The New Nation - Internet Edition

Two BDR men killed in BSF firing: Indian intrusion into territory condemned, one Indian captured

Colonel Abdul Halim briefing the press at the BDR
Headquarter in the city yesterday. Colonel Abdul Halim
briefing the press at the BDR Headquarter in the city
yesterday.

The bodies of BDR personnel Hannan and Krishapada
who were killed in BSF firing being taken to Chapainawabganj
outpost. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

Two jawans of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were shot dead by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) 1.5 km inside Bangladesh territory in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj Thursday midnight.

Patrol Commander Havildar Mohammad Abdul Hannan and Lance Nayek Krishna Pada Das were shot to death. Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury in his instant reaction condemned the killing of BDR personnel saying such incidents are totally unacceptable.

Chief of Bangladesh Rifles Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed said Indian troops had fired without provocation near the border.

Local source said Indian BSF entered the Bangladesh territorial water Thursday midnight while chasing some smugglers by speedboats in the Padma River, perhaps without informing the BDR force. As a BDR patrol team challenged, the Indian BSF opened fire killing two Bangladeshi border guards on the spot. BDR retaliated forcing the Indian BSF to retreat.

The gunfight between the border guards of the two countries took place as the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and India were holding meeting in New Delhi to resolve various bilateral issues including border demarcation and prevention of cross-border smuggling.

The two countries share a long and porous border, mostly not properly demarcated. Over the past decade they have regularly exchanged shelling and small arms fire over the frontier.

Source said that such incident has not seriously interfered with generally friendly relation between Delhi and Dhaka.

However, tensions increased in 2006 when India began fencing off the 4,000km border to keep out what it described as illegal immigrants and "cross-border insurgents."

The borders in the country's northern region were put on alert after the incident.

A flag meeting between BDR and BSF began at 2:10pm near Bangladesh border in Shibganj upazila over the incident. The meeting ended at about 5:30pm.

In the Flag meeting the BDR authority urged for joint investigation of the incident and the BSF said they would convey the BDR request to their higher authority.

At a hurriedly called press briefing at the BDR HQs yesterday afternoon, Col MA Halim, Director Operations & Training, said that Indian BSF's trespass and attack on BDR men could be termed as aggressive mentality towards Bangladesh.

"If someone does not abide by rules it could tantamount to aggressive mentality or disobedience to rules," he told a questioner.

Col Halim said there is no problem from the BDR personnel who always respect the border guidelines. He said the BSF should have restrained them in this unprovoked situation.

He said the incident shows that the Indian BSF members were either panicky or there might be a different motive behind it.

Narrating the Thursday night's shootout, Col Halim said the BSF troops of Indian Thakurbari BOP entered 1.5 kms of the Padma River inside the Bangladesh territory on a speedboat and an engine-boat at midnight.

A BDR patrol team of Raghunathpur BOP boarding a mechanized boat challenged the BSF team. Without giving their identity, BSF members sprayed bullets on BDR personnel causing instant death of Havildar Hannan Sarker, 53, of Kritunia village in Gabtali upazila of Bogra district, and Lance Nayek Krishna Pada Das, 45, of Kholabari village in Shalikha upazila of Magura district.

Other BDR members opened counter-fire forcing the speedboat carrying BSF personnel to retreat, but the engine-boat of BSF was seized. BDR men captured an Indian national Anjam Hossain suspected to be a cattle smuggler and recovered two walkie-talkies and uniforms from the boat.

Col Halim said they have received reports from local sources that one BSF man being hit by bullets jumped into the Padma River and died.

Our correspondent said that the two BDR personnel of the team escaped unhurt during the fire and returned to the shore with the bodies of their two colleagues.

The postmortem of the bodies were done at Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital.

After the incident, BSF and BDR traded bullets for about half an hour, but no injury was reported.

BDR Rajshahi Sector Commander Col. Iqbal rushed to the spot yesterday morning.

A tense situation was prevailing on the border areas following the incident of firing.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka last night while expressing concern at the inaccurate reports in some sections of the media said on the basis of a specific input on the cattle smuggling along river Padma on the night of the July 17 to 18 the 108 Battalion of BSF noted movement of cattle and their smugglers in the area of Border Outpost Nimitita (Malda sector of West Bengal). The BSF river wings pursued the cattle smugglers who were traveling in boats in Indian territory. These smugglers fired at BSF upon which BSF retaliated. During the exchange of fire, one BSF constable sustained serious injuries.

