Ruling alliance MP slams govt for price rise,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A treasury bench member has expressed his concern in parliament over rise in prices of essential commodities.

Mujibur Rahman, a lawmaker of the Jatiya Party, a key ally of the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance, put forth his views while taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal that began in the House with Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali in the Chair on Tuesday.

Awami League MPs Enamul Haque, M A Mannan, Col (Retd) A A Maruf Saklan and Narayan Chandra Chanda, and Shah Zikrul Ahmed of Jatiya Samajtantrik Party took part in the discussion on the first day.

In absence of the opposition, the MPs of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance lauded the proposed national budget placed by Finance Minister A M A Muhith.

Referring to the rise in the prices of essentials, Mujibur Rahman said the price of soybean oil was soaring by Tk 10 every day. "If 5-litre bottle of soybean oil is sold today for Tk 630, it becomes Tk 640 the next day."

"When even we are finding it hard to cope with the price rise, how can common people deal with it?" he threw a poser.

Mujibur Rahman also criticised the activities of some Awami League leaders with their electorates in Lalmonirhat district.

"Many accuse me of committing irregularities in Test Relief and Food for Work programmes, backing Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP and taking bribe from the people. I challenge that I would accept any decision if anyone can prove that I've taken even Tk 10 from anyone," he said.

M A Mannan said the proposed budget was not too ambitious given the size of population and gross national income of the country. "This budget is implementable," he stressed adding that allocation proposals were very realistic.

The ruling party lawmaker demanded construction of the Padma multipurpose bridge and upgradation of the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway into four lanes.

Mannan said inflation was under control. He also hailed the government for providing subsidies to various sectors.   

Judge issues contempt rule against lawyer,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The High Court judge against whom a Supreme Court lawyer had complained to the President asked the lawyer on Tuesday to explain why he did so.

The single-judge bench headed by Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury in a suo moto ruling ordered the lawyer, Mozammel Hoque, to appear before it on July 15.

In the ruling, the judge asked him why he would not be charged with contempt for undermining the court's authority, dignity and sanctity.

On Jun 5, the lawyer in his complaint submitted to the Bangabhaban alleged that during court proceedings, Justice Choudhury had misbehaved with him by drawing an analogy between him and a monkey.

Justice Choudhury in his order said it was learnt from news reports that an appeal was made for constituting Supreme Judicial Council and the statement made in the application was derogatory.

Mozammel had hampered the dignity and sanctity of the court, it observed.

The judge further observed that the lawyer lodged the complaint out of anger as the court had once outright rejected one of his petitions.

The judge then asked Advocate Layekuzzaman Molla, who was present in the court, about what he thought about the issue.

"He (Mozammel) is a sick and irresponsible man. The honour and dignity of the people of the country is tied with that of the Supreme Court. So, the dignity of the Supreme Court needs to be protected for the sake of the people," said Molla.

Earlier in his complaint, the lawyer had alleged, "On May 31, Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury rebuked me using unspeakable language for no reason and became furious enough to compare me with a monkey, which is unprecedented in the court."

"It should also be mentioned here that, by now the judge has rebuked over 500 lawyers unnecessarily and feeling insulted more than one honest and obedient lawyers are silently boycotting his court and none of them spoke out for the sake of their own honour," Mozammel added in his complaint.

He also alleged to President Md Zillur Rahman that Justice court become 'a court preferred by a very few lawyers.' He 'for and without any reasons' has launched 'a festival of issuing suo moto rules against different people of the country, which is unconstitutional'.


He drew the President's attention to demand action against the judge by constituting Supreme Judicial Council to ensure and uphold 'the rule of law, image of the judiciary, and protect the Constitution.'

Ruling Awami League MPs also demanded the judge's removal on the same day the lawyer had lodged the complaint after Justice Choudhury stated that Speaker Abdul Hamid committed sedition by commenting against a High Court verdict.

The Speaker, however, later said that he would give a ruling.

Justice Choudhury was appointed as Additional High Court judge during the tenure of Awami League on July 25, 2001. He served in the High Court on temporary basis until Mar 25, 2009.  

3 railway officials suspended in Chittagong,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Three officials of the Bangladesh Railway (East Zone) have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the reported irregularities in manpower recruitment in the railways.

"Two of them were suspended following an order from the headquarters on Tuesday," Acting General Manager and Chief Engineer (East Zone) Mozammel Haque told .

The officials suspended in line with the order are Additional Chief Mechanical Engineer Hafizur Rahman and Senior Welfare Officer Golam Kibria.

