The New Nation - Internet Edition

AL formally requests CA to release Hasina: Personal physicians not allowed to check her up: 7-member new medical board formed: Court orders to return her passport

Sheikh Hasina

Shahidul Islam

The Awami League yesterday formally requested the Government to release detained party Chief Sheikh Hasina unconditionally to facilitate her medical treatment in the USA, while a Court in Dhaka ordered the police department to return her passport immediately.

Awami League (AL) Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam signed the letter, which was carried by party leaders Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan, Ashim Kumar Ukil, BM Mojammel Hossain and Ahmed Hossain and handed over to Khairul Islam, an official at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO) at about 4:00 last afternoon.

When contacted last night, Additional Secretary to the Chief Adviser neither confirmed nor rejected receipt of the AL letter to the head of the Army-backed interim Government.

In a related development, the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in the capital yesterday asked the Police department to return Sheikh Hasina’s passport immediately.

Judge of the Court Mohammad Golam Rabbani issued the directive in a verbal order. A written order is likely to be issued today, Advocate Shahara Khatun, one of the counsels of the AL Chief, said, adding, “Sheikh Hasina is ill and she needs the passport back to travel abroad for medical treatment.”

The Court order came after Hasina's lawyers filed a request to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court in Dhaka city.

Sources close to the former Prime Minister’s team of lawyers led by Barrister Rafiq-ul Haque and Barrister Sahfiq Ahmed told The New Nation last night that they would move the High Court if the Government did not release Sheikh Hasina immediately.

After handing over the party letter at the CAO, AL Office Secretary Abdul Mannan Khan told journalists at the party’s Dhanmondi office that leaders, workers and supporters are very concerned over the health conditions of the former Prime Minister so they all want that Government take appropriate steps to send her to the USA “immediately”.

When asked about the AL letter to the Chief Adviser, party insiders said the latter pleaded, “Senior medical experts after examining her health condition both inside the prison and at the Square Hospital repeatedly suggested the authorities concerned to send her abroad immediately since treatment of her ear complications and test for allergy, she developed recently is not possible in Bangladesh.”

“Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will become totally deaf, if she is not under constant care of the specialist physicians of the US Medical Centre that treated her earlier,” the letter said, adding, “She developed the latest allergic complications due to her prolong confinement in damp environment and lack of proper medical attention.”

The letter pointed out that Sheikh Hasina’s husband Dr M Wazed Mia and her uncle Sheikh Kabir Hossain have separately requested the Chief Adviser to arrange her treatment in the US on an emergency basis.

All her relatives and AL leaders, workers, supporters as well as her well-wishers, at home and abroad, are deeply concerned about her life. Since Sheikh Hasina, the eldest of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is suffering from multiple ailments not curable in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina, who was arrested on July 16 last year and facing trial in several corruption cases, developed acute ear and eye problems on August 21, 2004, when she suffered grievous injuries in a barbarous grenade attack on her party rally in front of the Bangabandhu Avenue headquarters in the city.

Specialist physicians of the United States installed special hearing aid to her ears that involves constant monitoring and adjustments.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina’s two personal physicians-Eye specialist Prof Syed Modassir Hossain and Prof ABM Abdullah (Medicine), who were members of a team of eight doctors that examined Sheikh Hasina’s health on Tuesday, were not allowed to perform her health checkup at Square Hospital yesterday.

However, a 7-member medical board comprising doctors of the Square Hospital was formed for treatment of the ailing AL Chief. Director of the hospital Prof Sanwar Hossain is heading the team.

Delwar, Hannan contradict each other: BNP unification move faces setback

Staff Reporter

Vocal leaders of the BNP (anti-reform) led by Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday made contradictory statements over the "ongoing process" of reunification of the party.

Brig Gen (Retd) Hannan Shah, member of the BNP Advisory Council, yesterday said that he was still hopeful about his move for unification of two groups of the party.

"But it will take time," he said while talking to reporters at his New DOHS house yesterday.

BNP Acting Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed contradicted the statements made by Hannan Shah saying that Khondoker Delwar Hossain does not know about Hannan Shah's move for unity.

Replying to a question, Hannan Shah told reporter that most members of party Standing Committee and Central Executive Committee and grassroots workers are not with the Saifur-Hafiz faction.

Earlier, Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, Secretary General of other group of BNP said that the standing-committee members should take the responsibility of running BNP at this critical juncture.

