BANGLADESH

In a major administrative shuffle, the government has named new deputy commissioners (DCs) for 10 districts and additional deputy commissioners (ADCs) for three.

The public administration ministry issued separate orders to this effect on Monday.

Six of the incumbent DCs have been relocated elsewhere, while the transfer order for the rest four is yet to be issued.

Of the newly appointed DCs, deputy secretary of the local government department Anol Chandra Das has been appointed the DC of Pirojpur district, chief executive officer of Jhalokathi district council Khandaker Mostafizur Rahman as the DC of Bhola district, private secretary to the state minister for public works Nurul Islam as Gazipur district DC, CEO of Pabna district council Mohammad Jafar Ullah as the Natore DC, deputy director of Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press) Mohammad Zakir Hossain as the DC of Sherpur district, deputy director of Urban Primary Health Care Project-2 Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain as Satkhira DC and deputy director of the local government department in the Dhaka divisional commissioner's office K M Tariqul Islam as the DC of Bandarban district.

Deputy secretary of the health and family planning ministry Khaja Abdul Hannan has been shifted as the DC to Jhenaidah district, deputy secretary of the public works ministry Sarwar Mahmud to Bogra district and deputy secretary of the Roads and Highway department Dr Shah Alam as the DC to Chapainawabganj district.

The government has reduced income tax on investments in an effort to stabilise the stock market.

The cabinet cleared a proposal in this regard in a meeting chaired by prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.

Her press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the change was made to make the capital market dynamic and bring investors' confidence back in the market.

The amendment proposes cutting taxes on mutual fund investment income. Also, the 10 percent tax on foreign investors' profit would be removed.

Tax on source on brokerage house commissions is proposed to be reduced to 0.05 percent from 0.1 percent.

Azad also said, "We know the capital market is risky. It is inappropriate for those in government service to be in this business."

Then he said, "Later the ministry will issue a paper on the matter."

The comments created confusion as to whether the government was trying to prevent state officials from investing.

Later Azad told  that his remarks about the government officials and employees investing in the market were 'off the record' and it was a misunderstanding with the journalists.

The law in force stipulates that public servants cannot be involved with any other profitable ventures, but they have been investing in the capital market, thanks to legal loopholes.

The Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled-led panel formed to investigate last Dec-Jan crash in the market had also proposed shutting the door on the opportunity for government officials to put their money into stocks.

TRAFICKING LAW APPROVED

The cabinet meeting also approved anti-human trafficking law with capital punishment as the highest penalty.

The draft law was approved earlier on Dec 12 last year in the cabinet and was brought there again on Monday for some additions and corrections.

WAGE COMMISSION PROPOSAL CLEARED

The cabinet also gave final approval to the proposals of National Wages and Productivity Commission-2010.

The proposal fixes workers' pay in state-owned institutions from Tk 4,175 to 5,600.

A Tk 700 medical allowance is also proposed, as well as Tk 100 tiffin allowance and a transport allowance of Tk 150 for them.

The commission was formed in Oct 19, 2010 with former secretary Mahe Alam as its head.

On 4th January, hundreds of people gathered at the Press Enclave in Srinagar to protest for their rights. Nothing unusual for a city that holds a history of protests except that carrying placards in their hands, but this time, the group was of visually challenged people driven by an impetus to make the state government "watch" their plight.
As per Census 2001, out of the total 3,02,670 disabled persons in J and K, 2,08,713 face visual disability. The 2011 census report on disability is expected to be more alarming and astonishing. The ten years of hard work invested by WHO in the global initiative "Vision 2020: the Right to Sight" to achieve zero blindness up to the year 2020, seems to hold no good in J and K where there is an overall paucity of eye hospitals.
The situation is worst in the interiors where hospitals and primary health centres fail to serve the needs of the visually challenged by not offering standard ophthalmic check-ups. Lack of infrastructure at the district hospitals is a major drawback that doesn't allow doctors to perform critical surgeries. Fear of heavy debts inhibits poor patients to consider private hospitals as an option for corrective medical care. They prefer to remain blind.
Education is one aspect of development the visually disabled are demanding; but more fundamental is the very basic right to live, live with dignity, which certainly isn't true in the remote villages of the state.
Aisha and Khadija (names changed) hail from a small hamlet in Anantnag and today after spending 30 years of their life in darkness, both are awaiting death.No doctor advised our parents to rehabilitate us," said Khadija.
"I have developed diabetes sitting at home. We are not allowed to go out and always face discrimination by our family members and relatives. For them we are the blind people," said Aisha, who firmly believes that if provided, vocational training can make both of them self- reliant.
Seeing the situation of 'Abhinanda Home' located in the heart of the city - Solina, Srinagar, one can understand the plight of the disabled lot for whose service this home was created. It is the only school for deaf and mute students, now on the verge of closure.
Various Ministers, during their visit to the place, announced grants for the school but did not bother to keep track of the situation thereafter.
The school compound, already encroached by security forces, is full of trenches and not looked after. A few ruined buildings and untidy rooms house deaf and mute children accompanied by some normal children from poor families. The conversion of the special school into an inclusive school does not reflect the principle of inclusion in any manner; it is merely a means of collecting some revenue to pay the teachers there.
A few rooms are occupied by some blind adults who were earlier trained in Braille, besides learning how to make chairs and chalks. With no means of earning a livelihood with such out of date skills, the blind people are only fed there as dependents without any future career planning. It would have been better if the Social Welfare or education department of the state had adopted the school and provided special education for deaf, mute and blind students there.
espite the darkness, there are a few responsible groups, which have taken on the onus of becoming the beacon of light for the visually challenged people. Yasmeena, 38, of Chee, Anantnag, is an artisan by profession responsible for feeding herself and her old-aged widow mother.
A rally organised by the NGO Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline along with the Zaiba Appa Institute of Inclusive Education, was an initiative to raise unheard voices for a system where each and every individual is provided a platform to realise their potential and become independent on the basis of their special talent.
"We do not need government sympathy but want protection of our rights in the society. No worry that we are deaf, dumb and blind: we can sustain our lives with dignity," says one of the protestors, clearly reflecting the respect and place they seek within society.

Very good news for Bangladesh. Britain will provide 230 million pounds (over $350 million) to Bangladesh for improving quality of primary education and health sector over a period of next five years, Xinhua reported.

The government has scrapped the existing 'rotation system' for the southern waterways.

"The decision will be enforced from Monday," shipping minister Shajahan Khan told the journalists after a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

As per the rotation system, owners control movement of the launches. But the launch owners have been accused of reducing launch numbers at times for their benefit.

