The New Nation - Internet Edition

Low over north Andaman Sea moved north-northwestwards

UNB, Dhaka

The low formed over north Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay, Wednesday moved north-northwestwards and now (6am) lies over southwestern part of Myanmar and adjoining north Andaman Sea.

"It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction," said a Met office special bulletin on the low, 11 days after a terrible cyclone, codenamed 'Nargis', blew over the Bay into Myanmar. "Under the influence of the well-marked low, deep convection is taking place over the North Bay. Squally weather may affect the maritime ports," the Met office warned.

Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three. All fishing-boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and "proceed with caution till further notice".

The tropical storm 'Nargis' that developed on April 27 over the central area of the Bay of Bengal hit Myanmar on May 3, leaving at least 28,458 people dead by the latest count.

Foreign Adviser condemns bomb blasts in India

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury strongly condemned the bomb explosions in Jaipur, India that led to so many deaths and injuries.

"It was a mindless and shameful act that deserves condemnation in the strongest terms," he said.

The Advisor said "Our hearts go out to the families of the victims and sympathies to the Indian authorities."

He said "these are terrorists who have done this sordid and heinous deeds, and terrorists have no boundaries."

When his attention was drawn to news items in the Indian media that Bangladesh based HuJI may be involved, the Advisor said "The media should not jump to conclusions before thorough investigation are conducted."

Bangladesh-Algeria bilateral trade to expand: Iftekhar

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Wednesday received the Algerian envoy resident in Islamabad and accredited to Bangladesh, Ambassador Nadir Larbaoui, at the Foreign Ministry.

The Ambassador discussed matters of mutual interest including the need and possibility to expand trade.

The Advisor said the Algerians have a huge foreign exchange reserve and they import goods worth nearly US $7 billion annually. "We agreed that some of these imports could come from Bangladesh. I have advised him to talk to our business community, which he will." They also discussed the evolving political situation in Pakistan, where the Ambassador is located and a country that the Foreign Adviser visited recently.

UNB joins AMIC portal for youth

UNB, Dhaka

United News of Bangladesh (UNB), the independent news agency, has forged a partnership with the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), a Singapore-based media research institute, to launch a global portal for students of journalism and communication.

This portal called 'AMIC Young Communicators Network (AYCN)' aims to provide a platform for students to voice their opinions on global contemporary issues.

Through the AYCN, a digital platform has been produced that will bring together students of journalism worldwide, said an AMIC press release.

UNB was the first to commit and come onboard this project as a partner and sponsor to foster youth and new media.

Taskforce starts probe into graft of hajj agencies

UNB, Dhaka

A special taskforce of the National Coordination Committee launched probe into suspected irregularities and corruption in hajj agencies, as part of the ongoing countrywide purge in the interim period.

The investigators yesterday collected relevant papers from the Religious Affairs Ministry and started off the investigation process.

An official announcement said as per recommendation of the Religious Ministry, the army-led National Coordination Committee on Tuesday formed the taskforce under the auspices of its Dhaka City Committee-2 for conducting the investigation and recommending measures against the alleged corrupt practice by the hajj agencies.

The taskforce has to submit its report along with its opinions and recommendations by June 30.

"The government has received complaints about a number of hajj agencies for harassing hajj pilgrims during the hajj in the previous years," said the official handout.

The hajjis who performed hajj in the previous years and have complaints against any hajj agencies have been requested to contact Room No-20, Block No-2, MP Hostel, National Parliament, or call 01711-248589, 01556-351923 and 01912-396090 between 9am and 5pm.

ACC files 2 more graft cases against Khaleda's aide

UNB, Bogra

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed two more graft cases against Dr Firoz Mahmud Iqbal, assignment officer to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and two engineers of LGED and Roads and Highways Department under the Emergency Powers Rules.

ACC Assistant Director Abdul Based filed the cases against Firoz and the then executive engineers Sardar Anisur and Habibur Rahman of LGED and Roads and Highways Department respectively with Shibganj thana on Tuesday evening.

According to the ACC, Firoz and the engineers took Tk 1.47 crore in bribe from contractors of the two departments during 2005-06 fiscal year in connivance with one another.

After preliminary investigations, the anti-graft watchdog found their involvement in the bribery and filed the cases against them under three sections-CrPc 109, Anti-Corruption Act 5 (2) and rule 15 of the EPR.

According to another source, Firoz and Anisur Rahman misappropriated Tk 23.88 lakh of LGED showing "forged documents of a fake project".

Besides, they were charged with taking fuel worth Tk 73,628 of the government for a microbus of Aliarhat Rokeya-Sattar School, thus causing a huge loss to state exchequer.

On Tuesday, a special court sentenced Firoz Mahnud Iqbal, to 10 years while his wife to three years imprisonment in a graft case.

Besides, the court fined him Tk 10 lakh and also ordered confiscation of Iqbal's wealth worth about Tk 1.74 crore to the state coffers as it found Iqbal guilty on two counts-for amassing wealth illegally and for concealing information about his wealth in the statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Earlier, in November last year, a similar special anti-graft court had jailed Iqbal for three years for non-submission of his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

However, Iqbal is being tried in absentia as he has been on the run since a purge was launched in the interim period against corruption in high places.

4 terrors held with arms in city

UNB, Dhaka

Police arrested four suspected terrors, including a listed one, along with firearms and ammunition in the city's Badda area on Tuesday night under a special drive now underway in the capital.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided 'Sheikh Monjil' at Cha-43, North Badda, and arrested Akil Mahmud Babu alias Dano Babu, 28, and Maruf from the house at about 10pm. They also recovered a US-made revolver and ammunition from their possession, police said.Dano Babu, son of a retired army corporal, told reporters that he was arms carrier of the gang of 'shooter' Siraj, Chanchal and Kawser in Dhaka's underworld.

The gang is divided into three special teams. The teams are shooting team, gunrunning team and arms recovery team who used to recover firearms from the spot after completing their killing mission in the city.

"Most of the time, I carried the firearms of Siraj who is an active member of the shooting team," said Dano Babu, a talent-turned terror.

He was a brilliant student as he passed the SSC examination in 1998 with star marks from Government Science College in the capital, completed HSC with first division from Adamjee Cantonment College and did his MBA from AIUB University in 2006 after completing his graduation from Titumir Govt. College.

Babu said he got involved in the crime world while he was studying MBA.

Meanwhile, another team of Badda police station reined in two more young terror suspects-Mehedi Hasan Babu, 18, and Tariqul Islam Tarique, 19--from Zheelpar area of South Badda while they were "preparing to commit crime" at about 9pm.

Two foreign-made firearms loaded with bullets were recovered from their possession, police said.

Following the arrests, DMP Commissioner Nayem Ahmed told reporters that policemen were ordered to nab illegal arms- holders as, for the last several days, some shooting incidents had taken place in the city. "Under the ongoing drives against gunmen, the police arrested them."

The DMP Commissioner also urged all the guardians to look after their sons closely so that their brilliant kids could not go to the dogs for bad company.