The New Nation - Internet Edition

CA asks officials: Discharge election duties without fear or favour

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed addressing the
Deputy Commissioners, Police Supers and high government
officials at his office on Monday on the eve of 9th
parliamentary and 3rd upazila elections. PID photo

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday directed high and field level government officials to neutrally discharge election duties rising above all fear and favour during Parliamentary and Upazila elections.

"The whole nation is now prepared and eager for elections. Election preparations are at final stage. The government is determined to hold these two elections in a free and fair manner in line with the expectation of the nation" he added.

The Chief Adviser gave the directives while addressing the deputy commissioners, police supers and high government officials at his office here on the eve of the Ninth Jatiya Sangsad and third Upazila polls.

Advisers, high civil and military officials attended it. Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin also spoke on the occasion. Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder gave address of welcome.

Field level officers raised different issues related to discharging their election duties and expressed firm conviction to perform duties during the polls with utmost sincerity and devotion.

Referring to the long preparations of the government for holding the elections, Dr Fakhruddin said all efforts of the government are now on the way towards handing over power to an elected government through free, fair and acceptable elections.

Dr Fakhruddin assured them that the government would provide all cooperation and legal support in discharging election duties smoothly. He directed all concerned including the administration, law enforcing agencies-Police, RAB, BDR, Coast Guard, Ansar and the members of Armed Forces to discharge their duties shoulder to shoulder in a coordinated manner.

"Maintaining law and order and peaceful situation is a pre- condition of holding a free and fair election," he added.

"Any sort of negligence in election duty may hinder the election process, he said and reminded that the government would take necessary steps against any laxity.

Appreciating the services of the field level administration during natural calamities in the country in the past two years, the Chief Adviser hoped they would render better services in the upcoming elections.

The Chief Adviser asked the officials to strengthen the recovery drive of illegal arms and arrest the miscreants to create a fearless election environment.

He asked them to ensure participation of women and all voters irrespective of creed, caste and religion in the election process. Risky polling centers should be identified in advance and necessary steps should be taken, he said.

Dr Fakhruddin said hundred percent transparencies should be maintained in the whole process of elections from vote casting to announcing results. "Post election law and order situation should be maintained properly so that innocent citizens are not harassed by any quarter, " he added.

He suggested to take special measures for the polling centers in remote, char and coastal areas for the convenient of the voters.

Dr Fakhruddin said the upcoming general elections are very important in maintaining constitutional obligation and continuity as well as qualitative transition to democracy and politics.

"Eyes of every citizen and every voter of the country are now centered on the upcoming polls. The role of the officials relating to election activities are very important and sensitive at this moment," he added.

Referring to assuming the office about two years back, the Chief Adviser said the main target of the government was to hold free and fair elections in the country and it is now at the door step of that historic goal.

The Caretaker Government started its journey to establish political and social stability in the country at the same time move the wheel of economy in the direction of prosperity, he added.

"It was a hard task for the government to create a favourable environment for election, reorganising the democratic system and infrastructure bruised by corruption, violence, black money and muscle power" he added.

He said the government has undertaken a lot of reforms steps to make an institutional base to strengthen democracy in true sense.

Dr Fakhruddin termed the preparation of voter list of 8 crore,11 lakh and 31 thousand voter with photograph within 11 months only as a rare event in the world history.

The Election Commission, Armed Forces and others concerned have made it possible through relentless work in a coordinated manner, he added.

Harvest festival at DU

Students of Theatre and Music Department of Dhaka
University rendering song on TSC lawn in celebration of
Nabanna Utsab on Monday. FocusBangla

DU Correspondent

Nobanna Utsab` 1415 (New harvest festival) was observed at the Dhaka University.

The Theatre and Music Department of the University along with various cultural organisations organised the festival at TSC lawn yesterday.

The festival rally inaugurated by Arts Faculty Dean Dr Sadrul Amin started from Aparajeya Bangla.

Chairman of the Theatre and Music Department Dr Israfil Shahin, Dr Saiful Islam, Kuheli Islam, Shanaz Nasrin Ela, Abul Bashar, Shudip Chakrabartti, and Ziaul Haq Bhuyan, among others, participated on the occasion.

