Consensus needed for credible polls:US Ambassador Dan W Mozena,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

US Ambassador Dan W Mozena on Wednesday urged the major political parties of Bangladesh to reach a consensus through a constructive dialogue for holding the next general election in a credible manner.

“The political parties should change their attitude,” he said while talking to journalists after visiting the Hard Point of Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment.

“Every citizen has the right to live a secure life. All sides should play a responsible role so that normal life is not hampered due to violence,” he said.

About the recent clashes between the law-enforcing agencies and the activists of a political party, Mozena said that the US never supports violence in any part of the world. “The US government keeps a strong vigil on such situations.”

Referring to erosion by the Jamuna river, Mozena said: “We’ll be with the people of this country for overcoming the crisis.”

Director General of Water Development Board Shahiduzzaman, Chief Engineer Abdur Rob, Superintendent Engineer AKM Momtaz Uddin, Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam and Additional Superintendent of Police Mokhtar Hossain were present among others.

Jamaat-Shibir Khulna hartal ends with minor incidents,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami protesting the arrest of party Assistant Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar ended amid tight security in Khulna city on Wednesday.

Pro-hartal activists fought pitched battle with law enforcers at Goalkhali area, vandalised two buses at Gallamari, a truck at Boyra and two human haulers at Natun Bazar area in the morning.

They also burnt tyres at different places of the city in support of the shutdown,

The Detective Branch of police on Monday arrested Golam Parwar also a former legislator from Khulna-5 constituency from the capital’s Gulshan area.

Meanwhile, Khulna Metropolitan Police round up 26 Jamaat-Shibir activists from the city’s Goalkhali area on charge of attacking law enforcers, said Mossaraf Hossain, assistant commissioner of special branch.

No long-distance buses left and entered the city since 6:00am while rickshaws and battery run vehicles were seen plying the streets, and launches and trains had left and arrived at the stations.

All jute mills, factories in Daulatpur and Khalishpur industrial belt, educational institutions, banks, insurance and other businesses remained open as usual.

Though no procession of the pro-hartal activists were seen in the city, Abul Kalam Azad, ameer of the Jamaat city unit, claimed that several processions were brought out in Boyra, Gallamari, Natun Rasta, Goalkhali and Rupsha areas during the hartal.

Additional forces of police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Armed Police Battalion were deployed at different key points of the city to maintain law and order.

Government's firm to try war criminals:Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday expressed her government's firm commitment to try the war criminals despite any attempt to foil the trial.

"This is our moral duty to complete the trial. This is our nation's moral responsibility to bring the war criminals to book," said Hasina.

Reiterating her firm resolution the premier said, their trial must take place on this very soil of Bangladesh.

The prime minister was addressing teachers, students, educationists and employees of Dhaka University (DU) at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of DU in the capital.

Earlier, the premier inaugurated Kobi Sufia Kamal hall, Social Science Faculty Building, Higher Arts and Social Science Research Centre building and laid foundation to Bangabandhu Tower at DU, 7th March Bhaban of Rokeya Hall and Pharmacy Bahaban at the DU.

Referring to the August 2007 violence between army personnel and Dhaka University students, Hasina said, if the teachers and students of DU had not taken firm measure on that time democracy might have not reinstated in this country.

Hasina expressed her gratitude to the teachers and students of DU for their courageous roles during that time.

"All our achievements including our right to mother tongue, independence and democracy originated from DU," said the prime minister.

The premier said her government placed highest emphasis on education sector to build the nation as a literate one.

Hasina asked for everyone's cooperation to build the country as a middle income, hunger free and literate country by 2021.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique among others were present on the occasion.

Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir sees BNP link with Jamaat violence Security beefed up at city key points,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir on Wednesday said the government has information that opposition BNP was involved with the recent countrywide violence and attacks on police by Jamaat-Shibir activists.

"The state will resist such anarchic movement by Jamaat-Shibir activists with utmost strength," the minister told newsmen emerging from a meeting of the cabinet committee on law and order at the home ministry in the afternoon.

He claimed that the opposition BNP is instigating such violence instead of condemning it.

