The New Nation - Internet Edition

ACC approves charge sheet against Tarique

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved the submission of charge sheet against detained BNP senior joint secretary general and detained former prime mister Begum Khaleda Zia's eldest son Tarique Rahman, in a case for hiding information in his wealth statement and earning property inconsistent to his known sources of income.

ACC Director General (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal stated this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the Commission office. He said Tarique Rahman's wife Dr Jobaida Rahman and his mother-in-law Iqbal Mand Banu will also be charge-sheeted in the case.

According to sources the charge sheet is likely to be submitted next week. With this Tarique Rahman would be charge-sheeted for the second time after his arrest from his cantonment residence on March 8 last year. Earlier he was charge sheeted in an extortion case.

The ACC Director General said the Commission approved the submission of charge sheet against Tarique Rahman for acquiring wealth worth Tk about 2.75 crore, including concealment of information of assets worth Tk over Tk 2.16 crore.

He said Tarique's wife and mother-in-law would also be charge-sheeted, as it was proved during the investigation that both of them assisted him in trying to prove the ill-gotten Tk 35 lakh was earned legally.

The charge sheet would be submitted as the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, the Penal Code and the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

Replying to a question, he said a supplementary charge sheet, if necessary, would be submitted or separate cases would be filed against the detained BNP leader.

The ACC Director General said subject to availability of information more cases would be filed against Tarique, if necessary.

"It was not said anywhere that this was the only charge against Tarique Rahman. If needed and if information are available, more cases will be filed against him," he said.

The ACC filed the case with Kafrul police station against Tarique, his wife Dr Jobaida Rahman and mother-in-law Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu on September 26 last year for concealing information of assets worth about Tk 4.23 crore and acquiring wealth worth about Tk 4.81 crore beyond their known sources of income.

After the filing of the case, ACC assistant director Taufiqul Islam investigated the case and submitted memo of evidence on January 13 this year.

Besides, the ACC Director General said the commission yesterday filed a case against former Awami League lawmaker AKM Rahmat Ullah for amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income and concealing information.

His wife Halima Rahmat Ullah and son Safayet Ullah have also been

made accused in the case.

The ACC Director General said the FIR was filed with Ramna police station accusing Rahmat Ullah, his wife and son of acquiring wealth worth Tk 5.08 crore inconsistent to their known sources of income and hiding information of wealth worth over Tk 4.56 crore.

About the proposed Truth Commission, he said the ACC is yet to send its comments on it to the higher authorities.

Replying to a question, Hanif said the Commission is discussing the matter in its meetings everyday.

US steps up missile attack on Pak-based Al-Qaedas as Musharraf’s power wanes

Reuters, Washington

The United States has escalated air strikes against al-Qaeda fighters operating in Pakistan's tribal areas fearing that support from Islamabad may slip away, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

US officials, who were not identified, said Washington wants to inflict as much damage as it can to al Qaeda's network now because Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf may not be able to offer much help in the months ahead.

Musharraf, a vital US ally in the campaign against terrorism who has generally supported such strikes, has seen his power wane dramatically over the past year.

Over the past two months, US-controlled Predator aircraft have struck at least three sites used by al-Qaeda operatives, the Post reported.

About 45 Arab, Afghan and other foreign fighters have been killed in the attacks, all near the Afghan border, US and Pakistani officials were cited as saying.

Neither US nor Pakistani authorities officially confirm US missile attacks on Pakistani territory, which would be an infringement of Pakistani sovereignty.

Many al Qaeda members, including Uzbeks and Arabs, and Taliban militants took refuge in North and South Waziristan, as well as in other areas on the Pakistani side of the border after US-led forces ousted the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001.

According to the Post, the goal was partly to try to get information on senior al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden, by forcing them to move in ways that US intelligence analysts can detect.

The United States should give Pakistan's new government time to work out its strategy on terrorism, newspapers said on Thursday, with some criticising a visit this week by two US envoys to sound out civilian leaders.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrived on Tuesday, shortly before Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was sworn in to lead a government set on re-thinking terrorism policy.

