The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rajshahi Correspondent

A Speedy Trial Court in Rajshahi city yesterday sentenced 11 accused, including ten students of Rajshahi University to three years' rigorous imprisonment in the DGFI vehicle torching case and acquitted two RU teachers and a public relations officer of the charges.

The convicts are former RU vice-chancellor's driver Ataur Rahman Ata, and students Ayenuddin, who is also RU Chhatra League Secretary, Dipayan Sarker, Hafiz Uddin Kamal, Shakhawat Hossain, Kazi Abdul Latif, Shamim Ahmed, Abu Sayem, Fakrul Islam, Sarker Ayej and Mizanur Rahman Mithu. Of the convicts, only driver Ata was in the dock to receive the prison sentence pronounced by the Speedy Trial Court. The rest were tried in absentia as they are absconding.

Ata's relatives present in the crowded court burst into tears hearing the verdict.

After examining records and witnesses, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ruhul Amin sentenced the 11 to three years' RI under Sections 3(4) and 8(2) of the Emergency Power Rules 2007.

The court also fined them Tk 5,000 each, in default, to serve three months more in jail.

Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal and Dr Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu--both teachers of Geology and Mining Department, and Deputy Chief

Information Officer of RU Public Relations Office Sadikul Islam were exonerated from the charge of the arson attack and violation of the emergency rules.

Earlier, four teachers of the university were jailed for two years on December 4 in connection with the violence, which flared up in a backlash against the Dhaka University incident and clashes.

But they were released on Monday after President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed approved their mercy petition, amid strong pleas from different quarters, including teachers and students, for setting them free.

On August 22, a vehicle of the military intelligence outfit DGFI was torched in front of the Vice-Chancellor's residence amid violence on the RU campus following Dhaka University's August 20 student unrest.

Later, DGFI assistant director Shawkat Ali filed the case against 14 persons with Motihar Police Station on August 23.

The plaintiff alleged that a group of unruly students and people assaulted him while he was on duty on the campus on August 22.

Later, on September 1, the investigation officer sub-inspector Mokhtar Hossain, submitted charges against the 14 suspects. The two acquitted RU teachers of Geology and Mining Department and driver Ataur Rahman Ata surrendered before the court on September 11, while Sadikul Islam was arrested on August 29.

The four detained persons were brought to the court at about 2.42pm

and the Judge pronounced the judgement at about 3.52pm yesterday.

Teachers and students rushed to the court to hear the judgement in the much-talked-about case of violence amid the current state of emergency in the country.

Staff Reporter

Charges were framed in a court yesterday against four senior teachers and 15 students of Dhaka University in another case of breaking Emergency Powers Rules 2007 during the campus violence in August last.

On the other hand, accused teachers asked their families not to move any petition to the High Court seeking their bails in the cases filed against them under the Emergency Powers Rules 2007.

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court framed the charges against four accused teachers and 15 students and rejected their pleas to acquit them from the case.

CMM and Speedy Trial Tribunal judge Habibur Rahman Siddiqui himself read out the details of the charges in front of five of the accused in the dock at about 12:30pm yesterday and set the date for December 19 for recording statements of the witnesses.

After hearing the charges on the dock, detained Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) president Professor Sadrul Amin, general secretary Professor Anwar Hossain, Social Sciences Faculty dean Professor Harun-ar-Rashid and Applied Physics and Electronics Department chairman Professor Nimchandra Bhowmik and student Moniruzzaman Sardar Rubel pleaded not guilty and claimed themselves innocent. They said they would expect fair trial from the court.

Fourteen students, who were also made accused in the case for violating the Emergency Powers Rules, remain absconding following the incident.

Family members of the four accused teachers and mother of the student Moniruzzaman Rubel were present outside the courtroom during the framing of charges.

Besides, a large number of teachers of Dhaka University were present.

After framing the charges, the court allowed the accused teachers and the student to talk to their family members for 15 minutes. At that time, four teachers talked to their family members standing on the dock.

The teachers told their families that they did not commit any wrongdoing. So, the members of their families should refrain from filing any writ petition to the higher court seeking their bails. Since the charges were framed, the court would decide their fate.

"If we move bail petitions to the High Court according to the suggestion of Dhaka University vice-chancellor, it will prove that we committed crimes," Sanjeev Hossain, son of Prof Anwar Hossain, told reporters, quoting his father. "Filing bail petitions means we have confessed our crimes."

On the other hand, mother of Moniruzzaman Rubel burst into tears while consoling her son on the dock of the court.

On Tuesday night Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz invited the families of the detained teachers and suggested them to file bail petitions with the High Court saying that the High Court might grant them bails.

The vice-chancellor suggested the families of the detained teachers to move bail petitions with the High Court in the wake of framing charges against them.

