BANGLADESH

তিনবিঘা করিডোর পরিদর্শন করে প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা বলেছেন, শিগগির তিস্তা চুক্তি ও ছিটমহল বিনিময়ের বিষয়টি সুরাহা করা হবে।

বুধবার দুপুরে ছিটমহল দহগ্রাম-আঙ্গরপোতার প্রবেশদ্বার তিনবিঘা করিডোর পরিদর্শন করেন তিনি।

এ সময় প্রধানমন্ত্রী সাংবাদিকদের বলেন, "ভারতের সঙ্গে বর্তমান সময়ের মতো বন্ধুত্বপূর্ণ সম্পর্ক বজায় থাকলে একদিন সব সমস্যার সমাধান হবে। আশা করছি শিগগির তিস্তা চুক্তি করতে পারবো।"

ছিটমহল বিনিময়ের বিষয়ে জানতে চাইলে শেখ হাসিনা বলেন, "ইতোমধ্যে সমঝোতা স্মারক সম্পন্ন করেছি। আশা করছি এ সংক্রান্ত সমস্যার সমাধান হবে।" ট্রানজিট বিষয়ে তিনি বলেন, "আমরা সব সময় কানেক্টিভিটিতে বিশ্বাস করি।"

বেলা পৌনে ১টার দিকে শেখ হাসিনা তিনবিঘা করিডোরে পৌঁছান। এ সময় ভারতের স্বাস্থ্যমন্ত্রী গোলাম নবী আজাদ ও স্বরাষ্ট্র প্রতিমন্ত্রী জিতেন্দ্র প্রসাদ সিং তিনবিঘা করিডোর গেটে শেখ হাসিনাকে স্বাগত জানান। পরে ২০ মিনিটের মতো বিভিন্ন বিষয় নিয়ে মতবিনিময় শেষে উপহার বিনিময় করেন তারা।

করিডোর পরিদর্শন শেষে প্রধানমন্ত্রী সেখানে একটি লিচু গাছের চারা রোপণ করেন।

এর আগে বেলা সাড়ে ১২টার দিকে দহগ্রাম দ্বিমুখী বিদ্যালয় প্রাঙ্গণে দহগ্রাম-আঙ্গোরপোতা বিদ্যুৎ সঞ্চালন কার্যক্রম, দহগ্রাম ইউনিয়ন পরিষদ ভবন এবং ১০ শয্যার দহগ্রাম হাসপাতালের উদ্বোধন করেন শেখ হাসিনা।

বুধবার সকাল ৯টা ২০ মিনিটে ঢাকার কুর্মিটোলা বিমান বন্দর থেকে বিমানে করে সৈয়দপুর যান প্রধানমন্ত্রী। সেখান থেকে হেলিকাপ্টারে লালমনিরহাট পৌঁছান বেলা ১১টায়।

বিকাল ৩টায় পাটগ্রাম সরকারি কলেজ মাঠে জনসভায় প্রধান অতিথি হিসেবে বক্তব্য রাখবেন আওয়ামী লীগ সভানেত্রী শেখ হাসিনা। মহাজোটের শরিক জাতীয় পার্টির চেয়ারম্যান এইচ এম এরশাদেরও জনসভায় বক্তব্য দেওয়ার কথা রয়েছে।

লালমনিরহাট জেলা আওয়ামী লীগের সাধারণ সম্পাদক মতিয়ার রহমান  বলেন, "প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সফর উপলক্ষে সব আয়োজন শেষ হয়েছে। জনসভায় বিপুল সংখ্যক লোক সমাগম হবে বলে আশা করছি আমরা।"

তিন বিঘা করিডোর

গত ৬ সেপ্টেম্বর ভারতীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রী মনমোহন সিংয়ের ঢাকা সফরের সময় দুই প্রধানমন্ত্রীর ঘোষণার দুই দিনের মাথায় ৮ সেপ্টেম্বর সব সময়ের জন্য খুলে দেওয়া হয় দহগ্রাম-আঙ্গরপোতার প্রবেশদ্বার তিনবিঘা করিডোর। এর আগ পর্যন্ত ওই করিডোর দিয়ে ভারতের নিরাপত্তারক্ষীদের পাহারার মধ্যে কেবল সকাল থেকে সন্ধ্যা পর্যন্ত চলাচল করতে পারতো বাংলাদেশিরা।

