BANGLADESH

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury on Wednesday came down heavily on Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia for not visiting Ramu upazila in Cox's Bazaar district to be at the side of the victims of the recent communal attacks.

"The Opposition Leader recently visited China and is scheduled to visit neighbouring India soon. But she didn't visit Ramu (that lies a short distance away)," she said.

She made the comment while distributing special VGF rice and winter clothes among the poor at Gouradar Union Parishad Bhavan of her electoral constituency in Nakla upazila in Sherpur district.

Incensed apparently by a Facebook posting of a photo defaming the Quran, religious fanatics destroyed 12 Buddhist temples and monasteries and more than 100 houses in Ramu, Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox's Bazaar and Patiya upazila in Chittagong from Sep 29 night to noon the next day.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda strongly condemned the heinous attacks and had said that she would visit the scenes of the sectarian violence after her China visit.

The former prime Minister will pay a week-long visit to Indian from Oct 28 at the invitation of the Indian government.

Matia said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could not visit the scene right away since she was in the US to attend the 67th United Nations General Assembly.

"But she had directed the Home Minister to visit the spots and strictly handle the situation. On her return, the Prime Minister went to Ramu and took measures to rehabilitee the victims, ensure their security and bring the culprits to justice."

The ruling Awami League leaders have been blaming local BNP lawmaker Lutfur Rahman Kajal of instigating the violence in Ramu 29. But the BNP says the ruling party intentionally makes such claims to wreak political vengeance on the opposition.

Matia, also an AL Presidium Council Member, said: "The Awami League doesn't believe in political revenge, but those who had looted and set ablaze the Buddhist households and monasteries are being captured through the video clips."

Indian media has splashed news about the upcoming visit of Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia to New Delhi from Oct 28 as she embarks on a diplomatic exercise to strengthen relations with the neighbour of Bangladesh.

Popular Indian daily Hindustan Times published a news on Oct 23 saying, "With New Delhi leaving no stone unturned to maintain the momentum in bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh, India will be hosting Begum Khaleda Zia."

Khaldea will be leaving for New Delhi on Oct 28 for a seven-day trip at the invitation of the Indian government and is scheduled to meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress party President Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, among others.

Hindustan Times said it was part of the strategy of the Indian government to maintain good relations with all key stakeholders in Bangladesh.

Daily News & Analysis newspaper reported on Oct 24, "The visit comes with just over a year left for general elections in Bangladesh, and a sharp decline in the popularity ratings of ruling Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."

The paper said Teesta water sharing agreement and the Land Boundary Agreement were expected to take a major share of discussions.

Bangladesh and India failed to sign the Teesta interim agreement during the visit of Indian premier Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September last year due to strong opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Both countries signed the Land Boundary Agreement in 1974 and Bangladesh ratified it the same year but India is yet to ratify it making it ineffective as the deal stipulates that it would not be effective until both parties ratify it.

The Times of India under a headline of "India reaches out to Khaleda Zia ahead of Bangladesh polls" reported, "While the BNP has always been known for its anti-India stance, New Delhi knows that it is imperative to at least make an attempt to mend fences with her in the run-up to the general elections slated to be held next year."

"New Delhi added value to its relationship with Dhaka but it knows that ties with BNP are crucial to make this process irreversible."

The Statesman reported that "Ms Zia's party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has always been regarded as favouring Pakistan over India but sources in the government said that they are hoping that Ms Zia's visit will help change that perception and help India develop closer ties with the BNP."

Three times Prime Minister, Khaldea Zia visited China from Oct 14 to 20 at the invitation of Chinese Communist Party. During the visit, she met members of the Chinese leadership including Chinese Vice President Xi Jingpin and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

all muslim brother pls take my salam.eid brings you all happiness. EID MUBARAK

The opposition BNP has announced fresh agitation after the Eid-ul-Azha over the demand of elections under a non-party government.

"The people have turned their back on the government. They want change. They don't want to see this government again," BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan told a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club on Friday.

"A non-partisan government is needed so that the people can vote whoever they like," he said.

"We'll give momentum to our movement over the demand after the Eid. No election will be allowed without a non-party government," Khan added.

The human chain programme was organised by the Mohila Dal's Mohammadpur unit in the city in protest against the arrest of Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal chief Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal.

He termed the government 'a failure on all fronts' and said it had led to the country being labelled 'corrupt' in the global arena. The government itself was neck-deep in corruption, he added.

The BNP leader also termed 'most shameful' the visit of a World Bank panel to review Anti-Corruption Commission's investigations into the alleged corruption in the Padma bridge project.

A new defence witness for Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee on Sunday said there were no incidents of loot, plunder or arson during the nine-month Liberation War.

Abdul Halim Fakir, aged 55, said he was a student of ninth grade during the war, but did not see any Pakistani soldiers or their collaborators raid his village.

Although a large hospital bed, as ordered by the tribunal on Thursday, had been arranged and lay before the court, Sayedee's 15th defence witness, who had taken ill over lunch on Wednesday, did not need to lie down.

The 65-year old Abdus Salam Howladar faced Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali's cross-examination, which concluded to make way for another new witness from Sayedee's defence.

The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal-1, set up to try crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, indicted the Jamaat executive council leader for 20 war crimes on Oct 3, 2011.

The allegations include murder, rape, arson and loot in and around Parerhat of Pirojpur.

Saydee's third son, Masood Sayedee, has also completed his cross-examination. The defence submitted a large volume of material through Masood as he has been mainly assisting the defence team with material for cross-examination of prosecution witnesses.

There were no further witnesses for Sayedee although the defence still has four more witnesses to go.

The tribunal said after lunch, referring to its order of Thursday (Oct 18) that an order had already been passed and it stood. The tribunal had ordered that Sayedee's defence would not be allowed any more time after Sunday if they failed to bring all their witnesses on that day.

When Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali approached the tribunal to fix a date for closing argument which would be the next phase of the trial, chairman Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq said, "An appropriate order will be passed tomorrow."

Jamaat chief defence counsel Abdur Razzaq put to the tribunal several times that the defence had already filed applications in this regard and if the tribunal chose to pass order in chambers, the defence be heard.

