BANGLADESH

One of the five Sonali Bank officials quizzed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) testified to involvement of the bank's high-ups in the Tk 36 billion loan scam.

Bank's Assistant General Manager (Control and Vigilance) Shyamal Kanti Nath talked with journalists after he was questioned by the six-strong ACC team probing the scandal.

"Many of the bank's high-ranking officials were involved in this financial scam. The incident took place in such a way that we could not even sense it," Nath said.

A Bangladesh Bank audit recently revealed embezzlement of credit money from the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch of the bank. The Hallmark Group alone drew about Tk 26 billion from the branch.

Asked whether the high-ups' carelessness paved way for the scam, he said, "I don't believe they did it because of their innocence."

According to Nath, the scam came to their knowledge only after it appeared in the newspapers in May. Later, a team of three was sent to the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch of the bank for inspection and he was one of the inspectors.

"During the inspection, we could make out that the probe cannot not be completed in a single day. Later, we informed the bank's foreign exchange branch about the matter," he added.

Besides Nath, Deputy General Managers at the bank's headquarters Md Morshed Alam Khandker and Nesar Ahmed, and Assistant General Managers Abul Momin Patwari, and Shameem Akhter were also questioned by the anti-graft watchdog on Wednesday.

The ACC had questioned six other officials of the Sonali Bank on Monday.

The government has finally involved the private sector to increase the use of long-term and permanent methods of family planning in its effort to reach the 2016 target of two births per woman.

Health and Family Welfare Minister AFM Ruhal Haque inaugurated the initiative in Dhaka on Wednesday and hoped working 'hand in hand' with the private sector would make the methods popular.

Experts have long been pushing for promoting those clinical methods of family planning to protect pregnancies for Bangladeshi women, most of who complete childbearing in their twenties with two decades of reproductive life in hand.

Although more women are using birth control methods now than before, a key survey shows the use of long-acting and permanent methods remained stagnant with only 13 percent of all contraceptive use.

Latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) found 65 percent women do not want more children and the rate was 82 percent in couples having two children and 90 percent with three or more children. But only 8 percent use long-term or permanent methods.

USAID's Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) project will lead the joint initiative to create markets with Social Marketing Company (SMC) and Mayer Hashi Project.

SMC will ensure supply of commodities at subsidised price initially in Dhaka and Chittagong's busy private facilities while SHOPS will train up doctors, mainly gynaecologists, to do the procedure.

SHOPS Regional Manager of Asia and Middle East Stephen Rahaim said they had assessed the private providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to these methods of contraception in Bangladesh.

The survey showed 97 percent doctors and nurses agreed to increase the role of private sector in such methods, but obstetricians and gynaecologists have never been trained.

Discussing with clients, the qualitative survey also found service providers do not counsel them to help in method selection.

A 'remarkably low' level of knowledge of method specific side-effects has also been found among obstetrics and gynaecologists, it said.

Rahaim said the survey findings would help them 'clear some of the barriers' in creating markets for long-acting and permanent methods � implant, intra-uterine devices (IDUs), and sterilisations.

SMC's Managing Director Ashfaq Rahman said they had 10, 000 IUDs to supply at a rate of Tk 30 each and 30,000 IUDs at Tk 20.

Additional Director General for Health Services Prof Abul Kalam Azad said the initiative would help promote those methods as nearly 80 percent people go to private facilities in Bangladesh.

A Director of Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) Dr Mohammad Sharif, however, told bdnews24.com that due to lack of initiatives, those methods did not expand to private facilities in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's total fertility rate has decreased to 2.3 in 2011 from 6.3 births per woman in 1975, according to DGFP.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Wednesday suggested increasing the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders instead of pipeline gas connection in the households.

After a regular meeting of the committee, its Chairman Subid Ali Bhuiyan told reporters that household consumption of natural gas supplied through pipelines was improper.

The meeting recommended reducing household gas connection gradually, he said.

"How long will gas be supplied through pipeline? The ministry has been directed to take measures to increase the use of gas cylinders instead of pipeline connection," the ruling Awami League MP said.

