The New Nation - Internet Edition

Move to resolve gas, power problem in Ctg: Council of Advisers approves pack of short-term projects

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed presiding over the
meeting of Council of Advisers at Chittagong Circuit House
on Wednesday. PID photo

UNB, Chittagong

The Council of Advisers in its maiden meeting in the port city yesterday discussed in detail the draft National Coal Policy and advised the Energy Ministry to place it again after further scrutiny.

With Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed presiding, the council-of-advisers meeting approved a pack of short-term projects to resolve gas, electricity, water-logging and other problems in the port city as also in Chittagong region.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of the meeting, held at Chittagong Circuit House, Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the meeting decided to supply 20mcf new gas to the region from Bakhrabad and Bangura gas fields.

Of the 20mcf, 10mcf gas will be supplied for production of 40MW electricity and the remaining 10mcf to be given to new industrial units "on priority basis".

The meeting decided to establish Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company for distribution of gas in Chittagong region and set up a Rental Power Plant with imported furnace oil.

On the problem of water logging in Chittagong City, the meeting asked the Water Development Board and Chittagong City Corporation to take necessary steps to improve the drainage system and resolve the problem. Two sluice gates will be constructed on the Karnaphuli River to improve the drainage system.

Dr Hossain Zillur said a Tk 90-95 crore project for infrastructure and drainage system and Tk 22 crore project on waste management are awaiting ECNEC approval.

Besides, the council of advisors of the caretaker government decided to establish two medical schools and colleges in Chittagong.

The meeting also decided to make operational fresh drinking water project this month. It decided to set up an IT tower in Chittagong.

This was the fifth meeting of the Council of Advisors at divisional headquarters outside capital Dhaka. Earlier, the Council of Advisors had held meeting in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet.

More high-profile prisoners get bail: Mirza Azam’s bail stayed for one month

Desk Report

The High Court yesterday granted interim bails to Chittagong Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, HRC Group chairman Sayeed Hossain Chowdhury, ex-BNP MPs Manzurul Ahsan Munshi ,Hafiz Ibrahim and ex-BNP whip Ashraf Hossain.

However, the Appellate Division chamber judge stayed the bail of Pro-Awami League Bangladesh Jubo League general secretary Mirza Azam for one month

Mayor Mohiuddin got bail for three months in a graft case on his health ground from a Division Bench of Justice Khademul Islam

Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed. But the Mayor's releaseremains uncertain as he faces other charges of corruption.

Hafiz Ibrahim who secured bail for four months in three criminal cases, including a murder case, may not also be released as there are other cases against him.

HRC Group chairman Sayeed Hossain Chowdhury got bail for three months in the case of violating the Emergency Power Rules. He is facing another case of money laundering.

Manzurul Ahsan Munshi got bail for six months in an extortion case but his release also seems remote because of other cases. Ashraf Hossain secured bail for six months in a case of violating EPR. He was earlier released on bail by a High Court order butrearrested on August 4 soon after he came out of jail.

Except Mohiuddin, other accused got bails from a Division Bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice M Emdadul Haque Azad. But the Supreme Court stayed for a month operation of the High Court bail to Awami Juba League general secretary and ex-Whip Mirza Azam in a corruption case. Chamber court of Justice M A Matin passed the order upon a plea of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), as it prefers leave to appeal against the High Court orders.

On August 11, the High Court, responding to a petition, granted bail for two months to Mirza Azam and stayed for four weeks the proceedings of the corruption case.

The Bench also had issued rule asking the ACC to explain within four weeks why the case 'should not be quashed'.

Mirza Azam was sent to jail after he surrendered to the Metropolitan Sessions Court here on July 16 following a High Court order.

The HC had asked the former Awami League lawmaker to seek bail on surrender to the trial court as it had already issued arrest warrant against him. ACC deputy director Mobara Khanam filed the case with Ramna police station on January 10, accusing Azam of illegally amassing wealth worth Tk 53.62 lakh and concealing information about his property.

Meanwhile another Division Bench of he High Court stayed for three months the proceedings of the ill-gotten wealth case against detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, now abroad on parole for treatment.

The case is now pending with the special court set up in the high-security parliament-building complex that deals with high-profile corruption cases.

Passing the interim order, the Bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice M Emdadul Haque Azad issued a rule upon the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain in four weeks why the case "should not be quashed".

The High Court order came on the day when the trial court was supposed record the testimony by the prosecution witness followed by defence cross-examination.

Earlier on August 7, a special court framed charges against Koko in the corruption case filed for accumulating wealth illegally and

hiding information thereof

This was the first time the charges were framed against the ex-PM's son, who was released on two-month parole on July 17 by an executive order to facilitate his overseas treatment.

Koko is also facing another corruption case, namely Gatco graft case, along with his mother, under the purge in the interim period.

