The New Nation - Internet Edition

Streets clogged by crowd as Khaleda moves to court: Barapukuria case shifted to special court at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar for security reasons

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia appeared before
the Dhaka Metropalitan Sessions Judge Court in Barapukuria
graft case as thousands of supporters thronged the court
premises yesterday. NN photo

Jamaat Chief Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami appeared
before the Dhaka Metropalitan Sessions Judge Court in
Barapukuria coalmine graft case yesterday. NN photo

Court Correspondent

The High Court Division of the Supreme Court Thursday stayed the proceedings of the Barapukuria coalmine graft case aganst former Prime Minister BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for three months. Meanwhile, the former Premier appeared before the crowded Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka yesterday in the case while Judge Md Azizul Haque sent the case to the Special Court No.2 of presiding Judge A K Roy, set up at the Parliament Complex for quick trial.

Formers Ministers M Shamsul Islam, M K Anwar and Mowlana Matiur Rahman Nizami, also the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, appeared before the court Meanwhile, former Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury was produced before the court through an ambulance from the prison cell of BSMMU hospital. Former health minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was also brought to the court from the jail.

Before sending the case to the Special court No. 2 the Metropolitan Sessions Judge did not refix the next date of the case.

Passing the order of interim stay, the High Court Division bench comprising Justice Syed M Dastagir and Justice Farid Ahmed also issued Rule upon the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain in two weeks why the case against the petitioner Begum Khaleda Zia should not be quashed: The HC passed the order after hearing both sides on the quashment petition filed by Khaleda Zia in the coalmine graft case in which she is the accused number one.

The quashment petition was filed with the High Court Division on October 13, a week after ACC submitted the charge sheet in the case.

Earlier on October 14, a Judge of another HC bench comprising Justice Syed A B Mahmudul Huq felt embarrassed. Chief Justice (CJ) M M Ruhul Amin, Wednesday sent the petition to the HC bench of Justice Mohammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Farid Ahmed for hearing.

BNP Chairperson and former Premier Begum Khaleda Zia reached the court at 12 noon, when thousands of BNP activists and supporters thronged the surrouding areas of the old Dhaka including the court area. Most vehicles were not allowed to proceed towards the court area since 9 AM and many of them were directed to go back from Gulistan.

As soon as the word had it that Khaleda Zia was on her way to the court in the morning the crowd consisting of BNP activists, supporters brought the traffic to a standstill. Security men were virtually concentrated at the court premises and only lawyers of the accused were allowed to enter into the court room. However, sometimes some of them were also not being allowed to get in.

Thousands of people chanted slogans outside and also in the court premises. About a thousand lawyers appeared before the court on behalf of the six accused including the former premier.

Thousands of Jamaat activists and also supporters wearing caps rushed to the area when Jamaat Ameer Moulana Nizami was proceeding to the court and also going back after his appearance before the court.

Defence and prosecution lawyers were involved in heated debate from the beginning of hearing. State Counsel Mosharraf Hossain Kajal told the court Moulana Nizami should be sent to the jail, as the HC granted him bail up to the submission of the charge sheet of the case. Nizami’s lawyers including Barrister Abdur Razzaque protested the move. They submitted, explaining their move in the High Court seeking the bail of the Jamaat Ameer and protested the statement of the State Counsel.

Meanwhile, a lawyer shouted saying if Moulana Nizami was not allowed to continue on bail the opposing lawyers would not be allowed to go home. Reacting to the shout Mosharraf Hossain Kajal sought security to the court. However, some defence lawyers immediately sought apology for the remark that infuriated Advocate Kajal.

Begum Khaleda Zia, one-time loyal faithful Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, whom she fired as BNP Secretary General for his alleged secret links with the present care-taker government, did not appear before the court due to illness.

Other two accused in the case former Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman and Jamaat General Secretary and former Minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were absent from the court.

The ACC filed the graft case on February 26, accusing 16 former ministers and bureaucrats of causing loss of Taka 158.71 crore to be national exchequer through an agreement with China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC). On October 5, ACC Deputy Director Abdul Kashem Fakir submitted the charge sheet against the accused including Khaleda Zia.

Begum Khaleda Zia appeared in the High Court on October 12 seeking cancellation of the case. Thursday, her Chief Counsel Barrister Rafique-ul Huq told the HC, the ACC’s final report submitted on June 1, found that no allegation could be proved about irregularities in connection with leasing out of the Barapukuria coalmine. He also said, the case was filed wrongly.

