The New Nation - Internet Edition

All set to send Hasina abroad: AL chief now at Square Hospital: Medical board recommendations sent to Govt

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina being escorted
to Square Hospital in the city by security personnel on
Tuesday. Banglar Chokh

Shahidul Islam

Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to fly for the US anytime soon, as senior doctors yesterday recommended to send her abroad immediately for medical treatment after examining her health condition.

Eight senior medical experts, including Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Prof Dr Mohammad Abu Tahir, specialists-Prof Dr Tofail Ahmed and Prof Dr ABM Abdullah (Medicine), Prof Dr Syed Modasser Ali and Prof Dr Pran Gopal Dutta (ENT), Prof Dr M U Kabir Chowhdury (Skin), Prof Dr Sanwar Hossain (Heart) and Prof Dr Habib A Millat, the supervising physician of Hasina at Square Hospital, where they scrutinised her ailments.

Earlier at 8:35am Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League (AL) President, was brought to the hospital from her prison- bungalow amid tight security. She was hospialised under Prof Habib A Millat at 9:55am after preliminary checkup, DIG Prisons Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told journalists after the medical examination.

Briefing journalists after the check up, BSMMU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Mohammad Abu Tahir said they have advised the jail authorities, in writing, to send her immediately abroad, specially to the US, where the medical center that treated her ears was located and asked her to remain under its regular monitoring.

"Otherwise, she will be completely deaf," he added.

The 60-year-old AL Chief, who suffered ear injuries in a 2004 grenade attack on a party rally went to the US several times for medical treatment to cure the complication earlier.

The doctors had earlier visited her at her prison for treatement.

Sheikh Hasina, who was arrested on July 16 last year under the military-backed Caretaker Ggovernment's massive anti-graft drive, has been suffering from multiple ailments including serious complications in her ears after surviving the attack on her rally which killed 24 others.

Meanwhile, sources close to her family and party leadership told this Correspondent that they have booked three separate air tickets, each of which has at least two alternative dates, for her from Dhaka to US via London.

A ticket is dated today, another tomorrow and the last one for Friday, as the flight dates.

Highly placed official sources told The New Nation last night that the recommendation of the medical experts reached the highest authorities last night.

"An official decision in this regard is expected today," an informed source said, adding, "There is no legal bar on her travel abroad as per the Thursday's latest landmark judgment of the Supreme Court.

Dr Iqbal, wife, sons, daughter all jailed: Property worth Tk 15cr to be confiscated

Dr HBM Iqbal

UNB, Dhaka

Former Awami League lawmaker Dr HBM Iqbal was yesterday sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing his actual assets in the account submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

His wife Dr Momtaz Begum Dolly, sons Moyeen Iqbal and Imran Iqbal and daughter Nawrin Iqbal were also jailed for three years for "aiding and abetting" him in protecting his "ill-gotten wealth".

A special court trying high-profile corruption suspects at the parliament-bhaban complex delivered the judgment in the corruption case, filed as part of an anti-corruption drive launched by the caretaker regime against the backdrop of the past sociopolitical crisis. The court further fined Dr Iqbal Tk 50 lakh, while the four other convicts Tk one lakh each.

Besides, the court ordered the government to confiscate the wealth worth Tk 14.56 crore of the family to the state coffers.

All of them were tried in absentia, as the entire family is on the run amid a countrywide hunt against corruption suspects, being carried out by army-led joint forces.

"The sentences will take effect after police arrest or the convicts surrender to the court," says the court order.

On June 25 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Motijheel police station accusing them of amassing wealth worth Tk 2,29,52,719, disproportionate to their known sources of income, and concealing their assets worth Tk 10,60,83,692.

Right to Information Ordinance by April: State security, defence kept beyond its purview

Speakers at a round-table on 'Right to Information
Ordinance-2008' at LGED auditorium in the city yesterday. NN
photo

BSS, Dhaka

'Right to Information Ordinance' is likely to be proclaimed by April to enable people having access to information for ensuring transparency and accountability in the democratic process.

An eight-member committee headed by Joint Secretary (development) of the Ministry of Information, has already been formulated a draft of the ordinance after reviewing the Right to Information Report prepared by the Law Commission and also the existing laws in the neighbuoring countries.

