The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Liberation War hero Birshreshtha Sipahi Mohammad Hamidur Rahman was finally laid to eternal rest with full state honour at Martyred Intellectual's Graveyard at Mirpur in the city yesterday.

Before the burial, the nation paid last respects to the independence hero, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the nation, as his last remains lay in state at the National Parade Square at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital in the morning.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on behalf of the nation formally received the coffin of the remains of Hamidur Rahman at the Parade Square and placed wreath on the coffin draped in the red and green national flag at about 10:40 am.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed placed wreath on the coffin thereafter, as part of the state ceremonies.

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman paid their last respects to Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman after his remains arrived at the National Parade Square.

Lt General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, and other senior military officials paid their respect to the valiant freedom fighter at that time.

Members of the three services also presented guard of honour. A munajat was offered praying for divine blessing for the departed soul of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman, but the scheduled namaj-e-janaza was not held as he was buried in Ambasa in the Indian state of Tripura after janaza following his death in a battle on the front against the Pakistani occupation forces.

A brief life sketch of the Birshreshtha was read out before the prayer, recalling his life and fight during the 1971 liberation war.

Hamidur Rahman was born at Khorda Khalispur in Moheshpur thana of Jessore district on February 2, 1953.

The valiant freedom fighter, youngest among the seven war heroes posthumously decorated with the highest gallantry award, embraced martyrdom during a battle with the Pakistani occupation forces in a frontier area of Sylhet on October 28 in 1971.

Earlier, a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force gave guard of honour as last respect to the memory of the martyred soldier.

Military bugle played the last post as the President, the Chief Adviser and other dignitaries and people of various professions stood in solemn silence.

A 21-gun salute boomed as the pallbearers with the remains of the Birshreshta entered the parade-square venue at 10:35am. Six army personnel carried the coffin on their shoulders from the vehicle and put it on a podium.

The Speaker, Advisers of the caretaker government, Chiefs of the three services, family members of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman and other Birshreshthas, political leaders, freedom fighters, senior civil and military officials, diplomats, distinguished personalities of different professions, and members of the Armed Forces, among others, were present to pay homage to the valiant war hero.

The ceremonies over, the remains of Hamidur Rahman were kept for 20 minutes at the venue.

On behalf of the family members of seven Birshreshthas, mother of Birshreshtha Abdur Rouf, who is now very old, placed wreath on the coffin of Hamidur's remains.

The Speaker, Deputy Speaker and political leaders, among others, also placed wreaths.

Earlier, at 6:00am, a vehicle of the military police started for Dhaka with the remains of Hamidur Rahman from Comilla Cantonment.

Later, the remains were taken to Dhaka Cantonment in a ceremonial motorcade from Jatrabari and then to the National Parade Square.

From the National Parade Square started the last rides of the hero towards the reserved graveyard for eminent freedom fighters at Mirpur in a motorcade, where the coffin was received by Adviser for Liberation War Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin. Finally, the remains of Hamidur Rahman were reburied there with the highest state honour as well as with proper military honour.

Before the hero's coffin was lowered, another gun salute was conferred upon the celebrated martyr in the ceremonial burial in presence of the three chiefs of staff. Hamidur was buried beside the grave of another Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman, who has recently been buried at Martyred Intellectual's Graveyard.

The remains of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman reached his beloved homeland on Monday from the Indian state of Tripura.

Chief of Nagar Panchayet of Sonamura district of the Indian state of Tripura Shyamol Chakravarti handed over the coffin carrying Hamidur's remains to acting BDR Commander of Comilla sector Lt. Col. Noor-e-Alam and Commander of 33 Rifles Battalion Lt. Col. Abdul Mukim Sarker on Bibirbazar border in Comilla at about 2:19pm.

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh favours early settlement of minor issues of dispute with India before going for negotiation about complex one.

This view was expressed by foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the 16th Bangladesh-India dialogue at Brac-Inn in the city yesterday.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and India International Centre (IIC) jointly organised the dialogue co-chaired by economist Rehman Sobhan and former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Deb Mukharjee.

