The New Nation - Internet Edition

Warrants against Saifur, Mujahid: Khaleda, 4 others asked to appear before court on Oct 12

M Saifur Rahman and Mujahid

Court Correspondent

Senior Metropolitan Special Judge of Dhaka yesterday issued warrants of arrest against nine accuseds including former ministers M Saifur Rahman, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Barrister Aminul Haq and former State Minister for Energy A K M Mosharraf Hossain in the Barapukuria Coal Mine graft case.

Other five absconding accuseds are: former acting secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Nazrul Islam, former Petrobangla Chairman SR Osmani, former Petrobangla Director Mainul Ahsan, former Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited (BCMCL) Sirajul Islam and Hosaf Group Chairman Moazzem Hossain.

Dhaka's Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Azizul Hoque also ordered submission of report on arrest to the court by October 12. Following the order two accuseds of the case, former Ministers detained Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and detained Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, will be produced before the court while other five ministers who have meanwhile been granted bail will have to appear before the court on the next scheduled date.

They are former Premier Khaleda Zia, former Ministers Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, M K Anwar, M Shamsul Islam and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

It has been learnt that Jamaat's Secretary General and former minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid had been granted bail in this case from the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. But following that bail order necessary action was not completed in the concerned lower court.

Meanwhile, warrant orders have been sent to the respective police stations for quick execution. Before that, some media people were perhaps, eager to know whether the orders of arrest were duly despatched.

ACC's investigation officer (IO) Abul Kashem Fakir submitted the charge sheet against the 16 accuseds to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka on Sunday in the evening. The case has been sent to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court yesterday in the afternoon.

The case was filed with Shahbagh Police Station of the city on February 26 this year accusing the former ministers and bureaucrats of irregularities and corruption in awarding the production, management and maintenance work of Barapukuria Coal Mine to a Chinese firm. The charge sheet says, the contract with the Chinese firm consortium of China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) caused loss of about Taka 159 crore to the national exchequer.

EC warning to would be poll candidates: Erase wall graffiti by Oct 15

ATM Shamsul Huda

Postering by the prospective electoral candidates of
BNP-Awami League with their photographs as Eid greetings on
the walls of different establishments in the city.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday asked the intending candidates of the forthcoming elections to remove colourful posters, banners and wall writings by October 15; otherwise their candidatures would be cancelled.

"The multi-colour posters pasted across the country in the name of exchanging Eid greetings are not acceptable," Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said while briefing reporters at the EC Secretariat in the city.

He said EC officials would start taking photographs of these colourful posters from October 16 using sophisticated cameras and apply as a criterion for canceling candidature during scrutiny of the nomination papers.

Terming the colorful posters of greetings unwanted and violation of electoral rules, the CEC said the exchange of Eid greetings by pasting posters is not a normal behaviour.

The EC yesterday issued official notice to the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, District Election Officers, Upazila Nirbahi Officers and Upazila Election Officers concerned to take steps in this regard. Replying to a question, Dr Huda said there is no scope for withdrawing the revised Representation of People Order (RPO) as it was made after discussion with all stakeholders through staggered dialogues on electoral reforms. On party registration, he said the parties would have to submit their provisional party constitutions to the Commission for getting registered within October 15 with a pledge to ratify their constitutions within six months of the first session of parliament after the polls.

He said the Commission would formulate an election monitoring team by appointing two election monitoring officers in each district for scrutiny of the candidate's nomination papers competently and rapidly.

The monitoring officers will monitor the election during the voting day and inform the officials concerned about any violation of the electoral rules, he said. The CEC said the commission would officially disseminate the information of the contesting candidates provided in their affidavits for public and media publication.

He said the EC reserves the right to cancel candidature if a candidate is found guilty of breaches by the electoral inquiry committee.

Election Commissioners-M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain were present at the briefing.

Kashmiris fighting India are terrorists: Zardari: Protests in Srinagar: Pak President’s effigy burnt

Asif Ali Zardari

Agency, Srinagar

A group of Muslim protesters in Indian-administered Kashmir has defied a curfew to denounce Pakistani President Asif Zardari and burn his effigy.

