China, fighting a spreading tainted milk scandal, needs a more coherent food-safety system, with unified laws, one overarching watchdog and faster sharing of information, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
China has been swept by a series of food- and product-safety scandals involving goods as diverse as toys, tires, toothpaste, pet food, fish, beans, dumplings and baby cribs.
In the latest case, thousands of Chinese children fell ill and at least four died from drinking milk formula contaminated with melamine, which has since been found in a series of drinks and foods and led to products being pulled from shops worldwide. ‘We see that a disjointed system with dispersed authority between different ministries and agencies resulted in poor communication and maybe prolonged (the) outbreak with a late response,’ said Jorgen Schlundt, the World Health Organisation’s food safety chief, referring to the melamine case.
‘We need to have a coherent system that covers the full farm-to-fork table,’ he told a news conference in Beijing at the launch of a UN paper on improving food safety in China.
Inconsistent regulations, poor enforcement, weak rule of law and powerful local officials and businessmen have allowed illicit operations and practices to thrive with sometimes minimal and patchy scrutiny from central authorities.
Despite mounting international expectations for a food safety overhaul, China’s vast size and complex web of government agencies and product quality watchdogs have long made maintaining standards a problematic and Herculean task.
China, which is currently overhauling its food safety legislation, says it is aware of the problems.
‘For an effective food safety system there should be one overarching piece of food safety legislation that covers food safety from production through to consumption,’ added the WHO’s regional adviser on food safety, Anthony Hazzard.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday it had pulled Malaysian-made cheese crackers off the shelves after finding they contained high levels of the toxic chemical melamine, reports AFP.
The Julie’s brand of biscuits with a cream cheese filling was the second product to be removed from sale by the Thai health ministry since the melamine scandal in China.
‘The results from the melamine tests showed high levels of melamine beyond the maximum limit in the Julie’s cheese sandwiches,’ Pipat Yingseree, the FDA secretary general, said in a statement.
‘The FDA asks consumers to stop eating this product and the FDA has already notified the importer and retailers to recall the product from the market,’ the statement from the health ministry department said.
Samples of seven other Julie’s products are currently being tested for melamine, an industrial chemical that has been found mostly in Chinese dairy products.
Earlier this month, Thailand’s ministry of health pulled the Mali brand of condensed milk off the shelves after it detected high melamine levels.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
UN agencies asks govt to recall dairy products if tests confirm contamination
Three UN agencies have advised the government to recall all milk products contaminated by melamine from the Bangladesh market as soon as tests could confirm melamine presence in the imported brands of powder milk.
Offering support for further testing of powder milk samples, the UN agencies on food, health and children’s affairs also reminded not only government authorities but also food producers and importers of their duty to ensure safety of food products.
Local offices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Health Organisation and UNICEF in a statement on Wednesday voiced their concerns about the implication of melamine-contaminated milk products on infant and child nutrition and health.
The commerce secretary, Feroz Ahmed, decided not to stop sales of eight brands of powder milk test earlier to have contained melamine until further tests in view of the ‘interests’ of companies and their agents.
The secretary at a news briefing on October 19 said it was up to individuals whether to buy powder milk until further tests.
The UN agencies rather supported the government’s step to communicate with the public on food safety issues, particularly advising citizens on how they could avoid food safety risks associated with milk contamination.
‘Immediate action should be taken to ensure supply of safe dairy products,’ read the statement of the UN agencies, adding they supported the government efforts in addressing the issue of melamine-contaminated powder milk.
The government has already sought help from the Food and Agriculture Organisation to help retest powder milk in question. Joined by the World Health Organisation, FAO said it was ready to support the government in further testing of powder milk samples by internationally certified laboratories.
They urged the government to ensure food safety and quality, especially for powder milk, by enforcing national mandatory food laws and regulations to address evolving issue of food contamination, such as melamine in powder milk.
‘Suitable references need to be made to the Codex and other international standards in this regard. FAO and WHO will continue to provide technical expertise and advice to strengthen the national regulatory framework and build the capacity of the concerned national bodies to ensure consumer protection,’ said the release.
The three agencies, however, noted food safety was not the sole responsibility of public authorities. The food industry, producers and importers are also responsible for ensuring a safe supply of food to consumers.
Referring to concerns expressed by Bangladeshi parents, the UN agencies advised all of them that breastfeeding was the best, safest and most natural way of providing infants with the nutrients they need, and recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
They, however, pointed out when breast milk was not a viable option, infants up to six months would need to be fed an infant formula designed as a sole source of nutrition for such infants.
They gave opinions against replacing infant formula with other products such as condensed milk, regular milk powder, or fresh liquid milk and said such products would put at risk the safety and nutritional status of this vulnerable group.
The UN agencies stressed the importance of giving this information to all mothers during antenatal and postnatal care.
They called for the full enforcement of the existing code of marketing of breast milk substitutes, approved in Bangladesh in 1984 and amended in 1990.
Offering support for further testing of powder milk samples, the UN agencies on food, health and children’s affairs also reminded not only government authorities but also food producers and importers of their duty to ensure safety of food products.
Local offices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Health Organisation and UNICEF in a statement on Wednesday voiced their concerns about the implication of melamine-contaminated milk products on infant and child nutrition and health.
The commerce secretary, Feroz Ahmed, decided not to stop sales of eight brands of powder milk test earlier to have contained melamine until further tests in view of the ‘interests’ of companies and their agents.
The secretary at a news briefing on October 19 said it was up to individuals whether to buy powder milk until further tests.
The UN agencies rather supported the government’s step to communicate with the public on food safety issues, particularly advising citizens on how they could avoid food safety risks associated with milk contamination.
‘Immediate action should be taken to ensure supply of safe dairy products,’ read the statement of the UN agencies, adding they supported the government efforts in addressing the issue of melamine-contaminated powder milk.
The government has already sought help from the Food and Agriculture Organisation to help retest powder milk in question. Joined by the World Health Organisation, FAO said it was ready to support the government in further testing of powder milk samples by internationally certified laboratories.
They urged the government to ensure food safety and quality, especially for powder milk, by enforcing national mandatory food laws and regulations to address evolving issue of food contamination, such as melamine in powder milk.
‘Suitable references need to be made to the Codex and other international standards in this regard. FAO and WHO will continue to provide technical expertise and advice to strengthen the national regulatory framework and build the capacity of the concerned national bodies to ensure consumer protection,’ said the release.
The three agencies, however, noted food safety was not the sole responsibility of public authorities. The food industry, producers and importers are also responsible for ensuring a safe supply of food to consumers.
Referring to concerns expressed by Bangladeshi parents, the UN agencies advised all of them that breastfeeding was the best, safest and most natural way of providing infants with the nutrients they need, and recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
They, however, pointed out when breast milk was not a viable option, infants up to six months would need to be fed an infant formula designed as a sole source of nutrition for such infants.
They gave opinions against replacing infant formula with other products such as condensed milk, regular milk powder, or fresh liquid milk and said such products would put at risk the safety and nutritional status of this vulnerable group.
The UN agencies stressed the importance of giving this information to all mothers during antenatal and postnatal care.
They called for the full enforcement of the existing code of marketing of breast milk substitutes, approved in Bangladesh in 1984 and amended in 1990.
India launches first moon mission
India successfully launched its first lunar mission Wednesday, marking a major boost for the country’s space programme and a new step in the fast-developing Asian space race.
Cheers rang out at mission control as the unmanned lunar orbiting spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 was launched with an Indian-built rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on the southeastern coast.
Officials said the lift-off, which took place in cloudy skies at 6:22am (0052 GMT), was a ‘great success’, with the rocket placing the craft into a transfer orbit around the globe within 19 minutes.
‘Our scientific community has once again done the country proud and the entire nation salutes them,’ the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh said in a message from Japan, where he was on an official visit.
The head of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Madhavan Nair, said it was a ‘historic moment’ for the country.
‘It has been a remarkable performance by the launch vehicle,’ he said of the lift-off from the national space centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh, 80 kilometres north of Chennai.
ISRO is sending the Chandrayaan-1 on a two-year orbital mission to provide a detailed map of the mineral, chemical and topographical characteristics of the moon’s surface. It is expected to reach lunar orbit in 15 days.
The mission, which will also include the sending of a probe onto the lunar surface, will cost India 80 million dollars.
‘Today what we have charted is a remarkable journey for an Indian spacecraft to go to the moon and try to unravel the mysteries of the Earth’s closest celestial body and its only natural satellite,’ Nair said.
India is hoping the mission will boost its space programme into the same league as regional powerhouses Japan and China, and Nair said ISRO was aiming at a manned space flight by 2015, with work on a two-person capsule already underway.
As well as looking to carve out a larger slice of the lucrative commercial satellite launch market, India, Japan and China also see their space programmes as an important symbol of their international stature and economic development.
The launch was carried live on most Indian television channels — with one channel using the theme music for ‘Star Wars’ to accompany the countdown.
Some critics, however, have questioned whether it makes sense to spend so much money on space when hundreds of millions of Indians still live in dire poverty.
India started its space programme in 1963, developing its own satellites and launch vehicles to reduce dependence on overseas agencies.
Cheers rang out at mission control as the unmanned lunar orbiting spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 was launched with an Indian-built rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on the southeastern coast.
Officials said the lift-off, which took place in cloudy skies at 6:22am (0052 GMT), was a ‘great success’, with the rocket placing the craft into a transfer orbit around the globe within 19 minutes.
‘Our scientific community has once again done the country proud and the entire nation salutes them,’ the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh said in a message from Japan, where he was on an official visit.
The head of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Madhavan Nair, said it was a ‘historic moment’ for the country.
‘It has been a remarkable performance by the launch vehicle,’ he said of the lift-off from the national space centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh, 80 kilometres north of Chennai.
ISRO is sending the Chandrayaan-1 on a two-year orbital mission to provide a detailed map of the mineral, chemical and topographical characteristics of the moon’s surface. It is expected to reach lunar orbit in 15 days.
The mission, which will also include the sending of a probe onto the lunar surface, will cost India 80 million dollars.
‘Today what we have charted is a remarkable journey for an Indian spacecraft to go to the moon and try to unravel the mysteries of the Earth’s closest celestial body and its only natural satellite,’ Nair said.
India is hoping the mission will boost its space programme into the same league as regional powerhouses Japan and China, and Nair said ISRO was aiming at a manned space flight by 2015, with work on a two-person capsule already underway.
As well as looking to carve out a larger slice of the lucrative commercial satellite launch market, India, Japan and China also see their space programmes as an important symbol of their international stature and economic development.
The launch was carried live on most Indian television channels — with one channel using the theme music for ‘Star Wars’ to accompany the countdown.
Some critics, however, have questioned whether it makes sense to spend so much money on space when hundreds of millions of Indians still live in dire poverty.
India started its space programme in 1963, developing its own satellites and launch vehicles to reduce dependence on overseas agencies.
Govt ends food procurement as rice prices fall
The interim administration has ended the internal food procurement drive before the deadline expires on October 31 because of the fall in rice prices in local markets. The mill owners who got ‘incentive bonus’ by supplying rice to the government warehouses even at higher rates are the ones who have profited most, not the hard-working farmers who are the primary producers of rice.
The authorities signed fresh contracts with the mill owners, most in northern districts, for supply of 1,60,000 tonnes of rice within six days for Tk 28 per kilogram, with Tk 1.25 as incentive bonus, though retail prices in the local markets are now lower than the government’s procurement rate. This prompted the food ministry to issue an official order on Monday, asking the Food Directorate not to sign any more contracts with rice suppliers, said official sources.
‘We have ordered the authorities to end the food procurement drive as almost 83 per cent of the total target has already been achieved…Moreover, the rice prices have fallen in the local markets,’ food adviser AMM Shawkat Ali told New Age on Wednesday.
He said the government has already stocked 10,32,371 tonnes of rice, which is the highest in eight years, from the boro procurement drive.
The main objectives of the government’s move to build up the food stock were to have control over market prices and ensure food security.
The food ministry, through another order on Wednesday, set November 10 as the deadline for the mill owners to complete the supply of rice as per the contracts already signed with the government.
The adviser, however, forecast that the rice prices would not fall any further as the import of rice through the private channels has almost come to an end due to higher prices. ‘Moreover, the amount of food support from donor agencies has also fallen,’ he added.
Initially, the government reached agreements with 13,833 mills for supplying 10,17,000 tonnes of food-grains by August 31 this year.
On August 10 the government decided to give mill owners the incentive bonus of Tk 1.25 for each kilogram of rice to expedite the procurement drive as the latter threatened that they would not supply any more rice to the government because the market prices of rice were rising at that time.
‘We will have to spend an additional amount of around Tk 25 crore as incentive bonus for procuring around two lakh tonnes of rice through fresh contracts after August 10 as the market prices of rice fell later,’ said an official.
The government cancelled the licences of around 2,000 rice mills across the country for failing to supply rice as per the agreements, or for not being willing to sign supply contracts, according to official records.
The rice prices at the retailers’ level have now fallen to Tk 27/28 from Tk 30/31 in the northern districts from where the government procures 80 per cent of its total stock of rice and paddy.
Official procurement of boro rice began on April 16, 2008 with a target of 12 lakh tonnes of rice to build a buffer stock for ensuring the country’s food security. The procurement price for rice was set at Tk 28 per kg, up from Tk 18 the previous year. The government also set a target of procuring 3,00,000 tonnes of paddy from growers for Tk 18 and 50,000 tonnes of wheat for Tk 26 per kg.
The authorities signed fresh contracts with the mill owners, most in northern districts, for supply of 1,60,000 tonnes of rice within six days for Tk 28 per kilogram, with Tk 1.25 as incentive bonus, though retail prices in the local markets are now lower than the government’s procurement rate. This prompted the food ministry to issue an official order on Monday, asking the Food Directorate not to sign any more contracts with rice suppliers, said official sources.
‘We have ordered the authorities to end the food procurement drive as almost 83 per cent of the total target has already been achieved…Moreover, the rice prices have fallen in the local markets,’ food adviser AMM Shawkat Ali told New Age on Wednesday.
He said the government has already stocked 10,32,371 tonnes of rice, which is the highest in eight years, from the boro procurement drive.
The main objectives of the government’s move to build up the food stock were to have control over market prices and ensure food security.
The food ministry, through another order on Wednesday, set November 10 as the deadline for the mill owners to complete the supply of rice as per the contracts already signed with the government.
The adviser, however, forecast that the rice prices would not fall any further as the import of rice through the private channels has almost come to an end due to higher prices. ‘Moreover, the amount of food support from donor agencies has also fallen,’ he added.
Initially, the government reached agreements with 13,833 mills for supplying 10,17,000 tonnes of food-grains by August 31 this year.
On August 10 the government decided to give mill owners the incentive bonus of Tk 1.25 for each kilogram of rice to expedite the procurement drive as the latter threatened that they would not supply any more rice to the government because the market prices of rice were rising at that time.
‘We will have to spend an additional amount of around Tk 25 crore as incentive bonus for procuring around two lakh tonnes of rice through fresh contracts after August 10 as the market prices of rice fell later,’ said an official.
The government cancelled the licences of around 2,000 rice mills across the country for failing to supply rice as per the agreements, or for not being willing to sign supply contracts, according to official records.
