Farmers block highways for fertiliser in Faridpur, Jessore

Farmers yesterday blocked highways in Faridpur and Jessore demanding adequate supply of fertilizer.In Faridpur, farmers barricaded the Dhaka Khulna highway at Modhukhali for about an hour in the morning, disrupting traffic, reports a correspondent. They put trees on the road to obstruct traffic, keeping several hundred vehicles stranded on both sides. Source there said over 1,000 farmers waited in a long queue in front of a dealers shop at Bagat Bazar since morning. Disappointed, their representatives went to Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO Kazi Ashraf Uddin. The UNO rushed to the spot and assured the farmers of smooth supply of fertiliser.On his assurance, the farmers withdrew the barricade. The UNO later told local journalists that there was no shortage of fertiliser. The problem was created due lack of coordination among dealers.In Jessore, farmers blocked the Jessore-Narail road at Dhalga Bazar in Bagharpara upazila for about two hours, reports a correspondent.Police said the farmers standing in a long queue became agitated as the dealer gave them only seven kilograms each. They demanded more but were refused. They then squatted on the road, obstructing traffic on it for about two hours from 9am. Upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO) Sayed Ali Ahsan, Upazila Agriculture officer Sheikh Hemayet and OC of Bagharpara upazila rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The farmers withdraw the blockade following their assurance of adequate supply.

Syndicates control rice prices in N districts :Falling paddy prices have no impact in retail rice markets

Adequate supply of Boro paddy at declining rates failed to lower prices of rice proportionately in local markets due to manipulation by a syndicate of rice mill owners and wholesalers in eight northern districts.A kg of BR-29 variety of rice is selling at about Tk 30, BR-28 at Tk 32 while hybrid variety coarse rice like Jagoron, Hira, Hiraton etc are selling at Tk 29 in different retail rice markets of Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilpahamari, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts.Now the prices of a maund (37.5kg) of BR-29, BR-28 and hybrid varieties of paddy in the local markets are Tk 660, Tk 675 and Tk 680 although they sold at Tk 725, Tk 775 and Tk 725 three weeks ago.Many millers, stockists and big farmers, who hoarded huge Boro paddy after its harvest to get high profit later, are now hurriedly selling the paddy to avoid loss as the weather is favourable for Aman cultivation, said sources at food and agriculture departments, adding that the prices of paddy have fallen in the region but the rice prices have remained almost the same.Government initiative to sell rice under OMS (open market sale) programme has failed to attract people as the price -- Tk 28 per kg -- is very little different from the market price of slightly better quality rice. OMS price was Tk 25 a kg few months ago.Several rice mills owners, however, said the entire process to prepare rice from a maund of paddy costs Tk 30 and so, the cost of a maund of BR-29 variety of paddy purchased at the mill gate is actually stands at Tk 690 (Tk 660+ Tk 30).From a maund of BR-29 paddy, some 26.5kg of market variety of rice can be prepared and so, the neat cost of a kg of BR-29 variety of rice stands at Tk 26, sources said.The same sources said the reasonable retail price of a kg of that variety of rice should not be more than Tk 27.50 if the miller, wholesaler and the retailer make a profit of Tk 0.50 per kg each. But it is selling in the market at Tk 30. The situation is more or less same in case of other variety of rice, sources said. A retailer of Nilphamari Nitai Sarkar said that they have to take higher price from the consumers as they buy rice at high prices from the millers and wholesalers.“We usually sell rice for a very small profit as the market is very competitive,” Raqibul Alam Chowdhury, president of Rice Mills Owners Association of Nilphamari, said.Agriculture Extension Department sources said this year Aman is cultivated on 10.22 lakh hectares of land with target to produce 31 lakh 69 thousand tonne of rice in eight districts.

