The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will reopen on September 10 while the residential halls of the university will be opened tomorrow (Saturday).

On the other hand, the Dhaka University (DU) authorities could not take any decision about reopening the university which was closed down along with other public universities in six divisional cities on August 22 following a violent clash between students and security forces on the DU campus.

Prof SMA Faiz said yesterday that they would take a decision about reopening the university after discussing the mater with the Syndicate and Deans commitee on September 8.

The Chitagong University authorities have already taken a decision to reopen the university on October 24, while the residential halls will be opened a day before the reopening.

Besides, the classes at the government and non-government colleges in six divisional cities will resume tomorrow.

The decision was taken following an announcement by the government

The BUET authorities took the decision at an emergency syndicate meeting yesterday in the light of the decision taken at a meeting of the vice-chancellors of public universities held at the Ministry of Education with Education Adviser in the chair earlier this week.

Vice-Chancellor of BUET Prof AKM Shafiullah told The New Nation that they had taken the decision about reopening the university after receiving directive from the government

The examinations of the university might be delayed for unscheduled closure but the admission test would be held as usual. However, the commitee for supervising the admission tests is yet to be constituted, he added.

He also said the unscheduled closure of the university for about two weeks would not affect the admission test in any way.

An official announcement yesterday said that the government had decided to withdraw an order issued on August 22 for closure of all government and non-government colleges in divisional cities.

The government ordered the reopening all government and non-government colleges after 15 days of their mandatory closure.

Besides, the government asked the principals of the colleges to resume their all-out activities as the situation has improved.

Chitagong University (CU) syndicate led by CU VC Prof Badiul Alam yesterday decided to reopen the university on October 24 after Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja vacation.

Meanwhile, the National University (NU) authorities decided to resume the classes at its affiliated government and non-government colleges from Saturday according to the latest official order.

Amid spreading violence from campus to campus over the issue, the

caretaker government had issued a directive closing down all public

universities and the aforesaid colleges for indefinite period.

Staff Reporter

Detained Awami League president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have to stand trial in the long-pending Mig-29 scam case as the High Court yesterday rejected her petition for quashing the charge of shady deals on purchase of eight fighter jets for Bangladesh Air Force when her government was in power.

An appellate division bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and Justice M Ataur Rahman Khan, passed the order vacating an HC order of stay given in 2003 on the trial court proceedings in the case.

With the rejection of the petition, the stay order given by the High Court earlier now becomes ineffective. As a result, there will be no impediment for trial of the case under the criminal procedures.

The delivery of High Court judgment, stretching over two days, cleared the way for the trial court to go ahead with its proceedings.

The court rejected the quashing petitions filed by Hasina and others on grounds that the alleged offences were disclosed in the FIR and the charge sheet

The court also said the arguments and statements placed before the court by the counsels of the accused were not found valid.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed, counsel for the ex-PM and Awami League chief, told reporters that they are “very unhappy” with the HC orders.

“Our clients are aggrieved with it and they will move the Appellate Division to overturn the HC orders as we still feel that it is a very fitest case for quashing,” he said.

While placing arguments, Barrister Ahmed told the court that the case filed by the previous four-party alliance government being “politically motivated”.

The court also rejected this argument saying that the case was filed on the basis of an investigation report by DGFI. So, there could not be any political motivation.

Hasina, who has been detained in a makeshift jail since July 16 in an extortion case, is facing a number of corruption charges.

Before arrest, she, however, denied all the charges, alleging that the incumbent government is trying to debar her from politics and future elections through these cases.

The now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC) filed the case in December 2001 against Hasina, former army chief Lt Gen (Retd) Mustafizur Rahman, former air chief Air Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed, former Defense Secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, Air Commodore (Retd) Mirza Akhtar Maroof, Defense Joint Secretary (Retd) Mohammad Hossain Serniabat and businessman Noor Ali.

While Hasina was Prime Minister (1996-2001), eight Russian-made MiG-29 fighter planes were procured for the Bangladesh Air Force from Russia.

Immediate after the BNP-led 4-party alliance came to power, the BAC had filed the case. According to FIR, the government incurred a loss of Tk 700 crore on account of the warplane purchase.

