British Secretary of State for International Development Affairs Andrew Mitchell Talk to Myanmar on Rohingya:Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,Bangladesh Uk

BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Britain and the countries concerned about Rohingya refugees should talk to the Myanmar government regarding the refugee issue instead of pressurising Bangladesh.

The prime minister said this when British Secretary of State for International Development Affairs Andrew Mitchell met her at her hotel suite in London in the evening.

After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters about the outcome of the meeting.

Abul Kalam said the premier informed the British minister that Bangladesh, despite being an overpopulated country, is already hosting over 28,000 Myanmar refugees at two camps in Cox’s Bazar.

On the influx of Myanmar refugees to Bangladesh, the prime minister said her government is providing them with food, medicine and even some financial assistance before repatriating them to their own country.

About climate change, Hasina appreciated British support for Bangladesh’s efforts to combat its adverse impacts and sought cooperation from the UK for the Climate Vulnerable Forum and its activities.

Hasina also thanked the British government for its assistance for education, health, sanitation, natural disaster prevention and attainment of MDGs in Bangladesh.

Mitchell appreciated various successes of the present government, including those in agriculture, education, health and energy sectors, under the able leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

He thanked the prime minister to attend the World Hunger Event in London although August is the month of mourning in Bangladesh.

Hasina said she attended the programme responding to the invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameroon, and above all the topics of the event attracted her.

Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin and Bangladesh High Commissioner to London Dr Sayeedur Rahman Khan were present.

France United States G20 president World powers weigh emergency meeting on food prices,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Leading members of the Group of 20 nations are prepared to trigger an emergency meeting to tackle soaring grain prices caused by the worst US drought in half a century and poor crops from the Black Sea bread basket.

France, the United States and G20 president Mexico will hold a conference call at the end of August to discuss whether an emergency international meeting is required, aiming to avoid a repeat of the 2007/08 food price spike that triggered riots in poorer countries in 2008.

Analysts had little hope of concrete action, although there could be further calls for the United States to change its biofuels policy in response to the crisis while Russia will be encouraged not to impose an export ban.

The United States uses 40 percent of its corn crop to produce biofuel ethanol, drawing criticism from some groups which argue against the use of food for fuel when hunger is widespread in some poorer countries.

"They might talk about the US ethanol mandate requirements but I don't seem them making any massive responses at the moment. They don't have a lot of tools at their disposal," said analyst Muktadir Ur Rahman Of Capital Economics

Benchmark Chicago corn climbed to an all-time high on Friday after the US Department of Agriculture cut its production estimate by 17 percent, intensifying fears the world is headed for a repeat of the 2008 food price crisis.

The UN's food agency stepped up the pressure on the US on Friday to change its biofuel policies because of the danger of a world food crisis, arguing the importance of growing crops for food over their use for fuel.

The FAO's food index jumped 6 percent in July to higher than in 2008 and the body warned against the kind of export bans, tariffs and buying binges that worsened the price surge four years ago.

BIOFUELS AND FOOD

Charity Oxfam said its top priority was for ministers to agree action on beginning to abolish mandates and targets for biofuels production, which it says are having a major impact on food price rises.

"In 2011 eleven intergovernmental agencies produced a report to the G20 where it unequivocally said there was a link between increasing biofuels production and food price rises and recommended quite clearly that biofuels mandates and targets should be scrapped," said Hannah Stoddart, head of economic justice at Oxfam Great Britain.

France, the United States and Mexico will discuss a report on agricultural prices requested by France last month and compiled by the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS).

This system, created last year under France's presidency of the G20, is designed to share information on crop prices with a view to averting a repeat of the 2007-08 food crisis.

France currently presides both the forum and the AMIS system, which is based at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome. The United States will take over the reins in October.

"France...and the United States remain attentive to any new fact that could justify a meeting of the Rapid Response Forum," French Agricultural Minister Stephane Le Foll said in a statement on Monday.

The forum has no power to impose binding decisions on member states but it is hoped that discussion can discourage countries from taking unilateral action.

Russia banned grain exports for almost a year after a severe drought two years ago and weather problems this year have fueled speculation it could resort to export curbs again. However, French officials have said that Russia has given reassuring indicators in contacts through the AMIS system.

A French agriculture ministry official said the call would decide whether to convene the first meeting of the G20's Rapid Response Forum. The body was created last year to promote early discussion among decision-makers about abnormal market conditions with the aim of avoiding unilateral action.

"If the situation requires it, a meeting of the Rapid Response Forum could be called as soon as the start of September," the official said, adding the forum could hold its discussions in person or by a conference call.

"The aim is to talk about the situation and avoid measures like export embargoes which would be damaging for everyone," he said.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir poll-time Government based on 13th amendment,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the government has to take initiative to arrange the next general election under a neutral administration based on the thirteenth amendment to the constitution.

