50pc textbooks yet to arrive in Bangladesh upazilas

The authorities could not as yet reach 13.64 crore textbooks, out of 31.50  crore, to upazilas for free distribution among the pupils of schools and madrassahs. 

National Curriculum and Textbook Board said it was worried that the text books could be distributed among all the students by January 1, the first day of the new academic year. 

Frequent hartals during the peak  distribution time was interrupting the efforts to reach the books to the destinations, officials said.

Officials said that well ahead of the coming academic year the NCTB had taken the plan to make sure that the textbooks reached the upazilas by November 30. 

But frequent hartals since October, they said made it difficult for the NCTB to accomplish the task.

Printers said the volatile political atmosphere was disrupting printing and transportation in the last leg of the programme. 

They called for keeping textbook transportation out of hartals’ purview.

NCTB distribution controller Mustak Ahmed Bhuiyan said until November 14 printers took 17.86 crore textbooks to the upazilas on trucks.

It is the responsibility of upazila education officers to send the books to the schools for distribution among the students.   

Mustak said that for the next year the government had taken the plan to distribute 1.80 crore pre-primary books, 11. 37 crore primary school books, 13.77 crore secondary school books and 4.62 crore books for the students of ibtadayi and dakhil madrassahs.

Until November 14, he said, the printers reached 17.86 crore books to the upazila education offices, 7. 40 crore for primary schools, 9.35 crore for secondary schools and 1.12 crore for the ibtadayi and dakhil madrassahs.  

Mustak said that the shipment of the pre-primary level textbooks was yet to begin. 

He said the NCTB had planned to reach the books to the upazila education offices by November 30. 

Hartals are proving a hindrance, he said. 

NCTB officials said that on an average about 25 lakh textbooks were shipped to upazilas per day. 

Disruptions for two or three days in a row leads to millions of books remaining stockpiled with the printing houses needing several days to ship to the destinations. 

Since October 25, NCTB got only three working days, October 30,31 and November 3, said officials. 

The schoolchildren in the remote areas face the prospects of not getting their books in due time.     

Out of 19,070 secondary schools 526 are in the remote hilly areas, 528 in the   coastal belt and 714 in the haor belt. 

Many of the 89,712 primary schools are also located in remote and inaccessible areas. 

Bangladesh Mudron Shilpa Samity senior vice president Tofayel Khan said the printers were facing problems in bringing paper to the printing presses, taking the books to the binders and ultimately to the upazila education offices and the whole exercise cost them lot more than usual. 

NCTB secretary Braja Gopal Bhowmik described November as the most important time for the distribution of the textbooks.

Hartals are creating hindrances in reaching the textbooks to the students before January 1, said Nurul Islam Nahid, who recently resigned as the education minister.

In 2010, the government began distribution of free textbooks to students of secondary schools. 

Free distribution of books among the primary school students began in 1981.  (source) 

Bangladesh opposition party to join elections, hopes prime minister Sheikh Hasina

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Sunday expressed the hope that the opposition would join the next elections and the people would exercise their voting rights.

‘The next elections would be free, fair and credible and I hope that the opposition would participate in the polls and the people would freely exercise their voting rights,’ she said.

The prime minister expressed this hope when visiting US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal called on her at her official Ganobhaban residence in Dhaka in the afternoon.

After the hour-long meeting, PM’s deputy press secretary Bijan Lal Dev briefed reporters.

The prime minister said her government has been working relentlessly to further strengthen democracy. ‘We want to further strengthen democracy and our stride has been reflected in all the elections held during the last five years of our tenure,‘ she said.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that 5,828 elections were held at different tiers in the last five years and 64,060 public representatives were elected through the polls. All the elections were held in a free, fair and neutral manner, and none could raise any allegation about the results, she said.

The prime minister said the all democratic institutions including Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission and Information Commission are absolutely independent, while media is enjoying full freedom.

‘A voter list with photograph has been prepared. So, there is no scope for vote rigging,’ she said.

The prime minister said the EC is now very much capable of holding any elections and its capability has been proved in the last five years.

Stressing the need for maintaining democratic process, Sheikh Hasina said development would not be sustained without democracy.

About the suspension of the Genralised System of Preference facilities by the US government, the prime minister said the decision has affected a lot the downtrodden people of Bangladesh.

‘The decision is giving punishment to the poor workers,’ she added.

