The government has lodged a strong protest with International Maritime Bureau (IMB) against its depiction of piracy incidents in Bangladesh.
"We have recently sent IMB a letter protesting the way it depicted the piracy situation in Bangladesh," said additional foreign secretary Mohammad Khurshed Alam at a press briefing on Monday.
The Kuala Lumpur-based Bureau reported a number of piracy incidents in Bangladesh without proper investigation.
Bangladesh is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS), and according to its definition, no incident of piracy took place in the country, Alam said.
"The IMB never investigated a single incident reported to it, though we urged them to come to Bangladesh to see the actual situation," he said.
At least in two incidents, ships reported to the IMB about pirate attacks in Chittagong, but the reality is the ships never came to Bangladesh, he said.
"In the letter, we have annexed all the evidence."
The misreporting of piracy by the ships has maligned the image of Bangladesh and it has a detrimental effect on trade and commerce as well, Alam said.
Insurance companies used to charge $500 for each trip to the ports located in the west of India, but now they have increased the rate to $150,000 as it is a piracy-prone area, he said.
"Each year about 2,400 ships come to Bangladesh and this year only 11 incidents of petty theft or robbery were reported. But due to the misreporting by foreign ships, the image may take a dip and insurance companies may increase their rates for Bangladesh."
Coast Guard and Chittagong Port Authority have taken a number of measures to protect the ships, Alam said.
In several cases, ships reported incidents of theft or robbery hours after the incident, he said.
"…if the incident takes place mid-night, they report four or five hours later, meaning the ships do it intentionally," he explained.
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The cabinet has given its approval to the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill-2011 authorising investigation of suspicious transactions in banks and other financial institutions, and freezing of bank accounts.
The approval came at a regular cabinet meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, with prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The cabinet also approved drafts of the Disaster Management Bill-2011 and the Power of Attorney Bill-2011.
The prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters after the meeting that Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill-2011 was approved in a bid to prevent all kinds of terrorist and militant activities in the country and funding of such activities.
The law proposes death penalty to anyone guilty of providing funds for terror and militant activities.
For such crimes, it also proposed a maximum 20 years' rigorous imprisonment, apart from providing for a life term imprisonment, and a minimum three years' imprisonment or additional fine (minimum Tk 1 million).
On July 11 this year, the cabinet approved in-principle the draft of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill-2011 formulated by the home ministry to safeguard the country's sovereignty. But the meeting recommended inclusion of some more provisions in the Act.
The Act is being amended to stop use of Bangladeshi land for conducting terrorist activities either inside the country or in other countries, all types of illegal arms, carrying explosives and creating panic among people through terror.
After necessary scrutiny, inclusions and exclusions of some provisions of the Act, the home ministry placed it in the cabinet meeting following endorsement by the law ministry.
It was amended in the changed perspective of international terrorism, as terror activities these days are not limited to national boundaries.
Officials said the amendment Bill would be placed in parliament in the upcoming session.
MORE POWER TO PROBE
According to the home ministry, the government can investigate any kind of suspicious financial transaction of banks, NGOs and other financial institutions under the amended Act. The financial institutions are also obliged to provide all information to the government once the Act comes into force.
The existing Anti-Terrorism Act empowers the government only to investigate financial transaction of banks. But the amended law also empowers the Bangladesh Bank to gather information in terms of money laundering from Bangladeshis based abroad.
It also authorises the government to freeze any account for a maximum of six months in case it finds some transaction suspicious.
Ministers, advisors and state ministers concerned attended the meeting held in the conference room of the Cabinet Division.
OTHER POLICIES OKAYED
The council of ministers also endorsed a proposal for turning a project titled 'RAKUB Small Enterprise Credit Programme (SECP)' of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) into its subsidiary company.
The meeting also okayed the draft of Jute Policy 2011 to increase production of jute and jute products in line with local and international demand.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to a proposal for an agreement between Bangladesh and Belarus on military and technical cooperation.
POWER OF ATTORNEY ACT
The approved draft of the Power of Attorney Bill, to prevent irregularities and forgery, makes it mandatory that registration be done within three months after the Act is enforced.
The draft says the Power of Attorney Act will be ineffective after three months but will remain effective until a certain period in terms of registration.
"The Act formulated in 1882 has been revised and some necessary provisions have been included in it for modernisation," the press secretary said.
Power of attorney is a legal document that allows a person to appoint another for carrying out certain specified acts and conducts on behalf of executants of the document.
In 26/12/2011 result published.Students of Monipur High School of Dhaka have come out on top in the nationwide primary terminal examinations.
A total of 1,994 students of Grade-V took the primary terminal examinations from the school while 1,438 of them secured the maximum GPA of 5.
This year, the Directorate of Primary and Mass Education has prepared the list of the country's 20 best schools on the basis of number of registered students, pass rate, GPA-5 achievement rate and number of absent students.
Monipur High School scored 74.39 points, with a 100 percent success rate.
The other schools on the list are Viqarunnisa Noon School (44.75 points), Motijheel Ideal School and College (41.45 points), Milestone Preparatory K.G. School (40.65 points), Gulshan Ideal School and College (40.16 points), Motijheel National Ideal School (40.02 points), Comilla Modern School of Comilla Sadar (39.48 points), K K High School of Demra, Dhaka (38.98 points), Mohammadpur Preparatory School (37.69 points), Shamsul Haque Khan School of Demra (36.73 points), Mirpur Bangla High School (36.43 points), Motijheel Model High School and College (36.08 points), Banani Bidyaniketan, Dhaka (34.61 points), B N School and College of Chittagong (34.23 points), Dhanmondi Government Laboratory High School (33.66 points), Motijheel Ideal Government Primary School (33.26 points), Uttara High School, Dhaka (33.25 points), Khulna District School (33.23 points), Faizur Rahman Ideal Institute, Motijheel (32.98 points) and Shaheed Police Smrity School and College of Dhaka Cantonment (32.78 points).
Earlier in the day, primary and mass education minister Afsarul Amin handed over the results of primary and equivalent Ebtedayee terminal examinations to prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Around 2.5 million students of primary schools and madrasas around the country sat the examinations that began on Nov 23 and ended on Nov 30.
The average pass rate in this year's primary terminal exams is 97.26 percent, while it is 91.28 percent in Ebtedayee terminal exams.
The results have been published in the 'grades' system for the first time since the terminal examinations started in 2009.
This year, some 22,000 students would be awarded scholarships in the Talent Pool Scholarships category and another 33,000 in the general category for outstanding results.
The opposition alliance will join the president's dialogue on forming the new Election Commission, the BNP acting secretary general has announced.
"We've decided to take part in the president's dialogue. The matter has been discussed with the allies of the four parties," Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told the press after a meeting on Monday evening.
Bangladesh Jatiya Party chairman Andalib Rahman Partho said the subject matter of the dialogue was discussed in the meeting.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia led a meeting of the leaders of the four-party alliance at her Gulshan office.
President Zillur Rahman will hold talks with Islami Oikya Jote on Jan 1, BJP on Jan 2, and BNP on Jan 11. The three allies have already received invitations.
Jamaat-e-Islami, another opposition ally, has not received any invitation yet, the party's assistant secretary general Nurul Islam Bulbul said.
The meeting, which started around 9pm, also discussed expansion of the alliance, Chittagong road march and liaison committee formation.
Fakhrul said the alliance's expansion would be announced soon. The decision will be finalised on Dec 29 at an alliance meeting.
Khilafat Majlish Amir Muhammad Ishaq said the alliance would also get a new name in that meeting.
Top leaders of the four opposition parties were present at the meeting.
BNP has been voicing its doubts about the president's dialogue since it began.
On Dec 22, Fakhrul had told the press: "We're not clear why the president is conducting the dialogue.
"What happens is that the prime minister sends a proposal to the president in line with the constitution [on the EC] and the president approves it," the spokesperson had said.
The premier bourse of the country opened the week's second trading day with an uptrend on Tuesday.
Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) general index shot up around 42 points in the first five minutes of the day's trading.
It lost slightly afterwards but rose again to stand at 5197.86 points with a gain of 42.72 points or 0.82 points at 11:35am.
The index gained 63.72 points or 1.23 points to stand at 5218.86 points at 12:02pm.
Shares worth Tk 1 billion changed hands until then with prices of 215 issues advancing, 16 declining and five remaining unchanged.
On Monday, the DGEN had lost 77.24 points or 1.47 percent to close at 5155.14 points.
Sunday was a public holiday for Christmas.
The benchmark index had advanced 232 points or four percent last week. Last week's turnover rose by 32 percent than the previous week.
The opportunity to invest undisclosed money in the capital market will remain valid until end of the current fiscal year, the chief of the National Board of Revenue said Tuesday.
NBR chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed told a media briefing that a newspaper report that the opportunity would be suspended was not correct.
