The New Nation - Internet Edition

Deal between DU Yamaguchi Versity signed

BSS, Dhaka

An agreement between Dhaka University (DU) Public Administration Department and Yamaguchi University, Japan was signed at Dhaka University vice-chancellor's office here on Monday.

Treasurer of Dhaka University Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad and Dean of Graduate School of Economies, Yamaguchi University Prof Daijiro Fujii signed the agreement on behalf of their respective Institution.

Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, Pro-vice Chancellor Prof Yusuf Haider, Prof Eri Habu of Yamaguchi University, Chairman of Dhaka University Public Administration Department Prof Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Proctor Prof AKA Firowz Ahmed and senior teacher of the Department Prof Md. Mohabbat Khan were present, among others, on this occasion.

Under the agreement, both universities agreed to promote and develop cooperation for the upliftment and progress of academic activities and research.

Besides, two universities will also exchange students, researchers faculty members and publications under the agreement.

DU Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz thanked the Yamaguchi University for signing agreement with Dhaka University Public Administration Department.

2 workers die in match factory explosion

Bdnews24.com, Munshiganj

An explosion in a Munshiganj match factory left two workers dead and five others wounded yesterday, police said.

The dead were identified as Munna, 25, and Faruk, 24. The injured were rushed to a local hospital, Munshiganj Sadar police chief SA Newazi told bdnews24.com.

The Akiz Match Factory's 'cast iron roller' exploded just after midday, the police officer said.

The factory, located near Mukterpur Ghat on the Shitalakhya river, manufactures the 'Dolphin' brand of matches, he added.

Locals said that agitated workers caused some disturbance on hearing of the deaths of their fellow workers; police later brought the situation under control.

Four to die for murder case in Bhola

UNB, Bhola

A special tribunal here yesterday sentenced four people to death for killing a housewife.

The condemned convicts are : Barun Chandra Das, his father Ramesh Chandra Das, mother Fulu Rani and brother Nitai Chandra Das of Sitakunda village in Monpura upazila. All were tried in absentia.

According to the prosecution, Barun in association with his family members tortured his wife Shimul Rani to death on June 2, 2006 due to dowry demand.

After examining the records and witnesses, District and Sessions Judge M Idris Alam found them guilty and handed down the judgment.

DMP urges city dwellers to inform phone number of extortionists

UNB, Dhaka

The citizens have been urged to inform the police land phone or cell phone number of the caller demanding tolls for rounding up the extortionists..

The phone number extortionist demanding tolls may be communicated at the earliest to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on mobile phones 01713398325, 01713398326, 01713398327, 01713398328, 01713398329 or land phone 9362640. Identity of caller will be kept secret, said a press release yesterday.

It said extortionists are allegedly demanding tolls from well to do people over phone with threat on life. DMP has opened a special cell to detect the culprits. It has requested citizens to cooperate with the police.

Zafar Ullah, Zafrul Hasan, Dewan Salahuddin to be

charge sheeted

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to press charges against Awami League leader and former MP Kazi Zafar Ullah in two graft cases.

The Commission will also charge-sheet Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal general secretary Zafrul Hasan, former BNP MP Dr Dewan Salahuddin Babu and ex-first secretary of the National Board of Revenue Amir Ali in three corruption cases.

ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the Commission's regular briefing that the anti-graft watchdog has approved the submission of charge-sheets in the five graft cases.

He said the ACC has also approved the filing of two graft cases against a suspended engineer of the Bangladesh Power Development Board and a superintendent of the Water Development Board.

AL presidium member Zafar Ullah will be charge-sheeted in the case filed against him on June 8 for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 15.23 crore.

A second charge-sheet will be submitted against him under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2002 for transfer, handover and hiding of Tk 7 crore.

The ACC will charge-sheet Zafrul Hasan and his wife, Shefali Hasan, for having unearned wealth worth 51 lakh.

Former BNP MP Dr Dewan Salauddin Babu from Dhaka-12 will be charge-sheeted in the case filed against him for misappropriating CI sheet meant for relief.

The Commission will submit charge-sheet against ex-first secretary of the NBR Amir Ali and former NBR cashier Nurul Islam for misappropriation of Tk 33.65 lakh from government and welfare funds.

A case will be filed against superintending engineer of the

Bangladesh Power Development Board Moazzem Hossain (now suspended) and his wife Ayesha Hossain for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 1.41 crore and hiding information of assets worth Tk 6 lakh.

The ACC will file a case against Kazi Shamsul Haque, superintendent of Water Development Board, for earning illegally wealth worth Tk 33.4 lakh and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 57 thousand.

Col Hanif told the briefing that the ACC has so far forwarded 79 applications to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) and another 9 applications are waiting to be sent.

Responding to a query, he confirmed that the investigating report of the Barapukuria graft case filed against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 15 others has been submitted to the Commission.

Asked about the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and others, Hanif said he does not have any updated information about that case.

About the update on wealth statements submitted by Khaleda and another former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said he cannot provide any update at the moment.

Responding to a question, he said no one in the ACC has been given the responsibility to inspire anybody to apply for Tac clemency.

Hanif said the ACC has approved the issuance of notices to AL leader Kazi Zafar Ullah's wife Nilufa Zafar and former deputy commissioner of Chandpur and incumbent director (joint secretary) of Bangladesh Handloom Board Taherul Islam directing them to submit their wealth statements.

Dhaka to host int'l confce on quality management in Oct

UNB, Dhaka

An international conference on quality management will be held here on October 23-26 this year so that local entrepreneurs can share experiences on world class management with the executives of international firms.

Bangladesh Society for Total Quality Management (BSTQM) will host the event titled 'International Convention on Quality Control Circles-2008' at Sheraton Hotel.

Addressing a press conference at National Press Club yesterday, BSTQM secretary general AMM Khairul Bashar said this is the first-ever conference going to take place in Dhaka, where about 1000 delegates from 15 Asian countries are expected to attend it.

Bashar said about 500 delegates from Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and India have already completed their registration process to participate in the conference.

About 155 case studies and 10 technical papers will be presented in different sessions of the conference. "For wider discussions, the delegates will present their case studies on quality improvement in their respective firms," Bashar said.

He said world famous award-winning firms like Tata, TVS Group, Birla Panasonic Communication will participate in the conference. Quality management professor of Japan Denis Tachiki and Vinita Kamran of India will attend the conference.

He said similar conference was earlier held in India, while the next one will be held in the Philippines.

BSTQM President MA Awal, who is also the REHAB president, said the main theme of the conference would be improvement of human quality. "We believe, Bangladeshi entrepreneurs who want to improve their management quality in business, can have a good opportunity to exchange experiences with the executives of world class firms of Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, China and India," he said.