Chance to Legalise Fake Handsets

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 30  Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has directed mobile-phone operators to initiate a process in the next six months to legalise all illegal handsets in use on payment of certain amount of money.

As per the directive, the operators have to launch a scheme, named Genuine IMEI Implant Programme (GIIP), under which illegal handset users will be able to get an IMEI number on payment of Tk 50.

Every handset is supposed to have a 15-digit distinct IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number, which enables detection of a handset.

BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed said the directive has been issued to ensure national security and prevent handset theft and use of 'fake' handsets as well.

According to BTRC, 30 percent of the imported handsets are fake. Presently, 86 million people use mobile phone in Bangladesh.

The directive has already been communicated to all the mobile-phone operators and handset importers and vendors.

BTRC sources said fake handsets are widely being used in criminal activities, but detection of a handset is not possible if it does not have an IMEI number.

According to the BTRC directive, the GIIP has to be initiated after it is confirmed that each mobile phone operator has established its own NEIR (National Equipment Identification Registrar) system.

Once the system is introduced, mobile phone operators will get cell phone number along with the SIM and IMEI numbers from the signal sent by each phone call.

Handset without having an IMEI number can be detected using the system.

The IMEI number of a handset can be checked by pressing *#06# in a single dial.

The BTRC has also asked the mobile-phone operators to build a database of IMEI numbers and keep updating it.

The NEIR system will be connected with Central Equipment Identity Registrar (CEIR) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) so that the handset can be detected even if it is in use outside the country.

Mobile service operators can block the illegal handsets after implementing the BTRC directives.

BTRC has urged the operators to launch media campaign for discouraging use of fake handsets and their theft.

MasterCard, Visa warn of Security Breach

DHAKA NEWS

New York, Mar 30 MasterCard Inc and Visa Inc have notified US banks of a potential security breach, the latest in a string of incidents that have put the personal information of millions of credit card holders at risk.

The companies, which are the two largest global credit card processors, said the issue stemmed from a third-party vendor and not their own internal systems.

Following news of the breach, the shares of Atlanta-based Global Payments Inc were halted after dropping more than 9.1 percent. A representative did not immediately return a request for comment.

Several other processing companies, including Heartland Payment Systems Inc, VeriFone Systems Inc and First Data denied responsibility for the potential breach. Card Systems Inc and WorldPay did not immediately respond to inquiries about the matter.

MasterCard said it notified law enforcement officials and has hired an independent data-security organization to review the possible breach.

A US Secret Service spokesman said the agency was investigating, but declined to give any specifics about the breach.

"MasterCard is concerned whenever there is any possibility that cardholders could be inconvenienced and we continue to both monitor this event and take steps to safeguard account information," the company said in a statement. "If cardholders have any concerns about their individual accounts, they should contact their issuing financial institution."

Visa emphasized that customers are not responsible for fraudulent purchases.

The companies' statements came after the blog Krebs on Security reported that MasterCard and Visa Inc have been alerting banks across the US about a "massive" breach that may affect more than 10 million cardholders.

Thousands of US banks that issue credit and debit cards receive daily alerts regarding breaches through a system referred to as CAMS, said Thomas McCrohan, an analyst with Janney Capital Markets.

Once a person swipes a card to pay, the transaction then is sent through a chain of processing. The breach likely occurred at a central aggregation point where card information is calculated, said Avivah Litan, security analyst at Gartner Research.

"Those transactions are aggregated" and sent to a server, Litan said. "It has a lot of hops along the way" before the card information reaches a processor.

The Visa-Mastercard breach is the first major instance this year of consumer information put at risk by technological flaws or hacking.
Last June, Citigroup Inc said computer hackers breached the bank's network and accessed data of about 200,000 card holders in North

America. Sony also reported several recent attacks, including one last year in which hackers accessed the personal information on 77 million PlayStation Network and Qriocity accounts.

Google Inc also suffered a major attack on its Gmail accounts in 2011 that it said appeared to originate in China.

When Rupert Murdoch acquired Times Newspapers Limited in 1981, Evans was appointed editor of The Times. However, he remained with the paper only a year, resigning over policy differences relating to editorial independence.

Dhaka Desperate for Indian Cotton

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 30 Bangladesh is negotiating with India to reverse the ban on cotton exports and import the fibre 'under any condition', commerce minister Ghulam Muhammed Quader said on Friday.

"Cotton is needed for readymade garment sector and as a SAARC country we want India to allow us to import under any condition," he said at the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 11th SAARC and Travel Mart 2012 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

India imposed a sudden ban on cotton exports on Mar 5, but partially rolled it back on Mar 12, following political pressure and an angry reaction from farmers. India, the world's second biggest producer of cotton after China, barred exports to secure domestic supplies after sales exceeded the government's estimate of the country's exportable surplus.

The Indian government is considering selling cotton to Bangladesh by way of a contractual agreement between the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and its counterpart in Bangladesh.

The commerce ministry has said India's ban on cotton export was against global trade norms, and repeatedly stopping the shipments of the natural fibre by the country impacted its textiles industry.

During its meeting with India's commerce secretary Rahul Khullar, a visiting Bangladeshi delegation led by commerce secretary Md Ghulam Hussain raised concern over restrictions imposed by India on cotton exports.

The Bangladesh side said it needed a minimum of 1.5 million cotton bales from India every year.

After the programme, minister Quader told  that the trade agreement between Bangladesh and India had been renewed for three years without any change.

"Our commerce secretary went to India to discuss the cotton and other trade related issues," he said.

The commerce secretary-level Joint Trade Commission meeting between the two countries was held on Mar 28-29 in New Delhi.

Finance minister AMA Muhith at the programme said intra-SAARC trade is only 5 per cent of the grouping's total trade and it can be increased by enhancing cooperation.

"We are definitely progressing in that direction," he said.

Civil aviation and tourism minister Muhammed Faruk Khan said: "Economic development is the name of the game, and trade and tourism are the two sides of the coin."

Thirty Indian, 18 Pakistani and 10 firms each from Nepal and Bhutan are taking part in the 11th SAARC trade fair.

The main focus of the event is on promoting business information services to importers and exporters for making use of trade opportunities in South Asia.

'Govt picking people's pocket' Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 30 Senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has said the government raised power price to get 'commission' by setting up quick rental power plants.

"It is for the fifth time this government has hiked the electricity price over the last three years [in its tenure]. The decision on the latest power price hike has worsened public plight," the former energy minister told a discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Friday.

"It will not only raise the prices of essential commodities, but also mount public sufferings by further increasing transport fares," he added.

The government on Thursday increased electricity price by Tk 0.28 per unit for bulk users and 0.30 per unit for retail users on average for the second time this year.

He claimed no power was generated from quick rental power plants for the people and providing subsidy for such plants is 'pick people's pocket'.

About prime minister Sheikh Hasina's remarks that the government has added some 3,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid in the last three years, Mosharraf said, "If she is true in her remarks, why is there severe load-shedding in the country?"

Power outages go on for eight hours in the urban areas and for 16-18 hours in the rural areas, he said. "Where does the 3,000 megawatt power of the national grid go?" he posed the question.

