The New Nation - Internet Edition

Stormy weather persists in coastal districts: Plying of vessels on 76 river routes suspended

The city roads went under knee-deep water after a
moderate rainfall yesterday due to improper drainage system.
Focus Bangla

Barisal Correspondent

Port authorities yesterday ordered suspension of plying ML type water transports less than 65 feet in length on as many as 76 coastal and inland routes due to inclement weather.

Plying of motor launches and boats were suspended on 28 inner routes of Barisal, 21 routes of Patuakhali, 13 routes of Barguna, 14 routes of Bhola and coastal water transport services on five routes of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur-Chittagong due to stormy weather prevailing over the southern region since Sunday night after a low created in the south-west of Bay.

Met Office said last night that the low that formed over the Bay and adjoining coastal Bangladesh was in a stationary position.

"Under its influence, deep convection is taking place over the Bay," said a warning message of Met Office.

Squally weather is likely to continue over the Bay and may affect the maritime ports.

Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three, the message said.

All fishing-boats and trawlers over the Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and "proceed with caution till further notice".

The Barisal port authorities hoisted cautionary weather signal No. 2 and said that the ML type launch operation would not be resumed unless the weather condition was improved. All fishing boats and trawlers were also advised to stay at safe distance.

Patuakhali Correspondent said that many tourists left Kuakata sea-beach due to inclement weather and local authorities and volunteers of Cyclone Preparedness Programme under Red Crescent were monitoring the situation and asked peoples to prepare for taking shelter in safe places within a short notice at any moment. Official of CPP of Barisal Red Crescent, said they

were maintaining regular wireless contacts with their units on different shores, off shores, coastal islands and shoals. They informed that the conditions of river estuaries and sea becoming rough with high waves and strong tides combined with gusty winds since yesterday afternoon.

Barisal city was covered with cloud and light raining with long intervals and gusty winds continued till writing this report.

Extended meeting of party held: AL leaders under pressure to launch movement on Hasina’s release

The extended meeting of the Awami League was held
yesterday keeping chair of party President Sheikh Hasina
vacant at the Engineers Institute. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

The Bangladesh Awami League would not participate in the Government-sponsored political dialogue or contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections without party chief Sheikh Hasina, said Zillur Rahman.

The AL Acting President was addressing the senior, mid-ranking and grassroots level leaders at the party's extended meeting at the Institute of Engineers in the capital yesterday.

He called for a tougher mass movement for unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina to create a positive atmosphere for holding the general elections.

Amid hoisting of the National Flag and playing the National Anthem Zillur Rahman and Syed Ashraful Islam, Acting General Secretary, inaugurated the meeting with a vow to keep the party united under Sheikh Hasina's leadership.

In the absence of the party President Sheikh Hasina, AL Acting President Zillur Rahman presided over the meeting.

"The Government was engaged in a conspiracy to disqualify Sheikh Hasina and to depose her from politics by involving her in false and fabricated cases. But we will resist the conspiracy through a mass upsurge." he said.

"We waited for a considerable period of time, but the Government did not pay heed to our demands. Our patience has crossed limits. There is no alternative but to go for tough action programme to get Sheikh Hasina released, as well as to realise our other demands. So it is clear that the Government is pushing us towards movement," he added.

Zillur urged the Government to implement the six-point demand to make the dialogue a success and end the political deadlock through holding an acceptable, free and neutral election.

The six-point demand divided into sub-sections includes withdrawal of state of emergency, lifting of all restrictions on politics, restoration of democratic and fundamental rights to create condition for free and fair election, withdrawal of false cases filed against the party leaders and activists, immediate release of all political leaders, ensuring transparency of the judiciary and stopping unwarranted interference in the mass media.

The AL also demanded giving due honour to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The trial of war criminals and prohibiting them from participating in the national elections were also two of the prominent demands.

Syed Ashraful Islam asked the leaders and activists of district and thana units to complete their respective councils and to conduct member recruitment drive to strengthen the party.

In a censure motion Ashraful said that a number of senior leaders including party chief Sheikh Hasina were suffering being victimised by the Government. The people of the country will not accept such inhumane treatment to the national leaders.

"We will finalise the decision whether we will join the ongoing dialogue and participate in the national election after holding meeting of the working committee," he said.

