Thursday, May 31, 2012

CT-1 questions evidence against Jamaat-e-Islami executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Member of the Bangladesh's first war crimes tribunal Judge A K M Zaheer Ahmed could not help question the prosecution's seemingly irrelevant evidence on Thursday.

Jamaat-e-Islami executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee's investigator had submitted a news report published in Bengali daily, Janakantha, on Feb 13, 2002 as proof of alleged war crimes for which this Jamaat leader has been indicted by the International Crimes Tribunal–1.

The report's title cited Sayedee saying that the war against US would continue although the Taleban had been eliminated.

The judge wondered aloud how such exhibits were relevant to the case to which prosecutor Syed Haider Ali said, "This is not the time to establish this relevance. I will do that at the time of arguments. Not now."

However, faced with questions from the defence, ASP Mohammad Helal Uddin had admitted that the article had no relevance with the allegations against Sayedee.

When asked why he had submitted that article as an exhibit, the investigator said this was only one instance that showed Sayedee had contacts with the former Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam and others and acted in the same line.

Helal Uddin agreed to a suggestion that the news item did not have anything related to Ghulam Azam or the Jamaat leadership. The investigator also admitted that report did not have Sayedee's quote as suggested by the heading during cross-examination.

Defence counsel Mizanul Islam had already established that the investigation officer had not really analysed the content of the report before submitting it as an exhibit.

The investigator had gave his standard reply, "I don't have it on my records," when Mizanul Islam suggested that US had given its support to Pakistan during the Liberation War.

The defence counsel then said, "But other exhibits you submitted clearly point to US role during the war and you are concealing the fact knowing the answer full well."

The investigator denied.

Mizanul Islam then asked whether the US had moved a proposal for ceasefire in what was being called the 'Indo-Pak' War in the final days of the Liberation War at the UN Security Council to prevent formation of Bangladesh and protect Pakistan.

Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali reminded the tribunal that there should not be any such questions that might affect Bangladesh's foreign interests.

This is when the judge expressed his disappointment with the evidence. Judge Zaheer Ahmed went on to say that it was not only the tribunal's responsibility to ensure that Bangladesh's foreign interests were not hurt but also the it was duty of the prosecution.

"Why didn't you think over the matter when you submitted the evidence? You cannot keep the defence from its rightful cross-examination?"

Syed Haider Ali had a hard time explaining his position to the judge. "I am not saying that the defence will not cross-examine. All I am saying is that the tribunal will ensure there is no such matter in the proceedings that might hurt national interests."

Judge Zaheer Ahmed said, "But this is a matter of historical record, why would this hurt national interests?"

The prosecutor replied, "I am not saying that it will either. All I am saying is that there should not be any such content."

The tribunal chairman Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq took the suggestion well and agreed with the prosecutor. "However, I should say we have nothing of the sort so far."

But Judge Zaheer Ahmed did not let it go. He told the prosecutor, "The prosecution should have pondered over the matter beforehand because the defence has the right to cross examine. You cannot suggest how the tribunal conducts itself."

Mizanul Islam clarified that he would not ask any such questions. He said he hoped that the tribunal's decision in this regard would not prejudice the defence.

He continued to dwell upon the UN Security Council proposal, which had been shot down due to a veto of the Soviet Union.

When asked whether Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had come to visit Bangladesh during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's lifetime, the investigator said he did not know.

It was at this point that judge Zaheer Ahmed had another spat with prosecutor Haider Ali.

The judge had said regarding Bhutto, "And the prosecution has submitted evidence with Bhutto's heroics at the UN tearing up papers of the resolution making us watch him to be a hero. It is unfortunate that we had to watch this sitting at this tribunal adjudicating such a case."

Haider Ali stood up to defend his case and his voice rose with every reply as he told the judge that he did not think it was appropriate for him to question the evidence at this point of trial.

Mizanul Islam continued with his cross-examination on another exhibit, which was also a newspaper report. He expressed his 'helplessness' exasperated by prosecutor Haider Ali prompting answers to the investigation officer.

Helal Uddin had changed his answer to a suggestion that the report in question was not related or relevant to the case at hand. The investigator had agreed but then Haider Ali had said, "There is a gulf of difference between being related and being relevant."

The investigator duly changed his answer at the cue and Mizanul Islam threw up his hands saying, "I am helpless."

Haider Ali said the defence was misleading his witness suggesting that he was merely pointing that out and not prompting answers.

The day had begun with the defence team petitioning the court to recall three prosecution witnesses. When asked who would bear the cost, the senior defence counsel said the accused would be willing to bear the cost.

Prosecutor Haider Ali said the defence had conducted exhaustive cross-examination of all the three witnesses suggesting that there was hardly any ground to recall those witnesses.

First case to trial

Sayedee's is the first case to proceed to the trial stage at ICT-1. The prosecution on Sept 4 last year proposed framing of charges against him on 31 counts of crimes against humanity and genocide.

The tribunal also sent Jamaat's former chief Ghulam Azam to jail on Jan 11. His indictment hearing began on Feb 15 and he was indicted on May 13.

Jamaat chief Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed and Assistant Secretaries General Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla have been detained on war crimes charges.

BNP MP and standing committee member, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, also behind bars, has been indicted for 23 charges on Apr 4.

Former BNP lawmaker and minister Abdul Alim is the only one out on bail. With formal charges pressed against him, Alim saw his defence place his discharge petition on Monday. Further arguments followed on Wednesday. The hearing has been adjourned till May 14.

Keep Grameen Bank's integrity: Burt UK Foreign Office Minister,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

UK Foreign Office Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt has stressed protecting the integrity and efficiency of Grameen Bank.

