The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Rangs building at Bijoy Sarani Crossing under demolition suddenly collapsed in the capital late Saturday night, killing at least four people and injuring dozens of others while about 10 demolition workers were believed to have been trapped inside the rubbles, witnesses said yesterday.

Eleven floors of the partly demolished Rangs Bhaban-from 14th to 3rd floors suddenly caved in, raining large chunks of concrete and glass shards down on workers who were demolishing the structure, said Selim Newaz Bhuiyan, a Fire Brigade official.

Several workers were hit by debris, while others were hurt trying to jump to safety out of lower floors. Rescuers pulled out at least 20 injured workers from the rubble and recovered three bodies.

The Government has formed a three-member enquiry with Chief Engineer of Rajuk Shah Alam and deputy chief engineer of RAJUK, and a teacher of BUET, to investigate the matter, Law, Information and Land Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein told journalists at his Secretariat office in the morning.

He said the Government is shocked to learn of the loss of lives in the collapse of the building.

"We will pay compensation for the people who were killed in the collapse and provide proper treatment facilities for the injured," Barrister Mainul said.

Witnesses said the 14th floor caved in on to the 13th floor at about 10:45pm as the demolitions workers were working on eight floors - from 14th to 6th -- of the 22-storied building, leaving 13 workers trapped under the rubbles.

A Fire Brigade official said that with the collapse of the 14th floor, the other floors down to the 3rd also caved in one after another.

On information, firefighters and Army rescue team rushed to the scene and recovered the body of worker Amirul Islam, 28, from under the debris Saturday night. But the bodies of two other ill-fated workers could not be recovered from under the debris till 10:00pm yesterday.

The other 12 injured workers, rescued in critical condition from under the wreckage, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and other hospitals in Tejgaon area.

"I saw legs of two workers sandwiched between collapsed walls at the 7th floor," a collapse survivor said, adding that another worker was killed at the demolition site a few months ago after falling from a top floor.

But, the rescue operation could not be carried out at the advice of the building experts, who said, the building should be stabilised first by scaffolding the structure before the rescue operation. A team of Civil Engineering Department of BUET, led by Associate Professor Dr Raqib Hasan and Associate Professor Dr Syed Istiak, visited the spot and declared the building highly vulnerable.

Director General of Fire Services Rafiqul Hasan said they could not start the rescue operation without consulting the RAJUK officials.

A number of law enforcers were also deployed at the collapsed site to avert untoward incidents.

Staff Reporter

The Government yesterday formed a three-member probe committee headed by RAJUK Chief Engineer Shah Alam to investigate the Saturday night's collapse of Rangs Bhaban at Bijoy Sarani crossing in the city.

Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein said this while talking to reporters at his Secretariat office.

The Adviser said the victims would be given compensation while the wounded workers would be provided proper treatment.

"What can we do except paying compensation for the people who were killed in the incident and provide treatment facilities for the injured workers," he said.

He said the government is distressed and shocked to learn of the collapse of the Rangs Bhaban.

Barrister Mainul Hosein said the probe committee would investigate the matter.

The two other committee members included Deputy Chief Engineer of RAJUK and a teacher of BUET.

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University Teachers Association has decided to postpone its scheduled programmes for two weeks following assurance from the government that the detained teachers and students will be released soon.

Meanwhile, wives of the four convicted teachers of Rajshahi University yesterday appealed for mercy to the President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed.

The President is expected to pardon the four teachers and set them free.

The teachers are Moloy Bhoumik, Associate Professor of Management Department, Salim Reza Newton, Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Dulal Chandra Biswas and Abdullah Al Mamun.

The DUTA called off its programme after a four-hour-long general meeting participated by about two hundred teachers of the university yesterday evening.

Acting president of DUTA Prof Tazmeri SA Islam told journalists that they had postponed the programme only for two weeks on confirmation that the detained teachers would be released within a fortnight.

The teachers belonging to the Awami League and left-leaning parties took classes yesterday wearing black badges demanding the release of detained teachers and students in connection with August 20 to 22 campus violence.

Sources said the students of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of the University have decided to abstain classes from today for an indefinite period to press home their demand for the release of the detained teachers and students.

Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz said the government's view was very positive about the detained teachers and he hoped that they would be freed.

Prof Tazmeri SA Islam, Acting General Secretary Dr Mamun Ahmed, former president Prof AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, former secretary Prof Akhteruzzaman, Prof Aminur Rashid and Prof Syed Manjurul Islam, among others, took part in the discussion.

