The New Nation - Internet Edition

CA asks newly commissioned Armed Forcesmen: Uphold country’s image abroad

Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Dr
Fakhruddin Ahmed handing over 'Sword of Honour' to the best
all round Cadet (from left) Battalion Senior Under Officer
Mohammad Zunaeed Uddin Shah Chowdhury of Army, Midshipman
Mehedi Hasan of Navy and Flight

UNB, Bhatiari

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Wednesday urged the newly commissioned officers of the Armed Forces to uphold Bangladesh's image in the world as a promising, developing and peace-loving country and its internationally-acclaimed role in protecting peace and security across the world.

The head of the caretaker government gave the call while addressing the combined President's Parade at the Bangladesh Military Academy Parade ground here in the morning to mark the passing out of cadets of army, navy and air force.

Cadets of 59 BMA Long Course, 30 BMA Special Course, Midshipman 2007-Alfa Batch, 58 Flight Cadet Course and Sri Lankan Special Course-4 formally received commission through the President's Combined Parade.

A total of 182 cadets, including 30 women, have been commissioned in the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Of them, 133 cadets are from army, 22 midshipmen from navy and 27 flight cadets from air force.

Besides, 87 cadets who completed Sri Lankan Special Course-4 also took part in the parade.

The Chief Adviser handed over the coveted sword of honour to battalion senior under officer Mohammad Zunaeed Uddin Shah Chowdhury as best all-round cadet in the 59 BMA Long Course in army, sword of honour to midshipman Mehedi Hasan for best performance in all subjects in navy, and sword of honour to flight cadet wing under officer Mohammad Saifur Rahman for best performance in all subjects in air force.

The parade included a guard of honour by outgoing and current cadets of army, navy and air force to the Chief Adviser.

The Chief Adviser on board a decorated open jeep, flanked by commanders of Bangladesh Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy, reviewed the parade.

An impressive mark past of the parade gave salute to the Chief Adviser who took salute from the parade from a decorated podium, flanked by Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, Naval Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Air Force chief Air Marshall SM Ziaur Rahman.

Earlier, chiefs of the three services of the Armed Forces received the Chief Adviser at the BMA parade ground.

Chief Adviser's wife Neena Ahmed, diplomats, senior military and civil officials, local elite and guardians of newly commissioned officers of Armed Forces were present at the event.

Addressing the parade, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed also urged the newly commissioned military officers to always remain ready to carry out their responsibilities of protecting the great independence and sovereignty of the motherland.

"The first and main objective of your life will be to safeguard the country's independence, sovereignty and national flag even at the cost of last drop of blood," he told the male and female officers.

He said each of the three academies-Bangladesh Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy-today reached a glorious position in their respective areas and through gradually crossing the path of progress.

Fakhruddin said it is not only the country's students who are getting training side by side as a mark of international amity and brotherhood, many friendly states have also been sending cadets for training in the country's academies.

So, military academies have been turned into a unique symbol of country's national dignity, he added.

Terming the day as very important for the newly commissioned officers, the Chief Adviser said they are going to enter today as proud officers of Bangladesh Armed Forces through commissioning after hard training for long days. "This day is important for you because you were being bestowed with the sacred responsibility of protecting the country's independence and sovereignty."

He advised the newly commissioned officers to remember that members of the Armed Forces are an inseparable part of the people of the country… "So, all of you are the equal partners of joys and sorrows of mass people of the country," he said.

Fakhruddin mentioned the exemplary role of the armed forces during all natural calamities and in hours of need of the country. He also mentioned their glorious role in aid of the civil administration.

He said: "Peace is prevailing today in the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to sacrifice and courageous role of the members of the Armed Forces. Trend of development continues in the region."

He said Bangladesh Armed Forces is vanguard of country's independence and sovereignty. The proud and efficient Armed Forces of the country was born through the bloody liberation war. The unique contribution of patriotic Armed Forces in the independence war will be kept written in golden letters for ever in the national history.

