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Khaleda, Hossain Zillur hold quiet parley: EC may consider request to extend deadline for registration

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Adviser for Education and Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday had an unscheduled meeting with former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at her at Shaheed Moinul Road residence at Dhaka Cantonment in the city.

What exactly was discussed at the meeting could not be known till filing of this report late last night. No other BNP leader was present during the two hours long parley beginning at 7:15 in the evening.

However, party sources said during the meeting, Begum Khaleda Zia discussed the party stance on registration with the Election Commission as well as participation in the forthcoming elections.

The meeting took place five days ahead of the proposed government dialogue with the BNP scheduled for October 15.

Party insiders termed it one-to-one talk and said topics of the October 15 dialogue figured prominently in the talks.

Earlier, four advisers including Dr Hossain Zillur had held a meeting with Begum Zia at the same venue on September 12 the following day of her release from jail on bail.

Meanwhile, BNP’s first round of dialogue with the Caretaker Government scheduled for October 15 is seen by observers as an indication of its softening of stance on registration with the Election Commission (EC) and participation in the forthcoming general elections.

But it’s not clear how the party or the EC will meet the deadline for registration, which also ends on the day.

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday told reporters that they would decide their party registration after the dialogue.

Demanding extension of the registration deadline he said, "It won't hurt anyone if the deadline for registration with the Election Commission is deferred by a few days.”

“We'll go for registration. But before that, we'd like to inform the government about our concerns, including the proposed RPO Ordinance 2008," Delwar Hossain said.

When contacted Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain told The New Nation that they were yet to receive any request from any party to extend the deadline for registration.

“A formal request over telephone or in writing has to come to the Commission from the party concerned. If such request is made the full Commission will sit to consider the same,” he said.

On BNP’s latest stance to register the party with the EC after the dialogue with the Government, the Election Commissioner said he did not see any link between the registration and the dialogue.

Asked whether the BNP would make a formal proposal to the Commission, Acting Office Secretary of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told The New Nation that the party would discuss the matter after the return of the party Secretary General now outside of Dhaka.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, a major partner of the four-party alliance, also changed its earlier stance on registration with the Election Commission.

Jamaat Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami on Thursday told reporters that they are ready to register their party with the Commission if it was a requirement by law.

“If necessary we will bring further amendment to our party constitution in line with the new electoral laws,” he said.

Echoing the same view, Secretary General of Islami Oikya Jote Maulana Abdul Latif Nezami said they would abide by the decision of the four-party alliance on registration.

Tigers take on Kiwis in 2nd ODI today

Players of Bangladesh Cricket Team (left) and the
cricketers of New Zealand team are seen during the practice
session at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on
Friday. Photo: Agencies

Sports Reporter

After posting a memorable seven-wicket victory over the visiting New Zealand team in the first ODI on Thursday last, Bangladesh will take on the Kiwis today in the second ODI of the BRAC Bank ODI Series at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The match starts at 9.00 AM (Bangladesh Standard Time). Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live from the stadium.

Before Thursday's win, Bangladesh faced New Zealand 11 times but the Tigers lost to the Kiwis in all the clashes.

Yesterday the hosts and the tourists took part in the full-fledged practice session at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (The country's Home of Cricket).

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the vice-captain of Bangladesh team and one of the hero of the Thursday's victory said they are morally in a good mood. If they win in the coin session they will decide to field first today. Mashrafe, the country's best medium pacer also said they have a chance to win the series but they have to play well to earn the victory.

Meanwhile, Jamie How the first down batsman of the Kiwis said Bangladesh showed better performance than that of New Zealand in the last match and the hosts deserved the win. Jamie added that they learned a lot from the hosts in the last game and they were looking forward to equalise the series.

It may be mentioned that the cricket lovers of the whole country are expecting to watch the glorious victory from the Tigers. We are also with them.

Elections will be held, must be held: Hasina tells London seminar

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and Lord Eric
Avebury arrive at the Moses Room in the House of Lords for a
Conference on Democracy, Human Rights and the prospect of
Free and Fair Elections in Bangladesh on Thursday.

Desk Report

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, who is currently visiting London, has said, emergency must be lifted and people's fundamental and political rights must be restored to create transparent atmosphere for a free and fair election.