Hasina addresses London AL rally: Hold JS polls first to rescue people from disaster

Sheikh Hasina

UNB, London

Awami League president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has demanded immediate elections to parliament before the upazila parishad polls to "rescue people from a disastrous condition."

"Democracy must be restored. There is no alternative to the rule of the elected representatives," she said at a meeting over a dinner at the Impression Hall at Westham in East London on Thursday evening.

Hasina also called for the release of all political detainees and withdrawal of what she said false cases against them. "Without democracy, people will not get freedom."

She said the current situation in Bangladesh again "proved that none but Awami League, born with the people's support, can run the country correctly."

Hasina, now on interim release for treatment of her ears and eyes, said it is a misfortune for the people of Bangladesh that their right to vote and food was snatched away time and again. Democracy and national progress were repeatedly impeded. "We want democracy, we want people's right to vote and food," she told the dinner meeting hosted by the U.K. chapter of Awami League.

Referring to soaring food prices, the Awami League president said when the middle income group is facing the difficulty in maintaining their livelihood "one can understand the condition of others."

She said one can compare the rule of Awami League from 1996-2001 with those of the BNP-led alliance and the two years of the present caretaker government. During the Awami League rule, literacy rate increased to 66 percent from 45 percent while the inflation contained at 1.59 percent, she said, adding that now the inflation under the caretaker government shot up to 11-12 percent and not a single megawatt of electricity was produced.

"We want to establish good governance. Otherwise, the country will be lagging behind," she said.

Hasina expressed her deep gratitude to the expatriate Bangladeshis and the international community including members of the British and the European Parliaments for creating pressure on the caretaker government to allow her to return to Bangladesh from Washington in May last year.

On her return to the country, the Awami League chief said the government had arrested her without any warrant in "false" cases. During her detention, Hasina alleged that she did not get appropriate treatment. She was taken to hospital at the whims of the jail authorities.

Reiterating her commitment to fight for the cause of the Bangladeshi people, Hasina said she never bowed her head in the past and will not do so in the future.

British MP Anne Main, EU MP Dr Charles Kanock, Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and a large number of Awami League leaders from UK, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy attended the dinner.

Economists for credit flow to support production, employment

HRC group Chairman Saeed Hossain Choudhury was
arrested from his Gulshan residence, yesterday. NN
photo

Staff Reporter

Economists have welcomed the expansionary monetary policy of Bangladesh Bank saying, this will help boost economic growth and employment generation.

They said that the central bank was wise to ignore the suggestions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which prescribed tight money supply to curb inflation.

While talking to the New Nation eminent economists Prof Muzaffer Ahmed, Dr Atiur Rahman and former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank Khondokar Ibrahim Khalid praised the central bank decision.

They stressed the importance of increasing credit flow for productive purpose and employment creation which would make people able to tolerate inflation.

The measure for tightening money supply to tame inflation would not be effective in Bangladesh perspective they said.

The economists said inflation here is less demand-driven than supply and the fear is that a crunch in credit might hamper the supply of goods and consequently fuel the inflation.

"Velocity of money circulation is not high in Bangladesh. So the experiences in other countries would not be applicable to Bangladesh," said Prof Muzaffer Ahmad.

He said, "If the Bangladesh Bank followed the IMF suggestions, it could hamper productivity and employment generation."

Prof Muzaffer said "The traditional system pursuing contractionary monetary policy against an expansionary fiscal policy will also not be effective here. Because, Bangladeshi inflation is not the result of excess money supply. Rather inflation is soaring here due to short supply of necessary goods. So production should be increased. Government measures should help employment generation."

Prof Muzaffer said, controlling monetary expansion became a bit necessary due to budgetary measures of the government which was expansionary. But this traditional method of controlling would not work here.

"Monetary expansion is necessary to accommodate the private sector," he added.

Prof Mozaffer said, "Inflation is everywhere in the world. We should adopt pragmatic policy to adjust to it. Credit supply should be ensured for productive purpose and growth of remittance."

Dr Atiur Rahman hailed the monetary policy terming it as "cautionary expansionary". "The central bank will not be able to contain the inflation. However, it is trying to make the inflation tolerable," he said.

He said, the Bangladesh Bank's policy enshrined long-term prospects. To face the immediate challenges specific programme is necessary. The Government should do it. Open Market Sale (OMS) should be re-introduced immediately to protect the poor.

