The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tarique’s injuries in custody: Students on rampage: Rly engine set on fire in Bogra

Jahangir Alam, a businessman who died in cylinder
blast yesterday in front of Dhaka College following students
protest being taken to DMCH. The microbus where Jahangir
Alam was aboard was set ablaze Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of
Tarique Rahman, burst into t

Students laid a blockade on Mirpur Road in front of
Dhaka College as Tarique Rahman suffered injuries while in
custody at BSMMU yesterday. FocusBangla

DU Correspondent

The activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP went on the rampage in the city on the basis of news that BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Raman, now under custody, sustained injury yesterday.

JCD activists ran riot on the Dhaka University campus, Dhaka College and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

A businessman, Jahangir Alam died when the cylinder of a CNG exploded near the Dhaka College after it was set on fire by some agitated students. Jahangir was present by the road at that time.

Furious JCD activists also damaged and burned a number of vehicles in and around the campus.

Several platoons of police were deployed around the entrance of the campus to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, the police stopped the movement of vehicles inside the campus and for the Nilkhet to Science Lab circle, which created long jam across the city.

The markets situated both sides of the New Market, Azimpur and Mitford areas were closed down due to this incidents.

Panic spread among the students of the university and a rumour was afloat that the university would be closed sine die following the incident.

Witness said JCD held a demonstration on the campus as per its pre scheduled programme to press home demand for the release of Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman. After getting the news of Tarique`s injury, the JCD activists moved towards Shahbag circle but police intercepted them in front of Fine Arts Faculty of the University.

Having halted by police, JCD activists became berserk and clashed with them. Later police charged baton and JCD workers threw brickbats during chase and counter chase.

JCD followers damaged five vehicles and set fire a taxicab in front of Rokeya Hall when they were coming back to the campus after being dispersed by the police.

BCL general secretary Sazzad Sakib Badsha said, in a reaction, that they would not tolerate any undesirable situation, created by anybody, on the campus.

After hearing the news Tarique Rahman`s head injury, and JCD activists and police clash on the DU campus, the students of Dhaka College and BUET staged protest rallies at their respective campus.

The students of Dhaka College came to the street led by Maniruzzaman Manik and ransacked two vehicles and set fire to one.

Demanding the punishment of those who were responsible of the death of the businessman, the traders blocked the street for three hours.

UNB adds from Bogra : A group of unruly BNP activists set fire on the engine of a passenger train at Gabtali station, 15km east of Bogra town, at 8pm yesterday, as a backlash of disturbance on Dhaka university campus.

Bogra stationmaster Benjirul Islam said the fire was extinguished.

But major damage has caused to the engine.

Panic-stricken passengers quickly disembarked from the train. None was hurt, initial report said.

Islam said the train, Padrag service, leaving from Lalmonirhat reached Gabtali station at 8pm. With damaged engine the train was standing at the station yard. The stationmaster has called for salvage train to clear the line.

Police rushed to the spot when the activists left the station. The activists snapped telecommunication of Gabtali and beat the stationmaster leaving him wounded. He was admitted to Gabtali Health Complex, witnesses said.

Earlier, JCD activists of Bogra Azizul Haq College demonstrated on the campus at 3pm as information spread about detained BNP leader Tarique Rahman sustained injury as he slipped down in the hospital.

The unruly activists brought out noisy procession, burnt tyres and blocked the railway in front of the college till 6pm. Lalmonirhat bound Karotoa Express train from Santahar remained stranded at old Bogra railway gate until the blockade was withdrawn at 6pm.

Tarique hurt as he slips in BSMMU toilet

Ailing Tarique

Staff Reporter

The detained elder son of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP, Tarique Rahman yesterday received injury on head and other parts of his body as he slipped in a bathroom of the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.

Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolon, an orthopaedic specialist of the BSMMU, told journalists that Tarique was taking rest after being examined and treated and he would be on observation for 48 hours.

Describing the incident he said Tarique Rahman went to the bathroom at about 12:15pm and suddenly slipped when he was about to come out from bathroom.

"Tarique tried to walk on his left leg as he could not move his right leg. He felt over the basin and received injury on the right side of his head, backside, right knee and ankle," Dr Dolon, who is also a member of the five-member medical team, formed for Trique's treatment, said.

