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Court Hearing: Breivik claims to have accomplices

Norwegian police are investigating claims by Anders Behring Breivik, who has admitted carrying out Friday's twin attacks in Norway, that he has "two more cells" working with him.

Breivik made the claim at his first court hearing since the bombing in Oslo and massacre at an island youth camp.

Police have now revised down the island killings from 86 to 68 but increased the bomb death toll by one to eight.

CLOSED DOORS
Breivik was remanded in custody for eight weeks. Oslo police asked for Breivik to be held in full isolation for the first four weeks.

Judge Kim Heger agreed, saying Breivik could not receive letters or have visitors except for his lawyer.

Judge Heger said police must be able to proceed with the investigation into Breivik's claims without the accused being able to interfere.

Breivik had earlier said he had acted alone.

Prosecutor Christian Hatlo said police could not rule out that someone else was involved and confirmed an investigation was underway into Breivik's claims that he had worked in a cell, or group, and that there were two other cells.

The charges against Breivik include the destabilisation of vital functions of society, including government, and causing serious fear in the population.

The judge said that Breivik had admitted carrying out the attacks but had not pleaded guilty to the charges.

Hatlo said the accused was very calm at the hearing, appeared "unaffected" by the events, and was willing to explain his motives. He said Breivik was allowed to do this to a certain extent by the judge, but when he started reading from his manifesto he was stopped.

Hatlo also said that Breivik expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Two psychiatrists have been assigned to assess his mental health.

Judge Heger had earlier ruled that the hearing should be held behind closed doors amid security concerns and fears that Breivik would use it to deliver a speech seeking to justify his actions.

Instead Judge Heger summarised Breivik's words in his post-hearing statement.

The judge said Breivik had argued that he was acting to save Norway and Europe from "Marxist and Muslim colonisation".

The gunman had said his operation was not aimed at killing as many people as possible but that he wanted to create the greatest loss possible to Norway's governing Labour Party, which he accused of failing the country on immigration.

Norway's secret service said authorities were alerted to Breivik's name in March when he bought an undisclosed product from a Polish chemical firm.

But its head, Janne Kristiansen, said there had not been enough evidence to investigate further.

Source : The Daily Star

Hoarding: 339 sacks of sugar seized, later released

A government market monitoring team yesterday gave approval to sell 339 sacks of sugar which it had seized earlier from godowns of three traders at Thakurgaon Station Road on charges of illegal hoarding.

The team led by Additional District Magistrate Abdul Khaleq seized 146 sacks from the godown of Shajahan Khan, 159 sacks from Mokbul Hossain's godown and 34 sacks from Yakub Ali's godown on Sunday.

Magistrate Khaleq told The Daily Star the three sugar traders failed to show any valid document of approval for stocking the sugar.

Considering the crisis of sugar in the local market, the monitoring team, however, yesterday gave permission to the three traders to sell those in local market at government fixed price.

A meeting was also held between local sugar traders and district administration yesterday afternoon with Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Shah Alam in the chair.

Shajahan Khan, one of the three traders, informed the meeting that those sacks, which were found in his godown on Sunday, were allotted to a trader in Dhaka by Thakurgaon Sugar Mills authority.

He bought the delivery order (DO) from that Dhaka-based trader and lifted 146 sacks of sugar to his godown.

During discussion, he admitted that such stocking was illegal. "We have been doing this for about 20 years," he added.

Source : The Daily Star  

Metro rail project ready to roll: Loan negotiations, detailed design next month

After a hiccup over a partial change in the route, the $1.7 billion metro rail project has gained momentum as its major financier Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is set to start loan negotiations with the government next month.

Experts will begin an exercise next month to prepare a detailed design for the project. It will be completed before signing of the loan agreement in December, Jica officials in Dhaka said.

A three-member team of Jica visited the capital recently to see the progress of the project and prepare grounds for loan negotiations. They held meetings with the officials of communications ministry and External Resources Division.

The Japanese governmental agency is ready to finance 80 percent of the project cost as soft loan to construct the metro rail, considered the most viable option for transporting thousands of passengers in a densely populated city like Dhaka.

The mass transport will carry some 60,000 passengers in an hour during peak time, found a Jica study. It also estimated $12 million for each kilometre of the elevated part while $48 million for the underground segment.

Commuters will have to pay Tk 2.50 for travelling each kilometre.

An international pre-qualification tender will be floated by the end of this year to select prospective firms for the first ever metro rail in the country, sources in communications ministry said.

Things are now moving faster than before, noted Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain.

The environmental study and setting up of a depot are now in final stage while some other small issues will be resolved soon, he added.

The government will enter a deal with the successful bidder in the first quarter of the next year to ensure the construction work of the mass transport network starts by June or July next year, maintained the minister.

The Japanese agency has almost completed the feasibility study on the modified part of the 21.5-kilometre-long metro route stretching from Uttara Third Phase to Sayedabad, also known as Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6.

The communications ministry on February 1 modified the route as it conflicted with the under-construction Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover. The move cast uncertainty on the project.

The adjustment was made after Jica finished its study on the original route starting from Uttara Third Phase to Sayedabad via Pallabi, Farmgate, Sonargaon Hotel, TSC of Dhaka University, Central Shaheed Minar, Fulbaria, Gulistan and Tikatuli.

As per the modification, the route from TSC has been diverted towards Curzon Hall, Jatiya Press Club, Bangladesh Bank and up to the Kamalapur Railway Station.

An earlier study of Jica chalked out three routes for the project and suggested to implement the first one (Uttara Third Phase to Sayedabad).

According to project officials, the first phase of the metro will be built mainly on government land and some existing roads. The 1.8 kilometre of the route between Bangladesh Bank and Kamalapur Railway Station might be built underground as it has several high-rises.

The project will be implemented in three phases under the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) to ease the perennial traffic gridlock in the capital.

Source : The Daily Star

Award for Indira: Khaleda absent at ceremony

Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia was absent in the award ceremony hosted at Bangabhaban yesterday to confer Bangladesh Freedom Honour posthumously on late Indian premier Indira Gandhi.

Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi received the award on behalf of her slain mother-in-law Indira from President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Khaleda was invited to the programme as an MP, sources at BNP central office said.

But her Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel claimed she did not receive any formal invitation.

He, however, noted he heard about an invitation card had been couriered to the opposition leader's parliamentary office.

The Daily Star could not confirm whether the authorities invited the BNP chairperson.

Leaders of different political parties excluding BNP and its allies were present in the programme, among others.

The main opposition party welcomed Sonia's visit and hoped this would strengthen the Indo-Bangla relations and help resolve the long-standing disputes between the two neighbours.

Source : The Daily Star

Gunman appears in court

The man who has admitted carrying out Friday's twin terror attacks in Norway, Anders Behring Breivik, made his first appearance in court in Oslo yesterday.

The hearing was held behind closed doors, as ruled by the judge, who will make a statement later.

A minute's silence was held at 1200 (1000 GMT) to remember the victims.

Breivik, 32, has admitted carrying out a bombing in Oslo, and a massacre on an island youth camp, killing at least 93 people in total.

He is said to be linked to far-right groups and to have spent years planning the attacks.

At least 96 people were injured in the attacks. But Oslo police have said the death toll from the shooting spree on the island could be revised downwards from the current 86, based on the information now available.

Breivik said before the court hearing he would explain his actions to the court.

There have been calls for a media blackout of the trial so as not to give Breivik a platform for his views.

Judge Kim Heger ruled on yesterday's hearing: "It is clear that there is concrete information that a public hearing with the suspect present could quickly lead to an extraordinary and very difficult situation in terms of the investigation and security."

The hearing lasted about 40 minutes. Television pictures showed what appeared to be Mr Breivik being driven away in a convoy of vehicles.

Under Norwegian law, Breivik faces a maximum of 21 years in jail if convicted, although that sentence can be extended if a prisoner is deemed a threat to the public.

Police said that while the suspect had admitted the killings, he had not accepted criminal responsibility for them.