Zardari has provoked outrage after being reported as saying that Islamic militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir were "terrorists".

Leading Kashmir separatists have also denounced Zardari.

Pakistan has supported anti-Indian militants and fought two wars with India over Kashmir.

Many Kashmiris and Pakistanis regard militant groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir as freedom fighters. Zardari made his controversial reference to them as "terrorists" in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Protesters took to the streets of the town of Baramullah on Monday, close to the Line of Control that separates Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, despite a curfew imposed by Indian security forces in Muslim-majority areas of the Kashmir Valley.

The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says it is the first time that a Pakistani leader's effigy has been burnt in Indian-administered Kashmir where anti-India protests have often been marked by pro-Pakistan slogans. Prominent politicians fighting for an end to Indian rule in Kashmir joined in the condemnation of Zardari. Syed Ali Shah Geelani told the BBC that "Zardari has made these remarks to please the Americans".

"Zardari fears India and would do anything to please that country even at the cost of Pakistan's dignity," Geelani said. "Kashmiri youths have been fighting for a just cause."

India maintains a huge security presence in Kashmir and the military and police, as well as the militants, have frequently been accused of human rights abuses.

"In reality," Gilani said, "the people of Kashmir have been victims of state terrorism."

In Pakistan itself, Information Minister Sherry Rehman of Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) sought to clarify Zardari's comments.

"The president has made it very clear that the just cause of Kashmir and its struggle for self-determination has been a consistent central position of the PPP for 40 years now," she told the BBC Urdu service.

"There is no change in that policy. He has never called the legitimate aspirations of Kashmiris an expression of terrorism, nor has he undermined the sufferings of the Kashmiri people."

However she offered no explicit support for the use of violence to oust Indian forces from Kashmir.

Pakistan and India have fought three fully-fledged wars since independence in 1947. They came close to another war in 2002 after militants stormed the Indian parliament in Delhi in December, 2001.

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Pakistan's powerful military has long-defined India as a threat to Pakistan's existence and in the past it has given covert backing to the militants in Kashmir.

But Zardari told the Wall Street Journal that "India has never been a threat to Pakistan" and that "I, for one, and our democratic government is not scared of Indian influence abroad."

He also said that Pakistan had to develop strong economic ties with India. "There is no other economic survival for nations like us. We have to trade with our neighbours first."

He also appeared to acknowledge that his government had given consent to US air strikes in Pakistan.

Pakistan and India took part in a faltering peace process under the former President Pervez Musharraf.

But suspicions always ran deep, and relations have soured recently.

Our Islamabad correspondent says Zardari's comments mark a radical break with the past.

More reaction is expected in Pakistan after the country returns to normal working following the Eid festival holiday.

Automation of Ctg Customs House launched: Structural reform to ensure better business, says CA

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said his government has taken initiatives for macro-economic and structural reforms to ensure a better business and investment climate in the country.

"The present caretaker government has formulated time-befitting plans for attaining capability to survive in the huge competition of globalization and achieving economic stability, aiming to ensure an improved atmosphere of business and investment apart from establishing good governance in all spheres of society," he said.

The head of the caretaker government said this while formally inaugurating the Automation Activities of Chittagong Customs House to accelerate domestic and international trading through easier delivery and quicker online services.

This automation is expected to help give a boost to government revenue collection apart from ensuring transparency and accountability in customs and revenue administration.

Dr Fakhruddin said the automation of Chittagong Customs House is part of the continuation of reform activities of the present government which will remain as a unique example in the development process under public-private partnership initiative.

He hoped that the country's other customs houses will be quickly brought under automation programme.

The CA said the government is always ready for the involvement and participation of the private sector in large extent in the government initiatives of formulation of policy guidelines and reform activities. The automation of the Customs House Chittagong is a public-private joint initiative taken under direct cooperation of the Bangladesh Army.

