BANGLADESH

A senior lawyer has contended in the High Court that the writ petitions filed challenging a Securities and Exchange Commission order were aimed to bring the bourses down.

"Three directors of NCC Bank filed a petition but at the same time they also placed orders for purchase of shares. This clearly suggests who are behind the fall in share prices," Dhaka Stock Exchange lawyer Barrister Ameer-ul Islam said.

Taking part in fourth day of hearing on the writ petitions on Wednesday, he said: "If one were to file a writ petition challenging an SEC order, why would the same person place order for purchase of shares as well."

The court of Justice Hasan Fayez Siddique and Justice Jahangir Hossain fixed Thursday for hearing the deposition of the state counsel.

Ameer-ul said the petitions were filed, challenging the Article-2CC of the SEC law "to hamper the capital market".

He said: "The law is not curbing anyone's fundamental rights, as it will apply to only public-listed companies."

Before Ameer-ul's submission, the court heard arguments from writ petitioners' lawyers Ramzan Alai Shikder, Dr Kamal Hossain, Rokonuddin Mahmud, Mahmudul Islam and Akter Imam.

The proceeding was postponed until Thursday after the submission of Ameer-ul.

Following five writ petitions filed by 24 directors of five companies, the court issued rule on June 4 asking why the Article-2CC of the SEC law should not be declared unconstitutional.

However, only a day before the submission of the writ petitions, the court had declared legal the notification issued by SEC under the said article on minimum shareholding by sponsors and directors.

In his argument, Dr Kamal termed the article-2CC 'super martial law'. He said: "This law has given the SEC the power of super martial law administrator. Foreign investment will not come to the country if the SEC continues to enjoy such powers."

The government has approved another export-focussed industrial zone, Rangunia Export Processing Zone, in Chittagong.

The approval for Bangladesh's ninth EPZ came from a meeting of the Board of Governors of Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zone Authority (BPEPZA) held at Prime Minister's Office. Its Chairperson Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting on Sunday, her press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters.

Rangunia EPZ is proposed to be located within 50 kilometres of Chittagong on about 400 acres of government fallow land and family-owned land.

Chittagong has two more EPZs – Chittagong EPZ and Korean EPZ.

Azad said the Prime Minister asked the BPEPZA authorities to give final allocation of 500 acres of land for the Korean EPZ for more investment.

Hasina also asked the Korean EPZ authorities to submit a detailed investment plan to the government.

The other EPZs are located in Dhaka, Mongla, Narayanganj (Adamjee), Uttara (Nilphamari), Comilla and Ishwardi.

Commerce Minister G M Qader, Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira, Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud, State Minister for Power Enamul Haque and Executive Chairman of Board of Investment S A Samad and Secretaries attended the meeting.

All the readymade garment (RMG) factories in Ashulia industrial belt will reopen from Thursday after a four-day closure following a labour unrest.

The owners agreed to resume operations following Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain's request at a meeting on Wednesday, according to the minister.

The leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) met him at Sram Bhaban.

"All factories will remain open from tomorrow (Thursday). I'm urging workers to report for work," Mosharraf said.

BGMEA President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said, "We gained the confidence to reopen the factories after discussions with the government and on assurance of security and other related issues."

"We did not set up the factories to keep them closed. They had to be shut for insecurity and disorder," he said.

Asked about hiking wages of workers, Mohiuddin said, "Neither the government nor the owners have received any such demand. We'll take steps if it is made."

In this regard, Mosharraf said, "The government has not yet received any logical and specific demand or proposal. So, no decision in this regard has yet been taken."

"The government will consider the matter if any specific demand or proposal is made," he added.

BGMEA and BKMEA decided to halt operations at around 350 Ashulia factories for an indefinite period on Sunday following violent demonstrations by the workers. They blocked highways and clashed with police for days demanding a pay hike effective from June 11. Some 500,000 people work at these factories.

According to government statistics, there are about 3,500 readymade garments factories across the country.

After a tripartite meeting of the government, factory owners and worker leaders a few days back, the workers were urged to report for work, but to no avail.

The garment workers last got a pay hike two years ago, but according to the union leaders, their wages had failed to keep pace with ever-rising inflation.

Earlier in the day, State Minister for Labour Monnujan Sufian sat with the leaders of worker unions.

Sufian agreed with them on their claim that prices of commodities, including food, and house rent, had shot up.

"As prices of commodities, including food, have been hiked, the prime minister has assured that the RMG workers will get ration soon," she said.

