The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasina sent back to jail from court: She breaks down while complaining of incomplete treatment, mental harassment

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina being taken to
the Special Court at the Sangshad Bhaban premises from the
Square Hospital on Sunday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was taken back to jail after attending a Court of law in a corruption case amid her complaints that her treatment remained incomplete at the hospital, while she was subjected to mental torture in custody.

"I am the victim of mental torture as I speak and work for the people," she told the Judge when she was produced before the Special Court in connection with the Barge-mounted Power Plants Scam Case.

Earlier, authorities of the Square Hospital, where she was undergoing treatment, discharged Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League (AL) President, at 2:00pm. She was driven straight from the hospital to the Court at 2:18pm for a charge hearing.

DIG (Prisons) Maj Shamusl Haider Siddiqui told journalists outside the Court that since she was discharged by the hospital, Sheikh Hasina was sent back to prison.

The former Prime Minister was arrested on July 16 last year in connection with an extortion case and since then detained in the makeshift jail in the highly secured parliament building complex.

"I was was discharged by the hospital authorities without completing my treatment," Sheikh Hasina told the Court, adding, "This is inhuman."

She was admitted to the Square Hospital on March 11 with multiple health complications including acute problem in her damaged ears.

"What is the reason of dragging me to the court straight from the hospital leaving my treatment incomplete?" said Sheikh Hasina, who is the eldest daughter of the assassinated Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mjuibur Rahman, and the second surviving member of his family.

"This is nothing but mental harassment. Where will I get justice? Who will ensure me justice?" she said in the Court of Judge M Firoz Alam in an emotion choked voice, while tears was rolling down her cheeks.

She further complained that she has already lost hearing in her one ear and 25 percent of vision in her left eye due to what she said negligence of the jail authorities.

Sheikh Hasina suffered damage to her ears following the grenade blasts at an AL rally in the capital on August 21 in 2004, when the other detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was ruling the country.

The Court was scheduled to resume at 9:30 AM for hearing of the defence discharge petition against the prosecution motion for framing charges against her in the case. At about 11:40 AM, a Court clerk informed that the Court would resume at 2:00pm, but he gave no reason for the delay.

Her top Counsel, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, and two other lawyers left the Court with the perception that it would not sit yesterday.

But when the court resumed at 2:20 PM, Sheikh Hasina said she was brought to the Court with a discharge certificate from the hospital without completing her treatment although she was very sick.

She said she wondered as to why her long time personal physicians were not allowed to treat her at the Square Hospital.

She said everywhere in the world there is a provision for on-call doctors from outside to attend a patient in a hospital, but she was denied such a privilege.

The AL President said her doctors already made it known that treatment of her ears and eyes is not possible in the country.

Besides, she alleged that the Jail Code is not being properly followed in allowing her relations and lawyers to meet her from time to time.

She further alleged that the cases filed against her were false and fabricated.

Chief Special Public Prosecutor Sharfuddin Khan Mukul prayed to the Court for starting further proceedings of the case following Sheikh Hasina's lengthy statement.

Opposing Mukul, defence Counsel Qamrul Islam told the Court that since Hasina is sick and her senior Counsel is not available in the court, the proceedings should be adjourned for the day.

Hearing both the sides, the Court adjourned the hearing until April 3 on two counts -principal accused Sheikh Hasina was sick in the dock and her senior Counsel not present for moving the discharge petition.

Part of BSS building demolished Row over ownership

The ground floor of the BSS (the national news
agency) building at Purana Paltan in the city was ransaked
yesterday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

At least five people were injured in a clash yesterday morning in an eviction drive conducted by Hossain Electric Industries Employees Multipurpose Cooperative Society at the ground floor of BSS building at Purana Paltan in the city.

Police said the clash ensued at about 11:00am when the members of the cooperative society along with a platoon of police went to evict the shops as per the court order and they were resisted by the affected shop owners and their employees.

