Call for justice getting louder

Cox's Bazar Jubo League discusses Akram killing with home boss; Teknaf AL to hold emergency meet today; 4 more killed as drug purge on.

Two top leaders of Cox's Bazar Jubo League met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan last night and informed him that they knew Akramul Haque for 12-13 years but never found anything that proved his involvement in drug trade.

“Akram was not that solvent. He also never appeared to be a drug dealer,” Sohel Ahmed Bahadur, president of the unit, told The Daily Star after the meeting.

Bahadur and the unit's General Secretary Shahidul Haque held a meeting with the minister at the latter's Dhanmondi residence for about 20 minutes from 9:00pm.

Bahadur said they requested the home boss to launch a fair investigation into the killing of Akramul, a former leader of Jubo League, the youth wing of ruling Awami League.

EXEMPLARY PUNISHMENT DEMANDED

They also demanded exemplary punishment to anyone, if found guilty in the probe.

In response, Asaduzzaman said an investigation into the incident had already begun and action would be taken as per the probe report, Bahadur said.

The Jubo League leaders also requested the minister to take action against those who published false and fabricated news against Akram portraying him as a drug dealer and an owner of vast properties.

A news report mentioned that Akramul had a number of cars and houses, Bahadur said. “But we met Akramul's family members and we did not find anything like that.”

The two leaders also sought assistance from the state for the family of Akramul.

On Thursday, Akramul's wife Ayesha Begum alleged during a press conference at Cox's Bazar Press Club that her husband was murdered in cold blood. She gave journalists four audio clips in support of her claim.

Rab, however, claimed he was killed in “gunfight” between the force and drug traders on May 27.

Amid huge outcry on social media over Akramul's death, the government decided to investigate the incident. The home minister on Monday talked to Ayesha but it could not be confirmed what he said to her.

Officials from the Prime Ministers' Office also communicated with the family, sources in the family said.

Meanwhile, Teknaf Awami League leaders said an emergency meeting of its executive committee will be held today to discuss the killing of Akram and decide the unit's next course of action over the matter.

The AL unit will also urge the prime minister and the home boss to launch an investigation to find out whether local MP Abdur Rahman Bodi played any role in the killing, they added.

MORE 'SHOOTOUTS' 

Four more people were killed in three districts yesterday as the nationwide anti-narcotics drive continues.

Two alleged drug traders were killed in a “gunfight” between drug traders and police in Rangpur and Bogra while two bodies with deep injury marks were recovered from the Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh, police claimed.

The Daily Star could not verify the claims.

With the four, at least 136 alleged drug traders have been killed in the drive in the last 21 days. Most of them died in so-called shootouts involving Rab and police.

There was no incident of death in “shootout” on Monday.

In Rangpur, Shahjahan Hossain alias Dabirul, 50, was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Kaunia upazila around 3:30am, our Dinajpur correspondent reported quoting Saiful Islam, additional superintendent of Rangpur police (Circle A).

Shahjahan, son of Sohrab Hossain of the upazila, was accused in 10 cases, police said. The law enforcers claimed to have recovered 126 yaba pills, 173 Phensedyl bottles, a pistol and a bullet from the spot.

In Bogra, Liton alias Riten, 32, was killed in a “gunfight” with detectives in the town's Matidali area.

Police claimed they recovered 200 yaba tablets and two machetes from the scene, our Bogra correspondent reported quoting Officer-In-Charge of Detective Branch (DB) in the district Nure-Alam Siddiquee.

Police claimed Liton was accused in five drug cases.

LITON’S WIFE CONTRADICTED

Liton's wife Rasheda Khatun, however, said her husband was a drug addict and used to sell drugs three years ago. He stopped taking drugs a couple of months ago and started working as a helper of a truck driver recently, she claimed.

“He gave up everything. So why did police kill him?” she asked.

The two killed in Mymensingh were identified as Munna Mia, 22, and Idris Ali, 50, both hailing from Mymensingh town's Purahitpara area.

Locals found the bodies floating in the Brahmaputra River around 11:00am. On information, police recovered the bodies, said Khandaker Shaker Ahmed, inspector (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station.

Munna was accused in around 12 cases, including nine related to narcotics, while Idris in eight cases, he claimed.

They might have been killed in “clashes” between drug peddlers and their bodies were dumped into the river, he added.

Idris used to take drugs and he was admitted to a rehabilitation centre in the town's Mashkanda area 20 days ago, said Siddiqur Rahman, his younger brother.

“We were informed from the centre early Saturday that plainclothes men, identifying themselves as detectives, took away Idris, a father of three, from the centre. He had been traceless since then,” said Saiddiqur.

