The New Nation - Internet Edition

Launch with 200 passengers capsizes in Buriganga: 33 bodies recovered so far, rescue operation on

The body of a child being recovered by the Fire
Brigade personnel from the river Buriganga near
Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge where a Munshiganj -bound
launch capsized yesterday. Banglar Chokh

Launch Capsize: Relatives identifying the bodies of
their near ones as thousands of people witnessing the tragic
scene at the bank of river Buriganga on Thursday. Banglar
Chokh

Staff Reporter

At least 33 persons, including six children and 14 women, were killed yesterday when a motor launch capsized in the Buriganga River near Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge at Postagola in the city.

The death figures would be much higher, survivors said, adding that the launch-MV Shourav-1, which was carrying about 200 passengers more than double the capacity, capsized after a sand-laden cargo vessel collided with it from behind.

Divers of the Fire Service and Civil Defence launched rescue operation immediately after the tragedy to recover the bodies trapped inside the sunken launch.

Rescuers recovered 33 bodies till filing of this report last night from the ill-fated launch that was laying 20 feet under the water some 50 yards to the west of the Postagola Bridge in the capital.

Of the bodies recovered, 14 were women and six children. Police could identify 13 bodies so far. They are Kholi, Jarina, Lipi, Halali, Anawara, Noian, Kohinoor, Morzina, Jonab, Sohag, Arafat, Al-Hakim and Anwar Hossian.

Many family members of the victims were also engaged in searching for their near and dear ones on their own till late last night. They fear that many more bodies remained trapped inside the hull of the overturned launch.

The position of the sunken launch made the rescue and recovery operation difficult, said Fire Service source.

According to eyewitnesses and survivors, a sand-laden trawler Al-Amin rammed the MV Sourav-1 from behind tilting the stricken launch on its side before it went under water. At least 70 people jump off the sinking vessel and swam to safety.

The police seized the trawler.

The launch bound for Baligaon in Munshiganj left Sadarghat Launch Terminal at 3:00pm carrying about 200 passengers. The ill-fated launch capsized near the bridge after the collision shortly after 3:15pm, said one of the survivors of the disaster.

Thousands of people gathered on both the riverbanks, to witness the tragedy unfold before their eyes.

Home Affairs Adviser MA Matin, Home Secretary Abdul Karim and BIWTA Chairman Abdul Mannan Howlader visited the spot at 6:48pm.

BIWTA Chairman said the family of each victim would receive Tk 20,000 and Tk 2,000 more for the transportation of the dead bodies. The Adviser said a three-member investigation team would be formed to identify the cause of the accident and submit its report within 10 to 12 days.

He also said every victim will receive compensation as per BIWTA rules.

Meanwhile, President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in separate messages condoled the loss of lives in the launch disaster.

The President in his message expressed deep shock at the loss of life and properly in the launch capsized in the river Buriganga yesterday.

In the message, the President also extended sympathy to the members of the families, who lost their dearest and nearest ones and preyed for eternal of the departed souls of the deceased.

Prof Dr Iajuddin also asked the concerned authorities to take all possible steps to rescue the missing passengers of the launch al the earliest and extend medical assistance to the injured ones and all out cooperation to them.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the loss of lives in the launch capsize.

The Chief Adviser preyed for peace of the departed souls and conveyed sympathy to the members of the bereaved families.

He directed the authorities concerned to ensure treatment of the injured persons and conduct rescue operation quickly.

ADB puts GDP growth below 6 pc, inflation rises to 11.6 pc: Erosion in business confidence, floods, slowdown in garment export blamed

Hua Du

UNB, Dhaka

Scaling down Bangladesh's GDP growth below 6 percent in the current adversity-ridden fiscal year, the Asian Development Bank blamed the setback on erosion of business confidence, extensive flooding and the cyclone, and a slowdown in external demand for garments.

"GDP growth is expected to be below 6 percent in FY2008 compared to 6.5 percent in the previous year, because of erosion of business confidence, extensive flooding and the cyclone, and a slowdown in external demand for garments," says the development-funding agency in its Quarterly Economic Update.

ADB country director Hua Du formally launched the Quarterly Economic Update at a press conference at her office, showing the country's latest economic health.

The growth outlook points to the need to boost business confidence, restore flood-and cyclone-affected infrastructure and livelihoods, and augment external competitiveness.