Earlier, the association held an emergency meeting Saturday night after receiving a phone call from Education Adviser Dr Ayiub Quadri to review the programmes.

Staff Reporter

A High Court Division Bench yesterday stayed the proceedings of Tk 3 crore extortion case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina until the High Court disposes of its rule.

The Bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Abdul Awal also issued a Rule upon the Government to explain why the impugned government notification directing the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge to hold its sitting for trial of Sheikh Hasina's case at a makeshift court should not be declared to have been made "without lawful authority".

"The stay will continue until the rule is resolved," says the High Court order that was passed minutes after the trial court held back for three days the charge framing hearing of extortion charge against detained ex-premier Sheikh Hasina.

When the makeshift Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, located on the premises of Parliament complex, resumed yesterday after a five-day adjournment, Judge M Azizul Haque re-fixed December 13 for the charge framing hearings following a medical report submitted by the jail authority.

According to the report, Sheikh Hasina is suffering from fever and headache along with eye pain. "She is unfit to appear in the Court," the report said.

Also came soon a High Court order altogether staying the trial proceedings of the Tk 3-crore extortion case filed by Azam J Chowdhury, Managing Director of East Coast Trading Private Ltd, a power company.

The High Court rule came upon a writ petition filed by Sheikh Hasina, who is the President of Awami League (AL), as the defense side put up a two-pronged legal battle against her arrest and trial.

In exercise of its power under section 9(2) of the CrPC, the Caretaker Government on November 26 published a gazette notification directing the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge to sit at the Jatiya Sangsad bhaban Minister's hostel to try Sheikh Hasina, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and cousin and former Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in the extortion case.

Sheikh Hasina, in her writ petition challenging the legality of the government action, submitted that the executive branch has no more such authority to shift court after the Separation of the Judiciary from the Executive control in compliance with the landmark judgment in the Masdar Hossain case.

"Even the Sessions Court cannot assume jurisdiction in law to try the specific case in a place other than its usual place of holding court, without sanction of the law and approval by the Supreme Court," Sheikh Hasina contended.

She further submitted that section 9(2) of the CrPC could not be invoked for shifting a sessions' division to a place other than the usual place of sitting for the purposes of trial of one specific case.

"It does not empower the government to transfer the sessions court from one place to another for one particular case at their sweet will, as has been done against me," she said in her writ petition.

Sheikh Hasina alleged that the Government acted with a "mala fide and ulterior motive to create a coercive courtroom environment, which is not conducive to a free, fair and impartial trial, which is the requirement of law and the petitioner".

Following the separation of the judiciary from the executive, Sheikh Hasina argued, the Government "of its own motion cannot act in matters pertaining to the judiciary, save-and-except by the Supreme Court".

"The action of the Government to try a particular case is a colourable exercise of power and a direct interference in the administration of justice and, therefore, the action of the Government is not tenable in law and liable to be declared to have been made illegally," she submitted further.

The High Court Division Bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Abdul Awal issued the stay order and the rule after hearing of the writ petition.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, assisted by Barrister Shafique Ahmed, appeared in the Court for Sheikh Hasina.

Staff Reporter

Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said although ACC is not a stakeholder of the proposed Truth Commission but while forming the Commission interest of the country and people should come first.

"ACC has taken many steps to curb corruption in the society and it will continue its activities. We are trying our best to fight corruption," he said.

He warned that no quarter could divert the activities of the ACC in curbing corruption in the country.

He said this as chief guest at a seminar on 'UN Convention against Corruption: Implications for Bangladesh - What Next?' jointly organised by ACC and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in collaboration with UNDP at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city yesterday.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Board of Trustee of TIB, chaired the session, while Monoj Basniyat, Country Director of UNDP, Abu Taleb Mia, Director General of ACC, Abdus Salam Khan, Establishment Secretary, Prof Maniruzzaman Mian, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, among others, spoke. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, presented the key-note paper.

ACC Chairman said the organisation has already broken the syndicate of the corrupt persons. It will not interfere with reform processes of the political parties.

Prof Muzaffar said, "At present, development is seen in power sector. But I think this has happened due to the scare created by the drive against corruption by the ACC."

"We should look at the decentralisation of the administration and reducing size of the Ministry," he said.

