The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tk 159 cr defalcation from Barapukuria Coal Mine contract: ACC Khaleda, Saifur, Mannan, Nizami, 7 other former ministers sued

Former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and
10-ex-ministers M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan,
Motiur Rahman Nizami, Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, M
Shamsul Islam (top), Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Altaf
Hossain Chowdhury, Barrister Aminul Haq, MK A

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and all members of her Cabinet's Purchase Committee, including M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizamee, Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, MK Anwar, M Shamsul Islam, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Barrister Aminul Haque, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury--and former State Minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain were implicated in a new corruption case yesterday.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Shahbag Police Station in the capital alleging that the accused in connivance with each other and other co-accused incurred a loss to the tune of Tk 157 crore and 75 lakhs to the national exchequer through corruption, while awarding the Barapukuria Coalmine Project to a foreign company without any tender in 2004.

It may be mentioned here that this is the first graft case, after the January 11 (2007) changeover, against former senior ministers-BNP (reformist) Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman, top BNP reformist and former Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, BNP Standing Committee members MK Anwar and M Shamsul Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid-all of whom were reported to be in the good book of present the Caretaker Government.

Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossan, Barrister Aminul Haque and Altaf Hossain Chowdhury were detained earlier in different graft and criminal cases, while AKM Mosharraf Hossain was implicated.

Other co-accused of the Barapukaria Coalmine graft case are-former Acting Secretary Nazrul Islam, former Petrobangla Chairman SR Osmani, former Petrobangla Director Mainul Ahsan, former Managing Director Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) and Moazzem Hossain, Chairman of Hosaf Group, a private business house. The number of total accused is 16.

ACC Assistant Director Md Shamsul Alam lodged the case at 5.15 pm. Shahbag Police Station resistrared the allegation as a regular charge with case no 53 dated February 26, 2008.

According to the case details, the accused had roles in Barapukuria coalmine graft that cost the state coffers Tk 157 crore and 75 lakhs.

The ACC alleged three companies took part in the bidding, but none of them qualified for the Barapukuria Coal Mine Project

Petrobangla decided to float fresh international tender, but the Government recommended a deal with CMC (Consortium of China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation), ignoring a Petrobangla proposal for fresh bidding.

A deal was signed with the Chinese company on June 4, 2005.

Hosaf Group worked as a local agent for the coalmine project's Chinese developer CMC. Hosaf Chairman Moazzem Hossain, who was believed to have close links to the ruling BNP high-ups and maneuevered the contract in exchange of kickbacks.

Barapukuria Coal Mining Company owned by the Petrobangla operates the coal mine constructed in Barapukuria in the district of Dinajpur.

CMC established its foothold in Bangladesh through a 1994 deal with Petrobangla to develop Barapukuria coalmine.

Later, CMC signed a management, production and maintenance services contract with Petrobangla in 2005 due to Hosaf's strong leverage over the BNP.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council approved the Barapukuria project in 1992, when the first BNP Government led by Begum Zia was in power.

Revenue rises by 25.71pc in July-Jan period

Staff Reporter

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has realised 25.71 per cent higher revenue during July-January period of fiscal year 2007-08 compared to the previous year, NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid told newsmen yesterday.

The growth rate was 22 per cent during the first half of the current fiscal year (July -December).

"The high growth of revenue realisation is due to legalisation of undeclared money by a good number of people," Mazid said expressing hope of continuation of revenue earning growth.

The provision of legalising undeclared money through paying a certain percentage of tax will also remain in the future also, he said replying to a question.

According to Mazid the NBR officials have realised Tk 23,588.25 crore against the target of Tk 22,508.56 crore during the July- January period, which is 25.17 per cent higher than the same period of the previous year.

For the period the growth rate on import duty was 20.99 per cent, for Value Added Tax (VAT) 20.97 per cent, for income tax 41.56 per cent and for others the growth is 63.55 per cent.

The NBR chairman said his office will prefer to expand income tax net to increase revenue earnings as it may have to lift import duties on different goods to help reduce price of essential commodities.

Mazid said the budget of fiscal 2008-09 will favour labour intensive industrialisation to free the country from dependence on trading.

To this end small and medium scale industries enterprises will be patronised so that the country get scope to depend on small industries for revenue earning if the big industries fall in trouble.