The minister alleged that the previous BNP-led four-party alliance government introduced the rotation system with an eye on personal benefits.

"But with this announcement, passengers' sufferings will end," he said.

According to decisions taken at the meeting, four launches on Dhaka-Barisal route, three on Dhaka-Patuakhali route and three on Dhaka-Bhola route will run from either side every day.

After cancelation of the rotation system, a specified number of launches will ply on the routes. If launches are halted at will, schedule will stand cancelled.

REVIEW SURVEY COMMITTEE

Minister Shajahan Khan said a 'review survey committee' has been formed to take care of owners' business interests.

The 10-member strong committee, headed by ministry's joint secretary Mohammad Alauddin, will submit its report within one month, he said.

"Accordingly, we will decide how many launches will run on specific routes," the minister added.

Bangladesh Internal Passenger Transportation Organisation president Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said, "We have no objection to this decision as it has been taken for the benefit of passengers."

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, or the World Congregation of Muslims, concluded on Sunday seeking peace and revival of Islamic tenets.

The Akheri Munajat or final prayer was held in the afternoon.

One of the top clerics of Tablig Jamaat, Maulana Zobaerul Hasan of India, conducted the prayer.

The three-day gathering, which began on Friday, is considered as the second largest Islamic gathering after the Hajj. It has been held in two phases from last year.

The second phase of Biswa Ijtema will begin on Jan 20 and ends on Jan 22.

The bank of the river Turag turned into a sea of people as hundreds of thousands joined the final prayer on Sunday.

President Zillur Rahman took part in the final prayer.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina raised her hands to pray at her official residence Ganabhaban.

Opposition leader Khaleda Zia also joined the prayer while Jatiya Party chief Hussein Muhammad Ershad took part in the prayer from the main pavilion where the president sat.

Khaleda was stationed at the Honda (Atlas) factory rooftop pavilion. Leaders of her party accompanied her.

Organisers said around 17,000 foreigners joined Ijtema this year.

According to the Tablig Jamaat leaders, nine devotees died during the Ijtema.

Biswa Ijtema has been taking place since the 1960s when it used to take place at Dhaka's Kakrail mosque.

In 1948, it took place at the Haji Camp in Chittagong, and shifted to Narayanganj's Shiddhirganj in 1958.

With a steady increase in the number of devotees attending, Ijtema was shifted to the banks of Turag in Tongi in 1966 and has been taking place there since then.

The UK will provide £230 million to Bangladesh to improve the quality of primary education and health sector over the period of next five years.

The fund will aid the government's Third Primary Education Development Programme to improve the quality of education of 16.5 million children, recruit and train 35,000 new teachers, and construct 30,000 new classrooms, .

This was announced on Sunday by visiting UK's secretary of state for international development Andrew Mitchell, said a media statement from the British High Commission in Dhaka.

Mitchell came to Dhaka on Saturday on a four-day trip. This is his first visit to Bangladesh.

Financial aid up to £120 million will be provided over five years (2011/12 to 2016/17) to help the government implement its third primary education programme.

It will also extend up to £110million support to government's new National Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Development Programme.

The UK is providing an additional £7 million to the United Nations agencies' efforts to improve maternal and neonatal health.

Joining 10 other donors to assist the primary education programme, the UK will help Bangladesh achieve universal primary education and gender equality by supporting an inclusive education system for children from pre-primary through primary level.

Mitchell re-affirmed Britain's support to the health sector programme in Bangladesh, which will help over six million women to give birth safely and 2.4 million pregnant women access antenatal care, and immunisation to over 16 million children in the country.

The British government, through the Department for International Development (DFID), is the largest bilateral grant donor to Bangladesh and has recently significantly scaled up the level of support for the country for the next three years.

Speaking after a meeting with finance minister AMA Muhith, Mitchell said: "Bangladesh is making some remarkable progress on the Millennium Development Goals."

"Enrolment in primary education has reached 96 per cent and gender parity has been achieved. These are fantastic results."

He, however, said learning efficiency, quality and achievement in schools remain low as only 60 per cent of the children who enrol complete primary education.

The British minister stressed that Britain's support to the education and health sector programmes will be linked to robust results, transparency and value for money.

Over the last five years, the UK has already helped over 460,000 children complete pre-primary education, and 475,000 out of school children to complete primary education.

Freedom fighter Kazi Kamal Uddin Bir Bikram passed away on Sunday night.

He passed away around 11.15pm at the local United Hospital.

Kamal's janaza will be held at Chairman Bari Mosque in Banani after Johr prayers on Monday.

His co-fighter retired Maj Akhter Ahmed told  Kamal joined Agartala Motinagar training camp in May 1971, along with his friends Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Fateh Ali Chowdhury.

Kamal was a member of Dhaka-based guerilla force.

"Kamal was an extremely brave fighter. Once he was surrounded in Bailey Road during a raid. He snatched a machinegun from an officer, killed many of them and escaped," he said.

He said Kamal's remains would be taken to his hometown of Mouchak in Gazipur, where after a second janaza he will be buried in his ancestral graveyard.

The president has proposed a search committee to select new election commissioners, comprising two High Court justices and heads of three constitutional bodies.

Zillur Rahman sent the proposal to the cabinet after he drew conclusion to his talks with political parties on the issue of a universally accepted Election Commission.

"Summaries from the dialogues with the political parties were sent to the cabinet division on Thursday, urging a search committee and a legal structure to form an Election Commission," president's office secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told  on Sunday.

Once the Cabinet Division gets the prime minister's nod, it will ask the law ministry to clear the legal aspects, he said.

"Once the committee is formed, the Cabinet Division will provide secretarial support to it," he added.

Law minister Shafique Ahmed said the president's proposals would be followed. "His recommendations are yet to reach us," he said.

The present Election Commission, led by chief election commissioner A T M Shamsul Huda, will have retired by mid-February. President Zillur Rahman initiated the dialogue with political parties on Dec 22 to form the next EC through political consensus.

'GAZETTE SOON'

Shafiul Alam told  the search committee would be led by an Appellate Division justice nominated by the president.

"The Public Service Commission chairman, Anti Corruption Commission chief, chief controller and audtior general and a High Court justice nominated by the president will be the others members," he said.

Though the Constitution mandates formation of a law to appoint election commissioners, there have been none in last 40 years.

Not more than 10 days are required to publish the gazette to form the search committee, Shafiul said.

