BANGLADESH

The opposition has alleged that the state minister for law is influencing the trial of the Aug 21 grenade attack cases with his statements about the deposition of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami's Bangladesh operations chief Mufti Hannan.

Speaking at a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club on Saturday, pro-BNP lawyer leader Rafiqul Islam Miah said, "The minister has broken his constitutional oath by commenting directly on the Aug 21 case which is under consideration of the court."

"He has influenced the court with his statements which amounts to interfering with the judiciary. The state minister called journalists to his office to talk about a case under consideration of the court which he cannot do," he added.

BNP has been claiming that implicating Tarique Rahman in the case is part of a 'conspiracy' against the opposition.

Rafiqul, also a standing committee member of the opposition party, said, "Mufti Hannan appealed to the court on Tuesday [Sep 27] saying that the statement under Section 164 is not his but one prepared by the government."

"The state has no right to force anyone to give testimony. Statements under Section 164 cannot be recorded per force," he added quoting from a previous court verdict by justice Hamidul Haque Chowdhury.

"Mufti Hannan appealed to withdraw his statement through his lawyer which the court has recorded. The court is supposed to handle the matter. Why is the state minister for law talking about it?" the senior lawyer said and hinted that the minister had a hand in the creation of the statement.

He added that the graft case filed against the opposition leader over the Zia Charitable Trust is also 'baseless'.

Party's acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sep 28 said the HuJI chief named chairperson Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique on 'receiving death threats'. The HuJI chief's appeal to withdraw his deposition proves Tarique's innocence and that the government named him out of 'political vengeance', he added.

A day later, the state minister said that the opposition party is creating confusion over the appeal of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami's Bangladesh operations chief Mufti Hannan to withdraw his deposition in the Aug 21 grenade attack case.

He pointed out that there was no signature on the application Hannan had filed to withdraw the deposition in which he named main opposition's senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman.

The application had been filed following demands from defence lawyers and no order could be given as there was no way to withdraw any deposition given under the Section 164 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, he said.

Hannan on Sep 27 appealed to Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 to withdraw his affidavit.

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 opposition leader Sheikh Hasina had been injured in the deadly blasts.

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

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

The number of charge-sheeted accused in the twin cases is 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.

Explaining BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's 'final match' remarks on Thursday, the party's acting secretary-general has said she was hinting at preparations for the next general election under a caretaker government.

"But BNP won't join the election if it's held under the present partisan government," Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned on Friday.

"Our leader [Khaleda] talked about playing the match. The match is to derail the government through an impartial election under the caretaker provision. That's why, a playing field must be prepared for this," he told a discussion in the city.

"But, if the referee and linesmen turn out to be yours [the government], we won't play the final match," Fakhrul added.

He urged everyone to take part in the 'ultimate movement' announced by Khaleda on Sep 27 at a rally to garner support against the government.

The main opposition chief announced 'three road march' programme starting October 10 from Sylhet, Rajshahi and Chittagong at the Naya Paltan rally.

At a programme on Thursday, she said, "In our road marches, we will tell the nation about the government's tyranny and corruption. Then we will prepare for a final match after the road marches in October."

Meanwhile, responding to Khaleda's remark, Awami League presidium member Obaidul Quader on Friday said that governments cannot be ousted by fixing dates.

He said, "If the Sep 27 rally was the first round, then BNP is 'daydreaming' to play the finals without playing in the second round, quarter finals or semi-finals."

Fakhrul, however, said that the present government has led the country to backwardness. "We've begun our movement to establish the caretaker government by ousting this government."

"Our party chief has already said that no election will be held without caretakers. That's why we are protesting. We want to cast them [government] out through the election," he told the discussion at the party headquarters at Naya Paltan.

The government also tried to fool the people by annulling the caretaker provision and reinstating secularism in the constitution through the 15th amendment to the constitution, he added.

breaking news
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that Oct 2 would be marked every year as the 'National Productivity Day' in a bid to encourage increased outputs in all sectors.

Speaking at the inauguration of a workshop on increasing productivity at Hotel Ruposhi Bangla on Sunday noon, Hasina also declared 'Productivity Programme' as a national movement.

"It is not possible to hike productivity through individual efforts. Everyone, including the government, owners and workers along with politicians, planners, researchers, professionals, civil society members, and mass media will have to step forward," she added.

She also declared that the government would be handing over national awards every year for 'productivity' and 'quality' to the best industrial organisations and entrepreneurs to promote the movement.

The prime minister has said Khaleda Zia will have no other option but to join the national elections, barely 48 hours after the opposition leader warned there would be none without non-party caretakers.

"The polls will be held and the people will participate," Sheikh Hasina said while briefing journalists on Saturday on her trip to the United Nations and the United States at her official residence, Ganobhaban.

She again remarked that the door to discussions with the opposition party was open.

Hasina hit out at BNP chairperson's warning at a rally in Dhaka on Tuesday that no ballot will be allowed without a caretaker government overseeing it.

The prime minister asserted; "Elections will definitely be held. The people will certainly go to vote."

Addressing the ongoing debate about the caretaker government, the prime minister urged the opposition to come to parliament and discuss the issue.

She added that the opposition chief had herself questioned the logic behind the caretaker government system when the Awami League had pressed for one in the mid-1990s.

However, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has warned that no national polls will be allowed to be held without a caretaker government.

"She [Khaleda] is talking so much. But she will come to the polls. She has to. If she believes in democracy, she will," the prime minister said.

The ruling Awami League president blamed her arch political rival for pushing the caretaker government provision into a firestorm of controversy.

Alluding to the BNP-picked president Iajuddin Ahmed heading the caretaker government in 2006, Hasina said, "It was her who made the caretaker government questionable."

The Supreme Court ruled against the provision of caretaker government and then parliament through the 15th constitutional amendment abolished it by scrapping the 13th amendment that had created it.

As a result, the national polls will now be held under a politicians-led caretaker administration.

When asked whether there will be any talks with the opposition leader to resolve political disagreements, Hasina said, "She [Khaleda] has already given a deadline by which the government will be overthrown, so what is the need for talks?"

"Let (her) come to parliament, speak there and discussions will be held in parliament."

While declaring anti-government movements at a rally in Paltan, the opposition leader said that the government will be overthrown by next September.

Expressing her intent to hand over power through the national polls, the prime minister said, "The people want polls. Voting is their constitutional rights. If the people do not vote, we do not want that power."

When asked whether Jamaat-e-Islami will be banned, Hasina said, "The government has no plans to ban any political party. However, justice will be served for terrorism."

She also avoided commenting directly on the changes to come in the cabinet and said, "Everyone can see when the changes are made."

Welcoming Khaleda's proposal to appoint the election commissioners through discussion, Hasina said, "We also want the matter to be cleared. To ensure empowerment of the people, the commissioner must be appointed in a free, fair and impartial process."

Mentioning the Sep 19 clashes between police and activists of Jamaat and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir activists in Dhaka, she also asked the people to be aware and make a stand against the violence of the Islamist party.

"These things were done only to hamper the trial of the war criminals. But the trial will take place," she said.

Acknowledging the price hike of the essentials, she claimed, "People's buying capacity has also improved with that."

The prime minister said that rice is being sold at Tk 26-28 per kilogramme outside the capital and at Tk 30 in Dhaka. "I got that news today from the villages."

Referring to the pressure on the country's budget and foreign exchange reserve used to increase power generation, the prime minister said, "We have added 2000 megawatt in last two years while they [BNP] reduced 1200 megawatt in their five years."

The government is also working on increasing the gas generation and reserve, she added.

Hasina informed the press about Tk 22,000 subsidy in fuel, power, food and agriculture sectors. "But there won't be any development if all sectors are being subsidised."

She wondered over Khaleda's call to the foreign countries not to train country's RAB and police. "They formed RAB. In 2005, she [Khaleda] blamed the media for the wrong explanation of crossfire."

"She said that in a firefight with the terrorists, the law-enforcement agency has the right to save themselves. I'm the first one who protested crossfire," she told the press briefing.

At the beginning of the new conference, she talked about her 11-day visit to the US where she attended the UN General Assembly.

Hasina said, "I tried to project the country's liberal, peace-loving and democratic image before the world by attending the assembly, several seminars and symposiums there."

"I also reaffirmed our stance against every form of terrorism," the prime minister added.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said Khaleda Zia is only trying to bide time by binding a timeframe to overthrow the government.

Responding to the BNP chairperson's recent remarks, Hasina on Saturday said, "She changed the deadline to September next year. She had fixed before the deadline until June this year."

"She added 15 months to unseat the government. Thanks for that," she said at a news conference at her official residence Ganabhaban on the outcome of her recent US visit at her official residence Ganabhaban on Saturday.

At a four-party coalition rally on Tuesday, the opposition chief threatened that the government would be pushed from office before the next September. "Then we will prepare for a final match."

Explaining the 'match', BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said that by the 'match', Khaleda meant the next general election. "But, BNP won't play the match if the government plays the 'referee'."

About the 'final match', the ruling Awami League president said, "There are quarter-finals and semi-finals before the final. What stage she is at now?"

"Anybody may play as much as they want... Players will continue playing. Those who work will continue working," she added.

Awami League presidium member Obaidul Quader on Friday said, "If the Sept 27 rally was the first round, then BNP is 'daydreaming' to play the final without playing in the second round, quarter-finals or semi-finals."

Delwar Hossain Sayedee will be the first to be asked whether he admits to war crimes charges at the International Crimes Tribunal on Monday.

That is when the court will decide whether to indict the senior member of Jamaat-e-Islami for crimes against humanity including genocide, rape, arson and loot.

The prosecution proposed to charge the Jamaat executive council member with 31 counts of war crimes on Sep 3.

Sayedee's counsel, Tajul Islam said there could be two outcomes at this point. He told that the court could discharge his client if it deems the evidence insufficient.

According to the tribunal's rules of procedure, formulated in July 2010, the court could clear Sayedee of the charges if it "finds that there is no sufficient ground to presume that the accused has committed an offence" based on the prosecution's evidence and documents.

However, if the tribunal thinks that there is "sufficient ground to presume that the accused has committed an offence", it "shall frame one or more charges for the offences of which he is accused and he shall be asked whether he admits that he has committed the offence with which he is charged", according to Article 38 of the tribunal's rules.

Tajul said the court could say it will frame charges and go right into it the same day. "The court might also fix another date for the formal charge-framing."

