The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Gazipur

Election has to be held very quickly since a "non-elected government cannot run for long", Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said Saturday. The CEC made his latest observations about the interim administration and the urgency of holding the stalled polls while addressing a view-exchange meeting at Shafiuddin Sarkar Academy in Tongi where he inaugurated the photo voter list and national identity (NID) card programme on Saturday "Non-elected government can't continue for long. So the elections will have to be arranged quickly," he told the meeting. The Chief Election Commissioner said that there would be a few days delay in preparing the voter list at 11 places following the natural calamity, but the delay wouldn't be any problem in implementing the election roadmap.

As per the Election Commission-announced roadmap, the photo voter list would be completed by October next and national elections held by December 2008.

Caretaker-government authorities, however, have said that the polls could be held even before the deadline if preparations completed early.

About the tangle over inviting the reformist BNP faction to the EC-sponsored dialogue on electoral reforms, the CEC opined that a third party now could help out and wondered why the protestors not going to court.

"The decision of a third party is needed now… Why they aren't going to the court?" he posed the question to the newsmen when asked about the objection of Khandakar Delwar Hossain-led faction of BNP regarding inviting the Safur-Hafiz faction of the party to sit for electoral dialogue with the EC.Asked about the neutrality of the EC that has been questioned because of inviting the pro-reform faction of BNP, the CEC said the faction might raise the same question if they would have invited the Delwar-led faction, which is recognized as loyal to detained party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

"The rules and regulations will be prepared in this regard in consultation with the political parties," CEC Huda said when asked what would be done about the parties' registration if reforms within the political parties do not take place or they remain divided even before elections.

A total of 74 voter-registration centres have been set up in 12 wards of Tongi municipality, and in the first phase, the task of preparing voter list started at 22 centres in four wards on Saturday Presided by deputy commissioner Syed Mizanur Rahman, the meeting was attended by the head of Gazipur army camp Lt. Con. Zakir Hossain, local elite and journalists.

Staff Reporter

Since 1822 nine major storms hit in Bangladesh in different periods. The last major storm named Sidr, which hit the country on November 16.

Chronology of the major storms in the following:

In May 1822, a cyclone accompanied by storm surge, hit Barisal, Hatiya Island and Noakhali, claiming lives of about 40,000 people.

In October 31, 1876, a cyclone with a storm surge of 40-feet above the normal astronomical tide hit River Meghna estuary near Chittagong, Noakhali and Barisal, leaving about 200,000 people dead. In October 30 to 31, 1960, a severe cyclonic storm hit Chittagong, Noakhali, Bakerganj, Faridpur, Patuakhali and eastern Meghna estuary at a speed of 210 kilometres per hour, leaving about 10,000 people killed.

In May 9, 1961, a severe cyclonic storm at a speed of 161 kilometres per hour hit Bagerhat and Khulna, leaving about 11,468 people killed (mostly in Char Alexander).

In May 28 to 29, 1963, a sever cyclonic storm lashed Chittagong, Noakhali, Cox's Bazar and coastal islands of Sandwip, Kutubdia, Hatiya and Maheshkhali, killing about 11,520 people. In November 12, 1970, a cyclone hit the entire coast of Bangladesh with a maximum wind speed of 222 kilometres per hour. The official death toll was 500,000, but the unofficial figure was about 120,0000.

In May 24 to 25, 1985, a severe cyclone hit Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali and coastal islands where death toll was 11,069.

In April 29 to 30, 1991, another cyclone hit Bangladesh at late night of April 29. The storm originated in the Pacific Ocean and reached the Bay of Bengal coast after 20 days. The maximum wind speed reached 225 kilometres per hour. Official death toll rose to 150,000. At least on November 16, 2007 the hurricane Sidr hit 16 districts including coastal regions particularly Barisal and Khulna, as it started crossing the country from northern Bay of Bengal with high tidal surge and strong winds of over 200 kilometres per hour. Central part of the severe cyclone passed through the central part of the country, hitting entire Bangladesh fully or partially, levelling homes and standing 'aman' and 'robi' crops on its way. Thousands of cattle heads, deer and Royal Bengal Tiger of Sundarban and birds were also feared dead.

