The New Nation - Internet Edition

Elect 4-party to protect sovereignty: Khaleda apologises for past mistakes, wraps up campaign

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia addressing the
4-party grand rally at Paltan Maidan in the city on
Saturday. Photo: Agencies

Talha Bin Habib

In her final round of electioneering rally that lasted about 15 days, the BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday humbly called upon the countrymen to vote for 'sheaf of paddy' for continued peace, prosperity, development and protecting of the country's interest, sovereignty and independence.

"I call upon you to vote for 'sheaf of paddy' and elect the candidates of four-party alliance and register a new history just on the eve of the new year, " she said while making her clarion call to the voters at an election rally oragansied by BNP led four-party alliance at Paltan Maidan in the city.

She said the parliamentary election on December 29 is very important for the over all progress of the country. Paying her glowing tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs of the country's independence, Begum Zia started addressing the vast public rally at 4:30 pm from behind a bullet proof glass pane and amid tight security.

With the slogan of " Save the country and save the people" she also sought vote to restore democracy and uproot corruption and terrorism.

Defending the criticism made by her political opponent for committing corruption, Begum Zia said " During the rule of Awami League in monetary term the amount of corruption was Tk 17,192 crore and BNP has reduced it to Tk 413 crore in 2004".

She also promised to continue her crusade against persisting corruption.

"I promise and give you words if we are voted to power then we would take stern measures against corruption by allowing the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to accomplish its work independently and without influence," she mentioned.

The chairperson of BNP and the leader of the four-party alliance has also offered a 'politics of accommodation free from personal vengeance'.

"If they have patriotic spirit and like the country's peace and prosperity then they should give up the politics of destruction, hartal, arson and burning".

Khaleda, who has a third time record of ruling the nation, said if people of the country voted the four-party alliance to power then they would govern the country as per suggestions of the people.

" If there had been any mistakes during our tenure in the past please forgive us and help us a new start by voting us to power," she submitted in her 58-minute speech.

She said BNP would ensure price of all essential items in the buying capacity of the people and provide agricultural inputs to farmers with affordable price.

"If we are voted to power then we would work for attaining food security, extend girls education free up to degree level and ensure jobs for all,"she added.

She also came down heavily on the composition of Awami League grand alliance.

Indicating former military ruler and Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, a key ally of the grand alliance, Khaleda said, "They have formed a grand alliance with a great thief," she said and levelled Ershad as 'snatcher of democracy and champion of corruption'.

Calling upon the new young voters she said " As a mother I do promise to you if you vote us to the power again, we will work for your happy future".

"Youths are the future of our country and we do not have time to look back and we need to march forward towards development," she mentioned.

Earlier supporters of BNP irrespective of their age and stratum started to gather at the venue since morning and it was full to the brim at 12:00 noon.

People were allowed to enter through the main gate, the only gate between Bangabandhu National Sadium and Moulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium. They had to go through several check points to enter there. They held banners that prescribed 'save the country, save the people; for the sake of democracy and development and vote for party's election symbol 'sheaf of paddy'.

BNP Chairperson introduced BNP candidates by handing over 'sheaf of paddy' to Gayeswar Chandra Roy for Dhaka-3, Abdul Hai for Dhaka-4, Salahuddin Ahmed for Dhaka- 5, Sadek Hossain Khoka for Dhaka- 6, Nasiruddin Pintu for Dhaka-7, Habibunnabi Khan Sohel for Dhaka-8, Shirin Sultana for Dhaka-9 , MA Qaiyum for Dhaka- 10, M Shahbuddin for Dhaka -11, Khandker Mahbubuddin for Dhaka -12, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal for Dhaka-13, SA Khaleq for Dhaka 14, Wing Commander (Retd) Hamidullah for Dhaka-15, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah for Dhaka-16, Brigadier Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shan for Dhaka- 17 and Azizul Bari Helal for Dhaka-18 constituencies in the capital.

It may be mentioned that Khaleda Zia launched her election campaign on December 12 by visiting Shah Jalal's and Shah Poran's shrines in Sylhet.

Khandker Delwar Hossain, secretary general, Mirza Abbas, assistant secretary general of BNP, Barrister Abdur Razzak, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, Moulana Abdul Latif Nezami, secretary general of Islami Oikkya Jote and Moulana Mohammad Ishaq of Khelafat Majlish, among others, addressed the rally.

