The New Nation - Internet Edition

Arrest warrant against former ministers in Gatco case: Saifur, Nizami, Bhuiyan among 12 'fugitives’

Begum Khaleda Zia, M Saifur Rahman, Motiur Rahman
Nizam, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan (top), M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar
and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Staff Reporter

A Court in Dhaka city issued warrant of arrest against 12 'absconding' accused in the GATCO scam case, including six senior ministers of the immediate past BNP-led four-party alliance Government, while 10 others, including the detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and her youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko were shown arrested in the case.

The senior ministers, who were shown as 'fugitive' are-former Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, former LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, former Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former Agriculture Minister MK Anwar of the BNP and former Industries Minister and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami.

Of the seven 'fugitive' senior ministers-M Saifur Rahman and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury are staying in Singapore, while others at their respective residences in the capital.

Besides, senior BNP leader and former Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, who are also facing trial

on a number of separate corruption charges like BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, were also shown arrested in the case.

The other 'fugitives' are-Jahanara Akbar, the wife of the late Shipping Minister Col Akbar Hossain, former Shipping Secretary Zulfiqar Haider Chowdhury, former Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority AK Rashid Uddin Ahmed, Directors of Gatco A Hasib, AK Musa Kazal and Ehsan Yusuf.

When asked, a senior official of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) the law enforcers would act after getting the directives of the Court.

Issuing the warrant of arrest against those 'absconding', as Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Johirul Huda sought for it, the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in the capital fixed May 22 for producing the arrested and fugitive accused of the case before the Court.

Coincidently the May 22 is also earmarked for the beginning of much-talked about formal dialogue between Caretaker Government and the political parties. Begum Khaleda Zia and Maulan Matiur Rahman Nizami lead two of the countries four major political parties-the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami respectively as those parties Chiefs.

Passing the order following the plea made by ACC) Deputy Director Johirul Huda, also the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case, Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Azizul Haque asked the law enforcement agencies to produce the arrested and fugitives before his Court on May 22.

The ACC Deputy Director appealed to the Court for issuing warrants of arrest against the fugitives and to attach their property.

Earlier on Tuesday (May 13), the ACC pressed charges against detained former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, two are also in jail, and 22 others in the graft case for causing Tk 14 crore loss to the state by illegally awarding container handling to Gatco, a private business firm.

The ACC filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station in the capital on September 2 last year against 13, including Begum Zia and her son, on charge of graft in awarding Gatco the contract for container handling at depots in Dhaka and Chittagong, which it claimed to have caused a loss to the state to the tune of Tk 1,000 crore.

The following day (September 3 last year), the Army-led Joint Forces arrested Begum Zia and her son Arafat Rahman Koko from their residence inside Dhaka Cantonment, as part a crackdown against the prominent corruption suspects.

In the charge-sheet the ACC alleged that the high-profile accused "caused a loss of over Tk 14 crore to the public exchequer" by striking the container-handling deal with the Greenhorn Company (Gatco) despite its lack of experience and skills to do the job.

The allegation has it that they awarded the deal through "misuse of power and violating the tender conditions in collaboration with one another".

Meanwhile, two separate High Court Division Benches yesterday rejected to entertain ad interim bail petition by two former senior ministers-M Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar. One of the Benches, however, advised them to file the petition tomorrow (on Saturday), the day for regular bail petition.

MK Anwar and M Shamsul Islam failed to get their separate motions accepted for anticipatory bail after surrendering to the two separate High Court Division Benches, but the judges did not entertain the pleas.

Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol, a counsel for the two former Ministers, told journalists that he moved the petitions in two separate High Court Division Benches, but was "disappointed".

One Division Bench headed by Justice Khondker Musa Khaled refused to accept the motion for hearing and the other bench headed by M Mozammel Hossain did not pay heed to it on grounds of preoccupation for disposal of the day's scheduled cases, the lawyer said.