The tribunal, however, did not commit either way. Before rising, it reminded the senior defence counsel that he had failed to produce his remaining four witnesses by the end of the day.

Gonoforum and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Presidents Dr Kamal Hossain and Prof AQM Badruddoza claimed on Sunday the country was not doing well and called for political unity to emerge from the situation.

Kamal and Chowdhury who broke away from the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP, respectively, did not outline what should the basis of the unity be or with whom it should be forged, however.

The senior politicians emerged from a programme titled 'Announcement of a greater national unity' at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel to speak to reporters but would not make it clear whether their parties were mulling over joining forces.

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud and Ganasashthya Kendra chief Jafrullah Chowdhury also spoke at the programme.

"Our politics and governing system are infected with disease. But there is always a cure however serious the disease is," said Hossain, also a former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.

"The people of Bangladesh have that strength. And the strength is political unity. Let us come together to forge a unity to make ailing politics healthy."

Chowdhury, the former President of Bangladesh, said, "Greedy politicians, some selfish businessmen and bureaucrats are pulling the country from behind. All must stand up against them."

"That's why politics of unity needs be pursued. The unity can be built without dissolving respective political parties.

Referring to their past records of rubbing shoulders with chiefs of the AL and BNP, a journalist asked whether they planned alliances with any of them again.

"There is no chance of making a scapegoat (out of people)," said Dr Kamal, who had joined the Awami League-led 14-party alliance formed to wage movement against BNP.

"There is no question of having Iftar until they (BNP) swear over the Quran that they would not get involved in criminal activities or corruption anymore, endanger democracy and unleash torture on the opposition," said Chowdhury who recently showed solidarity with several BNP programmes.

Badruddoza Chowdhury, the founding Secretary General of BNP, had Iftar with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last Ramadan and is supporting the BNP in its demand for reinstating caretaker government for overseeing the next parliamentary elections.

Parting ways with the Awami League, Hossain floated Gonoforum about two decades ago, but joined a coalition with the party once again in 2004.

Both Gonoforum and Bikalpadhara were with the Awami League-led alliance until the forestalled parliamentary elections of Jan 22, 2007. But they moved away from the Awami League in the 2008 elections.

Regarding his party's support for reinstating caretaker government system, Chowdhury said, "The verdict cancelling the constitutional amendment said two more elections can be staged under caretaker government. We had gone there only to express our support for caretaker government system."

When asked whether his efforts for unity are only election-centric, Hossain said, "The 2008 elections were the result of the coalition we had formed, the demands we had raised in 2004, though I did not join the coalition at the last moment."

Answering a question over the format of next caretaker government, the Gonoforum chief said, "A civil uprising, public hearing and the demand of the masses will decide what the government will look like and what the election process will be."

The programme was moderated by former Organising Secretary of Awami League Mahmudur Rahman Manna.

Manna was excluded from Awami League's central committee after his role during the immediate-past military-backed caretaker government earned him the tag of one of the reformists, who are widely believed to have supported then the rulers' idea of getting riding of Hasina and Khaleda from politics.

Senior journalist ABM Musa and Prothom Alo's Associate Editor Mizanur Rahman Khan also spoke at the programme.

Maksud backed the statements of the two senior political figures and commented that "they should be assisted" in their new effort.

Musa was optimistic that the leaders will "fulfil expectations of the people".

Language Movement veteran and Democratic League Chairman Oli Ahad was laid to rest at Banani graveyard in the city on Saturday night following largely-attended funeral after his second Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer) at Baitul Mukarram Nation Mosque.

Oli Ahad died of old age complications at city's Shamarita Hospital in morning. He was 85.

He was pronounced dead by doctors around 9am after being kept on life support over the last few days. Ahad was admitted to Shamarita Hospital in a critical condition on Oct 14 as he was suffering from lung infection.

His wife, Professor Rashida Begum said the veteran politician had been ill since March. He spent a spell in the hospital from March to April, before being taken home after his condition improved. He was brought back after it deteriorated again.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia expressed condolences over Ahad's death.

His mortal remains were taken to the Central Shaheed Minar around 1pm for people to pay tributes. Many other fellow Language Movement veterans, including Abdul Matin and Rowsan Ara, and political leaders paid their respect.

Abdul Matin said, "It was Oli Ahad who had inspired us to join the Language Movement. He not only led the Language Movement but also all the democratic movements in the country."

Rowsan Ara said Ahad had inspired them to join the Language Movement without fearing for lives.

BNP leaders Abdullah Al Noman, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Awami League leader Abdul Matin Khasru, AL's student front, JASAD and many others placed floral wreathes on the coffin and paid their last respect.

Khasru said Ahad's death was an irreparable loss for the country.

"At present there is no political personality like him in the country," BNP leader Noman said and added that the young generation should follow him.

From Shaeed Minar Ahad's body was taken to Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. After his funeral prayer there, the body was brought to Banani Graveyard.

Ahad was one of the key founders of East Pakistan Muslim Chhatra League formed on Jan 4, 1948.

He was also the founding General Secretary of the Ganatantrik Juba League and was the first person to be arrested in the Language Movement on Mar 11, 1948.

Ahad, during his life-long political career, also served as the Publicity Secretary and Organising Secretary of East Pakistan Awami League.

He joined the National Awami Party (NAP) of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani through the Kagmari Convention in 1957.

The veteran politician played key roles in the movements for speech and personal freedom, democracy and freedom of press in Bangladesh, and had to go to prison several times for protests.

He also had to face trial in a military tribunal in the 80s. The weekly Ittehad, which was edited by him, was banned at that time for raising public opinion against dictatorship.

Oli Ahad was given the highest state recognition, Swadhinota Padak, in 2004 for his contribution to Bangladesh's independence and the Liberation War.

He was born in Islampur village of Brahmanbaria's Sorail. His only daughter Barrister Nomin Farzana practices in the High Court.

Two people were killed and one injured in a road accident in the city's Banani area on Saturday evening.

The accident took place on the Banani Road No. 12 around 6pm.

Sub-Inspector of the Banani Police Station Ariful Islam told bdnews24.com that a car lost control and ran over a pedestrian identified as Nazrul Islam. Two passengers of the car were seriously injured.

