The New Nation - Internet Edition

2 minor siblings chopped to death by insane mother

UNB, Panchagarh

An insane woman chopped to death her two minor children at Haradighi village in Tetulia upazila yesterday.

Locals said Chehari Begum, 35, hit her two children Dulal, 6, and Iti, 3, indiscriminately with a spade while feeding them in the morning, leaving them critically injured.

Hearing hue and cry by two children, neighbours rushed to the spot and rescued them.

Dulal and Iti died on the way to the Sadar Hospital.

Local people caught Chehari, wife of day labourer Tajmal of the village, and handed over her to police.

Victim's father and other inmates were not present at the house during the incident.

ACC files cases against AL leader Rahmat Ullah

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed a case against Awami League leader and former MP 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, ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the Commission's regular briefing.

The first information report (FIR) was filed with Ramna police station accusing Rahmat Ullah, his wife and son of acquiring wealth worth Tk 5.08 crore that do not match their known sources of income and hiding information of wealth worth over Tk 4.56 crore.

The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the

Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

Hanif also told the briefing that the Commission filed a case with Dhanmondi police station Tuesday against former managing director of Rural Power Company Limited Zahurul Islam Khan for embezzlement of Tk 27.82 lakh.

The case was filed under section 409 of the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act, 1947.

It was informed at the briefing that the Commission has approved the submission of charge sheet against M Shahjahan, a telephone operator of BTTB's foreign trunk division, for failing to submit his wealth statement to the Commission.

Meanwhile, Hanif said, Barguna Pourasava chairman Shajahan Miah submitted his wealth statement to the Commission on Monday (March 24).

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.

Justice Hassan Amin to act as chamber judge

UNB, Dhaka

Justice M Hassan Ameen has been nominated to dispose of the urgent matters for the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court during its summer vacation.

The chamber court will start hearing applications from April 1 at 10:30 am, said an official handout.

Mass signature campaign seeking Hasina's release

UNB, Dhaka

Jubo Mohila League (JML), a front organization of Bangladesh Awami League, yesterday launched a mass signature

campaign of the womenfolk demanding "unconditional release" of detained party chief Sheikh Hasina and her appropriate treatment abroad.

AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury inaugurated the signature campaign at party's Dhanmondi office, as an alternative move as agitation is banned under the state of emergency.

Matia said release of Sheikh Hasina is the only path to help the country out of this critical situation. She demanded Hasina's immediate release, saying that the programme planned by Jubo Mohila League will "compel the government to free Sheikh Hasina who dedicated herself to establishing fundamental rights of the people".

The AL leader accused the government of "snatching people's democratic as well as fundamental rights" and demanded democracy restored in the country at the earliest.

JML will collect signature over next seven days and submit it to the Chief Advisor of the caretaker government.

AL leaders Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, Dr Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, Habibur Rahman Seraj, Adv Shahara Khatun, Dr Dipu Moni, Yafes Osman, and JML leaders Nazma Akter, Apu Ukil and Sabina Akter Tuhiun also spoke on the occasion.

All the leaders vowed to continue their battle until Sheikh Hsina's release and restoration of democracy in the country.

JUbo Dal leaders not allowed to hold press confce at Delwar's house

Desk Report

Family members of the BNP General Secretary Khandaker Delwar Hossain did not allow the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, the youth wing of the party to hold a scheduled press briefing at their residence at NAM Building yesterday.

Later the Juba Dal leaders led by its Acting President Miah Mohammad Salim shifted their programme to the residence of Mohammad Shahjahan, a former BNP lawmaker, at the fourth floor of the same building.

Shahjahan, one of the Organising Secretary of BNP Central committee did not attend the function though he was present at his residence during the briefing.

Earlier, the Juba Dal leaders decided to use the house of Khandaker Delwar to prove them the mainstream of the organisation.

Addressing the press briefing, Jubo Dal leaders demanded the immediate release of the former prime ministers- BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who are detained at the makeshift jail on the premises of the Parliament on a number of separate charges including corruption.

They also demanded of the government to free BNP senior Secretary General Tarique Rahman, Arafat Rahman Coco, Khaleda's two detained sons, Jubo Dal General Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal and Jatiyatabadi Chhattra Dal president Azizul Bari Helal and other political detainees immediately .