Sheikh Hasina urged the US government to pursue its business community to hike the prices of Bangladeshi garment products. ‘It would help facilitate the Bangladeshi garment owners to increase wages,‘ she said.

Mentioning the raising of the wages for the garment workers to Tk 5300 from 1600 in the last five years, she said: ‘Our party, politics and ideology are for the downtrodden and we are striving to improve the condition of poor people.’

Pointing out the much-talked TICFA agreement with the USA, the prime minister said the deal has already been okayed. A delegation from Bangladesh would visit the USA soon to this end, she said.

Laying importance on regional cooperation, the prime minister said her government has been trying to strengthen regional relationship to ensure welfare of the people.

The US assistant secretary of state expressed the hope that free, fair and credible elections would be held in Bangladesh to continue democratic process.

She said Bangladesh is a very important country in the region for mutual prosperity and security, saying that the US-Bangladesh partnership is extraordinarily strong and productive. (source)

Tazreen Fashions owner Delwar Hossain faces anger of victims’ families

Tazreen Fashions owner Delwar Hossain on Sunday faced anger of the family members of some workers killed in the factory fire and a group of right activists after he came out of the Supreme Court.

The protesters said Delwar had provided the court with false information about the heath condition of injured worker Sumaya Khatun.

The family members of Tazreen fire victims also demanded compensation from Delwar who was also encircled by the rights activists.

The right activists with family members of some deceased workers came to the High Court for the hearing in a writ petition three anthropologists had filed to bring Delwar to book as per the government ‘s investigation report on the Tazreen fire that killed at least 111 workers.

Sumaya, who underwent treatment for long at United Hospital in the capital with money raised from donation, was sent home last week after her health condition deteriorated, said Saydia Gulrukh, one of the three writ petitioners, in response to the court’s query. 

She is suffering from cancer possibly from exposure to fumes in the November 2012 Tazreen fire.

Despite the court’s order to arrange Sumaya’s treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at the expenses of the government, the health ministry had taken no initiative yet, Saydia Gulrukh said.

She said that Sumaya was sent home at the advice of doctors who found no alterative way for her treatment.

Standing before the bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain, Delwar, through his counsel Fida M Kamal told the court that he had talked to the doctors who said Sumaya was released as she was now ‘well and out of danger’.

Rights activists asked Delwar why he had provided the court with false information. 

 They asked Delwar why Matin, brother of deceased Tazreen worker Rehana, was yet to be compensated for his sister’s death. Delwar replied how he could give compensation when the case was pending.

Father of deceased Rozin also threw similar questions at Delwar, who left the place quickly.

The High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain, which was hearing the Tazreen fire case, said that it would follow the terms of reference used in compensating the victims of Rana Plaza collapse.

The court asked writ petitioners’ counsel Jyotirmoy Barua and deputy attorney general Biswajit Roy to inform it by Tuesday about the terms of reference set by different professionals in compliance with the directive of another bench following a writ petition over the April 24 Rana Plaza collapse that killed more than 11,000 workers. (source) 

BRAC gets million dollar global award

Bangladesh-based non-government organisation BRAC has been selected for a $ 1.0 million worth global award for replicating one of its health projects for slum dwellers in Africa.

Drug-maker GSK and the international NGO Save the Children jointly award different organisations with the ‘Healthcare Innovation Award’ as part of its ambitious partnership to save millions of children’s lives.

BRAC has been recognised for its ‘comprehensive’ mother, infant and child health programme, Manoshi, which it implements in Dhaka slums.

The project ensures births in skilled hands and quick referral to those who need emergency care.

Nearly 100 organisations from 29 developing countries applied for the award, of whom five were selected.

BRAC will also receive an extra $ 300,000 to test the Manoshi project in Sierra Leone slums where under-five and maternal mortality rates are amongst the highest in the world.

Founded in 1972, BRAC is known as the world’s largest NGO. It also operates in various countries outside Bangladesh. (source) 

Body parts of youth found in Narayanganj

The police recovered nine pieces of body parts of a youth on Sunday evening from Murapara Motherghat area under Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj.

The deceased was a youth aged about,30 years, the police said.

The beheaded body was dumped in a sack and eight pieces of sliced hands and legs in another sack, the police said.

Rupganj police station officer-in-charge Asaduzzaman Mir said that the killers might have dumped the head of the youth at another remote place so that it could not be traced. (source) 

Hearing in US Congress on Bangladesh political situation Wednesday

As the country’s bickering political parties seem nowhere close to any understanding over the polls-time government, a sub-committee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress is set to organise a hearing on the political situation in Bangladesh on Wednesday.

