The New Nation - Internet Edition

US wants credible elections by Dec: Geeta Pasi holds talks with AL, BNP (reformist) leaders, talks with other parties and Delwar will follow; Govt urged to do everything required f

US Charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi talking to newsmen
after holding a meeting with Awami League leaders at the
residence of the party's Acting President Zillur Rahman in
the city on Sunday. FocusBangla

Acting Chairperson of BNP (reformist) M Saifur
Rahman addressing a news briefing after holding a meeting
with US Charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi at his residence in the
city on Sunday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi yesterday said the United States wants to see a free, fair, credible and participatory election in Bangladesh by end of this year and the government should do everything that is required for holding election in time.

"We, and also the people of Bangladesh, want a free, fair and credible election by December this year according to the roadmap announced by the Election Commission, and for this the caretaker government should do everything that is required," she said suddenly starting a 'dialogue diplomacy' with the country's political parties.

The US Charge d' Affaires made the remarks while talking to reporters after holding a nearly two-hour long meeting with the Awami League leaders at Gulshan residence of party's Acting President Zillur Rahman in the morning.

Later in the afternoon, Pasi held a meeting with the leaders of a faction of BNP known as 'reformists' at the Baridhara residence of a BNP's acting chairperson Saifur Rahman.

The US envoy stressed the need for dialogue between the political parties and the government. "We underscored the need for dialogue between the political parties and the government," she said.

She hoped that the political parties of the country are taking preparations for the next step towards holding free and fair elections.

"The political parties have to play an important role and take preparations as the election is scheduled to be held at the end of this year. With that role, they have also the responsibilities of moving things forward to hold elections."

Pasi said the United States supported the Election Commission announced electoral roadmap and want to see election in time.

She appreciated the government for undertaking steps, including separation of judiciary from the executive, and independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission.

Replying to a query about detained Awami League chief and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, she said the US is in touch about the matter. "Sheikh Hasina is the issue before the Court and we did not touch on that."

About the meeting with Awami League leaders, the US Charge d' Affaires said it was a productive discussion and a number of issues including trial and treatment of Sheikh Hasina, electoral roadmap, election and the government-proposed dialogue came up at the meeting for discussion.

"I am very pleased to have an exciting meeting with Awami League leaders. We exchanged views about the current political situation of the country. We also shared common views," she said.

Briefing journalists, Acting AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said they had a very fruitful discussion with the US Charge d' Affaires, where a number of issues came up and it was an open-minded discussion.

"The United States supported the announced electoral roadmap and want that election should be held as per roadmap and state of emergency should be lifted ahead of the parliamentary polls," he quoted Geeta Pasi as saying.

The AL leader said that Geeta Pasi was found very much concerned about the health condition of Sheikh Hasina and she wanted proper treatment to be provided to Hasina at home and abroad.

"She (Pasi) believes in the rule of law and she wants everything will be done not violating human rights. The US envoy wants that the trial of Sheikh Hasina should be carried out upholding the human rights."

She stressed the need for immediate dialogue between the political parties and the government, saying that the USA want dialogue should be started at the earliest possible, as it is very essential.

"At the meeting, we told her (Pasi) that we support the EC announced roadmap and we don't have any other views about the roadmap. But we want parliamentary election first and then the local bodies' elections," he said.

AL leaders Zillur Rahman, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzaq, Tofael Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury and Kazi Zafarullah were present at the meeting.

In the afternoon, Acting BNP chairperson M Saifur Rahman made a plea for general election between June and September as US charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi suggested working out a modality for free, fair and credible polls no later than end of this year.

" This is an important time. Political parties are going to dialogue, the government promised dialogue and we look forward to that, " Pasi told reporters after nearly a one- and-a-half-hour meeting with Saifur at his Gulshan house from 3:30pm.

Apparently taking on the role of a go-between for a rapprochement between the government and the politicians, Pasi said she would continue her meetings with other elements of BNP and other parties in comings days and weeks.

The US envoy, who also met with the Awami League leadership earlier in the day, said the parties, civil society and the government should work out together a modality so there will be free, fair and credible elections no later than the end of this year.

In reply to a question, she said the present political situation, reforms by caretaker government, election roadmaps and corruption cases came up for discussion with Saifur.

Pasi said the USA supports the election roadmap and reforms, including the separation of the judiciary and independence of the election commission.

Referring to the corruption cases against politicians, she reiterated the US government stance for following the due process and international standards in trying the cases and respect for human rights.