Talking to reporters Deputy Inspector General -IGP (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui also confirmed that Tarique Rahman fell down in the bathroom and suffered minor injuries to his back and forehead. He further said that Tarique's forehead was cut slightly.

After visiting Tarique the DIG said his condition was better than before. He has taken his meal and talked to.

Replying to a question, Siddiqui said the matter for sending Tarique abroad for medical treatment is a matter of the government's decision, not of the prisons authorities.

Tarique was transferred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Medical University Hospital from Dhaka Central Jail, after his arrest on March 7, 2007.

Soon after the incident, Tarique's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman went to the hospital and visited her injured husband.

However, the prison authorities did not allow BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain, Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Begum Selima Rahman, Nazrul Islam Khan, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and other BNP leaders and former lawmakers to see him.

Criticising the government for not sending Tarique Rahman abroad for treatment Khondoker Delwar Hossain alleged that Tarique Rahman is being pushed towards death.

He reiterated his demand for the release of Tarique Rahman immediately.

Iajuddin urges world community: Work together to face climate change challenges

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed is seen with guests
and scientists at an international symposium on Climate
Change and Food Security in South Asia held at Hotel
Sonargaon on Monday. Photo: PID

DU Correspondent

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday urged the world community to take urgent steps to address the challenges of global warming to make the planet a place for better living.

"Bangladesh may lose one-third of its landmass and the entire South Asian coastal belt will be affected due to the rise of sea level, which is the direct outcome of climate change", Iajuddin, also an eminent soil scientist, said quoting the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The President made the observations while addressing the opening session of a six-day international symposium on 'Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia' as the chief guest at a city hotel.

Dhaka University (DU) and Ohio State University (OSU), USA have jointly organised the symposium in collaboration with World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

Director of Carbon Management and Sequestration Centre of OSU Rattan Lal, FAO Assistant Director General Changchui He, WMO Secretary General Michel Jarraud, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Raja Devasish Roy and Chief Coordinator of the symposium and DU Soil Science teacher AHM Mustafizur Rahman spoke at the inaugural session with DU Vice-Chancellor and president of the symposium SMA Faiz in the chair.

About 70 foreign and 200 local experts mainly from the Dhaka University and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) are participating in the symposium.

Speaking on the occasion, Rattan Lal said Bangladesh and other countries in South Asia are in frontline States in the fight against the climate change and its adverse impacts on food security and environmental quality.

"Problems facing Bangladesh and South Asia are global issues which must be addressed at regional scale through cooperation, information exchange, joint ventures and mutual support", Lal said adding that an effective pilot programme to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in South Asia can be role model for similar initiatives elsewhere in the developing countries.

Michel Jarraud said climate was a crucial factor in formulating sustainable development strategies and it had an overarching and crosscutting role in the efforts to achieve the UN millennium development goals (MDGs).

"It is essential to help the poor countries reduce climate-induced risks that may impede the achievement of the MDGs notably in terms of poverty reduction and food security", Jarraud added.

Changchui He said "We need a comprehensive strategy and policy frame work involving integrated approach through multi disciplinary team work to a better address the cross cutting issues like climate change and food security."

Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz said universities research institutions and organizations throughout the world must put in place collaboration amongst themselves in basic research and dissemination of knowledge that might contribute to meet the challenge of climate change.

Two more sessions of the programme were held at the same venue after the conclusion opening session where 11 papers were presented relating to climate change and food security.

Pakistan bans Taleban

Agency, Islamabad

Pakistan has banned the Taleban militant group which has been behind many suicide attacks in the country since 2007.

The Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) will have its bank accounts and assets frozen, the interior ministry said.

Last week the Taleban claimed responsibility for an attack on a munitions plant in Punjab province in which 67 people were killed.

It is not yet clear what impact the ban will have on the militants.

The TTP is a loose grouping of militants headed by Baitullah Mehsud who is based in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal district on Afghanistan's border.

The ban on the Taleban comes a day after the man likely to be Pakistan's next president, Asif Ali Zardari, advocated such a move in a BBC interview.

"We have banned Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan because of their involvement in a series of suicide attacks," interior ministry chief Rehman Malik said.