Pakistan has been a staunch US ally since President Pervez Musharraf threw his support behind the US-led war on terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

But former army chief Musharraf's power is waning, especially after his allies were soundly defeated in Feb. 18 parliamentary elections.

Leaders of a new coalition government, led by the parties of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, have spoken of the need for talks with militants based in remote mountains on the Afghan border.

Website shut down for misreporting on Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia

BSS, Dhaka

The ministry of foreign affairs yesterday said a website disseminating misinformation about Bangladeshis in Saudi has now been closed down.

Quoting the Bangladesh Ambassador in Saudi Arabia, a spokesman of the ministry of foreign affairs said the embassy has been lobbying very hard for the past few days to close this Saudi website, according to a foreign ministry press release.

The ambassador also informed that from the next July the minimum wage level for Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia would be raised to SR 550 from the early SR 400, in addition to free food, free accommodation and free medical facilities.

The embassy has also started a charity clinic in Riyadh for less privileged Bangladeshi workers where they will receive free consultation, treatment and medicine, Bangladeshi doctors.

"This is in line with the current instruction of the ministry to focus on welfare", the press release said.

Oil prices rise above 106 a barrel after overnight jump

AP, Singapore

Oil prices have risen above $106 a barrel after soaring more than $4 in the previous session as lower U.S. fuel inventories and the falling U.S. dollar spurred buying.

Light, sweet crude for May delivery added 26 cents to US$106.16 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midmorning Thursday in Singapore. The contract rose US$4.68 to settle at US$105.90 a barrel Wednesday.

AL demands govt dialogue with political parties soon

Desk Report

Awami League presidium yesterday demanded of the caretaker government to start the proposed dialogue immediately with political parties to avert conflicts.

"Where there is no dialogue, there is no way to reach a solution, except conflict. We want a meaningful dialogue through which a national consensus could be reached," acting party general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after the meeting.

The meeting, chaired by acting AL president Zillur Rahman, appreciated the government for its decision not to set any precondition and agenda for the proposed dialogue with political parties as the main target of the dialogue is to create a congenial atmosphere for holding a meaningful election.

The meeting expressed deep concern over the record high prices of essentials and asked the government to take effective steps to bring down the prices.

It demanded immediate release of its detained president Sheikh Hasina for her treatment in the USA. "We hope that our leader must be freed through a legal battle and we'll participate in the national election under her leadership and win it," Ashraf said.The AL presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party, asked the caretaker government to lift the state of emergency immediately and the ban on indoor politics across the country.

Party presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofael Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Begum Matia Chowdhury were present at the meeting held at Zillur Rahman's Gulshan residence.

Indian minister’s visit to China cancelled over Tibet unrest

AFP, New Delhi

New Delhi has cancelled a proposed visit to Beijing by Trade Minister Kamal Nath after China summoned the Indian envoy over Tibetan protests in India, a report said Thursday.

Nath was due to travel to Beijing on April 1 to take part in discussions on a trade agreement between the two Asian giants, The Times of India reported.

But the Indian government called off Nath's trip to protest the Chinese foreign ministry's summoning of India's ambassador to Beijing early Saturday over Tibetan protests in India, the newspaper reported.

A foreign ministry official in New Delhi declined to confirm the report.

China's foreign ministry called Indian ambassador Nirupama Rao at 02:00 am and handed over details of plans of more Tibetan demonstrations in India, after protesters broke into the Chinese embassy compound in New Delhi last Friday.

The Indian government found China's action objectionable, the newspaper reported.

Last week, about 15 Tibetan protesters screaming "Free Tibet" scaled the Chinese embassy complex's high railings and stormed the site.

The exiles had made several prior attempts to enter Chinese diplomatic missions in India since the start of the unrest in Tibet.

