The New Nation - Internet Edition

ACC bid to revive 2 corruption cases against Khaleda fails Renovation of Cantt residence, recruitment of SIs

Staff Reporter

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday refused to entertain two petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission for reviving two set aside cases against detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia on separate corruption charges.

Earlier, the High Court had quashed both the corruption cases-one in connection with renovation of the private residence of Begum Zia inside Dhaka Cantonment using Government fund and the other related to the irregularities in appointing 746 Police Sub-Inspectors-which, an official of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) claimed, were made either on the basis of political choice or in exchange of kickbacks

The six-member Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin passed the orders dismissing the ACC's two petition for leave to appeal against the High Court judgments that had quashed the two corruption cases against Begum Zia, also the BNP Chairperson.

The corruption charges on Khaleda Zia's private residence was filed on January 28 in 1997 with the Cantonment Police Station in the capital by an officer of the now defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC), most staffs of which was absorbed by the ACC immediately after the formation of the independent anti-graft national watchdog.

It was alleged that BNP Chief in connivance with another accused had abused and misappropriated an amount of about Tk 64 lakh for maintenance, construction, decoration, supply of electrical appliances and paying remuneration to the employees her private residence from the state exchequer, when she was the Prime Minister of the country.

The other corruption case relating to the appointment of 746 Police Sub-Inspectors was filed on December 21 in 1996 with Ramna Police Station in the capital by the BAC and revived by the ACC.

Both the corruption cases were quashed by the High Court following applications filed by Begum Zia on October 23 in 2001 and on May 14 in 2002.

Most Bangladesh missions abroad fail to attain export targets

Mashiur Rahaman

Most of the Bangladesh's diplomatic missions and commercial wings in foreign countries have failed to achieve their export earning targets.

According to the missionwise export target and performance report during July-November 2007-08, among 44 diplomatic missions, only 21 achieved their export targets while the rest 23 failed to meet their targets.

Similarly, out of total 16 Bangladesh's commercial wings abroad, only seven achieved their export targets while nine failed to do so.

The report also revealed that actual export earnings achieved $5166.63 million during the July to November period of 2007-08FY, which was 2.40 per cent higher than the amount recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal of 2006-07.

However, export earnings were 10.99 per cent lower than that target. In July-November 2006-08, export earning was recorded $5045.12 million.

Only 2.4 per cent growth in export earning than the previous fiscal year is 'not satisfactory enough' because Bangladesh's diplomatic missions and commercial wings in developed countries failed to achieve their targets, said a high official of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

The EPB statistics shows that Bangladesh's diplomatic missions in Washington, Rome, Hague, Ottawa, Hanoi, Cairo, Bangkok, Manila, Brunei and Thimpu were among those, which recorded their export earning below their targets set for the July to November 2007-08 FY. Their earnings were even below from the earning recorded during the same period in the year back.

In spite of failing to achieve export targets, total 13 diplomatic missions recorded higher earning between July and November 2007-08 period, compared to the same period in previous fiscal year. Missions in this category are Berlin, London, Brussels, Stockholm, Madrid, Beijing, Ankara, New Delhi, Singapore, Islamabad, Colombo, Kula Lumpur and Rabat.

Target achieving 21 Bangladesh's diplomatic missions are Doha, Manama, Muscat, Tashkent, Moscow, Pretoria, Canberra, Riyadh, Seoul, Kathmandu, Dubai, Kuwait, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Nairobi, Tehran, Yangon, Tripoli, Paris, Tokyo and Amman.

Bangladesh's Commercial Wings, which have solely established to promote and popularise Bangladeshi products in foreign markets, also reported similar performance during the July to November of FY 2007-08 period.

It was reported that nine, out of total 16 Commercial Wings, failed to achieve their tasks. Moreover, Commercial Wings in Washington and Ottawa recorded even lower earnings during the July-November 2007-08 period from its previous year record.

Other seven Commercial Wings, which have failed to meet their export targets, however, have recorded growth in earning as compare to the same period recorded in 2006-07FY. Countries in this category are Berlin, London, Brussels, Madrid, Beijing, New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur.