Officials of the Cooperative Society claimed that the shops were set up illegally on the ground floor of the building and they went to evict the shops following the court's eviction notice to the shop owners.

The shop owners, however, said they had not received any such eviction notice from the court.

They alleged that the staff, in presence of police, looted valuables of their shops in the name of eviction and also beat up some of them when they tried to resist their illegal drive.

The shop owners further alleged that police beat them up when the owners and their employees staged demonstrations on the road.

Some journalists working with BSS, the official news agency, came under attack when they tried to enter their offices housed on the 1st and 2nd floors of the building.

The victims say the vandals also took goods worth Tk 100 crore from the 28 shops on the ground floor of the market.

Witnesses said members of Cooperative Society, wearing red cloth around their foreheads, came to the BSS building at about 11:00am to hang a banner without the presence of a magistrate. The land grabbers demolished the ground floor of the BSS Bhaban, leaving first, second and third floors of the building in a vulnerable state.

However, police personnel present during the rampage said they were acting under direct orders from the higher authority to evict illegal occupants from the market under a court order.

Meanwhile, The Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) filed a case with Paltan Police Station against the demolition of a part of the BSS office building in the city and attack by unruly outsiders on it.

In a statement the BFUJ and DUJ said BSS is the national news agency and the journalist community would not tolerate any attack on its journalists and employees.

They urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps for safely and security of journalists and employees.

They said any dispute over the land could be solved through legal measures.

BDR-RAB to monitor market from today: Such move yields no result in the past

Staff Reporter

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and the Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) will monitor the prices of essentials from today although such an initiative did not yield any positive result in the past. Rather, such a move created negative impacts on the market as panic gripped thousands of small traders across the country.

Yet the decision to monitor the prices once again was taken at a meeting with the representatives of wholesalers and retailers yesterday.

However, market analysts said such a move would create a deep sense of panic among the small traders as they should not be solely blamed for price hike of essentials. Rather, there are many players in the markets, including the importers who are believed to be responsible for manipulating the prices of essentials through the formation of syndicates.

At the meeting, a senior BDR official urged the retailers to keep their profit margin at a reasonable level saying that the BDR and the RAB would jointly monitor the market prices through intelligence.

"It is your responsibility to keep the prices of essentials under control," Col Mohammad Abdul Halim, BDR Director (Operations & Training), said at the meeting, with presidents and secretaries of wholesalers' and retailers' associations of Dhaka city, at the BDR Headquarters in the city.

He said BDR's main responsibility is to guard the country's border, but since it's a crisis time, BDR is looking after the price

situation.

Col Halim said BDR held meetings with businessmen and took

initiatives ahead of last Ramadan that helped stabilise the prices of essentials.

"I'm giving you a stern warning: do your business in your own way, but see that people get benefit," he said. "We all have same objective to keep market prices at tolerable level."

He also asked the retailers to hang lists of prices at their shops.

In response, president of Hatirpool kitchen market Enamul Huq suggested that the wholesalers should give vouchers in all cases against the commodities sold to keep a tab on the retail prices.

The BDR director said the voucher system was not stopped. "If one refuses to give voucher, inform BDR or RAB."

Another trader suggested the setting up of BDR camps at the wholesale markets to facilitate monitoring of prices. Col Halim said camps would not be needed for BDR to monitor the prices.

Export earning nearly to double by 2010: Declining dollar rate likely to boost RMG business

Mashiur Rahaman

Readymade Garments (RMG) manufacturers and exporters in Bangladeshi are expecting to double their export earning by the year 2010, being patronised by the diminishing dollar rate.

According to Bangladeshi RMG producers, sharply weakening dollar has been encouraging international buyers to rush into Bangladesh, switching their orders from its rival China and India, as their currencies have appreciated strongly against the US greenback.

