A female student of Mass Communication and Journalism department of Dhaka University was killed at city's Mirpur on Saturday night.
The death of Mafruda Haque Sutpar, 26, a master's student of the department, sent in a shock wave to the university campus. Police arrested Sutpar's husband, Imrul Sadat Abir, as victim's elder brother, Aminul Haque, filed a case with Mirpur Model thana against Abir.
Investigating officer Shah Alam, Sub-inspector of the police station, said in initial investigation they found injury marks on two hands, abdomen and back side of Sutpar.
"She was killed," said the IO on the basis of prima facie findings to clear the mystery shrouding the student's death.The victim's elder brother stated in the case: My sister was killed in a planned way. I demand exemplary punishment of her killer.
DU Vice-chancellor Prof. Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique in his reaction, demanded maximum punishment for the killers of his student, "whoever might be involved in the killing".
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Chevron makes major new gas find in Bangladesh
US energy group Chevron has made the biggest gas discovery in at least a decade in energy-starved Bangladesh, almost doubling the size of a field it is drilling there, a government official said Wednesday.
The US firm has told authorities its Bibiyana gas field in Sylhet, northeastern Bangladesh, contains 6.6 trillion cubic feet (186 billion cubic metres) of gas, up from its original size of 3.4 trillion cubic feet, Muktadir Ali, chairman of state-owned Petrobangla said.
"Out of the amount, some 4.4 trillion cubic feet (tcf) is recoverable. It's the biggest new gas finding in at least a decade," said Ali, whose company shares production with Chevron. A Chevron spokesman in Bangladesh said the company had submitted its latest reserve figure to Petrobangla recently but would not comment on exact figures. Bangladesh has been facing an acute shortage of gas since 2008, resulting in production cuts in hundreds of factories.
"The new findings mean we can now scale up gas production within a year and our gas reserve would last a few more years than originally thought," Ali said.
The country has proven recoverable gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal of more than 15 tcf, but some 60 percent of the amount has already been used. Petrobangla had said gas reserves in the South Asian country will start declining from 2012 and dry up by 2014-15 at present consumption rates if there were no new discoveries. The figure was released nearly a month after the country awarded three offshore exploration blocks to companies to search for oil and gas in the disputed waters of the Bay of Bengal.
The government granted two blocks to the US energy giant ConocoPhillips and another to Irish company Tullow despite ownership claims on some of the territories by neighbouring India and Myanmar. Experts have forecast major reserves of gas in the Bangladesh waters of the Bay of Bengal, after huge discoveries were made in the Myanmar and Indian areas of the bay. Bangladesh needs urgently to locate new sources of energy as the government forecasts the nation's current gas reserves will run out by 2014-15 at present consumption rates.
The US firm has told authorities its Bibiyana gas field in Sylhet, northeastern Bangladesh, contains 6.6 trillion cubic feet (186 billion cubic metres) of gas, up from its original size of 3.4 trillion cubic feet, Muktadir Ali, chairman of state-owned Petrobangla said.
"Out of the amount, some 4.4 trillion cubic feet (tcf) is recoverable. It's the biggest new gas finding in at least a decade," said Ali, whose company shares production with Chevron. A Chevron spokesman in Bangladesh said the company had submitted its latest reserve figure to Petrobangla recently but would not comment on exact figures. Bangladesh has been facing an acute shortage of gas since 2008, resulting in production cuts in hundreds of factories.
"The new findings mean we can now scale up gas production within a year and our gas reserve would last a few more years than originally thought," Ali said.
The country has proven recoverable gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal of more than 15 tcf, but some 60 percent of the amount has already been used. Petrobangla had said gas reserves in the South Asian country will start declining from 2012 and dry up by 2014-15 at present consumption rates if there were no new discoveries. The figure was released nearly a month after the country awarded three offshore exploration blocks to companies to search for oil and gas in the disputed waters of the Bay of Bengal.
The government granted two blocks to the US energy giant ConocoPhillips and another to Irish company Tullow despite ownership claims on some of the territories by neighbouring India and Myanmar. Experts have forecast major reserves of gas in the Bangladesh waters of the Bay of Bengal, after huge discoveries were made in the Myanmar and Indian areas of the bay. Bangladesh needs urgently to locate new sources of energy as the government forecasts the nation's current gas reserves will run out by 2014-15 at present consumption rates.
One more killed in shootout.......................................
43 extra-judicial killings in 7 weeks
Another alleged 'ringleader' was killed in 'shootout' with police at Harishankar Uttarlahini in Kushtia district town early Wednesday taking the total of such extra-judicial killings to 43 across the country in seven weeks from 1 August to 23 September. Among them 19 were killed in August and 24 in last 23 days.
According to UNB news agency, a ringleader of a terrorist gang was killed in a gunfight between his cohorts and law enforcers at Harishankar Uttarlahini in Kushtia district town early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Rashidul, 35, leader of 'Hamidul-Rashidul Bahini', hailing from Sheulia village in Kumarkhali upazila.
Rashidul was named accused in 18 cases, including four of murder, police said. Some 66 general diaries (GDs) were also filed against him, they added.
Earlier, the latest extra-judicial killing took place on September 19 when an alleged outlaw was killed in crossfire in Pabna.
Earlier, human rights watchdog Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August and most of them occurring in the southwestern region especially in Kushtia.
The human-rights organizations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside.
RAB recently said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004.
Meanwhile, Home minister Sahara Khatun recently said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies.
"The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region," the minister told reporters at the Secretariat recently.
However, State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku said recently that nothing like crossfire exists. "The incidents of this sort take place when the law- enforcers try for self-defense during operation against the terrorists," he said.
According to UNB news agency, a ringleader of a terrorist gang was killed in a gunfight between his cohorts and law enforcers at Harishankar Uttarlahini in Kushtia district town early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Rashidul, 35, leader of 'Hamidul-Rashidul Bahini', hailing from Sheulia village in Kumarkhali upazila.
Rashidul was named accused in 18 cases, including four of murder, police said. Some 66 general diaries (GDs) were also filed against him, they added.
Earlier, the latest extra-judicial killing took place on September 19 when an alleged outlaw was killed in crossfire in Pabna.
Earlier, human rights watchdog Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August and most of them occurring in the southwestern region especially in Kushtia.
The human-rights organizations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside.
RAB recently said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004.
Meanwhile, Home minister Sahara Khatun recently said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies.
"The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region," the minister told reporters at the Secretariat recently.
However, State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku said recently that nothing like crossfire exists. "The incidents of this sort take place when the law- enforcers try for self-defense during operation against the terrorists," he said.
