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)

20-year-old Marc Marquez becomes youngest world title MotoGP winner

Marc Marquez on Sunday became the youngest MotoGP champion when he finished third at the season-concluding Valencia Grand Prix. He eventually secured the 2013 world title. Jorge Lorenzo was the winner of the race but 20-year-old Marquez, only had to finish the fourth to secure the first debut-season title since Kenny Roberts of the United States in 1978. Got to Source

Canada concerned over losses of lives for political strife in Bangladesh

Canada has expressed deep concern over the losses of lives in Bangladesh caused by continuous political strife. Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Heather Cruden on Monday Issued a statement to express the concern of his country, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo. In the statement, Canada also expressed attacks on religious minority. The Canadian envoy called on all the political parties to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing impasse. He expressed hope that all the political parties would sit in dialogues with a view to holding peaceful, free and fair general elections. He also hoped that a peaceful application of expressing thoughts and holding rallies. Canada thinks that constructive talks between the ruling and opposition parties are necessary for peaceful, free and fair elections. The incidents of hartal and arrest are not in favour of holding dialogues. Got to Source

Bangladesh lawmaker calls to pass bill to control hartal

A Jatiya Party lawmaker, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, on Sunday in Jatiya Sangsad sought step from the Leader of the House, Sheikh Hasina, to pass his private members bill on controlling hartal (general strike) to help mass people in Bangladesh get relief from destruction in the name of hartals. Hartal is not a constitutional right, he said, adding that it was not a language of democracy. The whole nation is looking at the Parliament for a decision, he said. Got to Source

Hartal passing off across Bangladesh for second day

The second day of the 84-hour nationwide general strike, called by the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance, is passing off across Bangladesh today (Monday) amid stray incidents of crude bomb blasts and arson attack. The hartal, enforced to press the Awami League-led government for arranging the next national polls under a non-party administration, will scheduled to end at 6:00pm on Wednesday. In the Dhaka city, a CNG-driven auto-rickshaw was set on fire allegedly by some pickets in the Rayerbagh area of Jatrabari at dawn. A number of crude bombs were blasted on Link Road of Badda, Mohakhali, Malibagh rail crossing, Mirpur-11, Kazipara and Mipur-1 in the early hours of the hartal. The police found two live bombs at Mirpur-11. Got to Source

Five Bangladesh opposition leaders sent to jail

A Bangladesh court in Dhaka on Saturday sent five arrested leaders of the main opposition BNP, including its standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Miah, to jail in two cases filed for vandalism, arson attacks and attacking policemen. Metropolitan Magistrate Joynab Begum ordered that the five arrested BNP leaders be sent to jail as hearing on their remand and bail petitions could not be held for lack of necessary documents in the two cases. The court fixed November 14 for hearing on the remand and the bail petitions. (Go to Source)

Continued confrontation in Bangladesh disappoints British envoy Robert Gibson

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over the continued confrontation instead of dialogue between the two major political parties in Bangladesh— ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP — for holding free, fair and credible elections. “I’m disappointed that we’ve seen continued confrontational action rather than constructive dialogue between the two main parties that could result in the outcome desired by most ordinary Bangladeshis: free, fair and credible elections in which all parties participate,” the British envoy said in a statement. (Go to Source)

All acting secretaries to be promoted to secretary

At least half a dozen of additional secretaries, now working as acting secretaries at various ministries, are likely to be promoted to the rank of secretary.
The Superior Selection Board at a meeting, held on Wednesday with cabinet secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan in the chair, made the recommendation, said a senior official concerned.
The meeting recommended that all the additional secretaries now in charge of the various ministries/divisions that included fisheries, information, railway, agriculture and rural development, to be promoted to secretary, the official at the Cabinet Division added.
  
He said that around 80 joint secretaries mostly from the 1984 batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service might also be promoted to the additional secretary soon.
The government has also initiated a process to give more promotions to the level of deputy secretary as the five-year term of the Awami League-led alliance government ends in January 2014, officials concerned said.

Protests over minimum wage force 200 Bangladesh RMG factories out of production

Nearly 200 apparel factories in industrial parks around the city went out of production Wednesday as the workers held violent demonstrations demanding better minimum wage.
The apparel workers in Bangladesh, home of the world’s lowest wages, have been demanding better payments for their work.

The protesters rejected the minimum monthly wage of Tk 5,300 recommended  by the RMG workers’ wage board on Monday saying it was too inadequate to meet the costs when the essential prices were soaring.
They have been demanding Tk8,000 as the minimum monthly wage.
Several apparel workers and six policemen were injured in clashes between the two sides at Gazipur, Narayanganj and Savar.
Workers’ demonstrations blocked a number of highways leading to the capital.
The workers rejected it as too inadequate for meeting daily needs when essential prices were sky rocketing, the factory owners also rejected it saying that they cannot pay so much.
At Gazipur the owners closed 150 factories  for the day as the workers clashed with police over the wage issue, New Age Gazipur correspondent reported.
Witnesses said clothing workers from Konabari and Kashimpur in the newly city of Gazipur took held demonstrations in the morning in support of their demand.
The protesters blocked city streets and the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, disrupting traffic.
The police intervened and violent clashes ensued leaving at least 30 injured.
Police fired rubber bullets and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the workers.
Soon after the workers took to the streets, the owners shut down their factories at Konabari and Kashimpur for the day.
Witnesses said many apparel workers at Konabari and Kashimpur struck work and joined the demonstrations. 
Angry workers smashed window panes of some factories in the area by throwing stones. 
Gazipur industrial police inspector Nazrul Islam said the unrest prompted several  owners to keep their factories closed for the day at  Konabari, Jarun and Kashimpur. 
There are about 300 factories in the area.
On Tuesday, the owners of nearly 200 factories in the area announced temporary shut downs.
Workers of Hechong, Southern and Palmal group at Baraipara in Kaliakoir upazila struck work and joined the protests.
Additional police were deployed in the areas to quell the unrest.
Savar industrial police sub inspector Omar Faruk said the owners closed the factories of Standard Group and Babylon Group as the workers took out a procession demanding better wages.
Ashulia industrial police inspector Abdus Sattar said workers of the Radiance Group held protests for the second consecutive day in support of their demand.
The owners shut down both the factories  for the day.
Protesters workers at Fatullah, Naraynaganj vandalized a factory and blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj Highway.
Fatullah police station officer-in-charge Akter Hossain said that the protesters vandalized Time Sweater Factory.
Owners in the area kept their factories closed for the day fearing violent protests.
Karmajibi Nari, a labour right body at a press conference at its central office at Segunbagicha said the minimum wage announced was not acceptable.
It called upon the government and the factory owners to fix better minimum wage.
Its executive director Rokeya Rafique said that no worker would not be able maintain  their families with the minimum wage recommended.
Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, president Shahidullah Chowdhury and general secretary Wajed-ul Islam Khan in a press statement asked the government and owners to revise the wages so that the workers could pull on.