The New Nation - Internet Edition

Marriot Hotel blast in Islamabad: Czech Ambassador among 60 dead

Czech envoy: Ivo Zdarek

Pakistani policemen and onlookers gather as a cloud
of smoke billows from the burning Marriott hotel. Pakistan
has blamed Al-Qaeda linked Taliban militants for the massive
suicide truck bombing at the Marriott Hotel (inset) that
killed at least 60 people

Agencies

The Czech Republic's ambassador to Pakistan was among the dead in the bombing at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, as rescue workers said the toll from the terrorist attack had risen to at least 60.

"Ambassador Ivo Zdarek was killed in the terrorist attack in Pakistan on September 20," the Czech foreign ministry said on its website.

Zdarek called his embassy moments after Saturday night's bombing from inside the hotel asking to be rescued.

An American and a German were also killed, while at least 13 other foreigners were among the 271 wounded in the devastating blast, according to Rehman Malik, a senior official in the interior ministry.

A spokesman for the British High Commission said that a total of five Britons had been wounded in the blast but that two - both British consular staff - were still receiving hospital treatment.

A reporter from a local newspaper quoted a third British embassy worker, named as Gavin Earl, who said he escaped unscathed despite his room in the hotel having been destroyed in the explosion.

The workers found at least four more bodies at the site Marriott which was still smouldering after a 1,000kg truck bomb was rammed into the security gates in one of the country's worst terrorist attacks.

There were fears that the landmark building was at risk of collapsing.

"The building's structure is dangerous," said Malik Ashraf Awan, a senior civil defence officer. "It consumed too much heat and shock."

The hotel, which belongs to an American franchise, came at a time of increasing political and security instability as the country faces a wave of militancy from terrorist sanctuaries in the country's border tribal areas.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, though suspicion fell on al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban.

Rehman Malik, the head of the interior ministry, told The Daily Telegraph, "The leads so far go to al-Qaeda, the Taliban and South Waziristan."

Rehman said the "modus operandi" was similar to previous attacks on intelligence and military personnel and buildings in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

TV footage showed at least two bodies partially visible from the wrecked facade Sunday morning. Outside, the hotel was surrounded by a junkyard of torched vehicles and debris.

The bomb went off close to 8pm on Saturday, when the restaurants inside would have been packed with Muslim diners breaking their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The blast left a vast crater some 30ft deep and 50ft wide in front of the main building, and on Sunday investigators combed the gaping hole for evidence.

The attack drew condemnations from around the world, including America, which has pressured Pakistan to do more to wipe out militant hideouts on its side of the Afghan border.

US President George W Bush said the attack was "a reminder of the ongoing threat faced by Pakistan, the United States, and all those who stand against violent extremism".

Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari, who will meet with Bush this week while leading a delegation to the United Nations, condemned the "cowardly attack" in a late night broadcast addressed to the nation.

"Make this pain your strength," he said. "This is a menace, a cancer in Pakistan which we will eliminate. We will not be scared of these cowards."

The hotel stood in a plot surrounded by government buildings less than a mile from Parliament and the president's office.

In January 2007, a security guard blocked a suicide bomber who triggered a blast just outside the Marriott, killing the guard and wounding seven other people.

The country's deadliest suicide bombing was on Oct 18, 2007 and targeted ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto - Mr Zardari's wife - who survived. It killed some 150 people in Karachi during celebrations welcoming her home from exile.

Miss Bhutto was assassinated in a subsequent attack on Dec 27, 2007.

Pakistan on Sunday blamed Al-Qaeda linked Taliban militants for the massive suicide truck bombing at the Marriott Hotel that killed at least 60 people and injured more than 260.

Dramatic footage of Saturday night's attack showed the carnage could have been far worse, but the attacker failed to get through a secondary barrier when he crashed his explosives-laden truck into the hotel's security gates.