Burt, prior to concluding his three-day visit to Bangladesh, met former Grameen Bank Magaing Director Muhammad Yunus at the UK High Commissioner's residence on Wednesday.

He admired Yunus for what he did and felt that his legacy should be protected and upheld, the British High Commission said in a media statement on Thursday.

The Nobel laureate expressed his deep concern about the future of the Grameen Bank following the formation of the review commission.

The commission's recommendations could alter the ownership and nature of the bank and deprive the poor a voice in how the bank was run, he feared in a statement on Wednesday.

He questioned the necessity of forming a probe commission to look into Grameen Bank's activities since its birth and said he was afraid that the bank's future would be at stake if the government exerted more influence on the bank.

"Has Grameen Bank done any major misdeed that needed (the government) to initiate this probe?" he asked. "I am saddened at hearing the news."

The government on May 16 formed the commission to review the ownership of Grameen Bank and 54 related social businesses that Yunus still heads, 14 months after Yunus was removed as its Managing Director.

Yunus added in that statement: "I am now enormously worried about the possibility of Grameen Bank being put under government control. I fear even to anticipate the course that Grameen Bank will take if it is made a government institution."  

Police now more prudent, Home Minister Shahara Khatun


BANGLADESH NEWS

Home Minister Shahara Khatun has now claimed that police are working ‘more efficiently and more prudently’ than anytime in the past.

She also claimed that the government and home ministry have been working for the last three years to build the police force as ‘friend of people.’

Amid widespread criticism over recent police assaults, the home minister made the comments in reply to lawmakers’ queries in parliament.

“Police personnel are given training at home and abroad so that they can engage themselves to serve people more efficiently," Shahara informed the lawmakers.

Earlier on Wednesday, talking to reporters at her secretariat office, she claimed police were now “far better” than anytime before.

Replying to a query, the home minister said law enforcement agencies were able to rescue 496 persons ‘successfully and efficiently’ in 2011 who were abducted by criminals.

She also informed parliament a total of 633 abduction cases were filed across the country in the last one year.

The home minister however did not say anything about the fate of the rest 137 persons.

During a question session, Jatiya Party lawmaker Hossain Makbul Shahrier asked Shahara how many persons became the victims of force disappearance and abduction in the last one year.

But the home minister remained mum on forced disappearances.

“Law enforcement agencies file GD [general diary] immediately after they get news on disappearance, abduction, killing or rescue of any unidentified dead body. Later they file regular case with the respective police station under the existing laws,” She said.

She added: “Necessary legal actions are taken on the basis of the cases and GDs.”

Earlier on 14 February, Shahara said in parliament there was nothing like ‘secret killing’ or ‘forced disappearance’ in the country.

BNP leader Nazmul Huda recipe for interim govt,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

BNP leader Nazmul Huda on Thursday proposed an interim administration made up of representatives from both the government and the opposition to oversee the next general election.

“The government is saying about an interim government. It can be formed comprising the government and the opposition. But, the home and defence ministries must be under the opposition leader,” he said in his new formula.

He unveiled the recipe while addressing a discussion titled “Spirit of Shaheed Zia and a credible election system” at the Jatiya Press Club.

Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) organised the meeting to mark the 31st death anniversary of late president Ziaur Rahman, founder of BNP.

The former minister reiterated his appeal to the BNP chairperson for taking an initiative to hold a dialogue to resolve political crisis and asked the government to release all opposition leaders to create an atmosphere congenial to the talks.

Huda, a former member of BNP’s national standing committee, urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia to sit for a dialogue. “It's possible. Countrymen are eagerly waiting for it,” he added.

Huda, a maverick leader of BNP, on May 23 issued an ultimatum to Khaleda to invite Sheikh to a dialogue by June 5.

He had threatened to quit the party if the ultimatum is not met.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, 28 others charged with bomb blast,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Detectives on Thursday charged 29 leaders of 18-party alliance including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir with blasting two bombs at Bangladesh Secretariat during hartal on April 29.

The new charges were pressed against the opposition leaders just 20 days after 45 leaders and activists of BNP-led 18-party alliance including Fakhrul were charged with torching a vehicle near the Prime Minister's Office during the shutdown.

DB Inspector Tapan Chandra Saha, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka around 11:00am showing 34 people as prosecution witnesses.

The case was filed with Shahbagh Police Station against 28 leaders and activists of the 18-party alliance in connection with two bomb explosions at the secretariat during hartal hours on April 29.

All the accused leaders are now in jail in connection with the arson case, though the High Court granted anticipatory bail to Fakhrul and 24 other opposition leaders in the bomb-blast case until the submission of the charge sheet. Of the 29 charge sheeted accused, four were sent to jail earlier after their arrest in connection with the blast case.

On May 14, the High Court granted anticipatory bail to Fakhrul and 24 others.

BACKGROUND
On May 7, two HC judges delivered dissenting orders on their bail petitions compelling the chief justice to sent the petition to a third bench.

Earlier May 13, the HC ordered the alliance leaders to surrender before the lower court by May 16 in connection with a case filed for torching a vehicle near the Prime Minister’s Office during the April 29 hartal.

The HC also ordered the law enforcers not to arrest or harass the accused until they appear before the lower court on May 16.

On May 16, a metropolitan magistrate sent the leaders to jail, turning down their bail prayers in the torching case.

A Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Dhaka too rejected on May 23 the bail petitions of Fakhrul and 32 other top opposition leaders who are in jail since May 16.