Whatever the case, he said the charges against Sayedee will have to be read out in full after which he will be asked whether he admits to the accusations.

Article 10 of the 1973 Act, under which the tribunal is constituted, elaborates on the trial procedure and stipulates that once charges are read out, "the Tribunal shall ask each accused person whether he pleads guilty or not-guilty".

"He will naturally plead 'not guilty' and go on to state the political context of those times. My client is quite ready for that," Tajul told.

The defence counsel has reiterated his position several times saying that the charges are not specific enough and they do not conform to the tribunal's rules of procedure.

The relevant section of the rules states that a charge "must contain the name and address of the accused person, witness, and the date, time and place of the occurrence."

But prosecutor Syed Haider Ali argued that with the witness testimonies, ground reports and other material taken together, the court would find there is sufficient evidence to indict Sayedee.

Asked whether the defence had all the materials needed to proceed with the trial, Tajul Islam expressed grave reservations. "[The prosecution] conceals the materials and provides them only when it comes up in court and the court's attention is drawn to it."

Thus, Tajul said, it was not possible to say whether he had received all the material. "But of all the public material, those that I know of, I still do not have the investigation report and the court orders of the entire proceedings."

Haider Ali told that the defence would receive all the materials after indictment. "None of the materials need to be made available to them before charge-framing."

He said all the evidentiary materials have already been made available to the court.

When pointed out that the tribunal was of the opinion that the investigation report was not a document, Tajul said, "The judges are speaking out of their whims."

Tajul said the investigation report would form the basis of the charges against his client. "The investigation report, that is, if there is such a report in the first place, must be made available to the defence."

Haider retorted to Tajul's suggestion saying that there was no question of the defence getting a copy of the report. "The investigation report is a privileged document solely for the consumption of the prosecution and the court."

Sayedee is currently facing war crimes charges on 31 counts that include murder, extermination, genocide, rape, abduction, torture, complicity, abetment, loot, plunder and destruction, mostly in Pirojpur district.

Sayedee was arrested on June 30 last year on charges of hurting religious sentiments.

A deputy tax commissioner of the National Board of Revenue, Masuma Khatun filed the case on Aug 19, accusing Sayedee of evading taxes worth over Tk 5.6 million.

Bangladesh is going to stop producing anti-rabies vaccines as the government is switching to the 'modern' techniques of managing rabies that claims at least 2,000 lives in the country every year.

Disease control director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Be-Nazir Ahmed told that after 2011, they would not produce nerve-tissue vaccines, "which is proven to have side-effects and WHO declared obsolete".

The World Health Organisation [WHO] recommends replacement of nerve-tissue vaccines with the more efficacious and safer vaccines developed through cell culture as soon as possible.

"The (nerve-tissue) vaccine is also very painful to administer in the abdomen," Be-Nazir said on Wednesday, the World Rabies Day.

He said modern tissue-culture-based vaccine, which is administered intra-dermal, is now available in the country.

"We (Health Directorate) also bought vaccines for free distribution and the local government ministry has allocated Tk 50,000 in each municipality to buy new vaccines."

The Institute of Public Health (IPH), which has been making the nerve-tissue vaccines since 1953, has received a letter on Sep 19 from the health ministry to stop its production gradually, institute's acting director Dr Mohammad Bazlul Haque told bdnews24.com.

"We'll stop it by the end of this year," he said.

Be-Nazir said the DGHS is trying to produce the modern tissue-culture vaccine in the country, "but it needs very sophisticated technology".

He said a local company has shown interest in bringing the vaccine in concentrated form. They will pack it in doses in their plants to cut costs, he added.

The disease control department estimates 200,000 to 300,000 dog-bites every year, and under-15 children are the worst victims.

Experts say rabies is completely preventable, but death becomes inevitable when one is infected with the disease.

"People should stay off dogs, particularly stray dogs, and if a dog bites anyone, the wounds should be cleaned with soap for 10 to 15 minutes. Then the person has to take vaccines," said Dr Mohammad Salimuzzaman, an infectious diseases expert.

Meanwhile, the government has taken strategies to sterilise stray dogs instead of culling to control its population.

At a World Rabies Day seminar in the capital on Wednesday, anti-rabies alliances said killing dogs is an inhuman act and an ineffective practice as well.

They said most of the people go to traditional healers after being bitten by an animal that only allows the condition to deteriorate.

The first-ever combined medical and dental admission test was held on Friday amid tension and strict invigilation.

Head of the health directorate, Khondaker Mohammad Shefyetullah told that they had heaved 'a sigh of relief' after the 'peaceful' completion of the one-hour multiple-choice-question (MCQ) examination at 11am in 19 centres across Bangladesh.

Tension ran high overnight as intelligence had arrested 20 people including medical students, a teacher of Jahangirnagar University and a doctor of Dhaka Dental College Hospital for taking money with the promise to supply question papers.

"They (intelligence) found a question paper from the racket. We checked it with the original one in the morning and became certain that it was fake," the director general said.

"But we suggested punishment of the racket," he said.

Health minister AFM Ruhal Haque visited several centres in Dhaka and told journalists afterwards that they would ensure punishment to those involved in the racket.

He also ruled out the possibility that questions might have leaked out.

Earlier, the test was deferred by a week from Sep 23 due to the arrest of a staff of the government press as he came out of his office premises with concealed question papers on Sep 13. Two other people were arrested in that case.

