The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday accepted the resignation letter of Education and Cultural Adviser Ayub Quadri, a Cabinet Division statement said here.

"The President has accepted his resignation," said the statement signed by Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar.

Bangabhaban officials said the President accepted the resignation letter at about 1.30 PM as it reached him from the Cabinet Division.

Officials earlier said the adviser sent the resignation letter to the President "on personal ground" despite dissuasion from Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and other cabinet colleagues five days after two terracotta Vishnu images were stolen from the airport just ahead of the flight of the second consignment of artefacts to Paris for an exhibition.

But the development came hours after the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) overnight tracked down the artifact thieves and obtained information on the whereabouts of the statues while searches were underway to recover the relics.

Quadri earlier told newsmen that he was considering tendering resignation after the loss of rare antiques. "It's me who must take the responsibility as the head of the cultural affairs ministry for the lost artefacts."

Named 'Vishnu' and 'Bust of Vishnu', the 1,500-year-old statues are from Gupta era of the seventh century. Since being discovered in a dig at Mahasthangarh of Bogra, they had been kept at the National Museum.

Staff Reporter

After obtaining 'vital clues,' from the arrested persons, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday launched a massive hunt in different parts of the city to recover the two 1,500 year-old stolen statues of Hindu god Vishnu.

RAB sources said they were hopeful of finding the stolen statues.

RAB suspects that an 'influential' person living in the Sector No. 13 at Uttara may be involved in the incident of stealing.

A source of RAB said that the arrested persons under remand disclosed the names of a group of smugglers involved in the stealing of the two rare terracotta statues of the Hindu god Vishnu. The names include a former adviser of the caretaker government.

However, the RAB source declined to disclose the name of the former adviser for the sake of "investigation."

The incident of stealing of two invaluable statues is now being investigated by the Detective Branch of Police, CID, RAB, Special Branch of Police, and members of other intelligence agencies.

Officials of police and RAB said the Civil Aviation authority is supposed to ensure the security and safety of the airport area. No untoward incident could take place without the connivance of these two agencies.

Col Gulzaruddin Ahmed, Additional Director General of RAB told journalists in the morning that they had received 'appropriate' information about the stolen statues. "We got all the information about who took away the statues from the Zia International Airport and which vehicle was used to steal the statues. Now hunt for the stolen statues at Uttara is going on," he said.

Acting on the confession of the arrested persons, RAB launched a sudden operation at a house at Sector No. 13 in Uttara in the morning. But, the statues were not found in that house.

SM Abul Kalam Azad, Director of the Media and Legal Wing of RAB, said the stolen statues could not be recovered till the afternoon. The suspects who were taken on remand disclosed vital information. After stealing the statues, the thieves took them to a house at Road No. 7/B at Sector No. 13 in Uttara. Later, the statues were dumped into a nearby dustbin from the house.

Later, a RAB team conducted searches in the garbage of the dustbin.

Led by Col Asif Ahmed Ansari, head of RAB's Intelligence Wing, another team of RAB-1 conducted massive searches in the garbage at a garbage dumping ground at Baliajuri in Aminbazar, adjacent to Modhumoti Model Town throughout the day. RAB claimed that they found two pieces of a statue there.

With the help of 50 labourers, as many as 100 RAB personnel carried out massive searches in the garbage. Ansari told reporters that the RAB personnel would start their searches again from today morning.

After conducting raids at city's Uttara, Mirpur, Jatrabari and Savar areas, the RAB men recovered some broken pieces of statues from Aminbazar area at noon yesterday.

Sources at RAB claimed that the statues were broken apart being frightened of the law enforcers and then dumped into the dustbin.

However, it could not be confirmed whether the broken parts actually belonged to the original statues.

RAB also expressed the apprehension that the statues might have been broken apart following the disclosure of the incident of stealing.

However, doubts still remain about whether the statues would subsequently be found intact or not.

