The New Nation - Internet Edition

2 launches set ablaze on Buriganga:50 hurt in violent clashes in Keraniganj over closure of pier by BIWTA: 15 other launches damaged

Two launches were set ablaze by angry mob protesting
the closure of a river terminal by BIWTA at Kaliganj in
Keraniganj on Sundlay. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

Several thousands of readymade garment shop owners and workers went berserk, setting two motor launches ablaze and ransacking six others on the Buriganga river yesterday protesting the closure of a pier near Sadarghat launch terminal.

At least 50 staff of the launches, policemen and Ansars were injured as the angry protestors pelted the launches with brickbats indiscriminately, smashed the windows, looted valuables and threw out furniture of the boats before torching two of them.

Launch services from Sadarghat remained stopped all through the day as the owners observed a wildcat strike protesting the attacks. Owners of around 10,000 business establishments particularly readymade garment shop owners and workers and several garment factories in the area also kept their shutter down demanding reinstallation of the pier.

Hours after angry workers set fire to two launches, the BIWTA authorities decided to keep the pier, known as Masjidghat, on the east of Sadarghat launch terminal, operation for one more month. The decision came from a meeting among the high officials of BIWTA and district and police administration.

BIWTA director Mahbubul Alam said they decided to keep the pier operational for one more month. Later, it would be shifted to a new place on the basis of talks with all the parties concerned.

Earlier, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Kamal Hossain and district superintendent of police (SP) Mahbub Hossain also gave similar assurances while visiting the spot in the morning.

Witnesses said the protesters started gathering on the riverbank at Telghat in South Keraniganj since 7:00am and started demonstration finding that the pier at Simpson Road Ghat has been closed by the BIWTA for setting up three more pontoons.

Businessmen said around 10,000 shops at South Keraniganj mainly remain operational as consumers from the city use the lone pier (Guadaraghat) for shopping to their markets. They claimed closure of the terminal would bring an end to their businesses at their shops in four markets--Zilla Parishad Market, Alam Market, Chowdhurynagar Market and Nuru Market.

Witnesses said around 50 people, including 10-15 policemen were injured as the shop owners and workers took part in the in the clash.

Police and witnesses said around 30,000 demonstrators gathered the riverbank, opposite to Sadarghat launch terminal, by 9:30am and went berserk. They pelted brickbats on several launches anchored near the riverbank indiscriminately.

Local sources said the protesters took to the street at about 10:00 am as the BIWTA closed the river terminal adjacent to the markets and opposite to Sadarghat launch terminal.

As police charged baton on the unruly protesters, they threw brickbats on the law enforcers turning the area virtually into a battlefield.

During the incident, the agitated traders and their workers set fire to two double-deck motor-launches-Barisal-bound Obhijan-3 and Fatullah-bound Reaz-4 from Sadarghat.

Later, fire fighters and a navy team rushed to the spot and doused the fire at about 1:20pm.

Police arrested at least four people from the spot.

They were identified as former secretary of Zilla

Parishad Market Committee Abdul Aziz, Obaidul Munshi, Babul Dhali and Abdus Sattar.

Md Badiuzzaman Badal, acting chairman of Bangladesh Inland Waterways Passenger Carriers Association, said "Angry people set fire to two of our launches and burnt down three others partially."

"Launch operators will not bring their launches back to Sadarghat unless the authorities can provide them necessary safety and security," he said.

He said the launch owners and workers are feeling insecured. The workers are moving their launches from Sadarghat to other places.

Launch movement from Sadarghat terminal came to a halt following the trouble and all the launches were shifted elsewhere from the ghat area.

BIWTA sources said they were forced to close down the terminal

at Kaliganj following repeated accidents at the terminal.

There are around 10,000 shops of readymade garments in the four markets.

Babul Dhali, a garment trader of Gudaraghat Alam Tower, said: "Thousands of people use Masjidghat every day to go to the markets of Gudaraghat. There are around 150 markets near the pier."

The pier is 200 years old, Dhali said. "When the people saw that the pier was closed down in the morning, they set fire to two launches,' he said.

The BIWTA officials, the police and the officials of district administration met for around two hours and cancelled the order to close down the pier.

The launch owners' organisation held a meeting at the same time and decided not to anchor their launches in the pier unless the authorities assured them of security.

