BANGLADESH

bdnews24.com social affairs editor Baby Maudud and nine other women have been awarded 'Ananya Bishesh Sammanana Padak-2012' in recognition of their contribution to respective fields.

Ananya, a fortnightly magazine, formally conferred the awards on them at a function at the TSC auditorium of Dhaka University (DU) on Monday.

DU vice-chancellor A A M S Arefin Siddique gave away the awards.

Baby Maudud, a career journalist and columnist, was born in Kolkata in 1948. She has been in the field of journalism since 1967.

Prior to joining bdnews24.com, she has worked with Bangla national dailies Sangbad and Ittefaq, news agencies BBC and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and weekly magazine Bichitra.

The other award recipients are renowned women's rights activist Latifa Akhand (for contribution towards social development), Jowshan Ara Rahman (development and research), noted economist and founder member of the Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS) Dr Khaleda Salahuddin (economics and research), vice-president of Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) Dr Selina Khalek (social welfare), eminent writer Rokeya Mannan (education and social work), Syeda Shamse Ara Rahman (education), journalist Setara Musa (media), president of Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP)-Bangladesh Zeenat Ara Bhuiyan and Zeenat Ahmed (sports).

Arefin lauded the contributions made by the award winners in their respective areas of action.

Ananya editor Tasmima Hossain presided over the function.


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Detection of three new human infections with the deadly H5NI strain of bird flu in a week has set alarm bells ringing as scientists have found evidence of the virus in the live-bird market in crowded Dhaka.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed a human case on Feb 26 when a worker of a live-bird market in southern part of the capital was tested H5N1 positive at the IEDCR's surveillance site.

Its director Prof Mahmudur Rahman told that they had informed the government's Department of Livestock right away and suggested 'immediate' steps to disinfect wet markets.

bdnews24.com saw no cleaning drive but learned the livestock department fixed a technical committee meeting for Wednesday instead of beginning to disinfect the market.

In the meantime, the IEDCR that oversees human infections of bird flu disclosed on Monday that another two cases were confirmed on Sunday night in their lab.

"They are also live-bird market workers," Prof Rahman told and added that they expected the livestock department to move quickly for the sake of public health safety.

"The virus's presence in live-bird market means it is now even closer to people," he added.

A scientist with the IEDCR told that they had run into evidence suggesting presence of the H5N1 virus in the live-bird market's garbage, as well.

The virus has the potential to cause severe illness in human with a high fatality rate.

"We are lucky as the strain (clade 2.2) of H5N1 that circulates in Bangladesh is less virulent, but it can change into another class (2.1), which is highly infectious to human," the IEDCR director said.

According to World Health Organisation, across the globe H5N1 killed 349 out of its 592 victims, except the latest two detected in Bangladesh.

Livestock authorities could not be reached immediately.

Chief veterinary officer Mosaddek Hossain, who oversees poultry infections of bird flu, declined comment when approached him at around 6.30pm.

Prof Nitish C Debnath, FAO expert on avian influenza, told that the government should launch 'wet market cleaning' drive at this moment.

"All should be vigilant to prevent sick poultries from entering into the market," he warned.

With four strains of flu virus – H5N1, H1N1, H3N2 and H9N2 – circulating in Bangladesh, the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Aug last year warned of a possible major resurgence of bird flu.

It said a mutant strain of the H5N1 virus is spreading in Asia including Bangladesh.

The government has confirmed first case of human infection with H5N1 in 2008, and two cases were reported in 2011.

IEDCR advises people wash egg shells and suggests consuming well-cooked poultry products.

It also urged not to litter giblets and dead birds just anywhere and maintain personal hygiene – cough into the crook of elbow and wash hands with soap often.

The first human infection from H5N1 was detected in 1997 in Hong Kong.


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Foreign minister Dipu Moni hopes the verdict of the International Tribunal for Law of the Seas (ITLOS) on the maritime boundary disputes between Bangladesh and Myanmar would be favourable for the country.

"The way we have presented data and statistics, as well as precedents," she said, "we are hopeful."

The minister expressed her hope at a dinner with editors and senior journalists at the state guest house Padma on Monday – about a week before ITLOS is set to settle the dispute.

The two countries approached ITLOS to settle the maritime boundary dispute in 2009 and the verdict is expected on Mar 14.

Dipu Moni said there have been instances of award by arbitrators based on principles of "equitable" sharing. "So we are more hopeful that we will at least get more than what Myanmar or India is proposing based on equidistance."

The dispute over the maritime delimitation between the countries began when Bangladesh tried exploring gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal.

While Dhaka demands "equitable" method to settle the dispute, both India and Myanmar push for the "equidistance" principle.

Bangladesh's interests could be hampered if the delimitation takes place based on equidistance principle, as it might end up forgoing its claim over 17 out of 28 sea blocks.

Responding to a query, Dipu Moni also said that the dispute with India over a similar issue would be settled by 2014.

She said, "Apart from protecting its rights on the maritime boundary issue, Bangladesh is also active in exploring and collecting the sea resources."

The government would be paying more attention to collecting the resources after the rights over the boundary are established, she added.

The foreign minister, Dipu Moni, has robustly defended the government's India policy saying more has been achieved than ever before and that exports from Bangladesh are growing much faster as a result.

"India is a huge market," she told editors and senior journalists over dinner at the state guest house Padma Monday night, "let's take advantage of that."

Dipu Moni blamed India bashers who she said were "out to spread confusion in their bid to gain electoral benefit". She agreed with an editor who said the anti-India rhetoric did not yield results in 2008 parliamentary elections. "Gone are the days when misinformation and confusion worked," she said.

She sought to set aside concerns over "failure" to secure Teesta deal by highlighting "work on both sides of the border" to facilitate bilateral trade.

"Has anyone tried to find out how many land ports have been upgraded to deal with increased trade?" she retorted as she tried to shoot down queries by one editor about granting transit to intra-India shipment.

She was obviously referring to increased exports of readymade garments thanks to the latest deal allowing duty-free access of 61 products including 47 textile categories.
She did not give any statistics, no one asked for the figures either. There was more concern about transit, border killings and share as a lower riparian country from common rivers.

