The New Nation - Internet Edition

Army Chief calls on President

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed called on President
Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday. PID:
Photo

UNB, Dhaka

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday called on President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban to discuss matters relating to the measures taken by the army during the national election.

During the meeting, General Moeen apprised the President of different measures taken by the army to help maintain law and orders during the polls.

The Army Chief expressed his gratitude to the President, also the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, for extending his cordial support to the Armed Forces specially to the army for discharging their duties in last two years.

President Iajuddin gave a patient hearing to the Army Chief and expressed his satisfaction over the activities of the army in different fields.

The President also thanked the members of the Armed Forces for their relentless endeavors in preparing the voters' list and national ID cards with photographs, operating relief and rehabilitation works after devastating cyclone 'Sidr' and maintaining law and orders across the country.

Secretary of the President's Office Md Sirajul Islam, Military Secretary to the President Major General M Ruhul Amin and the President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present.

Khaleda exchanges pleasantries with journalists

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia holding a view
exchanging meeting with journalists at the National Press
Club on Sunday. NN photo

Staff Reporter

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday exchanged pleasantries with journalists at the VIP lounge of the Jatiya Press Club.

Khaleda, who used to visit press club just day before of every election since 1991, expressed her gratitude to the journalist community for extending their cooperation in the struggle to establish democracy in the country.

Shaukat Mahmud, president, Kamaluddin Sabuj, general secretary and Abdur Rahman Khan, senior vice president of Jatiya Press Club and senior journalists welcomed Begum Zia when she reached the Press Club at 6 pm.

She also thanked newsmen from print and electronic media for being part of her entourage in election campaign braving dense fog and chilly weather in different districts and coverage of those events.

" I personally thanked you for extending your helping hand and cooperation on different issues relating with the national interest," she added.

Replying to a question Begum Zia said by the kind grace of Almighty Allah and the support of the people that inspired her to address so many elections rallies across the country.

Recalling the contribution of journalists' community during anti-autocrat movement in 1990 Begum Zia hoped that such of their cooperation would continue in the future.

At the end of the informal discussions the Chairperson of BNP took tea with the journalists.

Mohajote hopes to bag some 200 seats: HT Imam

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League, which heads the Grand Alliance, Sunday said they expect to win some 200 seats in tomorrow's 9th Parliamentary elections.

"Awami League and the Grand Alliance are expecting near about 200 seats in the general election," co-chairman of Awami League Election Steering Committee HT Imam said.

He was talking to reporters after a meeting between AL President Sheikh Hasina and a seven-member delegation of the Election Observers' Team of USA-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) at her residence in the evening.

Imam said during the meeting, the NDI members, led by Howard B Schaffer, was requested to monitor Monday's crucial balloting to their best.

"We saw in 2001 how harmful the local election observers can be for the country. We request all the foreign election observes to be more vigilant to ensure a free and fair election," Imam said. He also told the NDI about probable use of money and muscle by their opponents to buy and influence votes.

Imam said the NDI team was also informed that in some areas, minorities and women voters in particular were being intimidated not to vote for Boat, the election symbol of the Awami League.

Talking to the media, Howard B Schaffer said they hope that all the political parties will accept the result of the election.

He also stressed the need for active participation of the opposition parties after the election and to make the new parliament truly effective.

Earlier in the morning, a seven-member delegation of International Republican Institue (IRI) called on Sheikh Hasina at Sudhasadan.

The IRI team, led by Barry Newman, exchanged views with Hasina, an aspirant for Bangladesh's next prime minister.

Later, a delegation of British Parliamentary Board, led by Paula Manjila Uddin, also met Sheikh Hasina at Sudhasadan. Another team of European Parliamenatary Board led by Charles Panock separately met Sheikh Hasina.

Talking to newsmen, the visiting poll observers described the pre-election situation as positive and the law and order as "good" for holding Monday's election in free and fair manner.

Voting will be held Monday in 299 of the 300 parliamentary seats.

Polling in one constituency was postponed after death of a candidate.

ECNEC okays two projects worth Tk 1,615 cr

UNB, Dhaka

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) Sunday approved two development projects involving Tk 1,615 crore with Tk 128 crore coming in project aid.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Ecnec with its chairman and Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

The projects are: Integrated Development Project (Amendment) in Hatirjheel area including Begunbari canal under Housing and Public Works Ministry and EC-assisted School Feeding Programme under Primary and Mass Education Ministry.

Finance and Planning Adviser and Alterative chairman of Ecnec Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam, Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin, Local Government Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal, Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim, Health and Family Welfare Adviser Dr AMM Shawkat Ali, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader, Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury and Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.

The Cabinet Secretary and Chief Adviser's Principal Secretary, Planning Secretary, members of the Planning Commission and secretaries and high officials of the ministries concerned were also present.

