The New Nation - Internet Edition

Iran tests more missiles: US pledges to defend allies

Iranian missiles fired near the Persian
Gulf.

Reuters, Tehran

Iran tested more missiles in the Gulf on Thursday, state media said, and the United States pledged to defend its allies against any Iranian aggression.

Washington, which fears Tehran wants to master technology to build nuclear weapons, said after Iran test fired nine missiles on Wednesday that Tehran should halt further missile tests if it wanted to gain the world's trust.

Iran said the missiles could hit Israeli and U.S. bases.

Speculation that Israel could bomb Iran has mounted since a big Israeli air drill last month. U.S. leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row.

Iran has responded by saying it will strike back at Tel Aviv, as well as U.S. interests and shipping, if it is hit. Tehran insists its nuclear program has only civilian goals.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on a visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia that Washington was sending a message to Iran that it would defend American interests and those of its allies.

"We take very, very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves and no one should be confused about that," Rice said after meeting Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Wednesday's tests rattled global oil markets, pushing up the price of oil.

Iranian state TV and radio said the new missile tests took place during the night into Thursday.

"Deep in the Persian Gulf waters, the launch of different types of ground-to-sea, surface-to-surface, sea-to-air and the powerful launch of the Hout missile successfully took place," state radio said without giving further details of the missiles.

Iranian satellite channel Press TV said Hout was a torpedo. "Iran's Revolutionary Guards test more missiles in Persian Gulf," the Press TV reported in a brief headline.

The reports followed remarks on Wednesday night by Guards air force commander Hossein Salami, who had told state television that a "night missile maneuver" was taking place. But he gave no details at the time.

DMC Day observed: Steps taken to ensure standard of private medical colleges

Dhaka Medical College Alumni Trust yesterday brought
out a rally on the occasion of the founding day of the
premier medical institution of the country. Dhaka Medical
College was founded on July 10 in 1948 just after the
partition of the Indian sub-contin

Staff Reporter

Health and Family Welfare Adviser Dr AMM Shawkat Ali yesterday said that steps were taken to formulate guidelines examining the existing policies for ensuring the standard of private medical colleges.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion at Shaheed Dr Milon Hall organised on the occasion of the 62nd founding anniversary of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) and celebration of the DMC Day.

The Health Adviser laid emphasis on strengthening the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) for monitoring and supervision of the activities of medical and dental colleges of the country.

"In order to realise the full potentials of BMDC, it needs to be free from political interference," he suggested.

He also said steps were taken to reorganize the BMDC amending its act so that it could be made fully functional.

The Health Adviser also said the government has undertaken a project to build a multi-storied building at the DMCH premises spending Tk 56.53 crore. If the project were completed, the number of beds of DMCH would increase by 600.

Besides, steps have been taken to build a 10-storeyed academic building spending Tk 61.58 crore for smooth running of academic activities of the DMC.

With Prof Mirza Mazharul Islam, President of Dhaka Medical College Alumni Trust in the chair, the discussion was also addressed by Health and Family Welfare Secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan, Director General of Health Services Prof Dr MA Fayez, DMC Principal Prof Kazi Deen Mohammad and Director of the DMCH Brig Gen Abdus Shahid Khan.

Badsha nominated for Rajshahi city polls: AL-led 14-Party name 4 mayoral candidates

Awami League acting President Zillur Rahman
presiding over the party's Central Working Committee meeting
at its Dhanmondi office on Thursday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The Awami League (AL) led 14-party alliance yesterday formally announced the name of its mayoral candidates to the four city corporations polls scheduled for August 4.

The announcement came after a two-day long hectic meeting of the key-leaders of the alliance at the Gulshan residence of AL Acting President Zillur Rahman in the evening.

The meting unanimously nominated Fazle Hossain Badsha for Rajshahi, Badaruddin Kamran for Sylhet, Talukder Abdul Khaleq for Khulna and Shawkat Hossain Hiron for Barisal City Corporation.

Earlier in the morning, AL central committee endorsed the decision with Zillur Rahman in the chair. But the announcement came in the evening after a crucial meeting of 14-party leaders.

Among the four candidates three of them are AL leaders and one is Workers' Party Bangladesh.

Zillur also demanded permanent release of Former Prime Minister and AL Chief Sheikh Hasina and withdrawal of fabricated cases against all detained AL leaders.