Marking the Festival, Theatre and Music department displayed two popular dramas in the evening. The displayed dramas were "Offending the Audience" by Peter Heineken, and the second one was "Catastrophe" by Samuel Becket.

It is mentionable that Nabanna Utsab is a known as rural Bangali tradition. People observed the festival in the autumn when paddy stared to ripe.

Lab test on Red Cow, Nido milk: SC rejects stay plea

Staff Reporter

Turning down the plea of Red Cow and Nido milk seeking stay on the High Court order of fresh test of all available brands of powdered milk and submit reports within three weeks the Supreme Court yesterday ordered the government to examine the presence of melamine in the powdered milk brands in any European country through the World Health Organisation.

In this context, the Appellate Division suo moto extended up to January 3, 2009, the temporary withdrawal of embargo on sale, display and marketing of five foreign brands of Diploma and Red Cow of Australia, Dano of Denmark, and Nido and Anlene of New Zealand.

The High Court on November 10 announced a three-week withdrawal of embargo on those melamine-tainted powdered milk.

A five-member Appellate Division bench led by chief justice MM Ruhul Amin passed the ruling yesterday by amending the High Court order.

Earlier on November 10 the High Court directed the Health Ministry to test samples of all brands of powdered milk in the laboratories of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and BSTI, and submit the reports to the court.

The High Court will take final decision on the milk powder brands after receiving test reports from organisations in Bangladesh and abroad.

In the hearing barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud represented Nestlé and advocate Mahmudul Islam Diploma and Red Cow.

The Supreme Court would go on vacation next month and if the report did not come by that time, it would be difficult for them to get a time extension, the counselors argued.

Morshed, the lawyer for the petitioner, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a human-rights organisation, opposed the plea for the extension.

The writ petitioners did not have any objections in testing the brands abroad. But the test should be in Europe, he added.

The court had asked the government to seek the views of WHO about whether the presence of melamine is harmful to health and present those before the court.

It had directed the government to publish the reports in the media so that people can make an informed decision about buying powdered milk.

On Nov. 6, the High Court summoned test reports on presence of melamine in the powdered milk brands and the government submitted the report to the High Court the next day.

On Oct. 23, the High Court ordered the government to stop sale and display of the eight milk powder brands that had been sent to Thailand for test.

Maritime talks ends with Myanmar inconclusively

Staff Reporter

The two day long Bangladesh and Myanmar maritime boundary talks ended yesterday inconclusively amid sharp disagreement on drawing the dividing line over the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

However, the two sides decided to continue the talks and placed two proposals on the methodology of delimitation but disagreed to adopt either.

As such, they decided to continue the current negotiations that got off hot on the heels of a near-confrontation over gas exploration by Myanmar in the waters claimed by Bangladesh.

The next round of talks will be held in Myanmar in January. The date will be decided at a time convenient to both sides.

Bangladesh team leader Additional Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmood briefing newsmen said Dhaka proposed principle of equity (180-degree line) following the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea).

But Yangon pressed for equidistance method (243-degree line), which he said, is unacceptable to Bangladesh, as it would turn into "block zone." Myanmar proposed to give a corridor to Bangladesh, but "we have rejected the proposal" he noted.

Mahmood said both the sides would discuss each other's proposal at the next meeting to find out a common formula out of it.

In reply to a question, Mahmood said he also requested the Myanmar side not to conduct survey or exploratory work within the disputed waters (East of 180-degree line) until an agreement is reached.

But, he said, Myanmar objected it and claimed that the area is close to their coastline.

The two sides signed agreed minutes at the end of their two-day meeting agreeing to carry on the technical-level negotiations.

Earlier, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, "This is a complex negotiation…This cannot be resolved today or tomorrow. We will continue our talks in the future to arrive at peaceful settlement."

He made the remarks to reporters after a meeting with Myanmar delegation leader and Deputy Foreign Minister Maung U Myint at the Foreign Ministry.