About the business atmosphere shaken by a purge in the interim period, the ADB noted that the anti-corruption drives of the caretaker Government, which apparently created some fear and uncertainty in the investor community, have started easing. "The caretaker government recognized the problem and undertook several measures to boost business confidence."

The ADB apprehended that the fiscal deficit is likely to increase to 4.7 percent of GDP in FY2008 compared to 3.2 percent in the preceding year.

It pointed out that the rise in subsidies following the increases in oil and fertilizer prices on the international market amplified pressures on the fiscal balance. "Slow progress in implementing the annual development program, the main vehicle for implementing the Government's development agenda, continues to undermine the efficiency of public spending," it further said.

The multilateral donor agency once more focused on bad state of banking in the country. It attributed slowdown in private-sector credit growth to uncertainty and low business confidence rather than the tightening of monetary policy.

It further noted that the excess liquidity in banking remained substantial at Tk 136.7 billion at the end of December 2007, causing some banks to lose interest revenue and thrive on higher lending rates.

Banks' gross non-performing loans (NPLs) to total advances marginally declined to 14 percent at the end of September 2007 from 14.3 percent at the end of September 2006.

The NPLs of Nationalized Commercial Banks (NCBs), which is 26.9 percent, and specialized banks, which is 31.8 percent, remained high because of a variety of government interventions, inefficiencies, and lack of competitiveness.

"The interest spread of the banking system remained high at 6.1 percent, indicating banking-system inefficiencies and market segmentation," says the ADB report.

In its updated account of the economic scenario ADB mentioned that broad money growth reached 14.7 percent in December 2007 down from 22.3 percent in December 2006. "This was fostered by a decline in the growth of domestic credit, mainly the private-sector credit."

About a crucial macroeconomic indicator like inflation, which contributed to severe consumer woes, the donor agency said on a point-to-point basis, inflation increased to 11.6 percent in December 2007 from 10.1 percent in July 2007.

"The inflation might be put under 9 percent if there is bumper Boro production in the upcoming season," Hua Du told the report-launching function.

The Asian bank found a mismatch in fertilizer marketing. "The Government is providing huge subsidy to supply fertilizer to the farmers at lower prices. But farmers in most places pay higher prices to procure needed fertilizer. Fertilizer-distribution system needs to be streamlined to improve performance of the fertilizer market," said the ADB country chief.

It also spoke against the under pricing of energy products, saying that it poses considerable risk in macroeconomic management. The administered prices of petroleum products have already generated substantial fiscal and quasi-fiscal costs to the Government, it said.

The quasi-fiscal costs arise from government guarantees against loans negotiated by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) from domestic and international banks.

"In February 2008, BPC's liabilities to domestic and international banks are estimated at about $1.3 billion. If BPC fails to pay its loan on time, payment is vested upon the Government with future fiscal implications."

The ADB country director commented that the oil-price issue cannot be avoided as they think it largely disturbed government fiscal management.

In April 2007, the Government raised prices by about 21 percent for diesel and kerosene, and about 16 percent for octane and petrol.

"Even after this price adjustment, the implicit subsidy for diesel and kerosene remains substantial. Using the average domestic and international prices of diesel and kerosene for January 2008, the implicit subsidy is estimated at $1.2 billion or 1.6 percent of GDP in FY2008. The implicit subsidy for diesel is $0.34/liter and for kerosene, $0.33/liter," the Update said.

Continuation of the high fuel subsidy will adversely affect the country's domestic and external balances, implying reduced expenditures for social and physical infrastructure and decreasing the country's long-term growth potential, said the donor agency, implicitly prescribing a further raise in fuel prices.

"If subsidies are contemplated for the benefit of the poor, targeting mechanisms would be needed; in practice, these are not easy to implement effectively. To offset the impact of price adjustments on farmers, cash transfers through social safety-net programs from the budget may be undertaken to enable farmers using an irrigation system to pay for diesel."

The ADB cautioned that a large infrastructure project like the Padma bridge is planned for its benefits, but it might also carry adverse social and environmental impacts, including land acquisition and resettlement.

"During the detailed design stage, the findings of the social and environmental impact study will need to be thoroughly discussed with those affected."

