Aminbazar Killings: Judicial probe body formed

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) of Dhaka formed a one-member judicial committee yesterday to probe the killing of six students at Aminbazar on the outskirts of the capital last month.

The committee manned by Metropolitan Magistrate Utpal Chowdhury has been asked by the High Court to submit the report within the next 30 days.

Mizanur Rahman, senior information officer of the law ministry told The Daily Star that the CMM, AKM Enamul Haque placed the order of the formation of judicial committee to the ministry yesterday.

Six students were beaten to death by several hundred villagers at Keblar Char in Aminbazar on July 18.

The deceased students are: Tipu Sultan of Tejgaon College, Towhidur Rahman Palash, Kamruzzaman Kanto and Ibrahim Khalil of Mirpur Bangla College; Shams Rahim Shamam of Maple Leaf International School, and Sitaf Jabi Munif of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology.

Anwar Hossain, sub-inspector of Savar Police Station, filed a case accusing around five hundred unidentified villagers.

In response to a writ petition filed by the National Forum for Protection of Human Rights, the HC on August 3 asked the CMM to form a committee with a magistrate to investigate the tragic incident.

On July 28, the government ordered to include Aminbazar killing in the home ministry's list of sensational cases.

Source : The Daily Star

Programmes to observe Nat'l Mourning Day

The government drew elaborate programmes to observe the National Mourning Day on August 15 marking the 36th anniversary of the martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with due respect and solemnity.

The national flag will fly half-mast atop all government, semi-government, autonomous organisation, Bangladesh's embassy and educational institution offices on the day. The missions will also arrange discussions.

The president and prime minister will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at road # 32 in the city's Dhanmondi at 6:30am.

A smartly turned out contingent of the armed forces will give a guard of honour to the portrait and a special prayer will be offered.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place wreaths and offer fateha at 7:30am at the Banani graveyard of all family members of Bangabandhu, who embraced martyrdom.

Besides, wreaths will be placed, fateha will be offered and the armed forces will give a guard of honour at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara at 10:00am.

A milad mahfil will be held at Tungipara after Zohr prayers. Besides, special prayer will be offered in all mosques, temples, churches and other religious institutions in the country.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will broadcast special programmes in observance of the day while daily newspapers will bring out special supplements.

Besides, Sachitra Bangladesh, a publication of the Ministry of Information, will publish edition and posters and distribute those. Special documentaries on "Chiranjib Bangabandhu" and "Amader Bangabandhu" will be screened.

Source : The Daily Star

Sexual HarassmentL: Formulate code of conduct for educational institutions

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday demanded of the government to formulate and implement a code of conduct for all concerned at educational institutions to stop sexual harassment.

The demands came at a human chain organised by TIB in front of Teacher-Student Centre of Dhaka University as part of its programmes to observe International Youth Day tomorrow.

Members of Youth Engagement and Support (YES) from 14 educational institutions, students, teachers and civil society members took part in the programme, launched by Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique.

"Harassment of women in educational institutions is insulting for the whole nation. The youths should come forward to resist defamatory acts against women including sexual harassment," said Prof Arefin.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman also addressed the human chain. TIB volunteers under the YES banner later held a rally, cartoon exhibition and anti-corruption game show to detest corruption.

Source : The Daily Star

JS delegation exchanges views with Indian MPs

A 15-member parliamentary delegation led by Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir visited Indian Lok Sabha and exchanged views with Indian parliamentarians on August 8-10.

Estimates Committee Chairman HN Ashequr Rahman was on the delegation, according to a release of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

The delegation members exchanged views with Indian parliamentarians including Oscar Fernandes, chairman of Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Francisco Sardinha, chairman of Estimates Committee, Basudeb Acharya, chairman of Standing Committee on Agriculture, NK Singh, veteran Congress leader and former minister Mani Sankar Ayer during their visit in New Delhi.

The visit was arranged by World Bank funded "Strengthening Parliamentary Over Eight Project".

Main objective of the visit was to familiarise members with the financial practices of eight committees of the Indian Parliament in order to improve the functioning of the committees in Bangladesh.

Other members of the delegation include Prof Ali Ashraf, Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Hafiz Ahmed Majumdar, Mostafa Faruque Mohammad, S K Abu Bakr and Moyeenuddin Khan Badal.

Source : The Daily Star

Application time for Jhilmil plots extended

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has extended the time to apply for allotment of around 1250 plots at Jhilmil Residential Area project by one month following demands from applicants.

The revised deadline is now September 25, which was August 25, said Rajuk Chairman Nurul Huda.

"We have allowed the time extension honouring the request of applicants as it is the month of Ramadan," he added.

An advertisement will be published in newspapers in this regard within a day or two, mentioned Huda.

Rajuk in a recent board meeting has also fixed the rate of per katha land at Tk 5 lakh for a five katha plot and Tk 4 lakh for a three katha plot.

Among the project's affected people, each owning more than 10 katha of land will get a 2.5 katha plot, while the rest will get flats, noted a Rajuk official.

However, they will have to pay Tk 3 lakh for each katha.

An applicant will have to deposit Tk 1.50 lakh for a three katha and Tk 2.50 lakh for a five katha plot with the application. The amount is Tk 1 lakh only for the affected people.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology will hold a lottery to select the allotees.

Earlier in May, the town planner invited applications for a third time to allot the plots in this project located adjacent to Dhaka-Mawa highway in Suvadda, Chunkatia and Tegharia moujas of Keraniganj just outside the capital.

Rajuk initiated the project in 1997 to solve the housing problem of Dhaka residents and was expected to complete it by 2001.

Of the project's around 1635 plots, the town planner will consider 385 more applicants who applied earlier and became eligible, said an official of Rajuk.

According to the new allotment guidelines, people in 15 categories are eligible to apply for plots.

The categories are freedom fighters, journalists, government employees, officials and employees of autonomous bodies and armed forces, businessmen, industrialists, private job holders, private teachers, arts, literary and sports personalities, remittance earners, lawyers, agriculturists, engineers and doctors.

Ministers, state ministers, speaker, deputy speaker, lawmakers and judges will qualify directly on application.

The authorities earlier invited applications twice to allot plots but failed to draw adequate response.

A project official said they expect to finish the project and hand over the plots within the next three years if everything goes smoothly.

Source : The Daily Star

War Crimes: Hearing on Sayedee's charge-framing deferred

International Crimes Tribunal yesterday adjourned the hearing on charge framing against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee till August 18 in connection with crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.

The three-judge panel headed by Justice Nizamul Huq passed the order following a time petition filed by the defence lawyers seeking an eight-week adjournment of the hearing.

The tribunal also directed the jail authorities to allow two counsels for Sayedee -- Tajul Islam and Tanvir Ahmed Al Amin--to meet him at the Dhaka Central Jail on August 16 to consult on the war crimes charges brought against him.

It also asked the prosecution to submit readable copies of 97 pages of the 400-page charge document by August 14, which will be collected by the defence lawyers on the day.

Tanvir said the 97 pages have some printing problems. Besides they could not consult with Sayedee about the charges brought against him.

"We did not get enough time to take preparation. So we need more time to move the case," said the defence lawyer.

The court fixed August 18 for hearing on the bail petition of Sayedee filed earlier.

Source : The Daily Star

Recognise indigenous people: Speakers urge govt

The government and the state can be termed communal if different indigenous communities are not recognised constitutionally, said noted economist Prof Abul Barkat, criticising the government's stance on indigenous issue.

Supporting the remark, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said the state itself and its ruling class are grabbing the land of indigenous people due to absence of proper documents instead of protecting their rights to land.

They made the remarks at a reception programme for union parishad (UP) representatives who have been elected in the recent UP polls from indigenous communities across the country.

A total of 151 elected UP chairmen and members from indigenous communities, both of CHT and plain lands, were given the reception.

Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and Jatiya Adivasi Parishad jointly organised the event at the city's Shishu Academy.

Blaming the government for publishing false information on the number of indigenous people, Prof Barkat said as per the government statistics there are 17 lakh indigenous people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in 2009-2010, while the real number is 25 lakh.

Terming this statistics a "demographic engineering", he said it was done in the CHT over the last three decades since 1976 through settlement of Bangalees and force acquisition of indigenous peoples' land.

Over 91 percent of the total population in CHT were indigenous in 1951, which is now 46 percent. It happened due to "demographic engineering" started from the tenure of late president Ziaur Rahman, he said.

The government has signed almost all the United Nations (UN) documents related to the rights of under-privileged communities. But its performance is contradictory, he said, adding, "It's noting but a betrayal to the people."

About the constitutional recognition, he called upon the government saying, " If you (the government) do not want to recognise them (indigenous people), please say this clearly."

NHRC Chairman Mizanur Rahman said that terming indigenous people "tribal" or "ethnic minorities" [by the government] is a "wrong decision" and added that the NHRC will act as a barrier to implement such wrong decision.

The commission in its five-year plan gives emphasis on the issue of indigenous peoples and their rights, he said.

Speaking as the chief guest, Hasanul Haq Inu, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on post and telecommunications, said on behalf of the parliamentary caucus on indigenous people, he will formulate a draft of "indigenous peoples rights act" and submit it to the government.

He also stressed the need for establishing a National Indigenous Commission to upheld values, cultures, norms, customs and traditions of the indigenous people.

Inu suggested appointing one or two members at every union parishad in areas populated by indigenous communities to specially look after their issues.

Presiding over the function, Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam, urged the government and peoples' representatives to remain alert about the security of the indigenous women, as the incident of indigenous women repression increases alarmingly.

The speakers demeaned making the CHT land commission effective and establishing a separate land commission for the indigenous people in plain lands.

Sushasaner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad President Anil Marandi, General Secretary Rabindranath Soren also spoke.

The government on July 26 this year said the tribal people living in CHT are "ethnic minorities" and they should not be called "indigenous" in the region.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni briefed foreign diplomats and UN agencies in Dhaka on the issue. Read more at http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=195963

Source : The Daily Star

Govt won't allow even an inch of land for terrorism: Says prime minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the present government will not allow anyone to use even an inch of land of the country for terrorism.

"My government is always against terrorism. We won't allow any space to the terrorists; we won't allow an inch of land of the country to be used for terrorism," she said when outgoing Egyptian Ambassador Fayyaz Mustafa Nosyar called on her at her office.

Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hasina said after assuming power, the government has started its move to eradicate terrorism from the country.

"Terrorists have no borders; they are the problems of the whole world. We all have to fight against terrorism in a united form as it is not possible to eradicate this problem by solo effort."

She said her government is also trying hard to eliminate corruption from the country. "We are committed not to allow corruption in the country."

The premier discussed with the outgoing Egyptian ambassador various bilateral issues, including trade and business. Since a long time ago, the relation between Bangladesh and Egypt is very good, they said.

Ambassador Nosyar hoped that this relation will be further strengthened during this period of the Awami League-led government.

Ambassador Nosier thanked the prime minister for her government's cooperation during his tenure in Bangladesh.

Ambassador at-large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary MA Karim and PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present during the meeting.

Source : The Daily Star

GPS made must: Vehicle owners surprised at govt's unilateral decision

The government has made installation of global positioning system (GPS) mandatory for all motor vehicles as part of an initiative to prevent carjacking and ensure road safety.

The decision came at an inter-ministerial meeting on road safety held at the Secretariat yesterday.

"It is yet to be decided from when the decision will be enforced and which companies would be allowed to operate and monitor the system. The BRTA would make it public through a circular," said Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder after the meeting.

He said it would cost Tk 10,000 to 12,000 to install a GPS unit in any vehicle and the user will have to pay Tk 300 to 500 per month to the GPS service provider.

GPS entails an electronic device installed in a vehicle to enable the owner or a third party to track a vehicle through satellite.

"All trucks, covered vans, private cars and CNG-run auto-rickshaws must have GPS units for knowing their locations while plying," the home secretary told The Daily Star.

A number of vehicle owners, however, opposed the government decision.

"It is I to decide whether I would use the GPS or not. The government cannot impose it on us," said a vehicle owner requesting anonymity.

Some other owners speculated that the GPS could rather bring horrid results if any group uses the technology with an ill motive. Any criminal group can pinpoint their targets through tracking their vehicles, they observed.

Asked the home secretary said, "GPS is almost a new technology for the country and before enforcing the decision of enforcing it, measures would be taken to check its negative impacts."

Another car user alleged that the decision of introducing GPS in vehicles might be the brain child of a sector of businessmen and some high-ups of the government, who want to earn brisk profit from the technology.

According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), there are 15,04,897 registered vehicles in the country as of February 22 this year.

Police sources said several private companies like GrameenPhone, Banglalink, NITS Service Pvt Ltd, a sister concern of Nitol-Niloy Group, Monico Ltd, Nexdecade Technologies Ltd have already been providing GPS supports at a small scale by obtaining licenses from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

More than 30,000 vehicles, including of different donors agencies, NGOs, corporate houses like telecom operators, banks, insurers and garment factories, have already adopted the GPS technology, said the police sources.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters has a monitoring tool by which they can trace a stolen vehicle with GPS, the sources added.

Additional Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque said, "There are always criticisms against any decision meant for the welfare of the people."

"Every month, around 50 to 60 vehicles are stolen or hijacked in the capital. If the system is implemented, the incident of carjacking will drastically reduce," he said.

The home secretary said all drivers and helpers have to submit their resume along with their photographs to vehicle owners.

After the meeting, Home Minister Sahara Khatun told reporters that a syndicate is involved in hijacking goods-laden trucks. "A crackdown on the syndicate will soon be launched," she added.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku and leaders of Trucks and Bus Owners Association were also present at the meeting.

The bus and truck owners asked for measures so that passengers are not carried in trucks while buses are not used for transportation of goods during the Eid rush.

The meeting also asked the authorities concerned to repair the damaged roads before the Eid.

Source : The Daily Star

Germany frees Thai prince's plane

Germany has released a plane belonging to Thailand's crown prince which was seized at Munich airport as surety for an outstanding Thai government debt, a court official said yesterday.

"The plane has been released," Christoph Fellner, vice-president of the Landshut regional court in the southern state of Bavaria told AFP.

"The seals were removed at about 6 pm yesterday (Tuesday)," he said.

"For this to have happened a surety must have been paid. I haven't yet heard from the parties concerned as to whether the whole affair has been settled and if the main proceedings can now be dropped," he added.

Source : The Daily Star

No discrimination: Leaders of minority communities urge govt

Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, president of Bangladesh Indigenous People's Forum, yesterday urged the government to establish a society without discrimination by upholding rights of all communities including the indigenous people.

"If I impose 'Chakma' as the nationality of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will she agree?" Larma asked speaking at a seminar titled "Importance of Effective Land Commission in Enforcing Land and Human Rights of Indigenous People".

Leaders of the indigenous communities at the seminar demanded constitutional recognition as "indigenous" people and an effective land commission to establish their land rights.

They alleged the existing land commission has failed to resolve land disputes even 13 years after the signing of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.

The speakers also said settler Bangalees are still occupying indigenous people's land with the patronage of local administration.

The Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Bangladesh Indigenous People's Forum jointly organised the seminar at LGED-RDEC auditorium in Agargaon marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous People observed on August 9.

Santu Larma alleged that the government is not making the CHT Land Commission effective in order to make the hills a region with absolute Muslim majority. The government should ensure active participation of Jumma people in the land dispute solution process, he said.