The second Bench, however, advised the counsel to move the petitions next Sunday, the regular motion day, he added.

Fake admission ring busted at DU

DU Correspondent

A syndicate involved in giving fake admission to students in Dhaka University was identified when a student came to an officer of the accounts section at the Registrar Building to get back his 'deal money' as his admission was cancelled.

The office staff belonging to the syndicate yesterday detained the student when he asked for his money. Being informed earlier, University-based journalists of different dailies, who were present near the office rescued the student from his captors and handed him over to the Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz.

The student disclosed all about his admission process and presented documents in this regard to the VC where Pro VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider and Treasurer Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad were also present.

The student-Mohammad Abdul Alim in collaboration with Kazi Jahirul Islam, officer of the accounts section Room No-225, took admission at the Management Department of the university under the quota of Muktijoddha for the 2004-05 session.

Sources said Prof Abu Saleh, Chairman of Management Department, earlier told the student to show his original Freedom Fighter certificate, otherwise his admission would be cancelled. When informed of the matter the officer in question told him not to worry.

Earlier, the University authority cancelled the admission of 216 students of different departments of the university especially from Public Administration Department for fake admission.

The VC assured the waiting journalists that he would take proper steps to find out the real culprit, so that the accused could not go unpunished.

Meanwhile, Abdul Alim filed a general diary No-1041 with Shahbagh Police Station yesterday against Kazi Jahirul Islam and his two associates Murad Hossain Manik and Aminul Islam Chowdhury Montu.

The student said he gave Kazi Jahirul Islam Tk 1,50,000 for admission at first and later, he gave another Tk 1,50,000, when Jahirul insisted that his admission will be cancelled, if he fails to provide the amount.

Pro VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider thanked the student for giving the information and told the journalists that he will call an emergency meeting of the fact-finding committee on Sunday.

SCBA observes court boycott programme

A section of lawyers led by the Supreme Court Bar
Association observing court boycott programme (left) at the
Appellate Division while lawyers led by Khandoker Mahbub
Hossain, Vice-President of the Bangladesh Bar Council,
attended the function of the cou

Staff Reporter

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) yesterday observed 2-hour court boycott programme in protest against what it called a series of 'highly controversial' rulings of the court that validated the unassailable Emergency Power Rules (EPR) in denial of the right to bail of an accused facing trial under the EPR

However, a group of general lawyers attended the court ignoring the boycott call of the SCBA earlier.

The boycott programme partially disrupted the proceedings of the Appellate Division since many of lawyers did not take part in the court proceedings.

According to sources in the apex court, a total of 36 applications, mostly National Board of Revenue (NBR) and customs cases, were on the cause list for hearing yesterday.

Of them, 25 applications were heard but no verdict was delivered, the sources said. The court fixed new dates for hearing on the applications, as the lawyers for the opposite sides refrained from attending the court proceedings.

Following the programme, SCBA president Barrister Shafique Ahmed told reporters that the court-boycott programme was successfully observed by the lawyers at the call of the association.

He termed yesterday's cause list manipulated alleging that it was prepared for accommodating the state attorneys in a bid to foil the boycott programme.

The bar leader said those lawyers who at the behest of a vested quarter acted against the unanimous decision of the SCBA would come under a close scrutiny and disciplinary action would be taken against them after an inquiry.

Bangladesh emerges as shipbuilding nation: Ocean-going ship handed over to Denmark

Ananda Shipyard handed over its first ship 'Stella
Maris' to the Danish buyer yesterday. The naming ceremony of
the first ship, a 2900 DWT multipurpose vessel took place at
the Ananda Shipyard yesterday. Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman,
Adviser for Industries a

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh embarked upon a new era in the country's foreign trade history with the export of its first ocean-going ship to Denmark.

Local ship building pioneer Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Limited handed over the 2900 dead weight tonnes (DWT) multipurpose ship at an order price of US$7 million to its Danish buyer in a ceremony at its shipyard at Meghnaghat in Narayanganj yesterday.

