The New Nation - Internet Edition

Post-poll politics: Hasina vowed to bring qualitative change

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina choked in emotion while
writing her name in the visitors' register at Tungipara
Mazar of Bangabandhu. Banglar Chokh

Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday pledged that her government would bring qualitative change in the country's politics and would work for balance development for all the people.

The people of the country have suffered a lot during last seven years. We want to bring about a qualitative change in the politics so that they can have three meals a day, she said.

The prime minister was addressing the local leaders and activists at her village home Tungipara in Gopalgonj after placing floral wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She told her audience that her government was committed to ensuring equitable development of all regions across the country. Hasina "We will not discriminate between who had voted for us and who had not. We will neither neglect any particular region nor develop any region lavishly," she noted.

The landslide victory of the grand alliance has bestowed on us a great responsibility towards the nation. We have to work hard patiently to serve the people," she said.

She expressed her intention to increase the allowances of the freedom fighters, elderly people and widows and revive the community clinic scheme.

Hasina expressed her especial gratitude to the people of Gopalganj, Bagerhat and Rangpur districts for electing her from three seats of these districts in the December 29 parliamentary elections. "I want to utilise the opportunity and the confidence the people have reposed in me". She said.

Earlier in the morning, Sheikh Hasina flew to Tungipara from Dhaka with her family members by helicopter. She was accompanied by 13 of her cabinet members.

She landed at Tungipara at 11:30 am. An armed forces contingent gave her a guard of honour on arrival there.

CNGs do not ply on meter: Owners, drivers mutually allege irregularities

Mahbubur Rahman Khan

City dwellers have become hostage of CNG run auto rickshaw drivers and owners. They increase deposit money and fare respectively violating government rate which cause unbounded trouble for the commuters. Reportedly the increase of deposit money is under process, which is sure to cause immense, suffering for the passengers.

Passengers generally have to pay two to three times more than the actual rate as drivers force them to board on for destinations on contract basis instead meter rates.

Rafiqul Islam, an inhabitant of Kutubkhali, moved from Shishu Matree Health Institute Matuail to his residence by CNG run auto rickshaw at Tk 200. "The CNG driver demanded Tk 250 for only three km distance seeing a patient and a new born. After much request, the driver agreed to go at Tk 200", informed Rafiqul Islam.

Moshiur Rahman, a banker said that it was difficult to find auto for short distance specially during office hour. "They don't agree to go to Motijheel from Jatrabari less than Tk 50 while buses take Tk 5 for the same distance."

After investigation, it has been found that almost every CNG run auto rickshaw move on contract system. Drivers are reluctant to drive on meter reading. If they are convinced to be paid more in addition to meter rate the auto drivers agree to go. There are so many auto rickshaws, which do not have mandatory complain contact number at all.

When a driver, Maqbul Hossain was asked about the reasons of illegally carrying on contract he hesitated to give any direct answer. He, in a defending tone said government had fixed deposit money at Tk 450 but they had to pay Tk 650-Tk 700 to the owners. "We can't make more than Tk 1,100 after 10-12 hours of driving. At the end of the day we don't have more than Tk 150-200 for the family after paying the deposit money. It has become difficult to run family with this income in such days of price spiral."

Sometimes if we drive for half of a day we have to pay for the full of the day's deposit money instead of half of the deposit he added.

In reply to a question, he said, "We had informed the authority about it but it went in vain. Drivers who showed courage to inform had lost their jobs. Some of them are now pulling rickshaws for livelihood." If everything goes all right from the root, they would not commit any irregularity said Salam, another driver. "Law should be made for all irrespective of owners and drivers", he said.

Sohel Khan, owner of 10 CNG run auto rickshaw declined the allegation of excess deposit money rather blamed auto rickshaw drivers for deception. He, however, admitted that the amount of the deposit money was not satisfactory.

Md. Abdur Rouf, Director of Enforcement Department of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) admitted the mutual allegations of both parties on deposit money.

He told to the New Nation that BRTA mobile court team actively performing their job. "Due to legal limitation we cannot impose punishment except fine as a result accused persons reengaged in the same work," said Abdur Rouf.