Islam was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where doctor pronounced him dead.

He was a construction worker and lived at Karail slum in Banani, the police said.

The two injured passengers of the car were taken to United Hospital, where one of them succumbed to his injuries.

Police suspected that the deceased might be the car driver.

Police seized the car.

A Grand Jury will decide whether charges will finally be framed against Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Hasan Nafis, who was arrested by FBI in a 'sting operation' in New York over a 'bomb plot'.

"This is not the stage to say whether Nafis is guilty or not," Brooklyn Federal Court's spokesperson Robert Nardoza told bdnews24.com on Saturday (New York Time).

"If the Grand Jury opines that final charges should be pressed against Nafis, then the hearing will start and Nafis' statement will be recorded. He can then claim innocence or accept charges against him."

Meanwhile, New York's human rights lawyer Ashok Karmakar told bdnews24.com, "Usually the sensational cases are sent to the 12-member Grand Jury these days. Nafis' case is one of the most sensational cases in recent times."

"However, the Grand Jury Board will only listen to the statement of the investigating officer and will see documents submitted by him. Based on that, they will decide whether the case should continue," he explained.

"Even though, the accused has no option to represent his case at this time, the Grand Jury can play a major role in ensuring justice."

The bomb charge

The US Department of Justice said in the statement on Wednesday Nafis had been charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and provide material support to al Qaeda. He faces life sentence in prison, if convicted.

The FBI said on Wednesday morning (evening in Bangladesh) Nafis parked a van laden with 'explosives' in front of the bank in Manhattan and went to the adjacent Millennium Hilton Hotel. From there, he repeatedly tried to set off the mobile phone detonator of the 1000-pound bomb. However, it did not explode as the explosive was fake.

The NYPD said that Nafis was led on by an undercover FBI agent into their trap. He was under surveillance since July after he tried to search reliable associates to carry out the attack on behalf of al-Qaeda.

A leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday expressed his conviction that relations between CPC and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) would be further strengthened in the future.

Vice-Minister of CPC's International Department Chen Fengxiang expressed the firm belief at a formal meeting between the visiting BNP delegation, led by its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, at CPC International Department in Beijing.

Fengxiang agreed to Khaleda's suggestion that there should be more exchanges of visits and engagements between the representatives of the two parties at different levels.

Khaleda said Bangladeshis always considered China as a special friend. She recalled with gratitude the contributions China made to the economic and infrastructural development of Bangladesh and expressed confidence that it would be furthered.

The former Prime Minister reiterated that BNP believed in 'One-China' policy.

Vice-Minister Chen mentioned the contributions of Khaleda to consolidation of the bilateral relations, which were started by BNP founder late President Ziaur Rahman.

During the talks, Khaleda was accompanied, among others, by BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Mahbubur Rahman, party Vice-Chairpersons Selima Rahman and Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and Khaleda's Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan.

The meeting was followed by an official lunch in honour of the visiting BNP delegation.

The Inspector General of Police on Wednesday told the High Court the police had immediately ordered reinforcements on being informed about last month's hate attacks on Buddhist settlements in Ramu.

Hassan Mahmood Khandaker came up with the claim in the report after the higher court wanted to know what the police had done when one of the worst communal riots in decades had broken out.

The report, however, did not mention exactly when the police first received the news, amid allegations that they were too late to react to the violence.

Deputy Attorney General Al Amin submitted the report, prepared by Senior Assistance Superintendent of Police (Law) Md Mizanur Rahman on behalf of IGP, to the bench of Justices Mirza Hossain Haider and Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo.

On Oct 3, the court asked the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs to report in 15 days detailing what they had done to protect the lives and property of the minority Buddhists.

The riot that began on Sep 29 night lasted for two days, leaving houses, shops and temples of Buddhists and Hindus looted, ravaged and burnt.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, a resident of Ramu, moved the court. The Home Secretary was also asked to respond but he failed to turn in his version and prayed for more time.

According to the report, immediately after receiving the news of riot from the Cox's Bazaar district's Superintendent of Police, the IGP had made arrangements for additional police deployment at Ramu, and contacted other stakeholders of the government for ensuring security of the minority community.

"He along with the Home Minister visited the area the day after the incident. At that time he ordered Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the area to take immediate action against those involved in the incidents at Ramu and other places," said the report.

"The DIG himself monitored the overall situation and performances of RAB, police, Armed Police Battalion and BGB deployed in the affected areas.

"A three-member team led by the DIG of the Chittagong range has been formed to investigate the Sep 29 incident at Ramu, alongside the probe initiated by the government," the report continued.

"As many as 16 cases were filed with four police stations in Cox's Bazaar following the incidents at Ramu and its adjoining areas and 211 suspects have been arrested."

The report continued, the police had also been directed to secure the lives and property of all minority communities, their places of worship including pagoda, temple, and church in line with the High Court order.

It further said precautionary measures were taken to prevent a repeat.

"The Inspector General of Police is also holding meetings with local leaders of all religious communities, politicians, and members of the civil society in the affected areas. The Inspector General of Police visited Cox's Bazaar district on Oct 15 for evaluating the latest situation there," it clarified.

The riot broke out over the allegation of denigrating Islam by a Buddhist youth. At least seven Buddhist temples, 30 houses and a number of shops were set afire during the riot.

The hate attacks spread to Cox's Bazaar's Ukhia and Teknaf and Chittagong's Patia the next day.

Ramu Police Station's Officer in-Charge Nozibul Islam was removed after the incident amid allegations that the riot would have been avoided had police gone into action immediately.

Train services on the Dhaka-Chittagong route resumed after a nine-hour halt due to derailment of the engine and two vans of a container train in Kasba of Brahmanbaria on Thursday.

Rail operations resumed only minutes before the noon, Assistant Station Master of Brahmanbaria Shoyeb Ahmed told bdnews24.com.

The Kasba derailment took place in less than 24 hours of restoration of rail link with Chittagong after a derailment in Feni, snapping the link again.

Earlier, another Assistant Station Master at Brahmanbaria, Moinul Islam, told bdnews24.com, "The Dhaka-bound train from Chittagong derailed around 3am when it neared Kasba station, snapping rail link of Chittagong with Dhaka and Sylhet."

