No indiscipline in admin, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam tells JS,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, also ruling Awami League general secretary, Tuesday said there is no indiscipline in the public administration.

“The government has given promotion officers to higher posts considering their experience and competence,” he said.

The ruling Awami lawmaker made the assertion while addressing the parliament in response to a written question from BNP lawmaker ABM Ashraf Uddin Nijan.

He also told the House there are specific rules to promote the officers with the rank of deputy secretary and above.

Syed Ashraf added: “The government is promoting the officers with the rank of deputy secretary and above following the promotion rules 2002.”

The minister said officers are being OSD (officer on special duty) due to various reasons, including administrative reasons, long-term vacation, departmental and corruption related cases.

Retailers' profit capped for Ramadan Bazar,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Retail traders of basic commodities will not be able to make more than 10 percent profit from the sale during the upcoming month of Ramadan, said a commerce ministry official on Tuesday.

The commerce ministry took the decision at a meeting with traders of basic commodities like lentil, grams, onion, garlic, ginger, dry pepper, turmeric and other spices at the ministry.

Additional Secretary to Commerce Ministry ATM Mortuza Reza Chowdhury chaired the meeting.

After the meeting, Chowdhury told journalists that the letters have already been served to the businessmen concerned to follow the government order so that the prices of basic commodities remain stable during the Ramadan.

He said the ministry did not make any pressure on the traders in taking such decision. “The decision was proposed by the businessmen,” he told the journalists.

He said both importers and wholesalers will have to maintain the final receipts to check forgery in prices of basic commodities.

A total of 14 monitoring teams of the commerce ministry will be in the markets to check over profiteering by a section of unscrupulous traders during the fasting month.

Director General of Department of Consumers’ Rights Protection Abul Hossain Mia, Joint Secretary of Commerce Ministry Shawkat Ali Waresi, Joint Chief of Bangladesh Tariff Commission Abdul Quayum, Director of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Helal Uddin, General Secretary of Bangladesh Daal Babosayee Samity (a platform of lentil traders) Shafiqul Islam and General Secretary of Shyambazar Babosayee Samity Shamsul Alam among others were present at the meeting.

ATN Bangla Chairman Mahfuzur Rahman may face action for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remark,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Home Minister Shahara Khatun said on Tuesday the government would take action after an investigation into an allegation that ATN Bangla Chairman Mahfuzur Rahman made 'derogatory comments' about the prime minister.

“If he had said anything against the prime minister, action would be taken,” she said after a discussion on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking organised by Narcotic Control Department at the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Mahfuzur Rahman has called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ‘talkative’ in a programme during his recent visit to London.

A private television channel broadcast a report on his speech on Monday.

He made this comment while recalling PM’s remark that “It was not possible for the government to guard anyone’s bedroom.”

The ATN chief also talked about various issues during the visit. On May 30, he said journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi was victims of an ‘extramarital affair’.

Shahara said misleading comments of journalists regarding the killing of the couple is hampering the investigation into the case.

“If any misleading comment misleads people, we will take action,” she added.

While talking about attacks on journalists, she said, “If you have any allegation, you can file a case against the accused. We will take action.”

A handful of newsmen of ATN Bangla owned by Mahfuzur Rahman attacked the rest of the protesting journalists in the Jatiya Press Club on June 24.

Sagar and Runi were killed in their West Rajabazar residence in the city on February 11 this year. Law enforcement agencies could not arrest anyone in this connection.

Downpour axes Chittagong flight operation,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Flights in and out of Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong were cancelled Tuesday afternoon as rainwater overflows the runway.

Shahabuddin Chowdhury, immigration inspector of the airport, told that the flight operations have been ceased temporarily since 4:30pm.

He added that the authorities concerned are trying to clear the water from the runway, reports our Chittagong correspondent.

Chittagong Met office (Agrabad) recorded 144 millimetres of rain in the last six hours till noon on Tuesday, leaving most of the areas of the city under waist-deep water.

