Jonogon :: Bangladeshi People's Newspaper

Trial in tribunal, not all mutineers BDR men

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:54:00 +0000

A special tribunal will be formed to fast-track trial of the perpetrators who "planned" the recent massacre at the BDR headquarters, some of whom were not paramilitary border guards, a minister said Saturday.

"A full investigation into the gory killings will be carried out. The government has some evidence which point to the involvement of people outside of the BDR," local government minister Syed Ashraful Islam said.

"The law minister has already been instructed to form a special tribunal.

"The law and the clauses under which perpetrators can be tried will be put before the cabinet and then a bill will be tabled in parliament to fast-track the trial process."

Legal actions would be taken against those whose link to the Feb.25-26 events was proved, said Ashraful, also the ruling Awami League spokesman, after a joint meeting of the cabinet and senior party leaders at prime minister Sheikh Hasina's official residence.
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He said the meeting strongly condemned the carnage, prayed for the departed souls of the slain army officers and sympathised with their families and renewed resolve to find the killers, instigators.

"Every single one of those responsible will be put in the dock."

He said some changes will be made to the enquiry committee formed to dig out the truth about how and why the incident happened.

Non-partisan, neutral individuals will carry out investigations and file a report "as soon as possible", the minister added.

"It's beyond our words to describe the shock events. Those we've lost were our assets. It'll take a long time to recoup the irreparable loss.

"Those who died in the Peelkhana incident are martyrs. They will be buried with state honour."

Continued Ashraful: "A monument will be built in remembrance of the slain officers. The families of the dead will each be given Tk 10 lakh and the government will bear their expenses."

On top of that, the government will help out those affected by the rebellion.

"The prime minister sent out army troops no sooner had she got the news. But it takes time for the army to reach a certain place. Whatever happened in Peelkhana (BDR headquarters) had happened before the army members had reached the scene.

"After that, our main concern was the safety of the hostages. The standoff was resolved quickly considering the security of the people in general apart from the BDR members.

"All the democracies of the world have endorsed the measures taken."

"If the army stormed the headquarters those who have survived may not have altogether. There's no scope to do politics over what has happened.

"Some politicians are trying to create problem through misinterpreting the events. We call on all across the political spectrum to get united to resolve the crisis," Ashraful said.

Bangladeshi death toll rises amid search for mutineers

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:37:00 +0000

Army convoys are combing areas around the Bangladeshi border guard headquarters, vowing to punish participants in this week's bloody mutiny, which killed nearly 100 army officers and civilians, according to The New Nation newspaper.

Bangladeshi firefighters continued to uncover bodies Friday of Bangladesh Rifles officers from a mass grave.

More than 160 army officers were inside the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) when the mutiny broke out on Wednesday morning, local reports said.

So far, 88 bodies have been recovered from mass graves in the outskirts of Dhaka, the newspaper reported.

At least 22 bodies have also been recovered from the Buriganga River after the rebelling troops dumped them down a sewer during the standoff, authorities said.

The 88 found dead were among those 169 officers, the newspaper reported. Another 27 emerged from their captivity in the headquarters of the BDR, a 65,000-strong paramilitary outfit primarily responsible for guarding the country's borders. About 200 BDR soldiers have been arrested.

The mutiny began Wednesday when BDR members took dozens of their superiors hostage.

It was the second day of BDR Week, when army officers and troop members from various BDR outposts along the border were in the capital for celebrations.

The New Nation reported that the mutinous border guards surrendered their weapons on Thursday after the government declared an amnesty.

The rebellion was spurred by years of discontent among the ranks of the BDR troops.

Recruits complained their army superiors dismissed their appeals for more pay, subsidized food and opportunities to participate in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
Bangladesh and its South Asian neighbors contribute the most troops to U.N. operations and the pay is far greater than the meager salary the jawans -- as the BDR troops are called -- make.

Fresh mass graves found in Dhaka

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:26:00 +0000

A third mass grave containing the bodies of slaughtered officers has been found following a mutiny by border guards in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

Fourteen more bodies were discovered at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on Saturday, bringing the death toll to more than 80.

Major general Shakil Ahmed, the chief of the force, and his wife were among the dead, while 60 officers remain missing.

The discoveries came three days after about 9,000 border guards rose up against their army superiors in what is believed to have been a protest over pay and conditions.

The government of Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, gave fugitive guards 24 hours to report to their posts or local police stations on Saturday and Bangladesh's army has vowed that those responsible for the bloodshed will be punished.

'Grisly slaughter'

"The BDR troops who took part in these barbaric and grisly acts cannot be pardoned and will not be pardoned," lieutenant general MA Mubin said in a national television address.
In video

New Bangladesh graves uncovered after mutiny

"They will be given exemplary and quick punishment by a special tribunal. The martyrs will be buried with state honours."

Jahangir Kabir Nanak, a cabinet minister, said: "These senior military personnel have been killed in a planned and calculated manner. It's a grisly slaughter. We will punish these criminals."

Firefighters had a day earlier uncovered the bodies of dozens of senior officers, killed during the force's two-day mutiny and hurriedly dumped into shallow graves and sewers.

Mass graves

Tensions in the BDR erupted into violence on Wednesday after senior officers rejected appeals for more pay, subsidised food and holidays.

The guards agreed to put down their arms and later fled after Hasina appeared on national television and threatened to put down the mutiny by force.
In depth

Focus: Mutiny reveals chaos
Gallery: The Rifles' revolt
Country profile: Bangladesh

Firefighters and emergency workers moved into the BDR compound housing the guards and their families and discovered corpses stuffed into sewers.

"The scene is horrific," Nicolas Haque, reporting for Al Jazeera from Dhaka, said.

"Where the mass grave has been found there is the terrible smell of death and flies are everywhere.

"Army officers, digging up the bodies, are in tears to see their own officers dead and mutilated."

Manhunt launched

About 300 BDR troops have been arrested and thousands remain at large after fleeing the compound after the killings.

"As you walk through the compound you can see disregarded uniforms left, right and centre ... You can see the [guards'] guns are still there, their clothes are still there," Haque said.

"There were more than 9,000 BDR troops that were here and the vast majority of them are nowhere to be found. There's a manhunt organised by the army to try and find these people."

A mass funeral for the dead military personnel was expected to be held once all bodies had been recovered.