He urged the Government to send AL leader and Former home minister Mohammad Nasim abroad for treatment, as the left part of his body had been paralysed.

Criticising the Government for staying in power for nearly two years he said, " according to the rule the caretaker government assumed the office for three months but they are still in power."

Demanding the complete withdrawal of emergency Zillur said, " No Polls is possible in fair and credible manner under state of emergency."

About soaring prices of daily commodities, Zillur said, "The Government is unresponsive to take proper initiative to bring down prices of essentials.

He suggested for introduction of rationing system, withdrawal of ban on trade-union activities to resolve this problem immediately.

He also demanded the trial of war criminals so that they cannot re-organise themselves.

Despite demonstrations by grassroots leaders of Rajshahi Awami League in front of the party's Dhanmondi office yesterday noon, the AL central committee finally approved Workers' Party leader Fazle Hossain Badsha. Beside this the leaders and activists staged demonstration in front of the Rajshahi metropolitan AL office few days ago demanding nomination for Liton.

Badsha contested for the mayoral post in the last Rajshahi City Corporation polls and was defeated by BNP leader Mizanur Rahman Minu.

In Barisal the AL mayoral candidate Shawkat Hossain Hiron contested Parliamentary election in 2001 but was defeated by BNP leader Sarwar by around 20,000 votes. Earlier he was the Upazila Chairman of Barisal Sadar in 1988.

In Khulna AL mayoral candidate leader Talukder Abdul Khaleq was the Member of Parliament in 1996-2001 from the Rampal-Mongla constituency of Bagerhat district.

In Sylhet AL mayoral candidate Badaruddin Kamran who is under detention now was the immediately last mayor of the Shylet City Corporation.

SC upholds stay on Hasina’s cases

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Appellate Division on Thursday upheld a High Court order staying the proceedings of two graft cases against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by chief justice MM Ruhul Amin, gave the ruling after hearing twin government appeals against the stays on the barge-mounted power plant case and Niko case against Hasina.

The High Court Monday put two-month freezes on the trial proceedings of the two cases against Hasina and other accused.

The court also asked the government and the Anticorruption Commission to explain

within four weeks why the cases against Hasina should not be cancelled in line with the former prime minister's petitions challenging their validity.

Attorney general barrister Fida M Kamal told the appellate bench Thursday: "As the High Court has stayed the proceedings of the two cases against Hasina, the trial of the cases remain suspended in the lower court."

"Unless the stay order goes, it will not be possible to complete the trial of the cases within the stipulated time frame."

"The High Court bench of justices Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Mashuk Hossain Ahmed gave the stay order without having the jurisdiction of hearing such petitions. The bench heard the case as a matter beyond its jurisdiction and gave the stay order," the attorney general argued.

Hasina's counsel barrister Rafique Ul Haque replied: "The High Court heard both sides' arguments and gave the stay order-it hasn't yet given any verdict."

The AL chief petitioned the High Court to cancel the power plant case on June 2, and on June 19 to cancel the Niko case.

The ACC filed the power plant case against Hasina and six others on Sept 2 last year, and the Niko case on Dec 9.

.

Khaleda challenges ACC’s authority to file Gatco case

UNB, Dhaka

Detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the validity of the Anti-Corruption Commission's sanction to file the Gatco graft case against her.

The petition is likely to be moved on Sunday for hearing before a division bench of Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed, court sources said.

On September 2 last year, the anti-graft watchdog filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station, as the interim administration has launched a massive campaign meant to eliminate political corruption. Some other political colleagues

and bureaucrats are also facing charges of corruption involving the case. Khaleda and her party have denied the charges, saying they were aimed at eliminating her from politics.

Meanwhile, the arraignment hearing on the Gatco case has already begun at a special court set up at the parliament complex.

On Wednesday, the court deferred the hearing procedure to July 20.

India wants transit to boost trade: Cooperation in security matters also sought

UNB, Dhaka

India Thursday sought greater cooperation from Bangladesh in security matters as New Delhi found some connectivity of some terrorists groups between here and India causing certain security breaches.

"We will be seeking greater cooperation so both the countries can fight effectively against terrorists," Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhgury.

Pinak's remarks came ahead of Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations at the level of Foreign secretaries to be held in Delhi on July 17.

Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain will lead the Bangladesh delegation at the two-day talks.