A 10-member Indian delegation led by Dev Mukherjee is participating in the 3-day dialogue designed to make recommendations for cooperation in disaster management, water resources development, development of the energy sector and cooperation in communications, trade and investment. "Sometimes it is simpler to tackle the easier issues earlier," Dr Iftekhar said, adding, "this is like plucking low-hanging fruits first. This improves the environment to take up more complex subjects thereafter."

The Foreign Adviser said the current Bangladesh-India relations are at the appropriate levels to begin serious negotiations on various issues through bilateral mechanisms created for those purposes.

He noted that the present warmth in the relationship flowed from the acceptance by India of an "asymmetrical higher degree of responsibilities in the conduct of bilateral relations, often without reciprocity, and the understanding on part of India of Bangladesh's need to evolve policies that would enable her to live in concord with, but distinct from, her larger neighbour".

These have created a favourable impact on Bangladesh's public opinion and a drive to address and resolve outstanding issues, the Adviser said, adding: "Both parties realise that if there are hills to climb, waiting would not make them any smaller."

Among trade issues, Dr Iftekhar said, it is necessary to address early the questions of market access for Bangladeshi products into India to make up for the existing large trade imbalance, and also the removal of non-trade barriers.

He said the resolution of water-distribution issues, including on Teesta and other rivers, was also awaited. Possible diversion of water from Tepaimukh was a matter of concern not just for Bangladeshis but also for many Indians.

The Adviser said subjects such as Climate Change, which were of critical importance to both countries, should be jointly considered. He informed the conference that Bangladesh's offer to host a SAARC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change next year has been accepted by all concerned.

He also cited 'energy' and 'connectivity' as important areas and invited the civil society to make recommendations in those areas.

"In South Asia we pride ourselves on having the world's most vibrant civil society. It is natural for our governments to want to have ideas and suggestions from them on how to move ahead to match the aspirations of our peoples," Dr. Chowdhury said, speaking to the media afterwards.

Prof Rehman Sobhan called for collective approach to finding a shared solution to the problems caused by climate change and flooding.

Dev Mukherjee also suggested efforts to deal with issues of trade, investment and connectivity for mutual benefit of the next-door neighbours. "What is good for Bangladesh is good for India," he said.

UNB, Dhaka

Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the biggest fiesta of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on December 21 as the moon of Arabic Zilhajj month was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh on Tuesday.

The decision was taken this Tuesday evening at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee in the Islamic Foundation conference room with Religious Affairs Advisor Maj Gen (Retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman in the chair.

Religious Secretary Muhammad Ataur Rahman, Islamic Foundation Director General M Fazlur Rahman, Information Ministry additional secretary Syed Hasinur Rahman, Principal Information Officer Iftekhar Hossain, SPARSO Chairman M Nazmul Huda Khan, Deputy Director of Weather Department Shah Alam, Principal of Govt Madrasa-e-Alia Prof M Islam Gani, senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Muhammad Nooruddin, Chakbazar Shahi Jame Mosque Khatib Kari Obaidullah and members of the Moon Sighting Committee, among others, attended the meeting.

Staff Reporter

The new draft rules of the Generalised, System of Preferences (GSP) of the European Union may hard hit country knitwear sector and its backward linkage industries, fears sector leaders.

"Bangladesh's knitwear sector grew depending on the trade friendly policy of government and cooperation of European Commission to the least developed countries. But the new draft rules will hit hard the sector," BKMEA president Fazlul Huq told at a press conference at his office. Opposing the new draft of the EU GSP the BKMEA president said the new rule entitles 30 per cent value addition to get GSP facilities, which will be disastrous. "It will allow imported fabrics also to get GSP facilities."

Huq said approval of the new GSP rule will discourage people to invest in backward linkage industries which helped grow Bangladesh's knitwear sector. The new rule may harvest something for the time being but after four to five years time Bangladesh will loss its market to China, India, Pakistan and Turkey. "Once the new rule is approved China will be the main beneficiary through setting up mills in Cambodia using its low price fabrics," he said.

Requesting the EU to revise the draft he demanded to fix the value addition to 45 per cent to be eligible for GSP facilities.

Fazlu also informed that unusual price hike of yarn in the local market has put the knitwear sector at dire state.