At the beginning of the meeting Abdul Mannan Khan, Office Secretary of AL, made obituary references to leaders, who were killed in political violence. One-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect.

Source said about 870 delegates of different fronts of the Awami League participated in the extended meeting. However, the chair for the president of the party remained empty, as Sheikh Hasina is behind bars.

The meeting was moderated by Asaduzzaman Noor, Public Secretary, amid tight security.

CPB, LDP hold talks with govt: Collective leadership stressed

Staff Reporter

Extending support to the official anti-graft and anti-terror drive, the CPB yesterday stressed for establishment of collective leadership of the President and Prime Minister through amending the Constitution, while the LDP preferred balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister.

The CPB also suggested the Government to hold dialogue with the representatives of citizens' and professional bodies side by side with that of the political parties. The LDP demanded immediate release of political detainees, against whom there is no specific charge.

Both the CPB and the LDP demanded withdrawal of all the nine restrictions from indoor politics, holding the trial of war criminals and lifting the state of emergency.

Top leaders of the CPB and LDP said this, while participating in the dialogue with the Government separately yesterday, the third day of the parley, at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO).

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led the Government team of Advisers, while CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan and LDP President Dr Col (retd) Oli Ahmed each led seven-member delegations of their respective parties.

Appreciating the CPBs suggestion, Government's Spokesman, Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the Government would hold dialogue with the citizens' and professionals' representatives in parallel with the political dialogue.

Addressing two joint press briefings after meeting with the CPB and LDP leaders, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the Government wants to create a system in state power where check and balance were ensured.

"The Government wants to identify some areas of consensus in the competitive multiparty democratic structure to revitalise the national life in all senses-socially and economically," he told journalists in a joint briefing after a dialogue with CPB.

Dr Zillur said the focus of the Government is to ensure checks and balances of the two topmost constitutional posts-the President and the Prime Minister-in the delegation of power.

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman termed both the dialogue sessions successful. "The talks were fruitful," he added.

Briefing journalists, CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan said the 1972 Constitution should be the base for forging a national consensus over the Government's proposal for having a national charter (Jatiya Sanad).

Manjurul said they also demanded that the Government immediately file cases of war crimes against detained Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and other identified war criminals and debar them for contesting in the elections.

They also proposed introduction of proportional representation in Parliament to ensure institutional dominance instead of individual influence on both Jatiya Sangsad and politics.

The 26-point suggestions placed by the CPB include strengthening the ongoing anti-terrorism and ant-corruption drive, conducting the anti-corruption drive not only against political leaders but also against all professions, including administration, businesspeople, trade unions and media, creating an election atmosphere where there will be no influence of money and muscle power, withdrawal of all restrictions from holding political meetings, rallies and other activities, including trade union activities.

The CPB President termed the previous governments "terrorist and corrupt" as they sponsored terrorist acts and harboured corrupt elements.

About hartal and strike, he said some big parties in the past had misused hartal by frequently resorting to it but said it's (calling hartal) the right of the people, as it is practiced in many developed countries of the world. "Hartal and strike had a significant role in leading Bangladesh towards its independence and establishing democratic rights of the people," he added.

He said there is no guarantee that the country's major parties would not call hartal even if they sign any charter in this regard.

Dr Hossain Zillur said the main objective of the dialogue is to hold a meaningful election and ensure post-election stability in the country. "We need to think right now how to ensure post-election stability."

Referring to some proposals of CPB, he said there is something common in their proposals and Government's thinking.

The Adviser said the Government would think about dialogue on important economic issues with the political parties.

CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim and other leaders Sahidullah Chowdhury, Prof MM Akash, Ruhin Hossian Prince, Ahsan Habib Lablu and Rebeka Saren, LGRD Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, Law Adviser AFM Hassan Ariff were present both at the dialogue and the briefing.

The LDP placed a 30-point charter of demands during the dialogue's session. The demands include-an immediate end to the state of emergency and all restrictions on indoor political activity, trial of war criminals and a specific date for the national polls were among the demands.

The LDP asked the Government not to harass politicians if there was no specific allegation against them.

"Politicians are linked to the achievements of the country. Try them if there is any specific allegation against them. Release them if there is no allegation," Dr Oli Ahmed suggested the Government.

On restrictions on politics, he said, "Indoor politics is not possible under restriction. The Government has to withdraw all the restrictions."

