The New Nation - Internet Edition

Most tickets go to black market: Homebound passengers facing sufferings

Gloomy faces everywhere as these home-bound
passengers failed to get bus tickets for their respective
destinations from Gabtoli bus terminal yesterday. Photo:
Agencies

Scramble for a berth on the train just for the sake
of enjoying the Eid festival with near and dear ones at home
yesterday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Tens of thousands of homebound people, even after waiting in queues for hours at transport ticket counters in the city yesterday, have failed to procure tickets for celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones at home.

Seeing no hope of getting tickets after long wait, many people returned to their city residences with gloomy faces.

The fortunate ones, who won the battle of buying tickets, had to pay extra to fulfill their hopes to celebrate Eid at village homes. Only a small number of tickets were available from ticket counters while black marketers had a field day.

Many people, including women and children, were seen falling sick during their long wait in front of the ticket counters. Many prudent city dwellers, planning to celebrate Eid with their kith and kin, earlier sent their family members home to avoid such sufferings.

Most of the people gathered in the Gabtali terminal for journey to the southwest parts of the country. In this area main transport was bus, so suffered the most as most of them failed to get tickets for homebound journey.

Rokonuzzaman, a banker, said he had failed to procure a train ticket for himself, "Just to avoid such an usual scenario, I sent my family members to Sylhet a week ago."

At Kamalapur railway station, a Chittagong-bound train passenger Shammi Akhter said her two-year-old son had fainted amid heavy crowd-pressure, but her husband could not manage any ticket despite a long wait in queue.

He said that earlier a man had assured him to provide a ticket at double the cost, "but sensing your (journalist) presence, the black marketer has disappeared in the crowd."

Almost the same picture prevails elsewhere - at Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Sayedabad bus terminals and at Sadarghat launch terminal.

Railway ticket clerks, however, denied the allegation of charging any extra for tickets and of black marketing. "Tickets are being sold at government fixed rates. Law enforcing teams and the railway authority are closely monitoring the situation."

A Barisal-bound launch passenger, Badhan said he was compelled to buy a ticket from a man at Tk 400, more than twice the fixed fare of Tk 184.

The launch passengers were also seen scrambling for a place even at the deck of launch by paying extras for tickets. Vessels with overloaded passengers were seen leaving the Sadarghat launch terminal. Some launches were seen boarding passengers by boat at midstream in the River Buriganga to avoid the patrol teams, terminal sources said.

Rejecting the allegation of extra fare charges, BIWTA secretary Monwar Hossain told the New Nation that there is no scope of taking extra charges from passengers as they monitor the whole situation closely. "Rather, the launch authority sometimes takes less than the fare fixed by the government for each destination."

He said that special launches have begun carrying passengers on 15 routes from September 25 ahead of the Eid festival and such special launches would continue till October 7.

The authorities have also introduced special trains and buses on various routes to make travel easier for the people wishing to celebrate Eid at their village homes.

Khaleda, Hasina talks bleak

Khaleda, Hasina

Pulack Ghatack

The prospect of the much talked about meeting between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina looks bleak, as Awami Leugue (AL) is interested to set highly conflicting agendas before it.

While BNP leaders view such a meeting on an optimistic note and say their chairperson is prepared to discuss anything, AL leaders say the meeting without finalising its agenda would be meaningless.

The enthusiasm for the meeting has been seriously dampened by a stark remark by acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam at its main mediator Barrister Rafiq-ul Haq asking to mind his own business instead of meddling in politics.

Barrister Rafique, who had earlier taken active interest in the proposed meeting, told the New Nation Saturday night that he would be able to speak on it after the return of Sheikh Hasina from abroad.

He said that he knew nothing about the possible agenda about the meeting and added, "I have no personal agenda."

Barrister Rafiq earlier told journalists that both leaders agreed to sit together for a dialogue and neither of them put any conditions.

Quoting Sheikh Hasina he said since she is currently outside the country, she would give a final decision after talking to her party colleagues on her return home.

