At least 50 people including injured as RMG workers, cops clash in Ashulia,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

At least 50 people including policemen were injured when demonstrating workers of a garment factory clashed with law enforcers in Ashulia on Monday.

The agitating workers of Fashion Knit, who were protesting termination of their fellow workers, blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway for one and a half hours from 8:30am and vandalised at least 10 vehicles.

At least 10 garment factories adjacent to Fashion Knit were declared closed for the day, fearing vandalism.

Moktar Hossain, deputy director of Industrial Police, said around 1,800 workers of the factory located at Jamgarah went on work abstention on Sunday demanding immediate removal of the company’s administrative officer and accountant.

The workers alleged that the two officials used to misbehave with them without any reason, the police official said.

But the authorities on the same day informed the workers that they would not remove the two officials from their posts, he said.

Witnesses said the workers went to the factory Monday morning and became agitated after they saw a termination list of 102 coworkers hanging in front of the main gate.

The workers vandalised the furniture and machineries and set fire to the generator room of the factory.

At one stage, they took to the streets, blocked the highway and vandalised the vehicles around 8:30am, ignoring police resistance.

When the law enforcers charged truncheons on the demonstrating workers, they threw brick chips on them triggering a clash.

At least 50 workers and security guards of the factory and law enforcers were injured during the clash, police said.

The workers damaged at a number of garment factories at Jamgarah during clash, forcing the authorities to shut down at least 10 factories.

Police however dispersed the workers and managed to clear the highway around 10:00am.

Syed Abul Hossain exit proves Padma graft: BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The main opposition BNP on Monday said the resignation of Syed Abul Hossain as a minister corroborates the corruption conspiracy of the government alleged by the World Bank.

"Now through the resignation of Abul, there is a chance that the World Bank would reconsider its decision of pulling out of the funding for the Padma bridge project," BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told.

He also observed that if the Padma bridge is constructed with the funding from the World Bank instead of the country itself, it would be better for the country.

The opposition also urged the government to ensure exemplary punishment to the people involved in the corruption regarding the project.

Earlier on June 30, the World Bank cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project, saying it has proof of corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and individuals.

Communication Technology (ICT) Minister : Syed Abul Hossain resigned,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Syed Abul Hossain resigned as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister on Monday amid pressures from in and outside the government.

In an open letter to the countrymen published in different dailies on Saturday, Abul hinted about the resignation for the interest of the country.

At about 7:30am, Abul left his Gulshan house in a car without flag. Later, he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and handed her the resignation.

During the previous tenure of the Awami League government (1996-2001), Abul was forced to resign as a state minister after he became controversial for double passports.

The ex-communications minister, who came under fire from cross section of people for his failure in repairing and maintaining the country's roads and highways, switched off his cell phones and went to an unknown place to avoid the media soon after his resignation.

Abul was removed from the communications ministry and given the charge of ICT ministry on December 5 last year after the World Bank brought corruption allegation against him and suspended its $ 1.2 billion loan for the $ 2.9 billion Padma bridge project.

Abul Hossain announced his resignation a day after Finance Minister AMA Muhith said that the government might consider accepting the World Bank's fourth condition to persuade the global lender to review its cancellation of the Padma bridge loan.

The bank's fourth condition was that the government send on leave public officials and Abul Hossain, who were allegedly involved in corruption in the project.

Acclaimed writer and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed burial: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina steps in,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday evening expressed her concern for the delay in deciding the burial site for fiction writer Humayun Ahmed and she stepped in to resolve the issue.

Family members of the best storyteller are now in a discussion with State Minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak at his Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban residence.

A family source told, "The prime minister wanted to know about the delay in deciding the burial site and asked the family members to talk Nanak in this regard."

The family members who went to the Jatiya Sangsad include Humayun Ahmed's brother Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and children Nova, Shila and Nuhash.

On her arrival at Shahjalal International Airport Monday morning, Meher Afroz Shaon, wife of acclaimed writer and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed, told journalists that her husband's last wish was to be buried at Nuhash Palli.

However, Humayun's family sources said his mother Ayesha Faiz wanted her son to be buried either at Banani graveyard, Mirpur intellectuals' graveyard or Dhaka University.

Burial Tuesday, spot undecided Burial place still undecided, Decision in evening, Tribute pours for Humayun, Humayun's last wish was Nuhash Palli, says Shaon, Body reaches home at 9:05am,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The family of Humayun Ahmed has decided that the legendary writer will be laid to eternal rest on Tuesday but they are yet to decide where.

The family members however will sit at evening for taking decision whether the best storyteller will be laid to eternal rest at Nuhash Palli or Banani graveyard or Mirpur martyred intellectual graveyard or elsewhere, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote President Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu told reporters on Monday.

Meanwhile, the second namaz-e-janaza of the acclaimed writer and filmmaker was held at the National Eidgah Monday afternoon.

