The New Nation - Internet Edition

New uncertainty looms over polls: Jamaat seeks time as EC hears objections

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami did not attend the hearing of the objections made against it to the Election Commission on Saturday and requested the EC for extension of five more days for preparation saying that they had received the letter late. Earlier the Jamaat accused the Election Commission of creating vicious atmosphere by inviting their opponents in the hearing on the same day.

The EC heard the proof of war crimes that was submitted by the War Crimes Facts Finding Committee. Chief Election Commissioner along with the two other Commissioners conducted the two-hour hearing of the EC. Apart from the Fact Finding Committee, the Sector Commanders' Forum, Muktijoddha Sangshad, Bangladesh Sangskritik Jote, Projanmo 71, Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee and Amra Muktijoddhar Santan also attended the hearing .

A letter from Jamaat-e-Islami quoted a statement of the CEC, made on October 23, that there were no major obstacles to the registration of Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, among others, as they had "fulfilled all registration conditions." Jamaat's letter further quoted the CEC as saying: "It is the legal responsibility of the commission to get them registered without delay."

According to political observers, the situation has become complex adding to speculation that holding of election on schedule might become uncertain.

In another development making the work of the EC more difficult Begum Khaleda Zia has accused the Election Commission on Friday of being biased in favour of a party and demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and the two other commissioners.

She also blamed them for creating a confrontational atmosphere at a time when the commission was busy making preparation to hold election. The commission has decided to comply with the verdict of the High Court regarding the delimitation of constituencies. The accusation by BNP chief may give jolt to the preparatory works by the commission to hold election, according to observers.

Following the remarks made by Begum Khaleda Zia, Zillur Rahman, Acting Chief of Awami League charged that BNP was trying to wreck the general election.

The registration imbroglio planted another roadblock on way to the envisaged December 18 national elections after the delimitation dispute that forced the EC to withhold declaration of the poll scheduled today.

The organizations, comprising mainly war heroes, threatened to go to the higher court for cancellation of the registration through submitting legal facts and documents if the Election Commission allowed the party for registration.

Party registration is a prerequisite for contesting the coming polls under the reformed politico-electoral rules made by the interim regime against the backdrop of past crisis. But the EC has so far given registration certificate to only two from a long list of 107 parties.

The Election Commission summoned the two warring sides to yesterday's hearing at the EC secretariat to decide whether Jamaat should get registered or not with the commission. But Jamaat leaders were absent, with a claim that they had received the EC invitation letter too late.

Jamaat leader Jasimuddin Sarker in the morning submitted application and demanded of the commission to give them five days time to attend the hearing with preparation.

Jasimuddin told reporters that his party received the EC invitation letter at 8:15pm Thursday and they could not decide as the party's Amir and the secretary general were outside Dhaka.

As such, he said, the party applied to the commission for deferring the hearing by five days.

Terming Jamaat as a war-criminal organization, national professor Kabir Chowdhury from the 71'Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee said, "The Jamaat legally and humanitarianly cannot get registration as its amended constitution remains irrelevant with the constitution of Bangladesh."

Prof Muntasir Mamun said Jamaat is a foreign branch of the Indian organization and it wants to establish 'religiocracy (theocracy)'.

"Religiocracy and democracy cannot go hand in hand," he said.

Air vice-martial (retd) AK Khandker from the Sector Commanders Forum said Jamaat has talked against the liberation war for 37 years.

Replying to a question he said the Election Commission told them that it would take decision about Jamaat's registration after considering all evidences submitted against the party.

He said if the commission allowed Jamaat for registration as political party, his organization would go to the court. "We'll never accept the registration of Jamaat," he said.

Dr Hassan from War Crime Fact Finding Committee said Jamaat has been working in Bangladesh to implement foreign agenda. "The EC cannot give the verdict. If Jamaat is registered with the commission, we'll go to the higher court with more proven documents," he said in reply to a question.

Barrister Tania Amir said according to the Representation of People Order, Jamaat cannot get registration as in its party constitution it does not recognize country's judiciary.

However, there was no comment from the election commission on this score.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda-already facing the problem of missing today's date for announcing election schedule and the October 30 party-registration timeline-avoided reporters' queries, saying that they would not talk anything about this issue.

"We haven't taken any decision till now. We'll not tell anything today," he said in reply to more questions.

Meanwhile, the EC through hearing Saturday settled the dispute over the names and symbols of Bangladesh Jatiya Party's two splinters led by Abdul Matin and Andalib Rahman Partha.

