The verdict in the case of killings in a rebellion at the border force headquarters in 2009 is scheduled to be delivered today, officials said.
Third additional metropolitan sessions court judge Md Akhtaruzaman is likely to start delivering the verdict at about 9:30am at the makeshift courtroom at Bakshibazar Alia Madrasa playground in the capital.
The court had earlier set October 30 for pronouncing the verdict on the completion of the final arguments by the prosecution and the defence on October 20 but deferred the date to November 5 due to unavoidable circumstances.
Law enforcement agencies in a meeting decided that a four-tier security would be in place for the day of the verdict while prison authorities also tightened security.
‘Foolproof security will be in place for the day,’ Lalbagh division deputy commissioner Harun-or-Rashid told New Age after the meeting.
Only police units, including Rapid Action Battalion and armed police battalion, would be deployed to the makeshift court and its surroundings, the police added.
The rebellion broke out in the headquarters of the
Border Guard Bangladesh, then known as Bangladesh Rifles, in the capital Dhaka on February 25 and spilled over to other battalion and sector headquarters.
The rebellion continued for two days and 75 people, including 57 army officers deputed to the border force, were killed.
The BDR was renamed as BGB and its uniform and formations were also changed after the rebellion.
The police later filed two cases – one for the killings and criminal offences and the other for other crimes under the Explosive Substances Act – with the nearby New Market police.
A 350-member Criminal Investigation Department team led by special superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand investigated the cases for 16 months before charge-sheet submission.
Kahar told the court that he had talked with prime minister Sheikh Hasina and taken ‘notes’ but did not name her as a prosecution witness.
The CID in two phases pressed charges against 850 people, mostly officers and soldiers, on charge of dozens of criminal offences such as killing, arson, conspiracy and other crimes.
Of the accused, four already died and the trial of 20 BDR personnel was held in their absence while 761 were riflemen, 41 civilian personnel, one Ansar member and 23 civilians, including former Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.
Of the accused, 13 have so far obtained bail from the court.
The trial in both the cases began on January 5, 2011 in a makeshift courtroom set up at Bakshibazar in Dhaka. The verdict in the murder case will be delivered today. The other case is still pending.
On the 231st working day, chief prosecutor Anisul Huq, who flew to Canada on October 29 before the scheduled date for delivery of the verdict, had appealed for exemplary punishment of the culprits so that none could dare to commit such crimes in future.
On October 20, the chief prosecutor said that the accused had committed murders and loot through conspiracy. He argued that the charges that they had brought against the 846 accused had been proved ‘beyond reasonable doubt.’
According to the prosecution, Syed Tawhidul Alam, the then deputy assistant director, along with 13 other BDR personnel had held a meeting with prime minister Sheikh Hasina, at her then official residence Jamuna where they had concealed the fact that many officers had already been killed.
The prosecution said that the BDR personnel had plotted the carnage in separate meetings, distributed leaflets to instigate soldiers and finally killed the officers.
A number of ministers, lawmakers, the then chiefs of the navy and the air force, and the then inspector general of police, among others, gave depositions in the case.
Army officers deputed to the BDR at that time, family members of the victims or victims themselves and BDR personnel also gave depositions against the accused.
The defence, however, argued that the prosecution had failed to establish the involvement of all the accused in the killings and other crimes committed during the bloody rebellion that broke out from the Durbar Hall in the BDR Week 2009.
On September 2, the court wrapped up the depositions of prosecution witnesses with the recording of the depositions of 654 out of 1,345 prosecution witnesses, mostly BGB soldiers and army officers, against the accused.
One of the defence counsels, Khandaker Jamal Uddin, said many important prosecution witnesses were not produced before the court.
A total of 24 defence witnesses, including accused Selim Reza, 35, the then sepoy (clerk assistant) of the BDR, also gave deposition pleading not guilty.
Selim Reza told the court that he had met some officers in jail who told him they had been dismissed from the army for shouting at the prime minister’s programme at Senakunja after the BDR mutiny.
‘The [dismissed] officers told me that a group of 12 men from India had entered the Peelkhana on the day of the mutiny... Intelligence agencies later sent the team back by air,’ he said.
The rebellion broke out two months after the Awami League-led government had assumed office.