Rajuk to take action against 198 buildings
DMP lists 344 buildings with no parking space or misusing space...........
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) will take action against 198 buildings located on busy city roads, the authorities of which occupy the roads for car parking while using their own parking spaces for other purposes.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police identified the buildings through a recent survey as part of its plan to curb traffic jam in the capital and sent the list to Rajuk, asking it for immediate measures.
The traffic department of DMP divided the capital into 11 zones for the survey and detected 344 buildings responsible for traffic congestions, which is a regular phenomenon in Dhaka city.
Of these buildings, 198 park vehicles on roads although they have their own parking spaces while the remaining 146 buildings do not have parking facilities in the plans submitted to Rajuk, DMP officials said.
The DMP conducted the survey on some roads in Hatkhola, Tikatuli, Motijheel, Fakirerpul, Gulistan, Islampur, Sadarghat, Siddeshwari, Golapbagh, Kamalapur, Khilgaon, Malibagh, Rampura, Shajadpur, Badda, Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Mirpur, Shewrapara, Elephant Road, New Market, Kalabagan, Satmasjid Road and Uttara areas.
Buildings of Bangladesh Bank, Sonali Bank, Dhaka Bank and Uttara Bank are among the most prominent buildings on the list while most other buildings are markets, shopping malls, garment factories, hospitals, diagnostic centres and educational institutions.
"We have identified buildings that have been using their parking spaces for other purposes and parking vehicles occupying city roads," DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque told The Daily Star.
"We have sent the list of buildings to the Rajuk authorities, asking them for taking measures immediately," he said. "We also assured Rajuk of providing forces for assistance in enforcing its rules."
At a meeting at the communications ministry on August 20, the DMP commissioner made a commitment to take initiatives to free the capital's parking spaces in association with Rajuk.
Talking to The Daily Star, Rajuk's Development Control Director SK Abdul Mannan admitted that they received the list of buildings. He said they have already sent letters to the authorities of these buildings, asking them to open their car parks.
"On humanitarian grounds, we have given them time up to Eid vacation for taking steps in this regard. After then actions will be launched against buildings that fail to abide by," Mannan said, adding, "We are also publishing advertisements in this regard in different dailies."
Replying to a query, he said, "It will not be possible to go for action against all the buildings, mainly the government ones. We will request them to arrange alternative ways."
Sources said there are hundreds of buildings, which are not on the list, that use their car parks for other purposes and park vehicles occupying roads while hundreds of others have no parking grounds.
According to the DMP survey, buildings in Sutrapur Traffic Zone that use parking spaces for other purposes are Salauddin Bhaban and Russell Centre at Hatkhola, Nabarun Bhaban, Shubhechchha Plaza, Mamun Plaza and Delwar Complex on Shaheed Nazrul Islam Road, and Motaleb Mansion, Ittefaq Bhaban and Inqilab Bhaban on RK Mission Road.
Buildings in Sabujbagh Traffic Zone are Bengal Knitex, Mamtaj Memorial, Update Dental College, Hotel Jamini, Maps Diagnostic Centre and Kamalapur High School on Atish Dipankar Road, Nahar Tower, holding-69/5 and Niloy at Khilgaon railway gate, Malibagh Supermarket at Malibagh Chowdhury Para, Chowdhury Fashion, Malibagh Market, Dragon Tower, Green Tower, Owners' Apparels, holding-475 and Ashraf Fashion on DIT Road, Alam Sweets, Agrani Apparels and Mollah Tower in west Rampura, Altaf Tower, Alauddin Tower, Ambia Point and Hotel Jonaki in east Rampura, holding-58 in east Hajipara, Jamuna Bank at Hajipara, Chand Plaza, and Hotel Miraj in Chowdhury Para.
The buildings in Motijheel Traffic Zone are Adamjee Court, Uttara Bank, Sonali Bank, Bangladesh Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, Dhaka Bank, Amin Court, Karim Chamber, Toyota Building, Stock Exchange Building, Ejaz Chamber and City Bank at Motijheel, Pubali Bank, Asia Tower, City Bank, Rupali Bank, State Bank of India and Janata Insurance Company at Dilkusha, Shatabdi Tower at Fakirerpul, Jiban Bima Bhaban on Rajuk Avenue and ML Village at Shantinagar.
Buildings identified in Mirpur Traffic Zone are Almas Tower on Mazar Road, Mukto Bangla Shopping Complex, Rabiul Plaza, Baghdad Shopping Complex, Prince Hotel, Bata Bazar-Prince Fast Food, Mukti Plaza, Muktijoddha Huq Plaza, Islam Plaza, Sweden Plaza and holding-9 in Mirpur Section-1.
In Pallabi Zone, Limo Showroom at Senpara Parbata, Hatil showroom at Shewrapara, Probal Community Centre at Kazipara, FIR Tower at Shewrapara, Meen Tower at Shewrapara, Upama Plaza at Mirpur Section-6, Kari Family Shopping Mall at Mirpur Section-6, Patwary Tower at Mirpur Section-11, Sarat Mansion and Mirpur Diagnostic Centre at Mirpur Section-10.
In Dhanmondi Traffic Zone, Haji Joynal Bhaban, Zahir AC Market, Tuhin Mallik Market, Amena Mansion, Minita Plaza, Monsur Bhaban, Hotel D Amazan, Sunrise Bhaban, Gafur Mansion, Jahanara Bhaban, Bata Bazar, Chistia Super Market and Khairunnesa Mansion on Elephant Road.
Fatema Arcade, Dhanmondi Plaza, Badruddoza Super Market, Hawkers' Market, Noor Jahan Super Market, Kashba Centre, New Market, Gausia Market, Chandni Chawk Market, Rafin Plaza, Chandrima Market and Alta Plaza on Mirpur Road.
Zobaida Super Market, Lakeview Super Market and Brothers' Mansion at Kalabagan.
Baku Shah Market at Nilkhet, Mawla building, SS Steel and Chinese Restaurant at Panthapath.
Xinxian Chinese Restaurant, Asia Pacific Engineering, Star Kabab, Prime Bank, Kakoli High School, Almas Shopping Mall and Utsab Restaurant on Satmasjid Road.
In Ramna Traffic Zone, Pir Yemeni Market and Ramna Bhaban at Gulistan, Mouchak Market and Anarkoli Market at Siddeshwari.
In Kotwali Traffic Zone, Sundarban Square and Amin Super Market at Gulistan, Baitul Mir International at Fulbaria, Jahangir Tower at Islampur, Get One Super Market and Sultana Super Market at Sadarghat.
In Mohakhali Traffic Zone, Purbachal, holding-204/B/1, ACC Auto, G Tower, Holding-190, Meghna Group at Gulshan Link Road in Tejgaon.
