The New Nation - Internet Edition

Unprecedented security marks Hasina’s Paltan rally: Save country from plunderers, militants

Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina delivering speech
from a dais behind bullet-proof glasspane at Paltan
yesterday (right). A view of the platform and the
assemblance of people. NN photo

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the people to vote for the grand alliance candidates to safeguard the country from plunderers, corrupt and the patrons of militancy and terrorism.

"Today you should take oath to vote for the grand alliance so that the war criminals cannot hoist the national flags in their cars, which was achieved in exchange of blood of 30 lakhs of martyrs," she said.

Hasina made this call while addressing a vast gathering at the historical Paltan Maidan ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections organised by the Dhaka City Awami League.

Addressing the meeting Sheikh Hasina pledged to present the countrymen a prosperous, educated, industrially developed and digital Bangladesh, if voted to power.

"December is the month of victory. The people of the country led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman earned victory in 1971. The people will earn another victory against the anti-liberation forces, corrupt, militants and plunders by voting to power the grand alliance on December 29,"she said.

She expressed her confidence on achieving victory to establish a secular Bangladesh in the spirit of the liberation war.

Hasina asserted that during the last seven years the people had passed their lives amid intolerable miseries and panic. They want to bring an end to this instability. Only AL could remove people's sufferings, as AL is an organisation of the people.

She said that during the AL government the price of all the essentials were kept under control. But no sooner had the BNP-Jamaat government resumed office by rigging votes, they indulged in corruption and plundering money, which resulted in the increase in the price of essentials.

Indicating to the former finance minister of BNP-Jamaat government, she asked how could a finance minister pass a rule of turning black money into white? "Because there were a number black money holders among the policymakers of that government," she added.

Criticisng the BNP-Jamaat government she also mentioned that all the people of the country are fully aware about their corruption. The last example of their corruption of taking bribe from a foreign company Siemens was published in different dailies.

Referring to a comment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia of voting the four party alliance to safeguard the sovereignty of country, Hasina said, " When we were in power, we brought Mig-29 and Frigate to strength our Air force and Navy. Beside this Frigates are used to explore oil in the Bay of Bengal. But later the BNP-Jamaat alliance tried to damage these and filed case against me. So how does Khaleda talk about protection of sovereignty?"

Hasina also blamed that the BNP-Jamaat government for shutting down a number of mills and industries that rendered thousands of people jobless. "Virtually BNP says 'save the country and save the countrymen'. But in reality it is 'kill people, sell country and transfer money abroad," she said.

Indicating to the Jamaat-e-Islam, she said they were doing politics by exploiting religion. But AL believes in equality of all the religions and communities.

Hasina also pledged to keep the price of daily essentials within the buying capacity of the people and to create employment opportunity for at least one youth from each family, if AL was voted to power.

She criticised the BNP-Jamaat government for spending Tk 20,000 crore without increasing a single mega watt of electricity and promised to enhance the capacity of producing electricity.

Hasina assured of food security for the people through achieving self-sufficiency in food so that no one has to starve. "To ensure health security, we will establish 18,000 community clinics so that the people can get treatment from their home," she added.

Hasina said, " The main theme of our electoral manifesto, Vision-2021, the year of golden jubilee of independence, is to present the people an educated, self-dependent, prosperous Bangladesh, which will be modernised in information technology."

Explaining about the digital Bangladesh, she said, " Digital Bangladesh means computer based Bangladesh, where every children of both rural and urban will get computer and internet facilities and all office system will be computerised."

About progress of country's economy during AL government tenure, Sheikh Hasina said, "AL believes that private sector is the key to a vibrant economy. That is why we, during the AL government privatised some banks and approved some private TV channels to be aired and handed over the operation of Khulna port to the Navy."

She pledged to take all necessary steps to improve country's rail, highways and water communications and to make Bangladesh fit for taking the challenge of the 21st century.

In the meeting Hasina introduced the AL candidates of the grand alliance for different constituencies of the Dhaka city.

