DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
New doctors lobby to get postings near Dhaka n Moniruzzman Uzzal Thousands of newly appointed doctors have joined a lobbying war to get a chance to be posted at locations that are either in or near Dhaka city. The lobbying competition to secure a spot in or around the capital has become intensified as there are only 500 vacant spots available in Dhaka division, compared to around 2,000 new doctors who reportedly have their native homes in the division. Both the prime minister and the health minister had earlier promised that the new doctors would get postings at their respective home districts. Over 6,000 doctors have recently been appointed through the 33rd BCS. Doctors from outside the Dhaka region were also reportedly trying to get postings at different districts in Dhaka division. Several senior health officials told the Dhaka Tribune that they were facing an embarrassing situation while preparing the list of posting for the doctors. Influential people like cabinet
members, lawmakers, and leaders from political parties and doctors’ organisations were trying to influence the posting process of the new doctors, they said, adding that most of the recommendations were made for postings at locations in or around Dhaka city.
‘It is not an easy job to give postings to thousands of doctors at a time. We are working round the clock to keep the health minister’s promise’ Meanwhile, Habibur Rahman, a joint secretary (personnel) of the Health Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they have completed scrutinising over 2,500 doctors until Sunday. Additional manpower have been engaged to ensure the posting of the doctors within the scheduled time.
“It is not an easy job to give postings to thousands of doctors at a time. We are working round the clock to keep the health minister’s promise. We will be able to complete all the procedures and issue posting orders by Thursday,” Habibur said. Asked how the extra doctors would be accommodated in the limited number of seats in Dhaka, he said the ministry was now considering to provide the postings based on the merit list. The rest of the doctors would have to join workplaces at other districts and remain there for two years, he added. Top health officials, on the other hand, have said most doctors would get postings at or near their native upazila. On August 7, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim announced that doctors would be posted at their own home districts within a week. According to the Health Ministry and health directorate, a total of 8,619 doctors have been appointed over the last five years. Moreover, 4,133 assistant and dental surgeons had also been appointed on ad hoc basis.l
Two alleged razakars arrested in Netrakona n
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Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Udisa Islam
The law enforcers at Netrakona yesterday arrested two war crimes accused for their alleged involvement in atrocities in the district during the 1971 Liberation War. The arrests were made only hours after the International Crimes Tribunal 1 issued warrants against them. Accused in a war crimes case, Obaidul Huq alias Abu Taher and Ataur Rahman alias Noni were arrested from separate locations of the town around 1pm. Md Zakir Hossain Khan, the district police superintendent, said the law men arrested the duo quickly since they had been under surveillance. The investigation officer of the case also confirmed the arrests saying that they had been under watch when they started the probe. Designated prosecutor Sabina Yasmin said they avoided media before the arrest since in the recent times some suspects had fled after the issuance of arrest warrants. She said both were named in the list of razakars prepared by the district administration. However, witnesses
claimed that one of them was a razakar commander. Noni was involved with Muslim League in 1971 while Taher is the son of Monjurul Huq, then a leader of Nezam-e-Islam – one of the Islamist parties that opposed the birth of Bangladesh. They were involved in the killing of over 500 unarmed civilians, arson attacks and looting in different locations of Netrakona, according to the investigation agency members who are now working at field level. The warrants were issued by the tribunal from its chamber yesterday morning following a prosecution petition. It also asked the law enforcers to produce the duo before it immediately after their arrest. Moreover, the tribunal asked the investigation agency to submit a progress report of the case by September 4. There was no scheduled case at the tribunal 1 yesterday. Another designated prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman submitted the petition, mentioning that the duo, who are very influential in the locality, might flee to avoid trial and try to influence the witnesses. l
‘BNP a platform of evil forces’ n Emran Hossain Shaikh LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday called BNP a platform of extremely evil forces. ‘’BNP is not a political party. It is a platform of extremely evil forces. All the evil forces and miscreants of society have joined this platform. The freedom and sovereignty of Bangladesh will be not secure unless these forces are stopped,’’ he said. Ashraf, general secretary of the Awami League (AL), was speaking at the start of a mourning procession organised by Jubo League, an AL youth front, at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. “Khaleda Zia celebrates August 15, the day when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were killed in 1975, as her birthday. That means she does not accept Bangladesh and will never do so in the future,” he said. ‘’Were it her real birthday, she should celebrate it on August 16 or 17 as we requested, but she would not do it,’’ he said angrily. He also called the birthday celebration a facet of western culture. ‘’There is no scope for holding any talks with those who celebrate the mourning day by cutting cakes and expressing utter hatred towards the Father of the Nation,’’ he vowed. l
