1.Govt probing Khaleda Zia’s ‘hiding’ during BDR mutiny:The Daily Star, July 15
Dhaka: The government is investigating into opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s alleged "hiding" for three days during the last year’s BDR mutiny and the findings will be made public, said Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Awami League’s (AL) joint general secretary.
“Investigation is being carried out on where she went ahead of the BDR carnage,” he said at a press briefing yesterday at the AL chief’s Dhanmondi office.
Hanif, also a special assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said it is still mysterious why she went on hiding from her cantonment house in a black windowed car.
He however denied elaborating the process of investigation.
Referring to the submission of the charge sheet in Pilkhana carnage case he said the investigation was carried out in a neutral and transparent way.
Defying the claim of BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain over the charge sheet, he said none has been indicted in the case on political consideration.
At a press briefing on Tuesday Delwar alleged the charge sheet in the BDR mutiny case was politically influenced.
About the arrest of Jamaat leaders, Hanif said they were arrested on specific charges.
AL leaders AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin, Mrinal Kanti Das, Faridunnahar Laily, Afzal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nondi and Aminul Islam Amin were present at the press conference.http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=146789
2. Govt not sincere about peace deal: Larma
Rangamati: Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council (CHTRC) Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma yesterday said not a single clause of the CHT peace deal has seen implementation in last 19 months as the present Awami League-led grand alliance government is not sincere about this matter.
The CHTRC chairman, also president of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), said this while speaking as chief guest at the opening ceremony of the two-day-long fourth conference of PCJSS district committee at Poursabha hall room in the town.
Popularly known as Shantu Larma, the PCJSS chief said the CHT people are captive due to activities of United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) and role of some security persons in the name of ‘Operation Uttaran’.
The armed cadres of UPDF have killed 96 leaders and activists of PCJSS, he said, adding that the ethnic people in CHT are still facing harassment, repression and torture.
Communalism, fundamentalism and anti-progressive activities still prevail in the country, the PCJSS chief said.
He recalled the role of PCJSS founder late Manobendra Narayan Larma in the struggle for achieving the rights of jummo people.
Blaming state minister for CHT affairs ministry Dipankar Talukder for remaining ‘silent’ about the solution of CHT problems, the PCJSS chief urged the jummo people to be alert about any politics that is not favourable for them.
Presided over by president of district unit of PCJSS Gunendu Bikash Chakma, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by member of CHT Regional Council Sneh Kumar Chakma, its district unit Secretary Bodhi Satta Chakma, Youth Affairs Secretary Suvas Basu Chakma, Chairperson of CHT Mohila Samity Madhabi Lata Chakma, central committee Secretary of Pahari Chhatra Parishad Nitol Chakma and district committee President of Hill Women’s Federation Jonaki Chakma.
The speakers called upon the PCJSS leaders and activists to be more united and dedicated to continue strive for full implementation of the CHT peace deal and establishment of the right of self-determination of the jummo people.
Hundreds of leaders, activists and supporters of PCJSS from different upazilas joined the conference.http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=146810
3. CCC polls set new example of fairness survey
Ctg: The Chittagong City Corporation election has set a new example of fairness and candidates’ good behaviour as an overwhelming number of voters said they were not intimidated by any quarter and they did not receive any "gift" from candidates.
The election also shows a welcome shift towards non-partisan voting in the local government institution, as a significant number of voters who voted for M Manzur Alam, who was unofficially a BNP candidate, still believe the government has been performing satisfactorily. This may also indicate a huge swing in voters.
These patterns came out in a survey on the recently-concluded election by Nielsen Bangladesh on over 2,500 voters in all the 41 wards of CCC.
Ninety-five percent said they did not face any problem or irregularities in casting votes. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=146782
4. Mahmudur’s release demanded
Dhaka: Leaders of journalists’ unions yesterday demanded unconditional release of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman and withdrawing the cancellation of the daily’s declaration.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organised a human chain in front of the High Court and sought justice from the High Court on the cancellation of the declaration of the daily.
They warned the government of tougher action if their demands are not met, says a press release.
BFUJ President Ruhul Amin Gazi, Secretary General MA Aziz, DUJ General Secretary Muhammad Baker Hossain and Daily Amar Desh Deputy Editor Syed Abdal Ahmad spoke at the event. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=146859
5. More int’l, domestic airports to be set up: PM
Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament yesterday said the government has a plan to set up more international and domestic airports in the next fiscal year.
Replying to a question she said the government has adopted a plan to set up Bangabandhu International Airport as per the election manifesto. The proposed international airport will act as a bridge between the countries of East and West.
Hasina informed the House that the committee formed for the purpose has already submitted its pre-feasibility study report.
Besides, work for formulating document to set up the airport on the basis of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme is under process.
The Prime Minister said Cox’s Bazar Airport would be upgraded to an international standard at a cost of Tk 302.65 crore by 2012. Development of Cox’s Bazar Airport Phase-1 is expected to be implemented by June 2012.
She further informed that the government has taken measures to set up a domestic airport at Rampal of Bagerhat to aid Mongla Port and the tourist spots of the area. A project titled “Construction of Khanjahan Ali Airport (Rampal, Bagerhat)” will be implemented at a cost of Tk 470.30 crore. The airport will provide quick transport facility between the south and western districts.
On healthcare the Prime Minister said the government is committed to provide healthcare facilities to the people for which 3551 physicians were appointed on ad-hoc basis.
On jute sector the PM criticised the BNP-Jamaat government for “destroying” the jute industry and expressed her government’s firm determination to regain the lost share of jute goods in the world market.
Replying to a supplementary question, she said the “BNP-Jamaat government intentionally destroyed” the country’s jute sector by closing down government-owned jute mills one after another.
“As a result, we lost the share of jute in the world market and the present government is determined to regain that share.”
Responding to another supplementary question, the Prime Minister said the previous BNP-led government had taken ‘policy of shrinking’ for the jute sector. “This was the end… they just destroyed the jute sector.”
She, however, said that the golden days of jute are coming back and the government would do whatever is possible to develop this sector. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=146852