The EC allocated the name Bangladesh Jatiya Party for the faction led by Matin while Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP for Andalib Rahman Partha' s.

Both factions' delegations expressed satisfaction over the decision made by the Election Commission.

Shun confrontational politics, urges Ban

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed
Chowdhury welcoming the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at
Zia International Airport on Saturday. PID photo

UNB, Dhaka

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Bangladesh’ s most pressing need is to ensure a peaceful transition back to democracy and for the incoming elected government to consolidate the democracy and reform to stem a recurrence of confrontational politics.

“This is an opportunity for the country, and in particular the political parties, to address the serious problems that have given rise to the politics of confrontation and violence,” he told a banquet at the Sheraton Hotel last night.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and his wife Neena Ahmed hosted the banquet in honor of the visiting UN secretary general and his spouse Ban Soon-Taek.

The chief executive of the United Nations arrived here in the evening on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, at a crucial time when the country is striving to steer clear of a serious crisis over election issues that had prompted the current state of emergency.

In his banquet speech the UN secretary general said the current political dialogue between the government and the political parties in the process of transition must succeed.

“But equally important is for an ongoing, constructive dialogue to take shape between the leadership of the two main political parties, so as to stabilize and strengthen the quality of democracy in this country,” Ban Ki-moon told the function.

He didn’t name Awami League and BNP, the two former ruling parties whose rivalry is broadly blamed for confrontation in politics and the eventual 1/11 changeover.

He noted that much commendable work has been done to prepare for a credible election in December. “The photo voter list commands widespread confidence. I am proud that the United Nations was able to contribute toward this important achievement,” he said.

The UN secretary general said it is now important to build on these achievements and to have in place the political and security condition necessary for a credible election. The protection of human rights is a vital element of this effort.

“You now face the challenge of ensuring a smooth return to a better democracy-a democracy that is sustainable and responsive to the needs of the people. In making this happen, I hope that the country and its leaders will be inspired by the best of Bangladesh’s history and its rich cultural heritage,” he told his elite audience of Dhaka.

He assured that UN system would remain Bangladesh’s close partner in facing the challenges ahead.

Ban Ki-moon noted that the people of Bangladesh have repeatedly made decisions that display courage, resourcefulness and independence of mind.

Listing the laudable achievements, he said, “They defended their language when it was threatened, they fought for independence when the odds stood against them, they reduced the rate of population density reached alarming levels and they gave the poor a chance to prove their creditworthiness through micro-credit.”

Earlier, UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, accompanied by his spouse Ban Soon-taek, arrived here yesterday afternoon on a two-day visit.

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury received him at Zia International Airport at 5:30pm.

The UN secretary general will hold official talks with the Foreign Adviser at Sonargaon Hotel this evening when UN development programs in the country and Bangladesh’s UN peacekeeping missions are expected to figure prominently.

The UN chief will attend a dinner to be hosted by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at Hotel Sheraton tonight.

Ban Ki-Moon will call on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

He is also likely to meet some political leaders.

The UN secretary general will visit the National Mausoleum at Savar today to pay homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War.

Later, he will visit a UNDP-funded Comprehensive Disaster Management Project in Sirajganj and a Grameen project site in Bogra.

US election race enters final stage: Obama, McCain ready for epic battle

Barack Obama speaks during a rally at Wicker
Memorial Park in Highland Indiana and John McCain greets
supporters during a rally at the Christopher Newport
University in Newport Virginia on Saturday. AP
photo

Agencies, Washington

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain enter the final weekend of their epic United States election battle Saturday, scrambling across several states in a last dash for votes.

Obama, aiming to become the first African-American to be elected president next Tuesday, was bidding to lock down western battlegrounds in Nevada and Colorado before returning to the bellwether state of Missouri.

Victory in the west would go a large way towards securing an election triumph for Obama, even if he loses one of the major toss-up states out east such as Florida, a pivotal state in recent US elections.

Midwestern Missouri meanwhile has an impressive track record of backing the White House winner in every election since 1904, with one exception in 1956. Obama was to be joined by his wife Michelle at the events in Pueblo, Colorado and Springfield, Missouri.

The would-be first couple was to head on to must-win Ohio Sunday for three events including a rally with rocker Bruce Springsteen in Cleveland. Obama's running mate Joseph Biden was stumping in Indiana and Ohio on Saturday.

McCain, meanwhile, was preparing to hit the trail in Virginia and Pennsylvania before heading to New York to make a cameo appearance in television comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live.