Asked if the terrorists groups could be identified, the High

Commissioner said, "Of course we have fairly good idea. Even we've their telephone numbers."

The envoy would not name the groups as he said, "This is a confidential matter. We want more cooperation. It is not good to have bomb blasts despite on-going cooperation. So, we need prevention of such acts through exchange of information between the two security forces."

In reply to a question, Pinak said New Delhi is prepared to cooperate as much as Bangladesh required in terms of exchange of information and technical know-how. He said there are already some exchanges of information but it can be made faster.

Asked if he sought repatriation of ULFA leader Anup Chetia detained in Bangladesh, the High Commissioner said India has unilaterally repatriated some wanted Bangladeshis hiding in Kolkata.

"We also want to get back some people from Bangladesh," he said, adding that apart from Anup Chetia some others names are also on the list that was given to the Bangladesh government.

He hoped that Bangladesh authorities would detain them and hand over to India.

Asked whether the issue of transit would come up at the Foreign Office Consultations, Pinak said India has been discussing the matter at all forums as "we are interested in transit. We believe it's purely an economic issue, not a political issue at all. But here it is made a political issue though I don't see any reason for that."

Pinak however dismissed the idea that India has set any timeframe to get the transit facility from Bangladesh.

Asked about the issues to be tabled at the Foreign Secretary level talks, he said there are some economic issues, water management through construction of embankments and dredging in border rivers and demarcation of maritime boundary so there is no overlapping of the interest of the two countries.

Pinak said India wants opening of more border stations if possible to expedite the cross-border trade which is increasing. "Besides, we like to see more frequency of bus and train services by sorting out some existing problems".

About an Indian plan to reconstruct some housing in the Sidr affected areas, the High Commissioner said it is at the final stage and the company for doing that has been selected. He said the construction work will start as soon as the funds are sanctioned by the Indian government.

On export of rice to Bangladesh under the previously signed deal between the two countries, Pinak admitted that the rice is coming to Bangladesh but the slow pace is because of procurement problems and rules and regulations in some of the Indian states.

EU MPs for lifting of emergency

UNB, Dhaka

European Parliament members called on Bangladesh government to lift the state of emergency as the most important step required to prepare for the holding of the country's next parliamentary elections.

The call was made in a joint motion for resolution on the situation in Bangladesh at the EU parliament in Brussels on July 9. The motion was moved by Pasqualina Napoletano, Robert Evans, Charles Tannock, Th. Mann, Bernd Posselt, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Johan Van Hecke, Mariela Baeva and Marios Matsakis, Roberto Musacchio, Jean Lambert and Jan Masiel, representing different groups in the parliament, according to a message received here Thursday.

The resolution calls on the European Commission and the Council to play a more "pro-active role and to impress on the Bangladesh government the need for a speedy and complete withdrawal of the state of emergency, and of all regulations adopted within its context".

It called for free and fair elections conducted in accordance with international standards, with the participation of all parties. It also called for the EU Election Observation Mission to resume its activities as soon as this is feasible and advisable.

The resolution called on EU Member-States Missions and the Commission Delegation in Bangladesh to monitor carefully the human rights and political situation in Bangladesh.

It welcomed the release of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on humanitarian grounds.

The Euro parliamentarians urged the government to make sure that members of Bangladesh's ethnic and religious minorities be in a position to freely cast their votes. It expressed concern about "press censorship" and calls for freedom of the press in the pre-electoral period.

The resolution urged the government to ensure that its new Anti-Terrorism Ordinance responds to internationally recognized legal standards on combating terrorism such as recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on Counterterrorism and Human Rights.

It also called on the government to abolish the death-penalty law and immediately put an end to what they called recent wave of "mass arbitrary arrests" and the "harassment" of political opponents or journalists under the state of emergency.

The EU Parliament members are deeply concerned by reports on torture by the authorities and urged the government to ensure the basic rights for a due process for all detainees and guarantee those charged to a fair trial.

The resolution urged the authorities that the thousands detained to be either charged on the basis of credible evidence or release those detained in custody.

It congratulated the caretaker government on its making progress in preparing for parliamentary elections and on making essential progress with the reform of the electoral process and the drawing up of an accurate electoral register by the authorities.

