The New Nation - Internet Edition

New schedule for JS polls today: Elections being deferred to Dec end

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda
shaking hands with the leaders of Awami League-led Mohajote
at the Election Commission Secretariat in the city on
Saturday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission has decided to defer the scheduled parliamentary elections for nine to 11 days to give the BNP led 4-party alliance an extended time for poll preparation to ensure their participation.

The Commission expects to announce a fresh schedule today and the new polling date is likely to fall between December 27 and 29, CEC ATM Shamsul Huda said yesterday after holding a crucial dialogue with the leaders of Awami League-led grand alliance.

The Commission on Friday began fresh talks with the key players in power politics to reschedule the election date in a bid to accommodate the BNP-led alliance in the fray.

The Commission however, failed to build any consensus on the polling date issue as the AL-led grand alliance did not agree to "shoulder it" which they said a responsibility of the EC.

The grand alliance leaders, however, did not make any effort to influence the Election Commission to push back the scheduled parliamentary election or to hold it on December 18, sources inside the meeting said.

"We did not want to shoulder the liability as it rests on the Commission," said Gonotontri Party Presidium Member Muhammad Shahidullah Sikder.

"We have told the commission that they will have to decide whether they would give any extra time or facilities to a particular party or alliance. We are fully prepared to contest the polls on December 18, as the Commission has scheduled it," he told the New Nation last night.

Dr Shamsul Huda told reporters after the meeting,

"There is nothing to tell you at this moment. We've discussed different issues, but nothing has been finalised. The election commission will take the final decision and announce a new schedule tomorrow."

On the question of lifting the state of emergency, the CEC said it is not the business of the Commission.

Earlier, Ashraful told reporters that they were not involved in the discussion on election schedule. Three parties-the 4-party alliance, the Election Commission and the government-are involved in the rescheduling of the elections.

He said the EC earlier had voluntarily declared December 18 election schedule and their candidates filed nomination papers according to that schedule. Awami League, he added, wants all party elections.

"We've told the EC that we'll give our reaction after discussion with our allies on whatever decision the commission takes," Ashraful said.

He said Awami League and its alliance partners are now busy with nomination work across the country.

Ashraful accused Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur of lying to the nation, either deliberately or mistakenly. Referring to the last meeting of five Advisers with Sheikh Hasina, he said the Adviser had told them that they had no specific agenda and also informed them that the government's discussion with the 4-party alliance had failed.

The AL leader alleged that the Advisers, having failed to reach consensus on the election schedule, blamed the two alliances. He castigated Dr Zillur and the government for their role.

The leaders of BNP-led alliance on Friday demanded new election schedule, as well as lifting of the emergency and a review of electoral laws that allow election authorities to cancel candidacies.

The grand alliance delegation comprised AL acting secretary and spokesman Syed Ashraful Islam, office secretary Abdul Mannan and election affairs committee chairman HT Imam, Jatiya Party presidium member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, JSD general secretary Syed Zafar Sajjad, Gonotontri Party presidium member Mohammed Shahidullah Sikder and Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua.

Choice of leaders

Hasnat Abdul Hye

Leaders are chosen by people when they vote in election. But there is a stage before that when leaders are selected and nominated by their parties as their candidates. Barring the tried and tested leaders, many candidates belonging to political parties faced uncertainty in getting nomination in the past. Allegations were heard that parties indulged in what has been described as 'nomination business', nominating those candidates who could contribute the highest amount to the party coffer. All told, the nomination process followed in the past was anything but transparent and lacked accountability.

Lack of transparency called for reform in the nomination process. It can be said to be an integral part of the overall political reform measures promoted by the present caretaker government (CTG). Accordingly, in the amended Representation of the People Order, 2008 provision has been made requiring political parties to nominate candidates on the basis of a panel of leaders prepared by the party office at the grassroots. The idea is to reflect the opinion of the electorate in respect of the potential candidates. Since votes are not taken by the party at the grassroot, eliciting public opinion in respect of candidates in a constituency, the preparation of the panel leaves room for use of influence by the local leaders. Though it is not the most satisfactory method of selecting 'right candidates', the alleged financial transaction between the candidates and the party is at least averted in this process. This, of course, does not preclude the possibility of buying support by leaders/candidates at the field level. But the system proposed is an improvement on what has been practiced so long. It is more democratic, has some transparency and makes the nominating authority more accountable.