"Good supply is more urgent than money supply, which is the task of the Government," said the economist.

The Government should reduce day-to-day expenditures and increase expenditure on service and good supply, he suggested adding, the government should increase revenue collection and reduce bank borrowing.

Dr Atiur, however, suggested the Bangladesh Bank to cautiously monitor the money supply situation.

Noted monetary policy analyst Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled said that pursuing the policy of IMF would not be suitable in the present situation.

"This inflation is due mainly to lack of investment. Monetary contraction is not its remedy. The IMF prescriptions could contribute in stopping production," he said.

He termed the Bangladesh Bank's decision as "practical and wise" and said, IMF's policy would lead the nation towards economic stagnation."

Bangladesh Bank on Thursday announced its half yearly monetary policy giving priority to economic growth rather than to the immediate challenge of taming inflation.

While announcing, the policy, Governor Dr Salahuddin Ahmed said, "The policy targets a real GDP growth rate of 6.5 per cent and an average inflation rate of around 9.0 per cent in FY09."

He said, "for supporting growth promoting policies, the policy stance would give priority to unhindered flow of private sector credit to the economy's productive sectors."

"The domestic economy, despite its potential, operates below its capacity which needs to be realised to achieve short-term stability and brighten long-term growth prospects," Bangladesh Bank observed.

Accidents kill 23, injures 50: Physician couple died in ambulance-covered van collision

An ambulance and a covered van met a head-on
collision at Suagazi in Comilla yesterday. Focus
Bangla

Staff Reporter

At least 23 people were killed and about 50 others injured in road accidents on Thursday and Friday at different places of the country.

In Comilla eleven people were killed and 25 others injured in two road accidents in Debidwar and Sadar South upazilas of the district on Thursday.

In a fatal accident in the afternoon, eight people were killed and 25 others injured when a bus fell into a roadside canal on the Comilla-Brahmanbaria Highway at Sangchail village in Debidwar upazila.

The deceased were identified as Helal Uddin, 28, his wife Sita Begum, 22, Ruby Akhter, 6, Nargis Akhter, 75, and her son Kamal Uddin, 22, Moslem, 28, Harun, 30, and Bashir, 30. The accident occurred at about 2:15pm when a Brahmanbaria-bound bus of Sugandha Paribahan from Comilla fell into the ditch beside the road when its driver lost control over the steering wheel of the vehicle.

Six people died on the spot and two others on way to the hospital.

Ten seriously injured persons have been admitted to the Upazila Health Complex.

In another accident half an hour later, a physician couple and a driver were killed as an ambulance carrying them collided head-on with a covered van on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway at Shuagazi in Sadar South upazila of the district.

The deceased were identified as Tahmina, 28, and his husband Apu, 32, both physicians of Chowddagram General Hospital, and ambulance driver Kamal, 35.

All three were burnt to death when the ambulance caught fire as it fell into a ditch after the collision. They were returning to the district town from Chowddagram.

A freedom fighter was crushed under the wheels of a bus at Rajarampur in Sadar upazila on Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi road on Thursday.

The dead was identified as Abdur Rashid, 55.

Police said the speeding bus ran over the victim when he was crossing the road at 4:30pm. The body was sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy.

Three people were killed when a pick-up van and a tempo collided head on at Ghatihata crossing on Dhaka-Sylhet highway Thursday night.

Police said tempo driver Harun Mia, 35, and a passenger Shafiqul Islam, 30, died on the spot while another passenger Kawser, 35, died at Sadar Hospital.

In Habiganj a woman was killed and 20 others were injured in a road accident at Biramchar in Sadar upazila Friday.

Police said the accident took place as a Sylhet-bound bus from the capital fell into a roadside ditch while giving way to another bus coming from the opposite direction.

The accident on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway left Jahanara Begum, 50, bus passenger, dead on the spot and injured others at noon.

Two of the injured were admitted to Sadar Hospital, while others given first aid at Chunarughat Health Complex and Sadar Hospital.

Four people were killed and seven injured in separate road accidents in Sirajganj district on Friday.

In the first accident, an unidentified youth was killed when he fell on the road from the rooftop of a Dhaka-bound bus at Golchattar of west side of Jamuna Bridge at about 5:30am.

In another accident, another unidentified young man was crushed under the wheels of a Bogra-bound truck on Dhaka-Bogra Highway at Konabari in Kamarkhanda upazila at 10:30am.

