BANGLADESH

The written tests of the compulsory subjects of the 33rd Bangladesh Civil Service Examination, scheduled to begin from Oct 7, have been postponed due to unavoidable reasons, says a Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) official.

However, the written tests on the subjects for the professional cadres will be held between Oct 30 and Nov 14 as per the schedule. The examinations will be held in centres in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet simultaneously, the PSC official added.

Details information about seat allocation and exam schedules have already been published in newspapers and are also available in PSC's website.

PSC Public Relations Officer Mir Mosharraf Hossain told bdnews24.com the postponed written tests of the compulsory subjects for the 33rd BCS were slated to run from Oct 7 to 18.

He, however, did not detail the reasons behind the postponement of the written test.

Recently there were repoerts that the written test question paper for the 33rd BCS had been leaked and were available at Dhaka University Campus and each set of question was available at Tk 500,000.

However, PSC Exam Controller AEM Nesaruddin on Wendesday denied such reports and said that it was just rumor.

"There is no way of leaking question as there are several versions of it and they select the version to take the exam only 15 minutes before the exam start."

The PSC on June 28 published the preliminary test results of the 33rd BCS Examination, with a total of 28,917 candidates qualifying for the written tests.

Around 193,000 jobseekers attended the first round at 142 centres on June 1.

The Commission on Feb 29 advertised the 33rd BCS exams to fill 4,206 government posts.

The Appellate Division on Sunday rejected government's leave to appeal petition challenging a High Court verdict that declared 'ineffective' and 'without legal basis' Speaker Abdul Hamid's previous ruling that Justice A H M Shamsuddin Choudhury violated the Constitution by making 'derogatory comments' against Parliament.

However, the highest court made some observations, a government lawyer said.

"The permission to appeal hasn't been granted, but there are some observations," Akhtar Imam told bdnews24.com after the full bench led by Chief Justice Mohammad Muzammel Hossain issued the verdict.


He, however, said, "Detail can not be said before the full text of the verdict is available."

"But," he added, "My experience says the High Court observations on the issue will not see much change. Rather, most of them will be retained."

If there were much change in the High Court verdict, the permission to appeal would have been given, he argued.

The court heard the plea on Thursday. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued for the state while Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud represented the petitioner.

The High Court bench of justices Hasan Foez Siddique and ABM Altaf Hossain had made the observation in its verdict on July 24 after a petition sought the court's intervention over the Speaker's June 18 ruling that Justice Choudhury violated Article 78 (1) of the Constitution.

The full order of the High Court was released on Aug 27, resurrecting the debate as to which one is superior - the legislature or the judiciary.

The court had in its order observed the Speaker's ruling was non-existent in the eye of law and 'has no legal effect'. That ruling was not consistent with the Article 96 (95) of the Constitution and was also inconsistent with the Parliamentary procedures and the Constitution, it had observed.

The government filed an appeal seeking stay on the High Court order and the Supreme Court Chamber judge Nazmun Ara Sultana on Sep 3 referred the petition to the full bench of the Appellate Division for hearing.

The row began after the Speaker on May 29 made a statement in Parliament that people might stand up against the judiciary if they were aggrieved by any verdict of the court. It involved an order of the High Court that had asked the Roads and Highways Department to return some land to the Supreme Court.

The High Court bench of Justice Choudhury on June 5 criticised the Speaker for making that comment and dubbed the statement 'seditious', drawing flak from MPs.

As the situation got worse with heated arguments exchanged over the authority of the court and the Parliament, the Speaker came up with his ruling. In the ruling, he expected that the Chief Justice would himself initiate measures on the issue of the judge's comment and that the Parliament would support the decision that he would take.

The first war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh on Tuesday rejected a bail plea by Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan.

The Jamaat leader was produced before the three-judge International Crimes Tribunal – 1, set up to try crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, in line with a previous order.

The ICT-1 on Sep 23 ordered to produce the Jamaat Vice President at the court.

The chief defence counsel of Jamaat, Abdur Razzaq, argued that the accused had been an elected representative in the provincial assembly when Bangladesh used to be East Pakistan. He later went on to become an MP in Bangladesh in 1991 and 2001.

The counsel's contention was that the prosecution had ill intentions behind implicating Subhan for war crimes. "He is the ninth Jamaat leader to have been arrested."

The defence counsel went a step ahead and said, "The tribunal is being used as a tool to suppress and oppress political opponents of the government."

Razzaq pointed out that the accused was not on the run, as had been suggested, but merely on his way home in Pabna from Dhaka when he was stopped at the toll plaza of the Jamuna Bridge.

The senior lawyer also countered the prosecution's claim that his client might disrupt national stability by instigating extremist elements and tamper with evidence and witness at home and abroad. He said such statements only showed prosecution's "mala fide intentions".

Prosecutor Hrishikesh Saha said that it was necessary to keep the accused in detention in order to ensure effective investigation against Subhan.

He said that the investigation agency had found mass graves around a number of spots in Pabna from where Subhan hails. However, the prosecutor was not able to clarify whether all those mass graves — he had mentioned at least 15 of them — were linked to Subhan's activities when the tribunal asked him.

The prosecutor said that the accused had been in the forefront actively collaborating with the Pakistani Army during the Liberation War, often identifying the pro-liberation forces.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq asked the prosecutor whether he admitted that the accused was of 84 years. "May be," said Saha.

