Rights group calls for withdrawal of emergency Staff Correspondent
The human rights body Odhikar on Saturday urged the interim government to hold the parliamentary elections before the local polls and observed that the government and Election Commission’s move to hold the local polls including the August-4 polls beforehand, ignoring opposi-tion of all major parties, might jeopardise the democratic process. Odhikar also called for lifting the state of emergency immediately for the restoration of the democratic rights of the people that remain suspended for the last 18 months, observing that the continuation of emergency was illegal under the Constitution and international law. ‘During a year and a half after proclamation of the Emergency, we have not noticed any exigencies that might have necessitated ‘the Emergency Power Rules’ in the country, which is only necessary when a nation’s existence is at stake because of internal or international disturbances ‘threatening the existence of the nation’,’ the right watchdog said, adding that there could not be any justification for the continuation of the emergency anymore. The rights body made this call while reviewing one and a half year rule under the state of emergency. In its report, Odhikar also came up with recommendations for resumption of trade union activities, scrapping of the proposed National Security Council and repealing of the anti-terrorism ordinance. Instead it urged the government to initiate independent judicial inquiries into extrajudicial killings and deal with crime suspects following the due process. Criticising the interim government for abusing the constitution, Odhikar said that the current government had taken the advantage of the perceived ambiguity of the Constitution in Article 58B on the length of the caretaker administration. It has also ignored the precedents set by two previous caretaker governments, of holding parliamentary elections within 90 days. ‘The present caretaker Government is yet to hold the parliamentary elections, even after a year and half - a job which was done in three months by its predecessors,’ it said. ‘Odhikar believes that by not following the precedents the present caretaker government has set a bad example about the tenure of such governments. The question now is what would be the length of the next caretaker government? Who should be held accountable for damaging the Constitution?’, the rights body observed. It criticised the military-backed government for putting the participatory democracy in jeopardy by fixing the schedule for the local polls ahead of the parliamentary elections ignoring the opinions of the major political parties. Odhikar felt that the decision of keeping aloof from the polls by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its four-party alliance that held most of the seats in the last parliament had put a question mark on the credibility of the elections. The rights body said, ‘The military-backed government must create a congenial environment for all political parties to participate in the polls. To achieve this objective the government must lift the State of Emergency as a gesture of political goodwill.’ Odhikar said, ‘A National Security Council, if established, would not only institutionalise the military’s role in governance and dwarf the development of democracy but also constitute a positive threat to human rights and freedom of the people. Formalising the military’s role in the governance through the security council would politicise the military and give them chances to get involved in internal security matters including law and order issues on some flimsy pretext’. In its evaluation Odhikar is critical about the election commission for missing deadlines. Odhikar observes that the election commission’s suspected complicity in the military-controlled interim government’s political agenda is not only eroding its credibility among the people but also having a negative impact on its primary task of holding participatory and credible general elections. The rights body felt, ‘If the commission wants to hold acceptable general elections, it will have to dispel such perceptions about it by distancing itself from the government’s political agenda and focusing all its energy on holding parliamentary elections at the earliest’.
1,373 cases pending for investigation by ACC Moneruzzaman Mission
A total of 1,373 cases, mostly filed against high-profile graft suspects for amassing illegal wealth and hiding information about their assets, are now pending with the Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation and inquiry. Of the cases, 1,259 were filed by the present commission between February 7, 2007 and June 30 this year, and 114 by the previous commission between November 21, 2004 and February 6, 2007, said the ACC’s director-general (admin) Hanif Iqbal. The ACC is also inquiring into the cases against former premiers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. Of the 1,373, cases, 673 are pending with Dhaka Division, 151 with Chittagong Division, 192 with Bogra, 89 with Khulna, 107 with Barisal and 47 with Sylhet. A total of 771 cases are pending with the ACC for investigation and 602 for inquiry. As of June 30, the ACC lodged 1,022 First Information Reports with different police stations across the country against graft suspects after completion of inquiry against them. Charge-sheets were submitted in 170 of those cases including 75 cases of which trials have already been completed with the conviction of 35 corruption suspects listed by the ACC, and 95 co-accused who were convicted for abetting the suspects in committing the offences. Of 170 cases, proceedings of at least 20 graft cases have been stalled by the High Court. The reconstituted ACC has so far submitted final reports in 71 graft cases, remanding none of the accused for trial reportedly because sufficient evidence has not been found against them. Of these cases, 28 are for misappropriation of corrugated iron sheets meant for relief, 21 for misappropriation of government money and other relief materials, 13 for bribery and 9 for other charges. Of the total of 29 special courts, 10 have been set up in the capital and began functioning on May 6, 2007 to try high-profile graft suspects listed by the present government. Some 95 cases are now under trial. Of them, 76 are with the special courts in Dhaka, 12 with the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court and 6 with the special courts outside Dhaka. One case is awaiting transfer from the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court. Among the lawyers appointed by the ACC to deal with the cases in Dhaka Metropolitan area, 10 are in the Legal Advisory Council, 5 are senior prosecutors, 15 are dealing with cases in the Supreme Court and 26 are public prosecutors. The number of panelled lawyers to deal with the cases as public prosecutors outside Dhaka is 198.