Asked about the government's interest to bring the two leaders to a dialogue, he said it might be because its 'minus two' policy failed.

About the possible agenda for dialogue he said "For example, they might decide that they will not boycott the parliament from now on, and bring new faces into politics."

But Awami League leaders are saying that they want to talk about trial of war criminals, banning religion in politics, August 21 carnage, emergence of religious extremism etc.

AL presidium member Amir Hosain Amu on Saturday told The New Nation over phone that their party was not aware of any proposed dialogue.

Another presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta said any dialogue without agenda was meaningless. "As the agenda is unknown we cannot say that any dialogue will take place," he added.

"Certainly Awami League will want to discuss to resolve some conflicting issues to build a democratic secular Bangladesh," he replied to a query.

Acting AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam earlier told reporters "If the talks are held on certain national issues, the two leaders can sit together after finalising the agendas and issues by the experts of the two parties."

Adviser of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia Brig Gen (Retd) Hannan Shah on the other hand said, "Our leader is ready to talk on any issue in the interest of the nation."

Asked about conflicting issues set forward by AL leaders he said, "They may have their political agenda. I also have ours. We will not leave our politics and they will also not leave their politics."

However, some in the political circle believe that the there is a little possibility of a dialogue between two top leaders and hence the prospect of the future election may be on uncertainty.

Khaleda has agreed for talks, but the close associates of Hasina are insisting that Khaleda must first apologise for "trying to kill her" and also to the nation for years of misrule.

They were referring to a 2004 grenade attack on Hasina's rally in Dhaka which killed 23 people and wounded over 150. Khaleda was prime minister at the time. This is a tricky condition.

Now they are demanding action against the war criminals. Awami League Presidium Member Abdur Razzak stated that BNP should first make its position clear about militancy, anti-liberation war forces, war criminals and fundamentalist forces before a meeting with Hasina.

The demand of Awami League for action against war criminals is bound to result in political hostility with the BNP.

TIB chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmed said, "Any agenda imposed by the Government will not be effective to resolve the crisis if followers of the leaders are not interested in it."

Political analysts believe the country's decades of never-ending unrest can be blamed in a large part on their refusal to compromise on any national issue.

Analysts also say the differences between the two most important leaders, who represent opposing political legacies, are too deep-rooted to be resolved in a meeting or two.

4-party for scrapping amendments to RPO: 5-pt demand placed for fair polls

4-party leaders holding a meeting at the NAM flat
residence of BNP Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain
on Sunday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The BNP-led four party alliance at a meeting yesterday placed five-point demand to the caretaker government for ensuring a fair, credible and transparent parliamentary elections in the country.

After the meeting of the secretary generals of the four component parties, BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain spoke about the demands to the waiting journalists at his NAM flat .

The demands are withdrawal of the state of emergency, scrapping of amendments of the Representative of People's Ordinance (RPO), reschedule of upazila election dates with a rational gap from the parliamentary polls, withdrawal of all cases against the alliance leaders and activists and setting them free before the Eid-ul-Fitr.

Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Secretary General and Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Member, Central Executive Council of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Abdul Latif Nezami, Secretary General of Islami Oikya Jote (IJO) Barrister Andalib Rahman and Shamim Al Mamoon of BJP and Ahmed Abdul Quader of Khelafat Majlish among others, attended the meeting.

The meeting began at 11:30 am and lasted till 1:30 pm. It was presided over by BNP Secretary General.

Replying to a question on four party alliance's decision on taking part in the election, Khondoker Delwar said, "We'll wait till October 12 for the government response to the demands. Decision will be taken on the basis of the government action."

He, however, said that four party alliance is always in favour of election and will take part in the election. He urged the government to remove the impediments for holding an all-party participatory election.

BNP Secretary General announced that the alliance would hold meetings and rallies across the country on October 12 to realise the demands.

He thanked Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed for assuring the United Nations General Assembly that general elections in Bangladesh would be held on December 18.

