The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

On the third day of five-day long Durga puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu communities, the devotees will celebrate the Mahaastomi Puja today marking Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishashur.

The victory of Goddess Durga, daughter of the majestic Himalayas, over the devil symbolises the triumph of good over evil.

On the second day of Durga Puja yesterday, thousands of devotees attended the different temples to receive Durga and her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh.

Hindus believe the goddess descend on earth at the invocation and supplication of the devotees through Bodhon rituals during the Mahashashthi puja.

Durga is welcomed with much fanfare amidst the beats of Dhak. Unveiling the face of the idol is the main ritual on this day. Kalaparambho, the ritual performed before the commencement of the puja preceded Bodhon, Amontron and Adhibas.

On Mahasaptami today, the devotees will recite hymns and offer flowers seeking blessings from Durga the Durgatinashini -- saviour of humankind from all evils.

According to the lunar schedule, Mahasaptami puja will start by 9:00 am today.

Around 22,000 mandaps have already been set up across the country including 165 in Dhaka. Last year the number of mandaps (Worship pavilion) was 20,000.

Bakshibazar, Shankharibazar, Tantibazar, Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Ramna Kali Mandir, Dhakeswari Mandir, Thataribazar, Ramkrishna Mission, Pranab Math, Siddeswari Kali Mandir, Dayaganj, Rayerbazar, Rajarbagh, Rishipara were a few of the prominent Puha mandaps that have been given a decorative look with colourful designs and lights.

Meanwhile, extra law enforcers have been deployed around the puja venues to ensure security and to avoid any unpleasant situations during the Durga puja festivities.

General Moeen-U-Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen (Retd) CR Dutta Bir Uttam, Adviser of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP), Rakhal Chandra Shaha visited a temple at Banani playground in the evening.

DPUP leaders demanded that the government ensure equal rights of people of all faiths, giving Durga puja state status, four-day vacation on this occasion and celebrating Janmashtami of Sri Krishna at state level.

AL presidium Member Abdur Razzak visited the Ram Shita Mandir at Tikatuli in the capital in yesterday morning.

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Bangladesh is a land of nature. The country has a great potential for becoming a favourite destination of overseas tourists. The country is blessed with the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans, beautiful hills in Rangamati, exotic tea gardens in Sylhet and the centuries old mansions and villas belonging to the Maharajas of the past civilisations.

The livelihood of the indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts including Bandarban is an added attraction. But the country's tourism sector needs attention for its development. The country is being deprived of huge amount of revenue in foreign currency every year due to present poor state of tourism sector.

The country's tourism sector has not yet made enough progress over the years. The reason is the lack of infrastructures.

For promoting the country's tourism sector, a year long cycle tour has been launched in the country for promoting tourism.

The main aim of the tour is to raise awareness in the enormous potentiality of tourism, which can contribute substantially to the entire economy of the country.

Beyond Adventure Club, organiser of the tour under the banner of 'Explore Bangladesh,' started the cycle tour on October 3.

Two senior cyclists of the club Syed Akhteruzzaman and Nazrul Islam are now leading the tour for the next one-year.

Syed Akhteruzzaman, President of Beyond Adventure Club, said, "We want to highlight and promote the prospective tourism spots of Bangladesh and also want to explore new angles of already renowned tourist attractions."

He said he plans to organise a photography exhibition, publish a book and print postcards after completing the cycle tour.

This year long cycle tour is divided into six different phases in six different routes of the country. The tour, which has already been started, is considered as a pilot tour before starting the main tour, he said.

During this time both the cyclists will cover Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Kishoregonj, Gajni, Birishiri and other prominent areas of this region.

BBC Online

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has attacked John McCain's links to a 1980s financial scandal.

He also accused his Republican rival of being more focused on running a smear campaign than on fixing the US economy.

It comes after McCain's running mate Sarah Palin accused Obama over the weekend of associating with terrorists.

Obama once served on a charity board with an ex-member of US-based militant group Weather Underground, Bill Ayers, now a University of Illinois professor.

He has denounced Ayers' radical past.

McCain spent the weekend in Arizona preparing for Tuesday's presidential debate but Mrs Palin, Governor of Alaska, held several rallies.

She told supporters in Colorado and California that the time had come to take "the gloves off" - suggesting that Obama's character may be the subject of further attacks.

In a new internet video being e-mailed to supporters, the Obama campaign launched its own attack on McCain over his connections to tycoon Charles Keating, who was convicted of securities fraud after his savings and loan scheme collapsed.