Later, the vice-chancellor told reporters that the government was working with a number of alternatives. "Now, it is our principal objective to bring the teachers back to a free environment. That is why requested the families of the detained teachers to go to the High Court," he said.

However, the families of the accused teachers did not accept the suggestion of the vice-chancellor, saying that their husbands did not commit anything wrong. Rather, they stood beside the students like in the past.

Nargis Rashid, wife of Prof Harun-ar-Rashid and Ayesha Aktar, wife of Prof Anwar Hossain went to the residence of vice-chancellor at 11:00pm. Their talks with the VC lasted for one and half an hour.

It is learnt that they discussed about the release of the teachers through the withdrawal of cases or their release on bails from the High Court.

However, the families of the accused teachers demanded unconditional release of their husbands rather on bails.

After holding talks with the vice-chancellor, Nargis Rashid told journalists that they did not want the release of their husbands on bails, rather they want their unconditional release.

"We discussed how the detained teachers could come back to a free environment. We want they will come out as soon as possible. We learnt from the DUTA that they would be released within two weeks. We want quick implementation of the assurance given by the government," she said.

During the meeting, DUTA acting president Prof Tajmeri SA Islam, proctor Prof AK Firoze Ahmed and dean of the Faculty of Law Prof Borhanuddin Khan were present.

Yesterday's charge-framing came a day after another court framed charges against the same teachers on the same grounds amid arguments by defence counsels that the process was illegal since separate cases could not be filed on same charges.

The defendants' lawyers said none of the witnesses stated that the accused were involved in inciting the students.

A defending lawyer challenged the prosecution that filing of the case took place 34 hours after the incidents mentioned in the case details, which is unacceptable in a court of law.

The accused are facing charges of leading processions on the campus, giving inflammatory statements to instigate students, obstructing government activities and being part of arson attacks on August 21.

Lawyers on behalf of the teachers claimed that their clients did not do anything else or were not involved in any incident that was tantamount to violating the Emergency Powers Rules.

They also think that the teachers are unlikely to get released soon as charges were framed in two separate cases against them.

On August 23, Rezaul Karim Khan of Shahbagh Police Station filed the case.

UNB, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed Wednesday said national security and defence no longer depend on military power alone, but on the overall national power and capacity manifested in national development.

"As you know, the concept of security has been assuming newer and broader dimension with every passing moment at the 21st Century," he said at the graduation ceremony of National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course at the National Defence College in Mirpur Cantonment.

The President said: "National security and defence no longer depend on military power alone, but the overall national power and capacity manifested in the level of national development." He said the Defence Doctrine and War Fighting Strategy are developing day by day. "We must have a modern military in keeping with our strategic, demographic and national developmental imperatives." President Iajuddin praised the Armed Forces for responding to the call of the nation in protecting democracy and strengthening the hands of the government by providing their dedicating services. He said the armed forces efforts in support of improving law and order, combating corruption, tackling disaster management, preparing voter ID cards and building infrastructures in remote areas are undoubtedly praiseworthy and they deserve appreciation from the nation.

"The role being played by our Armed Forces in maintaining global peace under the banner of the United Nations is what Bangladesh is largely identified with in international community today." The President expressed his firm belief that all these fine works by the Armed Forces, both in national and international arena, have been possible due to their utmost sincerity, dedication, patriotism, efficiency and above all, professional excellence. He appreciated the governments of China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Sudan for sending their officials for training at the National Defence College here.

Since its inception in 1999, the National Defence College has been able to establish its image as a Center of Excellence both at home and abroad, he said adding that the College has now emerged as an institution of international standard where officials flock for enriching their talents from distant lands.

The President hoped that the graduates would always uphold the motto of this Institution "Security through Knowledge" by their dedicated services and manner.

A total of 24 officers - nine army officers having ranks of Major General/Brigadier Generals, three naval officers with ranks of Commodore/Captain, two air force officers with ranks of Air Commodore/Group Captain and eight officers from the civil administration with ranks of Joint Secretary - participated in the National Defence Course-2007.

Of them, seventeen officers from 10 foreign countries participated in the course.

Advisers of the caretaker government, Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Zahan Nizam, Air Force Chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman, Principal Staff Officer at the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury, President's Military Secretary Maj Gen M Aminul Karim, President's Secretary Sirajul Islam, Defence Secretary Kamrul Hassan, Secretaries of different ministries, Vice-chancellors and Professors of universities, diplomats, elite, and senior officers of the Armed Forces were present at the function.

Staff Reporter

The US Congress on Tuesday passed a bill asking the Bush administration to provide all necessary assistance to the cyclone victims in Bangladesh.

The House of Representatives expressed sympathy to the victims and pledged the support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of cyclone Sidr.

A spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka said yesterday that Congressman Steve Rothman of New Jersey introduced the bill on December 4.

