The New Nation - Internet Edition

Khaleda’s release made conditional : Refraining from doing politics and going abroad for treatment

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Some quarters of the government are learnt to have set a number of preconditions, including going abroad for treatment and refraining from politics, for the release of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from jail.

The reliable sources said similar preconditions were also imposed for the release of Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman.

The release of Begum Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman now depends on agreeing with the preconditions, sources said.

It is learnt that the BNP Chairperson still remains strict on her earlier decision not to go abroad for treatment.

Begum Zia wants her release but she does not want to take treatment abroad, rather she prefers to take treatment in a hospital inside the country, sources said.

Regarding the release of Tarique, sources said Begum Zia agreed to send him abroad like her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko for treatment.

Meanwhile, Adviser for Communications Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader on Thursday told reporters that it was difficult to specify the exact date for the release of Begum Zia. Asked whether the government has set any condition on the release of Begum Zia he parried the question saying that Begum Zia would be released on similar terms like Sheikh Hasina.

However, sources said the Government functionaries want that Begum Zia would go abroad to pave the way for keeping an acting chairman of the party in her absence.

Begum Zia is also learnt to have set some conditions including the release of Tarique Rahman before her and send him abroad for treatment, she and her party would take decision of the party, ensuring release of her party leaders those who were implicated in false cases.

On the release of Tarique Rahman, the Government quarters are learnt to have set condition that Tarique would have to remain abroad for five years refraining from doing politics.

Sources close to Tarique Rahman, however, said that he (Tarique) is not ready to accept the condition. He observes that it is better to remain in jail instead of remaining abroad.

When contacted Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder, counsel of Begum Zia, told this correspondent that they were sure that the Government has realised that the release of Begum Zia is essential.

"The release of Begum Zia is a matter of time only," he observed.

Hasina’s London rendezvous: UK-back Ershad says, he is with 'Mahajote’: Furore among 14-party partners

Pulack Ghatack

The backstage effort to revive the AL-led 'grand alliance' may result in a break up of the 14-party alliance itself, as most of its centre-left components have strong objections to the inclusion of Jatiya Party and some other anti-secular forces in the platform.

Awami League is learnt to have been discussing with Jatiya Party, Bikalpa Dhara and some Islamist parties, which support the Liberation War, to forge a greater electoral alliance.

The 14-party alliance, which became feeble after the one-eleven change, has now become fragile over dispute among components on selection of mayoral candidate for Rajshahi City Corporation polls.

While talking to The New Nation some top leaders of the 14-party alliance were frank to say that they would leave the platform, if Awami League tries to re-organise the grand electoral alliance with the inclusion of Jatiya Party and other non-secular parties.

Some small parties may also drift away further due to strong feud among leaders and activists over staying or leaving the alliance, which is turning into an electoral alliance instead of the issue-based alliance forged earlier on the basis of 23-point declaration.

Strong debate raged within the alliance over reports of Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad's meeting with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in London, which both the parties denied.

However, Ershad yesterday declared that his party was still with the AL-led 'grand alliance' Mahajote, which had never been dissolved.

"I was always with the grand alliance and I am still with it," Ershad told reporters at Zia International Airport on his return from London.

"The alliance has not been dissolved," said the former president, who is used to change his political stance frequently.

However, the announcement is being considered as very significant in the context of present political scenario as Ershad is evidently enjoying "special blessings" of the army-backed Caretaker Government, political observers said.

Ershad, however, denied for a second time having had any meeting with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, who was in London at the same time.

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar had earlier alleged that Ershad and Hasina had met in London, terming it the 'London conspiracy'.

Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Sammobadi Dal president Dilip Barua categorically told this correspondent that they would leave the alliance immediately, if Jatiya Party intrudes into it.

However, Gonatantry Party president Nurul Islam said, "Any patriotic party can join the alliance if it supports the Liberation War and accepts our 23-point declarations which is the basis of the 11-party unity.

"We will discuss the issue in details at the central committee meeting to be held on August 1 and frame our future strategy," he said.

Acting president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) Syed Zafar Sajjad and General Secretary of National Awami Party (NAP) Adv Enamul Huq said Awami League should not take any unilateral decision rather it should hold discussion with the allies on the matter.

However, the front ranking Awami League leaders were very cautious to comment on it.