The former Finance Minister, who is heading the reformist faction of the immediate-past ruling party in the changed political context, advised that the matter of holding election to the local bodies should be left to the next elected government.

" It will be good for the country if elections are held as early as possible…It would be better for the economy and it would help bring down prices of commodities," he said.

In his most comprehensive statements over the current situation since the January 11, 2007 changeover, the veteran former minister said the election commission and the government should not unnecessarily expand its agenda and move forward to hold the parliamentary elections.

Referring to the Election Commission-political party dialogue, he said BNP supports 80 per cent of proposals placed by other parties during the dialogue.

"Now we are stuck up in case. If the election commission invites us, we will join," he said, indicating to the writ filed with the High Court by detained ex-PM and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging EC invitation to his faction for joining the dialogue.

Asked about the proposed dialogue with the government, the former

Finance Minister said issues of accountability, revival of the economy and fight against corruption would come up from BNP side.

About BNP's unity, Saifur said he had discussion with BNP chairperson's adviser Brig (Retd) Hannan Shah who sent them a draft proposal that contains abandoning the standing-committee meeting

decisions taken on October 29 last year.

"We feel BNP remains united if the others do not obstruct," he said.

Acting BNP secretary general Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed was present at the meeting with Geeta Pasi.

Power sharing deal signed: Sharif, Zardari urge Musharraf to convene parliament Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule.

Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif

BBC Online

Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif the leaders of the two parties that won Pakistan's elections have signed an agreement on a coalition government.

Asif Ali Zardari, widower of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif called on President Pervez Musharraf to convene parliament immediately.

February's parliamentary elections delivered a crushing defeat to parties loyal to President Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf has urged the incoming government to leave politics aside and concentrate on good governance.

The coalition deal will bring together the Pakistan People's Party, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination, and the PML(N) party of Sharif.

Sharif has consistently called for the president to step down in the wake of the elections, which were regarded as a key step in

Zardari and Sharif told a news conference they had agreed to vote to restore judges from the Supreme Court and high courts ousted by President Pervez Musharraf in November.

Such a move would further cloud Musharraf's political future.

"It was also agreed that the PML(N) shall be part of the federal cabinet," Sharif told the news conference in the resort of Murree.

Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on 27 December, causing the elections to be delayed

Obama beats Hillary in Wyoming: Pledge to end Iraq war in’09

Hillary and Barack Obama

Agencies

Barack Obama has won the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination in the state of Wyoming, defeating his rival Hillary Clinton by 61% to 38%.

He remains ahead in the overall contest in terms of delegates but is trying to regain momentum lost last week when Mrs Clinton won Texas and Ohio.

Wyoming sends 12 delegates to August's Democratic convention, making it one of the smallest prizes in the race.

The next test for the Democrats is the Mississippi primary on Tuesday.

After netting seven of Wyoming's delegates to Mrs Clinton's five, Mr Obama now has a total of 1,578 against 1,468 for his rival, according to the Associated Press.

It takes 2,025 to secure the party's nomination.

The Republican party has already chosen John McCain as its candidate for the November presidential election. Obama told supporters in Wyoming on Friday that he would end the war in Iraq in 2009.

But a former adviser told the BBC earlier this week that the Illinois senator's exit date was a "best-case scenario" that he would revisit if he became president.

Campaigning in Mississippi, Mrs Clinton also called for an end to the Iraq involvement.

"He Obama has attacked me continuously for having no hard exit date, and now we learn he doesn't have one, in fact he doesn't have a plan at all," she said.

Both candidates have reported massive fund-raising totals for February, with Obama bringing in $55m (£28m) and Mrs Clinton $35m (£17m).

Amid the intense rivalry, Obama has played down the possibility he could run as Mrs Clinton's vice-president.

Richard Dunlap heads into the Wyoming Democratic caucuses in Casper, Wyoming.

There were large turnouts at the caucuses in Wyoming.

"You won't see me as a vice presidential candidate - you know, I'm running for president," he told CBS affiliate KTVQ-TV on Friday.

"We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."

Mrs Clinton has previously hinted she would consider sharing the ticket, with Obama as her vice-presidential candidate.

After Tuesday's primary in Mississippi, in which 33 Democratic delegates will be awarded, the next major battle will be the Pennsylvania primary on 22 April, with 158 delegates up for grabs.

Debate on whether to hold fresh ballots in Florida and Michigan also continues.

