REHAB fair ends, developers
asked to comply building codes |
Staff Correspondent
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 24th infantry division Major General Mohammed Abdul Mobeen said here on Sunday that the real-estate owners and developers should strictly comply the building codes and the provisions of the state.
"We should take lesson from the countries like Malaysia and Singapore where the housing sector made revolution over the decades," he said urging the developers to work together for making the port city a model of greenery
and biodiversity.
He was addressing the closing ceremony of the second REHAB fair held at the auditorium of Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong as the chief guest.
President of the REHAB (Real Estate of Housing Association of Bangladesh) Mohammad Mukarram Hussein Khan presided over the closing ceremony while President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCC&I) Saifuzzaman Chowdhury addressed it as the special guest. 
Chairman of the Fair Standing Committee architect Sayed Sirajul Haque, convener of the Fair Committee Kazi Aynul Haque, General Secretary of the REHAB Engineer Tanvirul Haque Probal and Joint Convener of the fair Mufakkharul Islam Khasru among others addressed it.
Claiming Chittagong as a city of natural beauty, the Chief Guest said that the REHAB should care for the protection and improvement of the natural beauty when it goes for housing projects.
"We must think far ahead because we don't want the port city to become a jungle of concretes like the capital," he said urging the developers to take up projects for low and middle-income people.
He urged the developers to ensure housing for low and middle-income group with affordable cost. |
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| Holy Ashura
celebrated |
Staff Correspondent
 The holy Ashura has been celebrated across the city and elsewhere of the district yesterday to commemorate the Karbala tragedy in which Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) along with his family and followers embraced martyrdom.
On the tenth of Muharram, the fateful day, Muslims vent remorse over the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam
Hossain, grandson of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM), at the hands of the soldiers of Yazid, son of Muslim ruler Muabia, over 1300 years ago.
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| Hearing of
Bijoy TV graft
case on Jan 28 |
Staff Correspondent
Hearing of the graft case filed against Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Alhaj ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and its two top officials was held yesterday and January 28 had been fixed as next date of hearing.
The CCC mayor and two other accused - Chief Engineer M Moktar Alam
and Chief Executive Officer were produced before the Chittagong Division at Special Court yesterday.
Judge SM Solaiman urged the lawyers of defense to submit original copy of High Court's directives regarding staying the proceedings of the case. |
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| Thai prince
visits SAIA |
Staff Correspondent
Thai crown Prince Mahavagiralong Cron, the only son of the Thai king, arrived Chittagong Airport as captain of a regular flight of the Thai Airways yesterday. The Prince came down at the Shah Amanat International Airport at about 1:22 p.m. and went around the airport for sometime. Thai Ambassador to
Bangladesh and Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Hossain Jamil welcomed him at the SAIA.
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National News |
| 4 DU teachers, 11 students acquitted -Govt withdraws cases |
P View desk
A court here Monday acquitted four Dhaka University teachers and 11 students of the charges of violating Emergency Power Rules (EPR) by instigating students to engage in violent protests on the university campus in August last year.
The court, however, convicted four absconding students and sentenced them to two years' imprisonment in the same case filed with Shahbagh police station on August 23, UNB reports from Dhaka. 
Meanwhile the government yesterday (Monday) decided to withdraw two criminal cases fully and one partly in connection with violation of the Emergency Power Rules in a backlash against last the August 20 Dhaka University incident.
Home Ministry today officially disclosed the latest government gesture to calm the unrest prevailing in the universities surrounding release of the detained teachers and students.
The Home Ministry issued three separate orders in connection with the cases filed in Dhaka and Rajshahi.
Judge Md Habibur Rahman Siddiqui of the Dhaka Metropolitan and Speedy Trial Court handed down the
verdict in his crowded court. |
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| Dialogue preparation with
politicals parties on :CA |
P View desk
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Monday affirmed that his government would start dialogue with political parties when both sides are ready, as they need time for preparation.