Holdings H/72, H/61, H/49 and H/79 at Mohakhali and holdings H/79/D, H/79/E and H/79/G at Chairman Bari.
Holding H/79/H, Haji Sahabuddin Mansion, holdings H/83, H/82, H/81, H/80, H/79, H/78 and H/55 at Banani.
In Gulshan Traffic Zone, Gulshan Shopping Centre at Gulshan-1, Haji Super Market, ML Bhaban, Rahman Bhaban, Columbia Super Market, Square Centre and Siddique Tower (East West University) at Mohakhali.
In Badda Traffic Zone, Jamalpur Tower, Confidence Centre, Alliance Building, Suvastu Tower, Tropical Homes and West Wind Paint at Shajadpur.
Fuji Tower and Hossain Super Market at North Badda, AJ Heights, Hakim Tower, Bank Asia, Bepari Configure Tower, Pran RFL Centre, Shamsher Group Ltd, Kazi Shopping Centre, Hakim Plaza and Bhuter Adda Chinese Restaurant at Badda.
In Uttara Traffic Zone, BNS Centre, Sayeed Grand Centre and Mamtaj Mahal Party Centre in Uttara Sector-7, Hayes and Haier at Sector-9, Camp Fire Restaurant, Black Rose Hotel, holding-04 at Sector-6.
Singapore Plaza, Alauddin Tower, HM Plaza, Bailey Complex, Kushal Centre, London Plaza, AH Tower, AB Super Market and Amir Complex at Sector-3, Popular Diagnostic, Apex Gallery, AK Tower and Sea Cell at Sector-4.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) will take action against 198 buildings located on busy city roads, the authorities of which occupy the roads for car parking while using their own parking spaces for other purposes.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police identified the buildings through a recent survey as part of its plan to curb traffic jam in the capital and sent the list to Rajuk, asking it for immediate measures.
The traffic department of DMP divided the capital into 11 zones for the survey and detected 344 buildings responsible for traffic congestions, which is a regular phenomenon in Dhaka city.
Of these buildings, 198 park vehicles on roads although they have their own parking spaces while the remaining 146 buildings do not have parking facilities in the plans submitted to Rajuk, DMP officials said.
The DMP conducted the survey on some roads in Hatkhola, Tikatuli, Motijheel, Fakirerpul, Gulistan, Islampur, Sadarghat, Siddeshwari, Golapbagh, Kamalapur, Khilgaon, Malibagh, Rampura, Shajadpur, Badda, Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Mirpur, Shewrapara, Elephant Road, New Market, Kalabagan, Satmasjid Road and Uttara areas.
Buildings of Bangladesh Bank, Sonali Bank, Dhaka Bank and Uttara Bank are among the most prominent buildings on the list while most other buildings are markets, shopping malls, garment factories, hospitals, diagnostic centres and educational institutions.
"We have identified buildings that have been using their parking spaces for other purposes and parking vehicles occupying city roads," DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque told The Daily Star.
"We have sent the list of buildings to the Rajuk authorities, asking them for taking measures immediately," he said. "We also assured Rajuk of providing forces for assistance in enforcing its rules."
At a meeting at the communications ministry on August 20, the DMP commissioner made a commitment to take initiatives to free the capital's parking spaces in association with Rajuk.
Talking to The Daily Star, Rajuk's Development Control Director SK Abdul Mannan admitted that they received the list of buildings. He said they have already sent letters to the authorities of these buildings, asking them to open their car parks.
"On humanitarian grounds, we have given them time up to Eid vacation for taking steps in this regard. After then actions will be launched against buildings that fail to abide by," Mannan said, adding, "We are also publishing advertisements in this regard in different dailies."
Replying to a query, he said, "It will not be possible to go for action against all the buildings, mainly the government ones. We will request them to arrange alternative ways."
Sources said there are hundreds of buildings, which are not on the list, that use their car parks for other purposes and park vehicles occupying roads while hundreds of others have no parking grounds.
According to the DMP survey, buildings in Sutrapur Traffic Zone that use parking spaces for other purposes are Salauddin Bhaban and Russell Centre at Hatkhola, Nabarun Bhaban, Shubhechchha Plaza, Mamun Plaza and Delwar Complex on Shaheed Nazrul Islam Road, and Motaleb Mansion, Ittefaq Bhaban and Inqilab Bhaban on RK Mission Road.
Buildings in Sabujbagh Traffic Zone are Bengal Knitex, Mamtaj Memorial, Update Dental College, Hotel Jamini, Maps Diagnostic Centre and Kamalapur High School on Atish Dipankar Road, Nahar Tower, holding-69/5 and Niloy at Khilgaon railway gate, Malibagh Supermarket at Malibagh Chowdhury Para, Chowdhury Fashion, Malibagh Market, Dragon Tower, Green Tower, Owners' Apparels, holding-475 and Ashraf Fashion on DIT Road, Alam Sweets, Agrani Apparels and Mollah Tower in west Rampura, Altaf Tower, Alauddin Tower, Ambia Point and Hotel Jonaki in east Rampura, holding-58 in east Hajipara, Jamuna Bank at Hajipara, Chand Plaza, and Hotel Miraj in Chowdhury Para.
The buildings in Motijheel Traffic Zone are Adamjee Court, Uttara Bank, Sonali Bank, Bangladesh Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, Dhaka Bank, Amin Court, Karim Chamber, Toyota Building, Stock Exchange Building, Ejaz Chamber and City Bank at Motijheel, Pubali Bank, Asia Tower, City Bank, Rupali Bank, State Bank of India and Janata Insurance Company at Dilkusha, Shatabdi Tower at Fakirerpul, Jiban Bima Bhaban on Rajuk Avenue and ML Village at Shantinagar.
Buildings identified in Mirpur Traffic Zone are Almas Tower on Mazar Road, Mukto Bangla Shopping Complex, Rabiul Plaza, Baghdad Shopping Complex, Prince Hotel, Bata Bazar-Prince Fast Food, Mukti Plaza, Muktijoddha Huq Plaza, Islam Plaza, Sweden Plaza and holding-9 in Mirpur Section-1.
In Pallabi Zone, Limo Showroom at Senpara Parbata, Hatil showroom at Shewrapara, Probal Community Centre at Kazipara, FIR Tower at Shewrapara, Meen Tower at Shewrapara, Upama Plaza at Mirpur Section-6, Kari Family Shopping Mall at Mirpur Section-6, Patwary Tower at Mirpur Section-11, Sarat Mansion and Mirpur Diagnostic Centre at Mirpur Section-10.
