Opposition may enforce hartal on April 2, 8, 9

 

Leaders of the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance will meet Sunday evening to finalise next agitation programmes which may feature countrywide hartal (shutdown) on April 2, 8 and 9.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at Gulshan office of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at 8:30pm, Abdul Mobin, chairman of Islamic Party, a constituent of the alliance, told The Daily Star.
Finalising the shutdown tops the agenda of the meeting, he added.
Other agitation programmes under consideration include grand rally and blockades in the capital and siege to the Dhaka city, the sources added.

1 crore signature reaches JS

 

Shahbagh protesters march towards the House on Sunday to submit a mass petition signed by over 1 crore people to press home six-point demand which include banning Jamaat-Shibir politics. Photo: Palash Khan

The Gonojagoron Mancha on Sunday submitted a mass petition signed by over 1 crore people to the acting Speaker of the House to press home six-point demand which include banning Jamaat-Shibir politics.
Imran H Sarker, spokesperson for Gonojagoron Mancha, submitted the memorandum to acting speaker Shawkat Ali at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban around 2:00pm.

Shibir President Delwar arrested

DHAKA: President of central Chhatra Shibir Delwar Hossain was arrested from capital’s Shyamoli area on Sunday afternoon.

Confirming the matter to banglanews, a source in metropolitan detective branch police said, Delwar was arrested from his relative’s house.

MC College BCL infighting hurts 10

SYLHET: At least 10 Chhatra League men were injured in a gunfight between two factions of Sylhet MC College Chhatra League unit led by Azad-Ranjit group and Babla group.Till the report was filed at 3pm, the fighting continued after chase and counter chase took place around 12:00pm on Sunday.

The clash turned the college premises and adjacent area into battle field.Eyewitnesses said activists of Ranjit group chased Babla group men when they entered the campus. Babla group also chased Ranjit group at that time.

Jamaat calls hartal for Tuesday in Sylhet

SYLHET: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami called dawn-to-dusk hartal for Tuesday in the district in protest against attack and fire on houses of two Jamaat leaders.

The party will also stage protest demonstration on Monday.

Jamaat leader Fakhrul Islam confirmed the matters to banglanews on Sunday afternoon.

4 take oath as SC judges

DHAKA: The newly appointed four judges to Appellate division of the Supreme Court were sworn in on Sunday morning.Chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain administered the oath at Judges Lounge of the Supreme Court around 10:30am, taking the number of the apex-court judges to ten.SC Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam moderated the oath taking ceremony.

Ershad urges PM for dialogue

CHITTAGONG: Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, also former president, on Saturday urged prime minister to sit for dialogue to bring an end the confrontation situation in the country.
Meanwhile, he expressed apprehension over the country’s situation, which is turning into the same scenario of ‘1/11’.
He came up with the plea in a discussion meeting held at city’s Muslim University Hall in the afternoon.
Indicating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, “We all know who led to ‘1/11’ and who killed the people by logi-baitha. You and Khaleda Zia both were sent to jail after the incident and I lost m my chairmanship.”
 He added: “More or less, we all were harmed because of it and there is no assurance that such incident will not take place again.”

Tornado kills 2, injures 25 in Naogaon

NAOGAON: At least two people were killed and 25 others injured as a tornado lashed 50 villages in two upazilas of Naogaon district on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Himu, 10, son of Hamidur Rahman of Nagargola village and Mamunur Rashid of Chakatripur village of Patnitala.

Tk 68.52 bln Padma fund in next budget: Muhith

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Saturday said Bangladesh plans to bridge the mighty Padma with its 'own resources' and Tk 68.52 billion will be allocated for the purpose in the forthcoming budget.

That would mean just under one-third of the project cost would be earmarked for the $2.9-billion prestigious project in the national budget.

“The framework for the project will be announced within a week,” Muhith told editors of national dailies and television channels during an interactive session.