US will continue to support Bangladesh : $40m fresh food aid

James F Moriarty

Staff Reporter

Announcing a fresh US 40 million dollars food aid, the newly appointed US Ambassador James F Moriarty yesterday said his country would continue to support Bangladesh move forward, emphasising on "democracy, development and denial of space to terrorists."

This (US$ 40 million) would be in addition to the US's previous commitment for a total food assistance of over US$ 70 million dollars since October last, the Ambassador told a press conference at the American Club last afternoon.

Unlike his two predecessors, James Moriarty refrained from replying questions at his introductory news conference, which was attended by USAID Mission Director Ms Denise Rollins, who replied to the journalists.

The US has provided more than US5 billion dollars in development assistance, including over US 2.5 billion dollar in food aid, after the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign country in 1971.

"These latest donations reflect our commitment to help build a brighter tomorrow, even for Bangladesh's most vulnerable citizens," James Moriarty said, renewing the US commitment to support the present Caretaker Government.

"My message to the people of this country is clear-we had been here before the cyclone; we were here during the initial emergency relief phase; and we are here now to help Bangladesh move forward," he asserted.

A good portion of the new US food aid will be used to feed pregnant and lactating mothers and children, Moriarty said.

As per the breakup of the latest aid commitment, 30 million dollar will be distributed over a period of three-year that targets school children throughout the country under a school feeding programme, while US 10 million dollar as emergency food aid.

Under the school-feeding programme of US 30 million dollar, each of 350,000 primary school children throughout the country will get 75 grams of high-energy biscuits each day as an incentive to stay in school.

"We are providing a means and an incentive for children to stay in school so Bangladesh can prepare the next generation of leaders," the Ambassador said, adding, "The emergency food aid of US 10 million dollar will be for direct food distribution among the Sidr-victims, who are still struggling to recover from the devastation."

It will also include the recovery activities through food-for-work and cash-for-work programmes, emergency school feeding, and feeding pregnant and lactating mothers and children, he added.

Earlier, in the day, Ambassador Moriarty called on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and conveyed the US commitment to assist the Government and the people of Bangladesh.

Immediately after the cyclone Sidr, the United States provided US20 million dollar to alleviate human sufferings and has also been funding an ongoing food aid programme of US 48 million dollar that focuses on sustainable development.

In addition to that, the Ambassador told the news conference that his country had donated US 2 million dollar to WFP last week to feed primary school children in the Sidr-affected areas.

"We continue to look for other ways to assist (Bangladesh)," he said, adding that last week his country provided US100,000 dollar as an emergency response to severe crop damage by rat infestation in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Moriarty said his country would also help the climate change affected countries, including Bangladesh.

Replying to a question, USAID Mission Director Ms Rollins said Bangladesh was virtually self-sufficient in food but it suffers deficit because of bad weathers.

"The Government needs to manage food situation and we are confident that they are taking care of this issue," she said, expressing the concern that the poor people might not get access to food despite a bumper harvest of Boro paddy due to high prices.

"The concern is not over the food availability, but access to food is the problem due to high prices," she said and recommended the Government to take special measures to address the issue immediately.

Replying another question whether increased use of (food-grains for) bio-fuels in the US was threatened the food security globally, the USAID Mission Chief said, "Bio-fuel is only about small percentages."

News Analysis: Suranjeet under fire for reckless utterances

Hasanuzzaman Khan

AWAMI League leader Suranjeet Sen Gupta has equated the government with a hydra- headed monster having two canine teeth in front of the mouth. But the two teeth do not work. They cannot do anything without support from behind-the-scene forces, he said.

Calling for the induction of the Army in the ensuing political talks Suranjeet said actually they are ruling the country. They are the first party not the third party as often bracketed they are. All the behind-the-scene forces should surface in the ensuing formal talks for the future political dispensation of the country, he said. He also made an oblique reference to an external force guiding the government.

While speaking at the BBC Bangladesh dialogue Suranjeet said, the advisers of the government are taken on military choice. They can not take a decision without their consent, he said.

