The New Nation - Internet Edition

Babar, Hawa Bhaban behind Aug 21 grenade attack: Former BNP minister Pintu says under remand

Staff Reporter

Former BNP Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, who was granted a three-day police remand by a Dhaka Court yesterday, has made startling disclosure to interrogators about the involvement of former State Minister of Home Lutfozzaman Babar and "Hawa Bhaban" in the August 21 (2004) grenade attacks on Awami League rally in the capital.

The grisly attack left 23 people, including senior Awami League (AL) leader Ivy Rahman, killed and 200 others, including party Chief Sheikh Hasina and some senior leaders, injured. The attack was carried out when Sheikh Hasina was making her concluding speech at the rally in front of the Bangabandhu Avenue AL headquarters. At least 18 persons, mostly AL activists, died on the spot.

Abdus Salam Pintu was arrested on Thursday night for his involvement in the grenade attack on the basis of confessional statement made earlier by detained Muftee Hannan, who is the Chief of banned militant outfit Harkatul Jihad that carried out the cowardly assault.

Muftee Hannan claimed that the attack on the AL rally was planned at the official residence of the former Deputy Minister, who, he said, was present at the meeting and later supplied the grenades.

The former Deputy Minister, who was elected to the last Parliament from Tangail-2 (Gopalpur), was arrested by intelligence officer earlier on December 31 and conditionally released on January 3.

"The grenade attack had been carried out with the consent of former State Minister of Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and the Hawa Bhaban," Abdus Salam Pintu was quoted by a CID officer as saying during the interrogation, BDNews24.Com reported yesterday.

'Hawa Bhaban', the office of the BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, was run by her eldest son Tarique Rahman when she was the Prime Minister, was allegedly known as the 'alternative center of power' during the immediate-past BNP-led four-party alliance Government.

The officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who was talking to journalists on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to brief the media, said Pintu had made the disclosure during interrogation.

The CID officer said they were certain after the arrest of Muftee Hannan and Pintu that the attack on the AL rally had been aided and abetted by Lutfozzaman Babar and the Hawa Bhaban.

"To hide the truth, former investigation officer Ruhul Amin, a CID officer, had gone to Pintu's house several times," he said, and added, "former State Minister of Home Babar was involved in the entire process and Pintu would regularly enquire with him about the progress."

Meanwhile, Investigation Officer (IO) of the case ASP Fazlul Kabir, who yesterday sought a 10-day remand to Judge Abdullah-Al Mamun of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court, Dhaka, told journalists that they have enough evidence that proves Pintu's involvement in the grenade attack.

The Court granted 3-day police remand.

Fazlul Kabir (an ASP of CID) referred to the confessional statement made by Muftee Hannan that Pintu masterminded the attack.

Pintu's counsel Advocate Sanaullah Mia, however, told journalists that there was no specific charge against the former Deputy Minister.

"He was implicated only because his cousin Maulana Tajul Islam, a militant leader and an accused in the grenade attack case, had visited his house when Pintu was a Minister," he claimed.

Advocate Sanaullah Mia pleaded to the Court for Pintu's bail but the Judge rejected it.

"Pintu pleaded not guilty of the charges," Sanaullah Mia said, quoting the former Deputy Minister as telling the Court, "I worked as a lawyer for 37 years. I am not involved with any subversive or militant activities. I had no link with August 21 incident."

"I was interrogated in this connection on January 3 and released. I could have fled if I was guilty," Pintu added.

He appealed to the Court for medical treatment since he was sick.

Fazlul Kabir, also senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said on Thursday night that a CID team arrested him from near Motijheel Police Station about 11.30pm.

Court sources said there were allegations that Maulana Tajul supplied the grenades for the attack on the ALrally on August 21, 2004, with the help of Pintu.

Harkatul Jihad leader Muftee Hannan in a confessional statement recently named Pintu as the mastermind of the attack.

Hannan said the attack was planned at Pintu's official residence in Dhanmondi two days before the incident.

Security officials carried out several operations in Tangail, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur in Dhaka to arrest Tajul.

Maulana Tajul Islam is presumed to be hiding somewhere in Pakistan or South Africa. Bangladesh police has sought help from the International police organisation-the Interpol for his arrest.

In the meantime, IGP Noor Mohammad told journalists yesterday that they were trying bring back two fugitives now staying in India, who were involved in launching grenade attack on the August 21 AL rally.