Bhuiyan expressed his dissatisfaction over the low tariff of pipeline gas. He also suggested adjustment of the tariffs of the LPG and gas supplied through pipeline since currently the tariff of LPG gas is costlier in the market.

"Tariffs of LPG cylinders are higher in the market while the tariff of household gas connection is remarkably low. The committee has asked for adjustment between the two," he said.

The meeting also expressed its displeasure at the fact that no legal measures had been taken against former Managing Director of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) Sanwar Hossain Chowdhury though the parliamentary panel had d found proof of corruption in its investigation.

The committee made fresh recommendation for legal steps against the former official.

Natural gas for household consumption is supplied either through pipeline connection or in the form of LPG gas in Bangladesh. The pipeline supply, starting in the late 1960s, had spread to major cities until the 2000s. Since its limited reserve was presumed, the concept of LPG was promoted over the last decade.

The state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) supplies cylindered gas through the dealers of its oil company Padma, Meghna and Jamuna.

The government on Wednesday transferred Deputy Commissioners of 20 districts, including Dhaka and the Chittagong, in a major administrative shake-up.

The Ministry of Public Administration in an order changed the chief administrators of district administration.

Ten of the previous DCs have been made Officer on Special Duty (OSD), which means they will not have any duty until posted elsewhere.

Of the 20 districts, 18 had their administrators of the rank of Joint Secretary. They have been replaced by Deputy Secretary-level officials.

Sheikh Yusuf Harun, who was serving as the DC of Gopalganj, has been given the charge of Dhaka district, the order said. The former Dhaka DC Muhibul Haque has been transferred to the Ministry of Public Administration as a Joint Secretary.

Chittagong has Cox's Bazar's DC Mohammad Zainul Bari as its new administrator.

The Directorate of Public Library Director Ramchandra Das has been made Shariatpur DC, Personal Secretary to the Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings Masud Ahmed has become Magura DC, Chief Executive Officer of Patuakhali Zila Parishad Delwar Haider moved to Jamalpur as DC, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Bangladesh Forms and Publications Delwar Hossain made Chuadanga DC, National Board of Revenue's First Secretary Imrul Chowdhury became Joypurhat D while Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Masud Karim has been given the charge of Khagrachhari.

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works' Deputy Secretary Khalilur Rahman has been transferred to Gopalganj as DC, ADC of Satkhira Mukesh Chandra Biswash made Thakurgaon DC, Public Administration Ministry's Deputy Secretary Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan posted as Barguna DC and Prime Minister's Office's Director Anisur Rahman given the charge of Tangail.

Chittagong's ADC Ismail Hossain has been appointed as Chandpur DC, Sylhet's ADC Shahidul Alam made Barisal DC, Education Minister's Personal Secretary Ahmed Shameem Al Raji given the charge of Dinajpur, Personal Secretary to the State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Saiful Hasan Badal has been posted in Gaibadnha, Deputy Director of Joypurhat's Local Government Division Habibur Rahman will take over in Lalmonirhat, Dhaka's ADC Masud Karim in Manikganj, Ministry of Agriculture 's Deputy Secretary Syed Belal Hossain has been made Kushtia DC and Deputy Director of Netrokona's Local Government Ruhul Amin made Cox's Bazar DC.

Previous DCs of Kushtia, Manikganj, Khagrachharhi, Dinajpur, and Jamalpur – Bonomali Bhowmik, Munsi Shahabuddin Ahmed, Anisul Hoque Bhuiyan, Jamal Uddin Ahmed and Siraj Uddin Ahmed – have been made Officers on Special Duty.

The OSDs also include previous DCs Shahiduzzaman, Sanowar Hossain, Mojibur Rahman, Mokhlesur Rahman Sarker, and Shushanto Kumer Saha of Thakurgaon, Shariatpur, Barguna, Lalmonirhat and Magura respectively.

Chittagong DC Faez Ahmed has been transferred to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and DC of Barisal SM Airf Ur Rahman to Housing and Public Works Ministry as Joint Secretary.

Ashoke Kumar Biswash of Joypurhat and Bazlul Karim Chowdhury of Barisal have been made Additional Divisional Commissioners while Shahidul Islam of Tangail was appointed Director of LGRD, Dhaka.

