The New Nation - Internet Edition

Indian media report on alleged Huji threat: Security beefed up

Staff Reporter

The Government has beefed up security for former premier Sheikh Hasina following Indian reports that Islamic extremists planned to kill her ahead of December 29 polls, an official said yesterday.

Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday said that the government has taken necessary measures for the security of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina after a report in the Indian media.

According to a report run online by Indian TV channel CNN-IBN, Indian intelligence agencies have warned Bangladesh that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina faces an assassination threat from a banned militant group.

The Home Adviser said that he saw the news in the newspaper. "We have taken appropiate measures in this regard… Inshallah there will be no attack," he told reporters at his ministry office premises.

The CNN-IBN report said Indian intelligence agencies have warned the country that a six-member suicide squad of the banned Harkat-ul-Jhad-al-Islami (HUJI) has been trained to excute the plot.

The report quoting sources in the Indian intelligence agencies told CNN-IBN that a HUJI team was trained for the last two months.

Responding to a question, Matin said, they already had meetings at division level about the law and order situation.

Matin assured that the law and order situation would not deteriorate during the eletion and post-election periods.

He mentioned that the government had enough preparation to tackle any situation during the election and post-election time. Director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Hasan Mahmud Khandaker said they were investigating the threat reported by television channel CNN-IBN, which quoted unnamed Indian intelligence officials. Security has already been beefed up for Sheikh Hasina. The RAB and police are also making investigations into the threat, Khandaker said.

Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party and its allies are contesting elections that will transfer power to a democratically elected government after nearly two years of rule by an army-backed administration.

She was the prime minister of the country between 1996 and 2001 and was the target of an assassination attempt in 2004 when suspected Islamists threw grenades at her, killing at least 20 people and injuring hundreds of others.

Muslim-majority in the country has been hit by a series of attacks by Islamic groups in recent years - including 400 blasts on just one day in August 2005 carried out by the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.

Authorities have deployed nearly 50,000 troops in a bid to avert pre-poll violence.

Election 2008: The race for edge

Mostafa Kamal Majumder

The Awami League is setting up equipment for video conference of party chief Sheikh Hasina with voters to ensure that she can reach her messages to a maximum number of people at the shortest possible time, it is learnt.

This is a technological response to BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia's whirlwind tour of the country and day and night programmes of meetings and rallies which are drawing large crowds. Enthusiastic supporters have been reported waiting till the early hours braving wintry chill and fog to attend her meetings.

Sheikh Hasina is expected to have video conferences with people from Tungipara and her Sudha Sadan residence in Dhaka where equipment have been installed. Singaporean company Singtel has also set up video conference facility in Keshabpur Upazila of Jessore, sources say.

It may be recalled during her days in detention at her Dhaka Cantonment residence Begum Khaleda used to have teleconference through mobile phones with people not only at different corners of Bangladesh but also with Bangladesh citizens living in the USA and the UK.

It is to be seen what would be the response of BNP leaders to the video conference campaign being organised by their arch rivals in the AL. Video conferencing arrangement is not only high tech but also high cost. This will enable the AL chief to address people at many places where she would not be required to move physically.

How effective the communication for attracting votes would be is an interesting subject to investigate. AL leaders and workers believe that use of this technology would enable her to interact with people also after sunset as she avoids addressing campaign rallies at night on security considerations.

After the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks the administration here called for precaution against the fear of such extremist actions during the election campaign.

Political parties and their leaders started using electronic campaign materials like audio and video cassettes during the first election following the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991. These have now been replaced by video and audio discs from which recorded songs and speeches are being distributed. The use of loudspeakers to play those for campaign purposes have been restricted this time though.

Posters of candidates hanging from ropes tied across roads and lanes all over cities and towns have created a spectre that is reflective of the momentum that the campaign has reached now. Against this backdrop, reported threat of death to AL chief Sheikh Hasina from an extremist organisation, aired by intelligence agencies of a neighbouring country, has created concern in the country.

Meanwhile, the news that a speeding truck ploughed through a BNP procession in Bogra where Begum Khaleda Zia's campaign rally was on the other day killing six activists came as a shock. In another incident, a speeding bus hit a vehicle in Begum Zia's motorcade in Serajganj injuring several Ekushey Television journalists who are now under treatment at the Combined Military Hospital. Khaleda's motorcade had once been hit by a truck in Pabna in the late nineties seriously injuring a number of escorting policemen.

