The New Nation - Internet Edition

AL boycotts dialogue: Announces programme to free Hasina

Awami League Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful
Islam addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the
party's Central Working Committee meeting at its Dhanmondi
office on Wednesday. AL Acting President Zillur Rahman was
present. Banglar Chokh

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League Wednesday officially turned down the caretaker government's offer for dialogue without its detained chief Sheikh Hasina.

Acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam announced the party's decision at a crowded media conference after the 3-day hectic meetings of the party's extended committee and the central working committee.

"We'll not participate in any dialogue without our leader Sheikh Hasina… We will convey our sentiment to the government in a day or two," he said at the end of the adjourned meeting of the working committee at the Dhanmondi office.

The working committee announced signature campaign and cross-country organizational tour next month and endorsed the Dhaka City AL's 'human wall' program in the first week of June around the makeshift jail where Hasina is detained.

Asked whether they will join the dialogue if Hasina is released on parole, Ashraf said: "No question of parole. We will consider whether or not we will join the dialogue after unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina."

Asked how they expect Hasina's release as cases were filed against her, he outright rejected the current trail process. "All these cases are baseless, concocted and motivated. We don't accept this trial process," he said.

Ashraf said Awami League would observe the historic 7th June in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country by holding discussions. It will also launch signature campaign all over the country excepting Dhaka City from June 7-30 in support of Sheikh Hasina's release and the 6-point demand.

He said the central leaders of the party would tour district and upazila headquarters from June 15-30 and hold extended meetings to reactivate the party's grassroots workers and organizations. The central committee has endorsed the Dhaka City AL's planned "human wall" in the first week of June around the makeshift jail in the parliament building complex where Hasina is detained since July 16 last year.

The party reiterated its demand to send Hasina abroad for treatment as she has almost lost her hearing power.

The working committee also expressed deep concern at the record prices of fuel and foodstuff.

Earlier, acting AL president Zillur Rahman chaired the adjourned meeting of the central working committee.

Nepal set to abolish monarchy

Goodbye King Gyanendra

AFP, Kathmandu

The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal was set for historic change on Wednesday with an assembly expected to abolish the country's 240-year-old monarchy, in a key victory for former Maoist rebels.

Security was tight around the venue for the assembly, which is set to dissolve the monarchy and sack the unpopular King Gyanendra when it holds its first session later Wednesday.

Scores of police ringed the conference centre in Kathmandu after a series of bomb blasts in the runup to the meet by suspected "anti-republicans" supporting Gyanendra, who ascended the throne seven years ago after a palace massacre.

A homemade bomb exploded in a Kathmandu park on Tuesday shortly after Constituent Assembly members were sworn in, injuring two people.

The lawmakers, elected in last month's polls to draft a new constitution, were set to begin proceedings at 11:00 am (0545 GMT) at the convention centre.

"This is an epoch-making day," Maoist leader Prachanda, who is expected to head the country's next government, told reporters on Tuesday.

"For the past 50 years people have been fighting for this. The institution of the monarchy will formally come to an end."

The Maoists, who have long vowed to remove the king and create a republic, emerged as surprise winners in the April polls, taking a third of the assembly's 601 seats.

The Maoists signed a landmark peace deal in 2006 that brought them into the political mainstream, ending a decade-long insurgency that killed thousands of people and crippled the already impoverished nation's economy.

Gyanendra was crowned following the 2001 killing of his popular brother Birendra and most of the royal family by a drink-and-drug-fuelled crown prince who later killed himself.

Although seen by loyalists as the reincarnation of a Hindu god, he remained at the centre of conspiracy theories linking him to the killings.

He still enjoys some support from Hindu hardliners and powerful elements in the armed forces and ruling elite, but observers of the royal house said Wednesday's meet appeared to be the end of the Shah dynasty.

"He has been isolated and he has a very slim chance of making a comeback," said Surendra Khatri Chhetri, a history professor at Tribhuvan University.

"The strength of republican sentiment has cornered the king."

Kishore Shrestha, editor of a weekly newspaper that regularly runs scoops from palace staff on the dynnasty said the king appeared to be preparing for life as a commoner.

"Palace sources have told me he has started laying off large numbers of staff, and has been renovating two of his private properties," Shrestha said.

"My sources tell me that he will vacate the main palace very soon."