According to the director general, the arrest led to unprecedented security measures.

The health directorate's director general, Shefyetullah said, "We have printed new question papers." Intelligence agencies were also on alert before the exams, he said.

At least 101 health ministry officials including the minister, secretary and Shefyetullah went around the examination centres on Friday.

Some 51,236 candidates are competing for 2,760 seats in government medical colleges and 280 seats in dental colleges. Besides private medical colleges have 3,663 seats while dental colleges 765.

This was the first time that the health directorate collected admission forms online.

Shefyetullah hoped to publish the results online within four days.

"The admission will be completed based on their position and choice of institutions."

In view of an unprecedented rise in heart diseases, Bangladeshi families need to adopt healthy lifestyle at home to avert the risk, experts say.

"We appeal to individuals to reduce the risk on their own," researcher Sohel Reza Choudhury said, adding, "It starts from the family by choosing healthy eating habits, adopting physical activities and quitting consumption of tobacco."

"But many of us refuse to lead a healthy lifestyle," Choudhury of National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute (NHFHRI) told on Thursday, the World Heart Day.

This year's theme 'One World, One Home, One Heart' encourages all the families in the world to unite in order to improve their heart health as World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 17.3 million deaths from heart ailments globally every year.

A health ministry study suggests heart disease is the leading cause of deaths in Bangladesh that accounts for 12.5 percent of all hospital deaths.

Findings of Bangladesh Non-communicable Diseases Risk Factor Survey 2010 showed 60 million people consume low vegetable and fruits and 16 million maintain sedentary lifestyle, while around 33 million people use tobacco.

"The evidence of healthy lifestyle preventing heart diseases is now overwhelming," Choudhury said.

"But we continue to consume food laden in fat and sugar that over time could lead to high blood pressure or even a heart attack."

"Family lifestyles should change," he said, adding children should be motivated to avoid junk food, soft drinks and chocolates.

Choudhury said family members should know their blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure level, body mass index and waist circumference to stay off the risks.

"But on before anything we must ensure a smoking-free environment."

World Health Organisation (WHO) says second-hand smoking also kills.

"It is evident that smoking causes heart diseases and even sudden deaths of newborns," the heart researcher said.

At a World Heart Day seminar at National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, state minister for health Mujibur Rahman Fakir on Thursday said a stricter tobacco control law is in the offing.

Twenty people, including a university teacher, a doctor, two bankers and several students, have been arrested for selling fake question papers of the first combined medical and dental admission test, RAB say.

They were arrested in an overnight drive conducted by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) before the test was held in the morning on Friday.

RAB-2 officer Saiful Karim told bdnews24.com that Tk 826,000 was recovered from the detainees, including a teacher of Jahangirnagar University, a doctor of Dhaka Dental College and Hospital.

He said the question papers they sold did not match with the original ones.

"The racket made money by selling fake questions papers," he said.

Those arrested are bankers Jewel Ahmed and Ashraful Alam, businessmen Tariqul Islam, Jasimuddin, Nurunnabi Tej, Tanvir Ahmed Siddique, Shahidul Islam Sujon, Motahar Hossain, Habibur Rahman, JU teacher Firozul Hasan, college teacher Anisul Islam, lecturer Aminul Islam, Dental College physician Monjur Alam, manager of a hospital Manosh Dev, Dhaka University student 'Emil', medical student Shahiduzzaman Shahed, students Touhidul Islam, Tajmul Parvez, 'Liyon' and one Touhidul Islam Raju.

RAB's legal and media wing director Mohammad Sohail told reporters at the RAB-2 headquarters that all of them were arrested from city's various coaching centres while trying to sell the question papers.

Apart from the cash, Sohail said RAB also seized 29 cell phones and three motorcycles from their possession. The money was taken as advance from the buyers.

"Some of them collected the fake question papers while the rest were trying to sell them," he said.

As some of the detainees claimed they were innocent, Sohail said, "If innocent, they will be freed."

Meanwhile, the first-ever combined medical and dental admission test on Friday was held amid tension and strict invigilation.

Meanwhile, head of the health directorate Khondaker Mohammad Shefyetullah earlier told bdnews24.com that they had heaved 'a sigh of relief' after the 'peaceful' completion of the one-hour test consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) at 19 centres across Bangladesh. The examination began at 11am.

"They (intelligence) recovered a question paper from the arrested people. We matched it with the original one in the morning and were sure that it was a fake one," the director general said.

Health minister AFM Ruhal Haque visited several centres in Dhaka and told journalists afterwards that they would ensure punishment to those involved in the fraud.

He also ruled out the possibility that questions could have been leaked out.

Earlier, the test was deferred by a week from Sep 23 due to the arrest of a staff of the government press, as he came out of his office premises with concealed question papers on Sep 13. Two other people were also arrested in connection with the incident.

At least 101 health ministry officials including the minister, secretary and Shefyetullah went around the examination centres on Friday.

Some 51,236 candidates are competing for 2,760 seats of the government medical colleges and 280 seats in the dental colleges. Besides, private medical colleges have 3,663 seats, and the dental colleges have 765.

This was also the first time that the health directorate collected admission forms online.

Shefyetullah hoped to publish the results online within four days.

"The admissions will be finalized based on their position and choice of institutions."

