Victim families want Ashraf, Mueen brought back for execution

Maqsuda Banu, niece of martyred intellectual Gias Uddin Ahmed, talks to the journalists after ICT pronounced death sentence on Chowdhury Moinuddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan in absentia. — New Age photo

As the International Crimes Tribunal-2 presiding Judge, Justice Obaidul Hassan, pronounced death sentence for Al-Badr bosses Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Md Ashrafuzzaman Khan, for abduction and killing of intellectuals, the family members of victim intellectuals present in the courtroom began sobbing in joy and hugged each other.
The family members expressed their happiness at the verdict and demanded that Ashraf and Mueen be brought back to the country and execute the sentences awarded by the tribunal.
After the tribunal completed delivering the judgement and left the courtroom, the family members of three martyred intellectuals –Professor Gias Uddin Hossain, physician Alim Choudhury and journalist ANM Golam Mostafa – who sat at three different places in the courtroom, stood up – their eyes filled with  tears of joy – and gathered at a place.
Gias’ sister Hamida Banu, a retired teacher of Chittagong University, hugged Alim’s widow, Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, but they exchanged no words.
The sentiments of the family members of other martyred intellectuals were no different.
In her reaction, Gias Uddin Hossain’s sister Hamida Banu, a retired teacher of Chittagong University, said ‘This is what I expected.’
Eight Dhaka University teachers, including Gias Uddin, were abducted by the Al-Badr men led by Ashraf and Mueen from their DU campus residences on the morning of December 13, 1971 and were later killed.
 ‘Justice has been done after long 42 years. They [Ashraf and Mueen] should be brought back to the country before this government’s tenure ends and the sentence should be executed immediately,’ Hamida said.
She, along with her sister Farida Banu and brother Rashid Uddin Ahmed, a physician by profession, came to the tribunal to hear the judgement.
‘My brother [Gias] would be 80 now were he alive. Finally we have got justice. I will be waiting for execution of the sentence,’ said Farida Banu who moves with the help of a walking stick.
Martyred physician Alim Choudury’s wife Shyamoli Nasrin Choudhury said she was very happy hearing the judgement that also acknowledged the supreme sacrifice of the greatest sons of the soil.
‘I think the criminals [the condemned duo] are not absconding. The killers’ present addresses are mentioned in the judgement. They should be brought back through Interpol,’ she said.
Al-Badr men led by Mueen and Ashraf abducted Alim from his Purana Paltan residence in Dhaka on December 15, 1971 and killed him.
Martyred journalist ANM Golam Mustafa’s son Anirban Mustafa, who along with his wife and 10-year-old son came to the tribunal to hear the judgement, said that he had no memory with his father.
‘I have lost my father, but got Bangladesh. I hope Bangladesh will be a country of non-communal spirit,’ he said.
He expected immediate execution of the verdict by bringing the killers back to the country.
The condemned Al-Badr bosses Ashraf and Mueen, led Al-Badr Bahini men in abducting the then chief reporter of daily Purbadesh, Golam Mostafa, from his Gopibagh residence in Dhaka on December 11, 1971 and killing him. (source)

Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal censures Zia, Ershad

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 on Sunday criticised late president Ziaur Rahman and deposed president HM Ershad for rehabilitating Al-Badr men involved in eliminating intellectuals at the fag end of the country’s war of independence in 1971.
The tribunal made the censure in the verdict against fugitive Al-Badr operatives Chowdhury Mueenuddin and Md Ashrafuzzaman Khan.
It mentioned that Shariatullah Bangali, 64, a resident of neighbouring village of Mueen under Daganbhuyan upazila in Feni testified that Mueen had come to his
native village twice under police protection, during the rule of Ziaur Rahman and H.M Ershad.
The judgement referred to a report of Special Branch of Police of Feni district which said that Mueen had come to his native village, during the regime of Ziaur Rahman and H.M Ershad, by a vehicle of Pakistan embassy in Bangladesh.
‘It is indeed a great shame for the nation that the government [Ziaur Rahman regime and H.M Ershad regime] allowed Chowdhury Mueen Uddin who went into hiding and later on fled to abroad, to visit his native village under police protection and protocol. Instead of being condemned Chowdhury Mueen Uddin was rather honoured by state machineries,’ the judgement said. 
‘What a shame! What a shame! This fact indubitably shakes and debases the nation,’ the tribunal observed. (source)

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina mistakes CNN for CNN iReport

