Archive for March 28th, 2008
Friday, March 28th, 2008 A special court yesterday awarded businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun 10-year and his wife Shahina Yeasmin three-year rigorous imprisonment in a case for amassing huge ill-gotten wealth, highest among the bigwigs.The Special Court-7 of Judge Sirajul Islam found Mamun, the closest aide to BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, and his wife guilty of amassing Tk 111.3 crore illegally.Mamun was also fined Tk 10 lakh, and will have to serve one more year behind bars if he fails to pay the sum. The court also ordered the wealth amassed illegally to be confiscated by the state.The court set ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday refused the government's leave to appeal against the High Court (HC) judgment quashing two graft cases against former premier Khaleda Zia as the government failed to clearly explain years of delay in seeking the permission.The full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Ruhul Amin gave the decision.The graft cases were filed during the 1996-2001 rule of Awami League government. Following applications filed by Khaleda the HC quashed the cases during the rule of BNP-led four-party alliance government.On December 21, 1996, now defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (Bac) filed ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008The Election Commission (EC) is preparing a set of recommendations for the caretaker government on some crucial issues including trial of war criminals.Modification of the constitution's article 70, an increase in parliamentary seats and introduction of bicameral parliament will figure prominently in the suggestions being drawn up on the basis of demands raised by political parties during the electoral reforms talks, said sources in the EC.In line with its earlier announcement, the commission will submit those to the government at the end of April or early May. It believes the administration will take necessary steps in due time.Contacted ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008A Chittagong court yesterday sentenced four Islami Chhatra Shibir activists to death and three Shibir men to life imprisonment for killing eight people including six Bangladesh Chhatra League activists in Bahodderhat on July 12, 2000.The Court of Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Ekramul Haq Chowdhury also fined them Tk 50,000 each. The three with life terms will have to stay in prison a year more if they fail to pay the fine.Thirteen of the 22 charge-sheeted accused were acquitted and two others were exempted from the charges since they were killed in "crossfire".The convicts to walk the gallows are Sajjad ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008Detained businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun was in the spotlight as a controversial businessman, a close friend of Tarique Rahman and part of the mighty Hawa Bhaban coterie throughout the rule of BNP-led four-party alliance.During the period, he became a byword for corruption and abuse of power. Despite having no relations with the party officially, he used to pull strings in BNP politics.He was one of those detained as graft suspects soon after the military-backed caretaker government took office in January last year. He was also among the first 50 high-profile individuals listed as graft suspects by the Anti-Corruption Commission ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008At least 105 people have been killed in Iraq since fierce clashes between Shia militants and security forces broke out three days ago, according to an AFP tally based on reports by security officials.Hundreds of people have been wounded in the battles.Fighting has raged in four cities since Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday ordered the security forces to raid strongholds of Shia militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the southern port city of Basra.At least 23 people have been killed in Basra, which was yesterday rocked for a third straight day by fighting, according ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday announced the decision to introduce mobile-phone network in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.The government decision met a long-cherished demand of the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, once a troubled region that returned to peace following the 1997 peace accord.Mobile-phone network will be primarily available in the municipal areas of the three district headquarters.The chief adviser said setting up digital telephone exchanges at upazila level in the hill districts would be considered following availability of resources.He hoped that decision on manpower for setting up judge courts in the three districts would be taken within ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008At least 105 people have been killed in Iraq since fierce clashes between Shia militants and security forces broke out three days ago, according to an AFP tally based on reports by security officials.Hundreds of people have been wounded in the battles.Fighting has raged in four cities since Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday ordered the security forces to raid strongholds of Shia militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the southern port city of Basra.At least 23 people have been killed in Basra, which was yesterday rocked for a third straight day by fighting, according ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace accord of 1997 was signed in full accordance with the country's sovereignty and integrity.He said the peace accord was for upholding the political, social, cultural, educational and economic rights of the peoples living in the hilly region.In conformity with the agreement, some government steps have already been taken and the process is on, he told community leaders of the region at a meeting in Rangamati.Mentioning a handful of the government steps taken in last 10 years, he said as per the agreement, 65,000 repatriated families were rehabilitated ...
(read more) Friday, March 28th, 2008The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday approved submitting charge sheet against BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and mother-in-law Iqbalmand Banu in a case filed for amassing illegal wealth and hiding wealth information.Following investigation, the watchdog decided to charge him with concealing wealth worth Tk 2,16,48,087 in his statement to the ACC and amassing assets of Tk 2,74,93,087 beyond known sources of his income.Meantime, the ACC yesterday filed a case with Ramna Police Station against former Awami League lawmaker AKM Rahmatullah, his wife Hamida Rahmatullah and their son Safayet Ullah on charges of amassing ...
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