ConocoPhillips wants all 8 offshore blocks

News Report

Envoy pleads for US co: PSC hangs in the balance

The signing of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) under the 3rd round bidding hangs in the balance as the US based ConocoPhillips, which was awarded only two blocks although they were competing in eight blocks, recently informed the government that it wants to sign the PSC on all the eight blocks.
The 3rd round offshore bidding opened during the last caretaker regime on 22 offshore blocks. A total of seven International Oil Companies (IOCs) submitted their bid documents on nine blocks. The ConocoPhillips was competing in eight blocks and the Tullow was competing in only one block.
Recently, the ConocoPhillips wrote a letter to the secretary, energy division, reiterating their earlier position about signing of the PSC on all the eight blocks for which they were competing. They did not drop any word about the signing of the PSC on the two blocks.
Following the ConocoPhillips'' letter, the US ambassador in Dhaka met the Petrobangla chairman Prof Hossain Mansur and urged him to award all the eight blocks in favour of the ConocoPhillips, the source said.
An evaluation committee headed by Dr. Moqbul Elahi recommended awarding eight blocks in favour of the ConocoPhillips and one block in favour of the Tullow.
After the declaration of the bid result Myanmar and India lodged protest against the third round bidding on the plea that a number of blocks overlapped their territory.
In view of the neighbours'' protest, the government decided to put off the competitive process on all the disputed blocks and approved the award of two blocks in favour of the ConocoPhillips and one block in favour of the Tullow.
Following the government''s decision the Petrobangla, country''s lone hydrocarbon management organization, invited both the ConocoPhillips and the Tullow to sit across the table for negotiations, which ended in the first half of the last month.
At the negotiation table, the US oil company expressed their willingness to sign the PSC on all the eight blocks for which they was competing.
The Petrobangla negotiation team explained the difficulties in signing the PSC without demarcation of maritime boundary with Myanmar and India. They were also told that the government had taken initiative to resolve the maritime boundary issue and Dhaka had already sought the UN arbitration in this regard.
But the negotiation team of the ConocoPhillips left the country without saying ''yes'' or ''no'' to the government decision of awarding the two blocks.
The energy division informed the highest level of the administration about the latest development on the 3rd round bidding and sought policy direction in this regard. But till the day, the energy division did not receive any directives from the highest level of the administration, the source added.
The ConocoPhillips was competing in blocks 10, 11, 12, 17, 15, 16, 20 and 21. But the government awarded them blocks 10 and 11 only.

SA deal key to fight terrorism

News Report

Islamic outfits most threatening, says Sahara

Islamic extremism has emerged as the most powerful and threatening force for all. As terrorism knows no borders and boundaries, Home Minister Sahara Khatun on Sunday said the South Asian countries have to urgently realize the need for a sincere commitment to countering terrorism.
The Home Minister called on the South Asian nations to engage in regional cooperation urgently to countering terrorism.
"The political roots of terrorism have caused great mistrust and misunderstanding among South Asian countries. Extremist influences have, at times, polarized our societies to the extent of hostility towards neighbours," she said.
The Home Minister was addressing the opening session of a three-day regional workshop for senior police officers and prosecutors in South Asia on Effectively Countering Terrorism.
Referring to the various initiatives of Bangladesh to combat terrorism, she said Bangladesh would strictly ensure that its territory is not used by terrorist elements or outfits for activities against neighbouring countries. Sahara Khatun said the present government has also advocated for the formation of a South Asian Joint Task Force to foster regional cooperation in countering terrorism.
"Bangladesh has also launched a comprehensive socio-political program in order to build the immunity of rural communities to Islamic extremism and terrorism," the Home Minister said.
She mentioned that this year the law enforcement agencies already arrested a number of wanted militants, including foreign nationals residing in Bangladesh illegally.
Eighteen participants, including senior police officers and prosecutors, from eight South Asian countries have been participating in the workshop at Sonargaon Hotel.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) with the help of the governments of Australia and Denmark organized the workshop, while the government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) jointly hosted the program.
Chaired by Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, the function was addressed, among others, by CTED executive director Mike Smith, Danish Ambassador Einar H Jensen, Australian Ambassador for Counter Terrorism Bill Paterson, BEI president Farooq Sobhan and Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes.