Kazi Morshed on his National Award-winning film “Ghani”

National Awards for the last four years have been announced recently. In terms of a film winning multiple National Awards, Kazi Morshed's movie Ghani has made a new record. The film has won 13 awards in 12 categories for the year 2006. Ghani had to compete with internationally acclaimed films such as Nirantor, Swapnodanay and Antorjatra.Ghani won awards for best film, best director (Kazi Morshed), best music director (Sheikh Sadi Khan), best actor (Arman Parvez Murad), best actress (Naznin Hasan Chumki), best supporting actor (jointly Masum Aziz and Raisul Islam Asad), best supporting actress (Dolly Zahur), best storywriter (Kazi Morshed), best screenplay (Kazi Morshed), best dialogue (Kazi Morshed) and best editing (Saiful Islam). What's the reason behind this massive success? "Teamwork and dedication are needed if you want to make a quality movie. While making the film, we used to sit together after completing shooting each day and planned the next shot. A realistic view of rural Bangladesh has been portrayed in the film," said Kazi Morshed.Morshed alone has won four awards. According to him, "After watching an interview of a kolu (an individual who makes oil) on a private TV channel, who was getting ready for his fourth marriage, I got the idea to make the movie. The kolu told the reporter that he needed money to buy a bull for crushing grains, but marrying a woman who would do the labour of a bull, would cost him nothing.""The interview left a profound impact on me. Eager to make the movie, I went to Ghatail, Tangail to learn more about the kolu community. I stayed a few days with 19 kolu families in the area and found that only one family has a bull to crush grains. Women and family members do the backbreaking work, which is also hazardous for their lungs. I developed the story for the movie and submitted it for government grants. Subsequently it got the grant," he added.Ghani is Morshed's seventh feature film. Previously, he won a national award for the screenplay for his debut film Shantona (1991). Subsequently, he made five films that were not up to the mark. Morshed said, "I had to make compromises and make substandard commercial films as it is my source of bread and butter.""But, I won't make compromises with my artistic sense any more," added Morshed.Morshed started off with working as an assistant to renowned directors in the 1970s. Subsequently he joined Bangladesh Betar as a programme producer. Later he returned to the film industry and worked as an assist to filmmaker Amzad Hossain. Under his guidance Kazi Morshed learnt filmmaking.

Providing much-needed art education to children in the hill district :Rangamati Charukala Academy

With will, hard work, dedication and perseverance, each of us can make a contribution to society and the nation. This is exemplified by Rati Kanta Tangchangya, 66, of village Boradam under Bilaichhari upazila in Rangamati. What sets Tangchangya apart from others is his single-mindedness in working amidst the small children the last 28 years to create an enlightened new generation through his art school in Rangamati town. The reclusive Tangchangya is the principal of an art school called Rangamati Charukala Academy. Along the way he has weathered many a storm: His home and land went under the waters of the Kaptai lake during the damming of Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant in the 1960s. After that he settled at Balaghata in Bandarban where his wife died in 1968. Then he came to Rangamati and decided to engage himself in philanthropic work. On his return to Rangamati, Tangchangya founded the art school on a 10 decimal piece of land at Kathatali Moitre Bihar area in 1979. The then Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, leased him the land to construct a permanent institution. At first, he managed to attract only a few students. Gradually the number has swelled to 350 students. The Academy has great goodwill among the community. And with reason: students have so far bagged a total of 1,000 prizes, at divisional, national and international levels of exhibitions and competitions over the last 26 years. Many eminent artists and poets, including internationally acclaimed S.M. Sultan, Kanak Chanpa and Murtaza Bashir have visited the school and were impressed to see this crusading initiative and art works in a place so far from the hubbub of big cities like Dhaka and Chittagong. The Academy admits students mostly from the primary and secondary level schools. However, enthusiastic college students have also been admitted. To expand the institution and create more classrooms for the students, CHT Development Board constructed a three-storied building. The Academy imparts training in painting, songs and dances, while instrumental recitals are a common feature. On the personal front, Tangchangya has received several honours from various socio-cultural organisations and government departments for his contribution to the society. At first, he opened the doors of the Academy free of cost. Now he charges a meagre monthly fee of Taka 100 from each student to cope with management expenses. Some 13 teachers are teaching on the basis of a monthly honorarium of Taka 700 to 1500. The teachers at the Academy see their mission as a commitment rather than a job. "Our reward is to provide our services to a group of cheerful kids. Also it helps to know that through our work, these young ones would grow up in a creative and stimulating environment," said Rezaul Karim, a teacher. There has many an obstacle to surmount. As Tangchangya asserted to The Daily Star correspondent, "Many students used to go home frustrated as they could not get admission in the Academy due to lack of accommodation." He, however, said that huge government support was necessary to meet the growing demand of admission seekers. He also added that with advancing years it has become difficult to continue in his present capacity. "I have the plan to hand over charge of the Academy to an honest, dedicated and active person."
One of several CNG filling stations between Kanchpur Bridge and Jatrabari of the capital which BNP big shots built on the Kutubkhali canal, drastically reducing Dhaka's drainage capability.