"They themselves have claimed responsibility of several suicide attacks and the government cannot engage in a dialogue with such people," he said.

Malik said the Taleban had "created mayhem against the public life".

A ministry official told the BBC that the state bank had been asked to freeze any accounts the organisation might have. The Pakistan Taleban is fighting for an Islamic state. They see it as their religious duty to fight the international forces currently in Afghanistan, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Islamabad says. Meeting journalists in May, Baitullah Mehsud said his organisation did not want to fight Pakistan's army, but that it was being forced to because the army were "slaves to US demands".

There have been a number of local ceasefire deals with the Taleban and other militants but none have been successful in stopping the violence or preventing incursions into Afghanistan, our correspondent says.

The Pakistani Taleban have "the upper hand" and should be put on the list of banned organisations in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto's widower has said.

Asif Ali Zardari said, in a BBC interview, that the world and Pakistan were losing the war on terror.

"It is an insurgency", he said, "and an ideological war. It is our country and we will defend it.

"The world is losing the war. I think at the moment they (the Taleban) definitely have the upper hand.

"The issue, which is not just a bad case scenario as far as Pakistan is concerned or as Afghanistan is concerned but it is going to be spreading further. The whole world is going to be affected by it."

Zardari's strong remarks came shortly after the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) put his name forward as its presidential nominee.

The president is elected by the members of parliament and the four provincial assemblies, and Zardari says he is confident he has the numbers he needs to win on 6 September.

Asif Zardari spent more than a decade in prison on murder and corruption charges but he insisted that the cases had failed because they were politically motivated.

He also dismissed reports that the Swiss authorities were still considering whether they should pursue a money-laundering case against him there.

Sharif blames Benazir’s widower for breakup: Pak coalition collapses amid dissent

AP, Islamabad

Pakistan's ruling coalition collapsed Monday, torn apart by internal bickering just a week after Pervez Musharraf's ouster and underscoring fears that the government would be distracted from its fight against Islamic extremists.

Militants have stepped up their campaign of violence in recent months, prompting the government Monday to ban the Taliban. The move came after the Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings against one of Pakistan's most sensitive military installations that left 67 dead.

The breakdown of the fragile 5-month-old civilian government clears the way for the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to tighten its hold on the government; the West hopes it will make good on pledges to combat terrorism.

Nawaz Sharif, another former premier, announced Monday that he was pulling out of the coalition because it failed to restore judges fired by Musharraf or agree to a neutral replacement for the ousted president. He blamed Bhutto's widower and political successor, Asif Ali Zardari, for the breakup, and named a retired judge to run against Zardari in the Sept. 6 presidential election by lawmakers.

However, Sharif vowed to play a "constructive" role while in the opposition.

"We don't want to be instrumental in overthrowing any government. We don't have any such intentions," Sharif told a news conference.

His move is not expected to trigger new elections.

A major opposition party has already backed Zardari's presidential bid. That group, together with smaller parties and independents could plug the gap in the government's parliamentary majority.

The shake up caps a week of upheaval in Pakistan's political landscape.

Musharraf quit Monday, nine years after he seized power in a military coup, to avoid impeachment charges.

With their common foe gone, the coalition that drove him from office began immediately to fray over unkept promises to restore the judges and Zardari's decision to seek the presidency.

Concern that the turmoil was distracting the government from tackling urgent economic and security issues was borne out Thursday when twin Taliban suicide bombers killed 67 people at an arms factory near the capital.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik announced Monday that the group responsible for the attack, the Tehrik-e-Taliban, was banned. He said the militants had "created mayhem" in the nuclear-armed nation.

Anyone caught aiding the Taliban in Pakistan - which will have its bank accounts and assets frozen - faces up to 10 years in prison.

The ban came 24 hours after Pakistan rejected a Taliban cease-fire offer in Bajur tribal region, a rumored hiding place for Osama bin Laden, where an army offensive has reportedly killed hundreds in recent weeks.

"This organization is a terrorist organization and created mayhem against public life," said Malik.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group of militants along the rugged Afghan border set up last year, has claimed responsibility for a wave of suicide bombings in the last half year that have killed hundreds.