The new assurance by the NBR chief made it clear that the rule would last at least until June next year when the fiscal year ends.
Any person can invest his money in the capital market without facing any question from the revenue regulator about its source -- a provision the government has made amid crisis to revamp the drooping share market.
Victoria and Agrani Bank have confirmed their tickets to the final round of the Grameenphone Federation Cup.
Both sides earned solitary-goal wins against Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and Uttar Baridhara at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday.
Striker Toklis Ahmed scored the winner for Victoria in the 40th minute.
Capitalising on a through-pass, the striker entered the box to shrug off Air Force defender Abdul Kader before tapping the ball home.
Forward Nur Hossain Ripon put 10-man Agrani Bank ahead in the 27th minute tapping a cross of Sujon Mahmud.
The bankers had to play the final 15 minutes a man down after Hanif Prodhan was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Hili land port in Dinajpur has resumed operations after an 11-day halt on Saturday.
"Indian trucks carrying goods have started entering Bangladesh from around noon on Saturday," said Nurul Ferdous, officer-in-charge of Bangladesh's Hili Immigration.
Quoting general secretary Ashok Kumar Mandal of Indian Exporters and Customs Clearing Agents Association of Hili , Bangladesh C&F Agents Association president Abul Kashem said Hili land port resumed operations after Indian authority reinstated a decision to take permission from the Indian Hili authority for exports of Bangladeshi products.
Earlier, tender passes were taken from the Indian Hili customs authority for exporting Bangladeshi goods. Recently an order from the Maldah customs said that permission have to be obtained from the Maldah customs authority for Bangladeshi goods export.
Indian businessmen stopped export-import activities for an indefinite period protesting against the decision on Dec 13.
"Indian trucks carrying goods have started entering Bangladesh from around noon on Saturday," said Nurul Ferdous, officer-in-charge of Bangladesh's Hili Immigration.
Quoting general secretary Ashok Kumar Mandal of Indian Exporters and Customs Clearing Agents Association of Hili , Bangladesh C&F Agents Association president Abul Kashem said Hili land port resumed operations after Indian authority reinstated a decision to take permission from the Indian Hili authority for exports of Bangladeshi products.
Earlier, tender passes were taken from the Indian Hili customs authority for exporting Bangladeshi goods. Recently an order from the Maldah customs said that permission have to be obtained from the Maldah customs authority for Bangladeshi goods export.
Indian businessmen stopped export-import activities for an indefinite period protesting against the decision on Dec 13.
Coastguards at Teknaf detained 23 people, including 18 Myanmar citizens, who were preparing to start for Malaysia without any valid travel documents on Friday.
They were held from a boat in Dakkhinpara Badambania area of the Saint Martins Island around 10pm, Shahparir Island coastguard camp official Matiur Rahman told .
The people of Myanmar, along with five from Chokoria and Patia, made a deal with Chakaria's Kamal Uddin to take them to Malaysia in exchange for Tk 50,000-70,000 each, he said.
They gave Tk 20,000 each in advance and were on their way to a trawler waiting for them to start for Malaysia.
Several of the passengers of the boat fled the scene when the coastguards reached the area, the Saint Martins Island Station sub-lieutenant M M Masud Shikder said.
They were held from a boat in Dakkhinpara Badambania area of the Saint Martins Island around 10pm, Shahparir Island coastguard camp official Matiur Rahman told .
The people of Myanmar, along with five from Chokoria and Patia, made a deal with Chakaria's Kamal Uddin to take them to Malaysia in exchange for Tk 50,000-70,000 each, he said.
They gave Tk 20,000 each in advance and were on their way to a trawler waiting for them to start for Malaysia.
Several of the passengers of the boat fled the scene when the coastguards reached the area, the Saint Martins Island Station sub-lieutenant M M Masud Shikder said.
Hundreds of non-government primary school teachers holding demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar have threatened self immolation if their demand for regularisation of jobs is not met.
"We will resort to this extreme step on Dec 27 if our demands are not met by then," said Mohammad Shamsul Alam of the National Non-Government Primary Teachers' Oikya Parishad, a platform comprising four organisations of non-government primary school teachers.
The teachers want the government to immediately nationalise 24,000 non-government primary schools and provide the 100,000-plus teachers with same privileges as those of government school teachers.
"Otherwise, a self immolation programme will be observed as part of the non-stop programmes that started from Dec 21," warned Alam.
Member secretary of the platform Abdur Rahman Bachchu told that no assurances had been received from the government, so far though the non-government registered schools are under the primary and mass education ministry.
Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon has expressed solidarity with the protesting teachers and assured that he would take up the matter with the education minister, said Bachchu, who is a teacher at Madaripur Police Line Primary School.
Assistant teacher of Faridpur's Zagdia Balia Primary School, Reena Parvin, who has left her four-year old child home to join protests, said she will not return home until the demands are met.
Younus Ali, headmaster of Pabna's Bhatkia Chodpara (reg.) School, urged the government to pay heed to the teachers' demands. "The government will need only Tk 4.2 billion to nationalise the non-government primary schools of the country," he added.
"We will resort to this extreme step on Dec 27 if our demands are not met by then," said Mohammad Shamsul Alam of the National Non-Government Primary Teachers' Oikya Parishad, a platform comprising four organisations of non-government primary school teachers.
The teachers want the government to immediately nationalise 24,000 non-government primary schools and provide the 100,000-plus teachers with same privileges as those of government school teachers.
"Otherwise, a self immolation programme will be observed as part of the non-stop programmes that started from Dec 21," warned Alam.
Member secretary of the platform Abdur Rahman Bachchu told that no assurances had been received from the government, so far though the non-government registered schools are under the primary and mass education ministry.
Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon has expressed solidarity with the protesting teachers and assured that he would take up the matter with the education minister, said Bachchu, who is a teacher at Madaripur Police Line Primary School.
Assistant teacher of Faridpur's Zagdia Balia Primary School, Reena Parvin, who has left her four-year old child home to join protests, said she will not return home until the demands are met.
Younus Ali, headmaster of Pabna's Bhatkia Chodpara (reg.) School, urged the government to pay heed to the teachers' demands. "The government will need only Tk 4.2 billion to nationalise the non-government primary schools of the country," he added.
A youth, Zahed Mahmud, has been arrested for the murder of 21-year-old Mohammad Kafil Uddin in Chittagong.
The police said Mahmud, 20, has admitted to "accidentally" killing his friend following offensive comments.
The Chittagong police recovered the body of Kafil on Dec 19 from a corner of the area's Jamia Tul Falah mosque. The deceased, a second-year Computer Science student of the International Islami University (IIUC), had his hands slashed and injury marks on the neck.
"Mahmud strangulated Kafil to death and then slashed the victim's veins in order to mislead the law-enforcing agencies," Mahanagar police commissioner Abul Kalam told reporters on Sunday.
Mahmud, a resident of the city's Baghmoniram area, confessed that he lost his temper after Kafil made an offensive comment regarding his physical structure.
"I regret killing him and am ready to accept whatever the punishment is," he told reporters at the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) headquarters on Sunday. He also claimed that he had been suffering from mental problems since the crime.
Police inspectors Sandeep Kumer Das and Mohammad Mohsin told that the police have recovered the laptop and money which was taken from the deceased Mahmud after his killing.
The police said Mahmud, 20, has admitted to "accidentally" killing his friend following offensive comments.
The Chittagong police recovered the body of Kafil on Dec 19 from a corner of the area's Jamia Tul Falah mosque. The deceased, a second-year Computer Science student of the International Islami University (IIUC), had his hands slashed and injury marks on the neck.
"Mahmud strangulated Kafil to death and then slashed the victim's veins in order to mislead the law-enforcing agencies," Mahanagar police commissioner Abul Kalam told reporters on Sunday.
Mahmud, a resident of the city's Baghmoniram area, confessed that he lost his temper after Kafil made an offensive comment regarding his physical structure.
"I regret killing him and am ready to accept whatever the punishment is," he told reporters at the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) headquarters on Sunday. He also claimed that he had been suffering from mental problems since the crime.
Police inspectors Sandeep Kumer Das and Mohammad Mohsin told that the police have recovered the laptop and money which was taken from the deceased Mahmud after his killing.
The body of late Awami League leader Abdur Razzak has been kept at the BIRDEM Hospital mortuary.
The mortal remains of the Shariatpur-3 legislator, who never lost an election, would be kept there until Monday when it would be taken to his village at Shariatpur's Damudda.
Razzak would be buried in the capital's Banani graveyard later in the day.
Earlier, Awami League supporters paid their last respects to their late leader as his body was taken from the Central Shaheed Minar to the party's Bangabandhu Avenue headquarters around 6:20pm.
After around 15 minute's halt there, relatives of Razzak left for the BIRDEM mortuary.
His second namaz-e-janaza in Bangladesh was held at the National Eidgah ground around 4pm. The body was taken to the Shaheed Minar afterwards.