"Our manufactured products have become cheaper due to this falling dollar rates. We are now getting more orders then ever," said official from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturer and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The leading garment-making group has forecast that the annual exports would nearly double to hit $18 billion by 2010. Export earnings from this major Bangladeshi item obtained $9.3 billion out of a total $12.18 billion in national export earnings in the last financial year 2006-07.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) statistics, export earning in the Knitwear during the July to December period in FY2007-08 witnessed a significant growth of 39.26 per cent compared to its corresponding period last year. The RMG sub-section recorded Tk 17,504.56 crore earning in the first half of current financial year where it was Tk 16,306.88 crore in FY2006-07.

Earning from the Woven Garments was also recorded 35.70 per cent higher within a year. Earning was recorded at Tk 15,916.98 crore in July to December period of current financial year. The export earning was Tk 16,31.86 crore in FY2006-07 of the same period.

"We are confident that the garments exports will reach $11 billion by the end of FY2007-08. It is expected to cross $18 billion by 2010 if this trend continues," said Anwar ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, head of the BGMEA.

But soaring food costs could cloud the picture by creating labour unrest that may disrupt output, he warned warned.

Germany to exert pressure if polls not held in time

UNB, Dhaka

German Parliamentary delegation chief Thilo Hoppe MP Sunday said if the parliamentary election is not held by this year due to caretaker government's unwillingness to give up power, Germany will certainly not show any understanding and will exert pressure on the interim administration.

"We are optimistic that there will be election by the end of this year. But, if we are to speculate what's if not. Then, Germany would have to enter into a critical dialogue with the government and ask for the reasons for the postponement," he told a pre-departure press briefing at Zia international airport.

Asked how Germany would respond if the election as pledged is not held by the end of 2008, Hoppe said if the political parties were to be the reason for not wishing to pursue internal reforms or there was a danger of falling back into a pre-state of emergency situation, "Then we would show some sort of understanding as to why the elections would have to be postponed."

"Of course, I certainly hope this is not going to happen," he said, adding, "If we see it's simply the government that does not want to quit the power, then we would certainly not show any understanding for this and we would have to exert some pressure and advocate that election to be held soon."

Asked how long Germany would support a unelected government like the caretaker government, Hoppe said if the state of emergency was to be prolonged for a long time then his country would think that the government is not playing by the rules.

"Then, we would enter into critical dialogue with them, but we would not stop cooperation with the poor people," he added. Hoppe said his country cooperates with the poorest of the poor and it would not be right to punish the poor people for the mistakes made by the government.

However, he said, "We didn't get the impression that the caretaker government is some sort of a dictatorship that was trying to cling to power. Rather, they wish to undertake reforms and pursue democracy, and they wish to have election by the end of this year." Strongly emphasizing on democratic practices within the political parties, he said democracy can only work if there is democracy within the political parties.

About nomination of candidates for parliamentary polls and leadership of parties, he said not the party high ups rather grass-root workers should nominate the candidates and leadership.

About the state of emergency, the German parliamentarian said, "Democratic structures can not work if activities of parties are blocked and impeded. If the parties are willing to pursue some internal democratic reforms then the state of emergency should be relaxed even lifted so that parties can undertake internal reforms."

Responding to a question about the Foreign Ministry's call requesting foreign diplomats not to interfere into internal affairs of the country, he said, "We are not diplomats, we are politicians and this is part of democracy that everybody can express their opinions." Hoppe stressed on human rights including economical, social and cultural human rights, welfare of the poorest of the poor, freedom of press and rights of minorities. "There can not be any infringement in the rights in the name of economic development."

He said the visit of his delegation was intended to promote better relationship between Bangladesh and Germany.

Other members of the delegation and German Ambassador in Bangladesh Frank Meyke were present at the briefing.

India to supply: 5 lakh tons rice to Bangladesh: Pinak

Narsingdi Correspondent

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty yesterday said his country would provide Bangladesh with five lakh tonnes of rice as it pledged earlier to help face the production shortfall caused due to last year's floods and cyclone Sidr.