He also demanded constitutional recognition to 54 indigenous communities living in Bangladesh.

Mangal Kumar Chakma, information and publicity secretary of Parbatya Chattagram Ancholik Parishad, and Sanjeev Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Forum for the Indigenous People, presented the keynote papers.

In his paper, Mangal Chakma said 75,686 acres of hill land in Bandarban has been acquired for military purpose, while the Department of Forest declared about 2.18 lakh acres of land as reserve forest breaching the CHT accord.

"Disregarding the inherited rights of the indigenous people, about 40,000 acres of land in Bandarban has been given to settler Bangalees for rubber cultivation," he added.

Speaking as the chief guest, Prof Mizanur Rahman, chairman of National Human Rights Commission, said the government should implement the peace accord to solve the problems of the CHT people.

The seminar was also addressed, among others, by former adviser to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal, columnist Sayed Abul Maksud, noted rights activist Khushi Kabir, and Information Commissioner Prof Sadeka Halim.

Source : The Daily Star

BDR Killing Case: All accused indicted

A special court yesterday completed framing charges against all 847 accused of the Pilkhana carnage case.

The much-awaited trial of the 2009 BDR carnage case will start on August 24 with the deposition of complainant Nabojyoti Khisha, the then officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station.

A total of 824 BDR jawans and 23 civilians in this case are accused of crimes like arson, theft, looting, disposing bodies by dumping or burying in mass graves.

Fifty-seven army officers who were on deputation in then Bangladesh Rifles, renamed later as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), were killed in the bloody mutiny.

The court proceedings started around noon, at least two and a half hours behind the schedule. Though the judge was present at his chamber, the proceedings could not begin as police failed to produce the accused before the court in time, which they blamed on the weather.

The court read out charges against 107 accused and thus finished framing charges against all the accused of the case filed for brutal killings at the Pilkhana headquarters.

Earlier, the court completed framing charges against 740 other accused.

"I have framed charges of the most gruesome killings," said Judge Mohammad Zohurul Hoque of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court.

The total number of accused was originally 850 after induction of 26 people in the supplementary charge sheet, but three of them died later. Besides, 20 of them are still at large. All the accused in police custody were hauled before the court yesterday.

The accused include Towhidul Islam, then deputy assistant director of Bangladesh Rifles, Subedar Maj Gofran Mallik, Sepoy Selim Reza, former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and Awami League activist Torab Ali. They are accused of playing a major role in the carnage.

Meanwhile, the prosecution yesterday proposed for framing charges against 831 accused in another case filed for possessing and blasting explosives during the February 25-26 mutiny in 2009.

The court asked the defence to submit discharge petitions in connection with the case filed under the Explosives Substances Act on the next scheduled date. The number of witnesses in the case is around 1,200.

Source : The Daily Star

Bangalees stand against rioters

Members of Bangalee community fended off looters and chased them out of neighbourhoods in London that saw a lull in violence yesterday after three days of rioting.

In Whitechapel, home to Britain's largest Bangladeshi population, Bangalee youths, who had gathered for evening prayers outside East London Mosque, had chased 70 masked rioters out of the neighbourhood on August 8 night, reports British national daily The Independent.

"There's a real sense of community here, especially during Ramadan when people are supposed to look out for each other," said Abdul Jalil, the manager of the Deshi Fish grocery store opposite the mosque.

"The shutters will come down this evening but I'm going to stick around in case the rioters come into the area again," he said.

Mahbub Alam, 35, the proprietor of a computer shop in East London, said their intervention reflected the determination of the community to protect itself from the mob and make sure its shops and cafes did not suffer the same fate as others across the capital, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Akikur Rahman, a resident of Whitechapel, said, "We're going to stand united to defend our community."

Rushanara Ali, lawmaker for Bethnal Green and Bow, visited the area yesterday and talked to locals.

The locals believed the rioters came from other boroughs, she said.

Councillor Josh Peck, leader of the Tower Hamlets Labour Party, said, "There is no excuse for the mindless criminality that we saw in Tower Hamlets last night."

"It is important that residents remain calm, make sure they know their children are at home and look out for one another in the days and nights ahead," said Josh Peck.

Meanwhile, Bangalee community leaders urged all to unite against the rioters and help restore law and order in London and elsewhere in the country.

The call came at an emergency meeting on Tuesday at Bangladesh Welfare Association in London.

They condemned the violence that continued for three days on Bethnal Green Road, Roman Road, and at Whitechapel in Tower Hamlets in the city.

Considering the prevailing situation, the authorities should put a ban on the proposed march by the English Defence League in Tower Hamlets on September 3, which is designed to whip up fear and incite violence, the leaders said.

Source : The Daily Star

Cylinder Blast: Man dies of heart attack

A shop owner died of a heart attack when a cooking gas cylinder exploded in the storehouse of his grocery shop at Bakshir Hat under Kotwali Police Station in the port city early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Md Nur Hossain, 50, of Hulaine village in Patiya upazila.

Hearing the sound of the blast that took place around 3:50 am, locals rushed to the spot and found Hossain lying on the floor injured. They rushed him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors declared him dead.

Locals alleged that Hossain might have become victim of the blast while he was preparing food in the cooking gas cylinder for sehri.

Md Harun, another shop owner in the area, told The Daily Star that Hossain used to reside alone in the storehouse, which is on the first floor of a two-storey building.

"The ground floor of the building was being used as his grocery," he added.

Quoting the death certificate issued by the hospital, Jahirul Islam, sub-inspector of CMCH Police Camp, said "Hossain died of a heart attack."

The body was sent to his village home after an autopsy, locals said.

At least one person was killed and seven others were injured in separate incidents of gas cylinder explosions in the port city during the May-July period this year.

Source : The Daily Star

London calm, riots spread across UK

Britain's worst riots in decades raged into the fourth day yesterday as youths ran amok in Manchester and the industrial Midlands.

However, London was quiet with 16,000 police swamping the streets to stem violence.

In Manchester, Britain's third-largest city, youths smashed shop windows and looted shops and chased photographers away from the scene in what police described as the city's worst violence in 30 years.

Elsewhere, hooded rioters set fire to buildings in West Bromwich and Wolverhampton in central England and a police station in nearby Nottingham was firebombed. No injuries were reported.

Looters also targeted shops in the second city of Birmingham for another night and 200 rioters pelted police with missiles in the northwest city of Liverpool as the nation faced up to a fourth day of unrest.

Scotland Yard said early yesterday that 768 people had been arrested in London for violence, disorder and looting.

But in London there was no repeat of the wave of violence which left parts of the capital in flames on Monday night, as vigilante mobs took to the streets to defend their communities.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday that a "fightback" was underway after four nights of rioting, adding that more robust policing had calmed the situation in London overnight.

"We needed a fightback and a fightback is underway," Cameron told a news conference outside 10 Downing Street.

Cameron said "nothing is off the table" in the new measures to take on the rioters.

"While they are not currently needed, we now have in place contingency plans for water cannon to be available at 24 hours' notice," he said.

British police were also already authorised to use "baton rounds" of plastic bullets, Cameron said.

The prime minister revealed that police were in the process of arresting suspects based on CCTV images.

"We will not allow a culture of fear to exist on our streets," Cameron said.

Police were bracing for more trouble after what they said was the worst night of disorder in living memory in the British capital, and their numbers were ramped up from 6,000 to 16,000 on Tuesday night as Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to do "everything necessary to restore order to the streets".

Shops in many parts of London closed early and put down their shutters on the advice of the police.

The focus of Tuesday's violence was Manchester in northwest England, where police were driven back by gangs of hundreds of youths who covered their faces with scarves and ski masks.

There were similar scenes in Birmingham, and in the neighbouring town of Wolverhampton where youths clashed with riot police brandishing shields.