Recover rly land from Mirza Abbas

JS body for separate ministry

Parliamentary standing committee on Communication Ministry on Sunday advised the government that the railways be run by a separate ministry as was done during the erstwhile East Pakistan with separate budget for its development and expansion, reports UNB.
The committee at a meeting Sunday recommended retrieve the railway land from the land grabbers and BNP leader and former minister Mirza Abbas which he has illegally taken back during the BNP-Jamaat regime.
Committee chairman Muzibur Rahman briefing newsmen after the meeting at Sangsad Bhaban said the railways sector is required proper monitoring. There had been little development and expansion of the railway network since long although the demand increased with the increase of population.
He said the meeting viewed that expansion of railway network is essential, particularly for transporting goods across the country at a lower cost.
The meeting discussed bringing the traffic system under BRTA. The prospect of leasing out the busy Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to the private sector for a certain period for better management was also considered at the meeting.
Retrieve of railway land at Kamalapur and Shahjahanpur from Mirza Abbas also came under discussion. The meeting was informed that the paternal land of Abbas acquired by the government for railways, which he took back by influencing the railway administration during the BNP regime.
Golam Mowla Rony, a member of the committee, informed the meeting that Abbas has illegally taken back four or five acres of land of the railway. The government had acquired lands of many people in the area. If Abbas get back the land, others cannot be denied of getting back their land.
The meeting asked the railway authority to furnish details how and why the railway land was given to Abbas and grabbed by others.
It also discussed the veracity of sending abroad Shahabuddin, Additional Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways, for training barely few days ahead of his retirement. Besides, he had voluntarily declared himself as corrupt to the Truth Commission.
The Ministry has been asked to explain why Shahabuddin, already left Dhaka 15 days, was nominated for training in Australia, Japan, China and Malaysia.
Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Omar Farooq Chowdhury, Zillul Hakim, Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, Abu Zahid, Golam Reza and Apu Ukil also attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, Mirza Abbas, refuted the allegation of using his ministerial power in taking back the land.
He told UNB that an application on behalf of his family was filed in 1984 upon which the government had returned a small portion of the land on humanitarian ground.
Abbas said the committee renewed the matter in a bid to take political revenge on him.
bdnew24.com adds: A parliamentary watchdog committee has suggested carving out an independent ministry for Bangladesh Railway to revamp the state operator.
The committee on communications ministry says that former governments cared less about the railway and let it run into losses as customer service was abysmal.
"An independent ministry would make it easier to help the railway to be commercially successful. The customer service will also improve," the
committee chief, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said after a meeting on Sunday.
The railway is currently operating under the communications ministry.
An independent ministry will allow railway development plans to go straight to the planning ministry for approval. An administrative reform project of the railway financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is currently held up.
The project advisor proposed making the railway an independent ministry or an independent division under the communications ministry. However, the proposal has yet to be cleared by the communications ministry.
Railway officials say they are not being able to properly implement development plans under the current framework.
The continental railway started it journey 142 years back under the British rule. Bangladesh Railway, formed after independence, covers a total distance of1,855km and employs 34,168 people.
Operations were run under the Railway Board until 1982, when it was brought under a department of the communications ministry.
A nine-member committee was formed in 1995 with the communications minister as its chairman to oversee railway operations.

Strike paralyses water-way transportation system

News Report

Movement of all river-transports including passenger launches remained suspended across the country including the capital''s Sadarghat terminal as river transport workers began non-stop strike from Saturday midnight to press home their 22-point demands.
The indefinite strike called by the Bangladesh River Transport Workers Federation also triggered suffering to launch passengers.
People in the country''s Southern region including Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chandpur, Munshigonj and Shariatpur have become the worst sufferers of the situation.
On Sunday no vessel left the Sadarghat terminal, the only entry and exist point of the capital in river-way, stranding hundreds of home-bound passengers. The workers of the river transports enforced the strike for a separate pay-scale, effective application of riverine laws and stopping harassment and robbery on river routes.
Bangladesh River Transport Workers Federation began the strike from Saturday midnight, taking in passenger, goods and fishing vessels.
The launches bound for nearby destinations like Chandpur generally leave the terminal in the morning while those on the distant routes set out in the afternoon.
Abdur Rouf, a resident of Patuakhali said that he came to the terminal to travel. "But there is no launch going there," he said. Besides, a number of passengers were also seen returning as they failed to get any river transport to reach their respective destinations.
Sadarghat terminal police said, no vessels had left the terminal since Sunday morning. Motor launch MV Reaz''s employee Asgar Hossain said they would continue their strike until their demands were met.
Shah Alam, senior vice president of the workers federation, earlier told the journalists that the strike had begun "as scheduled" at midnight after overnight launches had left the terminal. "It will continue until our demands are met," he said.
Alam said they were forced to call the strike as they did not get any hint for a solution to their problems even after setting a 15-day deadline on Oct 21.
Since there was no sign of progress, the river workers were forced to set a 15-day deadline on Oct 21, he added.
UNB Chittagong correspondent adds: Unloading of goods from the mother vessels at outer anchorage remained suspended in the port due to the strike.
UNB Bagerhat correspondent adds: Loading and unloading from three ships at Muringboya of Mongla port also remained suspended since early morning.
Harbour master of Mongla Port M Enamul Haq said loading-unloading of goods have been continuing in the jetties.
Export-Import through waterways with India also remained suspended following the strike of the water transport workers.
Meanwhile, environment and human rights activists like Green Club of Bangladesh, Citizen Rights Movement and Nirapod Nou Path Bastobayan Andolon expressed their solidarity with the demands of the Noujan Sramik Federation.
Golam Mawla, Barisal district president and central vice president of Launch Owners Association, said that negotiations in this regard are on. Launch owners have sympathy for the workers and they are ready to fulfill all their legitimate demands according to their capacities, he added.
There are around 1.25 lakh water transport workers in the country.