Bangladesh has been observing three days of national mourning since Friday.

The insurrection is believed to have erupted over frustrations among the guards, who earn about $100 a month, that their pay has failed to keep pace with soldiers in the army.

Their anger has also been aggravated by the rise in food prices that has accompanied the global economic crisis.

AL all set for election on Dec 18: Ashraful

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:47:00 +0000

Awami League has said that the party is ready for the Dec 18 elections having almost finalised nominations and continuing discussions with allies on seat distribution.

"We hope the election will be held on time and all parties will participate," party spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam said on Saturday.

The AL general secretary was briefing reporters after AL president Sheikh Hasina met with Pakistan's high commissioner Alamgir Babar at her Sudha Sadan home.

It was a farewell and courtesy call by the Pakistan envoy, he said.

Ashraf told reporters: "Our president has said that the party is ready for the Dec 18 elections. The nominations are almost finalised. We are also discussing seats with alliance members."

"Our leader believes the election is the only way forward from the current crisis," he said.

On the prospective meeting between the two former prime ministers, Ashraf said only that the party was now busy with the election and nominations.

Earlier the Pakistan envoy told reporters that the AL chief was hopeful about the upcoming elections.

The election was an internal affair of Bangladesh, he said. If it was acceptable to the people it would also be acceptable to his country.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia had a similar meeting with the high commissioner on Friday.

Adviser hints at elections without emergency

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:42:00 +0000

The national elections will be held in "a free environment", an adviser said on Saturday, hinting at an environment free of the state of emergency.

"The government will consider fully lifting the state of emergency if the election environment develops smoothly," commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters at a press briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office.

Before the full withdrawal, another phase of relaxation of emergency was under consideration after the nomination process was complete, he said.

With BNP continuing to press its demand for a total withdrawal of emergency as a condition to joining the election, and Awami League declaring it is "all set" for parliamentary polls on Dec. 18, the adviser's statement signals continued attempts to smooth an accord with the two major parties.

On the demand by parties for "a level playing field", he said: "A huge change has been brought in field administration at the request of the Election Commission."

"The government is determined to strictly control any tendency that influences the electoral process," Hossain Zillur said.

If the EC received any complaint of bias, proper measures would be taken in this regard, he said.

He added that amendments had been brought to Representation of People Order Ordinance.

The power of the EC had been ensured to resolve any such allegations, he said.

On the pending trial of a number of cases against potential candidates, the adviser said that the issue was under the purview of independent judicial system.

Asked about the redrawing of constituencies, he said: "As the issue has been resolved in the court it is no more relevant."

Adviser hints at elections without emergency

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Sat, Nov 15th, 2008 1:48 pm BdST Dhaka, Nov 15 (bdnews24.com) – The national elections will be held in "a free environment", an adviser said on Saturday, hinting at an environment free of the state of emergency.

"The government will consider fully lifting the state of emergency if the election environment develops smoothly," commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters at a press briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office.

Before the full withdrawal, another phase of relaxation of emergency was under consideration after the nomination process was complete, he said.

With BNP continuing to press its demand for a total withdrawal of emergency as a condition to joining the election, and Awami League declaring it is "all set" for parliamentary polls on Dec. 18, the adviser's statement signals continued attempts to smooth an accord with the two major parties.

On the demand by parties for "a level playing field", he said: "A huge change has been brought in field administration at the request of the Election Commission."

"The government is determined to strictly control any tendency that influences the electoral process," Hossain Zillur said.

If the EC received any complaint of bias, proper measures would be taken in this regard, he said.

He added that amendments had been brought to Representation of People Order Ordinance.

The power of the EC had been ensured to resolve any such allegations, he said.

On the pending trial of a number of cases against potential candidates, the adviser said that the issue was under the purview of independent judicial system.

Asked about the redrawing of constituencies, he said: "As the issue has been resolved in the court it is no more relevant."

Adviser hints at elections without emergency

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:42:00 +0000

BNP to sit with govt Oct 15: Siddiqui

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:05:00 +0000

BNP to sit with govt Oct 15: Siddiqui

Dhaka, October 9 (bdnews24.com)—BNP has decided to sit with the caretaker government on Oct 15 for a special dialogue, said BNP standing committee member Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui Thursday.

Siddiqui briefed reporters after attending a meeting of a special BNP committee held Thursday.

Members of the special committee included BNP vice-chairperson MK Anwar, joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan, former lawmaker Abdul Mannan and office secretary Rizvi Ahmed.

The two-hour meeting discussed the probable dialogue agenda and the demands BNP would place with the government to be met before they agreed to participate in the polls.

Siddiqui, who chaired the special committee, told reporters: "BNP will sit with the government for a dialogue on October 15. This committee is carrying out the preparatory tasks prior to that dialogue."

"We are preparing a long list of the discussion points and developing a set of recommendations as well," he said.

He said they would submit a report on the same to the party secretary general Khandakar Delwar Hossain.

"BNP is an election-oriented party, wanting to play a positive role in joining the polls. The specialist committee is working to take that goal forward," said Siddiqui.

Mentioning the five-point demands previously raised by the four-party alliance, he said: "Our report will uphold those demands too."

The demands include lifting emergency, certain further amendments to the new RPO, withdrawal of all cases against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, release of all political prisoners and deferring the upazila polls.

Asked if BNP will go for registration by the Election Commission's deadline of Oct 15, joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan said: "We hope our dialogue with the government will help remove all the hurdles we are facing as regards registration."

While four advisers of the caretaker government met with the BNP chairperson at her residence on Sept 11 following her release from detention, Khaleda had talked about going for a further dialogue with the government.

Subsequently, at the Sept 7 standing committee meeting, she finalised a decision on meeting with the government.

The special committee members told reporters that the government also welcomed the opportunity for accord through dialogue.

New-look Tigers trump NZ

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:02:00 +0000

New-look Tigers trump NZ

Ecstatic supporters carrying national bi-colours pour into the Dhaka streets to celebrate Bangladesh's first-ever win over fancied New Zealand in the ODI on Thursday.Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Anisur Rahman
bdnews24.com Sports Correspondent

Dhaka, Oct 9 (bdnews24.com) – Bangladesh turned around spectacularly from the edge of an abyss to dismantle fancied New Zealand by seven wickets in the ODI series opener, their first stylish triumph against a top team on Thursday since their victory over South Africa in the World Cup.

