print edition: 13 jan 2014

8/13/2019 Print Edition: 13 Jan 2014

1/21

One killed, 25 injured in

BCLShibir clash at CUnFM Mizanur Rahaman

An Islami Chhatra Shibir activist was

killed, and 25 others injured, in a clash

between Bangladesh Chhatra League

and Shibir men at Chittagong Universi-

ty yesterday afternoon. Of the injured,

two are in critical condition.

The deceased was Mamun Hossain,

a fourth year student of soil science,

and also general secretary of Shah

Amanat Hall unit of Shibir.

Campus sources said 25 to 26 per-

sons, from both the sides, sustained

injuries during the clashes.

Police and witnesses said the clash

erupted around 1:45pm when Shibir

men fired several gunshots from

Amanat Hall as a procession of BCL was

crossing the area.

Sources said BCL men equippedwith firearms and sharp weapons en-

tered the hall and clashed with Shibir

men, and at least 50 rounds were

exchanged in the firefight betweengroups during the incident.

AFM Nizamuddin, an assistant su-

perintendent of police of Hathazari

circle, told the Dhaka Tribune they had

dispersed both the groups after firing,

and that 18 Shibir men were arrested.

Jahirul Islam, a sub-inspector at the

police outpost at the Chittagong Medical

College Hospital, said five of the injured

were rushed to the hospital. The on-du-

ty doctors announced Mamun dead.

Shibir activists Rahat Hossain of the

physics department, Amjad Hossain

of the mathematics department andShahshul Hoque Roki of botany and

BCL activist Enamul Hoque of history,

are undergoing treatment at the hospi-

tal. Rahat and Rokis conditions were

critical according to CMCH sources.

Mostafizur Rahman, the general sec-

retary of the CU unit of Shibir, alleged

that the BCL men had launched the at-tack in a preplanned manner with the

assistance of law enforcers. One of our

leaders was killed and 15 others injured

in the attack, he said.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

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Vol 1 No 290 MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com SECOND EDITION

13|BROTHERS SINK SHEIKH RUSSELL

I

I

73% Under Govt control33,358.08 acres

27% Grabbed Land16,580 acres

:

7|16,000 ACRES OF LAND G RABBED 9|SISI CONSIDERS PRESIDENTIAL BIDB1|NEW MARKETS BOOST RMG EXPORT

Interview7Dr Nusrat Rabbee, daughter of Dr Fazle Rabbee, a

key witness in war crimes trial, talks about her vision

of 1971, recent political turmoil, and Jamaat-e-Islami.

News5 The December-March period is considered the

prime time for tourism in Bangladesh. Businessmen

engaged in this sector usually earn huge profits that

help keep their businesses afloat all year round.

INSIDE

24 first-timers for new cabinetHasina brings back stalwarts, defends JaPas inclusion in national consensus govtnKamran Reza Chowdhury and

Emran Hossain Shaikh

The Awami League yesterday formed a

49-member cabinet led by Prime Min-

ister Sheikh Hasina and inducting op-

position Jatiya party representatives

into the government, apparently to give

people the impression that it was capa-

ble of facing the political challenges and

restore normality in the country follow-

ing the January 5 general election.

Hasina also dropped majority of the

ministers from the previous cabinet

for incompetence and controversy,and incorporated some fresh figures in-

cluding four from the young generation

to bring dynamism to the new council

of ministers.

Half of the new cabinet, 24 individ-

uals, has emerged as ministers for the

first time.Some party leaders got reward for

honesty while some for serving the

party for long. The premier also chose

four members among the religious mi-

norities.

Eleven ministers and two state

ministers from the last cabinet, which

numbered over 50, have been left out.

President Abdul Hamid adminis-

tered oaths to the 29 ministers, 17 state

PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Now PMs special envoy, Ershad

ready to join parliamentnKamran Reza Chowdhury

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yes-

terday said he would attend the parlia-

ment sessions, though would not say

anything about his sickness for which

he had been at Combined Military Hos-

pital since December 12.

The Dhaka Tribune talked to him

when he was surrounded by intelli-

gence offi cials who practically brought

him to Bangabhaban, for the oath-tak-

ing ceremony of the new cabinet.

Many of his top leaders did not meet

him at the garden where the guests had

refreshments. Ruhul Amin Hawlader,

the JaPa secretary general, and Abu

Hossain Babla, however, were with him

until he left the scene.

Rawshan Ershad, already select-

ed as the opposition leader, met him,

but the couple of 60 years had a veryfew words. Rawshan led her party to

the election as Ershad first announced

taking part in the elections and thenseemed stubborn to boycott the polls.

He was allowed to go to his

Baridhara residence yesterday evening

after the Cabinet Division issued a cir-cular making him a special envoy to the

prime minister.

Where are you sir, are you fine?

the Dhaka Tribune asked him as the in-

telligen ce offi cials were esco rting him

out of the Bangabhaban.

Ershad remained silent.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

BNP goes to courtto challenge

January 5 electionnNazmus Sakib

The BNP, who earlier vehemently op-

posed the courts ruling that scrapped

the caretaker government system,

terming it interference, has moved to

the High Court, asking it to cancel the

just-concluded parliamentary polls.

The opposition party yesterday af-

ternoon filed a writ petition, and also

urged the court to pass an order requir-

ing the government to hold a fresh elec-

tion with the participation of all politi-

cal parties and people.

Zainul Abdin Farroque, central pub-

licity secretary of the BNP, yesterday

afternoon registered the writ petition.

The petition says the oath of MPs is

contrary to the constitution as articles

123(3) and 148(3) make it clear that tak-

ing an oath means assu ming offi ce, and

the MPs of the 10th parliament cannottake over offi ce until the n inth parl ia-

ment expires on January 24.

Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim, the law-yer and central human rights secretary

PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Controversial ministersdropped from the cabinetnMuhammad Zahidul Islam

Most of the members of the last cabinet,

who the Awami League leaders think

have given rise to controversies over

the last five years, have been dropped

from the newly-formed cabinet.

Awami League General Secretary

and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam,

who retained his portfolio, told report-

ers yesterday that those who had failed

to properly carry out their duties during

the previous term were not considered.

The ministers, who featured in

the immediate past cabinet and were

dropped either because they per-formed poorly or there were criminal or

graft allegations against them, include

Suranjit Sengupta, Hasan Mahmud,

Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Dipu Moni,

Shahara Khatun, AFM Ruhal Haque,

Mostafa Faruque Mohammed, AbulHasan Mahmud Ali, Muhiuddin Khan

Alamgir, Rezaul Karim Hira, Abul Kal-

am Azad, Muhammad Faruk Khan, Ab-

dur Razzaque, Afsarul Ameen, Abdul

Latif Biswas and Ramesh Chandra Sen.

GM Quader, commerce minister of

the previous cabinet, could not win the

election in his constituency.

Among the state ministers, Jahangir

Kabir Nanak, Mahbubur Rahman Talu-

kdar, AB Tajul Islam, Ahad Ali Sarkar,

Md Shahjahan Miah, Md Motahar Hos-

sain, Mozibur Rahman Fakir, Omor

Faruk Chowdhury and Md Abdul Hyee

lost thei r offi ces too.

Former state ministers Abdul Man-

nan Khan and Dipanker Talukder failed

to win in the January 5 elections, whileMuhammad Enamul Huq failed to get

party nominations.

In April 2012, law enforcers caught

one of the personal aides of former rail-

way minister Suranjit Sengupta with

Tk74 lakh undisclosed cash. The aide

was allegedly carrying the money to

Suranjits residence. Suranjit, who was

included in the last cabinet following a

reshuffl e, was made a minister wit houtportfolio after he decided to quit fol-

lowing the incident.

According to the affi davit tha t was

placed with the Election Commission

(EC), former environment minister

Hasan Mahmuds wife owned assets

worth a staggering 2,290 times more

than five years back.

Former state minister for water re-

sources Mahbubur Rahman Talukdar

now owns an astronomical 2,865 acres

of land. Five years ago he owned only

20 acres.

Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju was shifted

from the telecom ministry to the labour

ministry following allegations that hewas attached to illegal call termination

PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition Rawshan Ershad and PMs Special Envoy HM Ershad

share a light moment after the swearing in of the new cabinet members at Bangabhaban yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE


2/21

News2 DHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, January 13, 2014

Controversial ministers dropped from the boardPAGE 1 COLUMN 6

business, better known as illegal VoIP

business. There were also allegations

against him following a murder in his

hometown Narsingdi.

Dipu Moni, the first female foreign

minister in the countrys history, was

widely criticised for her frequent over-

seas tours, that cost the government

exchequer huge sums every time.

Shahara Khatun, the first female

home minister in history, was Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasinas confidante,

but there had always been questionsregarding her effi ciency as a m inister.

She was made the post and telecom-

munications minister after she failed

to perform satisfactorily as the home

minister.

AFM Ruhal Haque, while serving as

the health minister over the last five

years, was also involved in the telecom

business. He used to run an Interna-tional Gateway (IGW) that owed the

government more than Tk50 crore and

recently went off-air.