He added that a rescue train from Akhaura was at work to remove the derailed engine and the vans.

Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita and Dhaka Mail were stuck midway as the lines were closed since dawn.

Rail link of Chittagong and the rest of the country was snapped on Wednesday dawn also after a similar accident near Feni. A container train had derailed and blocked the lines hampering train operations.

Speaker Abdul Hamid on Tuesday cast doubt of the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) survey that said at least 97 percent Members of Parliament are involved in 'negative activities'.

He also questioned the identities of the 600 participants based on whose opinion the TIB made the claim.

Speaking with the journalists, Hamid said the TIB report meant only to dishonour Parliament and its members.

"Seeing this kind of report, even I have been offended as a Member of Parliament."

After conducting a 'survey' on 149 MPs, the Berlin-based anti-corruption organisation's Bangladesh chapter on Sunday published the report. It said 97 percent of these MPs were directly involved in 'negative activities', seven of whom are reserved seat women MPs and five are MPs from the opposition.

The Speaker said, "This cannot be called a survey in any way."

"There are 160 millions of people in 64 districts in the country. TIB conducted the survey by taking opinions from only 600 people at 42 districts. Based on their words, they concluded that 97 percent MPs are bad. Is it right?"

About the participants of the survey, he said, "My question is – who are these 600 people whose opinion TIB has taken? Do they work for TIB? If this is the case, then the survey was not conducted scientifically."

"Ninety-seven percent bad MPs means only nine are good among a total of 300 MPs. Doesn't it mean that 291 MPs have established a reign of anarchy across the country?"

"The people would have protested if that had happened. Because people of this country are conscious enough. But nothing like that has been seen or has happened anywhere," he added.

The Awami League on Monday brushed aside the TIB findings saying the report was prepared to make way for unelected people to assume power.

Main opposition BNP, on the other hand, said the survey was applicable only in case of the ruling party MPs.

Speaker Hamid on Tuesday was speaking with the journalists after inaugurating a tree plantation programme at Parliament building premises.

He also blamed the 'culture of being late' for the quorum crisis in Parliament, which the TIB report mentioned.

"Bangladesh's culture is like this—the programme scheduled to start at 9 will begin at 9:30. But Parliament session never begins half an hour behind schedule, maybe it starts five or 10 minutes late. It happens all around the world. But I don't get it in what way this raises the cost to run Parliament?"

Acting Secretary to Parliament Mahfuzur Rahman and the Speaker's Personal Secretary Zainal Abedin were also present during the tree plantation programme.

The FBI on Wednesday arrested a Bangladeshi man in a sting operation on charges he attempted to blow up the New York Federal Reserve Bank with what he believed was a 1,000-pound (450-kg) bomb, federal authorities said.

Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, 21, faces charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda, the US Department of Justice said in a statement. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

The FBI said the public was not in danger because the explosives provided to Nafis were never in working condition and the suspect was closely monitored by the undercover agent - highlighting a script law enforcement has employed several times this year in similar cases, including one in Washington and another in Ohio.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama had been briefed about the arrest.

"Attempting to destroy a landmark building and kill or maim untold numbers of innocent bystanders is about as serious as the imagination can conjure," said Mary Galligan, FBI acting assistant director-in-charge. "The defendant faces appropriately severe consequences."

In an initial appearance in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Nafis wore a plain brown crew-neck T-shirt, dark-colored jeans and sneakers. He barely spoke during the brief hearing, mumbling answers of "yes" to questions from US Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann.

According to the criminal complaint, Nafis traveled to the United States in January 2012. Once in New York, he claimed to be in contact with al Qaeda members overseas, although federal agents found no evidence that he was working for al Qaeda or that he was directed by the organisation, according to a US official who declined to be named.

Nafis considered several targets for his attack, including the New York Stock Exchange and a high-ranking government official, whom the US official identified as Obama.

In the end, the criminal complaint said, Nafis decided to focus on the Federal Reserve Bank in lower Manhattan, which stands like a limestone and sandstone fortress atop what is believed to be one of the world's largest stockpiles of gold.

RECRUITS

To create a cell to help him carry out the bombing, Nafis began to seek out recruits, eventually bringing on board an undercover agent working for the FBI.

The two met on Wednesday morning and traveled by van to a New York warehouse, where Nafis assembled what he thought was a 1,000 pound bomb, before driving to the Federal Reserve Bank, among the most secure and guarded buildings in Manhattan.

After parking near the bank, Nafis walked to a nearby hotel and recorded a video statement in which he said, "We will not stop until we attain victory or martyrdom," according to the FBI.

Nafis was arrested in the hotel as he repeatedly attempted to detonate the inert bomb, the FBI said.

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, whose department was part of the operation, objected to suggestions that Nafis' plans were crude and bumbling.

"I don't see how you characterise (him as) unsophisticated, I mean he was arrested, but he clearly had the intent to create mayhem here," Kelly told reporters.

Other FBI sting operations this year have netted at least one foreign suspect, as well as some from the United States.

In February, a 29-year-old Moroccan man was arrested near the US Capitol wearing a vest he believed was full of al Qaeda-supplied explosives, and charged in an attempted suicide bombing of Congress.

Five self-described anarchists in the Cleveland area were arrested in May and accused of plotting to blow up a four-lane highway bridge. An undercover FBI agent had sold the men inoperable detonators and plastic explosives.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index opened Tuesday's trade with a surge as it gained 39.11 points bagging a Tk 774.08-million turnover within half an hour.

The DSE General Index reached 4506.89 points gaining 0.87 percent at 11am on the week's third business day.

Of the traded issues so far, prices of 163 advanced, 18 declined and 11 remained at their opening prices.

Bangladesh's premiere bourse had opened the week lower shedding 30 points in its key index.

Over the previous week, the DGEN shed 164 points or 3.53 percent. The average daily turnover was Tk 8.51 billion. In the week before, the key index fell by 36 points.

The central bank is buying US dollars from the market to keep the expatriates interested in remitting money back home.

Bangladesh Bank on Monday bought $50 million.

