No army deployment, no polls: Khaleda

 Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday laid down two preconditions for holding elections - keep electronic voting machines out and deploy the army - if the government seriously wants the outcome to be acceptable to the masses.

?Awami League cannot rig the polls if the army is around. Its other weapon for manipulating poll results is the EVM. That?s why it wants to keep the army out and press EVMs into service,? Khaleda said while addressing a roadside meeting at Jessore Eidgah Maidan.

She branded the EVM as a ?machine for vote rigging.?

Khaleda Zia also alleged that the government has left no stones unturned to turn Bangladesh into a province of India.

The former prime minister further alleged that the Awami League-led grand alliance government has failed to sign the Teesta water sharing deal with India due to lack of its bargaining capacity.

She said her party?s countrywide road-march campaign has already turned into a mass upsurge as the government has been identified as incompetent and subservient (to India).

Terming the cabinet worthless, Khaleda Zia said ministers are incapable and know nothing but how to extort money. ?There is no control within the government as well as in the cabinet,? she said.

Dwelling on the ?miserable? conditions of power and energy sectors, Khaleda said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could not ensure adequate supply of electricity but she could cut power from the people who do not like her.

?All the mills and factories of Bangladesh are being destroyed in a planned way so that in course of time those could be taken over by India. The government has made all arrangements to make Bangladesh a country subservient to India,? she said.

The opposition leader warned if the situation continues, the country?s independence and sovereignty will be at stake.

?We have to take decision whether we will be subjected to torture or launch movement against this repressive regime,? she added.

Khaleda said an ?oust-government campaign? will be launched after Victory Day and that has to be made successful with spontaneous participation of people from all walks of life.

Organised by the BNP-led four party alliance, the meeting was presided over by the party?s acting Jessore district unit president Shamsul Huda.

After the wayside meting in Jessore, Khaleda Zia went to the mazar of Khan Jahan Ali in Bagerhat, where she offered fateha.

The BNP chairperson said establishment of Rampal Power Plant will adversely affect the ecology and natural beauty of the Sundarbans, world?s largest mangrove forest.

?So a movement should be launched to stop installation of power plant in the Sundarbans. To save the Sundarbans, I am with you and the country?s environmentalists are also with you,? she said while addressing a public meeting held at Khulna Circuit House Maidan.

Khaleda Zia also demanded construction of an embankment in the Cyclone Aila-affected areas and rehabilitation of the affected people there. She asked the government to immediately address the water-logging problem in Satkhira district and end inhuman sufferings of people there.

The former prime minister said that she had written thrice to the Indian government to stop construction work of the Tipaimukh Dam, which will cause a catastrophic impact on the ecology of Bangladesh.

Khaleda said she asked the Indian government to conduct a joint technical survey first before going for implementation of the project.

?Raise your (the government?s) voice against the construction of Tipaimukh Dam. If you do not have the courage, please step down; the people will protest and do whatever necessary to halt it,? she said.

Citing the government?s corruption spree centring construction work of proposed Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Khaleda Zia said two bridges at separate points over the Padma River would be constructed if her party is voted to power.

One of the bridges will connect Daulatdia with Paturia ghat and the other one will be built at Mawa point of the river, she said.

Khaleda alleged the government has given its party leaders the licence to set up rental power plants to commit corruption in a free-style.

The BNP chairperson pledged that if her party is voted to power, it will revitalise the industrial units in Khulna region.

The meeting was presided over by Khulna BNP unit president Nazrul Islam Manju. Senior BNP leaders and also leaders of its alliance partners and like-minded parties spoke at the rally.

After the meeting, Khaleda Zia took rest at Circuit House before leaving Khulna for Dhaka.

Source: daily-sun.com

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BNP men attacked on way to Khaleda�s rallies

At least 60 people were injured as ruling party men allegedly attacked BNP activists in Bagerhat and Jessore on their way to the opposition chief Khaled Zia?s separate rallies on Sunday.

In Bagerhat, at least 50 people, including Chitalmari UNO and OC were injured in a clash between Awami League and BNP activists in Chitalmari uapzila headquarters over taking part in a BNP rally.

Police said the clash ensued as some local Awami League activists obstructed the BNP men when they were going to Shat Gumbaj union parishad premises in Bagerhat Sadar upazila to attend the roadside rally of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at about 11:00am.

A chase and counter-chase took place between the supporters of the two parties. At one stage, they attacked each other with brickbats, leaving at least 50 people injured,

Chitalmari Uapzila Nirbahi Officer M Sohel Hasan and thana officer-in-charge Hasan Hafizur Rahman were among the injured.

Upazila Palli Bidyut office, local Awami League office, BNP office and eight shops were vandalised during the two-hour long clash.

Later, police brought the situation under control charging batons on the rowdy activists of the two arch rival parties.

In Jessore, a motorcade of BNP leaders and workers came under attack at Bagachra Bazar and Balunda Bazar in Sarsa upazila on Sunday morning on their way to BNP chairperson?s Jessore rally.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Market manipulators must not be allowed to get away!

 Unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina checks the slide in stock markets, experts fear that the government will bear the brunt of investors? anger making it extremely unpopular among a big cross-section of voters who provide crucial support to any political party.

Directors of 46 listed companies now under SEC pressure to raise their share holding to 30 percent are trying to reduce the prices of shares so that they can buy them back at lower prices.

These directors are working against the interests of small investors by manipulating share prices so that they can pick up the required 30 percent as cheaply as possible.

These directors have a long history of cheating and deceiving small investors. A few of them were caught with their pants down in 1996. But they went scot-free. Now many other manipulators are taking a leaf out of the book of the 1996 villains.

