Toxic ships set off alarm

The Probo Koala, infamous for 2006 toxic wastes scandal in Abidjan, has been sold to an unspecified ship breaker in Chittagong, raising fear of discharge of hazardous substances.

Also, according to US Maritime Administration (MARAD), another ship Harriette (IMO No 7516993), owned by US registered company Sealand, LLC, is at Chittagong anchorage without MARAD permission. However, The Daily Star could not verify the report immediately.

The United States Toxic Substance Control Act makes it mandatory that every US flagged ship obtain authorisation from MARAD before export for scrapping.

In 2006, toxic wastes from the Probo Koala, now renamed Gulf Jash, caused 17 deaths and serious sickness to over one lakh people in Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast. The same year its Greek owner changed the name to Gulf Jash.

The Gulf Jash with an IMO (International Maritime Organisation) number of 8309816, now off Vietnam, is believed to be carrying toxic chemicals, including mercaptans that attack the respiratory system, hydrogen sulphide that damage the central nervous system and caustic soda having a wide range of health effects on humans.

Global Marketing System (GMS), a US company specialised in brokering of vessels for demolition, has confirmed the sale of Gulf Jash but refused to disclose its final destination.

The NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, a global coalition of human rights, environmental and labour rights groups, raised a worldwide alarm on May 24, saying the ship contains tonnes of hazardous asbestos, PCBs, toxic paints, fuel and chemical residues.

Jenssen Ingvild, co-ordinator of the platform, said Probo Koala contains toxic substances dangerous to environment and Bangladeshi workers who work without protective measures.

The vessel is the symbol of illegal toxic trade throughout the world and Bangladesh must say no to it, she added.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela), told The Daily Star over the phone from China yesterday that following a tip-off from international watchdogs, her office has warned the Bangladesh authorities about the sale of Gulf Jash to an unspecified Bangladeshi ship beaker.

Bela has also written to the Bangladesh Bank for information on the Letter of Credit (LC) through which the ship was bought in the international market.

Bela has written to the Department of Environment, Mercantile Marine Department and also the Chittagong Customs, warning them about the imminent arrival of Gulf Jash.

"We have demanded in our letters that ships with such toxicity on board be prevented from entering Bangladeshi territory," said Rizwana.

Charlotte Nithart, director of Robins des Bois, an association for protection of people and environment, is trying to tack down the vessel.

She said if dismantled, the Probo Koala will definitely expose the workers and environment to specific risk.

"It [Gulf Jash] is not an ordinary ship, we asked the authorities in Bangladesh to very carefully inspect the ship and refuse its beaching," she added.

Officials of the Department of Shipping, one of the several departments in Bangladesh that issues no-objection certificate to scrap ships, were unable to confirm anything about Gulf Jash.

2006 ABIDJAN CRISIS
A Dutch-based oil and commodity shipping company Trafigura Beheer BV had charted Probo Koala for caustic wash, a controversial process for treating a product to remove impurities. The company needed to reduce high mercaptans sulphur levels in low grade coker naphtha.

As land facilities did not allowed, Trafigura decided to carry out the dangerous operation on board the vessel.

At one point, Trafigura attempted to get rid of the toxic residues in Amsterdam. The Dutch government asked Trafigura to pay for the cleaning costs.

At this stage, the company chose to offload its toxic wastes in Abidjan.

The gas caused by the release of these chemicals is blamed by the UN and the government of Ivory Coast for the 2006 health crisis.

Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

Kibria Killing Case: PM to 'check' charge sheet

Police will submit the supplementary charge sheet on the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's return from abroad, said Abdul Majid Khan, complainant of the case.

According to earlier reports, police were likely to submit it before the Habiganj Judicial Magistrate's Court yesterday.

"It may take one week maximum to submit the charge sheet, and I think nothing is going to be changed, as it was prepared after four years of investigation," Majid, also an Awami League lawmaker, told The Daily Star.

A reliable government source on condition of anonymity said the charge sheet is likely to be placed before Hasina prior to its submission before the court, reports our Sylhet correspondent.

The prime minister will go through it, the source said, adding, the government has no intention to make any changes in the charge sheet.

Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and thirteen others have been included in the supplementary charge sheet, Investigation Officer (IO) Rafiqul Islam said on Wednesday.

"I won't accept the charge sheet if it's not revised and names of the masterminds behind killing are not incorporated," Asma Kibria, widow of the slain AL leader, said yesterday.

She reiterated her call on the government to take assistance from foreign experts to identify the actual culprits.

Talking about the delay in submitting the charge sheet, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said it will be submitted soon.

IO Rafiqul Islam could not be reached over the phone despite repeated attempts for comment.

Sources say he was called to Dhaka by the "higher authorities who were embarrassed" following Asma Kibria's statement denouncing the charge sheet.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was to submit the charge sheet in the sensational murder case on Wednesday. But it deferred the filing as Asma Kibria expressed dissatisfaction over the charge sheet, Majid said.

Kibria was killed in a grenade attack on a rally in Baidyer Bazar in Habiganj on January 27, 2005.

Abdul Mazid Khan filed two cases with the Habiganj Police Station the next day.

Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Biplab Goswami started the trial and framed charges against ten people. But the High Court stayed the trial following an appeal by the complainant.

The then BNP-led government formed a committee to investigate the attack.

The probe body submitted its report in April 2005 accusing ten people including some local BNP men who were released on bail during the last caretaker government rule. One of them later died.

The then IO Atiqur Rahman submitted a charge sheet on March 10, 2005 against the same ten people.

The plaintiff and Kibria's family repeatedly expressed "no confidence" in the probe and called for further investigation.

Following an appeal by the complainant, the High Court ordered further probe. The new IO found banned militant outfit Huji's link with the attack.

Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

Caretaker Govt System: JS special body looks into Pak model

The parliamentary special committee on constitutional amendment yesterday discussed if the Pakistani model of caretaker government can be chosen for Bangladesh to hold two more parliamentary elections.

Members of the committee, at a meeting held in Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, also talked about keeping the existing structure of caretaker government, meeting sources said.

They however did not take any decision on the issue, and decided to sit again tomorrow to explore more options and finalise a proposal, the sources added.

The move came following the Supreme Court's recent verdict that the present interim government system is unconstitutional and void, but the system may be practiced for holding two more parliamentary elections for the sake of "safety of the state and its people".

"We will soon sit with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who will give a decision on the possible structure of caretaker government," a member of the committee told The Daily Star, wishing anonymity.

Contacted over the phone, main opposition BNP's senior leader Moudud Ahmed said their party wants the existing system of caretaker government to continue.

In the face of erstwhile opposition Awami League's demand, a BNP-led government in 1996 introduced the present system of caretaker government, through the 13th amendment to the constitution, for holding parliamentary polls.

Moudud said if there is any need for bringing changes to the existing system, the government should bring a bill.

"We will give our reaction after going through the bill if placed in the parliament," said Moudud, also a former law minister.

Another member of the special committee told The Daily Star that the prime minister herself referred to the Pakistani model of caretaker government, for examination.

Copies of the constitutional provisions for the caretaker government system in Pakistan were distributed among the special committee members yesterday, the meeting sources said.

A committee member said if the Pakistani model is chosen for Bangladesh, the president will appoint a caretaker prime minister and a caretaker cabinet on dissolution of the parliament.

The president will consult the outgoing prime minister and the leader of the opposition in the outgoing House to appoint a caretaker prime minister. Then the president will appoint members of the caretaker cabinet on advice of the caretaker prime minister, the special committee member added.

Members of the caretaker cabinet including its chief and their family members will not be eligible to contest in the immediately upcoming parliamentary election, the committee member said.

Moudud however said the system in Pakistan is not a caretaker government in real sense, it is something different. "We do not support it," he added.

The special committee's members at yesterday's meeting also observed that a political consensus is a must for forming a non-controversial caretaker government.

Some members of the committee said BNP might oppose whatever model the special committee would propose.

"BNP should come with an open mind and give their opinion on the issue," Suranjit Sengupta, co-chair of the special committee, said at a media briefing in the parliament's Media Centre after the meeting.

He said a draft report was prepared on the basis of the committee's talks with political parties, eminent jurists, civil society personalities, and editors of different national dailies, and the committee's own deliberations on the issue.

Members of the committee were given the copies of the draft report, and they will study it for tomorrow's meeting.

The committee earlier planned to place the report in the parliament on May 30, but now it might need some more time to complete the report, a member of the committee said on condition of anonymity.

"The special committee in its report will make its recommendations on the caretaker government system," he added.

CURRENT STRUCTURE OF CARETAKER GOVT
A caretaker government assumes office after dissolution of a parliament. Along with discharging routine work, its main task is to extend all out cooperation to the Election Commission for holding a free and fair parliamentary election.

Under the current system, an immediate past chief justice is appointed as the chief adviser to a caretaker government by the president. If such a retired chief justice is not available or is not willing to hold the post, then the person who among the willing retired chief justices retired last before the immediate past chief justice, is appointed as the chief adviser.