Justice Huq also asked whether he was an influential person and the prosecutor said he was.

The court then took up Ghulam Azam's case resuming cross-examination of the 13th prosecution witness who had been deposed on Monday. The proceedings continued in camera as had been requested by the prosecution.

The second war crimes tribunal fixed Awami League's deputy leader in parliament, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury's contempt hearing on Oct 18, after her lawyer Abdul Baset Majumdar, a former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, submitted a written reply as ordered by the tribunal.

The tribunal had given the order in response to a defence petition pleading the court to begin contempt proceedings against the Awami League leader for her comments in public.

The defence counsel said that his reply had illustrated the context and manner of Sajeda Chowdhury's remarks.

Telecoms regulator will reopen YouTube broadcast in Bangladesh once the 'anti-Islam film' is removed, its stand-in chief Giasuddin Ahmed said on Sunday.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said access to YouTube has been blocked in Bangladesh since Sept 17 as Google took no action to remove the controversial film, named 'Innocence of Muslims', insulting Islam and Prophet Mohammad (SM) even after the BTRC sent a letter to that effect.

Acting Chairman Ahmed said that Facebook had removed derogatory cartoons and posters of Prophet Mohammad on request from them.

He also urged everyone to stay away from spreading anti-religious posters, message and pictures.

The amateurish video 'Innocence of Muslim', directed by Sam Basil, known to be an anti-Islam activist, was released on June 23, 2012.

Outrage and violence spread all over the Muslim world after the video was released on the internet. The US Embassies in Libya and Egypt were attacked. Four US officials including the Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevenson were killed in a rocket attack.

Several Islamist organisations in Bangladesh also took to the street in protest against the film while setting the US flag on fire.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also expressed outrage over the release of the film on the internet.

How many doses of polio vaccine does a child need? 10, 20 or even more?

Bangladeshi children have been afflicted with the wild polio virus even after taking as many as 23 doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), a government document reveals.

The 18 cases were found in 2006 – the latest being available – when the government said the virus came in from India, where it was endemic then. But it did not divulge details of those cases.

It was reported that the government had also said that the new cases were found after 2000 since special immunisation campaign was not conducted in the earlier year.

The document, a copy of which is available with bdnews24.com, showed that an eight and a half years old boy had been detected with the virus even though he received 23 doses of vaccine.

Two others got the virus despite being administered 12 doses of vaccines and at least one received 11 doses. The remainder of the 18 children received 10 doses each.

Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque told bdnews24.com that he had no idea as he was not in charge then. "I'll seek documents from EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunisation)," he said.

Child specialist National Professor M R Khan said a study was needed to find out the reason.

He, however, told bdnews24.com that they might get the virus because "either the vaccines were ineffective or the children were immune-compromised."

The EPI routinely immunises children in 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks and in 9 months with 'trivalent' OPV, despite the fact that the strain-2 of the virus has been wiped off the world long before.

Moreover, National Immunisation Day is being observed since 1995 twice a year when all children below five years old get the vaccine.

EPI Programme Manager Dr Tajul Islam A. Bari said they had plans to investigate those cases. "But it did not happen." He could not say why, though.

Bari, however, said: "The live attenuated vaccine (OPV) that we use sometimes may not develop immunity among countries in developing children because of severe malnutrition."

Dr K Zaman, a Senior Scientist with the ICDDR, B, told bdnews24.com that the reason why so many were afflicted with the virus despite having many doses of vaccine needed to be investigated.

"OPV that is used in Bangladesh is a live attenuated viral vaccine and the vaccine virus can mutate and acquire neuro-virulence causing paralysis either due to vaccine-associated paralysis polio or due to circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses."

He said some developed countries use injectable form of polio vaccine.

The EPI programme manager, however, said they had to use the trivalent vaccines due to shortage of bivalent vaccines in the world.

The communal violence that ravaged a pre-dominantly Buddhist village in Cox's Bazar's Ramu Upazila was instigated by a religion-based political party, residents of the locality alleged.

They said the party played with local Rohingya refugees' rage against people of the Buddhist community after the recent sectarian violence between Muslims and Buddhists in northern Rakhine province in Myanmar.

Those who launched the attack chanted, "Naraye Takbir," the slogan Jamaat-e-Islami use in its political programmes.

According to locals, leaders of an Islamist party held a rally at 10pm on Saturday night alleging defamation of the Quran by posting a photograph on social networking website Facebook.

Those who addressed the rally claimed a Buddhist youth named Uttam Barua of Bouddha Parha posted the photograph on his Facebook account.

The rally touched off a mayhem that lasted for five hours starting around 11:30pm. Seven Buddhist Viharas or monasteries, around 30 houses and shops were torched, and more than a hundred other houses and shops were also attacked, vandalised and looted.

District administration had to impose section 144, which bans public gathering, for an indefinite period on Sunday morning to rein in the unrest, followed by the commissioning of an inquiry into the incident. The incident shocked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently visiting New York, who ordered bringing attackers into book.

Buddhists and other ethnic and religious minorities were living in fear in Ramu and areas close by even though huge contingents of Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and Army were deployed to contain the unrest.

