The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday said the effectiveness of the United Nations is the best hope for a peaceful resolution of national and international conflicts.

Addressing as chief guest a two-day conference of senior editors of SAARC countries on 'Media Reporting Armed Conflict and Violence' at a local hotel in the city, the Adviser said if arrogance of military could be kept in check, the UN's collective power could be best used for avoiding dangerous conflicts.

"America's war in Iraq and Afghanistan can be a valuable study for learning, the most costly way, how in modern days military might of the superpower has become helpless in imposing its will. Instead, it has only succeeded in spreading violence globally," he said.

He said constant vigilance is needed to identify the root causes of violent conflicts or war exposing them impartially for peaceful resolution.

The Adviser opined the world has become potentially too dangerous and in reality too close to regard any war or violent conflict as just. "There should be no just violence only just peace," he said.

"Law alone will not prove enough to prevent armed conflicts and interventions. We need a change of mind-set of the world leaders," he said.

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University, Press Institute of Bangladesh and International Committee of the Red Cross jointly organised the conference.

Presided over by Dr Shaikh Abdus Salam, the Chairman of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of DU, the inaugural session was also addressed, among others, by Head of the Mission of ICRC in Bangladesh Finn Ruda and Director General of PIB Mridula Bhattacharya.

Some 20 senior editors from Indian, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan and the host nation are participating in the conference.

Barrister Mainul emphasised on the need for maintaining sincere cooperation among the SAARC countries to ensure rapid development and lasting peace among the people of the region.

Referring to the agreement signed by the SAARC leaders, he said promoting free flow of information across borders could have a dynamic effect in strengthening the process of cooperation against hostilities and differences.

Barrister Mainul Hosein emphasised the need for discouraging violent confrontation as a means of resolving political disputes by the contending states or non-state players.

He said the government must learn to show restraint and follow international laws for allowing international institutions to play their part before resorting to violent means.

Regarding press freedom, the Information Adviser said purpose of press freedom is not merely the freedom of reporting, but the freedom to serve public interest.

"Journalism has to be more effective and far-sighted when reporting armed conflicts. The graver the crisis, the greater is the need to be reflective about the objectivity of journalism," he said.

In a violent conflict, he observed, reporting about deaths and destruction is not enough rather violation of human rights of non-combatant innocent people must be brought to the forefront.

Barrister Mainul regretted that in modern warfare soldiers are more careful about protecting themselves than saving the lives of the innocent civilians.

Finn Ruda said reporting on war casualties is not merely a matter of head counts, but the media could help find the stories of human sufferings.

"Reporting about conflict is about giving dignity to the victim of injustice," he said.

He said journalists have the power to speak to the people in their own style and language.

Dr Abdus Salam said the conference would help journalists know their exact humanitarian roles in reporting conflicts.

Mridula Bhattacharya highlighted different programmes for journalists taken by the PIB.

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University yesterday wore a festive look on the first day of the reopening of the country's highest educational institution after a prolonged closure.

Lively group of students attired in their best were seen on the campus passing their time embracing each other, chatting with their friends and classmates.

All the corners of the university were brimming with male and female students, as university buses carted loads of them on to the campus since early morning.

Classes of all the departments of the university were held yesterday where teachers

participated spontaneously and students` presences were also high.

Some examinees wasted no time in occupying a place in the central library to prepare for their ensuing examinations.

"It's nice to be back after 67 days, the feeling would have been greater had the detained teachers and students been present," said Moidul Islam, a student of 2nd year of Political Science Department.

He hoped that the teachers and students would return soon among them through legal process.

Najmul Alam, another student of Journalism Department, said, "It's like returning to my mother's lap after a long absence."

He hoped that the government would release the detained teachers and students for the greater interest of education.

Sabrina Yasmin Riya, 2nd year student of Sociology Department, said the university authority should take steps so that it does not close frequently.

She said she was feeling very bad for lagging behind academically by almost three months, as her examination was supposed to be completed by the end of August 2007.

Student leaders of different political parties including, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Chhatra League and left leaning organisations gathered in their usual haunt- the Modhu`s canteen.

Asaduzzaman Palash of Chhtara Dal said that political processions, rallies and showdowns have to be stopped during class hours, so that the congenial atmosphere of the educational institution was retained.

He said student politics` need reform acceptable to all and its activities should be only for the welfare of the students.

A group of Bangladesh Chhatra Union activists met with the Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz yesterday.

Sources said they requested the VC to secure the release of Manabendra Dev, president of Chhatra Union DU Unit.

Prof Faiz told them that he has nothing to do in this regard saying he could not take any responsibility for incidents occurring outside the campus.

Students have nothing to be worried about, if they were not involved with violence outside the campus, he said and added that the detained students could appear in their examinations with permission from the court.

He hoped that it would be possible to reduce the session jam, if the academic activities were not interrupted any more.

Staff Reporter

Detained Awami League president and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday filed a writ petition to the High Court challenging the validity of placing an extortion case against her under the Emergency Powers Rules.

The Emergency Powers Rules bar an accused from seeking bail until the case is resolved. The writ petition was filed by Monjila Faruque, former protocol officer of Sheikh Hasina, to the High Court division bench, comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury yesterday morning seeking a rule asking the government why the inclusion of the case under the Emergency Powers Rules would not be declared illegal and unlawful.

Earlier, Monjila Faruque took the power of attorney from Sheikh Hasina for filing the writ petition.