Border sealed off, BDR deployed for polls

BSS, Rangpur

The entire border was sealed off and adequate number of BDR jawans and officers were deployed for maintaining law and order to hold today's parliamentary polls in a completely peaceful and credible manner in the country's northern districts.

Talking to BSS, officials said here yesterday that special steps were already undertaken to prevent any possible attack from the terrorists or the anti-social elements during the election in the whole region.

The BDR jawans have already been put on duty at all frontier upazila headquarters in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi districts.

Besides, the officials said, required number of BDR jawans have been kept reserved in the battalion headquarters to rush them as striking force on calls from any part within their concerned jurisdictions.

They also said that the BDR personnel would work under the leadership of concerned magistrates in respective constituencies to maintain peace and tranquility during polling.

Meanwhile, the BDR personnel around their respective outposts have intensified patrols along the whole northern frontiers under Rangpur, Dinajpur and Rajshahi sectors to prevent any bid of trespassing attempt by the criminals.

As per the agreed decisions taken at the recent flag meeting, the Indian BSF side has also been cooperating the BDR in maintaining law and order along the frontiers, the officials said.

4 injured in poll-related violence in Barisal

Barisal Correspondent

Four local BNP and Awami League leaders were injured in Barisal city and Rayerhat at Banaripara upazila in pre-election violence on Saturday and Sunday night.

K M Shahidullah, BNP leader and commissioner ward-12 and panel mayor of Barisal city corporation, sustained injury on Sunday night following severe beating allegedly by Shafiqul Alam Gulzar, former district BNP treasurer who recently joined Awami League.

Local sources said that Gulzar, also commissioner of ward-11 of Barisal City Corporation, tried to abduct Shahidullah on a microbus. Shahidullah was rescued by the local people and admitted to Barisal SBMCH.

Hearing the news of assaulting Shahidullah, some local people brought out procession protesting the attack and demanding arrest of the attackers.

Cadres of Gulzar also allegedly opened fire and hurled bombs on the procession of their opponents.

Majibor Rahman Sarwar, district BNP president, BNP candidate for Barisal-5, former BCC Mayor and law maker, condemned the attempt to kidnap Shahidullah and demanded punishment of the guilty persons.

Another report from Banaripara upazila in Barisal -2 constituency said that a group of BNP activists attacked and injured three local Awami leaders including Kaisul Huq Raju, son of late AK Faizul Huq, former AL leader,

minister and lawmaker and grandson of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq.

Raju told journalists some BNP activists allegedly attacked his car at Rayerhat and inflicted injuries on him and two other AL activists who were in the car. The attackers were led by Mintu alias Dhala Mintu, Banaripara upazila JCD leader, he complained.

Sri Lanka take control

Sports Reporters

Sri Lanka totally took the control of the first Test against Bangladesh when they notched up 291 for the loss of four wickets in the second innings after dismissed Bangladesh for 178 in the first innings on the third day's play of the first Test of the Grameenphone Test Series at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Earlier, Sri Lanka scored 293 in their first innings on the second day's game.

Sri Lanka have now 406-run lead from Bangladesh.

Today the fourth day's play will not be held due to national parliament elections.

The match resumes tomorrow at the same venue.

Bangladesh resumed their first innings with the overnight score of 177 for the loss of nine wickets but they lost their last wickets adding more one run.

Sri Lanka made a disastrous start as they lost their early two wickets for 18 runs. Mahbubul Alam, the medium pacer trapped lbw Malinda Warnapura for just eight runs.

After that Mashrafe Bin Mortaza cleanly bowled Micheal Vandort, the opener of the touring Sri Lanka for six runs.

Later, skipper Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara recovered their team from early debacle as they put on together 135 runs in the third wicket stand.

Mahela Jayawardene remained undefeated with a marvellous 129 off 219 balls. he hit 14 fours and a sixer in his unfinished 312-ball knock. He fullfilled his 24th Test century playing 177 deliveries.

Kumar Sangakkara knocked a painstaking 67 off 134 balls. Sangakkara struck eight fours in his 189-minute innings before he was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mehrab Hossain (Junior) when Sri Lanka"s total was 153 for the loss of three wickets.

After dismissal of Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera conyributed 138 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Samaraweera was bowled by Mashrafe making a fine 62 off 116 balls. He sent the ball eight times through the ropes.

After 82 overs Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took the new ball and got success as he removed Samaraweera when the visitors reached a safe position scoring 291 for the loss of four wickets.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was the day's most successful bowler with a couple of wickets at the cost of 24 runs.

