The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasina urges partymen: Forget personal interests, devote to service of commoners

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placing wreath at the
portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu
Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city marking the
Homecoming Day of the late leader on Saturday.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the Awami League (AL) leaders and activists to dedicate themselves for the welfare of the people by serving them instead of gaining personal interest.

"The people have overwhelmingly voted us to power through the December 29 elections. So we have a lot of duties and responsibilities to them. We must uphold the trust reposed in us by the people," she said.

Hasina made this remark while addressing party leaders and activists at a discussion meeting at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center to mark Bangabanshu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Homecoming day.

She reminded that a group always belongs to government party by changing their colours. She alerted all, including her party leaders and activists, to remain alert about such evil circles of turncoat.

Referring to her election pledges the Prime Minister said, "We will have to fulfill our commitment to the people at the cost highest amount of sacrifice whatever difficult task it is."

"We have got the opportunity to serve the people getting over innumerable hurdles," she said with firm optimism that if all could work sincerely, the Awami League government will succeed in implementing the pledges made to the people.

Hasina also reiterated that a balanced development throughout the country would be ensured disregarding who voted for the grand alliance and who did not.

Hasina expressed her determination to establish Bangladesh as a non-communal and democratic country imbued with the spirit of Bangladesh's founding father, Bangabandhu Mujib.

AL presidium members, Sheikh Hasina's cabinet members and a number of central leaders and activists were present in the meeting.

Earlier Sheikh Hasina paid floral tribute at the grave of her father and AL founder, first as the head of government and then as the party chief along with her ministers, lawmakers and party leaders.

Dhaka for regional step to curb militancy, terrorism

Mamunur Rashid

The Government has assured that it would work closely with neighbours to restore peace in South Asia curbing militancy and terrorism.

"We will take effective steps against militancy and terrorism in consultations with our neighbouring countries," Dipu Moni, the newly appointed foreign minister of Sheikh Hasina's cabinet, told reporters after assuming office.

Moni, the first woman foreign minister of the country, underscored the need for collective efforts from South Asian nations, almost all of which are battered by terrorism, to establish peace since militancy and terrorism are confined to geographical boundaries.

In her election campaign's agenda for change, Hasina had proposed a regional taskforce to fight terrorism in South Asia, with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other nations jointly working to face the challenges posed by terrorists - regional or domestic.

Asked about her focus on foreign policy, Moni said the attention should not be focused on a particular area in the globalised world.

Foreign policy should not be dealt on piecemeal basis, it should be looked into its totality, she said against the policy of "looking east" undertaken by the previous Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance government of Khaleda Zia.

In one region there may be potentials for exporting manpower, in another area there may be opportunities for improving the relations while in another region it may be urgent for peaceful cooperation, she said. "We will pursue the policy of friendship with all, malice to none."

The newly appointed Home Minister Sahara Khatun also sought co-operation from all concerned in rooting out extremism and terrorism.

"We will surely be successful to root out extremism, terrorism through effective measures against these evils," Sahara, also the first woman home minister of the country, told reporters at her new office.

Following a landslide victory in December 29 polls, Hasina formed on Tuesday a 32-member council of ministers to run the country for next five years.

US seeks to recover Koko’s 'bribe money’

Arafat Rahman Koko

Bdnews24.com, Washington

The US government has moved to recover funds worth US$ 3 million allegedly obtained by the younger son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and kept with a Singapore-based bank, a top justice official has announced. "The forfeiture action was filed Jan. 8 2009 in the US District Court in the District of Columbia against funds located in Singapore held by multiple account holders," a Justice Department statement said Friday.

"The forfeiture complaint relates primarily to alleged bribes paid to Arafat "Koko" Rahman, the (younger) son of the former prime minister Khaleda Zia, in connection with public works projects awarded by the Bangladesh government to Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company," the statement said.

"This action shows the lengths to which U.S. law enforcement will go to recover the proceeds of foreign corruption, including acts of bribery and money laundering," said acting assistant attorney general Matthew Friedrich. "Not only will the Department, for example, prosecute companies and executives who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, we will also use our forfeiture laws to recapture the illicit facilitating payments often used in such schemes," Friedrich said.