Staff Reporter

Detained Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed her profound shock at the death of more than 2,000 people in the cyclone-affected districts.

She also expressed her sadness as she could not stand beside the cyclone-affected helpless people.

Hasina expressed her shock when her husband Dr Wajed Mia went to the sub-jail at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex to meet his wife on the occasion of their 40th wedding ceremony.

Staying with Hasina for about an hour Wajed Mia left for home. During the meeting grand-son Shamsur Rahman Tutul was also present.

Later, Sheikh Hasina's special assistant Dr Hasan Mahmud told journalists that the AL chief expressed her profound shock as she could not stand beside the cyclone-affected people.

Dr Mahmud also alleged that Sheikh Hasina's lawyers and relatives were not allowed to meet her in the sub-jail over the last couple of days. Cable television connection to her room in the sub-jail was snapped.

He also demanded of the prison authorities to supply all the national dailies to Sheikh Hasina.

When his attention was drawn to these matters, DIG (Prison) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said the former premier's lawyers and relatives were being allowed to meet her "according to the jail code." "There are examples that they were allowed to meet her for two to three times in a day when it became necessary to talk to her about the case against her under emergency rules," he said.

The DIG (Prison) said there is no scope of watching television programmes on cable channels under the jail code. "She (Sheikh Hasina) was able to watch satellite channels as there was connection of it to the house for some days where she has been kept. Moreover, there is no scope to supply more than four newspapers according to the jail code," Major Siddiqui said.

Staff reporter

Sector Commanders of the Liberation war and editors and senior journalists of different national newspapers expressed deep shock at the damage of lives and properties caused by the cyclone in many parts of the country especially the coastal areas.

Yesterday at a view exchange meeting with the senior journalists at the RAOWA club at Mohakhali organised by Sector Commanders' Forum the Liberation War veterans and their invited guests felt the necessity and logic behind the trial of the war criminals of the Liberation War 1971, who committed crimes against humanity like murder, rape and looting.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation War Air Vice Marshal (Retd) AK Khandoker, Sector Commanders General (Retd) KM Shafiullah, Lt Gen (Retd) Mir Shawkat Ali, Maj Gen (Retd) CR Dutta, Lt Col (Retd) Kazi Nuruzzaman, Lt Col (Retd) Abu Osman Chowdhury, Convener of the forum and former Army Chief Lt Gen (Retd) M Harun-ar-Rashid and member secretary of the forum Dr MA Hasan were present at the meeting.

Among the editors and senior journalists, editor in charge of the Daily Sangbad Bazlur Rahman, editor of the Daily Jugantor Gloam Sarwar, editor of the Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, deputy editor of the daily Prothom Alo Abdul Qaium, deputy editor of the Daily Samakal Mojammel Hossain, editor of Amader Shomoy Naimul Islam Khan and editor of the Daily Bhorer Kagaj were present there.

Staff Reporter

Twenty-three eminent citizens of the country yesterday in a joint statement urged the government to give all the camp dwelling Urdu-speaking people Bangladeshi citizenship.

They also demanded of the government to facilitate their exercise of effective citizenship rights by enrolling them as voters and include them in the national Identity Card scheme immediately.

According to the constitution and citizenship law of Bangladesh, all members of the camp dwelling Urdu-speaking community in the country are its citizens, the statement reads. Their eligibility as Bangladeshi citizens has been further confirmed by the pronouncement of the Supreme Court earlier, the statement claimed.

At an inter-ministerial meeting held on September 5 this year decided that amongst the camp dwelling Urdu-speaking community, those who were born after 1971 and those who were minors during the Liberation War would be given citizenship status and thus be enrolled as voters and included in the national ID card scheme.

However, a significant numbers of Urdu-speaking people mostly over 40 years old want to repatriate themselves to Pakistan claiming themselves as Pakistani citizens.