The resolution called on the Bangladesh government to provide maximum scope for a large-scale mobilisation of all sectors of society, environmental and other non-governmental organisations, journalists and scientists, in order to prepare the country for the upcoming climate change-induced disasters.

They consider the emergency rule as an "alarming obstacle" on the way to achieving this goal.

The EU parliament members believe that the G8 Summit has an enormous responsibility to avert further acceleration of the climate change and catastrophes that threaten the lives of millions in Bangladesh and elsewhere by adopting effective and far-reaching measures to curb CO2 emissions.

The EU Parliament resolution instructed its President to forward this resolution to Council, the Commission, the SAARC member-states and the Bangladeshi Government.

Alleged 'hitman’ killed in encounter

Staff Reporter

A suspected hitman of 'Nabi bahini' of Adabar area was killed in "crossfire" between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members and his associates at Mansurabad in the city yesterday. The deceased was identified as Liton alias 'killer' Liton, 25, the main assault man in the top-listed Nabi group of the area.

"He was wanted in a number of cases, including three murders," a RAB source said.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-2 raided Mansurabad and chased some youths for their suspicious movement.

"Sensing danger, the youths reportedly fired on the RAB men, forcing the elite force to fire back," says an official account of the encounter.

Liton was caught in the crossfire while trying to flee and died

instantly at about 2:45am.

After the late-night gunfight, the RAB personnel recovered a pistol and one bullet from the scene.

EC completes re-demarcation of 133 constituencies

Staff Reporter

Amid objection from major political parties the Election Commission (EC) has completed the delimitation process of 133 parliamentary constituencies.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain yesterday told reporters that a gazette in this regard would be published within couple of days.

Out of the total of 300 parliamentary constituencies, a total of 133 seats were refixed in the preliminary draft. However, in the final process of the delimitation minor changes were brought to 84 constituencies.

It may be mentioned that the draft gazette in this regard was published on April 29 last.

The Election Commissioner said the government would take stern action in the cases of violation of the existing electoral laws during the ensuring city corporation and pourasabha polls.

"Action will also be taken against the election officials if they violate the electoral rules," he said.

Shakhawat Hossain said, the Commission had decided to take stern actions against the official concerned for any violation of rules in the scrutiny of the nomination papers in Rajshahi City Corporation polls.

It may be mentioned that Rajshahi Additional Divisional Commissioner M Akhteruzzaman announced five nomination papers as legal on July 8, which had earlier been declared invalid by the Returning Officer.

The Election Commission uphold the decision of the returning officer and cancelled the decision of the commissioner.

The Election Commissioner said the Commission would send a letter to the Ministry of Establishment recommending proper steps against the official.

Sakhawat Hossain called upon the political parties not to join the candidates' election campaign directly or indirectly.

SWAT team to receive intensive training on combat operations

Mamunur Rashid

Members of the much-talked-about SWAT (Special Weapon and Tactic) team will leave for the United States some time in October next for intensive training.

Sources at the Police Headquarters said yesterday that the 24-member team, comprising of police personnel, mainly belonging to the detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), will be provided with an intensive training stretching over 35 days in the US.

During the training the members of SWAT will be able to learn how to conduct operation against hardcore criminals.

The US Federal Government is bearing the total cost of the training for the team.

The SWAT team was originally created to deal with all kinds of violent crimes, including tackling the hostage crisis, arresting armed terrorist gangs, kidnappers and robbers without any bloodshed.

The sources said, a month-long high-skilled training for the SWAT members, the first ever in the country, was completed on February 28 beginning from January 28 this year.

The members of the SWAT team were trained by nine experts from the US military, FBI and police for one month as part of their capacity building to fight terrorism and other crimes of serious nature.

The SWAT members have been named "Commandoes."

The SWAT will go for action whenever the existing law-enforcing agencies, even if the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) would fail to deal with the criminal gangs or individuals.

The SWAT members have been equipped with the latest and sophisticated weapons supplied by the US Federal Government.

The Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of Police Md Masudur Rahman told The New Nation that the SWAT team would be given responsibility to deal with if there was any kind of hostage crisis in the country. This team will work under the direct control of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

"The training is demanding, intense and difficult, and it requires a great deal of sacrifice from the members who have been picked to be on it," he said.

"The ultimate goal of the team is to quell dangerous emergencies so no one gets hurt or killed, including police officers."

In addition, the reality is that fewer people are harmed when specially trained teams handle crisis situations.