Baitul Mokarram National Mosque's Khatib Mohammad Salahuddin conducted the second janaza attended by leaders of various political parties and people from a broad spectrum of the society.
Ruling Awami League leaders and Razzak's long time associates, advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Abdul Jalil, attended the janaza along with Mohammad Nasim, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Qamrul Islam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and others.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, joint secretary general Amanullah Aman, vice-president Abdullah Al Noman also attended the second janaza among the leaders of other political parties.
Of the 14-party grand alliance leaders, Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon and National Awami Party general secretary Enamul Haque attended the prayers.
The first namaz-e-janaza in Bangladesh of the leading organisor of the 1971 Liberation War took place around 3pm at the parliament building premises, which was attended by speaker Abdul Hamid, deputy speaker Shawkat Ali, cabinet members and MPs.
Before the janaza, Razzak's son Nahin Razzak urged everyone to pray for the departed soul of his father.
After the janaza, a police team gave state honour and floral tributes to Razzak.
A BNP-delegation led by Moudud Ahmed and A S M Hannan Shah also paid their last respects by placing wreaths on his coffin.
The janaza took place after his body was taken there from his Gulshan residence where president Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina had paid their homage to the 69-year-old veteran politician.
They also consoled the family of the Awami League advisory council member.
Razzak's body was taken there from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying his remains from London landed at 12:15pm.
His family members including his wife Farida Razzak and two sons were with the body.
Razzak died at King's College Hospital in London at 03:50pm local time (9:50pm Bangladesh standard time) on Friday while under treatment.
A namaj-e-janaza was held there on Saturday.
His long time associates Amu, Tofail and Jalil paid their floral tributes to him at the airport.
Awami League leaders Nanak, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Suranjit Sengupta, Obaidul Quader and Shahara Khatun, Faruk Khan, ruling party ally Workers' Party chief Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) president Hasanul Haque Inu, among others, were also present at the airport.
The mortal remains of the Shariatpur-3 legislator, who never lost an election, would be kept there until Monday when it would be taken to his village at Shariatpur's Damudda.
Razzak would be buried in the capital's Banani graveyard later in the day.
Earlier, Awami League supporters paid their last respects to their late leader as his body was taken from the Central Shaheed Minar to the party's Bangabandhu Avenue headquarters around 6:20pm.
After around 15 minute's halt there, relatives of Razzak left for the BIRDEM mortuary.
His second namaz-e-janaza in Bangladesh was held at the National Eidgah ground around 4pm. The body was taken to the Shaheed Minar afterwards.
Baitul Mokarram National Mosque's Khatib Mohammad Salahuddin conducted the second janaza attended by leaders of various political parties and people from a broad spectrum of the society.
Ruling Awami League leaders and Razzak's long time associates, advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Abdul Jalil, attended the janaza along with Mohammad Nasim, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Qamrul Islam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and others.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, joint secretary general Amanullah Aman, vice-president Abdullah Al Noman also attended the second janaza among the leaders of other political parties.
Of the 14-party grand alliance leaders, Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon and National Awami Party general secretary Enamul Haque attended the prayers.
The first namaz-e-janaza in Bangladesh of the leading organisor of the 1971 Liberation War took place around 3pm at the parliament building premises, which was attended by speaker Abdul Hamid, deputy speaker Shawkat Ali, cabinet members and MPs.
Before the janaza, Razzak's son Nahin Razzak urged everyone to pray for the departed soul of his father.
After the janaza, a police team gave state honour and floral tributes to Razzak.
A BNP-delegation led by Moudud Ahmed and A S M Hannan Shah also paid their last respects by placing wreaths on his coffin.
The janaza took place after his body was taken there from his Gulshan residence where president Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina had paid their homage to the 69-year-old veteran politician.
They also consoled the family of the Awami League advisory council member.
Razzak's body was taken there from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying his remains from London landed at 12:15pm.
His family members including his wife Farida Razzak and two sons were with the body.
Razzak died at King's College Hospital in London at 03:50pm local time (9:50pm Bangladesh standard time) on Friday while under treatment.
A namaj-e-janaza was held there on Saturday.
His long time associates Amu, Tofail and Jalil paid their floral tributes to him at the airport.
Awami League leaders Nanak, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Suranjit Sengupta, Obaidul Quader and Shahara Khatun, Faruk Khan, ruling party ally Workers' Party chief Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) president Hasanul Haque Inu, among others, were also present at the airport.
BNP joint secretary-general Goyeshwar Chandra Roy has questioned president's talks with political parties to form a new Election Commission, saying his party is more interested in "reinstating the caretaker government system".
"We are very clear...first decide on the caretaker government issue and then form the Election commission," he told a media briefing at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium on Sunday in a seminar titled "40 Years of Victory: People's Desire and Gains", organised by Shushil Forum.
"People want decision on the caretaker government issue rather than reconstitution of the Election Commission, because the Election Commission under a party-based government will be a 'puppet' institution [of the government]," he added.
The caretaker government system was abolished with the 15th amendment to the constitution, and so, the next national poll will have to be held under the incumbent Awami League-led government.
The main opposition BNP has been expressing dissent with the amendment and refusing to go to elections under any party government. BNP chief Khaleda Zia has already led three road marches this year, so far, demanding reinstatement of the caretaker system.
"The constitution does not give the president the right to hold dialogues to form the Election Commission. But still, dialogue is being conducted by him," Roy said.
"The aim is to form a 'puppet' election commission," he alleged.
President M Zillur Rahman started holding dialogues with parties represented in parliament from Dec 22. On the first day, he heard from Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSad). The president will hold dialogues with other parties in the days ahead.
Referring to the president's not taking part in the Victory Day and Martyrs Intellectual Day programmes, Goyeshwar said, "People were told then that he [the president] is ill. And now, he is holding dialogues. People are wondering why the president did not attend the national programmes."
"We are very clear...first decide on the caretaker government issue and then form the Election commission," he told a media briefing at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium on Sunday in a seminar titled "40 Years of Victory: People's Desire and Gains", organised by Shushil Forum.
"People want decision on the caretaker government issue rather than reconstitution of the Election Commission, because the Election Commission under a party-based government will be a 'puppet' institution [of the government]," he added.
The caretaker government system was abolished with the 15th amendment to the constitution, and so, the next national poll will have to be held under the incumbent Awami League-led government.
The main opposition BNP has been expressing dissent with the amendment and refusing to go to elections under any party government. BNP chief Khaleda Zia has already led three road marches this year, so far, demanding reinstatement of the caretaker system.
"The constitution does not give the president the right to hold dialogues to form the Election Commission. But still, dialogue is being conducted by him," Roy said.
"The aim is to form a 'puppet' election commission," he alleged.
President M Zillur Rahman started holding dialogues with parties represented in parliament from Dec 22. On the first day, he heard from Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSad). The president will hold dialogues with other parties in the days ahead.
Referring to the president's not taking part in the Victory Day and Martyrs Intellectual Day programmes, Goyeshwar said, "People were told then that he [the president] is ill. And now, he is holding dialogues. People are wondering why the president did not attend the national programmes."
Bangladeshi adventuress Wasfia Nazreen has conquered another world summit.
The indomitable mountaineer on Dec 16 reached the near-seven kilometer peak of Aconcagua in Argentina, at 3:25pm local time.
Aconcagua is also the second highest of the seven summits, which are the highest points of each continent, at 6,962 meters or 22,975 feet.
Wasfia dedicated this victory to the struggle of the martyrs of 1971, calling on greater recognition for the contribution of the women who had participated and suffered in the War.
"It took a great deal of maneuvering to time the summit on our Victory Day, and I am humbled and honoured to have been part of a tough team who made it happen," she said.
"There were many logistic and financial hurdles aside from the actual climbing and we crossed all of them," said the leader of the expedition.
The Aconcagua Park rangers later formally announced that this was the first time a Bangladeshi had climbed the mountain.
Wasfia says her team climbed Alpine style instead of Expedition style, therefore, not taking help of any fixed ropes, high-altitude porters and the use of supplemental oxygen.
After the climb, her team submitted a letter to the Argentine ministry of foreign affairs urging better bilateral relationship between Argentina and Bangladesh.
Wasfia Nazreen started 'Bangladesh in Seven Summits' foundation in July 2011. As part of this effort, she has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
The indomitable mountaineer on Dec 16 reached the near-seven kilometer peak of Aconcagua in Argentina, at 3:25pm local time.
Aconcagua is also the second highest of the seven summits, which are the highest points of each continent, at 6,962 meters or 22,975 feet.
Wasfia dedicated this victory to the struggle of the martyrs of 1971, calling on greater recognition for the contribution of the women who had participated and suffered in the War.
"It took a great deal of maneuvering to time the summit on our Victory Day, and I am humbled and honoured to have been part of a tough team who made it happen," she said.
