The New Nation - Internet Edition

Preserve glorious history of Liberation War: President

President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
Prof. Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff General Moeen
U Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan
Nizam and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman
paying tributes to the memory

UNB, Dhaka

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Friday stressed on preserving the glorious history of the Liberation War of 1971.

"Liberation war is the greatest event in our national history. Freedom fighters are the greatest sons of this soil," he said addressing a reception of families of the Bir Shresthas and other gallantry-award-winning freedom fighters at the Armed Forces Division in Dhaka Cantonment marking the Armed Forces Day.

Adviser to Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin, chiefs of staff of the three services, Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division, Defence Secretary, and senior civil and military officers were present on the occasion.

On this day in 1971, Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising army, navy and air force came into existence and launched an all-out attack on Pakistan occupation forces, expediting the country's freedom.

President Iajuddin, also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, said various initiatives have been taken by the government for welfare of families of the Bir Shresthas and other freedom fighters, including gallantry-award-winners.

Besides, he said Liberation War Ministry and Armed Forces Division have also taken initiatives, including increase in allowances of freedom fighters to improve their economic condition.

President Iajuddin presented gifts to 44 gallantry-award-winning freedom fighters and family members, including close relatives of Shaheed Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Sipoy Hamidur Rahman (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Sipoy Muhammad Mustafa Kamal (Bir Shrestha), Sipoy Shaheed Muhammad Ruhul Amin ERA-1 (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Flight Lieutenant M Matiur Rahman (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Lance Naik Nur Muhammad Sheikh (Bir Shrestha) and Shaheed Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rauf (Bir Shrestha).

Earlier, the President placed wreath at Shikha Anirban, the Eternal Flame, at Dhaka Cantonment, paying tributes to the members of the armed forces who sacrificed their lives during the liberation war.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, Naval Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Air Chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman also placed wreaths at Shikha Anirban on behalf of their respective services.

Later, the three chiefs paid a courtesy call on the President at Armed Forces Division.

Army, navy and air force headquarters also accorded receptions to members of the martyred families, award- winning and retired freedom fighters of their respective services.

Various programmes were chalked out to celebrate the day in a befitting manner at all army garrisons, naval ships and establishments and air force bases throughout the country.

The day's programme began with offering munajat after Fazr prayers at all mosques at army garrisons, naval bases and establishments as well as air force bases throughout the country, seeking divine blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the nation and development and progress of the armed forces.

A special 'Anirban' programme illustrating the significance of the day was broadcast on Bangladesh Television. Bangladesh Betar also arranged a special "Durbar" programme on the occasion.

Conspiracy on to install particular party in power: Nizami

Nizami

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami Friday said caretaker government is hatching plot to install a particular party in power by holding one-sided staged managed polls 0n December 18.

Addressing a press conference at Jamaat central office, he said 4-party alliances had decided to take part in parliament election for the sake of people's interest and reestablishing democratic system. He said the alliance had put forward four demands cutting short of its 7-point demand to ensure free, fair and neutral elections.

The four demands are total lifting of the state of emergency, suspension of some 'objectionable' clauses in the amended RPO including repeal of clause 91(e), deferring the December 28 upazila elections by one month from parliament polls and rescheduling of the date of parliament elections to ensure that the hajis can cast their votes.

Nizami said the election commission agreed to defer the parliamentary polls to December 28 and conveyed it to the government after receiving positive response from political parties on November 19.

But he said suddenly the government put police administration on alert across the country and announced that the elections will be held as scheduled on December 18 without holding further discussions with them.

"We're surprised and frustrated like other people across the country by the announcement. The government made the announcement after being pressurized by a section of the people. This is nothing but a conspiracy putting a particular political party into power by holding stage-managed election," he said.

Nizami, however, did not mention the name of the section that he claimed put pressure on the government.

The Jamaat chief said his party has expressed solidarity with statement made by the four-party alliance leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia Thursday night that stated the four-party alliance would take part in the election if it is held on December 28.

Madonna divorced

Madonna & Guy Ritchi

BBC Online

Pop star Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie have been granted a divorce at the High Court in London.

The decree nisi was granted just a month after the couple, who have three children, declared their eight-year marriage was over.

A sworn statement released by the court showed the pop star petitioned for divorce on the grounds of Ritchie's unreasonable behaviour.

Neither Madonna, 50, nor her film-maker husband, 40, were in court yesterday

In her sworn statement, Madonna said Ritchie's behaviour was continuing.

Madonna also said in the statement that the couple had not been living at the same address for the six months before the date of the petition. The document was signed in Beverly Hills.

Custody 'shared'

The couple wed at Skibo Castle in Scotland in December 2000, and announced their separation last month after months of speculation.

The case was listed before District Judge Reid alongside 16 others "for pronouncement of decree or order under the special procedure rule".