CEC on dialogue round II: Law to bar war criminals as per court decisions

Leaders of Krishak-Sramik-Janata League led by its
President Abdul Kader Siddiqui holding dialogue with
election commissioners at the Election Commission office in
the city on Thursday. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

The second-round of dialogue on electoral reforms concluded yesterday with the Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda assuring the political parties that the general election will be held within December this year.

On the concluding day of the five-day dialogue with the political parties, the Election Commission (EC) yesterday held dialogue with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) and Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL).

LDP President Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed, IOJ Chairman Muftee Fazlul Haque Aminee and KSJL President Bangabir Kader Siddiqui during their separate meeting with the EC urged the government to take steps for debarring the war criminals from contesting the polls.

"We request the government to debar the war criminals from contesting the polls because we know who the war criminals are since there is a list of them prepared in 1972," Oli Ahmad said.

He admitted that it was a failure of all, including the freedom fighters, who were in the previous governments, including himself, for letting the war criminals go unpunished.

KSJL President Bangabir Kader Siddiqui asked the EC to directly disqualify acknowledged war criminals from elections instead of waiting for a court order.

He said Jamaat-e-Islami is recognised as a party formed by the anti liberation-war forces and war criminals. "Why should they receive political recognition?" Kader Siddiqui questioned.

On the demand for disqualifying the war criminals he said the EC in its draft proposals has already proposed that war criminals should be put on trial in court."

"No convicted candidate can contest in the elections," he said.

About the apprehension whether the polls would be held in time, the CEC told the delegations that he did not want to talk about it anymore as he answered this question a thousand times.

He categorically said he is determined that the elections would be held in accordance with the roadmap announced by the Commission earlier.

The apprehension will go once they start holding the city corporation elections, the CEC said.

The three parties asked the EC for announcing a tentative date for the forthcoming general elections and lifting the ban on indoor politics and withdrawing the state of emergency.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda presided over the dialogue while Election Commissioners- Mohammad Sohul Hussain and M Sakhawat Hossain, among others, were present.

During the dialogue the LDP and KSJL neither supported the demand for banning the religion-based political parties from contesting the polls nor opposed it. On the other hand, the IOJ delegation, led by Muftee Fazlul Haque Aminee, strongly advocated for religions-based politics.

The EC discussed the outcome of its first round of dialogue with the parties on the proposed electoral reforms.

Asking the Commission to announce a tentative polling date by October 15, the LDP President said people, businessmen, politicians as well as government officials would become election-oriented by the time and help the economy get stabilised.

He said the LDP is not saying that a religious person cannot enter politics, but war criminals and religion-based parties are not the same thing.

The KSJL leader criticised Jamaat-e-Islami for its choice of election symbol and said, "In the Quran the scale is the symbol of justice and truth, as well as a religious symbol." He proposed the EC to cancel the use of scale as an election symbol.

Emphasising the need for holding dialogue with the BNP he said it would be a total failure of the Commission if it could not hold dialogue with BNP. He also suggested holding dialogue with both the factions of BNP.

Responding to them the CEC said the matter of holding talks with BNP is pending court verdict.

The EC began its second-round dialogue on electoral reforms dialogues with political parties on February 24.

Oriental Bank: Sale-purchase deal signed: Takeover won’t affect depositors, clients, employees

Switzerland-based ICB Financial Group Holdings AG
yesterday signed the sale-purchase agreement with Bangladesh
Bank to take over the Oriental Bank to start initial
operation. Incumbent chairman of Oriental Bank AH Toufique
Ahmed and Bangladesh Bank gener

Staff Reporter

The Switzerland-based ICB Financial Group Holdings AG signed the sale-purchase agreement of the troubled Oriental Bank in the capital yesterday.

The Swiss company also paid Tk 350 crore to purchase 50.16 per cent shares of the problem-ridden Oriental Bank. The money (Tk 350 crore) would be used as capital of the bank that renamed as ICB Islamic Bank Ltd, Hadenan Jalil, representative of the ICB group, told a post-signing press conference.

A tripartite sale-purchase agreement was signed among the Swiss ICB Group, Oriental Bank and Bangladesh Bank. Hadenan Jalil, also proposed to be the Chairman of new management, incumbent chairman of Oriental Bank AH Toufique Ahmed and Bangladesh Bank (BB) General Manager (BRPD) Jahangir Alam signed the agreement on behalf for their respective sides.