"The government will look into other issues later," she added.

The leaders said Sufian had assured them that a decision on their demand would be taken after discussions with the people concerned.

'House rent hike illogical'

Mosharraf slammed house owners for hiking rent.

"Hike in transport fare and house rent are big problems for the workers. House rent is increased several times illogically. This is unacceptable," he said.

"The government has taken steps to implement laws on house rent firmly," he added.

Mosharraf also urged the workers to join work peacefully. "The government won't allow any illogical disorder or instigation...now or in the future," he said.

"Conspiracies and instigations have been made ... firm steps will be taken against any sort of violence," he added.

Earlier in the day, Awami League's General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam also said that a conspiracy had been hatched to foment trouble. He blamed another country for the unrest but did not name it.

Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee Member Moyen Khan said neighbouring India instigated the unrest.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday hoped at a reception for four Bangladeshis who scaled Mount Everest that the future generations will take Bangladesh's flag to new heights.

She handed over crests and cheques of Tk 100,000 each to Musa Ibrahim, M A Muhit, Nishat Mazumder and Wasfia Nazreen at her office.

The Prime Minister congratulated them on their climbing the world's tallest peak.

"We have many achievements. [Today] we can identify ourselves as Bangalees, we have accomplished an independent country, a flag."

Hasina seized the occasion to thank the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman saying all of these were possible for him.

The Prime Minister specially mentioned the feats of Nishat and Wasfia and said "Women have taken part in all our achievements. Women have matched men. None of the boys and girls is lagging behind."

Musa Ibrahim, the first Bangladeshi to scale the highest summit, said, "Bangladesh has conquered Everest as the 67th country. Many will follow suit."

He urged the Prime Minister to set up a mountaineering institute and secure its place in the Guinness Book of World Records by planting one million trees in a day.

Hasina said her government would consider such mountaineering institute and added that it would not be difficult to plant a million trees in a day as her party plants trees on the first day of Bengali month of Asharh.

Muhit, who scaled the highest summit twice, presented one of his photographs to Hasina in which he holds the national flag on the highest peak.

Nishat, the first Bangladeshi woman to climb to the fearsome and unforgiving peak, also talked about her feelings at the programme.

Wasfia, the second Bangladeshi woman to conquer Mount Everest, remembered the contributions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the beginning of her speech.

"We women are making progress. I feel like I am having a rebirth after returning from the Everest amid great risks," she said.

State Ministers for Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Ministry of Sports and Youths Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Md Ahad Ali Sarkar also spoke on the occasion.

Ministers, Prime Minister's Advisors, State Ministers, MPs and the top-brass of the PMO were also present.

Later, popular singers Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna and SI Tutul performed at a cultural programme there.

Nishat reached Everest's 8,850-meter-high (29,035-foot-high) summit from the northern side of the mountain in Nepal May 19 morning with another team member, M A Mohit.

Wasfia reached the highest peak on May 26.

Musa Ibrahim was the first Bangladeshi to have conquered the Everest on May 22, 2010.

Nishat's companion Mohit was the second man to scale it on May 21, 2011.

The deadline for depositing money for those willing to perform the hajj under government and private managements has been extended by 11 days.

The last date of the deposit had been Jun 20.

"Hajj hopefuls this year will be able to deposit the government fixed hajj package money until July 1," the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Public Relation Officer Anwar Hossain told reporters on Wednesday.

The minimum money to be deposit for taking the annual pilgrimage under private management this year has been fixed at Tk 303,440, same as under government management.

Authorities concerned do take steps against the law-enforcers, who resort to excessive use of force while resisting organised gangs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asserted in parliament on Wednesday.

She was responding to a question of BNP lawmaker A M Mahbub Uddin Khokon of Noakhali-1 constituency during the question-answer session in the House.

Khokon questioned if the government would take any effective step to stop forced disappearance and extrajudicial killing that increased had alarmingly in the country.

"If any person goes missing, a general diary or case is filed in the respective police station, and then search and inquiry are conducted," Hasina said.

She said the law enforcing agencies were always active against criminal activities in the country. "To arrest or resist organised gangs, the law enforcing agencies often have to use force and sometimes even open fire in self-defence," she said.

"In such incidents, the authorities concerned probe each incident and take lawful steps against any excessive use of force," she added.

Holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of divine blessings for the Muslims, will be observed across the country on the night of July 5.

The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Wednesday.

Religious Affairs Secretary Qazi Habibul Awal presided over the meeting.

