The New Nation - Internet Edition

52nd anniversary of Willes Little Flower School celebrated

Students of Willes Little Flower School performing
dance at the 52nd anniversary celebration of the school at
its premises at Kakrail in the city on Saturday. Banglar
Chokh

BSS, Dhaka

Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday urged all to work collectively for improving the quality of education.

The alumni associations of the educational institute could play an important role in improving the quality of education, he said while speaking at the 52nd anniversary ceremony of Wills Little Flower School here.

The adviser said a movement for building good educational institute is needed side by side with the improvement of the country's political, economic and social sectors.

He said presently students and guardians are keen to get quality education. "We need to utilize this interest and initiatives towards achieving quality education", he said.

Presided over by president of School management committee and secretary to the Chief Adviser Qazi Aminul Islam, the function was also addressed by Principal of the school Lt Col (retd) Moinul Islam.

Gas price to increase by March next year

Shamim Jahangir

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is likely to increase gas-price by 10 to 15 per cent both for domestic and bulk customers, today (Sunday), sources said.

The price hike of gas will be effective between January and March, of next year sources added. The concerned authority has taken decision as the caretaker government requested the BERC not to increase gas price during its tenure.

BERC Chairman Gholam Rahman yesterday told the New Nation that we have informed our decision to the stakeholders about the hike of price today afternoon.

"The gas price may be raised between 10 to 15 per cent in different level," said the BERC chairman.

The commission will offer the decision permitting Petrobangla to increase gas price by 10 to 15 per cent following its proposal to increase the price by 65 per cent on an average at consumer level, an official of BERC said.

As per the proposal, Petrobangla, for domestic consumers, suggested raising the gas price to Tk 600 from the existing rate of Tk 400 for a double-burner oven while Tk 550 for single-burner oven against the present rate of Tk 350.

The proposal is for a 50 percent raise over the existing rates for domestic gas users.

The metered domestic consumers will have to pay Tk 208 instead of Tk 130 with a price increase of 26.81 percent. Similarly, Petrobangla proposed to increase gas price for commercial users by 26.08 percent, meaning that per

unit (1000 cubic feet) price will go up to Tk 291.59 from the current price of Tk 233.12.

For the industrial consumers, the proposed per-unit price is Tk 182.25, up

from the present rate of Tk 148.13, with a 23.03 percent rise. The same rate will apply to tea-estates.

For captive power plants, the new rate is proposed Tk 182.25 per unit, up from the present rate of Tk 105.59, by a 72.60 percent rise. The Petrobangla proposed Tk 93.73 per-unit as gas price for the Power

Development Board (PDB), Independent Power Producer (IPP) and Small

Power Plant (SPP) instead of Tk 73.91, with a 26.81 percent rise.

For fertiliser industries, the rate is Tk 93.73 instead of Tk 63.41 per unit by a rise of 47.81 percent. The government is not interested in increasing price towards the end of its tenure to avoid controversy, sources further said.

"Apart from this caretaker government, we will also need to consider the situation of the next elected government. The next government may not want to increase gas price immediately after assumption of office," the official said.

Earlier, the BERC in an initial hearing accepted the proposal placed by the Petrobangla, then, it arranged a public opinion about the rise of gas price with different stakeholders alongside the Petrobangla proposal.

Presenting the price-hike proposal Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed said his organisation's cumulative deficit on account of undercut gas supply to international oil companies (IOCs) is about Tk 2000 crore.

"If we don't raise gas prices, Petrobangla will have to go bankrupt shortly, which will ultimately make it unable to go for further exploration," Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed said earlier.

During the hearing, the consumers protested against the Petrobangla proposal. After going through Petrobangla's financial statements, the commission, however, said earlier as per Petrobangla's calculation there was no need for such massive increases and an average increase of 12 to 15 per cent should be enough for Petrobangla to fulfill its revenue requirement.

I want to live: Captured terrorist

Internet

His swaggering image as he walked around Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus was captured by Mumbai Mirror photo editor Sebastian D'Souza, and was the first glimpse of the terrorists who have held Mumbai hostage over the last 48 hours.

Now we can also tell you who this man is and how he has become the vital link for investigating agencies to crack the terror plot. His name is Azam Amir Kasav, he is 21 years old, speaks fluent English, hails from tehsil Gipalpura in Faridkot in Pakistan, and is the only terrorist from this audacious operation to have been captured alive.An ATS spokesperson confirmed that the man captured was indeed the one photographed by us. On the night of Wednesday-Thursday, Azam and his colleague opened fire at CST before creating havoc at Metro and then moving on to Girgaum Chowpatty in a stolen Skoda, and where they were intercepted by a team from the Gamdevi police station. Azam shot dead assistant police inspector Tukaram Umbale.