The interior ministry said the truck was packed with 600 kilos (1,300 pounds) of explosives, and pointed a finger at Taliban militants allied with Al-Qaeda who are based in the remote areas along the border with Afghanistan.

"All roads lead to Fata," ministry official Rehman Mailk told a news conference, using the acronym for the rugged tribal areas that have become a safe-haven for militants despite an army campaign to root them out.

"It has the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda," a senior official involved in the investigation told AFP. "It was an Al-Qaeda style bombing."

Several security officials said at least 60 people were killed in the carnage . Malik put the number confirmed so far at 53 dead and 266 injured.

Rescuers were continuing to pick through the rubble of the hotel, which was all but destroyed in the massive blast-heard for miles around-and a subsequent fire that swept through the 300-room hotel.

Some bodies pulled from the debris were burnt beyond recognition.

Czech ambassador Ivo Zdarek, who was living at the hotel, was among the dead.

The brazen attack appeared to have been timed to inflict maximum casualties , ripping through the hotel when it was packed with families having dinner to break the daily fast in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The bombing came on the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden's call for Pakistani Muslims to unleash jihad or holy war against the government, a vital ally in the US-led "war on terror".

Closed-circuit footage showed that the attacker rammed his truck into the gates but failed to get through a second barrier which is raised again after each vehicle enters the heavily secured complex.

Malik said the attacker intended to drive right into the lobby of the luxury hotel . He apparently tried to convince the guards to lower the second barrier-and when they would not, he blew himself up in the truck's cabin.

Politics in Bangladesh: The battling begums are back

Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina

(The views expressed here are of the Economist published from London)

IT IS a spectacular military retreat. "You can smell the burning tyres," says one Dhaka-based diplomat. Since the army seized power in January 2007 and installed a technocratic interim government, it has tried and failed to end an era of dominance by Bangladesh's two squabbling former prime minsters, Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Sheikh Hasina Wajed of the Awami League.

Yet, after a year in jail on charges of corruption, Bangladesh's battling begums are back. On September 11th the government freed Mrs Zia on bail. Five days later, it cleared legal hurdles for the return of Sheikh Hasina from America, where she went for medical treatment following her release on parole in June. She is expected back in Bangladesh early next month.

Both leaders still face charges. But prosecutors are unlikely to take action against them without the approval of the government, which is no longer trying to bring their political careers to an end. So, barring an extraordinary upset, one of them will be Bangladesh's next prime minister.

It is an astonishing volte-face. The begums alternated in power from 1991-2007 and are blamed for the fiercely antagonistic, corrupt politics that led the army to step in. First it tried to exile them and create a "third force" in Bangladeshi politics; then it jailed them and tried to split their parties, hoping that new leaders might emerge. But the begums' parties are held together by two things: patronage and personality cult. They are unviable without their leaders: hence the BNP's offer to Mrs Zia this week to lead the party "for life". She declined.

The good news is that Bangladeshis, for the first time since 2001, will get the chance to elect a government. For once it will be almost impossible to rig the poll.

The election commission has purged 12m duplicate, deceased or otherwise bogus names from voter rolls. On September 22nd it will unveil a firm date for the election, long promised for December. And the government is soon to announce steps to lift the 20-month old state of emergency.

It is troubling, however, that Bangladesh's transition to multiparty democracy has in effect been entrusted to the two politicians who made it unworkable in the first place. They have refused to talk to each other for decades, though the government says it is working on getting them to "sit across the table".

The price the government had to pay to prevent the parties boycotting the polls is the return of total impunity to Bangladesh. For five years from 2001, Bangladesh led international corruption rankings. But this month the government freed Mrs Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, the main trophy of its anti-corruption drive. The begums' coteries have been released on bail. It seems likely that the convictions of those jailed for corruption will be overturned.

Some in Dhaka worry that all of this might be too much for the generals to stomach. The army still has to secure its own safe passage into the multiparty era, but has little clout over the resurgent political parties. The two years Western governments quietly granted it to fix the country's messy politics are drawing to a close. Neither foreign governments nor Bangladeshis want to see its rule extended.

