The New Nation - Internet Edition

Suicide blasts near Pak arms factory: 63 killed

AFP, Islamabad

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside Pakistan's main military arms factory Thursday, killing 63 people and piling new pressure on the shaky coalition government to tackle militancy.

The attackers struck almost simultaneously as a crowd of workers was streaming out of the huge factory complex in the northern town of Wah, near Islamabad. It is one of the country's most sensitive installations.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, the second to rock Pakistan since Pervez Musharraf resigned as president on Monday, and warned of further blasts if army operations near the Afghan border are not stopped.

"It's a massive attack," local police chief Nasir Durrani told AFP. "Two men apparently blew themselves up outside the factory during a shift change. The bombers were on foot and they exploded themselves less than a minute apart."

He said that 57 people were confirmed dead and around 70 wounded.

The charred body of a bearded man, believed to be one of the bombers, lay on the road outside one of the gates, an AFP journalist saw. A severed leg, abandoned shoes and several mangled bicycles were scattered nearby.

Dozens of troops, police and military rescue workers in orange jackets milled around the scene.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the attack and "directed the authorities to make efforts to expose the hidden hands behind the incident," the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency said. A spokesman for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the umbrella group for the country's Taliban militants, said they were responsible.

"Our bombers carried out today's attack. It is in reaction to military operations in Swat and Bajaur," spokesman Maulvi Omar told AFP by telephone, referring to two northwestern regions where troops are fighting militants.

"Similar attacks will be carried out in other cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi," he said.

The Pakistani Ordnance Factories at Wah is a cluster of about 20 industrial units producing artillery, tank and anti-aircraft ammunition for the Pakistani armed forces. It employs around 25,000 to 30,000 workers. It adjoins the historic city of Taxila where thousands of tourists come every year to visit ancient Buddhist ruins.

Factory worker Riaz Hussain said most of the victims were labourers who were joining the afternoon shift.

"I was working in the factory when I heard one blast and then another. They were huge," he told AFP. "Security people then immediately surrounded the place and we were not allowed to go outside."

A rescue service official said a fleet of around 25 ambulances was needed to ferry the wounded to hospital.

"The blast took place as staff were leaving after finishing their day's duty and it was very crowded," Zaheer Shah, of Edhi Rescue, Pakistan's largest private charity, told AFP.

The blasts came two days after a suicide bomber attacked a hospital in the northwestern town of Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday, killing 30 people.

Pakistani forces have been fighting fierce battles for nearly two weeks with Taliban militants in Bajaur, a tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The government says more than 500 militants and 30 soldiers have been killed.

Gilani's government is under massive international pressure to crack down on militants using safe havens in the rugged tribal belt to launch attacks on US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

But bombings like Thursday's attack here have added to public anger and accusations that Pakistan itself is suffering for its role in what many regard as "America's war".

Around 1,000 people have died in a wave of militant suicide bombings since the siege and storming of the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July 2007, in which at least 100 people died.

Police foils four-party road-march program: Memo seeking Khaleda’s release can’t be submitted

BNP Secretary General Khandokar Delwar Hossain and
other four-party leaders arguing with the police who
intercepted them in front of the NAM Flat on Thursday as
they were trying to start a road-march towards the Chief
Adviser's Office demanding the imme

Staff Reporter

The BNP-led four-party alliance's submission of a memorandum to the Chief Adviser at his office was spoiled due to impediment created by the police yesterday.

Contingents of police hemmed in the alliance leaders and activist gathered on the NAM flats premises in the city from morning to 1:00pm and spoiled its defiant road march towards the Chief Adviser's office by putting up barricades all around.

They chanted slogans for the release of Khaleda. Platoons of policemen took position in front of the accesses to the flats. The riot police deployed water cannons outside the main entrance.

The police charged mild batons on the alliance's activists when they tried to move out to demonstrate political protest on the street under the state of emergency. About 10 people were injured.

Earlier in the morning, BNP leaders and workers assembled in front of the NAM flat of BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain for the march, despite a police order issued Wednesday prohibiting such street demonstrations.

The coalition earlier had announced that they would submit a memorandum to the Chief Adviser through a procession, starting from the premises of the grave of late President Major Ziaur Rahman, demanding immediate release of detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman and withdrawal of the state of emergency.