But in that encounter, Azam's colleague was killed and he himself was injured in the hand. He pretended to be dead giving rise to the news that two terrorists had been killed. However, as the 'bodies' were being taken to Nair Hospital, the accompanying cops, figured that one of the men was breathing.

According to sources, the casualty ward of Nair hospital was evacuated and the Anti-Terror Squad moved in to interrogate him. Azam who was tightlipped initially, cracked upon seeing the mutilated body of his colleague and pleaded with the medical staff at Nair to save his life. "I do not want to die," he reportedly said. "Please put me on saline."

Ammunition, a satellite phone and a layout plan of CST was recovered from him. According to sources, the young terrorist has given the investigators vital leads including how the chief planner of the Mumbai terror plot had come to the city a month ago, took pictures and filmed strategic locations and trained their group and instructed them to "kill till the last breath". Every man was given six to seven magazines with fifty bullets each, eight hand grenades per terrorist with one AK-57, an automatic loading revolver and a supply of dry fruits.

Azam reportedly disclosed that the group left Karachi in one boat and upon reaching Gujarat they hoisted a white flag on their boat and were intercepted by two officers of the coast guard near Porbandar and while they were being questioned, one of the terrorists grappled with one of the officers, slit his throat and threw the body in the boat. The other officer was told to help the group reach Mumbai. When they were four nautical miles away from Mumbai, there were three speedboats waiting for them where the other coastguard officer was killed. All the ammo was then shifted into these three speedboats. They reached Colaba jetty on Wednesday night and the ten men broke up into groups of two each. Four of these men went to the Taj Mahal hotel, two of them to the Trident hotel, two towards Nariman Point at Colaba and two of which Azam was one, moved to CST.

Azam, who was Nair hospital for nearly four hours, was taken away by the intelligence agencies in the early hours of Thursday to an unknown location after the hospital authorities had removed the bullet from his hand and declared that his condition was stable.

But it seems the police grilling was so intense that before he left the hospital for an undisclosed location, he pleaded with the police and the medical staff to kill him. "Now, I don't want to live," he said.

Over crowding in jail, delay of justice: 'Violation of human rights’

Staff Reporter

Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim, an Appellate Division Judge of Bangladesh Supreme Court said human rights would not be well established without ensuring employment and removing illiteracy and poverty in our country.

He said this at the 11th convention and 31st founding anniversary of "Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights-BSEHR" as the chief guest at LGED Bhaban in the city yesterday.

Acting Chairman of the organisation Gias Kamal Chowdhury presided over the function while executive director Alena Khan, Press Club president Shawkat Mahmud, poet Qazi Rozi, among others, spoke.

Secretary General (In charge) of BSEHR Nurul Islam Khan presented the report of the BSEHR.

Illiteracy, poverty and unawareness cause inequality in the society, said Justice Fazlul Karim. Stating the presence of prisoners in the jail beyond its capacity and delay of justice also violates human rights, he emphasised. Speakers said rule of law always prevailed in the country but not practised due to not having ethics and honesty among the concerned people which caused the violation of human rights.

Shawkat Mahmud said, we wanted democracy but not violation of human rights. He called upon all to participate in the establishment of human rights.

BSEHR awarded 17 journalists for their contribution in human rights arena.

Seminar speakers say: Media can help elect honest candidates

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion emphasised the need of a fair and proper role of the mass media during the upcoming polls to help the voters by giving accurate information to elect a good candidate.

They said mass media is the best means for reaching the masses in a very short time. Journalists should play a role to bring out the whereabouts of the participants.

Manobadhiker O Paribesh Sangbadik Society (MAPSAS), organized the discussion meeting on "The Roles of Mass Media in the Forthcoming Polls" at the National Press Club, in the city. Adviser of the MAPSAS, Bidyut Chowdhury presided over the meeting.

Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Editor of BSS said mass media should play the optimum role to make the polls successful. It should not play any role that could cause suffering for the people.

The candidates during election campaign promise many things, the journalists must make them implement their promises, he further said.

Terming mass media as a watchdog of democracy Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, Chairman of the Truth Commission called upon the journalists not to be frightened by the muscle power or any kind of threats and pressures.