Claiming that the government has totally failed in all sectors, Mosharraf said, "Being isolated from the people, it's now telling lies and spreading propaganda frequently to fight the BNP."

The BNP leader at the function organised by the 'Youth Forum' unveiled the cover of a book titled 'Liberation War and Martyred President Ziaur Rahman'.

BNP will return in 90 days: Matia Chowdhury

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 30 Senior Awami League leader Matia Chowdhury believes the BNP will return to parliament sometime in the next 90 business days again in a thinly veiled dig at the opposition MPs.

Opposition MPs joined the ongoing parliament session on Mar 18 after an average absence of 77 days. According to law, a lawmaker loses his seat if absent for 90 consecutive business days.

"The opposition chief [Khaleda Zia] could not bear the thought of losing money, so she went to parliament just before being absent for 90 days," Awami League Presidium member Matia Chowdhury told a rally on Bangabandhu Avenue on Friday.

The ruling Awami League organised the rally to celebrate the legal win against Myanmar in the maritime dispute and observe the "demise of autocratic government."

Bangladesh won against Myanmar on Mar 18 over the over sea limit dispute. The Awami League has also been observing Mar 30, the day the BNP government was forced to step down accepting a caretaker government system in 1996.

"I can vouch before the public that they [BNP] will return to parliament before they are absent for 90 days," Chowdhury, the agriculture minister, added.

Parliament was again hit with boycott of BNP legislators when it resumed on Thursday after a recess of seven days.

Speaker Abdul Hamid also criticised the opposition for not attending the Thursday session. BNP, however, says its MPs will not return unless the remarks by the government leaders that the party had taken money from Pakistan's spy agency ISI in the 1991 elections are deleted from parliamentary records.

Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League took out the rally from the party headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue which came to an end near Suhrawardy Udyan.

Hundreds of party's city activists joined the programme carrying national flags and colourful banners, festoons having portraits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman and the party chief Sheikh Hasina.

Before the start of the programme, the ruling party's central leaders praised the government for the win against Myanmar over maritime dispute and criticised BNP activities during the case at a UN tribunal.

"With the sea limits win against Myanmar, Sheikh Hasina has presented 'another Bangladesh' through legal and diplomatic battle," Chowdhury said.

She added Hasina will again ride to power with public mandate foiling all opposition conspiracies and hoped that Bangladesh will also win against India over the sea limit dispute.

Terming Khaleda 'an agent of Pakistan', Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif alleged: "The opposition is conspiring to overthrow the present elected government."

"They (BNP) are involved in conspiracies to save the war criminals as they took money from ISI," Hanif said.

'Public Annoyed with AL-BNP fight' Jatiya Party Chairman H M Ershad has said

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 30 Jatiya Party chairman H M Ershad has said the people are fed up with the bickering between the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP which can only be avoided if his party goes to power.

"We want peace and no fight. Only plough [his party's election symbol] can ensure your well-being," the deposed former military dictator said addressing a rally at Gazipur on Friday.

Ershad again announced at the rally, organised by his party, a partner of Awami League-led ruling combine, that Jatiya Party would contest the next parliamentary election independently.

"No more in any alliance. The time to walk alone has begun," he said.

Criticising the government, he said: "From newspaper reports it can be seen clearly that there is no supply of gas, power and water in the country. There is no control over the price hike of essentials either."

"Garment industry is getting destroyed for lack of gas and power… There is no peace among the people," he added.

"You will run into traffic congestions if you want to move. There is poison in the food and police will pick you up if you try to speak against all these," Ershad continued.

"They (people) want respite from all of these. They will get everything if I assume power again," he said.

The rally was organised in observance of the Independence Day.

Presided over by district unit president of the party Kazi Mahmud Hasan, the rally was also attended by other senior leaders including Kazi Zafar Ahmed and ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader.

Quader Sees plot Against Padma Bridge

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 30 The communications minister on Friday claimed that a quarter was plotting at home and abroad to stop the government starting the construction of the long-awaited Padma bridge.

"A quarter active both at home and abroad is against the start of Padma bridge construction work within the tenure of the present government," Obaidul Quader told a programme organised by SAARC Cultural Association at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium.

He said: "The quarter that is putting priority to their personal gains over the public interest will be eventually disappointed."

Since taking over as the communications minister, Quader has been saying that the construction of the bridge would start during the incumbent government's tenure.

On a different note, he said damaged roads and bridges would be mended before the start of the next rainy season.

Claiming that his office functioned properly in the last four months, Quader said: "Those who are against the pace of work of the ministry are spreading rumours against my office. They need to keep in mind that truth prevails over rumours."

"I'm not afraid of the criticism and propaganda. But they hurt me," he said.

Speed of Light' Experiment Head Quits

DHAKA NEWS

Rome, Mar 30 The Italian professor who led an experiment which initially appeared to challenge one of the fundaments of modern physics by showing particles moving faster than the speed of light, has resigned after the finding was overturned earlier this month.

Italy's national institute of nuclear physics INFN said on Friday that Antonio Ereditato had stepped down as coordinator of the so-called OPERA experiment but had no comment beyond saying it "took note" of his decision.

It was not immediately possible to reach Ereditato for a comment.
The experiment measuring the speed at which sub-atomic particles called neutrinos travelled from the CERN research centre in Geneva to Gran Sasso in central Italy at first appeared to show they had flown the 730 km stretch 60 billionths of a second faster than light.

Had it been confirmed, the finding would have disproved Albert Einstein's 1905 Special Theory of Relativity, one of the foundations of modern physics and cosmology, which holds that nothing in the universe can travel faster than light.

The result of the experiment was later called into question by separate experiments and CERN said the OPERA result appeared to be the result of a measurement error or malfunction.

'Bangabandhu' to Hit Orbit in 3 Years

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 29 Post and Telecommunications minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju has announced that the country would launch its first-ever satellite named after 'Bangabandhu' in three years.

The minister made the announcement following signing of a deal with USA-based Space Partnership International (SPI), which would help launch the satellite.

"After the government assumed power, the first cabinet meeting approved launching of the country's first-ever satellite. The deal with SPI takes the dream of Digital Bangladesh a step further," said Raju.

SPI managing director Bruce Kraselsky and Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Zia Ahmed signed the deal on behalf of their respective authorities at BTRC Bhaban on Thursday.

US ambassador Dan W Mozena was also present at the contract signing ceremony.

Currently, all television channels, institutions providing internet services, V-sat and radio channels are running their operations using foreign satellites.

According to BTRC, each television channel pays about US $0.0002 billion annually for using the satellites, and all institutions, including the 19 television channels, taken together end up paying US $0.004 billion every year.

BTRC said launching of a satellite would not only reduce the expenditure but also earn foreign currency for the country.

"Bangladesh may earn about US $ 50 million a year after the satellite is launched," said Kraselsky.

SPI will act as a consultant firm in launching the satellite. It will help Bangladesh in market evaluation, marketing of the satellite, building expertise to operate the satellite and management of the ground station. The SPI will charge Tk 0.87 billion for the job.