In London, hundreds of Sikhs camped out overnight Wednesday to defend the community of Southall in the capital's west.

The group, some dressed in traditional clothing, organised motorcycle patrols and monitored the train station for troublemakers.

In a development which will do nothing to calm tensions, Britain's police watchdog said it found no evidence that Mark Duggan -- whose shooting by police last week was the catalyst for the riots in London -- had fired a gun at officers.

In a pre-planned operation, armed officers stopped the taxi in which Duggan, 29, was travelling in the multi-ethnic district of Tottenham in north London. Shots were fired and Duggan died at the scene.

Duggan's family said they were "completely gutted" by the findings and called for "answers" from the police.

The violence has raised questions about security ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and it prompted the cancellation of Wednesday's friendly between England and the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium.

Source : The Daily Star

HK exchange trading disrupted as hackers target web site

The Hong Kong stock exchange was forced to suspend trading in stocks including HSBC Holdings after hackers broke into the exchange's web site on Wednesday, preventing investors from accessing company announcements made during the midday break.

'Our current assessment that this is a result of a malicious attack by outside hacking,' the chief executive of Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Charles Li told reporters after the company announced interim results.

In a statement released earlier, HKEx said it had adopted a half-day (one trading session) suspension policy for issuers that announce price-sensitive information during the lunch hour.

Other systems at the exchange were not affected and trading in its securities and derivatives markets operated normally, the exchange said.

If the web site remains unstable on Thursday, the exchange's bulletin board will be used for dissemination of information but the stocks will be not suspended, said Mark Dickens, head of listing at HKEx.

Dickens added that the move to suspend trading was part of a contingency plan approved by the territory's stock regulator.

Li's statement comes after internet security firm McAfee said last week that it discovered a five-year long campaign of cyber attacks on the networks of governments, organisations and businesses.

Other targets have been the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the International Olympic Committee; and an array of companies from defence contractors to high-tech enterprises.

HKEx had its own shares suspended after it reported a 19.5 per cent rise in second-quarter profits. Other stocks which were halted for the day included Cathay Pacific and Dah Sing Financial which also reported interim results.

Source : New Age

ASEAN economic ministers meet in Indonesia

The United States and Europe are no longer the world's economic growth engines, Indonesian vice-president Boediono said Wednesday at the start of a meeting of Southeast Asian economic ministers.

The former central bank governor told the 43rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in Manado, Sulawesi island, that China and India were the pace-setters in the new global economy and Southeast Asia needed to adjust rapidly.

'Since the 2008 global financial crisis, it is evident that US and Europe could no longer be main engines of growth for the world economy,' Boediono told ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

'All of the ASEAN economies were affected by the global financial crisis. But, thanks to the relatively sound fundamentals and quick responses, the rebound was achieved by 2010. '

He said ASEAN economies were better-placed now to face 'global uncertainties' such as Europe's spreading debt crisis and the US credit downgrade, which triggered a sell-off on share markets this week.

'However, this is no time for complacency. We all have to be vigilant and be prepared with national policy responses, as well as regional policy responses and cooperation,' he said.

Southeast Asian ministers were expected to discuss progress toward the creation of an integrated economic community of almost 600 million people by 2015 during their talks in Indonesia this week.

Boediono called for special attention to be paid to enhancing competitiveness to ensure the region can hold its own against emerging regional giants China and India.

Non-tariff barriers needed to come down and micro-economic regulatory reform was required to encourage business start-ups, boost investment and improve productivity.

Source : New Age

IBBL launches three new products for NRBs

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited recently launched two new products—NRB entrepreneurs investment scheme and Mudaraba NRB savings bonds—for expatriate Bangladeshis.

The bank also launched another product remittance card—for NRBs, said a news release.

Source : New Age

China July exports hit record high

China's exports hit a record high in July as shipments to Europe and the United States proved surprisingly buoyant, allaying concerns that debt problems abroad may hold back the world's No 2 economy.

But analysts warned it was too soon to declare that Chinese exports can hold up in coming months as debt worries, sluggish consumer spending and now wildly volatile financial markets plague its two biggest customers.

'Both imports and exports are likely to grow at a slower pace in coming months,' said Li Xunlei, an economist at Guotai Junan Securities in Shanghai. 'The global financial market turbulence may lead to a contraction in external demand.'

July exports rose 20.4 per cent from a year ago, the strongest gain since April and surpassing economists' median forecast for a 17.4 per cent rise, data on Wednesday showed.

Imports were roughly in line with expectations, rising 22.9 per cent in July from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said. Economists had forecast growth of 22.3 per cent.

'China's trade sector is still facing great uncertainties,' said Nie Wen, an analyst at Hwabao Trust in Shanghai. 'Developed countries are forced to take austerity measures, and emerging markets may tighten (policy) as well to tame inflation.'

Indeed, just hours earlier, the US Federal Reserve took the unprecedented step of promising to leave interest rates near zero for at least two more years, painting a gloomy picture for the world's largest economy.

Noting that monetary policy risks are shifting to supporting growth from fighting inflation, China has signalled it may pause its 10-month policy tightening campaign for now.

Wednesday's data suggested sluggishness in the US and European economies has yet to put a big dent in Chinese export growth, as many investors had feared. Instead, robust US and European shipments helped pushed the value of China's monthly exports to a record high of $175.1 billion.

Source : New Age

Oil demand falters, price on a big dipper: IEA

The oil market is on a roller-coaster of uncertainty over debt, growth and political paralysis, and clouded by signs of a slowdown in China and India, the IEA said on Wednesday.

The International Energy Agency trimmed its estimate for global oil demand this year by 1,00,000 barrels per day because of a downward revision to demand in the second quarter, high prices and 'slowing economic growth.'

The IEA, the energy monitoring arm of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, said: 'Concerns over debt levels in Europe and the US, and signs of slowing economic growth in China and India have spooked the market and raised fears in some quarters of a double-dip recession.

'From an oil market standpoint, perceived wisdom is that this must inevitably mean weaker oil demand to come.'

The agency also commented: 'Arguably, political paralysis has played a greater role in the current situation than has the financial sector.'

The IEA meanwhile raised its 2012 forecast by 1,00,000 barrels per day, anticipating that Japan will increase its oil consumption to compensate for the loss of nuclear-generated electricity in the aftermath of the devastating March earthquake.

Japan is promoting efforts to reduce energy consumption, which the IEA estimated would fall by 4.5 per cent this year.

It also noted that of 54 Japanese nuclear reactors which usually cover for 27 per cent of demand for electricity, 'currently only 16 are online.'

Referring to a mixture of regular maintenance on other plants and pressures of public safety and new tests, it said that 'without a change in policy or maintenance schedules, all 54 reactors will be offline by May 2012.'

It said oil was on a 'big dipper,' with oil prices plunging $12-15 a barrel in about 10 days.

Warning that the outlook is very volatile, the IEA said 'August has a habit of springing both geopolitical and meteorological surprises, so the big dipper ride may still have further to run.'

It acknowledged that its assumption of global economic growth of more than 4.0 per cent in 2011-2012 'might seem optimistic in the present climate.'

Oil prices were firmer after the report was published.

Brent North Sea oil for September was up $3.95 to $106.50 per barrel and New York's main West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude contract for September was up $3.13 to $82.43.

On Chinese demand, a key issue in the last five years, the IEA said that 'for the first time since March 2009, China's monthly apparent demand ... contracted on an annual basis, falling by 1.5 per cent in June.'

This data, which should be treated with caution the agency said, was however in line 'with evidence that China's economy is also slowing down.'

Indian demand rose by 1.8 per cent in June, a notably lower rate than in the previous six months and 'the Indian economy has shown signs of slowing.'