Trade gap – US$ 3.5 billion in 2010-11—showed some signs of narrowing in recent months, with garments sales picking up, according to trade officials in Dhaka.

Bangladesh's export figure was better in July-Dec 2011—Tk 18.35 billion— than Tk 13.62 billion in the same period previous year.

"Border shootings have come down," Dipu Moni said, "but it hasn't come down to zero."

"Any killing along the border is unacceptable, and we protest as soon as any incident of shooting occurs," she said amid a barrage of questions regarding border deaths and the government's "failure" to raise its voice.

"The protests are lodged at all levels," she insisted.

"It is true, despite assurances from the highest levels in India, incidents of shooting continue to happen."

As one senior journalist pointed to demonstrations in Dahagram and Angorpota, the two largest enclaves, she said the ratification by India of the landmark 1974 land agreement would put things to rest.

"Did anyone else put any pressure on India to ratify the Indira-Mujib Treaty after the assassination of the Father of the Nation?"

The minister also defended the role of advisers to the prime minister and said they complemented her ministry's work. Her comment was sought in response to fierce criticism in parliament from two key ruling party allies –Rashed Khan Menon on Sunday and H M Ershad on Monday.

In clear references to Gowher Rizvi and Moshiur Rahman, both MPs alleged that the advisers were acting more on the interest of India than Bangladesh.

The two advisers had visited India in preparation for Manmohan Singh's much-hyped trip in September last year and publicly defended India's position as negotiations for such issues as transit or Tipaimukh were on.

The High Court (HC) on Sunday ordered Biman Bangladesh Airlines to appoint afresh those who were given retirement under a 'golden handshake' scheme during the last military-backed caretaker government.

The bench of justices Farah Mahbub and Abdur Rab, after hearing a number of writ petitions, also ordered reinstatement of those employees, who were offered the 'golden handshake', but finally, did not avail the benefits.

The Biman Bangladesh authorities have been told to appoint afresh those officials and employees against its 608 vacant posts considering their seniority, academic qualification, service record and medical fitness to continue in job.

The verdict also declared the 'golden handshake' scheme legal.

As for compensation for the period since their 'forced retirement', Biman has been told to take measures in accordance with its service rules.

As many as 1,877 Biman employees were given retirement under a 'golden handshake' scheme during the military-backed caretaker government in 2007.

The HC issued a number of rulings on the government after the Biman employees challenged the retirement decision in 2008, 2009 and 2010, saying that they were forced to retire. The Sunday's order came after disposing of 61 writ petitions out of the total 70 filed by 1,172 retired Biman employees.

"Biman cannot make new appointments unless the retired employees are reinstated gradually," lawyer for the petitioners Salahuddin Dolon told .

Only those who did not avail the benefits offered under the retirement scheme would be reinstated with the seniority they were enjoying prior to their retirement, said Salahuddin, who represented 536 petitioners during the hearing.

Barristers Rafiqul Haque, Abdur Razzak, Nazrul Islam, Omar Sadat and Mahbub Shafique, and advocates Abdul Matin Khasru and Ahsanul Karim also took part in the hearing for the rest of the petitioners.

Barristers Kamalul Alam, Akhter Imam, Zonayed Ahmed Chowdhury, and advocates Khandaker Diliruzzaman and Ekramul Haque Tutul appeared on behalf of Biman Bangladesh.

"Those who had taken benefits offered under the retirement would be appointed afresh only if they fulfil certain stipulated conditions," said Diliruzzaman.

"It is a victory for Biman as the court has ordered retirement under 'golden handshake' legal," said Diliruzzaman.

Forces opposed to the war crimes trials are using social networking sites and community blogs as tools for their propaganda, says Awami League lawmaker Baby Maudud.

"When the rumour targets a particular side, it is not difficult to make out who are behind the canard. Apart from rumours, there are campaigns with imaginative details on Facebook and other blogs," she said taking part in the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech at Sunday's session.

The government should be pro-active and efficient enough to stop the ongoing campaigns against the war crimes trials and keep the country's democratic practices unimpeded.

She slammed BNP chief Khaleda Zia's statement threatening to make the government "physically impaired".

"In the 21st century, they (the disabled) are referred to as 'physically challenged' ... while some are physically impaired, some others seem to be intellectually (impaired). When talked about her (Khaleda) way, the physically challenged can also feel hurt..."

Baby Maudud also called for a legal provision against anyone berating the physically challenged people.

Multinational sportswear companies Adidas, Nike and Puma who will market their goods to worldwide audiences in Olympics do not pay Bangladeshis minimum wages in five of their six product-manufacturing factories in Bangladesh.

"Race to the bottom," a report released by a British charity organisation, War on Want, has exposed exploitation of Bangladeshi workers producing goods for the three companies in the run-up to London 2012 Olympic Games.

The report presented a detailed picture of the conditions faced by workers in Bangladesh, mostly women, who produce the sportswear they sell.

"As well as gaining access to worldwide audiences to promote their products they (the companies) also aim to associate themselves with the Olympic values of fair play and respect," read excerpts from the research given on the charity organisation's official website in addition to the full research report.

"Our research finds that for the workers making goods for Adidas, Nike and Puma in Bangladesh, there is little sign of fair play or respect. Five of the six factories covered by our research did not even pay their workers the Bangladeshi minimum wage, let alone a living wage that allow them to meet their basic needs," the excerpts continued.

In breach of Bangladeshi labour law, workers producing for the three companies are being paid only 16p, which is equivalent to Tk 20, per hour on average, with two thirds of the workers working over 60 hours a week, revealed the research.

Bangladesh's labour law sets the standard minimum wage for garment workers earning equivalent to 94p a day while the working hour is fixed to be 48 hours a week, the report said.

"Many suffer abuse in the workplace, including sexual harassment and beatings," said the report focusing on the condition workers work for the sportswear companies.

The report has been prepared by taking workers detailed interviews.

"While low wages secure huge profits for the global sportswear industry, the more than three million workers in the Bangladesh clothing industry are left with an income that is often less than the living wage," said the report after mentioning that Bangladeshi minimum wage is one of the lowest in Asia and in the world as well.

Adidas has become sportswear partner of the London Olympic scheduled for Aug 29 to Sep 9 this year by spending £100 million. Adiddas would be able to clothe 70,000 volunteers of the Olympic and has the right to use the Olympic logo on its products.

Adidas hopes to achieve over £100 million in sales from its Olympic clothing lines alone. About 775,000 workers, mostly came through outsourcing, in 1,200 factories across 65 countries are making products for Adidas, which have enormous influence over the people employing workers for it.

Nike, the world's largest sport brand, has secured its association with the London Olympic Games through the official sponsorship of a range of high profile teams including the USA and athletes such as Mark Cavendish and Paula Radcliffe. Through its supply chains Nike influences the conditions of more than 800,000 employees in 700 factories across 45 countries, the report mentioned.

Puma's largest profile sponsorship deal is its relationship with Usain Bolt, arguably the highest-profile athlete taking part in the 2012 Games as he defends his Olympic 100 metre and 200 metre titles. Puma's manufacturing is outsourced to over 350 factories, a majority of which are in developing economies, involving around 300,000 workers, said the report.

The report came down hard on the companies as they have been exploiting workers, especially in the poorest countries like Bangladesh, despite signing 'codes of conduct' against the practice.

It called on UK government for introducing a Commission on Business, Human Rights and the Environment for monitoring activities of UK companies operating in other countries.

"London 2012 is our opportunity to extend the Olympic spirit of fair play beyond the Games themselves, so that all those producing goods for sportswear brands in factories around the world can benefit, both now and into the future. Now that would be an Olympic legacy worth celebrating," War on Want executive director John Hilary said while concluding his preface to the report.

Jatiya Party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad on Monday accused India of illegally taking control of water of the common river Feni.

Just before starting a road march towards Feni district, Ershad also urged all to protest against such Indian move by rising above narrow partisan views.

"The Feni river is ours. No other (country) has right to this river," Ershad, a key ally of the ruling Awami League, told a street rally in the city's Banani Model Town.

A motorcade of around 250 vehicles started for Feni around 9:30am.

"There has been a plot to turn Feni, Mirsarai of Chittagong, Fatikchharhi, Khagrachharhi, Ramgarh, Noakhali and Comilla into deserts," Ershad said.

The river Feni was recognised as a common river in 2005 at a meeting of the Joint River Commission (JRC) in Dhaka.

The river originates in Tripura and makes a common border of 87 kilometres with Bangladesh. After travelling about 90 kilometres in Tripura, it flows into Bangladesh.

The controversy over the river's share of water remains unsolved for long allegedly because of India's reluctance to strike a deal with Bangladesh.

Being a border river with one side of the banks in India and the other in Bangladesh, no activity is allowed in 150 yards from the centre of the river.

But allegations have it that India is lifting water from the river violating rules and taking advantage of no agreement to equally use the water of the river.

MEETING WITH PM

In reply to a query on a meeting with prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday night, he said, "We have talked about election issues."

He said the discussion with the premier was fruitful but would not elaborate.

The deposed military dictator is scheduled to address seven street rallies during the march and a gathering at Government Pilot High School ground in Feni in the afternoon, his information and political affairs secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy told .

Earlier, the party had marched towards Sylhet on Dec 10-11 protesting against India's move to build a dam at Tipaimukh on the Barak River and to Nilphamari on Jan 17-18 demanding just share of water of the Teesta River.

The online process to submit application forms of the 33rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) test will save time and money, Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman A T Ahmedul Haque said on Saturday.

"The result will be published within one year of issuing circular. Previously it took more than two years to publish results," Haque told a media briefing at his office.

"It took four to five months and Tk 1.2-1.5 million for only examining the application forms," he added.

As there is no need of printed forms, syllabus and other necessary papers, Tk 1.5-2 million will be saved, Haque said.

The online process will totally save around Tk 5 million, he added.

Applicants for the 33rd BCS can fill out online application forms and submit fees from Mar 8 to April 7, the PSC chairman said adding that they will be able to collect necessary information through mobile phones.

Apart from names and registration numbers, photos of the applicants will be there in the attendance sheet, he said.

Applicants will be able to recover admit cards, passwords or IDs, if they are lost, through PSC's website (www.bpsc.gov.bd), he said.

Application forms are also available at associate organisation Teletalk's website (http://bpsc.teletalk.com.bd).

The directions to fill out the forms and submit fees are available in the websites and the circular, issued on Wednesday.

The preliminary test of the 33rd BCS may be held in the last week of May.
The 33rd BCS aims at filling up 4,206 vacant posts. This time, under the general category, 300 will be recruited for BCS (administration), 89 for police, 69 for tax, 16 for foreign affairs and 566 as general cadres.

The government will also recruit 2,905 cadres under professional/technical categories that include 2,572 doctors.

Apart from these, 607 people will be appointed as teachers under BCS (education) and 112 for the teachers' training colleges.

The World Marketing Summit (WMS) on Saturday adopted Dhaka Declaration with a call to play a vital role in guiding the future of marketing to embrace human mind, heart and soul in the concepts and practices of the specialised discourse.

It was declared by WMS chairman Prof Syed Ferhat Anwar on the concluding day of the three-day summit at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

"Bangladesh has established a track record in inclusive development and set models that other countries are adopting," the declaration said.

It said problems in the world might not be solved through the existing concepts and practices, and marketing could be used to resolve the crisis.

"The focus of marketing should shift from products and services to customers to human spirit."

Marketing guru Philip Kotler said every country has its own opportunities and problems and solution to all the crises is in the hand of the people of that particular country.

"The solution is in your hand," he said.

Terming Bangladesh a very peaceful country, he said it can move towards prosperity.

He said there is Chinese or Indian way of economic development but now it is time to define Bangladesh way of economic development.

About Prof Muhammad Yunus, he said many people abroad know Bangladesh because of him, and his microfinance has given opportunities to the poor.

Energy adviser to the prime minister Toufik-e-Elahi Chowdhury said public sector and private resources could be put together to solve problems.