Another order came later in the day suspending Assistant Commercial Officer Abu Sayeed, according to Mozammel.

Following the recent money recovery scandal involving some BR officials, the railway authorities and the ministry had formed two separate investigation committees to look into the anomalies in the recruitment process.

The probe committee of the railway authorities submitted its findings on May 22.

The committee of the railway ministry submitted its report to BR Director General Abu Taher on Thursday. 

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee's investigator sweats over details,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee's war crimes investigator on Tuesday had to dig deep into his records for minutes on end as he faced the defence at the first war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh.

Standing in the dock for the 20th day, ASP Mohammad Helal Uddin was mostly cross-examined on how he ascertained Sayedee's father's name to be Yousuf Ali Shikdar.

The investigator took long in answering some questions and the judges had to intervene and the defence dispensed with the formality through a suggestion rather than a question.

It has been the prosecution's contention that the Jamaat executive council member used to be known by Shikdar before the Liberation War in 1971. It was only later that he began to call himself Sayedee.

The International Crimes Tribunal -1, set up to deal with crimes against humanity during 1971, has indicted Sayedee on 20 war crimes charges.

Defence counsel Mizanul Islam began his questioning with a sketch map (Mark 1) that mentioned Sayedee's father's name on it.

Having confirmed that the investigator mentioned Sayedee's father as Yousuf Ali Shikdar, defence counsel Mizanul Islam asked, "How did you come upon it?"

Helal Uddin: During the course of my investigation.

Defence counsel: Did you get a certificate from the Union Parishad Chairman where Sayedee's native village of Southkhali is located?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: How about the Upazila Chairman?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you interview anyone regarding his name in Sayedee's native village?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you interview any of Sayedee's relatives or in-laws?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you question any of his class-mates?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you secure any certificate in this regard from the Dhaka Ward Commissioner where Sayedee lives?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you interview anyone at the Ward Commissioner's office in this regard?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you have a look at his national ID card to ascertain the father's name?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you check any of Sayedee's brothers' national IDs?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you check the names in the voters' roll of 1970 elections?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you check the names in the voters' roll of the last 2008 elections?

Investigator: No. But I collected some information regarding Sayedee from the local election office of Pirojpur.

Defence counsel: You did not collect that information through any seizure list, did you?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: When did you come by this information?

The investigator began to pore over his records but failed to answer the question even after about 10 minutes. Tribunal Chairman Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq wondered whether those items were exhibited.

The defence counsel clarified saying it was exhibit 151 with 36 pages.

Tribunal member Judge A K M Zaheer Ahmed suggested if the defence could perhaps move on, to which Mizanul Islam says, "But that only suggests that it is not properly organised. Neither is it desirable that he will take such a long time to answer this question."

The counsel did move on, however. "There were no letters or memos to the local election office requesting this information?"

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: You did not write to them, nor did the election office send you a forwarding letter?

Investigator: The election officer personally attested the copies of documents.

Defence counsel: You have collected Sayedee's tax papers, holding tax papers, certificates and such other documents?

Investigator: Yes.

Defence counsel: All these mention Delwar Hossain Sayedee's father as Yousuf Sayedee, not Shikdar.

Investigator: Yes.

The defence counsel continued his questioning and established that the investigator had not produced Dr Sharafat Ali and another Abdur Razzak as witnesses although both knew Sayedee at the Sarsina Madrasa, his alma mater.

Mizanul Islam suggested that the two were not produced before the tribunal because then the investigator's false claim that Sayedee had been expelled from the madrasa would be revealed.

Helal Uddin refuted the suggestion.

Defence counsel: Did you collect the name of the principal of Sarsina Madrasa from 1957 when Sayedee took his Dakhil exams?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Did you find out how many students took the Dakhil exam in 1957 from that madrasa?

Investigator: No.

Defence counsel: Do you have a list of how many of that year's Dakhil certificates have been given to the students?

Investigator: No.

Judge Zaheer Ahmed said, "But you do! You have exhibited those documents where it says which students collected their Dakhil certificates. I am a judge here, I can't really say much."

The investigator stuck to his answer.

He went on to deny the defence counsel's suggestion that he did not make Sayedee's classmates witnesses in the case because that would eventually prove his deposition was false.

The cross-examination is expected to continue the next day.

In the second half of the day, BNP MP Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's defence counsel cross-examined the prosecution's third witness Shirajul Islam, aka Shiru Bangali which ended by the close of the day's proceedings.

