Justice Nozrul withdraws name from Mir Quasem's defence

 DHAKA:  Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, a recently retired judge of the High Court division, today withdrew his name from the defence team of convicted war criminal Mir Quasem Ali.

The appearance of Justice Nozrul, in favour of Jamaat leader against the state before the Apex Court on February 10, raised some eyebrows as after his retirement from the High Court on December 2015, he has been living in Judges' Complex and enjoying all the state facilities.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam drew attention of the Apex Court to the matter on that day, questioning his appearance against the state.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said Justice Nozrul took part in the hearing with his permission but "all, retired and current judges, should protect the dignity of the Judges' Complex."

Today, when the Appellate Division started hearing the appeal matter of Mir Quasem for the third days, Justice Nozrul said, "Two senior lawyers will conduct the case. I am sorry. I am withdrawing myself from the case."

Mir Quasem lodged appeal on November 30, 2014, challenging death sentence to him by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.

The now defunct ICT-2 on November 2, 2014, sentenced Quasem to death as it found him guilty of 10 charges out of total 14.

Quasem, known as 'Bangali Khan' during 1971, in his appeal sought

acquittal from the charges citing 181 grounds.

Source: BSS

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75th birthday of Dr Wazed Miah tomorrow

DHAKA:  The 75th birthday of eminent nuclear scientist and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's husband Dr MA Wazed Miah tomorrow.

On February 16 in 1942, Wazed Miah popularly and affectionately called "Sudha Miah" was born at a respectable Muslim family of Laldighi Fatehpur village under Pirganj upazila in Rangpur district. He breathed his last on May 9 in 2009.

Different political parties and socio-cultural bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes in the capital city and Rangpur in observance of his birthday.

On the occasion, Dr MA Wazed Miah Memorial Foundation will organise a discussion at the VIP Lounge of the Jatiya Press Club at 3 pm tomorrow (Tuesday).

Awami League presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim will attend the function as the chief guest.

Besides, Sadhana Sangsad will organise a discussion followed by a cultural show at the auditorium of Biswa Sahitya Kendra at Bangla Motor in the city at 3 pm.

Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, Prime Minister's Health Affairs Adviser Dr Syed Modasser Ali and vice-president of the World Peace Council Mozaffar Hossain Paltu will attend the function as discussants, among others.

BSS Rangpur Correspondent reports: Dr Wazed Smriti Sangsad, Pirganj Upazila Awami League, allies in the grand alliance and Awami League's associate bodies have organised programmes including memorial meetings, recitation of Fateha, visit to his grave, milad mahfil and distribution of cooked foods among poor in Rangpur city and his birth place at Laldighi Fatehpur to mark his birthday.

The programmes include visit to his grave at Laldighi Fatehpur village and placing of wreaths at his grave at 9 am, milad mahfil at Karamatia Jame Mosque and offering of special prayers seeking eternal peace of his departed soul after Zohr prayers and holding of a discussion at Rangpur Town Hall and distribution of prizes among the winners of a child-juvenile competition at 6 pm.

Source: BSS

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PDPP ready for Dhaka-Mawa-Khulna four lane: Minister

Dhaka: The government has prepared the Preliminary Development Project Proforma (PDPP) to construct Dhaka-Mawa-Khulna highway into four lane on availability of foreign aid.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told this in the parliament, while replying to a starred question from opposition bench member Kazi Feroz Rashid today.

"The Feasibility Study and Detail Design under Technical Assistance for Sub-Regional Road Transport Project Preparatory Facility (SRTPPF) has been finalized," he said.

Besides, the government would upgrade 55-kilometre into four-lane from Jatrabari to Mawa approach road to the Padma Brdige and after approach road to the Padma Brdige to Bhanga at a cost of Taka 5,000 crore, the minister said.

He informed the House that the 55-kilometre four-lane project from Jatrabari to Bhanga is now awaiting for approval, adding, "The construction work would be done by the Bangladesh Army.