Meanwhile, on October 12 police submitted reports on warrant of arrests before the court saying that they raided the homes of seven fugitives of this case including Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, former minister Barrister Aminul Haque and former state minister A K M Mosharraf Hossain, but failed to arrest.

The court earlier directed the authorities to publish an advertisement in two national Bangla dailies asking the fugitives to appear before the court by October 16.

The case was filed against Khaleda Zia and 15 others including 10 former ministers of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Other five accused are: former acting secretary to the ministry of energy and mineral resources Nazrul Islam, former Petrobangla Chairman S R Osmani former Petro-Bangla Director Mainul Ahsan, former Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited Sirajul Islam and Hosaf Group Chairman Moazzem Hossain.

Morsheds’ hidden treasure detected

Morshed Khan

Mamunur Rashid

The Government is trying to bring back the illegally deposited Tk 14 crore with a Hong Kong bank by the former foreign minister M Morshed Khan and his son Faisal Morshed Khan.

Interpol had detected the deposit of over Tk 14.15 crore by former foreign minister M Morshed Khan and his son Faisal Morshed Khan. Director General (Admin) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Col Hanif Iqbal said yesterday the former Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and his son Faisal Morshed Khan have huge money at foreign bank, the issues relating to money laundering and asset recovery from abroad are time-consuming matters, as they involve some other aspects including bilateral treaties. "The process has begun in this regard," said the Director General.

Hanif Iqbal said that on the wealth statements submitted to the ACC by the duo, there was no mention of the reported Tk 14 crore. "It can be assumed that they have concealed the information."

He said that it was to be proved as to how this money had gone abroad and the Commission was working on how to get back the money after it would be proved.

The ACC had filed corruption cases against Morshed Khan and his son Faisal Morshed Khan on charges of building up huge wealth through illegal means and concealing information on their assets worth Tk 91.34 lakh in statements to the watchdog.

Both the Khans have been convicted in several cases relating to corruption, after the caretaker government came to power in January 2007.

The Hong Kong police, through International Criminal Police Organization the (Interpol) Dhaka office, have informed the matter to the government and wanted to know whether Bangladesh want to take away the money.

Sources said, the Hong Kong police have uncovered 16 million Hong Kong dollars in the account was laundered from the earnings of Citycell, a telco jointly owned by Morshed Khan and his son. But they did not mention the name of the bank in the letter sent to Dhaka Interpol nine days ago.

Officers of Bangladesh Interpol forwarded it to the Bangladesh Bank, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Attorney General and other higher authorities of the government."

Police source said, "We have received the information through a letter sent by the Hong Kong Interpol. They have forwarded the information to the authorities concerned for action."

Earlier on April 13, another special court sentenced Faisal for seven years for aiding and abetting Shahjahan Chowdhury, a former Jamaat lawmaker, in committing crimes and amassing wealth illegally.

Meanwhile, on August 4, Morshed Khan was sentenced to 13 years' rigorous imprisonment on charges of amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement to the ACC. Both the father and son are on the run.

Faisal, managing director of Pacific Motors and Chairman of AB Bank Ltd, was also sentenced to eight years' rigorous imprisonment for acquiring wealth beyond his known sources of income and two years' imprisonment for hiding information about his wealth.

Since Faisal is absconding, the sentences will come into effect the day he surrenders or is arrested.

Brown for pre-poll consensus between Govt and parties

Lord Mark Malloch Brown

UNB, Dhaka

British State Minister for Asia, Africa and the UN Lord Mark Malloch Brown said everybody recognizes the state of emergency should be lifted before the elections and urged political parties and the caretaker government to resolve the issue through a pre-poll consensus.

"I don't think anybody wants to conduct these elections under the state of emergency and everybody recognizes that the emergency should be lifted as elections without emergency will enjoy greater legitimacy and credibility at home and abroad," he told a crowded media conference at the residence of British High Commissioner yesterday wrapping up his 2-day visit.

However, Brown noted, one has to recognize the government has issues and political parties have to help themselves so the emergency is lifted through addressing the sticking-points.

The issues he came to know from the powers that be are: first of all, people who were convicted in corruption cases should not be allowed to stand for election to parliament and secondly comes public security during the conduct of elections when there are always risks of volatility and violence.

