PM orders eviction of illegal structures to protect rivers

BSS, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned specially the BIWTA to take strict measurers to evict illegal structures from the riverside and prevent the grabbers from further occupying those lands in future."The government's programmes to evict illegal structures from riverside would be continued in future to protect the country's rivers," she said and asked the authorities concerned to create mass awareness about the issue. The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a seminar organised by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on 'Inland Water Transport: Towards a Change' marking the 50th anniversary of BIWTA at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here. Presided over by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, the function was also addressed by acting secretary to Ministry of Shipping M. Masud Elahi and chairman of BIWTA M. Abdul Mannan Hawlader. Sheikh Hasina held dumping of industrial waste into the river mainly responsible for river pollution and directed authorities concerned to compel industrialists for setting up effluents treatment plant at all industrial units with an aim to save rivers from pollution. "Not only Bangladesh, but in the entire world civilization, towns and ports develop centering rivers," she said and regretted that the rivers of the country are being polluted due to a long time negligence of the authorities concerned. Referring to the mega plan of the government to protect the country's rivers, the Prime Minister said along with the development of river routes, the government has a plan to build deep-sea port and improve and modernize the Chittagong and Mongla seaports. Besides, she said steps would be taken to ensure navigability of 110 kilometre river routs in four rivers around the capital city along with preventing pollution aiming at facilitating goods and passengers transport at low cost.In this context, she mentioned her previous Awami League government programmes (from 1996-2001) for development of river routes around the Dhaka city. Calling upon the authorities concerned to implement the government programmes in ensuring navigability of the country's major rivers, she said transparency must have to be ensured in implementing the projects.Sounding a note of caution, the Prime Minister said any irregularities in implementing the pro-people projects would not be tolerated. Referring to the Capital and Maintenance Dredging of the government, the Prime Minister said with implementation of the project it would be possible to recover huge river lands from the grabbers along with ensuring navigability of the country's major rivers.The programmes will also help protect the country's environment after facing the challenges of global warming. Expressing regret over the BIWTA's present dredging capacity, she said it has an ability to conduct dredging only one third of the annual demand due to lack of modern equipment.

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Withdrawal of army camps from CHT will endanger political stability: Delwar

Staff Correspondent

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Wednesday alleged that as part of the blue print, the government is going to hand over country's hill tracks areas to a certain quarter violating country's existing constitution."As part of the blue print, the image of our BDR has already been destroyed. In order to make country's army inactive, conspiracy is still going on. Ignoring constitution, if the hill districts handed over to a certain quarter by withdrawing army camps from the areas the country's social, financial and political stability will be at a stake," he said while addressing a human chain programme organised by nationalist lawyer association, a front organisation of BNP in front of the Judges Court in the capital yesterday. The human chain programme was organised to protest against removal of the mural of former president Ziaur Rahman from in front of the National Stadium. Earlier, the ruling party assured that they will withdraw cases lodged against BNP leaders and activists during the tenure of the last caretaker government but the government is submitting charge sheets instead of withdrawing cases intentionally. Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Modud Ahmed at a roundtable discussion at the national Press Club said if the government withdraws army camps from the hill areas, the country's security and sovereignty will face severe crises. People throughout the country will live in panic. Taking part in the discussion organised by Nagoric Forum on '200 days of the ruling government: success and contrariety' he said in order to protect the country people from all walks of life will have to be united otherwise the country's overall security will face a severe crises in the long run.About the cases which are political motivated, he said the ruling government is withdrawing numbers of cases against their leaders and activists one after another. Besides they are filing charge sheets in a new phase against BNP leaders and activists throughout the country. Submitting charge sheets instead of withdrawing cases, Awami League has proved its real character. The fundamental characteristic of the party has also been unearthed before the nation, he added.

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Mode of BDR mutineers’ trial

Govt to send reference to President for seeking Supreme Court opinion

UNB, Dhaka

The government will send a reference to the President Sunday to seek the Supreme Court's opinion as to which law should be applied for the trial of BDR mutineers, as there have been dilemmas in choosing between military and normal laws of the land.Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed disclosed this to reporters on Wednesday after an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Law Ministry.The decision to seek the Supreme Court's opinion was taken on July 27 as the government could not reach a consensus on fixing the law to try the mutineers of the Feb 25-26 terrible mutiny at the BDR Headquarters and its spillover revolt in different camps of the paramilitary border force across the country.According to available figures a total of 75 people, including 57 army officers who were the commanding officers of the BDR, one army sepoy, two family members of army officers, 8 BDR jawans and 7 civilians were killed during the mayhem. Barrister Shafique said a draft of the reference was prepared in today's meeting and it will be sent to the President Sunday.In reply to a question he hoped that the President would send the reference to the Supreme Court the same day to give its opinion.There are differences of opinion as to whether the mutineers be tried under regular laws, the BDR Act or the Army Act. The reference will be sent in accordance with article 106 of the Constitution. The article says if at any time the President deems a question of law has arisen, or is likely to arise on an issue of public importance, he may refer the matter to the Appellate Division for its opinion. Chaired by Barrister Shafique Ahmed, the meeting was attended by Law Secretary, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, Attorney General, Additional Attorney General and BDR Judge-Advocate General.

