The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bazlul, Obaidul elected DUTA President, Secy

Dr Khandakar Bazlul Haq

Dr ABM Obaidul Islam

DU Correspondent

Prof Dr Khandakar Bazlul Haq from Awami League and left-leaning backed blue panel and Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam from BNP-Jamaat backed white panel were elected the president and the General Secretary respectively in the election of executive body-2009 of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA).

Out of five secretarial posts, Blue panel got three, while White panel obtained two other posts and out of ten executive members posts, Blue got six posts while White Panel secured four.

Prof Dr Khandakar Bazlul Haq secured president post with 574 votes defeating Prof Dr Sirajul Islam by 16 votes, while Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam defeated Prof Anwar Hossain by 15 votes.

A total of 1168 voters out of almost 1600 cast their votes in the election held yesterday at the DUTA club. Prof Fazle Elahi conducted the election as the election commissioner.

The other office bearers of the association are : Prof Akhtaruzzaman-vice president post (Blue), Prof Mamataz Uddin Ahmed-treasurer (Blue), Lutfur Rahman-joint secretary (White) and Prof Dr Kazi Shahidullah (Blue), Prof Harun-or-Rashid (Blue), Prof Sadrul Amin (White), Prof Syed Manjurul Islam (Blue), AAMS Arefin Siddiqui (Blue), Prof RIM Aminur Rashid (Blue), Prof Fakhrul Alam (Blue), Prof Tazmery SA Islam (White), Prof AKM Sirajul Islam (White) and Prof Laila Noor Islam (White) are for members posts.

Public opinion not reflected in JS election : Jamaat

Staff Reporter

Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday said that the public opinion was not reflected in the 9th parliamentary election at its office on extended meeting.

The election result left people astonished, said the Jamaat leaders. Jamaat opined that the country should be governed under the elected government instead of selected government.

"Sheikh Hasina will run government according her speech at the press conference avoiding envious politics ", Jamaat leader said.

Jamaat, which got only two seats among 38, hailed voters for casting vote in favour of 4-party alliances.

Earlier, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, Muhammad Kamruzzaman asked Election Commission to hold re-election in the 17 booths of Sherpur-1, which is suspended.

British PM greets Hasina

Staff Reporter

The international community has greeted Awami League President and grand alliance leader Sheikh Hasina for achieving "landslide victory" in the 9th parliamentary election.

They also felicitated Bangladeshi people for their enthusiastic roll in the democratic process.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown rang Sheikh Hasina wishing her success, health and a long life.

"I hope the important ties between Britain and Bangladesh will further strengthen in future," Brown said.

Britain, in an official statement, said Bangladeshi people could be proud of holding the ninth parliamentary polls in a "free, fair and peaceful" way.

The UK's secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs David Miliband, in the statement, urged the ruling party and the opposition to work together for nation building, shunning politics of confrontation and violence.

"The Election Commission, caretaker government and observers have worked hard to create conditions in which free, fair and peaceful elections can take place.

"The people of Bangladesh have spoken in huge numbers and they can be proud of the manner in which the elections were conducted," Miliband said in a statement released by the local British high commission.

"This is a historic moment for Bangladesh to cast aside the politics of confrontation and violence, in favour of inclusive and consensual democracy," he added.

Terming Britain as Bangladesh's friend, he said, "We urge the next government and opposition to work together to meet the expectations of the people in the days and years to come."

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, congratulated the Bangladeshi people for peaceful participation in the parliamentary elections and called for a new approach from political parties to the challenges of governance in the country.

"I learned with satisfaction that the elections for the ninth Jatiya Sangshad of Bangladesh were conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner and that Bangladeshi people went to the polls in significant numbers," she said in a statement from Brussels.

The EU Heads of Mission in Dhaka welcomed the peaceful and orderly manner in which the people of Bangladesh exercised their franchise and congratulated Awami League and their allies on their victory.

The European diplomats look forward to working constructively with both the new government and opposition.

Norway, Switzerland and Turkey fully share the views and wishes expressed in this statement.

Australia yesterday welcomed Bangladesh's return to democracy after around two years following what it observed were 'peaceful and orderly' polls.

"Australia encourages all parties to work together to ensure a smooth transition and a strong future for the people of Bangladesh," the Australian high commission said in a press statement yesterday.

"The Australian government looks forward to working closely with the newly-elected government in areas of mutual interest."

