Dhaka for Inclusion of Border-Hat Deal with Delhi

By Nazmul Ahsan

Dhaka, Aug 9 : Bangladesh has set a couple of conditions for signing of the Border Haat agreement with India.

It wants the border hat trading be exempted from local tax levied by the Indian state government and establishment of bank branches or money changer booths to check smuggling, a top official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.

The MoFA has asked the Indian government last week to include the provisions concerned in the final draft of the Border Haat agreement, sources said.

"We have asked the Indian government to include clauses like non application of local tax of Meghalaya State on border haat trading and establishment of either bank branches or a moneychanger's booths in the proposed haat to check possible smuggling," a top official in the MoFA said.

"The government will not proceed further for signing the proposed agreement with India until the latter addresses our concerns in the final draft agreement," he added.

The MoFA has contacted the Indian High Commission in Dhaka in this respect following a directive from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), it is learnt.

Commerce ministry officials of the two nations prepared the draft deal in mid May last in Dhaka, agreeing to impose caps on trading and making the bazaars accessible only for the people who live in and around the area.

However, the PMO raised objections to the negotiated draft agreement as it missed the issue of local tax.

According to the negotiated draft of the proposed agreement, trading at the border markets will not be taxed or levied, and will not fall under purview of foreign trade policies and laws of the two countries.

"We now want the draft agreement say the border haat trade is exempted from both central and state taxes to avoid any uneven trading system as Bangladesh has no local tax compared to those of Indian states," a top official in the PMO said.

Presently, the Meghalaya State of Indian government has 6 to 8 per cent local tax imposed on trading that takes place within the state, sources said.

Two bazaars will be set up in the first phase - one in Sunamganj and another in Kurigram along India's Meghalaya frontier. The trading will be held once a week, said the negotiated draft agreement.

Besides, the draft said an individual will not be able to trade goods valued above $50 at the bazaar and the trading should be conducted in currencies of the two nations.

Officials in the MoFA said a meeting is required between central bankers of two countries to clarify the transaction modalities to prevent possible smuggling under the proposed haat as the draft agreement did not say anything about establishing bank or money exchange outlet to deal with the currencies of two countries.

Furthermore, the negotiated draft agreement said a committee comprising government officials and officers of border security forces of the two nations will manage the markets and will sit periodically to review its operation. The committee will be headed by the local administration.
"We have asked the Indian authority to keep provision for bank or money exchange outlet to deal with currencies in the proposed haats, while we have proposed Deputy Commissioner to head the committee," a top foreign ministry official said.

Farm and home made items produced in 10 kilometer radius of border bazaar will be allowed to trade in the bazaar, which will be set up within five kilometers of the frontier, instead of 10 kilometer as agreed earlier.

Dhaka and New Delhi agreed to set up border markets in January, 2009 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made her first visit to India.

India has been pressing the government to ink the deal as early as possible. Earlier, it asked the government to start the markets on the first day of the Bengali new-year - on April 14, 2009-- but the attempt fell through after concerns were raised that the proposed deal on the border bazaars did not adequate steps against smuggling.

60 Truckloads of Foodstuff Sent to Imphal

By Pradeep Pareek

Dimapur, Aug 9 : Even though the economic blockade launched by the United Naga Council (UNC) continues on National Highway - 39, around 60 trucks loaded with rice and sugar left for Imphal from Dimapur depot of Food Corporation of India today.

The consignment of essential commodities is the second in the past nearly four months from Dimapur to Imphal through NH 39. Fourteen trucks meant for Manipur could reach Imphal and Ukhrul after the nearly two month long economic blockade was lifted earlier.

General Manager, FCI (ANM), Flight Lt. (Retd) M K Gogoi talking to The Assam Tribune informed that 14 trucks reached Manipur earlier and today 60 trucks with rice and sugar left for Manipur capital Imphal.

He said that the FCI has no problem in transporting essential commodities to Manipur but truckers have decided not to ply through NH-39 after the economic blockade was imposed by the Naga organisations.

Gogoi further disclosed that the road conditions are not good and needs improvement, besides there are other problems concerning providing security cover to the vehicles. He said that security escorts are being provided to trucks from Dimapur to Imphal.

When asked whether they are planning to transport essential commodities to Manipur through NH-53, as demanded by the State Government, Gogoi said that it depends on the situation, but they would like to see both the routes operational.

He further said that NH-53 is an important route for transport of goods, but road conditions are not at par with the National Highways.

The FCI GM, replying to a query whether there was food scarcity in the Northeastern region, said that there was no question of food scarcity in the region, but the FCI is not able to push the stocks to the respective States.