Munna, who was also admitted to the centre, was taken away from there early Saturday, his family members claimed.

Sumaiya, younger sister of Munna, said her brother used to run a garment shop in the town's Station Road area and he had quit drugs around five years ago. 

“We were in fear as many people are getting killed in the ongoing drive. And for this, we had admitted him at the centre to save him. But he had failed,” she said.

FAMILIES DEMANDED INVESTIGATION

Family members of both the deceased demanded proper investigation into the deaths.

This correspondent visited the centre for comments but none of the officials there agreed to talk. A youth, without disclosing his name, just gave a visiting card of the centre's chairman Alimun Raziun Rajib, who could not be reached.

Contacted, Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of DB of police in Mymensingh, denied the allegations.

Besides, two more alleged drug traders Lutfar Rahman and Alauddin Mia were injured during two separate “gunfights” between drug peddlers in Hakimpur and Sadar upazila in Dinajpur early yesterday, police claimed.

They were being treated at M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital in the district.

Meanwhile, a murder case was filed yesterday, days after bullet-hit body of alleged drug dealer Azad Kha was recovered in Alalpur area of Faridpur.

The law enforcers filed the case using the name of the family of Azad and kept it in the dark, the family members alleged.

Azad, 45, was allegedly picked up by plainclothes men on Friday night, and his body was recovered on Monday morning, claimed the family members.

However, AFM Nasim, officer-in-charge of Faridpur Sadar Police Station, said, “Rive Begum, wife of Azad Kha, filed the murder case against some unidentified men with Sadar Police Station on Monday night.”

• Courtesy: The Daily Star /June 06, 2018

Padma bridge cost to rise again

With Tk 1,400cr latest increase, total cost will be Tk 30,193cr

The cost of the much-hyped Padma Bridge project is going to increase again as the government has to spend more to acquire additional land, taking the total project cost to Tk 30,193 crore.

The Bridges Division, the implementing authority of the project, recently sent a proposal to the planning ministry to acquire 1,163 hectares of land at a cost of Tk 1,400 core, said planning ministry officials.

The proposal may be placed before the next meeting of Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC), they added.

As per the last revision in January 2016, total project cost was Tk 28,793 crore.

According to officials, the proposal for acquiring more land will be approved as a single project. The increased amount will be added to the total cost of the project when the entire Padma Bridge project will go through revision.

Sources said the road transport and bridges ministry sent a DO (demand order) letter to the planning ministry on April 9, detailing the revision proposal.

As per the letter, around 212 crore cubic feet dredging spoil has to be dumped due to river training along the bank of the Padma. The char area of the river is suitable for disposing of the spoil in an environment-friendly way.

Although chars were picked as a suitable place for dumping when the design of the bridge was prepared, the cost of the char land was not included in DPP considering the land as khas land, the DO letter reads.

The district administration later declared the land as private property and that is why it has to be acquired. Besides, the Padma witnessed erosion on the Mawa side while new chars formed on the Jajira side.

As per the last revision in 2016, the authorities had decided to acquire 1,530 hectares for Tk 1,299 crore. The latest proposal says a total of 2,693 hectares will be acquired at a cost of 2,699 crore.

According to the Bridges Division proposal, a feasibility study on the project was conducted with assistance from JICA during 2003 to 2005. The original cost was estimated in 2007 on the basis of the study. However, it did not include the cost of railway lines on the bridge.

With financing from Asian Development Bank, the work on a detailed design of the bridge had started in 2009. Based on that, the project cost was revised at the end of 2010.

The cost almost doubled to Tk 20,507 crore when the first revision was done in 2011, including the cost of the railway lines.

According to the first revision, the project was scheduled to be completed in 2015. The deadline for completion of the project has been extended to 2018.

Fifty-three percent work of the project has been completed till March, said sources at Bridges Division.

Two major components of the project are main bridge and river training. Of them, 59 percent work of the main bridge and 36.5 percent of the river training have been completed.