This was revealed at a roundtable discussion on the draft yesterday organised by the Information Ministry to obtain recommendations from civil society, lawyers, journalists, businessmen and other professionals, which will help finalise the draft.

At the inaugural session, chairman of the Right to Information Act Formulation Committee, Kamal Uddin Ahmed presented the key elements of the draft while executive director of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman moderated the discussion.

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, former minister MK Anwar, eminent economist Rehman Sobhan, former adviser of the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan, former president of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) and editor of the News Today Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of the Bangladesh Observer Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of the Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, chief editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, AP bureau chief Farid Hossain, editor of Manabzamin Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of the Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin, president of the JPC Shaukat Mahmood, executive director of Manusher Jonno Shaheen Anam were present at the roundtable, among others.

Kamal Uddin in his opening remark said, the caretaker government has taken initiative to proclaim the ordinance as it realised that Right to Information Act could bring transparency and accountability at all government and non-government organisations.

"The establishment of right to information for an individual is essential to get redressed from the administrative and other authorities against his or her complain," he said.

He also said, like other relevant laws in the neighbouring countries, the government has excluded some information from the draft ordinance, which are related to state security, sovereignty, defence and greater public interest.

The preliminary draft of the 'Right to Information Ordinance-2008' has 27 articles including formation of a information commission which could take action if any quarter fails to provide information to any citizen.

The draft, under its article two, said all government, non-government organisations, associations and other bodies which were registered under the existing laws would be included under the ordinance.

Under the ordinance, each organisation would appoint an officer who would be responsible to provide the information.

The article three said the provision of the ordinance would be effective whether those are existed or not in the 'Official Secrets Act-1923 or in such contemporary laws.

Under the ordinance, each authority would prepare proper information index and maintain record catalogues and it would be compelled to publish minimum one report after every two years, according to article 4 and 5 of the draft.

The Article seven of the draft said the concerned officer of any organisation would provide information within 20 days after getting application with required fees from interested persons.

But the dateline of providing information would be 48 hours if that related to life and death of some one or subject to release from jail, it said.

Article eight said information which are related to state security, sovereignty, dignity, foreign policy, defense, relations among the foreign countries or organisations, commerce or trade interest, technical scientific interest, revenue tax of anyone, monitoring and executive operations of financial organisations would be excluded from the ordinance.

It also said, such information, which would hamper personal privacy or condemn the verdict of court or parliamentary proceedings would be excluded from the ordinance.

Under the ordinance, an information commission would be formed headed by a chief information commissioner. Two other information commissioners would be appointed at the commission and of them, one must be a female.

The President would appoint the information commissioners according to recommendations of a search committee headed by a Justice of Appellate Division of the High Court.

The search committee would also be comprised of chairman of public service commission, cabinet secretary and chairman of university grant commission.

Under the ordinance, the information commission would take complains, conduct investigation and dispose it.

If the allegation against the information officer would be proved, the commission could fine him or her maximum Taka 25,000. The commission could also recommend punishment against the accused officer as per the service rule.

The commission would prepare a guideline for all and it also would publish reports on implementation of the ordinance every year, the draft said.

According to the draft, the government could formulate rules of the ordinance by gazette notification.

Speaking on the primary draft of the ordinance, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain stressed on the importance of the Right to Information Law as it is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability at all government and non- government stages.

"People has the right to know," he asserted saying that 'everyone at the grass root level should have access to information as it is the fundamental right as per the Constitution.' "This law will empower people," he added.

Dr Kamal suggested all for making logical and realistic recommendations through meaningful discussions based on the primary draft ordinance so that an ordinance could be promulgated within a reasonable time.

Prof Rehman Sobhan said that the political parties could be involved in the discussions for their opinions as they are the stakeholders who have to pass this ordinance to the next parliament.

This ordinance would help generate a process of ensuring transparency and thus establish good governance by eradicating corruption from the government and non-government organisations, the eminent economist added.

Former BNP minister MK Anwar said, after being formulated, the Right to Information Ordinance would help ensure easy access of information for all.

He, however, suggested making some changes in the primary draft keeping with the provision that for failure of providing information to anyone the concerned office will go to the proposed information commission instead of the information seeker.

Pak coalition vows to restore sacked judges: Musharraf convenes assemblies March 17

Reuters, Islamabad

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has called for the National Assembly to convene on March 17, following the victory of his opponents in last month's parliamentary election, state-run television reported on Tuesday.

