The New Nation - Internet Edition

Debate practice to understand life stressed

BSS, Dhaka

Information Secretary Jamil Osman on Sunday stressed on debate practice, saying it can help to understand the life.

He made this comment while addressing the prize giving ceremony of a two-day long National Debate Festival- 2008 at Shaheed Zia auditorium in National Museum in the city.

Over 1200 debtors from 300 educational institutions too part in the debate festival organized by National Debate Federation Bangladesh (NDFBD), an official handout said.

The information secretary said the motto of national debate festival should be spread across the country.

NFDBD Chairman AKM Shoyeb presided over the function was attended, among others, by Mutual Trust Bank Chairman Kazi M Shafiqur Rahman and Commercial Bank Cylon Chief Operating Officer S Provakar.

Mass awareness against child repression stressed

BSS, Dinajpur

Marriage Registrars at a rally here have stressed the need for creating awareness to resist dowry, child marriage and repression on women and children in the society.

Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Marriage Registrars Society (SUMRS) organised the rally at upazila premises on Thursday.

Marriage registrars from allover the upazila and members of the different NGOs, adolescents, officials, students, teachers, guardians, public representatives, village headmen, socio- cultural activists and religious leaders attended the rally chaired by SUMRS president Hafez M Ansar Ali.

Upazila Women Affairs officer Razia Begum, marriage registrars Abdur Zabbar, Abul Kashem. Abu- Bakkar and Habibur Rahman, among others, addressed the rally.

In the rally the marriage registrars elaborately discussed various reasons and superstitions behind these social curses that engulfed the whole society, especially the poorer section and backward people.

Many housewives are still being murdered for dowry, they said adding that a good number of young women are embracing premature deaths during deliveries due to early marriages.

Child marriage, dowry and repression on women and children are still a real threat to peace in the society and are destroying social and family peace and harmony and increasing maternal moralities, they said.

EC holds meeting with Jamaat

BSS, Dhaka

A meeting between the Election Commission (EC) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was held at the office of Chief Election Commissioner here on Monday.

During the meeting, Election Commissioners Sohul Hossain and Brig. Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain, joint secretary of EC Nurul Islam Khan were present.

The five member Jamaat delegation was led by its Law Affairs Secretary advocate Jashimuddin Sarkar.

After the meeting, Jashimuddin Srakar told the journalists that they had discussed about the registration of the political parties with the EC in a cordial atmosphere.

It appeared in the meeting that the attitude of the EC was positive in giving registration to Jamaat, he added.

In response to a question, the Jamaat leader said the party will get registration in accordance with the political parties registration law.

The EC also told the party delegation that there is no legal bar for the Jamaat to get registration as the party has fulfilled the terms and conditions, the Jashim said.

Moeen inaugurates ground breaking of RAOWA Complex

Chief of Army Staff and Chief Patron of RAOWA club General Moeen U Ahmed inaugurated the ground breaking of Retired Armed Forces Officers Welfare Association (RAOWA) Complex as chief guest at RAOWA Ground, Dhaka on Monday, says an ISPR press release.

In his inaugural speech Army Chief wished success of the project and thanked all concerned who have taken initiative in upbringing the idea of having a complex for all RAOWA members.

Among others, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman, PSP's of three services, Members of RAOWA club and high military officials were present on the occasion.

US-Bangladesh militants exercise this months

Staff Reporter

The 4 th 'Buffalo' exercise between Bangladesh forces and the U.S army will take place in Khulna division this month.

The exercise is an annual series of military training between the two countries forces.

The US militaries have worked in partnership for humanitarian assistance and medical training and have also conducted air and naval exercises with the Bangladesh forces.

Units from Bangladesh Rifles and the US Army will focus on border security training and exercises, says an American Centre press release.

This training is one of many joint activities conducted by the US armed forces and Bangladesh military.

Earlier this year, Buffalo exercise were conducted between US armed forces and the Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy.

BTRC move to stop import of spurious mobile phone sets

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is taking steps to stop import of spurious mobile phone sets in the country.

In this regard, the BTRC yesterday sat with the leaders of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association (BMPIA).

BTRC chairman Major General (retd) Manzurul Alam chaired the meeting where BMPIA president SM Farooq and general secretary Faisal Alam were, among others, present.

The meeting decided to form a committee to find out ways and means for stopping the import of spurious mobile phone sets.

"The common people are being deceived everyday into buying fake mobile phone sets at the price of a genuine one… the BTRC is planning stern action against such crime," the BTRC chairman told the meeting.

BKP's national council on November 8

Staff Reporter

The National Council of Bangladesh Kallyan Party (BKP) will be held on November 8 instead of 11.

Earlier it was shifted from October 30 to November 11 due to the recent inclement weather across the country.

The central committee of the party took the decision unanimously at a meeting at the BKP chairman's office at new DOHS at Mohakhali in the city yesterday.

Maj Gen (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Pratik, presided over the meeting.

The meeting urged convenors, member secretaries and candidates for contesting parliament and upazila polls from districts, upazilas and metropolitan cities to attend the national council.

Nomination forms will be distributed among the candidates for contesting the polls on November 9 at the party's chairman office.

