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Huji top leader Abu Zindal arrested: 41 Arges grenades recovered, complicity in Aug 21 attack on AL rally alleged

RAB members arrested Harkatul Jihad leader Mufti
Moinuddin alias Abu Zindal (2nd from right) and Md. Nazrul
Islam and recovered 41 Arges grenades from Satkhira
yesterday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

As many as 41 powerful Arges hand grenades were recovered following the arrest of a high-ranking leader of banned Islamic militant outfit Harkatul Jihad (HuJi) and one of his close associates from Gazipur and Satkhira by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) last week.

Along with the grenades, the arrested Mufti Mainuddin Sheikh alias Abu Zindal, a top-ranking leader of HuJi and his close associate Nazrul Islam Ghorami were produced at a crowded press briefing at RAB headquarters in the city's Uttara yesterday morning.

Addressing the press briefing, RAB director general Hasan Mahmud Khandaker said that the same type of grenades were used to attack on Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.

He said 41 grenades seized from Satkhira Friday night were identical to the grenades exploded at the AL rally.

However, the grenades recovered from Satkhira were manufactured recently, RAB DG said.

Zindal was arrested from the guest room of Memberbari Jame Mosque in Baniarchala in Gazipur on Thursday by the members of RAB-6.

According to his confession, members of the RAB Intelligence Wing and the RAB-6 carried out a joint raid into Nazrul Islam Ghorami house at village Shimulia at Debhata in Satkhira district on Friday morning. They later recovered 41 Arges grenades from underneath the ground near a pond of Nazrul.

RAB DG said both were the senior figures of banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad. "RAB will handover this case to CID. They will investigate this case and find out other militants," he said.

RAB headquarter sources said that after interrogating the arrested accused of the grenade attack, RAB came to know that Abu Zindal, close accomplice of detained Huji chief Mufti Hannan, was also involved in the attack.

The arrested militant group has been accused of carrying out the Aug 21 grenade attack targeting Sheikh Hasina during an AL rally in 2004.

Blast at PPP rally : 37 killed

AFP, Parachinar

A suicide car bomber struck a rally by slain Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto's party Saturday, killing 37 people and increasing security fears with just two days until elections.

The blast in the northwestern tribal town of Parachinar bordering Afghanistan came on the final day of campaigning for Monday's polls and was the bloodiest in a series of attacks since Bhutto's murder in December.

Security concerns over the elections have combined with allegations of widespread rigging to suck the life out of electioneering, widely seen as decisive for the future of key US ally President Pervez Musharraf.

"It was a suicide attack, there were people outside the candidate's house and they were waiting for food when this man attacked," interior minister Hamid Nawaz told AFP.

"It is a very unfortunate incident. Maximum security measures are in place for the 17th and 18th (of February) and the campaign is going to end tonight," he added.

Thirty-seven people were killed and 93 wounded in the blast, interior ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema said, adding: "It was a vehicle-borne suicide attack."

Security officials earlier told AFP that the suicide bomber attacked a Pakistan People's Party meeting outside the office of local candidate Riaz Shah. Shah's family said he was safe.

"A man with long hair drove a car into the crowd and blew himself up. There were bodies and blood everywhere," witness Laiq Hussain told AFP.

Parachinar is just across the border from Tora Bora, an Afghan mountain range where US-led forces were believed to have cornered Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in late 2001 before he managed to escape.

In a separate incident in the nearby Bajaur tribal area militants blew up a polling station with a timebomb, police said.

Police in the southern city of Hyderabad meanwhile said they had arrested a suspected militant equipped with a suicide jacket and explosives who was planning an attack during the polls.

And in the southwestern city of Quetta police Saturday fired tear gas and used batons to disperse a rally by the All Parties Democratic Movement, a coalition of opposition parties boycotting the elections, police said.

Saturday's attack on the PPP came as politicians launched a final push for votes before the midnight (1900 GMT) deadline after which all rallies are banned until after the landmark polls. Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, met former premier Nawaz Sharif in Lahore for new talks on possible power-sharing after the vote if the opposition wins a majority, party officials said. Opposition groups have accused Musharraf's administration of rigging the polls to head off possible impeachment if a hostile parliament is voted in.

Party officials said police arrested more than 30 political activists, including 24 PPP workers, in a crackdown in North West Frontier Province on Saturday.

