The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The foundation stone of a bridge over Gulshan-Banani Lake was laid in the city yesterday.

The bridge over the lake will connect the two posh residential areas in the capital.

The LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Anwarul Iqbal laid the foundation stone of the 90-metre long and 16-metre wide bridge, which will connect Road No 11 of Banani and Road No 41 of Gulshan.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) will construct the bridge at a cost of Tk 12.47 crore to be financed by the government.

Ehsan Khan, consultant and designer of the project, said, "The construction of the bridge will be completed in two years. We have already started our works and brought equipment and other necessary things to the project site to start the construction work of the bridge."

The Road No 11 of Banani that links the Airport Road in the west and ends on the Gulshan-Banani Lake in the east is a high traffic-concentration street while the Road No 41 of Gulshan connects Gulshan Circle-1 and 2, said an official of the LGED.

The bridge near Gulshan Shooting Club will also be reconstructed and the design will be same to the planned one. The bridge will have walkways. Abdul Monem Ltd was given the work order of the project on September 11, he added.

LGRD Adviser said, "As traffic in Gulshan and Banani areas will increase significantly on completion of the bridge, it has to be ensured, as per the project, that the residential image of the areas are maintained strictly."

Ehsan Khan said, "There is also a plan to construct another road between Gulshan Road No 34 and Banani Chairmanbari that will link the Mohakhali. The LGRD Adviser has already asked Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) to conduct a feasibility study on the project."

The planned road would reduce traffic congestion in Gulshan and Banani areas and it would also reduce dependency of the Gulshan residents on the main thoroughfare to enter and exit from the area, he added.

UNB, Dhaka

A delegation of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) headed by Shreekant Somany on Monday expressed interest in investing in power transmission, consulting engineering, glass manufacturing and health and beauty care in Bangladesh. The CII delegation expressed its intention during a meeting with Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his office. Welcoming Indian investment, the Adviser said, “Bangladesh want investment from all, including her friendly neighbour, India. The situation now is absolutely appropriate for such investments.” He said the reforms that the caretaker government is pushing for will be sustained over a long period of time which will render this country to one that will provide adequate returns to any foreign direct investments.

The Advisor said the success in social and education sectors has been helping alleviate poverty and empower women.

“This in turn has created an oasis of stability and peace in Bangladesh,” he said and encouraged the “captains of Indian industries” to establish contacts with their counterparts here and assured them that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will do all it can to facilitate the process.

Iftekhar also suggested that the Indian authorities should provide greater market access to Bangladeshi products, which would help reduce the existing trade imbalance.

Talking to reporters, Somany said the meeting with the Advisor was positive and added that investment from Bangladesh will be looked into by the Indian government. He also said the Indian authorities are facilitating visa for business people.

In reply to a question India High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakraborty said the Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train service will be commissioned after certain issues concerning security are resolved.

A condolence meeting and doa mahfil in memory of former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Shekh Mujib Medical University late Prof MA Hadi was held at the extended portion of Milon Hall of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Saturday last.

It was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Prof Md Tahir, Prof M A Mannan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof M A Majid, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Prof Mobin Khan, Treasurer of the University, also attended it, says a press release.

Prof Md Tahir, Vice-Chancellor of the University, in his speech recalling late Prof Hadi's long bright career and personal life as one of his closest classmates, friends and well-wishers, said he was not only a talented teacher as well as a physician, but also he had proved himself to be an efficient father, a good committed person and, above all, a real patriotic citizen of the country throughout his works.

Prof Tahir also said that the contributions made by the late Prof Hadi for the overall development of the country's medical education, and especially for country's sole medical university BSMMU, will be remembered forever by the nation. He urged all to pray for the salvation of the departed soul of late Prof M A Hadi.

At the end of condolence meeting doa mahfil was held. All teachers, doctors, officers and employees of the University attended it.

It is noted that the University authorities organised this programme. Registrar of the University Muhammad Abdul Gafur conducted the programme as a whole.

68th literary meet of Chayan Sahitya Club held

The 68th monthly literarcy meeting of Chayan Sahitya Club, Eid Reunion, Autumn Evening and cultural function was held at 12-A, Nakshi Tower, Segunbagicha recently. Poet Lily Haque presided over the function, says a press release.

