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Toronto, Jun 26 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Two former executives of Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Group Inc accused of bribing officials in Bangladesh appeared in a Toronto court on Monday to set a date for a preliminary hearing that will start next year.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested the executives, Ramesh Shah, 61, and Mohammad Ismail, 48, in February following a 2011 raid on SNC offices. The company is one of the world's largest engineering firms.

The Toronto-area men were charged under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, which targets any person who, "directly or indirectly gives, offers or agrees to give or offer a loan, reward advantage or benefit of any kind to a foreign public official".

Their preliminary hearing will be held in Toronto early next year, according to a court clerk.

Neither SNC-Lavalin nor the RCMP would comment.

Canadian authorities launched an investigation last year into alleged corruption in the bidding process for the Padma Bridge project in Bangladesh.

The case was brought to Canada's attention by the World Bank, which had agreed to lend Bangladesh $1.2 billion to build the 6-km (4-mile) bridge linking the country's underdeveloped south with the capital, Dhaka, and the main port of Chittigong.

SNC had bid to supervise the contractor on the project. The company did not win that contract, which would have been worth C$10 million.
The World Bank has since suspended its loan, and temporarily barred a SNC-Lavalin subsidiary from bidding on its contracts in the country.

The Montreal-based company is also caught up in an investigation into $56 million in mysterious payments to "agents" on construction contracts, who, in fact, did not exist.

In March, Pierre Duhaime resigned as chief executive of 101-year-old SNC after revelations he had authorized the payments, but details surrounding the matter remain shrouded in mystery.

The company's shares fell C$1.08, or 2.8 percent, to C$37.48 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday.

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Mursi never made overtures to Iran: aide

DUBAI/CAIRO, Jun 26 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - An Iranian news agency said Egypt's Islamist President-elect Mohamed Mursi had voiced interest in restoring long-severed ties with Tehran to create a strategic "balance" in the region, but a Mursi aide denied the interview ever took place.

Iran's Fars agency said it spoke to Mursi a few hours before Sunday's election results were announced and quoted him saying the two countries should get closer - comments that go counter to Western efforts to isolate Tehran over its nuclear programme.

"We must restore normal relations with Iran based on shared interests, and expand areas of political coordination and economic cooperation because this will create a balance of pressure in the region," the semi-official news agency quoted Mursi as saying in a transcript of the interview.

Yasser Ali, a Mursi aide, told Reuters: "There was never a meeting with the Iranian news agency Fars and what was taken as statements has no basis in truth".

On its web page, Fars published a transcript and an audio of the conversation. Reuters was unable to verify the recording but the man purported to be Mursi did not sound exactly like him.

Fars said it had asked Mursi whether, if elected, his first state visit would be to Riyadh, to which he replied: "I didn't say such a thing and until now my first international visits following my victory in the elections have not been determined".

Rivalry between Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran has been intensified by last year's "Arab Spring" revolts, which have altered political certainties in the Middle East and left the powerful Gulf neighbours vying for influence.

Since Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was toppled in one of those uprisings, both Cairo and Tehran have signalled interest in renewing ties severed more than 30 years ago.

Mursi, however, striving to reassure Egypt's western allies wary at the prospect of Islamist rule, is unlikely to stage major foreign policy reversals so early in his rule.

"STRENGTHENING FRIENDSHIP"

In a message to Mursi on Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated him for winning the vote.

"I emphasise expanding bilateral ties and strengthening the friendship between the two nations," Ahmadinejad wrote, according to state television.

Iran has hailed Mursi's victory over former general Ahmed Shafik in Egypt's first free presidential election as a "splendid vision of democracy" that marked the country's "Islamic Awakening" - a phrase Iranian politicians use to describe the events of the "Arab Spring" and its aftermath.

When asked about the possibility of Cairo and Tehran restoring relations, White House spokesman Jay Carney stressed Egypt's vital role in the region.

"It is perfectly appropriate for a nation like Egypt to have relations with its neighbors, but again we look to Egypt to continue its significant role as a pillar of regional peace and stability," Carney said aboard Air Force One as President Barack Obama flew to New Hampshire.

Western diplomats say in reality Egypt has little real appetite to change relations with Iran significantly, given the substantial issues the new president already has to face in cementing relations with regional and global powers.

"Iran is hoping for Egypt to become a deterrent against an Israeli attack as well as a regional player that Iran can use as a potential counter-balance against Turkey and Saudi Arabia," said a diplomat based in Tehran.

