In a second army shuffle in less than a week, NDC chief Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury, who has served as chief coordinator to the National Coordination Committee on Corruption and Serious Crimes since it came into being early last year, has again been transferred.
Source: Bdnews24
The National Economic Council (NEC) will sit today to approve an Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next fiscal year (2008-09) beginning from July 1.
NEC chairman and Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to chair the meeting.
Total 876 projects costing Tk 25600 crore will be placed before the NEC that have been lined up in the draft development budget for implementation in the upcoming fiscal.
Out of the total ADP outlay, 53 per cent will be supplied from the internal resources while the rest from the external sources (foreign aid).
The nature of the new ADP as well as the budget is going to be exceptional from the traditional process. The Government, shifting from the usual trend of increasing the ADP allocation every year, is going to lower it for the first time.
The New ADP will be Tk 900 crore less than the original allocation of the current ADP. In the current budget, the ADP is Tk 22,500 crore downsized (due to failure in implementation) from original Tk 26,500 crore.
Experienced from the records of poor ADP implementation in the previous years, the government has decided to limit it in planning the next year’s development. Rather, the government will increase subsidy in various sectors including agriculture, fuel and social safety-net schemes.
During the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, a total of Tk 12,233 crore has been spent to implement the ADP. This expenditure is 54 per cent of revised ADP of Tk 22,500 crore and 46 per cent of original ADP (Tk 26,500 crore).
Agriculture, water resources, rural development and education will get priority in the new ADP which will be given 24 per cent allocations from the total outlay.
Education, power and transportation sectors received close to 14 percent each of the total ADP allocations, followed by health 10 percent, and physical infrastructure and housing about 9 percent.
In absence of the parliament, the annual budget for FY 2008-09 is set to be announced through radio and television channels on Monday. According to available information, the size of the overall budget for the next fiscal year (2008-09) would be Tk 99600 crore.
The budget for the running fiscal stands at Tk 79,614 crore excluding Tk 7,523 crore liabilities of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.
Source: The New Nation
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain has dissolved its powerful Dhaka city committee on Wednesday to weaken the rival reformist group of the party and his new challenger Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah.
Party insiders said this yesterday adding that Khandaker Delwar’s action consolidated his authority on the party machinery further.
“Like a season player, Khandaker Delwar dissolved the committee a day after his challenger BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah publicly blamed him as the main obstacle to reunification of the party,” one of the close aides of the BNP Secretary General said, adding that he had destroyed the prime fortress of reformist group at the same time.
Khandaker Delwar, who yesterday told a press conference that he had only carried out the detained party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s directive through liquidating BNP Dhaka city committee, did not face any trouble as city committee President Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and General Secretary Abdus Salam said they would accept the action if it was the party Chief’s desire.
“The BNP Secretary General has successfully weakened the reformist group led by its Acting Secretary Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed and the possible emergence of new rival group in his own camp under the leadership of Hannan Shah,” a BNP leader said.
An aspirant for the post of BNP Dhaka City Committee President, Brig Hannan Shah had an exchange of hot words with Khandaker Delwar publicly on Tuesday at a seminar organised by the party’s cultural wing JASAS at the National Press Club, triggering a fresh polarisation in the already troubled party, which had become divided between the reformist and anti-reform faction in September last year.
Pointing his fingers at Khandaker Delwar, Hannan Shah alleged, “Some leaders, who had
remained silent covering their face with the ‘blanket of party posts’ during the most critical situation of the party after Begum Zia’s arrest, have now emerged as “saviour” at the opportune time now” and trying to resist the reunification of the party.
“We will send the conspirators to the grave wrapping them up with white cloth (shroud) and implement Begum Zia’s directives unifying the party,” he warned.
He claimed that none other than he (Hannan) and party Joint Secretary General Gayeswar Chandra Roy use to maintain relation with Begum Zia when she was virtually under house-arrest.
General Gayeswar Chandra Roy, who has joined force with Hannan Shah, was also critical of Khandaker Delwar.
Reacting sharply, Khandaker Delwar, who was the Chief Guest at the function, termed Hannan Shah ‘an agent of particular quarters’ and said, “We will foil all designs as we did in the past”.
The BNP Secretary General, however, refrained from making any comment against Gayeswar Roy.
Insiders said party leaders, including former MPs, and activists were started polarising them as a new “pro-unity” group led by Hannan Shah, for what he said, “To fight ‘autocratic behaviour’ and anti-unity stance of Khandaker Delwar Hossain.”
When contacted, Hannan Shah in an interview with a private TV channel on Wednesday again alleged that Khandaker Delwar was promoting flatterers and installing his lackeys in the party and its front organisations’ after expelling popular leaders and formers MPs.
“Khandaker Delwar is violating party constitution, which does not empower the Secretary General to expel or remove any leader from the party or its front organisations,” he said, adding, “His house-NAM Flat had now become controversial like that of the Hawa Bhaban and acting as the main obstacle to the party unity.”