It has been reported that the couple did not demand a financial settlement from each other. Madonna is thought to be worth some £300m, while Ritchie is believed to have £30m in assets.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie, with their son Rocco, in 2000 Ritchie and Madonna will reportedly share custody.

The couple are also reported to have agreed to share custody of their two boys, Rocco, eight, and three-year-old adopted David Banda, while Madonna's daughter from an earlier relationship, 12-year-old Lourdes, will stay with her.

Another statement released by the court showed Senior District Judge Philip Waller, who granted the divorce, was satisfied the court did not need to exercise powers under the Children Act.

This suggests the couple had come to an agreement over custody before the divorce.

Madonna is currently in the US playing dates on her Sticky & Sweet tour.

Friday's hearing lasted six minutes, with the judge granting decrees to a total of 17 couples.

If there are no disputes, a decree nisi can become a decree absolute within weeks, legally ending the marriage.

10 injured, 500 shanties burnt fire in city

Five hundred shanties were gutted at Gonaktuli in
the city yesterday. Focus Bangla

Staff Reporter

At least ten persons were injured and 500 shanties gutted in a fire at the city's Lalbagh slum under Hazaribagh Police Station yesterday.

Police and witness said the fire originated from a kitchen of a shanty at about 11:00am and engulfed the slum.

Source said hundred of slum dwellers were rendered homeless in the devastating fire.

Mahmmad Abdullah, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Hazaribagh Police Station told the New Nation that fire fighting units assisted by the law enforcers and local people brought the blaze under control at around 2:00pm.

Four to five people received minor injures during fighting the fire, the OC said adding no other casualty was reported.

Police women's network launched: Criminals to be netted before JS elections

Staff Reporter

Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Abdul Matin, yesterday said that the government has directed the law enforcing agencies to arrest the criminals considered threat to holding of free, fair and peaceful general elections.

The process of updating the list of criminals was going on he told reporters at the launching ceremony of Bangladesh Police Women's Network at Sonargaon Hotel in the afternoon.

Bangladesh Police and Police Reforms Programme jointly organised the function to launch Bangladesh Police Women's Network that will provide leadership in all relevant fields for the achievement of national and global objectives of women's development.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said that this time they would not go for any pre-announced special drive ahead of the polls as in the past. "We have changed our technique in arresting criminals and other violators of law."

He said they would do everything possible to strictly maintain law and order both before and during the parliamentary polls, as the government's first priority is to hold free, fair and terrorism-free elections.The IGP said here is no scope for the terrorists to escape the long hands of law. The country's law and order will be kept under control through our intelligence network. So far, we did not find anything to get worried.

Asked about the reported return of absconding criminals to the country before the polls, he said police has no such report. The police would definitely be informed through its intelligence network if any listed criminal returned to the country from their hideouts across the border and in that case, steps would be taken immediately.

Replying to another query, the IGP said he does not think the JMB is capable of conducting any more subversive activities in organise manner. But we are always alert about them.

8 mourners killed in Pak funeral blast

AP, Pakistan

A blast killed at least eight mourners yesterday at the funeral of a Shiite cleric in northwestern Pakistan who was gunned down hours earlier, police said. At least 28 others were wounded.

After the explosion, a mob burned several shops and vehicles near the blast site in Dera Ismail Khan, police officer Saadullah Marwat said.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan is undergoing a wave of Islamist violence that risks destabilizing the country as the West seeks its support in fighting al-Qaida and Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan. The motives for the shooting and blast were unclear, but in the past members of Pakistan's majority Sunni Muslim community have attacked Shiites, considered by some to be heretical. Northwestern Pakistan is home to scores of al-Qaida and Taliban extremists. They are Sunni, but mostly attack Pakistani police and military trying to root them out of the area. The victims were attending the funeral of cleric Allama Nazir Shah Naqvi, who was fatally shot earlier Friday, Marwat said, adding it was not yet clear if the blast was from a hidden explosive device, a grenade or a suicide bomber.

Eight bodies were taken to a local hospital where 28 people wounded in the attack were being treated, including some in critical condition, Dr. Farid Mehsud said.

Also in the border region, a suicide bomber late Thursday attacked a mosque where government-backed anti-militant tribesman were praying, killing eight, including the head of the group, officials said.

Seeking to curb soaring violence in Afghanistan, America is believed to have staged some 20 missile strikes on militant targets in Pakistan since August, almost all of them aimed at the lawless tribal region along the Afghan border.

But for the first time Wednesday, the missiles targeted militants beyond the tribal areas, deeper inside Pakistan. Six suspected insurgents were killed.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson on Thursday to protest the strike, the second time she has been called in since August.