"The Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd has created history for the country," said Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Adviser for Industries and Education at the ceremony while speaking as the chief guest.

"This ship is a prime example of what we are now able to do. Through the vessel, Bangladesh will officially become an ocean-going shipbuilding nation. It has put Bangladesh on the global shipbuilding arena," he said.

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman underscored the need for the public and private partnership for boosting up the shipbuilding industry in the country.

"The government has assured to provide its support for export based shipbuilding industry," he further said.

Dr Md Nurul Amin, Secretary for Industries Ministry, who attended the ceremony as special guest, said the government will soon declare the ship building sector as an industry.

The Secretary found enormous potentiality in this sector as labour cost in Bangladesh is lower than other shipbuilding nations.

Einer H. Jensen, Ambassador to Denmark, who was also present on the occasion, said, "I was really surprised when I first heard that Bangladesh is going to build a ship to export to Denmark."

"But now it is real. Denmark is delighted to be a part of this development where Danish shipping interest recently have discovered the potential of the Bangladeshi shipyard industry," he said.

Dr Abdullahhel Bari, Chairman of Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd, said, "We took order from Stella Maris Shipping of Denmark for the construction of the ship on September 30, 2005 and have built the ship months before the delivery deadline."

The ship would be able to carry 3000 tonnes of cargo and would ply in the icy seawaters of Europe.

Dr Bari said, the export of the country's first ship would send a big positive signal to the shipping companies, who are looking for new manufacturing destinations to build small vessels, as traditional ship building nations have almost stopped constructing them.

"Our shipbuilding companies have already fetched orders worth around 1550 crore to build 24 ships and the export of the first ship will pave the way for more orders for the companies," Bari said, adding his company has already received Tk 200 core in this regard.

The Ananda Shipyard chairman said shipbuilding would emerge as the next major industry after garments in the country, with the country expected to export ships worth $10 billion by 2020.

Already, two more companies--Western Marine and Highspeed-- have joined Ananda in receiving orders to build ships for European buyers.

At least three more companies are building slipways and shipyards and would be ready for manufacturing vessels by yearend. Several others have expressed their interest to join the potentially lucrative industry.

"Not since the first half of 19th century has Bangladesh been in the business of producing ships for global buyers. It was my 25 years dream to see Bangladesh as a shipbuilding nation. Now it is going to happen," said Mrs Afruja Bari, Managing Director of Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd.

She said the company is now building ships for Denmark, Germany and Mozambique, adding, "We have already enhanced our capacity three times owing to the increased orders."

Among others, Chairman of the Stella Shipping Denmark Jan Fabricius, Executive President of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd M Farid Uddin Ahmed, Managing Director of Basic Bank Ltd Dr AH Ekbal Hossain, Managing Director of Germanischer Lloyd Bangladesh Ltd Chowdhury F Zaman and former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET) Professor Dr MH Khan spoke at the function.

Farakka Day today

Staff Reporter

The historic Farakka day will be observed today across the country.

On this day in 1976, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani led a long march toward Farakka to ensure the right of water of the river Ganges for Bangladesh.

Different socio-political organisations have chalked out separate programmes to observe the day.

Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) will arrange a discussion meeting at Jatiya Press Club this afternoon while National Peoples' party will hold discussion at the Diploma Engineers Institute today.

Labour chaos in ME countries bars: Bangladesh’s remittance flow

Staff Reporter

The recent labour turbulence in the Middle Eastern countries has cast a negative effect on Bangladesh's remittance inflow in April which was US$8.72 million less than that of March this year, Bangladesh Bank sources said yesterday.

The country received US$800.20 million in remittances from expatriate workers in April, up 47.2 per cent from a year ago but down from a record high of US$808.72 million in March, Bangladesh Bank sources added.

In the last few months Bangladeshi expatriates in Middle Eastern countries have been facing immense troubles, as the law enforcers in those nations were tough on them. Police were arresting and deporting Bangladeshi workers without any cause.