"Egypt, at least under present circumstances, would side with either of these against Iran."

CAMP DAVID REVIEW

In what looked like a reversal of comments Mursi made in a televised address after his victory was announced on Sunday, Fars news quoted him as saying Egypt's Camp David peace accord with Israel "will be reviewed", without elaborating.

The peace treaty remains a lynchpin of US Middle East policy and, despite its unpopularity with many Egyptians, was staunchly upheld by Mubarak, who suppressed the Muslim Brotherhood movement to which Mursi belongs.

The Sunni Brotherhood, whose Palestinian offshoot Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, is vehemently critical of Israel, which has watched the rise of Islamists and political upheaval in neighbouring Egypt with growing concern.

Egypt's formal recognition of Israel and Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution led in 1980 to the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two countries, among the biggest and most influential in the Middle East. They currently have reciprocal interest sections, but not at ambassadorial level.

Egypt's foreign minister said last year that Cairo was ready to re-establish diplomatic relations with Iran, which has hailed most Arab Spring uprisings as anti-Western rebellions inspired by its own Islamic Revolution.

But Iran has steadfastly supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Tehran's closest Arab ally, who is grappling with a revolt against his rule, and at home has continued to reject demands for reform, which spilled onto the street following the disputed re-election of Ahmadinejad in 2009.

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PDB proposes 57% retail power price hike

Aminur Rahman Rasel
bdnews24.com Correspondent

Dhaka, June 25 (bdnews24.com)—State-owned Power Development Board (PDB) has proposed to the energy watchdog to increase the retail electricity tariff by 57 percent per unit (each kilowatt hour).

The PDB also urged Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to make the proposed rate effective from July 1.

BERC member Selim Mahmud told bdnews24.com on Monday that the final decision on the power tariff would be made after holding an open meeting and a public hearing.

He also said besides the PDB, four power-distribution companies have proposed a 55 percent increase per unit on average in the retail power tariff.

The companies are Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd (DPDC), Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd (DESCO), Rural Electrification Board (REB) and West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZOPDCO).

On June 6, the PDB proposed to the BERC to raise electricity tariff at bulk level by 50 percent per unit. The PDB officials had said at the time that the retail power tariff needed a 30 percent raise.

The PDB in the latest proposal asked the BERC to fix the outer limit bar for lifeline tariff or compulsory minimum charge for residential consumers from 100 units to 60 units to tide over government's losses.

Bulk and retail power prices were hiked only on Mar 29 by Tk 0.28 and Tk 0.30 per unit respectively with teroactive effect from Mar 1.

Both the bulk and retail power tariffs have been increased twice this year.

State-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) on May 24 wrote to the energy watchdog to increase gas prices, except at the domestic consumer level.

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Dhaka, Jun 26 (bdnews24.com)—The Dhaka Stock Exchange key index registered a 64.12 points gain with around an hour and a half remaining into trading on the week's third day.

The DGEN reached 4330.80 points or 1.50 percent higher at 1:05pm on Tuesday.

Shares and mutual funds worth around Tk 756.35 million changed hands so far with prices of 219 issues advancing, 16 declining and 19 remaining unchanged.

The key index ended 21.13 points lower on Monday when it closed at 4266.68 points or 0.49 percent down with a turnover of around Tk 1.43 billion.

The DSE key index kicked off the week's trading 12.36 points lower.

The premiere bourse's benchmark index had shed 6.94 percent or 320.55 points last week.

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Boiler blast kills 3 in Narsinghdi

Narsinghdi, Jun 26 (bdnews24.com) – At least three people were killed and five others injured on Tuesday when a boiler at a Calendering mill exploded in Narsinghdi sadar upazila.

Officer-in-Charge of Narsinghdi Sadar Model Police Asaduzzaman said the accident took place around 7:30am at the Makbul Hossiain Bhuiyan Calendering and Finishing Mill in the upazila's Shahe Protab area.

The boiler exploded when workers started it for 'finishing' of some produced products. A wall of the factory fell on the nearby road and house killing three people on the spot, he said.

The deceased have been identified as Al-Amin, 25, a worker of the factory, Abul Hashim, 12, a madrassa student and one housewife 'Begum', 45, resident of a factory-adjacent house, the OC said.

Madrassa student Hasim was passing by the factory and housewife 'Begum' was at her home. Both of them died from wall collapse.

Police, Fire Brigade units and Rapid Action Battalion rushed to the spot immediately after the explosion. Locals rescued five injured and sent them to Narsinghdi Sadar Hospital, he added.