"These include trade and investment, development assistance, counter-terrorism, education, migration and tourism," said the statement.

DITF begins today

Staff Reporter

Country's biggest trade event, the month long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) begins in the city today with an aim to promote local products to the international buyers.

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce is organising the 14th edition of the event at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar ground.

EPB Vice Chairman Sahab Ullah at a press conference yesterday said that the business carnival will serve as an opportunity to the local businessmen, who cannot attend trade fair abroad, to showcase their products to the foreigners.

The exhibition will showcase a wide array of products such as machinery, industrial and agricultural equipment, electronics, consumer and home products and so.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed would inaugurate the DITF at a function at the Bangladesh-China Conference Centre at 11am today.

There will be 467 special pavilion, premier pavilion, pavilion, mini pavilion, stall and premier stall in the fair ground. Twenty-two companies from 12 countries will participate the event. This year Sri Lanka is partner country of the fair.

Sahab Ullah expected that several hundred foreign buyers will visit the exhibition alongside to 30 lakh to 40 lakh local people. The government will earn around Tk 6 crore revenue from the fair.

The fair will remain open from 10 am to 10 pm for the visitors. Price of entry ticket for adult will be Tk 12 while for the minors it will be Tk 7.

20 injured in post-poll violence

Narshingdi Correspondent

Over 20 four-party activists and businessmen were injured in separate incidents in Narsingdi district yesterday as local Awami League and Chhatra League activists attacked on them following the parliamentary elections held on December 29. The incidents took place at Chandapara village under Sadar upazila, Dangabazar under Palash and Char Madhua and Chanpur Fakirer Char under Roypura upazila separately.

Witnesses said local AL activists led by Mostafa Kamal, Abu Hanif and Motaleb attacked the residences of the four-party activists in the village of Chandrapara under Sadar upazila and beaten them mercilessly injuring at least 10 people.

The incident took place at about 9:00am.

Of the injured, Imran, 25, Nurunnahar, 12 and Majeda, 45 were admitted to Arihajar Upazila Helath Complex and Mizan, 25 Ali Mahmud, 40, Amir Hossain, 30 have been taking treatment from local clinics.

Meanwhile, another attack was carried out at Dangabazar led by local Chhatra League president Delwar Hossian, Jasim, Jamal, Azim and Ripon injuring 8 to 10 businessmen and common people.

The injured persons include- Alamgir, 30, Kafiluddin, 40, Aynal, 35, Hannan, 23, Maksud, 40, Barek, 50, Alamin, 22 and Uzzal, 22.

ASP Bijoy Bashak, UNO Ishrat Hossain Khan and OC Jasim Uddin visited the spot after the incident.

In another incident at Char Madhua under Roypura upazila, one Rakhil, son of UP Chairman Abdul Awal was injured as local AL leaders stormed his house and beat him seriously.

More 4 to 5 people were injured in a separate attack by the AL activists at Chanpur Fakirer Char area in the upazila.

3,69,539 voters cast No-vote

UNB, Dhaka

The electorate cast some 3,69,539 'No-vote' in the Monday's parliamentary elections, according to reports received from the districts.

Under the Election Commission's newly introduced option for the electorates, the 'No-vote' was exercised for the first time in the country. The voter turnout in the election was over 80 percent of the total 8,10,58,698 eligible voters, Election Commission sources said.

Highest number of 78,822 'No-vote' was cast in 20 Dhaka constituencies while 32,068 in the Rangamati hill district. The lowest number of 354 'No-vote' was exercised in Bandarban hill district.

Saddam, a student of Dhaka University, who exercised his franchise for the first time with 'No-vote', said he did not trust any so-called politicians. "So, I cast 'No-vote', a medium of expressing democracy."

He said: "Politicians don't care about our educational life; they are more concerned about their political interest. But I am optimistic that the new government will sincerely work for a better educational life for us."