"Our first priority is to bring back confidence of the previous and existing accountholders through providing better services," Hadenan Jalil said, assuring that the takeover by his group would not affect the depositors, clients and employees of the Oriental Bank

Hadenan Jalil said the bank (ICB Islamic Bank Ltd) would try to reach each and everyone of the previous and existing clients to give their message of better services and that the day-to-day banking activities would be transparent and accountable to the clients.

He also spoke about the initial plan of operation that the bank would expand their branch network as much as possible, subject to the central bank approval, with modern IT systems. It would also try to tap the potentials of Bangladesh remittance receipts, Hadenan Jalil added.

Replying to a question, he said there would be no firing of the existing staff of the bank, but there might be some changes within to strengthen the bank in terms of management.

"Very soon, we'll be able to workout our plan," Hadenan Jalil said, adding that the success of the bank would depend on the commitment of the bank staff as well as the commitment of the bank board to its staffers.

A senior executive of the bank said the Board of Directors would be constituted very soon while the 50.16 percent shares of Tk 3.5 billion would be distributed among the directors before taking over the bank management within next 15 days.

Speaking at the function, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Murshid Kuli Khan expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the deal as per the central bank's schedule.

He expected that the new management having vast banking experiences would be able to bring out the bank from the distressed condition and problem category, and make it a healthy and strong bank in the country.

The Oriental Bank Limited has been suffering from capital and provisioning shortfall, huge classified loans, ineffective management, severe liquidity crisis and overall acute financial crisis after its former Chairman Obaidul Karim fled the country after swindling over Tk 500 crore depositors' money immediately before the January 11 (2007) changeover in connivance with powerful quarters in the previous BNP government.

Latter, Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of the country, took over trouble bank on June 19 in 2006 as per the Banking Companies Act 1991 for the sake of public and depositors' interests and to ensure proper management of the bank and keep up the public confidence in the banking system.

As a result, the central bank had deployed one of its senior executives with the power to carry out responsibilities of the Oriental Bank's Board of Directors as the chief executive through dismantling the previous Board and removing the managing director.

On February 14, the Bangladesh Bank announced the Swiss ICB AG as the preferred bidder as it had quoted highest price.

Earlier, on February 4, the ICB group emerged as the highest bidder quoting Tk 350 crore price, beating Domestic Investors Consortium, Bangladesh that offered over Tk 250 crore the same stake.

It may be mentioned here that Bangladesh Bank could sale the Oriental Bank within 2 months 15 days of its decision to privatize, while BOI (Board of Investment) failed to do so for the Rupali Bank in 2 years and 6 months time al though BOI had spent about Tk 35 crore for the job.

Graft cases: ACC stops giving emergency laws retrospective effect

BSS, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will not give any retrospective effect of the Emergency Powers Rules (EPR) in filing any graft case until disposal of such a case pending in the Supreme Court against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Director General Colonel Hanif Iqbal said this at the weekly briefing while clarifying the ACC's stand not to include the Boropukuria coal mine case against former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and 15 others in the EPR.

He said the ACC has the authority to decide whether a case would be brought under the EPR or not. But, the commission is yet to discuss inclusion of the case in the EPR, he said referring to the will of the commission and earlier comments by the ACC chairman in this regard. The DG expected that investigation into the Boropukuria case would be launched by next week after appointment of an investigation officer (IO).

The IO would take decision on arresting the accused in the case if he deems it necessary taking the situation into consideration, Colonel Hanif said adding that a warrant for arrest may be issued against any accused if he/she tries to destroy evidence of the case or leave the country to avoid trial.

Meanwhile, the ACC yesterday decided to serve notices on four persons, including Mayor of Khulna Sheikh Tayebur Rahman, asking them to submit wealth statements to the commission within the timeframe allowed by the ACC Act-2004.

Other persons, who will receive the notices, are: former Managing Director of Rural Power Company Ltd Jahurul Islam Khan, Customs Inspector of Siddheshwari Circle of Dhaka M Harun-ar- Rahman and constable of Rajbari Police Lines M Yusuf Sharif.

The ACC also approved the charge sheet in the corruption case against Chairman of Jamuna Group Nurul Islam Babul, his wife Salma Islam and son Shamim Islam.

Col Hanif Iqbal said Babul and his family members were accused of acquiring illegal wealth of about Taka 5.56 crore and concealing information about wealth of over Taka 4.17 crore in the wealth statement submitted to the ACC.