The Awami League has completed nomination of candidates in all the constituencies with options for withdrawal of some candidates' names at the eleventh hour. In selecting candidates from within the party for nomination, the party reportedly took into consideration the recommendations made by its grassroots committees. But final selections have not followed recommendations from below in all cases, indicating that decision at the top still prevails. It is not known whether the field-level committees would be told why their recommendations could not be accepted by the party high-ups. If this were to happen, there would be transparency and accountability in the decision-making process ushering in a change in the same.

From the nominations made by Awami League it is seen that leaders who have been convicted in lower courts under EPR have been excluded. This is a decision in line with the policy of the CTG for carrying out political reform, though it was hard for the party to take. Awami League deserves appreciation for being pragmatic in this respect. But along with the convicted leaders, some mid-level leaders who were in favour of reform in the party have also been dropped from nomination. They mostly belong to the new generation of politicians and had the potential of infusing new blood in the party. It seems that though senior leaders have been forgiven for reform initiatives, the mid-level leaders have not been so lucky. Little more generosity and even-handedness was expected from the party chief in their case. A new phenomenon has been the nomination of a good number of retired officials from a particular government service. They are mostly new in politics and, as such, are likely to bring a qualitative change. But the sudden surge in their number has given rise to speculations as to whether this is pure coincidence or has been carefully planned. Meanwhile, supporters (including hired hands) of those leaders who failed to get nomination are agitating both at field level and before the residence of the Awami League chief. The demonstrators were lathi-charged and dispersed by police yesterday but if hired, they are not likely to disappear any time soon. With the final date of submitting nomination now being on 28 November, and allocation of seats to candidates belonging to alliance parties still to be completed, further changes in the names of candidates can be expected in the coming days. To sum up, though not perfect and wholly transparent, a departure has been made by Awami League in nominating candidates this time around. A good number of new candidates have been introduced who may bring in a breath of fresh air in politics of old vintage.

BNP has not made any declaration about nomination as it is yet to decide about participation in the election. After the meeting with the government last Friday, the party is expected to take a positive decision in the next few days. According to reports, the party has already prepared draft nominations of candidates, based on recommendation from Divisional branches of the party. A private research organisation reportedly prepared a list of candidates after a field survey. If BNP decides to participate in the election, which is very likely, this report may be taken into consideration. The report gave importance to the views of people about the reputation of potential candidates and can be a guide for the decision makers. This is the first time that a research and survey by an independent body has been undertaken to find out the details of political leaders and it may become a regular practice of political parties in future.

BNP is trying hard to get emergency withdrawn before nomination is submitted so that the convicted leaders can be nominated. But the CTG has taken a hard-line on this and has not conceded so far. At the end BNP may accept this as fait accompli and exclude the convicted leaders from nomination.

The expulsion of pro-reform leaders in BNP has been more pronounced and on a larger scale than Awami League. All the leaders who were in favour of reform have been expelled, some of whom were party stalwarts and senior office holders. BNP party chief has been more unforgiving of her critics than the Awami League chief. She could rise in stature and the party would have benefited if the pro-reform leaders were forgiven and rehabilitated. Given these changes i.e. the exclusion of convicted and ousted leaders, there will be new faces as candidates of BNP in the next election. It is reported in a Bengali daily that a good number of applications from retired officials of a particular government service has been received by the party, as has been the case with Awami League, though in the latter case it is now more concrete. Again, this may be a coincidence or part of a plan for political reform. In any case, this new phenomenon has given rise to intense speculation. If the introduction of new leaders is part of a plan, it will change political culture significantly.

Hillary agrees to become US Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton

BBC Online

Hillary Clinton will agree to serve as secretary of state in US President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, the New York Times has reported. The paper quotes two "confidants" as saying Mrs Clinton has decided to quit her Senate position for the job.

Mrs Clinton's office says discussions are "very much on track" but says further reports are premature. But correspondents say some kind of deal between the two former political rivals seems far advanced.

The latest report comes after days of speculation on Mrs Clinton's prospects.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas, in Washington, says if Obama did not want those stories out there - because he was not thinking of Mrs Clinton for the job - someone from his team would have already been scotching the reports.

Reports also suggest Obama is likely to pick former presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov Bill Richardson as commerce secretary.

And Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, is expected to be nominated to the post of US Treasury secretary.

American stock markets reacted positively to the reports about Mr Geithner, with the Dow Jones index rising by more than 6%.

Philippe Reines, a senior advisor to Mrs Clinton, told the BBC it would be premature to say Mrs Clinton had accepted the position.

"We're still in discussions, which are very much on track. Any reports beyond that are premature."

But unnamed officials in the Obama and Clinton camps said they had every reason to believe Obama would announce her as his choice, the Associated Press reports.