After the carnage, a number of special courts of the border force led by army officers deputed to the BGB sentenced 5,926 soldiers to imprisonment for various terms – from four months to seven years – on charges of taking up arms against their officers in 57 cases, including 11 in Dhaka.
According to the government, 18,520 personnel of the border force have been tried for taking part in the rebellion. (source)
Polls-time govt in the making in Bangladesh as Hasina asks cabinet colleagues to resign
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has initiated a move to constitute an ‘interim cabinet’ with members of the incumbent parliament probably by November 20 to run the interim administration although the constitution says nothing about such type of government, according to policymakers.
Presiding over the weekly cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Monday, the prime minister asked the ministers to resign so that she could induct some new faces in the planned smaller cabinet, several ministers confirmed.
Hasina called upon the party leaders to get prepared for the parliamentary elections.
‘The interim cabinet would be formed with around 20 elected representatives from the parties having representation in parliament and willing to join the polls-time administration to be led by the prime minister,’ a senior minister said, adding that the prime minister had made it clear that door was open to all parties in parliament, expect Jamaat-e-Islami.
He said the prime minister would drop many of her cabinet colleagues and induct new faces in the ‘small cabinet’ ahead of the elections due before January 24.
The minister said that the Awami League-led alliance was making all preparations
for the 10th parliamentary polls, keeping in mind that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party might boycott the polls without a non-party caretaker government.
Several ministers have asserted that the elections would be held by January 10 in line with the constitution – no matter whether the opposition camp joined it or not.
‘The interim cabinet would start functioning after the announcement of the election schedule,’ food minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque told New Age on Sunday.
He said that the government would run the country in keeping with the Representation of the People Order and the cabinet would carry out the routine work only.
Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said on Monday that the prime minister would constitute the poll-time cabinet anytime after November 17 on her return from a three-day visit to Sri Lanka.
Hasina, also president of Awami League, earlier offered formation of an all-party government – a proposal turned down by the opposition BNP.
A policymaker in the ruling Awami League said that the major allies of the ruling alliance, including Jatiya Party and Workers Party of Bangladesh, would have their representations in the ‘all-party government’.
Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta on Saturday said that the cabinet members would soon submit their resignations to the prime minister.
‘After the resignation of the cabinet members, the prime minister will start work on constituting an all-party election-time cabinet to oversee the next polls,’ Suranjit, also a member of the AL advisory council, told a function in the city.
Several senior bureaucrats said that the interim administration would not be different from the present government legally or constitutionally.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on several occasions said that they would neither join the polls-time government nor take part in the elections with Sheikh Hasina at the helm of the administration.
The 90-day countdown to the next general elections began on October 27 with the cabinet and parliament continuing as usual as there are no legal or constitutional guidelines as to how the polls-time administration should run, said a retired secretary.
He said the system of non-party caretaker government was annulled by the Constitution (15th Amendment) Act, 2011, but nothing was incorporated in place of the provision.
As a result, the present government could continue until the next elected government takes over, the ex-bureaucrat added.
Chief election commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Sunday hinted that the election schedule would be announced towards the end of November.
He earlier said that the polls-time government could not take any ‘policy decisions’ and it would carry out only ‘routine work’ the way the caretaker government used to do.
Sheikh Hasina on several occasions affirmed her stand that the next polls would be held under the elected government although the BNP has been pressing for restoration of the non-party caretaker government system through a constitutional amendment. (source)
Presiding over the weekly cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Monday, the prime minister asked the ministers to resign so that she could induct some new faces in the planned smaller cabinet, several ministers confirmed.
Hasina called upon the party leaders to get prepared for the parliamentary elections.
‘The interim cabinet would be formed with around 20 elected representatives from the parties having representation in parliament and willing to join the polls-time administration to be led by the prime minister,’ a senior minister said, adding that the prime minister had made it clear that door was open to all parties in parliament, expect Jamaat-e-Islami.
He said the prime minister would drop many of her cabinet colleagues and induct new faces in the ‘small cabinet’ ahead of the elections due before January 24.
The minister said that the Awami League-led alliance was making all preparations
for the 10th parliamentary polls, keeping in mind that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party might boycott the polls without a non-party caretaker government.
Several ministers have asserted that the elections would be held by January 10 in line with the constitution – no matter whether the opposition camp joined it or not.