Hasina winds up electioneering in Ctg: Vote for boat to stop corruption

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina addressing a
grand rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chittagong on Saturday.
FocusBangla

Pankaj Karmakar with Ctg Bureau

Former prime minister and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina in a mammoth rally at Laldighi ground yesterday promised to turn Chittagong into a modern port city of South Asia by establishing port in the deep sea in the Bay of Bengal.

She pledged to bring developments in many socio-economic sectors in Chittagong on the last day of election campaign.

Emphasising the importance of Chittagong as a port city the AL Chief said, " We will establish deep sea port in the Bay to turn Chittagong into a modern port city of South Asia, if voted to power."

Hasina also promised to establish railroad from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar for smooth communication between these two regions.

"Tunnel and hanging bridge over Karnaphuli River will be built", said the AL chief in her speech.

She said that people were longing for socio-economic changes in the spirit of the liberation war. They also want to say bye to hunger, poverty and illiteracy permanently, she noted.

AL chief referred to her party's election manifesto which had focused specificaly on free education up to the graduation level and employment for each member of a family.

"I was targeted several times by the killers. But being a daughter of a Muslim, I don't fear anybody but Allah. I'll not bow my head before any evil force, she declared to the thunderous applause and clapping of the crowd.

She introduced 13 candidates of Chittagong Constituencies of AL from the dais to the audience.

President of Chittagong city unit of the Awami League and Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury presided over the rally. Candidates from Chittagong-8 Nurul Islam B.Sc, Chittagong-7 Mainuddin Khan Badal, Chittagong-10 MA Latif, Chittagong-3 ABM Abul Quashem and Chittagong-15 Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu among others addressed the rally.

Nearly half a million people thronged the historic Laldghi Maidan and the roads approaching the main venue suspending vehicular traffic on the KC Dey Road, Jail Road, Court Road, Anderkillah Road, Shaheed Minar Road and Nandan Kanan.

Hasina left Sudha Sadan at 8:50 AM toward Chittagong. On her way to Chittagong, Hasina addressed roadside rally at different places Comilla, Daudkandi, Feni, and Mirsarai.

She reached Daudkandi at 9:00AM, which is under Comilla-1. She introduced Suraj Ali Bhuiyan to the people.

The election is very important for the people of Bangladesh this time and so is your vote, she said.

The AL chief alleged that the founder president of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Ziaur Rahman rewarded the assassins of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and his family members instead of producing them before court.

The trial will be completed if grand alliance comes to power, the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib said.

A party is spending black money to win voters, she alleged.

She cautioned the audience not to get tempted by money. They will give you money for a day and exploit you for five years. "Don't sell your 'Iman' (faith) to the plunderers", she told her audience.

The prices of essentials were at tolerable level during AL's government. It went out of the reach of common people during the BNP's term. "If you want essentials at cheap rate cast your vote for AL", she said.

AL chief said, "Bangladesh will be 50 years old by 2021. Our target is to offer common people a digital Bangladesh where everyone would have access to computer and penetrate Internet on the eve of golden jubilee.

Referring to M Saifur Rahman, former finance minister of BNP who gave opportunity to whiten black money, from concession it becomes clear how much money BNP leaders plundered, she said.

Addressing a meeting at the premises of Pilot High School of Feni-2, she said BNP gave nomination to VP Joinal from whom 19 weapons were seized.

She promised to create employment opportunity for at least one person of each family.

AL chief said if her party was voted to power, they would establish a University at Feni.

Pointing a finger at BNP chairperson's son she said Bangladesh lost its image due to their corruption.

She promised to the audience to reopen moribund Muhuri irrigation project which is in a shambles.

Election 2008: Politics of repentance, lofty pledges

Mostafa Kamal Majumder

Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the BNP and leader of the 4-party alliance yesterday sought people's mercy for mistakes committed during the alliance rule that ended in 2006 while at the same time asserting success in reducing corruption that, she said, had peaked during the Awami League rule between 1996 and 2001.

Mistakes might have had been there, she told the Paltan Maidan meeting, and added 'we will build the country taking lessons from those'. The BNP chief's narration of success on economic and law and order fronts and the claim of being the founder of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) attracted attention.

Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina and leader of the Grand Alliance in her meeting at the same venue on the day before had urged the people to vote against, what she termed, the BNP-Jamaat alliance of plunderers, war criminals and patrons of militancy.

