Saturday • November 18, 2006

N E W S   O F  T H E  H O N ' B L E  P R E S I D E N T

India for peaceful polls

Sheikh Hasina invited to attend Gandhi memorial function in Delhi on January 29

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarbajit Chakrabari on Friday underscored the need for a peaceful and stable atmosphere for holding a free, fair and impartial elections in the country.

When asked about their expectations and opinion on the coming national election, Chakrabarti reiterated their call for congenial environment during the election saying, "We have already given a statement stressing on creating election friendly environment to hold a neutral election."

Emerging from a meeting with Awami League Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence Chakrabarti said that he came to her conveying an invitation on hebalf of the Indian Government to attend an inter-state grand conference due in January 2007.

The Indian diplomat said that the conference would be held to evaluate the works and idealism of Mahatma Gandhi.

He told the reporters that the Awami League president assured him to send a delegation to the two day conference in January 29-30, 2007, considering the situation of Bangladesh.

Awami League leaders Sheikh Helal and Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury were present during the hour-long meeting.

N A T I O N A L  N E W S

Khaleda wants to capture power through farcical election: Sheikh Hasina

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday warned that an all out movement including resumption of the suspended countrywide indefinite blockade might be launched anytime today or tomorrow since, in her words, the president-cum-chief adviser has failed to act effectively to prove his neutrality.

"The President has completely failed to act neutrally and to fulfil the people's aspiration for a fair election. And for that he has lost the right to remain in the office of the chief adviser to the non-party caretaker government," Sheikh Hasina said when family members of deceased Awami League leader Wajiullah met her at her Sudha Sadan residence in the capital.

A police van ran over Wajiullah, killing him in front of Sonargoan Hotel in the capital during AL-led 14-party coalition enforced countrywide blockade on November 13.

"If the situation demands and if the chief adviser fails to meet our demands, we can call the blockade even from tomorrow instead of Monday as the people are with us and our previous movements proved that too," the Awami League President said yesterday.

She said although the chief adviser (CA) has totally failed to prove his neutrality, he has taken additional charges of 14 important ministries and divisions only to save BNP-Jamaat men who looted tens of thousands of crores of public money and killed a total of 26,000 people in the last 5 years.

Sheikh Hasina urged the president to relinquish the CA's post right now and to appoint a new CA in accordance with the constitution.

The Awami League President also alleged that the president-cum-CA has been conspiring to destroy the country's hard earned democracy by helping BNP-Jamaat-led alliance to participate in an election without any contest.

"The people will not allow holding of any rigged election in the country," Sheikh Hasina said

The Awami League President's speech came after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday asked the caretaker government (CG) to declare the election schedule. "It's not your (CG) work to see who participates or not," Khaleda said at an exchange of views meeting with an organization of professionals.

Opposing the BNP chairperson's demand for immediate declaration of the election schedule, Sheikh Hasina alleged that Khaleda's demand proves she wants to capture power through a farcical election.

"Her (Khaleda's) demand proves that they don't want a free election. Khaleda does not believe in democracy rather she believes in autocracy," she said.

"They want to return to power to enjoy their ill gotten wealth. That is why the BNP chairperson is putting pressure on the caretaker government to declare the election schedule," Sheikh Hasina said.

The Awami League President also said the CA should not have met the controversial election commissioners keeping the members of the advisory council in the dark. According to the constitution the CG is a collective leadership, she said adding that any decision must be taken after discussion among the advisers.

The Awami League President wanted to know how it would be possible to declare the election schedule when a congenial atmosphere for holding a credible election has not been created yet and the voter list has not been properly updated.

"Khaleda is mistaken if she thinks she will be able to capture power by manipulating the people's mandate...the people will not allow her to snatch away their fundamental right," Sheikh Hasina said.

The Awami League president accused Dr Iajuddin of killing Wajiullah as he is in charge of the home ministry, and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

She also demanded immediate end to all extra judicial killings under the non-party CG.

As Sheikh Hasina met Wajiullah's wife, mother, two brothers, sisters and sons, they broke down in tears. Sheikh Hasina expressed her sympathy for the family members and consoled them. She also handed over Tk 1 lakh to the family in cash.