The victim met the tragic end of his life while crossing the road.

At the same time in Sirajganj, an unidentified man was killed and seven others injured in a collision between two buses at Nalka, west side connecting road of the Jamuna Bridge.

Of the injured five were admitted to Sadar Hospital.

Yet in another accident, a man was ran over by a truck near Baghabari Bridge in Shahjadpur upazila at about 11:00am.

The dead was identified as Amir Ali of Bera upazila in Pabna district.

Separate cases were filed with respective police stations.

Koko to be flown to Bangkok today

Staff Reporter

Arafat Rahman Koko, the youngest son of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, will fly to Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight at about 12:30pm today for treatment, informed sources said.

Koko, who was released from the prison ward of BSMMU Hospital on Thursday on parole for two months, will get admitted in a Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Koko's wife Sharmili Rahman, two daughters and a personal physician are expected to accompany him during his stay in Bangkok.

Dr Chowdhury Meshkat Ahmed, a member of medical board on Koko's treatment in Bangladesh, yesterday attended him at his Cantonment residence twice.

Dr Meshkat, Associate Professor of BSMMU, checked up the physical condition of Koko, who has been suffering from chronic respiratory complications. He also developed other health complications, the doctor said.

He told reporters that Koko, who was under his treatment at BSMMU for last eight months, needs long time treatment he has to take oxygen every alternative hour and his condition remains unchanged.

If proper treatment is not available at Bumrungrad, Koko may be shifted to other country for appropriate treatment," Dr Meshkat indicated.

Earlier, a three-member team of the medical board comprising Dr Chowdhury Meshkat Ahmed, Dr Harisul Haque and Dr Mamun was obstructed at Jahangir gate on their way to residence of Koko. Later, only Chowdhury Meshkat Ahmed was allowed to go to Koko's residence at Shaheed Mainul Road in the Cantonment.

Dr Meshkat, who also attended Koko in the afternoon, said Koko would fly to Bangkok for better treatment.

Meanwhile, Koko's counsel Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas also told reporters that Koko's family members were doing all they could to fly him to Bangkok today for urgent medical treatment.

Koko was under observation by his private doctors at his Dhaka Cantonment residence, he said.

Koko was released through an executive order since the medical board formed by the government prescribed his overseas treatment.

Earlier, a Dhaka court also exempted him from appearing in hearing of a case filed by the Anticorruption Commission (ACC) against him.

Along with his mother, Koko was arrested on September 3 last year as an accused in the GATCO scam case.

AL braces for 2nd dialogue with govt

Pankaj Karmakar

Awami League (AL) is preparing to sit in the formal dialogue with the Government for the 2nd time, as the first dialogue did not bear expected fruit that was held on July 3.

According to the source, the 2nd formal talks may take place by the end of this month through negotiation between two parties.

Source said, in this regard AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam held an informal meeting with the representatives of the Government before he left Bangladesh on July 16 for London for personal tour.

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The party would not place any new demand, but it would try to convince the Government body to fulfill the demands, which were placed in the previous dialogue.

Expressing dissatisfaction to the Government activities a central leader said, "The Government is yet to do their promised jobs, which they assured us during the last dialogue. The party delegation will emphasise on these jobs to be done. They also reiterate demand of complete withdrawal of emergency and to be refrained from arranging Upazila election before the national elections."

He also informed that the party would place a new demand of repealing the Representatives' people's order-2008 (RPO) that was approved by the Advisory Council on July 13 in principle.

Party insider said Ashraful would meet with the party chief Sheikh Hasina to receive directions for the 2nd dialogue. He is likely to return on July 26. After coming back he would call a presidium meeting to discuss about this issue and Hasina's directions in details. They would also fix further plan from that meeting.

About the RPO-2008 a central leader said, " during the bilateral meeting we proposed both the Government and the Election Commission (EC) not to approve any new ordinance rather to bring amendment on RPO-1972. They agreed with us. But in reality they are doing the opposite jobs, as they promised in the dialogue."

During the 2nd formal meeting the party delegates would give priority to repeal this ordinance, he said.

During the first dialogue on July 3, a nine-member delegation of AL discussed about release of Sheikh Hasina and Abdul Jalil, sending of Mohammad Nasim to abroad for treatment, holding of parliamentary election ahead of others elections, lifting of emergency, implementation of Women Development Policy, controlling of soaring of price of essentials and others issues.