"According to the forfeiture complaint, the majority of funds in Koko's account are traceable to bribes allegedly received in connection with the China Harbor project, (meant) to build a new mooring containment terminal at the port in Chittagong," the justice department statement said.

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Siemens AG), a German corporation, and three of its subsidiaries pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2008, to violations of and charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

"Specifically, Siemens Bangladesh admitted that from May 2001 to August 2006, it caused corrupt payments of at least $5,319,839 to be made through purported business consultants to various Bangladeshi officials in exchange for favourable treatment during the bidding process on a mobile telephone project.

"At least one payment to each of these purported consultants was paid from a U.S. bank account," the department said.

According to the forfeiture complaint, the bribe payments from Siemens AG and China Harbor Engineering Company were made in U.S. dollars, and the illicit funds flowed through financial institutions in the United States, it said. They were later deposited in accounts in Singapore, thereby subjecting them to U.S. jurisdiction, the statement said.

The department pointed out that money laundering laws in the United States cover "financial transactions that flow through the United States involving proceeds of foreign offences, including foreign bribery and extortion".

In August 2006, president George W Bush announced a National Strategy to Internationalise Efforts Against Kleptocracy to fight high-level corruption around the world. This strategy combines the policy and law enforcement tools of several federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury, State and Homeland Security.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office in cooperation with Bangladeshi law enforcers.

Experts’ body suggests: 120 ordinances may be ratified temporarily

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Members of the Review Committee on legal aspects of the ordinances promulgated by the Caretaker Government have viewed that the ordinances may be ratified in the new Parliament for the time being.

Barrister Rafiq-Ul-Haq, a member of the committee, yesterday told reporters that the committee had reviewed all the 120 ordinances.

"I shall submit the recommendations of the review committee on the ordinances on Monday to the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs during a meeting with the Minister concerned," he said. He, however, did not disclose the contents of the recommendation report.

The government earlier formed a five-member expert committee to examine the legal aspects of the ordinances that need to be ratified in the first session of the Ninth Parliament that begins on January 25.

During the two and a quarter years' tenure of the Caretaker Government, the President had promulgated a total of 120 ordinances.

Of these, three ordinances were promulgated in 2006 while seven in 2007 and the rest 75 in 2008.

Out of the total 120 ordinances, four were in respect of Emergency Power Rules (EPR), seven on criminal offences, 15 on local government, including provisions of upazila elections, seven on higher education at the university level, five on electoral rules, three on salary and emoluments of the President and eight on financial matters.

Diesel price to be cut this month

Staff Reporter

The government is likely to reduce the diesel price within this month, a senior official of the Energy Ministry told the New Nation yesterday.

Energy Division Secretary Mohammed Mohsin yesterday said that the Energy Ministry held discussion with the Finance Ministry and Energy Regulatory Commission on this reduction of diesel price.

"We shall be able to slash diesel price after getting approval from the Finance Ministry," he said adding, "Declaration on reduction of diesel price might come month."

He, however, did not mention what will be price of diesel after readjustment.

The government in its first Cabinet meeting on January 7 decided to reduce price of diesel in the current Boro irrigation season.

Following the Cabinet decision, the Energy Division asked the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to readjust the diesel price inline with recent trend on the international market.

The recent caretaker government reduced fuel price twice. After latest price adjustment, diesel and kerosene prices came down to Tk 46 per litre on the local market.

Israel warns war escalation

AP, Gaza City

The Israeli air force has dropped leaflets on the Gaza Strip warning residents that it plans to escalate its two-week-old offensive. The notice says Israel is about to begin a "new phase in the war on terror." It says Israel will "escalate" an operation that already has killed more than 800 Palestinians.

The army said yesterday that it has dropped the fliers throughout Gaza. It says the notices are meant as a "general warning." Israel launched the offensive two weeks ago to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks. The army says the operation is directed only at the ruling Hamas militant group. But Palestinian officials say roughly half of the more than 800 casualties have been civilians.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces pounded dozens of targets and edged closer to Gaza City yesterday while southern Israel came under renewed rocket fire after one of its quietest nights in the two-week offensive against Hamas.

