The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shab-e-Barat observed

Musallis offering munajat at Baitul Mokarram
National Mosque on the occasion of holy Shab-e-Barat on
Saturday night. NN Photo

BSS, Dhaka

Shab-e-Barat, the holy night of fortune and forgiveness, was observed across the country Saturday night with religious fervour and devotion.

The Muslims across the country remained awaken for whole night with near and dear ones at mosques and homes, offering prayers, reciting from the holy Quran and seeking divine blessings from Allah for long life, peace, progress and happiness for themselves, their families, relatives and friends as well as the nation and the Muslim Ummah.

Muslim devotees thronged Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Azimpur Graveyard, High Court Mazar and other sacred places that turned into human seas.

The Muslims consider Shab-e-Barat as one of the three most sacred nights and believe that on this night Almighty Allah writes the fate of all human beings fixing their 'rizq' (livelihood) for the coming year.

The Muslims on the night visited graveyards of relations to offer fateha for peace of the departed souls of their near and dear ones as well as for other departed.

They also visited the mazars of saints in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country and distributed food and sweets among the neighbours and the poor.

Many Muslims observed fasting yesterday.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private television channels and radios aired special programs. Newspapers published special articles highlighting the significance of Shab- e-Barat.

Islamic Foundation Bangladesh and other socio-religious organisations organised different programmes, including Quran khwani, waz mahfils, milad and zikr, to observe the day.

Reports of observance of holy Shab-e-Barat were received from divisional and district headquarters as well as from all other parts of the country where people along with their near and dear ones sought their individual fortunes praying to Almighty Allah, besides continued progress and prosperity of the nation, and unity and integrity of the Muslim Ummah.

In Chittagong, holy Shab-e-Barat was observed in the port city with due religious fervour and solemnity.

Socio-cultural and religious organisations including Islamic Foundation arranged programmes including discussions, milad mahfils and zikr on this occasion.

Aug 4 polls: 14 ballot papers recovered from Sylhet

RAB and police personnel recovered some ballot
papers of August 4, Sylhet City Corporation Election from
Chowkydekhy area of the city yesterday. FocusBangla

Sylhet Correspondent

Some 14 ballot papers have been recovered yesterday from a shop at Choukidekhi area under Ward No 6 of Sylhet City Corporation.

This is second such incident following recovery of 78 counter foils of ballot papers and one blank ballot paper from at Haji Mohsin Road in Khulna City Corporation five days after the August 4 local government polls.

Deputy Election Commissioner in Sylhet Khandaker Mizanur Rahman told reporters that these ballot papers are out of 38, which were missing from Shahjalal Pre-Cadet School and College on the polling day.

According to him, the concerned presiding officer had earlier reported about the missing of the ballot papers.

Officer In-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Khandaker Nowroj Ahmed said that a three-member probe committee headed by Assistant Commissioner Faruque Ahmed has been formed to investigate the matter.

Of the recovered ballot papers, 13 were sealed and one was cancelled.

Hasina to return home by Sept end

Staff Reporter

Former prime minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina is likely to return home by the end of September in between her treatment, said her personal physician Dr Syed Modassir Ali yesterday.

Modassir disclose this while briefing reporters at Mujibunnessa Eye Hospital Ltd on the present physical condition of Sheikh Hasina.

"Sheikh Hasina's left ear has been completely damaged and her sight of her left eye has been reduced by 20 per cent," he said.

He said that an operation might be necessary for regaining her eyesight, which would be confirmed after two months.

"Sheikh Hasina has also been suffering from blood pressure, which is continuously fluctuating and there is her allergy problem," he informed.

He blamed the government and the jail authority for not providing her proper treatment for the problems she had since the grenade attack of August 21 in 2004 that had aggravated during her 11-month long detention.

Modassir also said that he would file a case against the persons responsible for depriving Sheikh Hasina of proper treatment.

He accused Inspector General of Prison, Home Adviser and Former State Minister of Home Affairs during BNP-Jamaat government for Hasina's sufferings.