"The bond between the two countries was created during the Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War and we would also further strengthen the bilateral ties in future," the High Commissioner told a discussion organised by the Bangladesh-India Moitree Samity at the Battala Math in the district.

Pinak said arrangements to ship the rest four lakh tonnes of food were finalised Sunday at a meeting between the officials of the two countries.

He said, "We have extended our hands of friendship, and would continue to extend it in the coming days and all possible assistance in any necessity of Bangladesh."

The Indian High Commissioner said the initiative for train service between Dhaka and Kolkata is a sign of friendship between the two countries.

President of the organisation and former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, acting general secretary of the samity Subir Kushari, advisers of the Samity former secretary Mohammad Ali, Awami League leader Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, and journalist Swapan Kumar Saha, among others, spoke at the function.

The district unit president of the organisation Motaleb Pathan chaired the discussion.

The High Commissioner during his daylong tour to Narsingdi also visited several historic temples in the district and the home of Bhai Girishchandra Sen, the first Bengali who translate the Holy Quran in Bangla at Pachdona.

Jacob demands immediate trial of war criminals

Staff Reporter

Former chief of general staff of Eastern command of India JFR Jacob has demanded immediate trial of war criminals while placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar yesterday.

He told reporters that the trial of war criminals could be held under the country's existing law. The government could take initiatives of holding their (war criminals) trials as the people had already raised their voices for it.

Maj. Gen. (retd) Laxman Singh, another member of the visiting Indian army team, said, "Being a fighter in the Liberation War of Bangladesh, I must want trial of war criminals through special tribunal."

He said, trial of German war criminals had taken place after 50 years of the II World War. "So I don't think there is any bar to holding trial against the war criminals after 37 years of liberation war," Singh said.

Earlier on March 25, a 10-member delegation of liberation war veterans, led by Lt General (retd) JFR Jacob of Indian Army, along with their spouses arrived on a seven-day visit on the occasion of Bangladesh's 37th Independent and National Day.

'Youth can make society corruption free’

DU Correspondent

Speakers at a seminar said the young generation can conduct a campaign to make the society corruption free and free from war criminals.

They said democracy and communalism could not move together as they are enemy to each other. So the young generation has to be united to eradicate the problems that is also a threat to the country.

The government should give election as per its commitment because it is the only way to return democracy otherwise the people of the country will resist the government, they added.

They said this while addressing a seminar on "The role of young generation to build corruption, poverty, black money and war criminal free Bangladesh" organised by the United Young Professional Organisation at the National Press Club yesterday.

Presidium members of Bangladesh Awami League, Amir Hossain Amu, Babu Suranjit Sen Gupta, Joint Secretary General of BNP Gayeshar Chandra Roy and Former president of Dhaka University Teachers` Association Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, among others, spoke at the programme.

Barrister Bashir Ahmed, former general secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association presented keynote paper in the seminar with Barrister Zakir Ahammad in the chair.

Awami League leader Amir Hossain Amu said the war criminals would have been brought under trial if the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family were not killed in 1975.

Raising a question, he said who released the war criminals in that time it has to be found out at first.

Babu Suranjit Sen Gupta condemned the activities of the Government as it presented the Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina forcibly before the court despite her serious illness.

He urged the government to send the sheikh Hasina abroad for better treatment.

Gayeshar Chandra Roy said if they would have known know that the trial of war criminals would not be held they would not surrender their weapons after Liberation War.

"We want the trial of war criminals." It is now turned into a political slogan as the Sector Commanders, who are demanding the trial of war criminals, did not raise their voice when the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman were killed, said Gayeshar Roy.

He said why the sector commanders returned to the barrack without demanding the trial of war criminals.

PSI irregularities cost govt Tk 1200cr loss in 2007

Syful Islam

The government lost around Tk 1200 crore revenue last year due to gross irregularities of Pre Shipment Inspection (PSI) companies, the customs intelligence and joint forces revealed.