Locals alleged the unrest turned catastrophic just because of 'negligence' by police and RAB officials in ensuring security to distressed people.

Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, while visiting the area on Sunday, said the attacks were "planned."

"The attack was conducted in a coordinated manner. Temples and houses were set on fire using petrol and gun powder. It would have been impossible if the attacks were not planned," he said.

Resident Director of Sheema Rajban Vihara at Merongloa Parha in the Ramu, Progyananda Bhikkhu, shared his firsthand experience with bdnews24.com. He said at first a procession came and hurled brickbats at the houses in the area and vandalised boundary walls made of corrugated iron sheets.

"Around four to five hundred people chanting 'Naraye Takbir' entered our Parha (locality) as the night got darker. They set the temples on fire first," said Progyananda.

According to him, two donation boxes and a gold idol of Buddha were looted during the attack and at least 10 houses were set ablaze.

The Buddhist religious leader said it was the first time he encountered such violence and did not know how to respond.

"The violence spread due to a reluctant administration. Had police and RAB members taken the early initiative, the whole incident would have been averted," he said.

General Secretary of a temple in the Vihara, Tarun Barua reported seeing people whom he had never before seen in his locality.

"We have been living long alongside the Muslims. We did not even imagine that they could attack us. Such a big attack in reprisal of such a trivial incident was unbelievable," said Barua.

Residents of different areas including Mithachharhi and Shreekul had similar observations to make.

Barua believes the anger of the Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazaar was fanned. "Jamaat-e-Islami may have instigated the unrest," he suggested.

Cox's Bazaar Jhilongja Union Parishad Chairman Gias Uddin Ziku said he found Jamaat-e-Islami activists gathering around different villages of minority people and he himself made them to leave and reported it to the police.

Ziku, also Office Secretary of Cox's Bazar district committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, heard the news of the attack minutes later.

Ramu Upazila Parishad Chairman Sohel Sarowar Kajal thought the violence was carried out by hiring people from outside Ramu.

He also pointed the finger at the neglect of RAB and Police for the situation getting worse. "They reached the crime scene way later. Many damages could have been avoided if they had arrived as soon as violence broke out."

Cox's Bazaar district Superintendent of Police Selim Mohammed Jahangir declined comment on the matter.

"Everybody is interpreting the incident to their liking. Members of the law-enforcing agencies including the police were deployed for containing the situation in the affected areas," said Jahangir.

Home Minister Alamgir and Industry Minister Dilip Barua visited the affected area on Sunday morning, promising financial assistance from the government in the rebuilding process. Alamgir ordered investigation into the allegation of negligence on the part of the law-enforcing agencies.

Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Sirajul Hoque asked the five-strong probe body to report in ten days.

The incident left scores homeless out under open sky, more insecure than ever.

Four temples and 15 houses were burnt down in Shreekul Barua Parha.

"We don't understand why life has undergone this change. They attacked us with machetes and hammers. We don't even know who they are," said Nikash Barua, a resident.

He said he heard the slogan 'Naraye Takbir' during the attack.

Cox's Bazaar district Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Md Shahjahan brushed aside the allegations of instigating the unrest.

"Causing damages to life and livelihood, or attacking religious institutions should not be the language of protests. Islam does not permit it either. Jamaat-e-Islami despises these acts," said Shahjahan.

He, however, said instigators were those who want to turn the country into a 'militant' state.

The incident also left Muslims of the area shocked and grappling with the justification for the attack on Buddhists.

"I don't understand why it all happened? We all live together," said Chhalim Ullah, a rickshaw-puller, as he visited the ravaged area.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange ended Tuesday's trade clocking a Tk 9.8-billion turnover and the key index surging 2.55 percent.

The DSE General Index closed at 4706.43 points, posting a 117.09-point gain with prices of 217 issues advancing, 52 declining and 11 remaining unchanged on the week's third business day.

The benchmark index hit its peak around 11:50am when it reached 4741.61 points.

The premiere bourse ended Monday's trade registering a 44.93-point gain in its key index and a turnover of around Tk 7.83 billion.

The DSE had closed 88 points down on the week's opening day with a relatively lower turnover of Tk 7.82 billion.

The key index gained only 3 points through the previous week's trading, though the daily average turnover stayed at around Tk 10.71 billion.

A Dhaka Court on Tuesday allowed the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to freeze 533 bank accounts of 22 Destiny 2000 Limited officials in two money laundering cases.

Senior Special Judge's Court of Md Zahurul Hoque passed the order following two ACC appeals filed a day before.

On Monday, the ACC had filed a petition with the Acting Judge Mohammad Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge's Court, who passed on the matter to the senior judge for hearing, seeking permission for freezing 252 bank accounts of the officials.

The anti-graft watchdog on Tuesday placed another application for freezing 281 other accounts of the officials, which was also allowed by the court.

The accused have bank accounts in 31 branches of various bank.

On July 31, ACC Deputy Director Mozahar Ali Sarder and Assistant Director Towfiqul Islam had filed two cases under the Money Laundering Prevention Act with the Kalabagan Police Station against 22 top officials of the firm accusing them of laundering about Tk 35 billion by swindling investors.

The anti-graft watchdog had filed the cases on detecting financial irregularities in the operations of the Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd (DMCSL) and the Destiny Tree Plantation Ltd project.

