The New Nation - Internet Edition

HC order on Muslim marriage law: Govt seeks stay

UNB, Dhaka

The government yesterday filed an application with the Appellate Division seeking stay on a High Court order that declared "illegal" an ordinance amending the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act 1974 with a verdict that it is none of the caretaker regime's business.

A government attorney submitted the application as the government prefers to move leave-to-appeal to overturn the High Court judgment.

The stay application is likely to be heard Sunday by the Chamber Court.

6 muggers held for murder of Army civil employ

UNB, Dhaka

Detectives have arrested six suspected muggers in separate raids in connection with slaying of a civil employee of Bangladesh Army.

The members of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said Wednesday they made the arrests upon a detailed investigation after Bilal Hossain, 40, was killed on July 7.

The alleged muggers are Sabuj, 20, Kabir, 20, Rony, 20, Aminul Islam, 20, Shaheen, 21, and Billal Gazi, 20.

Bilal was stabbed to death by the suspects at about 3:00 am on July 7 when he was on his way to the airport along with another man, Abdul Latif, police said.

They were going to the airport to receive Latif's son who was scheduled to arrive at the airport from Oman at 5:00 am.

Police said they were attacked by the suspects when they boarded a bus from Staff Road Rail gate at the Dhaka Cantonment area to reach the airport. Latif was also injured in the incident.

The muggers, who were on the bus in guise of passengers, stabbed them after they refused to give their mobile phone sets.

A police patrol later found Bilal in front of Munmun Kabab Ghar and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The DB police said they started investigation soon after the incident and arrested bus helper Sabuj from Sadarghat area on July 12.

With clues from Sabuj, the detectives raided different places in the city and arrested the rest of the suspects.

The officials also recovered two mobile phone sets from the possessions of Shahin and Billal Gazi.

Police took them on a 4-day remand to get further information.

During interrogation, Kabir made a confessional statement before a magistrate under section 164 of CrPc on July 15, the DB police said.

In his statement, Kabir said that he was driving the bus when the incident took place.

He said Rony, Aminul and Sabuj indiscriminately stabbed Billal and Latif.

Mukul Bose acting AL general secretary in absence of Ashraful

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League joint general secretary Mukul Bose will perform as party acting general secretary in absence of its acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.

Syed Ashraful left for London on a personal tour at 9:30 pm yesterday, said an AL press release.

Liton gets EC warning

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The Election Commission has warned Rajshahi mayoral candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton against holding any rally in front of the city's Awami League office, a senior election official said yesterday.

Syed Mohammad Musa, returning officer for Rajshahi city polls, told bdnews24.com that Liton was given the warning after the EC sent a letter regarding the AL leader's election campaign.

"The city corporation election is a non-partisan election. Reports on televisions and newspapers often show that Rajshahi city mayor candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton addresses rallies in front of a political party's office. The matter has drawn the attention of the Election Commission. Such action amounts to violation of election rules," the letter to the returning officer said.

The commission also sent the letter to Rajshahi divisional commissioner, police commissioner, deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police.

Musa said Liton assured him that he would not further violate election rules.

The EC also warned other local polls candidates who had reportedly violated rules and regulations.

The commission has formed a three-member vigilance and observation team, a four-member monitoring team and a five-member cell for law enforcement in each polling area to ensure that electoral rules and regulations are followed properly.

The chief election commissioner is scheduled to hold a meeting Thursday with senior government officials and representatives from different law enforcement agencies to discuss how the city and municipality polls can be held in a free and fair manner.

AL opposes amendment in RPO

Staff Reporter

Awami League yesterday demanded repeal of the amendment in the People's Representative Order Ordinance-2008, which was approved in principle by the Advisory Council on July 13.

Syed Ahsraful Islam, Acting General Secretary of AL, demanded this while briefing reporters at Gulshan residence of party's Acting President Zillur Rahman after coming out of the presidium meeting in the evening.

Demanding further amendment to the ordinance, he said, "We have found that our suggestions were missing in amended version of the RPO by the Council of Advisers. The government is gradually pushing people towards conflict."

He mentioned that the Election Commission has expressed the same opinion during its bilateral talks with the party.

Asked about holding of upazila election before the national election he warned that if the government tries to hold upazila elections before the parliamentary polls, the Government would have to face serious difficulty.

Terming the Government as deceitful in their activities, Ashraful alleged that the government is doing the opposite jobs that they promised during the dialogue.

Ashraful said that the AL would observe mass hunger strike on July 19 across the country demanding effective steps to rein in the soaring prices of essentials.

He said the AL presidium leaders think that the state of emergency should now be lifted fully for creating a democratic environment in the country.

About the transit issue with the neighboring country India, Ashraful said they hope that the government would take into consideration the public interest first.