The law minister said once the president's recommendations come in, a gazette can be published within Feb 14.

In a further clarification to allowing investment of undisclosed money in the stock market, a government order says money earned through criminal acts will not be allowed.

A statutory regulatory order of the National Board of Revenue, issued on Sunday, says that if the money was earned through criminal acts outlined in other laws, then those funds will not be accorded the same privilege as that of undisclosed money.

The order said the tax on untaxed income from shares of publicly listed companies and from mutual fund units will be reduced to 10 percent when invested by all except public companies, though with certain conditions.

One of the conditions lays down that the investment must be announced within July 15 through attached forms with the tax deputy commissioner concerned.

With the form, the copy of pay-order supporting the tax payment, portfolio statement in support of the investment and copy of the beneficiary owner's account ledger must be attached.

The rebate will not apply to crimes committed under other laws, and the investment cannot be withdrawn or transferred before June 30, 2013.

Also, beyond the rebate are the tax defaults discovered and taken action against June 30, 2011.

The finance minister made an announcement allowing undisclosed income into the stock market right before passing the budget, at the urging of the prime minister and different interests, though he did not mention anything of the sort in his budget speech.

Later, under fire from the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, the government released a gazette saying the source of income must be shown.

Two months ago, the revenue board, instructed by the prime minister, said it would ask no questions about stock market investments.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities have announced that regular classes and examinations would continue even as students continue their boycott of academic activities following the killing of a student.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the JU authorities said the decision to continue classes and examinations as per schedule was taken at a meeting of the university administration at the Senate Hall. Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Shariff Enamul Kabir chaired the meeting.

Zubair Ahmed, a final year undergraduate student of English Literature, was beaten and stabbed on Jan 8 -- reportedly by activists of a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) group, believed to have the vice-chancellor's backing. He died at United Hospital the following day due to excessive bleeding.

Students have since boycotted classes and examinations in an attempt to get the varsity administration to accede to four demands, including trial for Zubair's killers as per law and resignation of the university proctor and security officer.

The police have arrested two BCL activists in connection with the killing, while the JU authorities expelled three students following the incident.

The university also sacked its security officer on Friday in the face of ongoing protests by students and a section of teachers.

According to Saturday's media statement, the meeting discussed steps taken after Zubair's killing. It was decided that necessary steps would be taken to find out the killers and execute exemplary punishment within a short period, the statement said.

Among those who participated in the meeting were pro-VC Prof Dr Mohammad Farhad Hossain, treasurer Prof Dr Mohammad Nasir Uddin, registrar, proctor, provosts of the dormitories, chiefs of different faculties and institutes, and chairmen of all departments.

Main opposition BNP has said people will not accept reappointment of chief election commissioner (CEC) A T M Shamsul Huda for a second term.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain at a discussion in the city on Saturday said that he has seen some reports in the newspapers that the CEC could be reappointed.

"What can be more unfortunate than that? The person is loyal to the government. Then why did the president stage a 'drama' in the name of dialogue (with the political parties) if he is to be reappointed?" he asked.

Mosharraf said that the re-formation of the Election Commission (EC) would also be unacceptable to the nation if the non-party caretaker government system is not restored before that.

The tenure of the EC led by chief election commissioner (CEC) A T M Shamsul Huda will end by the middle of February.

President Zillur Rahman has already held dialogue with various political parties to have their opinion on the formation of the next EC.

Taking part in the dialogue, Jatiya Party, a key partner in the ruling combine, and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh had proposed extension of the tenure of the incumbent EC.

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain had said there is no legal bar to reappointment of Shamsul Huda as the CEC – a view echoed by senior Awami League leader Suranjit Sen Gupta.

During the dialogue with the president, BNP said that initiates should be taken to restore the caretaker government provision before the re-formation of the EC.

Parliament on June 30 last year passed the 15th Constitution Amendment Bill, scrapping the caretaker government proviso.

Ever since, BNP has been demanding restoration of the 15-year-old constitutional provision that mandates an elected government to transfer power, on completion of its term, to an unelected non-partisan caretaker administration to oversee a new parliamentary election.

In this regard, Mosharraf on Saturday suggested the government to bring a bill to restore the constitutional provision of caretaker government system in the next parliamentary session that will begin on Jan 25.

Saying that the demand for restoration of the caretaker government system has turned into a 'national demand', the BNP leader said that most of the parties during the dialogue with the president gave their opinions in favour of the caretaker government system.

"There'll be a mass uprising in the country if the election is held under a party-backed government defying the demand," he added.

The discussion was organised by Sammilitya Peshajibi Parishad (combined professionals' council) at the VIP Lounge of the National Press Club in memoriam of International Islamic University, Chittagong (IIUC) vice-chancellor Prof Mahbub Ullah who died on Jan 7 while undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospitals in Dhaka.

Chaired by council president Mahmudur Rahman, the programme was addressed, among others, by Dhaka University teachers Prof Mahbub Ullah, Prof A F M Yousuf Haider, Prof Sadrul Amin, economist Abu Ahmed, Federal Journalists Union president Ruhul Amin Gazi, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, advisor Ahmed Azam Khan and former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Mustahidur Rahman.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, or the World Congregation of Muslims, is set to conclude on Sunday through seeking peace and harmony.

The bank of the river Turag has turned into a sea of people as tens of thousands of people have been streaming into the scene to join the final prayer.

Devotees were seen walking towards the venue as traffic was halted. Many traveled overnight.

The gathering, which began on Friday, is considered as the second largest Islamic gathering after the Hajj.

Organisers usually say the congregation's final prayer attracts not less than two million devotees.

A blanket security has been in place for a peaceful holding of the meet, which shuns politics and is devoted to revival of Islamic values that advocate peace and harmony.

President Zillur Rahman, prime minister Shekh Hasina, opposition leader Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad are expected to join the final prayer.

Gazipur police superintendent Abdul Baten told reporters that they arranged special security for the political leaders who would remain beyond the reach of the common people.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees were seen sitting on the streets --Kumarpara road near Ashulia and the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway beside the ground.


The gathering had hosted the ritualistic dowry-less weddings prior to the Asr prayers on Saturday.

Thousands of devotees had thronged the Ijtema grounds on Saturday, making their way from various parts of the country to attend the congregation, which is totally informal and is not presided over by anyone.

Tablig Jamaat, a non-political religious group, organised the gathering.

Saturday had started with Pakistani religious scholar Mohammad Ehsan's lectures after the Fazr prayers at dawn.

