Wednesday, July 4, 2012

31 Myanmar citizens nationals held in Teknaf,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

COX’S BAZAR: Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and police in separate drives held some 31 Myanmar citizens while they were intruding in Bangladesh territory at Teknaf upazila of the district Tuesday.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel picked up them from Shahporir Deep, Jhimangkhali and Unghchingprang areas on Tuesday morning.

Taknaf-42 of BGB Commander Lt. Col. Jahid Hasan told , “We held some 19 people from Shahporir Deep while the others were picked up from Jhimangkhali and Unghchingprang areas. Of them, six were pushed back to their country.”

Besides, 23 people will be sent to Myanmar later in the day, he informed.

On the other hand, police held four people from Kutubdia upazila, said police source. Later, they were handed over to BGB members.

ndian gets fee-free sea route access in Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Bangladesh has agreed to give India a fee-free sea route access in the country for running their trade and commercial activities.

An agreement paper was signed in a meeting between the secretary-level around 10:30am Tuesday.

Bangladeshi Secretary for Water Resources Abdul Mannan Hawlader and his Indian counterpart Pradip Kumar Sinha signed the agreement paper on behalf of their respective sides.

A deal will be signed in this regard within a week on the basis of the agreement paper.

Abdul Mannan said, “Any international ship is bound to pay extra fee while entering inside Bangladesh by sea routes.”

But, Indian ships, which would only use our sea routes in order to enter the country, need not to pay any extra fee, he added.

Garments sector progressing gradually: Commerce Minister GM Quader,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Commerce Minister GM Quader, also Jatiya Party lawmaker, Tuesday said the garments sector of the country is doing well despite global recession.

The minister came up with the observation while addressing an inauguration programme of the 13th Textech International Expo-2012 organized by CEMS Global Conference and Management Services.

The lawmaker said such kind of initiative by CEMS Global would contribute significant measures for the development of garments industry.

The government would provide all out cooperation for the next exposition.

Among others, BGMEA vice-president Faruk Hasan, BKMEA second vice-president Mohammad Hatem and CEMS Global pioneer Meherunnesa Islam also spoke.

BDS

Muhith for protecting corrupt ministers: Opposition BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Opposition BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Tuesday said the finance minister is perplexing the people to protect the corrupt ministers and their officers by making false statement in the parliament.

The senior leader of came up with the allegation while addressing a protest rally demanding release of BNP leader secretary Nasir Uddin Pintu held at the National Press Club.

Fakhrul alleged that plundering the country’s money in the name of quick rental, the government is trying now to manage fund from Malaysia at six percent interest rate.

But, the people of country would not accept the deal as they would be affected by its adverse impact.

Fakhrul urged the government to bring the corrupt people under trial and sign the deal with the World Bank.

Otherwise, in future, if BNP comes to power, the corrupt ministers will be tried, he added.

With Lalbagh Thana Juba Dal President Tasaddek Hossain Bablu in the chair, the rally was also addressed, among others, by former state minister Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu and Juba Dal president Muazzem Hossain Alal.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urges to be ready to face flood,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also ruling Awami League president, urged the authorities concerned to take preparation for facing flood.

The premier came up with the plea in a cabinet meeting held in the secretariat in the city Tuesday.

Sheikh Hasina said, “It is necessary flood for the country but we have to be ready to face unusual flood.”

The National River Protection Commission Act 2012 has been designed to improve the river management, protect the rivers from illegal encroachment and evict illegal structure on the river banks for ecological development.

Under the law, the cabinet secretary said, a commission with six- members and a permanent manpower structure will work to give recommendation to the government on river issues.

The commission will be comprised of experts from various disciplines, she said.

The commission will also work for creating pubic awareness on conservation of rivers.

Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, Chairman of ATN Bangla boss summoned,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

MANIKGANJ: A district court Tuesday summoned Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, Chairman of ATN Bangla, in a case filed against him for making ‘derogatory remarks’ on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Judge of Senior Judicial Magistrate Court-2 MA Sayeed asked Mahfuzur to appear before it on September 27 after taking a case, filed by district Awami League leader Sultanul Azam Khan MP, into cognizance.

Mahfuzur Rahman has called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ‘talkative’ in a programme on June 25 during his visit to London.

He made this comments while recalling PM’s remark that “It is not possible for the government to guard anyone’s bedroom.”

Padma Bridge project Bangladesh loan cut-off correct: new World Bank`s chief


BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: The World Bank`s decision to cancel a $1.2 billion loan to Bangladesh on corruption allegations was "appropriate," the new chief of the bank said on Monday, his first day on the job.

New president Jim Yong Kim inherited the controversy, which has angered officials in Dhaka expecting the money to help fund a $3 billion bridge, from his predecessor Robert Zoellick -- the bank announced the cancellation on Friday, Zoellick`s final day.

But Kim stuck behind the move, which critics say will punish Bangladesh`s poor for the corrupt actions of the few.

"I think it was appropriate," Kim said of the decision in his first meeting with journalists.

"We are very concerned about the well-being of the poorest people in Bangladesh.

"But what I must stress is that, the bank`s position is that it does not tolerate corruption."