FULL LIST OF ACCUSED
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; its joint secretaries general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Amanullah Aman; standing committee members Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy; former deputy minister Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu; lawmakers Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia, Shammi Akhtar Shifa, Rehana Akhtar Ranu and Nilufar Chowdhury Moni; former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka; Liberal Democratic Party President Oli Ahmed; Bangladesh Jatiya Party President Andalib Rahman Partha; Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Sultan Salahuddin Tuku and its Organising Secretary Anisur Rahman Khokon; Jubo Dal President Moazzem Hossain Alal and its General Secretary Saiful Islam Nirob; Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal President Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and its General Secretary Mir Sharafat Ali Safu; and BNP leaders Abdul Salam, Abdul Matin, SM Jahangir Hossain Sardar, Kamruzzaman Dulal, Kamruzzaman Ratan, Mertazul Karim Badru, Rehana Akhter Dolly and Tofazzal Hossain Bhuiyan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants quick move by India,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday voiced her strong resolve to work together with India for mutual development of the two countries and insisted that the neighbour needs to move forward quickly on some pending issues.

“India needs to move forward quickly on some pending issues so that the two countries can work to implement various agreed decisions,” she said.

The premier made the remarks when a 16-member Indian delegation comprising Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul Sangma and Chief Minister of Arunachal Nabam Tuki met her at her official residence Gono Bhaban in the afternoon.

Stressing the importance of cooperation, Hasina said it is the only way to tap the potentials of both the countries for mutual benefits in this globalised world.

She also told the Indian delegation that there is a high expectation about the Teesta water sharing deal.

PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Bijan Lal Dev briefed reporters after the meeting.

Underlining the need for bolstering trade relations with the northeast states of India, Hasina said both the countries could take more business-friendly steps to boost trade.

On import of hydroelectricity from Arunachal, the premier said
Bangladesh could import power from them or could go for joint-venture power production there.

She also said there are many ways to cooperate with each other.

Hasina said Bangladesh attaches the highest importance to its relationship with India as this relationship has reached a new height following her landmark visit to India in January 2010 as well as the historic return visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh in September 2011.

She noted that the exchange of visits enabled the two sides to work out a matrix for the evolution of the bilateral relations harnessing the available synergies for mutual benefit.

Hasina mentioned that the scope for cooperation is immense and both sides should not only limit themselves to physical connectivity.

She said Bangladesh is keen to explore investment opportunities in the power sector in the northeast and expressed her satisfaction that the officials have agreed to explore grid connectivity for transmission of power from the northeast to Bangladesh.

The prime minister also recalled the support and contributions of the people and the government of India and particularly the neighbouring states of the northeast during the War of Liberation in 1971.

The Indian delegation members apprised the prime minister that the bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh have expanded and there has been socioeconomic development of the people of the northeast states.

They noted that there are more scopes of cooperation between the northeast states and Bangladesh in the fields of energy, tourism, horticulture, food processing and education.

They also requested the Bangladesh government to increase the number of border haats for strengthening the bondage between the two countries, and emphasised on sub-regional cooperation.

The Indian delegation also stressed the need for expanding the existing road connectivity of Dhaka-Agartala-Dhaka.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Sheikh Md Wahid Uz Zaman, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran, PM’s Special Assistants Abdus Sobhan Golap and Mahbubul Haque Shakil were also present.

25 lawyers charged with vandalising courts,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Police on Thursday charged 25 lawyers loyal to the main opposition BNP with vandalising metropolitan sessions and district judges’ courts on May 22.

Abidul Islam, a sub-inspector at Kotwali Police Station, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka in the afternoon.

The charge sheet was submitted under the Speedy Trial (Law and Order Disruption) Act which allows the judge only 30 work days to complete the trial if the accused are on bail or in custody.

But, the trial may take up to 60 work days if some of the defendants are on the run, according to the law.

June 13 has been set for a hearing on acceptance of the charge sheet.

The court, meanwhile, fixed June 3 for hearing bail petitions filed earlier in the day by 22 of the lawyers accused in the case.

First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Shahidul Islam Faruque passed the order as the lawyers’ bail term granted by the High Court will expire on June 3.

Dhaka Bar Association President Borhanuddin and 21 other accused secured the bail for 10 days from the HC in the case on May 24.

The lawyers will be at liberty until June 3, the court said Thursday.

Earlier in the morning, the lawyers surrendered to the court and sought bail in compliance with a HC order.

The vandalism took place on May 22 when members of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum boycotted all the judges' and magistrates' courts in the capital protesting a court order sending BNP lawmaker Mahbub Uddin Khokon to jail in an arson case.

Kotwali police filed the case against 29 pro-BNP lawyers on the same day. Seven other accused have not sought bail yet.

Bangladesh keeps up stable outlook


BANGLADESH NEWS

Standard & Poor's, a leading global rating agency, on Thursday gave Bangladesh ‘BB- long-term and ‘B’ short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings with a stable outlook.

This year’s ratings are same the agency affirmed Bangladesh in 2011.

Bangladesh is rated second highest in South Asia behind India (BBB-) and ahead of Sri Lanka (B+) and Pakistan (B-).

Other countries in the BB category along with Bangladesh include Turkey, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Zia trust graft hearing deferred again,Bngladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

A Dhaka court on Thursday for the third time deferred the date for passing an order on whether it would accept the charges against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

The court will now give the decision on this matter on July 1.

Judge Mohammad Zahurul Haque of the Senior Special Judges' Court in Dhaka passed the order following a time petition of the defence counsel.

In the petition, Taherul Islam Towhid, a counsel for Khaleda, told the court that his client could not appear before the court as she was busy with budget session of the Parliament.