How a unit responds, the actions and movements of the bad guys determine, police said.

"If the bad guys start to move, then the team will do different things" in response, source said.

"The analogy taught to me is that the bad guy is the conductor and law enforcement is the orchestra. His movements determine which tune we play," sources added.

The exercise at the shooting range is called dynamic training, which requires quick action. The "flash-bang" devices are meant to surprise and stun the bad guys before the tactical team moves in. This team will act, as quick response and conduct risky operation in the city and even outside if requires.

The team has also conducted "slow and deliberate" training inside vacant buildings to simulate the response to a person who has barricaded himself inside a dwelling.

Embezzlement of Tk 175 crore toll money: Cases to be filed

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has initiated a process to file cases against a few officials for their alleged involvement in misappropriation of Tk 175 crore in Meghna

and Meghna-Goumti toll plazas. The corruption involving the huge amount was detected by a special ACC team constituted to look into corruption in Roads and Highways department under Communications Ministry.

"The issue of filing cases against quite a few officials for their alleged corruption involving Tk 175 crore in Meghna and Meghna-Goumti toll plazas is under process," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said in the Commission's regular briefing.

He said the special team, formed to reveal and prevent corruption in future in the Roads and Highways department, has been working since March 19 and the team has been able to detect some individuals involved in corruption. "The investigations against the identified individuals are on," Hanif said.

He said having analysed the documents gathered by the team it is seen that to stop misappropriation of toll money at the toll plazas of Meghna and Meghna-Goumti Bridges, initiative was taken during 1994-95.

"A contractor was appointed involving Tk 3.1 crore on June 16, 1996," Hanif said adding that the contractor made the sites suitable for taking tolls by supplying automatic machines and the sites were later handed over to Narayanganj Roads and Highways department.

He said when the Roads and Highways department started taking tolls in automatic process the earlier lease holder stopped it through a court order.

"But enough was not done to vacate the court order," Hanif said adding that toll taking without receipts continued until 2004 even after the expiry of the lease in 1999.

Besides, he said, the investigating team of the ACC believes that automatic toll taking was stopped with a plea of electricity disconnection for not paying the bill in due time.

The ACC director general said the investigations into a loss of about Tk 3 crore by the government for making the automatic system inactive citing various excuses are still on. The team is also investigating the issue of plundering huge money centering toll taking manually, he added.

He said the team is trying to determine the amount of government losses and identify the employees involved in it.

BB in dilemma over monetary policy

Pulack Ghtack

Bangladesh Bank (BB) is in dilemma to adopt its monetary policy absorbing multifarious economic pressures and accommodating the expansionary fiscal policy of the Government.

The central bank needs to tighten its monetary stance to accommodate the expansionary budgetary measures of the government, which would result in squeezing the private sector credit.

If the central bank adopts expansionary monetary measures it would lessen the value of taka in the commodity market and push the already soaring inflation up.

In this position, the bank will set forward a "blend of policy," in the monetary policy statement (MPS) for the first half of the 2008-09 fiscal year, that would enable credit growth and at the same time keeping a close watch on the money supply so it does not put pressure on inflation, highly placed sources in the BB said.

The MPS is expected to be announced Sunday, which will be pursued during the first half of the current fiscal year, to the end of next December.

"The efforts would be directed at gearing up economic activities by encouraging adequate credit flows to all productive sectors," an economist of the BB said.

The bank has been facing several key challenges like strong inflationary pressure from both domestic and external sources, a low level of investment and a slump in overall economic activity.

Annual inflation rate hit a 17-year high of 11.21 percent in November, because of a jump in food prices, official data showed.

However, according to data released by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, point-to-point inflation reduced from 11.6 per cent in December 2007 to some 7 per cent in May 2008.

Bangladesh Bank will keep maintaining growth in the private sector credit by any means to help people face the inflationary pressure through creating employments, Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said at a function Monday.

He declared the central bank's stance against contractionary monetary policy as a strategy to maintain macroeconomic stability as well as growth.

"The major target is to contain inflation through a pragmatic policy, which you can call it a kind of hybrid policy," he said.

Dr Ahmed said the country's economy was facing a number of challenges in keeping the price level at a tolerable limit, but sees a positive prospect in the future through consolidating reforms, taking further actions to create an enabling environment for business and economic activities.