"The next budget will be participatory of all stakeholders. To this end sector wise pre-budget discussion will be start from March 3. NBR will also have discussion meetings in six divisions where finance adviser will be attending," he said.

The revenue boss said NBR has already sought proposals from 300 organisations but so far received from 70, which will be scrutinised by February. This year NBR will convene discussion meeting on 22 sectors. A consultative meeting will be held in mid April to prepare draft budget, he added.

Mazid said NBR has already started a drive to motivate people to become taxpayers for boosting government revenue earnings. "From the 1st July electronics cash register system will be introduced to realise more Value Added Tax."

The government has already issued rules for freight forward business to bring them under government control and ensure their transparency and accountability, he said.

Extortion case against Hasina

SC stays HC verdict

Govt appeal accepted by Appellate Division: Trial proceedings of the case also stayed

Staff Reporter

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday accepted the government's leave to appeal against the High Court judgement in an extortion case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

At the same time, the Appellate Division stayed the operation of the High Court judgement stalling the trial of an extortion case against Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina under the Emergency Power Rules.

On the other hand, a special court at parliament complex yesterday rejected the bail prayer of Sheikh Hasina in barge-mounted power plant graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

A six-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Ruhul Amin, gave the order at about 11:45am yesterday accepting the government's leave to appeal against the High Court judgement in the extortion case against Sheikh Hasina filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury. In its order, the apex court also fixed March 16 for the hearing of the government appeal, which has to be filed in the meantime.

However, the Appellate Division stayed the trial proceedings of the Tk 2.99 crore extortion case at the lower court until the government appeal is disposed of.

Filed by businessmen Azam J Chowdhury amid the ongoing drive against corruption, the case is now pending with Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's court relocated to the high-security parliament-building complex halfway through the trial.

The trial proceedings have been stalled since the delivery of the High Court judgment. The formal trial began on January 30 with deposition by the complainant, Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of East Coast Trading Pvt Ltd.

The graft case was filed on June 13 last year, accusing Hasina and her cousin detained former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim of taking kickbacks on a power-plant deal. Later, Hasina'a younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, living in London, was also implicated in the case after police investigations.

A month after the filing of the case, the former Prime Minister was arrested on July 16 and sent to jail after she was denied bail by a metropolitan magistrate court of Dhaka.

The apex court passed the orders today after hearing both sides at length in two consecutive days amid extraordinary security measures.

On February 6, the High Court, upon a writ petition filed by the detained Awami League president had declared 'illegal' government sanction in placing the extortion case against her for trying under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) and quashed the entire trial proceedings.

Following yersterday's apex court orders, both the contesting parties expressed their satisfaction.

As the court orders came, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, the principal counsel for Hasina, told reporters that they were happy that the trial proceedings against his client in the lower court would remain stalled until disposal of the government appeal.

On the other hand, Additional Attorney General Salah Uddin Ahmed, heaving a sigh of relief, said: "The apex court order cleared the way for the prosecution to go ahead in connection with the proceedings of other corruption cases brought under the EPR."

Stringent security measures were taken at the entire Supreme Court area yesterday. Apart from the plainclothed policemen, armed police and BDR personnel were deployed at the main entrance of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, a special court trying high-profile corruption suspects yesterday denied bail to detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the barge-mounted power- plant graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Without giving any reasonable ground, Judge M Firoz Alam rejected Hasina'a prayer for bail.

"I don't find any ground for considering her prayer at this stage of charge hearing, so the prayer is rejected," Judge Alam said in the court order.

Besides, the special court, set up at the high-security parliament-bhaban complex, following a time prayer moved by Hasina's lawyer Quamrul Islam, held back for five days the commencement of charge hearing.

The court again fixed March 3 for the indictment hearing in this case, one of a number of graft cases she is facing in the interim period.

On Sept 2 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case. It complained that the ex-PM and other accused through mutual understanding and use of influence helped a foreign company and its local partners win a deal for setting up a barge-mounted 100MW power plant in Khulna, depriving the lowest bidder.

The court resumed at 9:45 am after the prosecution brought the detained former premier and Awami League president and ex-Power and Energy secretary Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury in the dock.

Later, the court, on prayer, allowed the counsel for Hasina to consult her in connection with the case for half an hour in the courtroom.

Hasina, while conferring with her lawyers, made oblique remarks on the interim government for what she said its "double-standard" role.

