BANGLADESH

Writer Humayun Ahmed has been keeping 'well' after his second chemo session, which ended on Saturday last and is looking forward to watching Bangladesh's matches against the West Indies.

He also continues to write every day.

"He has not lost his appetite so far," said Mazharul Islam, Anyaprokash chief executive who has been with the writer since he arrived in New York for treating his colon cancer.

Referring to Humayun's loss of appetite after the first chemo cycle, the publisher told bdnews24.com that the writer was doing rather well.

Although not able to churn the same volume as before, Mazhar said Humayun did manage to put out a page or two every day.

"And he is eagerly waiting to watch Bangladesh play the West Indies."

Anyaprokash CEO Mazharul flew to New York on Sep 13 along with Humayun after he had been diagnosed with colon cancer during regular check-up in Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

Mazhar lives in the same three-bedroom apartment in Jamaica, New York along with Humayun and his family.

The writer has been undergoing treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Mazhar said the third round of chemo would begin on Oct 21. But the writer would undergo some tests after the second chemo has set in.

"That is likely to happen just before the third cycle."

The doctors will conduct a round of thorough tests to revaluate Humayun's condition after four such 48-hour cycles. "That will essentially determine the next course of action," Mazharul had told on Sep 24.

Depending on the response, the doctors may choose to continue with the chemotherapy or go for surgery. "However, nothing can be said as yet. They will check to see if his colon tumour has shrunk and whether the liver spots are going away."

Mushfiqur Rahim had to break a long-held superstition after being appointed Bangladesh's captain. For the past six years, he has made it a point not to speak to anyone in the media on the eve of an international match.

Though he stuck to it on every occasion, that all changed on Monday when he spoke of his ambitions as a captain, and the realistic goals he has set ahead of the series against West Indies; he even admitted to prepping himself mentally before he betrayed his routine, reports ESPNcricinfo.

Bangladesh take on West Indies in the solitary Twenty20 on Tuesday, marking Mushfiqur's debut as captain. He hardly resembles one; the towering Darren Sammy even jokingly crouched as they posed with the trophies.

But Mushfiqur wasn't asking the West Indians to bend down as yet, the 23-year-old instead wishing for a good start and a lockdown by the spinners.

"The start is very important," said Mushfiqur. "Like it was against New Zealand who were well prepared last year, it is going to be the same with West Indies. We need to believe that we can win against them and that will come when we make a good start.

"In international cricket, whether you're a captain or not, there's a lot of pressure. We'll get home support and help from the wicket, so I think sometimes it's better to look at the positives," he added.

He wants to mark his ascent as the leader of the pack with change in Bangladesh's fortunes.

"We couldn't find the results as expected during the last tour. I want the team to perform as a unit. The difference that I want to create is by finding positive results," said Mushfiqur.

Coach Stuart Law, in his first home series in charge, believed that the new skipper is the sort of character everyone wants in a team.

"Mushy is very much his own man," said Law.

"He's very driven and knows what he needs to do to get the best out of himself.

"He's one of those players you love having in your team. He works very hard and hopefully that ethic comes into the team now. He's a great example to the younger players.

"I believe we can win the series. West Indies are a good outfit. We have to play well to beat them. They're ranked higher than us, I believe we go into this as the underdog.

"As long as we play smart cricket, we are a force at home," he said, adding that he wanted some international teams taking part in the BCB Cup though he regarded the preparatory one-day tournament as satisfactorily 'competitive'.

Two scientists at Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka have been served show-cause notice for talking to media about the 21-day power cut at the Centre.

The chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), under which the Centre runs, has asked them to explain within seven working days 'why action should not be taken against them' for talking to a television channel on Oct 3.

The seven-day countdown started on Sunday.

The Centre in the Dhaka University area went without power on Sep 13 due to a cable burn.

The no-electricity situation worried the scientists as the Centre provides analytical services like measuring radioactivity in exported and imported food items, and licences to the hospitals and clinics for radiation-emitting installations like x-ray machines.