Begum Zia's mother passes away Khaleda to be released on parole

BSS, Dhaka

Mrs Taiyeba Majumdar, mother of now detained former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, died of old age ailments at a hospital at her hometown Dinajpur yesterday evening. She was 87.

Family sources said she died at about 8.50 pm at Zia Heart Foundation in Dinajpur from where the body was taken to her residence in Madhya Balubari area of the town.

She left behind two daughters Begum Khaleda Zia and Selima Rahman, two sons Sayeed Eskandar and Shamim Eskandar. Her elder daughter former minister Khurshid Jahan Haque died several years ago.

Mrs Taiyeba Majumdar was rushed to the facility at about 7 pm after she complained of chest pain and she breathed her last there.

Inspector General of prisons told journalist last night if Begum Khaleda Zia desires she would be allowed to attend her mother's funeral on parole.

CIA names Bhutto's killers

BBC Online

The CIA has added its support to the view that a Pakistani militant, Baitullah Mehsud, and al-Qaeda organised Benazir Bhutto's killing.

CIA Director Michael Hayden told the Washington Post that the former Pakistani prime minister was killed by fighters allied to Baitullah Mehsud.

The Pakistani government accused Mehsud of the attack shortly after Ms Bhutto's death in Rawalpindi on 27 December.

Hayden did not reveal the sources for his claim. Correspondents say that Hayden's comments are the most comprehensive public assessment by US intelligence of Bhutto's death.

Controversy still surrounds the circumstances of the killing. One or more attackers shot at her and detonated a bomb as she was leaving a rally in Rawalpindi.

Baitullah Mehsud has denied involvement. The Pakistani government says it intercepted a phone conversation proving that he was behind the attack. CIA Director Michael Hayden is now backing the Pakistani government's view.

"This was done by that network around Baitullah Mehsud.

We have no reason to question that," Hayden told the Washington Post.

He said the murder was "part of an organised campaign" that has included suicide bombings and other attacks on Pakistani leaders.

Hayden said that the same forces were responsible for a new outbreak of violence sweeping across Pakistan which was undermining the stability of President Pervez Musharraf's government.

"You've got this nexus now that probably was always there in latency but is now active: a nexus between al-Qaeda and various extremist and separatist groups," Hayden said.

"It is clear that their intention is to continue to try to do harm to the Pakistani state as it currently exists."

Forces belonging to Baitullah Mehsud have also been blamed by the government for seizing a fort from the military in the troubled region of South Waziristan on Wednesday.

DU students unveil new series of protest plans

Staff Reporter

Dhaka University students yesterday rolled out a new series of protest plans including a countrywide one-hour boycott of classes from 11am on January 23 to secure 'unblemished freedom' of the detained teachers and a student.

A student movement under an "anti-oppression" banner announced the fresh protest plan from a press conference, as a previous 10-day ultimatum for the freedom of the detainees expired Friday.

Student leader Imran Habib Johnny read out a statement at Madhu's Canteen on the campus.

The new plan came three days before a Dhaka court is set to deliver a verdict on one of the cases against the four teachers and 15 students, who face charges of violating emergency rules during the campus rioting in August 2007.

The court decision came Thursday hours after the government submitted a written appeal urging the court of magistrate Habibur Rahman Siddiqui to fast-track the trial.

The appeal makes a major move by the government to wrap up the controversial cases against the teachers and the student who were arrested with ties to the unrest at Dhaka University.

The detained teachers and the student protested their innocence in the dock during court proceedings.

The latest protest plans were in addition to a five-point demand put by the teachers earlier this week. Their plans include postponement of enrolment tests for two faculties for 2007-08.

The new programmes include raising black flags on the university campus and wearing black badges until the teachers are freed.

But all examinations would remain outside the fresh plans, the students said.

The protests also include cultural programme in front of the central library at 3:00 pm on January 19 and 20, a sit-in demonstration in front of the vice chancellor's office, expressing solidarity with the teacher's programme in front of the Aparajeyo Bangla and a daylong sit-in on January 21, a human chain in the educational institutions throughout the country on Jan 22 and one-hour class boycott on January 23.

In a statement handed out to reporters at the news briefing yesterday, the students said the government position on the ways of possible release of the detainees was not clear.

It asked for "unconditional release" of the detainees and accused the government of 'unfair play'.

