The New Nation - Internet Edition

Death anniversary of Dr Tawhidul Anwar today

UNB, Dhaka

The 8th death anniversary of Professor Dr Mohammad Tawhidul Anwar, former Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh and teacher of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Dhaka University will be observed today.

A doa mahfil will be held at the central mosque of Dhaka University after juma prayer today. Relatives, friends, colleagues and students have been requested to attend the occasion.

Death anniversary of Comrade Farhad observed

UNB, Dhaka

The 21st death anniversary of Comrade Mohammad Farhad, former general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), was observed yesterday.

Leaders and workers of CPB and other organizations paid tribute to the late leader by placing floral wreaths at his Banani graveyard and observing one minute silence at about 7:30am.

Besides, Farhad's family arranged a milad mahfil at their Azimpur colony residence in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, CPB will hold a discussion meeting at its central office at 5pm today to mark the death anniversary of Farhad.

Leaders of different political parties are expected to attend the meeting.

Finance Adviser leaves for Washington

UNB, Dhaka

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Mohammad Azizul Islam yesterday left here for Washington, USA to attend the Annual Meetings 2008 of the World Bank and IMF scheduled for October 11-13.

The Adviser is expected to return home on October 20.

AL to have associate organizations: Zillur

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday said even though there would be no front organization of their party, it will have associate organizations.

He said this when leaders of various front organizations of Awami Leage met him at his Gulshan residence tonight.

Asked about the Election Commission's restriction on having associate organizations of students, teachers and workers, Zillur said AL will have detailed discussions on this particular issue at a working committee meeting on October 11 at the party's Dhanmondi office.

Six killers of Astt Ansar adjutant held

UNB, Dhaka

Detective police have arrested six suspected killers of assistant ansar adjutant Nasirullah.

Rezaul Karim and Mohammad Salam were picked up from Pargendaria in Keraniganj on October 5. On interrogation, they admitted that 20 to 25 of them raided the house of Nasirullah in Mausayed village of Uttarkhan thana on September 9 for committing dacoity. As Nasirullah resisted looting of the house, he was shot dead.

Following their statement, Sheikh Abu, Rahman Khan, Nurul Islam and Golam Mustafa were arrested from different places. The drive continued to nab others.

Dr Zillur visits Dhakeshwari Temple

UNB, Dhaka

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday visited Dhakeswari Temple and Gulshan Puja Mandap in the city to greet the devotees.

"This festival ushers in a sense of justice, ethics, solidarity and fraternity among the people of Bangladesh," he told the devotees at the Dhakeswari Temple premises.

He called upon all to work unitedly maintaining communal harmony to build a prosperous Bangladesh.

Dhakeshwari Mandir Sarbojanin Puja Udjapan Parishad president Kajal Devnath and general secretary Tapash Pal also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the Adviser visited the Gulshan Puja Mandap and spoke at the gathering to greet the devotees.

Ebadur Rahman expelled from BNP

UNB, Sylhet

BNP reformist leader Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury has been expelled from the party.

Kulaura unit of BNP at a meeting yesterday adopted a resolution expelling Ebadur, former state minister, for his activities against the interest of the party.

The meeting also recommended to the district and central committee to take disciplinary measures against Ebadur Rahman.

Hannan Shah accuses govt of playing double standard

UNB, Chandpur

BNP chairperson's adviser Brigadier (rtd) ASM Hannan Shah reiterated the demand for lifting emergency to ensure free and fair election.

Speaking at a party meeting at Faridganj he viewed that none of the political parties would enter into the fracas keeping their hands and legs tied by the provisions of emergency rule.

Shah said BNP is ready to go for election but urged the government to create an atmosphere congenial for free and fair polls.

He accused the government of playing double standard. It is telling the nation of holding a credible election. At the same time warrant of arrest was issued against key leaders of 4-party alliance, he said.

Shah asked the party workers to prepare for the upcoming election.

ACC finds no illegal wealth of ex-BNP MP VP Joinal

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to close the file of former BNP MP Prof Joinal Abedin Faruk alias VP Joinal as it did not find any inconsistency in his wealth statement. "The Commission has decided to close the matter as it did not find any disparity in the wealth statement submitted by the former MP," said a competent source.

VP Joinal, who had defeated controversial Awami League leader Joinal Hazari in the last election in Feni-2, has already been notified about the Commission decision.

He was issued with notice in the first week of March this year directing him to submit his wealth statement. He complied with the ACC directive on 18th of that month.

After months of inquiry, inquiry officer Benzir Ahmed, an ACC deputy director, submitted the inquiry report in the second week of August.

Based on recommendations of the inquiry officer, the anti-corruption body decided not to move further and a letter signed by ACC deputy director Mobara Khanam on September 23 was sent to Joinal notifying him of the Commission's decision.

When contacted, Joinal confirmed that he received the letter from the Commission on September 25. "This proves that all politicians are not corrupt as some quarters are trying to prove," a relived Joinal said.