Twenty-nine Congressmen co-sponsored the Bill, which was approved by 388 votes in favour and none against.

Rothman (for himself) Schiff, Engel, Hastings of Florida, McDermott, McGovern, Ryan of Ohio, Moran of Virginia, Israel, Fattah, Ms Kaptur, Berman, Ms Bordallo, Crowley, Wexler, Honda, Ms McCollum of Minnesota, Davis of Illinois, Bluemenauer, Cohen, Ms Jackson-Lee of Texas, Van Hollen and Ms Lee had submitted the resolution.

In the resolution, the House of Representatives urged the US Government to immediately make available all appropriate assistance requested by the Bangladeshi authorities.

The US Congress reaffirmed its commitment to provide relief aid to the victims as the effects of the cyclone continue to unfold.

"The adoption of the bill can be viewed as a recognition of healthy US-Bangladesh relations. I am deeply satisfied and the Bangladeshi nation is grateful to their friends in the US legislature", Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said.

It is reported that the bill was voted at this time, despite a very crowded calendar, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a special intervention to make room for the adoption.

The resolution said, "Whereas on November 15, Cylcone Sidr hit the coast of southern Bangladesh with 155 mile-an-hour winds that smashed tens of thousands of homes, damaged roads and buildings, and caused a 16-foot tidal surge that ruined thousands of hectares of crops. Early reports have branded the destruction from Cyclone Sidr as the worst in Bangladesh in 16 years."

The resulting damage from the Cyclone is estimated to have affected 4,000,000 people so far through evacuation from and loss of their homes, over half of the affected internally displaced population is children, an estimated 400,000 of whom are under the age of 5. Bangladesh's Disaster Ministry now estimates that the homes of over 750,000 people were damaged or destroyed, the death toll from the cyclone is already at 3,500 and continues to climb, the Bangladesh Red Crescent has warned that the number of dead could ultimately be as high as 10,000.

The 5 districts in southern Bangladesh that were most drastically affected by the cyclone are Patuakhali, Barguna, Bagerhat, Barisal, and Pirojpur, the resolution continued.

Hundreds of thousands of people in remote areas of Patuakhali and Barguna are currently cut off from relief operations, which has caused widespread starving and suffering from the lack of access to drinking water and medicines, one relief worker commented that Bagerhat looked like a 'valley of death' in the days after the storm, an entire island in Barisal, another district of southern Bangladesh, was submerged under at least 6 feet of water and houses were blown away by winds, in Pirojpur it is estimated that it will take at least 1 week to restore the power supply, the resolution said.

The capital, Dhaka, which is located over 130 miles away from the devastated southern coastline, was also impacted by storm, losing access to power and water for days, a massive tidal wave that was caused by Cyclone Sidr hit the Sunderbans, the world's biggest mangrove forest that is home to the endangered Royal Bengal tiger, leaving a wake of death and destruction that have caused experts to declare the forest an `ecological disaster';

Officials at the United Nations World Food Programme have appealed for international aid to help save lives in Bangladesh, noting that food supplies have been severely disrupted by the cyclone and that there was risk of famine; and due to the limited access to water supply and sanitation facilities that millions of Bangladeshis will face, health officials have begun warning against the serious possibility of cholera, dysentery, and other waterborne diseases, the House of Representatives expressed its heartfelt sympathy for the victims of Cyclone Sidr, which has affected southern Bangladesh, the resolution noted.

It conveyed its sincere support to the people of Bangladesh and urged the United States Government to immediately make available all appropriate assistance requested by the Bangladeshi authorities.

The House of Representatives reaffirmed its commitment to provide relief aid to the victims as the effects of the cyclone continue to unfold, the resolution added.

Staff Reporter

Former Awami League Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah was sentenced to nine years imprisonment while party leader Kazi Zafrullah was sent to jail by separate courts yesterday.

A special court trying high profile corruption cases yesterday sentenced former Awami League (AL) Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah to nine years' imprisonment in absentia for non-submission of his income tax return, concealling real income and evading tax.

Pronouncing the verdict, Judge AK Roy also fined him Tk 40 lakh, in default, to suffer six months more in jail.

Besides, the Court ordered the Government to confiscate his wealth worth about Tk 1.66 crore.

"The sentences come into effect after his arrest or surrender to the Court," the Court order said.

National Board of Revenue filed the case against Hasnat Abdullah in October.

Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor Syed Shameem Ahsan Habib conducted the case.

Meanwhile, AL Presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, who was rearrested from the jail gate on Tuesday, was sent to jail yesterday after he was produced before the Court.

He was re-arrested at the jail gate on charge of making inflammatory statement against the Government violating the emergency power rules (EPR) when his supporters assembled to receive him, said the police report to the Court.

