The New Nation - Internet Edition

Russia steps up attack on Georgia: Bush warns Putin, invasion unacceptable

AFP, Tbilisi

Russia intensified attacks on Georgia on Monday, the Tblisi government said, ignoring appeals for a ceasefire and US diplomatic warnings.

After taking control of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, Russian warplanes carried out fresh bombing raids in Georgia, Georgia's foreign ministry said.

With Russia saying more than 2,000 people have been killed, Europe led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with the French and Finnish foreign minister holding talks in Tblisi on Monday ahead of a meeting with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on Tuesday.

US President George W. Bush, Georgia's strongest western ally, told Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that the Russian offensive was "unacceptable".

"More than 50 Russian warplanes are flying over Georgia. Tbilisi was bombed. Bombs hit the village of Kojori and Makhata mountain," the foreign ministry in Tblisi said.

Russian planes bombed radars at Tbilisi airport and hit civilian targets in the Georgian city of Gori, an interior ministry spokesman said.

Russian planes had already bombed a special forces base and an air traffic control centre in the Tbilisi suburbs, the spokesman said. Explosions could be heard from the centre of the capital.

Three Russian soldiers were killed and another 18 wounded by Georgian forces in South Ossetia on Monday, despite Georgia saying it had withdrawn its forces, Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a South Ossetian spokesman as saying.

Russia, which has already moved battleships to the Black Sea, is preparing to deploy 9,000 troops to bolster its forces inside a second separatist Georgian region, Abkhazia, a military spokesman was quoted as saying by Interfax.

It will also send more than 350 armoured vehicles to add to what is officially a Russian peacekeeping force in the breakaway region, the Russian spokesman, Alexander Novitsky, was quoted as saying.

Russian forces in Abkhazia on Monday issued an ultimatum to Georgian forces demanding they lay down their weapons, their commander was quoted as saying by Interfax.

Georgia's interior ministry denied on Monday that Georgian soldiers were cornered by rebels in a part of Abkhazia region, saying all attacks in the area had been repelled.

"There were several attacks on the Kodori Gorge, all of them repelled," interior ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said in a televised briefing.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said late Sunday that Russian tanks were on Georgian territory outside South Ossetia the interior ministry said a "massive" aerial bombardment of the centre of Gori was taking place.

"Gori is being bombed massively from the air and from artillery as well," said the spokesman, who added that the government had reports that Russian troops and tanks were preparing a ground attack.

Moscow said it had sunk a Georgian naval vessel and taken control of most of South Ossetia from Georgian forces. The Russian foreign ministry said Georgia still had soldiers and tanks in the area however.

Russia pursued its offensive despite Georgia saying it had ended its push on South Ossetia.

"Georgia expresses its readiness to immediately start negotiations with the Russian Federation on a ceasefire and termination of hostilities," an official Georgian statement said.

Russia disputed this, however, with the commander of the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia saying they had come under attack by Georgian forces again early Monday.

"In certain zones (near Tskhinvali) Russian peacekeepers met active confrontation" overnight, Marat Kulakhmetov told Interfax.

The United States has strongly criticised Russia.

Bush said Monday he had told Russian Prime Minister Putin that the violence in Georgia was "unacceptable".

Vice President Dick Cheney told Saakashvili in a telephone conversation "that Russian aggression must not go unanswered," his office said in a statement.

The French and Finnish foreign ministers Bernard Kouchner and Alexander Stubb arrived in Tbilisi on Sunday to spearhead mediation efforts.

"We must find the means for an immediate ceasefire, accepted by both sides," Kouchner told reporters after meeting with Saakashvili.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to head to Moscow Tuesday to "try to finalise" a ceasefire with Georgia, Kouchner told French radio from Tbilisi

The European Union-backed plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, medical access to victims, controlled withdrawals of troops on both sides and eventual political talks.

The two ministers were to meet Medvedev in Moscow, where French President Nicolas Sarkozy was also due Moscow.