The 22 officials include Destiny Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Harun-Ar-Rashid and Managing Director Mohammad Rafiqul Amin.

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.

The demonstrating journalists believe the first and foremost task of the new Home Minister should be to bring the killers of their colleagues Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi to justice.

Several platforms of protesting journalists voiced the demand from Sunday's rally in front of the ATN Bangla office at Karwan Bazar.

Former President of Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said the "first assignment" of new home and information ministers should be to nab the killers of the journalist couple.

Maasranga TV's News Editor Sagar and ATN Bangla's senior reporter Runi were found murdered at their rented West Rajabazar apartment on Feb 11.

They also demanded detention of ATN Bangla chairman Mahfuzur Rahman for his derogatory comments made during a talk show in London over the personal lives of the slain couple.

Mahfuz had claimed that the journalist couple was "victim of extra-marital affairs".

The journalists had demanded Mahfuz's detention at a programme and journalists of ATN Bangla and members of the protesting platforms scuffled over the issue later.

The platforms threw out several ATN Bangla newsmen following the incident. Several months later, Mahfuz moved the court for an order to ban Sunday's scheduled agitation.

On Sep 11, the journalists' platforms demanded withdrawal of the case and unconditional apology from Mahfuz. They had also announced a siege to the ATN Bangla office.

Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir has replaced Shahara Khatun as the new Home Minister during the fourth Cabinet reshuffle.

Enemy of Media

Bulbul urged the new home and information ministers to find out those trying to take advantage by waging a media war".

President of a faction of BFUJ Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the journalists were demonstrating to safeguard democracy and added that Mahfuzur Rahman was one of those few who had "betrayed the movement".

He went on to brand the ATN chief is an "enemy of the media" and said Mahfuzur will be dragged out of ATN Bangla and ATN News.

The journalist leader said they will announce programmes from the Sep 26 rally against those who had betrayed the demonstrating journalists and participated in programmes and talk shows on the two channels.

One of the former presidents of the National Press Club and also Secretary General of a BFUJ faction Shawkat Mahmud said, indicating the ATN Bangla chief, killers of Sagar and Runi were probably at Karwan Bazar.

"Though we are not certain about the killers' identities, we have heard them talk," he said referring to Mahfuz's remarks during a London talk show.

"The murderers have said that Sagar and Runi were victim of an extra-marital affair and that booze parties took place at their house," he added.

Addressing the ATN chief, Dhaka Reporters Unity President Shakhawat Hossain Badhsah said Mahfuz will have to end the controversy which he had created.

The demonstration which commenced at 11:15am ended at 2pm.

The journalist leaders had given authorities until Sep 25 to nab the killers and warned of tougher agitations from its pre-announced Sep 26 rally in front of the National Press Club.

Parliament on Tuesday passed an amendment halving the time for appealing a war crimes tribunal verdict to one month.

State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam moved a bill on the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Second Amendment) Act 1973.

The Treasury MPs earlier rejected through voice vote the proposals to test public opinion on the amendment, send it to a committee for scrutiny and make further changes.

Independent MP Fazlul Azim voiced against the amendment saying, "You waited 40 years for this and now you can't wait 60 days?"

The amendment, which is to expedite the war crimes trials, says that copies of judgement would be provided to the prosecution and the defence on the day it is delivered.

The amendment also says that such a copy of the judgement would be treated as a certified copy.

The original Act of 1973 only allowed a person convicted' to appeal to the Appellate Division against such conviction within 60 days. But the amendment included provisions for the prosecution to appeal a tribunal verdict in the same manner.

The first amendment of 2009 had also brought changes to Section 21 of the law allowing for both the prosecution and the defence to appeal the tribunal's verdict.

On June 12, Parliament passed an amendment to the law allowing transfer of cases from one tribunal to another.

The bill was tabled on Sep 11 after a Sep 3 approval by the Cabinet and sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for a report in three days.

The two war crimes tribunals are currently handling 11 cases together. Of the eight people indicted so far, six are Jamaat-e-Islami leaders including its former chief and guru, Ghulam Azam, current chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, the party's number two Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, and assistant secretaries general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla. Jamaat executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee's case is the most advanced where the defence has already begun its case.

Jamaat stalwart and financier Mir Quasem Ali and another assistant secretary general ATM Azharul Islam are behind bars while war crimes investigation against them continues.

BNP MP Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and former BNP MP and minister Abdul Alim are also facing war crimes trials.

Parliament on Tuesday passed a law providing for nominal registration fees for transfer of properties by the people of different religions to their kin.

'Registration (Amendment) Bill-2012', tabled by State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam on behalf of Law Minister Shafique Ahmed, was passed by voice vote.

Once the law is enforced, people of the Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities can give their properties to their close relations at nominal registration fees as Muslims do.

The bill was initiated to amend the Registration Act-1908.

Qamrul said Muslims can transfer their immovable properties to their close relations at nominal fees. People of the Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities have been demanding similar provisions for them too.

The Cabinet on May 21 approved the bill.

The remaining six judges of the Supreme Court bench that declared the 13th constitutional amendment illegal signed the full verdict on Sunday night, almost a year and a half after the historic judgment rescinded the caretaker government provision.

The full copy of the verdict, reached by a majority decision, was signed around 10pm following a series of meetings among the judges throughout the day.

Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Supreme Court Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam confirmed bdnews24.com about the signing of the full verdict.

Justice Haque had signed the 342-page judgement in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

He was the top judge who headed the seven-strong bench that delivered the verdict on May 10, 2011. Justices Mahmud Hossain, Sinha and Mozammel Hossain agreed with him. Justices Wahab Miah and Sultana differed while Justice Iman Ali left the matter for Parliament to decide.

The judgement declared illegal the 15-year-old constitutional provision that mandated an elected government to transfer power to an unelected non-partisan caretaker administration to oversee a new parliamentary election on completion of its term.

In its short verdict, the apex court also observed that the rescinded system may be practised for another two parliamentary terms.

On June 30 last year, the Awami League-led Grand Alliance finally abolished the caretaker government system allowing general elections under elected partisan governments.

The court also asked Parliament to amend the Constitution to make sure that former Chief Justices or any other Supreme Court judges are not chosen as head of caretaker governments in case the system is kept for another two parliamentary elections.

This is the first time a verdict has been written in mixed languages – Bengali and English. Usually the court writes verdict in English. Justice Khairul Haque wrote the main part of the verdict in Bengali. Justice Ali wrote 150 pages of the verdict.

The main opposition BNP has been opposing the constitutional amendment claiming that the government partly implemented the verdict, but overlooked the other part on two elections under the caretakers.

The opposition insists that no election will be allowed under any partisan government. Though the caretaker government was introduced first in 1996, the elections taken place in 1990 were held under an interim government.

The BNP was forced by Awami League to introduce the caretaker government system through constitutional amendment for the first time. But the system came under scrutiny as the last military-backed caretaker government, which had a three-month mandate to hold elections, managed to linger on power for two years since 2007.

The High Court announced the caretaker government system legal after several people including Advocate M Salim Ullah challenged the 13th Amendment in 2004. They challenged the decision at the Appellate Division, drawing out the order.

he biggest ally in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government pulled out of the ruling coalition on Tuesday, escalating a political firestorm over big-ticket reform measures launched last week to revive India's flagging economy.

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, had demanded the government reverse its decision to raise diesel prices and open the supermarket sector to investment from foreign chains such as Wal-Mart Stores.

Her withdrawal and that of her 19 MPs in Lok Sabha is unlikely to destabilise the government in the short term as Singh's Congress party can count on other parties for support.

But it might embolden Banerjee and other parties to intensify ongoing protests against unpopular economic policies that the government sees as crucial to reining in a bloated fiscal deficit and improving investor sentiment.

"The government has lost their credentials. If they cannot keep their friendship with us, they cannot keep it with anyone," Banerjee told reporters after a meeting of her Trinamool Congress party (TMC) in Kolkata.

Banerjee has also withdrawn half a dozen ministers in the government, the most high profile being the railways ministry portfolio. They will submit their resignations on Friday, she said.

BACKLASH

A popular backlash against retail liberalisation forced the government into an embarrassing climbdown on the reform last year. Singh revived the measure on Friday, although opponents of the policy have vowed to reverse it once again.

But the Congress party appears confident of surviving the opposition against the reforms and has held firm against calls for the measures to be rolled back.

Several party and government officials have told Reuters that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had assessed the risks of losing coalition allies over the measures and concluded the government was safe.

Banerjee came to power in West Bengal in 2011, ending more than three decades of Communist rule in the state. Colloquially known as "Didi", or "elder sister", Banerjee's supporters hail her as a champion of India's poor and dispossessed.

But her politics are a thorn in the side of the government. Her protests had been instrumental in blocking a slew of economic measures, from retail reform to allowing foreign direct investment into India's aviation and insurance sectors.

"We waited enough time," Banerjee said. "They have to withdraw FDI in retail if they want us to stay, they have reverse their decisions on LPG subsidy and diesel hike."

In the Supreme Court judgement that rescinded the caretaker government provision, former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque said the outgoing Cabinet in a 'truncated form' may run state affairs for the parliamentary elections.

In his summary, he observed that it was 'desirable' to dissolve Parliament 42 days prior to the elections as the Constitution stipulates and during that time, all employees of the State will work under the Election Commission.

Six judges of the seven-strong Supreme Court bench that declared the 13th constitutional amendment illegal signed the full verdict on Sunday night. Justice Haque, who headed that bench, signed the 342-page judgement on Sep 13.

Based on a majority decision, the Appellate Division on May 10 last year declared illegal the 15-year-old constitutional provision that mandated an elected government to transfer power to an unelected non-partisan caretaker administration to oversee a new parliamentary election on completion of its term.

Justice Haque was the then Chief Justice who wrote his part of judgment divided into 16 points. Justices Mahmud Hossain, SK Sinha and Mozammel Hossain agreed with him. Justices Andul Wahab Miah and Nazmun Ara Sultana differed while Justice Iman Ali left the matter for Parliament to decide.

Following the judgment, the Awami League-led Grand Alliance, on June 30 last year, abolished the caretaker government system allowing general elections under elected partisans.

The court also asked Parliament to amend the Constitution to make sure that former Chief Justices or any other Supreme Court judges are not chosen as head of caretaker governments in case the system is kept for another two parliamentary elections, which the apex court observed may be held under the old caretaker government system, if the government wishes.