The function was told that a task force of the Bangladesh Army in cooperation with some government and private organizations, including 24 Infantry Division of the Army, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry implemented the automation project of the Chittagong Customs House in only eight months since February 11, 2008 without government finance.

The project cost has so far involved only Tk 1.87 crore of which Tk 1 core for software development and 87 lakh for infrastructure. A local software company, Data Soft, set up the automation system.

It was informed at the function that projects involving over Tk 250 crore had been taken on various occasions in the past for automation of customs houses but those were not implemented ultimately.

According to a multimedia presentation displayed at the function, with the automation of the Chittagong Customs House, the previous complicated and lengthy 42-step customs process for goods is gone and now it would be done with only five steps which will help double the revenue income by 2010 and reduce business cost by at least by 70 percent.

Chief Coordinator of Chittagong Customs House Automation Project Brig Gen M Hasan Nasir presented the multimedia power point presentation on Automation of Chittagong Customs House.

The Chief Adviser formally opened the automation activities of the Customs House by clicking computer at online submission of a bill entry.

Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman, Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed, President of CCCI Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, GOC of 24 Infantry Division and Chittagong Area Commander Maj Gen M Shamim Chowdhury, NBR Chairman M Abdul Majid and chief executive of Data Soft Manjur Mahmud also spoke at the inaugural function held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center organized by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Country's business leaders, including the leaders of FBCCI, DCCI and CCCI, business entrepreneurs, high civil and military officials and distinguished personalities were present at the function.

REB awaits funds for supplying power: Govt indecision to affect Boro output

Shamim Jahangir

The Boro production across the country is likely to be affected this year due to the delay in providing electricity to new irrigation lines during the season, Rural Electrification Board (REB) sources said.

In view of the Boro season beginning on October 15, the REB, responsible for supplying power to the irrigation lines in the rural areas, wrote several letters to the Power Ministry for a decision in this regard.

"The normal demand for electricity is 1,850 MW in the rural area. It will cross 2,650 MW during the irrigation period," the source said.

"REB provided electricity to 2,09,097 farmers last year for irrigation purpose, of them, 27,000 were new users, which is likely to cross 35,000 as the diesel price has been raised this year," according to a REB official.

"We need Tk 196 crore to supply electricity to 35,000 new subscribers this year. Of the amount, Tk 157 crore will account for the purchase of 45,000 transformers, Tk 17 crore for 35,000 consumption reading metres and Tk 22 crore for 32,000 kilometres of service cables," the source informed.

"If the government fails to allocate the fund immediately and the decision for supplying the electricity is delayed, the farmers will face severe problem in irrigation this year," a high official of REB told the New Nation.

The Boro production target has been fixed at 196.14 lakh tonnes from 46.75 lakh hectares.

Stock markets plunge: US bailout fails to alleviate fears

Staff Reporter

Stock markets around the world experienced sharp fall yesterday after Wall Street finished Friday's volatile session in negative territory.

Reports from across the world shows that most of the bourses plunged drastically breaking previous records. Some of the stock markets were forced to suspend trading as the fall continued. The key share indexes in the UK, France and Germany had all fallen by more than 5% by early afternoon.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange, prime bourse of Bangladesh, also witnessed a sharp fall pushing down the DSE General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, dropping 73 points or over 2.0 per cent to close at 2,928 points from 3,001 points on Sunday.

The US stock markets fell sharply on Friday after the Congress passed a huge financial rescue plan, as optimism that built up earlier in the day evaporated in late trading.

At the close on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had fallen 157.47 points, or 1.50 per cent, to end at 10,325.38, capping a horrid week that saw blue chips slide more than seven per cent.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq slumped 15.05 points, or 1.48 per cent, to 1,947.39 and the broad-market Standard & Poor's 500 index shed 1.35 per cent, or 15.05 points, to 1,099.23.

Britain's benchmark stock index, the FTSE 100, lost 220.11 to 4,760.14 - a 4.42 percent fall. The declines were led by the banking industry, with the mining and oil industries also suffering drops. HBOS PLC's share price dropped 15.7 percent, while the Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC fell 13.6 percent.