BSF kills Bangladeshi minor girl

Dhaka demands inquiry

Bangladesh has strongly protested and expressed her deep concern at the unprovoked shooting and killing of a minor Bangladeshi child by the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF), reports UNB.
A protest note, handed over to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, stated that such shooting incidents are in clear violation of the Bangladesh-India Border Guidelines of 1975.
A 12-year old Bangladeshi girl was shot and killed by BSF men of 162 BSF Sahapara Camp on November 6 at around 6pm.
The child''s body was found about 25 yards inside Bangladesh territory near border pillar 1066 under Roumari thana of Kurigram district.
Bangladesh has also conveyed concern at the trend of indiscriminate shooting and killing by BSF, which creates unnecessary tensions between the two border security forces.
"Such acts go against the spirit of good neighborliness and the close friendly relations that exist between Bangladesh and India," the protest note observed.
Bangladesh has demanded that concerned Indian authorities conduct a proper investigation in to the killing and take necessary legal action against those responsible. Bangladesh has also called for a strong policy directive to the BSF to put an end to such shootings.

Plot, flat allocation anomaly to be probed

A parliamentary panel Sunday directed the authorities concerned to take necessary step to scrap the allotment of land to PWD Sports Club on the restricted parliament premises, reports UNB.
The directive came from a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Public Works in the wake criticisms of the encroachment upon the secluded premises.
A three-member parliamentary subcommittee was formed at the meeting to investigate the alleged irregularities in allocating flats in the capital city to government officials during the last caretaker government.
Lawmakers at the meeting also asked the authorities concerned to submit a complete report before the committee''s next meeting about plot allocation made during the last seven years. Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Public Works Ministry Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury apprised reporters of the move while briefing them at the Jatiya Sangsad Media Centre about the outcome of today''s meeting.
Four Hundreds flats were allotted to government officials in the city'' s Lalmaita and Mirpur areas, the newsmen were told. Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury said the meeting recommended bringing Cox''s Bazar tourist zone under a separate authority for its planned development to make the country''s unique sea-beach resort more attractive to tourists. He said, "The committee suggested bringing Cox''s Bazar tourism area under Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) for the time being, until it comes under a special authority."
State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan and committee members Abdus Sattar, Asaduzzaman Khan, Johirul Haq Bhuiyan Mohan, Nasirul Hamid, Enamul Haq and Safia Khatum were present, among others, at the meeting.

Govt out to eliminate opposition: Delwar

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain has accused the government of trying to eliminate the opposition, reports UNB.
"We never believe in turmoil. We want to ensure independence and sovereignty and interest of the nation. So, the incumbent government is trying to eliminate the nationalist forces," he told a JCD rally marking the National Revolution and Solidarity Day at BNP central office at Paltan Sunday.
Delwar alleged that the government has taken double-standard policy--withdrawing politically motivated cases against the ruling party leaders and workers but doing nothing about the cases against opposition leaders and workers.
Opposing the government move to connect Bangladesh with proposed Asian Highway, Delwar said if the government connects the country with the Asian Highway, its sovereignty will be lost.
"The imperialist government is also trying to hand over country''s mineral and marine resources to foreign countries, leaving the interest of the nation," he alleged.
The BNP leader said army and mass people took over power through a peaceful revolution on November 7 in 1975 to save the country from a big crisis.
"A section of unruly army men tried to take over power in 1975 with evil motive but mass people and army led by Major Ziaur Rahman resisted their attempts," he told the rally.
Delwar asked BNP men to come forward to foil all conspiracies of the government against the nationalist forces.
BNP leaders Amanullah Aman, Fazlul Haque Milan MP, Sultan Salauddin Tuku and Shafi Bikrampuri, among others, spoke at the rally.