Suranjeet's open advocacy came under fire at the Awami League presidium meeting yesterday. The presidium meeting where Suranjeet, Abdur Razzaq and Amir Hossain Amu were absent censured Suranjeet for expressing views beyond the party mandate. Party acting General Secretary Syed Asraful Islam said who will take part in the proposed dialogue from the government side is to be decided by the latter. He cannot make any open invitation to the Army to join the talks. Suranjeet was asked by the party presidium to give his explanation.

Elaborating his point Suranjeet said the Army has been actually ruling the country from behind. So it is better to talk to those who are at the helm of the affairs of the country. The Chief Adviser and other advisers can not take any decision independently. They are mere dummies, said Brigadier (Retd) Hannan Shah, a BNP leader, in the same BBC Bangladesh talks.

Pro-Khaleda BNP leader said, the entire country is being run by the task forces and special intelligence agencies. So we must get somewhere for having dialogue with them.

Suranjeet said, as the Army has formed the caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed, the former should be present in the dialogue as part of the government.

Their views faced stiff opposition from the panellists of the BBC dialogue. Kamal Lohani, a veteran journalist said, the induction of Army in the country's politics is suicidal. Democracy can not be restored in the country by bringing in Army to the dialogue.

In another development the Awami League has been allowed to hold hunger strike at the two party offices at Bangabandu Avenue and Dhanmondi on a limited scale.

Earlier the Dhaka metropoltican police slammed a ban on holding countrywide hunger strike scheduled for May 5.

The AL office secretary Mozammel Haque rushed to the DMP Commissioner to seek permission for holding hunger strike in a limited way and assured, their programme will not violate the emergency rules.

AL central leaders seem to be divided over holding of hunger strike programme scheduled to be staged today at the two party offices.

A senior presidium member who preferred to be unnamed told a national daily, it is unjust to observe political programme when political parties are holding talks with the government. But the said leader was vocal in favour of adopting the hunger strike programme in the party working committee meeting. Sensing the ill- motive of the senior leader Awami League supremo Sheikh Hasina sent a message to the Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful to cut short the programme as she apprehends the said senior leader of the Awami Leage will torpedo the programme.

Delimitation of about 133 constituencies has irked the three major political parties - the BNP, the Awami League and the Jamaat-e-Islami. They in their separate reactions said, the government is set to have a select parliament in the coming polls. Even the family constituencies of the two top leaders of the country were not spared. The election prospects of many stalwarts are facing uncertainty under new electoral adjustment.

ADB to help nations fighting global food price crisis

AFP, Madrid

The Asian Development Bank on Saturday promised financial help for nations fighting the global food price crisis and attacked plans for a rice cartel.

Loans will help countries subsidise the price of food staples for the poor, ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda said on the first day of the banks four-day annual general meeting in Madrid.

"The amount depends on the requests from the affected countries," he told a news conference. "Possible total lending could be sizeable but not enormous."

The multinational lender will also provide two billion dollars (1.3 billion euros) in loans in 2008 and 2009 to finance agriculture infrastructure projects such as rural roads and irrigation systems to help boost farm output.

"Asia has a huge population with limited land for farming and a limited water supply so agriculture yields must be increased over time," Kuroda said. Prices for the benchmark Thai variety of rice, a food stable across much of Asia, are at about 1,000 dollars a tonne, up threefold from the last ADB annual meeting in Japan one year ago.

The jump in food prices is fuelling inflation globally and the ADB predicted it would hit 5.1 percent across Asia this year, its highest level since the Asian financial crisis a decade ago and is raising concerns of popular unrest.

Asian nations will see their fiscal deficits worsen because of the need to provide subsidies to offset rising food and energy costs for the poor, the ADB said in a report issued at the gathering.

The problem will be more severe in countries that already have a large deficit like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, it said.

Global food prices have nearly doubled in three years, sparking riots last month in Egypt and Haiti, protests in other countries and restrictions on food exports in Brazil, Vietnam, India and Egypt.

Rising use of biofuels, trade restrictions, increased demand from Asia to serve changing diets, poor harvests and increasing transport costs have all been blamed for the price rise.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick has estimated that high food prices affect some two billion people across the world and threaten to push 100 million poor people further into poverty.

Karuda said the jump in prices for staples like rice was leading people to hoard food items, causing a vicious circle that leads to even higher prices. "There is a kind of panic buying," he said.

Some major Asian rice exporters, such as India and Vietnam, have imposed restrictions on exports in a bid to secure domestic supplies which "affects prices elsewhere", he added.

