The New Nation - Internet Edition

CA’s package of instructions: Step up surveillance to avert poll-related clashes

UNB, Khulna

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday asked the civil bureaucrats to rise above all mistakes in discharging their parliament election duties by maintaining complete neutrality, honesty and sincerity.

Issuing a package of decisions and instructions for the top-ranking officers of Khuna Division at the Khulna DC office, he categorically said any partisan role or efforts in favour of a rival candidate or any small lapses in discharging assigned duties will not be tolerated.

"I have firm belief that none of you will make any such mistake or take risk," Fakhruddin told a meeting of DCs, SPs, UNOs and election officials.

Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin, Home Secretary Abdul Karim and Khulna Divisional Commissioner Yunusur Rahman were present at the opening session, followed by a closed door meeting that discussed in details security and safety measures on the eve of December 29 elections.

The Chief Adviser also directed the officials to perform their duties by rising above all kinds of fear, greed, pressure and influence.

Fakhruddin said with confidence that he would be able to reach the desired destination for transferring power to an elected government through the holding of free, fair, neutral and acceptable elections.

Reminding that the people's voting right is a sacred trust, he said all necessary steps will have to be taken before the polling day so the electorates can go to the polling centres and cast their votes without any fear and impediment.

He called for executing all legal steps to present the nation with an acceptable election free of corruption, black money, terrorism and muscle power.

The Chief Adviser said the concerned officials must ensure that the entire process of polling and counting ballots are cent percent correct, transparent and completely credible.

He said all steps will have to be taken with the highest priority to resisting any kind of post-election violence, attacks on rivals or any victimization.

Fakhruddin called for fool-proof measures to ensure security and law and order in each area so that the people can participate in the elections and cast their ballots in a festive mood.

He also spelt out guidelines to be followed before election, during the election and after the election.

He said steps will have to be taken to ensure that terrorists, hardcore offenders or branded miscreants cannot create chaos during the election campaign that will start soon.

Sector Commanders call to boycott war criminals in polls

One minute's silence being observed in memory of
martyred freedom fighters at the freedom fighters-people's
rally organised by Sector Commanders Forum on the occasion
on Freedom Fighters Day on Monday. NN photo

UNB, Dhaka

Liberation war sector commanders have called upon the people not to vote for war criminals in the ensuing election and renewed the call for their trial.

The call came from Sector Commanders' Forum at a rally organized marking the freedom fighters day at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday.

Maj Gen (redt) KM Shafiullah, who chaired the rally, said the present government had scope to bring the war criminals to book but they failed. It has neither pay heed to their repeated calls. Instead, the government patronized the war criminals. Meanwhile, the pro-liberation war cultural organizations arranged cultural function expressing hatred against the war criminals.

Maj Gen (redt) CR Dutta, Lt Col (retd) Abu Osman Chowdhury, Rased Khan Menon, Mili Rahman, Nasiruddin Yusuf Bacchu, Fakir Alamgir, Lt Gej (retd) Harun ur Rashid, Mahila Parisad president Ayesha Khanam, Shariar Kabir of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, were among others, present on the occasion.

Youths more vulnerable to AIDS

Amra Kunri, a juvenile organisation, organised a
painting competition marking the World AIDS Day at Shishu
Academy in the city on Monday. NN photo

Staff Reporter

Young people is more vulnerable to HIV or AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) said AMM Nasir Uddin, Secretary to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, at an inauguration ceremony of "World AIDS Day 2008" as chief guest at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city yesterday.

National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP), Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised the programme for observing the day.

Dr Md Ishaque Khan, Line Director of NASP and Safe Blood Transfusion, presented the keynote paper. He highlighted the integrated efforts of all stakeholders to prevent HIV infection.

The theme of this "World AIDS Day" is "Lead-Empower-Deliver".

Dr Ferdous Alam Shibib, Programme Manager of NASP, Prof MA Faiz, Director General of Health Services, Kamrunnessa Khanam, Director General of Family Planning, Kelland Stevenson, Country Director of Save the Children-USA, Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, among others, spoke.

Nasir Uddin emphasised on taking screened blood, dissemination of information of HIV or AIDS and STI among the young and adolescent people for preventing AIDS.

He urged the religious leaders to come forward to raise spiritual approach, which was cause of low level of HIV in our country till now, among the people.

