Thursday • January 05, 2006

N A T I O N A L  N E W S

Sheikh Hasina leaves for Jeddah to perform Hajj

HC orders on fresh voter list excellent: Sheikh Hasina

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina hailed Wednesday's High Court orders on writ petitions challenging the validity of preparing fresh voter list as excellent and urged the government and the Chief Election Commissioner to comply with the HC edicts.

"The High Court ruling is excellent. Everybody expects that all eligible persons should be enrolled as voters. The unilateral decision of the Chief Election Commissioner for preparing a fresh voter list cannot be acceptable," she told the reporters at the Airport prior to her departure for Saudi Arabia to perform hajj in Makkah.

Sheikh Hasina said nobody has right to snatch people's voting right and urged all to take proper steps to resist such irregularities.

On militant attacks, Sheikh Hasina alleged that the government itself is involved in militant operations, as she said it wants to fish in the troubled waters. "The government wants to create panic among the people through bomb and grenade attacks in a planned way," she said.

She alleged that the government is not complying with higher court orders to submit progress report on investigation into all bomb attacks since August 17. "That proves that the government is concealing the facts."

On the August 21 grenade attacks on Awami League rally, Sheikh Hasina alleged that a certain quarter within the government was involved in the attacks. She said if the high-ups were interrogated, all information would come to light.

Replying to her demand about the UN inquiry team to investigate all terror, bomb and grenade attacks, she said her party is preparing to write to the UN seeking a special inquiry team.

"The government should take step determining the process of investigation, but the government is not doing so for mysterious reasons," Sheikh Hasina said.

About the much-talked-about third force, she questioned, "What does the Prime Minister want to mean by third force? …they have come to power riding on the shoulders of the third force. Ziaur Rahman also captured power the same way."

Sheikh Hasina urged the Prime Minister to return to the people from Cantonment if she believed in people power.

Awami League presidium member Kazi Zaforullah MP and family members of Sheikh Hasina are accompanying her.

Sheikh Hasina leaves for Jeddah to perform Hajj

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka on Wednesday for Jeddah to perform holy Hajj.

Awami League presidium member Zillur Rahman MP will be Acting President during her stay abroad.

Leaders of Awami League and its front organizations were present at the airport to see off Sheikh Hasina.

Landmark Verdict of High Court

EC to prepare voter list based on existing roll

* A High Court Division bench comprising Justice MA Matin and Justice Rezaul Haque gave the direction while disposing of writ petition filed by Awami League lawmakers Asaduzzaman Noor and Advocate Rahmat Ali on December 12.

* The High Court also directed the Election Commission not to exclude any voter from the existing voter list if he was found absent and to include all those aged above 18. The High Court also directed that only mentally deranged or dead persons would be excluded from the voter list.

* The High Court observed that Election Commission does not mean only the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), rather a composite body of three including the other two Election Commissioners. So EC should discharge its responsibility unanimously or take decision on the basis of consent by majority, the High Court observed.

* The High Court termed fair electoral roll a sine qua non of free and fair elections.

* As per Constitution EC is entrusted with the responsibility of conducting free and fair election and if any confusion is created among people regarding the preparation of the voter list, the EC will be treated as a failed institution in discharging its constitutional responsibilities.

* The High Court also observed that as per Constitution EC would discharge its responsibility without being biased by any political party.

* The EC will not take any decision on the demands of any political party or parties, the High Court order said.

* The High Court also observed that as per Constitution the EC is solely entrusted with the authority of preparing the voter list and the EC will have to discharge its responsibility as per the provisions of the Constitution and the concerned laws.

The Independent, January 5, 2006

Ruling party men engaged, minority voters skipped, opposition leaders claim

Anomaly in voter enrolment in districts

Gross anomaly in enrolment of voters has been reported from many urban and rural areas in different districts. The irregularities are taking place as the job is being done by ruling party men and supporters, recruited by local Election Commission offices.

Allegations have it that at places, supporters of opposition parties and minority community people were left out deliberately, according to reports by our correspondents.

Kushtia: Sumon Sen Gupta of Courtpara area in Kushtia town said two enumerators -- Emdadul Haq and Shamsur Rahman -- went to his rented flat yesterday.

They enrolled names of Muslim voters residing in the building and ignored six eligible voters of his family even after his repeated request, Sumon alleged.

Emdadul Haq and Shamsur Rahman, both teachers at Kushtia Muslim High School tried to leave the place hurriedly after enrolling the Muslim voters.

Sumon then informed some local journalists. When the journalists rushed there and asked the enumerators about the matter, they said it was a mistake and then enrolled the six members of Sumon's family in the voter list.

Sources said both the enumerators belonged to ruling Jamaat-e-Islami.

Nilphamari: Enrolment of voters continued in a haphazard manner in Nilphamari town yesterday as most of the eligible voters did not know that preparation of a fresh list began three days ago.

