Hosne Ara still in office: Nahid

Dhaka, July 14 (bdnews24.com)?The education minister says Hosne Ara still holds the office of principal as per the law at the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College as Ambia Khatun who 'replaced' her went to the ministry.

Students boycotted class and demonstrated on Thursday, deepening the crisis at one of the most prestigious schools in Dhaka.

No improvement was visible despite the education minister's expectations that the crisis at institution would be resolved after the dissolution of its governing board on Wednesday.

No classes were held at one of the top educational institutions of the city, until Thursday noon.

The students reportedly have split in rival groups, causing anguish among their parents.

The students were chanting slogans at the institution's Baily Road branch against and in favour of principal Hosne Ara, who was 'replaced' by assistant professor Ambia Khatun by the board on Wednesday.

Around 5,000 students gathered in the auditorium and chanted slogans blaming Hosne Ara for allegedly being reticent about taking action against Bashundhara branch teacher Parimal Jayadhar, who had been charged with violating a 10th-grade student of the same branch and who later admitted to the crime.

Another group of students assembled in front of the main gate to allege that Hosne Ara was a victim of a conspiracy.

Posters terming Ambia Khatun a 'fundamentalist' were seen on the walls of the institution.

Several guardians standing in front of the gate told bdnews24.com that the problem should be resolved soon.

Speaking to reporters at her office on Thursday noon, Ambia Khatun said the current situation should be resolved as soon as possible. "It is most urgent now to return the students to the classrooms," she said.

She said the posters terming her as a 'fundamentalist' were nothing but propaganda. "It's very unfortunate."

At one stage of the discussion, Khatun received a phone call from the education ministry.

She claimed that the ministry had summoned her, along with a list of senior teachers.

Khatun, along with four other teachers, started for the ministry around 12:15pm. The other teachers were Manju Ara Begum, Minnatul Mahal, Rokhsana Shamim and Sufia Khatun.

Earlier in the day, Khatun told bdnews24.com that she had to take the charge due to pressure from students and teachers.

Meanwhile, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid told reporters that Hosne Ara was still in office.

Speaking about the 'decision to sack' Hosne Ara, taken by some members of the governing body, the minister said, "The board expired a long time ago. A new ad hoc committee has been formed."

On Wednesday, he had said "neither I nor my ministry" knew anything about the sudden change at the top. He had directed the Dhaka education board chairman, the joint secretary of his ministry and relevant people to resolve the issue by Wednesday.

"I hope that things can get back to normal at the renowned institution from Thursday," he added.

Following the allegation against Hosne Ara of backing Parimal, the governing board 'removed' her and ordered her replacement with Ambia Khatun on Wednesday.

Hours after the 'sacking,' the government dissolved the board for its failure to tackle the situation.

Dhaka education board chairperson Fahima Khatun told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that an ad hoc committee led by the Dhaka's deputy commissioner would deal with the developments.

Khatun had said that the governing body was suspended since it had failed to tackle the present situation. "The ad hoc committee headed by Dhaka DC Mohibul Huq will oversee the institution."

Asked about the fate of the new principal, she said, "If the former committee had removed Hosne Ara lawfully, then the decision would stand," suggesting that otherwise it would not.

She said from now on, decisions by the interim committee would be final and that "whatever happened until [Tuesday] is a closed chapter."

Hosne Ara later told bdnews24.com the move reeked of political vendetta.

Acting chairman of the board Dilip Roy said that while several members of the body had taken the decision in the morning, "it can't be considered as an official decision by the committee."

The governing body chief Rashed Khan Menon MP is currently abroad.

Senior teacher Rokhsana Shamim had earlier told bdnews24.com the removal of Hosne Ara had been decided at the governing body meeting on Tuesday afternoon and added that five out of eight members had endorsed the decision.

Hosne Ara, member secretary of the 10-member board, claimed she was still holding office since Khatun had been appointed illegally.

She told bdnews24.com Wednesday afternoon some people were making political gains by trying to instigate trouble.

Hosne Ara also refuted the allegations that she had backed Parimal Jayadhar. She and the acting headmaster of the branch, Lutfar Rahman, were also accused in a case filed by the victim's father.

Jayadhar, a Bangla department teacher, has admitted to the crime in a statement given before a Dhaka metropolitan magistrate.

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Hosne Ara still in office: Nahid

Dhaka, July 14 (bdnews24.com)?The education minister says Hosne Ara still holds the office of principal as per the law at the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College as Ambia Khatun who 'replaced' her went to the ministry.

Students boycotted class and demonstrated on Thursday, deepening the crisis at one of the most prestigious schools in Dhaka.