"Those whitened black money are roaming around in the fresh air while we, who do not have money, are languishing in jail," she was quoted by one lawyer as saying.

The ailing Awami president alleged to her lawyers that she was taken before the medical board "in the name of treatment merely for an eyewash, as they did not ask me about my health complications".

Electoral reform: Jamaat challenges EC's jurisdiction JSD for exclusion of war criminals from polls

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday challenged the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC) to bringing electoral reforms.

The challenge was thrown during the dialogue with the EC on electoral reforms held at its Secretariat. The dialogue was held as part of the commission's ongoing programme for the second-round of dialogue with political parties on electoral reforms.

The 10-member Jamaat delegation, headed by party Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, observed as per the Constitution the job of the Caretaker Government and the Election Commission is to hold the elections within 90 days and not to carry out reforms in the elections laws. Responding to the Jamaat delegation Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said the EC would have to formulate the laws as it would hold the elections.

He said it has been done in different countries and he thinks there would not be any problem with it.

"The question is whether we are within our mandate or not. Yes, we are. Our duty is holding the elections so we are formulating the laws that are needed for it. But the Law Ministry will enact the laws," the CEC said.

The Jamaat delegation demanded the Election Commission (EC) to announce the election date immediately as per the roadmap announced by the Commission.

The Jamaat leaders also demanded the Commission not to hold the local government elections and leave those for the next elected government.

They endorsed the Commission's proposal for disqualifying convicted war criminals for lifetime from contesting elections.

However, the Jamaat leaders strongly opposed the recommendations made by other parties to ban politics of religion-based political parties.

They termed such demand as an attack on the belief and values of the people of this country and suggested that the EC to work neutrally for the sake of proper elections.

Jamaat leader Barrister Abdur Razzak asked why the EC is considering an

issue not raised by any major political parties of the country, including Awami League and BNP.

"It will not be wise to bring up such an issue about which there is no popular demand in the country, no demand from the political parties," he said, adding, "The Election Commission should not make any recommendation that would create new debates whether the EC is going beyond its constitutional duties."

The Jamaat leaders opposed the use of transparent ballot boxes during the elections; rather they suggested using steel boxes. They also suggested the EC not to keep the provision of giving 'no' votes in the ballot papers.

They urged the EC not to finalise the electoral reforms before holding dialogue with the BNP.

The Jamaat delegation includes Mohammad Quamaruzzaman, Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee, Abdul Kader Mollah, ATM Azharul Islam Barrister Abdur Razzak and Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarker.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda explained that one faction of the BNP was invited to the dialogue considering the party's constitution and the history of the past activities of the party as there was no scope to invite the two factions.

"But electoral reforms will be finalised after holding dialogue with the BNP as per directive of the court," he added.

Earlier, the Commission held dialogue with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) and NAP (Mozaffar) on electoral reforms.

Leaders of JSD asked the Commission to ban political parties backed by war criminals.

"We demanded that the parties supported by war criminals should be declared unfit for elections and they should be banned," JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu told reporters.

JSD also placed a number of proposals to the EC, including: relaxing registration conditions for parties, allowing scope for minor loan defaulters to participate in elections and not delimitating constituencies.

Election commissioners-M Sakhawat Hossain and Muhammed Sohul Hossain and Secretary of the EC Secretariat Muhammad Humayun Kabir, among others, attended during the dialogue.

British, European MPs urge CG: Lift emergency for free, fair elections

UNB, London

British and European parliamentarians have said the Bangladesh caretaker government should live up to its political obligation by lifting emergency rule to allow political activities and political reform.

As "friends of fair and democratic Bangladesh", they have reminded the government of its obligation to hold free and fair elections. The observations were made at a seminar on 'The Roadmap to Parliamentary Elections?" held Monday in the Moses Room at the Houses of Lords.

The seminar was organised by the International Bangladesh Foundation and chaired by Lord Avebury, the Vice Chair of All Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group and Chairman of International Bangladesh Foundation.

It was attended by MPs, MEPs, Peers, Councillors and representatives of human rights organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Global Human Rights Defence, Jumma Peoples Network, Nirmul Committee and the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council.

The speakers at the seminar said human rights violations and lifting of emergency rule must be placed on the reform agenda as a top priority and the government must respect human rights of its citizens and ensure no torture takes place.

Lord Avebury in his opening remarks said: "We're concentrating on the conditions that will enable free and fair elections to be held as scheduled before the end of the year."