Sheikh Hasina pledged to present the people a prosperous, educated, industrially developed digital Bangladesh if her party and alliance were voted to power. The AL in its election manifesto presented a 'vision 2021' for a developed Bangladesh and tuned the pledges to it. Begum Khaleda Zia's pledge to work by taking lessons from past mistakes is apparently directed not only at the people at large but also the champions of political and electoral reforms and the civil society who feel that the two major political parties have not adequately reformed their party organisations to meet their expectations.

Sheikh Hasina during the last leg of her election campaign in 1996 had appealed to the people to view mistakes committed during the Awami League rule after the liberation of Bangladesh with the spirit of mercy. That statement of her, was seen to have had dramatically changed the attitude of anti-AL voters towards the party. AL did win a majority in that election and came to power after 21 years.

Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had also sought people's mercy after being routed in elections in 1977 following an emergency rule marked by excesses. Indira herself was defeated in her constituency in that election. But the plea for mercy worked and she returned to power in style.

Before the campaigns for the present election ended at midnight last night the leaders of the two major political parties also addressed the people over the state-owned radio and television.

Tight security arrangements were made for the two meetings at Paltan Maidan. Sheikh Hasina spoke from behind a bullet-proof glass curtain brought by security personnel, Begum Khaleda Zia avoided using the same during her 55-minute speech.

Both the major parties, it may be noted, made control of price hike their number one priority. AL leaders said during their rule the rate of inflation was the lowest and prices of essentials were within the purchasing capacity of the people.

The United Front of Gano Forum, Bikalpa Dhara, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, and the Progressive Democratic Party; the Communist Party of Bangladesh, The Liberal Democratic Party led by Col Oli Ahmed, the nationalist alliance of independents led by former BNP secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan, NAP Muzaffar, and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Party (BSD-Khalequzzaman) are the other major political forces in the race.

The United Front, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Communist Party of Bangladesh seek to develop alternative political leadership free from the sphere of influence of the Awami League and the BNP. However, except the Communist Party, which seeks to provide a socialist democratic alternative to the people, and the BSD; the remaining parties offer more or less similar economic programmes.

The CPB seeks to get its 37 candidates elected. But more important to it is to train the people politically, and the party vows to continue its political work after the election no matter whether its candidates win or not.

The election race this time has been marked by observance of some notable restraints like refraining from wall-writings and graffiti that would by now have otherwise discoloured the walls beside main roads. The people now await a good finis of the long awaited election.

Let us put an end to politics of conflicts: Hasina

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister hopeful Awami League president Sheikh Hasina urged all political parties to put an end to "politics of confrontation and hatred" and unitedly build Bangladesh as a prosperous, developed and safe country.

In her televised address to the nation, Hasina said Awami League and their grand alliance do not want to see Bangladesh slipping back into its past confrontational environment. "Now it's extremely needed to work together so people's rights to voting and democracy are not harmed anymore."

"Let's work hands in hands for building Bangladesh with a clean new political culture to save democracy and ensure peace," she said.

In an emotion-choked voice, Sheikh Hasina said there had been many attempts on her life in Bangladesh, "but no attack or intimidation will be able to prevent me from working for the welfare of the people of Bangladesh."

"I'm a Muslim and a Muslim can dare no one but Almighty Allah. I'll never bow down my head to any grenade and bullet. I'll work till my last breath for the people of Bangladesh," she said.

Hasina pledged to bring down the prices of all essentials including rice, oil and pulses within the buying-capacity of the commoners and build such a society where there will be no terrorism and corruption.

She urged the people of Bangladesh to judiciously cast their votes as the democratic transition and future of development depend on a free, fair and acceptable election on December 29.

"You (people) will decide whether the country will go back to the dark era of BNP-Jamaat alliance or will move towards en enlightened future?" the former premier said.

She said the dream of the 1971 liberation war was to build a hunger, corruption, oppression-free Bangladesh.

"But the anti-liberation forces killed our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders, plunging Bangladesh into an era of darkness. At last in 1996, Awami League had come forward to free the nation from that dark era through a fair election," she said.

The prices of essentials had been brought within the commoners' buying capacity and Bangladesh was made self-reliant in food. "We had planned to free Bangladesh from the curse of illiteracy by 2006. But Awami League was not allowed to get back to power in 2001 through vote fraud," she said.

All the achievements and successes of the nation were shattered by the 4-party alliance for their endless corruption and corruption.