Source : New Age

Bangladesh to host SAARC tourism Mart in Dec

Bangladesh will host SAARC Tourism Mart in December this year to project entire South Asia as a single brand of tourist destination in front of the international tourists.

'As per decision of SAARC tourism ministerial on tourism in Colombo in 2009, we will organise the SAARC tourism fair in Dhaka in December next,' civil aviation and tourism minister G M Quader told the news agency on Wednesday.

National tourism organisations and many tour operators of all eight member states of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — will participate at the mega tourism fair.

The finance ministry has already allocated Tk five crore to the civil aviation and tourism ministry to organise the fair, expected to be inaugurated by prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Source : New Age

Restaurants selling iftar items fined

Fourteen business outlets in the capital, including the restaurants selling iftar items, were fined Tk 3.85 lakh for poor hygiene, giving short measures and charging more than the government fixed prices.

Four mobile courts of the Dhaka district administration conducted drives in the Gulshan, Moghbazar, Kakrail, Malibagh and Fakirapool area with the assistance of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and law enforcers.

Executive magistrates Mohammad Al Amin, Rahima Khatun, Abu Sayeed and Shakil Ahmed led the drives.

One of the mobile courts, led by Al Amin, found Samarkhand Restaurant at Gulshan preparing jilapi, a food item, with mixture of sodium hydrosulfide.

The court realised Tk 1 lakh from the restaurant management and jailed the jilapi maker Malu Miah, 50, for a month.

The court also seized 500 grams of sodium hydrosulfide from the restaurant.

The court fined Khusbu Restaurant at Gulshan Tk 50,000 after rat's stool and ant's eggs were found inside the utensils used for selling halim.

The courts fined two restaurants, a coffee shop and two bakeries Tk 1.1 lakh for poor hygiene, storing stale food and producing food items without BSTI licences.

The court also sealed a factory of Hazi Bakery at Bara Moghbazar for producing breads, cake and biscuits without the permission from the BSTI.

The other courts fined three fruits sellers—Mohammmad Ali and Sukkur Ali at Malibagh intersection and Amir Hossain at Fakirapool— Tk 5,000 for giving short measures.

Meanwhile, the national consumer rights protection directorate conducted drive, led by it deputy director ABM Badiuzzaman, at Karwanbazar and fined three business outlets — Chowdhury Store, Sohel General Store and Jabbar Store — Tk 25,000 for selling sugar and soybean oil higher than the government-fixed price.

Source : New Age

Hotels, drug store fined in Chittagong

Mobile courts fined 11 business enterprises and individuals Tk 1.14 lakh on various charges in different parts of the Chittagong city on Wednesday.

A court, led by deputy director of Consumer Rights Protection Department Jubayer Ahmed, fined Chittagong Hotel at Wireless crossing Tk 40,000, Bhai Bhai Hotel Tk 20,000 and Mama-Bhagne Hotel Tk 10,000.

The same court fined Mostafiz Medical Hall at Khulshi Tk 10,000, Sumi Medico Tk 10,000, Mabud Medical Hall Tk 5,000, Jahura Pharmacy Tk 5,000 and Amit Medical Hall Tk 5,000.

Jubayer told reporters that the restaurants were fined on charge of cooking and selling foods in unhygienic condition while the medicine shops were

fined on charge of

selling date-expired medicines.

Another court, led by executive magistrate Yasmin Parveen, fined Hotel Meraj at Alkaran Road Tk 5,000 for selling food in unhygienic condition, Idrish Store Tk 3,000 for cheating in measurement and a

butcher Mohammed Kayesh Tk 1,000 on the same charge.

Source : New Age

RWASA set afoot with Tk 2cr annual deficit

THE Rajshahi Water and Sewerage Authority has started its operation with about Tk 2 crore annual deficit while it will have to work with inadequate manpower, equipment and funds.

The Rajshahi City Corporation at a meeting in the city building on July 31 formally handed over the charge of water supplying system to the Rajshahi WASA.

With the shift of authority, a total of 252 officials and employees, including 62 permanent staff of the RCC water section, have been transferred to WASA.

But RWASA chief engineer Parvez Mamud told New Age that they needed two hundred more staff to run the organisation smoothly.  

After handing over their charge, Rajshahi City Corporation finance committee president and also a councillor Abdul Hamid Sarker Tekon had informed that the RCC would get a big amount of money from WASA.

He told New Age that the RCC would get Tk 1.19 crore from RWASA in electricity bills and other charges incurred by the water supply authority during the past one year.

He also said the RCC would take this money from RWASA immediately. 'A letter has already been sent to WASA, asking for the money.'

RCC sources said there are a total 48,000 holdings under the city corporation. But the city corporation had supplied water to 32,000 holdings. Besides, there were lots of illegal connections.

System loss is another problem which RWASA inherited from the city corporation and it will be difficult for the water authority to check the system loss and monitor pipeline with its small manpower, the RCC sources added.     

The sources also informed that as per the existing water tax, the Rajshahi WASA would earn Tk 2.23 crore annually but they have to spend more than Tk 4 crore for salary of the officers and staff and maintenance expenditure.

When contacted, Rajshahi WASA managing director Rezaul Haque, admitting the manpower crisis, told New Age that earlier the water supply system was a simple branch of the city corporation.

But, as WASA is now a separate and full-fledged institution, it needs more manpower than the RCC water section, he added.

He also said they had already sent a proposal to the ministry concerned, seeking immediate appointment of staff at Rajshahi WASA.

Asked about the annual deficit, the managing director of RWASA again said they would receive more allocation from the government to meet fund crisis.

He, however, said as per its guidelines, WASA is supposed to be run with its own income.

'But, as RWASA has started its business only recently, it will take time for self-sufficiency,' he said, adding that after five or six months WASA would increase the water tax.

The Rajshahi city dwellers hope that Rajshahi Water and Sewerage Authority will address the long-standing water crisis in the city.

Subrata Das, a college teacher and resident of Ganakpara in the city, told New Age that they wanted safe dirking water from RWASA.

Gita Rani, a housewife and resident of Kumarpara, told New Age that they used to go the River Padma to take bath and urged the WASA to ensure interrupted supply of water.

Source : New Age

5 Indians held at C’nawabganj frontier

Border Guards of Bangladesh personnel arrested five Indian nationals and a Bangladeshi citizen at Shingnagar frontier of Shibganj in Chapainawabganj on Tuesday night allegedly for intruding into Bangladesh territory.

Later they were handed over to Shibganj police station on Wednesday noon with a case.

Source : New Age

88kg hemp recovered, 7 arrested in Gazipur

A team of the Department of Narcotics in Gazipur with the help of Rapid Action Battelion-1 recovered 88kg hemp from a house at Kalialoir and a slum at Tongi and arrested seven persons early Wednesday.

The arrested are Joynab Begum, 50, wife of Late Nazim Uddin of Madhdha Kalialkoir in Gazipur Sadar upazila and her daughter's husband Md Rana, 28, and Parvin Begum, 25, Alyea Begum, 22, Saiful Islam, 35, Mintu Mia, 36, and Sajeda Begum, 27 all of the dwellers of Keranir Tek slum at Tongi.

Among the arrested, Parvin Begum and Alyea Begum were jailed for six months by a mobile court for hemp trading.

Nazmul Hossain Khan, sub-inspector of the Department of Narcotics in Gazipur, said that on a tip-off, they raided the house of Joynab Begum at Kalialoir with the help of RAB-1 and recovered 73kg hemp from the house. They also arrested Joynab Begum and her son-in-law for involvement in the trading.

Later, the team raided Keranir Tek slum at Amtoli of Tongi and arrested Parvin Begum and Alyea Begum with 5 KG hemp. A mobile court sentenced them to six months imprisonment and sent to Gazipur district jail.

The team raided other houses in that slum and arrested Saiful Islam, Mintu Mia and Sajeda Begum and recovered 10 KG hemp from their possession.