He reminded that according to the electoral roadmap, talks with political parties were to be completed by the end of 2007, and the reforms to the laws on elections were to be passed by March. "These targets have slipped," he said.

Saida Muna Tasneem, Counsellor at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, gave a presentation and an overview of the caretaker government's commitment to the roadmap to parliamentary elections by December 2008.

She informed the seminar of the progress in vote registration and various reforms the government has already implemented including the separation of the judiciary and the formation of independent election commission, anti-corruption commission and an independent national human rights commission.

Ms Tasneem called for continued support from international partners to successful completion of the caretaker government's roadmap and reforms.

Baroness Pola Uddin, Chairman, Britain-Bangladesh All Party Parliamentary Group; Anne Main MP, Chairman, Conservative Friends of Bangladesh; Jeremy Corbyn MP, Britain-Bangladesh All-Party Parliamentary Group; Robert Evans MEP, Chair of the European Parliament's South Asia Delegation; Dr Charles Tannock MEP, Vice-President, European Parliament's Human Rights subcommittee; Tim Parritt, Deputy Asia Programme Director, Amnesty International; Brad Adams, Asia Director, Human Rights Watch; and Sultan Shariff, Awami League, also spoke at the seminar.

Joshna Miah, BNP; MA Rauf, Gano Forum, and Dr Ahmed Ziauddin, Bangladesh Centre for Genocide Studies, Belgium, and Ms. Sally Kebble MP also attended the seminar.

In the general discussion that followed contributors from the floor included Cllr Ayub Korom Ali, former Cllr MA Rohim, BNP President Kamar Uddin, CPB representative Dr Rafiqul Hasan Khan, Westminster Cllr Mustaq Qureshi, Jenny Lundstrom of Global Human Rights Defence, Lord Bew, Koysor Syed of Mukti Joddha Sangsad, Murad Qureshi, Member London Assembly, Sally Keeble MP and Simon Lever from the Foreign Office.

The speakers expressed their "deep concern at the human rights abuses" under the country's state of emergency. Some speakers raised the issue of the trial of war criminals and the failure to bring the perpetrators that has led to culture of impunity.

However, the speakers appreciated the various steps taken by the present government against corruption, terrorism and welcomed Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed's recent comments against the war criminals but stated that it is the duty of the government to initiate the cases and take initiatives against the alleged war criminals. Lord Avebury in his concluding remarks said: "There has to be freedom of expression and of assembly if elections are to be free and fair." He added: "Elections aren't only about having the right laws, an accurate register and impartial officials. They depend on the preconditions in the months before polling day, and crucially, on the maintenance of a peaceful environment during election campaign."

25pc shares of 4 listed cos to be offloaded

Staff Reporter

The government has decided to offload 25 per cent shares in the equity market from its 51 per cent stakes in each of the four listed companies by May this year.

An inter-ministerial meeting at the Finance Ministry took the decision yesterday, with Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam in the chair.

Companies, which were earmarked for offloading, are the Osmania Glass Sheet Factory Ltd, Atlas Bangladesh Ltd, National Tubes Ltd and Eastern Cables Ltd.

"The meeting has decided to offload 25 per cent of the Government's 51 per cent holdings in the four listed companies," Dr Aziz told a post-meeting briefing at the Finance Ministry conference room.

The long-awaited announcement was made as a follow-up of the Government action plan decided on August 31, 2005 to increase supply of shares having good fundamentals to the capital market amid short supply of good shares as compared to demand.

The declaration came at a time when many of the market players blamed regulators for creating a liquidity crisis in the market through imposing restrictions on margin loans and taking away huge amount of money by the state-run Jamuna Oil and Meghna Petroleum.

They, however, termed the announcement as good news for the capital market and expressed their confidence that the market has the capacity to absorb the forthcoming shares.

The meeting further decided to re-evaluate the assets of state-owned enterprises under the Ministry of Industries, having 100 percent Government stake by June 30, before going for their listing and offloading 49 percent shares in the market.

It also formed a committee comprising representatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ministry of Industries, and

Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) to examine the status of the mostly loss-making state-owned sugar mills.

"The committee will identify by June 30 whether the sugar mills could be listed in the stock market and the shares offloaded," said the Finance Adviser.