Kazi Zafrullah, a former MP from Faridpur, was earlier arrested in March in an extortion case. The High Court enlarged him on bail to come out of the Dhaka Central Jail on Tuesday evening when he was taken into custody again.

Staff Report

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam urged the international donors to change their mindset in funding developments through government and non-governmental channels.

They are "neither angels nor devils," he said while addressing a discussion on 'the research and policy divide: Meeting the policy research challenge in Bangladesh' held at the LGED auditorium yesterday in the capital. Responding to some discussants' allegation against the funding agencies, the Adviser said, donors are human beings, not angels or devils. So their mindset could be changed through discussion.

He mentioned that the recommendations that are coming out from the researchers have very little connection with the reality and policy demand.

"The researchers have to change the mindset of the donors. Policymakers have to change their mindset as well about the researchers, " he added. The discussion was organised by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), which was sponsored by Manusher Jonno Foundation.

BIDS Director General Dr Quazi Shahabuddin chaired the moot where Prof Mosharraf Hossain was present as guest of honour and the Foundation executive director Shaheen Anam as special guest.

Pointing out the lack of good research in the recent times, Dr Aziz termed research as a time-consuming matter, but the policymakers or donors are not allowing the researchers to give considerable time to finish a research.

He called it administrative problem rather than a financial one.

The Adviser of the caretaker government blamed some researchers also for their callousness. "In this fiscal budget the government allocated Tk350 crore for research in agriculture, but, after six months, I am yet to have any guideline from the researchers," he said.

He also took to task a section of researchers who are politically biased. "Our society is highly politicised, that's why we find some recommendations politically biased," Dr Aziz told his audience mostly comprising researchers.

He pointed out that the BIDS is now suffering from "reputation crisis" in the recent years as some of its senior and good researchers desert this official research think-tank.

"I don't know the reasons behind their leaving-it might be the salary or any other thing. But if you have any problem, I would suggest you to communicate to me," he said.

BIDS research director KAS Murshid presented keynote in the discussion on 'Bridging the research and policy divide-Introductory remarks'.

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court Wednesday declared "illegal" the appointment of Justice MA Aziz Chief Election Commissioner in his immediate-past tenure as CEC, sealing the scope for government to allow any chosen person to concurrently hold two constitutional posts.

A division bench, comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Abdul Awal, pronounced the judgment, making its twin-rule absolute.

The High Court on June 18 in 2005, following a PIL writ petition, had issued a rule upon the then CEC Aziz, the Election Commission and the government to explain why Aziz's holding the office of CEC alongside being a sitting Supreme Court judge 'should not be held illegal'.

It had also issued rule asking the respondents to show cause under what authority Justice Aziz claimed to be simultaneously holding both offices.

During the hearing of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by three lawyers, the court sought legal aid from some eminent jurists-Dr Kamal Hosain, TH Khan, Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Mahmudul Islam and Shahdeen Malik-as amicus curiae.

Justice Aziz, keeping his post of judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, assumed the office of CEC on May 23, 2005, during the BNP-led alliance regime, and landed in controversy by preparing a fresh voter list ignoring Higher Court directive.

On January 21, this year, CEC Aziz resigned, citing a major political alliance's lack of confidence in him and to avert further political unrest in the country.

The political turmoil had toppled the previous caretaker government, in the meantime, and the incumbent one recast the Election Commission.

The writ petitioners were Advocates Ruhul Quddus Babu, Abdul Mannan Khan and Nazneen Nahar Dipu.

Advocate MI Faruqui, assisted by advocate MK Rahman, appeared for the petitioners.

Staff Reporter

Acting President of Bangladesh Awami League Zillur Rahman yesterday demanded the release of the detained party chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to allow her to join post Cyclone relief programme.

He said, "To face the disastrous situation after the cyclone Sidr the release of Sheikh Hasina is a must," he said, "In the flood of 98 the country could face the devastation of the flood under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina efficiently."

He said this while inaugurating education assistance programme for the students of the Sidr affected areas by Bangladesh Chhatra League, student front of Awami League, at the Party's President's Office at Dhanmondi.

AL Presidium Member Matia Chowdhury, Acting Secretary General Syed Ashraful, Organising Secretary Abdul Mannan, Science and

Technology Secretary Yafes Ahmed, Women Affairs Secretary Dr Dipu Moni and BM Mozammel, among others were present at the function presided over by President of BCL Mahmud Hasan Ripon.

Matia Chowdhury accused the government that it had failed to reach relief items to all affected areas even after three weeks. She said the Government lacks efficiency for that they could not reach all the affected areas even after three weeks."

She termed the post-cyclone situation as national crisis and said, "National crisis can be faced by national unity."

The BCL has taken initiative to reach educational kits including pens and papers among 20,000 students in the Sidr-affected areas.