European Union foreign ministers are to hold a crisis meeting to discuss the bloc's response to the conflict on Wednesday in Brussels, an EU source told AFP.

Russia sent thousands of troops, tanks and air support into South Ossetia on Friday after Georgia launched an offensive to seize control of the province, which broke from Georgia in the early 1990s.

The conflict has already forced about 40,000 people from their homes in areas around the conflict zone, an International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman told AFP.

While Russia put the death toll in South Ossetia at 2,000, estimates of the toll in Georgia ranged from 92 to 150.

South Ossetia, a patchwork of ethnic Georgian and Ossetian settlements in the mountainous north of the country, has a population of about 70,000, many of whom have been granted Russian passports.

Georgian soldier lies dead on a street on the outskirts of Tskhinvali. Russia kept up its attacks on Georgia in the early hours of Monday, brushing aside appeals for a ceasefire after its forces swept through the Georgian rebel region of South Ossetia.

Abandoned ballot papers, counterfoils found in Khulna: EC says, it’s under investigation

A policeman of Kotwali thana of Khulna counting some
counterfoils (muri book) of ballot papers of August 4
Mayoral election which were found abandoned near Udayan Club
at Haji Mohsin Road on Sunday night. Focus Bangla

Khulna Correspondent

The recovery of 77 counterfoils of ballot papers and three completely used books (Muri) of August 4 mayoral election from roadside in Khulna city on Sunday night came as big surprise to the city people.

These ballot papers and muri books have raised question in different quarters and many are smelling a rat in the incident at a time when the mayoral election took place in four cities including Khulna and nine municipalities under the state of emergency and amid almost flawless security.

Local sources said that the counterfoils of the ballot papers and the muri book were found abandoned near the Udayana Club at Haji Mohsin Road at 11 PM.

Some locals detected the papers and handed then over to the Kotwali thana. Officials said the muri book was supposed to be packed with the used ballots for tally, if necessary.

Md.Abu Jafar, election agent of mayoral candidate Moniruzzaman Moni, who is also acting Mayor of Khulna city, filed two general diaries with the police in this connection.

When contacted, Deputy Election Commissioiner Mohsin Ali said the matter was now under investigation.

Sources said the ballot papers contained thumb impressions but no signature of voters. Moreover, these papers bore no seals of the Election Commission. But the serial numbers in the abandoned ballot papers were similar to those supplied from the election office, sources added.

The Deputy Election Commissioner termed the whole episode mysterious. He could not confirm readily whether these ballot papers were genuine or fake. These ballot papers were stated to have been issued from number 8 polling centre under Ward number two of the city.

When contacted, Moni told The New Nation that the matter now lay with the Election Commission and the law enforcing agencies and he has nothing to comment.

The recovery of the abandoned ballot papers drew fire from the supporters of Moni and they thought foul play in the matter to rig the election and defeat Moni.

Awami League-led alliance backed candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque came out with flying colours in the August 4 mayoral election defeating his nearest rival Moni by about 25,000 votes.

Khaleda refuses to be voter as deadline expires: Confusion over her release persists

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Detained former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday refused to be enlisted in the voter list from behind the bars. The deadline for enrolment expired yesterday.

Begum Zia made herself clear when Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui along with Election Commission officials went to the sub jail to pursue her to be registered as a voter.

The detained BNP Chairperson told the delegation that she wants to be a bona-fide voter but not from her prison cell.

Meanwhile, a confusion arose with the comment made yesterday by Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) Mohammad Abdul Matin, Bir Protik, that he did not know anything about the release of Begum Khaleda Zia.

This statement contradicted the remarks of two other advisers made earlier to the effect that the procedure of her release was at the final stage.

When contacted Adviser for Commerce and Education Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told this correspondent last night that he could not give any specific timeframe for the release for former prime minister.

"Let's talk later on the issue," he said.

