Saturday • November 11, 2006

N A T I O N A L  N E W S

Sheikh Hasina tells Australian HC

Awami League to take part in polls if EC reconstituted

The Awami League (AL) yesterday reiterated that it would participate in the next parliamentary election only after reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC) and removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina during a meeting with Australian High Commissioner Douglas Foskett at Sudha Sadan in the capital told the envoy that they want a free and fair election and for this they are demanding reconstitution of the EC.

She also told the envoy that the previous government had appointed the CEC on political ground and a free and fair election is not possible under his supervision.

During the meeting, the 14-party's 11-point demand and deadline for caretaker government (CG), current political situation and issues relating to international observers came up for discussion.

Briefing newsmen after the lengthy meeting, Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said, "We want a level playing field before taking part in the next election."

He said they have informed the high commissioner of their concern about the attitude of President-cum-Chief Adviser to the CG Iajuddin Ahmed.

He said it seems that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is controlling the CG from behind the scene.

"We have told the high commissioner that despite our repeated calls and giving times to CG to implement our demands to create a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election, we have not seen any neutral actions by the chief adviser," Kazi Zafarullah said.

Asked about further extension of time to meet their 11-point demand following the reported requests by some foreign diplomats, he said, "Our friendly countries feel that enough time has been given to the caretaker government to meet the demands."

Briefing journalists Foskett said they hope the election would be free, fair and credible.

Caretaker Government still has time to prove his neutrality : Sheikh Hasina

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina last night said the president-cum-chief adviser (CA) to the caretaker government (CG) can still take measurers to prove his neutrality since there is 24-hour time yet to meet the 11-point demand of the 14-party combine led by her party.

"If you [president and CA Iajuddin Ahmed ] do not take any measurers within 24 hours, then a peaceful and all out blockade will be enforced from November 12 to press home our demands to create a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election," Sheikh Hasina said.

The Awami League President was speaking at a meeting with leaders of thana units of the city Awami League and central leaders of all front organizations of the party at her Dhanmondi office.

A meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee was also being held there with Sheikh Hasina in the chair till the filing this report.

Sheikh Hasina said the president has also become the CA violating the constitution in a bid to concentrate power in his hands. She also reiterated her accusation that Iajuddin has taken a stand against the people and is pushing the country into a state of uncertainty.

She urged the president to show minimum neutrality as he also heads the non-partisan CG. "We have given time twice to show your neutrality but you have not taken any steps to do that," she said.

Sheikh Hasina went on, "Though we placed our demands 11 days ago, the Election Commission has not been reconstituted, voter list is yet to be revised and necessary changes both in the civil and police administration still to be made."

Election could be held only after reconstitution of the EC and revision of voter lists, she stressed.

The Awami League President asked her party leaders and workers to remain alert as, she feared, agents of BNP-Jamaat might enter gatherings of 14-party for destructive activities to shift the blame on it (14-party). "The enemies are conspiring in many ways to push the country into a deep crisis," she said, urging her partymen to observe the blockade peacefully.

Sheikh Hasina also instructed the party leaders to make a list of those who have not been included in the voter list.

She wondered that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman are speaking about the CG in a tone of admonition.

In an apparent challenge to Khaleda, the Awami League President said if the people get a chance to exercise their democratic rights properly, they would give her a good lesson through ballot.

Awami League leaders Syeda Zohora Tajuddin, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Suranjit Sengupta, Obaidul Quader, among others, were present at the meeting.

14-party says his view on present form of government unconstitutional

Iajuddin's remark impeachable

The Awami League (AL)-led 14-party alliance leaders yesterday said President Iajuddin Ahmed opened up scopes for impeachment for violation of his oath and making unconstitutional remark that the present government has become a presidential form of government.

"Through his speech, the president has violated the constitution as well as his oath and shown ignorance about the constitution. For this actions could be taken against him for contempt of constitution," 14-party coordinator Abdul Jalil said at a news briefing at his Gulshan residence in the capital.

Demanding implementation of the 11-point task put forward by the 14-party within 24 hours to create a congenial atmosphere for holding free and fair elections, Abdul Jalil warned that otherwise the entire country would be brought to a standstill by enforcing blockade programmes.

Although the 14-party alliance set a second deadline for the president to prove his neutrality by November 12, he has failed to do so, Abdul Jalil said.

Prior to the briefing, the 14-party leaders held an emergency meeting at Abdul Jalil's residence with Awami League Presidium Member Abdur Razzak in the chair.

Reacting to the president's Thursday speech that equated the present government with the presidential one, Abdul Jalil said the non-party caretaker government is the outcome of a parliamentary system.

The chief adviser enjoys the powers and privileges of the prime minister and his main responsibility is to oversee elections within 90 days and hand over power to an elected government.

Demanding immediate action against the president, Abdul Jalil, who is also Awami League general secretary, said Iajuddin is conspiring to demolish the hard-earned parliamentary form of government to establish dictatorship in the country only to implement the political agenda of BNP-Jamaat alliance.

He said the president assumed the office of the chief adviser violating the constitution and concentrated all powers in his hand by merging the offices of the president and the chief adviser.

Instead of creating a neutral environment for a free and fair election, the president is implementing the BNP-Jamaat's agenda, the Awami League stalwart said, adding that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia sent MK Anwar to ask the chief election commissioner to remain adamant not to resign so that a blue-print election can be held.