Mostafa Faruque Mohammed and

Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali became min-

isters by chance after Tofail Ahmed

and Rashed Khan Menon turned down

offers to become ministers during the

2012 reshuffe of the cabinet. So, their

exclusion from the new cabinet was

not surprising.

Former law minister Shafique

Ahmed and industries minister Dilip

Barua, were appointed advisers to the

prime minister.

Although dropped from the polls-

time government, former state min-

ister for land Mostafizur Rahman has

been made full minister in the new cab-

inet. State Minister for Science Yeafesh

Osman and State Minister for Women

and Children Affairs Meher Afroze re-

tained their portfolios.

Syed Abul Hossain and Tanzim

Ahmed Sohel Taz, minister and state

minister in the previous cabinet re-

spectively, resigned from their posts.

The previous cabinets state min-

ister for women and childrens affairs

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected

as the Speaker of Parliament.

A minister of the polls-time gov-

ernment, Rawshan Ershad has already

been appointed the Leader of the Op-

position in parliament. Poll-time min-

ister ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader was

not considered for the new cabinet ei-

ther.

Former state ministers Salma Islam,

Monnujan Sufian and Shamsul Hoque

Tuku were also dropped.

Two former senior ministers AK

Khandakar and Enamul Hoque Mus-

tafa Shaheed withdraw from battle of

ballots because of their old age.l

24 first-timers for new cabinetPAGE 1 COLUMN 1

ministers and two deputy ministers at

Bangabhaban, in presence of a hugenumber of guests including ambassa-

dors of the different resident missions

in Bangladesh.

Out of the 300 seats, 153 MPs were

elected uno pposed whi le offi cial fig -

ures showed less than 40% people cast

their votes in the 10th parliamentary

polls, which the BNP-led 18-party alli-

ance boycotted.

The premier made Jatiya Party

(JaPa) Chairman HM Ershad a special

envoy of the government with the rank

of a minister, his wife Rawshan Ershad

the opposition leader, and made one

other full minister and two state min-

isters from his party.

Similarly, she picked Rashed Khan

Menon of the Workers Party, Anwar

Hossain Manju of the Jatiya Party

(Manju faction) and Hasanul Haq Inu

of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) for the

cabinet which the party leaders call a

government of national consensus.

Experts and academicians say the

induction of JaPa in the cabinet would

make the 10th parliament an opposi-tion-free legislature, which would not

be critical of the Hasina government.

While talking to reporters at the

Bangabhaban ground, Hasina defend-

ed her decision to include the JaPa

members in the cabinet. You always

suggest we work together. Again, you

criticise when we do so.

She said it was her governments pri-

ority to bring normality to the country.

The AL president also inducted into

the cabinet two top leaders Tofail

Ahmed and Amir Hossain Amu, whom

she had not included in the 2009 cab-

inet, and scaled down demoted them,

as they had demanded reforms in the

party during the tenure of the mili-

tary-backed caretaker government in

2007.

Hasina did not include any of herfamily members in the cabinet.

According to more than one sourc-

es close to the prime minister, Hasina

thinks that the BNPJamaat may create

obstacles in every step of the govern-

ment through violence, in the name of

movement. They will try to prove the

government a failed one.

The premier has kept experienced

politicians like Amu, Tofail, Moham-

mad Nasim, Menon, Inu and Abdul

Latif Siddiqui in her cabinet to face the

BNP and its allies both politically and

authoritatively, the sources said.

Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal, a JSD

lawmaker, told the Dhaka Tribune that

the main challenge for the new gov-

ernment would be to unite the whole

nation following the BNPJamaat alli-

ances violent politics.

He opposed JaPas inclusion in the

cabinet saying: This [offering the op-

position party a cabinet position] is an

impossible practice. You will not find

any [example] of such practice [else-

where], that is what I can say as stu-

dent of politica l science.

The government would, of course,

try to consolidate its authority and

bring normality.

Menon, the civil aviation minister,

told the Dhaka Tribune that the gov-

ernment had been capable of handling

the violent politics of the BNPJamaat.

In future, the BNPJamaat will

launch more agitation. So, we need ex-

perienced politicians to face them. We

want to assure the people that this gov-

ernment will ensure good governance,

he said.

He said the new government had a

blend of experienced politicians and

young leaders.

Jatiya Partys inclusion in the cabi-

net will make the government stronger.

We can face the oppositions agitationsand violent politics well in future. Bit-

ter criticism in parliament will make

the government unpopular, Mujibul

Haque (Chunnu), a JaPa lawmaker who

was made state minister for labour and

employment, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Senior AL lawmaker Rahmat Ali

told the Dhaka Tribune that the peo-

ple thought the government might not

last long as it had happened in the past.

But Sheikh Hasina has formed an in-

clusive cabinet that will earn peoples

confidence through good governance,

ultimately benefitting the party, he

said.

Following the ceremony, AL General

Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the

present gover nment would b e in offi ce

for a full five years.

The ministers of the previous cab-

inet who were not picked for the newcabinet had failed to discharge their

duties, said the LGRD minister. The

prime minister would maintain a zero

tolerance approach to corruption.

He also said Hasina would investi-

gate the alleged corruption of any new

ministers, and, if proved, would take

action.

Asked about Syed Ashrafs comment

on the ministers left out, former food

minister Abdu Razzaq told the Dhaka

Tribune that he could make such re-

marks as the partys general secretary.

We are not in the cabinet as Sheikh

Hasina tried to separate the govern-

ment from the party. So, many of the

former ministers holding important

party positions were dropped, Dipu

Moni, a former foreign minister and

the ALs organising secretary, told the

Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, many of the members

of the previous cabinet were seen look-

ing shocked at Bangabhaban. Many ju-

nior MPs were also shocked to see first

time MPs in the new cabinet.Former state minister for home

Shamsul Haque Tuku sat at the last cor-

ner of the ceremonial hall. He sat un-

moved with eyes closed while the cab-

inet secretary was calling the names of

new ministers.

Former telecom, and also home

minister, Shahara Khatun was seen

sleeping during the ceremony.

Former leader of Bangladesh Chha-

tra League and MP from Faridpur Ab-

dur Rahman, who on S aturday told the

Dhaka Tribune that he desired to be a

minister, also sat in the far corner of the

Darbar Hall.

He was muttering with a stiff face as

the cabinet secretary announced the

names of Shahriar Alam and Zunaid

Ahmed Palak as state ministers.

One Jubo Mahila League leader wasseen patting her forehead telling one

of her fellow colleagues that the junior

MPs had been really lucky. All is for

luck, for luck, she said.

After taking oaths, most of the new

ministers touched the feet of party

President and Prime Minster Sheikh

Hasina.

Party sources said as reward for

honesty and successes, the premier

kept in offi ce AMA Muhith, Matia

Chowdhury, Syed Ashraf, Mujibul Haq,

Mustafizur Rahman Fizar, Yeafesh Os-

man in her cabinet. Obaidul Quader,

Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya

and Quamrul Islam were chosen for

their role in the last five years.

Mymensingh MP Matior Rahman,

Emaz Uddin Pramanik and Shamsur

Rahman Sharif were chosen to honour

their contribution for the party for long

years.

Hasina made Saifuzzaman Chow-

dhury Javed a state minister to keep

her word she had given to his father

Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu

while he was undergoing treatment in

Singapore.

Anisul Haq, chief prosecutor of

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

murder case and also son of late Serajul

Haq who was close to Bangabandhu,

has become MP and minister for the

first time ever.

Junaid Ahmed Palak, Shahriar Alam,

Mirza Azam, Abdullah Al Islam and Arif

Khan Joy were picked up among the

new generation lawmakers.

Biren Sikder, Promode Mankin,

Narayan Chandra Chondo and Bir Ba-

hadur were made ministers as they

represent different religions.

Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, AKM

Mozammel Haq and Syed Mohsin Ali,

among others, have been chosen from

regional perspective.Agriculture Minister Matia Chowd-

hury told the Dhaka Tribune that the

prime minister had shaped the cabinet

with the combination of experienced

and new leaders with a view to take

Bangladesh ahead.

About dropping the controversial

leaders, she said: The prime minister

has already announced not to allow

anyone who is controversial and con-

nected with corruption...To be fair be-

fore the people, she [Hasina] did not al-

low anyone even having far connection

with corruption. l

ManmohancongratulatesHasina

nTribune Report

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

telephoned Sheikh Hasina yesterday to

congratulate her on assuming the offi ce

of the prime minister.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan

Singh sent a message of felicitations

to HE Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister

of Bangladesh, and also called her on

the telephone this evening to convey

his good wishes to her on assumption

of the offi ce of Prime Minis ter after the

recent elections in Bangladesh, said a

statement issued by the Indian foreign

ministry yesterday.

Manmohan also wished Hasina and

the people of Bangladesh all success in

the endeavour to strengthen the demo-cratic institutions of the country.

A day after the 10th parliamentary

election, the Indian government said

poll was a constitutional requirement.

They were part of the internal and con-

stitutional process of Bangladesh.l

Ashraf: New governmentfor five yearsnTribune report

Awami League General Secretary Syed

Ashraful Islam yesterday said the new

government has assumed power for

five years as per the constitution.

Of course, we are here for five years.

