Sunday, August 29, 2010
Today News
Govt loses much of its shine
One and a half years into power, the government looks to lose much of its shine with fewer people seeing the country moving in the right direction. Also, fewer people are satisfied with the government.The number of dissatisfied people has also increased sharply who take a dimmer view of the economy.
The recent poll after the one and a half years in power was conducted among 3,000 respondents in 44 districts across the country. The survey was done in early August.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's rating also dipped during the 18 months although she still enjoys a good chunk of support.
On the other hand, Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia's rating improved during the time although she still lags far behind Hasina in terms of respondents satisfied with her role.
According to the comparison of the three surveys, less people now think the government had well managed the issue of price inflation than they thought 18 months ago.
But more think the issue was poorly managed.
When the government came to power, a small fraction of people (only 6 percent) identified power and gas supply as the issue that needs the government's greatest attention. Today, that number has quadrupled, showing that people are frustrated with the power situation.
At the same time, a much lower number of fewer people think the government had taken enough initiatives to resolve the power crisis, and more people think no initiatives had been taken.
The survey reveals that more people now consider the judiciary as politically biased that they did when the government came to power. Concurrently, fewer people think judiciary as independent.
The government also fared poorly on two more vital issues corruption and the role of the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC). The number of people who think corruption has increased has increased quite drastically while the number of those who think it has decreased has shrunk slightly. Also, the number of people who took a negative view of the ACC has doubled in the last 18 months.
The survey also revealed that more people now hold the opinion that the opposition should attend parliament without any pre-condition. The percentage of the respondents who think like this is quite high at 81 percent.
The BNP seems to have recovered slightly its image in the last one and a half years. A less number of people take a negative view of the opposition and a larger portion take a positive view.
Respondents were asked which party they would vote for if elections are held right now. It appeared that AL would win such an election by a big margin. However, a large number of respondents (25 percent) did not respond. This large segment might be the swing voters who could still tilt the result of an election.
-Daily Star
Fate of Ershad hinges on JS decision: Law Minister
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said fate of the former military ruler and Jatiya Party Chairman, HM Ershad, hinges on the decision of Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament)."After getting the copy of High Court verdict regarding the cancellation of Seventh Amendment, the House will decide about any punishment against former autocratic ruler Ershad," the minister said while talking to newsmen at his Bangladesh Secretariat office in the capital on Sunday.
Asked whether any punishment is possible under the existing laws of the country, Shafique Ahmed said, "If there is any direction in the Constitution to include any provision for resisting any illegal occupants of the state power, it will not be possible to try the autocratic ruler."
"Besides, the verdict copy is not yet in our hands."
The Law Minister interpreted differences between the Fifth and Seventh Amendments of the Constitution saying, "The Constitution of the country was distorted in many ways. Meanwhile, the autocratic regime of Ershad was legalized by the Seventh Amendment."
"Both the activities were illegal and those should be punishable offenses," he added. Replying to a query Barrister Shafique said the Constitution Review Committee can take the issue of Seventh Amendment under their special consideration but it depends on the wishes of the committee earlier formed to amend the Constitution.
Here it is mentioned the HC on August 25 passed a verdict on Seventh Amendment saying it illegal.
Ershad holds exclusive meeting with PM
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad held an exclusive meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday to discuss his fate after the High Court last week nullified his military rule.
In its August 26 watershed judgement, the HC also suggested that Ershad be prosecuted and punished in the light of a Supreme Court ruling declaring Ziaur Rahman's military regime illegal. The HC also placed the matter to the parliament and the government for taking action against Ershad.
"So far we have known sir [Ershad] went to know from the prime minister about what may happen to his fate," one of the close aides to Ershad told The Daily Star. He said after the High Court verdict, the JP chairman has become frustrated, and was seeking an appointment with the premier to know whether any legal action might be taken against him.
Prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told The Daily Star that Ershad and Sheikh Hasina had a one-to-one meeting for 30 minutes from 12:30pm.
-Daily Star
"As per the guidelines, any project needs a prior nod from the cabinet committee for economic affairs to be implemented under PPP," cabinet division's joint secretary Nazrul Kabir told the media after the meeting.
The initial cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 500 billion, he added.
The estimated cost of the project, so far the biggest in the country, also includes expenses for constructing an elevated expressway between Dhaka and the airport and a monorail. Civil aviation ministry officials said that the airport will be built on about 6,000 acres. The civil aviation initially selected three sites — two in Madhupur of Tangail and one in Mymensingh's Trishal.
The airport is set to start operations with two runways with enough space for a third one.
Earlier on Monday (Aug 23), civil aviation secretary Shafique Alam Mehedi told the media that the airport will be constructed on a BOT (Build Operate Transfer) basis and that the government will only provide the land. "The construction is expected to be completed by 2013," he added.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, launched in 1980 in the capital's Kurmitola area, is a single-runway airport on 1737 acres, but according to a master plan, it was supposed to have another runway.
Many unapproved houses have been built around the airport standing in the way of building another runway. There is also considerable risk of running airport operations because of installations around the airport. The government knocked down 12 structures in 2005.
Officials close to the authorities also said that hundreds of buildings of Uttara and Nikunja will be enlisted as 'risky' if authorities initiate building a second runway at Shahjalal airport.
There are now three international and five domestic airports in the country. In addition to that, there are seven STAL (short take-off and landing) ports.
Source: bdnews
She visited the city’s slums where many of the apparel workers live. She also had been to a village in Rajshahi to see the homes of weavers and taught school children there. The 20-year old British actress felt sorry seeing their living condition in the city slums.
She felt that the wages of the workers, who stitch apparels for the consumers in the western developed countries needs to be trebled so that they could afford an acceptable living standard. A video footage on Emma’s visits to the workers’ slums, the waving units in Rajshahi and to a roadside school, has been uploaded in You Tube. New Age spoke to a leader, praised by Emma for demanding better wages for the apparel workers. But Amirul Haque Amin, the secretary of the Bangladesh Garment Workers Federation, did not know that she was the famous Harry Potter star, brought to his office by Bangladeshi fair trade activists.
She praised us for our movement for better wages and facilities for the apparel workers,’ Amin told New Age. ‘The workers here, who make apparels for western consumers, needs to be better paid and have better facilities,’ Emma told them.
Emma’s visit was sponsored by UK-based fair trade fashion organisation People Tree. People Tree sources apparels from Bangladeshi fair trade companies who use organic cotton threads, natural dyes and pay maximum wages to the workers. Emma stitched apparels and wove fabrics to have a first hand experience in the manufacturing process at a factory, which exports to People Tree. She dyed natural yarns and fabrics, swam in a river and took a walk along the river barefoot.
Emma is brand promoter for People Tree, which favours payment of maximum wages to workers abroad so that they could afford a decent living.
Chief of a Bangladeshi company which supplies handloom fabrics to People Tree told New Age that Emma was delighted to see weavers and craftspeople living comfortably in a Rajshahi village as they work for fair trade companies. But she was unhappy to see the living conditions in the city slums of the apparel workers, who had had to leave their villages expecting a better life. ‘Even though the cost of living is much less in Bangladesh, less than $6 a week in wage is appalling, especially considering the hours that they work,’ Emma said, in an interview, posted in her website.
The workers seem to work around the clock and still do not have enough money to buy food to feed their families, or live any kind of life at all, she said. ‘I really do hope that they achieve their goal [demand for increased minimum wages] of $18 a week. If they can, it would be life changing for them,’ Emma said.
About the living condition of the apparel workers in the slums, Emma told UK journalists that there are no facilities there [in slums] to speak of. She said, ‘In the building we visited, I saw one shower, one cleaning place and one hole in the floor which was the toilet. This was for the whole floor. That floor had maybe eight or nine rooms coming off it, and each room housed a whole family, that is 32 people to one toilet.’
On her way to Rajshahi, she stopped by a school to teach a math class and, after the lesson, she gave the students presents.
In its August 26 watershed judgement, the HC also suggested that Ershad be prosecuted and punished in the light of a Supreme Court ruling declaring Ziaur Rahman's military regime illegal. The HC also placed the matter to the parliament and the government for taking action against Ershad.
"So far we have known sir [Ershad] went to know from the prime minister about what may happen to his fate," one of the close aides to Ershad told The Daily Star. He said after the High Court verdict, the JP chairman has become frustrated, and was seeking an appointment with the premier to know whether any legal action might be taken against him.
Prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told The Daily Star that Ershad and Sheikh Hasina had a one-to-one meeting for 30 minutes from 12:30pm.
-Daily Star
Bangabandhu Airport launches PPP
The government has finally endorsed the first 'Public Private Partnership' project after more than a year of its introduction. The cabinet committee for economic affairs at a meeting on Sunday approved, in principle, that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport would be built under the public private partnership, popularly known as PPP.
The idea, meant to boost investment in a crumbling infrastructure, was put forth by finance minister AMA Muhith during his budget speech for the last fiscal. It, however, took almost a year for the government to finalise the guidelines of the scheme as it was published in a gazette notification on Aug 1."As per the guidelines, any project needs a prior nod from the cabinet committee for economic affairs to be implemented under PPP," cabinet division's joint secretary Nazrul Kabir told the media after the meeting.
The initial cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 500 billion, he added.
The estimated cost of the project, so far the biggest in the country, also includes expenses for constructing an elevated expressway between Dhaka and the airport and a monorail. Civil aviation ministry officials said that the airport will be built on about 6,000 acres. The civil aviation initially selected three sites — two in Madhupur of Tangail and one in Mymensingh's Trishal.
The airport is set to start operations with two runways with enough space for a third one.
Earlier on Monday (Aug 23), civil aviation secretary Shafique Alam Mehedi told the media that the airport will be constructed on a BOT (Build Operate Transfer) basis and that the government will only provide the land. "The construction is expected to be completed by 2013," he added.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, launched in 1980 in the capital's Kurmitola area, is a single-runway airport on 1737 acres, but according to a master plan, it was supposed to have another runway.
Many unapproved houses have been built around the airport standing in the way of building another runway. There is also considerable risk of running airport operations because of installations around the airport. The government knocked down 12 structures in 2005.
Officials close to the authorities also said that hundreds of buildings of Uttara and Nikunja will be enlisted as 'risky' if authorities initiate building a second runway at Shahjalal airport.
There are now three international and five domestic airports in the country. In addition to that, there are seven STAL (short take-off and landing) ports.
Source: bdnews
Eden college student found 'hanging from fan'
The dead body of an Eden College student was found "hanging from a fan" at her in law's house.
Ashulia Police Station officer-in-charge Sirazul Islam said the body of Salma Akter Santa, 22, was recovered from her in-law's house at Savar's Jamgora in Ashulia on Saturday at around 5pm.
Shata's family - who live in the same neighborhood - has claimed that her in-law's family hung her from a ceiling fan after murdering her.
Shanta's mother Shahnaz Parvin said her daughter was a student of English (Honours 2nd year).
She told bdnews24.com that Shanta's marriage with Farid Alam who lives in Saudi Arabia was held last month, and since then, her husband has been demanding a dowry of Tk 2 lakhs.
She said her brother Chan Mia informed her on Saturday that Shanta was ill. "We went to Shanta's in-law house but found the residence empty, doors and windows closed," she added.
"With help of neighbouring people, we broke the door and found Shanta dangling from the fan," she said.
Sirazul Islam said the body had been sent to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy.
A case has been filed with Ashulia Police Station over the death.
-bdnews
The university authorities on Saturday expelled five BCL activists for lifetime and punished four other students for assaulting and misbehaving with some teachers and staffs of the university.
No classes were held at the university and administrative activities came to a halt on Sunday as the BCL men locked the administrative building and two academic building to enforce the strike, reports our staff correspondent in Chittagong.
They also physically assaulted a university employee, Jewel Billal, when he went to open the locks at about 10:30am, said Khalilur Rahman, assistant public relation officer of the CVASU.
Additional forces of police and Rapid Action Battalion have been deployed on the university campus to avoid any untoward situation.