The rice prices at the retailers’ level have now fallen to Tk 27/28 from Tk 30/31 in the northern districts from where the government procures 80 per cent of its total stock of rice and paddy.
Official procurement of boro rice began on April 16, 2008 with a target of 12 lakh tonnes of rice to build a buffer stock for ensuring the country’s food security. The procurement price for rice was set at Tk 28 per kg, up from Tk 18 the previous year. The government also set a target of procuring 3,00,000 tonnes of paddy from growers for Tk 18 and 50,000 tonnes of wheat for Tk 26 per kg.
Hasina’s release, emergency lifting high on agenda
The Awami League is scheduled to sit with the government for talks today to resolve differences over a number of issues before the parliamentary polls.
The demands for permanent release of AL president Sheikh Hasina and withdrawal of the state of emergency before the polls are high on the agenda of the dialogue, scheduled to start at the Chief Adviser’s Office at 2:30pm.
The AL will reiterate at the talks that it will not contest the elections, scheduled for December 18, if Sheikh Hasina was not released permanently and unconditionally before the polls, party sources said.
AL’s acting president Zillur Rahman will lead the party delegation at its fourth round of talks with the interim government.
Earlier, the party held dialogues with the government on July 3 at the Chief Adviser’s Office, on June 11 at Sheikh Hasina’s Sudha Sadan residence hours after she was released from jail by an executive order for treatment abroad and on April 13 with five advisers to the interim government at the state guest house Meghna.
Talking with reporters on Wednesday, the party’s acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said they hoped that all the problems would be resolved through dialogue. ‘Both sides [AL and the government] want elections on time…There is no hesitation over holding parliamentary polls on time’, he said at his Sher-e-Bangla Nagar residence.
Party sources said that the AL leaders would ask the government to lift the state of emergency before the parliamentary polls, defer upazila polls, withdraw the ‘false and fabricated’ cases filed against Sheikh Hasina and cancel the delimitation of electoral constituencies. It will also renew its call for formation of a constitution commission.
The party will also ask the government to ensure a congenial atmosphere so that all political parties can contest the elections without any reservations and discuss ways to form an effective post-election parliament, the sources added.
The demands for permanent release of AL president Sheikh Hasina and withdrawal of the state of emergency before the polls are high on the agenda of the dialogue, scheduled to start at the Chief Adviser’s Office at 2:30pm.
The AL will reiterate at the talks that it will not contest the elections, scheduled for December 18, if Sheikh Hasina was not released permanently and unconditionally before the polls, party sources said.
AL’s acting president Zillur Rahman will lead the party delegation at its fourth round of talks with the interim government.
Earlier, the party held dialogues with the government on July 3 at the Chief Adviser’s Office, on June 11 at Sheikh Hasina’s Sudha Sadan residence hours after she was released from jail by an executive order for treatment abroad and on April 13 with five advisers to the interim government at the state guest house Meghna.
Talking with reporters on Wednesday, the party’s acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said they hoped that all the problems would be resolved through dialogue. ‘Both sides [AL and the government] want elections on time…There is no hesitation over holding parliamentary polls on time’, he said at his Sher-e-Bangla Nagar residence.
Party sources said that the AL leaders would ask the government to lift the state of emergency before the parliamentary polls, defer upazila polls, withdraw the ‘false and fabricated’ cases filed against Sheikh Hasina and cancel the delimitation of electoral constituencies. It will also renew its call for formation of a constitution commission.
The party will also ask the government to ensure a congenial atmosphere so that all political parties can contest the elections without any reservations and discuss ways to form an effective post-election parliament, the sources added.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Three children die after taking toxic medicine
Three children of a family died Sunday after taking toxic deworming medicine at Gokornoghat village in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
The deceased were Sharmin, 8, Sharif, 6 and 10-month-old Sonia.
Victims’ mother Halima Begum said she bought a bottle of Ayurvedic deworming medicine from Nikli upazila of Kishoreganj district eight months ago.
She gave the medicine to her three children on Saturday night who were found dead Sunday morning.
Civil Surgeon Dr Nurul Amin has sent a three-member medical team to the village to investigate the incident.
It is suspected that the children died after taking the poisonous Ayurvedic medicine.
The bodies were sent to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy and police seized the bottle of the medicine.
Two other children of the family survived as they did not take the medicine at night.
Police Super Lutfor Rahman Mondol visited the spot.
The deceased were Sharmin, 8, Sharif, 6 and 10-month-old Sonia.
Victims’ mother Halima Begum said she bought a bottle of Ayurvedic deworming medicine from Nikli upazila of Kishoreganj district eight months ago.
She gave the medicine to her three children on Saturday night who were found dead Sunday morning.
Civil Surgeon Dr Nurul Amin has sent a three-member medical team to the village to investigate the incident.
It is suspected that the children died after taking the poisonous Ayurvedic medicine.
The bodies were sent to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy and police seized the bottle of the medicine.
Two other children of the family survived as they did not take the medicine at night.
Police Super Lutfor Rahman Mondol visited the spot.
Fuel oil price cuts expected this week
The government is expected to announce cuts in the prices of fuel oils by 5 to 9 per cent anytime this week.
It has sent a proposal for fuel price reduction to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission for approval, sources in the energy division said.
The price of diesel and kerosene is likely to come down to around Tk 50 per litre from the current price of Tk 55 and the price of octane to Tk 82-84 from Tk 90 and that of petrol to around Tk 80 from Tk 87 per litre, they said.
When contacted, energy secretary Mohammad Mohsin, told New Age on Sunday that they had sent the proposal to the BERC to cut the prices of fuel oils.
The chairman of BERC, Ghulam Rahman, said that they had received the price reduction proposal on Thursday and would make a decision in a day or two after holding a meeting with all members of the commission.
M Tamim, special assistant to the chief adviser, also told New Age that the government might announce price cuts this week.
The officials would not, however, say what would be the exact prices as it had not yet been finalised.
‘The extent of price reduction will be roughly around 10 per cent for all fuel oils. In terms of percentage, the cut in octane and petrol prices will be less as these are used by the affluent sections of the society’, said Tamim.
‘We have given different scenarios of prices. A final decision will be made later’, said Mohsin.
‘The price of diesel and kerosene is most likely to be reduced by around 9-10 per cent to Tk 50 per litre and octane and petrol by around 8 per cent to Tk 80-84 per litre’, a highly placed source in the division told New Age.
Energy officials said that they had already held discussions with communication ministry officials on possible reduction in transport fares after the new oil prices come into effect.
‘We have already held a meeting with the communication ministry and discussed the issue of transport fare reduction. I think the ministry is taking preparations for transport fare cuts when the oil prices are reduced’, Mohsin said.
The government has taken the steps to reduce oil prices on the local market against the backdrop of plummeting prices of oil on the international market which saw prices drop sharply by around 50 per cent – from $141 to $70 – in recent times. The government raised fuel oil prices on the local market by 33-37 per cent when the prices hit record highs on the international market in July this year.
When Tamim was asked why they were going for just around 10 per cent cuts in oil prices after hiking the prices by 33-37 per cent last time, Tamim said, ‘Despite the fall [in oil prices] BPC is still giving some subsidies in diesel and kerosene. After we reduce the prices, we will continue to monitor fuel oil prices on international market. If the current trend continues, we will again review the prices for downward adjustments.’
Mohsin said that when the fuel prices were increased in July, they projected that the BPC’s losses would come down to Tk 10,000 crore from Tk 17,000 crore.
‘After fuel price is decreased on local market, the government will need to give BPC Tk 4,000 crore in subsidy for the current fiscal year. So, at present we cannot afford to reduce prices by more than 10 per cent as it will create budgetary pressure’, he said.
It has sent a proposal for fuel price reduction to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission for approval, sources in the energy division said.
The price of diesel and kerosene is likely to come down to around Tk 50 per litre from the current price of Tk 55 and the price of octane to Tk 82-84 from Tk 90 and that of petrol to around Tk 80 from Tk 87 per litre, they said.
When contacted, energy secretary Mohammad Mohsin, told New Age on Sunday that they had sent the proposal to the BERC to cut the prices of fuel oils.
The chairman of BERC, Ghulam Rahman, said that they had received the price reduction proposal on Thursday and would make a decision in a day or two after holding a meeting with all members of the commission.
M Tamim, special assistant to the chief adviser, also told New Age that the government might announce price cuts this week.
The officials would not, however, say what would be the exact prices as it had not yet been finalised.
‘The extent of price reduction will be roughly around 10 per cent for all fuel oils. In terms of percentage, the cut in octane and petrol prices will be less as these are used by the affluent sections of the society’, said Tamim.
‘We have given different scenarios of prices. A final decision will be made later’, said Mohsin.
‘The price of diesel and kerosene is most likely to be reduced by around 9-10 per cent to Tk 50 per litre and octane and petrol by around 8 per cent to Tk 80-84 per litre’, a highly placed source in the division told New Age.
Energy officials said that they had already held discussions with communication ministry officials on possible reduction in transport fares after the new oil prices come into effect.
‘We have already held a meeting with the communication ministry and discussed the issue of transport fare reduction. I think the ministry is taking preparations for transport fare cuts when the oil prices are reduced’, Mohsin said.
The government has taken the steps to reduce oil prices on the local market against the backdrop of plummeting prices of oil on the international market which saw prices drop sharply by around 50 per cent – from $141 to $70 – in recent times. The government raised fuel oil prices on the local market by 33-37 per cent when the prices hit record highs on the international market in July this year.
When Tamim was asked why they were going for just around 10 per cent cuts in oil prices after hiking the prices by 33-37 per cent last time, Tamim said, ‘Despite the fall [in oil prices] BPC is still giving some subsidies in diesel and kerosene. After we reduce the prices, we will continue to monitor fuel oil prices on international market. If the current trend continues, we will again review the prices for downward adjustments.’
Mohsin said that when the fuel prices were increased in July, they projected that the BPC’s losses would come down to Tk 10,000 crore from Tk 17,000 crore.
‘After fuel price is decreased on local market, the government will need to give BPC Tk 4,000 crore in subsidy for the current fiscal year. So, at present we cannot afford to reduce prices by more than 10 per cent as it will create budgetary pressure’, he said.
Mojahid asked to surrender in trial court, bail refused
The High Court on Sunday, denying bail to Jamaat-e-Islami’s secretary-general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid in the Barapukuria coalmine corruption case, ordered him to surrender in the trial court within two weeks.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Anwarul Haque and Justice Farah Mahbub passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by Mojahid.
‘The petitioner is directed to surrender in the trial court by two weeks, considering the previous High Court orders in the case,’ said the court in its order.
On October 6 the court of the Dhaka metropolitan senior special judge issued a warrant for arrest against Mojahid, who was shown absconding in the charge-sheet of the case. The court on October 16 decided Mojahid’s trial in his absence as he had neither surrendered in court nor was arrested.
Mojahid’s lawyer Abdur Razzaq told the High Court on Sunday that he, along with his client, had earlier roamed from one court to another to get bail in the case, but neither the High Court Division nor the Appellate Division accepted Mojahid’s prayer for bail.
‘We did not go to the trial court to seek bail as it has no power to entertain the prayer for bail in the case that had been filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act,’ Razzaq argued.
The High Court then asked Razzaq, ‘How will we accept Mojahid’s bail prayer? How will we accept the petition of a person who did not show the least respect for the court’s proceedings?’
Razzaq later referred to the case in which the High Court had granted bail to Jahanara Imam, also known as ‘Shahid Janani’, after a warrant for arrest against her had been issued by the trial court. She was accused of sedition for sentencing Jamaat’s amir, Matiur Rahman Nizami, in a mock public court in the ‘90s.
He also argued that the five accused in the Barapukuria case, including the principal accused — former premier Khaleda Zia — were granted bail by the High Court Division. Saifur Rahman, however, was directed on October 8 to surrender in the trial court within four weeks.
The proceedings of the case against Khaleda were also stayed by the High Court on October 16, Razzaq informed the court, adding that the law should be applied equally to all the people.
Khurshid Alam Khan, appearing for the Anti-Corruption Commission that lodged the case, opposed Mojahid’s prayer for bail. ‘The High Court cannot grant the prayer for bail under any circumstances as the petitioner has already been declared to be a fugitive.’
He also argued that the proceedings of the case have been stayed, but the warrant of arrest is still in force.
Khurshid said that the High Court on June 3 rejected Mojahid’s petition for anticipatory bail in the case when it was under investigation. Mojahid’s counsels later went to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
Mojahid appeared before the Appellate Division’s chamber judge, M Joynul Abedin, on October 8, seeking bail in the case, but the court refused to entertain the bail petition as the warrant for his arrest had been issued, Khurshid added.
A large contingent of law-enforcers was deployed in the High Court’s premises in expectation of Mojahid’s appearance in court.
After the court’s order, Mojahid’s cadres gathered in the court’s premises, shouting inflammatory slogans right before the police in violation of the state of emergency.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Anwarul Haque and Justice Farah Mahbub passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by Mojahid.
‘The petitioner is directed to surrender in the trial court by two weeks, considering the previous High Court orders in the case,’ said the court in its order.
On October 6 the court of the Dhaka metropolitan senior special judge issued a warrant for arrest against Mojahid, who was shown absconding in the charge-sheet of the case. The court on October 16 decided Mojahid’s trial in his absence as he had neither surrendered in court nor was arrested.
Mojahid’s lawyer Abdur Razzaq told the High Court on Sunday that he, along with his client, had earlier roamed from one court to another to get bail in the case, but neither the High Court Division nor the Appellate Division accepted Mojahid’s prayer for bail.
‘We did not go to the trial court to seek bail as it has no power to entertain the prayer for bail in the case that had been filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act,’ Razzaq argued.
The High Court then asked Razzaq, ‘How will we accept Mojahid’s bail prayer? How will we accept the petition of a person who did not show the least respect for the court’s proceedings?’
Razzaq later referred to the case in which the High Court had granted bail to Jahanara Imam, also known as ‘Shahid Janani’, after a warrant for arrest against her had been issued by the trial court. She was accused of sedition for sentencing Jamaat’s amir, Matiur Rahman Nizami, in a mock public court in the ‘90s.
He also argued that the five accused in the Barapukuria case, including the principal accused — former premier Khaleda Zia — were granted bail by the High Court Division. Saifur Rahman, however, was directed on October 8 to surrender in the trial court within four weeks.
The proceedings of the case against Khaleda were also stayed by the High Court on October 16, Razzaq informed the court, adding that the law should be applied equally to all the people.
Khurshid Alam Khan, appearing for the Anti-Corruption Commission that lodged the case, opposed Mojahid’s prayer for bail. ‘The High Court cannot grant the prayer for bail under any circumstances as the petitioner has already been declared to be a fugitive.’
He also argued that the proceedings of the case have been stayed, but the warrant of arrest is still in force.
Khurshid said that the High Court on June 3 rejected Mojahid’s petition for anticipatory bail in the case when it was under investigation. Mojahid’s counsels later went to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
Mojahid appeared before the Appellate Division’s chamber judge, M Joynul Abedin, on October 8, seeking bail in the case, but the court refused to entertain the bail petition as the warrant for his arrest had been issued, Khurshid added.
A large contingent of law-enforcers was deployed in the High Court’s premises in expectation of Mojahid’s appearance in court.