Foreign exchange reserves of the country have dwindled below $10 billion after maintaining the double-digit-billion mark for three years.

The reserves with the central bank stood at $9.88 billion on Thursday, implying that it will be difficult for the country to meet next three months' import costs.

Senior researcher of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Jayed Bakht has expressed concern over the fall in reserves, saying that it would put the balance of payment under pressure.

"The reserves are under pressure due to hike in import cost and decreased flow of remittance," he said.

The economist said it would be difficult for the country to pay the import costs in the next three months if the costs remain same as in the recent past.

"The reserves will face more pressure if the World Bank or International Monetary Fund does not lend money," he added.

The increasing pressure on the reserves also led US dollar to rise against taka.

In line with international standard, every country willing to import has to have foreign exchanges to pay costs of next three months' import.

Bangladesh's forex reserves crossed $10 billion in September 2008.

It crossed $11-billion mark four times in the past three years as export earnings and flow of remittance saw an increase.

It slipped below $11 billion in August when the central bank paid $838 million to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), the intra-regional forum for settlement of monetary transactions.

In March, the reserves hit $11.32 billion, the highest in the country's history.

Average foreign currency reserves were $10.75 billion in 2009-'10 fiscal and $10.91 billion in the last fiscal.

On the other hand, the flow of remittance is also witnessing a negative trend.

After rising around 15 percent in July and August, it has been on a slope again in September.

According to Bangladesh Bank, expatriates remitted $1.03 billion in July and $1.08 billion in August. But in the first 23 days of September, they sent $0.63 billion, leading to fear that it would not cross $1-billion mark in the whole month.

Growth in remittance was 6.03 percent in the last fiscal, 13.4 percent in 2009-'10 and 22.42 percent in the 2008-'09 financial year.

The import cost in the first two months of the current fiscal year was 35.72 percent higher than that in the same period of the last fiscal.

According to Bangladesh Bank, the rate of opening L/Cs (letters of credit) for fuel oil import increased 91.8 percent in July-August period.

Amid rise in the import costs, the export earnings also increased.

In the first two months of the current fiscal, the export earnings rose 30.44 percent against a growth of 41.47 percent last year.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) has started a two-day workshop on 'Improvement of Capital Market Governance Project'.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) member Mohammad Helal Uddin Ahmed inaugurated the workshop at CSE on Saturday morning.

Prior to that, CSE president Fakhr Uddin Ali explained the objectives of the workshop at a press briefing at the stock exchange the same morning.

He said that CSE organised the training to ensure transparency and development of the stock market.

"Transparency and monitoring of brokerage houses can be ensured if staff is well-informed about compliances and surveillance," he added.

He said 15 staff from CSE, three from DSE and two from Central Depository of Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) would be taking part in the workshop.

CSE vice president Tareq Kamal and director Mohammad Mohiuddin were also present at the press conference.

The participants would also exchange their experiences with the brokerage houses after completing the workshop on Sunday.

The workshop will be jointly conducted by SEC, International Securities Commission (ISC) consultants Stella Tang and Wali Ul Maruf, and SEC director Saifur Rahman.

Bangladesh Fund's public shares have received huge local and foreign responses, the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) says.

ICB managing director Mohammad Fayekuzzaman told on Saturday, "I went abroad and talked to many non-resident Bangladeshis. Besides those, I also talked to many people and organisations in the country and got huge responses on this fund."

The sale of public shares worth Tk 35 billion might start from Oct 10, Fayekuzzaman said.

State-run ICB announced on Mar 6 the creation of this Tk 50 billion syndicated fund as part of measures to give the share market a shot in the arm, which has been reeling from repeated shocks.

Eight entrepreneurs of the fund had already pumped in Tk 15 billion and the rest will be collected from the market.

Earlier he told journalists on Sept 19, "We expect to start selling the public shares of Bangladesh Fund from Oct 2."

When asked about the rescheduling of the issue date, he said, "We are planning to inaugurate the sale of the shares in a big way. So we deferred the opening date."

"We plan to invest the entire fund of worth Tk 35 billion in the stock market," he said.

Besides ICB, the other co-sponsors of the fund are the four state-owned banks (Sonali, Rupali, Agrani and Janata), and Sadharan Bima Corporation, Jiban Bima Corporation and Bangladesh Development Bank Limited.

Fayekuzzaman said, "Almost all of the entrepreneurial part of the contingency fund—Tk 15 billion—has already been invested in the stock market."

A Dhaka Court has granted bail to all the 17 students of Jagannath University, arrested on Friday from a rally in the city protesting against a government provision that the university fund itself.

Chief metropolitan magistrate Mohammad Mostafa Shahriar passed the order on Saturday when officer in charge of the Shahbagh Police Station Rezaul Islam produced them in the court.

Police had arrested 29 people on Friday under Section 78 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance for creating ruckus on the road and foiled their rally at Shahbagh. However, 12 passers-were released in the night.

General registration officer of the court Sheikh Farid told that each of accused would have been fined Tk 200 and set free if they had admitted their guilt. "As they didn't admit their guilt, they will have to fight the case."

The university authority in a press statement on Saturday requested all its students and their guardians to uphold the image of the university and restore congenial academic atmosphere on the campus.

The JnU authorities on Wednesday advanced Durga Puja vacations in the face of rowdy student protests.