You [journalists] please go through the

constitution and then you will see what

is there, the UNB quoted the leader as

saying. Ashraf made the remarks yes-

terday while talking to reporters at the

lawn of Bangabhaban, soon after taking

oath as a new minister.

About holding dialogue with BNP,

he said the next election will be held

when there will be a consensus. But

they [BNP] will have to cut ties with

Jamaat and militancy. They will have

to shun the path of destructive politics

too, Ashraf added.

His comments came as Finance Min-

ister AMA Muhith categorically said

there was an offer for a mid-term elec-

tion within a short time depending on

political consensus.

Talking to reporters at his secretariat

offi ce after bei ng sworn in as a mi nis-

ter, Muhith said there was a qualitative

change in the recent election compared

to last years polls.

We have not been comfortable be-

cause of the low turnout in the recent

poll as the main opposition party boy-

cotted the election; but we have a good

record for setting up a good election sys-tem in the last five years he also said.

The minister also said the main chal-

lenge of Bangladesh would be to become

a middle-income country within 2021.

Bangladesh had performed tremen-

dously in reducing the poverty rate, b ut

the big challenge was to enhance the

countrys domestic growth rate within

the next couple of years, he said.

Muhith expressed hopes that the

countrys growth rate would be good ifthe present government had total au-

thority and power in 64 districts.

Saying the tender process for Padma

Bridge would be completed within four

months and the entire project complet-

ed within two years, Muhith assured

that foreign donors were not concerned

about the economic situation.

The minister also said it was a good

feeling to be minister again, adding

that he thought he had had a wonder-

ful innings as the finance minister of

the country over the last five years. l

4 aides reinstatedas PMs advisers;Towfiq, Modasserdropped

nMohosinul Karim andRabiul Islam

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has

appointed four advisers dismissing

the previous six who were appointed

during the poll-time government.

Among the six, only Foreign Affairs

Adviser Gowher Rizvi and Security Af-

fairs Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique

retained the ir offi ces yesterday.

HT Imam and Mashiur Rahman,

who were public administration and

economic affairs advisers to the prime

minister during the grand alliance gov-

ernment period, have been reappoint-

ed as advisers.

The four advisers who were dropped

are Shafique Ahmed, Dilip Barua, Zi-

auddin Ahmed Bablu and Anwar Hos-

sain Manju.

However, Manju has secured his

position in the new cabinet as environ-

ment and forest minister.

The Cabinet Division has issued sep-arate orders rega rding the shuffl ing of

PMs advisers.

Three other advisers to the premier

who were left out of the poll-time gov-

ernment Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury,

Alauddin Ahmed and Syed Modasser

Ali have not been selected either as

advisers or as cabinet members.l

Hasina: Will not bow toany pressurenBSS

Ruling out giving in to any internation-

al pressure regarding the just-conclud-

ed parliamentary poll, Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her gov-

ernment would continue to work for

the country.

You know well that Sheikh Hasina

does not succumb to any pressure wheth-

er it is national or international. The coun-

try is ours and the people are ours. We will

continue the work that is needed for the

country and the people, she said while

talking to reporters at Bangabhaban in

the afternoon after taking oath as prime

minister for the third time.

The prime minister mentioned that

her government wanted to create a na-

tional consensus in a bid to save public

life and property, ensure security to the

minorities, stop political vengeance,

maintain the flow of development,

keeping trade, commerce, export and

all political activities above all kinds of

violent activities.Hasina also sought cooperation of

all to run the new government and re-

iterated her call to the BNP to sever ties

with Jamaat-e-Islami and stop destruc-

tive acts that were impeding the nor-

mal life and livelihood of the people.

About dialogue with the BNP, the

Awami League president said her gov-

ernment might take any steps for the

continuation of democracy. She, how-

ever, said, for this, the BNP would have

to stop terrorist acts and militancy first.

About the Teesta water sharing and

enclave issues with India, the prime

minister said the issue of land bound-

ary agreement with India was resolved

and a bill in this regard had been placed

in Indian parliament.

She said discussion with India aboutthe Teesta and the enclave issues was

underway. West Bengal Chief Minister

Mamata Banerjee might oppose the Tees-

ta treaty as she sees the issue from her

own point of view and I think she should

come forward with an attitude of under-

standing as a neighbour, Hasina said.

Any problems can be resolved

through bilateral discussion and I have

no objection to talk to Mamata Banerjee.

Hasina a lso reaffi rmed that the tria l

of war criminals would continue.

She said the BNP had not performed

its responsibility properly as main op-

position party in strengthening democ-

racy and maintaining the constitution-

al process. The poll would have been

more competitive while democracy

would have got a firm footing, had they

[BNP] joined the election.

Hasina said Khaledas choosing the

path of conflict and vio lence instead of

democracy was very unfortunate for

the nation which led to the deaths of

many people from all classes. l

Six cabinet members

face criminal chargesnSyed Samiul Basher AnikAt least six out of the 49 members of

the newly formed cabinet are facing

crimin al charges, a ccording to a ffi da-

vits placed before the Election Com-

mission before the January 5 poll.

Those six include four ministers: Tofail

Ahmed, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain,

Hasanul Haque Inu and Anwar Hossain

Manju. Among them, Manju is facing

three graft charges, while the remain-

ing three ministers have one charge

each.

Of the remaining 23 ministers, 15

have faced charges before but do not

have any right now, and eight of them

have clean sheets.

The other two facing charges are

state ministers Moshiur Rahman Ranga

and Mirza Azam.

Other than these two, M Mujibul

Haque, Narayan Chandra Chondo, Bi-

ren Shikder and Junaid Ahmed Palak

have faced charges before but do not

have any right now. The rest of the 11

state ministers have never faced any

charges.

Out of the two deputy ministers,

Abdullah Al Islam Jacob has no charge

against him right now, while no case

has ever been filed against Arif Khan

Joy, according to their affi davits.

However, the number of cases that

the members of the cabinet men-

tioned in t heir affi davits wou ld have

been much higher had the govern-

ment not withdrawn many charges

against after labeling them "politically

motivated."

According to hom e minis try offi -

cials, the Scrutiny Committee for Rec-

ommending the Withdrawal of Politi-

cally Motivated Cases, withdrew a total

of 7,101 cases, including 345 filed by theAnti-Corruption Commission, out of

the 11,113 applications they received in

the last four years.

The government, in August last

year, decided to withdraw 72 more cas-

es filed between 2001 and 2006, iden-

tifying them as politically-motivated

and intended to harass the then oppo-

sition leaders and activists. l

BNP goes to courtPAGE 1 COLUMN 1

of the BNP, said the Election Commis-

sion issued the gazette notification in

289 constituencies with malafide inten-tion which was an excuse of the ruling

party to take the oaths before January 25.

However, if the premier advised the

president to dissolve the ninth parliament,

the question would not arise, he said.

The cabinet secretary, law secre-

tary, prime min ister offi ce secretar iat

secretary, chief election commission-

er, election commissioners, speaker,

parliament secretary and EC secretary

were listed as the respondents to the

petition of Farroque.

Earlier in the morning, a Supreme

Court lawyer, in another writ, chal-

lenged the legality of the Election com-

missions gazette notification of the re-

sults in 289 constituencies of the 10th

parliamentary elections, the MPs oath

taking, and the presidents call to form

the new government.

Eunus Ali Akond, the lawyer, said

the new MPs can take their oaths with-

in 90 days of the first session of the

parliament, according to the article 67

of the constitution, he said.

As there is no time limit in the con-

stitution and RPO, the EC may issue the

notification after January 24, said the

petitioner.l

1 killed, 25 injuredPAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Arifur Rahman, the organising secre-

tary of the university unit of BCL, de-

nied the allegations and said the Shibir

men attacked a BCL procession and in-

jured 10 of their leaders and activists.

Pro-VC Iftekher Uddin said the au-

thorities were holding an emergency

meeting to determine a course of action.

ASP (north) Mohammed Shahidullah

said a huge contingent of police and RAB

had been deployed at the campus to avert

further untoward incidents. The BCL pro-

cession had been brought out protestingthe attack on Jalal Ahmed, offi ce secre-

tary of the university unit of BCL, in Syl-

het on Saturday night. l

Ershad ready to join parliamentPAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Another reporter asked him: How do

you see the cabinet?

Good, Ershad replied while walk-

ing towards the main entrance.

As I have been elected MP, I have to

go to parliament, he said in response

to a question put by the Dhaka Tribune

on whether he would attend the parlia-

ment sessions.

The on- duty int elligenc e offi cials

blocked the two reporters as they pro-

ceeded to ask more questions.

The former military dictator came to

take oath as a lawmaker amid tight vig-

ilance of the intelli gence offi cials. H e

was debarred to talk to the reporters.

Mujibul Haque (Chunnu), who was

one of the leaders to defy Ershads poll

boycott decision, saw him and touched

his feet. Ershad did not tell him anything.

Anisul Islam Mahmud, who refused

to resign from the interim cabinet of

Sheikh Hasina violating Ershads order,

did not see him. Another leader Ziaud-

din Ahmed Bablu also skipped seeing

him.