BRTA sources said that the owners of CNG run auto rickshaw demanded to increase the amount of deposit money.

In reply to a question Abdur Rouf said BRTA authority would consider the matter.

Govt retreats from its pledges: Khaleda alleges at Chatkhil rally

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia addressing an
election rally in Noakhali-1 constituency for her lawyer
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon yesterday. Focus
Bangla

Staff Reporter

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday blamed Awami League government for shifting from their pre-election promises.

"The government has promised to do a lot before election and after assuming power it has shifted from its earlier promises," she said at an election rally at Chatkhil upazila for by-election of Noakahali- 1 constituency.

"BNP- led four party alliance was robbed of certain victory," she said and blamed Awami League led-grand alliance for winning the election amid controversies.

"Neither the EC nor the government was neutral in conducting the parliamentary elections on December 29 last year," she said while campaigning vote for party candidate Barrister AM Mahbubuddin Khokon.

She called upon the voters to cast their vote in favour of 'sheaf of paddy'.

"Conspiracy is going on against the country and the people," she mentioned.

Mentioning the terrorism resorted by Awami League just after the elections, the BNP chairperson said after the election the ruling goons had killed and injured many activists of BNP.

Highlighting the necessity to overhaul the party, Khaleda said all measures would be taken to refurbish the party. She urged her party followers not to be frustrated and advised get united for winning the next election.

"BNP has a vast support and we will come back to power again by the mandate of the people," she asserted. It may be mentioned that the Election Commission (EC) deferred the election to Noakhali-1 constituency after grand alliance candidate, Ganatantri Party president Nurul Islam, died after suffering serious burns in a fire at his apartment in early December.

According to the new schedule voting in the constituency will be held on Jan 12.

Row over appointment of Khatib: Musallis clash in Baitul Mukarram

Musallis locked in scuffle during Jummah Prayer at
Baitul Mukarram mosque yesterday over appointment of new
Khatib. NN photo

Staff Reporter

Devotees assembled at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque were divided during Jumma prayers yesterday over the appointment of a new Khatib, which caused scuffles and shoe-throwing during the prayer.

Fazle Hossain, a devotee told reporters: "As the senior pesh imam Maulana Mufti Md Nuruddin stood up to lead the Jumma prayer, some of the devotees protested shouting: 'Why should this man lead the prayer when the mosque has appointed a new khatib?

When another group shouted them down, the Friday prayers were disrupted by argument, scuffles and shoe hurling, said Hossain.

Amid the fisticuffs and shoes, Nuruddin began leading the prayers and the situation began to calm down.

"But the fight resumed after prayers, and some were left with clothes tattered and broken teeth," said Hossain.

Many mosque-goers complained that they were unable to attend to their prayers properly because of the disturbance.

The two groups taking sides with the newly appointed and the outgoing Khatibs had assembled in the area since morning, which might have dissuaded the new Khatib from coming to the mosque to lead the prayers on the day.

Maulana Nuruddin said he had led the Jumma prayer as instructed by the mosque authorities.

Nuruddin took over as Khatib since the previous Khatib Ubaid's death.

The new government appointed professor Maulana Salahuddin as a new Khatib for the national mosque at the beginning of January.

BCL factions clash at DU hall: 7 held

Staff Reporter

At least four students were injured in factional feud of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Ziaur Rahman Hall of the Dhaka University (DU) on Thursday midnight.

Witnesses said a group of students, loyal to DU BCL president Sohel Rana Tipu, attacked the students loyal to general secretary Sajjad Sakib Badsha with sharp weapons.

Tipu group students also drove out the students belonging to Badsha group and ransacked as many as seven rooms at the hall around 12:30am.

Following the incident, BCL activists demanded resignation of the provost of the hall, Borhan Uddin Khan, who had called in police to calm the situation.

The Injured BCL activists are Shohag and Sumon, Himel and Chunnu.

Shohag was admitted to Orthopaedic Hospital, Dhaka, Sumon to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Himel to Trauma Centre and Chunnu to Dhaka University Medical Centre.

Some students alleged that the attackers had confined two of the injured students into toilets after beating them up.

After the incident, BCL university unit leaders handed over five persons including an outsider to police.