Khaleda on way to Brahmanbaria

 

This March 23 photo shows people sift through the debris a day after a twister ravaged 20 villages of Brahmanbaria.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left Dhaka on Saturday to visit the victims of a twister that tore through three upazilas of Brahmanbaria on March 22, killing 31 people.
The BNP chief started from her Gulshan residence around 11:30am, party sources said.
Party senior leaders including Selima Rahman, Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Mirza Abbas are accompanying her.

Police shot in Dhaka

A policeman and two others sustained bullet injuries during a ‘gunbattle’ involving cops and snatchers near the capital’s Hatirjheel area in the early hours of Saturday.

Ramna Police Sub Inspector (SI) Abdur Rahim told bdnews24.com police had asked a United Paribahan bus to stop around 5am on receiving information that a gang was trying to snatch valuables from its passengersThe bus was on its way to Gabtoli from Mirpur.

But the bus did not stop. “ As it approached the BGMEA building, they started firing upon us and tried to flee . Police had to open fire targeting them for self defence,” Rahim said.

4 Pakistanis among 16 held with bombs in city

Plainclothes police arrested 16 people, including four Pakistani nationals, along with eight bombs and 12.9 million Indian Rupees “while planning subversive activities in the city”.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of Detective Branch of police conducted simultaneous drives in several areas of the city, including Paltan, Nikunja, Kalabagan and Bangshal, from 2:30pm Friday to 4:30am Saturday and arrested the 16 people.
Contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mashiur Rahman confirmed the arrest.
Apart from eight bombs and the Indian currencies, several passports were recovered from the arrestees’ possession, he added.

16 nabbed in police raids

Detective Police have nabbed a Jamaat-e-Islami leader and four Pakistanis alongwith 11 others during raids at Nikunja and Kathalbagan in the capital.

Dhaka’s Detective Branch (DB)’s Deputy Commission Nazrul Islam told bdnews24.com that eight bombs and fake Indian currency worth 12.5 million were seized from those arrested. ”We started the raids at 2pm Friday and it lasted for 12 hours,” he added.

End violence, UN experts appeal

A group of United Nations independent human rights experts on Friday called for an immediate stop to violence in Bangladesh and a return to peaceful demonstrations following large-scale protests since early February.
The demonstrations are largely linked to the decisions of the International Crimes Tribunal established in 2010 to try people accused of atrocities, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, during the country’s 1971 independence war.

Start of arson trial against 46 opposition men deferred

 

In this May 7, 2012 photo, BNP leaders including acting general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir surrender before the High Court and sought bail. Star file photo

A Dhaka court on Thursday deferred the trial till April 21 on an arson case against 46 opposition leaders, including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
The case was filed with Tejgaon Police Station for torching a bus near the Prime Minister’s Office during hartal hours on April 29 last year.
Metropolitan Magistrate Harun-or-Rashid deferred the trial on Thursday acting on a time petition filed by defence lawyers.
In the petition, the defence said 39 accused including Fakhrul did not turned up at the court due to the opposition-called hartal.

Democracy only option for Bangladesh: Mozena

Bangladesh cannot but be a democracy , says US ambassdor Dan Mozena .

The US wants, for its own sake, a "a peaceful and prosperous Bangladesh' he said.
“…Democracy is rooted in Bangladesh, it is a very Bengali thing. And when this country has had non-democratic governance, those were not happy days,” he said while commenting on Bangladesh’s current political situation and the future of US aid.
Speaking at a press conference organised for the visiting USAID deputy administrator Donald Steinberg on Thursday he said, he was ‘fully confident’ that democracy in Bangladesh would ‘continue to grow and strengthen’.

PM 'alert' for army

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the armed forces to stay alert against any threats to the country's democracy, insisting her government would not allow them to be used for ‘political purposes’.

This comes four days after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had said ‘the army will not sit idle in times of anarchy’.
The Prime Minister was addressing top officials of the armed forces including their chiefs at Dhaka cantonment’s Senakunja.
“ Like in any independent state, our armed forces should protect the holy constitution of Bangladesh and be prepared to tackle any threat ," the Prime Minister said. The armed forces should be prepared at all times to protect the sovereignty of this country.”

