The New Nation - Internet Edition

Due to serious political crisis and law and order situation in the country the people of our country welcomed the formation of the reconstituted new civil caretaker government headed by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed in the month of November 2006.

Thereafter the present Election Commission has been making all-out efforts to hold our stalled election by December 2008 as per its declared road map.

But as the month of December 2008 is approaching nearer people are becoming impatient and getting very skeptical about the prospect of the scheduled election because of following reasons:-

1. Awami League leaders demand that their party President Sk. Hasina may be released from prison or they may not participate in the election.

2. BNP leaders demand that their party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia may be released from prison or they may not participate in the election.

3. Some political parties demand of the Election Commission not to register the political parties which opposed country's Liberation War in 1971.

4. Some political parties demand of the Election Commission not to register political parties which practice politics based on religion.

5. Some political parties demand of the Government and Election Commission for trial of war criminals.

6. The declaration of the Chief Election Commissioner that 'Many of the political parties including BNP, which lack practice of democracy within cannot register with the Election Commission unless the parties amend the existing party constitutions.'

7. Dessension among BNP leaders.

8. Is it possible to amend the existing party constitution under existing Emergency?

9. Why did not the Election Commission issue necessary guidelines, terms and conditions for registration of political parties with the Election Commission in time, six to eight months, ago?

The functions of the Election Commission is clearly envisaged in Article 119(1) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. We are not aware of any other function as stated in Article 119(2) of the Constitution.

Would the Election Commission now clarify the relevant matters?

Birth control pill for men

Recently a woman of Panchagarh district gave birth to a quadruped (three daughters and a son) in Rangpur College Hospital.

I asked a doctor, man has discovered many things, landed on moon, made atom bomb, many useful medicines and drugs including birth control pill for women, but why the scientists and doctors of the USA and the European Union have so far failed to produce the birth control pill for men?

The doctor burst out in laughter but could not replay to my question.

Would the US President George Bush, world's most populated countries China and India, our Ministry of Health and Planning and WHO kindly enlighten us on the matter? Please.

O.H. Kabir

Dhaka