A lawyer for Begum Khaleda Zia, however, told The New Nation that the BNP Chairperson might be released within a couple of days. "She (Khaleda) was due to get release today (Monday) but unfortunately it was not done," he said and hoped that Begum Zia was likely to be released today or tomorrow.

DIG (Prisons) Maj Siddiqui told reporters that they apprised Begum Zia about the new electoral laws imposing restrictions on aspiring candidates to contest polls without registration in the voter list.

Asked about the release of the former prime minister he said they are yet to receive documents on her release.

Earlier on Monday, the DIG Prisons told reporters that Begum Zia enquired about the new electoral laws from the Election Commission (EC) through him.

He brought necessary documents to her after collecting those from the EC.

As per sub section 'Chha' under Section 13 of the Representation of People (Amendment) Order Ordinance-2008, approved in a meeting of Council of Advisers on Wednesday, a person not registered in the voter list cannot take part in the parliamentary polls.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday told reporters that the EC requested the former prime minister through the authorities concerned to register her name in the voter list by yesterday, the last date for enrolment.

Asked whether Begum Zia would get an opportunity to register her name as a voter if she did not do it by yesterday, the Election Commissioner said, "Time will say that."

Another Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters that there would be no scope for registration in the voter list if anyone were left out of the draft list due to any technical reason.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Election Commissioner of Dhaka Division, Biswas Lutfor Rahman, yesterday told reporters that they provided voters registration forms to jail authorities to register 30 VIP detainees under Dhaka Division.

"The jail authorities will return the filled up forms in time," he said.

First Indian wins gold

AFP, Beijing

Abhinav Bindra won India's first ever individual Olympic gold medal when he claimed the men's 10m Air Rifle shooting title here on Monday.

Athens Games champion Zhu Qinan of China won the silver and Henri Hakkinen of Finland took the bronze at the Beijing Shooting Hall on the outskirts of the Chinese capital.

Bindra, the 25-year-old businessman from the northern city of Chandigarh, followed his world championship title two years ago to finally win a landmark gold medal for his country.

In one of the most thrilling shooting finals in Olympic history, Bindra overcame a two- point deficit against Hakkinen and one point against Zhu after the qualification rounds to annexe the title.

The Indian trumped his rivals with the best finish of 104.5 in the 10-shot final as he went into the last shot level with Hakkinen on 689.7 points.

While Bindra secured his best score of 10.8 in the deciding shot, Hakkinen managed only 9.7 to concede the silver to Zhu, whose last shot was 10.5.

Bindra finished with a combined tally of 700.5, a fair distance behind Zhu's Olympic record of 702.7 set in Athens.

Zhu came in with 699.7 this time and Hakkinen, a member of Finland's armed forces who is taking part in his first Olympics, scored 699.4 points.

India, winners of eight field hockey gold medals, had never won an individual Olympic title before Bindra's feat.

The previous best was trap shooter Rajyavardhan Rathore's silver at Athens, while there were bronze medals for wrestler Khasaba Jadhav (1952), tennis star Leander Paes (1996) and woman weightlifter Karnam Malleswari (2000).

Meanwhile, Rebecca Adlington claimed Great Britain's first-ever individual women's Olympic freestyle gold medal with a stunning victory in the women's 400-metres freestyle at the Beijing Games today.

The 19-year-old English swimmer, competing in her first Olympics, out-touched American Katie Hoff at the wall to win in four minutes 03.22 seconds.

Hoff looked set to pinch the gold medal when she sprinted clear at the 300m but Adlington, trailing by 1.5 seconds at the last turn, wore her down in the final 50m for a sensational win.

Joanne Jackson added the icing to the British victory by grabbing the bronze medal and both hugged each other in an embrace over the pool ropes celebrating the unexpected victory.

Adlington went into the final eighth-ranked in the world, but left Italian world record holder Federica Pellegrini (fifth) and French world champion Laure Manaudou (eighth) in her wake in one of the great British Olympic swimming triumphs.