The project is running behind schedule as the World Bank withdrew its $1.2 billion loan in 2012 over allegations of corruption conspiracies. The government then moved to build the bridge with its own funds.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star/ June 06,2018

‘বাড়াবাড়ি করলে ইয়াবার মামলা দিয়ে ক্রসফায়ারে দেব’

চাঁদা দাবির অভিযোগে ঢাকার ভাটারা থানার ৩ পুলিশ সদস্যের বিরুদ্ধে আদালতে মামলা হয়েছে। মঙ্গলবার ঢাকার সিএমএম আদালতে চা দোকানি মাকসুদা বেগম বাদী হয়ে এ মামলা করেন।

যাদের বিরুদ্ধে মামলা দায়ের হয়েছে তারা হলেন ভাটারা থানার এসআই হাসান মাসুদ, কনস্টেবল জাকির (ড্রাইভার), অজ্ঞাতনামা আরও এক কনস্টেবল ও এক আনসার সদস্য।

মামলার অভিযোগে বলা হয়, মাকসুদা বেগম বারিধারার জে-ব্লকে ২০নং রোডে চা-পান সিগারেটের দোকান করেন। গত ৩০ মে আসামিরা বাদীর দোকানে গিয়ে ১০ হাজার টাকা চাঁদা দাবি করেন। বাদী তা দিতে অস্বীকার করলে দোকানে ভাঙচুর চালায় এবং দোকানে থাকা কলা, বিস্কুট নষ্ট করে সিগারেট নিয়ে যান। আসামিরা আনুমানিক ৬ হাজার টাকা ক্ষতিসাধন করেন।

মামলার সাক্ষী বাবুল ইসলাম রাজু ফটো সাংবাদিক পরিচয়ে দোকানের মালামাল নষ্ট করার কারণ জানতে চাইলে আসামিরা বলেন, চাঁদার ১০ হাজার টাকা না দিলে যারা বাদীর পক্ষ নেবে সবাইকে মাদকের মামলায় ফাঁসিয়ে ক্রসফায়ার দেয়া হবে। বাদী অসহায় হয়ে ভাটারা থানায় তাদের বিরুদ্ধে অভিযোগ দিতে গেলে তা গ্রহণ না করে হুমকি দিয়ে বাসায় পাঠিয়ে দেয় এবং বাদীকে বলে, বেশি বাড়াবাড়ি করলে ইয়াবার মামলা দিয়ে ক্রসফায়ারে দিয়ে দেব।

মঙ্গলবার মাকসুদা বেগম বাধ্য হয়ে ঢাকার মহানগর হাকিম জাকির হোসেন টিপুর আদালতে এ মামলা দায়ের করেন। আদালত বাদীর জবানবন্দি রেকর্ড করেন। পরে আদেশ দেয়ার জন্য রাখেন।

কার্টসি —  যুগান্তর। লিঙ্ক — https://bit.ly/2xLxtbJ

UN drugs body fails to criticise Bangladesh on drug killings

 By David Bergman

David Bergman

In a period of 17 days, between May 15 to June 2, Bangladesh law enforcement authorities have killed 132 men in what they call 'anti-drug' operations.

The authorities claim that these men were killed in gunfights with the law enforcement authorities.

However, there is now significant evidence, as reported in local media, that many if not the vast majority of these men, were murdered by law enforcement authorities. After being picked up by law enforcement authorities - and whilst in state custody - these men were simply killed.

In this scenario, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has issued an extraordinary lax statement that fails to criticise or condemn the Bangladesh government or their law enforcement authorities at all. No wonder the Bangladesh government believes it can continue this current killing spree with impunity.

The UNODC statement says:

Vienna, 1 June 2018 - In response to media and civil society enquiries regarding reports from Bangladesh on anti-drug operations that have allegedly resulted in dozens of deaths, the following statement was issued by the spokesperson of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is closely following developments in the situation. 

UNODC urges all Member States to adhere to their commitments to promote balanced, human rights-based approaches to drug control, in line with the three international drug control conventions and the outcome document of the United Nations General Assembly special session on the world drug problem. 

We stand ready to engage with all countries to help bring criminals to justice with the appropriate legal safeguards, in line with international standards and norms, and to promote evidence-based prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration.

• Courtesy  —  Bangladesh Politico

Topsoil grabbing by brick kilns

The reckless purchase of topsoil from poor farmers by brick kiln owners in different parts of the country carries dreadful portents. The practice in the long run is feared to render swathes of fertile lands barren, apart from inviting environmental hazards in the nearby areas. With the cover of the organically rich topsoil gone, the bare chemical-infested soil residue washes into the adjacent water bodies resulting in scores of environment-related woes. The brunt is borne by the farmers. Forcing cropland owners to sell topsoil to brick kilns has been in place in the country for over two decades. The topsoil is widely used locally as the chief ingredient in manufacturing bricks. The practice of buying this valuable soil from croplands, especially after the Aman harvest, for kilns is now widespread. It was earlier confined to the northern region.