Both states were told their delegates would not be seated at the party's August national convention - meaning they cannot vote on who should be the Democratic presidential candidate - after they breached party rules by holding primary elections before 5 February.

Aides to Mrs Clinton have indicated they would be open to new elections being held, saying they believe her prospects would be good.

US observers to watch Hasina's trial

Staff Reporter

The US will send observers to monitor the ongoing trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.

Disclosing this yesterday, US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi said they have already sought permission from the (Bangladesh) authorities to send observers to the trial of the Awami League (AL) President.

"Washington is closely monitoring the (trial of) corruption cases against the two Prime Ministers (Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina)," Geeta Pasi told journalists last evening following her separate meetings with AL Acting President Zillur Rahman and BNP Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman.

The US envoy said she also intends to meet with other political leaders, including the BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar, over the next few weeks.

Stressing the need to follow due process in trial of the two former Prime Ministers, Ms Geeta Pasi said her country was also monitoring the trials of all those accused of corruption.

During her meetings with the AL and a faction of the BNP, she discussed a wide range of issues, focusing on the current political situation in Bangladesh and the status of implementation of the electoral roadmap, a US Embassy release said last evening.

"She noted the importance of dialogue between the political parties and the government in order to establish the proper conditions for holding elections," the release said.

"Ms Pasi reiterated the US government's desire to see free, fair and fully participatory elections by the end of 2008 as promised by the Caretaker government," the US Embassy added, saying, "She underscored the important role the political parties will play in this process."

The release said senior leaders of both the parties-AL and BNP-were present during the US envoy's separate meetings with Zillur Rahman and M Saifur Rahman.

Fresh Indian ban on private export: Rice market likely to be affected

Staff Reporter

The latest Indian ban on exports of rice at less than US$650 per tonne would cause further volatility in local rice markets, where food grain prices already have risen nearly 60 per cent in the past six months, local traders feared.

The ban will particularly affect rice imports by Bangladesh's private sector, which brings in the bulk of grains imported every year to fill the gap between production and demand and to build emergency stocks in the calamity-prone South Asian country.

"The latest export restrictions imposed on Saturday, will stop all private sector rice imports from India," said MA Majid a rice trader in Dhaka.

But Bangladesh government officials said the Indian decision to increase the minimum rice export price by 30 per cent to US$650 per tonne did not include 500,000 tonnes bought by Bangladesh under a state-to-state deal.

The purchase, under a special offer by India, was negotiated after the devastating cyclone Sidr battered large parts of Bangladesh on November 15 2007, killing around 3,400 people and making millions homeless.

The worst cyclone since 1991 also destroyed nearly 1.8 million tonnes of rice in the fields and caused huge damage to infrastructure.

"India's decision to increase the minimum export price will have a psychological impact on our domestic markets and consumers," said Molla Waheduzzaman, Secretary of the Disaster Management Ministry.

"We have so far imported nearly 2.9 million tonnes of food grains, mostly rice, in 2007-2008 financial year (July-June), against last year's imports of 2.4 million tonnes," Waheduzzaman informed.

Bangladeshi traders said the Indian ban would encourage illegal imports of rice from India, where the domestic rice price was much lower.

Bird flu update: Strikes new districts: More than 12 lakh birds culled so far

Staff Reporter

Bird flu has spread to another district in the country despite massive culling by authorities to control the outbreak bringing the number of affected districts to 47 out of 64, said Livestock officials yesterday.

The new case of the avian influenza, virus of bird flu, was found in Brahmanbaria, they said.

As many as 12,39,166 poultry birds were culled so far following the outbreak of bird flu last year, affecting 219 poultry farms in 47 districts and 13 cities of the country, according to the officials.

Of the total, 21,309 bird flu affected hens, ducks and pigeons were culled at different commercial poultry farms in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi, Phulpur upazila in Mymensingh and Savar upazila of Dhaka yesterday, they said.

The total number of poultry farms affected by the avian influenza, H5N1, since the announcement of its outbreak in March last year also included 117 commercial farms and 42 homestead backyards. However, the spread of bird flu had slowed in the previously affected areas in the recent weeks, they added.

Bird flu had caused losses of about Tk 4,500 crore ($650 million) to the poultry sector, which accounts for 1.6 per cent of gross domestic product, according to the Bangladesh Poultry Association.

Around five million of the country's more than 14 core people are directly or indirectly involved in poultry farming, of whom officials estimate more than 15 lakh have now become jobless.

