The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasina takes oath as PM today: She is first to become premier for second term from AL

Sheikh Hasina

Staff Reporter

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed has formally invited Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to form a new government and take oath today at Bangabhaban.

The invitation was made over telephone at 12:30pm yesterday, Secretary to the President Md Sirajul Islam told reporters.

The President congratulated her (Sheikh Hasina) and invited her to form government as majority leader, Bangabhaban sources said.

President Iajuddin Ahmed will administer the oath to Sheikh Hasina and members of her cabinet at the Darbar Hall. at 6.30 PM, Cabinet Secretary MA Aziz will conduct the oath taking ceremony.

The Bangabhaban is fully ready for the oath-taking ceremony. The decoration and seating arrangements in the Darbar Hall of the Bangabhaban have also been completed. "Preparations for the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet is at the final stage," the Cabinet Secretary said.

About 900 guests are expected to attend the ceremony and invitation letters have already been sent.

The invitees include former presidents, former chief advisers, chief justice, speaker, advisers, head of diplomatic missions, political leaders, senior civil and military officials, editors, freedom fighters and national award recipients.

As part of rehearsal of the oath- taking ceremony, a mock oath-taking ceremony was held at the Darbal Hall of Bangabhaban. Awami League won a landslide victory in the ninth parliamentary polls of December 29 bagging 230 seats out of 300.

Over 100 journalists from the print and electronic and foreign media will cover the landmark event.

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast the ceremony live. Besides, the oath-taking ceremony will be shown live from three mega screens from different parts of the city including Bangabandhu Avenue and South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The AL-led grand alliance achieved massive victory in the December 29 parliamentary polls capturing 262 seats out of 300.

30-member cabinet likely

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The size of the cabinet of the new government led by Awami League president Sheikh Hasina is likely to be moderate comparing almost half of the previous four-party alliance government.

The number of the cabinet members are learnt to be around 30, according to sources closed to the AL leadership.

Some senior AL leaders believed to be reformists may not be included in the cabinet while some new faces may find themselves in the ministries.

The names learnt to be included in the cabinet that is going to take oath this evening at Bangabhaban are Begum Matiya Chowdhury, Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, AK Khandaker, Syed Asraful Islam, Col (Retd) Faruq Khan, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Adv Sahara Khatun, HT Imam, Sohel Taj, Barrister Fazle Noor Tapash, Dr Dipu Moni, Asaduzzaman Noor, Nurul Islam BSc, Dr Moshiur Rahman and Obaidul Quader.

Among the allies of the Mohajote, Anisul islam Mahmud and GM Kader of the Jatiya Party, Rashed Khan Menon of Workers Party and Hasanul H aque Inu of JSD may be included in the cabinet.

However, when contacted some of the listed personalities confirmed that they have got invitation letter but some others did not till filing of the report last night.

Meanwhile, Co-Chairman of AL Election Steering Committee HT Imam yesterday told reporters that the new cabinet would be a medium-sized one so that it could work effectively.

He indicated that the new cabinet would represent the old and the young ones.

Former secretary of the government, however, said that all the 46 ministries might be needed to be replenished, but that might be considered afterwards.

Cabinet in laptop

Hasanuzzaman Khan

President Iajuddin Ahmed has invited Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina to take oath as the Prime Minister today at the Bangabhaban. The mega alliance (Mohajote) led by her earlier won overwhelming majority in the parliamentary polls held on December 29. Her party Awami League other than the alliance partners singularly emerged as the biggest political party in the House.

Hasina who met Zillur Rahman at the Ivy Concord in the city on Sunday announced the latter as the future President of the country. Ershad was also an aspirant for the post. Political analysts earlier opined against Ershad as he was elected president twice in 1983 and 1986.

Ershad was tipped as the deputy leader of the ruling coalition in the new dispensation. If it is so Ershad will have a direct role in the administration But Zillur will remain the deputy leader of the House until he is elevated to the Presidency.

But the names of the future ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers remain a guarded secret in the laptop of the future Prime Minister. Everybody is trying to figure out who are in the laptop. But Hasina has remained tightlipped and refrained from divulging anything. She only said the size of the cabinet may be like a 'rasgolla' a round shaped sweet, but it could be seen how much sweet it contained when the power-hungry politicians both in the government and the opposition will be locked in the tug of war.

