BANGLADESH

BNP says Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman has been made an accused in Aug 21, 2004 grenade attack case as Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami's Bangladesh operations chief Mufti Hannan named him on 'receiving death threats'.

"The supplementary charge sheet of the case is false," Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a press call on Wednesday.

The opposition party's acing secretary-general showed an application of Hannan where he appealed to withdraw his deposition given in the case and demanded release of those arrested on being named in the supplementary charge-sheet.

"Mufti Hannan's appeal to withdraw his deposition proves that Tarique Rahman and other politicians accused in the case had no ties to the attack. The government named him (in the supplementary charge-sheet) to wreak political vengeance on," he said.

"It's clear by this that the government is not interested in identifying the main brains behind the attack," Fakhrul added.

HuJ) chief Hannan on Tuesday appealed to Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 to withdraw his affidavit given under Section 164 of the Bangladesh Penal Code.

Fakhrul further alleged that Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) threatened Hannan that he would be killed if he did not name Tarique.

Citing Hannan's application, the BNP leader said, "Fazlul Karim and Abdul Kahhar Akhand (investigation officers of the case) often took me (Hannan) to RAB blindfolded. My eyesight has been affected by torture. My right hand and left leg have also been paralysed."

Fakhrul added that the HuJI chief had been remanded altogether for 410 days.

At least 24 people had been killed and over 100 injured in the grenade attack on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on Aug 21. Then the opposition leader Sheikh Hasina had been injured in the deadly blasts.

Police later submitted two charge-sheets, one for the murder and another for explosives use, in the cases.

On further investigation, supplementary charge-sheets in the cases were submitted on July 3 naming senior vice-chairman Tarique and 30 others, including Jamaat-e-Islami secretary-general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed.

The charge-sheeted accused in the twin cases are now 52.

BNP has been saying that Tarique was named in the charge sheets as part of a plan to bar him from running in the next general election while Awami League alleged that he masterminded the attack that killed incumbent president Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman.

It's the incident of Sept 21 when police arrested two people from the Dhaka judge court premises while providing mobile phones in shoes to Mohammad Hossain and Abdul Malek – two suspected militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

The men are also accused in the August 21 grenade attack case.

Lawyers and other court people have expressed their concern over the lapsed security management on the court premises.

The JMB incident has created panic among the people involved in court activities.

The police on June 28 arrested one Hafez Abdul Gafur who was chanting slogans – 'Everything is false, the truth will win– standing at the veranda during the hearing of a case filed against Mufti Hannan, a top leader of banned Islamist terror outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), in Dhaka Sessions Judge's Court.

In September last year, Mufti Hannan threatened a public prosecutor inside the courtroom. Thus the militant leaders often threaten and advise the judges in different ways standing in the dock.

On Sept 6 last year, email was sent to the law ministry demanding immediate release of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary-general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and its central executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee who face charges of crimes against humanity during 1971 independence war.

Asif Imran, an accused in journalist Gautam Das murder case, fled the court custody of Dhaka's First Speedy Trial Tribunal on Apr 21 the same year.

The people concerned alleged that no proper step had been taken to strengthen security in Dhaka court premises despite such incidents.

They said a tight patrolling and monitoring of the law enforcement agencies were in place at the gates of Dhaka court following the unprecedented series bomb blasts across the country on Aug 17, 2005.

Special public prosecutor of Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's Court Shaheen Ahmed Khan told bdnews24.com: "We, the public prosecutors and judges, are concerned over a lack of security on the court premises. Especially, we are to remain in fear of attacks of the hidden militant outfits which aim to establish Islamic rule in the country."

Dhaka's Fourth Speedy Trial Tribunal's special public prosecutor Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said: "Policemen were not found despite calling them when these accused create untoward situation in the courtroom."

The lawyers also remain in fear of criminals apart from the militant outfits. The incident of attacking the chambers of different lawyers nearby the court area is common.

The followers of the self-exiled top terror Dakat Shahid fired several rounds entering the chamber of lawyer Zakir Hossain at Koilash Ghosh Lane on Aug 3, 2009. Hossain had suffered serious bullet injuries in the attack.

Hossain said: "Dhaka Lawyers Association had decided not to conduct any case for those who attacked me. But some lawyers later conducted the case of the identified criminals and they were released on bail."

