The New Nation - Internet Edition

Election rallies, processions banned until Nov 27: Cops asked to act against agitation programme

Staff Reporter

The Government yesterday warned the political parties to not to bring out election rallies and processions before November 27.

Breaking the order would be in breach of the emergency powers rules and necessary directives were given to police to take action against the violators.

The order came from a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order. Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Abdul Matin, Chairman of the Committee, presided over the meeting.

Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad, RAB Director General Hasan Mahmud Khandker and high officials of the Ministry attended the meeting.

"According to the latest amendment to the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) ban on publicity, rallies and procession have been withdrawn from 21 days ahead of the voting. Publicity for parliamentary election can be carried out from November 27," said Abdul Karim, Home Secretary to the journalists after the meeting.

To arrest the violators, police will intensify illegal arms recovery drive and take deposit of the legal arms to stop violence during the election.

Election rules bar publicity earlier than three weeks ahead of the general election slated for December 18. "Rallies and meetings held before that date would be in clear violation of the emergency powers rules and in that case the police would act," the Home Secretary said.

He said the Government scrapped Section 5 and 6 of the Emergency Powers Rules 2007 on November 3 after the schedule for the parliamentary and upazila polls were announced a day earlier. The restrictions on the election campaigning and the media were also lifted.

He also said the cabinet committee also urged the owners of all types of firearms to deposit those to police stations from November 20 to December 3. The arms would be kept until January 5 of the next year.

"After depositing the arms carrying of arms will remain banned till January 5 of 2009. Apart from law enforcing agency personnel the security workers of financial institutions including banks can carry arms if necessary," he mentioned.

He, however, said no new arms licence would be issued to any individual until the elections were over. The sale of all types of firearms and ammunition has also been banned until further notice. Law-enforcement agencies would be deployed in line with the demand of the Election Commission, Karim said.

He claimed that the law and order situation was comparatively better than last month. I don't see any possibility of its deterioration ahead of the elections.

REHAB urged to build low-price housing

Visitors at a stall on the opening day of 5-day-long
REHAB Fair at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre
in the city on Tuesday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

Communication, Housing and Public Works Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Golam Quader yesterday asked real estate businessmen to build low price sustainable housing for middle income people.

He was addressing as chief guest the inaugural ceremony of the five-day Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) Fair-2008 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Center in the city.

He said the real estate businessmen should fulfill all rules and regulations in developing housing projects to create a good environment friendly living for people.

Golam Quader laid emphasis on creating closer relationship among the real estate organisations and the government to promote planned urbanisation in the country.

He advised the REHAB members to expand their projects to localities outside big cities to help resolve housing problem.

He also advised them to use sustainable environment friendly technology in building houses.

The Housing and Public Works Adviser praised the REHAB activities for making significant contribution in the country's economic development.

The REHAB arranged the fair to showcase its new housing development schemes and designs and attract buyers to put booking orders as part of promoting sales and business.

A total of 192 real estate firms are taking part in the fair. Of them 187 are house building and land developing firms and the remaining five are banks and financial institutions supporting the housing sector.

The fair will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm daily except till November 16. Its one time entry fee is Taka 50 and for five days together Taka 100.

Secretary of the Housing and Public Works ASM Rashedul Haque, REHAB President Tanbirul Haque Probal, Vice President Abdur Rahim Khan, Shahidur Rahman Lal, addressed, among others on the occasion.

REHAB is organising seminars, lectures and drawing competition in the sideline of the event.

50 injured as cops, Jamaat activists clash

Police action on Jamaat activists when they brought
out a protest procession in front of Baitul Mokarram
National Mosquo yesterday demanding immediate release of the
party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali
Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid. NN ph

Staff Reporter

At least 50 people including five policemen were injured in clashes between activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Shibir with law enforcers near the Baitul Mokarram mosque yesterday.

On the first day of the five-day ultimatum Jamaat and Shibir leaders and workers gathered outside the mosque after Asr prayers, chanting anti-government slogans and demanding the release of ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, police said.

But police tried to resist the supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir from staging demonstrations on the street in front of the north gate of the national mosque in protest against the arrest of their leaders.

Nizami, Mujahid and senior BNP leader M Saifur Rahman-all three ministers of the immediate-past government-were sent to Dhaka Central Jail after they surrendered and sought bail in a special court in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case on Monday.