Staff Reporter

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the High Court ruling that made mandatory for the candidates in parliamentary elections to make public personal information.

The Full Bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin delivered the judgment, throwing away an appeal by an absentee appellant, who challenged this electoral reform measure. The Full Bench of the Appellate Division turned down the appeal as fabricated and not maintainable in the eye of law, endorsing the allegation made by the public-interest litigation (PIL) petitioners that the appellant and his counsel acted fraud upon the highest judiciary by making false statements.

Resuming the day's business with this case, the apex Court expressed its disappointments, as the Advocate-on-Record (AoR) for the appellant failed to produce one Abu Safa, the appellant, before delivery of the judgment.

AoR Nawab Ali told the Court that, after conducting a "thorough, sincere and exhaustive search", the appellant Safa could not be made available.

Pointing finger at the AoR, the Court said, "You have lost valuable time of the Court and diverted the course of justice."

The Court blasted, "We have to set our own house in order and people like you have destroyed the image of this institution. That is why you will have to pay for this. Either quit voluntarily or we would strike your name off the AoR roll."

The High Court on May 24 in 2005, upon a public-interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by three lawyers, made mandatory for a candidate contesting parliamentary elections to make public eight pieces of personal information in filing nomination papers to the Election Commission.

These include candidate's academic qualifications, sources of income, profession, assets, liabilities, bank balances, and criminal records, if any.

The ruling was strictly abided by the Election Commission (EC) in the subsequent parliamentary by-elections and election to the 45 reserved seats for women in parliament.

The PIL petitioners had filed the writ to help the voters in choosing their representatives properly. But, after 19 months of the execution of the High Court directives, one Abu Safa, an unknown person in politics, secured a stay against the ruling from a vacation chamber judge of the Supreme Court, a day before the last date of filing nomination for the stalled January 22 general elections.

Later, Safa also got a leave to appeal against the High Court ruling.

The PIL petitioners were Advocates Abdul Momen Chowdhury, KM Zabir and M Zahirul Islam.

Renowned jurist Dr Kamal Hossain appeared for the petitioners, while Barrister Omar Sa'dat stood for appellant Abu Safa.

Staff Reporter

Japan will provide a new loan worth Tk 21 billion (35,996 million yen or US $324 million equivalent) for New Haripur Power Plant and two other projects at 0.01 per cent interest rate under a newly devised financing package.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Government of Japan and Government of Bangladesh in Dhaka yesterday.

Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue and Secretary of Economic Relations Division of Finance Ministry M Aminul Islam Bhuiyan signed the Exchange of Notes on behalf of their respective governments.

Following the signing of the notes, Chief Representative in Dhaka of

Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Yasuo Fujita and ERD Additional Secretary M Mejbahuddin also signed the loan agreements.

The Government of Japan will provide the loan to the Bangladesh Government through JBIC for the implementation of the three projects.

Of the total, Tk 10 billion will be provided for implementing the New

Haripur Power Plant (360 megawatt) Development Project (Part I), Tk 7 billion for Dhaka-Chittagong Railway Development Project and Tk 3 billion for Small Scale Water Resources Development Project.

The interest rate is 0.01 per cent per annum and the repayment period is 40 years inclusive of 10-year grace period for the three loans.

"The new loan package reflects Japan's strong intention to support Bangladesh to alleviate the recent serious power shortages by newly constructing a 360 MW power plant near Dhaka," a press release from the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka said yesterday.

In addition, some useful technical assistance will be introduced under the projects, such as capacity building for the new power plant operation and management reform of the Bangladesh Railways, which the Bangladesh government is implementing now under policy and institutional reforms.

The Government of Japan will provide the loan assistance to the Government of Bangladesh through JBIC for implementation of the three projects.

Of the loan amount, 17,767 million Yen (Taka 10 billion or US$160 million equivalent) for New Haripur Power Plant (360 MW) Development Project (Part I), 12,916 million Yen (Taka 7 billion or US$116 million equivalent) for Dhaka-Chittagong Railway Development Project, and 5,313 million Yen (Taka 3 billion or US$48 million equivalent) for Small Scale Water Resources Development Project.

In addition, the conditions of the loan are the most generous, the press release said.

