The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Divisional Special Court here in the port city today framed charges of public fund plundering against the Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and two other co-accused.

SM Solaiman, judge of the special court, framed charges against the Mayor, former Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Imtiaz Hossain and Chief Engineer [CE] Moktar Alam in the case of defalcating more than Tk17 million by running Bijoy TV.

All three accused were produced before the court during a marathon session of arguments between defence lawyers and public prosecutor.

The judge set January 15 to start testifying the witnesses and the records of plundering public funds.

Public Prosecutor [PP] Zahurul Haque told reporters that some 30 people had been made witnesses in the plundering case.

"Imtiaz Hossain and Moktar Alam allegedly in connivance with Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury received Tk 17.8 million from the CCC funds misusing the power of the Mayor and Tk 17 million had been plundered in the name of setting up the Bijoy TV channel," the PP said.

The accused reportedly returned only Tk 800 thousand prior to the submission of the charge sheet in the case, he added.

Defence lawyer Ibrahim Hossain Babul refuted the charges, saying that the accused had returned Tk 14.1 million by now and that the rest of the amount would be deposited to the CCC account soon.

The defense lawyer further claimed the Mayor had the right to withdraw money from the CCC fund with no intention of plundering the amount. He claimed that his clients did not commit any crime by doing so.

The defence lawyer submitted a petition praying quashing of the charges brought against his clients.

The PP said the court would consider how much money was returned until the charge sheet of the case was submitted. "The amount was only Tk 800 thounsands only".

The CCC Mayor claimed himself innocent and requested dropping of the charges against him.

Earlier, Deputy Director of the Anticorruption Commission in Chittagong Mohammad Aref Siddiqui filed the graft case on May 27, 2007 with Kotwali Police Station.Investigation officer and ACC assistant director Abul Kalam Azad submitted the charge sheet on November 21.

UNB, Dhaka

Dr. M Tamim, the newly appointed Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Sunday said his priority would be to expedite the process of inviting international bids for hydrocarbon exploration in the country's deep sea territory.

"This is one of my priority areas as the country has been facing gas shortage… many thought the country's natural gas will be depleted within 10-15 years. But I don't agree with them if we take steps for more exploration," he told reporters after taking charge of the Energy Division of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resource Ministry.

The caretaker government moved for holding international bidding for deep sea hydrocarbon exploration and now the relevant documents are being scritinised by an interministerial committee headed by the Energy Secretary.

The proposal and documents were placed to a high level Cabinet body to approve. But the body formed the committee for further scrutiny of the documents.

Dr. Tamim, the BUET's professor-turned Special Assistant, who has vast knowledge in energy sector and also earlier had discharged his duty as technical expert and member of many technical committees on energy issues, said his target is to complete the 3rd round gas block bidding within a short time so that the next dry season could be utilized for exploration. He said he would initiate a move to develop an energy roadmap comprising short, medium and long term planning.

The long-term plan should be for 25 years while medium-term plan should be for 10-15 years and the short-term one for immediate action, he said, adding this would be year-wise workable plans determining what kind of works are to be done in which year.

Dr. Tamim, a professor of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was also one of the vital members of the national committee formed in 2002 to ascertain the country's gas reserves.

About the tri-nation gas pipeline from Myanmar to India via Bangladesh, he said: "I am positive to any such pipeline whether it is regional or international. Because, Bangladesh needs to be connected with such gas network for its own benefit and energy security so that when we face shortage, we can take gas from that network."

On the price-hike of petroleum fuel, he said this is a very sensitive issue and a big concern as the country is paying huge subsidy on petroleum.

"We are buying at US$ 100 per barrel, but selling at US$ 50. This is painful. But many things are related with the issue. This has a major impact on the economy. So, whenever any decision is made, it will be in a manner so that the poor are not affected," said Dr. Tamim.

Replying to a question on coal sector, he said any decision on coal sector should be taken nationally. "Because, we are now dependent on single energy sources, we need energy diversification for the sake of ensuring our energy security."

JU Correspondent

A tense situation is prevailing among the students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) following the clash between the two rival groups of students belonging to Jatiytabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) disrupting the academic atmosphere.