While walking out of the Bang-

abhaban, the JaPa chairman talked to

Presidium member Salma Islam, an-

other reformist leader who did not get

berth in the new cabinet.

Earlier, Ershad came to witness the

ceremony and sat in the front row of

the Darbar Hall with wife Rawshan be-side him.l

Khaleda skips oath-taking ceremony

nUNBBNP Chairperson and immediate past

opposition leader Khaleda Zia did not

turn up at the swearing-in programme

of the new cabinet at Bangabhaban

yesterday.

Sources at the Cabinet Division said a

letter was sent to the BNP chief inviting

her to attend the oath-taking ceremonyof the 49-member-cabinet led by Awa-

mi League President Sheikh Hasina.

Contacted, a BNP leader close to

Khaleda also confirmed that they had

received the invitation letter.

Khaleda lost her offi cial portfolio as

the opposition leader since the 18-par-

ty alliance led by the BNP boycotted the

10th parliamentary election on January 5.

More than 1,000 guests including

foreign diplomats were invited to at-

tend the function held at the Darbar

Hall of the presidents residence and

offi ce at 3:30pm . l

The number of cases themembers of the cabinetmentioned in th eir affi davitswould have been much higherhad the government notwithdrawn many chargesagainst after labeling them'politically motivated'


3/21

3NewsDHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, January 13, 2014

Army offi cials yesterday disassemble an outpost on the Rajshahi-Cantonment bypass road ahead of the 10th parliamentar y election

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ministers of the new government take oath yesterday at Ganabhaban, administered by President Abdul Hamid PMO

Businessmen,lawyers majority

in new cabinetnSyed Samiul Basher Anik

Of the 49 members of the Hasina-led

newly formed cabinet 18 said they

run businesses while 11 identified

themselves as law yer in their affi davits

placed before the Election Commission

ahead of the parliamentary poll.

Among the ministers Tofail

Ahmed runs agriculture and share

business, Rashed Khan Menon is the

chairman and managing director of

two companies respectively, Anisul

Islam Mahmud is a textile and garment

manufacturer and exporter, Mofazzal

Hossain Chowdhury Maya is managing

director of two companies and owner

of Rituchakra Traders, Asaduzzaman

Noor is vice-chairman of Asiatic

Group and managing director of Desh

Telivision Limited, Syed Mohsin Ali runs

sawmill business, while MohammadNasim, Engineer Mosharrof Hossain,

Emazuddin Pramanik and Shahjahan

Khan mentioned business as their

profession.

From the list of state ministers,

Mujibul Haque Chunnu runs business

(also a lawyer), Mirza Azam is owner

of two companies, Promod Mankin

is an importer (also a lawyer), Bir

Bahadur Ushoi Singh Tanchangya has

rubber business, Narayan Chandra

Chand has brickfield business,

Asaduzzaman Khan owns a company

and serve as a managing director at

another one, Shahjahan Khan runs

transport business, Zahid Malek

is a chairman of four companies

and Saifuzzaman Chowdhury is a

businessman.

Both the deputy ministers Arif

Khan Joy and Abdullah Al Islam Jacob

are businessman by profession.

Lawyers from the new cabinet are

Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Amir Hossain

Amu, AKM Mojammel Haque, Sayedul

Haque, Anisul Haque, Mujibul Haque,Mostafizur Rahman, Kamrul Islam,

Promod Mankin, Sri Biren Shikder, and

Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

Those who mentioned politics as

their profession are AMA Muhith,

Hasanul Haque Inu (also an engineer),

Nurul Islam Nahid, MA Mannan, AHM

Mustafa Kamal, Abdul Latif Siddique

and Obaidul Quader.

Syed Ashraful Islam and Meher

Afrose in th eir affi davits sai d they are

social workers.

Anwar Hossain Manju said he

was working as the adviser to the

prime minister. Khandker Mosharrof

Hossain is chief technical adviser of

the ILO, Shamsur Rahman Sharif is a

tenant farmer and Ismat Ara Sadek a

housewife.

However, Motia Chwodhury,

Shahriar Alam and Nasrul Hamid

did not say anything about their

professi ons in their affi davits. l

BLAST CASE

Charges pressed against Fakhrul,11 other BNP activistsnMd Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday took cogni-

sance of the charges made against BNP

acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul

Islam Alamgir and 11 other party lead-ers and activists in a case filed with

Motijheel police station in the capital.

Sub-Inspector KM Azijul Haque of

Detective Branch of police pressed the

charge sheet making 28 individuals

prosecution witnesses.

According to the charge sheet, dem-

onstrators from the rally organised by

the BNPJamaat alliance hurled crude

bombs at the on-duty lawmen from

DIT road in Motijheel on December 6

of 2012.

Motijheel police station Sub-Inspec-

tor Mokarram Hossain filed a case ac-

cusing the 12, including Mirza Fakhrul

Islam Alamgir under the Explosive

Substances Act.

General Recording Offi cer Sub- In-

spector SM Gaffarul Alam of the CMM

court said the charge sheet was pressed

on December 14 last year, but Metro-

politan Magistrate Mahbubur Rahman

signed it only yesterday, the day he

fixed for hearing.

Gaffarul told the Dhaka Tribune

now the case document would be

transferred to the metropolitan ses-

sions court for further proceedings.

The other charge-sheeted accused

are Md Ahsan Habib, general secretary

of Motijheel thana unit BNP, Saifullah

Khaleq, its president, Md Saifullah, Md

Rokonuzzaman, Md Alauddin Manik,

Atiqur Rahman, Abul Kalam Azad, Go-

lam Hossain, Md Sajib, Md Noor Islam

and Md Quamruzzaman.

All of the accused are on bail now.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir ob-

tained bail from the High Court and the

rest from the CMM court.

As per the case statement, the

BNPJamaat activists brought out a pro-

cession at Dainik Bangla intersection of

Motijheel on December 06, 2012.

At one stage, the demonstrators

hurled 3/4 crude bombs at the on-duty

police and prevented the law enforcersfrom discharging their duties. l

Tribunal dismisses case againstBagerhat lawyersnUdisa Islam

The case against two Bagerhat lawyers,

also notary public, was dismissed yes-

terday with observations made by the

war crimes tribunal regarding authori-

sation of a ffi davits.

The International Crimes Tribunal 2

also adjourned the proceedings in the

case against Jamaat leader AKM Yusuf

until January 15. The defence yester-

day completed cross-examination of

the 19th prosecution witness, Abdul

Latif Hawlader.

On the affi davits, th e tribunal sa id:

No affi davits c an be m ade while a

criminal case is pending at a court.

It also said the notary public con-

cerned had to be specifically sure about

the content of the a ffi davits a nd the

person relat ed to the affi davits.

The same tribunal on November 17

had summoned Sheikh Abdul Wadud

and Shamima Akter for clarifying their

roles in p reparing t he affi davit fo r aprosecution witness who disowned it

before the tribunal.

Yesterday, the tribunal exempted

them from personal appearance.

The tribunal dismissed the case

with some directives as both of the

lawyers sought unconditional apology

for their fault, said Gazi H Tamim, a

junior counsel for Yusuf.The accused Jamaat leader is facing

the trial on 13 counts of crimes against

humanity including genocide, mur-

ders, arson attacks, abduction, torture

in confinement, forced conversion of

Hindu people and their deportation

committed at different places in Bager-

hat during the 1971 Liberation War.l

Half of themembers arefirst-timersnTribune Report

Comprising more than half the cabinet,

24 individuals have emerged as min-

isters in the new cabinet for the first

time.

The first-time ministers are Syed

Mohsin Ali, Prof Motiur Rahman, Asa-

duzzaman Noor, AHM Mostafa Kamal,

Anisul Haque, Shamsur Rahman Sharif,

Emajuddin Pramanik, Sayedul Haque,

Quamrul Islam and AKM Mojammel

Haque.

The first-time state ministers are

Shahriar Alam, Mirza Azam, Junayed

Ahmed Palak, Ismat Ara Sadek, Mashi-

ur Rahman Ranga, Nasrul Hamidul

Haque Bipu, MA Mannan, Zahid Malik,

Bir Bahadur, Narayan Chandra Chanda,

Biren Sikdar, Asaduzzaman Khan Ka-

mal and Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. Arif

Khan Joy and Abdullah al Islam Jacob

are the two first-time deputy ministers.

Conducted by Cabinet Secretary

M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, the

oath-taking ceremony began at 3:30pmand ended at 3:58pm at the Bangab-

haban.

The 10th general election was held

on January 5 amid boycott by main op-

position BNP.

The Awami League secured absolute

majority in the election bagging 232

seats 105 contested and 127 uncon-

tested.

The Jatiya Party emerged as the sec-

ond biggest in parliament bagging 33

seats 13 contested and 20 uncontest-

ed.

On Saturday, the Parliament Secre-

tariat published a gazette notification

confirming Rawshan Ershad as the

Leader of the Opposition of the 10th

parliament.l

MINISTERS GET PORTFOLIOS

PM yet to distribute home, foreign ministries

Black day: BNPnMohammad Al-Masum Molla

Hours after the swearing-in of Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasinas new cabinet

yesterday, BNP, the main opposition

party in the 9th parliament, claimed

that a journey towards an autocratic

regime had begun in the country.