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Prof Maulana Muhammad Salahuddin conducted the janaza. Earlier, his first namaz-e-janaza was held at Jamaica Muslim Centre in New York.

Minutes before the second namaz-e-janaza at National Eidgah, Nuhash told the public, “Please pardon my father, if anybody felt hurt on his any activities.”

He also said, “If anybody had any owe to my father, he can contact me or my uncle Mohammad Zafar Iqbal.”

This is the first speech that Nuhash told to the general people after the death of the writer and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed.

After the janaza, his body was kept at Birdem mortuary as the family members of the writer are yet to reach a decision on the burial place of the legendary writer.

Humayun, who was also a famed filmmaker, died at Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital in New York Thursday night (BST) after a nine-month fight with colon cancer.

Earlier, thousands of people, fans, colleagues, relatives, political leaders, top government officials and well-wishers paid their last tributes to the legendary writer.

Representatives of the President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the tributes placing wreaths on the coffin of the celebrated litterateur as soon as the body reached there around 10:30am.

Humayun's mother Ayesha Foyez, wife Meher Afroz Shaon, children Shila, Nova, and Nuhash; two brothers Zafar Iqbal and Ahsan Habib; two sisters and Zafar's wife Yasmeen Haque stood by his coffin when thousands of fans were reduced to tears while paying their last respects to the extraordinaire writer.

The Shaheed Minar and its adjacent areas turned into a human sea as thousands of people gathered there.

His body was kept there over three-and-a-half-hours from 10:30am.

Earlier, on her arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the morning, Meher Afroz Shaon, the wife of the writer, told reporters that her husband's last wish was to be buried at Nuhash Palli.

An Emirates flight carrying the body of the legendary writer landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 9:05am.

His wife Meher Afroz Shaon, two sons Nishad and Ninith, mother-in-law Tahura Ali, sister-in-law Senjuti Afroz and friend Mazharul Islam came with the coffin on board the flight from John F Kenney Airport in New York.

Humayun's brothers Zafar Iqbal, Ahsan Habib, his son Nuhash, daughters Shila and Nova and a host of relatives who were waiting at the airport since morning received the body there.

Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, LGED State Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and personalities from Sangskritik Jote also received the body of one of the best storytellers in the region.

Acclaimed writer and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed last wish was Nuhash Palli:wife Meher Afroz Shaon,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Meher Afroz Shaon, the wife of acclaimed writer and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed, said her husband's last wish was to be buried at Nuhash Palli.

"Just a day before his surgery my husband told me, if I die people will argue over where to bury me. Do not let anyone take over the charge of my body. Take me to Nuhash Palli. If I am not buried there, my soul will not be at peace. Because he (his soul) feels scared at places unknown to him," a crying Shaon told reporters on her arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Monday morning.

Earlier, an Emirates flight carrying the body of the legendary writer landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 9:05am.

His wife Meher Afroz Shaon, two sons Nishad and Ninith, mother-in-law Tahura Ali, sister-in-law Senjuti Afroz and friend Mazharul Islam came with the coffin on board the flight from John F Kenney Airport in New York.

Humayun, who was a legendary writer and famed filmmaker, died at Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital in New York Thursday night (BST) after a nine-month fight with colon cancer.

Mahbubunnabi Sheikh, the writer's maternal uncle, told on Sunday that Humayun's family was considering three places in the capital for his burial -- Dhaka University campus, Banani Graveyard and Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard.

"Humayun will not be buried at Nuhash Palli in Gazipur since the place is quite far for his family, friends and admirers to pay a visit. As Humayun is a very popular figure, the family does not want to make it difficult for people willing to see his last resting place," he said.

Humayun's mother Ayesha Fayz also does not want her son to be buried at Nuhash Palli, said Mahabunnabi, who is staying at her Pallabi residence in the capital.

Earlier, Sammilito Sanskritik Jote President Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu had said Humayun Ahmed would be buried at Nuhash Palli, which was a very favourite retreat for him.

Humayun Ahmed’s children Nova, Shila, Nuhash don't want burial at Nuhash Palli,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Three children of the first wife of the best storyteller Humayun Ahmed do not want their father to be buried at Nuhash Palli in Gazipur.

They want the writer should be laid to rest in a place where everybody can visit the grave and offer prayers, Humayun's daughters Nova, Shila and son Nuhash told reporters at the writer's mother's residence in Mirpur on Monday evening.

The children sought cooperation of all for a smooth completion of the burial, reports Prothom Alo.

Humayun's younger brother Zafar Iqbal and his wife Yeasmin Haque were also present there.

Talking to the journalists, Yeasmin Haque said, "As a situation has been created, the children have decided to take a stand."

Nova Ahmed said, "While alive, my father repeatedly said that Nuhash Palli is not turned into a graveyard."

Replying to reporters question about the burial place, Zafar Iqbal said, "Wait, you will be informed in time."