His lawyer, Geir Lippestad, told Norwegian media on Sunday: "He thought it was gruesome having to commit these acts, but in his head, they were necessary.

"He wished to attack society and the structure of society."

At 1200 local time yesterday, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, at Oslo University, said: "In remembrance of the victims... I declare one minute's national silence."

Thousands of people stood around a carpet of flowers at Oslo cathedral.

One Oslo citizen, Sven-Erik Fredheim, told Reuters: "It is important to have this minute of silence so that all the victims and the parents of the families know that people are thinking about them."

It was reported yesterday that Crown Princess Mette-Marit's stepbrother, Trond Berntsen, an off-duty police officer, was among those killed at the youth camp. He was the son of Mette-Marit's stepfather, who died in 2008.

In France, police are searching Breivik's father's home in Couranel in the south of the country, although they have not commented on the operation. Jens Breivik is reported not to have been in touch with his son for many years.

Source : The Daily Star

Care is the call: Int'l conference presses for law, awareness to ensure rights of special people

A two-day international conference on autism opened in Dhaka yesterday with a call for promoting legislative and policy actions to ensure quality healthcare for autistic people, especially the children.

The conference has brought together government leaders, policymakers, experts and activists from around the globe to discuss how to spread awareness about autism in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.

Autism is a lifelong neurological disability that affects how a person communicates with and relate to other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

Opening the conference as chief guest, Indian Congress party President Sonia Gandhi said it is unfortunate that the autistic persons in South Asian societies generally do not get the empathy they deserve.

"Too often we forget that nature's unfairness to them results in a life wasted. The disabled, too, need not just food, education and shelter, but to be recognised as persons," she observed.

Sonia said society should pay greater attention to autistic persons. "If society nurtures them, it will get back much in return."

Speaking of the enormous challenge posed by autism, she said, "There is much of it [autism] that we still do not understand. Science itself in the seven decades of research has not found clear answers or explanations for its causes."

Sonia, also chairperson of India's ruling United Progressive Alliance, noted that prevalence of autism is widespread and today it is believed that nearly one person out of every hundred is afflicted with autism.

In India alone, she added, 8 million individuals are estimated to have autism spectrum conditions.

She stressed the need for civil society's participation in sensitising people to autism and in providing quality care and services to those affected.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who addressed the meet as special guest, emphasised establishing the rights of the challenged people in developing countries.

"It is necessary to create social and legal frameworks to mitigate sufferings of the challenged people, protect their rights, and promote their causes," she said adding that in most of the developing countries, the rights of those challenged are rarely recognised, and seldom met.

Hasina pointed out that dangers such as social stigma, misinformation and lack of experts and treatment centres limit the quality of support available to the autistic persons.

Necessary social and legal frameworks should be created and infrastructures built to lessen their sufferings, protect their rights and promote their causes, she continued.

"Challenges faced by families living in poverty are already immeasurable; it is even more challenging when that child has a complex disability such as autism."

The prime minister mentioned that identification of a disability and appropriate interventions within the first year of a child's life are particularly important when it comes to meeting the challenges of neuro-developmental disorders such as autism.

She called upon all to work in cooperation with one another so that as a region "we can develop scientifically sound practices, which are socially applicable and economically feasible".

Arranged on the theme "Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities in Bangladesh and South Asia", the conference adopted seven-point Dhaka Declaration at its opening session.

It also appealed to the donors to pay attention to the unmet needs of millions of people affected by autism and financially support the programmes planned to improve care and services.

Global research and advocacy forum Autism Speaks organised the conference in collaboration with the government of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and World Health Organization (WHO).

Bangladesh does not have specific data on those affected by autism but officials estimate that around 150,000 children may be classified as autistic.

Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque said the government will carry out a special census to determine the number of the autistic persons.

At the conference, it was stated that the autistic populace in the world is increasing at a rate ranging from 10% to 17%. The exact number of autistic people is not available, but the experts claim it would be tens of millions.

The inaugural function was addressed, among others, by Sri Lankan first lady Shiranthi Wickramasingha Rajapaksa, Maldives vice-president's wife Ilham Hussain, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque, Indonesian Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Bhutanese Health Minister Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa, Andy Shis of Global Autism Public Health Initiative, Shekhar Saxena of WHO, Aysha Saif Mohammad Hamadan Ali of UAE and Belal Al Nezami of Jordan.

Hasina's daughter Saima Hossain, an autism activist and an organiser of the conference, was also present.

A cultural programme styled "The Land That I Love" was presented by the national cultural team of children with autism.

Earlier in the day, Sonia Gandhi placed wreaths at National Mausoleum at Savar, paying tribute to the independence martyrs. She also placed wreaths at the mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.

The Congress chief met Hasina after inaugurating the conference.

She called on President Zillur Rahman at Bangabhaban after the special ceremony in which she received Bangladesh Freedom Honour on behalf of her slain mother-in-law Indira Gandhi.

Source : The Daily Star 

One person made a big difference

If one single person other than a Bangladeshi had the greatest contribution to the birth of Bangladesh, it is indisputably Indira Gandhi. Forty years down the line, after Bangladesh gained its freedom, the nation yesterday officially recognised her great role in its liberation.

It was probably the biggest challenge for Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India at the time, to extend her all-out help to Bangladesh's struggle for freedom.

In the very beginning of the Liberation War, Indira on March 27, 1971 expressed her government's full support to Bangladesh soon after the Pakistani invading army embarked on a massacre of the Bangalees. The freedom fighters desperately needed a place to regroup, get armed and launch counter offensive. It was Indira who allowed military training camps to be set up on India's soil for the freedom fighters.

At Indira's directive, the Bangladesh-India border was opened to allow the refugees safe shelter in India as millions escaped from the spectre of genocide being committed by the Pakistani leadership and its army.

Indira herself moved in Indian parliament on March 31, 1971 to adopt a resolution in support of Bangladesh's liberation that said, "This House records its profound conviction that the historic upsurge of the 75 million people of East Bengal [Bangladesh] will triumph. The House wishes to assure them that their struggle and sacrifices will receive the wholehearted sympathy and support of the people of India."

After the birth of Bangladesh and after the release of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Indira was addressing a public meeting in Delhi on January 10, 1971. "We made three promises to the people of India. First, all those who came to India seeking refuge will return home to Bangladesh. Second, we shall provide all-out support to the Mukti Bahini [freedom fighters] and help the people of Bangladesh. And third, we shall free Sheikh Sahab [Bangabandhu] from jail. We have fulfilled our three promises," she said.

Though it has taken 40 years to pay the highest state honour of Bangladesh to Indira since independence, Mujib himself in the same public meeting expressed his and the nation's gratitude to her, hours before arriving at his newly liberated country.

"Your government, army and people have displayed a level of compassion and assistance which the people of Bangladesh will never forget. Srimati Gandhi has done everything possible all over the world to make sure that I am safe. Personally, I am grateful to her. My seventy-five million people are grateful to her and her government," Bangabandhu told Indira at that meeting.

Former chief of the Indian army's eastern command Lt Gen JFR Jacob who is credited with making Gen Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the then commander of Pakistan army's eastern command, surrender in public on December 16, 1971, termed Indira's historic role in Bangladesh's liberation her "finest hour".

Gen Jacob, who drafted the historic "instrument of surrender", narrated Indira's role in Bangladesh's liberation in his book, "Surrender at Dacca -- Birth of a Nation": "Indira Gandhi was pragmatic, determined and courageous. She stood up to Nixon [US President Richard Nixon] and the pressures from the United Nations.

"To counter American and Chinese support for Pakistan, she had DP Dhar to negotiate a treaty of friendship with the Soviets, thus giving us freedom of action. She led the nation to its greatest military victory, restoring our prestige and raising India's status to that of a regional superpower. The liberation of Bangladesh was Indira Gandhi's finest hour." DP Dhar was Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's adviser for Bangladesh.

