The New Nation - Internet Edition

CEC rebukes Jamaat, IOJ for shifting stance: Party registration rules relaxed

Dr ATM Shamsul Huda

Staff Reporter

In response to the demands of major political parties, the Election Commission (EC) has decided to bring some changes in the recently amended Representation of the People Order (RPO) to ease party registration rules.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda disclosed this yesterday while addressing a press conference at the EC Secretariat in the city.

"A few small amendments will have to be brought to the recently promulgated Representation of the People Order (amendment) Ordinance 2008," he said.

Asked whether the EC would ask the government to lift the emergency before parliamentary elections, he said the Commission would request the government to create a congenial atmosphere for holding a free, fair and credible poll.

The CEC said the ensuing parliamentary elections would be held under all new electoral laws and re-demarcated constituencies.

He said the government would permit the political parties to arrange their party council with some 5000 to 10,000 or more party delegates to amend their party constitutions if they feel it necessary in line with new electoral rules.

"As alternative, the parties may bring a temporary amendment to their constitutions and submit those to the Commission pledging necessary changes that are prerequisites for registration. And the temporary constitution would have to be ratified within six months of the first session of Parliament, the CEC said.

He said loan defaulters would be given opportunity to pay their loans till the day before submission of nomination papers. "Amendments will also be made regarding bill defaulters, housing and agricultural loan takers. The ceiling on election expenses would also be amended," he said.

"There is no scope to bypass the electoral reform programmes," he stressed.

Referring to the legal reforms which were made with consultation of the political parties, professional groups and individuals over the last one and a half years, the CEC said, "The political parties will have to come forward leaving behind petty interests."

"We have done our part. The ball is in the court of the political parties. The political parties will have to play the game," he said.

Replying to a question, Dr Shamsul Huda said the announcement of polling dates by the Chief Adviser proved that the EC and the government want to hold a good election on the basis of consensus.

"I was supposed to declare polling dates. But, when I saw that the CA would address the nation, then, after consultation with him, I told him to declare the specific dates for elections in his address to the nation."

He said the announcement has also assured the people that we are determined to hold elections in December.

The CEC said that there would be no problem to hold upazila elections within seven days after the parliamentary polls. "We have given the date as we know it is possible," he added.

The CEC criticised some political parties, particularly the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) for shifting their earlier stand on electoral reforms.

"Holding talks with BNP and its allies, we are surprised as Jamaat and IOJ opposed the registration. In the earlier two rounds of talks with the EC, they had reached consensus on some issues. But in the third round, they completely changed their tune," he said on a note of resentment.

About Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) polls, he said the Commission has dropped its plans to hold the DCC polls before the parliamentary elections. "We don't want to keep anything in the intervening period," he said.

He said the schedule for the general and upazila elections would be announced after finalising the voter list across the country.

Election Commissioners-Muhammad Sohul Hossain and Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain and EC secretary Muhammad Humayun Kabir were present at the press conference.

Selim released on bail

Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim

Staff Reporter

Awami League leader and former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim was released on bail from BSMMU Hospital yesterday.

Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said, "We removed prison guards from his cabin around midday."

After the withdrawal of guards at noon, Selim claimed that he was innocent of all charges against him.

He demanded that all detained AL leaders and activists, including his cousin and party president Sheikh Hasina, should be freed uncoditionally.

He also demanded lifting of the state of emergency.

AL leaders and activists garlanded the AL presidium member as he stepped out of his cell. Supporters had thronged the BSMMU compound and the adjacent areas from the morning, as they came to know of Selim's impending release.

Selim claimed that all the cases filed against him were "baseless," and added, "I'll be able to prove myself innocent if the trials are held properly under the current legal system."

After leaving the BSMMU, he went to offer flowers at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmondi and then to his Banani residence.

Sheikh Selim was released after securing bail in two cases-one involving charge of extortion and an ACC case on charge of amassing illegal wealth.

The extortion case filed by Azam J Chowdhury names Sheikh Hasina and sister Sheikh Rehana as co-accused.

The ACC filed the graft case against him on April 23. He was arrested from his Banani residence on May 29 last year.

Shoppers crowd market

Eid shopping getting momentum at the city shopping
malls. NN photo

Talha Bin Habib

As Eid-ul- Fitr, the biggest festival of Muslims is only couple of days away, the Eid shopping is picking up with shoppers crowding at the city markets for buying dresses, shoes, cosmetics and ornaments of their choice.

The shopkeepers are wooing customers by displaying different categories of men's, women's and children wear. The buyers and sellers have blamed price hike for putting a dent to some extent on their Eid festivity.