The statement said the government was pushing the students on the edge by not releasing the detainees within the 10-day ultimatum.

"The student community is being pushed into a complex situation," it observed.

It said the government would be responsible if any chaos re-surfaced on the campus.

The students 'against oppression' unveiled a raft of protest programmes on January 8 when the country's premier university re-opened after winter and Eid vacations.

Economic freedom not possible without democratic govt

Staff Reporter

Economic freedom is not possible if a democratic government loyal to the people is not established. A meaningful election is the only way to establish such a government.

Speakers said this yesterday at a discussion meeting on 'Present Economic Crisis and Remedies--Election Roadmap' organised by Combined Social Movement at the Moni Singh-Farhad trust building at Paltan in the city. Speakers urged the government to focus on the election and gear up the activities relating to the elections.

Employment generation, increasing purchasing power and decentralisation of power are the remedies to bring the country from the jeopardised economic situation, they said.

Economist Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, columnist Syed Abul Moksud, Dr Rangolal Sen, Dr Anwar Hossain and Rokeya Kabir, among others, spoke at the meeting presided over by social activist Ajoy Roy.

Ziauddin Tarek Ali, read out a keynote paper at the meeting.

Prof Mozaffar said the election roadmap of the Election Commission got a sudden shock as the BNP splits into two factions. It is now waiting for the court verdict in the matter. The EC could hold talks with both the factions.

About the delimitation of the constituencies by the EC Dr Mozaffar said it was a constitutional responsibility of the EC and it should not be opposed by the political parties. "It would not hamper the election," he added.

"The government should provide the farmers with every necessary agricultural input in due time for good harvest, which would ensure our food security," said Dr Mozaffar on price hike of the essential food items.

Syed Abul Moksud said, "Now the main task of the government is to hold the election."

"People of the country will remember this government for long time if it was able to hold an election and hand over power to the elected government," he said.

He urged the Government to break the syndicate, which was responsible for the frequent price hike of the essentials.

In the paper Ziauddin pointed out negative and positive things of the present government. The paper hailed the government for its positive works and criticised for the negative ones.

Speakers at the meeting also urged the government to start the proceedings of the trial of the war criminals for the cause of a free and fair election. They also urged the government to resolve the garment workers' and DU problems immediately.

Presidential primary in Nevada: Hillary holds narrow lead on Obama

Reuters, Washington

Democrat Hillary Clinton holds a narrow 5-point lead on rival Barack Obama in Nevada on the eve of the state's presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Friday.

Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, led Obama, an Illinois senator, by 42 percent to 37 percent in the rolling tracking poll. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards was a distant third with 12 percent.

In South Carolina, where Republicans vote on Saturday, Arizona Sen. John McCain maintained a steady 7-point edge on former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 29 percent to 22 percent, although rival and Mitt Romney gained three points overnight to climb into third place at 15 percent.

Both polls had a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

Nevada and South Carolina are the next battlegrounds in the race to choose candidates for November's election to succeed President George W. Bush, with the winners in each state hoping to pick up some momentum as the calendar accelerates to February 5 contests in 22 states.

So far, no candidate in either party has been able to build up any real steam in a chaotic race that has seen five winners in the first five major state contests.

Obama and Clinton split the first two Democratic battles and have been running close in polls in Nevada, where turnout is uncertain. Nevada's Democratic nominating contest in 2004 drew just 9,000 participants, and no one is sure how many will turn out this time.

"This is a very competitive race, but it will depend on organization," pollster John Zogby said. "This is a caucus without much history to go on, so we have to see who can do the best job of turning out their vote."

The poll showed Clinton, who would be the first woman U.S. president, led Obama among women, whites, Hispanics, conservatives, older voters and among voters in union households. Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, led easily among blacks and younger voters.

The two Democrats have clashed in the past week over a plan to allow voting in casino hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, approved by a federal judge on Thursday, and over Clinton's comments on race that were seen by some as a slight on civil rights leader Martin Luther King.

Political dialogue: AL to join sans Hasina, BNP divided on issue

Shahidul Islam

Two major political parties-the BNP and Awami League-will join the political dialogue recently proposed by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, party sources said yesterday.

The Awami League (AL) will join the dialogue keeping its President Sheikh Hasina in prison as per directives, while BNP faction led by its Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain will press for release of the detained party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia before the talks.