During the bilateral meeting with the EC the party leaders proposed to be refrained from re-fixing of the areas of constituencies, to annul the rule of not to open wings at abroad and "No" vote system.

But after 10 days of the Government-sponsored dialogue, the advisory council approved the RPO-2008 in principal keeping the rules of "No" votes and compulsory registration of the political parties.

Call to make SAARC real 'people’s union’

BSS, Colombo

The pre-SAARC South Asian People's Assembly opened here on Friday with a call for making the regional bloc a real 'people's union' to promote closer trade and socio- economic integration among the people of the region.

It also laid stress on more democratisation of the society, saying the establishment of the people's rights in South Asia requires unhindered democracy which is facing impediments in many countries of the region.

The people's assembly has been arranged by various civil society organisations from the SAARC member states prior to the 15th SAARC Summit on August 2-3 to call on the leadership to move the region towards more socio-economic integration to ultimately end up in an economic union.

Participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Afghanistan, besides host country Sri Lanka spoke in the inaugural function of the event held in the New Town Hall in the city.

They said despite the fact that SAARC came into being three decades ago the people-to- people gap is only increasing, not diminishing. They said the people of South Asia dream of a union and leaders must work towards that direction.

Some speakers stressed the ultimate aim of creating a regional supra national entity.

About 500 representatives of various NGOs are taking part in the three-day event. It will focus on issues like food security, democracy and governance, nation state and its challenges, climate change and ecological justice, WTO and South Asia and conflicts management.

It is being held by SAPA or South Asian People's Assembly secretariat.

About a dozen civil society organisations are participating in the event from Bangladesh including Equity and Justice working group.

Senator Iqbal Haider of Pakistan said, "a 'supra national entity' may breed confusion, we must have the clear idea of creating an economic union, not a political union."

He said SAARC is the only unfortunate region which has not opened up to benefit from a functionally effective collaboration. "Every country can maintain the individual political entity and at the same time have an economic union," he said referring to a few such economic unions.

He said trade with USA, Japan or the West has become more expensive now in view of the higher freight, besides poor bargaining power of the South Asian countries.

Indian participant Kamala Vasin said the colonial borders have kept the people of the region divided and open to conflicts. The USA is forging closer ties now with India to keep this region divided under its influence. It must be resisted from a common platform, he argued.

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman stressed the need for action oriented programmes to achieve the socio-economic goals of the region. He said the region must work jointly to achieve higher growth.

US reaffirms support to combating terrorism and corruption

UNB, Dhaka

United States highly appreciated Bangladesh for its anti-corruption drives and counter-terrorism efforts.

US Attorney General Michael Mukasey made the remarks while receiving Bangladesh Home Secretary Abdul Karim at his office in Washington DC Thursday.

At the meeting Karim briefed the US Attorney General on the ongoing reform initiatives in Bangladesh including the judicial reforms and re-structuring of the key institutions.

Muasey reassured the Home Secretary of continued US assistance in combating terrorism and eradicating corruption from Bangladesh.

Earlier on 16 July, Karim had a meeting with Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of the State at the State Department.

About the preparations for holding general elections, Boucher reiterated the US support to the caretaker government and hoped that all necessary preparations will be made in due time for a free, fair and credible election.

Boucher also reassured Karim of all possible US support for development of Bangladesh. He further informed that the US is actively considering to provide food assistance to a number of countries including Bangladesh.

Karim is now leading a Bangladesh delegation in USA to explore avenues of necessary cooperation in furthering Bangladesh-US relations with particular focus on counter-terrorism and upgrading of financial regulations in the banking sector.

Ziaul Hassan SiddiQui, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank is on the delegation.

Karim also had extensive meetings with high officials of the Department of Justice, Department of Treasury and Department of State during the visit.

Liquid assets of banks up

BSS, Dhaka

Total liquid assets of the schedule banks stood higher at Taka 45,815.11 crore as of end May, 2008, against Taka 44,840.97 crore as of end June, 2007, marking a rise by Taka 974.14 crore or 2.17 percent.

The excess liquidity of the schedule banks stood at Taka 8,256.88 crore as of end May, 2008, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

Disbursement of agricultural credit during financial year 2007-08 stood markedly higher at Taka 8,580.66 crore due to inclusion of private commercial banks compared to Taka 5,292.51 crore during fiscal 2006-07. Recovery of agricultural credit during FY 2007-08 also moved significantly higher at Taka 6,003.70 crore compared to Taka 4,676.00 crore during FY 2006- 07. The position of overdue agricultural credit as percentage of total outstanding improved, decreasing from 45.50 at the end of June, 2007 to 33.03 at the end of June, 2008.