‘The interim cabinet would start functioning after the announcement of the election schedule,’ food minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque told New Age on Sunday.
He said that the government would run the country in keeping with the Representation of the People Order and the cabinet would carry out the routine work only.
Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said on Monday that the prime minister would constitute the poll-time cabinet anytime after November 17 on her return from a three-day visit to Sri Lanka.
Hasina, also president of Awami League, earlier offered formation of an all-party government – a proposal turned down by the opposition BNP.
A policymaker in the ruling Awami League said that the major allies of the ruling alliance, including Jatiya Party and Workers Party of Bangladesh, would have their representations in the ‘all-party government’.
Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta on Saturday said that the cabinet members would soon submit their resignations to the prime minister.
‘After the resignation of the cabinet members, the prime minister will start work on constituting an all-party election-time cabinet to oversee the next polls,’ Suranjit, also a member of the AL advisory council, told a function in the city.
Several senior bureaucrats said that the interim administration would not be different from the present government legally or constitutionally.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on several occasions said that they would neither join the polls-time government nor take part in the elections with Sheikh Hasina at the helm of the administration.
The 90-day countdown to the next general elections began on October 27 with the cabinet and parliament continuing as usual as there are no legal or constitutional guidelines as to how the polls-time administration should run, said a retired secretary.
He said the system of non-party caretaker government was annulled by the Constitution (15th Amendment) Act, 2011, but nothing was incorporated in place of the provision.
As a result, the present government could continue until the next elected government takes over, the ex-bureaucrat added.
Chief election commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Sunday hinted that the election schedule would be announced towards the end of November.
He earlier said that the polls-time government could not take any ‘policy decisions’ and it would carry out only ‘routine work’ the way the caretaker government used to do.
Sheikh Hasina on several occasions affirmed her stand that the next polls would be held under the elected government although the BNP has been pressing for restoration of the non-party caretaker government system through a constitutional amendment. (source)
Board fixes Tk 5,300 as minimum wage for Bangladesh RMG workers
The minimum wages board for the garment workers on Monday recommended Tk 5,300 as minimum monthly wage for entry-level workers, up by Tk 2,300 from the existing structure amid opposition from owners’ representatives.
The minimum wage was decided through vote among the board members after the representatives of workers and owners failed to reach a consensus after long discussions at the ninth meeting of the wages board.
Both the employers’ representatives on the six-member wage board refrained from voting and signing the recommendations, alleging that the upward adjustment would hurt the apparel industry badly.
The minimum wage was decided through vote among the board members after the representatives of workers and owners failed to reach a consensus after long discussions at the ninth meeting of the wages board.
Both the employers’ representatives on the six-member wage board refrained from voting and signing the recommendations, alleging that the upward adjustment would hurt the apparel industry badly.
The rest four members, including the independent one, agreed on the minimum wage recommendation. The decision on the minimum wage was taken in the ninth meeting at the board’s Topkhana Road office.
‘It is a unilateral decision… The apparel industry which is facing great challenges both at home and on international market will be affected badly if the proposed wage of Tk5,300 is implemented,’ BGMEA president Atiqul Islam told New Age.
‘We cannot afford to pay more than Tk 4,200 as minimum wage,’ he said.
The $21 billion plus apparel industry currently employs more than four million workers. The current minimum wage for a Bangladeshi garment worker is the lowest in the world.
Of the Tk5,300, Tk3,200 has been suggested as basic wage, Tk1,280 as house rent (40 per cent of the basic pay), Tk320 as medical allowance (10 per cent of the basic pay), Tk 200 as transport allowance and Tk 300 as food subsidy.
‘The draft of the minimum wage of Tk5,300 for the garment workers has been finalised through voting among
the wage board members as per the section seven of the wage board ordinance. The recommendation will now be sent to the government press for gazette notification,’ the board chairman AK Roy said in a briefing after the meeting.
The objections and opinions, if any, on the recommendations, will be received and examined for 15 days after the gazette notification of the draft wage structure is published, he added.
‘After scrutiny of the objections, the board will prepare a final proposal, which will be sent to the labour ministry for next course of action,’ AK Roy said.
‘The wages in six other grades in the garment factories will be increased proportionately.’
