The Global Leaders will fix the fate of our planet in next month at Copenhagen! Now the time is to call them to realise the impacts of climate changes and to formulate effective strategy to save the world. If they fail to realise it, the planet and human civilisation will be destroyed! So, remind them again and again for formulate policy to save the world and call them `Climate First! Act Now'! SIGN THE PETITION and join in the campaign.

Climate First! Act Now

Climate First!

Urges the Global Leaders: Sign the Petition

Petition Submitted by: 

Online Knowledge Centre

 

Watch Impact of Climate Change
Join in Discussion

 We demand: 

• The developed countries to reduce their emission by 45 percent in aggregate against 1990 levels by 2020 and make available fund of $150 billion a year to help protect the victims.

• Financing  to the climate victim nations should not be loans, and the scale of finance should be revised with changes in the adaptation needs.

• The international community to reject all myopic, self-centred discords, reject the culture of excess and waste, to embrace one another’s responsibility, burden, prosperity, and live in harmony within the planet’s capacity.

•  The climate change adaptation financing must be additional to and distinct from ODA targets of 0.7% of Gross National Income meant for the developing countries and 0.2% for LDCs by 2010, as reaffirmed in the Brussels Program of Action.

• Besides, out of this fund, every year a substantial amount should be kept aside for adaptation needs of developing countries with maximum share going to low lying coastal countries, LDCs and the small-island developing countries.

• Though Bangladesh established a US$ 45 million Climate Change Fund with own resources, and there is also a Multi-Donor Trust Fund of US$ 150 million with support of the United Kingdom, the amounts are meagre in comparison to the needs.

• Adopt  a new legal regime under the UNFCCC Protocol ensuring social, cultural and economic rehabilitation of climate refugees from COP 15 in Copenhagen.

• The outcome in the Copenhagen meet must uphold the core principle of common but differentiated share of responsibility; assured, adequate, and easily accessible funding for adaptation; access to scientific information to climate change in sectors like risk reduction, water resources, agriculture, energy, urban planning and health disorders.

• The Copenhagen meet must also ensure affordable, eco-friendly technology transfer to developing countries, particularly to LDCs; make maximum possible specific commitments for deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions for atmospheric stabilisation.

• The post 2012 agreement must, however, incorporate predictable and legally binding commitments for addressing adaptation needs of low lying, coastal, and small-island developing states, and LDCs.

• Establishment of an international adaptation centre under UNFCCC.

• Setting up  a Himalayan Council in the model of the Artic Council to assist similarly affected countries in facing the challenges of glacial melting in the Himalayas.

Call your ministers and policy makers to realise these demands at Copenhagen. Sign the Petition

For more information, Visit: Join Now! / Discussion/ Climate Change and Join in Discussion

National Political Will: We Need It First!

We, the people, particularly of the least developed countries should act together to face the global trends of expanding the gap of inequality people to people under the so-called policy regime of market liberalisation as well as unfair globalisation. Here, the government, particularly aid dependent poor courtries (!) like Bangladesh should act together with the people, political parties, trade unions, farmer organisations, citizen groups, professional bodies as well as whole nations; not only in dialogues, but in the policy formulation and implementations. We should do it; if we fails which comtemprorary trends shows, it will take us in a crucial movement of sufferings!

What are the major probem of our countries? The aid groups and northern countries shows that political instablity, lack of transparency of public services, corruption, inefficiency in service deliveries …… and we also make an eco on it. But is those are the major problem? May be or May not be! Just examine the diplomacy of global comtemporary policy regime where market dominated over the people absolutely. The corporations (TNCs / MNCs)  of rich countries invests their total efforts to expand their market worldwide and the global policies are formulated in these regards at  World Economic Forum held in DAVOS  each year which are facilitated by IFIs like WB, IMF, ADB, WTO  petronized by rich countries. The TNCs / MNCs make continous pressure to their own government to facilitate their recommendations produced by DAVOS consultation. Without investing time and thoughts, we could make a conclusion that  the policies which are produced at DAVOS are suitable for market expansion of corporations, but there have a very little interest for poor countries like Bangladesh. But we have to adopt those policy recommendations; if we shows our reluctance, then they shows us direct and indirect threat for not giving aid or financial assistance! Not only that, the corporations invests much more money and industries to capture the national governments of countries worldwide. Sometimes, they put their fingers to change the political regime of a country as per their wishes. We know, we and our politicians are responsible for our political instablity, but we could not be sure, we are absolutely responsible!

A country never go ahead without national consensus as well as political consensus in their development issues, we know it; but fate of fortune, we haven’t it till now! There have hardly any initiative to make it. Continuing these trends, we could not think a prosperious Bangladesh in near future which people dreams.

We should create a national concensus on some buring issues like Tipaimukh Dam, Water Sharing Issues with India, Asian Highway, Trail of War Criminal, PRS-2, TIFA and Exporation of Off-shore Gases and  Opposition Role of Parliament. The government and opposition have taken opposite sides on every issues indicated as above and fights each other.  Government argued that they are serving interest of nation and opposition are demanding that government has destroying the soverignty of state! Solution, We need! But there have no light on solution. So, the intervention of rich countries (Ambassadors and High Commissioners) occures friequently to solve these kinds of difficulties!  

The political parties have right to decide their own strategy and people have right to expect positive decision from political leaders. In the recent days, we found that ministers and policy makers of the government criticized directly the role and prescriptions of development partners, particularly WB, IMF and ADB. Differing with the prescription of WB-IMF, Bangladesh plans to provide subsidy in fertiliseer to boost production of farm sector. The parliament also criticizes the role of financial institution during discussion on 2nd PRS at National Parliament while the lenders turmed PRSP II projections overambitious. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed  claims  in the plenary session of the 4th European Development Day 2009, titled `Climate Change: The Road to Copenhagen and Beyond‘ that  rich countries must pay climate adaptation compensation as an additional and distinct from ODA targets of 0.7% of GNI as reaffirmed in the Burssels Programme of Action. She also demands to form an international committee through United Nations to oversee the impacts of climate change on different countries and expedite the efforts for rehabilitating the victims of global warming.

These are the big challenges for government to implement these policy decision alone. Necessarily the government should take effective measures to make a national political concensus as well as preparing a national political will with all political parties particularly with opposition. Each year, we found that the government fails to implement ADP properly. About all the previous government felt that it is happened each year due to strict public procurement act which had formulated under the policy guidances of financial institution. These year the government has taken initiative to reform the public procurement act and made a draft. The opposition has differed on the draft; but the govenment does not take it in ear. But they have re-write it while the financial institutions again rejects some clauses of the draft. It has created a unhealthy practices of political environment which impacts in political parties. It should be stopped. There have a lot of emerging issues with political parties which I have indicated above should be resolved for developing political consusness for national interest. While the solution is not getting in proper ways, the mal-practices occures normally. Recently the oppostion sat with the foreign diplomates to update them about political situation of Bangladesh. It is not fair to call the foreign friends in our national problem; but it has taken place! We should re-think about such kind of practices.

The political parties irrespective of government, opposition and others should remember the past regime of care-taker government and act upon remembering these non-democratic practices and sufferings. So, this is the time to develop a political will for serving the national interest without any differences! We should act on it first to face the global partners to secure our national interest.

Across a Occean of Silence!

`We don’t employ Child Labour’ or `It is Child Labour Free Factory’ or `Children are not allowed to work here’- You will see many different types of sentences in same meaning at the entries of any industrial establishments or factory. It aligned with our great (!) programme `Stop Child Labour’.

Thousands of children are eliminated from RMG factories as a compliance were set on child labour as per Harkins Bill implemented in Bangladesh in 1995. ILO Convention 182 stated that Child labour, as the statistics clearly demonstrate, is a problem of immense global proportions. Following its comprehensive research into the issue, the ILO concluded that it was necessary to strengthen existing Conventions on child labour. Convention No. 182 helped to focus the international spotlight on the urgency of action to eliminate as a priority, Worst forms of child labour without losing the long-term goal of the effective elimination of all child labour. And according to ILO Convention No. 138  Basic minimum ages has been set out and it is in developing countries 14 years and 18 years for hazardous work.

The principle is great indeed! But how great these are in the real world! According to a study done by Safe the Children UK, in 2007 a total of 1,532 children were sent to jails in Bangladesh. Of them 617 boys and 24 girls were detained under the Penal Code, 136 boys and 11 girls under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 95 boys and two girls under the Special Powers Act, 51 boys under the Arms Act, 98 boys and four girls under the Narcotics Control Act, 43 boys and one girl under the Speedy Trial Act, 135 boys and 110 girls under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 21 boys under the Foreigners Act, and 149 boys and 35 girls were sent to jails under other laws.

A story published in the Daily Ittefaq, dated 06 October 2009 described that Samiul (12) works 12 hours in each day at an automobile factory to feed her sick mother and sister. The boy wants to go school, but he doesn’t; if he does, then his mother and sister will go in bed with empty mouth. UNICEF reports says,  67 lac 84 thousands child labour exists in Bangladesh, of them 94 percent engages in informal sector whose 70 percent works in hazardous and worsen enviroment.

Another report of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) points out that about 4.2 lakh children are currently working as domestic helps in the country while about 65 percent of the workers get wages below Tk 500 and  at least 217 domestic helps were killed between 2001 and 2008. Besides, 97 were injured, 40 were raped and 23 went missing during the period. 

In the recent time, through the newspaper we are informed that children are used as carrier of narcotics like Yaba. A story published in national dailies where an arrested children said, `we are very poor, so bound to work such illegal works  for only sack of livelihood.’  We know well about Tokai (Rag Picker and Street Children of Dhaka) who are  sometimes used as tools (for throwing bomb) to spoils public meetings! 

We have eliminated child labour from formal sector, so they engages in informal sector where have not any legal binding like rules, regulations or laws for their work.  We the right activists demand the child policy, labour laws in informal sector and education for these children. But no way to eliminate them from work! Without realising the root causes of child labour, rights never be realised in real ground; And the root causes are poverty and income inequality which should be eliminated first!

We, the people, particularly social activists and social workers acts for these children in different ways! We have expended thousands of crore for non-formal education and stipend for girls child. But without participation of local people, all initiatives seems to fail in the practice level.

We have a long time history of practices volunteerism. Volunteerism occurs from heart and it works effectively to uproot the real causes! Many of us realised that the volunteerism is hardly found in the recent days due to institutionalisation of social works. Definition of volunteerism has been changed and now it is a lucrative profession now a days! Time is changing, so we must change as per demand of time! Great! We have changed before the time!

Across a Occean of silence! against institutionalisation of social work, a few youths inherit the tradition of Bangladesh and burning some lights for these distressed children through practicing historical and traditional volunteerism. They works from hearts, not as a profession! So, it works!

I saw one day in 2002 that one of my younger friend is trying to provide education to a few children of Payarabugh Slum. But the children including their parent do not show interest in getting education. So, we tried to understand their minds and heart. And we prepared a plan to implement a integrated family development programme. Under this programme, with all our limitations, we gave financial supports to the parent of these children to start a small shop or buy a sewing machine and advises them to send their children at school.  We also began to ask local communities to provide food these children in their respective family festival to make attractive the school to the children. increasing the number of student in the school, we felt a crucial financial difficulties to continue the school programme. So, we made a plan to manage financial supports from local elites by child sponsorship in name of Swapno Mother Manush Hobo Campaign  and we got a small supports from local communities at very beginning! Continueing the campigan, we got an inspiring support from local communities and media; The school is running quitely and 142 slum children are getting education and mid-day meal.

In the web, everyday I searched innovative ideas and people who dreams to act fruitfully for the social causes. I found some of them like Bhalobashar Batighar, Meghna Par Dhibor Bidya Niketon and  Jago Foundation. Inspiration came from these initiative to make a catalog of volunteerism in Bangladesh to inspire more youths to engage them in social work as a responsible amateur’s.

To establish the rights of disadvantageous children, these volunteer should unite to act together; that’s why this open discussion article has been written. Dear Friends, please take in part of discussion and inform your ideas to the world. Hope, together we can make a better planet!  

   

2 Years of Online Knowledge Centre [OKCentre]

Hearing a silent cry from one of my schoolmate about non-professional and inhuman treatment of micro-credit organisation, I posted my first article on 08 November 2007 in this blog asking him to be self-employed persons rather continuing  hard job like loan installment collection. The journey began as an amateur blogger just 2 years ago. I heard this silent cry in my heart in every steps from every persons who are employed to be survive destroying own dignity and honor which for we are working long hours for long days.

The second post on Accountability Charter of Local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) came to this blog after a six months interval. During that time, I worked at a local NGO network and as per ongoing activities, we conducted a national convention on Institutional Governance of Local NGOs and an accountability charter were developed, the post were nothing but the charter. 

Later, I posted only news related to development issues like agriculture, food security, public financing and public services, environment and climate changes, trade and investment, performances of goverment etc published in diffirent newspaper for updating the social activists and workers on contemprorary issues of development. During the last two years of my blogging, I posted total 334 news update and articles in this blog and total 11,504 visitor visited while 85 readers provided me valuable comments which have inspired me to use this blog as tool of social activism.

The second article I wrote on Public-Private Partnership on 08 June 2008 which were a talk of the town issues in Bangladesh in 2009 during the fiscal budget formulation of Bangaldesh and in the next. Once I heard about a poor women died lack of getting medical facilities in rural villege, it shocked me; And I wrote a very short article on it `A Poor Villeger Died’. 

In the next, in addtion of posting news update, I wrote on contemprorary issues like It is state democracy !;  Privatisation is not Solution; National Budget 2009-10; People Participation in Public Policy; Education Vs Employment; Change We Need, But Climate! National Political Will: We Need It First!; Global Climate Change Debate: Where We are?; Role of IFIs; Climate Change Update; The Paradise Lost; Movement for Complacency not Enough, We Need Integrity; Dreams is becoming Nightmare! Wake Up; Package deal between Bangaldesh and India; Focus on Integrity, Not Lead a life of Indulgence!; International Literacy Day, Again! etc.

From my experiences of social activism, I found that the people particularly the youths of Bangladesh are more creative and questing paths of using their creativity. Most of time, they kept down the hopes due to lack of getting proper guidelines or direction and lack of assistances! Online Knowledge Centre came in this ground in web and changed its focuses. Now I post only the links of news update and give emphasises to inspire the youths by showing them opportunities and creative interventions including  asking them to take a part  in discussion and to join campaign;

Only 3 days ago, aiming to aware and mobilise online youths to act in social causes, we have launched a campaign Climate First! Act Now  asking the readers to sign a petition. Total 51 readers signs the petition till now and you are requested to sign it. Your signature would encourage our youth activists to act more in the social causes.

From begining the journey with the slogan `Together We can Act More’; Now the time to act together. Online Knowledge Centre requires your valuable contribution, advises and suggessions to act more; so that we can say after a year, `together we have made a diffirence!’

November 2009

11 November 2009, Wednesday

Practice prevails over provision: Cabinet, not JS bodies, approving draft bills

The constitution empowers the parliamentary standing committees to examine draft bills before placing them in parliament to enact laws but successive governments have not followed the provision. The common practice is that the cabinet approves the draft bills or any legislative proposals, which are placed in the House as bills later for turning them into laws. The bills are sent to the parliamentary standing committees for scrutiny only after they are placed in parliament. But on the functions of the committees, article 76 (2) (a) of the constitution says the parliamentary standing committees are to examine the draft bills and other legislative proposals. [DS12NOV]

Changes to PPA: Project freeze request letter worries TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday expressed concern about the World Bank’s (WB) position regarding the recent changes made by the government in the Public Procurement Act (PPA) and said it would amount to punishing the people of Bangladesh for which they are not responsible. The World Bank stance smacks of “chopping off the head because of a headache” said TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman. [DS12NOV]

US pushes for compromise in climate talks

The United States called yesterday for a compromise at next month’s global climate talks in Copenhagen and vowed to support a fund to help developing countries cope with emissions cuts. “We cannot let the pursuit of perfection get in the way of progress,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a news conference in Singapore ahead of a weekend Pacific Rim summit to be attended by President Barack Obama. Hillary said she had “fruitful discussions” on climate issues earlier Wednesday with counterparts from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, which includes China, Russia and Japan. [DS12NOV]

Forex reserve set $10b benchmark

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserve yesterday crossed the $10 billion mark for the first time in history, riding on buoyant remittance inflows, moderate exports and declining import payments. The Asian Development Bank’s budgetary support worth around $649 million released the same day also helped the reserve reach equivalent to five months’ import bills. Central bank Governor Atiur Rahman termed it a ‘historic’ and ‘rare’ achievement for the country, as the reserve almost doubled in two years. “This reflects the strength of our economy,” Rahman told reporters at a briefing at the Bangladesh Bank (BB) headquarters yesterday. [DS12NOV]

ADB pledges continue support to SME

Asian Development Bank (ADB) will continue its support for development of small and medium enterprises (SME) in Bangladesh.