Punjabi is on top of the demands for male while the sari for female customers as usual for celebration of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

"This year the prices of dresses are higher compared to the previous year, " said a housewife at New Market. She said that the sari, which cost Tk 500 to Tk 700 last year, is now selling between Tk 1000 and 14000.

Traders at the different markets admitted the price hike of some particular sari and three pieces due to the increase in import tax and devaluation of taka.

They said the prices of local varieties of sari have also slightly increased this year.

Many traders at different markets said they have imported different types of clothes to meet the growing demand of the customers. But the prices of different wear including sari and three pieces for women and young girl are very high.

Shopkeepers at Eastern Plaza said the sari with the handiwork, chiffon, multi handi work (Italian craft), green silk, catbarry silk, pashmina are popular with the richer section of people.

The long cut women's wear with rainbow shades are also there in the shopkeeper's selection. Salwar Kameej named after Indian films has become the craze among the girls.

The shops at Mouchak, Polwell, Gazi Bhaban, Gauchai , New Market, Elephant Road , Karnafuli Garden City and Concord Twin Tower markets are also selling both local and imported women's and girl's wears.

Muslim Aid Shop, a London based social welfare organisation, is selling different types of Sari, three pieces, fatwa, block boutique at competitive prices at Rangs Anam Plaza in the city for economic benefit of the poor women, who produced these items.

On the other hand some boutique houses and posh outlets like Mantra, Grameen Check, Banglar Mela are also selling sari, fatwa and three pieces.

Boutique houses are selling different qualities of three pieces ranging from Tk 500 and Tk 10,000 and fatwa (women) are being sold between Tk 150 to Tk 1500.

Different types of imported and locally produced sari were selling at prices ranging from Tk Tk 2500 and 80,000 at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex

The multi- designed three pieces for the young girls have drawn a favourable response from the customers.

The customers can pick various designs of the three- pieces collected at a cost between Tk 2500 and Tk 12,000.

The children wears such as gypsy, jeans pant, anarkali, three quarter pant, baba set, block tea shirt and frog are selling between Tk 150 and Tk 800 at different markets in the city.

Pir Yameni market, at Zero Point, a popular shopping centre for Punjabi and Pajama for men , is saw abuzz with hundreds of customers. The prices of Punjabis varying from Tk 550 to Tk 1500.

" Fatuas, for men, is also on the top of the sales chart this year," Md Kashru, a trader of the market.

Khaleda pledges party ticket to honest candidates

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia exchanging views
with the Mahila Dal leaders at Eskaton in the city on
Monday. FocusBangla

UNB, Dhaka

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has pledged for giving party ticket to honest and efficient candidates for contesting the December 18 election.

She also advised the components of the 4-party alliance to take all out preparations to take part in the upcoming polls.

The advice from the BNP chief came when groups of retired army officials, Islami Oikya Jote, Mahila Dal, former MPs, Jubo Dal, JCD and Jatiyatabadi Sangkritik Sangathon met with her separately at an Eskaton house yesterday afternoon.

Some 15 former army officers led by Col (rtd) Abdul Khaleq Howlader meeting with Khaleda discussed about the upcoming election.

"I'm against corruption. Honest, efficient and popular candidates will be nominated to contest the election," Maj (rtd) Mohammad Hanif quoted Khaleda to have told them.

Talking to UNB Hanif said that Khaleda Zia also told them that a deep rooted conspiracy was on to undermine the country's armed forces. But they are the pride of the nation and their image must be protected.

IOJ leader Maulana Mohiuddin Khan said the BNP chairperson told him that alliance would take part in the ensuing election. All components of the 4-party alliance should go for all out preparations from now to contest the polls.

Mahila Dal secretary of Dhaka City Shirin Sultana said the chairperson asked the party rank and file to forge solid unity and prepare for the election in their respective constituencies. Those left out of the voter list should get included in the list.

Later, BNP office secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi briefing the discussions with different groups to newsmen said Khaleda Zia congratulated the government for announcing the date for general election.

However, she urged the government to defer the upazila polls on 'logical ground'. It may give rise to doubt about holding of general election if the upazila polls, set for within a week on December 24 and 28, are not deferred.

Rizvi further said that the chairperson advised all the party workers and leaders to work from their respective positions keeping in view the ensuing poll.

Earlier, BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain, vice-president Rabeya Bhuiyan, joint secretaries general Selima Rahman and Nazrul Islam Khan met with the chairperson.

Only 171 cos out of 73,000 listed with stocks

Staff Reporter

Only 271 listed companies out of 73,000 have been engaged in trading at share market, Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) official yesterday informed the National Board for Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdul Mazid while the latter visited the DSE office yesterday.