One of the 46 companies under the SEC scanner is Beximco Pharma of Salman F. Rahman. Its directors hold only 3.8 percent of shares. They sold the rest violating SEC regulations fuelling the decline in stock index since January 2010.

Such companies are acting against the government?s initiative ? well-meaning but rather late in the day ? to stabilise the markets and bring back investors? confidence by making big companies accountable to small investors.

On Sunday the markets plunged by 308 points exposing the greed of big companies in the face of small investors? soaring expectations after Wednesday?s package of incentives announced by Securities and Exchange Commission.

Market insiders accuse the 46 companies of fleecing investors to line their own pockets by triggering panic sale of shares held by small investors.

The government has ordered 46 companies to pick up 56.71 crore shares from the market within six months. As per Thursday prices, the companies will have to spend Taka 5612 crores. Hence they are resorting to dubious means to meet SEC?s directives.

One of the best steps announced so far is to draw black money into stocks without asking questions about the source. Any delay in implementing it will trigger the exodus of Bangladesh?s undisclosed and unaccounted wealth to safe havens like Malaysia.

If small investors are cheated again and reduced to poverty, they will be forced to commit crimes destroying the law and order situation in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Directors with a history of cheating small investors will not be able to sleep peacefully in their air-conditioned bedrooms at night.

Announcing 21 measures is not enough. The watchdog must not only bark but it be ready to bite those working against the interests of small investors.

It?s high time to implement the recommendations of the Khandkar Ibrahim Khaled Committee and bring to justice the culprits of the 2010 share market scam to put the fear of law in the hearts of today?s scamsters.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Employees protest move to split DCC

Police intercept Dhaka City Corporation officers and staff as they tried to form a human chain in front of Nagar Bhaban on Sunday, protesting the government?s latest move to chop Dhaka into two administrative areas. sun photoAt least 25 people were injured in a clash with police as employees of the Dhaka City Corporation protested the government move to split the local government body.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, however, the same day justified the government initiative to split DCC saying that the decision is aimed at ensuring better services to the citizens of Dhaka.

The proposed bill is likely to be passed in the on-going parliament session.

Witnesses said police intercepted DCC employees and assaulted them when the protestors brought out a procession under the banner of DCC Officials and Workers Oikya Parishad at 11:00am in front of Nagar Bhaban. Police charged batons on the demonstrators and dispersed them.

Traffic on the road in front of Nagar Bhaban came to a halt as the agitated employees clashed with law enforcers. The clash continued for about 20 minutes when the entrance to Nagar Bhaban remained closed.

Eight of the injured people were said to be policemen and the rest DCC employees.

The DCC officials and employees observed three-hour pen down strike and joined a scheduled human chain programme to protest the government decision to split the city corporation.

Abdul Latif, member secretary of Oikya Parishad, alleged that a group of Awami League supporters hurled brickbats at them from nearby Usmani Uddyan when they were forming a human chain in front of the DCC Bhaban.

?As we went ahead, police in riot gear swooped on us and started charging batons indiscriminately,? he said.

SM Mosharraf Hossain, a union leader of DCC, said police attacked a peaceful procession when it was entering the DCC Bhaban.

However, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramna Zone Krishnapado Roy told the journalists that police had to take action against the agitating people as they were demonstrating by blocking the nearby busy road.

The incident happened only a day after City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka urged the government not to divide the DCC. He also told the media that none of the public representatives and representative bodies demanded bifurcation of DCC.

?It is not true that we are dividing Dhaka, it will remain in its original shape. But we are going to constitute two city corporations with the expanded areas of Dhaka city,? Hasina said while addressing the oath- taking ceremony of the mayor and councillors of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) at her office, reports BSS.

Hasina also said a bill to split DCC has been placed in the current session of parliament as the city has now been expanded up to Narayanganj in the southeast and Tongi in the north.

She said the number of city dwellers is increasing day by day and it is quite impossible to extend services to people from one point.

?With the rising number of population, the government has divided the police administration into eight zones to ensure proper service,? she added.

The prime minister said her government wants to strengthen the local government bodies to decentralise power. ?We are working relentlessly for the welfare of the people,? she said.

The government on Wednesday proposed a bill to divide DCC and create two city authorities ? Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation.

The proposed DCC bifurcation law, set to be passed in the current session of parliament, will authorise the government to appoint political leaders as administrators to the planned city corporations.

The parliamentary standing committee on local government ministry on Sunday finalised its recommendations on the Dhaka City Corporation division bill tabled in parliament on November 23 with minor changes.

The parliamentary watchdog, however, stipulated that the administrators in the proposed Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka City South City Corporation must not stay in office for more than 90 days.

Again, the standing committee also recommended that the elections to the proposed city corporations must take place in 180 days since the passage of the Dhaka City Corporation division bill.

State Minister for Local Government Jahangir Kabir Nanak tabled the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Bill-2011 for dividing Dhaka City Corporation into two local bodies in the city of 100,000 million people.

?The bill proposed appointment of first class public servants as the administrators to the city corporations. But we have cut the word ?first class? from the paragraph,? Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, a committee member, told daily sun after the meeting at the parliament building.

?Our recommendation will authorise the government to appoint any high ranking public servants or any competent people as the administrators to the proposed city corporations until the elections take place,? said Alam who presided over the meeting in absence of Rahmat Ali.

?The administrators may even be the political figures,? he said.

Alam, a nephew of Hasina and whip in parliament, trashed the allegations saying an administrator will only be appointed for one term: only 90 days.

