The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sabotage ruled out: 1 dead, 50 injured in series of gas explosions in hotel, 3-member probe body formed

The destroyed part of the Orchard Hotel being
examined by the members of law enforcing agencies on Monday.
Focus Bangla

Mamunur Rashid

A hotel staff died and at least 50 other people, including several foreign boarders, have been injured in a series of gas pipeline explosions in a residential hotel at Naya Paltan in the city Sunday night.

A three-member probe committee headed by AIG Abdus Salam was formed yesterday to find out the cause of Sunday night's explosions at Hotel Orchard Plaza.

The deceased was identified as Ali Azam Ahmad, 45, security-in-charge of the hotel. He breathed his last at the City Hospital.

Source said at the time of the incident Ali Azam was at home at Shishir Das Lane. On information of the explosions he rushed to the hotel and tried to rescue a Sri Lankan national, AR Samantilak, ignoring the police cordon.

Samantilak, 43, was among those injured in the first explosion. He sustained 90 per cent burn injuries in his body and was under treatment in ICU in the City Hospital at Dhanmondi.

Another boarder Meer Hossain Miron, 40, a hotel cook, Jafar Iqbal alias Mohin, 30, and a private university student, Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury, 27, were admitted to the Burns Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Other injured was rushed to Islami Bank Hospital and Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital.

Police and witnesses said the first explosion occurred in a suite on the 7th floor of Hotel Orchid Plaza when Samantilak, a Sri Lankan bank official,

lighted a cigarette at about 9:30pm. He was reported to be fighting for life at the time of filing this report.

At around 11:30pm, two more explosions occurred in two rooms on the 8th

floor, smashing windowpanes and furniture. The "explosions" damaged parts of the interior of the hotel where some foreigners were staying overnight.

Two more loud explosions within two hours rocked the two-star hotel as police, explosive experts, firemen and journalists arrived, injuring at least another 50 people, Deputy Police Commissioner Mazharul Islam said.

At least 35 people including 10 police officers were admitted to different hospitals with burn injuries and wounds caused by flying glass. Others suffered minor injuries," he said.

Police and firemen rescued more than a dozen people, including a Singaporean trapped on the top floor of the 12-storey building.

Fire gutted several floors of the hotel, which had some internal walls knocked out by the force of the blasts.

It was not clear what caused the explosions, but police said leaking gas and electrical short circuit could be to blame.

"Explosive experts of the Rapid Action Battalion and Bomb Disposal Team of DMP have not found any explosives or any bomb sprinters from the scene. They suspect gas leakage from the air conditioners or in the pipeline and short circuit for the explosions," he said.

In the series of explosions the rest of the people, including several foreign boarders, members of the law-enforcing agencies and firefighters, were injured, the sources said.

An army official who was present on the spot said the incidents might have occurred due to leakage in gas line.

The gas also filled up two rooms on the 8th floor where explosions occurred at about 11:30am.

The fire-brigade personnel climbed the 7th and the 8th floors and rescued the trapped people, including an Indian and a Singaporean national.

This Correspondent saw shards of glass scattered on the road, and a long stretch blocked by the police and other security officials.

IGP Noor Mohammad at a briefing told journalists in the police headquarters yesterday afternoon that they had already formed a 3-member fact-finding committee, headed by the DMP additional police commissioner, on the explosions. The committee was asked to submit its report as early as possible.

"It's an accident, not a sabotage, as we didn't so far find any explosive substance in the hotel, which can prove that it's a sabotage.

The fact-finding committee has already started its job to find out whether the explosions were an act of sabotage," DMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed said.

The DMP chief said short circuit and gas-line leakage could be the reasons behind the explosions. Because, after the first explosion, they stopped the power supply to the hotel and when they reconnected electricity supply, two more explosions occurred in the residential hotel.

Firemen rescued Shrinivasan, an Indian national, from Room No. 930.

Mohammad Shahjalal, Director (administration) of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the explosions might have been triggered by faults in a gas pipeline. "It could also be gas cylinder explosions.

Countrywide cleansing operation: 8,000 held till yesterday: IG cautions police about arresting innocent people

Staff Reporter

More than 8,000 people were arrested by law enforcing agencies, including army during the last five days under the ongoing countrywide crackdown that began after midnight on May 28 last.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Noor Mohammad yesterday told journalists at a briefing at Police Headquarters in the city yesterday that a total of 8,325 people were arrested on various charges and 33 firearms recovered so far since May 28 during the special drive to improve country's law and order.

