The New Nation - Internet Edition

Govt decides to send Hasina, Khaleda abroad for treatment Medical board examines AL chief today, IG Prisons asked to take Khaleda’s consent

Shahidul Islam

The Government decided to send two detained Prime Ministers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-abroad for treatment if they themselves express the desire and high-powered official medical boards recommend after examining them inside prison separately.

Sheikh Hasina, who is the President of the Awami League (AL) and likely to fly first, would be sent to the US and Begum Zia, who is the Chairperson of the BNP, to the Kingdom of Saudi Aarabia, where she had earlier undergone medical treatment several times. Sheikh Hasina had her treatment before in the US, informed sources said.

The Government would form high-powered medical boards on the basis of recommendations made by separate medical boards comprising senior physicians of the choice made by the two top political leaders of the country.

One such medical board would examine Sheikh Hasina today at the Special Jail on the premises of Parliament building complex, as she yesterday formally gave her consent to go abroad for medical treatment to the jail authorities, Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said last evening.

Inspector General (Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hossain called on the two former Prime Ministers separately at their respective prison-bunglows in the afternoon, as per the directive of the Government, when Sheikh Hasina herself expressed her desire to him. It, however, could not be ascertained as to what was the reply made by Begum Zia, whose both the sons were also arrested on separate charges of corruption, till filing of this report last night.

Earlier, in the afternoon, Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (retd) Abdul Matin told a press conference at his office that the Government has decided to send Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina for medical treatment if they so wish and medical boards recommend. The IG Prisons was directed to meet them and report back immediately after discussing with the two lady politicians, who alternated as the country's Prime Ministers since the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1991.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina's scientist husband Dr Wazed Mia, in a letter yesterday, requested Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed to send her abroad for treatment. The letter reached the Chief Adviser at 8:30 last evening. Her family has booked an air ticket with three alternative dates on March 7, 13 and 23 with a foreign airline.

In a related development, a High Court Division Bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam granted bail to Begum Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman in two separate cases yesterday in the morning.

In the meantime, doctors in Singapore yesterday examined AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

"They have advised me to take some medicines and to undertake more examinations," Jalil, who flew to Singapore and was admitted to the hospital early in the morning, himself told over telephone yesterday.

Anti-corruption drive: 100 politicians flee to India, other countries

Staff Reporter

About 100 politicians, including some high-profile leaders, have fled to India and other countries to evade arrest under the Government's anti-corruption drive, official sources claimed in Dhaka.

Many of these high-profile politicians are hiding in different friendly countries, including India, UK, Singapore and USA, the sources added.

Police sources said 30 of the absconders have been sentenced to varied jail terms. The latest being prominent Awami League (AL) leader Abul Hasnat Abdullah who was handed down a 13-year jail term by a Dhaka Court on Monday for illegally amassing wealth and concealing financial information.

A senior police official preferring anonymity said Abdullah was hiding in India along with his son, who was sentenced to eight-year imprisonment on a corruption charge earlier.

Another Court had sentenced Abdullah, who was the Chief Whip of Parliament when Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister, to nine years in jail earlier after trial in absentia for tax evasion.

The police had earlier sought Interpol's assistance to track down the convicted politicians and suspects who fled the country after the anti-graft crackdown was launched by the interim administration in January last year. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Noor Mohammad recently said they were trying to confirm the current whereabouts of the fugitives as many of them were hiding abroad with their family members.

Informed sources said a number of politicians, including Al-leaders-Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and former MP, Mirza Azam-and BNP leaders Harris Chowdhury, Shahjahan Siraj and former MP Nadeem Mostafa were hiding in India.

Some of these high-profile politicians might have migrated to other countries from India.

Meanwhile, the Government has also requested the Indian authorities to help nab those hiding in the big neighbouring country with which Bangladesh share 4,000 kilometers of common border.

Economic decline to be on if credit flow not changed

Staff Reporter

The country's economy may face downturn in the near future if the nature of private sector credit flow is not changed from the present trading bias to productive sector, according to business leaders and economists.

" Poverty reduction, employment opportunity and economic growth will be highly hampered if there is no investment in industrialisation," former FBCCI president aid Mir Nasir Hossen told The New Nation yesterday.