"Lack of refrigeration can affect functioning of testing mechanism standards, which would then give errors in analytical services," they said, adding, "A wrong measurement could lead to cancellation of an export order, and thus earn bad name to Bangladesh".

But director of the Centre Muhammad Ali told bdews24.com on Oct 2, two days before the power was restored after 21 days that 'it rather saved government's electricity'. "I have personally instructed scientists to preserve their chemicals wherever they can."

Aggrieved by the director's comment, scientists opened their mouth and spoke to some television channels on Oct 3 about the possible damage to the Centre due to the power cut.

At least seven scientists and staff talked to various television channels about the situation, but the Commission's chairman surprisingly chose to served notice to only two of them – Dr Md Manjur Ahsan and Dr AKM Fazle Kibria – in line with the Commission's service rule 53.

Chairman ASM Firoz said he found the two talking to a Bangla Vision news channel on Oct 3 at 7.30pm.

"If there were others, we would ask them also to show cause," he said, adding, "It's tantamount to misconduct, which is a punishable crime."

When asked what they spoke about, he said, they talked without prior permission from the Commission.

The Commission's general conduct rule 53 titled 'fidelity and secrecy' states: "Every employee shall maintain strict secrecy regarding the Commission's affairs and the affairs of its establishments and shall not communicate directly or indirectly to any person information which has come into his possession in the course of his duties whether from official sources or otherwise, unless required to do so by law or directed by a superior officer in the discharge of his duties."

A former chairman of the Commission told that this rule was applicable to 'classified' issues only, leaking of which could pose threat to country's security.

"Explaining simple power cut situation to media would not fall within the purview of the rule," he said requesting anonymity.

When asked about the explanation of a former chairman, Firoz said, "Ok, then they will say it in the reply."

"They can write whatever they feel like in their response."

Persona beauty parlour says it has removed closed-circuit cameras from the service rooms of all its branches following a High Court order.

"Cameras at all the branches have been removed around 5pm [on Monday] after the court order," Persona's senior executive Nigar Sultana told  Monday night.

Asked if the cameras have indeed been removed as Nigar claimed, the beauty parlour's chief, Kaniz Almas Khan, in a text message to said, 'Yes.'

A bench of justices Farid Ahmed and Sheikh Hassan Arif ordered the government on Monday to take out all such cameras following a writ petition filed earlier in the day by Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation chief executive Elina Khan.

The writ was filed after a doctor, who went to the parlour's Banani branch on Sept 30 for a spa, found a closed-circuit camera in her dressing room after she used it.

The woman made a verbal complaint with police and the media for filming her.

Earlier on Oct 1, Kaniz had told bdnews24.com that the cameras were there for security reasons and she did not think they were violating anyone's privacy.

Raging debates ensued on social networking sites such as Facebook over camera use in beauty parlours on security excuse.

A committee, headed by Gulshan zone additional deputy commissioner of police Nizamul Haque Mollah, is investigating the incident.

Persona has eight branches in Dhaka -- six for women and two for men -- and one in Chittagong.

In Monday's rule, the High Court also asked the government to explain why it would not be directed to formulate a policy for CC camera installation in beauty parlours.

Earlier, five lawyers of Dhaka judges' court served a legal notice on Kaniz over the incident.

The prime minister was briefed about the raid after it led to arrest of three Dhaka police detectives, a senior NSI official has said.

Md Shafiq Ullah, an NSI director, had told bdnews24.com's chief crime correspondent Liton Haider and several other journalists at the NSI headquarters on Monday that the NSI director-general had informed the prime minister about the arrest of the three policemen.

"The prime minister had asked for measures (against the DMP inspectors)," he added.

bdnews24.com reported quoting director Shafiq that prime minister Sheikh Hasina was informed before the operationwas carried out and that she had authorised the raid.

Later, he called up to explain that not before, but after the raid was the prime minister filled in by the NSI director-general.