Following the announcement, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Wednesday night barred the BNP-led 4-party alliance from staging their planed street protest, saying that such a programme would be in violation of the Emergency Power Rules.

"The government has unlawfully banned our peaceful programme with a dishonest motive. The behaviour of police toward the 4-party alliance is step-motherly and hostile," BNP secretary general Adv Khandker Delwar told reporters at his NAM apartment after the failed march programme.

He condemned the police action and alleged that the government was deliberately trying to foil the general election.

Referring to another political party's submission of memorandum to the Chief Adviser, he said their programmes were not disrupted this way. Police didn't block them although they, on various occasions, staged demonstrations and brought out procession chanting slogans.

"The government behaved with partisan attitude by obstructing our programme and the police stopped the peaceful programme of the 4-party alliance issuing a press notes," he said.

"Although the government banned us from submitting the 18-point charter of demands, addressed to the Chief Adviser, now it was placed through the reporters before the nation," he said.

The demands include unconditional release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, sending her elder son Tarique Rahman abroad for treatment, holding parliamentary polls first, lifting emergency, curbing price hike of essentials, halting arrests and 'harassment', release of all political prisoners and thwarting 'a special quarter's interference in political and electoral processes'.

BNP leaders Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, MK Anwar, Sarwari Rahman, Selima Rahman, Nazrul Islam Khan and Rizvi Ahmed, Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Jamaat leaders Kader Mollah, ATM Azharul Islam and Moulana Delwar Hossain Saidee, BJP secretary general Shamim Al Mamun and Islami Okya Jote secerary general Abdul Latif Nezami, and Kelafat Mojlish Ameer Moulana Ishaq and secretary general Ahmed Abdul Qader, among others, joined the programme.

Besides, large number of various fronts' leaders of the parties including Jubadal, Chhatra Dal, Mahila Dal, Muktijoddha Dal and Chhatra Shibir joined the programme.

August 21 carnage: AL for re-investigation thru spl commission

Awami League leaders led by their acting President
Zillur Rahman placing wreath at a memorial for August-21
grenade victims at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city on
Thursday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

The central leaders of Awami League (AL) yesterday demanded neutral re-investigation through a special commission' of the grenade attack on the AL rally in Dhaka on August 21,2004 to bring the masterminds of the attack to justice.

The dastardly attack killed 24 people including its women's affairs secretary Ivy Rahman, and paralysed more than 200 seriously.

They made the demand while addressing the leaders and activists of the party at a protest meeting to mark the fourth anniversary of the grenade attack.

The AL leaders said that the past BNP-Jamaat government tried to save the real rogues by diverting the issue as some of the policy makers of that government were directly involved in the attack.

AL acting president Zillur Rahman said the anti liberation force, which killed Bangabandhu sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, tried to kill Sheikh Hasina several times.

But the democracy loving people of the country thwarted their heinous design every time and saved their beloved leader Sheikh Hasina,he noted.

He also criticised the BNP-Jamaat government for not conducting neutral investigation saying the attack was the result of patronisation of the fundamentalists.

AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury expressed her sympathy to the members of the bereaved families and those injured in the grenade attack.

Al presidium member Amir Hossain Amu alleged that the caretaker government was not also investigating the attack properly for unknown reason. He demanded appointment of skilled officers for neutral investigation.

AL presidium members Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sen Gupta, Begum Matia Chowdhury said the grenade attackers would be tried and punished if AL was voted to power.

A two-minute silence was observed at the meeting to mark the tragedy,

Different front organisations of AL placed flowers at the spot of the carnage. The organisations included Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, Awami Secchasebok League, Bangladesh Chattra League, Bangladesh Krishok League, Shisu O Jubo Sangskritik Jot and Jatiya Sromik League.

Bangladesh Communist Party, Gonotronty Party and Bangladesh Sammabadi Dal placed wreaths and joined in different obituary references as the partners of the AL led 14- party alliance.

Many of the people, who sustained severe injuries in the brutal grenade attack, are still smarting under pain and agony and living a pitiable life.

Abdullah Al Mamun passes away

Abdullah Al Mamun

Staff Reporter

Noted playwright, actor, director and filmmaker Abdullah Al Mamun died at 11:25am at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the BIRDEM Hospital in the city yesterday after prolonged illness. He was 66.

