Wednesday, August 8, 2012

No EVM in next polls: Election Commissioner Shah Newaz,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Election Commissioner Shah Newaz Wednesday said the commission has withdrawn the decision of using Electric Voting Machine (EVM) in the next general election as the main opposition BNP opposes using the device.

He said this while talking to the journalists in the Election Commission secretariat in the city’s Agargaon.

He said, “BNP has been opposing to use EVM from the very beginning, so we have withdrawn the decision to use it in the next general polls.”

Newaz, however, said, “The Election Commission gained success in using EVM in Chittagong, Narayanganj, Comilla City Corporations and Narsingdi municipal.”

The commission is working on improving EVM’s technical side, he informed.

Humayun Ahmed Writer murder case was Withdrawn,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

CHITTAGONG: The case filed against wife of late Humayun Ahmed Meher Afroz Shaon and owner of Anyaprokash Mazharul Islam on charge of killing the eminent writer was withdrawn.

The plaintiff Advocate Nazrul Islam withdrew the case as the relatives of the acclaimed writer requested him.

Chittagong Chief Metropolitan Judge ABM Nizamul Haque rejected the case as per article 248 of criminal proceedings following a petition Wednesday.

In this regard Advocate Nazrul Islam said, “Brothers of Humayun Ahmed Dr Muhommad Zafar Iqbal and Ahsan Habib urged to stay away from such type of case and I honoring his family applied to withdrawn the case.”

Ealier, Meher Afroz Shaon and Mazharul Islam were sued on charge of killing the eminent writer Humayun.

Advocate Nazrul Islam filed the case with the same court on August 1.

As per the case statement, Humayun Ahmed was killed in planned way with a view to misappropriate his money and assets.

Chittagong Chief Metropolitan Magistrate ABM Nizamul Haque directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit report after taking the case into cognizance.

Lawyer of the plaintiff Advocate Quamrul Islam Sazzad told this to journalists.

Three witnesses have been mentioned in the case.

On last July 19, Humayun died in a hospital of United States suffering from cancer.

The noted writer and soap-opera maker was laid to rest eternally at Nuhash Palli after the Johr prayer on July 24.

Faridpur road crash 5 killed, 40 injured,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

FARIDPUR: At least five persons were killed and 40 others injured in a road accident on Dhaka-Khulna Highway in Mallikpur area under Sadar upazila of the district on Wednesday afternoon.

Four of the deceased were identified as Bina Aktar, 32, Lavlo, 14, Al Amin, 13 hailed from Arpara village of Madhukhali upazila and Nazmul, 18 of Kanaipur area under Sadar upazila.

Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Thana Mohsinul Haq told banglanews that a bus carrying the workers collided with the railing of a bridge and plunged into a ditch when it tried to give side to another bus coming from opposite direction in the area, leaving three dead on the spot and 43 others injured.

Two of the injured succumbed to their injuries on way to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, he added.

 The injured were admitted to the hospital.

Bangladesh Bank asked to open accounts for Padma donations


BANGLADESH NEWS

Bangladesh Bank has asked all banks to open two accounts -- one for local and another for foreign currency -- for receiving contributions to the fund for Padma bridge project.

A central bank circular said an account will be opened with all branches of the banks for receiving local currency while another with all foreign and authorised dealer branches for receiving foreign currency.

“The banks will open collection accounts at all their branches on behalf of the government and will maintain that till further notice,” the circular added.

Bangladesh Bank issued the circular on Wednesday to all banks directing those to open accounts in light of a directive of the finance ministry.

After the World Bank cancelled its financing commitment for the Padma Bridge project on June 29, the cabinet in its meeting last month decided to open the accounts to receive people’s grant with the aim of constructing the bridge with own resources.

The BB circular said all banks will deposit the money collected every month in the two accounts with Sonali Bank's local office.

Two accounts –one for local and another for foreign currency- will be opened in the Sonali Bank local office for receiving deposited money from the banks.

The central bank circular said Sonali Bank will regularly transfer the money deposited with two government accounts with Bangladesh Bank.

