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Hasina, Khaleda not eligible to appear before Truth Commission: Govt to honour court verdict against two ex-PMs, says CA

Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has said detained former Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina would not be eligible to appear before the proposed Truth Commission for pardon as they are already arraigned on corruption charges and facing trial in courts.

Dr Ahmed, however, said his caretaker government would accept whatever verdict is given against them by the judiciary which he said is now independent.

The Chief Advisor made the remarks during an interview with Al Jazeera television in London last week. Renowned journalist David Frost took the interview during the CA's tour and was aired Friday at 1 am in a special programme styled "Frost".

On the question of lifting the state of emergency, he said some curbs imposed under the state of emergency on some political activities would be withdrawn to create congenial atmosphere for electioneering. Asked whether the proposed Truth Commission will be constituted in South African model, Dr Ahmed said the government has looked at similar models set up in different countries.

Explaining the logic behind instituting Truth Commission, he said some people who have already been accused of corruption have been going through normal judicial process and there are others who may be willing to say that they had been involved in some of irregular corrupt practices.

If the Commission is set up, those people will go through that process. They will know and the people will know about their corrupt practices through a legal process, if not the judicial process, he added.

Asked whether those corrupt would be forgiven by the Truth Commission, the Chief Advisor said, " Yes, the idea is that they will be forgiven if they admit to having indulged in some kind of irregular corrupt practices of certain amount of money. But, as part of that process, there may be some kind of restrictions on their participation in political activities for a limited time." Asked if the two 'Begums' (Khaleda and Hasina) will also be pardoned if they go through the Truth Commission, Dr Ahmed said the way thinking is going on is that if somebody is already arraigned and charge-sheeted and the judicial process has begun, they should go through the judicial process.

It is not only the two ex-premiers, he said, those who have crossed that some sort of threshold, they will not be eligible for appearing before the Truth Commission. "That's the thinking now, but it is not yet finalized."

Asked when the emergency will be lifted, Dr Ahmed said, "We've not yet fixed the time. We will be looking at all options when and how the state of emergency will be lifted."

He said the state of emergency was declared to improve the law-and-order situation and bring the country back into normalcy. Now the law and order has improved a lot, and even though there is the emergency, it is not being enforced in that sense in many fields. Citing an example, the head of caretaker government said press is free ever since his government came to power. "We told the press that they can criticize the government and they have been doing that-and we benefit from those criticisms."

He said as normal activities have been going on and they will be going on, they would, in any case, make it possible for the election to take place. To ensure congenial atmosphere for election campaign, he said, there would be need to lift "some of the curbs on some of the activities up to the elections".

Asked whether the general election will be held by December this year, as promised, Dr Ahmed said, "Absolutely, that is some kind of deadline. I have said this more than once and the elections will be held at the latest by December 2008."

He said the Election Commission has also announced a roadmap detailing all priority activities and "I am absolutely committed and confident that the elections will be held according to the roadmap". Asked whether Khaleda and Hasina would be able to lead active politics, Dr Ahmed said it would depend on several factors. "At this point in time they have been arrested and facing trial in courts. So, judicial process will go on."

In this context, the CA noted that the judiciary is an independent institution and they would accept whatever decision comes from the judicial process. "It will depend on judicial process and outcome of the judicial process."

Asked whether the number of detained persons in Bangladesh is 250,000 as published in some British press, Dr Ahmed straightaway denied, saying that the number is much lower. The total number of convicts and under-trial prisoners is around 75,000 to 80,000, and a handful of them have been detained under the Special Powers Act. Asked about whereabouts of the two former premiers-Awami League chief Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda-the Chief Advisor said they were not under house arrest. They were arrested and put in two special houses declared sub-jails by the government for under-trial prisoners. Asked whether the level of corruption has gone down due to the ongoing anti-graft drive, Dr Ahmed said corruption has started going down significantly, but it is very difficult to estimate what the current level of corruption is.

But, he said, a general impression is it has a positive impact not because of the people being brought to trial for corruption but the government is working on rules and regulations, making them simpler, clearer and transparent and a strategy to prevent the corruption. Asked whether he has any intention to float a political party and run for a political office, Dr Ahmed outright dismissed the idea. He said that since he is heading a caretaker government, his first duty is to hold free, fair and credible elections first and carry out institutional reforms to ensure sustainable democracy in Bangladesh. Asked what he will be doing after the elections, the Chief Advisor, a former governor of Bangladesh Bank, said he has not yet thought about that but added that he would make himself available to serve the country.