Two cases were filed with Joydebpur and Tongi police stations in this connection.

Source : New Age

National Mourning Day programmes announced

The government has drawn elaborate programmes to observe the National Mourning Day marking the 36th anniversary of the martyrdom Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with due respect and solemnity on August 15.

The national flag will fly half-mast atop all government, semi-government, autono-mous bodies and educational institution offices on the day.

The Bangladesh missions abroad will arrange discussions besides hoisting the national flag at half-mast atop their respective offices.

The president and the prime minister will place floral wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at 6:30 am at Bangabandhu museum on Road 32, Dhanmondi in Dhaka on the occasion.

A smartly turned out contingent of the Armed Forces will give a guard of honour to the portrait of the Bangaban-dhu at the Bangabandhu Museum. A special munajat will be offered there.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will place wreaths and offer fateha at 7.30 am at the Banani graveyard of all her family members who embraced martyrdom.

Besides, floral wreaths will be placed at the graveside of the late president at 10:00am at Tungipara. Fateha will be offered and the Armed Forces will again give a guard of honour there.

An inter-ministerial meeting held at the cabinet division conference room on Wednesday adopted the programmes to observe the day. Cabinet secretary M Abdul Aziz chaired the meeting.

A milad mahfil will be held at Tungipara after Zohr prayer.  Besides, special prayer will be offered in the country's all mosques, temples, churches and other religious institutions.

Bangladesh Betar and the Bangladesh Television will put up special programmes in observance of the National Mourning day.  Newspapers will bring out special supplements on the occasion.

Besides, Shachitra (pictorial) Bangladesh will publish special edition and posters and distribute them. Special documentaries titled 'Chiranjib Bangabandhu' and 'Amader Bangabandhu' will be screened.

Different ministries and divisions will take initiatives to observe the day in consonance of the national programmes.

The district and upazila administrations will take initiative to observe the day through Doa mahfil and discussion meetings along with national programmes.

Different socio-cultural organisations will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu and will hold doa mahfil and discussion meetings.

Different educational institutions will arrange discussions, recitation programmes, Art competitions, Hamdh and Nath competitions marking the National Mourning Day.

Source : New Age

Govt trying to turn CHT into a Muslim region: Santu

Bangladesh Adivasi Forum president Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, on Wednesday said the government was working to turn the Chittagong Hill Tracks into a Muslim-dominated region.

'The present government is pampering the ultra-nationalism and communalism instead of harbouring good culture,' he said.

He was addressing a seminar titled 'Importance of effective Land Commission in enforcing land and rights of the indigenous people' at LGED Bhaban in the capital.

Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Mizanur Rahman attended the seminar as chief guest while former caretaker government adviser Sultana Kamal as present at special guest.

Addressing the seminar, Santu Larma said a problem was created recently over 'Adivasi', a word which has been dropped from the constitution. 'Dropping the word, now the constitution says all citizens of Bangladesh will be recognised as Bengalis.'

'If Sheikh Hasina is called Chakma, will she accept the identity? There are 54 indigenous groups in the country and they must be recognised in the constitution,' Larma told the seminar.

About the Land Commission, Larma said, 'Present land commissioner Justice Khademul Islam deems himself as a 'great scholar' and his actions manifest as if he is presiding over court sessions. Necessary laws for settling land disputes in the CHT should be formulated in consultation with the CHT regional and district councils.'

He demanded formation of a strong land commission for the CHT and another separate land commission for the country's plain land indigenous people. 'Land, forest and hill are the life for the indigenous people,' he said, adding that no people can live without land.

NHRC chairman Mizanur Rahman said full implementation of the CHT peace treaty was a must at this present context to solve the problems in the hilly region. The indigenous people are the citizens of the country and they both in hilly and plain lands are gradually becoming marginalised, he said.

He emphasised immediate resolution of land disputes of the indigenous people to put an end to all of their problems. 'The organic tea we take is produced with the labour and blood of the indigenous people,' he said.

Information commissioner Sadeka Halim, columnist Syed Abul Muksod and women leader Khushi Kabir addressed the seminar.

Source : New Age

Felani’s family given Tk 1.5 lakh

The Patriots of Bangladesh and Bangla daily newspaper Amardesh on Wednesday extended financial assistance to the father of Felani, the teenage girl who was killed by the Border Security Force of India at the border near Kurigram on January 7.

'It's a token assistance to the victim's family,' said Professor Mahbubullah of Dhaka University's development studies department. 

The Patriots of Bangladesh organised the programme titled 'We are beside the family of shaheed Felani,' at the National Press Club in the capital to hand over the cheque.

The organisers handed over Tk 1.5 lakh to Felani's father Nurul Islam and conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved family members.

The organisation's secretary general, Abdul Hye Sikder, told the programme that they had committed to provide assistant to the family.

Earlier on February 9, the Kurigram police administration had foiled a scheduled programme of some Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaning freedom fighters and intellectuals to provide financial assistance to the family, said Abdul Hye.

Felani was shot dead by Indian BSF on January 7 while she was entering into Bangladesh and her body was hung on barbwire for hours, triggering criticism both locally and internationally.

Before handing over the cheque, in a short discussion, the daily Amardesh editor, Mahmudur Rahman, was critical of the government's move to allow India to use transit or corridor facilities.

The programme chair, Emajuddin Ahmed, also former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, vowed to resist the government move to allow India to use Bangladesh as transit.

Source : New Age

Zia sowed seeds of unrest in CHT: Mizanur Rahman

The National Human Rights Commission chairman, Mizanur Rahman, on Wednesday said former military ruler Ziaur Rahman had sowed the seeds of unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts through settling Bengali people in the hill areas.

'Only full implementation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord can restore peace in the hill areas through uprooting unrest,' he said while taking part in a discussion in the capital.

Bangladesh Adibasi Forum and ALRD, a non-government organisation, jointly organised the discussion on 'Importance of Land Commission in establishing human and land rights of the indigenous people' at the LGED auditorium.

President of Bangladesh Adibasi Forum and chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma chaired the function while general secretary of the organisation Sanjeeb Drong and information secretary of CHT Regional Council Mangal Kumar Chakma read out keynote papers.

Mizan said the seeds of unrest sowed by Ziaur Rahman in the post-1975 period had got deep-rooted over the decades and now was the time to uproot the seeds of unrest in the greater national interest.

He said the situation in the hill areas worsened further when Zia handed over documents of land to the Bengali settlers in the hills although the tribal people had been enjoying ownership of their lands from generation to generation.

He said the National Human Rights Commission will extend its cooperation to minimise the gap between the Land Commission and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council with an aim to restore peace in the hill areas.

Sultana Kamal, who attended the function as special guest, demanded recognition of 'indigenous' people so that they could live in society through their self-identity.

Describing the land problem in the CHT region as a major one, she said the Land Commission had to be reformed to solve the crisis.

Santu Larma said the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord signed on December 2, 1997 must be given constitutional recognition, otherwise it would be 'illegal'. He said cultural heritages of 54 ethnic minorities must be upheld.

Source : New Age

PM reaffirms commitment to rooting out terrorism

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday reiterated her government's firm commitment to rooting out terrorism, saying that not a single inch of the country's land would be let be used for terrorist activities.

'There is no room for using the land for terrorist activities,' she made the remark when outgoing Egyptian Ambassador Fayez Mostafa Noseir called on her at her office this morning.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said various issues relating to bilateral interests including trade and investment also came up for discussion.

Referring to her government's tougher stance against terrorism, Sheikh Hasina said it is not possible for the government alone to combat this menace as terrorists have no boundaries.

About corruption, the prime minister said her government is making all out efforts to eliminate corruption at all levels.  'The government does not entertain corruption in any way,' she added.

