The New Nation - Internet Edition

BCL-JCD clash in Khulna 15 injured

UNB, Khulna

Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal activists of Government MM City college yesterday clashed on the campus, leaving 13 students and two teachers injured.

College sources said the clash ensued between the supporters of BCL, student wing of Awami League, and BNP-backed JCD when two processions brought out by both the groups were crossing each other at about 1.30pm.

During the hour-long clash, the rival student groups pelted brickbats and resorted to sticks that left 13 students and two teachers injured.

On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control with the help of teachers.

The injured teachers are : Assistant Professor of Physics Department Narayan Chandra and Lecturer of Finance Department Nasir Mahmood.

The injured students and teachers were given first aid.

Principal of the college Prof. Shafiqur Rahman has formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident.

People of Pakistan to determine their destiny: Iftekhar

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the people of Pakistan would determine their political destiny following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf.

Asked to comment on the resignation of President General Musharraf in the face of impeachment process, the Foreign Adviser told the media:

"We believe that people of Pakistan should be in charge of their own political destiny, and as the process evolves, we wish them well."

The Pakistani President announced his resignation yesterday, ending a nearly nine-year tenure that opponents said was hampering the country's shaky return to democracy.

40 Bangladeshi teachers selected for recruitment to a Saudi university

UNB, Dhaka

With the selection of 40 already completed, Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said yesterday that Saudi Universities are willing to recruit far more Bangladeshi teachers.

The Foreign Adviser, also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, said this following a meeting in his office with Dr. Ali Mohammed Mussa Tobeigi of Jazan University in Saudi Arabia and Dr. Firoz Mahmood, a Bangladeshi English Teacher in that country.

Dr. Tobeigi informed the Foreign Adviser that the selection of 40 teachers had already been completed for recruitment to Jazan University through BOESL. Sixty more would follow suit.

"This is exactly in line with our policy. Bangladeshi academics have made a good name for themselves in Saudi Arabia. New Universities are being opened there. We will make vigorous efforts to ensure these Universities continue to recruit more and more Bangladeshis," Dr. Iftekhar said.

SC hears tax evasion appeal against Tarique Aug 27

UNB, Dhaka

The Appellate Division will hear on August 27 a state plea seeking halt to a previous High Court order, which had stayed tax evasion case proceedings against BNP leader Tarique Rahman.

The date was determined after Chamber Court of Justice MA Matin yesterday passed the order, putting a deaf ear to the plea by the

National Board of Revenue for freezing the HC order.

The revenue agency moved the application as it prefers "leave-to-appeal" against the HC orders.

On August 12, the High Court responding to a quashing petition stayed for three months the proceedings of income tax-evasion case against BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique, now behind bars on various charges of corruption and extortion, pending trial.

Passing the interim stay order the High Court had also issued a rule, asking the NBR to explain why the case should not be quashed.

On August 4, NBR deputy commissioner Samia Akhter filed the tax-evasion case with Dhaka metropolitan sessions judge's court, accusing Tarique of dodging payment of Tk 26.86 lakh in income tax for 2002-2006 fiscal years.

Apply by Sept 1 for clemency, TAC reminds contrite corrupt

UNB, Dhaka

The Truth and Accountability Commission reminded any contrite corrupt that they have to apply by September 1 if to take the advantage of clemency in return for their ill-gotten wealth.

A TAC handout said yesterday that the deadline for application for clemency would be up to 5 pm on September 1.

It said as part of the government's anti-corruption purge, the TAC has been set up alongside the existing judiciary as a quick and alternative arrangement for few specific corruption-related trial proceedings.

"Taking the advantage of the alternative measure, the corrupt persons could appear before the TAC to make voluntary disclosure about their unearned wealth."

Apart from voluntary declaration, upon application from the concerned the Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption and courts (during or before charge-framing hearing) could refer cases to the TAC.

According to the written desire of the applicants, the TAC would maintain confidentiality of the names and other details.

Six more corrupts apply to ACC for referral to TAC

UNB, Dhaka

More corrupt individuals, in addition to the 17 whose list was already sent, are applying with the Anti-Corruption Commission for referring their cases to the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) for clemency.

"Yes, more (corrupt) people are applying with us for referring (their) cases to the TAC. In fact, six persons applied yesterday," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told UNB.

He said these individuals include both serving and former government officials and wives of some of them.

Citing confidentiality, Hanif, however, would not disclose the names of the applicants.

Their applications, he said, would be raised for approval in the Commission's meeting after the return of ACC chairman Hasan Mashhud Chodhury from Sunamganj.

Earlier, on Thursday, the ACC sent the TAC a list of 17 corrupt persons based on their applications for referral.

This was the first list received by TAC since its formation on July 30. Apart from voluntary declaration, the ACC, National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crimes and corruption and courts (during or before charge framing hearing) can refer cases to the TAC upon applications.