Several lawyers of Kalta Bazaar, Karkunbari Lane, Nasiruddin Sarder Lane and Rajardeuri Lane, seeking anonymity, said that they need to pay tolls to local criminals, otherwise, they assault them.

A Dhaka court lawyer Syed Ahmed Gazi told bdnews24.com that many of the victim lawyers do not want to say anything about it out of fear.

A number of murders have been committed over the last 10 years in the court area in Old Dhaka.

One Morshed, son of a lawyer of Mohammadpur area of the city, Juba League leader (Murgi) Milan who came to appear before the court, witness of a case Dhaka's Mirpur unit Juba League leader Abul Kalam Azad, BNP leaders Anwar Hossain Anu and Nazrul Islam were killed in the court premises.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Mizanur Rahman has threatened to move to the High Court against the prison chief for 'violating law' as he has also demanded his removal.

Mizanur made the statement when authorities of the Sylhet Central Jail on Thursday prevented him from entering the jail in line with an order of the inspector general (IG) of prison.

"The commission will move the High Court against the IG of prison for not following constitutional law, if necessary," Mizanur told reporters around 11:30am.

Mizanur, who teaches law at Dhaka University, said he tried to enter the jail for around one and a half hours from 9am, but failed to get through.

The IG prison did not even pay heed to the local administration's calls to allow him, the NHRC chief said.

He wanted to visit the jail to see if human rights of the inmates are intact and to forward some proposals to the government for reforms.

"How has he considered himself so powerful?" asked Mizanur, adding the post should be held by someone who understands law.

Despite the opposition's threats of movement, Awami League maintains that the caretaker government system will not return.

A scornful Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, from a press conference on Wednesday at the party's Dhanmondi office, urged political parties to prepare for the upcoming polls which 'the Election Commission (EC) will organise under Awami League government' and expressed hope that all parties would participate.

"The elections will be held under an independent Election Commission. If anyone thinks they can stop the war crimes trial by not attending the polls, they are daydreaming," he added.

A day before, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia warned, "No polls would be allowed under a party rule, without a caretaker government. The government is thinking of teaming up with (H M) Ershad and holding the polls under a party government. Their dream will not come true."

The opposition chief also remarked that the Awami League government had abolished the caretaker government system "because they know very well that they will not be re-elected".

AL SUPPORTS SEARCH COMMITTEE

Ashraf said the government agreed with Khaleda's call for an all-party discussion before EC reforms.

"Our working committee wholeheartedly agreed with the idea of a search committee," he said. "We will bring it up as a law in the upcoming parliament session," he said.

"We've agreed with most of the changes that the Election Commission has put forth, but laws can only be amended in parliament," he added.

'NO BOMBS LANDED IN BNP RALLY'

Ashraf dismissed all the allegations made in the opposition leader's speech — law and order situation, high prices of essentials, transport problems and no increase in power production — as false.

"No bombs landed in BNP's Tuesday rally in front of their party office," the Awami League spokesperson said. "But in Aug 2004, grenades were hurled at the Awami League rally in front of its office."

He also brought up the Aug 2005 series bomb attacks, former finance minister Shah A M S Kibria and ex-MPAhsanullah Master murders, Operation Clean Heart and other incidents, saying, "These things did not happen during the current government's tenure. We're fighting crime successfully."


"It is embarrassing for the country that the sons of a former prime minister have been proven corrupt," he said.

Ashraf drew attention to the fact that US secretary of state Hillary Clinton had called the Indian election commission a 'gold-standard election commission'.

"Why can't we make a gold-standard election commission in our country?" he said.

JAGANNATH UNIVERSITY

Ashraf, also the local government minister, said the law that Jagannath University students were protesting against had been introduced in BNP government's tenure.

"I'm surprised that they did not protest back then. What's happening now is the work of some criminals," he remarked.

JnU students have been protesting since their semester fees grew five times, in accordance with a law that the university will have to self-finance its operations. The Jagannath College, founded in 1884, was turned into a university in 2005. Two days of violent street demonstrations and vandalism at the campus ensued before JnU was shut down indefinitely on Wednesday.

"The law will be cancelled if necessary," Ashraf said. "We've already released the detained students because we think they are ignorant."

LIVE TELECAST

Ashraf looked up at the reporters of ntv, ETV, Bangla Vision and Islamic Television in the conference before making his speech.