"Sheikh Hasina believes she is completely innocent. Even if her US doctors want to extend her treatment further, she will return at the end of September," he told reporters at the Hospital.

"Nothing will keep her abroad or bar her from participating in the general elections," Modasser Ali said.

The former prime minister wants an elected government to take over power as soon as possible to solve the country's problems, he said.

Asked whether he had discussed politics with Sheikh Hasina in the US, the doctor replied: "Sheikh Hasina believes terrorism and poverty are the main enemies of the country right now."

About the process of releasing Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia he said, "Sheikh Hasina was released on medical grounds, as her eye and ear were greatly damaged in August 21 grenade attack. But I think Khaleda Zia was not suffering from such sickness, which can be compared to Hasina's illness."

Dr Modassir went to America at the request of Sheikh Hasina on July 17 and returned home on August 14 after examination of her physical condition and consulting with her American doctors.

According to Modassir, Sheikh Hasina is under the treatment of Harry A Quigley, director of the Wilmer Institute at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in the US.

AL demands specific date for JS polls

BSS, Dhaka

Leaders of Bangladesh Awami League on Sunday demanded announcement of the specific date for holding the Jatiya Sangsad elections.

They said the people of the country had struggled for a free, fair and acceptable parliamentary elections. So, they added, no polls could be held before the Jatiya Sangsad elections.

The AL leaders made the demand while taking part in a discussion organized on the occasion of the 33rd martyrdom anniversary of the country's founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the party's central office here.

AL presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta, Labour Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, Sramik League leaders Abdus Salam Khan and Advocate Humayun Kabir, among others, took part in the discussion. Dhaka City unit of Jatiya Sramik League organized the discussion with its president Habibur Rahman in the chair.

Amu said the responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold a free and fair election. If they want, they can stage any election but it should be held after the JS polls, he added and called for announcing the date for next JS polls without any delay.

The AL central leader thanked the government and also the High Court for restoration of the status of the National Mourning Day on August 15 through a HC verdict.

Tofail Ahmed said recognizing Bangabandhu as the Father of the Nation is not any matter. "People around the globe know it better that Bangabandhu is our beloved Father of the Nation," he said.

Suranjit Sengupta said only four months are left for the next JS polls but election law is yet to be framed. "But it is being said that political parties should complete their conferences for registration," he pointed out.

He said at least six months are required to hold a conference of any political party like AL. "So, when the elections will be held?" Suranjit sought to know.

German Chancellor in Tbilisi: Russia starts pulling troops from Georgia

Reuters, Gori

Russia announced to the West it would begin withdrawing forces from Georgia on Monday after a war that dealt a humiliating blow to the Black Sea state and raised fears for energy supplies to Europe.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Sunday that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had told him by telephone that forces would begin leaving around midday on Monday.

Sarkozy, representing the European Union, said failure to pull out under a ceasefire deal would have "serious consequences" for ties with the EU.

Sunday saw no evidence of fighting, but Russian troops continued to man a checkpoint into Gori, albeit with a reduced presence-two armored personnel carriers.

Major-General Vyacheslav Borisov, frontline commander around Gori, which lies 30 km (20 miles) beyond South Ossetia, told Reuters troops were already on the move. "You must understand there are a large amount of troops," he said.

Borisov said his soldiers were maintaining positions around Gori, a city controlling the approach to South Ossetia and the main east-west highway, to protect Russia's military pullout.

Months of tension between Georgia and its former Soviet master erupted on August 7, when Tbilisi launched an assault to seize back control of the Russian-backed breakaway South Ossetia region. Russia said 1,600 civilians, many of them Russian citizens, were killed in the Georgian bombardment.

Russian troops fanned out beyond the boundaries of South Ossetia into the Georgian heartland, taking control of major centers including the strategically placed city of Gori in fierce fighting that lasted over five days. Both sides raised accusations of atrocities.

BCL-Shibir clash 21 injured at CU

Chittagong Correspondent

At least 21 activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) were injured in a series of clashes between the workers of the two groups on the Chittagong University campus yesterday.

Leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League is (BCL) claimed that nine of their workers were wounded during the clash while the Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) said nine of their activists have sustained injuries.

The unruly ICS activists also assaulted Mohiuddin Jewel, the CU correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo, when he came to the troubled spot at the university Railway Station for performing professional duty, eye witnesses said.

The university authorities have formed a three-member probe body to investigate the causes of the clashes and also identify the people involved in it. The probe body has been asked to submit its report by Tuesday next.

Professor Abdus Salam of Chemistry Department has been made head of the probe body while provost of AF Rahman Hall Professor Dr. Mokhtar Ahmed and provost of Shamsunnahar Hall Professor Kamrul Islam will assist the body.

Sources quoting the eye-account said that the clash ensued when a section of the ICS workers chased a gathering of the BCL supporters at the university railway station at about 2:40 p.m.

The BCL workers had been protesting expulsion of four of its activists. It had also a plan to hold a rally there to mark the National Mourning Day.

The BCL workers immediately went on counter attack by pelting stones and using weapons. The clashes left 21 workers of the feuding groups injured.

The clashes gripped the general students with panic forcing many of them to flee the campus or take safe shelter within the campus.

Though the law enforcers in their first attempt managed to disperse the quarrelling students and compelled them to leave the spot the warring students were locked into clashes again at night.

Acting President of the BCL at Chittagong University Jamashed Hossain claimed that the ICS men damaged several cottages of their workers apart from assaulting some BCL supporters last night. A restaurant reportedly owned by a worker of the BCL was also ransacked.

Six of the injured students were admitted to university hospital while four others received first aid.

The BCL workers later stopped a city bound train at the university rail station.

ICS is also stated to be taking preparation to file cases against BCL workers with the police.

The officers of the law enforcing agencies held a meeting with the CU Vice-Chancellor and discussed measures to restore peace on the campus.

Meanwhile, four activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) have been expelled from Chittagong University for one year on charges of creating chaos aboard a university train and damaging its coaches.

The expulsion order was issued at an emergency meeting of the university syndicate chaired by Vice-Chancxellor of the CU Univesity Prof. M Bodiul Alam.

The four expelled students are Mohammad Nuruzzaman of Accounting and Information System, Shahidul Islam of Mathematics Department, Sheikh Mohammad Shayet of Management Department and Alamgir Tipu of Economics Department.

The disciplinary committee of the university had earlier recommended tougher action against 22 students including the four the expelled ones.

Eight other students involved in the incidents of similar nature had signed surety bonds pledging good conduct in future. The university authorities also warned ten other students for the same offence.

BB decision on raising capital: Small investors cautioned for careful response

UNB, Dhaka

Small investors of share market have been cautioned to respond carefully to the Bangladesh Bank's order to raise commercial banks' capital to Tk 4.0 billion in next three years.

"There is no reason to be elated until the banks come up with specific declaration. Rather there is every reason for concern," a stock market expert who preferred not to be quoted told UNB on Sunday.

The small investors started assessing their investment strategy in the banking stocks immediately after the central bank's order to the commercial banks on Thursday. They might be considering that the banks would have to declare stock dividends or rights shares to meet the capital requirement.

Stockbrokers cautioned the small investors on apprehension that the investors are likely to be desperate to take position out of the BB order. They, however, admitted that the investors are now showing maturity in stock trading.

They said the decision was good for the banks as well as for the depositors as the capital base of the banks would be strengthened. But the benefit of the shareholders would depend on how the commercial banks perform with their additional capital.

A stockbroker said the banks would have to double their capital by 2011, but he wondered if the banks are capable to efficiently utilise the additional capital and increase earnings per share (EPS) amid the existing condition of the economy.

"If the EPS does not increase consistent with the increase in capital, shareholders won't get the desired benefit," he said.

In addition, he added, the investors are required to check bank-by-bank capital whether some of them have already reached the minimum paid up capital requirement of Tk 2.0 billion.

The stockbroker, however, expected that the banks would better their performance while few others would go for mergers or big ones would go for acquisition of the small ones.