With the first-ever thumping of No. 4 side in the ODIs, a new-look Bangladesh signalled that all was not lost and a new chapter, indeed, could open up after some top players ditched the national team in favour of the wealthy Indian Cricket League.

They have now beaten all major cricketing nations except England and the West Indies in the shorter version of the game.

The Tigers reached 202 for three with 27 balls to spare after Mashrafee Bin Mortaza helped the hosts restrict New Zealand to 201 for nine at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Opener Junaed Siddique, cool after losing his partner Tamim Iqbal, hammered a career-best 85 while skipper Mohammad Ashraful returned to form with 60 not out to propel the amazing turnaround from the depth of despair.

Man of the match Siddique and Ashraful together put on 109 runs for the third wicket. When the left-handed opener gave an easy catch to Jacob Oram off Mark Gilliespie, Bangladesh had been close to the victory with only eight runs needed from 38 balls with seven wickets in hand.

Ashraful along with Shakib Al Hasan took the side home in 45.3 overs to spark off wild celebrations.

Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim (30 off 57 balls), who was promoted up the order, steadied the innings with 67 runs for the second wicket after Tamim had fallen on 12, leaving the side at 18 for one in 4.1 overs.

The 20-year old opener, Siddique, faced 139 balls and smashed eight fours. Ashraful, who had been going through a bad patch since his century against the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup, hit his 15th ODI fifty to remain unbeaten off 56 balls, studded with five fours and one six.

Earlier, pace spearhead Mashrafee tore through the Black Caps batting order with four wickets in a miserly spell. His bowling colleagues, at times erratic, put up a spirited show to make sure the visitors did not get too far beyond the 200-mark.

Oram struck his 10th ODI fifty to rebuild New Zealand innings but could not stop the side from posting their lowest total against Bangladesh.

Their previous lowest tally of 224 came in Chittagong in 2004.

Mashrafee found his form to justify his captain's decision to bowl first following overnight showers in Mirpur. The tall pacer deftly exploited the early condition and then relied on accuracy to run through the top order with four for 44 in an unbroken eight-over first spell.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak wrecked the tail with three for 33.

Mashrafee, who returned three for 19 in his eight-over first spell with three maidens, could have snared five scalps had Mahmudullah not dropped Tim Southee in the final over.

New Zealand openers Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum, whose 28-ball 80 helped the Tasmanians plunge Bangladesh to a 10-wicket defeat in the final of three ODIs in New Zealand last December, threatened a repeat of a similar drubbing with a brisk 47 for the opening stand before Mashrafee brought the first breakthrough.

McCullum, who seemed uneasy against Mashrafee's pace, slashed him only to be caught by Syed Rasel at thirdman for 14.

Ryder, who was more attacking of the two, specially against Syed Rasel, soon followed his partner. He scored 19 runs in Rasel's first two overs and then smashed first-change Shahadat Hossain for a first-ball six before being holed out at midwicket.

Mashrafee finally had Ryder caught by Mahmudullah for a quickfire 34 off 35 balls, leaving New Zealand at 55 for two in 10.2 overs.

The visitors lost two wickets in quick succession, triggering a top-order collapse as Shahadat and Mashrafee dismissed Ross Taylor (2) and Jamie How (7) inside three runs.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, coming in the 17th over, trapped Scott Styris (4) lbw in his first over and then had Daniel Flynn (6) in his third over to reduce New Zealand to a precarious 79 for six in 21 overs.

However, Jacob Oram and captain Daniel Vettori briefly rescued the Black Caps with a timely 70 for the seventh wicket before Shakib Al Hasan removed the New Zealand skipper for a 57-ball 30 studded with four fours.

Oram, who survived a run-out scare on three, hit 56 off 88 balls featuring four fours and a six before before being caught by Rasel off Razzak.

Tailenders Southee and Kyle Mills scored 19 not out and 16 respectively to give New Zealand bowlers something to bowl at.

Bangladesh did beat New Zealand before, but it was in the warm-up match during the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.

The next match is on Saturday and the third and final game is on Oct 14 in Chittagong.

প্রত্যাশার এবং প্রয়োজনের জয়

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:58:00 +0000

প্রত্যাশার এবং প্রয়োজনের জয়

ঢাকা, ৯ অক্টোবর (বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম) --- নিউজিল্যান্ডকে ৭ উইকেটের বিশাল ব্যবধানে হারিয়েছে বাংলাদেশ। কোনো টেস্ট খেলুড়ে দেশের বিপক্ষে এটাই বাংলাদেশের সবচেয়ে বড় জয়, কিন্তু এখানেই এর গুরুত্ব থেমে যাচ্ছে না। বিশ্বকাপের পর গত দেড় বছরে টেস্ট খেলা কোনো দেশের বিপক্ষে জয় নেই, টানা হারে বাংলাদেশের ক্রিকেটের ভবিষ্যত নিযেই যখন শঙ্কা তখনই এই জয়। এবং এই জয় এই সময়ও যখন আইসিএল বিতর্কে বাংলাদেশের ক্রিকেট কোনঠাসা। ভারতের বিদ্রোহী ক্রিকেট লিগ আইসিএল-এর অর্থের হাতছানিতে সাড়া দিয়ে জাতীয় দলকে অবজ্ঞা করার মতো ঘটনাও যখন ঘটে গেছে তখন এমন একটা জয় বড় দরকার ছিল। মঙ্গলবার মিরপুরে সেই সব প্রয়োজনই মেটাল আশরাফুলের দল। আর সামনেই থাকলেন আশরাফুল। দলের মতোই টানা ব্যর্থতা আর আইসিএল বিতর্কে জড়িয়ে যার নিজের ক্যারিয়ারও পড়ে গিয়েছিল প্রশ্নের মুখে।

বিশ্বকাপের আগে প্রস্তুতি ম্যাচে নিউজিল্যান্ডকে হারিয়েছিল বাংলাদেশ, কিন্তু সেটা ছিল আনঅফিসিয়াল ম্যাচ। অফিসিয়াল ম্যাচে কিউইদের বিপক্ষে এটাই বাংলাদেশের প্রথম জয়। আর এই জয়ে টেস্ট খেলুড়ে দলগুলোর মধ্যে বাংলাদেশের হারানোর বাকি থাকল আর দুটো মাত্র দল। ইংল্যান্ড এবং ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ। এর মধ্যে গত টোয়েন্টি- টোয়েন্টি বিশ্বকাপে ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজকেও হারিয়েছিল বাংলাদেশ। সেটা ধরলে অফিসিয়াল ম্যাচে শুধুমাত্র ইংল্যান্ডই বাকি থাকল।