"I'm glad that you're here. Your channels telecast the BNP rally live. It's a good sign for democracy," he said.

"I hope you will also telecast this conference live, because we'll provide answers to the rally's statements here," he added.

"If you don't, people may think you are working for one political party."

BCB Green led by 170 runs with four wickets remaining going into the final day of their four-day practice game against BCB Red.

By stumps at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday, BCB Green were 174 for six in their second innings. Raqubul Hasan was batting on 48 and Elias Sunny on five not out.

BCB Red, who resumed on 215-7, took their first innings total to 285 with Nasir Hossain unbeaten on 93. BCB Green made 281 in their first innings.

BCB Green got off to reasonable start in their second innings with the opening pair putting 70 runs.

They slumped to 107-5 before making a slight recovery when the sixth-wicket pair of Raqibul Hasan and Junaed Siddique added 57 runs.

Opener Shahriar Nafees was the next best BCB Green scorer with 46.

Mahmudullah and Suhrawadi Shuvo both claimed two wickets.

Violence-ridden Jagannath University was ordered closed from Thursday until Oct 6 in a decision advancing Durga Puja holidays, the vice-chancellor announced on Wednesday.

The authorities simply brought forward the five-day Puja holidays to halt the four-day-old violent protests by students in the Old Dhaka campus of the university.

Mesbahuddin Ahmed, the vice chancellor, made the announcement at a press briefing after a meeting with department heads.

Earlier, a meeting between the authorities and the students protesting fees hike failed to produce results.

The protests entered the fourth day on Wednesday amid boycott of classes as the students marched every now and then through the campus and demonstrated demanding that authorities repeal a provision that the university should generate its own income to run its activities.

The students began their protests on Sunday, triggering clashes with police.

According to the Article 27 (4) of the Jagannath University Act- 2005, the university will have to fund its operations on its own. Jagannath College, founded in 1884, was amended to a university in 2005.

The protest was halted on Monday for the time being following assurance from the ruling party that the matter would be resolved after discussions with the government.

However, the agitation resumed on Tuesday with the students locking the university vice-chancellor's office and the administrative building, and setting fire to the finance minister's effigy.

The students say the university increased their semester fees from Tk 3,500 to Tk 20,000 to raise its internal revenue. Their other demands include recovery of university dormitories, setting up of a library and increasing transport facilities.

The students of JnU have long been demanding the rule be repealed with support from the teachers.

The university's proctor, Ashok Kumar Saha, had earlier said that they were in touch with the government to repeal this clause as its implementation would hike tuition fees and there would be little difference between JnU and other private colleges.

At least five people have been killed and two others injured after a train has ploughed through a car at a railway level crossing at Barabkunda in Sitakunda.

All the deceased are the officials of the state-owned vehicle-assembling company Pragoti Industries.

"The collision took place between Chandpur-bound Karnaphuli Express and the jeep owned by Progati Industries around 11am on Wednesday," Mohammed Arifur Rahman, sub-inspector of Kumira highway police camp, told bdnews24.com.

He said that all the victims were from the car.

All of them--Progati accounts officer Tofayel Ahmed, assistant marketing officer Saleh Ahmed, security officer Ahsan Ullah, driver 'Morshed'and official Badal Barua—died at the scene.

One of the injured was identified as the company's security officer Abdul Barek.

The locals halted the train to move on after the accident. The police had to intervene to free the train.

Arifur added that the gate of the crossing was open on the side the car was coming from.

The gate at the other side was closed. The train dragged the car a few hundred yards before it stopped, he said.

The Barubkunda plant of the company is located very close to the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. The level-crossing is on the path joining the company and the highway.

"The jeep was going to a bank in Sitakunda for some official work," the company's accounts officer Shafiqur Rahman told.

At least eight people including seven children were killed and 15 went missing after a trawler capsized in Surma river at Jamalganj upazila in Sunamganj district.

Upazila chairman Yousuf Al Azad told that the Sajna-bound motorboat, packed with passengers beyond its capacity, from Sunamganj Sadar upazila sank midway in Durlavpur area on Wednesday around 4:15pm.

Azad said that the passengers were returning by the trawler after enjoying a wrestling competition at Durlavpur Bazaar. The trawler was also carrying several sacks of potatoes.