"When we deal with people, we must not forget they have heart, head and soul," he said.

WMS chairman Anwar said many who participated in the programme did not have knowledge about Bangladesh.

"Now all of them are leaving Dhaka with positive minds and this is one of the achievements of the summit to portray Bangladesh in a positive manner," he said.

Over 60 academics, corporate, world body and NGO officials attended the programme.

The next summit will be held in March next year

Following clashes between students of two private universities in the capital, authorities on Saturday declared their institutions closed for varying periods.

The Prime Asia University has been shut indefinitely, while the South East University authorities decided to suspend their academic activities for two days.

"The university has been shut indefinitely in view of the current situation," Prime Asia University vice chancellor professor Giasuddin Ahmed told .

Similarly, South East University VC lieutenant colonel (retd) Ali Ambial Haq Khan said educational activities in his institution will remain suspended on March 4 and 5.

Earlier in the day, at least 30 people received injuries as students of the two private universities clashed at Kemal Ataturk Avenue in the city's Banani area following an altercation over eating in canteen.

The clashes brought the traffic to a grinding halt in the area for full one hour.

"Students of the Prime Asia University and that of South East University clashed as a group of Prime Asia University students entered into a verbal duel with some students from the adjacent South East University," additional deputy police commissioner (Ghulshan zone) Nizamul Haque told .

"The situation finally calmed around 5:30pm after police fired teargas and used baton to disperse the clashing students," he added.

Recounting the sequence of events, Mizanur Rahman, a student of Prime Asia University, told that a group of South East University students started demonstrating in front of the Prime Asia University's Textile unit.

"At one stage, they started vandalising our campus," he said adding, "the tension is prevailing even on the three other nearby campuses," he added.

A South East University security official admitted a group of student of this university first attacked the other group.

However, a South East University student Sadnan Tanvhi said the clash took place over alleged stalking of a female student.

"I have heard that a student from Prime Asia University used to stalk one of the female of our university. Some students protested as the girl informed them about the harassment."

Tanvhi, however, failed to name the victim.

"Boys from South East University suddenly came and broke the window panes before we could make out anything," Prime Asia University deputy controller Ashraful Haque told .

At one stage, they clashed and vandalised both the universities. They also vandalised some shops at the avenue.

When police took position at the avenue and tried to calm the situation, the clash shifted in adjacent lanes.

A booking clerk and two security guards of Chittagong Railway Station have been suspended for their involvement in black marketing of tickets.

Station master of Chittagong Railway Station Nazimuddin was also withdrawn following detection of the malpractice.

Hasan Ferdous, Chittagong bureau chief of a private television channel, caught the two security guards red-handed selling tickets at exaggerated prices at the station on Saturday morning and handed them over to railway officials.

Those put under suspension are booking clerk of the station's counter No. 7 Kamrul Monir, habilder of the railway's security department Mezbah and security guard Laltu.

Hasan Ferdous told that he stood in the queue of counter No. 7 for a ticket of Dhaka-bound 'Turna Nishitha' or 'Gadhuli' on Friday night.

He alleged that booking clerk Kamruzzaman informed him that ticket was not available, while habilder Mezbah who stood behind him, got five tickets from the same counter.

He said that later he caught Mezbah and security guard Laltu red-handed.

General manager of Bangladesh Railway (east zone) Yusuf Ali Mridha confirmed the suspensions and withdrawal of the station master.

"Further steps will be taken against them after investigation," he added.

Over a hundred acclaimed personalities of the country, including poets, writers, intellectuals and cinema and TV artistes, showed up at an informal gathering organised by the prime minister at her official residence in the capital on Saturday.

In response to the invitation extended by Sheikh Hasina, the guests started arriving at the venue – Ganabhaban – around 4pm and then stayed for the next several hours.

The prime minister was all over the place – talking, chatting, eating and, unusually though, even singing along with the guests.

Traditional cakes and other snacks were being cooked in the huts around made of straws, apart from 'Fuchka-Chatpati' stalls that drew most of the guests there. Even the prime minister herself was seen enjoying the tongue-tickling 'Fuchka-Chatpatis' in clay plates.

Famous singers of the country Kangalini Sufia, Kiron Chandra Roy and Bari Siddiqui performed and presented some of their popular numbers at the party.

But then one question crossing everyone's mind seemed: "Why this party? Any specific reason?" And the response came from none other than the host herself, "It was my long-time wish to exchange greetings with the famous personalities of the country.

"Ganabhaban means the people's building. Whoever comes here should think of it as his or her own home."

She also sought best wishes of and suggestions from everyone present at the party to fulfil the demands of the people of the country.

Hasina sang a patriotic song, along with renowned singers Mustafa Jaman Abbasi, his sister Ferdousi Rahman, Mita Haque and agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury sitting at the same table.

'SUCH PROGRAMMES GOOD'

Renowned actor A T M Shamsuzzaman Khan said getting an invitation from the prime minister was a 'great honour' for him.

Famous magician Jewel Aich said, "Seeing so many renowned people of the country at one place is making me feel good. I don't have anything else to say."

The guests were served with dried rice, traditional and local homemade cakes. Tables-chairs and 'Shital Patis' were spread out in the field for seating the guests.

Renowned poet Mahadeb Saha gifted two books to Sheikh Hasina on the occasion.

Asked, "How was the party", he told : "Whenever I meet the prime minister, I feel like coming further closer to Bangabandhu and the Liberation War [of 1971]."

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said it would be great to have this kind of programme happening every now and then. "It's very good to see meet these people after a long time."

Like Muhtih, Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman also said this kind of programmes should be arranged once in a while. "If the prime minister sits with these different groups, meaningful exchange of thoughts can happen."

Of the cultural personalities, Murtoza Bashir, Kaiyum Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Dr Korunamoy Goswami, Syed Anowara Haque, Dr Rafiqul Islam, Ferdousi Priyobhashini, Monayem Sarker, Syed Hasan Imam, Nasir Uddin Yusuf, Hasan Arif, Laki Imam, Mustafa Nur-ul Islam, Golam Kuddus, poet Rabiul Hussain, Dr Baren Chakrabarty and Anisul Haque, movie stars Faruque, Tarana Halim, Enayetur Rahman Bappi, poet Kazi Rozi, Shakila Jafar, Kumar Biswajit, Kiron Chandra Roy, Bari Siddiqui, Abu Jafar Siddiqui, Pijush Bandopaddhay, Catherine Masud, Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Rafiqul Alam, Abida Sultana and Shuvra Deb, and many others from various walks of life including the cabinet members attended the party.

Of the media personalities, Mahbubul Alam, Golam Sarowar, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Abed Khan, Beby Moudud, Riaz Uddin Ahmed, Shah Alamgir, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Nurul Kabir, Syed Anwar Hossain, Faridur Reza Sagar, Shaikh Siraj, Imdadul Haque Milon, Shyamal Dutta, Habibur Rahman Milon and many showed up for the get-together.

Besides, educationalist Zillur Rahman Siqqiqui, Dr Shamsuzzaman Khan, Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof Rafiqul Islam, Dr Enamul Haque, Dhaka University vice-chancellor A A M S Arefin Siddiqui and pro-vice-chancellor Harur-ur-Rashid were also among the guests.

A Pakistani national detained in Dhaka admitted to detectives that he was involved in match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League T-20 tournament, police sources said.

Detectives said they found evidence to prove his involvement and that they were going to seek Interpol's help to get financial transaction data of suspect Sajid Khan's bank account in Pakistan.

Detective Branch (DB) of police on Monday placed Sajid on a two-day remand, a day after the Bangladesh Cricket Board authorities handed him over to Mirpur police in connection with suspicious activities around Mirpur Outdoor Stadium. A cricket board official also filed a case with Mirpur Police Station in this connection.

A senior police official yesterday told The Daily Star that during the remand 35-year-old Sajid admitted that he had contacted several players of different teams to fix matches.

The official said they were preparing to seek the help of Interpol to get the details of Sajid's account with Silk Bank in Pakistan.

Police sources said Sajid came to Dhaka on February 10 posing as an import-export businessman but since his arrival he had always been around some players.

“When the players stayed in a Dhaka hotel, he stayed at a nearby hotel; when the players went to Chittagong, he went there. When the players returned to Dhaka, he also returned,” said a police official.

Hailing from Gulshan Zahur in Karachi, Sajid himself was once a player in the domestic cricket league and he is a close friend of a Pakistani player playing in BPL, sources said. They said Sajid developed connections with other players of the league by using his “friend”.

According to sources, another Pakistani national had also come to Bangladesh for match fixing but he left the country on Friday.

100 pc shares to remain with governmentStaff Correspondent

100 percent ownership of state-owned Sonali Bank, Janata Bank and Agrani Bank will remain in the hands of the government even after the three financial institutions’ transformation into private limited company.

Sources said, the three public banks will start working under three public limited companies soon.
The banks have been handed over to three private limited companies in compliance with the ‘Vendors Agreement’ signed between the government and the companies on Thursday.
The government paved the way for the three public banks to become private limited companies on October 31 by approving the proposals to sign the vendors agreements and for issuance of circular cancelling the Bangladesh Banks Nationalisation Order -1972.
After transformation into the three private limited companies, the banks will be governed by the respective board of directors. The boards will make all decisions regarding commerce and business of the financial institutions.
On March 3, the government approved a proposal to transform the three nationalised banks into private limited companies so that the financial institutions can cope with the private commercial banks of the country.
Price of all shares of these banks will be paid by the government or any other organisation authorised by the government.
All the members of the managing committees will be appointed by the government.Source: www.thebangladeshtoday.com

The High Court yesterday directed Dhaka City Corporation to remove all structures from the car parks in the city's Karwan Bazar within two months.

The verdict came on a writ petition filed on April 12, 2010 by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh following a report in The Daily Star under the headline "Car park lost to market".

DCC had allowed setting up of over 65 shops at the car parks, which would worsen traffic congestion in and around the busy commercial area of the capital. According to the report, construction of the shops was almost complete.

Responding to the public interest litigation, the HC on April 12 of that year ordered the DCC authorities to maintain status quo on any construction at the car parks in Karwan Bazar. It also issued a rule upon the DCC to explain why construction at the sites should not be declared illegal.

Besides, the court sought an explanation from DCC as to why it should not be directed to demolish the illegal structures, if any, at the places meant for car parking, in order to ease traffic jam in the area.

During yesterday's hearing, petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told the court that people face severe traffic jam on the VIP road near Karwan Bazar as the car parks are eaten up by shops and other structures.

DCC must not take steps to serve anybody's business interests to the detriment of public welfare, he added.

An HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim then came up with the verdict. It also declared illegal the DCC's decision to construct the shops.

The DCC authorities did not make any reply to the HC rule, but Assistant Attorney General Yeadia Zaman represented the government, Manzill said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission will no longer have to depend on the law enforcers for some of its probe-related requirements, as they now have their own investigation arm.

ACC commissioner Mohammad Sahabuddin Chuppu told , "The probe unit will collect information about corruption of a number of organisations in the communications, and the health and education sectors, the National Board of Revenue, customs, port authorities and the capital development authority RAJUK."

"Probing corruption and investigating in conventional manner usually does not bring the expected results or is not up to the mark," the circular issued on Sunday regarding the probe unit's formation said.

"Since the need to collect information through detective action arises while probing most corruption allegations, a detective unit has been formed…," it read.

A separate circular was also issued assigning commission's deputy director Mir Joynul Abedin Shibli and assistant director S M M Akhtar Hamid Bhuiyan to run the unit.

On the jurisdiction of the unit officials, the circular said they will function under the supervision of the commission's director general. They will need to take permission from the ACC chairman before any investigation.

The officials in the unit will get an additional pay of Tk 5,000 per month.

dhaka vs barisal bpl final match held in dhaka mirpur stadium.In this match dhaka win the match in 8 wickets.This is the first time in bpl and dhaka win the bpl.

CONGRATULATION DHAKA

Zia Ahmed, a retired major general from the Bangladesh army's Signals Corps, was reappointed on Monday as chairman of the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission for another year.

Ahmed was made BTRC chief in February 2009 and completed his three-year tenure on Thursday.

An official announcement to this effect was made on Monday after prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave her formal clearance the day before.

A highly-placed PMO source said the other names that had come up for consideration included current vice chairman Giasuddin Ahmed, a retired civil servant.

Zia Ahmed was sent into retirement during the BNP-Jamaat regime as a brigadier general but got promoted to major general with retrospective effect after the Awami League government returned to power in 2009.

The benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose sharply in the first half of trading on Tuesday.

DSE general index increased to 4637.16 points, gaining 115.83 points or 2.56 percent at 1pm.

Shares and mutual funds worth Tk 3.06 billion changed hands until then, with prices of 231 issues advancing, 12 declining and 12 remaining unchanged.

The index rose to 4645.90 points with a gain of 124.57 points or 2.75 percent at 12:08pm.

After posting a rise of 174.72 points or 4 percent to 4542.53 points on Sunday, the DGEN shed 21.20 points, or 0.47 percent, on Monday to 4521.33 points.

The general index had closed the week at 4367.81 points on Thursday, a day after a committee recommended waiver of up to 50 percent interest on margin loans taken by small investors.

The previous week saw the benchmark index gaining on the last two days of trading, a 121.5-point rise on Thursday and a 62.78 point rise the day before.

The gains helped tide over losses it experienced earlier in the week, losing 30.96 points on Monday and 44.56 points on Sunday. At the end of the week, 108.76 points were added to DGEN.

The index has been steadily gaining over the two weeks before that with a 245-point gain in the week between Feb 12 and Feb 16 and a 165-point gain in the week before that (Feb 5-Feb 9).

In a stunning reversal of its previous decision, the governing body of the Bangladesh Premier League early on Tuesday said Barisal Burners – not Chittagong Kings – will play the second semifinal against table toppers Duronto Rajshahi as the fourth team.

The governing body took the decision at a 2am meeting with the technical committee .The authorities in a press statement made it clear that Barisal were through and the previous declaration that Chittagong Kings had qualified for the semis would stand void.

It had been announced initially on Sunday that Barisal Burners were through to the semifinals riding on the net run-rate after their dramatic victory against the Kings. And Chittagong, Khulna Royal Bengals and Dhaka Gladiators were left to fight it out among themselves for the remaining two spots.

On Monday, Dhaka Gladiators lost to Duronto Rajshahi by a narrow margin and Khulna Royal Bengals thrashed Sylhet Royals and the results put Khulna in the second place with 12 points, leaving Dhaka, Barisal and Chittagong tied on 10 points.

But in the head-to-head results, Dhaka had a superior net run rate and qualified for the semifinals taking third place, having beaten Barisal Burners twice and Chittagong Kings once. It meant Chittagong Kings and Barisal Burners were to fight for the fourth spot.

Chittagong Kings had two wins, against Barisal Burners and Dhaka Gladiators, while Barisal had only one, against Chittagong. But, Barisal's net run-rate was superior to Chittagong's.

Chittagong Kings at a press conference at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel late in the morning said they would challenge the latest BPL governing body's decision in court.

The late night meeting ruled that Duronto Rajshahi (14 points) and Khulna Royal Bengals (12 points) finished top two on points and qualified for the semis as the first and second placed teams.

The drama began to unfold on Monday afternoon when BPL governing council president Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu announced that Barisal Burners were left out following the head-to-head results and Chittagong were in the semi-finals, apparently on the basis of a better head-to-head record in the three-way tie on 10 points, which included Dhaka.

But the BPL statement in the wee hours of Monday said that Barisal would be the fourth semi-finalists – understandably because their head-to-head record with Chittagong was tied and they had a better net run rate.

The press statement said the governing body and the technical committee "sincerely regret any misunderstanding that may have risen regarding this issue".

Just two hours before the first semifinal is set to start on Tuesday, Chittagong Kings said they will move court over the BPL authorities' decision to allow Barisal Burnerst to play Duronto Rajshahi in the second semifinals.

Samir Quader Chowdhury, CEO of SQ Sports, which owns the Kings, told a media conference about the decision of the team. Coach Khaled Mahmud and manager Nasir Ahmed were present there.

Shafiqul Haque Heera and Faruque Ahmed, the managers of semifinalists Dhaka Gladiators and Duronto Rajshahi, respectively, and Khulna Royal Bengals media manager Jahid Razzaq Masum were also present in the conference.

Dhaka's Heera said his team will support the Kings if they were thrown out illegally.

Faruque of Rajshahi said they will also back the Kings if they were dropped unlawfully. He, however, added they are not abandoning the first semifinal against the Burners at 2pm.

The University Grants Commission has formed a probe committee to investigate allegations of harassment brought against North South University's trustee board chief Mohammad Shajahan by their teacher Nashid Kamal.

The four-strong committee headed by its convenor, UGC member professor Atful Hye Shibly, would also probe accusations of corruption against the university's authorities.

UGC member professor Abul Hashem, director Shamsul Alam and an official Durga Rani Sarkar will man the probe.

"Allegations has been received that one of the teachers has been sexually harassed by an owner of the North South University. The committee will probe the accusation," Shibly told on Sunday night.

"Besides, the work to probe the corruption charges against the university authorities will soon start."

Nashid Kamal, a teacher of the university's public health department, on Saturday sent a letter to UGC accusing Shajahan of harassing her. Shibly confirmed that she has filed a written complaint against the trustee board chief.

Meanwhile, a teacher of the university, on condition of anonymity, told : "The university authorities have held an emergency meeting with deans and members of all faculties on Sunday in the wake of the current situation. University's vice-chancellor professor Hafiz G A Siddiqi and trustee board chief Mohammad Shajahan were present there."

However, when contacted, the vice chancellor declined to talk to journalists claiming that he is not well.

"Nashid Kamal wants to be the chairperson of the public health department. Since the matter was not approved in the board meeting, she is making false accusations against me. I have always respected her like an elder sister," Shajahan claimed to refuting the allegations.

Nashid Kamal could not be reached over phone for her comments.