"People are looking forward to the elections and we want see that his (CA's) pledge to the world body will be implemented by removing all doubts about the polls," he added.

Police-transport workers clash in Ctg: 10 hurt: People stranded for hours

Police swung into action as attempt to bring order
in traffic movement in the port city led to pitched battles
at an inter-district bus station in which ten people were
injured yesterday. FocusBangla

bdnews24.com, Chittagong

Ten people were injured when and the fought pitched battles at an inter-district bus station in the port city on Sunday, halting bus operations and stranding homebound people.

The police and local people said shortly before midday a patrol police had beaten the driver of a bus of Palki Paribahan after he had tried to drive the bus off the queue at Kadamtala inter-district bus station. The violence erupted when transport workers attacked the police and blocked Kadamtali-New Market road.

The workers alleged that police fired gunshots to disperse them.

Some of the injured have been identified as bus driver Shukkur Miah, worker Babul, police sub- Mujib, constables Musa, Lal Miah, Osman, Morshed and Mintu.

Transport worker Afzal Hossain told bdnews24.com that the police roughed Shukkur up on charges of breaking the queue.

The angry workers also swooped on the police, he said.

Homebound people faced trouble as the buses for Feni, Noakhali, Comilla and Chandpur districts failed to leave the station.

The police were trying to douse the tension on the scene, said Chittagong metropolitan assistant police commissioner Iltutmish.

"We are trying to find the reason behind the clash and will take action if any policeman is found responsible," he said.

On whether the police fired on the angry workers, he said: "We will investigate the matter also."

Deputy commissioner of police Habibur Rahman told bdnews24.com that the police held a meeting with Kadamtali Inter-District Bus Owners' Association.

"We have reached an understanding and the bus movement resumed from 2:30pm," the association's general secretary Md Sharif said.

DMP tightens noose against robbers, thieves during Eid holiday

Staff Reporter

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken special measure to check robbery and theft in houses, shopping malls and markets for seven days during the Eid festival holidays.

"Some 1000 to 1500 policemen would be deployed for 7 days from and after the Eid day. Besides the DMP would set up 100 check-posts. Those check-posts could be set up within 15 minutes to check theft in houses, shopping malls and markets during the time," DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed said while talking to reporters at his office yesterday.

The DMP Commissioner said police have been providing three-phase security on the eve of Eid. A total of 4,500 uniformed police, 14 Detective Branch women teams and 20 civil teams of the Detective Branch, so far, have patrolled the capital under the first phase since the first of Ramzan to check extortion, mugging and other kinds of crimes and will continue till the day before Eid.

Police would be deployed at Eidgahs and cinema halls to avert any kind of sabotage on the Eid day in the second phase, Naim Ahmed said.

Besides, the DMP has arranged coordinated traffic system for the first time for smooth movement of outbound and inbound passengers of the capital ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed said under the new system, DMP officials would stay at different strategic points with wireless set helping dilute traffic congestions.

The DMP Commissioner already sat in a meeting with high police officials of Narayanganj, Gazipur and Dhaka districts to discuss the matter of coordinating traffic system.

He hoped that the new system would help ease vehicular movement through reducing traffic congestions.

He said that the DMP will also deploy police guard in puja mandaps as part of its security measures during Durga puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community.

Birthday celebrated: Withdrawal of cases against Hasina urged

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday said that only AL chief Sheikh Hasina can resolve the national crisis and political deadlock facing the country by her efficient leadership.

He termed Sheikh Hasina as the pioneer of promoting the culture of constructive politics in the country and said she has efficacy to pave the way for the country's transition to democracy. He also demanded withdrawal of all 'false and fabricated' cases filed against Sheikh Hasina. Zillur made this remark while addressing a gathering for special prayers on the occasion of the 62nd birthday of Hasina at her political office in Dhanmondi.

Zillur said, "All the cases filed against Hasina were baseless. The cases were filed with a view to keeping her away from her people and politics. There is no alternative to release her unconditionally to overcome the national crisis."

