Deposition against BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP Jul 16,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: The 7th prosecution witness in war crimes related case against detained BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP will be submit his deposition on July 16 at International Crimes Tribunal-1.

The 3-member ICT led by Justice Nizamul Haque fixed the date Wednesday after day’s proceeding.

Earlier in the day the defense counsel cross examined 6th prosecution witness Advocate Nirmal Chandra Sharma.

In his deposition Nirmal Chandra said the Pakistani army led by SQ Chowdhury killed five members of his family.

On April 16, the tribunal fixed April 29 for the prosecution to place their opening statement against the BNP leader.

On November 14 last year, the prosecution submitted formal charge sheet to the tribunal.

The prosecution submitted the 55-page formal charge sheet along with 1,275-page information and 18 Compact Discs (CD) to the tribunal.

On October 3, the prosecution received the probe report against Chowdhury.

On December 16 in 2010, the lawmaker was arrested in Faruq killing case.

Faruq was killed in a pre-hartal violence on June 25 evening. BNP enforced the hartal on June 26 in that year.

Later, he shown arrest on war crime charges.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Airport renovation work begins August 1,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: The renovation work of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the main gateway to Bangladesh by air, is going to start on August 1 for modernizing the airport.

It will need 21 months to complete the modernization works of the airport involving Tk 530 crore.

Denmark will finance Tk 445 crore while rest Tk 85 crore will be provided by Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
 
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Shahjalal International Airport modernization project in July, 2008.

The government signed deal with Denmark in this project on November 6 in 2008.

The extent of cost has been increased Tk 228 crore due to delay implementation of the project.

An uncertainty was created over the increased cost.

Lastly on Wednesday, the government signed deal with Munck Asfalt, a Danish company, at head office of Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority.

Civil Aviation and Tourism affairs minister Faruk Khan, CAAB chairman Air-Vice Marshal Mahmud Hossain and senior officials of Danish Company were present on the occasion.

Munck Asfalt, a Danish company, will execute the project while Ramble, a Danish consultation company, will make design and supervise.

The taxiway of the airport could be upgraded to code letter E from code letter D if the project is implemented.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan for Tk 10 crore to withdraw defamation case,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan wanted to withdraw a defamation case filed against Bangla daily Jugantor editor and publisher Salma Islam, executive editor Saiful Alam and a reporter Jasim Chowdhury Sobuj, at a compensation of Tk 10 crore.

The minister also demanded to publish an apology in a newspaper in this regard.

The minister came up with the demand during the hearing interval at the court on Wednesday in front of 15/20 lawyers while Salma proposed the minister to settle the matter.

At that time, Shahjahan demanded Tk 10 crore as compensation adding, “I would not take the money. But, I will spend it to educate the reporters who publish false news to defame someone and a driving school to generate skilled driver.”

On February 1, the court framed charge against the accused.

According to the case statement, the newspaper published a report headlined “Waste of crores of taka by shipping minister in the name of experience: 14 foreign trips” on August 24 in 2012. An editorial was also published on the issue on August 25.

Following the report, Shahjahan Khan filed a case on September 13 last year against editor, the executive editor and a reporter of Bengali daily Jugantor.

The minister, in his statement, said, “The report was false and fabricated. And it was published only to tarnish my image.”

CNG-run auto-rickshaws drivers’ strike on,Dhaka-Bangladesh,

BANGLADESH NEWS

DHAKA: The indefinite strike called by drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws is underway Wednesday morning to press home their 10-point demand including implement of government fixed charge.

As per the decision taken by authorities concerned in 2011, route permit and license will be cancelled of the auto-rickshaw which owners collect extra fee from drivers ignoring the government-fixed rate.

On the other hand, two CNG-run auto-rickshaw owners organizations called off their 48-hour strike as the discussion with the government is successful.

Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Auto-rickshaw Owners Association general secretary ATM Nazmul Hasan told , “The strike was called off as they got assurance to meet-up their 10-point demands within two months.”

Earlier on July 6, the association called strike for July 11 and 12 to meet their 10-point demands, including increase of deposit money and fare of CNG auto rickshaws.

Stop graft in teachers' recruitment DCs urge at conference,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Alleging teachers' recruitment process at non-government educational institutions in the country of "corruption and irregularities", deputy commissioners (DCs) yesterday called for a stop to this practice to ensure recruitment of competent teachers.

They pointed out problems and gave suggestions to this end at the “DC Conference on the Education Ministry and the Primary and Mass Education Ministry” held at the Cabinet Division yesterday, said meeting sources.

A lot of money changes hands during the teachers' recruitment process and such a practice should be stoppes, they added.

Some 16 DCs participated the interactive session with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Ameen and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain.

The DCs of Khulna, Narshingdi and Kishoreganj districts suggested that a district-based recruitment board or central service commission headed by the DCs can be formed to appoint competent teachers at non-government educational institutions.

Some other DCs suggested following the recruitment process of government primary schools in recruiting teachers for non-government schools.

The education minister informed the DCs that they are undertaking a process to form a separate body like PSC to recruit teachers.

Standard education is being disrupted and corruption is spreading as the people from non-government level are being nominated as the heads of the school managing committees (SMC) or governing bodies of private schools, the DCs said.

They suggested nominating government officials as the heads of the SMCs.

Some proposed to fix a minimum educational eligibility for the heads of the SMCs.

Few DCs opposed the appointment of education cadres in different administrative posts as, they said, this created scarcity of teachers.

Some DCs proposed to be given authority to enquiry into any allegation about educational institutions and take action against it. Previously, they could not take action against any institution despite getting different allegations, they said.