These two issues could be addressed through discussions between political parties and the caretaker government and the election commission and the emergency could be lifted on the basis of agreement on these two issues, he said. "I got the view from all sides that this is the best solution," said Brown, who had series of meetings with government functionaries and political leaders, civil society and human-right defenders during his short stay in Dhaka.

In reply to a question, the British Minister said since the two

former Prime Ministers-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina-are not convicted, there should not be anything to prevent them from contesting the polls.

Asked about his impression about Awami League and BNP regarding their participation in the elections, he said they are all anxious to participate in the election on December 18 but concerned about the state of emergency.

He noted that Awami League has already sought for registration, but BNP remains as a question mark regarding the registration. He hoped the BNP would get registered by the extended deadline (October 20).

The British Minister had a suggestion for the politicians in the quagmire amid sweeping changes in the interim period: the parties can sit down with the caretaker government and the election commission to sort out any genuine concern and come to an agreement on how law and order to be maintained.

"If those underlying issues could be solved, can I suspect that the state of emergency becomes redundant and unnecessary? And I don't think anybody should use it and wave around to prevent participation in the election," he told the journalists at the news conference.

Asked about acceptability of the elections if BNP boycotted, he said obviously, it would be real disappointment for all people who hope for a stable democracy in Bangladesh. "I don't think there is any reason to do that. I hope both the major parties will participate, and their concern needs to be addressed to create a level playing field for all."

Asked UK's future relations with Bangladesh if the elections could not take place on schedule, Brown said it is absolutely vital for the UK that this government would hold the election by the end of this year and should preserve its caretaker character by returning the country to democracy.

He viewed that the caretaker government has done its part and it is the responsibility of political parties to pick up the button and move the country forward.

He said political parties, whoever in government or opposition, should have greater degrees of consensus for the good of the country and keep their level of disagreement within reasonable bounds.

Secondly, he said, it needs higher degree of accountability to prevent corruption and deliver to the people. Bangladesh needs strong government as well as strong opposition in parliament to allow democracy to work.

Asked about his meeting with the army chief this morning, Brown said General Moeen is keen to see the elections happen on December 18. He feels army played its part in preparing voters' list. He is looking to political parties to play their part. "He is anxious to do everything he can" to have a legitimate election.

Regarding observation of the elections by the UK and the European Union, he said they want to make sure that this election is given international support and observations to reassure Bangladeshis that the election is indeed free and fair.

In reply to another question, Brown said he understands the strains

journalists faced under the state of emergency and hoped that this strain would be gone with the return to party politics and elected government as he said, "We oppose any limit on press freedom as press is the key source of information."

Asked if he noticed any sense of uncertainty about safe exist for the people in government and outside in the wake of anti-corruption drive or any backlash after the polls, Brown smiled and said: "I didn't."

He observed that Bangladesh has a dismal picture of corruption according to TIB. Instead of settling score, he said, the next government should not lose momentum in carrying forward the anti-corruption drive.

Brown viewed that the best way of resolving problem of corruption is to be absolutely respectful to the rule of law and justice.

British High Commissioner Stephen Evans was present at the press conference.

Bangladesh-NZ first Test begins today

Coach of Bangladesh team Jamie Siddons discusses
with his boys (left) while the players of New Zealand team
take part in the practice session at the Bir Sreshtha
Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday.
Agencies

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Cricket team led by Mohammad Ashraful will face New Zealand Cricket team led by Daniel Vettori in the first Test match of the BRAC Bank Test Series which begins today at the Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong, the port city of the country. The match starts at 9.30 AM everyday. Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live from the stadium everyday.

Before today's Test match, Bangladesh faced New Zealand in six clashes and the Tigers lost to the Kiwis in all the affairs.

Daniel Vettori said that his team would back on spin to beat the hosts in the Test matches.

Vettori added that their spin options were well covered up and if they could play on the same pitch where they they played the third ODI, it would be slow. He also added that they would wait and see. Vettori added that it might dust up a bit and crumble at the later stage.

Vettori said, "If we can give our fifty percent effort of our ability we should have no problem to win the two Test matches."

On the other hand, Mohammad Ashraful said, " We want to bat eight sessions. If we can do that in the upcoming Test match, we can bring a good result for our team."

Ashraful added that they expected that the ball would come slowly onto the bat on that wicket. He also added that their spinners could do a trick for them.

Meanwhile, the Tigers and the Kiwis took part in the practice session yesterday.

It may be mentioned that Bangladesh team are going to play without their experiencied players as those players joined the ICL.

