Wall Street sit-in protest goes global

Members of the Occupy Wall Street movement march through the financial district of New York on October 14. Photo: Reuters

Protesters worldwide geared up for a cry of rage on Saturday against bankers, financiers and politicians they accuse of ruining global economies and condemning millions to poverty and hardship through greed.

Galvanised by the past month's Occupy Wall Street movement, the global protest began on a sunny spring day in New Zealand and is due to ripple round the world to Alaska via London, Frankfurt, Washington and New York.

Riot police prepared for any trouble -- cities such as London and Athens have seen violent confrontations this year -- but it was impossible to say how many people would actually turn out despite a rallying call across social media websites.

"I've been waiting for this protest for a long time, since 2008," said Daniel Schreiber, 28, an editor in Berlin. "I was always wondering why people aren't outraged and why nothing has happened and finally, three years later, it's happening."

New Zealand and Australia got the ball rolling while most of traditionally reserved Asia was quiet. Several hundred people marched up the main street in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, joining a rally in the city square where about 3,000 chanted and banged drums, denouncing corporate greed.

About 200 gathered in the capital Wellington and 50 in a park in the earthquake-hit southern city of Christchurch.

In Sydney, about 2,000 people, including representatives of Aboriginal groups, communists and trade unionists, protested outside the central Reserve Bank of Australia.

"I think people want real democracy," said Nick Carson, a spokesman for OccupyMelbourne.Org, as about 1,000 gathered in the Australian city. "They don't want corporate influence over their politicians. They want their politicians to be accountable."

Hundreds marched in Tokyo, including anti-nuclear protesters. Dozens in Manila, capital of the Philippines, marched on the US Embassy waving banners reading: "Down with US imperialism" and "Philippines not for sale".

The protests are billed as peaceful. But in a sign of what may happen, a group of students stormed Goldman Sachs's offices in the Italian city of Milan on Friday.

The students broke into the hall of the Goldman Sachs building in the heart of Milan's financial district. The protests were quickly dispersed but red graffiti was daubed on its walls expressing anger at Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and saying "Give us money".

Demonstrators also hurled eggs at the headquarters of UniCredit , Italy's biggest bank.

Italian police were on alert for thousands to march in Rome against austerity measures planned by Berlusconi's government.

SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE

In Britain, demonstrators aim to converge on the City of London -- a leading international financial centre -- under the banner "Occupy the Stock Exchange".

"We have people from all walks of life joining us every day," said Spyro, one of those behind a Facebook page in London which has grown to some 12,000 followers in a few weeks.

Spyro, a 28-year-old who has a well-paid job and did not want to give his full name, summed up the main target of the global protests as "the financial system".

Angry at taxpayer bailouts of banks since 2008 and at big bonuses still paid to some who work in them while unemployment blights the lives of many young Britons, he said: "People all over the world, we are saying, 'Enough is enough'."

Greek protesters aligned with Spain's "Indignant" movement called an anti-austerity rally for Saturday in Athens' Syntagma square, scene of many rallies during the financial meltdown.

"What is happening in Greece now is the nightmare awaiting other countries in the future. Solidarity is people's weapon," the Real Democracy group said in a statement calling on people to join the protest.

TIME TO UNITE

Concrete demands are few other than a general sense that the "greedy and corrupt" rich, and especially banks, should pay more and that elected governments are not listening.

"It's time for us to unite; it's time for them to listen; people of the world, rise up!" proclaimed the website United for #GlobalChange. "We are not goods in the hands of politicians and bankers who do not represent us ... We will peacefully demonstrate, talk and organise until we make it happen."

In Germany, where sympathy for southern Europe's debt troubles is patchy, the financial centre of Frankfurt and the European Central Bank in particular are expected to be a focus of marches called by the Real Democracy Now movement.

In the United States, the hundreds of protesters at Manhattan's Zuccotti Park called for more people to join them. Their example has also prompted calls for similar occupations in dozens of US cities from Saturday.

In Houston, protesters plan to tap into anger at big oil companies.

Still, some analysts thought the protest momentum in some countries such as Greece and Spain was wearing out.

"More people agree with these protests than actually take part," said Professor Mary Bossis of the University of Piraeus.

Despite despair over austerity measures that have slashed wages and pensions and put hundreds of thousands out of work, the spark for sustained action was lacking, she said.

"There is anger, there is rage ... but what it takes to overturn the current situation is missing," she said.

The targets of the protesters' wrath are also unlikely to be around to feel it. The City of London, for example, is deserted at weekends as wealthy city workers head for the golf club, country house or generally enjoy a spot of rest and recreation.

al-Qaeda official killed in Yemen, pipeline blown up

Defected army soldiers stand in line as they guard a street where protestors demonstrated to demand the resignation of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday. Photo: AP

The head of the media department of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was killed in an air raid on militant outposts in Yemen, and gunmen retaliated by blowing up a gas export pipeline, Yemeni officials and residents said on Saturday.

The death of Ibrahim al-Banna, an Egyptian described by Yemeni officials as high on their wanted list, is a fresh blow to the Islamist group regarded by Washington as the most serious threat to the United States, following the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki last month.

But the destruction of France's Total gas pipeline, which transports gas from the central Maarib province to Belhaf port on the Arabian Sea, was expected to deal a severe blow to the Yemeni economy, already reeling from months of protests demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down.

The Yemeni Defence Ministry said six other militants died in the air raids late on Friday on militant hideouts near the town of Azzan in the southern Shabwa province, including the oldest son and a cousin of Awlaki, a US-born cleric.

But local residents and officials said they believed it was foreign aircraft, flying at high altitude and smaller than the Soviet-made Yemeni air force planes, that launched at least three strikes on several targets in the area.

"There were planes flying high. I could hear the sounds of their engines but I could not make them out," one witness who declined to be identified told Reuters. "All of a sudden, the area was shaken by successive explosions," he added.

A Yemeni official described al-Banna as a "dangerous" militant and one of the most wanted people internationally.

Witnesses said militants were seen removing several bodies and an unknown number of injured people from the scene after the raid early on Saturday.

Last month, a US drone killed Awlaki, identified by U.S. intelligence as "chief of external operations" for al Qaeda's Yemen branch and a Web-savvy propagandist for the Islamist cause, US officials said.

Relatives of Awlaki said the cleric's son and cousin were due to be buried at the site of the attack.

Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda trying to establish a foothold in Yemen captured large swathes of southern Abyan province, including the provincial capital Zinjibar, earlier this year.

The Yemeni army last month drove the militants out of Zinjibar, which lies east of a strategic shipping strait through which some 3 million barrels of oil pass daily.

GAS PIPELINE

Residents and officials said the 322-km pipeline, which links gas fields in Maarib, east of Sanaa, to a $4.5 billion Total-led liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, was blown up soon after the raids.

Sources at Total told Reuters that the pipeline was blown up in two places, stopping the gas supplies that feed the Belhaf LNG plant. Witnesses said the flames were visible from several kilometres away.

The company evacuated nearly half its foreign staff to neighbouring Djibouti, and sent some local and French engineers to start repairing the pipeline.

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HC hearing Yunus’ petition

HC hearing Yunus’ petition
Prof Muhammad YunusStar Online Report

Hearing on Muhammad Yunus’ writ petition challenging the legality of a central bank order removing him as managing director (MD) of Grameen Bank is in progress at the High Court.

The hearing began at 2:00pm at the HC bench of Justice Momtaz Uddin Ahmed and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore.

The same bench earlier allowed the microcredit pioneer to file a supplementary petition to submit more information on the same matter.

Pending the hearing on his writ petition challenging the legality of his removal, the High Court heard the supplementary petition first.

Earlier, while counsels of the petitioner and defendants, lawyers and journalists were waiting for the hearing to begin at 11:00am, Deputy Attorney General Karunamoy Chakma told the Daily Star that Justice Momtaz Uddin Ahmed informed him that the hearing on the petition would begin at 2:00pm.

Justice Momtaz quoted Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore to be saying that he could not reach the court on time as he was caught in traffic jam.

Dr Yunus reached the court premises at around 9:00am, our correspondent covering the development reported from the High Court.

Yunus was unceremoniously relieved of his duties on Wednesday through a Bangladesh Bank letter sent to Grameen Bank Chairman Khondoker Muzammel Huq.

The central bank said Yunus failed to seek its approval when he was reappointed as the managing director in 2000, violating one of the statutes of the partly state-owned Grameen Bank.

