BSF building wall violating border rules

Indian Border Security Force is constructing a wall close to the border line in Senarbadi village of the district's Akhaura to protect a road they built there illegally.

About a year ago, BSF started constructing the 1,060 metre road from pillar 2305/S to 2401/S, according to Sarail 12 Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh.

Now the Indian paramilitary force is building the wall in clear violation of the international law that allows no structure within 150 yards of the zero line.

Earlier, as BGB protested the wall construction, the Indian side said they would stop piling of earth. But the work continued in the dark of night. 

Several flag meetings were held on the issue. 

In one of the meetings, the Indian force assured BGB of not using this road. But for the last few days, Indian tractors loaded with bricks, cement bags are driving along the dirt road to border pillar 2024. 

The Indian authorities are gathering construction materials close to the zero line and even inside Bangladesh territory. They are digging deep the ground and making big holes to construct the 2-3 feet high wall up to the level of the road. A few border pillars have sunk into earth.

One BGB official seeking anonymity has said the Indian side may have an ill-motive to construct a boundary wall.

BGB office sources have said the high officials of both countries have agreed that retaining wall could be built within 16 feet of zero line to protect a boundary pillar that falls in any water body. 

Contacted, Lieutenant Colonel Mustafizur Rahman, commanding officer of Sarail 12 battalion, said they earlier had sent BSF a message requesting not to erect any boundary wall there and held a battalion commander level meeting on December 21. In the meeting, the BSF agreed that they would not erect any wall above the ground level.

BGB is always watching if BSF violates any treaty or border rules, the CO added. 

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JP, JSD for body to find new commissioners

The Jatiya Party (JP) and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) have suggested formation of two separate committees to identify eligible persons to form a new Election Commission. 

The Jatiya Party, which was the first to join the dialogue with President Zillur Rahman over the issue, suggested formation of a ‘search committee’ while JSD for a 'nomination committee'.

Ershad led a 16-member JP delegation at the meeting with President Zillur Rahman that began at 11:00am.

“We proposed for a search committee. But we did not suggest any specific name for formation of the Election Commission,” JP Chairman HM Ershad told reporters Thursday emerging from dialogue with the president at Bangabhaban.

The party only suggested that the members of the 'search committee' might be picked up from among those who are on different constitutional bodies, he added.

The chief justice, auditor general, and the chairman of the Public Service Commission might be the member of the search committee, Ershad suggested.

The party will send a written statement on its proposals to the president in two or three days, he added.

Asked about main opposition BNP’s reluctance to join the ongoing dialogue, he replied: “A country will wait for none.” 

Meanwhile, JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu, who led an 11-member delegation at the dialogue, said they had also suggested formation of a committee, which could consist of 10 members, styled as ‘Nomination Committee’.

"We proposed the president would form the nomination committee,” Inu told reporters after the meeting that began in the noon and continued for about an hour.

The main task of the committee will be to suggest names of eligible persons and send those to an all-party parliamentary select committee for scrutiny. After the scrutiny, the select committee will send those to president for formation of a new EC, he added. 

On query, whether it suggested any name, Inu said they will send a list of names within a day or two. 

About BNP's stance, Inu said, “The party has been hatching conspiracy instead of practicing democracy.”

The president took the move to seek opinions of the country's political parties on formation of a new Election Commission as the incumbent Election Commission’s tenure is going to expire by mid-February.

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Objective journalism to bring positive changes stressed

Eminent citizens and editors of different national dailies yesterday stressed the need for maintaining maximum impartiality and objectivity to take the level of journalism to new heights for bringing a positive change in the society.

They said modesty, honesty and cautiousness are the prime prerequisite for objective journalism. On the other, arrogance, dishonesty or callousness are harmful not only for one's journalism career but also for the society, they added.

They made the remark at the closing session of a 10-day training for the journalists of upcoming private TV channel, Ekattor, at the city's Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban auditorium.

Noted litterateur Selina Hossain urged the young journalists to play a significant role in bringing political, economical and social stability through their work.

