The New Nation - Internet Edition

Governor of Zonta Int'l Dist-25 arrives

Zn Manthri Parera, governor of Zonta International Dist-25 comprising Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka arrived yesterday on a four-day visit to Bangladesh.

Zonta International is an international service organisation represented in 67 countries with about 3,3000 women members who are leaders in their business and profession, says a press release.

The organisation is working together to advance the status of women worldwide and to improve their legal, political, economic, education, health and professional status.

During her visit, she will attend the area-02 meeting to be held tomorrow in Dhaka. Later she will visit its Chittagong club.

Prize distribution of IDEB held

Staff Reporter

Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) gave away training workshop certificates to 150 students in six groups yesterday. Students from different parts of the country attended the ceremony.

IDEB distributed certificates on Computer Based Office Management, Hardware Maintain and Troubleshooting, Auto CAD (2d and 3d), Occupational Health Safety and Environment, Modern Automatic Engineer Service (CNG) and Construction Management Course.

Pre announced chief guest Secretary of Ministry of Information Jamil Osman could not attend the meeting. Rafiqul Islam Bhuiya, the president of IDEB, chaired the ceremony.

General Secretary of IDEB Kazi Najrul Islam delivered the vote of thanks. Rafiqul Islam Bhuiya stressed on training for making oneself upto date with modern technology.

Ziaul Karim, on behalf of students, thanked the institution for providing such training programmes. However, he criticised the shortcomings of the institution without elaborating it.

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Condition of Matia Chowdhury stable

UNB, Dhaka

The condition of Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury is stable and out of danger, said the doctors at Ibriahim Cardiac Centre Wednesday night.

She was admitted to Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital on Tuesday following she suffered from pain in the chest. She was later shifted to Ibrahim Cardiac Centre.

Doctors advised her complete rest for four weeks.

Boutique, fashion houses should showcase country's heritage

Staff Reporter

The Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Masayuki Inoue yesterday said that the local boutique and fashion houses should showcase the country's heritage and tradition to draw out its roots.

"It will help to develop the economic condition of the country and project its cultural images," he added.

He mentioned that Nogordola, a handicraft and handloom project of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) is such a house, which is working for the exploration of local cultural heritage. He hoped that Nogordola would continue to contribute for the welfare of the country, he was inaugurating the 2nd outlet of Nogordola, at Banani in the city.

The Japanese Ambassador said his government always encouraged this type of venture and would continue extend its support.

Amanullah Khan, Chairman of UNB and Takashi Asai, First Secretary of Japanese Embassy, were present as special guests on the occasion.

DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam said, "We need to assimmilate our culture with the changing world. It is working for marketing the products of the members of Gonokendra of DAM. DAM has taken this initiative to facilitate, explore and creating opportunity for the handicraft items producers."

Film actress Aruna Biswas, cricket star Habibul Bashar Sumon, popular singer Mehrin, noted athlete Zubera Rahman Linu and model Munmun were also present at the inauguration of new outlet.

A daylong programme was organised to celebrate the inauguration of the outlet. The programmes included fashion show, baul song, magic, performance by snake charmers, bioscope, music by 'Gaanwala' and other rural entertainment. This year Nogordola designed Boishakhi dress, crafts and the design and shape of 'Sandesh,' a traditional sweetmeat of Bangladesh.

During the last one year six expositions were organised by Nogordola to draw the attention of fashion conscious people of the country. This included among others works and fashion designs influenced by the works of eminent artist Quamrul Hasan, ancient 'Kalamkari,' aborigine drawings, traditional folk arts and design of Bengali alphabet.

Italian grant for ultra-poor women

UNB, Dhaka

The Foreign Ministry of Italy has announced a 5-lakh-euro grant for enhancing food consumption and livelihoods of ultra-poor women in Bangladesh, as the country now reels out of natural disasters.

This financial support would be given through World Food Programme (WFP) under a programme 'Enhance Food Consumption and Livelihoods of Ultra Poor Women - Vulnerable Group Development in Bangladesh'.

Newly appointed Italian Ambassador Dr Itala Maria Marta Occhi apprised Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed of the Italian Foreign Ministry's decision during a courtesy call on him at the CA's office On Wednesday morning.