Intelligent buildings grab limelight :All the 15 are based in Dhaka

Intelligent buildings, the latest trend in office and residential real estate, are gradually becoming popular in Bangladesh.

The main feature of an intelligent building is that its life-sustenance systems are integrated into a single network, connected to computers that automatically monitor several parameters at the same time.


The parameters include temperature and humidity, heat and water consumption, free parking space, location of employees working in and around the building, engineering and security systems.


“The concept is growing, but slowly,” said Tanveerul Huq Probal, president of Bangladesh Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab).


At intelligent establishments, alternative energy sources remain on a standby mode along with audiovisual and entertainment systems and facilities for ventilation, filtration and climate control.


“The control system in an intelligent building is fully computerised. A strong network of electronic devices monitors and controls the mechanical and lighting systems in the building,” said Iqbal Hussaiyn, managing director of Magnum Engineering and Construction.


According to the market players, there are 15 intelligent buildings in the country -- all based in Dhaka.


Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, IDB Bhaban (building), and Headquarters of British-American Tobacco Bangladesh as well as buildings in which Square Pharma-ceuticals, Aventis, Beximco, and American International School are located. Five-star hotels in Dhaka are also intelligent buildings.


There are few fully intelligent buildings in Bangladesh. Market players said that full-fledged intelligent buildings have automated fire fighting and suppression systems, air conditioning systems, and access control with CCTV and intruder alarms.


“The automated programming system inside an intelligent building will let its occupant know if an air-conditioner becomes dirty or a room is about to go up in flames inside," Hussaiyn said.


In terms of electricity consumption, intelligent buildings cost less than traditional structures, when the high concentration of electrical and electronic gadgets is taken into account.


Industry insiders said intelligent buildings are yet to make a noticeable impact on the residential segment of real-estate.


The Rehab president said: “Intelligent buildings are costly, and the realtors do not want to construct such buildings for living.”


Industry insiders said, however, that many offices of private commercial banks and other corporate and industrial offices are being built on the system.


“Interiors of many buildings in Dhaka are getting intelligent, but not the whole building because of high costs,” said Probal.


The origins of intelligent buildings and its management systems have roots in the industrial sector of Europe and US during 1970s. The systems and controls -- similar to those in use in today's intelligent buildings had been used to automate production processes and optimise plant performances.


The related technology and systems were then further developed and modularised during the 1980s so that they could be used in the residential and commercial sectors of the developed world.


The concept of intelligent building is new in the South Asian region, according to the industry people.

Jewellery prices don't match with world market

Prices of jewellery did not decline at the expected rate despite a fall of about $188 in gold prices per ounce

on the global market.