She emphasised, the above are the pre-requisites of an election which can offer a government to the choice of the people.

The AL chief was addressing a seminar yesterday on "Human Rights Affairs' held at the upper house of the British Parliament, House of Lords, organised by the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group.

Lord Avery presided over the seminar where a good number of British parliamentarians of both the houses attended.

Regarding sceptical views about holding of the general elections on 18 December, the AL leader, in reply to a question by journalists, said that she believed the election would be held and continued with an urge upon every Bangalee living at home or abroad to work for the election.

The AL chief concluded with the assertion, "Elections will be held and must be held."

The UK AL leaders, AL leaders who are currently visiting London and some UK BNP leaders attended the seminar.

Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize

Ahtisaari

Agency, Oslow

This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been won by peace negotiator Martti Ahtisaari, the Nobel Foundation has announced in Norway's capital, Oslo. Finland's ex-president has been a UN mediator on Kosovo, helped end the conflict in Indonesia's Aceh province and aided Namibia's independence.

Ahtisaari told Norwegian broadcaster NRK he was "very pleased and grateful" to receive the award.

The laureate wins a gold medal, diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.4m).

The winners were chosen by a secretive five-member Norwegian awards committee from 197 nominations this year.

The Nobel committee commended Ahtisaari, 71, "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts".

The citation continued: "He has figured prominently in endeavours to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts," mentioning his roles in Namibia, Aceh, Kosovo and Iraq.

"He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia and on the Horn of Africa," it said.

The committee's Ole Danbolt Mjoes said: "These efforts have contributed to a more peaceful world and to 'fraternity between nations' in Alfred Nobel's spirit."

Ahtisaari, who served as Finnish president from 1994-2000, told NRK he thought his biggest achievement was in Namibia.

"It was absolutely the most important because it took such a long time," he said.

Ahtisaari helped supervise the move to independence from South Africa in the late 70s and supervised framing free and fair elections. Namibia made him an honorary citizen.

Ahtisaari said he hoped the prize money would help finance the organisations he chaired.

"It's very important to be able to act properly, you need financing and you never have enough."

Ahtisaari will receive the prize in Oslo on 10 December, the anniversary of the death in 1896 of the awards' founder, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.

In keeping with tradition, no candidates were named ahead of Friday's announcement.

But those said to be in the frame included Zimbabwean politician Morgan Tsvangirai and freed French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.

Chinese dissidents Hu Jia and Gao Zhisheng were also leading contenders, prompting Beijing to issue a veiled warning that the prize should go to the "right person".

Tacit move to exclude 2 ladies from politics

Habibullah Mizan and Hasan Shaheed

Major political parties of the country are reportedly under serious pressure in the backdrop of the latest developments, apparent hard line adopted by the Election and Anti Corruption commissions.

This pressure mainly came from the recent revival of many graft cases against the senior political leaders including the two former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, also the bosses of the BNP and AL respectively.

According to many political observers, these pressures stem from a plan to bar the two top leaders of BNP and Awami League along with many politicians from participating in the coming general election on December 15 this year and to reach the current political polarization to a 'controlled goal.'

The charge sheet against Begum Khaleda Zia, and her senior cabinet members including former minister Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami also chief of Jamaat e Islami, Bangladesh, the active partner of four-party alliance and the complexity over the bail of Sheikh Hasina are two clear signs of this increasing pressure on political parties from the government side, a Dhaka University professor, who keeps an eye on political developments in the country, told The New Nation recently. Influential quarters do not want to hold the next election until and unless a final compromise solution between them and the major political parties had been reached.

The country's political actors are also trying to walk a political tight rope. In one hand, they do not want to give the influential quarters any chance to obstruct or even delay the electoral process. On the other hand, they are also alert not to allow any 'blueprint' election to take place in the country. Most of the policymakers in the two major political parties are still opposing any election without the participation of their party chiefs.

According to source close to Sheikh Hasina's family, the AL president is suspecting that few senior leaders in her party are secretly working to hold the election without her to implement the plan made by the influential quarters.

They are arguing that if Hasina will not participate in the next parliamentary election, BNP chairperson must also be barred from the election race. If both Hasina and Khaleda are finally kept away from the election, AL will incur 30 per cent loss but the loss inflicted to the BNP will be at least 60 per cent.

