting embassy staff to notify police. He was arrested on site.
Police experts found traces of a TNT explosive derivative on the suspect's hands, cell phone, bag and documentation.
The man said he did not know where it had come from and he was only at the embassy to renew his visa.
He arrived in Chile about three months ago on a visa and had been working at a hotel in the capital.
Police have raided his home in downtown Santiago.
The arrest came just a week after Pakistani-born naturalised US citizen Faisal Shahzad was pulled off a plane to Dubai and arrested for allegedly leaving a sport utility vehicle rigged to explode in New York's crowded Times Square.

  Iran says it warned off US plane near manoeuvres
Reuters, Tehran

Iran's military warned off a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft trying to approach Iranian naval manoeuvres, the semi-official Fars News Agency said on Tuesday.
The incident involving the two old adversaries happened on Monday, it quoted the armed forces chief as saying. Iran's navy last week launched eight days of exercises in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, a region crucial for global oil supplies.
"A U.S. reconnaissance aircraft which had intended to approach our operational war games left ... upon the timely warning of our air defence forces," Fars quoted armed forces commander Ataollah Salehi as saying.
He was speaking to reporters as the military test-fired two surface-to-sea missiles in the Gulf of Oman, it added. There was no immediate U.S. comment on the report. Pieter Wezeman, a researcher on military issues at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), said similar incidents had happened before and did not necessarily signal an escalation in tension.
"To me it sounds like standard behaviour from both sides," he said by telephone from the Swedish capital. "I recall a number of them over the years." Earlier this month, Iran revealed that one of its military planes had photographed a U.S. aircraft carrier, suggesting that the U.S. ship's crew had objected to the Iranian action.
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said last week Iran was challenging U.S. naval power in the Middle East with an array of offensive and defensive weapons. The U.S. military is present in most Gulf Arab countries and has expanded land- and sea-based missile defence systems in and around the Gulf during a protracted nuclear stand-off with Iran.
MISSILES AND SPEEDBOATS
Iran's manoeuvres coincide with rising tension between Iran and the West over Tehran's uranium enrichment programme. Western officials suspect it is aimed at developing nuclear weapons capacity. Iran says it is only for electricity generation.

  Ukrainian opposition attack pro-Russia policies
Reuters, Kiev

Hundreds of supporters of President Viktor Yanukovich threw a cordon around the Ukrainian parliament Tuesday as opposition politicians and demonstrators angrily accused the leadership of selling out the country to Russia.
The ex-Soviet republic is hosting a visit by Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev on May 17-18 and tension is high after riots in parliament on April 27 over ratification of an agreement by Yanukovich extending the Russian navy's stay in Ukraine.
Tuesday, several hundred members of the pro-Yanukovich Regions Party formed a barrier to the entrance to the parliament building, while police kept back about 3,000 supporters of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from drawing near.
Tymoshenko, who has seized on the Black Sea fleet issue to reinvigorate the opposition, declared to supporters: "Everything that has happened over Crimea and the Black Sea fleet ... was directed at belittling our independence."

  Enhancing cellular immunity against influenza virus
ANI, Washington

Researchers at the Trudeau Institute, New York, have identified two key signalling components that may help enhance cellular immunity against influenza virus.
David L. Woodland, project leader and president of the institute, said: "It has become apparent that protective cellular immunity to viruses like influenza requires white blood cells to be pre-positioned in the lungs, the site of initial infection."
This approach has led to efforts to develop vaccines that persuade cells to localize in the respiratory tract.
Woodland added: "That, however, has turned out to be difficult, because we don't fully understand the signals that direct immune cell migration to distinct locations in the body."
Woodland and colleagues have begun to shed light on this important question. The team has discovered that two distinct signals are required to instruct virus-fighting white blood cells, known as T cells, to migrate into the lungs.
The first T cell is residual antigen (needed to stimulate antibodies) that remains in the lymph nodes for weeks after the initial infection has been cleared.