No human bird flu cases have been reported in the country, a densely populated nation, where poultry is commonly kept by households.

Experts feared the H5N1 strain could mutate or combine with the highly contagious seasonal influenza virus and spark a pandemic, especially in countries like Bangladesh where people live in close proximity to backyard poultry.

Eating well-cooked meat is safe but experts have warned about handling H5N1-tainted birds or meat without protection. Humans usually contract the virus only after close contact with infected birds.

Avian flu was first identified in Italy around a century ago. It was not thought to be transmittable to humans until 1997, when the first human case was seen in Hong Kong, also involving H5N1.

In the latest outbreak, around 60 people in Asia have died, amounting to roughly half the known number of infections, which is a very high fatality rate. The virus has killed more than 230 people across the world since 2003.

Bird flu in Murshidabad

Reuters, New Delhi

A fresh outbreak of bird flu in poultry has been reported from an eastern Indian state, officials said on Sunday, a month after authorities there said they had contained the virus.

The outbreak, the fifth in India since 2006, has been reported from two villages of West Bengal state's Murshidabad district, officials said.

"We are worried that bird flu has returned to West Bengal because the outbreak seemed to be under control," Anisur Rahman, West Bengal's animal resources minister told Reuters on Sunday.

In January, the H5N1 virus affected 13 of the state's 19 districts, including Murshidabad. The strain of the latest virus was still being tested, but Rahaman said preliminary checks have indicated the H5N1 strain.

More than 3.4 million birds were culled during the last outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) described as the worst-ever in India.

Francophone festival begins

French Ambassador Charley Causeret speaking at a
joint press conference marking the inauguration of week-long
'Francophone Festival' at Alliance Francaise in the city on
Sunday. Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson,
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyan

Staff Reporter

The Francophone Festival is an annual occasion to celebrate the extensive network of sixty-eight States (member, associates and observers) that use French as a common language. In Bangladesh, a large community of people speaks or uses French to varying degrees.

Like the previous years, a weeklong "Francophone festival" will be celebrated in the city from yesterday, which will continue up to March 15.

Shows, exhibitions, film screenings and other activities will bring together the whole French-speaking community of all nationalities in the capital Dhaka.

As part of the programme, a francophone film festival at the Gallery of Alliance Française,

began from yesterday which will continue till March 15. A French photographer will exhibit his works 'spirit of the city' at the café of Alliance Française during the festival. A theatre festival will begin on March 13 at Shilpakala Academy.

Léopard Sédar Senghor, the founding father of Francophone, was born in 1906 in Senegal. He went to Paris in 1928 with a scholarship to join an University, from which he graduated as an "agrégé" of grammar, which is the highest qualification available for teachers in France, equivalent to Phd. He was the first ever African to be awarded such a diploma. After teaching a few years in France, he fought in the French Army during the second world war, and was held as a prisoner of war from 1940 to 1942.

In the year 1946, he contributed to the drafting of the French Constitution and was elected member of France's national Assembly, as an MP for Senegal, which was then a French Colony; he was also elected Secretary of State of the French government to the French Presidency Council in 1955. During the same period, he was mayor of small town in Normandy, where he married a French woman.

In 1960, after the independence of Senegal, he became the first President of the Republic of this country, position that he occupied for the next 20 years. His last Prime Minister, Abdou Diouf, who succeeded him as President of Senegal, and is still holding the position of Secretary General of the International Organisation of the Francophonia.

In 1983, he was elected member of the prestigious Académie Française in Paris and in 1990, the International University of the French Language "Léopold Sédar Senghor" was inaugurated in Alexandria (Egypt).

He died in France in 2001, having dedicated his life to France and Senegal, to concept of African unity and to Francophonia.

It is in the early '60s that Senghor gave to this word and notion-"Franophonia"-its international audience. Francopohonia, according to Senghor, and all Francophones agree with his definition, is the "feeling of belonging to the same intellectual or spiritual community, the language of which is French".

"Francophonia is first of all a poetics of the world," viewed to the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs Douste-Blazy.

On the occasion of the festival, a joint press conference was held yesterday at Alliance Française, 2008, with the participation of all the member countries. The schedule of the week-long Francophone Festival celebration starting from the same day was disclosed at the joint press conference.

