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Political dialogue to take place
at CA's office
Govt working to make dialogue
meaningful: Hossain Zillur
UNB, Dhaka
The Chief Advisor's Office (CAO) has been selected as the
venue for the much-talked-about dialogue between the
political parties and the caretaker government on the
outcome of which depends the nation's next course of
journey.
Reporters were informed on Wednesday about the government
decision after a luncheon meeting of the five advisors
assigned to deal with the matters of dialogue, meant for
making a bailout from the long-running interim period of
governance by eleven-plus technocrats following the past
political crisis.
Commerce and Education Advisor Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman
said the CA's office has been finalized as the venue for
the talks. "Dialogue will be held at CA's office".
Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in his address to the
nation Monday announced that the political dialogue would
be started on May 22, aiming to forge a national consensus
on the ways of transition through the coming general
election. He said the polls would be held in the third
week December.
The advisors' meeting was held at LGRD Advisor Anwarul
Iqbal's office. The four other advisors are Communications
Advisor Maj General (retd) Golam Kader, Foreign Advisor
Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Law Advisor AF Hassan Ariff and
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman.
The Commerce Advisor said that invitation letters for the
dialogue have already been sent to more than 20 of the
political parties and the rest would be delivered by the
day (today).
In sending the invitation, the lists of the political
parties who participated in the dialogue with the Chief
Election Commissioner and also in the pre-dialogue
meetings with the government were followed.
"Keeping in mind that list of the political parties, we
are sending the letters," Zillur said, adding, "We are
working to make the dialogue meaningful."
He noted that all the political parties are being asked to
send five names of the leaders who would join the talks.
Zillur said it is yet to be decided as to who should be
invited from civil society to sit in dialogue with the
government.
Bdnews24.com, Dhaka adds : The Chief Adviser's office sent
out formal letters to the Communist Party of Bangladesh,
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Bangladesh Workers Party on
Tuesday night inviting them to the forthcoming formal
dialogue sessions.
The letters dispatched, however, did not mention the date
or time of the dialogue. CPB general secretary Mujahidul
Islam Selim and Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon
confirmed with bdnews24.com Wednesday that they have
received the invitation letters.
JSD president Hasanul Haque Inu said that he got the
letter on Tuesday around midnight.
"But the date of the dialogue was not mentioned in the
letter. We have been asked to furnish the CA's office with
the names, addresses and contact numbers of a number of
party leaders."
"The letter also said, the date of the dialogue would be
finalised at a convenient time," Inu said.
About accepting the invitation or otherwise and the issue
of attending the dialogue would be decided after the
central committee meeting, he said.
AL vows to join talks only with Hasina
CA's address rejected,
nationwide hunger strike May 20
Sahidul Islam Rana
The Awami League
Working Committee has formally rejected Chief Adviser's
address to the nation and vowed to take part in ensuing
dialogue only with the AL President and former Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Terming the address of CA Fakhruddin Ahmed as
self-contradictory, unexpected and ill- motivated, the
meeting also expressed grave concern saying, "The failure
of the incumbent government in creating a congenial
atmosphere for the talks between the Caretaker Government
and the political parties - has been reflected in the
address frustrating democracy-loving people of the
country."
Chaired by acting AL president Zillur Rahman, the ALWC has
announced a fresh action programme to press home their
six-point demands including unconditional release of
detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ensuring
her proper treatment abroad.
The fresh demand also include: withdrawal of Emergency
Power Rules and lifting of all restrictions on indoor
politics, announcement of Parliamentary Polls date prior
to the election of Local Government and cancellation of
re-demarcation's move of 133 constituencies, trail of war
criminals and declaring them illegible for any polls,
arresting the price spiral of essentials, release of
detained political leaders and restoration of fundamental
rights of the citizens
According to meeting sources, the working committee
meeting, started at 11.15am and continued till 4.50pm on
Wednesday with only a lunch break, was attended by some 36
central leaders. In the meeting, almost all the
participants vowed to join the talks with the Government
under the leadership of Hasina. The reformists' leaders
also changed their stand and were very vocal to free
Hasina, detained at the makeshift jail in Parliament
Complex since July 16 last year.