German MPs say: Credible polls must for development cooperation

UNB, Dhaka

A German parliamentary delegation of the Committee for Economic Cooperation and Development led by Thilo Hoppe MP yesterday said free and fair elections and observance of human rights are most important for German development cooperation with Bangladesh.

"We've heard that situation has improved considerably and the country is on the right track in preparation of free and fair elections," Hoppe told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at state guesthouse Padma. In reply to a question, he said for German development cooperation democracy and observance of human rights are very important and so, the elections are important. "We've no doubt that they will take place this year," he said.

The 4-member delegation now visiting the country is holding meetings with both government and opposition leaders and officials to get information about the status of German economic development cooperation in Bangladesh. Asked if Germany would increase its development aid in Bangladesh, Hoppe said, "We do advocate an increase with regard to quantity and quality of economic cooperation to make contributions to the economic growth of Bangladesh so it benefits the minority and the poorest of the poor."

The delegation will also hold meetings with NGOs working in the fields of human rights and indigenous people in the country. Foreign Advisor Iftekhar said they had a very useful meeting discussing expansion of trade, energy policies, social transformation and economic development, aviation industry and future relationships. He said Germany is a close friend of Bangladesh and a major development and trade partner in Europe.

CHT to be brought under mobile phone network: CA

BSS, Rangamati

Three hill districts-Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban-will be brought under mobile phone network soon.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said this while exchanging views with the district level officers and elite of the three hill districts in Rangamati Tribal Cultural Institute Auditorium.

Local headmen, businessmen, small and medium entrepreneurs, teachers, journalists and representatives of local bodies took part in the discussion.

"Introduction of mobile phone network in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region is a long cherished demand of people. So, the government has decided to take a positive decision to this end" the chief adviser said.

Dr. Fakhruddin said the government would consider the matter to set up digital telephone exchanges in different upazilas in CHT with availability of resources.

Referring to allowances of headmen, circle chief and 'karbaris', he said the government would consider the matter of raising their allowances sympathetically and taking decision to increase their salaries.

About setting up judge courts in the hill districts, Dr. Fakhruddin said the High Court has already decided to establish courts in these districts. The Chief Adviser said the government would take all out measures to implement the High Court directives to set up judge courts and appoint manpower by next April.

He called upon all irrespective of caste, creed and religion to extend cooperation to the government for holding a free, fair and credible election with a view to building a corruption free and enlightened society. Describing the CHT as a heaven of eco-tourism, Dr Fakhruddin said the government is eager to flourish tourism industry in the hill region not hampering its environment and livelihood of local people.

In this connection, the Chief Adviser welcomed private entrepreneurs to come forward and invest in tourism sector here. " I hope that public-private joint venture could play an important role to this end" he added. Referring to damages caused by rats in the agriculture of hill districts, the Chief Adviser said the government has undertaken steps to help the affected people.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Raja Debashish Roy gave address of welcome.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, GOC 24 Infantry Division Maj Gen Abdul Mubin, Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong Hossain Jamil and Rangamati Deputy Commissioner M Nurul Amin were present.

Dr. Fakhruddin laid emphasis on expansion of power supply in the CHT and said the government has undertaken steps for infrastructure development for socio-economic progress of hill tracts people.

Referring to spread of education in the CHT, the Chief Adviser said the government has taken various steps to expand education in this region.

In this connection, he underlined the need for setting up of boarding schools for the children.

About land reform measures in the CHT, Dr Fakhruddin said the government is actively considering of taking effective steps to conduct the activities of land commission smoothly for solving the problems.

He said the main objective of the government is to ensure socio-economic progress in CHT by maintaining law and order for public welfare.

Listing different development programmes undertaken in the hill districts after signing the CHT peace accord in 1997, the Chief Adviser said Taka 1,269 crore was allocated for local development so far.

Besides, Taka 257.73 crore has also been allocated for development of the hill tracts during the current fiscal, he added.

Dr. Fakhruddin thanked development partners and NGOs working for the development of CHT.