After the court’s order, Mojahid’s cadres gathered in the court’s premises, shouting inflammatory slogans right before the police in violation of the state of emergency.
Govt keeps decision on toxic milk brands pending
The government has avoided a concrete decision on sales of toxic milk brands and opted to wait for further test results, leaving the question whether or not to consume the melamine-added baby formulas to individual’s choice until then.
Though the chemistry department of Dhaka University repeatedly stood by its test results detecting presence of melamine in samples of eight foreign milk powder brands, the commerce ministry has said that was not enough for ordering a ban on sales or withdrawal of the products from shelves.
‘We are not in a position right now to make any conclusion as there was significant variation in the test reports prepared by three organisations,’ commerce secretary Feroz Ahmed said after a meeting Sunday.
The meeting was expected to deliver concrete guidelines for anxious consumers about which milk brands they should choose for their babies after the latest test confirmed melamine in most-selling eight brands.
But it ended up in deciding to form a 12-memebr committee and assign it to supervise further tests of the same batch of disputed milk brand samples in two local and one foreign laboratories, and report back to the ministry in seven working days.
Asked if the people should continue to consume the milk brands in question until then, the commerce secretary left it to the consumers’ choice saying that it was an individual decision whether to buy them or not.
‘We will not take any liability,’ he said as he was asked whether the government would bear the responsibility for public health hazards in case the brands are found melamine positive in further tests.
He rather reminded a questioner about the ministry’s ‘responsibility’ to look into the interests of the companies and their agents which invested crores of taka in the business.
Asked whether the ministry told the companies and their agents to keep their sales suspended during the period of testing, the commerce secretary said they [companies] claimed that there was no existence of melamine in their tests.
After a test by Dhaka University’s chemistry department had found presence of industrial chemical melamine in eight particular brands of imported milk powder, the government on October 16 advised the people to refrain from using them.
The brands are Sweetbaby, Yashli-1, Yashli-2, New Zealand’s Nido Fortified Instant, Anlin, Australia’s Diploma and Red Cow and Dano of Denmark.
Abu Zafar Mahmud, a professor of chemistry at Dhaka University, stood by the test report prepared by the department. He, however, said that it would unscientific not to give others’ opportunity to debate and make repeat tests.
The commerce secretary mentioned that repeat tests would be conducted at two local laboratories and one accredited laboratory abroad and accordingly, the 12-member committee would submit a report to the government for taking necessary action.
The committee will be comprised of two representatives from the DU chemistry department, three from the Bangladesh Automatic Energy Commission, three from the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research [Science Laboratory], two from Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and one each from the health ministry and private laboratory PlasmaPlus.
The samples will be collected from the market by a ‘neutral committee’ comprising representatives from commerce, health and industries ministries, BSTI and also from the respective companies.
Based on laboratory tests, the experts’ committee will examine whether the powdered milk contained melamine and assess the level of contamination and the possible health risks, the secretary said.
Meanwhile, the council of adviser, at a meeting with chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair Sunday, expressed concern at the situation arising out of the melamine contamination of imported powder milk, mostly consumed by children, and asked the authorities concerned to settle the issue within the shortest possible time.
9 hurt as police attack students at Dhaka Univ
DU Correspondent
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The police on Sunday attacked Dhaka University students protesting against the increased price of admission forms. At least nine students were injured.
The protests and the clash suspended the sales of the admission forms for about six hours and the university authorities could resume sales at around 2:00pm after they had acceded to the Progressive Students’ Alliance demand for keeping the admission form price same for 10 years.
Although sale of the forms was scheduled to start at 9:00am, it was halted because of demonstrations by the Progressive
Students’ Alliance, a combine of left-leaning student organisations, against the increased price of the forms.
The demonstrators chanted slogans and tried to convince the admission seekers not to buy admission forms and at about 11:00am they sat in front the main gate of the Janata Bank at the Teacher-Student Centre and closed it.
Hundreds of admission seekers and their guardians were waiting for almost four hours as many of them wanted to buy the forms in spite of higher cost as they thought it was rational to increase the price. ‘We are depressed by this situation as we think it is rational to increase the price. Many of us have come from far places like Uttara and Badda. So, it is tough for us to come again another day,’ said Mitul, who went there to collect forms.
As the activists of the combine, in accordance with their scheduled programme, besieged the university branches of Sonali, Agrani and Janata banks and obstructed the sales of forms, the police charged at them with truncheons, which led to clashes between the lawmen and the students.
Sangeeta Barai, Sohel Rana, Biplob Mandal, Mumtahina, Sohan Sobhan, Rahat Ahmed, Rajib Iqbal, Liton and Rokhsana, all students of Dhaka University, were injured in the clash.
After the clash, the authorities held a meeting with the leaders of the combine at noon in the office of the vice-chancellor.
At the meeting, the combine, however, reached a compromise deal with the authorities: the price of a form, which was Tk 250 in 2007 but had been raised by Tk 50, would be Tk 300 and the price would not be increased in the next 10 years.
The leaders announced the decision after the meeting with the vice-chancellor, SMA Faiz, in the afternoon.
The leaders said the vice-chancellor had assured them that all the other fees would be set at an acceptable and reasonable rate.
When they were asked about what their position would be if the next administration violates the promise, the Bangladesh Chhatra Union president, Khan Asaduzzaman Masum, evaded the question and said the university authorities would need to keep their word as three of the deans and the proctor attended the meeting.
Arts dean Sadrul Amin, social sciences dean Harun-or-Rashid, business studies dean Abbas Ali Khan and proctor Feroz Ahmed were present at the meeting with the student leaders.
Fifteen were, meanwhile, injured as madrassah students, who tried to lay siege to the Janata Bank branch on the Dhaka University campus on Sunday to stop the sales of admission forms, clashed with the police.
The madrassah students, joined in by the students of Arabic, Persian and Urdu departments at the university, on Saturday vandalised the vice-chancellor’s office after they had met the vice-chancellor, SMA Faiz, and demanded that the admission rules should be changed.
The university authorities late Saturday night suspended two university students for their involvement in the vandalism of the vice-chancellor’s office.
Protests against baul monument removal continue
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The Conscious Artistes’ Society, a platform of sculptors, painters, singers and artistes, on Sunday demanded formation of a national committee to work out a policy to place similar sculptures across the country.
They made the demand as the platform began a two-day cultural programme at Bakultala at the fine arts faculty at Dhaka University in protest against the removal of the baul sculptures.
Songs were sung in the cultural programme, the theme of which was ‘Ensure free atmosphere for study of arts and culture.’
Singer Krishnakali read out a statement of the society, in which she said, ‘We strongly protest against the removal of the baul sculptures in response to the pressure of the fundamentalists. But we do not only want re-installation of the sculptures, but also want a national committee to deal with the installation of sculptures.’
Sculptor Moniruzzaman later said, ‘The fundamentalist forces have long been launching attacks on the culture.’
‘The recent removal of the baul sculptures is not an isolated event. A political game may have been played behind the scenes. Why did the incident take place at a time when the whole nation was preparing for the general elections and the restitution of democracy?’ he said.
Another sculptor, Shawon Akand, said, ‘Sculptures are installed haphazardly at the whim of whoever is in power. This should not be so. There must be a specific guideline on sculpture installation.’
He also blamed the interim government for siding with the fundamentalist forces, saying, ‘The role of the government in the removal of baul sculptures is lamentable.’
‘The ultra-religious forces launched one attack after another on our culture and heritage, but governments remained silent,’ said Anusheh.
Charan Sangskritik Kendra at a news briefing at the central Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal office on Sunday condemned the removal of baul sculptures and demanded punishment of the Muslim bigots who forced the government to dismantle the sculptures.
The organisation will also go out on demonstrations across the country on October 23 and form a human chain in Muktangan in Dhaka to push for the re-installation of the sculptures.
The New Age correspondent in Rajshahi said 107 teachers of Rajshahi University in a statement issued on Sunday demanded re-installation of the sculptures.
The correspondent at Chittagong University said the leaders and activists of left-leaning student organisations based in the university, under the banner of Progressive Students’ Alliance, protested against the removal of sculptures.
They brought out processions and formed a human chain in the university station area at around 12:30pm, demanding immediate re-installation of the sculptures.
The New Age correspondent in Barisal said several political and socio-cultural organisations, including the Barisal Reporter’s Unity, Sangskritik Sangathan Samanway Parishad, Group Theatre Federation and BM College Journalists’ Association condemned the removal of the sculptures and the bigot’s hatred of the Bengali culture and tradition.
Students’ organisations such as the Bangladesh Chhatra League, Chhatra Maitree, Chhatra Union and Pragatishil Chhatra Oikya went out on demonstrations, held rallies and brought out processions on the BM College campus in Barisal.
The New Age correspondent in Khulna said various organisations in the city protested against the removal of the sculptures and demanded immediate reinstallation of them.
BNP, allies to apply for registration today
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Oikya Jote will apply for registration with the Election Commission before the submission deadline expires this afternoon, alliance leaders said.
The highest policy making bodies of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami Sunday evening approved draft amendments to party constitutions in line with the criteria set by the Election Commission under the amended Representation of People Order.
BNP standing committee sources said, the amendments to the party constitution include: make a balance of power between the party chairperson and the standing committee, keeping 33 per cent of all committee positions reserved for women, finalisation of nomination of candidates by the party’s parliamentary board from lists forwarded by district committees, keeping no affiliated bodies consisting of students, labourers and other professions and keeping no foreign units.
There will, however, be no bar on any individual or group of individuals forming associated bodies and foreign units upholding ideals of the party. These bodies and units are free to run by their own constitutions, according to the amendments to the party constitution.
The BNP standing committee also approved a resolution that the party would submit a ratified copy of the party constitution to the Election Commission within six months of the first sitting of the ninth parliament.
‘The standing committee has approved draft amendments necessary for registration [with the Election Commission],’ BNP standing committee member M Saifur Rahman told reporters after the meeting. Committee members M Shamsul Islam and RA Gani echoed.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia presided over the one-and-half-hour meeting beginning at 9:00 pm at her Gulshan office.
The party, which was to decide on registration after holding the second round of formal dialogue with the commission, suddenly changed its stance as the commission and the military-controlled interim government stuck to their position not to defer the deadline for registration again, according to party insiders.
‘Tomorrow [Monday] is the last date for applying for registration. So we will apply for registration to thwart the conspiracy to keep us away from elections on the excuse of non-registration,’ BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain said Sunday afternoon.
‘There were attempts in the past to split the BNP. And now a conspiracy is on to keep the party out of the incoming general elections,’ he added.
According to the latest amendments to the Representation of People Order, registration with the commission is mandatory for the parties to contest the elections.
Asked about the change in party’s stance the day before the deadline expires, Delwar said the party wanted further discussion with the government about the demands for removal of some electoral provisions which are inconsistent to the national constitution. ‘But we are yet to receive any response from the government about the next round of dialogue,’ Delwar said.
Asked about the party’s stance on participating in the polls under the state of emergency, he said the registration with the EC and the question of participation in the elections were not the same.
‘We will apply for registration to qualify for participating in elections. The decision on contesting the elections will be taken later on after considering the overall atmosphere,’ he said.
The BNP will not participate in any stage-managed elections, he reiterated. ‘We want lifting of the state of emergency before the polls, participated by all parties, including two leaders — Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina,’ he said.
Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman told New Age that the party would submit application for registration with the EC today.
The Jatiya Nirbahi Parishad approved draft amendments to the party constitution at a meeting Sunday evening, he said. Jamaat amir Matiur Rahman Nizami presided over the meeting.
The amendments are made in line with the requirements of the RPO 2008, he said.
Islami Oikya Jote secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami said they would also apply for registration today.
Earlier on the day, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami collected the registration forms from the EC.
The EC extended the deadline for submitting application for registration from October 15 to October 20 responding to requests from BNP and Jamaat. Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda earlier said that the commission would not further extend the deadline for applying for registration.
A total of 192 political parties and groups collected forms for registration and 43 of them including the Awami League submitted applications to the EC until Sunday
The highest policy making bodies of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami Sunday evening approved draft amendments to party constitutions in line with the criteria set by the Election Commission under the amended Representation of People Order.
BNP standing committee sources said, the amendments to the party constitution include: make a balance of power between the party chairperson and the standing committee, keeping 33 per cent of all committee positions reserved for women, finalisation of nomination of candidates by the party’s parliamentary board from lists forwarded by district committees, keeping no affiliated bodies consisting of students, labourers and other professions and keeping no foreign units.
There will, however, be no bar on any individual or group of individuals forming associated bodies and foreign units upholding ideals of the party. These bodies and units are free to run by their own constitutions, according to the amendments to the party constitution.
The BNP standing committee also approved a resolution that the party would submit a ratified copy of the party constitution to the Election Commission within six months of the first sitting of the ninth parliament.
‘The standing committee has approved draft amendments necessary for registration [with the Election Commission],’ BNP standing committee member M Saifur Rahman told reporters after the meeting. Committee members M Shamsul Islam and RA Gani echoed.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia presided over the one-and-half-hour meeting beginning at 9:00 pm at her Gulshan office.
The party, which was to decide on registration after holding the second round of formal dialogue with the commission, suddenly changed its stance as the commission and the military-controlled interim government stuck to their position not to defer the deadline for registration again, according to party insiders.
‘Tomorrow [Monday] is the last date for applying for registration. So we will apply for registration to thwart the conspiracy to keep us away from elections on the excuse of non-registration,’ BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain said Sunday afternoon.
‘There were attempts in the past to split the BNP. And now a conspiracy is on to keep the party out of the incoming general elections,’ he added.
According to the latest amendments to the Representation of People Order, registration with the commission is mandatory for the parties to contest the elections.
Asked about the change in party’s stance the day before the deadline expires, Delwar said the party wanted further discussion with the government about the demands for removal of some electoral provisions which are inconsistent to the national constitution. ‘But we are yet to receive any response from the government about the next round of dialogue,’ Delwar said.
Asked about the party’s stance on participating in the polls under the state of emergency, he said the registration with the EC and the question of participation in the elections were not the same.
‘We will apply for registration to qualify for participating in elections. The decision on contesting the elections will be taken later on after considering the overall atmosphere,’ he said.
The BNP will not participate in any stage-managed elections, he reiterated. ‘We want lifting of the state of emergency before the polls, participated by all parties, including two leaders — Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina,’ he said.
Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman told New Age that the party would submit application for registration with the EC today.
The Jatiya Nirbahi Parishad approved draft amendments to the party constitution at a meeting Sunday evening, he said. Jamaat amir Matiur Rahman Nizami presided over the meeting.
The amendments are made in line with the requirements of the RPO 2008, he said.
Islami Oikya Jote secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami said they would also apply for registration today.
Earlier on the day, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami collected the registration forms from the EC.
The EC extended the deadline for submitting application for registration from October 15 to October 20 responding to requests from BNP and Jamaat. Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda earlier said that the commission would not further extend the deadline for applying for registration.
A total of 192 political parties and groups collected forms for registration and 43 of them including the Awami League submitted applications to the EC until Sunday
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Daughter dies as Ctg mayor on flight
Bdnews24.com . Chittagong
Fawzia Sultana Tumpa, daughter of Chittagong city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, died in Bangkok on Friday afternoon while her parents were on a flight to Thailand to see her, said Mohiuddin’s family members. 
