The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh elected titular member to ILO Governing Body

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh has been elected a titular member of

the Governing Body of International Labour Organisation (ILO) from the Asia Pacific group of countries for 2008-11.

The election took place Monday in Geneva in the ongoing session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), the highest governing body of the ILO, said a release received from the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva.

Eighteen new titular members were elected to the ILO Governing Body, which has a total of 56 regular members.

To reflect the unique tripartite structure of ILO, the Governing Body comprises members from governments, employers and workers.

The Governing Body takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the issues to be taken by the ILC and adopts the programme and budget of the organisation.

Identified fake Students attend Class at DU

DU Correspondent

The teachers of International Relation Department of Dhaka University yesterday expressed reluctance to take classes of identified fake students.

But the teachers failed to take any decision in this regard due to the court injunction giving these students all opportunities of the university till a court verdict.

The university authority has so far identified over 40 fake students out of some 216 at the department.

Sources said a group of teachers led by Prof Rukhsana Kibria, Chairman of the Department, met Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz yesterday to convey to him their decision.

During the meeting, the teachers also demanded arrest of Abul Hossain, official of the department, who was earlier suspended for his alleged involvement in the fake admission process.

When contacted by this Correspondent, Prof Rukhsana refused to disclose what transpired at the meeting.

Taslima Nasreen finds refuge in Sweden

Agency

A Swedish municipality has given exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen a sanctuary grant that will allow her to work there for two years.

Lawmaker Cecilia Wikstrom said yesterday that the writer has been given a sanctuary grant in Uppsala, 43 miles (70km) north of Stockholm. The grant includes an apartment, financial assistance and the opportunity to work in Sweden for two years.

Nasreen left Bangladesh in 1994 after Islamic extremists threatened to kill her.

In March she travelled to Europe from India to seek medical assistance after fleeing violent protests by a Muslim group. The group accused her of insulting Islam in her writings.

Wikstrom says Nasreen is doing well and hopes to start working again soon.

Graft case: HC grants bail to Tofael's wife, daughter

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted ad-interim anticipatory bail to Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed's wife and daughter in a graft case, filed against the AL leader and his family members, as the two surrendered before the court.

A division bench comprising Justice Khandaker Musa Khaled and Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury passed the order granting bail to Tofael's wife Anwara Ahmed and daughter Taslima Ahmed Zaman.

They were granted anticipatory bail for four months or "until submission of police report".

Tofail's position in facing the case was not known.

On Thursday (May 29), the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna police station against him for amassing wealth worth Tk 2.44 crore beyond his known sources of income and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 1.86 crore.

His wife and daughter were accused of assisting Tofail, a former minister, in committing the offences.

The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the

Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion Act 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules 2007.

Barrister Amir-Ul Islam appeared for the petitioners.

Meanwhile, the hearing on the petition filed by Jamaat secretary general and ex-minister Ali Ahsan M Mujaheed seeking ad-interim anticipatory bail in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case concluded yesterday before the same HC division bench.

The court will pass its order today (Tuesday).

Hasina concerned over 'mass arrest' of political leaders

UNB, Dhaka

Detained Awami League president Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed grave concern over the reported 'mass arrest' of political party leaders and workers across the country.

Talking to her lawyers at the special court, she asked the government to stop the "repressive measure" and create congenial atmosphere for dialogue and general election.

Law-enforcing agencies launched a clampdown on suspects since Friday night in a bid to ward off any possible disruptive activities and stem a recent upturn in crime.

Hasina, detained in the interim period in connection with several graft cases, cautioned that Awami League cannot be stopped by taking recourse to "repressive tactics".

The ex-PM alleged that the government is pushing the country towards conflict through its action on political parties.

"The government perhaps fails to realize the reality on the ground," she said.

Hasina petitions: HC for quashing barge-mounted power-plant case

UNB, Dhaka

Detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday petitioned the High Court for quashing the barge-mounted power-plant case against her, halfway through trial of the graft charge in a special court.

The petition is likely to be heard tomorrow (Tuesday) by a division bench comprising Justices Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Mashuque Hosain Ahmed.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed, her counsel in the oft-adjourned long-running trial proceedings, moved the petition for Sheikh Hasina.

The trial of the barge-mounted power-plant scam case is now going on in the special court on the parliament premises.

'Terror' killed in encounter with RAB in Rajshahi

UNB, Rajshahi

An unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter between RAB men and his associates at Namkan village in Baghmara upazila early yesterday.

A RAB press release said yesterday (Monday), a team of RAB-5 conducted a special drive at Namkan village at about 2:30am. As they reached near a mango orchard, a group of terrorists started firing on them, forcing the elite force to fire back that triggered a gun-battle.

Facing a hot chase and counter attack, the terrorists, except one, fled the scene.

Later, the RAB personnel found one of the terrorists with critical bullet wounds. They rushed him to local health complex where attendant doctors declared him dead.

The elite force also recovered a shutter gun, one cartridge, two knives and 13 leaflet of extremist Purba Bangla Communist Party.

Delwar calls for movement against 'parasite' govt

UNB, Dhaka

Taking a hot tip from his detained party chief, BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday asked the leaders and workers of BNP and its fronts to remain prepared for movement to bring down what he called "parasite" government.

Addressing a discussion marking slain President Ziaur Rahman's anniversary of death at the Engineers Institute, he called for building a united movement irrespective of party affiliation against the government.

"Downfall of the parasite government will be ensured through movement," Delwar said in a hard-hitting statement a day after his one-to-one parley with detained BNP chairperson and immediate-past PM Khaleda Zia at her trial court Sunday.

Referring to the guidelines he received from her, Delwar, handpicked by the party chief as secretary general before her arrest, said what she stated in the dock, that this government is a 'parasite' and 'illegal' government, was her guideline.

The BNP secretary general alleged that the caretaker government is arresting political leaders and workers in a bid to thwart the movement against it.

"In the name of curbing terrorism, the government is curbing politics," he told the audience.

Delwar noted that something may be earned by using the state of emergency but not everything.

"None can achieve a big result through conspiracy or any such means," he said, adding that the present government will also have to learn a lesson from the past history.

The BNP leader felt that conspiracy is on against BNP, but such conspiracy wouldn't see success, like in the past.

Presided over by JCD acting president Sultan Salahuddin Tokon, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by BNP leaders Selima Rahman, Nazrul Islam Khan, Goyeswar Chandra Roy and Rizvi Ahmed, JCD general secretary Sahfiul Bari Babu, JCD ex-president Shahabuddin Laltu and leaders of BNP's front organizations.