The New Nation - Internet Edition

Khaleda’s freedom anytime: High Court grants bail for three months in Nico, GATCO cases

Staff Reporter

The High Court yesterday granted there months bail to detained former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in GATCO and Niko graft cases for three months in each.

The Vacation Bench of the High Court Division comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Mamnoon Rahman passed the duo-bail orders, after hearing the bail petitions.

With these Begum Zia has secured bail in all the four cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Now, no obstacle is there in the way of her release through legal process.

Emerging from the court, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, the prime Counsel for Begum Zia, told reporters that all legal bars are now removed from the path of his client's release from her one-year imprisonment.

He said the court was pleased to grant her bail as the other accused persons in both the cases had obtained bail earlier.

Begum Zia is going to be released through legal means and not on the mercy of any quarter, he said.

Barrister Huq, who is also the prime Counsel of another former prime minister and Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina, expressed his hope that both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina would work for the greater interest of the country and its people shunning the path of conflict and Nutual accusation.

He also proposed Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina to sit together at his residence, if necessary, to discuss pertinent issues.

"Come to your sense; enough is enough," he said apprehending that another 1/11 may come if the BNP and Awami League do not shun the politics of conflict and violence.

According to Khaleda Zia's lawyers, Begum Zia might be released later today (Wednesday) after completion of legal process including signing in bail bonds in the lower courts and reaching those to the jail authorities.

The lawyers expressed their happiness over granting bail to Begum Zia in all cases. They said Begum Zia is going to be released through legal process not on parole or through any entente.

"We are happy as she got bail in the last two cases. Now, the release of Khaleda Zia is a matter of time as she has already obtained bail in all cases," said former BNP lawmaker Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Uddin Ahmed.

Leaders of BNP-led four-party alliance at a meeting yesterday demanded immediate release of Begum Zia and urged upon the government not to create any obstacle in the way of her getting bail.

Begum Zia, who was arrested on September 3 last year, had earlier secured four-month interim bail in two other graft cases involving Zia Orphanage Trust Fund embezzlement and Barapukuria Coalmine contract.

Meanwhile, Additional Attorney-General Mansur Habib told reporters that they would appeal in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking stay order against the bail.

He further said that the Government has already submitted appeal to the Supreme Court seeking stay order against the bail in Zia Orphanage Trust fund embezzlement and Barapukuria Coalmine contract cases.

The GATCO and Niko cases, pending in the special courts that deal with high-profile corruption

cases, have already been stalled since July following High Court orders given on quashment petitions filed by her.

The ACC filed the Niko graft case with Tejgaon Police Station against Begum Zia and others on December 9 last year for allegedly causing huge losses to the national exchequer through signing deals with the Canadian oil company.

According to the charge sheet, Khaleda and 10 other accused persons, in collaboration with one another, struck an "anti-state" joint-venture agreement with Niko, causing a loss of Tk 13,777 crore to the exchequer.

The ACC filed the GATCO case on September 2, last year against Khaleda and her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, her cabinet colleagues M Saifur Rahman, Mannan Bhuiyan, MK Anwar, M Shamsul Islam and Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain of BNP and Jamaat Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami.

The ACC charged the top brass of the past government with causing a loss of over Tk 14 crore to the public exchequer by striking the container-handling deal with Gatco, a greenhorn company, violating the tender conditions.

On July 3, the anti-graft agency filed a case with Ramna Police Station against Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and five others on charges of embezzling over Tk 2.10 crore by forming an eyewash establishment named Zia Orphanage Trust.

The ACC filed the Barapukuria Coalmine case with Shahbagh Police Station against the ex-PM and 15 others, including her 10 ex-cabinet colleagues on February 26.

Begum Zia and others have been accused in the case of causing a loss of Tk 158 .71 crore to the State by awarding a Chinese company the production, management and maintenance contract for the coalmine through "abuse of power".

Along with her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, Begum Zia was arrested on September 3 last year amid a crackdown on the political arena after 1/11 changeover. Her elder son, Tarique Rahman, was held earlier on March 7.

Both of her sons have already been freed on bail and granted parole for overseas treatment.

Diarrhoea outbreak in city

Staff Reporter

Diarrhoea patients have been increasing gradually at city's hospitals as the water recedes from flood hit areas.

ICDDR'B Scientist Dr Shahadat Hossain termed the country's diarrhoea situation as alarming as the diarrhoea-affected patients have increased gradually in last couple of days.

He said that around 250 to 300 patients are admitted a day at cholera hospital.