Raha’s body exhumed

Model Sumaiya Azgar Raha’s body has been exhumed for an autopsy on Thursday.

Raha’s body was exhumed from her grave at Azimpur cemetry under supervision of an executive magistrate Shamima Akhtar Shanti, Mohammadpur Station SI Anwar Hossain said.
The Lux Channel I Superstar hanged herself from the ceiling fan in her room on Mar 22.
Investigating officer for her case SI Anwar Hossain was present there along with Raha’s father Ali Azgar.
SI Anwar Hossain submitted a plea for an autopsy to Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court on Monday.

‘People thwarted illogical shutdown’

Home Minister MK Alamgir on Thursday dubbed the 36-hour shutdown ‘illogical’ and said people had rejected it.

  

“There is no logic behind this shutdown. People have rejected it,” he said at the secretariat.
He rubbished the BNP for describing the shutdown as being ‘effective’.
“Ask them (BNP), how many cars were burned? Who financed the violence?” he said.
“They are imposing their minority opinions on others. We are trying our best to suppress these efforts,” he said.
Opposition 18-Party alliance called for the 36-hour shutdown demanding release of their detained leaders – nabbed from BNP headquarters on Mar 11.

Sayedee appeals against death sentence

Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee has appealed against his death penalty handed out by the war crimes tribunal.

The state also appealed for highest punishment for him on charges he was acquitted of.

Sayedee’s lawyers submitted the appeal to the Supreme Court with Zainul Abedin Tuhin shown as advocate on record.

“We have challenged the verdict on 135 grounds and sought acquittal on all the eight charges for which he was given death penalty,” Sayedee’s lawyer Fariduddin Khan told bdnews24.com.

4 vehicles torched in city

 

A bus burns near City College on the Mirpur Road in the capital Tuesday morning after miscreants set it ablaze on the eve of a 36-hour countrywide shutdown that begins at 6:00am Wednesday. Photo: Focus Bangla

Unidentified miscreants set fire to four vehicles in different parts of the capital on Tuesday, on the eve of a 36-hour countrywide shutdown.
Law enforcers also rounded up four people while they were trying to torch a bus in Farmgate area around 2:35pm, said Apurba Hasan, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon Police Station.
No casualty was reported from the fire, said duty official of Fire Service and Civil Defence.
The arson incidents took place near City College building, New Market area and Anti-Corruption Commission office in Segunbagicha.

Kids, youth future on Bangladesh: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the country’s children and youth to prepare for leading the Bangladesh of future.

“We are getting old. You will have to come forward to take the mantle from our generation. You will make Bangabandhu’s dream of Golden Bengal a reality,” she told a gathering of children and young people on the occasion of the Independence Day.
The gathering was organised at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday. The Prime Minister hoisted the National Flag at the start of the gathering.

Khaleda playing ‘vicious role’ to save war criminals: Ashraf

 

Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam speaks to the reporters after placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Tuesday. Photo: Focus Bangla

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is playing a ‘vicious role’ to save the war criminals, Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said on Tuesday.
“Khaleda is backing Jamaat-e-Islami in the killing of law enforcers and minorities. She is trying to foil the trial of ’71 war criminals,” said Ashraf while addressing journalists after placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Tuesday, Prothom-Alo reported.
He condemned Khaleda for her March 23 speech in Bogra, where she urged the army to intervene into the politics, governance and constitution of the country.

'All the minister's lies'

BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has blamed Awami League General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam for ‘misleading statements’ on the BNP’s standpoint about the war crimes trials.

Ashraf had blamed the BNP for trying to derail the war crimes trials.

“We have said time and again that we want the war crimes trials, the BNP as a party wants the trial of all those who committed crimes against humanity. But we want the trials to be impartial, transparent, free of political vendetta and in keeping with the international standards,” Fakhrul told journalists after offering flowers at the grave of BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman on Tuesday.

Jamaat men clash with police in Dhaka

Police fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse rampaging activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area on Tuesday morning, police said.

