Ershad proposes provincial govt to decentralise power

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday proposed that provincial government system be introduced dividing the country into eight provinces to reduce pressure on Dhaka, decentralisation of power and balanced development across the country.

According to his new formula, he outlined the map of the provinces, which include Northern province, Jahangirnagar province, Jalalabad province, Barendra province, Jahanabad province, Chandradwip province, Mainamati province and Chattala province.

Ershad, also a lawmaker and former president, placed his proposal at a seminar titled 'Planning of provincial government system in Bangladesh' at a city hotel. He said each province would have a council of 600 members and a separate cabinet with a chief minister at its head while the central government would be a federal one.

Amid huge support from two former advisers to the caretaker government, leaders of different small political parties, university professors, the former military ruler-turned-politician said the federal government would oversee the administration of the provinces by appointing provincial governors.

"The president would be the chief of the federal government while the prime minister would head the parliamentary government," said the chief of JP, a key component in the Awami League-led ruling grand alliance government.

He said there is no other alternative but to launch a provincial system for ensuring balanced development across the country, good governance, creating job opportunities and reducing pressure on the capital. Provincial government system will also reduce unemployment and the law and order will be improved greatly once the system is introduced, he added.

The former president said each province would have a High Court, which would function under the Supreme Court located in the federal capital Dhaka. He called on the leaders irrespective of all political parties to work together in order to implement the new system.

Ershad mentioned a number of steps introduced during his regime as part of decentralising power, including promoting mahakumas (subdivisions) to districts and thanas to upazilas.

Former advisers Dr Akbar Ali Khan and Mahbubul Alam, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rab, Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddiqui, Kalyan Party Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Secretary General of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Maj (retd) MA Mannan, Prof Dr Selim Uddin Ahmed of Dhaka University, Prof Syed Shafiullah of Jahangirnagar University, Chief of Centre for Development Research Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley, former chief election commissioner Justice Abdur Rouf backed Ershad in promoting his formula.

Echoing the former president, they said it is the demand of time to introduce provincial government to curb pressure on Dhaka and to build a developed country.

Fake note factory busted, 2 arrested

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members busted a fake currency note factory in the city's Uttara area early Wednesday and seized fake notes worth over Tk 2 lakh. Rab also seized some equipment and chemicals used for making fake notes during the raid at Dakshin Khan area and arrested two people for their alleged involvement with the misdeed.

The arrestees were identified as Jahirul Islam, 27, and Ayasa Akter, 25, who had been allegedly making fake notes of different denominations for the last one and a half years, Rab claimed.

Maj Mohammad Mahabubul Haque of Rab-3 told that the unscrupulous spread their network in the capital and their supplied fake notes worth around Tk 1.5 crore are still in the market. Rab conducted the raid around 12:00am at the third floor of a four-storied building at Faidabad Maddyapara of the area.

Huge amount of note making papers, half-printed fake notes, two computers, four printers and several scanning machines were found in the hidden factory.

88.84 pc pass primary centre examinations

Students of a city school jubilating on Thursdayafter the publication of Primary Centre Examination results.

The percentage of pass in the primary school center examinations- 2009 stood at 88.84, according to results announced by the primary and mass education ministry here on Tuesday.

The Center Exams at class five were held for the first time in the country on November 21, 22 and 24.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr Afsarul Amin and State Minster Motahar Hossain announced the results at a press briefing in the conference room of the ministry. Dr Afsar said earlier Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated publication of the results switching on a computer in her office today. The results are now available on http://www.dpe.gov.bd/

Announcing the highlights of the results, he said, a total of 18,23,465 students appeared in the Center Exams of which 16,20,054 passed in all subjects. Among the successful students, 7,51,465 are boys (90.44 per cent) and 8,68,589 girls (87.51 per cent). As many as 41.77 per cent students secured first division, 37.98 per cent secured second division and 20.25 per cent third division.

The exams were held on six subjects of 600 marks.

According to the merit list, Sadia Sikder secured the first position in the country from Monohardi Model Govt Primary School of Narsingdi district. She got 593 marks.

Deepanwita Tithi secured the second position from Aarpara Shibnagar Model Primary School of Kaliganj Upazila, Jhenidah district. She got 592 marks.

Hasin Tanvir secured the third position from RK Govt Primary School from Tangail Sadar upazila.

The minister said Viqarunnesa School and College is in the top position as hundred percent students passed from there. Monipur High School is in second position while Ideal School and College was placed in third position. Country's highest percentage of pass is in Uzirpur upazila of Barisal district (99.94 per cent) while lowest (60.97 per cent) in Sarail upazila in Brahmanbaria district.

About the failed students and 1,937 schools from where none passed, Dr Afsar said the government would make queries about their failure and take necessary steps to improve their conditions.

Replying to questions, Motahar Hossain said people of all strata have appreciated introduction of public examination system in primary schools.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the ministry to ensure quality education for all through introducing welfare-oriented systems, he added.

He said at present 50,000 primary students get scholarship but his ministry made a request to increase the number and amount of scholarship, which is handled by the Ministry of Education.

Motahar said the students who passed the Centre Exams would be given certificates soon. But they will be able to get admitted to class six collecting mark sheets and testimonial from the primary schools concerned. He said grace marks were given in Mathematics and English subjects.