  Pope pins abuse scandal on Church 'sin'
BBC Online

Pope Benedict XVI says the Church's child abuse scandal shows that the greatest threat to Catholicism comes from "sin within" the Church. He made his comments in response to a question while en route to Portugal. Critics have previously accused the Vatican of attempting to blame the media and the Church's opponents for the escalation of the scandal.
But the Pope made clear its origin came from within the Church itself, and said forgiveness "does not replace justice".
'Need for penance'
"Today we see in a truly terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the Church does not come from outside enemies, but is born of sin within the Church," the pontiff told reporters on a plane bound for Portugal.
His comments were his most direct response to press questions, and some of his strongest words yet on the abuse scandal, says the BBC's Vatican Correspondent, who is travelling with the Pope.
Benedict said the Church has "a very deep need" to acknowledge that it must do penance for its sins and "accept purification". However, he added that forgiveness should not be a substitute for justice.
However, his supporters say he has been the most pro-active pope yet in confronting abuse.

  China, US to renew human rights talks
AP, Beijing

This week's resumption of U.S.-China human rights talks after two years will spotlight what critics say is a deterioration in Beijing's record on legal protections, free speech and civil society.
To Liu Xia, whose author-dissident husband is serving an 11-year prison sentence on subversion charges, such attention can only be a good thing.
"I only see benefits and no downside," said Liu, who has repeatedly been refused permission to see her husband, Liu Xiaobo, since his Dec. 25 sentencing. "At least the authorities won't do anything too outlandish since they'll be under pressure."
The meetings in Washington on Thursday and Friday are the first such dialogue in two years and are expected to take up individual cases such as Liu Xiaobo's, along with a list of topics including religious freedom, attacks on the legal profession and China's strict Internet controls - underscored by Google's recent decision to stop censoring its search results in China on behalf of the government.

Business/Economy

Dhaka-Jakarta trade volume to cross $1b in next two years

BSS, Dhaka

Commerce Minister Lt Col (Retd) Faruk Khan on Tuesday called for exploration of the hitherto untapped potentials in the tourism sector of Bangladesh and Indonesia to raise the overall trade volume of both the countries to one 1 billion US dollar within the next two years.
"Dhaka-Jakarta trade volume could be raised to One rpt 1 billion US dollar from the existing around US$500 million by further promoting the tourism sector side by side with other areas," said the minister while inaugurating a three-day Indonesian Trade Expo at a hotel in the city.
Indonesian Embassy in Dhaka organized the first ever single country trade expo titled 'The Integrated Expo: Discover Indonesia, The Beauty Unlimited.' The expo will remain open from 10 am to 10 pm everyday.
Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Zet Mirzal Zainuddin gave an overview of the trade expo focusing mainly on the joint- venture investments in the potential sectors.
The exposition began with a fractionating Indonesian gala cultural show performed by a good number of Indonesian artist s, who kept the visitors spellbound through their mellifluous songs and traditional dances.
Businessmen, entrepreneurs, investors and importers joined the expo where many a number of Indonesian goods including furniture, handicrafts and traditional boutiques were put on display in 25 stalls.
Faruk Khan said the present government would soon frame an export-import policy in line with other liberal polices to facilitate establishment of joint ventures in Bangladesh.
"An investment-friendly atmosphere is already existing in Bangladesh, where the foreign entrepreneurs including those from Indonesia can invest freely taking the advantage of our liberal polices," he said.

 Bulgaria keen to identify potential areas to increase Dhaka-Sofia trade

BSS, Dhaka

Bulgarian ambassador to Bangladesh Borislav Kostov on Tuesday said his country is keen to identify potential areas for increasing the bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
He said this when he called on Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Abdul Hamid Advocate at the latter's office here. Eng. Mosharraf Hossain MP, Moin Uddin Khan Badal MP, JS secretary Ashfaq Hamid and high officials were present.
During the meeting, they discussed ways and means how to further improve relations between the lawmakers of both the countries, a JS secretariat press release said.
Kostov recalled the day, January 12 in 1972, when Bulgaria gave recognition to the newly emerged Independent Bangladesh and said the relations between the two countries have been on gradual rise since then.