Geeta Pasi says, she is not holding dialogue with political parties: It's up to govt to do so

Geeta Pasi

Staff Reporter

US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi yesterday said the holding of dialogue with political parties was the responsibility of the Government and not of the diplomats.

"Foreign diplomats may hold their own talks with different groups, including political parties, media and businessmen," she said, clarifying that she was not holding political dialogues with political parties recently.

"Let me tell you frankly that I haven't started political dialogue; that's up to the government to do so," the US diplomat, who recently held separate talks with the Awami League (AL), the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party leaders on election matters, told journalists after attending an 'Open Day' programme discussion meeting at Gulshan Police Station in the capital.

Her meetings with the political parties seemingly prompted the Foreign Ministry to issue a note on Thursday saying that of late there has been a renewed perceptible tendency on part of some foreign diplomats to make remarks in public that a section of the media has perceived to be interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs.

A spokesman of the Ministry said diplomatic norms and standards are well recognised internationally and felt "it's expected that these should be conformed to by all practitioners of the profession".

"I was not holding political dialogue with the parties," she replied when asked to comment about the outcome of her recent 'dialogue' with political parties. "it was not the job of the diplomatic community to say whether dialogues between the government and political parties should take place.

"As a diplomat, I meet and exchange views with all members of Bangladesh society, the politicians, civil society, businesspeople, students, police and the media, and I am pleased to be able to do so," she said defending her move apparently refuted the government contention that she is holding dialogue with political parties, which is an interference in the country's domestic affairs and breach of diplomatic norms.

Gulshan Station of the Dhaka Metrooplition Police (DMP) organised the programme to share problems and solutions with the local community. Geeta Pasi said she was attending the function not as a diplomat but simply as a resident of Gulshan area.

Deputy Police Commissioner of DMP (Gulshan) Rezaul Alam moderated the programme, while former Adviser and former Inspector General of Police ASM Shahjahan, local Ward Commissioners Peara Mostafa, Anwar Hossain, Rabeya Alam and local residents took part at the discussion..

Shahjahan said the government had started reforms within the police force, and programmes such as Saturday's 'Open Day' were an important step as a bridge between the police and the people.

The speakers at the function discussed various problems of the area including traffic jams, pedding of drugs, vandalism of telephone cables and water crises.

The function also discussed the activities, obstacles and problems of service organisations such as the city corporation, WASA, RAJUK, Titas Gas and the Power Development Board.

Meanwhile, UNB adds: the US Embassy today said the United States supports the caretaker government to hold free, fair and credible elections at the latest by December 2008.

When the news agency asked Amy Hart Vrampas, Director, American Center to comment on the Foreign Ministry's note, the US official said," "Our position remains the same. We are here to support the Caretaker Government and we are here to support the holding of free, fair and credible elections at the latest by December 2008 as announced by the Government."

Asked about Geeta Pasi's recent meetings with political parties that apparently prompted the Government to issue the note about diplomatic norms, Vrampas said, "We're meeting with political parties all the time and we're giving the same message. Nothing is changed."

Yousuf Gillani named Pak Premier

Yousuf Raza Gillani

BBC Online

The late Benazir Bhutto's party has named its candidate for prime minister, after winning last month's elections.

The Pakistan People's Party nominated ex-Speaker Yusuf Raza Gillani for the post to lead a coalition government with ex-PM Nawaz Sharif's PML(N) party.

Analysts say the appointment is widely expected to be a stop-gap measure and Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, may be poised to eventually take over.

The coalition is expected to try to curb President Musharraf's powers.

Saturday's announcement was the choice of Asif Ali Zardari, the party's effective leader and co-chairman, according to the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad.

He may try to become PM in the future, analysts say, but does not have a seat in the National Assembly and could run to become an MP in a by-election within months.

Lawmakers are now expected to endorse Gillani, a party leader from southern Punjab, in a special session on Monday.

Zardari and his main coalition partner, Sharif, have told the New York Times they are prepared to negotiate with the militants, reflecting a coalition consensus on the need for a comprehensive political approach to Islamist violence.

Ms Bhutto's party has been in intense talks over the make-up of a coalition administration since winning the 18 February elections.

President Pervez Musharraf, a US ally who came to power as a general in a 1999 coup, suffered heavy losses in the polls and appears increasingly isolated, say analysts.

The new coalition government has vowed to reinstate judges sacked by the president during a state of emergency in November.