The signatories are eminent educationist Dr Sirajul Islam Chowdhury Professor, English Department, prominent refugee expert Dr CR Abrar, Professor, International Relations Department, Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, Professor, Political Science Department, Dr Zafar Ahmed Bhuyian, Urdu Department and Dr Asif Nazrul, Law Department of Dhaka University, Anu Mohammad, Professor and Head, Economics Department of Jahangir Nagar University, Dr Azfar Hossain, Professor, English Department, North South University, Dr Piash Karim, Professor, Economic Department, BRAC University, Nurul Kabir, Editor, The New Age, Kamal Lohani, veteran journalist, Adv MI Farooqui, Dr Shadeen Malik, Senior Advocates, Bangladesh Supreme Court, Asad Chowdhury, eminent poet and president Banga-Urdu Literary Forum, Samudra Gupta, eminent poet and Executive Member, Bangladesh Poetry Council, Tareque Masud, Tanvir Mokammel, prominent filmmakers, Ahmed Illias, Executive Director, Al-Falah Bangladesh, Taleya Rahman, Executive Director, Democracy Watch, Dr Ferdaus Azim, Executive Director, Nari Pakhkho, Farida Akhter, Executive Director, UBINIG, Adv Adilur Rahman, Secretary, Odhikar and Taslimur Rahman, Executive Director, BLAST.

Staff Reporter

The three-day Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO)- 2007 that concluded yesterday, drew remarkable attention of foreign buyers who also made about US $ 53.43 million orders for import, organisers said.

Highlighting success of the extravaganza, some leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said, huge foreign buyers and their local agents visited it. They also made order for importing readymade garments of their choice.

"The actual figure of the total export order is yet to be assessed. But, I think it will not be less than US 60 million," said an official of BGMEA, who was entitled to manage the BATEXPO.

The participants also got US $ 3.83 million worth of spot orders for RMG stock lot in the fair, which drew 3250 local representatives and 110 foreign buyers, he informed.

However, an official release of BGMEA said, the trade fair received US 53.43 per cent spot order for sale of readymade garments. Local representatives and foreign buyers from Canada, Germany, UK, USA, Spain, Russia, Poland, Netherlands, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France, Korea, China, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Greece, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Australia attended the fair, besides hosts Bangladesh and made the spot orders.

On display in 82 stalls by 68 organisations, projected a buoyant growth prospect for Bangladesh's apparel making industry and attracted thousands of visitors while the country's southwestern part was hit by Cyclone 'Sidr' that left a trail of devastation along with loss of lives.

Seminars, fashion shows and cultural events, provide added attraction to the fair for upholding development of the country's apparel industry to the world.

Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed formally declared the BATEXPO- 2007 closed at Dhaka Sonargaon Hotel at a function chaired by BGMEA President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez.

The commerce secretary said the Government will continue its diplomatic efforts so that the US congress pass the New Partnership for Development Act-07 bill in the US Congress that will allow duty free market access to apparel products from low-income countries including Bangladesh.

He said, despite possible challenges, the country's future export prospects are bright and the BATEXPO will play a significant role to increase the country's export earnings.

He hopped that Bangladesh's annual earnings from the export of apparels would reach US$ 15 to 18 billion by 2010. The country earned US$ 9.2 billion from garment exports this year.

BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury earlier urged the Government to do its best in pursuing the US to pass the new bill.

He said Bangladesh already emerged as an excellent apparel manufacturer with its industry growing rapidly over the last two decades.

The trade show was helpful to explore newer export markets, he observed.

Bangladesh's share, the BGMEA president said, was two per cent in the global apparel market of 450 billion dollars. Next to EU and US, he said, India could, after it gave duty free access to eight million pieces of apparel, emerge as the third largest export destination for Bangladesh for the item.

The BGMEA leader called for immediate lowering of the rates of interests on credits to export industries, specially the RMG sector.

Countries like India, China or Pakistan provide loans to exporters at rates below 5 per cent, while China provided built-in infrastructure facilities including power plants to garment manufactures and export credits carrying an interest rate of 3 per cent. Bangladesh government, he said, should provide such facilities.

Some 2.4 million workers were directly engaged by the readymade garments (RMG) sector while 10 million were its indirect beneficiaries.

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar suggested developing an interest at home and within Bangladeshi diaspora abroad for building a joint venture factory to mitigate the fertiliser crisis in the country.

The call was made, as the demand for fertiliser surpasses the production by about 10 lakh tons per year.

They also suggested recently for establishment of a condensate processing plant and coal-based power plant to lessen the pressure on gas.

