The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Pongti, a boutique house, launched its second outlet at Dhanmondi in the city yesterday aiming at mingling art with business.

TIB Chairman Professor Mozaffar Ahmed inaugurated the outlet where poet Samudra Gupta and sculptor Rasa were present

Pongti started its journey by opening an outlet at Aziz Super Market few months ago and inspired by a tremendous customer response launched the new one.

Pongti designs its apparels painting on those some scriptures highlighting Bengali culture and heredity to remove dogma and bring reform in the society.

Professor Mozaffar Ahmed said, it is difficult to do business by maintaining art He wished the young generation could go on with the initiatives like Pongti and contribute to make people aware against corruption.

Spelling the term "Pongti," poet Samudra Gupta said, We work out of our instincts for creation resulting in a "Pongti." people make his position higher by creating so many Pongties like this one"

Sculptor Rasa said, "A Pongti is a unit of cultural creativity and human life is made of so many Pongties. Dress is also a part of this." He called upon the new generation to be aware about the nations culture that it is inheriting for thousands of years.

The price of a tea-shirt at Pongti is fixed at Tk 150. Fatua will be sold within Tk 300 to Tk 750. Caps are available at Tk 103.

Staff Reporter

Ambassadors of three Scandinavian countries Monday visited voter registration centers in Bogra and witnessed the registration process.

Ambassador of Denmark Einar Jensen, Ambassador of Norway Ms Ingebjorg Stofring, and Ambassador of Sweden Brit Hagstrom visited the voter registration centers in Bogra. The visit was an ongoing part of the Ambassadors' efforts to support free and fair elections in Bangladesh.

The preparation of a credible electoral roll is a key element for holding free and fair elections. That is why Norway, Sweden and Denmark together have contributed more than Tk 18.7 crore (US$2.7 million) towards the completion of the photo voter list, said Swedish Ambassador Brit Hagstrom on behalf of the Ambassadors.

"We have all been very impressed by the registration work carried out here in Bogra today by the Bangladesh Election Commission and by local NGOs' voter motivation campaign," he said.

"As old friends of Bangladesh, we believe in the potential of this country and its people. The people of Bangladesh deserve the right to freely and fairly choose its government in a timely manner. We urge the government to work towards full restoration of civil and political rights as soon as possible."

"My colleagues and I welcome the Chief Adviser's decision to relax the ban on indoor politics. We are convinced that the full participation of political parties is necessary for a truly successful electoral and political reform process."

It may be mentioned that Denmark, Norway and Sweden, together with other development partners, will contribute through a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project called "Preparation of Electoral Roll with Photographs (PERP)" to support the completion of the voter list The PERP project will be implemented by the Election Commission of Bangladesh. The project will help to establish the technical infrastructure and other requirements necessary to complete the photo voter list This include funding for ICT equipment, such as laptops, webcams and fingerprint scanners, required for completing the nationwide digital voter registration.

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury held a meeting with his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed at the UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session on Monday.

Sheikh Khalid thanked Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury for the support and cooperation Bangladesh had given to the Bahraini presidency of the General Assembly in the immediate past session, according to a message received here on Monday.

Speaking to the journalists after the meeting, Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Bahrain would send an economic delegation to Bangladesh this winter to explore further economic cooperation including investments.

"He also praised the contribution of Bangladeshi workers to Bahrain's economy", Dr Chowdhury said.

Sheikh Khalid responded positively to an invitation to visit Bangladesh. He said he would be happy to visit Bangladesh during the first quarter of 2008.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) recently organised several expositons of handicrants produced by rural women in the activity areas of DAM. 58 rural women producres of Satkhira, Jessore, Jhenaidha, Jamalpur, Netrakona. Narsingdi, Gazipur and Dhaka participated in these expositions in phases. These expositions has been arranged to encourage and revitalise the producers who were rather discouraged due to lack of marketing facilities of their products, says a press release.

Products displayed in the exposition included clothes with stitch, kniting, glass bead and applique works; sharee, three piece, kamiz, orna, table cloth, bed sheet, cover, wall mat, cushion cover, bag, panjabi, fatua, naksi katha, lather products-ladies bag, money bag, photo frame, key holder ring, coin purse, waist belt, wooden products like various showpiece, potery, jute bag, wall mat matres, tool, basket made of straw, date-leaf, tray box and various handicrafts made from wool and wax.