Those handed over to the police are Ziku of English Department, Bullet of Peace and Conflict Department, Kamal of Dhaka College and Selim and Shihan.

Identity of Selim and Shihan could not be known immediately.

BCL DU unit general secretary Badsha said the so-called BCL workers, who joined from JCD, attacked those who sacrificed a lot for the organisation.

Bangabandhu’s home coming day today

Staff Reporter

The nation will celebrate the historic homecoming day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today.

On this day in 1972, Bangabandhu, the founding father of Bangladesh, returned to an independent country after being released from a Pakistani jail earlier.

Pakistan army arrested him on March 25, 1971 from his Dhanmondi residence during the late-night crackdown of Pakistani occupation forces on the people of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).

The Pakistan junta later sent Bangabandhu to Pakistan (then West Pakistan) and imprisoned him.

After the nation achieved its victory over Pakistan on December 16, 1971 through a nine-month-long Liberation War, the then junta of Pakistan was compelled to free Bangabandhu -- the icon of Bangladesh's struggle for independence.

To observe the day, different organisations and political parties including Awami League (AL) and its front organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes.

At 6:00am, the AL will hoist the national flag and the party flag at its central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban in the capital as well as at its party offices across the country.

Leaders and activists of AL and its front organisations and various other organisations will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on Road 32 at Dhanmondi at 8:00am.

A discussion on the glorious political life of Bangabandhu will be held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center at 3:00pm. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the meeting.

RUET classes suspended over student's clash

RU Correspondent

The syndicate of the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) on Thursday suspended all classes and examinations for an indefinite period following clashes between activists of Bangladesh Chhatra league (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) in the early hours of Thursday.

Tension gripped the RUET campus as the BCL activists drove away activists of ICS from their hall rooms.

Twelve activists of ICS and three of BCL were seriously injured in the incident that followed .

BCL activists also occupied the rooms of the Shibir men in all the dormitories of RUET.

University Sources said a group of BCL activists led by Al-Amin, Nazmul and Roni first raided Shaheed Salim Hall and forced the Shibir occupants to vacate their rooms.

They also threw out books, bedding and clothes of the Shibir activists and took control of the rooms.They also allegedly beat up Shibir RUET unit president Tabiur Rahman and general secretary Zahidul Islam with iron rods, bamboo sticks and hockey sticks during the raid.BCL activists also ransacked different rooms of Salim hall and drove away Shibir men from Shahidullah and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman halls and ransacked their different rooms, the sources added.

As the news of violence spread over the campus, supporters of both the groups organised themselves and were locked into a clash that continued for long two hours.

BCL activists took position behind Salim Hall while Shibir men with a large number of outsiders gathered in front of Zia Hall.

Both the groups used sharp weapons, brickbats, wood sticks and iron rods during the clash.

As the situation deteriorated members of police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) rushed to the campus and took control of the halls as well as the campus.

Later, Police and RAB jointly raided Shaheed Salim and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman halls separately to flush out the outsiders, but they found no outsiders and arms during the drive.

BCL leaders alleged that the police did not raid the Shibir cadres' rooms during the drive.

Ten other shibir activists Rabiul Islam, Masum, Zulian, Rakib, Shafik, Zaharul, Rabbani, Novel, Rubel and Rafik were also injured in the clash.

The three BCL activists who sustained injuries were identified as Shadi, Konol and Setu.

All the injured were sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for treatment.

Later addressing a rally, Shibir leaders called on the RUET authorities to close the university immediately and ensure security of Shibir men on the campus.

BCL leader Asif told the reporters that their activists resisted Shibir cadres on the campus as they staged an armed showdown with the help of many outsiders.

Assistant Commissioner of Police of Motiher Zone Jahangir Hossain said additional police were deployed on the RUET campus to avoid further clashes.

When contacted, RUET Vice- Chancellor Prof Dr Fazlul Bari told reporters that RUET authorities took all security measures to keep educational atmosphere smooth.

According to another report ,two residential hostels of Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) were raided in the early hours of Thursday following what is said repeated demand from Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of RMC unit.