The court also extended the bail term of two other accused -- Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) of Khaleda's former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS of former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka -- till July 1, the next date of the case.

Harris, another accused in the case, is on the run.

The same court on April 29 deferred the date for passing the order till today.

Khaleda on February 2 secured permanent bail in the case.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on August 8 last year filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station against Khaleda and the three others, accusing them of abusing power in raising funds from unknown sources in the name of the Zia Charitable Trust.

Bangladesh-made uniforms for British army Satexco has been supplying uniforms to the army for the last 10 years


BANGLADESH NEWS

A Bangladeshi company supplies uniforms to the British army, which is another testimony to the excellence of the country's garment sector.
Satexco, a garment company inside Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), has been serving the British army for the last 10 years, said Iqbal Hossain, managing director of the company.
Besides uniforms, the company also regularly supplies army jackets, rucksack, webbing, ammunition pouch, water containers, bayonet holders, pistol holsters and heavy tents, Hossain told  yesterday.
He said his company also supplies camouflage dresses, dark olive-coloured dresses, winter jackets, light desert uniforms, wind proof jackets and normal jackets to the army.
"We also supply uniforms and other stuffs to some other European countries like France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.”
He said sometimes he supplies uniforms to the Royal Air Force as well.
“We have a good opportunity to grab a bigger market of military uniforms among the NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organisation] countries, as we have already proved our strength in the segment in major European nations.”
“Established in 2000, a European-Bangladeshi joint venture Satexco supplied uniforms and accessories worth $3 million to the British army while the company's current annual sales value is $36 million."
The company maintains a modest 10 percent year-on-year business growth in revenue generation, he said.
He praised the performance of his 500 skilled workers who have been making such specialised clothing items over the years for such sophisticated customers.
“All the factory personnel of the company are Bangladeshi. But, sometimes we bring skilled technical persons from Europe and other countries to train our workers.”
He said his company imports most of the uniform-making fabrics for the European army.
“We make the uniform as per the design and style supplied by the authorities concerned. The high-ups of the armies of the concerned countries regularly inspect the factory and production processes at the DEPZ to ensure quality production,” he said.
The uniforms and others stuffs are exported after being tested by a third country, he said.
Hossain started uniform-making business in 2000. A Bangladeshi who was brought up in England, Hossain started garment business with a retired British army major.
“One day the major asked to set up a factory for making uniforms for the British army that matched with my thinking. Finally I partnered with him and set up a factory at the DEPZ."

Grameen Bank I'm fearful of its future Says Yunus in an open letter,Bangladesg


BANGLADESH NEWS

Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday urged stakeholders and the government not to take any step to change the legal structure of the Nobel-winning Grameen Bank.
In an open letter to the borrower owners of Grameen Bank, Yunus expressed his fear that steps are afoot to alter the management system of the bank.
The government on May 16 formed a four-member commission to probe Grameen Bank and its 54 associated organisations, and make recommendations on how to run the organisations in future.
“I can see clearly that the future of Grameen Bank will be at stake if the government increases its role in the bank's management by amending the legal structure,” Yunus said in the 24-page letter.
The terms of reference, given to the commission, raise fears that Grameen Bank will never be the same again, according to Prof Yunus.
The commission has been assigned to identify institutional strengths, weaknesses and constraints of Grameen Bank over a period of 27 years from its inception in 1983 to 2010.
Yunus, who won along with the Grameen Bank the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work making small loans to poor entrepreneurs, said poor women were the real owners of Grameen Bank and they had the supreme authority to make decisions on the bank.
“To take away the decision-making power from the poor women and their ownership would derail Grameen Bank from its mission,” said the founder of the bank.
Any step to change the current structure of Grameen Bank will turn the bank into another government run or directed bank which will destroy the unique nature and character of Grameen Bank, said Yunus.
The Nobel laureate stressed the need for keeping up the current law, management structure and work policy through which Grameen Bank has become one of the world-renowned organisations.
“Grameen Bank is a disciplined bank. If it becomes a government organisation, different conflicts and vested interests may infiltrate into the bank including politicisation and bureaucratisation,” Yunus said.
He has questioned how it would be possible for the commission to complete its huge task with its inadequate manpower in just three months.
“If the commission gives wrong advice due to time-constraint and lack of experience in the field of micro-credit, the consequences might be terrible for the poor Bangladeshi women, who own 97 percent of the bank,” he said.
“This type of task is usually given to the best researchers of the best research organisations as a long-term project. To prepare the inquiry report, it is necessary to confer with people who have set up and managed such organisations. It is also necessary to talk to such organisations and those who are familiar with its operation."
About the other organisations, Yunus said, Grameen Bank did not establish any organisation itself as the law does not permit the bank to do so.
Yunus said he created many organisations with his own initiative to address problems surrounding education, agriculture, communication, electricity and health.
“There are reasons behind the creation of these organisations. When we go to work with poor people we have to face many problems besides loans,” said Yunus.
“When I faced problems, I created a company as a way to solve it. I got such a mechanism in place so that they can operate from their own earnings and without counting on others. In that way, if any company fails it will not take others down with it,” he said.
These companies have not been created for anyone to earn profit from them. There is no scope of making personal profit from these organisations, he said.
“I have no share or ownership in Grameen or any of these companies. I have no share in Grameen Bank. So there was no scope for me to get profit from these companies, neither before nor now."
Yunus said there should be a national consensus about Grameen Bank as it is an organisation of national pride.
“Regardless of your political affiliation or profession or age or any other circumstance you may find yourself in, we can make an effort together as citizens of Bangladesh to convince the government that changing the legal structure of Grameen Bank would most definitely be a wrong decision,” he said.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Wait for rain, Energy adviser urges people,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime minister’s Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury on Wednesday urged the electricity consumers to be patient for rain to experience lesser load shedding.

