The New Nation - Internet Edition

Gen Moeen addresses editors, senior journalists: Polls definitely by year-end December 31, 2008 is the cut-off line

Staff Reporter

Army chief of staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday brushed aside speculations and said that elections would be held in next December which he termed the cut off line.

Exchanging views with editors of newspapers and senior journalists at the army headquarters Gen Moeen said, "There will be nothing but demnocratic rule in Bangladesh," and added, "We will prove to the world that we have done it."

He said that the Army has no political ambitions, and would do its assigned functions to ensure security of the country. However, as patriotic citizens, 'we want honest and competent leadership to take charge of the country', he said.

Gen. Moeen said "We don't run the government, we won't do so… We have done people's welfare activities. Let the next government decide if they want to utilise our services."

He said that the Army should perform its prime duty of safeguarding security. "We will come back and play our basic role. Security means not only safety from external threat but also food security, health security, among others," he added.

He urged all to all to observe till the 31st of December and said, "Let' all work together for the development of the country." The law and order which has improved should not be allowed to deteriorate in the interest of free, fair and credible elections, he said.

Those who were present at the session included, former adviser and editor of The Independent Mahbubul Alam, Advisory editor of the Janakantha, Toab Khan, editor of Amar Desh Ataus Samad, editor of Ittefaq Rahat Khan, Editor of Prothom Alo Matiur Rahmnan, Chief Editor of BSS Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, editor of Jai Jai Din Shafiq Rehman, editor of Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin, editor of daily Sangram Abul Asad, editor of News Today Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of Bangladesh Observer Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, chief editor of UNB Enayetullah Khan, editor of Manab Zamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor of the New Age Nurul Kabir, editor of Sangbad Altamas Kabir, Bureau chief of AP Farid Hossain, director of Channel I Faridur Reza Sagar, and head of news Shaikh Siraj, Chief Adviser of ATN Saiful Bari, managing director of NTV Enayetur Rahman, editor of Amader Samay, Naimul Islam Khan, editor of Bhorer Kagoj, Shyamol Datta.

The army chief said that the caretaker government has started the process of political dialogue. The government and the Election Commission have their own roadmaps for the election, he said adding some preparatory meetings had already been held the other day. He said that the photo voter list was now about 65 percent complete at the lowest possible costs.

Gen Moeen told a questioner that he did not ask for the extension of service that has been granted to him by the President for one year. The rules do not permit that, he said.

About the proposed National Security Council he said that a gazette notification in this regard had been published in the late seventies, the only thing was that it was never formed. The said council would be an advisory body with no powers. There would be representatives of the government as well as the leader of the opposition in the council, he said.

He gave a run down of the achievements made during the last 16 months and called for sustaining those. The country has great potentials which only needed to be properly harnessed, he said.

Gen Moeen acknowledged the sufferings of the poor and fixed income group people because of the unprecedented price hike of goods which he attributed to the international market situation, three successive natural disasters that destroyed 20 lakh tonnes of rice, the abnormal price hike of oil internationally, production of bio-fuel from corn and palm oil and peculiar behaviour of buyers and sellers.

He assured that the situation would improve soon after the boro harvest which is expected to yield 22 lakh tonnes of extra food grains. Already there has been a bumper potato harvest which was 30 lakh tonnes in addition to the normal 50 lakh tonnes of annual output.

In this connection he clarified his remark about potato consumption and said he never suggested potato intake instead of rice, what he said was increased intake of potato along with rice.

The army chief termed the press as the Parliament in the absence of the elected Parliament and said the government took many actions based on reports coming through the press. He sought constructive role of the mass media.

Commentary: We as a nation must overcome difficulties of political leadership

What the former Chief Adviser of Caretaker Government Justice Habibur Rahman told a dialogue titled 'Prime Challenges: National Consensus 2008’ organised by the 'Bangladesh First Bangladesh 2025’ on Sunday asserting that 'military dictation’ on the civil administration and politics cannot be salutary, would be disputed by nobody.

But the statement has been made at a time when the military has already been deep into the affairs of the statecraft following failure of the political leaders to uphold and nurture the political process for the best interests of all. With the chaos let loose by the politicians, one group going ahead with a schedule to hold elections and another group not only boycotting the same but also vowing to resist it, There was no option but to declaring the present state of emergency. At time the same armed forces instead of taking over the government rescued the constitutional process by helping the newly formed caretaker government to continue.