However, the National Museum authorities said the pieces of statues, recovered yesterday from Aminbazar in Savar, are not similar to the two stolen rare terracotta artefacts of Hindu god Vishnu.

Investigators believe that the stolen statues of god Vishnu belonging to the 6th and 7th centuries are still in the country. They have not been smuggled out of the country.

On the other hand, arrested 15 employees of Air France, Voyager Airlines and Bangladesh Biman are now being interrogated inside the Task Force Intelligence Cell of RAB.

Amir Hamja, one of the 15 arrested persons placed on a five-day remand, was produced before the court yesterday and he made a statement confessing his involvement in stealing the statues. The rest 14 arrested persons are still on remand and they would be produced before the court on December 31.

Apart from these 15 persons, the RAB arrested nine more people, believed to be involved in smuggling at Zia International Airport, in connection with the stealing of two artefacts of Hindu god Vishnu. They were produced before the court yesterday by police and RAB. Of them, six persons made confession saying their involvement in stealing the statues.

Sources at RAB headquarters said during interrogation, the arrested nine people reportedly confessed that they stole the artefacts from Zia International Airport. After heisting the masterpieces, they broke both the rare artefacts into pieces and threw them into a dustbin.

Following their statement, the RAB men have been conducting raids in city's Uttara, Mirpur, Jatrabari and Savar areas looking for the broken pieces of the two statues.

They are Lutfar Rahman, Monir Hossain, Nikhil Chandra Das, Nurul Islam Nuru, Abdul Hamid and Uzzal Hossain.

Producing them before the court, police sought remand for another two. They are Anwara Begum and Mizanur Rahman. The rest one accused Moksed Ali was sent to jail hajat.

With the latest arrest, the number of arrestees has stood at 24.

It may be recalled that the artefacts were found missing on last Friday during a check of the cartons being shifted to a plane of Air France. Later, police arrested 15 people, including three Air France officials, who are now on police remand.

Some 147 artefacts packed in 13 cartons were taken to the airport on Friday to send them to Paris for exhibition at Guimet Museum.

On Tuesday night, the government decided not to send the artefacts to Guimet Museum and to take back from the airport the 12 cartons containing 145 artefacts to the National Museum.

Forty-two artefacts already sent to Guimet museum in Paris for exhibition are being crated for flying those back to Dhaka following Bangladesh government's request.

A French embassy release yesterday said the Guimet museum has been informed of the decision of the Bangladesh government and of the request to send back the 42 items already in the museum.

"The artefacts are being crated," the release said, adding the Guimet museum should be contacted directly if more information is sought.

It said France took note of the sovereign decision of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to cancel the loan agreements between the Guimet museum in Paris and various cultural institutions in Bangladesh.

"We fully respect this decision while regretting the cancellation of an event likely to enhance the cultural presence of Bangladesh throughout the world," the release noted.

It said, "France reaffirms its readiness to carry on its cooperation with the People's Republic of Bangladesh in the friendly manner that has always prevailed."

The French embassy cancelled its press conference scheduled for yesterday (Thursday), "considering the complex situation and the ongoing investigations."

It said, "The French Embassy, while fully cooperating with the investigating authorities, will wait for the results of these

Mashiur Rahaman

Disappointed shareholders of the United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL) has sold out 50040 shares within a single trading session yesterday. This plunged the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) index into red.

Trading of UCBL shares started at Tk 4453.75 per share at opening, which closed at Tk 3989 per share rate. This selling pressure have also impure trading of other banking shares and forced DSE to close its trading day with 24.786 points loss in general index. Talking to The New Nation, shareholders expressed their disappointment over UCBL decision on dividend issue. According to them, such decisions have deprived a large proportion of shareholders who expected to receive a healthy profit return at the year-end.

According to UCBL notification, issued on December 26, 2007, the Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of the bank for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively would be held on January 10, 2008. The Board, after a meeting on December 26, 2007 earlier declared 9 (nine) Bonus shares for every 10 (ten) ordinary shares out of the profit accumulated for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 kept as retained earnings as at December 31, 2004.