Thirteenth amendment had provided caretaker government system but the Awami League-led government scrapped it from the constitution through fifteenth amendment last year.

According to the existing provision, the next parliamentary election will be held under the present government. But BNP said it will not participate in the election if it is not held under a neutral administration.

On Saturday, party standing committee member Moudud had said that his party is preparing a draft outline of a non-party caretaker government which would be made public after Eid.

But, Mirza Alamgir on Monday described it as Moudud’s ‘personal’ statement and said they have specific proposal on caretaker government and they did not finalise the decision on preparing proposal for a non-party caretaker government but discussion is going on within the party.

He, however, said discussions on selecting chief adviser to the caretaker government based on thirteenth amendment are going on. “Hope we will be able to finalise our stance soon,” he added.

“Thirteenth amendment is our stance. Ball is now on government’s court. We can sit only to take decision on chief adviser of the caretaker government,” he said at a press briefing at the party’s central office at Nayapaltan after a joint meeting of party leaders.

The BNP leader said the government brought changes in the constitution so they have to take steps to resolve the crisis.

Asked about prime minister’s proposal for small cabinet, Alamgir said the premier did not make her proposal clear. “She did not place her proposal before parliament or to us,” he said.

TWO-DAYS PROGRAMME

The party has chalked out a two-day programme to celebrate its 34th founding anniversary. Late president Ziaur Rahman founded the party on September 1, 1978.

According to the plan, a discussion will be held on August 31 and party and national flags will be hoisted at party offices on September 1. Party leaders will place a floral wreath at Zia’s grave on that day.

Tipaimukh-Rivers Commission (JRC) Bapa opposes Tipai survey team NHRC chief asks India to follow international laws,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Environmentalists on Monday demanded removal of the currently nominated Bangladeshi members of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) and withdrawal of the investment Bangladesh has planned for the proposed Tipaimukh dam project.

The nominated Bangladeshi members of the JRC are inexperienced and incapable of undertaking responsibilities of the project, said speakers at a press conference organised jointly by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Jatiya Nodi Rokkha Andolon (JNRA) in the city.

Meanwhile at a separate programme, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof Mizanur Rahman said in building the Tipaimukh dam, the Indian government must follow the international laws to ensure safety of Bangladesh’s environment.

The concerns came in the context of a meeting between the Bangladeshi members and their Indian counterparts slated on August 27-28 in New Delhi to study the impacts of the Tipaimukh dam project.

At the joint press conference of Bapa and JNRA, Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University raised questions about the government's handling of the dam issue saying, “Two members from the Bangladeshi side -- Mir Sazzad Hossain and engineer MA Kashem -- have no experience or expertise of handling the issue while the others are bureaucrats who do not have independent opinion for placing argument in the meeting.”

He demanded an explanation why people such as noted climate expert Prof Ainun Nishat or Dr Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, were not nominated for the committee, as it was proposed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

The speakers urged to constitute a “neutral committee” comprising foreign experts to assess the impacts of the project.

“We suspect that India will complement the expenses under the Fulertal Barrage project by diverting water for irrigation in the barren Cachar district in Assam as recommended by Shukla Commission,” said Bapa General Secretary Dr Abdul Matin, adding that it is potentially dangerous for Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, NHRC chief spoke on the issue at a workshop on “Universal Periodic Review: Follow-up on the Recommendations on Climate Change and Disaster Management” in the city.

“The Indian government can build Tipaimukh dam for its own interest but it must follow international laws ensuring the neighbouring country’s environmental security,” he said at the workshop.

Due to geographical location, the possibility of damage caused by natural disasters is acute in Bangladesh as it is in the downstream while India is in upstream, said the NHRC boss.

Anti-Corruption Commission challenges Destiny Group high-ups' bail,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday challenged the legality of a lower court order that had granted bail to five Destiny Group top-brasses including its managing director in two money laundering cases.

After the hearing, Judge (in charge) Mohammad Akhteruzzaman of the Senior Special Judge's Court, Dhaka took the petitions into cognisance and called for the lower court's records.

The court fixed August 30 for further hearing on the petitions filed by ACC Deputy Directors Mozahar Ali Sarder and Towfiqul Islam, also complainants of the cases, with the Senior Special Judge's Court.

The officials are Destiny Group Managing Director Mohammad Rafiqul Amin and Director Lt Gen (rtd) M Harunur Rashid; Destiny 2000 Chairman Mohammad Hossain and its two directors Gofranul Huq and Sayed-ur Rahman.

In their petitions, they told the court the lower court has no jurisdiction to hear any petition submitted by the prosecution and the defence.

So, the order granting bail to the five officials until submission of probe reports was illegal.

