The New Nation - Internet Edition

DSE witnesses fall after 9 days of consecutive gains

UNB, Dhaka

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed fall on Wednesday amid profit taking from gains the market recorded for nine 9 consecutive days.

Brokers said 171 issues out of the total 229 traded on the day, incurred loss amid sales pressure bringing down the DSE indices. Only 44 issues gained and 14 remained unchanged.

The market continued to register a steady growth since August 20 till Tuesday after a bearish trend witnessed until August 19 when the benchmark index fell as low as 2,571 points.

The DSE General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, fell 34 points or over 1.0 percent to close at 2,797 points on Wednesday from 2,831 points at close on Tuesday while the All Shares Price Index (DSI) shed 25 points or 1.0 percent to close at 2,390 points.

The DSE-20 index for the selective shares witnessed fall for the second consecutive day on Wednesday with 15 points or 0.64 percent decline to close at 2,419 points.

The total turnover dropped slightly to Tk 2.69 billion on Wednesday from Tk 2.71 billion on Tuesday while the market capitalization dropped to Tk 986.18 billion on the day from Tk 990.60 billion on the day before.

Titas Gas, BEXIMCO, GRAMEENS2, ACI, Beximco Pharma, Lankabangla Finance, ICB 2nd NRB, Pragati Insurance, Square Pharma and Uttara Bank were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were GRAMEENS2, AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, BEXIMCO, Titas Gas, Beximco Pharma, Keya Cosmetics, BD Com, Grameen 1, ICB 2nd NRB and Lankabangla Finance.

Top gainers of the day were BEXIMCO, ICB Islamic Bank, AMCL, Beximco Fisheries, Apex Foods, Shine Pukur, Chittagong Vegetables, Beximco Textiles, Ran Foundry and Reckitt Benckiser.

Top losers were Reliance Insurance, ICB, Progressive Life Insurance, Peoples Insurance, Rupali Insurance, Agni Systems Limited, Merchantile Insurance, Grameen1, Eastland Insurance and Bangladesh Thai Aluminum.

Industrial workers attack power office, set fire to 12 vehicles

UNB, Narsingdi

Jute and textile mill workers attacked the Chouala office of Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samity-2 Wednesday morning and set fire to its 12 vehicles protesting frequent power cuts in their factories.

Witnesses said nearly 500 workers attacked the power office at about 5am, apparently angered by frequent power cuts disrupting production in their factories and affecting wages.

The angry workers ransacked the office damaging furniture and fixtures and other valuables. They also set fire to nine motorcycles, two pickup vans and a jeep during nearly one-hour protest.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

General Manager of Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samity-2 Syed Wahidul Islam told the journalists that the damages caused by the protesters would be around Tk 70 lakh.

The authorities filed a case with local police.

The industrial workers, for last two months, were urging the power authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply to their factories.

They also surrounded the Chouala office and barricaded the Dhaka-Sylhet highway on two occasions earlier to press for their demand.

3 to die for murder case in Bagerhat

UNB, Bagerhat

A court here yesterday sentenced three people to death in sensational Enamul murder case.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge Court, however, acquitted a woman, Zarina Begum, as her guilt was not proved.

The condemned convicts are : Mohon Khalifa, 35, Ohidul Hawlader, 35, and Rafiqul Islam, 33, of Morelganj upazila.

According to the prosecution, the trio called Enamul Hasan Limon, 32, a businessman, out of his house at village Uttar Saralia in Morelganj on February 2, 2006.

They strangled Enamul and hide his body under the pile of sand.

Later, police arrested four people following the filing of a murder case by the victim's brother.

After examining the records and witnesses, Judge M Rezaul Karim found the three guilty and handed down the judgment.

Iftekhar briefs Kuwaiti DPM on Bangladeshis’ plight

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday briefed Kuwait's deputy prime minister on the plight of Bangladeshi workers in his country.

DPM Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah assured Iftekhar-who arrived on a two-day state visit to Kuwait earlier in the day-the Kuwaiti government would take stern measures against companies that exploited foreign workers.

The foreign adviser is scheduled to meet Kuwaiti prime minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Sabah Al- Salem Al Sabah today.

"We have addressed problems faced by some Bangladeshi workers to resolve them," Iftekhar told bdnews24.com by telephone from Kuwait City following his meeting with the deputy prime minister.

"Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah assured me that the Kuwaiti authorities will take strong measures against any companies that have exploited Bangladeshi workers."