The Department of Chemical Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) organised the seminar titled "Chemical Engineering Education and Practice" as part of the 60th founding day celebration of the Engineering Education in Bangladesh at BUET Council Bhaban.

Vice-Chancellor (VC) of BUET Prof Dr AMM Safiullah addressed as chief guest the seminar chaired by two former VCs, Prof Dr Iqbal Mahmud and Prof Dr Nooruddin Ahmed.

The speakers pointed out that the World Bank and IMF were not interested in funding such venture like fertiliser factory.

They said the investment in this sector was virtually risk-free, as the demand for production of these projects was very high.

They emphasised on the improvement of the quality of Chemical Engineering Education, Laboratories and teaching.

They said the experienced teachers should be encouraged to teach in the university.

The agricultural sector of Bangladesh was heavily dependent on fertiliser. Importing fertiliser to meet the demand was creating a pressure on the economy, as fertiliser price in the foreign market was excessively high due to high gas price, the said.

They also said Eastern Refinery Ltd did not have the processing capability to use the condensate gas to produce fertiliser, resulting in a loss of thousands of crores of taka.

The country Government should aim at efficient use of gas, as the gas reserve in the country was limited, they added.

BUET VC AMM Safiullah said the engineers of the country did not receive proper recognition, which was why many qualified engineers did not stay back to serve the country. If this trend continues, the progress of the country will be slowed down, as every country is heavily dependent on the services of engineers, he added.

Prof Safiullah also said the engineers must be given due credit where it is deserved.

Besides, Engr Hasanul Murshed, former Chairman of BCIC, Engr Saber Ali, former Director Operations and Plant Manager of KAFCO, Engr Abdur Rahim, General Manager of KAFCO, Asif Malik, General Manager of Operation and Planning of Easter Refinery Limited and Kamruzzaman, Chief Coordinator of Global Heavy Chemical Ltd, among others, expressed their views at the seminar.

Staff Reporter

The Sunderbans, the world largest mangrove forest, home to the endangered Royal Bengal tiger, bore the brunt of a deadly cyclone that smashed into the country, killing wildlife, experts and officials said yesterday.

Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh's southern coast on Thursday evening before roaring through central districts killing hundreds and possibly thousands of people and devastating vast areas. "The winds have twisted the mangrove by flattening thousands of trees," said Prof Dr Ainun Nishat, Country Representative of the World Conservation Union. He said the strong tidal surge could have killed wildlife.

The internationally reputed nature expert said, "I am concerned that thousands of deers and some tigers would have been washed into the rivers by the surge and might have died." The Sunderbans is home to an estimated 500 Royal Bengal tigers. There are only an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 of the endangered species left worldwide, down from 100,000 in 1900. Besides, it is the shelters to tens of thousands deer and birds. Lying on the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta where it meets the Bay of Bengal on Bangladesh's southern coast, the Sunderbans is the world's largest mangrove forest covering some 5,800 square kilometres (3,590 square miles).

It is made up of around 200 lush forested islands, separated by a complex network of hundreds of tidal rivers and creeks. About 40 percent of the Sunderbans is in India.

Experts say the mangrove forest forms an important buffer shielding millions from the worst impact of the Bay of Bengal's many cyclonic storms and tidal waves.

Although not inhabited, the jungle is a magnet for thousands of impoverished villagers who live along its boundaries and work there as fishermen or collecting honey or wood.

Staff Reporter

Leading economists yesterday called for taking up a massive rehabilitation programme fearing a colossal negative impact of the cyclone SIDR on the country's economy.

Prof Abu Ahmed of University of Dhaka yesterday told The New Nation that the affect of the cyclone SIDR will put pressure on the economy as a whole. The government should first assess the loss and then immediately start rehabilitation programme, he said.Prof Ahmed also said the affect of SIDR will be colossal as the country's economy received the blow in recent prolonged floods for two times.

The government should remain prepared to face such natural calamities, as these are not avoidable. Prof Mahbubul Mokaddem of University of Dhaka emphasised on relief distribution and rehabilitation of affected families as well as the farmers and also to rebuilt the damaged infrastructure.

He said shelter homes were insufficient for accommodating the cyclone risk people. The government should build more new shelter homes to save the people.

