BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia threatens hartal, gherao after Ramadan,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday threatened tougher agitation programmes including hartal and gherao after Ramadan if the government does not restore the caretaker government system.

Addressing a mass rally in front of the BNP's Nayapaltan head office in the capital, she also announced a series of countrywide protest programmes on different issues.

According the announcement, the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance will stage demonstrations in the capital and elsewhere of the country on June 17 and 24 and July 1, 8 and 15.

Opposition leader said the government itself has to reinstate the non-party caretaker system as it had removed it from the constitution.

She also demanded immediate release of the opposition leaders including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The former prime minister in her nearly hour-long address touches different issues including the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi and Saudi Arabia diplomat and blasted the government for its failure to arrest the killers.

Criticising a government move to allow Sahara India Pariwar to invest in the real estate sector, she said: "Even one inch of land would not be given to Sahara."

Thousands of leaders and activists of 18-party alliance who have already thronged in front of the BNP central office in Nayapaltan of the capital welcomed Khaleda chanting slogans as soon as she reached the venue around 4:00pm.

The gathering of the alliance leaders and activists carrying festoons, banners and sheaves of paddy spilled over into Fakirerpool and Kakrail intersection from the Nayapaltan area.

Khaleda might declare a daylong hartal to press for the detained leaders' release, party insiders said earlier.

She would also announce agitation programmes like human chains, rallies, processions and blockades, while keeping room for talks to resolve the ongoing political stalemate, they added.

The alliance is holding the rally as the 90-day ultimatum to the government for restoration of the caretaker government system ended on Sunday without any breakthrough.

With around 30 of its senior leaders still behind bars, the alliance expected over 15 lakh people will join the gathering at Nayapaltan.

Meanwhile, acute transport crisis were reported from different parts of the capital ahead of the rally, causing immense suffering of the people.

The opposition leaders alleged that alliance supporters heading for the capital were obstructed in various areas across the country on Sunday.

On May 24, on behalf of the 18-party alliance, applications were submitted seeking permission to hold the rally at either of Paltan Maidan, Nayapaltan and Manik Mia Avenue.

From a grand rally on March 12, Khaleda Zia asked the Awami League-led grand alliance government to make a formal announcement restoring the non-party caretaker government system by June 10.

The warning, however, failed to move the Hasina administration to bring back the provision that mandated a non-elected neutral government to oversee the national polls. The provision was scrapped through a constitutional amendment in line with a Supreme Court verdict last year.

According to the existing provision, the next election will be held under the incumbent administration.

The BNP later enforced a number of shutdowns, but restrained itself from declaring any after over 30 opposition leaders were sent to jail on May 16 in an arson case filed on April 29.

Against this backdrop, Khaleda, also leader of the opposition in parliament, has apparently softened her stance. She said her party does not care about the name of the government, under which the next parliamentary polls would be held. But it has to be a non-party administration; otherwise, they will not enter into talks on the issue.

Remove business establishments from Dhanmondi:Maple Leaf International School,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Declaring commercial operations in Dhanmondi residential area illegal, the High Court on Monday directed the authorities to remove all business establishments from the area to protect its residential character and environment.

The government has been asked to allow the institutions time essential for shifting their setups.

It ordered Maple Leaf International School authorities to windup its all branches from the area and to shift those to a suitable place within next three years.

A division bench of the HC asked the school authorities to control traffic jams in the school areas by their own manpower during the three-year period.

The judges however said the ruling will not hamper the business of the authorised commercial establishments at the Mirpur Road, Satmasjid Road and Dhanmondi-2 and Dhanmondi-27 areas.

Petitioners’ counsel Manzill Murshid told that the setups of commercial institutions including, schools, colleges, universities and hospitals, which are now operating at Dhanmondi residential area, will have to be shifted following the verdict.

He added that the buildings and structures, where the institutions are running, will not have to be removed according to the verdict.

Justice Naima Haider and Justice Farid Ahmed came up with the verdict after a hearing on the rule earlier issued asking the government to explain why it should not be directed to evict the commercials institutions from Dhanmondi residential area.

On February 2, the HC issued the rule following the writ petition jointly filed by MA Masud, president of Dhanmondi Residential Welfare Association, and its general secretary MA Matin Chowdhury seeking necessary directives for protecting residential character and environment of the area.

