The New Nation - Internet Edition

4 city, 9 poura polls today

Ballot boxes being carried under police escort to
Sylhet polling stations yesterday for the city corporation
polls today. FocusBangla

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Ending all speculations, the much-talked-about elections to four city corporations and nine pourasabhas are being held today amid festivity.

The city corporations are Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet and pourasabhas are Naohata, Dupchachia, Chuadanga, Sreepur, Manikganj, Fulbaria, Shariatpur, Golapganj and Sitakunda.

A total of 1,600 candidates are vying in 13 election areas against 278 posts comprising mayors, general councillors and women reserved councillors.

A total of 13,67,662 voters in 13 elections areas would franchise their voting rights. Of them, 7,00,919 are male and 6,66,743 are female voters.

The polling will start at 8:00am and continue till 4:00pm without any break.

The voters of the election areas would exercise their voting rights using newly prepared ID cards, first time of its kind in the country. However, Election Commission sources, however, said that the ID cards would not be necessary to exercise the voting rights this time.

This is the first election under the present caretaker government that assumed power about one and half years ago with the 1/11 changeover.

The elections are being held under the state of emergency, also first time in the country, with some of its rules relaxed.

The government has taken a three-tier security measures to maintain law and order during the polls. In particular, additional security measures have been taken in vulnerable areas.

Some 20,000 law-enforcers would be on duty to maintain law and order during the elections. No BDR or Army personnel would be deployed in the polling centres, but they would be available, if necessary.

Out of 579 polling centres in four city corporations, some 218 centres have been identified as vulnerable. There are 65 vulnerable polling centres among 136 in nine pourasabhas.

The elections are being considered as the test case for the present caretaker government as the polls going to be for the first time under this government that assumed power about one and half years ago with the 1/11 changeover.

The success or failure of the elections might influence the national polls slated for third week of December.

The Election Commission has already completed its all-out preparations to hold the elections in a free, fair and neutral manner.

About 6,000 local and foreign observers would observe the elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday told reporters that the Election Commission (EC) is waiting to present better elections compared to the past.

He hoped that the elections would bring a significant change in the electioneering culture.

The EC is considering the election as a milestone in bringing change in the election culture and it wants to present the elections as a model in the country and abroad.

After 20 days of hectic campaigns, the candidates are now maintaining personal contacts with voters as the election campaigns have ended Saturday midnight.

The government has already declared Monday as holiday in the city corporations and pourasabhas areas so that voters can cast their votes easily.

The CEC is likely to visit Manikganj to observe polling while Election Commissioners Muhammad Sohul Hussain in Sylhet and Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain in Sreepur.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a control room to monitor law and order during the polls.

The control room started functioning yesterday morning and will remain open till 8:00pm on Tuesday. The control room would swing into action on information of disturbances from any polling area, ministry sources said.

People have been asked to contact the control room over telephone on the following numbers -9571686 and fax 9571682, if necessary.

Besides, mobile courts will function in and around polling centres to deal with offenders.

Our Rajshahi Correspondent Shamsun Nahar reports that 15 candidates are contesting for one mayoral post while 203 candidates against 30 general councillors and 63 women candidates against 10 reserved councillor posts.

Among the mayoral candidates AHM Khairuzzaman Liton of AL, Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul of BNP backed by Jamaat and Rezaunnabi Dudu of BNP are the top favourites among the voters.

Our Khulna Correspondent Nasima Muneer reports that 6 candidates are contesting for one mayoral post while 207 candidates against 31 general councillors and 46 women candidates against 10 reserved councillor posts.

Of the mayoral candidates, the fight among the Awami League led 14-party alliance candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque and BNP-Jamaat led 4-party alliance candidate and incumbent Mayor Moniruzzaman Mony might be neck-to-neck.

Our Barisal Correspondent Tapan Chakrabarty reports that 10 candidates are contesting for one mayoral post while 145 candidates against 30 general councillors and 39 women candidates against 10 reserved councillor posts.

Of the mayoral candidates, contest might limited among four candidates. They are Shawkat Hossain Hiron of Awami League, Ahsan Habib Kamal of BNP supported by Jamaat, Ebaidul Haque Chan of BNP and Sharfuddin Santu of PDP.

Sylhet Correspondent Basir Uddin reports that 15 candidates are contesting for one mayoral post while 197 candidates against 27 general councillors and 46 women candidates against 9 reserved councillor posts.