Germany's DAX index fell 4.22 percent to 5,552.27. France's CAC-40 index dropped 4.85 percent to 3,882.81. In Russia, the RTS stock index tumbled more than 7 percent in first 20 minutes of trading.

The South Korean market plunged on Monday, extending its losses for the sixth consecutive trading session. Stocks lost ground as a U.S. rescue plan failed to restore investor confidence in markets around the globe. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index or KOSPI tumbled 60.9 points, or 4.29%, to finish the session at 1,358.75, its lowest level since January 2007.

Trading was suspended on Russia's main stock markets twice Monday as shares went into free fall on the back of falling oil prices and deepening fears about the global economy.

Japan's stock market has fallen to its lowest level in more than four years on growing worries about a global economic slump caused by the U.S. financial crisis.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 465.05 points, or 4.25 percent, to close Monday at 10,473.09.

The Australian stock market closed at its lowest level in almost three years on Monday, extending losses for a third straight trading session. Stocks fell across the board after Wall Street finished Friday's volatile session sharply lower amid fears that the U.S. government's financial rescue plan may not avert a recession in the world's largest economy. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 155 points or 3.3% at 4,540.4 and the broader All Ordinaries index shed 158.1 points or 3.4% to finish at 4,544.7.

The Swiss Stock Exchange opened with a 3.7 per cent drop in early trading on Monday as uncertainty continued over the state of global financial markets.

Within the first 15 minutes of trading, the Swiss Market Index (SMI) of 20 leading companies had dropped to 6625.82 points. The country's largest bank, UBS, recorded the sharpest tumble - ten per cent - before regaining two per cent.

Turkish stocks dropped nearly 9 percent and the lira weakened almost 4 percent on Monday as global worries grow with the fear of extending to Europe and the euro loses ground against the dollar.

The benchmark 100-index of the Istanbul Stock Market (ISE) fell sharply by 8.62 percent in early trading to 31,574 points as the lira dropped 3.7 percent to a six-month low of 1.3610 compared with Friday's 1.3120.

The Saudi stock market, the Arab world's largest, suffered huge losses on Monday, shedding almost 10 percent as shares in other Gulf states also slumped amid the global financial turmoil.

The Saudi Tadawul All-Shares Index (TASI) finished down 9.81 percent at 6,726.60 points, its lowest level in more than a year. It was the biggest single-day loss in several years.

Dubai stock market was down 4.5 per cent, after falling 7 per cent on Sunday. The slump brings year to date losses to 38 per cent. Abu Dhabi fell 3.7 per cent on Monday meaning that the market has lost a fifth of its value since January. Blue chip property stocks Emaar and Aldar were particularly affected, as overseas investors liquidated positions, according to reports.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slid 5 percent to 16,803.76. Markets in mainland China, Australia, South Korea, India, Singapore and Thailand also fell sharply. Indonesia's key index plummeted 10 percent, it's biggest one-day drop ever.

Trading in mainland China resumed after a weeklong holiday break with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index sinking 5.2 percent to 2,173 by mid-afternoon. Banks and other financial shares saw heavy declines. Shanghai Pudong Development Bank fell 7 percent and Bank of China slipped 3.6.

UN to send poll monitors

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Renata Lok Dessalien, who is also UN Resident Coordinator, at his office here on Monday afternoon. During an hour long meeting, they discussed different issues including the forthcoming elections.

Emerging out of the meeting, Ms. Dessalien told newsmen that she wanted to meet with the foreign adviser after the latter's return from attending the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss Bangladesh's overall participation in the session, which by all counts, was "significant".

She said they also discussed the forthcoming visit of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Bangladesh in early November which would be "important."

Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury discussed the impending visit of the Secretary General as a "landmark event in the relations between the UN and Bangladesh.

In response to a query if elections can be held under state of emergency, Ms. Dessalien said that the city and municipality elections were held peacefully under such a situation.