Break-up of 'No-votes' cast: Bagerhat-2,258, Bandarban-354, Barisal-3,642 Barguna-453, Bhola-1,618, Bogra-8,368, Brahmanbaria-3,308, Chandpur-2,565, Chittagong-22,754, Chuadanga-2,912, Comilla-7,596, Cox's Bazar-2,031, Chapainawabganj-3,439 Dhaka-78,822, Dinajpur-6,993, Faridpur-2,623, Feni-2,265, Gazipur-6,551, Gaibandha-4,746, Gopalganj-6,703, Habiganj-2,476, Jamalpur-3,767, Jessore-8,615, Jhalakati-842, Jhenidah-1,343, Joypurhat-2,036, Khulna-7,045, Khagrachhari-643, Kishoreganj-4,276, Kurigram-4,182, Kushtia-5,333, Lalmonirhat-2,104, Laxmipur-3,552, Madaripur-1,868, Magura-1,296, Manikganj-4,701, Meherpur-1,220, Moulvibazar-2,790,, Munshiganj-2,700, Mymensingh-10,504, Natore-4,401, Narail-750, Narsingdi-3,361, Naogaon-6,808, Netrakona-2,599, Noakhali-3,258, Nilphamari-2,761, Narayanganj-5,565, Pabna-6,682, Panchagarh-1,368, Patuakhali-1,515, Pirojpur-1,393, Rajbari-1,665, Rajshahi-9,284, Rangamati-32,068, Rangpur-9,918, Satkhira-3,094, Sirajganj-4,496, Shariatpur-1,846, Sherpur-6,868, Sunamganj-3,899, Sylhet-6,685, Tangail-4,850 and Thakurgaon-3,131.

Hasina meets CA: Legality of CG to be decided in Parliament

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, who is poised to become Prime Minister following a landslide election victory, said Wednesday that the legality of the present caretaker government would be finally decided in the ninth Parliament.

After making a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, she made the remark responding to a reporter's question regarding her stance over the legality of the outgoing caretaker government, installed through the 1/11 changeover beyond the normal constitutional provision, but by common consent.

She however said it is the norms to maintain the continuity of previous government by a succeeding government.

The PM-in-waiting further said she had already discussed with some constitution experts this matter and a committee comprising legal and constitutional experts is being constituted to this end.

She said MPs would discuss in parliament this legalization matter, including amendments.

During about a one-and-a-half-hour meeting at the CA's office from 3:55 pm, the overall situation of the country and transfer of power were discussed.

The Awami League chief and grand-alliance leader said her meeting with the Chief Adviser was a courtesy call.

"I came to thank the caretaker government for holding a free, fair and credible election," she told the reporters.

Replying to a question about transfer of power, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said it would take place "smoothly, as soon as possible, after completion of some formalities".

Asked about the allegations brought by the chief of a party (BNP) over the just-held election, Fakhruddin said it is the matter of the Election Commission.

Earlier on her arrival at the CA office, Sheikh Hasina was received by the Chief Adviser.

Co-chairman of the election-conducting committee of Awami League HT Imam was also present.

Hasina hopes-cabinet taking oath this week

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister-in-waiting Sheikh Hasina yesterday evening hoped that her cabinet would take oath within the first week of January.

Sheikh Hasina, president of Awami League and leader of the Grand Alliance that swept Monday's parliament elections, spelt out the timing of forming the government while talking to journalists after meeting President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban. "We will take oath after getting invitation from the President and we hope it will be within the first week of January," she said.

Asked about strength of the new cabinet, the Grand Alliance leader said they had already designed their cabinet which will be announced at an appropriate time.

During the meeting, President Iajuddin informed Sheikh Hasina that the swearing-in of the cabinet would be arranged "in the shortest possible time" as per their desire after the publication of gazette notification, President's press secretary Abdul Awal Howlader told UNB.

The President congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her election win and said that her and her party's "responsibility towards the entire nation has increased a lot as her party received huge mandate from the people".

President Iajuddin hoped that they would be successful in fulfilling the aspirations of the nation.

Dr Ahmed also firmly hoped that the path of democracy would be further strengthened as well as economic development paced up through this 9th parliamentary election.

Sheikh Hasina told the President that the people of the country exercised their voting right in festive mood in the general election as they were eagerly waiting for it.

"We need to continue this trend and work for changing the country's political culture," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also said they would do their future task keeping in mind that the entire nation has shown huge confidence in them and her government would work in keeping with the hopes and aspirations of the people.

Co-chairman of the Awami League Election Steering Committee HT Imam and Secretaries concerned and other Bangabhaban high officials were present on the occasion.

Foodgrains stock now record 12.5m tonnes

Shamim Jahangir

The Government has built a record foodgrain stock of 12.52 lakh tonnes for a year, according to Directorate of Food sources.

