The New Nation - Internet Edition

National youth festival begins

Visitors at a stall on the opening day of
two-day-long National Youth Festival at Bangladesh-China
Friendship Conference Centre in the city on Tuesday. NN
photo

UNB, Dhaka

A national youth festival began in the city yesterday to create awareness among the young voters about their rights, responsibilities and future plans to choose their leaders as well as strengthen the country's democracy.

International Republican Institute (IRI) in collaboration with the USAID and some other institutions organized the 2-day festival titled 'Tarunner Mela' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

Election Commissioner Brig General (retd) Sakhawat Hussain inaugurated the festival while eminent writer Imdadul Hoque Milon, IRI country director Jeffery Vanness and National Democratic Institute (NDI) representative Najia Hashemee spoke on the occasion. Sakhawat said the young generation comprising one-third of total voters could play a vital role in holding a best election.

Matia Chowdhury hospitalised

Matia Chowdhury

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League presidium member Matia Chowdhury was admitted to Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital after experiencing chest pain Tuesday morning.

Party sources said relatives of Matia Chowdhury admitted her to the hospital at about 10am after she felt chest pain. Hospital doctors said the AL leader does not have any cardiac problem. "She was facing severe vertigo problem and nausea, but her condition is quite stable. There is nothing to worry. We're giving her necessary treatment," said Dr Nusrat Jahan of the Cardiac Department. "She has been under observation in the CCU (Coronary Care Unit)," she added.

Haji Selim, his wife chargesheeted

Court Correspondent

Charge sheet was yesterday submitted to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka against former MP Haji Selim and his wife in a graft case.

Md Abu Sayed, Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Tuesday submitted the charge sheet to the CMM Court of Dhaka accusing Awami League leader. Haji Md Selim and his wife Gulshan Ara Begum of amassing wealth and concealing facts about their wealth. Haji Selim allegedly amassed wealth worth Taka 26 crore 92 lakh 8 thousand 105 beyond his known source of income and concealed facts about his wealth to the tune of Taka 10,04,13,935 in the statements he submitted to ACC .

On February 18 of last year ACC ordered Haji Selim to submit wealth statement. But his wife challenged the legality of the notice through a writ petition she filed with the High Court Division. Later, as directed by the apex court, Haji Selim submitted a statement of his property worth Taka 68,22,49,242 including the property worth Taka 48,52,16,257 in the name of his two minor sons and Taka 19,70,32,985 in the name of his wife. However, ACC unveiled facts about more property worth Taka 10,04,13,935.

Imon, Dicon on 5-day remand

Sanjidul Islam Imon

Court Correspondent

A Court of Dhaka yesterday placed top terrorists Sanjidul Islam Imon and Haji Shoheb Sayed Dicon on a 5-day remand in a case filed for killing dish businessman Rubel.

Previously, charge sheet was submitted to the Court in the case filed in connection with the killing of Indian rice trader Majid and he was arrested. Terrorists gunned down DB police and dish businessman Rubel on September 24, 2006.

Imon was yesterday produced before the Court after a 4-day remand in the murder case in connection with the killing of Dhaka University teacher Dr Aftab Ahmed, when DB's SI Mahbubur Rahman, Investigation Officer (IO) of Rubel murder case sought a 10-day remand to quiz Imon and Dicon in this case. The Metropolitan Magistrate heard the remand prayer and granted the 5-day remand.

Earlier on March 7, CID took terrorists Imon and Ishaque from India to Bangladesh and they were quizzed for 16 days in three rounds.

After the third remand Ishaque was sent to jail. On March 27, Imon was put on a 4-day remand in Dr Aftab murder case. DB's Assistant Commissioner Nasir Uddin Ahmed informed Dicon is one of the associates of another top terrorist.

1/11 change a positive development: Call for unity of freedom fighters

Staff Reporter

Giving a clarion call for unity of the freedom fighters across the country, two renowned Commanders of the Liberation War in 1971, have termed the One Eleven Changeover a significant and positive development for the country, its people and democracy in the future.

One of the four top leaders of the Sadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad and a Deputy Commander of the Mujib Bahini Central Command, JSD founder General Secretary ASM Abdur Rob and Sub-Sector Commander Maj (retd) Ziauddin, who fought Pakistani occupation forces in Sector no-9, told a gathering of pro-liberation forces in the capital that freedom fighters (FFs) should have to be united again now to launch another struggle to reach the benefits of the great Independence to the common people.