That's why, they prayed for the cancellation of the lower court order given on August 6.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Erfan Ullah granted bail to the five Destiny officials after the accused surrendered before it on August 6.

On July 31, the ACC sued 22 officials of Destiny Group for laundering Tk 3,285.26 crore by cheating investors.

Meanwhile, 17 other accused of the cases surrendered before a Dhaka court on Monday seeking bail.

But Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ataul Haque returned the bail petitions as the higher court called for the lower court's records following the government appeal.

Stock market Irregularities Khondker Ibrahim Khaled wins legal battle High Court ,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The High Court on Monday rejected a writ petition challenging the legality of Khondker Ibrahim Khaled’s actions regarding stockmarket irregularities involving some individuals and enterprises.

A four-member committee led by Ibrahim Khaled conducted an inquiry into stockmarket disaster in February and March last year, and submitted a 300-page probe report to the government on April 7 the same year.

In the report, the committee pointed out around 100 individuals and business organizations responsible for the market crash and also found them swindling around Tk 20,000 crore from the market. The committee also made several recommendations to this effect.

The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar delivered the verdict after hearing arguments from the counsels for the petitioners, Ibrahim Khaled and the state.

The court’s observations in the judgment could not be known, as the full text of the verdict was not released on Monday.

Ibrahim Khaled’s lawyer Probir Neogi told that it has been proved that his client has not done any wrong through his actions.

Three Supreme Court lawyers -- Abul Hashem, Khurshida Aktar and Rokan-uz Zaman jointly filed the writ petition with the HC in May last, saying that Ibrahim Khaled disclosed contents of the probe report to the media, exceeding his jurisdiction and violating the right to information law.

Ibrahim Khaled, through his statements, created unrest and anarchy in the capital market and damaged the reputation of those individuals and businesses, the petitioners alleged.

They also said that Ibrahim Khaled brought allegations in the report against the individuals and companies without giving them any opportunity to defend, which is against the principle of natural justice, the lawyers said in the petition.

They prayed to the court to direct Khaled to withdraw his statements

The HC on May 19 last year asked Khaled and officials concerned of government to explain about his actions and statements to the media regarding stock market irregularities involving some individuals and enterprises.

During hearing on the rule, Probir Neogi told the court recently that his client has done everything within the territory of his jurisdiction.

He said the HC on April 19 last year had directed the government to publish the full investigation report on stockmarket debacle in a reasonable time, and the government had done it later.

Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Kazi Aktar Hamid told the court that Ibrahim Khaled had conducted enquiry without hearing arguments from the individuals and companies against whom he brought allegations.

Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman stood for the government.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena shares US concern with BangladeshFinance Minister AMA Muhith

BANGLADESH NEWS

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena on Monday conveyed to Finance Minister AMA Muhith his country's concerns about the recent development on Grameen Bank.

After a two-hour meeting with the minister at the secretariat, the ambassador told reporters that he shared with Muhith about America's concerns about some of the recent development centring the microlender.

He said they also talked about Nobel Peace Prize winning Grameen Bank and its importance for the development of Bangladesh.

"We agreed on the importance of sustaining the bank as strong and effective. We agreed on the importance of continuing the unique governance structures for the borrowers' control of the bank," Mozena said.

The ambassador said he discussed with the minister on the need for a strong, internationally recognised and credible new managing director of the lender.

"I was encouraged by the strong support from the minister to keep the bank strong and effective and to have a good, internationally recognised and credible new managing director," he said.

The finance minister declined to talk to the press.

America is a strong supporter of Grameen Bank and Professor Muhammad Yunus, whose resignation from the bank last year has led to vacancy of the managing director post of the microcredit organisation.

The comments from the US ambassador as the government amended the Grameen Bank Ordinance 1983, apparently to give more power to the chairman, always appointed by the government, to pick the managing director, sidelining the board of directors, majority of whom comprising of grassroots members of the bank.

On the much-talked Padma bridge project, Mozena said he still hopes a way could be found to proceed with the project with the World Bank financing.

"American has all along strongly supported the Padma bridge. We have been a strong supporter of the bridge," he said.

The ambassador also said negotiations on the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) are going on and the deal could be signed at some point.

London Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina faces pro-Rohingya protests

BANGLADESH NEWS

Protesters shouted slogans outside her hotel in London as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was about to meet her British counterpart David Cameron at 10 Downing Street on Sunday.

Some 200 gathered outside the hotel in central London and denounced the Bangladesh Prime Minister for not letting Rohingya Muslims, allegedly fleeing persecution in neighbouring Myanmar, enter her country.

Hasina was scheduled to meet Cameron, host of the global hunger summit at his official home, at 4pm (9pm BdST).

Senior politicians from Kenya, India and Brazil will be present at the summit. A group of athletes were expected to attend the hour-long summit including British double gold medalist Somali-born Mohammed Farah.