In Dhanmondi Traffic Zone, Haji Joynal Bhaban, Zahir AC Market, Tuhin Mallik Market, Amena Mansion, Minita Plaza, Monsur Bhaban, Hotel D Amazan, Sunrise Bhaban, Gafur Mansion, Jahanara Bhaban, Bata Bazar, Chistia Super Market and Khairunnesa Mansion on Elephant Road.
Fatema Arcade, Dhanmondi Plaza, Badruddoza Super Market, Hawkers' Market, Noor Jahan Super Market, Kashba Centre, New Market, Gausia Market, Chandni Chawk Market, Rafin Plaza, Chandrima Market and Alta Plaza on Mirpur Road.
Zobaida Super Market, Lakeview Super Market and Brothers' Mansion at Kalabagan.
Baku Shah Market at Nilkhet, Mawla building, SS Steel and Chinese Restaurant at Panthapath.
Xinxian Chinese Restaurant, Asia Pacific Engineering, Star Kabab, Prime Bank, Kakoli High School, Almas Shopping Mall and Utsab Restaurant on Satmasjid Road.
In Ramna Traffic Zone, Pir Yemeni Market and Ramna Bhaban at Gulistan, Mouchak Market and Anarkoli Market at Siddeshwari.
In Kotwali Traffic Zone, Sundarban Square and Amin Super Market at Gulistan, Baitul Mir International at Fulbaria, Jahangir Tower at Islampur, Get One Super Market and Sultana Super Market at Sadarghat.
In Mohakhali Traffic Zone, Purbachal, holding-204/B/1, ACC Auto, G Tower, Holding-190, Meghna Group at Gulshan Link Road in Tejgaon.
Holdings H/72, H/61, H/49 and H/79 at Mohakhali and holdings H/79/D, H/79/E and H/79/G at Chairman Bari.
Holding H/79/H, Haji Sahabuddin Mansion, holdings H/83, H/82, H/81, H/80, H/79, H/78 and H/55 at Banani.
In Gulshan Traffic Zone, Gulshan Shopping Centre at Gulshan-1, Haji Super Market, ML Bhaban, Rahman Bhaban, Columbia Super Market, Square Centre and Siddique Tower (East West University) at Mohakhali.
In Badda Traffic Zone, Jamalpur Tower, Confidence Centre, Alliance Building, Suvastu Tower, Tropical Homes and West Wind Paint at Shajadpur.
Fuji Tower and Hossain Super Market at North Badda, AJ Heights, Hakim Tower, Bank Asia, Bepari Configure Tower, Pran RFL Centre, Shamsher Group Ltd, Kazi Shopping Centre, Hakim Plaza and Bhuter Adda Chinese Restaurant at Badda.
In Uttara Traffic Zone, BNS Centre, Sayeed Grand Centre and Mamtaj Mahal Party Centre in Uttara Sector-7, Hayes and Haier at Sector-9, Camp Fire Restaurant, Black Rose Hotel, holding-04 at Sector-6.
Singapore Plaza, Alauddin Tower, HM Plaza, Bailey Complex, Kushal Centre, London Plaza, AH Tower, AB Super Market and Amir Complex at Sector-3, Popular Diagnostic, Apex Gallery, AK Tower and Sea Cell at Sector-4.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Conoco, Tullow asked to initial PSCs for 3 offshore blocks
Petrobangla on Thursday invited US company ConocoPhillips and the Irish company Tullow Oil to initial the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) for the three offshore blocks as early as possible.
The state-run corporation, in separate letters to the companies, informed Conoco that the government had decided to award it deep sea Blocks 10 and 11 and told Tullow that it would be awarded shallow sea Block 5.
‘We have sent letters to the companies today, inviting them to initial the Production Sharing Contracts as early as possible. We are hoping that the agreements will be initialled after the Eid vacations,’ Petrobangla’s chairman, Muqtadir Ali, told New Age on Thursday.
This is the first time that the government has officially contacted the companies to ask them to sign the PSCs, in spite of criticism and protest, after they participated in the tender for the blocks in February-May 2008.
Conoco, which submitted tender for eight blocks, and Tullow will be given eight to nine years to complete exploration of the blocks to find deposits of hydrocarbon.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month approved Petrobangla’s proposal to award the blocks to the companies after the Cabinet committee on economic affairs, headed by finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, approved the awarding of the blocks on August 24.
Energy officials said that after the representatives of the government, Petrobangla and the two companies initialled the PSCs, the agreements would be sent to the law ministry for being vetted.
‘After the law ministry has vetted the PSCs, they will be signed by all the three parties,’ said an official.
Various rights groups, energy experts and left-leaning political parities have been protesting against the government’s decision to award the blocks on the plea that the PSCs would allow export of up to 80 per cent of the gas extracted by the two companies.
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, which is spearheading the protests, enforced a half-day hartal in the city to underline the demand for scrapping the government’s decision to include the provision for export of gas in the PSCs.
The committee also said that it would go for a tougher movement after October 16 if the government did not withdraw its decision by that time.
The parliamentary standing committee on the power and energy ministry on Wednesday claimed that the protesters were ‘misleading’ the people and that the PSCs would not allow gas export.
The committee said that the PSC would be discussed in the parliament as demanded by some lawmakers, and the parliamentary committee would hear the leaders of oil and gas committee.
The state-run corporation, in separate letters to the companies, informed Conoco that the government had decided to award it deep sea Blocks 10 and 11 and told Tullow that it would be awarded shallow sea Block 5.
‘We have sent letters to the companies today, inviting them to initial the Production Sharing Contracts as early as possible. We are hoping that the agreements will be initialled after the Eid vacations,’ Petrobangla’s chairman, Muqtadir Ali, told New Age on Thursday.
This is the first time that the government has officially contacted the companies to ask them to sign the PSCs, in spite of criticism and protest, after they participated in the tender for the blocks in February-May 2008.
Conoco, which submitted tender for eight blocks, and Tullow will be given eight to nine years to complete exploration of the blocks to find deposits of hydrocarbon.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month approved Petrobangla’s proposal to award the blocks to the companies after the Cabinet committee on economic affairs, headed by finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, approved the awarding of the blocks on August 24.
Energy officials said that after the representatives of the government, Petrobangla and the two companies initialled the PSCs, the agreements would be sent to the law ministry for being vetted.
‘After the law ministry has vetted the PSCs, they will be signed by all the three parties,’ said an official.
Various rights groups, energy experts and left-leaning political parities have been protesting against the government’s decision to award the blocks on the plea that the PSCs would allow export of up to 80 per cent of the gas extracted by the two companies.