Businesspeople had hiked jewellery prices several times, keeping pace with an international price hike.
This allowed local jewellers to sell gold ornaments at a rate, which is Tk 6,000 and Tk 7,000 higher than the current international rate per bhori.
The finest (24-carat) of gold traded at $792.59 per ounce (2.67 bhori or 31.1 gram) on the global market yesterday, down from a new high of $981 recorded on July 16.
Soaring gold prices on the international market prompted jewellers in Bangladesh to hike the prices of 22-carat gold by about Tk 1,000 to Tk 27,700 and 21-carat gold to Tk 26,535 per bhori.
The prices of gold have declined by Tk 4,788 per bhori on the global market, but Bangladesh Jewellery Association (BJA) has decreased gold prices by only Tk 1,400 per bhori.
BJA centrally selects gold prices for its members to follow.
BJA President MA Wadud Khan said: "Although it is necessary to decrease gold prices, we cannot do so overnight as we will have to think of our business interest first."
"If we decrease gold prices abruptly, the customers who have already placed orders at high rates, will cancel their orders," Khan said.
A quick decline will hurt the jewellery business, Khan feared.
"The association will decrease gold prices by a further Tk 1,000 per bhori soon," he promised.
"Local gold prices should be lower than the global rate since the bulk supply of gold on the domestic market comes not from the international market but from recycling of local reserves of gold," said a bullion businessman, asking not to be named.
Jewellers get recycled gold from people who sell their ornaments to jewellery shops, the businessman said.
"Since supply comes from the domestic market gold prices were lower than global prices a year ago," he added.
Wadud Khan, president of BJA, differed.
“We get almost 80 percent of our required gold from recycling but that doesn't mean local prices of gold should be lower than the international rate," he said.
"If the prices of precious metals remain lower in the country than in other countries, gold jewellery will be smuggled out,” said the president of BJA that has around 1,000 members in Dhaka and another 120 outside.
The size of the domestic gold market has eroded to 25 tonnes from the previous 50 tonnes due to a price hike, according to bullion businessmen.
About one million people are directly or indirectly linked to the business, said Dewan Aminul Islam, joint secretary of BJA and owner of Seeraj Jewellers.

To dream a little dream of us

It was not Ronald Reagan's "Morning again in America." the times are too dicey for that. But the Republican National Convention, no less than the Democratic one that just ended, was a showcase for dreams -- and arguments about how to make them real.

The Republicans did their best to match the Democrats' soaring rhetoric. Though, on that front, they were challenged. It was hard to imagine Cindy McCain evoking the fervour of Michelle Obama, or Tim Pawlenty and Arnold Schwarzenegger generating the drama and heat of back-to-back Clintons.
And as compelling as John McCain's own life story is, he will be hard-pressed to top the oratory of Barack Obama -- whose acceptance speech was all the more poignant for coming on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legendary discourse on a dream whose fulfillment some see in Obama himself.
But this contest is not about who is the best orator; it is more about who is the best dream merchant. Make no mistake: both candidates, and both parties, have dreams to sell. Or, more accurately, they have different versions of the same dream -- the American Dream.
In the end, the election is likely to go to the candidate who best argues his dream is the more authentic -- and his approach the most American.
Both candidates claim they are children of the Dream. Both are eloquent in offering up their versions of what it did for them, and of what it can do for other Americans.
McCain's Republican version emphasises toughness, individuality and loyalty -- to country, to friends -- that trumps virtually anything else. The Republican convention, themed "Country First," will wrap that vision in an American flag.
It will roll out the narrative of an authentic war hero fighting a battle to lead an America that, while enduring some hard times, is basically sound. It will also be a celebration of the doggedness and ingenuity of the American people -- people who, in McCain's opinion, are smart enough to know that a young man with a silver tongue but meagre experience cannot lead them into a brilliant morning.
Obama's Democratic version of the Dream focuses less on celebrating individual success and more on protecting the vulnerable. But Obama also believes something that McCain does not: that the Dream itself is endangered.
Obama's running mate, Joe Biden, said the dream "feels as if it's slowly slipping away."
Many Obama supporters share his concern and think that dramatic measures are required. As Bernard Anderson (an assistant secretary of Labour in the Clinton administration and an Obama delegate) put it, "The fundamental process of upward mobility has broken down."
Within seconds of Obama's speech in Denver, the McCain camp blasted out what it deemed to be a corrective of the misleading claims Obama had made. Among them was Obama's statement that McCain didn't believe American families were hurting -- that in McCain's view, the country had made "great progress economically."
In the longer version of that interview, McCain dutifully noted that the nation's great economic progress was of "no comfort to families now that are facing these tremendous economic challenges." Only after that caveat did he add: "the fundamentals of America's economy are strong. We're the greatest exporter, the greatest importer, the greatest innovator, the greatest producer, still the greatest economic engine in the world."
He also acknowledged that times were tough and that families in small Pennsylvania towns were aware of that. To McCain, he was not out of touch, as Obama said, but very much in sync with the feelings of the public. The larger point was that the Dream was strong and that his policies would make it even stronger.
Like all campaigns, this one will be not just about competing dreams and proposals. It will be about character, maturity and leadership, and how those things are measured, about ground operations in battleground states, and who has the strongest.
It will feature all matter of attacks and counterattacks, and smears by surrogates careful to keep a certain distance from the candidate they favour. And it will induce endless debate about that which arguably should not matter at all -- race, age, depth of religious beliefs and feelings about subjects ranging from bowling to gays.
But in an interesting way -- and for all the noise in the background -- this may be the purest election since 1980, when Reagan reduced the essence of it to a simple question: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"
McCain and Obama have fundamentally different takes on how to keep the Dream alive for the millions who are hurting and fearful of the future. In Denver, Obama made his best effort to date to explain why he is right. Last week McCain had his chance.
In the next two months, political operatives will blow a lot of smoke in voters' eyes in an attempt to distract us from what is truly important. The way out of such confusion now, just as in 1980, is to do what Reagan did: make the contest about which candidate can best help Americans realise their defining dream. Then everyone votes accordingly.