The signing of the full verdict followed several meetings among the Justices throughout Sunday.

This is the first time a verdict has been written in mixed languages – Bengali and English. Usually the court writes verdict in English. Justice Khairul Haque wrote the main part of the verdict in Bengali and summarised it in 16 points. Justice Ali wrote 150 pages of the verdict.

"The highest law of Bangladesh is the Constitution, which has created all the institutions of Bangladesh and designations in those and bestowed necessary power and responsibility upon them," Justice Haque said in one of his points.

"People's sovereignty, independence of the Republic, democracy and judiciary are the principal foundations of the State and the Constitution. The Constitution of Bangladesh does not approve of any deviation from democratic State system. The Supreme Court by its authority can declare any unconstitutional law illegal or cancel the law," he added.

He said empowered by the Article 142 of the Constitution, Parliament could amend any part of the Constitution. But (Parliament) cannot hamper or curtail or amend the principal foundations of the State and the Constitution, Justice Haque added.

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1996 curtailed the foundations of the State and the Constitution, therefore this is a controversial law and illegal, so it will be cancelled, he further said.

The former top judge gave some directions to steer clear of complexities that may arise over the holding of national elections after cancellation of the 13 Amendment.

"The Parliament should be dissolved with a rational period of time, such as 42 days, left to the national elections. However, before the new Cabinet takes over following the elections, the previous Cabinet will assume an abridged shape and run normal and general activities of the State."

"Though the Constitution (13th Amendment) law, 1996, stands illegal, Parliament by its deliberation and decision may undertake the initiative for constituting a caretaker government afresh and under a new format against the directions given above during the time of the 10th and 11th general elections," said Haque's judgment.

The judgment went on that the government employees would be under the control of the Election Commission during the period stretching from announcement of general election schedule until announcement of the result of the polls.

The opposition has been opposing the constitutional amendment claiming that the government partly implemented the verdict, but overlooked the other part on two elections under the caretakers.

The BNP wants reinstatement of the caretaker government provision alleging that free and fair elections cannot be held under a partisan government and insists that no election will be allowed under any partisan government.

Though the caretaker government was introduced first in 1996 after movement by the Awami League and its allies, the elections in 1990 were held under an interim government.

The BNP was forced to introduce the caretaker government system through a constitutional amendment for the first time. But the system came under scrutiny as the last military-backed caretaker government, which had a three-month mandate to hold elections, managed to linger on power for two years since 2007.

The High Court announced the caretaker government system legal after several people including Advocate M Salim Ullah challenged the 13th Amendment in 2004. They challenged the decision at the Appellate Division, drawing out the order.

Two MPs on Monday demanded action against the Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, terming the flag carrier a crippled organisation.

Taking part at a discussion in Parliament, Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque Chunnu and Independent MP Fazlul Azim also drew the Prime Minister's attention for proper action regarding its Board of Directors.

Biman started to plunge into schedule chaos after a Boeing 747, which can carry 500 passengers, was hired from the Portuguese charter company Air Atlanta, but it left on Sept 12 before time agreed in a deal between Biman and the company.

The airline had to cancel seven of its scheduled flights in the last two days, throwing travel plans of thousands of passengers into chaos.

Shedding light on the on-going schedule disorder of Biman, Chunnu said, " Biman has become a crippled and useless organisation. The Biman Chairman is responsible for that. The whole government is being harmed because of this single person."

"Why actions are not being taken against him (the Biman Chairman)?" he asked.

He also demanded a statement from the Civil Aviation Minister Faruk Khan over Biman's overall condition. The minister, however, was not present.

"The condition of Biman is terrible. It (Biman) could not even carry cricketers to Kathmandu," Fazlul Azim said.

He also expressed his fears that Biman will fail to ferry Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia successfully this year.

Azim said, "The chairman (of Biman) is a mighty man, a super mighty man. Ministers come and go… They (ministers) can't do anything to him"

"He gives explanation to none. Biman is almost on the verge of collapse due to one person (chairman)," he added.

Parliament on Monday passed a bill to increase the salaries and allowances of the Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Now, the PSC Chairman's salary, allowances would be similar to that of the Cabinet Secretary and salaries and allowances of the commission Members would be similar to that of Secretaries of the government, as proposed in the bill.

The bill titled "The Members of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (Terms and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill-2012 was tabled by Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury in absence of as LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, who is responsible for Public Administration Ministry in the Parliament.

The bill was passed by voice vote. Earlier, amendment proposals or to send the bill to the committee for scrutiny were rejected by voice vote.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam placed the bill on Sep 4 in the House.

In the statement describing the reason and objective of the bill it was stated that salaries and allowances of public servants were increased in line with the Services (Salary Allowances) Order, 2009. "Salaries and allowances of office holders in constitutional bodies have also been hiked. So, it is necessary to increase salaries-allowances of the PSC Chairman and members as it is also a constitutional body."

The remaining six judges of the Supreme Court bench that declared the 13th constitutional amendment illegal signed the full verdict on Sunday night, almost a year and a half after the historic judgment rescinded the caretaker government provision.

The full copy of the verdict, reached by a majority decision, was signed around 10pm following a series of meetings among the judges throughout the day.

Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Supreme Court Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam confirmed bdnews24.com about the signing of the full verdict.