They stated in the petition that said hundreds of illegal commercial institutions were operating at Dhanmondi residential area, damaging residential character and environment, but no step was taken to remove those and authorities concerned failed in their duty to protect the residential area.

M Amir-Ul Islam and Rokanuddin Mahmud appeared for Maple Leaf International School and Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman represented the government.

Alim indicted for war crimes 17 charges framed against him; trial to start July 9,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Former BNP lawmaker Abdul Alim was indicted on Monday on 17 charges of crimes against humanity committed during the country's Liberation War in 1971.

After framing the charges, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 set July 9 for the trial to begin with opening statement from the prosecution and examination of its witnesses.

The charges against the three-time BNP lawmaker and former minister include involvement in genocide, murder, complicity, confinement and other crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War of the country.

After charges against Alim were read out, the three member tribunal led by its Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir asked him if he pleaded guilty or not guilty. The Jamaat leader claimed himself innocent.

During its nearly two-hour proceedings, the tribunal also asked the defence to submit their document and a list of witnesses on the very day when the trial will start formally against the BNP man.

Alim was arrested on March 27, 2011, and has been on conditional bail since March 31 last year.

The Tribunal-1 had taken the charges brought against him into cognisance on March 27 this year after the prosecution submitted formal charges against him on March 15 this year.

On April 16, Tribunal-1 transferred three cases including Alim's to Tribunal-2 for quick disposal and the second tribunal started Alim's case proceeding on April 24.

The prosecution alleged that Alim, an influential leader of East Pakistan Conventional Muslim League, formed Peace Committee and Razakar Bahini (two collaborator forces) in Joypurhat in 1971 and committed killings, genocide, rape, looting, arson and other crimes against humanity in association with the auxiliary forces and the Pakistan army.

The defence claimed that the trial was being held 40 years after the crimes were committed only to “suppress the opposition” and the prosecution brought allegations against Alim but lacked sufficient legal basis and evidence.

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

Earlier, the two tribunals dealing with the war crimes charges framed charges against Jamaat former chief Ghulam Azam, its present Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, its Nayeb-e-Ameer Delawar Hossain Sayedee and its two assistant secretaries general Abdul Quader Mollah and Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

The tribunal also issued an arrest warrant against expelled Jamaat member Abul Kalam Azad who is now at large.

US to tell WB of Padma bridge's utility: US Ambassador Dan W Mozena,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The US will play a helpful role in the construction of Padma bridge and convey its usefulness to the World Bank soon, US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena said on Monday.

“We will convey the usefulness of Padma bridge to the World Bank management soon,” the US envoy told reporters after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at the latter’s secretariat office in Dhaka.

He said Bangladesh should talk to the WB, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan to find a way to move forward to building the bridge.

“The Bangladesh government, WB, ADB and Japan should work together so that the bridge can be constructed because it is essential for the country,” Mozena said.

He said the bridge will facilitate trade with India and Nepal. The bridge is needed for linking the country with Mongla Port and Benapole Port, he added.

Mozena also said both Bangladesh and the US are very close to signing the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa).

“The Ticfa is not agreed yet. But we are almost at the final stage for signing the Ticfa. We are waiting for amending a few words in the agreement,” he said adding that he is flying to the US on ties to convey the latest situation of the Ticfa to the Obama administration.

Bangladesh government has already prepared the Ticfa and the draft might be finalised after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina nods.

The Ticfa promises to protect investments, remove obstacles in bilateral trade and create a forum for discussing issues relating to trade and investment.

After the meeting, Muhith said the government will take the final decision regarding the construction of Padma bridge within next month.

BGB pushes back 180 Myanmar nationals,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

BGB personnel on Monday pushed back around 180 Myanmar nationals when they entered Bangladesh territory through Cox’s Bazar frontier in the face of the ongoing sectarian violence in the neighbouring country.

The members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) intercepted three engine boats carrying at least 180 Myamnar nationals in the Naf river near Shahpori Dwip Border Observatory Post in Teknaf around 7:30am and sent them back, said Maj Shafiqur Rahman, second-in-command of BGB 42 battalion.