The names of the fortunate ones who are learnt to have found entrance to Hasina's laptop are Sajeda, Matia Chowdhury, Dr Mashiur Rahman, AM Abdul Muhit, Dr Dipu Moni, Fazle Noor Tapash, HT Imam and Barrister Shafiq Ahmed. Barrister Shafiq who was the chief defence Counsel of Hasina in the graft cases has disclosed he was offered to become the law minister.

On the other hand, Sharfuddin Khan Mukul, the chief prosecution lawyer of the graft cases against Hasina, has resigned. He attributed the reason for his resignation to a personal ground. Hasina seemed to have overcome all legal hurdles to become the Prime Minister of the country.

Earlier TIB Chairman Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said, Hasina requires court clearance before taking oath as the Prime Minister. TIB chief said, Hasina was released on parole from jail under an executive order.

He said, people's confidence on the judiciary will be shaken unless she was cleared by the highest judiciary.

Barrister Shafiq Ahmed said Sheikh Hasina was on bail from the highest judiciary. A person who was on bail does not require further clearance from any other court to become Prime Minister, Barrister Shafiq said adding, most of the accusers in the graft cases against the would-be Prime Minister had withdrawn their allegations of graft.

All speculations were put to rest after Presidential invitation urging Hasina to become Prime Minister of the country was circulated. Sheikh Hasina is reported to have excluded those aspirants who were implicated in corruption cases. She will not do anything which will even slightly damage the reputation of her future cabinet. Suranjit, Amir Hossain Amu and Razzak known as reformists for their 'hidden' entente with the caretaker government are not likely to have berth in the new government. The opposition 4-party alliance have only 10 per cent representation in the Parliament which is decisively unbalanced.

The parliamentary democracy cannot run unless the opposition is adequately strong. In the 1973 Parliament the government side had a total of 273 MPs as against the opposition which had only seven MPs. It could be anybody's guess what will be the fate of such unbalanced Parliament having opposition which lacks a mentionable figure. The 1973 Parliament met with a disaster when one-party Baksal rule was introduced in the country in 1975. The Parliament without effective opposition will be a rubber-stamp for the government.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party has sent names of Anisul Islam Mahmud, G M Kader, Ziauddin Bablu and R A Hawlader to Sheikh Hasina for induction as ministers.

Earlier Ershad was annoyed as he received no phone call from Hasina and said, he will be neither in the government nor in the opposition in the Parliament. But political analysts said, there is no third course in the parliamentary system of democracy.

CA happy over smooth transition of power

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed paid a farewell
call on the President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban
yesterday. PID photo

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday expressed his satisfaction and happiness over smooth transition of power to an elected democratic government.

"It is my great pleasure to see that the state power is going to be transferred to an elected government smoothly which is a great achievement of the people of the country" he told the reporters after paying a farewell call on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban.

The Chief Adviser expressed his feelings just a day before the new cabinet led by the Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina to be sworn in at the Bangabhaban at 6.30 pm today.

Replying to a question about his next course of life after handing over power, Dr Fakhruddin said that he would stay in Dhaka and pass his time by writing. "I will be always ready to extend my cooperation to the new government, if required," he said.

Recalling the achievements of the interim government under his leadership, Dr Fakhruddin identified maintaining law and order, mitigation of disaster like Sidr and holding a free, fair and credible election as his government's achievements.

"We have become successful in making an environment where people of the country cast their votes without any fear and returned home safely," he said.

Dr Fakhruddin said during the tenure of the caretaker government, they tried their level best to uphold the economic activities of the country and undertook some important institutional reforms which would be proved very fruitful for the progress of the county.

"People of the country will get the fruit of our reform initiatives like formation of Local Government Commission, Human Rights Commission and Right to Information Ordinance," he said.

Replying to another question about expectation from the new government, he said that as a citizen of the country he expects that the next government would lead the country towards prosperity.

"I also expect that the prevailing stable law and order will be continued and improved further," he added.

During the meeting, President Iajuddin Ahmed thanked the Chief Adviser and the council of advisers for running the country with efficiency through their hard work in last two years.

President Iajuddin said the caretaker government has successfully maintained law and order across the country, carried out rehabilitation work after two devastating floods and cyclone Sidr, prepared a correct voter list and national ID card with provision of photographs and finally hold a free, fair and credible election.

Dr Fakhruddin expressed his gratitude to the President for giving his all out cooperation to the caretaker government during its tenure. He apprised the President that the farmers of the country had produced 33 million tonnes of food grains in the backdrop of global food crisis last year.

He also informed the President that presently 1.3 million tonnes of food grains are at the government storage which is quite satisfactory.