Senator McCain and his operatives are gambling that he can distract you with smears rather than talk to you about substance Barack Obama.

McCain was one of five senators - known as the Keating Five - to be investigated by a Senate ethics panel over their intervention with banking regulators on behalf of Keating.

He was found to be less involved with Keating than the other senators but was criticised for "poor judgement".

McCain has himself described the affair as "the worst mistake of my life", and one which led him to sponsor legislation on campaign finance reform.

In an email to supporters, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said: "The McCain campaign has tried to avoid talking about the scandal, but with so many parallels to the current crisis, McCain's Keating history is relevant and voters deserve to know the facts - and see for themselves the pattern of poor judgement by John McCain.”

UNB, Dhaka

The Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court yesterday threw away the government and Anti-Corruption Commission's pleas, upholding the High Court orders that had granted bails to a number of bigwig corrupt suspects.

The corrupt suspects are former ministers Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas and Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, ex-MPs Mosaddek Ali Falu and Mirza Azam, who is already released, and businessmen Gias Uddin Al Mamun and Giridhari Lal Modi.

Among them, the government and the ACC filed four stay petitions against businessman Mamun, three against Abbas, two against Modi and one each against the others.

After brief hearings on the pleas, Justice M Joynul Abedin advised the petitioners to file regular appeals against the High Court orders.

The stay petitions were moved as the government and the ACC prefer leave-to-appeal in a bid to overturn the High Court bail orders, court sources said.

UNB, Dhaka

The government will import 900,000 metric tonnes of refined petroleum from Malaysia through leapfrogging the lengthy process of floating tender and making government-level deals.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will directly make the bulk import of fuel from the Malaysian state-owned Petronus Trading Corporation SDNBSD (Petco) during September 2008-June 2009 period.

The Advisors Committee on Economic Affairs, previously known as Cabinet Economic Affairs Committee, yesterday approved a proposal along with a waiver to this effect.

That means the government would not need to sign any state-to-state agreement for this direct import. Rather, the BPC will have the authority to sign deal with its counterpart (Petco) to import the petroleum fuel.

However, the BPC will have to put forward the purchase proposal to the Cabinet Purchase Committee. For the purchase, the premium cost was proposed to be $ 6.30 per barrel for gasoline while $ 6.75 for kerosene.

This is for the first time the caretaker government moved to import petroleum from Malaysia, one of the newly industrialized countries of Asia.

Bangladesh's annual petroleum demand is about 3 million metric tonnes. To meet the demand, normally, Bangladesh imports petroleum from the Middle- Eastern countries and neighbouring India.

The meeting of the Economic Affairs Committee, presided over by Finance Advisor Mirza Azizul Islam, also approved another proposal for the sellout of three state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to private entrepreneurs. The SOEs are Satrong Textile Mills in Gazipur, Karnaphuli Rayon Mills at Kaptai, and Particle Board & Veneer plant in Chittagong.

Among the mills, the purchase price for Satrong Textile was proposed to be Tk 3.41 crore along with its bank loan of Tk 5.94 crore and liabilities of Tk 7.78 crore while the price of Karnaphuli Rayon mill Tk 91.11 crore and price of the Particle Board proposed at Tk 26.53 crore.

The committee gave its conditional nod to another proposal of the Power Ministry for selling out the dry fly ash of Barapukuri power plant.

A responsive bidder has proposed to buy the fly ash at Tk 823 per metric tonne for a period of 30 years. Only after every five years, the purchase rate could be renegotiated.

But the committee tagged a condition: "there should be flexibility that the price could be renegotiated every year."

If the bidder accepts the new condition, then the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) could sell the ash to the bidder.

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday announced a 14-member ODI squad for the home series against New Zealand with three new faces in the squad.

Opener Imrul Kayes, middle order batsman Naeem Islam and pacer Mahbubul Alam are the new inclusions.

Bangladesh will play the first ODI against New Zealand on Oct. 9, the second on Oct. 11, both at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The two teams will then travel to Chittagong to play the 3rd ODI on Oct. 14.

The first test between the two teams will also be held at the port city on Oct. 17-21. They will then return to Dhaka for the 2nd test match billed for Oct. 25-29.

Bangladesh squad: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim,(WK), Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain and Mahbubul Alam Robin.

Staff reporter

Awami League (AL) presidium member Abdur Razzak yesterday accused the government of planning to further amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) in of 'a specific quarter', which had played controversial role during the liberation war.

Razzak was speaking while distributing sarees among needy women at the Ram Sita temple at Tikatuli in the capital on the occasion of Durga Puja.