Mokaddem said new technology should be adopted so that the government can continue communication with people and the administration during natural calamities. Disaster insurance should be launched for the people of the coastal areas, so that they can start their activities immediately after the natural calamity.

BSS, Dhaka

The NGOs representing the country's civil society should take a common stand for the Bali climate change conference-2007 and they should harmonize it with the official position to raise a strong, united voice of the Bangladesh's concerns.

"We must develop and a common position paper and make it part of the country paper," said Dr Atiq A Rahman of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) talking on the issue at a seminar yesterday at Spectra Centre here.

Representatives of various NGOs took part in the seminar and shared views on how to develop the common position and what priorities need to be highlighted in that country paper. The OXFAM-UK in Bangladesh initiated the discussion to facilitate taking common stand by way of creating consensus and building public opinion on priority issues relating to climate change and threatening livelihood of the people.

The move has been taken as a run up to the UN sponsored Bali climate change conference, scheduled to take place early next month in the Indonesian city of Bali.

Director of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and head of its public advocacy programme Manzur Ahmed and Badrul Haque, an environmental activist were key speakers in the event. Ziaul Haque Mukta and Khalid Hossain of OXFAM were also present.

Staff Reporter

Educationists, disability experts and civil society representatives at a meeting in the city urged the government to give all civic facilities to intellectual and multiple disabled persons and give them opportunity to participate in all type of activities.

They also urged the Government to remove all discriminations in social behavioural patterns and change our negative mind set about them.

The rate of violence and sexual harassment against intellectual and multiple disabled women is higher than that of normal women, they said.

Intellectual disabled persons are being deprived of the rights of ownership in most cases. They are treated as 'sick' in the society, they added.

This was said at the meeting on 'Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities: Missing Agenda of Mainstream Development' organised by SEID Trust in support with ActionAid and Steps Towards Development (STD) at CIRDAP Auditorium yesterday.

Amzad Hossain, Director of Department of Social Services of the Ministry of Social Welfare, M Asafuddowlah, former secretary, Dr ASM Atiqur Rahman, Professor of Institute of Social Welfare and Research of Dhaka University, Khondokar Johurul Alam, President of NFOWD, Dr Gitiara Nasreen, Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Director of CAMPE, Sami Hafiz, Manager of Public Relation of HSBC, Dr Naim Ahmed, lawyer of Supreme Court, among others, spoke, while Ranjan Karmaker, Executive Director of STD, moderated the meeting. Dilara Satter Mitu, Director of SEID Trust, presented key-note paper.

Speakers said there is lack of scope for intellectual and multiple disabled persons to get legal rights in the society. They urged the government to take initiative for establishing legal rights for them.

They urged the government to stop all types of physical and mental harassment of them.

They also urged the government to include their legal rights in the state policy for their physical and mental development.

"If they get proper scopes and facilities, they could play a pivotal role as human resources in the society for the economic development of the country," said one of the speakers.

"It is unfortunate that in the medical science intellectual and multiple disabled persons are treated as 'mentally retarded,' which creates a bad impression on the society about their ability as a human being. But there is a lot of difference between physical disability and intellectual disability, " she said at the meeting.

BSS, Dhaka

Most of the house tutors at Dhaka University (DU) dormitories tend to duck duties despite of drawing financial and promotional benefits and enjoying housing facilities for shouldering the responsibilities.

According to the university budget book, DU allocated Taka 31.43 lakh under the head of allowance for the provosts and house tutors of 19 dormitories for the financial year 2007-08.

The DU has at least 120 house tutors and 70 assistant house tutors at 19 dormitories, according to the sources.

Students say if the house tutors had been regular on duty, they would not have faced the seat crisis and outsiders could not been stayed in the halls. "It took me many days to meet a house tutor to get a dormitory seat", said Mansur Alam, a resident student of Zahurul Haque Hall. "If the house tutors could monitored the hall canteens regularly, then resident students would received far better services ", he added.

The house tutors get Taka 1,000 in extra allowances and assistance house tutors receive Taka 800. All of them get flats close to the dormitories to carry out regular duties.

Resident students have to go to house tutors for seat allotment or changing rooms.