The main contest for mayoral post might be limited between two candidates. They are incumbent Mayor Badruddin Kamran, now in jail on a corruption case, of Awami League and MA Haque of BNP backed by Jamaat.

Colombo Declaration adopted as SAARC summit ends: Effort for food, energy security urged

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa holding talks
with heads of state of the South Asian region during a visit
to the Sri Lankan Parliament in Colombo on Sunday.
Internet

UNB, Colombo

The two-day 15th SAARC Summit Sunday adopted a 41-point Colombo Declaration articulating commitments of the South Asian leaders to implement the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) in its letter and spirit through issuing directives for removing trade barriers and giving special consideration to LDCs in the bloc.

In the communiqué the SAARC leaders recognized the need to continue to address the major barriers hindering effective trade liberalization in the region, which include sensitive lists of items and Non-Trade Barriers (NTBs).

They directed that the decision to revise the sensitive lists by the SAFTA Ministerial Council (SMC) be implemented early.

And in mending the sensitive lists special consideration be given to the SAARC LDCs (least developed countries), the leaders categorically stated in their recommendation.

They directed the SAFTA committee of experts to expeditiously resolve the issue of non-tariff and para-tariff measures to facilitate and enhance trade under the free-trading regime stipulated in the now-dormant SAFTA. The declaration adopted in the concluding session at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall focused on collective regional efforts in core areas of food, energy security, trade, combating terrorism, climate change, connectivity, terrorism. partnership for growth for the peoples of the region, environment, water resources, poverty alleviation, SDF, transport, ICT Development, SAFTA and Trade Facilitation and SAARC Social Charter.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley, Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Gilani were present at the concluding function, chaired by current SAARC chairperson and President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The heads of state or government renewed their resolve for collective regional efforts to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development which would promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and improve their quality of life and thereby contribute to peace, stability, amity and progress in the region.

On combat against terrorism, the SAARC leaders expressed deep concern over the "serious threat posed by terrorism to the peace, stability and security of the region".

They emphasized the need for strongest possible cooperation in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime amongst the relevant agencies of the member-states, especially in the area of information exchange.

Appreciating the signing of the SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters at the 15th summit today, they urged early ratification and implementation of the new common instrument of fight.

Truth Commission starts functioning: Corrupts asked to take advantage

Truth Commission Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman
Khan holding maiden meeting with two members of the
commission Asif Ali and Major General (Rtd) Manjur Rashid
Chowdhury at its office on Sunday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

With Justice Habibur Rahman Khan as chairman, the much-talked about Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) started functioning yesterday releasing a public notification on the Commission's activities and how the corrupts could take the advantage of mercy.

The corrupt individuals, intending to make voluntary disclosure about their ill-gotten wealth before the Truth Commission, will have to apply by September 1 this year, the notification said.

Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, on his first day in office, urged the corrupt individuals not to lose the opportunity of self-purification by taking the advantage of clemency offered by the Commission.

"It (Truth and Accountability Commission) has been set up with a noble objective. Its functions began today," he said at a press conference at the Commission's Hare Road office.

Justice Khan said the public notification has already been issued and prescribed forms have been prepared to facilitate the corrupt individuals to make voluntary disclosure about their ill-gotten wealth.

Justice Khan, flanked by two TAC members Asif Ali and Maj Gen (retd)

Manjur Rashid Chowdhury, urged the corrupt people not to lose this opportunity of clemency.

"It's a great opportunity for self-realisation. I think they (corrupts) will come to avail of the chance," he said adding that interest has already been created among the people about the concept.

About the perspective of the formation of TAC, the former High Court judge said that owing to rampant corruption country's equilibrium was going to be destroyed.

He said the formation of the Commission is one of the many "good jobs done by the caretaker government and the TAC is intended to ensure good administrative works, welfare of people and human rights."

The TAC chairman said that after the arrests began during the caretaker government, there has been economic instability and uncertainty and people are not having the courage to invest. "The Truth and Accountability Commission has been created under `The Right to Voluntary Disclosure Ordinance 2008 has' to avert economic disaster."

Besides, he said, there are numerous corruption cases pending at the moment and the judges would not be able to deal with any other serious cases if they have to deal with those.

The money received from the corrupt people in exchange for clemency would be spent for the welfare of the country, he said.