But there are hints that the generals might not leave politics altogether. A banned Islamist militant group, the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, which the army previously claimed to have crushed, is reported to have threatened members of the emergency government. This week the home ministry gave warning of worsening law and order. The general's retreat seems inevitable, but such scares suggest it might not be total.

FBCCI for effective JS to end anarchic politics

AL leader Amir Hossain Amu and BNP Secretary General
Delwar Hossain are exchanging pleasant words quietly in a
FBCCI sponsored iftar party at a city hotel, though the
parties belonging to them are in a war of word externally.
Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) yesterday stressed the need for a transparent and effective parliament for ending the politics of violence and anarchy that plagued the nation before 1/11.

"The people of the country want to see democracy on the right track. Democracy means development and progress," said Annisul Huq, President of FBCCI at an Iftar Mahfil for political leaders, journalists and members of civil society at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

"We want political stability as well as peace and economic progress of the country", he added.

"We the business community is calling upon political parties to declare their respective parties charter before the national elections on December 18 to bring about positive changes and build a new future for the nation" he noted.

He said the business community would also come up with their respective charter to soon.

Tofail Ahmed, Presidium Member of Awami League said if voted to power his party would carry forward the unfinished reforms taken by the caretaker government.

On the issue of consensus among political parties, he said every political party has its own election manifesto.

"Consensus among political parties could be possible after the election and in the parliament on different national issues," he added.

Rehamn Sobhan, Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said the dialogue between the key leaders of the Awami League and BNP should be held for the sake of democracy. Barrister Rafiqul Huq, Brigadier General (Retd) ASM Hannan Sha, Adviser to the BNP Chairperson, Dr Moin Khan , Dr RA Gani, Nazrul Islam Barkatulah Bulu, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Selima Rahman, Advocate Khondoker Mahbubuddin of BNP and Amir Hossain Amu and Motia Chowdhury, presidium members, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Rajjak of Awami League, Abul Kasem, senior Vice- President, Abu Alam Chowdhury, Vice- President and Mir Nasir Hossain, former President of FBCCI, Ataus Samad, Acting Editor of the daily Amar Desh and Naimul Islam Khan, editor of Amader Somoy, Dr Atiur Rahman among others, were present on the occasion.

Bangladesh bans China milk powder brands

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday banned three brands of powdered milk exported by Chinese companies which were blamed for selling tainted milk in the country, Commerce Ministry officials said.

"As an interim step, orders were issued to stop sale and storage of three brands of Chinese milk--Sunlu, Yashili and Suncare--and also unloading of imported milks without the clearance of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI)," a senior commerce ministry official said following an inter- ministerial meeting chaired by Commerce Secretary Firoz Ahmed. The Sanlu Group is China's biggest maker of infant milk powder.

The decision came in the wake of sickening of at least 6,244 children drinking certain brands of Chinese milk. Five of them died and 158 are suffering "acute kidney failure".

The presence of melamine was blamed for the milk contamination while the BSTI officials said they would need at least one week to detect if there was toxic element in the milk they collected for sample taste.

An initial probe into the tainted infant formula revealed this week that some popular brands of regular milk, yoghurt and ice-cream had also been contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine.

Melamine is normally used to make plastics but had been added to boost the apparent protein content of milk and milk products.

A government food quality watchdog in China said nearly 10 percent of milk and drinking yoghurt samples from three major dairy companies were contaminated with potentially deadly melamine.

Several countries have since suspended the import and sale of all Chinese-made milk and milk products. Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma, Gabon, Burundi as well as Hong Kong have already banned import of Chinese dairy products.

Finding Chinese powdered milk at cheaper prices, certain unscrupulous importers in Bangladesh imported 6,660 tonnes of milk this year, of which 166 tonnes were imported from China.