INDIA RECOGNISES BANGLADESH
Indira's support culminated in the recognition of Bangladesh on December 6, 1971 when she told Indian parliament, "I am glad to inform the House that in the light of the existing situation and in response to the repeated requests of the Government of Bangladesh, the Government of India have after the most careful consideration, decided to grant recognition to the people's republic of Bangladesh.

"I'm confident that in future the government and the people of India and Bangladesh, who share common ideals and sacrifices, will forge a relationship based on the principles of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. Thus working together for freedom and democracy we shall set an example of good neighbourliness which alone can ensure peace, stability and progress in this region. Our good wishes to Bangladesh."

However, between March and December in 1971, she had to manoeuvre through the labyrinth of world politics that was sharply divided in the shadows of the Cold War. Pakistan was an old ally of the USA and China. And India was on the other axis snuggling against the Soviet Union. Naturally, when Bangladesh went to war with Pakistan, it did not get support from the USA and China.

Indira launched a diplomatic offensive despite having many adversities, which was obviously one of her charismatic roles for Bangladesh's liberation. She played a crucial role not only to get Soviet Union's support for Bangladesh but also to make other important western countries understand the cause of Bangladesh's struggle.

In the early autumn of 1971, she toured Europe and was successful in getting both the United Kingdom and France to break with the United States and block any pro-Pakistan directives in the United Nations Security Council.

BANGLADESH LIBERATED
"Dhaka is now a free capital of a free country," Indira informed parliament on December 16 immediately after the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces in Dhaka. "This House and the entire nation rejoice in this historic event. We hail the people of Bangladesh in their hour of triumph. We hail the brave young men and boys of Mukti Bahini for their valour and dedication."

"It's a victory, but a victory not only of arms but of ideals. The Mukti Bahini could not have fought so daringly but for its passionate urge for freedom and the establishment of a special identity of Bangladesh. Our own forces could not have been so fearless and relentless had they not been convinced of their cause," Indira told the House on December 17 about Bangladesh.

Indira visited an independent Bangladesh on Bangabandhu's invitation on March 17, 1972 and announced withdrawal of Indian troops from here. The withdrawal of the troops immediately after the war was unprecedented in the world history.

Indira was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad, India to Jawaharlal and Kamala Nehru. She became the leader of the Congress Party and prime minister of India in 1966. After ruling the country as the prime minister for three times, she was assassinated by two of her own Sikh security guards on October 31, 1984 and Bangladesh lost its best friend ever.

Source : The Daily Star 

Best friend honoured: Bangladesh finally confers award on Indira Gandhi posthumously for her huge contribution to its independence; emotion-choked Sonia receives the recognition

Former Indian premier Indira Gandhi was yesterday conferred the "Bangladesh Freedom Honour" for her unparalleled support and contributions to Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.

Her daughter-in-law also president of India's ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, received the posthumous award from Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman on behalf of Indira Gandhi at a ceremony in Bangabhaban.

Indira Gandhi is the first among the foreign friends of Bangladesh to be conferred the highest state honour.

Expressing her heartfelt thanks for the honour, Sonia recalled the tumultuous days of 1971 when her mother-in-law took a firm stance to side with the Bangalee people fighting to establish their own country.

"If Indira Gandhi could have been with us, I know she would have been overwhelmed by the high honour you have bestowed on her," Sonia said.

"There can be no honour higher than the one conferred for the freedom of an oppressed people and the birth of a great nation," she said.

She said she felt humble and privileged but also proud to accept the award on her mother-in-law's behalf. "I do so with a very full heart and consciousness that the honour is not her alone but also India's, and in a sense yours as well."

She said she came to Bangladesh not just to visit another country.

"Memories and emotions flood my mind. My husband and I were present at the airport along with Indira Ji amid massive crowds on the historic morning on January 10, 1972, when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was welcomed in Delhi on his way to his newly free country," recalled Sonia.

"The amount of excitement and sense of optimism, indeed the knowledge that history was being made, I can never forget," she said.

Sonia concluded her speech by saying, "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangladesh-India friendship."

President Zillur Rahman said, "This is a very special and historic occasion for us, an occasion that will certainly be written in golden letters in the history of both of our nations."

He said Indira Gandhi inspired millions of Bangladeshis and Indians to fight against all oppression and injustice.

"She launched an intense and bold diplomatic move for Bangladesh, despite challenges by some major powers. She also vigorously pursued the Pakistani authority for safe release of Bangabandhu," he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described Indira Gandhi as a true and great friend of Bangladesh, its people, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"On Bangabandhu's request, she withdrew the Indian soldiers within three months of Bangladesh's independence. That was a unique gesture of Mrs Indira Gandhi," Hasina said.

"We are delighted to honour her with our highest award," she said, recalling the eventful days of Bangladesh's liberation war in 1971.

She said Indira Gandhi travelled the world to rally support of the world community for the independence of Bangladesh, and for saving the life of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was then facing capital punishment in a Pakistani jail.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said, "We are here to honour a friend who played the most critical role among all our foreign friends in our nation's journey to statehood. Indira Gandhi changed the course of events in the fateful months of 1971. And with the support she gave to our embattled people, the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh was born. Today we are here to recognise and express our gratitude, and to honour Indira Gandhi."

The award's teak frame contains two gold plates on both sides of a folded box. Fifty-year-old teak, preserved by the Department of Forest, has been used for the frame.

Sreemati Indira Gandhi's name is inscribed on the plate on the left side in Bangla and English while the plate on the right has the signatures of Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The plate on the left mentions that the award was conferred as the highest token of respect and gratitude of the Bangalee nation to Indira Gandhi for her immense contribution to Bangladesh's War of Independence.

A brief audio-visual documentary was played at the 50-minute ceremony which showed images of Bangladesh's Liberation War, Indira Gandhi's activities during that period, and some of her moments with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The documentary made the audience quite emotional.

The entrance of Bangabhaban was decorated with pictures depicting historic moments of Indira Gandhi during Bangladesh's struggle for liberation. Both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sonia Gandhi saw the pictures with curiosity.

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Capt (retd) AB Tajul Islam gave the welcome speech. A large number of dignitaries including some foreign guests were present at the ceremony.

Cabinet Secretary M Abdul Aziz read out the citation conferred on Indira Gandhi.

The event concluded with the playing of the national anthem of Bangladesh.

Indira Gandhi was the third prime minister of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977, and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.

Source : The Daily Star 

US rushes to avert disastrous default on debt

The White House and top lawmakers struggled Sunday for a deal to save the world's richest country from a disastrous default on its debt, amid fears of a panicked reaction from investors around the globe.

With global financial markets on edge, president Barack Obama met at the White House with Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Democratic House minority leader Nancy Pelosi to map their way forward in the standoff.

Reid said there was no progress with Republicans because of the rival party's 'continued insistence on a short-term raise of the debt ceiling.'

He said Democrats were working on a measure to raise the $14.3 trillion US debt ceiling, allowing Washington to pay its bills past an August 2 deadline, while cutting $2.7 trillion in spending over 10 years.

The strategy, detailed by a Democratic official on condition of anonymity, would also achieve Obama's goal of avoiding another politically painful vote on the issue before he faces re-election in November 2012.

Reid said the plan would include no new revenue or tax measures and 'it will include enough spending cuts to meet or exceed the amount of a debt ceiling raise through the end of 2012.'

Earlier, House Speaker John Boehner privately urged fellow Republicans to unite behind a new plan to impose steep spending cuts as the price for raising the US debt limit and promised to have more details Monday, two sources said.

'No one is willing to default,' Boehner said on a conference call with his restive majority, warning that Republicans may have to make 'sacrifices' in any final compromise to ensure passage in the House and Senate.

The speaker, who faces stiff resistance from many Republicans to any compromise with Democrats, told House Republicans a day earlier that he favoured a two-step increase paired with $3-$4 trillion in cuts.

The fate of the rival plans was unclear, but both chambers faced a time-consuming process to pass identical legislation and send it to Obama to sign into law with the clock ticking down to August 2.

But Reid said that Boehner's proposal was 'simply a short-term plan, and is therefore a non-starter in the Senate and with the president.'

