The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion is yet to decide as to when the charge-sheet in the GATCO case against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and others would be submitted and how many individuals would be charge-sheeted.

The Commission yesterday held a meeting with 11 lawyers and the investigation officer to discuss the issue of submitting the charge sheet in the high-profile case.

"The submission of charge-sheet in the GATCO case was discussed (in the meeting). The question of law is involved in submitting the charge-sheet," ACC Commissioner Habibur Rahman told reporters. He said the Commission also discussed as to how many individuals would be included in the charge sheet.

But, Habibur said the date for submitting the charge sheet has not been fixed yet.

About the inclusion of former ministers and secretaries in the charge sheet, he said former ministers and secretaries might be or might not be included. "No final decision has yet been taken in this regard." About opinions given by the attending lawyers, the Commissioner said the lawyers came up with different views and the Commission would take a decision considering their opinions.

Sharfuddin Ahmed Khan Mukul, one of the lawyers who attended the meeting, said there was no discussion on any specific accused rather it discussed the whole case. "We've given our opinions and the Commission will take its decision. If necessary, we'll sit again," he said.

On September 2, ACC deputy director Golam Shahriar Chowdhury filed the case with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda, her son Koko and 11 others for alleged irregularities and corruption in awarding a deal to GATCO, a little known company.

Investigation officer and ACC deputy director Jahirul Huda submitted the investigation report early this month reportedly recommending submission of a charge-sheet against 31 individuals, 18 more than the ones initially accused in the first information report (FIR). Eight former ministers and a few secretaries are reportedly among the additional 18 recommended to be included in the charge sheet. The ex-ministers of the immediate-past alliance government are former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, former LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, and Jamaat chief and Industries Minister Motiur Rahman Nizami, former Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former Agriculture Minister MK Anwar, former Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, former Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharaf Hossain. The former secretaries recommended to be charge-sheeted include former Cabinet Secretary and incumbent Public Service Commission chairman Dr Sa'dat Hossain.

UNB, Dhaka

A special meeting of the advisory council of the caretaker government Saturday allocated Tk 35 crore in emergency aid for house building in the cyclone-affected districts and asked the ministries concerned to restore the snapped communications networks on an urgent basis.

The government sought cooperation of all at this hour of need, as Thursday night's devastating cyclone took a heavy toll of life and property.

The government further allocated Tk 2.30 crore to meet the urgent need in addition to Tk 9.50 crore allocated on Friday for the affected districts.

Chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, the council meeting asked the Communications Ministry to reestablish communications and the Telecommunications Ministry to restore telecommunications. The Telecom Ministry was requested to send its satellite telephones to the cyclone-affected vulnerable districts.

Food and Disaster Management and Telecomm-unications Ministries and Power Division have been advised to work in a coordinated manner. The special council meeting that totally focused on aftermath of the powerful cyclonic storm, relief and rescue operation and rehabilitation called upon all concerned to work round the clock to overcome the problems.

Secretary of Disaster Management Ministry presented a report to apprise the council of the latest position of relief and extent of damage while Secretaries of Communications Ministry, Telecommunications Ministry and Power Division informed about their activities and latest developments.

It was informed that 23 districts were affected moderately or heavily, of which 12 districts are being given priority. The worst-affected districts are Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barisal, Barguna, Jhalokathi, Bhola, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Khulna and Satkhira.

A total of 752 medical teams are now working in the affected areas while dry foods are being given to people to meet emergency needs.

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society on Saturday made an appeal to International Red Cross for four million Swiss francs for relief and rehabilitation in the cyclone-affected districts, as millions of distressed people cried for help. "Apart from loss of human lives, we believe a large-scale damage was caused to vegetation, houses and infrastructure," Devendra Tak, Senior Regional Communications Officer, Red Crescent, told UNB over phone.

He said the Red Crescent is sending relief materials like saris, lungis, medicines, and water-purifying tablets to 15 coastal districts.

Devendra said 42,000 Red Crescent volunteers are working in the areas devastated by Thursday night's super cyclone SIDR.

In reply to a question, he said it would require at least nine months

for reconstruction of houses and other infrastructures. "We need help, we need funds" to deal with this enormous task, he said.

UNB, Dhaka

Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman Saturday reiterated his demand for the release of party president Sheikh Hasina so that she could stand beside the cyclone-hit people. "Had our party chief Sheikh Hasina been freed, she would have extended her all-out cooperation to the cyclone victims as she did in the past," he told reporters at his Gulshan residence in the afternoon.

Expressing sympathy for the families of those died in the devastating cyclone, Zillur said the victims should immediately be provided with shelter and food, while the injured be given proper medical treatment. Zillur urged the government to take immediate steps for the rehabilitation of the cyclone victims and said the affected farmers and fishermen be provided with cash and kinds, including fertilizer, pesticides and power pumps free of cost.

He also urged the government to provide fresh farm loans to the cyclone-hit people, writing off their existing loans.

Zillur also called upon the party leaders and workers to stand by the cyclone victims.

He said a medical team of Swadhinata Chikitswak Parisad has already left for Barisal to provide medical services to the survivors of the cyclone.

Besides, an Awami League relief team, headed by former party lawmaker KM Jahangir, would visit the affected coastal areas.

Staff Reporter

In the wake of ferocious cyclone SIDR unscrupulous businessmen are taking advantage of the crisis and hiking prices of essential commodities in the markets.

In a random sampling of different city markets, it was seen that the prices of soybean oil, pulses and vegetables, including onion and chili were increased.

Due to the National Power Grid failure leading to power outage, the city dwellers had to buy candles at double to thrice its original price.

According to the city markets on Saturday, the price of per kilogram onion (Bangladeshi) was at Tk 66 to Tk 70, while the Indian variety at Tk 56 to Tk 60. The onion price increased by Tk five to Tk eight per kg yesterday.

Accordingly, soybean oil was selling at Tk 90 per litre, masur and maskolai dal (pulses) at Tk 76 to 80 per kg, Indian masur dal at Tk 65 to Tk 70 and chili at Tk 48 to Tk 60 per kg.

The prices of other vegetables were also higher than before on Saturday.

Businessmen and vendors said the prices could climb higher, if the transportation and communication systems were not restored soon.

Staff Reporter

A six-member delegations of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) led by party convener Dr Ferdous Ahmed Quarishi yesterday visited The New Nation office.

They met Editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder and said that they came to inform the press about their party activities.

While visiting the newspaper office, Dr Quarishi said his party is taking preparation to participate in the upcoming local government elections.

Joint conveners of PDP Tazul Islam Chowdhury and Maj Gen (Retd) NA Rafiqul Hossain, central member of the party and former MP Abdul Latif also accompanied Dr Quarishi.

Associate Editor of The New Nation Hasanuzzaman Khan and Chief Reporter Shahidul Islam were also present at the meeting.