Cross-examination of the fourth witness will begin on next Monday.

The tribunal also fixed Wednesday for a ruling on a pending issue over supplying certain religious books to Jamaat guru Ghulam Azam who was indicted by the tribunal on May 13 for war crimes including incitement, conspiracy and abetment.

The court had approved Azam's prayer and given an order to that effect mentioning four items to be given to the 89-year old former Jamaat chief. However, that order has yet to be complied with by the jail authorities. 

'AL's polls hopes will peter out' BNP Standing Committee Member MK Anwar,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A senior BNP leader on Tuesday said the Awami League's hope to win the next parliamentary elections will peter out.

"In just three and a half years, your [Awami League] confidence has come down to [a level where you talk about winning] 170 seats out of the 230 you got in the last polls. The day is not very far off when the number will come down further," BNP Standing Committee Member MK Anwar said referring to an AL parliamentary party meeting held on Monday.

After AL Parliamentary Party's meeting, several ruling party MPs preferring anonymity had said the party chief, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was hopeful about retaining 170 seats in the next polls.

Hasina had also asked the party MPs to prepare for the next elections, they added.

Reacting to this, Anwar said, "The government now understands its position after getting the reports of several intelligence agencies. Now they are thinking of retaining 170 seats in the next polls."

"I would like to tell the government, you have taken a position against the people's interest. We don't want to say how many seats they would get. But you [the government] must prepare for the consequences for going against people," he added.

The BNP leader was speaking at a human-chain programme in front of the National Press Club in the city.

Reacting to the remarks of the ruling party leaders over BNP chief Khaleda Zia giving the government time until Eid-ul-Fitr to reinstate the caretaker government system, he said, "Some of them have said the opposition leader is retreating. This is not right. Khaleda Zia is not that kind of person."

He said the main opposition will announce tougher agitation in future to press the government to meet their demand.

Khaleda had earlier issued a Jun 10 ultimatum over the same demand. 

Panic-stricken Rohingyas test border watch One succumbs to injury at Ctg medical,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Despite heightened vigilance along the Myanmar border, a Rohingya family too stubborn to give up managed to enter the Bangladesh territory early yesterday.

The family of nine are here to find refuge from the ongoing sectarian turmoil in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Talking to  at a house on Shah Pori Island yesterday evening, a 70-year-old member of the family said they left their home in Akiyab on Friday night after miscreants had attacked their village and set houses on fire.

While in flight from Akiyab, one of her daughters died and the family had to bury her at sea, said the emotion-chocked mother.

Another middle-aged member of the family said, “We left since we could no longer bear watching our husbands falling in the clashes.”

“For four long days we had been trying to enter Bangladesh territory on an engine boat but couldn't do so until Monday due to the resistance from border guards. So we made a desperate attempt at the dead of night,” she said, adding that a local elderly man who was out on Fazr prayers saw and gave shelter.

So far, dozens of people had been killed in the Rakhine violence, reports AFP.

Asked about the Rohingya influx, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku yesterday said the injured refugees who had already entered Bangladesh were receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, a Myanmar citizen, who had received bullet injury in the abdomen and was under treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), died yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Kala Hossain, 50, son of Ali Hossain. He was admitted to the hospital early Monday. Doctors removed the bullet from his abdomen but could not save his life.

Along with Kala Hossain, injured Mohammad Selim, 20, and Mohammad Tayab, 20, were also admitted to CMCH. Doctors said Tayab suffered two bullet injuries in the head and was in critical condition.

Condition of Selim was stable and he was under observation, said a source, adding that doctors had removed one bullet from his chest.

A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) team arrested Kala Hossain from Teknaf upazila health complex Sunday while police arrested Selim and Tayab at CMCH the same day on charge of intruding into Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, border troops, coastguards and other law enforcement agencies have stepped up vigilance along the border with Myanmar. They are urging the local boatmen and fishermen not to help Myanmar nationals cross the border.

BGB yesterday set up a temporary camp and started special monitoring at Monkhali point in Cox's Bazar while the local administration decided to check all the boats plying on the St Martin's Island-Teknaf-Monkhali Bazar route to prevent intrusion.

Movements of engine boats and fishing trawlers in the Naf river between Bangladesh and Myanmar have remained suspended for the last few days.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Cox's Bazaar Jainul Bari said all engine boats and fishing trawlers coming from the sea would be thoroughly checked.