The students expelled for lifetime were BCL CVASU unit convener Dr Komol Kanti Mazumder, BCL joint convener Dr Md Abdul Momin, Dr Subrata Dey, Dr Md Shahadat Hossain and Dr Abu Hasan Lavlu.
CVASU second year student Amit Kumar Das was expelled for two years while Sabuj Kanti Nath was expelled for one year and was fined Tk five thousand.
Contacted, Second officer of Khulshi Police Station Inam Ahmed said the law enforcers rushed to the campus at about 8:00am and no untoward incident was taken place till 12noon.
-Daily Star
Ashulia Police Station officer-in-charge Sirazul Islam said the body of Salma Akter Santa, 22, was recovered from her in-law's house at Savar's Jamgora in Ashulia on Saturday at around 5pm.
Shata's family - who live in the same neighborhood - has claimed that her in-law's family hung her from a ceiling fan after murdering her.
Shanta's mother Shahnaz Parvin said her daughter was a student of English (Honours 2nd year).
She told bdnews24.com that Shanta's marriage with Farid Alam who lives in Saudi Arabia was held last month, and since then, her husband has been demanding a dowry of Tk 2 lakhs.
She said her brother Chan Mia informed her on Saturday that Shanta was ill. "We went to Shanta's in-law house but found the residence empty, doors and windows closed," she added.
"With help of neighbouring people, we broke the door and found Shanta dangling from the fan," she said.
Sirazul Islam said the body had been sent to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy.
A case has been filed with Ashulia Police Station over the death.
-bdnews
Strike at Ctg Veterinary University over BCL men expulsion
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University (CVASU) unit on Sunday enforced an indefinite strike on the campus protesting the authorities' decisions to expel and punish nine of their party men.The university authorities on Saturday expelled five BCL activists for lifetime and punished four other students for assaulting and misbehaving with some teachers and staffs of the university.
No classes were held at the university and administrative activities came to a halt on Sunday as the BCL men locked the administrative building and two academic building to enforce the strike, reports our staff correspondent in Chittagong.
They also physically assaulted a university employee, Jewel Billal, when he went to open the locks at about 10:30am, said Khalilur Rahman, assistant public relation officer of the CVASU.
Additional forces of police and Rapid Action Battalion have been deployed on the university campus to avoid any untoward situation.
The students expelled for lifetime were BCL CVASU unit convener Dr Komol Kanti Mazumder, BCL joint convener Dr Md Abdul Momin, Dr Subrata Dey, Dr Md Shahadat Hossain and Dr Abu Hasan Lavlu.
CVASU second year student Amit Kumar Das was expelled for two years while Sabuj Kanti Nath was expelled for one year and was fined Tk five thousand.
Contacted, Second officer of Khulshi Police Station Inam Ahmed said the law enforcers rushed to the campus at about 8:00am and no untoward incident was taken place till 12noon.
-Daily Star
Harry Potter star Emma wants apparel workers’ wages trebled
Harry Potter star Emma Watson was in Bangladesh last month on an unannounced five-day trip in the second week of July to see the living conditions of the workers who make apparels for the consumers in the west.She visited the city’s slums where many of the apparel workers live. She also had been to a village in Rajshahi to see the homes of weavers and taught school children there. The 20-year old British actress felt sorry seeing their living condition in the city slums.
She felt that the wages of the workers, who stitch apparels for the consumers in the western developed countries needs to be trebled so that they could afford an acceptable living standard. A video footage on Emma’s visits to the workers’ slums, the waving units in Rajshahi and to a roadside school, has been uploaded in You Tube. New Age spoke to a leader, praised by Emma for demanding better wages for the apparel workers. But Amirul Haque Amin, the secretary of the Bangladesh Garment Workers Federation, did not know that she was the famous Harry Potter star, brought to his office by Bangladeshi fair trade activists.
She praised us for our movement for better wages and facilities for the apparel workers,’ Amin told New Age. ‘The workers here, who make apparels for western consumers, needs to be better paid and have better facilities,’ Emma told them.
Emma’s visit was sponsored by UK-based fair trade fashion organisation People Tree. People Tree sources apparels from Bangladeshi fair trade companies who use organic cotton threads, natural dyes and pay maximum wages to the workers. Emma stitched apparels and wove fabrics to have a first hand experience in the manufacturing process at a factory, which exports to People Tree. She dyed natural yarns and fabrics, swam in a river and took a walk along the river barefoot.
Emma is brand promoter for People Tree, which favours payment of maximum wages to workers abroad so that they could afford a decent living.
Chief of a Bangladeshi company which supplies handloom fabrics to People Tree told New Age that Emma was delighted to see weavers and craftspeople living comfortably in a Rajshahi village as they work for fair trade companies. But she was unhappy to see the living conditions in the city slums of the apparel workers, who had had to leave their villages expecting a better life. ‘Even though the cost of living is much less in Bangladesh, less than $6 a week in wage is appalling, especially considering the hours that they work,’ Emma said, in an interview, posted in her website.
The workers seem to work around the clock and still do not have enough money to buy food to feed their families, or live any kind of life at all, she said. ‘I really do hope that they achieve their goal [demand for increased minimum wages] of $18 a week. If they can, it would be life changing for them,’ Emma said.
About the living condition of the apparel workers in the slums, Emma told UK journalists that there are no facilities there [in slums] to speak of. She said, ‘In the building we visited, I saw one shower, one cleaning place and one hole in the floor which was the toilet. This was for the whole floor. That floor had maybe eight or nine rooms coming off it, and each room housed a whole family, that is 32 people to one toilet.’
On her way to Rajshahi, she stopped by a school to teach a math class and, after the lesson, she gave the students presents.
Headline News
BRTC to operate 200 buses during Eid holiday
Additional leased buses, alongside regular buses, will travel on inter-district routes during Eid holiday, a Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation statement said Sunday.
As many as 200 buses will be available during the holiday, which will start from Sep 8 and will continue three days after the Eid. BRTC will start selling tickets in bus-depots on Sep 4.
The buses will start from the capital's Motijheel, Joar Shahara, Kalyanpur, Mirpur-12, Fulbaria, Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Cantonment railway station.
Seats will be reserved for women and disabled.
BRTC has formed a special committee to supervise the service and a help desk at its head office. Its phone numbers are 9564361.
-bdnews
The buses will start from the capital's Motijheel, Joar Shahara, Kalyanpur, Mirpur-12, Fulbaria, Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Cantonment railway station.
Seats will be reserved for women and disabled.
BRTC has formed a special committee to supervise the service and a help desk at its head office. Its phone numbers are 9564361.
-bdnews
40-day Job in Mymensingh :AL leaders feast on it
The allegation of irregularities in a government scheme to provide job to the ultra poor in Gauripur upazila is now being investigated by a committee made up of the same persons who supervised the project.
In June, Gauripur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) formed the probe body headed by Shahjahan Siraj, upazila agriculture officer, and AM Shahrier Taufiq, livestock officer of Gauripur, to probe the allegation of corruption in the “40-day Job Generation Programme for Vulnerable Groups”.
The other members are Golam Azam, upazila secondary education officer; Rafiqul Islam, social services officer; and Lutfur Rahman, fisheries officer.
The trio supervised the project at the upazila's different unions.
The programme at a cost of Tk 3,37,63,200 started on March 1 at ten unions of the upazila and ended on April 9.
Under the project some 7,034 people were engaged in road construction and repair.
Al Faruque, a local, said nowhere at the ten unions the 40-day project employed people for more than 20 days.
Local ruling party men, who directly interfered in the project, were involved in all sorts of irregularities including stealing project fund under the very nose of the government supervisors, he added.
"We can't accept the same guys [who were entrusted with the scheme] to conduct the probe. It's absolutely ridiculous," said Al Faruque.
Members of the Gauripur Socheton Nagorik Committee, a citizens' platform, also rejected the probe body. They said such investigation would hide truth.
The UNO, Abdullah Al Mamun, said the committee members are all top government officials and would perform their duties honestly.
"Moreover the three probe committee members, who were field-level supervisors during the project's implementation, didn't work in the areas where they are investigating," said Abdullah Al Mamun.
The project came under scrutiny when hundreds of deprived labourers from different areas, including Achintapur, Bangnamari and Maoha, of the upazila brought a number of allegations against the supervisors.
What most angered the labourers were tampering with their daily attendance books, inserting fictitious names, providing jobs for only 20 days and employing less than half the number of people fixed by the project.
Sheikh Mujir Rahman, a labourer who joined the programme in Tatir Paya village, said he worked for 22 days and received wage for 20 days at Tk 120 a day.
His fellow workers Kamal Hossain, Rafiqul Islam, Abdul Kadir said that after 22 days Dewan Md Khasruzzaman Khan Babul, secretary of the Maoha union project and also the general secretary of Maoha union Awami League, asked them to stop the work.
The work never resumed.
The local Awami League leaders masterminded the whole scheme and nobody in the area dared speak a word, the labourers said.
Upazila administration sources said the UNO, upazila project implementation officer (PIO) and field-level supervisors were mere spectators as the ruling party men came up with new ideas to steal the project money.
Probe body member Golam Azam, who was a project supervisor at Gauripur union, said, “We can't say anything about the allegations before the investigation ends.”
Azam, however, admitted that some ruling party men got involved in the project. He declined to say any further.
Another member of the probe committee, Rafiqul Islam who oversaw the project at Moilakanda union, simply refuted the accusations.
Former UNO of Gauripur AFM Alauddin Khan, who headed the project for the entire length, said although he headed the project its function was in the hands of the PIO.
"When the PIO submitted his requirement, he provided me with all necessary proofs. I then disbursed the money on the basis of his proposal. The PIO is officially in charge of the project," said Alauddin.
Abdul Latif, PIO of the work generation programme, said every step of the project was taken following procedure. The government supervisors selected the beneficiaries and also the site of the proposed work and submitted their proposals to the PIO.
"We accordingly issued cheques for the work. If there were any anomalies, an audit would have revealed it," he said.
"The complaints come from people who were not beneficiaries [of the project]. For instance, if we have fund for 500 people against a demand of 5,000, a large number of people would be left aggrieved and unhappy," he said.
Jahangir Hossain, upazila election officer who supervised the project at Bangnamari union, said a few anomalies might have been there in the selection of labourers.
The deprived ultra-poor people also submitted a complaint to Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, minister for food and disaster management, in May. They also held a press conference.
On the alleged corruption, State Minister for Health and Family Affairs Captain (retd) Mozibur Rahman Fakir, also the president of Gauripur AL, said it is not his concern. "If local Awami League leaders are involved with the corruption, you can write about it."
-Daily Star
In June, Gauripur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) formed the probe body headed by Shahjahan Siraj, upazila agriculture officer, and AM Shahrier Taufiq, livestock officer of Gauripur, to probe the allegation of corruption in the “40-day Job Generation Programme for Vulnerable Groups”.
The other members are Golam Azam, upazila secondary education officer; Rafiqul Islam, social services officer; and Lutfur Rahman, fisheries officer.
The trio supervised the project at the upazila's different unions.
The programme at a cost of Tk 3,37,63,200 started on March 1 at ten unions of the upazila and ended on April 9.
Under the project some 7,034 people were engaged in road construction and repair.
Al Faruque, a local, said nowhere at the ten unions the 40-day project employed people for more than 20 days.
Local ruling party men, who directly interfered in the project, were involved in all sorts of irregularities including stealing project fund under the very nose of the government supervisors, he added.
"We can't accept the same guys [who were entrusted with the scheme] to conduct the probe. It's absolutely ridiculous," said Al Faruque.
Members of the Gauripur Socheton Nagorik Committee, a citizens' platform, also rejected the probe body. They said such investigation would hide truth.
The UNO, Abdullah Al Mamun, said the committee members are all top government officials and would perform their duties honestly.
"Moreover the three probe committee members, who were field-level supervisors during the project's implementation, didn't work in the areas where they are investigating," said Abdullah Al Mamun.
