Sunday, August 26, 2012

Prime minister's Adviser Mashiur Rahman awaits PM signal to quit,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime minister's Adviser Mashiur Rahman on Sunday said he would step down if his resignation ensures revival of the World Bank financing for the Padma bridge project.

“I will resign if the prime minister asks me to do so,” Mashiur said when asked whether he had already resigned,

He was speaking to journalists at his residence in the city’s Minto road.

“The World Bank should prove the allegations it brought against me,” he added.

Mashiur has denied any involvement in the alleged corruption in the Padma bridge project, and said the government has not yet asked him to resign in its efforts to revive the World Bank financing for the project.

the PM's economic affairs adviser said if there were corruption allegations against him over the project, both the government and the WB could make those public.

Finance ministry officials said Mashiur's removal is the last hurdle for the government to convince the global lender to revive its $1.2 billion loan that it had cancelled in June. And it must be done by this week.

The WB gave a clear signal to the government that it would withdraw the loan cancellation if the government implemented its three conditions, including the removal of former communication minister Syed Abul Hossain and adviser Mashiur Rahman. The government has to provide the WB with documents about their removal.

The WB in September last year suspended its promised $1.2 billion funding for the country's biggest infrastructure project over corruption allegations.

The global lender cancelled its loan agreement in June on the grounds that all its conditions had not been met.

The government started fresh talks with the WB early this month and they are now at the final stage. The government with the help of the WB's Dhaka office prepared a draft letter mentioning the government steps, said a finance ministry source.

European Commission (EC) to Myanmar: Give citizenship to Rohingyas,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

European Commission (EC) has requested Myanmar to provide citizenship to Rohingya people and ensure their fundamental rights for a sustainable solution to the issue, an EC official said on Sunday.

European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection office’s Director General Esko Kentrschynskyj said EC as well as the international community have been maintaining contacts to solve the problems of the ethnic community of Myanmar.

He said this to Bangladesh’s Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque during a call on at the latter’s office on Sunday, says a food ministry press release.

Such remarks came following recent sectarian violence in Myanmar’s Rakhaine State that left dozens of Rohingyas dead. Many tried to enter Bangladesh, but Bangladesh border forces returned them in line with the government policy.

Bangladesh repeatedly and clearly said it could not accept the Rohingyas, saying that sheltering them in Bangladesh would not bring any solution. It said there are still some 25,000 Rohingyas who took shelters in two refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar two decades back, but are not returning. Besides, nearly 4 lakh unregistered Rohingyas are staying in Bangladesh.

Instead, Bangladesh urged the international community to put pressure on Myanmar for a sustainable solution to the longstanding Rohingya problem. However, some powerful countries and human rights bodies criticized Bangladesh for its stance.

While talking to Dr Razzaque, Esko Kentrschynskyj said they have already talked to Myanmar’s foreign and social welfare ministries, immigration and border forces on the Rohingya problem.

Esko said they want to make sure that the Rohingya refugees are provided with humanitarian aid including food, nutrition and social security and helped for a sustainable solution.

Food Minister Abdur Razzaque said though Bangladesh has huge population and 31 percent people live below poverty line, the government is trying its level best to ensure humanitarian assistance to the refugees.

However, continuing such help for long is very difficult for Bangladesh, he said, adding: “The only solution of the Rohingyas is their returning home.”

Razzaque asked the delegation led by Esko to deeply engage the international community for repatriation of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Disaster Management Division Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam, European Commission for Humanitarian Aid Office’s Charge De Affaires Andrew Barnard, its Dhaka office’s technical expert Oliver Brouant and Regional Support Office Head Peter Burgess were also present.

Government not afraid of BNP threat:Home Minister Shahara Khatun,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Home Minister Shahara Khatun on Sunday said the government is not afraid of BNP’s threat of waging a tough movement to topple the government.

“We’re not scared of the red eyes of BNP. The people of the country are not afraid of their threat either,” she said while addressing at a discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).

Shahara said the BNP-Jamaat alliance is trying to create anarchy in the country in the name of movement. “We’ll have to lead the country towards development resisting such movement with an iron hand,” she said.

The home minister said Jamaat had waived red-green flags on their cars riding the shoulder of BNP in 2001. “Now the people of the country should get united so that Jamaat can’t waive flags on their cars this time.”

“Today, war crimes trial is being held, but a vested quarter is trying to foil the trial process,” she said.

Shahara said the assailants who were behind the August 21 grenade attack must be tried.

Bangabandhu Academy organised the programme on occasion of the 8th death anniversary of Awami League leader Ivy Rahman.

Chaired by president of Banganandhu Academy Mujibur Rahman, the programme was attended, among others, by Awami League leaders Mojaffar Hossain Poltu and Ahmed Hossain.

4 Dr Narayan Chandra Dutta Nitai murder suspects remanded,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

A Dhaka court on Sunday placed four suspects on remand for five days each in connection with the murder of Dr Narayan Chandra Dutta Nitai.

Metropolitan Magistrate Shariar Mohammad Adnan granted the remand after Detective Branch (DB) of police produced the four in the court with 10 days remand prayers for grilling.

The suspects -- Peda Mashud, 25, Saidul, 37, Pichhi Kalam, 26, and Faisal, 30, -- were arrested by the detectives at the capital's Mohakhali Sattola Slum and Kamrangirchar area.