Referring to the remittance, he said foreign remittance has been increased during the last two years as about eight lakh Bangladeshi workers went abroad each year.

Terming Bangladesh as a disaster prone country, the Chief Adviser said the caretaker government has increased the institutional capacity of disaster management programme which would be helpful to face the aftereffects of natural calamities in future.

Dr Fakhruddin also thanked the President as he (the President) conveyed greetings to the countrymen after holding the free, fair and credible election on December 29.

The President hosted a lunch in honour of the Chief Adviser, Advisers and Special Assistants of the Chief Adviser at Bangabhaban.

Sarkozi, Blair offer little beyond words: Battles rage in Gaza

Many Palestinian children fall victims of Israeli
atrocities in Gaza. Internet

Reuters, Gaza City

Israeli tanks, planes and ground forces pounded Gaza on Monday and the defense minister said the offensive against Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave would go on until Israel was safe.

International efforts to secure a ceasefire moved ahead with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Middle East special envoy Tony Blair visiting the region, but they seemed able to offer little beyond words.

The death toll in besieged Gaza rose on Monday to at least 530 people. Victims included three Palestinian children and their mother when a tank shell hit their home in Gaza City and seven members of another family were killed in a refugee camp.

The Israeli army said "many dozens" of Islamist fighters had been killed since ground troops went in on Saturday in a stated attempt to end rocket fire by Hamas into southern Israel.

"Hamas has so far sustained a very heavy blow from us, but we have yet to achieve our objective and therefore the operation continues," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.

A Hamas official said a delegation from the Islamist group would head for talks in Egypt, which has also opened contacts to achieve a ceasefire. But senior Hamas political leader Mahmoud Zahar urged Hamas forces to fight on "in the name of God."

"They legalized for us knocking down their synagogues when they hit our mosques, they legalized for us knocking down their schools when they hit our schools," he said in a speech broadcast in Gaza.

Gunbattles intensified in eastern Gaza City and in the north of the strip on Monday. Militants fired mortars and grenades and detonated mines, and claimed to have hit a troop carrier.

They were also trying to lure Israeli soldiers into built-up areas, witnesses said.

A military spokeswoman said the air force bombed more than 30 targets, including homes of Hamas members used as weapons depots, tunnels and a suspected anti-aircraft rocket launcher.

Israel launched its offensive with an air blitz on December 27 to curtail the rocket attacks from Hamas-ruled Gaza before an Israeli national election next month.

Four Israelis have been killed by salvoes fired into Israel since the offensive began. An Israeli soldier was killed in fighting on Sunday and 48 have been wounded since the invasion.

Israel's advances into Gaza have carved the 40-km long coastal territory, home to 1.5 million people, into two zones and forces have surrounded its largest urban area, Gaza City

Bombs on Monday hit a hospital morgue where a family were mourning a paramedic killed in an airstrike on Sunday. Three people were killed and 17 wounded, medical workers said.

"We were sitting in the mourning tent when suddenly they bombed us, we ran to rush the casualties to hospitals but they bombed again," Abdel-Dayem told Reuters.

Gaza residents were in dire need of food, medical supplies and other aid but the hostilities were hampering relief efforts, aid agencies said.

At a house at the Beach refugee camp, Umm Ala Mrad sat on a mattress surrounded by her nine children. An Israeli warship intermittently fired shells, hitting buildings by the shore.

"Every time a shell is fired from the sea I rush to carry my children out of the house. But how and what should I do, who should I carry first and who should I leave for a next go," she asked a reporter.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, heading an EU peace mission, could offer her little comfort. "We do not have a specific plan for a ceasefire because the ceasefire as such must be concluded by the involved parties," he said in Jerusalem.

"We can mediate, we can assist a solution but it's not up to us to propose the conditions."

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, envoy for a major powers group called the Quartet, said a ceasefire was a priority.

BGMEA election Feb 24: Investment safety gets priority in manifestoes

Syful Islam

The biannual election of apex garment body Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will be held on February 24.

The election is scheduled to be held at the time when the sector is facing tough challenges following the global economic recession. During the last few months both the price of garment and also number of buying orders declined drastically and continues the same. Factory owners especially the owners of small factories are concerned over their future.

Contestaning two panels 'Sammilita Parishad' and 'Forum' have started their election publicity and are holding meetings. They are trying to convince voters to ensure their victory.

