From: sahmed@occs.cs.oberlin.edu (Saif Ahmed)
Subject: News: Details
Organization: Oberlin College Computer Science
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 19:29:23 GMT
X-Posted-From: occs.cs.oberlin.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

   Bangladesh Foreign minister to discuss Burmese refugees with Boutros
   Ghali

   Speaking prior to his visit to London and New York on 20th January,
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mustafizur Rahman stressed the need for
accelerating the repatriation of Burmese refugees, who are putting
strain on Bangladesh's economy, Radio Bangladesh reported (in Bengali
1230 gmt 20 Jan 92). The primary objective of his visit to New York is
to discuss with UN Secretary-General Butrus Butrus Ghali how best the
refugees can be repatriated in the shortest possible time.

   400 die of diarrhoea

   some 423 people died and 14,834 others were affected by the
water-borne disease diarrhoea in the southern part of bangladesh
during the last 17 days, according to official statistics issued here
today.  but unofficial sources said that at least 1,200 people died
and about 35,000 were affected during this period.  medical officials
of the health department said that total 70 people died and 2,444 were
affected during the last 24 hours till yesterday morning.  however,
unofficial sources said the death toll would not be less than 400
during the last 24 hours, while those affected would number about
15,000.  local people as well as different organizations called upon
the government to declare the southern part of the country as
diarrhoea-affected zone. they urged the government to take necessary
measures to contain the epidemic.  the government has reportedly taken
measures to fight the disease. a total of 353 medical teams are now
working round the clock in the affected areas.

   Nurses on indefinite strike
(will be posted on request)

   Jan 21st

   Six more die in cold spell as temperatures fall to 42 degrees
   Fahrenheit

    DHAKA, Jan 21 (AFP) - Six more people have died of cold in
Bangladesh's northern Rangpur district pushing this month's toll to 79
as a nationwide mild cold wave persisted, newspaper reports said
Thursday.
    The Daily Meillat newspaper said the six died over the past two
days, when the meteorological department said the mercury dropped to
below six degrees Celsius (42.8 degrees Fahrenheit).  The victims were
mostly poor children and elderly people.  The meteorological
department forecast that night temperatures were likely to fall by a
further one or two degree Celcius.

   Jan 20th

   Bangladesh sends military observers ot Bosnia-Hercegovina

    DHAKA, Jan 20 (AFP) - A 10-member Bangladesh defence team is to
join United Nations operations to monitor the "no-fly zone" in
Bosnia-Hercegovina as military observers, a defence ministry statement
said here Wednesday.

    The team, which leaves Dhaka Thursday, would be headed by Wing
Commander A.K.M. Harun Chowdhury and would join 14 other Bangladeshi
defence personnel already in the strife-torn former Yugoslav republic,
the statement carried by the official BSS news agency said.

    It said the team includes four army and six air force officers,
and would be the first time the air force had joined any U.N.
operation.

   Parliament pass resolution condemning Babri mosque demolition

    DHAKA, Jan 20 (AFP) - The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Wednesday adopted a resolution
by voice vote strongly condemning the demolision of an ancinet mosque
in India.
    The resolution, moved by acting deputy leader of the house,
Majed-ul Huq, also appealed to New Delhi to rebuild the 16th century
Babri mosque in India's Ayodhya town.

   Blast on ship injures 21

   An explosion on board a Bangladeshi passenger ship believed to have
been caused by explosives hidden in a passenger's luggage injured 21
people, 10 seriously, police said on Wednesday.
   The blast on the upper deck of the Gazi occurred on Tuesday near
Mongla port in southern Bangladesh.

   Massive trade deficit with India.
(will be posted separately)

   Jan 19th

   Bangladesh suspends repatriation of Burmese refugees

    Bangladesh suspended the repatriation of Burmese Moslems on
Tuesday while it tries to settle a row with the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), officials said.
   ''We have agreed in principle to take a breather until January 25.
By that time we hope to bring the UNHCR back into the repatriation
process,'' an official told reporters at the border town of Cox's
Bazar.
   The repatriation of more than 288,000 Burmese refugees, known as
Rohingyas, began last September and so far more than 17,400 have
returned to their homes in west Burma's Arakan state.

   Bangladesh Jute Corporation to be shut down.

   the government of bangladesh has decided to wind up the state-owned
jute corporation (bjc) in keeping with it's policy of
denationalization.  explaining the reason of the government's
decision, jute minister a.s.m. hannan shah said here today that bjc
could not fulfill the objective for which it was set up.  bjc incurred
a total loss to the tune of taka 11,000 million (about 282.05 million
u.s. dollar) since it was set up in 1985 with a view to ensuring
stable jute market and fair price to the growers, the minister said.
due to the corruption of some officials, damage of jute kept in
godowns due to natural calamity, reduction in the demand of jute in
the international market and the inability to repay outstanding loans
to the banks, it was impossible for the bjc to become a viable
organization on commercial basis, the minister said.  it also became
impossible for the government to provide funds to the bjc and bear its
huge losses, he added.  a review of last few years' activities of the
bjc has shown that the bjc could purchase only 10 to 15 percent of the
country's total jute production and had failed to ensure purchase of
85 to 90 percent of jute at fair price, the minister said, adding that
during 1992-93, bjc had not purchased any jute.


Exchange Rates.
    India 43.85 Pakistan 39.15 Bangladesh 58.56 (Figures supplied by
Midland Montagu)
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| | Saifuddin Ahmed                                                        |
| | sahmed@occs.cs.oberlin.edu                                             |
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh