The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed felicitated their counterparts of Turkey on the occasion of Republic Day of the country that falls on Monday. In a message to President Abdullah Gul, Dr Iajuddin Ahmed expressed his belief that the existing bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow in depth and dimension and be further cemented in the years to come.

In another message to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said, "I am confident that the ties of fraternity and friendship that characterize the bilateral relations between our two countries will witness further development and progress in all avenues of cooperation and be further cemented in the coming years for the mutual benefit of our two people. The President and Prime Minister wished their good health, happiness and the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Turkey.

Staff Reporter

The Bangladeshi expatriates in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) donated Tk 40 lakh for the flood affected people of the country, a press release from Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

In the wake of recent flood in Bangladesh, the Embassy took initiative to open account of Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare fund in the Janata Bank branches of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain.

In a response to the Ambassador's appeal to the Bangladeshi expatriate community in the UAE, people from various walks of life came forward to help their native flood affected people.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Nazimullah Chowdhury expressed his satisfaction at the expression of solidarity shown by Bangladeshis living in the UAE, and lauded their contribution for alleviating the suffering of the flood hit people in the country.

The donation came from Bangladesh Women Association, Abu Dhabi, students and teachers of SKBZ Bangladesh Islami School, Abu Dhabi and Bangladesh Youth Association, Dubai, UAE.

Staff Reporter

About 146 children were murdered during January to September of this year. There were also 153 unnatural deaths, 557 mental abuses, 60 rapes and 53 kidnapping incidents, according to media reports.

Based on this information Ichchey Media Group launched a documentary film "Niroboter Mukti-2" at LGED Bhaban yesterday. A view exchange meeting was also held on 'Violence against Children: Our Responsibility' in this connection.

Dr Selim Al Din, Professor of Drama and Dramatics of Jahangirnagar University, ABM Abdus Sattar, Joint Secretary of Labour and Employment Affairs, Salma Ali of BNWLA, Obaidur Rahman of Save the Children, among others, were present at the meeting, which was moderated by Mozammel Hossain, Deputy-Editor of the Daily Samokal.

Dr Selim said children would be safe and secure if the family and the society were built upon rationality, ethics and intellect.

"Children should study to enlighten themselves and work constructively at the same time parents must act responsibly," he added.

Salma Ali said there should be a specific law to protect children against violence. She emphasised on the implementation of law at the grassroots level and involvement of family, community and police for their protection.

Abdus Sattar said this situation could be changed by improving socio-economic condition of all.

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami has termed October 28 a day of stigma and said "terrorists of sticks and oars" trampled democracy and humanity and polluted politics by creating terrorism on Dhaka streets.

Speaking at a doa mahfil at the party's central office Sunday marking the "martyrdom" of Jamaat-Shibir workers on this day last year, he said those terrorists had jeopardized democratic rule and disrupted development process.

The doa mahifil was attended by mother of shaheed Hafez Golam Kibria Shipon, wife of shaheed Habibur Rahman, parents of shaheed Mujahidul Islam,, parents of shaheed Saifullah Mohammad Masum, parents of shaheed Jasim Uddin and mother of shaheed Faisal, and their relations. Nizami said when the 4-party alliance after completing its five-year tenure was preparing to hand over power to the caretaker government, the 14-party combine organized a procession of sticks and oars. Jamaat and Shibir workers were victims of the terrorist act unleashed from the procession of sticks and oars.

"We don't find words to console relations of the martyred families, but martyred families could get solace from the status of martyrs announced by Allah and his Prophet (PBUH)," he said. Nizami said one year has passed after the cruel incident, but the killers were not tried yet. "One may escape trial on earth but none can escape the trial of Allah, because Allah is 'Alimul Gayeb'." The Jamaat chief said the government's responsibility is to establish rule of law and every citizen has right to seek justice from the government. If the government does not perform its duty, it will have to be accountable to Allah one day.

Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid said some newspapers had polluted themselves by reporting the October 28 events in a distorted way and tried to conceal truth by false. He urged all to steer the country through cordiality and harmony by putting an end to brutality, killing and cruelty in the name of politics.

UNB, Dhaka

BNP's expelled joint secretary general Ashraf Hossain on Sunday ruled out the possibility of shaking hands with their rivals (Delwar faction) claiming that they are the mainstream BNP.

