Sonargaon Farmland: SC rules against earth filling

A full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Sonargaon Economic Zone's Managing Director Md Noor Ali to refrain from sand and earth filling of farmlands and wetlands around Meghna river in six moujas in Narayanganj's Sonargaon.

he apex court also ordered the deputy commissioner of Narayanganj, Rabbi Miah, to halt filling up the land and remove whatever has been dumped in compliance with a 2014 High Court order and a letter from the deputy commissioner himself.

The apex court also ordered the DC to submit a compliance report to it by October 8.

The DC, Rabbi Miah, in an October 2016 letter asked the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer to halt the work and remove whatever was dumped. He also asked to take legal action against the offender in keeping with the HC's ban order.

The Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition seeking necessary orders to the authorities concerned to stop the filling of land, said a Bela press release.

According to documents of various government authorities, Unique Group, of which Sonargaon Economic Zone is a concern, repeatedly filled with earth and soil high-yield agricultural lands, wetlands and a portion of the Meghna river, despite the HC ban.

The business conglomerate has filled-up agricultural lands and wetlands in Pirojpur, Jainpur, Chhoyhissa, Charbhobonathpur, Batibandha and Ratanpur moujas in Sonargaon upazila first in the name of a resort city and later a private economic zone, according to government documents.

The last time it embarked on dumping sand on agricultural land was on July 16, said local villagers.

On March 2, 2014, following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), the HC ordered a real estate developer Unique Property Development Ltd, a concern of Unique Group, to stop the filling up of land and remove soil that had already been dumped in the areas mentioned.

On October 25 in 2016, following a petition by Unique Properties Development Ltd, the HC modified its March 2, 2014 order and allowed the company to go ahead with the job.

On November 3, 2016, the Appellate Division stayed the HC order of October 25, upheld its (HC) March 2, 2014 order and asked the HC to hear and dispose of its March 2, 2014 rule.

Bela filed a contempt of court petition with the HC on January 16, 2017 as Unique Property Development Ltd started doing the work in the areas for establishing an Economic Zone in violation of the HC directives.

During a hearing of the contempt of court petition, the deputy commissioner of Narayanganj appeared before the HC and promised that he would take steps to stop it in the said areas, the Bela press release said.

On July 31 this year, Bela filed a petition with the HC seeking necessary order to stop the earth and sand filling.

The HC kept the petition in the record without passing any order. Bela recently filed the petition with the SC for necessary order.

After hearing of the petition, the SC issued the order. Barrister Fida M Kamal, Advocate AM Aminuddin, Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Kabir appeared for Bela.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star/ Aug 16, 2018

Road Safety Movement: Halt 'arbitrary arrests', try attackers

HRW urges Bangladesh govt, calls for release of detained protesters

Human Rights Watch yesterday urged the Bangladesh government to halt “arbitrary arrests, prosecute those involved in violent attacks, and immediately and unconditionally release people it has thrown in jail just for speaking out”.

Brad Adams, Asia director of the international human rights watchdog, in a statement alleged that the government led by Sheikh Hasina “appeared unable to tolerate criticism after Awami League supporters attacked protesters with machetes, sticks, and metal pipes and was apparently desperate to shut down dissent”.

The HRW said the Bangladesh authorities detained dozens of people by tracking them on their social media accounts for criticising the government over a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters.

“The recent wave of arrests, targeting student protesters and journalists, has created an atmosphere of fear, putting a serious chill on free speech.”

Citing the recent detentions of renowned photographer Shahidul Alam and actress Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, the rights watchdog said nearly all such arrests have been made under section 57 of the ICT Act.

“The vague and overly broad law has been used repeatedly over the years to stifle criticism. Bangladesh authorities had earlier recognised that the law is misused and stated that the government has no intention of curbing free speech. Instead, Bangladesh authorities have done just that.”

Thousands of students took to the streets after a speeding bus killed two students on July 29. The protesters called for safer roads, accountable governance, and the upholding of the rule of law but were met with teargas and rubber bullets from security forces and violent attacks by supporters of the ruling Awami League, read the HRW statement.

After police stood by while government supporters beat up the student protesters, the authorities moved quickly to stifle any condemnation of the violence. Dhaka police have been conducting block raids in the city's residential areas where many university students live, it added.

tudents told HRW that police have been going door-to-door, Saiding houses, and checking phones for communications related to the protests.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star /Aug 16, 2018

Mandatory FED use for business

Mandatory installation of Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD) for certain varieties and categories of businesses is clear recognition of the large outlets -wholesale or retail -from the small ones. There is no reason for grumbling from the businesses with an annual turnover at a certain level. 