"We are buying dollars from the market to prevent fall in its price against taka," General Manager of the bank's Foreign Exchange Reserve and Treasury Management Department Kazi Saidur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

The inter-bank exchange rate for the greenback was Tk 81.25 on Monday which was Tk 81.80 a fortnight ago.

The foreign exchange reserves with the central bank on Monday reached a new record of $11.65 billion.

The expatriates remitted $593 million in the first 12 days of October, setting another record. They are remitting more money to foot the Eid-ul-Azha bill, Saidur Rahman said.

According to him, the forex reserve was $11.53 billion on Thursday. Bangladesh received $203 million in the first five days of October and $390 million in the next seven days (Sep 6 to 12), he said.

Rahman hoped the remittance in October would be the highest for a month.

In the first week of September, just before paying import bills of Asian Clearing Union (ACU), the reserves stood at $11.46 billion.

A top official of the central bank, requesting anonymity, told bdnews24.com that the reserves would go further up once the International Monetary Fund clears $150 million in the second tranche of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) next month.

According to Bangladesh Bank, the first three months (July-September) of the current fiscal year saw expatriates remit $3.5517 billion, nearly 20 percent higher than $2.9687 billion they had in the same period last fiscal year.

Last year, Bangladesh had received $1.0115 billion in July, $1.1018 billion in August and $850.5 million in September.

In January this year, it received $1.2214 billion remittance, which was also a record for a single month.

The World Bank's external panel on Monday asked the Anti-Corruption Commission for some documents.

Commissioner M Shahabuddin told reporters the touring delegates of the global lending agency requisitioned for the papers in the second meeting with them.

"They have some requirements and we will supply them with the papers," M Shahabuddin said after a meeting with the panel at the ACC headquarters.

The three-strong panel led by former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno Ocampo arrived in Dhaka early Sunday.

The two other panel members are Timothy Tong, former Commissioner of the Independent Commission against Corruption in Hong Kong, and the former director of the UK Serious Fraud Office, Richard Alderman.

The Commission will again meet with the panel in December or January, Shahabuddin said. The commissioner added the panel did not say when they would submit their report, nor did they hand any list to the ACC

"They also have some suggestions and we also have some. We will assist each other by exchanging those," he added.

ACC lawyer Anisul Haq said the panel was reviewing the information already given by the commission. "They inquired about anticorruption laws and which activities are considered as corruption," he added.

The lawyer categorically said the panel was yet to hand over any documents to the commission.

In the meeting, ACC chairman Ghulam Rahman and WB Country Director for Bangladesh Ellen Goldstein were present.

Earlier on Sunday after the first meeting, Chairman Rahman said the World Bank had agreed that Bangladesh's laws and rules will be followed in investigating alleged corruption in the Padma bridge project and handing down punishment to the guilty.

The fate of the $2.9 billion project now depends on the panel's findings, as the report will decide whether the largest financier in the project will return with its $1.2 billion promised fund.

The World Bank on June 29 had cancelled its pledged fund, claiming to have found 'credible evidence' of high-level corruption by government officials, SNC-Lavalin executives and private individuals for the project. But the government refuted the allegations.

Amid the government's persuasion, the Bank announced revival of the agreement on Sep 20 but said the final decision would be taken based on its enquiry supervision panel's report.

The Bank's graft probe panel is assigned to supervise the anti-graft watchdog's current investigation into the corruption allegations from outside as per the condition set by the bank.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Saturday expressed his hopes that the lender's review panel will ensure transparent investigation into the alleged corruption in the project.

Bangladesh had signed a loan agreement with Washington-based lender, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency last year to construct the six-kilometre long bridge, biggest ever infrastructure project in Bangladesh.

After the World Bank decided to cancel funding for the project, former Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain resigned and the Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan was sent on leave, as part of an understanding with the global lending agency.

Besides these moves, the government also agreed to allow the ACC to supervise the investigation into the alleged corruption later.

শারদীয় দুর্গোৎসব, বিশ্বকর্মা পূজা, ঈদ-উল-আযহা ও সাপ্তাহিক ছুটির কারণে টানা ১১ দিন বাংলাদেশের সবচেয়ে বড় স্থলবন্দর বেনাপোল দিয়ে আমদানি-রপ্তানি বন্ধ থাকছে।

এতে সীমান্তের দুই পাশের ট্রাকজট আরও বাড়বে বলে মনে করছেন বন্দর সংশ্লিষ্টরা।

ভারতের পেট্রাপোল বন্দর সিঅ্যান্ডএফ স্ট্যাফ ওয়েলফেয়ার অ্যাসোসিয়েশনের সেক্রেটারি কার্ত্তিক চক্রবর্তী বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমকে জানান, শারদীয় দুর্গোৎসব, বিশ্বকর্মা পূজা ও ঈদ-উল-আযহা উপলক্ষে পশ্চিম বাংলায় ২০ অক্টোবর থেকে ২৯ অক্টোবর পর্যন্ত ছুটি ঘোষণা করেছে রাজ্য সরকার। ছুটির কারণে এ সময় পেট্রাপোল বন্দরের সব কাজকর্ম বন্ধ থাকবে।

তবে বন্দর, কাস্টমস ও দুই দেশের সিঅ্যান্ডএফ এজেন্টরা জানান, ১৮ অক্টোবর বিকেলের পর পেট্রাপোল ও বেনাপোল কাস্টমস ও বন্দর কার্যালয় বন্ধ হয়ে যাচ্ছে।

৩০ অক্টোবর মঙ্গলবার সকাল থেকে আবার আমদানি-রপ্তানি কার্যক্রম চলবে বলে জানান বেনাপোল কাষ্টমস ক্লিয়ারিং অ্যান্ড ফরোয়ার্ডিং এজেন্টস অ্যাসোসিয়েশনের সহ-সভাপতি সিরাজুল ইসলাম সিরাজ।

এদিকে সীমান্তের দুই পাশের ট্রাকজট টানা ছুটির কারণে আরও বাড়বে বলে আশঙ্কা করছেন সংশ্লিষ্টরা।

সিরাজুল ইসলাম জানান, প্রায় এক মাস ধরে নোম্যান্সল্যান্ড থেকে আমড়াখালী পর্যন্ত পাঁচ কিলোমিটার ট্রাকজট রয়েছে। বন্দর চালুর পর থেকে কখনও এত দীর্ঘ ট্রাক জট হয়নি।