On Friday the bank cancelled its $1.2 billion financing for the $3 billion Padma bridge project, saying the government had not cooperated in investigating "high-level" corruption in the project.

"The World Bank cannot, should not, and will not turn a blind eye to evidence of corruption," it said, announcing the loan was being cancelled immediately.

The proposed 6.2-kilometer (3.8-mile) bridge over the Padma river -- the local name for the Ganges -- will connect the capital Dhaka to the country`s coastal districts.

The $3 billion bridge, designed to carry a highway and rail line, is aimed at transforming the country`s impoverished south; traffic currently moves across the river by slow ferries.

Bangladesh`s Communications Minister Obaidul Quader called the decision "unfortunate, regrettable -- and mysterious," adding that it does "not necessarily mean that corruption charges have been confirmed."

But the bank said it had provided evidence into the bridge corruption case to Bangladesh`s prime minister, minister of finance and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman in September 2011 and April 2012.

"We urged the authorities of Bangladesh to investigate this matter fully and, where justified, prosecute those responsible for corruption."

"The response has been unsatisfactory," it said.

"We only finance a project when we have adequate assurances that we can do so in a clean and transparent way," the bank said.

Two ex-officials of Canadian infrastructure builder SNC-Lavalin are under investigation as well for their alleged role in the case, after a year-long investigation using evidence supplied by the World Bank.

The Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based global graft watchdog Transparency International said the decision was "embarrassing and disappointing" for the government.

But it asked the bank to reconsider, saying the bridge is much needed to reduce crushing poverty in Bangladesh`s south.

"Neither the World Bank, nor the government, can punish the people of the country for an alleged crime of a handful of people," the chapter`s head Iftekharuzzaman said in a statement.

Chittagong Arms Haul Charge Sheet Babar asked cops to drop NSI issue Ex-DIG tells court,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar had ordered the CID to submit the charge sheets in the 10-truck arms haul cases without implicating NSI officials, ex-DIG of CID Farrukh Ahmad told a Chittagong court yesterday.
“According to the order of Lutfozzaman Babar and with consent from former home secretary Omar Faruq, the charge sheets were submitted without disclosing the involvement of NSI officials in the smuggling of arms and ammunition,” Farrukh said in his deposition as a prosecution witness in two cases in this connection.
Farrukh also implicated several former National Security Intelligence (NSI) officials including its former director general Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim, deputy director Major (retd) Liakat Hossain and field officer Akbar Hossain and former director of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Brig Gen (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury in the offence.
Law enforcers seized 10 truckloads of arms and explosive at the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited in the wee hours of April 2 in 2004.
The following day, a five-member enquiry committee was formed led by Omar Faruq, said the former deputy inspector general (DIG) of Criminal investigation Department (CID) adding, he was made one of the members of the committee.
The committee members arrived in Chittagong on April 5 to start the investigation and left for Dhaka on April 8.
A few days later, CID (Chittagong) ASP Kabir, who was the investigation officer (IO) of the cases, had informed Farrukh that he found the involvement of NSI field officer Akbar Hossain and a smuggler Hafizur Rahman in hiring the 10 trucks for transporting the arms and ammunition.
Farrukh had ordered Kabir to interrogate the two, but Kabir failed to grill them as Hafizur remained absconding and the Chittagong office of NSI did not cooperate with the IO for producing its field officer before the CID.
The ex-DIG of CID told Chittagong Metropolitan Special Tribunal-1 that when he informed state minister Babar about NSI's non-cooperation with the CID, the latter said, “There are many things where national interests are involved. So we have to work meticulously.”
“Giving reference to a previous arms haul, Babar told me that a trawler loaded with arms was seized in Cox's Bazar in 1996, but no case was filed then,” said Farrukh.
The court adjourned the trial proceedings till tomorrow after a defence lawyer started cross examination of Farrukh.
Earlier, the defence lawyers completed cross examination of another prosecution witness Shamsul Islam, former DIG of Special Branch.
Lawyers of four accused Akbar Hossain, Din Mohammad, Hafizur Rahman and Haji Sobhan cross-examined Shamsul.

Drive to free footpaths proves futile Dhanmondi,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

The 24-hour ultimatum for removal of all roadside illegal structures went in vain as most of the footpaths in the capital were seen occupied yesterday.
A meeting chaired by State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak on Monday decided to conduct massive drives to free footpaths in 24 hours for public movement, thus improving traffic situation on the streets. The LGRD ministry asked the authorities concerned to remove all illegal roadside establishments, makeshift shops, banners and festoons by 12:00noon yesterday.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) failed to implement the decision. Magistrates of the city corporations, however, blamed lack of logistics and insufficient police force for that.
During a visit to different areas in Dhaka yesterday, the presence of illegal occupants were seen as before.
DSCC and DNCC conducted a few drives at some points Monday night.
Sheikh Kamal Hossain, a magistrate of DNCC, said they had conducted drives on both sides of the footpaths from Gulshan-2 to Gulshan-1.
"But we have limitations as we do not have sufficient equipment and police force," he added.
Anando Kumar Biswas, a magistrate of DSCC, said they would launch a four-day drive to clean footpaths in some areas, including Motijheel, Fakirerpool and New Market from today.
Billal Hossain, another magistrate of DSCC, said they conducted drives Monday night and were waiting for instructions from the high-ups for the next course of action.
Some footpath hawkers in Farmgate area claimed that they had sought time from the local ruling partly leaders and received a positive response from the city corporation, which was why there was no sign of any massive drive.

