The New Nation - Internet Edition

IGP addresses Barisal cops: Police must be people-friendly

IG Noor Mohammad leading a procession on the
occasion of Community Police rally and view exchanging
meeting on Law and Order in Barisal on Thursday.
FocusBangla

Barisal Correspondent

Inspector General of Police Nurn Muhammad yesterday counselled the police force to shed their traditional image and become people oriented in the discharge of their responsibility.

Addressing the members of the community police of Barisal city and upazilas at the Barisal auditorium, he told them the citizens of the country have the right to get satisfactory service from the police and the latter must rise to the expectations of the people.

People come to the police to get justice and not to seek mercy and pity ,he said and advised the members of the law enforcing agencies to see to it that they are not harassed in any way.

He informed that several steps have already been taken to make the police force people oriented and improve their image. They include opening of delivery desk, establishment of model police station, organising open house day and publication of citizen charter, he noted.

About the recent report of the Transparency International Bangladesh on corruption index across the country, he said " we are trying to improve the situation. We have reached a certain stage in combating the curse of corruption and hope that condition will improve gradually with the help of people".

He pointed out that with a strength of 1.23 lakh members the police force has to serve nearly 15 crore people living in 1,47,570 square kilometres area under certain socio-economic and service limitations.

Speakers at the function said that community policing system is becoming popular and effective in maintaining law and order and providing social security service in Barisal division.

The meeting was informed that community police committee has been formed in 30 wards of Barisal city, 10 union parishads at Barisal sadar upzila,45 upazilas and municipal towns.308 community police committees have been formed at the union parishad level and 2,910 committees at the ward level.

About 50 thousand members of the community police under more than 3,300 committees have been raised. The committees are headed by the elected members of local government, it was stated at the meeting.

The community police committees have disposed of 253 cases of torture on women and dealt with 779 cases of land dispute during the last three months, the meeting was told.

The function was presided over by Khan Sayeed Hassan, Commisioner, Barisal Metropolitan Police.

It was attended, among others, by the deputy inspector general police in charge of Barisal range, divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner of Barisal, district commanders of joint forces and RAB, representatives of the community police committees and local elites.

The IGP also inaugurated the newly constructed police line of range reserve form and extended wing of police hospital in Barisal.

Dispute over offshore oil, gas exploration: Dhaka for tripartite talks with India, Myanmar

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Bangladesh will ask India and Myanmar to hold rapid tripartite talks to end a dispute over offshore exploration of gas and oil in the Bay of Bengal.

Petrobangla has drafted and forwarded a letter to the power, energy and mineral resources ministry for review, before sending it to India and Myanmar via the foreign ministry.

"India objected to offshore gas exploration in the Bay. We did the same when India had launched a gas exploration," the chief adviser's special assistant M Tamim, who oversees the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, told bdnews24.com:

"The dispute should come to an end through discussion. Neither we, nor they (India and Myanmar) will explore in disputed areas until a solution is found through talks," Tamim said.

Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin told bdnews24.com that the ministry was reviewing the letter drafted by Petrobangla.

Another senior official of the ministry said the government would give Indian and Myanmar a proposal to end the dispute over maritime boundaries in the Bay.

"Bangladesh suggests that all exploration and extraction in the Bay by the countries should be suspended until a decision is made. If India and Myanmar continue work and do not respond to our letter, Bangladesh will resume its activities as well," the official said.

Petrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed said: "We sent the draft letter to the energy ministry, and the foreign ministry will act on the letter and take necessary steps."

India and Myanmar objected to exploration of oil and gas in up to 12 offshore blocs in the Bay of Bengal after Petrobangla had invited bids for 28 blocs.

Both countries also asked international oil and gas companies not to take part in the bidding.

Seven international oil companies took part in the bidding for 15 blocs. Petrobangla is now evaluating the bids

The Houston, US-based Conoco-Phillips, Australia's Santos International, Longwoods Resources (a US-China joint venture), Korea International Oil Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corp, known as CNOOC, Comtrack Services and Tullow were among the players that joined the bidding.

Currently Bangladesh, with about 15 trillion cubic feet (425 billion cubic metres) of proven and recoverable gas reserves, is facing at least 100 million cubic feet of gas shortages a day.