?If an administrator cannot hold elections in 90 days, the government will appoint another administrator. But the elections must take place in 180 days for newly created city corporations,? he said.

?Inshallah, the bill will be passed in the current session of parliament,? said Alam.

Local Government Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and his deputy Nanak also attended the meeting.

Source: daily-sun.com

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NCC Mayor Ivy, 36 councillors sworn in

 Founder Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation Dr Selina Hayat Ivy was sworn in on Sunday morning at a high-profile ceremony at the Prime Mini-ster?s Office, completing her investiture following a memorable election win.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath at her office to the mayor of the port city who clinched a landslide victory in a much-orchestrated election.

Earlier, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam administered oath of office to the 36 NCC councillors at the same venue.

Sources said Dr Ivy will formally perform her duty from December 1, matching with the auspicious occasion of the commencement of the month of national victory at the 1971 Liberation War.

On October 30, riding a wave of popular support for a change, Selina Hayat Ivy was elected first mayor of Narayanganj metropolis in a landslide victory to carry forward her father?s mantle in a new context. Her father was the first mayor of Narayanganj municipality after independence.

?Banglanews24.com

Source: daily-sun.com

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Govt backtracks on move to amend upazila act

Govt backtracks on move to amend upazila actChairmen to retain executive power? Kamran Reza ChowdhuryThe government has backtracked on its move to amend the Upazila Act 1998 to curtail the executive power of the upazila (local government body) chairmen.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam at a meeting of the parliamentary watchdog on his ministry on Sunday consented to the demand of upazila chairmen for retaining their executive power.

Upazila chairmen are enjoying executive power as per the Local Government (Uapzila) Act 1998 and will continue to exercise the power, the minister told the meeting.

The Local Government (Uapzila) Bill 2010, tabled in parliament on December 2 last year, proposed handing over of the executive power of upazila chairmen to the upazila council.

The council consists of chairman, two vice chairmen of a upazila and chairmen of all the union parishads under the same upazila.

Upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen in October threatened that they would resign en mass if the bill is passed in parliament. They, however, refrained from doing so as per advice from the state minister for local government Jahangir Kabir Nanak.

The Upzilla Bill 2010 proposed that the government will be able to suspend any elected chairmen and vice chairmen if the authorities take cognisance of criminal charges against them.

The parliamentary standing committee on the local government ministry also recommended that vice-chairmen should head 17 committees of the upazila council.

As per the parliamentary watchdog?s recommendation, upazila chairmen will issue Annual Performance Report (APR) on Uapzila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs).

?The upazila chairmen will enjoy executive power of the council,? Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, a committee member who presided over the meeting of the parliamentary body, told daily sun after the meeting.

Sources at Parliament secretariat said the current session will conclude on

Monday meaning that the Upazila Bill will get through the House on the day.

Leaders of the upazila chairmen association earlier told daily sun that the bill would make the elected representatives subservient to the Upazila Nirbahi officers (UNOs).

They demanded that the elected chairmen should have the power to issue annual confidential report (ACR) ? an essential document for the promotion of the public servants?to have control over the bureaucracy.

?They (chairmen) will issue APR for the UNOs,? said Chowdhury adding that the standing committee made the suggestion to strike a balance in the upazila administration.

Ruling Awami League?s allies ? Rashed Khan Menon of the Workers? Party and Hasanul Haq Inu of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal?opposed curtailing the power of upzilla chairmen.

While tabling the bill in parliament around a year back, Syed Ashraful Islam rejected objection of the two lawmakers, saying that the parliamentary committee will amend the anomalies, if any, in the proposed law.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a meeting with the leaders of the upazila chairmen association assured them of looking into their interests.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Risky rooftop ride kills 8

FIGHT FOR A RIDE HOME: Homeward passengers on Saturday scramble to get the best berth on the rooftop of a train at Airport Station to reach their destinations ahead of the holy Eid of sacrifice. kamrul islam ratanAt least eight people were killed and three others injured as they fell off the rooftops of two running trains in Tangail and Bogra on Friday and Saturday, just a day before the Eid-ul-Azha festival.

The deceased were returning homes to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones.

Of the eight, four people were killed in Tangail on Friday evening while four others in Bogra on Saturday afternoon.

Those who died in Tangail were identified as Mintu Miah (18), son of Abdul Motaleb from Sahadatpur upazila of Sirajganj, Mamun Miah (22), son of Abul Hossain from BL Bari village of Faridpur upazila in Pabna, Zahirul Islam (25), son of Amarat Ali of Alampur village of Volar Hat upazila in Chapainawabganj. Identity of one victim (aged about 30) could not be known immediately.

Kaji Harun-ur-Rashid, a sub-inspector of the GRP police, said the accident took place at about 5:00 pm. The victims were going to their village homes riding on the rooftop of Silk City Express that was heading towards Rajshahi from Dhaka.

The ill-fated people bumped against a supporting net made for the electric cable crossing across the railway track near Tetulia in Mirzapur.

Two died on the spot while another succumbed to his injuries at Mirzapur Kumodini Medical College Hospital, the police officer said.

In Bogra, four homeward passengers riding on the rooftop of Dinajpur-bound Ekota Express were killed after they were hit by an iron structure of Halhaliya Bridge near Santahar in Adamdighi upazila in the district at about 2:00am on Saturday.

Police said two of the passengers died instantly while two others succumbed to their injuries in the afternoon at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.

Of the victims, three were identified as Dulal Mia (30), Uzzal Mia (30), and Julfikar Rahman (32). Identity of the other could not be known immediately.