Cabinet okays Atomic Energy Control Act-2012

DHAKA NEWS

The cabinet on Thursday approved the draft of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Control Act 2012 keeping the provisions of constituting a separate regulator for the country's first-ever nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna.

The approval was given at the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefing newsmen said the cabinet approved the act as there is no regulatory body as well as legal and institutional framework for the power plant at present.

He said under the proposed act, a five-member regulatory body titled ' Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority' headed by a chairman will be constituted to supervise the activities of the operator of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to be constructed with the assistance of Russian Federation.

Besides, an advisory committee will be formed with the experts from related sectors.

Under the act, the operator will have to take the responsibility for any damage due to accident in the plant. The claim of damage will have to be filed within ten years after the accident and disposed of within 50 years.

The issues of definition, goals and activities of the authority, determination of compensation, security and safety of the power plants as well as safety measures against radiation and management of nuclear waste have been mentioned in the proposed act.

The cabinet also okayed a proposal for re-fixing the implementation date of National Wage Scale for the workers of the state-owned mills and factories.

Under the proposal, the new basic salary of the workers will be effective from July 2009, while the other marginal benefits from July 2010. The arrears will be paid in four equal installments from September 2012 to December 2013.

Under the new scale, the maximum basic salary of a worker would be Tk 5,600 while the minimum Tk 4,150 with 50 percent house rent and other allowances.

A proposal for observing the 3rd April as the National Film Day from this year was also endorsed by the cabinet to project the importance of films before the people and encourage all stakeholders of the film industry.

The 3rd April has been selected as the National Film Day as on this day in 1957, the then industries and commerce minister

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placed the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation Act at the Provincial Assembly for the development of film industry in the country.

The cabinet was apprised of the participation of a Bangladesh delegation led by the health and family welfare minister in the 20th executive committee meeting of the 'Partners in Population and Development (PPD) held in Nairobi, Kenya in February this year.

The cabinet secretary said the meeting has decided to set up the secretariat of the 25-member body in Dhaka.

Cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers concerned attended the meeting, while cabinet secretary and concerned secretaries were present.

Ghulam Azam's indictment order on Apr 17

  

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 29 The war crimes tribunal will issue Jamaat-e-Islami guru Ghulam Azam's indictment order on Apr 17.

The International Crimes Tribunal, set up to deal with crimes against humanity during the 1971 War of Independence, set the date after hearing arguments of both the prosecution and defence for and against the former Jamaat chief's indictment.

Earlier on Thursday, the tribunal adjourned hearing defence arguments against Jamaat assistant secretary general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman's indictment to Apr 1.

Prosecutor Zead-Al-Malum began his arguments against Ghulam Azam's discharge petition and started with a petition, which was kept aside after some discussion.

Malum pleaded that the tribunal ask for copies all decisions, meeting minutes, records, organogram, posters, leaflets, brochures, publications and such material of Jamaat-e-Islami for most of the period since its formation in the 1940s until 2012.

The tribunal pointed out that the application was filed under a certain section of the law that would apply only after commencement of the trial, meaning after indictment.

The tribunal also told the prosecutor that he had not mentioned from whom the tribunal would ask all these documents, which would be rather voluminous.

The newly appointed tribunal member, Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque, told him, "You must specify a person, or we cannot issue an order just like that."

Malum then suggested that the accused may be asked to provide the records.

Justice Nizamul Huq, the tribunal chairman, asked, "Do office bearers of political parties take all the records with them when they retire?"

The other tribunal member, Judge A K M Zaheer Ahmed, then pointed out that the accused was not even affiliated with Jamaat in the early 1940s and getting those documents would be pointless.

The judge suggested that the prosecutor should perhaps concentrate more on 1971 and the individual.

The prosecutor went on to supply the tribunal with the copy of a gazette notification which clearly showed, and quite beyond doubt, that the Razakar forces were a part and parcel of the Pakistani occupation army.

The tribunal was convinced that this would do away with any doubts whether the Razakars constituted an auxiliary force.

Abdur Razzaq, the senior counsel, representing the entire Jamaat leadership, has been contending that Razakar, Al Badr or Al Shams did not constitute auxiliary forces as defined by the relevant laws.

The gazette was a part of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's speech in parliament on Apr 16, 1992 when she was in opposition.

Zead-Al-Malum then read the speeches of both Hasina and Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim at length.

He ended his arguments saying that there were clear evidence against Ghulam Azam for crimes against humanity during the war and charges ought to be framed against him.

Judge Zaheer Ahmed clarified that unlike the charges against another Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, and BNP MP Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, the charges were not separated. "You have brought five charges. There is one for the murder of Siru Miah. And then there are charges for complicity, conspiracy, incitement and command responsibility."

Malum agreed. Judge Zaheer Ahmed then said that it would have made the tribunal's job easier if the prosecution presented its case in a more organised manner as the defence does.

"They present the cases nicely in a chronological order which makes it easy to follow."

Justice Nizamul Huq told Malum that although the prosecutor had not mentioned it, the tribunal chair had expected that the prosecutor would.

Referring to the first charge against Ghulam Azam, a meeting of certain political leaders with General Tikka Khan, on Apr 4, 1971, days after the Pakistan army descended upon the people and massacred them, Justice Huq said that most of the days following Mar 26, the entire city was under curfew. "Sure it was withdrawn at times but mostly there was a curfew."

But then he pointed out, that there was a meeting of over a dozen political leaders with the Pakistani general only meant that they were in touch with the military.

"I had expected that you would say that in your submissions. But you did not."

Shishir Manir, a junior defence counsel on Abdur Razzaq's team, stood up to point out that superior status as the prosecution had pointed out did not constitute an offence by itself. "It is merely a status."

The judges also agreed that command responsibility by way of acquiescing to crimes against humanity had to be demonstrated and superior status by itself would not suffice.

KAMARUZZAMAN'S CASE

Earlier in the day, tribunal chairman, Justice Nizamul Huq, was rather reluctant to adjourn Kamaruzzaman's case when Tanvir Ahmed Al-Amin stood up to pray for time as the defence had not been able to prepare the discharge petition.

When the junior counsel said there were a few thousand pages of documents that the prosecution had served upon the defence, Justice Huq asked back, "How many of these discharge petitions, and there have already been a few, refer to those volumes of documents?"

He said the defence only referred to the volume when praying for time but in essence the petitions were basically the same. "The same is true for the formal charges."

Justice Huq said that a large portion of the formal charges were the same for almost every case while the discharge petitions were also similar in nature except when they dealt with the particular case of the individual.

Tribunal member Judge A K M Zaheer Ahmed joked that the defence could, in fact, borrow from another discharge petition and begin.

Essentially the same team of counsels represents the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership.

Al-Amin all but agreed to the tribunal's observation that the petitions were almost the same to a large extent. But he continued to plead that the petition was simply not ready and needed more time.

Justice Huq said he could not insist that the young counsel begin his arguments, which he certainly would have had it been a senior counsel like Abdur Razzaq and reluctantly adjourned the matter to Apr 1.

JAMAAT GURU IN ICT

On Dec 12, the prosecution brought a 52-point charter of charges against Azam and appealed for his arrest. Later, following the tribunal order, charges were re-arranged and presented to the tribunal on Jan 5.