Besides, the petitioner appealed to the High Court bench to postpone the proceedings of the case and grant bail to Sheikh Hasina.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed, a counsel for Hasina, told reporters that the writ petition is likely to be heard in the High Court Division bench today (Monday).

On September 2, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the extortion case against Sheikh Hasina and six others with Tejgaon Police Station, complaining that the accused, 'through connivance and use of influence,' helped a foreign company and its local partners win a deal for setting up three barge-mounted power plants.

A few days before and after the deal, three companies paid Tk 3 crore in kickbacks which were spent for buying a house with some land in Dhanmondi for Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, says the case statement.

The case statement also mentions that the extortion case filed by the ACC was later included in the Emergency Powers Rules.

The co-accused are former Energy Secretary Toufique Elahi Chowdhury, former PDB Chairman Noor Uddin Mahmud Kamal, Summit Group Managing Director Aziz Khan, its Director Farid Khan, United Group Chairman Hasan Mahmud Raja and its Director Abul Kalam Azad.

Hasina's counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed said Summit Group won the contract for construction of barge-mounted power plants when the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina was in power. The Summit Group chairman later donated funds for the welfare and development of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. The ACC filed an Tk 3 crore extortion case at Tejgaon Police Station against Sheikh Hasina and six others. "Since the incident of the case happened much before January 11 this year, it cannot be included in the Emergency Powers Rules," he said.

Shafique Ahmed said inclusion of the extortion case in the Emergency Powers Rules was ordered illegally. "It was not lawful. That is why we challenged it. We hope that the High Court will deliver judgement in favour of us," he said.

Staff Reporter

Police yesterday unearthed an illegal liquor manufacturing factory in the city and recovered about 22,000 bottles of homemade liquor from the cellar of a city market in North Badda.

At least 11 persons, including two women, were arrested for manufacturing and peddling this illegal hard drink.

The arrested persons were identified as Shilpi Akhter, Hamida Banu, Anwar Hossain, Kartik Sarkar, Mohammad Hossain, Asadul Islam, Nuruddin Ahmed, Mohammad Helaluddin, Shahid Miah, Abdul Gafur and Lipton.

According to sources, police, led by Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Gulshan Zone, conducted the drive at L H Company office, a licence holder at Hossain Market owned by Ward Commissioner Hossain, from 5:00 am that continued till 12 noon.

The company owned by Lutfor Rahman and Habibur Rahman was situated on the 1st floor of the market and the factory was situated in the underground of the market.

Sources said that police was forced to conduct the raid following the allegations of the local people at the 'Open House Day, of Badda thana held on Saturday.

Badda police said besides the liquor, they also recovered several boxes of liquor and manufacturing equipment.

Local people alleged that the illicit business had been going on for several years and police knew everything. But, they did not take any action in this regard.

Syed Momenul Hasan, Officer-in-Charge (OC), "The miscreants have been carrying on such illegal activities for a long time and during the raid they could not show any legal documents."

According to sources, the Joint Forces had closed down the business last year.

Earlier on Thursday RAB arrested Amin Huda, a nephew of business tycoon Aziz Mohammad Bhai, and his associate from Gulshan posh area with 5kg of sex stimulating Yaba tablets worth Tk 15 crore.

PTI, London

Prince William, the second in line of succession to the British throne, has finally decided to marry his on-off Canadian girlfriend Kate Middleton, but only after completion of his military training.

"Although the couple are dating again, Kate will have to wait until at least July 2009 to be his bride. William is very happy at the moment and everything is great with him and Kate, but he's aware that now their romance is back on track all the speculation about a Royal wedding will start up again. "He and Kate have had a lot of discussions about their future together.

William has told Kate he is in no hurry to get engaged and that while he does want to get married, he doesn't want to marry just yet. If William has his way there probably won't be a wedding until July 2009 when he finishes all his military training commitments. "As long as Wills behaves himself, Kate will be happy to wait. She's young and in love, but also not in any hurry to get married," the 'Daily Mail' reported here Sunday, quoting one of Prince's close friends as saying.

Middleton, who has recently been welcomed back into the Royal fold, is planning to quit her job as a buyer at High Street chain Jigsaw and has now made William her sole focus since getting him back.

"Kate played a blinder during their separation, with William eating out of her hand at the end. Now they are back together her world revolves around him. I'm also told the couple won't be spending Christmas together at Sandringham. "Kate will be with her family and William with his, but they will make time to be together," one of Middleton's unnamed friend was quoted by the daily as saying.

Staff Reporter

Internet banking, international credit card and mobile phone recharge cards emerged as new windows of money laundering with the expansion of technology-based transactions in the country.

A meeting of the Anti-Money Laundering Task Force at Bangladesh Bank yesterday advised the commercial banks to remain alert to prevent money laundering through the new windows, meeting sources said.

Bangladesh Bank executive director Abul Quashem chaired the task force meeting which was attended by representatives from the Task Force member-bodies including ministries of Finance, Home and Commerce, National Board of Revenue (NBR), commercial banks, intelligence agencies and police were present.

As for money laundering through international credit cards, holders are supposed to deposit the same amount of foreign currencies to their local bank accounts against what they had spent abroad.

But some of them were depositing the amount through purchasing the foreign currencies from the kerb market, according to allegations raised at the meeting.

Meeting sources said the meeting also decided to introduce a uniform (know-your-customer) KYC form to make account opening and operating easy for the bank clients.

Commercial banks alleged at the meeting that their clients were facing difficulties to comply with the KYC due to different types of forms being used by different banks. The central bank will send a draft of uniform KYC form to the commercial banks for their opinion in this regard.