The Chief Adviser recalled with respect those fearless and heroic soldiers who embraced martyrdom in the independence war and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.

He said the importance and necessity of Armed Forces are immense in an independent and sovereign country, and considering its importance, country's military academies were established after independence with the objective to build up ideal and skilled armed forces.

NDI team arrives in city

Staff Reporter

A thirty-three-member delegation of International Observers from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) arrived in the city yesterday to monitor the national parliamentary elections on December 29.

The delegation is co-led by Howard B. Schaffer, former US ambassador to Bangladesh, and Andrey Mclaughlin, formar MP and former leader of the New Democratic party of Canada. The delegation will also include Larry Garber, former US Agency for International Development (USAID) mission director for West Bank in Gaza, and Peter Manikas, director for Asia programmes of NDI.

The group includes political and civic leaders, regional and election experts, media specialists, and human right activists from ten countries in Asia, Europe and North America. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) yesterday announced the arrival of the delegates.

NDI and its local partners work to promote openness and accountability in government by building political and civic organisations, safeguarding elections, and promoting citizen participation. The Institute brings together individuals and groups to share ideas, knowledge, experiences and expertise that can be adapted to the needs of individual countries.

The purpose of the delegation is to demonstrate the international community's interest in Bangladesh's return to a democratically elected government. NDI fielded a pre-election delegation to Dhaka from November 16 through 19 and has had long -term observers in Bangladesh since November 20 to assess the political environment and preparations for the parliamentary polls.

Fresher dominate Barisal polls: 2 women to fight male rivals

Barisal Correspondent

Eleven young candidates are in the parliamentary election race for the first time in Barisal division creating much interest among the voters.

Eight of them belong to two major alliances and the rest three are contesting the election independently.

Besides, two female candidates of BNP have been fighting their male rivals from two constituencies in this division.

They are Selima Rahman and Elen Bhutto.

The young candidates are Andaleeb Rahman Partha (BJP) of Bhola-1 and his brother Ashikur Rahman Shanto (BJP)of Bhola-2, Siddikur Rahman Manna (Ind) of Bhola-3,Abdullah Al Jacob( AL) of Bhola-4, Asok Gupta (Ind) of Barisal-1, Mezbahuddin Farhad (BNP) of Barisal-4,Golam Mawla Roni(AL) of Patuakhali-3,A B M Mosharraf Hossain(BNP) of Patuakhali-4, Rafikul Islam Zamal ( BNP) of Jhalakati-1 Kalayan Mitra(Ind) of Pirojpor-1 and Shah Alam (AL) of Pirojpur-2.

The eight new candidates fighting the polls from two major alliances have been able to generate much interest of the voters in their respective constituencies for causing much worry to their experienced rivals.

Barrister Andaleeb is pitted against senior AL leader Yusuf Hossain Humaun while Shanto is facing AL presidium member Tofael Ahmed.

BCL leader Jacob has been able to carve out a strong position against popular senior BNP leader and former lawmaker Nazimuddin Alam.

Rival of Golam Mawla Rony is veteran BNP politician Shahjahan.

Former Dhaka University JCD leader ABM Mosharraf Hossain is contesting the poll against senior AL politician Mahbubur Rahman Talukdar.

B H Harun of AL although experienced in electioneering, is cruising cautiously against his young opponent Rafikul. Shah Alam, former BCL leader, is posing a big challenge to BNP leader Nurul Islam Manjur.

Selima Rahman, former BNP minister, is fighting a do or die election battle against grand alliance candidate Golam Kibria Tipu, Jatiya Party presidium member.

Elen Bhutto, former BNP lawmaker, defeated AL heavy weight Amir Hossain Amu in the 2001 general election.

This time also they are facing each other from Jhalakahti-2.

Govt urged to maintain neutrality ahead of polls

Staff Reporter

A political party and members of a civil society yesterday demanded of the government to maintain neutrality in the upcoming parliamentary elections on December 29.