সন্ধ্যার পর বন্ধ হয়ে যেতো 'তিন বিঘা গেইট'। ।

কাগজে-কলমে লালমনিরহাটের পাটগ্রাম উপজেলার অধীন হলেও দহগ্রাম ও আঙ্গরপোতা বাংলাদেশের মূল ভূখণ্ড থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন। ১৯৭৪ সালের মুজিব-ইন্দিরা চুক্তি অনুযায়ী দহগ্রাম ও আঙ্গরপোতা ছিটমহলে যাওয়ার পথ হিসেবে ১৯৯২ সালের ২৬ জুন তিন বিঘা জমি ইজারা পায় বাংলাদেশ। এটিই পরিচিত হয় তিন বিঘা করিডোর নামে।

৮ সেপ্টেম্বর এই করিডোর সব সময়ের জন্য খুলে দেওয়ার পর উল্লাসে মেতে ওঠে ছিটমহলের বাসিন্দারা। তাদের কাছে এ যেন 'সত্যিকারের' স্বাধীন হওয়ার আনন্দ।

বুধবার তিন বিঘায় উপস্থিত হয়ে সেই 'স্বাধীনতারই' আনুষ্ঠানিক ঘোষণা দেবেন প্রধানমন্ত্রী।

বাংলাদেশে ১১১টি ভারতীয় ছিটমহল এবং ভারতে বাংলাদেশের ৫১টি ছিটমহল রয়েছে। ১৯৭৪ সালের চুক্তির আওতায় চলতি বছর স্বাক্ষরিত প্রটোকলের মাধ্যমে এসব ছিটমহল বিনিময় করবে দুই দেশ। এছাড়া দুই দেশের মধ্যে সাড়ে ৬ কিলোমিটার অচিহ্নিত সীমানা এবং অপদখলীয় ভূমি সমস্যারও সমাধান করা হবে এর মাধ্যমে।

পুঁজিবাজারে অর্থপ্রবাহ বাড়াতে ব্যাংকগুলো যাতে আরো বিনিয়োগ করতে পারে সেই পথ তৈরি করছে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংক।

মার্জিন ঋণ পুনঃতফশিলের ক্ষেত্রে ডাউন পেমেন্টের শর্ত শিথিল করার ইংগিত দেওয়ার পাশাপাশি বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক জানিয়েছে, ব্যাংক বা তাদের সাবসিডিয়ারিগুলো মার্জিন ঋণের সুদ মওকুফ করলে তাতেও আপত্তি নেই।

বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের মহা ব্যবস্থাপক এ এফ এম আসাদুজ্জামান বুধবার  বলেন, নীতিমালা অনুসরণ করে ব্যাংকগুলোই তাদের মার্জিন ঋণ পুনঃতফশিলের বিষয়ে সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে পারে। এক্ষেত্রে ডাউন পেমেন্টের শর্ত শিথিল করতে হলে বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক তা ইতিবাচকভাবে বিবেচনা করবে।

এসব বিষয়ে বুধবার একটি বিজ্ঞপ্তিও প্রকাশ করেছে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংক। এতে বলা হয়েছে, ব্যাংকাররা বৃহস্পতিবার বৈঠক করে বিনিয়োগ বাড়ানোর বিষয়ে সিদ্ধান্ত নেবে।

ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালকদের সংগঠন অ্যাসোসিয়েশন অব ব্যাংকার্স, বাংলাদেশের (এবিবি) সঙ্গে বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের গভর্নর আতিউর রহমানের বৈঠকের দুই দিনের মাথায় এই বিজ্ঞপ্তি প্রকাশ করা হলো।

এতে বলা হয়েছে, "বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের পুনঃতফশিলিকরণের নীতিমালা অনুসরণপূর্বক ব্যাংক নিজেই মার্জিন ঋণ পুনঃতফশিলভুক্ত করতে পারে। এক্ষেত্রে ডাউন পেমেন্টের শর্ত শিথিল করার প্রয়োজন হলে সংশ্লিষ্ট ব্যাংকের আবেদন ইতিবাচক দৃষ্টিতে বিবেচনা করা হবে।"

ব্যাংকগুলো বা তাদের সহযোগী আর্থিক প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো (সাবসিডিয়ারি) যে মার্জিন ঋণ দেয়, তার সুদ মওকুফের ক্ষেত্রেও বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের কোনো বিধিনিষেধ নেই বলে বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে উল্লেখ করেছে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংক।

এতে বলা হয়, "ব্যাংক নিজস্ব বিবেচনায় ব্যাংকার-গ্রাহক সম্পর্কের ভিত্তিতে ঋণের সুদ মওকুফ করতে পারে।"

বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে আরো বলা হয়, "ব্যাংক কোম্পানি আইনে বর্ণিত নির্দিষ্ট সীমার মধ্যে ব্যাংকগুলো পুঁজিবাজারে বিনিয়োগ করতে পারে। যে সব ব্যাংক নির্ধারিত সীমার অতিরিক্ত অর্থ পুঁজিবাজারে বিনিয়োগ করেছে, তাদের বিনিয়োগ নির্ধারিত সীমায় নামিয়ে আনার সময়সীমা ইতোমধ্যে ২০১২ সালের ডিসেম্বর পর্যন্ত বাড়ানো হয়েছে।"

ঢাকা স্টক এক্সচেঞ্জের সাধারণ সূচক তিন মাসে ১৪০০ পয়েন্ট কমে যাওয়ার প্রেক্ষিতে গত রোববার আন্দোলন শুরু করে ব্যক্তি শ্রেণীর বিনিয়োগকারীরা। পরিস্থিতি স্থিতিশীল করতে সোমবার পুঁজিবাজারে বিনিয়োগের ক্ষেত্রে আয়কর রেয়াত, মিউচুয়াল ফান্ডের ওপর আরোপিত কর মওকুফ এবং ব্রোকারেজ কমিশনের ওপর উৎসে আয়কর কমানোর ঘোষণা দেয় এনবিআর। পুঁজিবাজারের স্থিতিশীলতার স্বার্থে অর্থমন্ত্রীকে পরামর্শ দেওয়ার জন্য গঠন করা হয় ৫ সদস্যের একটি উপেদেষ্টা কমিটি।

একই দিনে অ্যাসোসিয়েশন অব ব্যাংকার্স, বাংলাদেশের সহ-সভাপতি ও এনসিসি ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক মোহাম্মদ নুরুল আমীনের সঙ্গে বৈঠক করে পুঁজিবাজারে ব্যাংক খাতের বিনিয়োগ বাড়ানোর আহ্বান জানান গভর্নর আতিউর রহমান।

দেশে ১১টি ব্যাংকের সীমার অতিরিক্ত বিনিয়োগ রয়েছে জানিয়ে ওই বৈঠকের পর আমীন সাংবাদিকদের বলেন, "আইনি সীমার মধ্যে থেকে শেয়ারবাজার নিয়ে ব্যাংকগুলোর কিছু করার থাকলে গভর্নর তা করতে বলেছেন।"

"শেয়ারবাজারের জন্য এবিবি কোনো উদ্যোগ নিলে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের পক্ষ থেকে সহযোগিতা করারও আশ্বাস দেওয়া হয়েছে। এবিবির পক্ষ থেকে কী উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হবে, তা বৈঠকে ঠিক করা হবে," যোগ করেন তিনি।

নিয়ম অনুযায়ী, কোনো ব্যাংক তার মোট দায়ের ১০ শতাংশ পর্যন্ত পুঁজিবাজারে বিনিয়োগ করতে পারে। তবে পুঁজিবাজারে ব্যাংকগুলোর গড় বিনিয়োগ তাদের দায়ের ৪ শতাংশের মতো।

কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে বলা হয়, "বিষয়গুলো নিয়ে অ্যাসোসিয়েশন অব ব্যাংকার্সের নেতাদের সঙ্গে আলোচনা করা হয়েছে। অ্যাসোসিয়েশন অব ব্যাংকার্স বৃহস্পতিবার বৈঠক করে এ বিষয়ে সিদ্ধান্ত নেবে বলে জানা গেছে।"

Defence counsels in a money laundering case against BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman have cross-examined a witness at a Dhaka court.

Lawyers Fakhrul Islam and Sanaullah Miah of Tarique's co-accused Giasuddin Al Mamun cross-examined Anticorruption Commission (ACC) assistant director Mohammad Ibrahim at a hearing at the Third Special Judge's Court on Tuesday.

Ibrahim narrated the charges against the accused.

Judge Mojammel Hossain adjourned the hearing for a day.

Mamun was brought to the court from jail for the hearing. Tarique, the elder son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, is currently abroad.

According to the case statement, Tarique and his friend and business associate Mamun siphoned off over Tk 204 million to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.

The High Court has asked the Detective Branch (DB) of police to submit an investigation report by Nov 30 on alleged torture of Dhaka University teacher Rumana Monzur by her husband.

The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Mohammad Nuruzzaman passed the order on Tuesday after accepting a report submitted by the government that said the case over the torture of Rumana, who lost her eyes in a wild attack by her husband Syeed Hasan Sumon on June 5, was handed over to the DB police.

