The New Nation - Internet Edition

BNP forced to go for party registration to "thwart conspiracy" Delwar

UNB, Dhaka

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain Sunday said they were somewhat forced to take the decision for party registration with the election commission to "thwart the conspiracy" to keep BNP out of the election race.

"It has been noticed by all that a conspiracy is on to keep BNP out of the election. In the recent past, attempts were made to wedge a split in BNP, he told reporters at his NAM apartment.

Delwar said that to frustrate all these moves, they have taken the decision for registration, so the BNP loved by the people cannot be liquidated.

He, however, said that the party registration and the question of participation in the election are not the same thing.

"We'll go for registration, but the decision will have to be taken whether or not we'll participate in the election," he said, adding that the registration would qualify the party for election.

The BNP secretary general reiterated that BNP would not take part in any arranged elections. "We'll participate (in election) when we'll be convinced about free and fair election," he said.

Delwar said they want participation of all parties in the elections, particularly of the two leaders-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. "People won't accept the elections without Khaleda and Hasina's participation."

On the second round of dialogue with the caretaker government, he said they wanted to sit with the government before their registration, but has not yet received any response from the government side.

Delwar said that during their recent dialogue with the government, they had pointed out some inconsistent provisions in the registration rules but those were not removed.

NGOs to resist IMF, WB ADB from dabbling into economic policy

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Social Forum (BSF), a forum of NGOs, has declared to resist IMF, World Bank, ADB and other donor agencies from interfering in the country's economic policy.

"Country's sovereignty has now become jeopardized due to naked interference of the three devils into our policies," said a statement of ActionAid Bangladesh issued on Sunday of behalf of the Forum.

The Forum was formed, among others, by ActionAid Bangladesh, Angikar Bangladesh, Shushashoner Jonno Pracharavijan (SUJAN), INCIDEN and some other humanitarian agencies.

They expressed their determination at the concluding session of a programme titled "Bangladesh Week" in the city on Saturday. Angikar Bangladesh president M Helaluddin recited a mock farewell-letter for IMF, WB and ADB on behalf of the Forum at the session.

A series of programmes were held across the country as part of the week-long campaign that kicked off on October 12 protesting the motive of the multilateral giants.

At the concluding session, the Forum leaders alleged that the amount of loan for Bangladesh and other recipient countries were increasing every year due to hard conditions imposed by IMF, WB and ADB.

"At present the country has to pay annually Tk 11,000 per head to repay loans to donors, amounting to a loss of Tk 14,000 crore per year," said the statement, adding that the amount is double than the country's health budget and 20 percent of the total budget for the current fiscal.

They said the world is now facing the adverse effect of climate change caused by the indiscreet consuming mentality of the rich countries while Bangladesh is one of the worst vulnerable countries to natural disasters due to climate change.

"Instead of acknowledging their responsibilities for the catastrophic situation, the rich countries through IMF, WB and ADB are now trying to implement their various projects in Bangladesh and other affected countries in the name of adaptation which will eventually increase poverty of the poor countries," said the Forum.

It said the people of the country never nodded to any kind of dictatorship in the past and urged people to get united against the evil motive of the multilateral financial institutions.

The forum leaders called upon the government to refrain from further signing such kind of agreements and placed a seven-point charter of demands to the donor agencies and the government.

Major demands include immediate waiver of debts, stopping imposition of the hard conditions, refraining from taking any project harmful to the environment, shifting the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) management to the government control, considering the climate change fund out of the foreign development aid and allocating funds to offset loss caused by climate change.

Other demands include providing compensation to those who have been affected by climate change caused by implementation of some of the development projects of IMF, WB and ADB, and stopping massive privatisation drive in the name of eradicating poverty and simultaneously providing adequate subsidy and increasing government allocation in the government service sectors.

ACC sends NCC list of convicts in graft cases

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sent to the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption a list of individuals who have been convicted by the lower courts in graft cases.

The list of convicts was sought from the anti-graft body last Monday.

"Yes, the list was sent at noon today. The list contained 100 cases involving 116 individuals," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told UNB.

He said the list has been sent without any comment, as when the list was sought the ACC was not given any reason for asking for the list.

Responding to a question, the ACC spokesperson said, "We have sent the list to NCC and if they want to send it to somewhere else they can do so."

The list was sought amid controversy over participation by convicts in the coming elections.

Breaking the news during the Commission's regular briefing last Monday, Col Hanif said, "The government today sought a list of convicted individuals from the Commission. I don't know whether it's for election purpose or for anything else. It appears that they (government) will do something with it."

Days later, Home Adviser and NCC chairman Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin said the list has nothing to do with elections rather it was sought for the records.

Kalyan Party chief calls for lifting emergency

UNB, Dhaka

Kalayan Party chairman Maj Gen (retd) Ibrahim has called for lifting the state emergency to create congenial atmosphere for the December 18 parliamentary polls.

"Although only two months left before elections, there is still no election environment in the country due to the state of emergency," he said.

Exchanging views with his party leaders at the party's New DOHS secretariat, General (retd) Ibrahim said the emergency prevents political parties from conducting openly their activities and reaching out to the people.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the emergency, he said people this time around have become quite conscious and would boycott the corrupt and terrorists in the coming elections.

General Ibrahim said his party stands for politics for change and observed that honest, educated and meritorious people are eager to salvage the nation from the politics of criminalization.

"If good people cannot go to electorates, muscle power will prevail," he apprehended.

Khaleda spend hectic hours discussing pre-poll politics

UNB, Dhaka

Former premier and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia spent nearly six hectic hours at her Gulshan office discussing pre-election politics and organizational activities with party leaders as well as intending candidates.

Shah Moazzem Hossain, who joined BNP before the stalled elections, met with her. Others who met with Begum Zia include former MPs Ilyas Ali, Harunor Rashid, Moazzem Hossain Alal, former state minister Abdul Hye and former secretary Haider Ali.

Besides, some intending candidates and repatriated Bangladeshis from Saudi Arabia also met with her.

BNP joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that political activities were discussed. Shah Moazzem Hossain also said they discussed organizational matters.

Begum Zia, who came to her office at about 5:45pm, left the office at about 11-45pm. She did not face reporters who were waiting outside the office.