The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has undertaken a project of Taka 600 million for renovation of the city roads that went unfit for vehicular traffic because of heavy shower and subsequent floodings over the last four months.

Though the allocation is insufficient for repairing grossly damaged roads, the CCC is to implement the project quickly for smoother plying of vehicles in the city.

The three-phase project will be implemented within the dry season. The Taka 200 million initial part of the project has already been made functional. Workorder for the rest of the project will soon be awarded.

According to the CCC officials, approximately 517 kilometer of the total 800 kilometers city roads suffered damages of different nature including massive dislocation of betuminous carpeting.

The disarray condition of the city roads has been promoting road mishaps and traffic congesstions apart from shortening the longevity of the motor vehicles.

The government granted only Taka 200 million against the CCC's demand for Taka 1500 million for renovating the roads.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Syed Muhammad Yunus, 49, the millionaire businessman, accused in different criminal cases was put under 4 days' remand for interrogation Sunday. The hearing on remand prayer against two arrested cops was deferred on Tuesday.

Court sources said, Sub inspectors Shahabuddin, and Mosharraf Hossain, investigation officer and court inspector in charge respectively, appealed on behalf of the prosecution for putting Yunus under seven days remand for interrogation about the cases lodged against him and bringing out facts about his associates.

They said Yunus was wanted for long time for corruption charges. But he went into hiding after anti-corruption drives of the government started.

More than fifty lawyers defended Yunus against the remand prayer. They climed, said the cases against Yunus were fictitious and he was physically and mentally unable to face the pressure of interrogation.

Munim Hassan, magistrate of the Sadar Upazila Court, granted 4 days remand against Yunus and ordered to interrogate him cautiously.

If may be mentioned that Yunus was first arrested in mid-September in Dhaka but later released as no criminal case against him was found at that time.

Then he was arrested for the second time from a flat of Purana Paltan area of Dhaka by Rapid Action Battalion on October 25 and handed over to Barisal RAB-8 unit on Friday. He was handed over to Barisal Kotwali Police Station after primary interrogation on the same day.

Police produced him before Sadar Upazila magistrate court on Saturday noon under section 16(2) of Emergency Power Rules against a cheating case lodged by Jahangir Hossain, owner of Color Art Point of Dhaka.

The press owner lodged that case on September 2007 with Barisal Kotwali Police Station and alleged that Yunus, breaching the contract, did not pay Tk.4 lakh against the printing bills of Ambiya Memorial Hospital owned by him.

Yunus also accused in three cases lodged against him, his wife BNP leader Jannatunessa Nayon and others for defalcations of Tk. 25 crore taken as loan from Rupali Bank by giving false documents and influencing Hafiz Ibrahim, former BNP lawmaker and a director of the bank.

He was granted bail in these cases by the higher court. Allegations against Yunus are also under investigation by the task forces of anti-corruption department. In another case Md. Alauddin and Shahidul Islam, two constables of Bogura Road Police Post of the city and arrested as co-accused in a case of hijacking, were produced before the same court with seven day remand prayer on Sunday.

The magistrate, fixing the date of hearing of remand prayer on Tuesday, ordered to send the cops to jail.

Court sources said those two cops associated with the crime of snatching from Alamgir Hossain, Tk.50 thousand a bus passenger, by a group of snatchers in front of Barisal B M College on Tuesday evening.

Alamgir complained to BMP authority on Thursday that those two constables on duty in that area did not come forward to save him from the snatchers and refused to help him in lodging case. He alleged that the cops were involved with the snatching plot.

BMP authority closing and suspending those two cops on Friday, arrested them on Saturday after facts found against them in primary investigation.

On primary investigation, BMP authority found the allegation genuine and suspended and arrested them.

The passing out parade of 35th batch of recruits of the Bangladesh Air Force was held here at the Recruits' training School at BAF Base Zahurul Haque on Monday.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S M Ziaur Rahman reviewed the spectacular parade and took salute at the impressive march past. He also distributed certificates and awards among the outstanding recruits.

Speaking to the recruits on the occasion the Chief of Air Staff said, "The recruits must. achieve the traits of honesty, uprightness, dutifullness and patriotism and should receive different training in order to discharge duties properly imposed on them in Bangladesh Air Force ." Air Marshal S M Ziaur Rahman hoped that these new airmen would become world-class airmen acquiring professional knowledge and efficiency. He called upon them to remain prepared for supreme sacrifice, if necessary, to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of the beloved motherland, says a press release.

AC-2 Morsalin Miah was adjudged the best all-round recruit among the passed out recruits for his best performance in General Service Training and Academics . AC-2 Md Mostafizur Rahman Pathan was adjudged the best recruit in Academics. AC-2 Md Rajib Hossain was adjudged the best recruit in General Service Training . AC-2 Shahidur Rahman commanded the smartly turned out parade.

Among others senior BAF officers along with Senior officers of Armed Forces, wife of the officers and guardians of the recruits witnessed the parade.

Earlier on his arrival at the parade ground the Chief of Air Staff was received by Base Commander, BAF Base Zahurul Haque Group Captain Anisur Rahman.