Earlier on Thursday, Narayan was stabbed to death at his quarters in the compound of National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH) in Mohakhali.

Jamaat-e-Islami acting Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam denied bail(International Crimes Tribunal-1),Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Sunday rejected the bail petition of war crimes suspect Jamaat-e-Islami acting Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam.

The tribunal also asked the prosecution to submit progress report by October 14 of the investigation into Azharul's war crimes allegation committed during the country's Liberation War in 1971.

The Jamaat leader was sent to Dhaka Central Jail on Thursday, a day after his arrest.

The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md Nizamul Huq fixed Sunday for taking decision whether it would grant bail to the detained Jamaat leader.

Azharul on Thursday filed the bail petition before the court.

Azhar, who hails from Badarganj of Rangpur, was arrested at his Moghbazar home just over two hours after the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against him on Wednesday.

In response to a prosecution petition, the tribunal issued the arrest warrant and directed police to produce the Jamaat leader before the tribunal within 24 hours of his arrest.

It is alleged that the Jamaat leader had direct involvement in the killing of 1,200 unarmed Bangalees in Badarganj of Rangpur on a single day during the Liberation War.

Investigations against Azhar began on April 15 this year.

Charges against BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,28 others accepted,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

A Dhaka court on Sunday took into cognisance the charges against BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 28 others in connection with a blast case.

The court fixed September 18 for hearing on charge framing against the accused.

Judge Mohammad Zahurul Haque of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order after an hour-long hearing from the prosecution and the defence on the issue.

Before passing the order, the court also granted permanent bail to Fakhrul and 13 other accused in the case.

Shahbagh police filed the case against the accused in connection with the bomb explosions inside the Secretariat during hartal hours on April 29.

Detectives on May 31 charged the 29 accused with blasting the bombs.

Ibn Sina Pharmaceuticals Industry Limited pays Tk 50 lakh penalty,Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Department of Environment on Sunday fined Ibn Sina Pharmaceuticals Industry Limited Tk 50 lakh for operating a manufacturing factory at Kaliakoir upazila in Gazipur without the clearance from DoE for last 18 years.

DoE Director (Enforcement) Mohammad Muneer Chowdhury slapped the penalty after a hearing on Sunday and realised the fine at once from Managing Director of the factory Abu Naser Mohammad Abduz Jahed,

The step came after the DoE discovered the illegal operation in a recent raid on the facility.

"The illegal operation of such a large manufacturing factory for 18 years is an unprecedented violation of the environmental laws," said Muneer Chowdhury.

He mentioned DoE's operation as a recommendable step for ensuring that the law is abided by everyone.

"The factory authorities have been told to submit without delay all records of their production plan and waste management," the DoE official added.

The company's General Manager Mohammad Shaheed Farouqee, Plant Manager Rafiqul Haque, Quality Control Manager Abdul Khaleque and Manager (Engineering) Momtajul Karim represented the company at the hearing.

They apologised for building and operating the plant without clearance for so long.

The factory built over 13 acres of land had been producing drugs including antibiotics, anti-histamines, anti-ulcerants and antipyretics.

Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed led Al Badr in killing intellectuals:Eminent writer Shahriar Kabir(International Crimes Tribunal-2),Bangladesh


BANGLADESH NEWS

Al Badr led by Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed had killed hundreds of intellectuals, journalists, teachers and other professionals between November 15 and December 15 in 1971.

Writer and journalist Shahriar Kabir told this to the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday while giving deposition against detained Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed.

Meanwhile, Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, a member of the then Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote (BIOJ) of Moulvibazar unit, gave his testimony before the tribunal as the first prosecution witness against Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Misbahur identified Nizami as the chief of Al-Badr formed to collaborate with the Pakistani military during the 1971 Liberation War.

A leading researcher on war crimes Shahriar Kabir, also the first prosecution witness against the Mojaheed, gave his deposition from 10:51am to 1:30pm in presence of war crimes suspect Mojaheed.

Al Badr was formed with the leaders of Jamaat's student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS), he said.

Mojaheed, 64, was indicted with seven charges, including murder, torture, and imprisonment of people, genocide, and hatching a conspiracy to kill intellectuals during the Liberation War.

The writer said Mojaheed and Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami were the leaders of Al Badr during the Liberation War in 1971 and they were involved in the killing of intellectuals in a planned way.

Defence counsel will cross-examine Shahriar on August 30.

He was arrested on July 29 in 2010.

The tribunal-1 had rejected Mojaheed's bail petition twice and after his case was transferred to the tribunal-2, it rejected his bail prayer on August 7.

Mojaheed is among the 10 BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders facing war crimes charges before the tribunals.

NIZAMI CASE
Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury told the tribunal that Sirajul Islam, the then president of BIOJ, had sent him a letter requesting him to join AL Badr during the Liberation War.

The letter reads, “If you join Al Badr, Motiur Rahman Nizami would be happy.”

Sirajul Islam also mentioned in his letter that every members of the BIOJ would also join Al Badr, Misbahur said in his statements.

On May 28, the tribunal framed 16 charges against Nizami for his alleged involvement in murders and torture of unarmed people in 1971.

The 69-year-old Jamaat leader was the president of Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS), student wing of Jamaat in 1971.

Members of the ICS were used to form the AL Badr -- an auxiliary force formed to collaborate with the Pakistani military that committed genocide and mass killing during the nine-month-long war.