Syed Ashraful Islam, acting general secretary of AL, informed that the party has already started taking preparations for the parliamentary elections . Sheikh Hasina, now in the US for medical treatment, is expected to return home after Oct 17.

"As a part of taking preparations for the national polls, we have started the process of amending the party's constitution. After the Eid, we will start full-fledged electioneering," he noted.

Ashraful Islam said that Hasina had an appointment with a doctor on Oct 17 and she would probably return home after the check up.

"We are waiting for her return. she will lead the party and the nation after returning home ," he added.

AL Presidium Members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu and Suranjit Sen Gupta, among others, attended the occasion.

All the leaders prayed for Hasina's immediate unconditional release and recovery from illness.

Sheikh Hasina celebrated her birthday at the residence of her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in Washington. The US unit of Awami League also observed her birthday with various programmes, says the party website.

Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) brought out a procession which marched on the different streets on the Dhaka University campus .It also held a rally in front of the Madhur Canteen.

Besides, Secchasebok League Sheikh Rashel kriya parishad celebrated the day amid colorful programmes in the capital as well as across the country.

Extortion case: HC order on Hasina’s bail petition today

UNB, Dhaka

A vacation bench of the High Court delivers its order on Monday upon a pending bail petition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which is crucial for her release and the course of country's pre-election politics.

Comprising Justice Sheik Rezowan Ali and Justice M Rais Uddin, the HC bench held back for five days its order after closing the hearings on the matter on September 24 in the face of vehement opposition from government side to her prayer for bail on health grounds.

The government attorney aired skepticism about Hasina's illness, stating that the Awami League chief makes political statements and attends political functions abroad while on parole for treatment.

"The government needs another medical certificate of her illness," Additional Attorney-General Mansur Habib had told the court on a note of skepticism.

This extortion case was filed by businessman Noor Ali, an AL nomination-seeker for the stalled January 22, 2007 general election, in the wake of a vortex in the political arena following the 1/11 changeover.

If Hasina, now in the United States on parole for treatment, wants release from incarceration on bail through legal process, she needs bail in two more graft cases apart from the pending one, said her one counsel.

The bail petitions for the two other cases involving Niko and Barge-mounted power-plant deals will be filed on Monday with another division bench.

Earlier on September 23, a 2-judge bench comprising Justice AKM Fazlur Rahman and Justice Skeikh Abdul Awal accepted the petitions for hearing, but returned the twin-bail prayers as the bench was devoid of jurisdiction to hear the matters.

Her Awami League party's main demand at the time is her permanent release for election preparation as well as negotiation for a political consensus for transition to democracy from the current interim regime.

US lawmakers reach tentative bailout deal

AP, Washington

Top US policymakers emerged from hours of tense negotiations just after midnight with a tentative agreement on a deal to bail out US financial markets and began working Sunday morning to commit the legislation to paper.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (D., Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D. Nev.) were flanked by key negotiators in the Capitol as they announced that a $700 billion plan to have Treasury buy up toxic assets had been all but finalized after days of exhausting negotiations involving members, staff and representatives from the Bush administration.

"I think we're there," an obviously tired Mr. Paulson said, a sentiment echoed in the statements of negotiators such as House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D., Mass.) and Senate Banking Committee head Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.).

Those present said the bailout plan still needs to be drafted in its final form, a process staff members were expected to continue throughout the night in what one aide called a "marathon drafting session" in Speaker Pelosi's office just off the rotunda in the Capitol building. A formal announcement is scheduled for some time Sunday, though an exact time and location was not immediately available.

A summary of the tentative agreement released by Sen. Pelosi's office said the plan "gives taxpayers an ownership stake and profit-making opportunities with participating companies; puts taxpayers first in line to recover assets if a participating company fails; (and) guarantees taxpayers are repaid in full -- if other protections have not actually produced a profit."

The $700 billion would be available in phases. The first $250 billion will be "immediately available" to the Treasury Secretary, and $100 billion available "upon report to Congress," and $350 billion "available only upon Congressional action," according to a summary from the office of House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R., Mo.), the No. 2 House Republican who was at negotiations.

