The New Nation - Internet Edition

No doubt on 18 December election: Hossain Zillur: Decision on emergency after nomination filing

Hossain Zillur

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday claimed that most of the demands of the BNP-led four-party alliance had already been fulfilled.

The emergency will be further relaxed or even withdrawn if conditions prove congenial after submission of nomination papers, said a government adviser.

In a hurriedly called press conference, Adviser for Commerce and Education Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman made it clear that there should be no doubt about the holding of elections on December 18. The Adviser said, the entire nation was ready to switch over to political transition through a meaningful election on December 18 with the participation of all parties.

"Now, the main responsibility lies with the political parties who will contest the election," he said, adding that responsible and visionary role of all would expedite this transition period.

On BNP seven-point demand, he explained that the Upazila election has been deferred from its earlier date to December 28, as regards the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, the Adviser said that the matter had been resolved by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. About price hike, Dr Zillur said the government had taken necessary steps to keep prices of essentials under check.

The press conference was held after a meeting of the four advisers with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office in the morning.

Dr Hossain Zillur readout a written statement at the press conference and did not respond to queries from journalists.

He said the government might consider fully lifting the state of emergency if the election environment developed smoothly after submission of nomination papers.

Before the full withdrawal, the government spokesman said, another phase of relaxation of emergency was under consideration after the nomination process was complete.

On the political parties demand to create a level playing field, Hossain Zillur said the government had brought huge changes in field administration at the request of the Election Commission (EC).

"The government is determined to strictly control any tendency that influences the electoral process," he said.

The Adviser said if the EC received any complaint of bias, proper measures would be taken in this regard.

Regarding the RPO, he said to ease the situation many amendments had been brought to Representation of People's Order (RPO) Ordinance.

On the pending trial of a number of cases filed against some potential candidates, he said the issue was under the purview of independent judicial system.

The three other Advisers include M Anwarul Iqbal, Hassan Ariff and Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader, who dealt dialogue process with the political parties, were present at the briefing.

Political parties urged to enact law banning hartal

FBCCI President Annisul Haq speaking at a
businessmen's conference on 'Macro Economic Agenda' at a
city hotel on Saturday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Business leaders yesterday urged the political parties to pledge for enacting a law banning hartal and strike considering the greater interest of people.

"The country has been losing 1.5 per cent of its GDP growth due to hartal while another 1.5 per cent for frequent power outages each year . So, political parties should reach an understanding to ban hartal by enacting a law," FBCCI President Annisul Haq told a conference putting forward businesses 51-point recommendation for development of 21 sectors.

Apex trade body FBCCI organised the business conference at a city hotel to set up macro economic agenda with its president Annisul Haq in the chair.

They also demanded that the use of children and under-18 youths as picketers in strike and hartal by political parties be banned under the same law.

Annisul Haq hoped that the next elected government would take steps within its first 100 days in office for implementing their 51 recommendations for the development of 21 sectors, including the potential energy sector.

He suggested the replacement of obsolete power plants and formulation of a comprehensive coalmine policy.

The FBCCI President said there is a sense of uncertainty among the businesspeople over the next elections and he hoped that there would be an elected government in the country through a creditable election.

"We want a transparent parliament and parliamentarians who will build a corruption, hartal- and extortion-free society, and develop the country's infrastructures," he said.

The business leaders at the conference also emphasised the need for public-private partnership to take the country forward and adopting a long-term policy for economic development.

They said there should be public-private partnership in every sector for rapid development of the country. Businesspeople and political parties march together for expanding public-private partnership, they added.

Former caretaker government adviser Syed Manjur Elahi said, "The country's budget is hardly found to be pro-business as the bureaucracy has not been pro-business. So, businessmen should increase interactions with bureaucracy."

He also criticised the caretaker government for not taking effective steps against institutional corruption and hoped that the next government would carry on reforms initiated by the caretaker government like the separation of the judiciary.

ICC-B President Mahbubur Rahman, Former FBCCI president Mir Nasir, Abdul Awal Minto, BKMEA President Fazlul Haque and BGMEA President Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez also spoke at the conference.

AL, allies talk seat sharing today

Pulack Ghatack

Awami League will hold a meeting with its allies in the 14-party over sharing of parliamentary seats today.

However, apprehending a relatively comfortable position this time, AL is unwilling to share any significant number of seats with its partners either in the 14-party alliance or in the proposed grand alliance.

Awami League leaders so far held several informal talks with the leaders of Jatiya Party, LDP and Bikalpa Dhara over revival of the grand alliance and seat sharing with them.