Even if the business is dull, such outlets maintain their status largely because small profits on particular commodities add up to a sizeable amount depending on extensive sale. Electronic Cash Register (ECR) now being widely used will have to make way for this advanced machine equipped with subscriber identification module (SIM) and capable of working under the WiFi regime providing fibre optic connectivity. 

In short, it proposes to be the highest form of digital transaction under constant monitoring and supervision by the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The revenue board will have the advantage of activating or deactivating the device through remote control.

Clearly, the objective here is evident to all. The NBR wants to ensure that businesses are not left with any choice other than paying the right amount of value-added tax (VAT). 

Here is a machine that will hardly leave any scope for tampering with. In fact, the machine will have the capacity to automatically collect VAT at five different rates. The deadline set for installation of the device in cities is November 01 next but businesses in the district towns will have yet another month for complying with the NBR order. Interconnectivity with the NBR will keep the machines running. But experience of government services -where Bangladesh telecommunication is involved in particular -is not happy. Internet service is at times disrupted for technical faults or other reasons. Where business transactions of an enormous number of outlets are concerned any disruption -let alone breakdown -can be disastrous.

If such technical and technological glitches can be ruled out, there are hardly reasons for complaining against the introduction of the device in business transactions where government will have a fare share of its revenue. If the system works well from the technological point of view, businesses should respond positively too. But defining the categories for inclusion in the list of 13 types selected will not be easy. Problems will arise in case of the size of the outlets. There are small offices that handle huge businesses without exhibiting goods and commodities. On the other hand, apparently big businesses extended over a sizeable space may give a false impression.

In rural setting it will confront the problem of mastering the advanced technology. Then there is the question of availability of internet service and using it properly. To introduce the system all across the country, the foremost need is to get the infrastructure ready. Businesses qualifying for installation of the device in rural haats and bazaars will be at a loss if they are asked to procure WiFi routers and other paraphernalia. It will be highly challenging before the NBR to bring such business outlets under such revenue collection coverage.

• Courtesy: The Financial Express /Editorial/ Aug 16, 2018

Importers avail tax waiver using system's loopholes

Govt losing revenue 

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is losing a significant amount of revenue due to the lack of relevant orders against duty-free code of import items.

All duty-free items have separate Customs Procedure Code (CPC) issued by ASYCUDA world system.

Field level customs officials found that some importers are availing full tax waiver, including Advance Trade VAT (ATV) and Advance Income Tax (AIT) under the code, which are payable for those items.

In Benapole customs house, the largest land port of the country, importers have been getting exemption from ATV and AIT on raw materials of biscuits for years under the CPC.

Beanpole customs commissioner Belal Hossain Chowdhury said last year's claim for revenue arrears would be around Tk 1.0 billion against the import of the items on account of AIT and ATV.

He made a written proposal to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to address the issue immediately. In the proposal, he said there is a separate Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) for duty-free products under the CPC.

He proposed each of the SRO on duty-free items must have another separate order from the NBR defining all applicable taxes. In some cases, ASYCUDA world system shows exemption from AIT and ATV for particular items, which is wrong.

In that case, the customs officials collect AIT or ATV through treasury chalan (invoice) from the importers.

To resolve such complexities, the NBR should issue orders defining all payable duty taxes of items under CPCs.

Addressing the issue, the revenue board recently formed a body to review the CPC in the Asycuda world system aiming to check revenue loss.

Officials said the newly-formed committee comprising first secretaries of customs, income tax and VAT and information technology officials of the NBR would match the codes of duty-free items with the existing customs orders.

The committee would thoroughly examine the orders, special orders, circulars and other duty-free benefits in the ASYCUDA world system to verify CPC containing duty-waiver. It would prepare a draft order by updating the CPC list.

The customs policy member will have to submit a report to the NBR on the basis of Terms of Reference of the Committee.

• Courtesy: The Financial Express /Aug 16, 2018

আসামি ছেড়ে দেয়ার প্রতিবাদ করায় কনস্টেবলকে পেটালেন পুলিশ!