Grameen however maintained that his position was legal.

Prof Yunus on Thursday filed a writ petition challenging the central bank order that removed him from the post of Grameen Bank MD as the wider international community showed its displeasure at the way the Nobel Prize winner for Bangladesh was treated.

The bench on Thursday fixed Sunday for giving order on Yunus' petition.

With Yunus’ forced exit, the microfinance institution's journey of over 30 years enters a different stage. He had started his lone campaign to provide loans to the poor, who had always been overlooked by the traditional banks, from his home village of Jobra in Chittagong. Defeating all sceptics, he not only proved that the poor are bankable, but he could turn it into an international movement. Countries across the world, including the USA, China, and India embraced his model of microfinance.

Foreign diplomats in Bangladesh sharply reacted to the government's move and none of them took it positively. They said they never thought that the government could make such an extreme move against an internationally reputed personality like Yunus.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh in Dhaka James Moriarty on Thursday said the United States is deeply troubled by the government removing Yunus from Grameen Bank and termed it “an unusual way to handle a Nobel Laureate”.

The government move surprised many of Grameen’s borrowers, who dubbed him the pathfinder in elevating them from poverty.

Economists with huge policy-making experience denounced the way the government decided to remove Yunus from the Nobel Prize winning Grameen Bank.

‘Friends of Grameen’, a newly established group headed by Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland, who denounced the ‘new attempt of destablisation against Professor Yunus’ also expressed concern.

S Africa 38/0 chasing 171

S Africa 38/0 chasing 171
South Africa's Peterson celebrates taking the wicket of England's captain Strauss during their ICC Cricket World Cup group B match in Chennai. Photo: Reuters

South Africa scored 38 without any loss after ten overs replying to England’s 172 runs in Group B match of ICC Cricket World Cup at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai Sunday.

Earlier, a quadruple success by South African spinner Imran Tahir preceded by Robin Peterson's early removal of the openers restricted England to 171 runs in 45.4 overs.

England’s batsman IJL Trott and RS Bopara knocked brilliant half centuries.

Imran Tahir captured four wickets while RJ Peterson grabbed three and M Morkel took two and Dale Steyn took one wicket.

Earlier, England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat first.

Placed fourth in the group after a shock defeat to Ireland Wednesday, England's collective morale and confidence are probably at their lowest despite assertions to the contrary from some players.

South Africa, on their part, have enjoyed a comfortable start to their campaign with an easy win against the West Indies and followed it up with a crushing defeat of the Netherlands.

England team: AJ Strauss, KP Pietersen, IJL Trott, IR Bell, RS Bopara, MJ Prior, MH Yardy, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, SCJ Broad and JM Anderson.

South Africa team: GC Smith, HM Amla, JH Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, MN van Wyk, RJ Peterson, M Morkel, DW Steyn and Imran Tahir.

2 more months sought for Aug 21 probe

2 more months sought for Aug 21 probe
This grenade was left abandoned on Bangabandhu Avenue on the August 21, but the ones that had exploded left blood on the street. Photo: File Photo

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Sunday sought two more months to complete further investigation into one of the two cases filed in connection with the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.

The CID so far got more than 18 months in six phases to complete the investigation into the case filed for killing 23 people, including Ivy Rahman and injuring scores in the attack.

Judge Fozila Begum of Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court will hear the petition on Monday.

CID's Special Superintendent of Police Abdul Kahar Akand, also investigation officer of the case, submitted a petition before the court seeking two more months as he could not complete the probe by the stipulated time given by the court.

Earlier on November 22 last year, the same court granted three and a half months to the CID, which will expire on Monday.

Another case filed under the Explosive Substances Act remained pending with the other court.

Take step to cancel bail of 3 grabbers, HC asks Bogra cops

Take step to cancel bail of 3 grabbers, HC asks Bogra cops
The December 7, 2010 photo shows workers are digging in the premises of Mahasthangarh, one of the oldest archaeological sites of Bangladesh, for the building of a multi-storey complex. Photo: Star Star Online Report

The High Court on Sunday directed the Bogra police to pray to the local court to cancel the bail of three people, who are allegedly involved in grabbing the land of Mahasthangarh archaeological site.

They are Khokhon Sarkar, Sajub Sarkar and Saiful Islam.

The HC bench of AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain also ordered the police to pray to the lower court for placing them on remand in this connection.

The court said if the lower court rejected the remand prayer, they will have to apply to the higher court for their remand.

Superintendent of police of Bogra Humayun Kabir, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mokazzem Ali of Shibganj Police Station and OC of Sadar Police Station Khalequzzaman on Sunday appeared before the bench as per its earlier order.

They told the court that they had arrested Khokon, Sabuj and Saiful on charge of grabbing the archeological heritage and prayed for their remand to a Bogra court.

But they were released on bail as the court granted them bail rejecting their remand prayer.

The SP told the court that he is not capable to discharge function as a member of the committee formed earlier to recommend ways to protect the historical archaeological site and its adjacent mosque and shrine because he remains busy with his other official work.

After hearing his statement, the bench deleted the name of the SP from the committee and replaced him by the chief executive officer of the district council of Bogra.

The bench fixed April 6 for further orders on this issue.

The bench also directed the police to ensure security of the Bogra correspondents of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo and custodian of Mahasthangarh Archaeological Museum Naheed Sultana and their family members.

Hasibur Rahman Bilu of The Daily Star, Milon Rahman of the Prothom Alo and Custodian Naheed Sultana on March 2 appeared before the court and said some people involved in land grabbing in the name of developing the shrine are threatening to "punish" them through mobile courts by filing false cases.

On the same day, the same bench summoned the SP to appear before it on Sunday to explain why the people, who are allegedly involved in grabbing the archaeological site, were not placed on remand.

Sustained gunfire breaks out in Libyan capital

Sustained gunfire breaks out in Libyan capital
A rebel inspects a destroyed weapons dump near Benghazi March 5. Photo: ReutersAP, Tripoli

Heavy machine-gun fire erupted early Sunday in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, including in the neighbourhood of Moammar Gaddafi's residence.

Frequent bursts of gunfire and car horns could be heard around the city, beginning at 5:30am. and lasting for several hours, but it was not immediately clear who was firing. An Associated Press reporter said the gunfire was heard near the vast complex where the Libyan leader lives, although it was not known if he was in Tripoli.

A government spokesman, Abdel-Majid al-Dursi, told the AP that the gunfire was celebratory, claiming that government forces had retaken the oil port of Ras Lanouf, in central Libya. But residents of Ras Lanouf said Sunday that the opposition remained in control of the port.

Opposition forces took the port on Saturday and pushed toward Gaddafi's hometown, even as government forces in tanks rolled into Zawiya, the opposition-held city closest to the capital, in a seesaw for both sides in the bloody battle for control of Libya.

The rival successes signaled an increasingly long and violent battle that could last weeks or months and veered the country ever closer to civil war.

The crisis in Libya has distinguished itself from the other uprisings sweeping the Arab world, with Gaddafi unleashing a violent crackdown against his political opponents, who themselves have taken up arms in their attempt to remove him from office after ruling the country for more than 41 years. Hundreds have been killed.

Gaddafi has drawn international condemnation for his actions. President Barack Obama has insisted that Gaddafi must leave and said Washington was considering a full range of options, including the imposition of a "no-fly" zone over Libya.

With the Gaddafi regime's tanks prowling the center of the city of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, residents Saturday ferried the wounded from the fierce fighting in private cars to a makeshift clinic in a mosque, fearing that any injured taken to the military-controlled hospital "will be killed for sure," one rebel said after nightfall.

Rebels in the east advanced from their eastern stronghold toward Sirte, setting the stage for fierce fighting with pro-Gaddafi forces who hold sway in the tribal area.

Western leaders focused on humanitarian aid instead of military intervention, and the Italian naval vessel Libra left from Catania, Sicily, for the rebel-held port of Benghazi in eastern Libya, with 25 tons of emergency aid, including milk, rice, blankets, emergency generators, water purifying devices and tents. It is due to arrive early Monday.

The storming of Zawiya, a city of some 200,000 people just 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Tripoli, began with a surprise dawn attack by pro-Gaddafi forces firing mortar shells and machine guns.

"The number of people killed is so big. The number of the wounded is so big. The number of tanks that entered the city is big," the rebel in Zawiya said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared government reprisal. The rebels vowed to keep up the fight in the city.