Musharraf's allies were routed in the Feb. 18 vote, and he is faced with the prospect of inviting the victors to form a government that could drive him from power.

"President Pervez Musharraf has convened the national and provincial assemblies on Monday, March 17," Pakistan Television reported.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto won the most seats, followed by the party of Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf deposed in 1999 when he came to power as a general following a military coup.

Both parties on Sunday signed a pact to form a coalition and, in a major challenge to the isolated president, they vowed to restore the judges he had sacked after imposing a six-week emergency rule in early November.

Party officials have said that Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower and her political successor, would announce the name of the PPP's candidate for the prime minister's slot after Musharraf called the session.

Zardari's deputy, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, had widely been expected to get the job but his chances faded after Sharif's party objected to his contacts with Musharraf.

Ahmed Mukhtar, an industrialist and former commerce minister, has emerged as strong contender but many members-elect of PPP are urging Zardari to take the premiership after contesting a by-election.

At present, Zardari is ineligible because he does not have a seat in the National Assembly.

Obama hopes to win Mississippi

Hillary and Barack Obama

AP, Washington

Mississippi Democrats are deciding the last in a series of presidential contests between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton before the two rivals settle in for a six-week battle to win Pennsylvania.

Mississippi's large black electorate in Tuesday's voting makes it fertile ground for Obama, who has swept the other Deep South states and has pulled huge margins among black voters. Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, campaigned in the state last week, but by Monday was in Pennsylvania, where the primary is April 22.

Obama, making a final stop Tuesday morning in Greenville before flying to Pennsylvania, noted that the Mississippi delta area is struggling economically.

"We just haven't seen as much opportunity come to this area as we'd like," he told a small gathering at Buck's restaurant. "And one of the challenges, I think, for the next president is making sure that we're serving all communities and not just some communities."

He then ordered eggs "scrambled hard," with turkey sausage, wheat toast and grits.

The Illinois senator spent all of Monday in Mississippi, drawing enthusiastic crowds in Columbus and Jackson, the capital. At stake are 33 delegates and another chance for Obama to ease the sting of last week's losses to Clinton in primaries in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island.

In Lowndes County, Miss., Circuit Clerk Haley Salazar said Tuesday there appeared to be good early participation at the polls despite wet conditions.

Obama's visit on Monday "spurred a lot of interest here. We've had a lot of people coming in and asking about registering to vote t and we have a a lot of calls," Salazar said.

With Clinton's camp saying she has little chance in Mississippi, the campaigning here focused largely on national issues.

Obama used his Monday morning visit to Columbus to try to squelch speculation that he might accept the vice president's slot on a ticket headed by Clinton. He noted that he has won more delegates, states and votes than Clinton.

"I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who is first place," Obama said, drawing cheers and a lengthy standing ovation from about 1,700 people. He added: "I am not running for vice president. "I am running for president of the United States of America."

Later, at a rally in Jackson with 9,000 people, Obama painted Clinton as part of the Washington establishment whose time has come and gone.

The nation does not need "the same old folks doing the same old things, talking the same old stuff," he said, essentially lumping Clinton with President Bush and Republican candidate John McCain.

He accused Clinton's campaign of leaking a photograph of him wearing traditional African garments, including a turban, during a visit to Africa. That was "straight out of the Republican playbook," Obama said. "That's not real change."

Clinton has said she is not aware of anyone on her staff leaking the photo.

For her part, Clinton had moved on to Pennsylvania, where she held a rally in Scranton and carefully sidestepped questions about the sex scandal threatening the political career of Eliot Spitzer, her home state governor and political ally.

"I don't have any comment on that," she said when asked about reports that Spitzer allegedly paid for sex with a high-priced call girl at a Washington hotel. "Obviously, I am sending my best wishes and thoughts to the governor and to his family," Clinton said.

Obama's two Mississippi events on Monday drew heavily black audiences that cheered him unabashedly.

"I'm here because of the electricity, the energy that seems to form around Barack Obama," truck driver Jasper Clark, 53, said in an interview before the Jackson rally. "It inspired me, and it's been a while since I've been inspired politically."

Clark said Clinton "is a nice person," but among his friends and acquaintances, "I'd say it's an 8 to 2 ratio" for Obama.