Newly appointed ADB Country Director Paul J Heytens said this yesterday during a meeting with SME Foundation Chairman Aftab ul Islam at the foundation office, according to a press release. The ADB top official in Bangladesh also expressed his satisfaction observing the activities, programmes, mission, vision and objectives of SME Foundation. [DS12NOV]

hEco-friendly initiatives: Bangladeshi NGO wins SEED Award

A range of eco-friendly start-up initiatives in Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Niger, South Africa and Zimbabwe have won the Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (SEED) Award, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced yesterday. [DS12NOV]

 

10 November 2009, Tuesday

Govt told to suspend all WB-funded projects: Letter vents dissatisfaction over changes to Public Procurement Act 2006: The World Bank has asked Bangladesh to put on hold all local procurement activities under WB-financed projects since the amendments made to the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2006 are not consistent with its procurement guidelines. In a WB letter to Finance Minister AMA Muhith, the WB has suggested that Bangladesh government “temporarily” suspend all local procurement activities under projects financed by WB until the financing agreements concerned are “amended with agreed new parameters” in order to minimise any possible disruption in project implementation. “Once agreed, the new parameters will be reflected in necessary amendments to existing agreements between the Government of Bangladesh and WB which we hope will be signed promptly,” says the letter signed on November 9 by WB Acting Country Director Tahseen Sayed. [DS11NOV]

Food Security: Technology holds answer for Asia;s future challenges: With India importing rice for the first time in over two decades this year, Thailand and other rice producing and exporting countries in Asia are rethinking food security, as experts say further output growth has to come from technology rather than lands that have already become sparse. Given the scenario where the world’s third largest rice exporting country India has gone to the international market for importing the staple to offset an expected production shortfall owing to the driest monsoon in four decades, Thailand last month announced an ambitious 50 billion US dollars stimulus package ‘Strong Thailand’, setting aside almost a quarter of the amount for boosting its agriculture by 2012. [DS11NOV].
More: Food Security: Bangladesh to get share of $20b G8 fund;
Hybrid vegetables take hold;
BB signs $25m deal with ADB to finance marginal farmers

PM’s India Visit Next Month: Dhaka to propose rail link, second submarine cable: Building Agartala-Akhaura railway line and a submarine cable linking Khulna and Chennai are among the priority projects to be placed with the Indian government during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming India visit. The PM, who is going to visit India next month, directed the ministries concerned yesterday to finalise strategy papers on the bilateral and regional development projects in time for her tour. She gave the directive while chairing the second meeting of the regional and sub-regional cooperation committee at the Prime Minister’s Office, Deputy Press Secretary to the PM Nazrul Islam told newsmen. [DS11NOV]

Victim nations must get grant, not loan: Dipu Moni on Climate Change Impacts: Foreign Minister Dipu Moni yesterday said the upcoming Copenhagen conference must agree on funding the victim countries grants, not loans, so that they can cope with the impacts of climate change. “The Copenhagen conference must agree on an adaptation fund with adequate resources at its disposal. The fund for adaptation and technology must come in form of grants, not loans,” she said while addressing the Climate Vulnerable Forum in the Maldives. She said this financing must come in addition with already committed Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). She called upon the developed countries to immediately fulfil their commitment of ODA to victim countries. [DS11NOV].
More: Climate Change: PM calls for separate fund for LDCs, MVCs

5pc incentive proposed for RMG exports to new destinations: The working committee of taskforce on recession yesterday recommended that the government give five percent cash incentive to readymade garment exporters and their backward integration only for new export destinations. The incentive was recommended at a meeting of the committee for the next five years. Except EU, the US and Canada, all the export destinations will be considered as the new markets. [DS11NOV]

We wish to build industrial Bangladesh in assistance of Chinese Government: Dilip Barua
hBangladesh – Myanmer Maritime Dispute; Myanmer aggress in arbritation

09 November 2009, Monday

Dhaka, Thimphu agree on energy coopeation: Focus on Land Connectivity, Trade: Bangladesh and Bhutan have agreed to explore the possibility of cooperation in energy sector under Saarc regional collaboration. The agreement came in the wake of growing demand for energy in Bangladesh and Bhutan’s high potential for production of hydroelectricity, according to a joint press release issued yesterday from Dhaka and Thimphu at the end of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Bhutan. Both sides agreed to explore the possibility of land connectivity between the two next-door neighbours under the aegis of Saarc transport connectivity to promote intra-regional trade and travel. [DS10NOV] 

Bring domestic workers under labour law  

Rights activists yesterday called on the government to bring domestic workers under the protection of Labour Law 2006, which is currently being revised. They also demanded quick progress in the code of conduct for employers, currently being drafted by the labour ministry to promote the rights of domestic workers and curb violence against them.

 The rights activists made the call at a dialogue organised by the Domestic Workers’ Rights Network (DWRN) in association with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

 WB brings back Tk. 404 crore from 9 projects যেসব প্রকল্পে অর্থ প্রত্যাহার করা হয়েছে: স্বাস্থ্য, পুষ্টি ও জনসংখ্যা কর্মসূচি (এইচএনপি) প্রকল্পে প্রত্যাহার করা হয়েছে ১৩ লাখ ডলার (নয় কোটি টাকা)। ২০০৫ সালের ২৮ এপ্রিল প্রকল্পটি চালু হয়, শেষ হবে ২০১০ সালের ডিসেম্বরে। ২০০৮ সালের ফেব্রুয়ারিতে প্রকল্পটির মধ্যমেয়াদি পর্যালোচনা হয়। পর্যালোচনায় বিশ্বব্যাংক দেখতে পায়, প্রকল্পটিতে মাতৃস্বাস্থ্য উন্নয়ন ও পুষ্টি পরিস্থিতির অগ্রগতির জন্য বিভিন্ন লক্ষ্যমাত্রা ঠিক করা হলেও এ ব্যাপারে তেমন কোনো অগ্রগতি আসেনি। দুটি সূচকেই অগ্রগতি সন্তোষজনক নয়। জাতীয় কৃষি প্রযুক্তি প্রকল্পে বাতিল করা হয়েছে চার লাখ ৬০ হাজার ডলার (তিন কোটি ১৭ লাখ টাকা)। ঢাকা পানি সরবরাহ ও পয়োনিষ্কাশন প্রকল্পে বাতিল করা হয়েছে ১৪ লাখ ৪০ হাজার ডলার (প্রায় ১০ কোটি টাকা)। প্রকল্পটি ২০০৮ সালের ডিসেম্বরে শুরু হয়েছে, চলবে ২০১৩ সালের জুন পর্যন্ত। পানি ব্যবস্থাপনা উন্নয়ন প্রকল্পে বাতিল করা হয়েছে ৮২ লাখ ডলার (৫৬ কোটি ৫৮ লাখ টাকা)। প্রকল্পটির মেয়াদ ২০১৫ সাল পর্যন্ত। পৌরসভা সেবা প্রকল্পে বাতিল করা হয়েছে ১৩ লাখ ৯০ হাজার ডলার (নয় কোটি ৫৯ লাখ টাকা)। প্রকল্পটি এক দশক ধরে চলছে। ১৯৯৯ সালে শুরু হওয়া এ প্রকল্পে বিশ্বব্যাংক মোট ১৮ কোটি ডলার (এক হাজার ২৪২ কোটি টাকা) সহায়তা দিচ্ছে। প্রকল্পটি চলবে ২০১১ সালের জুন পর্যন্ত। মূলত পৌরসভাগুলোর উন্নয়নে এ প্রকল্প নেওয়া হয়। (PALO10NOV)

 08 November 2009, Sunday

 Upazilla Parishad Act: Govt asked to explain authority of MPs : The High Court on Sunday asked the government to explain in four weeks why some provisions in the Upazila Parishad Act 2009, including allowing lawmakers to supervise union council functions as advisers, would not be declared illegal.    The High Court bench of Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque and Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by three Manikganj upazila council chairmen Afzal Hossain Khan, Abdul Majid and Ataur Rahman, challenging the legality of the provisions — Section 19, 20, 22 and 25 — in the Upazila Parishad (Repealed Act Re-Introduction and Amendment) Act 2009. [NAGE09NOV]

 War crimes trial court site chosen : The government has decided to set up the proposed tribunal for holding the war crimes trials in a government building on 14, Abdul Gani Road near the Bangladesh Secretariat, and says that it intends to begin prosecution in two months.    ’The offices of the Administrative Appellate Tribunal and the Department of Registration in the building on Abdul Gani Road will be shifted to Janata Tower at Karwan Bazar, and an atmosphere congenial for holding the trial of war criminals will be created here by December,’ said the state minister for law, Quamrul Islam, on Sunday after visiting the building. [NAGE09NOV]

JS panel suggests independent railway ministry

A parliamentary panel on Sunday advised the government to establish a separate ministry for the railway, which now operates as a department under the communications ministry, to upgrade its infrastructure and services in a cost-effective manner.    ‘We have unanimously suggested that the government turn the railway department into a full-fledged ministry for the sake of development of the sector,’ chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on communications ministry, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said after a meeting of the panel. [NAGE09NOV]

07 November 2009, Saturday

Biased ADP widens regional dev gap: Experts suggest balanced approach to fight poverty

Public investment through the annual development programme in the country’s backward regions remains far lower than the well-developed areas due to absence of a balanced approach of the successive governments.     Incidences of poverty in the regions like Khulna, Barisal and Rajshahi are higher than those in Dhaka and Chittagong which have been receiving the bigger slice of development outlay over the years, a planning ministry report says.    Experts said the successive governments had clear bias towards some regions in allocation of resources that led to uneven distribution of public investment and aggravated the poverty situation given the sorry state of ADP implementation. [NAGE07NOV]

Climate Change: Bangladesh must be saved, UK parliament told

A senior British politician Frank Dobson MP told UK parliament this week that worldwide action is needed to rein in climate change and save the most at-risk countries like Bangladesh.   The Labour MP and former health secretary, terming it ‘the most vulnerable’ country, said Bangladesh could only be saved by supporting long-term climate adaptation plans on a ‘vast scale’.    ‘Nothing else will do,’ Dobson said during a five-hour debate on climate change in the House of Commons last Thursday.    The secretary of state for energy and climate change, Ed Miliband, admitted in the debate that the 15th UN Climate Change Conference at Copenhagen in December is unlikely to produce a legally binding way forward on curbing global emissions and tackling climate change. [NAGE08NOV]
More: Save Bangladesh from climate paril: UK parliament told;

RMG sets to recession impacts

As feared by some quarters, the impact of global recession on Bangladeshi garment industry may not linger for long as the local manufacturers are now presenting diversified products resulting in fresh orders in recent weeks.    In terms of price competitiveness, Bangladeshi exporters still remain number one in the world.    Importers from across the world were found enthusiastic about the Bangladeshi products at Bangladesh Knitwear Exhibition and BATEXPO — two major annual expos showcasing local garment and textile products.    Visiting both the exhibitions, it was found that be it knitwear or cut and sew woven garments or home textiles, manufacturers showcased finer fabrics, attractive applications, designs and colours. [NAGE08NOV]
More: Foreign Apparel makers plan re-location to Bangladesh;
Seminar stresses RMG compliances;

Manpower export hits seven-month high

The number of overseas employees in October recorded a seven-month high when 43,812 Bangladeshi workers went abroad with jobs last month thanks to the beginning of the global economy’s recovery from the recession. The last time that Bangladesh sent abroad such a high number of workers (43,856) was in February 2009, according to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. [NAGE08NOV]

 

06 November 2009, Friday

WB-IMF mission to asses debt needs

An IMF-WB joint debt management technical mission will arrive in Dhaka on November 9 on a 10-day visit to make an assessment on the country’s debt position and pave the way for a new loan programme, officials said.    ‘The joint mission of the International Monitory Fund and the World Bank will analyse country’s debt situation of last several years,’ a senior official of the finance ministry said Tuesday.    The mission will also see whether Bangladesh will qualify for further loan from the two international lenders and examine the effects of foreign debt on the country’s major economic indicators, the official said.    The mission will review trends of aid inflow to Bangladesh, inflation, GDP growth, revenue earnings and annual development programme implementation. [NAge07NOV]

Govt inching closer towards signing TIFA with US

Dhaka is moving positively towards holding ‘conclusive talks’ with Washington for signing the long pending Trade and Investment Framework Agreement which, the government hopes, would usher in a new era in the US-Bangladesh trade relations.    A summary of the draft agreement, prepared by the commerce ministry, awaits endorsement by the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, before the ministry enters final rounds of negotiations with the US officials, sources close to the Prime Minister’s Office told New Age.    After the recent visit by the US assistant trade representative, Michael J Delaney, the Awami League government is actively considering ‘further negotiations’ with the United States taking into consideration Bangladesh’s economic and business interests, the sources pointed out. [NAGE07NOV]

G20 finance ministers to firm up global recovery

G20 finance ministers were meeting here on Friday to shore up the recovery from the global financial crisis and discuss funding for a still uncertain agreement on climate change.    The ministers from the world’s 20 most powerful and fastest emerging economies are holding the third in a series of meetings this year which led to a one-trillion-dollar fiscal stimulus package to tackle the recession.    Over two days in the picturesque Scottish coastal town of St Andrews, they are seeking to flesh out agreements made at a leaders’ summit in Pittsburgh in September.    Now that the United States, Japan, Germany and France have emerged from recession after last year’s global financial crisis, the G20’s focus has switched from disaster management to building a secure economic future. [NAGE07NOV]

  

Bangladesh is set to officially release three flood-tolerant rice varieties that would help farmers prevent up to a million tonnes of annual crop loss caused by flash floods, researches said. Officials concerned told The Daily Star that these rice varieties with submergence-tolerant gene, known as Sub1, can withstand two weeks of complete submergence. “In September, we applied to the Seed Certification Agency for release of the three submergence-tolerant varieties, Swarna-Sub1, BR-11-Sub1, and BR-11-Recombinant-Sub1. Once the Agency completes its field evaluations, these varieties will be officially released, hopefully this year,” said Khandakar Iftekharuddaula, principal investigator of the project of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports the project. [DS07NOV]

Lawmakers form action group on climate change

Lawmakers from coastal constituencies formed “Bangladesh Climate Change Action Group” yesterday in a move to address the adverse impact of climate change. “People in the coastal areas are bearing the brunt of natural disasters that prompted us to form the forum in the face of the inevitable consequences of climate change,” said ASM Firoz, whip of parliament and an elected member from Patuakhali. Firoz has been selected as convener of the forum. The group is expected to have around 50 members, all elected from the southern region. The forum was formed at a discussion on Climate Change: Adverse Effect on Bangladesh and Our Action held at the Parliament Members’ Club in the city. [DS07NOV];
More: Climate deal `unlikely’ this year;
Climate Justice imperative for Copenhagen success;
Climate Change Negotiations: Wheither agreement? ;
Road to climate change risk reduction;
Climate Change Impacts on Extended Hindu Kush-Himalyan Region;
APEC seeks to slash emissions by 2050;

 

Khaleda worried over RMG unrest: smells `Provocation  from outside from country’BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia smells provocation of competitor foreign countries behind the persistent unrest in the readymade garment sector (RMG). “Instigation by competitor foreign countries and external hands in the attempt to create anarchy in this sector would not be far-fetched,” she said yesterday while addressing the closing ceremony of Bangladesh Apparel & Textile Exposition 2009 (Batexpo), organised by Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in Sonargaon hotel of the capital. She urged the government to ensure law and order in the sector. “It is the responsibility of the government to take necessary measures for improving law and order, and to ensure the right environment for facilitating growth of the readymade garment sector, and its competitiveness in the global market.” Expressing grave concerns over the unrest that has been flaring up in the sector, she urged BGMEA leaders to pay the workers the standard minimum wages in every factory, and to pay the salaries in the first week of every month. [DS07NOV]

US happy over development initiativesThe United States expressed happiness over the present government’s development activities on poverty alleviation, economic progress and maintaining socio-economic stability in the country. US Ambassador in Bangladesh James F Moriarty, just back from the US State Department, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s office on Thursday and conveyed his government’s observations. Moriarty said the US government is hopeful that, under the able leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the people of Bangladesh would be able to attain the cherished development and prosperity through implementing the development agenda. ”The present government is working with outstanding skill to attain the country’s food security,” the diplomat was quoted as saying during the meeting. Besides, he said, the role of the government in ensuring women empowerment has also been appreciated by the US State Department. [DS07NOV]

Ensure full implementation of CEDAWCitizen’s Initiatives on Cedaw, a platform of 38 human rights and development organisations, yesterday demanded full implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw). 