Anti-graft hope hinges on JS

Anti-graft hope hinges on JS
Parliamentarians, civil society warn against changes to ACC law without proper consultation
Emran Hossain

Amendments without having the opinion of the experts and stakeholders will weaken the Anti-Corruption Commission law, parliamentarians and civil society members said.

They made the observations after the government last week placed a bill in parliament proposing some changes to the ACC law.

The government, which enjoys two-thirds majority in parliament, is expected to pass the amendments unopposed, while ACC Chairman Ghulam Rahman is still in the dark about the proposed changes.

The bill, tabled on Monday, is now awaiting scrutiny at the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry.

“Abrupt amendments without proper consultation with the experts and the people likely to be affected by the law will make the law worse instead of strengthening it,” said noted jurist Dr Kamal Hossain.

Dr Kamal, who was a member of parliament in 1972-75, explained that one of the most important aspects of making an effective legislation is to review public opinion and talk to people who know about the issue well.

“Otherwise, more will be lost than gained,” he added.

Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to caretaker government, said, “The effort to amend the law is unnecessary and it is the politicians' overreaction to the activities of the last caretaker government.”

He said had parliament wished to gauge public opinion or discuss the matter, it would have organised a public hearing on it before sending it for scrutiny.

Workers Party President and lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon said the amendment proposals were wrong, particularly the provision of mandatory prior permission before bringing corruption charges against public servants.

“Elected representatives and government officials are the main people involved in administrative and political corruption. Limiting the ACC's power to move against them would render the commission ineffective,” said Menon.

Underlining the necessity of discussion in parliament, Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak said this is why the presence of the opposition is necessary in parliament.

He, however, gave reasons for the provision requiring permission to file cases against public servants. “Public servants deal with many secret matters of the state. Filing graft cases against them might put those at risk.”

Former law minister and BNP lawmaker Moudud Ahmed has no sympathy for the ACC, which he said, was used as an agent of the last caretaker government.

“It is a one-party parliament as we are not attending. Now it is up to the government to decide over the ACC's fate,” added the senior BNP leader who stands accused in a corruption case filed during the last caretaker government rule in September 2007.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed concern over the proposed amendments.

“The government is encouraging corruption. The amendment is nothing but a bid to avoid punishment in future for the corruption they are now involved in,” he said.

The opposition will protest the amendment inside and outside parliament, he added without saying when they are going to join parliament.

Suranjit Sengupta, chief of the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry, could not be reached for comments as he was not in the country.

Former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru, a member of the committee, said, “It is premature to make comments when the matter is not yet examined. Neither has it been placed before the standing committee for discussion.

“Criticism helps us move in the right direction and points out our mistakes. Our purpose is to eliminate corruption by formulating an appropriate law. We will rectify mistakes, if found.”

Regarding the mandatory prior permission, standing committee member Fazle Rabbi Mia said, “Any bill can be tabled. The committee would decide after discussion what its fate would be.”

He also mentioned that the committee should talk to all stakeholders before making any decision over the amendments.

Meanwhile, Transparency International has sent a “policy brief” to the standing committee with an 18-point demand and opinions of the ACC chairman, former caretaker government advisers, civil society members and legal experts.

Earlier in October 2009, the anti-graft body expressed strong reservations about six amendments proposed that year. It even met Law Minister Shafique Ahmed asking him to consider their observations before amending the law.

The proposed changes provoked an outcry among civil society members and anti-corruption stakeholders.

The government maintains that it is committed to making the law stronger and pro-people. But in reality, it has included all the amendments that the experts said would compromise the independence and effectiveness of the commission.

Quick power bid clicks

Govt's unsolicited rental projects to spell some relief by April; contractors behind schedule by few weeks, some fail
Sharier Khan

The government's drastic bid to meet power demands during the upcoming irrigation season thorough unsolicited "quick" rental power plants appears successful to a great extent, although some of these deals have flopped.

The Power Development Board (PDB) forecasts a dozen power plants with 1,100 megawatt power generation capacity would come into operation between March and April when the power demand for irrigation surge to an unmanageable height.

Despite these new additions, there still will be around 1,000 MW of load-shedding during March-April. Another 300 MW power would be added to the national grid by July.

Already four such plants started operation and are supplying 350 MW of power to the national grid. Another 70 MW gas-fired unit set up by British company Aggreko started test run from February 21 in Brahmanbaria and is currently running the full capacity test. The plant is likely to go commercial within a couple of days.

Sources in PDB say out of 18 unsolicited rental power deals signed last year to add nearly 1,500 MW power by April, at least 16 would be successful. But most of them would miss their original deadlines. Some deadlines will be missed due to contractors' inefficiency, while some will be missed because of PDB's delay in handover of land or necessary infrastructure to the contractors.

The sources add if the government could award all of these unsolicited contracts to genuine entrepreneurs, the nation could have expected an early relief from load-shedding. Earlier in November, the cabinet purchase committee approved five other power contracts totalling another 487 MW capacity. But none of these unknown local contractors later appeared to sign the contracts.

These defaulting companies are GG Waver (200 MW), Cambridge (90 MW), APR Energy (50 MW), EQ Capital (48 MW) and Wintara (99 MW).

Industry insiders say all of these five deals were pushed by some ruling party parliamentarians. Soon after the purchase committee approved their contracts, these companies went to various business groups to sell out their projects and make easy money, they add.

These flops aside, PDB has been positive about some contractors which have been trying hard to live up to their promises. British company Aggreko, which is the only real "rental" power company among all involved in the business in the country, has so far closely lived up to its promises. It has, however, fallen behind schedule with two gas-based projects in Brahmanbaria and Ashuganj mainly because PDB had some difficulties in handing over land to the company in time.

Summit and its sister concern KPCL have also made significant progress with their projects in Madanganj and Khulna but would still fall behind the schedule by two to five weeks.

The IEL Consortium Associates that is setting up a plant in Meghnaghat and also helping Dutch Bangla Power to build another one in Siddhirganj is also expected to launch their plants close to its deadlines. The IEL made expected progress in its Meghnaghat project. But PDB, which was supposed to avail the power evacuation system for this project on February 20, could not do so till now. The PDB expects to avail this system in mid-March. This delay would affect the IEL launching schedule.

Powerpac Mutiara, Acorn Infrastructure, Northern Power Solution, Sinha Power have made good progress with their projects in Keraniganj, Julda, Katakhali and Amanura, but all of them have fallen two to four weeks behind the schedule.

Two power companies Hyperion and Max Power have not made distinctive progress and it is likely that these companies might end up paying huge penalties to PDB. All the contracts outline a penalty clause under which the defaulter company would pay PDB $500 per megawatt per day for failure to launch on time.

The majority of these power projects will run on furnace oil and some on diesel as the country is facing serious gas supply crisis. Gas-fired power costs half of that produced by furnace oil-fired power. Furnace oil-based power generation is environmentally hazardous, but it costs half of that produced by diesel.

Four of them will operate on natural gas which is now available with PDB as some large power plants have gone under long-term repair work.

"We are now working on the oil supply system to ensure uninterrupted oil supply and storage," said PDB Chairman Alamgir Kabir. He added even if some power contractors fail, the quick rental power schemes would bring a major relief to the country by June this year.

Later this year, some public sector peaking power projects would commence operation. By the end of this year, PDB expects to put almost an end to the long-standing regime of load-shedding.

