The New Nation - Internet Edition

Human rights of corruption suspects should be respected: British HC

Outgoing British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury
paid a farewell call on Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman
Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury at the latter's office
yesterday. NN photo

UNB, Dhaka

Outgoing British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury Sunday said human rights of the corruption suspects being prosecuted and charged should be respected and people should be treated fairly and transparently.

As there has been a purge underway in Bangladesh in the interim period against serious crime and corruption, he emphasized the need for following due process. The suspects should be treated fairly and transparently and there must be transparency in the cases against them, he said.

"What we have said on this issue is that, no matter who is being prosecuted, who is being charged, their human rights are observed. People are treated fairly and transparently," Anwar said in reply to a question regarding respecting human rights of the corruption suspects-many of whom are high-profile persons like past rulers and bureaucrats.

He was talking to the reporters after making a farewell call on Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Lt. General (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury and other Commissioners. "There must be transparency in these cases and there must be due process. That has been our position right from the beginning," the British High Commissioner added.

Echoing British Foreign Minister David Miliband, who recently visited Bangladesh, he said the approach must be without fear or favour. Asked if all he mentioned are being followed by the ACC, Anwar said that is not for him to comment, rather that is for the Bangladeshi people to comment.

About cooperation between Scotland Yard and the Commission in bringing back the siphoned-off money, he said the London police headquarters is cooperating with the anti-graft body so that the money siphoned off to his country could be brought back to Bangladesh.

On the performance of the reconstituted Commission, the Bangladeshi-origin British diplomat lauded its efforts, saying that the anti-graft body has been extremely active and they have been going around trying to change people's hearts and minds on corruption.

"They have been obviously very active in terms of pursuing cases and it's certainly a very different Anti-Corruption Commission than the one that existed before," he added.

Anwar said according to the feedback from the people the reconstituted Commission seems to be doing a good job. During the visit today to the ACC, he said he was shown the transformation of the ACC in terms of new facilities brought in with the financial aid from the Department for International Development (DFID).

The outgoing British High Commissioner said with the transformation the Commission looks like a modern outfit.

He was also updated by the Commission as to how many cases there are under process and how many are in courts.

DFID country chief Chris Austin accompanied the High Commissioner.

India's concern over Maoists’ link with China: Delhi's biggest security threat

Prachanda

Agencies, New Delhi

The strong showing by Nepal's Maoists in the parliamentary elections has taken its influential neighbour India by surprise.

Diplomats at its sprawling embassy in Kathmandu, its largest mission anywhere, privately concede that it is a result that they hardly expected and least favoured.

With a strong possibility of the Maoists forming the next government, many in Delhi are wondering where it leaves relations between the two countries.

While India has nurtured some ties with the former rebels, there is growing concern over the Maoists' links with China, and also with India's own troubling Maoist insurgency.

Reports in the Indian and Nepalese media have quoted Maoist leader Prachanda talking about taking a more "balanced" approach in his country's dealings with its neighbours.

Saying that he will develop "new relations" with India, he is reported to have said that Nepal will maintain an equal distance between Delhi and Beijing.

It is a comment that has already sent policy-makers in Delhi into a tailspin.

Many here are concerned that the Maoists will use their new-found electoral clout as leverage over India.

"It means that the special relationship between India and Nepal which dates back to British days and 1950 is in its terminal phase," says KV Rajan, a former Indian ambassador to Nepal.

A Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which both countries signed in 1950, defined their political and economic relationship.

Under the Treaty, people living in both countries could freely travel across the border for employment, and could reside in either place.

It also granted preferential trade arrangements and, until 1969, allowed India to maintain security posts in Nepal's northern border with China, as well as a military mission in Kathmandu. India's basic concern, say diplomats, was always China. Delhi, which had already fought a bitter border war with Beijing in 1962 which it lost comprehensively, was paranoid about China establishing a major presence in Kathmandu.

"The 1950 treaty was basically meant to help address India's security needs," says Ambassador Rajan.

"In return, Nepal got economic benefits, such as the right to live and work in India. That was the basic arrangement."

But increasingly, many Nepalese were uncomfortable with the Treaty, believing it gave India major political and economic influence.

The Maoists have regularly raised the issue and said they want the Treaty scrapped.