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, appeared to have mistaken CNN report for an individual’s post regarding BDR mutiny on CNN iReport.
Addressing a rally at city’s Suhrawardy Udyan on Sunday, Hasina quoted ‘CNN iReport’ to hold the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party responsible for the February 25-26, 2009 rebellion of soldiers of Bangladesh Rifles, now renamed as Border Guard Bangladesh.
She, however, mentioned one kmsalam’s posting on the site to be a ‘CNN online report.’ 
She alleged that in 52 days of Awami League’s assuming office, 57 army officers were killed at the BDR headquarters of whom 33 were from Awami League families. BNP and Jamaat lawyers were standing for the accused of the carnage. 
‘Now CNN online reports revealed who were involved with the killing,’ she said.  
The posting by kmsalam titled ‘South Block Suggests Pakistani Intelligence Behind BDR Mutiny’ claimed that influential leaders of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, including Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, and Jamaat-e-Islami were behind the mutiny.  The post was not vetted by CNN. 
Another one Shawntrur commented on kmsalam’s post, ‘I guess the prime minister of Bangladesh is unaware that CNN iReport is not official report of CNN. But that did not stop the prime minister of Bangladesh to reference this CNN iReport as a CNN report in one of her speech addressed to her party and to the nation.’ 
‘CNN iReports’ is a platform where anyone registered with it can write at their own on any topics. The stories in the ‘iReports’ are not edited checked or screened, according to the CNN. (source)

Bangladesh: JSC, JDC exams for first 2 days deferred

Examinations for the first two days of Junior School Certificate and equivalent Junior Dakhil Certificate scheduled for today and Wednesday have been deferred to November 8 and November 9 due to the BNP-led opposition alliance’s 60-hour general strike starting from this morning.
The education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, made the announcement at a press conference at the ministry on Sunday.
Junior School Certificate examinees under the general education boards will 
have to take the Bengali first paper exams at 2:15pm on November 8 and Bengali second paper at 10:00am on November 9.
Junior Dakhil Certificate examinees under the madrassah education board will have to sit for Quran and Tazbid test at 2.15pm on November 8 and Arabic first paper at 10:00am on November 9.
Nahid said that they rescheduled the examinations considering that ‘the lives of the students might be at risk during the general strike.’
He also urged all political parties not to call anymore hartal at least during the public examinations. 
He termed the BNP-led opposition alliance’s general strike ‘against national interest, anti-education and unethical.’
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led opposition alliance has called a 60-hour countrywide general strike from this morning pressing for a non-party polls-time government for overseeing the next parliamentary elections.
Asked about whether the examinations including JSC exams would remain out of purview of the hartal, acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a briefing at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday had said if any decision over the matter was made that would be communicated later.
This year, the JSC exams are scheduled for November 20 to be completed with about 3.16 lakh students under general education boards dropped out.
About 17,91,500 students passed Primary Education Completion examination in 2010 who were supposed to take the JSC exams this year, while 15,87,313 students were registered to take the exams.
This year, 19,02,746 students — 10,07,655 female and 8,95,091male — are expected to take the examinations.
Of them 15,87,313 students are taking the JSC and 3,15,433 are taking JDC examinations. 
Creative questions will be introduced for the subjects other than Bangla second paper, English first and second paper and mathematics.
Nahid, at a briefing at the ministry on October 30, had said that one of the main purposes of introducing the JSC and JDC exams was to standardise the education across the country.
He said such exams would help the students to increase their confidence and would thus decrease the drop-out rate at the level of the Secondary School Certificate exams. (source)

Hasina tells Khaleda to call off hartal, sit for dialogue

A view of the Awami League rally addressed by the AL president and prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Sunday. — Indrajit Ghosh

