BANGLADESH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the country's poverty has come down to 31.5 percent due to an average 6.2 percent GDP growth over the past three years of Awami League-led government.

She was replying to a query of Comilla-8 MP Nasimul Alam Chowdhury in Parliament.

"GDP has increased by 6.2 percent on an average over the past three years during the incumbent government, per capita income gone up to $848 and poverty rate has come down to 31.5 from 41 percent," she said.

The Prime Minister said the foreign currency reserve also crossed $10-billion mark as remittances inflow had increased by 9.8 percent.

Hasina told the House that GDP grew by 5.7 percent during 2008-2009 fiscal, 6.1 percent during 2009-2010 fiscal and it increased to 6.7 percent during 2010-2011 fiscal.

According to statistics of nine months of the outgoing 2011-2012 fiscal, 6.3 percent GDP growth had been achieved, she informed.

She said per capita income during 2008-2009 fiscal was $676, while it increased to $848 during the outgoing 2011-2012 fiscal.

"The poverty rate (based on headcount) in 2005 was 40.4 percent that came down to 31.5 percent in 2010," she claimed.

During this period, income discrimination ratio also came down significantly, Hasina said.

According to the World Bank, people with a daily average income lesser than $1.25 are considered poor.

The first war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh adjourned proceedings when a slab of false ceiling crashed on the floor. There were no injuries.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee's war crimes investigator was at the stand, for the 26th time on Wednesday, when a square slab of hardboard-like material fell close to him.

The slab fell under the weight of water it had presumably soaked due to the past few days of rainfall, said Deputy Registrar Mesbahuddin Ahmed.

The square slab broke into pieces splashing water all around it between the witness stand and the stenographer's table on the left corner of the courtroom's far end adjacent to the raised platform where the judges sit.

This created an immediate commotion in the court and investigation officer ASP Mohammad Helal Uddin, who was facing defence counsel Mizanul Islam's cross-examination for the 26th time, remained at the stand evidently startled.

Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali suggested that the false ceiling be inspected first by relevant personnel and the trial could then continue.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq agreed instantly and adjourned the proceedings.

Earlier, the tribunal allowed an attendant for the ailing Sayedee, who has recently had three new stents inserted into his heart, and according to the defence application, needed the care of an attendant round the clock.

The tribunal then rejected two applications filed by Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami. The first was relating to a review of Nizami's charges and another requesting transfer of the case, thereby eliminating the need for the tribunal chief's recusal.

Justice Huq said regarding the transfer petition, "This application does not merit any consideration and as such, stands rejected."

A Jubo League leader has filed a defamation suit against private television channel ATN Bangla Chairman Mahfuzur Rahman for making 'derogatory remarks' about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Emdadul Haque Emdad, a leader of ruling Awami League front's Dhaka Metropolitan unit, filed the case against Mahfuzur Rahman at Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court on Wednesday.

Metropolitan Magistrate Farhana Ferdous Set Thursday for passing an order in the case after taking it into cognizance.

The ATN chief had passed comments on various issues during his visit to London last month. On May 30, he also said the slain couple Sagar Sarowar-Meherun Runi was a victim of 'extramarital affair'.

Rahman drew flaks from journalists and various quarters who demanded his arrest for the offensive remarks.

The social networking websites were flooded with footage of his speech after another private TV channel Ekushey Television ran a report on Monday.

The footage showed Rahman calling the Prime Minister 'talkative' recalling her comment that "it was not possible for the government to guard anyone's bedroom".

Rahman added Hasina's comment was a 'mistake' usually associated with busy people.

"I am a leader of Juba League's Metropolitcan unit. Mahfuzur Rahman's remarks have not only offended Awami League's highest position holder Sheikh Hasina but also offended me," Emdad told bdnews24.com after filing the case.

When Home Minister Shahara Khatun's attention had been drawn towards Mahfuzur Rahman's remarks against Hasina, she had said, "Action will be taken against ATN owner if he is found to have made derogatory remarks against the Prime Minister."

At least 13 people were killed in Chittagong city and Banshkhali area in hill-slide on Tuesday due to heavy torrential rains while wall collapse and electrocution killed five more.