05 November 2009, Thursday

Pre-Budget Discussion for Next Fiscal Start early

The government will start pre-budget consultations on the budget for next fiscal year at least two months ahead of the usually scheduled time to ensure smooth implementation and proper allocation of funds, officials in the finance ministry said.    The ministry issued a circular in this regard on Wednesday to all ministries and divisions in preparation of the budget for fiscal 2010-11 fiscal. The pre-budget consultation meetings which usually started in February will now be held in December.    Finance ministry had started its last fiscal year pre-budget meeting on 12 February, 2008. But this year, the consultations would get underway on December 7, 2009.    Finance minister AMA Muhith asked the authorities concerned to start next fiscal year’s pre-budget meetings two months before the usual time for scrutinizing allocation of funds for different sectors, said a senior official of the finance ministry.

People continues to suffer 5 months inside Aila: Food Sanitation still problems for Dacope People

Living became a nightmare for people of Dacope, an upazila in southwestern Khulna, after May 25 when the region was battered by water surges whipped up by cyclone Aila that ripped through the coastline into India.    And it has not yet changed for the better for them, even five months inside the devastation.    The people, who lost all they had to the cyclone, started living in makeshift shelters and on high land such as roads, living on the help dished out by government agencies and non-governmental organisations.    The upazila administration soon after the cyclone said 25,067 houses were destroyed and 8349 damaged.

US help for Bangladesh to continue

US President Barack Obama assured continued assistance for Bangladesh’s development works particularly in the field of education, health services and disaster management. The assurance came when Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Akramul Qader presented his credentials on Wednesday to the US president at the Oval office of the White House, according to a message received from Washington. Speaking on the occasion, the US president said: “Bangladesh-US relations exemplify the vision of a partnership in protecting our people from terrorist threat and from those who might wish to destabilize democracy.” [DS06NOV]

RMG culprits warned

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government would take punitive measures against the people irrespective of workers and owners responsible for unrest in the garment sector. The government will conduct an investigation to find out the culprits behind the violence in the sector, she said as the chief guest while inaugurating the three-day 20th Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO)-09 at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital. At 86 stalls, a total of 62 companies from home and abroad participated in the fair to showcase their products. The premier said, “We have noticed that vested quarters are trying to make chaos in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector. We will not allow evil-forces to be successful in creating anarchy in the sector.” She asked to pay more attention to the workers’ welfare as they are considered to be the driving force of the industry. She also mentioned that the government is planning to introduce industrial police and separate intelligence unit for the sector. [DS06Nov]

ECNEC okeys `One House, One Farm’ Scheme

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved seven projects of important economic and development implications involving an estimated expenditure of Tk 2,977 crore entirely from government exchequer. The approved projects include the ‘one house, one farm’ scheme under the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division. Under the project, Tk 1,197 crore will be spent on backyard farming at homesteads across the country. With Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, the executive committee gave the approval at its meeting in the NEC conference room. The farming project will cover 9,640 villages of 1,928 unions under 482 upazilas. [DS06NOV]

CTG, Mongla Ports, Labour Law bill passed limiting TU

The House yesterday passed a bill amending the Bangladesh Labour Act to limit the number of trade unions at the Chittagong and Mongla ports. State Minister for Labour and Employment Ministry Munnuzan Sufian proposed the passage of the bill and lawmakers voted in favour of it. A number of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers opposed the bill and asked to send it to the relevant committee for further scrutiny. But their proposals were not placed in the parliament, as they were absent. Employees of the ports will now be allowed to collectively form one trade body at each of the ports, says the bill. According to the bill, trade union must be formed in line with the provisions of the act within six months from the date of enforcement of the law and with the formation of the unions all the existing trade bodies will be dissolved. [DS06NOV]

Primark Soars, but at What Cost? The Economic Downturn is clearly good news for the retailers. May be now it can afford to turn its ethical pledges to reality

Recession? What recession? Primark has just announced a massive 20% jump in sales for the year to 12 September, and profits up 8% to £252m. As it prepares to celebrate the opening of its 192nd UK store in Cambridge, Britain’s leading cheap fashion retailer has never had it so good. The economic downturn means many shoppers are worried about household budgets. That’s obviously good news for Primark, variously nicknamed Primarni or Pradamark for its success in selling catwalk fashion at rock bottom prices. But does it mean we don’t care if people in developing countries pay a high price for producing these “must-have” outfits? The grim reality of life for young women and men producing Primark clothing in the sweatshops of Asia is well known. It’s almost three years since War on Want published its groundbreaking report, Fashion Victims, which showed employees in Primark factories in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka slaving away for up to 80-hour weeks in appalling conditions, at well under a living wage.

Agriculture, SME branches now mandatory for Banks

The central bank is set to ask private commercial banks to open agriculture and SME branches from next year to boost lending to farmers and small businesses across the country. Bangladesh Bank as the regulator took the decision yesterday and is expected to issue a circular next week. “I have already signed the circular,” BB Governor Atiur Rahman told The Daily Star. Agriculture and SME branches must be located outside divisional headquarters, according to the circular. Presently, private banks operate SME and farm lending through conventional bank branches and some SME service centres. [DS06NOV]

G20 ministers to talk climate change and recovery

Bolstering the world economic recovery and crafting a deal to fight climate change will be top of the agenda for G20 finance ministers meeting in Scotland from Friday. Ministers plus central bankers from the 20 richest and fastest-emerging economies will hold their third get-together of 2009 over two days in St Andrews, a seaside town known as the home of golf. Now that countries like the US, Japan, Germany and France have emerged from recession after last year’s global financial crisis, the G20’s focus has switched from disaster management to building a secure economic future. But this time, the grouping will also have to turn its attention to climate finance ahead of December’s key UN conference in Copenhagen which aims to seal a deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol, although hopes of an accord are fading.  Rodrigo Delgado Aguilera, a researcher at foreign affairs think-tank Chatham House, said the St Andrews meeting was likely to produce only “incremental” changes, rather than major developments. “This crisis is evidence enough that we don’t really understand how the world works. Maybe for now these smaller steps are better but it shouldn’t be an excuse not to think big,” he told AFP. In a bid to ensure there is no repeat of last year’s near-meltdown which saw the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, world leaders at September’s Pittsburgh G20 summit agreed a new system to coordinate economic decision-making and encourage stable, long-term growth. [DS06NOV]

04 November 2009, Wednesday

Mineral Resources is the Blood Flown in Our Vein : Anu Mohammad

Exclusive interview By : Audity Falguni, Dhaka, 11 September, Redtimesbd.com

After the stern clashes between police and the demonstrators of the `National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports (NCPOGMPP) ‘ on September 2nd, around 50 student and youth activists of different left leaning groups and others were injured. Police launched lethal attack on the protestors who were marching forward to surround (gherao) the Petro-Bangla office protesting the recent cabinet committee approval on 24th August to lease three offshore gas fields to foreign companies. The protestors negated the government decision to award Ireland-based company Tullow Bangladesh shallow water block SS-O8-05 and US oil company Conoco Philipps South Asia New Ventures Ltd deep sea blocks DS-08-10 and 11 in the Bay of Bengal. They also raised the demand for the  cancellation of around 12 ‘Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs)’ of the Bangladesh government with different International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other relevant claims. Anu Muhammad, Professor of the Economics Department of Jahangir Nagar University and Member Secretary of NCPOGMPP got intensely hurt during the demonstration and was admitted to hospital.

No power crisis by 2011, PM telss JS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the country would get rid of power crisis by 2011 as 1,487MW of power will be generated and added to the national grid by then. “Bangladesh will be self-sufficient in power by 2021 and 100 percent people of the country will get electricity facility according to the government’s vision,” Hasina said while replying to lawmakers’ queries in parliament. She also told the House that over 50,000 flats would be built in the capital and over 17,000 others across the country to address accommodation problem. Hasina said as per her government’s current plan 667MW of additional power would be fed to the national grid by 2009 and another 820MW through picking power plants by 2011.
More News: Controversy clouds PDB’s  rental bid: Rooke bidders with low cost offer get priority; bidder selection for Madanganj – Bheramara sites questioned;
Canadian tie help boost green energy;
Seven power plants in the north soon;
Bangladesh set for eradicate poverty, eliminate extremism: PM;
A better yardstick to assess ADP implementation is imperative

Motia slates WB over slow fund release

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday expressed her dissatisfaction over the World Bank’s (WB) lengthy process of releasing funds for development projects, saying such nature of funding cannot really help achieve a goal. “It is the WB that takes long time to release the funds and then they pin the blame on the government for the slow pace and say the government is embedded in corruption,” she said at a discussion on “Use of genetic engineering in developing stress-tolerant crops”. There are many restrictions on getting money from the donors, Matia Chowdhury said, calling upon the scientists of the country to be sincere and to conduct researches amid constraints to help develop crop varieties that can help the country face the adverse impact of climate change.

Climate Change: Govt to set up int’l centre on adaptation

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said Bangladesh adopted a climate change strategic plan and seeks to establish an International Climate Adaptation Centre in the country. Under the plan, she said strategies are formulated to manage disaster through agricultural diversity, ensuring food security, dredging major rivers to keep them navigable, creating green belts and developing coastal forests. The foreign minister said this while discussing with a nine-member delegation of the British Parliament’s International Development Committee (IDC) headed by its Chairman Malcolm Bruce, MP when they called on her at the ministry yesterday.

Amended PPA Act passed

Parliament yesterday passed a bill after amendment to the Public Procurement Act (PPA) to allow persons without past experiences to get public work contracts worth up to Tk 2 crore. From now, procuring entities will not take into consideration past performance, production capacity or financial capability for awarding a public work contract worth up to Tk 2 crore. The House, however, accepted recommendations of a parliamentary body during passage of the bill. Scrutinising the bill, the parliamentary standing committee on planning ministry in its report recommended that the procuring entities would prepare and preserve list of contractors including their past experiences. But deciding the qualification of a contractor to get the public work contract worth up to Tk 2 crore will not be applicable.

European FTAs with Asian Countries may harm Bangladesh

The European Union’s bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with India, Southeast Asian nations and South Korea may be a potential threat to Bangladesh, officials of the European Commission said yesterday. EU is the Bangladesh’s largest trade partner. Over half of the country’s total exports of $15 billion were destined to EU last fiscal year. “The European Union’s FTA with India, Asean and South Korea is definitely a concern for Bangladesh,” Zillul Hye Razi, trade adviser to EC Delegation in Dhaka, told a seminar. He cited the example of Bangladesh’s bicycle exports to EU under duty- and quota-free facility. India needs to pay high duty (17 percent) for bicycle exports to EU, but an FTA will remove this tariff barrier, putting Bangladesh in a fierce competition with rivals.
More News: Economic ties with neiboughers will deepen: PM;
Free Trade, Climate Change to Top India-EU Summit

305 child domestic workers died from torture in 8 years

At least 305 child domestic workers have died from torture, 235 more have been severely injured and 77 others fell victim to rape in the last eight years since 2001. Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, convener of the Network to Establish Domestic Workers’ Rights, revealed this at a seminar on ‘Child domestic workers: Law and code of conduct’. The child workers face various forms of domestic violence in the absence of a strong monitoring system and policies, he said while presenting the keynote paper. He also recommended refraining from engaging children in hazardous work, fixing work list, working hour and a weekly day-off for them, paying regular monthly salary on a fixed rate and giving a one-month notice period before dismissal of workers. Shoishab Bangladesh with the support of Manusher Jonno Foundation organised the seminar at Biam Auditorium in the city, with Dr Ahmedullah Mia, a member of Shoishab Bangladesh, in the chair.

Effective Trade Union in RMG is easier said than done, Writes Tanim Ahmed

The declaration of introducing trade unions in the country’s garment sector was commendable decision and a step in the right direction. But it is still a long journey to the final destination that will require sincere commitment from the government.

India must re-think its policies towards neiboughers

The eagerness with which countries of other regions, in recognition of new realities, are reshaping policies and establishing new alliances is indicative of a new world order taking shape. Isn’t it time for hostilities to give way to a congenial environment among South Asian neighbours too? Asks Shahid R Siddiqi.

Malaysia to provide free training for Bangladeshi Workers

Malaysia has agreed to provide higher training to Bangladeshi unskilled labourers and engineers free of cost.
   Malaysia has given the consent at a bilateral discussion at summit on ‘OIC Human Resource Development’ held in Kuala Lumpur recently, a news release of the Global Economist Forum said on Tuesday.
   According to the proposal, Malaysia will provide training to Bangladeshi labourers and construction engineers, welding, carpenting and tiles fittings sectors.

03 November 2009, Tuesday

Hasina wants OIC in climate battle

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought cooperation from the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in fighting the adverse impacts of global climate change in Bangladesh. The premier made the call as the OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu paid a courtesy call on her at the prime minister’s office. “Bangladesh, with its limited sources, is fighting against the threats of climate change and I urge the OIC member countries to come forward to help us in this regard,” Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mahbubul Hoque Shakil quoted her as saying. The OIC secretary general lauded Bangladesh’s efforts, especially the role of the prime minister in the international forum, in fighting the impact of climate change caused by the global warming.
More:Zillur seeks int’l support for poverty alliviation

EU vows to rally round Dhaka

The European Parliament has expressed European Union’s strong commitment to help Bangladesh combat climate change impacts, saying it wants stability of lives and livelihoods of people here, not Bangladeshis roaming as climate refugees. “Whether or not the US takes right role in the Copenhagen does not really matter…European Union have a long relation with Bangladesh. Even if Copenhagen damns the scheme, we will be there for you,” Nirj Deva, leader of a European Parliament delegation, said yesterday. “Act now, otherwise we will all be sorry later! Unless steps are taken immediately to adjust to climate change by putting new money in new projects, the huge migratory impact of millions of people seeking safer refuge will make the whole world a less safe place,” he said at a press conference at Brac Centre Inn in the city.
More: UK to continue help Bangaldesh fight poverty, climate change; Norway to help offset climate change impacts

Copenhagen Summit: UN Chief plays down hopes

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon played down hopes for the key Copenhagen summit on climate change yesterday, suggesting that detail on an agreement may be lacking. “I’m reasonably optimistic that this Copenhagen (summit) will be a very important milestone,” Ban told reporters after talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London. “At the same time, realistically speaking, we may not be able to have all the words on detailed matters.” He added: “We need the political will, if there is a political will I’m sure there is a way we can conclude a binding agreement.” Brown said he thought a deal was possible and restated his pledge to attend the talks in person.

Religion, Moral edn not ignored

The draft education policy does not ignore religious and moral education as claimed by different sections since it makes strong recommendations on the subjects, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday. They however said there is some incompleteness regarding some issues which needs to be reviewed, adding the government should focus on quick implementation of the policy. The speakers also said there should have been more guidelines about primary education as the draft policy did not make everything clear about it. Shushashoner Janney Nagorik (Shujan) organised the roundtable styled “Considering the education policy of Bangladesh” at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

PM goes to Bhutan Friday

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka on Friday for a four-day visit to Bhutan and is expected to hold talks with the top government officials, including the King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. A trade agreement might be signed at the time to enhance economic growth of the two countries, Prime Minister’s Office sources said. Meanwhile, the Bhutanese Ambassador in Dhaka Dasho Bap Kesang yesterday called on Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. “Our country is prepared to receive the Bangladesh prime minister,” the Ambassador told Dipu Moni. Dipu Moni said the visit would provide opportunities for the entire gamut of bilateral relations and generate further impetus.

A Peasant Friendly Move

THE ministries of agriculture and industries certainly deserve kudos for slashing prices of non-urea fertiliser by 36 percent on an average. The newly fixed prices are way below the previous levels which themselves carried a 50 percent cutback in prices effected by the AL government barely a week into its first week of power. At that time it was felt though, had the price cut come about in December when the boro season peaked it would have been ideal. Even so, it impacted positively on boro output in the end, for all we know. This time around the price reduction is more timely as the boro and potato seasons, winter crops, so to speak, are peaking to benefit from.

Remittance growth beats bleak forecast

Remittance growth stood at 21.23 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year, despite bleak forecasts by the World Bank. The July to October period measured the remittance inflow at $3.61 billion, which was $2.98 billion in the same period last year. Bangladesh recorded $911.20 million in remittance in October, up from $887.92 million a month ago, according to central bank data. Remittance crossed the $900 million mark for the third time in 2009. The figure was $935.15 million in August and $919.10 million in June. Due to the large remittance inflow, the foreign currency reserve is increasing. It was recorded at $9.56 billion yesterday.

RMG subsidies not viable

Giving continuous subsidies to the export-oriented garment sector will not be viable for the country as much of such benefits goes to the buyers’ end, said Mashiur Rahman, adviser to the prime minister on economic affairs, yesterday. He said if the government increases subsidy by a certain amount for the readymade garment (RMG) sector, the international buyers will bargain for less price. So the manufacturers and exporters will not be benefited ultimately from the government’s initiatives, Rahman said at a seminar on Bangladesh’s knitwear industry at Dhaka Sheraton hotel. Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) organised the seminar on the sidelines of the fifth knitwear exposition that will end today at the hotel.