"We have stocked 10.60 lakh tonnes of rice and 1.92 lakh tonnes of wheat so far. The stock was 5.80 lakh tonnes of rice and 1.40 lakh tonnes of wheat in 2007," Pius Costa, Director General of the Directorate of Food, told the New Nation told the New Nation yesterday.

"With this stock of the foodgrain the government will able to meet any contingency for a year," Pius said.

He informed the government has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) to procure one-lakh tonnes of Aman rice from farmers under its procurement drive.

He further said that the government has stopped its Aman procurement drive as its 639 godowns are already fulfilled with rice and wheat.

The government will construct 280 go downs across the country with an accommodation capacity of three lakh twenty thousand tonnes of rice and wheat to expand its storage capacity.

The storage capacity of the each of the godowns would be between 500 and 550 tonnes.

Most of the godowns would be constructed in northern districts, which supply bulk of the foodgrains for procurement by the government.

The total storage capacity of 639 godowns all over the country is 12 lakh tonnes of rice and 2.25 tonnes of wheat, the sources added.

Economist Prof Atiur Rahman told the New Nation that the next government should make available agriculture inputs to the farmer before Boro irrigation starts to keep large volume foodgrain in stock.

He suggested that the government should ensure the supply of power, quality seeds and other agriculture inputs for long-term food security. The Government has fixed the distribution target of fertilisers at 42.90 lakh tonnes against the actual demand of 73.79 lakh tonnes in 2008-09. For this, the farmers might be facing fertiliser crisis during the on-going Boro season, sources in the Agriculture Ministry said.

TAC rolls back activities ending its mission

UNB, Dhaka

The Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) Wednesday rolled back its five months' activities apparently ending its unsuccessful mission.

Tac chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, its two members and other officials went to its Hare Road office yesterday to perform their last day duties, and the Tac chairman spent the day only signing files.

The files, documents and furniture of the Tac office will be handed over to the Law Ministry on January 4. Officials said the Commission distributed clemency letters among a total of 264 persons although it gave verdict on 452 clemency seekers. But Tac could not realize money worth Tk 3.19 crore from 36 persons. The commission suggested taking Tk 36.99 crore from the 452 persons.

Tac will also submit a report to the Law Ministry by January 8 describing its experience of the last five months.

The number of politicians applying for clemency was only two, businessmen 25, government service holders 341, wives of government service holders 54 and other professionals 29.

Tac chairman Habibur Rahman, two members former CAG Asif Ali and Maj Gen (retd) Monjur Rashid Khan spoke to reporters on their last day of office.

Justice Rahman opted for continuation of such activities and opined for further strengthening of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). "The ACC should be more competent," he said.

He mentioned that 50 percent of the ACC inquiry is unclear and he got the message from the files sent to them.

Tac member Monjur Rashid khan said at the initial stage their target was businessmen and politicians. "But they didn't come," he said.

Consumer Rights Protection Department to be set up

Staff Reporter

The Commerce Ministry has constituted a six-member committee to formulate a guideline for the National Consumer Protection Parishad to run its activities for controlling the prices of essential commodities in the market properly.

The six-member committee will be headed by Gono University Vice-Chancellor Jafrullah Chowdhury.

Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said that the committee would formulate a guideline and submit its report to the government within three weeks. The government would also form a standing committee to create awareness about the ordinance on national consumer right protection, he added.

He further said that the National Consumer Protection Parishad yesterday discussed about organogram of the parishad and its activities across the country.

Zillur hoped that the next government will operate the activities to stabilise the market.

The government, on October 13, approved the national consumer right protection ordinance 2008 to protect the right of consumers.

The National Consumer Protection Parishad will meet in every three month to review about its activities.

Israel rejects truce call

AFP, Jerusalem

Israel on Wednesday rejected world calls for a truce and vowed to push on with its deadly Gaza offensive, as warplanes pounded Hamas targets for a fifth day and the Islamists shot back with rockets.

"The cabinet decided to continue with the military operation," a senior government official told AFP after a six-hour meeting of the country's security cabinet.

"We did not launch the Gaza operation only to end it with the same rocket firing that we had at its start," he quoted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying.

"If the conditions are ripe and we think that they might offer a solution that will guarantee a better security reality in the south then we would weigh the issue. We are not there yet."

Amid mushrooming protests around the globe , world diplomats have been scrambling to find a way to halt one of Israel's deadliest-ever offensives on Gaza that has so far killed at least 390 Palestinians.