"A total of 271 companies have been engaged in trading at share market. The contribution of the companies was 28 percent from national revenue collection in 2007-08," a DSE official said adding, "If we are able to bring the companies in the share market, it will be possible to increase the government revenue generation three to four time higher."

He said that the DSE listed companies paid Tk 16.32 crore to the NBR. It would be increased over Tk 20 crore, he hoped.

DSE officials called upon the NBR Chairman to reduce income tax from the DSE listed companies.

They admitted that the broker houses expenditure reduced through introduction of automated trading system.

"But the generation of income is not increasing at the same time as the competition between the companies," they said.

Following the demand to reduce the income tax from the DSE listed companies, NBR Chairman Abdul Mazid said the NBR will revise the matter.

He advised the DSE officials to place problems and demands to NBR through formation of a committee.

Later, the NBR Chairman visited two brokerage houses. DSE Chief Executive Officer Salauddin Ahmed, Senior Vice President Saiful Islam and Ahmed Latif Lali, International Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, Vice President Sharif Ataur Rahman, Directors Md Abdullah Bokhari, Md Rakibur Rahman, Shahed Abdul Malek, Md Hanif Bhuyan, Lailur Nahar Akram and Masudul Hoq, accompanied the NBR Chairman.

Jamaat condemns CEC’s sarcastic comment

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh strongly condemned the "sarcastic" comment on Jamaat and Islami Oikya Jote made by Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda for what the CEC called changing their tune about electoral reforms.

Talking to journalists yesterday, Dr Huda said, "Oh Allah! What I heard during this holy Ramadan-they made an about-turn from the dialogue."

Acting Jamaat secretary general Mohammad Qamaruzzaman in a statement said such a remark by the CEC who holds a constitutional post is not only unbecoming of him but also indecorous.

"We got surprised about his unguarded comment about Jamaat-e-Islami," he said.

Referring to the dialogue held with the Election Commission, the Jamaat leader said, "We have always made categorical statements on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami during first two rounds of talks with the Commission.

"We had said that the conditions for registration of political parties have to be eased since the matter is new relating to political party registration, to ensure that no political party is left out from elections on the plea of registration."

But the Election Commission prepared registration rules and regulations incorporating many tough terms and conditions, "ignoring our advice", the Jamaat leader said.

So, he noted, they raised their voice during the third-round dialogue with the commission that the registration would not be possible for any political party during the timeframe.

"Under the circumstances, we think that there is no need of any mandatory rules for the registration of political parties to participate in the elections," he said, adding that Jamaat did never oppose in principle the registration of political parties.

Former ruling-party BNP and its two allies-Jamaat and IOJ-at their separate dialogue with the EC a few days made a strong plea that the revised RPO be put in abeyance and the December polls be held under the old electoral law.

And the CEC made a dig at the two Islamic parties for, he said, backtracking on their previous position on the electoral reforms in the interim period.

2 new police stations to be inaugurated in city today

Staff Reporter

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said the city would get two more police stations-Darus Salam and Kadamtoli today.

"Setting up of new police stations means bringing people nearer to police. As the jurisdiction of police stations become smaller in area the local people will be benefited."

Additional Commissioner of Police Masudur Rahman told The New Nation, "The IGP will inaugurate Darus Salam Police Station at 10:00am and Kadamtoli Police Station at noon today."

He pointed out that Dhaka Metropolitan Police began its journey with just 12 police stations and 6,000 law enforcers on February 1, 1976. At present 33 stations are operating in the city.

Masudur Rahman said six more police stations have been approved.

"These six will be inaugurated soon, to bring the number of Police Stations in the capital to 41," he said.

Meanwhile, IG Nur Mohammad had complained earlier in the day that the proposed new police ordinance is yet to be enacted due to lack of political will.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Anticorruption Commission Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, the police chief said, "I have been raising my voice to help strengthen and straighten the police force for two years."

"But the police ordinance is not being enacted," he complained.

"Give the nation's police force a chance to be better by enforcing reforms," he urged the government.

"The Bangladesh police is not capable of being a strong force with the facilities it is currently provided with," said the IGP.

Extortion case: HC hearing on Hasina’s bail prayer tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

Hearing on the bail petition made in the High Court by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case filed by businessman Noor Ali will take place tomorrow.

A vacation bench of the High Court comprising Justice Sheik Rezowan Ali and Justice M Rais Uddin fixed the date, updating the cause list as Hasina's counsel Barrister Fazle Noor Tapas prayed for it.

On July 30 last year, Hasina was shown arrested in a Tk 5-crore extortion case filed over a decade-old power-plant deal by the managing director of Unique Group of companies on June 13.

Noor Ali accused Hasina, her cousin and former Awami League MP Sheikh Helal and his wife Rupa Chowdhury of taking Tk 5 crore in bribe for allowing his company to set up a power plant. According to the prosecution, the investigation of the case is on.