Relentless downpour over the past few days forced suspension of flight operations in the afternoon, and snapped rail communication with the rest of the country in the evening. Rough weather also disrupted unloading of goods at the premier port.

Weather office said until 9pm on Tuesday, 462.5 milimetres of rainfall was recorded in Chittagong, submerging almost two-thirds of the port city. Buses and cars were not operating on some roads.

The water started tracing back after around 9pm.

The Hillside

At least eight people died at two places in Khulshi, two at North Pahartoli and three more in Banshkhali area. Apart from them, two others died at the city's Ambagan and Haathazari upazila due to wall collapse.

A hillslide at Yasin Colony in Khulshi area had buried 20 houses in Chittagong. The hill is locally known as Kabarasthhan (Graveyard).

Chittagong Fire Service's Deputy Assistant Director Jasim Uddin confirmed that the landslide happened at 7:30pm on Tuesday at Akbar Shah in Khulshi burying the houses in the neighbourhood Yasin Colony.

Bodies of Shanu, 16, son of Abu Taiyab, 12-year-old Urmi, a woman named Hosna Banu and that of three others including a child were rescued late into the night. Residents believed several others could be buried under the mud but the rescuers could not be specific until the end of their operation for the day.

Rescue operation had begun immediately while troops joined police and fire service later, Jasim Uddin added. Chittagong City Mayor M Manjur Alam, Divisional Commissioner Sirajul Islam Khan and Deputy Commissioner were overseeing the rescue operation.

Rescue operation resumed on Wednesday morning.

As many as 127 people were killed in different incidents of landslide in the port city in only one month, June 2007.

The deceased in Khulshi landslide near Joyontika residential area were identified as Rabeya Begum, 60, Abdul Khaleque, 65, Ramzan Ali, 28, Kulsum Akter, 8, and Masum, 2.

A Fire Service rescuer Zahirul Islam told bdnews24.com that there were four houses at the foot of the hill. All of the residents were buried alive when the hill collapsed.

Several landslides were also reported in other parts of the hilly city as downpour continued for hours since Tuesday morning. One of the reported landslides took place near Sugandha Ekushey Hospital and the other other at Lalkhan Bazar, injuring two.

The district administration has been suggesting people living by the hillside to take shelter in safer places until the weather conditions improve. About 50 families living by hillsides of Biswacolony and Batali Hills were shifted until Tuesday afternoon.

The district administration also dismantled 20 houses.

Assistant Director of the Department of Environment Golam Mohammad Bhuiyan said families living by the hillsides in the city would be evicted gradually.

Banshkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shahjahan Khan said three brothers died in a landslide at Jangal Shilkup in Banshkhali.

The dead are Shahidul, 12, Khorshed, 8, and Fatema, 4, all children of Md Minhazur. Locals pulled out their bodies.

Wall collapse

A child, Abul Hossain, 8, died when a wall collapsed on him at Dakkhin Ambagan on Tuesday evening.

A Chittagong Medical College Hospital police outpost constable, Mohammad Sumon Miah, told bdnews24.com that doctors declared the child dead when he was brought to the hospital.

According to Fire Service officials, boundary wall of another house collapsed at OR Nizam Road.

Hathajari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Liakot Ali said a 15-year old girl named Annie died when a wall collapsed at Khondokia Hajiparha in the afternoon.

Electrocution

Three people were electrocuted in Chandgaon residential area and at Akmal Ali Road under Bandar Police Station in the city on Tuesday.

Nurul Islam was electrocuted in his own house on Road No. 12 of Chandgaon residential area at 4pm.

Two more unidentified people were electrocuted at Akmal Ali Road under the same police station.

Officer-in-Charge of Bandar Police Station Nurul Afsar Bhuiyan told bdnews24.com that the duo died at the local Navy Hospital on being rushed there.

Cautionary Signal No. 3

The Patenga Met office has asked Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla sea ports to display cautionary signal No. 3.

There is disparity in the air pressure at the North Bay of Bengl due to the active state of the monsoon wind, it said. There are chances of stormy winds blowing over the North Bay, adjacent areas and the sea ports.

Fishing boats and trawlers in those areas have been asked to remain close to the coast until further orders.