The candidates are Advocate Kamrul Islam for Dhaka-2, Sanjida Khanam for Dhaka-4, Mizanur Rahman Khan Dipu for Dhaka-6, Mostafa Jalal Mahiuddin for Dhaka-7, Rashed Khan Menon for Dhaka-8, Saber Hossain Chowdhury for Dhaka-9, AKM Rahmatullah for Dhaka-10, Asaduzzaman Khan for Dhaka-11, Barrister Fazle-Nur-Tapash for Dhaka-12, Jahangir Kabir Nanak for Dhaka-13, Md Aslamul Haque for Dhaka-14, Kamal Ahmed Majumder for Dhaka-15, Md Ekias Ali Mollah for Dhaka-16, Advocate Sahara Khatun for Dhaka-18.

Tight security measure was taken at the meeting. Thousands of police, BDR, RAB, Army and SSF were deployed inside and outside the venue.

Around 50,000 gathered at the meeting. The audience overflowed to adjacent streets, which caused tremendous traffic jam.

Hasina is scheduled to visit Comilla, Feni and Chittagong today. She will hold her last electoral meeting at Laldhigi Maidan in Chittagonj in the evening.

EU mission deploys 100 poll observers

The European Union poll observers' team started
leaving for interior part of the country yesterday from
Hotel Sheraton yesterday. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) yesterday deployed nearly 100 short-term observers across Bangladesh.

They will be joining the 44 long-term observers who have been in the field for the past five weeks, following all electoral preparations including candidate scrutiny, campaigning and the work of the Bangladesh Electoral Commission.

The short-term observers were briefed on Christmas Day, and will now travel to the areas in which they will observe the opening, voting, closing and counting processes in polling centres in all of the districts of Bangladesh.

This last complement of observers brings the mission to its full capacity of 150 observers for Election Day.

All EU observers are bound by an internationally accepted code of conduct. This means that they maintain strict neutrality in the course of their work and cannot interfere in any way in the electoral process.

Graham Elson, Deputy Chief Observer of the EUEOM yesterday said the observers' assessment of election day will form part of the statement of preliminary findings and conclusions that the mission will issue on 31st December. "It's our hope that polling on election day will proceed smoothly and peacefully,' he said.

The European Union Election Observation Mission was re-deployed to Bangladesh in November, following an invitation by the Bangladesh Electoral Commission. The mission is led by Chief Observer Alexander Graf Lambsdorff.

The EUEOM's mandate is to assess elections against international standards and principles on genuine elections, and the mission is observing all elements of the electoral process.

The EUEOM is working independently to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the electoral process and to offer an impartial, balanced and informed analysis.

The statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be followed, some two months later, by a final report which will include recommendations for improvements for future electoral processes, said a press release.

Bangladesh-Lanka 1st Test: Host confines touring side to 172/6

Players of Bangladesh team celebrate after dismissal
of Mahela Jayawardene during the first day of the first Test
match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Mirpur
Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday. Focus
Bangla

Sports Reporter

Banglaesh bowlers dominated over the Sri Lankan batsmen on the opening day of the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series as they restricted the touring side to 172 for the loss of six wickets at the close of first day's play at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.

The first day's game started at 11.15 AM instead of 9.30 AM due to foggy weather. Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka faced early debacle as the visiting side lost their first wicket for 24 runs.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the coutry's best medium pacer trapped lbw Malinda Warnapura, the opening batsman of the tourists.

Later, opener Micheal Vandort and Kumar Sangakkara rescued their team from early danger adding together 95 runs in the second wicket stand before

Sangakkara was caught at the mid-wicket by Mohammad Ashraful off Shakib Al Hasan, the spinner when the board was giving a reading of 119 for the loss of two wickets.

Sangakkara notched up a patient 43 off 101 balls. He hit seven shots beyond the ropes in his 140-minute knock.

After dismissal of Sangakkara, Micheal Vandort could stay at the crease for a short time as he was caught at the mid-wicket by Shakib Al Hasan off Shahadat Hossain, the medium pacer when the team's total was 121 for the loss of three wickets.

Vandort knocked a sedate 44 off 124 balls. He struck five fours and a sixer in his 196-minute innings.

Shakib Al Hasan bowled extremely well in his seco nd spell and finished as 8-1-13-3. He cleanly bowled skipper Mahela Jayawardene for just three.

And then, bowled out TM Dilshan for 14. At that time Sri Lanka's score was 155 for the loss of five wickets.

Shahadat Hossain struck again when Prasanna Jayawardene tried to pull the cherry and was caught at the fine-leg when the visitors total was 171 for six.

Shahadat Hossain finished a notable spell as 13.4-2-47-2.