If no retired chief justice is available or willing to hold the office of the chief adviser, the president shall appoint as chief adviser the last retired judge of the Supreme Court Appellate Division.

If no retired judge of the Appellate Division is available or willing to hold the office of chief adviser, the president shall, after consultation, as far as practicable, with major political parties, appoint the chief adviser from among citizens of Bangladesh who are qualified to be appointed as advisers.

If none of the above provisions can be implemented, the president shall assume the functions of the chief adviser of the caretaker government in addition to his or her own functions under the constitution.

Ten other advisers of the caretaker government shall be appointed by the president on advice of the chief adviser, says the constitution.

Under the current caretaker government system, three successful parliamentary elections were held in 1996, 2001, and 2008.

Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

Chemically-ripen Fruits: Death penalty for culprits

The High Court yesterday ordered authorities concerned to prosecute unscrupulous traders, who use harmful chemicals to ripen fruits, under the Special Powers Act, 1974. The act allows even death penalty as punishment.

In response to a petition, the HC also issued a set of directives to the authorities to stop use of harmful chemicals in ripening and preserving fruits and sale of those ripened fruits.

On May 10 last year, the same court passed similar directives following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

The city markets are flooded with various summer fruits, including mangoes, jackfruits, litchis, pineapples, watermelons, papayas and bananas, many of which are artificially ripened with toxic chemicals.

Experts say, multiple health complexities including problems in the kidneys, heart and liver could develop and diseases like ulcer and gastric can form if people eat fruits ripened by carbide, ethephon or ethylene oxide.

Expressing concern, the court yesterday came up with the directives following a supplementary petition to the original writ petition filed by the same organisation.

Citing newspaper reports, the new petition prayed to the court to revive its last year's directives to stop the use of harmful chemicals in fruits. It said the use of harmful chemicals stopped last year after the HC directives but those directives are not being properly enforced now.

A mobile court reportedly recovered a huge quantity of contaminated fruits from a market in the capital and destroyed those a few days ago, it said.

An HC bench yesterday ordered Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) and Rapid Action Battalion to continuously monitor fruit depots in Dhaka so that contaminated fruits cannot be stored or sold.

The bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore asked for everyday tests of fruits at wholesale depots in the capital.

It also ordered the chairman of the National Board of Revenue to take immediate steps to monitor spots through which fruits are imported in the country.

It directed the deputy inspector general of police in Rajshahi to deploy police forces in the commercial mango orchards to stop the use of chemicals for ripening mangoes.

It asked the food and home secretaries to form a committee comprising representatives of those ministries to make recommendations for the government in this connection. It asked the secretaries to report to the court within 15 days.

The secretaries were also asked to constitute vigilance teams to monitor the fruit markets.

Furthermore, the HC directed the inspector general of police to take steps for filing cases against people responsible for the use of chemicals in fruits and asked him to report to the court within 15 days.

On May 10 last year, the HC also issued a rule upon the government to explain as to why it should not be directed to take effective measures to protect public health by stopping the use of chemicals on fruits and why their inaction in this regard should not be declared illegal.

The rule is, however, still pending with the HC, petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star yesterday.

During the hearing yesterday, Manzill told the court that fruits such as apples, mangoes, grapes, bananas and papayas play an important role in maintaining good health of citizens. But some corrupt and dishonest traders are using chemicals like carbide to ripen them and formalin to elongate their shelf life.

He said the mangoes, the most available fruit of this season, are reportedly being artificially ripened with chemicals and those mangoes are being stored and sold.

On June 1, 2008, the HC in a verdict directed the government to set up a food court in every district and appoint sufficient food analysts and inspectors in all districts within two years to prevent food contamination.

The court had also directed the government to inform the court by July 1, 2010, about its progress in complying with the directives.

The government has not implemented the HC verdict till date, Manzill said.

Assistant Attorney General Shaikat Basu stood for the government.

Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

2 boys killed in shell explosion

Two minor boys were killed and six others injured in an explosion of an abandoned shell in Shaheed Salahuddin Cantonment area of Ghatail upazila in Tangail yesterday.

The dead are Sujan, 12, son of Julhash Uddin and Naosher, 13, son of Rustom Ali of Kuichkhira village under Shandhanpur union.

The incident happened around 6:00pm near the field firing range during an army training when some boys including the dead and the injured entered the restricted area, said Mominul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ghatail Police Station.

The injured were taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at Ghatail.

An Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said the explosion occurred as the boys tried to break some abandoned parts of some bullets they collected from the firing range for "financial gain".

They entered the "danger area" paying no heed to the warning sings, it added.

The army administration gave assurance of bearing the treatment cost of the injured and providing other financial assistance.

News Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

Hijacker gangs target lorries on highway

Several organised crime syndicates are involved in hijacking goods-laden vans and trucks at different points on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

The robbery rings target vehicles transporting import and export items, including readymade garments, paper, cotton and various basic commodities, between Chittagong port and the rest of the country, according to transport workers.

Disguised as workers the criminals hijack the vehicles. They also bribe some workers to make the thefts easier and safer.

In some cases the gangs take away cartons from consignments of goods, which damages goodwill of the exporters to the international buyers. They even do not hesitate to kill the transport workers if the latter refused to assist in the crime.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) recovered huge amount of looted goods in the last five months and arrested some hijackers. Later they managed to secure bails and returned to crime.

They have also identified five to six organised gangs and 25 culprits so far.

Md Masud alias Picchi Masud, Jewel Jamadder, Sayeed, Liton Das, Jahangir, Md Shahidul Islam, Md Masum, Md Sohag, Mamunur Rashid and Koli Madam are the kingpins of robbery gangs, said Sub-inspector of Double Mooring Police Station, Kawser who is probing several hijacking incidents.

Police arrested Picchi Masud, Jewel Jamadder and some other bigwigs several times, but they managed to secure bail, he added.

The accused are securing bail as police fail to frame strong charges against them, observed Ibrahim Hossain Babul, former general secretary of Chittagong Bar Association.

He suggested framing charges under the Special Powers Act, 1974 to ensure the criminals are not freed until the trial is complete.

A Chittagong Port-bound van carrying 17000 pieces of T-shirts in 555 cartons was hijacked from the city's Pahartali area on May 20, SM Tanvir Arafat, assistant commissioner of Double Mooring zone police, told The Daily Star.

The van was found abandoned at Bayezid area on that afternoon while Pahartali police picked up the driver and five others at night. They recovered the stolen goods worth Tk 50 lakh from a house at Chandgaon residential area.

In another incident on April 15 a van left Incom Trade International Depot at Patenga with 51 bales of cotton for Sadia Spining Mills at Bhaluka of Mymensingh.

As the consignment did not reach its destination on time, the proprietor of the van supplier firm filed a case with Potenga PS on April 19 and police consequently managed to arrest six persons including helper Jahangir.

Four hijackers killed the van driver Sujan Barua on April 15 night as he refused to help the gang, mentioned police quoting the arrestees.

President of Chittagong Transport Owners' Association Nurul Bahar admitted a section of transport workers is involved in hijacking the vehicles.

Expressing concern over increasing crimes he noted the transport suppliers are incurring loss as they have to bear the cost of stolen goods in many cases.

First Vice President of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association Nasir Uddin demanded exemplary punishment of the arrested robbers.

He also emphasised stepping up the police patrol on the highway to curb such incidents.

CMP Commissioner Abul Kashem claimed police successfully detected almost all the incidents of hijacking and recovered the goods.

He requested the transport suppliers to preserve the personal data of the recruited drivers and helpers.

News Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

BNP goes gaga over US honour

The main opposition BNP yesterday brought out a triumphal procession to celebrate the special honour given by a state senate of the US to its Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her contribution to establish democracy.

Thousands of leaders, workers and supporters of BNP and its front and associate bodies took part in the procession, which started from the party's central office at Nayapaltan and ended at Jatiya Press Club.

Party's standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan addressed a rally before the procession. He termed the honour a rare gesture as it happened for the first time in last 166 years.

New Jersey State Senate on May 23 honoured Khaleda Zia, now in USA, as a fighter for democracy.

Both the treasury bench and opposition members unanimously adopted a resolution honouring Khaleda Zia, mentioned party Vice-chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, also a member of her entourage.

Acting Secretary General of BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also greeted the party chief for her successful trips to the UK and the US.

"Her visits will boost the relations between Bangladesh and these countries. The honour given by the New Jersey Senate to Khaleda Zia for her contribution to establish democracy, combat terrorism and empowerment of women made the countrymen proud," he said in a statement issued yesterday.

News Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

2 Huji men held in Savar

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested two leaders of banned Islamist militant outfit Harkatul Jihad al-Islami (Huji) and recovered explosives in Savar during the last two days.

Md Abdus Salam, 39, secretary of Sylhet district unit and Md Ashraful Islam, 30, secretary of Ishwardi upazila unit of Huji, were held near Nobinagar bus stand around 8:00pm on Wednesday.

During the second phase of the raid on Thursday afternoon, Rab busted a Huji den at Kalma of Ashulia and recovered 16 handmade bombs, 24 cocktails and a hoard of bomb-making chemicals.