Kuroda criticised plans by Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to set up an OPEC-style rice cartel.

"Agricultural markets should be market oriented. It would not be good for exporters and it certainly would not be good for importers," the ADB president said.

"What is most important is that we increase agricultural productivity in the medium and long term," he added.

Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Wednesday the five countries had agreed in principle to form a rice price- fixing group which would be called the Organisation of Rice Exporting Countries (OREC).

On the eve of the meeting, donors pledged 11.3 billion dollars to the bank's Asian Development Fund, its key poverty alleviation mechanism, for the 2009-2012, a 60 percent increase over the last four-year period.

Last year entire ADB approved 10.1 billion dollars in loans.

Pakistan was the largest recipient of ADB aid last year followed by Vietnam, India, China and Indonesia.

Established in 1966, the ADB is owned by its 67 member countries -- 48 from the Asia-Pacific region, and 19 from elsewhere around the world.

Some 3,000 people-business and government leaders, academics and representatives of non-governmental organisations - - are taking part in the ADB's annual meeting.

Hasina to contest JS polls: Charge hearing on Mig-29 case on May 11

UNB, Dhaka

Detained former premier and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina Sunday disclosed her decision to contest the next parliamentary elections.

"Dreams of those who are out to disqualify me from election by awarding me conviction through staging hasty trial will never come true," she told her lawyers during consultation in the courtroom. Hasina, who is facing several corruption cases in the interim period, said a non-elected government cannot ensure welfare for the people. "Only an elected government, which has no alternative, can solve the people's problems and bring stability in the country," she said. The former Prime Minister again reminded that she would be in active politics for the cause of the people-an assertion that confronts head-on the so-called minus formula courted in the political reform drives of recent times.

Referring to signature campaign for her release and treatment abroad, Hasina said some 2.5 million people signed on the charter of demand for her freedom within a fortnight in the capital that reflects confidence in her. And "I will remain in politics to show my respect to the will of the people". She urged her party members to take preparation for the elections and remain alert so the polls are not forestalled on any pretext.

She also urged the party leaders and workers to face the present challenges unitedly with patience.

Hasina said that the election schedule should be announced immediately for handing over power to an elected government through free, fair and transparent elections.

About the Mig-29 warplane-purchase case, she said, "If I am put in the dock for purchasing Mig-29 planes, then the incumbent government will have to face the same music for whatever they purchased." About the denial of her treatment abroad, Hasina said her health condition is very bad. "Those who are depriving me of proper treatment will have to pay one day for such inhuman and cruel gesture," she said.

Meanwhile, the arraignment hearing on the Mig-29 purchase case was again deferred, up to May 11, as co-accused former army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, who is on bail, could not appear in the court for illness. He is undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospital. The Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's court relocated to parliament complex resumed at 9:45am, two minutes after Sheikh Hasina was brought before it amid tight security.

Five other co-accused persons, who are also free on bail, appeared in the court.

Combing drive at Bagmara:10 more held

Suspects of police killing and arms looting at
Taherpur under Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi district were
produced before court yesterday. FocusBangla

UNB, Rajshahi

As massive combing operation went on, 10 more people were arrested as suspects for Friday's gun attack on a police patrol team in Taherpur municipal bazaar area in Bagmara upazila that left a policeman dead and four others wounded. Police and RAB continued their massive operation to track down the attackers and recover the looted arms and ammunition, official sources said.

While combing operation continued in various areas of Bagmara upazila, law-enforcers also raided a number of hostels in the city's Saheb Bazaar area in search of the outlaws and the arms. With the latest arrests, a total of 28 people have been held so far in this connection, but the looted arms and ammunitions could not be traced.

Meanwhile, panic gripped Bagmara upazila areas, especially Taherpur municipal bazaar, following the incident and reprisal action by the law-enforcers. "Patrol through the areas has been heightened with massive mobilization of forces-both in uniform and in plainclothes," says a spot view of the scenes.

The government put law-enforcing agencies on red alert in neighboring upazilas of Rajshahi and several other districts after the attack and there was a combing operation underway.

Local people said outlawed-party members went into hiding after the fall of the dreaded Bangla Bhai regime of Islamic militancy in the area. But recently the outlawed party members have returned to the locality after a long silence.