It said the interest rate is 0.01 per cent per annum and the repayment period is 40 years inclusive of 10-year grace period for the three loans.

Over the last few years, the Japan government has been sharply increasing the level of its loan assistance to Bangladesh. Recent Japan's loans are as follows: 35,996 million yen ($324 million) in 2007, 24,906 million yen ($224 million) in 2006 and 11,345 million yen ($102 million) in 2005.

The new loan package reflects Japan's strong intention to support Bangladesh to alleviate the recent serious power shortage by newly constructing a 360 MW power plant near Dhaka. In addition, some useful technical assistance will be introduced under the projects, such as capacity building for the new power plant operation and management reform of the Bangladesh Railways, which the Bangladeshi government is implementing now on under policy and institutional reforms.

The accumulated total commitment of Japan's loans to Bangladesh since 1973 is approximately 624 billion Japanese yen (Taka 365 billion or US$5.6 billion equivalent) for 76 projects, including three projects under the new package.

UNB, Dhaka

The caretaker government Tuesday approved amendment to the Public Procurement Regulation (PPR) to make an easier way for importing food-grains to make up for huge production shortfalls owing to two floods and cyclone SIDR.

The decision to do away with cumbersome procedures of import was taken by the Economic Affairs Committee in a meeting held at the Planning Ministry with Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam in the chair.

It decided to introduce "negotiation permission" and reduce time for appointing importers.

Under the negotiation permission the government can appoint importers apart from the lowest bidder. "The government could appoint the second-lowest bidder or other bidders if they agreed to import food-grains at the price offered by the lowest bidder," Dr Mirza Azizul Islam told reporters after the meeting.

The Adviser said, "We will offer other bidders to provide food-grains like the lowest bidder's price. If they agree, we will appoint them."

Saving time and cost is behind this amendment, Dr Aziz told reporters.

The meeting also decided to reduce the time for appointing importers. Under the new system importers will be appointed within 15 days of floating international tender that was 42 days. The time for appointing importers under re-tender is 10 days instead of 28 days.

The Economic Affairs Committee decided to give chance to the appointed importers to import same amount of food-grains that they got permission for from the government. "It depends upon the negotiation with the government," the Finance Adviser said.

Before the amendment, one importer who imports over 10,000 tons of grains could import additional 15 percent on the basis of government negotiation.

But, in the new system, the importer could import same amount of food-grains on the basis of negotiation with the government.

Staff Reporter

The negotiations between the Government and the World Bank on a US 62.6 million dollars interest-free credit from the International Development Association for the agriculture sector successfully completed yesterday, official sources said.

According to plan, the loan from the multilateral donor agency's soft-lending window is aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and farm incomes by improving the performance of the national agriculture-technology system.

Additional Secretary of Economic Relations Division Shahidul Haque and World Bank (WB) task team leader Paul Sidhu led the Government and the IDA delegations respectively at the two-day negotiations that began in Dhaka on Monday.

The estimated cost of the project is US 84.6 million dollars, of which the IDA will provide US 62.6 million dollars. The credit has 40 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period, and it carries a service charge of 0.75 per cent only.

Another amount of US 19.4 million dollars will come from the International

Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) while the Government's own contribution will be US 2.6 million dollars.

"The World Bank intends to use Adaptable Programme Lending (APL) to support this Government initiative. APL is a flexible instrument with long-term approach and will be used for next 15 years in three phases and each phase will be of five- year duration with clearly defined performance targets," says a WB release on the credit.

The proposed National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP) is designed to promote the generation, dissemination, adoption and use of appropriate agricultural technologies through a number of policy reforms, institutional development and investment to support agricultural research, extension and supply-chain development.

The NATP will have three components-agriculture research support, agriculture extension support and development of supply chains. The idea of linking research, extension, farmers and market would remain the central focus of this proposed programme.

Under agriculture research support, the Government will operationalise an autonomous Krishi Gobeshana Foundation (Agriculture Research Foundation) to manage the Competitive Grants Program to undertake problem-solving cross-cutting agricultural research on selected priority themes in a pluralistic framework. It also aims to enhance institutional efficiency of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and agriculture research institutes.