"The Government has set elections for the third week of December, but people cannot trust it. So a specific date for the polls is necessary to make people election-focused."

The LDP leader said the election was not possible under state of emergency.

" We want some changes to the Constitution. Some amendments are needed to strike a balance of power, but we want to make the changes through Parliament, not otherwise."

Col Oli Ahmed said the LDP was not willing to sign any agreement with the Government. "We want unity on various issues, but there must be specific proposals for it." The LDP demanded "total freedom" for the press.

"Ninety-nine per cent people of the country, including the head of the Government and army chief agreed on the trial of war criminals. So the process should start now," he said.

Declaring war criminals, corrupt people, and black money holders ineligible to contest the national polls was one of the LDP demands.

"The key duty of the Government is to hold national polls, not the local polls," he emphasised

"But we have said that our agenda is to hold a free, fair and peaceful election and create a consensus on a specific set of proposals," the Adviser said.

The next sitting will be held with Islami Shshantantra Andalon on Thursday (May 29)

The political dialogue began on Thursday (May 22) with the Workers Party of Bangladesh and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh. The Government sat with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) on Sunday.

2 more new graveyards soon: DCC wakes up to burial space crisis

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is going to open two new graveyards, as there is very little space left for Muslim burial of the vast population of the city in the existing five graveyards, according to the DCC officials concerned.

Presently, a grave is demolished in between eight months to a year for burial of another body, although it is supposed to be excavated after two years for further burial, they added.

According to the DCC estimation, about 100 bodies are buried a day in all the five city graveyards.

Humayun Kabir, a university teacher, who approached the DCC for buying a burial space, said, "There is no space for sale for burial anywhere in the graveyards in Dhaka."

The space crisis is due to the advance purchase of burial spaces by the rich section of the society. Now the DCC is urgently looking for space for the establishment of the new graveyards, said a DCC official.

The space for a grave at Uttara is sold for Tk 1 lakh, at Banani for Tk 60,000, at Azimpur for Tk 35,000 and at the Mirpur and Jurain graveyards for Tk 25,000 each, said, Social Welfare and Cultural Officer of the DCC.

The DCC is not selling any space, as there is no space left in the five graveyards, he added.

As per Shariah Law, the burial space should not be bought permanently. Moreover, the space in Dhaka is significantly decreasing in comparison to the burgeoning population. So, it will be difficult for us to accommodate more bodies in future, if the purchase of burial space is not stopped, said another DCC official.

The DCC takes a negligible charge of Tk 2.30 for child burial, Tk 2.50 for 10 year-old and above and Tk 3.20 for adult

burial- the charges were fixed decades ago, he added.

The charges should be Tk 20, Tk 30 and Tk 50 for the burial of the three categories at present, he remarked.

An on-duty, the DCC official at the Jurain graveyard said, "Space reserved for sale in the graveyard exhausted, but some spaces were sold five to six times over the fixed rate on special considerations."

The five graveyards are-Azimpur old graveyard on 17.5 acres of land and Azimpur new graveyard on 2.5 acres, Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' graveyard on 65.54 acres of landland, Jurain graveyard on 10.1 acres, Banani graveyard on 4.5 acres and the Uttara graveyard on 1.22 acres of land.

Some local influential quarters with the patronage of a ward commissioner grabbed 23.23 acres of land at the Mirpur graveyard in the name of Muktijoddha Punarbashan Sangstha and the Government filed a writ with the High Court in this regard, said the DCC officials.

Land acquisition process for new graveyards was going on in two areas of Dhaka city- at Aftabnagar for 25 acres at Badda and at Goran Chatbari for 25 acres at Mirpur. The two graveyards may cost about Tk 82.53 crore, they added.

The DCC submitted a proposal to the Planning Commission through the LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry to develop four graveyards around Dhaka city. The Planning Commission later suggested the DCC should again submit proposal for the two graveyards. The DCC then submitted a project proposal last year involving Tk 82.53 crore for the graveyard at Aftab Nagar and Tk 33.62 crore for the one at Goran Chatbari.

Outgoing chief justice welcomes the new CJ

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Outgoing chief justice Md Ruhul Amin welcomed his successor's appointment yesterday, while urging all judges to discharge their judicial responsibilities in the light of the law.

He addressed the judges at the unveiling of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh (Appellate Division) Rules, 1988 Amendment, at the Supreme Court Judge's Lounge.