All well-meaning people definitely would want restoration of the political process where restriction on political activities and some other liberties would no longer be there. But well-meaning persons should also think over the mode of transition back to a political order that would not breed anarchy and corruption any more. The truth is that most political leaders discredited themselves willingly and as a result of force of circumstances under the two personality-based political leadership.

There is hardly any two opinions on the fact that the people had welcomed the change when the political alliances had taken the path of internecine fighting. The people also welcomed the drive against big corruption and wanted the big fishes to be punished.

The political parties became more like family empire in which leadership change was unthinkable. It is for the nation to learn from the past to overcome difficulties in the way of ushering in new leadership for democracy to work. If we cannot make democracy work, we shall fail to protect democracy like it happened now.

Armed forces of Bangladesh are also citizens of the country and nobody can say that they can remain indifferent when political parties do not be-have like political parties and engage in violence and plundering of the country. Justice Habibur Rahman did not hesitate to point out the arrogance of political leaders like Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina for not willing to step down as party leader in spite of their disastrous failures.

It is our hope that Justice Habibur Rahman and others like him play a definite role for organising party politics so that democracy can sustain itself. The Army Chief Gen Moeen U. Ahmed has been insisting on restoring democracy. But he cannot ensure democracy that has to be organised by new political leadership honest and dedicated to serve the people.

Price hike reaches intolerable level: Moeen

BSS, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday said, the prices of essentials have shot up to such a high level that it has been very difficult for the people to tolerate.

The tendencies of some consumers who purchase huge amount of commodities create panic in the market and rise prices of essentials, he said adding that trends of stockholding commodities by importers, wholesalers and retailers are also pushing up prices.

The hike in prices of essential items in the global market is also another factor that shot up the prices in the country, General Moeen said referring the figures that price of rice in the international market has gone up to US$ 500 per metric tonne (MT) in March 2008 from US$ 260 per MT.

The price of wheat went up to US$ 399 per MT this year from US$ 240 last year, while palm oil to US$ 1246 from US$ 565, sugar to US$ 396 from US$ 299, powder milk to US$ 5242 from US$ 3000and soyabean oil to US$ 1503from US$ 620.

The government has undertaken various measures to keep prices under control, he added.

General Moeen said, the production of crops during last year was hampered due to two floods and cyclone Sidr, and for this there was a large shortage of crops.

Crops worth 20 lakh MTs were damaged by floods and cyclone last year. A total of 8,71,000 MTs of crops were damaged due to Sidr during November 15 last year causing a loss of US$ 3 billion, he added.

Using crops in producing bio fuel is another reason for shortage of crops globally that adds to rise in prices of essentials he said, about one-third of maize produced globally are used for making bio fuel.

Rise in prices of fuel in the international market is also another cause of hike in prices, as it raises the cost of transportation of commodities, General Moeen said.

Referring his visit to city markets he said, although prices were higher, there was sufficient items in the market. The panic creates when some consumers buy a large amounts, he added.

"Hike of prices is a problem and this has to be settled with the cooperation of all," General Moeen said adding that diversification of food habits could help a lot in taming the hike of rice prices.

Referring to huge production of potato, that amounts to 80 lakh metric tons, he said, there is a 20 lakh tons capacity of storing potatoes and there is a risk that 60 lakh tones of potato will rot unless these are utilised timely and properly.

He said, if people take more potatoes with rice in their menu, then these could reduce pressure on rice and would be cost effective for the people. Side by side, he emphasised on processing of potatoes and value addition for exporting that could fetch large amounts of foreign exchange.

KL-Dhaka flight hijacked to Bangkok: Hijacker surrenders

Air Chief Air Marshal S M Ziaur Rahman inspecting
the mangled remains of the F-7 fighter jet that crashed
during a training session near Ghatail in Tangail killing
its pilot yesterday.(Inset): Pilot squadron leader Morshed
Hasan. Banglar Chokh

Mamunur Rashid

An aircraft of GMG, country’s first private airliner, was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday on the Don Muang Airport at Bangkok after an armed man hijacked the aircraft with 60 passengers on board.

