The New Nation - Internet Edition

4 DU teachers, 11 students acquitted: Govt withdraws 2 criminal cases fully, one partly, for violating, Emergency Rules, President pardons 14 convicted DU, RU students

Four Dhaka University teachers- Prof
Harun-or-Rashid, Prof Sadrul Amin, Prof Anwar Hossain and
Prof Nim Chandra Bhoumik were acquitted by a court yesterday
in a case filed against them for violating the Emergency
Power Rules (Top). Dhaka University stude

Staff Reporter

President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday pardoned 14 students of Dhaka and Rajshahi Universities and a former RU vice-chancellor's driver convicted by courts in cases in connection with last August's campus unrest breaking the Emergency Powers Rules.

On the other hand, a court in Dhaka yesterday acquitted four teachers and 11 students (including three female students) of Dhaka University in connection with a case linked to the violent anti-emergency protests last year, but jailed four students in absentia for two years each. The acquitted teachers and student are likely to be released today as the government withdrew cases against them yesterday. They are likely to return to campus today.

General students of Dhaka University rejected the court verdict against four absconding students, terming the judgement as "farcical."

Receiving the copy of the order of President's mercy, the Rajshahi Central Jail authorities released 10 students and an employee of Rajshahi University yesterday evening.

The government yesterday withdrew two criminal cases fully, one partly in connection with breaking emergency rules.

Issuing two separate circulars the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday stated that, "in exercise of his powers under Article 49 of the constitution, the President exonerated all the 15 convicts from the prison sentences and fines. Among the pardoned students, four are from Dhaka University and 10 of Rajshahi University. The DU students are Hasan Mamun, president of the Dhaka University unit of pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Saiful Islam Firoz, secretary of the DU unit of JCD, Kamrul Islam Kochi, joint secretary of F Rahman Hall unit of JCD, and Aziz Hasan, former office secretary of F Rahman Hall of Chhatra Union.

The four student leaders were granted presidential mercy suo moto shortly after they were sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined Tk 1,000 each in absentia yesterday morning in a case filed with Shahbagh Police Station on August 23, 2007.

In the same cases of violation of the emergency rules, their four teachers were acquitted.

The 10 Rajshahi University students pardoned at the same time are Dipayan Sarker Dip, Mizanur Rahman Mithu, Sarder Ayaz, Fakrul Islam Raihan, Ayen Uddin, Abu Sayeem, Shamim Ahmed, Kazi Abdul Latif, Sakhawat Hossain and Aziz bin Kamal. The exonerated driver is Ataur Rahman Ata.

They were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 5,000 on December 12, 2007 in a case filed with Motihar police station in Rajshahi city on August 23, 2007 for burning an intelligence agency car on the RU campus. The vehicle was torched amid campus rioting in a sequel to the August 22, 2007 incident of beating a student by some army troops at Dhaka University.

According to the separate notifications, "directive has been given to the authority to release the individuals if it is not necessary to detain them for any other reasons."

Earlier in the morning, a court in Dhaka acquitted four Dhaka University teachers and 11 students, including three female students of the charges of violating Emergency Power Rules by instigating students to engage in violent protests on the university campus in August last year.

The court, however, convicted four absconding students and sentenced them to two years' imprisonment in the same case filed with Shahbagh Police Station on August 23.

Judge Md Habibur Rahman Siddiqui of the Dhaka Metropolitan and Speedy Trial Court, handed down the verdict in his crowded court. The judge also fined each of the convicted students Tk 1,000, in default, to suffer one month more in jail.

The four acquitted teachers are Dhaka University Teachers' Association President Prof Sadrul Amin, General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Social Sciences Faculty Dean Prof Harun-or-Rashid and Applied Physics and Electronics department chairman Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmick.

However, they will remain behind bars, pending verdict in another case filed with the city's Shahbagh Police Station for "attacking Nilkhet Police Outpost' defying emergency rules.

The verdict will be pronounced at 11:00am today. Judge Golam Rabbani of Speedy Trial Tribunal fixed the time-table of pronouncement of the verdict yesterday after completion of the arguments at about 3:00pm that started at 12:00 noon. Depositions of 16, out of 29 witnesses of the case were recorded.