Disbursement of industrial term loans during January-March, 2007-08 stood at Taka 4911.08 crore and recovery of industrial term loans at Taka 3770.03 crore during the same period of the year.

Overdue of industrial term loans at the end of March, 2008 stood at Taka 6279.54 crore and overdue as percentage of outstanding industrial term loans was 16.23 at the end of March, 2008.

The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) loans by different banks increased at the end of March, 2008 compared to the end of December, 2007.

The SME loans disbursed by foreign banks rose by 18.66 percent, specialised banks by 4.77 percent, private banks by 4.20 percent, non-bank financial institutions by 0.59 percent and state owned banks by 0.27 percent.

Mainstreaming of indigenous women's movement urged

UNB, Dhaka

A roundtable here yesterday emphasised the importance of mainstreaming the indigenous women's movement to ensure their basic rights.

The roundtable also suggested the indigenous women leaders to create awareness among people about the discrepancies they are facing now and involve politicians and policymakers in the issue to have a quick solution.

Economists, politicians and indigenous and women leaders joined the roundtable titled 'National Women Development Policy: Rights of Indigenous Women'.

Parbatiya Chattagram Mohila Samiti and the Hill Women Federation jointly organised the roundtable at Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon.

"The indigenous women movement needs to be mainstreamed and their leaders should come up with their programmes," Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, told the roundtable.

Emphasising the need for proper implementation of the peace accord, Ayesha Khanam said there should be a change in "our political attitude and ideology" to ensure the fundamental rights of the indigenous women. "Quota in the Public Service Commission will have to be increased for the indigenous women," she said.

Awami League leader Dr Dipu Moni said it is the responsibility of the state to take steps to remove the disparities against indigenous women.

She suggested the women leaders to work unitedly to create awareness among the country's political leaders.

Prof Abul Barkat of Dhaka University said the indigenous people should launch a knowledge-based movement with a long-term policy to protect their rights through formulating a unanimous women development policy for the country.

The organisers of the roundtable demanded implementation of their 10-point recommendation, including setting aside seats in parliament for the indigenous people, ensuring the participation of indigenous women in national and local development and keeping seats reserved in local government in predominantly tribal areas.

General secretary of Bangladesh Adibasi Forum Sanjib Drong, women leader Farida Akther, researcher Meghna Guha Thakurata and former Principal of Eden College Prof Hannana Begum, among others, spoke at the function.

BNP hopes Khaleda, Tarique to be released soon

UNB, Dhaka

Beleaguered BNP is now in an upbeat mood with an expectation that its detained chairperson Khaleda Zia and her eldest son Tarique Rahman would be released soon after Arafat Rahman Koko's release on parole for treatment.

Khaleda and Tarique's lawyer Adv Sanaullah Mia told UNB yesterday that he got an indication from the Home Ministry that there is a strong possibility of Tarique's release on bail within the next week.

"We do hope that Tarique will come out of jail as per the Home Ministry's hint," he said.

Adv Shimul Biswas hoped that the impediment to Tarique's treatment abroad would be removed shortly. Everything, including legal matters and medical board's recommendations, has already been cleared for Tarique's treatment abroad. "Now only the government's permission is required," he said.

About the release of Khaleda Zia, the lawyers said in the light of negotiations with the government, Begum Zia will not accept her release before Tarique who is critically ill for the damage of his spinal cord.

Meanwhile, Tarique's family sources hinted that he might be sent either to America or Germany for his medical treatment.

Khaleda's youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko was released on parole on Thursday for

Jute output declines, negligence blamed

Shamim Jahangir

Production of jute and area under its cultivation have declined last year due mainly to its falling prices and negligence of the government, according to jute experts.

The country produced 55 lakh bales of jute in the year 2006-7 and its production came down to 47.29 lakh bales in 2007-8,they said.

A total of 4.85 lakh hectares of land were targeted for the production of jute in 2007-8, but it was cultivated on 4.73 lakh hectares. They expressed their apprehension that the production of golden fibre would decline further if the government failed to support the sector.

The production of jute was projected at 51.22 lakh bales in 2007-8, but the actual production was 47.29 lakh bales, according to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources.