According to the BB circular, one of the accounts opened with the banks will be titled “Voluntary donation (residents) for construction of the Padma Bridge” where local currency will be deposited.

Another account will be a foreign currency account in the same title in the foreign and authorised dealer branches of all banks for receiving grants from the non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).

The central bank circular said any expatriate can send their grant through any bank abroad or authorised dealer branch of any Bangladeshi bank through exchange house run there.

15 PCJSS men kidnapped in Rajdweep village in Rangamati,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Fifteen activists of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) were abducted from Rajdweep village in Rangamati on Wednesday night.

Our Correspondent in Rangamati reports: Fifteen activists of PCJSS were kidnapped around 8:00pm allegedly by the people of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF).

Among the abducted seven identified as Shujok Chakma, Shuprovat Chakma, Oni Chakma, Shubash Chakma, Nipom Marma Shukra and Sadhon Chakma. Identities of the other eight could not be known immediately.

Sources said, a group of armed cadres of UPDF went to the spot and picked them at gun point. The kidnappers later took them to unknown places in the deep forests of Rangamati , they said.

Bangladesh Communications Minister Obaidul Quader claims highways in good shape


BANGLADESH NEWS

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday claimed that condition of the country's highways is good enough to take the heavy load of traffic ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

"No highway is in bad state," said the minister, also in-charge of the railway ministry.

He was talking to journalists emerging from a meeting with railway officials at Railway Bhaban in the capital.

The minister, however, admitted that some of the district level roads are in bad shape.

"I welcome criticism but do not scare people saying that highways are in dilapidated condition", the minister urged the newsmen.

Because the railway will have to bear load of the excess passengers in that case, he said.

The minister issued some directives for the rail authorities as to prevent passengers from travelling on the roof of trains; to look after women and children getting in and out of the trains and to prevent any sort of subversive activity during the Eid season.

The minister also ordered to keep ready relief trains so that situation can be handled promptly in case of train derailments.

Lock houses before leaving Dhaka:Bangladesh Home Minister Shahara Khatun


BANGLADESH NEWS

Home Minister Shahara Khatun on Wednesday called on holidaymakers to lock their houses before leaving Dhaka for the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.

She said though the government has taken security measures to this end people also should have their own security arrangements for that period.

The minister came up with comment after a meeting over ‘security measures during Eid holiday’ at the secretariat.

“There are a lot of security concerns during the Eid vacation as a large number of people will leave Dhaka during the period. That is why people those who are leaving the city should ensure that they properly locked their houses,” she added.

State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku, home secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed, Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker and FBCCI Director Mohammad Helal Uddin were present at the programme.

Shahara said now the overall situation of the country is very good as the law and order situation is good and there is no news of extortion and mugging.

There is no problem in the country except some problems on roads, she said, adding that the essentials' markets are also stable.

The minister said a total of 2,000 Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel are patrolling in the city and 14 monitoring teams are working to keep the market stable.

The government officials and employees are set to enjoy an eight-day non-stop holidays from August 15 to August 21 due to Eid-ul-Fitr festival, Janmashtami, Shab-e-Qadr and National Mourning Day.

Work on transit to India underway:Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni


BANGLADESH NEWS

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has said that the issue of providing transit to India is going on at its own way as Bangladesh believes in regional connectivity.

In a recent interview with Barkha Dutt of the Indian private channel NDTV, Dipu Moni said "…..Transit is moving at its own pace. Yes, it hasn't been stuck anywhere. It's moving, our work is going because we, this is something we, believe in, because we believe in regional connectivity."

She also said the people of Bangladesh were disappointed when the Teesta agreement was not signed during the September visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh.

She also said that providing transit was not a condition to Teesta deal.

"I don't think so. I don't think it's conditional on Teesta. But, definitely, having Teesta would, definitely, be helpful."

Dipu Moni also said Bangladeshi people became disappointed as the Teesta water sharing deal was not signed during Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka.

