Saturday • January 06, 2007

N A T I O N A L  N E W S

Sheikh Hasina says reiterating credible poll

It is now Iajuddin's turn to go, he has to follow Aziz

Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina has warned that any attempt of one-party election will not be allowed to make way for the corrupt elements and thieves to power again.

"People will resist the vote thieves at any cost. Records show the victory of the struggling people on such situations, and they (people) will realize their demand to ensure free, fair and credible election," she said while exchanging views with the central leaders of Awami Swechchasebak League (ASL) at Dhanmondi party office last evening.

Presided over by Awami Swechchasebak League president AFM Bahauddin Nasim, the meeting was attended, among others, by Awami League presidium member Matia Chowdhury, joint general secretary Obaidul Quader and other central leaders of Awami League and Awami Swechchasebak League.

The meeting with Swechchasebak League leaders was followed by another meeting with the leaders of Sramik League (SL). She held meetings with the leaders of Bangladesh Chatra League and Awami Jubo League on Thursday.

Sheikh Hasina instructed leaders and workers of Awami Swechchasebak League and Sramik League to initiate door-to-door campaign to make the people aware about a free and fair election to resist vote rigging and a farcical election.

"But when we understood that a farcical election is going to be held without a proper voter list, we stepped back and decided not to participate in any farcical election," she added.

Voter list is the main prerequisite for holding a fair election but the caretaker government and the Election Commission (EC) are trying to hold a parliamentary election without a proper voter list, she said.

"We did not want Justice KM Hasan as the Chief Adviser and he had to go. We did not want MA Aziz as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and he had to go too. Now it is Iajuddin's turn and he must quit the office of the Chief Adviser, or else no election will be held," said the Awami League president.

Iajuddin wants to hold a blueprint election only to serve BNP-Jamaat's interests but he will not be able to hold such an election, she said, adding that people will never allow any election of vote rigging.

Sheikh Hasina said BNP knows how to go to power either illegally or through farcical elections as its founder Ziaur Rahman snatched the power unconstitutionally as the right hand of Khondker Mostaque Ahmed." She alleged that Zia, who had led at least 19 coups, killed hundreds of armed forces officers. BNP believes in killing to remain in power, she said.

Awami League president referred to the names of journalist Ferdous Alam Dulal and political leader Moulavi Syed Ahmed, who were killed during Zia's period.

Sheikh Hasina demanded a flawless voter list with voters' ID cards and photos, and transparent ballot boxes for holding elections in a free and fair manner. She ruled out a claim of Begum Zia that the ID card project of the Election Commission was suspended by the caretaker government, not by Awami League government.

She called upon Iajuddin to accept the demands of the grand alliance to create a congenial atmosphere for holding a free and fair election. She also called upon the people to be united to resist vote stealing and continuing movements for a free and fair election.

"As long as I am alive, I will not let them [Iajuddin and BNP-Jamaat] play with the fate of the countrymen," Sheikh Hasina said. She instructed her party leaders to go to every village and ward to make the countrywide blockade programs for January 7-8 a complete success.

She alleged that the BNP-Jamaat nurtured thieves and terrorists during their tenure and the looted money will be used in the farcical election.

She said the BNP-led four-party alliance does not want fair election in the country as they fear certain debacles in their widespread corruption and misrule, Sheikh Hasina said.

"If we can come to power, will realize the looted and corrupted money from them to use for the welfare of the mass people," she said.

Sheikh Hasina demanded a fresh caretaker government to hold a credible election. "A credible election is a must to protect the democratic practice of the country," she said.

She refuted the allegation of the four-party alliance that Awami League doesn't want election in the country as it has sensed its defeat'. "We are on the electoral process, but the caretaker government has failed to earn the trust of the most of the political parties as an impartial one and they have decided to boycott the election."

Sheikh Hasina pointed out that a good number of private TV channels were set up by the family members of Khaleda Zia and her associates at the cost of millions of Taka. How have they earned so much money? What was the sources of their income? She asked.

The Awami League president is expected to hold a meeting with the party's women leaders at the same venue today.

Abdul Jalil terms Khaleda's statement misleading

Terming the statement of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at yesterday's press conference as full of blatant lies and a deliberate attempt to mislead the nation, the coordinator of the 14-party combine Abdul Jalil has said her (Begum Zia's) remarks made it clear to the members of the public that President-cum-Chief Adviser Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed is nothing but a tool of her election engineering.