‘Her life-support machine was taken off at about 3:30pm [Bangladesh time],’ the mayor’s nephew, Mesbahuddin Chowdhury Nobel, told reporters.
The mayor had just left for Bangkok Friday afternoon to see his ailing daughter, already declared clinically dead by doctors.
Tumpa, an English student at Premier University, Chittagong, was undergoing treatment at a Bangkok hospital for cancer.
Nobel told reporters that a few minutes before Mohiuddin’s flight left, news had arrived that Tumpa had been put on a life-support machine.
‘Just before the Bangkok flight left, uncle Mohiuddin received news that Tumpa had been clinically dead and put on a life-support system,’ said Nobel.
‘A totally shattered soul, he still asked Bangkok to keep Tumpa on the life-support system and left.’
The Thai Airways flight carrying the mayor left Shah Amanat International Airport at about 2:30pm, mayor’s lawyer Ibrahim Hossain Babul told the news agency.
Mohiuddin was accompanied by his wife Hasina Mohiuddin and son Noufel.
Awami League leader Mohiuddin was released on October 8 after being bailed in all the 15 cases against him. He had been detained for a year and seven months.
Following a formal petition, the government gave him permission on October 15 to go abroad.
‘I’m going to Bangkok. I don’t know if I’ll be able to see my daughter alive,’ Mohiuddin told reporters before departure.
Calling upon the government to release all political leaders, Mohiuddin said, ‘Nothing can be gained by persecuting the politicians.’
‘I’ve instructed the Chittagong City Corporation councillors to discharge their responsibilities duly, though I heard that a lot of irregularities had occurred at the CCC while I was away.’
Though freed on bail, Mohiuddin was not allowed to return to his mayoral office. He wrote to the government, asking for a reason.
The government, meanwhile, is weighing the legal options.
‘The mayor’s letter has been forwarded to the law ministry for comment,’ local government adviser Anwarul Iqbal told reporters.
‘The local government ministry will take steps based on the comment from the law ministry,’ the adviser said.
CCC councillor Manzur Alam has been the acting mayor in absence of Mohiuddin.
The mayor faced 22 cases, of which three were quashed by the court and final reports have been submitted for four.
60pc of Dhaka dwellers defecate in open spaces
The urban sanitation system is about to collapse as about 60 per cent of the inhabitants of the capital defecate in open spaces, said sanitation specialist Professor M Mujibur Rahman on Friday.
‘There is hardly any hygienic sewerage system in the country’s cities and towns, including Dhaka. Many people pass their faeces in open spaces, including parks, footpaths and banks of the lakes and canals. On the other hand, the dwellers in many luxurious buildings discharge raw human excreta in those canals and lakes through pipes. Thus there is hardly any difference between them and those who excrete in the open spaces. Taking this scenario into consideration, we can say that about 60 per cent of the capital’s inhabitants release their excreta in open spaces in one way or other,’ said Professor Mujibur Rahman, also a teacher in the BUET. ‘Only 40 per cent of the people here use safe sanitary systems.’
The present sanitation management system, which covers 25 to 30 per cent of the capital, is about to collapse, he said. ‘The sanitation of other cities and major towns is also likely to collapse in the next five to ten years.’
‘We are polluting the rivers and canals by dumping human excreta and industrial waste into them. ‘We cannot afford to allow the waters of the Buriganga, Turag and Balu to become polluted. We have already killed the Buriganga by dumping sewage in it for the last 30 years. This is a grave offence. We must pay for it,’ he warned.
Professor Mujib made the above observations at a discussion with the media people. The discussion was a part of the national programme to observe the ‘National Sanitation Month’ [October] and the ‘International Sanitation Year 2008’. The National Sanitation Taskforce Media Committee [NSTMC] and the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh jointly organised the discussion in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Programme of the World Bank.
Mujib, also convenor of the NSTMC, claimed that they have apprised the government of the worsening sanitation situation. ‘We conveyed our concern to the highest authorities of the government, which includes ministers [of the past governments], advisers [of the incumbent government], secretaries and Dhaka WASA and DCC officials. But I do not see any move to save Dhaka’s sanitation system. Everyone has become apathetic although everything is happening in front of our eyes.’
Professor Mujib, however, claimed that open defecation in the country has decreased from 42 per cent in 2003 to 10 per cent in 2008, especially in the rural areas.
Fewer and fewer villagers defecate in open spaces in comparison with inhabitants of urban areas, he said.
He said there is also a discrepancy in the statistics on the area covered by the sanitation system as the definition of ‘sanitation’ varies. ‘The government is claiming that about 88 per cent of the people use sanitary latrines, but, according to the UNICEF, BRAC and NGO Forum, sanitation facilities are available only to 33 to 39 per cent of the people,’ he said.
He told the media that half of the septic tanks, both in rural and urban areas, are unhygienic.
About 12 million people live in Dhaka city, of whom only 30 per cent enjoy the benefit of the sewerage systems installed and maintained by the WASA in Dhaka.
The National Press Club’s president, Shaukat Mahmud, criticised the interim government for lack of commitment to improve the sewerage system.
He said politicians must include the goal of 100 per cent sanitation as an agendum in their manifestoes for the general elections due on December 18.
The deputy secretary to the Local Government Division, Shamsuddin Ahmed, admitted that a large number of day commuters and floating population in the major cities, especially in Dhaka, has posed a big challenge to sanitation across the country.
The NSTMC’s member-secretary and FEJB’s chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury moderated the discussion, and Abdul Motaleb and Shantanu Lahiri of the World Bank, Shirin Hossain and Quamrunnahar of the UNICEF, Milan Kanti Dev of BRAC, and about 10 journalists participated in the discussion, along with others.
They stressed the need to take urgent measures to provide hygienic and environment-friendly sanitary facilities for the floating, landless and homeless people, and also passengers of the land and riverine transport systems.
They also said that strengthening the local government system is also necessary for smooth implementation of sanitation programmes.
‘There is hardly any hygienic sewerage system in the country’s cities and towns, including Dhaka. Many people pass their faeces in open spaces, including parks, footpaths and banks of the lakes and canals. On the other hand, the dwellers in many luxurious buildings discharge raw human excreta in those canals and lakes through pipes. Thus there is hardly any difference between them and those who excrete in the open spaces. Taking this scenario into consideration, we can say that about 60 per cent of the capital’s inhabitants release their excreta in open spaces in one way or other,’ said Professor Mujibur Rahman, also a teacher in the BUET. ‘Only 40 per cent of the people here use safe sanitary systems.’
The present sanitation management system, which covers 25 to 30 per cent of the capital, is about to collapse, he said. ‘The sanitation of other cities and major towns is also likely to collapse in the next five to ten years.’
‘We are polluting the rivers and canals by dumping human excreta and industrial waste into them. ‘We cannot afford to allow the waters of the Buriganga, Turag and Balu to become polluted. We have already killed the Buriganga by dumping sewage in it for the last 30 years. This is a grave offence. We must pay for it,’ he warned.
Professor Mujib made the above observations at a discussion with the media people. The discussion was a part of the national programme to observe the ‘National Sanitation Month’ [October] and the ‘International Sanitation Year 2008’. The National Sanitation Taskforce Media Committee [NSTMC] and the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh jointly organised the discussion in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Programme of the World Bank.
Mujib, also convenor of the NSTMC, claimed that they have apprised the government of the worsening sanitation situation. ‘We conveyed our concern to the highest authorities of the government, which includes ministers [of the past governments], advisers [of the incumbent government], secretaries and Dhaka WASA and DCC officials. But I do not see any move to save Dhaka’s sanitation system. Everyone has become apathetic although everything is happening in front of our eyes.’
Professor Mujib, however, claimed that open defecation in the country has decreased from 42 per cent in 2003 to 10 per cent in 2008, especially in the rural areas.
Fewer and fewer villagers defecate in open spaces in comparison with inhabitants of urban areas, he said.
He said there is also a discrepancy in the statistics on the area covered by the sanitation system as the definition of ‘sanitation’ varies. ‘The government is claiming that about 88 per cent of the people use sanitary latrines, but, according to the UNICEF, BRAC and NGO Forum, sanitation facilities are available only to 33 to 39 per cent of the people,’ he said.
He told the media that half of the septic tanks, both in rural and urban areas, are unhygienic.
About 12 million people live in Dhaka city, of whom only 30 per cent enjoy the benefit of the sewerage systems installed and maintained by the WASA in Dhaka.
The National Press Club’s president, Shaukat Mahmud, criticised the interim government for lack of commitment to improve the sewerage system.
He said politicians must include the goal of 100 per cent sanitation as an agendum in their manifestoes for the general elections due on December 18.
The deputy secretary to the Local Government Division, Shamsuddin Ahmed, admitted that a large number of day commuters and floating population in the major cities, especially in Dhaka, has posed a big challenge to sanitation across the country.
The NSTMC’s member-secretary and FEJB’s chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury moderated the discussion, and Abdul Motaleb and Shantanu Lahiri of the World Bank, Shirin Hossain and Quamrunnahar of the UNICEF, Milan Kanti Dev of BRAC, and about 10 journalists participated in the discussion, along with others.
They stressed the need to take urgent measures to provide hygienic and environment-friendly sanitary facilities for the floating, landless and homeless people, and also passengers of the land and riverine transport systems.
They also said that strengthening the local government system is also necessary for smooth implementation of sanitation programmes.
Govt warning on milk consumption confuses parents
Consumers, already worried about health safety of their babies living on milk powder, are now in a fresh dilemma as the government ordered a ban on consumption of eight imported toxic milk brands instead of banning their sales.
Most of the milk brands, tested melamine positive, are on sale in the city stores along with many other brands, and parents are finding it difficult to select the safe and suitable ones for their babies.
Media advertisements and shop-owners are claiming that other brands are safe, but the consumers cannot rest upon such claims since the brands are yet to be tested.
Liquid milk supply is far less than demand and most of the consumers have no alternative but to buy one milk powder or other for their babies.
‘Really I am confused. I don’t know which one I should buy for my two years’ old daughter,’ said Shahana Akter, a housewife shopping at New Market on Friday.
Abu Taher, the shop owner, also could not give any good advice to his customers searching for a melamine-free milk brand.
‘Milk sales in my shop declined to less than Tk 2000 a day now from an average daily turnover of Tk 20,000 before the melamine scandal surfaced,’ said Taher, also a leader of New Market Shop Owners Association.
Engineer Reza Ahmed Choudhury, a shopper at Agora superstore in Dhanmondi, Friday said that the government’s advice not to consume certain brands was very much confusing since there was no bar on their sales and no advice about which brands were safe for consumption.
‘It is contradictory again when we see media advertisements in favour of some brands,’ he said.
Emdad Hossian Malek, who heads the market monitoring cell at the Consumer Association of Bangladesh, said such contradictions were adding to the worries of the parents.
‘The government should complete tests of all milk brands and tell people clearly which ones are safe, ordering immediate withdrawal of toxic ones from the stores,’ he said.
Tariqul Islam, a Power Development Board senior officer, said he was confused by contradictory claims.
‘Government advises us not to take eight baby milk brands, while some companies are claiming that their products are melamine-free. And we are puzzled,’ said Tarikul, worried about suitable alternatives for his two sons, aged three and four, who consume tinned milk.
Ishrat Jahan, an officer at Transom Electronics Limited, said she felt just helpless as she could not decide what to feed her tow years and four months’ old son, who used to consume Nido.
‘I went through reports that Nido is melamine contaminated. But my husband shows me the claims of the marketing company that Nido brand is melamine-free,’ said Ishrat.
Mohammad Selim, a drugstore owner at Mahakhali, said he himself was puzzled about the safety of all milk formulas he sells for the newborns.
‘Truly speaking, I cannot say which one is safe, which one not,’ he said.
Kazi Reazi Karim, a retired private sector executive, said that for the past couple of days he had been in desperate search for his village milkman, who supplies fresh cow milk.
‘I am no more confident about any powdered milk for my granddaughter,’ he said.
Sharmin Sumi, an employee at the Standard Chartered Bank, was worried about her one year old son, who consumes Dano brand milk, after reports that the brand contains melamine.
‘I cannot rely on any brand now and fresh cow milk is not available in my area. I don’t know what to do now,’ said the mother.
The government on Thursday warned people against eight brands of imported milk which are tested in the chemistry lab at Dhaka University to have been contaminated by toxic melamine.
A government handout named the milk powder brands — Sweet Baby, Yashli 1 and Yashli 2 sourced from China, Nido Fortified Instant and Anlene from New Zealand, Diploma and Red Cow from Australia and Dano from Denmark — to have been contaminated by melamine.
Chinese brands Sweet Baby, Yashli 1 and Yashli 2 were found to have been contaminated by melamine in lab testing done earlier by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and private sector enterprise PlasmaPlus.
‘People are warned not to consume the milk power of eight brands which were tested by the Dhaka University lab to have presence of melamine,’ read the government handout, headlined ‘Ban on consumption of eight milk brands having melamine presence
Most of the milk brands, tested melamine positive, are on sale in the city stores along with many other brands, and parents are finding it difficult to select the safe and suitable ones for their babies.
Media advertisements and shop-owners are claiming that other brands are safe, but the consumers cannot rest upon such claims since the brands are yet to be tested.
Liquid milk supply is far less than demand and most of the consumers have no alternative but to buy one milk powder or other for their babies.
‘Really I am confused. I don’t know which one I should buy for my two years’ old daughter,’ said Shahana Akter, a housewife shopping at New Market on Friday.
Abu Taher, the shop owner, also could not give any good advice to his customers searching for a melamine-free milk brand.
‘Milk sales in my shop declined to less than Tk 2000 a day now from an average daily turnover of Tk 20,000 before the melamine scandal surfaced,’ said Taher, also a leader of New Market Shop Owners Association.
Engineer Reza Ahmed Choudhury, a shopper at Agora superstore in Dhanmondi, Friday said that the government’s advice not to consume certain brands was very much confusing since there was no bar on their sales and no advice about which brands were safe for consumption.
‘It is contradictory again when we see media advertisements in favour of some brands,’ he said.
Emdad Hossian Malek, who heads the market monitoring cell at the Consumer Association of Bangladesh, said such contradictions were adding to the worries of the parents.
‘The government should complete tests of all milk brands and tell people clearly which ones are safe, ordering immediate withdrawal of toxic ones from the stores,’ he said.
Tariqul Islam, a Power Development Board senior officer, said he was confused by contradictory claims.
‘Government advises us not to take eight baby milk brands, while some companies are claiming that their products are melamine-free. And we are puzzled,’ said Tarikul, worried about suitable alternatives for his two sons, aged three and four, who consume tinned milk.
Ishrat Jahan, an officer at Transom Electronics Limited, said she felt just helpless as she could not decide what to feed her tow years and four months’ old son, who used to consume Nido.
‘I went through reports that Nido is melamine contaminated. But my husband shows me the claims of the marketing company that Nido brand is melamine-free,’ said Ishrat.
Mohammad Selim, a drugstore owner at Mahakhali, said he himself was puzzled about the safety of all milk formulas he sells for the newborns.
‘Truly speaking, I cannot say which one is safe, which one not,’ he said.
Kazi Reazi Karim, a retired private sector executive, said that for the past couple of days he had been in desperate search for his village milkman, who supplies fresh cow milk.