Despite gloomy polls that suggest Obama is heading for victory, the McCain campaign has defiantly said they remain in the hunt.

At a rally in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, a fired-up McCain got a welcome lift from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

McCain told supporters: "I know a winning campaign when I see one. We're a couple of points back. Arnold said it best. The Mac is back. We need a new direction and we have to fight for it."

However Obama's massive campaign spending advantage has forced McCain onto the defense. McCain and running mate Sarah Palin will each race through seven states on Monday, many of them normally reliably Republican.

McCain has struggled to disassociate his campaign from the Republican administration of outgoing President George W. Bush.

In an interview on Friday, Obama said the other pressing priorities if he wins would be achieving energy independence and enacting universal health care for Americans reeling from the economic crisis.

"And none of this can be accomplished if we continue to see a potential meltdown in the banking system or the financial system," he told CNN in Iowa, where he beat Hillary Clinton in the year's first Democratic nominating clash.

"So that's priority number one, making sure that the plumbing works in our capitalist system," Obama said.

He refused to detail his potential choice of Treasury secretary-but noted that his economic advisers include ex-Treasury secretary Larry Summers, former Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker and billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

On Friday Obama said he had admired McCain in 2000, when the Republican had decried "low road" politics after going down to a vicious smear campaign in his contest against Bush for the Republican nomination that year.

"But the high road didn't lead him to the White House then, so this time, he decided to take a different route," the Democrat said.

"But Iowa, at this moment, in this election, we have the chance to do more than just beat back this kind of politics-we have the chance to end it once and for all," he said in Des Moines.

"We have the chance to prove that the one thing more powerful than the politics of anything-goes-the one thing the cynics don't count on-is the will of the American people.

"That's how we'll steer ourselves out of this crisis-with a new politics for a new time. That's how we'll build the future we know is possible-as one people, as one nation."

National Youth Fair begins

Artistes performing dance at the inaugural function
of 7-day-long National Youth Festival -'08 at Shishu Academy
premises in the city on Saturday. NN photo

Staff Reporter

A seven-day National Youth Fair to promote marketing of the products made by the youth started yesterday in the city at the Shishu Academy premise.

The fair marked the National Youth Day with the slogan "Eradication of Youth Unemployment through Appropriate Training."

Secretary of Ministry of Youth and Sports Dr Golam Mostofa Taluukder inaugurated the programme as chief guest. He said the curriculum of the trainings had been improved to international standard to meet the challenges of the world. He visited the stalls after the inauguration ceremony.

Several organisations, especially the trainees of the Department of Youth Development displayed a variety of items in the fair. National and international organisations are taking part. Some 130 stalls are displaying clothes, show pieces, and potteries items, among others.

Some stalls are giving information related to youth development. The best stall will be awarded. All participants will get certificates.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sadaruddin Ahmed and Fakhrul Islam, Managing Director of the Department of Youth Development were present, among others, in the programme.

Race to White House

Delivering his party's radio address for the final weekend of the campaign, Barack Obama said his election would help change the country and the world. He said the election comes during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, affecting jobs, home values, pensions, wages, health care and college expenses. To address these he promised tax breaks, reduced health care costs and investments in renewable energy. Speaking in Iowa and Indiana, Barack Obama warned McCain campaign was likely to escalate into vicious attacks in the last few days.

Meanwhile, some of the Afro-American voters interviewed by TV-channels expressed apprehension that their votes might be stolen by pro-Republicans, working clandestinely. There was also speculation that the 7% of voters shown as independent nationally might be all whites and majority of them might vote against Obama. All told, Obama's victory in polling on 4 November is being seen as anything but "signed, sealed and delivered".

John McCain is spending two days campaigning in Ohio, which is seen as a must-win state if he is to have any chance of victory. McCain charged "Obama began his campaign in the liberal left lane of politics and never left it. He is more liberal than a senator who calls himself a socialist", he added. California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a speech in the presence of McCain in Ohio, said that the Republican candidate was the real action hero. According to internal polling by McCain's campaign he was closing the gap with Obama in the final days. Most analysts agree on this.

Commuters get no benefit of fuel price hike: Bus operators charge high fare

Staff Reporter

None of the city commuters could avail the benefit of recent reduction of fuel oil price as no single bus companies have reduced the bus fare even after one week of fuel tariff cut.

Still now the bus companies are charging the same fare they were charging before the tariff reduction of fuel amid daily quarrels between the commuters and the bus conductors.

On October 26, the Government re-fixed the prices of diesel and kerosene at Tk 48 from Tk 55 per litre while that of petrol at Tk 78 from Tk 87 and octane at Tk 80 from Tk 90.