Mushtaque world''s greatest traitor, AG tells SC

The Attorney-General for the state Sunday argued that the military cabal involved in the murder of Bangabandhu was tried in the conventional court with clearance from the Army Headquarters and hence the belated defense plea about right of the condemned convicts to be tried at a court-martial doesn''t stand, reports UNB.
"Therefore, the convicts had no right to be tried under the Army Act and the trial was held in compliance with the existing laws and prescribed rules," Mahbubey Alam, the chief government law officer, told the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court while making his argument in the Bangabandhu Murder case.
Dismissing another defense argument that it was a case of mutiny leading to murder, the AG said the judges of the High Court Division bench that delivered split opinion on the death-reference cases and the third judge in making conclusive judgment, upon consideration of evidence and material on record, did not find any case of mutiny.
Besides, the AG said, the evidence adduced by the prosecution and materials produced did not support the point of mutiny as claimed by the defense.
"It appeared that if there had been any disobedience or breach of the chain of command of the Army, it was after committing the gruesome murder. The evidences adduced in this case did not say that the murders were committed in course of mutiny rather if anything had happened in the Army it was after the commission of murder."
On the other hand, the judges of the High Court division bench after hearing both sides came to a conclusion that the August 15, 1975 carnage was a case of murder and accordingly they awarded their verdict, the AG observed.
Dismissing as an act of burglary the defense-defined ''mutiny'' committed at the predawn hours of August 15, 1975 at the Dhanmondi official residence of then President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Attorney-General said in no way it was legally justified to call the plot of committing murder as mutiny.
"It was a clear case of a conspiracy with a common intent to commit murder of Bangabandhu and most members of his family that was proved by the evidences and materials on record," he argued.
During the appeal hearing, the AG dubbed Khondaker Mushtaque Ahmed as world''s greatest "traitor" and "imposter" who was catapulted to presidency following the August 15, 1975 putsch as claimed by the defense counsel.
Refuting the plea of the counsel for the condemned convicts-all former army officers--Mahbubey Alam argued that the defense is now challenging the jurisdiction of the conventional court by raising the point of mutiny in their futile bid.
"Can jurisdiction of the court be challenged at this state?" the AG posed a question before the apex court that had already resolved the issue.
Citing a Supreme Court decision in a case of Haider Ali Khan vs State, the AG said the jurisdiction of the court below cannot be challenged in appeal at a belated stage.
"So the trial of the convicts on the charges of murder and conspiracy is very much valid and no illegality was done and as such the question of mistrial as claimed by the defense does not arise in the case," the AG held.
The chief government law officer told the five-judge Appellate Division bench that forum of trial is always governed by the procedural law, and the procedure followed in a civil court is much fairer and transparent than that of the procedure followed in court-martial. "And, therefore, the question of prejudice raised by the defense counsel does not at all arise."
Earlier, at the outset of his opening remarks, the AG made a statement, sans legal arguments, eulogizing the charismatic political career of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh.
At one stage, the AG could not check his emotion and tears rolled down his cheeks. The court and lawyers present in the courtroom witnessed him rubbing his tearful eyes with his handkerchief time and again.
The hearing session was adjourned till tomorrow (Monday).

Mehnaz sent to jail

Detained Khandaker Mehnaz Rashid, daughter of condemned fugitive in the Bangabandhu murder case Lt Col (retd) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, was Sunday sent jail after brainstorming interrogation on remand thrice over the bomb attack on Awami League MP Fazle Noor Taposh, reports UNB.
On expiry of her third-time remand she was produced before the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Habibur Rahman Siddique.
The court sent her to jail rejecting her bail prayer.
She was taken on the last three-day remand Wednesday for grilling about the October 21 bomb attack.
Earlier on October 30, Metropolitan Magistrate Emdadul Haque of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate''s Court granted a four-day remand following a 10-day remand prayer by DB Assistant Commissioner (AC) Akbar Ali, also the investigation officer of the case.
DB police detained Mehnaz from her Gulshan house on October 24 in connection with the incident. She was taken on a five-day police remand after being produced before a metropolitan court the same afternoon.
Barrister Taposh, a prosecution lawyer in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, came under the bomb attack on the night of October 21. He escaped unhurt, but 14 others were injured in the bomb blast.
A case was filed with Motijheel police station in this connection the following day (Oct 22). The case was transferred to the DB police on Oct 23 to break the case.