He had been suffering from diabetes, kidney complaints and heart disease since long. He was admitted to Square Hospital before being moved to the BIRDEM Hospital with his condition getting worse. He was admitted to the Square Hospital on July 10 after suffering brain haemorrhage. He underwent a brain surgery on July 13. A medical board was formed on that day.

The body of Abdullah Al Mamun is being kept at the BIRDEM mortuary. He will be buried at Banani graveyard today after Jumma prayers, said his son Tonmoy.

His body will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar premises today from 9:00am to 11:00am for people to pay their last respect to the great theatre activist, he said.

Abdullah Al Mamun served as Director General of Bangladesh Television (BTV) for sometime and earlier headed the programme team as Deputy Director General.

The theatre personality left three daughters and one son to mourn his death. His wife Farida Khatun died in 1984.

His acclaimed play scripts include 'Ekhono Kritodash,' 'Tomrai,' 'Kokilara' and 'Meraj Fakirer Maa.' He also directed movies like 'Ekhoni Somoy,' 'Sareng Bou' and 'Dui Jibon.'

Hundreds of co-artistes, directors, drama activists, fans and well-wishers thronged the hospital on the news of his death. Some of his co-artists were reeling in the loss.

Theatre personalities including Ramendu Majumder, Ferdousi Majumder, Mamunur Rashid, Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, Tariq Anam, Nima Rahman, Tropa Majumder, film actor Razzak, film director Chashi Nazrul Islam, actor and director Azad Abul Kalam, among many others, gathered to pay their last tribute to the artiste.

Meanwhile different socio-cultural organisations and political parties including CPB, Gono Forum, Chhatra Union, theatre group 'Bahubachan,' 'Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT) and others gave separate condolence messages on his death.

Abdullah Al Mamun directed a good number of popular television drama serials including 'Sangshaptak,' 'Gharoya,' 'Pathor Somoy,' 'Joyar Bhata,' 'Baba,' 'Shirshobindu,' 'Uttaradhikar,' 'Shesh Bikeler Meye,' 'Ami Tumi Se,' 'Ek Janame' and 'Ekjon Babar Ali.'

Immediately before death Mamun was acting in the film 'Doria Parer Doulati' that he was also directing. He wrote 25 dramas and seven novels, an autobiography 'Amar Ami' and a travelogue 'Manhattan.'

Mamun founded drama group 'Theatre (Bailey Road)' and was an adviser to quarterly magazine 'Theatre.' He was born in Jamalpur on July 13, 1942. He completed his masters in history from Dhaka University. He received prestigious awards 'Ekushey Padak,' 'Bangla Academy Award,' '1st National Television Award,' 'National Film Award,' 'Munir Chowdhury Honorary Award' and 'Agrani Bank Literature Award.'

Militant groups still active

Staff Reporter

A militant outfit Harkatul Mujahideen (HuM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) have been sending grenades which were used in an Awami League rally held on August 21, 2004, to India via Bangladesh, an unnamed intelligence official said.

A group's principal contact in Bangladesh is Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami (Huji), one of the organisations Dhaka has banned, but continues to operate.

A top intelligence official said the statements of Huji leaders, held with grenades, suggest that Pakistan-based militant organisations sent several consignments of grenades to Islamist militants in India via Bangladesh.

Some grenade consignments were, however, used in Dhaka on August 21, 2004, at the political rally addressed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had a narrow escape.

Twenty-two Awami League workers and rally participants died and hundreds were injured at the rally held this day, four years ago.

The investigations, ordered by then government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, were "stunted" under orders of then Home Minister Altaf Hussain Choudhury and Minister of State for Home, Lutfozzaman Babar.

One of the key persons behind the grenade movement was Maulana Tajuddin, a brother of a deputy minister in the Zia government, Abdus Salam Pintu.

The Government changed five times to their Investigation officer (IO), on August 21, 2004 cases. The investigations had so far failed to detect the source of the grenades. Mufti Hannan, one of the masterminds of the grenade attacks that left about two-dozen AL leaders and activists dead and scores injured, is also charged in the cases. Meanwhile, Hannan also want to withdraw his confessional statement to the police.

Investigators say Maulana Tajuddin, who supplied the grenades for the August 21 attacks, "helped militants use Bangladesh as a transit point for smuggling grenades."

Although Interpol has issued a red alert for Tajuddin, he still remains untraced, said assistant superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department Fazlul Kabir, also the investigation officer of the cases.

Investigators suspect that Tajuddin is holed up in the international militants groups.