The secretary emphasised on coordination among government, private organisations and NGOs in the movement against HIV.

Nasir Uddin assured to take steps for providing desirable services to HIV positive people from the government hospital.

Speakers said from 1989 to 2008 there were 1495 reported cases of HIV and 476 cases of AIDS and among them 165 died in our country.

By definition Bangladesh was a low prevalent but high vulnerable country as regards HIV or AIDS due to many existing risks, he added.

They express their commitment and called upon the policy makers to come forward to take lead, ensure empowerment at all level and deliver inputs to reduce impact of AIDS in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, The Nari Unnayan Shakti and Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) in cooperation with UNESCO Dhaka Office organized a day long Seminar-cum-Workshop yesterday at the Conference Hall of BANBEIS in the city observing the World AIDS Day.Rasheda K. Chowdhury, Primary & Mass Education, Women & Children Affairs and Cultural Affairs Adviser, was present as Chief Guest while Prof. Dr. A.S.M. Yusuf Haider, Pro-vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka and Mr. A.K.T.M. Ismail, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, were the Special Guests.

Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hassan, Secretary of BNCU presided over the programme while Afroja Parvin, Executive Director of Nari Unnayan Shakti, presented the Keynote paper.

Dr Sultan Muhammad Razzak, Chief Adviser NUS, has fecilitated the second session of the seminar where around 100 participants were present Md Abdul, a HIV positive person, shared his experiences with all participants.

Moudud freed on bail

Staff Reporter

BNP leader and former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed was freed on bail yesterday afternoon from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, DIG (Prisons) said that the ex-minister of the immediate past four-party alliance government walked out of the BSMMU prison cell at about 5:10pm after securing

bail from the High Court in cases against him.

Barrister Moudud has been facing five graft cases, including one on Niko. The High Court granted him bail in all the cases.

On April 13 last year, the army-led joint forces arrested Moudud from his Gulshan residence after seizin from there 16 bottles of foreign liquors and 32 cans of beer along with 220 pieces of saree allegedly from government relief fund.

IPI team meets Hasina: Issues of press freedom discussed

Staff Reporter

A team of Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) yesterday met with Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina to discuss press freedom in Bangladesh and role and commitment of political parties to ensure freedom of press.

The IPI delegation led by its Director David Dadge held the meeting at Sheikh Hasina's Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi.

Talking to reporters Dadge said the IPI would place some proposals on the freedom of press, which would be disclosed today at 3:00pm at a press conference and

He also disclosed that at least 15 journalists had been killed since 2000 in Bangladesh.

Dadge told that they would meet Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed today and subsequently with the other political parties on the same agenda.

Owais Aslam Ali, secretary general of Pakistan Press Foundation, Padma Singh Karki, National Committee Chairman of IPI, Nepal, and Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, an IPI member from Bangladesh, were in the team.

AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury and AL Election Committee Co-Chairman HT Imam were also present during the meeting.

2 more associates of Rozen killed in encounter

Staff Reporter

Two more associates of "top terror" Rozen were killed in an encounter between RAB men and the accomplices of the terrorists at Kadomtoli in the city yesterday four days after the death of the ringleader in the same way.

The deceased were identified as Babu, 26, and Suman, 25, known as 'killer Suman.'

"Both of them were wanted in a number of criminal cases, including murder and extortion. They were listed criminals in the city's Jatrabari, Sabujbagh, Shyampur and Kadomtoli areas," a RAB officer said.

Earlier on November 26, Rozen and one of his close aides, Bidyut, were killed in crossfire during another encounter with RAB at Shanir Akhra in the city.

Being informed that accomplices of Rozen gathered in Kadomtoli water-purification area to plan crimes, a team of RAB-10 raided the area at about 3:00am to arrest them.

"Sensing danger, the gangsters opened fire on RAB men, forcing them to fire back. During gunfire that lasted 25 minutes, Babu and Suman were caught in the line of fire and died instantly," says a RAB account of the shootout.

The elite force also recovered two revolvers, one pistol and 203 rounds of bullet from the spot.

Both the bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue.

Seat-sharing in BNP-led camp still unresolved

Talha Bin Habib

The final understanding on seat- sharing among the BNP led four-party alliance has not yet been reached yesterday despite submission of nomination papers on Sunday.