The newcomers in Middle Eastern countries were also facing problem to get job as some of the vested quarters were cheating them. Bangladeshi labourers in Kuwait, Malaysia, KSA and UAE faced the problem.

During the first 10 months of the Fiscal Year 2007-08, remittances from more than 5 million Bangladeshis working abroad totalled US$6.45 billion which is 31 per cent higher than the corresponding period of previous fiscal.

Officials said booming economies in the Middle East and the Gulf region, ageing population in European countries and rising skills of Bangladeshi workers were pushing up a demand for Bangladeshi labour.

Remittances hit a record US$5.98 billion in the FY 2006-07, 24.52 per cent higher than the previous fiscal.

The central bank expects the inflow of remittance to touch an annual US$10 billion over the next one year, boosting a key source of foreign exchange for the country.

It has been making vigorous efforts to encourage expatriates to send money home through legal channels, officials said.

The majority of the expats work in the Middle East, the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Remittances from Bangladeshis are the country's second biggest source of foreign income after ready-made garments, which earned more than US$9 billion in FY 2006-07.

Boucher in congressional hearing on Bangladesh: US to double aid for democracy, governance

UNB, Dhaka

The United States government is going to significantly increase fund and assistance for democracy and governance in Bangladesh in the year 2009. This was conveyed to the Congress by US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A Boucher while appearing before the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs sub-committee on South Asia on Wednesday, according to a message received here today. Boucher and Mark S Ward, Senior Deputy Assistant of Administration for the Asia of USAID, appeared before the sub-committee for hearing on "US assistance to South Asia: is there a strategy to go with all that money?"

Boucher said: "In anticipation of a transition to a democratic government in Bangladesh following elections scheduled for December, our 2009 budget requests $US 21 million in support of democracy and governance programmes, more than double the 2008 enacted level."

This additional funding, he added, will help to promote comprehensive anti-corruption reforms, strengthen the government institutions, particularly at the local level; and support democratic political party development.

In response to a question from the chair, Boucher informed the House that US wants to see lifting of emergency before the election so that people can freely participate in the upcoming election. Congressman Pence (R-IN), Ranking Member of the Committee, earlier requested the US officials to rectify the inconsistencies in the US policy for foreign assistance.

Congressman Pence particularly referred to the instance of Bangladesh where US government provides an annual assistance of about 80 million while taking away more than 500 million as tariff from Bangladesh's export.

He noted that this is an example of disconnect between US foreign assistance and Foreign Policy adjectives and urged the administration to rectify this.

Mark S Ward informed the Congress that the US government is also planning to increase funding for further good governance reform initiatives that "build upon positive steps taken by Bangladesh's 2007 caretaker government."

Referring to recent cyclone in a neighbouring country, he highly appreciated the disaster preparedness and post-disaster recovery of Bangladesh.

Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY), who chaired the hearing session, noted Bangladesh's transition and acknowledged caretaker government's initiative like government's recent decision to allow indoor political gathering.

However, he expressed his hope that further steps will be taken to facilitate a democratic and legitimate election in Bangladesh.

Anwar, Shamsul’s bail prayers not entertained

UNB, Dhaka

Two wanted former senior ministers Thursday moved from court to court for High Court bail in the Gatco scam case to avert arrest, but to no avail.

MK Anwar and M Shamsul Islam failed to get their separate motions accepted for anticipatory bail after surrendering to the higher court, but the judges evidently gave the bigwigs the cold shoulder. Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol, a counsel for the two BNP stalwarts, told UNB that he invoked the motions in two separate division benches, but was "disappointed".

One division bench headed by Justice Khondker Musa Khaled refused to accept the motion for hearing and the other bench headed by M Mozammel Hossain did not pay heed to it on grounds of preoccupation for disposal of today's prescheduled cases, the lawyer said. The second bench, however, advised the counsel to move the petitions next Sunday, the regular motion day, he added.