Thilan Samaraweera and Chaminda Vaas were at the stumps with 20 and nought respectively.

Election 2008: The latest cross-currents

Hasanuzzaman Khan

Awami League Chief and Mohajote leader Sheikh Hasina has refrained from naming H.M. Ershad from Dhaka-17 constituency and also Abu Hossain Babla from Dhaka-5 constituency as Mohajote candidates in her massive election projection meeting held at city's Paltan ground yesterday.

Sheikh Hasina was speaking from a bulletproof podium heavily cordoned by security personnel. For the first time she spoke from behind glass pane. The extraordinary security measures uncommon here characterises the ongoing unease prevailing in the current political arena. She also sought 'votes' for boat without mentioning about plough which is also in the race as the symbol of the Mohajote.

Hasina visited her own constituency at Pirganj, Rangpur when Ershad was also in the campaign in other parts of the district.

Ershad complained, even Hasina did not inform him whom he considers his younger sister that she was coming to visit her constituency at her husband Dr. Wajed Mia's ancestral village at Pirganj.

Two leaders ranking in the city committee were refused entry into Hasina’s podium by the high-profile security men. The identities of those were not ascertained.

Ershad said he phoned Hasina several times to overcome the present unease but the phone remained unattended.

He said, though Jatiya Party was allotted 44 seats under an electoral adjustment but the Awami League had refused to withdraw from 14 seats including one belonging to his wife Raushan Ershad at Gangachhara in Rangpur. He further said, he was totally betrayed by the Awami League.

Awami League candidate Mujibul Haq and Habibur Raman Molla are still fighting JP's heavyweight candidates Kazi Zafar and Abu Hossain Babla from Dhaka-5 and Comilla-11 constituencies respectively.

The election campaign by the BNP and the Awami League appeared to have been at the final stage with huge public meeting addressed by Hasina at Paltan to be followed by Khaleda addressing from the same venue today.

So far Khaleda has addressed 185 meetings throughout the country while Hasina has 65 meetings to her credit.

As far as campaign is concerned Khaleda is the front runner. But observers and analysts view that the BNP campaign is Khaleda-centric.

The leaders of the two big parties are yet to shun their old style of acrimonious campaign. Hasina revived her aggression on Khaleda and her sons accusing siphoning off state money to foreign countries.

Khaleda is reported to be in financial crisis while conducting her election campaign for BNP. Her bank accounts remain frozen while Hasina's bank accounts which have a deposit of more than Taka two crore have been released. Khaleda has also not applied to the NBR or other government agencies for releasing the fund.

Hasina is likely to visit Chittagong, the traditional BNP citadel, today marking the winding up of the election campaign.

According to a London-based private projection the BNP was 10 per cent ahead of its arch-rival Awami League in opinion polls as the December 29 parliamentary polls was only two days away.

The Government seems to be at odds over 101 ordinances, which require urgent legitimacy immediately after the potential parliament is convened.

Meanwhile Chief Adviser of the caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed stayed at Baywatch, a sea resort at Cox's Bazar for 20 hours. Gen Moeen U Ahmed also accompanied the Chief Adviser. Dr Mohammad Younus, the Nobel laureate and prominent economist was also reported to have joined the session. But what transpired in the talks when the national election was nearby was not known. Observers anticipate that it was not a mere pleasure trip, it could be more than that.

All set for Dec 29 election

Pulack Ghatack

The nation is ready for the long awaited ninth general elections to be held under a foolproof security blanket on December 29.

The Election Commission, helped by a non-party Caretaker Government, has almost concluded its arrangements for holding a peaceful and all-inclusive election.

Politicking of political parties and candidates have geared up, as the curtain will fall on the stormy election campaigns after 12.00 pm today. Voters are expected to exercise their franchise with enthusiasm and festivity in the elections.

"The election preparation is now at the final stage. Most necessary equipment for voting, including ballot papers, have already reached almost all the districts," an official of the EC told this correspondent.

To build up foolproof security for the elections, Home Ministry is going to field a total of some 1 million members of the law enforcing agencies across the country to maintain law and order during the elections.

Some 284 judicial and some 715 executive magistrates have also been appointed with the power to hold summary trials.

A total of 35,216 polling centers will be set up across the country with 177,107 polling booths for voting.

Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chief Election Commissioner Dr Shamsul Huda have asked field-level government officials several times to take the highest cautionary measures to check terrorism during the elections.

They also cautioned the field-level government officials that any sort of forgery, rigging and wilful negligence would not be tolerated.

The current caretaker government since taking office on January 12, 2007, has promised to organise the general election by the end of this year.

The Election Commission completed the national voters' list with photographs and fingerprints in July this year. Over 81 million voters were registered, of which 50.9 percent are females.

The Commission further completed the registration of political parties contesting in the elections in late November and almost finalized the candidate list.

According to the commission, more than 1,500 candidates of 39 registered political parties as well as independent candidates will contest for 299 seats.

More than 500 foreign observers as well as some 182,000 local poll observers will monitor the elections.

Restriction on vehicles before and after poll

Staff Reporter

Election Commission (EC) has imposed a ban on the movement of auto rickshaw, cars, microbus, jeeps, pickup vans, buses, trucks, launches, speed boats and all mechanised water vessels across the country from tomorrow (Dec 28) midnight to Dec 29 midnight to mark the parliamentary polls.

An EC press release issued yesterday, however, said that the ban would not be applicable to the vehicles plying the highway.

It said the ban would be imposed on taxicab, microbus, jeep and pickup vans in the metropolitan areas.

The restriction on the plying of motorbikes would be effective from midnight tonight to December 31 midnight.

It said vehicles that carry local and foreign election observers, journalists, officials involved in election activities, members of law enforcing agencies and vehicles engaged in emergency service including ambulance, power, gas and post and telecommunication services, will remain out of the purview of the ban.

Besides, the ban will not affect the plying of mechanised water vessels in the `haor' and the waterways.

The press release also said the restriction would be relaxed for the candidates and their election agents subject to permission of the returning officers.

It also said the ban could be relaxed for transportation of essential goods in port areas and in others emergency situation.

Countdown to election: Candidates busy with last minute campaign

Staff Reporter

Political leaders and activists, particularly the candidates for December 29 parliamentary elections, have been spending a busy time in their last minute campaign which ends midnight tonight.

Series of processions are being brought out in the localities calling upon the voters to cast their votes in their favour. Party leaders and activists, particularly new voters and enthusiastic children, carrying election symbols, are joining the processions round the clock.

They are chanting slogans in favour of their candidates and election symbols.

Candidates are moving from door to door and carrying out mass contact programme ahead of the polls without any rest.

Party activists are busy writing voters' numbers at election camps and moving from door to door to distribute those to the voters to facilitate them to cast their votes without any hassle.

The hectic campaigns of the two former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia are also coming to a close today.

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina will conclude her election campaign with her whirlwind electioneering in Comilla, Feni and Chittagong districts today.

Yesterday, she addressed a grand election rally at the Paltan Maidan in the capital.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will conclude her election campign through addressing a grand lection rally of her party at Paltan Maidan in the city today.

Both the leaders are scheduled to address the nation today on state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.

Muslim religious leaders extend support to BNP candidate

Barisal Correspondent

More than fifty prominent Muslim religious leaders, madrasha, principals and teachers, Imams of mosques and marriage registers of Barisal city extended their support to Advocate Majibor Rahman Sarwar, district BNP president, former BCC Mayor and whip.

In a joint statement issued yesterday they said as grand alliance included corrupt former autocrat and announced secularism as their ideal, so they decided to extend their support for four-party alliance candidate in the city.

They further said that candidate of Islami Andolon, commander of Hijbullah Bahini and brother of Charmonair Pir was contesting the elections with ill the motive to divide the votes of the religious minded Muslims.

Meanwhile, candidates, political leaders, human and women rights activists pledge to be active against violence over women and to make the parliament effective.

Sushashoner Jonaya Nagorik (Shujan), Durbar Network, Narir Sasthaya Jote Andolon and Action Aid, the non-government organisations, jointly organised a 'citizen dialogue' programme at Barisal BNDN auditorium Friday morning.

Advocate Manabendra Batabayal, convener of Conscious Citizen Committee (CCC) of TIB, conducted the programme.

