Message from HE President of Bangladesh:Mr Zillur Rahaman, and other features...

Daily News Brief
16 February 2009
President Zillur Rahman urged all irrespective of parties and opinions for building a prosperous Bangladesh by upholding the democratic process with the spirit of the War of Liberation. Addressing the officials and staff of Bangabhaban, he asked them to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty. The President started his office at Bangabhaban yesterday following a guard of honour by a contingent of the President Guard Regiment (PGR), newspapers reported.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, her government will introduce general rationing system so that all sections of people can cope with the prices of essentials. Addressing the 29th National Rally of Bangladesh Ansar and the Village Defense Party (VDP) in Shafipur yesterday, she announced a minimum daily per head allowance of Taka 180 for the attached members of Bangladesh Ansar. She laid stress on establishing a nursing institute side by side with the existing Ansar VDP Academy Hospital for creating employment opportunity. The Prime Minister said, the government is considering to form a separate investigation cell in the police department where the Bangladesh Ansar would be engaged to enquire the cases for their quick disposal. Responding to a demand for involving Ansar in UN mission, she said, the concerned authorities will talk to the UN officials in this regard. She said that the government will reform and modernize the Ansar and VDP by providing professional training and infrastructural development, including removing vehicle problems and increasing budgetary allocation for the development of human resources. Later, she inaugurated a modern operation theater at the Ansar VDP Hospital on the academy premises, newspapers reported.
A special parliamentary committee okayed 54 ordinances out of 122 promulgated by the President during the immediate past caretaker government for enactment as laws during the ongoing first session of parliament. The special committee, headed by Advocate Rahmat Ali MP of the ruling Awami League, will submit its scrutiny report on the ordinances on Tuesday before the parliament, newspapers reported.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzak said, Bangladesh would receive 50 million Euro in aid from the European Commission as support to food security in Bangladesh. He was talking to newsmen after a EU delegation led by the Ambassador of the European Commission Dr. Stefan Froein called on him yesterday. Later, a Canadian delegation led by Ambassador to Bangladesh Robert McDougall met with the Minister, while he requested the Canadian government to increase wheat aid to Bangladesh, newspapers reported.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is eager to extend its cooperation to Bangladesh for modernization of its courts and case management. The UNDP also looking forward to help Bangladesh strengthening the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) system for reducing long pending trials and case jams in court. The assurances come when a delegation of UNDP called on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed in Dhaka yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, the Law Minister said, the government was planning to form a special tribunal under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 for the trial of war crimes committed during the independence war in 1971. He said, the Home Ministry would need to place a proposal for the formation of the tribunal at the cabinet meeting, and the cabinet would work out the modes and terms of reference of the tribunal, newspapers reported.
Turkey has shown keen interest to impart training to the country’s health sector manpower, particularly nurses, under a bilateral cooperation agreement. Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, conveyed the interest when he called on Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque at his office yesterday, the News Today reported.
Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and Expatriate Welfare Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday held discussions with envoys of four Middle Eastern countries about the ways of expanding Bangladesh’s labour market in those countries. The envoys were Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi, Ambassador of UAE Khalfan Battal Ali Al Monsouri, Ambassador of Qatar Abdul Rahman Y Al Mulla and Charge d’Affaires of Kuwait Mubarak Al Shorian Al Mutairi, newspapers reported.
French Ambassador Charley Canseret said, a trade delegation from France would visit Bangladesh soon to appraise the prospect of more trade and investment. The envoy said this during a call on Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni at her office yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, Commerce Minister Lt. Col. (Retd) Faruk Khan said, the government would set up a vibrant commodity exchange market within a year to develop the country’s agriculture marketing system and to stabilize the prices of essentials, the New Age reported.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday expressed his deep shock at the death of video editor of NTV Atiqul Islam. In a condolence message, the Minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the family members of the victim, newspapers reported.