On Thursday, the students declared new protest programmes at a press briefing. Their programmes include human chain in front of National Press Club on Oct 2 and a solidarity rally at Shaheed Minar on Oct 8.

Also, the students would continue to boycott classes and examinations after the university reopens on Oct 8.

Angry students began their protests at 11am on last Sunday in front of National Press Club after they came to know of the funding provision from a newspaper report.

Police charged batons to disperse them, and the students in retaliation smashed several vehicles. With support from the teachers, the students have long been demanding that the provision be scrapped.

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

The protests were paused on Monday following assurance from the ruling Awami League that the matter would be resolved after discussions with the government.

Students say the university increased their semester fees from Tk 3,500 to Tk 20,000 to raise revenue.

Their other demands include recovery of university dormitories, setting up of a library and better transport facilities.

Experts have suggested the government to reduce duty on import of scrap ship, cut interest rates of bank loans and provide tax holiday facilities to boost the shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh and make it globally competitive.

Speakers at a seminar titled 'The present situation of shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh' at Mukti Bhaban in the city on Saturday also urged the government to ensure development of different shipyards of the country and easy access for foreign experts.

T K Shipyard and ptbnews.com jointly organised the programme. PTB chief editor Ashish Kumar Day moderated the seminar while member secretary of Safe River Route Implementation Movement Aminur Rasul Babul readout the keynote paper.

In the paper, Babul demanded that foreign experts be given opportunities for developing shipbuilding zones in Chittagong, Munshiganj, Mongla Port and Patuakhali.

He also recommended fixing of bank loans interest rates for the industry at 10 percent from 15 percent, withdrawing the duty on import of scrapped ships and tax holiday-like facilities.

"These issues are the major problem areas for the entrepreneurs. The government should come forward to resolve them," he added.

Chief engineer of Sea Transportation Directorate and ship surveyor A K M Fakhrul Islam said currently there is a market worth around US$ 1,006 billion in the shipbuilding and ship-breaking industries globally, of which US$ 400-billion market is only for shipbuilding, each weighing 20-25 tonne.

"The major shipbuilding countries like Japan, Korea, China and the USA currently don't receive construction order of such small ships. The small and potential countries like Bangladesh can take advantage of the opportunity," Islam added.

Former director general of Water Resources Planning Organisation (WARPO) Engineer M Enamul Haque said the Sea Transportation Directorate works for the development of the industry, but the organisation is very weak for various reasons including manpower shortage.

He said that the directorate could play a role in the development of the industry if strengthened.

Senior vice-president of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger Carriers) Owners' Association Badiuzzaman Badal and T K Group managing director Syed Manjur Hossain also spoke on the occasion.

Finance minister AMA Muhith has visited celebrated writer Humayun Ahmed who is under treatment in New York for cancer.

The minister went to Humayun's Long Island's residence on Tuesday and learned about his physical condition, finance ministry's senior information officer Sahedur Rahman told.

Humayun told the minister in detail about the treatment, according to Sahedur.

During the minister's visit, Humayun's wife Meher Afroze Shaon, their two children and 'Anyaprokash' proprietor Mazharul Islam were present there.

He said, "Through the minister, he (the writer) urged the countrymen to pray for his quick recovery."

He is being treated at the renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center after being diagnosed with colon cancer during a routine health checkup at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore earlier last month.

Humayun travelled to New York on Sept 13 for better treatment. He was administered the first cycle of chemotherapy on Sep 24.

Humayun Ahmed took up his pen for the first time on Friday since his chemotherapy session ended on Sep 24.

The famed writer was showing the usual effects of undergoing chemo and had lost his appetite, said Mazharul Islam, his publisher.

Also the chief executive of Anyaprokash, a major publishing house in Dhaka, Mazhar told on Saturday evening that Humayun Ahmed was in good spirits considering his situation. "He even painted a little bit with water colours yesterday."

The Anyaprokash CEO has been attending to the writer in New York. He has been living with the writer at a three-bedroom apartment in Jamaica, New York along with Humayun's wife Meher Afroz Shaon and their two sons.

Mazhar said the writer has been spending his time in leisure getting lots of rest. "He has not ventured outside so far in his condition. He spends time watching television and playing with the kids around the house."

"The loss of appetite has naturally resulted in some weakness."

When asked if Humayun has taken to a particular show, Mazhar said, he mostly watches the Bangladeshi channels that are quite available in New York. "Sometimes he will watch the occasional movie. But that's about it."

The next chemo cycle, which usually takes about 48 hours, will begin on Oct 6, said Mazhar.

Humayun Ahmed flew to New York on Sep 13 after he was diagnosed with colon cancer during a regular check-up at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital earlier that month.

The celebrated contemporary writer is undergoing treatment at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre at Manhattan where he will have to undergo at least three more chemo sessions before doctors decide on the next course of action.

According to his attendant, Mazhar, the doctors have not yet ruled out anything and it will depend on how the writer responds to his current treatment.

Despite widespread controversy, Persona beauty parlour authorities maintain they will not remove the close-circuit TV cameras from their rooms.

Managing director Kaniz Almas Khan told  on Saturday the cameras were there for security reasons and she did not think they were violating anyone's privacy.

The husband of the doctor who complained about the cameras on Friday said they will not file any cases.