Sources close to Khandaker Delwar Hossain told The New Nation yesterday evening that they would seek directives on this issue from Begum Khaleda Zia, when she comes out of prison on parole to attend her mother-Begum Taiyeba Majoumder's funeral today or tomorrow. Begum Taiyeba Majumder died at Zia Heart Foundation Hospital in Dinajpur last night.

However, the BNP faction led Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman and Acting Secretary General Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed will join the talks without any pre-condition.

The AL Presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party, yesterday at a meeting decided to join the political dialogue in consultation with the leaders other component political parties of the 14-party alliance, which it leads, and likeminded professional groups.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman, who presided over the Presidium meeting at his Ivy Tower residence at Gulshan in the city last evening, told journalists earlier in the afternoon that Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed them to take part in the dialogue and the upcoming general election keeping her in prison.

He said the detained Prime Minister also directed the AL to take part as per the polls roadmap announced by the Election Commission (EC) earlier. Sheikh Hasina gave the directive while talking to Zillur Rahman, who was present in the Court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge on Thursday morning as her lawyer.

Referring to his conversation with Sheikh Hasina, Zillur Rahman dropped a broad hinted that the former Prime Minister has backtracked from her demand for holding the general by April.

"Election is the only way to handover power and for that our leader Sheikh Hasina sought early elections," he said, adding, "The Awami League wants fair elections and we have accepted the election roadmap without raising any question."

Zillur Rahman said, "Sheikh Hasina does not want election to be obstructed in any way as the Awami League does not believe in transfer of power at gunpoint, coup or revolution."

Earlier on Thursday, he said Sheikh Hasina had directed him to immediately convene meeting of the party Presidium to decide about joining the dialogue and general elections without her.

Echoing the same view, AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told journalists after the Presidium meeting last night that his party would join the dialogue, as it was the AL's proposal.

"The Presidium will sit again after receiving formal dialogue proposal from the Government and we will join the talks following a meeting of the Central Working Committee," he said, terming the conversations between Food Adviser AMM Shahwkat Ali and AL Presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury as 'personal contact'.

The AL Presidium met following the Shawkat-Matia telephonic conversation during which the Adviser sought the AL views about the proposed dialogue.

When his attention was drawn to Zillur Rahman's comment about the polls roadmap, which said the election will be held within December this year, and Sheikh Hasina's demand for polls within April, Syed Ashraful Islam said, "The Awami League demanded for the early elections if the preparation of the voters' list is completed by that time."

The AL Acting General Secretary urged the Government to refrain from setting any pre-condition for the political dialogue. He said they would not join the talks if called together with Jamaat-e-Islami.

When contacted, BNP Acting Secretary Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said they would try to meet Begum Zia when she comes out of prison for attending her mother's funeral but would not set any pre-condition for joining the dialogue.

BNP (Pro-Delwar) Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said they would join the talks with the Election Commission after disposal of writ petition pending with the High Court.

"We have moved the High Court for joining the talks with the Commission," he said they would seek directive from Begum Zia for joining the political dialogue or not.

A highly placed official source said the Government would hold the dialogue after the conclusion of the Election Commission's talks with the political parties.

Fog disrupts Dauladia-Paturia ferry service

Stranded loaded trucks await ferrying across the
river at Daulatdia Ghat. A blanket of fog disrupted ferry
services yesterday. FocusBangla

UNB, Dauladia

Ferry service on Dauladia-Paturia route was disrupted for two hours Friday morning due to poor visibility caused by dense fog. Sources said ferry and launch movement came to a complete halt at about 7am due to the thick fog and resumed at 9am.

On the other, two RO RO ferries-'Birshreshtha Motiur Rahman' and 'Khanjahan Ali'-went out of order due to the technical fault on Thursday, while loading and unloading operations at No. 1 ghat were disrupted from 6am to 2pm on Friday due to poor navigability. As a result, over 1,000 trucks and other vehicles were stranded on both sides of the Dauladia-Paturia route.

A 3-killometre-long queue of trucks was seen on the Dauladia-Khulna highway-from Dauladia ferryghat to end of the Bangladesh Hatcheries.

US diplomat Burns to step down

Reuters, Washington

U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, the number three U.S. diplomat, is expected to step down for personal reasons in an announcement to be made on Friday, a U.S. official said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who plans to make the announcement at 9:45 AM EST (1445 GMT), is expected to recommend U.S. Ambassador to Russia William Burns as his replacement, said the official, who asked not to be named.

