The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Justice Md. Ruhul Amin on Saturday said, the separation of judiciary from the executive has been possible because of the present 'congenial atmosphere' in the country.

"The Supreme Court continued its efforts to separate the judiciary from the administration, but without such a congenial atmosphere it would have not been so easy or even possible to accomplish the task," he said while speaking as the chief guest at the 10th founding anniversary of East West University (EWU) at Bangladesh-China Conference Center here.

Terming the judiciary separation 'absolutely an epoch making achievement', the chief justice expressed firm optimism that it would usher in a new era in the making of a benevolent society where every citizen would feel secured and equal in the eyes of jurisprudence. "As we all can realise that if a government was fully aware of the role of the judiciary, a country could confidently move ahead towards the rule of law which is basically the lifeline of democracy," he observed.

Chaired by EWU Board of Directors President Jalaluddin Ahmed, the function was also addressed by University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam as the special guest. Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Sharif delivered the address of welcome.

The chief justice said, judiciary occupies a unique position in modern society. It is indeed, the most important of the arms of the government since it is empowered to set limits to the authority of both the legislature and the executive, he added. "However, the power of the judiciary might remain latent and when occupants of judiciary office become timid or are reluctant to exercise their power," he opined. The role of the judiciary in a democratic society like that in Bangladesh is a pivotal one, Justice Amin said adding, "The judiciary is one of the three pillars of the modern democratic nation state, and is essential to the process of check and balance so fundamental to the way societies such as ours are meant to operate and function."

Chief Justice Ruhul Amin said, every citizen in an independent country aspires to freedom so that they could live with their rights and dignity.

But, the Constitution can only legitimise that but cannot protect it in reality unless a truly independent judiciary system is in place to work effectively, he added. Justice Amin said, "The judiciary is under sacred duty to keep its house in order and to ensure that this is clearly visible by the people it serves."

We must respect the rights of other people as we respect our own. If we do not allow other people to exercise their rights, we cannot expect others to respect our rights," he said.

"When we lie, we violate other people's rights to truth. When we become corrupt, we negate people's right to justice and fairness. We should not do any of these things because we do not want other people to do these things to us," added the chief justice.

Referring to the university education, he said, Bangladesh should be thankful to the initiative of the private universities like East West University to complement the public sector in providing tertiary education.

Justice Amin said, universities were increasingly striving to combine the pursuit of knowledge and truth with the values and needs of an evolving society. The universities are also operating as vanguards for democracy and free thought, he added.

"At this moment of time, education is an important instrument in bringing about changes in society that are crucial. Education will empower those who would be otherwise suppressed," he said.

Higher education in a place like the East West University is essential to help good governance and powerful judiciary in the country, the chief justice said and suggested that the East West could open a full-fledged law faculty or at least a degree in criminal justice.

He congratulated the university on its outstanding achievements in different areas of higher education and said, the success it achieved within a short period was surely remarkable.

In his address, UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam stressed on the quality of education and said, it was important to equip the students with the global perspectives to keep pace with the rest of the world.

Students, teachers and invited guests attended the EWU anniversary celebration that was rounded off with a cultural function and prize giving ceremony in the evening.

Earlier, an art competition for children was held in the morning on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the EWU.

Shahidul Islam

With the Awami League and BNP reformist group announcing their plans to take part in the coming elections to the local government bodies, including the city corporations, the participation of all political parties in the polls brighten yesterday.

Awami League (AL) Acting President Zillur Rahman was first to make the announcement on Friday while BNP Acting Secretary General Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday.

Although Acting Office Secretary of anti-reform faction of the BNP Rizvee Ahmed termed holding the local government polls before the general elections unconstitutional, he said the group would take a decision on the issue after the release of party Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain from hospital.

Sources close to both the AL and the BNP yesterday told The New Nation that they would contest the local government (city corporations and major paurashava) elections unitedly along with their respective alliance partners.

The AL would contest the polls on the 14-party alliance platform if the grand alliance remains intact against the backdrop of the new political reality.

A top leader of the reformist group of the BNP told this Correspondent that some other political parties, including Bikalpa Dhara, might join them in addition to most components of the four-party alliance. He, however, refused to divulge as to which component or components might not join them in local body polls.