"There were many logistic and financial hurdles aside from the actual climbing and we crossed all of them," said the leader of the expedition.
The Aconcagua Park rangers later formally announced that this was the first time a Bangladeshi had climbed the mountain.
Wasfia says her team climbed Alpine style instead of Expedition style, therefore, not taking help of any fixed ropes, high-altitude porters and the use of supplemental oxygen.
After the climb, her team submitted a letter to the Argentine ministry of foreign affairs urging better bilateral relationship between Argentina and Bangladesh.
Wasfia Nazreen started 'Bangladesh in Seven Summits' foundation in July 2011. As part of this effort, she has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
Traffic on Daulatdia-Paturia ferry route has resumed after nearly seven hours of halt because of dense fog.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Paturia pier manager Biddut Kumar told that ferry services resumed around 9am on Sunday.
"We stopped the services after a ferry (Khan Jahan Ali) got stranded in mid-river around 2am on Sunday due to poor visibility caused by heavy fog," he said.
During the halt, four ferries were stranded in Daulatdia and three in Paturia, creating a huge jam, Kumar said.
Gridlocks were seen on both sides due to traffic disruption overnight.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Paturia pier manager Biddut Kumar told that ferry services resumed around 9am on Sunday.
"We stopped the services after a ferry (Khan Jahan Ali) got stranded in mid-river around 2am on Sunday due to poor visibility caused by heavy fog," he said.
During the halt, four ferries were stranded in Daulatdia and three in Paturia, creating a huge jam, Kumar said.
Gridlocks were seen on both sides due to traffic disruption overnight.
The work to build the Padma bridge would start within a year, communications minister Obaidul Quader said Saturday.
"The fog on the way to implement the project will go away. The work to implement the project is on, only formalities are left. It will begin within a year," Quader told reporters while visiting a site of the project at Mawa in the morning.
It is his first visit to the site after he took oath as the communications minister earlier this month.
Quick building of the bridge became uncertain when the World Bank had suspended funds promised for the longest bridge following allegations of corruption in river dredging, appointment of consultants and selection of pre-qualified contractors on the project. The government has denied the allegations.
Earlier this month, the prime minister had said the bridge would be constructed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The communications minister on Dec 11 said the same thing.
"The government's top priority is the Padma bridge project. I have been working [to start the project] with people concerned since I took charge of the ministry. The bridge will be there," the minister said.
In response to a newspaper report that there is no improvement in the project, Quader said, "Padma bridge is not a matter of word only…the proof is in the project s
"The fog on the way to implement the project will go away. The work to implement the project is on, only formalities are left. It will begin within a year," Quader told reporters while visiting a site of the project at Mawa in the morning.
It is his first visit to the site after he took oath as the communications minister earlier this month.
Quick building of the bridge became uncertain when the World Bank had suspended funds promised for the longest bridge following allegations of corruption in river dredging, appointment of consultants and selection of pre-qualified contractors on the project. The government has denied the allegations.
Earlier this month, the prime minister had said the bridge would be constructed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The communications minister on Dec 11 said the same thing.
"The government's top priority is the Padma bridge project. I have been working [to start the project] with people concerned since I took charge of the ministry. The bridge will be there," the minister said.
In response to a newspaper report that there is no improvement in the project, Quader said, "Padma bridge is not a matter of word only…the proof is in the project s
Christians in Bangladesh are celebrating their biggest religious festival Christmas.
Churches across the nation have been decorated tastefully, as also some prominent hotels in the city.
Churches, Christian missionary schools and many homes have set up cowsheds, as it is believed that Jesus was born in one.
Many hotels are organising Christmas kids' parties where Santa Clauses will bring presents for children.
Santa Claus, who is not strictly a part of Christian beliefs, is a mythical figure believed to bring gifts on the Christmas Eve for children.
According to the Christian belief, the God needed a female to implement his plan. The female was Virgin Mary who is known as Bibi Mariam to the Muslims.
Christians believe Mary, despite being virgin, gave birth to a child by the God's blessings. The child was named Jesus according to angel Gabriel's saying.
Christians believe Jesus appeared on earth to preach the Jews who went astray.
Prayers have been held in churches across the country. St. Mary's Cathedral at Kakrail led by Archbishop of Dhaka Paulinus Costa, prayed for peace and prosperity on Sunday morning.
The president, prime minister and the opposition leader have greeted the Christian community on the eve of Christmas, their largest religious festival.
Christmas is held on Dec 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, believed to be the son of god by majority of Christians.
President Zillur Rahman in his message said Jesus Christ was one of the greatest men who had come to earth to direct the mankind towards peace and righteousness.
"He called upon people to follow the path of truth, justice and tolerance."
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said Bangladesh was a nation of communal harmony.
"Here, there is complete freedom for people of all religions and ethnicity to profess their religion," she said.
"I hope Christmas will serve to further strengthen the bonds between Christians of the country and members of other communities," she added.
Opposition chief Khaleda Zia said she prayed for Christmas to be a merry and festive occasion for the Christian community and everyone else.
"May God be with us," she said in her message.
Churches across the nation have been decorated tastefully, as also some prominent hotels in the city.
Churches, Christian missionary schools and many homes have set up cowsheds, as it is believed that Jesus was born in one.
Many hotels are organising Christmas kids' parties where Santa Clauses will bring presents for children.
Santa Claus, who is not strictly a part of Christian beliefs, is a mythical figure believed to bring gifts on the Christmas Eve for children.
According to the Christian belief, the God needed a female to implement his plan. The female was Virgin Mary who is known as Bibi Mariam to the Muslims.
Christians believe Mary, despite being virgin, gave birth to a child by the God's blessings. The child was named Jesus according to angel Gabriel's saying.
Christians believe Jesus appeared on earth to preach the Jews who went astray.
Prayers have been held in churches across the country. St. Mary's Cathedral at Kakrail led by Archbishop of Dhaka Paulinus Costa, prayed for peace and prosperity on Sunday morning.
The president, prime minister and the opposition leader have greeted the Christian community on the eve of Christmas, their largest religious festival.
Christmas is held on Dec 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, believed to be the son of god by majority of Christians.
President Zillur Rahman in his message said Jesus Christ was one of the greatest men who had come to earth to direct the mankind towards peace and righteousness.
"He called upon people to follow the path of truth, justice and tolerance."
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said Bangladesh was a nation of communal harmony.
"Here, there is complete freedom for people of all religions and ethnicity to profess their religion," she said.
"I hope Christmas will serve to further strengthen the bonds between Christians of the country and members of other communities," she added.
Opposition chief Khaleda Zia said she prayed for Christmas to be a merry and festive occasion for the Christian community and everyone else.
"May God be with us," she said in her message.
The first namaj-e-janaza in Bangladesh of late Awami League leader Abdur Razzak was held on Sunday at the south plaza of the parliament building.
The funeral prayer of the leading organiser of the 1971 Liberation War took place around 3pm after his body was taken there from his Gulshan residence.
Speaker of parliament Abdul Hamid, deputy speaker Shawkat Ali, cabinet members and MPs attended the janaza along with his family members.
Before the janaza, Razzak's son Nahin Razzak urged everyone to pray for the departed soul of his father.
A second janaza is scheduled to be held at the National Eidgah Maidan afterwards.
After that, the body of the Shariatpur-3 legislator, who never lost an election, would be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar for the masses to pay their last tributes.
His body was taken at the south plaza of parliament after the president Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid their last respect to the 69-year-old veteran politician at his house.
Razzak's body was taken there from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying his remains from London landed at 12:15pm.
His family members including his wife Farida Razzak and two sons were with the body.
The Awami League advisory council had died at King's College Hospital in London at 03:50pm local time (9:50pm Bangladesh standard time) on Friday while under treatment.
Ruling party advisory council members and his long time associates Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Abdul Jalil paid their floral tributes to him at the airport.
Awami League presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Suranjit Sengupta, Obaidul Quader and Shahara Khatun, Faruk Khan and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, ruling party ally Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) president Hasanul Haque Inu, among others, were also present at the airport.
After Sunday's events, Razzak's body would be kept at the mortuary until Monday when the remains would be taken to his village at Shariatpur's Damudda.
He would be buried at the capital's Banani graveyard later in the day.
The funeral prayer of the leading organiser of the 1971 Liberation War took place around 3pm after his body was taken there from his Gulshan residence.
Speaker of parliament Abdul Hamid, deputy speaker Shawkat Ali, cabinet members and MPs attended the janaza along with his family members.
Before the janaza, Razzak's son Nahin Razzak urged everyone to pray for the departed soul of his father.
A second janaza is scheduled to be held at the National Eidgah Maidan afterwards.
After that, the body of the Shariatpur-3 legislator, who never lost an election, would be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar for the masses to pay their last tributes.