A man, brandishing a 4-inch knife and threatening to hurt others, caused panic among the passengers, Thai aviation officials and police said.

The hijacker identified as Harun ur Rashid alias Hasan Ali, a 25-year-old Bangladeshi national was unruly and he frightened other passengers, sources add.

The pilot of the GMG Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka asked for permission to make an emergency landing at 9:30 am (0230 GMT) after a passenger took out the knife, said Chana U-Sathaporn, president of Airports of Thailand.

“He was seen holding the knife when the stewardesses asked him to keep quiet. They then alerted the captain who requested for emergency landing at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, but we asked him to go to Bangkok’s domestic Don Muang Airport,” he told a press conference at the Don Muang Airport.

But Major General Worrasak Nopsittiporn, Commander of the Bangkok precinct that includes the airport, said Hasan Ali had taken out the knife to cut an apple, and had not caused any disturbance but aviation officials could not explain how Hasan Ali had got onto the plane with a knife.

The captain made the request at 9.15am and two fighter jets from the Thai Air Force escorted the plane to land at the airport, which caters for domestic flights.

“He didn’t try to harm anyone,” Worrasak said, adding that Thai police would not charge him with a crime.

Hasan Ali was being escorted to Bangkok’s international airport, where he would be placed on a flight to Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon, Worrasak said.

The GMG flight, which had about 60 passengers, was grounded for about two hours in Bangkok before resuming its journey to Dhaka.

The man, who was suspected to be suffering from mental problems, had reportedly engaged in a fight with another passenger, and the fracas escalated to alarming levels when the man brandished a knife.

The pilot of the GMG Airline was alerted of the incident, and decided to land the plane on the Don Mueang Airport, said The Bangkok Post, cutting its journey from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka.

Civil Aviation Department head Chaisak Angkasuwan said that the man was armed with a fruit knife, a weapon that could cause serious danger to the flight passengers.

But GMG Airlines Vice-President Sadat Rahman denied that Harun possessed a knife.

The GMG flight, carrying about 60 passengers, was grounded for about two hours in Bangkok before resuming its journey to Dhaka and it landed at Zia International Airport at 2:28pm.

It was not known if the hijacker had any political agenda.

Boro output may exceed target

Syful Islam

Boro production may exceed target this year unless there is any massive natural calamity, experts said.

Meanwhile, the recent seasonal storms and rainfalls did not effect the Boro fields leaving the hope of a bumper production of the paddy. However, in some places of greater Jessore and Kushtia farmers have cultivated Irri instead of Boro this season, fields have been affected by unidentified virus killing sheaf of paddy. Local agriculture officials could neither detect nor cure the disease.

Department of Agriculture sources said this year's Boro cultivation target was fixed at 45 lakh hectares of land. But the farmers have cultivated Boro paddy on some more lands creating a hope of production of an extra 5 lakh tones of the food grain. The Boro production target had been fixed at 1.75 crore tonnes this year. Sources said farmers offered their best efforts to produce Boro paddy this year. They did not care for government incentives or inputs during Boro cultivation. The two-phase floods and cyclone Sidr had taken a tool on the farmers.

Dr Md Abdur Razzaque, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) yesterday told The New Nation that the condition of crop in the field is very good. "Unless there is any massive calamity there will be a bumper Boro production this year" he said.

Dr Razzaque said, "The Government functionaries also offered their best efforts to help farmers in the cultivation process. Researches and agriculture officials were fully active, monitored and supervised the overall activities closely. These have encouraged farmers to put their best efforts, too".

"Nature has also helped farmers this year during Boro cultivation. Farmers had not to depend on irrigation as rainfalls helped them as an alternative, which has saved their money," he said.

Meanwhile, Boro harvesting in some areas of the country has already started. Farmers in Juri upzila under Moulovibazar district started cutting of Boro paddy on Sunday. Harvesting of Boro paddy in Haor areas will begin shortly. This will continue for the entire April and May period.

However, the weather experts forecast some 4 to 6 middle and high intensity storms in the month of April. This month an extra 10 to 15 per cent rainfall may occur, they said.