Shahidullah Chowdhury, President of the working committee of Trade Union Centre, said that jute farmers were not getting fair price for their produce over the years and they were losing interest in its production.

He further said that most of the farmers incurred losses by producing jute as the market price was lower than its production cost.

Shahidullah blamed the past and the present governments for the debacle in the jute market. The shutting down of eight jute mills across the country last year alone heavily damaged the jute market both at home and abroad, he noted.

Textile and Jute Adviser Md Anwarul Iqbal recently termed the eight state owned jute mills " losing concerns" and said five jute mills out of the eight have been leased out to private management for five years.

Such initiative by the government will create employment for more than 6000 people, he said.

The government will receive Tk 12.48 crore from the five leased out mills annually, he said adding, "We shall be able to spend the amount for paying outstanding arrears of laid out jute mills workers and also pay loan of the banks."

Besides, the government has invited tender afresh to lease out the Kaomi Jute Mills and BDCF Jute Mills as earlier bid to dispose them was not acceptable.

Money laundering alleged: HRC group chief Saeed arrested

Staff Reporter

The Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court ordered Saeed Hossain Chowdhury, a leading businessman, chairman of daily Jai Jai Din editorial board and a major shareholder of English daily The New Age, to jail yesterday.

The founding chairman and CEO of HRC Group was arrested for 'violating emergency powers rules' through his alleged money laundering activities.

Officer-in-Charge of Gulshan police station Obaidul Huq told The New Nation "Saeed Hossain Chowdhury was arrested from his house in Gulshan in the morning on charges of violating emergency powers rules."

A general diary filed with Gulshan police said information provided by intelligence agencies revealed that Saeed Hossain was involved in money laundering, which was destroying the country's economy.

Gulshan police Sub-Inspector Md Shahidullah filed the GD, in which Saeed was accused of listing assets in others' names.

He was produced before the court in the afternoon, where chief metropolitan magistrate AM Zulfikar Hayat ordered him to jail.

A plea for bail was kept on record, but the magistrate said it was beyond his jurisdiction to hear or rule on any request for bail.

The bail petition pointed out that Saeed Hossain was the CEO and chairman of HRC Group Ltd, and his arrest would affect thousands of employees of the 18 sister concerns of the company.

Source said he was the owner of 19 ocean-going ships that run in the international route.

Saeed's lawyers denied their client was involved in money laundering.

Saeed Hossain, elder brother of Awami League leader Saber Hossain Chowdhury, is also a director of One Bank.

Listed terrorist held with arms in N'ganj

BSS, Narayanganj

Crime Prevention special company RAB-11 arrested top-listed terrorist of Narayanganj town and recovered arms and ammunition from a house at Dakkhin Kuril under Badda Police Station in Dhaka on Thursday night.

The terrorist was identified as Mohammad Hasan, 39, son of late Haji Abdul Khaleque of Mubarak Shah road in Narayanganj.

Acting on a tip-off, a squad of RAB-11 led by Captain Kazi Kawsar Jahan raided a house at Dakkhin Kuril on Thursday night where Hasan was hiding for the last several months to escape capture.

RAB members arrested him and recovered a German-made 7.65 bore pistol with two rounds of ammunition from his possession.

Dr Kamal doubts anti-graft drive for release of corrupts

UNB, Dhaka

Ganaforum president Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday expressed his doubt about the success of the anti-corruption drive as he said many "corrupts are being released on bail".

Talking to media after his party presidium meeting, he said on health grounds, many detainees started getting interim releases for one or two months.

Moreover, he said others corrupt persons who were arrested on serious charges have also been granted bails. "If such practices continue further, I think the current anti-corruption drive will go in vain," said Dr Kamal who campaign to clean politics. He said people will get panicked if the corrupts and terrorists are released indiscriminately. Dr Kamal hoped the caretaker government will be more careful in the future about handling all matters concerning the release or bail of the corrupt persons for the sake of democracy and development.

Shamim Iskander arrested

Desk Report

Joint forces arrested Shamim Iskander, younger brother of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, at their Dhaka Cantonment residence last night.

Shamim, a flight engineer for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, was arrested in a case filed by the Anticorruption Commission, according to Fazlul Haque, officer-in-charge of the Kafrul Police Station.

Shamim was nabbed by the joint forces as he came out of Begum Zia's Moinul Hossain residence after 10:00pm.