In the day's bloodiest incident, an Israeli tank shell landed outside a home in the northern Gaza town of Jebaliya, killing nine people as they sat outside in their garden. Separately, a woman was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the southern town of Rafah. The Israeli military said more than 15 militants were killed in heavy fighting Saturday with its ground forces inside Gaza.

Its aircraft attacked more than 40 targets throughout Gaza, striking 10 rocket-launching sites, weapons-storage facilities, smuggling tunnels, an anti-aircraft missile launcher and gunmen. Flames and smoke could be seen rising into the sky over Gaza City.

Israel has come under international criticism for the rising number of civilians killed in the fighting. Paramedics said the nine casualties were from the same clan and included two children and two women.

"Residents brought them to the hospital in a civilian car, they put them all in the trunk because their bodies were mangled," said hospital administrator Adham Hakim. "We identified them a little after separating their bodies in the morgue."

The Israeli army had no immediate comment, but has repeatedly accused Hamas militants of using residential areas for cover. Earlier this week, an Israeli attack outside a U.N. school killed nearly 40 people. Both Israel and Palestinian witnesses said militants carried out an attack from the area moments earlier.

Israel launched the offensive on Dec. 27 to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. A week later, ground troops moved in, with artillery and tank fire that has contributed to a surge in civilian casualties.

Palestinian medical officials say more than 800 Palestinians have been killed, roughly half of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis have been killed - four of them by militant rockets, the rest in battle in Gaza. Five soldiers were lightly wounded in yesterday's fighting.

The fighting raged after both Israel and Hamas ignored a U.N. resolution calling for an immediate and durable cease-fire that would lead to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Israel has dismissed the Security Council resolution passed Thursday as impractical, while Hamas, whose government in Gaza is not recognized internationally, is angry it was not consulted about the diplomatic efforts.

Some of the heaviest fighting Saturday occurred on the strategic coastal road north of Gaza City, Palestinian security officials said. Israeli forces moved to within about 1 mile of the city before pulling back slightly.

While Israel has largely taken control of the road, militants continue to operate from hidden positions in the area. The road is often used to fire rockets into Israel or attack Israeli navy boats off the Mediterranean coast.

In a possible sign of progress for the military, no rockets were fired into Israel overnight, a sharp drop from the dozens of projectiles that were launched in the early days of the offensive.

Israeli military officials cautioned against reading too much into the lull, and by Saturday morning, 10 rockets had landed in Israel, the army said. One struck an apartment building in the southern city of Ashkelon, lightly wounding two people and causing extensive damage to the structure.

Zillur Rahman hospitalised

UNB, Dhaka

President-designate Zillur Rahman MP yesterday got admitted into the city's Square Hospital.

Hospital authorities said the Awami League presidium member, who has diabetic problem, was admitted at 1:25pm for "general checkup".

Sajib Wazed, wife arrive

Staff Reporter

Sajib Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, arrived in Dhaka at early Saturday from United State of America (USA).

Joy was accompanied by his wife Christine and their daughter Sophia and mother-in-law and brother-in law landed. This is first visit of Joy to Bangladesh after the landslide victory of the AL-led grand alliance in the December 29 national election.

Meanwhile Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana, daughters Ruponti and Tulip, son Bobby and his wife Peppi left Dhaka for London yesterday. Sheikh Rehana and Ruponti came to Bangladesh on December 13 of last year to take part Hasina's election campaign.

Move to demarcate maritime boundary soon: Port transit to India's 7 sisters, China likely

UNB, Chittagong

The new government would take effective measures on emergency basis for determining maritime boundary with the neighbours and enhancing trade cooperation with eastern countries, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud said yesterday.

He also told newsmen that the matter of giving port transit to seven-sister states of India and to China is under consideration of the government.

"The government will take any decision in this regard after considering country's interest and sovereignty," the Minister said in reply to a question about the issue of giving transit facilities through Chittagong seaport.

