The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abnormal trend in DSE, no explanation yet: Police deployed at share market

Special security measures were taken in and around
the Dhaka Stock Exchange to avert any unwanted situation
yesterday following the declining of share price index for
last few days. FocusBangla

Pulack Ghatack

Recurrent demonstrations and interference in the capital market have caused share prices to go up or down exposing weaknesses of the market.

As the trading started in police cordon at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday, the bourse got back its bullish trend with shares bouncing back after days of decline.

Prices at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also went up following action by market regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Sunday.

Yesterday a total of 1,38,90,607 shares worth Tk 247.41 crore changed hands at the Dhaka bourse. Of the issues traded, 198 advanced and 23 declined and 11 remained unchanged.

Earlier on Monday, a group of small investors took to the street for the second time in a month staging demonstration in front of DSE building as the premier bourse's General Index fell.

In February too they demonstrated when the price indices fell.

While talking to The New Nation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSE Dr Salahuddin Ahmed said, "Certainly the market has weakness as it is yet to be in the hand of institutional investors. Individual investors mainly are crowding here."

The DSE CEO termed the demonstration by some investors as "the part of our culture."

"Some people with a motive to influence the market, may provoke people to demonstrate. We are sensitive to the interest of investors. But, we take decisions looking at the market trend, so that it does not crash," he said.

About yesterday's bounce back, share bazaar analyst Prof Abu Ahmed said, "prices probably bottomed out yesterday in a natural process of correction. The market regulator is also showing a lenient trend."

Panic among investors appeared to have faded as the day saw substantial buying, he added.

The general index rose sharply on the opening bell and maintained an upward curve to close at 71.66 points or 2.41 per cent higher at 3036.02.

Turnover surged to Tk 247 crore from Tk 169 crore with 13,890,607 shares changing hands. Gainers outnumbered losers 198 to 23. Eleven issues remained steady.

Lanka Bangla Finance topped the turnover board. It rose 10.95 per cent to Tk 199.50. Square Pharmaceuticals ended on Tk 5241.25, up 3.16 per cent.

Beximco Pharma advanced 5.40 per cent to Tk 99.40.

BRAC Bank finished at Tk 1071.50, edging up 0.21 per cent from Monday's closing.

AIMS 1st Mutual Fund gained 8.81 per cent to close at Tk 21.49.

President at CMH, improves

Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed visiting the ailing
President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed at CMH at Dhaka Cantonment on
Tuesday. PID photo

Staff Reporter

The health condition of President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, whp was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on Monday night, is improving.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday met the President at the hospital and inquired about his health, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Fahim Monem told The New Nation yesterday.

It is learnt that the President's wife Anwara Ahmed, who also is suffering viral fever is under treatment at the same hospital.

Sources said the president's body temperature, which rose to 103 degrees Fahrenheit came down to 101 degrees yesterday.

The President talk to Chief Adviser during the latter's visit to the hospital.

A 7-member medical board headed by National Professor Brig Gen (retd) MA Malik reviewed the President's health at 10:30 am and advised him to be under treatment until he settles down.

Other members of the medical board are Prof KMS Sirajul Huq, DG Medical Services Maj Gen MA Moyeed Siddique, Maj Gen MA Rabbani, Brig Gen Abdul Alim, Prof AKM Mohibullah and Col SM Mamunur Rashid.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed visited the ailing President at ICU-1 of the CMH at 11:25am yesterday.

The President was admitted to the CMH at around 11pm Monday. Professor Iajuddin Ahmed, 77, had an open-heart surgery at St Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore in 2006.

Sustainable democracy can move country forward: Patel

Praful C Patel

Staff Reporter

The World Bank Vice President for South Asia region Praful C Patel said the next parliamentary election is important for maintaining the economic growth and development in Bangladesh.

"If the smooth transition of power, as per the road map, does not happen than it will hamper the economy and investment," he told the media at a press briefing organised by the international lending agency at a city hotel yesterday.

He said for the last five years Bangladesh has performed well in maintaining its economic growth despite natural disasters.

He also said that smooth transition of power as well as sustainable democracy could move the country forward further for maintaining the present economic growth.

The country is maintaining a steady 6 per cent economic growth despite severe natural disasters. Political stability as well smooth transition of power to the elected government could maintain the present economic growth.