Huda''s another nephew detained

MEHERPUR, Nov 8: Police detained Banga-bandhu murder case convict Major (retd) Bazlul Huda''s nephew Habibur Rahman Habib from his residence at Boro Bazar in the district town today (Sunday) in connection with the attack on Awami League lawmaker Fazle Nur Taposh, reports UNB.
Police picked up Habib after raiding his residence early in the morning.
Habib''s father late Anwarul Huda was a cousin of Major Bazlul Huda. Habib, 35, is a fish cultivator. Before starting fish cultivation he had worked in Malaysia for 10 years.
Officer-in-Charge of Sadar thana Rabiul Islam said they have detained Habib for interrogation as per direction from the higher authority. He has not been shown arrested yet, he said.
Earlier, police arrested seven people for their suspected links with the bomb attack on Taposh, and five of them are family members of convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Five of the arrestees are now in jail. The Detective Branch police are interrogating two others.
The arrested persons are - Mehnaz Rashid, eldest daughter of Lt Col (retd) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Kamrul Haque Swapan, younger brother of Major (retd) Shariful Haq Dalim, Freedom Party leader Abdur Rahim, former organizing secretary of Freedom Party Sheikh Shafiullah Sofu, another condemned convict Lt Col (rtd) Mohiuddin Ahmed''s two sons Nazmul Hasan Sohel and Mahbubul Hasan Emran and Ataul Huda, another nephew of condemned convict Bazlul Huda.
Lawmaker Taposh came under the bomb attack on the night of October 21 that left at least 13 people injured. Taposh, however, escaped unhurt.

Export growth suffers double-digit setback

News Report

The country''s overall export suffered a serious contraction as it posted a negative growth of 11.66 per cent in the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal compared to the corresponding period of the last year.
The latest gloomy data came at a time when the world economy was showing early signs of recovery from the financial meltdown.
During the period the country earned $3829.60 million from the marchandise export compared to $ 4381.38 million in the last year''s corresponding period, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Besides, exports slipped to 10.60 per cent from the target in the (July-September) period, which was set at $4329.60 million.
The country''s monthly export earnings started declining after the global recession struck shipments from Bangladesh.
The decline is attributed to the major fall in garment sector export.
Export of knit garments dropped by 9.67 per cent to $1653.94 million in the first three months of the current fiscal year, down from $1830.90 million in the same period last year, according to Export Promotion Bureau statistics.
Meanwhile, overseas shipments of woven garments fell by 9.74 per cent to $1376.63 million in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, down from $1525.13 million in the same period a year earlier, according to Export Promotion Bureau statistics.
The country''s export promotion authority, EPB had set an export target to $3440.33 million for the garment sector, but against the target it has achieved $ 3030.56 million, which was $ 409.76 million short from the target.
The other major export earning areas that also showed a negative trend during the first quarter include home textile, leather, frozen food, pharmaceuticals, footwear, ceramic products, handicraft and vegetables.
Statistics show that the monthly export earnings in September stood at $1060.22 million against the target of 1314.72 million, which was -28.27 per cent against the same month of the previous year.
Only jute goods, electronics, terry towel, raw jute and flower or foliage and agro processed foods were some bright spots in the gloomy export basket.
Earlier, EPB had set an ambitious export target of $ 17.60 billion though the country''s most of the potential export sectors have severely been affected by the global economic crisis.
The country had earned $15.8 billion in the fiscal year 2008-2009, falling 4.5 per cent short of the $16.3 billion target.

Recovered arms again go to terrorists: Muhith

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday said that a part of the illegal arms that were recovered in the sub-continent again went to the terrorists, reports UNB.
"A part of the recovered illegal small arms in the sub-continent went to the terrorists again. So, these arms would have to be destroyed immediately after recovery," he said.
The minister was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a two-day regional seminar on ''Peace and security in South Asia: Issues and priorities for regional cooperation on small and light weapons control'' at Hotel Sheraton.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and Safeworld, UK jointly organised the seminar.
The finance minister, although he did not know why he has been invited to the seminar as the chief guest, said that according to an estimate of 2001 the number of small arms around the world is worth US$ 500 million.
"Every day 5000 life are destroyed due to small arms… think what kind of a monster it is."
He mentioned that the amount of arms trading in 1981 was US$ 1464 billion, but it reduced after 1989-90 with the fall of Berlin Wall.
"But it increased after the attack on September 11, 2001 in the USA," he said.
Muhith also mentioned that in the recent past only land mines got the attention of the world leaders, but nowadays attention on the illegal small arms have been increased.
Director general of the BIISS maj gen Shakil Monirul Islam and head of Asia Programme of the Safeworld, UK Rosy Cave also spoke on the occasion.
After the inaugural session, the finance minister responding to a question informed the reporters that the National Employment Scheme would start from the next month at Kurigram and Barguna.
He said that the HSC passed youths will get three months training under this programme and after their training the youths will be deployed under Upazila Agriculture Officer and Upazila Education Officer and such other officials for two years on temporary basis. Then they will get permanent job.
Muhith also expressed his optimism that in the near future all government jobs will be filled up following this procedure.