Kazi Saifuddin Ahmed, a permanent representative of owners to the wage board, also labour adviser to Bangladesh Employers Federation, said that he did not sign the draft recommendation as the sector owners’ representatives on the board opted to stay out.
‘Being a representative of the employers, I could not sign the draft proposal as representative from the sector did not agree to
the proposal,’ Saifuddin said.
Fazlul Haque Montu, a permanent representative of workers to the wage board, said he had accepted the minimum wage proposal though the amount was insufficient to lead a decent life.
‘After a protracted bargain with the factory owners, we have achieved the new minimum wage for the garment workers and hope all apparel workers will accept the recommendation,’ Montu told reporters.
Sirajul Islam Rony, workers’ representative and member of the board, said he had accepted the proposal for Tk5,300 as minimum wage considering the overall situation in the apparel industry, though originally the demand of the workers was Tk8,114.
He lamented the stance of the factory owners, who did not budge from their previous position on minimum wage.
‘At on point of discussion, we proposed Tk5,300 as minimum wage but the employers did not agree. They preferred to fix the minimum wage at Tk 4,500 at the meeting,’ Rony told reporters.
The sector representative of garment factory owners, Arshad Jamal Dipu, also a member of the board, declined comments on the decision.
The government on June 6 formed the six-member minimum wage board with retired district judge AK Roy as its chairman.
Other members on the wage board are Professor Kamaluddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Employers Federation labour adviser Kazi Saifuddin Ahmed , Jatiya Sramik League executive president Fazlul Haque Montu, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) director Arshad Jamal Dipu and garment workers’ leader Sirajul Islam Rony.
The garment workers have long been demanding Tk 8,000 as minimum monthly wage, while the factory owners on October 31 offered Tk 4,250.
The existing minimum wage of Tk 3,000 has been effective from July, 2010. The first minimum wage board for garment workers was constituted in 1994 that fixed Tk 940 as minimum wage per month and the second one, formed in 2006, fixed the minimum wage at Tk 1,662.50.
The government formed the board on June 13 and published gazette of the board on June 26 for finalising the wage structure for the garment workers.
On October 31, the garment factory owners proposed a minimum wage of Tk 4,250 per month. (source)
Other members on the wage board are Professor Kamaluddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Employers Federation labour adviser Kazi Saifuddin Ahmed , Jatiya Sramik League executive president Fazlul Haque Montu, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) director Arshad Jamal Dipu and garment workers’ leader Sirajul Islam Rony.
The garment workers have long been demanding Tk 8,000 as minimum monthly wage, while the factory owners on October 31 offered Tk 4,250.
The existing minimum wage of Tk 3,000 has been effective from July, 2010. The first minimum wage board for garment workers was constituted in 1994 that fixed Tk 940 as minimum wage per month and the second one, formed in 2006, fixed the minimum wage at Tk 1,662.50.
The government formed the board on June 13 and published gazette of the board on June 26 for finalising the wage structure for the garment workers.
On October 31, the garment factory owners proposed a minimum wage of Tk 4,250 per month. (source)
Four die in Bangladesh as 60-hour hartal begins
Four people were killed as vehicles were set on fire and pickets hurled bricks and clashed with police and ruling party men at places across the country on Monday, the first day of the 60-hour general strike being enforced by the BNP-led opposition alliance.
Several hundred people, mostly pickets, were also injured.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance enforces a fresh spell of countrywide general strike from Monday morning to Wednesday evening pressing for holding the next general elections under a ‘non-party’ government.
The deaths were reported from Lalmonirhat, Natore and Chittagong districts and the capital’s suburb Savar.
Of the four killed, one was an opposition activist, two apparel workers and the rest one was an agricultural worker.
BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Nasir Uddin was killed in police firing during a triangular clash between pickets, the police and the ruling Awami League activists at Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat.
Agricultural worker Ishaq Molla killed as the pickets hurled brickbats at a truck carrying labours in the morning at Gurudaspur upazila in Natore.
Apparel factory employee Mohammad Jakir died as a human-hauler overturned after being chased by pickets in Chittagong.
Another apparel factory employee Mustafizur Rahman Mukul died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital of burn injuries he received when pickets set a CNG-run auto rickshaw, which was carrying him, on the previous night at Savar.
Pickets blasted crude bombs, vandalised vehicles, set vehicles on fire and fought pitched battles with the police and ruling party activists at places across the country.
Acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, ‘Two BNP activists were killed by law enforcers and Awami League terrorists.’
He said more than 1,800 activists were injured, 500
arrested and 8,000 prosecuted and four were jailed for different terms by mobile court.
Normal life across the country has been disrupted since Monday morning as no long-route transports remain off the highways, markets, shops and commercial establishments and most of the educational institutions remained closed.
Commercial banks and government offices were open on Monday.
Examinations for the first two days of Junior School Certificate and equivalent Junior Dakhil Certificate have been deferred due to the hartal. National University authorities also postponed their examinations.
New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported that, Chhatra Dal activist Nasir Uddin was killed as police opened fire during a clash between the pickets and Awami League men near Dharla bridge at Patgram in the morning.
At least 25 were injured, including four by bullets, and they were admitted to Patgram upazila health complex and Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Witness said that the clash erupted when Awami League activists barred a BNP-Jamaat procession. Both the groups blasted over 20 crude bombs.
Patgram police officer-in-charge Sohrab Hossain said that they fired tear gas shells and bullets to disperse the clashers.
New Age correspondent in Natore reported that agricultural worker Ishaq Molla was killed when pickets hurled bricks at a truck carrying labours in Arhmari bridge area on the Banpara-Hatikumrul road at Gurudaspur upazila in the morning.
Ishaq Molla hailed from of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj and went to Natore seeking work.
Ishaq was rushed to Gurudaspur upazila health complex and later died at the hospital, Gurudaspur police officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam said.
Mohammad Jakir, the C&F Garment Factory commercial manager, was killed as a human-hauler overturned after being chased by pickets in the Chittagong’s Chandgaon area.
Jakir was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital and later died there.
Mustafizur Rahman Mukul, a purchasing official of Biswas Group died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Monday of burn injuries he received when a CNG-run auto rickshaw was set on fire at Savar at about 10:30pm on Sunday.
Two others — Hasu Mia, a technician of the group, and the auto-rickshaw driver Mohammad Asad — were also injured in the incident.
A human hauler drive and another boy were injured as crude bombs were hurled at the vehicle at Kamrangirchar in the city in the evening.
In Dhaka, sporadic incidents of arson and bomb explosion took place. Heavy contingent of law enforcers was deployed at key points.
Border Guard Bangladesh joined law enforcers and were seen patrolling streets in the capital.
A crude bomb was hurled targeting at the house of prime minister’s adviser HT Imam at Gulshan at about 7:30pm.
Gulshan police officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam said that a crude bomb hit the boundary wall of the house. The official added that the adviser was not at his house during the blast.
Several crude bombs were also blasted in different areas of the capital including Azimpur, Rayerbagh, Moghbazar, Malibagh, Bashabo and Jatrbari.
A crude bomb was also hurled at a military vehicle, but it was not exploded and the police fired several bullets at Mughda.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police said that till 6:00pm on Monday, they arrested 21 pickets. Ten of them were jailed for different terms.
Sramik League activists attacked a Swechachasebok Dal processions at Bangshal and later assaulted some journalist who were on duty at the spot.
The police cordoned off the main opposition BNP’s central office during the day’s general strike.
Awami Juba League activists held an anti-hartal rally in front of AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
Two people, including an assistant prosecutor were injured when two crude bombs were exploded on court premises in Bogra.
Earlier in the morning, pickets set fire to a motorcycle at Mahasthan Garh. At about 4:00am, a goods-laden truck lost control and fell on a roadside ditch in Noymail area of Shahjahanpur upazila after the pickets hurled brickbats at it.
New Age correspondent in Patuakhali reported that at least 30 people were injured in a clash between Awami League and BNP activists at Baherchar under Rangabali upazila. (source)
Several hundred people, mostly pickets, were also injured.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance enforces a fresh spell of countrywide general strike from Monday morning to Wednesday evening pressing for holding the next general elections under a ‘non-party’ government.
The deaths were reported from Lalmonirhat, Natore and Chittagong districts and the capital’s suburb Savar.
Of the four killed, one was an opposition activist, two apparel workers and the rest one was an agricultural worker.
BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Nasir Uddin was killed in police firing during a triangular clash between pickets, the police and the ruling Awami League activists at Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat.