Commercial Wings, which have achieved export-earning targets in the July-November period of 2007-08FY, are Moscow, Canberra, Dubai, Paris, Tehran, Yang on and Tokyo.

"It is to notice that Bangladeshi envoys mainly failed to perform properly in those countries, which are considered as comparatively bigger markets for Bangladeshi products. Failure to achieve export targets in these countries reflects our diplomatic failure in terms of promoting global business," said an expert related to the export business.

According to the export earning statistics for the July-November period of 2007-08FY, Bangladeshi envoys have failed to execute their tasks in markets like London, Washington, Beijing Kuala Lumpur, Ankara and other Western and Middle Eastern countries.

Modasser urges CA to allow Hasina's treatment in US

Staff Reporter

Prof Syed Modasser Ali, a personal physician of detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, yesterday morning in a letter urged Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed to allow her to go to the United States for ear treatment.

The letter said the ailments are increasing day by day in association with other health complications therefore Hasina, also president of the Awami League, is required to be sent to the US for proper treatment, Channel i, a private TV station reported.

Prof Modasser Ali of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) delivered the letter in person to the Chief Adviser's Office at 10:00 in the morning.

Suspension of division to 5 VIP prisoners cut to one-week

Staff Reporter

The jail authorities yesterday reduced the three-month suspension of division to five VIP prisoners to just one week --two days after imposing the punishment for violating the jail codes.

The restrictions on meeting visitors and other punitive measures that were also awarded to them will remain, sources said.

Inspector General (Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hassan yesterday told reporters that the jail authorities reconsidered their decision as such type of punitive measures against VIP prisoners were taken for the first time in the country.

An inmate with division is entitled to a small cot, newspapers and other facilities.

The jail authorities on Tuesday night suspended for three months the division status to former BNP ministers Nazmul Huda and Altaf Hossain Choudhury, former BNP lawmaker and political adviser to BNP chairperson Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, former Awami League state minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Nazmul Huda's wife Sigma Huda.

Sigma Huda was given division with special consideration following court orders even though she was not a lawmaker.

The punitive measures were taken against them as they breached the jail codes by using cellphones and iPod inside the jail.

According to the jail authorities, seven VIP prisoners were punished for breaking the jail codes two months ago. Cases were also filed against them but since the court did not take the matter into cognisance, the jail authorities took action within their jurisdiction.

25 ACs get new postings under DMP

Staff Reporter

In a reshuffle of the police administration twenty-five Assistant Commissioners (AC) in Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have been given new posting, a DMP handout said yesterday.

SM Mehdi Hasan has been transferred to Gulshan Zone, Mohammad Belayet Hossain to Petrol-Lalbagh, Sihab Kaiser Khan to Detective-South, Monalisa Begum to Detective-North, Salma Syed Poli to Crime Command and Control Centre, Maruf Hossain to Detective-North, Syed Musfiqur Rahman to Detective-North, Alimuzzaman to Detective-North, Mohammad Harun-ur-Rashid to Mirpur Model Thana, Elias Kabir to Traffic Mohammadpur Zone, Shah Iftekhar Ahmed to Petrol-Gulshan, Golam Mostafa Rasel to Stationery and Equipment and Mohammad Tareq Bin Rashid to Headquarters.

Besides, Shamima Parven was given new posting to Mohila (Women) police, Mohammad Saiful Islam to Welfare department, Kamrul Islam to Petrol-Mothijheel, Mohammad Sanwar Hossain to Detective Branch-South, Mohammad Morshed Alam to Traffic of Tejgaon Zone, Tariqul Islam to Administration of Uttara division, MA Jalil to Administration of Tejgaon division, Shamsul Alam Sarker to Traffic of Uttara Zone, Mohammad Tajul Islam to Administration of Gulshan division, Mahfuzul Islam to Traffic of Dhanmodi Zone, Abu Ashraf to Training and Sports and Kamal Hossain to Administration of Mothijheel division.

Ecological sanitation urged for hygiene, natural manure

Staff Reporter

Ecological management of human excreta and urine would not only help keep the environment clean and the people safe from many diseases but also meet the entire need of fertiliser for agriculture, a workshop on water supply and ecological sanitation was told in Dhaka yesterday.