His body was taken at the south plaza of parliament after the president Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid their last respect to the 69-year-old veteran politician at his house.
Razzak's body was taken there from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying his remains from London landed at 12:15pm.
His family members including his wife Farida Razzak and two sons were with the body.
The Awami League advisory council had died at King's College Hospital in London at 03:50pm local time (9:50pm Bangladesh standard time) on Friday while under treatment.
Ruling party advisory council members and his long time associates Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Abdul Jalil paid their floral tributes to him at the airport.
Awami League presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Suranjit Sengupta, Obaidul Quader and Shahara Khatun, Faruk Khan and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, ruling party ally Workers' Party president Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) president Hasanul Haque Inu, among others, were also present at the airport.
After Sunday's events, Razzak's body would be kept at the mortuary until Monday when the remains would be taken to his village at Shariatpur's Damudda.
He would be buried at the capital's Banani graveyard later in the day.
A three-day festival was underway on Friday to celebrate 175 years of the port city's renowned Chittagong Collegiate School.
Festival committee convenor Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury told the celebrations began around 3pm with a rally of the present and former students of the school.
"But the school's former student Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will officially inaugurate the programme on Saturday morning," he said.
At least 2,500 former students have already registered to join the festival, he added.
Shahjalal University of Engineering and Technology (SUST) professor and famous novelist Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, former state ministrer Iqbal Mahmud, politicians Mosharraf Hossain, Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, M Morshed Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury are likely to attend the programme, among the former students.
After the rally, 12 present students would be awarded with a scholarship.
The school is scheduled to hold a reception to honour Yunus Saturday morning. The day's later programmes include sharing the memories by the former students and a cultural prohgramme.
The festival will end with a series of programmes that include blood donation camp, discussion and reminiscence in the morning and cultural event Sunday afternoon.
Chittagong Collegiate School, established as Chittagong Government School in 1836, is one of the oldest schools in the country. The school was the first English medium high school in Chittagong.
Famous personalities like poet Nabinchandra Sen, scientist Abdullah Al Moti Sarfuddin, Kolkata City Corporation mayor Deshapriya Jatindra Mohan Sengupta were the school's students.
Celebrated novelist Humayun Ahmed, scientist Jamal Nazrul Islam, former Bangla Academy director general Mustafa Nurul Islam, actors Ataur Rahman and Abul Hayat also went to this school.
Festival committee convenor Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury told the celebrations began around 3pm with a rally of the present and former students of the school.
"But the school's former student Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will officially inaugurate the programme on Saturday morning," he said.
At least 2,500 former students have already registered to join the festival, he added.
Shahjalal University of Engineering and Technology (SUST) professor and famous novelist Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, former state ministrer Iqbal Mahmud, politicians Mosharraf Hossain, Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, M Morshed Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury are likely to attend the programme, among the former students.
After the rally, 12 present students would be awarded with a scholarship.
The school is scheduled to hold a reception to honour Yunus Saturday morning. The day's later programmes include sharing the memories by the former students and a cultural prohgramme.
The festival will end with a series of programmes that include blood donation camp, discussion and reminiscence in the morning and cultural event Sunday afternoon.
Chittagong Collegiate School, established as Chittagong Government School in 1836, is one of the oldest schools in the country. The school was the first English medium high school in Chittagong.
Famous personalities like poet Nabinchandra Sen, scientist Abdullah Al Moti Sarfuddin, Kolkata City Corporation mayor Deshapriya Jatindra Mohan Sengupta were the school's students.
Celebrated novelist Humayun Ahmed, scientist Jamal Nazrul Islam, former Bangla Academy director general Mustafa Nurul Islam, actors Ataur Rahman and Abul Hayat also went to this school.
A three-day festival was underway on Friday to celebrate 175 years of the port city's renowned Chittagong Collegiate School.
Festival committee convenor Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury told the celebrations began around 3pm with a rally of the present and former students of the school.
"But the school's former student Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will officially inaugurate the programme on Saturday morning," he said.
At least 2,500 former students have already registered to join the festival, he added.
Shahjalal University of Engineering and Technology (SUST) professor and famous novelist Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, former state ministrer Iqbal Mahmud, politicians Mosharraf Hossain, Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, M Morshed Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury are likely to attend the programme, among the former students.
After the rally, 12 present students would be awarded with a scholarship.
The school is scheduled to hold a reception to honour Yunus Saturday morning. The day's later programmes include sharing the memories by the former students and a cultural prohgramme.
The festival will end with a series of programmes that include blood donation camp, discussion and reminiscence in the morning and cultural event Sunday afternoon.
Chittagong Collegiate School, established as Chittagong Government School in 1836, is one of the oldest schools in the country. The school was the first English medium high school in Chittagong.
Famous personalities like poet Nabinchandra Sen, scientist Abdullah Al Moti Sarfuddin, Kolkata City Corporation mayor Deshapriya Jatindra Mohan Sengupta were the school's students.
Celebrated novelist Humayun Ahmed, scientist Jamal Nazrul Islam, former Bangla Academy director general Mustafa Nurul Islam, actors Ataur Rahman and Abul Hayat also went to this school.
Festival committee convenor Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury told the celebrations began around 3pm with a rally of the present and former students of the school.
"But the school's former student Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will officially inaugurate the programme on Saturday morning," he said.
At least 2,500 former students have already registered to join the festival, he added.
Shahjalal University of Engineering and Technology (SUST) professor and famous novelist Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, former state ministrer Iqbal Mahmud, politicians Mosharraf Hossain, Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, M Morshed Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury are likely to attend the programme, among the former students.
After the rally, 12 present students would be awarded with a scholarship.
The school is scheduled to hold a reception to honour Yunus Saturday morning. The day's later programmes include sharing the memories by the former students and a cultural prohgramme.
The festival will end with a series of programmes that include blood donation camp, discussion and reminiscence in the morning and cultural event Sunday afternoon.
Chittagong Collegiate School, established as Chittagong Government School in 1836, is one of the oldest schools in the country. The school was the first English medium high school in Chittagong.
Famous personalities like poet Nabinchandra Sen, scientist Abdullah Al Moti Sarfuddin, Kolkata City Corporation mayor Deshapriya Jatindra Mohan Sengupta were the school's students.
Celebrated novelist Humayun Ahmed, scientist Jamal Nazrul Islam, former Bangla Academy director general Mustafa Nurul Islam, actors Ataur Rahman and Abul Hayat also went to this school.
A foreign container ship ran aground on Friday in Chittagong port channel.
Officials, however, said the ship that stuck onto the ground was not hampering shipping movements in the port.
Deputy conservator of the port Captain Nazmul Alam told that the Panama-flagged Hanjing Samarang ran aground in the middle of No 1 Buoy and No 2 Buoy of the port channel around 1pm.
"The ship came to Chittagong from Port Klang in Malaysia and it ran aground while coming to the port jetty from the outer anchorage," he added.
Port secretary Syed Farhad Uddin said that the ship will be brought to the port jetty at midnight during the high tide.
Officials, however, said the ship that stuck onto the ground was not hampering shipping movements in the port.
Deputy conservator of the port Captain Nazmul Alam told that the Panama-flagged Hanjing Samarang ran aground in the middle of No 1 Buoy and No 2 Buoy of the port channel around 1pm.
"The ship came to Chittagong from Port Klang in Malaysia and it ran aground while coming to the port jetty from the outer anchorage," he added.
Port secretary Syed Farhad Uddin said that the ship will be brought to the port jetty at midnight during the high tide.
With the clock ticking for the first ever Textbook Festival scheduled to be held on the New Year's Day, around 10 million copies of textbooks are yet to reach the upazilas.
The government had planned to supply all schools in the country with textbooks by Jan 1. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the Textbook Festival by handing over a set of books to one student of each class up to Class IX under the general, madrasa and technical education boards at Gano Bhaban at 10 am on Dec 29.
However, according to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), some 95 percent primary education-level textbooks and 96 percent secondary education level books have so far been supplied by Thursday. Khulna Sadar upazila and the upazilas under Rangpur division were yet to get the deliveries.
NCTB chairman Professor Mostafa Kamaluddin is, however, hopeful that all the remaining upazila headquarters will get textbooks within the stipulated period.
"Textbooks will reach all primary and secondary students on Jan 1, the day Textbook Festival is observed across the country," he said, adding that "some complication" had led to the delay.
The deadline for supplying textbooks in the upazila headquarters was Nov 30, but it was extended to Dec 8 in accordance to the demand of some printing publications. "Despite that, some publications could not supply books in time. Legal action will be taken against those who failed to supply textbooks in time by deferring their bills," Kamaluddin added.
The NCTB chairman said the government would distribute around 221 million textbooks this year free of cost among primary and secondary students.
Though free textbooks are given at primary level every year, the government distributed around 232 million textbooks free of cost among around 32.02 million students of the secondary school level in 2010 for the first time.