Kazi Rafiqul Alam, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Chandra Shekhor, Consultant, Nagordola and designers of different fashion houses moved around the exhibition. The exhibitions were held with the planning and direction of M. Ehsanur Rahman, deputy executive director of DAM.

BSS, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam at a WTO regional conference of the LDCs for the Asia- Pacific at Manila last week demanded the allocation of additional resources to promote the 'aid for trade' programme.

A senior commerce ministry official who also atended the conference told BSS today that Bangladesh had tabled a concrete proposal for the programme.

He said the finance adviser told the conference how the trade related globalization is affecting countries like Bangladesh and demanded targeted measures to shore up their owes and promote effective market access to the developed countries.

Mirza Aziz categorically demanded that whatever assistance the developed countries like the USA, EU or Japan will make to operate the aid for trade as an effective weapon to develop the trade capacity of the LDCs must come in addition to what they have already pledged at the Hong Kong WTO summit

He demanded that projects under this programme must be home grown in the context of the requirement of the individual member states, as donor driven projects only prove counter-productive at the end.

WTO director general Pascal Lamy atended the conference jointly hosted by the Asian Development Bank and the government of the Philippines.

President Gloria Arroyo inaugurated it in presence of ministers, senior government officials, business leaders and think tank persons.

Donor agencies like World Bank, European Commission, representatives of Japan, New Zealand, AusAID, USAID, OECD and leading private sector banks took part in the conference.

The aid for trade programme is a component of the WTO commitment to support the world's poorer nations with technical assistance, training and other measures to build their trade capacity, such as negotiating capacity, export diversification and infrastructure development

These are very important factors for the LDCs to fully exploit the benefit of the duty free and quota free market access to the world's industrialized economies and major developing economies.

As part of this programme, three regional conferences have been planned and the conference at Manila facilitated the regional LDC leaders to outline their ideas and present concrete proposals on how it can be effectively structured and carried out

Another such conference took place at the Peruvian capital Lima recently, while the third is scheduled for the African nations at Darus Salam.

The commerce ministry official said the recommendations of all three conferences will be presented to the WTO secretariat in November this year as part of formulating the package and make it available to the LDC member states.

BSS, Dhaka

The met office has advised the maritime ports of Chitagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla to keep hoisted the local cautionary (LC) signal number three as the north Bay of Bengal continued to remain rough with squally weather developing due to effects of the land depression in west central India, a met message said on Tuesday.

The depression from the bay moved over Orissa, developing into a land depression on Sunday had moved over to Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, weakening into a well-marked low, lying over Utar Pradesh and adjoining Bihar.

It is likely to weaken further giving precipitation. But its associated trough extends to north bay, where deep convection is taking place, such weather may continue to affect the maritime ports. So they have been advised to keep hoisted the LC-3.

The fishing boats and trawlers in the north bay have been asked to keep close to the coast and move with caution until further notice, the met message added.

Court Correspondent

Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka yesterday issued warrants of arrest against 25 persons including former works minister Mirza Abbas and former secretary of this Ministry SM Zafar Ullah for selling 18 abandoned government houses at lower prices than the market prices.

Other accused are: Former chairman of RAJUK, former Project Director Kazi Riazul Monir, former Superintending Engineer Mohammad Ali, Directors Golam Nabi and Humayun Khan, RAJUK's former Secretary Meer Mosharraf Hossain, former member of Development and Chairman-in-charge Md. Shahid Alam, former Chief Engineerof RAJUK Md. Emdadul Islam, former Project Director Abdus Sadeque, former Superintending Engineer Zia Uddin Ahmed, RAJUK's former Chairman Iqbal Uddin Chowdhury, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury, Chairman of Basundhara Group Ahmed Sobhan alias Shah Alam, former Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mohammad Chowdhury, Kazi Anwar Hossain, Abul Kashem, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiqur Rahman Kiron, Md. Nurul Huda, Shekkur Mia, Mrs. Hasna Ahmed, Ali Haider Chowdhury and S M Anwar Hossain. Of them Mirza Abbas and Humayun Khan were detained earlier in other case.

On March 29, this year Md. Shafiul Alam, Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission. (ACC) filed the case against the accused with Motijheel Thana of the city under sections 409 and 109 of the Penal Code and Section 5 (2) of the Anti-Corruption Law with section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules.