But the party is yet to talk with its "tested friends" in the 14-party alliance, who contributed much to the anti-government movement and also proved their sincerity over some of Awami League leaders during the crises period when Sheikh Hasina was also imprisoned.

AL has almost finalised the nomination of its own candidates for the forthcoming general election, its spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam told journalists yesterday.

"From now, Awami League will finalise its allies' shares of seats in the (ninth) parliament," he said, indicating their full preparation for the polls although uncertainty still prevails with their archrival BNP sticking to its 7-point demand as a pre-condition for going to the polls.

Keeping in mind the possibility of 4-party alliances boycotting, AL has adopted a two-prone strategy to combat the polls, party sources said.

The Jatiya Party, Liberal Democratic Party and a few other parties, who would be part of an AL-led new grand alliance, will contest the polls separately should the BNP shy away from the elections.

AL will initially field candidates for 300 seats. After establishing the electoral alliance, AL candidates will withdraw their nominations from the constituencies where seats will be contested by allied parties.

The Jatiya Party primarily announced 102 nominations on Saturday. However, AL is willing to share at best 35 seats this time though the party was appeased by sharing 50 seats for January 22 election in 2007 which was foiled.

"Awami League had to sacrifice a lot at that time because the strategy was to isolate BNP-Jamaat alliance anyhow," said a leader of AL on condition of anonymity. "Now, the situation has changed," he added.

Left democratic allies of AL may bag at best 10 seats this time of which five for Workers Party, four for Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and one for Gonotantri party.

However, the left-parties combine will insist for AL support in 30 seats. Gonotantri Party will press for five seats though they have fulded 23 candidates unilaterally.

The Party president Nurul Islam will contest in Noakhali- 1, when Mohammad Afzal, another veteran leader will fight against Ershad in Rangpur-3.

The party will remain in the fray even if AL gives it away to Jatiya Party, insiders in the GP said.

Workers party will press for seven seats today while JSD also has almost a same number to bargain.

AL last time gave 23 seats to LDP candidates.

Energy to get priority in poll manifestoes: Say AL, BNP leaders

Staff Reporter

Both Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) would include energy as a top most priority sector in their election manifestos in the forthcoming national election.

Leaders of the two parties informed it at a roundtable on 'Energy in the Election Manifesto' at the National Press Club yesterday. The Forum for Energy Reporters', Bangladesh (FERB) organised the roundtable where Chairman of the organisation Mollah Amzad presented the keynote paper.

Col (retd) Faruq Khan, Member of the Advisory Committee of AL said that the energy sector will be the most prioritised sector of the AL election manifesto in the upcoming national election.

"The AL would take plan to provide 5,000 MW of electricity to the people within next five years if the party is elected in the forthcoming national election," he said, adding, "The AL would also make a vision paper to ensure electricity for all within 2021."

By setting up nuclear power plant and renewable power plants through regional cooperation, it will be able to generate 5,000 MW of electricity in next five years, he added.

Replying to a question, he said that the country's coal would be used only in the greater interest of the people.

In another question, the AL leader said that his party would review all the unequal deals made by the earlier governments in the energy sector and would solve dispute over the issues through negotiation.

He further said that any deal would be placed in the parliament before approval.

BNP Joint Secretary General Goyeshwar Chandra Roy said that the political parties should not be divisive in any positive development in the energy sector.

"Politicians here did not get the scope to express their opinion in the energy sector. Only retired army and government officials who are active in the political arena were able to make decision in any project," he said.

He opined that the politicians must be involved in policy making in the energy sector.

General Secretary of Jatiya Shramik Dal Jafrul Hasan said that the BNP would include the energy sector as a top agenda in its election manifesto.

Criticising the Caretaker Government's role in the energy sector, the Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said that the Ministry of Energy conducted all activities in energy sector in the interest of the foreign investors.

Prof Dr Ijaz Hossain of BUET said that the next elected government would lose its power if it fail to solve the energy crisis.

"Why could not the elected government produce 1,000MW to 2,000MW of electricity from coal if the Indian government could generate 6,000MW of power from it?" he questioned.

Dr Shahidul Islam of BUET emphasised on establishing Atomic Energy Power Plant to solve power crisis in the country.

Monjur Morshed said that both the government and opposition parties should work together to develop energy sector after next national election in the country.

Energy expert Dr Asaduzzaman stressed for setting up renewable energy plant to resolve power crisis.

Mollah Amzad in his keynote paper said, the main political parties could not clear their stand about the energy sector. "Due to that, energy and energy security remain as the main challenge before Bangladesh," he said.