"The country's people know it very well how the sons of the former prime minister took bribes from foreign companies and siphoned off the money from the country. Some 21,000 progressive persons, including former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria and labour leader Ahsanullah Master, were killed by the terrorists of the BNP-Jamaat alliance," she said.

Hasina reminded the people about the "rise of militancy under the direct patronage of the BNP-Jamaat alliance", as attempt was made to kill her in grenade attacks in August 21, 2004.

"The militants had killed our 22 leaders, including women leader Ivy Rahman. Still, hundreds of people are carrying the signs of injuries they sustained in the grenade attacks. The militants also killed judges, lawyers, university teachers and students," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the Anti-Corruption Commission would be strengthened apart from dealing with all types of terrorism with a strong hand.

Hasina said special programmes would be taken to bring those got derailed by embracing militancy back to the enlightened path.

She also said no law that might go against Quran and Sunnah would be enacted if Awami League comes back to power.

Hasina urged the people to vote the grand alliance to power in Monday' s election and allow it to help Bangladesh attain food autarky again and bring down the prices of essential.

Khaleda assures no revenge if voted to power

UNB, Dhaka

Assuring no revenge action for her ordeals in the interim period if voted to power, embattled ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia yesterday said that her party is fully prepared to accept people's verdict in the parliamentary elections being held Monday.

"I consider members of the armed forces as the extended part of my family," she said in her pre-election televised speech, adding, "Our programmes and pledges would continue to ensure their welfare and interests, make armed forces stronger and bring them closer to the people."

The BNP chairperson recalled that during the state of emergency, she, her family, party and people from different walks of life and professions were subject to "injustice" and there is propaganda by the opponents that if they form the next government, the members of the armed forces might be subject to reprisals for their 'special role' in the interregnum.

"I want to inform everyone that we never believe in revenge and vengeance. We will take our revenge through making our armed forces stronger, more professional and pro-people," said Khaleda on a reconciliatory note.

She also assured that there would be no reprisals against members of the civil administration, police, BDR, Ansar, civil society, media and other professionals who were forced to resort to irregularities in the last two years.

She expressed her confidence that the people would again give her the mandate for saving the country, securing independence and sovereignty and uplift the nation on higher planes of development. "I have full confidence in your judgment and we are fully ready to accept people's verdict," she said.

The immediate-past premier made the appeal and assurances in her wrapping-up speech aired on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar on the eve of the crucial election on which hinges Bangladesh's democratic transition after two years of emergency regime.

The BNP chairperson urged the voters to keep a watchful eye so that there cannot be rigging, mechanism, forgery and partiality.

She forewarned that if people voted believing in rhetoric and "false" assurances of other parties, it would be disastrous for the country. "Past speaks as to who kept promises, who didn't."

Khaleda said, "In this election, you have to choose if you want peace and stability or want unrest and anarchy. Do you want to keep Bangladesh as a sovereign country or you want the country to be run at foreign dictates? Do you want schools, colleges, hospitals, bridges, culverts, roads and construction of multistoried buildings or only hollow slogans, speeches, propaganda, torching-burning and devastations of logi-boithas."

She also questioned if people want good economic management or financial anarchy and share-market collapse, national unity or divisions, development and production or the country being foreign markets.

The immediate-past Prime Minister said, "Irrespective of religion and colours we have fought together for language. (We have) dedicated lives for independence and democracy. Fortunes of all of us are tied together to the stability and development of the country."

Urging people to come forward to stop propaganda against the country both at home and abroad, she said, "Be vocal against efforts to tarnish the dignity of the country."

"Join us to save the country and people," Khaleda said with reference to the main theme of her party manifesto.

She assured that like in the past she would pass any test of patriotism and would succeed. "I also want to assure that I will give befitting return of your confidence."

The BNP chairperson said that in this election they are attaching utmost importance to issues like the independent entity of the country, state sovereignty and national dignity. "At the time when foreign ships are within our maritime boundary the issue is even more important."

Describing country's armed forces as first front line of national defence, she said she has strong confidence in the armed forces. "My strong belief that they will remain calm, determined and neutral in protecting national security, peace, stability, public interests and democracy."

Khaleda Zia noted that evil forces from home and abroad do not want to let BNP go to power due to the party's political philosophy of taking the country forward through its twin-powers of democracy and development.

The former Premier said, "I have run governments with your support. I leave it to you to judge my successes and failures."