That the unabated removal of topsoil from agricultural plots will have a telling impact on the country's total food production does not visibly bother the desperate brick kiln owners. For their part, the average farmers are found unaware of the consequences. With pressure mounting on them, hapless farmers finally sell the topsoil. When they realise the damages they have done to their croplands, it is too late. It's almost impossible to bring fertility back to lands once it is taken away. The process of the lands' fertility loss occurs in phases. In most cases, cultivation of three crops per year plummets to a single one. At a stage like this, even higher quantities of chemical fertilisers and pesticide cannot increase crop yields. Taking the topsoil away is like robbing a land of all its nutrients and organic materials. No crop can grow without these soil components.

The collective strength of the brick kiln syndicates in the country's rural swathes has lately emerged as formidably unassailable. Even the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) appears to be helpless before the kiln owners, evidently backed by local influential quarters. The scenario has long taken an ominous turn in the country's northern part. Around 2,500 bighas of farmlands are said to lose their topsoil layers every year in a northern district. The soil ends up being used in the manufacture of bricks in 35 kilns in the district. This is but one instance of the virtual grabbing of the country's topsoil by errant brick kiln owners. The practice has become pervasive in many other parts of the country. Continued shrinkage of agricultural lands and their infertility pose a major threat to the country's cropping pattern. According to a World Bank (WB) study conducted a few years ago, Bangladesh has one of the lowest rates of arable land per head in the world, at about 54 hectares per 1000 people. Demographic pressure and urbanisation has caused cultivated land to shrink at a rate of 1.0 per cent a year, as the population grows 1.6 per cent annually, the study notes. The most worrying aspect of the observation is with 175 per cent usage, cropping intensity in the country has reached its limits.

Against this distressing backdrop of freestyle removal of the vital topsoil from croplands, the agricultural sector may have to brace for gloomier times. With vast swathes of arable land falling victim to the greed of unscrupulous brick kiln owners, the last nail in the coffin of the country's agriculture seems looming large. Given this stark reality, Bangladesh may have to revive its now-suspended plan for shopping agro-lands in foreign countries like South Sudan or Cambodia.  

• Courtesy: The Financial Express/ Editorial/ June 05, 2018      

Banking commission by this month: Muhith

No tax burden in next budget

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said on Monday the upcoming budget will see increase in taxes in a few areas as the national election looms.

"The new taxes are a very few. The rate of increase will also be very low," he said.

"That's a piece of welcome news for people."

Talking to reporters at his secretariat office, the minister ruled out the possibility of any immediate impact of the announcement of the fiscal blueprint on the market.

"… I would say that in the last ten years, after announcement of the budget, there had not been much impact on the market, and this will continue," the minister added.

Elaborating the budget features, Muhith said the corporate tax for cigarette and cellphone companies will remain unchanged at 45 per cent. For other sectors, the highest rate will be 37.5 per cent.

"I have not touched those rates which are below 37.5 per cent. I have only reduced the high rates, the lower rates are not bad," he said.

Replying to a question as to how revenue collection will go up when tax is not enhanced, the minister said an increased number of people is now paying it.

The revenue collection will rise from this trend, he added. He said the good news is a large number of young people are paying tax.

"Our target was 1.5 million to 2.0 million tax returnees. But now it has already crossed 3.3 million."

The minister said, the share of income tax in total revenue collection was 10 per cent in 1982. Presently, income tax is the second-highest source of revenue income after Value Added Tax (VAT).

"My target is to increase the share of income tax to 50 per cent (of total revenue) in the next two to three years. It is now about 30 to 35 per cent."

Responding to a question, Muhith said customs duty will disappear over time. "Our target from customs duty is not so high," he said.

Responding to another query, he said social media like Facebook has been brought under tax net in the next budget. "Our neighbouring countries taxed them years back," he said.

The minister said the VAT system is most complicated. "Our promise is we are not introducing the 2012 law now. We are still under 1991 VAT law because of the Prime Minister's promise."

Muhith said going forward, there will be three VAT rates, not a uniform VAT rate. In the next budget, the VAT rate will remain five, but the ultimate goal is three tax rates -- low, middle and high, he added.

High rate is already imposed -- 15 per cent, the low and middle ones have not been determined yet, he noted.

Replying to another query, he said the biggest revenue is coming from VAT and it will continue.

Asked whether this budget would keep any special scope for legalising undisclosed money, the minister answered in the negative.

"No, No, No. The scope for black (undisclosed) money will not be given. Last year, no such chance was given too," he said. Muhith said according to the income tax law, one can legalise undisclosed money by paying an additional 25 per cent tax and this will continue.

He said it made little difference to the scope for legalising undisclosed money. "Last time only a negligible amount was legalised."