Replying a question at the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday, State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarkar said, the government has undertaken a long-term plan ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011 to improve the playing standard of national cricket team. He said that the government will ensure balanced distribution of sports materials to each area for development of sports and games in the country, newspapers reported.
Three MPs who were elected to the 9th parliament as independent candidates jointed the ruling Awami League yesterday. They are M Kabirul Haq from Narail-1, Khandakar Abdul Baten from Tangail-6 and Muhammad Imaz Uddin from Naogaon-4 constituencies, newspapers reported.
The by–elections of Jatiya Sangsad in seven vacant seats will be held on March 30 next. According to the schedule announced by Election Commission, the last date for submitting nomination papers is March 2, scrutiny March 5 and last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 12. Talking to newsmen, Election Commissioner Md. Sohul Hossain said, strong security measures would be taken to prevent irregularities and indiscipline in the polling centers, newspapers reported.
In an administrative reshuffle, Food and Disaster Management Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman has been made Secretary to Prime Minister’s Office, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Rokeya Sultana has been transferred to Labour and Employment Ministry as Secretary. Besides, Additional Secretary (OSD) of Establishment Ministry Mridula Bhattachariya has been transferred to Women and Children Affairs Ministry as Secretary-in-charge, Secretary-in-charge of Labour and Employment Ministry Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman was transferred to Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Acting Member of Planning Commission Mohammad Habib Ullah Majumder was made Secretary-in-charge of the Planning Division, Director General of Manpower Employment and Training Bureau Mohammad Abdul Maleq was transferred to Planning Commission as Acting Member, and Planning Division Secretary-in-charge Abdur Razzak was made Acting Member of Planning Division, newspapers reported.
China offered to assist Bangladesh in installing nuclear power plant on the China-Pakistan cooperation model, Chinese Ambassador Zheng Qing Dian said this at a press briefing in Dhaka yesterday. He said, China takes seriously its trade imbalance with Bangladesh and has therefore, actively adopted measures to increase imports from Bangladesh. In future China will build stronger ties with Bangladesh in the fields of increased high level contacts and exchanges, and expand cooperation especially in agriculture, education and science and technology where the potential is great, he added, newspapers reported.
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil and SSC Vocational examinations under 10 education boards across the country began yesterday amid strict measures to prevent students from adopting unfair means. A total of 10,63,484 examinees under 10 education boards of the country are appearing in the examination through 1,888 examination centers, newspapers reported.
The High Court yesterday ordered that the Niko graft case against Awami League Chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be dropped from the cause list. The court also adjourned the hearing of the barge-mounted power plant graft case against her till April 19, newspapers reported.
Two of the prime accused in sensational Chittagong 10 truck arms haul case were yesterday placed on a 5-day remand each for further interrogation, newspapers reported.
The small and medium enterprises are likely to get some relief under the fiscal measures in budget for next year, NBR Chairman Md. Abdul Mazid told a pre-budget meeting with representatives in Dhaka yesterday. He said, the government would take care that other countries can no longer dump their products to the Bangladesh market, newspapers reported.
Food-grain imports dropped almost 76 percent year on year to 1.17 million tons in the second half of 2008 due to bumper production of rice crops. The country aims to produce 34.33 million tons of food grains, mostly rice, in the year to June, 15.3 percent up from a year earlier, the New Age reported.
Zhong Bu Centresin (Bangladesh) Company Limited, a Chinese company, will set up a Shoe Accessories Manufacturing Industry at Karnaphuli EPZ by investing $24.21 million, newspapers reported.
Two books of rhymes in Braille system were launched for the first time in the country for visually challenged children. The publication ceremony was organized by Prerona and Child Sight Foundation in Dhaka yesterday, the Daily Star reported.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday formed a 10-member committee to segregate junk shares with a view to placing them on the over-the-counter market instead of normal secondary market. The general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange gained 29.45 points, or 1.16 percent, to close at 2,567.83, while its blue chips index, DSE20, advanced by 3.65 points, or 0.17 percent, to finish at 2,098.58, newspapers reported.

