Australia inflation up

Australian inflation unexpectedly jumped in the June quarter, data showed Wednesday, adding pressure on the central bank to hike interest rates further and sending the local dollar to a record high.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the consumer price index rose 0.9 per cent in the three months to June compared with the first quarter, while it was 3.6 per cent higher year on year.

Both figures were above market expectations of 0.8 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively.

Economists said the figures removed any chance of a cut in interest rates — which some analysts had touted this month as the domestic and global economies show signs of easing — and increased the likelihood of a hike.

'Clearly with this sort of inflation there is no respite,' UBS chief economist for Australia Scott Haslem told the AFP.

'The Reserve Bank of Australia is going to be looking for the first opportunity, or any signs that growth is stabilising or picking up, to lean against inflation.'

Dubbed the 'Wonder from Down Under' after it survived the global slump without dipping into recession, the Australian economy already has one of the highest official interest rates in the developed world at 4.75 per cent.

It was the first to raise rates as it recovered from the downturn and raised rates a total of 175 basis points between October 2009 and November 2010.

The central bank aims to keep inflation within a 2.0-3.0 per cent range and economists said it would not want to be caught 'behind the curve' as it was in 2006 and 2007 when interest rates remained at low levels.

'The signal for the RBA is crystal clear and if they are in any way competent, they will hike rates at the next meeting,' said ICAP senior economist Adam Carr.

'The consequences of them delaying for another six months could be dire in 2012. They really need to get a grip and do what is good for the country.'

Source : New Age

Global FDI to recover to pre-crisis level in 2011: UNCTAD

World foreign investment flows are projected to recover to the pre-crisis level of $1.4 to $1.6 trillion in 2011, although debt crises in the rich world could hurt the recovery, the UN warned Tuesday.

'The recovery of FDI (foreign direct investment) flows will continue in 2011 and will reach a total of some $1.4 to $1.6 trillion, thus returning to the pre-crisis average,' according to the annual world investment report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

'Thereafter, flows are forecast to rise to $1.7 trillion in 2012 and $1.9 trillion in 2013,' it added.

However, the forecast could be scuppered by debt crises in the developed world and overheating in emerging economies.

'If there is a double-dip recession, there will be serious effects' on the world economy, said James Zhang, who heads UNCTAD's investment and enterprise division.

But while poor economic indicators could hurt investment, Zhang noted they could also spark opportunities.

'If governments are in heavy debt, one measure is to sell state assets. That may generate opportunities for transnational corporations to get in to acquire these assets,' he said.

In addition, Zhang said some governments which have injected funds into companies may also 'accelerate their exit from these firms' in the next few years.

'That creates further opportunities for investment entry for FDIs,' he said.

After all, large corporations are sitting on a mountain of cash.

'Firms have a record level of cash in their pockets, it reached close to $5 trillion — a historic high and even twice as much as pre-crisis levels,' Zhang pointed out.

Overall, the United States remained the biggest foreign investor country as well as the largest receiver of inflows in 2010.

China was the second largest recipient of inflows, followed by Hong Kong.

Germany meanwhile was the second biggest investor, followed by France

Source : New Age

South Korea growth slows in Q2

South Korea's economic growth slowed in the second quarter from three months earlier, the central bank said Wednesday, as export gains eased sharply due partly to global economic uncertainties.

Asia's fourth-largest economy grew 0.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter in April-June compared to a 1.3 per cent expansion in January-March, according to an advance estimate from the Bank of Korea.

Gross domestic product rose 3.4 per cent in the second quarter from a year earlier, slowing down from a 4.2 per cent annual increase in January-March.

'Private consumption steadily increased and facilities investment rose. But growth in exports slowed while construction investment remained sluggish,' the central bank said in a statement.

Wednesday's figures showed that exports, which account for about half of GDP, rose 1.8 per cent in the second quarter from the previous quarter, slowing from a 3.3 per cent rise in January-March.

The fall came amid growing global uncertainty sparked by the eurozone debt crisis and a possible US debt default.

The second-quarter performance was slightly below the central bank's initial estimate early this month and the market's expectations.

However the bank said growth is likely to pick up to 1.5 per cent in both the third and fourth quarters, indicating the economy remains on a robust recovery track.

'Exports of tech products remained weak last quarter mainly because prices of flat panel and chips have not yet recovered,' said Kim Young-Bae, director general of its economic statistics division.