The Board also announced the record date for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 would remain September 25, 2005 as declared earlier.

Moreover, the UCBL Board Meeting through another notification, also have informed that the board has decided to hold 23rd AGM for the year 2006 which will be held on January 31, 2008 and recommended 5 (five) Bonus shares for every 10 (ten) ordinary shares out of the profit for the year 2005. According to the notification, record date for 23rd AGM of the bank will be January 16, 2008.

This is unacceptable, said a disappointed shareholder of the bank. "We hold this share for quite a long time despite it's per share value reached over Tk 6000. We expected to receive profitable return as dividend for general shareholders as the IFIC recently announced," he expressed his depression. Despite the the fact that the 24th AGMs of UCBL for the year 2007 is yet to be announced, share holders selling out their UCBL shares out of disappointment at over Tk 2000 per share loss.

"These shareholders were mostly the short term investors who have purchased UCBL share at such a higher rate. Now they are withdrawing their capital from with the desire to purchase petroleum shares as they are gradually climbing upward," said a market expert from the LankaBangla Securities.

According to him, the two leading government owned petroleum companies, Meghna Oil and Jamuna Oil, are expected to enter capital business by the second week of January 2008.

"This news pulling investors attentions towards other existing oil shares in the market. Those who have lost their capital in UCBL, witnessing the oil sector as the most potential sector to recover their losses," explained the market expert to The New Nation.

Other than chaos in UCBL shares, trading in most other shares remained stable and the DSE general index closed at 3003.88 points level, he added informed.

On the day's trading, total number of trading share was 40 lakes, worth Tk 123.474 crore. Total market capitalization in DSE reached at Tk 73908.78 crore as recorded.

Price of total 89 shares was advanced on the day where 118 others declined. Price of 5 other shares remained unchanged.

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has said effective civil-military cooperation, both in times of peace and in war, is a must for a functioning democracy.

"If the military can play a constructive role in times of war, they can play a similar role in times of peace too. There is no inherent contradiction between democratic aspirations and aspirations of the armed forces. They only complement each other," he said.

Speaking at a seminar on Role of the Armed Forces in Strengthening Democracy: A proposal for National Security and Development Council at BILIA Auditorium on Thursday, he said, "Many tend to view the interests of democracy and that of the armed forces as mutually incompatible. This assumes as if the armed forces are not part of the society as a whole.

To build a better society, we must think in more inclusive terms. An emerging nation can ill afford a divisive mindset. "

Iftekhar said many of the modern democracies emerged from the ashes of war. Their armed forces - more often than not - played a catalytic role in securing their independence and statehoods.

He said, "In many cases, Generals and military leaders are their national heroes. Let's not forget General Washington and General De Gaulle were critical, not only in leading their respective liberation wars, but also in promoting democratic ethos and norms in their nascent states."

The Advisor said, "Our armed forces have earned acclaim for their significant contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, which require extensive civil-military cooperation."

He said modern peacekeeping operations require a multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder approach. Development is an important component of peacekeeping and peace building operations.

"Given our national experience in excellent civil-military cooperation, we should be able to continue our robust presence in multi-dimensional peace and development operations. This will, in turn, contribute to strengthen our democracy," Iftekhar observed.

He said pluralism is the essential characteristic of a modern democracy. It is only expected that divergent views will persist in a democratic society, but all views must converge on the issue of national interest and national security.

"We may disagree on how the state should function or who should lead, but we must agree on the pre-eminence of national security," he said, adding national security must remain sacrosanct, inviolable.

The Advisor said democracy cannot function without a comprehensive national security. By comprehensive security, he meant both economic and political security. Democracy thrives when the state is secure and stable.

"We must ensure national security to uphold democracy…The perception that national security is simply a function of military might is no longer valid, " he told the seminar.