The arrestees had arrived at Savar to join four other Huji operatives at a rented house in Ashulia, Commander Mohammad Sohail, director of Rab Legal and Media Wing, said at a press briefing yesterday.

Huji kingpins planned to carry out subversive operations by forming a covert alliance with some political parties, he said based on the information Rab gathered during remand of former Huji leader Rahmatullah alias Sheikh Farid.

News Source: The Daily Star (May 27, 2011) 

IDB gives $140m for Padma Bridge

Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will provide Bangladesh $140 million loan for construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith and visiting IDB President Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali signed the loan agreement at the finance ministry yesterday.

Earlier, the World Bank signed a credit agreement for $1.2 billion and Japan for $450 million for the bridge project. The WB also made verbal commitment to give another $300 million. Besides, the Asian Development Bank will sign a deal for $650 million for the project next month.

Construction cost of the country's longest bridge has been estimated at $2.97 billion. Of the amount, $2.74 billion will come from the development partners.

The finance minister and the IDB president also signed yesterday a $14.84 million loan deal for a water supply and sanitation project in the cyclone-prone coastal areas.

Talking to journalists later, Muhith said Padma bridge project is the largest one in the country, and work in this regard is progressing quickly as per schedule.

The IDB chief referred to the assistance from other development partners for the bridge project, and said his institution is willing to cooperate with the institutions interested in the development of Bangladesh.

"The future Bangladesh will be brighter… together we'll build a better Bangladesh," he said.

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said, "I want to assure you (IDB president) that my ministry will implement this project with the highest level of transparency and integrity."

At each stage of implementation of the project, media will be invited to help maintain transparency, he added.

The project includes 6.15 km main bridge, 3.8 km road viaduct and 0.532 km rail viaduct. Besides, 14 km river training and 12 km approach road are part of the project.

When completed, Padma bridge will connect 19 south-western districts will with the capital and eastern region of the county.

Source: The Daily Star (May 25, 2011)

New Jersey Senate honours Khaleda

New Jersey State Senate on Monday honoured BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, now in USA, as a fighter for democracy.

BNP Vice-chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, a member of Khaleda's entourage, told UNB over phone that both the treasury bench and opposition members of New Jersey State Senate unanimously adopted a resolution honouring Khaleda Zia.

Shamser Mobin said the senate resolution termed Khaleda as fighter of democracy, special leader of women empowerment and a role model for present and future women generations of the US.

New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney handed over the senate resolution to Khaleda Zia.

All the senators gave Khaleda a standing ovation.

This was the first such honour accorded to any foreign personality by the New Jersey State Senate, Shamser Mobin said.

Addressing the Senate, former prime minister Khaleda Zia sought cooperation of the state senators in pursuing duty-free access of Bangladeshi products in the US market.

On democracy and human rights, she said Bangladesh and USA have identical views on both these issues.

On counter-terrorism, the leader of the opposition in parliament said people should be involved for sustainable and effective curbing of terrorism.

Khaleda also expressed her happiness and gratitude for inviting her to the New Jersey State Senate.

Source: The Daily Star (May 25, 2011)

JSC scholarship list stuck in red tape

A scholarship list is yet to be published five months after publication of the results of the first ever Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations, creating anxiety among students.


Officials at the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and education ministry fear that the budget allocated for scholarships may not be disbursed if the lists are not published by the stipulated time, i.e. June 30.
In that case, students may not receive the scholarship money this year, said the officials as they expressed their concern over the bureaucratic tangle over formulating a policy on scholarship.
As a replacement for scholarship exams, the government last year introduced the JSC and JDC examinations with some 13.96 lakh students from 27,289 general schools and madrasas participating in those.
Eight general education boards and one madrasa board conducted the exams in grading system where a total of 8,556 students scored the highest GPA-5 (Grade Point Average).
On the day the results were published, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told the reporters that the scholarships would be announced soon after formulating a policy on it.
Admitting the sluggishness in preparing the policy, Khandakar Rakibur Rahman, joint secretary (secondary), said "There were some errors in the policy which took some time to solve."
"We hope the process would be complete within the stipulated time," he told The Daily Star yesterday.
However, sources at DSHE said they prepared the policy as per the direction of the ministry and sent it to the ministry on April 18.
But, the ministry split the policy into two parts--one for general boards and another for madrasa, creating more complexities, they said. Eventually the ministry merged it again under one policy, they added.
The ministry, however, did not bring any major change in the draft which said the scholarship would be in two categories -- talent pool and general.
In JSC, 30,800 scholarships would be awarded among the students of general boards while 6,000 were allocated for JDC, according to the draft.
GPA-2.00 would be the minimum eligibility to get scholarship in general category while GPA-3 would the minimum eligibility to get scholarship in talent pool category.
In talent pool category under JSC exams, a student would get scholarship money of Tk 300 per month and Tk 375 per year for two years. In general category, the students would get Tk 200 per month and Tk 225 per year for two years, the draft said, adding the same amounts also apply for JDC or madrasa students.
After finalising the draft, the ministry would send a letter along with the copy of the policy to the finance ministry asking for its permission for issuing circular, said ministry officials.

Source: The Daily Star (May 25, 2011)

Road on Canal: DoE asks CCC to stop work

The Department of Environment (DoE), Chittagong yesterday issued a notice to Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) to stop filling up of Rajakhali Canal to construct road in the port city.

The notice was sent to the CCC Chief Executive Officer seeking explanation on why the construction work would not be stopped.

The DoE, in its notice, also sought answer on why the CCC would not be fined Tk 10 lakh or other punishment would not be taken against it on charge of filling up the canal.

Jafar Alam, deputy director of DoE, Chittagong, said a DoE team sent to the spot on Monday found the canal being filled up.

He said filling up of canals is a punishable offence and any person or organisation engaged in such an offence will be fined Tk 10 lakh or given 10 years of imprisonment or both according to the Environment Conservation Act 1995.

CCC was asked to reply on the notice by coming June 9, said DoE sources.

Source: The Daily Star (May 25, 2011)

Nazrul's birthday today

The 112th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be celebrated across the country today.

Nazrul, the rebel poet of Bengali literature, was born at Churulia in Burdwan district of West Bengal on this day in 1899.

Through his poems, Nazrul had inspired people to fight against injustice and repression during the British colonial rule. His songs and poems were also a major source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the Liberation War in 1971.

As part of the national celebration, the three-day main programme will be held at Darirampur under Trishal in Mymensingh. President Zillur Rahman is expected to inaugurate the function.

This is the first time the national poet's birth anniversary is being observed officially in all districts of the country at the initiative of the Cultural Affairs Ministry.

The poet's birth anniversary is being celebrated with special importance this year as his extraordinary creation 'Bidrohi' (poem 'Rebel') completes its 90th year.

President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia have given separate special messages describing the colourful life of the great poet and his contributions to the Bengali language and literature.

President Zillur said, "He was a fighter, a social reformer and a proponent of nationalism, and at the same time an worshiper of love and pioneer of equality and peace."

In her message, Prime Minister Hasina said, Kazi Nazrul Islam was a poet of equality, humanity, love, youth and rebellion. His works immensely enriched Bangla language, literature, music, society and culture.

"He is the 'rebel poet' and the 'bulbul' (nightingale) of modern Bangla songs," she said.

Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia in her message said Kazi Nazrul Islam's writings would inspire every people to love the motherland.

Different socio-cultural and political organisations will place wreath at the poet's tomb on Dhaka University campus in the morning.

Special programmes on Nazrul's works including his plays, poetry and songs will be broadcast by TV channels and radio stations marking the national poet's birthday.

Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Nazrul Institute, Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and other social and cultural organizations have drawn up various programmes to observe Nazrul's birth anniversary.

Nazrul-Promila Parishad central committee will organise a discussion at Promila's birthplace Tewta, under Shibalaya upazila in Manikganj to celebrate the day.

Bangladesh missions abroad will also celebrate the day through different programmes.

Source: The Daily Star (May 25, 2011)

Noakhali University shut after BCL clash

Noakhali University of Science and Technology has been closed till June 9 after at least 15 students were injured yesterday in clashes between two rival groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League over possession of rooms in a dormitory.

The authorities ordered the male and female students to vacate halls by 6:00pm yesterday and 8:00am today, respectively.

Seriously injured Tushar, Munna, Tareque and Toukin were admitted to Sonapur Royal Hospital, while six others were undergoing treatment at the campus clinic.

Witnesses said a group of BCL activists, led by computer science final year student Monzurul Islam Mohsin, occupied 11 rooms on the second floor of the under-construction Bhasha Shaheed Abdus Salam Hall around 11:00pm on Monday.

Another faction of the student organisation brought out a procession on the campus yesterday morning protesting the incident. A final year student of fisheries science Nurul Afsar Kajol led the group.

At one stage both the factions locked in chases and counter chases. They used hockey sticks, Chinese axes and other lethal weapons during the clashes.

Incensed, students ransacked the academic building and Bhasha Shaheed Abdus Salam Hall.