“If there is more rain, the extent of load shedding will come down,” he said while inaugurating the SMS-based bill payment system of Rural Electrification Board (REB) and online application system of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) at a function in the city.

At the function, a contract was signed between REB and Teletalk mobile company under which consumers of 70 Palli Bidyut Samities (PBSs) under the REB can pay their bills through SMS.

The PM’s adviser also urged the affluent section of the society to cut down on the use of air-conditioners at their houses, saying that if an air-conditioner (AC) remains off, it provides the scope to 4-5 small consumers to get much needed electricity.

He claimed that the present government increased power production by more than 2000 MW in three and half years of its tenure.

Mohammad Enamul Haque said that the REB has introduced the SMS-bill payment system in its bid to provide better service to the REB consumers.

UK wants full probes into disappearances,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

UK Foreign Office Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt on Wednesday expressed concern over extrajudicial killings and disappearances in Bangladesh.

“There must be full investigations into these extrajudicial killings and disappearances, including that of Ilias Ali (BNP leader),” he said in reply to a question from a journalist.

“Clearly it is essential for any force to maintain standard,” he said while speaking at a press conference at the British High Commission Club in the city.

The UK minister also stressed the need for investigations into the recent attacks on journalists on several occasions.

Wrapping up his three-day visit to Bangladesh, he said UK also wants all parties to engage in dialogue with a view to resolving their differences and building confidence in the electoral system.

“UK supports free, fair and participatory elections to further strengthen political and economic stability in Bangladesh,” the British MP for North East Bedfordshire told journalists.

During his three-day visit, Alistair held meetings with the prime minister, foreign minister, members of civil society and the opposition leader in parliament.

Asked what may happen if both the political parties do not sit for a dialogue and come to a solution, Alistair said, “I have no reason to believe that Bangladesh will not be able to achieve it.”

Tuku should apologise: Dr Kamal,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain on Wednesday said State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku should apologise to the public for advising journalists to keep a “safe distance" from police while collecting news.

The Gono Forum president said this at an award giving ceremony of Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) and Unesco in the capital.

“I have freedom of speech, and of moving liberally. Shall I move to and fro on seeing the police? Shall I sneak to the roadside to avert them? Such a statement cannot come from a minister. The minister should apologise to the people,” private television channel ATN Bangla quoted Hossain as saying.

The advice for journalists to stay clear of cops came from Tuku on Tuesday when newsmen asked him about the recent assault on journalists, including three photojournalists of the Bangla daily Prothom Alo by police.

“I will tell my journalist friends that they can avoid such unwanted incidents if they collect news or take photos through keeping a safe distance [from police]. I hope you [journalists] will consider it,” he told reporters after attending a seminar.

Miscreants stabbed two journalists of online news portal bdnews24.com and injured several others on the ground floor of its office in the capital's Mohakhali on Monday night.

Earlier on May 26, policemen assaulted three on-duty photojournalists of Prothom Alo, hurled expletives at them and took away their cameras at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.

12 killed in Keraniganj road crash,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Twelve people including nine of a family were killed when a microbus carrying them collided head-on with a bus on the Dhaka-Mawa highway at South Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital Wednesday morning.

Another injured relative of the deceased was undergoing treatment at the capital's Square Hospital.

The victims who used to live in Indira Road and Razabazar areas of the capital were going to their village home in Shariatpur, said Abdul Latif, a relative of the deceased.

Of the deceased, nine are the family members of Zakir Hossain Sardar, the chairman of Arshinagar Union Parishad in Bhederganj upazila of Shariatpur, said Rafiqul Islam Sheikh, additional superintended of police of Dhaka district.

They are Zikir's wife Shahnaj Begum Baby, 45; his son Babu, 22, a BBA final year student of North South University; his daughter Lubab, 12, a class VIII student of Botsli Home Orphanage in Tejgaon area; his two sisters – Mina, 45, and Rozina, 35; Rozina's husband Lanin, 37, an IT officer of Motijheel branch of South East Bank; her seven-year-old son Iash and two-and-half- years-old daughter Ishra; and Zakir's another niece Tazria, 12.

The remaining are -- Moni and Khushi -- two housemaids of the deceased and microbus driver Sohel Rana.

The accident occurred around 5:45am when a Shariatpur-bound microbus packed with 13 people collided head-on with an oncoming bus of Sakura Paribahan at Rajendrapur in South Keraniganj, the OC said.

The microbus which carries a sticker of executive magistrate of Dhaka City Corporation skidded off the highway and fell into a roadside ditch during the accident, the OC added.

Abdul Latif, a cousin of Zakir who rushed to the spot from his Razabazar residence after hearing the news of the accident, said he had no clue how his deceased relatives managed this micro for travelling to Shariatpur.
Baby, Mina and Rozina were going to their village home with their sons and daughters after they got summer vacation from their educational institutions, Latif added.

Nine people died on the spot while the others succumbed to their injuries at Mitford Hospital and Square Hospital.

On information, police rushed to the spot, recovered the bodies and sent those to Mitford Hospital for autopsy.

The driver and helper of the bus managed to flee the scene immediately after the accident. Police later seized the vehicle.

The bus was coming towards the capital from Barisal, the OC added.

According to the news published in The Daily Star from May 1 to 30, a total of 148 people including Bibhas Chandra Saha, the chief crime reporter of the English daily The Independent, were killed in road accidents across the country. Of them, 24 died in the capital.

