BANGLADESH

The Hill Management Committee has directed the authorities to cut off illegal electricity, gas and water supply connections to the families living in the risky slopes of the hills in Chittagong within seven days to avert further loss of lives and property in the upcoming rainy season.

The recommendations came from a meeting of the committee held at Chittagong Circuit House on Monday.

The meeting was held days after at least 26 people were killed in separate incidents of hillslide and wall collapse triggered by ceaseless downpour in at least seven areas of the district.

Owners of the hills have also been directed to take necessary measures to relocate the families dwelling illegally in the risky hill slopes of the port city.

Besides, the meeting also directed the district administration to form a committee to provide legal aid to the victims if any of them files case against influential land grabbers in the hills.

Chaired by Alef Uddin, the Chittagong Additional Divisional Commissioner, the meeting was also attended by Abdul Kaiyum, Additional Secretary and National Project Director of Comprehensive Disaster Management Project (CDMP).

The special court set up to hold Peelkhana mutiny trial has asked former Army chief Moeen U Ahmed, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Military Secretary Maj Gen Joynul Abedin and two others to appear before it on July 4.

The Special Court judge, who is also the Dhaka Metropolitan Additional Session's judge, Mohammad Akhteruzzaman passed the order on Monday.

The two other asked to appear before the court are former Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad and now-defunct Bangladesh Rifles officer Let Col (Retd) Jahan Ara Begum.

"The court has summoned them for making their deposition," said Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajal.

On Monday, Mehrin Ferdous, wife of Dhaka Sector Commander Mojibul Hoque, who was killed during the mutiny, Munmun Akter, wife of Lt Col Shamsul Azam, BDR Hospital doctor Snigdha Sarker, and its nurses Selina Sultana, Aklima Akter and Sabina Yeasmin deposed before the court.

As many as 74 people, including 57 Army officers, were killed in the mutiny on Feb 25 and 26, 2009. Later, the force was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh.

A murder case was filed after the mutiny, with 1,087 witnesses. The court set up on the playground adjacent to the Alia Madrassa started recording depositions on Aug 24 last year.

The Criminal Investigation Department submitted chargesheet accusing 824, including former BNP lawmaker Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu and Awami League leader Torab Ali. Another 834 were accused in another case filed in connection with the Explosives Act.

The newly appointed World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim said on Monday the decision to cancel loan for the Bangladesh's Padma bridge project was 'appropriate', according to international media reports.

His comment came on first day on the job when Bangladesh government was preparing to hold discussion with the top management of the Bank to review its decision.

"I think it was appropriate," The Globe and Mail quoted Kim to have said of the decision in his first meeting with journalists.

The World Bank cancelled its pledged $1.2-billion loan for Bangladesh's biggest infrastructure alleging corruption.