Awami League leaders Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya, and Dr HBM Iqbal were present.

14-party says

Chief Adviser pushing country to confrontation

The 14-party alliance yesterday alleged that President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed is pushing the country towards confrontation and uncertainty by keeping the advisers in the dark and turning the Bangabhaban into a place of conspiracy of the BNP-Jamaat coalition.

"To implement Khaleda Zia's conspiracy to hold another blue-print election as on 15 February, 1996, Iajuddin held secret meeting with the election commissioners over declaring election schedule by keeping the advisers in the dark," 14-party Coordinator Abdul Jalil said.

All political parties--except BNP and its allies--the civil society and people from all walks of life have demanded for reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), but the president has ignored the demand, Abdul Jalil told at a press conference at the Awami League (AL) Dhanmondi office.

"The president held the meeting with the controversial chief election commissioner [CEC] and three other election commissioners to discuss the election preparation as per BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's direction," he said.

The Awami League general secretary also said a conspiracy is going on for declaring the election schedule keeping the 1.40 crore fake voters in the voter roll and thousands of eligible voters out of it and even before publishing the list.

Abdul Jalil said people will resist any bid to declare the election schedule without EC reconstitution, removal of the CEC and three election commissioners, updating the voter list correctly, and publishing that list.

"We want a free and fair election and people will not allow holding of any blue-print election to bring back the BNP-Jamaat coalition in power," he said.

Abdul Jalil asked the president to quit the office of chief adviser if he fails to act neutrally and take decision independently. "There is still time--hand over the charge of chief adviser to a non-partisan person who is acceptable to all," he said.

Abdul Jalil accused Iajuddin of not having any discussion with the four advisers who held meetings with different political parties over EC reconstitution and prepared recommendations although two days have passed.

The countrymen hoped that the chief adviser would take effective measurers to bring an end to the ongoing political stalemate, but he has been wasting time, Abdul Jalil said.

"The situation is gradually becoming intolerable and the people may not tolerate any more if the CEC is not removed, the Election Commission is not reconstituted, and the administration is not made neutral immediately," Abdul Jalil warned.

He said the president will have to take the responsibility of any untoward incident if he does not ensure a congenial atmosphere for the polls by implementing their 11-point demand.

Abdul Jalil alleged that Iajuddin's government has ensured security for the former ministers and lawmakers of the BNP-Jamaat coalition who looted public wealth and resorted to wide scale corruption although the 14-party leaders are passing days with insecurity.

He said the home ministry under the chief adviser has been creating obstacles to creating a level-playing field for a free and fair election.

Abdul Jalil demanded ban on Khaleda Zia's political activities inside the Dhaka cantonment, which, he said, is making the army controversial. Abdul Jalil asked the BNP chairperson to vacate the cantonment residence immediately.

Referring to the attacks by BNP-Jamaat carders on Awami League leaders and workers, Abdul Jalil demanded immediate arrest of them.

Senior 14-party leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Obaidul Quader, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, Akhteruzzaman, Abdur Rahman, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Nurul Islam and Dilip Barua were present at the press briefing.

EU parliament asks CG to reconstitute EC

The European Parliament has urged the caretaker government of Bangladesh to take immediate steps to reconstitute the Election Commission so that it can perform and can be seen to perform its work in a truly neutral manner.

It also called for creating a climate in which the electorate will feel genuinely free to use their right to vote, notably by disarming the supporters of Islamist groups engaged in actions and propaganda characterized by religious intolerance.

The EU Parliament made the call in a resolution on Bangladesh adopted on Thursday, according to a message received in Dhaka last night.

"The EU calls on the Election Commission to improve the quality and accuracy of the voter register in cooperation with domestic and international experts," said the communique.

The EU Parliament deplored the recent acts of violence in Bangladesh and strongly condemned the physical attacks on journalists, NGO staff, trade unionists and others, and the violence related to the forthcoming general election and the transitional arrangements.

It called on the authorities to put an end to the climate of impunity and to bring to justice the perpetrators of violence and harassment directed towards journalists in Bangladesh.