National

human trafficking
‘Universal law should be enacted’

BSS, Naogaon

Participants at a daylong workshop here Tuesday stressed the need for enacting a universal law to prevent trafficking as the prevailing laws do not cover different kinds of human trafficking.
They underscored the need for removing loopholes in the prevailing laws for preventing human trafficking and coping with the changing scenario of the nature of crimes, including human trafficking.
Local development and human rights organisation Association for Community Development (ACD) organised the workshop under the assistance of the USAID and Winrock International at the Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium.
Chaired by Programme Manager of ACD Ehsanul Amin Emon, the workshop was attended by Assistant Superintendent of Police of Naogaon Sohel Reza as the chief guest. District Information Officer Farhad Hossain, Sadar upazila Vice-Chairman Parveen Akhter and Tauhidul Alam Tiya of ACD were present as the special guests.
Thirty participants including government and NGO officials and executives, professionals, public representatives, community leaders, civil society members and the elite took part.
The speakers narrated the weaknesses of the prevailing anti- human trafficking laws in the country to combat the worst form of human rights violation by the organised gangs of traffickers.

  Over 29,000 get back eyesight after cataract surgery
UNB, Dhaka

Over 29,000 poor people got back eyesight after cataract surgery and 1.59 lakh others were provided with primary eye care services free of cost in capital in last five years.
Dhaka Urban Comprehensive Eye Care Project supported by a UK based NGO Sightsavers operated cataract (Chhani) free of cost and minimal cost under a project, said a press release of Sightsavers.
Some 17,000 poor people got back eyesight after cataract surgery and 75,500 others were provided with primary eye care services in its first phase from Dec 2005 to Sept 2008 while 12,000 got eyesight and 84,000 others eye care services in its 2nd phase from Oct 2008 to till date.
Cataract operation, refractive error correction, low vision service and sight testing are among other services given to the poor students, garment workers and bus and truck drivers under the project, which will run up to September, 2013.
Sightsavers and Standard Chartered Bank are funding the project under its "Seeing is Believing" Phase-IV initiative to contribute to the elimination of avoidable blindness from Dhaka City Corporation.
Project Coordinator of the project M Nurun Nabi said this project can be a scalable model for the urban culture in Bangladesh to contribute Vision 2020 of WHO.
The project is being implemented in association with Islamia Eye Hospital, BNSB Dhaka Eye Hospital, Salauddin Specialized Hospital Limited and Ad-din Hospital.

  HC issues rule over Bangladeshis languishing in Indian prisons

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court on Tuesday asked the Director General (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to inform the court within ten days after issuing rule over Bangladeshi nationals who have been languishing in an Indian prison even since the end of their jail terms.
A division bench headed by Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury passed the order.
On March 1, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain within two weeks why it should not be directed to bring back 156 Bangladeshi nationals who have been languishing in an Indian prison even after the end of their jail terms.
The HC bench had issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Shahidul Islam, a Supreme Court lawyer, seeking a direction from the HC to the government to bring back the Bangladeshi nationals. Jailed for one year the Bangladeshi nationals are now in Bohorampur Central Jail in West Bengal of India.

  Realizing dues of Khaleda's Gulshan residence recommended

UNB, Dhaka

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Public Works has recommended the realization of dues with interest by August, as the allocation and transfer of the opposition leader Khaleda Zia's Gulshan residence was not done as per the rules. The recommendation came from a meeting of the committee on housing at the Sangshad Bhaban on Tuesday.
Chaired by committee chairman ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, the meeting was joined, among others, by State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan, committee members Jahirul Huq Bhuyain Mohan, Lutfur Rahman, Nasrul Hamid, Enamul Huq and Safia Khatun.
The meeting also decided to distribute plots among the family members who were killed and injured in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack.

  Home Minister issues order for arrest of attackers on Prof. Dr Rafiq Uddin

UNB, Dhaka

Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun ordered police to arrest the people involved in the attack on eminent physician Prof. Dr Rafiq Uddin immediately.
The minister made the directive when a BMA delegation, led by its president Dr Mahmud Hasan, called on her at the ministry Tuesday afternoon.
The minister asked the police commissioner to bring those involved in ransacking the chamber of Dr Rafiq to book irrespective of their identity.
A group of miscreants ransacked the chamber of Dr Rafiq and manhandled him at Dhanmondi on the night of May 9. A case was filed with Dhanmondi thana.