“Some flatterers centring them at the Hawa Bhaban earned bad name for party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman when the BNP was in power and same things are being repeating now,” Hannan Shah noted.
He charged, “Khandaker Delwar is running the BNP as per his whims without consulting any leaders.”
When asked, Khandaker Delwar yesterday brushed aside Hannan Shah’s allegations, saying, “I have never done anything without the directive of the party Chairperson.”
“I have no desire to run the party without Begum Zia’s directives,” the BNP Secretary General reiterated at the press conference that was marred by scuffle between his and Hannan Shah’s followers.
The personality clash between Khandaker Delwar and Hannan Shah surfaced first in November last year, when the former military commander claimed himself as “Coordinator of the BNP”.
Dismissing the proposition immediately, Khandaker Delwar said, “The BNP constitution has no post named Coordinator. But, the party can appoint someone as coordinator for a particular programme.”
The squabble between Khandaker Delwar and Hannan Shah surfaced publicly centring the interpretation of last Sunday’s directives to the Secretary General by detained party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to allow reformist leaders to work from their own positions, stop purging them and reorganisation as well as unify the party as earliest as possible, insiders told The New Nation yesterday.
Begum Zia, appointed Khandaker Delwar the Secretary General expelling top reformist Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan moments before her arrest in a graft case on September 3 last year. She gave the said directives, when Delwar had an one-to-one meeting with her on Sunday, at the time of attending a Special Court for the first time for charge hearing in GATCO scam case.
Delwar attended the case as one of her lawyers and their meeting was held at a separate room in presence of other lawyers.
It may be mentioned here that Hannan Shah enrolled his name in voters’ list from Dhaka city this year with hope to contest the upcoming City Corporation election as Mayor candidate or a party candidate from the Cantonment and Guslhan constituency of Parliament.
Hannan Shah became surprised at the sudden dissolution of the Dhaka city committee, as he could not oppose it since it was his proposal, a Delwar loyalist said.
Earlier last week, Hannan Shah had an one-to-one meeting with Khandaker Delwar at the latter’s NAM Flat residence and demanded of the Secretary General to give him specific organisational responsibility.
Khandaker Delwar remained non-responsive to Hannan Shah’s demand and adviced him to wait for an appropriate time during the meeting.
Sources close to the BNP Secretary General said he did not trust Hannan Shah since he believes the former military officer was arrested thrice after January 11 (2002) as part of a ‘ploy’ to ‘divide the party. “And this is the reason Khandaker Delwar did not approve Hannan Shah’s move to reunify the party formally through meeting with the reformist faction of BNP,” one of closest BNP leader, who supports Khandaker Delwar told this Correspondent last night.
“The Secretary General told me that Hannan Shah is an agent of a particular quarter and he was trying to create a dent along with Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar,” he added requesting anonymity.
Sources close to Hannan Shah said, “Khandaker Delwar, a former leftist like his predecessor Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, was apprehensive of losing his post if sit for a formal meeting with the reformist leaders accepting Hannan Shah’s unity move.”
“Why Delwar was not arrested for a single time if is so anti-government?” another Hannan Shah loyalist posed the question and added that there was no chance of an immediate rapprochement between Khandaker Delwar and Hannan Shah.
Source: The New Nation
Iran has evinced keen interest to expand cooperation with Bangladesh in the energy sector for which there is great potential. Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Hassan Farazandeh made the remarks during a meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury who received the envoy in his office yesterday morning. They also discussed potentials of bilateral cooperation. The Ambassador handed over to the Foreign Adviser a letter of invitation from the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to attend the Non-Aligned Ministerial Conference that will be held in Tehran on July 29-30. The envoy also apprised the Foreign Adviser about the latest package of proposals for comprehensive negotiations with the international community on political, security, economic and nuclear issues. “Bangladesh’s friendship with Iran is deep and traditional, and our bilateral relations reflect our desire to forge greater partnership with the Islamic Ummah,” Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said.
Source: The New Nation
n a major reshuffle in the army, Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Principal Staff Officer to the Armed Forces Division, has been transferred to the National Defence College as its commandant, sources said yesterday.
The services of Lt Gen ATM Zahirul Alam, commandant of the National Defence College has been placed under the Foreign Ministry. He is likely to be appointed as the High Commissioner to Australia.
Major General MA Mobin, GOC of the Chittagong garrison, has been appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Armed Forces Division.
Major General Shamim Chowdhury, GOC of the Bogra region, has been transferred to the Chittagong garrison.
Source: The New Nation
Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed called on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday.
During the meeting, the Army Chief apprised the President of the ongoing development activities undertaken by the Bangladesh Army.
President Iajuddin expressed his satisfaction at the progress in the preparation of voter lists by the Bangladesh Army and in implementing its different development works.