(Source:PID)

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Press release: Bangladesh hosts international conference on adaptation to climate change
Climate change experts from around the world will meet in Bangladesh this month to identify ways poor communities can adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
The Third International Conference of Community Based Adaptaion to Climate Change (on 22-24 February in Dhaka) will show that many options for reducing vulnerability to climate change already exist.
It will bring together more than 100 scientists, development workers, disaster specialists and policymakers to share information on impacts of climate change — and ways to adapt to them — in sectors as diverse as water, agriculture, biodiversity, human health, infrastructure, coastal zones and cities.
"Adaptation is urgent as the impacts of climate change are already being felt in many places," says Dr Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in the climate change group at the International Institute for Environment and Development. "Adaptation can help build resilience to change but the challenge is knowing what strategies work and then implementing them in diverse settings around the world."
"Policymakers have failed to grasp the scale of the challenge and financial flows to support adaptation are grossly inadequate," says Huq. "The result is that millions of vulnerable people risk being left behind as climate change takes hold."
The conference is being organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies and the Ring Alliance of Policy Research Organisations.
Journalists are welcome to attend the final session of the conference, on 24 February at 11.30 am at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka. For more information, please contact Mozaharul Alam (mozaharul.alam@bcas.net).
ENDS
Mike Shanahan
Press officer
International Institute for Environment and Development, United Kingdom

*******************************************************************************************************************


Venezuelans Demand Punishment for Attacks on Journalists
The National Journalists Guild (CNP) of Venezuela ordered the Public Ministry to end the impunity surrounding aggressions against journalists and media workers, El Universal reports.
Directors of the guild said they receive daily reports of attacks against media workers. They urge officials to bring "true and effective protection" to news organizations and their employees.
"No one is imprisoned for attacking journalists, robbing television equipment or assaulting television crews," affirmed Roger Santodomingo, director of the Caracas chapter of CNP. His comments were published by Globovisión.
By Ingrid Bachmann at 02/13/2009 - 11:00