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday made a fresh offer for dialogue with opposition leader Khaleda Zia ahead of the polls provided the latter calls off the 60-hour nationwide shutdown her alliance would enforce from this morning.
‘The door for dialogue is still open. But she [Khaleda] must withdraw her 60-hour hartal first and make a commitment to the people that she would not call hartal again… I would again request you to let us form an all-party government through discussion and present the nation with a fair election,’ Hasina said at a huge rally at Suhrawardy
Udyan marking the Jail Killing Day.
She said that despite having 90 per cent majority in the house, she had invited the opposition leader to dialogue considering the sufferings of the people but the latter did turned down the offer.
‘I had asked her to say which ministries she wanted and let us form an all-party government through consultation. But she did not respond to my request and instead opted for hartal that claimed 20 lives. She has to take the responsibility for the killings,’ Hasina said.
‘I again request her to call off the [fresh spell of] hartal and not to stand in the way of the examinations of children and break their hearts,’ she added.
The prime minister said the opposition leader’s attempts to save the war criminals by enforcing hartals would not succeed and a free and fair election would be held in line with the constitution in time.
Hasina also called on every activist of Awami League and its fronts to be on guard in every neighbourhood against any attempts of subversion and protect lives and property of the people during the opposition’s shutdown.  ‘There are already committees against violence. I ask all the activists to protect people’s lives and property in coordination with the committees,’ she said.
The Awami League chief in her speech repeatedly requested the opposition leader to call off the fresh 60-hour shutdown considering the problems of the children who were preparing to take the junior certificate exams. ‘How could she [Khaleda] value education? She could not pass SSC examinations; she got pass marks only in mathematics and Urdu,’ she said.
Hasina told the audience that she had called on the opposition leader to sit for dialogue but she had replied with a 48-hour ultimatum to unseat her and send her to exile. ‘Who can kill someone if Allah is with them? I am still here before you,’ she said. 
She said the opposition leader now wanted caretaker government and questioned her whether she had forgotten her experience after January 11, 2007. ‘It is she who is responsible for the events leading to January 11. Enrolling one crore 33 lakh fake voters in the electoral roll and forming an “Yes [ Iaj] Uddin” government had led to such happenings. Her own people Fakhruddin [Ahmed], whom she made central bank governor, and Moeen Uddin [Ahmed], whom she made the army chief superseding seven people, had put her in jail. Does she want to forget all this? Why does she want the same thing again,’ Hasina wondered.     
The prime minister said the only thing BNP and Jamaat could do was killing people and harbouring killers. ‘Ziaur Rahman even did not allow me to enter our house [at Dhanmondi road 32] and hold a milad mahfil there. Instead, he rewarded the killers by posting them to overseas missions.
She said that in 2004, the BNP mounted a grenade attack on her rally, destroyed its evidence and staged the ‘Judge Mia drama’ instead of holding trial of the carnage. ‘Investigations later revealed that one of her ministers and her son were involved in plotting the attack,’ she said.
Hasina alleged that within 52 days after Awami League had assumed office, 57 army officers were killed in Pilkhana of whom 33 were from families supporting Awami League. BNP and Jamaat lawyers were now defending the accused in court. ‘CNN online reports have revealed who had been involved in the killings,’ she said.  
The prime minister said the opposition leader seemed to be suffering from ‘perversion’ which had prompted her to celebrate her fake birthday on August 15 despite being reminded that little Russell, whom she [Khaleda] had come across many times over and adored him whenever she visited the Dhanmondi road 32 house before August 1975, was brutally killed on that day.
Hasina also questioned the sincerity and competence of Khaleda in running the state. ‘I knew that she is a late riser. So I tried to reach her by phone after 1:00pm but failed after dialling repeatedly for half an hour. Then I asked my aide-de camp to reach her but her private secretary told him that she could be prepared for phone conversation after 9:00pm. I do not know how a person, who takes such a long time for taking preparations for a phone conversation, had run the country,’ she said. 
Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim, Syed Ashraful Islam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and MA Aziz, among others, also spoke at the rally presided over by Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury.
The AL virtually embarked on electioneering through the rally by mobilising a massive crowd at Suhrawardy Udyan that began around 1:00pm.
The ruling party men at the rally were in the mood of electioneering carrying festoons, placards and banners urging the people to vote for AL’s election symbol ‘boat’ and chanting slogans for execution of the verdicts in the war crimes trials.
Activists from Dhaka city, Dhaka district, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Comilla, Manikganj, Narsingdi and Munshiganj, Sirajganj, Tangail and other nearby districts started pouring in the rally venue in processions from noon. There was a significant presence of freedom fighters from different districts.
The participants at the rally apparently violated the conditions imposed by Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold rallies at Suhrawardy Udyan.
The DMP put restrictions on people coming to the venue in processions, gathering on roads, streets and walkways outside the venue, carrying any kind of banners and festoons, and blocking traffic on adjacent roads.
But the activists, in their large numbers, came in processions carrying banners, festoons and gathered at TSC and Shahbagh areas outside the venue. The processions disrupted traffic and triggered tailbacks around the venue.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party also violated the DMP conditions in a similar manner during their rally at the same venue on October 25.
Earlier on the day, the prime minister paid homage to the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the four national leaders on the occasion of the Jail Killing Day.
She placed wreath at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban and at the graves of the national leaders at Banani Graveyard.
The four national leaders and liberation war heroes - Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman – were killed in captivity inside Dhaka Central Jail by a group of soldiers on November 3, 1975. (source)

Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission files 12 cases against 53 people over Bismillah Group scam