It recognized the importance of the elections and called for a strong and decisive caretaker government, which would counteract instability and instill confidence in free and fair parliamentary elections conducted in accordance with international standards with the participation of all parties and within the planned timeframe.

The EU Parliament welcomed the fact that a caretaker government has been formed and entrusted with the task of preparing for the next parliamentary election in Bangladesh, but noted with concern that many of the necessary preconditions in terms of the neutrality of electoral preparations have yet to be met.

It urged the BNP and Awami League and all other political parties to reach an agreement on all controversial electoral issues to avoid political violence and instability and to develop political programs, which will improve populations standard of living.

The parliament called on the authorities concerned to monitor carefully the human rights situation, the political situation and press freedom in Bangladesh and to draw up programs in the framework of EU-Bangladesh cooperation to promote freedom of press and freedom of speech.

It called on the caretaker government to guarantee balance in media during the election campaign.

The EU parliament reaffirmed its commitment to Bangladesh's unique tradition of religious tolerance and secularism, as enshrined in the country's longstanding cultural tradition and artistic heritage, and as endorsed in parliament's previous resolutions.

It welcomed the recent conviction by a court of two Islamist militants for murdering a Christian convert, but condemned the imposition of a death penalty.

The EU Parliament welcomed the Commission's decision to send an election observation mission during the forthcoming general election, and urged the rapid establishment of a short-term political election observation mission by parliament.

It called on the Commission to use its good offices with other donors and with the Bangladesh government to promote the adoption of effective measures in line with the provisions of this resolution.

It also urged its president to forward this resolution to the Commission, the caretaker government of Bangladesh, the Election Commission and the secretary general of the United Nations.

The Daily Star, November 18, 2006

Hawa Bhaban blamed for trying to kidnap him

Barrister Zia refutes reports of his return to BNP

Former lawmaker Barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan has alleged that BNP loyalists led by former state minister for education Ehsanul Haq Milon attempted to kidnap him from his Dhanmondi residence in the capital on Thursday.

"It was an attempt by BNP men to Kidnap me as part of a Hawa Bhaban (BNP's Banani office) plan to put pressure on me to return to the party from LDP, " he told a press conference yesterday.

Zia made it clear that he now belongs to the LDP and will remain with it.

The former legislator from Dhamrai in Manikganj quit BNP recently and joined the newly formed Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The press conference held at LDP presidium office at Baridhara was also addrssed by party President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Executive President Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed and party leader Maj (Retd) Abdul Mannan.

"They (BNP men) forcibly tried to take me to Hawa Bhaban to blackmail me. They also gathered some newsmen there by giving them false information about my return to BNP," Zia said.

Referring to laying of siege to renegade Zia's residence by BNP men from Dhamrai on Thursday, the LDP leaders said it was a sign of nervousness within BNP.

Badruddoja said, "If we reveal the names of BNP leaders who are now waiting to join LDP, they (BNP) would be much more nervous."

The LDP president said "The BNP bid to force Barrister Zia to the party is an ethically immoral act and a legally punishable offence."

LDP leaders also accused BNP of offering money to LDP men to quit the party. The LDP president named a top BNP leader who is also doing this.

On the siege to his residence, Zia said, "They (BNP) misguided the people of my constituency saying that I am returning to BNP. Thus they were brought to Dhaka from Dhamrai."

He went on, " Ehsanul Haq came to my house on Thursday without informing me and pressured me to go Hawa Bhaban to express all my grievances to madam (BNP chairperson). But I refused to go telling him it is all over, I am in LDP now."

The Daily Star, November 18, 2006

Press owners won't print faulty voters' list

Printing press owners have decided not to print the faulty voter list, which the Election Commission (EC) has prepared, alleging that the controversial Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz has hatched a plot to embezzle the taxpayers' money.

The decision was made at a joint meeting of more than a hundred members of Bangladesh Printing Industry Samity and Bangladesh Printing and Marketing Samity held at the latter's office on Thursday, says a press release.

The speakers in the meeting claimed that the CEC awarded the work order to print the voter roll to a number of printing presses of which only five to seven are genuine printing presses and the rest are suppliers and institutions only on paper without any printing machines.

They said the printing of the voter list by such institutions would make the list more faulty and urged the press owners to refrain from printing the list.