Nicholas Burns, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and State Department spokesman, has been a key player in negotiating the U.S.-India civil nuclear deal that would give India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in three decades.

The U.S. official said Burns, whose is not expected to formally leave the department for a few months, is likely to keep a role for a few months after that in shepherding through the nuclear deal, which must clear several hurdles including final approval by the U.S. Congress before it can take effect.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow declined comment on the possible move of its ambassador to Washington.

As ambassador to Moscow, William Burns has helped steer U.S.-Russia relations through their most testing period since the end of the Cold War.

Despite often hostile public statements from Russian officials and sharp disagreements between Washington and Moscow on missile defense, Kosovo and Iraq, Burns has worked quietly, shunning public attention, to calm the atmosphere and keep the lines of communication open between Washington and Moscow.

William Burns has wide experience, having served as the top U.S. diplomat to the Middle East early in the current Bush administration and as U.S. ambassador to Jordan.

Eric held hostage by Bidisha, alleges Ershad

Staff Reporter

Former President HM Ershad yesterday directly blamed journalists for 'triggering' the current conflict between him and his ex-wife Bidisha over the issue of possession of their six-year-old child Eric.

Ershad, who lodged a FIR against Bidisha recently blaming her of holding their boy hostage said, the issues was created by the media. ''I shall never talk with you about my personal life,'' he replied reacting sharply when a group of journalists entered his flat for his comment following a press conference of Bidisha, who filed another FIR against Jatiya Party Chairman Ershad recently in retaliation .

''My ex-husband HM Ershad has kept me and my son Eric confined at my Baridhara apartment by deploying musclemen. Eric needs treatment abroad but Ershad declines to handover his passport,'' meanwhile Bidisha claimed at a press conference at the President Park apartment yesterday.Bidisha said Ershad is claiming that Eric should stay with him, but under an agreement, Eric is to stay with either of them every alternative week.

Ershad, who lives on the 5th floor of the same President Park building, alleged that Bidisha has held Eric hostage.

Bidisha, divorced by Ershad in June 2004, also alleged that Ershad is issuing threats through his hired musclemen for the last few days and obstructed them to come out of her apartment.

"Even I cannot take my son to school and do my shopping as Ershad keeps musclemen downstairs," she said, adding that despite complaints with Gulshan police, no action was taken by the concerned authorities.

Bidisha told reporters that she talked to her lawyers and would go to court soon to seek redress.

Dr Mofakkharul's severed head found

Saiful Islam and Feroz Mia, the alleged killers of
Dr. Mofakhkharul Ahmed (inset) were arrested yesterday by
the RAB personnel. FocusBangla

BSS, Gaibandha

The head of Dr Mofakkharul Ahmed, Register of Surgery Department of Bangladesh Medical College in Dhaka, was recovered from a banana grove near Bagmara bridge on Palashbari-Ghorashal road under Palashbari upazila of the Gaibandha district yesterday morning.

Police said Dr Mofakkharul Ahmed, who hailed from Lakkhipur village under Sahapara union of Gaibandha Sadar upazila, was killed by his driver Saiful Islam and cousin Firoz at his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka on January 10.

After murdering him with sharp weapon, according to police, the killers cut Dr Mofakkhar's body into three pieces, put them into a sack and Firoz carried it to Palashbari from Dhaka on January 11.

Later, Frioz took the body to Bagmara, dug a hole in the banana grove and concealed it there in cooperation with Balu Miah of Shimultali village of the upazila. Later, they threw away other two parts of Dr. Mofakkhar's body into the river Karotoa at Ghoraghat area.

As Dr. Mofakkhar was not returning home, a general diary was filed with Dhanmondi thana in Dhaka on January 10. Later, police arrested Firoz in Dhaka on January 17 and following his confessional statement Balu Miah was also caught from Shimultali village yesterday.

On the basis of their confessional statements, Police recovered the head of Dr. Mofakkhar and sent it for autopsy.

Earlier, his beheaded body was recovered from the river Karotoa at Fulhar area of Gobindaganj upazila in the district on Jan 16.

Rice price up again

Staff Reporter

The price of rice is once again up in the wholesale and retail markets despite a Government attempt to stem the rising price of the staple food item by launching Open Market Sale (OMS) on subsidised rates. The price of edible oil and vegetables remained steady in the market last week, while price of flour has increased.