Justice Haque had signed the 342-page judgement in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

He was the top judge who headed the seven-strong bench that delivered the verdict on May 10, 2011. Justices Mahmud Hossain, Sinha and Mozammel Hossain agreed with him. Justices Wahab Miah and Sultana differed while Justice Iman Ali left the matter for Parliament to decide.

The judgement declared illegal the 15-year-old constitutional provision that mandated an elected government to transfer power to an unelected non-partisan caretaker administration to oversee a new parliamentary election on completion of its term.

In its short verdict, the apex court also observed that the rescinded system may be practised for another two parliamentary terms.

On June 30 last year, the Awami League-led Grand Alliance finally abolished the caretaker government system allowing general elections under elected partisan governments.

The court also asked Parliament to amend the Constitution to make sure that former Chief Justices or any other Supreme Court judges are not chosen as head of caretaker governments in case the system is kept for another two parliamentary elections.

This is the first time a verdict has been written in mixed languages – Bengali and English. Usually the court writes verdict in English. Justice Khairul Haque wrote the main part of the verdict in Bengali. Justice Ali wrote 150 pages of the verdict.

The main opposition BNP has been opposing the constitutional amendment claiming that the government partly implemented the verdict, but overlooked the other part on two elections under the caretakers.

The opposition insists that no election will be allowed under any partisan government. Though the caretaker government was introduced first in 1996, the elections taken place in 1990 were held under an interim government.

The BNP was forced by Awami League to introduce the caretaker government system through constitutional amendment for the first time. But the system came under scrutiny as the last military-backed caretaker government, which had a three-month mandate to hold elections, managed to linger on power for two years since 2007.

The High Court announced the caretaker government system legal after several people including Advocate M Salim Ullah challenged the 13th Amendment in 2004. They challenged the decision at the Appellate Division, drawing out the order.

Apple Inc booked orders for over two million iPhone 5 models in the first 24 hours, reflecting a higher-than-expected demand for the consumer device giant's new smartphone and setting it up for a strong holiday quarter.

Apple shares rose in extended after-market trading to touch $700 per share for the first time. They have gained nearly 22 percent in the past 3-1/2 months in the build-up to the launch of the iPhone 5.

Apple said on Monday that pre-orders outstripped initial supply but it would deliver most phones as planned by Friday, the first day of delivery. Many would not be available until October, however.

It is not unusual for Apple products to sell out the first day but this time around Apple has doubled its first-day sales record. Last October, the company booked 1 million orders for the iPhone 4S, in the first 24 hours. That had beaten Apple's previous one-day record of 600,000 sales for the iPhone 4.

The strong preorders could mean a huge holiday quarter for Apple as the iPhone -- its marquee device -- accounts for half of Apple's revenue.

Apple will make initial deliveries of the iPhone 5 by September 21 in the United States and most of the major European markets, such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The phone then goes on sale on September 28 in 22 other countries.

Given the demand for the device so far and Apple's aggressive rollout of it internationally, some analysts raised their sales and earnings estimates.

"The pace of this iPhone 5 roll-out is the fastest in the iPhone's history and points to a big December quarter," said Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes, who expects Apple to sell 45.21 million iPhones in the December quarter, up 22 percent from last year. Reitzes said his estimates "could still be conservative."

Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley said he now expected Apple to ship 9 million to 10 million iPhone 5s from Friday to September 29, the last day of its fiscal 2012 year.

He also raised his earnings per share estimates for the September and December quarters to $44.32 from $43.25, and to $56.96 from $56.90, respectively.

Wall Street analysts on average expect Apple to earn $44.25 per share in the December quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S estimates.

The new phone, which will appear in stores on Friday for walk-in purchases, has a larger, 4-inch screen and is slimmer and far lighter than the previous model. The iPhone 5 supports the faster 4G network and also comes with a number of software updates, including Apple's new in-house maps feature.

Apple began taking orders for the iPhone 5 at midnight Pacific time on Friday (0700 GMT Saturday). Shipping dates for the smartphone slipped by a week within an hour of the start of preorders.

On Monday morning, Apple's US store, at www.apple.com, showed preorders placed at that time would take two to three weeks to ship.

AT&T sets sales record

Wall Street is also keeping a close eye on the supply of the smartphone.

"We still believe Apple is facing significant production constraints due to a move toward in-cell display technology, which pushes a significant amount of units into the December and March quarters," Reitzes said.

One of Apple's key suppliers for screens, Sharp Corp, is struggling with high costs and scrambling to raise funds to pay debt.

The latest iPhone comes as competition in the smartphone market has reached a fever-pitch with Apple up against phones that run on Google Inc's Android software. Android has become the most-used mobile operating system in the world, while Apple's key supplier and rival, Samsung Electronics, has taken the lead in smartphone sales.

But Apple appears to be making headway into the corporate market, a traditional stronghold of now-struggling Canadian company Research In Motion

Yahoo Inc has instituted a new corporate policy that allows employees to pick from a host of smartphones, including the iPhone 5 and Android-based phones such as Samsung's Galaxy S3. Yahoo, which previously gave out RIM's Blackberry phones, will no longer support them, according to Business Insider blog, which cited an internal memo from Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer.

Yahoo declined to comment.