During the summit, the UK will pledge to spend £120 million on researching crops that can survive in droughts and a hunger alert system for Kenya.

Hasina is expected to leave Downing Street at about 5:00pm and will leave Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to make a presentation.

The Prime Minister is meeting the UK International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, at 8:00p Sunday night at her hotel.   

Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB):Corruption in 18 areas' in CGA Office,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) has found 18 sectors at the office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) are plagued with corruption, requiring a bribe of maximum 15 percent for getting a job done.

The findings came through an investigation which prompted the civil society organisation that monitors and publicises political and corporate corruption to make a set of 23 recommendations to check corruption.

TIB revealed its investigation outcome at a roundtable held at CIRDAP auditorium on Sunday.

Former Comptroller and Auditor General Hafizuddin Khan, a member of TIB, blamed absence of government's attention for prevalence of corruption at one of the most important administrative offices of the state.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, however, questioned the investigation.

The areas overwhelmed with corruption includes formulation of new pay scale, disbursement of first salary and bonus, contractor's payment, transportation maintenance and fuel expenditure, internet and telephone bill, courier bill, labour payment, conveyance bills, contingency bill, pension and time scale formulation.

Regularisation of staffs, annual increment, consultant fee, recreation fee, outfit allowance, cheque delivery, provident fund and amending incorrect information in reports prepared by CGA are also among the other corruption infested.

The Berlin-based watchdog's local chapter also found corruption in appointment, promotion and transfer at the office.

According to TIB observation, the CGA office is institutionally weak, stumbling into lack of skilled manpower against a problematic and complex organogram. Accounts system at the office suffers from lack of transparency while poor coordination between the office of CGA and the Ministry of Finance is hindering the institution's activities, said TIB.

The problems TIB held responsible for making the office's condition deplorable are interference by politicians and the ministry, lack of accountability and supervision, inadequate logistics support and absence of training for CGA officials.

The investigation reports said, as a result, state expenditure is increasing, financial accounts are not reflecting the reality properly, right decision cannot be taken in the budget and economic development is being hampered.

TIB asked for making the CGA office independent by amending the Constitution in its recommendations.

Moderated by TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, the roundtable was presided over by TIB Trustee Board Chairman Sultana Kamal.

Finance Minister Muhith was present when the investigation report was made public.

"TIB reports are not always right as those are prepared on public perception. But it is generally perceived that it (irregularities) prevails there," he said.

Muhith lament the office's failure to hand over pension to people timely. "I regret delay in getting pension. Pension is withheld for any piece of paper. You (CGA officials) do not abide by laws, (you) create laws."

Hafizuddin Khan wondered why the position of Comptroller and Auditor General has been vacant for the last seven months.

"The office that keeps account of the state's expenditure does not have a chief for seven months. I don't think anybody is willing to care about getting a man in the office," he added. 

Finance Minister AMA Muhith:Prof Muhammad Yunus Nobel-winning Grameen Bank running 'harmful campaign

BANGLADESH NEWS

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday said Muhammad Yunus was running a campaign that the government was orchestrating a takeover of the Grameen Bank and it was damaging for Bangladesh.

"Mister Yunus is not saying the right thing. He is saying that the government wants to wrest full control of Grameen Bank. I have been saying from the first day that the government does not want to take over Grameen Bank and it has not done that as of now.

"Mr Yunus is carrying out an unnecessary campaign. It's harmful for the country," Muhith said at a seminar at CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka.

The Finance Minister also believed that the microlender was at its peak now since the Nobel laureate left it.

"They are running a propaganda campaign that Grameen Bank closed down after Mr Yunus left it. But this is the highest time Grameen Bank (is enjoying) over the past 10 years."

On June 2, the Cabinet endorsed a draft of the 'Grameen Bank Ordinance (Amendment) 2012 changing the rules for appointing Managing Director of the Nobel prize-winning institution founded in 1983 through a martial law ordinance.

It also decided to investigate whether Yunus had enjoyed tax exemption in his stint as Managing Director and how much money he made in salaries and allowances after he turned 60.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan later attempted to set to rest the misgivings over the amendment to the ordinance and said Grameen Bank's Board, not the Chairman, will appoint the Managing Director.

Yunus was forced to leave the Grameen Bank office after the central bank said he had violated retirement laws by failing to relinquish control at 60 and after he lost a series of legal battles.

Yunus says the latest decisions are part of a government attempt to take over the bank. On Saturday, 201 citizens criticised the government's move.

At the seminar, the Finance Minister also said he played an important role in the spread of micro-credit.

"Yunus is an icon for micro-credit. But there is also another person involved with micro-credit sitting here. That is me. Yunus may be responsible for 4, 10 or 12 percent of the spread of micro-credit. I took it up to 30 percent."