The Advisor said a wider spectrum of trans-state, intra-state and personal violence has replaced inter-state conflicts. The preponderance of 'human security' threats, such as epidemic and natural disasters, has also grown.

He said safeguarding national security is a collective responsibility. It requires collective actions. There is scope for specialization, but not for compartmentalization.

Chowdhury said, "We cannot take a parochial view of national security. There is also no scope to glorify one aspect of national security and undermine other dimensions. We must learn to pursue our defensive and offensive security interests in sync with each other."

The Advisor also mentioned the armed forces' role in conducting rescue and relief operations after cyclone 'Sidr' battered the country and their pivotal role in preparing a new voter roll with photographs.

He said the on-going voter ID project, jointly implemented by our Election Commission and the armed forces, will put democracy on a much stronger footing. This will reduce the possibility of electoral frauds and ensure smooth transition of power-the key requirements for a functioning democracy.

Former Adviser Mahbubul Alam, former Army Chief Lt. Gen. (Rtd)

Mahbubur Rahman, NDC Commandant Abu Tyeb M Zahirul Alam, Addl. Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmood and Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed of Dhaka University spoke at the seminar.

CNNnews .Com

World leaders reacted with shock and condemnation Thursday to the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The opposition leader died after a suicide bombing at a rally in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

"I am deeply shocked by news of the latest attack in Rawalpindi which has claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto and killed at least 15 other people," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a written statement. Bhutto "knew the risks of her return to campaign but was convinced that her country needed her."

Miliband called for restraint and unity in the former British colony. VideoWatch how Bhutto's political life was filled with turmoil "

President Bush, vacationing at his Texas ranch, has been "informed about the situation in Pakistan," said the White House, which offered no other immediate comment. "We condemn the acts of violence which took place today in Pakistan," said a spokesman. The president was expected to make a televised statement on the assassination at 11 a.m. ET.

In Washington, the State Department also condemned the attack, according to The Associated Press. "It demonstrates that there are still those in Pakistan who want to subvert reconciliation and efforts to advance democracy," said deputy spokesman Tom Casey, AP reported.

For months, the Bush administration has been encouraging Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to work out a compromise with his political opponents, including the popular Bhutto. The former prime minister's party is widely expected to do well in next month's elections.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called her death a terror attack.

"We strongly condemn this terrorist act, present our condolences to the family and friends of Benazir Bhutto and hope that Pakistani authorities will provide for national stability," said Russian ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly expressed concern that the Pakistani government "must do its best to ensure the maximum stability in the election period and prevent terrorist acts against Benazir Bhutto and other political leaders," said the Kamynin statement.

France called assassination an "odious act," according to the French Press Agency.

The rally bombing took place as Bhutto campaigned for a third term as prime minister in parliamentary elections set for January 8.

It was the second recent attack on Bhutto after she defied death threats and returned to her homeland from eight years of self-imposed exile. On October 18, a suicide bomber targeted her motorcade in Karachi, killing 136 people. Bhutto was unhurt in the attack.

The United Arab Emirates condemned the assassination of the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and called for the country to unite.

"The UAE has been tormented by this huge loss, which did not hit Pakistan only, but also affected the UAE," Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.

"Words fail to express our condemnation of this criminal act and our pain for the loss of Benazir Bhutto," he said, calling on the Pakistani people to "unite and put their differences aside.

The UAE was Bhutto's home during her eight years in exile and her family had remained in Dubai after her return to Pakistan in October.

Meanwhile Iran on Thursday comdemned the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and urged the authorities to track down the "terrorists" responsible for killing the former Pakistani prime minister.

"The criminal action on Thursday in Rawalpindi is strongly condemned," said foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini after the sucicide attack in Iran's southeastern neighbour, according to the website of state television.

"The Pakistan government should use all efforts to identify the terrorist group which caused this incident and punish them to prevent terrorist groups from finding opportunities to undertake such actions again," he added.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi condemned the "fanaticism" that caused the death of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto Thursday and called for "the difficult path to peace" to continue.