On the appointment of MM Ruhul Amin as this successor, the outgoing chief justice said: "The new has always to be welcomed."

"Every thing has an end. If one is in charge of an office, it has an end. Reality has to be accepted as reality," Md Ruhul Amin said of his own departure from office.

Speaking about the newly published amendment to the Appellate Division rules, he said laws and rules have to be made up-to-date in accordance with the age. Necessary amendments have to be brought about.

"The Appellate Division Rules were formulated in 1988. Since then, no amendment

has been made. In 2008, we felt that the rules needed to be amended."

Speaking on what changes have been brought to the rules, the outgoing chief justice said they included fees for registration as lawyers and senior lawyers in the Appellate Division being increased, among other amendments.

Newly appointed chief justice MM Ruhul Amin, judges of the Appellate Division, the registrar of the Supreme Court and other officials were present.

Khulna Mayor gets 10 yrs in 2nd graft case

Bdnews24.com, Khulna

A court sentenced Khulna mayor Tayebur Rahman to 10 years in prison Monday in a second case of extortion and fraud.

Another Khulna court sentenced Tayeb to seven years in jail in a separate extortion case the previous day.

Judge Md Nazrul Islam, of the Additional District and Sessions Judge Court for Khulna, also sentenced Khulna city corporation public relations officer Sarder Abu Taher to 10 years in jail.

The judge fined the two Tk 1 lakh each and or another year behind bars in case of failure to pay the sum.

Tayebur was arrested on Nov 2 last year, while Taher is currently on the run.

Municipal service project assistant officer SM Hafizul Rahman filed the case with Khulna Sadar Police Station on Nov 2 last year. Tayeb and Taher were charged with extorting Tk 2.90 lakh from the plaintiff.

Hafiz was himself detained Monday in a separate fraud case.

Verdicts in three cases have been handed down so far out of total 13 cases against the Khulna mayor.

He was aquitted in an arms case on Apr 22.

Niko hearing against Hasina on June 1

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned charge framing proceedings to June 1 in the Niko graft case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Judge Amar Kumar Roy of the Special Judge's Court-2 set

the next hearing date following a request for more time by defence lawyers.

Defence counsel told the judge that they would not be able to participate in the hearing until they received the necessary case documents.

The detained former prime minister and Awami League president was taken to court at around 10 am.

The trial venue of the case was shifted to the special judge's court, set up on the Sangsad Bhaban premises, on May 21 for security reasons.

The Anticorruption Commission submitted the charge sheet in the case on May 7 accusing nine people, including Sheikh Hasina, of abuse of power, office and authority in handing over three 'abandoned' gas fields to the Canadian oil and gas exploration company Niko.

The charges allege that Hasina approved a Niko deal in 2001, during her term as a prime minister, which cost the government Tk 13,630.50 crore in losses.

The case also claims that Niko Resources Ltd was "very inefficient" in different aspects of its operations, including technical expertise in exploration, but the deal was nevertheless approved in violation of a proper procedure.

The eight other accused in the case include former state minister Rafiqul Islam, former power secretary Toufique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former energy secretary M Akmal Hossain, former vice president of Niko Resources Ltd Bangladesh Kashem Sharif, former chairman of Petrobangla Md Mosharraf Hossain and a former Petrobangla director, Syed Anwarul Haque.

Simultaneous holding of JS, UZ polls opposed

Staff Reporter

All the six Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Election Commissioners spoke against the idea to hold upazila and national elections simultaneously.

They made the observation while giving their opinion at a meeting of the Election Commission held at the Commission with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda in the chair.

During the three-hour long election-preparatory meeting, they said it is impossible to hold both the upazila and general elections together.

Briefing journalists the CEC said the Commission plans to hold upazila elections by this year; but the decision whether it would be held simultaneously with the general elections or separately would be taken in June. He said the decision might be possible to take even in the first week of June if we get the Representation of the People Ordinance 2008 and the relevant rules sooner.

"If upazila election cannot be held simultaneously; it must be held before the general elections," he asserted.

The CEC said the Commission started meetings with the field-level officials to decide how the upazila polls will be held.

"We are taking opinion of field level officials as to whether the upazila election will be held simultaneously or before the general elections," he said.

Shamsul Huda said preparations are on for holding the city corporation and municipal polls.