The sub-committee on Asia and the Pacific will arrange the hearing, titled ‘Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation on the Brink?’ to be held at Rayburn House Office Building, according to a web release of the office of House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ chairman Ed Royce.

Ali Riaz, professor and chairman, Department of Politics and Government, Illinois State University and a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, major general (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, President of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies and John Sifton, Asia advocacy director, Human Rights Watch will participate in the hearing as witnesses.

US representative Steve Chabot, chairman of the sub-committee on Asia and the Pacific, will also take part in the hearing.

On the hearing, chairman Chabot said:  “Bangladesh has long been considered a moderate, Muslim-majority nation in South Asia. However, today Bangladesh is in the midst of a struggle for its national identity, pitting secular moderates against religious fundamentalists.’

He said the extreme political tension that has gripped Bangladesh is threatening the next year’s parliamentary elections.

‘This political turmoil has already claimed one victim — Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal – resulting in proceedings that do not meet international standards. The United States has a lot at stake in Bangladesh.  This hearing will be an important opportunity to examine the cause of Bangladesh’s political tensions, the escalation of human rights abuses, and how this all impacts security interests in the region.’

On November 5, Steve Chabot visited Dhaka and met top political leaders during his visit and discussed political issues. (source) 

Minor boy killed by aunt in Chittagong

A seven-year old boy was killed in the city’s Halishahar area in Chittagong on Sunday morning.

The deceased Sabbir hailed from Bajitpur of Kishoreganj.

Police said Sabbir’s maternal aunt Swapna killed him by beating and strangulating the child after a quarrel with his mother.

Sabbir along with his mother used to live with his uncle and aunt after his father died, police said adding that Swapna was arrested after the incident. (source) 

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal general secretary Habibur Rashid Habib arrested

The Detective Branch of police on Sunday arrested Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal general secretary Habibur Rashid Habib at Shantinagar in the city.

The activists of Chhatra Dal, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed student organisation, protested against the arrest, while five vehicles were set on fire in the city.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner (media and public relation) Masudur Rahman said that the detectives picked up Habibur at about 3:00pm. He, however, could not say in which case Habibur was arrested. 

Habibur was taken to Detective Branch office at Minto Road. 

The detectives had also raided the Habibur’s house at Bashabo in the city on November 14. 

Chhatra Dal activists took to the street immediately after the arrest. They brought out processions at places protesting against the arrest.

A bus of Unique Paribahan was set on fire at Fakirapul at about 3:30pm.

A Dhaka Paribahan bus was set on fire near the National Press Club at about 5:00pm. 

Unidentified youths set a covered van on fire at Shantinagar at about 5:00pm.

Another bus was set on fire at Rampura at about 5:30pm.

A taxi was set on fire at Fakirapul in the evening.

Fire Service and Civil Defence control room officer Kazi Nuruzzaman told New Age that they recorded that five vehicles were set on fire in the capital till 8:00pm.

New Age correspondent in Narsingdi reported that the police arrested three Chhbatra Dal leaders in Naringdi town on Saturday night.

New Age correspondent in Khulna reported that the police arrested at least eight leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir at places of Paikgacha and Digholia upazilas on early Sunday

Earlier, Swechchhasebak Dal general secretary Sarafat Ali Shapu and organising secretary Shafiul Bari Babu were arrested at Banglamotor in the city on November 14. They were also remanded in police custody for 10 days for interrogation in a case filed for violence during a general strike enforced by the BNP-led alliance in March. (source)

Bangladesh to get ‘polls-time’ cabinet today

President Abdul Hamid is scheduled to administer the oath of office to new ministers today at Bangabhaban for reshuffle in the cabinet of Sheikh Hasina ahead of the general elections. 

‘The president will administer the oath to a number of ministers of the all-party government at Bangabhaban on Monday afternoon,’ cabinet secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters on Sunday. 

He said the size of the interim government would be smaller than the previous cabinet. 

‘The prime minister apprised the president of her plan today for forming an all-party interim government to run the country before and during the election period,’ the cabinet secretary added. 

Earlier on the day, prime minister Sheikh Hasina told a cabinet meeting that she would downsize her cabinet to run the polls-time administration, declaring that it was the last routine meeting of the cabinet in its present form. 