A summary from Sen. Pelosi's office said the final deal included "cutting in half the administration's initial request for $700 billion and requiring Congressional review for any future commitment of taxpayers' funds."

The Pelosi summary also said the legislation will expand the range of firms that can sell troubled assets to the government to include pension plans, local governments and community banks serving "low- and middle-income families."

A House Democratic aide said the government would be able to receive warrants it could hold until maturity from financial firms on assets received either through auctions or through direct purchases.

The summary also said the legislation would institute new executive compensation requirements for participating companies, including "no multi-million dollar golden parachutes," limits on compensation generally, and the ability to recover "bonuses paid based on promised gains that later turn out to be false or inaccurate."

President George W. Bush spoke with Sen. Pelosi earlier in the evening about the discussions, and the White House welcomed news of the deal. "We're very pleased with the progress tonight and appreciate the extraordinary bipartisan efforts being made to stabilize our financial markets and protect our economy," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

The next step will involve selling the deal to rank-and-file lawmakers, who have been unhappy over signing on to a giant bailout package just weeks before the November elections. Rep. Blunt said that he planned to talk to colleagues and get reactions.

Lawmakers entered a new round of meetings shortly after 7:30 p.m. EDT, with pizzas headed to one office and a platter of cold cuts from sandwich chain Cosi being delivered into the House Speaker's office. By roughly 11:30 p.m., what Reid described as a "breakthrough" came in the form of an idea from Pelosi that was enough to advance talks.

"She took over at the last minute," a House staffer familiar with the talks said Sunday morning. "The last hour-and-a-half she really brought things together and made it possible to reach this point."

Pelosi also apparently found middle ground on a plan to allow the federal government to recoup money for taxpayers if the asset-purchase program isn't making money after a certain amount of time. A House leadership aide said early Sunday morning that details were not immediately available. But the general concept was to provide Congress with a mechanism that would be triggered perhaps within five years to allow lawmakers to offset some, if not all, of the bailout costs.

Offers and counteroffers were flowing back and forth all night. Among the offers extended by Democrats: an agreement to drop a proposal to devote 20% of potential profits to an affordable housing fund, according to a Senate staffer close to the talks.

A House staffer reached after the deal announcement was made confirmed that lawmakers did decide to drop the affordable housing fund proposals, which would have potentially directed billions to state and local governments to fund housing projects.

One of the biggest sticking points involved concerns that executives at troubled financial institutions would wind up benefiting with handsome pay packages as the government took on more risks. But Democrats emerging from the talks said a whole array of issues related to executive pay had been addressed, including issues involving "golden parachutes," the big pay packages that are sometimes awarded to departing executives.

Sen. Dodd told reporters that protections against golden parachute awards had made it into the final deal, along with an insurance component sought by House Republicans as an option for the Treasury to use if necessary and requirements that Treasury seek to mitigate and reduce foreclosures where possible.

Overall, staff said they expanded Treasury's original 2 1/2 page proposal. The agreement will include significant oversight of the asset purchase program, executive compensation restrictions, the potential for equity stakes in firms that participate in the asset-sale program, and other taxpayer protections.

As for foreclosure prevention measures, Pelosi's office said the legislation would allow the Treasury to work with cash-strapped homeowners whose mortgages are purchased by the federal government to refinance into a more affordable mortgage.

Other foreclosure-prevention measures include an extension of the tax holiday for homeowners who face foreclosure, as well as a tax break for community banks that held shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The rescue plan will allow affected banks to take an immediate tax deduction on losses from investments in the two firms, which were taken over by the federal government earlier this month.

It also includes a bipartisan oversight board appointed by members of both parties in Congress, an inspector general to monitor Treasury decisions, and regular audits from the Government Accountability Office. Treasury will also have to post publicly and online transactions made through the troubled asset program. Unlike the original Treasury proposal, which would have given the department legal immunity in the program, the tentative agreement reached Saturday allows for judicial review of Treasury decisions.