At the outset prayer and Monajat was held for the salvation of departed souls of renowned journalist and writer Obaidul Haque, write Sufia Chowdhury, Momtaz Wadud and ex. VC on BSMMU M A Hadi who passed away recently.

Professor Onamika Hoque Lily, Principal Kazi Rafiqul Haque, Ex Jt Secretary Nilufar Begum and MA Mannan Sadar attended the function.

A K M Rafiqul Alam, Juli Rahman, Faruque Ahmed and Tushar Chowdhury took part in recitation of Poems whereas Syed Hossain Raja, Touhid Sarker, Monir, Umme Halima and S M Faisal enchanted the audience with songs. The function was conducted by Wasim Haque and M Nurul Haque was in overall supervision. In a joyful environment the function came to an end through entertainment.

BSS, Rangpur

The District Administration has formed a 12-member committee to fight 'monga’, officials here said on Monday.

The District Coordination Committee, headed by Deputy Commissioner Khondker Atiar Rahman as convener, includes District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Rafikul Islam as its member secretary.

The other members are: Superintendent of Police Hasib Aziz, representative of the Armed Forces Major Belal, renowned social worker and eye specialist Dr Nazmul Haque, President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, President of Press Club, Rangpur Rashid Babu, Staff Reporter and Rangpur Bureau Office Chief of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Mamun Islam, a representative of Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), Area Manager of Padokhkhep Rezaul Haque, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Kamal Shariful Alam, Deputy Director of District Social Service Department Parveen Mehtab.

DRRO Rafikul Islam told BSS that the committee would ensure food security till December, coordinate all GO and NGO activities, and work for popularising the newly invented and sustainable technologies to eradicate 'monga’.

BSS, Dhaka

A four-day meeting of the home ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) begins today in New Delhi.

The home ministers are likely to discuss ways to increase cooperation among the eight member countries of the SAARC to curb terrorism, crimes and resist drug and smuggling at the meeting from October 23 to 26.

According to Home Ministry sources, the meeting will also lay emphasis on formation of a SAARC POL to boost cooperation among the police forces of the member states.

Adviser for LGRD and Cooperatives Anwarul Iqbal will lead a nine-member Bangladesh delegation, including Home Secretary Mohammad Abdul Karim and Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, at the meeting. The LGRD adviser leaves Dhaka for New Delhi today.

The SAARC police chiefs meet on October 25 and the home secretary-level meet takes place on October 24.

The meetings will also discuss mutual legal cooperation, which has been proposed by India on 'mutual legal assistance in criminal matters’.

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a condolence meeting urged the Dhaka City Corporation to name a road after late Maulana Obaidul Haque Khatib of Baitul Mokarram National Mosque.

Terming him as a pure Islamic scholar one of the speakers said, “He fought heroically against the anti-Islamic forces within and without the country throughout his life.

They were speaking at condolence meeting organised by Islamic Jubo Andolon at Bangladesh Photo Journalists’ Association auditorium in the city yesterday.

Presided over by Islamic Jubo Andolon president Shariful Islam, Maulana Mohiuddin Khan, Vice-chairman, Islamic Oikya Jote, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, President, Jatiya Gonatantrik Dal, Shawkat Hossain Nilu, President, National Peoples Party, Maulana Abdul Latif Nijami, Maulana Abdur Rashid Mujumdar, Abu Naser Rahamutullah and Adv Abdul Momen, among others, took part at the discussion.

They said late Maulana Obaidul Haque never feared the anti-Islamic forces while protesting the anti-Islamic activities of Dawood Ibrahim and Taslima Nasrin and others.

They urged the DCC authority to name the road from Paltan to Danik Bangla crossing after his name immediately.

UNB, Gazipur

BNP chairperson’s advisor Brig General (retd) ASM Hannan Shah hoped that members of the ruling government would return to their respective positions handing over power to elected representatives by holding the stalled general election. “I hope the government would hand over power to elected representatives through holding a fair election as per people’s expectation,” Shah told journalists on Monday when he went to appear in the district court in a graft case filed against him during the current purge against corruption and crime.

Criticising the interim government’s “dillydallying” in allowing BNP to open party office, he alleged the government is playing “double standard” in this matter.

He forewarned that the BNP activists would not accept if the government handed over the party office “to the sycophants”.

