10 HC judges return to Bench

Tue, Mar 24th, 2009 6:09 pm BdST
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Dhaka, Mar 24 (bdnews24.com)—Ten High Court judges finally returned to the Bench Tuesday after a years-long legal battle. The Supreme Court upheld a ruling earlier this month ordering reinstatement of the ten judges, dropped by the past BNP government. The Appellate Division delivered its five-point verdict on Mar 2 disposing of a leave to appeal by serving judges challenging a High Court order to reinstate the ten judges with seniority. The legal fight began in 2003, as two of the judges originally petitioned the High Court, challenging the legality of the then-BNP government's decision to not award them permanent appointments. bdnews24.com/pc/rah/1810h

War crimes to be tried under 1973 ICT Act

Wed, Mar 25th, 2009 3:46 pm BdST
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Dhaka, Mar 25 (bdnews24.com)—War crimes, committed during Bangladesh's 1971 independence war, will be tried under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973, said the law minister on Wednesday. "The government has made a final decision for trial of the accused under this Act," Shafiq Ahmed told reporters at the secretariat. He was speaking after an inter-ministerial meeting to examine if war crimes trials would be possible under the existing law. One or more tribunals, of three to four members each, will be formed under the Act for the quickest trial of those accused of 1971 war crimes, said Shafiq. The process of bringing the accused to trial is already under way in many cases, he said. bdnews24.com/pc/rah/1546h

BDR chief heads panel for new border force

Dhaka, March 23 (bdnews24.com)—BDR chief Moinul Islam will head a new committee to reform Bangladesh's border force.

A three-hour meeting, chaired by commerce minister Faruque Khan, coordinator for post-mutiny affairs, decided on Monday that a new frontier force would be formed with a change of name.

Khan told a press conference: "A seven-member committee headed by the BDR chief will be constituted to implement the decision."

The minister said: "There were over 7,000 BDR men at Peelkhana on the day of the massacre."

"Of them, 1,800 members did not report back after the mutiny. Many fled with weapons and ammunition."

"Some 714 suspects have been identified and 482 were arrested. Eighty are being interrogated in remand."

He said that audio tapes of the Darbar Hall incident and video footage of the looting of weapons and stores from CCTV were available.

The minister added: "The frontiers are well protected since officers and jawans in border areas joined their battalions and sector headquarters."

BDR director general Brig Gen Moinul Islam, investigators including heads of probes and other concerned officials were present at Monday's meeting.

bdnews24.com

14 dead in Tangail, Faridpur crashes

Sat, Mar 21st, 2009 12:58 pm BdST:
Tangail, March 21 (bdnews24.com) – Fourteen people were killed and at least 62 injured in two separate road accidents in Tangail and Faridpur on Saturday, said police. Ten people were killed and at least 35 injured as a bus and truck collided head-on at Basail in Tangail, police said. The crash occurred at around 6am. Tangail superintendent of police Mizanur Rahman told bdnews24.com seven of the dead were identified by midday. They were bus passengers Barrister Sirajul Hauq Lal, 65, Mostafizur Rahman, 22, Amir Ali, 40, and Abdul Salam, 45, Jahangir Alam , 40, Ekabbar Hossain, 35 and truck conductor Rafiqul Islam Shafiq, 35. Thirty-one of the injured were admitted to Tangail General Hospital. Four received first aid at the accident site. The bus was heading to Gopalpur from Dhaka. Four killed in Faridpur bus crash Four people died and 27 were injured in a bus accident on the Dhaka-Barisal highway at Bhanga upazila in Faridpur at around 3:30am. The Patuakhali-bound bus from Dhaka lost control and smashed into a roadside tree, said Bhanga police sub-inspector Nurul Islam. Three people died on the spot and one died at Bhanga Upazila health complex. Of the dead one was identified as Habib, 33, a Subeder of Rapid Action Battalion-8, said Islam. The injured were admitted to Bhanga and Faridpur medical centres. The bodies were kept at Bhanga Police Station. A case is underway in this connection, said the police officer.

BD cricketers get 30% pay hike after exodus to ICL

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised salaries of players and staff of national cricket team by 30 percent amid concerns more players could ditch their contracts to join the more lucrative Indian Cricket League (ICL), chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee said on Thursday. The decision was taken at a marathon meeting of directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) last night at its Mirpur headquarters. The issue of the pay rise was long overdue as the last payroll expired in November last year. The BCB has decided to increase the salaries to local staff of the national team's management as well as contracted national cricketers, he said. ''We have decided to increase their remuneration including winning bonus, performance bonus, match fees and other allowances proportionately'' said Enayet Hossain, chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee. The BCB was under pressure to raise pay after seven cricketers unilaterally terminated their contracts and joined seven others to play in the ICL. The BCB has 13 contracted cricketers, but Enayet said they would soon increase that number and bring 'A team' players under contract too. In another major move, the BCB will purchase land suitable for cricket stadiums across the country on a priority basis. SNM/ Mar 19

Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski fall

Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski fall British actress Natasha Richardson died in hospital after suffering a serious head injury in a skiing accident, according to a family statement. Richardson, wife of actor Liam Neeson, suffered a serious brain injury on Monday in a fall on a ski slope at a Quebec resort of Montreal in Canada. Richardson's family released a statement saying, ''Liam Neeson, his two young sons and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for    details....

Maximum investment to farming: Muhith

fri, Mar 20th, 2009 11:12 pm BdST

Sylhet, Mar 20 (bdnews24.com) – The government is geared toward maximum investment in farming, said the finance minister Friday.  Visiting an expo in Sylhet, AMA Muhith said the country's development depended on its agriculture, fisheries and livestock resources.  "Agriculture got top priority in our Charter for Change and that is why maximum investment is being allotted for farming and rural development," he said, at the opening of an agriculture, fisheries and livestock technology expo at Sagardighi.  He condemned the ruthless destruction by some of the country's resources to make 'a quick buck'.  "Work for the sake of the country keeping petty interests aside," he said.  'Farming to go high-tech'  The prime minister, the previous day, had stressed the need to go high-tech to raise food output, in a meeting with FAO's country representative.  Sheikh Hasina told Ad Spijkers the government would apply the latest technology to modernise farming and ensure food security.  The two discussed ways to turn Bangladesh into a "food surplus" country, the prime minister's press secretary said.  Hasina also said private sector investment in farming would be encouraged.  bdnews24.com/corr/msb/khk/rah/2307h.