They also called upon the government to take necessary steps to ensure security of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

"The government is committed to ensure a level playing field for all parties but in practice a particular party is being favoured by the administration " said Barrister Abdur Razzak , assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami at a press briefing yesterday at the party's central office at Moghbazar in the city.

Expressing concern over the personal security of Begum Zia, the Jamaat leader said, " We condemn the heinous attempts to attack the four- arty alliance leader".

Moulana Rafiuddin Ahmad, member of central executive council, Prof Md Tasnim Alam, secretary, central publicity wing, Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarcar and Central Working Council members Mohammad Abdur Rob, Ahmad Ullah Bhuiyan and city executive council members Advocate Mosiul Alam and Farid Hossain, among others, of the party were present.

Meanwhile leaders of Bangladesh Sochetan Nagorik Samaj have also condemned the attempt on Begum Zia.

In a joint statement Alamgir Hasan Raju, president and Nurunnabbi Khan Joni, secretary general of the organisation blamed the state machinery for playing a biased role in favour of a particular political party.

"Conspiracy and false propaganda are being hatched to stem the rising mass upsurge in favour of BNP led four-party alliance," they added.

Govt mulls turning TCB into PLC

Staff Reporter

The government will strengthen Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to stabilise the market of import based six types of essential commodities, Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said.

He was talking to the reporters in the sidelines of a view exchange meeting on turning the TCB into a public limited company at the Commerce Ministry auditorium.

Zillur said, "Prices of some essential commodities here increased remarkably earlier this fiscal. TCB couldn't play its role in time as the organisation was inactivated by the previous governments."

"By turning the TCB into an independent organisation, the government would be in control of the essential commodities market like edible oil, ata and flour, onion, sugar, pulses and powder milk," the Commerce Adviser said.

The government has already formed a working group in this regard, the Education Adviser said, "The group will formulate in a action plan by reviewing working profiles of such organisations like Indian State Trading Corporation," he added.

He informed that the existing TCB has Tk 100 crore cash deposit, 42 bigas of land and four zonal offices across the country. "So, it will be possible to turn TCB into an independent organisation," Zillur pointed out.

Earlier, Hossain Zillur met the senior officials of TCB and Commerce Ministry.

Aziz admits failure to reduce inflation

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday recognized that he would have been happy had he been able to pull down the inflation to 3-4 percent and push up the economic growth to 7-8 percent during the last two years of the caretaker government.

He, however, expressed satisfaction over the success that the inflation has been below the level of the neighbouring countries and the GDP declined much less than other countries in view of the current global situation and three natural disasters at home last year.

"The success and failure are relative terms," said the Finance Adviser, replying to a question at a press conference at National Economic Council (NEC) auditorium, marking the release of a document titled "Recent Economic Situation of Bangladesh: Achievement and Challenges".

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Finance Secretary Dr Mohammed Tareque, NBR Chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Planning Secretary Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury and ERD Secretary Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan were present.

Dr Aziz said the country's economy has got a strong foundation which, he believes, would not plunge below 6 percent level during the current fiscal year despite the global financial crisis.

If the global recession lingers and deepens, he said, the economy would be affected posing 16-point challenges for the economy that will have be dealt with by the next governments.

The challenges included increasing public investment to face the impact of global recession, strong monitoring on ADP implementation, further increase in energy and power sector investment, continuation and enhancement of social safety net programmes, expanding tax and VAT net, ensuring austerity and maintaining balance between budget income and expenditure.

The other challenges are investment of saved money from fuel oil imports, increasing fund for climate change impacts, reducing regional disparities, giving priority to human resources development and information technology, considering favourable policy for capital machinery and investment-oriented imports, and continuation of financial sector reforms, including government-owned banking sector.

EC ready to hold polls, says CEC

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said that preparation for holding a free and fair election is now complete. The Election Commission (EC) has now nothing but to send ballot papers to the polling centres.

Talking to newsmen at EC office Dr Huda said the commission was considering the mobile network issue and have discussed it with various communities. He said he personally believes that mobile networks should be kept on during the Election Day to facilitate enhanced mobility. It helps communications among returning officers, assistant returning officers and other personnel's involved in the elections.

