The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Foundation yesterday awarded twenty-four eminent persons for their outstanding contributions to different sectors.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz was present as special guest at the programme organised by the Foundation at the National Press Club and handed over crests among the recipients.

Former University Grant Commission Chairman Prof Dr M Asaduzzaman (education), veteran journalist Ataus Samad and Monthly Robbar Editor Syed Tosharaf Ali (journalism), Golam Kader (organiser), Ata Sarkar (literature), Faruk Hossain (child literature), Syed Ahmad Ali Aziz (Rubayet [4 liner] poems), Dr Alamgir Moti (herbal research), Syed Nazimuddin (banking), Biddut Chowdhury (liberation war), Abdul Baki Chowdhury Nawbab (research), Bonamali Bhawmik (administration), Haji Md Hanjala (agriculture and textile), Adv Saidul Haque Sayed (human rights), Arif Moinuddin (literature), Mukleshur Rahman Rony (industry), Julfia Islam (literature), Humayun Kabir Dali (research), Syed Jalal Uddin Ahmed (health), Shaheed Ashrafi (literature), Sheikh Shamsuzzaman Sumon (leather industry) and Salina Rashid (women and children welfare) received the Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah memorial prize 2007 .

Presided over by Prof Dr Md Abu Siddiq, Prof Dr MA Faruk, Vice-chancellor, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University was present as special guest, while veteran poet Al Mahmud was the main speaker in the programme.

Syful Islam

Allegations of harassing people, earning several crores of Taka illegally and cheating people claiming himself as representative of the embassy of Japan, are mounting against chairman of so-called Japan-Bangladesh Group Selim Prodhan in the offices of different law enforcing agencies.

His so-called business organisation Japan-Bangladesh Group is allegedly doing illegal banking business under a licence from the Department of Cooperative.

Sources alleged that Selim Prodhan now owns several crores of 'black money' belonging to several political leaders, members of Parliament and ministers of past governments.

A six-member police squad guards him round-the-clock despite he is not entitled to get such protection. Officials of a big industrial group alleged that Selim Prodhan threats people and realise money in the name of joint forces and sometimes physically abuse them to do so. People helplessly pay him money as police always guards him and work according to his directions.

Some vehicle shop owners alleged that Selim Prodhan often take cars from their showrooms but never pay the price. He threats the shop owners on the name of joint forces, if any of them ask him to pay the value of the cars.

Sources alleged that Selim Prodhan is cheating people claiming himself as representative of the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka. Recently he initiated a move to establish 'Japanese Club' in the city and asking established businessmen to be member of the so-called club. In this regard he is demanding handsome amount from the businessmen. Economic Affairs Counsellor of Japanese embassy in Dhaka Masami Tamura in a recent leter to a businessman informed that his Embassy is was not involved with such an initiative.

Last year Selim Prodhan brought four-member delegation of the African country Guinea comprising two ministers and two government officials in Dhaka. Now he is claiming himself to be the Consular General of Guinea in Bangladesh.

Selim Prodhan was not available to comment in this regard.

A previous report published in The New Nation last year mentioned that Japan-Bangladesh Group took several projects in the last few years involving some businessmen from Japan but none of those got off the ground.

Activities of the group drew the atention of people when it arranged several press conferences to organise Japan Bangladesh IT Expo-2006, a wrestling competition with participation of world renowned wrestlers, marketing of heat insulators, marketing of payroll and atendance system software, investment in jute, textile and bamboo sectors and establishment of a language-training academy.

Sources said despite exaggerated publicity of different programmes by the group, none of the projects took shape but to financially deceive some Japanese and Bangladeshi nationals by the group chairman Selim Prodhan.

According to the sources the Japan-Bangladesh Credit Cooperative Society, a subsidiary of the Japan-Bangladesh Group, located at Planners Tower in Sonargaon Road, is now doing banking business in full swing despite the absence of a proper banking licence.

The Group on August 24 in 2005 at a programme in Dhaka announced marketing of a software named 'Broadband Solution', on September 17 in 2005 at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club announced the marketing of 'Heat Insulator', on December 09 in 2005 at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club informed newsmen of holding a wrestling competition in Dhaka and Chitagong in February 2006, on January 22 in 2006 announced a three-day long Japan-Bangladesh IT Expo to be held in Hotel Sheraton.

However, none of the programmes took place as well as none of the products came to the market

Staff Reporter

Nine non-government organisations, including Care Bangladesh, Action Aid, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum and Durjoy Nari Sangha demanded basic rights for sex workers' children.

These NGO's also launched a joint watch group titled "Networking and Advocacy for Children Rights in Bangladesh" to monitor the implementation of the rights of the sex workers' children.

They said this at a press conference at the Reporters Unity yesterday in the city.

The new organisation will also work to enhance sex workers' position in society so that their children could enter the mainstream.

They said Bangladesh, as a state constitutionally determined to ensure children's rights. But society does not accept them like other children, who were known by their father's identity.

The children of sex workers live in social stigma. They are deprived of all kind of rights. To get admited into public school or birth registration certificate father's identity is necessary. But children neither could get admission in school nor registration, as their father's identity could not be ascertained.

