BANGLADESH

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An alleged extremist has been shot dead in a so-called gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

RAB said they arrested two more of the terror group along with firearms, bullets and bombs during the shootout that took place at 8pm Monday at a field at Padmadi under the district's Islamic University Police Station.

RAB-12 Kushtia camp commander major 'Mahfuz' told : "The extremists started firing on the RAB-12 team which went to that village to arrest them on a tip-off."

He said that one .9 mm pistol, two shot-guns, one one-shooter gun, two bombs, 15 rounds of bullets and eight cartridges were seized from the scene.

Mahfuz, however, said the identity of the deceased was yet to be known.

Though the Appellate Division has ordered to hand over the entire 7.09-acre land, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) wants to give the Supreme Court only 0.67-acre of it.

After receiving an RHD letter to this effect, undersigned by supervising engineer Mohammad Faridul Alam, Supreme Court registrar A K M Shamsul Islam on Monday termed the move as contempt of court.

Legal notices had been sent to Sharak Bhaban and Shishu Academy by advocate Manzill Murshid asking them to hand over the occupied estates and establishments to the registrar within 15 days in line with a Supreme Court decision.

The legal notices, quoting a decision of the High Court on March 10, stated the two properties in question, on which Governor House and East Pakistan Court had been established, belong to the Supreme Court.

After the High Court order, both Shishu Academy and RHD approached the Appellate Division, but the pleas were dismissed.

The notice also said proper action would be taken for contempt of court if the property was not handed over to the Supreme Court within 15 days.

Shishu Academy has 2.37 acres of land in its possession.

Within a week of appointment, communications minister Obaidul Quader met the chief justice and sought time.

Murshid on Monday said, "The entire land is of the Supreme Court. To hand over only a part is misinterpretation of the verdict.

"We'll file a contempt of court suit in this regard."

Shamsul said, "They sent me a letter to hand over 0.67 acre land, let alone executing the court order."

"There was a caretaker building, Ansar building, pump house and two store rooms on the land. They took away the doors and windows of the building today (Monday)."

"None has the right to damage the properties to be handed over to the Supreme Court," he added.

Bangladesh and India have agreed to form a joint committee to look into the possibility of transhipment of Indian goods from deeper draft vessels to shallow draft vessels at any point in Bangladesh.

"We have taken the decision today," said joint secretary of shipping ministry Mohammad Alauddin after a meeting of the standing committee of Protocol on Inland Water Trade and Transit (PIWTT) Monday.

He led the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting, held after 14 months, that continued for over 24 hours in two days and signed the agreed upon minutes.

Under the existing system, Sherpur and Ashuganj are the transhipment points where vessels or mode of transport can be changed for goods destined from one part of India to another.

"The committee will submit its report as soon as possible," Alauddin said.

BANK GUARANTEE

The bank guarantee clause in PIWTT has been retained and will be applicable to transhipment of goods, the joint secretary said.

"Indians opposed the provision but we will retain it," he said.

National Board of Revenue issued a circular in August last year under which bank guarantee is needed for all transhipment goods.

ASHUGANJ PORT

The joint secretary said the government is interested to operationalise Ashuganj river port for transhipment-related activities, but due to infrastructural problems, it is difficult to happen now.

"We don't have any infrastructure at Ashuganj port. For transhipment activities, we need to develop it," he said.

Bangladesh allowed three commercial cargo transhipments on trial basis last year and before that over dimensional cargoes for Palatana power plant went from Kolkata to Tripura through Ashuganj.

NEW TRANSHIPMENT POINT

In the meeting, Indian side proposed to declare Chattak as a new transhipment point but Bangladesh side asked for a formal proposal from the neighbouring country, Alauddin said.

"After receiving the formal proposal, we will look into the matter," he said.

Sherpur was the first transhipment point since 1972 and Ashuganj was declared second point in 2010.

MAINTENANCE CHARGE

India has agreed to increase the maintenance charge to Tk 100 million from existing Tk 55 million, Alauddin informed.

The Indian government every year provides Bangladesh Tk 55 million for maintaining transit routes in the country, he said.

Alauddin said the next meeting of the standing committee will be held in July this year.

The issue of transit and transhipment has become a thorny one between Bangladesh and India when Delhi failed to sign an interim Teesta agreement during the visit of Indian premier Manmohan Singh to Dhaka last year.

Bangladesh signed PIWTT under Bangla-Indo trade agreement in 1972 and it will expire on March 31 this year.

The next renewal meeting of PIWTT will be held in March.