"He remarked that non-payment of the agreed salaries was unacceptable."

The adviser said he also discussed the possibility of Kuwait co-financing the Padma Bridge, a project in which the DPM showed keen interest.

Sheikh Sabah also recalled the contribution of the Bangladesh during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990, said Iftekhar.

The adviser left Dhaka Wednesday morning on a Kuwait Airlines flight.

Iftekhar is also scheduled to meet Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait "to urge them to abide by the laws of the host country".

Thousands of South Asian workers, including Bangladeshis, took to the streets in July demanding pay hikes and better working conditions.

According to the government figures, the Kuwaiti government deported some 1,250 Bangladeshi workers for the demonstration.

Demonstrations and work abstention are prohibited in the Gulf state.

The foreign adviser, following the labour unrest, had telephoned three Kuwait ministers and sought their assistance in resolving the problems.

The Kuwait ministers invited him to visit the Sheikhdom to discuss labour and other bilateral issues.

Some 150,000 Bangladeshis, mainly unskilled workers, are engaged in odd jobs such as cleaning and sweeping in Kuwait.

Ex-ambassador faces arrest for stealing public funds

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

A Dhaka court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against former Bangladeshi ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Nazimullah Chowdhury for misappropriation of public funds.

Nazimullah is accused of stealing Tk 20 lakh from the state by showing fake bills and vouchers, while serving as an ambassador.

The Anticorruption Commission filed the case with Ramna Police Station on May 14 and charges were pressed against the former envoy on Sept 1.

Dhaka metropolitan senior special judge Md Azizul Haque set Sept 9 for the submission of the arrest report to the court.

Khaleda happy for Tarique’s release

UNB, Dhaka

Detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has expressed her happiness over her eldest son Tarique Rahman's release at last.

DIG (Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told UNB yesterday evening that he met Begum Zia after the release of Tarique and conveyed the message to her.

"We convey such message to a general prisoner too. And we did it. She expressed her happiness," said Major Siddiqui, who is the only one in this job to play host to so many VIPs in his prison houses, including two former premiers and hosts of ministers and lawmakers.

He said the former Prime Minister also expressed her gratitude to the caretaker government for this step in the latest turn of events.

Her younger son Koko had earlier been set free on parole for overseas treatment, after months in detention since they three were arrested amid a crackdown on the political arena following the January 11, 2007 changeover.

2 killed in Comilla road accident

UNB, Comilla

Two passengers died and 15 others wounded when a Dhaka bound bus from Chittagong collided with a truck at Balujuri, Chouddagram early hours yesterday.

Identity of the victims of the bus of S Alam Poribahan was not immediately available. The injured passengers were rushed to hospitals in Comilla and Chouddagram.

The drivers of damaged truck and bus went into hiding.

EC forms committee to check party applications

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Election Commission has formed a five-member committee to verify the applications from political parties for registration, an official said yesterday.

"The committee is meant to check if the documents submitted by the parties were accurate," said AKM Salimullah, a deputy secretary at the EC secretariat.

Joint secretary (law) of the EC Secretariat Nurul Islam Khan, deputy secretaries Jesmin Tuli, AKM Salimullah and Mihir Sarwar Morshed, and senior assistant secretary Farhad Ahmad Khan are sitting on the committee.

The chief election commissioner had said earlier 50 parties to date have picked up forms.

The committee will start scrutinising their applications when they hand in the forms.

The EC, which says there are some 150 parties in the country, is set to hold talks with political parties on registration from Sept 6-9 after they some major parties expressed reservations about registration under new electoral laws.

According to the laws, an application form must contain 10 pieces of information attested by the party general secretary.

The information include name of the party and address of its headquarters, party constitution, election manifesto (if available), rules and regulations of the party, portrait of the party logo and flag, names and designations of all members in the central and equivalent committees, details of the bank account of the party and sources of funds.

Every political party has to declare in writing that it meets all conditions for registration.

The EC asked the political parties to submit application for registration by Oct 15.

If any flaw is found in the application, parties would be given 15 days to correct and the EC reserves the right to reject any application.

The registered parties must report to the EC on various matters and submit list of the members of new committee.

To qualify for registration, a party must win one seat in national polls since independence or secure five percent votes in all constituencies contested by the party.

The party must have committees in at least 10 districts.

National polls candidates must belong to a registered political party or contest as an independent candidate, the new laws stipulate.