The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pak envoy meets Hasina

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated that her party is ready to take part in the December 18 parliamentary elections and its nomination process is at the final stage.

Hasina made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner Alamgir Babar at her Sudha Sadan residence at 11am.

Briefing reporters, Al acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said they discussed the upcoming parliamentary polls and both agreed that the present crisis could only be resolved through the elections.

He said Awami League will soon sit with parties of the grand alliance for sharing seats and finalize candidatures for 300 constituencies.

Ashraful said Awami League believes that the election will be held on December 18 and all parties will participate in it.

Asked about Hasina-Khaleda talks, he said, "We're now busy with elections. Our nominations are almost at the final stage. We'll see whenever the question will arise in the future."

Sought his comments about the December 18 polls, the Pakistan High Commissioner said it is a matter of the government, Election Commission and political parties to decide. "Pakistan will respect the verdict of the Bangladeshi people," he said, adding that since the schedule is in place, the elections will be held on schedule.

Savar liquor death toll rises to 6

UNB, Savar

With the death of three more people, the death toll from Wednesday's toxic liquor taking incident in Dhamrai rose to 6.

Hospital sources said Enam Ali, 65, of Agjethail village and Abed Ali, 45, of Khalilabad village died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday night while Mannan of Joar Amta village died at Saturia Hospital yesterday.

Three people died after taking rectified spirit at Jethail village in Dhamrai Wednesday night. They were Mozammel, Khabir and Shamsuddin of Joar Amta village.

Police could not make any arrest yet in this regard.

Garment worker hacked to death in N'ganj

UNB, Narayanganj

A garment worker was hacked to death allegedly by some fellow workers at Delpara under Fatulla thana on Friday night.

The deceased was identified as Azizul Huq, 16, hailed from Shahbazpur village in Mymensingh district. He was a worker of ZM Apparels.

Police said Azizul was severely hacked by some of his fellow workers behind the garment factory at about 8pm just after he came out of his working place. They also severed tendons of legs and hands of Azizul, leaving him seriously injured.

Azizul was rushed to Dhaka Mdical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Meanwhile, people caught one of the suspects of the incident alongwith a knife and gave him a good beating before handing over to police.

Fatulla thana OC Khan Atiqur Rahman said the killing might be a sequel to the previous enmity.

A case was filed.

Ex-MP Rafiqul Anwar freed on bail

UNB, Chittagong

Former Awami League (AL) lawmaker of port city Rafiqul Anwar was released on bail from the prison cell of Chittagong Medical College Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Earlier, Rafiq who represented Chittagong-4 constituency, got bail from the High Court in all five cases filed against him. He was already sentenced to 23 years by special courts in two cases.

Rafiq's name was included in the government's second list of 50 corruption suspects.

Police arrested him on April 28 last year with a pistol after raiding a residential hotel at Gulshan in capital.

RU students go on rampage

UNB, Rajshahi

Students of Folklore Department of Rajshahi University (RU) went on rampage yesterday to press home their demand for shifting the department to Social Science faculty from Arts faculty.

They turned violent and confined six teachers, including the Chairman of the department, in their rooms for an hour from 1pm, locked office, class room and seminar hall. The angry students damaged furniture.

The situation was brought under control when police came.

Kallyan Party interviews 53 intending candidates

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Kallyan Party (BKP) yesterday interviewed a total of 53 intending candidates to contest both in the parliamentary and upazila elections.

The interview was held at the party's chairman office at New DOHS at Mohakhali in the city.

The nine-member parliamentary board of BKP took interview of 43 candidates for the Jatiya Sangsad polls while 10 candidates for upazila elections.

BKP Chairman Major Gen (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Pratik, was present during the interview.

The members of the parliamentary board are: Sadek Ahmed Khan, acting secretary general, Prof Dr Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, vice chairman, Col (Retd) Engineer Mushtak Hossain, Forkan Ibrahim, Tusher Kanti Barri, Kahir Mahmud, Advocate Mobinul Haque and Mohammad Ali Sarkar.

The interview of the candidates will end today.

Meanwhile another faction of Kallyan Party would hold a discussion meeting on 'Moulana Bashani' at the conference lounge of the Jatiya Press Club today. Abdul Hannan Molla Polash, Acting Chairman of the party requested all to join the discussion.