Gyanendra's whereabouts were unknown late Tuesday, after he was seen leaving Narayanhiti palace, a sprawling complex in the heart of Kathmandu, driving himself and Queen Komal in a Mercedes car and part of a small convoy.

The palace press secretariat said it did not know where the king was going, or if he was leaving for good -- in line with Maoist demands that he vacate his royal home and bow out gracefully.

Last month's vote appeared to vindicate the Maoist demand for a republic, with the former rebels winning more than a third of the new assembly's seats.

But less than a day before the assembly was to begin, the mainstream parties and Maoists were still wrangling Tuesday over the make up of a new government.

Maoists insist they have the right to lead the nation after their win, but the other parties fear the former rebels will now have too much power.

Gyanendra sealed his fate in early 2005, when he dismissed the government and took direct control, galvanising public sentiment against him.

The rebel Maoists and political parties launched mass protests that forced the king to back down a year later.

In the process the once bitter foes drew closer together, forging the 2006 peace agreement, ending a decade of civil war that killed 13,000 people, and completely sidelining the king.

"The doors to a republic were opened by the king himself," said historian Khatri Chhetri. "The palace is no more a central figure of politics."

Moriarty hopeful about govt-parties accord for free, fair polls

Moriarty

UNB, Dhaka

US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty Wednesday hoped there would be compromise to make the ongoing political dialogue fruitful paving the way for holding free, fair and credible elections by the end of the year.

"There is room for compromise and I hope to see a comprise in next weeks or months. But I don't know what would be the compromise, it's up to the people to decide," he told reporters after a meeting with Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin at his ministry. Asked who should make compromise, the Ambassador said everybody should make the compromise and none will get 100 percent if there is compromise.

Asked about the outcome of the dialogue in absence of the two former Prime Ministers, he said he would not make comment on the party position, but added that he witnessed seriousness on the part of the Advisers. "Ultimately it is the people to decide." Replying to a question about the state of

emergency, the US said he and his government continue to believe that it is difficult to hold free, fair and credible elections under the state of emergency. He, however, said he is encouraged to know there are some steps taken by the caretaker government to ease the emergency and hoped that the general elections would occur without the emergency. The Ambassador said he had fruitful meeting with the Home Adviser talking bilateral issues, law and order and the election roadmap. He said he was reassured by the Home Adviser that the election roadmap is in place to hold free, fair and credible elections by December this year.

Earlier, the US Ambassador met with Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader at his ministry.

Tk 25600 crore ADP finalised: Budget to be Tk 99600 crore

Pulack Ghatack

The Caretaker Government has finalised the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next fiscal year at Tk 25600 crore, subject to the approval by the National Economic Council (NEC) on June 7.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakruddin Ahmed is expected to chair the NEC meeting and approve the ADP incorporating 876 projects that is to be announced as development part of the budget for 2008-09 fiscal.

In absence of the parliament, the budget is expected to be broadcast through radio and television channels on June 10 for the second successive year.

Officials, who were fine-tuning the draft ADP, gave a final touch to it on Tuesday adding Tk 100 crore with an earlier lay out of Tk 25,500 crore.

The size of the overall budget for the next fiscal year (2008-09) will also get an expansion with it and will stand at Tk 99600 crore, highly placed sources in the Government said.

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Mirza AB Azizul Islam recently said size of the ADB in the upcoming budget would be Tk 25,500 crore. In the current budget, it is Tk 22,500 crore downsized from original Tk 26,500 crore.

The Adviser also hinted that the annual budget would be sized at around Tk 99500 crore. The budget for the running fiscal stands at Tk 79,614 crore excluding Tk 7,523 crore liabilities of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.

The ADP figure was widened by Tk 100 crore as the Finance Adviser was satisfied to include some new agricultural development projects in it,

a senior official of the planning ministry told The New Nation yesterday.

He said agriculture, water resources, rural development and education will get priority in ADP which will be given 24 per cent allocations from the total outlay.

To help tackle inflation and improve purchasing power of people, employment generating projects have been given emphasise in the 2008-09 ADP, the official added.

Out of the total ADP outlay, 53 per cent will be supplied from the internal resources while the rest from the external sources (foreign aid), he said.