He said the government has to take steps to encourage people for investing in the productive sector to remove stagnation in this area.

During the first five months of the current fiscal year private sector credit growth rose by 50 per cent to Tk 11,551 crore driven by growing demand from import and agriculture business.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed recently expressed disappointment as the private banks like to finance short term trading instead of long-term industrialisation.

Prof Abu Ahmed of University of Dhaka said People do not want to take risk in this political situation, he said.

He said most of the potential investors are now either staying abroad are inside prison. The remaining investors have no capacity for new investment, he added.

Asking to bringback confidence among people and businessmen Dr Abu Ahmed said the government should free the 'corrupt businessmen' through the truth commission and confiscating their ill gotten wealth.

Prof Dr Ali Taslim of University of Dhaka said lack of investment in the productive sector will put negative impact on country's economy as future prosperity and growth will be decreased.

"People are yet to get back business confidence and are not going for new investments," he said adding this will also trim down the pace of poverty reduction.

"New investment is a big decision. If people do not get positive reading on future environment they will not be encouraged to invest."

Dr Taslim emphasised on bringing back confidence among businessmen and asked the government to remove bureaucratic red tap, reduce bank interest rates and give a clear view of future business climate.

Praising the government for forming better business forum he said business climate should be improved for new investment.

Hillary leads in Ohio, Obama in Texas

AP, Washington

Barack Obama sought a knockout against rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as voting began Tuesday in crucial contests in Texas and Ohio, where the former first lady desperately needs a win to salvage her once-powerful candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Both expressed confidence in their chances the previous night, which they spent in the same Texas city. But both teams also acknowledged that split decisions and close votes could prolong the battle for at least another month - or more.

"We know this has been an extraordinary election. It continues to be. We're working hard to do as well as we can," said Obama, who planned to await Texas returns in San Antonio.

"I'm just getting warmed up," Clinton told reporters, a clear sign that she expects to press the campaign on beyond Tuesday no matter the outcome.

She planned to open Election Day in Houston and Dallas, but then head back to Ohio for more campaign events. She will await results in Columbus before returning to Washington Tuesday night. Polls show tight races in both Texas and Ohio. The Obama campaign saw Texas as their best opportunity, while the Clinton campaign saw Ohio as theirs. Texas offers 228 delegates, Ohio 164.

"Your voice can win an election," Obama told a noisy late-night rally in Houston. Repeating a signature election refrain, he shouted: "I have only one question for you: Are you fired up? Ready to go?" When the crowd roared its approval, he added: "Let's go change the world." His wife, Michelle, had a more subdued message for the cheering supporters: "We have a lot of work to do."

Eric Gingerich, 36, a junior high social studies teacher, normally votes Republican, but voted Tuesday for Obama at an elementary school in Hilliard, Ohio, near Columbus.

"I like how he can bring the two parties together and the country together," he said.

Republican scandals in Ohio have made him more open to Democrats, but Gingerich said Clinton is too polarizing.

"If anybody is going to pull me over to the Democrats it's Barack, not Hillary," he said.

The economy was on the mind of Gretchen Genung, 61, a state employee who voted for Clinton in Cincinnati.

"We know where the economy is right now, we know where it's going and we need somebody in there like Hillary who has the experience," Genung said.

Obama spent Monday campaigning in Texas, emphasizing his readiness to take over as commander in chief.

But he was dogged by allegations that he had overstated his opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement to win votes in Ohio; and his ties to Chicago businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko on the day that jury selection began in the political corruption trial of the real estate developer and fast-food magnate.

"Tony Rezko was a friend and supporter of mine for many years. These charges are completely unrelated to me, and nobody disputes that," Obama said at a news conference in San Antonio.

Obama did receive a $10,000 contribution made by a Rezko associate that is mentioned in the indictment. But Obama's campaign has long since sent the money to charity.

"There's no dispute that he raised money for us, and there's no dispute that we've tried to get rid of it," Obama said.

Meanwhile, Clinton waged yet another marathon day on Monday, shaking hands in the chill pre-dawn darkness with workers at a Chrysler factory in Toledo and winding up in Texas. She predicted a strong showing in the primaries and said she was looking ahead to contests down the road like Pennsylvania on April 22.