BSTI said they so far found three brands of powdered milk exported by the Yashili and Suncare companies being sold in markets.

AL begins election activities

UNB, Dhaka

Country's major political party Bangladesh Awami League yesterday formally started its election preparation, in a quick step to end apprehensions and uncertainties over the much-awaited 9th parliamentary polls.

As an official start-off, in less than 24 hours after the setting of the election date, the Awami League's Election Preparation Committee sat in a meeting at its office at the party's Dhanmondi office in the morning. HT Imam presided over the meeting. Among others, Awami League's research and information secretary Nooh-ul-Alam Lenin was present at the meeting.

The meeting discussed and analyzed crucial strategic and technical issues related to the parliamentary polls, slated for December 18.

"The candidates and the polling agents will have to get acquainted with the new electoral laws and code of conduct. In the meeting we have discussed how they can be trained to give them a clear concept about the new laws," Nooh-ul-Alam told UNB after the meeting.

Primarily, the election-preparatory committee is contemplating giving training to district and upazila AL leaders and workers and the party's polling agents about the new legal requirements.

"The two important matters that need to be made clear to the candidates are delimitation and the limited election budget. We today discussed our probable steps in this regard," Lenin said about their spadework for compliance with the new electoral laws framed under the reform recipe of the interim regime.

He also said from now on, the subcommittees on election preparations would be reactivated gradually, which became inactive following the 1/11 political changeover and the scrapping of the polls previously scheduled for January 22, 2007.

Following the Chief Adviser's Saturday speech announcing December 18 as the date for holding the parliamentary polls, the Awami League thanked the government for paving the way for restoration of democracy and expressed its strong confidence about joining the long-awaited election fight.

On Sunday noon, party's acting general secretary, Syed Ashraful Islam, at acting AL President Zillur Rahman's Gulshan residence looked very much eager to fight the electoral battle.

"We are cent-percent prepared to contest the elections," he said, apparently preempting their political archrival BNP and its allies who stuck to a major condition like scrapping the main electoral law-the Representation of People Order (RPO)-framed by the caretaker

government.

Govt, owners reluctant: Pay hike for RMG workers uncertain

Syful Islam

The pay hike of workers of readymade garment factories has become uncertain as both the government and the industry owners are in row over who will declare the salary increase and take the responsibility of implementation, informed sources said.

Last week the government asked the garment industry owners to settle the pay hike issue within 4/5 days through discussion with the labour leaders.

Meantime the BGMEA and the BKMEA has sent a verbal proposal to the Ministry Of Commerce but the wage hike is yet to be declared.

Besides, the industry owners are thinking to resolve the wage hike issue on case-to-case basis avoiding any formal announcement.

Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association yesterday told The New Nation that there is no development over the pay hike issue.

"We have sent a proposal to the government but the administration is taking time to declare it. Both the Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and Labour Adviser Anwarul Iqbal asked me to announce the pay hike which is not my job," he said.

"It is government's duty to announce and implement pay hike. If it fails to do that the thing may be settled on case to case basis," Parvez added.

Parvez observed that BKMEA president Fazlul Huq's announcement through a press conference of 20 per cent pay hike was not possible in these days when the industry facing tough time due to various reasons.

Fazlul Huq said they were waiting for government decision over the issue.

"The government has to declare the pay hike. It wouldn't be implemented if we (the associations) declare it," he said.

Huq said they did not send the proposal of 20 per cent pay hike except for a a lump sump amount. He would not disclose the figure what they proposed for hike.

Earlier on September 17 Commerce Secretary Firoj Ahmed told newsmen that they had asked the BGMEA and the BKMEA to sit together with labour leaders to sort out the problems.

"This is absolutely an issue of employers and employees--government should not be party to it," he said after a meeting with the leaders of the two owner-exporters' associations on garment sector's compliance issue.