Washington hit its debt ceiling on May 16 but has used spending and accounting adjustments, as well as higher-than-expected tax receipts, to continue operating normally but can only do so another nine days.

Finance and business leaders have warned failure to raise the US debt ceiling by then would send shockwaves through the fragile world economy, while Obama has predicted a default would trigger economic 'Armageddon.'

Investors, starting with Asia, were set to have their first chance at rendering judgment on the political stalemate in Washington since negotiations between Obama and his Republican foes collapsed late Friday.

Tokyo shares opened 0.51 per cent lower Monday as global markets tensely watched the talks over lifting the US debt ceiling, with no prospect in sight of an immediate breakthrough.

A spokesman for Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Brad Dayspring, sought to tamp down worries of an unthinkable default, insisting on his Twitter feed that 'work is being done' toward a compromise.

As the stalemate dragged on, Obama's chief of staff William Daley braced for 'stressful days' ahead for Washington, the US public, and world markets.

'But in the end there's no question in my mind the government of America will not default,' he told CBS television.

Boehner told Fox News Channel as the day dawned that he aimed for a 'bipartisan' plan but 'if that is not possible, I and my Republican colleagues in the House are prepared to move on our own,' he warned.

All sides agree cash-strapped Washington must close its yawning budget deficit but disagree on the size and blend of spending cuts and revenue increases as well as on how and whether to slice into the social safety net.

US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner said a default would be 'unthinkable' and warned against a short-term debt ceiling hike that could force another standoff in the middle of the 2012 election campaign.

Obama is seeking a second term in a contest defined by his handling of the ailing US economy and shaped by Republican anger at government spending.

But Boehner declared that 'there will be a two-stage process, it's just not physically possible to do all of this in one step.'

Republicans, notably newly elected members close to the archconservative 'Tea Party' movement, have rejected Obama's call for tax hikes on the rich and wealthy corporations, a key bone of contention in the discussions.

Source : New Age

Moody’s warns Greek default almost certain

Moody's cut Greece's credit rating further into junk territory on Monday and said it was almost certain to slap a default tag on its debt as a result of a new EU rescue package.

It was the second rating agency to warn of a default after eurozone leaders and banks agreed last week that the private sector would shoulder part of the burden of a rescue deal that offers Greece more cash and easier loan terms to keep it afloat and avoid further contagion.

'The announced EU program along with the Institute of International Finance's statement implies that the probability of a distressed exchange, and hence a default, on Greek government bonds is virtually 100 per cent,' Moody's said in a statement.

Bank lobby IIF, which led private sector negotiations, aims to attract 90 per cent investor participation in the bond exchange plan which comes on top of the EU's new 109 billion euro bailout.

Moody's cut Greece's rating by three notches to Ca, just one notch above default, to reflect the expected loss implied by the proposed debt exchanges.

Greece now has the lowest rating of any country in the world covered by Moody's, which, like Fitch last week, said it would review Greece's rating after the debt swap is completed.

'Once the distressed exchange has been completed, Moody's will reassess Greece's rating to ensure that it reflects the risk associated with the country's new credit profile, including the potential for further debt restructurings,' it said.

However, whereas Fitch pledged to quickly give Greece a higher, 'low speculative grade' after its bonds had been exchanged, Moody's said it could not forecast when the rating would change or how.

'It all depends how quickly the debt exchange takes place,' said Alastair Wilson, Moody's Managing Director for EMEA Credit Policy. 'Once we have greater visibility over that, we will reassess the credit profile quite quickly. Whether the rating will change, that's a different question,' he told Reuters.

Source : New Age

Gold hits record with US debt talks deadlocked

Gold prices hit record highs on Monday after negotiations to lift the US debt ceiling hit stalemate over the weekend, raising fears over a possible default and boosting the appeal of bullion versus US assets like Treasuries and the dollar.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress are bitterly divided over plans to cut the US deficit, a necessary move before the debt ceiling can be raised.

With the August 2 deadline for a resolution fast approaching, the world's largest economy is facing an unprecedented debt default. If this happens, investors could dump the dollar and US Treasuries.

While most investors believe a deal will be done, nervousness ahead of the decision is still pressuring the dollar, lifting US Treasury yields and benefiting gold.

'This has reminded people of the risks involved in government bonds,' said Mitsubishi analyst Matthew Turner. 'For some investors, gold is a competitor as a safe-haven asset.'

'If a deal is done, as I expect, the gold price will come down,' he said. 'It might go higher first, though.'

Spot gold hit a new peak at $1,622.49 an ounce and was up 1.2 per cent at $1,618.40 an ounce at 0849 GMT.

It has reached record highs in each of the last five consecutive quarters, and is on track for its biggest monthly gain since April this month on concerns over euro zone debt levels as well as the US negotiations.

The stalemate in Washington led to safe-haven German Bunds outperforming US Treasuries on Monday, as risks of a US default outweighed worries over euro zone debt. US Treasury yields rose and European shares opened lower. .EU

The dollar dipped against a basket of currencies, while the Swiss franc, often seen as a safe haven for investors, rose sharply against the euro and the US unit. The euro slipped after Moody's downgraded Greece by three notches.

'With little optimism on US debt talks at the moment, the gold price acutely reflects investor nervousness that limited progress will be made before the August 2 deadline,' said UBS in a note. 'This nervousness is in many ways justified as the threat of a US ratings downgrade is very real.'

Source : New Age

Stocks dip on profit-taking sales

Dhaka stocks dropped slightly on a volatile trading Monday as investors went for profit-taking sales after four days of gain.

The benchmark general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, or DGEN, inched down 14.14 points, or 0.21 per cent, to close the day at 6,696.39 points.

Turnover of the bourse also dropped to Tk 1,882.34 crore, after hitting the highest level of the year at Tk 1,957.92 crore on the previous day.

Market operators said a fall in share prices of major sectors like bank and market giants like Grameenphone and MJLBD was a key reason for the index to dip on Monday.  

The price of GP shares had continued to rise in the past four trading sessions, after declaration of a 140 per cent interim cash dividend for the year ending on December 31, 2010 by the company. The price of MJLBD shares also had been rising for the past seven trading days without a break.

Market operators said investors went for selling shares of the GP and the MJLBD on Monday to pocket some profits.

The GP shares lost Tk 4.6, or 2.17 per cent, and the MJLBD Tk 4.2, or 2.19 per cent, on the day.

Most of the bank issues also lost value on Monday but the cement sector was upbeat, with the issues, except MI Cements, posting gains.

Trading on the DSE was volatile, with the DGEN fluctuating frequently in the opening hours. Although the index gained 48 points in just five minutes after the opening of trade but the gain faded fast. The DEGN started crawling down from 12:15pm, ending the day in the negative territory.

Market operators termed Monday's fall in share prices a 'market correction'. They said the surge of share prices in the past four days prompted investors to go for profit-taking sales.

Of the 263 issues traded on the day, 105 advanced, 150 declined, and eight remained unchanged.  

RN Spinning topped the list of turnover leaders of the day with shares worth Tk 70.50 crore changing hands. The rest of the leaders on the Top-10 list were Titas Gas, Beximco, Peoples Leasing and Financial Services, Grameenphone, United Airways, Bextex, Malek Spinning, Maksons Spinning, and National Bank.

Source : New Age

SEC advised to finalise draft amendments to book-building method soon

The advisory committee of the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday recommended that the commission should finalise the draft amendment to the book-building method soon.

The SEC chairman and members and representatives of the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Publicly Listed Companies, the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka and Chittagong bourse, Bangladesh Bank, and Bangladesh Merchant Bankers' Association, among others, are on the 19-member advisory committee.

The committee in its first meeting on Monday discussed a range of issues including offloading of shares of state-owned enterprises, stepping up market capital surveillance by the commission, and omnibus account guideline. But, the key agenda of the meeting were finalising the draft amendment to the book-building method and enhancing the monitoring of margin loan disbursement, meeting sources said. 