She sounded a populist economic theme as she courted voters who have suffered with the decline of manufacturing in the industrial Midwest and Ohio. Then, in military-friendly Texas, Clinton broadened her theme to include veterans' issues and to trumpet her backing from a string of top military officers.

Clinton worked to underscore her core campaign theme that she's the more experienced on the issue. She held a one-hour town hall meeting where she strode the stage surrounded by a friendly audience and took questions selected from the thousands that were submitted on issues ranging from health care to education to veterans issues. Her campaign purchased time on a sports-oriented cable network to broadcast the event around the state, and the event was streamed on the campaign's Web site.

Both Clinton and Obama launched new television spots in Texas and Ohio to make their closing arguments.

Clinton ended her day with a rambunctious rally in Austin before flying to Houston.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe called Tuesday "the last big window of opportunity" for Clinton, noting that "enormous leads" she enjoyed as recently as two weeks ago had dwindled or evaporated.

Still, he said Obama was mindful that "this could go on for some time. We're prepared for whatever situation occurs."

Republican presidential contenders John McCain and Mike Huckabee also campaigned in Texas, though voter interest centered on the closer Democratic race.

Tk 12.5 lakh looted from Agrani Bank city branch

A group of thugs took away a briefcase with Taka 12
lakh from Kurban Khwaza, an employee of Secondary and Higher
Secondary Education Department, who drew the cash for
disbursing salaries of its employees from Agrani Bank,
Jatiya Press Club Branch in the

Staff Reporter

A gang of cheaters decamped with about Tk 12.5 lakh from Agrani Bank National Press Club branch in the heart of the capital yesterday morning.

Source said the amount was drawn against the salary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department in Dhaka by a staff of the education department, Kurban Khaza.

According to the banks Principal Officer, Mohammad Kabir, after encashment of the cheque for Tk 12,24,6,49 from the bank by Kurban at about 9:30 he (kurban) stuffed the money in a briefcase and kept it down on his right side while sitting on a chair in front of him. At that time, one of the cheaters, who entered the bank in the guise of a client, guilefully diverted his attention and ran away in no time with the briefcase.

The fraud threw some 500-taka notes on the floor and asked Kurban if the money was his. As Kurban turned his head towards the bank notes on the floor the cheat grabbed his briefcase, passed it on to his accomplice and both disappeared in no time.

The bank official, Kabir said, "I shouted for locking the main gate of the bank, but the ruffians made good their escape before we could gather our wits."

The branch has only two security guards, Dulal and Altaf. During the incident, Dulal went to bring tea for some of the employees, Kabir added.

The branch has no CCTV cameras, armed guards or security alarm system, complained one of the bank staff.

Duty officer of Shahbag Police Station Jhangir Alam said the Additional Director of the Department, Akram Haq, filed a case in this connection.

Brac Bank robbery: One held with 172 tola gold

DB Police arrested one Masuk from Keraniganj
yesterday and recovered 2 kgs of gold ornaments which were
looted from BRAC Bank, Dhanmondi branch recently. Banglar
Chokh

Staff Reporter

A team of DB police arrested another suspect in connection with the sensational Brac Bank robbery Monday night from Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital and recovered gold weighing over 172 tolas.

The arrested person was identified as Masuk, son of Lalmiah of Sylhet.

Detective Branch (DB) police sources said following his confessional statement, they recovered over 172 tolas of gold from Rupnagar Jewellers at New Rajdhani Supermarket in the city, where he sold the jewelleries after stealing those from the bank. He and his other accomplices, led by Sukur, broke open 76 lockers from the locker room of the bank's Sukrabad branch on January 5. During the heist, he was standing outside the bank as a sentry, said Masuk to the reporters at DB office yesterday.

After looting the lockers, we divided the gold ornaments into 19 portions. Later, I sold my share to Abdul Halim, the owner of Rupnagar Jewellers, he was quoted as telling the detectives.

About the involvement of the bank officials in the burglary, he expressed his ignorance as he was on guard outside.

