The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasina taken to hospital to check 'ear pain'

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was taken to Square Hospital yesterday afternoon after she complained of ear pain, a senior prisons official said.

Professor Sanwar Hossain, who heads the doctors' panel at Square Hosital responsible for treating Hasina, told bdnews24.com: "Sheikh Hasina was brought to the hospital at 4.35 pm."

Deputy inspector general of prisons Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said Hasina would be taken back to the special jail Thursday after treatment.

Removal of VCs, Pro-VCs, Treasurers

UNB, Dhaka

Some 181 Dhaka University teachers yesterday demanded immediate removal of the Vice Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors and Treasurers appointed to different universities on political considerations by the four-party alliance government.

In a joint statement, they said those appointed on political considerations are still there and some of them have been promoted.

"They kept indulging in corruption, politicisation, nepotism," the statement said urging the government to remove them and appoint acceptable and honest persons to the posts.

The DU teachers also demanded the government take legal actions against those who have already been identified as corrupts.

The signatories to the statement included Dr Harun-ar-Rashid, Prof Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Dr M Wahiduzzaman, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique and Prof Mohammad Anwar Hossain.

Indian visa office to remain open Saturday

UNB, Dhaka

To facilitate travel on the 'Maitree Express', which begins its inaugural run between Dhaka and Kolkata on April 14, the Indian High Commission's visa office will be kept open on Saturday.

This facility will be only for the individuals wishing to travel on the inaugural run of 'Maitree Express', said a press release.

Visa applications may be deposited at the IVAC (Indian Visa Application Centre) from 0800 hrs to 1000 hrs. Passports can be collected between 1200- 1400 hrs the same day.

Kamal Majumder's wife granted bail

UNB, Dhaka

A special court yesterday granted bail to Shahida Kamal who is facing a graft case along with his detained husband former Awami League MP Kamal Ahmed Majumder.

Two days ago on April 8, Shahida was sent to jail after she surrendered to the same court in link with the graft case.

Meanwhile, the charge hearing on the graft case against the couple could not take place today, as Kamal Majumder was not produced before the court due to his illness, court sources said.

Later, the court, following a prosecution time prayer, deferred the charge hearing to April 16.

On September 24, last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing the couple of concealing information about their wealth and amassing wealth illegally worth Tk 10.23 crore.

Kamal's wife was implicated on charge of aiding and abetting her husband in protecting the ill-gotten wealth.

Extend help for curbing militants:RAB DG

UNB, Rajshahi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Hasan Mahmud Khandokar yesterday sought cooperation from all for curbing militants.

Militants would be curbed with the cooperation of all, including social leaders and public representatives, he said talking to reporters at RAB-5 office at Science and Industrial Research Centre at noon.

He said there is no reason of self-satisfaction about the ongoing successful operations of RAB against militants, because the militants have not yet been uprooted.

Referring to the activities of RAB, the elite force chief said its performances are satisfactory till now.

He said efforts are being taken to make the elite force more effective. "Efforts are underway to collect necessary vehicles and training for RAB's operation in water and air ways".

Rajshahi Range DIG Mokhlesur Rahman, Rajshahi Police Commissioner Mahbub Mohsin, Major Rashid of RAB and other senior police and RAB officials were present on the occasion.

Police SI dismissed from service for extorting bribe

UNB, Thakurgaon

Police sub-inspector Shamsuzzaman of Ruiya outpost under Kotwali thana has been dismissed from service for extorting bribe.

Confirming the dismissal, Police Super AKM Iqbal Hossain said the action against Shamsuzzaman was taken under the police ordinance.

Joint forces arrested Shamsuzzaman on Feb 15 while taking Tk 5,000 as bribe from shopkeeper Shaherul with promise of favouring him in a case he was accused.

He was suspended and closed to the police lines the same day.

FBCCI president ask traders to keep price of essentials at tolerable level

UNB, Sylhet

FBCCI president Anisul Haque has urged the businessmen to keep price of essentials at a tolerable level.

He was meeting with leaders of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Sylhet Chamber Bhaban yesterday.

Acting president of Sylhet Chamber Nasim Hossain informed the apex body chief that they were trying to establish a sepecial industrial zone in Sylhet. But they could not make headway due to bureaucratic complexity.

Nasim requested FBCCI president to exert his influence for early removal of the impediments in setting up the industrial zone in Sylhet.

He said expatriates use to send money in millions to Sylhet, which could be invested in productive purpose if the industrial zone comes up.

FBCCI president assured his active support in setting up the industrial zone in Sylhet.

Speaker leaves for attending IPU Assembly

UNB, Dhaka

Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar on Thursday morning left for Cape Town in South Africa to attend the

six-day 118th Assembly of Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) beginning April 13.

The Speaker, who is leading a four-member delegation, will attend a two-day executive committee meeting tomorrow (Friday) and Asia-Pacific Group meeting of IPU on Sunday.

In Assembly's general meeting, Sircar will deliver lecture on combined efforts for poverty alleviation in world's political, economic and social context.

Make treasury self-sufficient by paying takes NBR chairman

UNB, Kishoreganj

NBR chairman and secretary to the Internal Resources Division Mohammad Abdul Majid called upon people to make the state treasury self-sufficient by paying taxes. "We don't want to go begging to anyone anymore, we want to make our country self-reliant," he said addressing an income-tax return and view-exchange meeting at Atithi Community Centre in the town Thursday. Commissioner of Tax Zone 5 Kalipad Halder chaired the meeting. The NBR chief appealed to all to use homegrown commodities by shunning the liking for foreign-made goods.

Allaying apprehension of the taxpayers, the NBR boss said that the matter of giving tax would be made easier and tolerable from now on. He declared to honour voluntary taxpayers by giving separate card. Fifty-five new taxpayers in six upazilas of the district voluntarily submitted their income-tax return on the occasion.

More 482 taxpayers would submit their return in the next tax season, as the tax net is being cast wide to cover the grassroots taxable people.

Belgium supports electoral roadmap

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received newly appointed Belgian envoy concurrently accredited to Bangladesh Ambassador Jean M. Deboutte at the Foreign Ministry Thursday.

They discussed economic and political relations and the means of expanding them.

Chowdhury said Belgium is an important member of the European Union that has been a partner in Bangladesh's development. He said the also very supportive of the electoral roadmap in Bangladesh.