Jamaat and its student associates started gathering in front of the north gate of the mosque from 3:00 pm, source said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Nahidul Islam told the New Nation, "At one stage, the protesters took to the streets. When police requested them to give up the road and make room for traffic movement, they refused."

A group from inside the mosque compounds pelted brickbats at the police. As tension mounted, police baton charged to disperse the agitators, said the police official.

The clashes continued for about one hour during which some 45 people were injured, four policemen, among them, Nahidul Islam.

Traffic movement in the area came to a halt, police said.

"Police eventually brought the situation under control with the help of some Jamaat leaders," he added.

A tense situation was prevailing in the area. Police reinforcements were deployed there to avert any further untoward incident.

A senior police official unwilling to disclose his name told the New Nation that no one would be allowed to stage demonstrations in the country till November 27.

The city secretary of Jamaat Hamidur Rahman Azad told reporters that they would free their leaders within five days.

We were staging demonstrations after Asr prayers, but police baton charged and broke up our peaceful rally.

The city Jamaat in a press release issued last night deplored the police action on its leaders and worker in a peaceful rally in the city.

More BCS jobs to be created: Bid to accommodate first phase examinees

DU Correspondent

The government is set to create new posts in the BCS cadre service to accommodate successful candidates in the first phase result of the controversial 27th BCS examinations. The decision may be finalised in the cabinet meeting next week.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz divulged the information on Tuesday after meeting Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office at noon.

DU Arts Faculty Dean Prof Sadrul Amin, Social Science Faculty Dean Dr Harun-or-Rashid, Law Faculty Dean Dr Borhan Uddin Khan and Syndicate member Ahmed Kamal accompanied the VC at the meeting.

The successful candidates in the first and second phase results of the 27th BCS have been demonstrating on the Dhaka University campus for several weeks demanding their recruitment in government jobs.

Unsuccessful candidates in the 2nd phase result also threatened self-immolation to press home their demand. Against this backdrop, the government assigned DU VC Prof SMA Faiz to solve the problem through discussion with the candidates who were on hunger strike since November 1.

Meanwhile, appointment letters have been issued to the successful candidates in the second phase result of the 27th BCS examinations. According to the letter, the appointed persons will have to join their respective cadres or the Ministry of Establishment by November 30.

The Public Service Commission posted an advertisement on June 28, 2005 for the 27th BCS examinations, seeking applications for 1,776 vacant posts.

The PSC published the second phase results on September 24, recommending 3,239 candidates for appointment at cadre posts. The results came after over three years' legal hassle and allegations of irregularities in preliminary test, written examinations and viva voce.

PSC published the first phase result on January 21 last year. But allegations of corruption in the selection process made the rounds so much that the reconstituted PSC cancelled the viva results on May 30 last year, following recommendation of the advisory council.

Prison unrest subsides: Pintu declared ex-communicado

Hasanuzzaman Khan

The manhandling of a prison official inside a prison cell at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU) has hit the newspaper headlines. Except this all other happenings in the country's prisons are said to be normal.

VIP prisoner Nasiruddin Pintu, a former BNP MP, was resident at the BSMMU for last 10 months. He was reported to have developed habitual reluctance to attend the trial court proceedings at the high-security Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Sangsad complex. Deputy Jailer of Dhaka Central Jail also his namesake Nasir Ahmed went to the BSMMU prison cell to arrange his attendance in the trial proceedings on a graft charge at the high -profile tribunal at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

The prison official was assaulted mercilessly by the VIP prisoner causing profuse bleeding from his mouth. The prisoner was robbed of division status and sent to the ordinary prison cell at the Dhaka Central Jail. Pintu, considered as the naughty boy by the former prime miniser Khaleda Zia, was known for his unruly behaviour. Pintu was declared ex-communicado and barred from meeting all visitor-relatives.

Meanwhile, Champakali, famous VIP prison cell in the Dhaka Central Jail where once Tarique Rahman resided has got new inmates--Saifur Rahman, Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mujahid. These three former ministers of the Alliance Government were sent to the Jail by the trial court after their bail prayers were rejected on Monday.

Tarique Rahman was lodged at the Champakali prison cell before he was shifted to BSMMU after his illness resulting from spinal cord injury deteriorated. He was later flown to London for higher medical treatment.

The Champakali prison cell was given fresh face-lift after the arrival of its new inmates.

Mosharraf Hossain, former energy minister of Khaleda Zia regime, was sent to ordinary prison cell after his bail was rejected by the special court on surrender in Niko graft case.