02 November 2009, Monday

Banking enters new era: Bangladesh Bank introduces online payment system

The hassle is about to be over. One no longer needs to go to market for shopping spending hours in traffic jams or stand in long queues to pay utility bills. All these are now possible on the internet. Bangladesh Bank yesterday introduced online payment system in the country facilitating online fund transfers and payment of utility bills through local currency credit cards. Although these services are being introduced on a smaller scale, it is considered to be the first step towards a broader online banking. This move will certainly enhance the use of e-commerce in the country and online banking services facilitating subscribers of all commercial banks in Bangladesh. The central bank issued a circular yesterday to all commercial banks saying subscribers to internet banking now will be able to pay utility bills online from customers’ accounts to billing accounts. [The Daily Star, 03 November 2009]
More News: Online Banking raises debate over security

Pay wages properly: PM opens Knitexpo-09, asks garment owners to indentify the reasons for unrest

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the garment factory owners to pay the wages properly to improve the workers’ standard of living. Terming the workers the driving force of a factory, the PM also asked the owners to investigate the causes of frequent labour unrest in the sector. “The government will not tolerate anarchism in garment sector as this is the main source of foreign currency,” said Hasina. “The recent labour unrest was instigated by conspirators,” the PM said. She advised the owners to construct dormitories for workers to ensure their shelter. “The factory owners can take assistance from government’s housing fund to build the dormitories. The fund would claim only one percent service charge,” the PM said. [The Daily Star, 03 November 2009]

Trade Union in RMG sector: introduces it with safeguards

THE government’s decision to introduce trade union in the garment sector–following the deaths of three workers in police firing at Tongi– is understandable. We are open to the initiative, with some safeguards. The situation prevailing in the industry as a whole has to be examined in all its ramifications before an effective solution to the recurring labour unrest can be found.The point to be noted here is that the whole issue revolves around the question of workers’ representation in matters pertaining to their professional interests. True, lack of organised means of articulation and presentation of the workers’ grievances before the employers and the labour ministry has been a major missing link in the garments sector. And yet caution is in order because trade unionism, if our past experience is anything to go by, has a record of often degenerating into a tool in the hands of self-seeking coteries operating as workers’ representatives. They basically ended up advancing their feuding agenda and self-aggrandisement at the expense of the genuine grievances of the workers. Secondly, trade unionism has had a way of turning into an appendage of a political party. Obviously, we do not want today’s medicine to become tomorrow’s malady. [The Daily Star, Editorial, 03 November 2009]
More News: Govt should act in favour of RMG workers instead of their employers;
Body to probe saturday’s labour unrest not yet formed

Now Nepal to hold cabinet meet on Everest

Nepal is to hold a cabinet meeting on Mount Everest to highlight the impact of global warming on the Himalayas ahead of next month’s climate change talks in Copenhagen, a minister said yesterday. The entire cabinet will travel to Everest base camp at an altitude of 5,360 metres (17,585 feet) for the meeting, to be held later this month, forests minister Deepak Bohora told AFP. The announcement comes just weeks after the government of the Maldives held an underwater cabinet meeting to focus global attention on rising sea levels ahead of the key UN summit on December 7-18. [The Daily Star, 03 November 2009];
More News: Climate Change can kill `quarter of million kids’ next year;
Europe probe track global warming impacts on water
Climate First, Trade Second: Pascal Lamy

Fertiliser boost for farm sector: Prices of non-urea group slashed by 36 pc

Following a price fall on the international market, the government yesterday cut domestic prices of non-urea fertilisers by 36 percent to boost cultivation of winter crops and boro rice. “We have reduced the prices of the fertilisers, so farmers may produce crops for less,” Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said in her ministry while disclosing the price cut to the media. According to the rescheduled prices, a kilogram of triple super phosphate (TSP) is Tk 20 at dealers’ level while Tk 22 at farmers’ level compared to the existing farmers’ level price of Tk 40. The new dealers’ level price of a kilogram of muriate of potash (MOP) is Tk 23 and the farmers’ level price is Tk 25 which was Tk 35. [The Daily Star, 03 November 2009]

Vested property to be returned: Cabinet okeys to the bill

The cabinet yesterday gave final nod to the Vested Property Return (Amendment) Bill, 2009 paving the way to turn the seized property over to the real owners from the Hindus. The approval came at a regular meeting at the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Hasina at the meeting also directed the home ministry to arrest the culprits responsible for the bomb attack on AL lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh and unrest in the RMG sector. With the approval of the vested property bill, the government would now make it a law in parliament soon which would replace the caretaker government’s Vested Property Return Ordinance. [The Daily Star, 03 November 2009)

Lax legal step pushes up acid violence: 132 victims of acid violence in 10 months

Shila was to be in her honeymoon, but she is now moaning with pain in the bed of the Acid Survivors Foundation hospital in the capital.    A first-year student of Pangsha University College, Shila was going to be married to an expatriate in Saudi Arabian on October 30.    Her sister Shimul came to her father’s home at Kamalapur in Kushtia to attend the wedding ceremony but their dreams were shattered as some miscreants poured acid on them through the open window when they were asleep about 4:00am on Thursday, the day before the ceremony. [The Daily New Age, 03 November 2009]SAARC states to increase duty free trade

Bangladesh, India and five of the six other SAARC member-countries will prune their negative lists by 20 per cent to boost regional trade under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement.    The move is aimed at increasing the number of goods that could be traded duty free under the SAFTA.    Indian commerce minister Anand Sharma told journalists in New Delhi that Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Maldives had agreed upon a Tariff Liberalisation Programme during the fourth meeting of the SAFTA Ministerial Council in Kathmandu last week.    Sharma, Bangladesh commerce minister Faruk Khan and their counterparts from five other SAARC countries attended the meet. Pakistan was represented by a senior official from Islamabad. [The Daily New Age, 03 November 2009]

 01 November 2009, Sunday

PM vows changes to PRSP to focus on rural economy

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Sunday said her government would make all necessary amendments to the poverty reduction strategy, giving priority to rural economy and employment generation to alleviate poverty.    Speaking in the parliament after a debate on the document titled ‘Steps Towards Change: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II FY 2009-11’, she reiterated that her government would reintroduce the five-year plan for balanced development.    The prime minister came up with the statements after some of her ruling coalition lawmakers censured the lender-driven strategy paper even demanding its cancellation to shrug off the legacy of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance which had prepared the first strategy paper during its 2001-2006 rule. [The Daily New Age, 02 November 2009]

Public Procurement up to tk. 2 cr: Bill seeks to drop experience clause

A bill was placed in parliament yesterday seeking amendment to the Public Procurement Act to drop the provision of past experience as a condition for getting public work contracts worth up to Tk 2 crore. Planning Minister Air Vice Marshall (retd) AK Khandker placed the bill with a proposal for a few amendments to the act terming it essential for smooth enforcement of the law. The bill was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on planning ministry for scrutiny and placing report in parliament in two days. [The Daily Star, 02 November 2009]; More News: Changes to PPA may cost WB loans; PPA amendement bill placed in JS.

BNP talks political situation with foreign diplomats

BNP, the main opposition in parliament, yesterday briefed foreign diplomats and donor agency representatives about the country’s latest political situation, and its preparation for holding its national council in December this year. The party is planning to invite foreign guests including prominent global personalities as observers to its national council that will be held in the capital, according to party leaders. At a tea party arranged by BNP last evening, the foreign diplomats wanted to know about the reasons for delaying to hold the party council, and for its boycott of the parliament, and also inquired about the party’s observation of the country’s latest political situation. [The Daily Star, 02 November 2009]

War crimes legislation: West backs trial, int’l norms

Western diplomats remain concerned that unless the government further amends the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, the trials of war criminals may not meet the minimum international standards of due process and fairness. The concern was expressed to The Daily Star by diplomats supportive of the Bangladesh government’s decision to hold trials of people alleged to have committed war crimes during the 1971 War of Independence. These views appear to contradict Law Minister Shafique Ahmed’s repeated statements that that the current law is sufficient to meet international expectations. [The Daily Star, 02 November 2009]

Tongi reels from fright: Another death raises toll to 3, up to 3000 people sued for violence

Another man succumbed to wounds at a city hospital yesterday raising the death toll to three in Saturday’s labour unrest at Nippon Garment Industries Ltd in Tongi. Police filed a case against 2,000 to 3,000 unidentified people along with eight others, detained on Saturday in connection with the clashes between police and workers. Two persons died on the spot and 100 others were injured in the incident. Tajul Islam, 50, a resident of Ershad Nagar in Tongi, who was admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital with a head injury on Saturday, died early in the morning. The bodies of the two other deceased — Bablu Sheikh, 32, a rickshaw-van puller, and construction worker Shafique of Ershad Nagar — were taken to Gazipur Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy on Saturday night. A correspondent from Gazipur reported that both the bodies bore bullet marks. Later, the bodies of Bablu and Shafique were sent to their village home in Jamalpur and Bhola, said police. [The Daily Star, 02 November 2009];
More News: Trade unionism in RMG agreed: Committee formed to work out modes;
Tongi clash death toll rises to 3: Two killed in policing firing, 3000 others sued probe body formed;
8 RMG units closed unlawfully in 3 months;
Yet another sign that all is not well in RMG sector;
Owners, workers vow to work together

Maldives allows 16,000 expats to stay legally

The Maldives government has accorded legal permission to over 16,000 Bangladeshis to stay and work there.    The expatriate welfare and overseas employment minister, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, told the media on Sunday on his return from a four-day trip to the island country.    ’A total 16,100 Bangladeshis in Maldives had no legal papers. We approached the Maldivian leaders including the president and discussed the matter and then they permitted our people to stay there legally,’ said the minister.    The ministry sources said about 40,000 Bangladeshis now live in the Maldives.

Apparel exporters eye bigger Japanese market

Bangladesh garment exports to Japan may increase to two billion US dollar within a couple of years should the country get duty-free market access to that country under relaxed rules of origin.    With over $24 billion annual imports, Japan apparel market is very much selective that demands capacity development of Bangladeshi exporters, speakers said at a discussion, organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue, a think-tank.    Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman presided over the discussion that was participated by the commerce minister, Faruk Khan, former commerce minister, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and the Japanese ambassador in Dhaka, Tamotsu Shinotsuka. [The Daily New Age, 02 November 2009]

20 Years of Market rules: Ex-communist Europe claims success

 

 

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at European Development Day 2009

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed  addressed the plenary session of the 4th European Development Day 2009, titled `Climate Change: The Road to Copenhagen and Beyond‘, on 24 October 2009 at the Victoria Hall in the Swedish capital.

Observing re-budgeting and readjusting of existing development assistance to developing countries, particularly LDCs, would jeopardize their ongoing projects and programs, she said that Bangladesh and other most vulnerable countries (MVC) to climate change are anxiously looking forward to Copenhagen.

The Following demands, she placed to the international communities to face the challeges of climate change:

• Establishing a realistic fund for Bangladesh and other least developed and developing countries for their climate change requirements. 

 

•  The financing to the climate victim nations should not be loans, and the scale of finance should be revised with changes in the adaptation needs.

 

• The international community to reject all myopic, self-centred discords, reject the culture of excess and waste, to embrace one another’s responsibility, burden, prosperity, and live in harmony within the planet’s capacity.

 

•  The climate change adaptation financing must be additional to and distinct from ODA targets of 0.7% of Gross National Income meant for the developing countries and 0.2% for LDCs by 2010, as reaffirmed in the Brussels Program of Action.

 

• Besides, out of this fund, every year a substantial amount should be kept aside for adaptation needs of developing countries with maximum share going to low lying coastal countries, LDCs and the small-island developing countries.

 

• Though Bangladesh established a US$ 45 million Climate Change Fund with own resources, and there is also a Multi-Donor Trust Fund of US$ 150 million with support of the United Kingdom, the amounts are meagre in comparison to the needs.

 

• Adopting a new legal regime under the UNFCCC Protocol ensuring social, cultural and economic rehabilitation of climate refugees from COP 15 in Copenhagen.

 

• The outcome in the Copenhagen meet must uphold the core principle of common but differentiated share of responsibility; assured, adequate, and easily accessible funding for adaptation; access to scientific information to climate change in sectors like risk reduction, water resources, agriculture, energy, urban planning and health disorders.

 

• The Copenhagen meet must also ensure affordable, eco-friendly technology transfer to developing countries, particularly to LDCs; make maximum possible specific commitments for deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions for atmospheric stabilisation.

 

• The post 2012 agreement must, however, incorporate predictable and legally binding commitments for addressing adaptation needs of low lying, coastal, and small-island developing states, and LDCs.

 

• Establishing an international adaptation centre under UNFCCC.

 

• Setting up  a Himalayan Council in the model of the Artic Council to assist similarly affected countries in facing the challenges of glacial melting in the Himalayas.

More:

» Hasina calls for realistic fund for climate change ;

» Raise realistic fund for climate battle;

» Global Climate Change Debate: Where We are?;

» Change We Need, But Climate .

October 2009

31.10.2009, Saturday

PM pledges power decentralisation

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government will decentralise power for people’s empowerment at the grassroots level. She observed that power is very much centralised in Bangladesh as the country was ruled by many military dictators for a long time after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. The prime minister was addressing the inaugural function of a two-day training workshop titled ‘E-Governance, Service at Doorsteps’ arranged for the UNOs by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at a PMO auditorium. The workshop was arranged as part of the PMO-supported Access to Information (A2I) Programme under which 60 UNOs will be trained on e-governance in the first batch at the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Bhaban. The PM said upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) have to work together with people’s representatives, including upazila chairmen, to ensure people’s maximum welfare. [The Daily Star, 01 November 2009]

Govt to probe all extra-judicial killings: Minister

The government will investigate all cases of extra-judicial killings and try them, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said yesterday. The present government is against any kind of extra-judicial killing and committed to protect the fundamental human rights of people, he said, adding that the government in its nine months in power has taken many steps to implement these commitments. Addressing as chief guest at the inauguration of a pilot scheme titled “Human Rights Training for Law Officers and Legal Practitioners” at Hotel Sonargaon yesterday morning, he said the government would hold trials for crimes against humanity that took place since 1971 to 1975 in the country. [The Daily Star, 01 November 2009]

Tongi erupts in violence: 2 killed, over 100 injured as RMG workers clash with cops after protests against factory closure, non-payment of wages

At least two persons were killed and 100 others injured including 15 police personnel in Tongi yesterday in a string of clashes between the law enforcers and several hundred garment workers who were protesting sudden closure of their factory without payment of arrears. Confirming the deaths, Second Officer of Tongi Police Station Zahidul Islam said one of the dead was identified as Bablu Sheikh, a rickshaw van puller, whose wife Roksana works at the factory. He said Bablu received bullets when, hearing the news of the clash, he went near the factory to look for his wife. Roksana had also told reporters in the afternoon that her husband died when he came to the factory during the clashes to save her. The other deceased aged around 48 could not be identified. A number of workers and locals claimed that police killed several workers inside the factory of Nippon Garments Industries Ltd at Ershadnagar of Tongi although they could not specify the names of those killed. Locals showed reporters and police bits of brains they claimed to be of humans in pools blood near the entrance of the factory. [The Daily Star, 01 November 2009].

