The New Nation - Internet Edition

ACC to learn from HC orders in graft cases

UNB, Dhaka

Amid the High Court orders staying proceedings of some high profile graft cases on grounds of not following law and rules properly, the Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday said it had filed the cases and submitted charge sheets in accordance with the prescribed law and rules.

The anti-graft watchdog, however, said if the court finally decides that the procedures were not correct, the ACC would take lesson from that.

The High Court recently stayed proceedings of some graft cases including the cases relating to barge-mounted power plant, Niko and Gatco deals for not properly following the law and rules. It also issued rules asking the ACC to explain why those cases should not be quashed.

"The ACC still thinks the cases were filed and charge sheets submitted in accordance with the prescribed law and rules," ACC director general (admin) Col. Hanif Iqbal said at regular briefing of the Commission in response to a query about the recent High Court orders.

He said the court has viewed things from their point of views and sought to know certain things. "We will let the court know what they wanted to know."

If even after that the court thinks that the procedures were wrong, the Commission would learn from that, Hanif said.

Asked if the ACC's incompetence has been proved by the High Court orders, he said it has not yet been proved.

Replying to a query about release of individuals on bail in ACC cases, the director general said that in some cases, the Commission was not made party and before the Commission's application to be a party arrived in court those individuals got released.

On looking into wealth statements submitted with the Election Commission by the candidates of upcoming city corporation and municipality elections, he said those statements have been submitted to the EC and the EC would work as per the rules.

"We'll have to work as per law. If anything falls within the purview of ACC law and schedule, the ACC will act (accordingly)," Hanif said.

Responding to a question, he said the EC has not yet asked the ACC to do anything about it.

Asked if the Commission would do anything voluntarily about the statements submitted with the EC, the ACC spokesperson said it is the jurisdiction of the Commission and "I will raise this before it."

Alal's bail prayer rejected

UNB, Dhaka

The bail petition of Jubo Dal secretary Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal was rejected outright when it was moved in the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's court yesterday.

Earlier on July 13 metropolitan magistrate court accepted the bail petition but did not pass any order.

Alal was set free from Dhaka Central Jail on July 13 but he was soon arrested from the jail gate under the emergency rules.

Police had said he was taken into custody for making inflammatory speech to Jubo Dal activists at the jail gate violating the emergency rules.

Lotus Kamal gets bail

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted a month of interim bail to former Awami League lawmaker AHM Mostafa Kamal, known as Lotus Kamal, in connection with a graft case.

Responding to a petition, a two-member division panel of Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice M Emdadul Haque Azad also stayed the trial proceedings of the case for a month.

The bench, meanwhile, issued a rule upon the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the case should not be quashed.

The trail against Lotus Kamal has already begun at a special anti-graft court set up on the parliament building premises.

On March 22 last year, ACC's deputy director Shirin Parveen filed the case with Gulshan police station against Kamal, his wife and two daughters on charges of amassing wealth worth over Tk 36 crore illegally by abusing power and concealing information about his wealth worth Tk 2.93 crore.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq appeared for Kamal.

Indo-Bangla FS level meet: Nothing to be done against country's interest: Iftekhar

UNB, Dhaka

As Bangladesh and India began the Foreign Secretary level talks in New Delhi on Thursday Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury reiterated that nothing would be agreed which is perceived to be against the interest of Bangladesh.

Talking to reporters at his office on Thursday afternoon, the Advisor referred to some on-going debates in the Bangladesh media expressing apprehension that a transit agreement will be imposed on Bangladesh against her will.

In response, Iftekhar said, "I have said it most forcefully on several occasions, and I say it again, that the Bangladesh delegation will not agree to anything on any subject that is contrary to our national interest."

He said, "In foreign policy, it is essential that the urges of the population are reflected. We are trying to build a consensus around such issues. Our policies and actions should, and will, reflect the voice of the people."

The Advisor hoped the debate can now be put to rest.

Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the talks that would focus on how to reduce more than US$ 1.9 billion trade deficit with India, implementation of 1974 Bangladesh-India Border Agreement, demarcation of maritime boundary and security issues.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon is leading the Indian side at the 2-day talks.

New WFP representative presents credentials

UNB, Dhaka

The new Represntative of the World Food Programme John Aylieff presented his credentials to Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the Foreign Ministry Thursday morning.

The Foreign Adviser welcomed the new representative and thanked the WFP for the support received from the agency in the aftermath of last year's floods and cyclone Sidr, said a press release.

The WFP Representative highly praised the preparedness of the Bangladesh Government during those crises that "saved so many lives."

He said Bangladesh's disaster-preparedness was a "model worthy of emulation by others."

Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury explained Bangladesh's current food policy particularly the 'safety nets' to ensure 'vulnerable group feeding'.

The WFP Representative assured the Foreign Adviser of every support to the Government's programme in future.

"The WFP played a good cooperative role in the past, as I am sure they will in the future," the Foreign Adviser told the media afterwards.

FMS awards seven: Bangladeshi community leaders in New York

UNB, Dhaka

First Multipurpose Services (FMS), a Bangladeshi business establishment in New York, has awarded seven Bangladeshi community leaders for their contributions to the community.

M Shamsul Haque, Consul General of Bangladesh consulate office in New York, handed over the awards among the recipients as chief guest at a simple ceremony at the FMS office at Astoria, New York, on Wednesday evening, according to a message received here today.

The awardees are M Shamsul Haque, Nargis Ahmed, Zakaria Masud Ziko, Akhtar Hossain Badal, M Hossain Khan, Tajul Islam, Haji Obaidul Haque.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Consul General said that the government of Bangladesh through its embassies and consulate offices allover the world has been trying to create community diplomacy among the migrated Bangladeshis, which could be helpful for the development of the country.

He praised the role of Bangladeshis in USA in the development process of Bangladesh through their foreign currency sent to Bangladesh.

During the programme, FMS President Hossain Zubayer Shaibal announced that his organisation along with some mainstream business establishments in USA is going to organize a trade fair titled 'Made in Bangladesh' between October 16 and 19.

Cop killed, 7 injured in accident

UNB, Barisal

A policeman was killed and seven people were injured in an accident in front of Sonargaon Textile mills on Barisal-Patuakhali road yesterday.

The deceased was identified as police constable Khalilur Rahman, 42.

Witnesses said a bus of Antora Paribahan rammed a tempo coming from opposite direction at about noon, injuring all the eight passengers of the tempo.

Local people rescued the injured passengers and sent them to Barisal Shere-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) where Khalilur Rahman died.

Khalilur met the tragic accident while he was going to his village home at Charamoddi in Bakerganj upazila of the district after collecting his ration from Barisal city.

Five of the injured were identified as Neseruddin Khan, Oviram Ghosh, Sekandar Ali, Bazlur Rahman and Binoy Kundu.

Of them, Binoy was in "critical condition".