The minister said a bank commission will be set up by this month."The banking sector expanded a lot. It has both sides-good and bad," he said.

The last banking commission was set up in 2004. Recommendations of such commissions were not fully implemented, he said.

Regarding CPD's comment on the banking sector, Muhith said: "It was nonsense. Nothing more can be said about it."

On Sunday, local think-tank the Centre for Policy Dialogue said Bangladesh's banking sector is an 'orphan' and the government is oppressing that orphan.

The minister hinted that the tax-free ceiling for individual taxpayers would remain unchanged in the coming budget.

"The level of tax collection was not changed last year, this year won't be changed, too," he said.

Regarding reviewing the yield rate of savings tools, the minister said he will have a meeting just after the budget.

"I will certainly reduce it. I will have to make it compatible with the market rate. It distorts the market," he said. He said in the budget, he will speak about pension. There will be some statements on some of the basic principles of the universal pension.

"What I am thinking is we shall begin experimenting on the pension," he said. The basic principle is that it will be a contributory pension scheme, except for those who do not work and are dependent on the state, he noted.

Muhith said the organised private sector companies have been paying it. "Most of them have some kinds of pension."

He said at this moment the government can cover 0.8 million to 0.9 million people under the pension system. "It's still a very small portion of the people of the country."

However, he said the social safety net covers a pretty large number of people.

Replying to another query, the minister said some Tk 4.0 billion will be allocated in the budget for the welfare of Rohingya people.

Muhith is scheduled to place a Tk 4.6 trillion budget in parliament Thursday.

• Courtesy: The Financial Express /June 05, 2018

সংস্কারে সরকারের সাড়া দেয়া উচিত

ধসে পড়া ব্যাংকব্যবস্থা ও উন্নয়নে বিষম দুর্নীতি নিয়ে কথা বলেছে বেসরকারি গবেষণা সংস্থা সেন্টার ফর পলিসি ডায়ালগ সিপিডি। তাদের পক্ষ থেকে বলা হয়েছে, ব্যাংক খাতে রোগের চিকিৎসা করার পরিবর্তে আমরা উপসর্গের পেছনে দৌড়াচ্ছি। ব্যাংক খাতে যে তারল্য সঙ্কটের কথা বলা হচ্ছে, সেটি তো রোগ নয়, সমস্যাও এটি নয়। সমস্যা হলো সুশাসনের অভাব। 

একইভাবে উন্নয়ন কর্মকাণ্ডে অতি উচ্চ ব্যয়ের বিষয়টি তারা গুরুত্বের সাথে উল্লেখ করেছে। সময় বাড়িয়ে নেয়া বিশাল প্রকল্প এবং উচ্চ ব্যয়ের বিষয়টি ক্ষতিয়ে দেখার আহ্বান জানিয়েছে সিপিডি। সিপিডির এমন পর্যবেক্ষণ স্বাভাবিক। ব্যাংক খাতের দুরবস্থা সবার জানা। বর্তমান সরকারের আমলের সব মেগা প্রকল্প নিয়ে কথা উঠেছে। বাস্তবতা হচ্ছে, সরকার এসব বিষয়ে নিজের মত অনুযায়ী চলতে অভ্যস্ত হয়ে পড়েছে। প্রকল্পের গুণগত মান এবং ব্যয় নিয়ে সরকার কোনোভাবে চিন্তা করতে রাজি নয়। 

সিপিডির বিশেষ ফেলো ড. দেবপ্রিয় ভট্টাচার্য্য সংবাদ সম্মেলনে বলেন, ‘ব্যাংকব্যবস্থার দেখভাল করার কথা বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক ও অর্থ মন্ত্রণালয়ের। তারাই নষ্টভ্রষ্টদের পক্ষে কাজ করছে। ব্যাংক খাত নিয়ে আমাদের বক্তব্য হলো এখন পর্যন্ত ব্যাংক খাতে যা হয়েছে তা হলো, রোগের চিকিৎসা করার চেয়ে তার উপসর্গের পেছনে ছুটেছি। উপসর্গ হলো তথাকথিত তারল্য সঙ্কট। তারল্য সঙ্কট তো কোনো সঙ্কট নয়। সঙ্কট হলো পুরো ব্যাংক খাতের ভেতর সুশাসনের অভাব। 