  Villagers lynch rapist
UNB, Rangpur

A rapist has been lynched by mob in a remote Soilabari village of Badarganj upazila.
Locals and police said a group of four or five notorious men gang raped a minor girl on Monday night. As she raised alarming cries, locals rushed in, rescued the poor girl and managed to hold one of the rapists, identified as Bannu. Others managed flee.
Bannu was beaten black and blue resulting in his death on the spot.
Rape victim Nooor Jahan (not the real name) was admitted to Badarganj upazilla health complex but later shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as her condition was deteriorated.
Noor Jahan, student of class IV, was returning home at Osmanpur with her father from a relative's house late in the evening.
The culprits intercepted them on the way, tied the father with a tree and took his daughter to a secluded place for gang rape.
Confirming the incident police said Bannu who was killed in mob beating was a listed criminal.

  Korean ODA to increase three-fold in next 5 yrs
UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh and South Korea will sign separate MoUs on the granting of soft loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund, and environmental and cultural exchange during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 3-day official visit to Seoul from May 16-18.
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Taiyoung Cho revealed this while briefing reporters at his embassy on Tuesday morning, although he did not disclose the size of the loans to be granted for Bangladesh.
However, he did provide some hint of the prospective increase in Korean assistance to Bangladesh, indicating that official development assistance (ODA) to Bangladesh would increase three-fold to US$ 3 billion by 2015 from the current US$ 1 billion.
As of March this year, 13 soft loans amounting to US$ 4.1 million were provided to Bangladesh by the East Asian country, while US$ 36 million of grant assistance had been provided from 1991 to 2009.
Terming the Prime Minister's visit as "very important", the new Ambassador said it is a "valuable chance" to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, as Hasina will hold talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on a wide range of bilateral issues.
This will be the first visit by a Bangladesh Prime Minister to Seoul in almost 15 years. In May 1995 Khaleda Zia visited Seoul as Prime Minister while in November 2002, Prime Minister Kim Suk-soo visited Bangladesh.
Ambassador Cho said: "Our President is looking forward to meeting with the Prime Minister." On the investment scenario, he said Korea has so far invested more than US$ 1 billion in Bangladesh, contributing to the creation of over 155,000 jobs. Korea is the largest investor in the EPZ. aApart from traditional investments in the garment and textile industry, the Ambassador said Korea is interested in putting money in sectors like power generation, coal mining, shipbuilding and ICTs.
About the two-way trade, he noted the upward trend in trade between the two nations, with the highest amount recorded at US$ 1264 million in 2008.
In 2009 however, that trade figure suffered a slight downturn, coming down to US$ 1186 million with Korean exports to Bangladesh accounting for the vast bulk of that figure at US$ 1064, against imports worth only US$ 122 million from Bangladesh.