Such pre-planned violence and attacks have been taking place day after day to foil the ongoing war criminals trial, the minister said.

Mohiuddin informed that the law enforcers have so far arrested around 2,000 persons following the recent violence across the country.

Asked whether police are acting in self-defence only or trying to resist the Jamaat-Shibir men, the minister said as part of democratic attitude, it the first duty of police to defend him or herself.

The home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir presided over the meeting where senior officials of different ministries, police, Rapid Action Battalion and intelligence were present.

The leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir went on rampage and assaulted police personnel across the country including the capital for the last few days.

On November 4, the Jamaat announced a nine-day agitation programme beginning from November 5 to press home its demand for the immediate release of the party's top leaders, including those facing war crimes trial.

Till Monday, more than 200 policemen, at least 300 people and three journalists were injured during clashes between the police and Jamaat-Shibir men across the country.

They ended their protest programme on Tuesday through a pre-planned attack on the law enforcers in an unprecedented manner, leaving about 20 policemen injured in Dhaka, Khulna and Cox's Bazar.

Libyan Chargé D'affaires denies link with detained nationals,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Libyan Chargé D'affaires to Dhaka MS Kamel Al Mahjoub on Wednesday refuted a media report that he had connection with three Libyan nationals who were arrested for their involvement with an illegal manpower business.

Detective Branch of police on October 24 arrested the three Libyan nationals and a Bangladeshi woman from a hotel in the capital's Gulshan area and seized 684 Bangladeshi passports, $US1.81 lakh and Tk 10.66 lakh in cash from their possession.

Denmark offers Asia utilising advanced technologies for shipbuilding ,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Bangladesh could emerge as a shipbuilding hub in Asia utilising advanced technologies, Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Svend Olling said here on Wednesday.

The envoy expressed keenness to transfer knowledge and modern technologies here from Denmark for modernising the country’s booming shipbuilding industry.

Olling came up with the offer at a meeting with Industries Minister Dilip Barua at his Shilpa Bhaban office at noon. Senior officials at the ministry were present.

They discussed various aspects of Denmark’s support for Bangladesh’s industrial sector during the meeting.

Issues relating to establishing the second unit of Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (Kafco), modernisation of readymade garment industry and improvement of working environment at the RMG sector and the living standard of workers came up for discussion at the meeting.

A Danish delegation, led by Commerce and Investment Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr, will visit Dhaka in December to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries, Olling informed the Industries Minister.

He hoped the visit of the Danish delegation comprising entrepreneurs of 10 leading companies would play a significant role in boosting trade and investment between the two countries.

At the meeting, Barua appreciated Denmark’s support in Bangladesh’s hi-tech industrialisation and sought Danish support to convert Chittagong Drydock into a modern shipbuilding yard.

Barua said the Danish entrepreneurs could come up either in joint-investment or under public-private partnership

Dandy Dyeing case hearing deferred Accused include Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko BNP,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

A Dhaka court on Wednesday deferred till January 7 the hearing on a case filed against 10 directors of Dandy Dyeing Ltd, including BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, for defaulting on a loan amounting to Tk 45.49 crore.

Judge Md Rabiuzzaman of Artha Rin Adalat-1 passed the order after prosecution submitted a petition seeking an adjournment of the hearing.

The prosecution sought the time as Mozaffar Ahmed, an accused in the case, died recently.

In the time petition, the lawyer also said that they will file a petition on the next date for indicting the family members of Mozaffar Ahmed in the case.

Sonali Bank on October 2 filed the case with Artha Rin Adalat-1 for defaulting on the Tk45.49 crore loan.

Nine other accused in the case are Tarique's younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko, Giasuddin Al-Mamun and his wife Shahina Yasmine, Nasrin Iskander, Shams Iskander, Shafin Iskander, Sumaiya Iskander, Mozaffar Ahmed and Kazi Galib Abdus Sattar.

According to the case statement, the company had borrowed Tk12.16 crore from the bank's principal office in Dhaka on October 16, 2001.

As the company failed to repay the loan, it now owes the bank Tk45.49 crore, comprised of the principal and the interest accrued.