AHM Noman, in his keynote paper said mass media could motivate the people to elect a good candidate, if the political party nominates honest people.

Nava Mehjabeen Rahman, teacher of the Stamford University gave importance on the neutral role of mass media for the establishment of democracy in the country.

Call to benefit from robotics research

Staff Reporter

The need for reaching the benefits of research on robotics for the humanity was emphasised at a seminar on "Hyper Redundant Robot and its Future" organized by Institute of Information Technology (IIT), University of Dhaka yesterday, says a press release.

Dr. Md. Raisuddin Khan, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Mechatronics Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia was the keynote speaker. The Mechatronics Engineering Department provides an integrated education encompassing electrical, mechanical, control and computer engineering disciplines in facing the challenges of contemporary industry. The department, offering PhD and research based MS, is currently working on robotic equipments for earthquake surveillance, vision for blinds, and arms and legs for disabled people.

Presided by Mohd. Zulfiquar Hafeez, Director, IIT, the seminar held at the Conference Room of Center for Advanced Research in Physical, Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, was attended by teachers and students from Institute of Information Technology, Department of Physics, Bio-Medical Physics, Applied Physics Electronics and Communication Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering.

Starting its journey in 2001, Institute of Information Technology, University of Dhaka has been offering different postgraduate level degrees, and producing high quality professionals in fields of information technology, communications, software engineering for the industry, the press release adds.

15 injured in JN varsity clashes

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

At least 15 have been injured as activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Chhatra League clashed at Jagannath University in the old city yesterday.

The two student bodies, backed by rival political parties BNP and Awami League, engaged in skirmishes on campus and adjacent areas from 11.30am to 1.30pm, spreading fear among the general student body and public.

Police charged with truncheons on the troublemakers to disperse them.

Proctor of the university Prof Kazi Asad said the situation on the campus and adjacent areas was brought under control and police remained on guard to avoid further untoward incidents.

JCD's Jagannath University unit president, ABM Parvez Reza, alleged the BCL men launched the attack on them without any provocation.

However, his BCL counterpart Kamrul Islam Ripon denied the allegation, claming JCD instead launched the attack to "destabilise the country's political situation in a bid to foil the upcoming parliamentary election".

The injured were sent to clinics for treatment.

Muggers beaten

Staff Reporter

Angry mob gave a good beating to three muggers when they were trying to flee after snatching parcels from a courier service employee and injuring him at the city's Kakrail area yesterday.

The arrested persons are Alamgir, Shafiqur Rahman and Jewel.

Pedestrians handed over them to the police. Police recovered a revolver from their possession. Passerby chased the muggers and caught three of them while another managed to flee with the parcel. Police rushed them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police quoting witnesses said when Pikul Chowdhury, 30, an employee of Rainbow Parcel and Express Service, reached to Great Wall Chinese restaurant near Kakrail crossing at about 9:15 am, four muggers appeared there and intercepted Pikul.

As the muggers tried to snatch parcels from Pikul he resisted them. At one stage, the gangsters opened fire and snatched the parcels, leaving Piklu injured with bullet.

Pikul received bullet injuries on his left palm. He was given first aid at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Sr asst Secy killed in road accident

UNB, Feni

Two people-a senior assistant secretary of the Shipping Ministry and his driver-were killed when a covered van rammed their private car on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway near Fazilpur Madrasah in Sadar upazila early on Saturday.

The deceased were identified as senior assistant secretary Akhter Hossain, 48, and his car driver Saiful Islam, 30.

Witnesses said the accident occurred at about 6:30am when a covered van from Dhaka rammed the private car coming from opposite direction, leaving car driver Saiful dead on the spot.

Police source said critically injured Akhter Hossain was rushed to the district Sadar Hospital here, but he succumbed to injuries after two and a-half-hour of his admission.

He was returning by the private car after attending the 'Urs' at Ahalla mazar in Bhengura of Boalkhali upazilla in Chittagong.

Akhter Hossain, son of Faizullah Chowdhury of TM Bazar Kashirapara in Sandwip upazila of Chittagong district, left behind his wife, one son and a daughter.

He was a resident of the Officers Quarters at Shajahanpur in Dhaka.

Khaleda becomes voter

UNB, Dhaka

BNP chairperson and former premier Khaleda Zia was registered as voter on late yesterday afternoon at her cantonment residence under a special arrangement for facilitating her participation in the coming polls.