US to provide 80,000 tonness food aid to Bangladesh,

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Nicholas Dean, and USAID Mission Director Richard Greene handed-over 60,000 tonnes of wheat to the government in Chittagong Tuesday.

This shipment is the first tranche of almost 80,000 tonnes of food aid commodities (wheat, lentils, peas and vegetable oil) that the United States will provide to Bangladesh in 2012 under the Food for Peace program.

This represents a 2,500 tonnes increase in food aid over last year.

The US Government, acting through its principal development agency, USAID, will invest $45.5 million in food aid in Bangladesh this year.

The current Food for Peace program was initiated in June 2010 in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and will continue until May 2015.

Food for Peace programs target the poorest of the poor who live in the most food insecure and vulnerable areas in Bangladesh.

Assistance is designed to bridge the gap between disaster response and development by supporting planning and preparedness activities.

The goal of these programs is to reduce food insecurity and vulnerability in the poorest and most marginalized sub-districts in Bangladesh.

The programs focus on the following objectives to reduce food insecurity: improved health and nutritional status of targeted households, particularly children less than five years of age; increased production and income for poor and extremely poor households in order to improve access to food; and protection of the lives and assets of households in targeted communities, enabling them to quickly resume livelihood activities following natural disasters.

USAID manages Food for Peace programs in Bangladesh, which are implemented by CARE Bangladesh, Save the Children International, and ACDI/VOCA Bangladesh.

The US Government, through USAID, has provided over $5.8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971.  In 2011 alone, USAID provided more than $180 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh.

USAID supports programmes in Bangladesh that:  promote democratic institutions and practices; expand food security and economic opportunity; improve health and education services; and increase resiliency to climate change through adaptation and low carbon development.

Drugs affecting economy : Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun Tuesday categorically said thousand crores of foreign currencies are being laundered abroad due to drug affecting the country’s economy.

Apart from this, different crimes, including theft, robbery, snatching and clashes due to the narcotic, she said.

The home minister came up with the observation while addressing a discussion marking the UN-decreed International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in city’s Osmani Smriti Auditorium.

She said, “Addiction is considered as a threat for social peace and security. It is reported that drug addiction is directly and indirectly related to two-third crime incidents of the country.”

Regarding initiative of the government in controlling narcotic, she said, “Introducing mobile court in controlling narcotic could be considered as one of the major success.”

The ruling Awami League lawmaker said, “The government has also implemented narcotic control act as per the section 18 of the constitution and set up the narcotic control department.”

Later, Soudamini Sharma of Moulvibazar and late journalist Jamal Uddin of Jessore were awarded with special honor for their outstanding contribution in creating awareness against drugs.

Non-MPO teachers’ rally Rashed Khan Menon to resign if demands not met,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Chairman of parliamentary standing committee on education Rashed Khan Menon MP said, “I will resign my post as parliamentary standing committee chairman if the demands of non-MPO teachers are not met.”

He said, “Teachers are the builders of a nation. The Prime Minister herself gave assurance of fulfilling their demands. Hopefully, their logical demands will be met soon.”

He came up with the declaration while addressing a rally of Shikkhak Karmachari Oikyajote in Front of National Press Club on Tuesday morning.

Teachers of more than 7000 schools, colleges and madrasas are staging their human chain, rally and procession demanding to include them in new MPO listed educational institutions from the morning.

They are likely to move towards the office of Prime Minister in a couple of minutes in order to seek her intervention in this regard, 

International Day against Drug observed,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe on Tuesday with the theme of “Global Action for Healthy Communities without Drugs.”

This day is a universal symbol which reminds the consequences of cultivation, trafficking and consumption of drugs and requires governments` firm resolve for an all-out campaign against this grave social problem.

Different government and non-government organizations chalked out a series of events to create awareness about illicit trafficking and social dangers of drugs.