Meanwhile, vehicular movement on a 75-km stretch of Dhaka-Tangail highway from Chandra of Kaliakoir in Gazipur to Easter side of Bangabandhu Bridge on Saturday came to a halt for hours triggering untold suffering to home-bound people.

During the gridlock, thousands of motor vehicles got stranded on both sides of the busy highway.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Garai Highway Police Station Sanowar Hossain said six police teams are working hard to ease the congestion.

With the streams of tens of thousands of homeward people three inter-district bus terminals ? Gabtali, Sayedabad and Mohakhali ? and Kamalapur Railway Station and Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the capital turned into human sea on Saturday, just one day ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival.

A large number of people left the capital on the rooftops of buses, trains launches from early hours on Saturday for their ancestral homes to celebrate the festival with their family members.

While visiting the city?s Gabtali and Sayedabad bus terminals, Kamalapur Railway Station and Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Saturday noon many buses, launches and trains were seen leaving the stations with passengers beyond their capacity.

A launch plying between Sadarghat and Barisal with the capacity of accommodating around 2000 to 2500 was found ferrying almost double passengers, said Zilani Milton, a Barisal-bound passenger.

Apart from the three inter-district bus terminals, the city?s other bus counters set up at different parts of the capital including Shyamoli, Kalabagan, Fakirapool, Kallyanpur, Mirpur, Rampura, Mouchak, Khilgan, Gulistan and Uttara also witnessed huge rush of home goers on Saturday.

Manjurul Haq, a resident of Kurigram said that like him many passengers were also waiting at bus terminal for buses for hours with endless agonies. But the buses they will travel on are not arriving as highway gridlocks have brought the home-bound journey to a halt.

A banker Abdul Khaleq said that he along with his family members had been waiting for bus at Mohakhali bus terminal for three hours.

Abdul Jabbar, a counter manger of Bislillah Paribahan at Sayedabad Bus Terminal, said due to severe traffic jam buses are returning from different district towns of North Bengal two to three hours behind the schedule.

Salam, a rickshawpuller, said he couldn?t manage to get a seat and finally he decided to make his journey on the roof of a Gaibandha-bound bus.

Besides, with the movement of thousands of home-bound people, severe traffic congestion was created in and around each bus terminal and launch terminal and railway station.

Traffic system at the terminals and its adjacent areas completely collapsed leaving thousands of slow-moving rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, cars, buses and trucks stranded in the tailbacks.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Eid-ul-Azha tomorrow

 Eid-ul-Azha, one of the two major religious festivals of Muslim Ummah, will be celebrated across the country tomorrow (Monday) with due rituals, sacrifice and solemnity.

People are making hectic last-minute preparations to propitiate almighty Allah by sacrificing cattle in commemoration of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim?s (AS) great obedience to the will of Allah almighty.

On the occasion, devotees will offer Eid prayers and sacrifice animals afterwards. They also distribute meat of the sacrificial animals among the poor as well as the destitute.

Financially able Muslims sacrifice animals of their best choice in honour of the prophet?s devotion to almighty Allah illustrated by his readiness to sacrifice his dearest son Hazrat Ismail.

The three-day Eid holidays begin today.

President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia in separate messages greeted the countrymen.

They have called on all to be inspired with the spirit of sacrifice taking lessons from the sacrifice made by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

In his message, the president called upon all to follow the teachings and ideals of the holy Eid-ul-Azha in everyday life. The premier, in her message, said the grand instance set by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) by sacrificing his dearest thing to satisfy Allah will be imitated and followed forever.

Meanwhile, the stage is now almost set for smooth holding of Eid prayers in the capital and elsewhere. The main Eid congregation in the capital will be held at National Eidgah Maidan near the Supreme Court around 8:30am.

There will be a special arrangement for female devotees besides the main congregation.

In case of inclement weather, the main congregation will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 9:00am.

Congregations will also be held at Baitul Mukarram Mosque and 360 other mosques as well as open spaces in the metropolis.

In addition, an Eid congregation will be held on the Dhaka University playground.

Dhaka City Corporation has made arrangements to enable the devotees to offer prayers smoothly.

Foolproof security measures are in force since Saturday to maintain law and order.

Under the supervision of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, police, Rab and members of all intelligence agencies are working together to ensure overall security.

On Saturday, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan and the DMP commissioner visited the National Eidgah.

Law enforcers have been entrusted with the task of providing foolproof security to the city dwellers, the DMP commissioner said.

Security forces have already been posted at all sensitive points, including bus and launch terminals and railway station, he added.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV stations will put out special programmes and the national dailies publish special supplements, highlighting the significance of the day.

Yesterday, the city dwellers were seen thronging cattle markets for buying sacrificial animals. Besides, they were busy completing their last minute shopping.

Thousands of people continue to leave the capital for village home to celebrate the Eid with their near and dear ones. With the people in thousands leaving the capital for home, the city is wearing a deserted look.

Meanwhile, the holy hajj was celebrated on Mount Arafat near Makkah on Saturday in which nearly 2.5 million pilgrims from across the world, including Bangladesh, took part.

CTG, CHANDPUR CELEBRATE EID TODAY

A total of 38 villages under Satkania, Chandanaish and Bashkhali upazilas in Chittagong are going to celebrate Eid tomorrow, Mirzakhil Shahsufi Darbar sources said.

It is their tradition to celebrate Eid subjecting to the first sight of moon from any country in the world.

The main Eid Jamaat will be held on the Darbar Sharif premises at Satkania upazila.

Meanwhile, some 50 villages under five upazilas in Chandpur district will also celebrate the Eid today.