Sports

New Zealand eliminated by impressive England
Cricinfo Online

England's cricketers maintained their impressive momentum with their third win in three Super Eight fixtures, as New Zealand were outmuscled in their must-win Group E finale in St Lucia, and sent packing from the tournament by a three-wicket defeat that was more emphatic than the final margin suggested.
Chasing 150 for victory after another disciplined bowling display led by Tim Bresnan, England were able to overcome a mid-innings wobble and a late clatter of wickets to coast to victory with five balls to spare, as Bresnan put the seal on a fine day's work with 23 not out from 11 balls.
Thanks to Pakistan's earlier victory over South Africa, England's progress was assured before the match began, but for New Zealand, the stakes were utterly black-and-white.
A victory would have propelled them into the semi-finals, but anything less would allow the defending champions, Pakistan, to come from nowhere in the Group and leap into the final four. In the end, that is exactly what transpired, as England's superbly balanced outfit made light of the absence of Kevin Pietersen to turn in a thoroughly professional victory.
As has become the norm for this tournament, England's openers refused to stand on ceremony as they set off to better New Zealand's effort of 149 for 6. Craig Kieswetter belted a four and a six in the first over, bowled by Nathan McCullum, before drilling the third ball of Kyle Mills' spell into the covers to depart for 15, while Michael Lumb took a shine to the extra pace of Shane Bond, milking 19 runs from his first two overs, including a brace of leg-side steers, a checked drive for six, and a loose flick that burst through Gareth Hopkins' webbing as he dived in vain to his left.
At the end of the Powerplay overs, England had hurtled to 57 for 1, compared to New Zealand's earlier effort of 39 for 1, but not for the first time in this tournament, the introduction of the slower bowlers whipped the momentum out of the innings.
Daniel Vettori's first over had been swiped by Lumb for 11 runs, but he responded brilliantly by taking all pace off the ball, in tandem with Scott Styris's offcutters, as England stumbled to 66 for 4 after nine.
Styris was the first of the pair to strike, from the fourth delivery of his spell, as Ravi Bopara - standing in for the absent Kevin Pietersen - smashed uppishly into the covers, where Ross Taylor timed his vertical leap to perfection. Three balls later, Vettori suckered Lumb on the sweep with a loopy slower ball that rapped him plumb in front of middle for 32, before Paul Collingwood continued his poor run of form by nurdling another Styris cutter into Brendon McCullum's midriff at midwicket.
As usual, however, Eoin Morgan found a method to master the conditions, as he slapped Styris one-handed over cow corner for a vast six, while Luke Wright tucked into the extra pace of Ian Butler by spanking two slog-swept fours in consecutive deliveries.
Morgan then made room outside off against McCullum to dance into a delightful drive over extra cover, and when McCullum's third over was shovelled for 13 runs, England were cruising on 117 for 4 with seven overs to come.
Vettori responded by reintroducing Bond's extra venom, and the change did the trick as Wright immediately holed out to deep square leg to end a fifth-wicket stand of 52 in 38 balls. But Morgan and Bresnan stole a boundary each off the next over to take the asking rate below a run-a-ball, and even when an unlikely collapse revived New Zealand's morale, the result was never really in doubt.
Morgan was well snaffled by a leaping Vettori at midwicket for 40 from 34 balls before Michael Yardy unwisely rifled a drive to long-off, but Bresnan belted Mills through midwicket to put the game beyond doubt.
It was a busy day's work for Bresnan, who earlier set the tone for the performance with 1 for 20 in four constrictive overs.
He conceded a solitary run from the first over of the match and bowled Jesse Ryder (9 from 11 balls) with a slower ball in his second, then returned at the death to concede just seven runs from the final over of a New Zealand innings that never quite found a fifth gear.

  Robi Asian Games hockey qualifiers
Bangladesh takes on Hong Kong today

TBT Report

Bangladesh national hockey team plays its third match in the Robi Asian Games hockey qualifying round against Hong Kong at Moulana Bhasani National Stadium in Dhaka.
Bangladesh earlier defeated Thailand 8-1 in the first match of the seven-team event, organised by Bangladesh Hockey Federation with the sponsorship of Robi, a leading mobile phone operator of the country.
But the hosts suffered a blow when they lost to Chinese Taipei 7-5 in their second fixture of the meet.
The match between Bangladesh and Hong Kong will start at 10:00 am.
Chinese Taipei faces off Thailand (2:00 pm) and Singapore meets Oman (4:00 pm) in the other matches of the day.
Bangladesh captain Moshiur Rahman Biplob vowed to give their best against Hong Kong to bounce back from their stunning defeat against Chinese Taipei.
"We don't want to repeat the same mistakes what we have done against Chinese Taipei. We'll play to win. Our target is to earn a berth in the next Asian Games," Biplob said on Tuesday.
"Our players are determined to give their best efforts to win the match against Hong Kong and to go to China Asian Games as a champion of this competition" a confident Biplob said.