He was produced before the tribunal by it order on Jan 11 and sent to jail on the same day. Since that evening Ghulam Azam has been shifted to the prison cell of the Bangabandhu medical university for better treatment considering his delicate health.

Azam had allegedly lead the infamous 'peace committees' and collaborated with the Pakistan Army during the Liberation War. He also spoke in favour of Pakistan to the Middle Eastern countries during the war, according to the prosecution.

He stayed in London for seven years after 1971 and returned to Bangladesh in 1978 during Ziaur Rahman's rule. Having led Jamaat for long, Azam retired from active politics in 1999.

CG not Needed for Fair Polls: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

DHAKA NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday in parliament spoke strongly against the necessity of a caretaker government to hold free, fair and neutral parliamentary elections.

“Holding election under a caretaker government was necessary when massive polls rigging took place,” the premier said in her winding up speech in the twelve session of the present parliament.

She added sometimes vote rigging took place through media coups, sometimes incorporating fake voters in the electoral roll.

The premier mentioned that one million fake voters were incorporated in the electoral roll during the past BNP-Jamaat four-party alliance government.

But, she went on saying, the Election Commission had now been made strong and independent.

The EC has now been working neutrally.

She claimed all the 5,175 polls including mayoral elections in three city corporations, upazilas, union parishads and by-elections held under her government, were free, fair and neutral.

While speaking against the restoration of caretaker system, Hasina, also the leader of the House, said unwanted situations had taken place during all the caretaker governments since its inception in 1996.

“During the Justice Habibur Rahman’s caretaker government regime, a coup attempt took place, during the justice Latifur Rahman’s caretaker regime, killing and torture took place indiscriminately and the immediate past caretaker government ruled the country for two years,” she asserted.

The premier asked how the opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia forgot those.

She argued that her government had scrapped the CG system by amending the constitution in line with the Supreme Court verdict to this end.

The premier said the opposition joined the parliament only to ensure their financial benefits.

“In parliament, they spoke using indecent, vulgar and abusive languages. Even some of their members moved to attack one of our female MPs,” Hasina said.

And now they [opposition] are in streets and speaking abusive, vandalising vehicles in the name of movement against the government.

In her over 35 minutes' speech, the premier criticised the media for writing what she says both true and false, freely and on their own.

The twelve session of the ninth parliament was prorogued on Thursday having 34 sittings.

Liberation War Role Friends of Freedom Honoured

DHAKA NEWS

Expressing its deep debt of gratitude, the country yesterday honoured individuals and organisations from across the world for their wholehearted support to its liberation in 1971.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred the awards on the nation's foreign friends at a special ceremony at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The state accolades -- “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” and “Friends of Liberation War Honour” -- went to 75 individuals and six organisations. The awardees also included Mitra Bahini (allied forces) and the people of India.

Recalling the recipients' contributions to our independence war, the president said, “Their valuable inspiration and support gave us impetus for achieving victory.”

Hasina said, “They gave us all sorts of help available -- food, shelter, medicine, and even military training. Most importantly, they gave greater voice to our legitimate cause, facilitated our access to global media, mobilised public opinion and financial support.

“Their moral and logistics support had been a constant source of inspiration for our valiant freedom fighters.”

This was the second phase of presenting awards to foreign nationals and organisations.

Earlier on July 25 last year, “Bangladesh Freedom Honour” was posthumously conferred on former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.

At yesterday's ceremony, eight heads of state and government were awarded the “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” and the others “Friends of Liberation War Honour.”

Of the eight, only Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav is alive. The others are Third King of Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, former Soviet presidents Leonid IIyich Brezhnev and Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny, ex-Soviet prime minister Alexei Nikolaevich Kosygin, former Yugoslav president Marshal Josip Broz Tito, ex-UK prime minister Sir Edward Richard George Heath and former Nepalese prime minister Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala.

The organisations that received awards are the BBC, Akashbani (All India Radio), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Oxfam and Kolkata University Shahayak Samiti.

The award consists of a gold-plated silver metallic plaque bearing a replica of the National Memorial and a citation on a silk cloth.

Bangalees received support from these foreign friends at a time when they stood up against genocide and other atrocities by the Pakistan occupation forces and their collaborators.

The nine-month war eventually led to the emergence of a sovereign Bangladesh.

The ceremony yesterday was a unique experience for many who travelled to Bangladesh for the first time to receive the awards on behalf of the recipients.

The awardees thanked the Bangladesh government for honouring them.

Hari Kumar Shrestha, Nepalese ambassador in Dhaka, was the first to receive the “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” from Zillur Rahman on behalf of his country's President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.

Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji, chairman of the Royal Privy Council, took the award on behalf of Third King of Bhutan Jigme Dorjio Wangchuck.

Alexander A Nikolaev, Russian ambassador in Dhaka, received three awards on behalf of two former presidents and a prime minister.

Aleksandar Broz, son of former Yugoslavia president Marshal Tito, received the award on behalf of his father. The EHF trustee received the award for ex-British prime minister Edward Richard George Heath.

The son of former Nepalese prime minister Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala took the award for his father.

Pankaj Saran, the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka, received the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” award for the people of India, while Indian State Minister for Defence MM Pallam Raju took the award as a Mitra Bahini representative.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma received the award for his late mother Rawshan Ara Begum Sangma.

Director General of All India Radio Leeladhar Mandloi received the award for Akashbani.

The ceremony started with the screening of a documentary on the foreign friends after the prime minister had reached the venue around 10:00am.

Cabinet Division Secretary Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan introduced the foreign friends to the audience and read out a citation describing their role during the Liberation War.

Lt Gen Jack Frederick Ralph Jacob of India gave a salute to the audience after receiving the award. He then chanted “Joy Bangla” and the audience reciprocated with an even louder chant.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, former British Labour MP Michael Barnes said they were greatly honoured at the Bangladesh government's invitation.

“We accept the honour. Long live Bangladesh. Joy Bangla.”

A list of 132 foreign friends was made but the government finally invited 110, of which, 83 have attended or sent representatives to receive the awards.

The government has so far prepared a list of 568 foreign friends from all over the world. They include 257 Indians, 88 Americans, 41 Pakistanis, 39 Britons, nine Russians, 18 Nepalese, 16 French and 18 Japanese.

At the function, the prime minister said the government would continue to honour foreign friends.

A foreign ministry source said lawmakers and leaders of most political parties, except Jamaat-e-Islami, were invited to the ceremony. No BNP leader was seen at the programme.

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain and Communist Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Mujahedul Islam Selim, among others, attended the function

BNP Threatens Parliament Boycott

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 27 The opposition on Tuesday threatened to boycott parliament once again if the statements of the government leaders relating to ISI funding are not expunged from the parliament proceedings.

"We would like to draw the attention of the Speaker that the prime minister and other ruling party MPs made false statements in parliament that the BNP got fund from Pakistani ISI," opposition chief whip parliament Zainul Abdin Farroque said.

"Expunge those statements from the parliament proceedings, or we will not attend the House from next Thursday," he added.