When contacted Awami League Presidium Members, Tofail Ahmed and Matia Chowdhury, said that it was not wise to comment on such important issue before time.

Two killed as trains collide at Laksham

Two trains met head-on collision at Laksham in
Comilla yesterday causing instant death of two people and
injuring 50 others. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

At least four people were killed and 25 others injured at a separate road and train accidents in Comilla and Brahmanbaria districts yesterday.

Two people were killed and 20 others injured in collision between two trains at Laksham railway junction in Comilla on Friday.

According to spot account an Akhura bound local train from Chittagong collided with Noakhali bound Upakul Express from Dhaka at about 12.30 pm killing two passengers on the spot.

The identities of the deceased were not immediately known and the injured persons were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex.

Fire Brigade along with railway staffs rushed to the spot soon after the accident and started rescue operation.

Train communications between the district and other parts of the country remained disrupted for several hours.

Meanwhile, in another accident two people were killed and five others injured as a bus rammed into a CNG-run auto rickshaw at Tatara in Brahmanpara upazila of the district yesterday.

Eyewitness said the accident occurred at about 12 noon when a Upazila bound bus from Comilla rammed into the three wheelers, coming from the opposite direction that claimed two lives on the spot and injured five others.

The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately. Separate cases were filed with the respective police stations.

2,500 acre railway land under occupation

Mamunur Rashid

At least 2,500 acres of prime land of Bangladesh Railway are under the occupation of local land grabbers causing the state-run railway to incur a loss of Tk 400 crores yearly. But no Government initiative has yet been taken to recover it.

Chief Estate Officer (West) of the Railway Department Shamsul Alam said, "Around 2,500 acres out of 62,192.71 acres of railway land in the country have been grabbed by the local people. As a result the railway sector has been incurring a loss of huge amount of money every year."

Sources in the railway department told The New Nation yesterday political leaders, armed hoodlums, terrorists and influential leaders of local bodies of the respective areas grabbed the land to serve their own purpose.

The land grabbers either rented these places for establishing slums, kitchen markets, rickshaw stands, shady business establishments and construction of residential buildings for rental purposes. These areas have become the hub of drug dealers and den of anti-social activities.

Previous governments and the railway authority with the help of law enforcers had tried to recover these lands from the illegal occupants, but failed. "During our drive last year we were able to recover only 50 acres of railway land," the railway source said.

Visiting city's Moghbazar, Amtali, Tejkunipara, Kawran Bazar, Khilgaon, Biswa Road and Kamalapur areas this correspondent found that hundreds of make-shift shops, especially tea-stalls and slums have grown up along the railway lines on Bangladesh Railway land. Apart from these, a group of transport leaders at Kawran Bazar are using railway land as truck terminals and rickshaw stands. Along the Malibagh Railway line a group of hoodlums have established vegetable markets. Following such indiscriminate grabbing of railway land, the incidents of accident is taking place frequently under the very nose of the law enforcers.

The Bangladesh Railway has turned into a losing concern following such mismanagement and irregularities for long in the sector. Previous governments had committed to modernize the railway department with a view to make this sector profitable and to ensure smooth journey for the people. But all efforts have gone in vain.

"Not an inch of railway track has been laid since the independence of the country, instead of improving this sector, it is being neglected and the passengers' sufferings are also mounting," a railway official said.

Fierce clash at Begumganj: UNO, 16 cops among 100 injured

UNB, Noakhali

Over 100 people, including a UNO and 16 policemen, were injured in a clash between students of Begumganj Agriculture Training Institution (BATI) and the police on Thursday night after a BATI student was injured in a road accident.

Campus sources said the authorities yesterday declared the institute closed for 15 days and asked the students to vacate their halls by 2pm on the day.

Police said Russell, a second semester student of the institute, sustained injuries when a human hauler hit him near Begumganj Textiles Institute at about 9:30pm on Thursday.

As the news spread, angry students went on a rampage and damaged a number of vehicles. They also put up barricade on the Begumganj-Maijdee road.

On information, police rushed to the scene and requested the students to remove the barricade. At one stage, a chase and counter chase took place between police and students.

Agitated students pelted brickbats towards police that forced the law enforcers to lob teargas shells and rubber bullets.

As the trouble continued, Begumganj UNO Manjurul Mannan and Police Super Aminul Islam with reinforced police force went to the institute and requested the students to calm down.