Anwar and Shamsul Islam are among the top-echelon ministers of the past BNP-led coalition government against whom a metropolitan court on Thursday issued arrest warrants in the GATCO scam case.

US wants Bangladesh move to election, says Moriarty

UNB, Dhaka

US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty Thursday expressed the hope that general elections in Bangladesh would be held in such a way that all political parties could participate.

Talking to reporters after an hour-long meeting with the Foreign Adviser, he termed the Chief Adviser's announcement of the election date as positive.

"We welcome any step towards democracy. We want to see the country moves to an election," Moriarty said.

Asked about lifting of the state of emergency, he said the government has taken the initial step and "more steps need to be taken." To another question, he replied: "I wouldn't dream of getting involved in your internal affairs."

Moriarty, who handed over to the Foreign Adviser a letter of Secretary Rice, said: "Yes, it was on bilateral relationship. We are looking at specific questions in the international community." He said Washington seeks Bangladesh's support on a number questions including the US candidature to IOM and independence of Kosovo.

In reply to a question, the Ambassador said the Bangladesh government will make its own decision, "but we've broad base support from Bangladesh."

"We're doing normal diplomatic work as good friends do," he said, adding it was "a very good working conversation." About Bangladeshi textile exports to the US, Moriarty said there was a tremendous growth in RMG export, which he would like to see continue and the good news is "exports are growing dramatically."

Death of farmer in police custody triggers clash: 15 hurt in Cox's Bazar

UNB, Cox's Bazar

At least 15 people, including the OC of Chakaria thana, were injured in a clash between local people and police yesterday morning over the death of a farmer due to torture allegedly by police.

Angered by the death of farmer Sirajul Islam, 52, local people laid a siege to Chakaria thana in the morning, triggering a chase and counter chase.

Witnesses said the angry people also threw brickbats on policemen during the chase and counter chase that continued for about 4 hours, injuring the 15 people.

Locals alleged that Shah Alam, a manpower agent,

took Tk 3 lakh from two youths-Nurul Amin, Sirajul's son, and his friend Kafiluddin- three years ago with a promise to send them to Malaysia.

As Shah Alam failed to make arrangements to send the youths to Malaysia, they demanded immediate return of their money.

On May 12, the youths caught Shah Alam and handed him over to the local UP chairman. Chakaria thana police later sat in an arbitration meeting Wednesday night to resolve the matter.

Locals alleged that SI Hafiz beat up the two youths mercilessly at one stage of altercation. As Sirajul Islam stood in protest, the SI also beat up him with his rifle, they said.

Sirajul was first taken to Chakaria hospital and then was being moved to Chittagong Thursday midnight. But he died on the way.

Sirajul's son Mohammad Kalu later filed a murder case with Chakaria judicial court against Chakaria thana OC Ruhul Amin Siddique, SI Hafiz and manpower agent Shah Alam.

When contacted, Cox's Bazar additional police super Imam Hossain said the death of the farmer in police torture is false as there was no mark of torture on his body as per the postmortem and spot reports.

Unknown Islamic group threatens more blasts in India

AFP, Jaipur

A previously-unknown Islamic group claimed responsibility for a string of bombings that killed 63 people and warned of more attacks on Indian tourist targets, officials said on Thursday.

Gulab Chand Kataria, home minister of the northern state of Rajasthan of which Jaipur is the capital, told AFP police were investigating the claim made in a video clip emailed to several media organisations.

The "Indian Mujahideen is waging an open war against the country for supporting the United States and the United Kingdom on international issues," the email said.

"India should stop supporting the United States t and if you do continue then get ready to face more attacks at other important tourist places," it warned.

Kataria added that the clip also showed a few seconds of a bicycle purportedly packed with explosives which was later set off at one of the eight blast locations in Jaipur .

"It's a post-dated email and it was sent after the attacks claiming 'we did it' and we are trying to verify whether it is the source or a false claim," Jaipur police chief Pankaj Singh told AFP.

