The New Nation - Internet Edition

Newspapers holiday

BSS, Dhaka

In accordance with a decision of the executive committee of Newspapers Owners Association of Bangladesh-NOAB, newspaper offices will remain closed from September 30 to October 2 on account of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Therefore, no newspaper will be published on October 1-3, a press release of NOAB said here yesterday.

If the Eid is celebrated on October 2, the holiday will also be observed on October 3 and no newspaper will be published the following day, press release added.

Progress in TI report modest : ACC

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday described Bangladesh's progress in Transparency International's corruption perception index as modest and said it could have done better had the country's legal and judicial systems had been more supportive.

"Though not significant in terms of scoring points, Bangladesh made a modest progress. It could have done better if the country's legal and judicial systems had been more supportive," ACC spokesperson Col Hanif Iqbal told UNB in his reaction to Tuesday's TI's worldwide CPI that put Bangladesh in the 10th place among the most corrupt countries in the world.

"The overall trend is positive," he said adding that the TI report is being examined in details.

Hanif, also the ACC director general (admin), said there is no shortcuts in the fight against the rampant corruption in the country. "A comprehensive approach by all stakeholders is needed."

The anti-graft watchdog is in the right direction in its campaign against corruption, he claimed.

Indian HC denies knowledge of bomb threat

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Indian high commission has expressed surprise at the publication of news reports on an alleged bomb threat to the mission issued by the banned Islamic outfit Jamaatul Mujaheedin Bangladesh.

Local news reports had said JMB in a fax message from Chapainawabganj threatened to bomb the Indian high commission in Dhaka.

"I do not have any information on the bomb threat to the high commission," Deepak Mittal, first secretary (press, information and culture) told bdnews24.com yesterday.

"Like others, I have come to know from newspapers that JMB had threatened the mission," said Mittal.

Gulshan police also denied knowledge of the bomb threat.

"We have not received any information on the JMB threat," sub-inspector of Gulshan police Zakia told bdnews24.com Tuesday.

NYFB hosts Iftar for youths

Staff Reporter

National Youth Forum of Bangladesh (NYFB), a non-government voluntary organisation yesterday hosted an Iftar and reception programme for youths involved with the awareness programme of the Election Commission's (EC) voter registration process with photographs.

The programme was held at Yantai Thai and Chinese Restaurant at Mirpur in the city.

Tanjina Noushin, Executive Director, NYFB, thanked the number of young activists of the organisation for their active participation with the EC's voter registration project.

"NYFB has worked in about 56 upazilas in a complete volunteer mode and in the capital city for the missing voters with the generous assistance of the Asia

Over 100 garment workers injured in police action in DEPZ

UNB, Savar

Over 100 workers of a garment factory were injured as police swung into action during their scheduled sit-in programme in front of the factory in Dhaka EPZ yesterday.

Witnesses said some 700 workers of 'Honor Way Textile and Apparels (Pvt) Limited' staged sit-in in the morning demanding their arrears as authorities of the factory shut it down on July 17 without assigning any reason.

Police charged batons on the workers as they tried to hang banners containing their demands at the Customs gate of the factory owned by foreigners, leaving some 100 injured, 18 critically.

One of the injured, Hosne Ara, was sent to Pongu Hospital in Dhaka as she got her right hand broken in the police action.

Recently, the workers held a press conference in Dhaka and sought interventions of both the government and the BEPZA authorities in resolving the problems.

They also submitted a memorandum to the Labour Affairs Adviser and the BEPZA chairman, demanding government steps in this regard by September 22.

They had threatened to wage a tough movement if their demands were not met by the time.

Iftekhar meets EU Commissioner of UN

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury held a meeting with the EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferraro- Waldner in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday.

In the meeting, the Foreign Adviser explained to the EU Commissioner the latest progress with regard to the implementation of the Roadmap leading to parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on December 18 this year, according to a message received here yesterday.

The EU Commissioner praised the measures taken by the Caretaker Government, and said that the EU would continue to support the government in this regard. Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury is accompanying the Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed to the 63rd session of UN General Assembly Session.

Dr Iftekhar also held another bilateral meeting with Joao Cravinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal on Monday afternoon.

They discussed whole gamut of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.

Speaking to the reporters afterwards Dr Iftekhar said, "Our relations with Portugal is a historic one. We have talked about ways and means of expanding trade and investment between Bangladesh and Portugal. In the meeting, we have agreed to have an structured bilateral relations through periodic high level consultation."

Call to construct Dhaka-Laksham rly cord line

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a seminar here on Tuesday called upon the government to take immediate necessary measures to build the proposed Dhaka-Laksham railway cord line to reduce distance between Chittagong and Dhaka.

The proposed cord line hanging in balance for long will reduce length of the Dhaka-Chittagong railway link by 100 kilometers and journey time by two to three hours, they said.

The speakers also urged the government to take pragmatic steps for exploiting the tourism prospect of picturesque Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, offshore islands and three hill districts for greater economic benefit of the country.