Container scanner for Ctg port in 6 months Special Correspondent
The authorities have approved the purchase of a container scanner for Chittagong Port to eliminate the chances of illegal arms and narcotics smuggling. Officials said the council of advisers committee on purchase at a meeting on Saturday approved the purchase of the scanner amid strong demand from major importing countries, including the United States. The lowest bidder of the re-tender is Swiss company SGS, which got the approval from the special committee to supply the scanner for Tk 43.4 crore and an additional payment of Tk 59.88 crore for providing services for six years after its installation, the finance and planning adviser, AB Mirza Azizul Islam, told reporters after the meeting. ‘The approved quotation is Tk 1.6 crore less than the price of the lowest bidder Cotecna offered in the original tender, which was scrapped by the government. The contract of Cotecna as a pre-shipment inspection company had been under process of cancellation due to various malpractices,’ Aziz told reporters. The contract of Cotecna was cancelled on March 19 by the government for a number of allegations of import valuation forgery. Sources in the finance ministry said the United States under its container security initiative programme asked all the countries concerned to install scanners to check movement of illegal arms and contraband narcotics. The scanner will be installed at the port within six months to equip the Chittagong port with increased capacity for export-import activities to world standards, they said. The purchase committee also approved the procurement of one lakh tonnes of wheat for $419 a tonne, 55,000 tonnes of murate of potash fertiliser for Tk 217.29 crore, 50,000 tonnes of triple super phosphate fertiliser for Tk 449.66 crore and the construction of internal roads in the Purbachal residential area at a cost of Tk 5.79 crore. In reply to a question, Aziz said he saw no uncertainty in the procurement of food grains from thee world market. ‘We are neither scared nor see any threat in procuring required food grains from the world market,’ Aziz told New Age.
Lanka tightens use of mobile phones to fight terrorism Agence France-Presse . Colombo
Sri Lanka Saturday tightened mobile phone regulations and forced service providers to maintain full details of phone users as part of anti-terrorism moves. Phone operators were told to check the identity of subscribers before signing them up, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission chief Priyantha Kariyapperuma said. New and current subscribers also need to keep a certified copy of the letter issued by the operator for inspection by police and military, in order to prove the ownership of the phone connection, he said. ‘The rules were brought in on the request of the defence ministry, because mobile phones are misused for terrorist activities. The government is finding it difficult to trace the real owners,’ he said. Separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, who are fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils from the majority Sinhalese community, are known to use several mobile phone connections under different names to evade detection. Mobile telephones have also been used to remotely detonate bombs. Kariyapperuma announced the new rules would go into effect ‘immediately’ but said existing users would be given ‘some reasonable time’ to get their paperwork sorted out. Sri Lanka, which has a population of 20 million people, has 12 million telephone subscribers, of which 10 million are mobile phones, Kariyapperuma said.