They said the SEC informed the meeting that the draft of the amendment to the book-building method would be sent to the stakeholders for their opinion by next week.

The book-building method was introduced in 2009 so that a company can discover the share price under an initial public offering based on the biddings made by institutional investors.

The capital market regulator suspended the method on January 20 as per a government directive issued after the latest stock market debacle and following widespread criticism of it.

The method drew severe criticism from stakeholders as a number of companies had been allowed to float shares with the price-earning ratio standing at more than 50, although the ideal P/E ratio for any issue is considered to be 15. 

The committee also emphasised offloading the shares of state-owned enterprises immediately to meet the increasing demand of the market.

'If the procedure goes as per the plan, the government shares will hit the market by August,' meeting sources said.

BPLC president Salman F Rahman said after the meeting, 'We discussed a number of issues and the book-building method was one of the key agenda of the meeting.'

He said the SEC took an initiative to strengthen its market monitoring with collaboration with Bangladesh Bank.

The committee also discussed a possible change in the index calculation method of the bourses, he added. 

Source : New Age

Policy for private sector LPG bottling in the offing

The government will soon finalise a policy for setting up import-based LPG bottling plants in the private sector, Kudrat-E-Elahi, managing director of the state-run LP Gas Limited, said.

He said the proposed policy would regulate the operations of the LPG plants through monitoring through concerned government agencies like BSTI, departments of environment and explosives. 

Elahi said that a number of private companies now bottle LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) while many others have been keen to set new plants in view of rising demand of LP gas in the country.

'So the government felt that there should be a policy for the sector. There would be no barriers for private entrepreneurs to bottle LPG after the government finalises the policy,' he said.

'The Energy Division has already taken opinions of the concerned officials on the draft of the policy,' he added.

Elahi said that there would be no barriers in participating private entrepreneurs to bottle LPG after the government finalises the policy.

According to the draft policy, private entrepreneurs will have to apply to the Energy Division fulfilling the terms and conditions specified in the policy for setting up import-based LPG bottling plants.

Energy Division officials said that they were concerned about the safety of lives and environment in allowing the private sector to set up LPG bottling plants in the country.

In the draft, a five member expert committee categorically proposed a set of terms and conditions to be fulfilled by any applicants for setting up such plants to ensure safety aspects in operating such plants.

The location for the plant must be away from populous area, suitable arrangements for LPG import and its transportation with the facility of 10-mitre wide connective roads, and efficient handling and marketing of LPG cylinders.

Entrepreneurs will have to submit financial and economic analyses of the project to the Energy Division.

The draft made it mandatory for the companies for taking approval of the explosives department by submitting lay-out plan of the LPG bottling plant.

The LPG cylinders should be collected by maintaining the international codes and standard and the quality of LPG should be followed according to the specification of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute.      

Interested companies will have to procure license from Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission before setting up all machineries and other facilities and for importing gas and transporting LPG cylinders.

They will have to collect clearance certificates from concerned government departments, fire service and civil defense, the BERC and local authority for setting up LPG bottling plant.

A company will have 18 months for setting up the plant and commissioning it after receiving the government's approval.

The draft also made mandatory for a company to have approval from Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to ensure that the plant is built in a proper way before it starts LPG bottling and marketing.

To ensure environment protection, a company will have to follow the government and internationally recognised rules and regulations.

Presently, there is a total supply of 80,000 tonnes of LPG, catering the needs of the domestic market, but the demand is fast rising.

Of the total supply, 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of LPG in a total of 6.4 million LPG cylinders are imported and supplied annually by private companies like Basundhara Group, Clean Heat and TotalGaz.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) produces and bottles only 20,000 tonnes of LPG – 13,500 tonnes at Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) and the rest at Rupantarita Pakratik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL).

Source : New Age

Ethnic minority people protest at fellow’s killing in Rajshahi

Ethnic minority people on Monday formed a human chain in the Rajshahi city, demanding arrests and punishment of the killers of Hingu Razoar, who had been recently killed.

City inhabitants, ethnic minority men and women from Godagari upazila, where the victim lived in, his family members, leaders and activists of different left organisations and human rights activists also joined the programme at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point.

Jatiya Adibashi Parishad, Tribal Cultural Development Organisation and Tribal Society Development Organisation jointly organised the programme at about 11:30am.

Pointing at the recent increase in the incidence of violence against the ethnic minority people at Gogagari of the district, the speakers said powerful quarters often tried to hush up the crimes and influence the law enforcers to work in favour of the perpetrators.

Referring to the rape of Serafina Mardi, who later committed suicide, rape and killing of Mariam Murmu and killing of Hingu Razoar, all happening at Godagari, they said the criminals grew ever more audacious and daring as the law had failed to bring them to book.

They also sought intervention of the prime minister and the home minister in ensuring security of the ethnic minority people in the region.

Jatiya Adibasi Parishad president Anil Marandy, general secretary Rabindranath Saren, Rajshahi district chapter president Bimal Chandra and Tribal Cultural Development Organisation executive director Abdus Samad addressed the programme, among others.

Hingu Razoar, 18, a cowherd, was severely beaten up at village Gopalpur on July 20 and died two days later at Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital.

A case was filed with the Chapainwabganj police the day he had died.

None has been arrested yet, said Chapainawabganj police officer-in-charge Golam Mortuza.

Source : New Age

2nd Nat'l River Fair ends at JU

Construction of dams and bridges, putting blocks and filling up of rivers should be stopped for maintaining natural river flow, said eminent environmentalist Professor Jamilur Reja Chowdhury on the occasion of the 2nd National River Fair 2011.

Titled 'Chhoto Nodi Chhoto Noi', the three-day fair was concluded on Monday on the Jahangirnagar University campus near the capital which had begun on July 23.

The Disaster Forum and JU geography and environment department jointly organised the fair amid rising awareness of mass people on promoting natural flow of river and protesting pollution.

The three-day fair included discussions, photo exhibition, drawing sessions for children, documentary shows on rivers, film show, music session, mime show and poetry recitations.

On the second day of the fair, former VC of BRAC University Professor Jamilur Reja Choudhury chaired the function while Chittagong University Zoology department Assistant Professor Manzurul Kibria presented a paper on 'Halda River: Our Heritage.'

On the concluding day, organisers made some important recommendations which included commitment for working together in promoting rivers and opposing all sorts of construction in and by the rivers; making the rivers safe abodes for aquatic animal; promoting songs, poems, culture and professions centring rivers; organising river fair at most spheres of the society every year; conducting research at the college and university levels on river and prioritising river promotion and protection by the government and non-government organisations.

Source : New Age

BCL attack on protest rally condemned

The Rajshahi University left organisations on Monday condemned a Bangladesh Chhatra League attack on a rally at Bogra Azizul Haque College on Sunday, protesting at recently signed product sharing contact between the government and ConocoPhillips to explore mineral resources in deep sea of Bangladesh.

The RU unit of the Progressive Students Alliance, a union of left leaning political organisations for students, brought out a protest procession on the campus at about 11:00am.

More than a hundred activists shouted slogans against the ruling party's associated body for the students.

Later, the protesters held a rally where they said the ruling party and its associate bodies intended to stop all democratic movements in the country.

They said Awami League wanted that there would be only one students' organisation in the country and it must be Chhatra League.

They also complained that the authorities concerned always tried to vandalise the peaceful demonstrations of the left students' organisations for establishing the democratic rights of the people.

The speakers said the BCL activists attacked the rally organised by Samajtantrik Chhatra Front at Bogra Azizul Haque College and injured at least 15 activists of the organisation.

Samajtantrik Chhatra Front convener Sohrab Hossain, Bangladesh Students' Alliance president Rafi Ahmed Chanchal and secretary Shipon Ahmed, Bangladesh Students' Federation president Sham Sagar Manki and Biplabi Chhatra Moitree president Iqbal Ahmed addressed at the rally, among others.