He said the Commission would also sit with the deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and other field-level officials in phases to discuss ways of holding the national and upazila elections.

Sources said the divisional commissioners and deputy election commissioners argued that though holding both the election might lessen the expenditure and increase the voter-turnover but it spoil the entire election process since there is no such experience in Bangladesh.

They said it would almost double the number of candidates and election agents that may create accommodation problems.

They also observed that it would take more time for which there is a possibility of voting rights remaining incomplete.

Election Commissioners-Muhammed Sohul Hussain and M Sakhawat Hussain, EC Secretary Muhammad Humayun Kabir, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Aziz Hasan, Barisal Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Haroon Chowdhury, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Hussain Jamil, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Eunusur Rahman, Additional Divisional Commissioner for Rajshahi Md Akhtaruzzaman and Acting Divisional Commissioner for Sylhet JN Biswas attended the preparatory meeting which began at 10:00am.

Besides, Deputy Election Commissioners of Barisal, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Comilla and Dhaka and senior EC officials also attended the meeting.

Niko graft case: Govt fails to produce Khaleda before court

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Prison authorities failed to produce detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia in court yesterday for a hearing in the Niko graft case against her.

Seven other accused in the case were taken to the Dhaka special court sited on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex, which set the next hearing date for June 1.

State counsel Mosharraf Hossain Kajal told reporters Khaleda Zia was not produced to the court due to illness. Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Miah said, however: "It is unclear to us why she was not produced in the court. "We know she is doing fine. The case proceedings cannot run without her presence."

Authorities did not notify the court as to why she was not taken produced before the judge, he alleged.

Acting judge Sirajul Islam presided over the proceedings in absence of judge Kamal Uzzaman, of the Special Judge's Court-9, who was on sick leave.

Security was stepped up around the court premises in anticipation of the BNP chairperson's arrival. BNP leaders and supporters thronged the Sangsad Bhaban area and offered prayers for the release of their leader, and her two sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Coco.

The accused, present in court Monday, were former law minister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former acting secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former BAPEX managing director Mir Moynul Hoque, former BAPEX secretary Md Shafiur Rahman, controversial businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun and former Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan.

Mahbubul Alam, assistant director of the Anticorruption Commission, filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on Dec 9 last year. The ACC submitted a chargesheet against Khaleda and 10 others in the case on May 5.

Khaleda and 10 others stand accused of causing losses to the state amounting to Tk 13,777 crore by connived with gas and oil company Niko Resources Ltd in implementing an "illegal" joint venture agreement soon after the four-party alliance assumed power in October 2001.

The case alleged that Canadian company Niko was "very inefficient" in different aspects, including technical know-how for oil explorations, but the deal was approved in violations of a proper procedure.

The company applied to state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain to close the deal, but a number of experts from Petrobangla and Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company opposed the agreement, according to the case details.

Khaleda, the then prime minister, allegedly ignored the opinions of the gas experts and took sides with Niko on the deal.

Term of DU VC Faiz extended

DU Correspondent

The term of the incumbent Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor, Prof SMA Faiz has been extended until the Senate of the University proposes names of a three-member VC panel.

The four-year term of Prof Faiz ends on May 29.

The President and Chancellor of the University Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed in a notification yesterday asked the incumbent Vice-Chancellor to run the academic and administrative activities of the University in a peaceful manner on a temporary basis.

Prof Faiz was appointed VC on September 23, 2002 on a temporary basis to fill the remaining term of Prof Anwarullah Chowdhury, who was forced to resign over Samsunnahar Hall tragedy. Later, Prof Faiz was appointed on a permanent basis in May 2004.

3 DU students expelled

DU Correspondent

Three activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP, were temporarily expelled from Dhaka University for manhandling a journalist on May 20.

The University authority took the decision at a Syndicate meeting yesterday.

A fact-finding committee headed by Treasurer Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad along with two members Prof Sadeka Halim and Prof Rafiqul Islam was formed in this connection. The committee was asked to submit report by 15 days.

Those expelled are Zahid, a third year student of International Relation Department, Rezvi, second year student of Law Department and Shaheed, second year student of Linguistic Department of Surjasen Hall.

The incident was a sequel to an altercation between Jasim Uddin, Master's degree student and the DU Correspondent of daily Jugantor, and Zahid over taking seats at the cafeteria in order to have launch on May 20.