Sheikh Hasina said, since taking office two-and-a-half years ago, the present government is striving hard to solve various problems including power shortage with sincerity and integrity.

'The present government is committed to materialising its pledge to turn Bangladesh into a technology-based, progressive and prosperous country in line with the Vision-2021,' she said.

Terming the relations between the two brotherly countries as historic, the prime minister hoped that the ties would be strengthened further in the days ahead.

She also sought more Egyptian investment in Bangladesh taking advantage of the excellent investment atmosphere here.

The outgoing Egyptian ambassador lauded the visionary and dynamic leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and said that Bangladesh has achieved tremendous success in different fields including agriculture, health, education and women empowerment.

Ambassador At-Large M Ziauddin, prime minister's principal secretary MA Karim and PMO secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman were also present on the occasion.

Source : New Age

Judicial probe instituted

A one-member judicial committee was appointed on Wednesday to probe into the lynching of six students at Amin Bazaar in Savar on July 18.

Metropolitan magistrate Utpal Chowdhury has been asked to probe into the incident and submit a report in 30 days.

Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate AKM Enamul Haque instituted the probe into the incident in compliance with an order the High Court had issued on August 3, law ministry senior information officer Mizanur Rahman told New Age.

A High Court bench of Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif on August 3 directed the chief judicial magistrate of Dhaka to assign a judicial magistrate to hold the judicial inquiry into the incident of taking law into the hands and submit a report to the High Court in a month.

The bench issued the order after six young students of reputed educational institutions in the capital city were beaten to death by a mob of more than a dozen individuals of the locality at Amin Bazaar in the early morning of July 18.

It gave the directive after hearing a public interest litigation writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and secretary general of the National Forum for the Protection of Human Rights Tajul Islam, challenging the government's inaction during and after the incident, which sent shock waves across the nation.

The petitioner sought judicial inquiry into the incident.

The six victims, Sitaf Jabi Munif of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology.and Shams Rahim Shamam of Maple Leaf International School,

Tipu Sultan of Tejgaon College, Towhidur Rahman Palash, Kamruzzaman Kanto and Ibrahim Khalil of Mirpur Bangla College died on the spot.

Their families and friends said they had gone on an outing to Keblar Char when a mob attacked them saying they mistook them for robbers.

The villagers, however, said that the mob had surrounded the young students when they were allegedly were preparing to commit robbery.

Soon after the incident, police filed a murder case against 500 to 600 unnamed villagers.

But local sand dealer Abdul Malek filed a case of robbery against the six victims with Savar police station.

On July 28, the government ordered for recording the Amin Bazaar lynching case in the home ministry's list of sensational cases.

On July 21, the government appointed an inquiry committee comprising four police officers, headed by deputy inspector general of police Mohammad Amin Uddin, following the previous order the High Court had issued on July 20.

The writ petition mentioned that the inquiry committee visited the spot of the lynching and recorded the depositions of some local people, all of whom were selected by the police officers of the local police station.

It also mentioned that the six students were beaten to death at Amin Bazaar in the presence of policemen.

The same bench on July 20 directed the home secretary, the inspector general of police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, the deputy commissioner and superintendent of the police of Dhaka, and the officers-in-charge of the Savar and Ashulia police stations to explain in ten days why they should not be directed to take punitive action against the persons responsible for lynching the six students.

They were also directed to explain why their inaction and failure to protect the six young students of reputed institutions from the mob lynching should not be declared unlawful.

The bench also ordered the respondents to explain why they should not be directed to pay compensation to the families of the victims and to the survivors of the mob beating.

Source : New Age

HC denies bail to 12 lawyers

The High Court on Wednesday summarily rejected the petitions filed by 12 Supreme Court lawyers seeking bail in the case of scuffles between two groups of lawyers.

The lawyers sought bail in a case filed with Shahbagh police on August 2 accusing them and other colleagues of assaulting the police and obstructing them in their duty in a courtroom of the  Supreme Court on the day during scuffles between two groups of lawyers, one loyal to the ruling Awami League and the other to the opposition BNP.

A bench of Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque and Justice AKM Zahirul Hoque rejected the petitions on the ground that no accused could seek anticipatory bail without appearing before the court.

The court in its order also showed the lawyers as 'fugitives' but later agreed to expunge the term 'fugitives' from the final order as their counsels raised objection.

The court also turned down the plea of senior lawyer Moudud Ahmed and Supreme Court Bar Association president Khandker Mahbub Hossain and secretary M Bodruddoza for treating the petitions as 'not pressed'.

The court told the defence counsels that it had to reject the petition of the 12 accused lawyers considering the prestige of the judges and the Supreme Court.

On August 3, 13 lawyers filed the bail petitions and the matter was transferred to the bench on August 4 following the chief justice's order as another bench felt embarrassed to hear the petitions.

Later, attorney general Mahbubey Alam told reporters, 'the accused lawyers now have no way but to surrender before the trial court.'

Bodruddoza, however, told reporters, 'We can move the bail petitions in another High Court bench as the court on Wednesday assured us of changing the order.'

On August 7, the bench led by Justice Anwarul Haque heard bail petitions in presence of the accused lawyers, and wished to pass the order on the day but the court keep the order pending for a day as Khandker Mahbub sought time to settle the matter out-of-the court.

On the following day, Bodruddoza sought time for settling the matter between the senior lawyers of the two sides.

Later, the SCBA president and the secretary invited senior lawyers of the bar on the two sides, including attorney general Mahbubey Alam to settle the issue through discussion.

But the pro ruling party lawyers abstained.

Mahbubey Alam told reporters that there could be no compromise with the lawyers who showed disrespect to judges by throwing a plastic substance at them.

On Tuesday, the SCBA leaders met the chief justice, Md Muzammel Hossain, and requested him to call senior lawyers on the two sides to settle the issue.

But the chief justice did not respond, said the SCBA president.

On August 2, Detective Branch inspector Soliman Hossain filed the first case accusing 14 lawyers of assaulting the police and obstructing them in the discharge of their duty inside in the courtroom of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore during a scuffle between lawyers loyal to the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP.

On August 3, the High Court bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore banned the 13 lawyers from practising in any court after the lawyers of the two groups scuffled on August 2 in the courtroom over the bench warning the leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia not to make indecorous remarks about the constitution.

The High Court, after hearing a verbal prayer from deputy attorney general ABM Altaf Hossain, also issued a rule suo moto on the Bangladesh Bar Council and the 13 lawyers to explain in 10 days why their certificates of enrolment should not be cancelled.

On August 4, the Detective Branch of police arrested three Supreme Court lawyers including, BNP lawmaker Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia, Gazi Towhidul Islam and Abu Bakar Siddique, within hours of a High Court judge had felt embarrassed to hear the petitions filed by 14 lawyers.

Bakar was arrested on suspicion that he was involved in the scuffle.

The 14 lawyers made accused in the case are Papia, Towhid, Kazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Shahiduzzaman, Mirza Al Mahmud, Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Abdullah Al Mahbub, Mahmudul Arefin Swapan, M U Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Ashrafuzzaman Khan, Rezwan Ahmed and Khristan Nabi and Golam Mohammad Chowdhury Alam.

Sajal, Ali, Mirza, Ashrafuzzaman, Mahbub, Anamul and Swapan were also made accused in a second case filed by police sub inspector MA Jalil, against nine lawyers stating that the accused along with seven or eight other lawyers had assaulted him and obstructed him from performing his duty on August 4, after he had gone to the Supreme Court Bar Association Building at about 3.30 Pm in plain clothes to investigate the case filed on August 2 against 14 lawyers.

Waliur Rahman Khan and Golam Mohammad Chowdhury Alam were implicated in the second case.

Among the accused, Wali had withdrawn his bail petition Wednesday morning while Amamul Hossain fell sick during the hearing. 