BNP bags one of 2 AL seats in JS Defeated candidates of both parties reject results; BNP calls hartal in B'baria Sunday; AL-backed candidates win in 6 out of 12 municipalities, BNP favourites in 3

BNP bags one of 2 AL seats in JS

Defeated candidates of both parties reject results; BNP calls hartal in B'baria Sunday; AL-backed candidates win in 6 out of 12 municipalities, BNP favourites in 3

Sujat Mia and MuktadirStar Report

The opposition BNP has won Habiganj-1, frustrating the ruling Awami League's bid to retain the two constituencies that went to by-elections yesterday.
AL, however, has defeated its archrival by a wide margin in Brahmanbaria-3.
The two parties ran neck-and-neck in Habiganj-1 before Sheikh Sujat Mia of BNP edged past Mushfiq Hussain Chowdhury of AL by 1,285 votes. In Brahmanbaria, Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury of the ruling party beat Khaled Mahbub of BNP by 40,510 votes.
The defeated candidates in both the constituencies have rejected the polls results, while the winners have lauded the conduct of the elections.
The BNP candidate in Brahmanbaria-3 last night called a dawn-to-dusk hartal for Sunday in his election area to protest “vote rigging”. He also demanded cancellation of the election.
Mushfiq Hossain Chowdhury, AL candidate in Habiganj-1, demanded re-election in six polling stations. He alleged that BNP men had prevented his supporters from coming to the polling stations.
The two seats had fallen vacant after the death of Dewan Farid Gazi and Lutful Hai.
Meanwhile, AL-blessed candidates fared better in the polls to 12 municipalities. They bagged six mayoral posts, while BNP-backed candidates won three.
In the remaining three, rebel from AL won one, Jamaat-backed candidate one and independent one.
In the polls to 243 municipalities between January 12 and 18, BNP-backed candidates did better than their rivals. In seven divisions, they won 92 of 236 mayoral posts and AL-backed contestants 88.
Rebel candidates from AL won 22 and those from BNP 11.
Fresh from a morale-boosting performance in the local body polls, the main opposition has dealt a blow to the ruling party by wining Habiganj-1, traditionally an AL stronghold.
AL leader Dewan Farid Gazi had been elected from this constituency in 1973, 1996, 2001 and 2008. Jatiya Party candidate won the seat in 1991 election.
In the last parliamentary election, Gazi defeated his rival BNP candidate Sheikh Sujat by 72,592 votes. As a grand alliance candidate, he polled 1,52,080 votes against Sujat's 79,488.
Yesterday it was a different election day for Sujat. He got 81,330 votes, while AL candidate bagged 80,045. Abdul Munim Chowdhury of Jatiya Party, a component of AL-led grand alliance, bagged 22,220 votes helping Sujat prevail on Mushfiq.
On the other hand, Brahmanbaria-3 constituency had been a BNP bastion till the last parliamentary election. The party won the constituency in 1979, 1991, 1996 and 2001. It did not contest the polls in 1986 and 1988.
In 2008, Lutful Hai of AL won the seat by defeating BNP-led four party alliance candidate. In yesterday's by-election, Muktadir of AL got 1,25,141 votes and BNP candidate 84,631.
POLLS HELD PEACEFULLY
Earlier in the day, voting in the by-elections and municipality polls went off peacefully except for a few stray incidents.
The Election Commission has expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the polls.
But the main opposition BNP, which had repeatedly called for army deployment in the by-elections, has demanded re-voting at five polling stations in Brahmanbaria-3.
The party will come up with a formal reaction to the by-polls through a press briefing at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital at 10:30am today.
Talking to reporters at the EC Secretariat yesterday afternoon, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retired) M Sakhawat Hossain said, "The elections under the present government have been freer and fairer than those under the previous political governments."
Referring to the balloting yesterday, he observed it proves free and fair election is possible by deploying regular law enforcers.
Besides, he added, depending on the army for elections does not always go with the spirit of democracy.
The same afternoon, BNP alleged rigging and violence at five out of 126 polling centres in Brahmanbaria-3.
Briefing journalists at its headquarters in the capital, the party's standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan claimed the ruling AL men and law enforcers had beaten up many of their activists and ousted agents from different polling stations in both Habiganj-1 and Brahmanbaria-3.
Yesterday's elections were considered a crucial test for the EC as well as the two major political parties that fought a close battle in the countrywide municipal polls a week ago.
Meanwhile, voting in 12 municipalities--Parbatipur in Dinajpur, Magura, Charfashion in Bhola, Madhabdi in Narsingdi, Jajira in Shariatpur, Madan in Netrakona, Madaripur sadar, Daganbhuiyan in Feni, and Cox's Bazar sadar, Chakoria, Moheshkhali and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar--went off without any untoward incidents, our local correspondents report.
Our staff correspondent Najmul Alam Nobin from Habiganj reported low voter turnout in the area.
Locals and the election officials said the thin presence of the voters might be because of their lack of interest in the by-election and many being busy in Boro cultivation.
Both AL and BNP candidates have accused each other of influencing the elections.
Returning Officer Mohammad Emran, however, said the voting was cent percent peaceful, and there have been no incidents of rigging or violence.
He said though rival candidates had raised allegations of voter intimidation, no evidence of that was found.
Earlier, BNP's election agent Abdul Khalek told The Daily Star that voting was going on peacefully.
Voters too said they faced no obstructions while coming to the poling centres.
AL candidate Mushfiq Hussain Chowdhury told The Daily Star that the election was peaceful except that some policemen had threatened his supporters.
Our staff correspondent Pankaj Karmakar and local correspondent Sheikh Shahidul Islam from Brahmanbaria report: The presence of women voters was much better than males in both urban and rural areas.
During the balloting, BNP candidate Khaled Hossain Mahbub demanded cancellation of election at eight centres, alleging attacks on his agents by AL activists.
Later, he withdrew all his agents and submitted applications to the presiding officers, urging them to cancel the voting.
Mirza Ghalib, presiding officer at Basudevpur High School centre, said there had not been any situation to warrant cancellation of voting.

PM Meets Cameron UK pledges continued support

PM Meets Cameron

UK pledges continued support

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is greeted by her British counterpart David Cameron on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street in central London yesterday.Photo: AFPUnb, London

British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the UK's continued support to the economic development of Bangladesh.
The assurance came when Sheikh Hasina met with her British counterpart at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British Prime Minister.
Hasina had a one-to-one dialogue with Cameron before a delegation level meeting, which lasted for 40 minutes from 10:30am.
During the meeting Sheikh Hasina sought British cooperation in the fields of health, infrastructure, school-feeding programme and climate change, Rashed Chowdhury, minister (press) at Bangladesh High Commission in UK told the UNB.
Cameron praised the socio-economic programmes of Hasina's government and her pragmatic leadership on climate change.
He also lauded Hasina for her government's role in fighting terrorism and hoped the two countries would work together in combating terrorism.
The two leaders also discussed human rights issues.
Prime Minister's younger sister Sheikh Rehana, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Badruddin Qamran Chowdhury, Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin and Bangladesh High Commissioner to UK Prof Sayeedur Rahman Khan were present during the meeting.
Earlier, Cameron received Sheikh Hasina at the main entrance of his residence.

UK didn't train Rab to kill people

Says PM; Amnesty asks Rab to stop 'extra-judicial killing'

Star Report

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday dismissed media reports based on WikiLeaks disclosure of diplomatic cables that British forces trained Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) for extra-judicial killings, UNB reports.
“Do you believe that the UK has trained this force to kill our own people? Certainly not. Rab has been trained to protect citizens,” she said responding to a query from a student in the UK.
She was taking questions after delivering a statement on Global Peace at the Main Chamber Hall of the Oxford Union at Frewin Court yesterday.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International in a press release yesterday said Rab must stop extrajudicial killings.
The press release also called on the British government to raise concerns before Sheikh Hasina about reports of torture, extrajudicial executions, and excessive use of force by Rab.
More than 600 people are thought to have been killed by Rab personnel since 2004 when the battalion was created, it said, adding, WikiLeaks sources have recently alleged that the UK police have been training Rab.
Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International's Bangladesh researcher, said, “Suggestions that these deaths in custody are just unrelated random incidents, as opposed to targeted executions, are simply not credible. The chance of this same fate befalling so many apprehended individuals defies belief and contradicts eye-witness testimony. These deaths amount to extrajudicial executions.”
Hasina, however, said whenever allegations of extra-judicial killings were raised, the government investigated those and took action. “We believe in human rights.”
Asked if Islam will remain in the constitution as state religion, she said secularism does not mean absence of religion.
Hasina said a parliamentary committee is working to amend the constitution in light of a High Court verdict.
On confrontational politics, the premier said her government has ensured all facilities to opposition leader Khaleda Zia and her party since assuming office in 2009.
Unfortunately, Hasina said, BNP is not joining parliament. “I hope the opposition will return to the House.”
Replying to a query on government's relation with Pakistan, she said, “At present, we are enjoying good relations with Pakistan.”
Hasina also said India contributed significantly during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
“True that we have some problems with India such as sharing waters of the common rivers but we're working together to find solutions,” she said.