Most of the intruders were women and children, our Chittagong correspondent reports, quoting the BGB official.

Around 10:30am, a team of coast guard pushed back a wooden boat carrying Myanmar citizens from St Martin, he said.

The acting commander further informed that BGB and Bangladesh Coast Guard men intercepted four engine boats in the Naf river in Teknaf around 2:00pm and sent those back.

Of the boats, two managed to enter Bangladesh territory with 47 and 17 passengers while two others were not allowed to enter Bangladesh part.

He said the intruders mostly Muslims, who were pushed back in the morning, might make several attempt to enter Bangladesh after being divided into small groups to flee the turmoil.

“But no outsider will be allowed to enter the country,” the BGB official said while.

On Saturday, police arrested four injured Myanmar citizens in Cox's Bazar town.

Police and BGB are on high alert near Teknaf of Cox's Bazar fearing influx of Myanmar citizens amid the violence between Muslims and Budhists in northwest Myanmar.

At least seven people have been killed and many hurt, authorities say, in the worst communal violence since a reformist government replaced a military junta last year.

A state of emergency was declared on Sunday in Myanmar's western Rakhine state amid fears of further unrest.

Bangla, not Bengali,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Though we have been enjoying the bliss of independence for long, the legacy of the imperialistic British dominance still follows us. It is evident from the nomenclature of numerous institutions, roads etc. which were named after the British queens or governor-generals. The pronunciation of Bangla words by the British tormented us during the colonial rule. It is a matter of regret that we still pronounce Bangla words erroneously and impudently like the British. We still write the word "Bangla" in a weird spelling, 'Bengali'. Although it was quite late, our parliament, by the eighth amendment of the constitution in 1988, amended and recognised the spelling of "Bangla" in a deserved manner. Yet many Bangladeshi writers and even some government offices make the mistake of writing "Bangla" as "Bengali". We should enhance the dignity of our beloved Bangla language by spelling it as "Bangla," not "Bengali". 

Grabbers feast on relief, rehab dept lands in Nilphamari,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

 A considerable portion of 3,602 acres of land owned by government's relief and rehabilitation department in four upazilas of the district has gone into the hands of illegal occupiers due to lack of proper monitoring.

The then Pakistan government purchased the lands (through requisition) during 1947-1952 for sheltering people who migrated from India in the face of communal riots there.

Of the lands, 3,031.83 acres are in Dimla upazila, 543.10 acres in Sadar upazila, 22.50 acres in Jaldhaka upazila, and 4.41 acres in Saidpur upazila, said sources of the department concerned.

"A good number of Indian refugees were sheltered in small portions of those lands but most of it remained unutilised till independence of Bangladesh," said Aftabuddin Ahmed, upazila chairman of Dimla.

"After 1971, a section of unscrupulous people gradually encroached upon those lands and started handing over the 'possession' to others in exchange of money. For this, buyers and sellers usually make unregistered deeds on government stamps, which have no legal value," he informed.

A number of people in collusion with a section of dishonest land officials even made false land ownership documents and sold those lands through registration in local upazila land registry offices.

During the last land survey, some people allegedly got large areas of the government lands recorded as private property through bribing a section of land officials but no action was taken although several written allegations were submitted to the higher authorities in this regard.

Project implementation officers (PIO) of the upazilas concerned are responsible for looking after the lands under the government's relief department.

But they remain busy mostly in implementing different government projects and due to manpower shortage, they have very little capacity to do anything about the lands, sources said.

Several attempts by the district administration to recover the occupied lands saw little results due to various reasons while a section of local political leaders back the illegal occupiers.

Authorities during the last caretaker government in 2007-2008 took a few drastic steps to recover the encroached lands but the initiative discontinued later.

According to the present market value, the price of the 3,602 acres of government land would be at least Tk 500 crore, land department sources said.

Sadar upazila vice chairman Shahid Mahmud suggested that the government fix up the value of those lands and realise it from the occupiers to hand it over to them through deeds.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Abdul Mottalib Mollah told this correspondent that a seven-member committee has been formed with the ADC (Revenue) as president and the DRRO as member secretary to recover the occupied lands.

As per direction of the ministry concerned, the committee, which is obliged to hold a meeting every month, is collecting all the particulars of every plot of land belonging to the relief department and recording them in registers to take further course of action, he added.