Police said the email was sent from a Internet cafe in Sahibabad town, close to New Delhi, and added the account was created Wednesday, using the British domain of Yahoo!

Sahibabad detectives detained the owner of the cafe for questioning on Thursday.

Muslim quarters in Jaipur meanwhile remained shuttered as Rajasthan's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party called a dawn-to-dusk protest strike and police extended a curfew for the second straight day.

The lanes on either side of a Hindu temple which India's ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi visited Thursday were largely deserted.

Doors were bolted and strangers had to knock to be let in-something that residents say almost never happens here.

"The doors on this street are usually open till one in the morning," said Shaheen Sazid, 30. "But everyone is afraid. The kid are not sleeping."

Sazid's house, like many in this city, is in mourning-one of her nieces is in hospital. Another was buried Wednesday.

The two sisters, 12-year-old Irma and 14-year-old Alina Maruf, had gone to buy yoghurt when a bomb went off in front of the temple a few doors from their home.

The bombs, planted on bicycles, went off Tuesday night over a span of just 12 minutes at crowded markets and close to several Hindu temples in the city, 260 kilometres (160 miles) west of the Indian capital

Some 216 people were wounded in what police said was the first "terror" attack in the Rajasthan state capital.

About 200 people have been detained for questioning, police said. Among them were one of the wounded and a rickshaw puller.

State chief minister Vasundhara Raje said two suspects had been arrested and that explosives and ammonium nitrate mixed with steel balls were wired to timing devices and detonated at the blast sites.

Detectives released a sketch on Wednesday night of a suspect that they wanted to interview.

India's junior home minister Shriprakash Jaiswal told reporters "the people responsible for these attacks have foreign connections," without naming Pakistan.

Pakistan-based Islamic militants fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir are usually blamed for such attacks which have plagued India for years.

Non-govt primary teachers plan 8-point demand

Staff Reporter

The Non government primary teachers will go for massive movement if the Government fails to fulfil their demands before the announcement of the national budget, said the leaders of Bangladesh Non Government Primary Teachers' Association at a pres conference at the auditorium of Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association yesterday.

They placed eight-point demand, which includes payment of full-scale honorarium for the headmasters, fixing of 40 per cent house rent of basic salary, increase in salary by 100 per cent instead of 95 per cent, introduction of annual increment and time scale, awarding higher scale to the assistant

teachers, suspension of the decision of re-examination of teachers who were recruited during 1974-1992 period, raising of festival allowance and payment of retirement allowance similar to the government primary teachers.

Addressing the press conference, Abdur Rahman Bacchu, Secretary General of the association said a team of 21 members of the association met with Reshada K Chowdhury, Adviser to the Primary and Mass Education Ministry to the Caretaker Government, on April 5 to talk about their problems. She assured the teachers to fulfil their demands. But she has not taken any initiative in this respect, he added.

Narir Uddin Ahmed, Acting President, Jalil Shikder, Vice-President, Sharbessar Saha, Treasurer of the association, also spoke at the press conference.

RU VC Altaf Hossain removed

RU Correspondent

Prof Dr Altaf Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University was removed from his post on Thursday.

On Thursday Education Ministry circulated a hand-note, which mentioned that RU VC Prof Dr Altaf Hossain had been removed from his post for public interest.

The letter also mentioned that according to Rajshahi University Act 1973, Section 11(2), the President also the Chancellor of RU appointed RU Pro-VC Prof Dr Mamnunul Keramat as acting Vice Chancellor with immediate effect.

The circular was signed by Md Rois Uddin, Deputy Secretary of Education Ministry (University -2).

Hearing the news, several hundred senior teachers, many faculty deans, department chairmen and officials gathered at the residence of RU VC Prof Altaf.

Campus sources said, the Education Ministry circular reached RU VC office at around 6:45pm.

