The New Nation - Internet Edition

CNN, Islamabad

Faced with increasing violence and unrest, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency Saturday, government sources told CNN.

Musharraf issued a provisional constitutional order proclaiming the emergency and suspending the nation's constitution, according to a statement read on state television. He is scheduled to address the nation at 1800GMT Saturday.

The Supreme Court declared the state of emergency illegal, claiming Musharraf had no power to suspend the constitution, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry told CNN.

Shortly afterward, Chaudhry was expelled as chief justice, his office told CNN. Troops who came to Chaudhry's office said arrangements were being made for his replacement.

It was the second time Chaudhry was removed from his post. His ousting by Musharraf in May prompted massive protests, and he was later reinstated.

In Islamabad, troops entered the Supreme Court and were surrounding the judges' homes, according to CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi.

Aitzaz Ahsan, a leading Pakistani attorney and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was arrested at his home. A former interior minister, Ahsan represented Chaudry the first time he was forced to leave his post.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who left Pakistan last week to visit her family in Dubai, was returning to the country, according to a member of her Pakistan People's Party. The Associated Presss reported an opposition spokesman as saying she was on a plane at Karachi airport. Bhutto returned to Pakistan last month after several years in exile.

The declaration prompted a few hundred people to take to the streets in protest.

Earlier, private networks had reported the declaration was imminent as top officials huddled at Musharraf's residence in Rawalpindi. Shortly after that report, most media channels went off the air in an apparent blackout, although some flickered off and on.

The declaration could potentially delay approaching parliamentary elections, according to CNN's Nic Robertson. It also could provide Musharraf with a reason to continue serving as the nation's military chief, although he has pledged to step down from that post.

Bhutto initially planned to leave for Dubai on Wednesday, but delayed her departure after a senior PPP leader advised her not to leave the country because of the current political situation. The nation's political atmosphere has been tense for months, with Pakistani leaders in August considering the imposition of a state of emergency because of the growing security threats in the country's lawless tribal regions. But Musharraf, influenced in part by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, held off on the move.

Since that time Musharraf has faced a flurry of criticism from the opposition, who demanded he abandon his military position before becoming eligible to seek a third presidential term. Musharraf garnered a vast majority of votes in presidential elections last month; however, those results have not been certified by the nation's high court.

For weeks the country has been coasting in a state of political limbo while the Supreme Court works to tackle legal challenges filed by the opposition that calls into question Musharraf's eligibility to hold office. Some have speculated that a declaration of emergency is tied to rumors the court is planning to rule against Musharraf.

Musharraf, who led the 1999 coup as Pakistan's army chief, has seen his power erode since the failed effort to oust Chaudhry. His administration is also struggling to contain a surge in Islamic militancy.

Bhutto, who has defied death threats, is working to lead her party into January's general elections and gain a third term as prime minister, possibly under a power-sharing deal with Musharraf.

On October 18, a suicide attacker killed at least 130 people in an assassination attempt on Bhutto during her homecoming. Bhutto received light wounds, but escaped largely unharmed.

Staff Reporter

Family members of the four national leaders and the leaders and workers of the Awami League and its front organisation paid glowing tributes to the four leaders, who were killed inside the Dhaka Central Jail on 3rd November 1975.

The four national leaders-Syed Nazrul Islam, Acting President of Bangladesh provisional government in 1971, Tajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister, M Mansur Ali, Finance Minister, and AHM Qamaruzzaman, Minister for Home Affairs, were slain by a group of misguided soldiers inside the Dhaka Central Jail on this day (November 3) in 1975.

Front ranking leaders of the Awami League (AL) led by Acting President Zillur Rahman placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabadhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his Dhanmondi 32 residence in the morning.

Later, the AL leaders placed wreaths on the graves of the four national leaders at the Banani Graveyard and offered special prayer, seeking divine blessings for the departed souls.

Party leaders, among others, Presidium members-Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Begum Sajeda Chowdhury and Begum Matia Chowdhury and Acting Secretary General Syed Ashraful Islam were present during the programme.

Besides, the AL hoisted the National Flag and the party flag atop all its offices across the country and leaders and activists of the party and its front organisations.