Bird flu attacks city’s biggest poultry farm

Workers of Livestock Department started the culling
of chickens at the biggest farm as the bird flu virus
spreads at Uttar Badda in the city on Saturday.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The workers of Livestock Department yesterday started destroying over 165,000 chickens at a farm near Uttara in the city as report said that avian influenza, virus of bird flu, continued to spread to newer poultry farms almost everyday across the country.Meanwhile, according to the Bird Flu Control Room, the virus affected fowls in one more district, raising number of the affected districts to 43. The new district is Shariatpur.

This was the first detection of the avian influenza in the capital city since the virus disease of birds broke out in an alarming form in March last year.

Salauddin Khan, Deputy Director of Livestock Department, said, "We started culling the chickens after detection of the virus. Exact number of the chickens could be known after completion of the culling. But it is more than one lakh." "There is no poultry farm within one kilometer of the affected farm, named Omega Poultry Farm, owned by Al-Amin," he said.

Meanwhile, local residents claimed that the farm has 165,000 chickens.

Hundreds of local people gathered around the farm in Beraid Union under Badda police station to see the demolition operation, said the local witnesses.

Some 13,820 chickens, pigeons and eggs had been destroyed at six farms in five districts - two in Narsingdi and one each in Shariatpur, Jhenidah, Gazipur sadar and port of Narayanganj.

Since the bird flu, an epidemic affecting many Asian countries in particular-spread in the country since in March last year, some 642,679 fowls have been culled in the country's 43 districts out of 64, according to the statistics given from the control room.

Meanwhile, our Narsingdi correspondent said Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Manik Lal Samaddar yesterday distributed cheques among the affected owners of farms in Raipura and Belabo upazilas in Narsingdi.

Manik Lal distributed cheque of Tk 12,57,955 to 12 farm owners at Batiara High School in Raipura upazila.

Zillar Rahman, DC of Narsingdi, chaired the function, while Syed Ataur Rahman, Secretary of Agriculture Resource Ministry, Sunil Chandra Ghosh, Director General of Agriculture Resource Department, Shahabuddin Khan, police super, Maj AKM Sadekul Islam, deputy commander of Army camp, owners of various farms, were present on the occasion.

Hasina likely to be sent abroad for treatment: AL chief can be released on bail as Bangabandhu was freed to join RTC in 1969

Shahidul Islam

The process of sending detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the USA for better treatment is likely to begin soon, informed sources told this Correspondent yesterday.

Both Sheikh Hasina, who is the President of the Awami League (AL), and other top leaders of her party have agreed on a deal, to send her abroad, presumably brokered by diplomats of some influential friendly countries and a western politician, who visited the country recently.

The modalities of the deal, which would be finalized on or before February 24, however, could not be immediately known. The AL Presidium would meet on February 22, while the AL Central Committee on February 24.

Before sending her abroad, Sheikh Hasina might be hospitalised at the BSMMU or any other hospital for a few days if her health condition deteriorates further, the sources added..

Senior members of the AL Presidium, after green signal from Sheikh Hasina reached them, at an informal meeting with its Acting President Zillur Rahman in the chair at his Gulshan residence yesterday demanded of the Government to send her USA immediately, as her ear complication could not treated in Bangladesh.

The meeting, which also reviewed the latest political situation of the country, also decided to take part in the second round dialogue with the Election Commission (EC), Presidium member Tofail Ahmed said.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, Zillur Rahman said his party would bear all the cost for her passage and treatment if the Government agrees to allow Sheikh Hasina to go to the USA for treatment.

Meanwhile, her personal physician Prof Dr ABM Abdullah after examining her health condition in the Special Jail on the premises of Parliament building complex for the second consecutive day yesterday said he has advised for arranging Sheikh Hasina's treatment in the USA for some of her ailments could not be cured in Bangladesh.

"A new complication, allergy has developed in her (Sheikh Hasina) whole body, while her weaknesses and nausea have reduced. Allergic rash along with inflammation was seen on her body," he said, adding that her ear complication could not be addressed in the country.

"Her left ear became totally deaf after the (August 21) grenade attack. She had to use a hearing-aid, which is also totally out of order and could not be repaired," said Dr ABM Abdullah, also Prof of the Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

"On the other hand, her right ear is partly damaged, for which she (Sheikh Hasina) uses a high precision hearing-aid, which is only available in the USA," he said in presence of Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui.

Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said they have requested Sheikh Hasina to choose a hospital in the country as Jail Code does not allow treatment of any detinue abroad. "We have requested her to choose any hospital in the capital, including BSMMU or LabAid, where the jail authorities bear all cost," he added.