14-party leaders for emergency-free polls

Staff Reporter

Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman has said that he will not only keep the unity of 14-party alliance intact but also will try his level best to ensure best use of this unity for betterment of the nation.

The seasoned politician firmly said that the interim Caretaker Government does not have any ability to stage upazilla elections before holding the national election, as people and his party will not allow it to do so.

He demanded immediate withdrawal of the emergency and to announce date and schedule for national assembly election.

Zillur Rahman was speaking at a discussion meeting on Bangabandhu and Present Scenario of Bangladesh organised by Peshajibi Samonnay Parishad (PSP) marking the death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The speakers paid rich tributes to the memory of the late national hero who was assassinated along with his family members in a military coup on August 15, 1975.

Acting Jatiya Party chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, in the meeting, hoped to resist the conspiracy of rehabilitating corrupt politicians of Jamaat-BNP axis unitedly.

Meanwhile, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Huq Inu in their speech expressed doubt about Awami League's stance on the 14-party alliance.

In this situation Zillur Rahman said, "Please be sure that I will not only go on with holding the unity of 14-party alliance, but also I will take my best efforts to utilise it."

This was the first comment of the Awami League's acting chief about existence of the 14-party alliance, which became cracked and feeble recently due to a debate on its extension into a grand electoral alliance with inclusion of Jatiya Party and some other semi-Islamist parties.

Zillur Rahman warned the Government against taking any effort to hold local government elections before the national election.

"You came to power for three months only with a duty to stage national election by that time. But you have been continuing for two hours. You are talking much but the national election," he said fingering at the present Caretaker Government.

The Awami League leader cautioned all not to express doubt about holding of the national election by December. "National election in December is a must, for people will force them to hold it," he said. Barrister Annisul Islam Mahmud termed Bangabandhu and his followers as real nationalists. He urged to uphold the spirit of Liberation War.

Rashed Khan Menon said that some foreigner and their local agents are still active to go ahead with their blueprint to constitute a dummy parliament and materialise their schemes.

"Parties will have to clear their position regarding the future of Army in politics," he said and cautioned that any retreat from the 23-point of 14-party would weaken the alliance.

"We are hearing about some consensus behind the stage. This can help one to assuming power. But establishing of democracy will remain far cry," he said.

Hasanul Huq Inu urged Awami League and other political parties to recognise their faults and correct those. "Ethics should get priority over power. Ethics and goal should be basis of any political unity," he said.

Presided over by convenor of PSP Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury the function was also addressed by Awami League presidium member Amir Hossain Amu and its acting general secretary Dr Syed Ashraful Islam, CPB general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, Coordinatior of the Sector Commanders Forum Lt Gen (Rtd) Harun, FPSP leaders principal Dr Kamrul Islam Khan, Prof Abul Barkat, journalist Altaf Mahmud, among others.

BUET seminar told World faced with dev challenges

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar in the city said today's world was faced with two new challenges that may change its future with the skyrocketing price of conventional energy and its impact on climate change.

The seminar on "Alternative Energy and Climate Change" organised by the department of Mechanical Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was held on Tuesday.

Prof Dr AMM Safiullah, Vice-Chancellor of BUET, spoke on the occasion as chief guest, while Prof Dr Abu Rayhan Md Ali, head of the Mechanical Engineering Department presided over it. Dr Hasna J Khan, Prokaushali Sangsad Limited present a keynote paper on 'Global Energy and Climate Change' as a guest speaker.

They said these extraordinary challenges were being experienced by the industrialised nations and developing countries in different dimensions. Impact on economic prosperity and development were alarming considering the supply and demand of conventional fuel, they added.

Most of the global warming in recent decades can be attributed to human activities especially through the use of fossil fuel for energy production, transportation and industries, they further said.

The speakers said, "World's climate changed caused by global warming will continue at a pace that is faster than predicted before. This long term warming trend posses serious risks to our economy and our environment. Although the industrialised countries are responsible for most of the emissions, the risks are greater to the poorer countries that will be far less able to cope with a changing climate. Countries can be hard hit with sea level rise, drought and natural calamities of un-usual proportion with change in ecology and many more."

VC Prof Safiullah said, "Energy crisis in now prevailing in the world. We have to face this problem. Pollution has increased due to use of energy. "

Lone bidder takes Bibiyana its way

UNB, Dhaka

When there is just a lone player on the field without any competitor, it gives the loner the right to dodge the game its own way. And that is probably happening with the implementation of the 450 Megawatt Bibiyana power plant project.

Industry analysts see the entire process of tendering for this major power plant project as being utterly flawed which eventually allowed only one competitor, Viz. the Powertek Consortium, to remain in the field. And the result is that this single bidder is now taking the deal it own way.