About the BNP election manifesto, she said the difference between manifestos of her party and others is BNP's programmes could be implemented.

The BNP chairperson urged young and female voters to cast their votes for her party which she termed symbol of youth.

Electioneering ends: Restriction on vehicles from midnight

Staff Reporter

The long-awaited general election will be held tomorrow to end the two-year rule by an army-backed caretaker government.

The majority of some 81 million registered voters, of which 50.9 percent are females, are expected to exercise their right to franchise in the elections to be held under a foolproof security blanket.

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

The political parties divided in two major alliances - Awami League led Mohajote and BNP led 4-party Oikkyajote - are the main power contenders in the polls.

The two dominating political leaders -BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and AL President Sheikh Hasina - criss-crossed the country on the final day of campaigning yesterday.

Both the leaders delivered televised addresses to the nation on the last day of campaign.

According to the provisions of the Representation of People Order (RPO), all campaigning of elections have ceased since yesterday midnight.

With the cease of campaigning plying of all mechanised vehicles, except authorised once engaged in election purpose, have been prohibited.

Vehicles including private cars, micro-buses and rented CNG cars will be off the road and possession of firearms has been forbidden.

However, the highways and 'important' roads will be kept beyond the restrictions.

As the final touch Khaleda addressed a grand rally at Paltan Maidan in the City yesterday while Sheikh Hasina travelled to Chittagong, the second biggest city of the country and addressed a grand rally there at Laldighi Maidan.

Khaleda Zia has covered more areas of the country in her campaigning while Sheikh Hasina has held several video conference rallies amid reports that Islamic militants are plotting to kill her.

The polls are expected to be the fairest yet in the country after the current regime created a digital electoral roll eliminating 12.7 million fake names. There are some 200,000 electoral observers, including 2,500 from abroad.

Some 50,000 troops have been deployed across the country and 600,000 police officers will man polling booths in a bid to eliminate election fraud and terror attacks.

Law enforcing agencies said at least two dozen militants had been arrested in its nationwide drive ahead of the polls. Explosives and at least 25 bombs were also seized in raids.

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

Some 284 judicial and 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.

The ninth parliamentary election originally was scheduled to be held on January 22, 2006.

Dhaka protests Indian intrusion in Bangladesh waters

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh summoned India's High Commissioner yesterday to protest exploration work by Indian ships in gas-rich Bangladesh territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain summoned Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty and handed over a written protest urging an immediate cessation of survey activities, spokesman Yeakub Ali said.

Asked about the Indian response, he said the envoy would send the note to New Delhi to convey Dhaka's concern and get back the reaction.

He hoped that the survey ships would stop survey or development work following Dhaka's protest, which came in the wake of reports about Indian ships' trespassing on Bangladesh's territorial waters.

An Indian survey ship was seen conducting exploration in the deep sea in block 14 within the maritime boundary claimed by Bangladesh under the terms of the Territorial Water and Maritime Zones Act 1974.

Pinak observed that this is an overlapping zone and both India and Bangladesh claim it. Since the matter is under discussion, he proposed to the Foreign Secretary that Dhaka send a team to India "as soon as possible".

He said the survey ships are not Indian. These are Jamaican ships chartered by a private company having licence from the Indian government to conduct the survey.

Asked whether the ships will leave the disputed zone, the diplomat told reporters that, of course, they would pull out, but only after completing the survey.

"The ships have their own work, and whatever works they have they will do and will move out soon," he said, apparently reflecting a defiant position of the opposite side in the face of protest.

Asked how the survey could be conducted in the disputed zone, he posed a counter-question when discussions are on, why the Bangladesh government did put it for international bidding, "knowing full well that we have overlapping claims. Both sides have a right."

The Indian High Commissioner categorically said, "We're keen that Bangladesh team goes to Delhi to sort out these issues. Otherwise, these overlapping claims will remain and ships from both sides will come."

Asked about possibility of escalation of tensions in the Bay of Bengal over the survey, he said, "There is no such tension. We talk to each other all the time."

Pinak said, now smilingly, "Look, if tension had to be created, we could have done something else. That's not our intention at all."

The Foreign Secretary said the proposal for discussion is "positive" and Bangladesh would send the technical team to Delhi end of January at the earliest. But no date for the meeting has been proposed.

Meanwhile, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, "We are confident that peaceful deliberations and diplomatic measures will ultimately lead to a mutually acceptable solution."