JU seminar on 'English for Today’ from today

JU Correspondent

The English Department of Jahangirnagar University (JU) is going to organise a two-day seminar on "English for Today" on June 20 - 21 at the central auditorium of the University.

Distinguished speakers and professionals will engage in a critical dialogue in order to understand the state and scope of English as an academic discipline in the country. The seminar wants to explore the evolution of the English departments, especially vis-à-vis the growth in the service sector as well as the emergence of the private universities.

Indeed, seminar like this one promises to act as a platform where experiences will be shared and fresh ideas will be generated for the overall growth of the English Department in Bangladesh. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam will be present as the chief guest while Vice Chancellor of JU Professor Dr Muhammad Muniruzzaman will be the special guest. Chairman of JU English Department Dr. Shamsad Mortuza will preside over the inaugural session.

The seminar includes two panels. The first panel, "Then & Now", will be participated by National Professor Kabir Chowdhury, Prof. Khan Sarwar Murshed, Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Professor Nurul Islam and Professor Niaz Zaman and Professor. Professor Dr. Shireen Huq will moderate the session. The other panel on "Overseas Cultural & Resource Centers" will be participated by Dr. Sayed Manzurul Islam, Dr. Fakrul Alam Prof. Rahman, Professor Shafi Ahmed and Shahnoor Wahid, the literary editor of The Daily Star, will act as the moderator.

A total number of 21 papers will be presented during the two-day seminar.

Hasina’s heart disease detected

Staff Reporter

Doctors in the US detected symptom of heart disease in her body after examining former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to a message received in Dhaka from Boston yesterday.

Sheikh Hasina, who was temporarily released from prison on June 11 and flown to the US for medical treatment on June 12, had undergone medical check up of her eyes at Yale University in Boston on Wednesday, while she sought doctors' advice for her ear complications from different hospital in the US city.

In addition to eye and ear complications, she was suffering from high blood pressure and allergy, while in prison for about 11 months.

Doctors detected the symptom of her heart disease yesterday, when doctors conducted the medical examination for her ear complication and blood pressure, the message said quoting a leader of her party Awami League (AL) in the US. "Doctors prescribed her medicines and asked Sheikh Hasina to report back to them after eight weeks following the medication," message said.

AL sources in Dhaka said soon they would request the Government extend the tenure of her temporary release since the doctors have directed Sheikh Hasina to report after eight weeks.

The former Prime Minister was conditionally released for eight weeks on June 11 for medical treatment abroad as per recommendation of an official medical board.

Meanwhile, who is now staying at the residence of her son Sajib Wazed Joy Cambridge area in Boston, yesterday met some leaders of her party in the US.

She is expected to fly to Washington DC on June 29. "She will visit New York earlier," the message added.

ACC to chargesheet Morshed, Altaf

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is going to chargesheet former BNP ministers M Morshed Khan and Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury in separate cases filed against them for hiding information in their wealth statements.The ACC Director General (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told yesterday the Commission's regular briefing that the anti-graft watchdog has approved the submission of charge-sheets against the two former ministers.

Former Foreign Minister Morshed and his wife Nasrin Khan will be charge-sheeted in the case filed with Gulshan police station on December 10, 2007 for acquiring wealth worth Tk 1.67 crore beyond their known sources of income, including concealment of information of assets worth Tk 91.36 lakh.

The charge-sheet will be submitted under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

The ACC will submit charge-sheet in the case filed with Ramna police station on December 18, 2007 against former Home Minister Altaf for their ill-gotten wealth worth Tk 1.53 crore, including concealment of information of assets worth Tk 55.6 lakh.

The chargesheet will be submitted under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

The ACC Director General also told the journalists that the Commission has also approved the submission of chargesheet in another case against three individuals, including deputy director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital Kamal Uddin Ahmed for misappropriating Tk 79.48 lakh.

Hanif said the Commission has also approved the filing of cases against Awami League leader AKM Rahmat Ullah's son Hedayetullah and agriculturist Jabed Iqbal.

Hedayetullah will be charged with amassing illegal wealth while a case will be filed against Jabed for failing to submit his wealth statement in due time.

