1 to 15 July 2005                                 <<<Previous

Roundtable on Chittagong Port

On July 3, TIB organized a roundtable on ?Chittagong Port: Problems and Prospects? at the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) auditorium in Chittagong. TIB?s report on the Chittagong Port was presented during the roundtable. The report revealed that traders bribe over Tk. 800 crore to the Chittagong Port Customs a year. It also mentioned that exporters and importers have to give Tk 460 crore as bribe to the Customs House every year for exporting and importing goods through the port in addition to Tk 341 crore to the port itself.

Some interesting revelations were made in the TIB report. It said that for loading and unloading of goods, bribes are to be given at 15-18 different places while 14-40 other sections take bribes for releasing them from the Customs House. Of the imported goods, the electronic gadgets are the costliest in terms of bribe as Tk 3,000 is spent for per tonne electronic goods. On the other hand, vegetables are the most expensive among the export goods as per tonne vegetable needs Tk 1,700 as bribe. Of the money needed to release containers from the port, 47 percent is its real value while the rest 53 percent is spent on bribes. The other problems include port officials' tendency to take excessive bribe, procedural complications, age-old rules, monopoly domination of the operators and pilots, and excess labour unions.

Some suggestions were also made to resolve the problems. They are: giving Stevedoring Company the authority to appoint workers, engaging private sector for equipment handling, taking statements of assets of the employees and officials, and entrusting the port authorities with full power to solve the problems.

TIB Trustee Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid chaired the seminar which was moderated by TIB Trustee and Treasurer Professor Muzaffer Ahmad. Senior Program Officer of TIB Muhammad Sydur Rahman Molla presented the report. Leaders of different organisations related to the port, including former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, CCCI President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Chittagong Port Chairman AM Shahadat Hossain, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman among others were present at the program.

It is to be mentioned that earlier on September 28, 2004 TIB released a working paper on the same port in Dhaka.

Members Day ? July 2005 observed

The TIB Members Day ? July 2005 was observed on July 7. The program was moderated by Advocacy Director Mr. Jamil Ahmed. The ED of TIB Dr. Iftekharuzzaman in his speech mentioned about the objectives of the program. He said that the program has created opportunities for Members to involve more in TIB activities. Dr. Zaman particularly mentioned about next phase of TIB TV Commercials which were actually being produced according to the suggestions of the Members.

CCCs Activities

CCC formed in Chittagong : TIB formed another Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC) in Chittagong on July 13. The committee which included 17 members aims at removing corruption through establishing good governance and accountability in different public and private service oriented organizations. The committee was formed through a meeting held at the Theatre Institute in Chittagong. Dean of the Social Science Faculty of Chittagong University Professor Moinul Islam was elected the Convenor of the Committee. Other members include ? Prof. Hamida Banu, Dr. Shah Alam, Dr. Q M Ohidul Alam, Adv. Saleh Uddin Haider Siddiqui, Adv. Akter Kabir Chowdhury, Shishir Dutt, Jesmin Sultana Paru, Ferdous Ara Alim, Shyamoli Mojumder, Daisy Moudud, Shila Momen, Engineer Delwar Mojumder, Md. Arifur Rahman, Adv. Rehana Kabir Ranu and Hamidul Islam Shamim. A 7-member Advisory Committee was also formed to help the CCC. Members of this committee are ? Prof. Anupom Sen, Prof. Shafiq Haider Chowdhury (proposed), Begum Mushtari Shafi, Dr. Rabiul Hossen, Engineer Ali Ahmed (proposed), Editor of Daily Azadi M A Malek (proposed) and eminent journalist Abul Momen.

Workshop in Modhupur: On July 13, CCC Modhupur organized a workshop on ?Ways to improve the services of Land Administration? at the Modhupur Agricultural Training Centre. CCC Convenor Abdul Latif chaired the workshop. Participants at the workshop focused on the standard of services and existing problems of the Land Administration department. Besides, they also discussed ways to solve the problems. A total of sixty participants took part in it including officers of Land Administration, lawyers, journalists, teachers and local women representatives.

Seminars in Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi held: A seminar on ?Corruption: Good Governance and Social Movement? was held on July 11, at the Town Club in Chapainawabganj organized by the CCC Chapainawabganj. TIB Trustee Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid was present as chief guest while Dr. Sujit Sarker of Rajshahi University presented the keynote paper. Prof. Murshid, in his speech, said that corruption hinders good governance and the gap between the government and the people of the country has widened because of rampant corruption. He further added that the country was deprived of real representative government. TIB Executive Director also spoke on the occasion.

Another seminar titled ?Corruption in Bangladesh: Role of TIB? was held on July 10, at Rajshahi Zafar Imam Tennis Complex Auditorium, Rajshahi. CCC Rajshahi arranged this event which was presided over by the CCC Convenor Advocate Golam Arif Tipu. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman presented the keynote paper while TIB Trustee Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid was present as chief guest.

Speakers at the seminar told that corruption increases the level of poverty, repression and injustice in the society. It deprives the people of their rights and makes them suffer.

General Knowledge competition in Modhupur: Volunteers Group of the CCC Modhupur organized a general knowledge competition on July 5. The main objective of the competition was to nurture the merit of the students and to search for potential calibres. This event was organized in three schools and in one madrassa of Modhupur Municipality.

Seminar in Natore: ?Corruption: Society and social movement? was the topic of a seminar held on July 5 in Natore. CCC ? Natore organized this event at the Zilla Auditorium which was moderated by CCC Convenor Dr. Zakir Talukdar. CCC member Advocate Md. Amjad Hossen presented the keynote paper on behalf of Prof. Jatin Sarkar.

TIB Trustee and Executive Director of Ain-O-Shalish Kendra (ASK) Advocate Sultana Kamal and Executive Director of TIB Dr. Iftekharuzzaman were present.

The speakers at the seminar said that because of the corruption of a few, people of our country are being blamed and a social movement against corruption is needed to get rid of this situation. It was also observed that political will is a must for curbing corruption. More than two hundred participants attended the seminar.

Seminar in Jamalpur: CCC Jamalpur Sadar and TIB organized a seminar on ?Basic Education : Problems and Solutions? to ensure the quality of primary education. The seminar was held on July 5 at the Shilpakala Academy Auditorium. CCC Convenor Advocate Nazrul Islam Dulu presided over the seminar in which district Primary Education Officer Malobika Bhoumik was present as chief guest. Upazilla Primary Education Officer Md. Obaidullah and CCC member Prof. Mir Ansar Ali presented two papers. Discussants at the seminar emphasized on active participation of all to ensure the quality of primary education.

People's Theatre Activities

Durnitir Chobol staged in Muktagacha: People's Theatre Group of CCC - Muktagacha staged its drama 'Durnitir Chobol' at the premises of Kheruajani Primary School of Muktagacha on July 6. The drama shows are basically performed to raise awareness among grassroots people. More than 300 students and local people enjoyed the show. They welcomed the efforts of the CCC and TIB to use people's theatre as an advocacy tool to create awareness among local people.

Upcoming Events

Roundtable on ?Corruption and Media?: A roundtable discussion on ?Corruption and Media? will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2005 at 10.30 a.m. at the VIP Lounge of the National Press Club. Eminent journalist Mr. A.B.M. Musa will present the keynote paper. TIB?s Investigative Journalism Award for the year 2005 will also be given during this program.

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