He said more than 7,000 MT is transported through Railways truckers are reluctant to transport goods from the FCI. But very soon, we will come out with a solution, he hoped. He further said that Tripura has more than 12,000 MT of rice stock while stocks are also sufficient in South Assam.

Northeast's Women Take Peace Initiative

Guwahati, Aug 8 : Women of the northeast region are joining hands for bringing peace and ensure justice and political rights in a region rocked by decades of conflict under the aegis of 'Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace'.

"In India’s northeast, women traditionally play a major role in society, yet they have not found their legitimate place at the negotiation table when it comes to resolving the reasons for the many conflicts in the region”, founder of 'Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network' and secretary general of New Delhi-based 'Control Arms Foundation of India' Binalakshmi Nepram said today.

Nepram was attending the N-E Women's network NEIWIP's second consultative conclave at the Don Bosco Reach Out Centre in Guwahati to discuss alternative strategies to end violence here.

Caught in the vortex of insurgency and counter-insurgency, "women suffer the most. They are assaulted, humiliated, raped and murdered during conflicts, which are not of their making", she said.

"Women in the region need to not only understand the political economy of militarism, but also look at measures to bring back peace and justice. Therefore we need to re-evolve strategies and work together to add value to the contribution and sacrifices of selfless women groups in the past", she said.

Another speaker at the conclave, Kheshili Z Chishi, Convenor of Indigenous Women’s Forum for Northeast India (IWFNEI) and former president of Naga Mothers Association said, "north-east is infested with political problems and suspicion among the people of the region itself.

Therefore, the women community should be more pro-active in peace building and creating better understanding among the people more than ever before."

Jeetu Moni Wins 'Dance India Dance L'il Masters'

New Delhi, Aug 8 : After several weeks of tough competition, 11-year-old Jeetu Moni Kalita from Guwahati was announced the winner of Zee TV's dance reality show ‘Dance India Dance L'il Masters’ at the grand finale held in Pune Saturday.

The talented boy pipped Pune-based Vaishnavi Patil, Atul Banmoria from Mani Majra in Chandigarh and Manoj Rathod from Mumbai, to bag the title of ‘Dance Ka Baap’.
He has been awarded a trophy and a cash prize of Rs.300,000.

The grand finale took place at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune, and was graced by actress Sonam Kapoor and her father, actor Anil Kapoor.

The show began with 16 children and was judged by ace choreographers Farah Khan and Sandip Soparrkar.

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty also attended the event. The children's mentors - Dharmesh, Jay, Mayuresh-Vrushali and Amrita staged power-packed performances.

Choreographers Remo D'souza, Geeta Kapoor and Terence Lewis, who provided encouragement to the contestants on various stages, too came to encourage the children.

Women in Khaki Protects Assam Forest

Guwahati, Aug 8 : Dressed in the trademark khaki uniform of frontline staff, she patrols in an Assam jungle with her other colleagues, ready to fight any threat, for facing the challenges of protecting forest, conservation of animals.

About one year back, Saya Rani Das, a 28-year-old girl, decided to join Assam’s Department of Environment and Forests to serve as its frontline staff; her passion being the wildlife.

Completing post graduation in English, Saya joined as a forester in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary as the part of Assam Forest Departments decision to recruit 30 percent women as frontline staff.

”I instantly decided to grab this opportunity,” Saya said.

Saya further said, ”There are many challenges for us, but we are ready to fight any threat for protecting the forest and animals.”

”I am determined to prove myself as a good frontline staff,” she said.

At present 21 women foresters and 35 women forest guards are working in different wildlife divisions across the state.

There are nine women frontline staff  in Pobitora, which is the habitat of over 90 endangered one-horned rhinos.

”It is for the first time in Assam that, women are being recruited as frontline staff,” Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said.
 

”Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the state Forest Department had decided to provide 30 percent women being recruited as frontline staff,” Hussain added.

Hussain further said,”We have arranged experts from National Security Guard, Assam Police, Assam Forest Protection Force to provide the women recruits modern training in physical fitness, arms, martial arts etc.”

The women frontline staff are also being trained in latest GPS technology.

Apart from Saya Rani Das, there are Bibha Sonowal (25), Anita Das (26), Namita Das (29), Swarnalata B Baruah (26), who work in Kaziranga National Park (KNP), and said they are ‘happy’ with their job.

"We are proud to be members of the first batch of women foresters and forest guards recruited by the state forest department," the women in khaki.

(Reporting and photos by Hemanta Kumar Nath)

Railway Relief to Stir-Hit Manipur

Imphal, Aug 8 : Giving a breather to the blockade-hit people of Manipur, the Railways has begun ferrying the state's quota of rice to Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam.

This will help the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ferry rice from its godown at Jiribam, the only railhead in Manipur, to Imphal along National Highway-53, which is also known as the Silchar -Imphal route.