"Corruption is an infectious disease. Now we need a coordinated legal system for curbing corruption from the country. ACC should ensure gaps of the legal system so that corruption could be uprooted from the society," Prof Muzaffar said.

He underscored the need for technical assistance in this regard.

UNDP Country Director said the UNDP would give support to the activities of the ACC and TIB for curbing corruption.

Prof Moniruzzaman said corruption takes place mostly in politics and bureaucracy. He raised question on who will finance the independent ACC?

The ACC should ensure transparency and accountability in their activities. It should have also accountability in public procurement.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman said Bangladesh should develop and implement coordinated anticorruption policies that reflects the principles of the rule of law.

Staff Reporter

Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed two separate cases against former Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina and ten others accusing them of entering into deals with Canada-based Niko that inflicted enormous loss to the State.

Both the Prime Ministers and their aides were accused of signing the deal through abusing power.

ACC assistant director Mahbubul Alam filed the case with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia, former ministers Barrister Moudud Ahmed, AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the illegal deal with Niko through corruption that inflicted a loss of Tk 10,000 crore to the State.

ACC deputy director MM Sabbir Hossain filed another case with Tejgaon police station against Sheikh Hasina, former State Minister for Power and Energy Rafiqul Islam, former principal secretary Dr SA Samad, former Power and Energy secretary Dr Tawfiq E Elahi Chowdhury, former Petro Bangla chairman Dr Mosharraf Hossain and Kashem Sharif of Niko.

They were accused of signing the corrupt and illegal deal with Niko that caused a loss of Tk 13630.50 crore to the national exchequer.

Staff Reporter

Employment opportunities have narrowed down in the country due to rapid trade liberalisation, done by the successive governments in submission to the pressure from donor countries and multinational lending agencies.

A study of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) revealed this. The study report on 'Impact of trade liberalisation on employment in Bangladesh' was unveiled at a dialogue organised jointly by CPD and International Labour Organisation (ILO) at BRAC Centre Inn in the City yesterday.

However, Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, who was the chief guest at the dialogue, opposed the findings of the study, though economists and stakeholders supported those.

Employment in general has suffered due to rapid trade liberalisation. Agriculture and manufacturing sector have experienced average negative growth, the report states adding, "growth in real wages lagged behind that of productivity."

"The labour force was growing at a faster rate compared to the rate of creation of new job opportunities, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate. From the second phase of trade liberalisation the unemployment rate has been increasing more rapidly in all sections of the population," the study says.

It says, "Because of tariff liberalisation a number of import substituting industries like sugar, yarn, edible oil, paper, pharmaceuticals, tobacco cigarette, cloth, mill-chemical, fertiliser, iron and steel, metal products, machinery and transport equipment industries have faced a decline over the last two decades."

But the Finance Adviser denied the link of trade liberalisation with the decreasing trend of employment. "Unemployment occurs due to the technological changes, rather than trade liberalisation," he said.

About the sluggish scenario in the jute sector, Dr Aziz blamed the inefficiency of the management, not the trade policy. "Trade policy was formulated to encourage efficient industries and discourage the inefficient ones," he said.

While moderating the dialogue, CPD chairman Rehman Sobhan stressed on "highly diversification of the economy" and suggested protective measures for the industries, where necessary.

He said rapid liberalisation cast a negative effect on many sectors in Bangladesh ultimately squeezing the labour market. Developed countries also pursued protectionism to boost their industries before going for trade liberalisation.

"India was able to disgrace Bangladesh in jute sector through high degree of protectionism, the prominent economist of the country observed and suggested the Government to be cautious before any further trade liberalisations.

Citing the findings of the study CPD executive director Prof Mustafizur Rahman said negative impact was found in the sectors where the liberalisation was rapid.

The Government should offer necessary supports to the domestic industries side-by-side of liberalisation, he said adding, "Comparative advantages should be translated into competitive advantage."

Special Adviser of ILO Dr Rizwanul Islam said rather than going for sweeping trade liberalisation, it would be important to adjust the policy to suit the situation of the country.

Appropriate measures would be needed to provide social protection and facilitate alternative sources of livelihood for those who might lose out in the process of adjustment.

He suggested introducing active labour market policies that would combine unemployment benefits, training and assistance in job search for the retrenched workers.

Veteran labour leader and an expert on the jute sector Shahidullah Chowdhury in his deliberation depicted the gloomy and painstaking lifestyle of labours. "Garment labours lack any social security and so their future is very bleak. No gratuity, no pension," he said.

