The New Nation - Internet Edition

Aga Khan Award for Architecture holds seminar today

UNB, Dhaka

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is holding a seminar here on Monday to present the 2007 winning projects to the professional community and architectural students in Bangladesh.

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman will be the chief guest at the seminar to be held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre. The participants will include architects and academics from Bangladesh, and international guests.

On November 20, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture will hold a ceremony in Rudrapur village in Dinajpur to celebrate the School in Rudrapur, winner of the 2007 Aga Khan Award, a release of the Aga Khan Foundation said.

The celebration will focus on the contributions made to the success of the project by the community of Rudrapur and the NGO Dipshikha.

The Chief Architect of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the architects of the project, Ms. Anna Heringer and Eike Roswag, architecture professionals and academics from Bangladesh, international guests of the Aga Khan Award and members of the Aga Khan Council Bangladesh will be present.

Prof Sattar Mondol appointed BAU VC

UNB, Dhaka

Prof. Dr Mohammad Abdus Sattar Mondol of Agro-economics Department has been appointed new Vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU), replacing the acting VC.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, also the Chancellor of the university, gave the appointment under the BAU Act 1961 by "relieving" acting VC Prof Dr M Akhter Hossain of his responsibility, said a circulation of the Education Ministry.

The VC has been appointed for a four-year term. "But President and the Chancellor can cancel the appointment order if necessary."

The circular added that the VC would be entitled to the salary and allowance equivalent to his present position and other due benefits.

"He should stay on the campus round the clock as the chief executive officer of the varsity and the appointment would be effective from the date of his joining," it said.

SC Bar refuses to felicitate newly sworn-in HC judges

UNB, Dhaka

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) declined to accord traditional felicitation to the newly sworn-in six additional judges of the High Court division.

Shortly after the oath-taking ceremony, SCBA president Barrister Shafique Ahmed, who on protest refrained from attending the function, told the media that the transparency of the Supreme Judicial Commission (SJC), a newly-formed judges' recruitment body, was called in question through those appointments. "The executive authority has imposed its decision, making the SJC scapegoat."

He said three juniors to the incumbent Law Adviser's chamber-Delwar Hossain, Borhanuddin and Syeda Afsar Jahan Illa- were made additional judges and a judicial officer, suspended on charges of corruption and penitent district judge M Abdus Samad, was also inducted into the highest seat of the judiciary.

The SCBA president, an ex-officio member of the SJC, refused to take the burden of the appointments and demanded amendment to the SJC rules, where the Law Minister/Adviser submits to the Commission the panel of probable names of the additional judges for recommendation.

"The list of probable additional judges should be prepared by the SC judges along with senior lawyers, not by the executive authority," he said.

Besides, he suggested, the provision for recommending two names for each vacant post should also be repealed to put an end to "juggling with figures" by the executive authority.

He said after browsing the report ran in a vernacular daily on Sunday about the 'tainted' district judge Abdus Samad, the Bar leaders met Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin at his chamber before the oath-taking ceremony and informed him of the matter.

They requested him not to administer oath to the "controversial" person. But the CJ regretted, on grounds of his constitutional obligation.

Purchase Committee meeting on Bibiyana project deferred

UNB, Dhaka

A meeting of the Advisors Committee on Public Purchase that was convened to take decision on awarding the 450-MW Bibiyana Power Plant contract to a Malaysia-based company was Sunday deferred by three days.

According to official sources, the committee, known as Cabinet Purchase Committee, will now sit on November 19.

The meeting was scheduled to be held at the Chief Adviser's Office. But, at the eleventh hour, the meeting was deferred, an official of the Cabinet Division told UNB.

He, however, could not explain why the meeting was deferred.

Earlier, the same committee had a meeting about a month back to take decision on the project.

But the committee, instead of taking decision, sent the proposal back to the Power Division for further review of the power tariffs quoted by the foreign company, Powertek Berhad.

The Powertek, a lone bidder for the Bibiyana project, the largest independent power producer (IPP) plant planned in recent years, offered electricity price at 4.539 US cents per kilowatt- hour, which was found to be much higher than the rate offered for a similar-capacity project set up at Meghnaghat.

But, after the committee's directive, the Powertek again reduced the rate by 0.20 US cents to 4.339 cents.

After this reduction, the Power Division again placed it to the Cabinet Division to decide.

Sources said normally any government does not prefer any single offer in any bidding process for the sake of proper competition.

"That's why the government is taking much time to take a decision on the matter," said a Power Division official.

"In case of single bidding, it is difficult to judge the proper value of the offer," he added.

Fate of nation will be decided in next 7 days: KP

UNB, Narayanganj

Kallyan Party chief Gen (rtd) Muhammad Ibrahim in an obvious reference to the dilemma on December 18 election has said the next seven days is crucial for the nation.

"The fate of the nation will be decided in next seven days," he said while inaugurating construction of fishing trawler by Engineering & Ship Building Limited at Nabiganj yesterday.

In an oblique reference of Awami League and BNP he said in a sarcastic tone, "The two major political parties have apparently embarked on a football match. One party is prepared while the other is not."

Gen Ibrahim observed, "government should maintain a limit in reaching understanding with or allowing concessions to a political party. At the same it should keep the promise if it had made to a political party."

Workshop on efficient energy management begins today

Staff Reporter

A three day long workshop on efficient energy management and renewable energy begins today at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

The USAID and UNDP jointly organised the workshop.

Special Assistant to the chief adviser Dr M Tamim will attend the inaugural function as chief guest while secretary of Power Division Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan as special guest.

USAID Mission Director will present the keynote paper in the workshop. Experts from Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, Afghanistan and host Bangladesh will participate in the workshop.

Ambassador Najimullah given 5-yr jail for embezzlement of state fund

UNB, Dhaka

A special judge's court dealing with high profile corruption cases Sunday sentenced ATM Najimullah Chowdhury, suspended Bangladesh ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to five years in prison for embezzlement of state funds.

The trial court also fined the career diplomat Tk 2.1 million (21 lakh), in default, to suffer another year in prison.

Chowdhury was tried in absentia and the sentences will come into effect after his arrest or surrender to the court.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case accusing Chowdhury of misappropriating Tk 2.1 million (21 lakh) while serving as the Bangladesh ambassador in Abu Dhabi.

Swiss Ambassador meets Hasina

UNB, Dhaka

Switzerland's Ambassador to Bangladesh Dora Rapold Sunday met with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence and discussed bilateral matters including the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Awami League sources said that during the meeting, Sheikh Hasina informed the Swiss envoy of her party's stance on December 18 elections and ground preparations including the finalization of her party's nomination process.

The meeting lasted for over an hour.