Qaisar’s defence argues for fourth day n Udisa Islam The counsel for Syed Mohammad Qaisar yesterday argued that the war crimes accused had not been present at the crime scenes during the 1971 Liberation War, as has been alleged. On Sunday, the same lawyer claimed that the accused never maintained any force titled “Qaisar Bahini” as the prosecution claimed. While placing arguments at the International Crimes Tribunal 2 for the fourth day, SM Shahjahan continuously stated that his client was not responsible for the charges brought against him as he had not been present at the crime scenes. The tribunal said whoever had helped the Pakistan Army to commit any crimes during the war was responsible since the intention of the occupation forces was clear. Mentioning charge nine, which is related to atrocities in Habiganj Sadar, the tribunal said: “The Pakistan Army targeted some political leaders’ houses and set those on fire. The witnesses claimed that they had seen Qaisar with them. In this situation there is no need to be at the crime scene.” Since the defence lawyer tried to stick to his position, the tribunal intervened again and said Shahjahan was facing problems in placing the arguments since he had not cross examined
3 Viqarunnisa teachers testify against Parimal n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Three teachers testified before a Dhaka court yesterday in connection with the rape of a student by a teacher of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College’s Bashundhara branch in the capital. Judge Md Arifur Rahman of the Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Tribunal 4 recorded the depositions of Jagadish Chandra Paul, Babul Kumer Karmaker and Jannatun Nesa. During the deposition, Babul Kumar told the court: “I am not sure about the incident, but I have heard that the student filed a petition against Parimal.” After his deposition, public prosecutor Md Forkan Miah declared witness Babul as “hostile.” According to the case, on May 28, 2011, Parimal sexually assaulted the girl at his private coaching centre and recorded the incident with his mobile phone. He then threatened the girl, saying he would post the video and the photos on the internet if she told anyone about the assault. Parimal allegedly abused her again on June 17. Later, the girl made a written complaint to the school authorities, but former principal Hosne Ara Begum, along with some teachers, tried to save the accused. However, after days of protests by the students, on July 5, 2011, the school’s governing body sacked Parimal. On the same day, the victim’s father filed a case with Badda police station, accusing Parimal, Hosne Ara and Lutfur Rahman, the head of the school’s Bashundhara branch. l
the witnesses properly. The counsel also claimed that the prosecution documents had not mentioned his client’s name. Then the tribunal asked him to check page one where Qaisar’s name was number eight. Before the lunch break, when the counsel was arguing charge eight, which was related to the rape of Hiramoni Santal, the tribunal asked him whether he wanted to raise questions about the incident. Shahjahan could not give any proper answer. He then apologised and submitted on charge seven. The counsel questioned how the accused had burnt his cousin’s house, stating, “Can it really happen?” The tribunal said: “Listen, when a father betrayed his child, who was a freedom fighter, the son killed his father.” The defence also showed incompetency in submitting on the charges properly. After completing submission on two charges, the counsel jumped to charge eight. In the second session, after the tribunal came to the court, Shahjahan sought time saying that they were facing some technical difficulties. Allowing the verbal plea, the tribunal left the courtroom at 2:30pm keeping the closing arguments incomplete. The defence will have to end their part of arguments today. l
Farida, centre, from Dholaipar, was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday, as she fell ill after eating poisonous Potka fish. Her two sons and two brothers died at the hospital on Monday while her husband fell ill as well MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
ACC to launch probe against ex-district judge Faruk n Adil Sakhawat The Anti-Corruption Commission is going to launch an inquiry into against former special court judge Faruk Ahmed, against whom allegation of acquitting 11 persons, including 7 foreigners, in exchange for bribe in three drug smuggling case was raised. The commission in its regular meeting yesterday decided to conduct the investigation into the allegation against the recently-retired judge, ACC spokesperson Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told the Dhaka Tribune. As part of the move, the ACC has already formed a two-member probe
committee headed by Deputy Director Joton Kumar Ray, he also stated, adding that the commission was going to run the inquiry following an instruction from Ministry of Law. The ACC official, however, also said the commission had begun the initial process of inquiry some time before the instruction. On Monday, the ministry made the instruction following the order from acting chief justice SK Sinha to take legal action against judge Faruk Ahmed on August 7. When contacted, Law Minister Anisul Haq told this correspondent over phone: “We have sent the matter to
the ACC for inquiry following the jurisdiction. Besides, we has requested the home ministry to put a ban on the judge’s immigrations so that he cannot leave the country.” According to the allegation received by the ACC recently, the judge allegedly acquitted 11 persons, who were accused in three drug cases, within three months before his retirement and he did not give the prosecution time to place the witnesses. Court sources said the judge has acquitted the accused of 12 more sensational cases involving smuggling of narcotics in last six months before he went to retirement.l
‘Kerry keen to come to Bangladesh’ n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman
US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed a desire to visit Bangladesh at a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw. “US Secretary of State, Mr Kerry, during the meeting, expressed his desire to visit Bangladesh at the earliest possible time,” said a foreign ministry press release. Bangladesh’s foreign minister went to Myanmar on August 8 on a three-day visit to attend the 21st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Meeting.