The workshop, organised by the Bangladesh Water Partnership (BWP) in observance of the World Water Day 2008, at the LGED auditorium, was attended by leading water experts and representatives of government, non-governmenal organisations and international agencies involved in the water sanitation sector.

Prof. Mujibur Rahman of civil engineering, BUET, and Reba Paul, executive secretary, BWP, presented two papers at the workshop held with BWP president Quamrul Islam Siddique. Paul Edward, chair of water, environment and sanitation division of Unicef and chair of the local consultative group on water supply and sanitation was the chief guest at the function while BWP leaders Muhammad Zamir, Prof. M Maniruzzaman Miah, Prof. M Firoze Ahmed of BUET, K Minnatullah of the World Bank, Dr Kh Azharul Haq, Mustafizur Rahman, chief engineer, Public Health Engineering and SMA Rashid of the NGO forum were special guests.

Prof. Mujibur Rahman gave a run down of the situation of water supply and its quality and the grim prospects in the face of climate change, and the scarcity of fertiliser and said that ecological sanitation would help address the problems to a great extent.

If properly stored and managed urine would meet the requirement of urea and phosphorus while excreta compost would fulfil the demand of other manure in agicultural fields. He said the entire demand for fertiliser worth about taka 500 crore could be met even if 25 per cent of the people of Bangladesh practiced ecological sanitation.

Reba Paul explained the technologies available for ecological sanitation and their costs. She said that commodes and panes for separation of urine and excreta and their storage in separate compartments would cost more, but that would be refunded in the form of fertiliser in ten years. People in some areas in China and India were using cheaper plastic-made panes, she said.

Paul Edward outlined the history of waste management in the city of London over the centuries and said at one point of time collection and use of organic wastes for agricultural purposes had turned into a profitable activity, as has been mentioned by the speakers at the workshop.

Prof. Firoze Ahmed cautioned against taking care of some problems that have been observed while practicing ecological sanitation. Otherwise, people might suffer due to lack of awareness, he said.

Prof. Maniruzzaman Miah also cautioned against making unguarded statements while talking about the advantages of ecological sanitation.

Others who spoke at the workshop said that ecological sanitation should be attempted by prescribing area and culture specific technologies for separation, storage and use of urine and excreta as fertiliser.

Over 10 lakh appear at SSC exam

DU Correspondent

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent Dakhil and SSC (vocational) examinations under nine education boards began peacefully across the country yesterday.

A total of 10,13,301 students have been appearing at the examinations at 1,837 centres. Of them, 5,41,191 are boys and 4,72,110 girls.

A total of 117 students and two invigilators were expelled under the nine educational boards across the country on the first day of SSC examination. The two invigilators were expelled under Rajshahi Education Board.

SSC Control Room sources said the highest 70 examinees were expelled under the Technical Education Board while 14 under Dhaka Board, 11 under Madrasah Education Board, eight under Rajshahi board, five under Barisal, four under Comilla Board, three under Jessore and two under Chittagong. There were no reports of expulsion under Sylhet Education Board.

Last year, a total of 194 examinees were expelled on the first day of SSC examination then the technical education board contributed the highest 98 expulsions.

Two assistant teachers of Mujibur Rahman Girls High School at Damkurahat under Paba upzila in Rajshahi district -- M Jamal Uddin and M Mizanur Rahman -- were expelled allegedly for helping the examinees in adopting unfair means.

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman visited different SSC examination centres in the capital and expressed his satisfaction after observing "copy-free" environment in the halls.

He went to the Government Madrasah-e-Aliya, Agrani Girls High School, Government Laboratory High School and Dhanmondi Government Boys High School.

Rice hopes for free, fair polls in Bangladesh

Staff Reporter

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the caretaker government in Bangladesh will play sincere role to hold a free and fair election as per the announced roadmap to return to democracy.

"There is no alternative to election for returning democracy as well as to make Bangladesh a modern and democratic state," she said while speaking at the oath taking ceremony of the newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh James Francis Moriarty at the US State Department on Wednesday.