"In rainy season, the admission rates of diarrhoea patients were between 400 to 450. Now, around 600 patients have been admitted at the hospital yesterday," Dr Shahadat Hossain said.

He added that the Government should take an effective measure immediately to tackle the diarrhoea situation.

"The Government should ensure pure drinking water for flood hit people in 23 flood hit districts first," the scientist said.

He said that the diarrhoea situation would become worse if the government failed to take step immediately.

The ICDDRB has erected tents in its parking spaces with a capacity for 750 patients.

Sources said, the admission rate of diarrhoea patients increased at Dhaka medical college hospital and other government medical colleges from normal time.

Tarique, his wife, daughter get UK, German visas

Staff Reporter

Ailing BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman and his wife and daughter yesterday got UK and German visas to pursue his overseas treatment, his counsel said.

Tarique's physician Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolan, would also accompany him on his foreign trip, said his counsel Adv Ahmed Azam Khan.

Tarique, elder son of detained ex-PM and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman applied for

British visa on Sunday and later applied for German visa.

Dr Dolan informed newsmen that Tarique Rahman would offer Ziarat at the grave of his father, slain President Ziaur Rahman, and also meet his detained mother Khaleda Zia before going abroad.

The ex-PM is likely to be released within this week as she got bail in all four cases filed against her during the anti-graft drive under the state of emergency.

"Health condition of Tarique remains unchanged and he is physically weak. His waist and backbone pains are also still unchanged," Dolan said.

He urged visitors not to make gathering in the hospital as it creates mental pressure on his patient.

Tarique Rahman was released on bail last Wednesday after nearly 18 months in detention.

He is now undergoing treatment in a cabin of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital with various complications, including backbone pain.

Tarique, 43, believed to be political heir of the Zia family, was arrested on March 7 last year from their cantonment residence by army-led joint forces amid the purge against crime and corruption after the 1/11 changeover following a political crisis over election issues.

His mother, Khaleda Zia, and younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko were also arrested on graft charges. Koko was released on July 17 on health grounds. He is now undergoing treatment for his respiratory complications at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok.

Tarique's release came after the High Court granted him bail in all 13-graft cases and the Supreme Court upheld the High Court decisions through rejecting government and Anti-Corruption Commission's appeals for stay.

Separate medical boards formed for his health checkups have suggested sending him abroad for treatment.

Mayors of cities, pourashabhas take oath

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed with newly elected
mayors of Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet City
Corporations Talukder Abdul Kaleque, Khairuzzaman Liton,
Shawkat Hossain Hiron and Badruddin Ahmed Kamran
respectively after administering them oath

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday administered oath to the newly elected Mayors of Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet city corporations at a simple ceremony at the LGED Auditorium of LGED Bhaban in the city's Agargaon.

The elections to the four city corporations and nine municipalities were held on August 4 as a "test case" under a much-hyped new national voter list prepared under the initiative of the caretaker government as part of massive reforms. The gazette notification of results was published on August 13.

After being sworn-in the newly elected mayors of four city corporations preferred holding parliamentary elections before the upazila polls, as debate on the issue is hat in the political arena.

The mayors also vowed to keep the city corporation offices free from corruption and political influences by ensuring accountability.

Rajshahi city corporation mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said he wants Jatiya Sangsad election (national election) first as major political parties and people of the country want.

"I definitely want upazila election, but not before the parliamentary elections," he added.

He also said he would work hard for ensuring the local government body's accountability-one of the terms that reverberate through the current wave of changes through a countrywide purge in the interim period.

Mayor of Sylhet Badruddin Ahmed Kamran expressed his solidarity with the comment of Liton about general election first and said that he wanted to place the city corporation in front of the people as a modern and transparent institution that would be accountable to the people.

He said he and councillors would try their best to keep the city corporation free from corruption and political influences.

Kamran said that he has a close connection with the people of Sylhet and it is reflected in the people's verdict that re-elected him.

Mayor of Khulna Talukder Abdul Khaleq and Mayor of Barisal M Shawkat

Hossain Hiron also expressed similar reactions regarding holding of national election first.

AL demands JS polls first EC schedules for JS, DCC, upazila polls in 3 days

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda
shaking hands with the Awami League acting President Zillur
Rahman prior to 3rd round of talks at the Election
Commission Secretariat in the city on Tuesday. Focus
Bangla

Staff Reporter

The leaders of the Awami League (AL) urged the Election Commission (EC) to hold the parliamentary election ahead of all other polls, to withdraw state of emergency and to ensure unconditional release of party chief Sheikh Hasina.