Sarah Hardcastle had come closest to victory in the Olympic event finishing second behind American Tiffany Cohen at the 1984 Los Angeles.

June Croft finished with bronze in that final and Catherine Gibson took bronze at London in 1948.

Milk powder scam in Ctg port: Bid to manipulate laboratory test

Chittagong Correspondent

Agents of the influential business house - Abul Khair Group - are reportedly out to influence the results of the laboratory tests of the rotten-suspect milk powder that is now under detention at Chittagong maritime port.

Authorities concerned had been working on the process of legal action and drafting of the show cause notices to be served upon the importer and the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company Bureau Veritas later today.

The audit, investigation and research (AIR) wing of the customs on Thursday last detained 450 metric tons of milk powder worth Taka 1258 million at the middle of the clearing process.

Customs officials sealed all 18 containers full of milk powder and declined processing the release of the consignment suspecting the milk lot unfit for human consumption.

Missing of mandatory information like manufacturing and expiry dates, country of origin and gross mismatch between shipping statements rather made the speculation of the customs people stronger. The subsequent physical inspection reports of the consignment also went against the importer and the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) company where investigators gave opinion for laboratory tests and stern action for breaking the import laws.

It was alleged that the wealthier business group had skipped legal action in several cases of similar nature in the past. This time the company reportedly engaged lobbyists and agents to take the rotten-suspect milk powder out of the port by influencing the laboratory reports in its favour.

An informed official of the AIR wing of the Customs said that the importer had already admitted its guilt in writing. "Our doubt on the quality of the milk powder has already been proved to some extent following confession of guilt by the importer," he commented requesting anonymity.

A senior official said that it would be ridiculous to believe that Australia, the country of origin of the milk, would have sent the consignment violating the universal code of foodstuff production and export.

Labels containing dates of manufacturing and consumption before and the country of origin were deliberately wiped out from the bags containing 25 kilograms of milk powder each. Scratching marks on the place of the labels are the evidences of the importer's ill motive.

He raised question why then the milk powder was shipped to Chittagong from a Malaysian port instead of Australian port particularly in the absence of transshipment records.

Some of the business leaders here in the port city dubbed the move of feeding people the rotten-milk an unpardonable offence and demanded stern legal action against the people involved in the process.

Recalling the repeated misdeeds of the so-called Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) companies the business leaders said that they (PSI companies) had been sucking blood of the nation by approving these heinous moves.

President, CA to pay homage to Bangabandhu at Tungipara

UNB, Dhaka

President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed would visit the Tungipara tomb of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15 to pay homage to the great national leader on the occasion of 33rd anniversary of his martyrdom.

This year's commemoration of the country's slain independence leader takes place in a changed context of restoration of the 15th of August as National Mourning Day by High Court order and the caretaker government's decision to comply.

President Sheikh Mujib was assassinated on August 15 in 1975.

The head of state and the head of government would offer fateha and place floral wreaths at his mazar on the day, officials said.

On August 15 last year, President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed also showed respects to the memory of the late leader by laying floral wreaths at the grave of Mujib at his paternal place Tungipara in Gopalganj to mark the 32nd anniversary of his martyrdom.

Guard of honour was given by a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from three services of the Armed Forces as a mark of state respects to Bangabandhu Mujib.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Moeen U Ahmed, Naval Chief Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Air Chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman had also paid respects to the late leader at Tungipara during the function last year.

Long term steel policy : BSRM for freeing scrap, billet from mandatory PSI

Staff Reporter

Leading steel miller Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills (BSRM) has proposed the government to exempt import of scrap and billets from Pre Shipment Inspection (PSI) to free the sector from difficulties.

"Currently duty of, melting scrap and billets has been fixed at Tk 1,500 and Tk 2,500 per ton respectively, considering fixed duty structure, importance of PSI has become redundant and unnecessarily we will have to bear extra 1 per cent charge," BSRM said in a letter to the Commerce Secretary recently.