On September 20 Investigation Officer, Deputy-Assistant Director of ACC Md. Rezaul Hasan Tarafder submited the charge sheet to the court after his inquiry.

The accused have been alleged of selling 18 abandoned government houses at lower price than the market prices.

Md. Azizul Haque, Metropolitan Session Judge fixed October 1, the next date of the case.

Mosaddek Ali

Meanwhile, Tuesday the Metropolitan Session, Judge fixed October 1 for charge-framing in a case filed against 16 persons including Mosaddek Ali Falu, former MP of Dhaka 10 for mis-appropriation CI sheet, rice and blanket of the Relief Department of the Government

Ershad

Another court fixed October 25 for recording the depositions of the witnesses in the case filed against Jatiya Party Chairman Hossain Mohammad Ershad in connection with the installation of telephone lines in 89 upazillas.

BSS, Chitagong

The High Court (HC) has vacated a writ against the Chitagong University (CU) authorities and ordered the plaintiff to bear the cost of the case.

University source said the HC earlier issued rule upon the CU authorities on the writ petition of Zaker Ahmed, assistant registrar of the university, who challenged his transfer to the department of international relations.

Delivering the judgement recently, the high court bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Hoq and Justice Syed Mohammad Ziaul Karim also vacated the order of stay on the transfer order.

The court ordered the plaintiff to pay the money that the university authorities spent for conducting the case.

CU registrar office source said Zaker Ahmed was suspended from the CU in 2005 for indiscipline activities.

BSS, New York

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has appreciated Bangladesh's contribution in rebuilding of the war- ravaged Afghanistan.

The appreciation came during a bilateral meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at the UN headquarters here on Monday on sideline of the UN General Assembly session.

The Chief Adviser expressed the hope that abducted Bangladeshi BRAC worker Nurul Islam would be released soon by the kidnappers.

He thanked the Afghan authorities for the efforts they have been making in this regard. President Karzai assured him of the Afghan government's all possible cooperation in this respect

President Hamid Karzai hoped that the Bangladeshis would continue their 'good work in Afghanistan' and said that they would welcome Bangladesh's expertise in his country's development and administrative sectors including auditors, civil officials and computer specialists.

The Afghan President lauded the reform measures undertaken by the present caretaker government led by Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed. He said he has been following the reform programmes closely and found those truly praiseworthy.

Dr Fakhruddin assured President Karzai of sharing Bangladesh's experiences with the Afghan brethren.

"I have a special fondness for Bangladesh, and I promise I will visit you soon," the Afghan President told the Chief Adviser.

They decided to set up a bilateral mechanism between the two foreign ministers to follow up the progress of cooperation with a view to expanding and deepening it

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ismat Jahan, Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta and other Afghan high officials were present during the meeting.

Chitagong Correspondent

Two separate mobile courts here in the port city realised Taka 20,000 from unscrupulous traders and drivers on charge of deceiving the consumers and illegal parking.

Special Metropolitan Judge of Chitagong City Corporation (CCC) Mohammed Jakir Hossain Chowdhury and Magistrate of Class-I of the CCC Sayeda Sarwer Jahan led the mobile courts at city's Chawk Bazaar kitchen market and Dhaka-Chitagong highway near Nawbazaar area.

Special Metropolitan Judge of Chitagong City Corporation (CCC) Mohammed Jakir Hossain Chowdhury led mobile court raided at city's Chawak Bazaar kitchen market and realized Taka 12 thousand from dozen's of traders including butchers and fish traders on charge

of deceiving the customers by improper measuring stones.

During the drives, the court seized measuring stones and scales. Supervisor of the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI), Health Supervisor and members of the Chitagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) assisted the mobile court

Meanwhile, Class-I magistrate of the CCC Sayeda Sarawer Jahan led mobile courts at Dhaka-Chitagong highway near Nawbazaar area and realized Taka eight thousand from nine drivers on charge of illegally parking.

The penalized drivers and vehicles were identified as Mizanur Rahaman (Chata-Metro Ta-05-0619), Mosleh Uddin (Chatgram Na-481), Samsul Alam (Dhaka-Metro Ta-2655), Mohammed Islam (Comilla Ta-4642), Abul Basher Juwel (Dhaka-Metro Ta-060231), Abdul Nur Jabed (Chatagram-1126) and Babul Nath (Kustia-Ta 11-0794).