Bangladesh will be a middle-income country by achieving 7 per cent growth within the next decade, if it maintained the present rate of economic growth through political stability, he added.

He said the investment in the human sector development should be continued for keeping the on going progress in health and education sectors.

He laid emphasis on infrastructure development like transport, power and energy sectors.

Mentioning the high food price as a global crisis he said the sharp rise in food prices had caused serious impact on food consumption and nutrition of poor people in the country.

He said the World Bank would continue to provide financial support to Bangladesh in social protection programmes and agriculture.

Replying to a query on the fiscal deficit Praful said, " I think 5 per cent is high fiscal deficit " he said and expressed his reservation on the success of Employment Guarantee Scheme of the Government.

He said the international lending agency would continue to support Bangladesh Government in easing its budget pressure.

On the issue of high fuel price he said the rich people are getting huge benefits from the Government subsidy on fuel. He said it is up to the Bangladesh Government whether to increase the fuel price or not.

Patel reiterated that the World Bank is committed to assist Bangladesh in mitigating climate change and improve natural disaster management.

He said in the coming years the bank will significantly scale up its activity on both adaptation and mitigation of climate change in Bangladesh. This include rehabilitation of recent cyclone affected areas, coastal zone management and building embankment and shelters.

Asked to comment on holding the local government elections before parliamentary polls declared by the government despite strong opposition from main political parties he replied, "It is not my business to comment. It is absolutely the internal matter of Bangladesh,".

He lauded the Government's on going anti corruption drive and reforms in different sectors.

Brain hemorrhage Nasim at LabAid ICU

Mohammad Nasim

Staff Reporter

Former Home Minister and Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim was admitted to LabAid Hospital yesterday as he is suffering from brain hemorrhage following a stroke in the morning.

He was first taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from Kashimpur jail in the morning, when he complained of feeling weak on his left side.

A team of AL presidium members visited the hospital to see Nasim at around noon.

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said, " a major hemorrhage took place in the right part of his brain and the left part of his body has been paralysed. The medical board has taken the decision to his physical condition at night."

This issue was also discussed in the AL presidium meeting at the AL Acting President Zillur

Rahman's Gulshan residence yesterday evening.

Meanwhile, Awami League (AL) Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta was also hospitalised at LabAid Hospital for cardiac complications yesterday.

He was receiving treatment under Dr. Barun Chakrabarty.

After primary diagnosis, BSMMU doctors sent Mohammad Nasim to LabAid Specialised Hospital at 12:30pm.

"He is totally conscious. It's curable from the present state," Maj (retd) AK Mahbubul Huq, Head of Medical Services at LabAid, told journalists yesterday afternoon.

Asked if he is out of danger, Dr Huq said he has been kept under observation for 72-hour after which a final assessment could be reached.

The doctor termed the disease 'hemeoperesis'. He, however, declined to make any comment when asked if Mohammad Nasim needs to be sent abroad for medical treatment.

A six-member medical board was constituted for his treatment. Board members are Prof Sirajul Huq, Prof Faizul Islam, Cardiologist Barun Chakroborty and Dr Shahriar Saber of BSMMU and Asst Prof Kanak Kanti Barua and Asst Prof Abu Naser Rijvi of LabAid.

Earlier, DIG (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said Nasim was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the LabAid hospital at about 12:30pm in an unconscious state.

He said Nasim suffered a stroke at about 8:30am at Kashimpur jail and was instantly rushed to BSMMU from where he was admitted to the LabAid hospital.

He is serving a 13-year prison term in a graft case.

Mohammad Nasim was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in a graft case on October 8 last year, while his wife Laila Arzumand Banu, tried in absentia, also jailed for three years for aiding and abetting her husband in acquiring wealth through dishonest means.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Nasim on March 21 in 2007, a frontline leader of the Awami League, and his wife with Dhanmondi police station for furnishing "false information" in their wealth statements submitted to the ACC.

The trial of another graft case, involving setting up of a T&T digital telephone line, is underway against him.

He was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence by joint forces on February 3 on charges of corruption, amid a clampdown on former ruling politicians under a countrywide purge in the interim period against serious crime and corruption.

National security endangered: Scrap ship owners asked to hand over radio equipment

Syful Islam

With a view to saving endangered security the Government has asked the scrap ship owners to hand over communications and navigational equipment within 45 days of import.