Moriarty is expected to arrive in Dhaka on April 10 to join his new diplomatic assignment.

Condoleezza said Bangladesh could be a shinning model as a modern Muslim state for different countries in the world, but the main precondition is to return to democracy first, according to a report by US-based

Bangla news agency News World.

She said democracy is much for ensuring human rights and accountability and hoped that Bangladesh government would take appropriate steps to ensure those.

About corruption, the US secretary said main enemy of democracy and development of any country is corruption and in this context she termed the current anti-corruption drive as positive. However, the government must have to be remain alert so that the accused persons get legal protection.

On reforms, she said political reforms in Bangladesh is urgent and hoped that people of the country would carry forward reforms for the greater interest of democracy.

Bangladesh Ambassador in USA M Humayun Kabir and others high officials were present on the occasion.

Independence Day celebrated

President, Chief Adviser, leaders of different
political parties, freedom fighters, vice-chancellors of
universities and activists of socio-cultural organisations
placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar for
paying homage to martyred freedom fi

Staff Reporter

The nation paid glowing tributes to the memories of the 30 lakhs martyrs, including the freedom fighters and members of the Armed Forces along with remembering with respect the Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during its Liberation War 37 years ago, during the celebration of the Independence Day on Wednesday (March 26).

The historic day heralded with 31-gun salute in the capital. The Independence Day was celebrated across the country this with an official pledge to try the war criminals, who organised one of the brutal genocide.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed took salute at the day's main official proigramme, colourful joint march-past of Bangladesh Armed Forces, paramilitary BDR and other law enforcing agencies, including anti-terrorist elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the Freedom Fighters, at the national parade square on this occasion.

Chiefs of the three service--General Moeen U Ahmed of the Army, Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Air Marshall Shah Ziaur Rahman.

The head of military-backed Caretaker Government, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Speaker Barrister Mohammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin. members of the Council of Advisers, Sector Commanders, including Deputy Commander in Chief of the Bangladesh Liberation Forces Air-Vice Marshall AK Khondaker, former Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, attended the programme along with diplomats, senior political leaders, editors and elite.

The rare honour was accorded to the Indian war veterans during the Independence Day parade.

The 10-member delegation of India are veterans of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, as they attended the historic celebration for the first time in 37 years. The elderly Indian war veterans arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday with their spouses.

This was the first time that Indian officers led by the senior most living Indian military Commander Lt Gen (retd) JFR Jacob, who was first General of the Bangladesh-India allied forces, to enter Dhaka city along with the Bangladesh Armed Forces and Muktee Bahini (freedom fighters) after defeating the then Pakistan occupation forces, were formally invited to attend the celebration by Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed.

The retired Indian Army men were popularly known as 'Mitra Bahini' (allied forces) during the nine month-long war that led to the liberation and emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign country on December 16 in 1971.

Eight-murder case in Chittagong 4 Shibir activists to die, 3 get life term

UNB, Chittagong

Four Islami Chhatra Shibir activists were Yesterday sentenced to death and three to life-term imprisonment in the sensational Bohaddarhat eight-murder case in the port city.

The condemned convicts are M Azam, Sazzad Khan, Alamgir Kabir alias Baitta Kabir and M Solaiman. They were also fined Tk 50,000 each. The lifers are Enamul Haque, Abdul Qaiyum and Habib Khan. They are also to pay Tk 50,000 each in fines or serve one year more in jail. After examining 42 witnesses in the case of deadly gun attack on Chhatra League activists, the court of 2nd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Ekramul Haq pronounced the verdict today, acquitting 13 other leaders and activists of the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The acquitted ones are Mesbaul Kabir, the then President of Shibir city unit, Secretary Saiful Islam, Vice-President Azizur Rahman, Organising Secretary Miah M Toufiq, M Ilias, Abdul Hakim, Abdul Hamid, Bazle Ahmed, Bayezedur Rahman, BDR Selim, joint Secretary Rezaur Rahman Mufti, Iqbal Hossain and Nesar Ahmed. Only three of them-Ilias, M Azam and Alamgir Kabir-were in the dock during the verdict.