The project came under scrutiny when hundreds of deprived labourers from different areas, including Achintapur, Bangnamari and Maoha, of the upazila brought a number of allegations against the supervisors.
What most angered the labourers were tampering with their daily attendance books, inserting fictitious names, providing jobs for only 20 days and employing less than half the number of people fixed by the project.
Sheikh Mujir Rahman, a labourer who joined the programme in Tatir Paya village, said he worked for 22 days and received wage for 20 days at Tk 120 a day.
His fellow workers Kamal Hossain, Rafiqul Islam, Abdul Kadir said that after 22 days Dewan Md Khasruzzaman Khan Babul, secretary of the Maoha union project and also the general secretary of Maoha union Awami League, asked them to stop the work.
The work never resumed.
The local Awami League leaders masterminded the whole scheme and nobody in the area dared speak a word, the labourers said.
Upazila administration sources said the UNO, upazila project implementation officer (PIO) and field-level supervisors were mere spectators as the ruling party men came up with new ideas to steal the project money.
Probe body member Golam Azam, who was a project supervisor at Gauripur union, said, “We can't say anything about the allegations before the investigation ends.”
Azam, however, admitted that some ruling party men got involved in the project. He declined to say any further.
Another member of the probe committee, Rafiqul Islam who oversaw the project at Moilakanda union, simply refuted the accusations.
Former UNO of Gauripur AFM Alauddin Khan, who headed the project for the entire length, said although he headed the project its function was in the hands of the PIO.
"When the PIO submitted his requirement, he provided me with all necessary proofs. I then disbursed the money on the basis of his proposal. The PIO is officially in charge of the project," said Alauddin.
Abdul Latif, PIO of the work generation programme, said every step of the project was taken following procedure. The government supervisors selected the beneficiaries and also the site of the proposed work and submitted their proposals to the PIO.
"We accordingly issued cheques for the work. If there were any anomalies, an audit would have revealed it," he said.
"The complaints come from people who were not beneficiaries [of the project]. For instance, if we have fund for 500 people against a demand of 5,000, a large number of people would be left aggrieved and unhappy," he said.
Jahangir Hossain, upazila election officer who supervised the project at Bangnamari union, said a few anomalies might have been there in the selection of labourers.
The deprived ultra-poor people also submitted a complaint to Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, minister for food and disaster management, in May. They also held a press conference.
On the alleged corruption, State Minister for Health and Family Affairs Captain (retd) Mozibur Rahman Fakir, also the president of Gauripur AL, said it is not his concern. "If local Awami League leaders are involved with the corruption, you can write about it."
-Daily Star
Online System of submitting income tax return by September 5
Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit said here today people would be able to submit their income tax return through online from September 5 next.
Income tax return procedure would be brought under online system from September 5 to reduce public hassle in line with the government's vow to build digital Bangladesh, he said while addressing a tax motivational meeting at Narayanganj club community hall.
Organized by taxes Zone Dhaka 1, the meeting was addressed, among others, by members of parliament Sarah Begum Kabori and Golam Dastagir Gazi (Bir Protik), Taxes Zone Dhaka 1 Commissioner M A Quader Sircar and BKMEA President AKM Selim Osman.
The meeting was chaired by chairman of National Board of Revenue Dr. Nasir Uddin Ahmed.
Finance Minister said September 15 would be declared as tax day while a five daylong tax fair would be held from September 25 to September 30 all over the country to motivate people for submitting their income return.
The minister lauded the entrepreneurs of export oriented Knit-garment industries in Narayanganj who contributing greatly to the development of National Economy through earning foreign exchange.
Representatives of 29 trade bodies and lawyers of Narayanganj district Taxes bar Association attended the meeting.
Six leading businessmen submitted their income Tax return Taka 40 lakh to the finance minister in the form of pay order for the year 2010.
-BSS
PDB Chief Engineer Abul Kashem and senior general manager of NTPCI will sign the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
Under the MoU, a 620-MW coal-fired power plant would be set up in Khulna, PDB Chairman AHM Alamgir Kabir, now in India, told BSS over phone today.
Kabir said the agreement will also include increasing energy- efficiency, rehabilitation of old power plants, training of power officials and capacity building of the PDB.
Earlier, an agreement on the grid connectivity issue was signed between Bangladesh and India on July 26.
-BSS
They urged the government to act in a fair and democratic way and stop repression on journalists and professionals all those who differ with the views of the ruling party.
They requested the government to be tolerant to the opponents.
Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad hosted the meeting at the National Press Club, chaired by filmmaker Chashi Nazrul Islam, also Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Jote president.
Leaders and activists of professional bodies of teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, journalists and trade unions attended and expressed their solidarity with the demand.
On August 20, the Supreme Court imposed a six-month jail sentence on Mahmudur Rahman and one-month sentence on Oliullah Noman for contempt of court.
Supreme Court Bar Association president Khandker Mahbub Hossain said by sending them to jail meant infringement of freedom of expression of the people.
‘The court is the last safeguard of justice. The people should not lose confidence on it,’ he said.
The veteran lawyer said that it was the responsibility of the judges to maintain the dignity of the court.
The voice of the people, he said, cannot be gagged by contempt cases.
A country where freedom of expression is denied cannot be called democratic, said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP senior joint secretary general.
The people’s right to speak and write, he said, was not secure under the Awami League led alliance government.
He described the political atmosphere in the country as ‘suffocating.’
Mirza Alamgir said that the government was following a policy of ‘double-standards’ throughout the country.
He said that the government was filing false cases against the BNP leaders and activists and at the same time well-known ‘murderers’ like Shaon and Dr Iqbal are allowed to go scot-free.
Sadrul Amin, dean of Dhaka University arts faculty, said that under double standards citizens cannot expect to get neither justice nor the rule of the law.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku said that the citizens of Bangladesh have nowhere to get justice and fair play.
He said that the citizens cannot expect to get the extra privileges reserved for the ruling party leaders and activities.
He said that the citizens cannot be expected to have faith on a system based on all pervasive double standards.
BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mian and finance secretary Abdus Salam, DU former pro-Vice Chancellor AFM Yusuf Haider, Bangladesh Swechchasebak Dal president Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel also spoke, besides others.
The president of the federation, Amirul Haque Amin, equested the factory owners to pay wages according to the new rates announced on July 29.
Speaking at a news conference at Dhaka Reporter’s Unity he said that the buyers increase the prices of apparels from Bangladesh.
He said that international buyers pay less for apparels from Bangladesh compared to from the neighbouring countries.
He said that they make greater profits out of apparels they buy from Bangladesh and sell in western markets.
For example, said Amin, the buyers pay $ 8 to 10, for one dozen T-shirts from Bangladesh and sell them for $ 50 to 60 in the US and Europe.
The federation leaders called on the Awami League led government to provide full rationing of food and other essentials, free medical treatment and low cost housing to apparel workers.
Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad central leader Safiuddin Ahmed, president of Sramik Jote Bangladesh Abdul Kader Hawlader, federation leaders Shafia Parvin and Faroque Khan were present at the news conference.
The vacation bench of Justice Moyenul Islam and Justice Abdus Samad also asked the government to explain why the proceedings of cases would not be declared illegal.
The court passed the order after hearing separate writ petitions filed by Rafiqul and Shah Moazzem, who are now on bail, challenging the legality of the case proceedings.
They said in accordance with Article 35(2) of the constitution which said no people would be prosecuted in more than one case for similar offences.
A total of 13 cases had been filed with courts in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Sirajganj, Bogra, Narail, Kushtia, Chittagong, Jessore, Panchaghar and Bhola by local leaders of the ruling Aami League, alleging that the BNP leaders had said that Hasina would have the same fate of her father at a rally at Muktangan in Dhaka on July 25.
It was a death threat which revealed ill intention of the BNP leaders to grab state power by killing the prime minister, the AL leaders he said in their complaints.
Organized by taxes Zone Dhaka 1, the meeting was addressed, among others, by members of parliament Sarah Begum Kabori and Golam Dastagir Gazi (Bir Protik), Taxes Zone Dhaka 1 Commissioner M A Quader Sircar and BKMEA President AKM Selim Osman.
The meeting was chaired by chairman of National Board of Revenue Dr. Nasir Uddin Ahmed.
Finance Minister said September 15 would be declared as tax day while a five daylong tax fair would be held from September 25 to September 30 all over the country to motivate people for submitting their income return.
The minister lauded the entrepreneurs of export oriented Knit-garment industries in Narayanganj who contributing greatly to the development of National Economy through earning foreign exchange.
Representatives of 29 trade bodies and lawyers of Narayanganj district Taxes bar Association attended the meeting.
Six leading businessmen submitted their income Tax return Taka 40 lakh to the finance minister in the form of pay order for the year 2010.
-BSS
Bangladesh-India sign MoU on 620-MW power plant tomorrow
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the National Thermal Power Corporation of India and the Power Development Board (PDB) tomorrow.PDB Chief Engineer Abul Kashem and senior general manager of NTPCI will sign the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
Kabir said the agreement will also include increasing energy- efficiency, rehabilitation of old power plants, training of power officials and capacity building of the PDB.
Earlier, an agreement on the grid connectivity issue was signed between Bangladesh and India on July 26.
-BSS
Professional groups want Mahmudur, Noman set free
Professional groups at a meeting on Sunday demanded immediate release of the Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman and the daily’s special correspondent Oliullah Noman.They urged the government to act in a fair and democratic way and stop repression on journalists and professionals all those who differ with the views of the ruling party.
They requested the government to be tolerant to the opponents.
Leaders and activists of professional bodies of teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, journalists and trade unions attended and expressed their solidarity with the demand.
On August 20, the Supreme Court imposed a six-month jail sentence on Mahmudur Rahman and one-month sentence on Oliullah Noman for contempt of court.
Supreme Court Bar Association president Khandker Mahbub Hossain said by sending them to jail meant infringement of freedom of expression of the people.
‘The court is the last safeguard of justice. The people should not lose confidence on it,’ he said.
The veteran lawyer said that it was the responsibility of the judges to maintain the dignity of the court.
The voice of the people, he said, cannot be gagged by contempt cases.
A country where freedom of expression is denied cannot be called democratic, said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP senior joint secretary general.
The people’s right to speak and write, he said, was not secure under the Awami League led alliance government.
He described the political atmosphere in the country as ‘suffocating.’
Mirza Alamgir said that the government was following a policy of ‘double-standards’ throughout the country.
He said that the government was filing false cases against the BNP leaders and activists and at the same time well-known ‘murderers’ like Shaon and Dr Iqbal are allowed to go scot-free.
Sadrul Amin, dean of Dhaka University arts faculty, said that under double standards citizens cannot expect to get neither justice nor the rule of the law.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku said that the citizens of Bangladesh have nowhere to get justice and fair play.
He said that the citizens cannot expect to get the extra privileges reserved for the ruling party leaders and activities.
He said that the citizens cannot be expected to have faith on a system based on all pervasive double standards.
BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mian and finance secretary Abdus Salam, DU former pro-Vice Chancellor AFM Yusuf Haider, Bangladesh Swechchasebak Dal president Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel also spoke, besides others.
RMG workers want wages at new rates
National Garments Workers’ Federation on Sunday called on the international buyers to pay fair prices for apparels from Bangladesh. Speaking at a news conference at Dhaka Reporter’s Unity he said that the buyers increase the prices of apparels from Bangladesh.
He said that international buyers pay less for apparels from Bangladesh compared to from the neighbouring countries.
He said that they make greater profits out of apparels they buy from Bangladesh and sell in western markets.
For example, said Amin, the buyers pay $ 8 to 10, for one dozen T-shirts from Bangladesh and sell them for $ 50 to 60 in the US and Europe.
The federation leaders called on the Awami League led government to provide full rationing of food and other essentials, free medical treatment and low cost housing to apparel workers.
Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad central leader Safiuddin Ahmed, president of Sramik Jote Bangladesh Abdul Kader Hawlader, federation leaders Shafia Parvin and Faroque Khan were present at the news conference.
HC stays proceedings of 12 cases against Rafiqul, Shah Moazzem
The High Court on Sunday stayed for six months the proceedings of 12 cases filed with 12 district courts against BNP leaders Rafiqul Islam Miah and Shah Moazzem Hossain for issuing death threats to prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The court passed the order after hearing separate writ petitions filed by Rafiqul and Shah Moazzem, who are now on bail, challenging the legality of the case proceedings.
They said in accordance with Article 35(2) of the constitution which said no people would be prosecuted in more than one case for similar offences.
A total of 13 cases had been filed with courts in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Sirajganj, Bogra, Narail, Kushtia, Chittagong, Jessore, Panchaghar and Bhola by local leaders of the ruling Aami League, alleging that the BNP leaders had said that Hasina would have the same fate of her father at a rally at Muktangan in Dhaka on July 25.
It was a death threat which revealed ill intention of the BNP leaders to grab state power by killing the prime minister, the AL leaders he said in their complaints.
SEC strict on margin loans
The capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission, said that they would maintain their stance regarding calculation of marginal loan.
"Representatives of the bourses and merchant bank association have been asked to implement the SEC directive by Sep 30," the commission's executive director Anwarul Kabir Bhuiyan told journalists on Sunday.
"The brokerage houses and merchant banks have been instructed to disburse margin loan on the basis of net asset value of the shares".
Earlier on Tuesday, SEC set out specific rules and outlines to calculate the margin loans. Following the new method, the margin loan will be calculated by averaging the end market price of the share and its net asset value.
Margin loans are disbursed by merchant banks and brokers against the shares of an individual investor.
According to the older method, investors were allowed to borrow at a 1:1 ratio, meaning they could get loans up to the same value of the share in their possession.
After a pre-scheduled meeting with the members of the bourses and merchant banks the SEC spokesperson told the press that the market watchdog has asked the players to bring in their margin loan accounts for inspection by next week.
"SEC will examine the loan accounts of brokerage houses and merchant banks to examine the possibility of any drastic fall in the market due to the adjustment," said Bhuiyan.
He admitted that the adjustment might push some of the market players to resort to a 'forced sell'.
"Forced sell resulting from the adjustment might bring down the stock market much below the desired level," he added.
Bhuiyan told the press that bourses and merchant bank representatives have informed SEC that the new method would raise complications and they lack technical resource to address the situation.
However, preferring anonymity, a director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange who was present at the meeting, told bdnews24.com that they broadly agree with the decisions of SEC.
"We are in line with the decisions of the SEC and I don't think this is the right time to make any comment on this".
-bdnews
The response came after the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry asked the ministry to review the cases of alleged political victimisation of certain officers and personnel in army, navy and air force during the five-year tenure of Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance government and the two years of military-back Fakhruddin Ahmed administration.
A number of retired officers and personnel appealed to the committee seeking justice as they felt they had been deceived in promotion, retirement and deprived of some other benefits during the last seven years before the Awami League-led alliance government assumed office in early 2009.
In its report collected from the three services—army, navy and air force—the armed forces division justified the actions taken against the 25, nine of whom were officers of different ranks, citing relevant rules and regulation of their respective forces.
The parliamentary watchdog is expected to pass its recommendations to the government after reviewing the report at a meeting scheduled for Monday at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
In the case of Colonel (retd) Abdul Hye, who had sought reinstatement in the service and promotion, the army headquarter says that the officer was a freedom fighter. At the end of his service length, the officer applied for retirement and accordingly went on leave preparatory for retirement.
It said Lieutenant Colonel Helal Uddin Ahmed served at DSCSC Mirpur as directing staff between January 12, 1997 and January 2, 2001. Helal, who in his application to the parliamentary panel sought promotion, had completed staff course in Pakistan from February 7, 1990 to March 1, 1991 and also served in Bangladesh mission in New Delhi between October 2, 2001 and September 15, 2005. He retired on October 1, 2009.
Major (retd) ABM Aminul Islam, who also sought a promotion, was warned by the GOC 55 infantry division in 2005. His case for promotion was considered by the promotion selection board in 2009, according to the army headquarters.
Colonel (retd) Kazi Kaisar Uddin was promoted to this rank on July 8, 2001 and went into normal retirement on October 31, 2006, said the report.
Lieutenant Colonel (retd) SM Mustafizur Rahman was a freedom fighter, but he was not evaluated accordingly during his service in army. At the end of his service length, Mustafiz applied for normal retirement.
In the case of Squadron Leader Abdul Baki Mollah, who sought promotion, the air force headquarters said the officer could be given the rank of wing commander without any financial benefit. The case could be settled as per the government directives.
While dealing with promotion of Group Captain (retd) Md. Jamal Uddin, the air headquarters said that the officer went into normal retirement on April 30, 2005. There has been nothing clear in paper whether he was deprived in promotion to the post of Air Commodore at that time. It was observed that his performance in the services was above average. He had obtained a letter of praise from the air chief on June 30, 1990, but also received a warning letter for breach of discipline on August 13, 1992. He was served a letter expressing dissatisfaction for his activities beyond the directives of the air headquarters on June 17, 2003.
Squadron Leader (retired) AKM Akhtaruzzaman sought for promotion and allotment of a plot in DOHS. But the air headquarter examining his records said that the officer went into normal retirement and there was no clear indication that he was deprived of promotion. He was an above average officer in the service. Records say that the officer served in a state-run bank before he joined the air force. His retirement benefit was given accordingly. As there is no rule for counting previous service as qualifying service for obtaining a DOHS plot, his previous service was not counted. The matter was conveyed to him in writing.
An expelled sailor, Imam Hossain, appealed for his reinstatement in the service. But the navy headquarter commented that the sailor was terminated from the service for selling out fuel – octane and petrol – using false demand notes and fabricated vouchers in connivance with others in the service.
Similar allegations were found against Manzurul Haq, another expelled sailor, who wanted to return to the service.
The navy headquarters turned down the appeals citing that its rules did not permit their reinstatement.
Md Abdus Samad, an expelled warrant officer of the air force, applied for punishment waiver and pension benefits, but the air headquarter opined that the non-commissioned officer was terminated from the service due to his involvement in recruiting personnel in the service in exchange of money. The review board also turned down his appeal. ‘An expelled employee is not entitled to pension benefit,’ said the report.
Corporal Md. Nazmul Hossain, who was terminated from the service, also sought his return to the air force. The air headquarter said that he was sacked because of his involvement in an abduction case and beating others.
Another corporal Ashraful Alam was sacked as he was absconding for years, showing utter disrespect to the service rules.
The parliamentary committee on July 16, 2009 had asked the government to review the cases of political victimisation during the past two regimes.
‘A number of officers were victimised because of so-called political reasons during the past governments. We were told the offices of the forces’ chiefs started reviewing the matter case by case,’ the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry, Idris Ali, said after a meeting on that day.
The headquarters of the forces’ chiefs were reviewing the cases at the directives of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who is also in charge of the defence ministry, the army said.
On September 9, 2009, a senior minister of the AL-led ruling coalition had said that as many as 74 officers of the armed forces were politically victimised in the last seven years, including the five-year rule of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance government.
A review committee has so far found out that 74 officers were forced to retire from service on political considerations, the planning minister, AK Khandaker, who is also in charge of the defence ministry in the parliament, said.
The government had earlier formed a high-powered committee at the Armed Forces Division to review the forced termination of the officers from all the services — army, navy and air force — during the last two regimes.
Construction of the 5.71-kilometre road with a width of 100 feet will start in January 2011 as the Rajuk was making preparations for floating tender for the construction work, its officials said.
The project will be implemented under the housing and public works ministry at a cost of Taka 225 crore to be entirely borne by the government with the project tenure being April 2010-September 2012.
The money will be spent for acquisition of land and compensation for structures, land development and construction of bridges and culverts, apart from the road construction.
Rajuk’s superintendent engineer Md Anwar Hossain, also the project director of the Madani Avenue extension project, told New Age that the process was underway for floating tender for the construction work so that the project could be launched in January 2011.
‘We have already started the process for acquisition of lands required for the project,’ he said.
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council in May approved the project to be funded by the government itself.
The main aim of the project is to create a new exit-entry point for the capital city as it experiences tailbacks at the three existing entry points in rush hours and during festivals like Eid, said Anwar Hossain.
‘Another aim is to connect central Dhaka to the eastern bypass and expand the east-west road network which will eventually help ease traffic congestions in the city.’
He said, ‘Once a bridge is constructed on the Balu River after completion of the extension work of Madani Avenue, a large portion of Sylhet-bound commuters would not need to use the Kanchpur bridge.’
In response to a question, Anwar Hossain said, ‘About 40 to 45 acres of land will have to be acquired for the project.’
Rajuk sources said about Taka 120 crore would be spent for land acquisition and compensation for structures while about Taka 40 crore wouldl be needed for land development.
Road construction will cost about Taka 25 crore, construction of bridges and culverts will cost about Taka 37 crore and about Taka 40 crore will be needed for electrification of the extended stretch of the road.
Rajuk had a plan plan to start the Madani Avenue extension work this year but it had to wait for approval of the project by the ECNEC, according to the Rajuk officials.
"The brokerage houses and merchant banks have been instructed to disburse margin loan on the basis of net asset value of the shares".
Earlier on Tuesday, SEC set out specific rules and outlines to calculate the margin loans. Following the new method, the margin loan will be calculated by averaging the end market price of the share and its net asset value.
Margin loans are disbursed by merchant banks and brokers against the shares of an individual investor.
According to the older method, investors were allowed to borrow at a 1:1 ratio, meaning they could get loans up to the same value of the share in their possession.
After a pre-scheduled meeting with the members of the bourses and merchant banks the SEC spokesperson told the press that the market watchdog has asked the players to bring in their margin loan accounts for inspection by next week.
"SEC will examine the loan accounts of brokerage houses and merchant banks to examine the possibility of any drastic fall in the market due to the adjustment," said Bhuiyan.
He admitted that the adjustment might push some of the market players to resort to a 'forced sell'.
"Forced sell resulting from the adjustment might bring down the stock market much below the desired level," he added.
Bhuiyan told the press that bourses and merchant bank representatives have informed SEC that the new method would raise complications and they lack technical resource to address the situation.
However, preferring anonymity, a director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange who was present at the meeting, told bdnews24.com that they broadly agree with the decisions of SEC.
"We are in line with the decisions of the SEC and I don't think this is the right time to make any comment on this".
-bdnews
AFD sends to JS panel list of officers, personnel allegedly victimised
The Armed Forces Division has sent a list of 25 army officers and personnel, claimed to have been politically victimised during the past two regimes, to a parliamentary standing committee. A number of retired officers and personnel appealed to the committee seeking justice as they felt they had been deceived in promotion, retirement and deprived of some other benefits during the last seven years before the Awami League-led alliance government assumed office in early 2009.
In its report collected from the three services—army, navy and air force—the armed forces division justified the actions taken against the 25, nine of whom were officers of different ranks, citing relevant rules and regulation of their respective forces.
The parliamentary watchdog is expected to pass its recommendations to the government after reviewing the report at a meeting scheduled for Monday at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
In the case of Colonel (retd) Abdul Hye, who had sought reinstatement in the service and promotion, the army headquarter says that the officer was a freedom fighter. At the end of his service length, the officer applied for retirement and accordingly went on leave preparatory for retirement.
It said Lieutenant Colonel Helal Uddin Ahmed served at DSCSC Mirpur as directing staff between January 12, 1997 and January 2, 2001. Helal, who in his application to the parliamentary panel sought promotion, had completed staff course in Pakistan from February 7, 1990 to March 1, 1991 and also served in Bangladesh mission in New Delhi between October 2, 2001 and September 15, 2005. He retired on October 1, 2009.