Briefing the newsmen after two-day-long ALWC meeting,
acting AL General Secretary announced next course of
action programme as per the resolution of the meeting.
With the demand of Hasina's immediate and unconditional
release, the AL has decided to observe 'Mass-Hunger
Strike' in all divisions, districts, upazillas and unions
level roots level on May 20. The capital Dhaka will not be
under the purview of the Hunger Strike programme.
AL will also form a human chain to press home their demand
for Hasina's release but the date will be announced later.
The party will also hold an "Extended Meeting" for the
next course of action on May 26, added Ashraful.
Asked whether the AL will join the dialogue or not with
Hasina behind bars, the acting party general secretary
avoided the question only saying, "The ALWC has reached a
unanimous decision to participate in talks only with
Sheikh Hasina."
Meanwhile, talking to The Bangladesh Today, AL presidium
member Amir Hossain Amu hinted that AL would not
participate in the dialogue with the government without
Hasina.
Referring to CA's speech, he said, "AL rejected the
address formally. Mentioning the possibility of holding
local government polls, especially upazilla election, the
Chief Adviser in his address to the nation further created
confusion among the countrymen.
Replying to a query, Amu said, "We do not want to go for
hartal and other street agitations to realise our demand,
but if the Government compels us to do so through their
works and activities, we will obviously proceed towards
that as a part of the democratic movement."
Gatco graft case
Arrest of BNP- Jamaat Bigwigs in the offing
Staff Correspondent
Following submission of charge sheets against BNP
Chairpersons, her son and 22 other influential leaders of
the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government in the Gatco graft
case, process is going on to nab the leaders whose names
have been included in the charge sheet.
As the Investigation Officer of the case appealed to the
court to issue arrest warrants against former Finance
Minister M Saifur Rahman, LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan
Bhuiyan, Heath Minister Khandaker Moshrraf Hossain, Land
Minister M Shamsul Islam, Ariculture Minister MK Anwar,
Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami.
Talking to this correspondent an official of Detective
Branch (DB) of police said process is going to nab the
persons involved in Gatco graft cases.
"As per the supreme the government's decision, we will go
for legal action. Just now we are not authorised to say
whether they will be arrested or not. We are waiting for
the government's directives in this regard. But we can say
process is going to nab them," the official added.
While talking to this correspondent Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan
said, "I am ready to produce myself before the court."
On other hand, Matiur Rahman Nizami in statement said
process is going on to nab him. "I know the move is on to
arrest me. But I am not worried about it at all. I have
faith in Allah and in the people," Nizami added.
Analysis
What did the CA really talk
about?
Mahmud ur Rahman
Choudhury
In perhaps the most critical juncture in our Nations
history since independence, the Chief Adviser of the
Emergency Government decided to address the nation. The
media hype and build-up before the address, raised
people's expectations to a pitch and the address on the
evening of 12 May 2008 came as a sort of anti-climax. As
speeches go, it was a good speech, carefully scripted and
delivered with aplomb, almost by rote or so it appeared.
As a preliminary, the ban on "indoor politics" was
withdrawn hours before the speech was tele-cast; the
announcement that elections would be held in the 3rd week
of December 2008, came as no surprise since this
government has been consistently maintaining that polls
would be held by 2008 and 3rd week of December is a week
away from the end of 2008; the pronouncement that certain
Emergency provisions would be relaxed or suspended at the
appropriate time to create an atmosphere congenial to
elections and election campaigning, was also no give-away
as it is self-evident that Emergency regulations do not
permit political activities and without political
activities, mass participation in elections are impossible
and finally the declaration that a "National Charter"
based on consensus, is necessary before elections to
ensure qualitative changes in politics and governance, was
also not unexpected as the single most important agenda of
the Emergency Government now is to make sure that all
political parties agree in advance to legitimize and
ratify its activities and what better way to do that than
to have signatures of all concerned on a "National
Charter" based on "consensus".