About Hannan Shah's letter to Saifur Rahman he observed that instead of sending letter for unification of the party, he (Hannan Shah) could come to Saifur's house to discuss the matter over a cup of tea.

Hannan Shah, the outspoken BNP leader, said he is worried about having tea at his (Saifur's) house. "But, I will of course go to his house if he invites me. Because, I am not that discourteous," he said.

Over controversy on sending letter to Saifur Rahman, he said the matter was discussed with Khondoker Delwar Hossain but he could not discuss

the contents of the letter with him as he (Delwar) was in Singapore for treatment.

"It is not wise to discuss everything over telephone, and for that Delwar was not informed about the contents of the letter," Hannan Shah explained.

Rizvi Ahmed told reporters that Khondoker Delwar was not aware of Hannan Shah's initiative about the unity process and the letter sent to Saifur Rahman.

He informed that Delwar went to New York from Singapore to see his ailing daughter-in-law and he is expected to return to Dhaka soon.

On Rizvi Ahmed's statement, Hannan Shah said that all BNP leaders are not involved in the unity process, and he (Rizvi) is also not aware of the current development.

"Only a few leaders know about it. If it succeeds, all will be informed about it," he said.

After the 1/11 (January11, 2007) changeover, the BNP leadership got split between pro-and anti-Khaleda groups over the party's reform proposals in the changed political situation.

Some pro-reform standing-committee members met at Saifur's house at a 'tea party' on October 29 last year and appointed Saifur Rahman as acting chairperson and Maj (Retd) Hafiz acting secretary general of the party.

Earlier, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia just before her arrest on September 3 last year appointed Khondoker Delwar Hossain as party Secretary General after expelling Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan from the post.

CNG price rises this month: Domestic gas to follow

Staff Reporter

Government is going to increase the retail price of gas, including the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) within this month to bring it closer to international levels as well as a measure to ease pressure on state gas firms.

Chief Advisor's Special Assistant for Power, Energy and Mineral

Resources Ministry Dr M Tamim announced the caretaker government's decision yesterday on the latest raise in the price of the fossil fuel at a meet-the-press function at the National Press Club in the capital.

"The prices of CNG will be raised in accordance with the international prices of natural gas and other fuel oil," said the special assistant to the head of the interim Government for the Energy Ministry. He was addressing the conference as chief guest. The price of CNG would be doubled from the present per cubic metre rate of Tk 8.5, he added.

Tamim said the government had agreed to raise prices as people were getting CNG at almost cost price compared with petroleum products. Petrol prices nearly doubled in April 2007.

"In terms of value, the price of CNG is almost 5 to 6 times lower than that of petrol and octane," said Dr Tamim.

Officials said that the number of CNG-run vehicles in the country is about 200,000 of which nearly 70 per cent are private cars owned by people in the high-income group.

"So ultimately the benefit of the subsidised price of CNG is going to the affluent people," he added. After the price rise monthly losses of state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) might be offset by nearly Tk800 million, he said.

This year, he mentioned, the government has so far allocated Tk700 crore for petroleum import and the rest of the money would have to be borrowed from banks.

The CNG was first introduced in the country in 1985, beginning with Dhaka, under the state-owned RPGCL when its price was Tk 7.45 per cubic metre. At the time, the price of per-litre octane was about Tk 10. For the following 20 years, the CNG price remained static.

In 2000, the use of CNG as motor fuel got momentum with the government having encouraged private sector to get involved in CNG business by installing conversion plant and setting up re-fuelling station.

Because of very cheap price, compared to liquid fuels like diesel, petrol or octane, CNG became a very popular fuel for motor vehicles of the middle class.

Dr Tamim however blamed the previous BNP Government's administrative failure for the present power crisis across the country.

"The only reason for the failure in power generation was administrative failure as there was money, there was gas, but there was no decision," he said.

He said in the last one year about 100 MW electricity was added to the national grid through repair of old power plants. He also forecast that in the coming irrigation season, the country would face 500-800MW power shortages.

Reaffirming the caretaker government's plan to complete the 3rd-round gas-block bidding, he said that in the last 10 years, there had been no drilling in the country for gas exploration, excepting one or two in Bibyana gas field.