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Sunday filed 12 cases against 53 people for swindling about Tk 990.03 crore out of a total of Tk 1,200 crore from five banks by Bismillah Group.
Five officials of the filed the cases with Matijheel, Ranma and New Market police stations, an ACC official told reporters at a news briefing at the commission media centre.
The cases were filed after the commission approved the probe reports on Wednesday, the official said.
He said that people involved in the case committed the scam through fake documents in the name export and import business.
The cases were filed against 13 Bismillah Group bosses, 12 Janata Bank officials, eight Prime Bank officials, seven Premier Bank officials, five Jamuna Bank officials and seven Shahjalal Islami Bank officials.
The Bismillah Group executives accused in the case are : director Khwaja Solaiman Anwar Choudhury, its chairperson Nowrin Hasib, also Solaiman’s wife, directors Safiqul Anwar Choudhury, also Solaiman’s father, Abida Hasib, Nahid Anwar Khan, Khandakar M Moinuddin Ashraf and Sarwar Jahan, deputy managing director Akbar Aziz Muttaki, general managers Abul Hossain Choudhury, Riaz Uddin Ahmed, Network Framework System limited chairman M Akter Hossain, Express and Faridpur Shipping Line Limited owner M Moin Uddin, and owner of Bay Yarn Limited Ghulam Moinuddin Ahmed.
The commission prosecuted Janata Bank Ramna corporate branch manager Abdus Salam Azad, deputy general managers Azimul Haque and SM Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal, assistant general managers Jesmin Akter, Ajoy Kumar Ghosh, Faizur Rahman Bhuiyan and Mustak Ahmed Khan, senior executive officers Syed Joynul Abdin, Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, SM Shoyeb-ul-Kabir and Atiqur Rahman and former Magbazar branch manager Rafiqul Alam.
Prime Bank branch managers Mozammel Hussain and Khondakar Iqbal Hossain, vice-precedent M Ibrahim Hossain Gazi, assistant vice-presidents Kazi Khairul Islam and ABM Sahjahan, senior executive officers M Iqbal Azim Quadri, AKM Jan-e-Alam and M Abul Kalam were also sued.
The commission also prosecuted Premier Bank senior assistant   vice-president Mohammad Sahinur Rahman, former deputy manager GM Sahadat Hossain, first assistant vice-president MA Rahim, deputy manager Sahabuddin Sardar, former credit in-charge M Tanzibul Alam and former executive officers Abu Selah Arifur Rahman and Tabassum.
Jamuna Bank senior assistant vice-presidents Rafiqul Hasan and M Murshedur Rahman, senior executive officers Jahidul Islam, M Mozammel Hossain and ASM Mashuk were also accused.
Shahjalal Islami Bank former branch manager M Aslamul Haque, former deputy general manager Hasanul Kabir, senior executive officer M Shahidul Islam, junior executive officer Mannatul Mawla, former senior executive vice-president M Ghulam Wahab, first assistant vice-president Munir Hossain and senior vice-presidents Dulal Hossain and Anisul Kabir were also prosecuted.
The official said that the group with the help of the bank officials embezzled Tk 392.57 crore from Janata Bank, Tk 306.22 crore from Prime Bank, Tk 163.79 crore from Jamuna Bank, Tk 148.79 crore from Shahjalal Islami Bank and Tk 62.97 crore from Premier Bank in three years.
After an eight-month inquiry, a five-member probe team led by ACC official Syed Iqbal filed the cases.
During the inquiry the probe team interrogated Jamil Hasan Durjoy, son of Awami League lawmaker Rahmat Ali, and Mohammad Ali, son of AL lawmaker Subid Ali Bhuiyan.
Iqbal said that the probe team did not find their involvement in the scam. ‘But we will further scrutinise the matter at the investigation level’, he said.
He said that two lawmaker’s sons were paid director of the Bismillah Group, but they were not linked with banking tasks on behalf of the group.
Iqbal said that all the accused of Bismillah Group excluding the deputy managing director Akbar Aziz Muttaki were fugitives.
An official said that Solaiman now lives in Dubai, Nowrin and Safiqul in America, Abul Hossain in Malaysia and Moinuddin in Germany. (source)

Bangladesh Election Commission to wait as long as possible for a consensus : CEC

The chief election commissioner, Kazi Rakiubbin Ahmad, said on Sunday the Election Commission would wait as long as possible for a political consensus before announcing the election schedule for the 10th parliamentary polls.
He also hoped a consensus would finally be struck by the rival political camps for the sake of holding a free, fair and participatory election.
The CEC, however, hinted that the EC may announce the election schedule by this month.
Asked whether the EC has fixed any possible time for announcing the election schedule, the CEC replied in the negative, saying, ‘We would announce the election schedule on time.’
He, however, hinted that the EC may announce the election schedule within this month.
When a reporter said that the EC will have to announce the election schedule by this month if the 10th parliamentary polls are held by January 24, the CEC replied, ‘You have said correctly.’
Asked whether the EC would be able to hold a participatory election, the CEC said the nation was anxiously waiting for a political consensus for holding free, fair, participatory and peaceful polls. ‘And we are also doing so,’ he added.
‘And to the end, we will wait as long as possible before announcing the schedule,’ he said.
The CEC hoped a consensus would come through and a peaceful and participatory polls would finally be held.
Asked whether the EC would take any initiatives for striking a political consensus among the parties, he said, ‘Look, initiatives have been taken at higher level. Discussion is going on among top political leaders.’
‘So, we hope a consensus will come through,’ he added.
Rakibuddin said the draft electoral code of conduct would be uploaded on the EC’s official website today and people from all walks of life would be able to put forth their opinions on the draft until November 9.
‘We are seeking opinions from all. We will finalise the electoral code of conduct only after scrutinising the opinions,’ the CEC said.
Asked when the EC is going to cancel the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami as the High Court on Saturday released its verdict that declared Jamaat’s registration illegal, Rakibuddin Ahmad, said the EC would take a decision on the matter when it gets the copy of the verdict.
‘We will make no comment on the matter unless we get the copy of the verdict.  We will let you know after getting the copy of the verdict,’ said the CEC while talking to reporters after a meeting at the EC secretariat in the city.
On Saturday, the High Court released the full verdict on Jamaat’s registration pronounced on August 1 in which it declared illegal the EC’s decision to give Jamaat-e-Islami registration.
The CEC said the EC was yet to get the copy of the verdict. 
The EC gave Jamaat the registration along with other political parties before the 2008 general election.
The Representation of the People Order 1972 stipulates a candidate will have to be a member of a registered political party to contest in the parliamentary polls with a party symbol. (source)