Narcotic Control Department and home ministry jointly staged a human chain in front of National Press Club at about 8:00am. Different government and non-government organizations took part in the human chain.

Later, the participants brought out a colorful procession led by home minister advocate Sahara Khatun and paraded the main thoroughfares of the city.

Meanwhile, the Narcotic Control Department organized a discussion marking the day in city’s Osmani Smriti Auditorium.

Besides, Dhaka Metropolitan Police brought out another rally in the city with the slogan of “Leave drugs, save yourself and the future generation”.

While addressing the rally, IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandaker said, “The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is being observed today. But, we should continue the anti-drug campaign round the year in a bid to create awareness against the use and smuggling of drugs.”

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique said, “Drugs destroy our lives. So, we must say no to drugs.”

In 1987, the UN General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

It also observe the day commemorating Chinese hero Lin Zexu’s dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, an event that was a catalyst for the First Opium War of Britain versus China.

1300MW to be added next yr: Prime Minister`s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Prime Minister`s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said some gas-based power plants with 1300MW of production capacity would go for operation within the next year.

Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury came up with the disclosure after a meeting on ensuring fuel supply to power plants held at the secretariat on Tuesday.

A taskforce was formed, headed by power and energy ministry’s additional secretary Abu Taher to ensure fuel supply to power plants, he added.

Among others, state minister for energy and power Enamul Haque, power secretary, Petrobangla chairman were present in the meeting with Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury in the chair.

Journos Submitted justice for the killing of journalist couple Sagar and Runi, Memorandum to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS


DHAKA: The journalists’ community of the country Tuesday submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina demanding justice for the killing of journalist couple Sagar and Runi.

PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad received the memorandum on her behalf, said sources.

Earlier in the day, journalists observed sit-in demo in front of Supreme Court as police obstructed them to move further. In the mean time, Prime Minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad reached there and received the memorandum.

He assured the journalists of handing over the memorandum to the Premier.

While accepting the memo, Azad said, “Prime Minister herself sent me to you. She will consider your demands.”

Later, the journalists staged a rally in front of the court.

IGP claims major progress in Sagar-Runi murder probe,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Law enforcers have made significant progress in the investigation into the murder of journalist couple Sagar and Runi, the police chief told a parliamentary body on Tuesday.

Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmud Khandaker, however, declined to elaborate the progress to the parliamentary standing committee on home ministry.

Sagar Sarowar, news editor at private TV channel Maasranga, and his wife Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were found murdered on February 11 in their rented flat at West Rajabazar in the capital.

Mokhlesur Rahman, director general of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), informed the parliamentary watchdog that they do not have any progress about missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali.

M Ilias Ali, a former lawmaker and BNP Organising Secretary (Sylhet Division) along with his driver has been missing since the night on April 17.

Banani police recovered the abandoned car of Ilias, 48, near his Banani home around 1:30am on the night. They also found the driver's mobile phone on the passenger seat.

The DG also admitted that there is no development into the Saudi diplomat murder case.

Khalaf Al Ali, an official of the Saudi embassy in Dhaka, was shot dead by unidentified miscreants some 30 yards off his house in the city's Gulshan om March 6.

Maj Gen (retd) M Abdus Salam, chief of the parliamentary watchdog, told about the developments of the three sensational cases after emerging from a meeting of the committee at the Jatiya Sangsad.

Lawmaker Salam said the IGP and Rab chief informed the developments of the cases before the committee when asked about its progresses.

ACC to proceed with Ershad graft case,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The High Court on Tuesday allowed the Anti-Corruption Commission to become a party in a corruption case against former military dictator HM Ershad.

Khurshid Alam Khan, a counsel for the ACC, told that his client has become a party to proceed with the corruption case against Ershad.

He also said they would appeal to the HC for holding a hearing on the case after July 8 when it reopens after the ongoing vacation.