Well-known former footballer and Envoy Group Managing Director Abdus Salam Murshedy is panel leader of 'Sammilita Parishad' while Deko group owner Shahadat Hossain Kiron is leading the Forum. Abdus Salam Murshedy is former vice president of BGMEA.

Abdus Salam Murshedy told this correspondent that his panel, if elected, will try best to ensure safety of their investment. He said at present the garment sector is facing both internal and external challenges.

"Our investment is not safe at home, because a vested quarter is always trying to destroy the sector. They vandalise factories on different issues. On the other hand, the global economic meltdown is posing high threat for the industry. Many factories are likely to shut down due to price fall of products," he said.

He said his prime task will be ensuring investments safety. "We have detected the problems of the sector, we have the experience of resolving those in the past. So, if elected, we will be taking time befitting steps to solve the present crisis," he said.

Forum leader Shahadat Hossain Kiron said his panel is yet to decide what they will prioritise in the election manifesto. We will finalise it discussing with the voters, he said.

Informed sources said the two contestant panels this year will introduce some new faces in their candidate list.

Despite being the apex garment body the BGMEA has lost its glorious image in the recent past. The government has overlooked BGMEA in many events. Some of the foreign embassies have denied visa to the garment factory owners as few dishonest BGMEA leaders have been found involved in human smuggling. The BGMEA leadership was found weak on many occasions, factory owners say.

Refrain from violence: AL warns trouble-mongers

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Joint Secretary and spokeman Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday warned all including his party men to refrain from indulging in violence and attacking their political opponents.

Addressing a press conference at the party;s Dhanmondi office, Ashraful said his party does not believe in the politics of revenge." We have already sent orders to the party's central command at the district level not to harass their political adversaries.

He said the law enforcing agencies have been asked to take stern action against trouble makers, no matter to which party they belong to. " We want to make the country's law and order situation people friendly", he said.

He said in clear terms that bad elements inside the party would not be tolerated.

"You know only 17 cases related to the post election violence have so far been filed across the country of them eight of them against BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists while nine against the AL-led grand alliance leaders and activists," the AL spokesperson told the

reporters citing newspaper reports.

He also alleged that the elected MPs of the BNP-Jamaat alliance were conspiring to make the situation volatile through refraining from taking oath in time.

He also blamed the BNP-Jamaat alliance for creating violence and spreading rumor of worsening the law and order across the country after the election to tarnish the image of AL

Ashraful made this remark while addressing the reporters at a press conference at the party's Dhanmondi office to disclose the steps that have been taken by AL for different post-election stray incident across the country.

"The opposition party can play an vital role in the parliament to it effective. The opposition party should play pioneering role overcome the national crisis and to restore democracy through giving institutional shape of the democracy. We will give due respect to the opposition parties including recruiting deputy speaker from the opposing party," Ashraful said.

Calling upon the opposition party to cooperate the government to commence a new political era by prectising proper democracy Ashraful said, " We all have to work together for entire development of the country and countrymen by using the experience of last 37 years after independence."

He also urged the party leaders and activists to be refrain from violence and warned that stern action would be taken if anyone creates violence under the banner of Awami League or associate.

While briefing he mentioned different violence activities by the BNP-Jamaat alliance across the country.

"During the BNP-Jamaat government, the government petronised terrorists killed at least 21,000 AL leaders and activists across the country. After killing mission, the government had been playing blame game by spreading rumor that these killing were the result of AL's internal clash," Ashraful said.

He also termed poverty is the main enemy of the country. "The right of vote and food are the weapons of eradicating poverty. We have to restart from here to achieve the food and financial victory, as we are bound to the people to fulfill our pro-election pledges. So join hands and let's work with a fresh mood," he said.

Post-poll violence claims 4 lives, injures 71

Staff Reporter

At least four persons were killed and 71 others injured at different parts of the country in post election violence during the last one-week.

This was stated yesterday by Nazrul Islam, Additional IG of Police, Operation.

He told The New Nation that 51 incidents of poll-related violence took place across the country since December 29 and that the activists and supporters of Awami League and BNP were involved in these incidents.

"We have arrested 114 people from different parts of the country and police are seeking another 400 people in connection with these incidents', he added.

The government BL University College at Daulatpur in Khulna was closed yesterday following clashes between the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) over establishing supremacy on the campus.

At least 15 students were injured in the clashes.

The authorities of the university College also asked the students to vacate the dormitories by 4:00pm.

The clash erupted in the morning as a group of BCL activists went to take control over Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall which was captured by the ICS men after the BNP-Jamaat government assumed power in 2001.