According to the information BNP has submitted 279 nominations, Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami 49, Islami Oikkya Jote (IOJ) 11, Bangladesh Jatiya Party 3 and Khelafart Majlish (KM) 13 for contesting the parliamentary polls on December 29.

The leaders of the Jamaat, IOJ, BJP and KM said that they were a little bit disappointed over the proposed number of seats allocation by BNP.

BNP led four-party alliance as well as the nationalists and Islamic minded parties are to be accommodative and they need to reach an amicable understanding on seat sharing for emerging out with flying colours in the national elections, they added.

They also said that though there was a little gap among them but they are hopeful to reach an amicable settlement on seat sharing before the last date for withdrawal of the nomination papers on December 11.

They were learnt to have starting bargaining with the BNP for the alliance tickets for contesting the polls in some constituencies in Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj, Jhenidah and Meherpur districts.

Earlier, BNP had promised to other partners of the alliance to allocate seats according to the demands of those parties.

Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed, Secretary General of Jamaat yesterday said a final understanding on seat sharing with BNP had not been reached. But he hopes that they would reach a positive solution within a couple of days.

"We would be able to reach solution on the issue before the Eid-ul- Azha," he added.

Asked to comment on the submission of nomination papers, Mojaheed said his party was initially offered 35 seats for the polls.

"We want more seats for the polls since our organisational preparations and grassroots level support is better than ever", he added.

It is informed that Jamaat was allocated a total of 34 seats from the four-party alliance in the stalled parliamentary elections on January 22 last year.

Moulana Abdul Latif Nezami, Secretary General of IOJ also hopes that a discussion between BNP and other partners of the alliance would take place soon for finalising the nominations for contesting the polls.

Meanwhile Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP- Matin ), previously partners of the four- party alliance, Chairman Dr MA Matin yesterday demanded of the BNP to give up some constituencies including his Sirajganj-2 seat for contesting the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

People's Court convicts: WB, IMF, ADB for anti-people activities

Staff Reporter

A people's court yesterday convicted the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ordered the government of Bangladesh to take action against these and ensure punishment for their anti-people activities.

The court also ordered the government to take compensation from the World Bank, IMF and ADB by assessing the amount of loss incurred by the country.

The World Bank, IMF, ADB Public Tribunal Preparation Committee formed the court at National Press Club Auditorium to hold the trial against these organisations engaged in activities against the interests of the people of the country.

The Committee placed a chargesheet justifying the loss incurred by eight vital sectors, agriculture, bank, industry, jute, energy, education, health and environment.

Justice Gulam Rabbani, Prof Dr Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Engineer Shiekh Mohammad Shahidullah, Journalist Kamal Lohani, Columnist Sayed Abul Maksud, Prof Dr Akmal Hossain and Selina Hossain were the judges of the court.

Convenor of Bangladesh Krishok-Mojur Sanghoti Junayed, Saki, Convenor of Centre for Law Research and Support, Shah Alam, Professor of Dhaka University, MM Akash, Professor of Chittagong University, Dr Mainul Islam, Leader of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Bajlur Rashid Firoj, Vice-President of Chikitsak Sangsad, Dr Mustak Hossain and Professor of Jahangirnagar University, Anu Muhammad stood for the state.

The Committee started the trial on November 3, 2007 at the National Press Club.

Call to integrate special-need child in mainstream edn

Staff Report

Urging for the implementation of the Primary Education Development Project-2 (PEDP-2), Jatiya Pratibandhi Forum yesterday organised a view-exchange meeting at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

Nafisur Rahman, Director of the Jatiya Pratibandhi Forum, an organisation working for the physically-challenged persons, proposed to take immediate initiative for the development of schools' infrastructures to integrate the special-need children in the mainstream educational system. He urged the government to give Tk 25 crore allocation for the stipends to the special-need children.

Dr Sharmin Haq, teacher of Dhaka University, urged to make examination system easier for the special-need child. Special code could be followed to identify their answer scripts, as some of them are unable to write the answers elaborately.

They said the infrastructures of the schools are not supportive enough for the special-need children. Supportive education devices and easier accessibility to the institutions are needed for the child.

"We have to make sure that our teachers and the peer groups are sensitive to the special-need students", said Tasneem Atahar, Deputy Director of Mass Literacy Campaign.