Bangladesh's top intelligence outfit issued a strong rebuttal of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch (DB) inspectors who claimed they had been subjected to physical torture in custody.

The NSI director said "a certain group" was out to destroy the image of "both the police and the NSI".

"We'll ask the Prime Minister's Office for departmental action against the three inspectors arrested while taking bribe, their team leader assistant commissioner and those who are dishing out false information to the media," Md Shafiq Ullah said.

NSI EXPLAINS EVENTS

Dhaka Metropolitan Police's DB inspectors Shafiuddin Sheikh, Ruhul Amin and Gias Uddin were temporarily suspended on Oct 6 following their arrest by NSI officials in front of the Holy Family Hospital at Maghbazar.

NSI officials on Sunday claimed that they had set up a trap there to catch 'fake DB officials' following information from a businessman.

On Monday, Shafiq Ullah told reporters that the businessman, 'Jewel', a pharmacy owner, had been picked up from a gambling joint in Badda by the three officers.

"According to Jewel, the officers took all the money in that joint and forced Jewel to call his wife for more money. They met in Karwan Bazar and took a chequebook from Jewel's wife," he said.

He added that the trio was found in possession of a cheque of Tk 300,000 signed by Jewel, and two more cheques from that book.

Meanwhile, DB has launched a probe into the allegation that NSI officials had taken the three officers in custody and tortured them even after they had identified themselves as police officers on the spot.

The suspended detectives are currently admitted at Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital with injuries.

Shafiq Ullah said the allegations of torture were untrue. "NSI has the authority to make arrests. So it did nothing illegal," he said.

"And the detectives arrived within 10/15 minutes of bringing them here," he added, "So there was no room for any torture to take place."

"I myself called the IGP and the DMP chief immediately after the arrest," Shafiq Ullah said. "And NSI additional director Aminul Haq called DB deputy commissioner Monirul Islam."

When asked how inspector Shafiudin had received an injury to the eye, Shafiq Ullah said it may have happened seizing his weapon.

Awami League has advised that one of two Narayanganj mayoral candidates, Shamim Osman and Selina Hayat Ivy, to withdraw.

"Having two party candidates will split the votes," joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said on Monday evening. "Winning the election will be difficult. So we've advised one of them to withdraw candidacy."

Both the Awami League members went to Ganabhaban, the prime minister's official residence, in the evening.

They had gone to seek blessings from the party president Sheikh Hasina, Hanif said.

They held separate meetings with the prime minister.

However, despite the party's insistence, both candidates were adamant that they will win the vital Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor polls, a source within the party said.

The two have held several meetings with top leaders amid warnings from the Election Commission about party interference in the city elections which are stipulated to be 'non-partisan'.

"According to the electoral code of conduct, we cannot back any candidate. Wait until Oct 12," the joint general-secretary said.

Oct 12 is the deadline to withdraw nomination papers from the polls.

The polls will be held on Oct 30. All eight nomination papers submitted for the mayorship were approved by the EC.

The deputy commissioner (DC) of Narayanganj district will remain out of duty during the Narayanganj City Corporation NCC) polls.

DC Mohammad Shamsur Rahman confirmed it at a meeting of the district law and order committee on Monday.

"I'm going abroad on one-month leave for training. The city corporation elections are being held under the overall supervision and control of the Election Commission and the district administration is working as per its directives," he said.

Participants in the meeting demanded that the elections be held in a free, fair and neutral manner and without any influence.

District Awami League's convening committee member Mohammad Shahidullah demanded that army personnel be deployed for security during the elections and the 'identified' criminals of every ward be arrested.

Narayanganj-2 (Araihazar) constituency MP Nazrul Islam Babu and Narayanganj-3 (Sonargaon-Siddhirganj) constituency MP Abdullah Al Kaiser were also present at the meeting.

Opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia has reminded the government of a 'final' anti-government movement, to be announced after the road marches.