Hyperinflation: 1.1 million percent!

The other day I came across the information that our inflation rate has crossed into double digit. Considering the vicious price hike one can easily surmise that inflationary pressure on our economy is rising. For a nation of over 150 million people the statistics is vital. While we have millions in population Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe has it in economic plight, with hyperinflation crossing the million mark. It is now 1.1 million percent!

Why should it happen to Zimbabwe, a country nearly thrice the size of Bangladesh, with an area of 390,580 sq. km., and with a much smaller population of 12 million people? The country is rich in mineral resources, with coal, chromium, asbestos, gold, nickel and copper.
Zimbabwe, once Southern Rhodesia and a British colony, came to international spotlight with the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) by its white minority ruler Ian Smith in 1965. Mr. Smith defiantly carried on for over 14 years, beating international sanctions till a negotiated settlement returned power to the black majority in 1979.
Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) leader Robert Mugabe was installed as the first prime minister of the new nation Zimbabwe. With a vibrant and diversified economy Zimbabwe started as a bright promise in Africa. But the leader blighted the prospect. Right from the beginning he showed an unrelenting trait of bullying the opposition. The first to submit was Joshua Nkomo of Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). He became the president in 1987, and since then he has trashed many a poll.
The latest being the one from which he scared his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai of MDC into quitting the polls. In his characteristic hauteur Robert Mugabe disparaged the power of ballot by saying: "We are not going to give up our country for a mere X on a ballot. How can a ballpoint pen fight with a gun?" His ranting pales into insignificance in comparison to the devastation he has wrought on the Zimbabwean economy.
During the last five years Zimbabwe has experienced a catastrophic collapse of its economy, presided over by the authoritarian and inept rule of its president. The rate of inflation was 32% in 1998, which kept going up and up and at the end of June it stood at staggering 1.1 million percent. The short list of ills that set the rot includes reckless spending, thuggish land seizures, disruption of farm output and flight of foreign capital.
As a result of the misrule the economy started contracting, stagnation set in, and economic growth and national income fell. The Zimbabwean government resorted to printing money to finance mounting national debt. The currency started losing its value, causing prices to rise. The cost of production was more than the prices the goods fetched. Shortage of supply was the natural outcome.
Government price controls further compounded the crisis. Suppliers lost the incentive to supply at government rate. Shortage became even worse. The Zimbabwean government's answer to the crisis was to print more and more money. The inflation became uncontrollable and soon it reached 1.1 million.
The economy contracted to the level of 1953. Maize production fell by three-quarters. A country which was an exporter of food was surviving on food aid. Half the country faces food shortage. One quarter of the population has fled Zimbabwe. A national hero that Mugabe is responds by predictably finding foreign hands behind the crisis.
Another hyperinflation in a different time and in a different country produced a national leader who plunged the world into a conflict that took millions of lives. Germany surprisingly surrendered when the war was deadlocked in the Maginot Line. It brought the end of World War I. Many Germans saw a Zionist hand behind it. A feeling of national betrayal kept on simmering till it found voice in incandescent haranguing by Adolph Hitler.
Much to the woe of Germany, the armistice signed placed a heavy load of reparation payment on it. The post-war German government was reluctant to pass on the burden to the German people. Germany faltered with reparation payment and France retaliated by seizing the industrial area of Ruhr.
The German economy fell into crisis, and was forced to pay more for its imported goods. The government, hit by shortage of funds, started printing money. There was a time when Germans had to buy a loaf of bread with a sack-load of money. The inflation stood at 3.25 million percent during the worst time of the crisis. German angst was looking for a leader to fulminate against national betrayal and the foreign bullies. Adolph Hitler became the Fuehrer!
Hyperinflation is the offspring of misrule. Profligate and tyrannical rulers subordinate economy to political will. It is the vehicle they ride to perpetuate their personal rule. They live desperately. And desperation knows no discretion. The end should always serve them. If that means driving the country to the brink, let it be. But the economy has many tongues. They speak of the woes of misrule.