Deputy attorney general A B M Altaf Hossain told  that earlier the court had directed the Dhanmondi Police Station to investigate the incident.

Sumon was arrested on June 16 noon from his relative's residence in the city's Mugda area, hours after the High Court summoned the investigation officer of the case, Dhanmondi Police Station officer-in-charge and Dhanmondi Circle assistant commissioner to appear before it to explain their failure to arrest the accused.

Rumana, an assistant professor of international relations department of Dhaka University, was severely assaulted on June 5 at her father's residence at Dhanmondi.

She was admitted to LabAid Specialised Hospital on the day.

Victim's father Manzur Hossain, a retired army man, filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station the following day.

Rumana was later brought to India for better treatment. Now she is undergoing treatment in Canada.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have withdrawn suspension orders on its three Detective Branch inspectors accused by NSI of taking bribe.

DMP public communication and social welfare department's additional deputy commissioner Masudur Rahman confirmed that Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Mohammad Shafiuddin Sheikh and Mohammad Giasuddin have been put back to work.

"From now on these officers will be working with the Detective Branch," he added.

The officers were temporarily suspended following their arrest by NSI officials in front of the Holy Family Hospital at Maghbazar for 'taking bribe' from a businessman on Oct 6.

After their arrest they were admitted to Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh.

BNP claims that the government is scared of a mass upsurge from its road march programmes.

BNP policymaker Nazrul Islam Khan's comment comes within a day of the prime minister saying that it was more of a 'road show' than a road march.

He said on Monday the "mass uprising" triggered by the road marches do not sit well with the government. "So the prime minister has been making different remarks about it."

"We want to state that BNP neither cares about nor will it be scared off by threats."

BNP chief Khaleda Zia will set off on another road march towards Chapainawabganj on Tuesday, having finished her road march to Sylhet. The opposition is pressing for revival of the non-party caretaker government system to oversee national elections which was abolished by the ruling Awami League.

BNP's Nazrul Islam said, "The prime minister has forgotten her past. Once upon a time, she also went on road marches in cars, not on foot."

He said Awami League chose to forget the past at its convenience. The senior leader said the ruling party would never criticise itself even though it is guilty of the same sin.

"It was fine when they had talks with Jamaat (-i-Islami) sitting in the same table. But when that same Jamaat joins forces with the BNP, they become war criminals."

Prime minister Hasina had questioned where the cars had come during her speech. She warned, "Where have so many cars come from? The owners will be traced through the number plates and their source of funds investigated."

Nazrul Islam fired his own barb saying that visitors to the prime minister's office and the Secretariat, riding their Mercedes' and Lexus' should instead be investigated.

Ending days of suspense, Awami League has given out its support to Shamim Osman as the Narayanganj City Corporation mayor candidate.

"Awami League supports Shamim Osman for the Narayanganj City Corporation elections," Awami League acting general secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif told on Tuesday.

"Party central and local leaders are already working with him. There is no scope for confusion here," he added.

There have been confusions over the ruling party's support to its two members who are vying for the first NCC polls, former Narayanganj Municipality mayor Selina Hayat Ivy and former MP Osman.

Over Election Commission's repeated warnings, Awami League's top leadership held multiple prolonged meetings with the two but were unable to convince either to withdraw.

Hanif said the party was supporting Shamim in accordance with the electoral code.

The voters will be informed about their respective polling centres and serial numbers on the voter registration cards in the election to the newly-formed Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) through short message service (SMS).

Election commissioner Sakhawat Hossain told on Tuesday that one could know his/her polling centre, serial number and voter number by sending his/her national identification (ID) number through SMS to a specific number (to be announced later) from any mobile phone operator two days before the polls.

"Details about it will be made available after completing signing of agreements with the mobile phone companies," he added.

The commission on Monday started a campaign to generate awareness among the people about the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in nine wards of Narayanganj city, amid opposition from the BNP-backed mayoral candidate.

Sakhawat on Monday said the decision of the EC was final on the use of EVMs.

On Saturday, BNP-backed mayoral candidate Toimur Alam Khandaker protested the EC decision to use EVMs at several polling centres and urged the commission to change the decision.

He alleged the vote was rigged through EVMs in Magura by-elections.

Out of the 27 wards, votes will be cast through EVMs in nine wards (2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 22nd and 24th). There will be one EVM in each of the 450 polling rooms at 58 polling centres.

ARMS SURRENDER

Sakhawat said that arms holders must deposit their arms either in their area's local police station or respective arms dealers up to Oct 23. The home ministry would issue a circular in this regard soon.