Hasina is considering this political calculation as a conspiracy to kick her out of politics forever and therefore she had decided to return home by the third week of November. She prefers life in the sub jail to giving up politics at least for the time being, sources claimed.

Though BNP leaders are in favour of participating in all the upcoming elections, they are not even thinking of any election without their chairperson, who has been recently been released from incarceration after having tasted jail life for about a year.

Most of the cases, which were filed after the change over of 1/11 against senior politicians have been stayed by the Supreme Court orders and many top leaders are also free on bail. The accused politicians hoped that the government side would not make any obstacles in getting bail for the sake of holding a free, fair and credible general election participated by all parties.

But now they are alleging that the government has changed their previous position after announcing the date of upcoming elections by initiating the cases in a fresh move.

This 'unwanted pressure' on the political parties may influence the holding of next parliamentary election in December this year. However, leaders of the both parties have decided to face the cases in courts and were preparing for the election.

The present caretaker government formed after one eleven had several political agendas, most of those have now either changed or redefined in the face of protest from the political fronts of the country.

They now want to hold the stalled election in the present situation, where parties are in some trouble affected by the anti-corruption drives by the government to achieve their minimum target points.

Government is gearing up their move to bar their 'black listed' politicians from participating in the election. They have already 'suggested' the high ups of the both BNP and AL not to give nominations to these controversial politicians, who were allegedly involved in massive corruption and terrorism. If it really happens, voters will have to see more new faces in the parliament.

Despite these types of complexities, both the BNP and AL want to participate in the election, as they are concerned over any attempts to delay restoration of democracy in the country. AL side is thinking if election is held in the announced date, it will come to power but BNP is giving priority of democratic process rather than returning to state power. Both parties are demanding the lifting of emergency rule before the election.

According to a political analyst, BNP and AL will keep government and Election Commission under immense pressure while government will also try to hold the election keeping the parties under present pressure. Seeing these differences between government and political parties, some parties and NGOs, believed to have played active roles in one eleven change over, are trying to influence the election for their own interest. A big NGO's recent move to float a political party is part of that big political game.

The influential quarters are trying to create a 'third force' so that they can play an active role in forming the next government, sources said adding thus an old but newly organised drama is being played out to have a so called national government or consensus government in the country for two or three years.

Fuel price reduction: Effective govt measures alone can ensure peoples’ benefit

Shamim Jahangir

People are unlikely to get benefit of the reduction in fuel prices if the government fails to take effective measure to decrease transport fare and ensure diesel supply to the farmers, according to economists.

Eminent Economist Prof Atiur Rahman told the New Nation that the Government should take initiative to reduce the transport fares through negotiation with the transport owners association before reduction of diesel and kerosene prices.

He called upon the consumer association leaders to prevail on the government for ensuring consumers right through decrease in transport fares and commodity prices before reduction of fuel price.

"Farmers will get benefit from the government decision to reduce fuel prices. For this, the government should ensure supply of diesel to the farmers during the Boro season," Prof Atiur said.

He termed the government decision a 'new trend' in the country and said it is the first ever decision to reduce fuel prices.

Economist Prof Abu Ahmed of Dhaka University said reduction in fuel prices would have no impact on the national economy.

Explaining he said the government only takes decision either to increase or decrease of commodity, but it can't ensure how its steps benefit the common people or affect them adversely. Mainly the middlemen often reap the benefit of the government's decision, he noted.

Economist Prof Anu Muhammed of Jahangirnagar University said that the consumers will not get any benefit of the fuel price reduction due to poor monitoring system of the government.

He laid stress on strong monitoring system after implementation of the decision to reduce the prices of diesel and kerosene for enabling the common people of getting its benefits, he said.

The government is likely to decrease the price of diesel and kerosene by around 9 per cent and of octane and petrol by around 5-6 per cent this month, according to sources.

The price of crude oil was around $141 per barrel when the government increased the price of diesel and kerosene to Tk 55 per litre from Tk 40 and octane to Tk 90 from Tk 67 and petrol to Tk 87 from Tk 65 on July 1 last. The government is considering reduction of diesel and kerosene prices as the oil price in international market has come down sharply during the last month.