"We have come to know that the authorities are taking initiatives to incorporate further changes into the newly amended RPO 2008 only for the benefit of a particular political party," he maintained.

When asked to identify the 'particular party', Razzak said that everyone knows the anti-liberation force who is not yet prepared to reconcile itself with the independence of Bangladesh. These people have described the liberation was as

a " civil war " and they have not yet apologized for their sinful acts during the 1971 war, he noted.

He alleged that this force is now stoking religious fanaticism, inciting communal feelings and encouraging fundamentalism. "Religious fanaticism is breeding militancy in the name of Islam, whereas Islam means 'peace' and doesn't support militancy at all," he added.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the government's dilly-dallying approach of the government for bringing the war crimes under trial, Razzak said, " The war criminals are moving about as VIPs."

The AL presidium member called upon the government to ensure total security of party president Sheikh Hasina when she returns home.

He also urged the Election Commission to defer the upazila polls by at least one month.

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."

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 midway.

"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 missions 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.

Staff Reporter

Jammat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mujahid yesterday said that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has done great injustice to BNP led Four Party Alliance by filing the Barapukuria coalmine graft case against its leaders.

He was addressing a press briefing at Jammat Central Office yesterday.

"By filing case against the alliance leader, ACC effort turned it into a farce," Jammat Secretary General Mujahid said.

"We have faced the injustice and harassment in the name of legal procedure," he said adding, "We will fight legal battle through legal process."

At the press conference, he claimed his innocence and said the chrgaesheet was a "readymade one".

He said that the chargesheet related to Boropukuria coalmine graft case had been devised to foil the upcoming general election. "A deep-rooted conspiracy is on to foil the election. It's a false case," he told reporters.

Mujahid said the chargesheet was submitted at a time when the BNP-led

four-party alliance has placed a five-point demand to ensure a free and fair election on December 18.

"It's a politically motivated case. It has hurt the government's anti-graft campaign," the former social welfare minister said.

Staff Reporter

BNP has hired a new office for its chairperson in Gulshan, in addition to its central office at Naya Paltan.

Khaleda Zia inaugurated the office at House 6, Road 86, as 'Office of the Chairperson' yesterday, by hoisting the party flag there. Party leaders and supporters were present.

Party secretary general Khondker Delwar Hossain later told reporters: "The new office has been set up considering the physical condition of the party chairperson."

"The party's election activities will also be conducted from this office."

Besides holding meetings of the standing committee, overall activities aimed at strengthening the party would be conducted from the new office, Delwar said.

The landlord of the house is former BNP lawmaker from Comilla, Zakaria Taher Sumon, he added.

BNP used 'Hawa Bhaban' in Banani as the party chairperson's office during the 2001 elections.

Jatiya Sangsad speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, who was present at the inauguration, later met with Khaleda Zia privately.

Standing committee members Dr RA Gani, Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui and M Shamsul Islam, the chairperson's adviser ASM Hannan Shah, joint secretaries general Selima Rahman, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Nazrul Islam Khan, office secretary Rizvi Ahmed, the former prime minister's parliamentary affairs adviser Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, journalist Shafik Rehman were among those present.

bdnews24.com, Faridpur

A head-on collision between a truck and a car on the Dhaka-Barisal highway on Monday morning left five people, including a family of four, dead and one injured, police said.

The dead were identified as 40-year-old Selim Ahmed, general manager of K Ali Garments of Postogola, Dhaka, his wife Aleya Begum, 30, their two daughters, ten year-old Aankhi and two year-old Lamia, and driver Shahabuddin, 32. Bhanga police chief Md Enamul Haque Enam said the Dhaka-bound car collided head-on with a goods truck at Purbo Sadardi around 8am, leaving Selim, Aleya and Lamia dead and driver Shahabuddin and Aankhi injured.

Both Shahabuddin and Aankhi died after they had been taken to Bhanga Upazila health complex for treatment.

Police reached the scene and initiated rescue activities. The killer truck was stopped, but its driver managed to flee.

Police chief Enam said a case had been filed with Bhanga Police Station.

Bhanga Upazila nirbahi officer Md Shafiqul Islam visited the accident spot.

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two rival groups over occupation of Mamuli Beel at Damnash union under Bagmara thana on Sunday night.

Eight of the injured people have been admitted to Bagmara Thana Health Complex.

A rivalry has been going on for long between the members of Matshya Chashi Samity and the local fishermen community over the possession of the beel. It was leased out to Matshya Chashi Samity this year by the local administration. But it evoked sharp protest from the local fishermen community.