Tajuddin also has close ties with detained Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan who studied with him at a Quwami madrassa in Lahore of Pakistan in the 80s.

Mohammad Javed Patwari chief of CID said, during investigations and also from information gathered from the arrested suspects indicate that Pintu's brother Maulana Tajuddin had supplied the grenades."

Country spends Tk 14,000 cr yearly on debt servicing

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh has to pay some Tk 14,000 crore annually in interest on a cumulative foreign loan hangover of 52 billion US dollars since independence, substantially curtailing its development spending.

Against this backdrop, the National Board of Revenue has taken a move to generate tax money from myriad potential taxpayers to help government out of credit trap. And at a single meet in one tax zone Thursday 2,742 new taxpayers registered voluntarily, paying nearly Tk 90 lakh.

Disclosing the grim feature of high loan burden and a very low number of registered taxpayers, NBR Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid at the function urged people to help the government in building a self-reliant Bangladesh through paying their income tax spontaneously.

"Let's discharge our national duties by paying taxes," he told the programme on spontaneous taxpayers' registration under the Tax Zone-7 in the capital city at the Diploma Engineer's Institution.

Presided over by Ziauddin Mahmud, Tax Commissioner for the Tax Zone-7, the function was attended by Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and Channel-I Managing Director Faridur Reza Sagar as special guests.

Abdul Mazid, also secretary of the Internal Resources Division, said the countrymen should come forward to narrow the difference between the rich and the poor in the country's socioeconomic scenario by paying their taxes alongside encouraging others to join in this process.

Saying that the tax-collection network would be cast wide across the country, the government's chief revenue earner announced that five taxpayers from 64 districts would be awarded every year in Dhaka for their spontaneous contribution through paying their income tax.

Abdul Mazid, who is leading the revenue sector at a time when the caretaker regime chased many bigwig tax-dodgers into prisons, said only 25-25 lakh people have Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and only six and a half lakhs of the TIN-holders submitted their returns to the tax offices last year.

One and half a lakh of them are service-holders and the rest 5 lakh are general people, he said, informing the function about the total number of taxpayers in the country.

He observed that the number of the TIN-holders should be increased into some 1.5 crore, and at least one crore of them could be able to help the government by paying their income tax.

The NBR chairman said the process of paying the income tax has been gradually made easy for the payees.

Speaking at the function, Mahfuz Anam said people should be imbued with spirit that "paying income tax is a legal matter and breaking this law is a punishable offence".

He proposed that the process of paying the income tax should be made easier and user-friendly-and the NBR net should be widened across the country to net more returns.

He suggested that the arbitrary power of the tax commissioners in matters of tax assessment and collection should be curbed as the bigwig income taxpayers felt panicked.

"This arbitrary power should be decreased to remove the fear of the bigwig taxpayers," he said, indicating the recent crackdown on tax delinquents as part of the ongoing purge against corruption in high places.

US win women soccer gold

US player Heather O'Reilly takes a shot as Brazil's
Marta and Maycon look on during their women's soccer gold
medal tie at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday. AP

AP, Beijing

The defending champion United States has won the gold medal in women's soccer for the third time in four Olympics, beating Brazil 1-0 in overtime Thursday.

Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time for the Americans, who beat the Brazilians for a second straight Olympic final. Amy Rodriguez held off two Brazilians and put the ball up for Lloyd who left-footed it from a yard outside the area. Barbara dived, but the ball scooted past her and settled in the far bottom corner of the net.

Marta gave Brazil a chance in the 102nd minute, but she was tackled by Heather Mitts. Marta got the ball back, but was blocked first by Kate Markgraf and then by Christie Rampone.

Earlier, world champion Germany defeated Japan 2-0 in the bronze medal game.

Indo-Bangla border confce begins

UNB, Dhaka

Border conference between Bangladesh and India began yesterday at the BDR headquarters here to discuss a long list of contentious issues between the two neighbors.

Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Major General Shakil Ahmed is leading a 22-member team while his counterpart Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Ashish Kumar Mitra heading a 19-member delegation. The conference will conclude with the signing of a Joint Record of Discussion (JRD) on August 25.

Meanwhile, the Indian delegation leader, Ashish Mitra, paid a courtesy call on Home

Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin at the Home Ministry in the afternoon.