Bangladeshi cleric Maulana Nurul Haque had addressed the congregation after the Zohr prayers, followed by Indian scholar Zobayerul Hasan after the Asr prayers and Ahmed Latt after the Magrib prayers.

Before the Asr prayers, Hasan had married off couples who enlisted their names in the wedding register through a traditional ceremony of the Tablig Jamaat.

Hasan will conduct the final prayers while Indian maulana Sa'ad will address the congregation from dawn.

Dressed in traditional robes and prayer caps, huge columns of devotees from far-flung villages and towns in Bangladesh, as well as across the world, made way towards the gathering site on Friday, braving overcrowded buses and ferries, and enduring long delays and a dense fog.

Ijtema's appeal has grown largely over the years among those who cannot afford to go to Meccah for the Hajj.

The second phase will begin after a four-day gap on Jan 20. The final prayer is on Jan 22.

Biswa Ijtema has been taking place since the 1960s when it used to take place at Dhaka's Kakrail mosque.

In 1948, it took place at the Haji Camp in Chittagong, and shifted to Narayanganj's Shiddhirganj in 1958.

With a steady increase in the number of devotees attending, Ijtema was shifted to the banks of Turag in Tongi in 1966 and has been taking place there since then.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the engineers to ensure services to maximum number of people with limited resources, and make proper utilisation of tax money of the people.

"We have resource constraints. It will be possible to render services to many more, if planned and proper utilisation of the limited resources is ensured," she said after inaugurating 53rd convention of the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) on the IEB premises in the city on Saturday.

The prime minister said the engineers have been given responsibility to construct roads, bridges, schools, colleges, universities, houses, mills, factories and other establishments, and 85 percent budget for development activities is spent through the engineers.

"So, quality maintenance and proper utilisation of state resources depends on honesty, dedication and efficiency of the engineers," she said.

For this, she said, emphasis would have to be given to proper planning and use of proper technologies. "I hope our engineers and technologists would give more attention to this end," she said.

She stressed the need for manufacturing sustainable machineries and infrastructure and their maintenance at a low cost as well as innovation of alternate energy and energy-saving machines and techniques for building low-cost houses.

Underscoring the need for adopting developed cultivation method as well as improving crop preservation method to ensure food security, the prime minister also urged the engineers to find out ways to reduce post-harvest losses as it accounts for around Tk 300 billion per year in the absence of appropriate preservation.

She put emphasis on sustainable and environment-friendly development programmes to face the adverse impacts of the climate change as it has appeared as a big challenge.

Referring to the government subsidy of around Tk 1 billion for importing agricultural equipment, Hasina hoped that the country could be self-reliant in producing the equipment through providing technology, training and capital to the manufacturers.

The prime minister praised the engineers for producing electronic voting machines (EVM) for holding all elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Earlier, Hasina distributed medals and certificates among 12 engineers for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields in 2011.

IEB president engineer Nurul Huda and general secretary engineer Abdus Sabur also spoke on the occasion, while engineer Munir Uddin Ahmed gave the welcome address and engineer Mohammad Hossain, member secretary of the 53rd Convention Preparation Committee, proposed a vote of thanks.

Following a number of embarrassing incidents, the Anti Corruption Commission has once again asked the cabinet ministry to fix the issue of warrant of precedence with regard to its chairman and two commissioners.

A separate request has also been sent to the inspector general of police to treat the ACC top officials according to the protocol and to facilitate ACC flag-bearing vehicles.

"ACC is a constitutional body and it warrants respect," ACC chairman Golam Rahman told . He said that ACC commissioners were facing embarrassing situations in state offices and events.

The letter, sent on Jan 8 to the cabinet secretary, said according to the law, the two ACC commissioners were of the same rank as High Court justices.

But they are not listed as such in the warrant of precedence, which is causing embarrassing problems.

The High Court justices are ranked ninth on the warrant, along with election commissioners and persons of state minister status.

An ACC official seeking anonymity told  one of the commissioners was seated with government officials at the last Independence Day state event.

Another was barred from using the VIP lounge at Shahjalal University, though his rank permits him to do so.

The official said ACC commissioners faced an embarrassing situation while entering the president's residence, Bangabhaban, with their vehicles on July 25 last year for a state event.

ACC commissioner Shahabuddin Chuppu told  that the authorities had been asked to fix the issue once before, but to no avail.

Every year Biswa Ijtema held in Bangladesh. The annual Biswa Ijtema, billed as the largest annual Islamic event only after the hajj pilgrimage, began on Friday at Tongi on the outskirts of Dhaka amid tight security.

The World Congregation of Muslims, that shuns politics and is being held in two phases like the previous year, kicked off in the morning on the sandy bank of the Turag River.


The first phase will run through to Jan 15 and the second one from Jan 20 to Jan 22, during which the faithful pray and listen to religious scholars. It was launched by Tablig Jamaat, a non-political group that urges people to follow Islam in their daily lives.

Thousands of Muslims seeking peace and the revival of Islam's tenets joined the inaugural session begun after Fazr prayers with a lecture by Pakistani Hazi Abdul Wahab.

Huge columns of devotees began streaming towards the gathering site from dawn, braving overcrowded buses and ferries and endured long delays and dense fog.

Dressed in traditional robes and prayer caps, thousands, from far-flung villages and towns and across the world, started gathering at the ground even from Thursday. Ijtema's appeal has grown largely over the years among those who cannot afford to go to Makkah for the hajj.

Heavy security is in place to ensure safety. Junior home minister Shamsul Hoque Tuku has visited the Ijtema ground to see the security.

A large number of police, Ansar and RAB personnel have been deployed around the venue to ensure security of the devotees.

President Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina have issued statements on this occasion.

The first phase will end with Sunday's Akheri Munajat or final prayer. Muslims of 32 districts are taking part in the first phase of this gathering.

The second phase will begin after a four day gap on Jan 20. On Jan 22, this annual world gathering would end with Akheri Munajat.

Biswa Ijtema has been taking place in Bangladesh (then Bengal) since the 1960s. At the beginning, it would take place at Dhaka's Kakrail mosque. Then, in 1948 it took place at Haji Camp in Chittagong and in 1958, it took place in Narayanganj's Shiddhirganj.

With increase in number of people attending it, in 1966, the Biswa Ijtema was held at the bank of Turag in Tongi. From then on, it has been taking place there.

The country's biggest Juma prayer was held on Friday, the first day of Biswa Ijtema. People have been gathering from all over the country to attend this congregation which is totally informal and is not presided over by anyone.