No change in Muslim inheritance law: Hasan Ariff

BSS, Dhaka

Law and Religious Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Arif on Tuesday said the present government has not enacted or amended any legislation dealing with the Muslim inheritance law.

"The government also does not have the will to do so," he said while exchanging views with ulema (Islamic scholars) on the newly formulated Women Development Policy-2008 in the auditorium of Islamic Foundation in the city. "The Women Development Policy-2008 is not a legislation at all and its does not deal with inheritance laws.

It is just a document for discussions on how to protect women from repression and deception and on how to improve their conditions socially," the adviser said.

Taking part in the discussion, eminent Islamic scholars said confusions were created in the minds of public on the basis of misleading information on the Women Development Policy.

Had the government informed the people clearly about the policy earlier, there would have been no controversy, they said and opined that the clarification of the adviser would now dispel all confusions.

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Pesh Imam Maulana Mohammad Nuruddin, Former Islamic University vice-chancellor Prof Dr M Mustafizur Rahman, Maulana Kamaluddin Zafari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mufti Sayeed Ahmed, among others, took part in the discussion.

Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and Religious Affairs Secretary Ataur Rahman were present on the occasion.

The law adviser said it is a matter of sorrow that there has been uproar over a matter that has not taken place in reality.

He blamed lack of information for this situation and said the government is going to enact right to information law to avoid such incidents.

If there was the right to information act, detailed information on the women policy would have been available to the people much earlier and there had been no scope for confusions.

He sought cooperation of the Islamic scholars to establish rights of women and save them from repression and deception.

If the society is strong enough to protest against injustice, no law would be required, he said.

Long queue of stranded trucks across the border: India urged to reduce rice export cost

Mashiur Rahman

Bangladesh has asked the Government of India to reduce the rice price under a state-to-state deal.

Meanwhile, thousands of rice loaded trucks remained stranded at Petrapole on the Indian side for four consecutive days after the new Indian decision to increase rice export price.

On March 5, 2008 the Indian government raised the export price of rice to $650 per tonne to keep home front stable, which has put its inflation-hit neighbour under the threat of acute food shortage.

Benapole border source said hundreds of heavy vehicles, loaded with rice remained stranded awaiting the outcome of the inter-state negotiation in West Bengal, which ended without a decision on Monday. Hence the rice dealers have started unloading their lots to store in safe places on the Indian side of the border.

Transhipment Yard of the land border remained quiet for the fourth day in a row and its handling labours became unemployed.

It was also reported that the Indian Customs have requested the Delhi Head Office to allow the waiting trucks to enter into Bangladesh, but have received no response until yesterday.

"Formally we will request the Indian government to lower the export price as a gesture of good will to its next door neighbour," said AMM Shawkat Ali, Adviser for Food and Disaster Management. He was addressing reporters at a press briefing yesterday in the capital.

According to him, the Government was trying to increase production of boro by 21 per cent to 17.5 million tonnes this year, but is still facing a shortfall of up to 2.5 million tonnes.

"We have taken various measures to augment the availability of rice, the main staple of the country, by increasing imports from our neighbouring countries including India, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar," the Adviser said.

He said Bangladesh had imported 2.9 million tonnes of rice including 2.3 million tonnes through the private sector, but was still aiming to build up stockpiles in case of unforeseen events.

Air pollution making city inhospitable

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

The volume of poisonous particles in the city air has reached far beyond the permissible level for human body in recent years.

The Dhaka city dwellers are always at a serious health risk due to the highly polluted air, warned health experts.

The increasingly high concentration of toxic elements in the air is causing a foggy blanket in the city sky at present, according to the experts of Air Quality Management Project (AQMP) under the Department of Environment (DoE).

The AQMP, which has been monitoring the air quality of the city since 2002, has recently lunched a website to inform the people about the air quality on daily basis.

The website reveals that the air quality of the city is lethal for human body especially during winter and post winter.

The AQMP advised the city dwellers to stay indoors as much as possible during this time to avoid health hazards from the pollution.

According to the website, poisonous carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, suspended particulate matter (PM-10) and particulate matter (PM-2.5) exist in Dhaka's air beyond permissible level for human body.

Due to increase of PM-10 and PM-2.5, people lose lung function and suffer from chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases while nitrogen dioxide increase risks of bronchitis and pneumonia. Nitrogen dioxide causes respiratory infection.