SA clinch ODI series: Bowling success: Smith; Batting failure: Ashraful

Mahsrafe Bin Mortaza and his teammates celebrate
after dismissal of Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa during
their second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in
Mirpur on Wednesday. FocusBangla

Sports Reporter

South Africa clinched the ODI series 2-0 when the Proteas defeated the Tigers by seven wickets in the second ODI of the three-match ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Earlier, South Africa outclassed Bangladesh by nine wickets in the first ODI at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong on March 9.

Coin-favoured Bangladesh made a disastrous start as the hosts lost their early four wickets for only 18 runs.

Andre Nel gave his team early breakthrough as he removed openers Tamim Iqbal(0), Shahriar Nafees (5) and one down Mohammad Ashraful for a duck.

Andre Nel, who harpooned three wickets for 24 runs in the first ODI, finished yesterday as 10-2-27-4.

Youngsters Raqibul Hassan and Shakib Al Hasan saved their team from shameful debacle as they built a record 119-run partnership in the fifth wicket stand before Raqibul Hassan was caught at the mid-on by Graeme Smith off Charl Langeveldt making his team's highest of 63 when the scoreboard was giving a reading of 137 for the loss of five wickets. Raqibul Hassan hit four boundaries in his 105-ball innings.

Shakib Al Hasan knocked a patient 52 off 96 balls amid four fours. Most of Bangladesh batsmen threw away their wickets hopelessly. Thus the hosts were skittled out for 173 of 48.2 overs.

Charl Langeveldt, the other notable wickettaker for South Africa grabbed three wickets giving away 31 runs.

Needing 173 runs to win, South Africa coasted home making 179 for the loss of three wickets in 48.1 overs.

South Africa made a poor start as they lost their early three wickets for 60 runs. Medium pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and spinner Abdur Razzak did that job for Bangladesh. But later, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy salvaged their team and contributing together 119 runs in the unbroken fourth-wicket stand.

AB de Villiers, the wicketkeeper-batsman of South Africa, knocked a brilliant 69 (not out) playing 112 deliveries with two fours and a six.

JP Duminy was deprived from a half century for just one run. He remained undefeated with a chanceless 49 off 93 balls.

Abdur Razzak bagged a pair of wickets for 31 runs while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took one wicket at the cost of 27 runs.

Tomorrow Bangladesh will face South Africa in the third ODI at the same venue.

Democrats set for long fight as Obama wins Mississippi

AFP, Washington

Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were set Wednesday for six weeks of trench warfare as their increasingly bitter White House race headed on to April's Pennsylvania primary.

Obama won by a landslide on Tuesday in Mississippi, riding huge support from African-Americans, after a new race row rocked their battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"We did very well in Wyoming. We did great in Mississippi. And so we've now basically recovered whatever delegates we may have lost in Texas and Ohio. And we've got a substantial lead," Obama said on NBC "Today Show."

The Illinois senator ridiculed assertions by Clinton supporter and 1984 vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro, who put Obama's stunning rise in big-time US politics down to his race.

He said "if you were to get a handbook on what's the path to the presidency, I don't think that the handbook would start by saying, 'Be an African-American named Barack Obama.'"

"I mean, I don't think that would be generally considered an advantage. And it certainly wasn't when I was running for the United States Senate or the presidency," he said.

Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams congratulated Obama on his Mississippi win and looked forward to Pennsylvania and beyond, but there was no immediate comment from the candidate herself.

In a letter to the Obama campaign, Williams also pressed for new primaries in Florida and Michigan. Clinton won the two states in January, but they broke party rules by advancing their primaries and so lost their delegates.

"With the campaign now entering the final phase of the nominating contest, it is vital that both of our campaigns come together to ensure that the delegations from

Florida and Michigan be seated to reflect the will of the voters," she said.

The Illinois senator punched back with his second win in a row since the former first lady's campaign-saving wins in Texas and Ohio last week, which halted his own 12-contest win streak and extended their epic struggle.

Clinton is already campaigning hard in Pennsylvania, a blue-collar state whose economic problems mirror places like Ohio. The state will elect 188 delegates, the biggest haul remaining in the Democratic contest.

Obama now leads by about 120 delegates after 46 primaries and caucuses, but neither candidate can reach the winning line of 2,025 without the backing of party grandees called "superdelegates."

Mississippi did not change the race, but allowed Obama to pad his lead in the hunt for nominating delegates who will head to the Democrats' August presidential convention in Denver.

With its 33 nominating delegates, conservative, Deep South Mississippi, reliably Republican in general elections, was the last showdown in the Democratic race before the more significant Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting in Mississippi, Obama won 61 percent of the vote compared to 37 percent for Clinton.