RU VC office secretary Enamul Haque received the circular and rushed to Prof Altaf's residence.

Later, Prof Altaf called an emergency meeting of the faculty deans and university high officials and discussed the matter at his campus residence.

When contacted newly appointed acting VC Prof Keramat confirmed the news and said, "I cannot say anything about the matter at this time."

When contacted former RU VC Prof Altaf Hossain told newsman that the Government took the decision for the greater interest of the nation.

Prof Altaf Hossain joined as Vice Chancellor on June 5 in 2005 and Prof Mamnunul Keramat joined as Pro-VC on the same day.

General lawyers attend court, claims Mahbub

Staff Reporter

Advocate Khondker Mahbub Hossain, who led the general lawyers opposing the SCBA decision, told reporters that general lawyers, attending the apex court yesterday defying the SCBA decision, proved that they do not support the court boycott programme.

Emerging from the Appellate Division, he said those who took part in the hearing yesterday were general lawyers.

He said not allowing bail under the Emergency Power Rules and programme of court boycott cannot be supported.

Khondker Mahbub Hossain criticised the SCBA leaders to take the decision of court boycott programme keeping most of the lawyers in the dark.

Of 3,500 lawyers, most were unaware about the boycott programme, he said.

He alleged that the SCBA declared the court boycott programme from an emergency meeting only on two-hour notice.

Khondker Mahbub Hossain said the apex court functioned yesterday normally as general lawyers did not support the court boycott programme.

He said general lawyers do not want to see anarchy in the court premises to protect the interest of a vested quarter.

He suggested the SCBA leaders to take the opinion of the general lawyers before taking such programme.

Signs of turmoil in Hill districts

Mamunur Rashid back from Sajack of Rangamati

The Sajack forest area of Rangamati appears to be a safe haven for members of Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), the rebel groups engaged in subversive activities.

Recently, members of both the groups burnt down 132 houses, including 89 belonging to Bengalis in the area. The inhabitants ran to surrounding forests during the attack in which few tribal people were also injured.

Bengali villagers, including women and children, were beaten up in the attack and their belongings looted, witnesses said.

Source said the JSS and UPDF launched the attack at 9:30 PM on April 20. About two thousand tribal people wearing black masks gathered in the area. With the blow of a whistle the militants set a fire to the houses. Within a short time the houses turned into ashes. As soon as the law enforcers rushed to the spot, the militant groups retreated. At least 2,500 affected people including

Bengalis and tribal people of Baghihat in Rangamati are now living under the open sky.

Sources said, the Bangladesh Army is constructing a 100-kilometer road from Khagrachhari to Sajack border for the economic development of this area.

If the road communication was good the rebel groups could not have continued their insurgencies from Sejeck, their safe haven.

The Government in 1997 signed CHT Peace Accord with the tribal people. According to the treaty the tribal people would occupy only 439 square kilometer of the hill districts.

However, unrest in the area continued as the JSS demanded 5,092km. Now they want to fallow the Hill Tracks Manual of 1900 violating the December 1997 treaty.

In the peace accord the Government promised regional councils and withdrawal of troops. Although councils were set up, the Samity is unhappy about the troops still in the region. Some 250 military camps have been removed, only a few remain, security sources say.

Despite the peace pact, scores of people have been killed in clashes, over possession of land between the Bengalis and the tribal people who are demanding more autonomy.

In the protracted conflict hundreds of law enforcers were killed by the insurgency.

After the peace treaty was signed the law enforcers arrested about 500 militants and recovered about one thousand sophisticated weapons and a huge quantity of explosives from the militant groups.

On Thursday the law enforcers arrested a tribal militant and recovered a pistol and explosive from in position.

Some 56 thousand Bengali families live in the Cluster Villages on five per cent area and the tribal people mainly the Chakmas occupy 95 per cent of the Hill districts.

A tribal member of Khagrachcari Council, who refuses to be identified, said the rebels were like militants of the Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh and deserved to be so punishment.