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)