The press conference was addressed, among others, by High Commissioner of Canada Ms Barbara Richardson, Ambassador of France Charley Causeret, Ambassador of Vietnam Nguyan Van That, Deputy Head of Switzerland Embassy Ms. Elisabeth Malinen, Deputy Chief of the Embassy of Egypt Karim Hegazy, and the First Secretary of the Embassy of Morocco Driss Hachaq and other top officials from the participating countries, and a representative from the Ministry of Culture, Government of Bangladesh.

Eye See The World, a community project launched

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Eye Hospital And Singapore Airlines jointly organised a community project "Eye-See-The World" to help people with visual disabilities.

The organisers talked to the journalists about different aspects of the project in a press conference in a city hotel yesterday.

A team of three-specialist eye Surgeon and a nurse from the National University Hospital (NUH) of Singapore conducted treatment and surgery on needy patients in a village hospital in Bhairab under Narsingdi district.

The team was led by Dr Clement Tan, Consultant Eye

Surgeon of NUH. Dr Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury, Chairman of Bangladesh Eye Hospital and special Surgeon Dr Niaz Rahman also performed operations together with the Singapore team.

In the two-day programme on March 7 and 8, the specialists conducted surgery on 64 patients and provided another visual treatment to 505 patients.

Cheang Kon Ming, General Manager of Singapore Airlines in Bangladesh, said 'I am really proud to be part of such activities.' He assured to provide all kind of logistic supports that Bangladesh Eye Hospital needs to go further with this project.

Dr Clement Tan said the people of Bangladesh are very hospitable while disclosing his working experience. He expressed the hope for future collaboration with the hospital.

Dr Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury said, " We have started our journey through this project. We have to go a long way."

He also said Bangladesh has the highest number of blind people compared to its population. There are 750,000 adults and 40,000 blind children in our country. This number is increasing every year. The major challenge in eliminating blindness in Bangladesh is reaching the rural population, as they are the ones who need help while most of the medical facilities are available only in the major cities. Based on this fact, Bangladesh Eye hospital has taken this initiative.

Steven Mok, Manager of National Healthcare Group of Singapore, eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor, among others, were present in the press conference.

It may be mentioned that a medical seminar on "Updates of Opthalmology" for the medical postgraduate students and doctors by National Healthcare Group (Singapore) was held yesterday.

Anyone can demand resignation, CEC Huda quips over plea

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda demurred at the demand for his resignation, saying that anyone could make such pleas.

"Where is the problem? There is no problem (if such demand is made)," he told reporters Sunday, a day after the demand came for the first time, adding that they would go on doing their assigned duties. BNP joint secretary general Goyeswar Chandra Roy Saturday said Huda should resign voluntarily before the demand for his resignation gets momentum as he alleged the CEC has lost neutrality by making 'partisan remarks'.

"Our goal is to hold elections in 2008. We don't want to be confused or derailed. We're working as per our determined goal. Many will say many things. We're doing our work," he said when asked if this demand could hamper their work.

He, however, declined to comment whether his recent comment about the BNP constitution would influence the sub-judicial matter of holding electoral dialogue between the Election Commission and BNP. The dialogue is still pending due to detained BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's writ petition in the High Court challenging the EC letter inviting Maj (retd) Hafizuddin of the reformist faction of the party to join the dialogue.

"I won't comment anything in this regard," CEC Huda said when asked if his much-talked-about remark would affect the trial process. He was talking to the journalists after holding the 100th meeting of the EC in the afternoon.

The CEC stated on a private TV channel that the expulsion of Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, whom the BNP chairperson and ex-PM expelled from the party just before her arrest on September 3, 2007, was not in accordance with the BNP constitution.

Secretary general of the Khaleda-loyal faction of the immediate-past ruling party Khandker Delwar Hossain also Saturday blasted CEC Huda for his reported remarks.

"We have noticed that the Election Commission and its chief have been taking heinous steps one after another to divide BNP and make a few disgruntled men as BNP leaders," he said.

Power plant scam: Hearing against Hasina starts under EPR

UNB, Dhaka

Charge hearing against detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others accused of taking kickbacks from a barge-mounted power-plant deal kick-started Sunday at the special court trying high-profile corruption suspects.

When the special court in the parliament-bhaban complex resumed at 10:30 am, Judge M Firoz Alam, rejecting defence plea for further adjournment, allowed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chief Special Public Prosecutor (CSPP) to open the case. CSPP Sharfuddin Khan Mukul claimed that it is a "fit and strong" case of an illegal gratification.