When asked, AL Acting President Zillur Rahman rejected the contention made by the DIG (Prisions) saying, "There is precedence of allowing medical treatment to a detinue."

"We were in jail along with JSD leader ASM Abdur Rob, who was sent to Germany for treatment when he was imprisoned. So, there is no legal bar to send her abroad from the prison. The Government can send her USA any moment if so want to save her life," said Zillur Rahman, who is also a veteran lawyer.

Renowned jurist and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Barrister Amir-ul-Islam said the former Prime Minister could be sent abroad for treatment applying the method used in 1969 to take her illustrious father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Roundtable Conference in Lahore in Pakistan during the historic Agartala Conspiracy Case.

"Like Sheikh Hasina's case the Agartala Conspiracy Case against Bangabandhu was a non-bail able trial, where law denies the accused rights to bail. But the High Court has the right to free her on bail," he said, adding, "The High Court can grant bail on health or important political ground."

"Although the emergency power rules (EPR) denies right to bail to the accused or detinue, it did not take away the prosecution's right apply for bail," said Barrister Amir, who closely witnessed the release of Bangabandhu as one of his lawyers in the Agartala Conspiracy Case.

"The Pakistan government or more precisely the then President Ayub decided to release Bangabandhu on bail when all political parties of Pakistan said the Roundtable Conference will be meaningless if Sheikh Mujibur Rahman does not join it," he said.

"The Pakistan government offered Bangabandhu bail," the SCBA President continued recalling, "One fine morning, I was asked over telephone by the Tribunal, which was trying the Agartala Case, to attend the Court, which sat on an unscheduled date."

"Entering in the Court if found, prosecution lawyer Advocate (now Justice) TH Khan, has moved a bail petition to free Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to take him to the Roundtable Conference," Barrister Amir said, adding, " I took the bail order from the Court to Bangabandhu where he was detained as per request of the Court."

Polling booths inside Dhaka Central Jail : Khaleda, Hasina to be enrolled as voters by monthend

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) will set up polling booths inside the Dhaka Central Jail so that inmates, who are now being enlisted in the voter list, can cast their votes during the local government elections.

Inmates of the Dhaka Central Jail will be able to cast their votes in the polling booths to be set up inside the prison while prisoners of other district jails through postal ballots, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said this while briefing journalists after a visit to view the progress of the ongoing voter registration in the central jail. The voter registration of prisoners in the central jail, for the first time in the history, began on Thursday after completion of collecting data.

Sakhawat Hossain said the inmates might be convict but as citizens of the country they have the right to vote."The right to get national ID cards also needs to be ensured. The issue of enlisting the inmates in the voter enrolment is important from the perspective of human rights," he said.

The Election Commissioner said the prisoners are happy to get this chance for the first time ever. Sakhawat Hossain said mobile teams would start visiting different hospitals in the city from today to ensure registration of patients as voters.

He said all those citizens who have been unable to register, as voters so far under Dhaka City Corporation will be given an extended deadline to enroll by Feb 29.

"Handicapped and elderly people left out from the process will also get the chance to register," he said, Sakhawat Hossain said the two former prime ministers- Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina now detained in two separate special jails would be registered as voters by the end of this month.

He said the people who will fail to be registered, as voters will not be able to contest the election time.

The Election Commissioner said except Parliament elections, none would be able to contest any election from the area where he or she was not enrolled as voters.

Asked about Khaleda Zia's letter to EC, he said he would not make any comment over the letter.

"I shall not make any comment on the media report. We will not say anything until the letter comes to us," he said.

Replying to a question, Sakhawat Hossain said the EC would take its decision as to whether the BNP would be called for the dialogue after receiving the direction of the court.

He hoped that it would be possible to hold first and second rounds of dialogues with BNP after the high court decision.

Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, who accompanied him during the visit in central jail, said the letter has not reached the Election Commission yet.

He however, said if there is any political content in the letter it cannot be sent to the Election Commission because none can take any political decision during his or her staying in jail.

Sources said, of the total 8,500 inmates in Dhaka Central Jail, 3,500 have been enrolled as voters.

Train hits fire brigade vehicle 3 killed, 4 injured

UNB, Moulvibazar

Three employees of Fire Brigade in Kulaura upazila here were killed and four others injured when an express train hit their vehicle near Rangichhara Bazar early on Saturday. The deceased were identified as fireman Nilendru Prosun Singh, 32, of Sylhet district, fire leader Abdur Rashid, 45, of Munshiganj district and driver Azizul Haq Hawlader of Barisal.