"I express my sadness and that of the whole government following the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto, a woman who wanted to fight her battle until the end with just one weapon-that of dialogue and political discussion," Prodi said in a statement.

"The difficult path towards peace and democracy in this region should not be abandoned and the sacrifice of the former prime minister t should be the strongest example for those who do not give up in the face of terrorism."

Japan on Thursday strongly condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, calling the attack "absolutely unacceptable."

"Japan condemns the attack," Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said after hearing the news on Bhutto's death. "It is absolutely unacceptable to try to solve something by the means of violence."

"I express my condolence from my heart," he told public broadcaster NHK.

"I strongly hope that Pakistan will pave the way toward democratisation by holding fair elections," he said.

UNB, Dhaka

The Advisers' Committee on Public Purchase Thursday approved the 50 MW rental power plant project to be set up at Fenchuganj in Sunamganj.

A local private firm, Barakatullah Electro Dynamics Limited (BEDL), will set up the plant as an independent power producer (IPP) project.

As per proposal placed by the Power Ministry, the plant will be barge, skid or trailer-mounted and the BEDL will install the plant under a joint venture with a foreign firm.

The Power Development Board (PDB) will purchase electricity from the project for 15 years for the national grid at Tk 2.01 per kilowatt-hour.

After approving the project, Finance and Planning Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, who presided over the committee meeting, told reporters that the private company proved it has experience in setting up a similar plant in Thailand.

They also showed the certified copy of their joint venture-ship with the foreign firm, he said.

The committee, known as Cabinet Purchase Committee, approved another proposal for import of 60,000 metric tons of refined petroleum from Egypt.

The Egyptian Middle East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) will supply the refined fuel at international rate charging a premium of US$5.20 per ton.

The purchase committee also approved two more proposals-appointment of contractors for the Chittagong Port Trade Facilitation project and the Rural Road Networking project, both ADB-supported.

The committee sent back a proposal of the Industries Ministry for import of 30,000 metric tons of MOP fertilizer as it found the quoted price too high.

The committee also sent back a proposal of the Shipping Ministry to construct a jetty and RCC yard at Pangaon Inland Container Depot finding its technical feasibility study incomplete.

There was a proposal from the Power Ministry for awarding a contract to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) of India for the construction of 100 MW simple cycle power plant in Sylhet. But the committee did not discuss the proposal for reasons not known.

In the international tender invited by the PDB, the BHEL was the lone bidder to win the contract.

The Finance Adviser hinted that the proposal might be placed in the next meeting of the committee for consideration.

Only to Chavez

BBC Online: Colombia says it will allow Venezuelan aircraft into its territory to collect three hostages who could be freed by Colombian rebels in the next day or so. The Colombian government agreed to the plan worked out by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, provided the aircraft carry Red Cross markings. The rebels say they will free two women and a child but only to Chavez. They are among some 45 high-profile captives the guerrillas want to swap for some 500 rebels in Colombian jails. Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo in Bogota announced the approval of Chavez's plan. The rebels have offered to free Clara Rojas, an aide to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, kidnapped in 2002, and Ms Rojas's young son Emmanuel - who was reportedly fathered by one of her guerrilla captors. The other hostage is former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez, who was kidnapped in 2001. Under the plan, Venezuelan airplanes and helicopters, with representatives of France, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Bolivia and Ecuador and the International Committee of the Red Cross also on board, will fly to the Colombian city of Villavicencio.

Referee pulls out gun

Kuala Lumpur: A Malaysian referee took out his gun and fired warning shots in the air after a local soccer match turned unruly following the suspension of a player, a newspaper said Tuesday. The referee, who was also a policeman, ran to his patrol car to get his gun after players mobbed him for showing the red-card to one of them, the New Straits Times said. "We are investigating as to whether the policeman was justified in taking out his firearm and discharging it, and also why he had it with him during the match," it quoted Hussin Ismail, police chief in the southern Johor state, as saying.