Major (retd) ABM Aminul Islam, who also sought a promotion, was warned by the GOC 55 infantry division in 2005. His case for promotion was considered by the promotion selection board in 2009, according to the army headquarters.
Colonel (retd) Kazi Kaisar Uddin was promoted to this rank on July 8, 2001 and went into normal retirement on October 31, 2006, said the report.
Lieutenant Colonel (retd) SM Mustafizur Rahman was a freedom fighter, but he was not evaluated accordingly during his service in army. At the end of his service length, Mustafiz applied for normal retirement.
In the case of Squadron Leader Abdul Baki Mollah, who sought promotion, the air force headquarters said the officer could be given the rank of wing commander without any financial benefit. The case could be settled as per the government directives.
While dealing with promotion of Group Captain (retd) Md. Jamal Uddin, the air headquarters said that the officer went into normal retirement on April 30, 2005. There has been nothing clear in paper whether he was deprived in promotion to the post of Air Commodore at that time. It was observed that his performance in the services was above average. He had obtained a letter of praise from the air chief on June 30, 1990, but also received a warning letter for breach of discipline on August 13, 1992. He was served a letter expressing dissatisfaction for his activities beyond the directives of the air headquarters on June 17, 2003.
Squadron Leader (retired) AKM Akhtaruzzaman sought for promotion and allotment of a plot in DOHS. But the air headquarter examining his records said that the officer went into normal retirement and there was no clear indication that he was deprived of promotion. He was an above average officer in the service. Records say that the officer served in a state-run bank before he joined the air force. His retirement benefit was given accordingly. As there is no rule for counting previous service as qualifying service for obtaining a DOHS plot, his previous service was not counted. The matter was conveyed to him in writing.
An expelled sailor, Imam Hossain, appealed for his reinstatement in the service. But the navy headquarter commented that the sailor was terminated from the service for selling out fuel – octane and petrol – using false demand notes and fabricated vouchers in connivance with others in the service.
Similar allegations were found against Manzurul Haq, another expelled sailor, who wanted to return to the service.
The navy headquarters turned down the appeals citing that its rules did not permit their reinstatement.
Md Abdus Samad, an expelled warrant officer of the air force, applied for punishment waiver and pension benefits, but the air headquarter opined that the non-commissioned officer was terminated from the service due to his involvement in recruiting personnel in the service in exchange of money. The review board also turned down his appeal. ‘An expelled employee is not entitled to pension benefit,’ said the report.
Corporal Md. Nazmul Hossain, who was terminated from the service, also sought his return to the air force. The air headquarter said that he was sacked because of his involvement in an abduction case and beating others.
Another corporal Ashraful Alam was sacked as he was absconding for years, showing utter disrespect to the service rules.
The parliamentary committee on July 16, 2009 had asked the government to review the cases of political victimisation during the past two regimes.
‘A number of officers were victimised because of so-called political reasons during the past governments. We were told the offices of the forces’ chiefs started reviewing the matter case by case,’ the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry, Idris Ali, said after a meeting on that day.
The headquarters of the forces’ chiefs were reviewing the cases at the directives of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who is also in charge of the defence ministry, the army said.
On September 9, 2009, a senior minister of the AL-led ruling coalition had said that as many as 74 officers of the armed forces were politically victimised in the last seven years, including the five-year rule of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance government.
A review committee has so far found out that 74 officers were forced to retire from service on political considerations, the planning minister, AK Khandaker, who is also in charge of the defence ministry in the parliament, said.
The government had earlier formed a high-powered committee at the Armed Forces Division to review the forced termination of the officers from all the services — army, navy and air force — during the last two regimes.
Madani Avenue extension work starts in Jan 2011: Rajuk
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha has taken a project for extension of Madani Avenue eastward from Pragati Sarani to the Balu River to open a fourth entry-exit point to Dhaka to reduce traffic congestions in the capital city. The project will be implemented under the housing and public works ministry at a cost of Taka 225 crore to be entirely borne by the government with the project tenure being April 2010-September 2012.
The money will be spent for acquisition of land and compensation for structures, land development and construction of bridges and culverts, apart from the road construction.
Rajuk’s superintendent engineer Md Anwar Hossain, also the project director of the Madani Avenue extension project, told New Age that the process was underway for floating tender for the construction work so that the project could be launched in January 2011.
‘We have already started the process for acquisition of lands required for the project,’ he said.
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council in May approved the project to be funded by the government itself.
The main aim of the project is to create a new exit-entry point for the capital city as it experiences tailbacks at the three existing entry points in rush hours and during festivals like Eid, said Anwar Hossain.
‘Another aim is to connect central Dhaka to the eastern bypass and expand the east-west road network which will eventually help ease traffic congestions in the city.’
He said, ‘Once a bridge is constructed on the Balu River after completion of the extension work of Madani Avenue, a large portion of Sylhet-bound commuters would not need to use the Kanchpur bridge.’
In response to a question, Anwar Hossain said, ‘About 40 to 45 acres of land will have to be acquired for the project.’
Rajuk sources said about Taka 120 crore would be spent for land acquisition and compensation for structures while about Taka 40 crore wouldl be needed for land development.
Road construction will cost about Taka 25 crore, construction of bridges and culverts will cost about Taka 37 crore and about Taka 40 crore will be needed for electrification of the extended stretch of the road.
Rajuk had a plan plan to start the Madani Avenue extension work this year but it had to wait for approval of the project by the ECNEC, according to the Rajuk officials.
Entertainment
B'wood cheated me: Rakhi
Item girl Rakhi Sawant claims she has been cheated in Bollywood and now wants to strengthen her foothold on the small screen.
"I don't want to work on the big screen anymore. I don't have the heart to work in Bollywood now... mere saath wahaan bahut cheating ho gayi (I have been cheated a lot there). I only want to work on television," Rakhi said.
Rakhi, who has done bit roles in films like " Main Hoon Naa" and "Dil Bole Hadippa" and item numbers such as "Dekhta hai tu kya", has also done several reality shows like " Nach Baliye", "Rakhi Ka Swayamvar" and " Pati, Patni Aur Woh".
She says the end result of her role in Yash Raj Films' "Dil Bole Hadippa" was disappointing.
"I gave my six months to 'Dil Bole Hadippa'. But when the film released, my entire role was chopped off. So then I said namaskar (goodbye) to the big screen. I am very happy with my television work. What I have got from TV, I have never got from the big screen. But if I get good offers from Bollywood, I will still consider them," she added.
The actress, who will soon be seen on Imagine TV's new reality show " Rakhi Ka Insaaf", is also open to item numbers.
"I would always do item numbers. I don't see any wrong in doing item numbers. Go to a discotheque and people are dancing for free, so why shouldn't I do it on screen. God has given me this talent and I love dancing," she said.
Ranbir learns to play drums
Ranbir Kapoor, who has shown his versatilityin terms of choosing roles, has a knack of doing different things in real life too.
We have learned that Ranbir has taken up drumming in a big way. It was on the sets of his forthcoming Sajid Nadiadwalamovie that he learned how to play. "Ranbir was shooting some promos of the film, and it was during this that he learned drums on the sets. He immediately took a fancy for it and urged one crew member, who was playing the drums, to help him learn drumming.
The player immediately obliged. Ranbir picked up drumming fast as he has a very keen interest in music. He then took to the drum kits and started playing for the entire crew," says an eyewitness.
To mark the death anniversary of our national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Channel i will air special telefilm 'Swapno Sohochori,' an adaptation from poem 'Gopon Priya,' written by Kazi Nazrul Islam.
"I don't want to work on the big screen anymore. I don't have the heart to work in Bollywood now... mere saath wahaan bahut cheating ho gayi (I have been cheated a lot there). I only want to work on television," Rakhi said.
Rakhi, who has done bit roles in films like " Main Hoon Naa" and "Dil Bole Hadippa" and item numbers such as "Dekhta hai tu kya", has also done several reality shows like " Nach Baliye", "Rakhi Ka Swayamvar" and " Pati, Patni Aur Woh".
She says the end result of her role in Yash Raj Films' "Dil Bole Hadippa" was disappointing.
"I gave my six months to 'Dil Bole Hadippa'. But when the film released, my entire role was chopped off. So then I said namaskar (goodbye) to the big screen. I am very happy with my television work. What I have got from TV, I have never got from the big screen. But if I get good offers from Bollywood, I will still consider them," she added.
The actress, who will soon be seen on Imagine TV's new reality show " Rakhi Ka Insaaf", is also open to item numbers.
"I would always do item numbers. I don't see any wrong in doing item numbers. Go to a discotheque and people are dancing for free, so why shouldn't I do it on screen. God has given me this talent and I love dancing," she said.
Ranbir learns to play drums
Ranbir Kapoor, who has shown his versatilityin terms of choosing roles, has a knack of doing different things in real life too.
We have learned that Ranbir has taken up drumming in a big way. It was on the sets of his forthcoming Sajid Nadiadwalamovie that he learned how to play. "Ranbir was shooting some promos of the film, and it was during this that he learned drums on the sets. He immediately took a fancy for it and urged one crew member, who was playing the drums, to help him learn drumming.
The player immediately obliged. Ranbir picked up drumming fast as he has a very keen interest in music. He then took to the drum kits and started playing for the entire crew," says an eyewitness.
Ranbir Kapoor, who has shown his versatility
in terms of choosing roles, has a knack of doing different things in real life too.
We have learned that Ranbir has taken up drumming in a big way. It was on the sets of his forthcoming Sajid Nadiadwalamovie that he learned how to play. "Ranbir was shooting some promos of the film, and it was during this that he learned drums on the sets. He immediately took a fancy for it and urged one crew member, who was playing the drums, to help him learn drumming.
The player immediately obliged. Ranbir picked up drumming fast as he has a very keen interest in music. He then took to the drum kits and started playing for the entire crew," says an eyewitness.
We have learned that Ranbir has taken up drumming in a big way. It was on the sets of his forthcoming Sajid Nadiadwalamovie that he learned how to play. "Ranbir was shooting some promos of the film, and it was during this that he learned drums on the sets. He immediately took a fancy for it and urged one crew member, who was playing the drums, to help him learn drumming.
The player immediately obliged. Ranbir picked up drumming fast as he has a very keen interest in music. He then took to the drum kits and started playing for the entire crew," says an eyewitness.
Story of the telefilm revolves with a disabled girl who renders Nazrul song well. Jenny performs in the role of that girl. Her neighbour is Hillol who is a professional journalist. He likes her song and once he falls on love to her.
Once Hillol goes to her house and meets Orsha. She introduces her older sister of Jenny. At the one stage, misunderstanding rises between them and Arsha feels repentant in this regard. Then Hillol requests her to introduce with Jenny. Story turns into climax.
Nazia Haque Orsha aspires to be an actress. Being a wholesome and honest person is her aim. Her positive outlook, confidence and pragmatic efforts are noticeable in everything she does. Born on May 21, 1991, Orsha wants to uphold our culture through her performances in the days ahead. Orsha loves watching plays
James is back to rock Bollywood
Internationally acclaimed singer of the country James is set to rock the Bollywood music scenario yet another time. Yes, it has been confirmed by the famous Indian director Anurag Basu that James is going to sing in his next movie.
Asked by a fan on Twitter, why he is not working with James anymore, the director writes, ‘James will surely sing in my next movie which is already dubbed as ‘Silence’.
His last movie Kites has made a hit in the box office. So the director is taking his time to start his next venture. He is scheduled to shoot ‘Silence’ from the beginning of the next year 2011.
Back in 2007, James last sang his Hindi piece in Anurag Basu’s hit film ‘Life in a Metro.’ Bangalee music director Pritom selected a typical tune for this macho singer. James was also honoured with a very small but special character in the film.
Prior to this, James had lent his much-adored voice for Bollywood hits like ‘Gangster’ and ‘O Lamhe’.
ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla will telecast a children’s programme titled ‘Naba Alay Nazrul’ at 10:30am.