Meanwhile the nature of the new ADP as well as the budget is going to be exceptional from the traditional process. The Government, shifting from the usual trend of increasing the ADP allocation every year, is going to lower the budget to keep it in a realistic figure.

The New ADP will be Tk 900 crore less than the original allocation of the current ADP.

Experienced from the records of poor ADP implementation in the previous years, the government has decided to limit it in planning the next year's development. Rather, the government will increase subsidy in various sectors including agriculture, fuel and social safety-net schemes.

During the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, a total of Tk 12,233 crore has been spent to implement the ADP.

This expenditure is 54 per cent of revised ADP of Tk 22,500 crore and 46 per cent of original ADP (Tk 26,500 crore), the Planning Ministry sources said.

BNP won’t join dialogue sans Khaleda: Delwar

UNB, Dhaka

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday hinted that they are going to boycott the dialogue and parliamentary elections sans their party chairperson, apparently in a coincidence with the Awami League stance.

"We have been saying repeatedly that without Khaleda Zia the dialogue with the government will carry no meaning. So joining the meaningless dialogue and election will have no worth," he said addressing a press conference at his NAM apartment residence at noon.

Asked by the journalists whether BNP will hold formal party meeting to settle the dialogue issue-the way another former ruling party, Awami League, did it-the BNP secretary general said his party has said time and again that without Khaleda Zia it would not attend the dialogue.

The BNP leadership's indication about conditional staying out from the ongoing dialogue came shortly after their once-arch-rival Awami League formally announced their decision that they wouldn't join the dialogue without AL chief Sheikh Hasina.

Delwar demanded release of both the detained former premiers-BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina-to allow them to lead their parties to the dialogue "for the sake of democracy".

Referring to commerce adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman's Tuesday's remarks that all political parties are expected to join in the dialogue, Delwar said, "An adviser should not give such statements without consulting all the political parties."

He alleged that the caretaker government resorted to dialogue process to impose its own thinking and desire on the political parties. "But such strategy will not be successful," he said.

The veteran politician suggested the government to hold the long-awaited election at the earliest as the only way out of the ongoing political crisis in the country.

He described the address of the Chief Adviser to the nation as "unacceptable and blurred" and demanded immediate and full withdrawal of the state of emergency.

The BNP leader loyal to the party chief reiterated their demand for presence of media during all types of talks with the government to ensure its transparency.

He termed the government-sponsored anticorruption drive an "evil attempt to depoliticize the country" rather than remove corruption.

"Government has failed to present appropriate evidences of corruption against many politicians now behind bars. In fact the anti-corruption drive has turned into anti-politics mission," he said in a swinging criticism of the reformist interim regime.

Delwar, who has replaced Mannan Bhuiyan, now in jail, amid a turmoil in the party over political reforms in the interim period, said there is no need of a national charter in Bangladesh as such charter can be an obstacle to bringing changes in the state machinery.

"The CA has said it is the national charter which will ensure a free and fair election. By such comments the CA has put a condition before the parties for holding the long-awaited election. Putting such condition is anti-constitution," he told the reporters.

Delwar further said holding local elections before the parliamentary polls would be clear violation of the constitution and, thus, "a crime".

"According to the Article 58 D (2) of the constitution, a caretaker government is supposed to only provide necessary assistance to the election commission in holding a free and fair general election. Hence, the caretaker government has no right to play any role in arranging local elections before the parliamentary one," he said.

BNP joint secretaries-general Nazrul Islam Khan and Selima Rahman, office secretary Rizvi Ahmed and some former MPs were present at the press conference.

EC sees simultaneous JS, UZ polls unlikely

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) is unlikely to hold the general elections and upazila election simultaneously.

Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain dropped the hint yesterday while talking to reporters at his office.

"It seems that upazila election may not be held along with the national election. The Divisional Commissioners are not in favour of it. They viewed that it will create a huge problem," he said.

Asked about the doubts expressed by a section of political parties over holding the elections as per the roadmap, he pointed out that they have no apprehension about it.

"Our main task and target is national elections. We are doing all the reform works, completing the voter list and others just to hold the national election. So, that is to take place as per the roadmap," he said.

Replying to a question, the Election Commissioner said relaxing or withdrawal of the state of emergency entirely depends on the Government.

"We have been telling that those who are running the Government will decide the matter. We will ask the Government to prepare an appropriate field so that election can take place," he said. Sohul Hussain said there are barely three rules out of 27 or 28 in EPR that relate to election.