Replying to a query, he said the Commission's success will "depend on us and conscious people."

About the eligibility, the TAC chairman said that apart from applying in the prescribed forms, persons whose cases are under inquiry or investigation of the Anti-Corruption Commission could apply to the ACC for referring their cases to TAC.

Besides, he informed that the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crimes and corruption could refer the cases to the TAC. The courts also could send the cases, on applications before the charge-frame hearing, to the Commission.

Justice Khan said those providing false information would be liable to punishment and those who would be given clemency would be disqualified to participate in elections and holding any posts for a certain period.

TAC member Manjur Rashid Chowdhury said, "In due course, we will consider on case to case basis if we should disclose names. If necessary, in the national interest, we will disclose names."

The TAC chairman added, "We are free to decide on that."

Asked if the Commission was formed for facilitating few particular individuals, he replied in the negative and said, "We don't know anything about any persons. We are very free."

Ex-Army Chief Gen Mustafiz passes away

Ex-Army Chief Gen Mustafiz

UNB, Dhaka

Former Army Chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman died at Dhaka Combined Military Hospital (CMH) early on Sunday. He was 70.

Mustafiz, who was decorated with gallantry title Bir Bikram as a valiant freedom fighter, had been suffering from pancreatic cancer. He breathed his last at about 5am.

He left behind his wife, three daughters and a host of friends and relations and well-wishers to mourn his death.

General Mustafiz passed away at a time when he was on trial as one of the co-accused with former Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina in the MiG-29 scam case.

Police arrested him at a city hospital, where he was undergoing treatment, in connection with the case on May 25 this year, as a purge against corruption has been underway in the interim period.

A special court on May 28 granted bail to the ailing former Army Chief. Later, on July 16, the court exempted him from personal appearance in the special trial court.

The now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC) filed the case in December 2001 against Sheikh Hasina and six others, including Gen (retd) Mustafiz.

He had served as Army Chief for about three years during the last regime of Awami League.

On December 18, 2000, the then government had promoted Army Chief Lieutenant General Mustafizur Rahman to a full-fledged four-star general on the day of his retirement.

Meanwhile, his first Namaj-e-Janaza was held at the Central Army Mosque at Dhaka Cantonment at 11am while the second at Mohakhali DOHS after Zohr prayers. He was buried at Banani Military Graveyard with state honours at 5 pm.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed expressed "deep shock" at the death of the former Army Chief.

In a condolence message, the President recalled the long checkered life of Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman and said that he had contributed a lot to establishing the independent and sovereign Bangladesh by actively participating in the Liberation War 1971.

"The nation will always remember his contribution in developing Bangladesh Army and the country through his skill and working experience," he said.

He prayed for salvation of the departed soul and also conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed expressed his profound shock and sorrow at the death of former Army Chief of Staff, General (retd) Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, Bir Bikram.

Dr Fakhruddin, currently visiting Colombo for attending the SAARC Summit, conveyed his deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.

The chief adviser also prayed for peace of the departed soul.

Speaker Barrister M Jamiruddin Sircar and Deputy Speaker Akhter Hamid Siddiqui also condoled on the death of Gen Mustafiz.

In a joint condolence message, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker recalled contribution of the former Chief Army to national life as a "patriotic military official and freedom fighter".

50 more return from Kuwait

Staff Reporter

Another group of 50 Bangladeshi workers were sent back home from Kuwait, bringing the tally to 363 deported so far for taking part in agitation for better working condition and payment of agreed wages in the Gulf State.

Nazir Hossain immigration desk in charge of ZIA said at least 50 more Bangladeshi workers returned from Kuwait yesterday by a Qatar Airways flight at Zia International Airport at 8:30am.

However, Hossain added, "Immigration here cannot ascertain the exact number of such deportees arriving with regular passports, unless they notify us expressly about their situation."

So far, at least 363 workers have been deported from Kuwait up to Sunday, according to immigration counts.

The Kuwaiti authorities sent back 78 Bangladeshi workers late on Wednesday, followed by another 123 on Thursday, 27 on Friday, and 85 on Saturday. All the returnees complained of abuse by their employers and police brutalities.

On July 26, South Asian workers in Kuwait, including Bangladeshis, demonstrated as their Kuwaiti employers denied them the agreed wages.

The Bangladeshi workers alleged they were supposed to get 50 Kuwaiti Dinar a month but they were paid much less than that.

The Kuwait government started deporting Bangladeshi workers back last week alleging that they had been involved in assaults on police and vandalising vehicles during a workers' strike for better pay and allowances. The Kuwaiti authorities announced that they would examine video footage and photographs of protesting workers to find out those responsible for violence during the strike, and deport them.

Police arrested at least 800 Bangladeshi workers during the demonstrations, of whom 300 were later released as no charges could be brought against them.

The government assured Bangladesh mission officials that all "innocent" workers would be spared after investigations, but deportees allege that Kuwaiti law enforcers have been detaining Bangladeshi workers and persecuting them before deportation.

One deportee from Kuwait told reporters at ZIA yesterday: "The Kuwaiti government is hardly checking now whether any of us was involved with the recent strike or not."

"They are simply taking all the Bangladeshi workers to the repatriation centre, where the Kuwaiti police and army personnel deployed there are harassing them, and finally packing them onto Dhaka-bound flights," said one of the returnees.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has also continued to deport Bangladeshi workers on charges of violating local laws. The kingdom has deported 257 Bangladeshis since last week on charges of violating Saudi laws by overstaying, or not having passports or valid work permits.

700,000 applicants in the dark: New power connection in rural areas uncertain

Shamim Jahangir

New electricity connection in rural areas has become uncertain for the next two years, as the Rural Electrification Board (REB) has not taken up any expansion programme this year, according to REB sources. further

The REB has already received over seven lakh applications from the rural people for new connections. But, the authority is yet to take any decision in this regard.

It was learnt that the REB has submitted a number of project proposals to the Power Ministry for approval.

There are six expansion projects for six divisions under 70 Palli Biddut Samity, including Rural Electrification (RE) Expansion Programme 1 in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet divisions.

The REB also submitted another project on Rural Electrification Expansion in Chittagong Hill Tracts Districts to the Power Ministry.

The Government is yet to take any decision on the proposed expansion projects.

"The Power Ministry has no plans to take any expansion project on its own due to financial constraints," a high official of the Power Ministry said to the REB officials last month.

"The donor agencies were showing little interest to finance these expansion activities of REB due to massive corruption of the earlier projects financed by them," he added.

"The REB will not be able to give fresh connections to new consumers from its distribution network before completion of the new expansion programme," he reminded.

Besides, the completion of the three on-going expansion projects has become uncertain within the scheduled time due to lack of government initiative. "The completion of these projects is also vital for the new electricity connection in the rural areas," sources in REB said.

"We will however, be able to connect electricity to the consumers on an emergency basis from the existing lines, if we keep proper maintenance," a REB official told the New Nation.

"The REB has 73,00000 consumers now. They have faced serious power cuts during day and night. The REB is able to supply only 955 MW of power against the demand of 1851 MW for the rural people in last couple of month," REB sources said.

"It will not be possible to us to connect new consumers as the supply of power will not increase from Power Development Board," he again said.

Radcliffe 'on course’ for Beijing

BBC Online

British Athletics performance director Dave Collins believes Paula Radcliffe is making "good progress" in her race to be fit for the Beijing Olympics.

The 34-year-old's participation in the marathon has been in doubt since it was confirmed she had suffered a stress fracture in her left leg back in May.

However, Radcliffe is back running and will arrive at the Team GB training camp in Macau on Monday.

"It's confirmation for me that she's making good progress," said Collins. "We've given her the space and the time that

I think her performance level deserves, we'll see her get here and again, we'll be watching progress and see what happens.

"I am more optimistic as time goes on. I'll wait and see where we are but as things positively progress, that's good news."

Collins stressed the final say on Radcliffe's fitness would come down to a joint decision, although he refused to be drawn on what would happen if the lure of the Olympics proved too strong and she defied medical advice to compete.

He continued: "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. It's a team effort. There are a lot of people involved in this, coaches, medics.

"You sit down and say where are we? Are you capable of doing yourself justice? If yes, you've earned the place, take it."

However, Collins has been encouraged by the feedback from Radcliffe's medical checks and insisted she would not contemplate running if she were not able to contend for a medal.

"It's been positive," he added. "Things are getting better and stronger but then of course they would through the passage of time.

"The challenge she's taken on is a considerable one and it's important for us to make sure that challenge is progressing not at the expense of her long-term health and also to see how that challenge is progressing in terms of her getting towards good shape to be able to perform.