"During the meeting, bilateral issues came up and both sides emphasized joint activities in the frontier areas to reduce trans-border crimes," said a Home Ministry official.

The Home Adviser appreciated BSF role in Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971, the official added.

Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarty and senior officials were also present at the meeting.

Three cases filed in connection with RU violence

RU Correspondent

Three cases have been filed at Motiher Police Station in connection with Tuesday night violence between students and local businesspeople at V Rajshahi University near Binodpur Bazar area that left 60 persons were injured on Thursday.

Businessman Mahabubul Alam Konok, ticket booth manager of Rajshahi-Dhaka bus 'Hanif Enterprise' at Binodpur Bazar filed a case at Motiher Police Station accused RU student Humayun Kabir and 500 unnamed RU students for damaged and torch his business centre on Thursday.

On the other hand, RU authorities filed a case against 400 unnamed outsider peoples for Tuesday night violence on the campus as per decision of the syndicate.

Police also lodged another case against 550 unnamed students and peoples for Tuesday night violence on the University campus near Binodpur Bazar area.

Meanwhile, an eight-member committee on Thursday started probing the incident.

Earlier, RU closed the university campus for an indefinite period on Wednesday following violent clashes that erupted the night before between students and local businesspeople.

The RU authorities asked resident students to vacate all of the 16 dormitories by 12:00 noon on the same day.

Different organizations representing students, teachers and professional body strongly condemned the Tuesday violence that 60 people including teachers, students and police personnel were injured and six off-campus stores vandalised during the clashes.

RU acting Registrar Prof Muhammad Shafi filed a case under section 143, 447, 448, and 427 at Motiher Police Station for hurling bricks at VC's residence and damaged RU vehicles and properties.

Motiher Police Station Sub Inspector (SI) Masud Pervej filed another case under sections 147, 148,332, 333 and 353 of the Penal Code for involved clashed with arms, hurting policemen, interrupting police activities during the violence, hurling bricks to police, destroyed public properties and damaged RU vehicles and properties.

However, police did not arrest any one in this connection. The eight-member committee on Thursday started probing the incident and its members visited the Binodpur Bazar and different areas of the campus.

Committee convener Prof Dr Delwar Hossain of Applied Physics

Department told the reporters that we started our investigation work

on Thursday and we hope we will submit the report after reopen the university and discuss with students.

RU units of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Progotishil Chhatra Jote and Bangladesh Chhatra Union (BCU) separately met university proctor and demanded immediate reopen the university and reduce session jam.

Immediate correction of voter-list, ID cards urged

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has suggested the election commission to immediately go for correcting its newly prepared voter list and voter identity cards to ensure congruity between the two.

The August 4 city and pourasavha polls were held "properly" comparing the past elections in the country, BHRC said in its City Corporation and Pourashava Election Observation Report-2008 adding, "Fake votes were marked in some areas but that were minor."

The BHRC, based on its experiences gathered this time, has suggested six-point measures for better arrangements of the future elections.

It said, the upcoming national election should be organised in phases so that the law enforcing agencies and election officials can especially concentrate in the election area and ensure a free and fare election.

Next local government elections also could be arranged in the same way, the human rights watch dog body of the Government said.

The Commission said punishments of government officials should be executed for their negligence and failure in performing duties neutrally under the Election Commission.

The watchdog also prescribed one-day training programme for the election observers before election conducted by the Election Commission itself.

No major untoward incidents took place as polls in the city corporations and towns were held amidst tight security and an estimated 70 to 75 per cent of voters cast their votes," BHRC told in its observation report.

The Commission also reported some mistakes and mismanagement, such as misplaced photos, names and serial numbers in the voter list, which made the whole process slow -causing anger and fatigue among the voters.

Final voter list of Dhaka city by Sept 4

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission (EC) will publish the final voter list of Dhaka City Corporations (DCC) area within September 4.

This was disclosed by EC Secretary M Humayun Kabir yesterday while talking to reporters in his office.

Referring to reports that about 80 people have been registered as voter from a single address in the city's Mohammadpur area, he admitted that such incidents could have taken place initially in the existing voter lists.

But, he pointed out that such over duplications, if any, could be detected and corrected when the initial voter lists will be incorporated in the computer server.

Replying to a question, the EC secretary also said if more than five people are registered as voters from the same address, the EC would investigate into the matter.