Braving the hazards the leaders of the two major political parties are now all-out in their campaigns. The race is to attract a majority of voters in their favour for having an edge over the other in popularity. The noise thus being created all over the country also by their candidates and their supporters to woo voters may cause temporary irritation to some people. But this is the beauty of democracy where the people are the sources of all earthly power.

No threat can cow me down: Hasina

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP
Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia address separate election
rallies in Tangail and Munshiganj respectively on Sunday.
Photo: Agencies

Pankaj Karmakar from Mymensingh

Former prime minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she would not bow down before death threats rather work for the well being of people till her last breath.

"Mass wave has been created as the sail of boat gathered wind. Some vested quarters are trying to threaten me seeing the mass wave, but I do not care more about my life than I do for a thriving Bangladesh", she said while addressing rallies at 14 different places of Gazipur, Tangail and Mymensingh a day after BNP Chairperson's rally in the area. The security measures were more strengthened after the news of her life's risk published in the dailies yesterday.

Sheikh Hasina resolved the ongoing dilemma over Mymensingh-4 constituency on the day. She introduced Professor Matiur Rahman as the candidate for the constituency and mentioned Rawshan Ershad as the candidate of grand alliance for Gaibandha-5. The audience hailed her announcement.

She promised at one of a rallies that a flyover would be built from Dhaka to Gazipur to reduce traffic congestion.

Hasina urged people to cast vote for the grand alliance candidates to save country from the curse of corruption and terrorism.

The former premier urged for votes for Abdul Siddique candidate of Tangail-4, at a rally in Elenga Titas Gas field. We want to create digital Bangladesh for which we need your support the daughter of Sheikh Mujib said.

Seeking vote for Dr Matiur Rahman contesting from Tangail-3 (Ghatail constituency), Hasina promised to distribute fertiliser free of cost, give subsidy in agriculture, solve unemployment problems and ensure health centre for each six thousand people.

She referred to AL government as the golden era in the rally of Gopalpur VM High School, organised by the candidate of Tangail-2 constituency and former MP Khondakar Asaduzzaman. We achieved self-dependence in food on those days but the 4-party alliance gave the nation nothing but terrorism and corruption, she added.

The AL Chief wondered how a Muslim could plot to kill another Muslim. Former BNP state minister and an accused in the August 21 grenade attack, Abdus Salam Pintu won in 2001 elections from this seat.

She asked the BNP chairperson whether or not she has any responsibility when one of her former ministers is accused in a murder case. "She

(Khaleda) cannot shrug off her responsibility. She is the perpetrator of terrorism," the Awami League president said.

"The news of BNP and Jamaat corruption has been publicised internationally. I don't have to tell people how they extorted huge bribes from foreign companies, laundered that money and deposited it with foreign banks," said the former prime minister.

Addressing the rallies she said, as BNP-Jamaat alliance was the creator of terrorism, looting and extortion they could not work for the sake of the country. She called upon all to retort the 4-party alliance a befitting reply by ballots in the election.

Hasina had earlier addressed a rally at Basail Gulla Primary

School ground for Shawkat Momen Shahjahan (Tangail-8).

"Bashail will be upgraded to a municipality if we are voted to power, this area will have electricity and proper irrigation provisions.

She urged the people of Tangail to vote for boat, promising to revive the area's dying handloom industry. "If voted to power, we'll take necessary steps to provide special loans for weavers to help revive the dying handloom industry. Tangail will be upgraded to a cultural hub."

The former prime minister introduced the 'grand alliance' candidate Jatiya Party's Abul Kashem to the people gathered.

"We from AL had first nominated Mamunur Rashid Mamun from this Tangail-5 seat."

"Mamun's candidature was later withdrawn in the interests of the grand alliance," said the AL chief who heads the alliance.

She called on all to "vote for boat and plough" and bring victory to the 'grand alliance'.

Addressing a rally at Madhupur Rani Bhabani Pilot High School ground for AL candidate Dr Abdur Razzak, candidate for Tangail-1, the Awami League chief said if

voted to power, her government would return lands to the indigenous people in the area inhabited by some 40,000 `adibasis' (indigenous people).