The BNP leader issued the threat from a programme held in front of the National Press Club. A human chain was formed to protest the 'false statements over BNP getting ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) fund.'

The threat came only nine days after BNP MPs returned to parliament on Mar 18 following an absence of 77 consecutive business days on average. The parliament session is expected to resume Thursday after a short recess.

Dubai-based newspaper Khaleej Times ran a report on Mar 3 that former ISI chief Asad Durrani confessed before Pakistan Supreme Court that the Pakistan intelligence agency had given BNP money before the 1991 election. British newspaper Daily Mail's online version also ran a similar report.

After that the prime minister, ministers and ruling party MPs on many occasions bitterly criticised BNP quoting newspaper reports.

Later, Durrani and Pakistan foreign ministry refuted the news saying that no such statement was made before any court.

BNP had also dismissed the allegation saying confession made by former ISI chief did not include anything about the intelligence organisation funding the party.

Keep pro-Pakistan forces out of power: Prime minister Sheikh Hasina

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 27 Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the people not to bring those forces to power who favoured Pakistan during the Liberation War of 1971.

"Associates and collaborators of the defeated forces should not come to power anymore. We brought you independence. Only we'll ensure that you get its benefits," she told a discussion on Tuesday.

Ruling Awami League organised the programme in the city's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre as part of the the Independence Day celebrations.

Exhorting people to keep pro-liberation force in power for the sake of country's development, Hasina said: "There had been no development in the country when those collaborators, who received funds from the oppressing forces, were in power."

ICT Admits Alim Charges

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 27 The war crimes tribunal on Tuesday took cognisance of charges against former BNP MP Abdul Alim and extended his bail, ordering the prosecution to place the formal charges on Apr 24.

The International Crimes Tribunal, set up to deal with crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, ordered the prosecution to submit formal charges, witness testimonies and other documents to the registrar's office by Apr 1 for the defence to collect them by Apr 2.

The three-judge tribunal, headed by Justice M Nizamul Huq, heard an application for bail extension moved by Munshi Ahsan Kabir, lawyer for Alim, and eventually granted the prayer.

The defence counsel said Alim, a former member of the national assembly in 1971 and a Muslim League leader, had not violated the conditions of bail.

Kabir also said nothing had changed from the time when the court gave bail to his client except that Alim's health had deteriorated in the meantime.

When the court asked whether he had documents relating to it, Kabir supplied the court with copies of medical reports.

Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta said although the defence counsel mentioned his client's deteriorating health, the prescription said nothing in that regard.

Dasgupta also cited a number of examples from around the world in his bid to argue against bail extension. The prosecutor also pointed out that the accused was no ordinary person and had even served as a member of the cabinet of BNP founder and military strongman Ziaur Rahman.

He said the situation had changed with the court taking the charges into cognisance.

The tribunal had stopped midway in its order having taken cognisance of the charges because they constituted a 'prima facie' case and then asked the counsels to begin their arguments on the bail extension.

After Dasgupta's submissions, tribunal member A K M Zaheer Ahmed said, "Learned prosecutor, thank you! This is the first time that a prosecutor has come fully prepared."

The tribunal chairman, Justice Huq, stated in his order that it was clear Abdul Alim had not misused the privileges of his bail. "We are of the view that this crippled old man should not be taken into custody."

The order said the tribunal would ask Alim to be taken into custody if it deemed that necessary at a later stage.

The tribunal then ordered the former BNP MP to submit a medical report on Apr 24 when the prosecution would begin placing formal charges. The formal charge, witness testimonies and other documents would have to be submitted by Apr 1 for the defence to collect them by Apr 2.

97 BNP-Jamaat Activists Sued

DHAKA NEWS

Savar, Mar 27 Ninety-seven leaders and activists of the opposition BNP and its key allay Jamaat-e-Islami have been sued over Monday's clash between the activists of BNP and ruling Awami League near the National Memorial in Savar over placing wreaths.

Monsur Alam Madbar, Ashulia unit general secretary of Sramik (workers) League, an Awami League front, filed the case with the Ashulia Police Station on Tuesday, officer-in-charge Mostafa Kamal told .

According to the case details, the BNP activists led by Yarpur union council chairman Dewan Mainuddin Biplob attacked the Awami League leaders and activists with lethal weapons in front of the main entrance of National Memorial over who would be there first.

The clash left many ruling party men injured. The BNP men also vandalised vehicles and looted Nabinagar CNG filling station and a fast food and snacks shop there, according to the case statement.

March 26 in Retrospect

 

BANGLADESH NEWS

On this 41st Independence Day, it is time we had a fresh stocktaking of the past. The very remoteness of those tumultuous days of March 1971 has placed us at this vantage point to consider those from a dispassionate outlook.

The need for this retrospection has become necessary as we are yet to settle many of our fundamental issues of national importance. As a result, the leading political parties have failed to establish democracy even after restoration of the elected and parliamentary form of government at the peak of a mass struggle against military autocracy in 1991. Again, that long-drawn struggle was necessary, because before 1991, the country had gone into the hands of military dictators for a decade and a half.

Since independence, the country has been falling from one pitfall into another. And all these national calamities have seriously disrupted the normal functioning of the state, its politics and economy. And the new faces that assumed power in the wake of each such changeover did impose their own brand of politics on the country and run it at their whims and caprices. These proved to be a serious blow to the nation's desired progress and economic growth, because the nation had to start fresh from scratch after each such upheaval and the political changes that ensued.

The absence of constitutional civilian power over 16 years stymied the normal growth of democratic politics in the country. The long political vacuum distorted even the characteristics of the constitutional civilian politics.

Which is why, even after the nation got back the elected civilian government in 1991, healthy growth of democracy still remains a far cry. Each of the two major parties, the Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that now dominates the political scene has been embroiled in an endless bickering and they are often at each other's throat. As a result, they have not yet been able to restore socio-political stability and play by the rule of the game to run the country smoothly along the path of continued peace, progress and growth.

The sum total of these failures on the political front has been that the dream to establish a democratic, just and egalitarian society that the people cherished has been left unfilled. The ideals that inspired them to take up arms in 1971 and wrest the country's independence from the clutches of Pakistani occupation forces appear to have proven hollow.

At this point, it is important to note that it was not exactly the Black Night of March 25, 1971 when the Pakistani military junta let loose its blood thirsty military on the unarmed population of Dhaka that the War of Independence had begun. True the abattoir that the Pakistani junta had turned the sleepy provincial capital of Dhaka into on that Black Night proved to be the casus belli for the people of Bangladesh to begin the war for their total liberation. The history of our liberation struggle can be traced back further into the past in the great mass upsurge against the dictatorial military rule of the Pakistani junta in 1969. Before that there was a decade-long democratic struggle of the people against the military dictatorship of Ayub Khan. The long period of military dictatorship was preceded by more than a decade of civilian rule under a multi-party democratic dispensation, since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 and emergence of Pakistan.