The authorities concerned claimed that 70 per cent work has been completed at field level though the enrolment process drew a lackluster response from eligible voters due to lack of publicity and awareness.

Leaders of opposition political parties alleged that ruling party men have been appointment as supervisors and data collectors. BNP-Jamaat supporter and madrasa teachers were given preference in the recruitment, they alleged.

They also alleged that supporters of opposition parties and minority community people were being deliberately felt out of lists.

It was gathered that Kamruzzaman, a Jamaat-e-Islami activist in jaldhaka upazila, is preparing the voter list in Khutamara union in the upazila. He is a former president of Jaldhaka unit of Isami Chhatra Shibir.

On the other hand, the work is also being hampered due to shortage of funds and inadequate logistics. It was gathered that the Election Commission (EC) has not yet allotted the required fund for the work in the district though it has directed the officials to complete the enrollment in time.

The EC has allotted only Tk eight lakh for buying needles, thread, papers and pens etc. The enrollment work is being hindered as stamp pads were not supplied for taking thump impression of voters. Loose prescribed forms were supplied instead of books, a number of data collectors said. The loose forms might be missing, they said.

The District Election Office has supplied enrollment forms as per the lists prepared in 2000, on which there were 9,31,899 voters in the district. The number of voters now will be around 20 per cent more, sources said.

Day labourer Akhtarul Islam of Sindoi village in Sadar upazila and farmer Mansoor Ali of Master Para village under Kishoreganj upazila of the district told this correspondent yesterday that no data collector went to their homes to enroll them and his family members in the voter list.

Sources at the District Election Office said 74 assistant registration officers, 724 supervisors and 2677 data collectors were appointed in the district. But when contacted, the Upazila Election Office could not show the list of appointed supervisors and data collectors for Nilphamari municipal area.

When contacted, Sadar Upazila Election Officer M Rahman refuted all the allegations and said, "Everything is being performed properly as per directive of the Election Commission".

Barisal: Leaders of opposition parties have raised objections to preparation of the new voters list, alleging that ruling party supporters are involved in the enrollment.

Barisal city Awami League Convener Shawkat Hossain Hiron alleged that BNP activists and supporters were engaged in voter lists preparation in many areas of the city.

In ward no. 2 in Kawnia under Barisal City Corporation, local BNP president Anisur Rahman Hiru and vice-president Khairul Alam were engaged in the work, which was delayed for two days as they went to Kuakata on a New Year picnic, local people said.

Barisal district unit of FEMA, an election monitoring NGO, said their observers reported irregularities in voter enrollment in Charmonai union and Barisal Sadar upazila. Non-resident people and were included in the lists, its officials said.

Reports from Gournadi and Agailjhara upazilas, said Awami League activists assaulted data collectors and detained them for two hours for irregularities in enrollment.

Shahnaz Parvin, 22, accompanied by Kawsar, a BNP activists started enrolling voters in ward no. 3 in Gournadi municipality Monday morning. Local Awami League activists led by Sajal Kazi, Razzak Talukdar, Milan Howladar challenged and detained them for about two hours for anomaly. Local officials rescued them and later resumed the work.

Shahnaz claimed that she was an employee of a local NOG, VOSD. But its local manager Sajedur Rahman, when contacted, said they have female employee named Shahnaz.

The Daily Star, January 5, 2006

At least 80 injured in attacks by JCD in Barisal, Bakerganj, Bhola, Natore and Netrakona

BCL rallies vandalized in 5 districts

At least 50 persons were injured as Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), students front of ruling BNP, vandalized rallies of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Barisal, Bakerganj, Bhola and Natore, marking its 58th founding anniversary yesterday.

Barisal: At least 12 BCL activists injured, some of them seriously, when Jubo Dal, student front of ruling BNP, swooped on a rally of Bangladesh Chhatra League in Barisal despite shifting of the venue thrice. The BCL program, announced earlier, marked its 58th founding anniversary yesterday.

Barisal BCL leaders said, as part of their earlier announced program, they organized a rally at Shohel Chattar in the city at 6 am. They said the trouble began as JCD activists attacked their rally at Sohel Chattar when Barisal district Juba League convener Kazi Muniruddin Tarik was hoisting a party flag and the National Flag there. Tarik and five BCL activists were injured.

BCL and Jubo League leaders and workers then tried to hold a rally in front of the Zilla School at about 10 am but they came under attack there also, by JCD activists. Barisal city BCL convener Ziaur Rahman, its joint convener Kabir Chowdhury and Jubo League leader Shahanewaz were seriously injured in the attack. At least seven BCL-Jubo League activists were injured there. JCD men also swooped on BCL and Juba League leaders and workers there in presence of police.

Critically injured BCL and Juba League activists Ziaur Rahman, Kabir Hossain, Shahin Ahmed, Majibur Rahman, Faisal and Tareque were admitted to Barisal Medical College Hospital (SBMCH). None was arrested from the spots during the clashes.

