Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Monday iterated that it would not join
an all-party interim government that might be formed by November 15.
‘Let us make it clear that BNP would never participate in the all-party
interim government, nor take part in elections under it,’ BNP acting
secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a news briefing at
the party central office on Monday afternoon.
At another press conference earlier in the day, Fakhrul alleged that the
government was not taking any steps to end the stalemate over the
polls-time government rather forcing the opposition to take to the
streets.
‘We want resolution of the crisis through discussions. We will join the
discussion anytime if they [government] set a specific date and agree to
discuss the issue of a non-party election-time administration’, Fakhrul
said.
He was speaking to reporters at the BNP’s central office at Naya Paltan Monday.
Fakhrul said the 90-day countdown to the elections had already begun but
the government was holding power ‘illegally’ by ‘flexing muscles.’
He said the people had taken to the streets in support of the
opposition’s movement for a ‘non-party caretaker’ government but the
government was indifferent to their demand.
In reply to a question, Fakhrul said, ‘The prime minister is spreading
confusion over discussion. Withdrawal of general strike cannot be a
condition for discussion.’
Fakhrul said, ‘Awami League had enforced hartal for 173 days demanding
the caretaker government before…Many people were killed during those
hartals. How could she ask us now to withdraw hartal?’
The BNP secretary general said his party did not want bloodshed [during
hartals] but it was the government which was killing people.
‘If the government does not take any steps for resolution [of the
caretaker issue], there would be no option left for us but to continue
the movement, including hartals.’
About the businessmen’s proposal for a ‘secretary general-level’
discussion between the two major parties, Fakhrul said, ‘The BNP
chairperson has accepted the proposal but what is the response of the
prime minister?
To a question about the prime minister’s proposal that the opposition
colud ask for any ministry in interim government, Fakhrul said: ‘She is
playing a trick. She talks like this but when specific proposals [from
BNP] go to her, she does not talk’.
Fakhrul said that the prime minister had invited the opposition leader
to talks over dinner on an interim government, but, he said, ‘We would
not talk about an interim government but on caretaker government’.
Fakhrul censured the comments prime minister had made on Sunday at a
rally quoting a report of CNN that BNP and its leaders were involved in
the BDR carnage at Pilkhana. He termed Sheikh Hasina’s claims ‘untrue’
and ‘motivated’. Fakhrul said it was not a CNN report but an individual
post on CNN-iReport. (source)
Bangladesh may soon exit FATF ‘grey list’
Bangladesh is likely to find its global image ‘clean’ soon in combating
money laundering and terrorist financing as the policymakers are upbeat
of being delisted from the current ‘grey list’ of Financial Action Task
Force (FATF).
The FATF, an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering, listed Bangladesh under the category of ‘grey’ in 2008 for its significant deficiencies in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The FATF in its latest statement after its October plenary meeting in Paris lauded Bangladesh for adequately implementing measures in combating AML/CFT.
An Onsite Supervision mission of FATF will visit the country on November 24-25 to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF.
The formal decision of delisting is expected to be announced in next February, a Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.
‘It is now a matter of time as the FATF in its next plenary meeting in February 2014 is expected to delist Bangladesh from the grey list as we adequately implemented a raft of policy measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing,’ the Deputy Governor of BB told New Age on Monday.
He said the statement released by the FATF recently demonstrates that Bangladesh is now a compliant country in terms of addressing money laundering, which has brightened the image of the country in international forum.
The statement of the FATF said since October 2010, when Bangladesh made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG (Asia Pacific Group) to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Bangladesh has made significant progress to improve its AML/CFT regime.
‘Bangladesh has largely addressed its action plan, by adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of funds related to money laundering; ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; improving suspicious transaction reporting requirements; and improving international cooperation,’ reads the statement.
The FATF will conduct an on-site visit to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF, the statement added.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body, the purpose of which is to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and terror financing.
The task force is a ‘policy-making body’ of the FATF. It works to help foster the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms, a central banker said.
He said a team of FATF would visit Bangladesh soon to conduct an onsite visit to assess the country’s preparedness for addressing the problems of money laundering and terrorist financing and to examine the implementation status of the action plan.