PRESIDENT, PM LAUD GATHERING

The president in his statement welcomed foreign guests and said, "This great congregation is playing an important role in spreading Islamic morals and the teachings of 'Sunnah' among the residents of the world.
"To enforce peace, unity, solidarity and brotherhood in the Muslim world, the Biswa Ijtema is really important. Everyone should be inspired by great Islamic ideals and devote themselves to the welfare of humanity."

The prime minister in her message said, "Through the foreign guests attending the Ijtema, our long cherished non-communal mentality, natural mildness, hospitality and tolerance will reach the world.

IJTEMA GROUND

One of the organisers, Mohammad Gias Uddin, said the 160-acre ground has been covered with canopy stretching more than a kilometre. Though cooking materials could not be managed for local Muslims, a separate tin-roofed area has been earmarked on the venue's north-west side with gas, electricity, telephone and other modern facilities for foreign devotees, he added.

The whole ground has been divided in 39 khitas or blocks marked for 64 districts in the first phase and 38 khitas in the second.

Eight bridges have been thrown up on the Turag, supervisor of pontoon bridge construction major Mohammad Emran Islam Bhuiyan said.

SECURITY

Tongi has been covered with a multi-layer security blanket thrown by police, elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar and intelligence agencies.

Deputy commander of RAB-1 major Mohammad Nishadul Islam Khan said more RAB personnel have been deployed for security this year than the previous years. They have divided the Ijtema ground and its surrounding areas in five sectors, he said.

RAB helicopters will hover in the sky in the six days of the two-phase Ijtema, the RAB official said. Members of the elite force in plainclothes are watching over each block, too, he added.

River patrol teams started work on Thursday, patting down those entering the ground and watching from towers. Moreover, security personnel have mingled with the devotees in the blocks, dressed in white and wearing special cap.

RAB bomb squad members are also on the ground.

Gazipur police superintendent Abdul Baten said a total 10,000 security personnel including RAB and police are working to ensure safety at the Ijtema ground. Overall security is being monitored with several RAB and police close circuit cameras.

TRAFFIC CONTROL

Traffic is being controlled to ensure safe transportation of the devotees.

Government-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is operating single- and double-decker buses between Jan 12 and 24 to facilitate easy movement of pilgrims to and from the congregation.

Parking places have been designated to avoid gridlocks.

Four-day cultural programmes in Dhaka and Chittagong have been scheduled from Jan 13 to mark the fourth death anniversary of renowned playwright Selim Al-Din.

The programme, tittled Selim Al-Din Shoron Utsav, have been initiated by the Selim Al-Din foundation and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in association with the Drama and Dramatics Department, Bunan Theatre, Chittagong's Nattodhar Organisation and Pantomime Movement.

"We have plans to make this a countrywide festival in future," convenor Nasir Uddin Yusuf, a prominent playwright in his own rights, told .

Selim Al-Din, who passed away on Jan 14, 2008, was a pioneer playwright in post-Tagore Bengali literature and played a great role in taking drama and theatre to the mainstream in this region. He had also compiled the first Bengali dictionary on dramatics. Al-Din's book, Madhya Juger Bangla Natya, was the result of his extensive research on the narrative form of Bengali drama and sheds light on the long history of drama practices in Bengal.

Al-Din, originally named Moinudddin Ahmed, was born on August 18, 1949 and was the founding chairman of the Jahangirnagar University's drama and dramatics department and the Bangladesh Gram Theatre. The university amphitheatre was renamed Selim Al-Din Muktamancha in 2011.

Al-Din's most notable plays include Muntasir Fantasy (1976), Kirton Khola (1980), Keramat Mangal (1984), Chaka (1990), and Jubati Kanyar Mon (1991).

He received the Ekushey Padak and Bangla Academy Padak among others for his lifelong dedication and work in the area of Bengali drama. Some of his writings have been selected as academic texts in universities of many countries, including Bangladesh.

very sad news police in the district are investigating a case of reported rape of a Grade-V student, who has been tested pregnant, allegedly by a 63-year-old man.

Police arrested Ranjit Natt, a resident of Hoybatpur village of Nalchhiti upazila, on Friday after the victim's mother filed the case against him with Nalchhiti Police Station, said Nalchhiti police chief Masuduzzaman.

Natt, a retired teacher of Paota High School, refuted the allegation that he had raped the girl and said he was a victim of a conspiracy.

The incident came to light after the victim was admitted to Nalchhiti Health Complex with extreme stomachache and she was found pregnant after medical examination.
The age of the victim, was, however, not clear.

Awsaful Islam Rasel, a doctor at the health complex, told  that the victim was admitted to the complex on Jan 8. After a test at a local clinic on Jan 12, the report shows she is a 19-week pregnant.

The victim told reporters at the hospital, "Many days ago, our neighbour Ranjit sir called me to his house when it was empty and had sex with me."

After the rape, Ranjit allegedly held a knife to her throat and asked not to tell anyone about this incident, she said.

Ranjit refuted the allegation and said, "The allegation has been brought against me as part of a conspiracy to get hold of my property."

He said the girl's family had bought land from him and had been living there. He said that the case was filed against him to take control of his property.

It is the regular news but area is different or same at least 17 people died after a bus carrying more than 40 passengers crashed into a ravine amid thick fog in Bandarban on Saturday morning, officials said.

The accident took place around 7.30 am, officer-in-charge (OC) of Thanchi police station Niyamat Hossain told .

The Pahari Paribahan bus was headed from Thanchi to Bandarban when the driver apparently lost control at Shilijhiri due to poor visibility, leading to the crash, he said.

Thanchi upazila Awami League president Uhalaching Marma, her daughters, an employee, two staffers of the NGO Caritas and bus driver Shubhash Barua were among the dead, Niyamat said.

Some tourists also died, he said, though details are still awaited.

According to the OC, police, army and border guards personnel joined the rescue operation but heavy fog hampered their initial effort. Several survivors are being treated at Bandarban Sadar Hospital, he said.

Duty doctors declared four persons dead on arrival, Niyamat added.

Dr Prabir Chandra Bhoumik at the hospital confirmed that four persons, including the driver's assistant Nurul Islam, died at the hospital.

He said eight survivors have been sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for further treatment.

Earlier, Thanchi upazila's acting officer of women affairs Emran Hossain had told  from the accident site that the death toll was 16 but the police later put it at 13.

Members of the medical board formed for former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam has opined that he does not need to be treated at the hospital.