‘I am no more confident about any powdered milk for my granddaughter,’ he said.
Sharmin Sumi, an employee at the Standard Chartered Bank, was worried about her one year old son, who consumes Dano brand milk, after reports that the brand contains melamine.
‘I cannot rely on any brand now and fresh cow milk is not available in my area. I don’t know what to do now,’ said the mother.
The government on Thursday warned people against eight brands of imported milk which are tested in the chemistry lab at Dhaka University to have been contaminated by toxic melamine.
A government handout named the milk powder brands — Sweet Baby, Yashli 1 and Yashli 2 sourced from China, Nido Fortified Instant and Anlene from New Zealand, Diploma and Red Cow from Australia and Dano from Denmark — to have been contaminated by melamine.
Chinese brands Sweet Baby, Yashli 1 and Yashli 2 were found to have been contaminated by melamine in lab testing done earlier by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and private sector enterprise PlasmaPlus.
‘People are warned not to consume the milk power of eight brands which were tested by the Dhaka University lab to have presence of melamine,’ read the government handout, headlined ‘Ban on consumption of eight milk brands having melamine presence
Protests against removal of baul statues continue to rage on
Protests against the removal of the baul sculptures from in front of the Zia International Airport continue to rage on.
Academics, writers, students, painters, sculptors, performers, artistes and cultural activists again demanded re-installation of the Baul sculptures, created by artist Mrinal Huq, in front of the airport.
They denounced the removal of the sculptures as the government’s craven capitulation to the threats issued by religious bigots who have no respect for the culture of their forefathers and their own country.
That the government is easily intimidated by religious extremists has been revealed by the way it has given in to their threat and the celerity with which it removed the sculptures of Bauls who follow the ideals of Lalan the mystic and lead simple lives, they said.
The Gana Sangeet Sanghati Parishad staged a rally in the premises of the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday to protest against the government’s submission to religious obscurantists. The rally was followed by performances.
The Progressive Students’ Alliance, a combine of left-leaning student bodies, brought out a procession on the campus of Dhaka University in the afternoon and demanded restoration of the sculptures.
Serajul Islam Choudhury, a Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University, said the fundamentalist axis got the chance to debase the culture of the soil because no government in Bangladesh had tried the war criminals in the 37 years of the country’s independence.
‘They want to destroy our local culture and as part of that conspiracy. The bigots, in the name of religion, are protesting against the sculpture that symbolises Lalan and his followers,’ he said.
‘The mystic works of Lalan enrich us with the teaching of humanity and are an inalienable part of our culture. The forces of darkness have begun their battle to destroy our traditions by removing the statues, and if they are not stopped now they will attack all the cultural sites throughout Bangladesh,’ he warned.
Golam Kuddus, general secretary of Sammilita Sangskitik Jote, said the chief adviser, the chief justice and the chief of army staff, who virtually control the government, have said several times that they want the trial of war criminals. ‘Then where is the obstacle? It is not difficult to try them because of the Collaborators Act of 1973. About 11,000 people were identified as war criminals and 700 of them were punished,’ he said.
Writer Jatin Sarkar, vocalist Fakir Alamgir and Gana Sangeet Parishad’s general secretary Mahbubul Haider Mohon also spoke at the rally.
The artistes of the Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, Bibartan and Sargam Shilpi Goshthi also sung people’s songs.
The activists of the Progressive Students’ Alliance began their procession from the TSC and paraded through the campus, chanting slogans, and stopped in front of the Raju Memorial Monument to stage a rally.
Leaders of the cultural organisations said that they would wage a movement if the government did not re-install the sculptures immediately.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union president Khan Asaduzzaman Masum, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front president Fakhruddin Atik, president of Biplabi Chhatra Maitree’s DU unit Hillol Roy, and president of the Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra Federation Luvana Tabassum addressed the rally.
They said it was alarming that the fundamentalists were attempting to destroy the country’s culture and the government was supporting them covertly by fulfilling their irrational demands.
The Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree also brought out a procession on the campus and raised the same demands.
Academics, writers, students, painters, sculptors, performers, artistes and cultural activists again demanded re-installation of the Baul sculptures, created by artist Mrinal Huq, in front of the airport.
They denounced the removal of the sculptures as the government’s craven capitulation to the threats issued by religious bigots who have no respect for the culture of their forefathers and their own country.
That the government is easily intimidated by religious extremists has been revealed by the way it has given in to their threat and the celerity with which it removed the sculptures of Bauls who follow the ideals of Lalan the mystic and lead simple lives, they said.
The Gana Sangeet Sanghati Parishad staged a rally in the premises of the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday to protest against the government’s submission to religious obscurantists. The rally was followed by performances.
The Progressive Students’ Alliance, a combine of left-leaning student bodies, brought out a procession on the campus of Dhaka University in the afternoon and demanded restoration of the sculptures.
Serajul Islam Choudhury, a Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University, said the fundamentalist axis got the chance to debase the culture of the soil because no government in Bangladesh had tried the war criminals in the 37 years of the country’s independence.
‘They want to destroy our local culture and as part of that conspiracy. The bigots, in the name of religion, are protesting against the sculpture that symbolises Lalan and his followers,’ he said.
‘The mystic works of Lalan enrich us with the teaching of humanity and are an inalienable part of our culture. The forces of darkness have begun their battle to destroy our traditions by removing the statues, and if they are not stopped now they will attack all the cultural sites throughout Bangladesh,’ he warned.
Golam Kuddus, general secretary of Sammilita Sangskitik Jote, said the chief adviser, the chief justice and the chief of army staff, who virtually control the government, have said several times that they want the trial of war criminals. ‘Then where is the obstacle? It is not difficult to try them because of the Collaborators Act of 1973. About 11,000 people were identified as war criminals and 700 of them were punished,’ he said.
Writer Jatin Sarkar, vocalist Fakir Alamgir and Gana Sangeet Parishad’s general secretary Mahbubul Haider Mohon also spoke at the rally.
The artistes of the Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, Bibartan and Sargam Shilpi Goshthi also sung people’s songs.
The activists of the Progressive Students’ Alliance began their procession from the TSC and paraded through the campus, chanting slogans, and stopped in front of the Raju Memorial Monument to stage a rally.
Leaders of the cultural organisations said that they would wage a movement if the government did not re-install the sculptures immediately.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union president Khan Asaduzzaman Masum, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front president Fakhruddin Atik, president of Biplabi Chhatra Maitree’s DU unit Hillol Roy, and president of the Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra Federation Luvana Tabassum addressed the rally.
They said it was alarming that the fundamentalists were attempting to destroy the country’s culture and the government was supporting them covertly by fulfilling their irrational demands.
The Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree also brought out a procession on the campus and raised the same demands.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Pak troops kill 10 militants in tribal area: officials
Pakistani troops pounded militant hideouts in a tribal region near the Afghan border on Wednesday, killing at least 10 rebels with links to al-Qaeda and the Taliban, officials said.
The attacks took place in the Bajaur tribal district, where Pakistani security forces launched a major offensive against Islamic fighters in August.
‘Troops fired artillery and mortars onto hideouts of rebels in Loisam, Rashakai, Chinar and Babra areas, killing 10 militants and wounding eight others,’ a security official told AFP.
There was no way to independently verify the toll. The official also said a curfew was imposed Wednesday in Khar, the main town in Bajaur, as part of the ongoing military operation.
All shops and offices were closed, the roads were empty, and all residents were ordered to remain indoors. The military said in late September that the fighting in Bajaur was some of the heaviest since Pakistan joined the US-led ‘war on terror.’
It said more than 1,000 rebel fighters have been killed since it launched the offensive, including al-Qaeda’s operational commander in the region, Egyptian Abu Saeed Al-Masri.
Pakistan’s tribal regions have been wracked by violence since thousands of Taliban and al-Qaeda rebels fled to the country after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.
Violence linked to Pakistan’s role in the ‘war on terror’ has claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people in suicide and bomb attacks in the past year.
The attacks took place in the Bajaur tribal district, where Pakistani security forces launched a major offensive against Islamic fighters in August.
‘Troops fired artillery and mortars onto hideouts of rebels in Loisam, Rashakai, Chinar and Babra areas, killing 10 militants and wounding eight others,’ a security official told AFP.
There was no way to independently verify the toll. The official also said a curfew was imposed Wednesday in Khar, the main town in Bajaur, as part of the ongoing military operation.
All shops and offices were closed, the roads were empty, and all residents were ordered to remain indoors. The military said in late September that the fighting in Bajaur was some of the heaviest since Pakistan joined the US-led ‘war on terror.’
It said more than 1,000 rebel fighters have been killed since it launched the offensive, including al-Qaeda’s operational commander in the region, Egyptian Abu Saeed Al-Masri.
Pakistan’s tribal regions have been wracked by violence since thousands of Taliban and al-Qaeda rebels fled to the country after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.
Violence linked to Pakistan’s role in the ‘war on terror’ has claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people in suicide and bomb attacks in the past year.
Afghan governor says air strike kills 70 Taliban
About 70 Taliban fighters were killed in an overnight air strike by foreign forces in the southern Afghan province of Helmand near the Pakistan border, the provincial governor said on Wednesday.
The attack took place late Tuesday in Helmand’s Baram Cha district. Violence in Afghanistan is running at its highest rate since the US-led invasion to wrest control from the militant Islamist Taliban movement in 2001.
‘Most of these Taliban (killed) are foreign fighters who entered Afghanistan to destabilise the country,’ governor Dawood Ahmadi told Reuters in Kandahar.
NATO and the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan said they had no immediate information about the air strike.
Provincial authorities said earlier Wednesday that another 22 Taliban insurgents and six Afghan policemen were killed in overnight clashes in the south.
Dozens of Taliban fighters attacked Lashkar Gah in Helmand, about 550 km southwest of the capital Kabul. Eighteen insurgents were killed during a four-hour gun battle, said provincial police chief Asadullah Sherzad.
In another incident, gunmen killed six Afghan policemen at their checkpost in the same district, a spokesman for Ahmadi said.
The attack took place late Tuesday in Helmand’s Baram Cha district. Violence in Afghanistan is running at its highest rate since the US-led invasion to wrest control from the militant Islamist Taliban movement in 2001.
‘Most of these Taliban (killed) are foreign fighters who entered Afghanistan to destabilise the country,’ governor Dawood Ahmadi told Reuters in Kandahar.
NATO and the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan said they had no immediate information about the air strike.
Provincial authorities said earlier Wednesday that another 22 Taliban insurgents and six Afghan policemen were killed in overnight clashes in the south.
Dozens of Taliban fighters attacked Lashkar Gah in Helmand, about 550 km southwest of the capital Kabul. Eighteen insurgents were killed during a four-hour gun battle, said provincial police chief Asadullah Sherzad.
In another incident, gunmen killed six Afghan policemen at their checkpost in the same district, a spokesman for Ahmadi said.
TAC summons 17 high officials of BTCL, BRTA
The Truth and Accountability Commission has summoned 17 high officials, both serving and retired, to physically appear before it and explain their alleged involvement in corruption.
‘We have served notices to them as their names were mentioned by other officials who confessed their corruption before the commission in order to get clemency,’ the chairman of the TAC, Habibur Rahman Khan, told reporters at a weekly press briefing on Wednesday.
The officials are from the Bangladesh Telecom Company Ltd and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said the chairman without disclosing their identity.
He dismissed the possibility of creating a climate of fear among government officials by issuing notices to them, as reported by a section of the press who pointed out that the law under which the TAC was formed empowers him to summon individuals whose names are mentioned by other individuals while confessing their corruption.
‘Summoning the officers is very much within our jurisdiction, and it will help to curb corruption,’ he said
When he was asked about what action would be taken after interrogating the summoned officials, Habibur Rahman said that if they confess their graft they will be welcome to seek clemency from the TAC. ‘If they deny the allegations, they might be referred to some other agencies [for further investigation],’ said Habibur Rahman, adding that his commission might serve further notices if more names are mentioned by the seekers of clemency.
The temporary commission, which came into being in August and will function for five months only, has received so far 313 petitions from individuals seeking clemency to ensure that no criminal proceedings will be drawn against them after they voluntarily disclose their graft and deposit their ill-gotten assets in the state exchequer.
Only 17 individuals have voluntarily submitted petitions to the TAC, and the Anti-corruption Commission and National Coordinating Committee referred 126 and 167 cases respectively to the TAC. Three others were referred by the courts.
The TAC has completed the hearing of 150 cases. The individuals confessed that they had amassed property worth about Tk 19.60 crore through corruption. Of the amount more than Tk 10 crore has been deposited in the national exchequer, according to the TAC.
The TAC has also issued clemency certificates to 18 individuals, which will help them to avoid criminal proceedings in the future.
Asif Ali, one of the two members of the TAC, said that about 98 per cent of the mercy seekers are officials or employees of government or semi-government bodies.
‘We have served notices to them as their names were mentioned by other officials who confessed their corruption before the commission in order to get clemency,’ the chairman of the TAC, Habibur Rahman Khan, told reporters at a weekly press briefing on Wednesday.
The officials are from the Bangladesh Telecom Company Ltd and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said the chairman without disclosing their identity.
He dismissed the possibility of creating a climate of fear among government officials by issuing notices to them, as reported by a section of the press who pointed out that the law under which the TAC was formed empowers him to summon individuals whose names are mentioned by other individuals while confessing their corruption.
‘Summoning the officers is very much within our jurisdiction, and it will help to curb corruption,’ he said
When he was asked about what action would be taken after interrogating the summoned officials, Habibur Rahman said that if they confess their graft they will be welcome to seek clemency from the TAC. ‘If they deny the allegations, they might be referred to some other agencies [for further investigation],’ said Habibur Rahman, adding that his commission might serve further notices if more names are mentioned by the seekers of clemency.
The temporary commission, which came into being in August and will function for five months only, has received so far 313 petitions from individuals seeking clemency to ensure that no criminal proceedings will be drawn against them after they voluntarily disclose their graft and deposit their ill-gotten assets in the state exchequer.
Only 17 individuals have voluntarily submitted petitions to the TAC, and the Anti-corruption Commission and National Coordinating Committee referred 126 and 167 cases respectively to the TAC. Three others were referred by the courts.
The TAC has completed the hearing of 150 cases. The individuals confessed that they had amassed property worth about Tk 19.60 crore through corruption. Of the amount more than Tk 10 crore has been deposited in the national exchequer, according to the TAC.
The TAC has also issued clemency certificates to 18 individuals, which will help them to avoid criminal proceedings in the future.
Asif Ali, one of the two members of the TAC, said that about 98 per cent of the mercy seekers are officials or employees of government or semi-government bodies.
Bush admin gave nod for CIA waterboarding: report
The administration of the US president, George W Bush, authorised the CIA to waterboard al-Qaeda suspects according to two secret memos issued in 2003 and 2004, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The memos were issued at the request of intelligence officials who were ‘troubled that White House policymakers had never endorsed the program in writing,’ the newspaper said, citing four administration and intelligence officials familiar with the documents.
‘The classified memos, which have not been previously disclosed, were requested by then-CIA director George J Tenet more than a year after the start of the secret interrogations,’ the Post said.
‘Although justice department lawyers, beginning in 2002, had signed off on the agency’s interrogation methods, senior CIA officials were troubled that White House policymakers had never endorsed the programme in writing.’
