The New Nation - Internet Edition

Expats happy over peaceful election

BSS, New York

Expatriate Bangladeshis living in the United States have expressed their happiness over a peaceful and violence-free general elections in Bangladesh held Monday.

. Hasanuzzaman Hasan, Secretary General of Bangladesh-America Public Affairs Front (BAPAF) in a statement yesterday, congratulated all political parties, caretaker government, Election Commission, law enforcing agencies, members of the Armed Forces for holding a peaceful, flawless 9th Jatiya Sangsad election in Bangladesh.

He also greeted general public for spontaneously participation in this significant election.

In the statement, he hoped that the political parties would work together to build a better Bangladesh.

Besides, various social and cultural Bangladeshi organizations in the US, also expressed their happiness to learn that peaceful election was held in the country.

In their statements, they said, it is indeed a moment of happiness for all Bangladeshis to witness a democratic election after seven years.

Meanwhile, different socio-cultural organizations brought out victory processions in many parts of the city including main Bangladesh's business hub Jackson Heights, Dhaka Club in New York and the Church-McDonald Bangladeshi Business area in Brooklyn.

President greets countrymen for fair elections

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Tuesday greeted the countrymen for holding of the ninth parliamentary election in a fair and sound manner on Monday.

In a message, the President also congratulated the winner party and all unofficially elected members of the ninth parliament, a Bangabhaban press release said here.

Prof. Iajuddin also hoped that the forward march of democracy would be strengthened and expedited through the polls.

AL candidate of Thakurgaon-1 elected unofficially

BSS, Dhaka

Awami League candidate Ramesh Chandra Sen of Thakurgaon 1 constituency was unofficially declared parliament member securing 1,77,101 votes. His nearest rival Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of BNP got 1,20,411 votes.

Alhaj Md Dabirul Islam of Awami League was unofficially declared MP from Thakurgaon 2 constituency defeating Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami rival Md Abdul Hakim. Dabirul received 1,02,833 votes while Hakim bagged 98,456 votes.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed of Jatiya Party was unofficially declared MP from Thakurgaon 3 constituency defeating of BNP rival Md Zahidur Rahman. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed received 1,60,107 votes while Zahidur Rahman bagged 46,545 votes.

AL win all 5 seats in Netrokona

BSS, Dhaka

Awami League candidate Mustaque Ahmed Ruhi of Netrokona-1 constituency was unofficially elected as member of the ninth parliament getting 1,32,977 votes. His nearest rival BNP candidate Barrister Kayser Kamal rexceived got 82,322 votes.

AL candidate M Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru in Netrokona-2 was elected MP unofficially receiving 1,64,076 votes while his nearest rival Ashraf Uddin Khan of BNP got 79,572 votes.

In Netrokona-3 constituency, AL candidate Monjur Kader Kuraishi was elected MP unofficially getting 1,32,557 votes while his nearest rival of BNP Rafiqul Islam Hilale got 86,948 votes.

Rebeka Momin of AL of Netrokona-4 was elected MP unofficially receiving 1,08,715 votes while his nearest BNP rebel independent candidate M Lufuzzaman Babar got 91,984 votes. Syed Ataul Haque of BNP secured third position by getting 3,106 votes.

In Netrokona-5 constituency, AL candidate Waresat Hussan Belal was elected MP unofficially getting 1,08,860 votes while his nearest rival of BNP Mohammad Ali got 28,675 votes.

Ruling and opposition should respect each other : Japanese Mission

BSS, Dhaka

Goji Sakamoto, head of the Japanese Election Observation Mission on Tuesday hoped that both the ruling and the opposition parties would respect each other and work through understanding for strengthening Bangladesh's democratic process.

Addressing a press conference, Sakamoto, who is also a member of the House of Representatives addressing a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, described parliamentary elections of Bangladesh free, fair and peaceful under good security arrangement.

He said the overall impression of the mission is that elections were conducted in orderly manner peacefully. He said the members of his team visited one and a half dozens polling centers under Gazipur, Narayanganj and Munshiganj districts.

Sakamoto used words of praises for the caretaker government and the Election Commission for the preparation of flawless voter list. In this context, he said the voter list in previous elections was not as correct and appropriate as it was this time.

He said the overall impression of the mission is that the caretaker government in cooperation with the people conducted the election successfully and peacefully.

When his attention was drawn to allegations of irregularities made by BNP in some seats, Sakamoto said, when we visited some centers, we did not notice any irregularity rather we found polling agents of rival parties working in an atmosphere of cordiality."

Akihiro Nishimura, member of the House of Representatives, Matsushiro Horiguchi, former Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, Professor Masaaki Obashi and Professor Kazuhiko Aiba other members of the mission were also present.

Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Masayuki Inoue was also present at the press conference.

NDI monitoring delegation to meets press today

BSS, Dhaka

The election monitoring delegation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) will meet the press to present a preliminary statement on December 29 election at Westin-Dhaka Hotel at 1.00 pm today.

On election day, the NDI has fielded observers to monitor polling and counting at different centers, a press release said.

Over the past 12 years, the NDI has conducted a broad range of programmes to assist Bangladeshis in their efforts to strengthen democracy and increase citizen participation in the country's political process.

The 33-member delegation is co-led by Howard B. Schaffer, former US ambassador to Bangladesh and Audrey McLaughlin, former memberof parliament and former leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada.

The delegation also includes Larry Garber, former US Agency for International Development (USAID) mission director for West Bank/Gaza, and Peter Manikas, senior associate and director for Asia programmes at NDI.

The delegation also includes political and civic leaders regional and election experts, media specialists, and human rights activists from 10 countries in Asia, Europe, and North America.

The purpose of the mission is to demonstrate the international community's interest in Bangladesh's return to a democratically-elected government.

The NDI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide by promoting citizen participation, openness and accountability in government, the release added.

IER admission test at DU on Jan 23

BSS, Dhaka

Due to unavoidable circumstances, the first year admission test for 2008-09 of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of Dhaka University will be held at 10 am on January 23 instead of January 16.

The dates for distribution of application forms from bank and submission it to the IER will remain unchanged, a DU press release said.

The last dates of distribution of form from the Janata Bank branch at TSC and submission of the form at the IER are respectively January 8 and January 10.

Former DU teacher passes away

UNB, Dhaka

Prof Umme Kulsum Siddiqa Huda, former teacher of Economics Department of Dhaka University died of old age ailments at city's Square Hospital at about 9am on yesterday. She was 79.

She left behind two daughters, one son and a host of relatives and well wishers to mourn her death.

Her Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Dhanmondi Eidgah maydan after Asr prayers on Tuesday. She will be laid to rest at Banani graveyard.

Prof Umme Kulsum was wife of prominent Economist and teacher of Economics department of DU Prof. Mirza Nurul Huda and daughter of Moulvi Tamij Uddin Khan, speaker of erstwhile Pakistan parliament.

Her Kulkhwani will be held at her house no-57, road no-6/a, Dhanmondi residential area on Friday.

Foreign Adviser calls for cease-fire in Gaza

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury reiterated his call on yesterday for "complete cessation of Israeli hostilities" in Gaza.

He said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged cease-fire and "we entirely endorse his urgings".

"Further deaths of innocents and destructions of property is totally unacceptable" the Foreign Adviser said.

"Peace in Palestine is essential for global stability which today is seriously threatened because of the events in Gaza", Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury further stated.