"Just before the visit of Dr Manmohan Singh to Dhaka, there was this expectation, and very high, that the Teesta Accord will be signed. Unfortunately, it didn't...," she said.

Shahjalal International Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn): 108 turtles seized,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Police seized 108 rear species turtles at Shahjalal International Airport early on Tuesday while being smuggled to Thailand by a Bangkok Airways flight.

Members of Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) also arrested two people including an Indian national on charge of smuggling the reptiles. They are Kibria, 35, hailing from Murshidabad in India, and Khairul Alam, 40, of Basail in Tangail.

SMA Rashid of CARINAM, an NGO that works on turtles, said the seized reptiles known as 'Shila Turtle' are black in colour and on the verge of extinction due to rapid shrink of their habitat and illegal exploitation.

Tipped off, APBn members arrested Kibria and Khairul at embarkation terminal around 12:45am as they were trying to check in for Thailand-bound PG-746 flight. They then searched their luggage and found the turtles.

"We later brought them to our office and at dawn in presence of assistant forest conservator Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury and other intelligence people found 50 turtles in one bag and 58 in another," APBn Assistant Superintendent of Police Atiqur Rahman told.

The turtle still alive were wrapped in scotch tape.

The tags of luggage containing the turtles were bearing the name of one Afsana with her cellphone number.

Police said more concerning to them is that they have found a Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh's (Caab) security operator and an assistant commissioner of customs on duty at the airport had conversations with Afsana over her cellphone.

Police filed a case under the Special Powers Act with the Airport Police Station against the two arrestees and the Caab security operator and the customs assistant commissioner.

The turtles have been kept under the custody of Rafiqul, says a press release.

Mobile courts to stop extortion:Home Minister Shahara Khatun,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Home Minister Shahara Khatun on Tuesday said mobile courts will be conducted to control extortion as well as to curb passenger harassment ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the home ministry with Shahara in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the home minister said extortion and passenger harassment will not be tolerated. “Law enforcing agencies have already been instructed to take initiative in this regard.”

She said stern action will be taken against vessels that carry excess passengers and goods while plying in rivers.

Shahara said the meeting decided to stop goods-laden vessels at night for the time being considering the risk.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haq Tuku, Home Secretary CQK Mostak Ahmed, IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandker and senior officials concerned attended the meeting.

Grameenphone Banglalink Robi and Citycell:Finally got their 2G licences,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

After a delay of more than eight months, four mobile phone operators -- Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Citycell -- finally got their 2G licences renewed on Tuesday, for the next 15 years.

The licences were supposed to be renewed in November last year, but the process was delayed due to a number of court battles between the telecom regulator, operators and the tax administrator.
 The operators had objections to fees related to spectrum allocation and value added tax and they had taken the issues to the High Court.

Although some of the cases are still pending in the apex court, the operators are getting the licences at the intervention of the telecom and finance ministries.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju handed over the licences to the operators at the office of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in the capital.

BTRC Chairman Zia Ahmed, Grameenphone CEO Tore Johnsen, Robi CEO Michael Kuehner, Citycell CEO Mehboob Chowdhury and Banglalink's Chief Technical Officer Ahmed Fady were present.

The four operators are paying a total of Tk 7,563 crore to the government as spectrum assignment and renewal fees, while another Tk 1,134.45 crore will have to be paid as VAT.

However, the operators will get a rebate on the VAT amount. Each operator will have to pay Tk 5 crore as annual licence fee.
The largest operator, Grameenphone, will pay Tk 3,241 crore for its 14.6 Megahertz spectrum, Banglalink Tk 1,971 crore for 12.4 Mhz, Robi Tk 1,900 crore for 12.8 Mhz, and Citycell will have to pay Tk 450 crore for 10 Mhz. The amounts come excluding VAT.
They will pay Tk 10 crore each as licence renewal fee.
The operators have already paid 49 percent of their licence renewal charges to the government, and will pay 29 percent of the amount on August 31, and the rest at the yearend.