The elections to the local government bodies are scheduled to begin from April and conclude within October next year (2008) according to the Election Roadmap announced earlier by the Election Commission (EC). The general elections will be held within December the same year.

Formally the local government elections are not held on the basis of party identity of the candidates but the major political parties field candidates in the city corporation elections and carryout electioneering on the basis of their respective political identities.

Political observers in the capital are of the opinion that both factions of the BNP would participate in the local government elections, particularly in the city corporations, either unitedly or separately for their own existence. Any election participated by the BNP and the AL will force all other political parties, who believe in electoral politics, to join the fray, they said.

It would be difficult for the political parties to boycott the national election once they participate in the local government elections, they added.

Making the announcement at regular press briefing yesterday BNP Acting Secretary General Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said they would field candidates for the city corporations elections although the polls were held on the non-party basis.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman said his party would soon start taking organisational preparations for polls to the local government bodies.

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion on land and agrarian reform emphasised on distribution of government khas lands among the country's one crore landless people.

They said achievement of the millennium development goals will remain too far unless these landless people were included in the productive sector.

"Real human resources development or achieving MDGs will not be possible unless the khas lands are distributed among the landless people and include them in the economic activities," said Prof Abul Barkat of University of Dhaka.

The Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) organised the round table discussion titled 'land and agrarian reform in Bangladesh: empowerment of women and marginalized communities' with its chairperson Khushi Kabir in the chair.

Barkat said nearly 12 per cent of government khas land of total 2 crore bigha had been distributed and occupied by the political criminals and powerful quarters. The rest are also under threat of occupying by the same.

He said inclusion of the deprived people in the socio economic expansion is development. Women should be empowered in this process.

Barkat said a strong political commitment is must to ensure rights of poor people and its continuation on the khas lands in the country. He put forward 86 recommendations for land reforms to ensure rights of women and marginalized people. Prof Dr Anisur Rahman said the state of affairs will continue to rule until an alternative life can be given to the marginalized people.

He said over the last few decades the countries of East Asia have shown a path in this direction, freeing their poor people from the shackles of feudal/ semi-feudal rule and putting them in the drivers' seat in their development efforts along with other development entrepreneurs.

Prof Dr Atiur Rahman of University of Dhaka, Dr Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed and Shamsul Huda of ALRD also spoke on the occasion.

UNB, Dhaka

The absence of democracy has slowed down the country's economic activities, including export and investment, experts told a discussion here Saturday.

They felt that the quick restoration of democracy is a must to revive the confidence of the private sector, which is the main driving force of economic growth.

Bangladesh Policy Forum (BPF), an independent think tank, organized the discussion at the National Press Club to focus on the current economic trends and challenges with Prof Farid Uddin Khan in the chair. Former Energy Ministry Adviser Mahmudur Rahman presented the keynote paper in the meeting, which was addressed, among others, by Prof Dr Mahbubullah of Dhaka University and Brig Gen (retd) Shafayet Ahmed. They told the discussion that many tough government steps, including the ongoing anti-graft drive, has slowed down the economy. The rural economy is one of the worst victims of the government's stringent measures as many local bazars where farmers and small village traders used to display their goods have been destroyed, they said.

Mahmudur Rahman said Bangladesh in its history experienced negative growth rate in export only thrice-in 1981-82, 84-85 and 2001-02 fiscal years.

Staff Reporter

Mahmuda Aktar Topi, a housewife, who was seriously injured in an acid attack, succumbed at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday morning.

Topi's drug addict husband, Al Mamun, who was allegedly involved in hurling nitric acid on his wife, was taken to a three-day remand of police for interrogation yesterday.

Family sources said Mamun, Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) at Savar, used to inflict inhuman torture on his wife as Topi tried to stop him from taking drugs. They lived at an apartment on the BLRI campus at Savar. Being injured in Mamun's beatings, Topi took treatment at Savar Upazila Health Complex on several occasions. She tried her best to refrain her husband from taking drugs, but all her attempts went in vain. Husband Mamun, his friend Munna and brother-in-law Wahed Ali put acid on Topi and her two-year-old baby boy Tamim in the early morning on November 5. Before that Mamun and his relatives beat Topi mercilessly. They kicked, punched and slammed Topi inside the house. Blood was coming out from Topi's private part as Mamun kicked on her lower abdomen.