Tenet’s first request for written approval by the White House came in 2003, during a meeting with National Security Council members including the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, the paper quoted the unnamed officials as saying.
The first secret memo was issued shortly thereafter, ‘a brief memo conveying the administration’s approval for the CIA’s interrogation methods, the officials said.’
Tenet made a second request in 2004 as revelations of abuse at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison came to light.
‘Officials who held senior posts at the time also spoke of deteriorating relations between the CIA and the White House over the war in Iraq — a rift that prompted some to believe that the agency needed even more explicit proof of the administration’s support,’ the report said.
The newspaper said administration officials ‘confirmed the existence of the memos, but neither they nor former intelligence officers would describe their contents in detail because they remain classified.’
A White House spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
Waterboarding, a staple of brutal interrogations from the Spanish Inquisition to Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime, usually consists of strapping down a captive, covering his face with a cloth and pouring water onto the cloth to simulate drowning.
The Central Intelligence Agency has admitted using the technique on al-Qaeda suspects including alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed following the 2001 attacks, at a time when further strikes on the United States were believed to be imminent.
Rights groups have decried the technique as torture.
The White House, which has not previously acknowledged it was aware of the specific techniques being used by interrogators, has said the United States does not currently use waterboarding, but that it would not rule out the use of such techniques in the future.
The memos were issued at the request of intelligence officials who were ‘troubled that White House policymakers had never endorsed the program in writing,’ the newspaper said, citing four administration and intelligence officials familiar with the documents.
‘The classified memos, which have not been previously disclosed, were requested by then-CIA director George J Tenet more than a year after the start of the secret interrogations,’ the Post said.
‘Although justice department lawyers, beginning in 2002, had signed off on the agency’s interrogation methods, senior CIA officials were troubled that White House policymakers had never endorsed the programme in writing.’
Tenet’s first request for written approval by the White House came in 2003, during a meeting with National Security Council members including the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, the paper quoted the unnamed officials as saying.
The first secret memo was issued shortly thereafter, ‘a brief memo conveying the administration’s approval for the CIA’s interrogation methods, the officials said.’
Tenet made a second request in 2004 as revelations of abuse at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison came to light.
‘Officials who held senior posts at the time also spoke of deteriorating relations between the CIA and the White House over the war in Iraq — a rift that prompted some to believe that the agency needed even more explicit proof of the administration’s support,’ the report said.
The newspaper said administration officials ‘confirmed the existence of the memos, but neither they nor former intelligence officers would describe their contents in detail because they remain classified.’
A White House spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
Waterboarding, a staple of brutal interrogations from the Spanish Inquisition to Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime, usually consists of strapping down a captive, covering his face with a cloth and pouring water onto the cloth to simulate drowning.
The Central Intelligence Agency has admitted using the technique on al-Qaeda suspects including alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed following the 2001 attacks, at a time when further strikes on the United States were believed to be imminent.
Rights groups have decried the technique as torture.
The White House, which has not previously acknowledged it was aware of the specific techniques being used by interrogators, has said the United States does not currently use waterboarding, but that it would not rule out the use of such techniques in the future.
Oil price dips below $71 a barrel to 13-month low
The price of oil fell below 71 dollars on Wednesday, its lowest level for more than 13 months, as recession fears raised concerns about a prolonged drop in energy demand, analysts said.
The global financial crisis is hitting world demand for oil, although the effect on emerging economies is unclear, OPEC said on Wednesday.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries slashed its estimate of growth in demand this year and shaved its estimate for 2009, largely because of an ‘excessive’ easing of demand in the United States, the single biggest energy market.
Prices also fell Wednesday on news that a Nigerian court had ordered Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell to hand over land to locals, a key demand of armed rebels camped in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
Brent North Sea crude for November delivery fell to 70.70 dollars a barrel — the lowest level since late August 2007 — before recovering to 70.93 dollars, down 3.60 dollars compared to Tuesday’s close.
New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for November, shed 3.40 dollars to 75.23 dollars a barrel after hitting an intra-day low point of 74.92.
Brent crude has fallen by more than half from a record high 147.50 dollars in July, when prices rocketed on fears of supply disruptions.
Oil prices are sliding on ‘concerns that the coordinated action by central banks over the last week will not be enough to rescue economies from falling into a global recession and hence weighing on oil demand,’ Sucden analyst Nimit Khamar said.
A top US central banker, Janet Yellen, said Tuesday that the United States ‘appears to be in a recession.’ There are also growing fears Japan and Europe are heading for a spell of economic stagnation or recession.
The German economy is heading for a slowdown but the downturn will not be a long-lasting one, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
Meanwhile a Nigerian court ordered Shell to hand over land around its giant Bonny oil terminal to the local population, the multinational said Wednesday.
‘The ruling was given some months ago but we have appealed,’ Shell’s spokesman in Nigeria, Precious Okolobo, told AFP.
He did not say whether oil lifting and export activities at the terminal, considered to be the largest in Africa, would be affected by the ruling.
Markets were meanwhile awaiting the latest weekly snapshot of US energy inventories due Thursday for a lead on the state of demand for oil in the world’s biggest consumer of crude.
The Department of Energy’s latest data on inventories has been delayed a day owing to a public holiday in the United States on Monday.
Oil traders were also looking ahead to an extraordinary meeting of OPEC on November 18 as member countries fret over falling prices, with some calling for cuts in output as a result.
The global financial crisis is hitting world demand for oil, although the effect on emerging economies is unclear, OPEC said on Wednesday.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries slashed its estimate of growth in demand this year and shaved its estimate for 2009, largely because of an ‘excessive’ easing of demand in the United States, the single biggest energy market.
Prices also fell Wednesday on news that a Nigerian court had ordered Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell to hand over land to locals, a key demand of armed rebels camped in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
Brent North Sea crude for November delivery fell to 70.70 dollars a barrel — the lowest level since late August 2007 — before recovering to 70.93 dollars, down 3.60 dollars compared to Tuesday’s close.
New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for November, shed 3.40 dollars to 75.23 dollars a barrel after hitting an intra-day low point of 74.92.
Brent crude has fallen by more than half from a record high 147.50 dollars in July, when prices rocketed on fears of supply disruptions.
Oil prices are sliding on ‘concerns that the coordinated action by central banks over the last week will not be enough to rescue economies from falling into a global recession and hence weighing on oil demand,’ Sucden analyst Nimit Khamar said.
A top US central banker, Janet Yellen, said Tuesday that the United States ‘appears to be in a recession.’ There are also growing fears Japan and Europe are heading for a spell of economic stagnation or recession.
The German economy is heading for a slowdown but the downturn will not be a long-lasting one, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
Meanwhile a Nigerian court ordered Shell to hand over land around its giant Bonny oil terminal to the local population, the multinational said Wednesday.
‘The ruling was given some months ago but we have appealed,’ Shell’s spokesman in Nigeria, Precious Okolobo, told AFP.
He did not say whether oil lifting and export activities at the terminal, considered to be the largest in Africa, would be affected by the ruling.
Markets were meanwhile awaiting the latest weekly snapshot of US energy inventories due Thursday for a lead on the state of demand for oil in the world’s biggest consumer of crude.
The Department of Energy’s latest data on inventories has been delayed a day owing to a public holiday in the United States on Monday.
Oil traders were also looking ahead to an extraordinary meeting of OPEC on November 18 as member countries fret over falling prices, with some calling for cuts in output as a result.
Indian novelist Adiga wins Booker Prize
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It was only the third time in the Booker’s 40-year history that a first-time writer had claimed the award, and, at 33, Adiga was also one of its youngest winners.
He received a cheque for 50,000 pounds ($88,000) at a gala dinner in London on Tuesday and can expect not only overnight literary fame but also a sharp rise in book sales in the runup to Christmas.
Booker organisers say last year’s winner, Anne Enright, has sold around 500,000 copies of ‘The Gathering,’ largely due to the prize. The White Tiger is published by Atlantic Books.
The White Tiger follows Balram Halwai, the son of a rickshaw puller whose dream of escaping the poverty of his village takes him on a journey to the bright lights of Delhi and Bangalore, where he will do almost anything to get to the top.
‘It was important for me to present someone from this colossal underclass, which is perhaps as big as 400 million, and to do so without sentimentality,’ Adiga told reporters after the awards ceremony.
‘The book has done very well in India. It was a bestseller before this was announced. There’s been a need for a book like this,’ he added.
Michael Portillo, chairman of the five-member judging panel, praised The White Tiger for tackling important social and political issues in modern-day India.
‘What set this one apart was its originality,’ Portillo said. ‘For many of us this was entirely new territory — the dark side of India.
‘It’s a book that gains from dealing with very important social issues — the divisions between rich and poor and the impossibility of the poor escaping from their lot in India.’
Portillo said the central character was sympathetic while also being ‘absolutely vile and absolutely unrepentant,’ and likened him to Shakespeare’s tragic hero Macbeth. He added: ‘The overarching evil is poverty, the chicken coop from which the poor not only can’t escape but have no wish or ambition to escape.’
Adiga said his aim in writing The White Tiger was to represent the poor.
‘Balram Halwai is a member of the invisible Indian underclass — one of the millions of poor Indians who have been bypassed by the economic boom,’ he told Reuters before the Booker Prize winner was announced.
He beat bookmakers’ favourite Sebastian Barry of Ireland (The Secret Scripture).
Also nominated were India’s Amitav Ghosh (Sea of Poppies), Britons Linda Grant (The Clothes on Their Backs) and Philip Hensher (The Northern Clemency) and Australian-born Steve Toltz (A Fraction of the Whole).
Adiga is the third debut novelist to claim the prize, after Arundhati Roy in 1997 and DBC Pierre in 2003. He is the second youngest winner after Ben Okri, who won in 1991 aged 32.
Bigots against baul monument
Some Muslim bigots on Wednesday forced government authorities to pull down a monument of bauls on the roundabout at Zia International Airport in Dhaka after they had tried to raze and rallied against the sculpture.
The Dhaka City Corporation six months ago decided to erect a monument at the place as part of the city beautification programme.
Sculptor Mrinal Haque about three months and a half ago started building the monument, sculptures of five bauls holding ektaras, single-stringed instruments, symbolising the exuberance of the Bengali culture. The initiative was sponsored by the United Commercial Bank.
‘I have completed 80 per cent of the work amid protests by some Muslim bigots in the name of religious sentiments being hurt,’ Mrinal told New Age. ‘Sensing trouble, the airport and the civil aviation authorities decided to pull down the monument and I agreed to the proposal.’
Several hundred bigots, teamed up as the committee against statue in the airport crossing, tried to stop the initiative just after Mirnal had started work.
The bigots on Wednesday gathered near the neighbouring Babu Salam Mosque and brought out a procession demanding that the monument should be immediately dismantled.
A large number of lawmen, including Rapid Action Battalion personnel, reached the place, but failed to tackle the situation.
The situation deteriorated when several hundred people from different mosques reached the place and joined the protesters at about 3:00pm.
High police officials and the civil aviation authorities at a brief meeting decided to move the sculpture to ward off further trouble.
The civil aviation authorities assigned the Fair Enterprise and the Probhati Enterprise to move the sculptures and the protesters joined the demolition job at about 5:00pm.
The Airport police told New Age they were pulling down the monument at the directive of higher authorities.
Energy div keeps door open for Cairn to sell gas directly to 3rd party
The energy division has kept the door open for Cairn Energy for future negotiation to allow the UK-based company to sell gas directly to a third party.
The division, which made the decision on Wednesday, earlier said it would not meet the Cairn demand as the country was facing gas crisis and the issue had political implications.
It asked Petrobangla to inform Cairn that the issue of allowing the company to sell gas to a third party would be discussed in future after the company confirmed the presence of gas reserve at Magnama or Hatia structures.
Special assistant to the chief adviser M Tamim at a meeting also asked Petrobangla officials to slam Cairn Energy for ‘breaching the production sharing contract, hiding information and creating mistrust’ in regards to the gas reserve.
He also directed Petrobangla to ask Cairn to show ‘good intentions’ and come out of ‘mistrust’ by conducting exploration works like 3D seismic survey at Magnama and Hatia structures in the Bay.
‘The issue of selling gas to a third party will be discussed later once Cairn confirms availability of gas at the structures,’ Petrobangla was asked to inform the company by Tamim.
Cairn in July-August warned Petrobangla that it would not go for further exploration in the Magnama and Hatia structures, which it found after a 2D survey during this dry season, if the gas price was not increased or the company was not allowed to sell its share of gas directly to a third party once gas was found.
Many Petrobangla officials criticised Cairn saying that it was trying to press home its demand leaving the country in gas crisis.
They also observed that the other international oil companies would come up with the same demand if Cairn’s demand was met. Petrobangla then sought energy division’s directives.
Tamim and energy secretary Mohammad Mohsin earlier told reporters that the Cairn’s demand would not be met as the issues were thorny and had political implications. Energy officials at Wednesday’s meeting went through the PSC that Petrobangla had signed with Cairn for block 16 in early 90’s, said sources present at the meeting.
They observed that as per the existing PSC, there was no provision for increasing gas price for Cairn, but there was an option that Cairn could sell gas directly to a third party in the country if Petrobangla refuses to purchase gas from Cairn, they said.
The meeting observed that there would be criticism if Petrobangla refused to purchase gas at a time when the country was facing huge gas shortage.
It also observed that if Cairn was informed that the Petrobangla dismissed the Cairn’s demand that it will not go for further exploration at the structure and will sit with the structure at least two years without doing anything.
Petrobangla officials alleged that the company did not disclose information to Petrobangla and did not behave well.
When asked why they had decided to hold future talks with Cairn, a high official of the division said there was no problem in holding talks. ‘If a big reserve is found in one of the structures, we can hold talks with them on their proposal to allow them to sell gas directly to third party.’
The division, which made the decision on Wednesday, earlier said it would not meet the Cairn demand as the country was facing gas crisis and the issue had political implications.
It asked Petrobangla to inform Cairn that the issue of allowing the company to sell gas to a third party would be discussed in future after the company confirmed the presence of gas reserve at Magnama or Hatia structures.
Special assistant to the chief adviser M Tamim at a meeting also asked Petrobangla officials to slam Cairn Energy for ‘breaching the production sharing contract, hiding information and creating mistrust’ in regards to the gas reserve.
He also directed Petrobangla to ask Cairn to show ‘good intentions’ and come out of ‘mistrust’ by conducting exploration works like 3D seismic survey at Magnama and Hatia structures in the Bay.
‘The issue of selling gas to a third party will be discussed later once Cairn confirms availability of gas at the structures,’ Petrobangla was asked to inform the company by Tamim.
Cairn in July-August warned Petrobangla that it would not go for further exploration in the Magnama and Hatia structures, which it found after a 2D survey during this dry season, if the gas price was not increased or the company was not allowed to sell its share of gas directly to a third party once gas was found.
Many Petrobangla officials criticised Cairn saying that it was trying to press home its demand leaving the country in gas crisis.
They also observed that the other international oil companies would come up with the same demand if Cairn’s demand was met. Petrobangla then sought energy division’s directives.
Tamim and energy secretary Mohammad Mohsin earlier told reporters that the Cairn’s demand would not be met as the issues were thorny and had political implications. Energy officials at Wednesday’s meeting went through the PSC that Petrobangla had signed with Cairn for block 16 in early 90’s, said sources present at the meeting.
