The New Nation - Internet Edition

Professional groups form human chain

DU Correspondent

Nine professional organisations yesterday urged the voters of constituency of Dhaka-17 in the city to reject former president Hossain Mohammad Ershad in the election as he killed many people including Dr Milon, Noor Hossain and Moyejuddin during his nine years of autocratic rule.

The organisations made the call from a human chain formed at Kakali Bus Stand to Gulshan-1 where they exhibited posters and placards with different slogans inscribed on the posters.

Former BMA president Prof MA Mazed, Engineer Mahmudur Rahman, Dr Harun Al Rashid and Advocate Sanaullah, among others, joined the human chain.

Bangladesh Medical Association, Association of Engineers Bangladesh, Shikhak carmachari Oikya Parishad, Agriculturist Association of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Combined Diploma Nurses Association are the main participant organisations in the human chain.

BCL leader injured in clash

DU Correspondent

A student leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was chopped by another group of the party at Milon square onDhaka University campus yesterday.

The injured Shamsul Kabir Rahat, a resident of Sergeant Jahurul Huq Hall came under attack at 6:30 pm on Saturday.

He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with critical injuries.

Eyewitnesses said SM Reazuddin Ahmed alias Sumon of the same dormitory along with his accomplices attacked Rahat with lethal weapons. Later they fled the scene without any resistance.

Kamal harming 4-party interest, says Mojahid

Staff Reporter

Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid yesterday alleged that BNP Vice-President Kamal Ibne Yusuf has harmed the BNP-led four- party alliance by introducing himself as a BNP candidate in Faridpur-3 constituency.

"Even Yusuf sought votes for boat to ensure defeat of the four-party candidate Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mojahid," Mojahid said.

Mojahid alleged this at a gathering at Faridpur District School field yesterday.

"To contest in the constituency by Kamal Ibne Yusuf was not a right decision," he said adding, "The people of Faridpur-3 will elect Mojahid to save the people and country."

Faridpur District BNP President Zahirul Hoq presided over the meeting while BNP Secretary of the district Syed Modares Ali Isa, Jamaat leader Shahed Ali, addressed, among others, in the gathering.

Dr Kamal calls for saving country from anarchy of 2 alliances

Staff Reporter

The leader of United Front and president of Ganoforum Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday urged the people to save the country from the anarchy of two major political parties.

He also called upon the people especially the youth to vote for the nominees

Of Jukta Front in the Monday's parliamentary election to ensure a better future of the country.

He counselled them to cast their " no vote" against the candidates who earned notoriety as godfathers of terrorists and looters of national wealth.

Dr Kamal was addressing an election meeting at Chittagong- 10 constituency where a nominee of the Juktra Front Advocate Jane Alam

is contesting the election.

The meeting was addressed, among others, by Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, acting general secretary, of Ganoforum.

Information Dept.opens media centre to facilitate journalists

UNB, Dhaka

Information Department is going to open a media centre at Hotel Sonargaon today (Sunday) to facilitate both the local and foreign journalists covering the December 29 parliamentary election.

The centre will remain open to the journalists round the clock till December 30, said a PID handout.

The telephone numbers of the media centre are - 814 0230-34 and 814 0228, and the fax numbers are - 814 0227 and 814 0229.

The journalists will have the access to computers with internet connection and telephones with ISD facilities in the centre.

Besides, there will be a hotline connection between the media centre and the Election Commission for providing election news, the handout said.

JU admission test postponed

UNB, Dhaka

The admission test for first year honours of Jahangirnagar University (2008-09 session), scheduled for January 3, has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

The fresh date of the examination will be announced through newspapers later on, said a JU press release yesterday.

402 DU teachers denounce Indian ships' presence

UNB, Dhaka

Some 402 Dhaka University teachers yesterday denounced the intrusion of Indian survey ships into Bangladesh waters and their forceful stay over there.

"Despite requests by the Bangladesh Navy to leave the Bangladesh waters, the survey ships continued their exploratory activities in the maritime area. Such activities violating the rules put Bangladesh' s safety and sovereignty at risk," the teachers said in a joint statement.

The DU teachers also requested the Indian ships to leave the Bangladesh waters to maintain a good neighbourly relation, the statement added.

The signatories to the statement include Prof Dr Sadrul Amin, Prof Dr Aminur Rahman Majumder, Prof Dr Sirajul Islam, Prof Dr Akhter Hossain Khan and Prof Dr Mozammel Haq.

BNP will use looted money to buy votes: Hasina

UNB, Daudkandi

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina alleged that BNP would dole out its looted money for vote buying on December 29 and urged people not to sell out their faith for such pittance as temporary gains.

Hasina, who went on addressing wayside election rallies on her way to Chittagong for the final public showing in the port city before Monday's national elections, said, "People do have their right to this looted money, but don't sell out your faith. BNP may give you money only once but will keep you in distress for five years." Bringing allegations of amassing thousands of crores of Taka, she questioned "why the former Prime Minister (Khaleda) and the former Finance Minister (Saifur) had to get their money whitened if they did not commit corruption".

Pointing her finger at former Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharrf Hossain, who is contesting the election against Awami League candidate Maj Gen (retd) Subed Ali Bhuyian from the area, Hasina, also a former premier, alleged that Tk 36,000 crore was plundered from the health sector alone during the BNP-Jamaat rule. Addressing another rally at Chandina in support of AL candidate Prof Ali Akbar, she said, "A killer (Mustaq) of Bangabandhu was born here and Ziaur Rahman rewarded and rehabilitated the killers." She said if AL is voted to power, the court verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case would be executed.

"There is no room for the killers on the soil of Bangladesh," said the elder daughter of the slain leader.

She urged people to elect honest and competent candidates on December 29, rejecting the corrupt and terrors.

Hasina also addressed a rally at Alekarchar seeking vote for AL candidate AKM Bahauddin Bahar.

Indian envoy summoned by MoFA, handed protest against their ships' presence in Bangladesh waters.

Moon sighting committee meets today

UNB, Dhaka

A meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee will be held at Islamic Foundation conference room at 6pm On Sunday to review and fix the beginning of the holy month of Muharram, 1430 Hijri.

Adviser for Religious Affairs and Chairman of the Committee AF Hassan Ariff will chair the meeting, said a press release.

People sighting the moon of the lunar month anywhere in the sky of Bangladesh have been requested to contact the Islamic Foundation by Telephone Numbers 9555951, 9559493, 9555947, 9558337, 9559643, 9556407 and Fax Number-9563397.

Three firearms seized in Rajbari

UNB, Rajbari

Rapid Action Battalion members seized three firearms from Gandhimara Bazaar in Pangsha upazila on Friday night. Acting on a tip-off, a patrol team of RAB-8 reached Gandhimara where a gang of terrorists were holding a clandestine meeting at about 11 pm.

Sensing presence of the elite force, the terrorists managed to flee the scene leaving a revolver, a pistol and a pipe gun on the spot. The RAB personnel later deposited the firearms to Pangsha thana. A case was filed.

Feni BNP expels four leaders for violating party discipline

UNB, Feni

District BNP has expelled four activists of Sonagazi thana unit for violating the party discipline. Former general secretary of Sonagazi thana unit Manjur Hossain Babar, Noor Islam Swarnakar, Habibullah Parvez and Aminuddin Dolon were expelled as per the section 5 (Ga) of BNP constitution. The expulsion order against the four came following the party Chairperson's directives as charges of violating party discipline, involvement in antiparty activities and preventing party candidates from carrying out election campaign were brought against them, said a press release issued from BNP Feni district branch on Friday. It also said the primary memberships of the four activists have also been cancelled.