The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission is going to file a case against former Commerce Ministry adviser and BNP leader Barkat Ullah Bulu, his wife and son for concealing information and amassing wealth beyond their known sources of income.

According to sources, the Commission on Wednesday approved the filing of a first information report against Bulu, his wife Shamima Akhter and son Omar Sharif M Imran for acquiring immovable property worth 4.89 crore and movable assets worth Tk 3.37 crore which do not match their known sources of income.

Bulu, also Juba Dal president, is one of the 50 corrupt suspects whose names appeared on the corruption second list. Subsequently, he was issued with a notice by the ACC directing him to submit his wealth statement.

UNB, Khulna

Four powerful bombs were found in a garden at Mohammadpur village in Rupsa upazila early on Wednesday.

Police said acting on a tip-off, they went to the place at about 5am and found those bombs packed in small containers.

Rupsa thana police later brought the bombs to the thana and defused.

One Anisur Rahman was also arrested as a suspect.

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court Wednesday stayed the proceedings of a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission against detained Barisal city corporation mayor Majibor Rahman Sarwar.

Staying further proceedings of the case, following his petition, a division bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam issued rule upon the ACC to explain why its notice and subsequent institution of the case should not be declared "unlawful".

"The rule is made returnable in eight weeks," says the court order.

On July 8 last year, ACC deputy director of Barisal district AKM Fazlul Haque filed the case against mayor Sarwar. Sarwar's wife, Syeda Nasima Sarwar, have also been implicated in the case on charges of abetting her husband in protecting his "ill-gotten wealth".

The case was filed under sections of 26 (2) and 27 (1) of the ACC Act and Emergency Power Rules.

In the First Information Report (FIR), the complainant mentioned that the mayor hid information on his wealth worth Tk 3.86 crore in the statement submitted to the commission under the ongoing purge.

Besides, he accumulated Tk 9.93 crore which is disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The mayor submitted statement of wealth worth Tk 8.29 crore to the commission on July 26 last year through jail authority following the issuance of notice upon him.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan appeared for Sarwar.

UNB, Benapole

BDR and intelligence agencies have been closely following the destination of bulk of rice imported from India following allegation of hoarding.

More than 13,000 tons of Indian rice was unloaded at Benapole land port alone on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In spite of bulk imports and harvest of aman crop across the country in November-December, rice price is registering sharp increase to the worries of consumers and discomfort of the government. Price has increased by Tk 400 per quintal at Jessore rice trading centre during the last three days.

Informed sources said importers have been hoarding the rice at places, especially along the border.

A senior official of BDR told UNB that they and intelligence agencies have been directed to closely watch the destinations of the rice unloaded at Benapole. The step has been taken to stabilize the rice market by discouraging hoarding by the importers.

Informed sources said 16 big business houses are the main importers of rice from India.

Officials at the land port said, Petrapole customs on the other side of the border on Wednesday morning issued gate pass to 273 trucks loaded with rice to cross over to Benapole port. Of them, 220 with about 5,000 tons could come and unload the consignment till 6pm. Port officials arranged receiving the rice consignments till 8pm. Some 7,580 tons of rice was unloaded at the port on Tuesday.

Informed sources said Bangladeshi traders have been buying rice at Burdwan, the biggest rice trading centre in West Bengal State, at the prevailing price of around 320 dollars, equivalent to Tk 22,217 per ton.

They have, however, ceased to open L/C following the Indian government raised the minimum export price to 500 dollars per ton on December 27.

BSS, Dhaka

The government has approved a proposal of acquiring 143.98 acres of land for implementing two private sector projects in Dhaka and Narayanganj districts.

The approval was given at the 77th meeting of the Central land allocation committee at the conference room of the Land Ministry.

The Adviser for Land, Law, Information and Housing and Public Works Barrister Mainul Hosein chaired the meeting, said a press release.

The meeting decided to acquire 143.4913 acres of land in favour of the Bangladesh Police Officers Multipurpose Cooperative Samity Ltd for its housing project at Barua mouja under Khilkhet thana in the Cantonment area in Dhaka.

It also decided to acquire 0.4875 acres of land in favour of Iffat Industries Ltd at Adhuria mouja at Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj district.

Acting land secretary Mosleh Uddin, officials of concerned ministry were present at the meeting.

DU Correspondent

The admission test of 'Kha' Unit under Arts Faculty of Dhaka University for the first year session 2007-08 will be held on February 1.

At an emergency meeting presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz yesterday the Deans committee revised the date from January 11.

However, 'Gha' Unit admission test under Social Science Faculty will be held on January 18 as per the previous schedule.

The admission test of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) will be held at 3:00pm instead of 10:00am on February 1.