They also want a review of other agreements, especially those relating to river water and irrigation - issues which are very sensitive on both sides of the border.

And there is the question of links between the Maoists in Nepal and those in India.

India's bloody Maoist insurgency runs across a broad swathe of its territory from its northern border with Nepal down to its central tribal belt and the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

It was recently identified by the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, as the country's single biggest security threat.

Security experts believe that the Maoist victory in Nepal will come as a big morale booster to Maoist rebels fighting in India.

India's problems also stem from the fact that they have traditionally backed the mainstream political parties, particularly the Nepali Congress of the outgoing Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala.

They have always backed a role for the monarchy, too, albeit one that has changed somewhat over the past two years following the pro-democracy protests of 2006.

Ironically, many of the senior Maoist leaders have studied in India and would often hide in the country at the height of the insurgency.

They also have relatively close ties with India's own mainstream Communist parties, who support the governing coalition in Delhi.

But their influence is limited, particularly after the Maoists' current political position following the election.

"We will have to accept that India will have to deal differently with the next government, and accept that Prachanda represents the sensitivities and aspirations of the majority of Nepalese," says one foreign office mandarin who wished to remain unnamed.

But there are some who believe it is time for relations between both countries to change, and reflect the new realities, rather than be mired in history.

"Our relation was one between a sovereign country and a semi-protectorate. It now needs to be one of equals," says Ambassador Rajan.

Ultimately, some believe, India's importance to Nepal outweighs its political imperatives.

Both countries have strong cultural, economic and ethnic ties, and India is Nepal's largest neighbour. And many here think that no government can ignore that.

High-power team to visit Myanmar: Bangladesh to replicate contract farming

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh will conduct an assessment on Chinese and Thai contract farming practices at Myanmar to introduce it in case of Bangladesh, official sources said.

A high-powered Bangladeshi delegation comprising Agriculture Ministry and Foreign Ministry officials will visit Myanmar next month to see how China and Thailand are doing contract farming there.

Myanmar proposed to Bangladesh to take lease of at least 50,000 acres of land in its Rakhine state for 'contract farming' during the first annual consultation between the two countries, held in Myanmar on May 19 to 20, 2007. The Myanmar authority further restated their proposal in a Dhaka-Yangon bilateral talks held in Dhaka this year.

Bangladesh responded to Myanmar's proposal positively and is willing to sign a deal in this connection after conducting feasibility assessment within this year, a high official of the Foreign Ministry said. "We are hopeful that around 10,000 Bangladeshi farmers mostly from Chittagong region could be employed if the country accepted Myanmar's proposal," the official said preferring anonymity.

He said Bangladeshi farmers have innovative knowledge on farming and they will be able to bring a huge expense of Myanmar land under contract farming in future. This will help Bangladesh to ease food crisis that it is facing these days.

Chairman of Bangladesh-Myanmar business promotion council Syed Mahmudul Huq told newsmen that Bangladeshi farmers may primarily concentrate on producing three types of agricultural products-paddy, pulse and maize-under contract farming in Myanmar.

Bangladesh is also considering updating the existing border trade rules with Myanmar to expand the border trade with the neighbouring country.

The government decided to increase border trade from current US$ 10,000 to US$ 20,000. The decision was taken at a meeting of the inter-ministerial sub-committee on Bangladesh-Myanmar trade. Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed presided over the meeting held at the Commerce Ministry conference room recently.

Bangladesh Bank has already agreed to allow enhancement of the border trade to facilitate import of more essential commodities like rice and pulses.

The meeting also decided to take initiative so that the infrastructure of border trade could be shifted from Teknaf to Chittagong.

"Myanmar has the potential - because of its climate, topography, soil conditions, rainfall, waterways, agricultural land resources, fishery resources and human resources - to produce an extensive variety of competitively priced agricultural, livestock and fishery products," a high official of the Commerce Ministry said.

Seminar on social compliance: Export-oriented industries make great leap forward

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar yesterday laid emphasis on proper training and building awareness of labour law compliances among the workers of the country's selected export-oriented garment factories.

They said the country has made a great leap forward in capacity building on social compliance of export-oriented industries.

It is necessary to negotiate and identify the requirements and compliances matching the country's environment, they added.