But the students did not pay heed to the request and again started pelting brickbats, injuring the UNO and 16 policemen. A number of teachers, students and employees of the institute were injured in the clash.

Sugarcane output declines

Shamim Jahangir

Production of sugarcane has declined and area under its cultivation has shrunk during the last six years mainly due to increase in production cost, Bangladesh Sugar and Industries Corporation (BSFIC) sources said.

The country produced 83,80,263 tonnes of sugarcane from 79,105 hectares of land in the year 2002-03, but its production came down to 76,17,137 tonnes and the land of its cultivation to 74,088 hectares in 2007-8,sources added.

About 76,89,227 tonnes of sugarcane were produced from 74,083.56 hectares of land in the year 2006-07, 73,07,304 tonnes from 80,075 hectares in 2005-06, 70,68,972 tonnes from 70,078 hectares in 2004-05 and 76,00,244 tonnes from 79,105 hectares in 2003-04.

Production cost of sugarcane has increased to Tk 42,000 per acre this year against Tk 32,000 last year, sugarcane growers said.

" Additional expenditure for fertilisers has pushed up the production cost of sugarcane," they said.

"We have earned Tk 652 from one acre of land which is too meagre compared to our labour and investment," they noted.

"We could have increased the production of sugarcane by applying fertiliser and expanding cultivation area if the government gave us subsidy," they further said.

A total of five lakh farmers are involved in the cultivation sugarcane across country.

A senior official of BSFIC said they pay Tk 52 to growers for one maund of sugarcane.

He spoke in favour of raising its price to at least Tk 80 per maund of sugarcane considering the high prices of fertilisers and inputs.

He said that the 15 sugar mills have a total capacity to produce 2,10,400 tonnes against total demand of 12 lakh tonnes. But they cannot run to their full capacity because of shortage of sugarcane.

He expressed his apprehension that the production of sugarcane would decline further if the government failed to support the sector.

Politicians differ over RPO amendment

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Political leaders have voiced a mixed reaction to the move to amend the Representation of the People Order 1972 instead of scrapping it.

Leaders of Awami League and Worker's Party supported the move, while a BNP leader voiced continued concern yesterday.

The government had proposed replacing the order with a new ordinance in the face of opposition from political parties, but the Election Commission asked the government not to go ahead with the move on Thursday.

Awami League presidium member, Motia Chowdhury told bdnews24.com on Friday: "What the government was proposing at first was unjust. The government has amended its mistake."

"The government was acting according to their whim. But, they must act accepting reality."

BNP joint secretary general, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy told bdnews24.com: "An unelected government does not have any jurisdiction to amend such laws."

"They must be done through parliament."

"The Election Commission should refrain from meddling in these affairs further and concentrate on holding parliamentary elections first of all."

"We still do not support amendment to the RPO 1972 in such a way in absence of parliament."

Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon welcomed the government decision.

He told bdnews24.com: "No law passed by the parliament can be scrapped through an ordinance."

"At best it can be amended. We are happy that the government is amending the Representation of the People Order 1972."

'Serial bombs’ hit India’s IT hub

BBC Online

Seven bombs have hit the southern Indian city of Bangalore in a span of 15 minutes, police say.

One woman was killed and several people injured. Police say bombs were detonated with timing devices.

The blasts have been described as low intensity and all are reported to have occurred in crowded areas.

Bangalore is the information technology hub of India with more than 40% of the country's IT and software industry based there.

Malls, schools and cinema halls across Bangalore have been shut and police have cordoned off the blast sites.

"We are conducting the investigation. Bomb squads have reached the scene. We appeal to the citizens to carry on their normal activities without any fear," Bangalore city police commissioner Shankar Bidri said.

Bidri said each of the explosions were of a similar magnitude to one or two grenades.

Police said a woman died in the explosion at Madiwala area.

Other blasts were in the areas of Nayanadhalli, Adugudi, Rajaram Circle, Anepallya and Ashok Nagar.

The injured have been taken to Bangalore's St John's hospital.

A large part of India's IT and outsourcing business is concentrated in Bangalore.

Dozens of large international firms like Microsoft, Intel and IBM also have offices in the city, which is often called the Silicon Valley of India.

There have been a number of blasts in Indian cities in recent years.

They are almost always blamed on foreign militants but there have been no significant arrests or convictions in any of the cases.