With this arrest and recovery, the police have so far nabbed 17 suspects and recovered 416 tolas of gold.

They have enough information about the ringleader Sukur, who hails from Chittagong, and they hoped he would be picked up very soon as most of his associates have already been captured, said DC of DB Mainul Hasan.

He made a disclosure that they also came to know that many gold businessmen give such robbers advance money for robbing so that they could purchase the stolen gold at a cheaper price.

We'll conduct drive soon against those culprits, he added.

On January 5, the gang broke into the bank by cutting its ceiling and looted huge quantities of gold and other valuables from its safe locker room.

Dr Kamal for gradual lifting of emergency

Staff Reporter

Gano Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said the state of emergency should be withdrawn gradually for holding a fair and credible election not all of a sudden.

He said this to journalists at one stage of a meeting with the Communist Party of Bangladesh at his residence at Baily Road in the city.

Dr Kamal said, "Our past experience says that withdrawing emergency at once will not be good for the country so it should be withdrawn stage by stage relaxing its provisions gradually."

Dr Kamal said the election of 2008 would bring a meaningful change in the country's politics and people's fate.

"We have been vocal against corruption, terrorism and nepotism in the past and now we are working together to hold a fair election" he said.

About Sheikh Hasina's claim that he deviated from his principle by being an advocate against BNP he made, "no comment."

CPB president Manjurul Ahsan Khan said, "Any wrong step of the caretaker government would lead the nation to a disastrous situation."

"If the elections could not be held according to the roadmap it would be suicidal," the CPB president said.

He said the CPB would also hold talks with other like-minded parties and added that they were neither a part of the 14-party alliance nor would they join it.

He urged for dialogue within the parties and between the parties.

Gano Forum acting general secretary Adv Subrata Chowdhury, organising secretary Mostafa Mohshin Mantu, presidium member Pankaj Bhattcharya, CPB general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, Ruhin Hossain Prince, Ahsan Habib Lavlu and Dhaka University professor Dr MM Akash, among others, were present at the meeting.

Tarique granted bail in 2 cases by HC, proceedings of cases stayed

Staff Reporter

The High Court yesterday granted bail to detained BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman in two separate extortion cases. Granting Tarique Rahman interim bail following separate petitions, a division bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shaidul Islam also stayed the proceedings of the two cases.

These two cases were filed against Tarique Rahman with Gulshan police station on March 27 and May 4 last year. The cases were filed by the owner of a real-estate company and an aggrieved person.

Despite the HC orders for setting him free on bail, Tarique won't be able to come out of jail as he is entangled in a series of corruption cases, said Mahbubuddin Khokon, a counsel for Tarique.

Earlier, the HC in November last year had issued rule upon the government to explain why placing the extortion cases against Tarique for trying under the Emergency Power Rules 'should not be declared illegal'.

BNP unity move nears final stage

Staff Reporter

Outspoken BNP Advisory Council member Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah yesterday claimed that the unity process within their divided party was now nearer to the final stage.

"We have established contacts with the reformist leaders of the party and we hope to complete the process of BNP unity successfully," he told a press conference at a press briefing before meeting with some leaders of anti-reform faction of the party at his new DOHS residence at Mohakhali in the capital.

He announced that the leaders of other group, including former party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, detained former Assistant Secretary General Ashraf Hossain and former Office Secretary Mofiqul Hassan Triptee, would be offered honorable posts after unity.

"But they have to abandon the October 29 decisions of the Standing Committee, which put the two factions apart on the question of party reforms," he added, repeating the same pre-condition, which was set earlier by top anti-reform group leader BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who is now staying in Singapore

Hannan Shah, who returned home after a "private visit" to Malaysia on Sunday, the day Khandaker Delwar left Dhaka for Singapore along with his ailing wife for medical treatment.

Sources close to Hannan Shah said he had telephonic conversations with two of the three top reformist leaders-Acting BNP Chairman M Saifur Rahman and Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, while he was in Malaysia.

"I firmly believe they (reformists) will return to the mainstream by accepting the party constitution and instruction of our leader (Begum Khaleda Zia)," Hannan Shah, who belongs to the anti-reform faction, said renewing another pre-condition Khandaker Delwar had put earlier without disclosing the contents of his discussion with Saifur and Hafiz.