"When you've got athletes who've got a record of past achievement and past performance, they're not going to put themselves on the line if they're not in the shape to perform."

Emergency to ensure security, says CEC

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said the state of emergency would ensure security in holding the city corporation and pourasabha polls today.

Briefing journalists at the Election Commission Secretariat he said there was no problem for election campaigning under the state of emergency.

The CEC said the election campaigning was seen to have gone well in the election areas under the emergency. "Now it is the matter of casting vote," he said.

Asked to comment about the vulnerable polling centres, he said the Commission has already identified the possible risky polling centres.

A 30 member-team of law enforcers would remain in each centre to maintain the law and order. The list of the vulnerable polling centres are already with the RAB, he said

Replying to a question, Dr Huda said the candidates have been obeying the electoral rules and the codes of conduct.

"The Election Commission has not yet found any major violations anywhere. Everything is going well. There is no problem," he observed.

The CEC termed the present election environment better than at any time in the past.

He urged the voters to cast their valuable votes for honest and competent candidates.

He hoped that the elections to the four city corporations and nine pourasabhas would be a good one.

Private sector security printing press set up

Staff Reporter

A joint venture group of Bangladesh and Japan has set up first ever private sector security printing press in the country with a view to saving foreign exchange for the country.

Japan Bangladesh Printing and Papers Limited, a concern of Japan Bangladesh Group (JBG), has established the security printing press having security printing, off-set printing, pre-press and latest post press system facilities.

Stating this at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, yesterday Salim Prodhan, chairman of JBG said the printing press could print high quality bank cheque, demand draft, payment order, certificate/mark-sheet, share certificate and any other type of printing products. Replying to a question, he said there is no accurate figure how much money the country spends in foreign exchange annually for these types of printing, but the amount would not be less than US$ 100 million.

He said establishment of security printing press cost Tk 1.30 billion.

"We hope to raise the amount of investment to Tk 7.80 billion by 2010," he said adding the investment by JBG would be diversified in different sector.

AL doubts impartiality of elections

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury and Abdur Razzak yesterday expressed doubt over the credibility and impartiality of the City Corporation and municipal elections to be held today.

Narrating their tour experience at different election centers, the two Al presidium members said they found voters panic stricken at many electoral areas for several reasons.

Razzak was critical of the local administration for their failure to create congenial atmosphere in the areas where the local government poll will take place. Most of the voters were found shaky to go to the polling centers, he said and adding that Awami league has urged the government time and again to create congenial atmosphere so that the voters can exercise their right of franchise without any fear.

Motia Chowdhury alleged that the government was trying to influence the results of the polls in various ways.

They were speaking at a press briefing at the Gulshan residence of the Al acting President Zillur Rahman in which the latter demanded immediate release of former Aviation and Tourism Minister and AL central leader Engr. Mosharraf Hossain.

Zillur said that the government was intentionally keeping Mosharraf behind the bar to spoil his political career while the High Court granted his bail in two graft cases. Why Mosharraf should be kept behind the bar when the BNP and Jamaat leaders were released in the same case, he asked.

He further said, "The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) identified the LGED ministry as the most corrupt ministry during the BNP-Jamaat Government tenure. BNP Secretary General Mannan Bhuyan, who was in charge of this ministry, was freed and BNP activists brought out procession in front of the jail violating the emergency rule. But the AL leaders are not being released due to some lame charges."

He termed this discriminatory and double standard of the Government.

AL has been asking the Government from the beginning that the anti corruption drive should not be converted into a political drive yet the drive has political colour, he noted.

He warned that it would not augur well for the country.

About the city corporation polls scheduled to be held today, Zillur expressed firm confidence that AL led 14-party alliance would certainly succeed in four city corporations, if the election was held in a free, fair and credible manner.

Aug 21 carnage: Charge hearing refixed Aug 31

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka yesterday refixed August 31 for charge hearing in the August 21 murder case in connection with the grenade attack at Bangabandhu Avenue in 2004.

Besides the 8 fugitives in the case, other accused including former Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, Harkatul Jehad leader Mufti Hannan were produced before the court. Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Second Court of Dhaka, K M Rasheduzzaman Raja heard both sides and passed the order refixing the date.

The grenade attack was made on a rally of Bangladesh Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.