"So, framing charges against ex-PM Hasina and others is not difficult, as all documentary evidences since the initiation to approval of the Khulna barge-mounted power-plant deal are kept ready for making the allegation true in the eye of law," he told the court. Mukul accused Hasina of abusing official power of Prime Minister as public servant under section 161 of Bangladesh Penal Code. In support of his argument he quoted the relevant section of the penal code. It reads: 'Whoever, being or expecting to be a public servant, accepts or obtains or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain gratification, whatever, other than legal remuneration as a motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act or for showing or for bearing to show, in exercise of his official functions, favour or disfavour to any person or for rendering or attempting to render any service or disservice to any person…shall be punished.' Mukul submitted that Wartsila Power Development Ltd Consortium and its partners Summit Group and United Group got the deal depriving the lowest bidder.

The former PM, Hasina, had received Tk 3 crore in kickbacks from the three companies since October 7, 1997 till November 24 that year in exchange for permission to set up the power plant, the ACC-appointed attorney alleged.

He further alleged that Hasina got eight cheques amounting to Tk 3 crore issued in the name of Nasreen Ahmed and two others which, is a clear case of offence under 161 of the Penal Code.

"Why the pay orders were given to Hasina is not the lookout of the prosecution-the concern of the prosecution is former PM received the same, which is a grave offence," Mukul said.

As the prosecution proposed framing charges, the defence counsel prayed for adjournment to prepare discharge petition. The court adjourned the hearing till March 13-halfway through the indictment hearings.

On September 2 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case, as a countrywide purge in the interim period has been underway since the January 11, 2007 changeover.

The anti-graft watchdog complained that Hasina, the then prime minister, and others in the nexus, through mutual understanding and use of influence, helped the foreign company and its local partners win the deal for setting up the 100MW power plant in Khulna by depriving the lowest bidder.

Also, the case statement says a few days before and after the deal, the three companies had paid Tk 3 crore as largesse, which was spent for buying a house with some land in Dhanmondi for Bangabandhu Memorial Trust set up and controlled by Hasina.

The co-accused include former power and energy secretary Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former Power Development Board (PDB) chairman Noor Uddin Mahmud Kamal, Managing Director of Summit Industries and Mercantile Corporation Private Ltd Aziz Khan and Director Farid Khan, and United Group Chairman Hasan Mahmud Raja and Director Abul Kalam Azad.

Among the 8 accused, the detained Awami League president and ex-PM, Hasina, and Dr Towfiq appeared in the court while the rest remained fugitive.

WB to launch $ 35m project for handicapped

Staff Reporter

Multinational lender World Bank (WB) yesterday has expressed its willingness to launch a five-year project worth US$ 35 million for welfare of the handicapped and vulnerable children in Bangladesh.

The proposal came when the WB country director Xian Zhu called on Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Social Welfare and Posts and Telecommunications Ministry Brig Gen (retd) MA Malek at his secretariat office Sunday, a release of the bank said.

Under the project WB wants to help raising the quality of

services in government and non-government sectors for the country's handicapped and vulnerable children, extending the periphery of the services, development of government and non-government participation for the welfare and rehabilitation of those deprived people and creating massive awareness on the issue, the release added.

Terrorist Imon says he was in touch with Babar

Staff Reporter

Top terrorist Sanjidul Islam Imon said he killed filmstar Sohel Chowdhury and that he had close relations with former state minister Lutfuzzaman Babar and former MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.

Intelligence sources said Ishaq Ali confessed during interrogation that he was a close associate of criminal Dakat Shahid. The two were on a eight-day remand each for interrogation by the CID.

Imon confessed during interrogation that he killed the film star by the order of Aziz Mohammad Bhai and was also closely connected to Babar and Pintu, an infamous JCD cadre in the mid '90s.

Later on, he joined hands with notorious criminal brothers Joseph and Harris Ahmed of Mohammadpur area.

As Joseph and Harris attempted to kill him thrice, he shot dead Titu, another brother of the two criminals in the late '90s in the city, CID interrogators said quoting Imon. It was his first murder mission.

There are nine murder cases against Imon, of which five are under trial at present, said CID officials.

Meanwhile, CID sources said Ishaq was a jeweller and was involved in smuggling of gold bars from Singapore. In 2002, he was caught red-handed with 300 gold bars in old Dhaka.

After he was released on bail, he joined the gang of notorious inter-district robbers and criminals led by Dakat Shahid of the old part of the city.

To evade arrest during the RAB drive against criminals, he left the country for India where he used to work as Dakat Shahid's bodyguard.