Journalists staged an hour-long strike on Monday, demanding proper investigation and trial of the murders of all their colleagues, including the recently slain couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

They wore black badges and demanded an immediate end to torture on journalists through the pen down from 12 noon to 1pm.

As per the programme announced earlier by the National Press Club, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), journalists across the country will stage a token hunger strike from 10am to 4pm on Mar 1.

The hunger strike programme will be centrally held at the National Press Club premises.

On Feb 11, Maasranga Television news editor Golam Mostofa Sarowar, alias Sagar Sarowar, and his wife, ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Nahar Runi, were found murdered at their rented flat in the city's west Rajabazar.

Police are yet to arrest anyone or name any suspect over the murder.

On Sunday, the investigators said they are 'almost certain' about the motive behind the killings of the journalist couple but cannot disclose it for the sake of the investigation.

The Public Works Department (PWD) started demolishing a shrine and several associated structures, all deemed to be unauthorised, near Central Shaheed Minar on Saturday following the High Court's order on Feb 22.

"A small part of the shrine has been demolished. But the grave and the adjacent mosque are untouched," magistrate Al Amin, who is leading the demolition work, told .

"The High Court will be notified of the drive," he added.

The demolition work began in the presence of PWD officials, Dhaka University officials and a large posse of police personnel.

"The demolition work is going on without any obstruction. No one tried to stop (the demolition work)," officer-in-charge of Shahbagh police station Sirajul Islam told journalists.

A correspondent reported from the spot that two lavatories at the rear end of the shrine (adjacent to the Nursing Hostel boundary), a kitchen-cum-storeroom, rooms of the mosque's imam and the shrine server on western part of the shrine, the shrine's main gate, ablution place, water tanks and several small establishments have been pulled down.

The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain had issued the order on Feb 22 to demolish the illegal establishments, after hearing a petition filed by historian Prof Muntasir Mamun.

Mamun's lawyer Manzill Murshid told that the 'shrine' of 'saint Tel Shah' was built illegally on a 20-katha land of Shaheed Minar. "The court ordered pulling down the shrine. But it retained the grave," he said.

Abdul Mannan, a devotee at the shrine, said, "Following the High Court order, demolition work is going on. The main 'majar' (shrine) or the mosque has not been touched."

A Feb 20 report in the newspaper 'Kaler Kantha' quoted former students of Dhaka Medical College, which is beside Shaheed Minar, saying there had been no shrine earlier. There was only a grave of a class IV employee of the college, and some people raised structures on the grave and turned it into a shrine in the 1990s, they told the daily.

The report added that the shrine is built on land that is part of the four acres allotted for Shaheed Minar.

It said the monument for language martyrs has been endangered by a plan of the 'shrine traders' to build a dome on the grave of a 'so-called' pir (saint) and a complex beside it.

Doctors have urged the government to pass the draft amendment of the tobacco control law to curb use of tobacco and related businesses in the interest of public health.

In the backdrop of nearly 57,000 annual deaths and 382,000 disabilities due to tobacco related illness, the government had started amending the 2005 law two years ago to make it 'stricter'. The idea was to help smokers give up, and deter youths from taking up the habit.

After completing all processes, the draft law was ready to be placed in a cabinet meeting in December last year. But the health ministry's deputy secretary, Azam-e-Sadat, who was assigned the task, said in a meeting late last year that the finance ministry had recalled the draft.

Addressing a seminar on 'tobacco and endangered public health' in the capital on Saturday, national professor brig Abdul Malik (retd) urged everyone to be "persistent" in order to realise the demand for a "stricter" tobacco control law.

United Forum Against Tobacco, a platform of doctors and professional bodies, organised the seminar.

Referring to pressure from the tobacco companies, Malik, chairman of the forum, said, "Our opponents (tobacco companies) are very strong. But we should be persistent in the interest of public health."


MORE TEETH NEEDED
Taifur Rahman, a member of the law amendment committee, said if passed and implemented, the draft amendment could help curb tobacco consumption "substantially".

He said smokeless tobacco products such as zarda, sada pata and gul had been incorporated as tobacco products in the draft law, which also suggested pictorial health warnings to be put up, covering 50 percent of a cigarette packet, to discourage smokers.

He said they also suggested declaring restaurants smoke-free and stopping duty-free shops from selling 'duty-free' cigarettes.

Studies suggest two-third of smokers in Bangladesh pick up the habit before they are 17, so the draft law barred children below 18 to sell and buy cigarettes.

Penalty has been increased from Tk 50 to Tk 500 for individuals who violate the law, while companies will have to pay up to Tk 1 million for violating the law, according to the draft.

Chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Prof Mohammad Sirajul Akbar MP said the 2005 anti-tobacco law should be updated at the earliest.

"Farmers should be encouraged to cultivate alternative crop instead of tobacco products," he said. "And at the same time, higher taxes should be imposed on tobacco products."

Member of Parliament Prof Matiur Rahman said a "vested group" is active against raising tobacco tax. "Lower economic groups are worst affected because of cheaper prices of bidis (local cigarettes)," he said.

Organising secretary of the forum Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury said a tougher tobacco control law would be able to save thousands of lives, lost untimely to diseases triggered by tobacco.

He said Bangladesh spends more to combat tobacco-related illnesses than it earns in revenue from tobacco producers.


NUMBERS RISE ASTRONOMICALLY
According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009, at least 41.3 million people aged above 15 used tobacco either in smoke or smokeless form in Bangladesh. The number was 32.3 million in 2007.

According to experts, tobacco usage has decreased in developed world but increased in developing countries due to lax tobacco control laws.

Estimation suggests with 5.4 trillion cigarettes consumed, the developing world constitutes about 70 percent of the total global tobacco use.

According to the World Health Organisation, 'very poor' households in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico and Egypt spend up to 15 per cent of their income on buying tobacco products.

Communications minister Obaidul Quader has said that he would travel the country extensively in the next six months and take measures to repair all the important roads after visiting those.

Quader said this at a views-exchange meeting with the deputy commissioner (DC) and local politicians at Mymensingh Circuit House on Saturday, after reviewing the progress of work to upgrade the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway into four-lane one.