Govt takes steps to reduce regional inequalities: Aziz

Staff Reporter

Finance Adviser Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam Thursday admitted presence of significant inequality in some districts and said the government will be taking measures through infrastructural development for economic growth of those areas.

"Incidence of poverty in Barisal, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions is higher than Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. Building of Padma Bridge will reduce cost of doing business there and attract investment resulting economic growth and reduction of inequality," the Adviser said yesterday at a dialogue in the city.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in collaboration

He said the problem of disparity raised over the time, will take time to address.

"The present government will be taking initiatives to address the inequalities but I hope the future government will also follow the same," he said.

Investment will automatically come if the areas are infrastructurally developed, the Adviser added.

He said the Government is trying to increase allocation for depressed areas.

Planning Division secretary Zafar Ahmed Chowdhury emphasised on public private cooperation for unlocking the potentials for development of the country.

Prof Sarwar Zahan emphasised on empowerment of poor people to strengthen democracy.

M Syeduzzaman said the unequal situation exists in most of the South Asian countries. Such kind of inequality is not unnatural, he said.

Abul Mal Abdul Muhit said the government has to develop a strategy that includes development of the rural areas.

MK Anwar said the matter of disparity depends on various factors. "So, steps should be taken to reduce the inequality considering those matters like population, resources and potentials."

Dr. Uttam Deb said that the regional disparities are increasing in some areas of the country due to government's wrong policies and strategies.

National govt if polls not held: Hafiz

Staff Reporter

Bottlenecks deterring the reunification of the BNP faction would start disappearing immediately after a meeting between the two top leaders-BNP (reformist) Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman and Secretary General (anti-reform) Khandker Delwar Hossain.

Claiming this at a press conference, BNP Acting Secretary General Major (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday said a National Government could be formed with leaders of political parties, who had representation in the last Parliament, if the general elections could not be held this year due to any unavoidable circumstances.

"However we prefer forming such government after the election," Hafiz said.

The reformist group has decided to take along BNP Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain for talks with the Election Commission.

"We shall not go alone to the dialogue with the EC. We will take Delwar with us even if the court upholds the EC's invitation to me," said Maj Hafiz.

Hafizuddin told newsmen at his Banani residence that there was no alternative to unity for the party.

Hafizuddin welcomed the fresh move for unity initiated by Brig Gen (rtd)

ASM Hannan Shah, adviser to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Hannan on Wednesday said they are ready to sit with the reformist group at anytime, in any manner and expressed hope of uniting the party for the greater interest of the nation.

Hafizuddin said BNP is a major political party having roots among the masses. "Even if the current move does not succeed, necessity in the greater interest of the party and nation will compel them to unite before the election, if not immediately."

Answering to a question about the graft case tied to Barapukuria Coalmine Hafizuddin said it was a "sorry affair".

"There's nothing wrong in discharging the responsibilities according to the government rules and regulations," Hafizuddin told reporters at his Banani home.

He said the accused were innocent and they would eventually be acquitted of the charges.

Khaleda Zia and 15 other people, including many of her former cabinet colleagues, are accused in the case.

BNP will contest the polls unitedly under the leadership of chairperson Khaleda Zia, he added.

Replying to a question Hafizuddin said, their reform proposals will be placed before the next council session. He is hopeful of holding the council with Khaleda Zia in the chair.

"There had been no direction for running the party in the absence of the chairperson. That is why we had proposed for reforms in the party," said Hafizuddin.

He demanded election within this year in accordance with the roadmap announced by the Election Commission.

Bangladesh-SA 2nd Test in Ctg from today

UNB, Chittagong

Bangladesh faces strong South Africa today (Friday) in the 2nd test of the two-match Warid Test Series at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong.

Earlier, in the 1st test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh conceded a five-wicket defeat against the Proteas to trail the series 1-0 despite having a chance to make a major upset.

Addressing a press conference at a city hotel Thursday, Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful said they would focus on batting so that the match rolls into five days.

He hoped that his fellow batsmen would not repeat the same mistake what they did in the 1st test and they would be able to come out from the batting failure.

Echoing Ashraful's sentiment, South African skipper Graeme Smith said they too would not repeat the mistakes they did in the 1st test.