Source : New Age

Obama seeks ‘Plan B’ as debt plans stall

A Republican plan to cut the US deficit faced delay and stiff opposition on Wednesday, piling anxiety onto investors and ordinary Americans hoping for a late compromise to avoid a crippling debt default.

Deeply divided Republican and Democratic leaders are scrambling to find common ground with less than a week before the government hits its borrowing limit approved by Congress, triggering a possible default that would roil global markets.

Even if that fate is avoided, a plan that flinches from hefty deficit cuts could result in a downgrade of America's top-notch credit rating that would raise its borrowing costs and deal a severe blow to its anaemic economic recovery.

After weeks of acrimonious debate, the contours of a possible deal have emerged but Republicans and Democrats are digging their heels in on some key demands and blaming each other for putting politics ahead of the national interest.

The chances of a quick resolution narrowed after a vote on a deficit plan by the top Republican in Congress was pushed back to Thursday from Wednesday.

Republican Speaker John Boehner rushed to rework his bill after an analysis found it would cut spending by $350 billion less than the $1.2 trillion over 10 years he had claimed.

President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the Boehner plan and top Senate Democrat Harry Reid described it as 'dead on arrival.'

The plan has also failed to win the backing of conservative Tea Party Republicans, who have steadfastly refused to back tax rises and want much heavier cuts to social programs that are traditionally protected by Obama's Democrats.

The White House said on Tuesday it was working with Congress to craft an unspecified 'Plan B,' providing a glimmer of hope that an 11th-hour deal could be reached as lawmakers feel the pressure from increasingly anxious financial markets.

The impasse has driven investors to seek safe havens for their money, most noticeably gold and the Swiss franc. The dollar slid to a record low versus the Swiss franc on Wednesday. Gold rose to a record high of $1,625.24, before easing to around $1,624.46.

There have been no signs yet of the panic that could be sparked by a default, with most investors confident that a deal will somehow be struck.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Americans are overwhelmingly concerned about the crisis and a majority — 56 per cent — support a mixture of tax increases and spending cuts that Obama has advocated and Republicans have dismissed.

Despite their differences — sharpened by the looming presidential and congressional elections in November 2012 — there is common ground between Boehner's bill and a rival plan by Reid that calls for a $2.7 trillion deficit reduction over the next decade.

Reid said he could not understand why Republicans did not support the plan he presented since it does not raise taxes and the spending cuts in the proposal have been endorsed by them.

'It's everything Republicans have demanded wrapped up in a bow and delivered to their door,' he said.

Obama has said he cannot accept Boehner's two-step deficit plan because it extends the Treasury's borrowing authority only until early next year, risking a rerun of the debt impasse during the election campaign.

Obama, who will run for a second term, has backed Reid's one-step plan, which has a hike to the $14.3 trillion debt limit that would carry through the elections.

Neither plan goes far enough with deficit cuts to guarantee the US sovereign credit rating will not be downgraded, an action that would dent the global safe-haven status of the dollar and Treasury bonds.

All three big credit-rating agencies have warned the United States needs to come up with a credible deficit plan to keep its top rating in the long term.

Executives from Standard and Poor's and Moody's Investors Service are due to appear before a congressional panel on Wednesday, where they will face scrutiny over their views on the debt ceiling debate.

Obama and treasury secretary Timothy Geithner have stressed the government will run out of room to borrow funds on August 2, next Tuesday.

But Treasury officials have never said when the government will exhaust its funds to pay the nation's bills and the consensus among Wall Street analysts is that the cash will not run out until about two weeks later than that.

Source : New Age

Dollar steadies against euro after slump

The dollar steadied against the euro on Wednesday as investors paused for breath after the greenback had sunk to a three-week low point against the single currency on US debt strains.

In London deals, the European single currency stood at $1.4495 after earlier striking $1.4536, the highest level since July 5. The euro had traded at $1.4509 late in New York on Tuesday.

The dollar on Wednesday meanwhile hit a four-month low versus the Japanese currency, at 77.58 yen. It later stood at 77.69 yen compared with 77.94 yen late on Tuesday.

'The dollar seems to be holding up just about okay... but has been subject to quite a bit of weakness in the past few days,' said Simon Denham of trading group Capital Spreads.

'In the foreign exchange markets it's been the real safe haven currencies that have benefited the most throughout this extra ordinary time for financial markets, with the Swiss Franc being one of the most popular amongst them.