Besides, those who are not inhabitants of the polling area must leave the area from Oct 27 midnight.

"The EC is taking all sorts of steps to hold a free, fair and neutral election," he added.

Six candidates are contesting for the mayor's post while 300 for councilor posts in the NCC elections scheduled for Oct 30.

Some 4,500 members of the law and order enforcement agencies will be deployed for five days during the polls.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia has warned of road marches towards Dhaka to topple the government.

She urged her audience at a rally at Bogra's Altafunnesa playground that they should prepare for such programmes in future.

The former prime minister said, "The government has failed in every sector. Neither the people nor their sovereignty is secure in their hands anymore."

She said that was why the people had risen. She said, "The people will have to be march towards Dhaka in future to unseat the government and see them off."

Leader of the main opposition, Khaleda led a road march towards the north-western district of Chapainawabganj from Dhaka. On its way, the road march has halted in Bogra for the night. Khaleda will stay the night at the town's circuit house.

The two-day march will conclude on Wednesday with Khaleda addressing another rally at the Chapainawabganj Government High School grounds. Before that, Khaleda is expected to address a rally at Naogaon before reaching the destination.

The road march to Chapainawabganj was the opposition's second such programme. The BNP is set conduct another march towards Chittagong later this month.

Khaleda began addressing a rally of thousands around 5pm.

ICT A FARCE

The opposition leader alleged that the government was out to annihilate BNP-led four-party alliance. She said the government had set up an International Crimes Tribunal with party men towards such an end. "This is not a trial but farce," she said of the war crimes trials.

She demanded immediate release of Jamaate-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mojaheed, Delwar Hossain Sayedee and and BNP's Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury who are behind bars on war crimes charges.

Khaleda said any war crimes trial would have to be transparent and there must be provisions for foreign lawyers in that process.

The opposition leader questioned the entire process indicating that it was driven by Awami League adherents.

AUG 21 GRENADE ATTACK

Khaleda claimed her elder son Tarique Rahman has been framed in the grenade attack of 2004 on an Awami League rally. Then the leader of the main opposition, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was speaking at that rally, which came under the deadly attack.

Khaleda said, "He has been framed with false charges. And not just him, the four-party alliance's top leadership, former police chief and intelligence officials have also been framed."

They are trying to secure confessions under duress in remand, she alleged and demanded release of all those arrested in the case.

TO THE YOUTH

Addressing the youth, the BNP chief said they would not get anywhere as long as the Awami League was in power. "But under my government you will get jobs. We will do all that is needed because we believe that the youth have much potential for us."

"They will have to lead country in future."

BOGRA BACKWATERS

Khaleda lamented that her late husband's home district had not seen much by way of development during the incumbent government's tenure.

A formidable stronghold of BNP, Bogra has so far been deprived, suggested Khaleda. "Whatever development there has been was during my time."

CORROSIVE CORRUPTION

Alleging that the entire government was riddled with corruption the BNP chief told the rally, "Every tier of the government from top to bottom is on the take."

The World Bank has suspended funding the Padma bridge for corruption of the government's top leaders, said Khaleda. She claimed that BNP also had a copy of the list of corrupt individuals that the global lending agency has submitted to the government.

Khaleda pointed to what she said was rundown condition of the roads and highways and claimed that whatever work had been was during her term in office.

CARETAKER GOVT

Khaleda reiterated her main demand saying that the national elections must be held under a non-political caretaker government that the Awami League had abolished. Khaleda said this ploy was merely to ensure that the ruling incumbents are reelected. "But it won't be of any use."

About the Election Commission, the opposition leader told the rally that the election office had to be set up in consultation with the other parties because it was not neutral at all. "They have installed this government by rigging the elections and subsequently the commission has also rigged local elections."

TONGI TO BOGRA

Khaleda's convoy of more than 2,000 vehicles, set off from House Building intersection of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Uttara around 10.45am.

A large number of supporters and activists of the party greeted her on her way through Uttara, Abdullahpur and Tongi. She started for Uttara from her Gulshan residence around 10.15am.

The opposition leader addressed street rallies on her way at Gazipur, Tangail, Sirajganj on her way to Bogra.

Her two-day road march will end on Wednesday in Chapainababganj with a rally in Naogaon on the way.

Narayanganj City mayor candidate Selina Hayat Ivy has said she will be there in the race, hours after her party gave out its support to rival Shamim Osman.

"I pursue politics with Awami League. I am now in the field, and would be there in future. I've no scope to step back," she told bdnews24.com on Tuesday night.