He demanded minimum trade union rights in the prevailing state of emergency situation.

Dr Zaidi Sattar, Dr Wajedul Islam, Dr Gaur Gobinda Guaswami, Faruk Ahmed, Dr Naznin Ahmed, and Saiful Islam took part in the discussion among others.

RU correspondent

Students of Mass Communication Department of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday handed over a memorandum to VC demanding the release of four convicted teachers.

The students of Mass Communication Department met Vice-Chancellor Prof M Altaf Hossain at noon yesterday and delivered the memorandum signed by 162 students of the department. They also requested the VC not to release the convicted teachers from service.

Copy of the memorandum was also sent to Chief Adviser (CA), Chief Justice, Army Chief, Education Adviser, UGC chairman, Law Adviser and editors of all national print and electronic media.

The students of Mass Communication have been boycotting classes demanding the release of the teachers from last Saturday.

Meanwhile, a large number of police personnel have been deployed on the campus especially in front of Mass Communication Department since early morning.

A Rajshahi court on December 4 sentenced four RU teachers to two years rigorous imprisonment for violating Emergency Power Rules (EPR) by bringing out a silent procession on the campus on August 21.

The convicts are Moloy Kumar Bhowmik of Management Department and Dulal Chandra Biswas, Sayed Selim Reza Newton and Abdullah Al Mamun of Mass Communication Department.

Staff Reporter

The Government yesterday floated a tender to import 100,000 tonnes of rice to meet the food shortage.

Food and Disaster Management Ministry issued the tender to import 100,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice to meet post-cyclone emergency needs, official sources said yesterday.

The tender will close on January 21, with validity up to February 10, for shipment within 30 days of the date of signing of the contract.

The tender price has to be quoted separately for the Chittagong and Mongla seaports, based on the cost of cargo, insurance and freight including stevedoring on the seller's account, at both ends of the shipment. The country requires 1 million tonnes of rice either from imports or grants by the end of June, the officials said.

The super Cyclone Sidr, which hit the country on November 15, killed more than 3,200, displaced over 2 millions and damaged a huge quantity of crops.

The cyclones, following devastating floods in July and September, and other natural disasters, will disrupt agricultural production, raising the food deficit from the present 2.8 to3.0 millions tonnes to 4.7 million tones, highest in two decades time, Agriculture Ministry officials said.

BSS, Dhaka

The remains of Bir Shreshtha Sipahi Hamidur Rahman will arrive today from India through Bibir Bazar check-post of Comilla district by road.

Dr Abul Kashem Mahbubul Alam, Secretary to the Liberation War Affairs Ministry, yesterday briefed the newsmen on the arrival schedule of the remains of valiant freedom fighter and his reburial arrangements.

His remains would be buried with full state of honours at Mirpur Intellectual Graveyard, beside the grave of his fellow Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flt Lt Matiur Rahman. Before the burial, his remains will be taken to the National Parade Square at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 10 AM on December 11 (Tuesday), where President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed will receive the coffin formally with a 21-gun salute.

The President will place floral wreaths on his coffin and offer munajat while his life sketch will be read out for the audiences.

Adviser to the Liberation War Affairs Ministry and three Services Chiefs will also place floral wreaths on the remains, the Secretary said adding afterwards his remains will be taken to Mirpur Intellectual Graveyard with military honour for reburial.

The Bangladesh Liberation War hero Bir Shreshtha Sipahi Hamidur Rahman embraced martyrdom in a battle with the Pakistani occupation forces at Dholai valley near Kamalganj in the Moulvibazar district on August 28, 1971.

He was later buried at Giolchhara village in the Ambsha sub-division of the Dholai district in the Indian state of Tripura as burial in Bangladesh was not possible at that time.

He was born in February 2, 1953 at Khalishpur village in the Jhenaidah district and embraced martyrdom at the age of 36 years. He joined Pakistan Army as a soldier in 1971 and was posted at Sector-4 in beginning of the war.

The Caretaker Government first took initiative for bringing the remains of Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sipahi Hamidur Rahman in the country from India by forming a seven-member committee headed by Joint Secretary to the Liberation War Affairs Ministry M Humayun Kabir Khan.

Indian authority will formally hand over the remains of Bangladesh hero at 3 PM today and later the remains will be taken to Comilla Cantonment before bringing it in the capital for reburial.