Meanwhile, two more petitions seeking bail in the remaining two other graft cases faced by Hasina involving gas-exploration contract with Canadian company Niko and barge-mounted power plant deal were filed today (Monday) with another bench of Justice AKM Fazlur Rahman and Sheikh Abdul Awal.

The two bail petitions will come up on the cause list on Wednesday, court sources said.

As Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on parole for treatment, needs bail in these three cases for her release from incarceration since July 16 last year through legal process, the counsel for Hasina took the last-ditch initiative.

Rajuk to turn 6168 acres of land into residential area

BSS, Dhaka

A Rajuk plan is underway to turn acres of lands of the city's suburb areas into residential character with the provision of basic needs in a bid to keep Dhaka City livable in the near future in the face of massive urbanization pressure.

Under the plan, location-9 having 6167.91 acres of lands have been selected as implementation areas. The location-9, with 18 mouzas, is broadly demarcated from the north by the Tongi Khal, from the east by the Balu River, from the south by the proposed purbanchal road and from the west by the Uttar Khan and Dakshin Mouzas.

This was suggested at a draft final report on 'RAJUK Detailed Area Plan (DAP), prepared by Goni Bangla Limited in close support of Prof Dr Golam Rahman. The draft report is the fourth of the series of reports to be submitted under the DAP for location-9.

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) is taking the initiative under a 20-year (1995-2015) project titled 'Preparation of Detailed Area Plan for Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMPD) with the joint financial assistance of the government and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

DAP Project Director Deputy Secretary Tapan Kumar Nath told BSS yesterday that in view of increased population growth and demand for residential area, a vast amount of potential areas in the capital will be developed as residential areas with provision of basic services including commercial and garment industries.

The draft recommended reserving about one third of the total land of the location-9 for urban agriculture, one-third area for retention ponds and the rest one third for urban development.

The draft report said that some private developers are developing by earth filling in some areas in the location-9 low- lying and flood flow areas including some existing khals and retention ponds in the capital without considering future drainage and water logging problems of the flood prone areas which should be stopped.

Quoting a survey, the draft report said, at present the population of location-9 area stood at 69,068 and it will touch only at 80,000 by next seven years due to lack of development in the potential areas.

It strongly suggested controlling and monitoring the activities of the developers and said, the DMPD project would not only guide them to develop the area in a planned manner but also usher in a hope in meeting needs of residential areas of increased populace.

According to the final draft report, the detailed area plan will have different facilities like educational institutions, Open Park, neighbourhood, community centre, healthcare, market and graveyard.

DSE hits new record of Taka 1 trillion trading

Staff Reporter

Bouncing back from last week's negative trend the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday hit a new record of market capitalisation, crossing Tk 1.0 trillion-mark being backed by the debut trading of First Security Bank with market capitalisation of Tk 2.3 billion.

The market capitalisation rose to Tk 1.009 trillion yesterday from last day's Tk 995 billion. The previous highest record of market capitalisation was Tk 999 billion on September 10 this year. The increased capitalisation helped the DSE continue its uptrend for the second consecutive day.

The DSE General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, rose 9 points or 0.32 per cent to close at 2,866 points Monday from 2,857 points Sunday while the All Shares Price Index (DSI) increased 6 points or 0.25 per cent to close at 2,418 points.

The DSE-20 index of selective shares, however, shed 4 points or 0.16 per cent to close at 2,375 points. Of the total 226 issues traded on the day, 93 gained, 120 declined and 13 remained unchanged.

The day's total turnover dropped to Tk 4.01 billion from Sundays Tk 4.34 billion.

The First Security Bank emerged as one of the top turnover leaders both in terms of value and volume while the stock registered as the top gainer of the day, yielding Tk 93.25 per share of Tk 100 each. The share was traded at a range between Tk 185 and Tk 208 per share on the day.

Titas Gas, GRAMEENS2, First Security Bank, AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, ACI, Summit Power, ICB 2nd NRB, Beximco Pharma, BEXIMCO and Prime Finance were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, GRAMEENS2, Beximco Pharma, First Security Bank, BD Online, Titas Gas, Grameen 1, Keya Cosmetics, ICB 2nd NRB and BEXIMCO.

Top gainers of the day were First Security Bank, Glaxo Smith, Shajib Knit, Summit Power, Mithun Knit, Saleh Carpet, East Land, Pragati Life Insurance, Apex Foods and Hakkani Pulp and Paper.

Top losers were SAFKO Spinning, Bionic Food, Desh Garments, BCIL, Agni Systems Limited, Meghna Pet, BD Welding, ICB AMCL 1st, Fuwang Food and PharmAid.