The flawed tendering process, as analysts pointed out, made Powertek Consortium the sole competitor in the field from where others bidders were virtually elbowed out.

Now being the sole bidder without having any competitors, Powertek is reportedly calling the shots by imposing its own convenient terms and conditions on the Power Cell of the Ministry of Power.

Of late, Powertek has imposed a condition that the government will have to pay up to US$ 15 million for canceling the project before its financial closure.

Industry sources said this is an exceptional condition ever demanded by any bidding company. Bewildered, the Proposal Evaluation Committee (PEC) of the Power Cell has forwarded this exceptional proposal to the Law Ministry for its opinion, it was learnt.

Insiders in the bidding process observed that although Powertek has asked the government to assume responsibility of US$ 15 million.

Journalist assaulted

DU, Correspondent

Four Chhatra League (BCL) activists assaulted a journalist in front of Aparajeyo Bangla on the Dhaka University campus yesterday noon.

The victim, Shafiqul Islam, a DU Correspondent of Bangla daily Desh Janata, was attacked while covering a BCL programme calling for the unconditional release of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. He received first aid from central medical hospital of the university.

The BCL activists who assaulted the journalist are Mithu, Raihan, Mehedi and Jewel of Zuhurul Haque Hall of the university, witnesses said.

Dhaka University Journalists' Association (DUJA), at an emergency meeting, con demned the attack and demanded expulsion of the accused BCL activists from the organisation within 24 hours. Otherwise, the DUJA would go on a movement, said DUJA president Mahbubur Rahman.

Besides, the association took the decision to submit a memorandum to the DU VC Prof SMA Faiz today demanding expulsion of the accused from the university.

BCL DU unit president Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu assured the journalists that organisational action would be taken against the accused.

In the afternoon, BCL general secretary Mahfuz Haider Chowdhury Roton who was recently released from jail met with the DU journalists and described his experience in jail.

BCL president Mahmud Hasan Ripon, Golam Sarwar Kabir, Mahmud Iqbal Bablu, Momen Al Rupak and Sazzad Sakib Badsha, among others, were present in the meeting.

'Terrorists’ Shajahan Siraj, Prince Mollah puzzle people again

Staff Reporter

Notorious criminals Shajahan Siraj and Prince Mollah of city's Cantonment area again started to threaten people for toll after getting bail from the court on Tuesday.

The two terrorists were arrested in an extortion case No. 2073/07 on Tuesday but got bail from a lower court that was not entitled to give the same to people of Cantonment police station area, alleged Advocate Shajahan, the counsel of the petitioner.

"It was a case under non bailable sections but they got bail," he added. The two terrorists earlier were arrested in another case filed in Gulshan police station for cheating a land developer. But they got freed from the court. Police said there was several cases in different police stations against the two cheats.

Rotten powder milk seized at Ctg Port to be confiscated

Chittagong Correspondent

Chittagong Customs House (CCH) is likely to confiscate the total consignment of suspected rotten powder milk imported by Abul Khair Food Products, an enterprise of Abul Khair Group.

"We don't know what ultimately will happen to the powder milk, but the CCH will go by the law," a customs official said.

Local sources said an unholy nexus among the exporter, importer and the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company is responsible for the import of 450 tonnes of what is alleged rotten powder milk.

"Why the importer is so crazy to clear the consignment shouldering blames of manipulations when the mistakes are al legedly done by the exporter," a shipping circle stalwart commented.

Earlier, the files and relevant records of the consignment have been sent to Commissioner (Import) of the customs house Mohammad Shah Alam Khan for adjudication as the importer admitted its guilt and sought summary trial of the manipulations done.

On the other hand, the local office of the Bureau Varitas, controversial pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company, admitted receipt of the show cause notice. An official of the company claimed that the response of the show cause notice would soon be submitted.

Sources at the CCH said that laboratory reports of the suspected powder milk has not yet come from the agencies concerned - Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) and Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).

Meanwhile, the importer has already initiated legal process to appeal against the decision of the Commissioner of Customs at the High Court.

Restaurant owner gunned down

Staff Reporter

A restaurant owner and local community leader was shot dead by hooligans at Shyampur area in the city yesterday morning.

Gunmen numbering three to four raided Toma Hotel and Restaurant at Mojaheed Nagar under Shyampur police station at about 9:30 am. At that time the owner of the restaurant Farid Uddin Sarker, 45, was taking his breakfast.

The gun-trotting goons shot him at point -blank and fled the scene. Farid, also president of DND Embankment Unnayan Nagorik Forum, was hit by six bullets in the chest and two hands.

The victim was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where attending doctor declared him dead.

Local people said Farid helped Rapid Action Battalion personnel in arresting a drug peddler with 1700 bottles of phensidyl recently. They suspected that it might be a reason for the killing.