শুরুতে তামিম ইকবালের উইকেটটা দ্রুত হারানোর পর আর কোনো বিপর্যয় হতে দেননি অন্য ওপেনার জুনায়েদ সিদ্দিকী এবং মুশফিকুর রহিম। দ্বিতীয় উইকেটে তাদের ৬৭ রানের পার্টনারশিপের পরপরই জয়ের সুবাস পাচ্ছিল বাংলাদেশ। এরপর ক্যারিয়ারের প্রথম ফিফটি করা জুনায়েদকে নিয়ে অধিনায়ক আশরাফুলের গড়া ১০৯ রানের জুটিতে নিশ্চিত হযে যায় জয়। সেই জুটিই ৮ উইকেটের জয় নিয়ে মাঠ ছাড়তে পারত, কিন্তু শেষ মুহূর্তে মনসংযোগ হারিয়ে জয় থেকে ৮ রান দূরে থাকতে আউট হয়ে যান জুনায়েদ। ৮৫ রান করেছেন তিনি, ১৩৯ বলে ৮টি বাউন্ডারির সহায়তায়। তার বিদায়ের পর সাকিবকে নিয়ে শেষ কাজটা করেন আশরাফুল, তখনও বল বাকি ছিল ২৭টি। ৫৬ বলে ৬০ রানের অধিনায়কোচিত ইনিংস খেলা আশরাফুলের ইনিংসে বাউন্ডারি ছিল ৫টি, সঙ্গে একটি ওভার বাউন্ডারি।

বাংলাদেশের রান তাড়ার শুরুটা হয়েছিল ইনিংসে প্রথম বলেই বাউন্ডারি দিয়ে। কাইল মিলসকে বাউন্ডারি হাঁকিয়ে শুরু করা তামিম (১২) অবশ্য নিজের ভুলেই টিকতে পারেননি বেশিক্ষণ। একই বোলারের অফস্টাম্পের অনেক বাইরের বল তাড়া করে স্লিপে স্কট স্টাইরিসকে ক্যাচ দিয়ে ফিরে যান তিনি। এরপর দেখেশুনেই খেলেছে জুনায়েদ-মুশফিক জুটি। ৮৭ বলে ফিফটি পার্টনারশিপ গড়া এই জুটি শেষপর্যন্ত ভেঙ্গেছে দলের সংগ্রহে ৬৭ রান জুড়ে দেওয়ার পর। স্কট স্টাইরিসকে মিড উইকেটের ওপর দিয়ে তুলে মারতে গিয়ে রাইডারের ক্যাচ হয়েছেন মুশফিক (৩০)।

এর আগে একই সঙ্গে মাশরাফি বিন মর্তুজা এবং বাংলাদেশ দলকে বঞ্চিত করেছেন মাহমুদুল্লাহ রিয়াদ। মাশরাফির করা শেষ ওভারের পঞ্চম বলে তিনি ডিপ স্কয়ার লেগে ফেলেছেন টিম সাউথির ক্যাচ। যেটি না ফেললে ক্যারিয়ারে দ্বিতীয়বারের মতো ইনিংসে পাঁচ উইকেট পাওয়ার মতো কৃতিত্বের মুখ দেখা হয়ে যেত দলের মূল স্ট্রাইক বোলারের। সেই সঙ্গে কিউইদেরও দুইশোর কমে অলআউট করা যেত। কিন্তু এর কিছুই হয়নি, নিউজিল্যান্ড নির্ধারিত ৫০ ওভারে ৯ উইকেটে তুলেছে ২০১ রান।

অথচ মাশরাফির বিধ্বংসী বোলিংয়ে শুরুর বিপর্যয়ে পড়া নিউজিল্যান্ডকে আরো চেপে ধরেছিলেন বাঁ হাতি স্পিনার আব্দুর রাজ্জাক। সুবাদে ৭৯ রানে ৬ উইকেট হারিয়ে ধুঁকতে থাকা কিউইদের ত্রাণকর্তা হিসেবে জ্যাকব ওরামের আবির্ভাবও হয়েছে বাংলাদেশের সৌজন্যে। নির্দিষ্ট করে বললে মুশফিকুর রহিম। ক্রিজ থেকে প্রায় গজদুয়েক বাইরে থাকা ওরামকে রানআউটের হাত থেকে বাঁচিয়ে দেয় মুশফিকের লক্ষ্যভ্রষ্ট থ্রো। তখন ৪ রানে থাকা ওরামই (৫৭) পরে অধিনায়ক ডেনিয়েল ভেট্টোরিকে (৩০) নিয়ে সপ্তম উইকেটে গড়েন ৭০ রানের পার্টনারশিপ। এবং সেই সঙ্গে সামাল দেন বিপর্যয়।

মাশরাফি তার ৮ ওভারের প্রথম স্পেলে (৮-২-১৯-৩) মাত্র ১৯ রানে তুলে নেন ৩ উইকেট। শেষপর্যন্ত তার বোলিং পরিসংখ্যান দাঁড়িয়েছে ১০ ওভারে ৪৪ রানে ৪ উইকেট। প্রথম স্পেলে মাশরাফির দুর্দান্ত বোলিংয়ের পর নিজের প্রথম ওভারেই উইকেট তুলে নেওয়া বাঁ হাতি স্পিনার আব্দুর রাজ্জাকের জোড়া সাফল্যই কিউইদের পরিণত করেছিল ৭৯ রানে ৬ উইকেট হারানো দলে। পরে নিউজিল্যান্ডের ত্রাণকর্তা ওরামকেও ফেরানো রাজ্জাক তার ১০ ওভারে ৩৩ রান খরচায় নিয়েছেন ৩ উইকেট।

