The New Nation - Internet Edition

Life blood donors accorded reception

Staff Reporter

Voluntary Blood Donation Programme of Quantum Foundation (VBDP) yesterday organised the 41st reception to life blood donors at Kakrail in the city.

The chief coordinator of VBDP Nahar Al Bukhari presided over the function, while chief adviser of ATN Bangla Saiful Bari attended as chief guest.

Saiful Bari said in every religion service to humanity is said to be the best service.

Blood donation is the best human service and everybody should serve the humanity, he added.

The speakers called upon the people to donate blood without any hesitation for saving life.

On the occasion crests were given to 86 life blood donors.

No travel tax for FF flying domestic routes

Staff Reporter

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a statutory regulatory order (SRO) to the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited (BBAL) and other private airlines to withdraw travel tax from the injured freedom fighters for touring different domestic routes.

The NBR issued the SRO no-264 recently where it asked the BBAL and other airlines to withdraw travel tax from the injured freedom fighters.

According to BBAL, it is obligatory for all the passengers of Biman to pay Tk 200 travel tax.

The injured freedom fighters are now getting the travel tax holiday from the current month, NBR Chairman Abdul Mazid told the New Nation last night over phone.

He added that it is an honour to the national heroes in the month of victory.

Through the SRO, the NBR directed the BBAL and other airlines to update its data every six months on the number of freedom fighters availing the travel tax facilities.

Verdict on graft case against Ershad deferred to Feb 2

UNB, Dhaka

The verdict on a graft case against former President and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad over installation of digital telephone exchanges has been deferred to February 2, 2009.

Divisional Special Judge Md Golam Mortuza Majumder yesterday shifted the date of verdict following a time-petition filed by defence lawyers.

The graft case against Ershad was filed on September 5, 1992.

According to the case statement, Ershad directed the authorities concerned to take loan from France instead of grant from Finland, as decided by the authorities, for setting up digital telephone exchanges in 89 upazilas.

Due to Ershad's unilateral decision, the case statement said, the government had to pay Tk 28.62 crore to France in interest, as the plan was not implemented finally, sources said.

The investigation officer of the case submitted a charge sheet against Ershad and four others on July 31, 1995.

IPI team meets Hasina, discusses press freedom in polls

UNB, Dhaka

A delegation of the International Press Institute (IPI) called on Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at her Sudhasadan residence yesterday when the matters of media role during the election time were discussed.

The Vienna-based IPI delegation led by its Director David Dadge discussed in general the situation of press freedom in Bangladesh and role and commitment of political parties to ensure freedom of the press.

Dadge informed journalists that the IPI delegation would have a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed tomorrow (Tuesday) with the same agenda.

Besides, the IPI will have talks with the other political parties to know their views about the freedom of press.

Dadge also said the IPI would formulate some recommendations on the freedom of press and publish it tomorrow at 3pm through a press conference.

David Dadge informed the journalists that IPI noted that 15 journalists had been killed since 2000 in Bangladesh.

Owais Aslam Ali, secretary general of Pakistan Press Foundation, Padma Singh Karki, national committee chairman of IPI, Nepal, and Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, an IPI member from Bangladesh, were on the IPI delegation.

AL presidium-member Matia Chowdhury and AL Election Committee co-chairman HT Imam were also present during the meeting.

Seat-sharing saga to end, hopes Jamaat

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed said yesterday a final understanding on seat-sharing with BNP had not been reached but he hopes it will be resolved before Eid-ul Azha (Dec 9).

He said his party was allocated 35 seats so far but "we want more."

Dec 11 is the last day for withdrawal of candidacy ahead of the Dec 29 general election.

Mojaheed was replying to questions from journalists on Jamaat's nominations at the party office in Moghbazar yesterday.

Mojaheed, however, did not disclose how many more or which seats his part sought from the alliance, but instead mentioned "the tyrannies the four-party experienced over the last two years."

Some party leaders were bargaining over alliance tickets to constituencies in Chapainawabganj, Meherpur, Jhenidah and Meherpur, party sources said.

Meanwhile, a total of 49 Jamaat hopefuls have filed nominations as the deadline for submissions passed Sunday (Nov30).

Jamaat was allocated 34 seats from the four-party alliance ahead of the cancelled Jan 22 2007 elections.

Zafar Osman elected DCCI president

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Businessman and industrialist Zafar Osman has been elected president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 2009, said a DCCI press release yesterday.

According to the chambver, MS Shekil Chowdhury as senior vice president and Md Sirajuddin Malik vice president have also been elected for the same tenure.

Eight newly elected directors, to serve for two years (2009-2011), are: Waliur Rahman, Engr. Syed Mosharraf Hossain, Omar Faruque, Niaz Rahim, Md. Nasiruddin Khan, M Anwarul Haque, Serajul Islam and Nasir Hossain.

The newly elected president, senior VP, VP and directors took up their charges on Monday in the 47th Annual General Meeting of DCCI, the statement added.