Crossfire Killings Sahara defends lawmen again

Crossfire Killings

Sahara defends lawmen again

Slates HR bodies' role

Staff Correspondent

Home Minister Sahara Khatun has questioned whether human rights organisations are "siding with the criminals" killed in "encounters" with law enforcers.
She was speaking as the chief guest at the annual general meeting of Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) in the capital.
The remark came a day after the home minister claimed that no extra-judicial killings have happened during the present government's tenure. However, reports of human rights organisations sharply contradict the claim. The annual report of Odhikar, a Dhaka-based human rights watchdog, says at least 127 people fell victim to extra-judicial killings in 2010.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman Khan at a seminar doubted the home minister's claim and said he will be assured if the judiciary says there is no extra-judicial killing in the country.
Sahara called upon the rights organisations to work independently and said they should stand by lawmen, who put their life on the line to fight criminals.
“Militants, terrorists, criminals and muggers are hiding all around us. Please help law enforcers arrest them,” Sahara said.
She also claimed that criminal activities are on the decline across the country.
Hassan Mahmood Khondker, inspector general of police (IGP), urged journalists not to hinder their “work by one-sided criticism".
“We plan to set up an institute of criminology,” the IGP said.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Benazir Ahmed said they would show zero tolerance to narcotics trade, a major crime in the country.
“We arrested 12 drug peddlers in the last two months. But at least 700 drug peddlers got released from prison taking advantage of the loopholes in the law,” he said.
The DMP commissioner said they got nearly 550 drug peddlers punished on the spot by mobile courts.
Mokhlesur Rahman, director general of Rapid Action Battalion, also spoke at the function presided over by CRAB President Akhteruzzaman Lavlu.

Chaos outside CJ's courtroom Pro-BNP lawyers agitate against CJ for saying that lawyers not properly protecting good people; SC warns demonstrators

Chaos outside CJ's courtroom

Pro-BNP lawyers agitate against CJ for saying that lawyers not properly protecting good people; SC warns demonstrators

Pro-BNP lawyers head for a press conference at the Supreme Court Bar Association building yesterday morning after boycotting the chief justice's court.Photo: STARStaff Correspondent

The pro-BNP faction of Supreme Court Bar Association boycotted the chief justice's court, and staged a sit-in in front of the courtroom, creating tremendous chaos for one hour yesterday morning.
They demonstrated protesting the chief justice's recent remarks about lawyers, and the reconstitution of High Court benches by him.
Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque recently said lawyers are not properly doing their job of protecting good people and resisting the evil ones.
The apex court led by the CJ discharged judicial functions yesterday amid the demonstration, and warned the demonstrators that it will take measures if such chaos is created on the SC premises in future.
It said the court could have removed the chaos within two minutes, but it did not do so because of its relationship with SCBA, and its concerns for that relationship.
It also said the dignity and prestige of the highest court must be maintained.
The SC issued a circular as well, asking all concerned to refrain from holding demonstrations on court premises that could hamper normal activities of courts, warning that appropriate legal actions will be taken if such activities take place.
Meanwhile, ruling Awami League backed lawyers also held a meeting yesterday on SCBA premises protesting the court-boycott of pro-BNP lawyers, and demanding that the association's president apologises to the chief justice.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam alleged, by creating chaos in front of the chief justice's court the pro-BNP lawyers violated the HC verdict which in 2005 had put restrictions on demonstrations on SC premises.
Around 50 pro-BNP lawyers led by SCBA President Khandker Mahbub Hossain and Secretary Bodruddoza Badal gathered near the door of the chief justice's courtroom at 9:00am.
There they staged the sit-in chanting slogans in support of the demonstration, and demanding resignation of Chief Justice Khairul Haque.
The three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by the chief justice began its proceedings around 9:20am, when few hundred lawyers including some senior counsels were present.
The court solicited opinions from senior lawyers Mahmudul Islam, M Amir-Ul Islam and Abdul Baset Majumder regarding what it should do under the circumstances.
The lawyers said their demonstrating colleagues could have settled their grievances over reconstitution of the benches, if they had any, by discussing the matter with the chief justice.
During the demonstration, which ended at 10:00am, the agitating lawyers obstructed a few of their colleagues' entry to the courtroom and hurled expletives at them.
After the sit-in, Khandker Mahbub Hossain told reporters that they will take tougher programmes in the near future if they are provoked.
The chief justice's remarks are provoking and contemptuous, he said.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam at a media briefing in his office said a faction of SCBA created chaos on the court premises to serve a certain quarter's purpose.
The quarter is unhappy with the chief justice, as he delivered verdicts in the cases relating to the fifth amendment of the constitution, declaration of independence, Bangabandhu killing, and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's previous residence in Dhaka Cantonment.
AL backed lawyers organised the meeting at the South Hall of SCBA in the afternoon, saying if the SCBA president does not apologise to the chief justice, they will not join the annual lunch which will be hosted by the association on February 3.
M Amir-Ul Islam, Rokanuddin Mahmud, Abdul Baset Majumder, Yusuf Hossain Humayun, and Munsurul Huq Chowdhury, among others, addressed the meeting.
SC Registrar M Ashraful Islam signed the circular in which the SC authorities called upon all concerned to refrain from holding any programme throughout the country that obstructs normal functioning of courts.
The highest court of the country is seeking sincere cooperation from all concerned in upholding the dignity and image of courts, it said.

AL unit president held for plotting murder of his GS

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka City Corporation's ward-41 Awami League President Noor Mohammad was arrested yesterday on suspicion of plotting the murder of the unit's general secretary, Fazlul Huq.
Noor, 68, was admitted to National Institute of Chest Diseases and Hospital, Mohakhali, after unidentified people gunned him down at West Agargaon Bazar on January 8.
Selim Mohammad Jahangir, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Tejgaon division), said detectives picked up Noor after his discharge from the hospital.
A source said doctors released the man around 11:00am.
DC Mahbubur Rahman of Detective Branch (north) said they had taken Noor to the DB office in the afternoon for interrogation. The detainee will be produced before a Dhaka court today along with a remand prayer.
On January 14, Fazlul Huq was shot dead in the city's Agargaon area.
According to DB sources, so far nine persons, including Noor Mohammad's son-in-law, have been arrested in connection with the killing.
Detectives said they started suspecting Noor as the mastermind of Fazlul murder after interrogating the other arrestees.
Both Noor and Fazlul were preparing to run for the councillor post in the upcoming Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) polls and campaigning in their areas, locals and police sources said.
A row over securing party backing in the election might have triggered the gun attacks, they added.

Forced Labour at Brickfield Statement of 30 not recorded

Forced Labour at Brickfield

Statement of 30 not recorded

Staff Correspondent

A Dhaka court granted bail to two employees of a brickfield yesterday a day after Rab detained them on charges of forcing 30 people to work.
Police had appealed for a seven-day remand of the detainees, but the court turned them down.
Also yesterday another court refused to record statement of the workers, saying the office hours had been over.
Investigation officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam of Ashulia Police Station, produced Sultan Mohammad Ratan and Hossain Gazi before the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Masrur Salehin.
SI Saiful said the 30 people had been sent back to Rab.
Commander M Sohail, director, Legal and Media Wing of Rab, told The Daily Star they would hand over the workers to their relatives.
Rab said they raided Ekota Brickfield in Ashulia Wednesday evening after a tip-off from intelligence sources and rescued the workers, including two men chained by their legs.
Billal Hossain, one of the workers, had filed a case with the police station accusing 11 people of Ekota Brickfield of torture and forced labour.