Residential students have started to leave their dormitories as the administration failed to ensure their security. Though the authorities have deployed large number of members of the law enforcing agencies at different points of the university, the rival groups of students locked in skirmishing at intervals.

The law enforcing agency men have already raided two dorms of the university but they could not recover any lethal weapons from the students. Though the rival groups have filed a total of four cases against one another with Savar and Ashulia police stations, none have yet been arrested.

It is thought that some influential teachers of the university are acting as agent provocateurs of this unrest. As a result, the concerned authorities are in a fix to stave off the violence.

It may be mentioned that 80 students including the president, general secretary of BCL and some leaders and activists of JCD were injured following an altercation over cell phone threat to one of the party leaders.

Of them 30 students were injured critically and admitted to different hospital of Dhaka city.

Staff Reporter

The Meghna Petroleum Ltd. will start its share trading in open market today, in both the equity markets in the country.

As per prescheduled announcement the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) have taken necessary initiatives to welcome the new company in equity business. On the other hand, investors, who have failed to get access to Jamuna Oil on January 9, 2007, are eagerly waiting to secure their hold over the state-owned petroleum shares on the very first day of trading.

However experts have advised investors to avoid buying instantly this time as was witnessed for the Jamuna Oil.

"Overpricing of Jamuna Oil has already disappointed shares holders within only three trading sessions. If the Meghna Oil witnesses similar buying intensity on its opening, it will face the same problem as well," said an market expert to The New Nation. According to him, when a script of Tk10 face value jumps at Tk 561 per share on its very first trading day, shows extreme abnormality, which is unhealthy for equity business.

"How an over charging script could harm investment, trading record of Jamuna Oil during the last three sessions is the example," added disappointed market investors. Shares of Jamuna Oil reached Tk 952 per share on its first trading, which at the last closure trading at Tk 529.9 per share in DSE. "Calculate, how much investors have already lost per shares in this script," he added.

According to him, if investors don't show caution in buying Meghna Oil today, they might suffer the worse. On the basis of company record and current equity market position for petroleum shares, market experts have advised investors to avoid any purchase over Tk 200 each in Meghna Oil.

"Over 200 percent growth is enough. Primary bid price should not cross the mark, as witnessed in Jamuna Oil. Trading beyond this rate will be abnormal and risky," said expert.

"On the basis of per share dividend announcement, Jamuna Oil is now at unexpected height, which is very unstable. Condition of Meghna Oil is even worse in per share dividend announcement," said another market experts.

However, disappointing trading in Jamuna Oil was blamed for unwise company policy. According to investors, the company and its representative is offloading very few number of shares in the market, causing the script inaccessible.

"This is a wrong strategy, taken by the company," investors said. If a share of a certain script is unavailable, how could trade go on, said disappointed investors to The New Nation.

According to pre-announcement, the state-owned Meghna Oil Ltd will offload 1.20 crore shares in the open market with a face value of Tk 10 per share today.

According to the DSE notification yesterday, market administration has explained certain rules and regulation to follow in trading with the new script.

Investors would be allowed to purchase Market lot of 100 shares or multiple but not more than 500 shares in a single order per BO Account. No investor will place sale order in first two trading days, as stated.

On first day, from 11th minute, the seller's agent (ICB) will start selling at the best market price. Trading will continue based on market demand for the same, informed the DSE notification.

Staff Reporter

Election Board of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) has announced the date of the stalled election for the term 2007-09.

According to the board-meeting announcement yesterday with the Board Chairman Prof Ali Ashraf in the chair, the election would be held on March 17, 2008. According to the announcement, the elected directors will choose the President, First Vice-President and Vice-President in an election at 4:00 pm on March 19, 2008.

Intending candidates for directorship election have been requested to collect CIB (Credit Information Bureau) form of Bangladesh Bank along with the nomination papers from the office of the FBCCI election Board.

Candidates, who have already submitted their nomination as per the previous schedule, would not need to submit again, but will have to submit the CIB form with the latest information on their credit status.

The FBCCI election was stalled over a membership dispute with a FBCCI member-body, BGMEA.

As a result, the Ministry of Commerce, the regulatory authority, extended the tenure of the FBCCI Board of Directors with president Mir Nasir Hossain to December 6, 2007. However, they could not hold the election during the extended period due to the court order over the membership dispute.