The Ambassador also informed that Ferrero, a world-famous chocolate and food products manufacturing company of Italy, is donating 7 lakh packets of nutritious biscuits worth about 1.5 million US dollars for cyclone 'Sidr' victims.

The company was formally handing over the biscuits to Food and Disaster Ministry yesterday.

The envoy said the Ferrero company would also explore opportunity to invest in Bangladesh, particularly in setting up food-product industries.

Chief Adviser Dr Ahmed said Bangladesh attached great importance to her relations with Italy considering the European country as an important development partner of Bangladesh.

He thanked for Italy's sympathy and assistance for the cyclone-hit people.

He noted that trade volume between Bangladesh and Italy increased significantly recently and pointed out that "there is tremendous scope for direct foreign investment in Bangladesh through availing of the prevailing congenial investment atmosphere and attractive packages of incentives offered by the government for foreign investors".

The CA mentioned that a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates live in Italy, contributing to the economies of both the countries. "Skilled and semi-skilled workers of Bangladesh are law-abiding," he told the new envoy.

The Ambassador thanked Bangladesh for its support for holding World Exposition 2015 (Milan Exposition) in the Italian city of Milan. On election in Bangladesh, Dr Itala Maria expressed satisfaction over the government's efforts and roadmap towards holding the polls. The Chief Adviser said his government is committed to holding a free, fair and acceptable election at the end of this year and the Election Commission is working to that end.

Secretary to the Chief Adviser's office Kazi Aminul Islam and CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim were also present.

Altaf Ali made CHT Affairs Scy

UNB, Dhaka

Sheikh Altaf Ali, officer on special duty (OSD) at the Establishment Ministry, has been appointed secretary of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry, said an official announcement yesterday.

Besides, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner M Aziz Hasan has been appointed Commissioner of Dhaka Division.

5000 Biman officials submit wealth statement

UNB, Dhaka

Over 5,000 officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, both in and out of service, have submitted their wealth statements to the army-led national taskforce against serious crimes.

Sources at the national airlines, now turned into a public limited company, said the taskforce on February 12 asked the Biman officials to submit their wealth statements.

The taskforce, which is under the supervision of the National Coordination Committee on serious crimes and corruption, is now scrutinizing the wealth statements.

"Some of the officials are being questioned over telephone while a few have been asked to provide documents against their wealth statements," a Biman official told UNB.

He said the taskforce would submit the short list of corrupt Biman officials to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for taking necessary action.

According to the Biman sources, some 1,800 members of the Biman, who went into retirement under its Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), would not be left out of the clean-up drive.

The investigators are collecting information about them and will ask them to submit necessary papers and documents to substantiate their wealth statements.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines in the middle of last year offered its employees golden-handshake option under the VRS as part of the government plan to turn the national flag carrier into a public limited company (PLC).

Airline to refund ticket for toddler flying to Bangladesh

UNB, Dhaka

Mohammad Nasiruddin, a cab driver in USA said that US Airways has agreed to refund him $286 he spent buying a new ticket because his baby daughter's name was spelled incorrectly on the first ticket.

Nasiruddin is bringing his 15-month-old daughter, Nafisa Tasnim Sara, to his home country of Bangladesh. Last November, Sara was nearly stabbed to death in her Charlotte home. Police arrested her mother, Selina Akther Shiuli, whom they said killed Sara's six-year-old sister, Nova.

Nasiruddin quit his job as a cab driver to take care of Sara, and said he has now run out of money. He plans to bring her to Bangladesh where his family or in-laws can take care of her. He also plans to return to the United States to work so he can send money to Sara and her caretakers, according to a report by Charlotte.

Com Several readers Tuesday called the Charlotte Observer upset after Nasiruddin said in an interview that he had to buy a new airline ticket because the airline got his daughter's name wrong. He said Wednesday that the airline assured him of refunding the money within 10 to 12 days.

He is flying to Bangladesh on donated frequent flyer miles, and will fly with Sara in his lap. He had to pay $286 in taxes on his ticket, but the airline told him that he will be refunded.

High-power teams to detect tax dodging

UNB, Dhaka

The national Board of Revenue (NBR) has formed four high-power teams to detect tax dodging by big shots.