The DC of Netrokona said the rate of stipend recipients in his district is 45 percent while the rate in Mymensingh is 90 percent. He suggested to brining equity in the stipend recipients.

Some DCs suggested giving 100 percent stipends in the haor and baor regions.

Talking to reporters, Nahid said they will consider the issues raised by the DCs.

On nominating government officials as the heads of SMC, he said the head of SMC would be nominated as per the existing rules.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina again denies graft in Padma bridge,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina claimed on Wednesday that her government was not involved with any corruption relating to the Padma bridge project.

Hasina said how the World Bank could blame the government when the global lender follows its lending rules strictly.

The PM said this while speaking as the chief guest at the Awami Swechchhasebak League's national council at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The premier again reiterated her government's stance on constructing the bridge with own funds adding that she will not seek financial aid from any donor agencies for implementing the project.

“If any donor wants to help us in this regard, then we will consider it,” she said.

On June 30, the World Bank has cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project, saying it has proof of corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and individuals.

Take action against excessive profiteers, Commerce Minister GM Quader tells DCs,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Commerce Minister GM Quader on Wednesday asked deputy commissioners to take legal action against the excessive profit makers.

The government will give all out cooperation to the DCs in taking action against them, the minister told reporters after attending the DCs’ conference at the Cabinet Division in the capital.

“We have already instructed the businessmen to make reasonable profit,” the minister said.

He also stressed on strengthening the market monitoring system.

If there is any special product that the DCs deem enlisting as exportable, promote it, the minister told the DCs.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua, who also attended the meeting, asked the DCs to remain alert so that the districts may not face any fertiliser crisis.

The three-day DC conference began on Tuesday.

Padma bridge with local fund ‘unrealistic’: BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Terming the government decision to construct Padma bridge with local fund ‘unrealistic’, opposition BNP on Wednesday said finding no other way the government is now making different types of statements only for their own safeguard.

“In fact the Awami League will not be able to construct the bridge. Now they are saying everything only to defend themselves,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

He said the government at one hand said it will talk to the World Bank, while on the other, it will construct the bridge with local fund. Few days ago the government also showed interest for Malaysia’s investment, he added.

Mirza Fakhrul said, “World Bank abandoned the Padma bridge project due to corruption of the government.”

Now constructing the bridge will get highest priority to the BNP. It will construct two bridges on Padma river if voted to power, he told reporters after visiting the grave of the party founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.

“The Padma bridge project will get highest priority if BNP is voted to power and we will construct the bridge with World Bank and other donor agencies loan,” the BNP leader said.

Mirza Fakhrul visited grave of Ziaur Rahman to pay tribute to him along with leaders of BNP and its front and associate bodies who recently were released from the jail.

BNP standing committee members MK Anwar, Nazrul Islam Khan, vice-chairmen Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and president and general secretaries of different front and associate bodies were present.

US Ambassador Dan W Mozena lauds Bangladesh for women's participation in politics

BANGLADESH NEWS

US Ambassador Dan W Mozena said on Wednesday that America can learn much from the way Bangladesh has increased women’s participation in politics.

“I hope America will learn lessons from Bangladesh as the country has done much for the advancement of the political engagement of women,” he said while talking to journalists after the South Asia Women Parliamentarians Conference at a city hotel.

The four-day conference was organised by the Asia Foundation.

While talking on the number of women parliamentarians in the USA, he said he does not know the exact figure. “But it is fewer than in Bangladesh,” he added.

The ambassador said “Though my boss is Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, I think there is much to learn from Bangladesh.”

Minimise people's suffering ahead of Eid: Communications Minister Obaidul Quader to DCs,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday asked the deputy commissioners to take steps to tackle traffic on roads and highways ahead of the upcoming Eid to minimize the suffering of people.

The minister’s instruction came on the second day of the three-day conference of deputy commissioners (DCs) at the Prime Minister's Office.

Quader also asked the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to form 'mobile units' to accelerate repairing potholes and tarmac, and to take steps to make the roads usable during the rainy season.

Services of public toilet facilities at roadside restaurants and petrol pumps must be improved and made available as the number of highway commuters increases with the Eid-ul-Fitr approaching, he instructed the DCs.

The minister explained that many road maintenance projects are delayed or remain stalled as the Planning Commission delay in releasing fund or sanction less than required fund.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the conference on Tuesday where the DCs are to highlight problems they are facing in their respective districts.

The premier would give them necessary guidelines on her government's priorities and policies.

This year, a total of 410 issues of 39 ministries are to be discussed during the conference.

ow over VC, Pro-VC: Twenty-five teachers of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) resigned

BANGLADESH NEWS

Twenty-five teachers of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) resigned from their administrative posts on Wednesday as their demand for removal of its vice chancellor and Pro-VC went unheeded.

Those who quit are deans of five faculties, directors of three institutes, and 17 departmental heads.

Earlier in the morning, the teachers, a section of stuff and few students of Bute were staging a sit-in for indefinite period in front of the vice-chancellor's office demanding immediate resignation of the VC and Pro-VC.

On Tuesday, Buet authorities announced a 44-day closure of the institution from today as the Buet Teachers' Association gave an ultimatum demanding their resignation by Saturday.

Prof Dr Mujibor Rahman, president of the association, told on Wednesday that they would continue their movement until the removal of the VC and Pro-VC.

A number of students of the institution expressed their solidarity with the agitating teachers and along with them the teachers brought out several processions on the campus to press their 16-point demand.

The teachers' association has been agitating for several months demanding removal of the VC and Pro-VC for their alleged involvement in irregularities.