Later, both the mother and child were admitted to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on the same day. Topi died Friday morning. Topi died yesterday morning fighting for life for six days on the hospital bed.

When contacted, investigation officer Sub Inspector Alim of Savar Police Station said the husband Mamun was taken on a three-day remand for interrogation in connection with a case filed earlier.

Staff Reporter

Lalmatia residential area under Mohammadpur thana in the city has become a veritable haven for the muggers.

At least 30 mugging incidents took place in last three days and school-going boys and girls with mobile sets and cash money in their possession often fell victim to the muggers.

Mohammadpur thana OC Shibli Noman admitted the rise of the snatching incident and told The New Nation yesterday, "Two muggers were arrested on Friday and a mobile phone set was recovered from their possession."

Mainul Islam, a class nine student of Oxford International School whose mobile set and cash money was mugged, alleged, "It is too risky to walk on the roads at Bloc-D and its adjacent areas in the evening."

Another student Zubayer Hossain alleged the miscreants chased him on Friday when he was on his way to private tutor's house. Dibakar Sanyal, a senior teacher of Oxford International School and a resident of Block-D in Lalmatia, said, a number of his students were victimised by the miscreants.

Another teacher of the school said whenever the police patrol is seen, miscreants go in hiding and as soon as policemen left, they surface again.

OC Noman said he would strengthen patrol duty to check repeated incidents of muggings.

Staff Reporter

BRAC Bank will make financial contribution to the Dhaka Hospital of ICDDR, B popularly known as 'Cholera Hospital', for necessary renovation of its semi-permanent shed.

To this effect, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between ICDDR'B and BRAC Bank at Sasakawa auditorium of ICDDR'B on Sunday. Later, a press conference will also be held at the auditorium with Health Secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan as chief guest.

ICDDR'B Executive Director Alejandro Cravioto and Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank Imran Rahman will sign the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

BRAC Bank will donate the money for the renovation of the shed, which accommodates the overflow of patients of the short stay unit, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). They have also developed a co-branded credit card especially for the centre and BRAC Bank will be donating a percentage of revenue to the Hospital Endowment Fund for its continued sustenance, said a press release today (Saturday).

Staff Reporter

Politics of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Islam is not the same thing. The doctrine of Moududi and the ideology of Jamaat-e-Islami are the same things. It was stated by the leaders of Tanjime Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat while addressing a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium in the city yesterday.

They said the doctrine of Moududi was the outcome of thinking ignoring the mainstream Islam.

"This doctrine is not only contrary to the basic principles of Islam, but also is an opponent to the Islamic thinking, belief, ideology, culture and civilization nourished over the last 1450 years in the Muslim world," they observed.

Demanding the imposition of a ban on the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, instead of Islamic politics, they called upon to build a united resistance against Jamaat for the greater interest of Islam and humanity. The press conference was addressed by organisation's president Moulana Obaidullah Faruque, Mokhlesur Rahman Kademi, Moulana Abdullah and Abul Kashem.

UNB, Sylhet

Seven more people died of a mysterious disease in Goainghat and Companyganj uapzilas of the district Friday, raising the death toll from the malady here to 21 in the last seven days. Sources at the Civil Surgeon office said 11 of the victims died in Companyganj while 10 in Goainghat uapzilas during the period. Besides, they said, around 50 people of the two upazilas have been admitted to Osmani Medical College Hospital with symptoms of the mysterious disease. Abdur Rahman,12, of Zakiganj upazila was one of them. He was admitted to the hospital Friday night. An eight-member medical team, comprising specialist doctors of ICDDR,B and IEDCR, went to the affected areas Friday night for investigation into the disease.

Health Secretary AKM Jafarullah Khan held a meting in this regard with Health Department and district administration officials on Friday.

Acting Director General of Health Directorate Prof Dr Shefayet Ullah, Deputy Commissioner Harunur Rashid Khan, among others, attended the meeting.