According to the prosecution, gunmen halted a microbus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw carrying Bangladesh Chhatra League activists at Bohaddarhat crossing and opened fire on them on July 12, 2000. The shooting left all the eight in the two vehicles dead on the spot. Six of them were activists of the BCL, the student wing of Awami League, while two others drivers of the vehicles. The deceased were Jahangir Alam, Hasibur Rahman Helal, Rafiqul Islam Sohel, Azizul Islam, Abul Kashem, Jahangir Hossain and CNG and microbus drivers Zahid and Monu Miah.

BCL leader Anwar Hossain, who is now serving 10 years in jail in an arms case, had filed a case in this connection.

Five of the accused persons were arrested soon after the killing, but later Enamul and Solaiman were released on bail and went into hiding.

ASP of Chandgaon thana Kader Khan submitted charge sheet against a total of 22 persons. Of the charge-sheeted accused, one was killed in crossfire while another in a clash.

After hearing the verdict, M Azam and Alamgir expressed their dissatisfaction and said that they would go to the High Court "for justice".

DA for govt employees in coming budget

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday said the next budget would have a specific announcement on dearness allowance for the government officials and employees.

"The Ministry of Finance is working out the modalities," he told reporters, replying to a question following an inter-ministerial meeting at his ministry.

He said, "The ministry was working on the possible monetary involvement against the allowance, be it 10 percent, 20 percent or 30 percent, and the impact on the budget deficit."

The government employees have been demanding pay hike in view of the soaring prices of the essentials. "I would have been the happiest person had I been able to declare it right now. There's nothing to hide about it," said the Finance Adviser.

Dr Aziz chaired the meeting on removing disparities in salaries and allowances of different ministries and other government agencies.

Food Adviser AM Shawkat Ali, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal and senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.

The meeting approved the raising of the pay scale for the post of surveyor under the Ministry of Land from Tk 3,000-5,920 to Tk 3,300-6,940.

It also approved the proposal for the promotion and pay hike of superintendents and auditors of the Audit Cell of Food and Disaster Management Ministry, trekkers and inland masters of Chittagong Port Authority, forest rangers and the commandants of Marine Academy.

The meeting turned down another proposal for the promotion of assistant directors of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) for some complications.

Mamun, wife jailed: Property worth Tk. 111cr to be confiscated

Staff Reporter

An anti-graft court yesterday sentenced Giasuddin Al Mamun, a controversial businessman and closed friend of ex-PM Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman, to 10 years in prison and his wife three years for acquiring wealth illegally.

The seventh special court set up in parliament compound also fined Mamun Tk 10 lakh, in

default of which he has to spend one more year behind bars.

The court also ordered confiscation of property of around Tk 111 crore, which the couple had hide in their wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

On October 24, Investigation officer Tahsinul Haque submitted charge sheet against Mamun and his wife Yeasmin to the general recording officer at prosecution office of the ACC at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates' Court, Dhaka.

They amassed wealth worth Tk 142 crore during the five-year tenure of the alliance government. Their wealth includes movable and immovable property, investment and shares in different businesses, according to the charge sheet.

Mamun accumulated Tk 129 crore, paid tax on around Tk 27 crore and hid information about Tk 102 crore.

Yeasmin amassed wealth worth about Tk 13 crore and paid tax on Tk 3.19 crore but concealed information about Tk 9.23 crore.

The couple thus hid information about Tk 110.97 crore.

Mamun used his close relation with Tarique, elder son of Khaleda -- both now detained-- to amass the huge wealth, the charge sheet mentioned.

Mamun owns 9,000 shares worth Tk 33.94 crore in three industries and the couple owns houses and land and has fixed deposits in banks at home and abroad.

Mamun used to maintain 45 bank accounts at home and abroad. He has Tk 26.32 crore in three accounts with Natwest Bank and City Bank in London and Singapore. He has 24 fixed deposits in Banani branch of Dhaka Bank and seven in Banani branch of Dutch Bangla Bank, according to the charge sheet.

The Joint forces arrested Mamun, who was on the first list of 50 high profile graft suspects published by the commission on February 18, from his Gulshan residence on March 26.