The government submitted the Action Plan to the FATF in October 2010. (source)
The FATF, an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering, listed Bangladesh under the category of ‘grey’ in 2008 for its significant deficiencies in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The FATF in its latest statement after its October plenary meeting in Paris lauded Bangladesh for adequately implementing measures in combating AML/CFT.
An Onsite Supervision mission of FATF will visit the country on November 24-25 to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF.
The formal decision of delisting is expected to be announced in next February, a Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.
‘It is now a matter of time as the FATF in its next plenary meeting in February 2014 is expected to delist Bangladesh from the grey list as we adequately implemented a raft of policy measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing,’ the Deputy Governor of BB told New Age on Monday.
He said the statement released by the FATF recently demonstrates that Bangladesh is now a compliant country in terms of addressing money laundering, which has brightened the image of the country in international forum.
The statement of the FATF said since October 2010, when Bangladesh made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG (Asia Pacific Group) to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Bangladesh has made significant progress to improve its AML/CFT regime.
‘Bangladesh has largely addressed its action plan, by adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of funds related to money laundering; ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; improving suspicious transaction reporting requirements; and improving international cooperation,’ reads the statement.
The FATF will conduct an on-site visit to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF, the statement added.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body, the purpose of which is to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and terror financing.
The task force is a ‘policy-making body’ of the FATF. It works to help foster the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms, a central banker said.
He said a team of FATF would visit Bangladesh soon to conduct an onsite visit to assess the country’s preparedness for addressing the problems of money laundering and terrorist financing and to examine the implementation status of the action plan.
The government submitted the Action Plan to the FATF in October 2010. (source)
Bangladesh may soon exit FATF ‘grey list’
Bangladesh is likely to find its global image ‘clean’ soon in combating
money laundering and terrorist financing as the policymakers are upbeat
of being delisted from the current ‘grey list’ of Financial Action Task
Force (FATF).
The FATF, an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering, listed Bangladesh under the category of ‘grey’ in 2008 for its significant deficiencies in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The FATF in its latest statement after its October plenary meeting in Paris lauded Bangladesh for adequately implementing measures in combating AML/CFT.
An Onsite Supervision mission of FATF will visit the country on November 24-25 to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF.
The formal decision of delisting is expected to be announced in next February, a Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.
‘It is now a matter of time as the FATF in its next plenary meeting in February 2014 is expected to delist Bangladesh from the grey list as we adequately implemented a raft of policy measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing,’ the Deputy Governor of BB told New Age on Monday.
He said the statement released by the FATF recently demonstrates that Bangladesh is now a compliant country in terms of addressing money laundering, which has brightened the image of the country in international forum.
The statement of the FATF said since October 2010, when Bangladesh made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG (Asia Pacific Group) to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Bangladesh has made significant progress to improve its AML/CFT regime.
‘Bangladesh has largely addressed its action plan, by adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of funds related to money laundering; ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; improving suspicious transaction reporting requirements; and improving international cooperation,’ reads the statement.
The FATF will conduct an on-site visit to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF, the statement added.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body, the purpose of which is to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and terror financing.
The task force is a ‘policy-making body’ of the FATF. It works to help foster the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms, a central banker said.
He said a team of FATF would visit Bangladesh soon to conduct an onsite visit to assess the country’s preparedness for addressing the problems of money laundering and terrorist financing and to examine the implementation status of the action plan.
The government submitted the Action Plan to the FATF in October 2010. (source)
The FATF, an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering, listed Bangladesh under the category of ‘grey’ in 2008 for its significant deficiencies in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The FATF in its latest statement after its October plenary meeting in Paris lauded Bangladesh for adequately implementing measures in combating AML/CFT.
An Onsite Supervision mission of FATF will visit the country on November 24-25 to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF.
The formal decision of delisting is expected to be announced in next February, a Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.
‘It is now a matter of time as the FATF in its next plenary meeting in February 2014 is expected to delist Bangladesh from the grey list as we adequately implemented a raft of policy measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing,’ the Deputy Governor of BB told New Age on Monday.