Sen. Barack Obama (D. Ill.), the Democratic Party presidential nominee, said the tentative deal appears to embrace key principles he favors: better oversight, the potential for taxpayers to receive profits from the workout, CEO compensation limits and foreclosure protections.

"When taxpayers are asked to take such an extraordinary step because of the irresponsibility of a relative few, it is not a cause for celebration," Obama said in a statement Sunday. "But this step is necessary."

Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, interviewed by ABC's "This Week," said, "This is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with."

In a sign of how sensitive Congress is to market reaction, lawmakers stayed in touch with outside experts during the negotiations, including talking to billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

Khaleda to expand 4-party alliance

Staff Reporter

Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday agreed in principal to expand the four-party alliance after the Eid-ul-Fitr to face the prevailing situation ahead of the general polls.

The positive gesture from the four-party leader came as JAGPA president Shafiul Alam Prodhan and National Peoples Party chairman Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu met her at the residence of journalist Shafik Rehman in the city and proposed to join the four-party alliance.

Begum Zia, however, said that a decision in this regard would be taken at the top leaders' meeting of the alliance after the Eid.

She emphasised the need for forging a greater unity of nationalist forces ahead of the general elections.

After the meeting, Shafiul Alam Prodhan told reporters that he proposed to the BNP chairperson to expand the nationalist forces and she agreed to consider the proposal.

Replying to a question, he said they would be more comfortable in BNP led four-party alliance than in the 14-party alliance.

NPP chairman Shawkat Hossain Nilu said Khaleda Zia is not only chairperson of BNP; she is the leader of the nationalist forces as well as chairman of the nationalist front.

"Begum Zia is expected to lead all the nationalist forces in the upcoming polls," he hoped.

Nilu said they proposed the BNP Chairperson to accommodate them in the 4-party alliance and hoped she would accept them.

BNP office secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed told reporters that party chairperson urged all the nationalist forces to get united ahead of the upcoming general election.

"She (Khaleda) has underlined the importance of unity for restoration of democracy and safeguarding the national integrity and sovereignty," he said.

Meanwhile, leaders of BGMEA, BKMEA, Jatiya Imam Samity, Kazi Samity, Teachers-Students Oikya Jote, Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddah Dal and Khaleda Zia Sangskriti Parishad BNP chairperson's adviser Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, known as reformist, Justice Faysal Mahmud Fayeji, Ismail Hossain Simon, the son of late Col (Retd) Akbar Hossain called on Begum Zia separately.

Later Enam Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters that Begum Zia advised him to forget the past mistakes and work unitedly.

"Confusion in the party has now been removed. Begum Zia has extended her hands of cooperation," he said.

Importance of economic zones stressed

Staff Reporter

Experts at a media briefing session yesterday emphasised the need for planned industrialisation instead of the present disorganised and haphazard manner and focused on the importance of Economic Zones and Special Economic Zones to accelerate the pace of industrialisation

The IFC Bangladesh organised the presentation where IFC Investment Policy Analyst Mustafizul Hye Shakir defined economic zone as a geographically delimited area with a special regime and a single administration that delivers services to zone tenants on a day-to-day basis. He described the benefits of economic zones and success and failure aspects of the special areas.

Senior Programme Manager of IFC BICF Syed Akhter Mahmood, Programme Manager Martin Maxwell Norman and International Expert on Economic Zones Deborah Porte also spoke on the occasion.

At the session participant journalists questioned the necessity of establishing more economic zones and inviting new foreign investments when the government is unable to provide energy, power and other facilities to the existing enterprises.

Syed Akhter Mahmood said the government is not going to stop any further investments due to gas and power crisis. "The government, of course, will find out alternative sources of energy and new investments will come. So, it is a matter whether we want industrialisation on an organised way or not," he said.

The meeting was informed that the Council of Advisers has approve the Economic Zones Ordinance in principle two months back and the final approval will come shortly.