Carbon monoxide reduces delivery of oxygen into the human body, creates severe headache and decreases visual perception and manual dexterity.

Permissible limit of PM-10 is 65 micrograms per cubic metre and for PM-2.5 it is 150 micrograms per cubic metre.

The implementation of the ban on two-stroke three-wheelers in 2003 made some temporary progress in reducing toxic elements from the air but has been marred by the functioning of old motorised vehicles and the brick kilns around the city.

Faulty vehicles are the largest source of air pollution. Only the diesel-run vehicles contribute about 60 per cent of such particles in the air, surveys of the AQMP revealed.

At least 70 per cent of the diesel-run vehicles, mainly buses and trucks, are emitting toxic particles beyond the permissible limit. Brick kilns in the northern edge of the city contribute at least 20 per cent to the air pollution.

There are 4,000 brick kilns around the city, which use tyres, wood and low-quality coal, emitting poisonous particles into the air. But no initiative has been taken yet to measure quantity of poisonous particles emitting from brick kilns.

The chimneys of the brick kilns made higher than 120-feet is not a solution to reducing the air pollution, said the AQMP officials.

The government banned running of buses more than 20 years old in the city but failed to keep those vehicles out of the city.

The height of brick kiln chimneys has been increased to reduce air pollution but the initiative failed as the government failed to ensure quality of fuel used in the kilns.

Mohammad Nasiruddin, Director of the AQMP, said: "Phasing out of the diesel-run old and faulty vehicles could reduce air pollution to half in the city."

City roundtable urges: Remove suspicion regarding holding of election

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday expressing suspicion on holding the election demanded polls as per the Election Commission's roadmap. They said that election was the only solution to all the problems that the country was facing.

They also urged the government to remove all the suspicion regarding the election from the people's mind.

The roundtable was organised by Bangladesh Swachetan Nagorik Somaj at the National Press Club in the city.

Former CEC Justice Abdur Rauf was chief guest at the meeting while former Rajshahi University VC Prof M Yousuf Ali, Assistant Secretary General of Jamat-e-Islami Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party president Shafiul Alam Pradhan, NAP Bhashani president Mustak Ahmed and the New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Mojumder, among others, were present and addressed the meeting.

Justice Rauf said, "The caretaker government should only focus on the election and not on anything else and hand over power to a democratic government."

"The government should not think on who may be elected in the election thy should let it to the people to elect their representatives," said Justice Rauf and added, "Election is the only way to get rid of the problems like price hike, political crisis and economic collapse that the country is seeing now."

He said the voter ID cards that were ready should be distributed among the citizens.

Justice Rauf also said the country should now focus on food security rather than importing luxury goods.

M Yousuf Ali said, "Past evidence tells that Ayub Khan conspired by holding local elections before the national polls to make his base of power strong, this time also whether there is any plot or not I am not sure."

He said there was no alternative to election and the advisory council now should think how to hold the election before December this year and how the emergency could be lifted.

Prof Ali ended his speech saying, "I am concluding my speech expressing suspicion on holding the election."

Kamaruzzaman said the suspicion that was created in the peoples' mind was not created by them it was the creation of both the EC and the government with their different speeches at different times.

He said, "In the past the military governments extended their tenure by holding the local polls before the national elections and people are watching the same technique this time around whether any plot was going on to extend the emergency rule."

He urged the government not to think about who might win the elections but to hold the elections as per the roadmap.

Pradhan said that he would not mind holding local polls if the national polls were held according to the roadmap.

The roundtable was presided over by president of Swachentan nagorik Shamaj Alamgir Hossain Raju.

2nd ODI against SA today

Sports Reporter

After vanquished by nine wickets in the first ODI in Chittagong on March 9, mighty South Africa will take on Bangladesh today in the second ODI of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live from 9.30 AM from the big bowl.

Before today's match, Bangladesh and South Africa faced nine times each other. Of them, South Africa won eight matches while Bangladesh won only one game.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the ODI squad for second ODI against South Africa. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Nazim Uddin have been included in the squad while Shahadat Hossain and Junaed Siddiqui have been left out from the side.

Mohammad Ashraful, the skipper of Bangladesh team, said that they would bounce back in the second ODI.

On the other hand, Graeme Smith, the captain of South Africa team, is confident to win the ODI series.

Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Nazim Uddin, Shakib Al Hasan, Raqibul Hassan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice-captain), Mosharrof Hossain, Syed Russel, Farhad Reza (12th man).

South Africa (From): Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Charl Langeveldt, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn, Alviro Petersen.

New strategies undertaken to bring down price: Zillur

Staff Reporter

The Bangladesh Government would soon undertake new strategies along with the ongoing ones as part of its efforts to bring down prices of essentials, Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said yesterday.

Some specific decisions to this effect were taken at a meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office, with Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair. "The meeting has taken specific decisions, but I'll not tell you now," the Commerce Adviser told reporters coming back to his Commerce Ministry office.

"We'll finalise and disclose the strategies after having follow-up meetings with the government agencies concerned and other stakeholders," said.

Dr Zillur informed that the Chief Adviser expressed deep concern about the price situation and discussed the possible measures before leaving the country for Senegal to attend the OIC Summit.

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, NBR Chairman Muhammed Abdul Mazid and representatives from Bangladesh Bank and edible oil refiners were present at the meeting.

The Commerce Adviser said the Commerce Ministry has already served letters to seven government agencies seeking necessary information about the factors affecting the market.

He said the meeting considered strengthening the market monitoring system to see whether there is any gap in the ongoing system, whether there is any necessity to bring in new intervention mechanism or whether the Government could forecast the market situation.

Dr Zillur said the meeting also discussed that the traders should play responsible role in utilizing the policy-related issues rationally to ensure that the traders do not make high profits to destabilise the market.

Replying to a question, he said the country has long been pursuing market economy, but now the Government is convinced that the state has something to do.

"The state should have some effective capacity," the Commerce Adviser said, adding: "there is no need of unwanted intervention into the market but the state has a role to develop an effective and competitive market system."

Asked whether the Government would again go for reactivating the state-trading agency TCB and further strengthening the market intervention by BDR, he said the Government was considering all possible options along with strengthening the existing ones.

"The government will do whatever is necessary to quickly improve the market system."

Niko case: Khaleda’s involvement found in investigation

UNB, Dhaka

The investigation report on the Niko graft case filed against detained former premier Khaleda Zia and four others will be submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission tomorrow recommending submission of charge sheet against about 15 people, including the five charged initially.

"ACC assistant director Shahidur Rahman, the investigation officer (IO), will submit the memo of evidence (investigation report) tomorrow. He is likely to be recommending submission of charge sheet against more or less 15 individuals, including five accused in the first information report (FIR)," a competent source told UNB.

The 60-working day deadline, according to the rules, for the IO to submit the investigation report ends on March 13, the source said adding that the Commission can extend the time if it wants.

Replying to a query, the source said, "Yes, the IO will recommend submission of charge sheet against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and four other initially accused, as their involvement was found during investigation."

Apart from the initially accused ones, others who are likely to be recommended to be charge-sheeted include businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, former Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan and Law Ministry joint secretary Noren Das.

Meanwhile, the investigation team of the case yesterday seized two air-conditioners from officials of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources as they were allegedly given to the officers in bribe.

On December 9, ACC assistant director Mahbubul Alam filed the case with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia, former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, ex-State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the "illegal" deal with Niko through corruption that inflicted a loss of Tk 10,000 crore on the state.

Our Court Correspondent adds: Masudur Rahman, Assistant Manager of Niko Company Limited yesterday gave confessional statement as witness against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in the Niko graft case. Magistrate Waliul Islam of Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court recorded the voluntary statement of the witness.

Masud has reportedly described the story in his statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Md Mahbubul Alam, Assistant Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), filed the case against 5 persons including Begum Khaleda Zia with Tejgaon Thana of Dhaka on December 9, 2007. About Niko company another similar case was filed against 6 persons including another former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Investigation of both cases has been continuing and yesterday was earlier fixed for submission of the inquiry report.

Jalil's condition remains unchanged

UNB, Dhaka

The health condition of ailing Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil, now undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, remains unchanged.

An AL source from Singapore told UNB yesterday night that doctors pumped out some water from his body through injection.

He is now under the supervision of Dr Philipco (cardiologist) and Dr Akhiro (kidney specialist).

The source informed that some water is still there inside Jalil's body. Jalil will undergo dialysis after all the water is pumped out.