Chittagong Juba Parishad arranged the seminar on 'Development issue of Chittagong in national interest and political consensus" at Jatiya Press Club (JPC).

President of the Juba Parishad M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury presented a keynote paper at the seminar while leader of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Moin Uddin Khan Badal, Jatiya Party leader Prof. Masuda M Rashid, Chairman of Institute of Development Studies Dr Mostafizur Rahman, and officials of the Parishad HM Ibrahim and Roni Dey, among others, addressed the seminar.

The speakers said development of Chittagong should be considered as part of overall development of the country. Once 'queen of east' Chittagong is loosing attraction as well as importance to people of all classes due to long negligence to its development, they said.

Considering the position of Chittagong on the edge of two tectonic plates, Moin Uddin Khan Badal urged the government to take a required disaster management plan for the second biggest city of the country to face any severe hit of earthquake.

The speakers also demanded release of first elected mayor of Chittagong ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury terming him as a pioneer for development of Chittagong.

The Parishad put forward an 11-point proposal to build Chittagong so that the port city can play more significant role in the economic progress of the country.

The demands include creation of special tourist zone for foreigners in Cox's Bazar and offshore islands, declaration of Saint Martin and Sonadia islands as exclusive tourist areas, urgent construction of 4-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highway and infrastructural development of Chittagong Port.

Bank Asia donates Tk 20 lakh to Islamia Eye Hospital

UNB, Dhaka

In an effort to enhance eye treatment facilities for the ultra poor of the country, Bank Asia has donated Tk 20 lakh to Islamia Eye Hospital for construction of a ward.

In addition, Muslim Commercial Bank of Pakistan has also donated Tk 6 lakh for the same purpose, said a press release Tuesday.

Chairman of Bank Asia Anisur Rahman Sinha and President and Managing Director Syed Anisul Huq handed over both the cheques to the Advisor of Islamia Eye Hospital Zahida Ispahani at a simple ceremony at the hospital Tuesday.

Directors and senior executives of the bank and the hospital were present at the function.

Finnish college gunman kills 10

BBC Online

A gunman has killed 10 people at a college in the town of Kauhajoki in Finland before shooting himself and later dying in hospital.

Media reports named the gunman as Matti Juhani Saari, 22, a trainee chef at the vocational college.

The suspect posted a video of himself on the internet last week firing a gun.

As a result of this, police interviewed him on Monday but decided they did not have enough evidence to revoke his licence, the interior minister said.

The minister, Anne Holmlund, said an investigation would now try to determine whether mistakes were made.

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said this was a "tragic day" for Finland.

The attack echoed a shooting spree at a Finnish school last year which left nine dead, including the gunman, who had also posted an internet video.

The shootings in Kauhajoki, some 330km (205 miles) north of the capital, Helsinki, began just before 1100 local time (0800 GMT).

An estimated 200 students were thought to be in the college buildings at the time.

The gunman, dressed in black and wearing a ski mask, was seen entering the building with a large bag. Shots were fired soon afterwards.

School caretaker Jukka Forsberg told AFP news agency that two girls had told him a man was shooting.

"I saw a guy leaving a big black bag in the corridor and going into classroom number three and closing the door," he said.

"I looked through the window and he immediately shot at me. Then I called the emergency number. Thank God I was not hit, he fired at me but I was running zigzag. I ran for my life."

Mr Forsberg added: "I heard constant shooting. He changed another case in the gun. He was very well prepared. He walked calmly."

Police ordered an evacuation and called for reinforcements as fires blazed in the building.

The gunman remained at large within the college grounds for some time.

Mr Vanhanen confirmed the gunman had shot himself.

Media reports said the gunman was treated for a bullet wound to the head at Tampere University Hospital but later died.

One victim also died in hospital, raising the initial toll from nine.

College headmaster Tapio Varmola told AFP: "Police have told me they suspect [the gunman] to be Matti Juhani Saari. He is a second year culinary arts student at our school."

Mr Vanhanen expressed condolences to the families of the victims and declared Wednesday a day of national mourning.

"We all as a society must be united so that events like these will not happen again," he said.

Ms Holmlund said police questioned the man about the YouTube video, which showed him shooting at a firing range.

On the video, the gunman says "you die next" before firing three times at the camera.

Ms Holmlund said: "Police were aware of this and spoke to him on Monday, September 22. However, the police officer on duty decided there was no need to terminate his gun licence."

The gunman was given a "temporary licence" for a .22-calibre firearm this year, Ms Holmlund said.

In November 2007, eight people and the gunman died in another school attack in Tuusula, Finland.

The gunman, Pekka-Eric Auvinen, posted a video on YouTube as a preview of his attack, pledging to "eliminate" those he saw as "unfit".

In the wake of that attack, Finland's government pledged to raise the minimum age for buying guns.

But the country has a long tradition of hunting and weapons-bearing, with about 1.6 million firearms in private hands.