The case (No. 54/07) was filed with Shahbagh Police Station on August 21, 2007 for bringing out procession, holding rallies, ransacking vehicles, obstructing police and chanting anti-government slogans breaking the Emergency Powers Rules 2007. Sub-Inspector Rezaul Karim filed the case, while the investigating officer of the case is SI Babul Bhuiyan.

On the other hand, 11 acquitted DU students were Moniruzzaman Sarkar, Rifat Hossain Jitu, Nazrul Islam, Shamsul Kabir, Mitul, Mohammad Rokonuzzaman, Anwar Hossain, Md Quamruzzaman, Aparna Pal, Shahinur Nargis and Tanjil Chowdhury. Of the acquitted students, 10 are absconding.

The four absconding students who were awarded two years of rigorous imprisonment are Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) DU unit president Hasan Al Mamun, general secretary Saiful Islam Feroz, activist Kamrul Islam Kochi and Azizul Hasan.

During the pronouncement of the verdict, four teachers and a student were present in the courtroom.

On August 20, a violent student protest broke out on the Dhaka University campus following a brawl between an army man and a student during a soccer match at the university's playground.

The protest later spread to other educational institutions in the city and elsewhere across the country, and continued for a few days, resulting in imposition of curfew and shutting down of all educational institutions in major cities.

Defence lawyers present at the court were Syed Rezaur Rahman, Masud Ahmed Talukder, Abdul Mannan, Shafiul Bashar Maizbhandari, Moslehuddin Jasim and Omar Faruque Faruqui, while additional public prosecutors Magfur Rahman Shaikh and Md Kabir Hossain were present.

On the other hand, the government yesterday decided to withdraw two criminal cases fully and one partly in connection with violation of the Emergency Power Rules in a backlash against last the August 20 Dhaka University incident.

Home Ministry yesterday officially disclosed the latest government gesture to calm the unrest prevailing in the universities surrounding release of the detained teachers and students.

The Home Ministry issued three separate orders in connection with the cases filed in Dhaka and Rajshahi.

The cases withdrawn are Shahbagh Police Station's DMP Case No. 60

dated August 24, 2007 and Motihar Police Station-registered Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Case No.10 dated August 22, 2007.

About the under-trial case of Shahbagh Police Station, No.51 and dated August 23, 2007, the Home Ministry said names of 18 out of 25 accused have been withdrawn.

Those discharged are Md Liton Mahmud, Manabendra Deb, Md Ibrahim, KM Mahbul Alam, Shyamal, Md Enamul Haque, Md Gulam Azam Sajen, Siddiqi Najmul Alam, Kamruzzaman, Md Sohel Rana Tipu, Md Abdul Karim alias Tehari Karim, Arifuzzaman, Md Delwar Rahman Dipu, Mizanur Rahman, Md Rashedul Mamud Russel and Md Sarwar Alam.

Meanwhile, general students of Dhaka University demonstrated in the campus yesterday, rejecting the court verdict that sentenced four absconding students to two years imprisonment in a case for violating Emergency Powers Rules in August last year.

They demanded acquittal of the four convicted students and also withdrawal of other cases filed against the students and teachers in connection with the August unrest in the DU campus.

Soon after the news of the verdict reached the campus in the morning, the students of the DU under the banner of `Students against Repression' brought out a procession rejecting the court verdict. They chanted slogans terming the verdict as a farce.

Later, the students announced a two-day protest programme to press home their demands. The programme includes demonstration at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla and rally on the Arts Building premises today (Tuesday) and forming human chain and a one-hour class boycott at all educational institutions in the country on Wednesday to press the release of detainees.

DU teachers also observed three-hour token hunger strike at Aparajeyo Bangla from 10:00am to 1:00pm today demanding immediate release of their colleagues and students and withdrawal of the cases filed against them. Students also expressed solidarity with the teachers' programme.