In 24 hours ending 5:00pm yesterday, he said 1,439 people were arrested while 7 firearms recovered across the country.

Different political parties have strongly protested against the ongoing countrywide crackdown saying that many of the arrestees were prominent political leaders including former lawmakers and municipal chairmen. Most of the arrestees belong to Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.

Major political parties are considering this drive as a move to cripple the organizational base of their parties as they are preparing to launch a countrywide movement to free Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

However, IGP Noor Mohammad said the special drive

across the country is aimed at improving the law and order situation and to create congenial atmosphere for holding the upcoming general election free from muscle power and terrorism.

Explaining the objective of the special drive, he said that it was in no way motivated against the politicians as reported by a section of the press.

"I want to make it clear that improving the country's law and order situation and creating congenial atmosphere for the general elections due in December is the only objective of the drive," he said.

"Illegal arms holders, listed criminals, extortionists and terrorists are the target of the drive," he said and pointed to the recent incidents showing deterioration of law and order situation and causing worries of the people.

The IGP said though the special drive was being carried out under the State of Emergency, none of the arrested persons was sued under that law.

"'Those arrested during the last few days were held on specific charges or allegations. After long one and a half years, such a drive is being launched only to arrest listed terrorists, criminals and extortionists. The special drive was not intended to harass or arrest politicians,' he said.

He, however, mentioned that they had nothing to do if anyone of the arrested persons was affiliated to any political party.

Noor Mohammad also cautioned that if any police personnel was found guilty of arresting innocent people, he would be sacked and sent to jail.

Meanwhile, leaders of different political parties also gave strong reactions to the ongoing countrywide crackdown.

Awami League Acting General Secretary Zillur Rahman said the government has started arresting political leaders and activists at the grassroots level fearing a popular mass upsurge scheduled to be launched any time by the major political parties.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader said it would be very shameful for the nation if the government's ongoing drive is to arrest the political leaders and activists.

It is also regretting that in the name of arresting criminals, the government has targeted the political leaders and activists.

Former President of Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said a panic has created in the mind of common people and politicians following the launching of the crackdown.

Our correspondents from different districts of the country reported that hundreds of people were arrested on various charges yesterday.

Our Kishoreganj Correspondent Alam Sarwar Titu reports: During the 48 hours, ending 6:00pm yesterday, the joint forces and police arrested 81 persons including 'listed criminals' and raided the residences of local leaders of different political parties including Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party and union parishad chairmen.

On Sunday night, joint forces led by Lt Col Md Ashikuzzaman, Police Super Mizanur Rahman and Deputy Commander Major Salahuddin jointly launched a special drive to arrest 216 'most wanted' criminals, including AL, BNP and JP leaders and activists, who were allegedly involved in various criminal activities and extortion.

They said that so far 81 wanted persons were arrested from Kishoreganj Sadar and other upazilas of the district.

The joint forces also raided the residences of Poura BNP president Ismail Hossain, Sramik League president Sirajul Islam, ward commissioner Shamim, Shahriar, Jubo Dal leader Polin and several other ward commissioners and union parishad chairmen.

SP Mizanur Rahman said the crackdown would continue to recover illegal arms and detain most wanted criminals. "Except listed terrorists, no political leader will be arrested," he said.

Signs of ice in Mars

The descent engine blew away soil on landing,
possibly revealing ice.

BBC Online

Nasa's new robotic craft on Mars may be resting on a large patch of ice.

The latest images sent to Earth reveal tantalising glimpses of what looks like frozen water.

Scientists think the Phoenix Mars lander's descent engine may have blown away a layer of dirt, exposing the ice.

The craft's robotic arm reached out and touched the soil for the first time, leaving behind a striking, footprint-like impression, they said on Sunday.

The robotic arm was making a test run, just one week after the landing.

"This first touch allows us to utilise the robotic arm accurately," said David Spencer, Phoenix's surface mission manager at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

"We are in a good situation" for future testing, he said.

The spacecraft, which has its own laboratory onboard, will soon start digging for soil and ice.

Any dirt and ice it scoops up will be shovelled into several small ovens to be heated. The resulting gases will be analysed by various instruments.

The mission's main goal is to investigate the planet's geological history and search for the chemical building blocks of life.

It is being led by the University of Arizona in Tucson, and managed by JPL.

Falu gets 5-yr for relief pilferage

Mosaddek Ali Falu

UNB, Dhaka

A special court yesterday sentenced detained former BNP MP Mosaddek Ali Falu to five years' rigorous imprisonment for embezzlement of government relief materials.