"I think at the moment they definitely have the upper hand, and we need to do something better," Zardari told the British Broadcasting Corp. shortly before the ban was announced.

Whatever the world, Pakistan included, has done in the last 10 years to fight terrorism, the presidential hopeful said, "it's not working."

Malik said the Taliban group was not banned more quickly because the provincial government had been trying to negotiate with it to secure peace. The restrictions would include offering financial aid, handing out propaganda or providing any other type of support.

The militants, meanwhile, called the ban "meaningless."

"We are neither registered nor do we have any bank accounts," said Muslim Khan, spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has threatened to step up its campaign of violence nationwide unless the military ends its operations in Bajur. "We are slaves to no one."

Shakeup in police admin

Staff Reporter

The home ministry has transferred three deputy inspectors general of police (DIG), one police commissioner, one assistant inspector general (AIG), eight deputy police commissioner, five special superintendents of police, and 13 superintendents of police, total 31 police officials in reshuffles of police administration.

The government issued the transfer orders yesterday as part of the ongoing shake-up in the grassroots administration ahead of the general elections slated for December.

Of those transferred, DIG of Highway Police Md Sadiqur Rahman has been made DIG of the Armed Police Battalion (APBN), while DIG of

APBN Nazmul Huq has been transferred to Police Headquarters as a DIG.

DIG of Police Headquarters Moniruzzaman has been made commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and CMP commissioner Akbar Ali has been appointed commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan police (BMP).

Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police headquarters Abdul Jalil Mandal has been made additional police commissioner of CMP, and Special Police Super (SS) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Nawsher Ali has been appointed joint police commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The same directive cancelled an April 30 order regarding transfer of Dhaka CID SS Nazmul Karim Khan to Netrokona police.

Coalmine graft case: Khaleda’s bail prayer rejected

UNB, Dhaka

Metropolitan Sessions Judge's court yesterday rejected detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's bail petition in Barapukuria Coalmine case, one of four graft cases she is facing after the January 11, 2007 changeover in the country's political arena.

However, the High Court toady granted interim bail to two of her former cabinet ministers-Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar-in the same case.

Metropolitan Sessions judge Md Azizul Haque rejected the immediate-past premier's bail prayer on grounds that the case was filed under the unassailable Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

On February 26 this year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Shahbagh police against Khaleda and 15 others, including 10 former ministers from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, for graft in awarding Barapukuria coalmine operation contract to a Chinese company.

In the FIR it was stated that tender for Barapukuria Coalmine International Ltd was invited in 2003 for appointment of contractor for production, management and maintenance of the coalmine and three international companies took part in the bidding.

Later, the contract between Shandong Ludi Consortium and Barapukuria Coalmine Company Ltd (BCMCL) was cancelled by the authority as it did not abide by the conditions of the contract.

"Instead of offering the work to Suju Coal Mining Group Consortium, the second-lowest bidder, the contract was given to China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) consortium, the highest bidder, causing a loss of over Tk 159 crore," says the case statement.

About the responsibility of former PM Khaleda Zia the FIR states that as she had held the charge of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, "the decision was not taken beyond her knowledge-and she didn't accept the proposal of Petrobangla for re-tender".

The ex-PM and BNP chairperson, arrested in September last year amid a clampdown on the political arena following the January 11, 2007 changeover, is also facing three other graft cases, namely, Niko, Gatco and Zia Orphanage graft cases.

Coalmine graft case: Shamsul, Anwar, five others granted bail

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted interim anticipatory bail to former ministers and BNP stalwarts M Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar on surrender in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case in which detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is the principal accused.

The HC also granted interim bail for six months to Khaleda's elder son and BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman in an extortion case and to four other leaders and former

lawmakers of the party in separate cases.

An HC Division bench headed by Justice Tariq ul Hakim granted Tarique bail in the case of extorting money from Amin Mohammad Foundation.

It's one of over a dozen cases filed against him after his arrest amid a crackdown on politicians after the January 11, 2007 changeover that also threw his mother and younger brother Koko behind bars.

The interim bail for Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar continues until police submit the charge sheet to the court, court sources said.

Passing the orders upon separate petitions, a Division Bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice M Emdadul Haque Azad issued rules asking the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain why the petitioners should not be granted regular bail.