A doctor who went to the parlour's Banani Road 11 branch on Friday for a spa found a CCTV in her dressing room after she used it.

The lady made a verbal complaint with police and the media for filming her.

While the 'exclusive suite' the doctor had visited had no cameras on Saturday, several other cameras were found in the other rooms.

Persona assistant manager 'Farhana' said the cameras had been placed there since an incident of theft at the branch.

The doctor's husband told bdnews24.com: "To file a case we'll have to go to court and show images of my wife. We're not filing a case for the sake of honour. But I'll advice everyone to remain cautious."

He said the recording that had been recovered contained images of his wife changing and having a spa and he had erased them immediately.

Kaniz Almas, however, denied that there could be such images in the video.

"The CCTV only covers the room's door. There is no scope of filming anything offensive," she said.

"Why would we make explicit videos? The cameras are there for security and supervision of workers. And they are not hidden," she said.

Gulshan Police Station sub-inspector Mehedi Masud told  they did not find the camera in the room on Friday evening. "But from where it was placed, it could cover the whole room," he asserted.

Police have seized the camera and the computer hard disk.

SI Masud said police have urged the victim and her husband to file a written complaint.

At least 78 percent buildings in the port city are vulnerable to earthquake, according to a research.

A region-based survey published on Saturday said some 142,000 buildings of 41 wards of the city are estimated to be dicey which include schools, hospitals and power sub-stations that are 'most risky'.

The report, conducted by Earthquake Engineering Research Centre (EERC) under the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), also said that mass destruction could be brought upon these buildings if an 8.5 magnitude earthquake hits the city.

The report was published at a workshop organised by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) on 'Earthquake Preventive Structure Building: Plan, Implementation and Structure Code-2008'.

At least 150 architects and engineers working with several firms in the city attended the workshop.

CUET's civil engineering department dean Mohammad Jahangir Alam conducted the three-year research.

CDA chairman Abdus Salam told reporters the city's Nagar Unnayan Committee have found several errors in the plans of the buildings to be built in the city.

"The workshop has been arranged to raise awareness following their recommendations," he said.

SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS MOST RISKY

According to the report, there are some 1,033 schools in 41 wards and 739 of them would be destroyed if an 8.5 magnitude earthquake is felt in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

The most risky schools include Chittagong Collegiate Government High School, Government Muslim High School (old), Nasirabad Government Girls' High School, Chittagong Residential School and College and Paharika Girls' High School and several other well-known schools of the city.

Jahangir, also the EERC director, told bdnews24.com: "Compared to the infrastructure of residential buildings, educational institutions must be given more priority."

"Because, there are more people in the schools during classes rather than in residential buildings."

He said most of the schools were built following housing structures plans violating the building code.

Moreover, all the hospitals in the city except Chittagong Medical College and Hospital are vulnerable to earthquake, Jahangir said.

The researcher said residential and hospital building plans are different. "But, most of the hospitals were built following the residential plans while all the private hospitals are in residential buildings."

The report also said that eight of the 13 power sub-stations in the city are at risk.

The 88 Durga Puja pavilions in Old Dhaka seem to be competing with each other for the best looks.

Members of the Puja committees in charge of the pandals welcomed your correspondent for an inspection of the idols, colourful gates and stages on Saturday, the eve of Puja.

Durga Puja, the biggest annual religious festival of the Hindus in Bangladesh, begins on Sunday across the country. Sunday is the Maha Shashthhi, the sixth day of the moon when Goddess Durga is welcomed with much fanfare and gusto.

Each committee claimed their pandal was the most beautiful, explaining the artwork and inspirations behind the décor.

"We took the design for our stage from a stage in India," said organisers from the Kotwali Sri Sri Shiva Temple.

The giant bright orange gates of Pratidwandi Shangha, who are organising Puja for the 40th year, are the first to be seen as one walks into Shankharibazar.

Shangha president Anil Roy told  their stage, gates and idol were the best.

Jamuna Mai Ashram Puja Committee in Gendaria said their idols were being coloured by the artisan they had brought in from Bikrampur.

"He has done an excellent work this time," said committee secretary Nirmal Roy Chowdhury.

Reputed artisans from Bikrampur, Faridpur and Brahmanbaria, who have been in this craft for generations, are usually called upon when Durga idols are made.

Tantibazar, Jamidar Bari, Durgabari, Shangha Mitra, Goalnagar PAnchayet, Laxmibazar's Sabuj Shangha committees said they had almost completed their preparations.

On Shakharibazar Road alone there are 11 pandals for Puja. Metropolitan Puja Committee officials said there were 35 pandals in Sutrapur, 13 in Gendaria, nine in Hajaribagh and one each in Lalbagh, Bangshal and Chawkbazar.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will participate in the 'road march' programme of opposition BNP.

LDP president Oli Ahmed met BNP chief Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office on Saturday.

After the meeting, he told, "LDP will be participating in all the activities of BNP to overthrow the government."

Khaleda at a rally on Sept 27 announced that BNP would stage three road marches toward Sylhet, Rajshahi and Chittagong.

The one-and-a-half-hour meeting started at 8:45pm.

On Sept 28, the LDP president returned home after visiting the US and the UK.

He told after the meeting: "The present government has led the country to devastation. They have ruined the country's economy. People have already suffered a lot.