All refugees have right for asylum: UN

BSS, Dhaka

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon urgently called on the international community to redouble efforts to address both the causes and consequences of forced human displacement.

Greater international solidarity is crucial if we are to share the burden of protection more equitably, he said.

In a message on the eve of World Refugee Day, Ban-Ki Moon said in the past year, the number of refugees has grown to more than 11 million worldwide.

He said "Intolerance political breakdown and war have long pernicious histories. Yet the fragility of political systems, the devolution of societies into catastrophic violence have also provoked a humane reply the protection of those forced to flee their countries in escape from persecution".

Granting asylum can be traced back thousands of years and is one of the earliest hallmarks of civilization, the UN chief said adding yesterday, the principle is firmly recognised in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which this year marks its sixtieth anniversary; 'Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution'.

The United Nations Refugee Convention of 1951 defined a refugee as a person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence and who has a well-founded fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, he added.

Ban Ki-Moon Further said "Since 1951,human displacement has become a far more complex issue. Distinguishing a refugee from a person driven across a border by sheer hunger is often very difficult. Population flows are now driven by interrelated factors and as barriers to human mobility have fallen, protecting the displaced has become a greater challenge".

Conflict and poverty, the most common reasons people are compelled to leave their homes, are now amplified by the effects of climate change increasing scarcity of resources and food shortages factors which may lead to greater insecurity in the future compounding these challenges is the fact that the responsibility of providing asylum currently falls disproportionately on developing nations, the message added.

He said contrary to public perceptions in many industrialised nations, developing countries actually bear the burden of hosting a larger number of refugees, despite their limited resources.

In the message, the UN chief said "I thank the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and United Nations agencies that have worked together to protect and help repatriate the displaced. We must not lose sight of the individual people who are fleeing persecution, what they face on a daily basis as they try to meet their basic needs".

He said "Our goal must be no less than to ensure that refugees will be free one day to return home, in safety and dignity. But on World Refugee Day, let us first reaffirm that all refugees have the right to asylum, and let us do everything we can to give them the full protection they deserve".

Hafiz Ibrahim gets 13 years, his wife 3 yrs in graft case: Property worth Tk 20 cr ordered to be confiscated

UNB, Dhaka

A special court yesterday sentenced detained former BNP lawmaker from Bhola-2 constituency Hafiz Ibrahim to 13 years rigorous imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information about it to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

His wife Mafruza Khatun, now on the run, was also convicted and sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment for aiding her husband in protecting the ill-gotten property.

Delivering the sentences, Judge Begum Shamsunnahar fined the Hafiz couple Tk one crore each, failing which they will have to suffer one and half years and six months respectively more behind bars.

Besides, the court ordered confiscation of the ill-gotten property of the couple worth over Tk 20 crore.

The property of Hafiz, brother of detained controversial businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, includes five different brand cars and fixed deposits with banks.

6 JMB cadres get life term

UNB, Rajshahi

Six cadres of outlawed JMB were yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for blasting bombs in Chapainawabganj town on August 17, 2005 that left a poor rickshaw puller dead.

Divisional speedy trial tribunal court awarded the punishment to Shakhawat alias Jiad Hossain, Shahidulla Faruk alias Selim, Tufan alias Abul Kashem, Hafez Ali Akbar alias Reaz, Hafizur Rahman Dalim (in absentia) and Shafiullah alias Shahid (in absentia).

They were also fined Tk 10,000 each, in default to serve one year more rigorous imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, the JMB cadres blasted bombs at several important points of the town, as part of the party's countrywide bomb attack on August 17, 2005. Rickshaw-puller Rabiul Islam, Mati Shaha and Rabi Shaha were wounded in the blast at Biswa Road crossing. Rabiul later succumbed to his injuries in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

HC orders govt to act on water deal with India

Faridpur Town Protection Dam comes under threat as
the Padma erosion turns serious in the beginning of monsoon
season. FocusBangla

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday ordered the government to explain why the concerned authorities were not being directed to take steps to ensure procurement of water from the Ganges in line with an agreement with India.

The court also ordered the government to take initiatives to reconsider the Ganges water sharing treaty through international forums, including the United Nations, according to international law and conventions.