The longstanding case remained dormant following a High Court order upon petitions filed by the accused persons for quashing the case.

However, the hearing on the petition filed by another accused Lt Gen (Retd) Mustafizur Rahman was not resolved as his counsel Syed Haider Ali is now Deputy Atorney General. Because of this he expressed his unwillingness to conduct the case on behalf of the accused.

The army-backed caretaker government that has waged war on corruption allegedly commited during the political regimes revived the case, as a purge is now on stream.

Staff Reporter

Country’s plastic goods manufacturing and exporting industry is facing immense difficulties and heading towards closure as the import of raw materials become impossible due to a new directive of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

In the budget for fiscal year 2007-08 the government has set a condition of importing raw materials for the industry with labeling “ imported under bond, not for sale” on the packet

But the suppliers informed the plastic factory owners that they are unable to supply raw materials following the new rules of the NBR as no supplies are being packed for any particular countries. As a result nearly 231 plastic good manufacturing factories and 140 corrugated carton and accessories manufacturing factories, which produces accessories for readymade garment factories, reached to a position of shuting down within the next few days.

The Government set the new rules following plea of Bangladesh Polymar Importers Association where they alleged that plastic factory owners sell the raw materials in the local market after importing those free of duty under bond facilities.

They alleged that plastic goods manufacturers are dodging nearly Tk 400 crore of import duty to the government using the bond facilities and selling the imports in the local market

However, President of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) Jashim Uddin said, “If applicable, the total duty on raw material import for the industry stand at Tk 270 crore… how come we dodge Tk 400 crore as some news report mentioned being inspired by the Bangladesh Polymar Association leaders?”

Goods or raw materials imported for 100 per cent export oriented industries or for supplying to such industries are entitled for duty free import under bond facilities.

Jasim said they are not geting raw materials for the last couple of months, as the suppliers are unable to do the same following the new condition of the NBR. Most of the factories will be shut down within next few days.

“We are trying to reach NBR Chairman but he is not responding despite several atempts and sending him leters,” he said.

Jasim said he is trying to get an appointment of Chief Adviser to get a solution of the problem of the Tk 1500 crore industry, which is about to be destroyed.

Vice president of the BPGMEA Shahedul Islam Helal said if this backward linkage industry was destroyed, country’s RMG sector might have to face tough situation.

The Ministry of Finance, the NBR and the Bangladesh Polymer Importers Association has to sit together to resolve the problem immediately to save the industry, he said.

Managing Director of BASF, one of the major suppliers of the raw materials for the plastic industry, Faria Sadique told The New Nation that production in their factories is a continuous process. “Our factory does not produce any goods for any specific country… so it is impossible for us to supply goods labeling anything in the package,” he said.

He said, “If the NBR does not lift the condition the plastic factories will get closure due to shortage of raw materials and our business will also fall in problem.”

Executive Director of another raw materials supplier ACI Trading Ltd Ajmal Hossain said his company produces hundreds of thousands of bags for global customers. “Our company has already informed me that it is not possible to produce goods for any specific country with extra care or extra labeling,” he said.

Staff Reporter

An Election Commissioner yesterday hinted that the Commission would invite all factions of the mainstream political parties in its dialogue on electoral reforms.

Election Commissioner Brig General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said the Election Commission (EC) would invite the mainstream faction of any political party to sit for dialogue in preparation for the coming national polls.

The Election Commissioner made the remark when asked to which faction of the BNP they would send leter inviting to dialogue against the backdrop of recent split in the major political party.

As per the criterion fixed earlier by the EC, it would invite any or all political parties, who have at least one former lawmakers elected to Parliament after the Liberation War.

Both the factions of the BNP led by Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Khandaker Delwar Hossain has got a number of former MPs to their credit

Sakhawat Hossain disclosed that the EC would hold election to Rajshahi City Corporation at the end of January or middle of February next year (2008), seting the train of electoral politics on its track after a long pause, created due to the confrontational politics that stalled the January 22 general elections.