Today is a black day for Bangladesh.

By swearing in this illegal and immoral

government, the era of demeaning de-

mocracy has begun, Mirza Fakhrul Is-

lam Alamgir, BNP acting secretary gen-

eral said in a press release yesterday.

A BNP-led 18-party alliance boycott-

ed the 10th general elections as their

demand of holding the polls under a

non-partisan interim government was

ignored. BNP also termed the January 5

elections as farcical.

The alliance held a series of hartals

and blockades in support of its de-

mand. A countrywide rail, road and

waterway blockade was underway dur-ing yesterdays oath-taking ceremony

at the Bangabhaban.

Condemning the new cabinet, the

BNP statement demanded immediate

resignation of the illegal government,

and transfer of power to a neutral care-

taker government to oversee fresh elec-

tions that will be inclusive and credible.

The BNP spokesperson also said the

new government did not have the sup-

port of 95 percent of the people of the

country.

A blackened autocratic journey has

started, burying the spirit of democra-

cy, Fakhrul said.

Again, Bangladesh has been throwninto the dark in a planned way. Democ-

racy-loving people of the country will

never give legitimacy to this govern-

ment, he added.

Fakhrul also alleged that when BNP

was moving towards establishing peace

and democracy in the country, Awami

League started walking the path of au-

tocracy, burying all democratic norms

and morality.

According to the Election Commis-

sion, 153 of the 300 parliamentary seats

were won uncontested, while voter

turnout was about 40% in the 139 con-

stituencies where polling took place

last Sunday. Elections in eight other

constituencies were suspended and re-

scheduled for January 16.l

2 JCD men give confessionalstatement in arson casenMd Sanaul Islam Tipu

Two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists

yesterday gave confessional statements

in a case filed for arson attack on a po-lice-requisitioned bus in the capitals

Bangla Motor intersection on December

24, which left one constable dead and

two others injured.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad

Erfan Ullah recorded the statement of the

JCD activist Rabiul Islam Nayan while

Magistrate Shahariar Mahmud Adnan

recorded the statement of another JCD

activist Anup Chandra Roy.

Earlier in the day, Detective Branch

Sub-Inspector Bahauddin Faruki, inves-

tigation offi cer of the case, produced

the two accused before the CMM court

and filed petition for taking confessional

statements in the case.

After recording their statements, the

court sent the JCD activists to jail.

Earlier, Kalabagan police had iden-

tified Rabiul Islam Nayan, 26, JCD joint

convener of Mohammadpur thana unit,

JCD activists Anupam Chandra Roy, 24,

and Jobayer Hossain, 22, on January 6

when they were blasting crude bombs on

CR Dutta road near the private television

channel Bangla Vision offi ce in the city.

A case was filed with Kalabagan police

station accusing them of blasting bombs.

Later, they were shown arrested in

the case linked with the Bangla Motor

incident after Nayan and Anup had con-

fessed their involvement with the inci-

dence, DB sources said.

On December 25, Sub-Inspector Naz-

rul Islam of Ramna police station filed a

case in connection with the Bangla Motor

arson attack against BNP acting secretary

general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,along with 20 other leaders and activists

of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiyatabadi

Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir. l

Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina Cabinet Division

Public Administration MinistryDefence MinistryArmed Forces Division

MinistersAbul Maal Abdul Muhith Finance MinistryAmir Hossain Amu Industries MinistryTofail Ahmed Commerce Ministry

Matia Chowdhury Agriculture MinistryAbdul Latif Siddiqui Posts and Telecommunications Ministry

ICT MinistryMohammad Nasim Health and Family Welfare MinistrySyed Ashraful Islam LGRD MinistryK ha nd ak er M os ha rr af H os sa in E xp at ri at es We lf ar e M in is tr yRashed Khan Menon Civil Aviation and Tourism MinistryMatiur Rahman Religious Affairs MinistryMosharraf Hossain Housing and Public Works MinistryAKM Mozammel Haque Liberation War Affairs MinistryMo ham ma d Sa yed ul Haq ue F is he ri es a nd L ive st oc k Mi ni st ryEmaj Uddin Pramanik Textile and Jute MinistryObaidul Quader Communications MinistryHasanul Haq Inu Information MinistryAnisul Islam Mahmud Water Resources MinistryAnwar Hossain Environment and Forests MinistryNurul Islam Nahid Education MinistryShahjahan Khan Shipping MinistryAnisul Haque Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs MinistryMofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Disaster Management and Relief Ministry

Md Mojibul Haque Railways MinistryAHM Mostafa Kamal Planning MinistryMustafizur Rahman Primary and Mass Education MinistryAsaduzzaman Noor Cultural Affairs MinistrySyed Mohsin Ali Social Welfare MinistryShamsur Rahman Sharif Land MinistryMd Kamrul Islam Food Ministry

State MinistersMd Mujibul Haque Chunnu Labour and Employment Ministry

Yeafes Osman Science and Technology MinistryMA Mannan Finance MinistryMirza Azam Textile and Jute MinistryPromod Mankin Social Welfare MinistryBir Bahadur Ushoi Singh Tonchonga Chittagong Hills Tracts Affairs MinistryNarayan Chandra Chando Fisheries and Livestock MinistryBiren Sikder Youth and Sports MinistryAsaduzzaman Khan Kamal Home MinistryIsmat Ara Sadek Primary and Mass Education MinistrySaifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed Land MinistryMeher Afroz Chumki Women and Children Affairs MinistryMas hi ur Ra hm an Ra ng a Ru ra l De vel op me nt a nd C oop era ti ves Di vi si onShahriar Alam Foreign Affairs MinistryZahid Malek Health and Family Welfare MinistryNasrul Hamidul Haque Bipu Power DivisionJunayed Ahmed Palak ICT Ministry

Deputy MinistersAbdullah Al Islam Jacob Water Resources MinistryArif Khan Joy Youth and Sports Ministry

nMohosinul Karim and Rabiul Islam

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yester-

day distributed portfolios among min-

isters, state ministers and deputy min-

isters of the new cabinet with home

and foreign ministries undeclared.

The Cabinet Division issued a gazette

notification, distributing the portfolios

immediately after the cabinet members

were sworn into offi ce yesterday.

Hasina took the responsibilities of

the Cabinet Division, public adminis-tration ministry, defence ministry, and

the Armed Forces Division. A gazette

notification signed by Cabinet Secre-

tary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan was

issued yesterday in this regard.

According to the rules of business, the

ministries or divisions which were not

placed under any minister or state minis-

ter would go to the prime minister.l


4/21

News4 DHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, January 13, 2014

City High Low

Dhaka 25.0 16.4

Chittagong 24.2 13.0

Rajshahi 24.4 13.4

Rangpur 25.0 12.6

Khulna 23.5 15.0

Barisal 24.1 13.5

Sylhet 26.7 14.6

Coxs Bazar 28.5 12.4

PRAYER TIMES

Fajar 5:24am

Sunrise 6:42am

Zohr 12:07am

Asr 3:55pm

Magrib 5:31pm

Esha 6:51pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

WEATHER

Light rain likely

nUNB

Weather may remain mainly dry with

partly cloudy sky over the country un-

til 6pm today.

Moderate fog might occur over the

country during midnight till morning,

Met Offi ce said.Night temperature may fall by 1-2

degree Celsius and day temperature

may remain nearly unchanged over the

country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:31pm

today and rises at 6:44am tomorrow.

Countrys highest temperature 28.5

degree Celsius was recorded in Coxs

Bazar and lowest 11.0 degrees in Ran-

gamati yesterday.Highest and lowest temperatures re-

corded in some major cities yesterday

were:

Five murdered infive districts

nTribune Report

At least five people including a teen-

ager were murdered in Narayanganj,Coxs Bazar, Sirajganj and Lakshmipur

in last two days.

Police recovered body of an uniden-

tified young woman, 25, in Narayan-

ganj sadar upazila Saturday.

Although police claimed that the in-cident was a suicide, locals alleged that

the victim was murdered, reports our

Narayanganj correspondent.

In Coxs Bazars Ukhiya, elder broth-

er had allegedly hacked his younger

brother to death over land dispute.

Sources said Moktar Ahmed, 35, suc-

cumbed to his injuries yesterday after

Islam Mia, 50, elder brother hacked

him on Saturday.

In Sirajganj, police recovered the body

of a cattle trader on Saturday night.

The deceased, Hasan Ali, 48, hailed

from Kaliya Kandapara village under

Sadar upazila, reports our Sirajganj cor-

respondent.

A school student was beaten to

death centring land dispute in Mollar

Hat area of Raipur upazila under Lax-mipur district early yesterday.

The deceased, Md Salman Shah, 16,

was a tenth grade student of LKH High

School of the upazila. l

High Court issues rule on Coxs Bazar andMoheshkahli jettiesnNazmus Sakib

The High Court yesterday issued a

rule asking why not handing over the

jetties of Coxs Bazars Kasturaghat,

Moheshkhali and Adinath Mandir

to Bangladesh Inland Water Trans-

port Authority should not be declaredillegal.