Is the battle against corruption lost?

By the time this piece appears in print, Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman could be out of jail through, of course, "due process of law," as repeatedly asserted by their followers.

Begum Zia presided over the most despicable administration this country has ever endured. Her family members, especially her two brothers and two sons, became the symbol of corruption and abuse of the state authority bestowed on their sister and mother, respectively.
When she was only eleven days away from allegedly rigging the scheduled January 22 general election, the so-called 1/11 occurred. Her opponents along with the general people, except for the die-hard supporters of the alliance government and their beneficiaries, heaved a natural sigh of relief.
Although the main function of this administration was to assist the reconstituted EC to hold the general election with a genuine voter list, the government embarked on a self-appointed agenda under a reconstituted ACC to punish the corrupts and promulgated ordinance under emergency rule to meet that end.
However, from the beginning, the actions of the ACC and the government in dealing with the politicians of the two major political parties gave rise to various hypotheses as regards the motives of the government.
As the anti-corruption drive gained speed, the main wrath of this government appeared to fall on Sheikh Hasina. After her arrest, she was sued one after another on charges of extortion and corruption, while the immediate past PM whose regime has been marked by the biggest plundering of the national wealth and abuse of authority, remained virtually unscathed.
Begum Zia's brother, who was allegedly only second to his own nephew in corruption, was not even on the big list of suspected corrupts. Her second brother was arrested a few weeks ago and was released on bail in a short time. However, the stories of wanton corruption appeared in a number of highly credible print media right after his arrest, with vivid descriptions of what and how he did towards making many of our national institutions financial failures. However, charge against him is as vague as many who have already been convicted on the basis of accumulating wealth disproportionate to income.
Naturally, the highest number of cases was filed against Tarique Rahman, but so far he is facing no trial. Five cases of extortion against him have been stayed by the HC and there was no news of appeal by the state against the stay order. Quite to the contrary, when the extortion case against Sheikh Hasina was stayed by the HC, the then addition AG (current AG) appeared in front of the TV cameras in a melancholy mood and appealed to the Appellate Division, resulting in its overturn in no time.
Recently, Tarique has made a record-setting history by securing bail, not in one or two, but in five cases in a single day, including Zia orphanage trust case in which his mother has allegedly diverted money (2.1 crores) from PM's relief fund to so-called Zia orphanage trust run by him, which he has allegedly misappropriated in its entirety.
The principal counsel of the ACC could not attend the bail hearing as he was ill and the HC did not have time to waste by adjourning the proceedings, since this was not the case of an ordinary person! That is not all. He has added one more laurel to his credit by securing bail directly from the Appellate Division in the bone-chilling case of sharing Tk 21 crore bribery booty with his erstwhile crony following the murder of Humayun Kabir Sabbir.
In this case, too, reportedly neither did the AG attend nor oppose the bail. This is what the authority claims to be "due process of law." A very similar "due process of law" took place when H. M. Ershad was acquitted in corruption cases one after the other, after Tarique and Babar went to his house and made a deal for JP to join the four-party alliance.
To make matters worse, this "due process of law" was initiated in the aftermath of the killing of an innocent citizens as a result of mayhem caused by BNP thugs in the street. Since there was no arrest, even when emergency rule is in force, this is a clear precedent for the appeasement of violence and terrorism that carries a grim message to the nation about the future course of politics. In a corollary of the "due process of law," BNP secretary general's son has also been granted bail.
BNP has already claimed bail as synonymous to acquittal, white-washing all sins, and has challenged the acting AL secretary general to prove that Tarique Rahman is guilty of any misdeeds, albeit it is the responsibility of ACC and the government to prove the charges of the dozen or so cases pending against him.
If members of the Zia family could be out of jail, then no one could disagree with AL acting secretary general when he said: "If champions of corruption are released, the government has no moral or legal right to keep detained the leaders and workers of other parties arrested on so-called corruption charges."
Those who so far have been convicted were mostly on the vague charge of "accumulating wealth disproportionate to income" or some other relatively minor charge. At this stage, it seems impossible for the government to counter the argument that all these arrests, convictions, and bails were guided by the government's discriminatory policy of who they want to eliminate from the political scene.
The ACC chief, whom I still revere, will be hard-pressed to explain to those whom he lectured, travelling from city to city, to instil antipathy against corruption in the mind-set of the young and adult alike. His bureau's actions or inactions have put a burden on the conscience of many of his admirers. Is the battle against corruption lost?

