The New Nation - Internet Edition

B Chowdhury calls for steps to tackle price-hike of rice

UNB, Dhaka

President of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday urged the government to tackle the spiraling prices of essentials, including rice, to assuage the sufferings of the country's poor people.

He also suggested the government to increase rice import with money from the country's forex reserve and suspending non-laboor-oriented programmes for six months.

"There is no doubt that the prices of essentials in Bangladesh have been at record high," he said while addressing a discussion at the Dhaka Reporter's Unity here in the afternoon.

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh organised the meeting on the occasion of Independence Day with its presidium member Zainal Abedin in the chair.

B Chowdhury said the government should immediately launch a price-monitoring system across the country and take initiatives to import rice from Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar to tackle the food shortage.

Bikalpadhara secretary general Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan stressed the need for achieving economic freedom and political independence of the country through a national unity.

Major Mannan urged the people to work unitedly imbued with patriotism for rapid progress of the country. "There are three national issues -- education, health and patriotism -through which people can forge a unity," he told the meeting.

Party leaders former Ambassador Mahmuda Haque Chowdhury, KM Mujibur Rahman Taru, filmmaker Shahidul Islam Khokon, Shahidur Rahman, Prof Shahidul Islam and Kartik Thakur, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Dhaka-Jagannathganj train links restored after 13 hours

Bdnews24.com, Mymensingh

Train links between Dhaka and Jagannathganj Ghat resumed yesterday after 13 hours of disruptions, said a Mymensingh railway junction official.

Station superintendent Nazrul Islam told bdnews24.com: "The rescue operation started around 8pm Thursday and railway links were restored Friday morning."

Eight compartments of the Dhaka-bound intercity train Teesta Express travelling from Bahadurabad Ghat derailed at 5pm Thursday in Begunbari area of Mymensingh, forcing passengers to leap off the train.

Witnesses said the train left for Dhaka from Dewanganj in Jamalpur at 3.30pm Thursday.

A number of passengers suffered minor injuries. The train was travelling at slow speed, which apparently averted fatalities.

Divisional traffic officer for Bangladesh Railway Abdul Muquit told bdnews24.com that two recovery trains had rushed to the accident site from Dhaka and Mymensingh to haul up the derailed compartments.

The accident disrupted the services of some other trains in and out of Dhaka.

Ex minister Iqbal Hasan released on parole

UNB, Dhaka

Convicted former BNP state minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku was released from Kashimpur jail on parole for four hours yesterday following the death of his mother-in-law Mamjuda Chowdhury.

Mamjuda Chowdhury, 84, died of old age complications at Lab Aid Hospital in the city yesterday morning.

DIG (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told UNB that former state minister Tuku was released from Kashimpur jail at 4pm on parole for four hours to attend the funeral of his deceased mother-in-law.

His (Tuku's) mother-in-law would be buried at the Azimpur graveyard following namaz-e-janaja after Asr prayer at Lalmatia Mina mosque, the DIG said.

Tuku was arrested by the joint forces from his city residence on February 3 and later sentenced to nine years in prison in a corruption case.

Ex-Indian army officials visit Comilla

UNB, Comilla

The visiting delegation of former Indian army officials, who participated in Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971, arrived here yesterday morning and visited different places.

Led by Lieutenant General (retd) PN Kathpalia, the delegation came to Comilla Cantonment where they placed wreaths on Swadhinata Sharani, built in memory of liberation war.

Later, they visited Mainamati Commonwealth War Graveyard in Comilla Cantonment.

Accompanied by army officials of local cantonment, the delegation also visited other places, including archaeological sites.

Discord among FFs delays war crimes trials: Khandker

Bdnews24.com, Patuakhali

The trials of "war criminals" have not been possible partly because of a discord among freedom fighters, said AK Khandker, convenor of the Sector Commanders' Forum, yesterday.

"The nation now stands united in calls for the trials of war criminals," Khandker said at freedom fighters' reunion in Patuakhali.

The former Air Force chief called upon the government to initiate the trial of war criminals by constituting an international tribunal.

"The trials didn't take place in the past 37 years because freedom fighters were not pushing the agenda together. It helped the war criminals take up important positions in this independent country," Khandker said.

"The partners of the Pakistani occupation forces killed Bangalees, persecuted our mothers and sisters and burnt down houses and institutions. The nation is united today demanding their trials."

The war crimes were not only against individuals, but against the state, Khandker said. "The offenders must be tried in an international tribunal which could be formed with the help of the United Nations and the onus is on the government," he said.

Khandker urged all to portray the correct history of the Liberation War before the youth, the new generation.

Presided over by Habibur Rahman, sub-sector commander of Patuakhali region during the 1971 war, the reunion was also addressed by retired lieutenant general Harun-Ar-Rashid and retired major general Masudur Rahman.

Prizes were given away among the winners of a cultural programme organised by the Patuakhali wing of Muktijoddha Sangsad to mark Independence Day.