It also sought an explanation from the government why authorities should not be directed to set up a Ganges/Padma barrage as an alternative source for ensuring adequate water supply.

A HC bench of justices Nazmun Ara Sultana and Md Rezaul Haque made the order following a public interest litigation petition filed by Supreme Court lawyers MK Muraduzzaman and Faruk Hossain.

The cabinet secretary, foreign secretary, secretary to the president, secretary to the ministry of forestry and environment and secretary to the ministry of disaster and relief were ordered to give their explanations within four weeks.

Advocate Tazul Islam, who stood for the petitioners, told the court that Bangladesh was supposed to get 67,516 cusecs (cubic feet of water per second) during each specified 'period'. The Bangladesh-India treaty divides each month into three periods.

Bangladesh received only 55,556 cusecs in the first ten days of January, 2008, losing almost 12,000 cusecs during this period, he said.

Advocate Tazul added that the deal was supposed to be reviewed at least every five years, and sometimes less, according to the conditions of the water sharing pact.

There was scope in the treaty for Bangladesh to propose the time for a review, he cited.

But no such step has been taken in the past 12 years since the deal was signed, the lawyer said.

India breaches the conditions of the deal by depriving Bangladesh of water every year through the Farakka dam, Tazul said.

Supreme Court lawyers MK Muraduzzaman and Faruk Hossain filed their petition with the High Court on June 8, this year.

Deputy attorney general Idris Khan represented the state.

The 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India was signed on Dec 12, 1996.

Pak defence budget made public

BBC Online

Pakistani Finance Minister Naveed Qamar has revealed the details of his country's defence budget to parliament for the first time in 40 years.

Qamar gave details of financial allocations to members in what was hailed as a "historic moment".

Pakistan's defence budget has been classified since the country went to war with India in 1965.

The military has since kept spending concerns out of the realm of civilians for reasons of national security.

"This is a historic moment," Raza Rabbani, a senior Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader, told parliament.

"The PPP and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) have now fulfilled the promise made in the charter of democracy to present the defence budget before parliament."

According to the two-page document issued in Islamabad, Pakistan's Army gets the largest share.

The Army accounts for 188bn rupees ($2.80bn) out of a total defence expenditure of 294bn rupees ($4.39bn).

The country's air force gets 71bn rupees ($1.07bn), while the navy gets a comparatively measly 29bn rupees ($432m).

Most of the army's budget is going to be spent on its staff.

The case is similar as far as the air force and navy are concerned.

Operational costs for the two services are listed as 16bn ($238m) and 4bn rupees ($59.56m).

Analysts believe the move to declare the budget will lead to greater accountability in the forces.

But they insist there is still a need for a proper audit of the military's expenses to ensure greater transparency.

The force has been faced allegations in the past of kickbacks over arms sales and alleged misappropriations of funds.

Obama public won't accept financing

BBC Online

Democrat Barack Obama has said he will not take public financing, allowing him to raise unlimited private funds in his campaign for the US presidency.

His decision means he will forgo more than $80m (£40.5m) that would have been available for him to fight Republican John McCain for the White House.

Candidates who accept public money cannot raise funds from private donors.

Obama set records raising money for his campaign for the Democratic nomination during the primary contests.

The decision reverses his earlier promise to use the federal public financing system if his Republican rival also did so.

The Obama campaign team said McCain was already using privately-raised funds in his campaign and that the public finance system was "broken".

Amnesty seeks 'missing' Tibetans

BBC Online

More than 1,000 Tibetans detained during protests against the Chinese government in March remain unaccounted for, Amnesty International says.

In a report, the human rights group said there were reports that detainees had been beaten and deprived of food.

Ahead of the Olympic torch relay through Tibet, Amnesty asked China to "shine some light" on the situation.

China says rioters killed at least 19 people. Tibetan exiles say security forces killed dozens of people.

The anti-China protests led by Buddhist monks - the worst in the region in 20 years - began in Lhasa on 10 March.

After the riots, pro-Tibetan protesters threw China's global Olympic torch relay into disarray as it passed through several cities, including London, Paris and San Francisco.