"People will answer me on Oct 30 through vote," she added.

Ending days of suspense, Awami League announced Shamim Osman as its favourite Narayanganj City Corporation mayor candidate.

Earlier in the evening, party's acting general secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif told bdnews24.com that Awami League had decided to lend out its support to Shamim.

When asked for a reaction to the party position, Ivy said, "I am outside. I don't know what Mr Hanif has said."

The former Narayanganj municipality mayor added that she would issue an official reaction on Wednesday after confirming the party's announcement.

There have been confusions over the ruling party's support to its two members who are vying for the first NCC polls.

Both are members of influential political families.

Over Election Commission's repeated warnings, Awami League's top leadership held multiple prolonged meetings with the two but was unable to convince either to withdraw.

Ivy, who is a doctor by training and the daughter of Ali Ahmad Chunka, the former Narayanganj municipality mayor, will be running the polls with 'pen-inkpot' symbol.

Shamim, whose brothers Nasim and Selim are MP and BKMEA president respectively, has been given 'wall clock'.

Six candidates are contesting the mayor's post while 300 for councilor posts in the NCC elections scheduled for Oct 30.

A Dhaka court has bailed five people accused in two fraud cases filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Dhaka's Chief Metrpolitan Magistrate Court's judge A G M Al Maud granted the bail requests of Abu Sadat Mohamad Sayem, Abdul Amin Molla, Syed Siraj-ud-Doulla, Rasheda Akhter Maya and Habibur Rahman Morol on Tk 5,000 bonds on Monday.

The suspects had allegedly conned the investors by making transactions in bulk among themselves before selling their shares off at high prices for unlawful gains, according to the cases.

SEC director Mahbuber Rahman Chowdhury on Aug 21 filed one case against Siraj-ud-Doula, his wife Maya and Morol for trading shares of People's Leasing and Financial Services Limited by increasing the face value.

The case alleged they purchased and sold shares of People's Leasing and Financial Services Limited among each other at the brokerage house FPI Securities.

Another case was filed against Sayem and Mollah for manipulating the face value of shares of Eastern Housing Limited.

They had raised the price of Eastern Housing Limited shares by 25 percent by trading through eight accounts at Motijheel's Salta Capital Limited, the case said.

The cases are based on the report of the government-commissioned investigation committee, formed over the stocks debacle that caused two bourses to close for a few days.

Eleven people including chairman of the committee Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled, members Toufic Ahmad Choudhury, Mohamed Abdul Baree and Nihad Kabir have been made witnesses in the cases.

The finance minister has acknowledged that Bangladesh's foreign direct investment has almost dried up.

Abul Maal Abdul Muhith told a discussion on public-private partnership (PPP) that public expenditure was rather low. He said private and foreign direct investment needed to be shored up for higher investment.

"But we are lagging behind in this aspect."

"We are trying to raise investment though the PPP initiative. Higher investment would require foreign investment besides domestic investment. Public Private Partnership should have such a focus."

According to the central bank, $ 768 million worth of FDI came to the country in 2010-11 fiscal, 913 million in 2009-10, 961 million in 2008-09.

But FDI increased in the first month of current fiscal. In July the FDI inflow was $ 57 million, compared to $ 102 million of last July.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has enforced tax cuts to help stabilise the drooping capital market in the wake of street protests by retail investors.

NBR public relations officer Syed A Momen told bdnews24.com that a statutory regulatory order was issued on Monday.

The announcement came following an overnight hunger strike by the small investors who began the protests on Sunday, saying they would 'fast unto death' if the market situation does not return to normal.

On Oct 12, capital market regulator Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) had suggested income tax rebates on capital market investments and on mutual fund income, and halving source tax on brokerage commissions in a meeting with the NBR following raging protests by investors against the continuous slump in the capital market.

SEC chief M Khairul Hossain had said that the NBR agreed with them on the proposed tax cuts.

The NBR order said, "A 10 percent income tax rebate will be given on investments made on the capital market, debentures or mutual funds from July 1.

"The tax on the mutual fund issuer's income will also be rebated from the same date."

"The 10percent source tax on brokerage commission enforced in the current budget will also be halved."

Meanwhile, retail investors on a hunger strike since Sunday have said they will continue with their protest until the prime minister gives specific orders to prop up the tumbling share market.

The protestors, who were dispersed by Motijheel police on the street in front of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) in the morning, are now observing it at the National Press Club.

The retail investors declared their programme on Sunday after the week's trading started at 11am. SEC officials sat later in the night with the finance minister to devise an end to the slump. However, SEC chief M Khairul Hossain declined to give any details on the meeting's outcome.