More News: Arrears main reason behind unrest: BGMEA sees `sabotage‘;  Agencies gave hints a week ago; PM orders effective action; Regular salary to stop unrest in RMG sector: Pannalists tell BBC sanglap; 2 killed, 100 hurt as police fire into RMG workers; Take actions RMG authorities: PM asks home ministry; BGMEA senses sabotage

Knitexpo kicks off tomorrow

Knitwear manufacturers are going to host the three-day fifth Knitexpo-09 tomorrow with an aim to get a huge response from buyers. Fazlul Hoque, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), told a press briefing yesterday that the exhibition will be held at Sheraton hotel to showcase different apparel items. “So far, we have confirmed participation of 139 international buyers in the show,” Hoque said. He said one of the purposes of holding such an exhibition is to offset the bad impact of global recession in the domestic apparel sector. The knitwear export declined 3.26 percent in August compared with the same month of the last fiscal year, Hoque said. [The Daily Star, 01 November 2009]

Climate Talks: EU parliament body team arrives today

An eight-member delegation of the European Parliamentary Committee on Development today arrives at Dhaka on a three-day visit to discuss overall impact of climate change with policy makers and international partners of the country. The delegation will also discuss other issues related to climate change, especially its impacts on food security in this country. Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nirj Deva leads the delegation. Four other MEPs and three officials comprise the team. The European Union (EU) gives high priority to the climate change issue and is committed to help the countries on the front row battle the consequences, said Nirj Deva ahead of the visit. [The Daily Star, 01 November 2009]

9 British MPs due today

Nine British MPs from the three main parties arrive in the capital today for a weeklong visit to Bangladesh. The International Development Committee, chaired by Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce, is scrutinising the UK’s aid partnership with Bangladesh and the work of the Department for International Development (DFID). The terms of reference are to review and assess the scale and scope of the UK development programme, with a particular focus on social services, work with local communities, climate change, governance, private sector and aid effectiveness. [The Daily Star, 01 November 2009]

30.10.2009, Friday

Climate Change victims: EU agrees on euro 100b for poor state

EU leaders have agreed to enter world climate talks arguing that poorer nations will need 100 billion euros a year by 2020 to tackle global warming, but failed to set levels for Europe’s contribution, a draft text said Friday. “The EU is ready to take its fair share of the global effort by setting an ambitious mitigation target, allowing for offsets and providing its fair share of public support,” said the text, drafted for a summit in Brussels, without saying how big that share might be. “The European Council endorses the (EU) commission estimate that the total net incremental costs of mitigation and adaptation in developing countries could amount to around 100 billion euros annually by 2020,” the draft said. [The Daily Star, 31 October 2009]

Team of EU parliament due tomorrow

An eight-member delegation of the European Parliamentary Committee on Development led by Nirj Deva MEP (UK) will come on a three-day visit to Bangladesh tomorrow. The delegation constitutes four Members of the European Parliament (MEP) Ms Franziska Keller (Germany), Niccolo Rinaldi (Italy), Jean Lambert (UK) and John Attard-Montalto (Malta) and three other officials. The delegation will discuss with policy makers in Bangladesh as well as its international partners the overall impact of climate change especially on food security in the country. A EU release said the climate change issue is of high importance to the European Union and it is committed to help the countries in the front row in the battle against climate change. [The Daily Star, 31 October 2009]

Govt adopts right tone with IMF, but needs to beware of inequity 

In a refreshingly rare show of pluck uncharacteristic of key government office bearers, especially as far as multilateral lending agencies are concerned, the current finance minister, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, lashed out at the reservations expressed by a visiting delegation of the International Monetary Fund. The delegation, while reviewing the state of the economy, had expressed strong disapproval about the substantial government subsidies for fuel and fertilisers. According to a report in New Age on Friday, the finance minister had told the delegation that in order to keep the economy stable and provide it with a firm footing, the government would continue to support key sectors that needed its assistance. [The Daily New Age, Editorial, 31 October 2009]

Lenders term PRSP II projections overambitious

International lenders have termed the present government’s projections on increasing infrastructural investment and the literacy rate, by implementing the second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, ‘quite overambitious’.    They expressed the above view in a meeting held late last month between them and the government’s representatives to discuss the draft of the PRSPII, titled ‘National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II’.    The NSAPR II includes five strategies – macro-economic management, enhancement of investment, infrastructural development for economic growth, social security and human resources development – for poverty reduction.    The lenders, led by head of the UK-based DFID Chris Austin, observed that the revised plan on poverty reduction strategy was particularly ambitious in term of delivery, according to the meeting’s minutes. [The Daily New Age, 31 October 2009]

Fix Tk.5000 as minimum wage for RMG workers

Speakers at a programme yesterday demanded steps to fix Tk 5,000 as the minimum wage for garments workers and implement the wage within the shortest possible of time. They placed the demand at a human chain formed by Bangladesh Centre for Workers’ Solidarity (BCWS) at Muktangan in the city. The speakers said RMG workers are facing a lot of problems in leading their life with their poor salaries, because the prices of essentials are increasing daily, adding that even they have to face starvation. Under the circumstances, it has become necessary to announce the minimum wage as Tk 5,000 for their survival as well as to protect the garment sector, they mentioned. Kalpana Akhter, executive director of BCWS, Babul Akhter, director, Nasrin Akhter, finance secretary, and Shakhawat Hossain, coordinator of a BCWS project, spoke. [The Daily Star, 31 October 2009]

Take steps to implement National Education Policy

Speakers at a discussion yesterday called on the government to initiate the process of implementation of the National Education Policy 2009 based on the broader consensus of opinions on this issue. A vested quarter has been running a smear campaign against the policy in order to foil the government’s effort to implement the policy, they said urging the countrymen to be united against such campaigns so that a modern, timely, scientific and realistic policy can be formulated. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) organised the discussion titled ‘National education policy-2009: Review and call for implementation’ at Shaheed Col Taher Auditorium in the city. JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu MP said the new policy is a realistic proposal for ensuring a modern, timely and scientific education system of the country, though there is some incompleteness in it. [The Daily Star, 31 October 2009]

29.10.2009, Thursday

Climate Chagne: PM for UN body to monitor impacts

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for forming an international committee through United Nations to oversee the impacts of climate change on different countries and expedite the efforts for rehabilitating the victims of global warming. She made the proposal while talking to visiting French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Planning Jean-Louis Borloo at her office yesterday. The minister during the meeting conveyed French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s “special greetings and respects” to Sheikh Hasina, her press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said after the meeting. In reply, the Bangladesh prime minister also conveyed her respects to the French president. Sheikh Hasina, who is also vocal in various global forums for a coordinated global combat against the hazards of climate change, emphasised united global effort to tackle the challenges from the climate change caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

Future trial of BDR under army act

The government is planning to issue a gazette notification stating that any future mutiny and other offences in paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) will be tried under the army act. Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder confirmed The Daily Star that the matter has been under the government’s consideration. Meanwhile, highly placed sources said the government already drafted the gazette and will finalise its content today at a meeting in the law minister’s official residence. The move came as the BDR headquarter in its recent proposal to the home ministry had said the gazette notification is very necessary prior to the start of the trial process of the recent mutineers, which is likely to start early next month. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

$5.4m climate adaptation project launched

The government along with United Nations Development Programme launched yesterday the first ever climate change adaptation project of $5.4 million at the city’s Ban Bhaban in Agargaon.At the workshop organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Department of Forests and UNDP Bangladesh, the four-year long “Community-based adaptation to climate change through coastal afforestation in Bangladesh” project was undertaken. The project focuses on coastal afforestation and diversifications of employment, which is a top priority in the National Adaptation Programme of Action for climate change. An aim of the project is to plant mangrove trees on coastal areas in five districts–Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Noakhali and Chittagong–that would help prevent the areas from inundation, building up a natural embankment. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

PM to lead delegation to CHOGM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago from November 27-29 where the global challenges of climate change, poverty and financial crisis will be discussed. The 3-day summit will be held in the city of Port of Spain with the participation of 53 member states to discuss the current global and Commonwealth issues and the collective policies and initiatives. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

IMF warns of double-digit inflation

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday warned Bangladesh that excess liquidity and resurgent international commodity and food prices might push inflation to double-digit levels by year-end. “Food and commodity prices are showing a rising trend. If global recovery takes place strongly, the price may go up further,” Masato Miyazaki, adviser for Asia and Pacific Department of IMF, told reporters in a news briefing at the central bank. A four-member IMF mission led by Miyazaki visited Bangladesh from October 26-29 to conduct the annual Article IV consultation discussions with Bangladesh authorities. The mission also issued a statement at the conclusion of its work yesterday. The Article IV of IMF Mission provides fielding of an economic mission in member countries annually to discuss economic development progress and constraints. Besides sluggish demand for investment, the mission chief said inflows of huge remittances also resulted in a rise in liquidity in Bangladesh. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

Entrepreneurs seek alternative energy policy: Seventy companies showcase solar products at four-day fair in Dhaka

Entrepreneurs yesterday suggested the government make right policy and pricing for renewable energy, as investment is pouring into the sector to meet demand for power. The potential of renewable energy might not be harnessed if the government and the private sector do not make proper policy and pricing for renewable energy products and spare parts, they said. The suggestions were made at a roundtable on ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ on the sidelines of a four-day fair on renewable energy and its technology at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka. The government should consider alternative sources of energy, such as renewable energy, as an insufficient supply of energy is one of the major obstacles to boosting the economic growth of Bangladesh, said Feroz Rahim, managing director of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd.

Copenhagen climate Talks: take leadership for LDCs to get maximum benefit: French deputy PM tells Dhaka

Visiting French Deputy Prime Minister Jean-Louis Borloo yesterday said Bangladesh should take the leadership in the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December so that the least developed countries (LDCs) get maximum allocation to the fund to be created at the climate talks. Talking to Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque at his secretariat office, Borloo assured that his country would give Bangladesh all kinds of support to get the fund and fight the impacts of climate change and global warming. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

Global Climate Change: Frame policy to face impacts

Speakers at a seminar yesterday urged the government to formulate appropriate policy to face the adverse impacts of global climate change and warming. They also stressed the need for strong alliance of the least developing countries (LDCs) to keep pressure on the developed nations to reduce emission of carbon dioxide. The seminar titled ‘Climate change and its impact on Bangladesh’ was organised by the local office of Press Information Department (PID) at a city hotel. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

BNP meet with foreign diplomates Sunday

BNP, the main opposition in the parliament, is likely to host a tea party in honor of foreign diplomats working in Bangladesh on Sunday, party sources said. Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also leader of the opposition, is expected to attend the party, which would be organised by her foreign affairs sub-committee at a Gulshan restaurant. Party insiders said the BNP chairperson may draw the attention of the foreign diplomats regarding the country’s latest situation though the party did not make any formal announcement regarding the programme. Leaders of the BNP, which faced a humiliating defeat in December 29 election, have often alleged that the leaders, workers and supporters are being tortured and repressed across the country since the polls. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

Stem terror financing, ensure good governance in NGO sector

Representatives from government and non-government organisations yesterday called for concerted efforts to combat terror financing and establish good governance in the NGO sector. “To rein in terror financing and monitor NGO activities, Bangladesh Bank has already taken some measures and instructed all the public and private banks to keep strict vigilance on suspicious transaction,” said Mohammad Abdur Rab, assistant director, anti-money laundering department of the central bank, at a view exchange meeting. The meeting on ‘Problems regarding good governance in the NGO sector and solutions’ was jointly organised by NGO Affairs Bureau, Manusher Jonno, BRAC, Oxfam and Transparency International Bangladesh at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital. Presenting a paper on ‘An overview on financing of extremism: vulnerability of NGO sector in Bangladesh’, Abdur Rab stressed the need to engage the law enforcement agencies to track the suspicious transactions and the persons or groups involved. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

C’wealth needs reform for playing due role

Commonwealth needs reform and modernisation so that it can play its due role in alleviating poverty, strengthening democracy and combating climate change, said the diplomats, academics and youth leaders at a roundtable yesterday. They stressed on a collective approach to face the challenges of global climate change, poverty and financial crisis ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that would be held in Trinidad and Tobago from November 27-29. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the Bangladesh Delegation at the summit. Media Initiative for Public Policy (MIPP) organised the roundtable titled ‘Modernisation and Reform of the Commonwealth’ at a city hotel. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

Padma Bridge construction to end by 2013

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said pre-qualification tender from firms for construction of the Padma Bridge will be invited at the beginning of 2010 and the construction will be completed by 2013. The minister said this to journalists at his secretariat office yesterday. Earlier, Japanese envoy in Bangladesh Tamotsu Sihinotsuka and JICA Chief Reprehensive in Bangladesh Dr Takao Toda met with the communications minister at his office. The communications minister said he urged Japan to continue its assistance in communications sector and the Japanese side gave a positive response. [The Daily Star, 30 October 2009]

28.10.2009, Wednesday

Shelve MRP, go for e-passport

A parliamentary body yesterday asked the government to cancel the machine-readable passport (MRP) project and introduce electronic passports instead to save public money. The parliamentary standing committee on planning ministry made a set of recommendations including relocation of Kamalapur railway station to Tongi to ease gridlock in the capital. Committee Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, also chief of Liberal Democratic Party, unveiled the recommendations before reporters at his office at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban following a committee meeting. [The Daily Star, 29 October 2009]

Govt plans sky rail for Dhaka: PM unveils measures to contain traffic jam

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government plans to construct elevated and underground railways, flyovers, orbital waterways, and circular roads in and around the capital to ease traffic congestion and to solve transport problems. Replying to lawmakers’ queries in the parliament, the premier said the government took up a project to upgrade Zia International Airport, construction of a bridge linking the Aarong point at Tejgaon and the Gulshan Shooting Club point, and a coordinated development project in Hatirjheel area. She said the government also took steps to keep the Buriganga river and its adjacent lands free from encroachment. For reducing the problems caused by air pollution in the capital, the government took measures to gradually remove from roads automobiles aged over 20 years. “The program for increasing the number of buses to carry large numbers of passengers is now at the final stage. Numbers of three wheelers and other small transports will gradually be reduced,” she said. The premier said the activities of mobile courts will continue, and bus bays and parking spots will be designated in the city. [The Daily Star, 29 October 2009]

Smile, hope all over: Farmers in Monga prine Nilphamari see end to their misaries, hervesting new lean session rice

The villagers of Laxmichap under Nilphamari sadar are over the moon unlike the time in the past when Monga (seasonal and localised famine) cast the long dark shadows of suffering with wholesale unemployment and mass exodus to towns turning the village into a bleak landscape. Once Monga compelled a large number of villagers, mainly farm labourers and marginal farmers, to leave for other districts to forage for food and jobs during the lean period of October-November. Quite contrary to this feature, people are now passing hectic time with harvesting the newly invented variety of aman rice and selling them in the markets as their misery suddenly disappeared. The short-duration varieties like BRRI dhan-33, and BINA dhan-7 developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) brought smiles on the faces of these marginal farmers. The inhabitants of Laxmichap are now celebrating the metamorphosis of Kartik (a Bengali calendar month), known as “Mora Kartik” in the North. [The Daily Star, 29 October 2009]

27.10.2009, Tuesday

New rice tames Monga: Two short-duration varieties bring relief to marginal famers, farm labourers in greater

Gone are the days when Monga (seasonal and localised famine) used to stalk the landless farm labourers and marginal farmers of five northern districts during the lean period of October-November each year. Thanks to modern rice science that has bred short-duration varieties like BRRI dhan-33 and BINA dhan-7 much to the relief of over 37 lakh hard-hit poor, who have now started saying goodbye to Monga. Both the high yielding rice varieties (HYVs) mature in 115 days and can be harvested at least a month before the other HYV — BR11– that farmers have been growing so far during aman season. [The Daily Star, 28 October 2009]

Solar irrigation pumps on cards

Grameen Shakti and Nahean Enterprise, a concern of MAKS Group of Companies, have teamed up to introduce solar-based irrigation pump system, says a statement yesterday. An agreement was signed in this regard between the two companies. Grameen Shakti will purchase the Lorentz solar irrigation pumps, made by Germany’s Bernt Lorentz GmbH & Company KG, from Nahean Enterprise. With maintenance costs much lower than the fuel based irrigation system, these solar-based irrigation pumps can ensure continuous irrigation in those areas of the country where there is no electricity, added the statement. [The Daily Star, 28 October 2009]

Commerce minister off to Nepal

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan left here for Nepalese capital Katmandu Tuesday to attend the 4th meeting of Safta Ministerial Council, beginning today. Enhancement of trade among Saarc-member countries under Safta agreement, Saarc economic cooperation, latest progress of Saarc Framework Agreement on Trade in Services Negotiation, non-tariff barriers and reduction of duty rate are likely to be discussed in the meeting. The minister, who is leading a six-member home delegation, is expected to return home today. [The Daily Star, 28 October 2009]

Indo-US deal soon to liberalise trade, investment

India and the United States will expedite framework of an agreement to liberalise bilateral trade and investment and cooperate in intellectual property rights (IPR). The decision was taken at a meeting visiting US Trade Representative Ron Kirk had with Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma here on Monday. “We will work on a framework on cooperation for trade and investment and two agreements on IPR and traditional knowledge digital library”, Sharma told media persons here. He said the deals will be signed soon but there is timeline for it. [The Daily Star, 28 October 2009]

Dhaka to build capacity to fight cliamte change: IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) wants Bangladesh to enhance its capacity to negotiate a long-term cooperative action to manage the adverse impacts of climate change, says an IUCN release. “Bangladesh is already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate. We must take an active role in building Bangladesh’s capacity to negotiate a long-term cooperative action to manage the adverse impacts of climate change,” said IUCN Asia’s Senior Adviser on Climate Change Dr Ainun Nishat yesterday. The famed environmentalist was speaking at a consultative meeting at Biam auditorium in the city where experts from across the country gathered in the lead up to the December global climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark. [The Daily Star, 28 October 2009]

China to increase aid in dev sectors: envoy tells food minister

The Chinese government would increase its assistance for different development sectors, including agriculture and communication infrastructure, of Bangladesh. Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Zhang Xianyi made the remarks during a meeting with Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque while he was handing over a cheque for Tk 10 lakh for helping Aila-hit people at the ministry yesterday. [The Daily Star, 28 October 2009]

26.10.2009, Monday

Dhaka pushes for SAARC Food Bank

Bangladesh desires Saarc Food Bank to be effective as soon as possible and the central banks of the region to frame monetary policies to boost food production and accessibility to fight climate change impacts. We are at a critical moment due to frequent natural catastrophes. Saarc Food Bank is an opportune concept to practise humanity since the countries of the region have serious food shortage. Such food bank enhances confidence,” said Finance Minister AMA Muhith. The minister was addressing the inaugural phase of finance governors’ symposium styled “Food Security: the role of Saarc central banks” organised by the Bangladesh Bank at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. Central bank officials from the Saarc countries attended the daylong programme. [The Daily Star, 27 October 2009].   More: The Daily New Age, Food Security: SAARC Central Bank Chiefs stress market interventions

200m more people go hungry: FAO:::: Developing world paying more for food

Most of the developing world is paying more for food despite drops in commodity market prices during the global economic slowdown, with 200 million people joining the ranks of the hungry in the past two years, the UN World Food Programme said Monday. The agency’s executive director Josette Sheeran blamed climate change, escalating fuel costs and falling incomes. She said the number of “urgently hungry” had now reached its highest ever 1.02 billion. “One out of six people in humanity will wake up not sure that they can even fill a cup of food,” Sheeran told reporters. “We have to make no mistake that hunger is on the march.”