About the government stakes in listed companies, mostly multinationals with major shareholding by foreign investors, the meeting observed that offloading of the government shares could not be possible without the decision of the respective company board of directors.

Dr Aziz said the meeting decided to communicate with the Boards about the government decision to offload shares and take decision in this regard followed by the respective board decisions.

Replying to a question, he said the government rejected a proposal from Unilever Bangladesh Ltd to buy the government stake in the multinational company. Instead, the government is now negotiating with the company to offload equal 5 per cent stakes each from the Government holdings and the foreign investor's holdings.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Industries Mahbub Jamil has been assigned to communicate with Unilever in this regard, he added.

"I think, there's room for more shares to come into the market as prices of existing shares in the market are still on high side with the PER (price-earning ratio) at 23 per cent at present," Dr Aziz, who headed the SEC before assuming the office of Adviser, he further added.

Dhaka Stock Exchange CEO Dr Salahuddin Ahmed Khan said the recent liquidity shortage in the market was a temporary one caused by simultaneous effect of restriction on the margin loans and offloading shares of Jamuna and Meghna shares.

"The market will be able to absorb the new shares unless there is any external shock," he said.

"The timing and price will be the main factors to see whether the market absorbs the shares well," said Yawer Sayeed, managing director and CEO of AIMS of Bangladesh Limited, an asset management company.

BNP factions, Jamaat protest graft case

Staff Reporter

Secretaries General of both groups of the BNP-Khandkar Delwar Hossain and Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed and of Jamaat-e-Islami Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid yesterday protested the filing of Barapukaria Coal Mining graft case by the ACC against the top leaders of their respective political parties.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday sued detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and all members of her Cabinet's Purchase Committee, including M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizamee, Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, MK Anwar, M Shamsul Islam, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Barrister Aminul Haque, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury-and former State Minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, implicating them in the new corruption case, blaming they have incurred a loss to the tune of Tk 157 crore and 75 lakhs through corruption, while awarding contract to foreign business firm in connivance with each other and other co-accused.

BNP Secretary General Khandkar Delwar Hossain, Acting Secretary Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid separately protested against the case, vowing they would fight the charge in the Court of Law.

Khandaker Delwar has termed the fresh corruption case against the party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia as 'false, fabricated and motivated'.

He said the fresh case against Begum Zia was intended to keep her behind the bar and annihilate politically.

Khandaker Delwar was highly critical of the Government for implicating her, as she is the indisputable political leader of the country, in a false case.

He demanded withdrawal of the case and immediate release of Begum Zia, who is detained in two other corruption cases.

Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed termed 'regrettable' the corruption case against Begum Zia, Saifur Rahman, Mannan Bhuiyan and his former cabinet colleagues.

"It is hoped that they will get justice in the Court," he said.

Major Hafiz returned home yesterday after treatment in Singapore.

Condemning the case, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid said he and his party Chief Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami had never been involved in any corruption, while in power.

"We will fight the case in the Court," he said.

1 lakh MT diesel to be imported from India

Staff Reporter

The Government will import 1,00,000 metric tonnes of diesel from India so that farmers have fuel to irrigate lands during the current boro rice season, official sources said yesterday.

"We have adequate stocks of diesel, but still to avoid any unseen situation we have plans to import further from our neighbouring country," said Anwarul Karim, Chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), a state-run company, which is also the sole importer and distributor of fuel oil in the country.

Sources in the Ministry of Agriculture said the country would need about 8,40,000 metric tonnes of diesel only for irrigating 4.5 million hectares of land during this crop season.

The agriculture ministry of the army-backed intering government is ramping up production of main staple rice after floods and a cyclone of last year left it with a shortfall of up to 2 million tonnes.

"We will purchase diesel from the Indian Oil Corporation Limited to beef up our stocks and negotiations on fixing the premium are about to enter a final stage," the BPC Chairman told journalists.

The Government was trying to increase the production of boro (paddy) by 21 per cent to 17.5 million tonnes this year, he added.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources last month approved a proposal to import 1,20,000 metric tonnes of diesel from India by the BPC.

Strike at DU : Removal of quota system in BCS exams demanded

DU Correspondent

The first day of three-day strike programme of students began at Dhaka University yesterday as part of a protest plan demanding removal of the quota system in the BCS examinations.

No classes were held on the day but all examinations were as scheduled. A 55 percent quota is currently reserved for indigenous people, women and freedom fighters in the BCS examinations.