Miscreants have beaten a person to death at Gobindaganj as he protested his minor daughter's rape.

They also vandalised the house of the 55-year-old deceased, Habibur Rahman, of Raghabpur village, on Monday.

Abul Bashar, 25, alias Chhoto Milon of Baluabazar village raped Habibur's daughter, a Grade-six student, when she was on her way back from her sister-in-law's house in an adjoining village on Monday, Gobindaganj police chief Abu Akkas said.

Milon tried to stop the victim's guardians, who on knowing of the incident, were on their way to the police station to file a complaint around 5pm, Akkas said.

Local people nabbed Milon at once but his associates snatched him away. Later, they rampaged Habibur's house and beaten him and his brother Shah Alam, he said.

Habibur died while being taken to Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex around 7:30pm, the police official said.

"We've taken the body to the police station. A case will be filed," he added.

Actor Humayun Faridee's favourite quote was 'live and let others live.'

After keeping audiences entranced for 25 years with his acting prowess in television dramas, movies and theatres, the 60-year-old Faridee finally made his concluding bow to the world stage on Monday.

The popular actor who graced television dramas, movies and theatres with his varied performances died at her daughter's residence in Dhanmondi on Monday.

He had been ill for quite a few days.

A pall of gloom descended upon entertainment personalities who had celebrated his 60th birth anniversary on May 29 last year.

Winner of the National Film Award for his sterling performance in the film 'Matritwa' in 2004, Actor-director Faridee was born on May 29, 1952 in Dhaka's Narinda to ATM Nurul Islam and Begum Farida.

Passing his intermediate exams from Chandpur Government College, Faridee studied economics at Jahangirnagar University. He used to stay at the university's Al-Beruni Hall during his university days.

His acting career started on the stage, with Dhaka Theatre.

He acted in Bangladeshi cinema for over a decade. But it was on television that Faridee really left his indelible mark, appearing in countless dramas and series that became the staple diet of Bangladeshi audiences.

Patronised by filmmaker and director Nasiruddin Yousuf Bachchu, Faridee, a fifth batch student of economics department of Jahangirnagar University, started his career on the stage around the 1980s. Legendary playwright Selim Al-Din also ushered on his career on the stage.

He was one of the main organisers of the university's first ever drama festival in 1976.

Faridee brought to life a huge gallery of characters, and he went on to enjoy many successes on television and in the theatre. Being a member of Bangladesh's Village Theatre, his talents sparked throughout the whole country.Some of the most famous productions he took part in includes Selim Al-Din's Montasir Fantasy, Kirtonkhola, Keramot Mongol.

Making his debut with Atiqul Haque's "Nikhoj Shongbad", he went on to perform in TV plays like Nil Nakshar Shandhany (1982), Durbin die dekhun (1982), Bhangoner shabdha suni (1983), Bakulpur koto Dur (1985), Mohuar Mon (1986), Sat Ashmaner Shiri (1986), Akdin hohat (1986), Chanmiar negative positive (1986), Ojattra (1987), Songsaptak (1987-88), Pathar Shomoy (1989), Dui bhai (1990), Kothao Keu Nei (1990), Shiter Pakhi (1991), Shomudre Gangchil (1993), Tini Akjon (2005), Chandragrasto (2006), Kachher Manush (2006), Mohona (2006), Vober Hat (2007), and Srinkhal (2010).

His role as 'Kankata Ramzan' in a drama serial telecast on BTV, brought him enormous fame. He was equally versatile in roles of both protagonist and antagonist.

His last directed drama serial was 'Hemanta' and became ill while working in his last drama, 'Purna Chader Opurnatay.'

In the tele-play "Bhangoner Shobdo Shuni" his line "Ami toh jomi kini na, fani kini" ( I don't buy land, I buy water) became a favourite with the audience. His characterisation of Ramzan in "Shongshoptok" achieved legendary status.

Faridee also left his mark on the silver screen. Movies he acted in include: Hulia, Dohon, Shontrash, Bachelor, Joy Jatra, Shamolchaya, Bhohubrihi, Ekattorer Jishu, Mayer Morjada, and Aha!.

Anu Muhammad, a professor at economics department at Jahangirnagar University and a fellow classmate of Faridee, told on Monday that Faridee was a very talented and amiable person.

"His theatrical career basically started with the encouragement of Selim Al-Din," Anu said. During Faridee's student life, he and Selim Al-Din together organised drama festivals, published magazines, and arranged study-circles, he added.