About the proposed dialogue, he said, “We are sending the leter just 15 to 20 days before the scheduled date of dialogue. We will send the leter to the person who would be secretary general of the party at that time.”

He said it is no concern for the EC. “Comings and goings in the political parties are a continuous process and it has always been there in the past, present and be in future.”

Sakhawat said, “Our concern is to consult the 15 parties whom we have invited to sit for dialogue.”

Asked which BNP the EC would send leter on the verge of recent crisis, he said the leter would be sent to the mainstream BNP.

“It is too early to say,” Sakhawat replied to a query as to which BNP would be called mainstream party, as the expelled BNP Secretary General Mannan Bhuiyan is backed by more leaders and former MPs than that of Khandaker Delwar.

He pointed out that there are rules in the Representation of People Order (RPO) regarding the solution of such circumstances.

“If any political party, which is recognised by the Election Commission and has taken part in the elections, splits that would come under the third criteria of holding dialogue with us….Whenever a party emerges with a new name spliting from another, it would be considered a new party.”

He said the task of voter list in Rajshahi City Corporation area is almost done. “Till yesterday, around 2,51,000 voters have been listed along with their photographs,” he said.

The draft voters’ list (of Rajshahi City Corporation) would be validated in January next year, he said, adding that the RCC elections would be held at the end of January or middle of February.

According to the schedule, the preparation of voters’ list of RCC was supposed to be completed yesterday (Thursday), but it would continue one or two days more for those voters who have not yet registered their names.

Staff Reporter

Expelled BNP Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain yesterday said Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan is the legitimate Secretary General of the party since his expulsion order by imprisoned party Chief Begum Khaled Zia was neither well thought out nor legal.

“An arrested person can neither think properly nor take a correct decision. And as such, her (Begum Zia’s) order was neither correct nor legal,” he told journalists after a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mannan Bhuiyan at the later’s Gulshan residence in the afternoon.

Referring to the Wednesday’s gathering of a large number of senior leaders and former MPs to extend support to and confidence in the leadership of Mannan Bhuiyan, he said, “Overwhelming majority of BNP leaders, former ministers and former MPs as well as workers have rejected the expulsion order.”

Asked about Khandaker Delwar Hossain’s claim that the people and the grassroots level leaders are with him, Ashraf Hossain posed the question, “How the people and grassroots workers can support corrupt and undemocratic person?”

He reiterated that Begum Zia, through issuing the expulsion orders against Mannan Bhuiyan and him, has proved once again that the party needs democratic reforms.

Flanked by BNP Advisory Council member Major General (retd) ZA Khan, Ashraf Hossain said they would announce the name of the Acting Chairman of the party as soon as possible.

He, however, refused to divulge who is going to be the Acting Chairman of the BNP.

In an oblique reference to the lifestyle of Begum Zia’s both the imprisoned sons-Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko-he said, they were devoid of the ideals of the late President Ziaur Rahman, the founder of the BNP.

“Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman led a descent and honest life. Zia was never after money during his life. We shall follow the ideals and teachings of Zia and free the party from all corruption, criminalisation and dynastic control,” he said.

BNP Advisory Council member Major General (retd) ZA Khan, who was standing by Ashraf Hossain, added that they would hold the party council after the withdrawal of ban on indoor politics.

“We want to establish democracy in the party, beginning from the top down to the grassroots level of the organisation,” he said asserting that democracy can never flourish in the country with political parties with democratic practice.

Staff Reporter

Ex-Finance and Planning Ministers and noted economists of the country at a roundtable discussion yesterday cautioned the Caretaker Government against following foreign prescriptions in policymaking process.

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, however, refuted their pleas and said that the Government could not make its policy in isolation of the rest of the world.

The economists also suggested the Government to utilise domestic talents, involve political parties in policymaking process and to be “transparent and accountable to people.

Some of them stressed that the Government’s policy initiatives should have “political mandate,” and also urged all to be aware so that democratic politics of the nation does not turn into “rich-men’s game.”

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, as part of its Golden Jubilee Celebration programme organised the roundtable discussion on Policy Makers and Policies: From the Past into the Future with Finance Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr AB Mirza Md Azizul Islam in the chair.