"The board members have suggested in their report that Ghulam Azam does not need treatment in hospital," Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital's director brigadier general Mohammad Abdul Majid Bhuiyan told  on Saturday.

The medical board's chief, A B M Abdullah, said, "We might submit the report to the Dhaka Central Jail authorities on Sunday, as Saturday is a government holiday."

Ghulam Azam is at present in the BSMMU's prison cell.

He was hospitalised within hours of a court on Wednesday refusing him bail and sending him to jail.

Azam, 90, said to be suffering from age-related health complications, was hospitalised following an appeal by his lawyers.

But doctors told journalists after a thorough examination that Azam, a war crimes suspect, is medically all right.

A three-member board headed by Medicine department chairman A B M Adullah was formed the following day to look into the issue. They have prepared a report after examining Azam for the last two days.

About the current physical condition of the former Jamaat chief, Dr. Abdullah said, "He has gallbladder stones and high blood pressure but his pressure is under control."

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has reached Comilla's Chandina with the party's road march to Chittagong.

Supporters of the main opposition party welcomed Khaleda with applauses when she reached Madhaia Freedom Fighters Memorial College ground at 2:30pm on Sunday.

She is scheduled to address a street rally there.

Khaleda left her Gulshan house around 10:15am on Sunday for the party's Naya Paltan headquarters from where the programme began at 10:45am.

The opposition leader is expected to announce fresh anti-government protest plans at a rally in the port city.

The BNP standing committee on Saturday night finalised the party's next course of action in a meeting with the former prime minister.

After the meeting, standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said they set a 'package programme' to push the government.

Khaleda is scheduled to address a rally in Chittagong's Polo Ground on Monday.

Standing committee member A S M Hannan Shah said Sunday, "Of course, the chairperson will announce the programme at the Chittagong rally."

BNP leaders have been saying she will declare end of the road march programme in Chittagong.

They, however, were not keen to disclose the programme before announcement.

Khaleda, during the road march to Rajshahi, indicated that their next programme will be Dhaka blockade.

The BNP chairperson is scheduled to address another street rally in Comilla City later on Sunday, and one at Feni the same afternoon.

The main opposition party had led three marches to Sylhet, Chapainawabganj and Khulna on Oct 10-11, Oct 18-19 and Nov 25-26, respectively.

Ruling ally Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon has bashed the government's actions in the last three years in no small terms.

At a discussion on Saturday he said the three years of Grand Alliance rule has been flooded with corruption and expropriation.

"The common man says the country is on the wrong track. When at the third anniversary we should be celebrating, we're hearing complaints from the people," he said.

"It brings my head down in shame, anger and grief," he said.

"We failed in so many things. We could not bring down the cartels. We were mired in corruption and an economy of exploitation," he said.

"This is not some newspaper poll. Wherever people gather we only hear of frustration and anger," he continued.

He blamed Awami League for the weakened fabric of the Grand Alliance, saying, "The Alliance's unity is now kept in deep freeze. It's impossible to play any effective role in the government."

Menon equally criticised the opposition, which he said was planning to create new anarchy in the country.

"We have already seen rehearsals of that," he added, pointing to the incidents on Dec 18 last year.

He criticised the government's power policy, saying the power rates had been hiked four times last year.

"Who will take the responsibility for the people burdened with rental power plants, all for the sake of raising power output?" he said.

He strongly criticised the failure to implement Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord. In a remark slanted towards the prime minister, he said, "You can make an accord, win peace prizes for that but you cannot implement that accord. Then what is the difference between you and that leader [opposition leader]?"

The parliamentarian said the Alliance had failed to hold on to the mandate given by people.

"The victory achieved by the unity of people has been lost, and we must investigate how," he added.

Waxing value of US dollar against taka has seen a wane in investment for import of capital machineries and raw materials.

Besides, a shrinking taka has also mounted pressure on the central bank's foreign exchange reserve as fuel oil import is costing more.

Economists say the depreciation of taka against dollar will not only push inflation further up and pull investment in industries down, making it difficult to achieve the projected economic growth of seven percent in the current fiscal year, but it will also impact all other sectors.

A dollar was sold at Tk 82 on Jan 4, according to the Bangladesh Bank website.

This time in January last year, a dollar was sold at Tk 70-70.25.

Value of taka has plummeted over 15 percent in the past one year – the highest-ever fall.

The devaluation of taka would previously happen through government announcements. But now, it takes place silently.

"Continuous rise in the value of dollar against taka is one of the major problems in our economy now. Dollar's value is rising almost on daily basis. The rise is not only fuelling inflation but also impacting investment negatively," Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) researcher Zaid Bakht told .

"Entrepreneurs are cutting import of necessary capital machineries and raw materials due to the rising value of dollar against taka. It will cause fall in industrial production and growth, impacting investments and the entire economy," he argued.

"As a result', he said, "The seven percent GDP growth rate set in the budget might not be achieved."

According to the latest Bangladesh Bank data, the rate of opening Letters of Credits (LoC) to import machineries necessary to set up industries decreased by 38 percent in the first five months (July-November) of the current fiscal year.

The rate of opening such LoCs increased by 105 percent in the same period last financial year while it increased by only 40.2 percent in the entire financial year.

Import of industrial raw materials rose by 65 percent during July-November last year, but decreased by eight percent in the same period this year.

In 2010-11 fiscal, import of industrial raw materials increased by 47 percent.

As per the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, the rate of inflation was 10.63 percent in December, and it has been in double digits for the past 10 months.

"The dollar price is growing at an alarming rate. In the recent times, it even grew by a taka a day," said economist Mirza Azizul Islam, former economic advisor to the caretaker government.

"The government was forced to raise fuel prices for this dollar hike. It admitted that in the last circular. Whatever it earned from the first two fuel price hikes, it lost all when taka was depreciated," he added.

Top business body FBCCI has also expressed concern over the depreciation. FBCCI president Abul Kalam Azad raised the issue in the presence of the prime minister during the opening of the International Trade Fair on Jan 1.

"Now the concern is where the value of dollar stops," Bakht told .

"As our economy is based on imports, rise in the value of dollar against taka affects the entire economy," he said.

The government raised prices of all types of fuel once again – fourth time this year – on Dec 29. Ever since, every litre of diesel, octane, petrol, kerosene and furnace oil has been taking an additional Tk 5.

Existing hefty subsidy to the fuel sector, oil price rise in the international market and depreciation of taka against dollar were cited for the latest round of price hike in a government statement.