“রপ্তানি পণ্য নিয়ে যে সংখ্যক ট্রাক প্রতিদিন পেট্রাপোল বন্দরে যাচ্ছে তার চেয়ে অনেক বেশি ট্রাক দেশের বিভিন্ন স্থান থেকে বেনাপোল বন্দরে আসছে। আর এ কারণে ট্রাকের জট কমছে না। দীর্ঘ ছুটির কারণে বেনাপোল থেকে পেট্রাপোল বন্দরে রপ্তানি বন্ধ হয়ে গেলে এ জট আরো বাড়বে।”

বেনাপোলের মতোই পেট্রাপোলেও ট্রাক জট রয়েছে বলে জানান পেট্রাপোলের কার্ত্তিক চক্রবর্তী।

তিনি বলেন, বন্দরে স্থান সংকুলান না হওয়ায় বন্দরের ট্রাক টার্মিনাল, পেট্রাপোল পার্কিং ও বনগাঁও টার্মিনালে কয়েকশ’ পণ্যবোঝাই ট্রাক অপেক্ষা করছে।

“দীর্ঘ ছুটির কারণে এসব পণ্য পেট্রাপোল থেকে বেনাপোল বন্দরে ঢুকবে ছুটি শেষে। এতে পেট্রাপোল বন্দর এলাকায় তীব্র যানজটের সৃষ্টি হবে।”

বেনাপোল আন্তর্জাতিক চেকপোস্ট ইমিগ্রেশন পুলিশের পরিদর্শক কামরুজ্জামান জানান, ছুটিতে বেনাপোল আন্তর্জাতিক স্থলবন্দর দিয়ে আমদানি-রপ্তানি বন্ধ থাকলেও পাসপোর্টধারী যাত্রীদের যাতায়াত স্বাভাবিক থাকবে।

পাওনা টাকার খোঁজ করতে গিয়ে রাজধানীর বাড্ডায় দুর্বৃত্তদের গুলিতে আহত হয়েছেন এক প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশি ও তার স্ত্রী।

রোববার রাত সাড়ে ১১টার দিকে মধ্য বাড্ডার আদর্শনগর বড়টেক এলাকায় এ ঘটনা ঘটে।

আহত নিজামুল হক (৩০) ও তার স্ত্রী নাজমা বেগমকে (২৪) ঢাকা মেডিকেল কলেজ হাসপাতালে ভর্তি করা হয়েছে।

নিজামুল হাসপাতালে সাংবাদিকদের বলেন, তিনি যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে থাকেন। সেখানে পলিক নামে আরেক বাংলাদেশিকে তিনি কিছুদিন আগে কয়েক লাখ টাকা ধার দেন।

গত সেপ্টেম্বরে দেশে আসার পর টাকার প্রয়োজন হলে পলিকের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করেন নিজামুল। আলোচনার পর পলিক মধ্য বাড্ডার আদর্শনগর এলাকায় আজাদ নামে তার এক বন্ধুর কাছ থেকে টাকা নিতে বলেন।

সে অনুযায়ী আজাদের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করে রোববার রাতে আদর্শনগরে যান নিজামুল ও নাজমা। আজাদের দেয়া ঠিকানা অনুযায়ী একটি দোকনে যাওয়ার পর দুই যুবক তাদের ‘কিছু টাকা’ দেন বলেও নিজামুল জানান।

এরপর ওই দোকান থেকে বের হতেই কয়েকজন যুবক তাদের লক্ষ্য করে গুলি ছুড়ে পালিয়ে যায় বলে জানান নিজামুল।

ঢাকা মেডিকেল পুলিশ ফাঁড়ির উপপরিদর্শক মোজাম্মেল হক বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমকে বলেন, “নিজামুলের শরীরে তিনটি এবং নাজমার শরীরে দুটি গুলি লেগেছে।”

আহত নিজামুল পুলিশকে বলেছেন, তিনি পলিককে ৭ লাখ টাকা দিয়েছিলেন। তবে রোববার রাতের ঘটনার পর নিজামুলের কাছে ৫৩ হাজার টাকা পাওয়া গেছে বলে এসআই মোজাম্মেল জানান।

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Monday detained a doctor for allegedly threatening Meher Afroz Shaon, wife of late celebrated writer Humayun Ahmed, on Facebook on her birthday.

RAB Legal and Media Wing chief M Sohail told bdnews24.com Ehsanuzzaman was caught from Dhaka's New Eskaton area.

"Ehsanuzzaman and his associates created a Facebook group of 12 people and threatened Shaon in the social networking site. They ran negative propaganda against her," he said.

He (the doctor) was detained based on Shaon's complaint, Sohail added.

The RAB officer said they will hold a press conference on the issue later.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Monday seized around 67,000 yaba pills from Cox's Bazar district's Teknaf upazila.

BGB personnel seized the banned but popular club drug at around 12:30am from Sabrang area near the Myanmar border from the banks of the Naf River, BGB's 42nd Battalion's Commanding Officer Lt Col Zahid Hasan told.

No one was detained during the seizure, he said.

The pills, which were smuggled from Myanmar, have an approximate value of around Tk 20.14 million, he added.

The newly appointed four judges of the High Court Division took oath on Monday.

Chief Justice Mohammad Muzammel Hossain administered the oath while Supreme Court Registrar A K M Shamsul Islam moderated the programme. Justices from both the divisions of the Supreme Court were present at the programme.

The four judges are – Justice Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, Justice Mohammad Khasruzzaman, Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice Mohammad Nazrul Islam Talukder.

They were appointed as additional judges of the High Court on Nov 4, 2010. There services have been regularised on Sunday in line with Article 95 (1) of the Constitution.

With the new appointments, there are 98 judges in the High Court now bringing down the number of additional judges to 20. The Appellate Division has seven judges.

Ferry service through Mawa in Padma river came to almost standstill as the only terminal in operation there were under threat due to river-erosion and strong current.