The inaugural session of the council would begin at 10.00 am at Imperial Hotel at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city on the changed date.

The meeting was also attended by Abul Kalam Azad, secretary general, Col (Retd) Engineer Mostaq Hossain, Sadek Ahmed Khan, Kahir Mahmood, Momtaz Begum, Sanowar Hossain, Shahidur Rahman Tamanna, Syed Nazrul Islam, Abdul Malek Chowdhury, Badrudozza Babla, Abdul Malek Mian, and Hamida Akter.

HC rule on govt over Nov 7 Solidarity Day

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to show-cause in four weeks why a direction should not be given to observe November 7 as 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day'.

The High Court also asked the government to explain why the notification scrapping November 7 as a public holiday "should not be declared illegal".

A division bench, comprising Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and Justice M Rezaul Huq, issued the rules following a public interest litigation writ petition filed by Abu Naser M Rahmatullah, president of Swadhinata Forum.

On October 26, the same bench issued rules upon the government on similar writ petition filed by former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman challenging the validity of the interim government's notification scrapping the Nov 7 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' as a public holiday.

Advocate Tajul Islam appeared for the petitioner.

Shibir-BCL clash leaves 50 injured in Sirajganj

UNB, Sirajganj

Over 50 people were injured in a clash between the activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Bangladesh Chhatra League at Sirajganj Government University College in the district town yesterday.

Local residents said the clash erupted at about 10:45am over establishing supremacy in the college.

The feuding groups chased each other and pelted brickbats during the melee that lasted for about 35 minutes.

The clash turned violent as, at one stage, activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal joined hands with Shibir men and swooped on BCL activists.

On information, police rushed to the spot and quelled the situation.

Police have been deployed on the campus to ward off further untoward incident.

Twenty three of the injured were admitted to different clinics and hospitals. Of them, two were later shifted to Dhaka as their condition deteriorated.

British HC meets Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka

British High Commissioner Stephen Evans who met with BNP chairperson yesterday evening expressed the hope that all the political parties would take part in the ensuing parliamentary election to make it acceptable.

Talking to newsmen after an hour-long meeting from 6-30pm Stephen said he discussed political, economic and overall situation prevailing in Bangladesh.

Asked how he views the ensuing election under the emergency the British diplomat said he welcomes the government move for gradual relaxation of emergency rules toward creation of atmosphere for holding free, fair and neutral polls with participation of all parties.

Replying to another question if he discussed BNP's participation in the election Stephen said, "It is their matter. What we want is all parties should take part in the fray."

Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Foreign Affairs adviser to Khaleda Zia, Reaz Rahman and Khandker Delwar Hossain were present during the meeting.

Chowdhury described the meeting as 'courtesy call' when they discussed continuation of existing excellent relationship between Bangladesh and Britain.

Stephen assured of cooperation with any future government in Bangladesh, he added.

Asked if they discussed BNP's participation in the ensuing election Chowdhury said it is an internal matter that will be discussed with the government.

Graft cases to be filed against ex-Adviser Jahanara, Nab: Proshika chief to be charge-sheeted

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission is set to file separate graft cases against former Adviser and present Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Prof Jahanara Begum and ex-BNP ward commissioner Nabi Ullah Nabi for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information about that.

The Commission also decided to file a graft case against Harun ar Rashid, principal appraiser, Chittagong Customs House and his wife.

ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the Commission's regular briefing yesterday afternoon that the anti-graft watchdog has approved the filing of these three cases.

He also informed that the ACC has approved the submission of charge-sheets in four graft cases, including one against Proshika chairman Kazi Faruk Ahmed and his son.

The ACC will file a case against former Primary and Mass Education adviser and incumbent LDP presidium member Jahanara for acquiring illegal wealth worth Tk 2.34 crore and hiding information of assets worth Tk 2 crore.

The case will be filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.

A case will be filed against former ward commissioner Nabi for earning illegal wealth worth Tk 40.49 lakh and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 39 lakh.

He will be charged under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the

Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

Sources at the ACC told UNB that both the cases would be filed today with Ramna police station.

Proshika chairman Kazi Faruk, who recently formed a political party, and his son Rubayet Ahmed will be charge-sheeted in a graft case filed for illegal transfer of Tk 1.03 crore.

The case was filed with Pallabi police station on June 22 this year under section 13 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2002 and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

The ACC will charge-sheet seven individuals in three graft cases filed against them for misappropriation of money.

Film actress held with Yaba tablets

Staff Reporter

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday arrested a film actress along with 85 Yaba tablets from an apartment in the city’s Mirpur area.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-1 raided the flat of film actress Fatema Akhter alias Priya on the 3rd floor of Sunview Federation, a multistoried apartment, at 1288 Monipur and arrested her at about 3:30 am along with the sex-stimulating Yaba tablets.

The elite force also recovered 19 empty bottles of Phensidyl from her apartment.

Priya, who hailed from Raipur village of Laxmipur district, had performed in 10 movies, including Prem Pagal, Kungfu Kanya, and Ashik Priya, as the leading actress.

During interrogation, Priya reportedly confessed that she had long been trading Yaba tablets.

A case was filed against her with the police.