They also confined Provost Anwarul Bashar to a room for two hours until police freed him around noon.

Students of Bibi Khadiza Hall staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the academic building demanding removal of hall Provost Abdullah Al Mamun, Assistant Provosts Afsana Mousumi and Nahida Akhter for their alleged misbehaviour.

The clash erupted due to a misunderstanding between students, said AKM Sayedul Haque Chowdhury, vice-chancellor of the university, adding they were trying to settle the dispute.

Additional Superintendent of Police Md Mahbub Rashid said law enforcers have enhanced their strength to maintain peace on the campus.

Source: The Daily Star (May 25, 2011)

Stop collection of excess fare: HC asks authorities to discipline errant bus operators

The High Court yesterday asked the authorities concerned to prevent transport operators from collecting extra fares from passengers in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Manikganj.

In a six-point directive, the court ordered the communications and home secretaries to form a seven-member monitoring committee immediately to enforce the government-fixed fares in transport sector. The committee has to submit a progress report to the court every month.

The court directive came after Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a rights organisation, yesterday filed a writ petition as public interest litigation based on newspaper reports saying some corrupt transport operators are charging passengers more than the government-fixed rate.

The HRPB sought HC directives on the government to take measures against collection of higher fares from passengers.

The HC asked the communications secretary to set up several mobile courts in Dhaka city, and also the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority chairman to make sure that the chart of the government-fixed fares is hung inside all buses and minibuses as well as counters.

The court ordered the joint commissioner (Traffic) and all deputy commissioners (Traffic) in Dhaka to form a vigilance team in every thana, and asked the inspector general of police and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner to instruct all police stations to monitor bus and minibus counters regularly to prevent collection of additional fares.

It also directed them to take action against transport operators for taking extra fares from passengers.

The HC bench issued a ruling upon the respondents to explain in three weeks why their inaction to stop collection of extra fares from passengers should not be declared illegal and why they should not be directed to enforce the government-fixed fares to save people from financial loss.

Petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told the court that the government re-fixed transport fares in consultation with transport owners following its decision to increase fuel price.

But there have been reports that some corrupt businessmen are not following the government-fixed fares. They continue to collect extra fares from passengers much to the sufferings of people with fixed income.

Collection of extra fares from passengers is a violation of the government decision, he said.

Communications and home secretaries, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and BRTA chairmen, president and secretary of bus owners' association, IGP, DMP commissioner, joint commissioner (traffic), superintendents of police of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Manikganj, and deputy commissioners (traffic) of Dhaka have been made respondents to the ruling.

Deputy Attorney General ABM Altaf Hossain stood for the government.

BRTA CIRCULATES FAIR CHART

Bus operators yesterday started charging passengers according to a fare chart given by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

The BRTA Sunday afternoon circulated a comprehensive fare chart among the bus operators directing them to put up the chart on the buses and stoppages.

One of the two BRTA mobile courts yesterday continued conducting drives at the city's Azimpur. During the drive, the mobile court filed cases against 13 bus services, fined them a total of Tk 10,200 and seized four buses for overcharging passengers and not having valid documents.

"The trend of overcharging passengers has declined after the circulation of the fare chart," BRTA Magistrate SM Rezaul Karim told The Daily Star.

He said most of the buses were following the fare chart. Only a few operators were charging Tk 10 as the lowest fare in place of Tk 7 fixed by the government.

The drive would be continued to check that the government decision is implemented fully, he added.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Take action against stockmarket culprits

A number of ruling alliance lawmakers yesterday in the parliament decried the delay in taking actions against "gamblers" who were identified by a probe body as key players involved in the recent share market crash.

They also criticised filing of a case against Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled who led the probe body that investigated the share market scams. Other treasury bench lawmakers supported the speeches by thumping on their desks.

In response, Finance Minister MA Muhith clarified the government's position on the issue. He also described the government's ongoing efforts to reform the stock market including recasting of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The finance minister said 14 incidents of scam are being investigated further, and he thinks almost all of those will turn into criminal cases.

"We may know the persons who were involved in the share market scams. But we need evidence to try them. Therefore, we started further investigation of 14 cases," Muhith said.

Citing the cases filed against persons involved in the share market scam in 1996, he said the government wanted to revive those cases, but there were only allegations, no witness or evidence.

"We don't want to face the same situation this time," the finance minister said.

He also said the government did not take any decision to introduce tax identification numbers (TIN) for share market investors, neither did the government take any decision to impose tax on share market transactions.

"But a vested quarter is propagating that the government is going to introduce TIN for share market investors and impose tax on share trade. This quarter benefits from spreading such rumours, and they made the market unstable in the last two days," Muhith said.

He said the government is providing legal assistance to Ibrahim Khaled. "We are very much sorry that he is being harassed."

Earlier, taking the floor on a point of order, ruling Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim raised the issue of the share market.

AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta, Jatiya Party MP Mujib-ul Haq, and independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim also participated in the unscheduled brief discussion on the stock market crash.

Sheikh Selim, also ruling AL presidium member, blasted the finance minister for not taking actions against the "gamblers".

"Everybody knows the persons and companies behind the stock market scams. But actions are not being taken against those who took away hundreds of crores of taka," Selim said.

Amid support of treasury bench lawmakers, Sheikh Selim, also chief of a parliamentary body, said the "gamblers" involved in the stock market scams are speaking loudly on TV talk shows.

He urged the finance minister to take stern actions against the persons behind the scams, even if those persons are involved in the ruling party.

"The government's image can't be tarnished for only one or two people. The government should not shoulder their liabilities, even if they are party men," Selim said.

He also criticised filing of the case against Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled.

He criticised the home ministry's move to install close circuit cameras at share market areas to keep vigilance on investors.

"They will protest since they got hurt by losing money," Selim said. He said the finance minister, the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on finance ministry, and the central bank governor are saying different things on the same issue, there is no consistency in their speeches.

Taking the floor, AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta expressed astonishment about how a defamatory case could be filed against Ibrahim Khaled for the probe report.

"All parliamentarians and the people of the country believe that Ibrahim Khaled is an honest man. But that man is not being protected. They are threatening him," Suranjit said.

Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujib-ul Haq urged the government to send the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission for taking actions.

Independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim also decried filing of the case against Ibrahim Khaled, and said Khaled is one of the most honest men in the country's banking sector. "No honest man in future will be found to form any committee if Ibarhim Khaled is harassed this way," he said.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Exploration in 2 deep sea blocks gets nod, PSC with ConocoPhillips in a month

The cabinet committee on economic affairs yesterday approved signing of an additional agreement with US oil company ConocoPhillips South Asia New Venture Ltd for oil and gas exploration from two deep-sea blocks.

The company won two deep-sea blocks at an off-shore block bidding floated by Petrobangla in 2008. In August 2009, the cabinet committee approved signing of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) on condition that oil and gas exploration will be restricted to undisputed areas.

At a meeting yesterday, the committee approved the additional deal to be made with all the conditions incorporated.

Petrobangla Chairman Hussain Monsur told The Daily Star yesterday that all negotiations with ConocoPhillips are done and the PSC is expected to be signed in about a month.

ConocoPhillips has been awarded deep-sea blocks DS-08-10 and 11, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said after the meeting at the cabinet division of the secretariat.

He added the company will work excluding the disputed maritime areas.

The company had initially offered to invest $442.63 million under four Production Sharing Contracts for eight blocks. As per a government policy, it was awarded the two blocks which, however, have some areas claimed by the neighbouring countries as their own.

When the cabinet committee approved the conditional deal in 2009, it accommodated a demand of the company. Conoco demanded that when the maritime boundary issue is internationally resolved and Bangladesh's claim to the areas is established, the company will be allowed to explore those areas under a Side Letter Agreement (SLA).

Afterwards, the legislative and parliamentary affairs division vetted a draft SLA which would be signed along with the PSC.

In the PSC, the government added an article stating, "If the discovery or exploration of oil or gas remains suspended due to any dispute during the period of discovery or exploration, neither the contractor nor his agent shall claim any compensation for the period of suspension".

The Petrobangla chairman described the ConocoPhillips' venture as the country's first effort to be made in the deep sea.

"We do not know anything about the prospects of the deep sea and don't have the technology to explore it if there is anything. This company has been pursuing the deal with interest for a long time," he noted.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Lightning kills 20 in 7 districts

At least 20 people were killed and 21 injured as heavy storms and lightning hit seven districts across the country yesterday.

The worst-hit district was Chapainawabganj, where 10 people died and two sustained injuries at municipal area, Nachole, Gomostapur and Shibganj upazilas, reports our district correspondent.

The deceased are Osman Gani, 15, Bairul Islam, 35, Rezaul Karim, 22, Ripon Orao, 12, Abdul Mannan, 35, Manik, 50, Setaur, 28, Abdur Razzak,18, Abdul Kaiyum, 35, and Rafiqul Islam, 35.

Of the injured, Abu Hanjala, 9, and Nahida Akhtar, 10, was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and Gomostapur Upazila Health Complex respectively.