Iftekhar said the two sides explained their respective positions regarding the methodology of delimitation and tried to find out a common formula.

Asked about the outcome of the talks, Iftekhar said, "Outcome is continued talks."

The negotiations took off against the backdrop of a war-cry from both sides over the oil-exploration bid by Myanmar early this month. Myanmar stopped exploration in the wake of intense diplomatic efforts.

This was the third round of technical experts' negotiations on maritime boundary in last eight months. Earlier, the two neighbours held two technical-level talks in Dhaka and Bagan (Myanmar) in April and September this year on the matter.

Seat sharing among 14-party to be finalized today

UNB, Dhaka

As its preparations for contesting the December 18 polls have gathered momentum, the 14-party alliance appears to finalize the issue of its seat sharing among its allies today.

The alliance leaders are saying that the 14-party coalition's main focus this time will be on ensuring political and ideological victory in the polls.

Keeping in mind the coalition's infighting over seat sharing last time, the alliance leaders this time have been more careful about any possible internal wrangling over it.

To expedite the seat-sharing process, the 14-party yesterday sat for the second phase meeting at the Dhanmondi office of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina with its presidium member Amir Hossain Amu in the chair.

The 14-party leaders at the meeting said whatever the decisions come from the coalition on seat sharing, all parties will accept those unanimously.

While briefing journalists after the meeting, Amu said the discussions among the 14-party allies are going on in a very friendly manner and all are eagerly waiting to contest the election unitedly.

Amu reiterated the 14-party's Sunday's decision that the general election scheduled by the Election commission for December 18 cannot be deferred under any circumstances. "The nation doesn't want to see any dilly-dally about the parliamentary polls," Amu also demanded deferment of the upazila polls by 45 days as the 14-party thinks that many untoward incidents can take place if the local-body elections are held as per the announced schedule. "The date for the upazila polls is not realistic," he commented.

Asked about the much-talked-about grand alliance, Amu said the 14-party is their main coalition. "If any other democratic political party wants to join us, the final decision will be taken through discussions with our leader Sheikh Hasina."

Later replying to questions, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu ruled out the possibility of any misunderstanding among the allies over the seat-sharing issue.

"In this general election, we all partners of the 14-party alliance will give emphasis on political achievements. So, I don't think that there will be any misunderstanding among us over seat sharing," Inu said.

Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon said the 14-party alliance will work as a unit so that no dissatisfaction is created in a particular party over seat sharing.

AL presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Matia Chowdhury, Enamul Haq of National Awami Party (NAP), Haji Abdus Samad of Gana Azadi League, Asit Baran Roy of Communist Kendra, Jakir Hosain of Ganatantrik Majdur Party, Nurul Islam of Ganatantri Party and Dilip Barua of Sammyabadi Dal were present at the 14-party meeting.

Meanwhile, Awami League started distributing nomination letters among its selected candidates for the December 18 polls.

Party president Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the distribution of nomination letters at Sudha Sadan in the morning as it has finalized the nominations for its own party candidates against the all 300 parliamentary seats. But, the list is not being published to avoid any confusion with its allies in the 14-party coalition.

Awami League and the 14-party have decided to wait until the eleventh hour of the withdrawal date of nomination paper to finally declare its election candidates, according to sources in the party.

Citi Foundation launches financial quiz competition

Staff Reporter

Citi Foundation yesterday launched "Citi Foundation Financial Quiz Competition 2008" programme to promote financial education in Bangladesh.

The programme for the competition was announced at a press conference at the National Press Club in the capital.

This competition, second of its kind, has been jointly organised by Citibank, NA Bangladesh, and North South University (NSU). Channel i is the media partner of this programme.

Dr Hafiz GA Siddique, Vice Chancellor of North South University, presided over the press conference. It was attended, among others, by former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank Ibrahim Khaled, Dean of Business Faculty of Dhaka University Prof Dr Md Abbas Ali Khan, Managing Director of Citibank Mamun Rashid, Managing Director of Apex Adelchi Footwear Ltd Syed Nasim Manzur, Lecturer of Independent University of Bangladesh Md Arafat, Masih Ul Karim, Khondakar Parvez Manjur and Mahreen Mohiuddin.