'Against the US dollar it has hit a new high... and the same can be said for the euro and sterling.

'When you think that the Japanese and many other emerging markets have been complaining about the weakness of the US dollar against their currencies, the Swissy is making new all time highs against just about every other currency out there.

Source : New Age

Khulna teachers on strike over sexual harassment

The Khulna Haji Mohammad Mohsin College teachers on Wednesday went on indefinite class boycott, protesting at sexual harassment of one of their colleagues.

They teachers complained that a male student of the college, Imran Sabuj, also a Bangladesh Chhatra League activist, sexually harassed a female teacher for long time.

They demanded expulsion of and punishment for Imran Sabuj, a first year Bachelor of Arts student and also general secretary of Khulna city ward no 12 Chhatra League committee.

He is also the cultural secretary of the college's students' union.

The teachers, as per their decision at a meeting on the campus on Tuesday, started class boycotting on Wednesday morning and declared to continue the strike until their demands were met.

In this regard, the teachers and college governing body members held a meeting with the acting principal Nazmul Ahsan in his room.

The meeting successfully formed a five-member committee, headed by former principal Tafazzel Hossain, to probe the allegations brought against Imran Sabuj, said a college teacher who was present in the meeting.

The committee was also asked to submit its report within three days, the teacher added.

Khalishpur police sub-inspector Kazi Reza said that a general diary was filed on Wednesday morning.

Source : New Age

BRAC signs MoU with JICA

BRAC and the Japan International Cooperation Agency on Tuesday signed a memorandum to facilitate collaboration on different issues, including working for the development of Africa, Bangladesh and other regions.

The two parties agreed to establish the institutional cooperation framework necessary to build the partnership, said a release.

JICA's senior vice-president Kenzo Oshima and BRAC group executive director Mahbub Hossain represented their respective parties in signing the MoU.

Currently BRAC is working to promote agriculture in many African countries and has gathered experience in community access and capacity building activities.

On the other hand, JICA, having recognised the increasing importance of rice production in Africa, launched the Coalition for African Rice Development at Tokyo International Conference on African Development IV held in May 2008 in Japan.

The two organisations have found common interests in exploring the possibilities of partnerships in promotion of agriculture and rural development in Africa, in particular through the promotion of CARD.

Source : New Age

Puffed rice factory fined, 2 jailed

A Dhaka mobile court fined two puffed rice producing factories at Gobindapur at Shanir Akhra in the capital on Wednesday for using chemicals injurious to human health.

The court also fined them a total of Tk 1 lakh and jailed two people of the factories.

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution launched the mobile court with the help of Dhaka district administration, police and Rapid Action Battalion on the occasion of the forthcoming Ramadan.

A BSTI press release said that the mobile court was led by executive magistrate Mohammad Al-Amin under Bangladesh Pure Food Ordinance 1959 and the Bangladesh Pure Food (amendment) Act.

The court found Makka Food Products of the area to produce puffed rice using Hydroge (Sodium Hydro-Sulphide) which is severely harmful for human health and its use on food items is strongly prohibited.

The court jailed the factory owner Md Abu Siddiq Master, 50, for six months, fined him Tk 50,000 and destroyed about 3,000kg puffed rice.

The court, later, went to Khaja Food Products of the area and also found the factory to produce puffed rice using the same harmful chemical.

The court jailed the factory-in-charge Md Selim for one month on charges of proposing bribe to the court, fined another employee Md Julhas Tk 50,000.

The court also ordered the factory to destroy its 6,600kg puffed rice, the release added.

Source : New Age

Govt to form 20 new city corporations

The government will set up 20 more city corporations in greater districts to develop a strong representative local government system in the country.

LGRD and cooperatives minister Syed Ashraful Islam disclosed this to journalists after a meeting with deputy commissioners on Wednesday, the second day of DCs' conference, at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The DCs' conference began Tuesday and concludes today.

Syed Ashraful Islam said the establishment of 20 new city corporations would be completed within the tenure of the present government.

He said Comilla and Narayanganj city corporations had already been formed and another city corporation comprising Tongi and Gazipur would be formed by December this year.

The minister said the present government was pledge-bound to build a strong elected local government system in the country.

He said the local government bodies would have to increase their income as economic self-reliance was necessary for their independence.