Former Finance and Planning ministers or advisers of caretaker government were the panel discussants at the roundtable while noted economists of the country took part in the open-floor season.

Renowned Economist and former Adviser of the Caretaker Government Professor Rehman Sobhan said that “political mandate” for the government’s policy formulation was important

“Political parties should be involved in policy making process,” he said adding, “Political parties, after being elected to power, will be legally accountable to implement the present steps if they are made involved now.”

Another former Finance Minister M Saeduzzaman supported the confection of Prof. Sobhan. “Political mandate for the decision maker is very very important,” he added.

Professor Rehman Sobhan, however, suggested to be vigilant about distortion of democratic politics saying, “democratic politics should not be allowed to be rich men’s game.”

He said that accountability and transparency should be ensured seriously. Unless the Caretaker Government ensures transparency, its works will not be sustainable.

“Every act of the Government should be transparent to people. Decision making agenda should be available on websites,” Prof. Sobhan said.

He sharply criticised the government for indiscriminate privatisation according to suggestions made by donor agencies and said that privatisation, if necessary, should be target oriented. “I am not against the privatisation, but this should be done under a policy,” he told the meet

Addressing the Finance Adviser and Chairperson of the roundtable discussion he said “This (the roundtable) should not be the token gesture to rationalise your steps. Talented persons should be involved in policy formulation.”

Professor Rehman Sobhan said that the agenda of policy makers should not be to reduce poverty; rather the agenda should be to eradicate poverty.

He emphasised on distribution of production among people and suggested that 20 per cent of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), issued by various companies, should be reserved for poor so that people become owners of it

M Sayeduzzaman underscored the need for construction of a second Dhaka-Chitagong highway to connect the capital to the port city. “This can be an elevated express highway if it’s needed for development of the country,” he said.

Abul Mal Abdul Muhit emphasized the mobilization of domestic resources for development financing.

Ex-Planning Minister Air Vice Martial (Rtd) AK Khondokar emphasised on checking population growth, ensuring proper education and training for future development of the nation.

Former caretaker-government adviser Hafizuddin said that the economy of the country should have a clear-cut direction. The policy should be understandable to the people.”

He said that donor agencies pressurised him to pursue their policies when he was an adviser. “I set aside those proposals and suggested them to wait for an elected government to take oath, as the Caretaker Government had no mandate to take policy decision.”

Refuting the criticism of pursuing donor driven policies, Dr Mirza Aziz said, “You live in a world which is interconnected and globalised. You cannot make your policy isolated. So, your sovereignty in policy making is already curtailed.”

He rather said that policy making should be tempered by pragmatism and according to the needs of the time.

He said that the Government’s policy was transparent and was well articulated in his budget speech. It will become more clear in the revision of the poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSF).

BIDS director general Quazi Shahabuddin and Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) president Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

Musharraf can’t hold two offices after expiry of tenure: Pak SC: I’m the President till Nov 15, says Musharraf

Agencies, Islamabad

The Pakistan Supreme Court has said that President Pervez Musharraf cannot hold two offices after his term as President expires.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by the Jamaat-e-Islami, challenging the 'President to Hold Another Office Act 2004'.

"I think Musharraf cannot hold another office when his term expires and (then) Article 43 would be activated," Justice Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar said.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, counsel for Musharraf, to tell the court when the President's term ends.

Pirzada said that he would seek Musharraf's instructions before mentioning the date his term ends.

Akram Sheikh, counsel for the petitioner, argued that all Presidents other than Musharraf were elected under Article 41 of the Constitution and that the state was now being run by a "de facto" President

Sheikh submited that Musharraf could not hold two offices simultaneously and the relaxation given to him for holding the offices of President and Army Chief under the 17th Amendment had ended on December 31, 2004.

He argued that Act VII of the 'President to Hold Another Office Act 2004', under which Musharraf was allowed to keep both offices beyond December 31, 2004, ran against Article 63(1)(d) of the Constitution.