Deals signed with ADB to get bailout fund 
The secretary of the Economic Relations Division, M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, and the country director of the ADB’s Bangladesh Mission, Paul J. Heytens, signed the loan agreements at ERD in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city on Monday.    The board of directors of the Manila-based lending agency approved on October 13 a loan of $500 million under the countercyclical support facility and three loans totaling $244 million under the public expenditure support facility for Bangladesh. The government on Monday signed four agreements with the Asian Development Bank to access a package of loans amounting to $744 million for overcoming impacts of global recession on Bangladesh and implementing public policy reforms. [The Daily New Age, 27 October 2009]. More: The Daily Star, 27 October 2009::: ADB signs $744m recovery fund

WFP assures Bangaldesh of more food aid

The World Food Programme (WFP) has assured Bangladesh of providing more food assistance for social safety net programmes to help the poor. WFP Deputy Director Staffan de Mistura gave the assurance during a meeting with Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque in the city yesterday, says a food ministry press release. The minister said the government had to spend a huge amount of money on social safety nets for the vulnerable people, which ultimately hamper other development activities. [The Daily Star, 27 October 2009]

Maternity allowance scheme plays major role in poverty cut

Women who are receiving maternity allowance under the government’s social safety net have a prominent role in decision-making level in the family, revealed a recent study. The study also said the nutrition required for safe childbirth are being fulfilled. The number of mothers visiting clinics has also increased as well as the number of pregnant women receiving vaccines, it added. Conducted on a random sample of 104 extremely poor pregnant women both under the government social safety net of maternity allowance and mothers not receiving the allowance, the study concluded that the maternity allowance scheme would play a major role in eliminating poverty. Carried out by researchers at Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP), the result of the study was revealed at a discussion at the National Press Club yesterday. [The Daily Star, 27 October 2009]

Budget preparation begins December

Officials said the parliament might discuss issues related to supplementary budget nearly one month before the placement of new budget in next June.   The present government started the budget preparation process for the current fiscal in February.    It has to convene the budget preparation meetings with ministries and divisions ahead of schedule to facilitate sufficient discussion on supplementary budget by the members of parliament, said its officials.
The finance ministry is going to begin the next fiscal budget preparation process in December, two months earlier than the previous year’s schedule. [The Daily New Age, 27 October 2009]

Draft health policy draws criticism

Mahbuba Zannat

The draft National Health Policy-2009 suggests ‘user fee’ to be given by the patients for getting health services from public hospitals, which the health experts describe as a blatant attempt to commercialise the health sector.

The health experts strongly criticised the draft health policy saying that imposing the ‘user fee’ would deprive poor people of their health rights at public hospitals and ultimately force them to seek health services from the private sector.

Public hospitals provide health services without making any profit. So, why does the policy suggest realising user fee, they ask.

25.10.2009, Sunday

Aila victims sink deeper: woes of waterlogged victims compounded as they slip out of spotlight; thousands still live on embankments aid flow stopped

Lutfar Gazi doesn’t even tries to recall that disastrous day when cyclone Aila ripped through the area he lives and wrecked havoc on his life in May this year. Since then he is too busy struggling to cope with the plight with little time to look back to his past. Staring blank at the Kobadak river that left him homeless, he tries to figure out in vain how to maintain his family with no source of income and no-one for his rescue. He was a resident of Shora-9 under Gabura union in Shyamnagar upazila, which was one of the worst cyclone-hit areas in Satkhira. In the last four months he knocked door to door to make a living for his six-member family. But eventually he returned to his family with the ’solution’ of starvation every now and then. In a worn-out, makeshift shack on the embankment, Lutfar now spends most of his time thinking of a living but only sees a bleak future ahead. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

Public Procurement: Govt to leave the act alone

Pressurised by developing partners including the World Bank, the finance minister has moved to restore in Public Procurement Act the previously dropped provision for having prior experience and discontinue the lottery system for getting government work up to Tk 2 crore. A cabinet meeting had recently dropped the provision and included the lottery system in the act. A few senior colleagues of Finance Minister AMA Muhith, however, raised objection to the move at a meeting yesterday, but no decision was finalised. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

Nuke agreement with Russia signed: Deal aims at setting up power plant

Bangladesh signed with Russia a protocol deal on cooperation in the field of peaceful usage of atomic energy as the country plans to install a nuclear power plant. The agreement was signed in the Russian capital, Moscow, on October 21 during the visit of a nine-member Bangladesh delegation headed by State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafesh Osman, according to a message received here yesterday. M Neazuddin Miah, additional secretary of the Ministry of Science and ICT of Bangladesh, and Mikhail N Lysenko, director of the State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” of Russia, signed the accord on behalf of their respective governments. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

ETP issue irks apparel buyers

A delay in setting up effluent treatment plants (ETPs) is annoying international apparel buyers as they have been putting pressure on manufacturers over the years to make products following internationally recognised compliances, industry insiders said. Although most of the apparel factories are already following other compliance issues like avoiding child labour in line with the demand of the buyers, very few have set up ETPs until now, said an international buyer requesting anonymity. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

German delegation seeks shipbuilding partnership

A visiting German business delegation yesterday expressed its interest in forming a sustainable, long-term partnership in shipbuilding and other sectors in Bangladesh. “German companies operate with long-term perspective, including transfer of technology and know-how and involvement of local partners in value creation,” said Peter Clasen, head of the visiting delegation of OAV-German Asia-Pacific Business Association. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

Govt urged to run EPB, BoI under private management

Industrial entrepreneurs yesterday called upon the government to immediately improve the supply of gas and power, and law and order situation to attract domestic and foreign investments. Entrepreneurs, businesspeople and their leaders also urged the government to run Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Board of Investment (BoI) under private management, as they said these business promotion bodies are unable to perform under public management. They also expressed concerns over the high cost of business and the risks of losing competitiveness due to poor infrastructure and performance of Chittagong Port. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

Ineterview: WB promises to fact-track credit

Bangladesh will get increased access to The World Bank’s funding and the lending amount may be more than for many other countries, said Robert L Floyd, interim country director of the World Bank, Bangladesh. The World Bank (WB) has taken up internal reform plans to make its lending more efficient. With these reforms in place, accessing WB credit will be faster and more flexible. The bank is also ready to help Bangladesh recover from the impact of the global economic crisis along with other poor countries. Its new strategies to reallocate the unused IDA (International Development Association) credit for a specific project to other projects within the country will also help Bangladesh access the bank’s fund. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

Govt to fix price limit for food grains

The government will fix a price limit for food grains in the food procurement policy to make sure that farmers get due profits and produce adequate crops to cut dependency on food import, Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque said yesterday. “We must help farmers keep their interest to grow more food grains. For this, we shall fix the highest and lowest price. If anyone crosses the limit, the government will make market intervention,” he said. Razzaque said this while presiding over a discussion at the ministry on domestic food procurement policy, procedures, problems and prospects. [The Daily Star, 26 October 2009]

 

24.10.2009, Saturday

Raise realistic fund for climate Change: Hasina asks int’l community to wake up to reality, recect all myopic practices

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for establishing a realistic fund for Bangladesh and other least developed and developing countries for their climate change requirements. Addressing the European Development Days 2009 events, she said the financing to the climate victim nations should not be loans, and the scale of finance should be revised with changes in the adaptation needs. She also urged the international community to reject all myopic, self-centred discords, reject the culture of excess and waste, to embrace one another’s responsibility, burden, prosperity, and live in harmony within the planet’s capacity. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Money now rules JMB recruitment

Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh is now providing money along with motivation to entice new recruits in the banned outfit. In the past, only motivation would do the trick but now it has changed its recruitment strategy, said law enforcers dealing with the militants. The dawati (invitation) unit of the outfit first select young simpletons from ultra poor families in rural areas or by visiting mosques. After that the militants get close to the target people and start discussing about Jihad. “If the targets respond positively the JMB operatives start giving them some religious books, particularly those on Jihad. They also give them a certain monthly amount to gain their confidence and slowly make them dependent on the outfit,” said a senior official of the Rapid Action Battalion intelligence wing. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Cor Rashid’s daughter held for blast link

Police yesterday arrested the eldest daughter of Col (retd) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, a fugitive condemned to death in Bangabandhu murder case, for suspected links to Wednesday’s bomb attack on Awami League lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh. The Detective Branch picked up Khandaker Mehnaz Rashid from her father’s residence at Gulshan-2 in the morning. Later in the day, a court placed her on a five-day remand. Mehnaz is the second to be arrested from among the families of convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Earlier on Thursday, police held Kamrul Haque Swapan, younger brother of Major (retd) Shariful Haq Dalim. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

August 15 culprits attacked Taposh

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said those who were behind the August 15, 1975 tragedy, hurled bomb on Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh to kill him. Addressing a reception arranged by Bangladeshi expatriates in Sweden at the Hallunda Folkethus in the Swedish capital on Friday evening, she categorically said whoever the attackers, they would be identified through fair investigation and brought to book immediately. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Zia helped Rashid’s family after killing

Late president Ziaur Rahman used to pay $100 a day to the family of Lt Col (retd) Khondker Abdur Rashid as hotel expenses in Thailand on their way to Libya following the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15 in 1975, Rashid’s eldest daughter yesterday disclosed. Wife of Bangabandhu’s self-proclaimed killer Rashid and his four daughters were sent to Thailand in late September 1975 where they stayed in a hotel for several months, said Assistant Commissioner Ali Akbar quoting Rashid’s daughter Mehnaz Rashid. She divulged the information to Detective Branch officials during a preliminary interrogation following her arrest early yesterday in connection with Wednesday’s bomb attack on ruling Awami League lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Torture on Jouno: Prosecute Rab men, Rights body asks govt

The Bangladesh government should prosecute the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) officers who arrested and tortured FM Masum, a journalist of the daily New Age, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday. In a statement, the New York-based watchdog said the new government had promised to put an end to abuses by the paramilitary law enforcement agency long implicated in tortures and the extra judicial killings termed “crossfire”. But the government is yet to take any action in this regard. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

US wants deeper ties with Dhaka to fight militancy

The United States intends to deepen relations with Dhaka in combating terrorism in view of Bangladesh’s growing exposure to “extremist groups”, a US embassy spokesman said in the city yesterday. “We hope to work with Bangladesh’s police to help build capacity to fight crime and build stronger ties with local communities,” he said when asked for comments on a recent newspaper report saying Washington to offer increased assistance to fight militancy in the country. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Govt paying way for its fall: Says Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night said the present government will have to step down before completing its tenure. “A movement against the government is already underway over its education policy and the fifth amendment to the constitution. Government itself paved the way for the movement,” she said at a meeting with the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Lawyers’ Forum, a pro-BNP organisation, at her Gulshan office. Khaleda said BNP will articulate its strong stance against all conspiracies against the nation after the party’s national council slated for December 8. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Call to save rivers

Environmentalist groups held different programmes yesterday demanding to free Buriganga river and other canals from grabbers and pollution and to cut green house gases and to ensure compensation to the people of coastal area. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) demanded containing greenhouse gas emission below 350 ppm – the danger level. The speakers in a citizen’s rally in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh with its president Prof Muzaffer Ahmed demanded adopting a resolution on making the emission limit mandatory for all countries at the United Nations’ Copenhagen Conference to be held in December. “They [the Awami League] want to change the country’s map instead of changing the fate of the people. But the people are now united to resist this conspiracy,” she said. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Coal, Power Plant: Road shows mulled to woo investors

The government plans to stage road shows in London, New York and Singapore in early December to attract investors for several of its large power projects including 2,000-megawatt coal-fired power plants. The Power Development Board (PDB) sent a proposal in this regard to the power ministry earlier this month suggesting the show may be held in mid-November. “But now it looks like the shows cannot be held before early December,” said a top PDB official. The power projects include four 500 MW coal-fired projects, Meghnaghat phase two 450 MW, Bibiyana phase two 450 MW and Bhola 150 MW projects. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Convention of Protection committee: Frame new law to halt export of oil gas

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports yesterday demanded formulation of a new law to stop export of oil, gas and coal resources to foreign countries or companies. The leaders of the committee also called for strengthening Petrobangla and Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) for exploring gas, oil and coal in the country. They placed the demand at the national convention of the committee at the Institution of Engineers in the city. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

German delegation arrives today

A 20-member German business delegation arrives in Dhaka today, the first visit of European shipbuilders to Bangladesh. The delegation, comprising representatives from shipbuilding, engineering and energy sectors, is expected to explore the potential of booming sectors such as shipbuilding and IT, on a six-day visit. OAV-German Asia Pacific Business Association organised the visit in cooperation with Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the German embassy in Dhaka. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Bangladesh Bank inject Tk. 200 crore into housing scheme

Bangladesh Bank Housing Refinance Scheme, a popular housing project, is going to get Tk 200 crore in fresh fund, as it has nearly exhausted the entire amount of Tk 500 crore. “It’s a good project. We’re going to inject Tk 200 crore into the project … it’ll continue,” Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman told the news agency. The fresh fund is being pumped into the project amid increasing demand for the housing loan by the middle class. The central bank launched the refinancing scheme initially with Tk 300 crore for housing loan in fiscal 2007-08. Later, the fund was increased to Tk 500 crore. Under the scheme, borrowers are entitled to loans of up to Tk 20 lakh at a 9 percent interest rate for 20 years. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

Law for welfare of persons with disablities soon: Azad

Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday said the government would create every opportunity for the welfare of persons with disabilities so that they could move freely on the roads and lead a dignified life in society, says a press release. A law will be enacted for the welfare of the disabled suiting the needs of the time, he added. The minister said this as the chief guest at the handover ceremony of Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal-2008 at Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) auditorium in the city. The life and deeds of Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah will remain as a source of inspiration to the new generation, Azad said, adding that his high ideals should be spread among them. He formally handed over the award to Valerie Ann Taylor, founder of the Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) at the function. [The Daily Star, 25 October 2009]

 23.10.2009, Friday

War Crimes Trail, Campaigners frustrated as govt drags its feet: Political and human rights campaigners, who fought for years together for realising the demand for holding war crimes trial, have been frustrated by the ‘go-slow’ policy of the Awami League-led alliance government despite its electoral pledge to put war criminals in the dock. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]
 

PM urges Sweden to import lether, ceramics products: The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has urged the Swedish government to import leather and ceramic products, pharmaceuticals and ships from Bangladesh.  The prime minister made the request when the Swedish minister for trade, Ewa Bjorling, paid a call on her at her suite at the Grand Hotel in the Swedish capital Friday afternoon. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

Security beefs up across country: Security was tightened across the country on Friday, especially at the key-point installations and sensitive establishments, after the government banned operation of Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh on Thursday.    The government on Thursday banned all activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh in the interests of public security. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

Tortured on Masum decried: Judicial inquiry demanded: Various national and international organisations on Friday strongly decried inhuman torture by the Rapid Action Battalion on New Age staff correspondent FM Masum.The RAB 10 team on Thursday had tortured severely Masum in his rented house and in detention in the unit’s headquarters for about 10 hours and a half.[The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

  RAB expresses regret, starts inquiry: The Rapid Action Battalion in a statement on Friday regretted the ‘unwarranted incident’ that had taken place with New Age staff correspondent FM Masum on Thursday when the battalion was conducting a raid to arrest some drug peddling suspect.[The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

Khaleda denounces RAB torture on Masum: The BNP chairperson and leader of the opposition in parliament, Khaleda Zia, has denounced the torture on New Age staff correspondent FM Masum by members of the Rapid Action Battalion.    ’The country’s situation has deteriorated to such a level that journalists are also being tortured by law-enforcers,’ she said in a statement on Friday. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]
NCTB moves to assess needs after printing textbooks: The National Curriculum and Textbook Board, which on Sunday claimed most of the textbooks had been printed by the time, on earlier October 5 formed a three-member committee to assess the quantity of papers that would be needed to print the textbooks for the 2010 academic year. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

 

Cooperatives miss out on govt priorities: Most of the cooperatives have become non-functional for want of policy supports although hundreds of crores of taka are allocated every year in the budget to promote collective ownership for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