The communications minister also directed the DCs and superintendents of police (SPs) to stop plying of 'Nosiman', 'Koriman', easy-bikes and other such vehicles on the highways and important roads to avoid accidents and ensure jam-free roads.

He also said the work for four-laning the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway would be completed by 2013, while the repair works of Mymensingh-Kishoreganj road by June this year.

The minister also said that all the roads in the country would be made fit for vehicular movement even during the rainy season.

Quader visited the Mymensingh-Jamalpur road after the meeting.

Authorities seized over 100 pirated books from the ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Saturday.

Bangla Academy director general Shamsuzzaman Khan led the drive against pirated books.

"Legal steps will be taken against the stalls where pirated books were found," Khan said.

Publishers said the authorities seized books on cartoon characters like 'Doraemon' and 'Pokemon' and some by Indian writers published without their permission.

Copyright Office's registrar Manzur Rahman said drive would also be conducted even beyond the fair.

Author Zafar Iqbal says that prominent Bangladeshi writers should write more for children in order to stop piracy and unexpected intrusion of foreign books.

"Piracy cannot be checked only by forming laws," he tells in an interview on the premises of Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
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"It will be possible to stop these annoyances if our eminent writers pay attention for children to see if it is possible to offer something better than pirated or foreign books," he says.

The popular author says publishing different types of books for children of different ages might increase their attention and enhance their reading habit.

"Books can captivate children if they have more and colourful pictures. There should be varieties in the books for juvenile readers in line with their choices and the trend of world literature," he says.

"Children will be addicted to television if we fail to do so. It will be dangerous," he warns.

Libraries in schools play an important role in developing reading habit among the children, Zafar Iqbal says adding that school libraries should be richer from both the points of number of collection and varieties.

Six books by the author, who is famous for his science fictions and works for children, have so far arrived the fair. Four of the six are for younger readers.

Tamrolipi published 'Keplar Two Two B', science fiction, Shomoy Prokashoni 'Rup Rupali', a novel for juvenile readers and Pearl Publication brought 'Ratuler Raat Ratuler Din'.

Jagriti Prokashoni brought 'Aro Proshno Aro Uttor', a collection of answers by Zafar Iqbal to questions by children. Ankur Prokashoni published a collection of his column 'Bodonkhani Molin Hole' and Anupam Prokashoni brought 'Kishor Natok Shomogro', a collection of plays for younger readers.

Publishing house Onnoprokash's manager Abdullah Naser has told , "After Humayun Ahmed, books by Zafar Iqbal have been sold best over the last few years."

Zafar Iqbal also emphasised extending space for the book fair.

"The space allocated for this fair needs to be extended so that readers can see and buy books in a relaxed mood. The extension must be done centring the Bangla Academy as the fair and the academy are intermingled by history."

The prices of books are above most of the readers' ability, he says adding that government's affiliation and patronisation is needed in the publication sector.

"The government can patronise the sector in various forms, including providing paper at a lower price and sanctioning money in a large scale so that public libraries can enrich their collection."

If these measures are taken to ensure publishers that their books are sold, they will be able to publish more books, which they usually do not publish in fear of potential loss.

The prime minister has said the ongoing trial of the guilty BDR (now BGB) personnel will be completed despite all hindrances.

Sheikh Hasina was speaking at a meeting organised by Rangabali upazila unit of the party after laying the foundation stone for a new upazila council complex at the newly-formed Rangabali upazila in the district.

Earlier, she reached Rangabali – a char area in the coastal belt – by a helicopter in the morning. She also inaugurated a number of development projects worth about Tk 2 billion.

Referring to the government's efforts to complete the BDR mutiny trial in the shortest possible time, Hasina alleged that main opposition BNP was trying to save the mutineers.

"You may find out who are the defence lawyers ... they are from BNP," she charged.

Saturday was the third anniversary of the mutiny at the para-military force's headquarters, in which at least 73 people, including 57 army officers deputed to the BDR, were killed.

The border guards were known as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) until 2010 when they were renamed Border Guard Bangladesh. Its uniform, monogram and certain governing laws were also changed with an aim to free the force of the mutiny stigma.

Hasina, also the president of the ruing Awami League, said that development work in the country's southern region takes place only when Awami League comes to power.

"The people of the country's southern region get something when Awami League comes to power. On the other hand, when the BNP comes to power, the country becomes a hotbed of terrorism, loot, extortion and land-grabbing," she added.

Hasina said the district's Sonarchar would also be developed as a tourist spot like Kuakata – a panoramic sea beach on the southern-most tip of Bangladesh.

Recalling that Barisal region was once known as the country's warehouse of food grains, Hasina lamented that the region is currently lagged behind. "The present government is earnestly trying to restore the glorious past of the region."

Claiming that the price of rice has come down to Tk 25 to 30 per kilogramme outside the capital city, the prime minister held rising commodity prices in the international market responsible for the recent price hike in the domestic market.

"No farmer has yet been killed during the tenure of the Awami League government, rather the farmers are being provided with fertilisers," she added.

During the tenure of the BNP government during 1991-96, a total of 17 farmers were killed in police firing during the agitation against poor power supply that hampered farming activities and protest against shortage of fertilisers crops need to be fed to help them grow.

Claiming that a certain quarter was obstructing the ongoing war crimes trial, Hasina said the trial of those who had committed crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War must be held on the Bangla soil.

"The trial of the killers of Bangabandhu has been held and the trial of Aug 21 grenade attack case will also be taken to its logical conclusion," he added.

After the end of the meeting, the prime minister went to Kuakata where she inaugurated 'Jubo Pantho Nibas', a Parjatan Corporation motel and a 20-bed hospital.

She also laid the foundation stone of Kuakata Municipal Bhaban.

Later, she went to Kalapara where she formally opened 50-bed Kalapara Upazila Hospital, upgraded from a 20-bed one.

Hasina also laid foundation stones of three bridges on 22-km-long Kuakata-Kalapara road. The bridges are named after three sons of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel, also her brothers.

The prime minister later addressed a public meeting as the chief guest at Mozahar Uddin Biswas College ground in the afternoon.