A total of 19 printing organisations, including three from India, have printed the textbooks this year through international tender invitation.
The government had planned to supply all schools in the country with textbooks by Jan 1. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the Textbook Festival by handing over a set of books to one student of each class up to Class IX under the general, madrasa and technical education boards at Gano Bhaban at 10 am on Dec 29.
However, according to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), some 95 percent primary education-level textbooks and 96 percent secondary education level books have so far been supplied by Thursday. Khulna Sadar upazila and the upazilas under Rangpur division were yet to get the deliveries.
NCTB chairman Professor Mostafa Kamaluddin is, however, hopeful that all the remaining upazila headquarters will get textbooks within the stipulated period.
"Textbooks will reach all primary and secondary students on Jan 1, the day Textbook Festival is observed across the country," he said, adding that "some complication" had led to the delay.
The deadline for supplying textbooks in the upazila headquarters was Nov 30, but it was extended to Dec 8 in accordance to the demand of some printing publications. "Despite that, some publications could not supply books in time. Legal action will be taken against those who failed to supply textbooks in time by deferring their bills," Kamaluddin added.
The NCTB chairman said the government would distribute around 221 million textbooks this year free of cost among primary and secondary students.
Though free textbooks are given at primary level every year, the government distributed around 232 million textbooks free of cost among around 32.02 million students of the secondary school level in 2010 for the first time.
A total of 19 printing organisations, including three from India, have printed the textbooks this year through international tender invitation.
The 48-hour transport strike in eight districts of the Rangpur Division has been called off from 6pm Friday after 12 hours.
Vehicular movement on 26 inter-district and local routes resumed after the strike was withdrawn.
The strike was enforced by the Rangpur Divisional Road Transportation Workers' Federation from 6am.
Federation president Akther Hossain Badal told that the transport strike was called off following discussion with executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation Shajahan Khan, who is also the shipping minister.
Badal said that the minister assured them of taking legal actions against those responsible for the attack.
Rangpur district superintendent of police Saleh Mohammad Tanvir also confirmed the withdrawal of the strike.
The federation at a meeting on Thursday evening decided to enforce the strike after a clash between two groups of rival transport workers in Rangpur bus terminal area in the afternoon leaving at least 30 injured, including Rangpur Divisional Motor Workers' Association general secretary Abdul Majid.
It enforced the strike in protest at the attack and demanding removal of illegal encroachments from the terminal area.
The strike virtually snapped communication with the rest of the country from Friday morning to evening.
The strike left commuters to suffer. Many students from different districts failed to reach the examination centre Carmichael College to attend the admission test for the National University.
A large number of police were deployed at several key points of the town on Friday morning to avoid any unpleasant situation.
Vehicular movement on 26 inter-district and local routes resumed after the strike was withdrawn.
The strike was enforced by the Rangpur Divisional Road Transportation Workers' Federation from 6am.
Federation president Akther Hossain Badal told that the transport strike was called off following discussion with executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation Shajahan Khan, who is also the shipping minister.
Badal said that the minister assured them of taking legal actions against those responsible for the attack.
Rangpur district superintendent of police Saleh Mohammad Tanvir also confirmed the withdrawal of the strike.
The federation at a meeting on Thursday evening decided to enforce the strike after a clash between two groups of rival transport workers in Rangpur bus terminal area in the afternoon leaving at least 30 injured, including Rangpur Divisional Motor Workers' Association general secretary Abdul Majid.
It enforced the strike in protest at the attack and demanding removal of illegal encroachments from the terminal area.
The strike virtually snapped communication with the rest of the country from Friday morning to evening.
The strike left commuters to suffer. Many students from different districts failed to reach the examination centre Carmichael College to attend the admission test for the National University.
A large number of police were deployed at several key points of the town on Friday morning to avoid any unpleasant situation.
Abdur Razzak, MP, one of the leading organisers of the 1971 Liberation War, died at London hospital at 9:50pm Bangladesh Standard time (BdST) on Friday, an embassy official said.
Rashed Chowdhury, the press minister of the Bangladesh High Commission, told of his death.
The 69-year-old was on life support for hours, London correspondent said, contrary to the media reports that he had passed away.
Several news media announced around 6.30pm that the senior leader had died and also cited condolence messages from the president, prime minister and the opposition leader.
However, when contacted, the prime minister's office, Awami League office and opposition leader's office had no reactions.
His long-time political colleague Tofail Ahmed told at 7pm he had contacted London around 6pm and the life support had not been taken off.
Razzak has long been suffering from liver diseases. Doctors at King's College Hospital were planning to transplant his liver on Dec 11 but later said his kidney needed to be transplanted, too. They had been planning to do both surgeries at a time.
A member of the ruling Awami League advisory council, Razzaq was minister for water resources during the 1996-2001 Hasina government, but failed to secure a Cabinet seat when the party returned to power in 2009.
Instead, he was made the chairman of the parliamentary committee on water resources ministry. He led a 10-strong parliamentary fact-finding mission on Tipaimukh dam project to India in late 2009 and in his report to parliament he said that the Indian government had assured the team that they would not implement any project that would harm Bangladesh.
He became general secretary of the Awami League in the post-1975 difficult days, but later broke away to resurrect BKSAL in the early 1980s when Sheikh Hasina had returned home to take over the reins of the troubled party.
The BKSAL, which he virtually led, merged with the mainstream Awami League in the late 1980s, but Razzaq never got back the coveted position of the general secretary. He was made a member of the policymaking presidium, became a minister when Awami League ended its 21-year wait for state power in 1996.
He was widely believed to be instrumental in making the Indo-Bangla 30-year water sharing treaty happen in 1996.
Razzak was arrested and imprisoned many times by the Ayub Khan government in 1964-65, then from 1967 to 1969 for participating in the Six-Point Movement. After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, Razzaq was yet again arrested. His last imprisonment came in 1987 during H M Ershad's autocratic regime.
Rashed Chowdhury, the press minister of the Bangladesh High Commission, told of his death.
The 69-year-old was on life support for hours, London correspondent said, contrary to the media reports that he had passed away.
Several news media announced around 6.30pm that the senior leader had died and also cited condolence messages from the president, prime minister and the opposition leader.
However, when contacted, the prime minister's office, Awami League office and opposition leader's office had no reactions.
His long-time political colleague Tofail Ahmed told at 7pm he had contacted London around 6pm and the life support had not been taken off.
Razzak has long been suffering from liver diseases. Doctors at King's College Hospital were planning to transplant his liver on Dec 11 but later said his kidney needed to be transplanted, too. They had been planning to do both surgeries at a time.
A member of the ruling Awami League advisory council, Razzaq was minister for water resources during the 1996-2001 Hasina government, but failed to secure a Cabinet seat when the party returned to power in 2009.
Instead, he was made the chairman of the parliamentary committee on water resources ministry. He led a 10-strong parliamentary fact-finding mission on Tipaimukh dam project to India in late 2009 and in his report to parliament he said that the Indian government had assured the team that they would not implement any project that would harm Bangladesh.
He became general secretary of the Awami League in the post-1975 difficult days, but later broke away to resurrect BKSAL in the early 1980s when Sheikh Hasina had returned home to take over the reins of the troubled party.
The BKSAL, which he virtually led, merged with the mainstream Awami League in the late 1980s, but Razzaq never got back the coveted position of the general secretary. He was made a member of the policymaking presidium, became a minister when Awami League ended its 21-year wait for state power in 1996.
He was widely believed to be instrumental in making the Indo-Bangla 30-year water sharing treaty happen in 1996.
Razzak was arrested and imprisoned many times by the Ayub Khan government in 1964-65, then from 1967 to 1969 for participating in the Six-Point Movement. After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, Razzaq was yet again arrested. His last imprisonment came in 1987 during H M Ershad's autocratic regime.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee was in forefront of the local collaborators who helped the Pakistani army in looting and killing hundreds of people at Parer Hat in Pirojpur district in March 1971, a witness told the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday.
Sultan Ahmed Hawlader, the fourth witness to be presented before the three-judge tribunal headed by Nizamul Haque, said he had seen the Pakistani army personnel coming at Parer Hat in Pirojpur sometime in early March during the 1971 Liberation War. A number of locals had assisted the Pakistanis in the loot and arson that followed, he added.
"Delwar Hossain Shikder, who is now known as Delwar Hossain Sayedee, had led the heinous crimes," Hawlader said.
The tribunal has asked the prosecution to produce Sayedee, the first to face prosecution for his alleged war crimes such as murder, rape, arson and loot, before the court on Thursday. Sayedee was indicted on Oct 30, 2011 on 20 counts of "crimes against humanity".
Sayedee was present in the court on Wednesday when his counsel finished the cross-examination of the third witness, Mizanur Rahman Talukder. However, after Hawlader's deposition, the defence counsels told the court that they were not prepared to cross-examine the fourth witness.