But in a new development the fugitive politicians and ex-bureaucrats who were convicted under emergency laws in graft cases have procured nomination papers from their respective political party offices. But under emergency laws the convicts are barred from contesting any election.

In Bangladesh the convicts, some of them are on bail, are having easy sailing. They have even sought party nomination for upcoming JS election. Abul Hasnat Abdullah of Barisal, Shamim Osman of Narayanganj and Ctg Mayor Mohiuddin Choudhury have succeeded in obtaining party nomination from the grassroots level. These are subject to confirmation at the central parliamentary board of the party.

US Ambassador James F Moriarty who met ACC Chairman Hassan Mashhud Choudhury recently said it is the matter between the government and the political parties to decide whether the political convicts will contest polls or not.

There are a number of Bangladeshi politicians convicted under emergency in graft cases who are visiting European Countries and the US without any obstruction. They have been holding political meetings and conferences in US and UK.

But former Thai PM Thaksin Sinawatra has become a stateless person after the British government has revoked his visa after he was convicted on a corruption charge in Bangkok in absentia. All the airliners have been instructed not to allow Thaksin and his wife to board a Lonon-bound flight. Thaksin was deposed in a military coup in 2006. A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman said, they have checked the report with British authorities and found the visa was revoked.

Exiled Thaksin began searching for new home after abandoning his bid for asylum in Britain. I will keep traveling. I am leaving Beijing where he was at the moment, he told Reuters.

The Philippines will not grant political asylum to ousted Thaksin after his British visa was revoked. The media have reported that Thaksin may be heading to Manila, but Philippine authorities said, he has not applied for asylum and he would likely be turned down if he did.

In 2007 Bangladesh opposition leader Sheikh Hasina was barred from coming to Dhaka from US and UK where she made inflammatory anti-government statement. She did not have visa problem in those western countries. Later on she succeeded to manage to come back to Dhaka after restriction on her arrival was withdrawn.

Obama, Bush discuss world of challenges

US President George W. Bush walks with
President-elect Barack Obama during a visit to the White
House on Monday. Reuters

AFP, Washington

US president-elect Barack Obama met President George W. Bush for face-to-face talks at the White House, with help for the ailing US auto industry reportedly a top issue.

Obama, who routed the incumbent's fellow Republican John McCain in the November 4 election, made the visit as part of preparations ahead of his swearing in as president on January 20.

The carefully choreographed political truce came as Obama's advisers pored over eight years of Bush decisions with an eye to what policies should be rolled back.

Bush decisions that could be reversed include curbs on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and moves to open new lands to oil drilling.

The president and the president-elect met privately without note takers for about an hour in the Oval Office.

Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs would only say that the two had discussed the proposed economic stimulus package, the difficulties of the auto industry, housing foreclosures and foreign policy issues.

But The New York Times, citing unnamed people familiar with the discussion, reported Tuesday that Obama had asked Bush for immediate aid for the struggling US auto industry-and that Bush had said he could support that move in exchange for approval of a free-trade agreement with Colombia, currently stalled by Democrats in Congress.

Bush officials have been reluctant to grant ailing US automakers access to the 700-billion-dollar financial system bailout fund, even though the Democrats say the government has the authority to do so.

However neither Obama nor the Democrats in Congress seem willing to bend on Colombia, the Times wrote.

US labor unions, who are among the Democrats' core constituents, oppose the agreement because of the numerous murders of trade union members at the hands of right-wing paramilitary squads. Some commentators say these death squads are often linked to the Colombian armed forces.

Obama and wife Michelle arrived about 10 minutes early for their two-hour White House visit. The president and First Lady Laura Bush warmly welcomed the Obamas at the South Portico, a gateway to the mansion for many world leaders.

As their wives took a tour of the 132-room residential area, the 43rd president and his successor strolled along the Rose Garden and into the Oval Office.

Gibbs said the president-elect, who has a keen sense of history, was impressed with his first-ever visit to the Oval Office.

"What he said to me is it's a really nice office," said Gibbs.

Before Obama left the White House, the two men returned to the Oval Office, Gibbs said.

Bush described the talks as "good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.

"They spoke about both domestic and international issues, though since it was a private meeting the White House will decline to comment on specifics."

Bush also showed Obama the White House living quarters, including the office the president uses, the Lincoln Bedroom, and the rooms for Obama's two young daughters, said Perino.