City crimes under camera surveillance

Mamunur Rashid

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is installing crime-surveillance cameras in the city to apprehend criminals, according to DMP sources.

In the backdrop of the deteriorating law and order situation in the mega city the government has taken up the initiative to bring the total city area under camera surveillance.

Under the project, 155 close circuit television (CCTV) cameras were supposed to be installed at 59 points in the city. About 93 per cent work of Tk 61 crore Asian Development Bank (ADB) project has already been completed.

AIG (Telecom) Aleem Ahmed told the New Nation that the installation of the CCTV at the vantage points in the city would be completed by early next year.

According to the work order issued in November 2006, the 'Command Control and Communication System' project involving setting up of a crime control monitoring online system at the Abdul Ghani Road Headquarters and establishment of four 90-meter towers for networking in the city, was scheduled to be finished by June 2007.

There will be display boards at 31 points where the general people will understand the traffic situation and DMP messages flashed for the public view.

Police source said, "There are cameras in parking lots, at road intersections and banks. It's just that the police aren't watching, and that's the difference."

Meanwhile, the DMP authority has purchased electronic equipment for the networking of the 35 Police Stations in the city. The law enforcement agencies tried to make a complete list of the criminals but failed to do so without proof. With the new technology police could be able to identify the real criminals.

AIG Ahmed told the New Nation that shots preserved in crime-surveillance cameras could be submitted at courts as evidences.

CG, EC bargaining with political parties under fire: Kamal opposes wholesale bailout of corruption suspects

UNB, Dhaka

Dr Kamal Hossain, a staunch advocate for the post-1/11 reforms, clobbered the caretaker government and the election commission for softening their position on fair polls and bargaining with some political parties for bending the newly framed electoral rules.

"How one can go for bargain holding constitutional post? Is there any room for bargain in the application of laws?" The Gano Forum president posed the questions during an interview with UNB at his Bailey Road residence, in the wake of continuing dilemmas over the belated general election, now set for December 18.

Dr Kamal, a leading jurist and framer of the country's constitution, vented both disappointments and annoyance mainly over what he said wholesale bail of those arrested on corruption charges, relaxation of election rules and regulations and party-registration provisions, and non-application of laws in a proper manner.

"The caretaker government and the election commission must not be defeated, they must succeed," the veteran jurist-politician said, yet on a note of optimism about a promised restart in national politics with a clean sheet following the painstaking purge in the interim period.

He noted that the interim regime has got support for last 20 months, "but now they seem desperate to give up. It looks as a stage-managed performance in the name of election, which will not be acceptable." Dr Kamal said they have always welcomed the Election Commission for its reorganization, separating its secretariat from the PM office, removing partisan election officials and preparation of the new digitized voters' list.

"Now, in the face of pressure and threat, the Election Commission is softening its stance on party registration and other matters saying that they are compromising in the interest of the elections. This is not expected," he said.

One must join the race by accepting the laws and regulations, he emphatically said in support of the sweeping changes being carried out since the January 11, 2007 changeover following a political crisis over the issues of the election earlier scheduled for January 22 last year and eventually cancelled.

Dr Kamal, known for his hard stance on cleaning up politics from corruption, money and muscle power, questioned the mass granting of over 200 bails to accused in corruption cases at one go before the vacation of the High Court.

"I've never seen this in my 50 years of legal profession," he said, adding that the caretaker government and the judiciary have the responsibility to inquire into how it could happen.

Demanding a thorough inquiry into the matter of bail binge, the eminent jurist said the legal process of granting bail should not be abused. The Appellate Division could also look into it.

He was critical of projecting the corrupt persons as politicians and raising the demand for their release as 'political prisoners'. He demanded publication of inquiry reports, charge sheets, trial proceedings and court verdicts against those convicted in corruption cases so they cannot claim to be innocent.

Naming some BNP and Awami League leaders and former MPs already convicted of corruption, Dr Kamal questioned if they political prisoners at all. "These people are telling lies, they are deceiving the nation; they should be given Oscar prize for lying," he said deploring the predicament of present-day politics and politicians.