Following the fuel price reduction the Government re-fixed the transport fare reducing it by Tk 0.7 per kilometer. However, none of the bus companies followed the Government order.

On June 30 the Government hiked fuel oil price in different ranges. It raised the prices of diesel and kerosene to Tk 55 from Tk 40, petrol to Tk 87 from Tk 65, and octane to Tk 90 from Tk 67.

In the following day most of the bus companies raised fare by Tk 2 to Tk 5 for their entire routes.

A passenger in the city said the transport owners had taken little time in raising fares when the fuel prices were increased by the Government, but they are now reluctant to bring down the fares when the fuel prices have been reduced. Passengers are being harassed by bus staff on different routes of the city when they refuse to pay excess fares. "The transport owners and the workers are controlling the route. The government has no control on them," said a passenger in busy Motijheel area.

However, the Traffic Department of police has launched a special drive in the city yesterday to check such incidents.

During the drive police will check whether the transport authorities are taking extra fares.

Before reducing the fuel oil price special assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr M Tamim told newsmen that the government will ensure that common people get the benefits of the reduction. But people saw no such arrangements from the government to ensure the benefit.

HC judgment on JS seat delimitation dispute today

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court delivers its crucial judgment today on the delimitation dispute over parliamentary constituencies that held back declaration of the election schedule.

Schedule for the long-stalled parliamentary polls was supposed to be announced the same day according to the timeline set by the Election Commission.

On Thursday, an HC division bench comprising Justice Mir Hasmat Ali and Justice Shamim Hasnain, after a weeklong legal battle over the dispute raised by nine petitioners, set Sunday for judgment on its rule as to why the redrawn parliamentary constituencies 'should not be declared illegal'.

The same day, an Election Commission petition for vacating the High Court's earlier stay order on operation of the parliamentary seat delimitation will come up on the cause list for hearing.

On July 10 this year, the EC issued a gazette notification finalizing the list of parliamentary seats with district-wise redrawn boundaries.

The EC move drew severe flak from political parties that feared it would stand in the way as an obstacle to holding the stalled ninth parliamentary polls as per the roadmap that slated the polls for this coming December.

On August 7, four weeks after the re-demarcation of the JS seats, the High Court, following a public-interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by former BNP lawmaker Abdul Mannan, stayed for three months operation of the EC notification finally redrawing the parliamentary constituencies ahead of the polls that had once been stalled in January last year amid a political crisis over the election issues.

The HC stay remains in force till November 6, unless vacated, court sources said.

As a practice, the EC announces schedule for general election at least 42 days before the voting day.

Giving the interim order of stay, the High Court also had issued a rule upon the EC to explain why the impugned notification on the new list of parliament seats 'should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional'.

Mannan, also former state minister, challenged the legality of the EC' s notification on the delimitation, done under the recipe of reforms undertaken by the interim regime following the past crisis over the polls previously set for January 22, 2007.

The PIL writ petitioner contended that as per the constitution, delimitation of constituencies has to be done before the voter list is made. But the EC has redrawn constituencies after completing "more than 99 per cent of voter list".

BNP hatching plot to foil polls: Zillur

Staff Reporter

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday accused BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia of hatching conspiracy to foil long awaited national polls scheduled for December 18.

Her demand for the resignation of the Election Commission, Commissioners is the manifestation of the said design, he said. He said that Khaleda Zia was trying to undermine the political situation by raising such demand sensing certain defeat of her party in the upcoming national polls.

Zilur made this remark while addressing the leaders and activists at a token hunger strike programme of Gouranadi-Agoiljhara Awami Supporters' Forum demanding unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina at the Central Shaheed Minar.

"Khaleda's demand will severely harm the much-expected national polls of December 18. Such demand should not be made just before the elections," Zillur said.

Replying to a question, Zillur said, "The December 18 election will definitely be held and AL will participate under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. No conspiracy against the election will be successful."

Meanwhile, AL Presidium member Motia Chowdhury at an extended meeting of Dhaka City Awami League at the party's head office said, "Khaleda is hatching conspiracy to foil the national polls as she has understood that people would not vote for the anti-liberation force."

Matia warned that the people of the country would resist any conspiracy against the polls. "The national polls must be held on December 18. No deviation from this will be acceptable," she added.

Criticising Khaleda Zia's demand for EC's resignation, AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said, "Why should it resign now? The EC's only work is now to arrange the polls on December 18 in a free and fair manner."