Col (Retd.) Zahid Faruk Shamim, AL candidate, Mizanur Rahman Bachchu, Zaker Party candidate for Barisal-5 constiuency,Advocate Golam Abbas Chowdhury Dulal, city AL vice president, Advocate Abdul Hye Mahbub of JSD, Hiron Kumar Das Mithu of Gano Forum,AK Azad of CPB, Kazi Makbul Hossain, journalist,Dr. Habibur Rahman, human rights activists, Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, Akkas Hossain, freedom fighter leader,Faizun Nahar Shelley, Suruchi Karmakar, Sadhana Bepari,Kawsar Parvin, Fazilatunnesa Farid, women rights activists,Jibon Krishna Dey, child rights activists, Rahima Sultana Kajal, Isahuq Ali Mizan, Shuvangkar Chakraborty,Ranjit Dutta, NGO leaders and others including reprehensive of International Republican Institute (IRI), attended the program.

At the end of the programme, Col Zahid of AL and Bachjchu of ZP, the two candidates, expressed their solidarity with the declaration of the meeting.

Indian ships refuse to back off despite Navy protests

Staff Reporter

India yesterday sent ships into Bangladesh territory to explore for gas in mineral-rich Bay of Bengal.

Naval personnel of the country had sighted "Indian ships overlapping into our plains of the Bay of Bengal," Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain told the New Nation, adding they appeared to be exploring for gas.

The Navy has protested the intrusion of three Indian survey ships into Bangladesh's territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal, but those have refused to leave, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

A naval commander said two Bangladeshi ships had been sent to the region and a third was on its way as reinforcement. They would confront the two Indian vessels in the area, said the official, who declined to be named.

The Bangladesh Navy frigate 'Khalid bin Walid' was dispatched to the spot Thursday night and asked the Indian ships to back off, said one maritime official declining to be named.

"Three Indian survey vessels started seismic survey activities some 140 nautical miles southwest off Mongla seaport.

"Right after detection of the Indian ships, frigate Khalid bin Walid went there and asked them to leave Bangladesh territorial waters," said the official.

The official added that battleship BNS Meghla was also heading to the place from Chittagong port.

Both Bangladesh and India claim the waters, but until the dispute is settled no-one can carry out exploration works there, according to international law.

Bangladesh will move diplomatically to persuade the Indian ships back.

The Foreign Secretary said, "We will file a diplomatic protest note yesterday or today" to get the Indian vessels to go away.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the government was running an inquiry.

"We are investigating the situation and will take actions as deemed necessary based on the result of the inquiry," he told reporters.

The Indian High Commission was not available for comment due to holiday yesterday.

High officials of navy and coastguards have held an urgent meeting, the official said.

The Indian intrusion took place in less than two months of Myanmar sending vessels and equipment to carry out the exploration in the disputed waters of the Bay of Bengal, some 60 nautical miles off Saint Martin's Island on November 2.

Bangladesh had urged India to stop all activity in the area until it had been officially demarcated by a United Nations convention, he said.

Last month a similar row between Bangladesh and its eastern neighbour Myanmar flared over another disputed stretch in the bay.

A series of top-level diplomatic talks between the two failed to resolve the dispute and it was only after Myanmar removed the ships that it simmered down.

Dhaka is sandwiched between the two neighbours and resumed talks on maritime boundary after a long time earlier this year. With India, the talks resumed after 28 years. They remained at a preliminary stage with all sides reiterating their own positions.

25 cocktails seized, 5 JCD, Shibirmen held in Rajshahi

UNB, Rajshahi

Detective Branch of Police, in a raid, recovered 25 cocktails from Meherchandi area in the city on Thursday midnight.

The law enforcers also held five JCD and shibir activists from the spot for interrogation. They are JCD activist and a student of Islamic Studies Department of Rajshahi University Qamrul Hasan and shibir workers Ruhul Amin, Habib, Rafiqul Islam and Rashid.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Metropolitan DB Police raided Meherchandi area at dead of night and recovered the cocktails from inside a pile of sand at Karaitala.

The cocktails, wrapped with red and black tapes, might have been made for creating violence on the election day, said the Assistant Police Commissioner of Metropolitan DB Police.

A team of bomb experts defused the cocktails in Boalia thana.

Elect BNP in JS polls: Khaleda

Staff Reporter

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon the voters to elect the candidates of four-party alliance in the forthcoming parliamentary election on December 29.

" Elect BNP candidates to save the people and the save the country," she said while addressing an election rally at Dhaka-9 constituency yesterday night.