"Social compliance is a technical matter and it should be within the context of the country for ensuring the rights and benefits of the working class," they observed at a seminar on 'Labour Law Compliance in Selected Exports Industries of Bangladesh'. The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) jointly organised the programme at the DCCI auditorium.

The main aim of the seminar is to discuss the findings of the DCCI study on the labour law compliance in selected export-oriented industries in the country for analysis of various requirements and status of compliance for recommending appropriate measures to minimise the gap between requirements and compliances.

Hossain Khaled, President of DCCI, made welcome speech and Dr M Maniruzzaman, consultant with the trade body presented keynote paper.

In his speech Dr Mahfuzul Haque, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment said 37 centres are providing technical training to the workers of the export-oriented industries apart from holding regular seminars and symposiums.

On the issue of social compliance, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Fazlul Hoque said most of the factories under his organisation are ensuring required facilities to the workers and they are ready for any international scrutiny.

"We are taking more initiatives to improve the existing amicable relationships between owners and workers of the garment factories," he said adding that that favourable working environment is always a high priority for the owners to ensure safety and security and welfare of the workers.

"Garment owners alone could not provide ration to their employees, as the profits of all the industries are not the same," he mentioned and called upon the government to come forward in this regard.

The recommendations of the study include strengthening monitoring and supervisory role of the associations particularly of the frozen food, tannery, ceramic, jute and finished leather and footwear sectors, building positive images of the export-oriented industries to the foreign buyers and to activate the task forces to monitor the compliance of the factories.

It was also attended, among others, by Dietrich Stotz, programme coordinator of GTZ, Nazmul Huq, chairman, Bangladesh Jute Mills Association, Nurunnabi Khan, ILO representaive, Barrister Jenifa Jabbar and Khandaker Shahidul Islam, vice president of DCCI.

Transparent democratic system can meet people's aspirations

Staff Reporter

Only transparent democratic practice in the country's political system can reflect the aspirations of the people in the national budget, said Dr Qazi Kholeekuzzaman Ahmed, president, Bangladesh Economic Association, at a seminar in the capital yesterday.

Addressing the seminar, he called for chalking out a long term plan to alleviate the

sufferings of the common people and improve their lot. He also suggested adequate provision for creating employment opportunities and reform measures in agriculture and land sectors in the next budget.

He was of the view that creation of favourable structures will be helpful in reforming the investment and economic sectors.

Sushasoner Jonno Proshasan (Supro), a non-governmental organisation, arranged the seminar on 'giving priority in agriculture, food security and mass health sectors in the proposed budget' at the CIRDAP auditorium.

Col (retd) Faruk Khan, an Awami League Leader, GM Kader of Jatiya Party, Hasanul Haque Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, former lawmaker AKHAM Jahangir Hossain Dr Gias Karim, a professor of Dhaka University, spoke as panel discussants.

Faruk asked the incumbent government to give emphasis on agriculture, enhance subsidy in the sector and ensure accountability of fund in every sector.

Jhangir Hossain pleaded for changing the process of preparing the national budget " as the MPs have no role in it.

Inu said we committed a blunder at the initial stage for surrendering to the concept of free market economics. He laid emphasis on decentralization of administration, good governance and vigil on the activities of bureaucracy to ensure human right and food security.

GM Kader maintained that all efforts of the government would go in vain if it failed to contain the populatioin explosion.

Sawkat said there should be transparency in the allocation of fund in the health sector to ensure proper treatment to the common people.

In his keynote paper Safiullah suggested adequate allocation of fund for research in agricultural sector. This will make the country self-sufficient in food, he added.

He also suggested publication of the national budget three months before of its approval.

ACC presses charges against Obaidul Quader, wife

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday pressed charges against detained Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader and his wife in a case filed for accumulating wealth illegally and concealing information about their assets.

SM Sahidur Rahman, an assistant director of the ACC and the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted a charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court of Dhaka, showing 34 people as prosecution witnesses. The IO prayed for issuance of an arrest warrant against Obaidul Quader's wife Ishratunnesa and an order to attach her property, as she has been absconding since the case was filed.

Ashraful Islam, an assistant director of the ACC, on October 30 last year filed the case against the former state minister for youth and sports and his wife for concealing information about their property worth Tk 15.55 lakh and acquiring wealth worth Tk 62.85 lakh illegally.