At least 69 people have been killed in various parts of the country due to hillslides, house collapses and electrocution following heavy torrential rains over the past a few days.

Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts recorded the maximum number of casualties.

Though water started tracing back after a week of downpour in Chittagong, the situation in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar deteriorated on Wednesday.

Rains have resulted in suspension of flight operations and snapped rail communication with the port city since Tuesday.

Chittagong

Hill-slide, wall collapse and electrocution killed at least 18 people in Chittagong on Tuesday.

At least eight people died at two places in Khulshi, two at North Pahartoli and three more in Banshkhali area. Apart from them, two others died at the city's Ambagan and Haathazari upazila due to wall collapse.

Three people were electrocuted in Chandgaon residential area and at Akmal Ali Road under Bandar Police Station.

A hillslide at Yasin Colony in Khulshi area had buried 20 houses in Chittagong. Chittagong Fire Service's Deputy Assistant Director Jasim Uddin confirmed that the landslide happened at 7:30pm on Tuesday at Akbar Shah in Khulshi burying the houses in the neighbourhood Yasin Colony.

Body of a female and a child was recovered from there.

Five others were killed in a landslide in Khulshi landslide near Joyontika residential area.

A Fire Service rescuer Zahirul Islam told bdnews24.com that there were four houses at the foot of the hill. All of the residents were buried alive when the hill collapsed.

Two sisters died in another landslide at Pahartoli's Andhar Manik Makkaghona area.

Senior official at the Biazia Fire Station told bdnews24.com rescuers pulled out bodies of the siblings around 6am on Wednesday.

Banshkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shahjahan Khan said three brothers died in a landslide at Jangal Shilkup in Banshkhali.

The dead are Shahidul, 12, Khorshed, 8, and Fatema, 4, all children of Md Minhazur. Locals pulled out their bodies.

A child, Abul Hossain, 8, died when a wall collapsed on him at Dakkhin Ambagan on Tuesday evening.

Hathajari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Liakot Ali said a 15-year old girl named Annie died when a wall collapsed at Khondokia Hajiparha on Tuesday afternoon.

Buses and cars were not plying on several roads.

As many as 127 people were killed in different incidents of landslide in the port city in only one month, June 2007.

Weather office said until 9pm on Tuesday, 462.5 milimetres of rainfall was recorded in Chittagong, submerging almost two-thirds of the port city.

The district administration has been suggesting people living by the hillside to take shelter at safer places until the weather conditions improve. About 50 families living by hillsides of Biswacolony and Batali Hills were shifted until Tuesday afternoon.

The district administration also dismantled 20 houses.

Assistant Director of the Department of Environment Golam Mohammad Bhuiyan said families living by the hillsides in the city would be evicted gradually.

Bandarban

Bandarban District Commissioner K M Tariqul Islam told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that 24 people were killed on Tuesday night in a hillslide in Faitang area of Lama upazila.

Chairman of Faitong Union Parishad Mohammad Shamsul Alam said part of a hill collapsed on Tuesday night amid heavy downpour over several houses killing at least 24 people.

Officer-in-Charge of Faitong police outpost Abu Bakar said more were still believed to be under the debris. He said rescue efforts had been affected due to bad weather.

Rescuers shovelled out three others and admitted them at the Lama Upazila Health Complex, Lama's Health Inspector Didarul Islam said.

Life in several areas, including Bandarban Sadar, Ruma, Thanchi, Rowangchari, Lama, Alikadam and Naikhyongchari upazilas, has come to a halt as the low-lying areas became waterlogged snapping road communication with the rest of the country.

The DC said the situation deteriorated from Tuesday night as water from continuous downpour over past several days had clogged low-lying areas of Lama, including the residence of Lama Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila Parishad and the market area.

Telecommunication was hit and there was no electricity in the town, he added.

Meanwhile, six people were killed in Naikhyangchharhi's Baishari when a mud house collapsed.

Officer-in-Charge of Naikhyongchari Police Station said six bodies had been recovered from the site.

He could not immediately identify the deceased.

Lama market areas and several other parts of the municipality have been waterlogged due to rain-triggered flash flood.