Asked why the pressure on Bangladesh Bank's foreign exchange reserve is increasing despite fall in import of machineries, foods and industrial raw materials, the BIDS researcher said, "The import cost of fuel oil rose abnormally. So the pressure on foreign exchange reserve is not decreasing."

Asked how value of taka against dollar could be raised, he suggested increasing flow of remittance along with foreign aid.

"The foreign aid stuck in the pipeline will have to be cleared quickly. The foreign exchange reserve will get a boost and value of dollar will also dip," he said.

The central bank's foreign exchange reserve stood at $9.64 billion on Jan 2. The reserve was over $11 billion barely two months ago.

According to the central bank, the total import cost increased by 23.15 percent in July-November while export earnings rose by 17.33 percent and flow of remittance 7.56 percent.

Expatriates have set a new record by remitting around $ 1.15 billion in December. The previous record was $ 1.1 billion, in August last year.

Under pressure at home abroad, the government has reduced the number of "crossfire killings" and taken the route of "undercover killings" in its third year in office to reduce the heat it faces, according to human rights organisation Odhikar.

At least 30 "undercover killings" -- or 'secret killings', according to opposition BNP -- took place last year, Odhikar said in its annual report for 2011.

The report said the state has taken the route of undercover killings "in the wake of national and international demand to stop extrajudicial killings".

The report based its findings on data provided by human rights activists from different districts and media reports, secretary of Odhikar Adilur Rahman Khan said on Saturday.

According to the report, there were 154 reported extrajudicial killings in 2009 after the Awami League-led government took charge. The number decreased to 127 in 2010, and 84 in 2011.

In contrast, abduction and "undercover killings" have increased alarmingly over the last couple of years. While only two such deaths were reported in 2009, the number jumped to 18 in 2010 and at least 30 last year, the report said.

According to Odhikar, deaths in 'crossfire' -- or gunfight between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) or police and 'miscreants' -- decreased in the middle of last year. Almost eerily, the report says, the term "undercover killings" came to vogue and started making top news from that point on.

In most such cases, bodies of victims, allegedly picked up by plain-clothed law enforcers, were found in canals or roadside ditches. Most victims belonged to political parties, especially the BNP.

NOT INVOLVED, CLAIMS GOVT

Both RAB and the police, however, have repeatedly denied their involvement in such incidents.

Asked specifically about the increase of such 'secret killings', home minister Shahara Khatun had recently said that she was unaware of such murders and learnt about them only from media reports.

Refuting allegations that law enforcement officials were involved in these incidents, inspector general of police Hasan Mahmud Khandker claimed these abductions and killings were handiwork of criminals in the guise of law enforcers.

While he had stated that these incidents would be thoroughly investigated, not a single case has till date been resolved.

COPS INVOLVED IN TORTURE: ODHIKAR

"Allegations have been raised against the police over taking accused (persons) into remand and torturing them in the name of interrogation," Odhikar's report stated.

It said though the number of "undercover killings" is lower than that of crossfire deaths, the fact that innocent people being "tortured to death, mainly during remand in custody, is a shameful human rights violation".

"The government needs to urgently address (this issue)," it reiterated.

The organisation also expressed concern over increase in mob lynching.

According to the report, while people are aware of extrajudicial killings and human rights activists are continuously protesting, law enforcers are "encouraging mob violence".

The report mentioned an Aug 7, 2011 footage broadcast by private TV channel 'Shomoy'.

The channel showed how one Shamsuddin Milon, 16, of Noakhali was apprehended purportedly by the police, who then handed him over to the masses at Tekerhat Mor from the police van. The police then allegedly instigated the mob to kill Milon -- he was beaten to death, while the police persons remained mute witness, the report mentioned.

The police took away Milon's body after confirming his death.

The Odhikar report said despite compelling India to compensate for victims killed by its Border Security Force (BSF), "irresponsible statements" from the top level of government showed Bangladesh's "weak foreign policy".

It quoted Shahara Khatun as saying on May 29 about the killing of teen girl Felani on Jan 7: "Felani, who was shot dead by the BSF, was not a Bangladeshi but an Indian. (But) even then the government did a lot for the family of Felani… I personally visited their village home."

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN RISE

According to the report, 251 people were killed in political violence in 2009, 220 in 2010, and 135 last year.

Odhikar found contest over control of tender, extortion and fight over influence in varsity dormitories areas were among the major reasons behind these violence.

It found 711 incidents of rape, 516 dowry-related violence against women, and 672 cases of sexual harassment in 2011. "Lack of police action in providing support to the victim and a weak judicial system create barriers for women seeking justice," the report observed.

Expressing concern over blocking of public gatherings by imposing Section 144 of CrPC, the report said 2011 saw 103 such incidents.

"Complaints have been received that most of these incidents were initiated by the Awami League or its allies. In 2011, meetings have been obstructed across the country through imposition of this section of the law," the report said.

"The events of the last three years, and particularly 2011, proved that the singular ritual of an electoral process to vote for a party to rule…can be fatal to the life, liberty and livelihood of the majority," it said.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has again rejected the opposition's demand to reinstate the caretaker government system and asked the opposition leader to recall the imprisonment four years ago.

"A certain group wants the return of army-backed caretaker government, and the opposition is singing to their tune," Hasina said, addressing a gathering of Chhatra League, the party's student wing, leaders.

"Why do you need a caretaker government? Why dig your own grave?" she asked. "It's not as though (a) caretaker government will cradle you to power -- you might have to go to jail again."

After the state of emergency was announced in 2007, both Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia were imprisoned, with various charges filed against them.

"Those whom the people will never vote to power again want to go there (form government) by using political loopholes," Hasina said. "And the opposition is singing to their tune."

She said all elections held during her government's tenure had been free and fair, and that the return of a caretaker government system would again stop the democratic process.

Saturday's event was organised at Ganabhaban, the prime minister's official residence, to greet Chhatra League on their 64th anniversary.

Hasina also launched the organisation's new website at the event.

Reminding the student leaders that they must give utmost importance to studies, she said: "Money, wealth and glamour can get you nothing. Chhatra League leaders must maintain a 'simple living, high thinking' principle."

The chief election commissioner has said the polls in the newly formed Comilla City Corporation will remain as an example in the electoral history of Bangladesh.

Talking to reporters after voting in the maiden polls in Comilla on Thursday, ATM Shmasul Huda thanked the people for helping conduct the election in a fair and peaceful manner.

He said 70 percent voters have exercised their franchise in the polls.

In the first-ever all-electronic voting machine (EVM) polls on Thursday in the Bangladesh's smallest city corporation, 75.06 percent votes were cast, according to the Election Commission.