The irregularities includes mis-declaration of import, wrong HS code classification, under invoicing and tax evasion during import through third country. The government recently cancelled contract of a PSI company for its alleged involvement in irregularities but the remaining three companies are no less corrupt.

In the recent past the customs authority has fined the PSI companies and took different actions against those for irregularities.

According to the findings of the Customs Intelligence Department, PSI Company Bureau Veritas Bangladesh Ltd had issued clean report findings in favour of many importers who imported Chinese-made polyester woven fabrics and texture through Singapore.

The BV valued $ 1.82 and $1.87 per kg of the products instead of the actual value of $6.54 and $5.03 per kg. The customs intelligence found around 12 lakh kg woven fabrics and texture were imported through third country and these products released at Dhaka Inland Container Terminals.

Due to the forgery of BV the companies had evaded taxes of around Tk 39 crore. BV has also imported Ireland and UK origin milk powder through the third country Singapore and evaded taxes of around Tk 18 crore for only a few consignments. BV showed price for per ton milk powder $ 2509.73 against the actual price of $4928 per ton.

The joint forces recently identified that another PSI company Intertek Testing Services (ITS) helped importers evade tax of around Tk 46 lakh for only 13 separate consignments of refrigerators, weaving machine parts, spinning mills parts, diesel engine parts, micro computer input and air conditioner parts.

The intelligence found that the company stated inacurate capacity of refrigerator, classified product specification of weaving machine parts and spinning mills parts wrongly brought excess weight and excess goods of diesel engine parts, micro computer input and air conditioner parts over their declaration.

The Chittagong Customs imposed a penalty of Tk 1 crore between December 2007 and February 2008 period for their involvement of the forgery. Customs sources said the company was fined severai times for the same reason in previous years also.

PSI company SGS also joined in the irregularities to help the importers evade taxes. The government lost crores of Taka due to dishonesty of the officials of the inspection company in the last couple of years.

The joint forces and customs department identified that like other PSI companies SGS also imported industrial engine bearing and thinwall bearing announcing wrong Harmonized System of Code. Due to this irregularities the company help evade taxes of huge amount of money just for the two consignments.

Experts claimed that the government has lost around Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000 crore revenue each year from customs sector due to issuing false clean report of findings by the PSI companies and corruption in connivance with customs officials.

Former Chittagong Customs Commissioner Lutfor Rahman in an internal assessment about irregularities of PSI companies found that the customs department realised Tk 21 crore as excess amount from importers, which were certified wrongly by PSI companies.

In his report, he said the PSI Rules 2000 do not permit more than 10 per cent physical inspection of imported products. "If the government allows more than 10 per cent inspection the corruption of PSI companies will be identified manifold than the current rate," Lutfor quoted the report.

Meanwhile, the customs commissioners earlier at a meeting with NBR chairman expressed their opinion to discontinue services with PSI companies from next year.

"If the government spends a portion of money from what the PSI companies get as service charge, it would increase the capacity of customs department significantly and there will be no need for PSI services," a commissioner said during the meeting held at the NBR.

Four-PSI companies take around Tk 250 crore service charge yearly for their evaluation.

The government had decided to appoint an international audit agency to monitor activities of PSI companies but failed to do so due to the opposition of some unscrupulous customs officials and businessmen.

RUET expels 13 students for breaking discipline

RU Correspondent

The authority of the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) yesterday expelled thirteen students of several departments for breaking discipline.

Two of the students, were expelled from RUET forever.

Student adviser Sayed Abdul Mafiz said that the students were awarded punishment on the recommendation of an investigation committee headed by Prof. Tohur Ahmed.

These students were expelled for vandalizing five photocopy machines of a stationary shop near the campus on February 21 last year.