Additional police contingents were deployed on the campus following the clashes.

BNP leader shot dead

Staff Reporter

A leader of Jatiyatabadi Seschasebak Dal was gunned down and one-recived bullet injuries by unidentified assailants in the city's Bijaynagar area under Shahbagh police station yesterday.

Unknown assailants shot dead Nazrul Islam and wounded his associate at Bijoynagar in the city yesterday.

Nazrul, 32, president 56 Ward JSSD, a front organization of BNP, was standing in front of his brother's spare-parts shop at 3:30pm when the gunmen coming in a motorbike sprayed bullets at him from a close range, witnesses said.

Hit by four bullets in different parts of the body Nazrul was rushed to DMCH where the doctors declared him dead.

Mohiuddin, associate of Nazrul, wounded by bullet was admitted to the hospital. He was undergoing a critical operation, hospital sources said at 7:00pm.

Javed Hossain, brother of Nazrul, said he suspected previous enmity might be the reason for the murder.

"My brother was getting threats on life over phone two days before the election.

A GD was filed with Shahbagh police station about the threats," added Javed.

Iftekhar urges successor: Dhaka must work at world stage

UNB, Dhaka

Outgoing Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday said his successor would have a challenging but most satisfying responsibility as the new government is poised to assume office today.

Talking to UNB he said the responsibility of his successor, whoever, would be to continue to project Bangladesh to the international community as a "constructive and responsible global actor".

Citing the adage 'charity begins at home', he said all

foreign policies must begin with looking at the neighborhood or region first.

Iftekhar, a diplomat with a checkered career, suggested that issues with India ad Myanmar must be resolved peacefully through diplomatic maneuvering within a short timeframe. The issues of maritime boundaries must be resolved by 2011.

" I will not hesitate to say that it took a lot of skills and patience and diplomatic maneuvering to defuse the tension in the Bay of Bengal, particularly with Myanmar and, to a lesser extent, with India," he said, referring to gas exploratory ships of Myanmar and survey ships of India in the disputed waters.

Further spelling out his diplomatic tips Iftekhar said, "As we approach these issues, we've to ensure that our sovereignty is protected and the people of Bangladesh feel secured."

With development partners of Bangladesh, he said, it is important to retain a relationship that would ensure continued support and market access of Bangladeshi manufacturers to their countries.

Politically, he said, "Russia and China must be kept on the right side."

About relations with the Muslim countries, the Foreign Adviser said the Muslim countries are important not just because of shared values but also because they host a huge number of expatriate Bangladeshis. "We must continue to send our excess workers abroad," he noted.

This year, he said, the expatriate workers sent remittances worth a record amount of 8.75 billion dollars, but "our worker abroad is not just a remittance-generating machine. He is a human being, most of all, and more importantly, a Bangladeshi for whom the country can feel pride".

He said, "In order to protect their interest we must try and enter into and sign MOUs on labor exchange with as many host countries as possible."

On peacekeeping operations, Iftekhar said Bangladesh must remain active in the peacekeeping arena. "This is our biggest contribution to the United Nations. It also enables the world to see us as a global stabilizer," he said, adding: "We must always have troops and equipment ready to deploy abroad at short notice."

Chowdhury said these are goals that are not unachievable provided the nation stands united behind these efforts.

Iftekhar, who will say goodbye to the Foreign Ministry tomorrow, said, "As an ordinary citizen from now on, my helping hand will always remain extended towards my successor."

Energy crisis to hinder economic growth: Tamim

Staff Reporter

Special Assistant to chief adviser Prof M Tamim yesterday said the country's economic growth would face serious challenge if the energy crisis continues during the next one year.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the launching of "national campaign for energy conservation and use of renewable energy" at the Petrobangla auditorium yesterday.

"The energy shortage has become the topmost impediment to expansion of industrialisation and employment generation in the day ahead," Dr Tamim said adding, "If the energy crisis lingers, the country's economic growth would face serious setback.

He called upon the next government to take initiative for overcoming the energy crisis.

Describing various steps of the outgoing caretaker government to solve the gas and electricity crisis, the energy and power ministry chief said the gas and electricity supply situation has significantly improved now, which was worst in the past.

The new government will have at least one-year to move gas and electricity supply to a comfortable position, he further said.

He pointed out that the caretaker government approved a renewable energy policy recently and the draft energy act. The new government may further work on it to enact the law.

Tamim called upon the factory owners to install energy efficient boilers and gradually replace the existing ones to save energy and reduce cost of production.