According to the DU ordinance and regulations, amended up to 1997, the roles of house tutors include monitoring the arrival and departure of resident students in and out of halls. They are also supposed to call the roll and seek explanations from absentees, check leave applications and look after dining rooms, canteens, furniture and other property of halls.

"The post of house tutors should be changed into assistant provost", said a house tutor of Zahurul Haque Hall on condition of anonymity.

Staff Reporter

Leaders of different political parties and socio-cultural organizations expressed deep shock at the damage caused by the devastating cyclone on Thursday in the coastal areas of the country and asked the activists of their organisations to involve in the post-cyclone rescue and relief works.

Expressing condolence to the families of the cyclone-hit areas acting president of Awami League Zillur Rahman yesterday at a press briefing said the victims should be immediately provided with shelter and food and the injured people be provided with proper medical support.

The acting AL president urged the Government to provide the farmers and fishermen of the cyclone-hit area with cash, fertiliser, pesticides and power pumps.

He also urged the government to provide fresh farm loans writing off their existing loans.

Zillur asked the party activists to involve in the rescue and relief works.

Acting secretary general of BNP nominated by the standing committee of the party Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed urged all party activists to stand beside the people of disaster hit areas.

He said, "We will try our best to provide relief to cyclone affected people with our own resources".

Acting secretary general of the BNP nominated by party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Khandoker Delwar Hossain also urged the party activists to stand by the cyclone-hit people.

He urged the government to arrange treatment facilities for the injured people and adequate relief for the people of the hurricane affected areas.

Former president and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury expressed deep shock over the miseries of the people of the areas, which were hit by the devastating cyclone Sidr.

He urged all to be a part of the post disaster rescue and relief works.

Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain also expressed grief at the havoc caused by the devastating cyclone.

He said greater national initiative of the people of all walks of lives was needed to face the situation.

Liberal Democratic Party president Dr Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed expressed woe at the mayhem caused by the cyclone and prayed for the peace of the souls who have lost their lives during the cyclone.

Rashed Khan Menon, Workers Party President also expressed sorrow at the loss of lives in cyclone hit areas.

Sector Commanders' Forum expressed deep sorrow at the misfortune of the people of the areas, which was affected by the disastrous hurricane.

Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh also expressed shock at the loss of lives caused by the destructive cyclone. The party formed a committee to conduct post-cyclone rescue and relief works.

Communist Party of Bangladesh demanded of the government to provide adequate relief and treatment facilities.

Former minister ASM Abdur Rob, leaders of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bangladesh Jatyiatabadi Jubo Dal, Bangbandhu Ainjibi Parishad, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh and Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party and Democratic Left Alliance expressed shock at the loss of lives and properties caused by the catastrophic cyclone.

Staff Reporter

Different political and social organizations of the country yesterday observed the 31st death anniversary of Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani through various programme .

Speakers at a discussion meeting in Dhaka yesterday called for upholding the values nurtured by Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani to build a corruption free and prosperous Bangladesh.

The discussion meeting was organised by the 'Bhasani Anusari Manch' at the National Press Club to observe the 31st anniversary of death of the late leader.

Former Minister Nur Mohammad Khan was the chief guest at the meeting presided over by Col Dr. Abdul Latif Mallik.

The meeting was addressed by Adv Syed Sirajul Huda, Sheikh Asad, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor, the New Nation, Abdul Matin Master, Mukul Kumar Dey, Gobinda Chandra Ghosh, Harun Chowdhury, Harun-ur-Rashid, Abul Hossain and Khalequzzaman Chowdhury, among others.

The speakers dwelt on the selfless service that Moulana Bhasani gave to the country and the people and said his unparallel patriotism and sense of duty to the nation should be followed by the present generation of political leaders.

Meanwhile different fictions of Bangladesh Awami Party (NAP- Bhasani) organised various programmes including discussion meeting, placing wreaths to his Mazar and Doa Mahfil.

Presided over by NAP Tagail District Convenor Babu Ratan Kumar, NAP chairman Sheikh Anwarul Haque, Altaf Hossain Monna, NAP Secretary General Abu Hamidur Reza Khan Bhasani and Tajul Islam Master, among others, addressed the meeting.

Bangladesh Workers Party and National Peoples Party( NPP) also organised discussion meeting marking the death anniversary of Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.