Source : New Age

Sylhet human chain protests at Tipaimukh Dam

About two hundred people in the Sylhet city on Monday formed a human chain, protesting at an Indian government move to build a dam at Tipaimukh on the River Barak, the upper region of Rivers Surma and Kushiara.

Movement against Tipaimukh Dam, a social forum, organised the programme in front of the Central Shaheed Minar in the afternoon.

After ending the human chain, a rally was also held.

The speakers said that the Indian government reportedly had taken steps to construct a concrete dam on the River Barak at Chorachandpur in Manipur.

They feared that the water flow of the Surma and Kushiara rivers would be decreased drastically if the 'controversial' Tipaimukh dam was constructed.

The country's North-eastern region that included the Sylhet division, Greater Mymensingh and Tangail would be turned into desert, if the dam was constructed, the protesters said.

The forum convener Bedananda Bhattacharya presided over the rally that was addressed, among others, by Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal district convener Uzzal Roy and leaders Sekandar Ali, AK Sheam and Monir Helal and Arash Ali

Source : New Age

Counter bus service in Ctg launched in low spirit

The first day of the counter bus service in the Chittagong city was rather ceremonial, with the countermen packing up their arrangement within minutes of the launch of the service on Monday.

Chittagong city mayor M Manjur Alam in the morning inaugurated the counter service at New Market.

The launch was attended among others by additional police commissioner Shafiqul Islam, deputy police commissioner (north) CMP Amena Begum and leaders of several transport owner associations.   

But the countermen packed up their chairs and tables within a few minutes of opening the service.

During a spot visit, no counter service was seen in any strategic points of the city and like other days the passengers were seen to get on minibuses and human haulers without any ticket.

Several transport owners' associations at a press conference on July 23 at Chittagong Press Club announced that the service would be launched on Monday.  

The leaders of the associations promised that the counter service would operate from 7:00am till 9:00pm and 137 counters would be set up in the city while 1,200 minibuses and human haulers would ply under the service.

When contacted, CMP deputy commissioner (traffic) Faruk Ahmed told New Age that as he was outside Chittagong, he did not know the details but hoped that the service would come into effect today.  

Explaining the absence of counter service in the city, Faruk said this was not unusual as it was jut the first day of the service.

Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary general of the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, however, told New Age that the initiative to launch counter service in the city was taken in 2008 but it fell through.

'Launching counter service is not enough unless the service is improved. There are two passengers' organisations operative in Chittagong. But, the CMP does not care to invite them to the meeting with transport owners. There is an unholy nexus between the CMP authorities and the transport owners in Chitta-gong,' added Mozammel.

Source : New Age

Fund constraints behind city roads in bad shape

Meagre development funds restrain the Dhaka City Corporation from repairing the roads of the capital, say the corporation officials.

The corporation's chief engineer, Abul Hossain, also told New Age recently that they had acute manpower shortage and so were failing to accomplish their work properly.

In the meantime, city dwellers are continuing to complain about the poor conditions of the roads.

'We are living at Goran, near Sipahibagh tempo-stand for about 30 years and this area's roads are always in a bad shape,' said Mohammad Jahangir Chowdhury.

Sabekunnahar, a resident of Jatrabari, told New Age that most of the lanes and by-lanes of her area were dilapidated suggesting that the government had no interest to repair them.

The chief engineer said at present there were 7,500 roads, lanes and by-lanes in the corporation area which were divided into 'primary', 'secondary' and 'local' roads.

He said when it came to repairs, priority was given to the bigger 'primary' roads.

'Every year we receive Tk 300 to Tk 350 crore to repair roads while we need Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 crore to repair all the secondary and local lanes and by-lanes and this is why it will never happen.' 

Abul Hossain said they received an insufficient budget as the government had to distribute money for other development works.

'I know, in DCC's zone 1, 4 and 7, there are some roads that are in a bad shape,' the officer admitted.

He said that at present they had a project to repair about 100 roads in the city though lanes and by-lanes would not come under the project.

The project titled 'The improvement of damaged roads, drains and footpaths of Dhaka City Corporation', with a budget of Tk 266 crore, is supposed to repair 237 kilometres of roads, drains and footpaths,

The proposal was submitted to the local government ministry on September 2, 2010.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the project plan earlier this year and the chief engineer said the implementation work of the project would start hopefully in September.

'It took more than two years in total to approve the project,' said Abul Hossain.

While asked about the open manholes and surface level drains throughout the city, he said for lack of manpower DCC was failing to carry on its duty properly.

'Fifty per cent of posts at the lower level in our department are vacant now,' he said.

Source : New Age

Non-govt teachers want pay hike

Bangladesh College-University Teachers Association—a  platform of non-government teachers—on Monday demanded that the house rent and medical allowance for non-government teachers who are on monthly pay order should be increased from Tk 100 and Tk 150.

They also demanded that their festival allowance should be upgraded from 25 percent to 100 percent.

'It is completely disgraceful that non-government teachers get only Tk 100 as house rent and Tk 150 for medical allowance. We get only 25 percent of the salary as the festival allowance,' said Abdur Rashid, executive president of Bangladesh College- University Teachers Association.

'We demand that non-government teachers will get the same house rent and medical allowance as the government teachers get. We also demand that our festival allowance is upgraded to 100 percent of the salary,' he added.

The organisation made the demand at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday. Among others, the organisation's executive president Abdur Rashid, secretary general Sirajul Haque, vice-president AFM Nazrul Majid spoke at the briefing.

At the press briefing, the teachers put forward a written 10-point demand. The demand includes implementation of separate salary structure for teachers, creating a public service commission for non-government teachers and immediate implementation of time scale for teachers.

Source : New Age

2 electrocuted in capital

Two men were electrocuted in separate incidents at Farashganj and Badda in the capital on Monday.

The deceased, Moinul Islam, 26, son of Nuru Miah, was a resident of Farashaganj under Sutrapur police station and Mohammad Joynal, 35, was a security guard of a house at Gulshan.

The police said Moinul Islam came in contact with a live electric wire while pressing the switch of a machine at the printing press where he worked as a machine operator.

Having been taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he was pronounced dead by the on-duty physicians at about 11:30am.

Mohammad Joynal, a security guard at House 13/C at Road 99 of Gulshan-2, died on the spot as he had come into contact with live electric wires at the generator room of the house at about 11:00am.

Source : New Age

Strategies to combat human trafficking discussed

Speakers at a workshop in the Barisal city on Monday underscored the need for formulating a sustainable plan of action against human trafficking, particularly women and children.

The district-level consultation styled 'evaluation of the national plan of action for combating trafficking in women and children 2008' was jointly organised by the district administration and the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association at the deputy commissioner's office.

The consultation, funded by the USAID and WINROCK International, is going on in 12 districts of the country aimed at preparing a new plan of action on the issue for the next three years.

Additional deputy commissioner (education and development) Palash Kanti Bala presided over the programme attended, among others, by Bithika Jahan, Diju Aktar, Zaman Aktar and Manjuara Gias of BNWLA, district women affairs officer Rashida Begum and NGO activist Mousumi Jahan.

The speakers emphasised on creating public awareness on the issue, particularly among women living in the border areas.

They had identified the major factors, including poverty, illiteracy, lack of information, unemployment, natural and man-made disasters, gender discriminations and violence, drug-addiction and cross-border trade, causing trafficking in women and children.

Sustainable poverty reduction methods, stringent laws against human trafficking, including provisions for speedy and in-camera trials, confiscations of property of the convicts, extraterritorial injunctions, legal aid for victims at home and abroad and protection of victims and witnesses were suggested by the participants for combating the problem.

Around 22 people, including lawyers, local administrative officers, law enforcers, representatives from non-government organisations and other stakeholders attended the workshop. 

Source : New Age

High speed internet connectivity for all univs soon

The University Grants Commission has signed an agreement with the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh for using two dark fibres to establish the Bangladesh Research and Education Network.

BdREN will enable high performance connectivity among academics, scientists and researchers in higher education to communicate with their peers within the country and eventually with the global academic and research community, said a World Bank press release on Monday.