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Muhith expresses concern over slow investment

UNB, Dhaka

The government has been cautioned of a possibility that the private sector might try to turn projects under public-private partnership (PPP) into Publicly Financed Private Projects (PFPP).Speakers at a roundtable here on Wednesday raised the concern along with other budget implementation issues while the government is busy formulating a guideline for the PPP.Addressing the meeting, Finance Minister AMA Muhith dispelled the concerns over implementation of Annual Development Programme (ADP), PPP, revenue targets and deficit financing.He, however, expressed concern over slow investment and infrastructure bottlenecks as the downside risks of development.Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organized the roundtable titled "Delivering on Budget FY2009-10: A set of Implementation Issues" at the CIRDAP auditorium.Former Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, senior bureaucrats, former bureaucrats, economists, academics, civil society members and representatives from private sector took part in the discussion, moderated by CPD chairperson Prof Rehman Sobhan.CPD distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya presented the keynote paper discussing issues relating to budget implementation from the macroeconomic perspective. CPD reminded that implementation of the budget remains dependent on the overall state of good developmental governance of the country.The Finance Minister expressed concern over the stagnant investment scenario and wondered as to why investment is not taking place in the country although the "fear factors" have been removed by now."There are some uncertainties over the global recession and poor energy and power situation," he, however, said.In response to an apprehension over releasing the stimulus funds, he said Bangladesh Bank would soon make available the data in this regard. He added that the government would review the budget after six months and reallocate the funds, if necessary.Muhith said the government would also review the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for three years keeping in mind the goals of the 5-year plan now under preparation."The biggest task now is inspiring the administration and the people to help implement the budget."

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Price monitoring: No tangible operation in kitchen markets

UNB, Dhaka

While people are preparing provision for Ramadan, likely to commence on Aug 22 or 23, the government-planned price-monitoring activities in Dhaka's kitchen markets are yet to gather momentum. Although the price chart of essential commodities in every kitchen market in the city was supposed to show the prices from today, but most of the price charts of Dhaka City Corporation in 27 kitchen markets went blank as of Wednesday."We are not directed from any authority of the government to monitor display of retail and wholesale prices in the remaining chart in front of the market," Hatirpul Bazar Samity secretary Motaleb Hossain told visiting UNB staff writer Maruf Hasan.Recently, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan urged all wholesalers and retailers in the country to display price charts of several essential commodities from last Monday. He also directed the respective district authorities to monitor the markets so that price charts for the shoppers can be ensured. The essential commodities' prices are on the up despite adequate supply to the city's markets by wholesalers and retailers, as a section of businesspeople are capitalizing on consumers' growing demand ahead of Ramadan.Five-litre containers of soybean oil of different brands were selling at Tk 385-405 on the retail market. They were selling between Tk 375 and Tk 390 some days ago. In retail, non-canned palm oil was selling at Tk 64-66 per kg, super palm at Tk 67-70 and soybean at Tk 73-78 per kg. The prices of edible oils at retailer's level increased by Tk 2-5 per kg over the last week, traders said. "The price of every essential item went up about Tk 3-4 within few days on the retail market," said Majeda Begum, a housewife.Asked about the price-chart display, Majeda said she didn't know about the chart-the sellers didn't follow any chart of price. On the city's retail market today, onion (Indian) was selling at TK 24-25 and local onion at TK 40 per kg while potato at Tk 28, Dal at Tk 115 and Green Chili at Tk 80 per kilo.

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To ease traffic jam

DMP for closure of educational institutes after 15th Ramadan

UNB, Dhaka

DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Haq on Wednesday requested the managements of educational institutions located on important roads to close their institutions after 15th Ramadan to help ease traffic jams in the capital."I will write to the Education Ministry to take steps in this regard," he told reporters after monthly crime conference at Rajarbagh Telecom Auditorium.About 20-year old buses plying on city roads, the Commissioner said police has started to seize the old buses. Those buses would be released if owners give undertakings that the buses would be plied only outside the capital.Asked about the crime situation in the capital, Shahidul said overall crimes, including killing, robbery and extortion declined in July compared to previous month of June.Thirty four incidents of robbery, 21 killings and 43 incidents of muggings were recorded in July while the figure was 44, 29 and 59 respectively in previous months of June, he said.The Commissioner, however, said incidents of burglary and theft, including car lifting slightly increased in July compared to the previous month.Sixty five incidents of burglary, 148 incidents of theft and 18 incidents of car lifting were recorded in July and the figure was 46, 144 and 17 in June, he added.

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