Bangladesh squad : Mohammad Ashraful (captain ), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehrab Hossain (Junior), Rajin Saleh, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak and Shahadat Hossain.

New Zealand squad : Daniel Vettori (captain), Daniel Flynn, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Aaron Red mond, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor.

US Dow Jones witnesses worst fall: World stock markets tumble again

Staff Reporter

Despite US$250 billion purchase plan by the US government, the world stock markets again faced tumble yesterday after downbeat U.S. economic data spread fears of a more protracted and sharp global slowdown than initially expected.

The Asian stocks markets fall down by 10 per cent and oil prices dropped to a one-year low on Thursday following the sharp downward trend set by US and European markets, amid growing fears of a global recession.

New York's Dow Jones index saw its worst one-day fall on Wednesday since October 1987, closing almost 8 per cent down while the London and other European markets witnessed big fall on Wednesday.

Japan's Nikkei index fell almost 10 per cent in early trading while shares in Australia, South Korea and Singapore dropped by at least 5 per cent on Thursday. Hong Kong opened nearly 7 per cent down and Shanghai by nearly 4 per cent.

Relative to current earnings expectations, Asian stocks are oversold. However, upcoming corporate outlooks could influence whether estimates get cut, potentially adding another weight on equities and economic prospects. Financial market volatility as investors greatly reduce their exposure to risk has weighed on the global economic outlook, which has fed back into markets in a damaging circle.

"International funds are pulling back and putting their money into whatever is safest, Treasuries or cash or paying off existing debt," he said.

Japan's Nikkei dropped 9.55 per cent, weighed down the most by stocks of companies most exposed to global demand such as Canon Inc and Honda Motor Co.

The president of Toyota Motor Corp on Wednesday said the business environment has deteriorated beyond earlier expectations and predicted the key North American car market would remain sluggish through next year.

The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside of Japan fell 6 percent, locked in a downtrend that had brought

it to a near 4-year low last week. The index is down by half so far this year.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 6.1 per cent, with the biggest losses racked up by commodity-related companies, such as Shenhua, China's top coal producer.

Overnight U.S. stock markets slid across the board, with the S&P 500 index dropping 9 per cent after a report showed U.S. retail sales dropped the most in more than three years.

"Bottom line, there is little positive to say about this market. The equity markets are impacted by the lack of liquidity in financial assets, terribly oversold conditions as well as unknown visibility on the macro economy," said Thomas Lee, chief U.S. equity strategist with JPMorgan, in a note.

Despite mixed messages from the Federal Reserve on the near-term outlook for interest rates, the futures market reflects a 50/50 chance the benchmark U.S. interest rate could drop to 1 percent this month from 1.50 per cent.

Even the most deft investors have been flipped by the ferocity of selling and risk reduction in markets. Citadel Investment Group, one of the world's largest hedge funds, said September was the single worst month in the history of the company and warned of more volatility in weeks to come.

The yen pared some its overnight gains against the dollar and euro.

The U.S. dollar rose 0.5 per cent from late U.S. trade to 100.25 yen. The euro gained 0.6 per cent to 135.25 yen and edged up 0.2 per cent against the dollar to $1.3494.

Anticipation of much slower growth and thereby reduced demand knocked raw materials prices, including metals.

The benchmark Shanghai copper and Shanghai zinc fell by their 4 per cent daily limit at the opening, while aluminium touched its downside limit before recovering. London copper futures fell 5.2 per cent early, extending a 7 per cent overnight loss.

The November U.S. light crude future fell for a third day to a new 13-month low near $73 a barrel on Thursday, down 1.9 per cent, amid continued worries that a deepening economic slowdown will cut into already weakening demand.

The US government Monday last unveiled its plan to initially buy stocks in nine major U.S. banks under its US$250 billion purchase plan to ensure the money circulation of the banks. The news could positively affect the market immediately with upward trend of price index. But it could bring sustainability of the world stock market.

Niko case: HC extends stay order on trial proceedings against Hasina

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday extended by another two weeks its stay order on trial proceedings of the Niko and barge-mounted power plant graft cases against former Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on parole for medical treatment.

It also extended by further two weeks its another short-term order that had asked the law enforcing agencies to refrain from arresting or harassing Hasina at home or abroad.

The HC orders came following a petition moved by Hasina's counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed.