গাঁজাসহ আটককৃত আসামি ছেড়ে দেয়ার প্রতিবাদ করায় পুলিশ কনস্টেবলকে পিটিয়ে হাসপাতালে পাঠিয়েছেন ঝিনাইদহের কালীগঞ্জ উপজেলার সুবর্ণসরা পুলিশ ফাঁড়ি ইনচার্জ এসআই দাউদ হোসেন। গত শুক্রবার ঘটনাটি ঘটলেও ঘটনাটি গোপন রাখা হয়েছিল। বিষয়টি জানাজানি হলে হাসপাতালে চিকিৎসাধীন কনস্টেবল সাইদুর নির্যাতনের বর্ণনা দিয়েছেন। তবে এসআই দাউদ হোসেন অভিযোগ অস্বীকার করে বলেছেন, সাইদুরকে জ্বীনে ধরেছিল।

আহত সাইদুর যশোর সদর উপজেলার নোঙ্গরপুর গ্রামের মুক্তিযোদ্ধা চাঁদ আলীর ছেলে ও কালীগঞ্জের সুবর্ণসরা পুলিশ ফাঁড়িতে কর্মরত।  আহত কনস্টেবল বলেন, গত শুক্রবার কালীগঞ্জের বাদুড়গাছা গ্রাম থেকে দুটি গাঁজা গাছসহ একজনকে আটক করে সুবর্ণসরা ফাঁড়িতে নিয়ে যাই। এরপর ফাঁড়ি ইনচার্জ এসআই দাউদ ঘুষ নিয়ে ওই লোককে ছেড়ে দেন। এ ঘটনার প্রতিবাদ জানিয়ে আমি বলেছিলাম আপনি টাকা খেয়ে আসামি ছেড়ে দিলে আমাদের অসুবিধা হয়।পাবলিক আমাদের খারাপ বলে।

এই কথা শুনে এসআই দাউদ রেগে অকথ্য ভাষায় গালিগালাজের এক পর্যায়ে তিনি আমার বুকে লাথি মারেন। তারপর এলোপাতাড়ি মারপিট করেন।

বিষয়টি ঊর্ধ্বতন কর্মকর্তাকে জানালে তিনি চিকিৎসা নেয়ার পরামর্শ দেন। ওই দিনই যশোর ২৫০ শয্যা জেনারেল হাসপাতালের মেডিসিন ওয়ার্ডে ভর্তি হই। তিনদিনেও শারীরিক অবস্থার উন্নতি না হওয়ায় গত রোববার পুনরায় সার্জারি ওয়ার্ডে ভর্তি হয়েছি।

অভিযোগের বিষয়ে জানতে চাইলে সুবর্ণসরা পুলিশ ফাঁড়ির ইনচার্জ উপ-পরিদর্শক (এসআই) দাউদ হোসেন বলেন, মারপিটের অভিযোগ সঠিক নয়। সাইদুরকে জ্বীনে ধরেছিল। অসুস্থ হয়ে পড়ায় তাকে বাড়ি পাঠানো হয়েছিল। এর আগেও তার জ্বিনের সমস্যা ছিল।

দাউদ হোসেন আরও বলেন, কারো কাছ থেকে কোনো টাকা পয়সা নেই না। চ্যালেঞ্জ করে বলছি, গ্রামের হাজার মানুষের কাছে শোনেন, কেউ বলতে পারবে না, আমি কারো কাছ থেকে টাকা নিয়েছি।

কালীগঞ্জ থানার ওসি মিজানুর রহমান বলেন, বিষয়টি আমার জানা নেই। আপনার কাছে শুনলাম। খোঁজ নিয়ে দেখছি। 

• কার্টসিঃ মানবজমিন/ আগস্ট ১৪,২০১৮ 

বসবাসের অনুপযোগী শহরের তালিকায় দ্বিতীয় ঢাকা

সারা বিশ্বে বসবাসের জন্য অনুপযোগী শহরের তালিকায় বাংলাদেশের রাজধানী ঢাকা দ্বিতীয় হয়েছে। গতবার এ তালিকায় ঢাকার স্থান ছিল চতুর্থ। এবার দুই ধাপ অবনতি হয়েছে। যুদ্ধবিধ্বস্ত সিরিয়ার রাজধানী দামেস্ক একমাত্র শহর যা ঢাকার নিচে স্থান পেয়েছে।