Agricultural worker Ishaq Molla killed as the pickets hurled brickbats at a truck carrying labours in the morning at Gurudaspur upazila in Natore.
Apparel factory employee Mohammad Jakir died as a human-hauler overturned after being chased by pickets in Chittagong.
Another apparel factory employee Mustafizur Rahman Mukul died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital of burn injuries he received when pickets set a CNG-run auto rickshaw, which was carrying him, on the previous night at Savar.
Pickets blasted crude bombs, vandalised vehicles, set vehicles on fire and fought pitched battles with the police and ruling party activists at places across the country.
Acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, ‘Two BNP activists were killed by law enforcers and Awami League terrorists.’
He said more than 1,800 activists were injured, 500
arrested and 8,000 prosecuted and four were jailed for different terms by mobile court.
Normal life across the country has been disrupted since Monday morning as no long-route transports remain off the highways, markets, shops and commercial establishments and most of the educational institutions remained closed.
Commercial banks and government offices were open on Monday.
Examinations for the first two days of Junior School Certificate and equivalent Junior Dakhil Certificate have been deferred due to the hartal. National University authorities also postponed their examinations.
New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported that, Chhatra Dal activist Nasir Uddin was killed as police opened fire during a clash between the pickets and Awami League men near Dharla bridge at Patgram in the morning.
At least 25 were injured, including four by bullets, and they were admitted to Patgram upazila health complex and Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Witness said that the clash erupted when Awami League activists barred a BNP-Jamaat procession. Both the groups blasted over 20 crude bombs.
Patgram police officer-in-charge Sohrab Hossain said that they fired tear gas shells and bullets to disperse the clashers.
New Age correspondent in Natore reported that agricultural worker Ishaq Molla was killed when pickets hurled bricks at a truck carrying labours in Arhmari bridge area on the Banpara-Hatikumrul road at Gurudaspur upazila in the morning.
Ishaq Molla hailed from of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj and went to Natore seeking work.
Ishaq was rushed to Gurudaspur upazila health complex and later died at the hospital, Gurudaspur police officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam said.
Mohammad Jakir, the C&F Garment Factory commercial manager, was killed as a human-hauler overturned after being chased by pickets in the Chittagong’s Chandgaon area.
Jakir was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital and later died there.
Mustafizur Rahman Mukul, a purchasing official of Biswas Group died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Monday of burn injuries he received when a CNG-run auto rickshaw was set on fire at Savar at about 10:30pm on Sunday.
Two others — Hasu Mia, a technician of the group, and the auto-rickshaw driver Mohammad Asad — were also injured in the incident.
A human hauler drive and another boy were injured as crude bombs were hurled at the vehicle at Kamrangirchar in the city in the evening.
In Dhaka, sporadic incidents of arson and bomb explosion took place. Heavy contingent of law enforcers was deployed at key points.
Border Guard Bangladesh joined law enforcers and were seen patrolling streets in the capital.
A crude bomb was hurled targeting at the house of prime minister’s adviser HT Imam at Gulshan at about 7:30pm.
Gulshan police officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam said that a crude bomb hit the boundary wall of the house. The official added that the adviser was not at his house during the blast.
Several crude bombs were also blasted in different areas of the capital including Azimpur, Rayerbagh, Moghbazar, Malibagh, Bashabo and Jatrbari.
A crude bomb was also hurled at a military vehicle, but it was not exploded and the police fired several bullets at Mughda.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police said that till 6:00pm on Monday, they arrested 21 pickets. Ten of them were jailed for different terms.
Sramik League activists attacked a Swechachasebok Dal processions at Bangshal and later assaulted some journalist who were on duty at the spot.
The police cordoned off the main opposition BNP’s central office during the day’s general strike.
Awami Juba League activists held an anti-hartal rally in front of AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
Two people, including an assistant prosecutor were injured when two crude bombs were exploded on court premises in Bogra.
Earlier in the morning, pickets set fire to a motorcycle at Mahasthan Garh. At about 4:00am, a goods-laden truck lost control and fell on a roadside ditch in Noymail area of Shahjahanpur upazila after the pickets hurled brickbats at it.
New Age correspondent in Patuakhali reported that at least 30 people were injured in a clash between Awami League and BNP activists at Baherchar under Rangabali upazila. (source)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
‘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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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