Jubo Dal leaders accused the government of creating 'political vacuum' in the country in the name of combating corruption.

They demanded the government to initiate to bring the prices of essentials to the common people and increase the subsidy for the agricultural sector.

The Government should distribute VGD, VGF cards, introducing Work for Food, Work for Money , Fair Price cards among the poorer people of the rural area of the country, Miah Mohammad Salim , Jubo Dal acting president said.

Jubo Dal acting General Secretary Adv Abdus Salam Azad suggested the government to reopen all the closed factories and give compensations to the workers and sufferers of the mills, which have already been shut down.

BCS IT expo begins March 30

Staff Reporter

A week -long BCS IT Expo begins on March 30 at the Multi Plan centre on the Elephant Road in the capital.

Addressing a press conference at the BCS office auditorium yesterday, Mostafa Jabbar, President, BCS, said the Expo mainly aimed at providing ICT education to the college and university students. It would also work as a bridge between the businessmen and buyers, he added.

He -pointed out that his organisation targeted children for computer literacy. BCS also aims at reaching internet facilities to the doorsteps of people living in both urban and rural areas he noted.

He thanked the government for reviving ICT task force that was inactive during the last BNP Government.

He called upon the government to make endeavours for creating awareness among the people about the importance of ICT literacy.

The current ICT market of Bangladesh is to the tune of Tk 900 crore at present. The hardware market is of Tk 700 crore and the rest 200 crore is of software and service market, said the BCS president.

Bangladesh Single Country: Trade Fair in Singapore, Malaysia in May

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Single Country Trade Fair will be held in Singapore from May 23 to 25 and in Malaysia from May 30 to June 1.

The Fareast trade mission will start on May 22 and continue till June 2 targeting to tape huge market of different Bangladeshi products and services.

The venue for the fair in Singapore is ground of Mostafa Plaza and Putra Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More than 100 stalls and pavilions of Bangladeshi banks, life insurance companies, jute and jute goods, handicrafts, readymade garments, vegetables, frozen foods, spices, housing and real estate, soft drink and beverage, food stuff, toiletries and cosmetics, medicine, industrial products, computer software, tea, melamine and ceramic products, plastic and kitchenware and agricultural products are expected to accommodate in the fair.

The interested business houses have been requested to immediately contact Dhaka International Exhibition Company or to call on 7163850, 01710852522 for stalls, said a press release.

EC empowered to cancel candidature for submitting false information

UNB, Dhaka

A provision has been incorporated in the draft of the Representative of Public Order (RPO) so that the candidature of any election candidate can be cancelled for providing false information through affidavit to the Election Commission.

As per the new provision, if the evidence of providing false information are found after the gazette notification of the election results or the candidates' oaths, the EC would suggest parliament and LGRD Ministry to cancel the concerned candidate's membership in parliament and other local bodies.

"According to the draft electoral rules (RPO), the candidates will have to submit some specific information along with their nomination papers… We've made a format to facilitate the candidates to provide the information," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain told journalists yesterday afternoon.

He said the candidates would have to put forward the information through affidavit before the notary public wherever it would be necessary to certify the information.

"The Election Commission can cancel the candidature if it is proved that a candidate deliberately provided false information through sworn statement," Sakhawat said.

"If it's proved after the gazette notification of the election results or the candidates' oaths, we'll send our suggestion to parliament asking the Speaker so that his/her membership in parliament is cancelled," he said.

About the elected local body members, he said the Commission would suggest the LGRD Ministry to cancel the membership. "But before the gazette notification of the election results or the candidates' oaths, we can cancel the candidature," the Election Commissioner said.

Asked about the voter registration programme, Sakhawat said, "The progress is so far so good. More than 5.10 crore voters have been registered."

He hoped that the primary voter list would be completed by June if the weather permits. "It seems that the voter list will be ready by the end of September or the first week of October. We can announce the complete schedule (of national election) only after receiving the final voter list," he said.

About holding election of Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet city corporations and seven municipalities, Sakhawat said the HSC examinations are going to start on May 29 on completion of the SSC examinations on April 27. "We're planning to hold the elections in between the period," he said.