Devotees of Hajiganj Sadra Darbar Sharif have been celebrating all the religious festivals for last 80 years in line with Saudi Arabia.

The first cleric of the Darbar late Peer Moulana Ishak (RM) started the ritual of celebrating the religious festivals in 1931.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Govt reins in terrorism: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said her present government had controlled extremism and terrorism with a strong hand and made the country peaceful.

?Bangladesh is being known as a country of peace and harmony once again where people of all communities can freely celebrate their religious festivals,? she said while addressing ?Holy Kathina Chibara Dana & Buddhist Religious Congregation-2011? at the International Buddhist Monastery in the capital.

The country has been established as a liberal democratic and economically prospective one. ?We work for the welfare of the people of all religions whenever we come to power,? Hasina added.

Islam is a religion of peace but some people are known as businessmen of religion and often confuse the people. The message of all religions is peace. Gautam Buddha had appeared in the subcontinent about 2,500 years ago and preached sermons about peace, the prime minister stated.

She further said Father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had removed communalism and all sorts of religious disparity in article 12 of the constitution formulated within nine months after the independence of the country.

Then President Ziaur Rahman had spoiled the constitution to instigate fundamentalism and provided shelter for the anti-liberation forces, Hasina alleged.

The BNP-Jamaat alliance government turned Bangladesh into a country of extremism and tarnished its image abroad.

Many people have to die when the BNP-Jamaat alliance government came to power in 2001. Among others, Gayanjoti Bigku of Rawjan and Sujan Barua of Ramu have to die in 2001 during its regime.

Source: daily-sun.com

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PM flies to Maldives Nov 9 to attend Saarc Summit

 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for the Maldives on 9 November (Wednesday) to attend the 17th Saarc Summit.

The summit will be held in Addu City of the Maldives.

The Prime Minister, who will leave Dhaka at 12:00 noon by a chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, will arrive at Gan International Airport in Addu at about 3:30 pm on Wednesday.

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed will receive Sheikh Hasina at the airport.

On November 10, prior to the inaugural of the Saarc Summit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at Dr Ali?s Resturant of Shangri-La?s in Villingili Resort.

The 17th Saarc Summit will kick off at 2:30 pm at the main conference hall of the Hithadhoo Convention Centre. The theme for this year?s Saarc Summit is ?Building Bridges? - both in terms of physical connectivity and figurative political dialogue.

In the evening, she will attend the state banquet to be hosted by the President of the Maldives and the first lady at Hulhumeedhoo state banquet hall.

On November 11, the Prime Minister will attend the retreat of the Summit. At 4 pm. she will attend the concluding ceremony of the Saarc Summit.

Later, she will attend the ceremony of unveiling the memorial sculptures of the Saarc member countries.

On 12 November, Hasina will leave Addu City at 10:00 am for home and will arrive in Dhaka at about 5:30 pm.

?UNB

Source: daily-sun.com

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Music maestro Bhupen Hazarika no more

New Delhi: Music maestro Bhupen Hazarika passed away in a Mumbai hospital on Saturday, a hospital spokesperson said.

?It was a multi-organ failure. The end came at about 4.30 pm,? Jayanta Saha, chief PRO at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital, said.

Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika was suffering from respiratory and kidney failure. His condition had deteriorated significantly in the last few days. His long-time companion and filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi was beside him when he died.

Bhupen Hazarika?s health deteriorated on 23 October after he developed pneumonia. He had to undergo a minor surgery whereby doctors placed a food pipe into his system.

The 86-year-old Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner was undergoing treatment at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital since 29 June after he complained of breathlessness. Ever since he has been confined to his hospital bed.

Perhaps the only living balladeer in the country, composing his own lyrics and music, Hazarika lent his voice to the film ?Gandhi To Hitler?, where he sang Mahatma Gandhi?s favourite bhajan ?Vaishnav jan?.

Bhupen Hazarika, who has a genius for weaving a magical tapestry out of traditional Assamese music and lyrics, is regarded as one of the greatest living cultural communicators of South Asia. He has been a poet, journalist, singer, lyricist, musician, filmmaker and writer.

The Padma Bhushan awardee had celebrated his birthday this year in the ICU of the hospital on 8 September when he cut a cake and fans sang his favourite numbers.

?Times News Network, PTI

Source: daily-sun.com

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No headway in Narsingdi mayor killing case

Naja, the only daughter of slain Narsingdi mayor Lokman Hussain, shows a portrait of her father at their residence on Saturday. She presented it to the two-time gold medallist father as the best mayor on 27 July this year. An inscription on the sketch reads: ?Gift for heroic leader, my father?. sun photoPolice could not make any headway in the case of Narsingdi Municipality Mayor Lokman Hussain even after four days of his killing.

On the other hand, Salahuddin Ahmed Bachchu, younger brother of Post and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, on Saturday denied his involvement in the killing of Lokman.

The law enforcers failed to arrest any of the accused in the political sensitive case as of Saturday.

Sources at Detective Branch (DB) of police, which is investigation the sensational murder case, said the law enforcers were working to unearth the motive behind the killing taking into account various aspects.

?We are yet to arrest any of the accused who are on the run despite our ceaseless efforts,? said DB inspector in Narsingdi Mamunur Rashid Mondal, also investigation officer of the case.

According to sources, Lokman, who was also the general secretary of ruling Awami League?s Narsingdi municipality unit, had been at loggerheads with some influential persons of the district, apparently over political issue.

He had an intense rivalry with former chairman of the municipality Abdul Matin Sarker who was also defeated by Lokman in the last mayoral elections.