Television exit polls showed a large racial divide: half of the Democratic electorate was African Americans, nine in ten of whom went for Obama, according to MSNBC figures.

Republicans also voted in Mississippi.

But as Senator John McCain has already clinched enough delegates to be the party's standard-bearer in the November presidential election, there was little question about the outcome. McCain won with 79 percent of the vote.

The latest racially tinged row of an increasingly ugly Democratic campaign raged after Ferraro told a California newspaper: "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position."

The first African-American with a viable shot at the White House, Obama called the remarks by the trailblazing Democrat "patently absurd," and his campaign demanded that Clinton fire Ferraro from her finance committee.

New York Senator Clinton said she did "not agree" with the comments and found it "regrettable" that supporters might resort to personal attacks, but did not cut Ferraro loose.

"We ought to keep this focused on the issues. That's what this campaign should be about," she said in Pennsylvania.

Appearing on Wednesday morning talk shows, Ferraro accused Obama aides of twisting her remarks to make her sound like a racist, and stood by her belief that Obama's rise owed everything to his race.

Human rights worsened under EPR: US report

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The US State Department in its annual country report on the state of human rights in Bangladesh said the human rights situation has worsened in part owing to the state of emergency and postponement of the elections.

The State Department released its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for the year 2007 on Tuesday.

The report said the ongoing anticorruption drive had popular support but raised concerns about whether due judicial process was being followed in high-profile corruption cases.

It also highlighted the interim government's attempts to exile former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

"The Emergency Powers Rules of 2007, imposed by the government in January and effective through year's end, suspended many fundamental rights, including freedom of press, freedom of association, and the right to bail," the report said.

"The government imposed unofficial house arrests on former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia and made repeated efforts in the first six months of the year to force them into exile."

"Eventually, the government arrested both women on corruption charges, and at year's end they were awaiting trial".

The country report criticised restrictions on media.

Newspaper ownership and content were often subject to direct restriction by security and intelligence agencies, the State Department said, adding that journalists reported being cautioned frequently against criticising the government or the military.

On curtailing of individual and political freedoms alongside curbing freedom of press, the report said: "Individuals were not able to criticise the government publicly without fear of reprisal."

"The EPR suspended indoor and outdoor political gatherings, allowed the government to take legal action against critical editors and journalists, and allowed authorities to compel the broadcast or publication of stories supporting the government."

On extrajudicial and custodial deaths, the US State Department report said: "While there was a significant drop in the number of extrajudicial killings by security forces, they were accused of serious abuses, including custodial deaths, arbitrary arrest and detention, and harassment of journalists."

Using countrywide data from Bangladesh, the report said RAB killed 94 persons throughout the year, adding that the average number of such deaths dropped from 15 per month in 2006 to approximately eight per month during the year.

"The deaths, many under unusual circumstances, occurred during police operations or while the accused were in custody. The government, however, often described these deaths as crossfire killings, occurring in exchanges of gunfire between the RAB or police and criminal gangs," the report said referring to findings of local human rights organisations.

According to Human Rights Watch, joint forces held suspects illegally at unofficial places of detention where they interrogated, often abused, and in some cases forced suspects to sign confessions before releasing or presenting them to a magistrate, the report said.

The US State Department reported that the use of torture and abuse, including threats, beatings, and the use of electric shock, during arrests and interrogation increased after the declaration of the state of emergency.

The government rarely charged, convicted, or punished those responsible, and a climate of impunity allowed such abuses by security agencies to continue, it said.

On arrests, the report said the government reported arresting more than 300,000 persons between January and August, an arrest rate approximately 15 percent higher than in 2006.

"The majority of those arrested were released within a day or two."

No reaction is yet to be forthcoming from the government on the US State Department's report.

"I have not seen the report yet. I have to read the report first and then react," foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain told bdnews24.com Wednesday.

Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury are currently in the Senegalese capital Dakar to attend a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

Train dacoity in B’baria: Attendant killed

Railway employees at Kamalapur Station protesting
the brutal murder of carriage attendant of 1-Up Dhaka mail
train at Kasba in Brahmanbaria by a gang of dacoits
yesterday. Banglar Chokh

Bdnews24.com, B’baria

Robbers held up the Dhaka bound Chittagong Mail train early yesterday, murdering a train attendant and looting valuables, police and passengers said.