Replying to another question, he again dismissed the apprehension of a section of

politicians that upazila polls ahead would disrupt the process of the general elections.

Asked if they would ask the Government for relaxing or withdrawal of emergency he said the issues of creating congenial atmosphere for holding the polls would be taken up anytime before announcing the election schedule.

In fact, the issues are almost decided, he said adding, they would just sit with the Chief Adviser to make those feasible.

Bail under EPR: SC hears today petition seeking interpretation of judgment

UNB, Dhaka

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court hears today a petition seeking direction and interpretation about its judgment on providing bail under unassailable Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

The Chamber Court passed the order following an application for public interest filed by human rights lawyer Idrisur Rahman.

Earlier, the application was moved by three lawyers-Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Amir-Ul Islam and Abdul Baset Majumder-to the six-member Appellate Division led by outgoing Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin. But, the court told the counsel to appeal to the Chamber Court in this regard.

On April 23, the Appellate Division backed a government plea overruling a High Court judgment forbidding its jurisdiction to dispose of bail petitions in criminal cases under the EPR sparking a serious repercussion in the country.

The apex court in its judgment identified five grounds for seeking a bail under the EPR. The grounds are mala fide, quorum non-judice, without jurisdiction, section 16(2) of the EPR (arrest on suspicion) and section 19 (yna) of EPR.

The High Court verdict came on March 29 last year following an application by a Khulna oil trader Maijuddin Shikder who sought bail in a criminal case placed for trial under the EPR for adulterated oil supply.

On March 21 last year, the government made an amendment to the rules under the Emergency Power Ordinance 2007 revoking the rights to appeal for any bail and seek redress from any higher court until a case under the EPR is resolved in the trial court.

According to the amended EPR, an accused will not even be able to file a bail petition during the investigation into or trial of a case under it.

Besides, an accused cannot seek redress from any higher court against the order given by any court or tribunal before or during the trial until the delivery of the final verdict.

After browsing the certified copy of the apex court ruling on the EPR barring bail, the petitioner moved to the Appellate Division seeking explanation, as there are scopes to appeal for bails under the EPR.

Talking to reporters, Idris said despite the apex court ruling that allowed a government appeal depriving detainees of bails under the EPR, it is apparently seen in the judgment there are indeed scopes to get bails.

Although the EPR is in place, there are five exceptional areas where a justice-seeker could appeal for bail, he said adding that is why explanation has been sought from the court to specify the grounds in which a court could grant bail.

Dr Kamal Hossain said it could be surmised that following the judgment the court showed the doors to bail-seekers, but the original judgment states that there are scopes for seeking bails under the EPR.

Barrister Amir-Ul Islam said the Appellate Division judgment on EPR could be reviewed.

If not reviewed, there is a possibility that the equilibrium of the constitution, the highest law of the land, to be impeded, he added.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Barrister Shafique Ahmed said by accepting the review petition it was proved that the apex court ruling on the EPR violated the constitution, the existing law of the land and the fundamental and human rights of the people.

Veteran lawyer Barrister Rafique-ul Huq said the grounds specified in the judgment would allow bails to 90 percent of those detained under the EPR.

He also said the Appellate Division judgment has been changed following adverse reaction both at home and abroad.

Special courts weaken fair trial: AI

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Special courts weakened fair trial safeguards in Bangladesh, Amnesty International said in its annual report on human rights released yesterday.

"Fair trial safeguards were weakened by the use of Special Courts which imposed tight restrictions on defendants' access to lawyers, and by the denial of bail to defendants charged under emergency regulations," the rights watchdog said.

The report also said security forces in Bangladesh committed human rights violations with impunity, including torture and other ill-treatment and alleged extrajudicial executions.

"The police force was inadequately trained and equipped and lacked effective

accountability and oversight mechanism."

Human rights were severely restricted under a state of emergency imposed in the wake of widespread political violence, Amnesty said.

Hundreds of people were reportedly arrested on suspicion of criminal activity or breaches of emergency rule, it said.

The report said more than 440,000 people had been arrested during the year, many of them were detained 'arbitrarily.'

"Some were then charged with politically motivated criminal offences. A number of detainees held without trial under emergency regulations or the Special Powers Act were reportedly tortured and ill-treated," it said.

