The New Nation - Internet Edition

Khaleda hails new govt

UNB, Dhaka

Former premier and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that Awami League started its actual journey towards 'change' with politics of killing, attack, arson and loot across the country.

"You're observing what is happening across the country. Does it mean change? Do people want it?" she said in her maiden remarks at a time when her political archrival, AL president Sheikh Hasina, formed the government yesterday.

She made the allegation while talking to journalists after visiting family members of Nazrul Islam, a leader of Jatiyatabadi Swecchasebak Dal, who was shot dead on Monday afternoon.

Begum Zia reached the residence of the slain Islam at about 7pm and talked to his bereaved family members to console them. He passed nearly half an hour at his residence.

She demanded "immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the brutal killing".

Unknown assailants shot dead Nazrul Islam, president of 56 Ward unit of the BNP associate, at 3:30pm Monday.

Khaleda, whose party lost the election in its stunning result, has stayed away along with her party Members of Parliament from taking oath as MPs.

She also didn't attend the installation ceremony of the Hasina government. A four-member delegation of BNP MPs-elect joined the function, instead.

Japan hails new PM Hasina

UNB, Dhaka

The Government of Japan yesterday congratulated Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on her becoming the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Conveying this, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone in a statement said the December 29 general election has given Sheikh Hasina a landslide victory.

He expressed Japan's hope that the people of Bangladesh will be united in making efforts for further development of their country under leadership of the new Prime Minister elected in a democratic process.

The statement, released by Japanese Embassy in Dhaka, said the election was held in a free, fair, and peaceful manner and was "successfully carried out despite various challenges."

"This exemplifies that a consolidation of democracy in Bangladesh is making a steady progress, marking a right start of a new democracy in Bangladesh," the Japanese FM said and reiterated Tokyo's continued support to the endeavour of the new Prime Minister.

Becoming president means leaving politics for ever: Ershad

UNB, Dhaka

Former President and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday said it would not be wise for him to become President as it would make him leave politics for ever.

"I think, it should not be wise for me to become President because it would make me leave politics for ever," he told reporters at Bangabhaban when asked about his much-talked-about desire to be President.

In his immediate reaction after the new Cabinet's sworn-in ceremony, Ershad, whose party is a partner having a minister in the Cabinet of the AL-led grand alliance government, said it matters little whether he is becoming President or not.

"The important thing is that the Grand Alliance has come to power. We want to work together with Awami League."

He cited another reason for not insisting for presidency as he would have to give up parliamentary seat in Dhaka.

He, however, dropped a positive hint to the reported offer to him to become the Deputy Leader of the House in parliament saying: "I heard about it…"

About the proportionate participation of the alliance partners in the Cabinet, he said GM Quader has been made minister and more ministers might be picked from Jatiya Party.

GM Quader, the younger brother of Ershad, in his immediate reaction also said: "We do hope some more ministers will be taken from JP."

Female Hijbut Tauhid leader held in Satkhira

UNB, Satkhira

Policed arrested a female leader of Hijbut Tauhid at Basantapur village in Kaliganj upazila here yesterday.

The arrested was identified as Masuda Akhter, 35, daughter of Montu Sarder of same village.

Being tipped-off, a team of police, led by Assistant Police Super Sumit Kumar Chowdhury, raided the village and arrested Masuda, leader of Hijbut Tauhid, at about 2:30pm.

Some religious books, CDs and leaflets were also recovered from her possession.

Later, she was brought to the Police Super's office for interrogation.

Police Super Mohammad Abu Sufian said Masuda was arrested suspecting her link with militants.

SC bins govt stay petition against HC order

UNB, Dhaka

The Supreme Court yesterday said no to hear a government petition clearing the way for mayoral function by Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

Chamber court of Justice M Tafazzal Islam refused to hear the government petition for staying the operation of a High Court order.

On December 4, the High Court, upon a writ petition, stayed for three months the government order debarring Mohiuddin from functioning as Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation.

The High Court had also issued a rule upon the government to explain why its order debarring Mohiuddin from functioning as Mayor after his release on bail and allowing the panel mayor to function as mayor until further order "should not be declared illegal."

A senior assistant secretary of the LGRD ministry issued the order on October 13 last year restraining Mohiuddin from resuming his office and allowing the panel mayor to continue in his place.

Mohiuddin Chowdhury was elected mayor of Chittagong City Corporation on May 9, 2005.

2 KGs heroin seized in Cox's Bazar

UNB, Cox's Bazar

BDR personnel seized 2 kgs of heroin from two buses on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf highway on Monday and yesterday.

BDR men also arrested Faridul Alam of Hila village in Teknaf upazila on charge of smuggling heroin from Myanmar.

BDR sources said the jawans arrested Farid along with 1 kgs of heroin worth Tk one crore from Cox's Bazar-bound bus at Hoyaikeng check post at about 4 pm.

On Monday, BDR men searched a bus and recovered 1 kg heroin at Panerchhara.