"We're the real BNPtquestion doesn't arise of returning to them. Rather, others will have to come to us because we have given some proposals and they'll have to consider those and establish unity in the party," he said.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, the expelled secretary general, at his Gulshan house, Ashraf also dismissed the allegation that they did not bring any BNP men resorting to coercive tactics.

"We believe in democracy and want to take all decisions democratically. Those who believe in democracy and healthy politics have sided with us," he said.

In reply to a question, he said whoever is elected chairman through

the party's election process will lead BNP. "We've no objection if Kahleda Zia is elected chairperson by councilors through election," he added.

Ashraf who was a whip in last parliament said they want to build up BNP as an ideal party through joint leadership but others want to establish unilateral or family dynasty. "We've made some proposals to establish joint leadership in BNP by ending unilateral leadership," he said.

Chittagong Correspondent

The probe body formed to look into the campus violence that held here at Chittagong University (CU) on August 22 is likely to submit its report on November 1 next.

The probe body has already interviewed 54 eyewitnesses of the incident including the latest phase of the interviewing that began yesterday. The probe body started its interviewing on September 2 and will be ended on October 31.

Sources close to the probe body said that they had to face shortage of eyewitnesses and confidential documents during the time of first and second phases of the interviews.

But in the third and fourth phases of interview, attendance of the eyewitnesses is sufficient and they have provided significant documents to the probe body.

The members of the probe body hoped that they would be able to detect the real culprits behind the campus violence after scrutinizing the interview and confidential reports.

One of the members of the probe body preferring anonymity told this correspondent that they had already identified some of the students involved with the campus violence after scrutinizing several video-footage and the information given by the interviewees.

On the other hand, the CU faculties and students expect amnesty from the caretaker government in this connection like the Dhaka University (DU).

UNB, Dhaka

Five people, including two of a family, were killed in road accidents in Comilla and Chuadanga districts on Sunday. In Comilla, a passenger was killed and 10 others were injured in a head-on-collision between two buses at Chhaygharia in Chandina upazila on Dhaka-Chittagong highway at about 3pm. The deceased could not be identified immediately.

In another incident, a woman and her minor granddaughter were crushed under the wheels of a bus at Madhaiya in Chandina upazila on the same highway at about 9am.

The victims were identified as Kalpana Rani Shil, 45, and her granddaughter Mukta, 3, of Kashba Kongai village in the upazila. In Debidwar upazila, a 20-year-old man, Kamal, died on the spot as he slipped down from a bus and crushed under its wheels at Yusufpur bus stand at about 7am.

Another report from Chuadanga adds: A man was killed and 15 people were injured when a bus dashed a roadside tree at Baka village in Jibannagar upazila early in the morning.

Police said a Darshana-bound night coach from Dhaka hit a power-tiller near the spot and then crashed into the roadside tree around 5:30am, killing bus passenger Babu, 38, of Mobarakpara village in Damurhuda upazila, on the spot and injuring 15 other passengers. Ten of the injured were admitted to sadar hospital while the rest to Jessore General Hospital.

The condition of five of the injured-Shahidul, 42, Bijoy, 30, his younger brother Ajoy, 22, Ruhul, 28, and Shafi Mandal, 52, -- was stated to be critical.

The body of Babu was sent to the sadar hospital morgue for autopsy.

UNB, Dhaka

Inviting international observers to observe the next polls in Bangladesh, President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed reiterated that the upcoming general election would be held within the timeframe set by the Election Commission. He stated this as outgoing Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Bangladesh Monsignor Paul Tschang In-Nam made a farewell call on him at Bangabhaban on Sunday.

Welcoming the outgoing Most Reverend Apostolic Nuncio to the President house, the President appreciated him for his sincere endeavours in strengthening relations between Bangladesh and Vatican City during his five-year tenure in the country. He stated that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the Holy See are excellent.

"Bangladesh is maintaining peace and harmony among the people of various faiths of its land and has emerged as a country of communal harmony in the world," Dr Iajuddin apprised the envoy. Stating that Islam is a religion of peace and committed to upholding humanity around the world, the President said that the people of Bangladesh are very simple, peace-loving, tolerant, pious and hardworking.