Dhaka to welcome Saudi action against illegal workers

Bangladesh would welcome any lawful action the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia takes against its workers staying there illegally on expiry of the extended amnesty, a top official said on Sunday.
Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan told New Age that Bangladesh expressed its gratitude to KSA for the generous six-month amnesty it provided to legalize illegal workers from Bangladesh and other countries.
Nothing can be done for the workers who failed to avail the amnesty, which ended on Sunday, to change their status, he said. 
The Saudi government had, he said, extended the amnesty once following requests from Bangladesh and other worker sending countries. 
Until Sunday, when the extended amnesty expired, around seven lakh Bangladeshi workers got themselves legalized taking consular services from the Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh, Zafar said.
And approximately 50,000 Bangladeshi workers returned home on out passes until Sunday, he said.       
A substantial but unknown number of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia are likely to face stern crackdown set to begin on the expiry of the amnesty, anticipate manpower bureau officials.
Since 1976, over 26 lakh Bangladeshi workers took employment in Saudi Arabia, they said. 
An estimated 15 lakh Bangladeshi workers are working in Saudi Arabia now, they said.
On Thursday, Jeddah daily Arab News quoting Saudi labor ministry official reported that over 1,200 inspectors, both male and female, would raid companies, markets and public places across the Kingdom from Monday to find out the illegal workers and their mentors. 
Quoting Abdullah Abu Thunain, undersecretary for inspections, they daily reported that accompanied by security personnel the inspectors would check the validity of workers’ residency cards and their professions.
Repeat violators could face fines up to Saudi Riyal 100,000, two years in prison, or both.  (source)

Bangladesh youth hurt as bomb goes off in his pocket

A young man lies critically injured in a crude bomb blast at Kataban Sunday morning as he was allegedly carrying the crude bombs and became the victim of the explosion. — Sony Ramany

A young man was critically injured in a crude bomb blast at Kataban in the capital on Sunday morning.
Police claimed that the man, Anwar Hossain, aged around 30, was carrying the crude bombs and became the victim of the explosion.
Critically injured, he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. His two legs were critically burnt in the blast.
Shahbagh police inspector (investigation) MA Jalil said the youth and his associates were carrying the bombs. He suspected that the bomb was in his pocket.
As they were approaching the Shahbagh intersection, the bomb exploded in Anwar’s pocket, leaving him injured.
Being panicked after the situation, his associates hurled another bomb and fled the spot. However, the bomb did not explode.
Later, police rescued him and the bomb disposal unit of detective branch seized the unexploded bomb.
Police said the bombs they were carrying were not similar to the crude bombs being hurled during strike and other violence.
They, however, could not identify Anwar’s political and other background.
Anwar was from Munshiganj and he used to reside at capital’s Aftabnagar. (source)

Policeman killed in Chittagong

A policeman was stabbed to death and another three were injured as miscreants attacked them at Batali Hill under Khulsi police station in the Chittagong city on Sunday.
The deceased was Abdul Kaiyum, 26, son of Abu Yousuf of village Gachuya under Sondip upazila, and the injured were Md Salauddin, Ariful Islam and Md Sahabuddin. 
The injured were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
Police said the victims were posted as security guards at the resident of deputy inspector general of police of Chittagong range Nouser Ali Khan.  
Assistant commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (Panchlaish zone) Shah Mohammed Abdur Rouf said that they came to know that some muggers perpetrated the killing.
‘We are trying to dig out the cause behind the attack as soon as possible,’ Abdur Rouf added.
One of the injured Ariful Islam said Sunday morning some miscreants tried to snatch the belongings of a passerby and they resisted them promptly. (source)