The bench of Justice Salma Masud

Chowdhury and Justice Md Habibul

Gani asked the deputy commissioner

of Coxs Bazar and twelve others to re-

ply to the rule within four weeks after

hearing a public interest litigation reg-

istered by Raihanul Mustafa, an inhab-

itant of Moheshkhali and a SupremeCourt lawyer.

Though the government, after de-

marcating Coxs Bazar (Kasturaghat)

river ports boundary, in a gazette no-

tification on February 6, 2010 ordered

to hand over the three jetties to BIWTA,

the concerned authorities and the DC

have not yet complied.

The litigation said people were suf-fering badly as the staff appointed by

the DC were illegally extracting heavy

tolls from them. It also said there had

been no development of the Kasturghat

jetty, which was still made of wood.

Supreme Court lawyer Ziaur Rah-

man contended for the petitioner

while Deputy Attorney General

Mukhlesur Rahman represented thegovernment.l

CTG ARMS HAUL CASE

Court to announce date for verdict todaynTarek Mahmud, Chittagong

A Chittagong court will announce

the date for delivering verdict in

two cases related to the recovery of

10-truck arms and ammunition today.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Ka-

mal Uddin Ahmed said the tri-

bunal would declare the date for

announcing the much-awaited verdict

in the cases on completion of verbal ar-

guments by the defence lawyers.

The nation will at last be able to see

the result of the prolonged trial in the

cases, he said, adding that they were

optimistic of getting the verdict within

few weeks.

Earlier, Judge SM Mojibur Rahman

of Chittagong Metropolitan Special Tri-

bunal 1 ordered the defence lawyers

to complete their argument by today,

while the Kamal Uddin Ahmed con-

cluded his argument yesterday.

The PP, however, sought two more

days for submitting his elaborate argu-

ment in written form, which was grant-

ed by the court.

On April 2, 2004, the police seized4,930 types of sophisticated firearms,

27,020 grenades, 840 rocket launchers,

300 rockets, 2,000 grenade launching

tubes, 6,392 magazines and 11,40,520

bullets when they were being loaded

on to 10 trucks from two engine-boats

at the jetty of the Chittagong Urea Fer-

tiliser Limited (CUFL).

Ahadur Rahman, the then Kar-naphuli p olice offi cer-in-ch arge, filed

the two cases on April 3, 2004 in con-

nection with the incident, which were

transferred to the criminal investiga-

tion department of police after 22 days.

The CID on June 26, 2011 submit-

ted supplementary charge sheets

following further investigation into

the cases on a court directive.

Former industries minister Niza-

mee, former state minister for home

Babar, former director generals of Na-

tional Security Intelligence Maj Gen

(retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury

and Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim, for-

mer NSI directors Wing Commander

(retd) Shahabuddin Ahmed and Maj

(retd) Liakat Ho ssain, and fiel d offi cer

Akbar Hossain, former managing direc-

tor of CUFL Mohshin Talukder and its

former general manager AKM Enamul

Haque have remained behind the bars

in the cases. l

Jamuna Groupchief sued fordemeaning RAB

nKailash Sarkar

A case was filed against Jamuna Group

chief Nurul Islam Babul yesterday for

providing employees uniforms similar

to Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Twelve security guards of the Ja-muna Group were held for wearing Rab

look-alike uniforms despite repeated

warnings. Rab 1 held the twelve youths

from Jamuna Future Park, located in

capitals Baridhara area, and produced

them before a Dhaka court.

Rab 1 Deputy Assistant Director

Karim Uddin filed a case against Jamu-

na Group chief Nurul Islam Babul and

the 12 detainees in this connection.

The case alleged that those uniforms

created confusion among the public and

demeaned the image of the elite law en-

forcement agency. Rab 1 Commanding

Offi cer Lieutenant Co lonel Kisma t Hai-

yat told the Dhaka Tribune that several

warnings were provided earlier advising

a change to the uniform.l

RU admission testsJan 2327

nRU Correspondent

The schedule of admission tests for the

first year honours courses at Rajshahi

University (RU) under session 2013-14

has been rescheduled for the fifth time

due to recent countrywide hartals and

blockades.

Professor Eliyas Hossain, public re-

lations administrator of the university

said; The tests have been rescheduled

to be held from Januar y 23 to January 27.

The decision was taken yesterday

noon in a meeting of sub-committee

for holding the tests while the Vice

Chancellor Prof Mizanuddin presided

over, Hossain also said.

The schedule will be available on the

newspapers and the university website

at www.admission.ru.ac.bd l

Charge framing in Zia Trust case deferrednMd Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday deferred the

hearing on charge framing against BNP

Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others

in connection with the Zia Charitable

Trust graft and Zia Orphanage Trust

graft cases.

Judge (acting) Md Rezaul Islam of

the Special Judges Court 3 passed the

order after Khaledas lawyer submitted

a petition seeking adjournment on thehearing.

In the petition hearing, Khaledas

lawyer Md Sanaullah Miah said the for-

mer prime minister could not appear

before the court due to lack of proper

security.

She is not the opposition leader

now, and the government has already

withdrawn the special security given

to the opposition leader, so she can-not appear before the court during theblockade programme, the counsel

said.

Anti-Corruption Commission law-

yer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol appeared

for the state and oppo sed the prayers.

Bench assistant of the court Md Ari-

ful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: So

far the charge framing in Zia Orphanage

Trust graft case has been deferred 40

times and in Zia Charitable Trust graft

case seven times.

However, after the hearing the court

granted time to the defence and the

court also set February 16 as the date

for charge framing against the accused.

Zia Charitable Trust graft case

On January 15, Dhaka Metropolitan

Senior Special Judge Md Jahrul Haque

took cognisance of charges againstKhaleda and three others in the c ase.

The other accused are Khaleda

Zias former political secretary Harris

Chowdhury, his former assistant per-

sonal secretary Ziaul Islam Munna and

Manirul Islam Khan, the former person-

al secretary of Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

Of them, Harris Chowdhury left the

country in 2007 and has been stay-ing abroad since. He was mentioned

in the charge sheet as an absconding

accused while Ziaul and Monirul are

now on bail.

ACC Deputy Director Harunur

Rashid, the inv estigatio n offi cer of the

case, pressed charges against the ac-

cused on January 16, 2012.

According to the case statement,

a 2,809 square metre piece of land in

the citys Kakrail area was bought by

the trust from one Suraiya Khanam inJanuary 2005, for Tk65.2m.

ACC alleged that Tk12.5m of the

amount came from outside the trusts

known sources of income.

Zia Orphanage Trust graft case

The other accused in this case are Mo-

minur Rahman, nephew of Ziaur Rah-

man, Khaledas former principal sec-

retary Dr Kamaluddin Siddique and

former BNP lawmakers Kazi Salimul

Haque and Sharfuddin Ahmed.

Salimul Haque Kamal and Sharfud-din Ahmed were present in the court

during the hearing while Tarique Rah-

man has been in London since 2008.

Khaleda last appeared before the

court on January 15, last year when she

secured a permanent bail in the graft

case.l

3 companies fined forpolluting environmentnAbu Bakar Siddique

The government yesterday slapped

Tk92 lakh worth of fines on three com-

panies for polluting the environment.

The largest individual fine of Tk50

lakh was handed to Digital Power & As-

sociates, a power generating company

which is a sister concern of Orion Group

located at Narayanganjs Fatullah.

Fines worth Tk37 lakh was also

handed to Nowab Abdul Malek Jute

Mills (BD) Ltd located at Kanchpur in

Narayonganj, while Ayman Textile and

Hosiery Ltd at Chnadra in Gazipur was

fined Tk5 lakh.

Md Alamgir, director (enforcement)

of the Department of Environment

(DoE), handed the penalties to thecompanies as all of them had been vio-

lating the environment rules and regu-lations while carrying out their produc-

tions.

The DoE handed the penalties yes-

terday at a hearing at the departments

offi ce in the capita ls Agargaon area.

Regarding the penalty to Digital

Power & Associates, the DoE said the

company had started its infrastructure

development without having any site

clearance from the environment de-

partment, which was mandatory for a

red category industry.

In addition, the company did not

maintain the mandatory regulation of

having environment impact assess-ment (EIA), although it had already

completed about 95% of its infrastruc-

ture development, the DoE added.

It is mentionable that the chemical

affl uent of heav y fuel oil that i s used

in the plant generation industries

devastates bio-diversity by polluting

the earth and water.

The enforcement department of

the DoE also fined Tk37 lakh to NowabAbdul Malek Jute Mill for operating its

production without an environmental

clearance and for having an inadequate

number of dust collectors.

The DoE also handed a Tk5 lakh fine

to Ayman Textiles as the company had

been operating without any effl uent

treatment plant.l

Blockade endswithout major

incidentnTribune ReportThe last day of the 18-party nationwide

communication blockade, resuming

after a two-day pause early yesterday,

passed without any major incident.

The day was almost eventless

barring a few stray incidents of vio-

lence and detention occurring mostly

outside the capital. In the capital,

the major thoroughfares, rail stations

and bus and launch terminals were

crowded with commuters like the day

before.