They observed that as per the existing PSC, there was no provision for increasing gas price for Cairn, but there was an option that Cairn could sell gas directly to a third party in the country if Petrobangla refuses to purchase gas from Cairn, they said.
The meeting observed that there would be criticism if Petrobangla refused to purchase gas at a time when the country was facing huge gas shortage.
It also observed that if Cairn was informed that the Petrobangla dismissed the Cairn’s demand that it will not go for further exploration at the structure and will sit with the structure at least two years without doing anything.
Petrobangla officials alleged that the company did not disclose information to Petrobangla and did not behave well.
When asked why they had decided to hold future talks with Cairn, a high official of the division said there was no problem in holding talks. ‘If a big reserve is found in one of the structures, we can hold talks with them on their proposal to allow them to sell gas directly to third party.’
DU test finds melamine in major milk brands
The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution has forwarded to the commerce ministry the Dhaka University test report that detects melamine in some milk brands imported from countries other than China.
The chief of the official certification agency, however, stressed that the findings of the test done at the chemistry department of Dhaka University should be rechecked in other local or foreign laboratories in view of the sensitivity of the issue.
BSTI director general Azmal Hossain on Wednesday said the DU test report showed existence of melamine in the samples of eight milks brands, including Dano from Denmark, Diploma and Red Cow from Australia and Nido, a Swiss milk brand sourced from Australia.
‘The DU test claims that samples of all these brands contained melamine, in some cases more than 100 milligram per kilogram,’ said Azmal.
The BSTI received the test report in the afternoon and forwarded it immediately to the commerce ministry for necessary action, the BSTI chief said.
Tests done at three laboratories previously did not find melamine in non-Chinese milk brands, requiring further test either at home or abroad to reach a conclusion, he said.
‘It is a sensitive matter, so recheck is essential,’ said Azmal
Earlier, private laboratory Plasma Plus, state-owned BCSIR and BSTI’s own laboratory found melamine only in Chinese brands Yeshli-1 Yesli-2, Sweet Baby Sun Care and Sunlu at a maximum of 86 milligram per kilogram.
Mahmub Jamil, chief adviser’s special assistant for the industries ministry, said if existence of melamine was proved in all milk brands, he might recommend a ban on marketing of all foreign-made milk powder brands.
The inter-material taskforce, coordinated by the commerce ministry and responsible to check marketing of unregistered milk brands, will sit today to boost up vigilance and discuss actions following the latest developments.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Public Health and Nutrition, which is responsible for registration of baby milk brands, said it had made “melamine free” certification mandatory for all registered milk brands.
Certificates could be taken from BSTI, BCSIR and the DU’s chemistry department, the IPHN notified, requesting the civil surgeon’s offices in all districts to help mobile courts in checking sales of unregistered baby milk brands.
The chief of the official certification agency, however, stressed that the findings of the test done at the chemistry department of Dhaka University should be rechecked in other local or foreign laboratories in view of the sensitivity of the issue.
BSTI director general Azmal Hossain on Wednesday said the DU test report showed existence of melamine in the samples of eight milks brands, including Dano from Denmark, Diploma and Red Cow from Australia and Nido, a Swiss milk brand sourced from Australia.
‘The DU test claims that samples of all these brands contained melamine, in some cases more than 100 milligram per kilogram,’ said Azmal.
The BSTI received the test report in the afternoon and forwarded it immediately to the commerce ministry for necessary action, the BSTI chief said.
Tests done at three laboratories previously did not find melamine in non-Chinese milk brands, requiring further test either at home or abroad to reach a conclusion, he said.
‘It is a sensitive matter, so recheck is essential,’ said Azmal
Earlier, private laboratory Plasma Plus, state-owned BCSIR and BSTI’s own laboratory found melamine only in Chinese brands Yeshli-1 Yesli-2, Sweet Baby Sun Care and Sunlu at a maximum of 86 milligram per kilogram.
Mahmub Jamil, chief adviser’s special assistant for the industries ministry, said if existence of melamine was proved in all milk brands, he might recommend a ban on marketing of all foreign-made milk powder brands.
The inter-material taskforce, coordinated by the commerce ministry and responsible to check marketing of unregistered milk brands, will sit today to boost up vigilance and discuss actions following the latest developments.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Public Health and Nutrition, which is responsible for registration of baby milk brands, said it had made “melamine free” certification mandatory for all registered milk brands.
Certificates could be taken from BSTI, BCSIR and the DU’s chemistry department, the IPHN notified, requesting the civil surgeon’s offices in all districts to help mobile courts in checking sales of unregistered baby milk brands.
AL applies for EC registration
The Awami League on Wednesday applied for registration with the Election Commission and submitted the amended, provisional party constitution with provisions contradicting the registration criteria.
It also hoped the commission will further relax its provisions to allow the party to be registered.
The Awami League’s office secretary Abdul Mannan Khan submitted, along with the application, the party’s amended, provisional constitution which kept provisions for associate organisations and foreign chapters of the party.
The provisions of keeping such bodies contradict the registration laws laid out in the revised Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.
Asked whether the party thinks the commission will relax the registration criteria to allow it to be registered, Abdul Mannan said, ‘We think the commission will register us in line with our amended constitution.’
Asked how the commission will register the Awami League as at least two provisions in the party constitution contradict the registration criteria, election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said, ‘The committee assigned to verify the applications will scrutinise the application and then we will see what could be done.’
He, however, declined comments when he was asked whether the commission would relax the registration criteria to allow the Awami League to be registered.
Article 90(B)-(b)(iii) of the Representation of the People Order, as amended on October 6, says every political party should have specific provisions in its constitution ‘to prohibit formation of any organisation or body as its affiliated or associated body consisting of the teachers or students of any educational institution or the employees or labourers of any financial, commercial or industrial institution or establishment or the members of any other profession.’
According to Article 90C(1)(d), a political party should not be qualified for registration if ‘there is any provision in its constitution for the establishment or operation of any office, branch or committee outside the territory of Bangladesh.’
The Awami League’s amended, provisional constitution says the party maintains associate organisations to be guided by their own constitutions, instead of the existing provision allowing monitoring by the party secretaries concerned.
The Bangladesh Mahila Awami League, Bangladesh Krishak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Bangladesh Awami Juba League, Awami Swechchhashebak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami Ainjibee Parishad, Bangladesh Tanti League, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad and Bangladesh Juba Mahila League will operate as the party’s ‘associate’ organisations to be guided by their own constitutions, the provisional party constitution said.
As for overseas unit of the party, the amended, provisional constitution says overseas wings formed by Bangladeshi expatriates will go by the existing rules and regulations of the countries of their residence.
Abdul Mannan said the party during the dialogue with the commission made it clear they would keep associate organisations and overseas units.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday said the party would not decide on the registration with the commission until they reach a consensus on contentious political issues with the caretaker government.
The BNP’s secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain hoped the government would again hold dialogue with the BNP before the extended October 20 deadline for registration, a requisite for parties to contest the forthcoming polls scheduled for December 18.
Only 23 political parties have applied for registration with the commission till Wednesday, when the registration deadline was earlier set to expire. The deadline was later extended by five days till October 20 at the request of some political parties. Some 167 parties and groups have collected forms, said sources in the commission.
The 23 parties and groups which have applied for registration are the Awami League, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (M-L), Liberal Democratic Party, Freedom Party, National People’s Party, Jatiya Party faction led by Anwar Hossain Manju, Naya Samaj Dal, Bangladesh Mukti Oikya Dal, Bangladesh Jatiya League, Bangladesh Kalyan Party and Nirdaliya Jana Andolan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Islami Oikya Front, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, National Awami Party, Jatiya Party led by Ershad, Forward Party, Gana Forum and Islami Gana Shakti.
The commission on August 27 issued a notice inviting political parties to apply for registration in a prescribed form and also submit a number of documents.
According to the Representation of the People Order, as amended on October 6, the political parties will be allowed to submit a provisional constitution to the commission to get registered and contest the December 18 parliamentary polls.
But in six months after the first sitting of the next parliament, the parties must ratify their constitutions by duly holding council sessions in line with the latest electoral laws which call for ‘more democratisation’ of parties.
It also hoped the commission will further relax its provisions to allow the party to be registered.
The Awami League’s office secretary Abdul Mannan Khan submitted, along with the application, the party’s amended, provisional constitution which kept provisions for associate organisations and foreign chapters of the party.
The provisions of keeping such bodies contradict the registration laws laid out in the revised Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.
Asked whether the party thinks the commission will relax the registration criteria to allow it to be registered, Abdul Mannan said, ‘We think the commission will register us in line with our amended constitution.’
Asked how the commission will register the Awami League as at least two provisions in the party constitution contradict the registration criteria, election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said, ‘The committee assigned to verify the applications will scrutinise the application and then we will see what could be done.’
He, however, declined comments when he was asked whether the commission would relax the registration criteria to allow the Awami League to be registered.
Article 90(B)-(b)(iii) of the Representation of the People Order, as amended on October 6, says every political party should have specific provisions in its constitution ‘to prohibit formation of any organisation or body as its affiliated or associated body consisting of the teachers or students of any educational institution or the employees or labourers of any financial, commercial or industrial institution or establishment or the members of any other profession.’
According to Article 90C(1)(d), a political party should not be qualified for registration if ‘there is any provision in its constitution for the establishment or operation of any office, branch or committee outside the territory of Bangladesh.’
The Awami League’s amended, provisional constitution says the party maintains associate organisations to be guided by their own constitutions, instead of the existing provision allowing monitoring by the party secretaries concerned.
The Bangladesh Mahila Awami League, Bangladesh Krishak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Bangladesh Awami Juba League, Awami Swechchhashebak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami Ainjibee Parishad, Bangladesh Tanti League, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad and Bangladesh Juba Mahila League will operate as the party’s ‘associate’ organisations to be guided by their own constitutions, the provisional party constitution said.
As for overseas unit of the party, the amended, provisional constitution says overseas wings formed by Bangladeshi expatriates will go by the existing rules and regulations of the countries of their residence.
Abdul Mannan said the party during the dialogue with the commission made it clear they would keep associate organisations and overseas units.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday said the party would not decide on the registration with the commission until they reach a consensus on contentious political issues with the caretaker government.
The BNP’s secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain hoped the government would again hold dialogue with the BNP before the extended October 20 deadline for registration, a requisite for parties to contest the forthcoming polls scheduled for December 18.
Only 23 political parties have applied for registration with the commission till Wednesday, when the registration deadline was earlier set to expire. The deadline was later extended by five days till October 20 at the request of some political parties. Some 167 parties and groups have collected forms, said sources in the commission.
The 23 parties and groups which have applied for registration are the Awami League, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (M-L), Liberal Democratic Party, Freedom Party, National People’s Party, Jatiya Party faction led by Anwar Hossain Manju, Naya Samaj Dal, Bangladesh Mukti Oikya Dal, Bangladesh Jatiya League, Bangladesh Kalyan Party and Nirdaliya Jana Andolan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Islami Oikya Front, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, National Awami Party, Jatiya Party led by Ershad, Forward Party, Gana Forum and Islami Gana Shakti.
The commission on August 27 issued a notice inviting political parties to apply for registration in a prescribed form and also submit a number of documents.
According to the Representation of the People Order, as amended on October 6, the political parties will be allowed to submit a provisional constitution to the commission to get registered and contest the December 18 parliamentary polls.
But in six months after the first sitting of the next parliament, the parties must ratify their constitutions by duly holding council sessions in line with the latest electoral laws which call for ‘more democratisation’ of parties.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Scientists sound the alarm on digital music players
European scientists sounded the alarms on Monday about the dangers of using digital music players, warning that listening to them too long and too loud can cause permanent hearing loss.
Five to 10 per cent of the people who listen to a so-called MP3 player for more than one hour per day each week at a high volume risk permanent hearing loss, they found.
That means that between 2.5 million and 10 million people are at risk, according to the panel of scientists who conducted the study at the request of the European Commission.
EU rules already restrict noise levels from such MP3s to 100 decibels, but the European Commission said that there was growing concern about excessive exposure to such devices, especially among youths.
The scientific panel found that people who listen for only five hours per week with a volume above 89 decibels would exceed the current limits in place for noise allowed in the workplace.
Users listening for longer periods risk permanent hearing loss after five years, according to their findings.
The European Union’s executive arm estimated that there are roughly 50 to 100 million people who may be listening to portable MP3 music players on a daily basis.
It said that a 184-246 million portable audio devices had been sold over the last four years, including 124-165 million MP3 players.
Five to 10 per cent of the people who listen to a so-called MP3 player for more than one hour per day each week at a high volume risk permanent hearing loss, they found.
That means that between 2.5 million and 10 million people are at risk, according to the panel of scientists who conducted the study at the request of the European Commission.
EU rules already restrict noise levels from such MP3s to 100 decibels, but the European Commission said that there was growing concern about excessive exposure to such devices, especially among youths.
The scientific panel found that people who listen for only five hours per week with a volume above 89 decibels would exceed the current limits in place for noise allowed in the workplace.
Users listening for longer periods risk permanent hearing loss after five years, according to their findings.
The European Union’s executive arm estimated that there are roughly 50 to 100 million people who may be listening to portable MP3 music players on a daily basis.
It said that a 184-246 million portable audio devices had been sold over the last four years, including 124-165 million MP3 players.
Violence threatens India’s social stability, says Manmohan
Agence France-Presse . New Delhi
The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, warned Monday that a dangerous rise in ethnic and communal tensions was posing a serious threat to the country’s social stability.
His comments came against a backdrop of unrest across India, particularly attacks by Hindus on Christians in eastern Orissa and southern Karnataka states, and clashes between Muslims and tribal groups in the northeast.
‘Perhaps the most disturbing and dangerous aspect today is the assault on our composite culture... we see fault-lines developing between, and among, communities,’ Singh told a conference of chief state ministers in New Delhi.
Singh said the violence threatened what he described as India’s proud ‘inheritance’ of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-caste society.
‘There are clashes between Hindus, Christians, Muslims and tribal groups. An atmosphere of hatred and violence is being artificially generated. There are forces deliberately encouraging such tendencies,’ he said.
India is officially secular but clashes between the majority Hindu community and minority Christians and Muslims erupt periodically.
At least 35 people died in Hindu-Christian violence in Orissa following the killing of a hardline Hindu priest and four of his followers in August.
Earlier this month, some 50 people were killed in clashes between Muslim migrants and tribal groups in India’s northeastern Assam state.
India has also been rocked by a series of bomb blasts targeting major cities this year that have taken a combined toll of more than 100 lives.
A home-grown Islamic group, the Indian Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the blasts in the cities of Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and New Delhi, saying they were revenge for attacks on Muslims across India.
‘There can be no compromise with terrorism and terrorists have to be dealt with firmly,’ Singh said in his speech.
‘We need to meet today’s mindless violence with the requisite amount of force but must also ensure that this is tempered by reason and justice which is the normal order of governance,’ he added.
India is battling a Muslim insurgency in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and a myriad of rebel groups with demands ranging from secession to autonomy in the country’s remote northeast.
It has also had to confront an upsurge in violence by Indian Maoists who hold sway in half of India’s 29 states.
Singh has previously described the leftwing rebels, known here as Naxalites, as the biggest threat to internal security.