The AL will organise a discussion on the contribution of the four national leaders at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers this afternoon at 3:00pm.

Family members of the four national leaders visited Banani graveyard, placed wreath on the mazars of the leaders and offered special prayers seeking eternal peace for the departed souls.

They also organised separate milad mahfil at their respective residences in the capital and at their rural homes.

Talking to journalists on this occasion separately Brig Gen (retd) Safayetul Islam, son of late Syed Nazrul Islam, and Khairuzzaman Liton, son of late AHM Qamruzzaman, demanded the completion of the proceedings of the death reference by the High Court and the execution of the death penalty immediately.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman also reiterated the demand.

He called for the completion of the proceedings of death reference of the Bangabandhu Murder Case immediately.

Bangladesh Chhatra League yesterday observed the Jail Killing Day and demanded execution of the verdict of the Jail Killing Case.

The organisation observed the day by flying the National and party flags at half-masts atop its office building, wearing black badges and placing wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, says a press release.

Mahmud Hasan Ripon, President of BCL, Acting General Secretary Shahinur Rahman Tutul, Organising Secretary Ashrafur Rahman, International Affairs Secretary Sohail Rana Mithu, Assistant Secretary Siddique Nazmul Alam, President of Dhaka University unit of the organisation Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu and General Secretary Sajjad Sakib Badsha, among others, were present at all the day's programmes.

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh yesterday sought additional funds from the World Bank but failed to secure any concrete assurance from the multilateral lending agency.

Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam made the plea at a meeting with the visiting WB president Robert B Zoellick at his Planning Commission office.

The Finance Adviser apprised the World Bank president the overall economic situation of the country, the ongoing reforms and the steps being taken for reforms in the economic sector.

Mirza Azizul Islam briefed newsmen after the meeting.

Earlier, on Saturday evening Zoellick arrived in Dhaka by a special plane on a two-day visit as part of his South Asia trip.

On his arrival at Zia International Airport at 5.30 pm, Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam received him and drove straight to his Planning Ministry office along with Zoellick for a meeting, officials said.

On Sunday Zoellick will meet both the Advisers and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and discuss ways on which the World Bank Group can support Bangladesh's development efforts in becoming a middle-income country by 2020, says a bank release.

Zoellick will meet private sector players, visit a garment factory and learn more about the country's micro-credit initiatives. To this effect he is scheduled to meet Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, civil society members and some newspaper editors.

He will also visit a number of World Bank-supported projects in Bangladesh.

The World Bank chief would conclude his South Asia visit with Bangladesh as he is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Sunday night. Earlier, he visited Pakistan and India.

Zoellick became the 11th President of the World Bank Group on July 1 this year. Prior to joining the Bank, he served as Vice Chairman (International) of the Goldman Sachs Group.

He served as the Deputy Secretary of the US State Department in 2005-06. From 2001-05, he served in the US Cabinet as the US Trade Representative.

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University admission forms for the first year academic session 2007-08 will be available from today.

The selling of forms will continue up to November 18 and filled up forms have to be submitted on or before that date.

The price for each form has been fixed at Tk 250.

The forms of 'Ga' Unit will be available at the DU Branch of Sonali Bank at the Registers Building, 'Kha' and 'Gha' Units at the TSC Branch of Janata Bank and 'Ka' Unit at the Curzon Hall Branch of Agrani Bank.

The admission test of the university will begin from November 30 with 'Ga' Unit under Business Faculty, which is the most competitive unit.

The admission test of 'Ka' Unit under Science Faculty will be held on December 7, 'Kha' Unit under Arts Faculty on January 11 and 'Gha' Unit under Social Science Faculty on January 4.

The students who passed in Humanities, Commerce and Science groups in HSC have to get altogether a minimum GPA 6.00, 7.00 and 7.5 respectively in SSC and HSC examination for appearing in the admission test without having 4th subject.

This requirement will be applicable for other equivalent students.

It may be mentioned that the students from four units will vie for 5470 seats of the university.

Staff Reporter

Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Sheikh Tayebur Rahman was arrested from the city's Gulshan area Friday night in an extortion case and was handed over to Khulna police yesterday evening.