Pakistan warned against neglecting terror front

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan risks a rise in terrorist activity if it lets tensions with India divert its attention and troops away from battling Taliban and al-Qaida militants along the Afghan border, leading Pakistani newspapers warned Sunday.

Hours after the editorials were published a suicide car bomb targeting voters killed 26 people in that troubled northwest region.

The commentary in some of the Muslim nation's biggest dailies came after reports that the army was redeploying thousands of troops away from the northwest toward the eastern border with India following last month's attacks in Mumbai, which India blames on Pakistani militants. Islamabad also has restricted military leave, but leaders of both countries insist they want to avoid a fourth war between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Pakistan "just cannot afford to redeploy any large number of its troops on the eastern border, leaving the 'wild' west in a free fall," Dawn newspaper, a leading English-language paper, wrote in an editorial.

"Isn't that the area where the world's best intelligence says the extremist militants are holed up in significant numbers and planning to strike targets everywhere? They cannot be allowed a breather at a time when military operations are ongoing to clear the area of their roguish presence."

India and Pakistan insist they do not want to fight, but tensions have repeatedly spiked since the three-day November siege of Mumbai that killed 164 people. India blames the attack on banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pakistan has detained some alleged masterminds and clamped down on a charity alleged linked to Lashkar, but it has also demanded that India back up its claim with evidence.

Pakistan has been battling militants entrenched in pockets of its northwest for years. It has deployed more than 100,000 troops in the region, which includes the semiautonomous tribal areas where al-Qaida and the Taliban have flourished. The military is engaged in two major offensives in the northwest, one covering the Bajur and Mohmand tribal regions and the other in the Swat Valley.

But the violence has also spread beyond those areas. On Sunday, a suicide car bomb at a polling station killed at least 26 people and injured 15 more in Buner, a district bordering Swat, police official Beharmand Khan said. The polls were open for a by-election for a National Assembly seat.

Pakistan and India have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947, two over Kashmir, a majority Muslim region in the Himalayas claimed by both countries.

But most analysts say another war is unlikely because both countries have too much to lose. Some speculate, however, that the Mumbai attackers sought to distract Pakistan from its troubles along the Afghan frontier.

The Daily Times, another major English-language paper, urged Pakistan to avoid that trap. "Moving partially or fully out of the tribal areas will leave the fight against the terrorists unfinished," it wrote.

Daily Jang, a major Urdu-language newspaper, put the onus on the United States, which considers Pakistan a critical ally in its efforts to stem the growing Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and which has sent envoys to South Asia to try to defuse tensions.

"In this situation, if Pakistan moves even a small number of troops from tribal areas to eastern border, it will certainly have a negative effect on the war on terror," the paper wrote. "It is in the interest of America to stop India from making the situation worse, so that Pakistan is not forced to withdraw all of its troops from tribal areas as a last resort."

Two Pakistani intelligence officials - requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation - said Friday that elements of the army's 14th Infantry Division were being redeployed from Waziristan in the northwest to Kasur and Sialkot, towns close to India.

Witnesses reported seeing long convoys carrying troops and equipment toward India on Thursday and Friday.

Another intelligence official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said Saturday that up to 1,300 troops had also been pulled out of the Bajur region. Their final destination was not immediately known.

The army has refused comment on any troop movements, but a senior Pakistani security official Friday denied that soldiers were being deployed to the Indian border.

Pakistan has said it would not launch a first strike, but its troop redeployment was seen as an indication that it will retaliate if India tries to take out militant targets on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan has witnessed scores of attacks on its territory as it has struggled to wrest control of the tribal regions from militants.

In North Waziristan tribal region, police said the bullet-ridden bodies of three people, including an Afghan national, were found Sunday in two villages. Police official Yousuf Khan said the bodies bore notes accusing the victims of being U.S. spies.

Leaders of Pakistan's young civilian government have repeatedly sought to convince the world that they understand the threat.

"We ourselves have accepted that we have a cancer," said Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who marked the one-year anniversary of the assassination of his wife, ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in a gun-and-suicide bomb attack blamed on terrorists.

Jamaat condemns Israeli attack on Palestinian people

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami yesterday condemned Israeli air strikes on the unarmed civilian Palestine people at Gaza strip that claimed 227 lives and injured scores.

Moulana Motiur Rahamn Nizami, Ameer of jamaat in a statement termed it ever-worst assaults on humanity.

"Israeli attacks on civilian people is blatantly violation of human rights," he said.

He called upon the Security Council of the United Nations (UN) and Muslims countries to halt Israel's unilateral war against humanity earlier.

He prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed his sympathies to the bereaved family members of the victims.

Action against violators of code of conduct: EC

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission will take legal action against anyone who would violate the election code of conduct in quick follow-up to repots from judicial magistrates fielded for tomorrow's polls.