Maritime boundary arbitration: Yangoon frustrated with Dhaka’s decision: Myanmar is disappointed as Bangladesh decided to take the maritime boundary delimitation issue to arbitration at the United Nations instead of finding a negotiated settlement, but ruled out any military move over the dispute.    As India and Myanmar have started developing their offshore resources, the Bangladesh government opted for arbitration, Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka Phae Thann OO told UNB in an exclusive interview at a time when reports are rife about tension on the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

Attack on Tapash: Two placed on 8 days remand : A Dhaka court Friday remanded Kamrul Haque Swapan and Abdur Rahim into police custody for eight days in connection with the bomb attack on Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.    Swapan, brother of Shariful Haque Dalim, a convict on death row in Sheikh Mujib murder case and Freedom Party leader Abdur Rahim were arrested Thursday in connection with the bomb attack that damaged the car of Taposh Wednesday evening and left 12 injured Wednesday night at Motijheel. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

Abuses of mom’s may stunt kid’s growth: Children of abused mothers may be smaller at birth and show stunted early growth, according to research from Bangladesh.    Prior studies have shown that physical and sexual violence against women is associated with low birth weight of the offspring, as well as with an increased risk of early infant death.    To investigate further, Kajsa Asling-Monemi, at Uppsala University in Sweden, and colleagues determined the birth weight of 3,164 children and followed their early growth patterns until they were 2 years old.    Their mothers – 4,436 altogether – were mostly married and not employed. They were 26 years old on average at the start of the study. [The Daily New Age, 24 October 2009]

22.10.2009, Thursday

Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank in RDRS Seminar at Rangpur: Poverty and Climate Change is a inter-related issue. Poverty increases due to changing the climate. Rich Countries must pay compensation to Bangladesh for climate change, because they are absolutely responsible for climate change. He also said, Bangladesh Bank ready to provide loan for agriculture and Bio-gas Plant. Bangladesh Bank allocated Tk.200 crore for Bio-gas plant.  [The Daily Ittefaq, 22 October 2009]

FAO Head claims to produce 70% more Food Grain within 2050: FAO Head Jackuous Dieuf claims that the world would have to produce 70 percent more food grain within 2050 to feed the increasing number of hungry people. He said , now the number of hungry people in the globe 100 crore; Last years added more 10 crore 50 lac. He suggested to rich countries to provide financial assistance to poor nations to increase their agricultural production and productivity. [More: The Daily Ittefaq, 22 October 2009]

Sufferings of illegal migrants to Maldives: 30 thousands Bangladeshi travelled Maldives with tourist visas and stayed there. They are suffering more there due to illegal migrants that will hamper image of Bangladesh. Taking the opportunity of on arival visa by Maldives, some recruiting agencies conduct these illegal business. [More: The Daily Ittefaq, 22 October 2009]

Dhaka to ask Male to Regularise workers: The government will raise the issue of regularising an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 unauthorised Bangladeshis with the Maldives. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

WB interests to support in Export Infrustructure Development Project (EIDP): [More: The Daily Ittefaq, 22 October 2009]

9000 Monga-hit women to get training, jobs: The government with the support of the World Bank (WB) would provide 9000 women of the Monga-hit northern districts with training and jobs in the garment sector, Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said yesterday. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

AL Lawmaker Taposh escapes bomb attack: Assailants hurled a bomb at ruling Awami League lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh’s car in front of his law chamber at Motijheel last night leaving at least 13 people injured. MP Taposh survived the incident. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

BGMEA seeks policy support to raise competitiveness: BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy yesterday said the country’s apparel industry suffered a negative growth since June this year and sought the government’s policy support to increase its competitiveness in the international market. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

RMG workers go berserk: Several hundred garment workers, demanding arrears, vandalised a factory at Hajipara in the capital and barricaded the DIT Road disrupting traffic for over an hour yesterday morning. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

BDR Mutiny, Trial in 6 Divisional courts by early Nov: Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said six separate courts would be constituted in six divisional headquarters to begin Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny trial at the end of this month or beginning of November. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

Delwar urges president to bring parties to dialogue: Welcoming the president’s call for unity on national interest, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday urged the President to bring all political parties in discussion table on the national issues. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

People should get direct assistance after disaster: A certain portion of the Multi-donor Trust Fund meant to face impacts of climate change should be earmarked for disaster management and immediate help for the affected people after disasters, Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said yesterday. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

36pc women say `wife beating justified’: A large number of women who are the worst victims of spousal violence believe that husbands have the right to beat up their wives if they neglect their children, argue with husbands or disobey the elders, specially mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law, revealed a government survey recently. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

Govt farm to implement RTI law: The government will meet all the challenges to implementing the Right to Information (RTI) law, lawmaker Shahriar Alam said at a seminar yesterday. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

Huji man Obaida shown arrested in Sylhet case: Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) member Abu Obaida, charge sheeted in the case for murder attempt on Sheikh Hasina in Sylhet, has been shown arrested in Feni in one of the two cases now under trial at Sylhet courts. [The Daily Star, 22 October 2009]

20.10.2009, Saturday

Metro Rail and Express Way Project: Rejecting the communications ministry’s proposal for considering an unsolicited tender offer, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday okayed the ministry’s other recommendation for floating an open invitation for tenders for construction of a metro rail and an elevated expressway in the capital at an estimated cost of Tk 15,000 crore. More: the Daily Star, 21 October 2009

05.10.2009, Monday

Human development index: Bangladesh ranks slightly better

Bangladesh has moved two positions up to 146th place among 182 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) ranking but still holds the last position among South Asian nations, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report said yesterday. Human Development Report 2009, released worldwide yesterday, showed Bangladesh has been making progress in the category since 1980. The report titled “Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development” was revealed at a press conference at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel in the capital yesterday. This year Bangladesh has got 0.543 HDI value to secure 146th place. Norway has topped the list with 0.971 HDI value while Niger sits at the bottom with 0.340 HDI value, said the report.

Money transfer by mobile: The electronic transaction will be take off in six month

Money transfer is about to go digital in six months, as Bangladesh Bank has approved the launch of an electronic prepaid card system that will have a mobile payment option. The central bank permitted Trust Bank Ltd to act as a settlement bank for digital money transfer. “The Electronic Prepaid Card System will be a multiple bank,  multiple channel platform, where Trust Bank will act as the settlement bank,” BB said in a recent notice. With the card, a customer will be able to deposit and withdraw cash directly from ATMs and all other channels. A card will have a secret PIN to access the service. Also, the system allows an authorised user to transact by mobile. In case of foreign remittance, any amount could be withdrawn by prepaid card, but the amount is limited to a maximum of Tk 10,000 for now, Bangladesh Bank officials said.

Bangladesh to seek lower RMG tariff for US market

Ashuganj Feritliser counts Tk.6 lakhs in daily loss

Banks asked for progress reports on farm loan

Petrobangla starts talks with conoccophilips

Spain pledges 4b euros for IMF

Brazil switches roles with helping hand for IMF

04.10.2009, Sunday

Draft health policy draws criticism

The draft National Health Policy-2009 suggests ‘user fee’ to be given by the patients for getting health services from public hospitals, which the health experts describe as a blatant attempt to commercialise the health sector. The health experts strongly criticised the draft health policy saying that imposing the ‘user fee’ would deprive poor people of their health rights at public hospitals and ultimately force them to seek health services from the private sector. Public hospitals provide health services without making any profit. So, why does the policy suggest realising user fee, they ask.

Project for clean air begins: better air to save up to $500m health bill a year

A five-year long 71.2 million US dollars clean air project formally begins today to improve air quality in the capital and five other divisional cities. State Minister for Environment and Forest Hasan Mahmud will inaugurate the clean air and sustainable environment (CASE) project at a city hotel. The aim of the project is to improve air quality and safe mobility through better management of transport and application of clean technology in brick making industries. If people’s exposure to polluted air in Dhaka could be reduced by 20-80 percent, it would save health costs of 170-500 US dollars every year, Dr Mohammad Nasiruddin, project director of the CASE, said at a session on the project at a city hotel yesterday.

Poor countries hit hardest: WB tells of climate change

The developing world will suffer about 80 percent of the damage from climate change despite accounting for only around a third of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the World Bank said yesterday. “The damage of climate change, about 75 to 80 percent, will be suffered by developing countries although they only contribute about one third of greenhouse gases,” World Bank chief economist Justin Lin told reporters. Lin spoke in Istanbul, host city of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings this year, at the presentation of the World Bank’s new development report for 2010 entitled “Development and Climate Change.”

US pledges more aid to combat climate change

US Ambassador James F Moriarty yesterday said the US would provide Bangladesh with more assistance to face the impacts of climate change and global warming. Moriarty said this when he met State Minister for Environment and Forests Hasan Mahmud at the latter’s office. The US is now working for development of the areas affected by climate change under the project Integrated Protected Area Cooperation Management with the assistance of USAID in Bangladesh. Moriarty assured the state minister that the US assistance would be increased in this regard. The state minister informed the ambassador that Bangladesh needs $500 million on an emergency basis for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the areas affected by the climate change.

Dhaka wants Nepal, Bhutan in transit talk: says PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh wants to include Nepal and Bhutan in establishing the transit with India. Bangladesh raised the issue for inclusion of Nepal and Bhutan in the transit during the talks with India on different occasions in the past. The PM said this when visiting Economic Affairs Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk paid a call on her at her office in the capital yesterday morning. PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed the newsmen after the meeting. During the meeting, they discussed issues on bilateral interests, including expansion of trade and people-to-people contact between the two countries, and facing global warming and climate change.

Atiur spotlights downside of high remittance: BB chief speaks at Istanbul Forum

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman said yesterday high remittance inflows have created a liquidity overhang in the country’s financial markets and put strain on macroeconomic management. Dr Rahman’s comment on the downside of high inward remittances came in his speech to the Small States Forum 2009, sponsored by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, in Turkey’s biggest city of Istanbul. Growing remittance is a lifeline to Bangladesh, but it threatens to create risks of a bubble with a partial use of the funds in productive investment activities. “Rising labour migration and the attendant high remittance inflows are not altogether unmixed blessings. They pose some challenges to macroeconomic management that require careful handling,” said the central bank chief.

WB pledges to stand by Bangladesh

World Bank President Robert Zoellick yesterday assured Bangladesh of all-out cooperation in the country’s efforts to face the challenges of the global recession. Zoellick gave the assurance while talking to Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman at a session ahead of the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Istanbul. The Bangladesh Bank governor presented a keynote paper at the conference on “Strengthening Remittance Flows and Impact: Policies, Practices, Prospects” at Istanbul Congress Centre.

Britain, France mobilise $4b for poor countries

Britain and France said Saturday they would mobilise four billion dollars (2.7 billion euros) for poor countries by giving up part of a recent IMF allocation of an international reserve asset. “With this initiative, Britain and France show the necessary solidarity between nations…. I hope all countries that can do it will follow this initiative,” French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said in a statement. International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn welcomed the plan to help support the streamlined lending for poor countries, which he has called the “innocent victims” of a global crisis not of their making. “This is incredibly helpful for low-income countries,” Strauss-Kahn told reporters. “It’s a beginning and I hope that other countries including the richest countries in the world will follow the same route.”

Barua urges Bhutanese investment

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday urged Bhutan to come up with joint ventures investment in different fields, including textile engineering, information technology, pharmaceuticals and education. He said there is also scope for increasing cooperation in the sectors of skilled manpower, information technology and mineral resources and the opportunities could be tapped through bilateral and regional cooperation. The minister was talking to Bhutanese Finance Minister Khandu Wangchul at his secretariat office here. During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interests and also touched on the proposed trade policy of the present government.

03.10.2009, Saturday

Bhutan keen to FTA with Bangladesh

The Bhutanese economic affairs minister said his country is keen to make a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh to boost economic relation between the two countries, Lynopo Khandu Wang-chuk said this while speaking at a meeting with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the DCCI auditorium in the capital yesterday. [04 October 2009]

300m pound DFID support for poverty alleviation

The British donor agency, Department for International Development (DFID), is to provide £300 million assistance in next six years for reducing of poverty in Bangladesh. “The fund will be given from this year and onward,” DFID senior official Penny Davies told UNB yesterday. She said of the total fund, £ 50 million would be used  to tackle climate change impact. The rest will be used for different programmes, including employment generation and poverty reduction. [The Daily Star, 04 October 2009]

Extend long-term support to tackle climate change, Razzaque says to donors

Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque yesterday urged the donor agencies to provide long-term supports to Bangladesh to tackle climate change impacts and ensure its sustainable development. “The government seeks long-term financial support, not a little amount of donation, to tackle the climate change impacts,” he said recalling Cyclone Sidr’s devastating experience. The minister was addressing a seminar at the LGED auditorium in the city as the chief guest. Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and Brac Development Institute (BDI) jointly organised the seminar titled ‘Extreme poverty and graduation dynamics’. [The Daily Star, 04 October 2009]

 

02.10.2009, Friday

Mega Plan for 7,000 mw Power: Banks pladge part of $10b financing, Demand transparent bidding; govt seeks lower interest rates, long term lending

Bankers told the government Thursday though they were new in financing power projects, they were eager to provide a part of US 10 billion dollar required for implementing the power projects of around 7,000 megawatts (mw) in the next five years. The bankers instantly pledged more than Tk 1,500 crore loan for the upcoming 530-mw rental power projects at a meeting between the power ministry, power development board (PDB) and representatives of local and foreign banks and financial institutions. [The Daily Star, 03 October 2009]

01.10.2009, Thursday

Huji first to use hills: It set up training camps in early 1990’s, ran those till crackdown after aug 17 serial blasts in 2005

Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (Huji) was the first militant group to use the remote hill areas in Chittagong for arms training. t set up training camps in the hills in the early 90s. It packed up when the law enforcers began cracking down on the militants after Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh staged countrywide serial blasts on August 17, 2005. JMB, which used to have training facilities mainly in plains, however moved to hill forests. Militant camps in the hills have become an issue much-talked about with Rapid Action Battalion’s recent busting of a JMB camp in Khagrachhari. [The Daily Star, 02 October 2009]

Detained Lashkar man new chief: The Indian given charge aftr his 2 predecessors arrested

Detained Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Indian national Emadullah alias Mahbub alias Mamun had been overseeing trespassing of militants into Bangladesh and shipment of explosives. Emadullah who was arrested from the capital on Wednesday night uses at least nine pseudonyms to escape law enforcers’ dragnet, Detective Branch (DB) of police at a press conference at its office yesterday said. A case has been filed against him under the passport act. He will be produced before the court today seeking a 10-day remand. DB police said Emadullah became the Bangladesh chapter chief of Pakistan-based militant organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkatul Zihadia Islamia Azadia and Indian militant outfit Asif Reza Commando Force after the arrest of top two Taiba leaders and Indian nationals–Mufti Obaidullah alias Zafar and Maulana Monsur alias Habibullah in July from the capital. [The Daily Star, 02 October 2009]

 

30.09.2009, Wednesday

Target 7,000mw power in 5 years: Boday to map ways to raise $5-10b

The government yesterday formed a committee to sketch a rapid strategic plan to raise $5-10 billions which would help the country finance 7,000 MW electricity generation in next five years. The committee will frame the plan on how this fund can be raised, which authority would take care of it or under which law should it operate and address many other issues related to this first of its kind fund. Ziaul Hasan Siddique, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, will head the committee that was formed at a meeting chaired by State Minister for Power Enamul Haque. Energy Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bir Bikram was also present. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Padma bridge looks to market for tk.42 crore

The government plans to raise Tk 4,200 crore from capital market for the construction of the country’s largest civil engineering project — Padma Multipurpose Bridge. The amount, which will meet the fund deficit to construct the bridge, may be raised through issuance of equity shares and securitised, convertible, zero coupon and amortised bonds. A proposal for raising the fund is awaiting approval of the cabinet committee on economic affairs, finance ministry officials said. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Earthquake ravages Indonesian island: 75 confirmed dead, 1000 feared killed

A massive earthquake wreaked havoc on the Indonesian island of Sumatra yesterday, with officials saying it could have killed more than 1,000 people as homes and buildings collapsed. At least 75 people were confirmed dead after hospitals and hotels crumbled, and as fires raged in the coastal city of Padang, home to nearly a million people, in the wake of the 7.6-magnitude quake. “People are trapped, hotels have collapsed, schools have collapsed, houses have collapsed and electricity has been cut off,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla told reporters in Jakarta. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Kushtia millers manipulated it: reveals govt investigation into rice price scam

Price manipulation by Kushtia mill owners is one of the main reasons behind the recent rice price hike in the capital as well as some other parts of the country, according to a government-commissioned probe report. The probe committee, formed on Tuesday by the Kushtia district administration, found out that the millers in Kushtia’s Khajanagar arbitrarily hiked rice price on the pretext of increased paddy price but failed to show documents on any recent paddy purchase. Khajanagar is one of the country’s biggest rice trading hubs with concentration of around 500 rice mills there. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Another BDR Jawan dies at CTG hospital

Another BDR jawan ‘died of severe chest pain’ yesterday at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), raising the BDR death toll to 47 since the BDR mutiny on February 25-26. The deceased was identified as lance nayek Abul Khayer, 38, of BDR Training Centre at Satkania, reports our Chittagong Office. Khayer, hailed from Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat district, was earlier sent to Chittagong Central Jail after his arrest on May 13 this year in connection with the mutiny at BDR Training Centre of Baitul Ijjat in Satkania. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Gang-rape by BCL Men: Victims family, not rapists, on the run

Family of the Kalapara gang-rape victim went into hiding leaving home on Tuesday after police remained inactive against the rapists amidst reprisal from the perpetrators. Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalapara Police Station Ishaq Ali claimed that the girl (victim) submitted a written statement to the police station yesterday declaring she was not raped. Father of the teenaged schoolgirl, who was kidnapped and gang-raped by 10 Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on Friday, left his house along with his wife, three daughters and a son. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Road blocked for four hours: Garment workers protests death of collegues

Vehicular movement on Begum Rokeya Sarani road in the capital’s Shewrapara was disrupted for four hours yesterday as agitating garment workers put up blockades on the road protesting the death of a fellow worker in a road accident. Marufa Akter, 20, a worker of unit-2 garment factory of Outfit Fashion Ltd, was run over by a bus of Shikor Paribahan while crossing the road on Tuesday noon. She was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where she succumbed to her wounds yesterday morning.