BSS, Comilla

Leaseholders of different hats and bazars in the districts have been collecting tolls from the traders and shop-owners at higher rates than the rates fixed by the government.

It was alleged that mandatory public displaying of toll charts in the hats and bazars those leased out by upazila administration is not being complied by the lessees.

Sources said usually the UNO office leased out the hats and bazars by inviting open tenders and winners in the tender were get the responsibility of collecting toll from the traders at a fixed rate.

But the leaseholders without displaying any chart have been collecting tolls at a rate which is much higher than the fixed one.

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Valuables worth Taka one million and half were gutted in devastating fire that took place at city's Magpukurpar under Double-mooring police station hours before dawn on Monday.

Fire brigades sources said the fire originated from a shop near Magpukurpar area at about 5:20 a.m. and engulfed adjacent 15 welding, molding and leth-machine shops quickly.

Six fire fighter teams from different fire stations rushed the spot and put the fire control with the help of local people after an hour frantic efforts.

Members of the fire fighter teams, however, managed to recover Taka two million from the shops. They assumed that the fire originated from an electric short circuit.

BSS, Rangpur

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd (IBBL) under the financial assistance of the Islami Development bank (IDB) distributed huge quantities of relief goods among the distressed people in Ulipur upazila of Kurigram and Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat on Saturday.

Officials said a delegation of the IDB and officials of IBBL of Kurigram branch distributed huge quantity of rice, pulse, edible oil, potato, onion and salt among 850 distressed families of Begumganj UP at Mollarhat spot at a simple ceremony on the day.

Later, the officials distributed similar relief goods among the distressed people in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat.

Country Director of IDB in Bangladesh, who was former Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Saif Uddin, was present as the chief guest in the relief distribution ceremonies.

Representative of IDB from Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdul Al Tagir and his guide Allama Iqbal, Incharge of Bogra Zone of IBBL Abdul Kader, its Kurigram and Lalmonirhat branch managers and officials were presnt, the sources said.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A trial Court in Barisal sentenced a father to 10 years imprisonment for beating his daughter to death for attending a marriage ceremony violating his order.

The convicted person was Ismail Hossain Howladar alias Kalu Maker, 50, of Solia Baakpur village under Banaripara Upazila of Barisal district. He was also fined Tk. 2000 in defaultto suffer another 6 months imprisonment.

Court sources said Md. Siddikul Arefin Chowdhury, First Additional District and Session Judge of Barisal handed down the verdict in presence of the accused on Sunday noon after examining 10 witnesses.

As the murder was not preplanned or intentional and done emotionally, so Section 302 of the Penal Code was not considered and punishment was given transferring the charges under Section 304.

However, family members including mother, brothers and sisters of the victim, denying the allegations against Ismail said Sonia died of injuries caused by collapsing roof of the house. The case was lodged by his arch rival, a step-brother, to grab his properties.

Prosecution story said Ismail and Anwar Howladar, two neighbours and relatives had old enmities. A marriage ceremony was held at the house of Anwar on March 10, 2004. Ismail ordered his family members to boycott the programme.

However Sonia Akter, 10, a daughter of Ismail for innocent curiosity and inquisitiveness attended the ceremony.

Sonia was rushed to Barisal SBMCH in critical condition where she succumbed to her injuries on March 13.

Serajul Huq, step-brother of Ismail, lodged a murder case in this connection with Banaripara police station on that day. Sub-Inspector Idris submitted charge sheet under Section 302 of the Penal Code against Ismail on March 31.

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

An Upazila Education Officer (UEO) was nabbed red-handed by the officials of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) while he was taking bribe here at Fatikchhari in Chittagong this morning.

Police and the colleagues of the detainee confirmed the incident that took place at about 11:00 a.m. The UEO was identified as Mohammad Nuruzzaman. It was learnt that the detainee asked Taka 10 thousand from Rahima Akhtar, Assistant Teacher of Datmara Primary School.

The woman informed it to the ACC officials. According to the plan set by the ACC officials Rahima Akhtar went to the residence of the Upazila Education Officer for paying Taka five thousand. The ACC men later caught the Upazila Education Officer with the money. Later, they also recovered Tk 49,500 in cash from the possession of the detainee.

The detained UEO had been undergoing interrogation at the ACC office till the time of dispatching this report.

BSS, Rangpur

A daylong training course on Hajj was held at Bailey Bridge Hajj Training Centre (BBHTC) in Kawnia upazila here on Friday.

Kawnia UNO Mohammad Zakir Hossain attended the training course as the Chief guest while executive of the voluntary organisation Alhaj Abdul Haque was in the chair.

A total of 29 Hajj-going pilgrims and 26 persons who had performed the Holy Hajj last year from Kawnia and Pirgacha upazilas in the district participated in it.

President of Kawnia Press Club Sarwar Alam Mukul spoke on the occasion.

Alhaj Moulana Abdus Sattar, Alhaj Principal Moulana Abdul Karim, Alhaj Abdul Mazid and Alhaj Rafikul Islam conducted the training course to educate the hajj-going pilgrims.

Later, Doa Mahfil was held where the participating pilgrims and officials offered special prayers for divine blessings, continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country and the Muslim Ummah.