The AL leaders placed these demands during the two-hour long dialogue with the EC, which started at 2:00pm and ended at 4:00pm on Tuesday, the last day of the third-round of electoral dialogue.

Acting President of AL Zillur Rahman, coming out from the dialogue, told reporters that the dialogue was fruitful. The party had demanded the release of Sheikh Hasina and total lifting of the state of emergency ahead of the national elections.

He also pointed out that the upazila election could not be held before the national election.

Ashraful Islam, Acting General Secretary of AL, said: "We have reached consensus on some vital issues. But we cannot disclose these just now because of some technical problems."

"We have clarified the party's stand to the EC. Let's see how the commission responds to our demands. We will deliver our statement after the commission delivers its own," he said.

Asked whether the dialogue would bear fruit without the BNP-led four-party alliance, Ashraf said: "We hope the alliance will join the dialogue for the sake of the country and countrymen."

AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed said: "We want an election under a congenial atmosphere, in which all the political parties can participate. We have told the commission this today (Tuesday)."

Asked to explain the party's view on the issue of the war criminals, he said: "The war criminals should be banned from joining the elections. The commission maintains similar views."

About registration of political parties with the EC Tofail said: "According to the electoral roadmap the last date for registration was June 30. That deadline has crossed. We don't have any opposition to registration. But we want relaxation of some rules. We hope the commission will take pragmatic steps within a short time, which must include withdrawal of emergency," he said. AL leaders also said they had placed a number of demands to the EC, including holding no other elections before the national elections, announcing the elections schedule and withdrawal of the state of emergency immediately.

Beside this, AL leaders also demanded easing a number of conditions for registration of political parties, which include banning foreign branches and front organisations of a political party as well as striking out of the provision for 'no' votes and allowing teachers of the educational institutions under MPO to contest elections.

Asked what was the EC's response about the party's demands, Ashraful said: "We will inform you later."

A seven-member delegation of AL led by Zillur Rahman joined the dialogue included Syed Ashraful Islam, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury and Amir Hossain Amu.

Earlier in the day, the EC held talks with Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jiku) and National Awami Party (Mozaffar).

Habibur Rahman Talukdar, President of KSJL, urged the Election Commission not to allow Jamaat-e-Islami to be registered with the EC, as it palyed controversial role during the liberation war of the country.

"The KSJL placed demand for immediate withdrawal of state of emergency and holding of the national election as early as possible," he told reporters coming out from the meeting.

"We believe that holding of the Upazila polls first may disrupt the national elections," he added.

A five-member delegation of KSJL joined the dialogue at 10:30am.

After that the JSD (Ziku) delegation arrived at 11:45am at the EC Secretariat to join the dialogue led by Md Shafique, executive president of the party including three other members.

Emerging from the meeting at 12:45pm, Abdul Malek Ratan, General Secretary of the party, said, "The EC informed us that it will announce the schedules for both Upazila and national election within the next three or four days."

Ratan also added that according to the EC, the number of upazilas where polls might be held would reduce because a vast area of the country had been inundated by flood.

The leaders of the JSD (Ziku) opined that they had no objection to holding of the Upazila polls before the general elections and arranging the polls under the state of emergency.

Subsequently The EC held meeting with NAP (Mozaffar) from 12:45 pm to 2:00pm.

The NAP (Mozaffar) delegation led by party's general secretary Enamul Haque including Amena Ahmed, MA Ghani, Abdul Wahab and Ismail Hossain.

In total the EC invited 16 political parties to the third round of dialogue that began on Saturday.

Parties that have attended the EC dialogue include Workers Party of Bangladesh, Samyabadi Dal, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal(Inu), Liberal Democratic Party and Jatiya Party(JP).

The BNP led four party alliance did not attend the dialogue sessions.

The commission held the first round of the dialogues in September last year and second round of dialogue in February this year.

Election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said: "We will deliver speech corresponding to the views of the political parties."

The EC will be brief in detail today about the outcome of the third round of dialogue.

Distribution of Hill-Tracts land : To remove obstacle of law urged

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable in the city yesterday remarked that complication created by different acts stalled the development of Chittagong hill tracts region.

The constitution and various other Acts such as the Hill Tracts Regulation Act-1900, The Hill Tracts Peace Accord Act-1997 and Hill-Tracts District Council Act are in force there, which create huge complications in every sector, they added.

They were addressing the roundtable titled "Prospect and Problems of the Hill Tracts" held at the National Press Club.

Hill Tracts Development and Rehabilitation Foundation organised the roundtable with its President Dr Sirajul Islam in the chair.