According to the HC orders, the trial proceedings of Niko and barge-mounted power plant graft cases will remain stalled until October 28 while police will refrain from arresting or harassing Hasina at home or abroad up to November 3.

Meanwhile, hearing on the two pending rules on Hasina's petitions for quashing the Niko and barge-mounted power-plant graft cases will take place on October 19 as set by the division bench of Justice Sheik Rezowan Ali and Justice M Rais Uddin.

Following the HC stay orders both the cases are now remain stalled since July 7 in the special courts set up at the parliament complex that deal with high-profile corruption cases following the 1/11 change of guards in state power.

Melamine-tainted 8 brands of milk powder banned

Staff Reporter

Experts of Dhaka University have confirmed presence of toxic melamine in eight brands of imported powdered milks available in the domestic market.

The brands are Sweet Baby, Yashili 1 and Yashili 2 of China, Nido 45 instant and Anlin of New Zealand, Redcow and Diploma of Australia and Dano of Denmark.

The DU in its report to the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) yesterday identified the brands as tainted by melamine.

The Chinese items were identified as tainted earlier by a private testing laboratory Plasma Plus. Panic gripped people in the country after the report being published.

The Government yesterday issued a press note suggesting people not to use the powdered milks under eight brands, at least for the time being.

An eight-member taskforce, headed by Additional Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Golam Mostakin, yesterday discussed the issue and sent the DU test report for five newly identified contaminated items for further cheques in the Atomic Energy Commission.

The taskforece also warned of tougher action against marketing of the banned items.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health also warned the people against the use of tainted powdered milk from three major Chinese companies for making local sweets and baby food.

BSTI selected three brands of Chinese milk including Yashili 1, Yashili 2, Sweet Baby and five other brands of milk powder including Nido 45 instant milk powder, Redcow, Diploma, Dano and Anlin for testing.

"So far milk powder of 36 brands has been collected from markets for testing. Tests of 15 brands, including these eight, have already been completed," BSTI director general Md Azmal Hossain told reporters yesterday.

"BSTI tests powder milk for consumption by children from 0 to 10 years. It is not mandatory for BSTI to test powder milk imported for consumption by adults," he said.

BSTI, the Department of Chemistry of Dhaka University and Plasma Plus tested melamine in different baby milk products following global media reports of thousands of children being affected in China.

Commerce secretary Feroz Ahmed on the other hand said a coordination committee comprising experts on the matter would be formed by Sunday to take a decision on a number of recommendations placed by the BSTI.

He said a final decision would be taken by next week on the basis of the recommendations of the coordination committee.

In reply to a question as to whether the imported milk powders are tested before marketing, and whether the brands in which tested positive for melamine have been banned for sale, the secretary said: "The issue of contamination by melamine was not known to us in the past."

"After the recent discovery of melamine in milk powder in China, testing the products became urgent."

He said, so far no brand has been banned and no company has been asked to withdraw milk powder from the market on the basis of test findings.

The government took actions, including banning brands of Chinese milk products, and made a vigorous campaign against the consumption of Chinese powdered milk.

The government is also taking steps to amend the breast milk substitute regulation of marketing ordinance-1984 in order to take sterner action against those who are importing unregulated milk powder that pose a threat to public health.

Bangladesh imported 42,587 tonnes of milk powder from 11 countries in last fiscal year. Of them, 4,747 tonnes were from Chinese companies. In last three months, Bangladesh imported 6,660 tonnes milk from different countries.

DSE bearish for second consecutive day

Staff Reporter

Amid the world volatile market, country's prime bourse the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday fell down marginally for the second consecutive day.

The debut trading of Summit Alliance shares, however, salvaged to some extent the benchmark index from deeper corrections and helped hit second highest record of daily turnover of Tk 5.64 billion, brokers said.

The DSE General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, shed marginally by

7 points or 0.25 per cent to close at 2,919 points from 2,926 points on Wednesday.

The All Shares Price Index (DSI) fell 9 points or 0.37 per cent to close at 2,418 points while the DSE-20 index of selective shares dropped 30 points or 1.21 per cent to close at 2,470 points.

The share prices dropped across the board with 154 out of 239 issues traded on the day registering losses while 82 gained and only three remained unchanged.

The bourse hit second highest turnover of Tk 5.64 billion on the day against Tk 5.11 billion on Wednesday while the Market Capitalisation fell to Tk 1.016 trillion from Tk 1.018 trillion on Wednesday.