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, which is spearheading the protests, enforced a half-day hartal in the city to underline the demand for scrapping the government’s decision to include the provision for export of gas in the PSCs.
The committee also said that it would go for a tougher movement after October 16 if the government did not withdraw its decision by that time.
The parliamentary standing committee on the power and energy ministry on Wednesday claimed that the protesters were ‘misleading’ the people and that the PSCs would not allow gas export.
The committee said that the PSC would be discussed in the parliament as demanded by some lawmakers, and the parliamentary committee would hear the leaders of oil and gas committee.
World food aid at 20-year low, 1b hungry
Food aid is at a 20-year low despite the number of critically hungry people soaring this year to its highest level ever, the United Nations relief agency said Wednesday.
The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time, the UN World Food Programme said, adding that it is facing a serious budget shortfall.
To date the WFP has confirmed $2.6 billion in funding for its 2009 budget of $6.7 billion.
‘This comes at a time of great vulnerability for the hungry,’ the WFP said in a statement.
‘Millions have been buffeted by the global financial downturn, their ability to buy food is limited by stubbornly high prices,’ the WFP said.
The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time, the UN World Food Programme said, adding that it is facing a serious budget shortfall.
To date the WFP has confirmed $2.6 billion in funding for its 2009 budget of $6.7 billion.
‘This comes at a time of great vulnerability for the hungry,’ the WFP said in a statement.
‘Millions have been buffeted by the global financial downturn, their ability to buy food is limited by stubbornly high prices,’ the WFP said.
BARAPUKURIA COALMINE Affected villagers besiege mining office for compensation
Hundreds of residents of the ten villages affected by land subsidence caused by coal-mining in Barapukuria on Thursday besieged the office of the mining company for about three hours, demanding due compensation.
They gathered in front of the office of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd at around 11:00am, demanding full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding that the villagers and the mining authorities had signed in May for payment of compensation for subsidence of their land.
Scuffling and chase and counter-chase took place between the protesters and the police at one point after the latter were deployed in the area. Angry people pelted the office building with brickbats and shattered the window panes.
The people alleged that although the authorities signed the MoU three months back, they were yet to get full compensation for subsidence of their land. The authorities have distributed around Tk 2 crore so far among the residents for the damage caused to their belongings like houses, schools and other establishments.
People complained that the authorities have also not informed them of what steps were being taken to compensate them.
However, the villagers stopped their protest programme after officials of the BCMCL assured them that their demands would be met soon, but in phases.
The managing director of the BCMCL, Md Quamruzzaman, told New Age that they had already given around Tk 2 crore to around 2,500 affected families of ten villages.
‘This amount was given as a lump sum on an emergency basis for compensating them for the damage caused to their establishments before we compensate them for subsidence of their lands. Each of the families got Tk 5,000-6,000 for each of the rooms in their homes. More will be given to them later,’ he said.
Quamruzzaman claimed that a few people with vested interest were instigating the general people to realise a huge amount of money from the government.
He said that the recent problem arose after they had fixed compensation for six Chatals (concrete yards for drying rice) at Tk 81,000, but the owners were demanding Tk 27 lakh. ‘These people are instigating the general people for realising the money,’ he claimed.
He said that Petrobangla had already taken up a Tk 300 crore project for compensating the villagers for loss of land and also acquiring land from them. ‘Once this project is approved by the government, the affected people will get the full compensation,’ he said.
The local people, however, said that they had participated in the demonstration as they had no knowledge of any project of the government for compensating them.
They gathered in front of the office of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd at around 11:00am, demanding full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding that the villagers and the mining authorities had signed in May for payment of compensation for subsidence of their land.
Scuffling and chase and counter-chase took place between the protesters and the police at one point after the latter were deployed in the area. Angry people pelted the office building with brickbats and shattered the window panes.
The people alleged that although the authorities signed the MoU three months back, they were yet to get full compensation for subsidence of their land. The authorities have distributed around Tk 2 crore so far among the residents for the damage caused to their belongings like houses, schools and other establishments.
People complained that the authorities have also not informed them of what steps were being taken to compensate them.
However, the villagers stopped their protest programme after officials of the BCMCL assured them that their demands would be met soon, but in phases.
The managing director of the BCMCL, Md Quamruzzaman, told New Age that they had already given around Tk 2 crore to around 2,500 affected families of ten villages.
‘This amount was given as a lump sum on an emergency basis for compensating them for the damage caused to their establishments before we compensate them for subsidence of their lands. Each of the families got Tk 5,000-6,000 for each of the rooms in their homes. More will be given to them later,’ he said.
Quamruzzaman claimed that a few people with vested interest were instigating the general people to realise a huge amount of money from the government.
He said that the recent problem arose after they had fixed compensation for six Chatals (concrete yards for drying rice) at Tk 81,000, but the owners were demanding Tk 27 lakh. ‘These people are instigating the general people for realising the money,’ he claimed.
He said that Petrobangla had already taken up a Tk 300 crore project for compensating the villagers for loss of land and also acquiring land from them. ‘Once this project is approved by the government, the affected people will get the full compensation,’ he said.
The local people, however, said that they had participated in the demonstration as they had no knowledge of any project of the government for compensating them.
Bibiyana has more gas than estimated, claims Chevron
American company Chevron has submitted to the Petrobangla a new estimate of gas reserve in the Bibiyana field, putting the ‘proven recoverable reserve’ at 4.4 trillion cubic feet, up by a staggering amount of 2.7 TCF, said Petrobangla officials.
Energy officials at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday presented the new estimate of gas reserve in the country’s second largest gas-field.
As per the new estimate, the ‘gas in place or proven gas reserve’ of the field has been put at 6.6 trillion cubic feet, of which 4.4 TCF is recoverable, said Petrobangla officials. The earlier estimate had showed that the proven gas reserve was around 2.51 TCF, and Petrobangla had estimated that around 60-70 per cent of the reserve was recoverable.
‘The PM told the meeting that it was good news for the country that the Bibiyana gas reserve was much higher than the earlier estimate. She was hopeful that more gas would be found,’ said a source who was present at the meeting.
Petrobangla officials said that Chevron submitted its new estimate, made by another US consultant, Degolyer and MacNaughton, on September 13.
‘We have now formed a committee to scrutinise the company’s new estimate. If the findings are right, production at the Bibiyana gas-field could be increased to around 1,000 million cubic feet per day in the next two years from the present production of 670mmcfd,’ Petrobangla’s chairman Muqtadir Ali told New Age on Thursday.
He said that the new estimate puts the total ‘proven plus provable reserve’ at more than 7 TCF and the ‘proven plus probable plus possible’ reserve at more than 8 TCF.