Organised under the auspices of the Shahoshi Muktijodda-Janata Oikya Parishad (Courageous FF and People Council), newly floated body, at the Comrade Moni Singh-Farhad Memorial Trust auditorium in the capital with its Convener Maj Ziauddin in the chair on Monday to mark the 37th anniversary of the Independence Day, the function was attended by a number of former FFs and student leaders as well as political activists of different political parties.

They stressed on the need to unite the freedom fighters for the betterment of the whole nation using the 'golden opportunity' of the One Eleven, which they claimed to have happened through the timely role by country's patriot Armed Forces.

Prominent among them includes-former MP Mohammad Gofran, FF Commanders Abdul Hakim (Bir Pratik) and Mozammel Haque (Bir Pratik), Dr Arifur Rahman, Shamsul Majumder, Abdus Salam Majumder and Mehjamin Rahman, all whom took part either in the War of Liberation or struggles for the restoration of multi-party democracy in the country.

ASM Abdur Rob, also the Convener of Unity for Political Reforms (UPR), was critical of both the major political parties-the BNP and the Awami League (AL) for, what he said, betraying the nation destroying the dreams of martyrs and freedom fighters, who fought for the emancipation of the people shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh Armed Forces in 1971, through establishing 'family dynasty', misrule and 'corrupt autocracy' after being elected to power by the people repeatedly.

"The AL had established one-party dynastic rule after the liberation, which was fought by the whole nation except the local Rajakars and Al-Badr and their political mentors, after the independence instead of a Revolutionary Government of National Unity," he said, adding the BNP followed by the path shown by its political predecessor (AL) and pushed the country to an all pervasive corruption and crisis.

"The Army-led January 11 (2007) Changeover, which saved the nation from an obvious civil war due to fierce rivalry and squabbles between the BNP and the AL, has laid the foundation for accountable democracy, corruption free society, prosperity and economic freedom of the people once again after 36 years of the liberation," said Rob, who hoisted the National Flag first atop the Dean office of the Arts Building of Dhaka University on March 2, 1971.

Referring to the background of formation of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), the political party launched by the FFs, including guerilla commanders, industrial workers, peasants and student leaders, after the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent country on the global map, he urged all irrespective of ideological differences and party affiliations not to ignore the contributions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the late President Ziaur Rahman for the nation's freedom and existence.

''We cannot support the brutal killings of these two national leaders-Sheikh Mujib and Zia," said Rob, who himself fought against the 'misrule and autocracy' of the BNP and AL regimes, reacting sharply when a speaker tried to malign the role of Ziaur in the Liberation War.

Both Rob and Maj Ziauddin, who is former Chairman of the Pirojpur Municipality and an AL leader, strongly expressed their support to the demand placed to this Government by the Sector Commanders' Forum to try the war criminals immediately.

Maj (retd) Ziauddin urged the freedom fighters to be united again to establish 'People Democracy' in the country.

Alternative jobs for fishermen urged

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar yesterday called upon the Government to create alternative employment for the fishermen, who become unemployed and lost around Tk5 crore during the last seven months since the hilsha fry fishing was banned.

Society for Development Initiatives (SDI) organised a seminar titled "Fishing Ban Impact and Alternative Livelihood" at the conference room of LGED Bhaban in the city.

Oxfan GB Bangladesh and SDI jointly conducted a research led by Dr khurshid Alam on the impact on the fishermen after banning Hilsha Fry fishing and the way to resolve this.

After researching Alam presented some proposals at the seminar. The key speaker Md Rafiqul Islam, Director of Fish Department, said the fishermen near Meghna and Andarmanik River lives on fishing Hilsha Fry from November to May. More than 60 per cent of fishermen have neither cropland nor another way of earning. About 2,33,000 fishermen become unemployed during this season. So it is essential to rehabilitate the fishermen.

Shamsul Haq, Executive Director of SDI presided over the seminar. He said, more than three lakh families in the coastal areas are completely dependent on fishing. They are the victims of various problems. But there is no proper policy to support them for their professional development.

He urged the Government to include the fishermen in the Safety Net programme to provide technical support.