The then bureau of anti-corruption filed the case with Dhaka Cantonment Police Station on June 8, 1991 against the former president on charge of misappropriating Tk 1.90 crore and a land-cruiser jeep during his tenure as president from 1983 to 1990.

The Divisional Judge’s Court in Dhaka on February 3, 1992 sentenced Ershad to three years in jail and directed the government to confiscate the money and the land-cruiser jeep.

The same year, following an appeal filed by Ershad, the HC stayed that lower court verdict and also called for the records of the case.

The ACC, on June 13 this year, submitted a petition to the HC to become a party in the case.

The HC bench of Justice Musa Khaled and Justice Saifur Rahman on Tuesday granted the ACC petition.

BNP can join AL-led interim Government : Awami League senior lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

The present government will turn into an “interim government” before three months of the next election and BNP-led opposition in parliament can join that government if it wishes, Awami League senior lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta said on Tuesday.

“According to the constitution, we have no option to restore caretaker government system. According to the constitution, the present prime minister will be head of the interim government during next polls which will perform only routine works,” Suranjit said in parliament.

Participating discussion on the proposed budget, he also said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might consider if BNP wish to join that interim government.”

“They [BNP-led opposition] will be included proportionately [according to their number of seats in parliament],” he added.

The latest amendment to the constitution last year introduced the provision for parliamentary polls within 90 days preceding dissolution of the House. This means members of the present parliament will remain in office when the next parliamentary election will be held with the AL-led alliance still in power.

Suranjit on Tuesday also rejected Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon’s Monday’s speech in parliament that level playing field would not be ensured if next election is held under interim government.

Chiefs of Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, two components of the Awami League-led ruling alliance, on Monday proposed scrapping the constitutional provision that allows MPs to remain in office during parliamentary polls.

Terming the provision discriminatory, Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon said credibility of the election will be questioned if it continues to be in force.

“We have been talking about a level playing field for holding fair polls. If this provision remains, how a level playing field will be ensured for sitting MPs and those aspiring to be MPs,” Menon asked while speaking on the proposed budget.

But Suranjit said, everywhere in the world including USA and India election held under interim government with heads of the governments in their respective position.

“Before polls, Obama [US president] does not resign from his post, this is also happens in India. But no question was raised there about the credibility of polls,” he said.

Dutch envoy calls on Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: The outgoing ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Alphons Hennekens paid a farewell call on Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at her office on Monday.

During meeting, Hennekens said Bangladesh achieved significant growth in various sectors despite having various constraints.

The envoy mentioned that Netherlands is diversifying its presence in Bangladesh in different areas beyond development cooperation, through forming mutually beneficial partnerships with government, NGOs, business sectors, the universities and so forth.

The envoy has highly appreciated Bangladesh’s impressive achievements in poverty alleviation, school enrollment and related social indicators.

Netherlands is ready to remain engaged as a partner ‘to continue its strategic support to Bangladesh’, he added.

Flood in Chittagong-Bandarban One lakh marooned,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Over one lakh people in Satkania upazila and around 2,000 families in Bandarban were marooned as flood situation there worsened yesterday, snapping vehicular movement on the Chittagong-Bandarban highway for the second day.

Keranihat, Baitul Ijjat, Amtali, Anu Majhir Dokan, Kaliaish, Bara Duara areas in Satkania; and Army Para, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Islampur, Member Para areas in Bandarban were flooded, according to local sources.

Two rivers -- Sangu and Dolu -- were flowing over the normal level due to the huge run-off from the hills and many more villages were being flooded, officials of Bandarban district administration said.

Bandarban Disaster Management Committee met yesterday afternoon and directed the local administration to distribute food and water to the flood-affected people, said Md KM Tariqul Islam, Banadarban deputy commissioner.

The DC added that many areas in the city were inundated yesterday morning and many families were forced to take shelter in schools and government buildings.

Bandarban Municipal Mayor Md Jabed Reza said 11 shelters were set up in the affected areas and food, water, and other daily necessaries were distributed among the flood-stricken people.