He however said just as Bangladesh respects international norms in such solutions, "we expect and hope that all our neighbours will do the same. In this spirit, we have requested India to postpone the survey till such time when a settlement on the subject is reached".

Earlier, a Bangladesh navy vessel that spotted the Indian survey ship during patrol asked the survey ship to leave Bangladesh waters. While the survey ship initially moved towards Indian waters, they returned to its earlier location where they were again positioned in the afternoon of December 25.

When the Bangladesh navy for the second time asked the survey ship to leave the Bangladesh waters, they claimed that it was India's waters.

The officer said two more Bangladeshi naval ships were sent to the area as backup to their patrol ship. An Indian maritime patrol aircraft flew over the Bangladeshi naval patrol vessel on Thursday afternoon after the Bangladesh navy made the protest.

A naval commander told the New Nation two Bangladeshi ships had been sent to the region and a third was on its way as reinforcement.

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

Bangladesh deployed four ships and put its navy and armed forces on high alert after a South Korean company escorted by Myanmar ships began work in the area.

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.

BNP complains of biased administration

Staff Reporter

Both the alliances led by Awami League and the BNP yesterday appeared at the Election Commission and lodged allegations few hours before the much awaited parliamentary elections.

A seven-member grand-alliance delegation led by Awami League leader HT Imam had a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda and demanded publication of the election results without distortion of facts.

Earlier, a five-member delegation of the BNP-led four-party alliance led by BNP joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan had a meeting with the Commission and alleged that some administrative officials have been working in favour of their rival alliance.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain was present during the parleys with the two alliances

After the meeting between the leaders of the grand alliance and the election Commission HT Imam told reporters that they told the Commission that it should be aware of the secretaries who he said discharged duties in favor of a vested quarter.

"We've requested the EC to be aware of those secretaries," he said.

Imam said still there are many partisan and nonpartisan officials in the administration but they have become "our associates in

discharging duties".

"We don't want to create divisions among them (officials)," he said.

The delegation said the election results have to be published without making any kind of mistake like the previous elections.

He said the returning officers have to publish the results after collecting the results from all presiding officers and send these to the election commission so that 'distortion of the facts is not committed in the midway'.

Earlier, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that some administrative officials are working in favor of their rival Awami League-led alliance ahead of the election.

"We've received such allegations from our candidates and placed those before the commission. It's a violation of code of conduct and barrier to holding the elections in a free and fair manner," he said.

Khan said the Commission assured them that it would take immediate measures.

He made it clear that any kind of negligence about the polls would not be accepted as the nation has waited two years for a fair election in the country.

Khan also alleged that the civil administration and the police administration are assisting the rival candidates who are

contesting the elections in some constituencies.

"Our candidates have been beaten and their posters torn in some areas," he said.

Sporadic clashes mark last day of electioneering: 75 injured

Staff Reporter

Sporadic clashes, that left some 75 people hurt at few places of the country, marked the last day of election campaign yesterday.

The motorcade of Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also suffered brickbats by his dissident men in Rangpur, though none was injured there.

Allegedly the supporters of rebel JP candidate in Rangpur-2 Mohammad Ali Sarkar, who were angered for depriving the former MP of party nomination, started to pelt stone to the motorcade of Ershad at Taragonj.

Police rushed to the spot and chased away the supporters witnesses said.

In Pabna, more than 60 people were injured in two separate clashes between supporters of Awami League and 4-party alliance candidates at Sathia and Sujanagar yesterday evening.

In Mymensingh, at least 20 people were injured when an Awami League procession came under attack allegedly by BNP rivals at Kalenga in Nandail upazila in the evening.

Of the injured, local Awami League leaders A B Siddique, Morshed Ali, Taher Master, Shahabuddin and Abu Emran were admitted to Nandail Health Complex.

Witnesses said an Awami League procession was passing by Kalenga bazar at about 5-30pm when a group of BNP activists swooped on it with rods and sticks leaving 20 people wounded. Police confirmed the incident.

In Barguna, at least five Awami League activists were injured in attack by supporters of rival rebel candidate of the party at Amtali yesterday night.

Witnesses said supporters of AL candidate Dhirendra Nath Shamvu were returning in a procession after attending his meeting at Amtali AK School ground. They came under attack allegedly by supporters of AL rebel candidate Delwar Hossain leaving at least five activists.