The police action came after the activists of the fundamentalist party vandalised vehicles and threw brickbats at the police who tried to stop a procession.
No injuries were immediately reported in the chaos that broke out after the party activists brought out a procession at around 8am at Moghbazar intersection.

 

18-party calls 36-hr hartal from Wednesday

DHAKA: Opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance has called 36-hour countrywide hartal from Wednesday demanding immediate release of leaders and activists of the party and protesting “genocide”.

Acting Secretary General of the party Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at central party office at Nayapaltan in the city on Monday afternoon.

PM determined on war crimes trials

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday renewed her determination to finish the war crimes trials regardless of all the hurdles.

“We were hit again and again. But we stood up enduring everything. We liberated the country through battle. And I believe that we still can tackle any kind of challenge,” Hasina said.

HC rejects Osman’s anticipatory bail

The High Court on Sunday denied the anticipatory bail petition of Narayanganj Awami League leader Shamim Osman in the murder case of Tanvir Mohammad Twaki.

Advocate Abdul Baset Majumder filed the anticipatory bail petition for Shamim Osman, his son Ayan Osman and three others earlier in the morning.

The Vocational bench of Justices Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Mohammad Badruzzaman turned down the petition after hearing.

Road accident kills 5 in Mymensingh

At least five people were killed and 20 people injured on Monday when a bus and a locally made human hauler collided head-on at Mymensingh’s Nandail Upazila, police said.

 

The accident took place on the Kendua-Atharobarhi road at the Upazila’s Banshati at around 2pm, Nandail Police Station OC Khandaker Jahidul Islam told bdnews24.com.

Economist to contest ICT order

The London-based The Economist will contest the first war crimes tribunal’s order to explain why it should not be subjected to contempt of the court.
The tribunal will hear the matter on Apr 4.

The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal-1, set up to try crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, issued the order on Dec 6, directing the British periodical’s South Asia Bureau Chief and the Chief Editor to explain why they had breached the privacy of a judge.

Jamaat calls hartal in Ctg for Monday

The Jamaat-e-Islami called a dawn-to-dusk shutdown in Chittagong division for Monday protesting the death of an Islami Chhatra Shibir activists during a police raid at the house of former Jamaat lawmaker on March 13.
Mainul Hossain Munna, 26, a nephew of former Jamaat lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury, who sustained injuries during the raid, died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital around 11:00pm Friday, reports our Chittagong correspondent.

Maiden Buddhist Vihara found in Bikrampur

 

A Buddha Bihar found at Bojrojogini village in Bikrampur of Munshiganj for the first time. Photo: Pinaki Roy.

Archaeologists have unearthed a Buddha Bihar at the birthplace of Atish Dipankar Srigyan, a child prodigy like the Lord Buddha, at Bikrampur in Munshiganj.

Olama Mashaekh’s grand rally begins

Bangladesh Olama Mashaek Sanghati Parishad, a platform of Islamist scholars and clerics, is holding a grand rally at Motijheel in the capital Saturday afternoon.
Hundreds of Islamist scholars from different parts of the country started to converge at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel since morning demanding a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and capital punishment for all war criminals.
The rally which was scheduled for 11:00am began around 2:30pm.

Parag abduction: Prime accused kept out of charge sheet

 

Parag Mondol. File photo

Keraniganj police on Saturday submitted charge sheet against 12 people in schoolboy Parag Mondol abduction case, dropping the name of prime accused Jubo League leader Aminul Haque alias Jewel Mollah.
The investigation officer of the case dropped the names of Jewel Mollah, Alfas Hossain and Rizvi Ahmed Anik as the charges brought against them were not proved.
The IO also included the names of Md Akash, Md Sultan and Md Wasim in the charge sheet as their involvement with the abduction was found.

Khaleda starts for Bogra

 

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left Dhaka on Saturday for a two-day trip to Bogra and Joypurhat.
The BNP chief started for Bogra from her Gulshan residence around 4:00pm, party sources said.
She has been accompanied by BNP leaders Selima Rahman, Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Mirza Abbas.
An advance team of BNP led by its acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is already in Bogra for taking preparation ahead of the Khaleda’s visit.