Decentralisations of extension service, strengthening research-extension-farmer linkages are envisaged under the agriculture-extension support component. The development of supply chains will focus on strengthening farmer-market linkages, knowledge management and human resources development.

Staff Reporter

Rescuing of trapped day-labourers inside the collapsed Rangs Bhaban at the city's Bijoy Sarani is likely to be started from today as installation of iron-made props up to the first floor of the high-rise building was completed yesterday.

Amin Mohammad Foundation, a construction firm, appointed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) completed the installation of as many as 20,000 iron-made props or iron-made support bars underneath the ceilings of the ground and first floors of the collapsed building yesterday.

Earlier, Rajuk appointed Amin Mohammad Foundation to install the steel props to bring the Rangs Bhaban back to safer condition for launching rescue operation by the Fire Service and Civil Defence forces.

"We'll start the rescue operation as quickly as possible since the installation of iron-made props underneath the ceilings of up to the first floor of the Rangs Bhaban has already completed," ASM Imdadul Dastagir, a magistrate of Rajuk, told reporters yesterday.

"We hope that we'll be able to launch the rescue operation from tomorrow (Wednesday)," he said.

The ceilings from the 18th floor to the 2nd floor of the 22-storeyed Rangs Bhaban were suddenly collapsed on Saturday night, leaving four day labourers killed and injuring a dozen others. Three decomposed bodies of ill-fated day-labourers were visible from outside the building. The bodies are still remain trapped inside the building as they could not be retrieved from the debris till yesterday, three days after the collapse of the building.

Besides, at least a dozen people feared trapped inside the building.

On the other hand, relatives of the day-labourers who were killed in the collapse of the building were found wailing for their near and dear ones outside the Rangs Bhaban yesterday morning.

They were eagerly waiting to receive the bodies of their near and dear ones so that they could bury them properly.

"We're poor people…we're passing our days in untold sufferings as the only bread-winner of my family has died in the building collapse. I did not get anything else to eat for the last two days. Where we will go now," the father of a day labourer killed in the Rangs Bhaban collapse said.

Members of the Bangladesh Army, RAB and police have been patrolling around the Rangs Bhaban to ensure the safety of the pedestrians. Stickers have also been put on the walls of the building asking people to stay away from the building.

Visiting the Rangs Bhaban yesterday morning, this correspondent found that workers appointed by Amin Mohammad Foundation were placing steel-made props underneath the collapsed ceilings of the Rangs Bhaban.

Officials of the Amin Mohammad Foundation said they were trying to ensure safety of the Rangs Bhaban at free of cost. "We're trying to ensure the safety of the building so that it could not collapse further," an official of the construction firm said.

The official said as many as 20,000 steel props would be installed underneath the collapsed ceilings.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said they would start the rescue operation only after the construction company declared the building safe. "Otherwise, we will not send our people inside the building," an official said.

Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brigadier General Rafiqur Rahman told reporters on Sunday that they were looking for some safer means to rescue the victims and clear the debris.

The ceilings--from the 18th floor to the 3rd floor-- suddenly collapsed as the 22-storeyed Rangs Bhaban caved in on Saturday night, leaving four people dead and minimum a dozen of people, mainly construction workers injured.

At least a dozen people are feared trapped inside. Fire Service and Civil Defence has so far rescued 12. Of them, one died at the city's Orthopaedic Hospital on Sunday and the rest were undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

Staff Reporter

The CMM Court yesterday framed charges against four teachers and 15 students of Dhaka University for provoking and creating August 20 to 22 unrest on the campus violating the emergency rules.

The indicted teachers are Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) President Prof Sadrul Amin, General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Prof Harun-or-Rashid and Prof Neem Chandra Bhoumik.

All the four teachers and student Moniruzzaman Rubel in the dock pleaded innocence when Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Golam Robbani read out the charges against them.

Fourteen students accused in the case remained fugitive since the incident. They will be tried in absentia.

The defence counsel pleaded for quashing of the case pointing out that the Government on Monday freed four teachers of Rajshahi University accused of identical charges. Therefore, the accused teachers and students of Dhaka University should be released, the defence counsel argued.

The Court rejected the petition and set December 13 for hearing.