Source: BSS

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Campaign for biometric registration of SIM begins

DHAKA:- Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury today appealed to all to help biometric registration of all SIMs and RUIMs.

"There are 13 crore SIMs in the country and it will be difficult for the Post and Telecommunication Ministry alone to complete the task," she said, and added that if the biometric registration could be done it would reduce crimes to a large extent.

Considering the huge benefits to society, she called upon all legislators to help the ministry complete the task.

The speaker was speaking at a function at the Jatiya Sangsad to inaugurate the programme for biometric registration of SIMs.

The function was chaired by state minister for posts and telecommunication Tarana Halim.

Source: BSS

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Pakistan interfering into Bangladesh's internal affairs to mislead its people: Nasim

DHAKA:  Awami League presidium member, spokesman of the 14-party alliance and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim today said Pakistan as a failed state has been interfering into internal affairs of Bangladesh to shift its people's attention to other direction to cover up its failure.

"Pakistan has been shedding crocodiles' tears over the ongoing trial of the crimes against humanity committed during the war of liberation failing to forget the disgraceful defeat in 1971.

They (Pakistani authorities) summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner there and expelled one of our diplomats," he said.

"No state can accept such an obnoxious attitude of Pakistan and that's why hundreds of people took to the city streets to express their united protest," the senior Awami League (AL) leader added.

Mohammad Nasim said this while speaking as the chairperson at a huge human-chain in front of the South Gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the city.

The Awami League-led 14-party alliance formed the 14-kilometer-long human-chain from Jatrabari to Gabtoli in the city for one-hour from 4 pm protesting derogatory remarks and audacious attitude of Pakistan on the great war of liberation and independence as well as its interference into the internal affairs of Bangladesh and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's recent remarks on the figure of martyrs in the Liberation War.

Coordinator of Dhaka City 14-party alliance, Dhaka City AL general secretary and Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya (Bir Bikram) conducted the public rally, also addressed, among others, by AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury, joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Minister for Liberation War affairs Advocate AKM Mozammel Haque and Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua.

Besides, central and city unit leaders of the 14-party alliance also spoke at the rally.

Mohammad Nasim said, "Pakistan recently denied that genocide had not been committed by its troops during the war of liberation in Bangladesh and echoing the same tune Begum Khaleda Zia created controversy through her recent remarks on the figure of martyrs while a leader of her party came up with derogatory remarks on the martyred intellectuals."

The AL leader said, "Pakistan should be stopped from hatching conspiracy and Begum Khaleda Zia should be refrained from terrorism. Begum Zia would be held liable and answer to the people of the country if she doesn't refrain from her love towards Pakistan and conspiracy."

Begum Matia Chowdhury said, "Pakistan has committed such a heinous incident to rescue a drowning Begum Khaleda Zia. And the leaders of BNP started supporting the Pakistani stance immediately after its denial of committing genocide in Bangladesh."

Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said, "Begum Khaleda Zia was a Pakistani during the turbulent days of the war of liberation and she remains also a Pakistani still now. Her party doesn't believe in the war of liberation and independence. Khaleda Zia created controversy over the figure of martyrs to win the heart of Pakistan and in her bid to create a division in the state."

Advocate AKM Mozammel Haque said Jamaat should be banned as a party of war criminals with enactment of a law immediately and a law should also be framed so that anti-liberation elements do not get appointment in public services and voting rights.

Leaders of the 14-party alliance spoke at public rallies at 14 spots from Jatrabari to Gabtoli during the huge human-chain programme participated by hundreds of people from all walks of life, particularly leaders-workers of the alliance and its associate and likeminded bodies.

A number of socio-cultural-professional and freedom fighters' bodies also took part in the human-chain to express their united protests against the audacious attitude of Pakistan.

Mohammad Nasim announced that the 14-party alliance will form human-chain in all the district headquarters on February 24 campaigning on the same issue.

Source: BSS

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