In the last four months till April, a total of 187 road accidents were took place in different areas of the capital where 133 people died, according to the Traffic Control Department of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Sources in the department said they prepared the data based on first information reports filed with different police stations following road accidents in the capital.

Last year, the number of road casualty in the country was 2,467 while the number of the vehicles involved was 12,226. Of them, 1,063 were buses and 801 trucks, according to the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

ARI sources said they had prepared the report based on police records, according to which 3,656 accidents occurred in 2008 while 2,802 in 2009 and 2,437 in 2010.

8 cops summoned over abusing girl,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

The High Court has ordered eight police officials to explain their role in abusing a girl on Dhaka magistrate's court premises on Tuesday.

The six are: Harun-or-Rashid, a deputy police commissioner (Lalbagh zone); Rajib Al Masud, an assistant police commissioner; Salauddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station; four sub-inspectors – Zaman, Jahangir, Amir Afzal Biplab and Nuruzzaman Sarker; and the president of police club of Dhaka District Judges’ Court area.

According to the suo moto rule issued on Wednesday, the officials will have to appear before the court by 10:30am on June 6 to explain their role.

The HC also directed the inspector general of police (IGP) to turn in a report within 48 hours containing the details of the responsible police officers and what steps were taken against them in this connection.

It sought a government explanation within two weeks as to why a legal action should not be ordered against officials responsible for the incident.

A division bench comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim came up with the order and rule following the news items published in different newspapers on Wednesday on the incident.

Advocate AKM Saifuddin Ahmed placed the news items to the notice of the judges for taking action against the responsible personnel.

On Tuesday, two sub-inspectors of Kotwali Police Station assaulted and harassed a teenaged girl, her father and mother on the very premises of Dhaka magistrate's court.

The two cops in the nearby Police Club torched the 15-year-old girl allegedly for protesting against the police claim of her father's motorbike being a stolen one.

After the assault, when she was talking to newsmen about her ordeal, police charged truncheons on her and beat up six journalists and four lawyers.

They then picked up the girl, her father, mother and two lawyers and took them to Kotwali Police Station for no apparent reason.

Police now better than before: Home Minister Shahara Khatun


BANGLADESH NEWS

Home Minister Shahara Khatun on Wednesday claimed that police are now ‘far better’ than any other time in the past.
Mentioning that there are 141,000 police personnel in the country, she said, "I never say all are well behaved. But the government is working to make it a pro-people force.”
Shahara came up with the comment hours after the High Court ordered six police officials to explain their role in abusing a girl on Tuesday.
She was speaking to reporters at her secretariat office after an inter-ministerial meeting on preventing toll collection in transport sector, reports the daily Prothom Alo.
Defending State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku’s advice to journalists ‘stay safe distance from police’, Shahara claimed newspapers fabricated the news.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina PM for fighting poverty jointly Speaks at US-Islamic World Forum 2012 in Doha ,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for joint efforts of all states to face the twin challenges of poverty and terrorism to secure global peace and harmony for future generations.
Terming poverty a major “challenge of change” in the region, Hasina said she believes that poverty is the number one common enemy as it provides breeding ground of terrorism.
The premier made the remarks in her keynote speech at the gala dinner of 'US-Islamic World Forum' 2012 held at The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha yesterday evening.
At the forum, Hasina emphasised on opening minds and hearts of all in assessing the needs of others, and be willing to compromise and make sacrifice on the basis of justice and fairness, and thereby achieve a world of peace and harmony for the future generations.
“Our excellent relations with the neighbours, based on mutual respect, reciprocity and justice, have helped us all make good progress in developing connectivity in South Asia,” she said.
The regional cooperation against terrorism is also excellent, she said adding, “My effort to eliminate terrorism from Bangladesh has been fully endorsed and supported by our good friends around the world.”
Hasina also stressed the need for support from resourceful and developed nations for the least developed countries like Bangladesh in tackling the problems like green house gas emissions, economic migration and terrorism.
She thanked the organisers for the impeccable arrangements made, and for selecting this forum's theme, 'New Voices New Directions,' emphasising the challenges of change.
Hasina said that after half a century in politics for people, she now believes that justice is the key to peace, and peaceful change is best for societies, states, and the world.
Hasina said it has, therefore, been for justice, a basic tenet and character of democracy, in all spheres of life that led to the birth of Bangladesh.
The premier said Bangladesh's foreign policy dictum is “Friendship towards all, Malice towards none”.
“Thus, followers of all religions in our country have found harmony and peace in living together,” she said.
In this respect, Hasina said Bangladesh is similar to the United States, and this is the basis of the two countries' friendship.
“The United States is also our strong partner in democracy, rule of law, women empowerment, education, social safety nets, and countering terrorism, etc.
“There is no doubt that the United States, the Islamic and the entire world have understood the need to live together and face unitedly the new and deadly challenges of change, threatening our global village,” she said.
Hasina said climate change challenges are being met by a 134- point adaptation and mitigation plan which includes, dredging of rivers, green belts on coastal and river embankments, promoting renewable energy, etc.
“Climate change is not our doing, but of the developed and emerging economies. The problem should, therefore, be solved by relocating the migrants to their countries,” she said.
The three-day forum is being organised by the State of Qatar and the Brookings Institute.
Martin Indyk, vice president and director, Foreign Policy at Brookings, United States made the introductory remarks at the yesterday's forum.
Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani and Secretary General of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Sheikh Rashed Khalifa, Assistant Minister for Service Department at Qatar's Foreign Ministry, received Hasina on
her arrival at Doha International Airport at 10:50am (local time).