Our Rajshahi Correspondent reports: The 10 Rajshahi University students and the driver of a former RU vice-chancellor convicted of torching a DGFI vehicle during the last August violence were all released from the jail yesterday evening on presidential mercy.

They were set free at about 6:00pm, immediate after receipt of the notification on the exoneration.

The convicts were driver of a former RU Vice-chancellor Ataur Rahman Ata and RU Chhatra League secretary Ayenuddin, Dipayan Sarker, Hafiz Uddin Kamal, Shakhawat Hossain, Kazi Abdul Latif, Shamim Ahmed, Abu Sayem, Fakrul Islam, Sarker Ayej and Mizanur Rahman Mithu.

On August 22, 2007, a vehicle of the military intelligence outfit DGFI was torched in front of the Vice-chancellor's residence amid violence on the RU campus following Dhaka University's August 20 student unrest.

DGFI assistant director Shawkat Ali filed the case against 14 persons with Motihar police station on August 23.

The plaintiff alleged that a group of unruly students and people assaulted him while he was on duty on the campus on August 22.

Later, on September 1, the investigation officer (IO), sub-inspector Mukhtar Hossain, pressed charges against the 14 suspects.

A court here on December 12 acquitted two Rajshahi University teachers and its one PR officer of the charge of torching the vehicle but handed down three years rigorous imprisonment to 11 other accused persons, 10 of them students.

Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal and Dr Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu, both teachers of Geology and Mining Department, and Deputy Chief

Information Officer of RU Public Relations Office Sadikul Islam were exonerated from the charge of the arson attack and violation of the emergency rules.

Of the convicts, only driver Ata was in the dock to receive the prison sentence pronounced by the speedy trial court. The rest surrendered to the court on January 7.

Earlier, four teachers of the university were jailed for two years on December 4 in connection with the violence, which flared up in a backlash against the Dhaka University incident and clashes.

But they were released on December 10 after President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed approved their mercy petition, amid strong pleas from different quarters, including teachers and students, for setting them free.

DU teachers, students happy over judgement

Habibullah Mizan

The Dhaka University Teachers` Association (DUTA) yesterday, in a statement, expressed satisfaction over the judgement of the court that acquitted four detained teachers and eleven students from the case of violation of state of emergency.

" The acquittal (teachers and students) has removed uncertainty and anxiety

among the teachers and students of Dhaka University," Prof Tazmery SA Islam, acting president, and Dr Mamun Ahmed, acting general secretary, said in a joint statement.

They, however, expressed concern over punishment of four students by the judgement.

They urged the government to withdraw all other cases immediately in order to maintain peace and congenial atmosphere for education in Dhaka University.

Meanwhile, general students and teachers of the university yesterday expressed their satisfactions over the government steps taken to release the detained students and teachers by withdrawing the cases and granting of Presidential mercy.

They said the decision was too late and other cases should also be withdrawn immediately in order to cool down the ongoing agitations in the different institutions across the country.

An observer termed the government steps a very 'dramatic move'.

Farhana Rahman Popy, a fourth-year student of the International Relations Department, told The New Nation that all parties should now work to bring normalcy on the campus forgetting the past.

Biplob , claiming himself a coordinator of the 'Anti Repression Students', which is leading the students agitation vowed to continue the movement until all the students were released unconditionally.

The teachers and students are fully innocent, he claimed.

However a teacher of Dhaka University on condition of anonymity said if the Emergency Power Rule was implemented properly, both teachers and students would not have been released so early.

He opined that the government had no other option than to release the detained academics and students.

Govt-political parties' talks after EC dialogue: CA enrolled as voter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed enrolled his name
in the voter list with photographs at Gulshan Model High
School and College yesterday. Chief Election Commissioner Dr
ATM Shamsul Huda was present. PID photo

Staff Reporter

Expressing the hope for holding the general elections ahead of December this year, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said his Government would start dialogue with political parties immediately after the conclusion of their ongoing talks with the Election Commission.

"Both the Government and the political parties need sometimes for preparations for the dialogue," he said, dropping a broad hint that the Government would talk with each of the political parties separately following method adopted by the Election Commission (EC).