He, however, the disagree with contention of the detective branches and home ministry over the mobile phone network issue. Dr Huda said EC will takes decision immediately on the issue.

Replying to a question over violation of election rules by the Speaker of Parliament he said he is aware of it. "The Speaker had contacted with me several times. But he should not use government facilities during election campaign."

The CEC said EC took election preparation within a short span of time. Some issues made it more difficult, like eligibility of Mayors in the national elections and court rulings over candidature of defaulters and convicts.

In future these issues should be settled earlier, Dr Huda said.

Replying to another question Dr Huda said around 30 lakh ballot papers of 17 seats has to be re-printed.

CA, Army Chief on vacation in Cox’s Bazar resort

UNB, Cox's Bazar

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed along with their spouses are on vacation at Inani, the most attractive tourist resort in the world's longest sea beach.

The two top figures in the interim period and their wives, in two special helicopters, flew in the sea beach in Ukhia upazila in the afternoon after completing their scheduled programme at Bangladesh Military Academy in Chittagong.

They are staying in the army-constructed seafront 'Baywatch' rest-house to spend a night away from the daily rut of their busy routines.

The CA and the CAS (chief of army staff) are expected to return to the capital at 10am today (Thursday), officials said.

Half of driving licenses fake: BRTA Chairman

UNB, Dhaka

Chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Sunil Kanti Bose yesterday admitted that half of the country's driving licenses are fake.

"Fifty percent of the driving licenses that are now in use are not issued by BRTA…(Issued) by somebody else," he said in a view-exchange meeting between the Anti-Corruption Commission and senior officials of Communications Ministry at the ACC headquarters.

Responding to a query, the BRTA chairman said measures are underway to address the problem, including planned introduction of high-security licenses.

He said the offices from where vehicle registration and license issuance are done are the two most corrupt places in his department. He also termed 'middle men' problem as the most severe problem faced by BRTA. Sunil described mobile courts as ineffective to deal with transport-related problems.

Speaking on the occasion, Communications secretary Iqbal Mahmud acknowledged that corruption take place in estimation of projects and tender process. "There is no way to deny it," he said.

Pintu freed from jail

UNB, Dhaka

Amid a flurry of media reports on him, Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu of Old Dhaka yesterday came out of jail into the field to run the race for a seat in parliament at the forthcoming polls.

The BNP candidate for the December 29 parliamentary elections from Dhaka-7 constituency was set free from Kashimpur jail at 12:45 pm on bail.

On February 15 last year, when a crackdown on the political arena was on steam following the January changeover, Pintu, the former BNP lawmaker from this constituency, was sent to jail after he surrendered to a Dhaka court to seek bail in two cases for attempted murder and theft.

The student leader-turned-politician, wanted in several criminal cases in the changed times, had been evading arrest since the incumbent caretaker government launched the countrywide hunt for bigwigs on charges of corruption and serious crime.

Khaleda addresses election rally in Netrakona today

Netrakona Correspondent

BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to address an election rally at Muktarpara Maidan in the district town of Netrakona today.

District administration has taken all out security measures to ensure foolproof security of the former prime minister.

The members of the law enforcing agencies including the elite force RAB started patrolling in and around the town and searching the venue of rally with metal detectors.

Transparency International Bangladesh report: 142 candidates spent Tk 4.26 crore before nomination

Staff Reporter

The 142 nomination expectants of 40 constituencies spent more than Tk 3 lakh on an average in various ways for the parliamentary election-2008 before December 11, the deadline of withdrawal of candidacy, violating electoral code of conduct Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday revealed at a press conference.

The time span of the survey was from Eid-ul-Fitr to December 11. TIB used random sampling process for the survey. The data of the survey based on visible expenditure and lowest estimated cost.