In reply to a question regarding the right of the expelled BNP

leaders to make comment about party affairs, Hannan Shah said those leaders would have to seek pardon to the party as they, he said, have tarnished the party image through their behaviour.

Asked how the detained party men will be freed if the BNP chief and ex-PM, Khaleda, lost the legal battle, he said the countrymen would know in right time how to do it.

UNB,Satkhira

Two Bangladeshi cattle traders were gunned down by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) troops in Ghona and Taluigachha frontier areas in Sadar upazila on Monday morning. Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) sources said BSF men of Joynagar camp fired on Yasin Ali Kalu, 40, of Boikari village in the upazila, near pillar no.6 on Ghona frontier, while he was returning home with cattle bought from across the border. He died on the spot. After shooting down the cattle trader, they dragged the body away into the Indian territory.

On Taluigachha frontier, BSF troops of Terrali outpost fired four shots on Rabiul Islam, 32, of Najimganj village in Kaliganj upazila, near pillar no.13, while he was returning home collecting cattle from the Indian side, killing him instantly.

Satkhira 41 battalion of BDR Major Kamrul Hasan said they dispatched a letter protesting the incident to their counterpart. The BDR demanded “immediate return” of the bodies of the two victims.

UNB, Dhaka

Japan-based 1st Marine Aircraft Wing of US Marines with the personnel of the Bangladesh Air Force will begin a weeklong training titled “Exercise Sumo Tiger” at Kurmitola Airfield here on Wednesday.

During the exercise, pilots and support personnel from Marine Fighter-Attack Squadron 314 will conduct bilateral training with their counterparts in the Bangladesh Air Force to share expertise and to improve the interoperability and the professional relationships between the United States and Bangladesh Armed Forces. Exercise Sumo Tiger demonstrates the United States Government’s commitment to regional security through military-to-military engagement throughout the Asia and the Pacific region, said a special release of US Embassy.

UNB,Savar

A sexagenarian woman and her granddaughter were hacked to death at Salmasi Kolatia village in Bhakurta union of the upazila Sunday night.

On information, police recovered the bodies of Alefa Begum, 60, wife of late Nawab Ali and her granddaughter Farzana Akter, 9, and sent those to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. The law enforcer also arrested Nabi Hossain, son of Alefa and father of Farzana, in this connection.

Police and local people said Nabi Hossain is a known drug addict and he might have killed his mother and daughter.

Nabi Hossain, however, denying the allegation said he returned home at about 9.30pm and found the bodies lying in a pool of blood. Farzana used to sleep with her grandmother as her mother is in Abu Dhabi for last three years, the sources said.

UNB, Laxmipur

A fugitive accused in two policemen murder case was arrested from Dattadpara union in Sadar upazila Sunday afternoon.

The arrested was identified as Hossain Dacat, 28.

Police said Hossain Dacat opened fire on police force when they chased a gang of dacoits at Dattapara union in 2004 killing ASI Kalimullah and police constable Dilip Barua on the spot. Another report from Patuakhali adds: Rapid Action Battalion members arrested a robber and seized two firearms and three rounds of bullet at Shoula village in Sadar upazila Saturday afternoon. RAB sources said they arrested Salam alias Auto Salam alias Hitler Salam along with a gun.

As per his statement, the elite force also recovered a foreign-made gun, three rounds of bullet and a cartridge from the house of his accomplice Ibrahim.

UNB,Dhaka

President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed felicitated their Hungarian counterparts Prof Laszio Solyom and Ferenc Gyurcsany respectively on the occasion of the Republican Day of their country that falls on Tuesday. In separate messages to the Hungarian President and Prime Minister, the President and Chief Adviser expressed their confidence that the existing bonds of friendship between the two countries would further flourish in the years ahead.

They also wished them good health and happiness and the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the brotherly people of Hungary.

UNB, Kushtia

Two activists of Purba Banglar Communist Party (Lal Pataka) were slaughtered Sunday night allegedly by their rivals.

The victims were identified as Akter Hossain Mallik of Chak Birampur village and Babu of Ishanmari village of Mirpur upazila. Locals said unidentified assailants took them to Malihad Tututala Padma Beel and slaughtered them at about 10pm.

Soon after a man identifying himself as Tiger, commander of Purba

Banglar Communist Party (M-L), phoned up newspaper offices to claim the responsibility for the murder of Akter and Babu for their activities against the organization