About another Indian demand for return of ULFA guerillas he said decision on ULFA operatives and Bangladeshi terrorists arrested in India would be taken "on the basis of bilateral discussions".

Dr Hasan Mahmud made the observations on the important issues while talking to the journalists after his arrival at Shah Amanat International Airport on his first visit to his hometown as minister.

He further said that a ministerial meeting would be held soon where measures would be taken to make the missions abroad active for improving country's image in the outer world.

Dr Hasan offered fateha at the mazar of Shah Amanat and joined a meeting at Laldighi maidan in the afternoon.

Bush greets Hasina over phone

BSS, Dhaka

US President George W Bush telephoned Sheikh Hasina yesterday evening and congratulated her on assuming the charge of Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

President Bush, who made the phone call at 6:40 pm Bangladesh time, termed Hasina's success in the parliamentary election 'a huge victory', an official handout said.

He said the verdict of the people of Bangladesh to establish non-communal democracy is notable.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the US President on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh and her party-Bangladesh Awami League.

The Prime Minister said the support and cooperation of the USA, along with other countries, toward holding a free, fair and neutral election in Bangladesh is commendable.

The principal enemy of Bangladeshi people is poverty, she said hoped US cooperation to build a poverty-free Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister told the US President that terrorism is one of the main problems in South Asia. She stressed the need for taking an effective joint initiative to fight terrorism in the region.

They exchanged pleasantries during the conservation, the handout said.

Khulna Medical College closed after BCL-Shibir clash

UNB, Khulna

Khulna Medical College (KMC) was closed sine die following a clash between Chhatra League and Chhatra Shibir activists in a dormitory on Friday night that left 15 people injured.

Police said the clash erupted between the two rival student groups over establishing supremacy at the dormitory no.1 at 10pm. Chase and counter chase took place between them during the one-hour melee, leaving 15 students from both sides injured.

About 15 rooms of the dormitory were also ransacked during the clash.

On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control.

Of the injured, Rafiqul Islam, Abdullah and Masud of Shibir, and Aminul Islam and Chayan Biswas of BCL were admitted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital in critical condition.

BCL and Shibir, however, have blamed each other for the incident.

Later, a meeting of the Academic Council with the Principal M Abu Bakar in the chair at midnight declared the medical college closed for indefinite period and asked the students to vacate their dormitories by 10 am on Saturday.

As per the decision, the students have started vacating their dormitories on Saturday morning.

Female student injured: Titumir College students damage vehicles

Staff Reporter

The students of Titumir Government College damaged over 100 vehicles in the city's Gulshan, Banani and Mahakhali areas yesterday following a road accident that injured one of their female fellow students.

Traffic, after remaining suspended for one and a half hours, resumed at about 11:30am as police brought the situation under control.

Police said Shamima Islam, a 1st year student of the college, was injured when hit by a private car while she was crossing the road in front of the college at Mahakhali at about 9:30 am.

A rumor spread soon on the campus that Shamima was killed or badly injured in the accident.

Hearing the news, students of the college took to the streets and damaged over 100 vehicles, mostly buses, under the Mahakhali fly over bridge, at Banani rail crossing and in Gulshan area.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control after a meeting with the students and the college authorities.

In the meeting, the students demanded immediate setting up of speed breaker in front of the college.

Vehicular movement on the road was disrupted for one and half hours following the incident.

Injured student Shamima Islam was taken to the Metropolitan Hospital and released after giving first aid.

Mir Rezaul Hossain officer in Charge of Gulshan police station told the New Nation situation that the has come under control now. The angry students have damaged many vehicles, but transport movement resumed after 11:30am.

Bangladesh may lose big Bay area'

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Bangladesh stands to lose a large sea area to two neighbours if it does not register its claims with the UN by 2011, warns a grouping of eminent citizens.

Myanmar has already filed its claims to the UN, while India is processing the issue, according to the National Committee to Protect Maritime Area and Resources.

The loss could be to the tune of 15-40 thousand square kilometres of sea territory, a possibility if the two neighbours filed their claims and Bangladesh did not.