The country's garment workers have been demanding a 20-per cent wage hike since the government had announced a dearness allowance (DA) for the public-sector employees.

In many places, the garment workers staged agitation in support of their demand and also vented their resentment through unruly way, like damaging factories and transport near hand.

In the last one-year prices of almost all commodities have gone up beyond the reach of the common people. Low paid people, especially the garment industry workers, are struggling for their survival in the ever-increasing price hike of essentials. The repeated price hike during the month of Ramzan has mounted their agony.

The government fixed minimum wages at Tk 1662 for garment workers in October 12, 2006 following the massive labour unrest in the RMG industry. But the minimum wages become meager due to the massive price hike of commodities.

DCC polls unlikely this year

Staff Reporter

Election to Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) will not be held this year since the Election Commission (EC) is overburdened with the activities for holding the general elections and upazila polls.

"Holding of Dhaka City Corporation election is not possible this year. It will be held early next year by the elected government," said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain.

In his address to the nation on Saturday, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed announced the dates for general elections and upazila polls but did not mention anything on the overdue DCC poll. The EC was taking preparation for the DCC election for few months.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda is due to announce the election dates to parliamentary, upazila and DCC polls today.

EC sources said the CEC, during his planned press conference today, is likely to explain to journalists the EC's position in this regard.

Talking to journalists, Election Commissioner Shakhawat Hossain said that EC would announce both the schedules for general elections and upazila polls by the first week of November. "Both the schedules will be announced on the same day," he said.

Meanwhile, the EC has expressed its frustration over BNP's demand for suspension or cancellation of the amended Representation of People Order (RPO).

The EC sources, however, said that it would not accept the demand for suspension or cancellation of the amended RPO.

It may be mentioned that the tenure of the DCC has been over in May last year. Election to the over due four city corporations-Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet had been held on August 4. The tenure of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) will end in 2010.

English, Economics, Int'l Relations: DU deptts not to admit madrasha students

DU Correspondent

A fresh rule is allegedly being enacted to prevent admission of the students having madrasah background- education in another three departments at Dhaka University (DU).

Sources said the chairmen of Economics, International Relations and Library Science Departments have taken the initiative.

Chairmen of the three departments have already sent a policy framework to the dean office in this connection. This will be sent to the vice chancellor for final approval within a day or two.

Last year, the students with madrasah background were barred from seeking admission in the department of Mass Communication and Journalism.

Sources said the madrasah students were barred from getting admission in English and Bangla Departments five years back as they had no 200 marks both in English and Bangla in the HSC or equivalent level.

On the other hand, the number of seats for the students passing HSC exam in the humanities group is being reduced every year with an increase in the seats for the students with science and commerce background.

The authorities are even chalking out a plan this year to lowering the number seats in humanities group. The admission committee may finalise the decision in a meeting in this regard today (Monday).

Allegations have it that the authorities didn't pay heed to the protest of two deans of the university against such move.

Chairmen of several departments privately said that only two senior teachers of the university, one each from the science and commerce faculties, have taken initiatives to stop the admission of madrasah students to this highest seat of learning.

When asked, DU Arts Faculty Dean Sadrul Amin said that the students of humanities group have no scope to pursue higher education other than the general universities. "Everybody knows the matter. Even though, it is definitely illogical to diminish the number of seats for the humanities-background students at DU" Amin added.

DMP assures homebound safe journey

Staff Reporter

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has set up some special camps at the transport terminals for ensuring safety and security to the homebound passengers ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

"DMP has already set up some special camps at bus, railway and launch terminals to closely monitor the activities of snatchers and pickpockets. This is aimed at ensuring smooth and safe journey for the homebound passengers ahead of holy Eid-ul-Fitr," DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed told reporters after attending a monthly crime review meeting at the Rajarbagh Police Lines yesterday afternoon.

He said the activities of muggers and robbers increased slightly in August compared to the month of July and the DMP has strengthened its patrols to combat the muggers and robbers.