Lightning struck Osman Gani and Abu Hanjala when they were collecting mangoes from under trees near their house at Durgapur around 6:30am, said Sarwar Hossain, assistant sub-inspector of Sadar Police Station.

Upazila Nirbahi Officers of Gomostapur and Shibganj and officer-in-charge of Nachole Police Station confirmed the other deaths.

Our Pabna correspondent adds, two people died and 17 others were injured by lightning when they were working at a paddy field around 10:00am yesterday at Paspungali village of Faridpur upazila.

The dead were identified as Md Babu Mollah, 18, and Md Khairul Islam, 26.

Of the injured, 15 were admitted to Faridpur Upazila Health Complex.

In another incident, lightning killed two more people and injured two in Singra and Sadar upazilas of Natore yesterday, reports our local correspondent.

The deceased are Marzina Begum, 28, and Manik Ali, 24.

Marzina was electrocuted at the veranda of her house during a thunderstorm while Manik was working in a field near his house around 10:00am, police said.

The storm also damaged hundreds of houses, uprooted a large number of trees and electric poles in the locality. Besides, standing crops across a vast land area were damaged.

In Noakhali, two children of Noyapara village in Subarnachar upazila were killed by lightning around 12:30pm while they were collecting peanuts in a field.

The dead were identified as Shabana, 13, and Farhana, 10.

Another thunderstorm in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur killed Shah Alam, 35, and Mamun, 12.

Witnesses said lightning hit Shah Alam while he was harvesting paddy in a field at Sripur village.

Mamun of Doaganda village became a victim while he was playing in a field near his house.

A farmer died and three others were injured by lightning at Gopinathpur of sadar upazila, adds our Gopalganj correspondent.

Lightning struck them while they were taking rest beside a paddy field around 10:30am.

Thunderstorm took the life of housewife Julekha Begum in Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat, reports our correspondent in Dinajpur.

Lightning struck Julekha when she went out to bring back her cattle from a grazing field.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Subsidence in Nakhalpara: Buet experts find faulty piling work

Low-quality soil, faulty design and inadequate protection measures in piling works led to the subsidence at a construction site in the city's Nakhalpara on Saturday, assessed an expert team from Buet.

Visiting the site yesterday, the team comprised of civil engineering experts Prof AMM Shafiullah and Prof Syed Fakhrul Ameen tried to ascertain the causes behind the incident.

Islamic Trading Consortium Ltd was doing the piling to build a basement car park for a proposed 14-storey Impulse Medical College and Hospital.

But the retaining wall of the pit dug for the foundations crumbled resulting in the cave-in and collapse of three corrugated iron sheet houses in the early hours of Saturday.

Part of a road subsided and cracks appeared on the adjoining structures including two five-storey residential buildings.

Both of them pointed at the lack of adequate protection measures in shore piling (ground digging for the foundations) of the site.

Prof Ameen said apparently the design was flawed and pilings were weak. The basement is larger than the surface coverage of the building, he said, and it is risky.

Prof Shafiullah said the disaster wouldn't have happened if the design had been drawn up properly.

However, collapse risk for the five-storey building to the north of the site has reduced after the pit filling started. But another to the west is still in danger with vacuum underneath, he said.

According to Shafiullah, almost all the good-quality soil of the capital has been used up and only low-quality soil is left for construction.

Proper soil investigation, which is often ignored, is crucial for any construction, he said.

He suggested continuing filling up of the pit.

Meanwhile, army engineers have so far dumped 20 percent of estimated ten lakh cubic feet of earth till yesterday, Brigadier General Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar told The Daily Star.

Residents of at least 20 adjoining houses have to suffer miserably, as the utility connections got snapped with the collapse.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Limon, his family have criminal link, claims Rab

Limon Hossain, a college student of Jhalakathi, and his family had links with a local crime gang, claimed Rapid Action Battalion yesterday, serving yet another blow to the teenage boy who lost a leg after being shot by the elite crime fighting force.

"We have evidence regarding their [Limon and his family] involvement and will fight this case in the court of justice," Rab Media and Legal Wing Director M Sohail said at a press briefing in Rab Headquarters at Uttara of the capital.

Sohail said his statement was based on reports of four probe committees ordered by Rab and police after the March 23 incident.

The reports found that Limon was a member of Morshed Bahini, a local gang of criminals, and he suffered the bullet wound in an encounter between the miscreants and Rab personnel.

The reports confirmed that there was no incident of any Rab personnel shooting Limon in the leg at close range, he said.

Rab's statement came four days after a similar claim by Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, which was later endorsed by Home Minister Sahara Khatun.

"His [Tarique's] comment must be a government statement as it was made surely following a government decision," the home minister told reporters in her office.

Commenting on the adviser's statement, Sohail said Tarique's remark on Limon was on the basis of the reports submitted to the prime minister.

Rab has consistently said Limon was involved with Morshed-led crime gang, and he was wounded during an exchange of fire between Rab and the criminals.

The versions about Limon's alleged involvement with criminal gang widely differed from what the head of Rab said weeks after the shooting.

In remarks on April 11, Rab Director General Mokhlesur Rahman said Limon was not a notorious criminal.

He said the college student was rather a victim of a "shootout" between Rab and criminals.

Mokhlesur Rahman was present at the press briefing yesterday.

Several human rights groups rallied behind Limon and his family. Media reports, based on interviews of local villagers and school and college teachers, described Limon as a gentle boy striving to get higher education to support his struggling family.

He missed his first year college examinations due to the incident that shattered his dream.

Limon is now being treated at NITOR, popularly known as Pangu Hospital, for his amputated left leg. He was transferred to this hospital after being released from Jhalakathi jail on a six-month bail granted by the High Court. He got the bail as a human rights group sought his release claiming him innocent.

Rab filed two cases against Limon accusing him of possessing illegal firearms, and of obstructing law enforcers from carrying out their duties and attempted murder.

Limon's mother also filed a case against the Rab personnel who went to Limon's village to hunt the notorious crime gang led by Morshed.

At yesterday's press briefing, Rab media wing also accused the Jhalakathi correspondent of a national daily of writing false and exaggerated reports on the shooting incident at Chhaturia village in Rajapur.

"From the very beginning this correspondent has been trying to overplay the incident, and he persuaded Limon's family to file the case. He also organised some protest programmes, misguiding human rights organisations, in a bid to instigate an anti-government movement", Sohail said.

Sohail also alleged that Limon's family members persuaded the correspondent to write fabricated news over the issue.

Meanwhile, another one-man committee formed by the home ministry to probe Limon's case was given more time to investigate.

The sole member of the committee, Mohammad Shawkat Akbar who is also the additional divisional commissioner of Barisal, said the home ministry earlier had asked him to submit a report within 15 working days after the probe began on April 29, and he applied for the extension on May 19.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

French university to honour Hasina for democracy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to be awarded gold medal by Duphine University, a leading Parisian university in France, in recognition of her contribution to the institutionalising and strengthening of democracy.

It is also for her achievement in empowering women of Bangladesh.

She will receive the award at a ceremony at Duphine University in Paris tomorrow, foreign ministry sources said.

Hasina, who is now on a visit to Canada, will pay a two-day visit to France on May 25-26 to receive the award and will also deliver a keynote speech on May 26 at the High Level Panel on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality to be organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its headquarters in Paris.

During her France visit, she is expected to call on UN Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon, UNESCO Director General Ms Irina Bokova. The premier will also attend an African Exhibition at the UNESCO headquarters.

Other participants at the Panel may include prime ministers of Mali and Iceland, presidents of Liberia and Finland, Nobel laureate Dr Amartya Sen and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

Hasina is expected to return home on May 27.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

High-ups' remarks on Limon protested

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a component of ruling Awami League-led grand alliance, yesterday protested the statements of government high-ups regarding Limon Hossain, who was shot to disability by Rapid Action Battalion.

In a statement, JSD Executive President Mainuddin Khan Badal, and General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia said the recent remarks on Limon by the prime minister's defence adviser, the home minister, and the director general of Rab is unfortunate as the high-ups said Limon and his father are involved in a "criminal gang".

They also demanded removal of the cases filed against Limon, and urged the government to ensure his proper treatment.

On Thursday at a press conference with a selected group of reporters, Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique claimed that both Limon, whose left leg was amputated after a Rab team shot him on March 23, and his father are members of a criminal gang.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun on Sunday defended Tarique Ahmed, saying his remark on Limon is a government statement. Rab yesterday echoed the statement of Tarique Ahmed that Limon has "criminal link".

However, on April 11, Rab Director General Mokhlesur Rahman admitted that Limon Hossain is not a notorious criminal.

The JSD leaders said while a government probe into the incident is going on, the remarks of the prime minister's defence adviser did not only influenced the investigation process, but also it will inspire the perpetrators.

They also condemned the diatribe against the media by the government high-ups. Tarique Ahmed in the press conference criticised some newspapers' role on the issue.

"When all the people of the country want investigation and punishment for incidents of extra-judicial killings and torture by law enforcement agencies, the statements of the prime minister's adviser has created frustration and anger among the people," the JSD leaders said in the statement.