Development and services of local government bodies could be expanded if their tax collection was increased, he added.

Source : New Age

2 lakh saplings planted in an hour

The Bangladesh Tree Planting Association organised a massive tree planting in which 2 lakh saplings were planted across 200 miles coast from Teknaf's Saint Martin to Shahebkhali at Mirsarai in Chittagong in one hour on Saturday.

Through the programme, the association has reached the door of the Guinness World Records.

About 7,000 people, including 79 union council chairmen, 711 ward members, 8 city corporation councillors, joined the programme in 11 upazilas of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong.

Ratanpur Steel Re-rolling Mills was the event partner.

State minister of environment and forest Hasan Mahmud, former adviser to the caretaker government Hossain Zillur Rahman, Chittagong mayor Monjur Alam, lawmaker Abul Kashem, Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner Joynul Bari, Bangladesh Environment Forum president M Edrish Ali and RSRM chairman M Rahman also took part in the tree planting programme.

Source : New Age

Boy killed in road accident

A 6-year-old boy was killed in a road accident at Matwail of Jatrabari in the capital on Wednesday morning.

The deceased, Raqibul Islam, son of Rafiqul Islam, was a resident of Golapbagh at Sutrapur.

The police said that Raqibul died on the spot falling down from a pickup van when it was hit by a speeding truck on the back at about 5:30am.

Source : New Age

Re-polling in 37 centres, to 80 tied posts in UP today

The Election Commission is set to hold re-polling today in 37 centres of 33 union councils where elections were suspended because of irregularities and re-elections to 80 positions of chairmen and members in unions where the results were tied.

The commission in the second phase held elections to 3,813 union councils in a staggered manner between May 31 and July 5. The commission earlier held elections to 553 union councils from March 29 to April 3.

The snatching of ballot boxes and papers, occupation of polling stations, destruction of result sheets and other irregularities prompted the presiding officers as well as the Election Commission to suspend elections in 38 polling centres.

The commission is, however, not holding re-polling in another centre, Kulancho at Dirai in Sunamganj, because of inundation of the area by floodwater.

Results of elections to 26 positions of union council chairmen, 32 of members reserved for women and 28 of general members were tied as two contenders polled equal number of votes.

According to the Local Government (Union Parishad) Election Rules 2010, the commission will hold re-elections for the posts between the two contenders securing maximum and equal votes. 

This is for the first time re-elections are taking place between the two rival candidates who polled equal number of votes. In the past, such decisions were made by drawing a lottery.

Election commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain told New Age that the commission had made necessary preparations for the re-polling.

'In response to requests of the candidates, we have suspended polling in Kulancho union council at Dirai in Sunamganj as the area has been inundated,' Sohul said.

Source : New Age

Parimal’s bail rejected

A Dhaka court on Wednesday rejected the bail petition of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College teacher Parimal Jaydhar arrested earlier on the charge of raping a student.

The court of chief metropolitan magistrate sent Parimal to jail.

On Sunday, the victim made her deposition to metropolitan magistrate Shamima Parvin on Sunday.

Arrested at a house of one of his relatives at Keraniganj on July 6, Parimal had been remanded in police custody for five days for interrogation.

Parimal made a confessional statement before a metropolitan magistrate on July 11.

He was arrested after the victim's father filed a case with Badda police station for raping his daughter.

The principal Hosne Ara and the acting headmaster Lutfar Rahman of the day shift of Bashundhara branch of the girls' school have been charged for allegedly backing Parimal and destroying evidence and threatening the victim's family for filing the case.

Parimal went into hiding after students of the school and their parents took to streets demanding his arrest.

He is married with a three-year old son.

Parimal hails from Tungipara in Gopalganj.

On May 14, 2009, the High Court issued an order laying down detailed guidelines to educational institutions and work places to prevent sexual harassment of women and children.

The court also directed the authorities to stop harassment of women and girls on their way to educational institutions and work places. 

The court had directed the authorities to open sexual harassment complaint centres at work places and educational institutions, and constitute committees to investigate charges.

Members of a pro-liberation citizens' forum held a demonstration in the city demanding trial of the sacked teacher Parimal Jayadhar for his abominable crime against the student.

Members of Jatiyatabadi Muktijudddher Prajanma held a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar on Monday demanded his exemplary punishment.

Students and teachers of Viqarunnisa School and College also took part in the demonstration.