They said if the faulty voter list is printed, it would not only cause financial losses to the country but also not be conducive to the country's trade and commerce, as the political parties may not accept it considering the present political scenario.

"We are asking the printing press owners to refrain from printing the voter list for the greater interest of the country," press owners urged their fellow press businessmen at the meeting.

Chaired by Vice-president of Bangladesh Printing and Marketing Samity Amin Helali, former director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers and Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Nagibul Islam Dipu, President of Bangladesh Mudran Samity Rabbani Jabbar, President of Bangladesh Printing and Marketing Samity Shahid Serniabat also spoke at the meeting.

The Daily Star, November 18, 2006

Rab recovers arms from ex-BIWTC chairman's house

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Thursday night recovered firearms and ammunition from the residence of former BIWTC chairman Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas in Pabna, and arrested his stepbrother for possessing the arms.

The recovery includes one .22 bore rifle and its 945 bullets, one double-barrelled gun and a cartridge for it, and one shutter gun, said a Rab news release yesterday.

Tipped off that a gang had been trading arms from west Kuthipara under the Sadar area in Pabna since November 14, a Rab member posed as a buyer and contacted a gang member Mostafa Kamal.

The Rab release said following Mostafa's lead, the Rab member on November 16 went to an open space near the house of a person [name not mentioned], where he made a deal to purchase arms from Hamidur Rahman Biswas alias Litu Biswas, 35.

Sources confirmed that the house belongs to Shimul Biswas, and Litu is his stepbrother.

Litu then brought the firearms and a round of cartridge for the double-barrelled gun, said the release.

As the Rab man was examining the arms, a Rab-12 team surrounded the area. Litu, sensing the Rab presence, tried to open fire from the rifle but later made an attempt to flee the area.

The Rab men then arrested Litu from a nearby pond and following his lead recovered 945 bullets and the shutter gun from a bush, some 100 yards from the open space.

Rab, however, in the case filed with the local police stated late Azizul Islam Biswas as the father of Litu.

Sources in Pabna confirmed that Shimul Biswas's father is popularly known as Hakim Biswas, but his official name is Azizul Islam.

The Daily Star, November 18, 2006

P A R T Y  N E W S   U P D A T E

14-party to stage demonstrations today

The Awami League-led 14-party combine will stage demonstrations organizing rallies and processions across the country today in observance of "The anti-killing and repression day" in protest against killing and persecution of the leaders and activists of the united opposition.

On the concluding of the three-day program announced by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina from a press conference on Wednesday, Dhaka City unit of the 14-party combine will organize a public rally at Muktangan in the capital at 3 pm today in protest against killings of their leaders including Waziullah during their recent rail-road-waterway blockade program.

In a statement yesterday, Dhaka City Awami League general secretary and co-coordinator of the City unit of the 14-party combine Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury (Bir Bikram) urged the city people in general and the leaders and workers of the combine in particular to make today's public rally a success.

O T H E R S

Nagorik Committee to meet CA tomorrow

A six-member team of Nagorik Committee will meet President-cum-Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Iajuddin Ahmed on Sunday.

They will discuss three key issues with the president -- reformation of the Election Commission (EC), conducting a free and fair election, and amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972.

The team will be led by Prof Rehman Sobhan, convener of Nagorik Committee. It will also include co-conveners of the committee M Syeduzzaman and Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, its member-secretary Debapriya Bhattacharya, and two other members Syed Monzur Elahi and M Mujibul Haque.

The Daily Star, November 18, 2006

Sramik League GS receives death threat

Roy Ramesh Chandra, General Secretary of the Jatiya Sramik League filed a General Diary (GD) with Paltan police station yesterday as an unidentified miscreant threatened to kill him over telephone.

In the GD, he said that an unidentified criminal threatened him to kill over telephone from a cell (phone number 01713-528847) in sometime between 11.30 am and 11.50am when he was working in the Central Office of Jatiya Sramik League.

President and Joint General Secretary of Jatiya Sramik League Abdul Matin Matser and Aminul Huq Faruq expressed grave concern over the matter and demanded immediate arrest of the criminals responsible for it.

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