Rashed Khan Menon of the Workers Party of Bangladesh told New Age that he would join the polls-time cabinet under Sheikh Hasina. 

Jatiya Party secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader said that he along with at least six other JP lawmakers, including Rowshan Ershad, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Mojibul Haque Chunnu, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Salma Islam, would be included in the interim cabinet.   

Anisul Islam told New Age that he along with six others of his party would join the interim cabinet. 

Existing cabinet members AMA Muhith, Syed Ashraful Islam, Obaidul Quader, Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, Matia Chowdhury, Hasanul Haq Inu and GM Quader are likely to continue as ministers, said officials adding that their resignation had not been sent to the president and so they would not require a fresh oath. 

Senior Awami League leaders Tofail Ahmed and Amir Hossain Amu were also requested to join the polls-time cabinet, said the officials and AL policymakers. 

The cabinet held its weekly meeting on Sunday, a week after all ministers and state ministers had resigned from the cabinet of Sheikh Hasina, triggering fresh controversy over its legality. 

‘The prime minister has said that today’s cabinet meeting is the last one in its present form. She will constitute an all-party government with elected representatives from various parties in parliament,’ agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury told reporters.

She, however, said that Sheikh Hasina had not specified how many new faces would be inducted in her smaller cabinet and how many of the present ministers would be excluded.   

Matia said all the ministers had submitted their resignation as per the desire of the prime minister. 

Citing examples of other democracies, LGRD and cooperatives minister Syed Ashraful Islam told the meeting that it was not legally essential to downsize the present cabinet to oversee the polls scheduled to 

be held by January 24 next year. 

Most of the cabinet members handed over their resignation letters to the prime minister on November 11 at the cabinet meeting while others tendered resignations earlier to pave the way for formation of a ‘smaller cabinet’ with around 20-22 members, according to policymakers.

All ministers and state ministers, but Ershad-led Jatiya Party faction leader GM Quader who resigned as commerce minister, continued holding offices even after their resignation, raising questions over the legality of their functions in the government.  

GM Quader had informed the Cabinet Division that he could not attend the weekly cabinet meeting due to unavoidable circumstances, the cabinet secretary said. 

Hasina on November 4 had asked her cabinet colleagues to resign so that she could induct some new faces in the polls-time cabinet.

Experts have already questioned the legality of the functions of ministers and state ministers in the government after their resignation.

The prime minister, however, clarified that members of her cabinet would continue to hold offices until the president accepted their resignations.  

Hasina earlier offered formation of an all-party government to oversee the next polls – a proposal turned down by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

‘To my party, submitting resignation letter means resignation. Why should I go to office after submitting resignation?’ GM Quader, also presidium member of Jatiya Party, told New Age. 

He said that that Jatiya Party had been a part of the Awami League-led alliance for the 2008 elections and accordingly joined the government of Sheikh Hasina. 

Quader said that his resignation also meant that the Jatiya Party was no more with the AL-led alliance. 

All other ministers and state ministers said that they would continue holding the office until their resignations were accepted by the president. 

The cabinet on Wednesday convened its weekly meeting, inviting all ministers and state ministers, who had already handed over their resignations to the prime minister, amidst controversies over legality of holding office after resignation. 

Sheikh Hasina on November 4 had asked her cabinet colleagues to resign so that she could induct some new faces in the planned smaller cabinet, which she called ‘all party government’ to oversee the national polls scheduled to be held by January 24 next year.

Experts questioned the legality of the functions of the ministers and state ministers in the government after their resignations. (source)

Tarique Rahman acquitted, Mamun jailed in money laundering case

A special court in Dhaka on Sunday acquitted senior BNP vice chairman Tarique Rahman of the charge of siphoning money to Singapore but sentenced co-accused Giashuddin Al Mamun to seven years in jail with monitory penalty in the same case, prompting protests by Awami League leaning lawyers on the court premises.

‘The prosecution could not prove the charges against accused Tarique Rahman beyond reasonable doubt,’ said Motahar Hossain, the special court judge-3, in the crowded courtroom in the Old Town of Dhaka amid intense security.

The court started delivering the verdict at about 11:55am and concluded it at 12:15pm.   

The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the case with Cantonment police station on October 26, 2009 against Tarique Rahman, also the eldest son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, and his business partner Giashuddin Al Mamun on the charge of laundering money to Singapore.

Tarique has been living in London since September 2008 after he was forced into exile by the then army-backed interim government.

As Tarique was made a fugitive during the trial, none defended him.