Violation of the order will invite stern actions including cancellation of ship import licence, stoppage of issuing no objection certificate for ship breaking and other legal actions under government rules.

The Government recently issued an order asking all concerns to follow the rules regarding handing over of communications and navigational equipment.

The Government took the decision after revealing that some of the scrap ship importers are violating the rules creating threat to national security by mishandling communications and navigational equipment, informed sources said.

Meanwhile, in the recent days law-enforcing agencies noticed that radio communications equipment which include MFHF, VHF, transmitter and receiver, walkie-talkie set and radio sets became available to the terrorists groups.

Different intelligence agencies informed the Government that some of the terrorist groups, especially in the hilly areas, are using the radioactive equipment collecting from different sources including the ships brought for scrapping, sources added.

To stop missing of the radio communications equipment from ships brought for scrapping, the Government asked the importers to inform the Bangladesh Navy before 24 hours of reaching the ship in outer anchorage of Chittagong port.

Day after ship comes to the outer anchorage of the port the Navy and customs officials will visit the ship to make a list of the communications and navigational equipment.

After marking by the Navy and Customs officials the ship owners will have to hand over the equipment to the Navy within 45 days of breaking of the ship.

If the ship importers do not hand over the radioactive equipment within 45 days, they will face different course of legal actions, the order issued by the Ministry of Shipping said.

NCC has no legal basis, says Matin

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The National Coordination Committee that works to check serious crimes has no legal validity in itself, said the committee's chairman MA Matin yesterday.

Matin, also home and shipping adviser, said the committee would not itself deal with any new case but would refer all graft allegations to the Anticorruption Commission.

"The ACC will handle all corruption allegations from now on, because the NCC has no legal basis," he said.

The comment was the clarification of the adviser's early statement on the NCC, but he did not further explain the legal basis of the committee.

The NCC has so far worked mainly to bring changes and assist the ACC, Matin clarified to reporters Tuesday after attending a board meeting of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation at the shipping ministry.

The NCC has so far investigated 488 cases. Of them, 65 have been disposed of, following trial. The remainder of the cases are either on trial or being investigated.

Matin said on Sunday that the government would not start any fresh anticorruption drive but would consider cases on a priority basis from the list of corruption suspects lying with the government.

On whether the NCC's stance indicated the government's gradual withdrawal or switch to a more amenable stance, the adviser said: "I don't see any compromise. We've assisted the ACC by instigating necessary measures against those found guilty."

No secret deal with any party: CA

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday made it clear that his Government has no 'secret understanding' with any of the political parties.

Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Convenor Dr Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi disclosed this after his party's dialogue with the Caretaker Government. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed attended the meeting at his office as the leader of the Government delegation.

The PDP, (known as a 'king's party',) chief told a joint briefing after the dialogue that the Chief Adviser made the clarification as his party sought clear official stance over the speculations involving the Government's negotiations with the Awami League (AL), which created confusions that the interim administration entered into some sorts of dealings with the party.

Dr Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi said they (PDP) asked openly at the dialogue about people's perception that the present interim government had 'understanding' with a certain political party-AL.

He quoted Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed as telling his party leaders that "The Caretaker Government has no secret discussion with any political party".

The head of Caretaker Government once again assured that the next general election would be held transparently following the set roadmap.

In this context, Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, who is the Government spokesperson in the ongoing dialogue, told the press briefing that they want to clearly state that the present Government wants to advance as per the polls-roadmap, involving all political parties as part of the Government's principles.

"We want to create a level playing field for healthy competition of political parties in the elections," he said.

To a question about specific Government principles, Dr Zillur said, "The reform of electoral rules, polls-roadmap, giving attention to people's demands for attaining the key objective of holding meaningful election, qualitative change in politics, and ensuring post-election stability."

He said the Caretaker Government wants to clear its perception to the people through informing them what the Government is doing.

Indicating threat of some major political parties to boycott or resist elections, PDP leader Qureshi said participation of voters is the only yardstick for election, not matter whether any political party participates or not.

He said the PDP believes that presently minimum 60 per cent of voters want to participate in the elections ahead as they got the people's pulse during talks with people across the country.

Replying to a question, Qureshi said an election would be acceptable if majority voters participate and cast vote, "notwithstanding any major political party participates or not".