Obama leads McCain by 10 points: Washington Post/ABC poll Reuters/Bdnews24.com . Washington
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is leading his Republican rival John McCain 53 per cent to 43 per cent among likely voters, according to a Washington Post-ABC News opinion poll released on Monday.
Sixty-four per cent of voters now view Obama favourably, up six percentage points from early September, according to the poll taken after Tuesday night’s presidential debate.
Nearly a third of voters have a better opinion of the Illinois senator because of his debate performance while eight per cent have a lower opinion of him, the poll found.
Twelve per cent of voters have a higher opinion of Arizona senator McCain after the debate, while 26 per cent said they had a worse opinion of him.
According to the poll, 52 per cent of voters now strongly favour McCain, down seven percentage points from early September.
More than half of respondents, 59 per cent said the Arizona senator has been mainly attacking his opponent rather than addressing the issues, up from 48 per cent who said the same thing in August, the Post reported.
Sixty-eight per cent of respondents said Obama has been mainly addressing the issues.
On taxes, an issue McCain has been aggressively highlighting, Obama has gained a significant lead over his opponent.
According to the poll, Obama now leads McCain 52 per cent to 41 per cent on the question of who is trusted to handle taxes. In late September, the candidates were near even on that question with Obama ahead of McCain by two percentage points, 48 per cent to 46 per cent.
The poll of 1,101 adults, including 945 registered votes, was taking Wednesday though Saturday. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points for the full sample and three-point-five percentage points for the sample of 766 likely voters.
Meanwhile, McCain vowed to ‘whip’ Barack Obama’s ‘you know what’ in Wednesday’s final presidential debate, defying doom-laden assessments of his campaign.
McCain on Sunday gave a pep talk to campaign workers in Washington’s Virginia suburbs, as he plotted a comeback in the presidential race against Democrat Obama, just over three weeks from the election on November 4.
The Arizona senator said he and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin were criss-crossing battleground states and would intensify their effort after the debate in New York state on Wednesday.
‘So we’re spending a lot of time and after I whip his you know what in this debate we’re going to be going out,’ McCain said.
‘We’re a couple points down, okay, nationally, but we’re right in this game. ‘I know that we’re going to win this race.’
McCain spoke after several conservative pundits on Sunday television talk shows gave unflattering assessments of his campaign.
Some key Republicans in battleground states were also quoted in a New York Times article as lambasting his performance, as Obama enjoys leads in national and battleground polls.
McCain also told his supporters that he wanted a ‘respectful’ campaign after he had to intervene at a rally last week to tone down abusive rhetoric against Obama.
Sixty-four per cent of voters now view Obama favourably, up six percentage points from early September, according to the poll taken after Tuesday night’s presidential debate.
Nearly a third of voters have a better opinion of the Illinois senator because of his debate performance while eight per cent have a lower opinion of him, the poll found.
Twelve per cent of voters have a higher opinion of Arizona senator McCain after the debate, while 26 per cent said they had a worse opinion of him.
According to the poll, 52 per cent of voters now strongly favour McCain, down seven percentage points from early September.
More than half of respondents, 59 per cent said the Arizona senator has been mainly attacking his opponent rather than addressing the issues, up from 48 per cent who said the same thing in August, the Post reported.
Sixty-eight per cent of respondents said Obama has been mainly addressing the issues.
On taxes, an issue McCain has been aggressively highlighting, Obama has gained a significant lead over his opponent.
According to the poll, Obama now leads McCain 52 per cent to 41 per cent on the question of who is trusted to handle taxes. In late September, the candidates were near even on that question with Obama ahead of McCain by two percentage points, 48 per cent to 46 per cent.
The poll of 1,101 adults, including 945 registered votes, was taking Wednesday though Saturday. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points for the full sample and three-point-five percentage points for the sample of 766 likely voters.
Meanwhile, McCain vowed to ‘whip’ Barack Obama’s ‘you know what’ in Wednesday’s final presidential debate, defying doom-laden assessments of his campaign.
McCain on Sunday gave a pep talk to campaign workers in Washington’s Virginia suburbs, as he plotted a comeback in the presidential race against Democrat Obama, just over three weeks from the election on November 4.
The Arizona senator said he and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin were criss-crossing battleground states and would intensify their effort after the debate in New York state on Wednesday.
‘So we’re spending a lot of time and after I whip his you know what in this debate we’re going to be going out,’ McCain said.
‘We’re a couple points down, okay, nationally, but we’re right in this game. ‘I know that we’re going to win this race.’
McCain spoke after several conservative pundits on Sunday television talk shows gave unflattering assessments of his campaign.
Some key Republicans in battleground states were also quoted in a New York Times article as lambasting his performance, as Obama enjoys leads in national and battleground polls.
McCain also told his supporters that he wanted a ‘respectful’ campaign after he had to intervene at a rally last week to tone down abusive rhetoric against Obama.
40 Taliban killed in fresh Pakistan battles
Troops and helicopter gunships killed about 40 Taliban militants while four people, including a politician, were injured in a roadside bomb in northwest Pakistan, officials said Monday.
More than 24 extremists with links to al-Qaeda were killed on Sunday near the Afghan border in the Bajaur tribal region, where Pakistani security forces launched a major offensive against Islamic militants in August.
‘Helicopter gunships and artillery pounded hideouts of militants, killing at least 24 rebels and wounding 10 others,’ a security official said.
Shelling began in the afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, he said, adding four militants and two locals were also killed in an exchange of fire between a tribal lashkar (force) and rebels in Bajaur.
The tribal force was formed last week to act against militants hiding in the area, who local tribesmen say are undermining their power structure.
The Pakistani military says more than 1,000 rebel fighters have been killed since it launched its offensive in Bajaur, including al-Qaeda’s operational commander in the region, Egyptian Abu Saeed Al-Masri.
On Monday ten Islamic extremists died in a gunbattle with soldiers in the Khawazakhela district of the Swat valley during an ongoing military operation against fighters loyal to local cleric Maulana Fazlullah.
‘Ten militants were killed in an operation by our security forces,’ a military official said, adding there were no casualties among troops.
Separately four people, including a local leader of the ruling Awami National Party, were injured when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in the neighbouring tribal district of Dir.
Sameen Khan and three others were injured when a remote control bomb planted on a roadside exploded.
Militants have recently targeted several ANP politicians and their relatives, and the party chief Asfandyar Khan Wali narrowly escaped a suicide attack at his home in the town of Charsadda earlier this month.
The mountainous Swat valley was until last year a popular tourist destination where many Pakistani city dwellers went for their annual holidays and it featured Pakistan’s only ski resort.
But it has been turned into a battleground since Maulana Fazlullah launched a violent campaign to enforce harsh Islamic Sharia law in the region.
More than 24 extremists with links to al-Qaeda were killed on Sunday near the Afghan border in the Bajaur tribal region, where Pakistani security forces launched a major offensive against Islamic militants in August.
‘Helicopter gunships and artillery pounded hideouts of militants, killing at least 24 rebels and wounding 10 others,’ a security official said.
Shelling began in the afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, he said, adding four militants and two locals were also killed in an exchange of fire between a tribal lashkar (force) and rebels in Bajaur.
The tribal force was formed last week to act against militants hiding in the area, who local tribesmen say are undermining their power structure.
The Pakistani military says more than 1,000 rebel fighters have been killed since it launched its offensive in Bajaur, including al-Qaeda’s operational commander in the region, Egyptian Abu Saeed Al-Masri.
On Monday ten Islamic extremists died in a gunbattle with soldiers in the Khawazakhela district of the Swat valley during an ongoing military operation against fighters loyal to local cleric Maulana Fazlullah.
‘Ten militants were killed in an operation by our security forces,’ a military official said, adding there were no casualties among troops.
Separately four people, including a local leader of the ruling Awami National Party, were injured when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in the neighbouring tribal district of Dir.
Sameen Khan and three others were injured when a remote control bomb planted on a roadside exploded.
Militants have recently targeted several ANP politicians and their relatives, and the party chief Asfandyar Khan Wali narrowly escaped a suicide attack at his home in the town of Charsadda earlier this month.
The mountainous Swat valley was until last year a popular tourist destination where many Pakistani city dwellers went for their annual holidays and it featured Pakistan’s only ski resort.
But it has been turned into a battleground since Maulana Fazlullah launched a violent campaign to enforce harsh Islamic Sharia law in the region.
Decision on gas price hike likely in November
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission is likely to defer the gas price hike decision to November as it has received some important post-hearing opinions after the October 6 deadline.
The commission at a public hearing on September 24 announced it would give its decision on 66 per cent gas price hike proposal of Petrobangla by October as the last date of submission of post-hearing opinions was October 6.
‘We may announce the decision on gas price hike in early November as the Consumers Association of Bangladesh submitted its opinions on Sunday, after the deadline. We have to take its opinions into consideration as it is one of the important stakeholders,’ a member of the commission told New Age on Monday.
He said the CAB, which was against the Petrobangla proposal to hike gas price, had pointed a number of issues in the post-hearing submission.
‘Fixing the price of gas is a complicated issue. We have to take into account opinions of all. It may take more than 20 days before coming to a conclusion as we will ask Petrobangla for further clarifications,’ he said.
Commission sources said they were trying to give a decision on the matter as soon as possible as the general election was nearing.
Sources in the commission said complexities had also surfaced as the commission did not receive all documents from Petrobangla in time.
Petrobangla officials, on the other hand, said there was a misunderstanding as some of the documents like the authentication letter did not reach the commission although Petrobangla had sent that.
Petrobangla submitted the application to hike the gas price on June 23 and the commission accepted the application after a meeting on July 17.
Different stakeholders including energy experts, representatives of CAB, Transparency International Bangladesh, business associations, Power Development Board, and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation gave their opinions in favour of or against the Petrobangla proposal.
When the commission chairman, Ghulam Rahman, was asked whether the gas price hike decision would be taken in the next month, he told New Age on Monday, ‘We are trying our best to give a decision by this month. If we can not do that, we will give the decision early next month as, according to the BERC act, we have time till November 30 to give a decision.’
He said as per the Act the commission was supposed to give a decision on the price hike within 90 working days from the date of acceptance of the application.
When asked whether the commission would consider the global economic crisis and its effect on Bangladesh industries in fixing the gas tariff, Ghulam said, ‘We will definitely consider the interest of the consumers including the industries and see if Petrobangla can continue gas supply to the industries in the long run.
Govt seeks list of people convicted in graft cases so far
The High Court on Monday fixed October 19 for the final hearing on the rule it issued earlier, asking the government to explain the legality of the state of emergency that was declared on January 11, 2007.
The High Court bench of Justice Mir Hasmat Ali and Justice Shamim Hasnain fixed the date, as the writ petitioners’ counsel, MI Farooqui, appealed for expeditious hearing of the case.
‘The issue is urgent as the government wants to hold the national elections under the state of emergency, the legality of which is to be decided by the High Court in the writ petition,’ Farooqui told the court. ‘The writ petition should be heard expeditiously.’
The High Court bench of Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hossain Ahmed on July 27 issued the rule after hearing a public interest litigation writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyers M Saleem Ullah, Mohsen Rashid, Nahid Sultana Juthi and Abdul Mannan Khan on July 14.
In its ruling, the High Court had ordered the government to explain why the proclamation of the state of emergency, two emergency powers orders suspending fundamental rights, the Emergency Powers Ordinance and the Emergency Powers Rules would not be declared ultra vires of the Constitution.
The president proclaimed the state of emergency on January 11, 2007, stalling the elections to the ninth Jatiya Sangsad that were scheduled for January 22, 2007, and the present interim government came to power with military backing on January 12, 2007.
During the preliminary hearing before issuing the rule, the court had asked the petitioners’ chief counsel, MI Farooqui, to explain the constitutional provisions on the declaration of emergency.
The Constitution empowers the president to issue a proclamation of emergency. The power, however, is not absolute but conditional, Farooqui replied. ‘In order to declare emergency, the president must be objectively satisfied that “a grave emergency exists in which the security or economic life of Bangladesh is threatened by war or external aggression or internal disturbance”.’
‘But in the proclamation issued on January 11, 2007 declaring the emergency, no reasons were cited to establish the “objective satisfaction” of the president for the declaration of the emergency,’ the counsel had said.
Opposing the petition, deputy attorney-general Naima Haider had argued that the president had declared the emergency in accordance with the Constitution.
Referring to the arguments of the petitioners’ counsel, the court had asked the state attorney whether the emergency powers orders issued on January 11, 2007 had specified any specific fundamental rights to be suspended.
As Naima answered in the negative, the court said, ‘You cannot, according to the Constitution, suspend all the fundamental rights…There are some rights which cannot be suspended under any circumstances.’
The court had further said, ‘The suspension of fundamental rights without specifying them has made it difficult to examine whether you [government] have the power to make the ordinances you are making…The Supreme Court has the power to examine that.’
Naima also argued that the emergency was declared in the wake of political turmoil and there was a situation in those days which warranted a state of emergency.
Opposing her contention, Farooqui had argued there were democratic, political movements to uphold the people’s right to vote at that time. ‘A democratic, political movement cannot be considered an internal disturbance and a reason to invoke an emergency.’
The court had also said, ‘But the emergency continues for an indefinite period. There must be an end to it.’
‘But the spirit of the Constitution does not allow a state of emergency for an indefinite period,’ the court had observed.
The government’s plan to hold the national elections, the deadline for the elections and the process and timeframe for handing over power to the elected government must be transparent to the people, the court had said. ‘We want rule of law to be established and the Constitution and democracy to be sustained.’
Govt seeks list of people convicted
in graft cases so far
Staff Correspondent
The government has sought a list of persons who have so far been convicted by special courts in the cases lodged by the Anti-Corruption Commission, said its director-general (admin), Hanif Iqbal, on Monday.
He said the list has been sought by the home affairs ministry and the National Coordination Committee against Serious Crime and Corruption. The list is ready and will be sent to the government, he added.
Hanif later said that verdicts have been pronounced in 90 graft cases, involving more than 100 individuals.
Referring to the participation in elections by those convicted in trial courts, Hanif said the issue of candidacy of the convicts would be settled by someone outside the ACC. ‘Either the government or the Election Commission or the court will decide that.’
As per Section 11(5) of the Emergency Power Rules 2007, he said a person convicted by a trial court cannot participate in elections if the state of emergency exists.
He also cited Article 66(2) of the Constitution that says a person imprisoned for two years or more will be ineligible to participate in elections for five years after his/her punishment.
About the cases stayed by the High Court, Hanif said some cases have already been placed in the cause list for hearing, and measures are being taken to hold their hearings on a priority basis.
Referring to the three division benches stipulated by the Chief Justice to hear the ACC’s cases, he said the cases that have been stayed would be disposed of soon.
Hanif, in reply to a question, said no army officer working for the ACC has been deployed in any court.
Replying to a questioner, he said measures would be taken against the lawyers who would not protect the ACC’s interest.
He said the ACC today sent the applications of 38 individuals to the Truth and Accountability Commission for considering their clemency pleas, raising the total number of such petitioners to 128. Nine more applications are being processed, he added.
Hanif informed reporters that the ACC has approved the filing of a case against former MP Dhirendra Nath Saha for owning ill-gotten money and withholding information about it. He also said the ACC has approved the submission of charge-sheets in five graft cases filed by it.
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