On Thursday evening, a goods train with 22 coaches of rice equivalent to 80 truckloads arrived at Jiribam from Silchar via Rampur in Assam.

The freight operation began after a gap of over 10 years even as Central paramilitary forces started escorting goods trucks along NH-39 in the face of the ongoing blockade of national highways by the United Naga Council (UNC).

The Transporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC) expressed happiness over security forces escorting trucks, which has been one of its longstanding demands. It lauded the efforts of the state government and FCI officials to transport rice by train.

The TDC recently attended a meeting in Imphal where members of a Central delegation, including top FCI officials, were present. The meeting was chaired by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

TDC president H Ranjit said some of their demands have been fulfilled because of the unstinted support of the United Committee, Manipur (UCM), the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and other civil groups.

Ranjit added that there was a need to upgrade the storage capacity of the FCI godown at Jiribam from the present 2500 metric tonnes to 15,000-20,000 metric tonnes. He also urged the state government and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to set up a supply point of petroleum products in and around Jiribam.

Manipur may persuade FCI authorities to nominate rice transport contractors from Jiribam to Imphal and that the transportation charge may be fixed in tandem with the existing rate, he said.

To ensure safe and smooth traffic along the Imphal-Silchar route, Ranjit said the government should start repair work on a war footing.

He added that the TDC's decision not to ply vehicles on NH-39 with police escorts remains unchanged.

CBI Breather For Tainted Assam Ministers

Shillong, Aug 8 : Asserting that the investigation into the alleged diversion of funds in Assam's North Cachar district was progressing well, the CBI on Friday denied reports that it was planning to interrogate 11 people, including some ministers.

Talking to TOI here, CBI Shillong DIG H Nongpluh, who is heading the probe, said, "The investigation is progressing well. But there is no truth in the reports that we are planning to question 11 people including some Assam ministers."

Five officers of the investigating agency are camping in the district headquarter town of Haflong to initiate the probe. At present, they are scrutinizing files and other pertinent documents relating to the allegations, a CBI official here said.

Sources said it might take some time before the central investigating agency goes ahead with the questioning of the accused, while the entire investigation is likely to take about a year's time.

The CBI had taken up the alleged siphoning off of about Rs 1,000 crore meant for the development of the NC Hills Autonomous Council to DHD (J) militants after the National Investigating Agency (NIA) detected some financial anomalies while investigating the nexus between officials, politicians and militants in the district.

The NIA has so far named 30 people in its FIR, which said there were financial anomalies to the tune of Rs 32 crore in five departments PWD, PHE, agriculture, soil conservation and social welfare of the council. The CBI had earlier recovered over Rs 13 crore from a residence in Guwahati, allegedly siphoned off from the council's coffer.

In the meantime, sources claimed that R H Khan, deputy director in the social welfare department and under judicial custody in a case being investigated by NIA, had hidden the money in his brother-in-law Ahmed Hussain's house after being siphoned off from the NC Hills Autonomous Council. Hussain was a junior engineer in the council.

Earlier, The prime accused in the funds diversion from the NC Hills Autonomous Council to militant outfit, self-styled commander-in-chief of DHD(J) Niranjan Hojai had refused to be put to narco test by the NIA.

The militant leader had said the embezzlement of development funds of the autonomous council be probed by the CBI. "Let the investigation be done by the CBI," he had said.

Hojai had gone missing from the designated camp where he was lodged after surrendering last year. Recently, NIA caught him somewhere near the Nepal border.

Facebook Protests Lead to Vigil Against Corruption in Assam

New Delhi, Aug 7 : Assamese students in Delhi, expressing their concern over "rampant corruption" in the state on Facebook, have planned a vigil in the capital Sunday to "mourn the death of honesty of our politicians".

The idea germinated on the Facebook page of an RTI activist, and attracted outpourings against corruption in the north-eastern state.

"We were supporting an RTI activist in Assam on Facebook. Very soon, we got a huge number supporting the cause. Through Facebook members decided to hold a vigil and there has been a huge response," said 27-year-old Ruma Bhuyan, who is working in the capital.

A peaceful and non-political vigil will be carried out by educated Assamese youths and professionals at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and various places in Assam like Guwahati, Jorhat and Nagaon on the same day.

"We will protest with a black arm band at the Jantar Mantar from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a candlelight vigil will be observed in Assam," said another expatriate Assamese in Delhi, Aryama Dutta Saikia.

According to Pallavi Deka, a doctorate student and former general secretary of Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union, the vigil was not targeted against any individual.

"It is for every corrupt official, be it a traffic policeman who let go a signal violator for Rs.10. We have aimed to awaken the youth of our state and stand against corruption."

Aryama Dutta Saikia is one of the organisers of the vigil.