Diatribes Against Prof Sayeed Sangsad regrets Unparliamentary words to be expunged,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

On behalf of the Jatiya Sangsad, Speaker Abdul Hamid yesterday regretted the recent “unwanted discussion” in parliament, criticising noted litterateur Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed using “unparliamentary words”.

“Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed is a respected person of this country. Therefore, I will expunge from parliament proceedings all the unparliamentary words used in the discussion on him,” he said in a rare ruling.

“The undesired discussion was held following the publication of misleading news items in some newspapers and some unparliamentary words were used [by some MPs in the discussion]. I sincerely regret it on behalf of the Jatiya Sangsad.”

Treasury bench lawmakers welcomed the ruling by thumping desks.

The Speaker urged legislators, intellectuals, civil society members and the general people regardless of their political affiliation to uphold the dignity of the House.

“Everyone should refrain from publishing such news and making such comments which undermine the dignity of parliament,” he said, adding, “There may be good and bad people in every profession. So it is not appropriate to make sweeping remarks.”

On June 3, a number of ruling alliance MPs in parliament launched a blistering attack on Prof Sayeed for his reported remarks about MPs and ministers. Independent MP Fazlul Azim piloted the attack in which Awami League MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujib ul-Haque Chunnu also joined.

Citing news reports, they alleged that Prof Sayeed had told a programme of Transparency International Bangladesh on June 2 that lawmakers and ministers act like “thieves and robbers”. They also demanded that the House take action against Prof Sayeed.

Ali Ashraf, who was presiding over the sitting then in absence of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, even demanded that Sayeed apologise to the House.

The attack on Prof Sayeed sparked uproars and drew huge criticism.

Later, The Daily Star and some other newspapers published in details what the noted litterateur had actually said.

Prof Sayeed, founder of Biswa Sahitya Kendra, had said it was not corruption when a thief stole. But when a man, who pledged to follow ethics and rule of law, indulges in stealing it is corruption.

As an example, he said when a minister or a lawmaker who took an oath to act in a fair and ethical manner failed to do so, it "is corruption".

In his ruling, the Speaker said TIB's Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman on June 4 sent the transcript of Prof Sayeed's speech in the programme and a compact audio disk of the programme.

“I read the transcript and listened to the CD,” the Speaker said, adding, “It seems to me that there is no consistency between the reports published in [some] newspapers and his actual speech. He did not make any remarks that ministers and MPs do not have ethics.”

The Speaker said the reports were baseless. The readers were misled by the baseless reports and the matter was discussed in the House.

“Those newspapers published the reports without checking the authenticity, and it has demonstrated lack of responsibility. I hope those newspapers will act responsibly in future and publish news after checking the authenticity of the news.”

Hamid, however, defended the MPs who criticised Prof Sayeed and said the lawmakers spoke on the basis of newspaper reports.

“As elected public representatives it is the moral duty of the MPs to protect and maintain the dignity of the House. I think they spoke from this sense of responsibility and proposed taking steps to avert recurrence of such incidents in future,” Hamid, a seasoned MP, said.

He said democracy and the media complement each other. Media flourishes if democracy remains functional. Therefore, the media people are to work with responsibility for democracy to flourish and for the welfare of the people and the country.

“Media people have to be more cautious in publishing reports. They should keep in mind that publishing baseless, imaginary and motivated news reports may mislead people and may bring misfortune to the country and the people,” he said.

Bus, launch service stalled Arrests ahead of rally,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Bus and launch services between Dhaka and different districts remained suspended yesterday on the eve of the opposition's grand rally in the capital.

Thousands of Dhaka-bound passengers, especially in the northern and southern districts, suffered because of disruption to transport operations allegedly by pro-government workers.

In Barisal, people waited for hours at bus stations and launch terminals, as owners kept their vehicles and vessels off the roads and waterways, citing security concerns.

Our correspondent in Chittagong reports: Police arrested 160 people in the port city in the early hours yesterday.

Jamaat-e-Islami Bakshirhat ward unit president Abdul Mabud, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader Mohammad Rustam and BNP activist Abul Hossain were among those arrested.