Seven of the deceased were identified as 'Moshahid', 1, son of Azad Mian of Sreepur village under Bimkhali union council of Jamalganj upazila; 'Jesmin', 5, and 'Jannat', 3, daughters of Babul Mia of Kamlabagh village under Jamalganj Sadar union council; Puja Dutta, 3, daughter of Shankar Dutta of South Sreepur village of Taherpur upazila; Ritu Dutta, 3, daughter of Satyaranjan Dutta of Jhanjail village of the same upazila; Nioti Paul, 12, daughter of Mohadev Paul of Lakkhansree village of the Sadar upazila; and Ria Dash, 2, daughter of Akshay Dash of the same village.

However, the identity of a women aged around 35 could not be established immediately.

Officer in charge of Jamalganj Police Station Jane Alam told bdnews24.com that they had recovered eight bodies until 7pm. At least 20 passengers injured in the accident were given first aid at the Jamajganj Upazila Health Complex.

He said that the police and fire brigade teams were carrying out the rescue operation in the river with the help of locals.

"Over 15 passengers are still missing. The rescue operation will also be conducted on Thursday morning," the police official added.

Dhaka Stock Exchange has agreed to a proposal of sponsors and directors buying their own company shares at a fixed price to stop market slide.

Following a meeting of the DSE executive board Wednesday evening, senior vice-president Ahsanul Alam Tito told reporters, "DSE has agreed to the proposal of sponsors and directors buying their shares."

"Now the proposal will be sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for approval," he added.

The proposal was put forth by the Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC), saying that the ailing capital market could be revamped if the sponsors and directors were allowed to buy the shares of their own companies. It also urged SEC to amend the relevant law.

BAPLC president Salman F Rahman, a DSE director, had said the proposal was an effort to stall the freefall of prices.

"Shareholders and the companies both suffer losses when share prices fall," he had said.

He emphasised however, that the proposal was not that of a 'buy-back'.

The meeting over, Rahman told reporters: "Several decisions have been made at the meeting. We are trying to give investors a bailout in margin loans."

He said the decisions will hopefully be unveiled at a news conference at FBCCI headquarters on Thursday at 1pm.

Investors who took margin loans from merchant banks and bought shares faced a crisis when the prices fell drastically. They are unable to sell the shares even as their interest rates grow, while merchant banks cannot recover their assets, leading to a gridlock in the market.

The BAPLC has proposed a separate board for dealing Z category, overvalued stocks and stocks with small paid-up capitals.

Tito said these proposals would be discussed in the next meeting of DSE.

DSE president Shakil Rizvi, FBCCI president A K Azad and members of the executive board were present at the meeting.

Daily Amader Somoy editor Naimul Islam Khan has described a fraud case against him as a conspiracy to separate him from the newspaper.

After the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court summoned Naimul on charges of fraud on Tuesday, he told bdnews24.com, "This case is part of a plot to take away Amader Somoy from me."

Magistrate Shahadat Hossain issued the order after hearing the statement of plaintiff BNS Group chairman M N H Bulu. The case was filed earlier in the day.

According to case details, the daily faced serious economic crisis at one point of its publication. The accused, via a third person, met with the plaintiff at his business headquarters on the 18th floor of Ocean Tower at Banani and asked him to buy shares of the newspaper.

The plaintiff believed him and agreed to buy the shares and paid the accused a total of Tk 23.5 million via Social Investment Bank, Pubali Bank, United Commercial Bank and Mercantile Bank through cheques over the last one year.

However, the accused secretly handed over the shares to another person even though he took the payments from the plaintiff.

The daily's editor promised to return the money along with interest when the BNS Group chief met him personally.

According to the plaintiff, he trusted the accused and took no legal action. But the accused did not honour his word, and finally the plaintiff sent him a legal notice on Mar 16.

Naimul accepted the notice on Mar 21.

Bulu again confronted him and was told that the money shall be returned along with interest.

However, the accused editor failed to keep his word again and started dillydallying. Finally on May 25, Naimul said that he would not pay back.

There are two witnesses with the plaintiff in the case.

BCB Red opener Imrul Kayes and BCB Green paceman Shahadat Hossain starred for their respective sides on day two of the four-day practice match on Tuesday.

Kayes, who usually plays second-fiddle to Tamim Iqbal for the Tigers, displayed his trademark qualities in making 85 runs in his three-hour stay at the crease at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The left-hander's 133-ball vigil contained 14 fours and a six to help BCB Red reach 215 for seven in reply to their opponents 281.