In his instant reaction to Begum Khaleda Zia's statement at Awami League central office on Bangabandhu Avenue last evening, MA Jalil told newsmen "We have given the President-cum-Chief Adviser time to implement our 11-point demand to prove his neutrality but he had failed and later he had detracted from the package offer of the Council of Advisers and he had done all these at the instruction of Khaleda Zia to hold a unilateral election."

Abdul Jalil said, "Khaleda Zia's remarks at the press conference has exposed the musk of Prof Iajuddin Ahmed to the masses once again.

"We want to ensure a fair, peaceful and neutral election with the people's participation in it in accordance with the Constitution and that's why our stance in this regard is crystal clear that Prof Iajuddin Ahmed should quit the post of Chief Adviser and an election with the overwhelming participation of people will be arranged in the country, Inshallah!" the 14-party combine said.

Turning to Begum Khaleda Zia's repeated advocacy in favor of the Constitution where she had mentioned the constitutional bindings of 90-day period for holding election, the Awami League general secretary asked as to under which clause of the Constitution the BNP chairperson would expect holding of an election without a voter list.

Pointing at Begum Khaleda Zia, Abdul Jalil also posed another question as to where her fascination for the Constitution had gone when the partisan President assumed office of the Chief Adviser by violating Article 58(C) of the Constitution. "The words in support of the Constitution do not suit the chairperson of a party which came to power unconstitutionally," he said.

The Awami League general secretary said although a flawless voter list is the precondition for holding credible polls, a proper and flawless voter enrolment is not prepared as yet and with only 17 days left for the polls how a credible election could be ensured when a draft voter list is to be made public 15 days ahead of the schedule for necessary correction, addition and deletion.

"Is not such an election unconstitutional?" Abdul Jalil said terming Begum Zia's remarks that the mega-combine had repeatedly been raising demands one after another untrue and misleading.

About Begum Zia's claim that the US ambassador in Bangladesh and the National Democratic Institute of the US for holding of the parliamentary polls with the ghost voter list, he said such a remark of hers as the former Prime Minister was not only full of falsehood but also an attempt to tarnish the country's image to foreign diplomats and organization by distorting their remarks.

"In conformity with our reform proposals we have continuously been raising the demand for creating an atmosphere conducive to free, fair and credible polls but unfortunately such an environment has not yet been created. Instead, Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury, a BNP aspirant for the polls has been appointed as the Election Commissioner by the Chief Adviser at the instruction of BNP-Jamaat alliance.

"On the other hand, Mr Iajuddin has given appointment to 20 private secretaries of the ministers of the previous government as Deputy Commissioners….Was it an instance of making the administration neutral?" Abdul Jalil said adding that the transfer in the police administration was nothing but an eyewash while one hundred percent BNP-man was made the IGP sending to retirement the former IGP from the post citing no reasons.

"Khaleda Zia's statements siding with such actions and activities of Prof Iajuddin Ahmed bear testimony to the fact that he has become nothing but a tool of election engineering," the 14-party combine co-ordinator said.

Earlier briefing newsmen on the preparatory meeting between the central and district unit leaders as well as front bodies of the 14-party combine at Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office in the morning, Abdul Jalil said the capital city would be isolated from the rest of the country during their planned blockade of January 7 and January 8 to compel the caretaker government accept their demands for credible polls and rescheduling the polls.

Among others, Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Mohammad Nasim, Dilip Barua, Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, AKM Rahamatullah, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Nurur Rahman Selim and Dr Asit Baron Roy attended the press briefing and the preparatory meeting.

Over 700 Awami League men nabbed in the capital

Police arrested over 700 Awami League and its front body leaders and activists from different areas of the capital in the last two days, ahead of Awami League led grand-combine's countrywide rail-road and waterways blockade on January 7 and 8.

With a view to foiling the nationwide blockade police have started arresting Awami League leaders and activists from different parts of the country since Thursday as per the directives of the caretaker government which is engaged in serving interest of BNP-Jamaat led four-party alliance, Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil alleged.

Police arrested some 332 AL leaders and activists under DMP Ordinance, 16 under Section 54 and 223 in regular cases and arrest warrant from different thana areas of DMP on Thursday, Awami League leaders alleged.