Former Secretary of the Government Bahauddin Chowdhury, Lawyer of the Supreme Court MH Rashid, journalists Rakib Uddin, Kaiyum Khan Milon and Jalil Bhuiyan, President of Lama Upazila Teachers' Association Saching Murang, Student leader Sakhnaw Murang, among others, addressed it.

They said wide barren land to the region could not be productive if they are not distributed among the landless people due to complication created by the various acts.

Many people of the region's small community became virtually gipsy men in spite of large fertile land (5093 square mile), and huge natural resources, they noted.

Various active land acts are the main obstacles in the distribution of the barren land among the farmers, they informed.

They urged the government to reform land acts to ease distribution and exchange of the land, abolishing inconsistencies among the various acts.

Tax return submission date may be extended

Staff Reporter

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid said yesterday that the Government was considering extending the allocated timetable for income tax return.

"Our income tax related laws are outdated which need to be streamlined for the simplification of tax payment systems," he said as chief guest while unveiling the cover of a book ' Tax Guide 2008-09' written in Bengali by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at its office in the city.

DCCI President Hossain Khaled made welcome speech.

MH Rahman, former president, directors Syed Moazzem Hossain and MS Sheikh Chowdhury of the DCCI among others, attended.

Lauding the initiatives taken by the DCCI the NBR Chairman said the guide would be helpful for creating awareness among the taxpayers.

Abdul Mazid said the NBR and DCCI have undertaken initiatives for simplifying the tax procedures in the field of income tax, vat, and custom duty.

He called upon the DCCI to provide required information to the NBR so that the Government can take a rational decision for the welfare of the common people.

Hossain Khaled said the DCCI is ready to cooperate with the NBR for automation of Dhaka Custom House and Inland Container Depot (ICD) under Build- Own- Operate (BOO) system as done by the Chittagong Chamber.

He also laid emphasis on introduction of automation in custom administration to bring about transparency.

Zardari pledges to fight terror: Karzai attends swearing-in

Asif Ali Zardari takes oath of the President of
Pakistan from Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar at the
presidential palace in Islamabad on Tuesday. Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani, left, and acting President Mohammadmian
Soomro, second from left, were p

AFP, Islamabad

Asif Ali Zardari took office as Pakistan's new president Tuesday, and immediately pledged to work with Afghanistan to stop the terrorist scourge that is killing countless people in both countries.

Zardari, the controversial 53-year-old widower of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, was sworn in at a closely guarded ceremony at the presidential palace in the capital Islamabad.

He becomes the 14th president in the short but often turbulent history of the world's only nuclear-armed Islamic state and frontline US "war on terror" ally, after a weekend win in elections among lawmakers.

Zardari -- who spent 11 years in jail on a variety of charges ranging from corruption to murder, but was never convicted -- succeeds Pervez Musharraf, the former army general who resigned on August 18 under threat of impeachment.

"I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan," Zardari said, reciting the oath of office administered by the country's chief justice in a ceremony broadcast live to the nation, as his three children looked on.

"May Allah Almighty help and guide me, amen," he concluded, sitting down to loud cheers of "Long live Bhutto," and "Bhutto is alive".

Afghan President Hamid Karzai joined top Pakistani officials, military top brass, judges, diplomats and high-ranking civil servants at the ceremony, which ended with Zardari receiving a military honour guard and reviewing troops.

Zardari kissed his son Bilawal -- the chairman of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) -- and bowed at the feet of his father, Hakim Ali Zardari, before being embraced by his daughters, Bakhtawar and Asifa.

Shortly afterwards, at a joint press conference with Karzai, Zardari -- who said he had become a "victim of terrorism" when Bhutto was assassinated in a gun and suicide attack in December -- pledged to fight terrorism with Karzai.

"Casualties of war are taking place," the Pakistani leader said.

"We cannot deny that the innocent are dying. I assure you if there are any weaknesses on this side or that side of the border, we shall stand together," Zardari told the Afghan leader.

Karzai told reporters he and Zardari had had "a very hearty meeting" to discuss cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and had pledged to work together.

"It is about fighting this menace in the right manner," Karzai said.

"I find in President Zardari a good will and vision not only for relations between the two countries but for the region that I have seen for the first time in this region."

Relations between the neighbours were strained under Musharraf, with Karzai often accusing Islamabad of not doing enough to curb cross-border militancy.

Zardari's inauguration comes amid mounting international concern about the stability of Pakistan , which under Musharraf backed the United States after the September 11 attacks in 2001, and in its subsequent invasion of Afghanistan.

Billions of dollars of aid flowed to Islamabad in return.