BAF fighter crashes : Pilot killed

UNB, Tangail

A fighter plane of Bangladesh Air Force crashed onto the ground at Paharipara village in Ghatail upazila yesterday, killing the pilot.

Officials said fatally injured in the accident, pilot squadron leader Morshed Hasan, 29, hailed from Kayaria village in Madaripur, was flown by helicopter to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where he died shortly after admission.

Witnesses said they saw a fireball falling from the open sky on a cropland in the area at about 12:22pm.

Tangail SP Abdul Mannan, quoting witnesses, said the pilot of the fighter jet managed to bail out from the plane in tailspin but dropped on a thatched house "as his parachute didn't open timely".

The Search and Rescue team of airforce from Dhaka rushed to the spot on receipt of the plane-crash news. The injured pilot was flown to the CMH "instantly by helicopter in unconscious state", an ISPR release in Dhaka said.

Morshed succumbed to his injuries at the hospital shortly after admission.

According to the ISPR press release, Morshed flew an F-7 fighter jet from Kurmitola Airforce base at about 11:46am on a routine training mission along with another fighter jet.

Completing the air-strike exercise, he was returning to the base when the plane caught fire for what is guessed as "technical fault".

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Shah M Ziaur Rahman visited the spot and directed the officials concerned to take necessary measures in this regard.

A three-member high-level investigation committee has been formed to probe into the matter.

Govt AL informal talks termed successful

Shahidul Islam

The talks between the policymakers of the Government and the Awami League (AL), who had an informal meeting for the first time on Monday in preparation of the formal political dialogue, was successful.

Disclosing this yesterday, the leader of the five-member Government delegation Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and AL delegation led by Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed said they would continue their informal talks in order to ensure the success of the ensuing political dialogue between the interim administration and political parties.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed proposed a political dialogue in his address to the nation, while Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed yesterday said the formal dialogue would decide the holding of the general elections, lifting of the State of Emergency and other major issues of national interest.

Meanwhile, the five members high-powered official delegation of the Council of Advisers of the Caretaker Government yesterday contacted Secretaries General of both the anti-reform and reformist factions of the BNP-Khandaker Delwar Hossain and Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed seeking appointments for informal talks separately.

Conforming the information, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who leads the anti-reform faction, said they would not join the talks if the Government does not allow him to take permission form the detained party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

BNP (reformist) Acting Secretary General Maj Hafizuddin Ahmed said the party Acting Chairman M Saiufur Rahman would soon call a meeting of the National Standing Committee to take a decision as to whether they would join the talks together in consultation with Begum Zia and Khandaker Delwar or separately. “We are in favour of a joint talks-informal or otherwise,” he asserted when talking to this Correspondent last night.

About the talks between the AL and the Government, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed and influential AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed, who took part in all post- '75 dialogues-political or otherwise-between his party and Governments or foreign donors, either as leader or a member of the delegation, told journalists that both of them were hopeful that the formal dialogue would begin in the third week of this month (April) and would be successful.

The Foreign Adviser said they would sit for informal talks with all political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, bilaterally before the formal talks, while Tofail Ahmed said his party would boycott the all-party formal dialogue, if the Jamaat leaders were invited.

“We are not negotiating (confrontations) with each other, rather we are working together through exchanging opinions on issues of national interests, including the elections, in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere,” Dr Iftekhar said.

Tofail disclosed that the agenda of Monday’s parleys between his party and the Government highlighted the smooth transition to democracy by holding free, fair and credible elections, the release of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the pressing issues facing the nation as well as how to tame price spiral of the essentials, especially foodstuffs and edible oil.

Echoing the views, AL Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury said the party would take the final decision about the formal dialogue taking approval from its concerned forums-the Presidium and the Central Working Committee (ALCWC).

“One of the main issues to be finalised by the ALCWC would be as to whether we join the formal talks without our party Chief Sheikh Hasina or not,” she said, asserting that the AL wants to go to the general elections under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

Sources close to an Adviser, an influential member of the official committee for dialogue with political parties, who attended the Monday’s meeting with the AL at the Railway Building, told the New Nation they are also in touch with leaders of other political parties, including Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jamaat-e-Islami and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh led by former President Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.