"The talks between the Election Commission and the political parties are already going on successfully. And I hope this talks will end successfully soon to facilitate dialogue between the Government and the political parties," the Chief Adviser said while talking to journalists after getting himself enrolled in the voters' list.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and his wife Neena Ahmed enrolled their names as voters with photographs and fingerprints at Gulshan Model School and College at Gulshan-2 in the capital at noon yesterday.

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda welcomed the Chief Adviser at the voters' registration center, when senior Army officials, who are involved in the preparation of the voters' list were present on the occasion.

The Chief Adviser looked glad since he registered his name as a voter in a transparent manner.

Replying to a question about the possibility of holding elections ahead of the targeted timeframe (within December 2008), Dr Fakruddin Ahmed said, "The general elections could be held ahead of the time if all polls-preparations, including the voters' list, could be completed earlier."

He asserted, saying, "The elections could be held ahead of the targeted time, if the preparatory activities are completed in time."

The Chief Adviser expressed his satisfaction over the progress of voter listing with photographs through applying modern technology.

Referring to the progress in the preparation of the voters' list, he said the job would be completed smoothly and fairly, and "there is no doubt about it as preparing a fair electoral roll was the demand of all."

He said so far 2.70 crore people have been registered as voters and the registration work was gradually getting momentum.

Dr Fakhruddin said the Election Commission along with the support of others like the Army is carrying out the voter listing work in 'Char' and remote areas of the country.

He expressed happiness and optimism that the Election Commission with the support of the Government would complete the task fairly, which is a precondition to holding a fair, transparent, neutral and acceptable election in time. "And this is being ensured," he further asserted.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda, who was standing beside the Chief Adviser, said both the Government and the EC were hopeful about completing the polls preparations much before December this year, the time limit for holding the general election as per the polls-roadmap.

Referring to his discussion with the Government, including the Chief Adviser, the CEC said, "My impression is that the Government wants to hold the general elections ahead of December and that the Government wants to get the guideline for holding the dialogue on the basis of the outcomes of the ongoing talks between the Commission and the political parties."

"On the basis of my discussion with the Government, I feel that the Government will finalise the agenda of the (political) dialogue on the basis of the result of our talks with the political parties," Dr Huda said, adding, "The Commission will finalise the talks results (reforms) after the discussion with the BNP."

For disposal of the writ petition filed by a faction of the BNP, he said, "The Commission will urge eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain to request the High Court Division of the Supreme Court to dispose of the case immediately."

The case against the EC, as well as the talks between the EC and political parties are being delayed due to lack of interest of the faction of the BNP, which filed the writ petition, since the applicant do not attend hearing of the case in the High Court, he added.

Media can help Govt, NGOs fight against HIV/AIDS

Staff Reporter

Media could play an important role simultaneously with the government and NGOs to fight against HIV/AIDS.

HIV and AIDS situation is the worst in India among the South Asian countries. Though the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS patients is slow in Bangladesh, but it is under risk factor.

This was disclosed at the inauguration of two-day long workshop on 'Dhaka Dialogue on HIV and AIDS' jointly organised by National Media Forum on HIV and AIDS, Panos Bangladesh and ActionAid International in support with USAID at a city hotel yesterday.

Jamil Osman, Secretary for Ministry for Information, Ramesh Venkataraman, Coordinator of Asia HIV and AIDS, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Convener of National Media Forum on HIV and AIDS, Farid Hossain, Bureau Chief of Associated Press (AP), spoke at the inaugural session.

Rahul Dev from India was the facilitator at the working session. Besides, Sanjay Dev, journalist from India were also present on the occasion.

People living with HIV and AIDS in Bangladesh still face stigma and discrimination in their daily lives. Media could play as informer as their ethical responsibility to create awareness among the people, the speakers said.

The workshop will conclude today.

Curb monster of profiteering: Call to protect consumers' rights

Staff Reporter

Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC) Chairman Akbar Ali Khan yesterday called upon people across the country to stand united against profiteering to protect their consumer rights.

He called upon the government to promulgate Consumer Rights Act as soon as possible, but expressed his doubt whether the right will be established without people's movement.

