3 Bangladeshis die in Saudi

Three Bangladeshis were killed in Saudi Arabia when a wall of an under-construction building collapsed on them.

They were identified as 'Ibrahim', 55, 'Najir', 47, and his brother 'Manjil', 60, of Muhithpur Borura upazila in Comilla.

The incident took place around 10am local time (BDsT 1pm) in Riyadh, their families were told over phone.

The deaths have been confirmed by Shamim Ahsan, director general of external publicity wing of the foreign ministry.

He said Bangladesh embassy had informed that the bodies were being kept at a local hospital and steps were being taken to bring them home.

A relative of the three deceased, Shafiqul Islam, said they had been working as wall painters in Saudi Arabia for the last 10-12 years.

Sayedee assisted Pakistan forcee

Dhaka, Dec 21
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee was in forefront of the local collaborators who helped the Pakistani army in looting and killing hundreds of people at Parer Hat in Pirojpur district in March 1971, a witness told the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday.

Sultan Ahmed Hawlader, the fourth witness to be presented before the three-judge tribunal headed by Nizamul Haque, said he had seen the Pakistani army personnel coming at Parer Hat in Pirojpur sometime in early March during the 1971 Liberation War. A number of locals had assisted the Pakistanis in the loot and arson that followed, he added.

"Delwar Hossain Shikder, who is now known as Delwar Hossain Sayedee, had led the heinous crimes," Hawlader said.

The tribunal has asked the prosecution to produce Sayedee, the first to face prosecution for his alleged war crimes such as murder, rape, arson and loot, before the court on Thursday. Sayedee was indicted on Oct 30, 2011 on 20 counts of "crimes against humanity".

Sayedee was present in the court on Wednesday when his counsel finished the cross-examination of the third witness, Mizanur Rahman Talukder. However, after Hawlader's deposition, the defence counsels told the court that they were not prepared to cross-examine the fourth witness.

Sayedee's lawyer Tazul Islam told the court that his client was ill and needed physiotherapy. "It's difficult for him to stay in the courtroom for a long time."

The court allowed Sayedee to get some physiotherapy on Thursday morning and ordered the defence to present him during the cross-examination of Hawlader.

On Mar 25, 2010, the government had constituted the high-powered three-member tribunal along with a special investigation agency and a prosecution cell. This was in line with the election pledges of the ruling Awami League to bring war criminals to justice.

Five of the seven high-profile war crime suspects so far to face trial belong to Jamaat while two are from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The other Jamaat leaders to face trial are party chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla.

The two BNP leaders are Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP and former minister Abdul Alim. The tribunal had granted conditional bail to Abdul Alim on Mar 31.

If convicted, the accused face a maximum of death penalty or a minimum of 10 years of imprisonment for crimes like mass killings, murders, arsons and rapes under the International Crimes Tribunal Act.

Retail power tariff hike

Dhaka, Dec 21
Another round of power tariff hike is set to be announced on Thursday.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) member Selim Mahmud told bdnews24.com on Wednesday the announcement will be made at a news conference at the BERC office in Karwan Bazar in Dhaka.

"The cost of electricity at consumer level (retail) is increasing. The process (of rate fixing) is already complete," Mahmud added.

The BERC member, however, would not reveal the extent of hike now.

BERC had raised bulk price of electricity for the third time this year by 31.16 percent on Nov 24. The increase took effect in two phases: from Dec 1 and subsequently from Feb 1.

The government on Feb 8 raised the average retail power tariffs by five percent to Tk 4.20 from Tk 4 from Feb 1.

The consumer-level tariffs were, however, not applicable for using up to 100 units in houses, irrigation and non-residential religious, social and educational institutions.

Mass hearings on the hike of retail power price were held in the power distributing companies from April to November.

Rural Electricity Board (REB) proposed to raise retail power price by 12. 97 percent, West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZOPDCO) 18.99 percent, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) 21.94 percent, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) 11.93 percent and Power Development Board (PDB) proposed to raise the tariff by 21 percent.

Selim said the tariff rates would be same for all companies except REB.

BGB to be divided into 4 regions: Shahara

Home Minister Shahara Khatun said on Tuesday that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be divided into four regions to bring dynamism in its activities.
Talking to reporters at BGB headquarters after a reception for 57 freedom fighters having the titles of Bir Shrestha, Bir Uttam, Bir Bikram and Bir Pratik.
The family members of the freedom fighters attended the reception at the BGB headquarters at Pilkhana.

Shahara also declared to raise the BGB sectors from 12 to 16.
The government is considering deployment of the border guards to the UN Peacekeeping Mission alongside the police and army, she said.
The number of gallantry award winner freedom fighters of the force is 119. Two Bir Shrestha, the highest military award of Bangladesh, awards had been given to Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheik and Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf for their contribution to the country's Liberation War in 1971.
Another eight had been given Bir Uttam awards, 32 Bir Bikram and 77 Bir Pratik awards.-

Bitter cold kills 4 in Chuadanga

Four people died due to extreme cold at different villages in Jibannagar upazila Monday night.
The deceased are: Tarun Nesa, 70, and Sabbir Ahmad, 12, of Goyeshwarpur village, Arji Banu, 90, of Koya village, and Sharifan Nesa, 105, of Medinipur village.
Chuadanga Met Office sources said cold spell has been sweeping the district for the last several days. Mercury dipped as low as 6.7 degrees Celsius in the district town early Tuesday.
Sky remained overcast almost throughout the last week. Extreme cold with fog and dew paralysed life in the district.
The harsh weather hit most the poor, especially children and old people.
Hospital sources said several hundred people, who have been attacked by cold-related diseases, received treatment in different hospitals in the last three days.
Scores more got admitted to hospitals during the period.