Tamim (1) was not the only senior batsman to have a bad day at the office. New Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (20), Mohammad Ashraful (16), Mahmudullah (21) all failed to convert their starts into big runs.

Shahadat was the pick of the BCB Green bowlers as he finished with 3-52 in nine overs.

Resuming on 254-6, BCB Green's last four wickets added 27 runs.

All-rounder Naeem Islam, who put on 126 runs for the sixth-wicket with Mominul Islam (72) on Monday, was snapped up by pacer Shafiul Islam without adding to his overnight score of 95 with the total still on 254 runs.

Then left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who almost had a hat-trick, ended the innings taking the last three wickets.

Shafiul finished with three for 42 while Razzak took 3-10 in only 2.1 overs.

Four policemen including a sub-inspector (SI) of Ashulia Police Station have been withdrawn on charges of their alleged involvement in dealing in cannabis.

Dhaka district superintendent of police (SP) Mizanur Rahman told bdnews24.com on Tuesday SI Shahadat Hossain, constables Habibur Rahman, Sarwar Hossain and Mizanur Rahman allegedly seized a covered van full of the drug and sold the haul.

"They have been withdrawn as evidence has been found against them in primary investigation," he added.

A two-member committee headed by additional SP Sheikh Rafiqul Islam was formed to investigate the incident and submit findings within a week.

More than one official of the station, seeking anonymity, told bdnews24.com that acting on a tip-off, the four policemen had seized 110 kilograms ganja and arrested two drug peddlers in front of Savar Filling Station around 11pm on Sep 12.

They freed the peddlers and the van on the same night in return for a hefty bribe, but did not return the ganja but sold those to another peddler the next day.

A case was filed on Sept 24 after five kilograms of that haul was recovered and two drug peddlers were arrested. During interrogation, the peddlers claimed they had purchased the drugs from the policemen.

President Zillur Rahman has returned to his official residence Bangabhaban after receiving treatment at the Dhaka Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

An official statement on Tuesday said before departing from the CMH, the physicians concerned of the hospital said the present health condition of president Zillur is good.

He was admitted to the CMH on Sep 23 evening following digestive complications.

On Sep 11, the 82-year-old president had gone to Singapore for regular medical check-up at Mount Elizabeth Hospital and returned on Sep 15.

Zillur Rahman took oath as the 19th president of the country on Feb 12, 2009.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved a new set of book-building rules for listing of shares.

The amended rules were approved at the Commission's meeting on Tuesday evening, SEC spokesperson and executive director Saifur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

Since the catastrophic Dec-Jan collapse in the capital market, the book-building process has been a subject of intense debate. The finance minister later ordered the rules be suspended and amended.

On Aug 17, the Commission approved a draft set of amended rules.

As per the amended rules, at least 20 companies from the six categories must take part in the bidding, with at least three from each category. They must also mention how many shares each of them want to purchase.

Besides, no single company can purchase more than 5 percent of the shares, it says. However, there are no valuation caps, like PE ratio and NAV, for the issue price.

Also, to enter the bidding, a company must be approved by an international approval agency.

Institutional investors have been allowed a 40 percent quota under the new norms.

Asset management companies will now on be able to participate in the book-building process. However, any sponsor or director of such an institution will not be able to take part in the bidding.

Share lock-in period has been extended from 15 days to four months.

The two stock exchanges will function as observers in the book-building process.

The SEC will be able to audit, review and cancel any book-building process.

Tuesday's meeting also finalised a policy on placement which will be sent for notification, and a draft of rights issue rules, which will be sent for public opinion survey.

Amid anxiety over the lingering transit issue, first commercial consignment from India with transshipment cargo destined for Tripura has entered Bangladesh.

The consignment that goes to Akhaura from Ashuganj river port offers an opportunity to earn revenue.

Four trucks with 100 tonnes of galvanised steel started from Ashuganj, a transshipment point, to Akhaura on Tuesday evening, and it would cross the border on Wednesday, Sheikh Mahfuz Hamid, managing director of Gulf Orient, told the bdnews24.com.

Gulf Orient has been assigned the job of transporting goods from Kolkata to Akhaura. The same company is also responsible for transporting over-dimensional cargoes for 726 megawatt Palatana power plant in Tripura.