A highly authoritative source said, the four teachers of the Dhaka University could be released through legal process if an honourable understanding is reached between the Government and the teachers' leaders.

"The teachers of Rajshahi University were released through the legal process."

Meanwhile, Our Rajshahi Correspondent reports that the released teachers of Rajshahi University yesterday joined their respective departments.

Prof Dulal Chandra Biswas, Selim Reza Newton and Abdullah-al-Mamun joined their job at Mass Communication Department of the University and Prof Moloy Kumar Voumik at Management Department.

The teachers and students distributed sweets while the students sang songs marking the day, witnesses said.

Meanwhile, left-leaning Bangladesh Students Union (Chhatra Union) yesterday formed a human chain on the Dhaka University campus, demanding immediate release of all the detained DU teachers and students including its leader Manabendra Deb.

Over 50 students carrying placards and banners joined the human chain formed in the morning.

One of banners read: "All the detained DU teachers and students have to be released immediately in the interest of a congenial atmosphere on the campus."

Four DU teachers and nine students, now in jail, were arrested following the August 20-22 student unrest in and around the campus. After several months of the unrest, law enforcers picked up DU president of Chhatra Union Manabendra Deb and indicted him in a case for damaging an army vehicle.

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh has no homegrown philosophy for the development of the economy, but that is necessary to be invented, said the leaders of the Bangladesh Economics Association (BEA) yesterday.

They also said the association will try to draft an alternative budget before the next national budget.

They said these while they were briefing journalists at their office in the city on the eve of its 16th Biennial Conference 2007 tilled "Participatory Development: External and Internal Challenges" that begins today.

Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the four day-long conference.

President of the Association Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad will preside over the inaugural ceremony while Convener of the Conference Convening Committee Professor Dr Ashraf Uddin will deliver welcome speech. This year nine sub-themes were expected to be discussed in the conference.

The themes are trade liberalisation, poverty, agriculture and economy, social infrastructure (education, training and health), economic infrastructure (financial, sector and transport), energy, ICT and telecommunication, local government and regional cooperation.

General Secretary of BEA Prof Dr Abul Barkat told reporters the novelty of the programme this year is awarding Bangladesh Economics Association Gold Medal to seven persons who contributed to economic development of the country by their researches, teaching and other activities.

Seven Gold Medals would be given to Prof Kaiser Hussain, Prof Dr Abul Hussam, Dr AKM Munir, Prof Sanat Kumar Saha, late Prof Mohammad Yunus, Prof Sekandar Khan and Media Personality Mahfuz Anam.

Prof Dr Abul Barkat said Bangladesh had no homegrown economic development philosophy, which was considered as prerequisite of the development of a nation. Homegrown philosophy was essential to be invented for the development of our economy, he added.

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman said his association is assessing the education system of economics in the country and it would establish a school of economics that would be supervised by the association.

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

The verdict the case against two other Rajshahi University teachers, two staff and 10 students for torching DGFI vehicle and assaulting law enforcers during campus violence on August 22 will be delivered today.

They are Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal, Dr Sabbir Sattar Tapu of geology and mining department, RU deputy chief information officer Sadekul Islam and former RU vice chancellor Faisul Islam Faruki's driver Ataur Rahman.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ruhul Amin of a Speedy Trial Court in Rajshahi will pronounce the verdict in presence of four accused in the DGFI vehicle torching case. Ten accused students in the case are still absconding.

The court on November 27 had scheduled the verdict date on December 6. But the court deferred the date till today the director of Rajshahi DGFI lodged the case on August 23 accusing two teachers and four students. Later on September 1, sub inspector Mukhtar Hossain implicated eight other persons in the charge sheet.

The plaintiff alleged that he was assaulted and his government vehicle was torched during the violence. He alleged the two teachers ordered over mobile phones and encouraged unruly students to set fire to his vehicle.

Absconding accused are Bangladesh Chhatra League RU unit secretary Ayenuddin, Dipayan Sarkar, Mizanur Rahman Mithu, Sardar Ayaz, SM Fakrul Islam Raihan, Abu Sayem, Shamim Ahmed, Kazi A Latif, Shakhawat Hossain, Aziz Bin Kamal.