Houses attacked, burnt over FB posting rumour

At least 25 houses and four temples of Hindus were attacked and 11 houses set on fire by a group of agitated people at Bongram village of Santhia upazila in Pabna on Saturday following a rumour that a Hindu boy posted something on Facebook maligning Prophet Muhammad (SM).
Locals and the police said that the attacks were carried out in the morning following the rumour was spread by a group of people mostly youths and continued for several hours. 
The superintendent of police in Pabna, Miraj Uddin Ahmed, could not confirm whether the posting existed on the social media website, Facebook. 
He, however, told New Age, ‘We are investigating to find any such posting on the boy’s wall.’
He claimed that the situation was now under control after daylong ‘trouble’ as additional law enforcers were deployed in the affected area. 
Witnesses said that some people at the local bazaar showed a computer printout of the image of a Facebook group that allegedly demeaned Islam and the Prophet.
Being instigated, the locals attacked at the house of Rajib Saha, a class-X student of Miapur High School, who allegedly wrote something on his Facebook wall.
As the attackers did not find Rajib, they picked up his father Babul Saha, tied him and beat him up at the village market at about 11:00am and finally set their house on fire.
They also attacked properties of Hindu community including shops and looted their valuables, the witnesses said.
At least 11 houses at houses at the ‘Hindu-majority village’ were set on fire during the attacks, the witnesses said.
Fire engines rushed the village, but the attackers obstructed them from dousing the fire, said the witnesses.
The agitated people also attacked houses of about 15 families, leaving over a hundred people affected.
The hoodlumism continued for about six hours while most of the police were seen busy in protocol for visiting state minister for home, Shamsul Haque Tuku, also the local lawmaker.
The attackers clashed with the police and Rapid Action Battalion and the clashes continued in phases till evening. The police later rescued Babul but his son remained missing. 
Babul Saha at Ataikula Police Station, however, claimed that his son was innocent and could not write any content derogatory to Prophet Mohammad. 
Shamsul Haque laid foundation stone at Dakhil madrassah at Ponduriya some ten kilometres off the affected area.
The attackers put blockade on the Dhaka-Pabna highway putting tree-log, suspending traffic till evening.
The state minister, however, visited the affected area in the evening. He could not be reached till 10:15pm for comment. 
The witnesses said several hundred families of Hindu community were passing their time with anxiety.
The local administration in a announcement on public announcement system urged the people to be calmed assuring them of investigation into the matters.
Pabna deputy commissioner Kazi Ashraf Uddin said that a probe committee headed by additional district magistrate Munshi Mohammed Moniruzzaman would be instituted today to investigate the violence.  
Rice and corrugated-iron sheet were distributed among the affected families, said Ashraf.  
Ataikula police officer-in-charge Rezaul Karim said that two cases — one for the rumour and another for the violence — were being filed.   
Similar incident violence took place on September 29, 2012 when attackers ransacked, looted and burnt 12 Buddhist temples at Ramu in Cox’s Bazar. They had also looted 50 houses and set 15 of them in Buddhist villages on fire.
The attacks were apparently triggered by a fake Facebook posting of an anti-Islam photograph tagged to a fake account of a Buddhist youth on the social networking site. (source)

Odhikar for political dialogue

Rights organisation Odhikar on Friday said that the current political crisis should be resolved immediately by the two major political parties through discussion. 
In its monthly human rights monitoring report released on Friday, Odhikar said that it feared that the country’s human rights situation would become more vulnerable if both the political camps failed to resolve the ongoing political crisis. 
The rights watchdog also observed that ‘the peaceful political programmes should not be obstructed’ and the ruling Awami League government should refrain from exercising ‘unconstitutional, undemocratic and repressive activities’ like attacking peaceful procession and rallies.
The opposition parties should also conduct their programmes in non-violent manner, it stated.
According to the report, 27 people were killed and 3,433 injured in political violence in October. Twelve to the 27 were shot dead by law enforcement agencies during political violence.
At least 10 temples of the Hindu community were attacked and one of the temples was set on fire and 17 idols were vandalised in October, it said.
The organisation also demanded immediate repeal of the amendment to the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 as the amendment made by the government recently had made enormous scope for violating human rights by misusing the law. 
‘The new amendment to the Act is also an obvious violation of right to privacy and personal liberty as stated in the constitution,’ Odhikar believed, ‘this Law is repressive and can be used to harass democratic values such as freedom of speech and expression.’
In the report, Odhikar expressed concern over deteriorating human rights situation in the country, and rights violation along the border by the Indian border security force.
‘The government should also ensure the safety and security of the Bangladeshi citizens residing in the bordering areas,’ it recommended as Indian Border Security Force have killed two Bangladeshi citizens and injured 11 others in the month.
Odhikar also blasted the extrajudicial killings by the law enforcing agencies. 
The report said that 15 people became victims of extrajudicial killings by law enforcing agencies. Three of them were killed in ‘crossfire.’
Infrastructural problems in apparel factories, security, health and safety measures for workers in workplaces need to be ensured, it recommended, adding that wages and festival allowances should be paid to apparel workers in time and repression must be stopped by the factory authorities and industrial police. (source)