Protest Against Outage :Power-loom workers go on rampage, set ablaze 12 cars

Hundreds of power-loom workers in Narsingdi forced into Chouala Palli Bidyut Samity-2 compound in protest at frequent power cuts, setting 12 vehicles on fire and damaging other valuables yesterday morning.
Around 700 workers rampaged through the power office at about 5:00am as production disruptions due to frequent power outages affected their wages, witnesses said.
The workers had been demanding uninterrupted power supply for the last two months. Earlier on August 24, they laid siege to the power office and put up barricades on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway to press home their demand, sources said.
Locals joined in yesterday's vandalism in protest at load shedding during sehri, iftar and tarabi namaaj.
The police later brought the situation under control.
"The attackers ransacked the office damaging furniture, fixtures and other valuables. They also set fire to nine motorcycles, two pickups and a jeep during the hour-long rampage", Syed Wahidul Islam, general manager of Palli Bidyut Samity-2, told The Daily Star.
He estimated the losses at around Tk 40 lakh.
"We're not sure who perpetrated the attacks and why. Vested interests might have a hand in it as we disconnected all illegal power connections and made using metres mandatory."
Bijoy Boshak, assistant superintendent of police (ASP, Circle), said power-loom workers who had been protesting power disruptions carried out the attacks.



BOGURA
Angered by erratic power supply, several thousand people attacked the office of Rural Electrification Board (REB) at Mazira in Shahjahanpur upazila of the district last night and set fire to papers, furniture, a motorbike and a television set.
They also chased policemen pelting them with brickbats after the law enforcers tried in vain to disperse the mob. Assistant Superintendent of Police of Circle-A Nasiruddin and four people suffered injuries as brickbats hit them.
The angry people barricaded the Dhaka-Dinajpur highway for about two hours from 9:30pm halting vehicular traffic on the road. They withdrew the barricade after top REB officials assured them of sufficient power supply.
Witnesses said around 250 locals first went to the REB office around 8:45pm demanding smooth supply of electricity. Later, about 3,000 Muslim devotees and locals joined the demonstration around 9:30pm and went on the rampage.