Judge Tanjina Ismail also fined Falu Tk 5.35 lakh, in default, to suffer one year more in jail.

Falu, who faces a number of cases, was convicted first by the special court set up at the high-security parliament complex.

The court, however, acquitted co-accused Monirul Islam Sohel, Falu's associate, as the prosecution failed to prove the charges bright against him.

On February 10 last year, sub-inspector of Ashulia police station Ismail Hossain filed the case against Falu and Sohel for misappropriating 982 pieces of corrugated iron (CI) sheets meant for relief to the underprivileged.

On February 9, the army-led joint forces seized the government relief materials from Falu's factory, 'Dhaka Shanghai Ceramic Factory', at Savar.

Falu, also the owner of private satellite TV channels ntv and Rtv and daily Amar Desh, was arrested by the army-led joint forces on February 6, 2007.

Foreign diplomats cautioned about making comment on Bangladesh

BSS, Dhaka

The Foreign Ministry yesterday asked the foreign diplomats to be cautious about making comments in Bangladesh affairs, which could be seen as interference in the country's internal affairs.

"There have been some recent reports published in the media citing statements by foreign missions that may construe as interference in internal affairs of Bangladesh," a foreign ministry statement said without referring to any particular mission of any country.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would hope that any such statements that may give rise to such interpretations should be avoided," added the brief statement without any elaboration.

Combing drive launched to create peaceful atmosphere for polls: Matin

UNB, Dhaka

Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday said the government launched the combing operation across then country to crack down on the miscreants to create peaceful environment for election in December.

"The election will be held in December and the operation is launched to ensure the peaceful atmosphere," he told journalists in reply to a query at the Secretariat.

A tight closed-door meeting on curbing serious crimes and developments over the sensational cases was held in the conference room of the Home Ministry with general Matin in the chair, at a time when joint forces are rounding up suspects across the country.

After the meeting, the Adviser informed the reporters that the progress in dealing with the sensational cases is satisfactory.

Asked about allegations that

the clampdown as political motivated, he said the idea is totally baseless as the government has no political affiliation. "Those who are being arrested in the operation are miscreants."

Venting worry over a recent spurt in criminal activities, he said the joint forces are advised to launch the operation to maintain law and order as he said the criminal activities have recently increased in the country.

About the innocent detainees, the Home Adviser said they would remain careful about making arrest during the drives, launched afresh on Friday night. "It will be very regretful if any innocent man is fallen in harassment," he said.

Replying to another question, he said the ongoing combing operation would not influence government's dialogue with the political parties.

Asked about Sheikh Hasina's treatment and allowing her to go abroad, he said Sheikh Hasina is now taking her treatment at Square Hospital, "It's a matter of the government to take the decision whether she should be sent abroad," he added.

Replying to a query, the Home Adviser said the matter of lifting the state of emergency is again dependent on government's decision. "I'm one-sixteenth of the government," he observed about the caucus of the present caretaker government.

BGMEA seeks state protection: External forces behind garment unrest

Chittagong Correspondent

Leaders of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) yesterday blamed the local agents of the foreign conspirators for the recurrence of labour unrest at the apparel factories for destroying the garment industry.

The leaders feared that the nation might have to see a sick economy and return of extreme poverty if the apparel industry was not duly protected from the foreign plotters.

They sought state protection against the foreign conspirators apart from arrest and trial of the local troublemakers in the interest of the budding industry and the national economy as well.

Addressing a press conference at the BGMEA's regional office in the city, the First Vice-President of the apex body MA Salam demanded immediate formation of a 'Crisis Management Cell (CMC)' comprising representatives from the bodies concerned.

"Probably you've noticed by now that labour unrest only surged at the factories of the well-off companies and most of the troubles have taken place at the peak season, whereas the smaller and relatively insolvent factories have been running peacefully without problems of similar nature," he said while analysing the influence of the foreign plotters.

The BGMEA leader said that the labour unrest at the sweater factories of the Azim Group and the subsequent violence warrants due attention of the government because those were not isolated incidents but the results of pre-planned espionage and destruction.

"Every thing of the agitation and violence was directed by cellular phone and from Hotel Shajahan in the city," he added.

More than six thousand workers of the troubled sweater factories reportedly turned jobless from Monday following indefinite closure of the factories by the management inflicting a cumulative damage of Taka 2000 million to the company.

Denying wage exploitation by the owners of the Orchid Sweaters Limited, Savar Sweaters Limited and Global Knitwear Limited, the BGMEA leaders said that most of the previously raised demands of the workers had been duly addressed but a section of the workers deliberately instigated others on fictitious issue like basic wage what had long been accumulated in the takeaway package.