Of the total capital of Tk 4.0 billion, the paid-up capital must be worth a minimum Tk 2.0 billion. The banks are required to raise the capital by issuing rights shares or through initial public offerings (IPOs). They are not allowed to offer cash dividends until they meet the capital requirement.

The bankers welcomed the BB instruction on consideration that it would consolidate the capital base of the total 48 banks operating in the country.

Jamaat leader says: Move on to undermine sovereignty

Kishoreganj Correspondent

The conspiracy to undermine the sovereignty of Bangladesh, which began immediately after the Liberation War, is still going on, said Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mojaheed.

He urged the 'foreign friends' of the country not to back any conspiracy that might put the military into a confrontational course with the people.

Former Minister Mojaheed was addressing as chief guest a meeting organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Kirshorganj unit held at local community centre on Saturday with the District Ameer Principal Moulana Tayebuzzaman in the chair.

Jamaat Secretary General said the countrymen were aware why the state of the emergency was extended ignoring the Constitution. The emergency was declared as a part of a conspiracy and blueprint was hatched by the local and international quarters, he added.

The military government had been trying to establish 'the minus two theory' after holding power and added they could minus none, if the people did not, he further added.

He also said it was clear to the people that the government was keeping Khaleda Zia detained with a view to keeping her out of the election contest.

Jamaat District unit secretary Principal Abdus Salam, Jamaat leader Ramjan Ali, former BNP MP Masud Helali and the district unit Chhatra Shibir President Abdus Sattar, among others, also spoke at the meeting.

Manpower markets for Bangladesh under threat

Syful Islam

Bangladesh has huge potentials to export manpower to new European member states if it can stop migration of the workers from those countries to the rich nations, stakeholders say.

"The new European countries are big manpower market for Bangladesh. Those have demands of Bangladeshi workers. Some of the Bangladeshi workers left Romania for other rich member states of the EU after going there with job visa. This is casting negative image for the country," said Majibur Rahman Murad, owner of recruiting agency Al-Abbas International.

Al-Abbas International is the lone recruiting agency that is sending workers to Eastern European country Romania. Till now it sent 700 skilled workers especially in the field of garment and construction, salary ranging from US$ 300 to US$375. They have demand of sending another 400 workers.

With inclusion of 12 more countries the members of European Union now stands at 27. Between 2004 and 2007 the EU has included Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia as new members.

After inclusion in the EU as member the rich countries has opened window for workers of these new member countries and giving them extra preference in providing job. Workers of these countries are getting more salary than workers from other countries. As a result workers of these countries leaving for the rich EU nations creating room for workers from last developed countries.

Bangladeshi recruiting agents already started to explore the new markets and a handful numbers of skilled and unskilled workers already went to those countries to earn their livelihoods.

But some of the Bangladeshi workers recently started to leave the New EU members states for the other rich EU nations to earn more money.

"They are leaving those countries for other rich countries to earn more money. If a worker can go to European rich countries they can earn ranging from US$ 1000 to US$1500 a month," said Majibur Rahman Murad.

Bangladeshi recruiting agents' fear that the country may lose the new manpower markets if it fails to stop such migration of workers. Besides, it may become tough for Bangladesh to enter the market of the rich nations.

"We may lose the new manpower markets for this illegal movement of workers. We have to stop it by any means," Murad said.

Meanwhile, a view exchange meeting with the parents of the workers who are now working in Romania has been arranged to stop migration of them to other EU countries. Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Director General of Bureau of Manpower and Expatriate Training (BMET) Abdul Malek and president of Bangladesh Association of International recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Golam Mustafa will speak in the meeting.

Kamran's mother passes away

UNB, Sylhet

Khairunnesa, mother of detained Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, died at Square Hospital in the capital at about 3 pm on Sunday. She was 80.

Kamran, who contested the Aug 4 polls from under detention and got reelected mayor in a landslide victory, was, meanwhile, being shifted to Sylhet Jail from Comilla Central Jail in the afternoon to facilitate his attending his mother's funerals.

"He is likely to be released on parole from Sylhet Jail this evening or on Monday morning," an official source here said.