Daily News Brief
16 February 2009
President Zillur Rahman urged all irrespective of parties and opinions for building a prosperous Bangladesh by upholding the democratic process with the spirit of the War of Liberation. Addressing the officials and staff of Bangabhaban, he asked them to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty. The President started his office at Bangabhaban yesterday following a guard of honour by a contingent of the President Guard Regiment (PGR), newspapers reported.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, her government will introduce general rationing system so that all sections of people can cope with the prices of essentials. Addressing the 29th National Rally of Bangladesh Ansar and the Village Defense Party (VDP) in Shafipur yesterday, she announced a minimum daily per head allowance of Taka 180 for the attached members of Bangladesh Ansar. She laid stress on establishing a nursing institute side by side with the existing Ansar VDP Academy Hospital for creating employment opportunity. The Prime Minister said, the government is considering to form a separate investigation cell in the police department where the Bangladesh Ansar would be engaged to enquire the cases for their quick disposal. Responding to a demand for involving Ansar in UN mission, she said, the concerned authorities will talk to the UN officials in this regard. She said that the government will reform and modernize the Ansar and VDP by providing professional training and infrastructural development, including removing vehicle problems and increasing budgetary allocation for the development of human resources. Later, she inaugurated a modern operation theater at the Ansar VDP Hospital on the academy premises, newspapers reported.
A special parliamentary committee okayed 54 ordinances out of 122 promulgated by the President during the immediate past caretaker government for enactment as laws during the ongoing first session of parliament. The special committee, headed by Advocate Rahmat Ali MP of the ruling Awami League, will submit its scrutiny report on the ordinances on Tuesday before the parliament, newspapers reported.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzak said, Bangladesh would receive 50 million Euro in aid from the European Commission as support to food security in Bangladesh. He was talking to newsmen after a EU delegation led by the Ambassador of the European Commission Dr. Stefan Froein called on him yesterday. Later, a Canadian delegation led by Ambassador to Bangladesh Robert McDougall met with the Minister, while he requested the Canadian government to increase wheat aid to Bangladesh, newspapers reported.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is eager to extend its cooperation to Bangladesh for modernization of its courts and case management. The UNDP also looking forward to help Bangladesh strengthening the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) system for reducing long pending trials and case jams in court. The assurances come when a delegation of UNDP called on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed in Dhaka yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, the Law Minister said, the government was planning to form a special tribunal under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 for the trial of war crimes committed during the independence war in 1971. He said, the Home Ministry would need to place a proposal for the formation of the tribunal at the cabinet meeting, and the cabinet would work out the modes and terms of reference of the tribunal, newspapers reported.
Turkey has shown keen interest to impart training to the country’s health sector manpower, particularly nurses, under a bilateral cooperation agreement. Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, conveyed the interest when he called on Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque at his office yesterday, the News Today reported.
Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and Expatriate Welfare Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday held discussions with envoys of four Middle Eastern countries about the ways of expanding Bangladesh’s labour market in those countries. The envoys were Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi, Ambassador of UAE Khalfan Battal Ali Al Monsouri, Ambassador of Qatar Abdul Rahman Y Al Mulla and Charge d’Affaires of Kuwait Mubarak Al Shorian Al Mutairi, newspapers reported.
French Ambassador Charley Canseret said, a trade delegation from France would visit Bangladesh soon to appraise the prospect of more trade and investment. The envoy said this during a call on Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni at her office yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, Commerce Minister Lt. Col. (Retd) Faruk Khan said, the government would set up a vibrant commodity exchange market within a year to develop the country’s agriculture marketing system and to stabilize the prices of essentials, the New Age reported.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday expressed his deep shock at the death of video editor of NTV Atiqul Islam. In a condolence message, the Minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the family members of the victim, newspapers reported.
Replying a question at the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday, State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarkar said, the government has undertaken a long-term plan ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011 to improve the playing standard of national cricket team. He said that the government will ensure balanced distribution of sports materials to each area for development of sports and games in the country, newspapers reported.
Three MPs who were elected to the 9th parliament as independent candidates jointed the ruling Awami League yesterday. They are M Kabirul Haq from Narail-1, Khandakar Abdul Baten from Tangail-6 and Muhammad Imaz Uddin from Naogaon-4 constituencies, newspapers reported.
The by–elections of Jatiya Sangsad in seven vacant seats will be held on March 30 next. According to the schedule announced by Election Commission, the last date for submitting nomination papers is March 2, scrutiny March 5 and last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 12. Talking to newsmen, Election Commissioner Md. Sohul Hossain said, strong security measures would be taken to prevent irregularities and indiscipline in the polling centers, newspapers reported.
In an administrative reshuffle, Food and Disaster Management Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman has been made Secretary to Prime Minister’s Office, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Rokeya Sultana has been transferred to Labour and Employment Ministry as Secretary. Besides, Additional Secretary (OSD) of Establishment Ministry Mridula Bhattachariya has been transferred to Women and Children Affairs Ministry as Secretary-in-charge, Secretary-in-charge of Labour and Employment Ministry Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman was transferred to Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Acting Member of Planning Commission Mohammad Habib Ullah Majumder was made Secretary-in-charge of the Planning Division, Director General of Manpower Employment and Training Bureau Mohammad Abdul Maleq was transferred to Planning Commission as Acting Member, and Planning Division Secretary-in-charge Abdur Razzak was made Acting Member of Planning Division, newspapers reported.
China offered to assist Bangladesh in installing nuclear power plant on the China-Pakistan cooperation model, Chinese Ambassador Zheng Qing Dian said this at a press briefing in Dhaka yesterday. He said, China takes seriously its trade imbalance with Bangladesh and has therefore, actively adopted measures to increase imports from Bangladesh. In future China will build stronger ties with Bangladesh in the fields of increased high level contacts and exchanges, and expand cooperation especially in agriculture, education and science and technology where the potential is great, he added, newspapers reported.
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil and SSC Vocational examinations under 10 education boards across the country began yesterday amid strict measures to prevent students from adopting unfair means. A total of 10,63,484 examinees under 10 education boards of the country are appearing in the examination through 1,888 examination centers, newspapers reported.
The High Court yesterday ordered that the Niko graft case against Awami League Chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be dropped from the cause list. The court also adjourned the hearing of the barge-mounted power plant graft case against her till April 19, newspapers reported.
Two of the prime accused in sensational Chittagong 10 truck arms haul case were yesterday placed on a 5-day remand each for further interrogation, newspapers reported.
The small and medium enterprises are likely to get some relief under the fiscal measures in budget for next year, NBR Chairman Md. Abdul Mazid told a pre-budget meeting with representatives in Dhaka yesterday. He said, the government would take care that other countries can no longer dump their products to the Bangladesh market, newspapers reported.
Food-grain imports dropped almost 76 percent year on year to 1.17 million tons in the second half of 2008 due to bumper production of rice crops. The country aims to produce 34.33 million tons of food grains, mostly rice, in the year to June, 15.3 percent up from a year earlier, the New Age reported.
Zhong Bu Centresin (Bangladesh) Company Limited, a Chinese company, will set up a Shoe Accessories Manufacturing Industry at Karnaphuli EPZ by investing $24.21 million, newspapers reported.
Two books of rhymes in Braille system were launched for the first time in the country for visually challenged children. The publication ceremony was organized by Prerona and Child Sight Foundation in Dhaka yesterday, the Daily Star reported.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday formed a 10-member committee to segregate junk shares with a view to placing them on the over-the-counter market instead of normal secondary market. The general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange gained 29.45 points, or 1.16 percent, to close at 2,567.83, while its blue chips index, DSE20, advanced by 3.65 points, or 0.17 percent, to finish at 2,098.58, newspapers reported.