The first phase of BdREN implementation has already begun with the Network Operation Centre set up at the UGC and points of presence have been created in six universities in Dhaka.

Three of these universities are already enjoying interconnectivity and all universities and research institutions of the country will gradually be covered by BdREN.

BdREN is being implemented under the $81-million-WB-financed Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project which aims to bring forth both innovation and accountability within universities and enhance the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector.

The project seeks to establish conditions that will stimulate teaching, improve learning and boost research in universities, and introduce an efficient instrument for the allocation of public funds to universities, the WB press release said.

The UGC on June 27 called for second round of proposals for grant awards from public universities, eligible private universities and departments of these universities to enhance innovation in teaching, learning and research.

In the first phase, the project awarded grants to 91 winning proposals from 25 public universities and two private universities.

Source : New Age

Patients suffer shortage of oral saline

The northern city of Rajshahi is facing an acute shortage of oral rehydration saline despite a sudden spate in the incidence of diarrhoea, flue and other viral ailments, doctors said.

Of late there has been a rush of patients suffering from these ailments at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as well as a host of public and private health centres in the city, they said.

But the patients are not getting oral saline of Social Marketing Company, they said.

Medicine shops in the city are flooded with substandard oral saline of unknown companies, they said.

Doctors said that the city's growing environmental pollution and overcrowding contributed to increased patient flow which otherwise would be a 'seasonal problem.'

The incidence of viral ailments increased in the city over the recent weeks, said Saifiddin Ekram, head of the neonatal medicine at RMCH.

He suggested city dwellers to take special care to keep the houses and yards clean and dry and to ensure that water did not get deposited anywhere.

He also called for proper disposal of abandoned pots, containers, old tyres and coconut shells, and other garbage so that no rain water could get deposited to help breeding of mosquitoes, which transmit virus.

They advised people to stay away from patients who could infect others by sneezing and coughing.

Doctors also advised fever patients with respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis to seek emergency medical treatment.

They said that though fever subsides in a few days, irritating coughing and weakness persist for more than two weeks or longer.

RMCH child specialist professor AB Siddique said, 'In most cases, no medicine is required, but the patients should take more liquid and normal food.'

Doctors suggested oral saline and normal food for babies.

They said that babies should be breastfed.

They suggested people to consult doctors immediately if they have red rashes, bleeding from nose or teeth or blood vomiting with fever.

The patients, with previous respiratory problems, were advised to take a course of antibiotics but only on doctors' advice.

Asgar Ali said that his grandfather was under treatment at RMCH and as the hospital authorities were unable to provide enough saline, he had to go out to buy it.

He said that only then he came to know that no oral saline of SMC was available in the market, and the medicine shops offered him `low quality' saline of unknown companies.

SMC sales manager Nurun Nabi told New Age that this year this year the demand was higher than the company's production target of 150 crore packets.


He said that taking advantage of the demand some dishonest companies were selling substandard oral saline and often they were faking the SMC level and packet.

He said that last year SMC sued Universal Company of Pabna for duplicating the packet of SMC.

He said that the court ordered to confiscation of fake saline of Universal Company.

Nabi also said that about seven companies in Bangladesh were producing oral saline taking food processing licence.

These companies have no licence to produce medicines, he said.

Many patients complained that the medicine sellers were charging extra price taking advantage of the shortfall in supply.

They blamed inaction of the Drug Administration for the unacceptable situation.

When contacted, Mirza Mohammod Anwar Hossain, assistant director of Drug Administration, admitted that a persistent crisis was troubling the patients.

He told New Age that indeed some company were selling substandard oral saline.

He also said that due to shortage of personnel the Drug Administration was unable to check this illegal practice.

Source : New Age

Husband kills wife for dowry

A youth allegedly killed his wife for dowry at Battoli village under Keraniganj Model police station Monday.

The victim was Shilpi, 18, daughter of Abu Naser of the village.

Source : New Age

Norway gunman claims having active network

A court in Oslo remanded Anders Behring Breivik in custody for eight weeks Monday after the gunman who said he was behind last week's massacre of 76 people claimed to have an active network of accomplices.

As the police lowered the death toll from Friday's mass shooting at an island summer camp, the 32-year-old suspect was refused permission to appear in a uniform at his first appearance in an Oslo court.

The judge also ruled in the closed door hearing that Behring Breivik be held in solitary confinement for the first four weeks of an eight-week period in custody, with a ban on all communication with the outside world in a bid to aid a police investigation.

The suspect told the court hearing he had 'two further cells' in his organisation, according to the court registrar.

Judge Kim Heger told reporters that the 32-year-old suspect told the court he wanted to 'send a powerful signal' around Europe that Marxist and Muslim colonisation had to end.

'The operation was not aimed at killing the largest number possible, but to send a powerful signal that couldn't be mistaken,' Heger said.

'Despite that the accused has acknowledged the actual circumstances, he has not pleaded guilty,' the judge spelled out, through a translator.

Behring Breivik's brief appearance came around an

hour after the country had marked a minute's silence for the victims of last Friday's bomb and shooting spree which left 76 people dead.

The police on Monday revised their previous tolls, saying that 68 people were now known to have been killed in the island shootings while eight died in the car bombing. The previous overall toll had stood at 93, 86 of whom were thought to have been shot on the island.

Behring Breivik arrived at the court and left in an armoured Mercedes via a back entrance to the courthouse in downtown Oslo.

TV2 television showed grainy images of the shaven-headed suspect wearing a red top being taken from the court, almost unrecognisable as the man with a mop of blond hair featured in photographs in his own lengthy Internet manifesto.

People waiting to catch a glimpse of him cried 'traitor' and 'bloody killer,' Norway's NTB agency said.

Behring Breivik's lawyer, Geir Lippestad, came in through the main entrance, having to force a passage through hundreds of journalists waiting since early morning.

Thousands of people had earlier bowed their heads in silence outside Oslo's main university at a ceremony led by the prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, and King Harald V.

'To remember the victims who died at the government's headquarters and on the island of Utoeya, I declare a minute of silence,' said Stoltenberg on the stroke of midday before he opened a book of condolence.

The country's train stations closed and the stock market halted trading. Nordic neighbours Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland also held a minute's silence and flew national flags at half-mast.

'It was an attack against the very values that our countries are built upon. It was an attack against all of us,' said the Danish prime minister, Lars Loekke Rasmussen.

Before the attack, Behring Breivik wrote a 1,500-page manifesto, datelined London. He boasted he was one of up to 80 'solo martyr cells' recruited across Western Europe to topple governments tolerant of Islam, it said, adding that Scotland Yard was now trying to establish if he had recently visited London.

At least seven people died in an initial car bombing outside the prime minister's office, in a calculated distraction for police allowing Behring Breivik to shoot scores of youngsters attending a summer camp on the island of Utoeya, 40 kilometres away.

The official toll from the island currently stands at 86 although police have said the figure could be revised downwards.

Names and photographs are to be released shortly of those who died, including offspring of senior ruling party figures.

An emotional Stoltenberg said at a memorial service on Sunday that the full extent of the 'evil' perpetrated Friday would emerge when the victims' names and their photographs are released.

It emerged Monday that the half-brother of Norway's Princess Mette-Marit — an off-duty policeman — was one of the victims of the gun attack.

Behring Breivik currently has only the status of 'official suspect,' meaning he will not learn actual charges until the investigation is concluded with police still hunting for possible accomplices.

But the attacks have triggered calls for Norway to reinstate the death penalty. The maximum prison sentence in Norway is 21 years, meaning — if found guilty — the accused could be awarded just 82 days per killing.

Behring Breivik acknowledged in his tract that he would be deemed a 'monster,' but said it was designed to end a centuries-long Muslim colonisation of Europe.

Although he told investigators he acted alone, prosecutors stressed they had yet to uncover a motive — despite the manifesto claims.

Part diary, bomb-making manual and Islamophobic rant, the tract details the self-styled Knight Templar's 'martyrdom operation' including a call for believers to spawn as many children as possible in order to generate a pool of future fighters in a Christian war he likens to a medieval crusade.