Shrimp exports dogged by environment worries

Policymakers and diplomats yesterday called on shrimp industry operators to diligently work towards protecting the environment from degradation and ensure health and labour issues for sustainable growth and continued shrimp exports. “We have attached importance to growth of the fisheries sector in our election manifesto. At the same time, protecting the environment is also a priority for us. We have to do farming, but not at the cost of the environment,” said Commerce Minister Faruk Khan. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Draf of telecom law finalised: Minister

The draft of the amended Telecommunication Law-2001 has been finalised with a provision to realise a maximum of Tk 300 crore in fine for setting up illegal voice over internet protocol. The amendment of the existing law is required to make it updated and make the process of foreign investment in the telecommunication easier, Post and Telec-ommunication Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju told the news agency yesterday. He said they have proposed to amend some clauses of the law keeping most of the law intact. The minister also said they would give more licences of international gateway (IGW) and interconnection exchange (ICX) to discourage VoIP. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Loan, tax defaulters eligibale for contesting UP polls: JS standing committee finalise scrutiny of local govt bill

A parliamentary standing committee yesterday finalised its recommendation for deleting the provision of appointing government administrators at the union parishads terming the provision undemocratic and unconstitutional. The parliamentary body on local government, rural development and cooperatives ministry also recommended to drop the provision of submitting affidavit of the contestants containing their personal information and wealth statement saying that many poor and less educated candidates will not be able to submit affidavits due to its complex formalities and lack of lawyers at the union level. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Separation of Judiciary: Measures underway to resolve problem: Chief Justice

Chief Justice (CJ) MM Ruhul Amin yesterday said necessary measures are already underway to resolve the problems arisen after the separation of judiciary. “We are trying to sort out the problems first to find out their possible solutions,” he added. The CJ said this at a reception organised by Sylhet District Bar Association at the Bar Library Hall with its President Dewan Golam Rabbani Chowdhury in the chair. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Bangabandhu Murder: No impediment to appeal hearing Oct 05: Says chief counsel

 Chief Counsel of Bangabandhu murder case Anisul Haq yesterday said there is no impediment to appeal hearing of the case on October 5 despite filing of a petition regarding the delayed submission of concise statement. “The Chief Justice will form a bench before October 5 for the hearing,” he told reporters after meeting Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed at his Secretariat office in the afternoon. Defence lawyers earlier filed a petition to the chief justice as the concise statement of the case was not filed within 30 days as directed by the High Court. They appealed for the hearing on this matter before the hearing of Bangabandhu murder case begins. The CJ said bar and bench should work together to ensure justice of the people. Besides, cordial as well as effective relation between them is a must for quicker disposal of cases. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Change mindset to ensure rights of sex workers: State minister calls at workshop

Sex workers are not safe even in police custody and often they are forced to have sex there, revealed a draft report at a workshop in the city yesterday. It said sex workers are often arrested in Rajshahi on Thursday so that they can be kept in police custody on Friday and Saturday to be produced before the court on Sunday, and forced to have sex during custody. The draft report on the ‘Analysis of situation regarding the practice of legal rights by sex workers’ was placed by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) with the support of Centre for Development Service (CDS) and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) at the Cirdap auditorium. It was prepared on the basis of a study in six districts Jessore, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Natore and Ishwardi. According to the report, 77 percent of sex workers are arrested as they do not give money to police while 53 percent police do not pay the sex workers after having sex with them. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

‘78 killed in crossfire in 09 months’

A total of 78 people were killed in crossfire, 80 BDR men died after joining offices and 31 women fell victims of fatwa across the country in the last nine months, revealed a report of Ain O Salish Kendra yesterday, says a press release. The report was prepared based on news on crossfire, fatwa, torture, death in custody and other incidents published in different national dailies during the time. It also said 37 people were killed in police custody and 64 domestic helps fell victims different types of violence. Three journalists were killed, cases filed against 47 journalists, and 16 received death threats and 90 journalists fell victims of harassment in different ways, the report said. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

Raped schoolgirl rescued, criminal held in Jessore: Army man arrested on rape charge in Rangpur

Police rescued an abducted schoolgirl from Noldanga village under Kaliganj upazila in Jhenidah and arrested her alleged rapist on Monday night while Mithapukur police arrested an army man on Tuesday night on charge of raping a nurse in Rangpur. Police said Shishir Parmanik of Shastitola area in Jessore town and his gang abducted a schoolgirl from Shankarpur on September 24, reports a correspondent from Jessore. Following her father’s filing an abduction case against six people with Jessore Kotoali Police Station on Sunday, police arrested Shishir and rescued the girl from his relative’s house at Noldanga village on Monday night. In her statement before a Jessore court on Tuesday, the girl said Shishir forcibly brought her to his relative’s house and raped her several times. [The Daily Star, 01 October 2009]

 

The criminal also marked her forehead with red line, the sign of a Hindu married woman, although she is a Muslim girl, she said.

 

05.07.2009

Abdur Razzak in a press conference, Honorable Food and Disaster Minister: The international donors and lenders are not eager to support Bangladesh topossibly world’s largests social safety net programme worth over Tk.6000 crore this fiscal. So, the government has to divert a significants portion of budgetary resources for running huge social safety net programme by cutting allocations required for higher development spending of long term priorities. (Source: The Daily New Age, 06 July 2009)

03.07.2009

Dr. Akbar Ali Khan at Discussion on `Role of Mass Media in Natural Disaster and Climate Change’ , ogranised by Manobadhikar Paribesh Sanbadik Samity, National Press Club: One third of land of the country would go under water if effective measure are not taken to tackle the climate change impacts. Bangladesh never faced such environmental and economic crisis in the past. The natural environment of the country is very sensitive. Poverty and environmental pollution create a vicious circle here. We should take effective steps immediately to resolve the crisis in the costal aread due to climate change impacts. We should also raise our voice across the globe to realise compensation from the developed countries who are mostly responsible for the global climate change.  A large portion of land of the coastal areas would be salty and it would affect agriculture as we are yet to develop salinity-tolerant seeds suitale for salty land. Besides there would be an acute shortage of pure drinking water in the areas. A large portion of our population would be climate refugees in their own country if we do not take initiatives to resolve the existing crisis.

World Environment Day 2009

Paper presented by WaterAid Bangladesh at World Environment Day 2009 at Osmani Auditorium: To get away from the crisis of climate change, it would be the first step for us to save our rivers, resist river pollution and maintain their navigability. (Source: The Daily Star, 06 June 2009)

ILO: Global Employment Trends Updates, May 2009

The global unemployment could increase by between 29 million (lowest scenario) and 59 million (highest scenario)
unemployed people in 2009 versus 2007, with a middle scenario of 39 million.

 

 

International Rural Women Day 2009

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

–

MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN

15 October 2009

 

Today, on the second commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women, we recognize the important contributions of rural women, including indigenous women, to sustainable development and the sound management of natural resources.

We highlight these accomplishments in a year that also marks the 30 Sadly, rural women in many parts of the world continue to face severe deprivation in enjoying these rights. They are among those hit hardest by the inadequate rate of progress in improving maternal health. They have limited access to live-saving resources such as drinking water, electricity and roads. Too many rural women and girls are not in school. And they lack equitable access to decision-making processes, meaning that their voices are not heard.

As the global economic crisis continues to unfold, let us commit to increasing investments in the resources, infrastructure and services which would ease rural women’s workloads and release their time and energy for engagement in the labour market and public life.

As we near the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December, let us make sure that rural women are part of the process and that the outcome addresses their contributions, priorities and needs.

And as the United Nations itself seeks to strengthen its work to empower women around the world, let us move swiftly to get the new, single gender equality entity agreed by the General Assembly up and running.

On this International Day, let us pledge to do our utmost to put the rights, needs and aspirations of rural women much higher on the global agenda.

 

th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which is the only international human rights treaty that specifically addresses the rights of rural women. The Convention calls on all States parties to ensure that women fully participate in rural development; have access to health care, social security programmes, training, education, credit and loans; and benefit equally from infrastructure investments such as sanitation, water, transport and communications.

Rural women deprived of their rights
Staff Correspondent, The Daily New Age, 16 October 2009 

15 October 2009, Dhaka: The International Rural Women Day was observed on Thursday in Bangladesh as well as in the world, and the rural women were exhorted to ‘Claim Your Rights to Health and Wellbeing.’    This day has been observed around the world since 2007 when the United Nations declared October 15 as the day dedicated to women of the villages and rural areas.   Various organisations arranged programmes to mark the day.
   

The National Observation Committee of the International Rural Women Day organised a seminar on ‘National Health Policy 2009, Health Rights and Rural Women’ in the National Press Club.    Health experts and labour leaders, while addressing the seminar’s audience, said that the draft national health policy had encouraged commercialization of the health sector instead of ensuring health services to everyone.
   Rashid E Mahbub, former president of the Bangladesh Medical Association, said the proposed health policy was not formulated with the mass people’s right to health in mind. The rural women continue to be deprived from healthcare facilities, he said.
   He said that women’s health depends not only on medical treatment but also on proper sanitation and sufficient nutrition, so the government should address these issues properly in the health policy.
   The National Day Observation Committee of IRWD’s member, Atikul Islam Chudhury, and secretary, Mostafa Kamal Akand, said in their keynote paper that it has not been spelled out in the proposed health policy how private health organisations would be controlled.
   They suggested decentralisation of the health management system and allocation of funds in accordance with population and need.
   

In Muktangon state minister for labour and employment Begum Munnujan Sufian, while addressing a rally organised by Karmojibi Nari on Thursday, said the government would change parts of the existing labour law to ensure the rights of rural women.
   ‘The government has formed a committee to remove the loopholes in the existing labour law passed in 2006 to ensure the rights of all communities. The government is committed to protect the rights of rural women as they are playing a pivotal role in building the nation,’ said the state minister.  She also stressed the need for reviewing the agriculture labour law passed in 1984 to boost the agriculture sector.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s president Hasanul Haq Inu said that rural women were playing a significant role in developing the nation but they were being deprived of all the rights.

Global Climate Change Debate: Where we are?

About 17 percent of the Bangladesh’s land and 13 percent of agricultural activities would be affected if there is one metre sea-level rise. So, Bangladesh must have a national consensus regarding its stance for negotiation in Copenhagen. It should be discussed and debated in parliament.

Bangladesh as a most vulnerable country (MVC) of climate change  wants a fair and safe deal in Copenhagen, particularly for billions of poor and vulnerable people whose governments cannot afford to pay to fix the problem. The rich countries should pay attention to the lives in billions of people rather gaining financial benefit. 

In December of this year, the UN conference of parties (COP) is going to conduct its 15th conference to set a long term goals to tackle down climate change. Environmental activists are spending busy time to prepare the draft outline of COP-15. But would we win the diplomacy of rich countries? We should learn from the ongoing debate to take control on negotiations of climate talks.

The Natural Fix? The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation, a study of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stated that expanding the capacity of natural areas for capturing and storing carbon is one of the keys to curbing climate change, and would be a relatively low-cost solution that would also improve the quality of life of millions of farmers. More attention must be paid to natural carbon absorption, along with cutting greenhouse gases caused by humans. The report called for the adoption of a “comprehensive policy framework” on management of carbon – the main greenhouse gas – which would include the conservation and restoration of ecosystems and the management of grasslands and agricultural areas.

But the global environmental watchdog Greenpeace says the natural capacity of ecosystems to capture carbon is not a priority in the negotiations among governments ahead of the December UN Climate Convention Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. María José Cárdenas, head of the Greenpeace Mexico climate and energy campaign said, “If no progress has been made in setting timeframes for emissions cuts by developed countries, even less progress has been made in the case of carbon management”.  The aim of the Denmark meeting is to sign a new international climate change agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, in effect since 2005, the 37 industrialised countries committed themselves to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by five percent on average, from 1990 levels, by target dates ranging from 2008 to 2012. Some of the countries, like Canada, have already admitted that they will not reach the target. The United States, which is responsible for one-quarter of global greenhouse gases, is not a party to the Kyoto Protocol, on the decision of former president George W. Bush (2001-2009). His successor President Barack Obama has pledged to sign the new agreement that is to emerge from the Denmark conference, and said his country would assume clear commitments on air pollution. But his administration has not referred to the need for new agreements to enhance natural carbon sequestration.

Greenpeace activist Cárdenas also said, “There is talk about a renewed interest in negotiating emissions reduction commitments, but in practice the crisis is being used to maintain the consumerist system that has generated the climate change problems we are suffering today,”

In May 2009,  Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United States, as well as the European Union (EU) gathered together at a meeting named Major Economies Forum (MEF) where the ministers of these big economies were heard that 80 percent of the globe’s greenhouse gases and `world’s destiny’ may lie in the outcome of the mooted climate change pact. The French Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, opening the gathering of the so-called Major Economies Forum (MEF), pointed to the aim of forging a planet-wide treaty in Copenhagen in December under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He briefed in his addressing, “The world’s destiny will probably be at stake in Copenhagen. Copenhagen is not a retrograde vision, it’s not the start of negative growth, but a new start for strong, sustainable, sober carbon development”.

The state minister for Environment and Forest Mostafizur Rahman said at conference organised by organised by Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) in July 2009 the developed countries, which are mostly responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, should come forward to ensure the survival of vulnerable countries like Bangladesh by providing due compensations. He also demand, “We do hope that the Annex-1 countries would unconditionally contribute to our national fund as compensation and support the process of managing it [fund] through our national mechanisms determined by us,”.

In the same conference, Bangladesh with other MVCs demanded the developed countries to reduce their emission by 45 percent in aggregate against 1990 levels by 2020 and make available fund of $150 billion a year to help protect the victims. They also demanded that annex 1 Parties (developed nations) must reduce their emission by at least 45 percent in aggregate against 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The MVCs also urged  all Parties to the UNFCCC to ensure that an agreement is reached at COP15 to ensure survival of billions of people of the globe.  

‘I came here with deep concerns of our people, who no sooner had tasted democracy than confronted with critical, dire impacts of climate change,’ addressing the World Climate Conference-3 on September 2009  at Geneva International Conference Centre, the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, sought technological and financial supports from the international community, particularly resourceful developed countries, to combat the challenges of climate change as Bangladesh is considered one of the worst sufferers for the climatic disorders for no fault of its own.

She said, `A one-metre rise of sea level would inundate a third of Bangladesh, and this would result in mass migration northwards, imposing increasing pressure on land and resources and loss livelihood of about 40 million people. There is no doubt that human-induced climate change is, to a large extent, responsible for these phenomena and, ironically, the people of Bangladesh are least to be blamed for them.’

 

 For more:  please read 

She also pointed out, ‘the challenge to Bangladesh in facing natural disasters from global warming and climate change is monumental,’ she told the global meet on the most worrying problem that threatens the planet as a whole.

Apply Now!

 

iCats Fellowship, Deadline: 26 October 2009

Each year, LGT Venture Philanthropy selects a restricted number of applicants for fellow positions for its Fellowship Program. Fellows differ from all other positions in several aspects: They receive a more intense training before the assignment, regular mentoring support throughout their stay with the organization and are enrolled in a regular reporting process. Whereas all other positions are posted continuously throughout the year and have individual application deadlines, fellow positions are posted once a year for all philanthropic organizations/social enterprises and have the same application deadline (Oct 26, 2009). All fellows start their assignment in February for a duration of 11 months.

For more: icats programme