BCL leaders also alleged that police foiled their program while ruling party men held gatherings violating Section 144 in front of police and a Magistrate.

In Bakerganj upazila town, at least 20 opposition activists were injured in attacks by ruling party men who also damaged the pandal and a microbus on Bakerganj Circuit House premises at about 1-00 pm yesterday. BNP men drove away opposition activists including former Awami League lawmaker Masud Reza from there and confined them inside Bakerganj Government College for some hours.

Imon Sikdar, Bakerganj Sadar upazila BCL leader and Masud Reza alleged that the attack was made after local BNP lawmaker Abul Hossain Khan addressed a party gathering in front of the BNP office near Bakerganj bus stand.

Eight of the injured were taken to the local hospital, BCL and Awami League sources there said. They said police were preparing to file a case against some opposition activists for holing unauthorized gathering on Circuit House premises and damaging public property.

Netrakona: 30 BCL activists were injured in attack by JCD and police action.

Natore: at least10 BCL workers were injured in an attack by JCD at Nawab Sirajuddawla College in the town.

Sources said, some JCD activists launched the attack at about 11 am while BCL men of the college unit were holding a rally at the college campus leaving 10 BCL workers injured.College unit BCL president Bulbul Ahmed, secretary Shakib, joint secretary Asit are among the injured.

JCD activists attacked a BCL procession at Hajirhat in Manpura Upazila leaving seven workers injured.

The Daily Star, January 5, 2006

Police-mob clash in Chapai Nawabganj : 2 killed

At least two people were killed and 50 others injured when police opened fire on the subscribers of Palli Biddyut Samity at Kansat of Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj district Wednesday afternoon.

Although police did not admit the deaths initially, assistant police super Shamsul Alam Khan later said two people died in the incident. Their identities could not be known immediately.

Police opened the gunshots on the agitators, who under the banner of Palli Biddyut Unnayan Sangram Parishad, laid a siege to the PBS office demanding withdrawal of meter-charge and uninterrupted power supply.

Of the injured, Babu of Chakriti Laoghatta village, Monirul and another unidentified man of Khasherhaat, were admitted to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Thirty people, who were injured by rubber bullets sprayed by policemen, were admitted to the Shibganj Upazila Health Complex.

An eye account from the spot said that thousands of people took position around the samity office on the Chapainawabganj-Sonamasjid road after the incident. Policemen kept the samity office cordoned off following the incident.

The Bangladesh Observer, January 5, 2006

P A R T Y  N E W S   U P D A T E

Sheikh Hasina condoles death of Principal Khalil

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock at the death of Principal Khalilur Rahman of Begumganj in Noakhali.

In a condolence message on Tuesday she prayed for salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy for the members of the bereaved family.

O T H E R S

Awami League leader survives bomb attack in Khulna

An Awami League (AL) leader survived a bomb attack in front of the party office at Phulbari ghat in Khulna last night.

Sheikh Yunus Ali, 58, ward-2 Awami League president and commissioner of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) of the same ward, escaped the attack on his life without a scratch.

Eyewitnesses said the bomb was hurled around 9:15pm from the rooftop of the nearby Janata Shopping Complex and it exploded only a few yards away from Yunus.

"I was the target. I ran into the party office after the explosion," Yunus told The Daily Star.

Two shops were damaged in the blast and plying of vehicles on the Khulna-Jessore highway was disrupted for hours.

Awami League leader claimed the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddha) threatened him few days ago.

The Daily Star, January 5, 2006

Youth hacked to death in the capital

Armed assailants hacked to death a youth and dumped the body at an isolated place near the river Buriganga at Shyampur on Wednesday.

Being informed by the local sources, police recovered the blood stained body of the victim from the west side of Riverview School and College near the bank of the river Buriganga under Shyampur police station at about 10:30 am.

According to the family members of the victim, Johnny came out of his residence after getting a call from some unknown persons at about 7:30 pm on Tuesday. Police could not provide the details of the incident immediately.

The Bangladesh Observer, January 5, 2006

Gold trader shot dead in Kushtia

A gold trader was shot dead by armed terrorists in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia district Wednesday night. The dead was identified as Rana (30). He was the owner of a jewelry shop of Junaidah Baar in the upazila.

Witnesses said, a group of armed terrorists numbering 7/8 stormed into Rana's Jewelry at about 8.30 pm. They fired several rounds of bullet at Rana and fled the scene after being confirmed about his death.

Locals said police of the adjoining camp at Kuchamora did not come forward to nab the terrorists.

The Bangladesh Observer, January 5, 2006

One killed in so-called crossfire

One person was killed in so-called crossfire in the hand of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Demra in the capital early yesterday.

The dead was identified as Abul Kalam Khan.

Rab-3 members arrested Kalam at Kanchpur in Narayanganj in the same night.

The Daily Star, January 5, 2006

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