He claimed that the new estimate would remove the confusion surrounding the gas reserve and daily production rate at the Bibiyana field.
Energy experts and a seven-member expert committee of Petrobangla had earlier criticised Petrobangla for allowing Chevron to extract more than 450mmcfd of gas as the second estimate of gas reserve by another US company, Ryder and Scott, had put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF.
After the initial estimate of Degolyer and MacNaughton put the proven reserve at 1.2 TCF in 2000, Chervon and Petrobangla agreed to appoint Ryder and Scott for again estimating the reserve.
After Ryder and Scott put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF in 2008, Chevron insisted on a further study of the reserve and Petrobangla earlier this year allowed Chevron to appoint D&M.
‘When the two initial estimates were made, there was no data on gas pressure in the wellhead. After three years of production, D&M got all the data and found the “gas in place” or “proven reserve” of the field at 6.6 TCF, of which 4.4 TCF was recoverable,’ said Muqtadir.
One of the members of expert committee that scrutinised the report of the second estimate of the Ryder and Scott, however, was sceptical about the estimate.
‘The data we went through showed there was undeveloped proven reserve. I do not know whether they counted the undeveloped proven reserve to show a larger gas reserve. I will have to go through the detailed report of the D&M before making any comment,’ he said.
Muqtadir, however, said that all the data on gas pressure in the Bibiyana gas-field showed that the reserve would be higher than what Ryder and Scott had estimated.
The Titas gas-field of the Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd is the largest gas-field in the country with a proven reserve of 9 TCF.
Energy officials at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday presented the new estimate of gas reserve in the country’s second largest gas-field.
As per the new estimate, the ‘gas in place or proven gas reserve’ of the field has been put at 6.6 trillion cubic feet, of which 4.4 TCF is recoverable, said Petrobangla officials. The earlier estimate had showed that the proven gas reserve was around 2.51 TCF, and Petrobangla had estimated that around 60-70 per cent of the reserve was recoverable.
‘The PM told the meeting that it was good news for the country that the Bibiyana gas reserve was much higher than the earlier estimate. She was hopeful that more gas would be found,’ said a source who was present at the meeting.
Petrobangla officials said that Chevron submitted its new estimate, made by another US consultant, Degolyer and MacNaughton, on September 13.
‘We have now formed a committee to scrutinise the company’s new estimate. If the findings are right, production at the Bibiyana gas-field could be increased to around 1,000 million cubic feet per day in the next two years from the present production of 670mmcfd,’ Petrobangla’s chairman Muqtadir Ali told New Age on Thursday.
He said that the new estimate puts the total ‘proven plus provable reserve’ at more than 7 TCF and the ‘proven plus probable plus possible’ reserve at more than 8 TCF.
He claimed that the new estimate would remove the confusion surrounding the gas reserve and daily production rate at the Bibiyana field.
Energy experts and a seven-member expert committee of Petrobangla had earlier criticised Petrobangla for allowing Chevron to extract more than 450mmcfd of gas as the second estimate of gas reserve by another US company, Ryder and Scott, had put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF.
After the initial estimate of Degolyer and MacNaughton put the proven reserve at 1.2 TCF in 2000, Chervon and Petrobangla agreed to appoint Ryder and Scott for again estimating the reserve.
After Ryder and Scott put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF in 2008, Chevron insisted on a further study of the reserve and Petrobangla earlier this year allowed Chevron to appoint D&M.
‘When the two initial estimates were made, there was no data on gas pressure in the wellhead. After three years of production, D&M got all the data and found the “gas in place” or “proven reserve” of the field at 6.6 TCF, of which 4.4 TCF was recoverable,’ said Muqtadir.
One of the members of expert committee that scrutinised the report of the second estimate of the Ryder and Scott, however, was sceptical about the estimate.
‘The data we went through showed there was undeveloped proven reserve. I do not know whether they counted the undeveloped proven reserve to show a larger gas reserve. I will have to go through the detailed report of the D&M before making any comment,’ he said.
Muqtadir, however, said that all the data on gas pressure in the Bibiyana gas-field showed that the reserve would be higher than what Ryder and Scott had estimated.
The Titas gas-field of the Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd is the largest gas-field in the country with a proven reserve of 9 TCF.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
MARITIME BOUNDARIES
Bangladesh will take time, at least several months, to raise its objection at the United Nations to New Delhi’s claim over certain areas in the Bay of Bengal which has led to a dispute over demarcating maritime boundaries between the two neighbours.(The Newage)Foreign ministry officials told New Age that India has already submitted its claim on maritime delimitation to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, a UN body to deal with the law of the seas, in May 2009, one month ahead of its deadline.‘The commission is scheduled to ask Indian authorities for the hearing over its submission by March, 2010 and we are preparing to submit our response on Indian claims immediately before the hearing,’ said an official dealing with the process of Bangladesh’s claims over maritime boundary.Officials in Dhaka said that they were working out the country’s response to the Indian claims in the Bay of Bengal, but preferred to take time to strengthen its claims incorporating various arguments.With regards to delimitation of maritime boundary, the two South Asian neighbours have contentions over two areas—that of natural prolongation of the continental shelf and the baseline.India has argued that the course of the natural prolongation of continental shelf is from east to west which is rejected by Bangladesh saying it is from north to south.For delimitation of maritime boundary both Bangladesh and India have some overlapping claims on baselines.Bangladesh is preparing its case for extraction of marine resources, especially gas exploration, in the Bay of Bengal, but has not been able to invite tenders for block biddings as its maritime boundary has not been demarcated as yet.According to the United Nations Convention on Law of the Seas, Bangladesh must demarcate its sea boundaries by July 27, 2011, India by June 29, 2009 and Myanmar by May 21, 2009.‘We are taking preparations to put forward our objection at the UN by June to Myanmar’s claim and by November to India’s claim in the Bay of Bengal,’ an official involved with the issue told New Age.Myanmar has already submitted its claim on maritime delimitation to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, and Bangladesh put its response at the UN to Myanmar’s claim in July, 2009.As per the UN provision, claims submitted by any country would not be taken for final consideration before settling the objection raised by a neighbouring country which might have overlapping claims.Bangladesh resumed negotiations with India and Myanmar last year, during the regime of the military-controlled interim government, after a lapse of almost three decades.Dhaka opted to go for negotiations as India and Myanmar recently opposed Bangladesh’s offshore block biddings for exploration of oil and gas even within its own territorial waters as Dhaka did not have an internationally accepted exclusive economic zone.Bangladesh has problems with India and Myanmar on the issue of ‘starting point’ on how to mark the coastlines from the exclusive economic zone that has apparently overlapped claims of the three neighbouring countries due to the funnel-like shape of the Bay of Bengal.A country is supposed to enjoy its rights to fish and extract and explore other marine resources in its exclusive economic zone, an area of 200 nautical miles into an adjacent sea, according to international maritime law.
