Dated: Saturday, December 20, 2003.
WB to Help Bangladesh- Burma Rail Networks
Chittagong, Dec.20: The World Bank (WB) has expressed its interest to provide financial assistance for construction of Bangladesh-Burma rail networks, according to UNB, a local news agency.
This was disclosed at meeting on 17th December 2003, between Communication Minister Barrister Najmul Huda and World Bank delegation, led by its visiting Sector Director of South Asia Region, Mr. John Rumi.
They discussed the formation of a � Road Fund� for maintenance of national and regional highways, strengthening of Bangladesh Road and Transport Association (BRTA), introduction of highway petrol police with assistance from the Bank, on construction of district link road and 128 km Dohajari-Cox�s Bazar- Burma single line railway.
The delegation members told the minister that the WB would work as the Coordinator to secure necessary funds from donor countries and international development agencies. # #
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E-mail: [email protected]
Dated: Saturday, December 20, 2003.
Forced labor for harvest in Northern Arakan
Buthidaung, Dec. 20: The Military Operation Command (MOC-15) Commander ordered to the villagers of Buthidaung Township, Arakan State to harvest 10 acres of land, according to our correspondent.
The MOC-15 is based in Dabru Chaung village of Buthidaung Township. The villagers of Quen Dine, Nanragon, Tharakkani and Sinyan Way of Buthidaung south are being engaged in forced labors for harvest of paddy lands. Previously, MOC-15 seized this arable land from Rohingya villages, adjacent to military Headquarters and had been used for growing paddy with forced labors and now the time of harvest, he further added.
The Commander warned the villagers to take serious action in case of non-compliance. As a result, since 12th December 2003, a total of 100 labors from four villages have been working daily on the harvest site by rotation, another villager said who was engaged in forced labor.
The said Commander gathered all the laborers who were engaged with forced labor, asked them to affix their signatures and thumb impressions on blank paper sheets, as acknowledgement of voluntary services for the harvest, he further said.
The villagers have to reap the paddy fields and were fed by the villagers. Besides, they had to do other works such as threshing, carrying, storing the grains in the granary and put the paddy into heat, etc.
Though, the Nasaka issued a request to the local authorities of Nasaka to stop the use of forced labor on November 14, 2003, the Military Operation Commander (MOC-15) is still in practice of forced labor. # #
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