আমি আগেও বলেছি, ব্যাংক খাত এতিম হয়ে গেছে। যাদের এই খাত দেখভাল করার কথা ছিল, তারাই এখানে অত্যাচার করেছে।’ আরো পর্যবেক্ষণে তিনি বলেন, আমদানি ব্যয়ের মাধ্যমে বিদেশে অর্থ পাচারের মতো ঘটনা ঘটছে, নির্বাচন যখন ঘনিয়ে আসে তখন টাকা পাচারের ঘটনা বেড়ে যায়। দেশের পুঁজিবাজার খুবই বিপর্যয়কর অবস্থার মধ্যে রয়েছে। 

ব্যাংকিং খাতের এই বিপর্যয়কর পরিস্থিতি থেকে উত্তরণের জন্য স্বাধীন ব্যাংক কমিশন গঠন করতে হবে বলে তিনি পরামর্শ দেন। ব্যাংকের প্রধান কারবার ঋণ নিয়ে। এ ব্যাপারে মূল প্রবন্ধে মোস্তাফিজুর রহমান বলেন, বর্তমান আইন দিয়ে ঋণখেলাপিদের আটকানো যাবে না। ফলে মন্দঋণের পরিমাণ বেড়েই যাবে। দেশের ব্যাংকিং খাতে এখন মন্দঋণ ৯ শতাংশের ওপরে আছে। পুরনো ঋণগুলোকে অবলোপনের পরও এই অবস্থা দাঁড়াচ্ছে। তা করা না হলে মন্দঋণের মাত্রা আরো বেশি হতো। যেসব বুদ্ধিমান লোক ঋণকে খেলাপি করার পেছনে কাজ করছেন বা কারসাজি করছেন, তাদের সাথে পাল্লা দেয়ার মতো সক্ষমতা আমাদের এই আইনে নেই। তাই ২০০৩ সালের মানি লোন কোর্ট অ্যাক্ট এবং ১৯৯৭ সালের দেউলিয়াবিষয়ক আইনটি সংস্কার করে যুগোপযোগী করার সুপারিশ করেন তিনি।

বাংলাদেশে বর্তমান সময়ে চলা তোড়জোড় উন্নয়ন নিয়েও কথা বলা হয় সিপিডির পক্ষ থেকে। বাংলাদেশে এক কিলোমিটার রাস্তা নির্মাণ করতে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের নিউ ইয়র্কের চেয়েও অনেক বেশি খরচ হয়। তারা জানান, বাংলাদেশে আরো বড় তিন-চারটি মেগা প্রকল্প চলছে, তার ব্যয় বিশ্লেষণ করলেও একই তথ্য পাওয়া যাবে। আমরা যতটা না উন্নয়ন ব্যয় নিয়ে চিন্তিত থাকি, তার চেয়ে বেশি চিন্তার বিষয় এর গুণমান। এটি এখন প্রকাশ্য, যে ধরনের প্রকল্প বাস্তবায়ন হচ্ছে, সেটি দীর্ঘ সময় ধরে বাস্তবায়নের ফলে তার ব্যয় বৃদ্ধি পাচ্ছে; কিন্তু প্রকল্পগুলো অতি মূল্যায়িত হয়েছে।

ব্যাংকিং খাত ও উন্নয়ন নিয়ে আগে থেকেই কথা উঠেছে। এসব বিষয়ে সিপিডির মূল্যায়নকে স্বাগত জানানো উচিত। সরকারের উচিত ব্যাংক খাতকে রাজনৈতিক প্রভাব থেকে মুক্ত করা। একইভাবে মেগা উন্নয়ন প্রকল্পগুলোর বাস্তবায়ন গুণমান নিশ্চিত করা এবং উন্নয়ন খাতে দুর্নীতির সুযোগ বন্ধ করা।

• Courtesy: Daily Nayadiganta Editorial /June 05, 2018

India-funded projects going on at snail’s pace

PM voices concern over slow progress

Mir Mostafizur Rahaman  

The implementation of the projects funded by the Indian line of credit (LoC) is going on at a snail's pace. Even the slow progress is reported to have irked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

A document on the progress of the LoC projects shows that until last month, half of the first LoC remained undisbursed. The status of the progress of the projects of the second and third LoC is also poor.

Last week, a meeting was held on the status of the Indian LoC projects with Prime Minister's economic affairs adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman in the chair.Representatives from the Indian High Commission were also present there.

Dr Rahman told the meeting Sheikh Hasina is deeply concerned about the slow progress of the projects. The meeting urged all relevant ministries to expedite the entire process, said people who attended the meeting.

According to ERD documents, the $862 million first LoC was signed in 2010 during the then Indian prime minister Manomohan Singh's Dhaka visit. But up to May, only $389 million was disbursed.