At that time, this deltaic plain, which is now Bangladesh, was part of that Pakistan. Soon after the emergence of Pakistan, the Bengali population of this land realised that they have been betrayed by the political leadership that was at the helm at that time. Then on started the Bengali people's broader struggle to protect their culture, language as well as democratic and economic rights. In the long tortuous struggle for national liberation, one watershed was February 21 of 1952, The Muslim League government then in office showed its true face by ordering its police to fire on students who were demanding that Bengali be established as a state language. The blood that the students spilled that day continued to roll until the moment of truth arrived in 1971.

So, the Bengali people's struggle for nationhood did not start on a fine morning. The 1971 was the biggest watershed on the long trek to independence. But after the entire struggle and the blood that it spilled, what has the people's net gain been so far? Have they been able to fulfil their mission of an exploitation-free just society after all these years?

Now, to all appearances, even after the last two decades of democratic civilian rule, we are again back to square one and much of it is due to poor leadership. The nation is divided. And this division is largely the handiwork of the present breed of politicians. All is being done in the name of partisan politics.

At the moment, the situation demands a broad national unity to resolve all the core national issues still keeping us divided. In spite of the negativities of the past, our achievements have not been little. It could have better, but for the lack of sagacious and farsighted leadership. This is what the nation is waiting for.

Violent clash in Ishwardi EPZ Over 100 workers, cops hurt

DHAKA NEWS

Over a hundred people were injured as police and garment workers fought for around five hours at Ishwardi Export Processing Zone in Pabna yesterday.

The EPZ erupted into violence soon after workers of Roshita Knitting Wear Limited, a foreign-owned company, began demonstrations for a pay hike around 9:00am.

Pabna police chief Jahangir Hossain said police fired rubber bullets and charged batons to disperse the workers who had confined some foreigners to the factory.

“Unruly workers confined the foreigners, all of whom are executives of the factory, and started vandalism. They also attacked the law enforcers, leaving 15 policemen injured,” he said.

“We've picked up 75 workers from the spot.”

Of the injured, over 50 were admitted to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex and Pakshi Railway Hospital and the rest to other health centres in the district.

Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, local correspondent of Bangla daily Manab Zamin, was wounded in police baton charge as he went to cover the incident. He was treated at the railway hospital.

The agitators claimed the law enforcers swooped on them without any provocation. Many of them were hurt as police lobbed teargas canisters, fired bullets and charged batons, said Shamim, Gautam and Rubel.

They have long been demanding Tk 150 knitting charge for every sweater but the factory pays only Tk 100, they said.

Around noon, rumours of a worker's death fuelled the violence. People from nearby villages came in and damaged structures at the EPZ by hurling brick chips. They smashed up vehicles in and around the area.

Normality, however, returned around 3:00pm.

The clashes led to a suspension of production at five RMG factories in the EPZ.

Contacted, General Manager of Ishwardi EPZ Md Mahmudul Hassan said there must have been an evil plot behind yesterday's event.

“Some workers have planned the unrest at Ishwardi EPZ to stop foreign investment in efforts to take revenge on the factory that sacked a few of their colleagues for breaking discipline,” he said.

“The EPZ authority will form an inquiry committee to investigate the incident” he added.

The GM also said the EPZ authority discussed with the workers the wage hike but he did not know why they had gone berserk.

BNP won't Observe Mar 29 Strike

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 25  BNP has withdrawn the proposed Mar 29 general strike following appeals from the Hindu community to avoid the day when they would be celebrating the 'Ashtami Snan' festival, the party's acting secretary-general has announced.

A delegation of Nangalband Punya Snan Updjapon Committee called on the party chief and urged her to withdraw the hartal, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir informed the waiting media after the meeting on Sunday night.

Now the party will hold district-level demonstrations on the day, instead, and a rally and procession will be organised in Dhaka on Mar 31, Alamgir added.

Earlier in the day, several opposition leaders hinted that they may not enforce the dawn-to-dusk hartal.

The general strike was announced from a Mar 12 rally in protest against obstructions to the rally and arrest of opposition leaders and supporters.

SQ Chy son's case rejected Salahddin Quader Chowdhury's

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 25 The Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court has dismissed a case filed by war crimes accused Salahddin Quader Chowdhury's son against two senior officials of the Kashimpur prisons for allegedly assaulting his brother.

In an order issued barely hours after the case was filed around Sunday noon, the court of Mizanur Rahman refused to accept the case on the grounds that the incident had taken place in an area outside his jurisdiction.

The court suggested the petitioner file the case in a Gazipur court as the incident had taken place in Kashimpur in the district.

Hummam Quader Chowdhury, son of Salauddin Quader, accused jailor Subhash Chandra Ghosh and deputy jailor Mushfiqur Rahman of beating his brother Faiyaz Quader Chowdhury during their visit to the prison on Saturday.

Hummam filed the case a day after the prisons officials had accused the sons of misbehaving with them.

The plaintiff's lawyer Kazi Mohammad Zainal Abedin told reporters that the accused duo had misbehaved with the two brothers on Saturday when they went to meet their father. At one stage, they beat Faiyaz, he alleged.

According to case details, even on earlier occasions prisons officials had demanded bribe when Hummam and Faiyaz had gone to see their father. On Saturday, the defendants beat the plaintiff's brother after failing to get bribe, he alleged. The plaintiff was present at the spot.

SQ Chowdhury's wife Farhat Quader Chowdhury, his brothers Saifuddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaluddin Quader Chowdhury were there with Hummam and Faiyaz on Saturday.

Jailor Shubhash Chandra Ghosh told  on Saturday that his deputy Mushfiqur Rahman seized several 'unauthorised' papers when those were being handed to S Q Chowdhury by relatives.

Relatives of the BNP leader present there called the prison officials names and threatened him, Ghosh further said.

Salauddin Quader is currently standing trial at the International Crimes Tribunal for his alleged involvement with crimes against humanity during 1971 liberation war.

BTRC Finalises 3G Licence Draft

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 24 The telecom regulator has finalised the draft of the guidelines for awarding 3G mobile service licence with options to upgrade to 4G and long-term evolution (LTE) without any extra fees.

In the draft, the regulator -- Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) -- has proposed to give four companies the licences including two from existing five private mobile operators and a new one.

Teletalk will get the licence as state-owned firm.

"The draft will be sent to the telecommunications ministry next week," BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed told in an interview on Thursday.

The work to award the licences would be complete by June or July after the ministry nods the guidelines, he added.

On Aug 9, a high-profile meeting of senior ministers and advisors chaired by the prime minister Sheikh Hasina took the decision to auction the wireless telecom spectrum to facilitate nationwide spread of 3G technology and wireless broadband services.

Ahmed had earlier said both local and foreign firms would be able to bid for the spectrum.

A top BTRC official has said 3G licence holders will be able to upgrade licences to 4G or LTE without any fee once the Cellular Mobile Phone Service (3G/4G/LTE) Regulatory Licence Guideline 2012 is cleared.

In the draft guidelines, the fee for every megahertz has been proposed at Tk 1.5 billion.

The floor price of 3G licence auction has been set Tk 15 billion.

The BTRC chairman said the estimated revenue from 3G licence is Tk 80 billion.

State-owned Teletalk, along with private operators Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel and Citycell, is offering 2G services now.