Dr MA Hakim, Managing Director of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation; Dr Abdus Salam, Chairman of Biology Department of Dhaka University; Farid Hossain, Programme officer of SDI, among others, were present at the seminar.

RAB get-together held in city

Staff Reporter

Director General of RAB Hasan Mahmud Khandaker said his force is well equipped to deal with any possible militant attack.

He was speaking to journalists at a get-together of RAB officials on the fifth anniversary of the elite force at its headquarters in the city yesterday.

The RAB for the first time published a journal on its achievements. The publication highlighted the role of the RAB in curbing terrorism and improving law and order in the country.

The DG said the modernisation process of the RAB was on and two new helicopters have been given to the specialised police force for swift action against any threat to peace. He claimed that his force had already found a niche in the hearts of the people.

"The countrymen can now depend on the RAB with confidence. We are satisfied with our achievements so far," he said.

Replying to a question he said apprehension and actual happenings were not the same. Recently, the law enforcers have beefed up security to protect the people from terrorism, but that not necessarily mean that militant attack was imminent, he added.

To another question the said 'crossfire' was necessary under the circumstances.

With the crackdown on the militants and increased vigilance of the RAB their activities have drastically reduced. There are no concerns for a major attack in near future, he assured.

Control of EC Secretariat: ECs’ tug of war with CEC

UNB, Dhaka

The tug of war between the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the two Election Commissioners over the control of the Election Commissioner Secretariat is still on, widening the distance between the CEC and his two colleagues.

According to competent sources, the two Election Commissioners are unhappy as the Election Commission Secretariat Ordinance 2008 promulgated on March 9 bestowed the full control of the EC Secretariat on the CEC.

Meanwhile, the sources said, the Commissioners have sent a letter to the Chief Adviser to look into under whose control the EC secretariat would actually remain. The two Election Commissioners are expecting an answer in this regard from the CA's office within a week.

The tussle in the Election Commission in fact started after the government approved the ordinance in January, delaying its promulgation. Eventually, the government promulgated the ordinance on March 9, making the EC secretariat free form the Prime Minister Office.

But the concerned quarters said the promulgation of the ordinance would not make the EC Secretariat free since its secretary, according to the present government service rules, would be appointed by the government as per the requisition of the EC.

The gazette notification of the ordinance says the entire control of the EC secretariat would remain under the CEC and the EC secretary would be the administrative head of the secretariat.

Meanwhile, on February 6, Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told journalists that they have informed the government that the secretariat's control should be under the jurisdiction of the (three) Election Commissioners headed by the CEC.

Iftekhar meets UN Secretary General: Bangladesh’s reforms lauded

UNB, Dhaka

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has lauded the reforms initiatives being undertaken in Bangladesh and expressed the hope that this would render democratic institutions sustainable. Ban Ki-moon's appreciation came when Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury called on him at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday afternoon, according to a Foreign Ministry press release. The Foreign Adviser arrived in New York earlier on Monday and was scheduled to Chair a Session on poverty alleviation and education yesterday.He will also address the Plenary of the General Assembly on Millennium Development Goals in his capacity as Chairman of Least Developed Countries.

Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury informed the UN Secretary General about the determination of the Caretaker Government to hold "free, fair and credible elections in accordance with the Road Map before the end of December this year" which the Secretary General "deeply appreciated" and offered any logistic assistance in this regard that the government may wish to seek.

The Foreign Adviser strongly urged for higher representation of Bangladeshis at senior command level appointments in UN peacekeeping both in the headquarters and in the field missions in keeping with Bangladesh's troop contributions.

The Secretary General responded that positive consideration would be given to this request. He praised the "training and discipline of Bangladeshi soldiers and police on the ground" that he himself had seen whenever he had visited peacekeeping missions. Ban Ki-moon underscored the fact that the manner in which the Bangladesh government is seeking to strengthen democratic norms can be an example to many other countries.

While apprising the Secretary General of the recent political developments in Bangladesh, the Foreign Advisor told him that the government would organise a dialogue with the political parties on all domestic issues soon.

He said the people of Bangladesh hold the UN in great esteem as a custodian of international norms and standards. In this connection, the Foreign Adviser also mentioned that there is a growing demand for trial of war crimes, in which a popular sentiment has been expressed for UN involvement. Ban Ki-moon accepted the invitation by the Foreign