The court, which earlier had twice issued warrants for the arrest for Tarique, in its judgment, recalled the warrants.

The special court judge-3 in the verdict stated that it had examined the wealth statement of Tarique submitted on June 7, 2007 and found that the accused had not committed offence under the money laundering prevention act using supplementary credit card and had not hid information of the withdrawal of $50,000 to 54,000 in Singapore.

About the acquittal of one of the most influential BNP leaders, the ACC-appointed prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajal told New Age, ‘It is not clear to us how the court considered the wealth statement of Tarique when no counsel defended him.’

The judge, however, sentenced Tarique’s friend, businessman Mamun to seven years in jail and fined him Tk 40 crore in the same case. 

Mamun was found guilty under section 13 (2) of the money laundering prevention act for taking $ 7.5  lakh from one Khadiza Begum for setting up of an 80MW power plant at Tongi in 2003.

The money was allegedly taken by Mamun as bribes from Khadiza Islam, director of Nirman Construction Ltd, for helping her win the power plant contract. 

Khadiza, however, had told the court that she had given Mamun the money as ‘consultancy fee’.  

The court also confiscated Tk 20, 41, 25, 613.28 related to the money laundering crime from Mamun for the people of Bangladesh. The money was deposited on July 31, 2007 in favour of the government.

Mamun was seen smiling in the dock while many of his associates were seen seeking his blessing.

Hundreds of lawyers loyal to BNP greeted the verdict with cheers and slogans on the court premises while the lawyers supporting Awami League staged protests against the prosecutors and even the judge.

The AL-backed lawyers chased Musharraf Hossain Kajol, among others, and also kicked the door of the courtroom in the presence of police. Kajol said the ACC would decide the next course of action.  

ACC commissioner M Sahabuddin said that the verdict had disappointed the commission.

‘The commission may appeal after receiving the full judgment,’ he said.

In his reaction, AKM Fakhrul Islam, who defended Mamun, told New Age that they would act after examining the full judgement.

The judge, Motahar Hossain, had set the date for delivery of the verdict after hearing both the sides on November 14.

The court had examined 13 prosecution witnesses, including US Federal Bureau of Investigation agent Debra Laprovoti, and both retired and serving government officials.

The court also examined five defence witnesses in the case but only for defending Mamun.   

Tarique is currently facing four more cases, out of 17, including charges that he had masterminded a deadly grenade attack on an Awami league rally in Dhaka in August 2004. (source)

Bangladesh High Court stays police remand of five BNP leaders

The High Court on Sunday stayed the remand of five top Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders in custody.

The bench of Justice Borhanuddin and KM Kamrul Kader also asked the police to send the five — BNP standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Mia, BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal 

Mintoo, also a business leader, and BNP chairperson’s special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas — to jail at once. 

Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Rezaul Karim on November 14 remanded the five in police custody for eight days interrogation in two cases filed with Motijheel police station for attack on the police and explosions of crude bombs at Kamalapur in the city during a general strike on November 5.

The High Court observed that the investigation officers concerned might interrogate the five at the Dhaka Central Jail gate.

After hearing a petition filed by the five, the bench also asked the Dhaka deputy commissioner and the investigation officers concerned to explain in two weeks why the order passed on November 14 by metropolitan magistrate Rezaul Karim would not be quashed.

A chaotic situation was created in the courtroom when the petitioners’ counsel AJ Mohammad Ali reminded attorney general Mahbubey Alam that the opposition Awami League in 2001 had killed at least 10 people by torching a double-decker bus by pouring gunpowder.

Mahbubey raised objection saying that the present situations should not be comparable to that of 2001. 

As the state attorneys and pro-government and anti-government lawyers locked into altercation slogans were also chanted against the attorney general.

The situation calmed down following request from their senior lawyers while the police in both uniform and plainclothes later forced public out of the courtroom.

AJ Mohammad Ali argued that the metropolitan magistrate remanded the politicians in custody for interrogation in violation of the High Court’s recommendations laid down in the landmark judgement in the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust versus government case in 2003.

He argued that magistrate Monab Begum had adjourned the remand hearing as the prosecution failed to produce any documents on progress of investigation in the case on November 9, magistrate Rezaul Karim on November 14 remanded the five in custody on the basis of a diary which had no sufficient evidence to satisfy the magistrate for the remand. 