Ultimatum served on Govt to cancel gas lease out decision
The half-day hartal enforced by National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports in the city from 6 AM on Monday passed off peacefully without any major trouble. During the hartal hours traffic movement in the streets was thin, and attendance in schools, colleges, business centres and offices was relatively poor.However, life and business returned to normal after the hartal hours were over.Meanwhile, at the end of the hartal programme the oil, gas, committee served an ultimatum on the government to cancel by October 15, the decision to lease out three off-shore gas blocks to foreign companies with a provision for gas export.bdnews24.com adds: A half-day hartal in capital Dhaka, the first in nearly three years, ended at midday on Monday, having been loosely enforced by a citizen's pressure group. The National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Port and Power ended the general strike with an ultimatum to the government. The committee called the hartal protesting the government's recently announced gas exploration deals with international companies. Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convener of the citizen's pressure group said, "the government is hereby given up to October 15 to meet our five-point charter of demands, or the committee will call for a national conference on Oct 16," said Shahidullah. The national conference will decide further rigid programmes such as rallies, hartals, he said. The five-point charter of demands includes the cancellation of the model oil-gas distribution agreements, cancellation of leases given to two foreign firms for three offshore blocks, formulation of new model production-sharing contract ensuring 100 percent public ownership, full implementation of Phulbari Agreement 2006 and punishment to the attackers of member secretary Anu Muhammad and others. The hartal was enforced most strictly in the area between Paltan and Shahbagh with strong picketing. Student activists of left-leaning political organisations vandalised two buses in the morning at Shahbagh intersection. Police kept all approaches barricaded to the Paltan and Shahbagh intersections and only rickshaws plied. Vehicles were thin on the Airport Road during the hartal hours. Most educational institutions remained closed due to the strike, and office goers made arrangements other than cars to get to work, emptying the streets of traffic.
'Waterways to decrease significantly for Tipaimukh dam'
Speakers at a discussion yesterday said the country's waterways would decrease significantly if the proposed Tipaimukh dam is constructed, as its consequences would result in loss of navigability of rivers.
They called on the government to settle the problems with India through talks regarding water sharing in all the joint rivers on which India has built large or small dams.
They said this at the discussion on the probable impacts of Tipaimukh Dam in the country's rivers and waterways organised by MN Creations at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
Owners of launches, oil tankers and river experts participated in the discussion.
Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carriers) Md Badiuzzaman Badal said Tipaimukh dam would result in significant loss of our waterways, adding that the government needs to sit with its Indian counterparts to solve the water-sharing problems with the neighbouring country.
“Not only the Tipaimukh dam is posing a threat to our rivers, but also many other small dams have been built over different common rivers,” he said.
“Rivers have been the lifelines of our economy for decades, but our governments have hardly paid any attention to the development of waterways,” Badal added.
Dr Ataur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) in his presentation said the result would not be good if the proposed Tipaimukh Dam be built.
He said the navigability of rivers might decrease and, as a result, the salinity in the rivers increase and there would be a threat to the ecosystem in haors (water bodies) of Sylhet region.
The speakers said the countrymen should be given the exact information about the probable impacts of Tipaimukh dam and both India and Bangladesh should conduct a joint study on the environmental impacts.
Golam Kibria Tipu, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry, and Dr Shahriar Iqbal, associate professor of Buet, were also present.
They called on the government to settle the problems with India through talks regarding water sharing in all the joint rivers on which India has built large or small dams.
They said this at the discussion on the probable impacts of Tipaimukh Dam in the country's rivers and waterways organised by MN Creations at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
Owners of launches, oil tankers and river experts participated in the discussion.
Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carriers) Md Badiuzzaman Badal said Tipaimukh dam would result in significant loss of our waterways, adding that the government needs to sit with its Indian counterparts to solve the water-sharing problems with the neighbouring country.
“Not only the Tipaimukh dam is posing a threat to our rivers, but also many other small dams have been built over different common rivers,” he said.
“Rivers have been the lifelines of our economy for decades, but our governments have hardly paid any attention to the development of waterways,” Badal added.
Dr Ataur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) in his presentation said the result would not be good if the proposed Tipaimukh Dam be built.
He said the navigability of rivers might decrease and, as a result, the salinity in the rivers increase and there would be a threat to the ecosystem in haors (water bodies) of Sylhet region.
The speakers said the countrymen should be given the exact information about the probable impacts of Tipaimukh dam and both India and Bangladesh should conduct a joint study on the environmental impacts.
Golam Kibria Tipu, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry, and Dr Shahriar Iqbal, associate professor of Buet, were also present.
2 Bangladeshis gunned down by BSF along Dinajpur border
Dinajpur, Sep 14 (UNB) - Indian Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down two Bangladeshi nationals along Tajpur frontier in Chirirbandar upazila on Monday morning.The deceased were identified as Ruhul Amin, 30, and Mohsin, 18.According to BDR sources, the BSF members opened fire on the two at around 6 am while they were working in their field, leaving them dead on the spot.They said the BSF troops then intruded into Bangladesh territory and dragged away the bodies to their camp.Earlier on Saturday, BSF members shot two other Bangladeshis to death along Sundara border in the district.
39 extra-judicial killings in 6 weeks
One more person was killed in crossfire in Barisal on Tuesday taking the total of extra-judicial killings across the country during the last six weeks from 1 August to 15 September to 39. According to UNB, A regional leader of the outlawed 'Sarbahara Party' was killed in a gunfight between his accomplices and law-enforcers in Shwashanghat area undern Batajore Union of Gournadi upazila early Tuesday.(TBT Report)The deceased was identified as Babul Sardar, 35, regional leader of Zia Group of Sarbahara party and a resident of Batajore area.Police said a patrol team of Rapid Action Battalion and police was deployed on Monday in the area where crimes were reported rampant in recent days. But, some members of the Zia Group fired gun shots on the patrol team at about 3:30am, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight. "Babul was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while his accomplices fled the scene," said a spot account of the incident.Earlier, on Monday two more alleged terrorists were killed in crossfire in separate incidents in Dhaka and Kushtia. With them at least 38 people were killed in shootout with RAB and Police from August 1 to September 14. According to Human rights watchdog Odhikar 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August and most of them occurring in the southwestern region. The human-rights organizations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside. RAB recently said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until August 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004.