রাজ্জাক তার প্রথম ওভারেই এলবিডাব্লিউর ফাঁদে ফেলেন অভিজ্ঞ ব্যাটসম্যান স্কট স্টাইরিসকে (৪)। এর একটু আগে একইভাবে জেমি হাউ (৭) হয়েছেন মাশরাফির তৃতীয় শিকার। তবে শুরু থেকে অন্য দু'জনকে নিয়ে বাংলাদেশ দলের ভীতিতে থাকার যথেষ্ট কারণ ছিল। এমনিতেই মারকুটে ব্যাটসম্যান হিসেবে খ্যাতি আছে জেস রাইডারের। আর ব্রেন্ডন ম্যাককালামও কম যান না। নিউজিল্যান্ডের বিপক্ষে সর্বশেষ ওয়ানডেতে তার ঝড়ো ব্যাটিংই লজ্জায় ডুবিয়েছিল বাংলাদেশকে। কিউইরা বাংলাদেশের ৯৩ রান টপকে জয় তুলে নিয়েছিল মাত্র ৬ ওভারেই।

তবে ভীতিকর এই দুই ব্যাটসম্যানকেই দুই ওভারের মধ্যে ফিরিয়ে দিয়ে দলকে শুরুর সাফল্যের পাশাপাশি দারুণ স্বস্তিও দেন মাশরাফি। রাইডার শুরু থেকে তোপ দাগলেও তুলনায় ম্যাককালাম এগুচ্ছিলেন ধীরে-সুস্থেই। মাশরাফির অফস্টাম্পের বাইরের বলে স্ল্যাশ করে থার্ডমানে সৈয়দ রাসেলের ক্যাচ হয়ে ফিরে যান ম্যাককালাম (১৪)। ওই সময় অবশ্য রাইডারকেই থামানো বেশি জরুরী ছিল। শাহাদাতকে ব্যাকওয়ার্ড স্কয়ার লেগ দিয়ে ছক্কা হাঁকানো রাইডারের বাউন্ডারিও মেরেছেন চারটি। মাশরাফির বলে পুল করতে গিয়ে মিডউইকেটে মাহমুদুল্লাহ রিয়াদের ক্যাচে শেষ হয় রাইডারের ৩৫ বলে ৩৪ রানের ইনিংসটি।

ভোর রাতে বেশ খানিকক্ষণ বৃষ্টি এবং সকালের আকাশ গোমড়ামুখো হওয়ার পরও যথাসময়েই খেলা শুরু হওয়ার কৃতিত্ব মিরপুর শেরেবাংলা জাতীয় স্টেডিয়ামের সমন্বিত পানি নিষ্কাশন ব্যবস্থার। বৃহষ্পতিবার ব্র্যাক ব্যাংক ওয়ানডে সিরিজের প্রথম ম্যাচে টস জিতে যে সিদ্ধান্তটা নেওয়ার কথা, সেটিই নেন বাংলাদেশ অধিনায়ক মোহাম্মদ আশরাফুল। কন্ডিশনের সুবিধা নিতে নিউজিল্যান্ডকে ব্যাটিংয়ে পাঠান তিনি। কন্ডিশনের সুবিধা নিতে নিউজিল্যান্ডকে ব্যাটিংয়ে পাঠান তিনি। সেই সুবিধা নিয়েই কিউইদের চাপের মধ্যে ফেলে দিয়েছেন মাশরাফি-রাজ্জাকরা। বাংলাদেশের বিপক্ষে ওয়ানডেতে আগে ব্যাট করে এটাই নিউজিল্যান্ডের সর্বনিম্ন সংগ্রহ। এর আগে তাদের সর্বনিম্ন সংগ্রহ ছিল ২২৪ রান। তবে ২০০৪এর ২ নভেম্বর চট্টগ্রামে অনুষ্ঠিত সেই ম্যাচে কিউইরা জিতেছিল ১৩৮ রানের বিশাল ব্যবধানে।

Hasina to return after Oct 17: Ashraf

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:03:00 +0000

Hasina to return after Oct 17: Ashraf

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, at present in the US seeking medical treatment, is expected to return home after Oct 17, a senior party leader said on Sunday.

"Hasina has an appointment with a doctor on Oct 17, she will be back home after the check up," Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after a gathering to mark the 62nd birth anniversary of the party president at her political office in Dhanmondi.

"We are awaiting her return; she will lead the party and the nation on her return home after treatment," he said.

Acting AL president Zillur Rahman, also speaking on the occasion, demanded withdrawal of all cases filed against Sheikh Hasina.

"All the cases filed against Hasina were baseless. The cases were filed in a bid to keep her away from her people."

"There is no alternative to her release to handle the crises the country is currently facing," Zillur said.

AL leader demands speaker's resignation

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:02:00 +0000

AL leader demands speaker's resignation

Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta demanded the resignation of Speaker Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar on Sunday.

Speaking at an iftar gathering to mark the birthday of Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, Suranjit said: "He should resign after making political comments in violation of his oath as speaker."

"He should not speak in such a way when taking money from the taxpaying public."

At a roundtable on Friday, at the National Press Club, Sircar had said there was no cause for nationalist forces to fear as Awami League could not win the next parliamentary polls "even if it forges an alliance with 14 parties, 16 parties or 100 parties."

Sircar also said Awami League had destroyed democracy in the past and the future of democracy was not safe in Awami League hands.

Suranjit stated: "We will go to polls with our leader. We will win the election and Sheikh Hasina will be prime minister again."

The gathering of AL leaders was held at the NAM flat of former speaker and deputy opposition leader Abdul Hamid.

Hamid echoed Suranjit: "We will not go to poll leaving Sheikh Hasina outside. The government is able to withdraw the cases against Sheikh Hasina if it wants to."

He also said "Sircar cannot make the comments he did as speaker."

Hamid on Saturday termed Sircar's comments "undemocratic and against parliamentary norms".

"[Sircar] cannot ridicule a party holding the office of speaker, a national and non-partisan institution," Hamid had told bdnews24.com.

"By making those comments, he has lost the moral authority as speaker, who must perform his duties without political bias."

Questioning the Sircar's allegiance to the politics of BNP, Hamid also bitterly criticised the party.

"The very emergence of the BNP is undemocratic. It is unacceptable for the BNP to talk about democracy," said Hamid.

Focus on Hasina, Khaleda meet could derail polls: KP

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:59:00 +0000

Focus on Hasina, Khaleda meet could derail polls: KP

The recent focus on a meeting between the two former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia could have an adverse impact on the Dec 18 election, a senior Kallyan Party leader said Sunday.