But, the South African captain alerted his teammates to be serious about the match as he said they are not taking the hosts lightly as they have some talented performers like Junaed Siddequi and Shahadat Hossain Rajib.

Veteran local spinner Mohammad Rafique will play his last test tomorrow with a hope to reach his landmark of 100 wickets as he has already 98 wickets in his account.

$62.6m IDA credit to raise farm output

Staff Reporter

The Government yesterday signed an IDA credit worth US$ 62.6 million agreement with the World Bank to improve agricultural productivity and farm income.

Additional Secretary of Economic Relations Division Mohammad Mesbahuddin and Acting Country Director of World Bank in Bangladesh Mohamed Alhousseyni Toure signed agreement on behalf of the Government and the World Bank respectively at the NEC Auditorium in the capital last afternoon.

The WB's concessionary arm-International Development Association (IDA) will provide the loan to improve agricultural productivity and farm income by revitalizing the national agricultural technology system.

The credit (US$ 62.6 million) from the IDA has 40 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period; it carries a service charge of 0.75 per cent, a WB press release said yesterday.

The credit will finance "the National Agricultural Technology Project of the Government", which is designed to promote the generation, dissemination, adoption and use of appropriate agricultural technologies through a number of policy reforms, institutional development and investment to support agricultural research, extension and supply chain development.

The development of supply chains will focus on strengthening farmer-market linkages, knowledge management and human resources development, the release added.

Quizzing of Moudud at jail get permitted

Court Correspondent

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) of Dhaka Golam Rabbani yesterday permitted prosecution to quiz former Law Minister Moudud Ahmed in a graft case at the jail gate.

Earlier, the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case sought the permission, while the ACMM acceded to the submission.

Anti-Corruption Commission's Assistant Director Md Ibrahim filed the case with Gulshan Thana of the city on September 16, last year. He accused Barrister Moudud of amassing wealth worth Taka 7 crore 38 lakh 64,287 which is not proportionate to his known source of income, to the tune of taka 4 crore 41 lakh 37,375.

Meanwhile, Golam Mortaza Majumder, Divisional Special Judge of Dhaka Thursday recorded the deposition of three witnesses as the famous graft case filed against Jatiya Party Chairman Hossain Mohammad Ershad in connection with installation of telephone line connecting 89 upazilas of the country. The Judge fixed March 24 to record deposition of the witnesses again.

3 to die for killing schoolteacher in Patuakhali

Tahmina Sharmin Tania

UNB, Patuakhali

Husband and two hired killers were sentenced to death yesterday for pre-planned murder of Tahmina Sharmin Tania, 28, an assistant school teacher, in January last year.

District and Sessions Judge Abu Bakar Siddiqi handed down the death penalty to Zahid alias Jewel, Mizanur Rahman and his accomplice Shaheen Alam.

Police investigation probed that extra-marital relation of Zahid with his cousin (daughter of maternal aunt) was the reason that led him to brutally murder the young wife with the help of hired killers.

The prosecution said Tania was assistant teacher of Shahid Babul Academy at Kilgaon, Dhaka. Her husband Zahid in a pre-planned move took his wife and 10-month old baby Jaymon on a tour to Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali in a private car on January 30, 2007.

On way at night, Tania was murdered with the help of hired killers, driver Mizan and his accomplice Shaheen, at Rajopara area of Kalapara upazila. Police later arrested Jewel, seized the private car and rescued the baby.

Following the confessional statement of Jewel, police arrested Mizan from Khilgaon and Shaheen from Bancharampur upazila in Brahmanbaria district.

Tania's brother Rayhan Gafur filed the case with Kalapara thana.

DU to confer doctor of laws to language veterans Matin, Gaziul Haque

BSS, Dhaka

Dhaka University (DU) has decided to confer Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degrees on two language veterans Gaziul Haque and Abdul Matin at its 44th convocation likely to be held in the first week of April.

President and DU Chancellor Iajuddin Ahmed will attend the function as the chief guest and language veteran Abdul Matin will be the convocation speaker.

DU vice-chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz at a press briefing at his office yesterday said that the two language veterans would be awarded honorary degrees in the coming convocation ceremony.

They will be honoured for their contribution to establish Bengali as the state language of the country in 1952.

"We have taken the decision to give the two language veterans Doctor of Laws degrees as the February 21 has achieved the recognition of International Mother Language Day for their remarkable role in the language movement in 1952," Dr Faiz added.