"So, under Khaleda Zia's leadership, we will start movement against the present government. In the meeting we have discussed all-out efforts to make the anti-government movement a success."

The first meeting between the heads of two the parties was held at Khaleda's Gulshan residence, just before last Ramadan.

After that meeting, Oli officially announced to be with BNP in all the anti-government activities.

Former army chief Moeen U Ahmed will issue a written statement since some statements in his previous video conference 'were not recorded'.

Rashed Khan Mennon, chief of the parliamentary sub-committee investigating tortures of students and teachers in and outside custody at Dhaka University in August 2007, told bdnews24.com on Saturday some statements were not recorded due to technical problems.

"We therefore asked him for a written statement which he said he would send in soon," Menon said.

Moeen, now in the United States, did not, however, specify when he would send the statement, Menon said.

In a tele-conference with a parliamentary sub-committee, Moeen had said that the incidents were 'unfortunate' and 'unwanted'.

"He claimed that an unfortunate incident had occurred at that time and the decision taken by the caretaker government advisors to handle the aftermath had just been implemented. He had no role in the decision-making," Menon had told the press.

Former caretaker government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, who has also been asked by the committee for statement, is yet to respond to the call. Menon hoped he, too, would submit a statement in self-defence.

The sub-committee has its report due in parliament's next session.

A court has ordered the grilling of 21 people including a university teacher and a doctor who were involved in selling fake question papers of the first combined medical and dental admission test.

Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court judge Erfanullah rejected the bail appeal of those accused and sent them to jail.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station officer-in-charge Ziauzzaman told  that Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-2 assistant deputy director Lutfar Rahman filed a case on Saturday morning.

The first-ever combined medical and dental admission test was held on Friday amid rumours of questions leak and strict invigilation.

RAB-2 officer Saiful Karim told, "On Thursday night, 20 people were arrested with false question papers. On Friday morning, we arrested another youth named Arindam Hawladar."

Saiful said a teacher from Jahangirnagar University (JU), a doctor from Dhaka Dental College Hospital and two bankers were also arrested.

He added that they had recovered Tk 1 million from the arrestees.

"There was no similarity between the recovered question papers and the original. The racket made money by selling fake questions papers," he said.

Those arrested are bankers Jewel Ahmed and Ashraful Alam, businessmen Tariqul Islam, Jasimuddin, Nurunnabi Tej, Tanvir Ahmed Siddique, Shahidul Islam Sujon, Motahar Hossain, Habibur Rahman, JU teacher Firozul Hasan, college teacher Anisul Islam, lecturer Aminul Islam, dental college physician Monjur Alam, manager of a hospital Manosh Dev, Dhaka University student 'Emil', medical student Shahiduzzaman Shahed, students Touhidul Islam, Tajmul Parvez, 'Liyon' and one Touhidul Islam Raju.

Health directorate chief Khondaker Mohammad Shefyetullah earlier told  that they had heaved 'a huge sigh of relief' after the 'peaceful' completion of the one-hour test consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) at 19 centres across Bangladesh. The examination began at 11am.

The test was deferred by a week from Sep 23 due to the arrest of a staff of the government press, as he came out of his office premises with concealed question papers on Sep 13. Two other people were also arrested in connection with the incident.

At least 101 health ministry officials including the minister and the secretary went around the examination centres on Friday.

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has started evening specialists' consultation services in the hospital, first of its kind in Bangladesh.

Professors and associate professors of Medicine, Paediatricts, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Skin and Venereal Diseases, Ear, Nose and Throat, and Physical Medicine departments will see patients everyday from 3pm to 6pm.

Vice-chancellor Prof Pran Gopal Datta on Saturday opened the services that offer specialists' prescription only for Tk 200, which is otherwise Tk 500 to Tk 700 in private chambers.

"It's an attempt to promote institutional practices in the country," the vice-chancellor told after cutting ribbon of the services on the first floor of the cabin block building of the university in city's Shahbagh area.

"The university will get Tk 50 per ticket, while the rest will be paid to the specialists and staff who will work overtime," he said, adding the syndicate will decide about the payment.

"Other departments will also start sitting here gradually," he said, "We will not allow below associate professors to see patients."

Al-Amin who was waiting in the queue with his mother said he came from Comilla to see Prof Pran Gopal, a renowned ENT specialist, in the chamber.

"I came in the morning, but did not get a number. They (chamber attendants) told me to go to the BSMMU in the evening to see Pran Gopal," Al-Amin told.

At least 70 tickets were sold out within 40 minutes of opening the services.

Prof M Iqbal Arslan, dean of the Basic Sciences Division, told bdnews24.com that these patients would get laboratory services until 8pm cheaper than any private facility.

He saw it a 'breakthrough' in medical practices in the country.

"If we can sustain it, it will open a new horizon," said Arslan, also a leader of pro-government doctors' forum.

Medical analysts, however, remain skeptical on the future of the services.

"It's neither an evening outdoor, nor an institutional practice," Prof Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement National Committee told.

"In evening outdoors, you cannot charge more than the usual, and in institutional practices, doctors are not allowed to practice outside hospital," he said, adding the model BSMMU has launched is 'very new' to him.

"It will not be unusual if I hear one day that patients of the morning outdoor are kept for evening specialists' consultation," he said.

The university charges Tk 30 for its morning outdoor services.