The Nasir -led committee took over charge of the apex trade body on September 5 in 2005 for a two-year term until September 5, 2007.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce on December six last year appointed Syed Manzur Elahi as the administrator of the apex trade body with the main assignment of conducting the election in his three-month tenure.

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Unauthorised structures on Begunbari canal in the city have to be removed and allotment of plots in the area must be cancelled to achieve the goals of Tk 1, 474-crore Begunbari-Hatirjheel Integrated Development Project, said experts.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project October last year with a view to restoring water flow of the canal for drainage and easing east-west traffic load in Dhaka city by constructing a ring-road. Under the project, Begunbari canal will be dredged to mitigate the water-logging in Dhaka city.

Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, VC of BRAC University and also civil engineer and traffic planning expert, said, "There should not be any obstacle within the canal area if the project is aimed at serving drainage purposes restoring the Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel catchment areas."

An expert team of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) led by Prof Mujibur Rahman has been employed to carry out a comprehensive feasibility study for detailed designing of the project. The team is ready to start the study and it may take little more than six months to complete.

Prof Mujibur Rahman said, "Our priority in the detailed drainage study would be to ensure drainage facility and adequate flow of storm water. In case we find any structure in the channel that obstructs the drainage flow, we will recommend its removal."

The Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) earmarks the Begunbari canal as a natural canal and a designated flood flow zone, prohibiting any change to its character.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has constructed a 15-storey commercial building on the Begunbari canal in the city area without obtaining design approval from the authorities.

The previous government allotted four plots to the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Hotel Hilton (Millennium Holding Ltd) and International Arbitration Centre in violation of environment and wetland conservation related laws.

It had also leased out eight large plots in the Bugunbari canal including four for CNG filling stations, not only in violation of the master plan of Dhaka city but also bending Bangladesh Railway's land management rules of 2006, sources said.

The government has cancelled plot allotments in favour of the BTMA and International Arbitration Centre. But it is yet to cancel allotments to FBCCI and Hotel Hilton, according to the Bangladesh Railway authority.

The then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the 15-storey high-rise on November 28, 1998 while another former Premier Khaleda Zia inaugurated the complete building on October 8, 2006.

KAM Haroon, Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) said, "The BGMEA building is illegal, as it has not obtained design approval as of today. We will act as per recommendations of the BUET expert team."

Architect Mubasshar Hussain, President of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) said, "It is the duty of Prime Minister's Office (now Chief Adviser's Office) to check legality and authenticity of an establishment before the PM or Chief Adviser inaugurates it."

The same team led by Prof Mujibur Rahman carried out a similar survey in 2004, the final report of which was submitted in 2005, allowing a proposed 13-acre development scheme of the RAJUK on the Begunbari canal and the entire stretch of Hatirjheel.

The RAJUK board at a meeting on July 2003 instructed BGMEA to consult with the BUET expert team and obtain clearance for its 15-storey building, which BGMEA didn't.

Prof Rahman said, "A structure like BGMEA building is 'not compatible' with the idea of developing and conserving the Begunbari canal as a sewer facility. This time, we will be all the more focused on ensuring environmental and drainage aspects of the Begunbari canal. In fact, we just identified the building in our topographic survey as it was already in place as an existing structure."

A BGMEA official said that they had started the construction before obtaining design approval thinking they would certainly get the approval. But he agreed that rules-wise it had been an unauthorised work. "We should have constructed the building only after having obtained the approval," he said.

Staff Reporter

The physical condition of noted dramatist and teacher of Jahangirnagar University Selim Aldin remains unchanged as he has been kept alive with life support apparatus.

Physicians at LabAid Cardiac Hospital have been giving artificial respiration to Selim Aldin by pulmonary ventilation.

They said that Selim Aldin's heart was kept active artificially by mechanical respirator. His condition is very critical. The artificial respiration is now being provided by physicians under the supervision of a medical board formed to look after the treatment of Selim Aldin. He is now undergoing treatment under the supervision of cardiologist Prof APN Sohrabuzzaman.

On the other hand, people belonging to the country's cultural arena have been thronging the LabAid Hospital everyday hearing the illness of Selim Aldin.

Contd on page-2 Col-3

They urged the caretaker government to arrange necessary treatment for dramatist Selim Aldin to save his life.