He said the statement released by the FATF recently demonstrates that Bangladesh is now a compliant country in terms of addressing money laundering, which has brightened the image of the country in international forum.
The statement of the FATF said since October 2010, when Bangladesh made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG (Asia Pacific Group) to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Bangladesh has made significant progress to improve its AML/CFT regime.
‘Bangladesh has largely addressed its action plan, by adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of funds related to money laundering; ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; improving suspicious transaction reporting requirements; and improving international cooperation,’ reads the statement.
The FATF will conduct an on-site visit to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by the FATF, the statement added.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body, the purpose of which is to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and terror financing.
The task force is a ‘policy-making body’ of the FATF. It works to help foster the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms, a central banker said.
He said a team of FATF would visit Bangladesh soon to conduct an onsite visit to assess the country’s preparedness for addressing the problems of money laundering and terrorist financing and to examine the implementation status of the action plan.
The government submitted the Action Plan to the FATF in October 2010. (source)
Bangladesh Election Commission mulls army deployment during polls
The Election Commission is contemplating to deploy army for law and
order maintenance during the coming parliamentary election, due before
January 24, election commissioner Shah Nawaz said on Monday
He told reporters at his office that EC would meet soon to decide when the election schedule would be announced.
Asked whether the EC would be able to hold the election if political violence continues, Shah Nawaz said, ‘Look, we have no alternative but to follow the Constitution and hold the election.’
‘We cannot by pass the law,’ he said.
‘We have the constitutional obligation to hold the election,’ he said.
‘But we expect that all the political parties will take part in the election,’ he said.
He said that the EC hoped that the registered political parties would reach a consensus and take part in the election.
‘And we hope that we will be able to hold a violence-free election without any obstacles,’ said the election commissioner.
‘Besides the regular law enforcement agencies, we will deploy military to maintain law and order during the polls,’ he said.
‘If necessary, we will request the president to deploy military,’ he said.
Asked how the EC would deploy military troops after the armed forces have been excluded from the definition of law enforcers in the amended Representation of the People Order 1972, he said the EC could engage anybody in the elections.
‘The army was deployed in earlier elections though the definition of the law enforces in the RPO did not include the armed forces,’ he recalled.
He said, ‘It would be very difficult for the regular law enforcers alone to maintain law and order in so many polling stations across the country.’
‘That is why, we are thinking to seek cooperation from the armed forces,’ he said.
Asked when the army would be deployed, he said that the EC would take a decision in this regarding as the situation evolved.
Asked when the EC would announce the election schedule, the election commissioner said that the EC would meet soon to take a decision in this regard.
‘We do not have enough time at hand as the 90-day countdown to the election had begun days before,’ he said.
‘We will take a decision soon,’ he added.
The RPO amendment of 2009 excluded the armed forces from the definition of law enforcers.
The election commission can always deploy armed forces ‘in aid of civil administration’ under the Section 127-132 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, said several EC officials. (source)
He told reporters at his office that EC would meet soon to decide when the election schedule would be announced.
Asked whether the EC would be able to hold the election if political violence continues, Shah Nawaz said, ‘Look, we have no alternative but to follow the Constitution and hold the election.’
‘We cannot by pass the law,’ he said.
‘We have the constitutional obligation to hold the election,’ he said.
‘But we expect that all the political parties will take part in the election,’ he said.
He said that the EC hoped that the registered political parties would reach a consensus and take part in the election.
‘And we hope that we will be able to hold a violence-free election without any obstacles,’ said the election commissioner.
‘Besides the regular law enforcement agencies, we will deploy military to maintain law and order during the polls,’ he said.
‘If necessary, we will request the president to deploy military,’ he said.
Asked how the EC would deploy military troops after the armed forces have been excluded from the definition of law enforcers in the amended Representation of the People Order 1972, he said the EC could engage anybody in the elections.
‘The army was deployed in earlier elections though the definition of the law enforces in the RPO did not include the armed forces,’ he recalled.