Dev partners stress accountability of politicians, bureaucrats for PRS implementation Asif Showkat
Bangladesh’s development partners observed that the accountability of politicians and bureaucracy to the pubic is important for formulation of the draft of the second Poverty Reduction Strategy. ‘Because of the lack of political accountability, the formulation and proper implementation of the PRS will not be addressed,’ said a summary of the development partners’ comments on the draft of the PRS for Bangladesh. They made the comments after the Ministry of Planning submitted the draft second PRS to the local consultative group, a forum of representatives of development partners, in the first week of June. The second version of the lender-driven development handbook, styled Poverty Reduction Strategy, for the three years from the 2008-09 to the 2010-11 fiscal years was announced last month. The representatives of the World Bank, European Commission, UK’s Department for International Development, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden said that public consultations with partners and civil society members is important for the formulation of the second PRS. The draft of the PRS has not made clear the process on how the development partners will discuss with the government the country’s poverty reduction programme. The United Nations, European Union, DFID, Denmark, Austrian Aid and GTZ (German Agency for Technical Cooperation), the Netherlands and Sweden observed that the second PRS needs to be an operational tool for government and partners. The development partners suggested that alignment between the PRS, priority areas under the Millennium Development Goals, national budget and institutional mechanisms is essential. The PRS should be a base for formulation of the planned GOB-Donor Joint Cooperation Strategy. They said the draft of the second PRS should be clear as to what the priority areas are and what the cost for implementation of poverty reduction projects will be. Tighter prioritisation and sequencing of intervention will be required in the second PRS. They suggested that the poverty reduction priority areas need to be resourced and funding gaps have to be identified in the draft of the PRS. The draft should have clear links with national budget, annual development programme and the mid-term budgetary framework. The development partners said the institutional set-up and process of monitoring and reviewing the PRS needs to be clearer. As part of the Paris Declaration, donors have pledged to provide appropriate support to the government for implementation, monitoring and reviewing of the PRS. The first three-year Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper was adopted due to donor pressure in early 2002. The PRSP was the guiding force of the government’s anti-poverty measures, for which the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank had already given it more than $700 million in loans. Earlier, development partners had said that their future loans to Bangladesh would be given on the basis of the PRSP’s directions.
Maoists in Nepal up efforts for new govt Press Trust of India . Kathmandu
Nepal Maoists have stepped up efforts to form a new government under the leadership of its chairman Prachanda, with a key meeting held Saturday with the CPN-UML party on the outskirts of the capital. The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist), which emerged as the single largest party in the April 10 Constituent Assembly elections, held a crucial meeting with CPN-UML in an effort to chalk out a roadmap for the formation of a government that has been delayed due to deadlock among the mainstream parties over power sharing. Hectic consultation began among the CPN-UML leaders at Dhulikhel resort in the east of Kathmandu on issues linked to the formation of a new government, power sharing mechanism and common minimum programme. Party sources said besides the election of the first president, vice president, the constitutional process for drafting the statute were among the prominent issues that featured during the discussions between the communist leaders. Political activities have intensified in the country after the tabling of the constitution amendment bill in Constituent Assembly that would pave the way for the formation and dismissal of the government through simple majority vote.
Study finds arsenic threats in South-East Asia Associated Press . Bangkok
Bangladesh is the worst arsenic affected country, where hundreds of thousands of people are in danger of dying from cancers of the lung, bladder and skin, according to a new study. Arsenic, especially in drinking water, is a global threat to health, affecting more than 70 countries and 137 million people. Myanmar’s cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta and Indonesia’s Sumatra island face high risks of arsenic contamination in groundwater that could cause cancer and other diseases in residents. Using a digitalised model that examines geological features and soil chemistry in Southeast Asia, researchers writing in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Geoscience mapped several likely hot spots that had never been assessed for arsenic risks. ‘Obviously, there is concern,’ said Michael Berg, one of the five authors, who is a senior scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology in Dubendor, Switzerland. ‘If you look at our data, there is risk of arsenic in the ground water.’ Odorless and tasteless, arsenic enters water supplies from natural deposits in the ground or from agricultural and industrial practices. Arsenic is poisonous when consumed in high doses, but even smaller amounts can cause cancer, skin problems and abnormal heart rhythms. Berg and the other authors determined a high risk of arsenic contamination exceeding World Health Organisation guidelines in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta, a low-lying area hit by a May cyclone that killed at least 84,537 people. Their models also found that 38,610 square miles of Sumatra’s east coast was at risk as well as the Chao Phraya river basin in central Thailand – although the dangers in the Chao Phraya were lower because residents in the area tap deeper aquifers. Researchers said regions with organic-rich sediment containing silt and clay have a higher likelihood of arsenic contamination. ‘These are very young sediments. Only in young formation do we find that arsenic can be released from the sediment,’ Berg said Friday, adding that arsenic in soil that is much older has been mostly washed away. Berg said he hopes the maps they developed could serve as ‘a red flag’ for authorities to take precautions before building wells or other water facilities in areas deemed at high risk of arsenic contamination. Until now, testing for arsenic has been rare in many regions because it is costly and time consuming, he said. Lex van Geen, a geochemist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory who has studied arsenic contamination in Bangladesh and did not participate in the study, said it should be lauded for drawing attention to areas where little research has been done on the arsenic threat, such as Myanmar. But he said the digital models do not identify areas well below the surface where water quality is good. ‘Using the mapping based on surface geology will identify settings where arsenic could be high in shallow groundwater,’ van Geen said. ‘What it can’t tell you is how deep you might have to go to reach the low arsenic water, which is really what matters from a mitigation point of view.’