Therefore, the two essential points in the entire speech
were: one, everyone has to get used to the idea that the
Emergency would remain hanging on people's heads as a
Damocles' sword till the elections are over and results
announced to the satisfaction of the Emergency Government
although some provisions may be temporarily relaxed or
suspended and two, everyone has to agree in advance to
legitimize and ratify the acts and activities of the
Emergency government or say good bye to free democratic
processes and institutions. Hidden within the agenda of a
"National Charter" are ideas of changes in the
Constitution allowing for powers to the President to
control the Parliament, direct Presidential control of the
Armed Forces and an assured role for the military in
governance and politics, a la Pakistan. Basically the
entire speech of the CA was centered on these two points
with the rhetoric and bluster designed to cover and
cushion the real intent, like an egg yolk protected by its
white.
The CA felt it necessary to "instruct" everyone on their
responsibilities and duties; the political parties and
politicians were advised on how they ought to behave and
conduct their politics and the electorate were advised on
what roles they ought to play in elections and politics
but never for a moment, not once did the CA deliberate or
ponder about what he ought and needs to do about the
terrible conditions of our economy, society and politics
or about the privations that our people are forced to
suffer under the Emergency. Therefore, the CA was not
addressing the Nation; he was talking to himself - that,
in the ultimate judgment, will be his and his government's
epitaph, if they are allowed one by the people of this
Nation.
Pro-govt
reformists desperate to merge with mainstream BNP
Delwar still reluctant to
take them back
Staff
Correspondent
The pro-government
reformist splinter of BNP has now become desperate to
merge with the mainstream while key figures of the BNP are
still unwilling to take them back into the fold.
According to sources, reformists leader Lt Gen (retd)
Mahbubur Rahman, Osman Faruk and others held a series of
meetings with Hannan Shah, Nazrul Islam Khan and Goyeshwar
Chandro Roy to work out how to reach a consensus on unity
issue. Sources from both the camps claimed that the
declaration of unity will come in a day or two.
Nazrul Islam Khan and Goyeswhar Chandro Roy claimed that
whatever they are doing for the party unity is being
carried out after approval from the party Secretary
General Khandoker Delwar Hossain, the only person who was
believed to be an obstacle to reuniting the party.
Khandoker Delwar Hossain has long been saying that there
is no issue of unity in BNP. "Some leaders are derailed
from the track under the instruction or under pressure
from a certain quarter. They can come back after realizing
and thus admitting their mistakes following due rules and
regulations enshrined in the party Constitution."
About the issue of expelled Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf
Hossain, Delwar and his cronies have been saying the issue
is a matter of the party Chairperson.
It is believed that the BNP's unity was stuck at the issue
of Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain. But now the
government-backed reformist splinter is set to merge with
the mainstream following any conditions given by Khandoker
Delwar Hossain.
Sources said, the reformists are ready to quit their
respective posts canceling the proceedings of the
much-debated 29 October standing committee meeting to
merge with the mainstream. Sources said, Khandoker Delwar
Hossain is still unwilling to take them back into the
fold. However, he is not saying anything categorically
about the issue as he wants the reformists to quit their
respective posts first. Then he would take decision about
the issue.
When contacted, BNP's acting office Secretary Ruhul Kabir
Rizvi Ahmed did not comment about the unity issue saying,
"I know nothing about the issue."
Lawyers
boycott Appellate Division today
Staff
Correspondent
The lawyers under the banner of the Supreme Court Bar
Association will boycott the Appellate Division today to
protest the judiciary's some recent decisions rejecting
bails of the accused implicated in different cases under
the Emergency Power Rules and giving legality to the
placement of previous offences under the EPR.
The pro-Awami League and BNP lawyers joined hands together
to boycott the highest court. Yesterday the SCBA by a
letter informed the Chief Justice of their decision of
boycotting the court from 9 am to 11 am.
According to sources, the idea of protesting the SC's
recent judgments rejecting bails of Hasina, Khaleda Zia,
Tarique Rahman and others was very much in the mind of
pro-BNP and pro-AL lawyers but after Barrister Shafiq
having been elected as President of the SCBA such movement
got a fill up.
On May 11, all lawyers gathered at a meeting on the court
premises from where they announced the programme to stay
away from cases in the Appellate Division on Thursday.
They said the Appellate Division Judges violated their
oath by ruling that accused in cases filed under the EPR
cannot apply for bail and EPR will have retrospective
effect. They criticised the Appellate Division's decisions
as being contradictory to fundamental rights and rule of
law.