Rice prices rise in city on supply shortage in Dhaka

Rice prices went up by Tk 2-4 a kilogram over the last couple of weeks as the Dhaka city’s market saw a supply shortage of the staple food because of recent general strike called by the opposition alliance followed by a long vacation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, traders said.
They said that the finishing stock of mininket, najirshail and BR-28, seven months after their harvest, also contributed to the supply shortage of rice on the market.
The prices of all varieties of rice increased by Tk 2-4 a kg in the last two weeks on both the wholesale and retail markets.
Coarse variety of rice was being retailed at Tk 36 a kg on Saturday while the price was Tk 33 before Eid.
Fine varieties of BR-28, miniket and najirshail rice were being retailed at between Tk 42 and Tk 45 a kg, Tk 48-Tk 50 a kg and Tk 52-Tk 56 a kg respectively. The prices were Tk 36-Tk 44, Tk 46-Tk 48 and Tk 50-Tk 54 respectively.
Mizanur Rahman, a retailer at Karwan Bazar, told New Age that the prices of rice increased by Tk 2-4 a kg after Eid-ul-Azha.
‘Wholesalers increased the prices of rice in the name of a supply shortage due to Eid vacation and recent hartal and so the retail prices have increased,’ he said.
Salim Uddin, a trader at Babubazar, told New Age that the wholesale prices of all varieties of rice increased a bit due to a supply shortage on finishing stock ahead of the new harvest season.
The prices of coarse varieties of rice will come down within a short time as the crops are going to be harvested within couple of weeks, he said.
Salim said that the prices of mininket, najirshail and BR-28 would continue to rise in the days to come due to a supply shortage on finishing stock ahead of April, the new harvest season for the varieties.
Fine varieties of BR-28, miniket and najirshail rice were wholesaling at between Tk 37.50-Tk 38.50 a kg, Tk 43-Tk 46.50 a kg and Tk 50-Tk 54 a kg respectively on Saturday while the coarse varieties of rice was being wholesaled at Tk 33.50 a kg, he said.
Zakir Hossain Rony, the owner of Sayem Rice Agency at Babubazar, said that the production of rice remained suspended for about 10 days as the workers of the rice mills enjoyed a long vacation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha and so a supply shortage took place on the market.
‘Just after Eid, the supply chain interrupted by 60-hour general strike and the wholesale market saw a big shortage of rice which pushed the prices high,’ he said adding that during hartal the transport owners charged extra fare which also put impact on the prices.
Zakir also said that the prices of fine varieties of BR-28, miniket and najirshail rice would remain high up to coming Baishakh, the harvest season as the varieties produced only once in the year. (source)

Govt meeting with dev partners, lenders called off

A meeting scheduled for tomorrow between the government and the local consultative group comprised of representatives of development partners and lenders communities was called off on Saturday, officials said.
The 60-hour general strike called by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance starts at 6:00am tomorrow.
The meeting was scheduled to be held at the National Economic Council at Agargoan in Dhaka.
‘We have called off the meeting,’ said ERD additional secretary Arastoo Khan.
He, however, said there was no strong connection with the opposition-backed political programme with the cancellation of the meeting. He said busy schedule of the finance minister AMA Muhith was a reason. 
He said a new schedule would be set soon.
Finance minister AMA Muhith and planning minister AK Khandaker were scheduled to address the meeting. Among others, representatives of the World Bank were supposed to attend it.
The WB, largest multilateral lending agency, skipped the previous two meetings due apparently to its ‘tainted’ relation with the present government over the bribery scandal into the Padma Bridge project.
The WB suspended $1.2 billion credit programme to the bridge project citing conspiracy of corruption by former communication minister Syed Abul Hossain.
Anti-Corruption Commission investigated into the matter, but the WB rejected the ACC findings.
Arastoo Khan said the meeting was crucial as the present government was about to complete its tenure. 
Discussion on the last five years’ achievements by the government was high on the agenda, he said.
About 48 Bangladesh-based representatives of bilateral and multilateral development partners, including five international financial institutions, 13 United Nation’s agencies are the members of the LCG which mainly contributes to the annual development programme financing. 
LCG members disbursed around $2.78 billion in the last financial year. Of which, $1.88 billion was net disbursement as $899.5 million was spent to pay interests on earlier loans. 
The government has targeted fetching net $2 billion from the lenders’ communities in the current fiscal after paying them $1.4 billion to maintain previous loan repayment liabilities. (source)