Amnesty also focused on the restrictions on the media.

"Continued existence of wide-ranging emergency restrictions on news media intensified self-censorship by journalists and editors," it said.

"Journalists were threatened with arrest if they criticised intelligence agencies or the army. Lawyers were allegedly threatened with arrest on corruption charges if they took up high-profile cases," it said.

"Torture continued to be widespread."

Law-enforcement agencies were implicated in the deaths of more than 100 people in custody, but no-one was held to account for the deaths, it said.

Amnesty said the pace of reforms taken up by the caretaker government was "disappointingly slow".

The international rights organisation said violence against women, including beatings, acid attacks and dowry deaths continued to be reported in Bangladesh.

Amnesty said six decades after world leaders unanimously signed the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the record is dismal and urgent action is needed to prevent global chaos.

From Asia to the United States and Africa, countries are reneging on their global commitments to uphold human rights and people are starting to lose patience, Amnesty's secretary general Irene Khan said in an interview marking the group's annual report.

On December 10, 1948 the UN general assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, forming a foundation for international human rights law and a first universal statement on the basic principles of human rights.

The report, in strong language for an organisation that often uses legal jargon, accused the US government of "breathtaking legal obfuscation" in condoning the use of torture to obtain information.

But it also criticised European governments for at best ignoring and at worse facilitating "extraordinary rendition" flights taking US terrorism suspects to countries where torture was used.

Smooth transition must for sustainable democracy: UK envoy

Staff Reporter

The acting British High Commissioner Duncan Norman yesterday said a credible and sustainable democracies are pre-requisite for smooth transition of power to an elected government in Bangladesh.

" Fair, safe and transparent and inclusive elections before the end of 2008 are essential," he said while exchanging views with the journalists at the office of Bengali daily Amader Somoy.

Mentioning the Government efforts for holding elections he said the Caretaker Government has repeatedly given its assurance for holding a meaningful election.

On the issue of state of emergency the Acting High Commissioner said political parities must be allowed to campaign freely and peacefully to flourish democracy.

He said that his government would welcome the commitment to relax the provisions of the state of emergency.

He, however, said that if necessary emergency can be imposed for security reasons and even for holding the election.

Highlighting the importance of democracy he said establishing sustainable democracy in Bangladesh is very important for development and progress.

" We encourage the political parties to participate positively and fully in preparations for the elections and in the democratic process more generally," he mentioned.

Replying to a question, if the major political parties would refrain from parliament elections the acting British High Commissioner said there could be no return to the confrontational, divisive and violent politics of the kind witnessed in 2006.

He said that a shortsighted approach adds nothing to building the foundation for a lasting democracy.

"We encourage the next elected government to embrace and consolidate the positive democratic reforms made under the Caretaker Government," he added.

Asked whether the detained former Prime Ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina would get fair justice he said " We want free and fair justice for all but not for any individual,".

He lauded the present Government for overhaul of the Election Commission (EC), Public Service Commission, the separation of the Judiciary from the Executive and the drive to combat corruption through an effective and impartial Anti- Corruption Commission.

Mentioning the media as a vital institution Duncan said the media in Bangladesh acts as the conscience of the nation.

He said that his Government has consistently urged the Government, Army and law enforcers of Bangladesh to act impartially and proportionately with respect for media freedom.

Naimul Islam Khan, editor of the daily Amader Somoy and other officials from the British High Commission among others, were present.

'Pak coalition agrees to expel Musharraf’

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan's ruling coalition has agreed to expel US-backed President Pervez Musharraf from power, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

Sharif said the widower of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, had agreed in talks on Tuesday to oust Musharraf in the wake of the coalition's victory in February elections.

"I have spoken with Mr Zardari that we should throw him out to respect the mandate of the people of Pakistan, and he agreed yesterday to do so," Sharif told a meeting marking the tenth anniversary of Pakistan's first nuclear tests.

Sharif, the man ousted by Musharraf in a bloodless coup in 1999, said voters had given a "clear verdict" against Musharraf in the elections.

"Musharraf did not fulfil his promise to quit the presidency if people did not vote for his party," he told the charged crowd in the eastern city of Lahore.

Sharif's comments come amid divisions in the coalition over how to deal with Musharraf and over the restoration of top judges sacked by the president under emergency rule in November.