He asked all concerned to be careful to avoid duplication in running government and non-government development programmes.

Broken asylum system

BBC Online

The UK's treatment of asylum seekers falls "seriously below" the standards of a civilised society, a report says.

The Independent Asylum Commission, led by an ex-senior judge, said the system denied sanctuary to some in need and failed to remove others who should go.

It said the treatment of some asylum seekers was a shameful blemish on the UK's international reputation.

But the Border and Immigration Agency has rejected the report, claiming it operates a "firm but humane" system.

The commission spent a year researching the report and spoke to former home secretaries, policy makers and asylum seekers. We are a country with a basic instinct of fair play - the system denies fair play to asylum seekers not out of malice but because of a lack of resources

It was established in the wake of calls from community organisations and charities for an authoritative examination of asylum after former Home Secretary John Reid branded the immigration system "not fit for purpose". Sir John Waite, co-chairman of the commission and a former Appeal Court judge, said this particular issue was a "blemish" on the UK's reputation.

The report praised immigration officials for recent reforms to how they manage asylum applications - but it warned that a "culture of disbelief" was leading to "perverse and unjust decisions". The commissioners said policymakers were at times using "indefensible" threats of destitution to try to force some asylum seekers to leave the UK.

Another commission member, Lord Ramsbotham, a former chief inspector of prisons, told the BBC that officials considering asylum claims often had a poor understanding of an individual's circumstances.

"We are concerned at the level of the treatment of children, the treatment of women, the treatment of those with health needs, particularly mental health needs, torture survivors."

But he acknowledged: "The system is improving all the time, and we commend the strenuous efforts by Border and Immigration Agency to deal with these claims more effectively."

If claiming asylum is not a crime, why do we have these invisible bars around us all the time?

The hearings had also come across torture victims and pregnant women being fast-tracked through the system, despite official guidelines saying this should not happen.

Overall, the treatment of asylum seekers fell "seriously below the standards to be expected of a humane and civilised society," said the report.

Figures show there were 23,430 asylum applications in 2007 - the lowest for 14 years - and a quarter of the record set in 2002.

Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said the government should be ashamed.

"This is a shocking indictment of the asylum system under Labour", he said, "showing that nobody wins - neither the hard earning British tax-payer nor the genuine refugee".

The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, Chris Huhne described Britain's asylum system as "broken".

"The asylum process combines incredible complexity with systemic incompetence and is not fit for purpose."

Call to increase tax on tobacco

Staff Reporter

Research organisation Unnayan Samannay has urged the government to increase tax on cigarette and other tobacco items up to 20 per cent considering the expenditure on health sector. The proposal came at a meeting between the Unnayan Samannay officials and the NBR Chairman at latter's office yesterday.

NBR Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid also agreed with Unnayan Samannay proposal and said budget on health sector is increasing due to the people's affection on tobacco, which is putting negative effect on country's economy.

Unnayan Samannay Chairman Dr Atiur Rahman said nearly 16 to 20 per cent of the income of poor people goes to health sector due to their affection to tobacco. Increasing of tax on tobacco will raise price of cigarette and other tobacco items resulting them to leave smoking.

He said trend of smoking has reduced significantly in the last five years following increasing of tax on tobacco. In 2005 people have consumed 233 million cigarettes each day, which had reduced to 209 million in 2005 and will be reduced to 192 million in 2010.

"Government revenue from tobacco sector increased Tk 19, 028 million in 2005 from Tk 16,897 million in 2000. Revenue earnings from this sector is expected to reach at 21,009 million in 2010," Atiur informed newsmen.

He said Unnayan Samannay will carry out different programmes to raise awareness among people to shun smoking.

Mohammad Abdul Mazid said each year the government has to increase budget for health sector due to the effect of tobacco on people's health. It will take many years if even try to reduce 1 per cent tobacco consumption.

"We do not want to pressurise people to increase revenue earnings. But we have to raise awareness so that people can lead sound life through leaving tobacco," he said.