Mrs Clinton, who was First Lady when her husband Bill served as president from 1993 to 2001, lost a close race against Obama for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

If she is appointed secretary of state (foreign minister), she will have to step down as a senator for New York.

She would succeed Condoleezza Rice, who has had the job for the past four years under President Bush.

To date, the most senior appointment made by Mr Obama, who succeeds President Bush in January, is Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff.

He is expected to announce a round of appointments after the Thanksgiving holiday next Thursday.

Carter, Annan barred from Zimbabwe visit

Carter and Annan

AP, South Africa

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said yesterday that he and others planning a humanitarian mission in Zimbabwe had been refused entry to the impoverished African country.

Carter and two other members of The Elders group - former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and rights advocate Graca Machel, who is married to Nelson Mandela - had planned to assess the country's humanitarian needs as Zimbabweans are stalked by disease and hunger while political crisis occupies its politicians.

But they were told Friday night by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating the political crisis, that efforts to secure travel visas for the group had failed, Carter told reporters at a news conference in Johannesburg.

"We are very disappointed that the government of Zimbabwe would not permit us to come in, would not cooperate," Carter said.

It was the first time the 2002 Nobel Peace laureate has been denied permission to carry out a mission in any country, he said.

Annan, also at the news conference, said no official reason had been given for the refusal. He said they read about it in Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper, which reported Thursday that the group had been asked to "come at a later date" to accommodate the crop planting season. The article also said, however, that the group was seen as antagonistic toward Zimbabwe's government.

Row over nominations: Protesters lathicharged in front of Sudha Sadan

Police charged batons to disperse the protesting
supporters of the nomination -deprived candidates of Awami
League in front of Sheikh Hasina's Sudha Sadan residence in
the city yesterday. FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Failing to get Awami League (AL) nomination for contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections quite a good number of grassroots level Awami Legue leaders and their supporters continued their demonstration and protest in front of

Sudha Sadan, residence of AL president Sheikh Hasina, for the fifth day yesterday.

These leaders accompanied by their well wishers and supporters gathered before the Sudha Sadan carrying placards and shouting slogans protesting awarding of nomination to their rivals. The situation went to such a pass that the enforcing agencies had to charge baton to disperse the unruly crowd.

At least six protesters were seriously injured due to baton charge.Two of the demonstrators jumped into the Dhanmondi Lake to avert the police action.

Witnesses said around 300 protestors called for changing the party candidates in Shariatpur-1, Pirojpur-2, Jhalakati-1, Natore-1, Natore-3, Chandpur-4 and Mymensingh-10 constituencies.

The protestors demanded nomination of Mobarak Ali Sikdar instead of BM Mozammel from Sharaitpur-1, Principal Shah Alam instead of Habibur Rahman Sheikh from Pirojpur-2, Dr Hannan Firoz instead of BH Harun from Jhalakati-1, Shamsul Huq Bhuiyan instead of journalist Shafiqur Rahman from Chandpur-4, Mahfuza Golondaz instead of Capt (retd) Giasuddin from Mymensingh-10, Adv Abul Kalam Azad instead of Shefali Momtaz from Natore-1, Zonaid Ali Palak instead of Hanif Ali Sheikh from Natore-3 and Mahbub Uddin Bir Bikram from Barisal-5.

Meanwhile, three AL leaders, who failed to get party ticket for contesting the parliamentary polls, yesterday met with party president Sheikh Hasina at Sudha Sadan.

They are Junaid Ahmed Palak of Natore-3, Abul Kalam Azad of Natore-1 and Mahfuza Goldanz, wife of former lawmaker Altaf Hossain Goldanz, of Mymensingh-10.

Seminar on SAARC countries: Parallel currency, visa-free communication demanded

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a workshop called upon the leaders of South Asian nations to introduce parallel currency, visa free communication and establish a SAARC economic union for accelerating economic development in this region.

They gave this call at a workshop on "Economic Management in South Asia in the Context of New Global Experiences" at CIRDAP auditorium yesterday. The Bangladesh Unnayan Parisad (BUP) organised the workshop. Primary and Mass Education Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury was present as chief guest while former Secretary Dr Zahirul Karim presided over the workshop. Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) President Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed presented the keynote paper. Former Adviser CM Shafi Sami, Vice President of BEA Prof Asraf Uddin Chowdhury, Action Aid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir, Taher Uddin Amin, Dipak Kumar Roy of BIDS and Zahirul Islam Sikder, among others, addressed the workshop.