Citizens Committee candidate Monirul Haque Sakku, an expelled BNP leader, won a landslide to beoame the first mayor of Comilla with 65,577 votes, while his nearest rival ruling Awami League-backed Afzal Khan got 36,471 votes..

Huda said: "People in great number have gone to vote despite many negative comments against the polls. Use of EVM in 100 percent polling centres has set an example."

Though the Election Commission earlier used EVMs in Chittagong and Narayanganj city polls on a limited scale, this is the first time it has used the electronic devices in all the polling centres.

A total of 169,273 voters cast their votes through EVMs at 421 polling booths of the 65 polling centres from 8am to 4pm and both voters and the contestants expressed their satisfaction with regard to the EVMs.

Before the maiden polls of the Comilla city, EVMs were only used in one ward in Chittagong and in nine wards in Narayanganj polls on an experimental basis.

Afzal Khan and Sakku, who was relieved of BNP post for running the polls, hailed the use of EVMs in all polling centres.

Sakku, however, said the Election Commission should have publicised use of the machines for a longer period.

Asked for comment on the opposition against the use of EVMs, the CEC said: "Many complaints can be heard if a new system is introduced. I'm not blaming anybody for that."

Incidentally, opposition BNP boycotted the election in protest against the EVM use.

Mentioning that the commission has planned use of EVMs in all local government polls, Huda said: "The devices will be used in the ensuing Narsingdi municipal election."

He, however, said use of EVMs in national polls could be decided through discussion since a large political party is against it.

Square Group chairman Samson H Chowdhury was buried on Saturday at his ancestral home at Ataikula in Pabna.

He was laid to rest at the family graveyard after a special prayer at the Ataikula Baptist church at noon.

Chowdhury was taken to his village earlier in the day.
Special prayers for the renowned industrialist were also held on Friday night at the capital's Kakrail Catholic Church.

His remains were kept at Square Hospital mortuary following the prayers.

Chowdhury, one of the country's biggest industrialists, died of old age complications at a hospital in Singapore on Thursday. He was 86.

He was undergoing treatment in Square Hospital and later shifted to the Singapore hospital on Dec 27 last year.

His remains were flown in at Shahjalal International Airport by a Singapore Airlines flight around 9:30pm on Friday.

Chowdhury was born on Feb 25, 1926 at Ataikula village. His father worked as a medical officer at an outdoor dispensary. He also started his business career by pharmacy.

After completing his education in India in 1952, he settled in Ataikula and started a small pharmacy. Later ventured into a partnership to build Square Pharmaceuticals Limited with three friends in 1958.

Through Chowdhury's hard work, Square diversified into toiletries, textile, agriculture products, information technology, health service and media sectors.

Square is now a publicly listed diversified group of companies with more than 28,000 employees. The group's annual turnover is $616 million, according to its website.

Chowdhury was involved with many national and international organisations.
He was a former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries. He was also the former founding vice-president of Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies.

He was the former chairman of Transparency International's Bangladesh chapter from 2004-2007 and of Shahbazpur Tea Estate and Mutual Trust Bank.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the a new round of vaccination campaign on Saturday.

Hasina kicked off the 20th National Vaccination campaign around 10:30am at the Ganabhaban.

This year, around 22 million children below five years across the country would be administered two drops of polio vaccine and one red vitamin-A capsule each under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

Children aged six to 11 months would be given one blue vitamin-A capsule each.

Health workers would give vaccine and vitamin capsules to the children to be left out over next four days visiting houses.

Health minister A F M Ruhul Haque on Friday said that Bangladesh was polio-free for five years – from Aug 22, 2000 until Mar 8, 2006- when a new polio case was found.

He said Bangladesh could not be declared polio-free despite having no polio case, as a polio patient has been found in Burdawn in adjoining West Bengal state of India.

The minister said pneumonia vaccine would be given to the children from 2013 under EPI, which was launched in 1985. He mentioned that around 25,000 children below five years die of pneumonia in Bangladesh every year.

The second phase of the campaign would be observed on Feb 11, when children aged between two and five will be administered one anthelmintic tablet each.

India wants to accord Bangladesh the 'most preferred nation' (MFN) status for giving a boost to cross-border trade activities, an Indian newspaper said on Saturday.

It would also try to ensure capital flows to Bangladesh for business, The Times of India newspaper said, quoting home minister P Chidambaram.

"Both the countries can join hands in making this part of the world a hub of business activities," it quoted Chidambaram as saying.

"Bangladesh is blessed with natural resources, especially natural gas, and India is blessed with entrepreneurs and capital. By joining hands, so much business can be created on both sides of the border," Chidambaram said.

His comment comes amid many Bangladeshi critics and opposition parties saying India just wants to turn Bangladesh into its market giving very little access to the smaller and Muslim-majority neighbour to enter India with its products.

Chidambaram said it was important that businessmen look upon Bangladesh and India as one market where "goods and services can be produced, traded and exchanged".

"That is why we are very keen to gift Bangladesh the most preferred nation status for trade across the border … (so that) trade between the two countries takes place almost tariff free. We should reach out to Bangladesh," Chidambaram added.

Addressing the Northeast Business Summit, he said on Friday since India's economy was many times bigger than the economy of Bangladesh, it was New Delhi's responsibility to give access to goods and services from Dhaka.

"It is India's responsibility to ensure that capital flows from India to Bangladesh to start businesses," he said.

Praising prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the Indian home minister said India today has the best of relationship with Bangladesh, thanks to the vision and statesmanship of the prime minister.

"I want to pay tribute to the vision and statesmanship of prime minister Sheikh Hasina. India and Bangladesh are today closer than ever before. We are perhaps today as close as the day on which Bangladesh was liberated," he said.

BNP has finalised a 'package programme' to oust the government, which will be announced in Chittagong, a senior party leader has said.

BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed told the press after a committee meeting on Saturday that the programme will be announced at a rally in Chittagong scheduled for the second day of the Chittagong road march - Monday.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia met the party's policymaking forum, the standing committee, at 8.30pm.

Khaleda will lead BNP's road march to Chittagong that will conclude the opposition party's nationwide march programme. According to schedule, she will announce a new programme for anti-government movement during a rally at Chittagong Polo Ground on Monday.

On Oct 18 at a street rally in Bogra, Khaleda had announced that a march towards Dhaka will be held after the nationwide marches are completed.

She had also warned of a 'final match' to overthrow the government at the end of road march programmes.