The BSRM in a proposal titled "long term policies for steel sector in Bangladesh", signed by General Manager Kazi Anwar Ahmed also said lot of sellers worldwide are not interested to sell scrap and billet to Bangladesh because of the bureaucratic attitudes of PSI companies abroad.

The BSRM said, " PSI procedures make very difficult for us to purchase materials and whatever we purchase, we end up buying at higher price due to this extra hassle of suppliers."

It proposed the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to issue a general order to the effect that the importer of scraps as well as billets are required to submit a PSI inspection certificate issued by an internationally reported surveyor duly attested by the LC opening bank to check unwanted import. The BSRM said if the government immediately give gas and power to the new steel mills, shortage of the steel goods will automatically be overcome. It said allowing tax holiday for scrap based billets mills will save huge foreign exchanges.

It proposed the government to increase import duty on rods to 12 per cent to save the local industries. It asked Chittagong port for allowing truck from outside to carry more than 6 tones cargo in each truck.

"The Chittagong port owners association is so strong in the port that we cannot hire trucks to carry more than 6 tones cargo in each truck. This is a biggest deterrent for scraps and billets import business. This must be broken," the BSRM said.

Citing dilly dally practice of government department like BOI, PDB, PGCB and PWD BSRM said it must be made mandatory for these government departments to reply and take action on applications immediately. "They behave with our members as if they are doing a favour to us."

For the boost of Bangladesh's steel industry the BSRM also asked settlement of visa procedures for foreign national and experts within short period, establishment of a deep sea port and offering polytechnic institutes curriculum on steel sector.

AL welcomes govt decision to restore Aug 15 as Nat’l Mourning Day

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Awami League yesterday welcomed the government's decision taken in the Council of Advisers to restore the August 15 as the National Mourning Day and government holiday.

At a joint statement, Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman and acting general secretary Asraful Islam said that the decision of the government also reflected the public expectation and views along with respecting the rule of the High Court.

Not only Awami League, but also people irrespective of political party affiliation and opinion welcomed the decision, the added.

The leaders also urged the government to declare Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Father of the Nation immediately.

They urged the government to withdraw all cases filed against daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina and release her unconditionally as it was the public expectation in the mourning month of August.

Besides, 501 teachers of Dhaka University, at a joint statement, said hailed the government's pronouncement to restore August 15 as the national mourning day and holiday respecting the verdict of the High Court, adding that the government reflected the people's aspiration by its announcement to observe the day with various programme in the state honour.

They also hoped that the government would implement execution of assassins of Bangabandhu as per verdict of the court.

Among the signatories to the statement were Dr Harun-or-Rashid, Dr Anwar Hossian, Dr M Ohiduzzaman, Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, Prof Durgadas Bhattacharya, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, Prof Shahadat Ali, Prof RIM Aminur Rashid, Dr M Akhtaruzzaman, Prof Kazi Shahidullah, Prof SM Ikramul Haque, Prof Abdul Mannan, Dr Hossain Mansur, Dr Neem Chandra Bhoumik, Prof Muntasir Mamun, Dr Mohammad Samad, Prof Sultana Shafi, Dr Sadeka Halim, Prof Golam Rahman, Prof Sheikh Abdus Salam and Prof Abul Barkat.

Bangabandhu Ayinjibi Parishad, a lawyers' platform, also welcomed the government's decision to restore August 15 as the National Mourning Day and holiday, a press release said.

DU deans election Aug 19

DU Correspondent

The Dean's election of Dhaka University will be held on August 19 at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of the university.

This will be the first election in the university after the present government came to power.

A total of 21 teachers divided into two groups-White Panel belonging to the BNP-Jamaat and Blue Panel, to the Awami League and Left leaning parties- will compete in the Deans` Election for 10 faculties of the university.

The candidates have started campaigning to woo young teachers, whose votes will play a pivotal role in winning the election.

Syed Abul Kalam Azad, treasurer of the university, will conduct the polls as election commissioner.