Besides, the slain mayor had taken over a piece of land leased out to Ashraf Sarker, younger brother of Matin, for establishing a water treatment plant for the municipality, stoking animosity against him among the Sarkar family.

Lokman was a candidate for the post of general secretary in the next district Awami League committee. Salahuddin Ahmed Bachchu was also eyeing the post.

Bachchu was named as the prime accused in the murder case which was transferred to DB on Friday.

Complainant of the case Mohammad Qamruzzaman, brother of slain Lokman Hussain, on Saturday said the DB officials were frequently communicating with their family.

He, however, neither expressed his dismay nor satisfaction with the development in the enquiry. ?We are awaiting the killers to be arrested,? he said.

Responding to a query, Qamruzzaman said they fear that the real culprits, who have close relations with a cabinet minister, may not be brought to book.

?We want to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to inform her of the facts so that none can dare to influence the investigation,? he said.

Meanwhile, the withdrawal of Narsingdi police super Dr Akkas Uddin Bhuiyan and transfer of additional SPs Enamul Ahmed and Bijoy Boshak have taken a lot of flak from different quarters.

The killing of Lokman is being widely seen as yet another proof of the criminalisation of politics.

Many also regard it as the politicisation of crime.

Even before filing of any case in connection with the murder, district unit president of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party Khairul Kabir Khokon and a few other BNP activists were detained suspecting their involvement in the killing.

But they were not made accused in the case later field in connection with the killing of Narsingdi mayor.

The plaintiff named people, mostly local leaders and supporters of Awami League and close to the telecommunications minister, including his brother and assistant private secretary, as accused in the case.

So far, six people, including Khokon, have been picked up for interrogation, police said.

According to the case statement, the accused, include Bachchu, Matin, Mobarak Hossain, deputy publicity secretary of district AL, Montazuddin Bhuiya, president of town AL, Nurul Islam, sadar upazila BNP general secretary, Tareq Ahmed, district BNP leader, Masudur Rahman Murad, APS to Raju, Mia Md Manjur, former vice president of Narsingdi Government College Student Union, and Asraf Hossain Sarker, president of town unit of Jubo League.

In a statement on Saturday, Bachchu said he has been implicated in a false case as part of a conspiracy against him. ?I was in no way involved in the killing of Lokman and the allegation brought against me is false and motivated.?

Bachchu also condemned and protested the killing of the Narsingdi mayor and demanded exemplary punishment to the killers.

?I have never expressed willingness to vie for the post of secretary general in the council of district Awami League,? the post and telecommunications minister?s brother said, adding that the issue of political feud with Lokman was fabricated and motivated.

He expressed his deep sympathy to the bereaved family members and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Over 2m pilgrims perform hajj

More than two million Muslims began massing Saturday on Saudi Arabia?s Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain, marking the peak day of the largest annual pilgrimage.

Swarms of pilgrims who had spent the night in Mina, some 10km northwest of Arafat, surged through the roads leading to the mountain after midnight. ?I am responding to your call, Allah,? they chanted in unison.

Many went on buses, while others set off on foot from Mina, a tent-village that comes to life only during the five-day pilgrimage.

Others took the Mashair Railway, also known as the Makkah Metro, to go to Mount Arafat and its surrounding plains, where Prophet Hazrat Mohammed (SM) delivered his final sermon.

The Chinese-built railway is operating for the first time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestion and prevent stampedes in which hundreds have been killed in past years.

The dual-track light railway connects the three holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat ? areas that see a massive influx of pilgrims during the hajj.

By sunrise, the Jabal al-Rahma peak ? or Mount of Mercy ? was covered by the white garments of pilgrims as they climbed to the high point and took up positions on slippery rocks to spend the day in prayer and reflection.

The gathering in the plains around Mount Arafat symbolises the climax of the hajj which ends on Sunday with Eid-ul-Azha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be performed at least once in a lifetime by all those who are able to make the journey, and it is a dream that can take years to come true.

?I?m so happy to have set foot on Arafat?s sacred soil,? Indonesian pilgrim Noor Laila told AFP.

?I want to wash away all my sins and ask the Almighty Allah to forgive my mistakes. This is the first time I come to hajj and I hope it won?t be the last,? said the 36-year-old.

Another pilgrim, Malaysian Abdullah Wali al-Deen, 45, said he had been working for years for this day.

?I came here with my family after we managed to save enough money,? he said.

?Everyone in here is equal. There are no differences between various nationalities. This is the religion of peace, love and brotherhood.?

More than 1.83 million pilgrims have arrived in the kingdom from abroad, marking a 1.5 percent increase compared with last year, said Mecca governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal.

Several hundred thousand Saudis and foreign residents in the kingdom were also granted permits to join them, he added.

Coping with the world?s largest annual human assembly poses a security headache for Saudi Arabia ? guardian of the two holiest Muslim shrines in the cities of Makkah and Medina, the birth places of Islam.

To help prevent chaos, the authorities have numbered buses and tents in Mina and Arafat according to the countries from which the pilgrims have come.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars over the years to avoid deadly stampedes that have marred the hajj in the past.

In January 2006, 364 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at the entrance to a bridge leading to the stoning site in Mina, outside Makkah, while 251 were trampled to death in 2004.

In July 1990, 1,426 pilgrims were trampled to death or suffocated in a stampede in a tunnel, also in Mina.

The deaths prompted authorities to dismantle the old bridge and replace it with a multi-level walkway with one-way lanes to ensure a smooth flow of pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia also launched a new $10.6-billion project for a new extension to Makkah?s Grand Mosque to increase its capacity to two million worshippers.