Fire Brigade Sources said the accident occurred at about 4:05am when the Sylhet-bound 'Upaban Express' from Dhaka hit the vehicle carrying the firemen while passing the Choumohani rail-gate crossing, killing Aziz and Rashid on the spot and injuring five others. Later, another firefighter, Nilendru Singh, critically injured in the accident, died on way to Sadar hospital.

Two of the injured firemen-Zayed Hossain and Safiuddin-were admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital in critical condition while two others - Emdad and Omar Ali were sent to Moulvibazar Sadar hospital.

The firefighters from Kulauara fire station were going to put out the blaze at Rangichhara Bazar Friday midnight.

Hafiz doubts Khaleda's remarks recognising : Delwar as BNP Secy Gen

UNB, Dhaka

BNP acting secretary general Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed Saturday cast doubt on detained chairperson Khaleda Zia's reported remarks recognizing Khandaker Delwar Hossain as her appointed secretary general.

Khaleda through her two lawyers - Barrister Nawshad Zamir and Adv Sanaullah Mia-also declared illegal the October 29 standing committee meeting that made M Saifur Rahman as acting chairperson and Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed as acting secretary general. "We don't believe the lawyers' remarks quoting Begum Zia as saying," Hafiz told reporters at his Banani house. "No one can make such political remarks sitting in jail," he said.

Hafiz said Khandaker Delwar had earlier rejected Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon who carried Begum Zia's message from jail for the unity of BNP. At that time, he said, Delwar also rejected Barrister Khokon.

Hafiz advised to shun the politics of blame game and take initiatives for unity of BNP before the parliamentary elections. "We've accepted the BNP chairperson's message about unity. The two streams of BNP will have to sit across the table for unity," he said, adding that he is ready to quit his current post for the sake of unity.

"If we make sacrifice and concession, others will have to do the same for unity. Unity will not be possible by issuing statements to newspapers and televisions," Hafiz said.

He questioned why Khandaker Delwar puts condition to unity when Begum Zia did not set any pre-condition?

Hafiz said, "It's not the syndrome of healthy politics if we look at jail. Outside the prison, there are many senior leaders and we need to consult with them and unite BNP and prepare for elections after reforming the party."

He said Delwar does not want unity in BNP but when the election will come closer, the grassroots workers would force the unity. On the government's proposed dialogue with political parties, Hafiz said dialogue is needed to prepare a roadmap for an election to be free from criminalization, black money and corruption.

Call to set up jt commission to develop Bangla

Staff Reporter

The need for joint commission with the linguists of the East and West Bengali to develop the Bengal language was emphasized at a round table meeting in the city yesterday.

They also underscored to introduce Bengali in every sector of the country especially in the primary education system according to the Constitution.

They were addressing the roundtable "Development of the Bengal language after the liberation" organised by the Daily Amardesh in cooperation with BSB and Cambrian at the National Press Club.

Editor of the daily Amardesh Amanullah Kabir moderated the meeting, while Director General (DG) of Bangla Academy Dr Syed Mohammad Shahed, its former DG Mansur Musa, Language Movement Veteran Professor Abdul Gafur, Dr Biswajit Ghosh, teacher of Dhaka University, Media personality Muhammad Jahangir, Basir Al Helal, Prof Dr M Shamsul Haque, Vice Chancellor of Northern University, Hayat Mamud, Writer Mostafa Jabbar and Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, among others, addressed the meeting.

DG of Bangla Academy Dr Syed Mohammad Shahed said the psychological problems are much influential than structural problems in terms of the people's willingness to learn the English language avoiding the Bengali language. Prof Mansur Musa said those who do not know the Bengali language well, they cannot know English well.

"When the nationalism fell in crisis, there is no affection for language," he added.

Dr Hayat Mamud said the love for the mother language could not be created among the people without the spirit of the nationalism.

Clear concepts on our culture and nation are needed to increase love for the Bengali language, he added.

He also urged the Bangla Academy including other concerned to compose various types of Bengal dictionaries for the different aged people and classes.

Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury said the government is violating the Constitution to allow the English medium in the primary education.