DSE okays demutualisation scheme, interim board

Dhaka Stock Exchange members on Saturday approved the demutualisation scheme of the bourse and a 24-member interim board, with all existing board directors, which will oversee the demutualisation process till formation of the final board in 90 days.
The approval came in an extraordionary general meeting of the bourse held at Sonargaon Hotel in the city.
As per the Demutualisation Act 2013, the interim board of the bourse has to arrange an election and annual general meeting of the bourse within the next 90 days to form the first demutualised board.
The DSE has to form the next board, which will be the first board of demutualised stock exchange, comprising 13 directors as per the demutualisation scheme approved by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission.
In the existing 24-member board, 12 are member-brokers and 12 are independent directors whereas in the 13-member board of demutualised exchange, there will be four posts for member-brokers, seven independent directors, one for strategic partner and chief executive officer of the bourse.
The BSEC on September 26 had approved the demutualisation scheme according the Demutualisation Act enacted on April 29.
DSE presided Ahasanul Islam presided over the EGM while DSE senior vice-president Mohammad Shahjahan, vice-president Mizanur Rahman Khan and chief executive officer Kwapan Kumar Bala were present, among others. 
The EGM of the bourse was earlier stopped by a court order following a writ petition filed by its member Ahmed Iqbal Hasan. But, Hasan on Wednesday withdrew the writ petition on personal grounds.
The EGM of the bourse adopted its new memorandum of association and articles of association in line with the demutualisation scheme which will replace the existing ones.
The new memorandum of association will disallow any shareholder of the bourse to enter into the DSE office without getting permission from the proper authority.
The meeting of the bourse approved the agenda to increase its authorised capital to Tk 2,500 crore divided into 250 crore shares of Tk 10 each.
Following the approval the DSE members will be turned into shareholders.
As per the Demutualisation Act, the bourse has to apply to the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms for re-registration as a public limited company within the next seven days. (source)

City Bank gets new MD, CEO

Sohail RK Hussain has recently taken charge of City Bank as its new managing director and chief executive officer. 
Prior to this, he was additional managing director and chief business officer of the bank, said a news release.
Sohail obtained his MBA from the IBA, Dhaka University. He started his career as a management trainee in ANZ Grindlays Bank in 1990. He worked as the head of local corporate business in ANZ Grindlays, the head of Large Local Corporate 
Unit of Standard Chartered Bank and later the head of Corporate Banking and Structured Finance at Eastern Bank.
He joined City Bank as DMD and head of business in 2007. (source)

Banani kitchen market declared `formalin-free’

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Saturday urged the government to restrict the import and distribution of formalin in the country by allowing only the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh to engage in its import and distribution.
The demand was raised at a programme at Banani kitchen market, organised by the FBCCI to declare it formalin-free from Saturday.
Banani kitchen market has become the 10th market to be declared formalin-free under an initiative of the FBCCI to curb the use of formalin in perishable agro-products, which poses serious health risks to citizens.
Addressing the occassion, FBCCI vice-president Helal Uddin said although the annual demand for formalin in the country’s industrial sector was estimated at only 40 tonnes, the official figures show that the actual import of formalin stood at 750 tonnes in the fiscal year 2010-11.
He said the government should give TCB the sole responsibility to stop its illegal use in preserving agro-products.
The programme was also addressed by communications minister Obaidul Quader, FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and Prime Bank Ltd managing director Ahmed Kamal Khan Chowdhury. (source)

Secretariat security, surveillance tightened

The police have ramped up security in and around the secretariat as the country is headed towards political confrontation over the next election.
Surveillance over secretariat officers and employees has also been increased, said intelligence officials.
Besides, there would be increased patrols in and around the secretariat, they said.
Officials said that the watch had been enhanced during the transition to the election with the ruling Awami League and the main opposition BNP confronting each other over the issue of poll time administration.  
The intelligence agencies said a section officials and employees were under the scanner since the 90-day countdown to the election began on October 27.  
Security checking at all the entrances to the secretariat has been enhanced to ensure that no unauthorized visitor enters, said a home ministry official.  
‘We asked the security personnel to ensure that none without valid entry passes enters,’ he said. 
No car without secretariat sticker is allowed entry, he added. 
The surveillance was enhanced last week after photocopies of a leaflet, which branded the Sheikh Hasina government as ‘autocratic,’ were found in the secretariat.
The leaflet urged ‘patriotic officers and employees’ to build resistance against the AL-led government.
It named several secretaries and two advisers of the PM, who allegedly made money using their influence.   
‘We have tightened surveillance as the government is passing through a transition,’ said additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mashiur Rahman, who looks after secretariat security.  
He told New Age that the overall security had been enhanced due to the prevailing situation.  
He, however, said the police had been asked to remain alert against any unofficial meetings, mobilization or gatherings at canteens or other places inside the secretariat. (source)