"It was underscored to the U.S. ambassador that such attacks were a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty," a ministry statement said. The foreign secretary stressed the attacks must be stopped. The U.S. rarely confirms or denies involvement in strikes inside Pakistan, which are believed to be carried out mainly by unmanned CIA drones flown from Afghanistan.

Bar Council polls: AL backers fare well at Barisal

Barisal Correspondent

Awami League-backed Sammilito Ainjibi Somonnay Parishad has fared well at Barisal centre in nation wide voting of the Bar Council election which ended on Thursday .

Some 391voters out of 683 cast their votes at Barisal centre. Counting of the votes completed on late Thursday night.

Fourteen representatives equally split into 'general' and 'group' seats will be elected for a three-year term. The elected members will subsequently nominate a vice-president. The attorney general will be ex-officio president.

Three panels - Awami League-backed Sammilito Ainjibi Somonnay Parishad (Combined Lawyers Coordination Council), BNP-supported Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Parishad (United Nationalist Lawyers Council) and Ainjibi Oikya Panel (United Lawyers Panel) participated in the polls.

According to the declared results from Barisal centre, Zahirul Islam received 260 votes, Abdul Baset Majumdar 256,Syed Rezaur Rahman 248, Sharif Ahmed 242, Parimal Chandra Guha 236, Enayetur Rahim 235 and Kamrul Islam 214 votes in 'general seats' from Awami League-backed Sammilito Ainjibi Somonnay Parishad.

Asatun Nur Begum Panna got 137, ABM Nurul Islam 137 votes, Helaluddin Molla 123, Shihabuddin Mahmud 107, Shah Ilias Ratan 101, Shahjada 99 and Ashrafuzaman 98 votes from BNP-supported Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Parishad.

In group-E of Khulna-Barisal region, M A Hakim Howladar of Sammilito Ainjibi Somonnay Parishad received highest 260 votes and Abdul Malek of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Parishad 131 votes from Barisal centre.

The voting was held countrywide at 77 centers. Results will be announced in three or four days, officials said.

The last Bar Council election was held in May 2004.

Need to develop political institutions stressed

Staff Reporter

The development of political institutions for creating a strong parliamentary democratic system in the country was stressed at a discussion in the city.

The need to create a friendly atmosphere to involve more women in mainstream politics was also emphasised.

Speakers came to this conclusion at the discussion organised by Citizens Rights Movement (CRM) at the National Press Club on what to expect from the National Parliament, President, Speaker and MPs after the elections in 2008.

Founder Vice-president of the CRM, Fakir Delwar Hossain presided over the meeting, while the CRM Secretary General, Tushar Rehman moderated and delivered keynote speech in the programme.

Tushar presented 26-point of demand in his keynote including the demands of the autonomy of Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television.

Former MP of Awami League, Col (retd) Md Faruk Khan said the post of the speaker should be neutral. Two posts of Deputy Speakers should be created, one would come from the opposition and the other a woman. We should try to elect a person as the President who is above controversy, he added.

GM Kader, former MP of Jatiya Party said the concept of caretaker government could not be found in any other country except Bangladesh. This practice proved we were not enough honest.

Prof HKS Arefeen, Prof Mahbuba Nasrin of Dhaka University, Ruhin Hossain Prince, Member of Central Committee of Bangladesh Communist Party, among others, spoke at the discussion.

Concern over non-navigability of rivers

Staff Reporter

Speakers said at a discussion yesterday that 30 per cent of the total passengers and commodities transported in the country use the waterways.

They said now-a-days our waterways have been losing navigability due to negligence of the relevant department.

MN Creation organised the discussion on River and River-ways at the National Press Club in the city.

Addressing as chief guest former Secretary of BTRC Sayed Margub Morshed said our business and industrial sectors have been established on the banks of the rivers. We should take proper steps to recover these waterways by dredging the rivers from time to time.

In this programme MN Creation launched their fortnightly magazine Nadir Kotha (Of Rivers). They also screened a documentary film on the River.

Md Shahab Uddin Milon Editor of the magazine presided over the function. He also delivered the welcome speech.

NAP nominates 31 candidates for JS polls

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh National Awami Party (BNAP) has finalised nominations of 31 candidates to contest in the upcoming ninth Jatiya Sangsad election.

The nomination of the candidates has been finalised at a meeting of the parliamentary board of the party held on Thursday night with party chairman and former minister Shafiqul Gani Swapan in the chair, a press release said yesterday. The meeting also decided to submit the nomination papers if all political parties participate in the election.