"The LGRD Ministry has in principle approved the draft of a new law on local government. We're expecting to get it in hand within a week," Sakhawat told the reporters.

It is pointless to announce the election schedule before these laws are ready, he said, adding that they want to hold the elections under the new laws, especially under the new election code of conduct.

Asked if the upazila elections would be held before the national election or both would be held simultaneously, the Election Commissioner said there are many who doubt that there would no national election if the upazila elections are held first. "We've always said we won't do anything that will hamper the national election," he said.

The EC roadmap is to hold the national election before the end of 2008, he said, adding that the EC feels that various problems would emerge if there is no elected government in the country.

Jalil's family to appeal for extension of parole

UNB, Dhaka

Family members of detained Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jail, now in Singapore for treatment, are going to appeal to the government soon for time extension as his parole expires on April 1.

Party sources said the physical condition of Jalil remained unchanged. At the initial stage of his treatment, doctors of the Mount Elizabeth hospital thought of providing him medicare without dialysis. "But now they turn to it," a party leader said.

About parole, he said his (Jalil) family members consulting doctors would soon submit appeal to the caretaker government for time extension as his freedom on parole is to end on the first of April.

About Jalil's physical condition, the AL leader said he used to take injection once a week as no hemoglobin was found in his blood.

He has to go to the hospital thrice a week for treatment sitting on wheelchair, as he is "too weak to walk".

About Jalil's parole, DIG (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told UNB that it should not be their headache as it is a matter of home ministry.

"The Home Ministry would have to decide about parole of Abdul Jalil if they do not appeal for time extension," the DIG said.

Abdul Jalil was set free from jail on one-month parole and went to Singapore for treatment on March 2.

SSC examinees most sufferers Country experiences over 1000 MW of load shedding

UNB, Dhaka

The country experienced about 1000 MW of load shedding yesterday, making the SSC examinees the worst sufferers.

The examinees, particularly of Gulshan and its adjoining areas, suffered most as a major power disruption left them without power for over seven hours on a day they started their exams.

According to official sources, a flashover at a 33,000 volt (33kV) grid line at Gulshan substation led to a power cut from 1:30 pm. And the power did not restore till filing of the report at 8:30pm.

The incident also left three DESCO men, including a German expert, injured. The two others are DESCO staff Belal, 29, and Sumon, 25.

They suffered burn injuries as a gas insulated supply (GIS) line sparked when they were working on it, a top DESCO official told UNB.

The PDB officials said the country generated 3,673 MW of power against an officially recognised demand for 4,400 MW. However, unofficially, the demand is believed to be more than 4,700 MW.

DESA officials said they received about 1,250 MW electricity against a demand for about 1,800 MW which means Dhaka city alone had to experience a load shedding of about 650 MW.

Many areas of the city faced 3 to 5 hours of power cut in several spells.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Power and Energy Ministry Thursday held a meeting of the top officials of the three ministries to find out an easy means to minimise the nagging power crisis.

The power secretary, the energy secretary, the industries secretary and the chairmen of PDB, Petrobangla and BCIC were present at the meeting.

About the outcome of the meeting, Power Secretary Dr Fouzul Kabir Khan told UNB that they have decided to shift the gas supply priority from fertiliser factories to power stations in order to boost power production.

He said the Power Division has sought 100 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas from the Energy Division to meet its demand for operation of power plants.

At present, the PDB has to keep a number of power plants out of production for short supply of gas.

The Power Secretary said the PDB, Petrobangla and BCIC would jointly work out a technical feasibility plan for enhanced gas supply to the power plants.

Geeta Pasi meets Speaker

UNB, Dhaka

US charge De affaires Geeta Pasi yesterday met Speaker Barrister Zamir Uddin Sircar at his Bailey Road residence discussing democracy and parliamentary polls in Bangladesh as well as the design of the national parliament building.

After the meeting, Speaker Sircar said that they had discussion on democracy and especially on the design of the parliament building.

He said, "Louis I. Kahn made the design, but the design papers are now in a university of Pennsylvania." He requested the envoy to help him get the design for renovation of the Parliament building.