Pichhi Hannan’s associate killed in crossfire

Staff Reporter

A listed terrorist and close accomplice of Pichchi Hannan was killed in 'crossfire' during an encounter between RAB members and Hannan's accomplices in Tejgaon Industrial area of the city yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Shaheb Ali, 35, a close accomplice of Pichchi Hannan. He was wanted in a number of cases including three murders with different police stations in the city.

Shaheb Ali and his gang was preparing to commit a crime at the truck stand of the industrial area, on information a team of RAB-2 chased them at about 2:00am.

Sensing the presence of RAB members, Shaheb Ali and his cohorts opened fire on them forcing them to fire back triggering a gun battle for about 30 minutes.

"Shaheb was caught in the line of fire and died instantly," said a RAB official.

A foreign made revolver and one round of bullet were recovered from the spot. The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Sources said Shaheb Ali sustained bullet injuries during the gunfight with RAB in Savar in 2005 that killed Pichchi Hannan.

Presidential ordinances under question following HC Judgement

UNB, Dhaka

After the High Court struck down two of the Presidential ordinances, leading lawyers are now pondering over the legitimacy of scores of other ordinances promulgated by the President during the incumbent caretaker government.

The High Court earlier declared void the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2008 and the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Ordinance 2008.

Talking to UNB, Supreme Court Bar Association president Barrister Shafique Ahmed said the jurisdiction of the President is spelt out in Article 48 (3) of the Constitution.

It says: In the exercise of all his functions, save that of appointing the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.

Barrister Shafique also referred to Article 58 D (1) and (2) of the Constitution, which clearly says that the non-party caretaker government shall discharge functions as an interim government and shall carry on the routine functions of such government with aid and assistance of persons in the services of the Republic; and except in the case of necessity for discharge of such functions it shall not make any policy decision.

The SCBA president said some 71-72 ordinances were promulgated by the President during the present caretaker government. It needs to be seen how many of these ordinances are related to the general elections, routine work or policy matters.

He said the ordinances that are related to policy decisions might not have constitutional legitimacy.

Asked if the SCBA will initiate any move to challenge those ordinances, Barrister Shafique said they have not yet discussed it.

But, he said, if any aggrieved person comes forward to challenge any such ordinance, they would take it up through legal means.

Two muggers lynched

Staff Reporter

Two alleged muggers were killed in a mob beating and two others injured critically at Natun Rasta of Shyampur area in the city yesterday.

Sources said four muggers snatched away valuables from a person at Natun Rasta of Gushaibari in the early morning. When the muggers were fleeing local people caught Shaon alias Black, 28, Abdur Rahim, 25, Shukur, 28, and Imran, 25 and gave them a good beating at about 4:45am, leaving them seriously injured.

On information, police rushed in and took them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where Shaon and Abdur Rahim succumbed after admission.

A case was filed with Shyampur police station in this connection.

Wife of lone witness to August 17 serial bombings killed

UNB, Satkhira

The wife of only witness to August 17, 2005 serial bombing here was killed by miscreants at Bakal Check-post in Sadar upazila Thursday night.

The body of Hajera Bibi, 40, wife of Raushan Ali of Bakal Islampur village in local pourashava, was found hanging from a tree. Later, on information, police recovered the body at about 11pm.

Hajera went missing after she went to a nearby place of her residence Thursday afternoon.

Raushan, who witnessed the August 17 serial bombing here, alleged that associates of JMB strangulated his wife to death and hanged the body from the tree.

Local journalists said police declined to talk to them about the killing.

Local sources said JMB's wrath on Raushan fell when a JMB member, Nasiruddin Dafadar, neighbour of Raushan, was arrested as per information given by Raushan following the serial blasts here on August 17, 2005.

Nasiruddin provided detailed information to police and intelligence officials about JMB and bomb blasts.

Several false cases were filed against Raushan and JMB members have been threatening his family members since the arrest of Nasiruddin.

In an apparent reprisal, miscreants kidnapped Raushan to Daulotpur beel where they hit him with sharp weapons and dumped him thinking dead on the night of May 25, last year. But Raushan luckily survived.

Later, a case was filed against 10 people, including Abdul Jalil, son of Nasiruddin, with local police station in this connection.

Accused in the case threatened Raushan of dire consequences after they came out of jail on bail recently.