The factory owners can save 77.00 mmcf gas daily by using energy efficient boilers in industries, which can help to produce 100 MW of electricity. One unit efficiency will save 1.5 unit operation cost, he added.

Secretary of the power division Fauzul Kabir Khan, secretary of energy division M Mohsin, Petrobangla chairman Jalal Ahmed and Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, among others, addressed in the function.

Coordinator of the campaign Saiful Haque and joint coordinator Wahid Hossain presented keynote papers on the issue.

The national campaign for energy conservation and use of renewable energy like solar energy mainly focuses on creating awareness on this issue. The campaign started yesterday in main cities and district towns of the country.

As part of the campaign, practical demonstration of efficient energy use devices will be shown to students of schools, colleges, universities and other users including institutional and industrial users and business firms.

Earlier, secretary of power division Fauzul Kabir Khan said one taka saved by reducing energy waste means one taka earned. This is one way of energy conservation and cost saving, he noted.

EC to increase booths for upazila polls

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) decided yesterday to increase polling booths by 20 percent for the January 22 upazila elections.

Mohammad Sohul Hussain, Election Commissioner (EC) told the journalists that some 20,000 more booths would be set up during the upcoming polls as each voter would need to cast three votes each in the upazila election.

"The voters in the upazila polls will have to cast one vote for the chairman, one for the vice chairman and one for the woman vice chairman in different colourful ballot papers, which are likely to take voters more time compared to the general elections," he added.

He also said the manpower, including law enforcement agencies, would also be increased.

The commission earlier decided to set up 174,763 polling booths in 32,381 polling stations.

A total of 8,131 candidates are contesting the upazila election, with some 3316 vying for chairman, 2,879 for vice-chairman and 1,936 for female vice-chairman posts.

Meanwhile, the election commission officials said the EC completed printing of 18 crore ballot papers while works were underway to print another four crore for the third upazila elections.

Listed terrorist killed in N'ganj gunfight

BSS, Narayanganj

A listed terrorist was killed in a gun battle between the members of law enforcing agencies at Dewanbagh of Madanpur beside Dhaka-Chittagong highway under Bandar upazila in the early hours of Monday.

RAB and police recovered some arms and ammunition from the spot after the gun battle.

Police sources said the dead was identified as Abul Hossain, 45, son of late Kamal Uddin of village Muradpur under Bandar upazila in the district.

Acting on a secret information, a team of RAB and police raided Dewanbagh area at around 3.00 am on Monday. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers the terrorists opened fire on them which was retaliated by the law enforcers.

Abul Hossain was hit by a bullet during the gun battle and he died on the spot while his accomplices managed to escape.

Police recovered one shooter-gun, six cartridges and a mobile phone set from the spot.

Police said Abul Hossain was wanted by Sonargaon and Bandar police as he was an accused in 23 cases including two murder cases.

The body was sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsy.

Strengthen nat’l cos for gas, oil exploration: Urgent steps to secure maritime boundary urged

Staff Reporter

Energy experts at a discussion expressed deep concern over policy of Bangladesh on securing its maritime resources in the Bay of Bengal.

They urged the coming government to move rapidly to resolve disputes with India and Myanmar on maritime boundary.

Liberty Movement, a civil liberty organisation, organised the discussion at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.

Rita Rahman presented the keynote paper while former Energy Adviser Mahmudur Rahman, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, BUET Prof Nurul Islam, Prof Ijaz Hossain, Journalist Abu Rushd and Faruque Ahmed, among others, addressed the function.

Shahidul Islam Khan, Director of Center for Energy Studies, moderated it.

The experts said only 4-5 months remains to stake claim of Bangladesh' territorial waters to the United Nations as per the new amendment of the UNCLOSS resolution.

"If we cannot complete our preparation in time, we may fail to establish our right in our own maritime boundary", they added.

Mentioning 55 and 25 percent uses of gas for generating electricity and producing fertilizer respectively, Mahmudur Rahman urged to change natural gas consumption pattern giving priority in the industrial sector.

He also said the new government should take steps on this issue beyond any political consideration but national interest especially on tri-nation gas-pipeline issue.

Mostafa Kamal Majumder said that it should arrange programme jointly by Bangladesh and neighbor country's energy experts in the capital of these countries for establishing contacts among them and finding proper consequence.

Speakers urged policy makers to resolve the matter mentioning a caution that war in Afghan, Iraq and Africa was happened for energy resources.