   South African NCA wins T20 series
UNB, Dhaka

Visiting South Africa National Cricket Academy team won the two-match GP Academy Cup T20 Cricket series 2-0 beating host GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team by three wickets at BKSP ground in Savar on Tuesday. The visitors won a four-wicket victory over GP-BCB Academy in the first match at the same venue on Monday.
Favoured by coin in the second match, the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team batted first and scored 142 runs for 9.
Shabbir Rahman, who quickfired 50 runs off 34 balls with one four and three sixes in the first match on Monday, today contributed the team' s highest 38 runs off 37 runs with one four and one six. Later, he was adjudged man of the series.
Besides, Arif Ahmed Ratul(23), Nasir Hossain (23), Mohammad Mithun (16), Shubagoto Hom (11) and Jubair Ahmed (10) were other scorers reaching the double figure for the home team.
K Maharaj made the major damage in GP-BCB innings grabbing four wickets for 12 runs in four overs to be adjudge man of the match while Van Zyl and O Pienaar took two wickets each conceding 21 and 32 runs respectively.
Chasing a target of 143 runs, South Africa NCA scored 144 runs for 7 in 18.3 overs with O Pienaar making 28-ball 57 runs hitting six fours and four sixes.
Sanjamul Islam picked up three wickets for 22 runs while Nasir Hossain bagged two for 21 runs.

  Pakistan allows banned Malik England county stint
AFP, Karachi

Pakistan cricket authorities Tuesday said they will allow banned former captain Shoaib Malik to feature in a Twenty20 tournament in England next month.
Malik who is serving a one-year ban imposed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over discipline issues, has signed to play in a Twenty20 tournament for Lancashire county next month. PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari said Malik had been granted permission.
"We have cleared Malik to play in England as it doesn't conflict with Pakistan duty and currently Malik is also banned," Bari told AFP.
Malik is among seven top Pakistani players who were banned and fined by the PCB on the recommendation of an evaluation committee, set up to look into the team's on and off-field problems during a tour of Australia between December and February.
The committee, which also investigated discipline problems in the team on the preceding tours of the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand, held a month-long inquiry before recommending fines and bans.
Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match on the Australia tour, which was also marred by disciplinary problems.
Malik along with all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was banned for one year and fined two million rupees (24,000 dollars). Two other former captains, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, were banned for an indefinite period, while Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal were heavily fined.
The banned players were allowed to feature in domestic events in Pakistan and other countries.
A one-man tribunal comprising a retired high court judge is hearing appeals by the players. The next hearing is set for May 15.
Malik, who recently married Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, said he was delighted by the Lancashire opportunity.
"When Lancashire approached me to come and play for them I didn't hesitate in saying yes. I love playing cricket in England and the opportunity to play with a club of Lancashire's reputation was too good to pass up," Malik was quoted as saying by British newspapers.

  Nehwal eyes Commonwealth gold
AFP, Kuala Lumpur

Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has set her sights on Commonwealth gold on home turf, capitalising on the absence of Asia's powerhouses China, South Korea and Indonesia, she said Monday.
The 20-year-old world number six, India's top woman, won the world junior title in 2008 and believes this is her best chance to land the top prize at the Games. "I am training very hard towards this," she said. "I have not won any title yet so far this year but it is not bothering me at all.
"This is badminton, you win some and you lose some. As long as I am happy with my game I can take everything in stride."
Nehwal, in Kuala Lumpur with India's Uber Cup team, admitted the Malaysians and the English would still be a threat in New Delhi.
"But I have putting in a lot of effort for the Commonwealth Games and also the Asian Games," she said. "The Uber Cup competition is a good testing ground for me and my team. I am also gearing for the World Championships in Paris (in August)."
India beat South Africa on Monday to secure a place in the knockout round of the Uber Cup, badminton's premier team competition for women, and play South Korea later Tuesday for top spot in their group.
"Reaching the quarter-finals is another milestone in our efforts to take the game to the grassroots as we have many young talented players in India," Nehwal said. "Beating South Africa was not a problem. It gave us good feelings for a good start. Hope we can take off from where we left when we face the Koreans in our second match."