Directors of the BGMEA Ershad Ullah, Abdul Mannan Rana, Mohammad Ferdous, Mohammad M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Syed Ahsanul Haque, former first vice-presidents Mahbub Ali, Moinuddin Ahmed, Khalilur Rahman and former directors Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Alhajj Nazimuddin Chowdhury, Emdadul Haq Chowdhury among others, were present on the occasion.

Govt to take dialogue to dist, upazila level

Staff Reporter

The Government is planning to take the dialogue to the district and upazila levels in order to make it a success with the participation of the citizens' and professional groups of the grassroots.

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman disclosed this at a joint briefing yesterday after the talks between the Government and Gano Forum (GF) led by Dr Kamal Hossain at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) in the capital.

GF President Dr Kamal Hossain, who was leading an 11-member party delegation, placed a package of proposals, including the formation of a government of national consensus after the general elections, like that of the first multi-racial national government of South Africa led by President Nelson Mandela, popularly known as the most prominent anti-apartheid leader in the contemporary world.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led a delegation of Advisers of his Caretaker Government during the moot at its seventh sessions with political parties.

Other proposals placed by the GF Chief included formation of a Constitution Review Commission to update the Constitution, relaxing the state of emergency progressively phase by phase till total withdrawal before the general elections, holding free, fair and credible elections after eliminating influence of black money and muscle power in politics and encouraging honest and dedicated people to participate in polls.

The party also demanded 'proper and effective" steps to try the alleged 71 war criminals immediately during the talks.

Moving his proposal to form a government of national consensus, Dr Kamal Hossain, who was Chairman of internal committee of experts to prepare the politico-legal framework for the South African transition to multi-racial consensus and democracy from apartheid, said such a government could be formed by like minded parties after the elections on the basis of consensus document announced by the 14-party alliance and other political parties in 2004.

"Even those who had forced Mandela to jail were inducted to his cabinet after the post-apartheid period in South Africa," he told joint press briefing after the 2-hour dialogue on pre- and post-election issues.

Dr Kamal said they want that the winning parties after the elections would form a government of national consensus on the basis of consultations to introduce healthy politics and good governance in the country.

Stressing the need for on holding the general elections in the 3rd week of December, he said the Chief Adviser's commitment made through his address to the nation should be regarded as "a firm national commitment" and hoped the Chief Adviser would keep his commitment.

On lifting of the 16-month-old state of emergency, he said the emergency must be progressively relaxed to create an environment of confidence and security for free and fair election and it must be withdrawn completely well before the election.

Dr Kamal also suggested formation of a Constitutional Review Commission to make proposals on Constitution reforms to be considered by next parliament.

Recounting objectives of the movement since 2004, the Gano Forum president said his party along with other democracy-minded parties launched movement to reach national consensus for establishing functioning democracy.

He said that in 2005, allies of the 14-party combine signed an agreement to ensure general elections free from black money and terrorism and rejected the elections slated for January 22, 2007.

During the dialogue, Dr Kamal said, the Chief Adviser assured him that the Election Commission has been functioning independently.

He suggested registration of political parties and publication of audit reports of political parties' funds.

Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the dialogue, 7th in the series, was fruitful when Gano Forum spoke about the establishment of healthy politics discarding sick politics.

The GF also suggested neutralization of the administration, reducing the election expenditure to a reasonable level and establishing a 'hotline' between the government and the mass people so their problems could be resolved readily.

Again stressing the need for national consensus, Dr Hossain Zillur mentioned the consensus among political parties in 1990 switching over to democratic politics.

"We hope, this time around political parties will be able to reach consensus on returning the country to sound democratic system," he said.

The 11-member Gano Forum delegation to the dialogue included Pankaj Bhattacharya, Mofizul Islam Khan Kamal, Mostafa Mohsin Mantu, Commander Abdur Rauf, former Chief Whip Abdur Rauf and Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, while Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, and LGRD Anwarul Iqbal in the government side.

Equitable share of trans-boundary river water stressed

Staff Reporter

Water experts at a seminar yesterday underscored the need for a regional understanding among the South Asian countries to ensure equitable share of trans-boundary river water.

They also said that any treaty for sharing water of trans-boundary rivers must be signed by the countries through which the rivers flow.

The water experts were addressing a seminar on 'Trans-boundary Water Issues in South Asia' at the LGED auditorium in the city. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda was present as chief guest. The Bangladesh Water Partnership (BWP) organised the meet.