Sayedee's lawyer Tazul Islam told the court that his client was ill and needed physiotherapy. "It's difficult for him to stay in the courtroom for a long time."
The court allowed Sayedee to get some physiotherapy on Thursday morning and ordered the defence to present him during the cross-examination of Hawlader.
On Mar 25, 2010, the government had constituted the high-powered three-member tribunal along with a special investigation agency and a prosecution cell. This was in line with the election pledges of the ruling Awami League to bring war criminals to justice.
Five of the seven high-profile war crime suspects so far to face trial belong to Jamaat while two are from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The other Jamaat leaders to face trial are party chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla.
The two BNP leaders are Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP and former minister Abdul Alim. The tribunal had granted conditional bail to Abdul Alim on Mar 31.
If convicted, the accused face a maximum of death penalty or a minimum of 10 years of imprisonment for crimes like mass killings, murders, arsons and rapes under the International Crimes Tribunal Act.
Sultan Ahmed Hawlader, the fourth witness to be presented before the three-judge tribunal headed by Nizamul Haque, said he had seen the Pakistani army personnel coming at Parer Hat in Pirojpur sometime in early March during the 1971 Liberation War. A number of locals had assisted the Pakistanis in the loot and arson that followed, he added.
"Delwar Hossain Shikder, who is now known as Delwar Hossain Sayedee, had led the heinous crimes," Hawlader said.
The tribunal has asked the prosecution to produce Sayedee, the first to face prosecution for his alleged war crimes such as murder, rape, arson and loot, before the court on Thursday. Sayedee was indicted on Oct 30, 2011 on 20 counts of "crimes against humanity".
Sayedee was present in the court on Wednesday when his counsel finished the cross-examination of the third witness, Mizanur Rahman Talukder. However, after Hawlader's deposition, the defence counsels told the court that they were not prepared to cross-examine the fourth witness.
Sayedee's lawyer Tazul Islam told the court that his client was ill and needed physiotherapy. "It's difficult for him to stay in the courtroom for a long time."
The court allowed Sayedee to get some physiotherapy on Thursday morning and ordered the defence to present him during the cross-examination of Hawlader.
On Mar 25, 2010, the government had constituted the high-powered three-member tribunal along with a special investigation agency and a prosecution cell. This was in line with the election pledges of the ruling Awami League to bring war criminals to justice.
Five of the seven high-profile war crime suspects so far to face trial belong to Jamaat while two are from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The other Jamaat leaders to face trial are party chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla.
The two BNP leaders are Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP and former minister Abdul Alim. The tribunal had granted conditional bail to Abdul Alim on Mar 31.
If convicted, the accused face a maximum of death penalty or a minimum of 10 years of imprisonment for crimes like mass killings, murders, arsons and rapes under the International Crimes Tribunal Act.
Fog has continued to disrupt ferry services on Daulatdia-Paturia route.
Like previous nights, ferry services were hampered for nearly 11 hours until Wednesday morning.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Daulatdia pier assistant general manager Zillur Rahman told that ferry services resumed around 9:30am on Wednesday.
Ferries Shah Paran, Amanat Shah, Shah Jalal and Matiur Rahman got stranded in Daulatdia pier while Khan Jahan, Keramat Ali, Hamidur Shah Ali and Kumari in Paturia pier, leaving hundreds of passengers into severe trouble.
Like previous nights, ferry services were hampered for nearly 11 hours until Wednesday morning.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Daulatdia pier assistant general manager Zillur Rahman told that ferry services resumed around 9:30am on Wednesday.
Ferries Shah Paran, Amanat Shah, Shah Jalal and Matiur Rahman got stranded in Daulatdia pier while Khan Jahan, Keramat Ali, Hamidur Shah Ali and Kumari in Paturia pier, leaving hundreds of passengers into severe trouble.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will visit India's Northeast early next year, according to a senior local official.
She will visit Tripura on Jan 12 next year to participate in a convocation programme of Tripura University, vice chancellor Prof Arunoday Saha said on Wednesday. "The university will confer upon her honorary doctorate degree - Doctor of Literature - during her visit."
This will be her maiden to the region.
"Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has given her consent to attend the 9th convocation of the Tripura University scheduled for Jan 12," Prof Saha said
The vice president of India, Hamid Ansari, is likely to handover the degree to Sheikh Hasina at the programme.
Earlier, governor of Tripura D Y Patil and chief minister Manik Sarkar during their visit to Dhaka had extended separate invitations to the prime minister and Awami League president to visit the state.
Tripura shares a long 857-km border and has a close cultural affinity with Bangladesh.
Sarkar, along with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla and Mukul Sangma of Meghalaya accompanied Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh on his two-day Bangladesh tour on Sep 6-7.
After his return from Dhaka, he told reporters "The Bangladesh prime minister is keen to visit Tripura, and the Tripura University in consultation with the Indian and Bangladeshi authorities is giving final shape to her visit."
Sarkar added, "Hasina will be the first Bangladeshi prime minister to visit the Northeast. It will further enhance the bilateral relation between the two nations, and boost trade and business relations between the northeast region of India and its closest neighbour Bangladesh."
The Tripura government is preparing for a grand reception to the Bangladesh premier and the Indian vice president.
Hasina is expected to hold a high level meeting with the Tripura chief minister and other top Indian officials in Agartala to finalise more strategies to boost trade and business between Bangladesh and India's northeastern states.
She will stay here on Jan 12 and leave for Dhaka the next day.
Hasina may also visit one or two locations of the erstwhile base and training camps of Bangladeshi "Mukti Bahini" (Bangladeshi freedom fighters) in Tripura, which had over 16 such camps in various parts of the state where the freedom fighters took arms training to fight out Pakistani occupation forces.
Moreover, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, over 1,600,000 Bangladeshi nationals had taken shelter in Tripura. Their number exceeded the then population of the state.
She will visit Tripura on Jan 12 next year to participate in a convocation programme of Tripura University, vice chancellor Prof Arunoday Saha said on Wednesday. "The university will confer upon her honorary doctorate degree - Doctor of Literature - during her visit."
This will be her maiden to the region.
"Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has given her consent to attend the 9th convocation of the Tripura University scheduled for Jan 12," Prof Saha said
The vice president of India, Hamid Ansari, is likely to handover the degree to Sheikh Hasina at the programme.
Earlier, governor of Tripura D Y Patil and chief minister Manik Sarkar during their visit to Dhaka had extended separate invitations to the prime minister and Awami League president to visit the state.
Tripura shares a long 857-km border and has a close cultural affinity with Bangladesh.
Sarkar, along with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla and Mukul Sangma of Meghalaya accompanied Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh on his two-day Bangladesh tour on Sep 6-7.
After his return from Dhaka, he told reporters "The Bangladesh prime minister is keen to visit Tripura, and the Tripura University in consultation with the Indian and Bangladeshi authorities is giving final shape to her visit."
Sarkar added, "Hasina will be the first Bangladeshi prime minister to visit the Northeast. It will further enhance the bilateral relation between the two nations, and boost trade and business relations between the northeast region of India and its closest neighbour Bangladesh."
The Tripura government is preparing for a grand reception to the Bangladesh premier and the Indian vice president.
Hasina is expected to hold a high level meeting with the Tripura chief minister and other top Indian officials in Agartala to finalise more strategies to boost trade and business between Bangladesh and India's northeastern states.
She will stay here on Jan 12 and leave for Dhaka the next day.
Hasina may also visit one or two locations of the erstwhile base and training camps of Bangladeshi "Mukti Bahini" (Bangladeshi freedom fighters) in Tripura, which had over 16 such camps in various parts of the state where the freedom fighters took arms training to fight out Pakistani occupation forces.
Moreover, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, over 1,600,000 Bangladeshi nationals had taken shelter in Tripura. Their number exceeded the then population of the state.
Another round of power tariff hike is set to be announced on Thursday.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) member Selim Mahmud told on Wednesday the announcement will be made at a news conference at the BERC office in Karwan Bazar in Dhaka.
"The cost of electricity at consumer level (retail) is increasing. The process (of rate fixing) is already complete," Mahmud added.
The BERC member, however, would not reveal the extent of hike now.
BERC had raised bulk price of electricity for the third time this year by 31.16 percent on Nov 24. The increase took effect in two phases: from Dec 1 and subsequently from Feb 1.
The government on Feb 8 raised the average retail power tariffs by five percent to Tk 4.20 from Tk 4 from Feb 1.
The consumer-level tariffs were, however, not applicable for using up to 100 units in houses, irrigation and non-residential religious, social and educational institutions.
Mass hearings on the hike of retail power price were held in the power distributing companies from April to November.
Rural Electricity Board (REB) proposed to raise retail power price by 12. 97 percent, West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZOPDCO) 18.99 percent, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) 21.94 percent, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) 11.93 percent and Power Development Board (PDB) proposed to raise the tariff by 21 percent.