She said she was positive the government would devise a methodology whereby people can vote freely without intimidation and the parties can also have the freedom to conduct their campaigns unimpeded.

She further said the UN would most possibly send officials to monitor and observe the elections.

DSE witnesses sharp fall

Staff Reporter

Country's premier bourse the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday witnessed a sharp fall amid profit taking after it crossed a barrier of 3,000-mark on Sunday.

The prices of shares fell across the board on the day pushing down the DSE General Index (DGEN), the benchmark index, dropping 73 points or over 2.0 per cent to close at 2,928 points from 3,001 points on Sunday.

"This is not an abnormal fall as the market registered gains for the last seven consecutive trading days," said a broker. The DGEN began rallying from 2,840 on September 18 and continued until Sunday to cross the 3,000-mark.

"The 3,000-mark of the benchmark index might have emerged as a psychological barrier," said a market insider, preferring anonymity, adding that investors might think the price would fall from the level.

He, however, does not see any abnormal trading in the market as both the sellers and buyers were active in the market, pulling up the turnover to around Tk 5 billion, one of the recent highest transactions.

Brokers cautioned investors that the poor performing "Z" category shares emerged on top of the day's major gainers.

During the day's trading, the All Shares Price Index (DSI) declined 60 points or over 2.0 per cent to close at 2,426 points while the DSE-20 index of selective shares also fell 51 points or 2.0 per cent to close at 2,436 points.

Of the total 230 issues traded on the day, 65 gained, 159 declined and six remained unchanged.

The day's total turnover rose to Tk 5.12 billion from Tk 4.50 billion on Sunday. Market Capitalisation fell slightly to Tk 1.018 trillion from Tk 1.036 trillion on Sunday.

Beximco Pharma, BEXIMCO, Lanka Bangla Finance, Titas Gas, ACI, S. Alam CRST, Summit Power, GRAMEENS2, Union Capital and Keya Cosmetics were the day's turnover leaders in terms of value.

The day's volume leaders were AIMS 1st Mutual Fund, Beximco Pharma, GRAMEENS2, BEXIMCO, Beximco Textiles, Keya Cosmetics, Goldenson, BDCom, Lanka Bangla Finance and Keya Detergent.

Top gainers of the day were Bionic Food, Modern Cement, Saleh Carpet, Daffodil Computers, Shyampur Sugar, All Tex, Alpha Tobacco, Maq Enterprise, Sajib Knit and Hakkani Pulp and Paper.

Top losers were Shine Pukur, BEXIMCO, Beximco Fisheries, Glaxo Smith, Pioneer Insurance, Excelsior Shoes, Rupali Bank, BD Luggage, 1st BSRS and Pragati Life Insurance.

Govt plotting to keep Hasina away from polls: Zillur

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday accused the government of hatching a conspiracy to keep Sheikh Hasina away from elections.

"The government may have an evil design to prevent Sheikh Hasina from taking part in the general election," Zillur said.

His remarks came when journalists at his Gulshan residence sought his reaction to BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain's comments that the government was working in such a way so that Khaleda and Hasina cannot participate in the elections.

"Our stand is very clear that Awami League won't contest the upcoming parliamentary polls without Sheikh Hasina," he said.

Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak was with their acting chief at that time.

Zillur also charged the government with defying High Court orders regarding the proceedings of cases against Sheikh Hasina and her release on bail.

He said it is very unfortunate that the government is behaving in an undemocratic manner while dealing with the cases of Sheikh Hasina.

Zillur Rahman welcomed the fresh amendments to the Representation of People's Order Ordinance' 2008, but said the motive behind the reforms has to be made clear before everything.

Abdur Razzak alleged that the government was showing a discriminatory attitude towards Awami League and its allies.

Coalmine case: It’s a ploy to debar Khaleda from polls

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday alleged that the submission of charge sheet in the Barapukuria graft case against party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is a design to keep her away from the forthcoming elections.