"I woke up hearing my fellow passengers screaming," said Iqbal Molla, general manager of the eastern railway zone and a passenger on the train. "Later I came to know about the robbery."

Passenger Md Hanif, a resident of Mainul Road, Chittagong, said told reporters that after the Chittagong Mail pulled out of Comilla railway station around dawn, eight to ten robbers wearing masks swooped on train passengers and snatched cash, gold jewellery and mobile phone sets.

When train attendant Shamsul Haque attempted to stop the looters, they killed him by slitting his throat with a knife, Hanif said.

Abdur Shikdar, another passenger critically stabbed during the train robbery, was sent to Dhaka for treatment.

As the train halted at Imambari for 50 minutes, the train robbers decamped. Police retrieved the dead body of Shamsul Haque after the mail train reached Akhaura.

Superintendent of Akhaura railway police Nibash Chandra Majhi told reporters that a one-member investigation committee, comprising Akhaura railway police inspector Wahiduzzaman, is probing the incident and has been asked to submit a report within a week.

On hearing of the incident Wednesday, railway employees gathered at Kamalapur Station in Dhaka in protest at their colleague's murder while on duty.

Senior railway official assured them of mitigating measures if they desisted from protesting.

Dhaka railway police super Abdur Rahman told bdnews24.com: "The railway employees assembled at Kamalapur protesting the murder of their colleague, but they didn't hold any demonstration."

"Senior officials talked to them and they eventually dispersed," he said.

Syed Abdul Muquit, regional transportation officer, told bdnews24.com: "The employees were justifiably unhappy over the death of their colleague and they gathered at Kamalapur Station."

Mentioning that a total of three murders have recently been committed on trains, Muquit said: "It's a sorry state of affairs when one is killed for doing one's duty."

"We want that all such incidents are thoroughly investigated and the culprits punished."

Regional railway manager Iqbal Molla claimed that weak security was the cause of such occurrences.

Akhaura railway police inspector Wahiduzzaman said investigation into Wednesday's train robbery and killing has been initiated and police are preparing to file a case in this connection, as no victim or train passenger volunteered to do so.

2 Bangladeshis killed in India

Staff Reporter

Indian police killed two Bangladeshi 'terrorists' in Kashimira in Thane district at around 9.15pm on Tuesday, The Times of India reported yesterday.

"We had information that the delivery of a revolver and pistol had taken place there. It was a joint operation of ATS teams from Pune and Mumbai. Our officers are at the spot and verifying the details," The Times of India quoted Param Bir Singh, joint commissioner of police as saying.

"The identity of one of the killed suspects has been established as Mohammed Ali.

Teams of the bomb detection and disposal squad are also reaching the spot," another ATS officer said, refusing to give details of the encounter site.

He said that the two persons sustained bullet injuries in the exchange of fire. "Our priority was to save their lives, but unfortunately it was too late. They were rushed to Bhagwati Hospital, Borivli, and declared dead on admission," said the officer.

Country faces 3.5 lakh tons of fertiliser shortage

Staff Reporter

The country is facing shortfall of 13.5 lakh tons of fertiliser this year following production suspension in Ghorashal factory, a senior official said yesterday.

"It is evident that deficit of urea ranges from 8 lakh to 14 lakh tons," Agriculture Secretary Dr Nurul Amin told a seminar in the city exposing his ignorance on the accurate figure of shortfall.

The Secretary emphasised on long-term import arrangement with the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to meet local demand. Such an arrangement is under process, he said

Dr Amin felt natural gas should be preserved for producing urea for at least another 25-30 years before the scientists find out some alternatives.

Food Adviser Dr AMM Shawkat Ali speaking at the inaugural session of the daylong seminar on 'Fertiliser Management' said urea

production should be subsidised. "Low price will boost agriculture production."

"But subsidy has to be managed carefully," he added.

The Adviser expressed annoyance at the high cost of urea production. "Cost of our production is higher than in neighbouring countries," he said and attributed inefficiency as the reason.

He stressed the need for long-term projection in fertiliser management, including production and transportation cost. The rising demand of farmers has to be met at affordable price, he added.

China keen to invest in textile sector

Staff Reporter

Twenty-four member delegation of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export Textile (CCCT) has shown interest to invest more in textile sector in various EPZs across the country.