He informed the envoy that the government of Bangladesh has taken up various measures in the field of education for raising the level of literacy rate in the country.

He further said that the government has also initiated manifold programmes in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MOG) by 2015, and some components of the Goals have already been attained. Bangladesh's troops are contributing significantly to the UN Peacekeeping Operations through their dedicated and sincere efforts, he noted.

The President wished the Apostolic Nuncio good health and happiness and safe journey to Vatican.

He also conveyed best regards to Pope Benedict XVI and invited him to visit Bangladesh at his convenience through the Ambassador. Monsignor Paul Tschang In-Nam stated that the existing relations between the Holy See and Bangladesh are excellent and it would be further strengthened in the coming days.

He said Catholic Churches are running about 500 schools in Bangladesh with 90,000 students.

The envoy expressed his deep gratitude to the government and the people of Bangladesh for providing support and cooperation in discharging his duties in Bangladesh.

He said that the people of Bangladesh are "very friendly, hospitable and courageous". He is very happy to see the religious and communal harmony in the country.

The envoy thanked the people and government of Bangladesh for extending profound grief and sympathy after the sad demise of John Paul II in 2005.

Military Secretary to the President Major General M Aminul Karim, Secretary M Sirajul Islam, Press secretary Abdul Awal Howlader and officials concerned from both the sides were present on the occasion.

UNB, Dhaka

The Supreme Court Sunday upheld the High Court verdict that had declared illegal the detention order of former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed.

The apex court, however, partly granted leave-to-appeal sought by the government for hearing the High Court order that had also declared illegal the extension of the detention order under the Special Powers Act.

On September 12, the High Court, upon a habeas corpus petition, declared illegal Moudud's detention along with its extension and directed government to release him, if police does not want him in any other case.

Earlier, on April 13, the army-led joint forces arrested Moudud from his Gulshan residence and reportedly seized 16 bottles of foreign liquors and 32 cans of beer along with 220 pieces of sarees of the government relief fund.

However, despite the Supreme Court order, Moudud will not be able to get release from incarceration, as he faces corruption charges, court sources said.

Moudud, a stalwart of BNP, is among scores of once-powerful politicians, bureaucrats and business tycoons held during the ongoing drive against egregious crime and corruption. Barrister Rafique-ul Huq appeared for Moudud, while Attorney General Fida M Kamal stood for the state.

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League would participate the national election under the leadership of party president Sheikh Hasina. "We will participate the national election under party chief Sheikh Hasina's leadership after freeing her from jail," AL acting president Zillur Rahman said while talking to reporters at his Gulshan residence on Sunday.

He termed the cases that were filed against Sheikh Hasina as false and fabricated and demanded their withdrawal and immediate release of detained party chief.

Recalling the incidents of October 28 of last year, Zillur demanded the caretaker government to take action against Jamaat-Shibir and their patrons who were responsible for the incident. The AL leader said AL led 14-party combine had organized a blockade on that day marking the end of misrule of the 4-party alliance. He claimed that Jamaat-Shibir had launched virulent attacks on the activists of 14-party alliance and rained bullets on the demonstrators killing a cadre of Workers Party at Paltan. He alleged that BNP-Jamaat alliance under a blueprint of election engineering had appointed President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed as Chief Adviser of the caretaker government, which was opposed by the people. Earlier on October 28 last year, at least 12 people were killed and about 2,000 wounded as activists of outgoing BNP-led 4-party coalition government and Awami League-led 14-party opposition combine clashed in an escalation of violence across the country.

Staff Reporter

Four police personnel of the city's Jatrabari Police Station were suspended yesterday on charge of releasing the accused taking bribes.

The suspended police personnel are ASI Abdul Awal, and constables Nazrul Islam, Jalal Uddin and Mosharraf Hossain.

Police sources said the suspended four police personnel arrested for gamblers from a place at Jatrabari yesterday while playing gambling. Later, the arrested gamblers pleaded to the police personnel to release them instead of taking them to the police station concerned. Finally, the policemen released the gamblers taking some bribes.

However, those paid the bribes did not make any complaint. Rather, the complaint came from somewhere else.

Abdullah Al Mahmud, Deputy Commissioner of Police at the Wari region, said the police personnel were suspended for their involvement in "unethical activities." Final steps would be taken against them if they were found guilty in investigation.