Kamran, facing three cases of corruption under the current purge launched by the interim regime, was rearrested on May 28, 2007 after he was released from jail on bail.

UNB Comilla correspondent said Kamran already started for Sylhet from Comilla Central Jail by a microbus under police escort.

3 cops held for shooting a businessman

UNB, Dinajpur

Three policemen of Maidhyapara Police Investigation Centre here were arrested on Saturday night in a case of 'attempt to murder' a businessman.

Parbatipur police said SI Haider Ali, Jobidur Rahman and constable Bimal Chandra of the centre halted an onion-loaded truck of businessman Shafiul Islam near the centre on August 10 night. They allegedly demanded toll from the businessman hailed from Rangpur while returning from Hilly land port.

"When he was leaving the place with truck refusing to pay the toll, the policemen fired 11 shots targeting the running truck, leaving the businessman critically injured," it was stated in a case filed with Parbatipur police station on August 16.

He was rushed to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Later, the cops arrested the truck driver and his helper trying to shift the blame to the truckers for injuring the onion trader.

After primary investigation police superintendent Mostafa Kamal suspended the three policemen on Tuesday (August 12).

The three cops were arrested on Saturday night (August 16) in the attempt-to-murder case filed by Shafiul's wife. They were sent to jail.

DU expels 3 students for assaulting teacher

DU Correspondent

Three students of Dhaka University (DU) were temporarily expelled Saturday on charge of assaulting Zafar Ahmed Khan, a teacher of Statistics Department during a football match on the university playground Thursday evening.

The expelled students were identified as Mahbub and Milton of Bangla Department and Rokonuzzaman Talukder of Public Administration Department.

DU authority also formed a three-member probe committee headed by its Pro-Vice-Chancellor AFM Yusuf Haider to submit a report on the incident within next two weeks.

Terming the assault on a teacher unprecedented in the history of DU, Proctor AK Feroze Ahmed said that appropriate action would be taken against the students involved on the report of the inquiry committee.

Roundtable stresses creation of job opportunities abroad

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged the government to formulate a pro- migrant workers policy for ensuring their welfare and smooth flow of remittance.

They said our foreign missions should play an active role for the safety and welfare of the workers now engaged in different countries of the world.

Migrant workers are playing a vital role for economic development of the countries of their work and home, but their contribution is hardly recognised, they opined.

They also called upon the government to immediately address the problems and obstacles being faced by the overseas workers in the Middle East and Malaysia.

They were participating in the discussion on ' Remittance and Migrant Workers: The Hype and the Reality' jointly organised by Shisuk and Actionaid at the VIIP lounge of the Jatiya Press Club.

Kamal Hossain, manager, social inclusion theme of Actionaid delivered the welcome speech while Prof Muzaffar Ahmad, Chairperson of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) was present as chief guest.

Sakiul Millat Morshed, Executive Director of Shisuk presented the keynote paper.

It was also addressed, among others, by Lt Col (Retd) Farooq Khan, Prof Omar Rahman, Pro Vice Chancellor of Independent University, Farah Kabir, country director of Actionaid and migrant workers.

Poor wages, absence of minimum benefits, bad working condition, maltreatment and lack of access to free health services were the main problems facing overseas workers, they said and called for solving them.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmad criticised the previous governments for overlooking the interest of the expatriates of our country in which 27 lakh people unemployed.

He counselled the government and private organisations to be serious in addressing the problems of expatriates and create job opportunities in foreign countries for our people.

He urged the Ambassadors and Labour Attaches in foreign missions for playing positive role for opening windows of opportunities for workers.

"We need to train up our unskilled manpower and send them to different countries for creating job markets," he said.

Farah Kabir called upon the government to play a pro-active role, drawing proper plan, allocation of more budgetary supports and decentralisation of recruiting agencies to address the migrant workers problems.

From January to July of the current year a total of 5,64,000 Bangladeshi went to different countries for job purposes, which the figure in 2007 was 4,24,000. And they send remittance worth $ 829 million in July 2008 that was 46.27 per cent higher than the previous year.