According to the DMP statistics, some 15 robberies occurred in August against 13 in July, while 36 mugging incidents took place in August against 28 in July.

"Some special teams are working to nab criminals, specially pickpockets, at all the shopping malls and markets. On an average, over 100 muggers were arrested each month in the city," the DMP Commissioner said.

About some sensational crime incidents that occurred recently, he said the DMP had already been able to unearth the mystery of some such incidents, including the killing of garment owner Abdus Salam Babu and the snatching of over Tk 46 lakh from a manager of ACI company.

The DMP Commissioner said the city's law and order situation was under control. The crime rate has decreased as some 30 people were murdered in August while the figure was 33 in July.

About traffic jam, he said the traffic movement is much better this time than the previous Ramzan due to the nonstop duty of the traffic officials despite heavy limitations. "At least, the city dwellers can take their Iftar at home this year instead of on the road."

Asked to comment on the 48-hour deadline given by Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh, the Police Commissioner said they are seriously observing the matter.

On Thursday, a meeting of Hizbut Tahrir at the city's Engineers Institute demanded immediate release of its 10 leaders who were arrested in Rajshahi on September 18 suspected of militancy.

2 arrested for firing on BCL leader: 2 arms recovered

UNB, Dhaka

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Saturday night arrested two people for their alleged involvement in firing on a Chhatra League leader at the city's New Market area.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-2 raided Baddanagar area under Hazaribagh thana and arrested Ahsanul Farid alias Rony, 35, for firing on BCL president of Lalbagh thana unit Sagar Ahmed Shahin.

According to his confessional statement, RAB arrested Mohammad Pappu from his residence at Nawabganj lane at about 9pm.

They also recovered a revolver and pistol used in the firing along with 237 rounds of bullet from the residence of Pappu.

Miscreants shot and injured Sagar Ahmed Shahin in the city's Dhanmondi area on August 27.

Grenade attack case transferred for speedy trial

Court Correspondent

Senior Special Judge of Dhaka Md Azizul Haque transperred the August 21 grenade attack case to Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 of Dhaka from his court and the Tribunal Judge Masdar Hossain yesterday fixed September 24 for charge hearing of the case.

The case was filed for the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on August 21, 2004 that left 23 people dead and about 200 injured.

The other case in connection with this grenade attack was filed for murder and that was earlier transferred to this court for quick trial.

In both cases same 22 people were made accused and 8 of them are still on the run.

Earlier, defence lawyers sought analogous trial of both cases as they thought time would be saved and trial would be smooth if the two cases--one for murder and the other under Explosive Substances Act were tried together.

EC welcomes CA’s speech regarding polls

UNB, Dhaka

The European Commission Sunday welcomed the Chief Adviser's indications about holding the parliamentary and upazila elections and the creation of favourable conditions for the successful conduct of those polls.

"The European Commission encourages all stakeholders to work in a constructive spirit towards those elections," said the Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh in an official reaction on the Chief Adviser's speech Saturday evening. The EC Delegation said the European Commission

confirms that the Commissioner for External Relations, Dr Ferrero-Waldner, will take a decision in the near future on the redeployment of the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) based on the prevailing political and electoral situation.

CNG-runs bus catches fire

Staff Reporter

A CNG-run passenger bus caught fire in the city's Mohakhali area, creating panic among the passengers and commuters yesterday.

Police and witnesses said a CNG-driven passenger bus of Bengal Paribahan was on its way to Motijheel from Gulshan-1 when the fire broke out near the Mohakhali kitchen market at about 4:00pm due to mechanical problem.

This is the fourth such fire incident in as many months in the metropolitan area. However no fatalities were reported in those incidents. The Bengal Paribahan bus was almost destroyed in the blaze yesterday.

The panicked bus passengers desperately got down from the bus. No one was unhurt.

On information, firefighters rushed to the scene and doused the blaze at about 4:30pm with the help of the local people.