The incumbent Arts Faculty`s Dean Prof Sadrul Amin, a teacher of the English Department, is running for the Dean of Arts Faculty from the White Panel, while Fakhrul Alam of the same department is running for the position from the Blue Panel.

Prof Tajmeri SA Islam of the Chemistry Department from the White Panel is running for the Dean of the Science Faculty. The Blue Panel candidate for the position is Prof Muhibur Rahman of the same department.

Prof Abbas Ali of the Management Department is contesting from the White Panel for the position of the business studies dean and Prof Mizanur Rahman, a professor of marketing, is the candidate for the position from the Blue Panel.

The incumbent Social Sciences Dean Prof Harun-or- Rashid will face Prof Ferdous Hossain of the Political Science Department in the contest for the same position.

White Panel candidate Prof Abul Bashar of the Zoology Department will face the incumbent bioscience dean Prof Anwar Hossain a teacher of Biochemistry, who is contesting for the position of the bioscience dean from the Blue Panel.

Prof Farida Begum of the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Department is the Blue Panel candidate for the position of the pharmacy dean and her opponent in the White Panel is Prof Abdur Rashid, a teacher of the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department.

Painter Rafiqun Nabi is the Blue panel candidate for the newly introduced Dean of Fine Arts Faculty. He faces two opponents - Abdus Sattar and Mahmudul Haq, both from the White Panel.

Shahnaz Haq Hussain of the Geography Department is the White Panel candidate for the position of the earth and environmental sciences dean and she will face the Blue Panel candidate Qamrul Hasan, a teacher of the geology department.

Prof Shahida Rafique, wife of Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia, is the White Panel candidate for the position of the engineering and technology dean and the Blue Panel candidate is Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmick, a professor of Applied Physics.

Prof Borhan Uddin Khan has already been declared elected as Dean of Law Faculty as no other nomination papers have been filed for the post.

The election commissioner, Abul Kalam Azad, said they were holding the elections as the incumbent deans` tenure had been ended on June 30, 2007. But the university could not hold the polls in due time because of restriction in the state of emergency, he said.

Big importers blamed for spiraling prices of essentials

UNB, Dhaka

Leaders of various retail markets in the city have blamed the big importers for the spiraling prices of essentials.

They came up with the allegation at a discussion meeting at the Federation of Chambers Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) conference room Monday with its president Annisul Huq in the chair.

The FBCCI organized programme as part of a series of discussions ahead of holy Ramadan.

Mohammad Jamal Miah of New Super Market (Block D) alleged that the bulk importers/refiners involved in re-packing are behind the shooting up edible oil prices.

He said: "When the price (of edible oil) in the international market goes up, these people make it effective at once, but when there is any significant fall in price they don't bother to reduce the price even after more than 20 days."

Abul Taher of New Super Market accused ACI, Pran, Fresh and other big companies for the volatile price situation of essential items, including edible oil, fine rice (pilao), sugar and flour.

Imam Hossain Khan of Shantinagar Businessmen's Association lamented that like the general consumers, they are also hostage to big importers and business houses Haji M Mohsin Uddin of Shyambazar Agri-products Merchants Association was highly critical of the "excessive greed of some businessmen" and said it is none but almighty Allah only who can change their evil nature.

FBCCI senior vice president Abul Kashem urged the businessmen not to make irrational profit at least during the holy month of Ramadan.

"You are the major beneficiary of the changing scenario after January 11, please give up your attitude of windfall profit," he said.

FBCCI president Annisul Huq said they would sit with the importers and other businessmen within a week for discussion.

"As we (FBCCI) have no authority to compel the businessmen to make less profit, we can just motivate them through discussions," he said in reply to a question.

Advisory Council meeting in Ctg tomorrow

BSS, Chittagong

All are set to hold first ever meeting of council of advisers in the port city of Chittagong on Wednesday with high aspiration of people here to have a big push on overall development of the region.