The candidates, who got the nominations, are Shafiqul Gani Swapan- Nilphamari-1, 2 and Rangpur-3, Iqbal Hossain Forkan- Barisal-2 and 5, Begum Mansura Jahangir Mohiuddin-Nilphamari-4, AKM Golam Mostafa-Dhaka-8, Alhaj Golam Sarwar Khan- Moulvibazar- 2, Mohammad Abdul Halim (Babul)-Nilphamari-3, Mohammad Hossain Mollah-Narsingdi-3, Omar Farooq-Narsingdi-5, Advocate Abdur Rob Munshi-Barisal-6, Syed Shahjahan Saju- Comilla-7, Mohammad Amanullah Sikdar-Dhaka-18, Shamsur Rahman, Dhaka-16, Pirzada Mohammad Idris- Kushtia-3, Mohammad Khililur Rahman-Kurigram-1, Mohammad Shahidul Islam-Kurigram-2, Mohammad Shafiul Alam Jashim- Chittagong-1, Mohammad Shahidul Islam Chowdhury-Chittagong-3, Mojibur Rahman-Barisal-1, Advocate Shamsuj Jalal Chowdhury- Pirojpur-1, Prof.Abul Kashem Talukder-Jhalakathi-1, and Advocate Alhaj M.Azizur Rahman Manik- Jhalakathi-2, the press release added.

Criminal escapes with handcuffs from custody

UNB, Benapole

A criminal escaped with handcuffs from police custody in Jessore Rail Station yesterday

Police said they arrested Shamim, accused in a number of cases, from Bhaberber village Thursday night.

Shamim fled away after hitting the port thana police when they were taking him to Jessore court by a train.

Police launched a massive hunt in different areas of the district.

Army Chief lays foundation stone of 'Sena Shahayak School’

UNB, Dhaka

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed laid foundation stone of the main building of 'Sena Shahayak School' for handicapped children of armed forces personnel at Dhamalcoat, Dhaka Cantonment yesterday.

Addressing on the occasion, Army Chief wished success of the school and thanked all concerned who have engaged in building the school, said an ISPR release.

Among others, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman, Chief Patron of Sena Shahayak School Begum Nazneen Moeen and high military officials were present on the occasion.

Call to make Buriganga pollution-free

Staff Reporter

Sarborno Khelaghar Asar yesterday formed a human chain at Hazaribagh area in the city demanding, Buriganga free from pollution and illegal encroachment.

Convenor of Sarborno Mozammel Alim presided over the programme, while Secretary General of Central Khelaghar Asar Dr Lenin Chowdhury, Member Secretary of Save the Buriganga Movement Mihir Biswas, Leader of Khetmajur Somity Arnab Sirker,Joint Secretary of Sarborno Sambul Par and Tapan Saha, Asaduzzaman Asad, Mousumi Akter, among others, attended at the programme

The speakers said the Government have to be committed to save Buriganga from illegal encroachment to protect the river's navigability and make it pollution-free.

They also said the produced fish from waste of tannery is polluted fish. This production should be banned in the interest of public health.

Meghna Bridge opens to vehicular traffic

BSS, Dhaka

Vehicular movement resumed from 12 noon yesterday on 'Meghna Bridge' on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway as authorities lifted ban after 18 hours, Communications Ministry sources said.

The 18 hours restriction was imposed at 6.00 PM on Thursday for emergency repairing and joint casting of the bridge.

All transports, except heavy one, had been rerouted through Brahmanbaria-Moinamoti road during the period.

The Ministry is expected to open the 'Meghna-Bridge' for full traffic on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, one of the busiest highways of the country, on November 30 one week before the schedule, the sources told BSS.

Seventy percent repair work of the bridge has already been completed, which started on November 5 after 17 years of its construction, and the remaining work will be completed ahead of the schedule.

Child parliament team visits Sudha Sadan: Hasina assures of massive child development schemes

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday assured the delegates of Child Parliament, an NGO working for preserving child rights, to take up massive child development schemes, if AL was voted to power.

Sheikh Hasina's deputy information secretary Mahbubul Haque Shakil quoted her as assuring the NGO representatives at Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi.

She assured the delegates of initiatives for the betterment of children's education and livelihood, adopting effective measures to curb child-labour and providing free education to graduation level for all, if AL was voted to power. A group of delegates led by Sultana Selim Nishi, met with Shekh Hasina and handed the Child Parliament's written resolutions recorded at its sixth session to her during the hour-long meeting.

Talking to reporters Shakil said, "Sheikh Hasina is against the practice of keeping children standing along the roads on different occasions for greeting the VIPs including the president, ministers and ambassadors."

Quoting Sheikh Hasina, Shakil said, " If we resume office, such practices will be totally shunned. A corner of the national assembly will be kept reserved for the child observers during parliament sessions."

About Sheikh Hasina's assurance, Nargis Akter Ronnie of children parliament said, "She (Hasina) said children must not be involved in politics. She assured us that she would tell all AL supporters across the country not to involve children in any activities related to the upcoming elections.