Mollah-backed Razakars killed 57 at Keraniganj Prosecution witness tells war crimes tribunal


BANGLADESH NEWS

A prosecution witness yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 that Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah led a team of Razakars that killed at least 57 people at Ghatarchar in Keraniganj area on November 25, 1971.
Mozaffar Ahmed Khan, a freedom fighter and the first prosecution witness in the war-crimes case against Quader Mollah, gave his statement before the tribunal and appealed for exemplary punishment of the “war criminal”.
He narrated the incident of killing 57 unarmed villagers of Ghatarchar, which was orchestrated following a meeting of local Razakars (an auxiliary force of Pakistani occupational force) with Quader Mollah.
The 60-year-old witness said, “On November 23 or 24, 1971, local Dr Joynal, KG Karim Babla, Mokhter Hossain organised a meeting at Ghatarchar with the connivance of Islami Chhatra Sangha leader Abdul Quader Mollah.
“Abdul Quader Mollah also took part in the meeting which decided to kill the unarmed people and the decision was executed on November 25, 1971,” Mozaffar said quoting Abdul Majid, a witness of Ghatarchar massacre who informed him soon after the atrocity.
After recording the statement, the three-member tribunal led by its chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir adjourned the case proceedings until July 8 following a time petition of the defence counsels. Mozaffar will face cross-examination on that day.
On May 28, the tribunal framed six specific charges against the assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami for his alleged involvement in murders and mass killings during the Liberation War. Quader Mollah was produced at the court yesterday.
Mozaffar said he was the president of Keraniganj Thana of East Pakistan Chhatra League in 1969 and an SSC examinee during the war.
After having training in India, Mozaffar, who led a group of freedom fighters entered back into Bangladesh in August, 1971, set up a camp at Kalatia in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital.
Mozaffar said, in the early morning of November 25, 1971, they heard gunshots and he along with his troops marched towards Ghatarchar, from where the sounds were coming.
“On the way, I happened to bump into my father and my father prevented me from going towards Ghatarcha,” said Mozaffar, adding, “Because they [local collaborators] first attacked our house and set fire to it.”
“My father told me that they [local collaborators] had killed freedom fighters Osman Gani and Golam Mostafa,” said the witness, adding, “My father told me that I should not open fire at this moment with the arms I had.”
Mozaffar said the assault went on from early morning to 11:00am and they killed 57 people in Ghatarchar and afterwards they launched an attack on Bhawal Khan Bari and killed 25 people there. They also set fire to homes after looting them, said the witness.
“When I went to the Bhawal Khan Bari, I saw that my house was burning and the bodies of Osman Gani and Golam Mostafa were lying on the ground,” said Mozaffar, adding that Osman Gani was his nephew.
Mozaffar said later on he and his troops went to the Ghatarchar area using an alternative route. “I was horrified; blood and dead bodies all around,” said Mozaffar.
He said local Taiyab Ali and Abdul Majid, acquaintances of Mozaffar, and others were trying to identify Muslim and Hindu bodies.
When Mozaffar asked about what had happened, Majid told him about the meeting held with the connivance of Quader Mollah on November 23 or 24, 1971, and the decision of the meeting.
Mozaffar also said he had once gone to Mohammadpur in the capital, to his maternal uncle's house, during the Liberation War in disguise and when he was returning, he saw armed Quader Mollah standing in front of Mohammadpur Physical Training Centre along with accomplices.
The training centre had been used as the torture cell of the Razakars and Al-Badr [two auxiliary forces of the Pakistani army] during the war, said Mozaffar.
Mozaffar said he had taken part in the 1970 election campaigns for the Awami League-blessed candidates of Keraniganj, Mohammadpur and Mirpur. During then he had seen Quader Mollah campaigning for Ghulam Azam, the then ameer of East Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami and a candidate from Mohammadpur and Mirpur area.
Mozaffar said he had been demanding trial of war criminals for many years and worked with Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee to press home his demand.
According to archives, on December 17, 2007, Mozaffar filed a case against Jamaat leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Abdul Quader Mollah and six other Jamaat men in connection with the killing of his nephew Osman Gani and fellow freedom fighter Golam Mostafa on November 25, 1971.
The case was filed with Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, he said at the tribunal yesterday.
Mozaffar was giving his deposition fast and the tribunal was recording it but a few sentences he had said did not have clear meaning when written down. At one point the tribunal suggested excluding those lines.
Mozaffar was upset with this and said, “I am not any paid witness; I have come to the court voluntarily for giving my statement. I have to be allowed to speak...”
At this moment, Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arieff Tipoo and other prosecutors calmed him down and the court started to record his statement again.