In the charge sheet, the IO said the charges brought against them were primarily proved and they should be brought under trial. In the charge sheet, Ishratunnesa was accused of abetting the AL leader in amassing the wealth in illegal means.

Obaidul Quader submitted the wealth statement of Tk 1.11 crore to the anti-graft watchdog through jail authorities following an ACC notice last year. In the statement, he showed Tk 46.29 lakh in his name and Tk 64.12 lakh in the name of his wife.

Guardians forum demand structural from Class-VI

Staff Reporter

The Guardian Forum yesterday demanded introduction of the Structural Questionnaire Method from class six in 2009 and cancelling it for the students who will sit for the SSC examinations in 2010.

Addressing a press conference at the office of the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, the forum demanded of the government for taking adequate steps for imparting training to the teachers for this particular method of teaching

and preparing the students for this purpose.

Advocate Abed Raza, convenor of the forum, placed a seven-point charter of demand for the consideration of the government.

They include appointment of impartial academician in the newly formed committee constituted for this purpose and dropping its secretary Nazrul Islam Khan for his alleged indulgence in corrupt practices.

Amena Begum Zarna, aguardian of student of Viqarun-noon-nesa School and college, Fouzia Parveen of Udoyan School, Selina Akter and Nilufer Sultana of Government Laboratories, Dhanmondi and Nilufer Ahmed of Rifles Public School and College, among others, were present at the press conference.

They threatened that they would allow their wards to sit for the SSC examinations in 2010 if the new system is not abandoned right now.

The future of 10 lakh students will be jeopardised if the government imposed the new system on the students who are now reading in class nine,

Said Raza.

Referring the recent speech of Director General of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department Prof Awrangajab at a view exchange meeting held at BIAM auditorium in the city, speakers at the press conference expressed their disapproval of it.

Hearing on Mig case deferred

UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's court Sunday deferred to April 27 the scheduled charge hearing on Mig-29 purchase scam case as principal accused detained ex-premier Sheikh Hasina did not turn up for her illness. Hasina who is suffering blood pressure and problems with her ears and eyes was admitted to Square hospital second time Saturday. She was first hospitalized on March 11 and was discharged on March 30.

As the court relocated to the highly secured parliament complex resumed at 10-45 am, Chief Special Public Prosecutor (CSPP) Sharfuddin Khan Mukul quoting Square hospital report informed the court that Hasina is not fit to attend court.

The CSPP also informed the court that another co-accused former army chief Gen (rtd) Mustafizur Rahman, now on bail, could not appear at court due to his illness.

Besides, lawyers for Hasina put forward an application praying for a four-week adjournment on the charge hearing.

After hearing both sides, Judge Golam Mortoza Majumder re-fixed April 27 for charge hearing.

The five other charge-sheeted accused in the case, now enjoying bail, appeared at the court. They were ex-air force chief air marshal (retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed, retired defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, air commodore (retd) Mirza Akhtar Maruf, retired defence joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Serniabat and businessman Noor Ali. Eight Russian-made fighter planes of the brand were procured for Bangladesh Air Force when Hasina was the Prime Minister (1996-2001). According to the case, filed with Tejgaon Police Station, the purchase of the supersonic jets during the tenure of the Awami League government caused a loss of Tk 700 crore to the public exchequer. Shortly after the BNP-led four-party alliance came to power, the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed the Mig-scam case against Hasina and others in December 2001.

Application of 'guti’ urea increases rice production

Staff Reporter

Production of Boro rice is expected to go up to 4,09.166.1 tonnes this season from 4,64,937.6 tonnes last year at 80 upazilas in 14 districts of the country mainly due to application of guti urea on 1,51,543 hectares of land instead of traditional broadcast urea.

The additional yield of 75,771.5 tonnes will enable the farmers to earn an extra amount of Tk 136 crore, sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension said.

DAE sources pointed out that use of guti urea has increased the per hectare prodution to 3.2 tonnes from 2.7 tonnes.Besides, the farmers

have been able to save over Tk 42 crore from the use of guti urea,a new invention, which is being successfully experimented in some pockets of the country.

"Our farmers at the 80 upazilas have saved 13,103 metric tonnes of urea by using Guti urea, said Md Abdul Muyeed, an official of DAE The farmers have used 24,246 tonnes of Guti on 1,51,543 hectares land this season as against 37,431 tonnes of traditional urea last year, he added.