"People are election-oriented and an election should be considered as credible by all if 60 per cent of voters are participate no matter whether any political party joins it or not," he said.

The newly floated party's chief thanked and congratulated the Caretaker Government for its strong steps to hold local-government elections and favoured holding all the local polls, including upazila elections, before the parliamentary polls.

He pointed out that it had been noticed in the past that political parties before all parliamentary elections had pledged to hold local elections, particularly upazila election, but they backtracked from after forming the government following the general elections.

"Big parties of the past will always remain big one-this is not correct," Dr Qureshi said pointing his fingers at the present political equations.

The PDP also proposed a change in the trend of permanent allocation of election symbols to the political parties, saying that rather the election commission should allocate election symbols afresh to political parties before each election.

Placing logic behind this proposition, they observed that voters only vote for a particular symbol, even not the party, without judging the worth of candidates.

The partly placed and discussed other proposals in the dialogue include addition of 100 national seats to the 300 parliamentary constituency-based seats and proportional allocation of seats to different political parties on the basis of overall results of national elections, listing out identified criminals and musclemen constituency-wise and hanging those lists in thanas and taking steps against them.

They also proposed that the anti-corruption drive should be carried on and trial process against those having specific corruption charges against them accomplished before the polls.

Regarding the PDP proposals like an additional 100 national seats and change in permanent allocation of election symbols, Dr Zillur said the Government wants to proceed discussing with all the proposals and new ideas.

Yesterday's sitting was the 16th dialogue sessions between the Caretaker Government and political parties and various stakeholder groups that began May 22 to pave the way for smooth transition into democracy.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed along with two Advisers concerned was present at the dialogue.

Dr Hossain Zillur informed that three advisers were absent for they were on visit abroad. Law Adviser Hassan Ariff and LGRD Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal are on official visit, while Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed for treatment.

The PDP Convenor led an eight-member delegation to the talks.

Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader and PDP leaders Noor Mohammad Khan, Abul Hassan Chowdhury, Maj Gen (retd) MA Rafiqul Hossain, Kamrunnahar Jafar, Col (retd) HMA Gaffar, Golam Sarwar Milon and Maj (retd) Riajul Islam were present at the dialogue and the joint press briefing.

Police on boat to curb piracy around capital

Staff Reporter

The metropolitan police will introduce river patrol in the low-lying areas around the city during the rainy season to protect the local inhabitants from piracy.

This was disclosed by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Naim Ahmad at the monthly crime review meeting at Rajarbagh Police Lines yesterday afternoon.

"Incidents of secret killings in the city increased to 31 in May compared to 25 in April. "That doesn't mean the law and order situation has deteriorated. Crime is a continuous process but the law enforcers are trying to bring it under control," Naim said.

"The activities of pirates usually increase in low-lying areas of the city during the rainy season. DMP has decided to deploy river patrol teams to ensure security of the people living in those areas," the DMP Commissioner added.

He said police teams would patrol by boat at night. They will use hailers during the patrol to make the residents aware of their presence and to scare away the pirates.

Some 44 robberies, 26 rapes, 293 thefts and 7 dacoities occurred during the month showing a considerable improvement in the situation over the previous month, he claimed.

He said 18 illegal firearms were recovered and 35 people arrested in May.

Hold JS polls first: Khaleda: She says CG has no mandate to hold local-body polls

Staff Reporter

Detained former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon the government for holding the parliamentary elections first saying that the caretaker government has no mandate to hold local government elections.

"We also want local body elections, but the elections must be held under elected government," she said while talking to reporters after appearing at a special court at Parliament complex in the GATCO case.

Begum Zia wanted to know why the present is bent on holding local body polls when all major parties are demanding the national elections first.

Asked whether the BNP would take part in the announced city corporation and pourasabha polls, the BNP chief said she would own the decision that would be taken by the 4-party alliance.

She alleged that the government is going to hold the local government polls with an ill motive to install its chosen people in power.

Replying to a question, Begum Zia said there is no grouping in her party and the grassroots leaders and activists of the party are for advancing the party facing all sorts of odds and repression.

About the illness of her sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, she said their health conditions are gradually deteriorating day by day. She said the government would be held responsible for their bad physical condition in custody.

The BNP chief said though the present government had assumed power by giving lip service to reducing corruption, but as a fact the rate of corruption has increased.