Asked if the caretaker government has failed in its anti-corruption drive, he said the government achieved some success in its mission as some of the corrupt were already convicted while trial proceedings continued against others.

Criticizing the two big parties for their frequent threat that they would not join the elections if their demands were not met, he cited rules of international games like Olympics and questioned whether a player taking steroid could be allowed to compete in the games if proved positive after dope test. He said game organizers rather seize medals from such players and disqualify even for life term from future competitions.

Dr Kamal observed the parties demanding the release of corrupt politicians are basically deceiving the nation. "I will continue to fight desperately against it. I will call a spade a spade. A big lie is being foisted on another big lie. We cannot remain as slaves in independent Bangladesh," he said in an emotion-charged voice.

A former foreign minister of the post-independence period, Dr Kamal said the caretaker government and the election commission that have done some good works in the past 20 months must take certain steps immediately to ensure fair and acceptable elections to create a congenial atmosphere and a level playing field.

"They have taken 20 months to do it…Why they would give up at the last moment? They cannot hold the elections in a halfhearted manner. Why this kind of weakness is being shown?" he wondered.

Asked if he and his party will participate in the elections, he said Gano Froum would sit on October 17 to review the situation and take the decision. "We have been fighting for free and fair elections for last three years. We've spelt out a 23-point charter of demands and mobilized people's support to it by organizing road march."

He said the caretaker government and the election commission cannot deprive people of participating in fair elections. The laws which were amended for fair elections must be applied without any other considerations.

Asked whether the planned December 18 elections would be any different from the past, he said: "Next few weeks will tell you."

Asked if his party will join any alliance, Dr Kamal said they would join alliance with like-minded parties like the Awami League-ld 14-party combine and Prof. Badruddoza Chowdhury's Bikalpa Dhara. But he stands opposed to jumping on the bandwagon of the mega-alliance (moha jote).

CWC meets today: AL finalises amendments in constitution

Pankaj Karmakar

The members of Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) will meet today to bring necessary amendments to the party constitution to get registered with the Election Commission (EC).

The registration with the EC has been made mandatory for participating in the parliamentary elections in December.

Talking to the New Nation, AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury said, " In party councils we usually amend our constitution. But this time we have to amend our party constitution in the ALCWC only as per the directive of the EC."

About the banning of front organisations abroad she said, " The EC has forced us to act like hypocrites. It is not the headache of the Bangladesh Government whether the citizens of London will form an organisation or not, since they are obligated to the UK regulations not Bangladeshi Rule."

AL Central Organising Secretary MD Aktaruzzaman said the leaders would emphasis on the issue of retaining associate organisations within the country but not mentioning it in the party constitution as per the directive of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

About the leadership of the party the AL leader said there is no contradiction between the party's constitution and the Representatives of People's Order (RPO). So there is no need to bring reform in the provision of leadership.

Nouh-Ul-Alam Lelin, Information and Research Secretary of AL Central Committee informed that they will bring amendment in five provisions of the party constitution, which includes keeping of 33 per cent seats in reserve for female representatives, disassociation from front organisations abroad and keeping associate organisations in the country in a different set up.

AL leaders Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, a former minister and a member of constitution amendment committee, said, "Although the constitution of the party provides for joint leadership, it is not possible to implement this provision present. But the ALCWC should ponder over this issue."

He also informed that a provision for involving the grassroots-level leaders in the process of awarding nominations might be included where the AL parliamentary board would formally discuss with the grassroots leaders before awarding nomination.

He also opined that the ALCWC should keep 50 per cent female representation in the AL policymaking body by 2020 but for registration with the EC for participating in the national polls at present 33 per cent of reserve seats for female representatives would be approved today.

A team for drafting the amendment proposal led by HT Imam, member AL advisory council, would submit the draft proposal, which was likely to be approved by the committee today, source said.

The ALCWC will also discuss poll preparation for the upcoming national elections.

Matia Chowdhury said, "We had preparation for the postponed January 22 election. A number of committee and sub-committee were formed for that election. But in line with the changed political atmosphere we have to review and renew these committees."

She was also in favour of giving more privilege to the female leaders, including priority in nominations for contesting in the national polls, as the contribution of the female leaders and activists to the party is no less compared to their male counterparts.