Hartal in Noakhali, Laxmipur Wednesday

AL-backed candidate takes control of 18 centres in Laxmipur, BCL men snatch ballot papers in Habiganj and Comilla

Supporters of ruling Awami League-backed mayoral candidate vandalise ballot box after snatching it from Noakhali Primary School polling centre authority on Tuesday. Photo: Star Star Online Report

Local BNP called for a dawn to dusk and a half-day hartal in Noakhali and Laxmipur respectively for Wednesday demanding cancellation of Tuesday's election there as allegations of vote rigging and centre capture ran rife during the polls in 58 municipalities of Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) suspended elections in Senbagh municipality in the same district due to 'irregularities' during the polls.
Voting at a centre in Habiganj municipality remains suspended after activists of ruling party's student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), snatched ballot papers. On the other hand, vote casting resumed at a centre under Nagolkot municipality in Comilla after a 45-minute suspension for the same reason.
Our Chandpur correspondent reports authorities suspended voting at Sengarchar Government Primary School centre in Sengarchar municipality polls following allegation of rigging.
Voting in 58 municipalities began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm without any break.
Our correspondents covering the polls report that voters' turnout to the polling centres were thin till 10:00am due to chill wave but the scenarios changed later.
NOAKHALI
Harunur Rashid Azad, BNP-backed mayoral candidate vying for Noakhali municipality, informed the election officials about capture of 25 centres by his rivals and his supporters, our Noakhali correspondent reports.
"And I requested returning officer (RO) to suspend the voting. But he won't listen to me," Azad told reporters, adding that the RO, M Shakhawat Hossain, the additional deputy commissioner, ordered for continuing the polls.
He later convened a press conference at former BNP lawmaker M Shahjahan's residence at Fakirpool in the town at 2:30pm.
Announcing polls boycott, Azad called for a dawn to dusk hartal in Noakhali for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, on receiving allegations of 'irregularities', the EC postponed the elections of Senbagh municipality.
After receiving an EC letter on the decision at 2:30pm, Noakhali deputy commissioner Sirajul Islam ordered to stop voting.
Our correspondent reported that there were allegations that activists of the ruling Awami League took control of polls center and cast fake votes in at least two centres.
LAXMIPUR
AL-backed mayoral candidate Abu Taher and his supporters drove out agents of the BNP-backed candidate from 18 polling centres and took control of those, reports a correspondent.
Addressing a press conference at 4:00pm, Hasanuzzaman Chowdhury Mintu, the BNP-backed candidate, claimed Taher and his men took control of the polling centres at about 10:00am.
Announcing polls boycott, he demanded cancellation of the polls and re-election at the municipality.
Backing the allegation, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annee, BNP MP from Laxmipur, said people would not accept the election.
The local BNP announced they would enforce a half-day hartal in the district on Wednesday.
The press conference was held at Annee's residence at Ramchhari in Laxmipur.
HABIGANJ
Nearly 25 activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League snatched some ballot papers from the presiding officer at Habiganj Town Model Government Primary School centre at about 10:15am, our correspondent in Sylhet reports.
Polling was suspended for nearly one and an half hours following the ballot paper snatching.
Though voting resumed at about 11:30am, it was suspended again in half an hour as the ballot papers could not be rescued and the presiding officers were assaulted.
Mahmud Hasan, Habiganj deputy commissioner, ordered suspension of voting citing EC instruction for such cases.
Election officials said about 41 ballot papers might have been snatched.
Rapid Action Battalion was trying to nab the BCL activists.
COMILLA
Voting at Dhatishwari Government Primary School centre of Nagolkot pourasava remained suspended for about 45 minutes since 9:03am after supporters of an Awami League candidate snatched ballot papers in a bid to cast vote for their candidate.
On information, members of army, Rapid Action Battalion and police drove them out from there.
Returning officer Mohammad Rehan Uddin of the centre started taking vote at about 9:50am.
CHANDPUR
Voting was suspended in a polling centre at Sengarchar municipality election of Chandpur following an allegation of vote rigging.
Matlob North Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Returning Officer Golam Kabir suspended the voting at Sengarchar Government Primary School centre at about the noon after BNP candidate Amena Begum alleged of vote rigging at the centre.
Meanwhile, voting was suspended for about 15 minutes following a clash between the supporters of two mayoral candidates at Beshdi Government Primary School at Sengarchar that left 10 people including a policeman injured.
The voting resumed at about 11:00am after law enforcers rushed there and took the situation under control.
MOULVIBAZAR
Shaswati Nath, 55, a female councillor candidate of Sreemongol municipality of Moulvibazar died of cardiac arrest at her Dhanshiri residence at about 8:00am. The election in the municipality however was continuing.
Over 11.5 lakh voters are entitled to cast their votes to elect 42 mayors for 42 municipalities under 10 districts in Chittagong division. A total of 212 and 2,179 aspirants are contesting for the posts of mayors and councilors respectively.
Seventy-four candidates are contesting for 16 mayoral posts in 16 municipalities in four districts of Sylhet division. Over 2.96 lakh voters are entitled to exercise their franchise to elect their representatives there.
The first phase of polls was held in the municipality areas of Barisal, Khulna, Rangpur and Rajshahi last week while the second phase kicked off from Dhaka on Monday.
So far, AL-backed candidates and its rebels won 87 out of 183 mayoral posts while BNP's favourites and its rebels grabbed 76.

BNP demands re-election to Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur municipalities

Star Online Report

Alleging massive irregularities in Tuesday’s municipality polls in Chittagong and Sylhet divisions, opposition BNP demanded re-election in all municipalities of Feni, Noakhali and Laxmipur districts, and in Swandip municipality in Chittagong and Kochua municipality in Chandpur.
Addressing a a press briefing at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan, Nazrul Islam Khan, standing committee member, alleged supporters of ruling Awami League-backed candidates rigged the poll by taking control of all the polling centres in all municipalities in Noakhali, Laxmipur and Feni.
He termed Tuesday’s situation as 'dreadful' in comparison with the situation in the previous three phases, Desh TV reports on its website.
“Mockery will fall short of describing what is going on today in the name of elections," he said.
The BNP standing committee member also raised questions whether law enforcers, army and administration played non-partisan role in there.

JS body for subsidy to rein in price

Star Online Report

Government should provide subsidy if necessary to arrest skyrocketing price of food items and essentials, a parliamentary body suggested Tuesday.
Expressing deep concern over the present trend of price hike of essentials and other food items, the parliamentary standing committee on commerce ministry, which is headed by ruling Awami League MP Tipu Munshi, also formed a five-member sub-committee to work on strengthening the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
The sub-committee has been asked to submit recommendations on how to make the state-run organisation effective to keep the market stable.
The parliamentary committee recommended for a special allocation of Tk 1,000 crore for TCB so that it can import essential items to keep the market stable.
"We have recommended that the government should provide subsidy, if necessary, to arrest skyrocketing price of essentials," ABM Abul Kasem, chief of the watchdog, told reporters after the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Kasem, also a ruling AL lawmaker, said people do not want to hear or understand that price of daily commodities are also high in other countries like in our country.
"They [people] just want that price of essentials will be within commoners' purchasing capability," he added.
Lawmakers in the committee opined that the TCB can do a lot regarding keeping the market of essential products stable.
They also expressed dissatisfaction over the 'poor' performance of TCB to this end, meeting sources told The Daily Star.
The committee also discussed on making the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate 'truly effective' to ensure consumer rights.
The committee was informed that activities of the consumer rights protection directorate will be strengthened as the government has moved to form consumer rights protection committee in all the districts.

Prof Yunus gets bail

Dr Muhammad Yunus coming out of a court in Mymensingh on Tuesday after it granted him bail in a defamation case. Photo: STAR Star Online Report

A Mymensingh court on Tuesday granted bail to Dr Muhammad Yunus against a Tk 5000 bond in a defamation case filed against him in 2007.
The case was filed on January 21, 2007 by Nazrul Islam Chunnu, joint secretary of Mymensingh unit Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), just four days after Yunus criticised the politicians.
The lawsuit referred to an interview with international news agency AFP at the head office of Grameen Bank on January 17, 2007.
The plaintiff in the case said the interview was published in different newspapers on the following day.
Chunnu quoted Yunus to be saying in the interview, "They (politicians) are only after money. Their politics has nothing to do with ideology."
The Grameen Bank chief appeared before the Cognizance Court no-1 of Senior Judicial Magistrate Rozina Khan in Mymensingh at 11:30 in the morning.
A lawyers’ panel led by advocate AHM Khalequzzaman sought bail for Dr Yunus. Granting him the bail with two securities including a lawyer, the court also asked him to appear before the court on February 20.
The magistrate also allowed the Nobel laureate to appear through his lawyers as the defence prayed to exempt Yunus from personal appearance in the court.
Judicial Magistrate Jahangir Hossain conducted a judicial inquiry into the case and submitted its report to the court in December last year.
District unit president of Ganatantri Party Prof Atiqur Rahman, JSD secretary advocate Sadik Hossain, secretary of Workers Party of Bangladesh Sujit Barmon and advocate Abdul Motalab Lal, among others, made their depositions before the judicial inquiry, according to the source.
The court on December 19 summoned Dr Yunus to appear before it on January 18.

Joint-secy level talks with India begins

Star Online Report

The two-day bilateral joint-secretary level meetings on Joint Working Group (JWG) and Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) between Bangladesh and India began in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Joint Secretary (Political) Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed is leading the 12-member Bangladesh team comprises of the officials of different line ministries.
“We are discussing three issues -- border management, mutual cooperation and security related issues -- on the first-day talk,” Kamal Uddin Ahmed told The Daily Star during a break in the session.
Indian Joint Secretary Shambhu Singh is leading the 10-member team at the meeting, which will continue till 5:00pm Tuesday.
The two-day crucial home secretary-level meeting will begin on January 19.