The vessel, Homibaba, carrying 300 tonnes of steel anchored at Ashuganj port on Sep 1, but due to customs formalities, the shipment of the first consignment got delayed, according to Mahfuz.

The rest of 200 tonnes would be shipped this week, he added.

"Another two ships carrying galvanised steel and steel ingots have also entered Bangladesh," Mahfuz said.

FETCHING REVENUE

Bangladesh would be earning $50 a tonne for transshipment of the products, the Gulf Orient MD said.

"If the transshipped products are loaded or unloaded manually, the revenue will be $37, but if small cranes are used, the rate is $50, while in case of big cranes, it will be $72," he explained.

The amount is earned under different heads, including vessel and truck fares, BIWTA loading charge, river toll or berthing charge, C&F commission and labour charge.

"All the revenue will be in foreign currency and the government will collect 8.5 per cent income tax and VAT on the total amount," Mahfuz said.

FUTURE BOOKINGS

Gulf Orient alone would be transshipping some 5,000 tonnes of HR coil in October and 16,000 tonnes of bitumen by December, he said.

"In October, $3,50,000 can be earned by providing the service."

There are other operators also allowed to carry transit and transshipped goods.

"There are raw materials to be used in the north-eastern states of India and it is expected that more volume of cargoes will be transshipped if it becomes popular," he hoped.

India has been demanding since '80s to transship goods through Ashuganj river port from Kolkata to Tripura, and the port became the second transshipment point in May last year.

Bangladesh during the visit of Indian premier Manmohan Singh early September reportedly refused to sign transit-related exchange of letter as the two countries failed to strike Teesta water deal.

However, the joint communiqué issued on Sep 7 asked the authorities concerned to expedite the process to complete the transit formalities.

The government imposed transit and transshipment fee at a rate of Tk 10,000 per container and Tk 1,000 per tonne on bulk cargo in 2010-11 budget, but it was withdrawn later.

The ICDDR,B has shaved meat, egg and fish off the diet for patients, who are the 'lifeline' of the international health and population research and training institute, raising eyebrows.

The well-funded International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh that enjoys immunity from local taxes and duties has made the decision citing a 'cost containment' plan.

Bangladesh owns and largely funds the institute that gets over Tk 50 million in each fiscal year from the government for patients care. It treats more than 100,000 patients a year at its Mohakhali hospital filled with hundreds of brightly coloured diarrhoea cots with holes in the middle opening to clear buckets beneath.

The medical director of the hospital Dr Mark Pietroni in a Sept 6 letter to all hospital staff said the decision would be 'effective from Sep 11 till further notice.'

'no fish, chicken, mutton and egg will be given in the patient and staff diet unless prescribed by a doctor as part of a therapeutic diet for the patient.'

however, could not gather immediately why the institute braced for cost-cutting measures despite increasing funding from donors and the Bangladesh government.

The sudden penny-pinching has caused deep resentment among ICDDR, B's scientists and employees. Unnamed staff have circulated bulletins among the ICDDR, B staff, a copy of which is also with bdnews24.com.

The bulletin suggests prohibitive salaries for a few of its foreign officials and corruption in the last three years put the centre into a financial tailspin.

A government investigation is underway on the alleged misuse of Tk 1 billion funds allocated for the vertical expansion of the centre's three-storey Mohakhali.

In an email response, Dr Pietroni, however, did not make it clear to whether and why they stopped serving meat, poultry and eggs in the diet.

He only said the patients were given the diet that "their doctors feel is best for them."

Dietician with the ICDDR, B hospital Anowara Begum told  that they got a notice from the hospital authorities to stop serving fish, chickens, mutton and eggs.

"We used to serve any of those items along with vegetables, daal (lentil) and rice," she said, adding that the decision might be revised. "Senior scientists (at the centre) are trying to convince hospital administrators to revise the decision," she said.

A patient, Kamrul Hassan, 26, On Monday that he was given 'vegetables, daal and bhat (rice)' for lunch.

A senior nutritionist in Bangladesh, Akhtarun Nahar said she never heard of such decision at any hospital in her lifetime. "For the first time I heard it from you," the principal nutrition officer of BIRDEM told  when asked.

She said unless a few specific cases like liver cirrhosis and kidney diseases put them on a diet, hospital patients should be served 'improved' diet.

"Even a mother of a breastfed child needs protein-rich food so that she can continue breastfeeding her ailing child.