Gulshan police said the Mayor was arrested from house 5/A, road No 95, Gulshan-2 around 10pm. After the arrest, he was handed over to Cantonment police station Friday night and later to Kotwali thana police of Khulna.

He was arrested following a case filed by Hafizur Rahman, a suspended official of the KCC, with Kotwali thana in Khulna against the Mayor on Thursday.

Suspended official Hafizur Rahman accused KCC Mayor and its Public Relation Officer

Abu Taher of extorting Tk 2.90 lakh from him with promises of promotion, which was not fulfilled.

Besides, Tayebur Rahman is one of the corrupt suspects on the latest list published by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Sources said a sub-inspector of Kotwali police arrived in Dhaka Friday night and returned to Khulna with the arrested KCC Mayor.

Staff Reporter

The visiting Transparency International (TI) Chairperson, Dr Huguette Labelle yesterday emphasised the need for introducing a monitoring system both inside and outside the Anti-Corruption Commission to monitor whether the anti-corruption drive was being carried out properly.

Addressing a press conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city, she appreciated the reform measures taken by the present government saying that the measures would help reduce corruption in the country.

"A lot of measures that have been made are very important in reducing corruption.

These often do not happen overnight in order to see the differences," she said.

The TI Chairperson hoped that people of Bangladesh would be able to get essence of whether the corruption is indeed reduced by the measures that have been taken.

The anti-corruption drive and the trial of suspects in Bangladesh should be carried out in a transparent manner. Corrupt people should be prosecuted no matter who the person is. But it should be done in a proper justice system, she said.

Asked to comment whether the anti-corruption drive would leave any impact on the next general elections, Huguette Labelle hoped that the next general elections would be held in a free, fair and impartial manner as the reconstituted election commission was given strong mandate to ensure free and fair elections.

"The Election commission is playing its role in a systematic way and we hope the elections will be held in a free and fair manner," she observed.

Replying to a question she said anti-corruption drive does not reduce the economic growth of the country. Rather, she urged the people to look on rapid increase of prices of oil and gas, foodstuff, wheat, corn and sugar that contribute economic slowdown.

The TI Chairperson referred to the government effort to activate the key institutions of the country like the Anti-Corruption, Election Commission and Public Service Commission and said anti-corruption would not be needed if the institutions were worked properly.

On water sharing problem in the region, she emphasised the need for formation of a river commission comprising upstream and downstream countries to resolve all the problems related to sharing and using of common rivers.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, among others, was present at the press conference.

Earlier, the TI Chief visited Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury at his office.

In the morning, she also inaugurated a three-day regional seminar at Hotel Sonargaon on the Water Sector.

Staff Reporter

DIG Prisons Maj Shamsul Haider Siddique yesterday contradicted Khandaker Delwar Hossain's claim that Khaleda Zia has rejected Saifur Rahman and Hafizuddin Ahmed as the party's acting chairperson and secretary general.

He said, in jail there is no scope to talk politics.

Maj Siddique told The New Nation yesterday, "Whatever Khandaker Delwar Hossain said quoting Sharmila Rahman, Khaleda Zia's daughter-in-law and wife of detained Arafat Rahman Koko, about politics are not true."

"During the meeting between detained Begum Khaleda Zia and Sharmila Rahman at the sub-jail set up at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, I was nearby and there is no scope of talking about politics inside the jail," the DIG Prisons said and requested people not to be misled.

He added, "During the meeting between Khaleda Zia and Sharmili Rahman, one of our representatives was noting down their conversation. Moreover, Sharmila Rahman told me that they had talked about family and personal matters.

Maj Siddique also contradicted the statements of the leaders of both the BNP and Awami League, which they had said quoting the two former Prime Ministers.

"There is no scope of discussing politics and guiding the political parties from behind the bar. If detained leaders can conduct political activities, then what is the difference between a jail and the outside?" he said.

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain at a briefing at his home on Friday said that Khaleda had conveyed the message through her daughter-in-law Sharmila Rahman on Wednesday that Khaleda had rejected Saifur Rahman and Hafizuddin Ahmed as the party's acting Chairperson and Secretary General as well as the proceedings of the October 29 meeting of the standing committee, held without her consent.