IG prisons vows to remove corruption from jail facilities

UNB, Bagerhat

Inspector General (prisons) Brigadier Zakir Hassan yesterday vowed to eliminate corruption from all prisons facilities.

"Corruption would be removed fully from all jails in the country" the IG prison said, as he inaugurated a newly constructed district jail Monday. The new jail has been designed to accommodate some 400 inmates.

He said jails should be treated as correction centres so that inmates refrain themselves from doing same misdeeds once they walk to freedom.

The new facilities have been built on around 11 acres of land in the town's court area beside Bagerhat-Khulna highway at a cost of some Tk 20 crore. The construction has taken nearly 11 years.

The jail has a 25-bed hospital while its two wards have accommodated 10 juvenile detainees.

Jailer Abu Jahed said that there are 26 wards in the jail.

The prison has cells for 320 male detainees while 20 for female, 10 for juvenile, 10 for VIP and 25 for condemned prisoners, he said.

Nearly 900 detainees from an old facility, which was built in 1919, have already been shifted to the new jail, the jailer added.

Zillur apprehensive about holding JS polls in 4 months time

UNB, Dhaka

Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman yesterday apprehended that it might be difficult for the government to arrange the parliamentary polls within the four months remaining of the year.

But, he noted, the government has no chance of deviating from the electoral roadmap declared by the Election Commission.

Zillur was replying to journalists after a delegation of Bangladesh Chhatra League went to meet him at his Gulshan residence on the occasion of release of BCL secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Rotan from jail.

Just after the BCL's call on, newly elected Barisal mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron met Zillur Rahman.

"But we have no alternative but to wait for the parliamentary polls as the government is assuring repeatedly," Zillur said.

He also aired doubt about government motives behind holding the parliamentary polls in the third week of December as the government is enacting new laws.

"Instead of working for arranging the election within the roadmap, they are enacting new laws. I don't know whether it is their new conspiracy against the elections," he said.

About the launch of Political Intelligence Office (PIO) under the Metropolitan Police, Zillur Rahman said such a step is for putting pressure on the political parties ahead of the election.

The Awami League leader alleged that with enforcement of the PIO law, the government would try to remove politics from the country.

Asked about the threat of BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar for tough movement for ex-PM and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's release, Zillur Rahman said AL is always against all illegal acts.

"Any party, whether it has morality or not, whether it is big or small, has the right to work for release of their party chief," he said.

AL presidium members Tofail Ahmed and Matia Chowdhury, among others, were also present during the meetings.

Rice millers of 22 dist raised 10-point demand to fulfill by Aug 31

UNB, Naogaon

Rice mill associations of 22 districts at a meeting here yesterday raised a 10-point demand including payment of increased price for procurement of rice to those supplied to government godowns at old price.

The largely attended meeting at the Jamuna Community Centre in the town was convened by the federation of north regional rice mills owners associations that supplied bulk of the rice to the government godowns.

Presided by Javed Ali of Raiganj the meeting threatened to refrain from cooperating with the government in its current drive for foodgrains procurement if the demands are not met by August 31.

Finding lukewarm response from the millers the government has recently raised the procurement price of rice by Tk 1.25 kg that encouraged them to come up with the demand.

Fixation of income tax or payment at 5 percent of electricity bill and ensuring uninterrupted supply of power are the other main demands.

Speaking at the meeting the association leaders from different districts viewed that the government has created discrepancies in procurement of foodgrains during the current season that resulted in financial losses to the traders.

They said the government has deprived the millers who abiding by the rules supplied rice and paddy to the government godowns. But those did not supply foodgrains violating the contracts and the rules as well are now awarded benefits in the form raising the procurement price.

The newly fixed procurement price has to be paid for the foodgrains procured from boro harvest that started about four months ago, they asserted.

The association leaders said the government had created problems by awarding higher price to those who violated the rice/paddy supply contract and depriving those who honoured the contract despite financial loss.

Police detain 3 people involving killing of a boy in city

UNB, Dhaka

Police yesterday arrested three people involving slaying of a seven-year-old boy after abduction at South Jatrabari area in the city.

The victim was identified as Mahbub Hasan, son of Shafiqul Islam of Shariatpur district. Mahbub used to live with his family at Diptir Goli (Lane) of 668, East Dhularpar in Jatrabari.

Police said the victim's uncle Shawkat,39 , Parvez,17, of the locality, and their other accomplices on August 14 kidnapped Mahbub in front of his house over previous enmity.

They allegedly later killed the boy at midnight to avoid any trouble.

On the following evening, the abductors demanded Tk 2 lakh as ransom and threatened Awal over mobile phone unless they pay the amount.

On August 16, the victim's family made an agreement with the abductors to get their child back alive by paying Tk50,000.

According to the deal, the family members did not inform police about the matter and gave the abductors Tk15,000 instantly, said the victim' s maternal uncle Nasir.