On the other hand, as former vice chairman of Bar Council
Khondkar Mahbub Hossain gave statements against lawyers'
court boycott programme, SCBA President Shafiq Ahmed said,
"Discussing with other officer bearers I shall take step
for canceling his bar membership."
Corruption
Shajahan Omar
jailed for 13 years, Makbul's son jailed for 13 years
UNB, Dhaka
A special court on Wednesday sentenced former state
minister for law Barrister Shahjahan Omar to 13 years'
imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and hiding
information on his wealth to the Anti-Corruption
Commission.
Judge Khondker Kamal Uzzaman also fined him Tk 10 lakh, in
default, to suffer one year more in prison. Omar was tried
in absentia.The court ordered confiscation of his property
worth Tk 2.6 crore to the state coffers.
"The sentences will come into effect after his arrest or
surrender to the court, say's the court order.
Another special court jailed former Awami League MP Makbul
Hossain's son Masudur Rahman for 13 years for similar
charge. He was also tried in absentia.
Judge Sirajul Islam also fined him Tk 10 lakh in default
to suffer one year more in jail. The court ordered
confiscation of his property worth over five crore.
On May 6 a special court sentenced Makbul to 13 years
imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and concealing
information about his wealth. His wife Fatema Tahera
Khanom was also jailed for three years for aiding and
abetting her husband in protecting the ill-gotten
property.
Niko
graft suit
Hasina and others
asked to appear before court on May 21
Staff Correspondent
The Metropolitan Special Judge' Court has directed Awami
League president Sheikh Hasina and other co-accuseds to
appear before it on May 21 in connection with Niko graft
case.
Although the prosecution was directed to produce Sheikh
Hasina, former state minister for power Prof. Rafiqul
Islam and former power secretary Toufique-e-Elahi
Chowdhury but the prosecution failed to do so. Even the
prosecution could not assign any reason why the accuseds
were not produced.
Thereafter, Judge Md Azizul Haque ordered the concerned
authority to publish in different dailies asking six
absconding accuseds to appear before the court on May 21.
It also directed the jail authority to produce three
detained accuseds Sheikh Hasina, professor Rafiqul Islam
and former power secretary Toufique-e-Elahi Chowdhury on
the stipulated date. The fugitive accuseds in the case are
Dr SA Samad, Akmal Hossain, Mosharraf Hossain, Dr AKM
Mashiur Rahman, Syed Anwarul Haq and Kashem Sharif of Niko.
They were prosecuted under the penal code 409/109/511 and
section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act, 1947. The
provision of Emergency Power Rules has not been invoked in
the case.
After receiving charge sheet, the court ordered for
issuance of arrest warrant against the five absconding
accused: Dr Kamal Siddiqui, CM Yusuf Hossain, Mir
Moinul Haque, Shafiur Rahman and Kashem Sharif. The court
asked the prosecutor to produce them on May 13.
Meanwhile, on May 5, the ACC submitted charge sheet
against Khaldea Zia and 10 others in the same Niko scam
case for incurring a loss of Tk 13,777 crore to the state.
BD
an important player in many int'l issues: Anwar Chy
UNB, Dhaka
Outgoing British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury on
Wednesday said Bangladesh has become an important
international player in many international issues like
climate change, counterterrorism and migration.
He observed that UK values Bangladesh's partnership, as
its intellectual and moral values are important to the
United Kingdom.
The High Commissioner made the remarks while he paid a
farewell call on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at the
CA's office.
The Chief Adviser appreciated the contributions of the
outgoing High Commissioner in expanding multifaceted
relations between the two countries and congratulated him
for successfully completing his tenure in Bangladesh.
He mentioned that a number of high level visits took place
between the two countries during the tenure of the High
Commissioner, which helped to further deepen the bilateral
relation between Dhaka and London and taking it into new
heights.
Dr Fakhruddin said Bangladesh can share its experiences in
women empowerment and poverty alleviation with whoever in
the world so wants.
The High Commissioner said Bangladesh and UK have now a
strategic partnership. Three UK Ministers would visit
Bangladesh within next six months, he informed.
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