Dhaka City AL leaders Azizur Rahman Bachchu, Shafiqur Rahman Jahangir Harun-ur-Rashid, Rakib Hossain, Nazrul Islam, Mokbul Hossain, Walliullah, Nurul Huq, Tota Mian, Zakir Hossan, Abdur Rahman, Swapon, Kabir, Omar Faruk, Mamun, Abdul Gani, Selim, Razzak Bepari, Lutfor, Humayun, Joynal Abedin, Amir Hossain, Selim, Alamgir, Khalil, Alamgir, Habibur Rahman, Delwar Hossain, Abdul Huq, Borhanuddin Babu, Selim and Juba league leaders Mozzammel Huq, Apu, Jamal Hossain, Jahangir, Dulal, Ziauddin Titu, Russell Ahmed, Babu, Zakir Hossain, Yusuf Hawlader, Masud, Selim, Imran, Ripon and Siddiqur Rahman Siddique were arrested from different city areas in the last two days .

Police arrested some 50 Awami League and Jubo League leaders and activists from the four unions of Keraniganj early yesterday. Police conducted massive raids in Ruhitpur, Taranagar, Jinjira and Kalinadi unions at about 2am and nabbed the Awami League and Jubo League men to maintain law and order, police sources said.

Protesting the mass arrest, Awami League leaders and activists demonstrated in front of Keraniganj thana. Tension has been prevailing in the area.

The Independent, January 6, 2007

Sheikh Hasina to announce next course of action at Paltan Maidan on January 10

Grand alliance leader and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will announce the next course of action from a grand rally at Paltan Maidan on January 10 marking the Bongobondhu's home coming day.

Emerging from a grand alliance meeting held at Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil's residence at Gulshan on Friday night, Abdul Jalil stated this to the waiting journalists.

"On the occasion of Bongobondhu's home coming day our grand alliance leader Sheikh Hasina will announce the next course of action program on January 10 from a grand rally at Paltan.

Abdul Jalil further said they may extend the countrywide blockade program till January 9.

Awami League presidium member Amir Hossain Amu presided over the meeting. Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sen Gupta, Fazlul Karim Selim, LDP Secretary general Major (Rt) Abdul Mannan, Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and other alliance leaders were present in the meeting.

PDB Rental Plan for 15 Years

6 out of 7 power deals set to go to pro-BNP men

The Power Development Board (PDB) plans to sign by the middle of this month seven small power rental deals for 15 years which were pushed by the immediate past BNP-led alliance government risking a 15-year projected financial loss of about Tk 2,000 crore.

Of the seven deals involving 260 megawatt (MW) power generation, two with Ornate and GBB for Fenchuganj and Bogra power plants have already been signed. And five are now undergoing negotiations and fine-tuning.

Except for one deal with the Summit Group on a 20 MW skid-mount plant in Kumargaon, all the six other deals are set to go to people involved with the BNP.

These seven deals concern Shahjibazar 80 MW Tk 2.63 per kilowatt hour (per unit) power rental by United Group, Fenchuganj 50 MW (Tk 2.83 per unit) by Ornate, Kumargaon 20 MW (Tk 2.79 per unit) by Summit Group, Bogra 20 MW (Tk 3.16 per unit) by GBB and Feni 20 MW (Tk 2.73), Sikalbaha 50 MW (Tk 2.64) and Barabkundu 20 MW (Tk 2.86 per unit) by Hosaf.

Industry insiders say the deal with Summit was offered to create one kind of balance as six of the deals are being backed by influential BNP men, including a former minister.

Back in March, on scrutiny of some of the small power rental offers, the PDB made a financial interpretation of the deals. One such deal was for 80 MW Shahjibazar scheme that initially offered a price of Tk 3.30 per unit to the PDB which it (PDB) would sell to the Rural Electrification Board (REB) at Tk 1.9, incurring a net annual loss of Tk 96 crore.

But Shahjibazar deal ultimately came down to Tk 2.63 per unit. Now, the projected loss from this plant has come down to Tk 50 crore.

When all the seven deals will be made effective, the PDB will incur a loss of about Tk 120 crore to 150 crore annually. In other words, the PDB in the next 15 years will incur a total loss of between Tk 1,800 crore and Tk 2,200 crore in the present price structure.