He said, ‘It would be very difficult for the regular law enforcers alone to maintain law and order in so many polling stations across the country.’
‘That is why, we are thinking to seek cooperation from the armed forces,’ he said.
Asked when the army would be deployed, he said that the EC would take a decision in this regarding as the situation evolved.
Asked when the EC would announce the election schedule, the election commissioner said that the EC would meet soon to take a decision in this regard.
‘We do not have enough time at hand as the 90-day countdown to the election had begun days before,’ he said.
‘We will take a decision soon,’ he added.
The RPO amendment of 2009 excluded the armed forces from the definition of law enforcers.
The election commission can always deploy armed forces ‘in aid of civil administration’ under the Section 127-132 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, said several EC officials. (source)
Bangladesh hartal takes its toll on innocents
Schoolboy Monir Hossain, who lives in Kaliakoir of Gazipur, had long wished to visit Dhaka. After repeated requests, his father Ramzan Ali, a covered van driver, took him to the capital on Saturday.
But who would know Monir’s long-cherished dream would be shattered by political violence?
Like many innocent people, Monir, a student of class V at a local primary school, has become a victim of political violence. He suffered appalling burns after pickets set fire to the covered van he was sitting in Gazipur Chourasta area on Monday, the first day of the 60-hour countrywide hartal enforced by the BNP-led alliance.
He is fighting a grim battle for life at the burn unit in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Ramzan Ali said that he had taken his son to Dhaka to fulfill his wishes.
‘We spent a day in Dhaka and stayed here overnight before starting for Gazipur on Sunday after delivering some plastic goods to traders and loading the van with cosmetics,’ he said.
Ramzan said that after reaching Gazipur on Monday morning, he parked the van at the intersection, to see the situation as the hartal had already begun.
He asked his son to wait in the van before he went to see the situation on the highway.
The tragedy struck after he left his son alone in the van. ‘My son was waiting inside when miscreants attacked and set the van on fire,’ he added.
Doctors at DMCH said Monir was not out of danger as nearly 100 per cent of his body was burnt.
In another arson attack on Sunday night, a passenger of a CNG-run auto-rickshaw was burnt to death.
The deceased was identified as Mustafizur Rahman Mukul, 35, purchasing officer of a private trading company.
Mustafiz, who came from Kushtia, succumbed to burn injuries at DMCH around 9:45am Monday.
Two others, including the driver of the three-wheeler, were also badly burnt in the attack.
The driver, Md Asad, 33, was undergoing treatment in DMCH. Doctors said his condition was critical.
Md Hasu Mia, 35, technician of the company, who also suffered burns, told New Age that they were returning to Savar’s Nabinagar from Nawabpur in Dhaka after buying raw materials for the company.
‘As our vehicle was approaching Cantonment Public School, a group of miscreants started attacking vehicles on the road with sticks. A bus in front of us escaped the attack and sped away. The pickets then targeted our vehicle. As we tried to escape the attack, they hurled a petrol bomb at the three-wheeler and it was in flames,’ recalled Hasu Mia.
Hasu alleged that locals, including some army personnel standing nearby, watched the horrendous incident as passive onlookers.
Wailing over the body at DMCH, the victim’s wife Bina said, ‘Why they killed my husband? What was his fault?
In a similar incident, an elderly woman and her granddaughter suffered burns when a bus was torched by pro-hartal pickets in Gazipur Chourasta area on Sunday evening.
Lying in the bed in DMCH, the woman, Rahima Begum, 55, said they were going to her son-in-law’s house at Uttra sector-4 when the arson was carried out.
‘We were feeling sleepy as the bus reached the Chourasta area. Sudden, we heard the co-passengers scream ‘fire! fire!’ All the passengers left the bus. But my granddaughter, eight-year-old Sumi hid herself under the seat out of fear,’ said Rahima.
As Rahima tried to rescue her granddaughter, the fire engulfed the bus and they both were burnt.
Sumi, a student of class I, who is also taking treatment in DMCH, is yet to recover from the trauma. She said she had been preparing for her final examinations which would start in a few days.
