Archive for December 23rd, 2008
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008A foreign national volunteered the information the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) needed to get at bribery involving BNP Chief Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, said ACC sources.In a five-page statement, he said he would aid the anti-graft body in its probe on condition that his identity would be kept secret and safety ensured.Introducing himself as “a chartered secretary…married with two children”, he also said he would not come to Bangladesh to testify against anyone for fear of reprisal.On this understanding, the ACC sent an official to Singapore to explore the official procedures there to investigate graft. It also ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday urged voters to 'save Islam and the country' by voting for BNP-led four-party alliance nominees in the December 29 parliamentary election.During her second round of electioneering in Sylhet, the former premier also alleged that a section of the media is misguiding the people by publishing 'false and fictitious information' about BNP and four-party nominees."Save the country and Islam by voting for BNP and its alliance, and don't cast your vote for those who defamed the religion," Khaleda Zia said at a large rally on Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground in the afternoon."You'll ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008In a surprise move, the establishment ministry yesterday appointed 319 executive magistrates authorising them to try electoral offences ignoring the Supreme Court (SC) directives for engaging judicial magistrates to do the job.The ministry sent a letter to the Election Commission (EC) that said 319 officials of administration cadre were appointed executive magistrates, and were vested with the authority to run mobile courts, EC sources said.The ministry, which was notified of the SC order, came up with the appointments just a day after the EC decided to ask the SC to engage judicial magistrates for trial of electoral offences ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday reaffirmed that the allegation against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's son Arafat Rahman Koko of laundering about Tk 12 crore is authentic, legally recognised and confirmed by the Singapore Attorney General's Office.Shooting down the idea that the allegation is motivated and false, the anti-corruption watchdog chief said they have published the information upon confirmation by legal experts about taking the matter to the court."We didn't publish the allegation until we were sure it was authentic. We think our information is authentic and legally recognised," said Hasan Mashhud in a routine press briefing at the ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008BNP yesterday termed freezing of Arafat Rahman Koko's bank account by the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) as 'motivated' and said the government watch dog's move ahead of the national poll went against the electoral laws and the interest of the party.The party urged the Election Commission to take steps against the ACC move."The ACC's move to freeze the bank account of Koko, youngest son of former premier Khaleda Zia is clearly in violation of the electoral code of conduct and it also went against the interest of BNP," Mirza Abbas, BNP Joint Secretary General told reporters after a meeting of ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008Reinhard Siekaczek was half asleep in bed when his doorbell rang early one morning two years ago.Still in his pajamas, he peeked out his bedroom window, hurried downstairs and opened the front door. Standing before him in the cool, crisp dark were six German police officers and a prosecutor. They held a warrant for his arrest.At that moment, Siekaczek, a stout, graying former accountant for Siemens, the German engineering giant, knew his secret life had ended."I know what this is about," he told the officers crowded around his door. "I have been expecting you."To understand how Siemens, one of the ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008Reinhard Siekaczek was half asleep in bed when his doorbell rang early one morning two years ago.Still in his pajamas, he peeked out his bedroom window, hurried downstairs and opened the front door. Standing before him in the cool, crisp dark were six German police officers and a prosecutor. They held a warrant for his arrest.At that moment, Siekaczek, a stout, graying former accountant for Siemens, the German engineering giant, knew his secret life had ended."I know what this is about," he told the officers crowded around his door. "I have been expecting you."To understand how Siemens, one of the ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008BNP-led four-party alliance nominee in Dhaka-18 constituency Azizul Baree Helal is facing tough challenges as his main electoral rival grand alliance nominee veteran Awami League (AL) leader Sahara Khatun has the advantage of being more prominent, and a strong base among voters.In addition, this happens to be Helal's maiden run for a seat in the parliament, who is still a student leader as the incumbent president of BNP's erstwhile student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.Helal had been nominated once before by BNP for the stalled January 22, 2007 election in Khulna-4, which is his native constituency.Although, Dhaka-18 was supposed to ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008A sample survey by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) showed that 35.3 percent Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) are fake.More than 50 percent fake TINs have been used for buying land and taking credit cards.Findings of the survey were released at a high-level meeting at the NBR yesterday. It was attended by representatives from different agencies concerned including Rajuk, BRTA and banks.NBR Chairman Abdul Mazid later told journalists that they will soon conduct a comprehensive survey and take legal steps against fake TIN users.The NBR informed the meeting that many applicants for Rajuk plots at Uttara Model Town ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008Mufti Fazlul Haque Amini, chairman of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), is dependent on donations from well-wishers for his election expenditure.Among others, two men living in the Middle East are contributing to his expenditure fund.In his wealth statement submitted to the Election Commission (EC), Amini has disclosed that he would be spending a total of Tk 9 lakh in the upcoming polls, the bulk of which, Tk 7 lakh, would be provided by others.He would be spending Tk 2 lakh earned as gifts (hadia) by attending milad mahfils and giving sermons throughout the year. His son-in-laws Jubayer and Jasimuddin have ...
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