When contacted, all the top reformist leaders, including Saifur and Hafiz, refused to make any comment on the statement made by Hannan Shah on the development of BNP unity process.

But, when asked, BNP (anti-reform) Joint Secretary General Babu Gayeshwar Chandra Roy sharply reacted and posing a question, saying, "Why the unity process leaving aside Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who is leading the party in the absence of Begum Zia?"

The BNP Joint Secretary General asserted saying, "The unity of the BNP should be achieved under the leadership Khandaker Delwar not avoiding him under any circumstances."

In reply to a question, Hannan Shah, who became suddenly active after the arrest of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Zia, said expelled BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's application to the High Court to become a party against Begum Zia's writ petition challenging the Election Commission's (EC's) letter to Maj Hafiz group for dialogue might be an obstacle to the unity process.

Later, as part of the latest activism, BNP joint Secretaries-General Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman and Goyeswar Chandra Roy and Organizing Secretary Mohammad Shajahan held a meeting with Shah.

Bhuiyan fires broadside at detained Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka

Expelled BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday accused detained party chairperson Khaleda Zia of violating jail code through filing the writ challenging validity of the Election Commission's impugned invitation for dialogue.

"For being confined to custody, the jail code does not permit her to file the writ petition and get involved in political matters through seeking court recognition of Khandaker Delwar Hossain as secretary general of BNP," Bhuiyan told the High Court while contesting the case as an additional respondent.

Countering an oblique remark of the counsel for Khaleda having dubbed 'midnight coup' the October 29 standing-committee meeting, he claimed that there was a standing committee of BNP that passed a resolution stating that the committee did not give approval to his expulsion from the party.

On September 2 last year, hours before her arrest in connection with a corruption case under the purge in the interim period, the immediate-past premier had sacked her reformist secretary general, Mannan Bhuiyan, on charge of anti-party activities and handpicked Khandaker Delwar Hossain in his place.

Bhuiyan, the harbinger of reform in BNP, mentioned that the meeting also had decided that Delwar would be relieved of his post of secretary general on grounds of his ill health and in his place party vice-chairman Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed would be the acting secretary general.

The meeting further decided that in the absence of party chairperson, senior-most member of the standing committee M Saifur Rahman would be acting chairperson of BNP, Bhuiyan contended in his written deposition.

Independence award: GC Dev, Rehman Sobhan, Shamsuzzoha, BDR named

BSS, Dhaka

The government yesterday finally nominated names of three distinguished persons and one organisation for Swadhinata Award-2008 for their glorious and outstanding contribution at the national level.

Bangladesh Rifles has been nominated for the award in recognition to its contribution to the independence and liberation war of the country, an official Handout said.

Martyred Dr Syed Muhammad Shamsuzzoha and Professor Dr Gobinda Chandra Dev (martyred intellectual Dr GC Dev) were nominated for their contribution to the independence and liberation war while Professor Rehman Sobhan has been nominated for his contribution to Research and Training, the Handout said.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will give the award to the nominated persons/organisation at a function to be held at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city on March 25.

20 AB Bank officials fall unconscious

Staff Reporter

At least 20 officials and employees of the AB Bank Islampur branch suddenly swooned yesterday noon and mystery shrouds the incident.

Of the victims, four had to be shifted to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state.

Mehedi Masud, a Principal Officer of the bank, said Principal Officer Sayeduzzaman first fell senseless at about 11:30am. Later, 19 other officials and employees, including himself, collapsed one after another.

Of them, bank messenger Moshiur Rahman, tea-boy Imran Hasan, security guard Amir Hossain, and officer Jahirul Islam were admitted to the hospital.

Operations in the bank were closed down soon after the incident, said one of the bank officials.

About the possible cause of the asphyxiation, a police officer of Kotwali Police Station said the bank office was fully air-conditioned, but there had been no supply of electricity since Monday night, leaving the AC inoperative.

Some noxious gas might have flowed from the air conditioners or lack of adequate oxygen could be the reason behind the officers falling unconsciousness, said a Fire Service official.