The Public Service Commission recently sent a proposal to the government to reduce the quota to 30 per cent.

K S Salim, Convener of the movement, announced the protest plan Monday, including a class boycott from Febuary 26 to 28, for removal of all quotas.

Many students within the university have voiced the opinion that Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, has had a hand in organising or infiltrating the protesters under the cover of opposing BCS quotas.

Aircraft purchase for Biman: Airbus, Boeing quote price

Staff Reporter

The world largest commercial aircraft manufacturer Airbus SAS of France and US airplane producer Boeing are competing to supply aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Official sources yesterday said the Biman has received separate offers from Airbus SAS and Boeing to sell a dozen of airplanes in total to the national carrier.

On January 21 (2008), Biman Bangladesh Airlines Company Ltd floated an international tender to purchase aircrafts.

In response to the tender recently, Boeing has offered to supply eight planes, while Airbus four aircraft, the sources said.

"We will evaluate both the offers soon and will make a decision, as we badly need aircraft to maintain flight schedules," Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Company Ltd Dr M A Moman told journalists yesterday, adding, "The purchase decision will be announced by March 15."

Boeing had offered to supply four Boeing 777-200 planes and four Boeing 787 aircraft within 2013 and 2017 respectively. The approximate average price per aircraft, as per the proposal, is US165 million dollars, while Airbus offered to supply four aircraft from the A320, A321 and A330 models without mentioning a timeframe for supplying, official sources added.

Airbus prices would be lower than Boeing, an official said without disclosing the price offered.

Biman was forced to stop flights to New York, Paris, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Brussels, Yangon and Mumbai routes in 2006 due to lack of funds and aircraft.

Biman now operates flights to 19 international destinations with a fleet of 12 aircraft and facing tough competition from four other small local private airlines companies.

One of these carriers has extended its operations beyond the country to include regional routes connecting Dhaka to Kuala Lampur, Singapore, Delhi and Dubai.

At least two other airlines want to extend its flights into the South Asian region as Bangladesh and India have recently agreed to increase flight frequencies between the two countries.

Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games conclude

Sports Reporter

The Second Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games concluded on Tuesday amid the great success of Bangladesh team. Bangladesh bagged 45 gold medals while their counterpart West Bengal of India got 24 gold medals.

Earlier, in the First Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games, which was held in Kolkata, West Bengal, the hosts gained 38 gold medals. On the other hand, Bangladesh earned 30 gold medals in that Games.

Yesterday the Second Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games came to an end with absolute domination of Bangladesh.

Besides 45 gold medals, Bangladesh captured 29 silver medals and 18 bronze medals.

The touring West Bengal claimed 40 silver medals and 27 bronze medals.

Apart from athletics, swimming and shooting, Bangladesh won gold medals in kabaddi, volleyball, kho kho, cricket, basketball and football competitions. Bangladesh's great success came on Monday last when Bangladesh Women's Football team clinched the gold medal beating their counterpart by 4-2 goals in a hard-fought tie-breaker. Bangladesh whitewashed West Bengal in kabaddi, volleyball, kho kho, cricket and basketball.

Though Shamsuddin of Bangladesh was defeated by Rahmatullah of West Bengal in the 100 metre sprint but Shamsuddin took sweet revange when he defeated Rahmatullah in the 200 metre sprint.

In the women's 100 metre sprint, Nazmun Nahar Beauty of Bangladesh and Rakhi Saha of West Bengal finished their race taking 11.90 seconds each. But Beauty had to satisfy with silver medal in that event as Rakhi Saha was adjudged the fastest woman by virtue of photo-finishing. Beauty also took sweet revange beating her counterpart in the 200 metre sprint.

Rubel Rana of Bangladesh was the King of Swimming as he clinched five gold medals including one gold in team's event.

On the other hand, Monalisa Mondol of West Bengal showed gimmick as she became the Queen of Swimming bagging alltogether nine gold medals. Her two gold medals came from team's events.

Bangladesh showed most success in shooting. The shooters of Bangladesh collected 11 gold medals while West Bengal got five gold medals.

In swimming competition, Bangladesh bagged 18 gold medals while their counterpart achieved 14 gold medals.

In the athletics competition, Bangladesh harpooned nine gold medals while the visitors got five gold medals.

West Bengal team will leave the city today for their country.