AT&T, the No. 2 US mobile service provider, said demand over the weekend had made the iPhone 5 the fastest-selling iPhone the company has ever offered.

AT&T did not disclose how many iPhones it had sold, but said the iPhone 5 was still available for preorder and would go on sale September 21 at AT&T retail stores.

All the phones carriers, including Verizon Communications Inc and Sprint Nextel Corp, showed delays of up to three weeks in shipping the phone.

European carriers also reported brisk sales. France Telecom's Orange said bookings for the new phone "have been very strong, breaking the records of what we saw for the iPhone 4 or 4S." But the carrier said it could deliver preorders on time.

Analysts have forecast that Apple will have sold more than 30 million iPhones, including older models, by the end of September.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange saw a flurry of activity on Sunday with the turnover crossing the Tk 10 billion mark after five months.

The turnover reached Tk 10.37 billion with 15 minutes of trading left at the premier bourse on the week's opening day. The mark was last crossed on Apr 17 when it hit Tk 10.13 billion.

Along with the increase in trading, the benchmark index also gained 134.22 points or 3.03 percent to close at 4565.73 points. Shares and mutual funds worth Tk 11.36 billion changed hands on the day with prices of 202 issues rising, 57 falling and 12 remaining unchanged.

The DGEN rose 107 points in the previous week and the average turnover was Tk 8.13 billion. In the week before that, the DGEN shed 122 points.

After the recent loan scam in Sonali Bank surfaced, The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday sued five people including three Rupali Bank officials for their alleged involvement in another financial scam.

ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Alam filed the case at Motijheel Police Station charging them under the Anti-Money Laundering Act for laundering Tk 150 million by providing false information and fake documents.

The accused Rupali Bank officials are Dilkusha branch's General Manager Atiqur Rahman, Senior Principal Officer Abdus Samad Sarker and Gulshan branch Deputy General Manager Mohammad Ali, who was Assistant General Manager at the Dilkusha branch.

The two other accused are Everest Holdings and Technology Limited Chairman Abu Borhan Siddiqe Chowdhury and Managing Director HM Bahauddin.

The ACC alleged the Dilkusha branch officials approved Tk 150 million loan to Everest Holdings and Technology Limited against a request for Tk 250 million in the time between Aug 16, 2010 and Jan 30, 2011 without proper inspection.

Recently, Sonali Bank Limited faced widespread criticism over the loan forgery that took place in the bank's Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch from where the Hallmark Group, along with other organisations, secured Tk 40 billion worth of loans through forged documents.

Bangladesh Bank unearthed the scam in a recent review which said that Hallmark Group alone took out over Tk 26 billion of the credit against phony collateral.

The ACC is investigating the matter and has interrogated top officials of the bank and other companies.

Main opposition BNP has announced it will formulate a draft strategy to resolve the problems plaguing the power and energy sectors.

The party claimed that the strategy would also help reduce electricity tariff at the domestic consumer level when it is voted to power in the next parliamentary election.

BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party's Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain came up with idea on Saturday at a roundtable on the power and energy crisis in the city.

Mosharraf said an anarchic situation had emerged in the power and energy sectors of the country due to the government's wrong and ill-motivated policies.

"To get rid of the situation, we've to formulate a strategy right now, so that we can work for development of the sectors from the very first day if we're voted to power in future."

He said that a national committee on energy would be formed soon comprising experts.

Fakhrul said, "We want to formulate such a sustainable energy strategy so that the countrymen can get its advantage. If the BNP comes to power in future, the electricity tariffs will be reduced at the domestic consumer level under the strategy."

Readymade garment workers staged violent demonstrations on the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet highways for two and a half hours, keeping the traffic on the busy highways suspended.

Workers and eyewitnesses said the 'rumour' of beating a worker to death enraged his fellow workers at the Adamjee EPZ while workers at the Sinha Garments at Kachpur took to the street protesting against what they termed lack of security on highway and the recent rise in incidents of 'snatching'.

Police had to fire over a hundred rounds of rubber bullets and tear shells to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control around 1:45pm, leading to resumption of vehicular movement, said Narayanganj district Police Superintendent Sheikh Najmul Alam.

The aggrieved workers set fire to a police pick-up van, a police box and four bikes in retaliation as they clashed with the law enforcers. About 50 were injured during the clash.

Workers of Sinha Garments at Kachpur, Anjuman Ara, 'Delwar' and 'Ohidul' said some of their colleagues were robbed in the Siddhirganj area over the last few days, prompting them to complain to the local administration but in vain.

Residents said workers from Adamjee EPZ blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway around 12 pm after a rumour was circulated that one of their colleagues was beaten to death in the morning, causing a huge traffic tailback.

The government on Sunday opened up the local market to import of eggs and one-day-old chicks to increase supply in an attempt to make them cheaper.

The Ministry of Commerce issued a circular saying importers will not need to secure the ministry's permission to buy eggs or chicks from abroad.

The move aims to meet growing consumer demand and rein in abnormal price hikes, the circular said.

It said eggs of hens, ducks and other birds can be imported without any restrictions until further notice.

At present, a dozen of eggs of hens and ducks is sold at Tk 120 in the local market.

On June 9, the government had decided to open up the local market until Jun 30 to import of eggs and chicks to meet up the growing demand during the Ramadan. The time was further extended to Aug 31.