No incidents were reported this year.

?Things are going well and according to (the government?s) plans,? interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki told AFP.

For the first time this year, the hajj is being streamed live on video-sharing website YouTube in cooperation with the Saudi government.

?Millions of people from around the world will be able to experience and comment on the event by tuning in via video,? YouTube said in a blog.

The stream can bee seen at youtube.com/hajjlive. ?AFP

Source: daily-sun.com

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Narayanganj to Narsingdi��good cheer to bad omen

good cheer to bad omenProf. Dr. Syed Anwar HusainNarayanganj polls for electing the first mayor of the new city corporation, although preceded by a very tense background for reasons more than one, eventually approximated the oft?used aphorism ?all?s well that ends well?. Yes, the polls ended well defying some circumstantial odds and disproving many Cassandra like prognostications.

But hardly had the dust settled on the NCC polls, we faced aghast the Narsingdi carnage that left the reportedly popular city municipality chairman and a rising star of the ruling party dead. The killing was perpetrated by a bunch of gun?totting goons, who did their (assigned?) job well and vanished in the thin air in a perfect similarity with such a scene in a Western crime movie. So could we not say that at least in committing crime of such a nature and magnitude we have Westernised ourselves very well; and herein we seem to have a logic to gloat over that we have matched the Western standards, if not in many other desirable sectors of the Western world. Well, an explanation for such a difference in how we tend to copy the West may be had in the Bangla essay penned about a century back by Sanjib Chattapadhaya wherein he stated that it is disease, not health which is contagious.

The NCC polls were both an epilogue and prologue. It was an epilogue to the days of politics of politicians with questionable image and delivery capability, but who thrive in politics because of their control over three elements?? money, muscle and manipulation (3ms). It was a prologue to clean politics as the elected lady has so far had reportedly a clean image backed by her demonstrated delivery capability, which is writ large in what she has already done over the years as the elected chief executive of the Narayanganj municipality. There is little doubt that left to themselves the people made the right choice without fear and favour. Both the incumbent government and the Election Commission deserve kudos that they could ensure an environment in which the people were able to exercise their voting right properly.

Besides the people?s verdict for a clean politics there is something more to this verdict; it is the gender factor. Two macho?type political heavy weights have been passed over in the voters? assessment, and a lady (supposedly belonging to the weaker segment of human species) was picked up as the chosen one. There is certainly something like political and historical lessons in such an electoral verdict for those who would like to learn from the same. Unfortunately, however, as Hegel said century and a half back ?the lesson of history is that nobody learns from history?.

There are quite a few lessons to be learnt by our mainstream political parties. First, from now on they would do well for themselves as well as for the country by nominating candidates sans the 3 ms, and like the one who had the last smile in the NCC polls. Second, while nominating local level candidates the party high command would do well by taking into cognizance the local level dynamics. Specially, the people?s mindset has to be read and understood properly. The people of Narayanganj have got across a clear and stern message that they can act out of their own imperative and assessment by even defying what their political high command would impel them to do. Third, there is a lesson for the incumbent government; and this pertains to the controversy about army deployment. True, the government decision turned out to be right, but the way this decision was taken appeared to be wrong. As per the Article 126 of the Constitution the government had the duty to oblige the Election Commission, but it did not; and the negative government response came through quite arbitrarily at the last moment. The Election Commission could have been taken into confidence by the government in the decision making process and there could have been an announcement by the Election Commission on the basis of such a joint decision. It appears that a political faux pas happened on the part of the government because of a bad or wrong advice. Consequently the Election Commission was left in the lurch; and the constitution ended up being ignored with impunity. The jittery Election Commission could have opted for any snap?decision spelling a havoc on the scenario. Fortunately, however, the erudite trio at the Election Commission kept their experience driven cool and saw to it that election was successful by bailed out. They did their job well, and the law?enforcers also. Above all, it was the people power that determined everything on which the polls are complimented. This was indeed a message of good cheer for the country to take pride in.

But as the Narsingdi happening burst upon us we faced an anti?climax of the euphoria gained in the NCC polls. We were instantly reminded that the elements of darkness who had taken a beating at Narayanganj regrouped to unleash their wanton deeds at Narsingdi. It is clear that the message that they got across was that they would be there as long as they are promoted and protected by their political godfathers. Our media are awash with clues as to who were the culprits and who were the conspirators. I have no comment on such clues, which I think are to be dealt with by the law enforcers and the court (if they do it property); I concentrate elsewhere??? overall nature of our politics. The Narsingdi scenario is a clear demonstration of the rotten inside of our criminalised politics. As I write these words I am reminded of a write?up of mine which appeared in 1992 in two dailies (English and Bangla) under the title ?Operation clear Politics? which had a huge positive response from readers; and I was happy to note that people wanted clean politics. The NCC polls were a demonstration in favour of clean politics; but Narsingdi gave us a counter message. What future awaits us? Could we have a future based on clean politics? I think it is high time we had a strong civil society movement to launch the Operation Clean Politics.

The writer is Editor, daily sun.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Tremor jolts Mymensingh

A mild tremor jolted Mymensingh, Sirajganj and Sherpur districts on Saturday.

A special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the mild earthquake measuring 4.1 in Richter Scale shook the Fulbaraia region of Mymensing district at about 10.45 am. However, there was no report of any damage or causality immediately after the tremor.

The epicentre of the earthquake was at Fulbaria, 107 kilometres north of the country?s Seismic Centre situated at Agargaon in Dhaka.