They said the government should remove the persons who are using administrative power to impede the investigation process.

On Saturday another component of the grand-alliance, Workers Party, condemned the statement of the prime minister's defence adviser terming his statement as unfortunate.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

5 'robbers' held after gunfight

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested five suspected robbers, four of them with bullet wounds, after a gunfight at Mohakhali in the capital Sunday night.

Rab-2 officials said they also recovered three foreign-made firearms, two pistols and a revolver, 16 bullets and four cocktails from their possession.

Bullet injured Montu Mian, 22, and Mohammad Farid, 23, of Sherpur district, Chandan Burman, 25, of Netrokona, and Mohammad Rajib, 21, of Shariatpur district were admitted to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) under police custody.

Another suspected robber Mohammad Ali Jibon, who was arrested unhurt, was handed over to police.

Major Ershadul Haque of Rab-2 said they, acting on a tip-off, raided a tin-roofed house at Arjatpara where the robbers were making preparation for committing a robbery at around 8:15pm.

Sensing their presence, the robbers opened fire on the Rab men, prompting them to retaliate with bullets.

Rab officials said all the detainees were garment workers and lived in Tongi and Savar areas.

Meanwhile, the Rab did not allow journalists to talk to the alleged robbers.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Ctg Arms Haul: CID grills Rezzakul, Rahim

Investigators yesterday interrogated two former National Security Intelligence (NSI) directors general at Chittagong Central Jail gate in connection with the 10-truck arms haul cases.

Investigation officer of the cases Md Muniruzzaman Chowdhury, also a senior assistant superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department, quizzed Brig Gen (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury and Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim. Two other CID officials assisted him in the three-hour long interrogation that began around 12:30pm.

The IO declined to make any comment on the outcome of the grilling.

Muniruzzaman moved a petition on April 12 before a Chittagong court for quizzing the duo.

Former Directorate General of Forces' Intelligence DG Maj Gen (retd) Sadik Hasan Rumi on April 13 stated to the court that Rezzakul was involved in smuggling of the arms cache.

The court on April 17 directed the authorities concerned to interrogate them at jail gate.

Police seized 10 truckloads of weapons and ammunition from the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd on the night of April 1 in 2004.

Later they filed two cases -- one under the arms act and another for smuggling.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Rangamati Killings: UPDF enforces road, river blockade

At least one person was bullet-hit during yesterday's dawn-to-dusk road and waterway blockade in Rangamati called by United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) protesting the killing of its four members on Saturday.

Pervez Alam, a passenger in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, was injured when unknown criminals opened fire from a roadside bush in Shalbaga area, some twenty-five km off Rangamati.

Alam, 20, of Chandanaish village in Chittagong, was hit in the leg and was admitted to Rangamati General Hospital.

An auto-rickshaw driver was wounded as pickets beat him at Moghachhari on the Chittagong-Rangamati road around 10:00am, Kawkhali police said.

All kinds of vehicular movement on the road and waterways were closed during the day-long blockade.

Around 9:00am, a running battle erupted between members of UPDF and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), a pro-peace treaty body, at Moghachhari when a group of PCJSS supporters came out on the road with their bikes.

Pickets also smashed a bike at Kutukchhari Bazar around noon.

The UPDF, which opposes the peace deal in the hills, held a rally at Jurachhari protesting the gun attack on its members at Naraichhari under Barkal upazila.

Four of its members were killed in the attack allegedly orchestrated by PCJSS. PCJSS, however, denied the allegation.

So far police recovered three bodies while the body of Pulok Jibon Chakma is yet to be found.

No case was filed in connection with the Saturday's incident, said Iddris Ali, sub-inspector of Barkal Police Station.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Govt eyes 27pc more revenue next FY

The government may set the target of total revenue earning at Tk 1,18,380 crore in the national budget for the next fiscal year, which is 27 percent higher than that in the present budget.

Revenue earning target in the present budget is 17 percent higher than in the budget for the previous FY (2009-10).

The share of income tax is 28.93 per cent in the earning by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in the current FY, and it will be 29.81 percent in the next budget.

The target of earning from income tax in the next budget will be 37 percent higher than in the present budget.

NBR sources said no new tax will be imposed for raising revenue earning. This will be done through various new initiatives and by limiting the scope of tax evasion.

Besides, the present upward trend of inflation will also contribute to higher revenue collection.

The NBR at a meeting with the prime minister last month presented its plan for increased revenue earning.

In its plan, the NBR said direct or income tax in the next budget will be increased to 29.81 percent of the total NBR earning compared to 27.47 percent in FY 2009-10.

Moreover, Value Added Tax (Vat) will be increased by about 0.70 percentage point to 35.77 percent of the total revenue. But import tax will be lowered to 33.72 percent of the total revenue after slashing it by 3.11 percentage point.

NBR officials said they are also going to lower the cost of collecting revenue. In FY 2009-10, Tk 0.74 was spent for collecting Tk 100 in revenue on an average but in the next FY, the cost will be lowered to Tk 0.70.

Revenue earning was more than the target in the first nine months of the current FY, said the NBR officials.

The finance minister has said the target may be increased by Tk 1,000 crore in the revised budget.

The officials said one of the main causes for the increase in revenue earning in this FY is high prices of commodities both in the domestic and international markets, and for this Vat, import tax and supplementary duty shot up.

Besides, a number of measures were taken to increase revenue earning. In some cases, tax rate was enhanced, sources said.

NBR officials said high inflation will continue in the next FY, which will normally increase revenue income. Alongside NBR is going to be automated, and new Vat and income tax laws introduced. All this will contribute to higher revenue collection.

They mentioned that there will be no change in import duty structure in the next FY. Possibility of imposing new tax except on cigarette and tobacco is very slim.

In the current FY, a survey has been conducted in some areas to find new tax payers, and in the next FY, more areas will be covered.

The central intelligence cell (CIC) will be strengthened to check tax evasion.

In the next budget, special focus will be given on raising non-tax revenue, the finance minister said.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Interest rate of savings instruments may go up

Interest rate of savings instruments may go up by 0.5 to 1 percent in the next fiscal year, as their sale dropped by over 60 percent in the current fiscal year.

The issue was discussed at a meeting between Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Finance Division and Savings Directorate at the central bank in the capital yesterday.

Chaired by Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui, the meeting agreed in principle on the matter, and it will be finalised later this week, meeting sources said.

The interest rate of different savings instruments was cut by 1 to 1.5 percent in the current fiscal year.

Following the slash, the net sale fell by about 65 percent in the first eight months of the current financial year.

At present four types of savings instruments are in the market -- Paribar Sanchaypatra, Pensioner Sanchaypatra, five-year term Sanchaypatra and three-year term Sanchaypatra.

In the current budget, the interest rate on Paribar Sanchaypatra was fixed at 11.04 percent while 10 percent on three-year term Sanchaypatra.

In addition, 10 percent tax was imposed on their profit. The tax may be brought down to five percent.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Natore Jubo League activist shot dead

A Jubo League activist was shot dead in the town's Kanaikhali area last night allegedly by members of a rival faction.

The deceased is Rasu, 28, son of Abdur Rouf Noni.

Some four to five miscreants, led by Afzal, abducted him from Kanaikhali area yesterday morning and shot him in the head around 10:00pm, claimed Shariful Islam Ramzan, president of district unit JL.

Hearing his scream people rushed him to Natore Sadar Hospital where the doctors declared him dead, he added.

Shafikul Islam Shimul, secretary of Natore district JL and also the chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad, said assailants shot secretary of the town JL unit Afzal Hossain on Thursday.

Rasu is one of the accused in a case filed in connection with the shooting incident.

Denying the allegation against Afzal, Shimul insisted Afzal was at Rajshahi Medical Collage Hospital for collecting a medical certificate of his treatment when Rasu was killed.

Police arrested Sabbir Hossain, Ripon Ali, Goutam, Shohrab and Subash for interrogation.

Nasirul Islam, additional superintendent of Natore police, said they suspect internal feud of JL led to the killing.

Additional police have been deployed in the town to maintain peace, added Nasirul.

No case was filed regarding the murder till filing of this report at 11:30pm.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

3 lakh Bangladesh workers in Malaysia to get MRP

The government yesterday decided to issue over three lakh machine readable passports (MRP) to the undocumented Bangladeshis in Malaysia to help expedite their regularisation process.