The delegation paid a visit to the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) yesterday to meet BEPZA Executive Chairman Brig General Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf.

Welcoming the visiting delegation, BEPZA Executive Chairman briefed about the entire gamut of the organisation, including package of incentives to the investors and also sought more investment from China, particularly in textile sector.

The delegation members expressed their deep satisfaction over the congenial investment climate prevailing in the EPZs and the working procedure of BEPZA.

Later, the delegation team went to Dhaka EPZ and round industrial units of South China and Shanta Industry.

The delegation also expressed their satisfaction, witnessing the uninterrupted production oriented peaceful working procedure of the factory and also hoped that the facilities offered to the investors should be continued for further investment by the foreign countries in the zone.

Serial bombings: 9 JMB cadres get life-term in Barguna

UNB, Barguna

Nine militants of the banned Islamic outfit Jama'atul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JMB) were on Wednesday jailed for life for blasting bombs in this coastal town amid the August 17 serial bombings across the country in 2005.

The convicts are Asadul Islam Arik, Rezaul, Hafez Mostafa Hasan, Hafez Al-Amin, Shahidul Islam, Masum Billah, Bakkar Shahid, Abdul Haq, and Hafez Abdur Rahman.

Three of them - Bakkar Shahid, Abdul Haq and Hafez Abdur Rahman - were tried in absentia.

All the lifers were also fined Tk 5,000 each, in default, to serve six months more in prison.

According to the prosecution, the JMB operatives had conducted serial bombings at seven points in the town on the day of doom, creating panic among the townsmen.

Later, SI Shishir Kumar Pal of Barguna Sadar thana filed a case under the Explosives Act against 12 JMB men, including its chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman, his brother Ataur Rahman Sunny and its Second-in-Command Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai. Police submitted charge sheet to the court. After examining records and witnesses, Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Shahjahan Majumdar handed down the punishment to the nine of the militants in a jam-packed courtroom.

The three top-order JMB men-Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Ataur Rahman Sunny and Bangla Bhai-were acquitted of the charge in the case as they all were executed earlier on March 29, 2007 in Jhalakati judges' killing case.

Four snatchers lynched in Ctg

Chittagong Correspondent

Four alleged snatchers were killed in a lynch-mob attack and three others including an auto-rickshaw driver injured near Bhatiyari under Sitakund police station yesterday morning.

The deceased were identified as Baset, 31, Hashem, 28, Khorshed, 27, and Rowshan, 30.

This is the second incident of lynching in the port city and its suburb in less than a month. Two snatchers were lynched near the city's Nasirabad area late last month.

Police recovered an ammunition-laden home-made Light Gun (LG) from the spot. Firing of gunshot did not take place so far. Cops and the eyewitnesses said that locals caught the armed robbers red-handed after a brief chase at about 11:35 a.m. when they were escaping the scene after looting Taka 7500 thousand from Quashem Munshi, a villager.

Three of the seven robbers were caught red-handed near Bhatiari Union Council while four others from Jalil gate area at South Bhatiari on Chittagong-Dhaka highway.

Six youths - Chanchal, Sorwar, Abul Quashem, Based, Khorshed and Hashem - stopped Quashem Munishi and took away the cash at gunpoint when he just came out of Bhatiari branch of the Jamuna Bank. He cashed the amount for a land purchase deal.

Munshi raised alarm when the robbers attempted to escape the scene. Passers-by and the locals instantly caught three of the robbers and assaulted them mercilessly.

Four other robbers took an auto-rickshaw bearing registration plate Chatta-Metro-Tha-11-5591 and disappeared from the scene. Locals called their relations over cell-phone and sought help.

At this stage a group of motorcyclists started chasing the auto-rickshaw. They finally stopped the auto-rickshaw near Jalil gate and beat the robbers and auto-rickshaw drivers mercilessly. Two of the robbers died on the spot.

The fatally wounded robbers had been struggling for survival. Locals reportedly in presence of cops celebrated lynching of the robbers. The careless policemen did not take a move to take the wounded robbers to the nearby hospital.

Sub-Inspector Arjun and his team had been escorting the wounded robbers. When asked, the policeman said that they had been waiting for transport to take the wounded robbers to hospital though many motor vehicles had been parked nearby. Officer-in-Charge of Sitakund police station Abdus Salam visited the spot.

Neither the bodies nor the injured were removed from the spot till the time filing this report on Wednesday noon. Move for recording a case had been on progress.