A magnitude-6.8 earthquake was felt across the country on 18 September of this year that rattled buildings causing cracks and damage to many buildings in the capital and elsewhere across the country.

Thousands of panicked people in Dhaka ran out of high-rise buildings on to the streets for as searching the way of escape.

The epicentre of that quake was in Sikkim, 490 km northwest of Agargaon Met office in Dhaka.

The earthquake also rocked some areas of neighbouring India, Nepal and Bhutan claiming many lives there and damaging hundreds of buildings.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Narsingdi mayor shot dead

Narsingdi municipality mayor and local Awami League leader Lokman Hossain was shot dead by unknown criminals in the district town on Tuesday night.

Sources said the mayor received three bullets in his chest, head and abdomen and he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after the attack. He succumbed to his injuries at DMCH, party and medical sources said.

His companion Shyamol who also suffered bullet injuries in the attack was sent to Dhaka for treatment.

Witnesses said the mayor, also Narsingdi town AL general secretary, was talking to party men at about 8:30pm when a gang of three gunmen wearing masks entered the AL office and opened fire, leaving them critically injured.

Police confirmed the incident but could not immediately ascertain the motive behind the killing. No one was arrested till 9:00pm.

Locals suspected that the attack might be a sequel to the internal conflict of local Awami League.

As the news spread, AL activists brought out processions in different parts of the town. They were chanting slogans demanding immediate arrest of the killers. On information, huge contingents of police and elite-force RAB were deployed in the district headquarters as tensions mounted in the town.

?Panic gripped the common people of the town following the incident. Shops and markets were soon shut down,? says an eyewitness account of the scenes. Additional police super of the district Bijoy Bosak said, ?We are trying to track down the miscreants involved in the incident.?

Source: daily-sun.com

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Independent judiciary still a far cry

Three years into the separation of the country?s judiciary from the executive, people are yet to start getting full benefit of it excepting some progress in disposal of cases.

The lower judiciary is still in the hand of the executive. The government did not set up a separate judicial secretariat vesting the control of the subordinate judiciary in the Supreme Court.

Appointment of judges in the High Court Division and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is frequently drawing flacks. Millions of cases have remained pending with both the lower judiciary and the upper judiciary for over the years.

The lawyers in the Supreme Court are now and then engaged in bitter rivalry on narrow political issues much to the frustration of people. Poor budget for the judiciary is also hindering its development.

The legislative has brought big changes in the constitution through the Fifteenth Amendment bypassing a SC?s recommendation which was essential for establishing an independent judiciary.

The SC in its judgment on the Fifth Amendment says, ?It is our earnest hope that Articles 115 and 116 of the constitution will be restored to their original position by parliament as soon as possible.?

But the parliament did not restore these articles to free the lower judiciary from the control of the executive.

Article 116 of the original constitution of 1972 says, ?The control including the power of posting, promotion and grant of leave and discipline of persons employed in the judicial service and magistrates exercising judicial functions shall vest in the Supreme Court.?

But now the president who acts as per suggestions of the prime minister has the control over the lower judiciary. However the provision of ?consultation with the SC? has been inserted.

One of the 12 directives given in Masdar Hossain case says that the effect that parliament will, in its wisdom, take necessary steps regarding this aspect of independence of judiciary,? the SC said.

Until and unless the unamended Articles 115 and 116 of the constitution are restored to their original position vesting the control of the subordinate judiciary in the SC the separation of judiciary will remain a distant cry.

In this situation reputed jurists are awaiting a positive change in the mindset of the politicians and also the legal professionals which can ensure independence of the judiciary and also institutionalise democracy.

Former adviser to the caretaker government Barrister Mainul Husein said though they had separated the judiciary from the executive during their rule, the independence of judiciary is yet to be established in real sense.

He blamed the mindset of politicians and also the politicisation of legal professionals for this.

?Judges should be appointed transparently to run the judiciary independently and impartially. We passed a law to set up the judicial commission for such appointment of judges independently,? he said.

?But the law was rejected by the political government when it came to power. Unfortunately even the lawyers did not protest it because of their political affiliation,? he added.

Mainul said, ?We made a draft for Attorney Service Law. As per the law Attorneys should be appointed independently. The attorneys will not be liable to change with the changes of the government. But the political government did not materialize it.?

He said: ?A separate secretariat for the SC, independent of law ministry, is a must. Now judges are appointed on political ground. Politicisation of judiciary is contrary to the concept of independence of judiciary.?

Justice Syed Amirul Islam said independence of judiciary is guaranteed under the constitution.

But hundred percent separation of judiciary from the executive is not possible due to some reality.

He said about the appointment of judges in the HC the appellate division in a verdict said that the chief justice will make the list of judges to be appointed in both the divisions of the SC in consultation with the senior judges on the basis of their skill and qualification.

If the ministry, after inquiring into the antecedents of the recommended persons, has any different opinion regarding anyone of the listed persons, they may inform the chief justice citing reason. These should be done in a transparent manner.

He said, ?It needed seven years to implement the directions of the SC in Masdar Hossain case. But the political government has retained some control in its hand while separating the judiciary. They have done it logically.?

Justice Amirul said, ?Magistrates are now absolutely independent in delivering justice. We have observed a remarkable progress in the judiciary after separation of judiciary. Rate of disposal of cases have increased. But that is not up to expectation.?

?When all organs of the state are ill-managed you cannot expect a sea change in the judiciary overnight. It will take time,? he said adding that politicians needed to be more responsible in their manners and conducts and the democracy need to be institutionalised further.

Source: daily-sun.com

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