Leading Nazrul singer Fatema-tuz-Zohra will render songs in the special episode of musical programme ‘Gane Gane Galpo’ at 8:00pm.
Channel i
Based on Kazi Nazrul Islam’s novel having same title, TV play ‘Shilpi’ will be aired at 7:50 pm on Channel i. Written by Gitali Hasan and directed by Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, the play includes Arefin Shuvo, Romanna and Nawsheen.
Ferdous Ara’s solo musical performance ‘Mahua Boney’ will be telecast at 9:35pm.
NTV
NTV will air musical programme ‘Bhalobaso Mor Gaan’ at 9:00am. Noted artiste Ferdousi Rahman will host the programme in which noted Nazrul singers will perform.
Single episode play ‘Duranta Pathik’ will be telecast at 2:35pm. Written by Manik Manabik and directed by Golam Soharab Dodul. Aly Zaker, Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Gazi Apel among others will play the lead roles in the play.
BanglaVision
Country’s leading recitation artistes will recite poems in Banglavision’s programme ‘Bani Khuradhar’, which will be aired on at 11:25pm.
Based on Nazrul’s short story having same title, TV Play ‘ Jwiner Badsha’ will be aired at 9:05pm. Dewan Shamsur Rakib has scripted the play directed by Ananta Zahid.
Desh TV
Desh TV will telecast full-length Bangla film ‘Jwiner Badsa’ at 2:30pm. The cast includes Bappa Raj, Ranjita, ATM Shamsuzzaman and Khalil.
Popular Nazrul singer Shahin Samad will perform in the live show titled ‘Close Up Call-er Gaan’ to be aired at 12:00am.
ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla will telecast a children’s programme titled ‘Naba Alay Nazrul’ at 10:30am.
Leading Nazrul singer Fatema-tuz-Zohra will render songs in the special episode of musical programme ‘Gane Gane Galpo’ at 8:00pm.
Channel i
Based on Kazi Nazrul Islam’s novel having same title, TV play ‘Shilpi’ will be aired at 7:50 pm on Channel i. Written by Gitali Hasan and directed by Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, the play includes Arefin Shuvo, Romanna and Nawsheen.
Ferdous Ara’s solo musical performance ‘Mahua Boney’ will be telecast at 9:35pm.
NTV
NTV will air musical programme ‘Bhalobaso Mor Gaan’ at 9:00am. Noted artiste Ferdousi Rahman will host the programme in which noted Nazrul singers will perform.
Single episode play ‘Duranta Pathik’ will be telecast at 2:35pm. Written by Manik Manabik and directed by Golam Soharab Dodul. Aly Zaker, Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Gazi Apel among others will play the lead roles in the play.
BanglaVision
Country’s leading recitation artistes will recite poems in Banglavision’s programme ‘Bani Khuradhar’, which will be aired on at 11:25pm.
Based on Nazrul’s short story having same title, TV Play ‘ Jwiner Badsha’ will be aired at 9:05pm. Dewan Shamsur Rakib has scripted the play directed by Ananta Zahid.
Desh TV
Desh TV will telecast full-length Bangla film ‘Jwiner Badsa’ at 2:30pm. The cast includes Bappa Raj, Ranjita, ATM Shamsuzzaman and Khalil.
Popular Nazrul singer Shahin Samad will perform in the live show titled ‘Close Up Call-er Gaan’ to be aired at 12:00am.
His last movie Kites has made a hit in the box office. So the director is taking his time to start his next venture. He is scheduled to shoot ‘Silence’ from the beginning of the next year 2011.
Back in 2007, James last sang his Hindi piece in Anurag Basu’s hit film ‘Life in a Metro.’ Bangalee music director Pritom selected a typical tune for this macho singer. James was also honoured with a very small but special character in the film.
Prior to this, James had lent his much-adored voice for Bollywood hits like ‘Gangster’ and ‘O Lamhe’.
Nazrul death aniv on TV channels
TV channels of the country will telecast special programmes to mark the 34th death anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam.ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla will telecast a children’s programme titled ‘Naba Alay Nazrul’ at 10:30am.
Leading Nazrul singer Fatema-tuz-Zohra will render songs in the special episode of musical programme ‘Gane Gane Galpo’ at 8:00pm.
Channel i
Based on Kazi Nazrul Islam’s novel having same title, TV play ‘Shilpi’ will be aired at 7:50 pm on Channel i. Written by Gitali Hasan and directed by Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, the play includes Arefin Shuvo, Romanna and Nawsheen.
Ferdous Ara’s solo musical performance ‘Mahua Boney’ will be telecast at 9:35pm.
NTV
NTV will air musical programme ‘Bhalobaso Mor Gaan’ at 9:00am. Noted artiste Ferdousi Rahman will host the programme in which noted Nazrul singers will perform.
Single episode play ‘Duranta Pathik’ will be telecast at 2:35pm. Written by Manik Manabik and directed by Golam Soharab Dodul. Aly Zaker, Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Gazi Apel among others will play the lead roles in the play.
BanglaVision
Country’s leading recitation artistes will recite poems in Banglavision’s programme ‘Bani Khuradhar’, which will be aired on at 11:25pm.
Based on Nazrul’s short story having same title, TV Play ‘ Jwiner Badsha’ will be aired at 9:05pm. Dewan Shamsur Rakib has scripted the play directed by Ananta Zahid.
Desh TV
Desh TV will telecast full-length Bangla film ‘Jwiner Badsa’ at 2:30pm. The cast includes Bappa Raj, Ranjita, ATM Shamsuzzaman and Khalil.
Popular Nazrul singer Shahin Samad will perform in the live show titled ‘Close Up Call-er Gaan’ to be aired at 12:00am.
Nazrul death aniv on TV channels
TV channels of the country will telecast special programmes to mark the 34th death anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam.ATN Bangla
ATN Bangla will telecast a children’s programme titled ‘Naba Alay Nazrul’ at 10:30am.
Leading Nazrul singer Fatema-tuz-Zohra will render songs in the special episode of musical programme ‘Gane Gane Galpo’ at 8:00pm.
Channel i
Based on Kazi Nazrul Islam’s novel having same title, TV play ‘Shilpi’ will be aired at 7:50 pm on Channel i. Written by Gitali Hasan and directed by Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, the play includes Arefin Shuvo, Romanna and Nawsheen.
Ferdous Ara’s solo musical performance ‘Mahua Boney’ will be telecast at 9:35pm.
NTV
NTV will air musical programme ‘Bhalobaso Mor Gaan’ at 9:00am. Noted artiste Ferdousi Rahman will host the programme in which noted Nazrul singers will perform.
Single episode play ‘Duranta Pathik’ will be telecast at 2:35pm. Written by Manik Manabik and directed by Golam Soharab Dodul. Aly Zaker, Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Gazi Apel among others will play the lead roles in the play.
BanglaVision
Country’s leading recitation artistes will recite poems in Banglavision’s programme ‘Bani Khuradhar’, which will be aired on at 11:25pm.
Based on Nazrul’s short story having same title, TV Play ‘ Jwiner Badsha’ will be aired at 9:05pm. Dewan Shamsur Rakib has scripted the play directed by Ananta Zahid.
Desh TV
Desh TV will telecast full-length Bangla film ‘Jwiner Badsa’ at 2:30pm. The cast includes Bappa Raj, Ranjita, ATM Shamsuzzaman and Khalil.
Popular Nazrul singer Shahin Samad will perform in the live show titled ‘Close Up Call-er Gaan’ to be aired at 12:00am.
Business News
DSE turnover falls sharply
Turnover at Dhaka Stock Exchange has fallen to a 12-month low. Continuing the downward trend of last week, the countryt's prime bourse closed at Tk 11.54 billion on Sunday, 7.53 percent lower than the previous session.However, the key market index DGEN advanced by 16.86 points and stood at 6670.16.
Market graph showed bumpy ride trading throughout the session, peaking at 6686.17 points and dipping at 6631.12.
Over 51 percent of all the issues traded on the day advanced while 46 percent declined.
In the banking sector over 65 percent issues slipped and only 10 managed to gain.
Most of the major players of the energy sector declined except Titas Gas, which rose by 0.16 percent to close at Tk 1093.75.
Bellwether Beximco topped the trading table with shares worth Tk 1106.28 million changing hands.
The issue advanced by 2.92 percent to close at Tk 323.50.
Sole telecom issue in the capital market, Grameen Phone slipped by 0.62 percent and closed at Tk 256.20.
NAVANA CNG
DSE also decided on Sunday to place Navana CNG Limited in "A" category from "N" category, which will be effective from Aug 30, as the company reported disbursement of cash dividend of 10 percent and stock dividend of 20 percent.
-bdnews
Minimum fitra Tk 45
In a span of three days, the Islamic Foundation has fixed this year's fitra at Tk 100 and Tk 45 per head creating confusion among people.
At a meeting yesterday, Islamic Foundation fixed the minimum fitra at Tk 45. Earlier on Thursday, it fixed the fitra at Tk 100 per head in another meeting of the foundation.
In earlier years, there was only one minimum fitra. It was Tk 40 per head in 2009 and Tk 66 in 2008.
Nizam Uddin, public relations officer of Islamic Foundation, told The Daily Star fitra fixed at Tk 100 is equal to the market price of 3.3 kgs of rice while Tk 45 is equal to the market price of 1.65 kgs of wheat.
“The fitra was not re-fixed in today's [yesterday] meeting. Only a minimum fitra was set at Tk 45. Both Tk 45 and Tk 100 can be given as fitra as the amounts are correct according to the Shariah,” he said.
An official of Islamic Foundation, requesting anonymity, said the minimum fitra was set at Tk 45 in yesterday's meeting amid controversies over the earlier fixed fitra of Tk 100.
Several religious scholars protested against the earlier set fitra of Tk 100 saying it was unjust. They demanded fixing the fitra at Tk 45, the official added.
Fitra is Wajib (mandatory) and should be paid to the needy for all members of the family before the prayers of Eid-ul-Fitr.
-Daily Star
At a meeting yesterday, Islamic Foundation fixed the minimum fitra at Tk 45. Earlier on Thursday, it fixed the fitra at Tk 100 per head in another meeting of the foundation.
In earlier years, there was only one minimum fitra. It was Tk 40 per head in 2009 and Tk 66 in 2008.
Nizam Uddin, public relations officer of Islamic Foundation, told The Daily Star fitra fixed at Tk 100 is equal to the market price of 3.3 kgs of rice while Tk 45 is equal to the market price of 1.65 kgs of wheat.
“The fitra was not re-fixed in today's [yesterday] meeting. Only a minimum fitra was set at Tk 45. Both Tk 45 and Tk 100 can be given as fitra as the amounts are correct according to the Shariah,” he said.
An official of Islamic Foundation, requesting anonymity, said the minimum fitra was set at Tk 45 in yesterday's meeting amid controversies over the earlier fixed fitra of Tk 100.
Several religious scholars protested against the earlier set fitra of Tk 100 saying it was unjust. They demanded fixing the fitra at Tk 45, the official added.
Fitra is Wajib (mandatory) and should be paid to the needy for all members of the family before the prayers of Eid-ul-Fitr.
-Daily Star
Eid shopping gets momentum
The shopping for Eid-ul-Fitr festival has started gaining momentum as people of different ages thronged the city's shopping malls to buy panjabis, dresses and other necessary items for their near and dear ones for celebrating the biggest occasion in the country with joy and gaiety.With the advent of the Eid-ul-Fitr, city's customers especially women in good number thronged the Mouchck market, Anarkoli market, Concrod Twin Tower, Eastern Plaza, Gulistan Maket, Pir Yemeni Market, New Market, Gausia Market, Rapa Plaza and Bashundhara Shopping mall for buying dresses for their family members to avoid last moments of rush.
The traders in different shopping malls in the city are keeping their businesses open till mid night as growing number of customers are turning up after the iftar.
Punjabi, is traditional and most common attire for men of different ages and professions is a vital item. Without a punjabi and pajama many could not think of complete pleasure on the Eid day.