Geeta Pasi meets Delwar: BNP factions weigh informal talks offer

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

US Charge d'Affaires Geeta Pasi told reporters yesterday that America welcomes the caretaker government's plan to enter into talks with the political parties.

The US envoy made her remarks following a meeting with BNP secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain at his NAM apartment in the afternoon.

She added that the US view was that the political parties have an important role to play in ensuring free, fair and neutral elections in Bangladesh.

Pasi spent over an hour with Delwar, BNP chief Khaleda Zia's nominated secretary-general, and other top party leaders in a meeting that touched on a range of political issues facing the country.

"The Election Commission will be able to hold a free, fair and neutral elections participated by all parties following the roadmap," Pasi told reporters.

Later, Delwar said the meeting had been a courtesy call, although he added that they had addressed a number of political, social and economic matters.

The BNP secretary-general said he had received a proposal to enter into informal talks from the caretaker government.

"However, I told them through Rizvi Ahmed (the acting office secretary) that before any talks, whether formal or informal, we will have to speak with our chairperson," said Delwar.

"It is not possible for me to do anything without her guidance," he added.-The two factions of beleaguered BNP are weighing up proposals for informal talks made by two advisers to the government ahead of official dialogue.

Commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman Monday night rang acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed up and offered to sit across the table. Rizvi belongs to the faction led by Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the secretary-general of the party nominated by detained chairperson Khleda Zia.

Communications adviser Ghulam Quader Tuesday morning called and made a similar proposal to Hafizuddin Ahmed, the acting secretary general nominated by BNP's policymaking standing committee.

However, neither faction confirmed to the government about the date of the informal talks.

On Monday evening, five advisers held informal talks with Awami League leaders on dialogue. Law adviser AF Hassan Ariff, communications adviser Ghulam Quader, local government adviser Anwarul Iqbal, education and commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman and foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury were present in the meeting that lasted from 6:15pm to 8pm.

Hafizuddin and Rizvi Tuesday confirmed to bdnews24.com that they had received proposals from the advisers.

"I had talks with the adviser. We are discussing the matter among ourselves," Hafizuddin told bdnews24.com,

Rizvi said, "Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman rang me up at about 12 midnight and proposed to sit for informal talks. I told him that I would get back to him after consulting the secretary general."

Later, Rizvi said, he informed the commerce adviser about Delwar's opinion.

"On telephone I have told the adviser, 'The secretary general has said he needs to talk with the chairperson before sitting for informal talks'."

Hafizuddin Tuesdasy afternoon held a meeting with senior leaders of the faction including acting chairperson M Saifur Rahman.

Call to ensure proper use of remittance from expats

Staff Reporter

Bangladeshi community leaders in the UK yesterday urged the Caretaker Government to take effective steps immediately to ensure the proper use and investment of remittance sent home by expatriates working in Europe, Middle East and North American countries.

Putting some specific suggestions to the Government for consideration and implementation as early as possible, they regretted that the issue of appropriate and easy investment of the expatriates' money had remained neglected in Bangladesh, although the volume of remittance is more than three-time higher than that of foreign aid.

They said this, while exchanging views with journalists at a meet the press programme organised under the auspices of The Campus Magazine at its office at Mehrba Plaza in the capital.

Shamsul Alam Chowdhury, the founding General Secretary of Bangladesh Centre in the City of London, was the main speaker and British-Bangladeshi expatriates' leader in Birmingham city (UK) Nurul Alam the special speaker. Editor of Campus M Helal moderated the meet, while a number of senior journalists took part in the discussion.

According to Bangladesh Bank (BB) estimate the inward remittance flow in eight months (July 1 to March 31) this fiscal has already crossed US 5,224.50 million dollars, showing record growth. The total amount of remittance in the last financial year (2006-07) was US 5,980 million dollars, BB added.

"The government pays more attention to foreign aid despite huge remittance flow from the expatriates," Shamsul Alam said.

"The government should do more for expatriate at the airports," he said.

The speakers at the press conference also demanded to ensure voting right for the Bangladeshi worker abroad.

They also urged the government to provide plane tickets to workers for going to their work places abroad

"We will be able to encourage our businessmen to import more Bangladeshi goods if the government cooperates with us," they said.

They also demanded to reduce the fair of cargo freight charges to import Bangladeshi vegetables items.