"Increasing corruption is eating up the wealth of the country. That's why the government should immediately quit power," she observed

Painting a gloomy picture of the national economy of the country, she said country's economy now is crippled, trade and commerce stand still and the country has been thrown back 20 years.

"People are battered by soaring prices. Earlier, business syndicate was blamed for it. Now who are behind such syndicate? The present government is doing the syndicate," she alleged.

The BNP chairperson said the people are starving. A famine-like situation prevails in the country.

Meanwhile, a special court yesterday once again deferred the date of hearing on the GATCO scam case against Begum Zia and 23 others, including her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko to June 30.

Judge Shahed Noor Uddin passed the order after rejecting a defence plea for adjournment on charge hearing.

The defence counsel sought for the adjournment as the fate of the case lies with the higher court for disposal.

The court resumed at about 10:35am following Begum Zia and other 16 accused in custody, including former ministers Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, AKM Mosharraf Hossain and Jamaat Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami were produced before it.

Khaleda Zia'a son Koko was brought to the court premises from a hospital prison cell by an ambulance. Later, he was taken to the courtroom in a wheelchair along with a stand-by oxygen cylinder. A physician followed him.

The accused are charged with causing a loss of over Tk 14 crore to the public exchequer by striking the container handling deal with GATCO.

Gen Moeen calls for clean up of corrupt politics

UNB, Dhaka

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed has said there is an urgent need of cleaning up of Bangladesh's cynical, venal and corrupt politics.

In an interview with Time Magazine, he said no systems of government are bad in their own rights. "It's the human being who makes it so."

The interview was published in the current issue of the world's leading newsmagazine.

Recalling the days preceding January 11, 2007, Moeen said, "The situation was deteriorating very rapidly. The world saw people dying in Dhaka streets. Was this the way forward?"

Asked if the growing outrage among political parties and their cadres may spill on to the streets in the form of mass people power protest, Moeen said, "Did they want to make trouble? Let them."

The Army Chief favours building of effective leadership in Bangladesh and educating its vast illiterate masses "so that they don't keep on cutting of their own feet."

Gen Moeen said, "You can judge the people of a nation by their type of leaders they select."

Terrorist killed in encounter with RAB

Staff Reporter

A terrorist was killed in a shootout between his accomplices and RAB near Kamarpara area on Ashulia road yesterday.

The dead, identified as Mahbubur Rahman alias Bhuiyan Babu, was a top terror of Tongi area. Police said he was wanted in 11 cases, including three for murders.

A RAB team tried to stop a private car near the Munnu Gate area at about 2:00am.

"As the terrorists who were in the car tried to flee ignoring the signal RAB members chased them. At one stage the terrorists opened fire at them, forcing the law enforcers to fire back that triggered a gun battle," said a RAB official giving a spot account of the incident.

One pistol, one-shot gun and four cocktails were recovered from the scene.

When the terrorists left the scene leaving their car RAB members recovered the bullet-ridden body of Babu from the car.

The body was handed over to Tongi thana police.

Ashraful hits ton: Bangladesh beat UAE

Sports Reporter

A superb 109 from Mohammad Ashraful powered Bangladesh to earn a massive 96-run victory over United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their opening Group-A match of Asia Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore of Pakistan on Tuesday.

Ashraful, the skipper of Bangladesh team played 126 deliveries. He sent the ball eight times through the ropes.

Youngster Roqibul Hassan cracked a windy 83 facing 63 balls which innings was ornamented with 10 shots beyond the ropes.

Opener Tamim Iqbal was the other notable scorer for the Tigers who knocked 40 before he was unfortunately run out.

Opted to bat first, Bangladesh piled up a mammoth 300 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then they bowled out United Arab Emirates for 204 off 45.4 overs.

Asia Cup: Good start for Pakistan

Sports Reporter

Pakistan made a good start in the Asia Cup when they defeated minnows Hong-Kong by 155 runs in their inaugural Group-B match at the National Stadium in Karachi, the port city of Pakistan on Tuesday.

Batting first Pakisan made 288 for the loss of nine wickets in the regulation 50 overs and then they skittled out Hong Kong for 133 off 37.2 overs.

Younis Khan hit the team's highest of 67 off 65 with eight fours and a six while Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanvir added 63 and 59 runs respectively to the Pakistan total.