Selim said the tariff rates would be same for all companies except REB.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) member Selim Mahmud told on Wednesday the announcement will be made at a news conference at the BERC office in Karwan Bazar in Dhaka.
"The cost of electricity at consumer level (retail) is increasing. The process (of rate fixing) is already complete," Mahmud added.
The BERC member, however, would not reveal the extent of hike now.
BERC had raised bulk price of electricity for the third time this year by 31.16 percent on Nov 24. The increase took effect in two phases: from Dec 1 and subsequently from Feb 1.
The government on Feb 8 raised the average retail power tariffs by five percent to Tk 4.20 from Tk 4 from Feb 1.
The consumer-level tariffs were, however, not applicable for using up to 100 units in houses, irrigation and non-residential religious, social and educational institutions.
Mass hearings on the hike of retail power price were held in the power distributing companies from April to November.
Rural Electricity Board (REB) proposed to raise retail power price by 12. 97 percent, West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZOPDCO) 18.99 percent, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) 21.94 percent, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) 11.93 percent and Power Development Board (PDB) proposed to raise the tariff by 21 percent.
Selim said the tariff rates would be same for all companies except REB.
The president will hold dialogues on forming the new Election Commission with parties represented in parliament from Thursday.
His press secretary A K M Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan told on Dec 18 that Jatiya Party (H M Ershad) and Jatiya Shamajtantrik Dal (JSD Inu) had been invited to the first day's dialogue.
Each party will be asked to bring 10 delegates, he said.
In reply to a question, he said among the parties who were not in parliament, 'important' ones would also be asked to join the dialogue.
There are 38 political parties registered with the Election Commission, of which only eight are represented in parliament.
They are: ruling Awami League, opposition BNP, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Shamajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Workers' Party, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jatiya Party and Liberal Democratic Party.
The Awami League-led ruling alliance has 239 seats, the BNP-led opposition alliance 32, Jatiya Party 25, Jamaat-e-Islami two and LDP one.
The present Election Commission, led by chief election commissioner A T M Shamsul Huda, commissioners Sohul Hossain and M Shakhawat Hossain, started off on Feb 5, 2007 during the caretaker government regime.
The commission gave the caretaker government a draft law that they believe will help the EC stay credible. During the present government's term, it discussed the proposal with registered political parties.
The EC is supposed to submit the draft to government this month.
There have been 19 election commissioners and 10 chief election commissioners in Bangladesh since independence.
The 15th amendment to the constitution limits the number of election commissioners to five.
His press secretary A K M Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan told on Dec 18 that Jatiya Party (H M Ershad) and Jatiya Shamajtantrik Dal (JSD Inu) had been invited to the first day's dialogue.
Each party will be asked to bring 10 delegates, he said.
In reply to a question, he said among the parties who were not in parliament, 'important' ones would also be asked to join the dialogue.
There are 38 political parties registered with the Election Commission, of which only eight are represented in parliament.
They are: ruling Awami League, opposition BNP, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Shamajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Workers' Party, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jatiya Party and Liberal Democratic Party.
The Awami League-led ruling alliance has 239 seats, the BNP-led opposition alliance 32, Jatiya Party 25, Jamaat-e-Islami two and LDP one.
The present Election Commission, led by chief election commissioner A T M Shamsul Huda, commissioners Sohul Hossain and M Shakhawat Hossain, started off on Feb 5, 2007 during the caretaker government regime.
The commission gave the caretaker government a draft law that they believe will help the EC stay credible. During the present government's term, it discussed the proposal with registered political parties.
The EC is supposed to submit the draft to government this month.
There have been 19 election commissioners and 10 chief election commissioners in Bangladesh since independence.
The 15th amendment to the constitution limits the number of election commissioners to five.
Urging the border guards to leave the 'regretful' past behind in an effort to strengthen the BGB, home minister Shahara Khatun has said the paramilitary force is going to be divided into four zones.
"The killing of 74 people, including 57 army officials, on February 25-26, 2009 was sorrowful… pathetic. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina's intelligence saved the day," she said at a reception to honour freedom fighters from the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) on Tuesday.
EPR was renamed Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) after liberation in 1971. The paramilitary force was further christened Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Dec 20 last year.
On Dec 8, parliament passed the Border Guard Bangladesh Bill-2010 with the provision of death penalty for offences such as rebellion, killing and arson within the paramilitary force.
The law repealed the existing one in a bid to restructure BDR in the wake of the killings of army officers at the Peelkhana headquarters in February 2009.
"The trial of the mutiny is in final stages," Shahara said on Tuesday. "Those responsible for killings and loot will be punished through proper trial."
She also said the government is thinking of sending BGB members to the UN's peace keeping mission.
DIVIDING BGB IN ZONES
The home minister said the Border Guard Bangladesh Bill-2010 proposes to divide the BGB into several zones.
Seeking anonymity, a BGB official told that the decision to divide BGB into four zones aims to increase manpower in the frontier security force.
The headquarters of the northwest zone will be at Noagaon, northeast headquarters at Sarail in Brahmanbaria, while the southeast headquarters will be stationed at Chittagong, the BGB official said.
"The issue is awaiting the finance ministry's approval. We hope it will be finalised soon," he said.
According to the official, an officer of brigadier rank, or of same status, would be made the region commander for each zone.
"A decision has also been taken to add four more sectors to the existing 12 sectors,'" he said. The sectors in the pipeline are Sreemangal, Thakurgaon, Bandarban and Bagaichharhi.
BORDER HEROES HONOURED
A total of 119 freedom fighters from the erstwhile EPR were honoured on Tuesday. Of them, lance naiks Nur Mohammad Sheik and Munshi Abdur Rouf were awarded Bir Shrestha, the highest military award of Bangladesh, for their contribution during the 1971 Liberation War.
Eight others were awarded Bir Uttam, 32 given Bir Bikram, while Bir Pratik was conferred on 77 former EPR fighters.
Of them, 57 were given reception at the Peelkhana headquarters of BGB, and the others at different sectors on Tuesday.
State minister for home Shamsul Hoque Tuku was special guest at the function.
At the reception function, Sepoy Sheikh Moktar Ali, an award-winning freedom fighter, said Sepoy Ashraf had clasped Captain Sadeque of Pakistani Army in the arms in Chuadanga district on March 26, 1971. Both had died from bullet injuries. But Sepoy Ashraf was not given any reception.
"The killing of 74 people, including 57 army officials, on February 25-26, 2009 was sorrowful… pathetic. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina's intelligence saved the day," she said at a reception to honour freedom fighters from the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) on Tuesday.
EPR was renamed Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) after liberation in 1971. The paramilitary force was further christened Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Dec 20 last year.
On Dec 8, parliament passed the Border Guard Bangladesh Bill-2010 with the provision of death penalty for offences such as rebellion, killing and arson within the paramilitary force.
The law repealed the existing one in a bid to restructure BDR in the wake of the killings of army officers at the Peelkhana headquarters in February 2009.
"The trial of the mutiny is in final stages," Shahara said on Tuesday. "Those responsible for killings and loot will be punished through proper trial."
She also said the government is thinking of sending BGB members to the UN's peace keeping mission.
DIVIDING BGB IN ZONES
The home minister said the Border Guard Bangladesh Bill-2010 proposes to divide the BGB into several zones.
Seeking anonymity, a BGB official told that the decision to divide BGB into four zones aims to increase manpower in the frontier security force.
The headquarters of the northwest zone will be at Noagaon, northeast headquarters at Sarail in Brahmanbaria, while the southeast headquarters will be stationed at Chittagong, the BGB official said.
"The issue is awaiting the finance ministry's approval. We hope it will be finalised soon," he said.
According to the official, an officer of brigadier rank, or of same status, would be made the region commander for each zone.
"A decision has also been taken to add four more sectors to the existing 12 sectors,'" he said. The sectors in the pipeline are Sreemangal, Thakurgaon, Bandarban and Bagaichharhi.
BORDER HEROES HONOURED
A total of 119 freedom fighters from the erstwhile EPR were honoured on Tuesday. Of them, lance naiks Nur Mohammad Sheik and Munshi Abdur Rouf were awarded Bir Shrestha, the highest military award of Bangladesh, for their contribution during the 1971 Liberation War.
Eight others were awarded Bir Uttam, 32 given Bir Bikram, while Bir Pratik was conferred on 77 former EPR fighters.
Of them, 57 were given reception at the Peelkhana headquarters of BGB, and the others at different sectors on Tuesday.
State minister for home Shamsul Hoque Tuku was special guest at the function.
At the reception function, Sepoy Sheikh Moktar Ali, an award-winning freedom fighter, said Sepoy Ashraf had clasped Captain Sadeque of Pakistani Army in the arms in Chuadanga district on March 26, 1971. Both had died from bullet injuries. But Sepoy Ashraf was not given any reception.
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