Nasiruddin Yusuf, president of Sanmilito Sangskritik Jote, yesterday called upon the caretaker government to make necessary arrangement for better treatment of Selim Aldin at abroad.

On the other hand, Information Secretary Jamil Hossain yesterday went to LabAid Hospital to enquire about the treatment of Selim Aldin on behalf of the government.

He said that Tk 50 lakh was arranged for the treatment of ailing dramatist. If necessary, the government would provide necessary financial support.

Selim Aldin, a noted dramatist and a professor of the Department of Drama and Dramatics of Jahangirnagar University, was admitted to BIRDEM Hospital at Shahbagh on Friday evening with the complains of chest pain and difficulties in breathing. As his condition was deteriorated, he was shifted to LabAid Cardiac Hospital at Dhanmondi later at night.

Doctors said Selim Aldin had been suffering from chronic bronchitis, high blood pressure, and kidney problems. Besides, complications in his gallbladder were detected after examination on Friday. That is why the doctors have been facing difficulties to provide him treatment, because treatment of a particular disease often deteriorates other diseases.

Hearing the news of illness of Selim Aldin, dramatists Nasir Uddin Yusuf, Mamunur Rashid, Channel I's managing director Faridur Reza Sagar, Piyush Bandopaddhaya, Shimul Yusuf, Hasan Arif, Biplob Bala, Afzal Hossain, Jhuna Chowdhury and Shahiduzzaman Selim, among others, rushed to the LabAid Cardiac Hospital.

Staff Reporter

There is no scope of getting special privilege as a woman or former prime minister under the existing laws of the country, said Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury yesterday.

"Law should be allowed to take its own course," she said while commenting on the two detained former prime ministers of the country.

The adviser was giving an interview to the private television channel, Channel I yesterday.

According to Rasheda K Chowdhury, government's dialogues with the political parties would not only bridge the gap, but also accelerate the process of general election and handing over power to an elected government.

Since the charge was framed against detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case, while framing charge against another detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia is now at the final stage, Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury was asked how she viewed the trial of two former women prime ministers being a woman.

The adviser also spoke about the proposed dialogues of the government with the political parties.

"Government's dialogues with the political parties will lead to relaxing emergency and accelerate the process of allowing indoor politics," she observed.

Princess Diana's former lover, heart specialist Hasnat Khan, has broken his silence a decade after they broke up and confessed that her death still haunts him.

"Sometimes I feel like screaming. There have been very bad times. I have moved on but it keeps coming back," he said.

Diana described Khan as "Mr. Wonderful" and friends giving evidence into her death at a London inquest said she was still pining for him during a summer romance with Dodi al-Fayed.

Dodi and Diana were killed in a high-speed crash in a Paris road tunnel in August 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi photographers.

Close confidante Rosa Monckton said during the inquest that Diana was "very much in love" with Khan.

"She hoped that they would be able to have a future together. She wanted to marry him."

Khan, interviewed at his home in the Pakistani town of Jhelum by The Sunday Telegraph and The Mail on Sunday, said he was unlikely to attend the London inquest, which has cast an intimate spotlight on Diana's checkered love life.

"My lawyers advised me I do not have to attend. If that's their advice, I won't go. But if I find I have to go according to the law, I will go," Khan said.

Khan recently separated from his 29-year-old wife but declined to say why the arranged marriage broke down. He is equally discreet about his relationship with Diana, said to have ended because he could not face the relentless media attention that pursued Diana around the globe.

"Since she is not here, it would be very unfair to make a comment about her," he said of Diana.

"I'm loyal to her not because she was a celebrity but because I'm loyal to all my friends. I'm like that."

Khan hoped the inquest would provide closure after a decade of remorseless speculation. "I hope the inquest clarifies everything. I hope people will move on," he said.

The couple went to great pains to conceal their relationship with reports that Khan had even been smuggled into Diana's Kensington Palace residence in London in the boot of her butler Paul Burrell's car.

Burrell is flying in from Florida to testify on Monday at the inquest.

Lord Justice Scott Baker, overseeing an inquest that could take up to six months and cost up to 10 million pounds ($20 million), hopes Burrell can cast new light on Diana's last days as he had unrivalled access to her.