The RRC chief was speaking at the national conference of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) at the BIAM Auditorium in the capital as chief guest.

People should launch movement to resist the "monster of profiteering," he said adding, "History shows nobody gives the others their rights."

"As no government has come forward to protect consumers' rights, year after year, the consumers will have to come forward to realise their own rights.

The mass movement has to be spread throughout the country. In the present reality, there is no alternative to it."

"However, it must be borne in mind that 'movement' does not mean agitation and ransacking. A united disciplined movement has to be build up," Akbar Ali stressed.

The RRC Chairman announced his solidarity with any such movement and said, "The government will have to give all assistance to such a movement."

The RRC chairman advised the government to create a separate market monitoring agency so that essential prices remain within the buying capacity of all people, as well as a separate agency for protecting consumers' rights.

"It is not possible to solve the spiralling price of consumer goods in the market using law enforcing agencies," Akbar Ali said.

In a capitalist business environment the businessmen's aim is to satisfy their greed, he said, adding that businessmen in the country tended to realise excessive profit from consumers in the name of a 'free market'. But when the greed exceeds the limit the consumers' suffering mount.

Akbar Ali also mentioned the adulteration of foods by small traders "due to lack of education" among them. "Both the buyers and seller have to be conscious about this."

USAID country director Denise A Rollins and CAB general secretary Qazi Faruque addressed the function chaired by CAB president Borhan Ahmed.

Borhan Ahmed said market could not be stabilised by giving free hand to the market manipulators. Law protecting the consumers' interest is essential as the government could not check price hike even with deployment of the paramilitary BDR and joint forces.

He also demanded a separate ministry to look after the interest of the consumers.

Realisation of benefit from WTO: Strengthening negotiation capacity underscored

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh needs to strengthen its negotiation capacity to realise benefits from the world trade initiatives, experts said at a seminar yesterday.

They also suggested for a new trade initiative (NTI) from the least developed countries (LDCs) for achieving special and differential treatment in the form of full duty and quota free market access to the developed and advanced developing countries.

They said a more flexible and unified Rules of Origin (RoO) is necessary to provide more market access to the least developed countries by the developed nations.

"Without a major trade initiative, mere wishful thinking is not going to change our precarious situation," former Commerce Secretary Suhel Ahmed Chowdhury told a seminar titled 'Duty Free Access Provided by Developed Countries' organised by the FBCCI at its conference room.

He said the new trade initiative should incorporate four major trade related deficiencies of Bangladesh and other LDCs. These are trade-related infrastructure development, removing supply-side constraints, assured market access and duty-free access.

Former Secretary and FBCCI Adviser SM Al Hossaini presided over the seminar where Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Shahab Ullah made keynote presentation.

Mentioning that the duty-free quota-free (DFQF) access depends on mutual trusts between the donors and their trading partners the EPB Vice Chairman said, "If there are failures in administrative cooperation, duty-free facility may be withdrawn."

He said the government is now working to prepare a policy paper to pursue the US government so that any new trade bill could help benefit Bangladesh without contradicting the interests of African LDCs.

The former BEPZA chairman and chief of the International Trade Centre (ITC) said Bangladesh and other LDCs should focus more on capacity building efforts.

FBCCI leader Manjur Ahmed said Tariff Commission, Commerce Ministry and the FBCCI should work together to strengthen the negotiation capacity to get better results from the WTO conference.

DCCI official Ferdous Ara and FBCCI Secretery General Syed Jamaluddin also spoke on the occasion.

Mahbub Jamil, Manik Lal made special assistants

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser (CA) of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday allocated portfolios among the two newly appointed Special Assistants to the CA Mahbub Jamil and Manik Lal Samaddar

The Special Assistant Mahbub Jamil, with the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister, was given the charge of the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Industries and Youth and Sports while Manik Lal Samaddar, with the rank and status of a State Minister, the Ministries of Fisheries and Livestock and Science and Information and Communication Technology.