The ACC filed the case against detained BNP chairperson and ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 15 others, including 10 former ministers from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

They are accused of causing a loss of over Tk 158.71 crore to the state coffer by awarding a Chinese company production, management and maintenance contract for the coalmine through "abuse of power".

Besides, former BNP lawmaker Moshiur Rahman secured interim bail from the High Court on surrender in connection with a murder case.

Meanwhile, the High Court upon separate petitions granted interim bail to Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal president Barkatullah Bulu, former BNP lawmakers Asadul Habib Dulu and Shahidul Islam Master in connection with corruption cases.

Granting interim bail, the Bench issued separate rules asking the ACC and the government to explain why the petitioners "should not be granted regular bail".

Barristers Rafique-ul Huq, Rafiqul Islam Mian, Mahbub Uddin Khokan and Ruhul Quddus Kazol appeared for the petitioners.

Registration of parties: AL demands extension of time frame

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) presidium member Amir Hossain Amu yesterday urged the Caretaker Government to extend the time frame for the registration of political parties, as it will be impossible to fulfill the conditions of registration by the deadline of September 15.

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at a press conference yesterday asked the political parties to complete its registration, which will start on August 27and end on September 15.

AL leader was speaking at a discussion meeting organised by Bangladesh Muktijoddha Parishad to mark the 33rd martyred anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the National Press Club.

Amu demanded complete withdrawal of emergency to facilitate the holding of the national council of the party to be participated by hundreds party leaders and activists. The huge gathering of the party leaders and activists is not possible under the emergency rule, he said justifying his demand for the withdrawal of the state of emergency.

When asked whether AL would participate in the parliamentary election under the state of emergency, Amu said we firmly demand complete lifting of emergency before the election.

Referring to the comments of HM Ershad of Jatiya party that the political parties should participate in the election under the state of emergency Amu said, " He (Ershad) may made any comments of his liking. We have no headache about his comments."

AL presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta said, " We are not against the registration of the political parities. But it is not possible to hold national council under the state of emergency to bring out reform in the party's constitution, which is the prime pre-requisite for registration. So the government should withdraw the state of emergency immediately."

About the recently announced "Representative of peoples' Ordinance-2008" he said the government should amend some rules of the ordinance through negotiation with the political parties.

About the coming back of HM Ershad to the grand alliance he said, " If Ershad desires to join again in the grand alliance, he will have to abide by all the decision of the alliance."

Mahbubuddin Bir Bikram, Chairman of Bangladesh Mukti Joddha Parishad, presided over the meeting.

One killed as violence erupts at DU, Dhaka College:

Tk 21 lakh snatched in 2 mugging incidents

Staff reporter

A group of muggers snatched away over Tk 12 lakh from the manager of a filling station at Nikunja in the city's Khilkhet area yesterday.

Police said four to five snatchers coming in a private car intercepted Amal Kumar Das, 35, manager of Nikunja Filling Station, when he along with his two colleagues were going to deposit over Tk 12 lakh to Uttara Bank, Nikunja branch, at about 10:30am.

The muggers snatched away the bag in which they were carrying the money and left the place safely.

Amal immediately informed police who seized the private car from Airport crossing and arrested its driver Zakir, shortly after the incident.

In another incident, snatchers shot and injured an employee of a mobile shop in front of Azimpur Orphanage market at Lalbagh in the city and took away Tk 9 lakh.

Police said muggers intercepted Azad Hossain, 35, an employee of Seba Enterprise, when he was going to Uttara Bank, Azimpur branch, for depositing the amount.

As he refused to give them the money they fired on his chest and right leg and fled with the muggers. He was later admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Two separated cases were filed with the police station.

Council of Advisers meets in Khulna today

UNB, Khulna

A meeting of the Council of Advisers will be held at local circuit house today.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will chair the meeting which will be attended by advisers, CA's special assistants and other senior officials.

The meeting will be held as part of advisers' meeting outside capital.

Issues such as gas supply in Khulna, modernization of Mongla port, establishment of airport in Khulna and saving local jute industry are likely to come up for discussion along with national issues in the meeting. Necessary measures, including foolproof security, have been taken for successful holding of the meeting.