Govt extends Abdul Jalil’s parole Bdnews24.com . Dhaka
The government has extended the term of parole for Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil by one more month, a home ministry official said Saturday. Jalil is now undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. Mizanur Rahman, deputy secretary of the home ministry, told the news agency that the decision on extending his parole for a fourth time was taken Thursday. Jalil was released on one-month parole on March 2 for better medical treatment abroad. He flew to Singapore on March 3. The joint forces arrested the AL leader on May 28, 2007. He was admitted to LabAid Cardiac Hospital on July 15 with kidney and heart diseases.
FBCCI to set up one-stop service cell Staff Correspondent
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry will within weeks set up a one-stop cell and entrepreneur training institute to serve businesses effectively, said Annisul Huq, president of the apex trade body, on Friday. ‘The FBCCI will establish a one stop cell so that businesses can receive instant support from the guardian organisation,’ Annis said while addressing a function organised by the Bangladesh Abhyantarin Poshak Prastutkarak Malik Samiti in Dhaka. Annis hoped that the proposed cell will help businesses reach law enforcers instantly during crisis period and get services from other government organisations, including trade license office, tax departments and utility services providers. The FBCCI president said the proposed entrepreneur training institute would educate businessmen on up-to-date knowledge on cost-effective production, marketing and trend of business. BAPPMS president Mohammad Alauddin Malik chaired the function also addressed by the FBCCI first vice-president Abul Kashem Ahmed and vice-president and Abu Alam Chowdhury. Alauddin said the RMG industries have annual turn over of Tk 22,000 crore and employ over eight lakh people directly or indirectly.
Suspected robber lynched in Ctg Staff Correspondent . Chittagong
A mob lynched an alleged robber after his gang stabbed to death a union parishad member at Burumchhara in Anowara upazila of Chittagong on Saturday. The deceased was Nurul Islam, 60, member of Burumchhara union parishad, while the lynched robber was Shahidul Islam, 25, son of Abdul Mahtab of the area. The police and local sources said a gang of robbers had swooped on the residence of Nurul Islam at about 5:00 am and stabbed him as he tried to resist them and screamed. The local people came to his rescue and caught one of the members of the gang after a short chase. They gave him a good beating eventually killing him on the spot. Islam died from injuries soon after his admission to the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.
Cop killed in road accident Bdnews24.com . Dhaka
A bus ran over and killed a police officer in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Saturday, the police said. ASM Rafiqul Islam was a sub-inspector of the Kafrul police station. Fazlul Haque, officer-in-charge of the Kafrul police, said Rafiqul Islam, a father of two, was travelling by a motorcycle, with his cousin Masud behind, to the police station from Dhania under the Demra police area. The bus rammed into the motorcycle, tossing Rafique onto the road, Haque said. Masud was injured. The police arrested bus driver Syed Abdullah Al Mamun, 35, and his assistant Sohel, 22. A case was registered with the Shahbagh police station.
Schoolboy stabbed to death in city Staff Correspondent
Assailants stabbed to death a schoolboy at Khilgaon in Dhaka Saturday afternoon. The victim, Mohammad Saifuddin, 13, son of Mohammad Aman Ullah of Dasherkandi area, was a class VII student of Trimohoni High School at Khilgaon. According to the victim’s family, Saifuddin’s cousin Alamgir locked in an altercation with their neighbours Kamruzzaman and his brother Nuruzzaman, over repayment of money Alamgir owed to Nuruzzaman. At one stage, they swooped on each other and some local people present there resolved the issue. Soon after, the two brothers waylaid Saifuddin and stabbed him in the chest on his way home from school at around 3:15pm. Local people rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Mohammad Babla, elder brother of the victim, filed a case with the Khilgaon police accusing the two brothers.