  Kempes sparked Argentinian joy on home soil
BSS/AFP, Buenos Aires

A veteran of three World Cups, Mario Kempes is best remembered for his goalscoring contribution to Argentina's victory on home soil at the 1978 tournament.
Superb balance, pace to burn and a dead-eyed accuracy made Kempes the elegant focal point of a side whose ranks included its fair share of hard men.
He had first arrived on the international scene four years earlier, when as a coltish 19-year-old he had played for Argentina at the 1974 World Cup.
It was an unhappy experience however. He squandered a gilt-edged chance in the early stages of Argentina's first match against Poland and never really recovered, finishing the tournament without a goal to his name.
He had done enough to help persuade Spanish side Valencia that he was a player worth having though, and in 1976 he signed from Rosario Central to start what would be a fruitful five-year spell with the club.
In his first full season in Spain he netted 24 goals, and the following season he bettered that by four, the highest total since Alfredo Di Stefano's 31 in the 1956-57 season. Still only 23 by the time of the 1978 World Cup, Kempes was nevertheless operating at the peak of his powers. Wiser and stronger than he had been in 1974, in Argentina he was to have no problem finding the route to goal. In the first phase, Kempes was well shackled as the Argentines recorded victories over Hungary and France before losing 1-0 to Italy in their final group match. Once in the next round however the long-haired striker teased one opposition defence after another, tormenting Peru, Poland and Brazil as Argentina squeezed into the final. Two well-taken goals in the 2-0 win over Poland, were followed by a goalless draw against Brazil.
With Argentina needing to beat Peru by four goals in their final game, Kempes scored twice in a 6-0 victory.
Though the legitimacy of that win has since been questioned, with rumours of massive bribes paid by Argentina's ruling military junta to ensure the right result, few could argue that Kempes had well and truly emerged.
Any lingering doubts over his goalscoring prowess were banished 38 minutes into the final against Holland. Ghosting through the Dutch defence to receive a pass from Ossie Ardiles, he advanced on the Holland goal and coolly slipped his shot under Jan Jongbloed to put Argentina ahead.
The Dutch equalised through Dirk Nanninga late in the game to force extra time, but Kempes was not to be denied. Shortly before the end of the first period he skipped past three men to put Argentina 2-1 ahead.
With five minutes remaining, another sensational burst of speed by Kempes created Argentina's third goal, a one-two putting Daniel Bertoni away for 3-1.
Kempes' six goals in Argentina saw him finish the tournament as topscorer, earning him FIFA's Golden Boot award. But he never quite managed to recapture his 1978 form for Argentina.
Four years later, still only 27, he was a member of Argentina's World Cup squad in Spain, but just as in 1974, he finished the tournament without a goal.

  Pacquiao set for new title
BSS/AFP, Manila

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao appears to have won a new title-congressman in the Philippine House of Representatives-based on partial election results released Tuesday.
Unofficial results with about 80 percent of votes counted showed Pacquiao delivering a knockout punch, winning double the number of votes for his rival in a seat in the southern province of Sarangani.
Friends of the boxer said Pacquiao was already preparing a victory party, although the release of full results has been delayed by the slow delivery of vote tallies to the provincial capital.
It is the 31-year-old fighter's second run for public office since 2007.
He lost out that year in General Santos city-a defeat widely seen as a sign that fans wanted him to remain a boxer and stay out of the tainted world of politics in the Philippines.
This year, the welterweight champion, one of the world's highest-paid sportsmen, chose to run in another district. Top boxing promoter Bob Arum, who visited the Philippines during the campaign, has said that even if Pacquiao was elected, he hoped to convince him to fight American boxer Floyd Mayweather.
"I believe that the fight will happen as early as November this year," the founder of Las Vegas-based Top Rank promotion was quoted as saying on the news portal of broadcaster ABS-CBN. Arum said he hoped to introduce the Philippine boxer as "Congressman Manny Pacquiao" during his next match.
Both Pacquiao and Mayweather have been called the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world and a bout between them is expected to have one of the biggest paydays in history.
But negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight fell through earlier in the year when the American insisted on Olympic-style drug testing, which the Filipino rejected as too intrusive before a bout.