Mahmood Ali also had an informal meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in Myanmar where she reiterated New Delhi’s will to improve the bilateral relations between the two friendly neighbours. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured Mahmood Ali of China’s full support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the Human Rights Council and Inter-Parliamentary Union, in an exchange on the sidelines of the ARF meeting. Mahmood Ali stressed the importance of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Bangladesh next year to celebrate 40 years of Bangladesh-China
diplomatic relations. The Chinese foreign minister said Beijing would invite Bangladesh’s agriculture minister for discussions on importing super hybrid rice seeds and to establish a hybrid rice laboratory in Bangladesh. Wang confirmed that China would send an expert-level delegation to the International Conference on the Blue Economy to be held in Dhaka in September. The foreign ministers of Bangladesh and China discussed the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC).l
Four-storey building tilts in Old Dhaka Jamil Khan and Abu n Mohammad Hayat Mahmud
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, the city development authority, sealed off a four-storey building in the capital’s Bangshal area yesterday as it had tilted. The Rajuk officials also partially locked three more buildings in the area and cut the gas, electricity and water supply of these buildings. Sources said a Rajuk technical committee would inspect the buildings and a final decision in this regard would be taken after getting the report. After visiting the area, it was found that just beside the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters in Siddiqbazar area, the buildings holding number 99, 99/1, 99/2, 100 and 100/2 were constructed without leaving any space between them. Of them, the building holding number 99/2 tilted and developed a crack on its wall. As the building is situated in between three other buildings, it had affected the buildings holding number 99/1, 100 and 100/2. The building holding number 100 was badly affected as it was constructed close to 99/2. Locals said the owner of the building (99/2) sold it to one Walid for Tk33 lakh, six years ago. At that time, it was a three-storey building, but Walid later made it a four-storeyed one. Jalal, the owner of the next building (99/1), sold it to Mohsin for Tk1.30 crore. Mohsin, a chemical trader in Mitford area, bought a two-storey building, but later made it seven-storeys.
Locals said the buildings 100 and 100/2 were constructed in accordance with the rules, but these were affected due to the “faulty” construction of 99/1 and 99/2. As cracks developed on 100 and 100/2, owners Bilal Hossain and Anisur Rahman left the buildings yesterday. Besides, there were four families in 99/2 and they were evacuated as it was not deemed safe. Abdul Halim, senior station officer of the fire service, was present on the spot and told the Dhaka Tribune that the building tiled around 2:30 am. “On receiving information, we rushed to the spot and evacuated people from the buildings,” he said. Officials from Titas Gas, Desco and Wasa also came to the spot and cut the gas, power and water supply. Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, a Rajuk magistrate, said they had sealed off the building after inspection. “We have filed a general diary with Bangshal police station against Walid and police are trying to hunt him down,” said Shahidul. After getting the final report from the technical committee, they would take decision whether the building would be demolished or not, he added. When contacted, Abdul Kuddus Fakir, officer-in-charge of Bangshal police said police launched a hunt for the building owner who went into hiding soon after the incident. Earlier, Rajuk had made a list of risky buildings in Dhaka. According to the list, there are at least 5,000 risky buildings in the capital and 60% of them are in Old Dhaka. l