The Daily Star, January 6, 2007

P A R T Y  N E W S   U P D A T E

Sheikh Rehana leaves for London

Sheikh Rehana, sister of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, leaves Dhaka for London today.

Sheikh Rehana came Bangladesh with her children on December 20.

14-party combine renews vow to resist January 22 poll

Central leaders of the Awami League-led 14-party combine said yesterday that the coalition along with the masses would resist unitedly the caretaker government of Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed's bid to hold a unilateral and farcical polls like that of February 15 in 1996 at any cost.

Speaking at a largely attended public rally in front of Awami League central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital, they also urged the people from all walks of life in general and the leaders and workers of the combine in particular to make January 7 and January 8 countrywide blockade a success to compel the caretaker government to refrain from holding an election as per blueprint of the BNP-Jaamat alliance.

The 14-party combine leaders also called upon the President-cum-Chief Adviser not to put the patriotic members of the armed forces as rivals to the masses by deploying them during the January 22 stage-managed polls.

As part of its nation-wide demonstrations demanding of the caretaker government to create a congenial atmosphere for holding a credible election, Dhaka City unit of the 14-party combine organized the public rally with its City unit coordinator and Dhaka City Awami League general secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya (Bir Bikram) in the chair.

Some 30 central and city unit leaders of the 14-party combine addressed the public rally.

Speaking at the rally, Awami League Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said, "We are not against the holding of election but we are certainly opposed to arranging stage-managed or farcical polls like that of the February 15 polls of 1996. For holding a free, fair and credible poll, a congenial atmosphere, to be acceptable nationally and internationally must be created with a flawless voter list."

He said the parliamentary election would not be credible nationally and internationally without the participation of Awami League-led mega-combine in it slated for January 22.

Referring to the resignation of four Advisers to the caretaker government, Akbar Ali Khan, Hassan Mashhud Chowdhury, Sultana Kamal and CM Shafi Sami, for difference of opinions with the Chief Adviser Prof Iajuddin Ahmed for his partisan actions and activities favoring a particular alliance, Amir Hossain Amu called upon the Advisers to tender resignation honoring the people's demands.

Awami League Presidium member Abdur Razzak said the mega-combine waited for long demanding of the President-cum-Chief Adviser Prof Iajuddin Ahmed to prove his neutrality but he failed to do so at he has been running the state affairs at the dictates of Hawa Bhaban to hold a farcical polls.

"That is the reason why we demanded of him to step down from the post of Chief Adviser creating an environment congenial to transparent and credible polls with a flawless voter list," he said urging the people to compel the caretaker government to refrain from holding an election of deep-rooted conspiracy."

Bringing allegations against Prof Iajuddin for ruining the Election Commission, administration, judiciary and his failure to publish a flawless voter list after a lapse of 73 days, another member of Awami League Presidium Tofail Ahmed said the Chief Adviser has been contemplating deployment of the patriotic armed forces, which was build up during the turbulent days of the Liberation War to safeguard the country, as rival to the people only to serve the purpose of the BNP-led alliance.

He said, "We along with the people will not let the conspiracy of the Chief Adviser to materialize by foiling the January 22 polls."

Awami League general secretary and the coordinator of the 14-party combine Abdul Jalil said the people round the country have hailed the decision of the mega-combine chief Sheikh Hasina of boycotting the January 22 polls to safeguard the nation from repetition of a farcical polls. He said there will be no election in the country on January 22 under the stewardship of a partisan person like Prof Iajuddin Ahmed without the mega-combine. Abdul Jalil, however, said obviously there will be election in the country after Prof Iajuddin Ahmed quits the post of the Chief Adviser.

Leaders of the 14-party combine including Suranjit Sengupta, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim, Bimal Biswas, Dilip Barua, Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Shirin Akhter, MA Gani, Nurur Rahman Selim, Dr Asit Baron Roy, AKM Rahamatullah, Meer Hossain Akhter, Kamal Ahmed Mazumder, Haji Mohammad Selim, Mukul Chowdhury, Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, Faezuddin Miah, Dr Mirza A Jalil, Roy Ramesh Chandra, Abdul Huq Sabuj and Quamrul Ahsan also addressed the public rally.

Later, a procession was brought out from the rally venue. Chanting various slogans, the processionists marched up to Muktangan.

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