Hostel supers, college teachers and high police officials took part in the raid of Shaheed Shah Mainul Ahsan Pinku Hostel and Shaheed Kazi Nurunnabi Hostel on Thursday.

Assistant police commissioner of Boalia zone Humayun Kabir said they assisted the college authorities in raiding the hostels.

Earlier on December 3, the college authorities closed the Rajshahi Medical College for an indefinite period in the wake of clash between the activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and Islami Chhatra Shibir over capturing a hostel seat.

The college was reopened on January 05.

Bangladesh take on Zimbabwe today

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh National Cricket team led by Mohammad Ashraful will take on Zimbabwe National Cricket team led by Prosper Utseya today in the opening match of the Grameenphone Tri-Nation Cup at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The other team of the tournament is Sri Lanka, the new powerhouse of world cricket.

The match begins at 9.00 AM.

Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live from the stadium.

The stadium is prepared to stage the upcoming cricket tournament. The grasses of the pitch was cut. An expert said that, 'I expect the ball to skid on the bat here.'

Skipper of Bangladesh team Mohammad Ashraful said Zimbabwe have some good players in their squad and the team is a good one.

He said if the three departments (batting, bowling, fielding) of Bangladesh could perform well, they would bring positive result.

On the other hand, Prosper Utseya, the captain of Zimbabwe said that their team was playing positive cricket and he hopes that his team will do well against Bangladesh.

The tournament will be held on single-league basis. Top two teams will get tickets of the final. The final is scheduled to be held on January 16 at the same venue.

US abstains from UN vote on Gaza cease-fire

AP, United Nations

The United States says it supports a U.N. resolution that calls for a cease-fire in Gaza but abstained from the Security Council vote because it is awaiting the outcome of Egyptian-mediated talks with Hamas and Israel.

Thursday's 14-0 vote came on the 13th day of an Israeli air and ground offensive against the Islamic group Hamas which rules Gaza and has been launching rockets and mortars into southern Israel for years. It followed three days of intense negotiations between ministers from key Arab nations and the council's veto-wielding Western powers - the U.S., Britain and France.

The text of the resolution was hammered out by the United States, Israel's chief ally, and by Arab nations that have ties to Hamas and the Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied territories. It calls for "an immediate, durable and fully respected cease-fire, leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza." While the call is tantamount to a demand on the parties, Israel's troops won't be required to pull out of Gaza until there is a durable cease-fire.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States "fully supports" the resolution but abstained because it "thought it important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation," referring to an Egyptian-French initiative aimed at achieving a cease-fire.

The U.S. decision not to block the resolution has provided the Security Council with "a road map for a sustainable, durable peace in Gaza," she said.

"I believe that it is those efforts that will ultimately help to lead to a durable cease-fire t but to a sustainable peace in Gaza, and we must all support the Egyptian efforts," Rice said.

Israel and Hamas were not parties to the vote and it will now be up to them to stop the fighting.

"We are all very conscious that peace is made on the ground while resolutions are written in the United Nations," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki told reporters he was "not happy" and had expected all 15 council members to vote for resolution. He said Palestinians are concerned that Israel will delay a cease-fire for several days and expand its attack to new targets in Gaza.

Israel "must immediately implement this resolution," Malki said. "The moment that they do so, I believe that Hamas will do the same."

Malki is a member of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' government, whose authority extends only to the West Bank after rival Hamas violently took over Gaza in June 2007.

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev did not comment directly on the call for an immediate cease-fire, saying the international community must focus its attention on the cessation of "Hamas terrorist activity and make clear that a terrorist organization can never be a legitimate leadership."

"The past eight years have taught us that an arrangement must be fully respected and secured, including the total cessation of rocket fire and smuggling, in order to be durable and to allow the possibility of lasting peace," Shalev said.

With Palestinian civilian casualties mounting, the Arabs were under intense pressure to get a resolution - and several diplomats said they wanted it before Friday prayers at mosques in the region.

As of early Friday, about 760 Palestinians, at least a quarter civilians, had been killed along with 13 Israelis.

The resolution calls on U.N. member states "to intensify efforts to provide arrangements and guarantees in Gaza in order to sustain a durable cease-fire and calm, including to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition and to ensure the sustained re-opening" of border crossings.