Inter-district buses have left for their

destinations in time without hassles

while the situation in the districts re-

turned to normal by the afternoon.

With no new protest programme yetannounced by the BNP-led alliance, the

situation is likely to remain normal un-

til after the Eid-e-Miladunnabi holiday

on January 14.

In the capital, two policemen and

lawyers sustained injuries in separate

incidents of bomb attack near Jagan-

nath University and the Judges Court

respectively.

The two lawyers Uzzal Sarkar,

32, and his associate Sirajul Islam,

26 and police constable Md Hasan

were injured in front of the Judges

Court around 2:30pm while traffi c

constable Abul Bashar were injured

near Jagannath University.

All the injured were first admitted to

the National Medical College and Hos-

pital and subsequently to DMCH. Ex-

cept for these incidents, Dhaka passed

almost an eventless day with uninter-

rupted traffi c flow on the streets.

Sirajganj is one of the few districts

where pro-blockade activists engagedin disruptive activities.

The districts Deputy Assistant Land

Offi cer Md Enamul Haq ue, 35, suffered

critical injuries after the CNG-run auto-

rickshaw carrying him was attacked by

pickets.

He was o n his way t o offi ce when

pickets hurled a petrol bomb at the ve-

hicle at Bagbati union. The driver lost

control of the auto and hit a roadside

structure, said Hasan Ali, a colleague

of Enamul.

He was then rushed to a local clinic

where doctors referred him to DhakaMedical College Hospital (DMCH).

Activists also hurled bombs at a po-

lice van in Shaheedganj, vandalised a

truck and burnt tires elsewhere in the

district town. However, no casualties

were reported.

Police detained a total of 13 activists

after daylong raids in various places

of the district, said Sub-Inspector

Anis Ahmed of Sirajganj Sadar police

station.According to reports sent by our cor-

respondents, processions in support of

the blockade were held in Laxmipur,

Chandpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha and

Kurigram districts.

At least 20 activists were arrested in

Chittagong and Chandpur while four

Jamaat loyalists including a UP chair-

man arrested in the Kolaria upazila. l

Commuters struggle through the mud at Chittagongs Guptachhara port during ebb tide. The jetty at the port broke down only two years

after construction BANGLA NEWS

A delegation of FBCCI visits burn victims at DMCH and provide financial aides yesterday BANGLA NEWS

In the capital, two policemenand lawyers sustained injuriesin separate incidents ofbomb attack near JagannathUniversity and the JudgesCourt respectively


5/21

News 5DHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, January 13, 2014

Tourism sector reaches its nadir in GazipurnOur Correspondent, Gazipur

Four months of the year, December to

March, are considered the prime time

for tourism in Bangladesh. Business-men engaged in this sector usually earn

huge profits that help keep their busi-

nesses afloat all year round.

But this season they are seeing the

nadir of their business profits because

of the recent political unrest, espe-

cially the continuous spell of hartals

and blockades. Many businessmen are

paying salary to their staff out of their

capital funds.

Misi Construction has leased Gazi-

pur National Park from the forest de-

partment this year at Tk73 lakh.

Masudul Haq of Misi Construction

said there are more than 50 picnic

spots in Gazipur. Our construction

company used to earn Tk10 lakh to

Tk15 lakh during December to March.

That amount is earned just from the

entrance fee of tourists and vehicles.

He said there were 36 staffers work-

ing for the company, and that the com-

pany needed Tk2.16 lakh every month

to pay their salaries.

Since tourists are not coming tothe park fearing subversive activities

such as arson attack, vandalism and

bomb blasts the company has to pay

salaries and other maintenance costs of

the park from its own funds.

We have to pay the lease cost to the

government every year, whether we

earn a profit or not, he added.

Nurul Islam, manager of Sea Gull

picnic spot located in Singardighi area

of Sripur upazila of the district, said

during peak season they usually did

not have enough space to accommo-

date the huge rush of picnic clients, but

this year was the opposite, as the picnic

spot was almost vacant.

Abul Hossain, manager of the

Khamar Bari picnic spot situated at

Hotapara, said they had yet to get any

bookings this month.

We have to pay Tk1.5 lakh to 13 staff

every month. But we could earn only

Tk12,000 so far this year, he added.

I usually earn Tk3000 daily at peak

time from which I can easily support

my family during the rest of the year.

Now I get Tk500 only. Hartals and

blockades have snatched away every-

thing of us, said Billal Hossain, who

runs a tea stall in front of the Khamar

Bari picnic spot.

Nazrul Islam, proprietor of Nipun

Decorator at Monipur Bazaar, said he

had earned Tk2.25 lakh in the previous

year.

The turmoil political situation has

become the biggest obstacle to our

earnings, he added.

Manager of Puspodam resort andpicnic spot Biplob, said the spot had

the capacity to provide space for two

parties daily. The monthly income of

the spot, during the prime season, was

minimum of Tk15 lakh.

This year, we have to pay the

monthly remuneration of Tk1.80 lakhto our 30 staff from the funds of the

owner, he said.

Hasina-Khaleda are responsible for

marring our business. Will they meet

our economic demands? said Alam

Hossain, an infuriated shopkeeper in

front of Puspodam resort and picnic

spot. He also said, the daily income

of the picnic spot last season was

Tk10,000, while now it is only Tk2,000.

President of Sreepur Tourism Khon-

daker Masud Rana said a group of

tourists, comprising 40 people, had

planned to travel hill tracts of Chit-

tagong on December 19 last year but

have shifted to January 24 due to the

political unrest.

Principal (acting) Nurunnubi Ak-

hond of Muktijoddha Rahmat Ali Uni-

versity College, situated at Shripur, said

the college authority had abandoned

the plan to hold the annual excursion

because of political unrest.l

Angarpota-Dahagram residents stillhostage to Tin Bigha CorridorThe corridor gate remains closed for an hour daily though declared for a 24-hour open

nMohammad Jamil Khan, back

from Angarpota, Dahagram

People of Angarpota-Dahagram are

yet to enjoy their full-fledged freedom

even 42 years after Bangladeshs inde-

pendence as the access to the enclave

through Tin Bigha Corridor is controlled

by the Indian Border Security Forces.

The BSF keeps the Tin Bigha Corri-

dor gate closed for one hour daily for

hoisting the Indian national flag in the

morning and taking it down in the eve-

ning.

The enclave remains disconnected

from Bangladesh during the formalities.

Separated by the Tin Bigha Corridor

belonging to the Indian territory, Ang-

arpota-Dahagram has virtually no link

with the mainland Bangladesh, and

for that reason, no sustainable devel-

opment had taken place here, except a

mere community clinic, a school and a

market at Dahagram.People in the area are highly deprived

of healthcare facilities to a large extent.

The name-only clinic is far too little

to provide health services to the en-

clave residents.

There is little scope for one to get a

doctor at the clinic and any medicine

except painkillers.

For better treatment, patients have

to travel across 15 miles to see doctors

at Patgram upazila.

The Dhaka Tribune on December 26

at Dahagram bazar met Anguri Begum

who was on her way to Patgram with

her four-year-old girl suffering fromstomach ache.

Asked about the problem, she said

the clinic failed to provide her with any

treatment, and then, she was going to

Patgram to see a doctor.

Lying on the eastern bank of Tees-

ta with an area of 32 square miles An-

gorpota and Dahagram are among the

most fertile areas of Bangladesh.

The enclave is gifted with arable

land for growing rice, jute and tobacco

and is self-su ffi cient in foo d.

Despite the fact that the enclave be-

longs to Bangladesh, none can enter

there without Indias permission as the

access route to the enclave through Tin

Bigha Corridor is controlled by the BSF.

Following a mass agitation by the

Angarpota-Dahagram residents, the

gate of Tin Bigha corridor used to be

kept open for six hours a day from June

26, 1992 to 1999.

Later on April 27, 2001, it was decid-

ed that the gate would remain open for

12 hours, and around 17,000 inhabitants

availed themselves of the opportunity.

Since September 08, 2011, they began

to enjoy a 24-hour entry-exit facility.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vis-

ited the area on October 19, 2011, and

formally declared that the gate would

remain open round the clock.

Though the gate was all-time open, the

inhabitants alleged that they had to face

BSF harassment as the forces stopped

passenger buses and other good-laden

vehicles in the name of checking.

A flyover was scheduled to be built

in the area to facilitate peoples access

to their territory at their own sweet will

without BSF permission, but to no avail.There was hardly any progress of

flyover construction sighted while vis-

iting the area.

Contacted, Habibur Rahman, chair-

man of Dahagram, told the Dhaka Tri-

bune he kept in touch with the higher

authorities concerned for flyover con-

struction and hoped that steps would

be taken soon.

Locals alleged that the BSF kept the

gate closed for nothing at sunrise and

sunset. Is it appropriate that the cor-

ridor gate should be kept closed for

one hour only flag-related formalities?

some locals asked this correspondent,who contacted the BSF of Tin Bigha

corridor to know about the matter, but

the Indian Border Security Forces failed

to come up with satisfactory answers.

The BSF directed him to talk to their

high-ups for comments.