"I cannot agree with their (ICDDR, B's) decision," she said, adding if they suffer from fund crunch 'they could at least serve eggs for the patients.'

"Its (eggs) cheaper protein," she said.

Health Rights Movement's president Prof Rashid-e-Mahbub termed the ICDDR, B measure 'inhumane'.

"It's a research institute. Patients are their study subjects. It's their (patients) right to get proper services and diet," he said.

The hospital runs a diarrhoeal diseases surveillance for which they draw blood and urine samples from patients.

Health secretary Mohammad Humayun Kabir would not comment on issue since it involves the ICDDR, B's management.

But the secretary, who is also a member of the centre's board of trustees, said he would discuss it in the next board meeting.

The meeting will be held in mid-November. The 16-strong board meets twice a year and endorses the centre's activities.

The only centre of its kind in developing countries, the ICDDR, B was set up through an ordinance in 1978 that also offers a wide range of privileges for its foreign employees including exemption from income tax and privilege of duty-free import of all personal and household items.

The centre is legally mandated to move biological materials in and out of the country.

The BNP has announced its new protest programme comprising three road marches and rallies at divisional headquarters.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia made the announcement at a rally in front of the party's Naya Paltan headquarters on Tuesday.

The first road march will set off on Oct 10 followed by a rally in Sylhet the day next.

The second march will be towards Rajshahi on Oct 18 with a rally in Bogra that day. This will be followed by another rally in Rajshahi city the following day.

The third road march will start on Oct 25 for Chittagong. The same day, the main opposition will hold a rally in Feni and another one in Chittagong the next day.

Speaking at the rally, the BNP chief launched a scathing attack on the government.

She said the ruling Awami League's student and youth wings —Chhatra League and Juba League — have unleashed a reign of terror in the country.

"The people are fed up with the goons of Chhatra League and Juba League," she said.

On the price rise, she said high prices had made the life of the people miserable.

The leader of the opposition then went on to compare the current prices of essential items to those during her tenure.

"The government is persistently raising the prices of items."

The rally started around 2.30pm and Khaleda began her speech soon after 5pm on Tuesday.

She said that the government had completely politicised the judiciary and alleged that police were being used for partisan interests.

"Is it the party police or that of the nation?"

Khaleda said BNP processions were not even allowed on streets during the general strikes. But the government party brings out its own processions with law enforcers as escort, she said.

Talking of the Awami League, Khaleda said the party had to be escorted out into the streets although the administration is in their favour. "They (the government) have politicised the entire government machinery."

"Shame on you! Shame on you!"

"There have been no new factories and no new investment," Khaleda said. "Consequently unemployment is also rising."

"We had given special priority to the garment industry and brought it forward," she went on, "but during the tenure of the Awami League, a number of factories have closed down instead.

"Roads to India have been opened so that the country gets full access to our markets… And the government claims that the economy is doing well."

"Then why is the finance minister knocking on the doors of the World Bank and the IMF begging for expensive loans?"

She accused the Rapid Action Battalion of secret killing, and urged foreign countries not to train RAB and police for their human rights violation.

"I demand foreign nations refuse providing training to RAB and this police," she said.

The BNP chairperson said the Awami League government had abolished the caretaker government system "because they know very well that they will not be able to get re-elected".

They have gone ahead with their move although the court had ruled that the next two elections could be held under caretakers.

"Was it not this Awami League that had campaigned hard for this system? Was it not this Awami League that even vandalised on the streets demanding a caretaker system to oversee elections?"

They call us opposed to liberation because of our alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. "But didn't the ruling party have Jamaat by its side to strengthen its position? But they now berate us for being 'opposed' to our liberation and sovereignty."

"This government is so scared of the people that they won't even allow us to hold this rally at the Paltan Ground. The government had barricaded roads to stop buses. Trains have been blocked from carrying our supporters to this venue.

"But once the people rise, they cannot be stopped."

Referring to Hasina's current alliance with the deposed military dictator Hussein Mohammad Ershad, Khaleda said, "You had intended to keep Ershad in power for longer. But when the people rose up, you deserted him and stood by our side with the people. But now you are back together."

Khaleda Zia also noted that whenever the Awami League came to power, there was a crash in the stock market. She alleged that certain quarters had fooled the people and there was a government hand in 'looting the life-long savings of 3.3 million people'.