The education ministry and the local MP Rashed Khan Menon, who headed the now-dissolved school governing committee

drew widespread criticism for the incident which hilghlighted insecurity of girl students at educational institutions.

Former education minister Osman Faruk, BNP education secretary Khairul Kabir Khokon and Bangladesh Jatiya Party secretary-general Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah also took part in the demonstration

Source : New Age

LDP, Kalyan Party support BNP

The main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on Wednesday held meetings with 10 political parties and groups including the Liberal Democratic Party and Bangladesh Kalyan Party and discussed the modalities of working together to intensify the current anti-government movement.

The acting secretary general of BNP, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, after three separate meetings claimed that the parties had extended their support to the ongoing BNP-led anti-government movement.

The 10 political parties and groups are the Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Nationalist Peoples Party, Muslim League, Bangladesh NAP, Islamic Party, National Awami Party-Bhasani, Labour Party and Democratic Alliance.  

A delegation of LDP on Wednesday met BNP acting secretary general at his Uttara residence and handed over some specific proposals to finalise the future course of action for a 'greater unity' against the government.

The meeting sources said that LDP leaders wanted clarification on a number of matters, including what would be the name of the alliance if they join

the BNP-led anti-government movement and the strategy for next general election.

The BNP side told LDP leaders the matters would be discussed at the

party's highest policy-making body and among the partners of BNP-led four party alliance.

The four-member delegation, led by LDP secretary general Jahanara Begum, included presidium members Redwan Ahmed and Syed Didar Bakht and senior joint secretary Shahdat Hossain Selim. BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and party chairperson's adviser Shamsuzzman Dudu were present at the meeting.

After more than an hour-long meeting, at a joint press briefing LDP secretary general Jahanara Begum said her party has decided in principle to carry out joint movement with BNP against the government's 'anti-people' activities.

BNP acting secretary general Fakhrul told reporters that the day's meeting was the follow-up of his meeting with LDP chairman Oli Ahmed on July 20.

Replying to a question, Fakhrul said proposals of LDP would be discussed at the meeting of BNP's national standing committee, the party's highest policymaking body.

The Bangladesh Kalyan Party on Wednesday agreed to give support to all political programmes sponsored by the BNP in a bid to launch an anti-government movement on some common political issues, including restoration of caretaker government provision and scrapping of the 15th amendment to constitution.

Kalyan Party president Syed Muhammad Ibrahim extended the support at the meeting with BNP acting secretary general held at Ibrahim's residence at Mohakhali DOHS.

The BNP is scheduled to hold nationwide demonstrations today in protest against unusual price hike of essentials, crisis of gas, electricity and water, filing of case against Tarique Rahman and deterioration of law and order across the country.

Eight political parties and groups also held a meeting with BNP's acting secretary general at BNP central office at Naya Paltan. After the meeting, Fakhrul said that the eight political parties supported BNP's anti-government movement including Thursday's countrywide demonstration.  

Among others, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party President Shafiul Alam Prodhan, NPP chairman Shaikh Sawkat Hossain Nilu, Labour Party acting president Mustafizur Rahman Iran, Islamic Party chairman Abdul Mubin, National Awami Party-Bhasani president Sheikh Anwarul Huq, Muslim League secretary general Atikul Islam, Bangladesh NAP chairman Jebel Rahman Gani and and Democratic Alliance president Khondaker Golam Murtaza, among others, attended the meeting.

BNP has recently also made contact with Bikalpadhara Bangladesh of AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Krishak Sramik Janata League

of Kader Siddiqui in its effort to involve more

political parties in the ongoing anti-government movement

Source : New Age

Oil, gas body demands scrapping of ConocoPhillips deals

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power, and Ports from rallies in different parts of the country on Wednesday called on the government to scrap the deals inked with ConocoPhillips for exploration and extraction of gas of offshore blocks 10 and 11.

The agreements were signed according to the Model Production and Sharing Contract-2008, with a provision for exporting 80 per cent of the extracted gas by the US oil company, the committee leaders said.

The committee on Wednesday also launched a four-day countrywide mass-contact campaign to drum up support for its seven-point set of demands.

The committee leaders, divided into five teams, started the campaign after holding a rally in front of the National Press Club.

The mass-contact programme will increase awareness of the people about the importance of safeguarding the country's natural resources from the hands of plunders, the committee convener, Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah, told a rally at Narsingdi.