World class kidney hospital to be built in city

Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus unveiling the
plaque of foundation stone of Kidney Foundation Hospital and
Research Institute at Mirpur in the city on Wednesday. Focus
Bangla

BSS, Dhaka

A world class kidney hospital having modern facilities will be built at Mirpur-2 in the city.

In the first phase, organisers said, a four-storey building will be constructed on two bigha lands and a 40-bed dialysis unit be set up there. Kidney transplantation of at least four patients will be done in each week.

Besides, cadaveric transplantation system, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy system would be introduced at the hospital to be named 'Kidney Hospital Foundation and Research Institute'

It will also have a modern laboratory, an intensive care unit (ICU) and tissue typing system, the organisers told the foundation-laying ceremony of the hospital to be built by Kidney Foundation. In the second phase, the hospital will be turned into seven- storey building where 200-bed dialysis service will be started.

Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus laid the foundation stone yesterday as the chief guest, while National Professor MR Khan was present at the function as special guest.

Chaired by Professor Harun Ur Rashid, President of the Kidney Foundation, the function was addressed by vice presidents of the foundation Professor Zia Uddin Ahmed and Professor M A Wahab and Managing Dircetor Tiny Ferdous Rashid.

Two kidney patients, Anima Ghosh and Sultan Shamsunnahar, who recovered from the disease, also spoke on the occasion.

Speaking at the function, Prof Yunus said it is true that there are qualified doctors in the country but the number is inadequate.

Despite the limitation, he said, the country earned a remarkable success in health sector in last 20 years. "We have surpassed India and Pakistan in terms of health indicator," Prof Yunus said.

"We can go ahead further if infrastructure development in the health sector is done rapidly," said the pioneer in microcredit.

Referring to his dream of setting up a world class hospital in the country, Prof Yunus, the founder and Managing Director of Grameen Bank, said, "We want to establish a hospital where all modern facilities would be available and patients would not have to go abroad for treatment."

"To set up the hospital, we are looking for lands and discussing with national and international organizations to this end," he added.

Prof Yunus sought cooperation of all to set up his dream hospital.

He further said the Grameen Bank has a plan to establish nursing training colleges in all districts of the country to produce skilled nurses.

Professor Harun Ur Rashid said 18 percent people of the country have been suffering from kidney diseases. Of them, 60 percent people are not aware of the kidney ailments.

He said one in every six persons has been suffering from the disease which claims 40,000 lives in the country yearly.

Prof Harun said 95 percent kidney patients of the country are unable to bear the treatment cost. As a result, they slowly move towards death.

He said the Kidney Foundation has been providing treatment for poor and middle class people at reasonable cost.

Prof Harun said kidney transplantation cost in the foundation is Taka two lakh, which is many times higher in other countries. A total of 86 kidney transplantation were done at their hospital in last one and a half years.

He said the foundation takes Taka 600 for a dialysis which is Taka 2500-3500 in other hospitals in the country.

Prof Harun urged the people to donate kidneys posthumously.

Voter or not, Khaleda can run polls: Sircar

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Speaker Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar says Khaleda Zia's exclusion from the voters' roll does not disqualify the former prime minister from running for parliamentary elections.

Sircar quotes the Constitution to argue that a candidate does not need to be a voter to contest in the general elections.

"According to Article 66 of the Constitution, any person of at least 25 years of age can run in the parliamentary polls if he or she is a citizen of Bangladesh," Sircar told bdnews24.com in an interview Tuesday.

But according to the new Representation of the People Ordinance (amendment) 2008, recently approved by the interim cabinet, a parliamentary candidate must be a voter.

The Speaker argued any part of any ordinance or act that contradicted the Constitution would be null and void.

"When there is a conflict between a constitutional article and sections of acts or ordinances, the Constitution prevails over them," explained Sircar, who is a lawyer.

"The government could not make any law contrary to the Constitution," he stressed.

Article 66 of the Constitution says: "A person shall, subject to the provisions of clause (2), be qualified to be elected as, and to be, a member of Parliament if he is a citizen of Bangladesh and has attained the age of twenty-five years."

"I don't know whether the (RPO) provision conflicts with the Constitution. Please ask the legal experts," election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain told bdnews24.com Tuesday.

On Monday, deputy inspector general of prisons Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, quoting election officials, told journalists that Khaleda would not be able to contest in the next general elections if she did not register herself as a voter by Aug 11.

But Khaleda refused to get enroled as voter while behind bars, the prisons official said after a meeting with the detained former prime minister.

The Election Commission's move to make the mandatory provision amending the Representation of the People Order 1972 followed suggestions from several parties in electoral dialogues earlier this year, though the RPO amendment has been greeted with howls of protest from political parties.