He pointed out that the country needs 28.18 lakh tonnes of urea annually.The use of guti urea will reduce its import from abroad.

Korshed Alam, a farmer of Gazimura village under Laksham Upazila in Comilla, told the New Nation that he has got additional one maund of paddy by using Guti urea on his land this year.

Md Abdul Hannan, another farmer of the same Upazila, said he used 90 kilograms of guti urea fertiliser on his 36 decimals of land this year against 150 kilograms of traditional fertiliser last year.

"Guti urea makes rice farming more sustainable, efficient, productive and profitable and increases the efficiency of nutrient inputs, particularly nutrient from urea fertiliser," said Md Mofizul Islam, an agricultural specialist of Asia Division of International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC).

Guti urea is also environment friendly,according to him.

The guti urea scheme was taken up in November 2007 by the Department of Agricultural Extension with a fund of Tk 5.71 crore provided by USAID and technical assistance from IFDC.

The second phase of guti urea programme has been launched in another 150 upazilas in 34 districts this year with Tk 5 crore USAID.

Under the project, the Government has started motivational campaign among the farmers to use guti urea.

Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim has visited different upazila to motivate the farmers to use Guti urea on their lands. As a part of this, the Agriculture Adviser visited Laksham on Friday.

Dr Karim urged the farmers to use guti urea instead of traditional urea to meet their income goal.

He said more efficient use of urea should be ensured to meet production and income goals and minimise the leakage of nitrogen to the environment.

A recent survey showed that application guti urea has increased paddy yield by 900 to 1100 kgs per hectare, reduced urea use by 78 to 150 kgs per hectare and subsequently increased profits of the growers by Tk 7,500 to 8,900 per hectare.

These numbers represent an average increase in paddy yield of 22 percent, an average decrease in urea fertilizer use of 47 percent and average increase of profit 24 percent, according to the survey.

UN scheme to link Dhaka with London by train

BSS, Chittagong

If everything goes well in line with a UN sponsored scheme, it will no more remain a dream for a traveler who can visit London from Dhaka by train having glimpses of many historic cities and places of tourist attraction across Asia and Europe.

According to a report of the online edition of the Sunday's The Sunday Times, the 7,000-mile Trans-Asian railway will follow the traces of the historic Silk Road through Istanbul, Tehran, Lahore, Delhi and its final destination Dhaka.

Dean Nelson of The Sunday Times in his report datelined New Delhi said, "Rail enthusiastic with a sense of adventure and 23 days to spare will be able to travel by train from London to Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, when a new link opens later this year."

The recent re-launching of Bangladesh-India rail link has created the opportunity to expand the train route much longer than the 5,772 miles Trans-Siberian railway.

As per The Sunday Times report, the rail link between two neighbouring countries has been reopened after "more than 43 years after it was blocked during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965."

Being termed as the world's greatest railway journey by some train buffs, the UN officials said the link would open up new trade routes within Asia and give the former Soviet republics rail access to Iran's strategic sea port Bandar Abbas.

Although the report has not mentioned the total budget and approximate fare per person, an online reader of the Times named Mohammad in London in his instant comment observed, "this sounds like once in a life time adventure.'

"The sad news, however, will be the price of tickets. I bet, ordinary people like me will need to take out a mortgage. It could also be ideal for a movie setting. Agatha Christie would have been pleased."

Under the UN-sponsored scheme, Pakistan and Iran will link up their railway lines in the coming months to join the sub- continents track to that of Europe for the first time.

Last week, senior Indian officials held meeting with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran to discuss the progress.

India has already earmarked 90 million pound sterling to expand its vast rail network towards its border with Myanmar. However, around 218 miles have been lost between India and Myanmar from the track of an overland rail journey from London to Singapore.

China, a big supporter of the project, is spending billions on extending railway tracks to its Myanmar border.

The Trans-Asian railway sources said the only barrier to eventually connect London with a province of Myanmar and Singapore was Yangoon's military regime, whose poor human rights record means that no foreign funding is available to rebuild its railways.

An intrepid traveler will soon be able to leave London for Brussels, Cologne, Vienna, Bucharest, Istanbul, Tehran, Quetta, Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi and Kolkata before reaching the end of the line in Dhaka.