According to BIWTA Mawa terminal officials, the number 1 ferry terminal suddenly perished in the Padma River around 7pm on Sunday. Fifteen shops that were there on the river-bank also lost in the river. Several people standing on the pontoon and the river-bank also fell in the river. Five of them were missing till Monday morning, they said.

Under the circumstances, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority on Sunday night requested all vehicles to use Paturia to cross the river.

Meanwhile, cracks were seen on the new number 4 terminal, which was ready to put in operation. Terminal officials said land from under the terminal 3, which is in operation, has started eroding.

"On Oct 9 the number 2 terminal were closed down due to erosion. Just after five days number 1 terminal faced the similar fate. Work to prepare the number 4 terminal as alternative was underway, but cracks were seen on it at night," Assistant General Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Ashikuzzaman said.

"Tension is running high in Mawa," he added.

He said the fire service divers could not conduct rescue operations at night due to strong current. "They will resume rescue operation in the morning to look for the missing shopkeepers," the BIWTC officer said.

Officer-in-charge of Mawa Police station Khandaker Khalid said four of the five missing have been identified as Byron Mia, 45, Abul Kashem, 60, Janu Mia, 50 and Abul Kalam, 55. All of them are shopkeepers at Mawa and hail from Kandipara village under Medini Mandal union.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Azizul Alam said the BIWTA Chairman has been informed of the overall situation and added that efforts were underway to maintain ferry services.

Munshiganj-2 ruling party MP Sagufta Yasmin, also Parliament Whip, has asked authorities to take immediate steps to look for the missing persons. She also urged the Water Development Board officials to take steps to stop erosion.

bdnews24.com Munshiganj correspondent said that vehicles only in case of emergency were using the number 3 terminal to cross the river. Fewer vehicles were seen at the terminal in the morning.

The government has announced to provide food support for the victims of a storm that rolled through the southern districts on Wednesday.

Disaster Management Minister A H Mahmud Ali on Sunday told a conference at the Press Information Department that each victimised family will get 20 kilograms food grains a month for three months.

The government also allotted Tk 200,000 to build houses urgently in Bhola and Noakhali, he said.

More help will be provided to rehabilitate the victims of the storm, if they need, he added.

At least 27 people died in the storm. Many went missing and are yet to be found.

The government has launched an investigation to find out as to why the weathermen failed to forecast the storm.

The first war crimes tribunal ordered the prosecution to submit a progress report or the full investigation report against Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general A T M Azharul Islam on Dec 2.

The prosecution submitted a progress report of investigations into the Jamaat leader's alleged war crimes.

The prosecution said in its report that it had already collected some material but needs more time to collect more materials and consult witnesses regarding some new allegations that have come up.

The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal – 1, set up to try crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, said it was 'also of the view that some more time is required to complete the investigation'.

Azharul Islam has also been ordered to be present at the court on Dec 2 and the court ordered that an appropriate production warrant be at hand.

In another war crimes case against Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, the tribunal ordered the prosecution to bring its first witness Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury on Oct 21 for the remainder of his cross-examination.

The prosecution witness, according to prosecutor Mir Iqbal Hossain, had taken ill and was not in a position to testify. The prosecution had brought Zahiruddin Jalal for deposition but the tribunal chairman, Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq, said the tribunal was not inclined to introduce another witness without completing another cross-examination in progress.

Jamaat guru and former chief, Ghulam Azam's war crimes investigator Matiur Rahman took the stand for being cross-examined for the rest of the day till lunch.

In over nine months since its formation, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission's anti-cyber crime cell has received over a thousand complaints, most of which centre around the popular social networking site Facebook and are lodged by female students.

Bangladesh Computer Security Incident Response Team (BD-CSIRT), which has been working since Jan 25, has also received complaints including uploading of objectionable videos on YouTube, e-mail threats and websites being hacked.

"We are letting the Facebook authorities know after we get the complaint. The objectionable contents are then being removed from the Facebook pages," the regulatory body's acting chief Gaisuddin Ahmed, also the cell's convenor, told bdnews24.com.

Various complaints are also being lodged against posts on YouTube and other video sharing sites. The sites are urged to remove the posts after complaints are received, one of the cell's cybercrime specialist told bdnews24.com. "Or else we block those sites."

YouTube is currently blocked in Bangladesh after its mother company, Google Inc, refused to pull-down a video, which sparked worldwide protests from muslims for derogatorily representing Prophet Muhammad.

The cell, headed by three cybercrime specialists (given Assistant Director status), has been working since its inception against contents on various websites that spreads national, social, political and religious hatred.

It has been receiving complaints and suggestions from Apr 22 through its e-mail address contact@cirsrt.gov.bd, and have been taking immediate steps on a priority-basis.

Facebook

One of BTRC's cybercrime specialist told bdnews24.com that most of the complaints are being lodged about fake Facebook profiles.

Many have complained that their identities are being used to harass them by opening fake accounts in their name or using their pictures.

To address such allegations, the CSIRT takes a two steps. First it identifies the complainant, if they have Facebook ID, through a copy of photo-IDs sent over mail and then informs the Facebook authorities, who removes the fake accounts within 2-3 weeks.

In case, the complainant does not have Facebook ID, then they have to file a general ID with their local police and send a copy to the cell. The cell then informs the Facebook authority, the BTRC specialist added.

He added that most of the complainants are girls studying in schools and colleges and that most of it is about fake profiles and objectionable pictures.

According to checkfacebook.com, the amount of Facebook users in Bangladesh stand around 1.6 million.

Immediate action

BTRC takes immediate steps to takedown Facebook profiles which spread political and religious hatred. The cybercrime specialist added that the Facebook authorities also takes such matter seriously and reacts immediately.

There are allegations that the recent communal violence in Cox's Bazaar Ramu was sparked by a Facebook post allegedly defaming the Quran. The picture was downloaded and circulated spreading the communal hate.

Police have already arrested an youth for circulation the picture and it was immediately taken off the social networking site due to initiative by the BTRC.

Facebook was first blocked by the Bangladesh government on May 29, 2010. It was reopened after a number of days.

State-run mobile phone operator Teletalk is set to introduce the much-awaited third generation (3G) mobile technology, for the first time in the country, on Sunday that provides video calling, mobile TV, high-speed download.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the service on an experimental basis, Mujibur Rahman, Managing Director of the state-owned cell phone operator, told bdnews24.com.