"Your (journalists) reports should be prepared on the basis of correct information and truth," she said.

She also criticised a few TV and FM radio channels for using "unnecessary" English words and programme titles.

The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said relationship between journalists and media owners should be kept transparent.

The objective journalism can be ensured if journalists get environment of working independently, he said.

Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman emphasised proper selection of words, sentences and language for development of journalism.

Journalist Abed Khan, also editor of the upcoming Dainik Jagoron, said the main responsibility of a journalist is to present the event instead of making judgement.

Talking about commercialisation of journalism, he said, "Now corporate business companies are opening print and electronic media to secure their business purpose only."

The News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed said the main challenge of electronic media is to serve the news within a few minutes after happening any incident. So, journalists of electronic media should be more careful.

Ekattor Managing Director and Chief Editor Mozammel Babu and Chief Executive Officer Samia Zaman also spoke at the function.

Two internationally renowned journalists Richard Goslan and Bob Powel conducted the training sessions.

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Faulty seats of Palki being replaced

The economy-class seats of Palki, Biman's new Boeing 777-300ER that began commercial operation last month, are being replaced as their armrests started falling apart.

US company Weber had supplied the seats of the aircraft. It is now replacing the armrests in the economy class at its own cost during flight breaks at Shahjalal International Airport. The replacement will take a few more days.

Biman authorities said faulty design of the seats is causing the trouble. Sources said around 50 out of 384 seats in the economy class got broken. The seats in the business class are, however, in good shape. 

Air Commodore (retd) Mohammad Zakiul Islam, managing director of Bangladesh Biman, told The Daily Star last week that the seats were procured following a meeting of Biman, Boeing and Weber.

Asked if the US company was selected arbitrarily to save money, he said, "There was no scope for buying the seats from a company which is not approved by Boeing." 

Meanwhile, some more complaints have also surfaced regarding the remote controls of movie screens and the galley of the $ 152 million aircraft. The Biman MD, however, refuted the complaints.

ARUN ALO

The other new Boeing 777-300ER named Arun Alo commenced its commercial flight on Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur course on December 5, almost 10 days after it had arrived in Shah Jalal airport. 

Biman had to suffer a huge loss due to this wait as it could not get the go-ahead from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. This is because Biman could not obtain the custom clearance certificate for its failure to pay the Tk 80 lakh duty.

Officials said the state-owned airlines needs to pay Tk 20 crore as instalment every month to repay the bank loan for Arun Alo.

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SQ Chy's petitions rejected

International Crimes Tribunal on Monday rejected six petitions of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. 

The three-member tribunal headed by its Chairman Justice Nizamul Huq rejected his first petition for continuing the trial proceedings against him under the Evidence Act, 1972 and CrPC Act, 1898. 

The court said the tribunal has been formed under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 and the trial proceedings will be continued under it.

It also rejected his another petition seeking tribunal’s permission for engaging foreign lawyers as consultants to defend him saying that Bangladesh Bar Council does not allow it.

But the court will consider it if the bar council gives permission in this regard, it said. 

“Defence and prosecution can seek advice from foreign lawyers outside the tribunal, if they want,” the tribunal added.

About Salauddin’s petition for live broadcasting the trial against him on electronic media, the tribunal said there is no such example in the world’s history.

The tribunal also rejected his another petitions seeking 11 months time for taking preparation for the case and for a clear definition of 'crimes against humanity' in the rules of procedure.

Rejecting Salauddin’s petition for following the international covenant, the tribunal said it will only follow the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act.

After the court started around 10:40am, Mohammad Badiuzzaman, a Supreme Court lawyer who has been appoint by the ICT to represent Salauddin, submit a petition before the tribunal for meeting with his client.

The tribunal accepted his petition and asked him fixed a convenient time and informed. The tribunal will consider it, the court said.

Prosecutors on November 15 submitted formal charges against detained Salauddin to the tribunal, citing his involvement in 24 incidents of crime against humanity.

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