Ashraful was addressing the leaders and activists at a protest rally of Jubo League demanding immediate release of Sheikh Hasina.

He apprehended that the country would fall into a deep crisis if the December 18 polls were foiled.

"I shudder when I think what will happen to the country if the December 18 elections are deferred," he said.

He further said the general election must be held for restoration of democracy in the country and protecting the country from massive losses both in political and economic sectors.

Ashraful also criticised the government's dilly-dallying tactics for releasing Sheikh Hasina and termed the cases against her 'false and fabricated'.

He suggested the EC to arrange the December 18 elections as per the previous constituency boundaries if any complexity arises regarding the re-delimitation of the constituency boundaries.

In the evening Doa and Milad Mahfil was held at the residence of AL Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu to mark the first death anniversary of his wife Begum Firoza Hossain.

Colonel (rtd) Oli Ahmed, Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Syed Ashraful Islam, AL Central Organising Secretary Abdul Mannan, among others, were also present on the occasion.

Election under emergency virtually selection: Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka

Smelling a rat in keeping emergency during the election BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said the government wants 'selection' in the name of election. "For whose benefit the government wants to continue the emergency," questioned Khaleda doubting administration's favour to her political adversaries. She was addressing the Sramik Dal activists at her Gulshan office Saturday evening.

Upset by government's insistence of holding election within emergency rules she said, "our election agents and workers would not be able to work freely. So, emergency has to be lifted for ensuring a free, fair and neutral election. And participation of all parties in the polls has to be ensured."

About creation of a level playing ground for the political parties, Khaleda said, "government wants to hold the election keeping us handicapped, keeping many of our leaders in jail … If you do not concede to our demands, how can we take part in the election," she posed the question directing at the government.

She said BNP certainly wants to go to polls. But that election has to be acceptable to the nation.

Khaleda noted with dissatisfaction at the absence of a proper election atmosphere in the country. "Nor do we see real preparation on the part of the government and EC for holding the polls as pledged on December 18."

Referring to the Awami League activities in frustrating the polls scheduled early last year Khaleda said, "we do not want disturbances, vandalism, anarchy and lawlessness in the country. We want a free and fair election."

The BNP chairperson felt that the country during the last two years went backward 20 years in the absence of representative government.

Asking the party's rank and file to prepare for election and also for movement Khaleda admired her party activists for enduring harassment and repression because of conspiracy against BNP.

Khaleda assured them that they would return to power if the election is held free and fair. People have confidence that BNP alone can resolve the problems they and the nation are facing.

Nazrul Islam, Sarwari Rahman, Zafrul Hasan and Abul Kashem Chowdhury were among the Sramik Dal leaders present at the meeting.

1st anniversary of separation of judiciary: Benefits reaching masses, say jurists

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Country's leading jurists yesterday observed that people have been getting the benefit of separation of judiciary from the administration.

They said its complete success depends on regular monitoring and active roles of the Supreme Court.

They made the comments while talking to The New Nation on one year completion of separation of judiciary that came into force November 1 last year.

Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said that the judiciary has been freed from the interference of administration and it is working smoothly.

"Now, it is the responsibility of both the judges and the lawyers to accelerate the legal process speedily with less expenses.

Advocate Mahbub Uddin, who is a standing committee member of the BNP, emphasised the need for maintaining honesty, sincerity and punctuality to ensure justice.

Advocate Subrata Chowdhury said the achievements of separation of judiciary would take time to consolidate since it started amid limitations.

He termed the development in the judicial system a positive indication saying that the active role of the Supreme Court would reach the benefit to the masses.

Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah said all stakeholders, including lawyers and judges are absolutely happy with the separation of judiciary.

"Time will come when its benefit reaches the people. But it's a matter of time," he said.

Barrister Rafiqul Islam, however, said question would be there if interference of ministry concerned persists in the functions of the lower courts

He also observed that there would be a little chance of political appointments of judges as a new committee, free from government interference, has been constituted in this regard.

5 injured in bus-train collision

Staff Reporter

At least five people were injured in a collision between a bus and a train at Malibagh rail crossing yesterday in the city. Sources said a passing train struck the city passenger bus Dibanishe, as the engine of the bus broke-down while crossing the Malibagh rail line.

The bus driver and some passengers jumped to safety, while others, who could not manage to leave the bus, received injuries in the accident.

Local people rescued the victims and rushed them to hospital for treatment.

The Fire Services and police rushed to the spot and hauled the mangled remains of the bus with a crane. A serious traffic jam was created on the roads in the city.