BTTB made public limited company

BSS, Dhaka

The Council of Advisers yesterday approved the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (Amendment) Ordinance-2008 to turn the BTTB into a public limited company (PLC).

The approval was given at the regular weekly meeting of the council held at the Chief Adviser's office this afternoon with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

With the approval, all movable and immovable property of the BTTB will be handed over to the new public limited company under the Company Act.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, said Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim said with this approval, the BTTB will be abolished and its all officials and employees placed under the new public limited company.

Besides, the council also approved the signing and ratification of optional protocol of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Rights and facilities of the country's 89 lakh persons with disabilities will be ensured with the approval, said the press secretary.

The council also discussed a proposal put forward by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to amend some clauses of the Town Improvement Act-1953.

Following the discussion, the council sent back the proposal asking the ministry concerned for placing it again before the council after necessary review and scrutiny.

Advisers of the caretaker government and special assistants to the Chief Adviser attended the meeting.

Cabinet Secretary, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser and secretaries concerned were present.

Workers’ remittance likely to set new record

Mashiur Rahaman

Inward workers' remittance from across the world is expected to set new record by the end of current fiscal year 2007-08.

On the basis of present inward remittance-earning record, workers from various part of the world have sent comparatively more remittance to their relatives then ever. Remittance earning in the first three quarter (July-March) in 2007-08FY has almost reached up to the full year earning recorded in 2006-07FY.

"During July-March period of current fiscal year, we have earned about $5540 million as workers' remittance. The remittance inflow was around $1200 million higher that the remittance earned in the earlier year during the same period," said an official from Bangladesh Bank.

According to the Bangladesh Bank Remittance earning record, total $5978.5 million was earned during the 2006-07 FY. It was $4361.2 million during the July-March period in 2006-07 FY. As our per quarter remittance earning showing over $300 million growth during the last three quarter in 2007-08 FY, we are optimistic to forecast our probable remittance earning in the fourth quarter (April-June 07-08FY) would be near about $2500 million, said the official of Bangladesh Bank.

"If everything goes normal, the yearend workers' remittance would reach up to $8000 million in 2007-08 fiscal year, setting all time new record," he added. In region-wise remittance inflow, it was reported that the Middle Eastern countries remained on the top as a source of employment for Bangladeshi workers. Total $3449 million was earned from the region during July-March period of current fiscal year. It was $711 million higher than the earning recorded during the same period in the previous financial year.

In 2006-07 FY, workers' remittance from the Gulf Region was recorded $3730 million.

Country wise, Saudi Arabia still on the top for remittance earning for Bangladeshi workers, recorded about $1459 million earning during the first three quarter (July-March) in current fiscal year. It was $147 million higher than the remittance earned during the same period in 2006-07FY.

Yearend remittance in 2006-07 fiscal year from Saudi Arabia was $1735 million, as recorded.

Other countries, which have shown significant growth in remittance earning were UAE, Kuwait, Oman in Middle Eastern region, Singapore and Malaysia in Asia Pacific Region and United Kingdom in Europe and USA from North American region.

Favourable Government policy regarding manpower export and transparent process of money transaction was given the credit for this major achievement.

'Policymakers suffer from confusion on women’s rights’

Staff Reporter

The Chairman of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Prof Muzaffar Ahmed yesterday said there is still confusion among the policymakers about the Women Development Policy.

"This confusion will make the situation critical in future," he said at a discussion on 'Women Development Policy 2008: National Development Perspective' jointly organised by Women For Women (WFW) and CAMPE at the National Press Club yesterday.

Prof Muzaffar pointed out that rights of women are clearly stated in the holy Quran. Yet some people are raising

questions in this regard, he noted and adding, "We should not fight in the street on this issue. The people who creating confusion should go to the court to seek a clear solution on this matter."

A group is creating problem in the implementation of the Women Development Policy is our own partisan interest, he mentioned.

Advocate Abdus Shahid, former whip of the Parliament, said, "We are looking for the election. If election would be held and political party rules the country, many problems would be solved."

Ayesha Khanam, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, blamed the Government for creating confusion about the Women Development Policy.

The Government should take a positive stand to implement the policy for the sake of development of the country, she added.

Prof Sadeka Halim of Dhaka University urged the Government to implement the Women Development Policy immediately.