Hafiz GA Siddique said, "our main goal is to promote financial education amongst the future leaders of the country and create a single platform for many young talents to stand out and get a wider exposure."

Speakers said the programme aims at creating competitive environment among the students of different public and private universities.

The press conference was told that a total of 16 public and private universities will take part in the contest for the championship and runners-up title. Each team will comprise three students. Each member of the wining team will be awarded prize money equivalent to USD 1000 while each member of the runners-up team will get prize money equivalent to USD 500.

The first round of the competition will be held in the second week of December and the final round in the last week of the same month.

The concluding function of the programme will be held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Centre.

The entire competition will be televised by Channel i. The advisory council has constituted a panel of Jury Committee to set up the questionnaire for each round of the quiz competition.

Hearing in Aug 21grenade attack on AL rally case continues

UNB, Dhaka

Hearing in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on AL rally was set for November 23 after deposition of the complainant in the Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal here yesterday.

Twenty-two accused including former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu and HuJi chief Mufti Abdul Hannan were earlier indicted in the case.

Of the accused, 14 are in custody while the others remained fugitive.

Some 22 people including AL women wing president Ivy Rahman were killed in the grenade attack in a rally in front of the party central office.

Rajshahi BNP demands CECs resignation

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Rajshahi district and Metropolitan units of BNP have demanded resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for his failure to supply voter list to the party men in due time at a press conference at Rajshahi Metropolitan Press Club Sunday.

"The last date of submission of nomination paper was November 20 and the voter list was essential to fill the nomination forms. But Rajshahi EC office was unable to supply the list before November 19", they alleged.

Rajshahi district BNP leaders Azizur Rahman, Mustafizul Iqbal, Ala Uddin Ahmen, Rafiqul Islalm, Tofzzal Hossain, among others, attended the conference.

3 killed in Comilla road accident

BSS, Comilla

Three persons, including a child, were killed and three others injured in a road accident at Dighalichar under Burichang thana yesterday afternoon.

Police and locals said the accident took place on Comilla-Mirpur road when a Burichang-bound CNG-run autorickshaw from Comilla town collided head on with a truck.

Being informed, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies. The injured were sent to different hospitals in Comilla town.

The dead were identified as Shamsul Haque, 50, son of late Yakub Ali, Iva, 4, daughter of Faizuddin, and auto-rickshaw driver Saiful, 30, son of Siraj Ali.

Police seized both the vehicles.

ACC refers 283 names to TAC for clemency

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has so far put forward 283 names to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) for considering their clemency applications in return for ill-gotten wealth.

"Some 283 individuals have so far applied for referring their applications to Tac and we've sent those in due time," ACC director general (special inquiry and investigation) M Shajahan told its regular briefing yesterday.

"There is no application pending with the Commission at the moment," he added.

Replying to a question, Shajahan said the latest list of applicants was sent to Tac Sunday. He, however, would not say how many corrupt individuals were on the latest list.

Responding to a query, he said if the deadline for filing clemency applications is extended by Tac, the ACC would refer any application filed within that time.

Asked about a report run by a daily that the ACC's target to get a certain number of individuals convicted by December, the director general said, "The Commission has no such target. There is no fixed target. Our job is to inquire and investigate. We'll work wherein there is corruption."

Replying to a question about returning clemency applications to the ACC by Tac, he said, "I'm not aware of such information."

About Mahmudur Rahman's complaint against ACC chairman that was sent to the Cabinet Division, Shajahan said, "I'm not able to say anything about it now."

He revealed that the Commission has approved the filing of two graft cases and submission of charge sheets in two cases.

A case will be filed against BNP leader and former Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BTRC) chairman Taimur Alam Khandaker for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 2.07 crore.

The Commission will file a case against Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafar Ullah's son Raihan Zafar for illegally earning wealth worth Tk 88.87 lakh and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 44 lakh.

Besides, charge sheets in two graft cases will be submitted against four individuals on charges of taking bribe and misappropriation of money.