One of the High Court directives stipulated that the investigation officer must state in details in the case diary the grounds for taking the accused in custody and would produce the diary involving progress of investigation for consideration of the remand, he contended.  

H argued that the magistrate was bound to follow the recommendations as per the constitution.

He said that the police in plainclothes had arrested the five leaders on November 8 without any warrant and on the following day the investigation officers prayed for their interrogations in custody implicating them in two cases to malign them politically.  

Mahbubey Alam argued that the remand should be upheld and the investigation should be allowed as many innocent people died following vandalism and torching of public vehicles. (source)

Tarique Rahman facing 14 more cases

BNP’s senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman is currently facing 14 more cases, 10 of which have been stayed by the High Court, after his acquittal of a charge of money laundering by a special court on Sunday, lawyers have told New Age.

The acquittal of Tarique Rahman of the charge would bolster his chances to return to the country after more than five years in exile, pro-BNP lawyers hoped.

The verdict is seen as a morale booster for BNP which is currently in movement to press for a non-party caretaker government to oversee elections set for January, reported Agence France-Presse on Sunday.

Tarique, the eldest son 

of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has been living in London since September 2008 after he was forced into exile by the-then army-backed government.

Tarique has been implicated in at least 17 cases, including the deadly August 21 grenade attack cases.

Ten of the cases have already been stayed by the High Court, said lawyer Syed Zaynul Abedin Mesbah, who is monitoring the cases of the Zia family. 

With the latest verdict on Sunday in the money laundering case, Tarique has been acquitted of three cases.

A special court deferred several times the hearing for charge framing against Tarique and her mother Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case before finally posting the hearing for December 8 while a financial loan case filed by the Sonali Bank was pending with another court.

His trial took place in absentia in three cases – the money laundering case and two cases relating to the August 21, 2004 grenade attacks on an Awami League rally which the current prime minister Sheikh Hasina survived with injuries but which left 24 people, including the Mahila League president Ivy Rahman, dead.

Treated as a fugitive, none defended Tarique in the cases.

In two cases filed in connection with the August 21, 2004, the speedy trial tribunal judge Shahed Nuruddin so far recorded the depositions of only 73 out of the 491 prosecution witnesses since the trial began in October 2011 against 52 people, including Tarique Rahman and his cousin Saiful Islam Duke.

When approached, Syed Rezaur Rahman, the chief prosecution counsel, told New Age recently, ‘Whoever is in power, the trial should be fair in order to ensure justice.’  (source)

Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad meets Shafi, seeks his blessing

Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Sunday met Hefazat-e-Islami chief Shah Ahmad Shafi and gave him an assurance that the JP, if voted to power, would help implement all demands of the 13-point charter of demands of the madrassah-based group.

In another development, JP presidium member Kazi Feroz Rashid told New Age that the party was likely to announce its decision to quit the Awami League-led `grand alliance’ at a press conference today. `A new political alliance may also be announced,’ said Feroz. Hefazat is campaigning for its 13-point demand that includes punishment to Shahbagh bloggers for allegedly defaming Islam and Prophet Muhammad (SM).

In the hour-long meeting, Ershad was said to have sought support of Maulana Shafi in the next elections but told newsmen after the meeting that he had met the Hefazat supremo to seek his blessing.

A five-member team led by Ershad reached the Hefazat office at Darul Ulum Muinul Islam Madrassah at Chittagong around noon and had an hour-long meeting with Shafi.

Quoting Shafi, Ershad told newsmen that the Hefazat chief had blessed him so that his desire was fulfilled.

The former military dictator also said that Hefazat-e-Islam was not a political party and brushed aside suggestions that he might form an alliance with the Islamist outfit.

Earlier, at a meeting of JP’s student wing on Thursday, Ershad had announced that he would launch a new alliance with some political parties and that he had also talked to some Islam-based parties.

After the hour-long meeting at the Hefazat headquarters on Sunday, Hefazat general secretary Junaid Babunagari said that Ershad had told the meeting that his party, if voted to power, would help implement the 13-point charter of demands.

The Jatiya Party chairman met Shafi to seek his blessing and assured Hefazat of taking initiative to implement its 13-point demand, Babunagari said.

Local lawmaker and JP presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud and presidium member Ziauddin Ahmad Bablu were present during the meeting.

Ershad made compulsory the religious studies for schoolchildren, government holiday for Friday instead of Sunday and also inserted ‘Islam as state religion’ in the constitution during his nine-year rule in 1982-1990. (source)