http://nation.ittefaq.com The Bangladesh's Leading Independent Daily en-us Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 (C) 2007 nation.ittefaq.Com info@ittefaq.com 5 http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0719.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600
Former secretary general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami are likely to surrender before the court today (Thursday) in GATCO scam case, informed sources said yesterday.
The Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday framed charges against 25 people including former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, her son Arafat Rahman Koko, Motiur Rahman Nizami, M Saifur Rahman, Mannan Bhuiyan, M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. ]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0719.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0720.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 UNB, Brahmanbaria

The death toll in Tuesday night's fatal train accident at Ashuganj rail-station on the Dhaka-Chittagong route rose to 8 with the recovery of two more bodies Wednesday while the injury figure climbed over 50.
One of the dead was identified as Tajul Islam, a guard of Noakhali Express, one of two trains that collided in the accident, while the rest could not still be identified.
Train communications on Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet routes resumed 11.30am, 11 hours after the late-night tragic accident.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0720.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0723.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 Shahidul Islam

With the Chief Adviser's Office yesterday completed sending the invitation letters to all political parties, listed on the basis of pre-dialogue sittings and the Election Commission's (EC's) talks with them, senior leaders of the major political parties started tightening their belts by setting up tough pre-conditions for their participation in the ensuing formal dialogue with the Government.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0723.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0712.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600
Speakers at a function yesterday laid emphasis on practicing democratic culture within political parties with a view to institutionalising democracy in the country.
Democracy cannot get strong footings if there were no strong political parties. Only political stability guarantee's national development and investment, they added.
Democratic cultures need to be established within the political parties for cultivating the spirit of tolerance and accommodation in politics, they noted.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0712.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0713.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 Staff Reporter

A special court yesterday sentenced BNP leader and former state minister for law Barrister Shahjahan Omar to 13 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information on his wealth to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Judge Khondker Kamal Uzzaman of the Special Judge Court-9, housed at Jatiya Sangsad Complex, also fined him Tk 10 lakh, in default to suffer one year more in prison.
The court also sentenced his wife Mehjabin Farzana to three years' imprisonment for assisting her husband in committing corruption.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0713.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0714.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 Staff Reporter

Environmentalists and experts at a discussion meeting in the city said no compensation for damages inflicted to the Lawachhara Protected Forest by the US-based company Chevron's 3D seismic survey could restore the area.
The meeting on 'Rare Biodiversity in Lawachhara Protected Forest: Our Remedies' was held at Dhaka Reporters Unity jointly organised by Save Environment Movement and Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA).
Ronald Halder, a well-known ornithologist, in his digital presentation said, "The Lawachhara rainforest forest is the home to 300 out of 600 bird species of the country.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0714.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0715.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0715.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0716.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 Staff Reporter

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will extend technical assistance and support to power-starved Bangladesh to set up nuclear power plants.
A three-member delegation of the Bangladeshi Government with nuclear scientists, headed by Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Information Technology SM Wahiduzaman left for Vienna, Austria recently at the invitation of IAEA, said a senior official of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC).
According to him, the delegation will have talks with IAEA officials for three days from Wednesday for setting up a nuclear power plant of 1,000 MW.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0716.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0717.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 Staff Reporter

Fund-strapped Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has been granted Tk 1,000 crore to help finance its oil imports, official sources said Wednesday.
The Finance Ministry approved the fund on Monday last on condition that the money must be spent only on oil imports, Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin told newsmen yesterday. BPC will have to pay an annual 3 per cent interest on the loan.
Earlier in April the government lent BPC Tk 1,000 crore for the same purpose at same conditions.

The government had earlier rolled out loans through bonds with a 5 per cent interest rate.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0717.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0718.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 Staff Reporter

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami yesterday said the political dialogue initiated by the Caretaker Government would not be meaningful keeping the two leaders-Begum Khaleda Zia of BNP and Sheikh Hasina-in jail.
"There is no alternative to the release of the two leaders for the sake of an election acceptable to all," he said while addressing a press conference at party's central office in the city.
He observed that the release of Khaleda and Hasina on bail would not disrupt the process of their trial in graft cases.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0718.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0721.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 Chittagong Correspondent

Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Panslaish zone here at Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Abu Saleh Mohammed Mofazzal Haque and two of his orderlies were charge-sheeted in a sensational robbery case.
The orderlies of the police big shot were identified as Constable Ehsanul Islam and driver Abdur Rauf.
Incumbent AC of Panchlaish Zone and Investigating Officer (IO) of the case Syed Mezbah

Uddin submitted the chargesheet before Chief Judicial Metropolitan Magistrate Court yesterday.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0721.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0722.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600 UNB, Dhaka

The Council of Advisers of the caretaker government yesterday approved in principle the Upazila Parishad Ordinance 2008 to create two seats of vice-chairman in the local-government body, one reserved for women.
The ordinance provides that the chairman and two vice-chairmen of the Upazila Parishad will be directly elected by voters. Union Parishad Chairmen, Municipal Mayors and elected women members to the reserved seats of wards under the upazila concerned would be members of the Upazila Parishad.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0722.htm http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0724.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 +0600
The unity process between two factions of the BNP, popularly known as pro-Khaleda and pro-reformist, is now at the final stage and an announcement in this regard may come at any time, informed sources said.
Hectic meetings among the senior leaders of both the factions are being held at different places in the city for the last couple of days to formulate the unity process.
BNP Chairperson's Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah yesterday told reporters that the unity process is at the final stage and a joint declaration will be announced anytime.]]> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/15/news0724.htm