AKM Mohiuddin Selim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said some of the arrestees were accused of attacking police and vandalising vehicles on May 13.

Tanvir Arafat, assistant commissioner (detective branch) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, said at least 73 people were arrested in cases linked to drug peddling, murder, robbery, mugging and prostitution in the port city.

Nazmul Hasan, additional superintendent of police in Chittagong (south), told that such drives are carried out almost every month and they are meant to maintain law and order.

A BNP leader in Kotwali area, Shamsul Alam, however, alleged that the police had been conducting mass arrests to foil the grand rally in Dhaka.

Our correspondent in Barisal reports: Thousands of people were stuck in bus stations and launch terminals due to disruption to Dhaka-bound water and road transport services.

Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice-president of Barisal Launch Owners' Association, said, “We are just following the orders from the port authority. If they allow, we will resume our service.”

Lokman Hussein, river traffic inspector in Barisal, however, said he did not know of any restrictions imposed on the plying of passenger vessels on Barisal-Dhaka route.

Meanwhile, Alamgir Hossain, president of Barisal Bus Owners' Association, said all counters of Dhaka-bound buses were closed yesterday afternoon on orders from the owners “worried about safety of the passengers and vehicles”.

Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, city BNP president and lawmaker, alleged that the ruling party had been using the government machinery to prevent people from joining the grand rally in the capital.

A correspondent in Bogra reports: Bus counters stopped selling tickets in Bogra and other northern districts yesterday afternoon, leaving hundreds of passengers at bay.

Bogra Inter-District Truck Workers' Union President Abdul Mannan said he had received a call from an unknown number asking him not to operate any bus to Dhaka. The caller said it was an order from the central bus owners' association.

Shahdat Hossain Jhantu, manager of SR Travels, said local transport workers' union had also asked them to stop operating buses to Dhaka.

Ghulam Azam's role was crucial Prosecution tells war crimes tribunal,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Ghulam Azam is responsible for the crimes committed by the auxiliary forces of the Pakistani army during the Liberation War since he had control and influence over those forces, the prosecution said during its opening statement.

In the case against Ghulam Azam filed in connection with crimes against humanity, Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arieff Tipoo yesterday told International Crimes Tribunal-1, “He [Ghulam Azam] cannot avoid the responsibility of crimes [committed by auxiliary forces] as he had a role in the formation of the forces and in some cases he led the forces.”

After framing five charges against Ghulam Azam on May 13, the tribunal yesterday began the trial against Ghulam Azam, who is regarded by many as an epitome of war crimes.

The tribunal indicted Ghulam Azam for committing crimes against humanity, including involvement in murder and torture of unarmed people; and conspiracy, planning, incitement and complicity to commit genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1971 war.

The three-member tribunal led by its Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq fixed June 24 for recording the statement of first prosecution witness. It also asked the defence to submit the list of defence witnesses and documents on the same day.

The prosecution began reading out the 142-page opening statement around 10:30am and finished around 4:30pm.

The prosecution said Ghulam Azam played a key role in forming auxiliary forces including Shanti (peace) Committee, Razakar, Al Badr and Al Shams, Al-Mujahid forces which were responsible for mass killings during the Liberation War.

It claimed that Ghulam Azam had superior status over those forces.

It said with this superior status, Ghulam Azam used the auxiliary forces to help the Pakistani army commit massacres all over Bangladesh.

According to the war history, the Pakistani forces with the help of different political parties and the auxiliary forces killed 30 lakh people of Bangladesh and raped over two lakh women, the prosecution said.

Although Ghulam Azam claimed himself to be a “pardoned collaborator”, the prosecution would place their evidence against this claim, prosecutor Tipoo said.

The prosecution also said Ghulam Azam, the then ameer of East Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami, also provoked youths into joining the Razakar force and, according to some government documents, he administrated the oath taking ceremony of several Razakar teams.

Ghulam Azam was produced before the court yesterday. At one point of the proceedings, he was sent back to the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University as he was not feeling well.

BNP gets conditional nod for rally,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Sunday allowed the opposition BNP to hold its rally in the capital on Monday outlining 11 conditions to be adhered to during the programme.

BNP's Assistant Office Secretary Abdul Latif Jony received a letter signed by DMP Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters) Habibur Rahman around 8pm on Sunday.