Zardari and Sharif met in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss a package of constitutional amendments to clip Musharraf's wings, but both sides are still finalising details.

Earlier this month, nine ministers from Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party quit the cabinet, which is dominated by Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

There was no immediate comment from the PPP. Zardari last week described Musharraf in a television interview as a "relic of the past" but did not make an outright call for his resignation.

Musharraf's spokesman earlier on Wednesday denied rumours sweeping the country's stock market that Musharraf had resigned.

"It is absolute nonsense, there is no such thing, there is no thing like this under any sort of consideration," spokesman Rashid Qureshi told Dawn News television.

Sharif however called for Musharraf to be tried for sedition.

"There is no need to give safe exit to that man (Musharraf). He should be given same punishment which traitors deserve under the law and the constitution," Sharif said amid shouts of "Hang Musharraf, hang Musharraf."

The proposed constitutional package, which would require a two-thirds majority in parliament for approval, was launched by Zardari last week.

Bangladesh top peacekeeping nation

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting in the city yesterday said Bangladesh holds the top position in the World Peacekeeping Mission.

On the occasion of the International Peace Keeping Day introduced by the United Nations, Coalition of Local NGOs (CLNB), Bangladesh organised the discussion meeting on "the World Peacekeeping Mission" in the National Press Club.

CLNB Chairman Harunur Rashid presided over the discussion. Former opposition party whip Col (Retd)

Faruk Khan addressed the meeting as chief guest, while Maj Gen (Retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury (Bir Bikram), Journalists Tosarraf Ali, Saiful Islam Shishir, Executive Director of Gano Sasthya Kendra Adv Afzal Hossain, among others, also addressed it.

The speakers said Bangladesh has many achievements in the national and international arena. The Bangladeshi Army achieved the top position of success in the United Nation Mission.

The Bangladeshi Army could achieve the place due to their dedication, bravery, sense of responsibility, honesty, unbiased activities and confidence.

They said no heroes are born in the nation, which does not respect the brave.

About 10,000 army personnel, few hundred policemen and observers are deployed in the 41 United Nation missions in different countries of the world.

Till date Bangladesh has sent 73406 peacekeepers to 41 missions in 26 countries and earned Tk 20,000 crore.

Muggers shoot SB inspector in city, snatch Tk 2 lakh

UNB, Dhaka

Muggers snatched Tk 2 lakh from an inspector of Special Branch (SB) of police after shooting and injuring him at Uttara in the city yesterday morning.

Police said SB inspector Nurul Amin, in-charge of Malibagh area, was returning home by a rickshaw after encashing Tk 2 lakh from National Bank, Uttara branch.

When the rickshaw reached in front of Singer Restaurant near Rajlaxmi Super Market at Sector-3 in Uttara, three muggers intercepted the rickshaw and demanded the money from him at gunpoint. On refusal, the muggers fired gunshot on his right leg and snatched the money from him at about 10:30am. Injured Nurul Amin was admitted to Razarbagh Police Line Hospital.

In another incident, snatchers took away Tk 2.25 lakh from an employee of a business institution at North Hall Brook Road of Sutrapur in the city.

Police said the incident took place when he was going to deposit the money in Islami Bank, Sadarghat branch at about 2.30pm.

Later, the muggers exploded a cocktail creating panic among the local people and left the scene without any resistance.

HSC exams begin today

Staff Reporter

Amid tight measures against unfairmeans the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will begin across the country today.

A total of 6,20,020 students under seven general education boards, madrasha board and the technical education board will sit for the exams this year in a total of 1,800 centres in the country and five abroad.

Some 5,02,796 students under Dhaka, Rajshahi, Comilla, Jessore, Chittagong, Barisal and Sylhet education boards are appearing at the

HSC examination. Of them, 53.54 per cent are male and 46.46 per cent female students.

Dhaka Board has the highest number of examinees with 1,51,247 in HSC and equivalent examinations, while the lowest number of students in Sylhet Board with 19,597.

A total of 62,505 students under Madrasha education board and also

54,719 under technical education board are appearing at the examinations.

A press release from the DMP said, police imposed a ban on entry of common people within 200 yards of the examination centres during the examination.

"The restriction will remain in force from May 29 during the examination to ensure fair and peaceful atmosphere in the centres," the release said.