Responding to a question, the speaker said he has sent a letter to the government regarding the row over the NAM flats.

He hoped that this matter would come to a happy ending.

Govt forms body to review Women Development Policy

UNB, Dhaka

The government yesterday formed a high-powered committee, comprising country's eminent Islamic scholars, for an urgent review of the National Women Development Policy 2008, as it caused a little commotion.

An official announcement said the decision was taken in a meeting between Religious Affairs Adviser AF Hasan Ariff and ulema at the Islamic Foundation.

Home Affairs Adviser MA Matin, Communications Adviser Major General (retd) Golam Quader, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal, Home Secretary Abdul Karim and DG of Islamic Foundation Fazlur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.

Acting Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Mohammad Nuruddin has been made convenor of the committee, which will submit its report within 21 days, recommending amendment and changes to the policy that envisages equal inheritance for gender parity.

The review panel will "identify inconsistencies in the policy as per Islamic rules and suggest taking steps", said the release.

The meeting was told that "the government will not formulate any law that goes against Quran and Sunnah".

Misunderstanding, however, was created in this matter despite clearing official position. "The committee has been formed for dispelling all kinds of misunderstanding," the meeting was told.

The government hoped that all misunderstanding would be removed through the formation of the committee.

Hailstorms lash city

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Hailstorms accompanied by strong winds swept through the capital and other parts of the country yesterday night.

Dhaka, Sylhet, Jessore, Kushtia, Tangail and Mymensingh experienced heavy rain twinned with winds speeding up to 43 kilometres per hour, SM Mahmudul Haque, an official with the Meteorological Department, told bdnews24.com.

Haque said the storm began at 6.50pm in Dhaka and continued until 8.15pm.

Thirty-two millimetres of rain was recorded in Tangail, according to an 8.00pm bulletin.

"It is the season of storms. It is normal that there may be storms in the evenings as temperature remains very high in daytime," he added.

Haque forecast rain for Jessore, Kushtia and some other places in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Sylhet divisions.

EC to be empowered to cancel candidature if wrong information furnished

Staff Reporter

Under a new provision being incorporated in the draft of the Representative of Public Order (RPO), the Election Commission would be able to cancel the candidatures if the candidates were found that they provided false information through affidavit to it.

On the other hand, the EC would ask the Speaker to remove Members of Parliament (MPs) from their posts and suggest the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives to cancel the membership of concerned local body candidates if it is proved after the gazette notification of the election results or the candidates' oaths that they provided inaccurate information.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said this yesterday while briefing journalist at his office.

He said the Commission also will seek the removal of an individual who had breached the rules and had already been elected to a local government body.

Sakhawat Hossain said district level investigation committees would be set up to detect inaccurate or falsified information through scrutiny of a candidate's nomination papers.

He referred that providing eight pieces of information, including an income and expenditure statement, an account of election spending and educational qualifications are now mandatory.

The candidates will have to submit some specific information along with their nomination papers. We have made a format to facilitate the candidates to provide the information, he said.

About the voter registration programme, the Election Commissioner said, "The progress is so far so good. More than 5.10 crore voters have already been registered."

He hoped that the primary voter list would be completed by June if the weather permits while the voter list will be ready by the end of September or the first week of October.

"We can announce the complete election schedule for national polls only after receiving the final voter list," he said.

Asked whether the upazila elections would be held before the national election or both would be held simultaneously, he said there are many who doubt that there would no national election if the upazila elections are held first.

"We have always said we would not do anything that will hamper the national election," he said.

The EC roadmap is to hold the national election before the end of 2008, he said, adding that the EC feels that various problems would emerge if there were no elected government in the country.

On elections to the four city corporations and seven municipalities where the tenure had expired, he said the schedules would be announced after the amended local government ordinance comes from the ministry.

Shakhawat Hossain said the LGRD Ministry has in principle approved the draft of a new law on local government. We're expecting to get it in hand within a week," Sakhawat Hossain said.

He said the EC is planning to hold elections to Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet city corporations and seven pourashovas from April 22 to May 29.

The pourashovas are: Shariatpur, Sitakunda, Cox's Bazar, Gopalganj, Sreepur, Fulbaria and Manikganj.