The conditions include limiting the use of loudspeakers in the rally area from Fakirapool Crossing to Nightingale Crossing and its duration to three-and-a-half hours.

The letter also specified that the rally stage should not be used for any purpose other than making political speeches, and acts that could go against the law and public interest would not be allowed.

The DMP also mandated that the rally stage could not be set up on the main road, people could throng the rally venue only two hours prior to its start and the rally must end by 5:30pm.

The conditions also include that people cannot gather in any open place before or after the time permitted for holding the rally, and traffic cannot be hampered and people's movement cannot be obstructed outside the area fixed for the rally.

The main opposition led 18-party opposition alliance is set to hold the rally at 2pm on Monday in front of the party's Naya Paltan headquarters.

The law-enforcers had specified similar conditions for opposition's Mar 12 rally at the same venue.    

Speaker 'sorry' for MPs' rant,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A 'sorry' Speaker Abdul Hamid, on Sunday said 'un-parliamentary' remarks of the MPs criticising Bishwa Sahitya Kendra founder Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed will be deleted from proceedings.

He also criticised the news reports based on which the MPs had harshly criticised the noted litterateur on June 3 for making 'objectionable' remarks about the lawmakers and ministers.

"Some national dailies have shown a very irresponsible attitude by publishing such reports without checking the facts," Hamid said in a ruling in the beginning of the session.

Prof Ali Ashraf MP, who was presiding the session on June 3 in absence of the Speaker and his deputy Shawkat Ali, had asked Prof Sayeed to tender an unconditional apology for his alleged remarks made at a discussion organised by the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) on June 2.

His call came after several MPs including ruling Awami League's Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Jatiya Party's Mujibul Haque Chunnu and independent MP Fazlul Azim criticised Sayeed citing Bengali daily Inqilab's report that he commented that 'MPs and ministers act like thieves and dacoits and breach oath'.

But Sayeed, later on the same night, termed the contempt of Parliament allegation 'completely baseless' and 'false' and said he would not apologise for remarks which he never made.

On the following day, TIB had sent a copy of his speech and a video footage of his address at the programme to Speaker Hamid.

The Speaker on Sunday said, "I read his speech's copy and watched the CD. I came to the conclusion that his speech and the report published on the newspaper are totally different."

He said the report was the root of the unexpected event.

"Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed is a respected personality of the country. The un-parliamentarian remarks made in the unscheduled discussion [in Parliament] will be expunged."

He also asked the news media to be more careful about news reports.  

Exports fall short of target,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Bangladesh's exports fell for the third straight month in May.

It dipped 4.17 percent from $2.29 billion in May last year to $2.2 billion in the same month this year, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) figures published on Sunday.

Country's exports fell 11.99 percent short of the $2.5-billion target set for May.

It was 7.13 percent and 7.23 percent below the targets for April and March, respectively.

Although the exports in the outgoing fiscal saw an increase of 7 percent to $21.98 billion until June, it fell 7.52 percent short of the $23.76-billion target.

The government had set a target of $26.5-billion export earning in the outgoing financial year.

Bangladesh had exported goods worth $20.54 billion in 2010-11.  

Government approval not must to import eggs-chicks

BANGLADESH NEWS

The government has done away with the requirement to obtain permission from the commerce ministry to import hatching eggs and day-old chicks in view of the rising demand of the items.

Officials said that the government certified importers would enjoy the permission waiver until June 30.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins at the end of July, and the demand for protein usually increases during the period, according to the officials.

Prices of eggs and chickens have shot up over the past few weeks. Price of per kilogram broiler chicken has increased by Tk 50 and is now being sold at Tk 180. On the other hand, price of two pairs of eggs has increased to Tk 38-39 from Tk 25.

The commerce ministry in separate orders on June 5 withdrew the ban on the imports of eggs and chicks, and salt.

Deputy Commerce Secretary Abu Siddique Sarder told  on Sunday that the government had decided to import the three items until June 30. "Necessary measures have been taken in this regard."

The ministry in its order said that the government would not allow imports of eggs and chicks from a bird flu- or avian influenza-prone country. The importing agencies will have to get no-bird-flu clearance certificate from the exporting countries and submit to the ministry.