Mohammad Junaed Ali, camp in-

charge of Patgram Border Guard Ban-

gladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune the

main problem being that the BSF con-

trolled the corridor gate.

It is hard to believe that people in

the area face any problem from the clo-

sure of the gate, he said.

If we hear any problem, our forces

settle down the matter, taking neces-

sary steps, he added.l

43rd foundinganniversary of JUobserved

nJU Correspondent

Students, teachers and employees ofJahangirnagar University yesterday cel-

ebrated 43rd founding anniversary of

the university with glee and festivity.

Marking the day, the university au-

thority organised a programme at the

business faculty premises and brought

out a rally.

The two pro vice-chancellors of the

university Prof M A Matin (education)

and Prof Afsar Ahmad (education)

inaugurated the programme around

10am by hoisting the national flag and

the JU flag and releasing balloons.

Prof Afsar Ahmed convened mem-

bers of the JU family to come forward

regardless of difference in views to pro-

mote the university.

He said: All of us have to work

jointly in order to attain the goal of this

university which is aged same as our

country.

Prof M A Matin said: Since inception

the university has been making its mark

through merit and achievements both

in national and international arena.

We already have introduced sever-al new departments and we have plans

to open more to connect with the out-

side world.

Different departments, institutes,

students cultural and political organi-

sations joined in the rally with colour-

ful placards, posters, and banners.

Hundreds of students of JU School

and College also joined the rally that

marched towards the Selim Al Deen

Muktomancha.

However, Prof Anwar Hossain,

vice-chancellor of the university, re-

mained absent in the celebration fol-

lowing agitation of a group of teachers.

The agitating teachers of the uni-

versity, under the banner o f JU Teach-

ers-Student s and Offi cers-Empl oyees

United Forum also brought out a rally

on the occasion.l

RMG workers salary robbednOur Correspondent, Gazipur

Robbers looted Tk14,00000 from Sang-

har Text Ltd a readymade garment

factory in Shibrampur area under Gazi-

pur Sadar upazila on January 10.

The factory Assistant General Man-

ager Mohiuddin Ahmed said the cash

was withdrawn from Islami Bank in

Jirani Bazar near Ashulia to pay the sal-

ary of garment workers.

A gang of six robbers took away the

amount of money at gunpoint while

the manager and four other garment

offi cials were go ing to the fac tory rid-

ing an easy bike.l

Local AL leader grabs primary school landnOur Correspondent, Barisal

Joynul Abedin, a local Awami League

leader and ward councillor of the Bari-

sal City Corporation is allegedly grab-

bing lands from a school premises in

the city and constructing his personal

offi ces on th em.

He has also threatened journalists

and ordered his cadres not to allow any

reporter inside his territory.

After visiting the spot in Razzak Smriti

Colony in KDC Ghat area under ward-10,

workers and cadres of Joynul were found

constructing personal offi ce, worksta-

tion and Sramik League offi ce occupy-

ing the Bastuhara Government Primary

School premises and playground.

Bangladesh Agricultural Develop-

ment Corporation was the legal owner

of the land on the bank of Kirtankhola

River which was previously used for

loading and unloading food grains, fer-

tilisers, and agricultural equipments,

said Principal of the school Shahana

Begum.About three decades ago the dis-

trict administration gave 100X150 feet

area of the land on lease to construct

the primary school with a small play-

ground for the local poor kids, Shahanasaid.

Joynul, the three-time elected coun-

cillor of the ward, controls dens of the

drug peddlers and criminals in a slum

in the KDC Ghat area, alleged locals.

He was also infamous for working

under any political party that comes to

power to stay under a political shelter,

they also alleged.

He had been grabbing the land

since long by using his political power,

alleged Sahadat Hossain a local resident.

Recently when the school authority

started to construct a toilet for the chil-

dren with the aid of UNICEF, Joynul ob-

structed the work by driving away the

construction workers with his goons,

the school authority alleged.

Joynul assaulted two local journal-

ists on Saturday when they went to the

spot to collect information and photosof the illegal grabbing of the land.

Later the they were rescued by their

colleagues.

The Awami League leader blatant-

ly ordered his cadres for not allowing

any journalist inside his territory. He

threatened that if any journalist was

found in the area trying to act against

him, they would be beaten and then

handed to police framed as a drug ped-

dler, said the assaulted reporters.

When asked about his activities,

Joynal claimed that he was doing ev-

erything with permission from the con-

cerned authority.

I am not constructing anything on

my private land. If I construct anything

on the public land and government

does not oppose that then why the

journalists should poke their noses in-

side the matter, Joynul told.

Shohidul Alam, deputy commis-

sioner of Barisal, said he had sought

permission from the administration

and district primary education au-

thority to conduct a coordinated driveto evict the illegal grabbers from the

school premises immediately. l

Locals demand renovationof a road in BarisalnOur Correspondent, Barisal

Local people formed a human chain

and held rally yesterday with a call for

immediate step to save and repair Raj

Kumar Ghosh Road at Nabagram in

Barisal city.

People from the all section of life,

including teachers and students of Sa-

bera Khatun School took part in the hu-

man chain.

Speakers at the rally said as heavy

vehicles such as truck and lorry run on

the road to load and unload materials of

a nearby pharmaceutical company, the

road was damaged soon after it renova-

tion work. So it is necessary to repair

the road as soon as possible because

students of Sabera Khatun School use

the road while going to school.

They also alleged that the 600 feet

long protection wall which constructed

by the Barisal City Corporation at a cost

of Tk 20 lakh was collapsed within few

days as the city authority built the wall

with sub-standard materials.

BCC Mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal said

he had visi ted the spot as ked the offi -

cials to issue show cause notice against

the pharmaceutical company. l Constructions of a concrete building by grabbing the playground of KDC Razzak Memorial

Colony Bastuhara School continues under the direction of Barisal citys Ward 10 Councillor

Joynal yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

A vacant field of Khamarbari picnic spot DHAKA TRIBUNE

JU VC likely to resign todaynMahadi Al Hasnat

Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar Uni-

versity Prof M Anwar Hossain yester-

day announced to quit the post as he

has been barred to enter the campus

for over a month in the face of agitation

by a section of teachers demanding his

resignation.

Prof Anwar in the afternoon told

the Dhaka Tribune: I have decided

to resign from the post and asked for

an appointment of President and JU

Chancellor Abdul Hamid [today]. I will

submit my resign letter to him if he is

available.

The former Dhaka University profes-

sor said: I am an elected vice-chancel-

lor. No one can bring me down from my

position unless I resign voluntarily.

He has been co nducting o ffi ce at a

rented house in Uttara since the first

week of December.

A section of pro-Awami League

teachers loyal to ousted VC Prof Shar-

iff Enamul Kabir in collaboration

with pro-BNP teachers launched themovement against Prof Anwar as he

had failed to mete out punishment for

unruly leaders and activists of Bangla-

desh Chhatra League for assaulting a

teacher.

General Secretary of the unit Rajib

Ahmed Rasel reportedly assaulted an

economics department lecturer and

also a Syndicate member on April 6.

Though the VC suspended him imme-

diately for six months, he later with-

drew the punishment.

Since then, the protesting teach-

ers were agitating against the VC

under different banners bringing some

18 allegations against him and boycot-

ted classes and examinations several

times.

The admini strative offi ce of the uni-versity was locked for over 60 days in

the last nine months.

On December 3, agitating teachers

confined the VC at his residence for

the second time while police rescued

him on December 5 and send him to

Dhaka.

Since then, agitating teachers had

sealed and locked his residence on the

campus and barred him from entering

the campus premises.

Then president and JU chancellor

Zillur Rahman appointed Prof Anwar

on May 20, 2012 as Prof Shariff was

forced to step down on May 17 follow-

ing protests on the campus over the

murder of Zubair Ahmed and the Ch-

hatra Leagues attack on universitys

cultural activists.

Taking the charge of the university,

Prof Anwar arranged the VC panel elec-

tion on July 20 and he was re-appoint-

ed by the chancellor on July 24 from a

three-member elected panel. l


6/21

6 NationDHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, January 13, 2014

Extension of Dhaka Shishu Hospital ProjectDhaka Shishu HospitalSher-E-Bangla Nagar

Dhaka-1207

Tender No. 001/2013-14 Date: 12/01/2014

Invitation for Tender1 Project Name Extension of Dhaka Shishu Hospital Project.

2 Agency Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka.

3 Procuring ent ity name Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospi tal, Dhaka-1207.

4 Invitation for Medical Equipments & others instruments.

5 Comp letion of work 12 (Twelv e) week s from the da te o f contract signing.

6 Invitation Ref No. DSH. Ex. Project/2013-14/98,99

7 Fiscal year 2013-2014

8 Procurement method OTM, National

9 Budget and source of funds GOB

10 Tender last selling date 30/01/2014, 2:00PM

11 Tender closing date and t ime 01/02/2014, 12:00PM

12 Tender opening date and time 01/02/2014, 1:00PM

13 Name & Address of the office Office of the Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dha-ka-1207.

14 Sel ling tender document 1. Office of the Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital,Dhaka-1207.

15 Receiving tender document

print edition: 13 jan 2014

Documents