"We will announce the final movement programme soon. You must all prepare for that programme. We will remove this government and put a patriotic one in place," she said, addressing the last way-side rally of the Sylhet-bound four-party road march at Sherpur of Moulvibazar on Monday night.

Khaleda said she has a strong belief that the four-party alliance will form government if the election is held under a caretaker government.

BNP chief said, "Still there is time, do not make the people suffer anymore. Hand over power to a caretaker government for election. We do not want movement – we want a peaceful handover of power."

The march entered Sylhet around 10.20pm Monday, BNP chairperson's press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told bdnews24.com.

The convoy set off for the road march from the party's Naya Paltan headquarters at 10.50am. Thousands of supporters stood on the both sides of the highway and greeted the opposition leader by clapping their hands together.

Khaleda briefly addressed rallies at Naryanganj's Tarab Bus Stand intersection, and Narsinghdi's Itakhola, Madhabdi and Polash, Brahmanbaria's Kottapara and Moulvibazar's Sherpur.

More than a thousand vehicles that comprised the march clogged up traffic on Dhaka-Sylhet highway for hours.

The opposition chief retired to Sylhet Circuit House for the night. She will visit the shrine of saint Shahjalal on Tuesday morning and end the road march with her address to a public meeting at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground in the afternoon.

The country's two intelligence agencies, National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Detective Branch (DB) of police, are at loggerheads over the suspension of three DB inspector over allegations of bribery.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police's DB inspectors Shafiuddin Sheikh, Ruhul Amin and Gias Uddin were temporarily suspended on Thursday following their arrest by NSI officials in front of the Holy Family Hospital at Maghbazar.

NSI officials claimed that they set up a trap in front of the hospital to catch 'fake DB officials' following information from a businessman. The detectives were arrested as they entered the scene.

Meanwhile, DB police have alleged that NSI officials had taken the three officers in custody and tortured them even after they had identified themselves as police officers on the spot.

The suspended detectives are currently admitted at Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital with injuries.

DB joint commissioner Mir Shahidul Islam, leading a committee investigating the matter, told bdnews24.com: "The committee will send a letter to NSI to present the businessman 'Jewel', who provided the information to NSI, before the committee."

He said, "I have already discussed the matter with an NSI official and we've also visited the spot."

Quoting his NSI co-worker, Islam said, "NSI conducted the raid that day as they had information that some people were committing acts of fraud by claiming themselves as DB officials."

"The investigation is now at the initial stage. The decision will be taken after scrutinising the allegations and statements of the detectives and NSI officials."

An NSI official, seeking anonymity, told bdnews24.com: "Those detectives didn't identify themselves on the spot. Though, they were arrested on Thursday, they had been contacting Jewel from two days ago. They were demanding extortion from him."

He claimed that the three directly fell in their trap which they had set up following the complaint Jewel filed with them on Wednesday.

"They identified themselves as DB officials after they were taken at the NSI headquarters. We handed them over to the DB authorities after contacting them."

He also said that DB's assistant commissioner Sanwar Hossain also linked with the three.

The intelligence officer refuted the allegation of torture. "These police officers have records of illegal activities."

At a press briefing on Sunday, DMP commissioner Benazir Ahmed said, "Investigations are underway against the police officers including Sanwar. Measures will be taken following probe report."

AC Sanwar dismissed the allegation against him and said, "I've talked to the detectives. They said they were beaten severely with sticks."

"Inspector Shafiuddin has received injuries in his left eye while doctors are keeping Ruhul Amin asleep as he got badly hurt in the head," he said.

A robbery has taken place at a bank employee's residence in the Capital's Jatrabari.

Police reported that the incident took place around 3am Sunday morning at Jatrabari's Kajir Ga in Matuyail Pashchimpara.

The law enforcement agency also said that the robbers had looted the family at gunpoint and escaped with Tk. 300,000 in cash and 50 'bhari' of gold.