Hasina addressed election rallies at Mirzapur High School

ground for Ekabbar Hossain from Tangail-7, Ahsanul Islam

Tito (Tangail-6) and Kaliakoir Sheikh Mujib Degree College ground for

AKM Mozammel Huq from Gazipur-1.

She also addressed rallies at Trishal for Reza Ali for Mymensingh-7, M Amanullah for Mymensingh-11, Adv Rahmatullah for Mawna-3 and Jahid Ahsan Rasel for Gazipur-2 which were organised at four different places of Trishal and Bhaluka of Mymensingh and Gazipur and Sripur.

Sheikh Hasina will probably campaign in the city through videoconference today according to sources.

Choose either peace or anarchy: Khaleda

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP
Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia address separate election
rallies in Tangail and Munshiganj respectively on Sunday.
Photo: Agencies

Talha bin Habib from Barisal

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon the voters to cast their vote in favour of BNP-led four-party alliance to 'save the country and save the people.

" I call upon you to vote for 'Sheaf of Paddy' to get over the current crisis prevailing in the country," she said while addressing an election rally at Bells Park in Barisal in the afternoon. Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, city president and Air Vice Marshall (Retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, former Home Minister and four-party alliance candidates from Barisal and Patuakhali Sadars respectively also addressed the rally.

Mentioning the present government's rule, the former Prime Minister said "People do not want to see them in power any more". She claimed the country had lagged behind about twenty years in the nearly two years rule of the interim government.

She said that price of essential commodities shot up beyond the purchasing power of the commoners, investment declined sharply and many people were made unemployed as their shops at different wayside hats and bazars were demolished during the present regime. Citing persecution by the government, the BNP Chairperson said, " I and my family members were tortured and I came out through the legal process of law".

In her 30 minutes' address, Begum Zia said any attempt in rigging the polls will not be accepted and the people of the country would foil any conspiracy regarding election on December 29. Earlier the BNP Chairperson started for Barisal from her Dhaka Cantonment residence at around 9:30am. She stopped at the stadium in Munshiganj en route to address supporters and canvass votes for BNP candidate Shah Moazzem who is running for Munshiganj-1.

In her rally at Srinagar upazila stadium in Munshiganj the Chairperson of BNP pledged to complete the long cherished 'Padma Bridge' and bring down the prices of essential commodities if voted to power.

Begum Zia, who had started her election campaign on December 12, urged the people to be united and remain vigilant to foil any conspiracy against the country.

She said if the people of the country vote for the right party in the forthcoming parliamentary election on December 29 then it is possible to get over the present crises in the country.

"Only the BNP-led four-party alliance will be able to free the country and the nation from the present strangulating situation".

Mentioning the stalled parliamentary election in the last year, the Chairperson of BNP said, "A particular party and section conspired in the January 22, 2007, election knowing that it would not be able to win. That's why the election was not held.

She said the conspiracy is still going on to halt the peace, progress and development of the country.

She asked people to bring an end to that conspiracy by voting for the right representative.

Citing BNP's sheaf of paddy symbol as the sign of development, prosperity, democracy, independence and sovereignty, Begum Zia said " You have to vote for the sheaf of paddy to safeguard the country and people".

Begum Zia, in her continued election rallies that were launched on December 12, promised the voters if voted to power BNP would bring progress and development.

She also addressed another rally at Louhajang upazila Bazar and sought votes for Munshiganj-2 candidate Mizanur Rahman Sinha.

On her way back to the capital she is scheduled to address at rallies at Jhalakathi, Faridpur and Manikganj.

Impact of global recession: Export earnings fall by 8pc in October

Syful Islam

Export earnings during October this year has declined by 8 per cent compared to the same month of the previous fiscal year, learnt to be the affect of the global economic downturn.

Experts believe that the ongoing global economic recession would hit hard Bangladesh export as well as whole economy creating an awful state. Economists have termed the New Year 2009 as crucial for Bangladesh economy and urged the government to take appropriate measures to face the challenge successfully.

Statistic showed that raw jute export declined by 16 per cent during July-October period of the current fiscal year as the main three importers China, Pakistan and India have nearly stopped raw jute purchase being affected by the global economic tsunami.