The varieties of different colours and designs of punjabis are being made of adicotton, pure cotton, khadi, Rajshahi silk, reshmi cotton, jute cotton and bexicotton fabrics have been selling in the markets as those have a high demand among the customers.
The prices of punjabis with hand stitched embroidery varied on their qualities and designs. The prices of locally made punjabis were sold between Tk 500 and Tk 7,000 each at different shopping malls in the city.
Many fashion houses like Anjan, Nitya Upuhar are selling exclusive designed punjabis.
However, in the makeshift shops, per punjabi is selling between Tk 150 and Tk 450 yesterday, according to traders.
"The collections of punjabis at different markets are sufficient, but those prices are too high compared with the last year's price. Finally, after visiting three markets, I managed to buy two punjabis for my family members" Ferdous Ara, a banker told the correspondent.
This year, the prices of different varieties of punjabis are a little bit high since the prices of yarn and other raw materials for producing cotton went up high compared with the previous years, traders asserted.
But despite this, the demand of punjabi this year goes high compared with the previous years. Different garment factories and fashion houses have been working relentlessly to meet the growing demand of punjabis.
This year approximately 3.5 crore punjabis are expected to be sold through out the country since locally made punjabis have a high demand to the customers, manufacturers told The New Nation yesterday.
Considering the growing demand, garment factories and different fashion houses in the country have increased their production to mitigate customers demand.
Sharif and Rupali Markets, located at Sadarghat area, are the biggest wholesale punjabi markets in the country.
The best quality locally made punjabi is between Tk 2,500 and Tk 3000 each. Shops in different shopping malls imported panjabi from neighbouring countries and sold between Tk 5,000 and Tk 7,000 each, traders said.
The wholesalers at Sadarghat said, they made punjabis by their own capacity and designers help in completing the design of punjabis.
On the other hand fashion houses like Arang, Anjans, Mantra and Probartana and others make panjabi through their appointed weavers and designers.
Different types of punjabi with embroidery, block print and manually designs were sold between Tk 1,500 and Tk 8,000 each.
On the other hand, cotton panjabis with simple design was sold between Tk 600 and Tk 1,500 each at Aesha Shopping Complex and Mouchack Market at Malibagh in the city yesterday.
Asked whether the prices would increase before the Eid, traders said, the prices of panjabi and other dresses would increase a little bit when the public and private service holders get their salaries and bonuses before the Eid.
Sports
No-balls: who, how & when
They are the three no-balls that will be recorded in the statistics books forever -- and will be remembered for shaking cricket to its core.
Millions of fans who watched Pakistan bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif send down the trio of deliveries over two days' play at Lord's, had no idea they were bowled as part of a match-rigging scam.
Incredibly, during live coverage, respected TV and radio pundits exclaimed to worldwide audiences how bad every one of the faked no-balls looked -- little knowing they were ordered by money-grabbing fixer Mazhar Majeed, who just a day earlier had collected 150,000 pounds from undercover News of the World reporters.
And it all played out like clockwork exactly as Majeed promised it would. He claimed the players had demanded we pay the cash as our entry ticket into an existing shady gambling syndicate based in India.
In return he revealed solid details of the three no-balls he'd planned for the Lord's Test:
Majeed: "There's no risk, there's no signal. . . these three are definitely happening. They've all been organised, okay? So, the first ball of the third over of the innings, yeah.
"[Mohammad] Asif and [Mohammad] Aamer are going to be bowling. Aamer is to bowl the first over [meaning he will also bowl the third], yeah?
"Okay? Then the tenth, the last ball. . . sixth ball of the tenth over."
Reporter: "The tenth over. Who's bowling it?"
Majeed: "Asif will be bowling it."
Majeed then explained that the third no-ball would come in the first over that teen wonder boy Aamer got to deliver to an England right-hander, after one of the opening two left-handers had been dismissed.
Just to convince us Aamer was onside Majeed telephoned the young star at his hotel. "Are you sleeping?" he asked crudely.
Aamer confirmed that's what he was trying to do.
"Okay, sleep," said Majeed. "We've spoken about everything before anyway. 'Okay, don't mind. You sleep'."
But when Aamer prepared for his day's work at the fourth Test on Thursday morning, he was certainly awake to what was expected of him.
Pakistan captain Salman Butt strolled out to meet England skipper Andrew Strauss in the middle of the ground shortly before the weather-delayed toss at 1.10pm on the opening day of the Test.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to put England in to bat.
Butt had his customary huddle with his team but bizarrely did not even bother to inspect the recently uncovered wicket like his opposite number Strauss. As predicted Butt put Aamer and Asif on to open the bowling.
And, as promised, on the first ball of the third over to England opening batsman Alastair Cook Aamer overstepped the white line marking his bowling crease by a huge margin.
Umpire Billy Bowden immediately raised his arm to signal the no-ball at 1:56pm.
Pakistan's 18-year-old rising star had sealed cricket's shame on the pitch once illuminated by legends including WG Grace, Ian Botham and Don Bradman.
But the sly player brazenly tried to hide the truth, raking the spikes of his boots across the line and asking for sawdust to be put down as he falsely blamed the no-ball on loose footing.
Bemused Sky commentator Ian Botham exclaimed: "No-ball. Because of the one-dayers, you don't see that too often with the bowlers who play two forms of the game. They've got into the discipline of keeping behind that front line."
The BBC online commentary read: "Dirty great no-ball from Aamer, that was fully two feet over."
Seven overs later, yet more disgrace was heaped on the game, as 27-year-old Asif also overstepped the crease on the last ball of the tenth over. He too went through the masquerade of calling for sawdust to dry the ground.
Former England captain Mike Atherton commented: "There's been a couple of biggish no-balls. He was over that front line by a good half-a-foot or so."
Play was abandoned due to bad light and rain at 5.45pm so the third no-ball promised by Majeed didn't happen.
But after play ended for the day Majeed smugly rang our reporter to brag. "You a bit more comfortable now?" he asked. "Told you. Once you showed your hand, I showed my hand, okay?"
Then he revealed how he had arranged another no-ball for the following day's play.
"Right, it's going to be Aamer's third over and third ball," he said.
"It'll be his third over, not the third over of the game." He ended the call by reminding our man: "Boss, I'm telling you, you're dealing with the right person, you're not dealing with an idiot, all right?"
But on Friday morning Majeed contacted our man saying that he'd received a message from Aamer.
Majeed said: "He's briefed up. He's just texted me now to say 'Shall I do it or not?'"
And Aamer did do it -- despite getting off to a sensational start, taking three quick wickets in nine balls.
Commentators described him as being "on fire" as England wickets tumbled to his pace attack. Aamer managed to skittle out England batsmen Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan without any of them scoring a single run. It was only the fifth time in history the third, fourth and fifth batsmen in an order had been dismissed for ducks. During the blitz, former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding, commentating for Sky, said: "It's been Mohammad Aamer's morning. He's made that ball talk."
His colleague Michael Atherton said: "Remarkable stuff this morning from Pakistan and in particular Mohammad Aamer. Just 18 years of age. He's running in from the Pavilion End. He's like an old hand.
"He looks like he's going to get a wicket with every ball he bowls."
With Aamer tearing through the batsmen, Majeed quickly contacted our man, warning that the promised no-ball might have to be cancelled and that we shouldn't place big bets on it. He said the captain might tell Aamer to keep up the onslaught. "So much is happening out there at the moment," he added. Majeed was right -- captain Butt, who Majeed boasts is one of his players in the fixing scam -- did have a quick word with Aamer just before the third ball of the third over.
Usually mid-over conversations between bowlers and captains would be about the placement of fielders and whether to make any changes.
On this occasion, no changes were made, prompting commentator Michael Holding to chip in: "A quick conference between captain and the bowler. Hasn't resulted in the field being changed. Not yet."
But there was a sudden change in Aamer's form. As promised, he bowled and again placed his foot over the crease, into the banned area -- a no-ball. The umpire had a word with Aamer about the surprise delivery, pointing out how far over the line his foot had been.
On the TV replay, the side view showed he placed his foot at least eight inches past the line. It prompted bowling legend Michael Holding to exclaim: "How far over was that? Woh!"
Ian Botham added: "It's like net bowling" -- referring to when bowlers don't try so hard when they are practising in the nets.
With his next ball Aamer bowled a delivery that again caused problems for Jonathan Trott, with both commentators saying how good a ball it had been. Test Match Special listeners on BBC Radio 4 heard Jonathan Agnew and England legend Geoffrey Boycott recall how Aamer had massively overstepped the crease the day before and called the delivery a "hostile ball". Agnew explained to listeners that Aamer's boot was over the line "by a foot".
They then discussed the possibility that Aamer could have done it on purpose in a bid to deliver the quicker ball closer to the batsman.
After the disgraceful cheating by Aamer, Majeed rang back and told our man: "I'm not a joker, boss, okay? So you're confident?"
Grasping Majeed demanded yet another 10,000-pound payment. He said: "Try and get it to me four or five o'clock, yeah? Because I can give it to them as soon as they're finished, then that's done."
He explained how he was due to meet the team straight after close of play to accompany them to a charity dinner organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board. In an emotional interview after Friday's play on Friday, Aamer hid his secret shame and told of his pride at bagging his first five-wicket haul at Lord's.
The young bowler, who made a big show of kneeling to kiss the hallowed turf on reaching the landmark, told Test Match Special: "These moments are for me good. At Lord's I wanted my name on the [honours] board and I did it."
He called the delivery that snared England's Alistair Cook -- shortly before he carried out his third bent no-ball -- the "most delightful wicket."
Ironically, the cheat said it was the best day of his career so far.
-Daily Star
Incredibly, during live coverage, respected TV and radio pundits exclaimed to worldwide audiences how bad every one of the faked no-balls looked -- little knowing they were ordered by money-grabbing fixer Mazhar Majeed, who just a day earlier had collected 150,000 pounds from undercover News of the World reporters.
And it all played out like clockwork exactly as Majeed promised it would. He claimed the players had demanded we pay the cash as our entry ticket into an existing shady gambling syndicate based in India.
In return he revealed solid details of the three no-balls he'd planned for the Lord's Test:
Majeed: "There's no risk, there's no signal. . . these three are definitely happening. They've all been organised, okay? So, the first ball of the third over of the innings, yeah.
"[Mohammad] Asif and [Mohammad] Aamer are going to be bowling. Aamer is to bowl the first over [meaning he will also bowl the third], yeah?
"Okay? Then the tenth, the last ball. . . sixth ball of the tenth over."
Reporter: "The tenth over. Who's bowling it?"
Majeed: "Asif will be bowling it."
Majeed then explained that the third no-ball would come in the first over that teen wonder boy Aamer got to deliver to an England right-hander, after one of the opening two left-handers had been dismissed.
Just to convince us Aamer was onside Majeed telephoned the young star at his hotel. "Are you sleeping?" he asked crudely.
Aamer confirmed that's what he was trying to do.
"Okay, sleep," said Majeed. "We've spoken about everything before anyway. 'Okay, don't mind. You sleep'."
But when Aamer prepared for his day's work at the fourth Test on Thursday morning, he was certainly awake to what was expected of him.
Pakistan captain Salman Butt strolled out to meet England skipper Andrew Strauss in the middle of the ground shortly before the weather-delayed toss at 1.10pm on the opening day of the Test.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to put England in to bat.
Butt had his customary huddle with his team but bizarrely did not even bother to inspect the recently uncovered wicket like his opposite number Strauss. As predicted Butt put Aamer and Asif on to open the bowling.
And, as promised, on the first ball of the third over to England opening batsman Alastair Cook Aamer overstepped the white line marking his bowling crease by a huge margin.
Umpire Billy Bowden immediately raised his arm to signal the no-ball at 1:56pm.
Pakistan's 18-year-old rising star had sealed cricket's shame on the pitch once illuminated by legends including WG Grace, Ian Botham and Don Bradman.