Floating sex workers' children are always humiliated for their mother's profession. These children are always at the risk of abuse, oppression, trafficking and harassment

Soniya Afrin of Care Bangladesh, Mainuddin Ahmed of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, Abu Naim, Jagorony Chakra Foundation, Chanchalla of Shapla Mohila Sangha, Hena of Sex workers Network of Bangladesh, were present Shahnaz Begum of Durjoy Nari Sangha addressed the press conference.

Staff Reporter

Savar Thana Police yesterday foiled an atempt of hijacking a covered van loaded with garment products and arrested two hijackers.

Nasim Uddin, Sub-Inspector of Savar Thana said, a covered van with some garment products of Iceland Garment left for Dhaka at the early hours of Wednesday . Three snatchers tried to hijack the van at gunpoint near Raj Filling Station at Hemayetpur area.

Being informed police followed the miscreants and at one stage arrested Saiful Islam (25) and Mahbub Hossain(26). One hijacker, Mizanur Rahman, managed to flee, local sources said.

Police also recovered Tk 600, one cell phone and a sharp knife from the hijackers.

A case was recorded with Savar Thana in this connection under the Speedy Trial Act

Staff Reporter

A teacher of North South University was found dead at the city's Banani Staff Quarters Road Tuesday night

Dewan Rahat Karim Mukul, a lecturer of the School of Business of NSU was found dead on the road adjacent to the Banani Staff Quarters at about 10:00pm.

Family sources said Mukul went to the NSU Tuesday evening to take class. Then he left the university at night and never came back to the house.

Later, the Khilkhet police recovered Mukul's body and sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for postmortem.

A heart-rending situation arose outside the DMCH morgue when Mukul's body was lying on a stretcher at the Emergency Department His mother, wife and daughter were found wailing around his body.

The NSU authorities suspect that the teacher was killed by 'Aggyan Party' (an organised gang who take away all the belongings by making people unconscious).

However, the family sources claimed that the teacher was killed in a pre-planned way. They also suspect previous enmity behind the killing.

The police station concerned said that they themselves would file a murder case if Mukul's family does not lodge any case.

The 34-year-old Mukul was a very meritorious student in his academic life. Besides, he was a very popular among his students. He was scheduled to leave for New Zealand for higher education on scholarship next month.

Meanwhile, all the teachers, students, officials and employees of NSU expressed their profound shock at the sudden death of Mukul.

They also conveyed their deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family and demanded exemplary punishment of the killers of Mukul to the law enforcing agencies.

In a press release, the NSU authorities yesterday said such types of accidents were taking place frequently at the NSU campus at Banani and its adjoining areas. Such type of incidents has increased manifold during the last two years. Teachers, students, officials and employees of NSU have been affected and victimized in the hands of the members of 'Aggyan Party' and muggers at different times, particularly after the evening.

The NSU authorities also demanded of the members of different law enforcing agencies and the authorities concerned to take stern measures so that such undesirable incidents do not take place in future.

BSS, Dhaka

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has been working to improve the overall solid waste management of Dhaka City with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) since 2000.

A DCC press release said through concerted effort a master plan titled "Clean Dhaka Master Plan" with a target year of 2015 was formulated in 2005, encompassing every aspect of solid waste such as public awareness raising primary collection, secondary collection, final disposal sites as well as administration and financial management

Following the Master Plan, the Clean Dhaka Project was initiated in 2007 to implement the plan.

DCC has made significant effort to improve the existing Matuail disposal site and its extension by constructing new facilities in order to transform the site into a semi-aerobic sanitary landfill, the first of its kind in Bangladesh. The new facilities will be inaugurated on 3 October, 2007.

In line with this ambitious program, the DCC intends to hold a workshop on operation of sanitary landfill, to acquaint the landfill staff with proper practices for landfill operation, maintenance and monitoring of surrounding environment

The workshop will also serve as a way to understand and incorporate the opinions and situations of waste management workers into our project activities.

The DCC will hold a "landfill operation workshop" for landfill management and heavy equipment operators on 27 September, 2007 at Matuail Landfill site, Dhaka.

BSS, Dhaka

The country is expected to be free of floods by this week as the overall situation continued to improve, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) reiterated yesterday.

While most of the rivers in the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, the Meghna and southeastern hill basins marked falls, the FFWC said out of its 65 water level monitoring stations, two are flowing above the danger levels, five have risen, 52 have fallen, two remained steady and four not reported.

Among the five that have risen includes the Teesta at Dalia, recording rise by 6 cm, the Kobadak at Jhikargachha rose by 6 cm, flowing 56 cm above the danger level in the morning of yesterday, the Matamuhuri at Lama rose by 21 cm and the Manu rose by one cm at Manu railway bridge while falling by 5 cm at Maulvibazar.

BSS, Dhaka

The retail price of vegetables at the city ordinary markets declined further yesterday as its supply continued to increase, a market report of Bangladesh Riffle (BDR) said here on Wednesday.