Debutant Summit Alliance Port Limited emerged as one of the top 10 turnover leaders on the day, exchanging 2,33,050 shares worth Tk

214.30 million.

The stocks of Tk 100 each opened with Tk 600 per share and rose as high as Tk 1,074 before closing at Tk 879.25 per share.

As per the un-audited half yearly accounts till June 30 this year, the company has reported net profit of Tk 60.56 million with diluted EPS of Tk 12.11 (based on Post-IPO paid-up capital).

The DSE authorities restricted the sale of general clients' shares of

Summit Alliance to only one market lot against each client's account.

During the day's trading, power sector companies took position in the group of top turnover leaders, pushing behind the traditional scrips like AIMS 1st Mutual Fund and Lanka Bangla Finance.

Titas Gas, Beximco Pharma, DESCO, BEXIMCO, ACI, Summit Alliance, Square Pharma, Summit Power, BD Online and Power Grid were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, Beximco Pharma, Goldenson, Beximco Textiles, GRAMEENS2, BEXIMCO, In Tech Online, BD Online, Titas Gas and Daffodil Computers.

Top gainers of the day were Summit Alliance, Goldenson, Maq Paper, Maq Enterprise, DESCO, M Hossain Garments, Daffodil Computers, Sonargaon Textiles, Metro Spinning and Monospool.

Top losers were Metalex Corporation, SAFKO Spinning, Dulamia Cotton, BD Online, Shinepukur, Confidence Cement, Beximco Textiles, Gulf Foods, Bionic Food and Beximco.

Meanwhile, ICB Islamic Bank informed DSE that the Board of Directors of the bank approved Data Center to implement its core banking solution, designed and constructed by Spectrum Engineering Consortium Limited of Bangladesh.

The Board also approved Silverlake Integrated Islamic Banking System (SIIBS), a Shariah based banking software developed by Silverlake Sdn

Bhd, Malaysia, as the Banking Software for ICB Islamic Bank Limited.

Installation of the software will be completed by the end of February next year.

However, the Bank did not report the amount of investment for the Software installation.

ACC to submit list of graft convicts to govt Sunday

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is likely to submit the list of individuals who have so far been convicted by trial courts in corruption cases filed by the Commission on Sunday.

"The list of convicted persons has already been prepared. We will submit it to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday," said ACC Director General (Admn) Col Hanif Iqbal while talking to The New Nation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Serious Crimes on October 13 asked the ACC to provide a list of persons so far been convicted by trial courts under emergency power rules.

The ACC DG said the trial courts have so far delivered judgments of 100 corruption cases filed by the Commission.

As per section 11(5) of the Emergency Power Rules-2007 the persons convicted under the rules cannot participate in the elections.

It is earlier reported that over one hundred persons convicted in different corruption cases under the state of emergency would not be able to contest the forthcoming general elections scheduled for December 18.

Most of the convicted persons include former ministers, MPs, political leaders, their family members, businessmen, bureaucrats and trade union leaders.

A total of 98 persons were convicted in different cases till August 10. Of them, 41 were from BNP while 25 from Awami League.

Meanwhile, ACC spokesman Col Hanif Iqbal told reporters that after investigation the Commission approved filing of final reports (FRT) to 121 cases, involving 250 persons, filed in different police station across the country.

Of the accused persons, 48 were former or existing UP chairmen, members, Pourasabha chairmen and commissioners, 16 were former ministers, state ministers and MPs, 42were government officials and employees and 144 from other professionals.

Chittagong City Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, former BNP minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former AL minister Motia Chowdhury, former BNP lawmaker Asadul Habib Dulu, former Jamaat lawmaker Maulana Abdus Sobhan and Dr Syed Abdullah Md Taher, among others were accused in different cases.

Most of them, he said, accused for misappropriating of money and relief tins, taking bribe, misuse of power, money laundering and resorting to deception.

Col Hanif said the ACC approved filing charge sheets in seven corruption cases involving former state minister Salahuddin Ahmed, former MP Reza Ahmed Bacchu Mollah, Jalal Alamgir and Joy Alamgir, sons of former state minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir.

He said the ACC also approved issuance of notices to eight individuals, including detained former minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain's two sons and Chittagong City Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury's wife, asking them to submit their wealth statements.

The others who will receive ACC notices are Syed Abdul Malek, private secretary (Retd) to former minister Mohammad Nasim, former acting superintending engineer of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Noor Hossain, his wife Monjil Ara, CDA assistant engineer Mohammad Ilyas and his wife Zannatul Mawa.