  Bravo ton steers WI A to 81-run win
UNB, Dhaka

A brilliant unbeaten ton by Darren Bravo and fierce bowling by pacer Lionel Baker guided West Indies A team to an easy 81-run victory over South Africa A team in the return match of ATN Records Tri-Nation one-day Series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.
This was the second win for West Indies A over South Africa A team after an 11-run victory in the opening match.
Batting first, the second string Caribbean side posted a challenging total of 295 for 5 in stipulated 50 overs.
Two down Bravo contributed 107 runs off 119 balls with 10 fours and a six, later to be adjudged the player of the match.
Besides, middle order Brendan Nash scored run-a-ball 71 with four fours while Krik Edwards hammered 50 runs off 31 balls with featured six fours and a six.
T. Tshabala captured two wickets for two runs. In reply, South Africa A were all out for 214 in 44.3 overs.
Despite good start by the two South African openers who contributed 50 runs in the opening stand, South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals in the face of disciplined bowling attack by some West Indies bowlers, especially Lionel Baker who grabbed four wickets for 32 runs. Wicket-keeper T. Solekile scored 42 runs off 59 balls with four fours while opener Marne Van Wyk made 34 off 22 balls with five fours and two sixes.
Middle order David Miller (31) and Dean Elgar (30) were the other notable scorers for South Africa A team.
Apart from Lionel Baker's 4-wicket haul, Gavin Tonge bagged three wickets for 47 runs while S. Shillingford took two wickets for 39 runs.
West Indies A will play their return match against Bangladesh A tomorrow (Wednesday) at the same venue.

  Feni Soccer Club beats Farashganj 1-0
UNB, Dhaka

Feni Soccer Club maintained their 4th slot in the Citycell Bangladesh League beating Farashganj SC by a solitary goal at the Bir Shrestha Mohammad Mostafa Stadium in Kamalapur on Tuesday.
Veteran striker Ashraful Kader Monju scored the all-important goal for Feni Soccer Club in the 26th minute.
After the day's match, Feni Soccer Club further consolidated their claim to finish 4th in the heavyweight league securing 28 points while Farashganj SC remained at 10th position with 18 points, both playing 20 matches.
Sheikh Russell KC remained at the 3rd place with 47 points and Brothers Union Club in the 5th place with 21 points, both playing 21 matches.
Defending champions Abahani Limited are now closer to the league crown for the 3rd time in a row securing 61 points while Dhaka Mohammedan SC are in distant 2nd position with 55 points, playing equal 21 matches.

  Pakistan knocks South Africa out of World Twenty20
AFP, Gros Islet

Defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa by 11 runs to knock the Proteas out of the World Twenty20 and keep their own semi-final hopes alive here on Monday. In a must-win game for both sides, Pakistan were in dire straits at 18 for three but made 148 for seven thanks mainly to man-of-the-match Umar Akmal's 51.
South Africa, chasing a relatively modest target, were then held to 137 for seven with spin, primarily off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal (four wickets for 26 runs), proving their undoing.
The Proteas slumped to 68 for four and despite a fifty from AB de Villiers couldn't break the Pakistan slow bowlers' stranglehold.
Now Pakistan must hope England, already through to the semi-finals following this result, beat New Zealand by a sufficiently wide margin later here on Monday to allow the title-holders through to the last four on net run-rate. Victory for New Zealand would secure their semi-final spot.
Pakistan had an early wicket when Herschelle Gibbs (three) was caught at mid-on by Misbah-ul-Haq off all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
It looked as if the batsman was early on the shot, undone by the slower pace of a Beausejour pitch slower than the one South Africa had grown used to in Barbados. South Africa were now 12 for one and that became 23 for two when captain Graeme Smith chipped spinner Abdur Rehman to rival skipper Shahid Afridi at mid-off.
Jacques Kallis was caught in the deep off Ajmal for 22 and Rehman struck again to get rid of JP Duminy after Umar Akmal, running in from long-on, took a fine catch.
De Villiers though was still there. But his 53 off 41 balls came to an end when he tried to play an audacious scoop shot off Ajmal and skied a simple catch to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal to leave the Proteas 101 for five. South Africa, who needed 51 off the last five overs, then saw the experienced Mark Boucher lbw to Ajmal for 12. They eventually got the target down to 17 off the last over, from Ajmal.
Four singles followed before Botha was stumped by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and that left South Africa needing an impossible 14 runs off two balls.
Earlier, a stand of 51 in six overs between Umar Akmal and brother Kamran (37) revived the innings before Umar put on 61 with Afridi (30), who'd won the toss.