Price of all varieties of rice has increased by Tk 50 to Tk 150 per bag in the wholesale market, which impacted the retail market with a rise of Tk 5 to Tk 8 per Kg.

A trader at Karwan Bazar said, "The government has announced market supervision by the joint forces to keep the rice price down. As a result, many rice traders increased the price of rice prior to the move that will begin today (Saturday)."

Meanwhile, a manager of Asha Traders at Babu Bazar said, "As rice is in short supply at the moment, the wholesale price has slightly increased. However, when rice will arrive from abroad the price will come down."

While visiting different markets yesterday this correspondent found that in the city's retail markets per kg of 'miniket' rice was sold at Tk 46 to Tk 48 and 'nazirshail' at Tk 42 to Tk 45. Dinajpur variety of 'nazirshail' was sold at Tk 44 to Tk 46 and 'Lata-28' at Tk 40 to Tk 42 per kg.

Besides, 'pari' was sold at Tk 35 to Tk 37 and 'paijam' at Tk 38. Coarse rice was sold at Tk 35, price of which was the lowest in the market.

Under the government's current OMS programme, coarse rice is sold by close to 2,000 dealers nationwide, with more than 25,000 metric tonnes allocated for the purpose.

According to the latest data from the central bank's foreign currency policy research cell, in the first six months (July-December) of the current fiscal year (2007-08), a total of 998,000 (9.98 lakh) tonnes of rice was imported, compared to 173,000 (1.73 lakh) tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Rice traders and experts said that the trend of rising rice import would continue till the boro crop was harvested. Concerned groups are therefore urging the government to take measures to reap a bumper boro harvest.

Meanwhile, prices of green chilli fell down last week. It was sold at Tk 20 to Tk 24, which was Tk 32 in the previous week.

Prices of edible oil did not decrease. Soyabean oil of different brands of 500 ml and 900ml container was sold at Tk 60 and Tk 110 respectively at Karwanbazar, New Market, Palashi kitchen market, Mohammadpur Town Hall market and Krishi market.

The price of a litre of loose soyabean oil was sold at Tk 100. In the BDR-run fair price shops, unpacked soyabean oil was sold at Tk 84 per litre, two-litre bottle at Tk 176 and five-litre bottle at Tk 435.

In the city's kitchen markets, per kg of bean was sold at Tk 14, green chilli at Tk 20 to Tk 24, potato at Tk 14 to Tk 16, tomato Tk 20, radish at Tk 8 to Tk 10, carrot was sold at Tk 16, papaya at Tk 10 to Tk 12, turnip at Tk 8 to Tk 10, oval-shaped brinjal at Tk 15, korolla at Tk 20, long beans at Tk 20 and green tomato at Tk 10. A piece of cauliflower was sold at Tk 12, cabbage at Tk 10 and gourd at Tk 20.

Meanwhile, a small measure of 'lalshak' (red vegetables) was sold at Tk 5, 'palong shak' at Tk 5 to Tk 7, 'data shak' at Tk 3 to Tk 5 and middle sized 'data shak' at Tk 5 to Tk 6.

DU admission tests uncertain

BSS, Dhaka

Admission tests of two units of Dhaka University (DU) for the 2007-08 academic session have run into uncertainty due to the current movement called by a section of teachers and students on the campus.

Teachers belonging to the Blue Panel and Pink Panel decided not to hold any admission tests at the university until the teachers and students arrested in connection with the August campus violence are freed.

Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) member Prof Mohammad Samad said, " Until the release of the detainees, among whom three are faculty deans who supervise admission tests, teachers have decided that the two remaining admission tests will be withheld."

According to the preliminary schedule of admission tests, the admission test of 'Kha' Unit was scheduled December 28, 2007 but the university authorities have already shifted the admission test of the unit twice to January 11 and February 1 because of the movement.

Earlier, the admission test of Gha unit was scheduled for January 4, but the university authorities also shifted the admission test twice- January 18 and February 8.

"I am not sure when the admission tests will finally be held," said Nasrin Sultana, an admission seeker of 'Kha' unit.

"It is unfortunate for the general student that a section of teacher-students movement makes DU admission tests uncertain", said Tapan Das, another seeker of 'Gha' unit.

DU Vice Chancellor SMA Faiz sought cooperation from the teachers, students and student bodies tied with different political parties to conduct the admission tests successfully.