Presenting the key not paper, BEA President Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed said About 500 million people in the SAARC region earn less than Tk 15 per day. "The current level of regional cooperation is low. However, the regional governments are talking about regional cooperation and SAARC summits and other institutions have taken many resolutions and decisions. Most of these are not being acted upon," he said.

He pointed out that the absence of necessary political will, compounded by narrow nationalistic bureaucratic attitudes, is the main stumbling block holding back progress of regional cooperation.

He was of the view that the South Asian nations can cooperate and learn from one another's experience in the filed of agriculture, food security, energy, industry, trade, investment and finance, transport and communication, tourism, education, health for economic development.

Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury said that the decisions of SAARC summits could not be implemented for the lack of political will in this region. "Export and import of the SAARC countries couldn't get momentum due to lack of mutual trust and understanding", she observed.

The Adviser said that neo- liberalism is responsible for the present economic recession and suggested government intervention to stabilise the economy.

CM Shafi Sami said that terrorism retarded economic development in this region. For regional economic development, it has no other alternative for taking up mega project, he stressed.

Prof Asraf Uddin Chowdhury pleaded for state level initiative for promotin trade among the South Asian nations.

Farah Kabir said that the South Asian countries can form a platform for proper economic management in this region.

Citing example from Bangladesh and India, she called upon other South Asian nations to introduce the 100 -day work programme for poverty alleviation in this region.

No objection if convicts contest polls legally: ACC

Staff Reporter

Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday warned the Government and the Election Commission would have to take the responsibility if the convicted corrupt individuals get the opportunity to contest the forthcoming elections under any pressure.

Talking to reporters after a discussion meeting on "Fight against Corruption: Our Goal" organised by BRAC University at its auditorium, he however, said they have no objection if the convicted corrupt elements can take part in the polls lawfully.

Presided over by Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university Dr Salauddin Ahmed, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman.

Replying to a question, the ACC Chairman said he does not believe there would be any negative effect on the anti-drive campaign for one or two reasons.

Asked whether the ACC is under any pressure, he said there is a pressure under every government but it is to be considered if they could work being freed from any pressure.

He said the ACC was formulating a plan as to how they would work under the new government to come in after the forthcoming polls.

The anti-corruption campaign will be carried out during the tenure of the next government, he hoped.

Addressing the meeting earlier, Hasan Mashhud said that it is not possible to eradicate corruption from Bangladesh overnight.

He called upon the young generation to come forward to join the fight against rampant corruption in the country.

UN team due today to assess JS polls preparation

UNB, Dhaka

A three-member high-level team from the United Nations would visit Bangladesh Sunday to scrutinize the staging of parliamentary elections next month, the UN has said.

"The panel is tasked with assessing the preparations and conduct of the elections through visits to Bangladesh before and during the elections," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson in a statement in New York on Friday.

The panel begins its first visit to Bangladesh on Sunday and returns for about a week around the time of the election, before reporting back to Ban Ki-moon with its key findings and recommendations.

The caretaker government had asked UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon to send a high-level panel in an effort to ensure that the elections are free and fair.

Parliamentary polls are scheduled to take place on December 18, an election the government has pledged to be the fairest in the country's history.

Francesc Vendrell, the secretary-general's former personal representative for Afghanistan and European Union envoy to the same country, will head the UN panel. The other members are Bhojraj Pokharel, Nepal's chief election commissioner, and Aracelly Santana, the former deputy director of the UN Electoral Assistance Division.

While visiting Bangladesh earlier this month, Ban Ki-moon described the upcoming polls as an "historic opportunity" for the country.

"It is in the world's-and your-best interest to see Bangladesh achieve its full potential for democratic development through free and credible elections," he told reporters at his pre-departure press conference.

"Now is the moment to stand against polarization and violence that have characterized past elections," the secretary-general had said.

EC code of conduct for media underway

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) will finalise a code of conduct for the mass media in consultation with media personalities to ensure objectivity of news coverage during the forthcoming elections.

The decision was taken at a a views-exchange meeting with representatives of the Commission with senior journalists held at the National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium with Chief Election Commissioner Dr Shamsul Huda in the chair.

To this end, the EC formed a 4-member committee headed by ATN Bangla Chief Adviser Saiful Bari. The other members of the committee include Shaikh Siraj, Amir Khasru, JI Mamun and EC Public Relations Officer SM Asaduzamman.

The committee would give suggestions for finalising the guidelines for the media to cover news during the ensuing polls.

A draft copy indicating ideas and format of the media code was provided by the UNESCO to the Commission.

The CEC asked the committee to submit their suggestions within seven days to the Commission to finalise the code of conduct for the media.