The Anticorrpution Commission (ACC) has assigned one of its senior officials to investigate corruption charges levelled by World Bank in Padma bridge project.

ACC deputy director Jainul Abedin Shibli was handed the task at a meeting of the commission on Monday.

The deadline for the report is 30 days, the corruption watchdog's commissioner Md Shahabuddin Chuppu told bdnews24.com.

ACC director general Farrukh Ahmed had told reporters on Oct 12 that assistant director Mirza Jahidul Islam has been tasked with the enquiry.

When asked about that announcement, Shahabuddin said it was not a formal announcement.

The $ 1.2-billion fund that the World Bank committed for the country's longest bridge over the Padma River was temporarily suspended following allegations of corruptions in the execution of the project.

Even though allegations were levelled against communications minister Syed Abul Hossain, and the secretary to Bridges Division was transferred over the matter, Bangladesh government has so far denied the charges.

The High Court has asked the government for information about what steps its is taking to free 500 Bangladeshis jailed in Saudi Arabia.

The bench of justices Mohammad Bazlur Rahman and M Enayetur Rahim on Monday also wanted to know why the order to bring back these undocumented Bangladeshis should not be given.

The foreign and home secretaries have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks that came upon a petition filed on Sunday by legal-rights organisation Ain o Shalish Kendra (ASK).

The court also demanded an explanation about the government indifference on the matter should be marked as against the law.

The NGO that provides legal aid filed the petition based on a news report of Oct 13 that said there are 500 Bangladeshis imprisoned in Dammam Jail in the Sheikhdom.

ASK, in its petition, urged the High Court to order the government to repatriate the Bangladeshis.

The Daily Amar Desh report said Bangladeshis jailed in that prison are dying slowly from diseases. The expatriates were arrested for not having valid documents.

The Saudi government has agreed to permit their extradition if their return permit and airline tickets were provided, but their repatriation is not happening due to apathy from the Bangladesh embassy there, the report alleged.

Lawyers Saifur Rashid and Abonti Nurul argued for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Amit Talukder stood for the state.

Eight Bangladeshis were beheaded in public in Riyadh on Oct 7 following their confession on robbing a warehouse and killing the Egyptian security guard, Hussein Saeed Mohammed Abdulkhaleq, in April 2007.

Both the Saudi government and the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia said they could not secure clemency for the convicts, as the law states that only the victim's family can pardon such crime, and the family declined to oblige.

But rights bodies across the world have severely criticised the incident, with Amnesty International pointing out that the confessions might have been made under duress.

The High Court has sought explanation on why branding news headlines after advertisers will not be declared illegal.

The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Mohammad Nuruzzaman issued the rule on Monday upon a public interest litigation filed by former Government Laboratory School teacher M A Matin.

The petition marked the information, law and home secretaries, director-general of the state-run BTV, and chief executive officers (CEO) of private television channels Ekushey TV, Banglavision, Channel i and Boishakhi TV as defendants.

They were told to respond within two weeks.

Barristers Masud Ahmed Sayeed and Ahmed Sohel argued for the petitioner.

Masud told reporters that the television channels in the country including BTV announces daily news headlines after the advertiser's names.

"There is a chance that the TV channel won't broadcast any news against the advertising company even if they commit a crime or any accident takes place in the company," he said.

Though, there are at least 16 private television channels in the country, the petition mentioned only five names including BTV.

Explaining why left the other channels out in his petition, Masud said, "All the names could not be mentioned as we could not monitor their news shows before filing the petition."

The cabinet has approved a proposal on Bangladesh requesting membership to the United Nations Arbitration Court (UNAC).

A supplementary proposal, titled 'Bangladesh's Proposal for Permanent Membership to the UN', was approved at the cabinet meeting on Monday.

Prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the arbitration court was set up in 1899 in the Hague. A case between Bangladesh and India on maritime boundary delimitation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1983 is under consideration of this court.

Azad said, "India is already a member of this court. Now, special necessity has risen to be a member of this court. After getting the membership, Bangladesh and India's position will be equal."

The press secretary said Bangladesh might appeal to the court for financial support to run the case and would also get chances to solve any dispute on both business- and petroleum-related issues.

If Bangladesh gets the membership, it would be able to recruit four international lawyers and also be able to nominate one for the post of a judge, said Azad.

The government plans to hand over majority of power generation responsibility to the private sector by 2016.

Chairman of state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) A S M Alamgir Kabir said on Sunday the government-run power plants now account for 56 percent of the country's total generation and the private plants the rest.