President given red carpet reception in Istanbul

Red carpet was rolled out at Ataturk International Airport as President Zillur Rahman arrived in Istanbul on Saturday evening to attend the Economic Summit of COMCEC (Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation) of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to be held Monday (Nov 9), reports UNB.
The President reached Istanbul on Saturday at 17:40 pm (local time), according to a message received in the city.
On arrival, President Zillur was received at the airport by Turkish Finance Minister Hayati Yazici as the representative of Turkish President, Governor of Istanbul Muammer Guler and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Turkey Maj Gen (retd) Mohammad
Ishtiaq.
After the state reception, Bangladesh President and Turkish Finance Minister exchanged views at the VIP lounge of the Airport. Both of them expressed satisfaction over the existing excellent bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.
Earlier, on Saturday, President Zillur Rahman left Dubai for Istanbul by an Emirates flight after a stopover.
Pesident Zillur Rahman will attend the COMCEC economic summit to be held tomorrow (Monday) at Four Season Hotel in Istanbul, which will also be attended by a number of heads of state and government of OIC member countries to mark the 25th anniversary of COMCEC. COMCEC Chairman and President of Turkey Abdullah Gul will preside over the summit.
The Bangladesh President will address the summit with other Heads of state and government of Muslim countries and is expected to raise the issues related to adverse affects of climate change and various aspects of ongoing global economic crisis.
President Zillur will also hold bilateral meetings with heads of different OIC member-states including Turkey and Jordan on the sidelines of the summit.
COMCEC meetings are traditionally held with the participation of the ministers of the OIC member-states in charge of economy and trade. This year, in commemoration of its 25th anniversary, the COMCEC has arranged the economic summit, which will be participated for the first time by a number of heads of state.
President Zillur Rahman is expected to leave Istanbul on Tuesday (Nov. 10) and return home the next day (Wednesday) via Dubai.

Ministers for patience over war crimes trial

Ministers have called for patience regarding the launch of war crimes trials as the government is presses ahead with work, reports bdnews24.com.
State minister for housing and public works, Abdul Mannan Khan, and state minister for law, Kamrul Islam, visited the building at 14 Abdul Gani Road on Sunday, where a special war crimes tribunal will be set up.
Mannan, asked by reporters why trials had not yet begun almost one year into the present government''s tenure, said: "The nation will have to have more patience. We have to be given time. We are not idling - we are progressing with our work."
Currently, three administrative appeals tribunals and an office are housed in the building at 14 Abdul Gani Road.
Mannan told the reporters that orders have been given to move these offices to Janata Tower in Kawran Bazar.
"However, it will take about two months to relocate and make those offices fully operational again."
Kamrul Islam said the government is gradually advancing towards the trials.
"We have made much progress already. A budget has been allocated and passed in parliament. We
are collecting information and evidence on war criminals."
"When we are ready, we will reveal who are to be tried, who will prosecute and who will be the judges," said Islam.
One of the Awami League''s top election pledges was the long-awaited trial of 1971 war crimes.
Several government ministers have given a series of dates in recent months for formation of investigative bodies, prosecution cells and tribunal. But these are yet to be announced.

Swine flu death toll stands at 6

Six people have so far died from infection of H1N1 virus (swine flu) in Bangladesh, the IEDCR said on Sunday, reports bdnews24.com.
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research confirmed three deaths until the first week of October. Three others died in the past one month.
"Of the six dead, most of them live outside Dhaka. A laboratory test has confirmed that they were infected with H1N1 virus," Mahmudur Rahman, director of the IEDCR said.
The number of H1N1 virus infected cases stood at 800 until Sunday, he said.
The figure was 680 on Oct 11.
Rahman said: "We do not fear the spread of swine flu in our country though it has turned serious in the developed countries.
"The intensity of winter is not that helpful in transmission of the virus. That''s why the chance of infection is very little here.
"It comes to our country from the developed nations," he said.
On H1N1 vaccine Rahman said: "Many countries have already started using the vaccine.
"We are delaying procurement of the vaccine of our own as we expect to receive it from World Health Organisaiton. But we don''t know about how much vaccine we will be provided and when."
The IEDCR director, however, hoped to get the vaccine at the start of the next year.
The first case of swine flu was detected in Bangladesh on June 18.
The government on Aug 31 confirmed the first H1N1 death in Bangladesh.
WHO declared a global H1N1 flu pandemic on June 11.