In the current fiscal year the disbursement was only $38.35 million, according to the document prepared by the Economic Relations Division (ERD). Out of the 15 projects, 12 have been completed in the last eight years, and three are ongoing.

The second LoC worth $2.1 billion was signed in March 2016.Of the 16 projects included in the second LoC, 14 were approved by both governments.

But the DPPs (Development Project Proposal) of two projects undertaken by the state-run Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) have not been prepared yet. And the DPP of one project of the power ministry was sent to the Planning Commission a few years ago.

When contacted, additional secretary of ERD Zahidul Haque said the progress of the first LoC was slow.But the authorities trying to expedite the entire process, he added.

He said the line ministries have the main role in this process but in many cases, they failed to complete the documentation work in due course of time. This delayed the approval, he added.

Initially, the total cost for the second LoC projects was $2,069 million.But later it was raised to $2,195 million due to the rise in the cost of three railway projects.

The projects for which preparations for calling tenders are underway include the $357 million project to upgrade the Ashuganj river port to Akhaura land port road to four-lane and $193 million dollar project to establish Information technology (IT) parks in 12 districts.

The railway is also preparing tender documents for the $357.77 million Khukna-Darshana double line construction project.

On the other hand, the DPPs for the projects for establishing Indian economic zones in Mongla and Bheramara worth $88 million have not been submitted to the Planning Commission as yet.

The $51.30 million project for the construction of Ashuganj Inland container terminal has also not been approved by the Executive Committee for the Economic Council yet.

Meanwhile, the cost of the third LoC was raised to $4,618 million from the initial $4,500 million.

So far draft DPPs for three projects have been sent to the Indian High Commission for approval. The interest rate for the LoC is lower at 1.0 per cent.

But Bangladesh needs to purchase 65 to 75 per cent of the services or goods from the Indian market with the money to be provided under the LoCs.

India offered Bangladesh the third LoC through signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in April in New Delhi in Hasina's presence.

Officials said several government agencies have already undertaken 17 development projects to be implemented with the upcoming $4.5 billion loan.

• Courtesy: The Financial Express/ June 5, 2018

'কে অপরাধী আর কারে মারি, একবারও জানতে চাইলো না'

পরিকল্পিতভাবে নাম বিভ্রান্তের মাধ্যমে পুলিশের সাথে মাদকবিরোধী অভিযানে হত্যা করা হয়েছে ব্যবসায়ী কামাল খানকে, দাবি পরিবারের। এমনকি নিহতের পরও আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর পক্ষ থেকে মুক্তিপণ হিসেবে পরিবারের কাছে চাওয়া হয়েছিল ১ কোটি টাকা।

আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনী বলছে, অভিযোগ পেলে বিষয়টি তদন্ত করে দেখা হবে, আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর কেউ জড়িত থাকলে নেওয়া হবে ব্যবস্থা।

কামাল খান। কাজ করতেন উত্তরার একটি গার্মেন্টসে। সাত বছরের শিশু এবং স্ত্রীসহ প্রায় নয় মাস ধরে বসবাস করে আসছিলেন গাজীপুরের কালীগঞ্জের একটি বাড়িতে। প্রতিদিনের মতো বৃহস্পতিবার ভোরে স্ত্রী এবং সন্তানকে নিয়ে ঘুমিয়ে ছিলেন বাসায়। কিন্তু হঠাৎ করে আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর সদস্যরা সাদা পোশাকে বাসায় ঢুকে তাকে তুলে নিয়ে যায়।

কামালের স্ত্রী আসমা আক্তার জানান, পরিবারের পক্ষ থেকে বার বার আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করা হলেও জানা যায়নি কামাল খানের অবস্থান। এর মধ্যেই শুক্রবার একটি ফোনে কামালের পরিবারের কাছে মুক্তিপণ হিসেবে দাবি করা হয় ১ কোটি টাকা। মুক্তিপণের টাকার ব্যবস্থা হতে না হতেই জানা গেল কামাল খান আর বেঁচে নেই।

'তারা বললো, লোক যদি পাইতে চায় তাহলে এক কোটি টাকা দিতে হইবো। আমরা বললাম, মানুষটার যেনো কোন ক্ষতি না করে। বলেন, যদি একটু কমে হয় তাহলে আমার সবকিছু বেইচা হইলেও আমার মানুষটা বাচামু।' বলছিলেন আসমা আক্তার।

