Habibullah Mizan has also some dreams

If the US war ships do not go back after completing the relief operation, the government will be only responsible, says Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury Habibullah Mizan Staff Reporter The New Nation Dhaka, Bangladesh Cell: +008801552328436 Bikalpa Dara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury demanded of the government to declare the three mostly affected districts as disaster zones immediately. He also urged the government to launch ‘work for cash’ programme in the cyclone affected area. He was speaking at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity after returning from the SIDR affected area. Bargona, Pirojpur and Bagerhat districts must be declared disaster zones while the Sandurbans should be treated separately, he said. Placing many short term and long term recommendations for rehabilitation programme he said, ‘‘ To increase the purchasing capacity of the cyclone affected people, government must start ‘work for cash’ programme instead of work for food.’’ While replying to a question of the newsmen, Bikalpa Dara President said, ‘‘The government will be only responsible, if the US war ships do not go back after completing the relief operation.’’ It is good if the war ships carry ‘relief items’ instead of weapons, he observed. B Chowdhury , also former president refused to reply to a question from this correspondent whether they would support or oppose if the government accepts any offer of Israeli humanitarian assistance for the cyclone affected distressed people , he said,‘‘ The question is a hypothetical ’’. However, his son Mahi B Chowdhury , organising secretary of the party told The New Nation, ‘‘ If the Israeli government really wants to provide relief, they can do the job easily through any third party like the USA.’’ Prof B Chowdhury claimed, there is no relation between relief operation and lifting of emergency from the country. Major (Retd) Abdul Mannan, Secretary General, Bikalpa Dara suggested the government to provide VGF cards, seeds and agricultural loans as part of a rehabilitation programme. Bikalpa Dara presidium member Prof Dr Nurul Amin Bepari, Maj Gen(Retd) M Halim, Joynal Abedin, Giasuddin Chowdhury and central member Saju Kamal, among others, were present at the press briefing.

Build homes for all Habibullah Mizan Staff reporter The New Nation Dhaka, Bangladesh Leaders of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) sought short term and long-term loans at lower interest rates from the government, private banks and financing agencies and media support for continued growth of this sector. They demanded of the government to reduce registration fees so that the middle class people can buy flats easily. RRHAB leaders speaking at a view exchange meeting with editors of newspapers in Dhaka city yesterday. Naya Diganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Jugantor Editor Golam Sarwar, Observer Executive Editor AM Mofazzal, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutt, and Prothom Alo Joint Editor Abdul Qayyum, among others, were present at the meeting. The REHAB leaders urged the government to allocate lands from RAJUK plots at concession prices and faster approval of their building plans. They requested the government to introduce a long-term housing policy instead of changing building code frequently for the sake of building a panoramic Dhaka city. Their other demands included reducing tax and vat on raw materials of backward linkage industries related to the construction sector and government services at cheap rates. The REHAB leaders sought continuous support from the media to face the present challenges posed by inflation and demand contraction.

UNDP is causing floods in Bangladesh ! Call to punish NGOs for shady business Habibullah Mizan Staff Reporter The New Nation Dhaka, Bangladesh Referring to the various irregularities and fund misappropriation of NGO’s, leaders of a local coalition demanded of the caretaker government and the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate “corrupt practices” in the NGO sector The coalition of local NGOs urged the government to give exemplary punishment to the responsible for ensuring accountability of the aid-fed non-governmental organisations operating in the country. They were speaking at a discussion meeting organised by Coalition of Local NGOs, Bangladesh (CLNB) at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. While speaking as chief guest Comrade Nurul Haque Mehedi, chairman, National Front alleged that the NGO’s brought Tk 66,000 crore from abroad since 2004.They are taking 30 to 40 per cent interest from the loan seekers though they themselves received the fund from the donors on 4 to 5 per cent interest only. He called upon the government to take “stern action against the NGOs responsible for violating government terms and conditions and laws to ensure their accountability. Harunur Rashid chairman of CLNB in his presidential speech blamed the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) for floods in Jamalpur and Sirajganj, as it built an embankment on the Jamuna and changed the course of the mighty river. He accused water expert Ainun Nishat of disclosing secret information of the state to the Asian Energy, as a consultant of the multi-national company, and his involvement in the various Government committees formed to conduct feasibility study regarding the controversial company. He also blamed Grameen Bank, BRAC and others influential NGOs which received 90 per cent of the total foreign funds. Sangjukta Sramik Federation leader Harunur Rashid Bhuiyan said the Government should bring NGOs under a strict system, as they are making money in the name of development. Speakers also warned the people about the donor agencies, as they alleged the donors are involved in ‘repression’ in the name of giving aid. Worker and peasant leaders AMM Fayej Hossain, Iqbal Khan, Subal Sarker, Shajahan Kabir Johir and Bazlur Rahman Bablu, among others, also spoke at the discussion meeting, mainly attended by leftwing activists in politics and NGO activity.