But the sly player brazenly tried to hide the truth, raking the spikes of his boots across the line and asking for sawdust to be put down as he falsely blamed the no-ball on loose footing.
Bemused Sky commentator Ian Botham exclaimed: "No-ball. Because of the one-dayers, you don't see that too often with the bowlers who play two forms of the game. They've got into the discipline of keeping behind that front line."
The BBC online commentary read: "Dirty great no-ball from Aamer, that was fully two feet over."
Seven overs later, yet more disgrace was heaped on the game, as 27-year-old Asif also overstepped the crease on the last ball of the tenth over. He too went through the masquerade of calling for sawdust to dry the ground.
Former England captain Mike Atherton commented: "There's been a couple of biggish no-balls. He was over that front line by a good half-a-foot or so."
Play was abandoned due to bad light and rain at 5.45pm so the third no-ball promised by Majeed didn't happen.
But after play ended for the day Majeed smugly rang our reporter to brag. "You a bit more comfortable now?" he asked. "Told you. Once you showed your hand, I showed my hand, okay?"
Then he revealed how he had arranged another no-ball for the following day's play.
"Right, it's going to be Aamer's third over and third ball," he said.
"It'll be his third over, not the third over of the game." He ended the call by reminding our man: "Boss, I'm telling you, you're dealing with the right person, you're not dealing with an idiot, all right?"
But on Friday morning Majeed contacted our man saying that he'd received a message from Aamer.
Majeed said: "He's briefed up. He's just texted me now to say 'Shall I do it or not?'"
And Aamer did do it -- despite getting off to a sensational start, taking three quick wickets in nine balls.
Commentators described him as being "on fire" as England wickets tumbled to his pace attack. Aamer managed to skittle out England batsmen Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan without any of them scoring a single run. It was only the fifth time in history the third, fourth and fifth batsmen in an order had been dismissed for ducks. During the blitz, former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding, commentating for Sky, said: "It's been Mohammad Aamer's morning. He's made that ball talk."
His colleague Michael Atherton said: "Remarkable stuff this morning from Pakistan and in particular Mohammad Aamer. Just 18 years of age. He's running in from the Pavilion End. He's like an old hand.
"He looks like he's going to get a wicket with every ball he bowls."
With Aamer tearing through the batsmen, Majeed quickly contacted our man, warning that the promised no-ball might have to be cancelled and that we shouldn't place big bets on it. He said the captain might tell Aamer to keep up the onslaught. "So much is happening out there at the moment," he added. Majeed was right -- captain Butt, who Majeed boasts is one of his players in the fixing scam -- did have a quick word with Aamer just before the third ball of the third over.
Usually mid-over conversations between bowlers and captains would be about the placement of fielders and whether to make any changes.
On this occasion, no changes were made, prompting commentator Michael Holding to chip in: "A quick conference between captain and the bowler. Hasn't resulted in the field being changed. Not yet."
But there was a sudden change in Aamer's form. As promised, he bowled and again placed his foot over the crease, into the banned area -- a no-ball. The umpire had a word with Aamer about the surprise delivery, pointing out how far over the line his foot had been.
On the TV replay, the side view showed he placed his foot at least eight inches past the line. It prompted bowling legend Michael Holding to exclaim: "How far over was that? Woh!"
Ian Botham added: "It's like net bowling" -- referring to when bowlers don't try so hard when they are practising in the nets.
With his next ball Aamer bowled a delivery that again caused problems for Jonathan Trott, with both commentators saying how good a ball it had been. Test Match Special listeners on BBC Radio 4 heard Jonathan Agnew and England legend Geoffrey Boycott recall how Aamer had massively overstepped the crease the day before and called the delivery a "hostile ball". Agnew explained to listeners that Aamer's boot was over the line "by a foot".
They then discussed the possibility that Aamer could have done it on purpose in a bid to deliver the quicker ball closer to the batsman.
After the disgraceful cheating by Aamer, Majeed rang back and told our man: "I'm not a joker, boss, okay? So you're confident?"
Grasping Majeed demanded yet another 10,000-pound payment. He said: "Try and get it to me four or five o'clock, yeah? Because I can give it to them as soon as they're finished, then that's done."
He explained how he was due to meet the team straight after close of play to accompany them to a charity dinner organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board. In an emotional interview after Friday's play on Friday, Aamer hid his secret shame and told of his pride at bagging his first five-wicket haul at Lord's.
The young bowler, who made a big show of kneeling to kiss the hallowed turf on reaching the landmark, told Test Match Special: "These moments are for me good. At Lord's I wanted my name on the [honours] board and I did it."
He called the delivery that snared England's Alistair Cook -- shortly before he carried out his third bent no-ball -- the "most delightful wicket."
Ironically, the cheat said it was the best day of his career so far.
-Daily Star
Wake-up call for Tigers
The latest match-fixing scandal of Pakistan gripped the Bangladesh cricket team on Sunday as they resumed practice after two days off at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.The Tigers were also under the scanner just two months ago at the same Lord’s after Sakib al Hasan had confessed a day before their Test match against England that he was also approached by bookies.
The next few days after Sakib’s confession the perennially overenthusiastic British media were busy in digging deep to find any involvement of any Bangladeshi cricketers in any kind of scandal at any time.
‘It is a disgrace,’ former captain Akram Khan told reporters about the Pakistan scandal. ‘Naturally this will have an impact on world cricket and Bangladesh will not be any different.’
‘As of Bangladesh we have taken this issue quite seriously and I am confident that our players are well aware of the consequences and so they won’t make any mistakes,’ said Akram, also a selector.
Senior cricketer Mohammad Ashraful said some of his team-mates had been approached by bookies regularly but they all had the courage to refuse the lure of this cheap money.
‘We are proud to play for our country,’ said Ashraful. ‘I am sure our players are matured enough to tackle this kind of situation.’
‘Sakib and Tamim have been offered earlier but hardly had any effect as they reported it to the board immediately and it only proved our loyalty to the country,’ said Ashraful.
Arrest over Pakistan-England Test 'cricket betting scam '
A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged cricket betting scam centred on the current Test between Pakistan and England at Lord's.The News of the World claims it gave £150,000 to a middleman who gave information about three pre-arranged "no balls" during the match.
Scotland Yard said a 35-year-old man is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.
Pakistan and England said the game would resume on Sunday as planned.
A joint statement issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) read: "No players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident and the fourth power Test match will continue as scheduled on Sunday.
"As this is now subject to a police investigation neither ICC, ECB, PCB nor the ground authority, the MCC, will make any further comment."
It added that all three bodies were assisting the police with their inquiries.
Earlier, Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed told the Associated Press team members had spoken to police at their hotel and were "helping them with their inquiries".
There is no suggestion that the result of the match has been in any way fixed nor that the England players knew anything about this”
He later said he was shocked by the allegations, as were the team members to whom he had spoken.
The News of the World alleges that Pakistani players were secretly paid to deliberately bowl "no-balls" during the Test.
A "no ball" occurs when a bowler oversteps the line behind which balls should be delivered.
The newspaper claims it was given pre-warning of three separate incidents by the Pakistan team.
It said members of its reporting team posed as businessmen and paid a middleman who told them exactly what would happen in the next day's play.
The allegations relate to three "no balls" delivered by Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif on Thursday and Friday.
Speaking from the team hotel in north London, Mohammad Asif said: "I have spoken to the management and they have told us something happened, but not what. The management will tell us more later. We are 100% focused on the match tomorrow."
-Daily Star
Transfer window now in October
The players' transfer for this season's Bangladesh League has been delayed to the first week of October.In an emergency executive committee meeting of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday, it was decided to shift the transfer date to October 1 to 7, from the original date of September 1 to 20.
In some other developments, the contract of Robert Rubcic for the job of national team coach has been approved and the signing with the 46-year-old Croatian will be done through the internet.
It is also expected that Rubcic will join the players early next month.
The committee also confirmed that the calendar for the upcoming season will be announced in the first few days of September, and it will have as many as 45 tournaments, including age-group tournaments.
However, the focal point of the meeting was the change in the transfer date.
The change took place after seven clubs -- Brothers Union, Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society, Farashganj Sporting Club, Arambagh Krira Sangha, Chittagong Mohammedan, Chittagong Abahani, Feni Soccer Club and Sheikh Russel -- made the demand to the BFF league committee.
The clubs had pleaded with the BFF to defer the transfer by two months and start it in November, following discussion with the club representatives.
They first sent the letter to BFF president Kazi Salahuddin who asked the clubs to give it to the league committee and having discussed the contents of the letter, the committee referred it to the executive committee meeting.
The plea made by the clubs was deemed 'realistic' because the clubs would find it difficult to make payments as the initial transfer window fell in the middle of the Eid Ul Fitr holidays.
"The clubs made the demand and we think it is realistic, as the last ten days of the transfer window [September 1-20] will clash with the Eid holidays," said BFF general secretary Al Musabbir Sadi.
In the first letter, the clubs claimed that they “have been going through financial trouble following the third edition of the Bangladesh League, which took 10 months to be completed instead of five. Consequently the clubs had to pay more money to the foreign players as well as spend additional money to run football camps.
“Despite having known the extent of the financial status facing the clubs, the football federation hurriedly announced the players transfer for the 2010 season without announcing the annual calendar.
“Hence, the clubs are now in the dark about when the league will start and finish. The clubs therefore appeal to the BFF to announce the annual calendar before the announcement of transfer.”
The transfer window for the foreign players however has remained between September 1 and October 15.
-Daily Star
Technology
Microsoft co-founder files patent suits against Facebook, Apple, Google
A company owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen on Friday blasted Apple, Facebook, Google, YouTube, Yahoo! and others with a patent infringement lawsuit filed in a US court.Seattle-based Interval Licensing, an Allen company, accused 11 online commerce and Internet search firms with infringing patents on fundamental Web technologies Interval developed in the 1990s.
‘Interval Research was an early, ground-breaking contributor to the development of the Internet economy,’ said Allen spokesman David Postman. ‘This lawsuit is necessary to protect our investment in innovation.’
Postman stressed that the technology at issue was created by Interval Research, a company founded by Allen and David Liddle in 1992, and not patents acquired from other firms.
The list of defendants in the lawsuit included AOL and Internet auction house eBay as well as online movie rental firm Netflix and retail chains Office Depot, OfficeMax, and Staples.
‘We believe this suit is completely without merit and we will fight it vigorously,’ Facebook said in response to an AFP inquiry.
Google also slammed the lawsuit. ‘This lawsuit against some of America’s most innovative companies reflects an unfortunate trend of people trying to compete in the courtroom instead of the marketplace,’ a Google spokesman told the AFP.
Microsoft, which Allen founded with Bill Gates in 1975, was not named in the suit.
Teletalk to reduce internet rate further
Post and telecommunications minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu has urged all to use Teletalk as it is an organisation of the country.Moreover, the telecom minister requested everyone to help the public telecom service provider.
He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of Narashingdi's first Teletalk service and customer care centre at the Sadar Upazila on Saturday noon.
The telecom minister said that Teletalk incurred a total loss of Tk 1600 million in 2007 and 2008.
"Teletalk customers have increased and it earned Tk 70 million recovering the loss after the government came to power," he added.
Razu said that the government has already signed an agreement worth 211 billion with China, which will enable the government to provide third generation (3G) network across the country.
"3G will be introduced soon through fiber optic cable. The internet speed will increase phenomenally across the country. Optical fiber performs three functions – internet, television and telephone."
The telecom minister further added, "Internet rate was double before Teletalk came in the market. We'll try to reduce the rate further so that the people can be benefited."
Deputy commissioner Amrita Barai, police superintendent Dr Akkas Uddin Bhuiyan, district Awami League vice-president advocate S A Hadi, Narashingdi Judges' Court's public prosecutor advocate N M Ruhul Amin, owner of M/S Sakir and Brothers and Teletalk Service Centre Hazi Abdus Sattar, among the others, were present at the inauguration ceremony.
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