Bush "enjoyed his visit with the president-elect, and he again pledged a smooth transition to the next administration," said Perino.

Obama in turn thanked Bush "for his commitment to a smooth transition and for his and First Lady Laura Bush's gracious hospitality," said transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.

The talks focused on ensuring a smooth transition given the country's economic and national security challenges, Cutter said in a statement.

Laura Bush showed Michelle Obama around the residential section and talked about raising children in the White House, said Cutter.

Obama's daughters Sasha, 7 and Malia, 10, will be the youngest children living in the presidential mansion since Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy, then 9, moved into the White House in 1977.

The Obamas flew in from their hometown of Chicago for the visit and flew back shortly after.

With Bush and Laura Bush standing outside on the sunny but chilly day, Obama's armored limousine pulled up and the 44th president got out first, then held the door open for his wife Michelle, who was wearing a bright red dress.

The Monday meeting came sooner after the election than usual, and far earlier than Bush's own similar talks with then-president Bill Clinton, which had to await a Supreme Court ruling that ended the botched 2000 election.

As Obama prepared to fly back to Chicago, he held a previously unannounced private one-hour meeting at the fire station at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport, but no information was released on whom he had met.

Top leaders need to work together: EU envoys

Staff Reporter

Three Ambassadors of European countries yesterday met BNP Chairperson Begum Khaled Zia at her Gulshan office in the city.

They said the country's top two leaders need to work together for restoring democracy.

They also hoped that a credible election would be held in Bangladesh with the participation of all political parties.

They went to Begum Zia's political office at about 6:30 pm and had an hour-long meeting with her. "It's necessary for the top two leaders of Bangladesh to work together for restoring democracy," Netherlands' Ambassador Bea Ten Tusscher told journalists after the meeting.

Britt F Hagstrom of Sweden, Itala Maria Marta Occhi of Italy and Bea Ten Tusscher of Netherlands are the three ambassadors whom met the BNP Chairperson. Asked about election under the state of emergency Tusscher said, "It is the matter of your country".

But she hoped that the political parties and the government will reach an understanding through discussions in this regard. Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, BNP spokesman and chairperson's foreign affairs adviser who was present at the meeting said, "We have an economic relation with the EU. We talked how its (EU's) development assistance could be increased for Bangladesh in the days to come."

BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain and former state minister Riaz Rahman were present during the meeting.

Hasina doubts polls on schedule

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed her doubts about holding of the long-awaited national elections on time.

Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, deputy press secretary of Sheikh Hasina, disclosed this to reporters after a meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Jubo League leaders at her Sudha Sadan residence in Dhanmondi.

"Our leader said conspiracy is going on to foil the national elections scheduled on December 18.She asked the party leaders to keep calm and be patient. Time will say what to do," he said.

A Jubo League delegation, led by its president Jahangir Kabir Nanak and general secretary Mirza Azam, met the with Sheikh Hasina to mark the 36th founding anniversary of the organisation.

Sheikh Hasina appreciated the performance of Jubo League during the party's crucial moments to overcome party crises, Shakil said.

He said Sheikh Hasina also announced to provide jobs for all the unemployed youth, if AL voted to power. Quoting Sheikh Hasina Shakil said, "We hope the youth will come forward to improve the country's image by their hard work."

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans yesterday met with Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence for the first time.

After the two-hour long bilateral meeting Evans said they talked about the upcoming parliamentary elections and other political and economic issues.

"We have reached a consensus that a transparent and neutral parliamentary election is a must to restore democracy in the country. The election should be held on December 18," Evans said.

Asked to comment about the threat of BNP to boycott the national election, he said, "BNP itself deserves the right to take the decision. But we hope that all parties will participate in the elections and the party should make out a way for its participation."

About BNP's allegation of the absence of level playing field for a fair election, Evans said he thinks this is a matter of the caretaker government to discuss with all political parties.

"I think all the political parties should have equal rights to participate and conduct campaign for the elections," he added.

After meeting with the British envoy, Sheikh Hasina's assistant secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said, " Sheikh Hasina believes that the national elections should be held in free, fair and credible manner with the participation of all the political parties."

"She emphasised on politics of commitment abandoning politics of confrontation," she said.

After returning to the country, Hasina met with several diplomats including the American ambassador on November 7, envoy of Saudi Arabia on November 8, diplomats of eight Muslim countries on November 9 and the Indian High Commissioner on November 10.