"In accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Bangladesh will have to lodge primary claims about its maritime boundary by 2011 after necessary surveys," retired commodore Khurshed Alam said, speaking Friday at a press conference for the committee.

"But Bangladesh is yet to reach any decision in this regard," he said. "The loss will have huge economic consequences," the former commodore said in a written statement.

Failure to meet the 2011 deadline would mean Bangladesh would have to be satisfied with the leftover from India and Myanmar, the committee warned.

The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act 1974 of Bangladesh has never been updated in line with the UNCLOS Charter of 1982, the former navy officer said.

The maritime boundary dispute has already hit headlines in recent months, with both India and Myanmar trying to explore for natural resources into territory that Bangladesh claims its.

Bangladesh banks not only on its many rivers, said professor Serajul Islam Chowdhury, but also the Bay of Bengal.

Chowdhury and other eminent citizens have formed the committee to create awareness among all, including policymakers, about the importance of protecting Bangladesh's sea resources.

Prof Chowdhury said the maritime issue should be discussed in the parliament.

Prof Anu Muhammad said failure to secure sea rights bordered on compromise with the sovereignty of the country.

Prof Akmal Hossain cited the recent "intrusion of India and Myanmar into the Bangladesh waters" and said these incidents proved the resourcefulness of the Bay.

"Diplomacy should be the means to resolve such issues, but, first, we need to demarcate our maritime borders," said Hossain, a professor of international relations at Dhaka University.

If diplomacy fails, he said, Bangladesh could go to the International Tribunal.

The committee recommended that a maritime ministry be formed to deal solely with the issue.

It said Bangladesh will have to establish its rights on Dakhin (south) Talpatti Island resolving the dispute with India.

According to that UN charter, Bangladesh can claim up to 350 nautical miles (650 kilometres) of the Bay of Bengal from the continental shelf.

Nizami dismisses war crimes charge

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matur Rahman Nizami Saturday dismissed allegation of war crimes against him, saying that if allegation is brought against him afresh he would fight it legally and politically.

Talking to UNB at his office on the post-election situation, he said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared general amnesty for those who opposed the liberation war barring those involved in four specific crimes-killing, rape, loot and arson.

"None of these four allegations were raised or any case in these connections was filed against us during the three and a half-year rule of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's government," Nizami said.

He said the list of 195 prisoners of war prepared during the post-independence Awami League government did not contain the names of any civilians or Bangladeshis.

The Jamaat chief said those 195 Pakistani prisoners of war were repatriated to Pakistan following a tripartite agreement signed by the Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan in New Delhi on April 9, 1974.

He said about 37,500 people were arrested on various charges after the liberation war and most of them were released through legal process.

Nizami said Jamaat's political decision about the 1971 liberation was based on emotion and not on realism. "A political decision may be wrong and unrealistic but we were not involved in any criminal offences," he added.

The Jamaat chief believed that they come under the general amnesty declared by Bangabandbu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman since they were not involved in any of the four criminal offences and no case was filed against them in the last 37 years.

He said legal experts will now decide whether there is any moral and legal ground to file case against them after the declaration of the general amnesty.

Asked if trial commences on specific evidence, Nizami said he will face it legally and since it is a political issue, he will face it politically too.

"I firmly believe, if there is fair trial, there is no scope of proving any allegation against me," he said, adding that allegation of war crimes was raised as "propaganda" against him after he was elected the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Replying to another question, Nizami said there was no war crime case against Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed and he is not aware of any such allegation against his party's assistant secretary general Mohammad Qamaruzzaman.

On the post-election violence, he said violence and killings across the country and capturing of university halls in Dhaka and Rajshahi bore ominous signs for the fate of democracy. It is the responsibility of the government to take immediate steps to stop this to maintain law and order.

Asked about the debacle of his party and the 4-party alliance in the December 29 election, the Jamaat chief said people had voted for them but the results are unthinkable.

Casting doubts over average voter turnout of more than 80 percent, he felt that some "sophisticated" government mechanism was in place on the election-day that caused the debacle for them.