Chuadanga DC Bhola Nath Dey has been posted as Member of the Mongla Port Authority while Priyotosh Saha of Chandpur has been made Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee's defence witness, claiming to have belonged to the Awami League's student wing, failed to recall his party's slogan.

Appearing as the fifth witness for Sayedee, Khasrul Alam said he was a member of Chhatra League in his school and college days and went on to join the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal – 1, set up to try crimes against humanity during the nine-month War of Independence, indicted the Jamaat Executive Council member for 20 war crimes charges on Oct 3, 2011.

His alleged crimes include murder, rape, loot and arson.

Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali asked the witness how he became a member of the Chhatra League. The witness answered with some of activities saying that he took part in processions and conducted their activities as their seniors told them.

"But how did one become a member of the Chhatra League?"

The witness eventually said he had to sign a form, but the prosecutor insisted that no such forms existed.

The prosecutor then asked, "What was the Chhatra League's slogan at that time?"

Khasrul Alam answered that the student cadres were vocal about rights and facilities of the students. "But those are only demands. What was the slogan?"

Tribunal Chairman Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq reminded, "And this is not 1962 or 1971. Let's remember that."

The witness said he was only in the ninth grade in 1966 when he was just a supporter. "I became a worker later in college."

The prosecutor had to dismiss several other answers of the witness and repeat his question before the witness finally admitted that he could remember the slogan.

Haider Ali went on to suggest that the witness had fled to Saudi Arabia to escape from an arms case in Parerhat after the war. The entire court was amused when the witness replied with an animated, "Nauzubillah!"

The prosecutor had established by then that the witness was living in the oil rich kingdom of the Gulf for about 20 years between 1985 and 2004.

The prosecutor also strived to question the veracity of the witness' testimony and his credibility.

Haider Ali suggested that the witness' father-in-law, originally from Hoogly district of the Indian state of West Bengal, did not even speak Bengali and had opposed the war. The witness countered saying that this was entirely 'concocted'.

The prosecutor suggested that the witness' claim that there were no incidents of rape in 1971 in Parerhat or Shankarpasha unions was false. He also suggested that Khasrul's claim that not a single man spoke up against Sayedee was false. The witness insisted that it was true.

Senior defence counsel Mizanul Islam, who has been leading the trial for Sayedee, was seen helping the prosecutor explaining his questions to the witness and also assisting the court to record the answers.

The court also noted the defence lawyer's efforts and appreciated them, as did the prosecutor.

Cross-examination of the fifth witness was wrapped up and Sayedee's case was adjourned till the next day.

First case to trial

Sayedee's is the first case to proceed to the trial stage at the war crimes tribunals. The prosecution on Sep 4, 2011 proposed framing of charges against him on 31 counts of crimes against humanity and genocide.

The tribunal also sent Jamaat's former chief Ghulam Azam to jail on Jan 11. His indictment hearing began on Feb 15 and the court charged him on May 13.

Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed and assistant secretaries general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla are also behind bars on war crimes charges. Jamaat financier Mir Quasem Ali and ATM Azharul Islam, the Acting Secretary General, were arrested more recently and are behind the bars while investigations continue.

BNP MP and standing committee member, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, also behind the bars, was indicted for 23 charges on Apr 4.

Former BNP lawmaker and minister Abdul Alim is the only one out on bail. All cases have already entered the trial phase.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has called a press conference on Thursday afternoon for briefing the media about the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance's next course of action to press for a non-party caretaker poll-time government.

The press conference will be held at the Gulshan office of BNP chief, Khaleda's Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan said on Wednesday.

"The press conference has been scheduled for 4pm. The opposition leader will explain the stance BNP and the 18-Party Alliance have taken over the current political situation, especially for ensuring a fair and neutral election under a non-party caretaker government to protect the right to franchise of the people," Khan said.

The Supreme Court verdict rescinding the caretaker government system has left the politicians of Bangladesh divided.

Ever since the judgment was pronounced, the opposition has been demanding reinstatement of the non-partisan government arrangement. But the Awami League-led ruling Grand Alliance has been sticking to the idea that the judgment leaves no scope for reintroduction of the system.