বিশ্বজুড়ে রাজনৈতিক ও সামাজিক অস্থিরতা, অপরাধ প্রবণতা, শিক্ষার হার এবং স্বাস্থ্যসেবা প্রাপ্তির মান বিবেচনায় নিয়ে এই তালিকা প্রকাশ করেছে ইআইইউ। সারা বিশ্বের ১৪০টি শহরের ভালো-মন্দ দিক বিবেচনায় নিয়ে তালিকাটি করা হয়েছে।

মঙ্গলবার, আগস্ট ১৪, রয়টার্সসহ আন্তর্জাতিক সংবাদমাধ্যম এ খবর দিয়েছে।

এ বছর বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে বাসযোগ্য নগরীর মর্যাদা অর্জন করেছে অস্ট্রিয়ার ভিয়েনা। এর জন্য ভিয়েনাকে অস্ট্রেলিয়ার মেলবোর্নকে পেছনে ফেলতে হয়েছে। এর ফলে ইকোনমিস্ট ইনটেলিজেন্স ইউনিটের বৈশ্বিক এই বার্ষিক সমীক্ষায় এই প্রথম ইউরোপের কোনো শহর প্রথম স্থান অর্জন করলো।

স্থিতিশীলতা (মান ২৫), স্বাস্থ্য পরিসেবা (মান ২০), সংস্কৃতি ও পরিবেশ (২৫), শিক্ষা (১০) এবং অবকাঠামো (২০) মোট পাঁচটি মুখ্য সূচক ধরে শহরগুলোর বাসযোগ্যতা নিরূপণ করা করা হয় বলে প্রতিবেদনে উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে।

বাসযোগ্যতার দিক থেকে ভিয়েনার পরই রয়েছে অস্ট্রেলিয়ার মেলবোর্ন (২), জাপানের ওসাকা (৩), কানাডার ক্যালগেরি (৪), অস্ট্রেলিয়ার সিডনি (৫), কানাডার ভ্যাঙ্কুভার (৬), জাপানের টোকিও (৭), কানাডার টরন্টো (৮), ডেনমার্কের কোপেনহেগেন (৯) ও অস্ট্রেলিয়ার এডিলেড (১০)।

তালিকার তলার দিক থেকে বিবেচনা করলে সিরিয়ার দামেস্কের ওপর রয়েছে বাংলাদেশের রাজধানী ঢাকা (২), নাইজেরিয়ার লাগোস (৩), পাকিস্তানের করাচি (৪) ও পাপুয়া নিউগিনির পোর্ট মোরেসবাই (৫), জিম্বাবুয়ের হারারে (৬), লিবিয়ার ত্রিপলি (৭), ক্যামেরুনের ডাউলালা (৮), আলজেরিয়ার আলজিয়ার্স (৯) এবং সেনেগালের ডাকার (১০)।   

• কার্টসিঃ কালেরকণ্ঠ/ আগস্ট ১৪,২০১৮ 

Dhaka 2nd least liveable city in world

Bangladesh capital Dhaka has ranked the second least liveable city in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit annual global survey.

The worldwide league table ranks 140 cities on a range of factors, including political and social stability, crime, education and access to healthcare.

Austrian capital, Vienna, has beaten Australia's Melbourne to be named the world's most liveable city.It's the first time a European city has topped the rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit annual global survey.

The others in the most liveable cities in 2018 are 2. Melbourne, Australia, 3. Osaka, Japan, 4. Calgary, Canada, 5. Sydney, Australia, 6. Vancouver, Canada, 7. Tokyo, Japan, 8. Toronto, Canada, 9. Copenhagen, Denmark, 10. Adelaide, Australia

At the other end of the scale, war-torn Damascus in Syria was ranked the least liveable city while Lagos of Nigeria was third, Pakistan's Karachi in fourth and Port Moresby of Papua New Guinea was on the fifth position.

The Economist said that crime, civil unrest, terrorism or war played a ‘strong role’ in the ten-lowest scoring cities.

Courtesy: New Age/ Aug 14, 2018

Govt should settle quota issue before fresh student protests

Editorial 

THE students who had held protests since mid-February seeking reforms in the public service recruitment quota, called off their protests on April 11 after the prime minister had announced the cancellation of all quotas in public service recruitment, then took to the streets again in the first week of July to be beaten and harassed by both the law enforcers and Chhatra League activists have given the government till August to release all their detained fellows before Eid-ul-Adha, falling on August 22, and to make an official notification on reforms in the quota system by end-August. The students, banded together under the Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Council, in Dhaka on Sunday, also threatened a tougher movement if the government does not meet their demands, which also includes an immediate arrest and punishment of the attackers on the students during the protests. 