The first team, heading for Sunamganj, will hold rallies and roadside meetings on the way.

Committee leaders Nurul Hasan, Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, and Bazlur Rashid Firoz, among others, are in the first team.

The second team, led by member secretary of the organisation Anu Muhammad and committee leaders Abdus Satter, Asaduzzaman Khan Masum, and Firoz Ahmed, started for Potuakhali.

The third team, which was moving along the Dhaka-Mongla Highway, included Jahangirnagr University teacher Nasim Akter Hossain, Razequzzaman Ratan, Sazzad Zahir Chandan, and Babul Biswas, among others.

The fourth team, led by Shubhrangshu Chakrabarty, is headed for Cox's Bazar. The other members of the team include committee leaders Enamul Haque, Tipu Biswas, Ruhin Hossain Prince, Quamrul Ahsan, and Abul Hasan Rubel.

The fifth team, with Rangpur as its destination, included Nur Mohammad, Anisur Rahman Mollick, Saiful Huq, and Zonayed Saki, among others.

The teams will also hold rallies on the way today.

Source : New Age

Khaleda must seek apology for remarks on constitution: Hasina

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday called upon the leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to withdraw her 'audacious' remark about throwing away the country's constitution.

'The leader of the opposition must to seek apology to the nation for dishonouring the constitution achieved through laying down lives by 30 lakh martyrs. Otherwise, the nation will not forgive her,' she added. Sheikh Hasina said the people, who did not believe in the country's independence and sovereignty and could not accept victory in the War of Liberation, can make such an utterance – 'throwing away the constitution of the country.'

'It is very much usual to make such remarks by a person like Khaleda Zia who did not join the freedom struggle. Not only that, she broke all traditions by sending a condolence message at the death of a Pakistani army officer when she was prime minister,' she added.

The prime minister said this at a function organised by Swechchhasebok League, an associated body of Awami League, marking the 18th founding anniversary of the organisation at Ganobhaban in Dhaka.

Chaired by Sechchhasebok League president Molla Mohammad Abu Kaiser, the programme was also addressed by former president of the organisation and Awami League Organising Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and General Secretary Pankoj Debnath.

Later, a cake was cut on the occasion. Jaif and Elija, son and daughter of Saima Wajed Hossain, also grand children of the prime minister, cut the cake amid repeated applause and slogans.

The prime minister said the constitution has been made clean through the 15th Amendment with the removal of all illegal matters.

She said the caretaker government bill, passed in the parliament formed after voter-less election, was 'faulty'. She said the nation has bitter experiences of the last caretaker government.

Sheikh Hasina said if Khaleda Zia wanted caretaker system, the leader of the opposition must admit that the last general election of 2008 was held in a free, fair and credible manner.  Even, she have to admit that the lawsuits filed by the caretaker government against her family members on charges of corruption were 'logical and authentic'.

The prime minister expressed her government's desire to achieve economic freedom of the country by establishing parliamentary democracy on a firm footing and maintaining its continuity.

Laying emphasis on continuity of parliamentary democracy for overall development, she said a country cannot achieve desired development without continuity of democratic government.

Besides, she the BNP-Jamaat government after assuming office in 2001, started plundering public money and perpetrating repression and oppression on the then opposition political parties. In protest against their repression, the people of the country cast votes for Awami League in 2008.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh was dubbed as a country of corruption, terrorism and militancy during the BNP-Jamaat regime in the outer world. But, she said her government has been able to overcome the negative image of the country.

Sheikh Hasina said as a result of the country's positive image, foreign investors have been choosing Bangladesh as a good place of their investment destination. Blaming BNP for the power, electricity and gas situation, she said her government has been working relentlessly to solve the problems.

She described her previous tenure of the Awami League government as a golden era of Bangladesh when the country achieved self-sufficiency in food production, increased power generation and literacy rate as well.

But, she said all achievements have gone down during the BNP-Jamaat's tenure.

Listing various development programmes of the government, she asked the leaders and workers of Swechchhasebok League to supplement the government efforts for building a happy and prosperous Bangladesh free from poverty and hunger.

The prime minister asked the current leadership to hold the national council of Swechchhasebok League in September and October next. A large number of leaders and workers of the party joined the function.

Source : New Age

No seat crisis: minister

Students who have just passed the HSC and equivalent examinations will not face any seat crisis in higher educational institutions, education minister has said.