Call to include women rights in poll manifestoes

Staff Reporter

Speakers emphasised on the inclusion of the rights of women and labourers in the electoral manifestoes for the upcoming national polls and for the implementation of these after the elections.

They called upon the political parties to nominate at least 15 per cent women in the forthcoming elections.

This consultation came out yesterday at a press briefing organised by Karmojibi Nari at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the city. Director of the organisation, Mahmuda Imam, presided over the conference.

Reformation is needed for the implementation of rights, not for securing victory in the polls, they said.

Arifa Akter Banu, Coordinator of the organisation presented a 22-point demand to the parties for the establishment of human rights for the women and poor people.

They urged to implement National Policies for Woman Development of 1997 and the declaration of CEDAW. They demanded adequate training facilities for women in developing their professional career.

Fatima Hossain, founder member and Al Azam Khan coordinator of Karmojibi Nari took part in the briefing.

Insecticide-treated mosquito net can curb deaths in malaria

BSS, Dhaka

Professionals of national and international healthcare institutions at a roundtable yesterday said insecticide-treated mosquito nets could help reduce deaths due to malaria effectively in the country.

They said the outbreak of the disease is taking a serious turn in 13 districts particularly in mosquito-infested areas in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of the country as 98 percent people of the areas are under the risk of malaria.

The media can be a most powerful apparatus to aware the people about the disease, the professionals said adding that most of the malaria-caused deaths happen due to lack of awareness among the rural people.

The professionals were addressing the roundtable on 'Role of the media in controlling malaria' at BRAC centre in the city.

Vice-President of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Parvez Khan chaired the roundtable, jointly organised by the DRU and the BRAC. Senior journalist Farid Hossain spoke as the special guest. Professors of different medical colleges, representatives of WHO and ICDDR,B, civil surgeons and journalists participated in the roundtable. The disease attacks over 30 crore people every year in the world, while it claims 11 lakh mostly under five children and expectant women, said Dr Moktadir Kabir, a professional of BRAC Health Programme (Malaria), while presenting a keynote paper on the topic of the roundtable. Professor Dr Imran Bin Yunus of Chittagong Medical College favoured strengthening monitoring activities in the rural areas, where health workers are providing the malaria-infected people with treatment. The spraying of mosquito killing insecticide needs to be expanded to five percent areas of the country where access to the areas is not easy, said Dr Yusuf. Dr Mohamamd Abul Fayez, Director General of Health Directorate, said the government has taken a number of programmes to reduce the risk of attacks by the malaria on 1.9 crore people by 50 percent by 1012.

Breastfeeding stressed

DU Correspondent

Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation in a statement yesterday urged professionals especially physicians to encourage mothers to give breast-milk to their babies.

The Foundation observed that some pharmaceutical companies and powder milk producers and suppliers were persuading medical practitioners with attractive financial gains to strengthen their promotional work to give powder milk to the babies.

Terming the activities unethical, Chairman of the Foundation SK Roy said it was totally contradictory to the ethical commitment and the code of "Breast Milk Substitute (BMS)."

As mothers in the country depend much on the suggestions from doctors such misguidance leads to harm rather than the well being of the children, the statement noted.

Pediatricians and gynecologists suggest mother's breast-milk is best for the infant's health and powder-milk seriously harms the babies.

Pre-poll security for women, children demanded

Staff Reporter

Statistics based on the national dailies show that 403 people were killed and 163 women, including disabled and children, raped in the last three months from July-September this year.

This was disclosed at a press conference jointly organised by Bangladesh Development Partnership Center (BDCP), South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), Bangladesh Human Rights Defenders Group (BHRDG), Nari O Manobadhikar Foundation (NAMAF) at the National Press Club in the city.

They demanded security for each and every woman of the country especially before and after the national polls.

They said women are being tortured both at home and outside. They became victims in many forms of maltreatments. They said 65 people alone received acid burns this year.

They also said repression against the minorities have increased manifolds over the previous years.

The conference was organised marking Grameen Nari Dibos, being observed since 1997.