4-party sticks to 7-point demand for going to polls

UNB, Dhaka

Sharply contradicting the claim of Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman the 4-party alliance leaders last night said none of their 7-point demand was implemented till Saturday.

Briefing the newsmen after the alliance meeting in the evening at Gulshan office of BNP, Khandker Delwar Hossain said, "the government has lost its neutrality. We are happy that cases against AL president Hasina have been withdrawn. But the cases against the alliance

leaders including Khaleda and Maulana Nizami have not been withdrawn,"

About the demand of the alliance Dr Zillur in a statement earlier today clearly said that emergency would be lifted in phases from the date of filing nomination. On demand of withdrawal of cases against the alliance leaders, he said it was a matter of the court.

Delwar termed the statement of Dr Zillur as irresponsible. "He had claimed six of the seven demands accepted. But none was implemented till today," he said and urged the Adviser not to mislead the nation by dishing out confusing statement.

Delwar avoided direct reply when asked if the alliance will not go to polls without accepting the demands. "We have made our stand clear. You take it from that."

He also refused to take a volley of questions shoot out by the reporters pertaining to upcoming election.

A leading English daily yesterday reported that Jamaat and some others in the alliance are anxious to go to polls and hinted at the prospect of connecting with BNP reformists and Jatiya Party.

The alliance meeting presided over by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was loaded with the presence of as many as six leaders of Jamaat. None of them was however willing to talk to reporters.

Delwar accused the government of favouring Awami League. "The government is highly generous to Awami League. All the cases against Sheikh Hasina have been withdrawn. But the cases against the alliance leaders including Khaleda and Nizami have not withdrawn. It shows how generous they are to Awami League."

"All our competent candidates have been tried and convicted with a motive to keep them out of the fray …The media is forbidden to publish the election results until official results are given by the Election Commission. It is clear they want to announce the pre-destined results." Added the BNP secretary general.

He said they are very much willing to take part in the election. "Accept our demand without any delay, we will immediately announce our positive decision."

The alliance leaders attended the meeting are Khandker Delwar Hossain, Rizvi Ahmed, Mohammad Qamaruzzaman, ATM Azharul Islam, Kader Mollah, Maulana Sayeedi, Maulana Abdus Sobhan, Rafiqul Islam, Andaleve Rahman, Shamim Al Mamoon, Abdul Latif Nezami, Maulana Ishaque and Prof Abdul Kader.

G-20 for reform to prevent financial upheaval: Bush warns over protectionism

AFP, Washington

A crisis summit of the world's 20 largest economies were meeting here on Saturday to outline steps to stimulate flagging global growth and prevent new financial upheaval, leaders said.

President George W. Bush, the lame-duck US leader hosting the emergency talks of the Group of 20 nations, warned at the summit's start against a relapse into trade protectionism as recession stalks global powers.

Following what he called a "frank discussion" among the leaders over dinner on Friday, Bush told reporters: "One of the dangers during a crisis such as this is that people would start implementing protectionist policies.

"I am pleased that we're discussing a way forward to make sure that such a crisis is unlikely to occur again. And I am pleased that the leaders reaffirmed the principles behind open markets and free trade," he said.

"Obviously, you know, this crisis has not ended. There's some progress being made, but there's still a lot of more work to be done."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has already slipped into recession, said: "The financial summit will adopt an action plan to demonstrate that the community of nations has the capacity to act."

"There exists here a major common willingness to reassure that such a crisis will not be repeated and to revive the world economy as quickly as possible," Merkel told reporters in her hotel before leaving for the summit.

French officials said the G20 leaders, whose countries represent 85 percent of the world economy, were to commit in a communique to three principles: stimulus efforts, reform of financial regulation and global governance changes.

Few specifics on the reforms were expected at this stage, a high-ranking official with French President Nicolas Sarkozy said, but an action plan with deadlines would be agreed with work to culminate on March 31.

The G20 , which includes the major industrialised nations as well as emerging giants Brazil, China, India and Russia, has been locked in debate about what caused the crisis let alone how to escape from it.

While Bush wants a limited tinkering with global financial rules, and no new trade barriers, Sarkozy has declared that "laissez-faire capitalism is over" as banks crippled by toxic mortgage assets are forced to turn to government aid.

And the summit is hamstrung by the absence of the man of the moment: US president-elect Barack Obama, who is not bound to implement any commitments made by Bush when he takes office in January.

On the Democrat's behalf, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and ex-Republican lawmaker Jim Leach have been holding a flurry of contacts with the G20 delegations.