Speakers opined that awareness building programmes should be taken to include all the students under the project. The books of the NCTB should be published in braille system and reformed for the special need-child, they further said.

Mentioning the primary education as a basic right, they demanded equal rights for all without any discrimination.

Khandoker Jahurul Alam, President of the Forum presided over the meeting, while Md Nazrul Islam Khan attended as chief guest.

JP secures 50 seats from AL-led alliance

Staff Reporter

After long bargaining the leaders of the Jatiya Party (JP) yesterday managed to secure 50 seats from the Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance to contest the long-awaited parliamentary polls scheduled for December 29.

JP Acting Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud formally disclosed this after half an hour long meeting with AL President Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence in Dhanmondi.

He said it had been settled that 50 candidates of JP would contest under the banner of the grand alliance.

Replying to a question on making JP chairman HM Ershad the country's president, Mahmud said the ultimate target of the grand alliance was to earn victory in the parliamentary elections. "We will mull over the issue, after we voted to power," he added.

For the last two days, rumours and apprehensions had run high across the country that the Jatiya Party would quit the grand alliance, as the AL had not agreed to make Ershad president and to offer JP its desired 60 seats.

The two parties reached consensus over the issue of seat sharing on Sunday night after staging a range of dramas during the whole day.

On Sunday evening a rumour was rife throughout the country following the briefing of Ershad that JP would quit the grand alliance, if JP was not given 60 seats and would not make Ershad the president.

Later thatevening, JP and AL in a joint briefing declared that the grand alliance would continue to work as usual to contest the polls and if they won, form the government jointly.

Sources said the two former ruling parties reached consensus that the matter of president post for Ershad would be finalised should the grand alliance win the polls, billed one of most crucial ones in Bangladesh's history in view of the political nemesis of all the former rulers in the interim period since the 1/11 changeover.

Mahmud, along with his party-colleague Ziauddin Bablu, talked to the AL president for 25 minutes in the last-ditch seat-sharing negotiations a day after JP aspirants separately filed nominations for maximum of the Jatiya Sangsad seats on the last day Sunday.

2,460 poll aspirants file nominations

Staff Reporter

A number of 2,460 aspirants have submitted nomination papers to contest for 300 parliamentary seats in the forthcoming general election scheduled for December 29.

According to the statistic, each 8 candidates submitted nomination papers against a single constituency. The highest number of intending candidates 23 filed nomination papers to contest the election from Dhaka-8 constituency. While the fewest three submitted nominations from Mymensingh-1, Tangail-1, Kishoreganj-4 and -6, Bagerhat-4, Thakurgaon-2, Pabna-2 and Gopalganj-2.

The returning officers will scrutinize the nomination papers on December 3 and 4 while the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is December 11.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain has termed the peaceful filing of nomination papers a big achievement.

Talking to reporters at his office yesterday he said the nomination filing was completed amid calm, without any bad incidence, unlike the previous occasions when there had been a lot of commotion.

The Election Commissioner greeted all concerned, particularly leaders of the political parties for extending their cooperation in the nomination filing process.

Asked whether the corrupt candidates would be able to contest the polls, he said the returning officers would take effective measures in this regard in accordance with the law.

About the legal notice against former prime minister and BNP

Chairperson Khaleda Zia, he said the Commission would look into the matter after having the allegation against her.

A Supreme Court lawyer served the legal notice alleging that Begum Zia provided wrong information about her date of birth and educational qualifications while registering as voter.

Pakistan rejects blame for Mumbai attacks

CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan

Pakistan's prime minister has dismissed accusations his country possibly had a role in last week's massacre in Mumbai, saying such statements by officials in India were made "out of anger."

"Now that the dust has settled down, I hope they will be considering all such things which they have said in the past," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told CNN on Monday.

Pakistani authorities say Islamabad has not received any evidence that militants from within its borders carried out Wednesday's coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital, that left 179 dead and about 300 wounded.

The attacks have damaged India's already strained relationship with Pakistan. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to New Delhi on Wednesday to help quell the tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, both key U.S. allies. VideoWatch how attacks could damage relations "

"It is extremely important that there be the highest levels of cooperation between Pakistan and India at this point, and that means all institutions," Rice said Monday as she headed to London.