The official said that they have completed all the preparations in this regard and that the government's aim is to provide 3G technology to Teletalk subscribers very soon.

3G is a term used to represent the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology. It is fully a wireless broadband which is technically called high-speed packet access (HSPA), and it can be enjoyed through 3G- enabled handsets, smartphones and modems. 3G technologies enables faster data-transmission, greater network capacity and more advanced network services.

After installing the 3G technology, the mobile user would enjoy the Real-Time Video Calling, Live Mobile TV, High-Speed Download, HD gaming, e-education, public health, tele-medicine and e-shopping.

A senior official of the Teletalk said that Teletalk Bangladesh Limited would publish advertisements in the newspapers about 3G service this month.

Initial price for a 3G-enabled SIM ((Subscriber Identification Module) will be Tk 1,000 while existing users will get preference. Preparations are over to provide the services to over 300,000 subscribers in the capital initially after the inauguration.

According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, untill August, Teletalk had nearly 1.4 million subscribers of which only 25,000 subscribers are using its internet connection while the six mobile-phone operators had a combined 99.5 million subscribers.

Being the state-run operator, Teletalk was given the opportunity to launch 3G experimentally before other operators. It was supposed to launch the service in March for six months but deferred the launch for 'technical reasons.'

The recently approved 3G licence draft says the spectrum would be auctioned by this year. Teletalk will have to take the 3G spectrum spending the same amount of money like others even if it does not take part in the auction.

Apart from Bangladesh's private operators Grameenphone, Banglalink, Citycell, Airtel and Robi, foreign companies will also be able to take part in the auction.

A Dhaka court on Sunday allowed law enforcers to grill in custody for five days four other suspects of the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

The four – Kamrul Hassan Arun, 'Rafique', 'Bakul' and 'Syed' – are also accused for the murder of BMA leader Dr Narayan Chandra Nitai. Arun was Nitai's driver while the rest were dubbed as 'professional robbers' by the police.

Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Keshab Roy Chowdhury approved the remand following Oct 10 petition by RAB's Investigation and Forensic Wing officer Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohammad Zafar Ullah.

He asked for 10 days to grill them after they were shown arrested for the journalist couple's murder.

On Oct 9, Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir claimed at a press conference to have identified eight persons associated with the killing.

He said one of them, Tanvir, was a family friend of the slain couple. The security guard of the building in which the journalist duo lived, Rudra alias Palash, had also been arrested, he added.

Five of the arrested seven people are also accused in a case filed over the killing of Dr Narayan Chandra Datta Nitai.

The Minister said another person, Humayun alias Enamul, who worked as a security guard in the building Sagar-Runi lived, was also found to be tied to their killing. A Tk 1-million reward for his arrest has been declared.

Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and ATN Bangla's Senior Reporter Meherun Runi were killed at their rented West Rajabazar flat on Feb 11.

The World Bank's three-strong panel to review the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation into alleged corruption in the Padma Bridge project has arrived in Dhaka Sunday morning.

The fate of the $2.9 billion project now depends on the panel's findings, as its report will decide whether the largest financier in the project will return with its $1.2 billion promised fund.

A Bank official in Dhaka, asking not to be named, told bdnews24.com: "The three members of the panel arrived early this morning (Sunday). They will stay until Oct 16."

The panel is led by former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno Ocampo. The two other members are Timothy Tong, former Commissioner of the Independent Commission against Corruption in Hong Kong, and the former director of the UK Serious Fraud Office, Richard Alderman.

The team is expected to have a meeting with the ACC Chairman Ghulam Hossain and other top officials of the graft watchdog Sunday.

When contacted, Ghulam Hossain on Saturday also confirmed bdnews24.com about the meeting over phone. "We will have a meeting with them at the ACC headquarters after lunch."

Officials from both the ACC and the global lender's Dhaka office said the three-member panel will hold several meetings with the anti-corruption body officials.

The WB official in Dhaka said the panel will also meet Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, who is currently in Tokyo, if the minister can make it to Dhaka in time before the delegation's departure.

The Finance Minister is supposed to return to the country at around noon on Oct 16.

The Washington-based multi-national lender on Oct 5 had constituted the panel to review the ACC investigation on the alleged corruptions on the Padma Bridge project.

The government and the ACC have already assured the panel led by former ICC Chief Prosecutor Ocampo of providing all necessary assistance in carrying out the enquiry.
The World Bank on June 29 had cancelled its pledged fund, claiming to have found 'credible evidence' of high-level corruption by government officials, SNC-Lavalin executives and private individuals for the project. But the government has been refuting the allegations.

Amid the government's persuasion, the Bank announced revival of the agreement on Sept 20 but said the final decision would be taken based on its enquiry supervision panel's report.

The Bank's graft probe panel is assigned to supervise the anti-graft watchdog's current investigation into the corruption allegations from outside as per the condition set by the bank.

Ocampo , the 61-year old Argentine criminal law specialist, was vocal against the 'corruption' and 'violation of human rights' by the autocratic government in his own country.

A former member of the advisory board of Transparency International, Ocampo was also an associate professor of Criminal Law at the University of Buenos Aires and a visiting professor at Stanford University and Harvard Law School.

He was appointed as the first prosecutor of the ICC following its formation in 2003.

WB President Jim Yong Kim on Saturday expressed his hopes that the lender's review panel will ensure transparent investigation into the alleged corruption in the project, which is currently being investigated by the ACC.

Bangladesh signed a loan agreement with WB, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development and Japan International Cooperation Agency last year to construct the six-kilometre long bridge, biggest ever infrastructure project in Bangladesh.

However, the implementation of the project was clouded in uncertainty after the World Bank announced that it was pulling out from it.
The global lender earlier suspended its promised fund soon after graft allegations surfaced in the project in September last year. They said they had to scrap the loan agreement as the government did not meet all of their conditions.

After the World Bank decided to cancel funding for the project, former Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain resigned and the Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan was sent on leave, as part of an understanding with the global lending agency.

Besides these moves, the government also agreed to allow the ACC to supervise the investigation into the alleged corruption later.