The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Three committees of the Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday began scrutinizing the huge number of complaints it has received so far from people.

The Commission on Thursday decided to form three 3-member committees to scrutinise fresh complaints and complaints received earlier the number of which is about 71,000.

Two of the committees, headed by ACC deputy directors Monirul Hoque and Jahirul Huda, will scrutinise 71,000 backlog complaints while the other committee, headed by ACC assistant director Reba Halder, will scrutinise the everyday complaints received by the Commission, sources said.

The committees formed in light with the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007 will be supervised by an ACC director and a director general through whom the scrutinised complaints would be raised in the Commission.

In the process of scrutinising, the committees, however, will not consider complaints without names and addresses, complaints out of the schedule of the Commission and complaints relating to property distribution and family problems.

Considering the importance of the scrutinised complaints, inquiries and investigations will begin gradually.

The Commission when needed will sit to approve inquiries/investigations based on the scrutinised complaints.

The complainants of the complaints that will not be considered by the Commission will be informed in writing about the decisions.

UNB, Dhaka

Sangbadik-Sramik-Karmachary Oikya Parishad (SSKOP) has called for four-hour work abstention today (Wednesday) protesting the 6th Wage Board award that curtailed existing facilities.

It has asked the newsmen, workers and employees of all newspapers and news agencies to assemble in front of the Press Club during the work abstention from 11am to 2pm, said press release.

The decision was taken at the extended meeting of SSKOP yesterday, presided by SSKOP convenor Mozammel Haque.

It urged the government to review the wage board award and revise it immediately.

Staff Reporter

Police arrested a person with 178 tolas of gold worth Tk 40 lakh at 3:30pm from the UN Bridge check post at Baridhara in the city yesterday.

Ibrahim Kazi, the arrested, was passing the check post on a mishuk, a motorised three-wheeler, when police team chased and apprehended him. But he could not show any document of the gold.

The arrested said that he was an employee of Diagold Jewellers and was carrying the gold from a person named Jasim from Baitul Mukarram market.

He was being interrogated by Gulshan police station late last night.

UNB, Dhaka

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday received US$ 15 lakh contribution from the Government of Japan to provide emergency relief to the people severely affected by super cyclone 'SIDR'.

WFP will use the Japanese funds to distribute some 1,400 mts of High Energy Biscuits (HEBs) to the poor people devastated by the cyclone, said a WFP press release today.

"It is important to maintain supplies to the stricken areas. WFP is continuing deliveries of fortified biscuits to give much needed assistance to people in devastated areas," said WFP Representative Douglas Broderick.

So far, WFP has delivered over 400 mts of biscuits and over 750 mts of rice to more than 12 lakh people in the worst-hit areas, over land and by boat, as well as by air.

The UN agency plans to provide over 71,000 metric tons of food to 22 lakh people over the next six months.

Broderick said, "based on the outcome of a UN wide assessment conducted immediately after the cyclone that struck on the 15 November, WFP will continue supporting the victims with food". "Japan's contribution is crucial to WFP's relief effort. It will ensure that thousands of poor people left without food and shelter after cyclone 'SIDR' will get the lifesaving and fortifying food relief they need." explained Broderick.