Presenting the keynote paper Zahanara Haque of WFW said the Government should not ignore the demand of the people and has no right to delay for implementation of the policy.

Shirin Akhter, women leader, Azizul Haque of CAMPE, Nilufar Banu of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, Rowshan Zahan of WFW, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Another cyclone likely this month

BSS, Dhaka

At least one cyclonic storm may brew off one to two depressions forming in the Bay of Bengal this month, the met office said yesterday in its a long-range forecast for May.

The forecast issued after a meeting of experts at the met office said the northern and central regions of the country may experience five to six moderate to severe nor'westers or thunderstorms. Elsewhere four to five mild to moderate nor'westers and thunderstorms are likely.

The cyclone in the Bay, if formed would be named Abe, a Sri Lankan word from a panel of code names for the Bay of Bengal cyclones as listed by the ESCAP for this year, a senior meteorologist and cyclone expert Sujit Kumar Dev Sharma told BSS.

The forecast further said two to three moderate to severe heat waves (38-42 degree Celsius) may rage over the northern and central regions, elsewhere may experience mild to moderate heat waves (36- 40 C), the monthly weather forecast said.

This month's rainfall is likely to be 10 to 20 per cent in excess of normal average rainfall. But the rainfall in April was 78 per cent less than the normal precipitations.

Although the forecast for April had said the rainfall would be 10 per cent higher than average in the absence of mating of westerly and easterly pressures over Bangladesh.

EC delimitation of constituencies illegal: Delwar

Staff Reporter

Secretary General Pro-Khaleda faction of BNP Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has redefined the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies with an ill motive.

Briefing reporters at his NAM Flat residence he termed the draft of delimitation of parliamentary seats carried out by the EC was illegal and unexpected.

With this the Commission made a settled issue controversial, he said adding, the delimitation of constituencies had already been done in accordance with the article 65 (2) of the Constitution.

He referred that complications have been created in the name of delimiting constituencies when the preparation for election is still incomplete.

Khondoker Delwar accused the EC for hatching conspiracy to hold a stage-managed election.

He said the state of emergency was not promulgated as per law and it has been kept in force illegally with a 'evil intent'.

The BNP leader reiterated his demand for immediate release of Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina and called for creating a congenial atmosphere for election by withdrawing the state of emergency.

"Give up the BNP minus conspiracy and try to work for the welfare of the country by holding a fair election," he said.

Terming the activities of the EC biased, he said a fair election cannot be held under the present Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

"They (EC) are engaged in illegal activities and their attitude towards BNP are hostile," he alleged.

Khondoker Delwar accused the EC of going ahead with the plot to set up a 'rubber-stamp government' by keeping away the major political parties.

Criticising the government for signing agreements on oil and gas with foreign countries he said the non-elected government has no right to sign any international agreement or to take any major decision.

He said Begum Zia was suffering from arthritis and eye problem and she was also being tortured mentally by not giving proper treatment to her two detained sons.

Among others, Begum Selima Rahman and Rizvi Ahmed were present on the occasion.

AL token hunger strike today

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League will observe token hunger strike Monday without violating the emergency rules to press for its five-point demand that includes announcement of election schedule and release of detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.

The other demands of the party are bringing down the record high prices of essentials, holding trial of war criminals, Hasina's treatment abroad and improving the law and order.

The party got permission from the authorities to stage a token hunger strike only at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue and at its Dhanmondi office.

The hunger strike will begin at 10am and end at 4pm. AL acting president Zillur Rahman will end

the programme by offering juice to the fasting leaders and activists at the party's Dhanmondi office.

The token hunger strike is the first ever agitation program since the incumbent caretaker government assumed office on January 12 last year amid state of emergency.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police asked the Awami League to refrain from its hunger strike programme on May 5 in the capital, saying the programme is contrary to the Emergency Power Rules as the party did not take prior permission for observing the programme.

The party then applied to the Metropolitan Police on Saturday seeking permission to stage the programme and the authorities granted permission to observe hunger strike without violating the emergency rules.

AL central working committee on March 29 took the decision to stage the hunger strike and the party presidium at a meeting on April 23 decided to hold the programme on April 29, but later the party postponed the programme outside the capital and deferred it to May 5.