The prospect of establishing Trans-Asia rail line has caused excitement among Britain's rail enthusiasts. Mark Smith, whose website Seat61.com promotes rail adventures around the world, was planning his first London to Dhaka itinerary.

His trip incorporates the Eurostar to Brussels, breakfast in Vienna and onward trains to Istanbul, where travelers must take the ferry across the Bosporus linking Europe with Asia. The ferry will eventually be replaced by an underground tunnel, but for now passengers will be able to enjoy views of the Aya Sofya and Topkapi Palace.

Smith's journey continues with a Turkish express train to Lake Van, close to the border of Iraq and Iran, where passengers will switch to another ferry to get to the Tehran-bound express, which is described as surprisingly modern.

Iranian engineers have extended their network through Kerman to the Pakistan border, where travelers will switch to a Pakistani train before continuing their journey to Quetta. Smith, who always books seat 61, said the journey offers a return to romantic overland adventure, despite some security concerns on the Iran-Pakistan border.

If you have the time, a taste for adventure and can arrange the necessary tickets and visas, this promises to be a truly epic overland journey, Smith says seemingly in a gesture of real adventurer.

Citi Bank-post office deal to expand network

BSS, Dhaka

The Citibank, N.A. Bangladesh and Bangladesh Post Office yesterday signed a correspondent network arrangement with a view to help facilitate payments for the banks clients, specially the remittances of Bangladeshis working abroad. This is the first time that a commercial bank is setting up such a unique correspondent network arrangement with the Bangladesh post office, said a bank press release here on Sunday.

The agreement was signed by AKM Rafiqul Islam, Director (Mails), on behalf of Bangladesh Post Office and Parvez Murshed, vice-president and acting head of transaction services of the Citibank NA, Bangladesh.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by Director General of Bangladesh Post Office Mobasherur Rahman, Managing Director and Citi Country Officer-Bangladesh Mamun Rashid.

Speaking on the occasion, Mobasherur Rahman said with 10,000 outlets and 40,000 staff, Bangladesh Post Office is ready to serve for the benefit of the people. "Very soon post office department is computerising its major post offices and then we will be able to help organizations who wants to reach the last mile," he said.

Mamun Rashid said " we have presence in Bangladesh since 1987 and today we are furthering our commitment by expanding our network with the assistance of Bangladesh post office".

Parvez Murshed said, " the Citibank pioneered cash management services in Bangladesh and today we provide our leadership in innovation by becoming the first bank in Bangladesh to sign a network arrangement with the Bangladesh post office."

"We work together extensively with post offices across Asia pacific in countries like Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia. This reflects our commitment to take the banking sector of Bangladesh forward in line with global best practices," he added.

Citi's global transaction services offers integrated cash management, trade and securities and fund services to multinational institutions, financial institutions and public sector organisations around the world.

With a network spanning over 100 countries, Citi's global transaction services supports over 65,000 clients, the bank release added.

Nepal Maoists claim poll victory

BBC, Kathmandu

The Maoist party of former rebels in Nepal has for the first time explicitly claimed victory in the country's national elections, held nine days ago.

The Maoists' leader, Prachanda, said he would head a new government, with the monarchy abolished.

Votes are still being counted - the Maoists are certain to have the most seats but not an overall majority.

The two other big parties have been badly beaten but the Maoists want to include them in a coalition government.

Many of the traditional politicians of the defeated parties have so far been reluctant to enter into a coalition with the former rebels.

The Maoists' leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal - who still uses his war name, Prachanda - was addressing a rally in the constituency on the outskirts of the capital, Kathmandu, which has elected him to the new constitutional assembly.

Garlanded and daubed with vermillion powder, he thanked the crowds and said that in a few days' time, he would return to the same place as the leader of a new, republican government.

Prachanda's deputy, Baburam Bhattarai, told the rally that King Gyanendra would be accorded economic, social and cultural respect as a citizen of Nepal if he co-operated with the abolition of the monarchy, which is due soon.

Earlier Prachanda said he wanted to meet the monarch to persuade him to step aside and move out of the royal palace rather than being forced to do so.

All of Nepal's main political parties had agreed before the election that King Gyanendra would be removed from his throne, ending centuries of monarchy in the Himalayan nation.