The injured have been identified as Jesmin Begum, 22, Isa Moni, 4, 'Sabbir', 3 and Abdur Razzak, 45.

Doctors have sent Razzak to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

The police official said the factory owner Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan and its managing director have fled following the accident.

"We are looking for them", he added.

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Tue, Jun 26th, 2012 12:56 pm BdST

Dhaka, Jun 26 (bdnews24.com) – Parliament has corrected mistakes in Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Act, 2012, which was passed four months ago.

The Act did not repeal its earlier laws, Dhaka Transport Coordination Board Act, 2001, meaning the authority is facing problems in doing its tasks as both it and the board are functional in parallel.

Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (Amendment)) Bill, 2012 was passed in a voice vote piloted by Communications Minister Obaidul Quader Tuesday amid protest from independent lawmaker Mohammad Fazlul Azim.

The minister blamed Bangladesh Government Press for the mistakes while Azim contradicted.

"In a printing press, there can be spelling or grammar mistake but mistake of content is not possible," Azim said.

There is perception among people that lawmakers just pass laws formulated by clerks, he said.

Citing the process, Azim said a bill is sent to the Ministry of Law for vetting after it is drafted by a ministry.

"The cabinet nods before it is placed to parliament. It is extensively discussed in the respective standing committee also," he said.

The minister said he was not avoiding his responsibility.

"Due to mistakes by the BG Press, we had fallen into a lengthy process to amend the law," he said.

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Order on Kashem’s bail Tuesday

International Crimes Tribunal-1 will pass an order on Tuesday whether it would grant bail to war crimes suspect Jamaat leader Mir Kashem Ali.
The tribunal fixed the date on Monday after hearing on Mir Kashem’s bail petition had ended.
Defence lawyers appealed for his bail when the court started the day’s proceedings around 10:40am in presence of Mir Kashem.
After placing the bail petition before the tribunal, defence lawyer Abdur Razzak said Mir Kashem should be granted bail as the 63-year-old central Jamaat leader was sick.
The defence counsel further said Kashem is a dignified person and he has no intension of fleeing.
While prosecution said Kashem, a very influential person, might hamper the investigation and threaten the witnesses if he is free.
Less than two hours after the court issued an arrest warrant against him, Kashem was arrested at the office of Bangla daily Naya Diganta at Motijheel on Sunday for his alleged involvement with the crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
The tribunal later sent him to jail with a custodial warrant.

Cabinet nods Dhk-Yangon flight proposal

The cabinet on Monday approved a proposal for signing an agreement on direct flight service between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
At present, there is no direct flight between the two neighbouring countries.
Once the agreement is signed, seven passenger and four cargo flights will shuttle between Dhaka-Yangon every week, Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told journalists after the regular cabinet meeting.
Bangladesh will now send the proposal to Myanmar for its approval to begin the direct flight service, the cabinet secretary said.
The proposal, placed by the Aviation and Tourism Ministry, mentioned the names of Bangladesh Biman, GMG Airlines, United Airways and two Myanmar airlines for operating the flights, he added.
The cabinet also approved a draft of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority Act-2011.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting at the secretariat in the capital.

US under secretary to arrive Thursday

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman is set to arrive in Dhaka Thursday for a two-day official visit to discuss bilateral issues with top government and opposition leaders.

This will be her first visit to Bangladesh since her appointment as under secretary of state for Political Affairs on September 21, 2011.

Diplomatic sources said political issues, especially the current political crisis created with the scrapping of caretaker government system, and the next general election will come up prominently during Sherman’s meeting with government and opposition high ups.

However, foreign ministry officials termed it as a “routine” visit to Bangladesh as she is visiting as part of her three-nation tour aiming to strengthen bilateral relations.

In Dhaka, the under secretary is due to meet the prime minister, foreign minister and leader of the opposition as well as other government officials.

As part of her programme schedule, Wendy Sherman will first hold meeting with Prime Minister’s Security Adviser Major Gen (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique Thursday afternoon.

In the evening, she will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban, official sources said.

She will also visit the Grameen Borrower Group site outside of Dhaka Friday morning.

Sherman is due to meet with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Friday afternoon and from there she will then meet Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence, sources added.

Prior to leaving Dhaka, the US diplomat will meet with senior government leaders at a dinner on Friday. It is expected that a select group of civil society members will also meet her during her stay in Dhaka.

The undersecretary has no schedule for interaction with the media.

Her visit is being considered very crucial as this will be the highest level visit by any US government official in recent years.