No improvement was visible despite the education minister's expectations that the crisis at institution would be resolved after the dissolution of its governing board on Wednesday.

No classes were held at one of the top educational institutions of the city, until Thursday noon.

The students reportedly have split in rival groups, causing anguish among their parents.

The students were chanting slogans at the institution's Baily Road branch against and in favour of principal Hosne Ara, who was 'replaced' by assistant professor Ambia Khatun by the board on Wednesday.

Around 5,000 students gathered in the auditorium and chanted slogans blaming Hosne Ara for allegedly being reticent about taking action against Bashundhara branch teacher Parimal Jayadhar, who had been charged with violating a 10th-grade student of the same branch and who later admitted to the crime.

Another group of students assembled in front of the main gate to allege that Hosne Ara was a victim of a conspiracy.

Posters terming Ambia Khatun a 'fundamentalist' were seen on the walls of the institution.

Several guardians standing in front of the gate told bdnews24.com that the problem should be resolved soon.

Speaking to reporters at her office on Thursday noon, Ambia Khatun said the current situation should be resolved as soon as possible. "It is most urgent now to return the students to the classrooms," she said.

She said the posters terming her as a 'fundamentalist' were nothing but propaganda. "It's very unfortunate."

At one stage of the discussion, Khatun received a phone call from the education ministry.

She claimed that the ministry had summoned her, along with a list of senior teachers.

Khatun, along with four other teachers, started for the ministry around 12:15pm. The other teachers were Manju Ara Begum, Minnatul Mahal, Rokhsana Shamim and Sufia Khatun.

Earlier in the day, Khatun told bdnews24.com that she had to take the charge due to pressure from students and teachers.

Meanwhile, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid told reporters that Hosne Ara was still in office.

Speaking about the 'decision to sack' Hosne Ara, taken by some members of the governing body, the minister said, "The board expired a long time ago. A new ad hoc committee has been formed."

On Wednesday, he had said "neither I nor my ministry" knew anything about the sudden change at the top. He had directed the Dhaka education board chairman, the joint secretary of his ministry and relevant people to resolve the issue by Wednesday.

"I hope that things can get back to normal at the renowned institution from Thursday," he added.

Following the allegation against Hosne Ara of backing Parimal, the governing board 'removed' her and ordered her replacement with Ambia Khatun on Wednesday.

Hours after the 'sacking,' the government dissolved the board for its failure to tackle the situation.

Dhaka education board chairperson Fahima Khatun told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that an ad hoc committee led by the Dhaka's deputy commissioner would deal with the developments.

Khatun had said that the governing body was suspended since it had failed to tackle the present situation. "The ad hoc committee headed by Dhaka DC Mohibul Huq will oversee the institution."

Asked about the fate of the new principal, she said, "If the former committee had removed Hosne Ara lawfully, then the decision would stand," suggesting that otherwise it would not.

She said from now on, decisions by the interim committee would be final and that "whatever happened until [Tuesday] is a closed chapter."

Hosne Ara later told bdnews24.com the move reeked of political vendetta.

Acting chairman of the board Dilip Roy said that while several members of the body had taken the decision in the morning, "it can't be considered as an official decision by the committee."

The governing body chief Rashed Khan Menon MP is currently abroad.

Senior teacher Rokhsana Shamim had earlier told bdnews24.com the removal of Hosne Ara had been decided at the governing body meeting on Tuesday afternoon and added that five out of eight members had endorsed the decision.

Hosne Ara, member secretary of the 10-member board, claimed she was still holding office since Khatun had been appointed illegally.

She told bdnews24.com Wednesday afternoon some people were making political gains by trying to instigate trouble.

Hosne Ara also refuted the allegations that she had backed Parimal Jayadhar. She and the acting headmaster of the branch, Lutfar Rahman, were also accused in a case filed by the victim's father.

Jayadhar, a Bangla department teacher, has admitted to the crime in a statement given before a Dhaka metropolitan magistrate.

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Jummas still being denied rights: Santu

Rangamati, July 9 (bdnews24.com)?The chief of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) has said that the Jumma people of the country are still being denied their rights.

Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, widely known as Santu Larma, on Saturday at a rally in Rangamati Gymnasium ground said that despite a peace accord inked 13 years back, the indigenous or Adivasi people were still being ruled by the army, laws on land disputes were yet to be amended and intrusion of Bangalee settlers was still going on.

He demanded revitalisation of the land commission, and revival of the laws on CHT regional council and regional council itself.

Santu, chairman of the CHT Regional Council, and other speakers also threatened the government of fresh movement if the anti-peace accord organisation United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) is not banned, and demanded an end to the ongoing politicisation of the region.