Former Water Resources Minister Abdur Razzaque of Awami League emphasised the need for regional dialogue among the common river stakeholders and said Bangladesh would get equitable share of the trans-boundary river water, if the regional countries negotiate on the issue at the highest political level. "We need good understanding among the regional countries to solve the problem," Razzaque said and added, "India and Nepal have signed an agreement on the Ganges water, but they have not contacted Bangladesh in this regard."

LK Siddiqi, former Water Resources Minister of BNP said, "We have to be pragmatic and change our attitude to solve the problem of the trans-boundary river water."

"We could have utilised the common river water through the cooperation of the SAARC nations," Siddiqi added.

Dr ATM Shamsul Huda called upon the big political parties to ensure equitable share of common river water from neighbouring India.

"Our political parties do not agree on any national issue. If a party government signs a treaty, then another party tries to make the treaty ineffective," Dr Huda added.

Criticising political redtapism, CEC Huda said the four-year master plan on national water management could not be implement as the policymakers of the than government had failed to agree on the plan.

Former Foreign Minister of JP Anisul Islam Mahmud said, "We need to improve our political and negotiation skills to ensure water share of common rivers."

Tauhidul Anwar Khan presented keynote paper based on his book on 'Trans-boundary water issues in South Asia' while Quamrul Islam Siddique, president of BWP moderated the seminar.

Tauhid said, "Bangladesh, located within the flood plains of three great rivers, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and Meghna, is facing a critical situation in the water sector. There are more than 230 rivers in Bangladesh, 57 of which are trans-boundary."

He added that 54 of those rivers are common with India and 3 are common with Myanmar.

In the absence of any certainty of flow through the rivers, Bangladesh has been compelled to depend heavily on the ground water supply for meeting various demand of water, he further said.

"So far, there has been water sharing agreements with India only on the Ganges. The water sharing issues of other common rivers are pending for decades," said Tauhid.

Prof M Moniruzzaman Miah, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Farhad Mazhar and Sadeque Khan, columnists, Muhammad Zamir, Vice President of BWP, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Executive Director of BELA spoke at the seminar.

Gen Masud transferred to NDC

Staff Reporter

In a major reshuffle in the army, Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Principal Staff Officer to the Armed Forces Division, has been transferred to the National Defence College as its commandant, sources said yesterday.

The services of Lt Gen ATM Zahirul Alam, commandant of the National Defence College has been placed under the Foreign Ministry. He is likely to be appointed as the High Commissioner to Australia.

Major General MA Mobin, GOC of the Chittagong garrison, has been appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Armed Forces Division.

Major General Shamim Chowdhury, GOC of the Bogra region, has been transferred to the Chittagong garrison.

AL terms crackdown motivated

Staff Reporter

Protesting the crackdown on its leaders and activists across the country, the Awami League yesterday warned that the operation was destroying the possibility of the dialogue and making the general elections uncertain.

"The crackdown is designed to make the situation murky," party Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said, while talking to journalists after a meeting of its Secretariat at Dhanmondi AL office last night.

Terming these arrests as politically motivated, he said, the law enforcers were launching a countrywide house-to-house raid to nab the AL leaders and workers without any specific allegations to gag their voice.

"The Caretaker Government, unleashed the repression as the AL leaders are preparing to launch a mass movement for the release of party President Sheikh Hasina," he said, adding that the Secretariat worked out plans to carryout the May 28 decisions of the party Central Working Committee.

According to the meeting's plan, the party would launch a mass-signature campaign across the country, outside Dhaka city, from June 7 to 30 to press home it 6-point demand that includes unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina. The signature forms will be provided to all the districts by June 4.

Besides, the central leaders will attend extended meetings of the district committees from June 15 to 30.

Asked about BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's call for unity among political parties, Syed Ashraf dismissed the possibility of unity with the BNP and Jamaat, saying, "Our party has ideological differences with them."

He alleged that the BNP-Jamaat alliance was responsible for the promulgation of the state of emergency in the country through their move to hold January 22 'one-party' election as per fake voters' list.

Asked about the Dhaka City committee's planned 'human Chain' around the makeshift jail where Hasina is being detained, he said the date for the programme would be fixed after consultation with the leaders of Dhaka City Committee.

Awami League will observe the historic 7th June commemorating the 6-point movement by organizing discussions and its founding anniversary on June 23.

Awami League would send a letter conveying its decision of not joining the dialogue without party chief Sheikh Hasina to the Chief Advisor's office tomorrow or the day after.