Correspondents say the judges, if restored, could overturn Musharraf's re-election in a parliamentary vote last October, effectively ruling his presidency illegal.

Ms Bhutto was assassinated at an election rally in December.

Bangladesh whitewash Ireland

Tamim Iqbal celebrates after hitting a century
against Ireland in the third and last ODI between Bangladesh
and Ireland at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur
on Saturday. FocusBangla

Sports Reporter

A marvelous 129 by opener Tamim Iqbal powered Bangladesh to whitewash Ireland 3-0 when the Tigers outplayed Ireland by 79 runs in the third and last ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

Earlier, Bangladesh defeated Ireland by eight wickets in the first ODI at the same venue on March 18 and then, the Tigers beat Ireland by 84 runs in the second ODI at the same venue on March 20.

Tamim faced 136 deliveries in his 204-minute innings, which was laced with 15 fours and a huge six.

Winning the toss Bangladesh chose to bat first and piled up a mammoth 293 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 50 overs and then the Tigers bowled out Ireland for 214 off 45.3 overs.

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Shahriar Nafees made a solid start as the two youngsters contributed together 109 in the first-wicket stand.

Tamim Iqbal was adjudged the man of the match while consistent Shahriar Nafees, who hit a superb 54 was adjudged the man of the series. Shahriar played 56 balls in his 83-minute innings, which was studded with nine shots beyond the ropes.

Earlier, Shahriar remained undefeated with 90 in the first ODI against Ireland and the opener hit a fine 60 in the second ODI against Ireland.

After departure of Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed came to the crease but he returned to the pavilion for a duck.

Later, Bangladesh lost their five wickets for 178 runs. Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad built another notable partnership as they put on together 82 runs in the seventh-wicket stand before Tamim Iqbal was caught by Porterfield off Langford-Smith when the team's total was 260 for the loss of six wickets in 47.3 overs.

Mahmudullah Riyad deprived from a half century for just one run as the number seven batsman remained undefeated with 49 off 44 balls amid four fours.

Earlier, Mohammad Ashraful added 22 runs to Bangladesh total while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza hit a quick-fire 16 using just seven deliveries.

Langford-Smith bagged three wickets conceding 53 runs while A Cusack and K O'Brien got two wickets each for 30 and 58 runs respectively.

Later, Niall O'Brien was the only batsmen for Ireland who shone with the willow making a nice 70 off 74 balls with five fours and a six.

Reinhardt Strydom added 37 runs to Ireland's total.

Four of Ireland batsmen were the victims of run out.

Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak bagged a pair of wickets each at the cost of 46 and 50 runs.

Besides, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Mahmudullah Riyad took one wicket a piece.

Today Ireland team will leave the city for home.

Sector Commanders Forum holds convention: Hold war crime trial

Former chief adviser of the caretaker government
Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Deputy Commander-in-Chief
of Liberation War Forces Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) AK
Khandker, former army chief Maj Gen (Retd) KM Shafiullah,
Prof Dr Anisuzzaman, Lt Gen (Retd) M

Staff Reporter

The Liberation War veterans have called for their countrymen who collaborated with Pakistan to face war crimes trials and announced a 16-point declaration and demanded quick start of the trial of the war criminals.

Hundreds of the veterans who took part in the victorious war against Pakistan travelled to Dhaka to issue the call at the request of their former commanders.

The declaration includes the demand of filing cases by the state for the trial of the war criminals, appealing to the UN for forming an International tribunal and banning the parties of war criminals from participating the election.

War veterans from the convention that was delayed before for not getting Government permission urged all to create public opinion to boycott them socially and politically. The Liberation War heroes urged people to observe a one-minute blackout throughout the country on midnight of March 25.

They say Bangladeshis who collaborated with Pakistani forces caused the deaths of thousands of civilians. Many of those they want tried are politically influential figures.

They include the leaders of largest Islamic party of the country, Jamaat-e-Islami, which at the time opposed the break-up of Pakistan.

To this day, the leaders of the party deny a war of liberation took place, rather calling it a civil war.

The Deputy Commander in Chief of the Liberation War and SCF president Air Vice Marshal (Retd) AK Khandoker in his introductory speech said, "The trial of the war criminals will be held on this soil of the country. Our movement will continue till the trial starts."

Nearly 1500 people attended the convention including liberation war veterans, civil society representatives and politicians.

Former Chief Adviser of Caretaker Government Justice Habibur Rahman, Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof Dr Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, sector commanders Maj Gen (Retd) KM Shafiullah, Col (Retd) Kazi Nuruzzaman, Lt Gen (Retd) Mir Showkat Ali and Maj Gen (Retd) CR Dutta were on the main dais.

The politicians present on the occasion included Awami League Leaders Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Dhaka city Mayor and BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, Rashed Khan Menon of Workers Party, Dilip Barua from Samyabadi Dal, Hasanul Haque Inu of JSD, among others.

On the first session Justice Habibur Rahman about the forming of the special tribunal said, "Let a tribunal be formed immediately and the trial process expedited by forming an enquiry commission".

In his speech AK Khandoker said, "No government has so far taken any punitive steps against the war criminals. As they remained unpunished, offenders from subsequent generations tended to be compulsively delinquents, defying all social and legal barriers."

Former army chief Lt Gen (retired) Harun-Ur-Rashid said, "Nations all around us are at this moment trying war criminals in at least 31 places all over the world. We must be able to accomplish it too, or all our anti-graft work and words will seem futile and hollow."

Prof Dr Anisuzzaman said, "The present caretaker government would have to initiate the trial process of the war criminals. As the war crime is a crime against the state, the state would have to take the initiative and take steps against it."

Gen KM Shafiullah said, "Bangalees will not tolerate them who ridicule the Liberation War. It is now the demand of 15 crore people to try the war criminals."

Gen Mir Shawkat Ali said, "The freedom fighters will have to be united demanding trial of the war criminals. The head of the government, the chief of army and the chief election commissioner have commented that the war criminals should be tried. You have power. Make a tribunal for their trial."

Gen CR Dutta said the freedom fighters had been misled for 37 years, "There should not be any division and all should unite based on a non-communal base. This movement will continue until the war criminals are tried."

Col Nuruzzaman said people of all walks of life should unite for the demand of the war criminals.

The security system at the convention centre was tight.

10 hurt in UN varsity clashes

Students of Jagannath University leaving the campus
yesterday following a violent clash between two factions of
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. NN photo

Staff Reporter

At least 10 Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists were injured in clashes with their rivel group on the Jagannath University campus yesterday over domination.

University sources said the police had to intervene to control the situation. The police arrested Shawan, a second-year student of the accounting department, from the spot.

The two groups, one led by JCD unit president ABM Parvez Reza and the other led by JCD general secretary Anisur Rahman Khokon, became involved in the violent clash at around 11:30am.

Hundreds of students belonging to both groups gave chase to their opponents carrying iron rods, hockey sticks and clubs, in the vicinity of the University's Shaheed Minar.

The general students panicked as they were caught up in the clashes.

Jewel, student of the Bangla department, sustained severe injuries and he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. As his condition deteriorated, Jewel was later admitted to a private clinic by his family members for better treatment.

Noman, Arif, Sakhawat and Sumon, students of the political science department, Manik of social science, Jewel of economics department and Shahadat of the Bangla department were also injured.

They were admitted to the National Medical Hospital and Sumona Clinic in the city.

The filing of a case is now under process, said the duty officer of Kotwali Police Station.

OMS to be extended to union level

Staff Reporter

The government is considering Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice at union level, Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told newsman yesterday.

With a view to help ease the burden of common people, the Adviser said, the government is also thinking of increasing the volume of rice sold through OMS in Dhaka city from 350 tones a day to between 1,000 and 1,500 tones a day.

Dr Zillur was speaking after a meeting on economic issues with economists, representatives of development partners and the local businessmen at commerce ministry.

After failing to arrest soaring of commodity prices the government is trying to find ways to help common people by intervening in the market through alternative ways.

The Adviser said the number of OMS centres in Dhaka city fell far short of the required number, but the proposed increase in rice sales in the capital would target garments and industrial workers.

Zillur felt that the OMS centres should be opened where the needy people like garment and industrial workers live.

He said the government is also considering to rebuild the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) by meeting one-half or one-third of the total requirements with potatoes as the country attained bumper production of the crop this year.

"I think this is very good thinking. It will benefit the farmers and increase food security," the Adviser said.

As part of a series of discussions aimed at bringing economic solvency to the masses, Zillur said the caretaker administration was thinking about implementing a food-for-work programme in Alipur Union, which was hit by devastating Cyclone Sidr last year.

Replying to a query the Commerce Adviser said price hike of edible oil at the wholesale market has been stopped.

"There will now be a consequent impact on the retail market."