Journo Couple Murder Rab too going at snail's pace Viscera report done 10 days ago, collected only yesterday,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS 

The viscera report of slain journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi was prepared at least 10 days ago, but the Rapid Action Battalion collected it only yesterday.
According to sources in the forensic medicine department of Dhaka Medical College, the report found that no sedative, poison or any chemical was used in killing the duo.
After the report from Mohakhali Chemical Laboratory reached the medical college 10 days ago, the authorities contacted the Rab several times.
Finally, a representative of the battalion received it from the department around 10:30am yesterday, an official of the forensic department said.
Sagar, news editor of the TV channel Maasranga, and Runi, a senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were killed at their West Rajabazar residence in the capital in the early hours of February 11.
The bodies were exhumed from Azimpur Graveyard and taken to Dhaka Medical College morgue on April 26 following a High Court order.
The court on April 18 vented its frustration over the Detective Branch's failure to unearth the murder mystery and ordered a transfer of the case to the elite force.
Contacted on Monday night, Commander M Sohail, director of Rab Legal and Media Wing, said nobody from the medical college had contacted them. The force rather had come to know about the viscera report a few hours earlier from a private TV channel news.
Runi's brother Nawsher Alam Roman said the family was in the dark about the viscera report as well as the progress of the investigation.

Container Train Derails Rail link with Ctg snapped for 17 hrs,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Rail communication between Chittagong and other parts of the country resumed yesterday evening after about a 17-hour-long disruption caused by derailment of four bogies of a container train.
A Dhaka-bound train from Chittagong veered off the course at Jangalia near Moynamati Railway Station in Comilla and ploughed into another tracks around 1:30am, damaging both lines.
Hundreds of people bound for Dhaka, Sylhet and other destinations had faced untold sufferings at Chittagong Railway Station as schedules of six train services were cancelled and one was delayed.
Zakir Hossain, divisional transportation officer (DTO) of railway, told  “Train communication on the route resumed at 6:00pm after two relief trains from Akhaura and Laksham reached the spot, cleared the lines and repaired the damaged tracks.”
Sukumar Bhoumik, divisional railway manager, said the derailment occurred when the container train was entering Moynamati Railway Station.
A four-member probe body, headed by DTO Zakir Hossain, has been formed to investigate the cause of the accident, said Mizanur Rahman, public relation officer of railway.
Abu Taher, director general of railway, told  that train communication would not have been suspended if there were two more rail tracks between Dhaka and Chittagong.
The authorities have cancelled the departure schedule of six trains including Mohanagar Probhati Express, Paharika Express from Chittagong Railway Station due to the derailment, said A M Shamsul Alam, station manager of the railway station.
Due to sudden cancellation of the train schedules, people had to choose alternate transport services to reach their destinations.
Sadequr Rahman, who had to return his ticket for Mohangar Probhati Express, said he had an important job to do at Dhaka. Due to the suspension of train services, he would have to go to the capital by bus which made him feel uncomfortable.
Abdul Malek, who boarded Subarna Express, said, “I had planned to return to Chittagong today after completing my work in Dhaka. But due to the delay in train schedule, it may not be possible for me to return to Chittagong today.”
Subarna Express left Chittagong at 12:33pm though it was scheduled to leave for Dhaka at 7:00am, he added.
Mohammad Tafazzol Hossain, general manager (operation-East) of railway, told  around 800-feet of rail tracks and a signal post were damaged at the spot due to the derailment.
Sukumar Bhoumik, divisional railway manager, however, said Turna Nishita Express from both Dhaka and Chittagong exchanged their passengers at the accident spot at 10:30pm and went back to their place of origin.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Going nuclear: Are we ready to face the challenges?,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

The draft bill of Bangla- desh Atomic Energy Control Act 2012 has been approved by the cabinet last week, paving the way for the formation of a separate regulator to look after nuclear safety issues that will eventually come when the Rooppur nuclear power plant is commissioned. The bill has several interesting provisions. Section 43 states that the Russian operator Rosatom will take total responsibility for any damages caused due to accident at the plant, subject to proof of negligence by operator. Secondly, the operator will also bear responsibility for theft, loss or abandonment of nuclear material. The company will provide fuel for the lifespan of the power plant and spent fuel will be taken away for safe storage.
From what has been stated above, there is room for further scrutiny on a number of issues. According to Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, the country will need 400 engineers to build the plant. Timeline for plant commissioning ranges between 8 12 years from now. This will prove to be a major challenge for the engineering universities and whether or not the country will be able to pool together necessary human resources to pull off this feat is a subject matter of another discussion.
Though the proposed Act states that the operator is going to be held responsible for physical safety of nuclear material, the risks associated with theft affect not only national but regional security. Of more concern is to what extent safeguards are going to be taken from a future accident leading to a meltdown. Needless to say, any such accident along the lines of Fukushima Daichi plant in Japan will have disastrous effects in a densely populated country like Bangladesh that has, of late, been experiencing increased seismic activity. Unlike Japan with its four decades of experience in generating nuclear power, Bangladesh lacks the experience, the emergency response institutions and the financial resourcefulness to tackle any such incident. Ruling aside the financial aspect, building up capabilities in other areas will require a timeline that extend into decades of operating nuclear technology.
Though the agreement allows for Rosatom to take spent nuclear fuel (SNF) back to Russia, the complexities involved in transportation of SNF in terms of specialised casks and equipment are another area of concern. According to a case study published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) titled "Return of Research Reactor Spent Fuel to the Country of Origin: Requirements for Technical and Administrative Preparations and National Experiences," German companies specialising in transport casks for SNF were contracted to transport back Brazilian SNF to the United States. These casks are built to very high safety standards: "The transport cask GNS 11 and GNS 16 are designed in a sandwich construction. The cylindrical cask basically consists of the following components: inner liner with inner liner bottom, lead filling, and wall with bottom plate, side wall cover sheet with spacer wire, head ring, primary lid and protective plate. The components of the cask body and the primary lid are manufactured in stainless steel. In the terms of the transport regulations, the 'leak-tight containment' consists of the inner liner, the inner bottom plate, head ring, primary lid, with the bolt joint, and the internal seal of the two concentrical Viton seals. Cap screws are used in order to fasten the primary lid. The closure lid is also fastened to the primary lid using cap screws. In order to achieve the shielding effect, the space between the inner liner and the shell is filled with lead casting. A pair of trunnions is bolted on to the head ring in order to attach handling devices. During transport, the cask is provided with a protective plate. In order to reduce the shock loads arising during the eventual drop of the cask, as stipulated for type B packaging, impact limiters made of wood with a steel-plate shell are attached to the ends of the cask body on the lid and bases sides."
That is not all, transportation of these "casks" required a massive security operation involving several law enforcement agencies and the highway and main avenues and streets in Sao Paulo were closed during the operation. Personnel involved in shipment of containers were constantly monitored by radiation protection teams and IAEA members. The boat, once it left port, was escorted by a naval vessel until it reached international waters.
Given the elaborate security and safety measures involved in the case presented above, one could easily be led to question whether such measures can be undertaken to transport SNF from the Rooppur site all the way to Chittagong port for shipment back to country of source, i.e. Russia. These are matters that cannot be relegated to later years; rather, they must be fully addressed in the draft bill before it is enacted into law. Should more time be required to bring in international technical experts to scrutinise the nitty-gritty details of the Act so that Bangladesh is not left high-and-dry at the end of the day, then such time should be taken.