According to the statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), export of October 2008 also could not achieve the fiscal target set by the government. During the month goods worth US$867.69 million were exported against last year's US$941.48 million which is 7.84 per cent less. For the month the strategic export target was set at US$1170.23 million.

Statistics further shows that pharmaceuticals export declined by 23.27 per cent against the target during the July-October period of the current fiscal year. During the time pharmaceuticals worth US$13.12 million was exported which is 3.74 lower than same period of the previous fiscal year.

Earnings from of leather exports also declined during the first four months of the fiscal. In July-October leather worth US$71.24 million was exported to different destination, which is 26.40 per cent less then strategic target and 16.25 per cent less then export of same period of previous year. The target for the period was US$96.80 million.

However, earnings from the tobacco export increased by 98 per cent during the period. Total export earnings also have increased by 31 per cent during the time.

EPB sources said, it will be crystal clear within next month or two, when export statistics of November and December will be available, whether the export slide in October is the effect of global economic recession or not. But primarily they believe that the decline is the sign of the affect of economic downturn.

Meanwhile, multinational development agencies have said that the 49 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) will be the worst victim of the global financial crisis.

The International Monetary Fund said global financial turmoil will continue to have an impact on Asia even after a year. The Asian Development Bank said steps must be in place to prepare for further slowdown next year, given the rapidly deteriorating global economic situation.

Qualitative change brought about in campaign style

Staff Reporter

Chairman of Transparency International Prof Muozaffar Ahmad has said that a qualitative change had been brought about in the polls campaigning of the political parties before the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Addressing as chief guest, he said this yesterday at a launching ceremony of a book titled "Handbook on Election Reporting"(Third Edition) published by the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD). SEHD organised the launching programme at the National Press Club in the city.

This handbook compiles tips, background information, insights and analysis on parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in 346 pages. The book is edited by Philip Gain and funded by the Asia Foundation.

Farid Hossain, Bureau Chief of AP, said this book would be useful to the journalists to be successful spokespersons of the mass people.

The book would help them to make people understand about their roles and responsibilities in the polls, he further said. Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, teacher of Dhaka University, said Bangladesh had huge number of committed voters of the political parties, who were the main obstacles in the way of democracy.

Country Representative of the Asian Foundation, Kim McQuay, said the quality of media reporting and election campaigning were improving day by day in the country.

Prof Sakhawat Ali Khan, Chairman of SEHD and former Chairman of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University chaired the programme. Philip Gain, General Secretary of SEHD, Hasan Shahriar, senior journalist, among others, took part in the programme.

Countdown to election

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Two former prime ministers and leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Awami League Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina are passing through tough times now as they are addressing at least a dozen public meetings each a day.

The pressure on BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is due to sore throat as she was addressing meetings till early hours of every day.

The campaigns of the two leaders follow a pattern. Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina appears to have taken a cunning move to mould the public opinion in her alliance's favour by addressing meeting at sites visited by Begum Khaleda Zia before.

Some observers said the same tactic was adopted by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia during campaign for the 2001 polls.

The advantage of speaking to the voters after the visit of the opponent is that the points made by the latter can be interpreted to change public opinion in one's favour.

Begum Khaleda Zia, who launched her election campaign on December 12 from Sylhet after visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Hazrat Shah Paran (RH), has already visited a good number of districts in western, northern and southern regions of the country.

As part of her ongoing campaign, Begum Zia yesterday addressed public meetings in different constituencies in Munshiganj and Barisal. On her way to Dhaka, she was scheduled also to address rallies in Faridpur and Manikganj.

According to party sources, the BNP Chairperson will visit Sylhet Division today and take part in election campaigns in favour of four-party alliance candidates.

Sheikh Hasina also launched her election campaign from Sylhet through visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Hazrat Shah Paran (RH) on December 11.

She has already completed her election campaigns in all constituencies in the capital city of Dhaka.

The AL chief also addressed public meetings at almost all constituencies in the western region including Gopalganj, Faridpur, Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia, Magura and Narail districts which were visited by Khaleda Zia earlier.

Yesterday she visited different constituencies in Gazipur, Tangail and Mymensingh districts. Begum Zia visited these constituencies the previous day.

Party sources said, Sheikh Hasina has no tour programme today. She is likely to visit northern districts tomorrow. BNP Chairperson has already covered the region.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has taken a method of holding video conferences with party leaders and voters in different constituencies. As part of the programme, the AL chief is likely to hold such a conference with the city dwellers from her Dhanmondi residence today.