Official schedule on the visit of Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed to attend and preside over the August 13 meeting has already been issued and circulated among the concerned offices here.

August 13 meeting of the Council of Advisers will be the first such parley in Chittagong during post-independent time.

District administration here has been working relentlessly as per directives of the top administration of the government for necessary preparations in connection with the meeting.

Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong, Mohammad Ashraf Shamim told BSS yesterday that preparations are afoot in full swing for taking place the meeting most smoothly.

Apart from arrangements of accommodation facilities for high officials during their stay in the port city, the work to give a facelift by necessary restyling of Chittagong Circuit House - the venue of the high profile meeting has almost completed, officials said.

The scheduled meeting has already drawn much importance and at the same time created huge enthusiasm among the Chittagoneans as they are on high hope that the government is going to take some time-befitting decisions on crucial issues related to address the long standing problems and expedite the much-awaited development programmes of this region.

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman who is currently supervising the development of Chittagong has hinted after a meeting held end of last month here that the government would approve and announce a concrete "package development programmes" for this region at the scheduled meeting of council of advisers on August 13.

The Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed during his scheduled press briefing after the Advisory Council meeting at 3 p.m is likely to announce the decisions of the meeting focusing the development programmes as well as measures to be taken to solve the problems of the city.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10.30 a.m and will continue up to 3 p.m .

Musharraf won’t quit despite impeachment move

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will not resign, his spokesman said on Monday, as the ruling coalition put the finishing touches to impeachment charges against the key US ally.

Parliament was also due to convene ahead of the expected formal launch of impeachment proceedings later this week, while provincial assemblies will shortly consider no-confidence motions against Musharraf .

The former general has even faced calls from his own allies to stand down nearly nine years after he grabbed power in a bloodless military coup, but his spokesman dismissed the mounting pressure.

"There is no reason that he should resign. Everything they are saying is false, so why should he resign?" presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi told AFP.

The spokesman however declined to comment on Musharraf's plans. His options include trying to defeat impeachment in parliament, dissolving parliament or declaring a state of emergency.

It was the first statement from Musharraf's camp since the coalition, which swept to power in elections in February, announced its impeachment plans on Thursday.

"The work of the impeachment committee is almost complete. It is giving finishing touches to the charge sheet," Farzana Raja, a senior member of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, told AFP.

"We gave him a chance to resign, we gave him a few months.

But we have come to the conclusion that now the people of Pakistan, through their elected representatives in the parliament, will have to do that," she said.

Media reports said the coalition is trying to give Musharraf time to quit without facing the humiliation of impeachment, while piling on the pressure with votes against the president in the four provincial assemblies.

"First the provincial assemblies will pass resolutions (calling for Musharraf to quit) and this will happen during this week," Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters outside parliament.

The government was confident it could get the two-thirds majority it needs to impeach Musharraf without having to resort to parliamentary machinations, Rehman said.

"Any democrat would be voting on the right side of history. We do not need horse-trading," she said.

Farhatullah Babar, a PPP spokesman, would not comment on reports that the charges being listed against Musharraf included corruption and murder. Other officials have said the charges will run to more than 100 pages.

Coalition officials said that although the government had summoned parliament to sit on Monday-Musharraf's 65th birthday-the charges would likely be filed later in the week.

On Sunday, some allies joined the coalition calls to quit. Sardar Bahadur Khan, an MP from Musharraf's main ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, said more than 25 MPs from the party wanted Musharraf to resign.

But the real key to Musharraf's survival is likely to be whether he gets the support of the powerful army, analysts say. He stood down as chief of the military in November last year.

The military has ruled Pakistan for more than half its 61-year history but Musharraf's successor, General Ashfaq Kayani, has expressed a desire to keep the army out of politics.

If he gets Kayani's support, Musharraf could try to dissolve parliament and head off impeachment. But if Kayani views the impeachment process as too humiliating, he could lean on Musharraf to stand down.