Trial of mutiny to be held under BDR Act, killing and looting under Speedy Trial Tribunal
The rebel border guards will be tried under the BDR Act for mutiny while the trial of the felonies like killings, looting, arson and so during the February 25-26 carnage will be conducted under the penal code by speedy trial tribunals.(UNB, Dhaka)After the Supreme Court disapproved of trial of the mutineers in the paramilitary force under the Army Act, the government on Tuesday took the decision on the trial mode in the light of the apex court's opinion on presidential reference on the legal puzzles. Briefing reporters after an hour-long inter-ministerial meeting at the Law Ministry, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said those who were involved in the mutiny and those indulged in killing, looting and other offences would be identified through investigation.The maximum punishment provided in the BDR act is seven years' imprisonment. He said the investigation has almost been completed and the charge sheet will be finalized towards the end of October while the trial process is expected to start at the beginning of November this year.The accused in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny case can appoint their lawyers in order to make the trial process transparent, he told the journalists."The dilemma over the trial of BDR mutiny has come to an end," said the Law Minister.However, notwithstanding the SC opinion, today's inter-ministerial meeting agreed in principle on a proposal for holding trial of such mutiny under the Army Act by issuing notification.Referring to the presidential reference to the Supreme Court, the Law Minister said the 11-member full bench of the Appellate Division headed by the Chief Justice opined that the mutineers cannot be tried under the army act. But the judges gave some observations.In the light of the observations of the Appellate Division, Barrister Shafique said, the BDR men involved in killing, looting and other related offences can be tried under the penal code.The inter-ministerial meeting was presided over by Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed. It was attended by Home Minister Sahara Khatun, State Minister for Law Adv Qamrul Islam, State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Islam Tuku, BDR chief Maj Gen Mainul Islam, the Law Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Attorney General, additional Attorney General and the Army Judge Advocate General.According to available information, a total of 74 people, including 57 army officers who were in the commanding positions in the border force, one army sepoy, two family members of army officers, eight BDR jawans and seven civilians were killed during the February 25-26 massacre inside the Pilkhana BDR headquarters. A total of 41 cases were filed in connection with the BDR mutiny at its Pilkhana headquarters. Of them, one case was filed in Dhaka while the rest in other places, prosecution sources said.Sources said that law-enforces have arrested a total of 1,974 border guards and 31 civilians in connection with the Pilkhana massacre. The main case on the carnage was filed with Lalbagh police station in Dhaka.hartal by a citizens
A half-day hartal by a citizens’ pressure group was observed partially in the capital on Monday in protest against the government’s decision to lease out three gas blocks to international oil giants.Local units of the group also staged demonstrations in different districts as a part of the programme.The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port, backed by a section of left-leaning political parties, enforced the 6:00am-12:00 noon hartal – the first since the Awami League-led alliance government assumed office in January. The committee gave the government a fresh one-month ultimatum to fulfil its five-point charter of demands, including punishment of the persons responsible for the police attack on its activists on September 2.The government on August 24 approved oil and gas exploration deals with US ConocoPhillips and Ireland’s Tullow Oil Ltd in three offshore blocks.The police beat up protesters, including the committee’s member-secretary professor Anu Muhammad, on September 2 when they were marching towards the headquarters of the state-owned Petrobangla.Pro-hartal pickets started assembling at Purana Paltan, Shahbagh, Mirpur section 10, Asad Gate, Science Laboratory crossing, Plassey crossing, Malibagh, Shanir Akhra, Jatrabari, Bahadur Shah Park and Sadarghat from early in the morning. They held rallies and brought out processions asking the city dwellers to observe the hartal.Police set up barricades at all approaches to Purana Paltan and Shahbagh intersections and the Dhaka University area and diverted traffic elsewhere.Attendance at government and private offices, including the secretariat, was thin in the morning and the number of visitors to the administrative headquarters was remarkably low.Most of the educational institutions remained closed. Banks operated covertly keeping only their back doors open and the city malls started business late.Tarffic was thin during the hartal hours as s few public and private buses plied the city roads while the number of cars was very low. Rickshaws plied the roads without major disruptions.Inter-district buses delayed their journey from Gabtoli, Mahakhali and Sayedabad terminals due to shortage of passengers. Trains, however, left the city on time.Protesters picketed Purana Paltan area till noon. Mujahidul Islam Selim, MM Akash, Morshed Ali and Ruhin Hossain Prince of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Khalequzzaman, Bazlur Rashid Firoj and Razequzzaman Ratan of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Tipu Biswas of Jatiya Gana Front, Abdus Salam of Ganatantrik Majdur Party, Saiful Huq of Revolutionary Workers Party, Mushrefa Mishu of Democratic Revolutionary Party, Haider Akbar Khan Rano and Azizur Rahman of Workers Party (reconstituted), and Zonayed Saki of Ganasanghati Andolan led processions of respective organisations in the Paltan area.The national committee convener Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah led a separate procession.Cultural organisation Udichi Shilpi Gosthi entertained crowds at the intersection in the midst of rallies and processions.Pickets damaged two buses in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and beside the National Museum at around 7:00am prompting police to divert traffic from Sheraton, Matsya Bhaban and Kantaban crossings.Progressive Student Alliance held a rally in front of Aparajeya Bangla at Dhaka University expressing solidarity with the movement of the national committee.The protesters also burned copies of Bengali dailies Prothom Alo and Amader Samay at different places denouncing what they called their editorial stance against the movement to protect national resources.Deputy commissioner of Ramna zone, Atiqul Islam termed peaceful the situation during the hartal hours. ‘Law and order was totally under control… No violent incidents took place in the capital,’ he said.After the end of the hartal, the national committee held a rally at Muktangan and asked the government to fulfil its five-point charter of demands by October 15.‘We give the government until October 15 to meet our five-point charter of demands, or on October 16, the committee will call a national conference to decide tougher action programmes, including hartals and siege,’ Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah told the rally.The five-point charter of demands includes cancellation of the model oil-gas distribution contract 2008, cancellation of the proposed lease of three offshore blocks to foreign firms, formulation of a new model production-sharing contract ensuring 100 percent public ownership, full implementation of the Phulbari agreement 2006 and punishment of those responsible for the attack on Anu Muhammad and others on September 2.The committee will continue its campaign till October 15 to garner support for the demands.The national committee also staged demonstrations in divisional and district headquarters, including Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal, Sylhet and Rangpur.Some 50 people under the banner of the national committee brought out a procession and staged protest in front of the DC office in Barisal.In Khulna, the national committee brought out a procession from Shaheed Hadis park and paraded the city roads.The Rangpur district unit of the national committee held a rally and brought out a procession from the local press club vowing to continue the movement until demands were fulfilled.
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