6 killed in Noakhali gunfight

Star Online Report

Six people were killed in gunfight between two gangs of robbers in a remote shoal of Noakhali's Hatia upazila early hours Tuesday.
Reached over phone Noakhali Superintendent of Police (SP) Harunur Rashid confirmed recovery of six male dead bodies including one of a teenaged boy from Char Bashar this morning.
"We found six bodies ridden with bullets and also bearing cut marks of sharp weapons. Locals said there was a gun fight between two rival bandits' gangs. All sans one are of middle-aged males while there was a body of a boy of 14/15 years of age," said the SP.
Our Noakhali correspondent adds quoting the locals that at dead of night a fight ensued over sharing of booties among robbers resulting deaths of six including a dacoit leader Giasuddin Sardar and injuries to two more. Besides, a house was also torched at Purba Faridpur village in Hatia.

Col Taher Case: Ex-DC places statement to HC

Col Abu TaherStar Online Report

MM Shawkat Ali, a former deputy commissioner of Dhaka, on Tuesday placed statement before the High Court over the trial and execution of Col Abu Taher.
He told the court that Col Taher could have been tried under the normal law since he was not a military officer in 1976.
He said Col Taher was tried and executed in a secret court, which was formed under the martial law regulations.
He made the statement before the bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain.
The court is hearing the writ petition that challenged the martial law regulation under which Col Taher was tried and sentenced to death.
Shawkat Ali told the court that he did not know Md Abdul Ali, one of the five judges of the military tribunal.
Md Abdul Ali, who was a first class magistrate during the trial, told the told on January 13 that Shawkat Ali has directed him to join the tribunal as its members.
The hearing was going on till filling of this report at about 2:15pm.

‘President may consult anybody on appointing CJ’

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday observed that the president might consult anybody on appointing the chief justice (CJ).
It said the president of the republic holds the unilateral authority to appoint the CJ as per the provision of the constitution.
The president can appoint any competent person as the CJ, the court said, adding that there was no provision in the constitution for appointing the CJ by maintaining the serial of seniority.
The HC bench of Justice Md Imman Ali and Justice Obaidul Hasan came up with the observation after hearing a writ petition filed by four SC lawyers.
They filed the writ petition on August 22 seeking the HC directive to the government to appoint the CJ on the basis of seniority of judges.

Shah Alam acting chairman of law commission

Prof Shah Alam Star Online Report

Prof Shah Alam, member of the Bangladesh Law Commission, has been given the charge of its chairman, as Justice MA Rashid resigned from this office on October 19.
The ministry of law on Tuesday issued a gazette notification stating that Shah Alam will discharge the duties as the chairman of the law commission until a new chairman is appointed.
Shah Alam has been given the charges of chairman of the law commission as per section 5(5) of Bangladesh Law Commission Act, the notification said.

3 Huji men held for CPB rally blast

Aftermath of the bomb attack on a CPB meeting in Purana Paltan in January 2001. Star file photo

Rapid Action Battalion arrested three members of Harakat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami early Sunday in connection with the 2001 bomb blasts at the rally of Communist Party of Bangladesh in the capital's Paltan Maidan.
A team of Rab intelligence wing captured Moulana Md Idris Ali, Moulana Md Abdul Latif and Sakhawat Hossain at about 12:30am in Krishi Market area of Mohammadpur following secret information, Wing Commander Mohammad Sohail, director (Legal and Media Wing) of the Rab, told The Daily Star.
The heinous bomb attacks on January 21, 2001 killed five people and injured 50 others.
Following the bomb attack, CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan filed a case with Motijheel Police Station.
Earlier, Criminal Investigation Department arrested Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and several other members for their involvement in the bomb blasts. Moreover, two members of Lasker-e-Taiba of India were also shown arrested in the case and they were taken on remand for interrogation.

Petrol pump owners observe 6-hr strike

File photo 

Bangladesh Petrol Pump and Tank Lorry Owners and Labour Oikya Parishad, a platform of petrol pumps and tank lorry owners, enforced a six-hour strike since 6:00am Sunday to press home their 13-point demand.
It demanded accident insurance for petrol pump workers, an end to the harassment by police in the name of checking documents of tank-lorries on highways and an increase in tank-lorry fare.
The other demands include formulation of a policy regarding installation of pumps and testing laboratory in all depots and increasing the tank lorry fair.
The government did not adopt any policy to install petrol pumps and the commission on sales of petroleum oils dropped to 2 percent from 5 percent in 1990, BSS quoted Nazmul Huq, president of the parishad, as telling the state-run news agency on Saturday.
There are 2,706 petrol pumps and 5,304 dealers and tank-lorry outlets in the country.

Student arrested with arms in capital

Rapid Action Battalion Sunday morning arrested a young man along with arms in the capital’s Mirpur area.
The elite force identified the youth as Abdur Rahman, 22, a private university student, but it did not name the institution instantly, reports the daily Prothom Alo.
Deputy Director Maj Tariqul Islam of Rab-4 said a team of the elite crime busters upon secret information raided a house at Mirpur section-7 and captured Abdur Rahman.
They recovered two revolvers, one pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition from Rahman’s procession, he said.
The Rab official said in primary interrogation Rahman admitted that he had committed muggings and robberies by using the arms.

Protesters surge into Bangkok wanting new election

Supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra cheer to speech from their leader during an anti-government rally in Bangkok on March 13. Photo: AP AP, Bangkok

Tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters from Thailand's rural areas swarmed the Thai capital Sunday for protests aimed at forcing the government to dissolve parliament and call new elections.
Protest leaders gave the government until noon Sunday (0500 GMT; midnight EST) to accede to their demands or face mass marches on key locations in Bangkok.
The demonstrators, popularly known as the Red Shirts, want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call new elections, which they believe will allow their political allies to regain power. They believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the connivance of the military and other parts of the traditional Thai ruling class who were jealous and fearful of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's popularity while in office from 2001 until he was ousted in a 2006 coup.
In his weekly radio address Sunday, Abhisit indicated he had no plans to dissolve the parliament.
"Dissolution and call for resignations are normal in a democratic system. But we have to make sure the dissolution of parliament will solve the problem and won't make the next election troublesome," he said.
He also denied rumors that a military coup was possible and said he would not impose a state of emergency that would give the army broad powers to deal with the protests.
Traffic in Bangkok was light, businesses were shuttered and social events canceled as many feared the four-day demonstrations, which officially began Sunday but have been building for two days as caravans of protesters pour in from the north and northeast, would repeat past violence. But protesters stressed they would use only peaceful means in their quest for new elections.
"If the prime minister refuses to dissolve parliament on Sunday, we will declare new measures. We are planning to march to key spots belonging to those in power," said one protest leader, Jatuporn Prompan.
"We will ask (the prime minister) to return power to the people," he said.
Jatuporn said he expected a million people to gather by noon Sunday. But local newspapers estimated the numbers at between 80,000 and 100,000, although more were still arriving from outlying areas, traveling in trucks, buses, motorcycles and riverboats.
A force of 50,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel was mobilized in the capital area.
There were no reports of violence, and both Jatuporn and Abhisit praised authorities for facilitating the protesters' easy entry into the capital. Abhisit said the government has asked protest leaders to monitor any groups among the demonstrators who may want to provoke violence.
Despite newspaper headlines warning of a "red tide" about to swamp the city, the protests took on an almost festive atmosphere with musical performances and dancing interspersed with political speeches.
The march is regarded by some as the last chance for Thaksin to return to Thailand.
The protesters, formally known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, are made up of followers of Thaksin, along with other people who oppose the coup that toppled him.
Forcing the government out of power, Thaksin loyalists say, could pave the way for his pardon and return.
Thaksin, who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, faces a two-year prison term for abuse of power. But he remains especially popular among the rural and urban poor who are thankful for the cheap medical care, low interest loans and other measures his government enacted to alleviate poverty.
On Saturday night, Thaksin telephoned the protesters' People TV station to deny rumors that he had been expelled from the United Arab Emirates and was in neighboring Cambodia. Thaksin said he was currently on a visit to Europe.
Thailand has been in constant political turmoil since early 2006, when demonstrations accusing Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power began. In 2008, when Thaksin's political allies came back to power for a year, his opponents occupied the prime minister's office compound for three months and seized Bangkok's two airports for a week.
Recent polls in Bangkok indicate a large segment of the population, irrespective of their political beliefs, is fed up with the protests, which have battered the economy, including the lucrative tourism industry.
The Red Shirts have vowed to keep their protest nonviolent. The group's last major protest in Bangkok last April deteriorated into rioting that left two people dead, more than 120 people injured and buses burned on major thoroughfares. The army was called in to quash the unrest.
Many embassies have warned their citizens to stay away from areas of the city where violence could erupt.
"This government has no intention to crack down the protesters because that doesn't benefit anyone," Abhisit said, adding the government would strictly follow legal procedures if forced to disperse lawbreakers.

