The New Nation - Internet Edition

Thai Ambassador visits Bangladesh Association for Aged

UNB, Dhaka

Thai Ambassador to Bangla-desh Chalermpol Thanchitt visited the office of Bangla-desh Association for Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine (BAAIGM) here yesterday.

The Thai envoy assured that his government would provide assistance and training for doctors and officials of the organization, said a press release.

President of the association Amanullah Khan, secretary general Md. Abdul Mannan Miah, Dr. Sheikh Lutfur Rahman, Dr. Ezaj-Ul-Haque, among others, were present during the visit of the Thai envoy.

HC grants 6 months' bail to Nasim in a case of attack on police

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted bail for six months to detained former home minister Mohammad Nasim in a case that accused him of attacking police on September 12, 2006 during street a agitation programme of Awami League-led 14-party combine.

Granting interim bail following a petition, a Division Bench comprising Justice Sikder Mokbul Haque and Justice M Fazlur Rahman issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks as to why Nasim should not be allowed regular bail.

A front ranking Awami League leader, Nasim is now under treatment at private LabAid specialized hospital following a massive brain haemorrhage on June 14. He is serving a 13-year jail term for amassing wealth illegally and hiding information about it.

At present, Nasim also stands trial by a special court set up at high security parliament building complex in a case of abusing power as Telecommunications minister to allow WorldTel Holdings Limited for installing 300,000 digital telephones in the country without tender.

Advocate M Enayetur Rahim appeared for Nasim.

Leader of car-lifting gang in city held

UNB, Dhaka

Detective police arrested the suspected ringleader of a notorious car-lifting gang and recovered two CNG-run auto-rickshaws in city's Khilkhet area on Sunday night.

Members of the car-lifting-prevention team of the Detective Branch of Police raided the Lake City area under Khilkhet thana and arrested Shahin Ahmed alias Babu Molla at about 8:30 pm.

According to Babu's statement, the team also recovered two hijacked auto-rickshaws from the same area at about 2:05 am.

The detectives later contacted the owners of the autos and came to know about horrific incidents behind the hijacking.

Of the two recovered three-wheelers, one (Dhaka Metro Tha-13-2528) was snatched away on July 27 by killing its driver. Driver Jahangir's body was recovered from BRTC factory in Gazipur on July 29.

Another auto-rickshaw (Dhaka Metro Tha-0069) was snatched away on July 31 after doping its driver.

During interrogation, Babu Molla confessed that he is the chief boos of a "professional car-jacking gang". There are women also in his group of thugs that consists of 8 to 10 members.

4 PSI cos selected for next tenure

UNB, Dhaka

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has chosen four pre-shipment inspection (PSI) agencies initially at its first evolution committee meeting yesterday.

A total of seven PSI companies submitted their proposals after the NBR had floated an open tender for appointing new PSI agencies. Sunday was the last date for submission of proposals.

"Initially, we have selected four companies out of seven… But final selection will take some time," a member of the evolution committee told UNB.

NBR sources said that the four primarily selected PSI companies are SGS (Bangladesh) Limited, Bureau Veritas BIVAC (Bangladesh) Limited and Intertek Testing Limited and OM Inspection Company.

During the previous BNP-led 4-party alliance government, four PSI companies-Cotecna Inspection SA, SGS (Bangladesh) Limited, Bureau Veritas BIVAC (Bangladesh) Limited and Intertek Testing Limited - were commissioned in August 2005 for three years for certifying prices, quality and quantity of imported goods.

The Finance Adviser in his budget speech said that currently mandatory pre-shipment inspection system is applicable for most of the importable items.

PSI system was introduced for ensuring faster clearance of imported cargo and preventing revenue pilferages.

To replace the PSI system, customs department will require to train up its officials on WTO valuation, trade policy, ASYCUDA system, risk management.