Maj Shafiqur Rahman, second-in-command of BGB 42 Battalion, said they had information that after failing to enter the Bangladesh territory through Shah Pori Island and Teknaf points on Monday, the Myanmar intruders could try to cross the border through Monkhali point at Cox's Bazar.

BGB Sector Commander Col Golam Farooque Chowdhury yesterday visited the nine observatory posts along the Teknaf border and talked to border guards.

Abdul Mohaimen, general manager of United Land Port Teknaf Ltd that operates the land port, said unloading and delivery of goods at the port remained normal while no cargo boats had arrived there since Saturday due to the unrest in Myanmar.

The country has been incurring a loss of around TK 35-40 lakh in revenue each day, he said.

Meanwhile, three Bangladeshi traders who went to Myanmar on business purposes last week returned home Monday, said an immigration official at Teknaf land port.

He said 12 more Bangladeshi traders are still at Maungdaw in Myanmar. The immigration here had contacted their counterparts in Maungdaw to help the trapped return home safely

“We have come to know that the Bangladeshi nationals left their hotels and moved to safer locations,” said the immigration official.

He said around 259 Myanmar nationals remained stuck in Bangladesh due to the unrest in Rakhine state. They were here on a seven-day border pass, which had already expired, and now paying Tk 200 in fine for each day's stay, he said.

Riot in Rakhine State No more refugees Dhaka says it is already overburdened but UNHCR insists,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Dhaka has decided not to allow any refugee from Myanmar and directed the administration and law enforcement agencies to beef up vigilance and resist intrusion.

On the other hand, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a briefing yesterday urged the Bangladesh government to allow the people seeking refuge in the country from sectarian clashes in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

“We have had discussions with various government officials over the last few days on allowing refugees in the country,” UNHCR country representative Craig Sanders told .

But the foreign ministry categorically said it had not received any formal or informal request from the UNHCR regarding the issue.

“Our position is clear that we won't accept any more refugees in Bangladesh. There are already five lakh Rohingyas here and we can't allow anymore. Rather, we are in a process to send back the existing refugees,” said a senior official of the foreign ministry.

According to UNHCR estimate, there are more than 30,000 registered and two lakh illegal refugees in Bangladesh.

In a press statement, the ministry said Bangladesh and Myanmar were maintaining close consultations to ensure that developments in the Rakhine state did not have any trans-boundary spill-over.

It said the local administration and the law enforcement agencies in the border area have been asked to remain alert and increase vigilance.

“Bangladesh is confident that the government of Myanmar would be able to deal with the situation in the best possible manner and restore normalcy in the region in the shortest possible time,” said the foreign ministry statement.

The foreign ministry also expressed condolences over the loss of lives and property in the ongoing violence in Myanmar.

Asked, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters that it would be a serious problem for Bangladesh if there was any fresh influx of Rohingyas, as there were already a huge number of them in the country.

“Bangladesh is a densely populated country and the Rohingyas have impacts on our society, law and order, and environment. Considering all aspects, it will create serious problems for us,” said the foreign minister, adding, “We are not interested in more people coming to Bangladesh.”

She said the second highest-level official of UNHCR headquarters would visit Bangladesh soon to discuss the issue of existing Rohingya refugees.

The foreign secretary and DG concerned of the ministry yesterday [Tuesday] had talk with the head of Myanmar embassy in Dhaka and apprised the border situation, said Dipu Moni, adding that Bangladesh embassy in Myanmar was in close contact with the government here.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR in its yesterday's briefing expressed concern over media reports that Bangladeshi border guards were pushing back Myanmar nationals. “UNHCR is seeking clarification from the Bangladesh authorities on this and other similar reports,” it said.

“UNHCR is advocating with the Bangladeshi authorities to allow safe haven on its territory for those who need immediate safety and medical assistance. Previously, people have been allowed in Bangladesh for medical treatment. We hope that such good practices will be maintained,” it added.

Although security measures have been enhanced along the borders by both the countries, a few refugees had managed to enter the Bangladesh territory, said the UNHCR country representative.

As many as 250,000 Rohingyas from Myanmar entered Bangladesh in 1991 following persecution. Later, most of them returned, but those registered by the UNHCR now reside in two camps -- Kutupalong and Nayapara -- in Cox's Bazar.

In 2009, police investigations found link of Rohingyas with some militant groups in Bangladesh.

Over the years, many of the Rohingyas living here managed to obtain Bangladeshi passport with support from local authorities and went abroad.