Earlier in the morning, the CA appointed renowned entrepreneur Mahbub Jamil and Former Secretary Manik Lal Samaddar as special assistants to the Chief Adviser, according to two separate Cabinet Division notifications issued here.

The Chief Adviser made the appointment in exercise of the power vested in him under the Rule 3A (i) of Rules of Business-1996, the notifications said.

Illegal establishments in Bhawal Nat'l Park: Govt decision flouted for 17 years

Staff Reporter

The Council of Advisers yesterday expressed its surprise over the finding of an inquiry committee that detected a 17-year gap between an important Government decision on land use in a reserved area and publication of gazette to carry out the task.

The report submitted by a two-member inquiry committee, headed by Director General of Environment Directorate, said the government had decided in 1990 not to set up any establishment at eight moujas within the periphery of Bhawal National Park in Gazipur district but the gazette, in this regard, was published in 2006, after 17 years.

In the meantime, various establishments, including industries were set up there by influential quarters and political big wigs.

The Council of Advisers at the meeting held at the Chief Adviser's Office yesterday discussed the matter and asked the authorities concerned to re-examine the issue.

The meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair directed the Environment Directorate not to issue fresh certificates to set up new establishment there.

Briefing journalists, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said the two-member committee formed earlier identified the areas in three classes, those include 'red' where establishments were set up by grabbing government land, 'yellow' by grabbing government land partially and 'green' where establishment were set up by individuals on their own land.

The matter will be discussed again by the Council of Advisers later for taking the next course of action, the Press Secretary said.

The Council of Advisers approved the Grameen Bank Ordinance (Amendment) 1983 allowing its operation throughout Bangladesh with priority to rural areas.

The meeting discussed the Rules of Business (Amendment) on the basis of second interim recommendation of Regulatory Reform Commission in details and asked the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Law to submit it again before the Council of Advisers' meeting after re-examination.

Fahim Munaim said the Chief Adviser appointed two more Special Assistants to CA and gazette notification has already been published in this regard.

Of them, Mahbub Jamil, with the rank and status of a cabinet minister, was given the charge of the ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Industries and Youth and Sports while Manik Lal Samaddar, with the rank and status of a state minister, the ministries of Fisheries and Livestock and Science and Information and Communication Technology, he said.

Replying to a question, he hinted that one or two more special assistants to the Chief Adviser are likely to be appointed. But it depends on the willingness of the Chief Adviser, he said.

He said AF Hassan Ariff was given the charge of the Ministry of Land in addition to the Ministry of Law while Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury was given the charge of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in addition to Primary and Mass Education.

All Advisers, except the Finance and Primary and Mass Education advisers, and newly appointed special assistants to the Chief Advisers attended the meeting.

Voter-listing on holidays in garment factory areas

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission would conduct its voter-listing works in garment factory areas across the country only on holidays so that the apparel factory workers can enroll themselves in the voter list without hazards.

The decision was taken Monday at a meeting between the Commission and a delegation of Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

"The meeting decided that for the voter registration the Election Commission would be provided with a list mentioning which garment factories will remain closed when as their weekly holidays differ from one to another," BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Pervez, who led the four-member delegation, told reporters after the meeting.

Most of the 20 lakh garment factory workers of the country cannot register their names as voters since their owners are not allowing them leave for the voter registration work.

"Many of the garment workers even do not know that they need to enlist their names at their present addresses, not at the permanent ones," the BGMEA president told journalists.

Pervez went on: "We've urged the Election Commission to fill up necessary forms and take photographs going to each and every factory so that no worker is left out of the voter list. But the Election Commission has informed us that it won't be possible for lack of its manpower."

General secretary of Nari Udyag Kendra Masuda Khatun Shefali, who led a six-member NUK delegation that accompanied the BGMEA delegation, told the reporters that there are over 22.59 lakh garment workers in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Savar, Tongi, Gazipur and Chittagong.

Of them, she said, only 1,76,385 have so far been able to be enlisted in the voter list as per the information NUK has received.

"So, most of the garment workers are being left out of the voter list… When the CEC was apprised about the matter at the meeting, he assured that the Election Commission will enroll all the workers in the list," Shefali said.