The 3G technology will make mobile telephony much more efficient, with high-speed data transfer facilitating users to watch mobile TV, make video calls, using navigation equipment and access many other services.

LTE's data transfer speed is 80 percent higher than 3G.

Experts say 4G and LTE are same. Its download speed is 100 megabyte per second and upload speed is 50 Mb/S.

LTE's data pipe is built in such a way that users are able to do work of desktop computers with their mobile phones.

Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus among 12 Greatest Entrepreneurs

DHAKA NEWS

Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has been named by Fortune magazine as one of the 12 Greatest Entrepreneurs of Our Time.

This list published in the magazine's latest issue places Prof Yunus among the band of highly exclusive individuals, all of whom are known throughout the world for their innovation, vision and ability to get things done.

"His desire to do something to help the local citizens led to a simple but powerful gesture: Yunus loaned $27 to destitute basket weavers in a village next to his university's campus," the magazine says.

"He could not believe the excitement the small amount of money caused. For people living on pennies a day, just a few dollars could transform their lives -- and in many cases it did. The gift was used to support and expand these very small businesses, and that helped many overcome their poverty.

"Much to Yunus' surprise, the basket weavers actually paid off the loans -- and on time too. He then moved from one village to the next, finding all sorts of entrepreneurial projects to fund," Fortune says.

While the bank could not eradicate poverty, it lifted many lives, the magazine adds.

"No less critical, Yunus' idea inspired countless numbers of young people to devote themselves to social causes all over the world."

The Fortune places the 12 individuals in the following order:

1) Steve Jobs of Apple, 2) Bill Gates of Microsoft, 3) Fred Smith of FedEx, 4) Jeff Bezos of Amazon, 5) Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google, 6) Howard Schultz of Starbucks, 7) Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, 8) John Mackey of Whole Foods, 9) Herb Kelleher of SouthWest Airlines, 10) Narayana Murthy of Infosys, 11) Sam Walton of Wal-mart Stores, 12) Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank.

Ten of these entrepreneurs are American and one is an Indian.

The list was prepared considering economic and social impact, world changing vision of the entrepreneurs, ability of the entrepreneurs to inspire and motivate their employees, their record of innovation and their actual results, Yunus Centre said in a statement yesterday.

The companies that they have created have benefited hundreds and thousands of people and other businesses, while creating employment for millions of people, according to the statement.

Prof Yunus was chosen by Wharton School of Business for PBS documentary, as one of the 25 Most Influential Business Persons of the Past 25 Years.

In 2006, Time magazine listed him under 60 Years of Asian Heroes as one of the top 12 business leaders.

In 2008, in an open online poll, Yunus was voted the second topmost intellectual person in the world on the list of Top 100 Public Intellectuals by Prospect Magazine of the UK and Foreign Policy of the United States.

He was also voted second in Prospect Magazine's 2008 global poll of the world's Top 100 Intellectuals.

The news has enthralled leading economists and businessmen.

Former caretaker government adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said his inclusion in the top 12 is a recognition of his philosophy and social responsibility.

"We are very proud of his achievement in two senses; first, he has been recognised as a Bangalee and secondly, he is a great role model for us," he told .

Besides, the honour would uphold the image of the country, maintained Zillur. "We have many problems and weaknesses. It is an example of how creative thinking can take an individual to a new height amid many problems."

Syed Nasim Manzur, a leading entrepreneur, said, "Of course, it is a great inspiration for us. It is a great thing that Fortune magazine has honoured a Bangladeshi and a social entrepreneur."

He said the Banker to the Poor has shown that business can have a conscience. "Business does not mean that it should ignore society's welfare to be successful. Dr Yunus is an example for this."

"It will inspire us to do business with a social conscience and become successful," said Manzur, managing director of Apex Adelchi Footwear Ltd, one of the top footwear brands of the country.

Annisul Huq, a former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said Prof Yunus had really established some good institutions. "There is no doubt about his entrepreneurial credibility."

No to Tipai dam if it affects Bangladesh Says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government will not allow India to construct the proposed Tipaimukh dam if it is proved that the dam will have negative impact on Bangladesh.

“We won't allow India to construct the dam if it adversely impacts on Bangladesh,” she told a rally organised by the Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance at Govt Madrasa ground in the city.

The government has already told India to include Bangladeshi representatives in a feasibility study group to look whether it would adversely affect Bangladesh, she mentioned. “India has assured us that they won't do anything harmful for Bangladesh.”

Listing the development activities of the present government, Hasina said her government has settled the border demarcation issue with India and also established the country's right over its maritime boundary with Myanmar through an international court. “If we're voted to power in the next elections, I can assure you we'll uphold our rights with India.”

She told her audience that those who can take money from the defeated forces of the Liberation War cannot believe in the country's independence and sovereignty.

She blasted the previous five-year BNP-Jamaat rule. “They gave people just terrorism through bombings, grenade attacks and killings.”

The BNP had killed a good number of AL leaders and activists by carrying out grenade attacks in different areas of the country during that period, she complained.

In the last three years, she claimed, the present government has curbed terrorism and militancy in the country.

“It was a shame for the whole nation when the prime minister and the finance minister of the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government whitened their black money,” maintained Hasina.

The premier said the BNP leader's sons had indulged in money laundering and it was proved in various courts in the USA, Singapore and Canada.

She noted that the country's economy now has got a strong footing as the government has put it back on the right track.

She also announced that there will be engineering and medical universities in Sylhet if her party wins the next general elections.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of Shahjalal Fertiliser Factory in Fenchuganj, inaugurated the commissioning of the second unit of 90MW Fenchuganj power plant and 150MW power plant at Kumargaon.

She also inaugurated the Nagar Bhaban on the premises of Sylhet City Corporation, divisional passport and visa office, and laid the foundation stone of Sylhet Education Board.

She offered fateha at the mazars of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).

Dhaka set to Honour Foreign Friends Mar 27

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 24  After 40 years of Liberation War, Bangladesh is set to honour its foreign friends on Mar 27 for their contribution to the freedom struggle in 1971.

The cabinet has approved a list of 132 but the government finally invited 110 friends, out of which 75 have consented to either come themselves or send their representatives to receive the honour.

This was disclosed by foreign minister Dipu Moni and state minister for liberation war affairs M Tajul Islam at a press briefing at the foreign ministry on Saturday.

The invitees will receive gold-plated silver metallic plaques bearing replica of the national mausoleum and a citation on silk cloth.

"We had formed a national committee to identify the foreign personalities contributing to our Liberation War," Dipu Moni said.

"We had prepared a list of 560 people, and finally we short-listed 132 names," she said.

In the first phase, daughter-in-law of former Indian prime minister Sonia Gandhi received the Bangladesh Freedom Honour awarded to Indira Gandhi in July last year.

President Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the award to the recipients at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

"The committee has worked for the last two years and it is an ongoing process."

TRIPURA CHIEF MINISTER

When asked why Tripura chief minister is being honoured, the foreign minister said Manik Sarkar was a youth leader in 1971 and he contributed to the Liberation War.

Tajul Islam, also a freedom fighter, said he is the witness of the Manik's contribution to the Liberation War.