Joint Secretary General of BNP and former minister Mirza Abbas and party candidate in Dhaka-9 constituency Sirin Sultana also spoke on the occasion.

Terming the polls as crucial, Khaleda said " If you want to see continued peace and development then vote BNP".

She said the country's independence and sovereignty would not be protected if a particular came to power.

"They had killed innocent persons in the street in broad day light with oar and pol," she mentioned.

Begum Zia also addressed at different election rallies at different constituencies till mid night.

6 lakh law enforcers to be deployed in country

Mamunur Rashid

At least 600,000 law enforcers will be strategically deployed across the country as part of the Home Ministry security measures for trouble-free elections on December 29.

A senior armed forces official said about 50,000 troops had resumed duties.

The capital city will get a 'five-tier security' this year, says DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed. "There will be a five-tier security in 15 constituencies in the city and parts of Dhaka-2 constituency," he said.

Naim mentioned that the range of security measures had been enhanced for the city this time as the number of constituencies and polling centres had swelled.

"Past experiences, re-demarcation of constituencies and the law and order situation have been considered in drawing out the security plans.

The Election Commission, side by side, has formed a law and order maintenance cell that will keep abreast of the security situation one day before and one day after the elections.

The Home Ministry and law enforcing agencies had earlier assured that a three-tier security system, at least, would be ensured countrywide.

The largest single force throughout the country will be 466,000 Ansars, in addition to 80,000 police, 50,000 armed forces, 25,000 BDR and 6,000 Rapid Action Battalion personnel.

Some 284 judicial and some 715 executive magistrates have also been appointed with the power to hold summary trials.

A total of 35,216 vote centres and 177,107 voting booths will serve 81,058,698 registered voters around the country.

The EC had renamed voting centres in the lead up to polls this year as 'normal' and 'critical' from the previously 'non-risky' and 'risky' categories.

Home Ministry officials say 16 law enforcers, including three from army and one armed Ansar, will be stationed at each 'normal' voting centre in city areas with 14 law enforcers per centre elsewhere. 'Critical' centres will have 18 law enforcers including two more army personnel.

Army, BDR, RAB and armed police personnel will carry out the duty of striking force till December 31 in line with Home Ministry orders. They were deployed from December 24.

A total of 18 striking forces consisting Navy and Coastguard personnel will work along the coastal districts.

BDR forces, instead of armed forces, will carry out their duty as striking forces in 70 upazilas on the country's border belts. Besides, BDR and army together will act as striking forces in another 17 upazilas where border areas need extra surveillance.

The striking forces will take prompt actions in order to avoid any untoward or violent incident in line with directives from the civil administration, say officials.

Every district of the country will also hold one army battalion that includes 650 to 1,000 members.

Armed forces will remain constantly vigilant at strategic points so that presiding and returning officers can contact them at all times. They will assist police and Ansars on demand in maintaining law and order for polling centre security.

Massive drives had also been launched countrywide in the lead up to polls to arrest 'trouble makers' and suspected terrorists so that the December 29 vote should not be hampered, the officials say.

16 hurt as trains collide in Gazipur: Rail communication upto Mymensingh remains suspended

BSS, Gazipur

At least 16 persons were injured when to passenger trains collided at Rajendrapur station in the district at around 7 am yesterday, police sources said.

Three seriously injured persons were identified as M Sanu Mia, 60, of Chittagong, Faruque Mia, 28 of Narsingdi and Nur Mohammad, 55, mess waiter of Jessore Cantonment. Rajendrapur Station sources told BSS that the accident occurred when a passenger train from Dhaka named Mohua (43-UP) collided head-on with another train Bharmaputra-744 from Bahadurabad at the station leaving the persons injured.

The injured were sent to Gazipur Sadar Hospital and Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka after giving first aid at Rajendrapur CMH.

BNP grand rally at Paltan Maidan today

Staff Reporter

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is to hold a grand rally at Paltan Maidan today.

BNP Chairperson and leader of the four-party alliance will be the key speaker at the function. She is expected to deliver her speech at 2:00 pm.

Sources of BNP said Begum Zia would reiterate her party's pledges prescribed in the party's election manifesto.

She is also expected to introduce candidates of BNP contesting in the capital. Thousands of BNP supporters from the city and the surrounding areas are expected to join the rally.