On Saturday, the pair were to meet senior advisers from Britain, China, Italy and Japan, plus French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the Democratic Party's weekly radio address , Obama welcomed Bush's convocation of the summit "because our global economic crisis requires a coordinated global response."

"And yet, as we act in concert with other nations, we must also act immediately here at home to address America's own economic crisis," he said, calling for new stimulus spending following a package adopted by China.

A commitment to coordinate economic stimulus plans was seen as one possibility at the summit, with governments synchronising tax and spending initiatives to boost flagging confidence among investors and consumers.

The deputy chairman of India's Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, said late Friday he was "reasonably hopeful" that the leaders would endorse a "coordinated signal for a fiscal stimulus."

The global economic climate worsened as the leaders convened.

Adulterated alcohol seized

Staff Reporter

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) yesterday seized huge quantity of adulterated whiskey and arrested five persons from the T&T colony and Motijheel area in the city.

Tipped-off, a DNC team raided the T&T colony and unearthed a factory producing foreign made vodka and whiskey.

The DNC authority with the help of police arrested Hanif, Shabuddin, Shahjahan, Abdul and Aminul from the spot.

The arrested people confessed to the DNC authority that they mixed different colours and spirit with country made alcohol and sell those as foreign made ones. They also collect different brand labels of foreign made vodka and whiskey.

They said the cost of a litre of their 'foreign made whiskey' was only Tk 500 to Tk 600 but they fetch Tk 4,000 to the Tk 6,000 from their customers.

Narcotics officials conducted a thorough search and recovered a huge cache of locally made vodka and whiskey.

A case was filed with the police in this connection.

NDI team arrives to observe pre-poll atmosphere

UNB, Dhaka

A delegation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) arrived here yesterday to assess preparations and observe election atmosphere ahead of the parliamentary polls.

The delegation, led by Sam Gejdenson, former US Congressman and current NDI Board Member, will stay here until November 19, said a press release. The other members of the team are Saumura Tioulong, Member of the National Assembly of Cambodia, Peter Manikas, Senior Associate and Regional Director for NDI's Asia Programmes, and Jacqueline Corcoran, NDI/ Bangladesh Senior Resident Director.

They will be assisted by Dileepan Siva, NDI Washington DC Programme Manager, and Najia Hashemee, NDI/Bangladesh Senior Programme Manager.

The delegation is likely to meet the representatives of the caretaker government and the Election Commission, leaders of political parties, representatives of domestic monitoring groups and other civic organizations, journalists and members of the diplomatic community.

The purpose of its assessment of the pre-election atmosphere is to demonstrate the interest and support of the international community for a peaceful and democratic election process in Bangladesh, and to provide an impartial report on the environment surrounding the upcoming elections and the state of electoral preparations.

NDI is an independent non-governmental organisation that has conducted more than 1000 nonpartisan pre-election, election-day and post-election monitoring around the world.

A little delay in polls to make election meaningful: B Chy

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

A ten to twelve day delay in elections to ensure participation of all parties is acceptable, says Bikalpadhara Bangladesh chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury. 'The participation of all parties will make the election meaningful," the former president said.

His party was ready to participate, nevertheless, if the polls were held as scheduled on Dec 18, he added.

Mentioning that the 1/11 changeover occurred due in equal measure to the failure of the two major political parties, he said: "This time there are 33 per cent young and new voters and they will decide the future of Bangladesh."

Prof B Chowdhury said that his party would declare an electoral front comprising six to seven political parties within the next few days.

Dismissing the possibility of having the Ershad-led Jatiya Party in the alliance, he said: oil and water cannot mix.

Hasina-Khaleda talks irrelevant: Holding of election essential: Prof Mahmud

UNB, Dhaka

Eminent economist Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud yesterday said holding talks between the two top leaders (Hasina-Khaleda) of two major political parties is irrelevant at this point of time as the general election is slated for December 18.

"Time is so short. So, the most important thing is to hold the election through ensuring participation of all the political parties for transition into democracy," he told reporters at Hotel Radisson.

Prof Mahmud added that the discussion on improving the quality of parliamentary democracy, how parliament would function better, promising that there would be no hartal and the opposition would not boycott parliament would be irrelevant unless a participatory election takes place.

"It's now more important that the political parties clear their positions before the people," he said, adding: "It's the political parties that will have to solve the similar problem (of election) in the future unless it's solved now."

The economist said there is no alternative to election as management of the economic risks as the fallout of the global financial crisis would require public support.

"It's essential for us to have a democratic government with public support not only to face the challenges but also to utilize the opportunities likely to appear in the global economy," he said.