The Adviser said the Finance Ministry is considering a dearness allowance for government service holders to help them cope with the price spiral of essentials.

Circular history

BBC Online

The story of Pakistan is one of remorseless tug and pull between the civilian and military rulers on the one hand, and the liberal and religious forces on the other.

In the process, the country has failed to become either a democracy, a theocracy or a permanent military dictatorship.

The chief casualties have been the rule of law, the state institutions and the process of national integration, with grave consequences for the civil society.

The "Talebanisation" of the north-western region is one manifestation of the prevalent disorder; an unending separatist campaign by nationalists in the south-western Baluchistan province is another.

Meanwhile, sectarian and ethnic tensions have kept the two largest provinces - namely Punjab, which is the bread-basket of the country, and Sindh, which is its trading and industrial mainstay - perennially instable.

In Pakistan since its inception in 1947, the governor-generals, presidents and army chiefs have dismissed as many as ten civilian governments that together ruled the country for 27 years. The remaining 33 years have seen direct military rule.

The US started having problems with Pakistan when an elected government came to power in 1972, but poured billions of dollars into the country when another military regime took over in 1977 and agreed to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Similarly, while the elected governments that followed during 1988-99 had to live with a decade of US sanctions, the military regime of Gen Musharraf, that ousted the last civilian government in 1999, remains a 'well supplied' ally in the US' 'war on terror'.

There are, however, indications that the Americans may finally be getting fed up with Gen Musharraf, just as they got fed up with General Ayub Khan when he started to warm up to the Soviet Union after the 1965 war with India, or of General Zia-ul Haq when the Soviets decided to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in 1987.

There is also a gathering political storm on the horizon, in keeping with the cyclical pattern of the country's political weather.

As elections approach, exiled leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, both former prime ministers, threaten to return to the country with the express aim of effecting a regime change.

But Gen Musharraf, like his predecessors, is fighting to keep his military office and his special powers under the constitution to dismiss governments and parliaments.

Thus, the story of Pakistan continues to be one of despotic regimes using religious extremists and external support to keep the secular democratic forces at bay; and when these forces do assert themselves, to tie them down in legal constraints that are designed to ensure their failure.

It is the story of a society that has been going round in circles for the last 60 years.

Army Chief visits retail market

Staff Reporter

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed paid a surprise visit to the retail market in the New Market area yesterday to personally monitor the market situation.

During his inspection, he visited several shops and inspect price of daily commodities by his own.

He noticed significant price difference of same food item in different shops. He expressed his dissatisfaction over the price difference of potato, which was charged Tk12 per kg in a shop and Tk14 per kg at its next shop.

Similarly, he also noticed price variation of 'Sharna-Rice' which varies from Tk 30 to Tk 34 within the same market.

He also complained that no shop has their price list prepared.

Later during a short meeting with the market committee and shop owners, he directed them to keep their price list prepared and available for the customers on compulsory basis. He also advised the shop owners to sell both the higher and lower rated rice in their shops to give customers a chance to choose while shopping.

Members of Market Committee, however, promised their maximum support to the authority to maintain market situation stable.

According to him, the new Boro rice is expected to enter into local market within this month, which will help the rice market to remain stable further.

Final voter list by Oct

Work of preparing voter-list with photographs and
National ID cards going on in fullswing under the
supervision of the army. Focus Bangla

UNB, Dhaka

The final voter list will be available by October next, as registration of 4.93 crore voters has already been completed across the country.

"Registration of 4.93 crore voters have been completed (across the country) and it is expected that the total number of voters will be over 8 crore," said Major Ferdous Ahsan Selim, spokesman of the central control cell on preparation of the voter list and national ID card project.

He was addressing a press briefing at Dhaka Cantonment here Saturday. Selim said the final voter list containing 1,291,147 voters of four city corporations and seven pourasavas will be handed over to the Election Commission on March 24.

The city corporations are Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Rajshahi while the pourasavas are Gopalganj, Cox's Bazar, Sitakunda, Fulbaria, Sreepur, Shariathpur and Manikganj.

He said the matching work of the enlisted voters is being carried out through 'biometrics system' for identifying duplications. Under the 'Operation Naba Jatra', printing of the draft voter lists of over 3 crore voters will be completed by May.

Her said printing of the draft voter lists will be completed in 130 areas by April and another 130 areas by May.

"A total of 10,000 members of the Armed Forces and 18,000 civilians have been working for preparing the voter list and national ID cards across the country," he told the journalists.