The government in the middle of July made an about-turn from its earlier position saying that the quota for freedom fighters in public service recruitment would remain, citing a court order, which was, in fact, an observation of the court.

The students, who rose up in protest seeking reforms in the quota system fearing an uncertainty looming large over them as regards employment in an environment where the creation of jobs has almost stopped both in the public and the private sector, came to be beaten up, harassed and intimidated by both the law enforcers and Chhatra League activists whenever they took to the streets to peacefully raise their voice and concern. Twenty-two of them have been arrested. The handful of teachers and civil society actors who came forward in support of the just demand of the students also came to be attacked and harassed by Chhatra League activists. Now that the government has yet to do anything meaningful in plain sight about this all — effecting reforms in the quota system, making an official notification on the issue and arresting the people who attacked the student protesters, the next obvious step for the protesters is to take to the streets again to push for their demands. And they have now announced their next step. 

The students sought reforms in or rationalisation of the quota in public service recruitment, that too out of uncertainty created by the socio-economic issues. It has been reported that a fourth of the educated youth, or more than a fourth of them, are unemployed. In a situation like this, the students, along with their guardians who are mostly from rural areas, have every right to be concerned about their future. 

A situation like this is enough to prompt students willing to take up government jobs to seek reforms in public service recruitment quota and, thus, dispel the worry of their parents and guardians. The government now must understand that in such circumstances, the students would take to the streets again to press home their demands. 

The government should, therefore, understand that it needs to attend to the issue in some way or the other. The government must also work to create jobs and facilitate job creation in the private sector if it means a sustainable solution to the problem that prompted the students to take to the streets. 

Courtesy: New Age/Aug 14, 2018

'People want to see law enforcers follow the law first'

Says ACC chairman

SO MUCH FOR TRAFFIC WEEK: A policeman drives his motorbike on the wrong side right down the middle of a busy road, with a pillion rider sans helmet. Pedestrians, drivers and motorcyclists on city streets are often blamed for violating traffic rules but when a law enforcer breaks the law in broad daylight, one must wonder what the recent student movement for safe roads, or the ongoing traffic week, has accomplished. The photo was taken from the Segun Bagicha area in the capital yesterday. PHOTO: AMRAN HOSSAIN

People want to see law enforcers themselves following laws, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said yesterday.

Speaking about the traffic chaos on the streets during a views-exchange meeting on 'Role of FM Radio in Preventing Corruption and Best Practices' organised by ACC at its Segunbagicha headquarters, he said phenomena like vehicles plying on the wrong side and jaywalking despite footbridges being present need to be stopped. “People want to see that we, who enforce laws, follow the law first,” he said.

Highlighting ACC's initiatives in ensuring rule of law, he said the commission has conducted the highest number of drives against irregularities at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). A number of cases have been filed and arrests have been made but still there is no end to complaints against them, the ACC chief said, adding that the commission is closely monitoring BRTA's activities.

Thousands of complaints are filed to the ACC through various media including its complaint hotline number 106, Mahmood said, adding that the commission cannot take actions against most of these because they are outside its jurisdiction. This sends a wrong message to the complainant and frustrates them, he said, seeking support of the FM radios to publicise ACC's mandate.

Among others, Shams Sumon of Radio Bhumi, Abdul Awal from People's Radio, Shoyebul Haque from Radio Today and Talat Mahmood from ABC Radio spoke at the programme.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star /Aug 14, 2018

Trade deficit widens further, crosses $18b in FY 18

The country’s trade gap widened further by 92.76 per cent in the just concluded fiscal year (FY18) due to higher import payments than lower export receipts.

The trade gap with the rest of the world rose to $18.26 billion in the July-June period of the FY18 from $9.47 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank (BB) statistics released on Monday.

The trade deficit widened by 87.54 per cent in the first 10 months till April of the just concluded fiscal, added the statistics.

The BB data showed that import jumped by more than 25 per cent while export recorded over 6.0 per cent growth during the June-July period of FY18.

The overall import rose to $54.46 billion in the FY18 from $43.49 billion in the same period in FY17.

In contrast, export income stood at over $36.20 billion in the last fiscal against $34.02 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal.

• Courtesy: The Financial Express /Aug 14, 2018