Emerging out of the meeting, General Moeen told the reporters that it was a part of his routine to inform the President, who also holds the charge of Defence Ministry, about the ongoing activities and development works undertaken by the Bangladesh Army.
Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohd Aminul Karim, Secretary of the President’s Office Md Sirajul Islam and President’s Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present.
Source: UNB
The Foreign Ministry yesterday asked the foreign diplomats to be cautious about making comments in Bangladesh affairs, which could be seen as interference in the country’s internal affairs.
“There have been some recent reports published in the media citing statements by foreign missions that may construe as interference in internal affairs of Bangladesh,” a foreign ministry statement said without referring to any particular mission of any country.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would hope that any such statements that may give rise to such interpretations should be avoided,” added the brief statement without any elaboration.
Source: BSS
A road show, ‘Let’s Build Bangladesh’, started from the capital yesterday with five agenda to rejuvenate all classes of people, including farmers, to boost production and fight out corruption.
Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim formally inaugurated the road show, which will travel to 55 districts in next 50 days-from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar and Panchagrah-and return to the capital. Eleven trucks joined the road show.
The slogans of the road show include more production to meet the food deficit, fight corruption, free and fair election, and establish honest leadership.
Inaugurating the road show, the Adviser said the program is designed to express gratitude to the farmers for bumper Boro production this year, encourage
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them to go for more production next year and cultivate arable lands, fight out corruption and elect honest representatives through the next elections.
During the road show, the organizers will involve common people in the campaign while passing through different districts. Fairs and cultural shows will be arranged to create public awareness to build Bangladesh as a beautiful nation.
Source: The New Nation
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said Bangladesh’s commitment to the United Nations is backed by her readiness to make substantial contributions to peace missions and tackle any challenging and complicated situation.
“Bangladesh is also capable of mobilising well-trained and well-equipped forces having vast experiences at a very short notice.
The government of Bangladesh remains committed to further modernising the country’s armed forces and police to enable them to accomplish their noble tasks more effectively,” he said.
He was addressing a function marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre here. The Armed Forces Division (AFD) in association with the United Nations Resident Coordinator office in Bangladesh organised the programme.
Bangladesh is presently the second largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping operation. Some 9,199 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are now working in 14 missions.
Since its participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in 1988, 73,112 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have worked in 41 peacekeeping operations in 31 countries, the function was told.
Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed and UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh Renata Lok Dessallien also spoke at the function.
Navy Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, Air Chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman and Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury were on the dais.
Advisers, special assistants to the Chief Adviser, members of Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers and family members, members of Armed Forces and distinguished personalities were also present at the function.
Brig Gen Monwar Hossain made a presentation on two decades of journey of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in UN peace missions at the function.
Bangladesh Television broadcast the programme live.
The Chief Adviser distributed crests among family members of some Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers who made supreme sacrifices while performing duties in UN peacekeeping missions as well distributed crests among some injured Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers at the function.
A brief cultural show was staged with songs sung and poems recited by national artistes and members of the armed forces and police to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
In his speech, the Chief Adviser said Bangladesh responds enthusiastically in sending its troops from its armed forces and police to far-flung conflict-ridden regions in different countries of the world under the UN Security Council mandate.
“Recently, our participation in the UN Mission in Dafur has become another milestone in our unwavering commitment to global peace,” he told the function.
Referring to respect and admiration earned by Bangladeshi troops and police from other countries and people they have served, the CA said the United Nations and members of the international community have time and again applauded the country’s purposeful, effective and courageous role in peace support mission.
Apart from their significant contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and police have also been playing an outstanding role in nation-building activities at home, Dr Fakhruddin said.
He said Bangladesh’s participation in peace support operations and other categories of multinational forces have increased its name and fame in the global arena which has substantiated the country’s stand for the cause of world peace, enhanced diplomatic ties with it allies and brought Bangladesh closer to both developed and developing nations.
“Our troops in the field along with diplomatic initiatives at UN headquarters have always reflected our commitment to lasting peace in the world,” he said.
The Chief Adviser paid glowing tributes to the peacekeepers who have made the supreme sacrifice during the UN missions for the cause of bringing peace to strife-torn corners of the world.
He also appreciated all the Bangladeshi men and women who have served and will continue to serve in UN Peace Support Operations.
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar said Bangladesh is ready to participate in peacekeeping missions responding to the need of the world.
He said the role of Bangladesh’s peacekeepers has made the country’s flag fly high in the international arena.
Army Chief Gen Moeen said that the wider participation Bangladeshi peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping operations have made them confident to face any daunting task both at home and abroad.
He thanked and appreciated Bangladeshi peacekeepers for maintaining high degree of professionalism and skill in the peacekeeping missions.
Appreciating the outstanding performance of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, UN Resident Coordinator Renata said Bangladesh’s outstanding contribution does not happen accidentally but it is the reflection of peace-loving people of the country.
Source: UNB
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