"He was junior to me by two to five years but when I went to Tripura, I saw him personally going door-to-door to seek help for freedom fighters," he said.

"Besides, it is we to decide whom we will give honour not the people of other country," he said referring to the ongoing agitation in Tripura as to why Manik Sarkar is being awarded in Bangladesh.

INVITEES

The foreign minister explained that out of the 132 in the list, they could manage to invite only 110 of them.

"Forty years have passed and many of them have changed their addresses and we found it difficult to locate them," she said.

PAKISTANIS IN THE LIST

When asked why there is no Pakistani in the list, the foreign minister said it is an 'ongoing process'.

"We acknowledge that there is a small group of Pakistanis which did raise voice for Bangladesh, and I am sure that after scrutiny they will be honoured," she said.

The liberation war affairs minister said the government has taken necessary steps to provide security to the invitees.

BNP Rails govt over Corruption

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 24 BNP has brought allegations of corruption against the government and said people want to know the details of assets of the ministers and the prime minister.

"They've looted resources of the country worth thousands of crores," party's acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a programme on Saturday.

"Padma bridge project, quick rental power plants, distribution of VGF-VGD cards, civil aviation firms – corruption is everywhere," he said.

The World Bank has even suspended funding for the bridge project over corruption, he added.

Awami League has not fulfilled its electoral pledge to publish account details of properties of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other ministers, though three years have passed since the party took charge, the BNP leader said.

"Now the people of the country want to know the asset details of the prime minister and her cabinet colleagues," he added.

In July last year, the government had made declaration of accounts a must by all ministers and those holding positions of similar rank. A guideline in this regard was also published.

Following the move, quite a few of the ministers and others of that rank submitted their tax returns to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), but the Cabinet Division is yet to make public how many of them actually submitted their property details.

'ISI MONEY CHARGE FALSE'

Alamgir also termed 'false' the prime minister's claim that BNP and its chief Khaleda Zia took money from Pakistani intelligence agency ISI before some general elections.

"The Pakistan foreign ministry said on Friday that news on the spy agency giving money to BNP is false, imaginary and baseless ... we have been saying that right since the beginning," he said.

British newspaper Daily Mail's online version on Mar 15 reported that former ISI chief Asad Durrani had told the Supreme Court that the intelligence agency had given BNP money before the 1991 election.

Prime minister Hasina has been flaying the opposition following the publication of news.

The Pakistan foreign ministry on Friday termed the news 'baseless'.

In a counter-charge, Alamgir referred to a report of The Economist and said Awami League took 'sacks full of money' from a 'neighbouring country' before the 2008 election.

"None has said that the news is false," he added.

Central Bank Goes Tough on Farm Loan

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Mar 24 The central bank governor has warned of a tough action against the banks that will fail to reach farm loan disbursement targets.

"A target has been set for the banks to disburse agricultural loans and we hope that they'll be able fulfil the target. In case of failure, we will deduct money from their cash reserves and will distribute the amount among the farmers," central bank governor Atiur Rahman said on Saturday.

He was addressing a workshop titled 'Strategic Plan Development' organised by Microcredit Regulatory Authority at Savar Hope Centre.

According to law, the commercial banks have to keep 6 percent of their total deposit in cash with the central bank.

From the current fiscal (2011-2012), the country's central bank – Bangladesh Bank -- has asked all the private and foreign commercial banks to disburse at least 2.5 percent of their total loans as agriculture credit.

The latest statistics of the central bank shows that the disbursement of agricultural loans by the private banks has increased while the disbursement by the specialised and state-owned banks has decreased.

Bangladesh Bank had set a target for local and foreign banks of disbursing Tk 138 billion in agriculture loans for the current fiscal year.

The farm loan disbursement by the banks in July-February is Tk 76.88 billion.

Of this four state-owned commercial banks — Sonali, Rupali, Agrani and Janata and the two specialised state-owned banks -- Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank — disbursed Tk 51.83 billion.

On the other hand, 30 foreign and private banks disbursed Tk 25.05 billion.

Tigers go down roaring Pakistan clinch a cliffhanger to deny Bangladesh Asia Cup

DHAKA NEWS

Pakistan denied Bangladesh the celebration of the biggest moment in their cricketing history when they beat the hosts by two runs in the nerve-wracking Asia Cup final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Pakistan enhanced their reputation as masters of the big moment by clinching the Asia Cup for the second time after first achieving it in 2000 in the same city but at a different venue, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

But the Tigers left the field with their heads held high and they can feel proud even in defeat after the way they have performed in this tournament. Some players were seen weeping after this heartbreaking defeat as once again they were so close yet so far. The deafening noise coming from the stands as pacer Aizaz Cheema ran in to bowl the last ball was suddenly transformed into a deathly silence when Shahadat Hossain failed to hit the winning boundary as Bangladesh finished their 50-over quota on 234 for eight in reply to Pakistan's 236 for nine.

Everybody was at the edge of their seats when Bangladesh required nine runs from the last over but ultimately the home team could manage only six at the cost of the wicket of Abdur Razzak.

In the end, the profligacy of Shahadat Hossain, who conceded 19 runs in the last over, and the slow batting from Nazimuddin (16 from 52 balls) and Nasir Hossain (28 from 63) played a major role behind the defeat, although incredibly Tamim Iqbal made yet another fifty, his fourth consecutive half-century. And of course, the fantastic Shakib Al Hasan hit 68 runs and credit goes to Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who smashed a nine-ball 18, for taking it so close.

After a 68-run opening partnership between Tamim and Nazimuddin, Bangladesh lost three quick wickets but Shakib joined Nasir Hossain to steady the ship. They seemed to be batting with the mantra of keeping wickets intact as much as possible because they played from overs 23.1 to 42.3 to share 89 runs for the fourth wicket, but sadly for the home side, the Tigers could not make up the run rate in the death overs.

Pacer Aizaz Cheema first brought Pakistan back into the match by removing Shakib and captain Mushfiqur Rahim in quick succession before the right-arm pacer kept his nerve in the last over to deny the Bangladeshis their glory.

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim maintained his hundred percent record in winning the toss to field first and the Bangladesh bowlers did an excellent job apart from the Shahadat's chaotic last over to restrict Pakistan to 236 for nine.

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who had a highest ODI score of 24 before this game, turned 199 for 8 into 236 for 9 with a 52-ball 46. Many thought Pakistan were still short on a pitch that had been favourable to the chasing side through the tournament.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Abdur Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan took two wickets each to make sure none of the Pakistani batsmen were able to score big as Mohammad Hafeez (40), Umar Akmal (30), Hammad Azam (30) and Shahid Afridi (32) failed to carry on from good starts.

After that, many started to dream of achieving their biggest victory in history in front of high-profile guests like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia, but they fell two runs short.

Despite the defeat it will not be unwise if someone shouts at the top of their voices “Bravo Bangladesh”, “Bravo Tigers” because they showed rare consistency in the tournament which will definitely silence the critics who often criticise the Tigers' performance at the international level.

Pakistan won the trophy but it was Bangladesh who won the hearts of millions.