"The Dec 18 polls might be hampered if dialogue between the two former prime ministers gets too much attention. People are worried about this," chairman of Kallyan Party, retired major general Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, said to reporters at the party office in Mohakhali-DOHS.

He urged national leaders to maintain the respectful attitude towards each other, which they have shown during Ramadan.

"Kallyan Party does not believe in politics of violence. Kallyan Party has begun a new form of politics," he told party leaders and supporters at a programme earlier.

The programme marked the joining of 50 new party members. "I think all of you will benefit by joining the party," Ibrahim told them.

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:43:00 +0000

Huawei donated USD 3million GSM equipment to BUET

Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Ltd. (Huawei), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, announced that it has signed an agreement with BUET (EEE) on 10th June, 08 for setting up a wireless communication laboratory & training center in BUET premises with Huawei’s Next Generation GSM equipments.

Huawei donated USD 3million GSM equipment to BUET for GSM laboratory as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This agreement reflects Huawei's leading position in corporate social responsibility as well as to improve the quality of education & research in Bangladesh. BUET will share it’s 250 square meter areas to set up lab and class room in a newly constructed building in BUET. This lab will be use for training, research & development purpose (R&D). Mr. Wonder Wang, Deputy Chief Representative, Huawei Bangladesh has sign the agreement on behalf of Huawei and Prof. Dr. Aminul Hoque, Head of EEE, BUET has sign the agreement on behalf of BUET in presence of Prof. Dr. A.M.M. Safiullah, Honorable Vice Chancellor, BUET. The occasion was also attended by Mr. Asif Zaman, Director HR & Admin, Huawei Bangladesh. Beside this Mr. Rubyet Adnan, Deputy Head of GU Product Department, Mr. G. M. Mahbub Alam, Deputy Head of Product Department, and Mr. Thouhidul Hassan, HR Manager also attend the session from Huawei Bangladesh.

"We are delighted to be work with Huawei as our GSM Lab & Training center partner," said Prof. Dr. A M M Safiullah, Vice Chancellor, BUET.

He also said, "Huawei's advanced technology and value-added services will help us to achieve our goal in terms of developing telecom expert in Bangladesh with this joint lab & training center."

“We are honored to partner with BUET," stated Mr. Wonder Wang, Deputy Chief Representative of Huawei Bangladesh. He also added “ This initiative is certainly a milestone to create technical expert in Bangladesh.”

From BUET side Register, all Deans, Director BRTC, Director DAERS, Professors & Associate Professors of EEE, BUET also attended the agreement signing ceremony.

In addition, December 2007 Huawei Bangladesh donated $579,241 worth of Data Communication Equipment to BUET for Development of a Data communication Network Lab and enhancement of BUET backbone network system.

The objective of this joint initiative is to establish a solid relationship and trusted partnership with BUET on technology sharing on Huawei cutting-edge technology in information and telecommunication solutions and to be parted in the front-line in pioneering next generation technology in research & development which in tern will help to create a skilled technical group in telecommunication field of Bangladesh.

This joint collaboration will be treated as milestone in the history of Bangladesh telecommunication field. This is to be noted that, this is also first time in Bangladesh where potential parties will get a complete GSM laboratory facilities for their hands on practice and necessary research work.

হাসিনার ডান কান ভাল হওয়ার আশা নেই: চিকিৎসক

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:38:00 +0000

হাসিনার ডান কান ভাল হওয়ার আশা নেই: চিকিৎসক
--------------------------------------

ঢাকা, জুলাই ০৪ (বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম)- যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের চিকিৎসকরা শেখ হাসিনার ডান কান ভালো হওয়ার আশা ছেড়ে দিয়েছে বলে জানিয়েছেন তার ব্যক্তিগত চিকিৎসক ও চক্ষু বিশেষজ্ঞ অধ্যাপক সৈয়দ মোদাচ্ছের আলী।

সরকারের বেঁধে দেওয়া আট সপ্তাহের মধ্যে সাবেক প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বাম কান ও দুই চোখের চিকিৎসা শেষ হবে না বলেও জানিয়েছেন তিনি ।

শুক্রবার রাজধানীর ধানমণ্ডিতে মুজিবুন্নেসা চক্ষু হাসপাতালে এক সংবাদ সম্মেলনে মোদাচ্ছের আলী এ কথা জানান।

তিনি বলেন, "শেখ হাসিনার ডান কানের বিষয়ে আশা ছেড়ে দিয়েছেন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের চিকিৎসকরা। তার বাম কানে কৃত্রিম শ্রবণযন্ত্র লাগানো হয়েছে। তবে তা এখনও পরীক্ষামূলক পর্যায়ে রয়েছে। শেখ হাসিনার বাম চোখেও স্থায়ী ক্ষতির আশঙ্কা করছেন চিকিৎসকরা। তবে ডান চোখের সমস্যা দূর করা সম্ভব বলে জানিয়েছেন তারা।"

কারাগারে শেখ হাসিনাকে পর্যাপ্ত চিকিৎসার সুযোগ দেওয়া হয়নি অভিযোগ করে মোদাচ্ছের আলী বলেন, "সঠিক সময়ে সঠিক চিকিৎসা দিতে ব্যর্থ হওয়ায় শেখ হাসিনার কান ও চোখের এ ক্ষতি হলো। তার হৃদযন্ত্রেরও সমস্যা দেখা দিয়েছে।"

তিনি বলেন, "তবে এখন যেভাবে চিকিৎসা চলছে তা অব্যাহত থাকলে তিনি (হাসিনা) স্বাভাবিক জীবন যাপন করতে পারবেন।"

ডা. মোদাচ্ছের বলেন, "শেখ হাসিনা ও তার চিকিৎসকদের সঙ্গে আমার নিয়মিত যোগাযোগ রয়েছে। তাদের কাছ থেকেই হাসপাতালে শেখ হাসিনাকে পরীক্ষার সময়সূচি আমি জেনেছি। সে অনুযায়ী, তার পরীক্ষা-নিরীক্ষা শেষ হতে আগস্টের শেষ নাগাদ লাগবে। তাতে সরকারের দেওয়া আট সপ্তাহ সময়ের মধ্যে চিকিৎসা শেষ হবে না।"