He said dialogues between the Election Commission and the political parties are already going on successfully, and hoped that it would end successfully soon, facilitating talks between the government and the political parties, UNB reports from Dhaka.
The Chief Adviser made the remarks while talking to newsmen after he and his wife Neena Ahmed enrolled their names as voters with photographs and fingerprints at Gulshan Model School and College at Gulshan-2 here at noon.
Replying to a question about
the possibility of holding elections ahead of the targeted timeframe, the head of the caretaker government said it depends on how the government can complete the preparatory works for the polls.
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| President pardons 14
students, 1 employee |
President Iajuddin Ahmed Monday pardoned four Dhaka University students sentenced to two years in jail, an official of the Bangabhaban said.
The president also pardoned 10 other students of Rajshahi University and one employee of the same university, secretary (Public Division) at the President's Office Mohammad Sirajul Islam told bdnew24.com by phone. 
The four DU and 10 RU students were convicted in two cases of student unrest at Dhaka and Rajshahi Universities which took place in August 2007.
The move by the president was the latest as Monday saw a series of developments over the contentious issues.
Earlier, home affairs adviser MA Matin said the government would look into the demand for mercy to four absconding students of Dhaka University who have been handed down two years
in jail each for breaking emergency rule during the August campus violence.
Metropolitan magistrate Habibur Rahman Siddiqui delivered the verdict earlier Monday, in which he, however, acquitted four teachers and 11 students of the same charges.
IG (Prisons) Brigadier General Zakir Hasan told bdnews24.com at 6:50 pm that the Rajshahi University students had already walked out of prison.
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HC stay on trial
Plea on Hasina case
hearing Thursday |
P View desk
The Supreme Court chamber judge yesterday (Monday) refrained
from issuing stay on the operation of High Court order that
stalled the trial of detained ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
on an extortion charge.
Brushing aside the government plea for stay, Justice M A
Matin of the chamber court passed an order that the matter
would be heard "in full court" of the Appellate
Division" of the Supreme Court, UNB reports from Dhaka.
The government petition for stay on the operation of the
High Court order would come up on the Supreme Court hearing
list Thursday.
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Global News |
Brown proposes international
force to aid 'failed states' |
AP/UNB, New Delhi
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stepped up calls Monday for the creation of an international reconstruction force to help rebuild "failed states" after violent conflict. Brown, who is visiting China and India to build stronger economic ties with the two emerging superpowers, also urged reform of the World Bank to better tackle climate change and of the International Monetary Fund to provide an early warning of financial turbulence.
The British leader called for the creation of an annual United Nations fund of US$200 million (euro136.3 million) to provide immediate support for reconstruction in nations recovering from violent conflict.
"Failed states can harbor terrorism and be a source of disorder that can spread right across the international community," Brown said in a speech to the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce.
Brown also called for U.N. peacekeeping missions to kickstart stabilization and reconstruction efforts.
"We must do more to ensure rapid reconstruction on the ground once conflicts are over and combine traditional humanitarian aid and peacekeeping with stabilization, recovery and development," Brown said. He said an international reconstruction force should include judges, teachers and police, under the direction of a single envoy
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| Ethnic Indians in Malaysia
go on hunger strike |
AP/UNB, Kuala Lumpur
Five detained ethnic Indian activists began a hunger strike Monday to protest their imprisonment and the alleged discrimination faced by Indians in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.
Supporters of the five jailed members of the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf, joined the hunger strike at two different temples, said one of the detainees' lawyers, N. Surendran. Hindraf has demanded an end to government policies that marginalize Indians and the release of the five men, who are being held under a law allowing indefinite detention without trial. The men were arrested after organizing a mass rally on Nov. 25. Among those joining the hunger strike was V. Raidu, a brother of one of the detained activists."They do it inside (the detention center). We do it outside," he said. "We are planning to do it for five days - one day for each member.
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