Public Relations Officer of the Islamic Foundation Bilal bin Kashem told bdnews24.com that Shaban moon of the Hijri year 1433 was not sighted elsewhere of the country on Wednesday. The month of Shaban will start from Jun 22 (Friday).

"Therefore, the holy Shab-e-Barat will be observed on the night of July 5," he added.

According to Muslim belief, Shab-e-Barat is the night when Almighty Allah arranges affairs of the next one year. On Shab-e-Barat, Allah writes the destinies of all His creations for the coming year by taking into account their past deeds.

Shab-e-Barat also means the night of forgiveness. On this exalted night, Muslims pray to Allah both in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan and seeking forgiveness of the sins committed.

Muslim devotees across the world pass the night offering prayers, reading the Holy Quran, milad mahfil, zikr [remembrance of Allah], visiting the graveyards of their near and dear ones and offering special munajat.

The University Press Limited (UPL) will come up with an unfinished autobiography of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Monday.

The English version of "Ausamapta Atmajiboni" has been titled "The Unfinished Memoirs", according to a UPL media release issued on Saturday.

"Sheikh Mujib penned this invaluable document during his time in jail through 1967-69," the release said.

"In his memoirs," it said, "Bangabandhu describes the context of writing it, and then he takes us back to the beginning – his lineage, birth and childhood, days in school and college, and social and political involvements."

"The book progresses to recount the historical events the great leader experienced standing in the forefront – famine, communal riots in Kolkata and Bihar, partition, politics of Kolkata-centric State Muslim Student League and Muslim League...Pakistan central government's discriminatory attitude and the Agartala conspiracy," it said.

The book also has contents on all other integral aspects of Sheikh Mujib's life in and out of prison, his parents, wife and children, and kin, the release said.

The Penguin Books, India, and Oxford University Press, Pakistan had also collaborated with UPL to publish the book simultaneously in India and Pakistan, it said.

The books carry price tags of Tk 525 and Tk 1,200 for the Bengali and English editions, respectively. The deluxe editions would cost Tk 650 for Bengali and Tk 1,500 for English.

The Oxford University Press has also finalised an Urdu translation of The Unfinished Memoirs to be published in July.

Born in Tungipara village of Gopalganj district in 1920, Sheikh Mujib became the Father of the Nation, who fought the war for independence from the then Pakistan in 1971.

After the freedom, Sheikh Mujib became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, their new country. During the Liberation War, he had been kept in jail in the then West Pakistan. He was made president of the wartime government named after him, the Mujibnagar Government.

On Aug 15 1975, some army personnel shot him dead along with his family members, except daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana.

Hasina is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh now and she heads the Awami League party her father had headed.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Wednesday promised a rethink of the government proposal to levy 2 percent tax at source on mobile phone bills.

He came up with the assurance at a meeting with mobile phone operators at the Ministry of Finance.

Rabi's Executive Vice-President Mahmudur Rahman later told reporter, "We discussed five issues with the Finance Minister. The minister said he would look into those issues."

The representatives of the operators said at the meeting that the operators would not be able to issue receipts if 2 percent tax at source was slapped on mobile phone bills, as this would hurt subscription growth, he added.

The budget for next fiscal 2012-2013 that Muhith presented in parliament on June 7 proposes the tax on the total bill for post-paid subscribers and on the sale of top-up cards or during recharge in case of pre-paid users.

Currently, 90 million mobile-phone users across the country pay 15 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on bills, according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Rahman said they were pumping huge money in subsidies. "If Tk 600 tax on each SIM card is waived, services can widen at the grassroots level. It can also help execute the government plan to build a digital Bangladesh."

"If the import tax and supplementary tax on SIM are increased from 20 percent to 30 percent in line with the proposed budget, it will impact the sector negatively.

"Besides, expenses will also rise if import tax on software for network development and other technologies is hiked from 3 percent to 30 percent."

Rahman, however, quoted the minister as saying in the meeting, "The proposal was made to help Bangladesh's software industry."

"But we informed him that software necessary for mobile phones are not made in Bangladesh," he added.

A finance ministry official, requesting anonymity, told  that Muhith said the government would reconsider the proposal to charge tax at source on mobile phone bill but not the one to reduce tax on SIM cards.

"There will be a decision to slap tax on phone bills of a specific amount and beyond, like Tk 200 and above," the official said.

Grameenphone CEO Tore Johnsen, Airtel CEO Chris Tobit, Banglalink Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Zakiul Islam and top officials of other mobile phone operators attended the meeting.