Following Malaysia's decision to regularise undocumented foreign workers, including around three lakh Bangladeshis, an inter-ministerial meeting was held at the home ministry.
Chaired by Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, the meeting was attended by officials of various ministries, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia and the Department of Immigration and Passport.
Malaysia's decision has not been officially announced yet, but diplomatic missions of countries of foreign workers were notified of it last week.
"We will take a crash programme to issue the MRPs which is the best way to enhance our image abroad," Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan told The Daily Star.
"We shall send additional staff to Malaysia by June 15, to do the job," Zafar said.
Other ministries including the expatriates' welfare and foreign affairs and home minister will extend all required assistance, the secretary said.
Director-General of the Department of Passports Abdul Mabud said there are no exact figures regarding the number of passports required.
"However, we will issue around four lakh MRPs," he said, adding, "We have adequate capacity, but would appoint locals from Malaysia, if required."
The process will start shortly and will be completed in three months, sources said.
Mantu Kumar Biswas, labour counsellor at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, said the undocumented workers willing to get regularised will have to provide their biometric features for registration.
Currently, there are around five lakh Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. Malpractices led to a ban on recruitment early 2009 and many Bangladeshi workers became undocumented.
Failing to return home for not having job or travel documents, they have been facing threats of arrest and deportation.
Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Rab to get 2 copters

The government is going to purchase two choppers at a cost of Tk 90 crore to equip Rapid Action Battalion better for carrying out anti-crime operations through the air.

A proposal to procure the aircraft, first of its kind for Rab, is likely to be placed in a meeting of the cabinet committee on government purchase today, said sources in the home ministry.

Besides, the housing and public works ministry will table another proposal to construct more than 500 flats in the capital and its adjoining areas.

Bell Helicopter Asia (Pte) Ltd will supply the copters to be purchased from the US.

According to the home ministry proposal, parts of the helicopters will be brought from the US to Singapore. The choppers will be assembled there and later flown to Bangladesh.

The government has allocated Tk 60 crore in the current fiscal year's budget for this purpose.

With the inclusion of choppers to its logistics, the elite force will be able to reach crime scenes quicker, noted a home ministry official.

The Air Force will be in charge of operation, maintenance and safety of the choppers, added the official.

The purchase committee meeting will also consider a scheme for building 360 flats, each measuring 1336 square feet, for government officials in the capital's Mirpur area, stated sources in housing and public works ministry.

The ministry will also propose to construct three buildings, each having 15 storeys, in Dohar upazila of Dhaka for the middle class people. The three units will have 168 flats with a floor area of 1298 square feet each.

Source: The Daily Star (May 22, 2011)

Adviser Imam asks Khaleda to apologise

Prime Minister's Adviser HT Imam yesterday blasted opposition leader Khaleda Zia for her remark that Awami League assumed power through a secret understanding with the last caretaker regime.

"She [Khaleda] will have to apologise to the people if she fails to prove her claim," he told a press conference at the AL president's political office in the capital's Dhanmondi.

BNP chairperson in a recent meeting in London had alleged that the decision of bringing AL to power was taken at a secret meeting among the chief adviser of the last caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed, the then army chief Moeen U Ahmed and Imam in Cox's Bazar, days before the 2008 polls, said the former bureaucrat.

Terming Khaleda's comment baseless, imaginary and ill-motivated, Imam insisted he had not been to Cox's Bazar in 2008, never even in five years before that.

He also complained the BNP chief is making such statements from the pain of being defeated in the last parliamentary elections.

The administrative affairs adviser categorically rejected BNP's demand for holding mid-term polls.

Imam urged Khaleda to join the parliament session and help a parliamentary body amend the constitution.

AL leaders Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin and Mrinal Kanti Das were present at the press conference.

Source: The Daily Star (May 22, 2011)

Online GD fails to make a mark

The government move to digitalise policing initially with online general diary has failed to make an impression as most people are unaware of it even a year after its launch.

Most people, who have recently visited police stations to file GDs for snatching, lost documents or other reasons, were found scratching their heads when asked why they did not go for online GDs.

In most cases it turned out that they have never heard of it.

"I visit the police station almost every month to report of stolen goods from my garage," said Ahammad Hossain at Tejgaon police station.

"But no-one at the station informed me that I could file GDs from anywhere," said the owner of a garage in Karwan Bazar.

As many as 2,082 GDs were filed electronically since the online system was introduced in March last year.

On the other hand, 38 police stations in the city received 32,721 handwritten GDs in April alone -- 15 times the number of online GDs recorded so far.

Police say the online general diary system, launched as an e-governance initiative, was intended to make it easier for citizens to file GDs. It meant no longer going to the police station to file a GD for "non-emergency" matters.

Instead, the system has remained merely as a window dressing, according to citizens and experts, who say the police have put little effort to make it attractive and useful.

"It seems the service exists only in name," said Mustafa Jabbar, president of Bangladesh Computer Samity, a national coalition of IT-based organisations. "It is just there without helping anyone, neither people nor the police."

A GD is usually filed for legal or security matters that do not warrant police cases.

Dhaka police stations receive over 35 handwritten GDs a day, compared to some five GDs or so that are filed electronically every month, insiders say.

The statistics came as little surprise to Anirban Ghosh, a Khilgaon resident.

The software engineer tried to file an online GD for his lost office identity card in December.

After losing his ID card, Anirban went home, fired up his computer and logged into the police website to file the GD, which involved filling out an elaborate form with required information.

Everything went well. He received an identification number for collecting a copy of the GD from the police station concerned.

Ten days later he received a call from his local police station.

"They said I did not provide enough information, so I need to visit the station and give a handwritten application instead," said Anirban.

"So here I am to file a GD that could have been taken care of ten days ago had I come here in the first place," he said, adding, "The website is a total waste of time."

Police officers admit the new system is unattractive, clunky and a flop among the citizens.

Speaking on anonymously, a top home ministry official blamed lack of promotion and the slow online process, which ironically is more time consuming than the handwritten process.

It takes days for the electronic diaries to get sorted and sent to the respective police stations, from where the complainants can collect their copies of GD, police sources inform.

"Conversely, you can file your GD and get a copy in five minutes if you go to a police station," commented a duty officer at Dhanmondi Police Station who refused to be named.

Police officers say the website is not user-friendly and does a poor job of instructing the citizens on how to fill out the diary properly. It creates problems for both the police and the complainants.

In October, Tejgaon police received a GD where the description of the incident read: "Dear Sir, Please save me".

The complainant, an alleged stalking victim named Shifa, mentioned the name of the stalker. But she did not provide any contact details or any other information.

The lack of user-friendliness in the website reflects poor efforts and planning from the police, experts observe.

They questioned the police administration's sincerity towards going digital and added that much of the corruption in police would go away with digitalisation.

This could be a reason for the lack of interest in implementing many of their digitalisation initiatives, said a retired police official requesting anonymity.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun during inauguration of the online GD system dubbed it as a part of fulfilling the government's electoral pledge of a "Digital Bangladesh".

If the online general diary system is a reflection of the government fulfilling its dream of "Digital Bangladesh", the country has big things to worry about, Dhaka residents observe.

Source: The Daily Star (May 22, 2011)

Mob kill 2 robbers

A mob beat two suspected robbers to death in Companyganj upazila of Noakhali Friday night.

They also vandalised a microbus used by the robbers.

On information, police rushed to the spot at about 10:30pm and arrested driver of the microbus Ilias and helper Rabbi.

Police said locals on information stopped a microbus carrying a gang of robbers around 9:00pm when the bandits were going to Bazar area of Musapur union from Chardiarar Balua.

They could catch two of the robbers while the others managed to flee. The mob beat the two up leaving them dead on the spot.

One of the deceased was identified as Jashim Uddin while the identity of another could not be known immediately.

Jashim hails from Gochchhagram and is an accused in a number of robbery cases, said Officer-in-Charge Monjurul Haque of Companyganj Police Station.

The bodies were sent to Noakhali General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Source: The Daily Star (May 22, 2011)

Govt delays procurement for farmers' benefit

The government is taking time to go for procurement of Boro rice to build a public stock as it considers market price of rice is still high, and public purchase of it for providing price incentives to farmers is not needed at this stage.

In the previous years, procurement of Boro rice for government stock used to start in mid or late April.

But this year the food ministry has not yet announced a procurement policy while Boro harvest is already more than halfway through, and will be over by the first week of next month.

Some experts support the government strategy, but others oppose it saying small and marginal farmers, who are forced to sell their produce during peak season to repay their loans for Boro cultivation, will face losses or make marginal gains that will discourage them to grow rice.

"Rice price is still high, though it started declining. Paddy price is not yet at a level that farmers will face losses. If we see farmers are really deprived of fair prices, we shall surely procure rice," said Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury.

Coarse rice prices in the capital's markets now range from Tk 30 to 34 a kg, that of medium quality rice from Tk 35 to 40 and of fine rice from Tk 41 to 50. The prices have fallen 6-7 percent in the last one month, but still these are 14-20 percent higher than during the corresponding period last year.

Food ministry officials said prices of coarse rice in the rural markets are also not less than Tk 28 a kg. Paddy prices are between Tk 525 and Tk 750 a maund depending on varieties compared to Tk 750-1100 in March, according to farmers and rice millers.

Matia Chowdhury, who is also on the Food Policy Monitoring Committee, said, "Throughout last year, farmers made good gains. At the present prices too, they are making gains."

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) assessed production cost of milled boro rice this year is Tk 24-25 a kg, she mentioned.

The agriculture minister said that fixing rice procurement price at Tk 27-28 will be fine, but market price of coarse rice is still higher than this. A prime goal of public food procurement is price support for farmers, but as the price is still high, the government is waiting for it to decline, she added.