Talking to UNB by phone Nasir said the abductors took them to different places in the city on the night of holy Shab-e-barat but failed to produce Mahbub before them.

At one stage the abductors told Mahbub's family that they better go to South Jatrabari as local people found a body of a child there.

The family then took the matter to police who recovered the body of Mahbub from Kutubkhali area of South Jatrabari at about 10am. The body was sent to Mitford Hospital for autopsy.

Later, police failed to capture alleged mastermind Parvez but detained his accomplice Shawkat and Parvez's parents.

Mahbub's family alleged that Parveez had repeatedly been threatening them to withdraw the case.

Otherwise, they said, he threatened to kill the other members of the family.

A case was filed with Shyampur police station.

Female garments worker killed in city

UNB, Dhaka

A female garments factory worker was hacked to death by a youth near Malibagh Chowdhurypara Matir Masjid in the city yesterday morning.

Family sources said Morshed, an employee of a bakery, hacked Rubi Akter, 18, indiscriminately when she was going to the garments factory at Malibagh Choudhurypara at about 7.30 am, leaving her critically injured.

She was rushed to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries at about 8.15 am.

Morshed recently gave a marriage proposal to Rubi. But on Sunday, Rubi's father asked him not to come to their Purba Goran's house again as Rubi refused to marry him.

At this Morshed became furious and killed Rubi, family sources said.

Strike, blockade paralyse CU

UNB, Chittagong

Academic activities of Chittagong University were almost paralyzed as Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) enforced an indefinite student strike and blockade yesterday morning.

BCL launched their programme to realize their eight point demands that include removal of CU's Vice Chancellor M Badiul Alam and Proctor, cancellation of expulsion order of four BCL activists, withdrawal of Officer-in-Charge of Hathazari thana and punishment for those responsible for the attack on their Aug 16 mourning rally.

The agitated BCL activists halted two CU-bound shuttle trains at Sholoshahar rail station at about 8:30am.

All CU-bound buses and minibuses were intercepted at No. 1 gate of CU, hampering the vehicular movement.

Sources said most of the classes of the varsity could not be held as teachers and common students failed to attend the classes due to BCL' s agitation programme.

BCL held a rally on university rail station premises in support of their demand. Police have been deployed on the campus to maintain law and order.

BCL accused CU VC, Proctor and police for their failure to take necessary actions during attack on their mourning rally brought out on campus on Aug 16.

The CU authorities on Saturday expelled four BCL activists for one year for their involvement in clashes over forcibly occupying bogies of shuttle trains.

Polls under emergency won't be "that much acceptable": US 35 envoy

UNB, Rangpur

US Ambassador James F Moriarty yesterday said elections under the state of emergency would not be "that much acceptable" as expected.

His statement came at a time while major political forces have repeatedly been demanding withdrawal of the emergency rule in the run up to the next elections, expected to be held in December as per the repeated promises by the military-backed caretaker administration.

Talking to reporters after addressing the inaugural ceremony of a joint medical exercise, styled "Medical and Dental Civic Action Programme -2008" in the district, the envoy briefly said that his country would continue to assist Bangladesh for democratic advancement.

He also expressed his hope that the Election Commission would be able to hold the elections in line with its roadmap.

Bangladesh Army and US Marine Corps Medical team jointly organised the 10-day exercise, which will be conducted in three phases. A total of 51 participants, 25 from Bangladesh Army and 26 from US Marine Corps Medical team, have joined the practice.

Speaking to the opening session of the exercise, the diplomat said that it would help expand the traditional close cooperation between the US and Bangladesh militaries.

He further stated that medical personnel from the US Navy and Marines and the Bangladesh Army Medical Directorate would provide free basic medical and dental care to Bangladeshis living in the district over the next several days.

The exercise has provided a wonderful forum for Americans to share information and ideas with the Bangladeshi military on medical issues, the Ambassador said, adding that some 1,000 people would receive medical help each day.

One immediate goal of the exercise is to increase the interoperability between the military medical departments of the Bangladesh Army and the USA, he added.

"We hope that the exercise will pave the way for further medical discussions between the US and Bangladeshi militaries and for future exercises similar to this one," said the US envoy.

He said the exercise is an example of the productive and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations.

James F Moriarty mentioned that over the last 37 years, personnel from the US military, USAID and the State Department have worked hand-in-hand with their Bangladeshi counterparts on a wide range of important issues.

Whether developing critical infrastructure, improving the lives of ordinary, citizens or helping recover from national disaster, such as last year's devastating cyclone, the US has sought to provide support and exercise, he said.

"The US stands ready to assist Bangladesh in facilitating democratic governance, prosperity and stability," he said.

Later, he visited Dhat Satgara Baitul Mokarram Madrassa in Taraganj upazila where he encouraged the new voters to exercise their voting rights.