এদিকে কামাল খান মৃত্যুর পর গোয়েন্দা পুলিশের এসআই খায়রুল ইসলাম বাদী হয়ে কালীগঞ্জ থানায় একটি মাদক মামলা করে। মামলার এজাহারে, মৃত একজন হলেও দেখানো হয়েছে দুজনের নাম। একজনের পিতার নাম দেওয়া হলেও ঠিকানা দেওয়া হয়েছে অন্য আরেকজনের।

আসমা আক্তার বলেন, 'মানুষটা আমার স্বামী। আর নামডা অন্য জনের। একবার কি যাচাই করতে পারতো না, কোন মানুষডারে মারতাছি। কে অপরাধী আর কারে মারি। একবারও জানতে চাইলো না, একটু সময়ও নিলো না।'

তবে আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনী বলছে, এ বিষয়ে তাদের কোন ভুল হয়নি।

গাজীপুরের (দক্ষিণ) অতিরিক্ত পুলিশ সুপার গোলাম সবুর বলেন, 'আমাদের কাছে যদি অভিযোগ আসে তাহলে সেটা অবশ্যই তদন্ত করে দেখা হবে। আর প্রমাণ পেলে অবশ্যই বিধি মোতাবেক ব্যবস্থা নেয়া হবে।'

কামরুল ইসলামের পরিবারের দাবি, কামরুল ইসলামের মুত্যুর সংবাদ পেয়ে তারা মরদেহ দেখে নিশ্চিত হন এটা কামরুল ইসলাম না কামাল খানের মরদেহ। রবিবারও কাশিমপুর কারাগারে গিয়ে কামরুলের সাথে দেখা করে আসেন পরিবারের সদস্যরা।

কামরুলের আত্মীয় কাঞ্চনমালা বলেন, 'কামরুলের বাবার নাম হচ্ছে, তমিজুদ্দিন শেখ। এমনিতে শুনি তার নামে দশটা না বারোটা মামলা আছে।'

নিহত কামাল খানের সাথে কামরুল ইসলামের কোন সম্পর্ক ছিলো না বলেও জানান তারা। তবে একজন জীবিত ব্যক্তির নাম মৃত হিসেবে ঘোষণা করায় ক্ষোভ প্রকাশ করেন তারা।

• কার্টেসিঃ সময় টিভি/জুন ৫,২০১৮  

What Bangladesh media failed to publish about UK parliamentary report

David Bergman 

David Bergman 

If you only read Bangladesh newspapers, and news websites, you might think that the recent UK parliamentary report, “Bangladesh, Burma and the Rohingya Crisis” published by the select committee on international development was full of applause for Bangladesh. This was because all the newspapers which wrote about the report – including the Dhaka Tribune, The Independent and New Age – simply published verbatim the highly misleading press release, titled UK Parliament praises Bangladesh economic growth, written by the Bangladesh government news agency BSS, rather than actually looking at the report itself.

Whilst it is certainly true that the committee report praised Bangladesh’s overall economic growth, and the government’s role in the Rohingya crisis, it was highly critical of the current government’s human rights record. In fact it was damning. This is what it had to say.

117. Our witnesses were clear that recent activity by the Bangladesh authorities was aimed at restricting freedom of debate and the capacity and willingness of civil society representatives to speak out and criticise. The 2014 general election in Bangladesh had been controversial and violent and the main BNP opposition party had boycotted it. Our evidence indicates that since then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has been exerting increasing pressure on critics and opponents, directly, using intimidation, arbitrary arrests, vexatious proceedings and enforced disappearances and, indirectly, with repressive legislation and administrative rules; pressure on the judiciary and other authorities independent of government; and the politicisation of the police, courts and other public agencies. (emphasis added)

118. DFID is similarly concerned; Minister Alistair Burt told us that: “There has been a shrinkage of the political space” in Bangladesh adding that the UK Government raised concerns—for example about draft legislation on digital security or challenges to journalists and others—with the Bangladeshi authorities in public and in private. Discussions during our recent visit to Bangladesh indicated that, while in recent history, extra-judicial disappearances have been mostly aimed at terrorist suspects, they are increasingly aimed at opposition parties. ….

120. In general, human rights, while enshrined in Bangladeshi law, are reported to continue to be being abused widely. Bangladesh remains a Priority Country in this respect for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Credible reports from human rights organisations list: extra-judicial killings; arbitrary arrests followed by long detentions without charges; and enforced disappearances, allegedly at the hands of law enforcement officers. As mentioned above, victims of these activities have included opposition figures in recent times. The use of intimidation, ill-treatment and torture in custody remains rife.

It would perhaps be good if the Bangladesh media actually read reports rather than relying on government press releases. 

• Courtesy  —  What Bangladesh media failed to publish about UK parliamentary report