There has been controversy over the spectrum assignment charges as different operators are paying different charges for per Megahertz spectrum; such as Grameenphone is paying more than Tk 220 crore for per MHz, while Citycell is paying Tk 45 crore.

The policy for the spectrum charges was suggested by the regulator on the basis of the market shares of the operators and the policy was finally approved by the prime minister.
Last year, the telecom regulator proposed a total of Tk 11,704 crore as spectrum charges for the four operators. Later, the telecom ministry revised the proposal and sent it to the finance ministry, which again modified the proposal and the Prime Minister's Office finally gave a go-ahead.
The 800MHz, 900MHz and 1800MHz bands have been priced at the same rate.

Moreover, the operators now share 5.5 percent revenue with the government and 1 percent more for a social obligation fund (SOF), meant for the development of the information and communication technology sector. The SOF was introduced with a new guideline.

Among the operators, Citycell’s licence was given in 1989 for 20 years, while other three were given in 1996. The then government did not charge any fee for spectrum allocation and the operators used to pay $400,000 and had shared 1 percent of their revenue with the government for the first five years.

For the second five years, the operators paid $800,000 and shared 1 percent of their revenue with the government, according to the licence conditions, but in July 2006 the regulator made it mandatory for them to share 5.5 percent revenue until November 2011.

Of the other two operators of the country, state-owned Teletalk got licence in 2004 and Airtel (former Warid Telecom) in 2005. Their licences will expire in 2020 and they will follow the conditions of revenue sharing and SOF.
The BTRC chairman said six mobile operators have so far invested Tk 50,000 crore and contributed to the state coffer around Tk 19,009 crore.
The telecom minister said he recommended awarding GSM frequency to Citycell, which recently applied for it.
More than nine crore people are currently using mobile phones in Bangladesh.

Modhumoti Model Town project illegal:Supreme Court Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a High Court verdict that declared the controversial Modhumoti Model Town project of Metro Makers Ltd and its activities at Aminbazar in Savar illegal.

The Appellate Division of SC delivered the verdict after around six months of concluding hearing on five separate appeals filed challenging different portions of the HC verdict.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela), Modhumoti Model Town authorities, plot purchasers and Rajuk had filed the appeals in 2009 against different parts of the HC verdict.

The project authorities filed two appeals and the three others filed one each.

Bela's lawyer Iqbal Kabir Lytton told on Tuesday that the Modhumoti Model Town authorities and the people who purchased plots at its Aminbazar project cannot construct any structure on the project area following the apex court verdict.

Following the verdict, the area of the project will remain as free flood flow zone and the capital city will also remain protected and safe from water logging, Lytton added.

In the verdict, the SC allowed an appeal of Bela, dismissed two appeals of Model Town authorities and one appeal of plot purchasers and disposed of an appeal of Rajuk.
A six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain delivered the verdict.

Details of the SC verdict are yet to be released.

Earlier on June 8 last year, the HC declared 77 unauthorised housing projects in and around Dhaka illegal and directed the government to remove or demolish those housing projects.

The HC on July 27, 2005, had declared the Modhumoti Model Town project at Bilamalia and Baliarpur near Aminbazar at Savar unauthorised, illegal and against public interest, but directed to protect the interest of the purchasers.

Earlier in August 2004, Bela filed the writ petition as public interest litigation with the HC challenging the legality of the project, as it was filling up the sub-flood-flow zone, violating the Environment Conservation Act, Town Improvement Act and Rajuk rules.

Bela, the project authorities, plot purchasers and Rajuk had filed five separate leave-to-appeal-petition in 2006 with the SC against separate portions of the HC verdict.

The SC on March 19, 2009, allowed the leave-to-appeal upholding the HC verdict and permitted them to move regular appeals before it against the HC verdict.

They filed five separate appeals in that year with the apex court challenging the HC verdict.

In the appeal, Bela said if the project continues, the free flood flow zone characteristic of the area will be destroyed and its environment will be adversely affected.

Bela also appealed to the apex court to pass necessary orders so that the capital city remains free from water logging.