"She (Khaleda) has become voter," an official of the Election Commission secretariat told UNB over telephone.

The immediate-past PM had earlier refused to register as voter from jail when over 80 million eligible adults were enlisted on a new voter list under the politico-electoral reforms in the interim period.

He said Khaleda Zia completed the enrolment process at around 6.30pm when EC voter-listing officials went to her residence, a day before the last date for filing nomination for the much-talked-about election, now slated for December 29.

According to electoral rules, all aspiring candidates would have to be voter before the submission of nomination.

AL-JP seat sharing not yet finalised

Staff Reporter

The Leaders of Awami League and Jatiya Party could not reach agreement over seat sharing in the daylong dialogue that took place for the second consecutive day, yesterday at the Dhanmondi office of AL president.

The deadline for submission of nomination papers for contesting the upcoming general election will end today.

"We hope to reach a final decision today (Saturday)," JP acting president Anisul Islam Mahmud said prior to beginning the talks yesterday noon. But in the evening he was also hopeful to say about "settling the issue of seat sharing tomorrow (Sunday) morning".

"Our party hopes to get at least 40 seats," he added.

"The AL-led electoral alliance must finalise their list of candidates soon-if it is held up till Dec 11 (deadline for withdrawal of candidacy)

then candidates will only have 18 days for preparation, which is not sufficient," he observed.

The parties, however, finalised that JP Chairman Hussain Mohammad Ershad will contest the polls from three constituencies in Dhaka, Rangpur and Kurigram, Barrister Anisul said.

JP was being represented in Saturday's talks by Anisul and fellow JP presidium member Ziauddin Bablu, AL by presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and spokesman and joint general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.

Meanwhile, AL leaders with Sheikh Hasina in the chair sat at the Dhanmondi office, and the meeting was in progress till the time of filing this report.

Sources said AL and its core alliance 14-party also got caught in limbo over their own and JP's shares.

4-party yet to work out seat sharing

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The four-party alliance is yet to effectively discuss seat-sharing among its component parties because the BNP itself has not succeeded to finalise its own nomination of candidates.

It is learnt that the BNP Parliamentary Board initially gave nominations to 263 candidates from all the 300 constituencies meaning that 37 seats might be offered to alliance partners.

Subsequently, the BNP leaders are leant to have told 13 of those nominees not to submit nomination papers with a view to accommodating demands of alliance partners. And there has virtually been no formal seat sharing talks between the leaders of BNP and other partners of the alliance.

Alliance leaders were likely to meet last late night to discuss seat sharing.

Insiders said leaders of the respective parties have instructed their intending candidates to submit their nomination papers today, the last date for filing nomination papers on condition.

"If the party leadership asked them to withdraw nomination papers by the scheduled date, after reaching consensus on seat-sharing issue, the aspirant candidates will have to obey the direction," a senior leader of the alliance said last night.

Source said the component parties of the BNP are expecting to get a total of 102 seats out of 300.

Of them, Jamaat-e-Islami sought 65 seats while Islami Oikya Jote 13, BJP 15 and Khelafat Majlish 9.

DU student abused

DU Correspondent

A group of Dhaka University students of Psychology Department brought an allegation against a teacher of the department for her reportedly objectionable behaviour.

The students of the department submitted a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz on Tuesday for investigation into the matter.

The alleged teacher, what they said, is Prof Nasreen Wadud who recently slapped Sajib Roy, a forth year students of Psychology Department and abused him. The memorandum, signed by Ashit Kumar Dey, Tamal Kumar Chakrabarty, Pulak Kumar Sarker, Sonia Jahan and Sajib Roy, says the teacher did not take class properly due to engagement with other four universities.

Army deployment from Dec 24

Staff Reporter

The Army will be deployed as a striking force during the general election period from December 24 to 31, said Election Commissioner Mohammed Sohul Hussain yesterday.

The earlier announced date of army deployment had been put off in line with deferment of the parliamentary polls from December 18 to December 29, he said.

Upazila polls have also been pushed from December 28 to January 22, 2009.

The Election Commission on November 12 asked the government to keep a striking force deployed from December 12-31 to maintain law and order and ensure security through both general and upazila elections.

Earlier on Saturday, a UN team of representatives led by UN's former assistant general secretary Frances Vendrell, met Sohul and fellow Election Commissioner, M Sakhawat Hussain at the EC secretariat.

The UN team expressed satisfaction at the EC's preparations for a credible and fair election.