No decision on army presence in dialogue: Advisory Council meets today

UNB, Dhaka

The caretaker government has not yet decided whether or not army representatives will be present during the dialogue with political parties, meant for preparing an agreed agenda for transition from the interim regime.

"We have not yet decided whether or not army personnel or Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia should be present during the dialogue…These matters are to be discussed at today's Advisory Council meeting," Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters at the Secretariat.

Awami League presidium-member Suranjit Sengupta and BNP chairperson's adviser Brig (retd) ASM Hanna Shah have said army representatives should be present during the formal dialogue as the army is 'ruling the country from behind the scenes'.

Hossain Zillur said the government is taking preparation for opening the dialogue with the parties and it would start from this month. LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said he doesn't know anything about army presence during the formal dialogue as he said this was not discussed among them and at the advisory council meeting. To another query, he said Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed would address the nation by May 8 in which he will clear government position on the dialogue.

"The nation will see the developments concerning the formal dialogue within a couple of days," he told the media.

EC sticks to its decision on delimitation of constituencies

UNB, Dhaka

Shrugging off political parties' swinging criticism and protest against the Election Commission's act of delimitating the electoral constituencies, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hussain Sunday said they wouldn't budge an inch on their decision on realigning the electorates.

The EC, on May 30, announced the draft on delimitation of 133 out of 300 electoral constituencies as part of their tasks under 18-month-long election roadmap announced on July 15 last year. "There is nothing to say new. We'll do it," he said when journalists sought his comment about the political parties' fulmination over the EC announcement of draft delimitation.

"No, we won't," Shakhawat said replying to a query if the EC would withdraw its decision of delimitating the constituencies as the political parties are strongly against the move.

He took no exception in such criticism and protest as he said political parties are used to telling such things and so he has no reaction regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Sunday alleged that the EC's recent draft redefining of the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies is not legal. "Delimitation of constituencies had already been done as per article 65 (2) of the Constitution," he said, adding that a settled issue has been made controversial by the EC.

Earlier on May 3, Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid

demanded withdrawal of the EC's draft gazette notification re-demarcating the constituencies.

In a statement, Mujahid said the EC took the unilateral decision in disregard of public opinion.

On May 2, Awami League disapproved of the EC move for delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies, saying that constitutionally the EC has no jurisdiction to do that.

"As per the constitution, the Election Commission is entrusted with the job of holding only parliamentary elections. It cannot get involved in policy works like delimitation process. We fully reject the EC move," acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told journalists on the day.

Biman escapes accident at ZIA

Staff Reporter

An airbus of Bangladesh Biman escaped an accident at ZIA International Airport yesterday evening when it skidded off the runway.

The aircraft with 143 passengers from Sylhet landed at the airport at 6:45pm. While taking turn toward the airport building, it suddenly skidded off the runway. The BG-118 flight earlier came to Dhaka from London. It flew to Sylhet and returned to Dhaka.

Director General of Biman Mosharraf said, "No harm has caused to the passengers nor any damage caused to the aircraft as its speed was very minimum,"

However an inquiry committee is being formed to probe the incident, he added.

Cyclone ravages Myanmar: 351 killed

BBC Online

A tropical cyclone has killed at least 351 people in Myanmar and damaged thousands of buildings, according to state television.

Parts of the Irrawaddy region were hit particularly badly, with three out of four buildings reportedly blown down in one district.

Myanmar has declared Irrawaddy and four other regions, including the main city Yangon, to be disaster areas. Yangon has been without power and water, its streets full of debris.

Winds of about 190km/h (120mph) battered the Irrawaddy, Rangoon, Bago, Karen and Mon regions. Military and police personnel have been carrying out rescue operations.

Cyclone Nargis has since moved towards Thailand where storm warnings have been issued. However, it appears to be lessening in force. In Irrawaddy's Labutta township, 75% of buildings collapsed and 20% had their roofs ripped off, state TV said.

In the Irrawaddy delta region as a whole, the cyclone brought down more than 20,000 houses.

In Yangon, internet and phone connections have been down since the storm drew near, making it difficult to confirm the extent of the damage.

Official media report that four people were killed and four vessels sank in the former Burmese capital's harbour. A UN regional official told Reuters news agency it would take several days to assess the scale of the damage. .