Jatrabari police chief Abul Kashem told bdnews24.com that the bank employee, Haji Delowar Hossain, was injured when he was attacked with a meat-cleaver.

Kashem added that "a band of 15 to 20 robbers had broken through the main entrance to the house, and had robbed the family."

However, the police chief could name the bank in which Hossain was employed. He also said that no cases had been filed with the station yet.

At least three in ten people suffer from one form of mental illness or the other in Bangladesh, but most of them do not consider it as an 'illness', aggravating their condition, according to mental health experts.

"The number is increasing by the day as society and lifestyle change," Prof Golam Rabbani, director at the National Institute of Mental Health, told bdnews24.com on Sunday, a day before World Mental Health Day.

This year, the day's theme is to encourage investments in prevention, treatment and promoting awareness of mental illnesses.

"People with mental disorders are mostly neglected and traumatised," Rabbani said. On many occasions they believe it is not an illness and only see a psychologist or psychiatrist when things get worse.

Taslima Akhter who comes twice a week at the institute to take therapy for her diagnosed 'obsessive-compulsive disorder' said she did not realise at first that it was an illness.

"She used to wash and clean hands and cooking utensils again and again. Even she changes dishes quite often. Things were getting worse every day," her husband Moslem Ali told bdnews24.com. First, he too could not understand it was a disease.

"We saw a psychiatrist at one of our relatives' request," he said, adding the doctor said the condition had advanced.

Studies of the institute show 16 percent above 18 years of age go through some form of mental illnesses while the rate is 18 percent among children aged between five and 17 years.

The studies also found prevalence of the disease in rural Bangladesh too.

"Earlier families used to live together, but they are nuclear now. Their (people's) demand is growing, but most of the time they cannot fulfil them due to soaring costs.

"It raises the risk of mental illnesses," Rabbani said.

"But their depression and mode disorders remain unnoticed, until (the condition) aggravates."

One study found children of older parents, nuclear family and families with a mental disorder are more likely to do drugs.

Strong link was found between mental disorders and drug abuse in the study.

Father's low educational background, parents' mental disturbances and birth trauma are significantly linked with children's mental retardation and epilepsy, according to the institute of mental health's survey.

"Mental disorders not only cripple a person or a family, but also stand in the way of building a bright future generation," Rabbani said, They also adversely impact the whole healthcare system.

"It never received priority on the health agenda before as it gets now," he said.

"Earlier treatment was concentrated in larger hospitals. But now the government has decided to take it to the grassroots."

The director said health workers and doctors were being trained up and community health care centres would be equipped to offer primary treatment. The five-year sector plan for health integrated mental health with other physical illnesses.

"But the action should be consistent," he said, soliciting support from the private sector and NGOs to ensure 'a sound mind in a sound body', to all.

The Indian media says the four Kashmiri medical students who went 'missing' in Sylhet were in fact interrogated by the Indian intelligence, with support from Bangladeshi authorities.

The students were questioned in connection with Washim Ahmed, another Kashmiri student studying in Dhaka, who was arrested by National Intelligence Agency (NIA) with regard to the Delhi High Court blast, said Indian newspaper The Hindu on Sunday.

The paper quoting the Press Trust of India news agency said on its online edition the four hailed from Kishtwar in Kashmir valley, Washim's hometown.

Two interns and two students of private Ragib-Rabeya Medical College hailing from India, who were missing from Thursday, returned to the campus on Sunday.

The college authorities said plainclothes men who identified themselves as member of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) had taken them away for questioning from their hostels.

RAB and the police have so far denied any involvement.

The private medical college authorities kept the media from speaking to the students. The interns are Tosaddek Rashed and Amir Amin Reshmi and the students are Taosif Ahmed and Danesh Batt.

The Hindu said an NIA team came to Sylhet to question them to get details about Washim. But they were let off after the NIA team found nothing to back their investigation.

When asked about the incident, home minister Shahara Khatun declined to comment, saying the matter is 'sensitive'.

"Investigation into the matter is underway," she told reporters.