These individuals will have seven working days to submit their wealth statements to the Commission after receiving the notices.

The ACC spokesman said the Commission has so far referred 128 names to the Truth and Accountability Commission for considering their clemency applications and another 14 applications are under process.

Asked to comment on stay order on Barapukuria Coalmine case, Col Hanif said it is the desire of the court and the verdict has been abiding by the rules.

"We are ready to provide documents if necessary. We will abide by the verdict of the court in this regard," he said.

No alternative to boosting food production: CA

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Thursday strongly suggested a switch from the rampant chemical-dependent farming to ensure sustainable agriculture through innovative alternatives at the soonest, as reports say chemicals may percolate into the food chain.

While praising farmers for reaping bumper harvests by tackling successive natural disasters, he stated that there is no alternative to boosting food production domestically for food security.

In this context, the head of caretaker government apprised World Food Day function that nearly 13 lakh metric tonnes of food-grains have now been stocked in government silos, which is an eight- year record.

"We have to keep in mind that while ensuring food security we don't destabilize our overall agriculture and security of farmers," he said.

The CA, however, noted that hybrid or biotechnology that

is going to be adopted in the country would not put marginal farmers in danger.

He also pointed out that country's present agriculture system is almost entirely dependent on non-renewable energy.

At the function the CA announced that Agriculture Day will be observed every year from this year in the country to recognize the farmers' untiring labour in food production for food security and also for the fact that Bangladesh is an agrarian country.

He also announced that an Agriculture Museum will be set up in Dhaka to project the country's tradition of agriculture, its problems, innovations and potentialities to new generations.

The Agriculture Ministry organized the function at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center. The theme of this year' s World Food Day is "World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bio-energy".

Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim presided over the function while FAO representative in Bangladesh Ad Spijkers and joint secretary of Agriculture Ministry MA Momen also spoke.

Advisers, special assistants, agriculturalists, NGO activists and government officials were also present at the World Food Day function, held at a time when the world community is facing the challenge of food insecurity and incursion of bio-fuel into granary.

The head of the caretaker government told his audience that food security is threatened due to less production of food compared to growing demand of population in various countries, crop losses due to climate change and various natural calamities in some countries.

At the same time, due to increased interest towards bio-fuels by many countries as an alternative against the backdrop of unsteadiness in prices and availability of fuel oils on the world market, crop production has fallen to an extent not seen ever before.

"The impact of climate change is visible in our country. Two successive floods and cyclone 'Sidr' last year have done massive loss to our crops production and agriculture sector as well," Fakhruddin told the function.

He said the county has carried out efforts to import food from abroad to meet the food shortages although different rice-exporting countries have stopped exporting rice.

Under this situation, Fakhruddin said his government has taken the strategy to increase food production domestically and taken various pragmatic measures to that end, including supplying agri-inputs to farmers and making sure uninterrupted supply of electricity for irrigation.

As a result, thanks to hard labour and courage of the country's

peasantry, bumper production of food crops, including rice, wheat and

potatoes, was harvested

Fakhruddin said with the combined efforts the present government has been able to stock adequate grains in the country's godowns.

The Chief Adviser also mentioned his government's various intervention programmes for building up social safety net in urban and rural areas for vulnerable, poor and lower-income groups of people to offset price rises.

The safety-net recipe includes VGF, VGD, OMS and 100-day employment-generation programme for unemployment-prone areas.

He informed that the Food for Work progarmme would begin soon and the ongoing OMS continue for next month.

Fakhruddin said for increasing food security it is not enough to give importance only to paddy production-special importance will have to be given to intensive production of other crops, including wheat, diversification of vegetables and fruit production, processing and marketing of agricultural products and development of fisheries and livestock.

"Though it is not possible to fully control the impact of climate change, but the government is carrying out various efforts to overcome problems. International coordination and awareness is needed much in this matter," he said.

At the same time, he called for domestic and international cooperation and combined efforts, including the efforts of scientists, meteorologists, farmers, public representatives and policymakers.

He observed food security means availability of adequate choice-able, safe and nutritious food all the time for maintaining capable and healthy life of all people as well as having practical and financial scope for collecting food.

Later, the CA inaugurated a two-day Agriculture Fair at the BCFCC to display varieties of farm produce, tools and technologies, and innovations.