The New Nation - Internet Edition

Etihad sees 34 pc growth in 2008

UNB, Dhaka

Etihad Airways flew more than six million passengers in 2008 with 34 percent growth.

The growth of Etihad's fifth year of operation saw passenger numbers total 6,021,931 and the average seat factor rise from 68 percent to 75 percent, says a press release.

The airline has also taken delivery of nine new aircraft boosting its fleet to a total of 42.

Etihad launched six new routes in 2008 - Beijing, Minsk, Almaty, Kozhikode, Chennai and Moscow - as well as signed a record order of US$43 billion at the Farnborough International Airshow for up to 205 Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Etihad Airways' chief executive James Hogan said: "Despite the impact of the global economic downturn, Etihad performed extremely well in 2008 and we hit our target of flying more than six million passengers during the year."

The airline won 17 global awards for service and innovation during 2008. The highlights included winning the "airline of the year" at the Aviation Business, Arabian Business and British Travel Awards.

Etihad announced new codeshare agreements with Jet Airways, Yemen Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines in 2008 taking the total number of partners to nine airlines.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline also increased its number of employees to more than 7,000 staff-with the majority living and working in Abu Dhabi-representing 121 different nationalities, including more than 2,900 cabin crew and 755 pilots.

One hurt in BCL factional clash

UNB, Sylhet

A tense situation was prevailing in and around Shahjalal University of Science & Technology today as rival factions of BCL, student wing of Awami League, engaged in a series of clashes to establish supremacy on the campus.

Pappu of Arif-Moloy group mercilessly beaten up by the rivals of Soumitra-Asad group was lying in the intensive care unit of Osmany Medical College Hospital.

Witnesses said BCL activists of the two rival groups armed with rods and sticks chased each other on the campus, at times leading to frontal clash.

The situation caused worries to the general students who are apprehending postponement of immediate examinations.

Police at about 3pm seized lethal weapons from the activists of both groups and the trouble mongers were evicted from the campus.

Hasan Al Arif and Asaduzzaman Asad, leaders of the rival BCL groups, accused each other of extortion, terrorism and thus vitiating the academic atmosphere.

Trial of war criminals: Nirmul committee rules out UN role

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee (committee to eliminate killers and collaborators of 1971) says it does not see any role of the United Nations when it comes to trying the 1971 war criminals.

"Those who want to try war criminals by forming tribunals under the UN are either ignoring 'International Crimes (Tribunal) Act-1973', or did not study the Act," the committee said in a statement Saturday.

"Or they are saying this on purpose to create complexities as well as obstacles in trying them finally," it said.

The Act, which vests power in Bangladesh government to form tribunals to try war criminals, was formulated in 1973 during the tenure of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman-led government, the statement said.

The United Nations and its organs dealing with human rights and war crimes can, at most, send monitors to the trial, it said.

In another development, the Forum for Secular Bangladesh has demanded ban on religion-based politics pursued by the Jamaat-e-Islami and its associate bodies.

It said Saturday the government must act to "eliminate militancy, fundamentalism and communalism".

The Forum issued the statement after a joint meeting of its working committee and advisory council.

Justice Golam Rabbani chaired the meeting. Those who attended included retired lieutenant colonel Abu Osman Chowdhury, writers Syed Shamsul Huq and Shahriar Kabir.