Addressing a hurriedly called press conference at his NAM Flat residence in the city he termed the case baseless and politically motivated.

"There is no substance in the case," he claimed.

The BNP Secretary General said the case along with other cases was filed against Begum Zia one after another with an ill motive when she was in the sub-jail.

He apprehended that the charge sheet was submitted against Begum Zia with the intention of mentally weakening her and creating political pressure on her.

Demanding the withdrawal of all the cases filed against her Delwar Hossain said it has to be done if the government wants free, fair and neutral elections.

"A free and fair election cannot be held under any threat or pressure," he observed.

The BNP leader questioned the reason behind the changing of the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case saying that the second IO was appointed by the Anti-Corruption Commission to make her an accused in the case, as the first IO did not accuse her.

Asked to comment on Election Commissioner Sohul Hossain's remarks on the participation of Khaleda and Hasina in the coming polls he said, "We have no confidence in them as they speak differently at different times."

"We don't want to take part in the elections at the mercy of anyone, we want to participate in the elections under the existing law of the land," he said.

Delwar Hossain reminded that it is the responsibility of the caretaker government to create a congenial atmosphere to hold the polls in a free and fair manner and said, "The government will be responsible if a free and fair election is interrupted."

"The government must lift the state of emergency to remove the fear from the public minds so that they can cast their votes fearlessly," he said.

The BNP leader said the government must accept their 5-point demand that include lifting of the emergency, scrapping of the People Representation Order (Ordinance) 2008, relaxation of provisions concerning party registration, deferring the Upazila Parishad elections for a reasonable time, release of all political leaders and lifting of cases against them, including Khaleda Zia to create a level-playing field in the run-up to the elections.

Expatriates send $7b remittance till September

Staff Reporter

Remittance from the expatriate workers till September rose to US$6.8 billion against last year's total amount of US$6.6 billion, Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said yesterday. "The amount of remittance would stand US$9 billion by December," the Adviser expected in a statement.

"This is an extremely good news for us. We expect the figure to climb even further, and if all goes well, (it will) hit US$9 billion this year," said Iftekhar who also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment.

The Adviser also stated that the market of overseas jobs for Bangladeshi workers continued to expand.

He said some 690,000 workers got clearance till September for overseas jobs against last year's 592,000.

The Adviser described the United Arab Emirate (UAE) as the largest market of Bangladeshi workers.

"An average of 40,000 workers is going there every month. Another good news is that the UAE has asked for 200 highly skilled engineers. The recruitment process will begin soon", he said.

"Still, (workers') welfare is our key aim now", he said, adding: "In New York last week I had detailed discussions with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and the Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid, and in both meetings I stressed welfare".

Proshika chief launches political party

Staff Reporter

Proshika Chairman Qazi Faruque Ahmed is launching a political party this year 'to fight for the rights of the poor and restoration of democracy in the country'.

This was disclosed at a press briefing organised by the NGO at its head office in the city yesterday.

Faruque said the new party called United Citizens Movement (UCM) would have among its members-professionals, women, ordinary workers and people who were involved in Bangladesh's freedom struggle.

"The principal aims of the UCM will be to fight for the rights of the poor, reduce poverty, assert basic rights and to restore democratic rule."

Proshika as an NGO owes its origin and development to foreign funding support which is supposed not to be spent on political activities. Launching of a party by whatever name violates this norm as well as rules guiding the operation of NGOs. Many see the move as an attempt to forge a coalition during the next elections.

Elections are scheduled for December 18. Power in Bangladesh has alternated between Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and Begum Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

"If we could establish crime-and-muscle-free politics, we would get a country free from poverty," said Faruque.

Bangladesh Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, who heads top micro-credit agency Grameen Bank, had also planned to start a political group last year but aborted the plan at last.

"Since 1996 we have been working for the deprived people to achieve their rights," Faruque said and added, "Launching a political platform would help push our mission ahead, including to help establish rule of democracy in the country."

He said UCM would formally register with the Election Commission as a political party and contest the parliamentary elections.