This is a weaker statement than Israel sought, and the U.S. would have liked. There is also no mention in the resolution of an "international observer force" proposed by the Arabs - and the word "Hamas" was dropped during the negotiations.

The resolution "condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians," calls for "unimpeded" humanitarian access to Gaza, and welcomes the initiative to open "humanitarian corridors." It urges international efforts to provide humanitarian aid and rebuild Gaza's economy.

Shortly before the final day of U.N. negotiations began, Israeli envoys went to Cairo and held talks with Egyptian officials on an initiative by the presidents of Egypt and France that calls for a temporary truce. Hamas militants have yet to commit to coming to Cairo for talks and said they have major reservations about the plan.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told the Security Council his government was "totally satisfied" with the resolution and would "spare no effort" in dealing with the parties to restore calm and revive the peace process.

A joint statement issued by Palestinian groups based in Syria's capital Thursday rejected the Egyptian-French initiative, saying it would undermine Gazans' resistance and give Israel "a free hand" to continue aggression.

Hamas is normally a member of the coalition, but it wasn't clear if it signed the statement. Hamas officials in Syria were not available for comment.

Israel's government said Wednesday that it viewed the Egyptian-French proposal positively but stopped short of acceptance.

The Egyptian-French initiative aims to achieve a "lasting halt" to the fighting and a pullout of Israeli troops along with a cessation of militant rocket fire into Israel and arms smuggling to Hamas, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was flying to Egypt yesterday to participate in the talks. He plans to meet Saturday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before flying to to Israel to meet with officials there.

JS sits January 25

Staff Reporter

The Ninth Parliament, formed through the December 29 general elections, goes into its first session on January 25 after more than two years of the dissolution of the previous Parliament.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed has summoned the new parliament into its first session at 3:00 pm on the day. An order in this regard has already been sent to the Parliament Secretariat

Formation of the Ninth Parliament has been delayed for about two years as the January 22 parliamentary elections were forced to stall due to political chaos between the two major political alliances.

The Eighth Parliament had been officially declared dissolved on completion of its five-year term on October 29, 2006.

The Ninth Parliament will elect the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker of the House and new President of the country.

Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already named her party senior leader Zillur Rahman for the office of the President.

Incumbent President Iajuddin Ahmed, who was elected by former ruling BNP, has already completed his five-year term. As per the Constitution, Iajuddin will hold the presidency until his successor enters upon the office.

Party sources said former Speaker Abdul Hamid Advocate is likely to be elected new Speaker of the Ninth Parliament.

Incumbent Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar was elected Speaker following the BNP's landslide victory in 2001 general polls. Now, Barrister Sircar is going to quit the post as he lost his seat along with his party's massive defeat in the December 29 elections.

Chief Whip Abdus Shaheed yesterday told reporters that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker would be elected on the first day of the session.

AL-led mohajote in its election manifesto said it would elect Deputy Speaker from the opposition Bench.

Abdus Shaheed also indicated that the Ordinances promulgated by the President during the past caretaker government and which have still validity might be laid down at the first sitting of the maiden session.

Besides, he said the Business Advisory Committee would also be constituted on the first day or afterwards.

Regarding the election to the post of President, Abdus Shaheed said it would be held according to the schedule to be announced by the Election Commission (EC).

However, sources said it was yet to decide whether the incumbent President would address the new Parliament.

According to Article 73 (2) of the Constitution, the President shall address Parliament at the commencement of the first session after a general election of members of Parliament and at the commencement of the first session each year.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is going to take the opposition bench, at a meeting of party MPs-elect on Tuesday has already taken the decision to attend the first session of the new Parliament and extend its cooperation to the AL in ruling the country.

The meeting at Chairperson's Gulshan Office was held with Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the chair.

Meanwhile, Joint General Secretary of ruling Awami League Syed Ashraful Islam on Thursday welcomed the BNP's decision to attend the first session of the 9th Parliament.

Speaking at a press briefing this evening at the AL president's office in Dhanmondi, he hoped the BNP's role in the parliament would keep the house of lawmakers more dynamic and effective.