NBR sources said the special teams would work in addition to the central intelligence cell (CIC) to find evasion of tax, VAT and customs duty by big businesses.

Some 24 officials will form the teams, which will report their findings to the head of CIC.

The step was taken to raise revenue income of the government.

Tk 27.40 lakh snatched from rice trader

UNB, Dhaka

Muggers hacked a rice trader failing to snatch Tk 27.40 lakh from him near Krishi Market of Adabor in the city yesterday afternoon.

Police said the gang, coming in a microbus, intercepted Azizul Haque, 50, owner of Maa Bhandaria Rice Agency of Kushtia when he was going to Islami Bank, Krishi Market branch, for depositing Tk 27.40 lakh.

As Azizul resisted them, the muggers hacked him with sharp weapon indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured at about 2:45pm.

But they had to leave the place with empty hands as local people rushed to the spot hearing the hue and cry of Azizul, who came to the capital to collect money from the wholesalers.

The injured businessman was rushed to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A case was filed with Adabor police station.

Hasina's release is the only solution: Zillur

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday reiterated the demand for immediate release of ailing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina saying her release is the only solution of problem facing the nation.

"Releasing Sheikh Hasina is the only solution of the problems the government faced," said the elderly politician.

He was talking to reporters after giving juice to the Jubo League leaders who observed a token hunger strike at AL central office demanding release of Hasina.

Zillur said leadership of Hasina is essential at this critical time to overcome the situation when the country faced severe food crisis. "I do not see any alternative to her release for overcoming the problem."

AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu and Tofael Ahmed present echoed the voice of Zillur Rahman for unconditional release of Hasina without wasting time.

Suranjit Sengupta asked the government to immediately announce the election schedule and withdraw emergency restoring fundamental rights of the people.

Mukul Bose, Sultan Mohammad Munsur Ahmed, Abdul mannan, Aktaruzzaman, Dr Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, Dr Abdur Razzaq and Abdul Latif Siddeque, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, Dr Mijanur Rahman, Nurunabbi Chowdhury Shawon and Fazlul Huq Atik also spoke.

CID to press charges by month-end for Aug 21 attack

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Criminal Investigation Department will press charges by the end of this month in a case involving the 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally, a top official said yesterday.

"We have almost completed our investigation. We will be able to submit the chargesheet this month," CID chief Javed Patwari told reporters at Bangladesh Police Headquarters.

Unidentified attackers hurled several grenades at the rally outside the Awami League headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue on Aug 21, 2004, leaving at least 22 people dead and hundreds of others wounded.

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack, and AL with its allies had blamed the then ruling BNP-led four party coalition for the attack.

The process of investigations into the grisly political violence has changed course several times since the attack, but the interim government now says it has unearthed the culprits.

The name of radical Islamic group Harkatul Jihad has emerged prominently as being behind the attack, and police have repeatedly claimed that the group's chief Mufti Hannan had admitted that his people conducted the attack.

Inspector general of police Nur Mohammad, who also talked to reporters during Wednesday's briefing, said: "We will take measures against the police officers who had earlier neglected the investigation."

Former BNP MPs demand release of Khaleda

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Former BNP lawmakers yesterday voiced their demand for the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia and other detained leaders to ensure what they said was the credibility of the upcoming national polls.

Speaking on behalf of 126 former BNP lawmakers in a press briefing, the party's joint secretary-general Selima Rahman also called for immediate talks with the caretaker administration.

The former MPs also pressed for the withdrawal of "motivated and false graft cases" filed by the Anticorruption Commission against BNP senior joint secretary-general Tarique Rahman and his wife and mother-in-law.

"We are regularly and officially notifying the government of our demands," Selima told reporters at BNP secretary-general Khandakar Delwar Hossain's home in the city.

"We will consider adopting other measures when the secretary-general returns home if the government proves unwilling to cooperate," she said.

The joint secretary-general alleged the caretaker administration was attempting to "destroy the Zia family" instead of rooting out legitimate cases of corruption.

"We want to see democracy re-established through fair elections, but the government must first free our party chairperson in a dignified way," she said.