The 51 nomination expectant candidates of Awami League (AL) spent Tk 16,02,700 while 44 candidates of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and 12 of Jatiya Party (JAPA) spent Tk 19,78,000 and Tk 8,00,000 respectively. Six expectant candidates of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami spent Tk 5,00,000. 21 candidates of other parties and seven individual candidates spent Tk 1,10,000 and Tk 10,00,000 respectively before the deadline of withdrawal of candidacy.

According to the report, 91 candidates spent Tk 98,14,500 for public meeting, 65 spent Tk 59,20,000 for public communication, 40 spent Tk 1,38,65,500 for gift and donation, 33 used Tk 35,77,200 for rallies and show-down.

Thirty-one nomination expectants spent Tk 21,98,00 for conveyance, 31 spent Tk 58,01,400 for refreshment, 19 spent Tk 6,00,000 for press conference, 13 spent Tk 1,82,800 for black and white poster while seven spent Tk 7,74,000 for leaflet and banners.

Five nomination expectants spent Tk 2,11,500 for establishing camp, four spent Tk 55,000 in announcement, two used tk 3000 for graffiti, one spent Tk 10,000 on arches, one expectants spent tk 2,00,000 and another one used Tk 14,500 for coloured stickers.

Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Trusty Board of TIB, said using of the money that is allocated by government for MPs remain out of accountability as no voucher was maintained.

He however admitted some shortcomings. "If stratified random sampling was used as instrument for the survey the data will be more enriched", he said.

Public holiday on Dec 29

BSS, Dhaka

The government announced public holiday for all government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations, and educational institutions on December 29 to facilitate their officers and employees in casting votes.

In the Noakhali-1 constituency, the public holiday will be effective on January 12 as the parliamentary election will be held in the constituency on that date.

India arrests Pak soldier, Islamabad denies

Reuters, India

Indian police said on Tuesday they had arrested three militants, one of them a Pakistani soldier, for allegedly planning a suicide attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Pakistan's army, however, denied the arrested man was a serving soldier.

The arrests came as India deployed thousands of troops in the main city of Kashmir, a day before a crucial last phase of state polls on Tuesday.

Muslim-majority Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital and the heart of a nearly 20-year-old separatist campaign against Indian rule, goes to the polls Tuesday as does the Hindu-majority city of Jammu, the state's winter capital.

Police said they had been conducting raids in the entire state over the past few days to thwart trouble ahead of the polls.

During the raids, they arrested three members of the banned Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group on suspicion of planning suicide bombings in Kashmir during polling.

"One of the three has been identified as Ghulam Farid alias Gulshan Kumar, a sepoy (soldier) of the Pakistan Army," Kashmir police director general Kuldeep Khuda told a news conference.

A Pakistan military official said Farid deserted army in 2006 from the central city of Okara.

"He's certainly not an army employee and his unit was not deployed at the Line of Control when he deserted the army," a military official said on condition of anonymity.

"Indians might have apprehended Ghulam Farid sometime back and now staging this drama because of current situation," he added.

On Monday, two policemen were killed when suspected separatist militants fired at a police patrol in north Kashmir.

Kashmiri separatists, many of them in jail, have called for a boycott of the seven-stage polls saying India portrays voting as an endorsement of its rule over the disputed Himalayan region.

But a high turnout in the six rounds of the election has encouraged Indian authorities despite the scattered clashes between anti-poll protesters and government forces.

On Tuesday, thousands of police and soldiers armed with assault rifles patrolled deserted streets in Srinagar and warned residents to stay indoors.

Shops, businesses government offices and banks remained closed in the Muslim-majority Valley, due to security restrictions.

"They have converted Srinagar city into a large military camp," 45-year-old shopkeeper, Mohammad Issac said. "It is worse than a curfew."

But overall violence has fallen significantly across Kashmir since India and Pakistan began peace talks in 2004.

Those talks stalled after last month's attacks in Mumbai that killed 179 people and which India blames on militant groups based in Pakistan.

Officials say more than 47,000 people have been killed in nearly two decades of violence, involving Indian troops and Muslim militants in Kashmir, which was hit by massive anti-India protests earlier this year.