Sheikh said that person-specific legislation was illegal, and that's what the 17th Amendment was, as it benefited only one person - Musharraf, the Daily Times reported.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan was told Thursday that General Pervez Musharraf's term as president would expire on Nov 15 and that he would remain in uniform till a new army chief was appointed.

Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Counsel for President Musharraf, provided this information to the apex court a day after he was asked when Musharraf's presidential term would expire.

In a writen statement, Pirzada told the court that Musharraf would remain president till Nov 15.

He also informed the apex court that Musharraf would remain in uniform after Nov 15 till a new army chief was appointed to replace him.

A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is hearing a petition from religious party Jamat-e-Islami challenging an act of parliament that allows General Musharraf to hold two offices of president and army chief.

The parliament had passed a law called 'President to hold another office Act 2004', under which President Musharraf was allowed to hold two offices.

The lawyer for Jamat-e-Islami argued that the Act of parliament 2004 to allow General Musharraf to hold two offices should be declared malafide and unconstitutional.

He said the president's holding another office is even ultra vires of the constitution.

Hundreds of lawyers rallied and boycoted courts across Pakistan on Thursday in a renewed campaign to force President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to step down, while supporters of former premier Nawaz Sharif prepared for his promised return from exile.

Courts in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Queta, Islamabad and Rawalpindi were largely deserted, witnesses said. In Lahore, about 500 lawyers wearing black armbands marched on a road chanting slogans against Musharraf. Dozens of lawyers rallied in Queta chanting "Go Musharraf, Go!"

Lawyers have been at the forefront of a campaign against military rule in Pakistan.

Musharraf has dominated Pakistani politics since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and became a key U.S. ally after the Sept 11 atacks. But his authority has waned since a botched atempt to fire the country's top judge in March triggered protests and widespread calls for an end to military rule.

"This is the second phase of our protest, and God willing, we will again be successful," said Mohammed Azhar, a spokesman for the Supreme Court Bar Association. The association is the top representative body of lawyers in Pakistan.

"We are organizing peaceful rallies today against the dictatorial rule of Musharraf," he said.

Despite the protests, a Supreme Court bench in Islamabad headed by the chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, heard legal challenges Thursday to Musharraf's dual role as president and army chief and his eligibility to run for another presidential term.

Musharraf is expected to seek a new five-year term from lawmakers by mid-October, but has yet to make a public commitment to resign as army chief. Many experts say that to keep his uniform - the main source of his power - beyond 2007 would violate the Constitution.

Political tensions are rising in Pakistan. Sharif, the prime minister who was ousted by Musharraf in his coup, says he will return from exile on Monday to challenge Musharraf's bid to extend his rule and to contest parliamentary elections due by January 2008.

Musharraf is trying to strike a deal with another exiled former prime minister planning a comeback, Benazir Bhuto, that could lead to them sharing power.

Sharif supporters are planning to converge on Islamabad to welcome him Monday, but there are expectations that authorities may try and block them. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party claims that authorities have already rounded up at least 250 of its supporters around the country.

The PML-N in North West Frontier Province plans to rent a bulldozer to clear any barriers from the Atock Bridge that supporters must pass on their way from the province to the capital, said Pirsabir Shah, president of the group in the province.

In the past, Punjab police have used sandbags and shipping containers to obstruct processions of anti-government protesters.

"The arrival of Nawaz Sharif is a big event in the history of the country," Shah told The Associated Press. "We will not tolerate any hurdle in the way of a peaceful procession of political workers."

The Supreme Court ruled last month that Sharif, who served twice as prime minister in the 1990s, was free to enter Pakistan and that his return should not be obstructed, but government lawyers have suggested Sharif could face unspecified legal action if he comes back.

In the North Waziristan border region, a Pakistan army helicopter opened fire on a vehicle carrying suspected militants near the Afghan border Thursday, killing six people inside, intelligence officials said.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the army to atack in a village near Miran Shah, the region's main town. The officials said local authorities were trying to identity the slain men.

Pakistan is a key ally of the United States in its war on terror, and has deployed about 90,000 troops in its tribally governed border regions to fight Taliban and al-Qaida militants who have found refuge there.

The security forces also often target hideouts of local militants in the region for sheltering foreigners.