The opposition leader is also expected to clarify her coalition's stance in the backdrop of release of the full judgment on Sep 16.

The apex court scrapped the caretaker government system on May 10 last year.

On Tuesday, the BNP decided to reject the full judgment at a meeting of the party's senior leaders.

Amid raging debates over whether Parliament will exist during the national elections, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the President will make the final call.

"The Prime Minister will inform the President when s/he prefers the polls to be held, according to the West Minister type of democracy," she said.

"Then, the President will issue order," she said during question-answer session in Parliament.

"For example, I will decide when the election will be held and then the President will issue the order. Elections will not be held retaining the Parliament. He (President) will decide the size of the Cabinet, whether to dissolve Parliament... This is his (President) prerogative," Hasina said in response to Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu's question.

But, the Prime Minister did not elaborate.

Caretaker "unnecessary"

Hasina has said the interim government system is not needed anymore as polls held under the incumbent Awami League-led coalition government has been "free and fair".

"The elections held since the coalition government took office have been free and fair. So, there is no necessity of a caretaker government as a democratic environment needed to hold free and fair elections has returned after the present government took office," she told MPs.

Her government scrapped the caretaker government provision through the 15th constitutional amendment after the Supreme Court verdict on the 13th Amendment.

The latest constitutional amendment allows parliamentary polls to be held under elected partisan government. But, the BNP-led alliance has been demanding restoration of the caretaker system alleging that fair elections will not be possible under a party government.

Suranjit Sengputa, a member of the special parliamentary committee that recommended amendments, had said that Parliament will be "inactive" during the national elections.

Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon had been saying that a Parliament existing during a national election would give rise to "constitutional complexities."

The non-party caretaker government provision was incorporated in the Constitution in 1996 in the face of widespread demonstration launched by the then opposition Awami League.

The Prime Minister said, "We don't have any specific information about caretaker government system in any democratic country."

Referring to the previous military-backed emergency-time administration, Hasina said that the experience "still haunts" the people. "The people will lose their democratic rights if the system is revived and if they (caretaker) do not leave power."

The government is working to ensure continuation of the Constitutional system. We want democracy to continue� [we] will not push the country towards darkness," she added.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is scheduled to give her party's formal reactions to the recently published full verdict of the 13th Amendment at a press conference on Thursday.

The full verdict was published on Sep 16.


"Not covering scams"

The Prime Minster said her government was not covering up financial scams like the one involving Hallmark Group and was taking measures.

She said the Sonali Bank Managing Director was a member of Zia Parishad and added that the rise of the much-talked about Hallmark MD Tanvir Mahmud was from BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's erstwhile Hawa Bhaban political office in Gulshan.

Hasina alleged that when most of the businessmen had fled the country during the former military-backed caretaker government, Mahmud stayed back and thrived.

The Prime Minister said the Anti-Corruption Commission was preparing to sue those involved in the Hallmark scam. "We are sparing no one."

"It will not do by only capturing the perpetrators. The misappropriated money has to be recovered too," Hasina added.

She remarked that the culture of "misappropriating state money" was introduced by the military strongmen, hinting the past military dictatorial rules of BNP's founder Ziaur Rahman and Jatiya Party chief Hussein Muhammad Ershad.

"The military dictators have taught bank looting. They introduced the culture of evading loan repayment," she said.

Hasina mentioned the testimony of a FBI agent against Tarique Rahman in a money laundering case. Tarique is the son of former military strongman Ziaur Rahmand and BNP chief Khaleda Zia and is also the party's Senior Vice-Chairman.

The Prime Minister blamed the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament of whitening black money. "She has embezzled money of an orphanage."

She came down hard on Khaleda for not attending courts on scheduled hearing dates. On Aug 28, hearing on acceptance of charge-sheet against Khaleda in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case was adjourned for the 10th time.

Hasina also criticised the BNP chief for mysteriously "falling ill" on scheduled hearing dates in graft cases against her.

At the end of the concluding speech, the Prime Minister thanked the absent opposition chief.

"I hope she will return to Parliament before 90 business days," she said poking fun at the fact that one loses membership in case of being absent for 90 consecutive days.