Annie walks out of jail on HC bail.Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

BNP lawmaker Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie who secured bail from the High Court on May 27 in an arson case, walked out of Kashimpur jail on Tuesday.

Forman Ali, superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail-2, told  that Annie was released around 3:25pm.

BNP lawmakers MK Anwar and Mahbub Uddin Khokon; Liberal Democratic Party President Oli Ahmed and Bangladesh Jatiya Party President Andalib Rahman Partha along with Annie got the HC bail on May 27 in the same case.

Earlier on Monday, MK Anwar, Khokon, Oli and Partha were released from jail.

Police filed the arson case on April 29 accusing a number of BNP-led 18-party alliance leaders and activists as a vehicle was torched near the Prime Minister's Office during the hartal hours on the day.

Of the accused, only MK Anwar, Khokon, Annie, Oli and Partha secured the bail from the HC.

The court also rejected the bail petitions of 34 other opposition leaders accused in the case.

On May 16 and 21, a metropolitan magistrate sent the leaders to jail after rejecting their bail petitions.

On May 10, detectives pressed charges against 45 leaders, including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in the arson case, filed with Tejgaon Police Station after the torching of a bus in front of Prime Minister's Office during the April 29 hartal hours.

Jamaat calls hartal in Ctg for Wednesday,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Jamaat-e-Islami has called a half-day hartal in Chittagong city for Wednesday as its lawmaker ANM Shamsul Islam was sent to jail after rejection of his bail petition in a torching case.

On May 13, a case was filed with Kotwali Police Station under Speedy Trial Act hours after a series of clashes between BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami supporters and law enforcers in Chittagong left at least 100 people including police personnel and journalists injured.

During the clash, a vehicle was torched at WASA intersection in the port city.

Mahmud Ullah, publication secretary of Chittagong city unit of Jamaat, said on Tuesday that they called the strike in the port city from 6:00am to 12:00am Wednesday protesting the court order.

Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubur Rahman on Tuesday ordered to send Shamsul Islam to jail rejecting his bail prayer in the case.

Earlier on Monday, the same court granted an ad-interim bail to Shamsul Islam until the next hearing day of the case which was today.

Kotwali police in Chittagong submitted charge sheet to Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate court on May 23 accusing the Jamaat MP along with 22 others in the case.

5 robbers lynched in Bhola,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Mob lynched five robbers during a shootout and two bullet-hit robbers were arrested by police at the mouth of Meghna River in Charfashion upazila on Tuesday afternoon.

Identity of the deceased and the injured could not be ascertained immediately.

Police also recovered 9 different types of firearms, 18 bullets, 24 sharp weapons and a trawler from the pirates' den.

A contingent of police, lead by Charfashion thana OC Reaz Hossain, conducted simultaneous drives at remote Dhalchar and Bhashanchar, known as pirates` hideouts, at 12 noon following secret information that a gang of robbers was preparing to commit robbery in the area.

Sensing police presence the pirates attempted to escape opening fire on police who retaliated triggering a 1-and-half-hour gunfight.

During the gunfire people from surrounding villages chased a gang of fleeing dacoits and managed to capture five of them and beat them black and blue, leaving them dead on the spot at about 1:30 pm.

After the end of the gunfight police conducted a search in the area and recovered two bullet-wounded robbers in senseless condition.

They also recovered six locally-made rifles, three .22 bore foreign-made rifles, 18 rounds of bullets, 24 large sharp weapons, mobile sets and a trawler from the two spots.

OC Reaz Hossain claimed that the five robbers died in mob beating and the two bullet-hit bandits were sent to the Upazila Health Complex.

He said that the bandits fired at least 24 rounds of gun shots at police who returned 10 rounds in `self defence`.