Partha Shankar Pal, residential surgeon at the DMCH burn and plastic surgery department, told New Age that at least 30 patients, who had sustained burn injuries in bomb attacks or torching of vehicles, had been admitted to the burn unit since October 25.
Of them, one victim died on Monday morning and the conditions of two others were critical, said Partha.
When asked two days ago, the inspector general of police, Hassan Mahmood Khandker, told New Age that they had intensified vigilance and would do everything within the frame of law to ensure the security of people. (source)
But who would know Monir’s long-cherished dream would be shattered by political violence?
Like many innocent people, Monir, a student of class V at a local primary school, has become a victim of political violence. He suffered appalling burns after pickets set fire to the covered van he was sitting in Gazipur Chourasta area on Monday, the first day of the 60-hour countrywide hartal enforced by the BNP-led alliance.
He is fighting a grim battle for life at the burn unit in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Ramzan Ali said that he had taken his son to Dhaka to fulfill his wishes.
‘We spent a day in Dhaka and stayed here overnight before starting for Gazipur on Sunday after delivering some plastic goods to traders and loading the van with cosmetics,’ he said.
Ramzan said that after reaching Gazipur on Monday morning, he parked the van at the intersection, to see the situation as the hartal had already begun.
He asked his son to wait in the van before he went to see the situation on the highway.
The tragedy struck after he left his son alone in the van. ‘My son was waiting inside when miscreants attacked and set the van on fire,’ he added.
Doctors at DMCH said Monir was not out of danger as nearly 100 per cent of his body was burnt.
In another arson attack on Sunday night, a passenger of a CNG-run auto-rickshaw was burnt to death.
The deceased was identified as Mustafizur Rahman Mukul, 35, purchasing officer of a private trading company.
Mustafiz, who came from Kushtia, succumbed to burn injuries at DMCH around 9:45am Monday.
Two others, including the driver of the three-wheeler, were also badly burnt in the attack.
The driver, Md Asad, 33, was undergoing treatment in DMCH. Doctors said his condition was critical.
Md Hasu Mia, 35, technician of the company, who also suffered burns, told New Age that they were returning to Savar’s Nabinagar from Nawabpur in Dhaka after buying raw materials for the company.
‘As our vehicle was approaching Cantonment Public School, a group of miscreants started attacking vehicles on the road with sticks. A bus in front of us escaped the attack and sped away. The pickets then targeted our vehicle. As we tried to escape the attack, they hurled a petrol bomb at the three-wheeler and it was in flames,’ recalled Hasu Mia.
Hasu alleged that locals, including some army personnel standing nearby, watched the horrendous incident as passive onlookers.
Wailing over the body at DMCH, the victim’s wife Bina said, ‘Why they killed my husband? What was his fault?
In a similar incident, an elderly woman and her granddaughter suffered burns when a bus was torched by pro-hartal pickets in Gazipur Chourasta area on Sunday evening.
Lying in the bed in DMCH, the woman, Rahima Begum, 55, said they were going to her son-in-law’s house at Uttra sector-4 when the arson was carried out.
‘We were feeling sleepy as the bus reached the Chourasta area. Sudden, we heard the co-passengers scream ‘fire! fire!’ All the passengers left the bus. But my granddaughter, eight-year-old Sumi hid herself under the seat out of fear,’ said Rahima.
As Rahima tried to rescue her granddaughter, the fire engulfed the bus and they both were burnt.
Sumi, a student of class I, who is also taking treatment in DMCH, is yet to recover from the trauma. She said she had been preparing for her final examinations which would start in a few days.
Partha Shankar Pal, residential surgeon at the DMCH burn and plastic surgery department, told New Age that at least 30 patients, who had sustained burn injuries in bomb attacks or torching of vehicles, had been admitted to the burn unit since October 25.
Of them, one victim died on Monday morning and the conditions of two others were critical, said Partha.
When asked two days ago, the inspector general of police, Hassan Mahmood Khandker, told New Age that they had intensified vigilance and would do everything within the frame of law to ensure the security of people. (source)
BDR carnage verdict today
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)
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)
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