The New Nation - Internet Edition

'CA's participation at UNGA brightens country's image'

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed's participation at the 63rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has brightened Bangladesh image before the international community.

The Chief Adviser, in his weeklong visit to New York, USA, has clearly upheld country's firm stand for democracy, peace, food security and fight against hunger, poverty, and meeting the challenges of climate change, different deadly diseases including malaria and menace of terrorism at its all forms and manifestations.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, leaders of the international community and expatriate Bangladeshis appreciated Dhaka's active participation in different forums of the UN as a leader of the least developed countries.

They also praised Dr Fakhruddin and his caretaker government for announcement of a specific date of the general elections on December 18 in the country and implementation reform measures during last twenty one months for national development.

Ban Ki-moon praised the speech of Dr Fakhruddin at the roundtable on 'Africa's development' for covering almost all 'major issues of the continent'. While meeting the Chief Adviser on the sideline of the UNGA at his office in UN headquarters the UN Secretary General said that he was looking forward to visit Bangladesh in November next, when Dhaka could seize the opportunity to bolster its ties with the UN and its different bodies for the overall development of the country.

Ban Ki-moon commended the role of Bangladesh armed forces in the UN peacekeeping missions in Africa and other parts of the world.

While talking to this correspondent in New York, the expatriate Bangladeshis expressed their strong support to government's anti- corruption drive and reforms measures and hoped the next elected leadership would continue it as well. They also appreciated the announcement of the date of the general elections, which they described as a landmark along the path of democracy.

During his busy schedule, Dr Fakhruddin addressed the plenary of the UNGA, intervened the roundtables on food crisis, malaria eradication and development needs of Africa.

He attended receptions hosted separately by UNSG Ban Ki-moon and Mrs Ban Soon-taek and US President George Bush and Laura Bush.

Dr Fakhruddin exchanged views with the expatriate Bangladeshi community at a civic reception given in his honour and interacted with the New York based Bangladeshi journalists.

On the sidelines, the Chief Adviser also met Prime Minister of Kuwait and Nepal while Executive Director of UNFPA also called on him. During his meeting with Kuwaiti Prime Minister, the Gulf state assured him of financial support for the construction of the Padma Bridge.

During his interaction with expatriate Bangladeshis and New York based journalists, the Chief Adviser gave answers to a number of questions raised by them regarding country's politics, institutional reforms, development, transition to democracy and investment opportunities.

He gave a clear overview of the governments efforts Especially the successful completion of the huge task of the preparation of voter list with photograph, success in raising the food production against two consecutive floods and hurricane Sidr riding on the resilience of the common masses, and improvement in law and order across the country.

The CA was accompanied by Neena Ahmed, foreign adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Press Secretary to the CA Syed Fahim.

Dhaka to support UN reforms Dhaka to support UN reforms- Dr Iftekhar

BSS, New York

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) president Dr Miguel D'Escoto Brockman that Bangladesh would actively support the reforms of the United Nations so that the organization matches the 'aspirations of the developing nation'.

This was stated by the foreign adviser when he called on the president of the 63rd UNGA at the latter's office here on Friday morning, a foreign ministry press release said on Saturday.

The UNGA president praised Bangladesh's role at the United Nations and said that he looked forward to working closely with the country during his term of office.

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury extended 'a very warm' invitation to the president to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

President exchanges Eid greetings at Bangabhaban

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife Professor Dr Anwara Begum on Thuresday exchanged greetings with diplomats, officials and distinguished personalities at the Bangabhaban on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

Dean of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries and chiefs of international agencies attended a reception arranged for them at 9.30a.m.

Later, Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, advisers, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, judges of the Supreme Court, former advisers, ministers and members of parliament, leaders of different political parties, chiefs of three services, vice chancellors of public and private universities, educationists, secretaries, recipients of national awards, editors and senior journalists, writers, poets, litterateurs, representatives of business community, religious personalities, artistes, high civil and military officials and retired officials attended another reception.

Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Professor Dr Anwara Begum welcomed the guests at the Bagabhaban. They exchanged greetings with the guests and wished them a happy future.

Secretary of the President's Office Md Sirajul Islam,

Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohammad Ruhul Amin and the President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Hawlader were present on the occasion.

FF dead

BSS, Dhaka

Veteran freedom fighter and a former joint secretary of the government Alhaj M Sajjad Hossain died of a cardiac arrest at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital here on Thursday family sources said. He was 59.

He left behind his wife, one son and a host of relatives and wellwishers to mourn his death.

He was buried at his family graveyard in Domar upazila in Nilphamari with state honour.

Special RAB teams from Oct 5 on Durga Puja

BSS, Dhaka

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will deploy a number of special teams in the city from October 5 (Sunday) on the occasion of the upcoming Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu community.

RAB sources said the security measures would continue till the end of Puja on October 9.

Death condoled

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) condoled the death of Zubaida Belim, mother of national cricket team opening batsman Javed Omar Belim.

BCB also conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

Zubaida Belim died here on Wednesday at the age of 70, a BCB press release said.

Harkatul commander arrested in Joypurhat

BSS, Joypurhat

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a most wanted regional commander of outlawed militant organisation Harkatul Jihad from Durgapur Bazaar under Sadar Upazila in Joypurhat on Tuesday night, RAB and Police sources said.

The arrested militant, prime charge-sheeted accused in militant attacks on a Joypurhat NGO, and illegal arms and explosive cases, was identified as Abu Zaher, 28, of village Paschim Paturia under Sadar upazila of Joypurhat.

The sources said Abu Zaher and his gang attacked Joypurhat office of Jatiya Samaj Kallyan Sangstha (JSKS) in 2001, opened several rounds of gunfire and seriously injured executive director of the NGO Nurul Amin. Later, some of his accomplices were arrested. The law-enforcers seized huge explosives and arms.

Police submitted charge sheets against the militants to the court after investigations.

The elite force led by Major Shah Ali, on a tip-off, arrested Abu Zaher.

Later, the RAB handed over the regional commander of the militant organisation to Joypurhat Sadar thana police on Wednesday, the sources said Thursday evening.

RAB official killed in road mishap

BSS, Dhaka

One official of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was killed and five others were injured, two of them critically, in a road crash in Thakurgaon, officials said.

"A BDR havildar, Mohammad Asaduzzaman, who was on deputation in RAB, died instantly while other RAB officials were sent to Dhaka in an Air Force helicopter with critical injuries," Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Mia Abdullah Mamun told BSS by telephone.

RAB officials in Dhaka conformed the incident saying the accident took place as a pickup van carrying them from Panchagarh to Dinajpur fell into the roadside ditch in Bhulli area of the highway.

They said assistant sub-inspector belonging to Police Selim Reza and lance naik Mohammad Majedul Islam who came from Ansar force were brought to Dhaka in the helicopter to be treated for their serious injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Three other injured RAB soldiers were treated at local facilities while the driver of the pickup and another RAB soldiers were traumatised though they evaded the physical injury, they said.