The order also said that every importing agency could open a letter of credit (L/C) to import salt up to 10,000 metric tonnes.

According to leaders of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association, currently daily demand for eggs is around 200 million while the production is 100 million.

In Nov 2011, the commerce ministry had allowed Dhaka-based Faria Enterprise Ltd to import 10 million pieces of hatching eggs from India.

In Oct 2010, the ministry allowed the same company to import 100 million pieces of day-old chicks from India and other countries since the prices had doubled in the local market. The firm was asked to import the items until June last year. The ministry later extended the deadline to June 30 this year.  

BNP leader Abdul Alim indictment order on Monday,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The second International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will issue an order on indictment of BNP leader Abdul Alim on Monday.

ICT-2 Chairman Justice A T M Fazle Kabir set the date on May 23 after hearing arguments.

Alim's counsel M Tajul Islam had argued for releasing him without framing charges against him while prosecutor Rana Dasgupta had argued for starting the trial.

Alim, a member of BNP founder Gen Ziaur Rahman's cabinet, had been arrested from his Joypurhat residence on Mar 27 last year. The ICT-1 had granted the 81-year-old conditional bail and extended it on several occasions.

In March this year, the case against Alim had been shifted to ICT-2 which started hearing on his indictment on Apr 24.

The prosecution had submitted a 3,909-page investigation report charging the former MP with seven types of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War of 1971.

It said he had been involved with 28 such crimes.

Saudi prince Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal eyes power, tourism investment,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Saudi multi-billionaire Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal has shown interest to invest in Bangladesh's power and tourism.

In his brief visit to Bangladesh lasting five hours on Sunday, Prince Al-Waleed had a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on possibilities of investment and was given a rare state honour.

The founder and CEO of Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding Company received Bangladesh Friendship Medal in a brief ceremony from the Prime Minister at Sonargaon Hotel after reaching Dhaka around 10am.

Officials said Prince Al Waleed and Hasina had lunch together.

"We've had a discussion with the Saudi Prince regarding investment possibilities in Bangladesh. He is interested to invest here and also showed interest in the power and tourism sectors," Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told journalists.

The Saudi tycoon was given a Power Point presentation highlighting the investment scenario in Bangladesh, opportunities for investment in the Public Private Partnership projects, and tourism and power sector, climate change challenges after the meeting.

Replying to a media query, Dipu Moni said they did not discuss any particular project with the Saudi Prince.

"But a small Bangladeshi delegation will go to Saudi Arabia next month to discuss several specific issues," she said.

The Prince, owning $18 billion, is currently ranked 29th in the Forbes magazine's list of billionaires. He visited Bangladesh earlier in 2005 when he wished to buy Sonargaon Hotel.

Answering a question whether the Prince still intended to do so, Moni said, "He has not shown any interest in buying any hotel."

"Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal is famous around the world as a huge investor. We hope he will invest in Bangladesh," Moni added.

On exporting manpower to Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Minister said, "We have thanked the Saudi government on the issue. We said if they need, they can import more workers from Bangladesh. He used two words about the Bangladeshi workers – integrity and honesty."

Many Bangladeshi workers are currently working in Prince Talal's organisation, she added.

Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Moni, Prime Minister's Advisor Gowher Rizvi, Cabinet Secretary Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Ambassador at large M Ziauddin, Foreign Secretary Mizarul Kayes and Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad also took part in the programme to honour the Saudi Prince.

The Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said at the honouring ceremony, Hasina urged the Prince to invest to help build infrastructure in power and energy and also in tourism.

She said the investment may be made through public-private or joint partnerships, drawing a prompt positive response from the Prince, the Press Secretary added.

Defining Bangladeshi workers industrious and law-abiding, the Prime Minister called on Prince Al-Waleed to employ more workers including doctors, nurses, engineers, information-technology experts, accountants and skilled and semi-skilled workers in his new projects.

"The Saudi Prince praised the economic progress of Bangladesh even though the world is suffering from economic recession and also praised the Prime Minister for her leadership," said Azad.

The Prince then saw President Zillur Rahman at the Bangabhaban before leaving Dhaka around 3pm.

State Minister for Power Mohammad Enamul Hoque saw him off at the airport.