Two wow-men toast of nation Nishat Majumdar & Wasfia,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Nishat Majumdar is your everyday Bangladeshi girl. Small, slight, petite and initially shy in conversation, it would almost be impossible to tell her apart in a crowd.

Bangladesh's first women ascender of Mount Everest is not outwardly recognizable yet; no one in the shopping mall where we meet stops to say hello, and the only outward indication of her pioneering achievement is a mobile phone that keeps ringing off the hook. She looks flustered every time it rings and politely asks permission to answer -- this is clearly someone not yet used to her recently acquired celebrity status.

Neither, it seems, is Wasfia Nazreen, the second Bangladeshi woman to conquer Everest, only a week after Nishat, marking a remarkable feat of human achievement by two Bangladeshi women in the short span of seven days in May.

In contrast to Nishat's timid demeanour, the slightly younger Wasfia is much bubblier and very willing to share her experiences on Mount Everest, illustrating them with video gaming metaphors and sweeping hand gestures.

The stories of both these women are intriguing.

On face value, Nishat's profile looks decidedly normal. With a Masters degree in Accounting from City College and a job at Dhaka WASA, she fits the mould of the modern yet progressive Bangladeshi female.

Even as a child growing up in Dhaka, she was never rebellious or even particularly adventurous. “I was always quiet and focused on my studies,” says the softly-spoken Nishat. “I used to read stories of amazing achievements and event though I always dreamt about emulating these great people, I never thought that I would become one of those adventuresses that I read about,” she continues smiling.

Mountain climbing was a total non-issue, until 2003 when a chance expedition to Keokradong in Bandarban opened her eyes to the possibility of mountain climbing.

“The feeling was enthralling,” recalls Nishat. “The feeling that I could conquer a mountain made me feel empowered and powerful. I wanted to keep on doing it.”

And so she did.

Less than ten years to the day of her first ascent, Nishat had reached the top of the world. “It's a wonderful feeling,” says Nishat, but you can tell that the depth of her achievement has not sunk in yet.

The typical question to ask Nishat would be whether she was scared at any point in her long expedition. “Oh yes!,” she says. “It was a struggle.” There was the point when we had been stuck by an avalanche and I had become so sick that I had to come down to Base Camp to see a doctor. I was scared then,” says Nishat. But interestingly, she was not scared for her life. “I was more worried that I would not be able to complete the summit, something I had been dreaming of for so long.”

Then there was the point at the infamous Hillary Step where Nishat found herself questioning whether the whole thing had been worth it. “I wasn't scared, I wasn't angry, the feeling is hard to describe,” says Nishat. “I was just worried whether I had made the right decision to come into something so dangerous. I was wondering whether I was right in trusting myself physically and mentally.”

Wasfia too found the Hillary Step difficult to negotiate. But for her, the biggest challenge was the Khumbu Icefall, a particularly dangerous glacier segment that moves at such speed that large crevasses open with little warning.

“It was like the video game Mario,” she recalls. “There were crevasses that opened up to deathly falls and from up top, seracs could fall down on any moment.”

But particularly shocking for Wasfia was near the end of her climb when she suddenly came across the body of Scott Fisher, a mountaineer who had famously died on Everest in 1996 but whose body still remains to this day, preserved by the bitter cold.

“I was completely traumatized and taken aback at seeing the remains of Fisher,” says Wasfia. “I had read about Fisher's demise in a book [Into thin Air] but in the determination of my ascent, had completely forgotten about it.”

Fisher's body and the news of a number of deaths in the same week served a brutal reminder to the clear and present dangers to climbing a mountain of the magnitude of Mount Everest.

But the behemoth of a mountain was not the only challenge facing both these mavericks. Hailing from Feni, Wasfia was fiercely independent in nature and grew up in Chittagong before moving to Dhaka when she was a student of class six. Unlike Nishat though, Everest, for her, is the means to an end and plans are already underway to set sail for her next adventures on her amazing seven summit campaign. The far flung destinations of Oceania and Antarctica beckon invitingly.

“For me, I just want to rest for a while now and then it's back to planning the next summit,” she says.

That in itself presents another sterling challenge, comparable in scale to the physical strain of Everest.

Sponsors are extremely hard to come by, they both say. Nishat's campaign was sponsored mainly by Plan Bangladesh through their “Because I am a Girl' campaign, but to foot the bill for the other member of her expedition, they required another 11 sponsors.