তিনি বলেন, "চিকিৎসা শেষ হলেই শেখ হাসিনা দেশে ফিরে আসতে চান। বড় কোনও সমস্যা ধরা না পড়লে আগস্টের শেষ নাগাদ তিনি দেশে ফিরতে পারেন।"

শেখ হাসিনা দু'একদিনের মধ্যে কানাডা থেকে লন্ডন যাবেন বলেও জানান তিনি।

এর আগে গত ২৬ জুন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র ও কানাডায় শেখ হাসিনার বিশেষ সহকারী ড. হাসান মাহমুদ বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমকে জানিয়েছিলেন, হাসিনার ডান কানের শ্রবণযন্ত্রটি নষ্ট হয়ে যাওয়ায় খুলে ফেলা হয়েছে।

যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের অরল্যান্ডোতে ডা. মিশেল এম বিবলিও উইচের ক্লিনিক 'অরল্যান্ডো ইয়ার, নোজ এন্ড থ্রোট অ্যাসোসিয়েটস' এ আওয়ামী লীগ সভানেত্রীর কানের পরীক্ষা করা হয় বলে হাসান মাহমুদ জানান।

সরকার গত ১১ জুন এক নির্বাহী আদেশে কারাবান্দি শেখ হাসিনাকে আট সপ্তাহের জন্য সাময়িক মুক্তি দেয়। কান ও চোখের চিকিৎসার জন্য হাসিনা ১২জুন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের উদ্দেশ্যে ঢাকা ছাড়েন।

গত বছর ১৬ জুলাই শেখ হাসিনাকে গ্রেপ্তার করে আইন-শৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনী। তার বিরুদ্ধে কয়েকটি মামলা বিচারাধীন।

পুলিশ থেকে ছিনতাইকারী

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:32:00 +0000

পুলিশ থেকে ছিনতাইকারী
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ঢাকা, জুলাই ০৪ (বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম)- রেজাউল শরীফ (৩০) ও শফিকুল আলম (৩১) আগে ছিলেন পুলিশের কনস্টেবল। গত ফেব্র"য়ারিতে ব্ল্যাকমেইলিংয়ের অভিযোগে চাকরি হারানোর পর ছিনতাইয়ে নেমেছেন তারা। বৃহস্পতিবার রাতে গোয়েন্দা পুলিশ পরিচয়ে ছিনতাইয়ের সময় তাদের গ্রেপ্তার করা হয়।

শাহবাগ থানার ভারপ্রাপ্ত কর্মকর্তা রেজাউল করিম শুক্রবার বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমকে বলেন, "এ দু'জন পুলিশ কনস্টেবল হিসেবে রাজারবাগ পুলিশ লাইনে কর্মরত ছিলেন। ভয় দেখিয়ে টাকা আদায়ের অভিযোগে গত ফেব্র"য়ারিতে তাদের চাকরিচ্যুত করা হয়। বৃহস্পতিবার হাইকোর্টের সামনে গোয়েন্দা (ডিবি) পুলিশ পরিচয়ে ছিনতাই করার সময় পুলিশ তাদের গ্রেপ্তার করে।"

একই থানার সহকারী উপ-পরিদর্শক হামিদুর রহমান জানান, নিশিকান্ত দাস নামে এক ব্যক্তি বৃহস্পতিবার রাতেই রেজাউল ও শফিকুলের বিরুদ্ধে ছিনতাইয়ের অভিযোগে মামলা করেছেন।

নিশিকান্ত অভিযোগ করেছেন, রাতে হাইকোর্টের সামনে ফুটপাত দিয়ে যাওয়ার সময় রেজাউল ও শফিকুল তার পথরোধ করে এবং নিজেদের গোয়েন্দা পুলিশ পরিচয় দিয়ে তাদের সঙ্গে অফিসে যেতে বলে। কিছু দূর যাওয়ার পর তারা নীশিকান্তের শরীর তল্লাশির নামে একটি মোবাইল ফোন সেট ও নগদ ৯০০ টাকা ছিনিয়ে নেয়।

এ সময় নীশিকান্ত চিৎকার শুরু করলে কর্তব্যরত পুলিশ এগিয়ে এসে রেজাউল ও শফিকুলকে আটক করে শাহবাগ থানায় সোপর্দ করে।

শুক্রবার তাদের আদালতের মাধ্যমে জেল হাজতে পাঠানো হয়েছে।

পল্টনে ব্যবসায়ীকে কুপিয়ে ১৫ লাখ টাকা ছিনতাই

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:18:00 +0000

পল্টনে ব্যবসায়ীকে কুপিয়ে ১৫ লাখ টাকা ছিনতাই
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ঢাকা, জুন ২৬ (বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর)- রাজধানীর পল্টনে বৃহস্পতিবার রাতে ছিনতাইকারীরা একজন মুদ্রা-বিনিয়ম ব্যবসায়ীকে কুপিয়ে বিদেশি মুদ্রাসহ প্রায় ১৫ লাখ টাকা ছিনিয়ে নিয়েছে।

গুরুতর আহত ব্যবসায়ী গোলাম জিলানী মন্টু (৪৮) পঙ্গু হাসপাতালে চিকিৎসাধীন রয়েছেন। তিনি ১১৮ ডিআইটি এক্সটেনশন রোড, ফকিরাপুলের সৈকত মানি এক্সচেঞ্জের মালিক।

মতিঝিল থানার উপ-পরিদর্শক শরিফুল ইসলাম বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমকে জানান, রাত সাড়ে আটটার দিকে মন্টু তার কার্যালয় বন্ধ করে একটি ব্যাগে নগদ ১০ লাখ টাকা এবং পাঁচ লাখ টাকা সমমানের বিদেশি মুদ্রা নিয়ে তার নয়াপল্টনের বাসার উদ্দেশে বের হন। তিনি পায়ে হেঁটে প্রধান সড়কে উঠে রিকশার জন্য অপেক্ষা করছিলেন। এসময় ৩/৪ জন ছিনতাইকারী অস্ত্রের মুখে তার কাছ থেকে টাকার ব্যাগটি ছিনিয়ে নেওয়ার চেষ্টা করে। মন্টু বাধা দিলে ছিনতাইকারীরা তাকে কুপিয়ে ব্যাগটি নিয়ে পালিয়ে যায়।