Political parties must register for next JS polls

Staff Reporter

Political parties must be registered to take part in the ensuing parliamentary elections and no party would be allowed to contest the polls without registration, sources in the Election Commission (EC) said.

According to the Representation of People Ordinance (RPO) (Amendment) 2008, promulgated by President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed recently, political parties would not be allowed to maintain front organisations, including students and teachers organisations, trade unions, professional bodies and any branch abroad to get registration.

Any convicted war criminal could not take part in the polls. The intending candidates should have to be included in the voter list in the area concerned.

Sources said the EC would sit on Monday next to discuss the RPO and the process for registration of political parties would begin following the meeting.

According to the amended RPO, no party candidate could submit nomination paper without the permission of Chairperson or General Secretary of party concerned.

Every candidate should be nominated by any political party or he/she could be able to contest the polls as an independent candidate by

submitting nomination paper with support of 1 per cent of voter of the area concerned, it said.

Sources said registered political parties can form alliance to contest the elections. However, it did not mention whether any unregistered party could form such alliance.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday told reporters that the Commission received the RPO.

"I am yet to see the RPO. It will be discussed at a meeting on Monday and it will follow registration of political parties," he said.

Meanwhile, Election Commission Secretary M Humayun Kabir yesterday told reporters that the Commission would publish the final voter list of Dhaka City Corporations (DCC) area by September 4.

Asked about the reported registration of about 80 people in the voter list from a single address in Mohammadpur area in the city, he admitted the incident saying that such incident could have taken place initially in the current voter lists.

The EC Secretary assured that if more than five people are registered as voters from a single address, the Commission would investigate into the matter.

"Such over duplications, if any, could be detected and corrected when the initial voter lists would be incorporated in the computer server," he said.

34 DCs transferred

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The government has appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) to 34 districts and transferred four others in a reshuffle in the local administration ahead of the national polls.

The establishment ministry said in a statement it issued orders on the grassroots administrative overhaul yesterday.

The government transferred the incumbent DCs of the 34 districts to different ministries and departments as deputy secretary.

The new DCs were picked from a 'fit list', the ministry said.

The rearrangement came only three days after senior bureaucrats had asked the chief adviser at a meeting on Aug 18 to immediately reshuffle the local administration to help officials prepare for the general elections.

The government has formed a committee headed by the additional secretary at the Cabinet Division to deal with the reshuffle at the grassroots administration.

Slow response to clemency offers from target groups

Staff Reporter

Black money holders are slow to respond to the Government's two-types of clemency offers: by confessing corruption before the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) or by whitening black money by paying a certain amount of tax to the public exchequer.

So far, only four people have come up before the TAC for rectifying themselves suo moto, while 92 wealthy men have whitened their black money at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) availing the amnesty. The government received only Tk 23.90 lakh taxes after legalising Tk 3.38 crore, sources at the NBR said.

Referred by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), 32 other people are also preparing to appear before the TAC, as their cases are under probe by the anti graft body.

September 1 is the deadline for voluntary disclosure of ill-gotten wealth before TAC, while the four-month's opportunity to disclose untaxed wealth before NBR will end on October 31.

TAC chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan yesterday admitted that the response so far was not up to expectations and said that he would consider extending the deadline.

However, chairmen of TAC and NBR are optimistic about more people coming to them before the respective deadlines.

None will get the chance of skip as the NBR will operate fresh drive against tax dodgers at the end of the clemency deadline, NBR chairmen Abdul Mazid told The New Nation on Tuesday.

"None will be spared; stern action will be taken under existing tax laws against tax dodgers," he said.

Last fiscal year, 44,449 people legalised or declared Tk 5,213 crore in a similar programme, with the government receiving a total Tk 802 crore tax.

About the lukewarm response so far, the TAC chairman Habibur Rahman said that as the concept was quite new, it would take some time for people to know about it. He called upon the corrupt people to come forward for rectifying themselves.

He said the TAC would not do anything that creates panic among people, including politicians and businessmen. "It's not a place of panic. It's place of peace. No one will be arrested at the gate of the Commission."

The TAC had been created to curb corruption and reduce the massive load of cases through quick adjudication within 30 days of filing applications.

The Commission allows accused to escape trial and jail term if they plead guilty and surrender their ill-gotten wealth.

The Commission will operate for five months under the Voluntary Disclosure of Information Ordinance 2008, promulgated on June 5 and as amended on July 20.