On Sunday night, several hundred fishermen went to catch fish in the beel flexing their muscle power and the members of Matshya Chashi Samity resisted them with lathi and sharp weapons. In the hour long clash between two rival groups at least 20 people belonging to both groups were injured.

Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. No one was arrested in this connection.

UNB, Dhaka

The visit of Vice-Senior General of Myanmar Maung Aye to Bangladesh from today would open up a new horizon of friendship and cooperation between Dhaka and Yangon,

Myanmar's Ambassador in Dhaka said yesterday.

Ambassador U Phae Than made the remarks when he called on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at the CA's office and conveyed the greetings of general Maung Aye to the Chief Adviser.

He apprised the Chief Adviser that a high-powered delegation including seven important cabinet Ministers, Chiefs of Navy and Air Force and businessmen are accompanying the vice-senior general on the trip. Among them are ministers of Energy, Trade, Communications and immigration.

"It shows this significant visit is to further strengthen the relationship to pave the way of cooperation in new areas," the diplomat said.

General Maung Aye, vice-chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, arrives here today for a three-day official visit.

He is likely to lead a 55-member delegation on the top-level trip.

The CA said he is looking forward to meeting and welcoming the vice-senior general, expressing the hope that the ties between the two countries will further expand following his visit.

He told the ambassador that a wide range of issues, including trade, communications, road link, contract farming, food and energy, would be discussed during talks with the Myanmar government leader.

Dr Fakhruddin noted that Bangladesh and Myanmar have historically long ties and common cultural values and so on. Higher-level visits have taken the bilateral relationship onto higher planes.

The head of caretaker government thanked Myanmar for support to Bangladesh in becoming member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The Ambassador said Bangladesh and Myanmar support each other in various international forums.

He expressed gratitude for Bangladesh's cooperation in the aftermath of the powerful cyclone Nargis that battered Myanmar recently.

The diplomat also apprised the CA of general election in Myanmar in 2010.

The CA also informed him about general election in Bangladesh on December 18.

CA's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim who was present at the meeting briefed newsmen about the meeting.

Secretary of CA's office Kazi M Aminul Islam was also present at the meeting.

UNB, Dhaka

The Council of Advisers of the caretaker government yesterday finally approved a second amendment to the revised Representation of People Order to facilitate the political parties' registration with the Election Commission by submitting their provisional party constitution for time constraints.

As per the latest changes to the strict politico-electoral rules, the political parties who will get registered with the Election Commission through submitting the provisional constitution will have to submit their ratified constitution to the EC within six months of the first sitting of the ninth parliament.

A meeting of the council of advisers with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair approved the Representation of People Order (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2008, taking into account the fact that "many of the political parties will not be able to amend their constitutions and submit those to the election commission during registration" as the last date of registration is October 15.

The Election Commission, after discussion with political parties, placed a proposal with the Law Ministry for bringing some amendments to the existing Representation of People Order Ordinance.

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed said on Monday Bangladesh is a glittering example of communal harmony with its people of all castes and creeds practising their religions freely and peacefully from time immemorial.

He called on all to further strengthen the bond of communal harmony to help the country reach its desired goal of development.

The President was talking to an 11-member delegation of Munshiganj Puja Udjapan Parishad that called on him at Bangabhaban here. Convener of the Parishad Advocate Anil Chakraborty led the delegation.

Members of the delegation informed the President that the Puja in Munshiganj is being celebrated in a very festive mood at 194 puja mandaps this year, the number being much higher than last year's.

They praised the role of the government as well as the local Muslim community for helping them celebrate the Puja in a befitting manner.

The delegation sought the government cooperation for development of temples and crematoriums in Munshiganj district.

The President gave them a patient hearing and expressed his satisfaction that Durga Puja was being celebrated all over the country including Munshiganj district with due solemnity and festivity. He assured the delegation of his full support in solving their problems relating to temples.

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 Howlader were present.

BSS, Dhaka

At least one cyclone may form off one or two depressions in the Bay of Bengal this month, the Met Office said in its long-range forecast for October today.

The forecast, issued after a meeting of experts from different disciplines at the Met Office, said the monsoon would move out of Bangladesh by the second week.

Rains are likely to be normal during October, the forecast said, adding that the rainfall was 16 percent less than normal last month despite formation of a deep depression and a couple of low pressures in the Bay of Bengal, which moved away towards India.

The cyclone season in the Bay begins in October and runs until April. But cyclones in December are rare. The last cyclone in December was on December 15, 1965.