পথচারী ও পুলিশ মন্টুকে উদ্ধার করে প্রথমে ঢাকা মেডিকেল কলেজ হাসপাতালে নিয়ে যায়। সেখান থেকে তাকে পঙ্গু হাসপাতালে নেওয়া হয়।

জিপিএ- ৫ পেয়েও ভাল কলেজে ভর্তির সুযোগ পাবে না অনেকে

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:01:00 +0000

জিপিএ- ৫ পেয়েও ভাল কলেজে ভর্তির সুযোগ পাবে না অনেকে
এসএসসিতে ভালো ফল করেও অনেক শিক্ষার্থী ভাল কলেজে ভর্তি হতে পারবে না। এমনকি জিপিএ- ৫ পাওয়া অনেকও আসন স্বল্পতার কারণে কাক্সিক্ষত কলেজে ভর্তির সুযোগ পাবে না। বৃহস্পতিবার প্রকাশিত এসএসসি ও সমমানের পরীক্ষায় সারাদেশে নয় বোর্ডে জিপিএ- ৫ পেয়েছে ৫২ হাজার ৫০০ শিক্ষার্থী। এরমধ্যে এসএসসিতে জিপিএ- ৫ প্রাপ্তদের সংখ্যা ৪১ হাজার ৯১৭।

8.6 mln children not attending schools in Bangladesh

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:41:00 +0000

Around 8.6 million children are not attending schools in Bangladesh and many of them have to start working at an early age, private news agency UNB reported Thursday.The figure was revealed at a national seminar on child labor held here on Thursday observing the World Day Against Child Labor.

This year's theme for the day is: Education: The Right Response to Child Labor. International Labor Organization (ILO), the UNICEF and UNESCO jointly organized the seminar in collaboration with Ministries of Labor and Employment and Primary and Mass Education of Bangladesh.

Experts at the seminar said the lifetime earning ability of children is reduced by 13-20 percent as they enter into the workforce at a young age.

Dr Mahfuzul Haques, secretary of Bangladesh's Labor and Employment Ministry, told the seminar that the government has already prepared the final draft of National Policy for Elimination Child Labor, aiming to reduce the number of child laborers from different economic sectors.

Nabendra Dahal of UNICEF said only 2.5 percent of GDP is invested in education in Bangladesh, which needs to be enhanced significantly to create an impact, particularly on child labor.

Another survey conducted by ILO in 2003 showed some 1.3 million child workers, out of 7.4 million, at the age of 5-17 in Bangladesh are involved in various hazardous works.

BANGLADESH: 21,000 women die annually in childbirth

noreply@blogger.com (Jonogon) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:11:00 +0000

DHAKA, 13 June 2008 (IRIN) - Nasima Begum is all too aware of the risks of childbirth in Bangladesh. At only 18, she has already lost two babies.

"The first one died because we didn't know that the mother needed medical check-ups during pregnancy. The second one died because we took Nasima to a private clinic where there were no trained birth attendants," her husband, Selim Reza, 25, a rickshaw driver, told IRIN.

"This time we were careful. I took her to a locally trained birth attendant every three months during her pregnancy and she had a safe birth," he said.

According to the UN Children's Agency (UNICEF) State of the World's Children Report 2008, Bangladesh has the worst maternal mortality rate (MMR) in South Asia at 570 per 100,000 live births.

In comparison, the rates in neighbouring India and Pakistan are 450 and 320 respectively, the report states.

According to Bangladesh's 2007 Demographic and Health Survey, 21,000 mothers die annually of pregnancy and childbirth-related causes, principally because skilled birth attendants account for just 13 percent of all deliveries in Bangladesh, according to government health experts.

The problem is particularly pronounced in rural areas, where more than 75 percent of the country's 150 million inhabitants live.

"Eighty percent of maternal deaths happen in the countryside," said Sabera Khatun of the department of gynaecology and obstetrics at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka. "Medical facilities have not reached the rural areas as extensively as they should."

Major causes

Most women die of haemorrhaging, followed by anaemia, hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour and abortion, explained Ferdousi Begum of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

CARE Bangladesh, which has been organising community initiatives to promote maternal and neo-natal health for past 25 years, cites delays in seeking medical assistance and receiving the appropriate healthcare, as well as transportation problems, as contributing factors.

Findings from the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey concluded that just over half of all pregnant women received any institutional health services during childbirth, while significantly fewer received institutional post-natal healthcare.

"Fifty-six percent of women go to hospitals and clinics for ante-natal care, but the rate is only 18 percent for post-natal care," said Laila Anjumand Banu, health and environment secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), a prominent women's rights organisation.

More resources required

Abul Barakat of the Bangladesh Economic Association blames the high maternal mortality rate on poor budgetary allocation by the government.

Photo: Shamsuddin Ahmed/IRIN

Bangladesh needs an additional 10,000 midwives

Health accounts for just 5.9 percent of Bangladesh's overall national budget, with safe delivery services receiving just a fraction of that.

"Safe delivery services make up only 9.5 percent of the health budget," Barakat explained.

"A two to three times increase in budget is required for delivery care components," he said, adding that the number of service providers in emergency obstetric care, particularly doctors and nurses, should be increased.

However, Bangladesh's per capita health expenditure is just US$4.62, while only 1 percent of gross domestic product goes on health, he said. In addition, coverage is limited. Since 1998, a comprehensive maternal healthcare project has been introduced to only 80 of the country's 482 sub-districts.

Shortage of midwives

To reduce maternal and infant mortality, according to the Bangladesh Nursing Council, the country needed another 10,000 midwives to boost the 22,000 employed at present.

Moreover, a six-month extended training was required to allow them to work as full-time midwives, stated a recent paper by the Nursing Council.

At present, nurses are only given midwifery training in the last year of their four-year nursing course.

"But these nurses cannot provide their full services to provide special care to mothers and newborns because nurses have to attend to various official and clinical responsibilities that are not related to pregnancy and childbirth," noted Begum Shamsun Nahar, registrar of the Bangladesh Nursing Council.

"Midwives can play an important role in reducing maternal and infant mortality by ensuring proper services during pregnancy and the delivery period and through ante-natal care," she said.

To fulfil the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health, Bangladesh will need to increase the presence of skilled birth attendants to 50 percent of births and bring down the MMR to 240 by 2015.