Green light to cut 4,000 trees

Over 100 trees already chopped down after HC directive; ethnic people, environmentalists protest

The felled trees at Kailin Punji in Srimangal.Photo: STARTawfique Ali

A timber trader chopped down over 100 trees and destroyed two betel leaf enclosers at Kailin Punji near Nahar Tea Garden in Srimangal yesterday after the High Court gave the go-ahead to cut down 4,000 trees.
Earlier, 1,200 trees were already felled in 2008.
The HC bench comprising Justice Md Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed and Justice Naima Haider in the go-ahead on February 22 allowed the garden owner to cut the trees.
Indigenous people of neighbouring Khasia Punjis (villages) and environmentalist group Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) apprehend displacement of indigenous people from their ancestral homesteads, loss of traditional livelihood and environmental degradation as a consequence of the wholesale tree felling.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest dubiously issued a permit on June 30, 2008 in favour of Nahar Tea Garden in Moulvibazar allowing it to chop down a total of 4,000 trees in exchange for Tk 47.51 lakh as royalty to the public treasury.
Nahar Tea Garden, however, made a deal with M/s Salim Timber and Traders to sell the 4,000 trees in October, 2006, two years prior to obtaining the permit. The deal involved Tk 1.5 crore.
Following protests by the Khasia community and Bapa, forest ministry on October 19, 2008 suspended the permit.
Before the suspension, the contractor, however, had cut 1,200 trees and removed them with elephants. The court in its February 22 directive did not mention the number of trees already felled.
Interestingly, Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer Md Delwar Hossain issued a fresh permit on February 2 this year allowing the garden owner to cut down 2,350 trees and asked to spare 450, as those are located in the Khasia Punjis (1200+2350+450=4000).
Following a writ petition filed by the timber trader Salim Uddin Mohalder and Nahar Tea Garden Manager Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya, the court on February 22 directed the forest department authorities and local administration to allow the felling of trees as per the earlier work order.
In the Sylhet Divisional Forest Office permit, the garden owner was asked to pay the government an enhanced royalty of Tk 1.19 crore for the trees as per revised rate of forest goods.
The HC in its February 22 rule also asked authorities including environment and forest secretary to show on what legal grounds they had imposed the enhanced royalty and reduced the number of trees by 450 and stayed the permit for three weeks.
"The timber trader started cutting the trees around noon with the backing of several hundred musclemen," said father Joseph, a religious leader of the local Khasia community.
Environment and Forest Secretary Mihir Kanti Majumdar said he would take initiatives to file an appeal today against the HC directive that allowed the felling of trees.
As to why the ministry gave permission in the first place to wipe out as many as 4,000 trees, he said, "We shelved it for some time."
The then Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer Abdul Mabud in a letter to the Nahar Garden manager in August, 2008 said 3,754 of the total 4,000 trees grew naturally and the rest were planted. The trees had 87,174 cubic foot timber and 75,508 cubic foot of firewood.
The trees included Cham, Gamar, Gorjon, Jaam, Koroi, Bonak, Rongi, Shimul, Awal, Khami, Bolos, Lud, Belpoi, Dumur and others.
Khushi Kabir, chairman of Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), said tree felling on this scale would adversely affect environment, life and livelihood of the local indigenous people.
"Forest area in Bangladesh is already very low compared to requirement," she said.
Bapa General Secretary Md Abdul Matin referring to locals' estimate said even though the tea garden has a lease for 864 acres of land, it is on over 1,200 acres of land including 200 acres of Khasia community land.
The garden owner has been realising money by sub-leasing 100 acres of the leased-land in violation of the terms in Bangladesh Tea Management Directory, alleged Bapa Member Secretary Sharif Jamil.
The owner has realised a total of Tk 2 crore illegally in the form of land tax since 1984 from the Khasia communities, said Md Abdul Matin.
Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar Mofizul Islam said Khasia community is dependent on the trees for their livelihood by the betel leaf cultivation. He received no complaints about realising tax from the community, he said.
There are around 60 Khasia families in two Khaisa Punjis--Akilam Punji and Kailin Punji--in and around the garden.
The tea garden's manager Pijush Kanti said they needed to cut the trees to expand the garden by 60 acres every year. On realising tax from the Khasia, he said they do not do that anymore but the previous owner used to do it.

24 killed in western Mexico; 11 in one shootout

AP, Acapulco

A series of shootings killed 24 people Saturday in a Pacific coast state plagued by drug gang violence. Nearly half died in one shootout between soldiers and armed men.
The gunbattle erupted when attackers opened fire on soldiers patrolling the small town of Ajuchitlan del Progreso, said Valentin Diaz, director of the Guerrero state investigative police. Ten gunmen and one soldier were killed, he said.
Diaz said the shootout broke out in the middle of the day in the center of the town as it was full of bystanders. He said state police were investigating and soldiers had reinforced security.
President Felipe Calderon has deployed tens of thousands of troops to Guerrero and other drug-trafficking hotspots across Mexico in an effort to root out cartels. Gang violence has surged since the crackdown began three years ago, claiming more than 17,900 lives.
Thirteen other people were killed in Guerrero in several other incidents before dawn, according to a state police report.
Two decapitated men were found on a scenic road packed with nightclubs in the resort city of Acapulco. Another man was found shot to death on the edge of the city.
Gunmen, meanwhile, killed five police officers on patrol in Tuncingo, a rural area outside Acapulco. In the same area, police found the bullet-ridden bodies of five other men, including two who had been beheaded.
Police mentioned no possible motives, and it was unclear if the killings were related.
Several cartels are fighting over drug dealing turf and trafficking routes in Guerrero. Gang violence occurs almost every day in the state, but Saturday was unusually bloody.
Farther to the south in the state of Chiapas, which borders Guatemala, a grenade explosion inside a car killed one man and wounded another. State prosecutors said the dead man was holding the weapon when it exploded.
Investigators believe the victim belonged to the Zetas drug gang and had been about to throw the grenade at federal police offices in the state capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez.

BSF digs 25 bunkers inside Bangladesh

Retreats after 19 hours following border talks

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

Indian Border Security Force dug 25 bunkers following an overnight intrusion into Bangladesh territory through Padua-Protappur border in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet and retreated yesterday afternoon after 19 hours.
The BSF's retreat from about 100-yard inside the international border came after an emergency flag meeting with Bangladesh Rifles from 1:30pm to 3:30pm on 'no man's land' at Padua-Protappur amidst tension prevailing since Friday night.
Lt Colonel Zahirul Alam, commanding officer of 21 Battalion of BDR, Sylhet, who led the BDR team at the meeting, told The Daily Star at 5:40pm yesterday, "BSF started retreating from the position they took inside Bangladesh territory on Friday. They had already left the bunkers."
BSF commanding officer of Battalion-1, Shillong, S Shekhor led the Indian side at the meeting.
A sector commander-level flag meeting between the BDR and BSF would be held soon to settle the ongoing trouble on Jaintapur, Tamabil and Padua borders, Zahirul said.
Earlier, around 9:00pm on Friday BSF trespassed into Bangladesh territory through border pillars No 1270 and 1271 and dug 25 bunkers while BDR took position in the nearby area and dug eight bunkers.
"We raised strong protests in the meeting and asked them to retreat to their previous position in line with the decision taken in September 2009", said Zahirul Alam adding that the BSF agreed to leave.
Colonel Alam also said that according to a joint decision taken in September 2009, the BSF and BDR had kept themselves at a distance of 200 yards from Padua-Protappur border.
Meanwhile, BDR on Thursday handed over an Indian to BSF, who intruded into Bangladesh through Padua border on the previous day. The BSF also returned a Bangladeshi, held by them from zero line along the same border the same day.