UNB, Narayanganj

Agitated garment workers Tuesday morning put up barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway and damaged a number of vehicles following the death of a female garment worker in a road accident in Sonargaon upazila.

Unruly workers also injured at least 20 people, including seven police, while the law enforcers tried to calm down the commotion. Police said a bus of 'Meghalay Transport' ran over three workers of Joya Garments at Kanchpur in Sonargaon upazila at about 6:45am, killing one on the spot and injuring two others.

The deceased was identified as Jahanara Begum. Injured Razib and Sohrab were admited to a local hospital.

The accident sparked off violence as the angry workers of Square, Joya, Sajib and Sinha garments took to the street at about 7am. The enraged workers put up barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, disrupting traffic for hours. They also damaged a number of vehicles and set afire a bus of Meghalay Transport

As they tried to atack Sinha Garments, on-duty ansars shot blank fire to disperse the agitated workers.

On information, police, rushed to the scene to tackle the situation. But, the workers atacked them with sticks and pelted brick bats, leaving at least 20 people including seven police injured. Later, RAB and army reinforcement alongwith police brought the situation under control at about 9:30am.

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The High Court Tuesday stayed the proceedings of two tax evasion cases against former state minister for civil aviation Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin and son Mir Helal Uddin.

Justices Md Awlad Ali and Justice Shamim Hasnain stayed the proceedings of the cases on trial at Chitagong Special Judge's Court until Oct 29 on two writ petitions submited by Mr Nasir and Mir Helal.

The court also ordered the government and the National Board of Revenue to explain in two weeks why the proceedings of the two cases would not be declared illegal.

NBR's deputy tax commissioner for Chitagong zone-2, Bhuban Mohan Tripura, filed the tax evasion cases in September against Mir Nasir and Mir Helal.

The cases alleged that Mir Nasir did not pay his income tax fully from 1991 to 2007 and that the income tax returns he submited were not correct

Mir Helal evaded income tax from 2001 to 2004. He also gave false information in the income tax returns he submited for 2004 to 2007

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The High Court Tuesday ordered the National Board of Revenue to accept income tax return of Tk 39.20 lakh for tax years 2002 to 2007 of Arafat Rahman Coco, the younger son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

Coco appealed the court against the National Board of Revenue's refusal to accept the income tax return.

It also asked the secretary to the Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the finance ministry, the NBR chairman, the deputy director of the central intelligence branch of NBR and the deputy commissioner of income tax to explain in next four weeks why the refusal was not illegal.

A HC bench of Justice Md Abdur Rashid and Justice Miftauddin Chowdhury issued the order on a writ petition by Coco.

Coco deposited Tk 39.20 lakh in unpaid income taxes for the years 2002 to 2007 to Bangladesh Bank.

The NBR, however, declined to accept the income tax return, prompting Coco to appeal with the HC.

In his petition, Coco said the government allowed individuals to file unpaid income tax returns through a gazete on June 4.

But the NBR unlawfully declined to accept his unpaid income tax.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokanw , who argued for Coco in the court, said as Coco's income tax return was not accepted on political grounds since he was Khaleda's son.

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

A special court Tuesday sentenced the wife of Awami League leader Obaidul Kader to eight years in jail for providing false information and evading tax by suppressing details about income.

The court also fined Ishratunnesa Tk 2 lakh on two counts of charges and she has to serve one year more in failure to pay the fine.

Judge Shamsun Nahar Begum of Special Judges' Court-4, sited on Sangsad Bhaban premises, handed down the verdict

Ishrat is evading arrest and the sentence will come into force after her surrender or arrest

The verdict handed Ishrat five years for concealing wealth under section 166 of the Income Tax Ordinance 1984. She was fined Tk 1 lakh or has to serve six months more in jail in default

The court sentenced her to three years in jail for giving false information about her wealth under section 165 of the same law. She was fined Tk 1 lakh or has to stay in jail another six months in failure to pay the sum.

As the two jail terms will run simultaneously, Ishrat will have to serve a maximum of five years.

The court ordered confiscation of two flats she owns in Segunbagicha and Moghbazar.

Nigar Sultana, assistant tax commissioner of the National Board of Revenue, filed a tax-dodge case with the Dhaka Senior Special Judges' Court against Ishrat on Aug 7, which involves Tk 88.76 lakh.

Charges were framed against her on Aug 29 after the case was sent to the Special Judges' Court for trial.