But around 1,200 people have died in bombings and suicide attacks across the country in the past year in violence attributed to a backlash against Musharraf's support for Washington.

The violence was underscored during Saturday's election when a suicide car bomber rammed a police checkpost in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing 33 people and wounding more than 80 others.

Zardari has said he expects to be targeted by extremists such as those who killed Bhutto.

US President George W. Bush was to describe Pakistan later Tuesday as a major battleground in the "war on terror", along with Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They are all theatres in the same overall struggle. In all three places, extremists are using violence and terror in an attempt to impose their ideology on whole populations," Bush was to say, according to an advance text.

His message comes amid media reports of multiple recent strikes inside Pakistan by US or international troops based in Afghanistan.

DMP patrol mount feeble motorbike : Criminals out manoeuvre police

Mamunur Rashid

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is unable to efficiently prevent crime or chase criminals in the city and across the country with the help of the China-made Zongshen 125cc motorbikes.

Source said there are about 1,050 Chinese motorbikes on patrol duty in the DMP. The quality and performance of these motorbikes were worse than that of the Japanese, Korean or Indian-made motorbikes for civilian use and mostly owned by private citizens in the country.

The most popular brands in the country are Japan made Honda 100cc to 125cc, Yamaha, 100cc to 135cc, Hynsung 125cc or 150cc made in Korea, Bajaj 135cc to 150cc models Pulsar and Discovery, Hero Honda 135cc to 150cc model CBZ and Hunk and TVs 100cc to 150cc, model Apache, Victor GL al made by Indian companies.

Most of these bikes are more powerful compared to the motorbikes at the disposal of the police. So the muggers and miscreants can easily out manoeuvre the crime chasers after committing a crime.

The immediate past government banned import of over 100cc motorbikes to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the speed and efficiency of these two-wheelers. But the present government opened import and marketing of more powerful motorbikes, thus leaving the police patrol teams with the less efficient Chinese bikes.

The police motorbikes even fail to apprehend a CNG run autorikshaw, which is mostly used in criminal activities in the city, including muggings, drug pedalling, abduction and other anti social activities nowadays.

At least 100 crime incidents occur everyday across the country under the very nose of the policemen.

Most of the police motorbikes are not properly maintained. The policemen in charge of these government assets do not even change engine oil in due time and do not care for its proper maintenance. The policemen get 50-liter of fuels for the motorbikes per month for daily patrol duty in the city.

A senior police official told the New Nation that a proposal was made to the government to issue the bikes permanently to the respective officers. The cost of the bikes could be deducted from their salaries, so that they maintain these vehicles properly as their personal assets.

Another high police official unwilling to disclose his name told the New Nation that the Government lacked knowledge about procurement of motorbikes for Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). As a result the DMP has failed miserably to prevent city crime.

Under graduate Physiotherapy course at NITOR opposed

Staff Reporter

The doctors, nurses and employees Oikya Parishad of Orthopaedic Hospital in a Press Conference in the Hospital Premises have welcomed the establishment of the Physiotherapy College but opposed its creation within the campus of NITOR.

They held the press conference yesterday protesting the recent violence and ransacking in NITOR campus to establish illogical demand of the Physiotherapy students.

They demanded that the space of the NITOR is insufficient for its own expansion. If the Physiotherapy College is established in the premises of the NITOR it will be fully handicapped.

In the press conference held on Tuesday at the NITOR’s conference room Professor R.R. Koiri, President of the Orthopaedic Society Sirajul Islam, former president Professor Abdul Awal Rizvi, Secretary General of Society Professor Sajjad Hossain, former Secretary General Professor Rafiqul Kabir Labu, Professor M.A. Samad, convenor of the doctors, Nurses and the employees oikya Parishad Dr. Abdul Gani Mollah, Joint convenor Dr. Arif Anwar were present in the press conference.

In a written statement Dr. Rafiqul Islam said, it is not proper and sensible to hold classes in the same campus of two groups of students one of which is under-graduate students and the other group are post-graduate students.

In reply to a question Professor Rafiqul Islam said, Physiotherapy students are in no way equal to post-graduate orthopaedic students.

Meanwhile the agitating physiotherapy students in a memorandum placed before the Health Ministry yesterday rejected the inquiry committee report and demanded resignation of the NITOR director AKM Ishak.

Their demand includes scrap of the decision on closure of the Physiotherapy course and resumption of classes, arrest and stern action against those who attacked students, ensure proper treatment of injured students, withdrawal of cases filed against the students and establishment College of Physiotherapy and appointment of teachers to that institution.