During weekend interrogation, Behring Breivik told police that Europe's deadliest attacks since the 2004 Madrid bombings, were 'cruel' but 'necessary.'

Nevertheless, lawyer Lippestad said his client felt he had done 'nothing reprehensible.'

The police have faced loud criticism over the hour it took them to reach the island, during which victims — some shot again in the head to make sure they were dead, according to witnesses — died at a rate of more than one per minute.

Source : New Age

Tarique asked to appear in court on Aug 8

A Dhaka court on Monday asked Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, to appear on August 8 in a money laundering case.

Dhaka special judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain passed the order and said that the court would frame charges against Tarique, also senior vice-chairman of BNP, in his absence should he fail to appear on August 8.

The court deferred the hearing in charge framing in the case for the fourth time.

The court passed the order after hearing a plea from the counsels for Tarique and his business

partner Giasuddin Al Mamun, another accused in the case.

The defence counsels appealed to the court that the hearing needed to be deferred as they were preparing to file a petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against a High Court order rejecting Tarique's plea against the trial proceedings of the case.

The High Court on July 12 dismissed the petition of Tarique, who is staying in London, as it was not pressed by his counsels.

The Dhaka senior special judge's court on May 5 took cognisance of the charges pressed by the Anti-Corruption Commission against Tarique and Mamun.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on June 2 dismissed a petition filed by Tarique seeking review of its February 9 verdict that had ruled for his trial under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2002 instead of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009 that repealed the 2002 act.

Anti-Corruption Commission assistant director Mohammad Ibrahim filed the case with Dhaka Cantonment police station on October 26, 2009 accusing Tarique and Mamun of siphoning Tk 204 million to Singapore between 2003 and 2007 in violation of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009.

On July 6, 2010, Ibrahim submitted charge sheet against Tarique and Mamun showing 18 people as prosecution witnesses.

This was the first case filed against Tarique after the Awami League-led alliance had assumed office on January 6, 2009.

The commission had pressed the charges a few days after Tarique reportedly had a meeting behind closed doors in London with BNP leaders staying in European countries.

Tarique, arrested by the army-led joint forces on March 7, 2007 and sued in at least 12 cases during the immediate-past military-controlled interim government, was released from prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on September 3, 2008 on bail granted by the High Court in all the 12 cases.

He then went to London for medical treatment. He is still undergoing treatment in London.

Mamun is now behind bars, facing a raft of corruption charges.

Khaleda's youngest son Arafat Rahman was jailed for six years and fined Tk 190.41 million on June 23 for siphoning off SGD 2,884,000 and USD 932,000 to Singapore.

Source : New Age

Jamuna continues to threaten Sirajganj town

Sirajganj town protection embankment went under serious threat at Ghurka area where about a 90-metre chunk collapsed due to further rise of the river Jamuna on Sunday night.

The Jamuna recorded a rise of 1cm at Bahadurabad and 3cm at Serajganj and was flowing 15cm and 6cm above its flood level at the two points respectively on Monday morning.

Bangladesh Water Development Board with the help of the army and local people took some preventive measures throwing concrete blocks and sand-bags to

check erosion.

The gushing Jamuna has caused damages at three different points of the embankment in the last seven days, forcing panicky residents of the area to shift their belongings, local people said.

The WDB Rajshahi zone chief engineer Mohammad Afzal Hossain said the entire embankment may be devoured by the Jamuna and plans should be taken to build the town protection embankment afresh.

'We have been unable to stop the erosion due to the river's mysterious trends,' said Hossain.

The Board's director general Mohammad Habibur Rahman Jinnah said that BWDB may soon send a proposal to the ministry suggesting to hand over the Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment for protective work to Bangladesh Army.

The 2.5 km long town protection embankment was constructed by Korean Hyundai Company at a cost of Tk 350 crore during 1995-2000.

Although Hyundai had given a 100-year guarantee for the infrastructure, the embankment started collapsing within the first ten years.

Nearly 800-metre parts of the embankment were eroded after 2009 and the BWDB has, so far, spent more than Tk 76 crore for repair works.

Meanwhile, the flood forecasting and warning centre in Dhaka said the Jamuna river is likely to start receding today.

Among other rivers of the country, the Padma was flowing 23cm above flood level at Bhagyakul and 3cm above at Goalundo on Monday morning.

The Ghagot was also recorded to be flowing 11cm above its danger mark at Gaibandha at 6:00am on Monday

Source : New Age

HRW urges India to probe border killings by BSF

A global human rights group has urged India to take a speedy, fair and transparent criminal investigation into fresh allegations of killings, torture, and other abuses by the Border Security Force on the border with Bangladesh.

New York-based Human Rights Watch in a statement on Monday said those against whom there was credible evidence of culpability should be prosecuted as part of an effort to end longstanding impunity for abuses along the border with Bangladesh.

The statement, styled 'India: New killings, torture at Bangladeshi border—revised instructions from Delhi not stamping out abuses' said there had been some new cases of killings despite India's assurance that India would take steps to uphold human rights.

The renewed call by Human Rights Watch came following its 2010-report, titled 'Trigger Happy' that had documented extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment by the BSF.

The call also coincided with India's ruling alliance leader Sonia Gandhi's 24-hour tour of Dhaka to attend an international conference on autism. Sonia arrived in Dhaka late Sunday.

The HRW statement has said in the past decade, the BSF has killed both Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. After the release of the report, Indian authorities assured Bangladeshi officials that these killings would be stopped, it said.

The government announced that it would order restraint and encourage the use of rubber bullets instead of more lethal ammunition, steps welcomed by the human rights group.

While the number of deaths due to shooting has substantially decreased in 2011, the Bangladeshi non-governmental organisation Odhikar has documented at least 17 alleged killings of Bangladeshis by the border force and other instances of severe abuse since January.

Local groups have documented several cases of deaths as a result of severe beatings by the BSF, the HRW said.

'Despite orders from New Delhi to end killings and abuse and to exercise restraint in dealing with people crossing the border, new deaths and other serious abuses are being reported,' said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director for Human Rights Watch.

'The government has issued some positive new directives, but it needs to prosecute those who commit abuses so the soldiers will understand they can't act with impunity.'

Source : New Age

Fresh violence leaves 44 dead in Karachi

Fresh political and ethnic violence gripped Pakistan's commercial capital over the past three days, leaving up to 44 people dead and taking the death toll for July to 339, city police said Monday.

Most of the weekend's casualties were reported in the city's eastern Malir, Landhi and adjoining areas — a multi-ethnic, lower middle class neighbourhood.

'We have identified the people and at least 200 police commandos will be dispatched to search and arrest these people,' said Naeem Boroka, a senior police official in Karachi's eastern area.

The police said there was no clear reason for the latest bout of fighting. The city, home to more than 18 million people, has a long history of ethnic, religious and sectarian violence and local quarrels and political disputes can often explode into battles engulfing entire districts.

The areas affected are home to both Pashtuns and Muhajirs, the descendents of Urdu-speaking refugees who fled India to settle in Karachi in 1947 following the sub-continent's partition.

The two political parties

representing the two ethnic groups have a history of enmity and violence between them.

But the recent fighting also included Sunni-Shia violence, with personal feuds played out in an environment that has seen a breakdown in law and order, said the Sindh information minister, Sharjeel Memon.

The Muhajir-backed Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Pashtun-backed Awami National Party and the Pakistan People's Party have often used street thugs and ethnic gangs over the years as footsoldiers in a city-wide turf war over political power in Karachi, which contributes 68 per cent of Pakistan's tax revenues and hosts the country's largest ports.

Karachi was a main target of al-Qaeda-linked militants after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, when Pakistan joined the US-led campaign against militancy, and foreigners were attacked in the city several times.

A recent report from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 1,138 people were killed in Karachi in the first six months of 2011, of whom 490 were victims of political, ethnic and sectarian violence.

Source : New Age