Kibria murder case: Police asked to submit charge- sheet at earliest

BSS, Dhaka

Home Secretary Mohammad Abdul Karim on Thursday said the police had been asked to submit charge sheet in the murder case of former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria at the earliest.

Briefing reporters, emerging from the 58th meeting of monitoring cell for quick settlement of the sensational murder cases in the home ministry conference room, he said, it discussed progress in 13 murder cases, of which charge sheets were submitted in four.

Chaired by Home Adviser Major General (retd), the meeting discussed the progress of Kibria murder case and asked the police to submit charge sheet, after examining the laws related to the case, said the home secretary.

The meeting, he said, expressed satisfaction at the progress of achieved in the cases.

He said that 10 other cases were discussed at the previous meeting of the cell while seven more cases would be discussed at the next meeting.

He said, discussed the case of murder of Minhazul Abedin Tanim, who was a student of class three of Comilla Ibne Taimia School and College, the case murder of two persons by dacoits at Mirpur section 1, murder of two in the hands of hijackers while they were hijacking an autorickshaw at Narayanganj, Mohammad Humayan Kabir alias Sabbir murder case, Mohsin Riyasat Sobhan murder case, Advocate Khorshed Alam Bachchu murder case, businessman Alhaj Shahidullah murder case at Mirpur, Kazi Suhis Nahar murder case at Dhanmondi, Mostafa Kamal Uddin murder case, suicide murder case of Hasna Hena at Gazipur, Businessman Mashiur Rahman Parvez murder case, Didar murder case and Taloda union parishad chairman murder case.

Moeen due in Kolkata today

Indian soldiers killed in ’71 war to be honoured

Agencies

Army chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed has met India's top political and military leaders to find specific ways to boost defence, transport and trade ties between the two neighbours.

Gen Moeen has also agreed for Bangladesh to finally honour Indian Army soldiers who died for Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.

The agreement was made during Moeen's meeting with Indian Chief of Army Staff Gen Deepak Kapoor.

Moeen left Delhi Tuesday morning to visit the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun in Uttaranchal Pradesh after 'fruitful' discussions with India's top political and military leaders.

Ahmed is scheduled to stop by in Kotkata on February 29. He will fly to Calcutta on his return where he will meet Bhattacharjee that evening. It is likely that Ahmed will also visit Santiniketan.

In Kolkata, the chief minister and the army chief are expected to explore issues that Ahmed might suggest to his army-backed interim government on his return to Dhaka. The communist leader and the general are not known to have met in the past.

From Dehra Dun, Moeen was scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Ajmer Sharif shrine and then the coastal state of Goa. He would then visit Kolkata on January 29.

In Kolkata Moeen is scheduled to visit the Eastern Command of the Indian Army and hold a meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya and discussions on starting India-Bangladesh train service. He has also expressed his desire to visit the Shantiniketan.

A top official of the Indian foreign ministry said bilateral talks between the Bangladesh Army chief and top Indian political and military leaders would build up the momentum for better relations between the two countries.

"We attach a lot of importance to Gen Moeen's visit, which would shape bilateral ties during the coming days," said.

Gen Moeen, who is on a six-day visit to the neighbouring country, said on Monday that he expects the Dhaka-Kolkata train service to start in next two-three months.

Moeen also met India's Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh on Monday and discussed various possibilities to further improve trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.

He was informed that the final notification on the duty-free export of 8 million pieces of readymade garments from Bangladesh would be issued soon.

Gen Moeen and Gen Kapoor held extensive discussions on the possible ways for further promoting cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries in areas including training, sharing of experience in disaster management, advanced information sharing on floods and tsunami and participation of troops of the two countries in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

Gen Moeen also held discussion with the Indian Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju where ideas regarding training of armed forces personnel at each other's training institutions, capacity building in the area of specialised treatment at medical institutions, sharing of experience on disaster management and greater interaction on matters relating to participation of the troops of the two countries in UN Peacekeeping Operations came up.

Gen Moeen's visit is the first by any Bangladesh Army chief. The Indian Army chief visited Bangladesh in 2001.

Moeen is being accompanied by his wife and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 66 Infantry Division Major General Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi and Director (Training) of Army Headquarters Brigadier General Md Anisuzzaman Bhuiyan.