Making a flashback to the history of political treachery, the Awami League leader said the time has come for the president to play either the role of Nawab Sirajuddowla or that of Mir Zafar.

If the 14-party demands are not met by the deadline to create a neutral environment for a free and fair election, downtown Dhaka will be made isolated from other parts of the country, district and upazila headquarters will be brought to a standstill and all ports will be shut off, Abdul Jalil said.

Among others, senior 14-party leaders Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Obaidul Quader, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, Abdur Rahman, Pankaj Bhattacharya, Nurul Islam and Dilip Barua were present at the press briefing.

Huda bent rules to lease out Tk 4.16cr rly land

Communication minister of the immediate past government Nazmul Huda exercised influence to bend rules for leasing 4.16 acre land of Bangladesh Railway in the capital without any tender process for constructing a five-star hotel.

Millennium Holdings Ltd was given the land on the west of Tongi Diversion Road in Baro Maghbazar area under a nominal licence fee of Tk 35 per square foot to build Hilton Hotel of the US-based hotel chain giant.

Sources said Huda directly influenced railway officials for leasing the railway land to the Millennium Holdings, which has no experience in construction business and an office of its own, for 60 years without floating any tender ignoring objections from several sub-committees and Bangladesh Railway Authority members.

"Hilton's presence in Bangladesh will enhance our country's image in the world. Please take necessary action to make it possible for Hilton to establish their hotel in Dhaka," Huda wrote in a note on the Millennium Holdings' application.

Huda, also chairman of Bangladesh Railway Authority, took the initiative to ease the existing railway rules and procedures to complete the leasing process in just six months.

A lease agreement between Bangladesh Railway and the Millennium Holdings was signed on October 19, only eight days before the BNP-led four-party alliance government handed over power to the caretaker government.

Chief Estate Officer of Bangladesh Railway M Mokbul Ahmed and Managing Director of Millennium Holdings Ltd Mohammad Iqbal signed the agreement.

The railway land lease committee in its note, however, said there is no scope to lease railway land to any organization without floating tenders. Three other sub-committees also observed the same.

Leasing railway land in this way violates the procedures of the railway laws for leasing land, said Mir Nasir Hossain, a member of the railway authority. "I did not agree with the way the land was leased to Millennium Holdings Ltd," he said.

A few cases over a part of the land are pending while some plots had already been allocated for two CNG filling stations in other parts, the committees observed. Moreover, the application for allotment of the piece of land was made by Millennium Holdings, not the Hilton authority, they noted.

In the beginning of the leasing process, the railway chief estate officer in his letter to the railway director general said there is no scope to consider the application of the Millennium Holdings.

However, the decision was changed following Huda's interest.

The railway committee recommended taking 3 per cent gross revenue from the hotel authority but finally the revenue was reset at 1.5 per cent. A few other recommendations were also by-passed in the leasing agreement.

While talking to The Daily Star, Chief Estate Officer M Mokbul Ahmed, who once opposed the leasing deal, denied all complaints and said there were no irregularities in the process of allotting the land to the Millennium Holdings.

He, however, admitted that there were differences of opinions over leasing the piece of land to the Millennium Holdings in the beginning. He declined to make any further comments.

Nazmul Huda could not be contacted for comments despite repeated tries.

Millennium Holdings uses the address of Khan Sons Group Ltd, which is located on the 19th floor of Sena Kalyan Bhaban, on its official pad. But Khan Sons staff could not specify the location of Millennium Holdings.

The Daily Star, November 11, 2006

Noor Hossain Day observed

Different political parties and student organizations observed the Shaheed Noor Hossain Day yesterday.

They placed wreaths at his grave and held discussions.

Noor Hossain, a worker of Awami Jubo League, was killed in police firing at Zero Point in the capital on November 10 in 1987 during the anti-Ershad movement.

Noor Hossain took to the street inscribing the slogans 'Down with autocracy' and 'Let democracy be freed' on his chest and back. The killing of the Jubo League worker triggered widespread violent protests that eventually led to the fall of Ershad on December 6, 1990, paving the way for restoration of democracy in the country.

In observance of the day, a discussion was also held at the Awami League central office at 9:00am. Other political parties, including BSD and its student wing Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, also held discussions.

Young girl violated in Khulna BNP office

A young girl was violated at 2nd floor of Khulna City BNP office on Friday morning. A case was filed with Khulna police station by the victim in this connection.

According to FIR, two youths called on Kakoly Begum, 22, mother of a daughter for supplying drinking water at BNP office at around 11 am.

When she come at second floor of the city BNP office the two youths florcibly took her in a room and closed the door from outside. An electric technician Mukul, 25, two was earlier staying the room forcibly violated her.

Hearing hue and cry policemen who were on duty in front of BNP office rushed to the spot and nabbed Mukul red handed.

Kakoly Begum, daughter of later Barek Mollah, hailing from Ashulia of Gopalganj district presently tenant of Bazlar Rahman Khulna City's Roypara area, is a

The Bangladesh Observer, November 11, 2006

O T H E R S

One beaten to death in the capital

Criminals beat a young man to death at Dholaipar area in the city yesterday evening.

Police and hospital sources said, Hira Ahmed (30), an employee of MS Engineering Workshop was beaten to death allegedly by his master's son following an altercation over the work near the workshop at Dholaipar under Shyampur police station.

Hira was rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the attending doctors declared him dead.

The Daily Star, November 11, 2006

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