Former president of Pahari Chhatra Parishad Udayan Tripura declared the three local MPs 'unwanted' in the region as they were not pro-active in pushing for the demand for recognition of the local inhabitants as indigenous or Adivasi.

He said, "The three MPs despite being indigenous did not protest when the constitution was being amended in parliament, whereas being a Bangalee, Rashed Khan Menon and other MPs spoke against the government move."

The three MPs are Dipankar Talukder, the state minister for CHT Affairs, elected from Rangamati, Jatindra Lal Tripura of Khagrachhari and Bir Bahadur U Shwe Ching from Bandarbans.

Ruling allies Workers Party chief Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haque Inu were among those opposing the government move to deny recognition to the indigenous people.

PCJSS leaders from the region also spoke at the protest rally, followed by a procession, where a good number of people took part.

Santu said the indigenous people had been made 'second-class citizens' through the 15 amendment to the constitution. "Plans are afoot to make us Bangalee by erasing our indigenous identity.

"We'll continue our movement until we're recognised constitutionally," he pledged.

The amended constitution has termed the indigenous people of the CHT and plains as tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities, which the indigenous leaders have long been opposing.

Terming UPDF a terrorist organisation, Santu accused that the anti-peace accord organisation was carrying out extortion in the region. He also said they killed over a hundred indigenous people since 1997, when the deal was signed between the government and PCJSS.

He also slammed the government for delaying in executing the accord and diffusing Islam in the region that "leads to sufferings of the hill people".

Santu also called on all indigenous leaders in different parties to return to their land and raise voice for their rights.

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Scope still there for BNP: Law Minister

Nationwide

Author / Source : independent online/bdnews24.com

Dhaka: The law minister has said BNP still has the scope to discuss the constitution amendment issue and give its opinion.

"Approval from the cabinet doesn't mean it's turned to be a law. It'll be placed in parliament and be sent to the standing committee from where it'll return to the House again after scrutiny," Shafique Ahmed said on Tuesday.

"At every step, BNP has the opportunity to discuss the issue," he told reporters after attending a views-exchange meeting in the city.

His comments came after BNP's standing committee member Moudud Ahmed on Monday said there was no scope left for talks.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by prime minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the special parliamentary committee report containing 51 recommendations, submitted in parliament on June 8.

Shafique said the committee prepared the recommendations after taking opinions from all quarters.

"They [BNP] had been made member of the committee, but they didn't appear," he added.

"The country will be run as per the constitution; there is nothing to be done here forcibly," the minister added.

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SPECIALMohiuddin still bats for city govt

Mitoon Chowdhury
bdnews24.com correspondent

Chittagong, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? Former Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury does not see any alternative to the city government for development of the port city.

"There is no alternative to implementation of city government idea for development of Chittagong city," he said while talking to bdnews24.com on Thursday.

Mentioning that the system is there in many countries, Mohiuddin said: "We are to depend on the central government for budget [due to non-existence of the system in Bangladesh]."

Sometimes the financial year ends even before approval of project proposals by the government, he said recalling his 17 years' experience as CCC mayor.

Mohiuddin, who tried to convince the government to introduce the city government system during his tenures, believes the expected level of development of the city is not attained because of non-fulfilment of the idea and non-implementation of the corporation's income generating projects properly.

"I wanted to make the CCC self-sufficient with my own initiatives by introducing different income generating projects," he said.

He said he wants to cooperate with incumbent mayor M Manzur Alam in development of the city.

Ruling Awami League's Chittagong city unit president Mohiuddin, who served the CCC as mayor for three terms, was defeated by his once associate and pro-BNP Manzur in the polls on June 17 last year.

Mohiuddin said he advises the mayor on the affairs of the corporation whenever he meets him.

"When we meet each other on any occasion, he [Manzur] he seeks my advices on different affairs of the corporation. I want to extend all sorts of assistance to him for development of the city."

The ex-mayor alleged that some councillors were trying to misguide the Manzur in different issues including the development programmes.

He declined to evaluate the activities of Manzur. "The people elected him to mayor. Not it's time for him to do his job. The people will evaluate his works."

He, however, said the mayor is unsuccessful in running the income generating projects properly. "And probably it's the reason behind the increase in the holding tax."

Mohiuddin claimed that the initiatives taken during his tenures were successful as the profit from the income-generating projects was spent in different sectors, including education and health.

Disapproving of the recent move to increase the holding tax, he said: "Development is quietly impossible being dependant on tax in a poor country."

He alleged that the tax re-evaluation officers of the corporation were extorting bribes from house owners scaring them of imposing additional tax.

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