Source : New Age

British PM says riot fightback under way

The British prime minister, David Cameron, said a 'fightback' was underway Wednesday after four nights of violent riots, as he authorised police to use water cannon for the first time on the mainland.

After the worst riots in a generation spread to Manchester and three Asian men were hit and killed by a car while defending their community in Birmingham, Cameron said there was a 'sickness' in British society.

He said London was quieter overnight after 16,000 police flooded the streets and vigilante groups protected stricken neighbourhoods from gangs who have burned down and raided dozens of shops and homes.

'We needed a fightback and a fightback is underway,' Cameron told a news conference outside 10 Downing Street after the second meeting of Britain's COBRA security committee in as many days.

'We now have in place contingency plans for water cannon to be available at 24 hours' notice,' Cameron said, adding that the police had already been authorised to use plastic baton rounds against rioters.

Water cannon have only previously been used in the troubled British province of Northern Ireland to tackle sectarian tensions between the Protestant and Roman Catholic communities.

The violence has raised questions about security ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and it prompted the cancellation of Wednesday's football friendly between England and the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium.

Cameron's tough new line comes after he flew back from holiday in Tuscany on Tuesday to take charge of the biggest challenge to the Conservative-led coalition government since it came to power in May last year.

The police have arrested more than 1,100 people across the country for violence, disorder and looting since the riots erupted on Saturday in the north London district of Tottenham after police shot dead a man two days earlier.

The prime minister dismissed 'phoney concerns about human rights' over the issuing by police of photos of some of the suspected rioters. He also called for all those convicted over the disorder to be jailed.

Manchester in northwest England and the industrial English Midlands bore the brunt of Tuesday night's violence.

In Birmingham, Britain's second biggest city, the police said they had arrested a man and launched a murder inquiry after an incident in which three Asian men died when they were hit by a speeding car.

Witnesses said the men who died had just come out of a mosque and were protecting their neighbourhood shops from rioters.

'They lost their lives for other people, doing the job of the police,' Mohammed Shakiel said outside the hospital where the men were taken, prompting around 200 people to gather in support.

Tariq Jahan, whose 21-year-old son Haroon Jahan was one of those killed, urged locals not to take revenge and called for the law to be allowed to take its course.

'I don't blame the government, I don't blame the police, I don't blame nobody,' he said. 'I'm a Muslim, I believe in divine fate and destiny, and it was his destiny and his fate, and now he's gone.'

The government has blamed 'opportunistic' criminals for the unrest, but the opposition says cuts to social services and the failure to deal with underlying social problems has contributed to the riots, which have mainly been in deprived areas.

In Manchester masked gangs set fire to a girls' fashion store and smashed the glass entrance of the Arndale Centre, Manchester's main shopping mall, allowing hundreds of youths to run off with armfuls of clothes and shoes.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police, who joined the force after moving to the city in 1981, called the scenes 'senseless violence and senseless criminality on a scale I have never witnessed before.'

Elsewhere 200 rioters pelting police with missiles in the Toxteth area of the northwest city of Liverpool, which was rocked by huge riots in 1981.

Hooded rioters also set fire to buildings in West Bromwich and Wolverhampton in central England and a police station in nearby Nottingham was firebombed. There was also trouble in the western English town of Gloucester.

The only other fatality of the riots so far was a man found with a gunshot wound to the head in a car in the south London suburb of Croydon.

Source : New Age

Charge hearing against Sayedee deferred

The International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday deferred to August 18 the hearing on the framing of charges against detained Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Amir Delwar Hossain Sayedee.

It directed the prison authorities to allow defence  counsels Tajul Islam and Tanveer Ahmed Al-Amin to meet and consult Sayedee at the prison on August 16 for the whole day.

The meeting and consultation will be a privileged communication and none other than the three will be allowed to stay there, ordered the tribunal, better known as the war crimes tribunal, instituted on 25 March, 2010 for the trial of the 1971 war crimes.

It also asked the prosecution to submit again to the tribunal by August 14 the documents, including the formal charge and evidences, it had earlier submitted as 97 pages of the 400-page document were illegible.

The tribunal of Justice Nizamul Huq, Justice ATM Fazle Kabir and Judge AKM Zahir Ahmed asked the defence counsels for Sayedee to procure the copy of the documents on August 14.

The tribunal passed the order after hearing an application filed by Sayedee seeking adjournment of the hearing on the framing of charges.

Moving the application, Tanveer argued that they needed time to get prepared for the hearing as they received the documents on July 27.

Although the tribunal asked them to receive the copy on July 14, the prosecution had made delay in submitting the documents to the registrar of the tribunal, the counsel said.

He also argued that 97 pages of the documents were illegible and prayed for a directive on the prosecution to provide the defence with a fresh copy.

He also argued that they needed to consult Sayedee about the charges pressed and documents submitted against him before the hearing on the framing of charges.

Prosecutor Ziad-Al-Malum said that the prosecution would provide the defence with fresh copy of the documents and the defence counsels could be allowed to consult Sayedee in accordance with the jail code.

Sayedee was on the dock during Wednesday's proceedings.

Nicholas Koumjian, a senior war crimes prosecutor who most recently was in charge of the prosecution of former Liberia president Charles Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, is now in Dhaka on behalf of the US's war crimes ambassador-at-large Steven Rapp to 'assess developments' in the tribunal. He was present at the court observing the proceedings.

Earlier on July 14, the tribunal took cognisance of the first-ever charges of war crimes pressed against Sayedee and posted for Wednesday the hearing in the framing of charges in the case, recorded as ICT Case-1/2011 against Sayedee.

Sayedee is the first man who is now facing charges of war crimes committed during the War of Independence in 1971.

Apart from Sayedee, Jamaat's Amir Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and assistant secretaries general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, also a lawmaker, have been detained on charge of committing war crimes, along with others.

All of them have been interrogated at the government designated 'safe house' at Dhanmandi for a day each.

The tribunal on July 12 ordered the prosecution to submit the report of the investigation against the detained four top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders—Nizami, Mojaheed, Kamaruzzaman and Quader Molla—by August 1.

The tribunal, however, on March 31 granted bail to former BNP lawmaker and minister Abdul Alim on certain conditions.

Source : New Age

HC summons politicians, talk-show host

The High Court on Wednesday asked two politicians and a talk-show host of a private television channel to appear in court on August 18 on charge of making derogatory remark about the court.

It issued a rule suo moto asking the Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson's adviser Ahmed Azam Khan and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal leader Razequzzaman Ratan and Anjan Roy, the anchor of Ekushey Television's talk-show Ekusher Rat, to explain in two weeks why they would not be punished on charge of contempt of court.

The bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore also asked the ETV authorities to submit the video clips of the programme to it by August 12 for examination.

The rule was issued on charge of questioning and scandalising the authority of the High Court, deputy attorney general ABM Altaf Hossain told reporters.

In the talk-show, the three said that the judges had written an essay on cow while writing an essay on river in passing order on a petition filed against the  Islami Oikya Jote faction chairman Fazlul Huq Amini.

The same bench on August 2 warned the Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, not to make any further indecorous comments about the constitution.

The court passed the order during the hearing in a writ petition filed by writer Shahriyar Kabir seeking direction on the government to take legal action against Fazlul Haque Amini for reportedly saying in his office at Lalbagh on July 14 that the amended constitution would not only be thrown away but would also be thrown into the dustbin.

The court had passed the August 2 order amid a scuffle between pro-Awami League and pro-BNP lawyers in the courtroom as the pro-BNP lawyers were opposing the pronouncement of the order saying that the court should not pass an order against Khaleda as the petition was not filed against her.

In the talk-show, the two politicians questioned the pronouncement of the order against Khaleda during the hearing in the petition against Amini.

Source : New Age