The New Nation - Internet Edition

Zardari, Gilani greet Hasina

UNB, Dhaka

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raja Gilani yesterday greeted Awami League president Sheikh Hasina for the grand alliance's massive victory in the December 29 general election.

Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Alamgir Babar came to Sudha Sadan in the afternoon to convey his President's and Prime Minister's greetings to the Prime Minister-in-waiting of Bangladesh. Later, Babar told reporters that during the meeting with Sheikh Hasina he shared views with her on various bilateral issues. He hoped that the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan would be strengthened further in the days to come. Former Ambassador Mohammad Zamir, Sheikh Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana and deputy press secretary to Sheikh Hasina, Mahbubul Huq Shakil were present on the occasion.

7232 to contest polls in 481 upazilas

UNB, Dhaka

A total of 7232 candidates are going to contest elections in some 481 upazilas across the country for the posts of chairman, vice-chairman and female vice-chairman, according to a list finalized by the Election Commission after the withdrawal of candidatures.

Earlier on December 31, the last day for withdrawal of candidatures, some 1339 candidates withdrew their names from the election race billed for January 22, EC sources said.

Among the candidates, some 3318 would contest the local-body polls for the post of chairman, 2875 for vice chairman and 1039 for female vice-chairman.

On Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda at a press briefing said the upazila elections would be held as per the schedule on January 22.

Declaring 2009 as the year of elections, the CEC said the Commission would remain busy throughout the year arranging upazilas, municipality and city corporation elections.ss

Injured BNP election agent dies in Comilla

UNB, Comilla

A polling agent of BNP injured in a post-election violence Monday at Hazatkhola in Sadar South upazila died early yesterday.

Shamsul Haque, a teacher of Hazatkhola High School in Sadar South Upazila, who worked as a polling agent at a local centre, came under attack by miscreants while returning home after counting votes in the evening.

Shamsul Master was admitted to Mamoni Hospital in the town where he died early Friday, after three days of fight for life.

Meanwhile, a case was filed with local police station in this connection.

Emigration for Bangladeshis demanded for anticipated climate change

Staff Reporter

Speakers yesterday at a special conference in the city claimed that the developed countries should give Bangladeshi people emigration right, as the lower part of the country will submerge due to these countries' abrupt and harmful emission.

They said this while addressing a special conference styled "Climate change and Bangladesh development strategy: domestic tasks and international cooperation" organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) at the auditorium of ICMAB.

Speakers demanded adaptation centre should be established in Bangladesh since the country will be damaged more by climatic change adding only Bangladesh should have the authority to access the aids, which will be granted for adaptation.

A coordinated social planning should be implemented instead of free market access, as it could not reflect the climate change problem effectively speakers said and added Bangladesh government should lead that plan.

Poor are the main victim of climate change. Therefore the development strategy of Bangladesh should be strong from the aspect of social distribution they opined.

Though the suppositions that were presented by IPCC could be applicable generally, these could vary from country to country for different geographical context. Thus researches should be conducted in local context and strategy needs to be based on the researches' findings speakers said.

The daylong conference was addressed, among others, by Prof Mozaffar Ahmad, president of BAPA, Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, MP elect, Adv Sultana Kamal, former adviser of caretaker government, Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice-Chancellor of Brac University, ASM Shahjahan, Vice-President of BAPA and Prof Nazrul Islam, Chairman of the University Grant Commission.