4-party complains to CEC: Media urged to stop biased propaganda

Staff Reporter

The four-party alliance leaders yesterday complained to the Election Commission (EC) against a large section of print and electronic media for violating the election rules by providing news and talk-shows terming Jamaat-e-Islami leaders as war criminals.

Requested by them, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda urged the media to refrain from presenting news with personal aspersions on the candidates contesting the forthcoming polls.

"The Election Commission's unanimous word to all the media is that you should not assassinate the personal character of the candidates," he told reporters at the EC secretariat in reply to a question.

Jamaat leader Barrister Abdur Razzak after their meeting with the EC told journalists that a private TV channel presented news dubbing "one ally of the four-party alliance as war criminal violating the rules of the Representation of People Order (RPO)".

He said, "Nobody should term any person war criminal without proof and the court verdict. This is a clear violation of the law."

While asked about the allegation against media, Dr Shamsul Huda said the commission had a plan to make media code of conduct on election news coverage but this was not implemented for some reasons.

"Now we hope that all media will present the news on factual basis by leaving out rumours," he said.

Replying to a question, the CEC said the commission would sit with the executives of the news media to ask them to present unbiased news during the election. "We'll talk to the executives in this regard," he said.

Replying to another question, he said that the EC was yet to decide whether mobile phones would be open or not on the Election Day.

About the court orders in returning the election symbols to some candidates, the CEC said the commission decided that Manzur Kader in Sirajganj-5 and Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan in Commilla-10 were given the election-symbol Paddy Sheaf while Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir got boat in Chandpur-1 parliamentary constituency. "We've lawfully done the job," he said.

Asked about the present situation in the country concerning the election, he said the whole atmosphere in the country remained better. "There're no problems in the country."

The four-party alliance delegation included BNP joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan and adviser to BNP Abdul Halim, Jamaat leaders Adv Jasim Uddin Sarker, Barrister Abdur Razzak and Abdul Qader Mohllah, BJP leader Shamim Al Mamun and IOJ leader Maolana Jubaer Ahmed.

After meeting the Commission, Nazul Islam Khan told reporters that they came on behalf of the alliance to lodge complaint as some opponent parties have been conducting their campaigns that "disrupted the fair election atmosphere".

Ballot papers to be sent to remote areas from today

BSS, Dhaka

The Election Commission (EC) has completed the printing of ballot papers for the remote areas of the country and those papers will be sent from today.

The ballot papers for the three districts of hill tracts, and river and haor areas were printed before the other areas, Deputy Secretary (Election) of EC Secretariat Mihir Sarwar Morshed told BSS yesterday.

"Always, we print the ballot papers for the remote areas on a priority basis as it takes more time to reach those areas," he said.

Sarwar Morshed said they have already completed the printing of ballot papers for 60 percent of the total constituencies.

Strike paralyses RU

RU Correspondent

Academic and administrative activities of the Rajshahi University (RU) remained stalled for the second day yesterday due to indefinite strike of the controversially appointed fourth-class employees of the university for the regularisation of their jobs. No scheduled classes and examinations were held yesterday for the strike by about 200 employees.

RU authorities convened an emergency meeting of the academic committee yesterday morning at the VC's house with RU acting VC Prof Mamnunul Keramat in the chair.

The academic committee postponed scheduled classes and examinations of all departments till December 31. It also postponed admission test and viva voce examination till December 31 and asked admission seekers to know the next viva voce examination date of their respective departments from the notice board.

Several hundred admission seekers returned homes disappointed yesterday as they could not appear before the board for interview due to strike.

On the other hand, the agitating employees with many outsiders yesterday morning locked the RU main gate and laid siege to the administrative building. They also went to different faculty buildings, deans' offices, and RU transport office and locked them in presence of a large number of policemen.

They also asked teachers, officers, employees and students to leave the campus in front of police.

At around 12:00pm the striking employees held demonstration in front of administrative building and chanted slogans for the confirmation of their jobs.

They announced that they will continue the strike until their jobs are confirmed.

When contacted RU acting VC Prof Mamnunul Keramat told the New Nation that they hold discussion with the employees and request them to call off their agitation.