Ahmad Hossain Khan, director general of food directorate, said, "Rice price could go up if we start procurement immediately."

Prices would come down further when harvest is over 80 percent, mainly in the major Boro producing districts in the northern region of the country.

Dr Quazi Shahabuddin, former director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, supported the government strategy, but suggested that it must keep a watch on food prices both in the domestic and global markets.

"If prices in the international market are lower than those in the domestic market, the government will surely go for import."

Former food secretary Abdul Latif Mondal however said the government has to go for rice procurement immediately to ensure interests of small and marginal farmers, if not of the big farmers.

"Small farmers sell paddy immediately after the harvest to pay the loans they take for cultivation. Low prices of paddy means losses for them," he said. "If these farmers make more gains, they will grow more, which is crucial to food security."

Mondal warned that rice traders, who take large amounts of bank loans, are controlling the rice market now, and will continue to do so if the government further delays rice procurement.

Referring to last Boro season, he said the government managed to buy less than six lakh tonnes of rice while the target was 12 lakh tonnes. Later, under pressure from rice millers, it had to increase procurement price to Tk 28 a kg from Tk 25.

"We must take lessons from the past. Higher prices should go to the farmers, not to the rice millers," he said.

Source: The Daily Star (May 22, 2011)

ADP implementation picks up in latter half

In keeping with tradition, the implementation of Annual Development Programme became faster in the later months of the fiscal year compared to the first half.

Hurried spending wastes government money and makes room for corruption, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Zaid Bakht said.

In the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, ADP implementation was Tk 20,909 crore or 60 percent of the revised allocation, which means average monthly expenditure was about Tk 2,090 crore.

However, in the first month ADP implementation was Tk 836 crore or two percent of the allocation. In the first quarter, the average monthly expenditure was Tk 1,119 crore.

The government has already slashed the current fiscal year's ADP by more than Tk 3,000 crore to make it Tk 35,130 crore.

As per the revised plan, in the last two months of the current fiscal year the government will spend Tk 7,110 crore every month.

As the fiscal year is drawing nearer to an end, the expenditure is getting faster and with it government's bank borrowing is increasing. In the first six months of the current fiscal year the government's bank borrowing was very small. After 10 months the government has borrowed Tk 11,380 crore from the banking system.

In this year's budget, the government set a target to borrow around Tk 15,000 crore but it may exceed this target.

A Bangladesh Bank official said if the government borrows steadily every month as per its target it does not have any negative impact but if it borrows a huge amount in a small period, it destabilises the money market.

A high official of the planning ministry said after presenting the national budget every year the finance minister in the post-budget press conference urges secretaries to start implementing the ADP from the beginning of the financial year.

The ministries are told to make the purchasing plan ahead of the start of the fiscal year. But the situation does not change, planning ministry officials said. Most of the projects of the ADP are on-going.

According to planning ministry information, in the last fiscal year the total ADP utilisation was Tk 25,917 crore. In the last two months the expenditure was Tk 9,216 crore. In the last month the expenditure was Tk 6,395 crore.

Planning ministry officials said on many occasions the ministries do not actually spend the money rather show it spent. They show expenditures against different departments and divisions of various ministries. As a result, in the last month a high expenditure is shown.

Even on the last working day of the fiscal year, Tk 2,000 crore to Tk 3,000 crore was released from the government account in Bangladesh Bank.

Zaid Bakht said spending 40 percent of the allocations in 2 months would not only waste public money but also have detrimental effect on the quality of the completed projects.

Zaid Bakht was a member of the public expenditure review commission. Drawing from experience, he said there were instances where cheques were issued to show that the money was spent but in fact it was not and no work had been done.

The government takes up challenging ADPs with a large number of projects but the ministries concerned do not have the capability or the efficiency to implement them, which creates these problems.

A planning ministry official said hurried expenditure at the end of the year results in the government's original plan for ADP failing its goal. Even though ministries fail to implement the ADP fully at the end of the year, they make demand for more allocation.

Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) in its report prepared in March mentioned several problems in ADP implemention.

The ministries take up more projects than the resources allocated to them under the medium-term budgetary framework. As the number of projects increases, both the tenure and expenditure go up.

In the current fiscal year, the number of total projects was 916, in the revised ADP allocation was cut by more than Tk 3,000 crore but the number of projects increased to 1,185. The planning ministry official said this is a yearly phenomenon.

According to the IMED report, the projects the government takes every year cannot be completed for the lack of necessary resources. In the current fiscal year, 287 projects were scheduled for completion but in the revised budget the number was reduced.

Project implementation is delayed due to various reasons including change in the project design, inefficiency and failure to release funds.

Source: The Daily Star (May 22, 2011)

Disquieting developments in CHT

THE killing of four members of the United People's Democratic Front, including one of its central leaders, in a gun attack in Rangamati on Saturday, highlights, yet again, the fact that natural peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which had been ravaged by 22 years of guerrilla warfare until the signing of the CHT Treaty on December 2, 1997 between the previous Awami League and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti, the political umbrella of the now-defunct Shanti Bahini, remains a remote reality. According to a report front-paged in New Age on Sunday, the UPDF accused the PCJSS of orchestrating the killing—an accusation denied outright by the latter—and called a daylong blockade of road and waterway in Rangamati for Monday in protest against the killing and in demand for the arrest and trial of the killers and the resignation of the PCJSS chief, Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, widely known as Santu Larma from the position of the CHT Regional Council chairman. The accusation of the PCJSS's involvement in the killing and the demand for Santu Larma's resignation by the UPDF appear hardly surprising, though; after all, the latter, formed by a dissident group of students, women activists and PCJSS leader in the wake of the signing of the CHT Treaty, has consistently condemned the PCJSS for signing what it calls a 'document of surrender'.

As we have argued in these columns many times in the past, foot-dragging by successive governments, including the incumbent Awami League-Jatiya Party administration, insofar as implementation of the treaty is concerned, may have seriously undermined the peace dividend that it promises and, instead, stretched the patience of the hill people to a point that they have started suspecting the intention of the ruling quarters, irrespective of their partisan affiliation. In fact, last year, Santu Larma said in public that the so-called 'sincere assurances' of successive governments had been nothing but 'rhetoric'. His claim, regrettably, may have been substantiated by even the incumbent government's failure to make any significant progress in the implementation of the treaty. Needless to add, the expectation from the AL-led government as regards implementation of the treaty may have been especially because not only was the treaty signed during the Awami League's previous tenure in government but the party also promised in its election manifesto to completely implement the treaty.

Indeed, there are provisions in the treaty, e.g. voter registration and eligibility criteria, which are not only legally tenuous but also in contravention with the constitution of the republic. However, none of the successive governments seems to have made any sincere effort to address the legal and constitutional anomalies in the treaty. Moreover, they have hardly made any effort to implement those provisions in the treaty—e.g. settlement of land disputes—that are unlikely to stir any legal or constitutional controversy.

Meanwhile, according to a report also front-paged in New Age on Sunday, quoting the home secretary, the government is 'seriously considering' imposition of a ban on the UPDF, which it seems to think is responsible for the recent instability in the hill tracts. If the government goes ahead with the plan, it might compound the problem, especially because Santu Larma has been clamouring for a ban on the UPDF, which, he says, is a 'terrorist organisation'. The government needs to recognise the fact that the prevailing tension in the hill tracts boils down to the failure of successive governments to effectively address the implementation of the CHT treaty. It needs to also realise that the problem is essentially political and thus the solution needs to be political through peaceful negotiations. Hence, it needs to initiate talks immediately with the parties concerned and strive towards a settlement that promises win-win for everyone. If it allows the tension in the CHT to simmer on, it may some day snowball into a crisis. If it so happens, the consequence could be ultimately detrimental to the interest of the country.

Source: New Age

Spirit of ’71 highlighted in art show

The spirit of the war of independence in 1971 and contribution of the founding president of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been highlighted in an ongoing group art show at the Gallery Jolrong in Banani.

The 20-day art exhibition titled Muktijuddho o Bangabandhu features the works of 60 artists including senior artists like Shahabuddin Ahmed and Hamiduzzan Khan along with promising artists.

Both the war and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are presented in the displayed works at the exhibition. For example, a painting by artist Abdus Shakoor Shah portrays some mysterious looking faces. The faces stand for those millions of people, who were brutally killed during the genocide committed by the Pakistani army. Another work by Amirul Momenin Chowdhury, titled Bangladesh- 1971, shows the misery of a helpless woman who was captivated and raped by the Pakistani force during the war. Yet the title is suggestive of the ground realities that existed in Bangladesh, 1971.

Another work on display shows Sheikh Mujibur Rahman standing tall as the leader of the masses. A painting by Zakia Khan Chandana portrays Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is fighting from his grave to re-establish the rights of the people of Bangladesh.

The exhibition was inaugurated by minister of foreign affairs Dr Dipu Moni on May 19. 

The exhibition will continue till 10 June.

Source: New Age