(Source:PID)

***************************************************************

&&&&&
Press release: Bangladesh hosts international conference on adaptation to climate change
Climate change experts from around the world will meet in Bangladesh this month to identify ways poor communities can adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
The Third International Conference of Community Based Adaptaion to Climate Change (on 22-24 February in Dhaka) will show that many options for reducing vulnerability to climate change already exist.
It will bring together more than 100 scientists, development workers, disaster specialists and policymakers to share information on impacts of climate change — and ways to adapt to them — in sectors as diverse as water, agriculture, biodiversity, human health, infrastructure, coastal zones and cities.
"Adaptation is urgent as the impacts of climate change are already being felt in many places," says Dr Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in the climate change group at the International Institute for Environment and Development. "Adaptation can help build resilience to change but the challenge is knowing what strategies work and then implementing them in diverse settings around the world."
"Policymakers have failed to grasp the scale of the challenge and financial flows to support adaptation are grossly inadequate," says Huq. "The result is that millions of vulnerable people risk being left behind as climate change takes hold."
The conference is being organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies and the Ring Alliance of Policy Research Organisations.
Journalists are welcome to attend the final session of the conference, on 24 February at 11.30 am at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka. For more information, please contact Mozaharul Alam (mozaharul.alam@bcas.net).
ENDS
Mike Shanahan
Press officer
International Institute for Environment and Development, United Kingdom

*******************************************************************************************************************


Venezuelans Demand Punishment for Attacks on Journalists
The National Journalists Guild (CNP) of Venezuela ordered the Public Ministry to end the impunity surrounding aggressions against journalists and media workers, El Universal reports.
Directors of the guild said they receive daily reports of attacks against media workers. They urge officials to bring "true and effective protection" to news organizations and their employees.
"No one is imprisoned for attacking journalists, robbing television equipment or assaulting television crews," affirmed Roger Santodomingo, director of the Caracas chapter of CNP. His comments were published by Globovisión.
By Ingrid Bachmann at 02/13/2009 - 11:00