Jurist Sloan in Dhaka to extend legal aid to Hasina

UNB, Dhaka

President of US Jurist Association, Canada Chapter William Sloan arrived here early Saturday on a week-long visit to discuss legal matters relating to the cases filed against detained ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Human rights lawyer Sloan will also observe the human rights situation in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina's assistant Dr Hassan Mahmud told UNB that Sloan would meet lawyers of the detained leader tonight. Details of his schedules here were not finalized yet. He will leave here for Canada on Feb 23. Sloan arrived here within weeks of Canadian lawyer Payam Makhavan's visit to Dhaka.

Makhavan, who left Dhaka on February 1, had met Hasina at the trial court and her lawyers discussing the cases filed against her. Before his departure, Makhavan called for immediate release of Sheikh Hasina arguing that there is no legal basis of those cases.

IOJ names 15 'war criminals’

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Islami Oikkyo Jote (BIOJ) yesterday came up with a list of 15 "war criminals" of 1971 with Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid on top of it, and demanded their trial in a special court.

BIOJ chairman Alhaj Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury read out the names of the "war criminals" at a press conference at his office here in the morning.

The 13 others on the list are Jamaat leaders Mir Kashem Ali, Sarder Abdus Salam and Mohammad Qamruzzaman, Chowdhury Farid Uddin Ahmed and Muhammad Shamsul Huq, Director General of Islami Bank Mohammad Younus, Majilsh-e-Shura

member of Jamaat ASM Ruhul Quddus, businessmen Ashraf Hossain (in Dhaka), Abdul Hai Faruki (in Dubai) and Chowdhury Moinuddin (in London), Abdul Zaher Mohammad Abu Naser of Ibn Sina and Islami Bank, Food and Disaster Management secretary Ayub Miah and Barrister Abdur Razzak.

The BIOJ chairman urged the present caretaker government to form a high-powered probe commission led by a Supreme Court Justice and comprising more than one sector Commanders, prominent jurists, academics and political scientists.

"The probe commission will make its report public at a press conference within two months and then submit it to the government," Misbahur Rahman told journalists.

Asked about the authenticity of their allegations against the 15 individuals, he said they have already collected necessary documents and witnesses to prove their offences during the liberation war in 1971.

"We've all the details of those who had gone into hiding during Bangabandhu's rule and their rise as millionaires later. We have 651 witnesses who were affected by their activities. They'll appear in court, identify the accused and make their depositions," he said.

The BIOJ chairman urged the country's political parties, institutions, intellectuals and professionals to socially boycott the war criminals and stop sitting with them in roundtables, discussions, seminars and symposiums, and terminate them from government services.

He said: "A few Islamic organizations and even 2-3 left-leaning parties opposed the liberation war but today's Jamaat leaders were directly involved in war crimes. They committed all the heinous acts described as war crimes by the United Nations. So they violated the Geneva Convention."

Misbahur urged the government to immediately release the two detained former premieres-Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia-and lift the state of emergency for initiating political dialogue with them. "It's important for the government to release the two leaders, if necessary on bail, and start a political dialogue," he said.

BIOJ general secretary general Moulana Moniruzzaman Rabbani, vice-chairman Adv Nurul Islam, joint secretaries Principal Begum Shamsunnahar and Principal Moulana Masudur Rahman were, among others, present at the press conference.

Follow Osmani's ideals to make country corruption-free

Staff Reporter

The dream of independence could be materialised only by removing corruption from the country and ideals of Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation War Bangabir MAG Osmani should be followed to make the country corruption free.

Foreign Adviser to the Caretaker Government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said this yesterday at a discussion meeting on 'Osmani's Ideals for a Corruption Free State' organized by Bangabir Osmani Smrity Parishad to mark the 24th death anniversary.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the function while Anti Corruption Commission Chairman and former Army Chief Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury was special guest.

He also said the present government had taken some reform programmes for the government institutions which would earn good name for the country.

Former adviser to a caretaker government Advocate Sultana Kamal, CM Shafi Sami, Maj Gen (Retd) Mainul Hossain Chowdhury Bir Uttam and former BDR Director General, Maj Gen (Retd) M Azizur Rahman Bir Bikram, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Gen Hasan Mashhud said only a corruption free state can materialize the ideals dreams of the great Liberation War, the dream of a economically strong country that is still in the mind of the people of the country.

He said, "In such a crucial time for the country a leader with strong ideology of Osmani is needed for the country."

The meeting was presided over by president of the Osmani Smrity Parishad Syeda Masuda Khaza.

Speakers urged the government to observe the birth and death anniversary of Osmani at national level, make a mausoleum at the Osmani Udyan, a hall in the Dhaka University and make his biography text book in the school level.