AL activists vandalise BNP office

LALMONIRHAT, Nov 8: Awami League activists on Sunday evening attacked the BNP office in the town and set it on fire in a reprisal to assaulting of a local BCL leader, reports UNB.
Witnesses said a group of BNP supporters beat BCL leader Ershad Hossain Murad for fishing in a pond of housing project in the town.
As the news of the incident spread, AL and BCL activists attacked the BNP office, poured petrol and set it ablaze at about 7pm.
The unruly activists also attacked a transport counter owned by Sramik Dal leader and also set it on fire, vandalized a restaurant and damaged a motorbike.
Tension prevailed in the town.

WP MP asks govt to fulfil poll pledges

RAJSHAHI, Nov 8: Workers Party Politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha MP said the government should fulfil without delay the 23-point election pledge of the grand alliance announced before the polls, for which they will be vocal both in and outside Parliament, reports UNB.
"Trial of the war criminals has to be held and the constitution of 1972 be reintroduced. Workers Party will raise its voice in Parliament in this regard," he said while addressing as chief guest a party conference here on Sunday.
District and metropolitan units'' conference of the Workers Party was held at Bhuban Mohan Park in the city at noon.
The left-leaning party''s lawmaker also laid emphasis on continuing the party movement by its leaders uniting the rural people.
"Workers Party will carry on its movement uniting the rural masses for realizing the interests of farmers and working-class people," reiterated the leader of the Workers Party, a component of the ruling Awami League-led grand alliance.
Chaired by city-unit secretary Liakat Ali Liku, the conference was also addressed, among others, by party central leaders Abdur Razzak, Rafiqul Islam Piarul, Motiur Rahman Tapan, advocate Entajul Huq Babu, Ferdous Jamil Tutul, city Awami League acting secretary Shafiqur Rahman Badsha, district NAP president Mostafizur Rahman Khan Alam and CPB metropolitan president Abul Kalam Azad.
The Workers Party also brought out a colourful procession on the occasion of the conference, held in the run-up to the party''s national congress in the capital on Nov 14-18.
The procession, led by Fazle Hossain Badsha, began from Bhuban Mohan Park and terminated at the same place after parading the city thoroughfares.

PM discusses boosting ties with ex-Bhutan King

Thimphu, Nov 8: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had an audience with ex-King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck at his palace Sunday when the two leaders discussed ways of enhancing the bilateral trade and business, and government-to-government and people-to-people contacts between the two friendly countries.
During the meeting, the monarch gave special thanks to Sheikh Hasina for her strong and visionary leadership in the international forums for arranging international assistance for Bangladesh, Bhutan and other countries that are the worst sufferers of climate change due to global warming.
The visiting Prime Minister apprised the King that she at the upcoming Copenhagen climate meet will again inform the international community about the vulnerability of Bangladesh, Bhutan and other countries to the climate threats.
During the meeting, held in a very cordial manner, the Prime Minister and the former Bhutanese monarch, the world''s youngest King when he ascended to the throne in 1972, also discussed various other issues of national, regional and international development.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Prime Minister''s deputy press secretary Nazrul Islam said the Bangladesh Prime Minister thanked the former king for voluntarily introducing democracy in Bhutan.
In reply, Jigme Singhe Wangchuck, father of the present King of the Himalayan Kingdom, told Hasina that democracy in Bhutan was not introduced suddenly in a day. Before establishing democracy, he had worked behind it for 20 years.
As Sheikh Hasina recalled that Jigme Singhe Wangchuck in 1972, as the then young king of Bhutan, visited Bangladesh, he said his family has a familial relation with the family of Bangladesh''s Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"We still feel the familial relation and hope for further strengthening of the relations," the King said.
Sheikh Hasina thanked Jigme Wangchuck for the warm royal receptions accorded to her since she arrived in Bhutan on November 6.
She also hoped that the present young king of Bhutan would be able to lead the Bhutanese people, including the young generation, onto the right path of development and prosperity.
Adviser Prime Minister''s adviser HT Imam, industries minister Dilip Barua, commerce minister Faruk Khan and ambassador Ziauddin were among others present.
Later, Sheikh Hasina visited Druk Wangyel, a big Buddhist temple located at Dochula height, a place some 3050 above sea level.
Dochula is a pass 30 kilometers away from the capital city, Thimphu, from where people can see the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges beautifully on clear days. There are 108 chortens (stupas) also at Dochula.
On her arrival at the vantage venue, the Prime Minister was received by Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Daw Penjore and President of the Center for Bhutan Studies Daso Karma Ura.
Then Sheikh Hasina and her entourage were escorted to the temple built on top of the Himalayas range.
Sheikh Hasina was briefed about the history of the temple and chortens. Inside the temple, she presented a Buddhist scarf at the foot of the statue of Buddha and lighted a candle there.
The temple was established in 2003 by Queen Mother of Bhutan (mother of the present king).
Sheikh Hasina and her delegation were then entertained with lunch.