"If anyone, including candidates, violates the code of conduct, the judicial magistrate concerned will give report to the commission to investigate the matter. On the basis of the report, we'll take legal action," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain told newsmen at his office on Sunday noon.

He said if chaos is created at any polling centre, the magistrate would take immediate measures.

Mentioning the measures taken by the EC to ensure security of the voters during the crucial national elections, he said, "We took all possible measurers so that voters' security isn't hampered before, during and after voting."

He hoped that candidates also would not do anything that creates problem for voters in casting their vote.

Responding to a question about mobile-phone use during the election tomorrow, he said use of mobile phones inside the polling centers is completely prohibited.

Requesting newsmen to wait until 8am tomorrow to have the final decision of the EC whether the mobile-phone network will be in operation or not, he said, "None else but approved persons will be allowed to use mobile phones within the polling centre."

Sakhawat hoped that the Monday's election would be held in a free and fair manner as the commission put in hard labor to make it happen. "All of together have worked hard for holding a beautiful election," he said.

When his attention was drawn to some recent political campaigns by some NGOs, he said the commission observed the reports and asked the returning officers concerned to take measures.

About the election observers, he said the observer' organizations would be blacklisted if they are found and proved to be partisan or working for any political party.

The Election Commissioner asked the government officials who would remain out of election duties not to communicate with the district administration at this moment to avoid their influence over the election.

The government officials, except those who are involve in election duties, should not visit their respective election areas and not contact with the Superintendents of Police and returning officers, he said.

He, however, said the government officials could go to their respective areas if they want to cast their votes.

Sakhawat said adequate security measures have been taken to protect the voters against any coercion or intimidation.

He informed that election officials from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries are coming to Bangladesh for the first time to observe the ninth parliamentary election.

About the televised address of the two leaders of the Awami League and BNP, the Election Commissioner said: "Optimism has been created in our mind listening to their and we hope the today's elections will be free and fair."

UN team urges parties to accept poll results

UNB, Dhaka

A three-member UN election- assessment team Sunday called upon Bangladesh's political parties to accept results of the 9th parliamentary elections being held Monday in the country's democratic transition process.

The team, headed by Francesc Vendrell, called on Foreign Adviser of the outgoing caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the Foreign Ministry in the afternoon and discussed matters related to the crucial polls.

Speaking to the media later the delegation said they were "very happy that the preparations were satisfactory and the campaign had been violence-free".

The Foreign Adviser thanked the United Nations for its support in the preparatory process and said, "This would contribute to the election being free, fair and credible."

In the entire preparatory process for the election, being held after politico-electoral reforms, UN development agency UNDP was closely associated.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon himself has recently visited Bangladesh for setting things on track for the transition from the two-year emergency regime through his talks with recalcitrant political leaders and government functionaries.

Hasina hopes no controversy over polls

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina yesterday hoped that there would be no controversy over the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held today.

Hasina made this comment at a meeting with a three-member delegation of British parliamentarians at her Sudha Sadan residence.

Former Ambassador Mohammad Jamir, who attended the meeting, said "Sheikh Hasina expects there will not be any controversy over the Dec 29 election."

Paula Monjila Uddin, a member of the delegation told reporters after the meeting that they were hoping that the Dec 29 election would be held in free and fair manner.

British High Commissioner Stefan Evans was also present in the meeting.

Earlier in the morning a seven-member delegation of the International Republican Institute met with the AL chief.

Besides this Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed deep shock and concern over the killing of civilians, including women and children, in Israeli air attack in Gaza.

"We believe that the Middle East crisis could be resolved in a peaceful way through discussion," the former prime minister said in a statement on the latest Israeli attack in the Palestinian Gaza strip that killed more than 200 people.

Sheikh Hasina also called upon both sides to restrain from the bloodshed and to establish peace and human rights.

BNP demands deployment of judicial magistrates

Staff Reporter

Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Nazrul Islam Khan yesterday said the decision of keeping judicial magistrate at office on the Election Day is against Representation of People Ordinance (RPO).

Nazrul Islam in a joint briefing at Jamaat office said that it would encourage violation of law and create hindrance to hold fair and free election.

Nazrul Islam Khan demanded deployment of 286 judicial magistrates in the election duty to mete out punishment to the fugitives. Otherwise Election Commission will be responsible for unfair election he said.

He refuted the allegations of Awami League regarding its connection with terrorists and counterfeit ballot papers. "The allegations are fake. We have no connection with that", claimed BNP joint secretary general.

Among others Barrister Abdur Razzak, Assistant General Secretary, Abdul Kader Mollah, Assistant General Secretary, Prof Md Tasnim Alam, Adv Moshiul Alam and Farid Hossain of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were present in the briefing.