He also sought cooperation from newsmen as some senior journalists termed the EC's efforts of formulating such a code of conduct a tactic to control the press.

The CEC mentioned that the political parties proposed to the EC during their talks to formulate such a code of conduct to ensure neutrality and transparency in election news coverage.

He, however, assured that the EC would finalise the code of conduct after discussion with senior journalists.

Election Commissioners M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain and EC Secretary M Humayun Kabir were present at the meeting.

Govt steps against food adulteration stressed

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a roundtable here on Saturday urged the government to take strong measures to stop marketing of milk foods and products contaminated by melamine and other dangerous elements.

In this regard, they called for forming an independent body under the Ministry of Food to continue regular examination and monitoring of such food items being marketed in the country.

The roundtable titled "Melamine in Milk and Adulterated Food: Actions in Current Situation," was organised by the Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA) with writer and columnist Syed Abul Maksud in the chair.

Professor Abu Zafar Mohammad and Professor Nilufar Nahar Dhaka University, Chairman of PABA Abu Naser Khan and Secretary General of the Citizens Rights Movement Tusar Rehman, among others, addressed the function.

They urged the government for immediately enacting the Consumers Rights Act with provisions of compensations for the consumers who would face health hazards by eating contaminated foods.

In this respect, they emphasised the need for countrywide campaign against the adulterated food items and said the people should also be made aware about the extent of damage to their health to be caused by such food.

Professor Abu Zafar Mohammad called for identifying the foods containing contaminated elements and said the scientists could determine the possible impacts of toxic elements in the human body.

Professor Nilufar Nahar said the government could confirm presence or absence of melamine in any food item through a transparent examination. "World standard machines can certainly confirm the presence or absence of melamine in milk and milk products," she said.

Abu Naser Khan said unscrupulous traders my mixing melamine or other toxic elements in food items were silently killing the innocent consumers. "Presence of toxic elements in food items is increasing cancer risks, putting families in trouble," he said.

Syed Abul Maksud urged all political parties to include this issue in their election campaign and help wage a social movement against contaminated food in the country. "A massive awareness and political commitment could solve the problem," he added.

31 ex-army officials may contest from 21 Barisal seats

UNB, Barisal

Some 31 retired army officials and seven bureaucrats want to contest in the upcoming national elections from 17 out of 21 constituencies of Barisal division from Awami League-led grand alliance and BNP-led four-party alliance. Field level reports, collected from different constituencies of six districts of the division, revealed that only Barguna-1, Patuakhali-3, Patuakhali-4 and Bhola-1 yet remained out of reach of the nomination aspirant high army officials and bureaucrats.

Meanwhile Awami League already has given nominations to three retired army men and one bureaucrat in four constituencies in the division. But they are almost new comers in the party and not supported by grass root level leaders and workers, sources said.

Awami League already announced nominations to Lt Col (retd) Zahirul Huq Shamim for Barisal-5, Major Gen (retd) Hafiz Mallik for Barisal-6, Major (retd) Jasim for Bhola-3 and former additional secretary Sk Habibur Rahman for Pirojpur-2.

While no female candidate was nominated from AL but an alleged war criminal Mawlana BH Harun got nomination for Pirojpur-1 from AL.

Fuel oil price to be reduced again

UNB, Dhaka

The government will again reduce the petroleum prices if there be a continuous downturn on the international market that made a tailspin following the recent financial meltdown.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Power and Energy Ministry Dr. M Tamim yesterday said this after the inauguration of country's first international exhibition of CNG filling equipment at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.

He said the government is considering the matter as part of its policy to review the oil prices every three months.

As per the policy, if it is found that the prices on the international market go up or down, the government will follow the trends in readjusting the petroleum prices locally.

A private event-management company -Global Event Management Service-organised the CNG maiden exhibition in the country in the wake of growing popularity of the use of CNG (compressed natural gas) in motor vehicles as a cheaper substitute for liquid petroleum fuels.

Earlier on October 26, the government had reduced the price of petroleum, on average, by 12 percent within four months of the price enhancement by 36 percent.

3 muggers lynched

UNB, Gazipur

Three robbers were killed and four others injured in a mob beating at Baligaon village in Kaliganj upazila on Friday night.

Police said a gang of bandits, numbering 8/10, stormed into the house of Harmuz Ali at about 11 pm.

Hearing screaming of the family members for help, local people rushed to the spot and managed to catch seven of the bandits. The villagers severely beat up the dacoits killing three on the spot and injuring four others. The dead were identified as Shukur Ali, 32, Mona, 28, and Mehedi, 28.