Sadat new Rupayan Group vice-chairman

News Report

Sadat Hossain Salim, a well-known corporate management professional, has been the vice-chairman of Rupayan Group, one of the largest business conglomerates of the country.
Before taking over the responsibility of group vice-chairman, he served Rupayan Housing Estate Ltd, a concern of the group, as its managing director, says a press release.
A fellow of British Institute of Business Management, Salim held senior management positions with business entities like Duncan''s Brothers, Partex Group, Apex, HRC Group and Anwar Landmark Ltd.
He started his career in the real estate sector as marketing director at BTI.
Rupayan Group has 22 sister concerns engaged in businesses of real estate, furniture manufacturing, trading, CNG station, travel agency, composite knit industry, shipbuilding, inland container port handling and power generation.

Rajuk plot allotment

SC stays HC order

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed for a week a High Court order that had asked the Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakhha(Rajuk) to refrain from allotting third phase plots at Uttara project till disposal of the writ petitions filed by aggrieved persons, reports UNB.
Chamber judge of the Supreme Court passed the interim stay order upon a petition by the government as it prefers leave to appeal against the November 4 High Court order. The Judge also asked the government to file regular petition for leave to appeal. Rajuk had allotted 4599 plots during the BNP-Jamaat rule. Later, the military-backed caretaker government had cancelled the allotments and invited fresh application for allotment of 897 plots.
Some 130 litigants whose allotment of plots was cancelled filed writ petitions challenging the validity of Rajuk''s action.
The hearing on the writ petitions is unlikely before early next year.

More German aid for Aila victims

The German government granted an additional 50,000 Euro for a project extension implemented by the German NGO "Kindernothilfe" at Jaymoni in Bagerhat district, the region devastated twice by cyclones "SIDR" in November 2007 and "AILA" in April 2009, reports UNB.
A German Embassy release said that to help authorities to identify resource persons and prepare the local community for the future in this cyclone endangered area, the German government supports various projects aiming at
training specialists in the field in terms of precaution management, early warning and first aid.
Further, the money is used to educate and sensitise up to 1000 local people in the project area. Two precaution-committees will be established in two villages, which are endowed with emergency kits. They will also carry out simulations of emergency situations to better prepare the local communities.
Kindernothilfe cooperates with two other German NGOs, "Helpage" and "Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe", which are already implementing projects in Khulna and Bagerhat districts for the most vulnerable. During the last two years, the German government contributed almost 600,000 Euro to their catastrophe precautions projects in the "SIDR" and "AILA" affected region.

Hasina returns home today

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returns home today (Monday) afternoon after a 3-day bilateral visit to Bhutan when issues of importing power from the Himalayan state, transit and trade between the two close-door neighbors were discussed, reports UNB.
Joint efforts of generating hydro-electricity also came during the official talks. A trade agreement between the two countries was signed in presence of the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Hasina left here for Bhutan on Friday. This was the Prime Minister''s first bilateral visit to a South Asian country after assuming power in January this year.

Outlaw killed in ‘encounter’

JHENIDAH, Nov 8: An alleged outlaw leader was killed in a ''crossfire'' between his cohorts and police at Gachha Ghosh Para village in Sadar upazila early Sunday, reports UNB.
The deceased was identified as Sarajit Ghosh, 48, central leader of Biplobi Communist Party (Haque Group). Sarajit was an accused in a number of criminal cases, including of seven murders, police said.
Acting on secret information, Detective Branch (DB) of Police conducted a drive at Gachha Ghosh Para village where Sarajit and his associates were holding a clandestine meeting at about 2:00am.
Sensing the presence of police, the outlaws opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to fire back that triggered a gunfight.
"Sarajit was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot during the half-an-hour gun battle," said a spot account of the incident.
Two police constables were also injured during the gun battle.
Later, police recovered the body from the scene. A Light Gun (LG), two homemade bombs and four bullets were also recovered from the spot.