The two students, who were expelled for good, are Fazle Rabbi of electronic engineering department and Nafis Hasan of mechanical engineering department. G. Rabbani of civil engineering was expelled for 1 semester, Mehedi Hasan of mechanical engineering for 2 semesters ,Rabiul Alam of civil engineering for 2 semesters, Ruhul Amin of mechanical engineering for 2 semester, Iqbal Hossain of mechanical engineering for 4 semesters, Emdadul Haque of computer science and engineering for 4 semester and, Soriful Islam of mechanical engineering for 2 semesters, Abdullah Al Mamun of civil engineering for 1 semester and banning residential assistance, Al Amin of Civil Engineering for 1 semester, Milon Miaa of civil engineering for 1 semester and Sanchoy Prosad of mechanical engineering for 2 semesters.

Two other students, Aminul Haque of electronics engineering and Nur Amin of civil engineering were given warning for their involvement in the same incident.

RUET Vice Chancellor A. F. M. Anwarul Haque conformed the punishment and said that the accused students could appeal against their expulsion according to law.

Donors cancel funding to NGO Samata

Staff Reporter

The UK (DFID), Norway and Sweden have cancelled funding to Samata because of misuse and misappropriation of donor funds, and they have informed the NGO Affairs Bureau of their decision.

The donor partners recognise and appreciate the achievements made by Samata and its workers over the years in terms of reclaiming land for the landless and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Nevertheless, the UK (DFID), Norway and Sweden have a zero tolerance policy for misappropriation of funds and corruption, and the findings of the independent forensic audit leave us with no choice but to terminate our agreements, invoking the relevant clauses, and stop funding of Samata with immediate effect.

UK, Norway and Sweden will continue to provide substantive aid to Bangladesh, including for poor and vulnerable landless people.

Offshore Bidding Round-2008 Road Show: $8b investment required to explore 24 TCF gas: Tamim

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Government needs to invest about $8 billion to search and develop the 24 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) estimated reserve in order to meet domestic demands in coming days.

"As per gas sector master plan and strategy, we need about 24 TCF additional gas to meet local demand up to the year 2025, which requires about $8 billion investment," said the special assistant to Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Prof M Tamim. He was addressing the inaugural session of the Road Show for the Offshore Bidding Round-2008.

Bangladesh, with 13.54 TCF of proven and recoverable gas reserves, is facing at least 100 million cubic feet of gas (mmcf) shortages a day, as the country can supply up to 1,738 mmcf of gas against daily demand of 1,833 mmcf.

According to him, gas consumption over the last decade has been increasing at an average rate of 8 per cent per annum where its major consumer was the power plants and the fertiliser factories.

As a trade and investment friendly atmosphere is prevailing in Bangladesh, awarding process would be finalised by October and hopefully exploration process for new reserves will start by the next winter, he added.

"We have discovered five coal deposits with proven reserve of about 2,350 million tons and the proven plus probable of about 3450 million tons. Soon we are expecting a coal policy, which will address the concerns surrounding extraction of coal," he added.

Mohammad Mohsin Secretary for the energy division and Chairman Jalal Ahmed also delivered their speeches on the occasion.

Over 80 companies from home and abroad have registered for the Road Show. Twenty-five information packages and 17 promotional packages have been sold.

Bangladesh offshore has been recently divided into 30 blocks of different sizes ranging from 2,611 sq km to 7,703 sq km for petroleum exploration. Of these 30 blocks, 2 blocks are already under PSC since 1997. While the rest 28 blocks have been opened for interested international companies for petroleum exploration and development under production sharing contract.

Degree exams begin today

DU Correspondent

The degree pass and subsidiary examinations-2007 under the National University will begin today. A total of 2,23,844 students under the BA, BSS, BSc and B Com of 1,403 colleges are appearing in the examination in 490 centres across the country.

Of them, a total of 1,23,986 male students and 97,543 female students under degree pass course are sitting in the examination, while some 1,606 students under the subsidiary course.