The report said the retail price of squash, brinjal, green chilly and onion declined further by Taka 2 to Taka 3 per kilogram Tuesday.

The report, however, said the price of food staples including rice and flour and others essentials remained almost stable.

The price of coarse rice in different markets, including Kamalapur, New Market, Karwanbazar, Kalyanpur, Kachukhet and Moham-madpur, ranged between Taka 22 and Taka 23 per kg on Tuesday.

Rice was being sold at Taka 23 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 19 at BDR-run sales centers on Monday while in Kolkata per kg coarse rice is being sold at a price equivalent to Bangladesh Taka 21.42.

Onion (imported) was sold at Taka 32 to Taka 35 per kg in ordinary city markets while its price in Kolkata was Taka 26.78. Onion at Taka 32 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 28 at BDR-run sales centres.

The price of one-kg packet of flour was between Taka 31 and Taka 32 in ordinary markets on Tuesday while the price of the item was Taka 30 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 29 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the flour is being sold for Taka 26.78 per kg, the report said.

The price of imported lentil (mashur) is between Taka 60 and Taka 64 per kg in ordinary markets, while it is being sold at Taka 62 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 58 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of the lentil is Taka 62.50 per kg.

The price of imported gram (Chhola) was between Taka 58 and Taka 65 per kg in different retail markets on Tuesday while in Kolkata, the item is being sold at Taka 57.14.

The item is being sold at Taka 60 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 52 at BDR-run sales centres

Sugar is being sold at Taka 28 per kg in ordinary markets compared to Taka 32.14 in Kolkata and Taka 28 in BDR-run open markets.

The price of green chili, however, is ranging from Taka 80 to Taka 120 per kg in ordinary city markets. The item is sold at Taka 70 at BDR-run open markets. The price of green chili in Kolkata is equivalent to Taka 53.57.

The potato is being sold at Taka 19 to Taka 20 per kg in all the ordinary markets. The price of potato in BDR-run open market is Taka 19 and at BDR sales centers Taka 14. In Kolkata, the price of the item is equivalent to Taka 16.96.

Soybean oil is being sold at Taka 78 to Taka 80 per litre in ordinary markets, while it is available at Taka 80 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 73 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of soybean oil is Taka 107.14 per litre.

Palm oil is being sold at Taka 73 to 76 per liter in ordinary markets. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil is Taka 101.78 per litre.

The item is being sold at Taka 78 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 73 at BDR-run sales centres, the report added.

BSS, Dhaka

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and five other non-government organizations (NGOs) have chalked out an elaborate programme to observe the International Rights to Information Day (IRID) across the country on Friday.

Mahmud Hasan, programme director of D-Net, one of the six NGOs, announced the programme at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club here on Wednesday.

Under the programme, a roundtable on "Good Governance and Rights to Information" will be held at LGED auditorium tomorrow at 3 pm.

Chairman of Anti-corruption Commission Lt Gen. (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury will be present at the function as the chief guest while former adviser to the caretaker government Advocate Sultana Kamal will be the special guest

Associate professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University Robayat Ferdous will present the main paper at the round table while Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Dr. Asif Nazrul and Sanjida Sobhan will take part in the discussion.

The executive director of TIB Dr. Iftakharuzzaman and other high officials of the NGOs were present at the press conference.

The programmes include discussion, rally and workshop.

It was told at the press conference that there is no alternative of enacting an effective right to information law for establishing good governance and checking corruption.

BSS, Nilphamari

A housewife was allegedly beaten to death by her husband and inmates of her in-law's house in village Gobindapur Ghonapara under Sadar upazila in Nilphamari on Monday night, police sources said.

The sources said Subal Chandra Roy, his father Bongia Roy and brother Atul Chandra Roy engaged in a quarrel with Minu Bala, 22, mother of a baby and wife of Subal Chandra Roy, of the village on the day.

At one stage, they started beating Minu Bala, who died on the spot They left the scene leaving the body.

Father of the victim, Gojendra Nath Roy, filed a murder case against four persons, including the killer husband, with Nilphamari Sadar police station.

Police recovered the body and handed it over to her father after conducting autopsy at Nilphamari Sadar Hospital on Tuesday, the sources said.

BSS, Dhaka

Garisan Etika Bangladesh Ltd is going to set up a 50MW power plant in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone (EPZ) with the aim of solving power crisis of the EPZ, including its surrounding area, with an involvement of 41 million US dollars.

This 100 percent foreign-financed service-oriented plant will provide uninterrupted power supply to the operating enterprises of the Adamjee EPZ, including the adjacent area, on a need basis during peak and off-peak hours.

The power plant will be installed within 8,000 sq metres of alloted space within the zone and will start providing service within 15 months.

An agreement to this effect was signed between Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Garisan Etika Bangladesh Ltd in BEPZA Complex here yesterday.

A.Z.M. Azizur Rahman, general manager (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Dato Mohd. Tuffile Nawab Din, chairman of Garisan Etika Bangladesh Ltd signed the lease agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Among others, Dato Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz, Malaysian high commissioner, Brig General Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf, BEPZA executive chairman, and officers from both sides were present