Nurul Islam Nahid, at the result launching press conference at Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday said, 'No one will face (seat) crisis. There are more seats in all universities and colleges than the (total number of) those who have passed.'

He said that while there would be competition at universities, engineering universities, medical colleges and agricultural universities, there are other colleges where students can enrol in degree courses.

'It's usual,' he said, adding that last year at least 250,000 seats remained vacant across Bangladesh.

The minister made the comment when journalists asked whether the large number of students who had passed would have seats available to enrol in higher studies.

In all 10 educational boards, including madrasa and technical, 5,74,261 students have come out successfully, 40,892 more than last year.

The minister expressed his satisfaction with the overall results.

Source : New Age

Rural-urban disparity continues

Results of the Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent examinations show that no progress has been made to address the rural-urban inequity in education.

As in previous years, students of urban areas did well than the students in rural areas also this time although the government has always claimed that it is working to address the disparity.

The pass percentage is lower in all but the Rajshahi education board than the figure in the Dhaka board.

The pass rate is 76.89 in the Dhaka Board, 68.68 in the Comilla board, 63.37 in the Jessore board, 71.03 in the Chittagong board, 71.12 in the Barisal board, 75.68 in the Sylhet board and 66.18 in the Dinajpur board. The pass rate in the Rajshahi board is 79.01.

The number of GPA 5 scorers is also the highest in the Dhaka board. A total of, 17,786 students scored GPA 5 in the Dhaka board, 5,588 in the Rajshahi board, 1,389 in the Comilla board, 3,370 in the Jessore board, 1,795 in the Chittagong board, 1,310 in the Barisal board, 887 in the Sylhet board and 2,280 in the Dinajpur board.

The number of institutions with all their students coming out successful is also the highest in the Dhaka board.

The Dhaka board has 37 educational institutions where all the students became successful. The figure is 15 in the Rajshahi board, 7 in the Comilla board, 3 in the Jessore board, 7 in the Chittagong board, 3 in the Barisal board, 4 in the Sylhet board and 67 in the Dinajpur board.

Most of the Top Ten colleges in the Dhaka education board are in the capital city.

Rajuk Uttra Model College topped the list, followed by Mymensingh Girls' Cadet College, Mirzapur Cadet College, Viqarunnisa Noon College, Notre Dame College, Dhaka City College, Abdul Kadir Mollah College in Narsingdi, Holy Cross College, Residential Model College and Shamshul Haque Khan School and College at Demra in Dhaka.

Source : New Age

Magistracy back to DCs not possible: Ashraful

The LGRD and cooperatives minister, Syed Ashraful Islam, on Wednesday said that the government could not give back magistracy to deputy commissioners as they had exercised the judicial power before the separation of the judiciary from the executive.

'We cannot legally give back the total magistracy the deputy commissioners reserved before the separa- tion of the judiciary as there were directives from the Supreme Court in this regard,' Ashraful told reporters after a working session on the second day of the deputy commissioners' conference at the secretariat.

He said that the deputy commissioners had sought authority to conduct summary trial by executive magistrates which was not legally possible.

Before the separation of the judiciary on September 1, 2007, the deputy commissioners being district magistrates used to exercise the judicial power.

At the inauguration of the three-day annual conference on Tuesday, deputy commissioners sought authority to conduct summary trial by executive magistrates besides operation of mobile courts to keep law and order.

After the separation of the judiciary, the executive magistrates do not have the legal authority to hold summary trial in case an accused denies having committed the crime, officials said.

Source : New Age

Hasina invites Khaleda to iftar party

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday invited the leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia, also the Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, to an iftar party on August 6.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, is hosting the iftar party in honour of leaders of different political parties and eminent citizens at her Ganabhaban residence.

The AL president also invited acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to the iftar party.

AL deputy office secretary Mrinal Kanti Das handed over the invitation letters to BNP assistant office secretary Shamimul Islam Shamim at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office at about 9:15pm.

Mrinal said other BNP leaders might also be invited to the party.

Earlier on Tuesday, Khaleda invited Hasina and AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, also the LGRD and cooperatives minister, to an iftar

party she is scheduled to host on August 4 in honour of leaders of different political parties at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in the capital.

BNP assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Joni and agriculturist Shamimur Rahman Shamim went to Hasina's Dhanmondi office and handed over the invitations to Mrinal.

Source : New Age