He told : "According to the plan, the government-run plants will generate only 42 percent of the total demand by 2016 while private plants will supply the rest 58 percent."

Energy experts apprehend a disaster in the sector in such a situation when PDB will increasingly be dependant on private sector generation and the government has to spend more on electricity subsidy.

PDB moved proposals twice to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to raise electricity prices -- both wholesale and retail -- in the current year as it buys high-priced electricity from the private plants.

Alamgir Kabir said: "Private power plants, which are based on fuel, are hiking prices because of increasing production cost. PDB is forced to purchase electricity from them as generation fell in the government-run plants for insufficient gas supply."

As a single buyer, PDB purchases electricity from both government and private power plants and sells it to the distributing agencies.

In its proposal to BERC, PDB said average supply cost for a unit of electricity rose to Tk 4.15 in 2010-2011 fiscal year from Tk 2.62 in 2009-2010, but PDB is still getting only Tk 2.81 per unit.

It said thanks to increase in number of oil-based power plants, electricity supply cost will rise to Tk 4.86 per unit in 2011-2012.

Energy expert and Chittagong University professor M Shamsul Alam told: "If the plan is implemented, electricity sector will be depending more on the private plants. As a result, subsidy in the sector will also rise."

He said a disaster might happen in the sector in such a situation.

After assuming office in early 2009, the present government announced plans to add 14,773 megawatts of electricity—6204MW from the government-run plants and 8569MW from the private plants—to the national grid by 2016.

Under the plan, 775MW power was added to the national grid last year -- 225MW from state-run plants and 520MW from private plants -- and this year another 2450MW power -- 1107MW from government plants and 1343MW from private plants -- is supposed to be generated.

The plan says 1901MW electricity -- 582MW from government plants and 1319MW from private plants -- will add to the national grid in 2012, another 2174MW -- 1040MW from state-run plants and 1134MW from private plants -- in 2013, 2323MW -- 1270MW from state-run plants and 1053MW from private plants -- in 2014, 2350MW -- 450MW from government plants and 1900MW from private plants -- in 2015 and 2800MW -- 1500MW from state-run plants and 1300MW from private -- plants in 2016.

The government has been giving priority to the power sector since its coming to power in Jan, 2009.

In last two and a half years, the government signed agreements to set up 50 new power plants and meantime 18 units commenced operation.

When the government assumed office, total electricity generation was 3276.5MW. Since then 2284MW of electricity added to the national grid.

On Aug 29 this year, the country made a record by producing 5244MW of electricity.

The present daily demand for electricity is estimated at about 7000MW, implying that the generation shortfall is 2000-2500MW.

Around 10,000 people will miss out on voting in the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) elections as the voter list has not been updated.

According to Election Commission estimates, over 4,000 youths, who became 18 in or after January this year, cannot be included in the electoral roll. Apart from them, there are at least 5,000 eligible people whose names were somehow dropped from the present voter list updated last year.

Election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain told bdnews24.com on Monday that they cannot vote as the voter list updating activities could not be conducted before the elections this year.

"We don't have enough time in hand. The updating activities will be undertaken in December," he added.

The last voter roll update was done in 2010.

Earlier in 2009, persons attaining eligible voting age that time as well as those who were dropped from the roll for the ninth parliamentary elections were enlisted.

Deputy secretary (elections) at the Election Commission Secretariat Mihir Sarwar Morshed said over 81 million people were enrolled in the voter list prepared before the ninth general elections in 2008, containing photos for the first time.

Over 4.6 million more people were included under the voter list update programmes after two years.

The newly formed Narayanganj City Corporation has 403706 voters — 203,096 males and 200,610 females.

Officials with the photo-based voter list project said the experimental voter roll update activities were completed in Noagaon, Gazipur, Dhaka and Cox's Bazar districts in September.

Prof Tofail Ahmed, executive member of Sushashaner Jonno Nagarik (Sujon), a civil-society organisation, said: "The number of excluded voters may be small, but it can prove decisive in the victory or defeat in the local elections. Not being enrolled in the voter list is a kind of denial of rights."

He said the new voters have a big role in choosing the appropriate candidate. "It would have been better had the updating programme been carried out in the polling areas before announcing the election schedules."

The cabinet has in principle cleared a proposal to amend local government law to split Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) into two separate entities.

The proposal to amend the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009 was cleared at Monday's cabinet meeting, prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters.

As per the proposal, the civic body will be divided into two — north and south. The new northern city corporation will be formed with 36 of the total 92 wards and the southern one will have the remaining 56.