Wasfia too smiles ruefully at the struggle they face to raise funds. For her City Bank and Renata have been steadfast supporters, but there is no assurance yet of how she will sponsor the rest of her summits. But showing some of the steely determination that perhaps pushed her to the summit, she remains optimistic.

So what was it like for two Bangladeshi girls to stand, quite literally, on top of the world? A smile breaks out on both the women's sun-burnt faces at that staple question. There is a familiar glint in both their eyes.

“Amazing,” says Nishat, “Spectacular,” concurs Wasfia.

But immediately you get the feeling that these are just words, hastily put together to provide some semblance of a coherent reply. The truth, as the saying goes, is that some things are beyond imagination.

Tiger Cubs No one knows how to take care,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The fate of the three tiger cubs rescued on Monday from a wildlife smuggler's house in the capital is in the hands of experts who will sit this afternoon to decide their destination.

One of the cubs, which are for now kept in a private mini zoo at Hatirpul in Dhaka, has already fallen sick and is too weak to stand.

Asked why those cubs were handed over to a private zoo, Rab Magistrate ASM Anawar Pasha said he had contacted the Dhaka Zoo authorities and many other government wildlife organisations but no one wanted to take their responsibility.

The forest department then formed a committee of five experts to decide where and how the tiger cubs should be reared since it also lacks expertise to deal with such young tiger cubs.

Suggested by a veterinary surgeon, Malekur Rahman of Dulahazara safari park, the cubs are being fed on milk powder four times a day and fine-chopped meat for once.

"I have no experience in dealing with tiger cubs, but once took care of lion cubs as those were born in the safari park," he said.

Yesterday, the cubs were seen in a cage beside a cage of a gray parrot. The veterinarian said he feared that the cubs could get an infection from birds.

Meanwhile, the environment and forest minister said an international wildlife trafficking ring was active in the country. On Monday, the trafficker's son Zakir Hossain, who was arrested with the cubs, told the press that the animals had been brought in from the Sundarbans for Tapan Kumar Dey, chief of wildlife section of the forest department.

In a press release issued yesterday, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Yunus Ali outright rejected any forest official's links with the trafficking network.

The members of the experts team are Anawarul Islam, executive secretary of Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh; CCF Yunus Ali; Ishtiaq, country representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); wildlife expert Anisuzzaman Khan, and tiger expert Manirul H Khan.

Land grabbers ignore PWD objection, police keep mum,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A group of people allegedly led by a local leader of ruling Awami League (AL) have continued their occupation of valuable lands of Public Works Department (PWD) in Bhatar Khal area of the city years after expiry of lease contract for the land.

Making the situation worse, the group on Friday morning broke the boundary wall of PWD office and started construction work to add 20 decimals of PWD land to their occupied portion.

Following complaint from PWD officials, police visited the spot, but did not take any action to evict the illegal occupiers from PWD land worth about 8 crore taka, said Barun Kumar Biswas, sub-divisional engineer of PWD Barisal sub-division.

"Taking lease of PWD land outside the office boundary wall, some people made makeshift shops and have been doing business there for the last 15/20 years. When the tenure of that lease expired in 2006, PWD decided not to renew the lease contract and asked them to vacate the premises. But the former lessees continued doing business on that land illegally," he said.

Hearing about their breaking the PWD wall on Friday morning, PWD officials rushed to the spot and sought help from police to save the official property.

On Friday night, Barisal City Corporation (BCC) Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron, also city Awami League convenor, visited the spot and asked the two parties to maintain status quo and settle the matter through negotiation.

He also asked the PWD authorities to withdraw their complaint with the police, saying that he will see the matter, said PWD officials and Kotwali police.

However, a PWD official seeking anonymity said they had to withdraw the complaint about land grabbing under pressure.

During local journalists' visit to the spot on Friday noon, the construction workers employed by alleged land grabbers said Mohiuddin Ahmed Khokan, president of ward No 10 and convening committee member of city AL is leading the act.

Asked about the matter, AL leader Khokan claimed that at least 16 legal leaseholders of PWD land are doing business there and they have continued depositing the lease money till date.

Recently BCC authorities asked them to vacate the land for expanding road and so, they started transferring their shops behind the PWD boundary wall after taking 'informal approval' from the authorities concerned and 'leaders', Khokan claimed.

Matiur Rahman, officer in charge (investigation) of Barisal Kotwali police station, said on Friday afternoon, "After receiving the allegation of land grabbing from PWD authorities, police visited the spot and stopped construction work there. Further action will be taken after investigation."