Shamsul Alam said, "Government should give more attention to the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare".

He said the our foreign currency flow would increase, if we are able to develop the skill of our workforce."

"There is a shortage of skilled manpower in the industrialised countries," he said.

New US envoy Moriarty arrives Thursday

Staff Reporter

The US Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh, James F. Moriarty, arrives Dhaka tomorrow (Thursday) to take up his new assignment, the US Embassy announced yesterday (Tuesday).

Ambassador Moriarty was nominated by President Bush on September 5, 2007 and confirmed by the US Senate on March 13. Ambassador Moriarty was sworn-in by Secretary of State Rice in Washington on March 26.

He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, rank of Minister-Counselor.

Prior to this assignment, Moriarty served as U.S. Ambassador to Nepal between 2004 and 2007.

Before moving to Nepal, Ambassador Moriarty served in 2002-2004 as Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director at the National Security Council (NSC).

He was responsible for advising on and coordinating U.S. policy on East Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific region. Ambassador Moriarty also worked in the White House in 2001-2002 as NSC Director for China Affairs.

In 1998-2001, Ambassador Moriarty served as Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

In 1994-1998, he led the General Affairs (Political) Section at the

American Institute in Taiwan.

Ambassador Moriarty shaped the U.S. response to PRC missile tests in the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, and the ramming of a U.S. EP-3 plane off China's Hainan Island. In these jobs and at the NSC, Ambassador Moriarty helped lay the groundwork for U.S. China policy for the 21st century.

As Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of United Nations (UN) Political Affairs in 1991-93, Ambassador Moriarty coordinated U.S. policy on UN Security Council issues. He received the American Foreign Service Association's Rivkin Award for his principled approach to the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.

Ambassador Moriarty was Diplomat-in-Resident at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1993-94. Earlier assignments in Ambassador Moriarty's career included postings at the U.S. Embassies in Pakistan, Swaziland and Morocco, additional tours in Beijing and Taipei, and work on African issues at the U.S. Department of State.

Ambassador Moriarty joined the Foreign Service in 1975.

Ambassador Moriarty earned his Bachelor of Arts in History, summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College. He speaks Chinese, Nepali, Urdu, French and Bangla.

Among Ambassador Moriarty's numerous awards are individual State Department Superior Honor Awards for his work in China (2000) and on Yugoslavia (1993) and two Group Superior Honor Awards. For his reporting and analysis in Pakistan, Ambassador Moriarty won the Director General's 1987 Award as the State Department's best reporting officer. He received a Presidential Pay Award in 2005 and, on numerous occasions, State Department Performance Pay.

A native of Ware, Massachusetts, Ambassador Moriarty is married to Lauren Moriarty. She is a retired senior U.S. diplomat. The Ambassador is the proud father of a son, Mana, and a daughter, Kate Kanani.

CA won’t visit DU as programme cancelled

DU Correspondent

Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will not visit the Dhaka University (DU) campus on April 10 as the university authorities deferred the inauguration ceremony of the Senate Building.

The university authorities did not make it clear why the Chief Adviser will not come but they only said they postponed the programme due to 'unavoidable circumstances.'

On the other hand, the student leaders of different political organisations especially Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) claimed that

the CA postponed his scheduled visit to the DU campus in the face of their protest.

They said it is their victory and they will continue the protest programme until the release of their party chief.

The university authorities communicating with CA`s office postponed the programme to avert the untoward situation as the student organisations have been agitating on the campus for a couple of days opposing the CA's visit, campus sources said

The Senate Building was scheduled to be inaugurated by the then Prime Minister and also BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia, but it was not possible for last two years owing to political crisis.

Though the building was not formally inaugurated, it was being used for different purposes like view exchange meeting, seminar and discussion meeting.

Saiful Islam Firoz, JCD DU Unit general secretary told The New Nation that it is the victory of their agitation. He said if the government did not hand over their power by holding free and fair national election to the elected representatives, they would go for tougher agitation.

BCL DU Unit President Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu thanked the CA for his belated realisation and he hoped the government would show his wisdom again by withdrawing the state of emergency.

BCL activists wearing black badges yesterday staged demonstration on the campus as part as their protest programme demanding release and proper treatment of Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina.