Bangladesh: UK minister Warsi due today

Amid the ongoing dialogue between two major political parties ahead of the crucial national election, British senior foreign and commonwealth office minister Baroness Warsi will arrives in Dhaka today to discuss polls issues with political leaders.

Warsi is likely to meet prime minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia during her short stay in Bangladesh.

She will also meet the press on Thursday afternoon before wrapping up her visit, officials said.

The British minister had been in Dhaka in February last and had talks with prime minister Sheikh Hasina, leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia and former foreign minister Dipu Moni on the election issue.

During her stay, Warsi had said most things could be solved through a democratic process and mentioned that there is a need for all political parties to be part of the election process because it is important. (source) 

Bangladesh: Iftekhar new IG prisons

Brigadier General Syed Iftekhar Uddin has been named as new inspector general of prisons on Wednesday replacing the incumbent prisons chief Main Uddin Khandaker.

The public administration ministry issued an order with effect from December 10.

When approached, the state minister for home, Shamsul Haque Tuku, however, refrained from commenting on the new appointment.

The move was made only seven days after appointing Main Uddin Khandaker, additional secretary of the home ministry, as the inspector general of prisons.

Main Uddin was given the charge of the prisons chief on December 5 as his additional responsibility by an order of the home ministry.

Earlier, the post had been vacant since the contract with previous inspector general of prisons retired Brigadier General Ashraful Islam Khan expired on November 17.

The public administration ministry order said, Brigadier General Syed Iftekhar Uddin, who was the director of the Central Medical Store Depot under the health and family welfare ministry on deputation, has been placed under home ministry to appoint him as inspector general of prisons.

Iftekher had earlier served the prisons department as additional inspector general at the rank of colonel prior his posting at the depot. (source)  

Bangladesh: Woman kills husband over extramarital affair

A man, who was tortured allegedly by his wife and her associates in the capital’s Khilgaon area Monday night, died from his injuries in a city hospital early Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Md Jahangir Alam, 35.

Police and family members alleged that Bakul Akhter, wife of Jahangir, along with her associates killed him as he barred his wife from having extramarital affair. 

Victim’s father Ashrafuddin said that Jahangir married Bakul 14 years ago. ‘Since then, he has not had good relations with his parents,’ he added.

Bakul had developed extramarital affair with local drug peddler Dulal few months ago. 

As Jahangir was trying to prevent her, Bakul along with her mother Joynab Banu, Dulal and some local miscreants confined him in a room at Khilgaon Monday night and tortured him severely.

There were stab marks on his whole body, said Khilgaon police sub-inspector Sajedul Haque.

Jahangir was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition and then shifted to General Medical Hospital on Elephant Road where he died from his injuries early Wednesday. 

Later, police recovered the body at 10:45am and sent it to DMCH morgue for autopsy.

Bakul and her associates went into hiding soon after the incident.

The victim’s father filed a case with Khilgaon police station in this connection. (source) 

Bangladesh: BSF on ‘high alert’

Escalating violence in Bangladesh has led to a spurt in smuggling of explosives from India into the neighbouring country — if seizures by the border guards are an indication.

Between Saturday and Monday, 32 kilogrammes of explosives were seized in two different raids from Malda and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal, a senior official of the Border Security Force said.

The latest seizure on Monday by troops of the 125 Battalion followed a raid near the Churiantpur BOP in the Kaliachak police station area of Malda.

Zaizul Haque, 23, an Indian national from the local Mohabbatpur village was nabbed with nearly 12 kg of low-intensity explosive.

‘There was a similar raid near Nimtita border outpost in the Sutia police station area of Murshidabad on Friday.

Troops of the 20 Battalion seized nearly 20 kg of low-intensity explosive during the raid.

These explosives are used in the homemade bombs used by political activists to create panic for enforcing strikes.

On Wednesday, the 125 Battalion conducted another raid near Churiantpur and seized pistols and ammunition and apprehended two Indian nationals.

The two were identified as Sakir Hussain alias Bakir, 40, and Abu Salam, 18, both residents of Mohabbatpur village.

Two pistols, four magazines and fourteen rounds of live ammunition were seized from them besides 145 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup.

The BSF headquarters in Delhi has sounded a high alert to all of its frontier headquarters covering the Bangladesh border to heighten vigil for preventing smuggling of weapons or movement of wanted criminals. (source) 

Bangladesh: BCL man’s tendon cut

Activists of BNP and Islami Chhatra Shibir allegedly severed tendon of a hand of a Bangladesh Chhatra League activist in Chhatari area of Bagha upazila in Rajshahi Wednesday evening.

The victim was identified as Mizanur Rahman, 22, a second-year student of a local degree college.

Quoting locals, Bagha police station officer-in-charge Abul Khair, said the BNP and Shibir men attacked Mizanur while he was returning home in the evening.

Later, they stabbed him indiscriminately and cut off the tendon of the right hand, leaving him critically injured.

Rescued by locals, Khair was first taken to Bagha Upazila Health Complex and then shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. (source)

Bangladesh: No foreign friend to be honoured this Dec

Though December is undeniably the best of  times for receptions in Bangladesh, no foreign friend or institution has been invited this time around for their contribution in the nation’s quest for independence in 1971, said officials.

Since 2011, the Awami League-led government of prime minister Sheikh Hasina made it a point to honour in batches the nation’s foreign friends for what they did during the War of Inde

pendence in 1971.

In 2011, Hasina conferred the honours on former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi posthumously.

In 2012, Hasina invited the foreign friends thrice, in March, October and December, to honour them.  

In 2013, Indian president Pranab Mukherjee was invited and conferred Bangladesh’s independence honours on March 4 and later in the same month 69 friends from a host of countries were honoured.

In October, 60 more foreign friends of Bangladesh were honoured for their 1971 contributions.

But, this December the government skipped any such event, liberation war affair ministry joint secretary Abul Kashem Talukder told New Age.

Asked the probable time for the next such event, he said, a new government could do it on March 26, 2014.

Until October, in seven phases, Bangladesh honoured 338 personalities and institutions out of 562 from 30 countries for standing by the nation during the darkest days of 1971. 

Bangladesh Freedom Honour, the highest award,  was conferred only on Indira Gandhi, Bangladesh Liberation War Honour was conferred on 15 foreign heads of state and Bangladesh Friends of Liberation War Honour was conferred on 322 personalities and institutions.

The cabinet division hosted the events in association with the ministries of foreign and liberation war affairs.  

The Liberation War honours were conferred on 216 Indian personalities and nine institutions, 29 US personalities, 17 Pakistanis, 13 British, 11 Russians and the rest from 16 other countries.      

Among the ‘friends of Bangladesh,’ honoured were several statesmen, philosophers, intellectuals, institutions.

The recipients were given gold-plated silver replicas of the National Memorial and a citation.

There is little possibility of holding such events in future as due physical condition and age many personalities in the list are unable to travel said a liberation war ministry official.

And some of them could not be traced due to change of address or death, he said. 

Officials said, a future prime minister or foreign minister would have to confer the honors to the representatives of the remaining personalities who are unable to travel.  (source)

Bangladesh: AL leader burnt dead in city

Police found the burnt body a local Awami League leader at South Kerajiganj on Wednesday evening.

The deceased was identified as, Atikullah Khan Chowdhury, 70, Kunda Union Parishad chairman.

Police recovered the body from a field at Dholessor around 6:00pm.

South Kerajiganj officer-in-charge Jamal Uddin Mir said Atikullah was missing since Tuesday night as he left home after receiving a call.

Police recovered the body on information from locals.

The victim’s younger brother said that they filed a general dairy with the police station after failing to reach his brother’s mobile phone.

Police suspect that the assailants might have killed him over either personal rivalry or political vendetta.

The family claimed that Atikullah was killed in political violence.

The body was kept in the morgue of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital for autopsy.

The deceased was a freedom fighter.

Filing of a case was under process. (source) 

Bangladesh: Targeted attacks launched at places

The opposition activists, mostly of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chattra Shibir, have appeared to have launched targeted attacks across the country. 

The targets of most of the attacks they made on Wednesday at places were offices, houses and business establishments of ruling Awami League leaders, activists and their sympathisers.

New Age staff correspondent in Sylhet reported that the ancestral house of justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, widely known as SK Sinha, a judge of the Appellate Division bench that revised Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla’s life term sentence to death penalty, was set on fire on early Wednesday allegedly by Jmaat and Shibir men.

Shortly after the incident, the local administration beefed up the security at the house at Tilakpur village under Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar to stave off further untoward incidents. 

A case was filed and the police also arrested a Jamaat leader on suspicion of being involved in the arson attack. 

Witnesses said that a group of some 10 youths riding on several motorcycles reached the house and spewed petroleum substance on veranda inside the grille and doors and windows and then set fire to the house.

When contacted, Justice Sinha’s next-door resident Nilmoni Singha said that Jamaat and Shibir men might have carried out the attack.

Moulvibazar superintendent of police Tofael Ahmed said, ‘A team of police have been deployed at the house immediately after the incident to ensure security.’ 

Kamalganj police officer-in-charge Nihar Ranjan Nath said that they recorded a case in this regard and arrested Kamalganj upazila Jamaat general secretary Abu Taleb. 

New Age correspondent in Jaipurhat reported that Jamaat and Shibir men set fire to district Awami League office and several business establishments of AL men on Tuesday night. 

Several shops and restaurants at Majhina village under Pachbibi upazila of Jaipurhat were set on fire. Business establishments of AL men including poultry feed factory and jute warehouses were also set on fire. Jaipurhat AL general secretary Solaiman Ali at a press conference on Wednesday alleged that Jamaat and Shibir men launched violent attacks on their establishments.

In Jhenaidah, Moheshpur upazila AL office was set on fire on Wednesday by unidentified assailants. 

Witnesses said that fire fighters rushed the spot and doused the fire shortly after the assailants set ablaze the AL office by pouring petrol.

Moheshpur police officer-in-charge said that the fire did not cause that much damage to the party office though some documents of the party office were burnt.

Harindia ward Awami League president Rafiqul Islam Mandal’s tendons were cut off allegedly by Shibir men at Kotchnadpur. He was rushed to Kotchandpur upazila health complex.

New Age correspondent in Bogra reported that a group of Shibir activists allegedly launched attacks on the business establishments of local Juba League leader Babul Aktar and vandalised his business establishment at Dhunat of Sherpur.

Shibir activists also beat up Babul Aktar, former Sherpur upazila Juba League convener. (source) 

Bangladesh: No probe yet of threat to New Age editor, family

No investigation has been done even after the filing of a general dairy in connection with the New Age editor, Nurul Kabir, and his family being threatened by unnamed caller in October 1.

None has so far been arrested in connection of the general diary filed with the Uttara West police, the police said on Wednesday.

The caller, who introduced himself as wanted criminal Shahadat Hossain, demanded money from the editor’s wife Fauzia Sultana and asked Nurul Kabir to stop ‘talking tough’ in talk-shows.

‘The caller introduced himself as wanted criminal Shahdat, demanded Tk 1 lakh and threatened my wife that something bad could happen to my school-going son if we refused to pay him the money,’ the complainant said in the diary.

Nurul Kabir then took the phone when the caller warned him to stop ‘talking tough’ and hung up.

On Wednesday, subinspector Md Firoz Ahmed, 

investigation officer of the general diary, told New Age they had sent a latter to the Detective Branch, seeking the call list.

‘But I am yet to get the list,’ he said. ‘The DB is not willing to provide the call list in connection with the general diary.’ 

‘I am, however, busy, otherwise, about the current situation…’ he added. He failed to detail any meaningful progress in the case.  

Following the threat, 50 academics, writers, rights activists, cultural personalities and politicians issued a statement expressing concern at the threat issued to the ‘outspoken political commentator’ Nurul Kabir.

The statement said, ‘This threat is a big blow to civic rights and the freedom of expression as laid out in the constitution.’

Demanding an immediate investigation of the matter, they urged the government to bring the people who threatened Nurul Kabir and his family to justice. (source) 

Bangladesh: Bhashani’s 133rd birth anniv today

The nation celebrates today the133rd anniversary of birth of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, who throughout his life fought for the rights of the oppressed and against exploitation, imperialism and feudalism.

He championed the cause of the downtrodden.

Bhashani’s lifelong struggle for a just and exploitation-free society earned him a special place in people’s hearts.

He never hesitated to raise his voice whenever there was something wrong on the political or social horizon or whenever vested interests sought to infringe on or rob people’s democratic rights.

People fondly called him Majlum Jananeta, the leader of the oppressed.

Son of Haji Sharafat Ali Khan, Bhashani was born at Dhangara in Sirajganj in 1880. 

Bhasani left Awami League, which had founded to launch left-leaning National Awami Party. 

The historic Kagmari Conference he organised in 1957 was the first political initiative for the independence of Bangladesh.

He inspired and led the historic mass uprising of 1969 that eventually changed the course of history of this nation.

In 1969, he raised the slogan Swadhin Bangla Zindabad or Long Live Independent Bangladesh.

By boycotting the 1970 elections, Bhashani facilitated the Awami League’s sweeping electoral victory in the then East Pakistan and making Sheikh Mujib its undisputed leader.

The electoral mandate given to Mujib led to emergence of independent and sovereign Bangladesh in 1971, ending exploitation by the then West Pakistan.

Bhashani led the historic Farakka March in 1976 against unilateral withdrawal of Ganges waters by India leaving lower riparian Bangladesh high and dry. 

Different political parties and cultural organisations took up elaborate programmes to observe his birth anniversary at Santosh in Tangail and in Dhaka. 

Wreaths would be laid on his grave at Santosh. (source) 

Bangladesh: JP candidates start withdrawing nomination

Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Wednesday made phone calls to several party candidates asking them to withdraw their nomination papers submitted earlier for 10th parliamentary elections, sources close to Ershad said.  

According to Election Commission schedule, withdrawal of nomination papers started on December 7 and December 13 is the cut off date.  

In contrast, the returning officer (RO) for Dhaka district on Wednesday returned Ershad’s form for withdrawal of nomination filed from Dhaka-17 constituency for mistakenly writing wrong dates. 

Ershad’s withdrawal form was rejected as the JP chief mentioned December 5 instead of December 11 in his nomination withdrawal form, Zillar Rahman, Dhaka district returning officer told newsmen. 

Ershad submitted nomination papers for three constituencies—Lalmonirhat 1, Rangpur 3 and Dhaka 17—while about 260 

candidates from his party submitted nomination papers for contesting the polls.

Withdrawal of nomination papers of all the JP candidates started  in line with JP chief’s December 3 announcement to boycott the polls because of absence of ‘favourable environment’ and for being ‘non inclusive’ one. 

‘Yes, my party chief made a phone call. He told me to withdraw nomination papers by December 13,’ Md Mujibul Hoque, a JP candidate from Kishroreganj-3 constituency told New Age on Wednesday. ‘Of course, I will carry out my boss’s directive,’ said Mujibul who has also submitted resignation letter from the position of state minister for sports in line with Ershad’s directive. 

‘Yes, I received phone call from my boss. He asked me to withdraw nomination paper,’ JP candidate from Thankargain-3 constituency Hafizuddin Ahmed said. 

Lawmaker Golam Kibria Tipu from Barisal-3 constituency and Delwar Hossain Khan from Dhaka-9 also confirmed to New Age about receiving the call from party chairman. 

Mujibul Hoque also told New Age that JP candidates in different constituencies have been facing difficulties as they went to submit application to RO for withdrawal of nomination papers. 

Khaled Akhter, personal secretary to Ershad, told New Age that JP chief’s representatives, who submitted the withdrwal form on behalf of the JP chief, faced non-cooperation from the RO. 

Khaled said that a fresh copy of application for withdrawal of nomination paper for Dhaka 17 constituency will be submitted on Thursday. 

Earlier, Ershad sought withdrawal of his nomination filed from the Rangpur-1 parliamentary constituency.

Farid Ahmed, returning officer of Rangpur, said local JP leader Mashiur Rahman Ranga, on behalf of Ershad, handed over an application to the officer in this regard.

New Age Lalmonirhat correspondent reported that Jatiya Party presidium member Mashiur Rahman Ranga on behalf of HM Ershad submitted application to Lalmonirhat district election officer Fazlul Karim to withdraw the candidature of Ershad for Lalmonirhat 1 constituency.  

GM Quader’s nomination paper for Lalmonirhat-3 constituency was submitted on December 2. The application was received by RO. 

New Age correspondent from Khulna said six JP candidates from Khulna district on Wednesday submitted applications to the RO to withdraw their candidature.

They are Sunil Shuvo Roy of Khulna–1, Abdul Gaffar Biswas of Khulna–2, Shafiqul Islam Madhu of Khulna–3, Mallick Hadiuzzman of Khulna–4, Jahor Ali of Khulna–5 and Mostafa Kamal Jahangir of Khulna–6. 

Khulna RO Anis Mahmud admitted that he had already received the applications. (source) 

Bangladesh: BNP to continue with protests until a ‘satisfactory development’

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday said they would continue street protest until a satisfactory consensus is reached to resolve the crisis over the election.

‘The ongoing programmes began before Taranco’s arrival... And it will go on until a consensus is not arrived at’, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said.

‘We sat for dialogue hoping for a satisfactory resolution, finding a way for the resolution. So far it (resolution) has not come, we should continue the street programmes... and you know, there is no such development regarding the consensus,’ he added.

The BNP leader was talking to reporters at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan after a meeting with the visiting UN official Taranco alongside Awami League leaders on Wednesday noon during the third spell of blockade enforced by BNP-led alliance from November 26.  

Replying to a question about the development of dialogue with Awami League, Nazrul said, ‘The dialogue is still going on’.

He said that the political parties should sit for dialogue and come for a resolution on holding elections with participation of all parties.

‘But we did not do that... thanks to Taranco for his mediation. But the dialogue should not be stopped after Taranco leaving the country’, he said.

Replying to a question, the BNP leader said the UN official can play a role of mediator in the national matter. ‘The UN is our institution. It can send a delegation to discuss with its family members when we cannot reach for a solution,’ he said.

Nazrul alleged that the government chose the path of repression to stay in power. ‘The country is now a big jail... They (government) have unleashed war against the people. They are now conducting mass killing, enforced disappearance, arrest and attacks.’

He alleged that two leaders and activists were killed during Wednesday’s blockade while 715 were injured including 70 persons with bullet wounds in clashes with law enforcers and ruling party men, 70 were arrested, cases were filed against 1,500 activists and there were five enforced disappearances across the country. (source)

Bangladesh: AL leaves 10 seats for partners

The ruling Awami League on Wednesday decided to leave 10 parliamentary seats for its alliance partners for the 10th parliamentary elections scheduled for January 5, 2014.

A meeting of the AL-led ruling alliance held at the prime minister’s official residence Ganabhaban also decided to offer 60 seats to Jatiya Party faction led by HM Ershad, said a minister who also attended the meeting.

The alliance chief prime minister Sheikh Hasina finalised the alliance candidates and handed over to the 10 alliance leader letters requesting the returning officers concerned for allocation of ‘boat’ as their election symbol.

The ten alliance candidates are Worker Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon for Dhaka 8 and its leader Fazle Hasan Badshah for Rajshahi 2, Mostofa Lutfullah for Sathkhira 2 and Sheikh Hafizur Rahman for Narial 2, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Huq Inu for Kushtia 2, its leaders Moienuddin Khan Badal for Chittagong 8, Shah Ahmed Zikrul for Brahmanbaria 5 and Shirin Akhter for Feni 1, and Tariqat Federation leaders Nazibul Bashar Maijbhandari for Chittagong 2 and MA Awal for Lakshmipur 1 parliamentary constituency, meeting sources said.

The ruling Awami League shared 10 parliamentary seats with its allies alliance against their demand for 40 seats.

The alliance leaders said that Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal had demanded 18 seats, Workers Party of Bangladesh 10 seats, Ganatantri Party 2 seats, National Awami Party 2 seats, and the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation 10 seats. (source) 

Bangladesh: Masuma dies 13 days after Shahbag bus arson

‘She called me in the morning and asked me to hold her hand and hug. I tried to hug, but the burn wounds she was suffering from did not allow me to embrace her,’ Mahbubur Rahman, husband of Masuma, the latest victim of Shahbag bus arson, was narrating his last intimate moments.  

Masuma died Wednesday morning at a private clinic in the capital 13 days after sustaining severe burn wounds.

Masuma Akter, 29, a second officer of Rupali Bank Shyambazar branch, died at about 10:45am while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Burn Clinic on Elephant Road, said Mahbubur Rahman

The death took the death toll in the incident to four.

On November 28, miscreants torched a Mirpur-bound bus of Bihanga Paribahan, leaving 19 passengers severely burnt during the 71-hour countrywide blockade programme enforced by BNP-led opposition alliance.

She married Mahbub five and half months ago. She wanted to become a government official and serve the country, said Mahmud.

Masuma, former student of English department at Dhaka University, was shifted to the Dhaka Burn Clinic on November 30 two days after the incident. 

She was optimistic that she would survive. ‘When I will be healed, I would not live in a country like this where innocent people are being killed,’ Masuma told her husband.  

Three other victims died at burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on different dates.

On the day of the attack, Nahid Moral died while his cousin 25-year old garment factory worker Md Robin died the next day at DMCH. 

On December 4, 22-year old Ohidur Rahman, a student of Dhaka College, died after suffering for six days.

Several others are still undergoing treatment at the burn unit of DMCH as some of them are not yet out of danger.

Masuma’s body was on the way to Shibchar of Narsindhi for burial.

A case was filed against 16 opposition leaders and some unidentified people with Shahbagh police station on the following day in connection with the arson attack. (source)

Bangladesh: Jamaat-Shibir on rampage

Pickets intensified their street presence and clashed with lawmen on Wednesday, the fifth day of the third spell of rail-road-waterways blockade enforced by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance.

The opposition alliance began to enforce the third spell of countrywide blockade on Saturday pressing for cancellation of the election schedule and holding the next general elections under a non-party government.

Road communications across the country remained suspended on the day, also the 3rd day of the Jamaat-e-Islami’s general strike. Train and ferry services on major routes were also disrupted.

Akhtar Hossain, 45, a poultry trader from Pabna, 

was killed in Sirajganj when two trucks loaded with goods overturned after being chased by pickets near a bridge on the western part of the Bangabandhu Bridge area.  

Around 400 were injured in the countrywide violence during the blockade.

Violence and fighting between protesters and the police and ruling party men flared further during the 144-hour blockade as Jamaat and Shibir men intensified their street presence, protesting against execution of Jamaat leader Quader Molla, sentenced to death for committing crimes against humanity in the 1971 Liberation War

Activists of the main opposition BNP and its ally Jamaat and Shibir staged violent protests on highways and district towns and clashed with the police at places including Khulna, Jessore, Norail, Bogra, Dinajpur, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet and Bandarban.  

The capital remained virtually cut-off from other parts of the country as pickets continued to block highways by felling trees at places and setting vehicles on fire.  

The inter-district buses and trucks remained off the roads with limited train and ferry services, virtually disconnecting the capital from the rest of the country during the BNP-led alliance’s protracted blockade, scheduled to end Friday morning at 6:00am.  

In Dhaka city, Jamaat and Shibir activists went on rampage by exploding nearly 100 crude bombs and locked in clashes with the police at Shahjadpur and Khilgaon in the morning. They set two CNG-run auto rickshaws on fire. At one point, the police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells and charged baton.

Crude bombs were also blasted on the court premises in Old Dhaka and at other places including Fakirerpul, Shahbagh, Jatrabari, Bhatara, Gabtoli and Uttara.

Un identified assailants activists snatched a pistol of a sub-inspector at Shanir Akhra, confirmed Kadamtoli police sub-inspector Abdul Khaleque.

Jamaat and Shibir activists also rampaged on the Haji Danesh Science and Technology University campus in Dinajpur.  

In Khulna city, at least 15 people including five policemen were injured in a fierce clash at about 7:30am at Sonadanga. 

The clash took place when the police swooped on Shibir activists for putting up a road barricade disrupting movement of easy bikes, auto-rickshaws and rickshaws. 

The police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells as they came under attack by Shibir activists. The clash continued for about 40 minutes. 

Sonadanga police officer-in-charge Kamruzzaman claimed that his forces had fired sixty rubber 

bullets to disperse Shibir protesters. 

Khulna city Chatra Shibir president said that five Shibir activists, including bullet-injured Golam Rahman, were arrested during the clash.

In Sylhet, Jamaat and Shibir activists clashed with the law enforcers, exploded crude bombs, vandalised a shopping centre and a private bank and torched two police vehicles and an ambulance on Wednesday, the second consecutive day of hartal called by Jamaat. At least 20 including a policemen were injured during the violence. 

Sylhet Metropolitan Police arrested 32 Jamaat and Shibir men at places in the city, additional deputy commissioner Mohammed Ayub told New Age.    

A platoon of Border Guard Bangladesh joined with the police and dispersed the Jamaat and Shibir activists after firing a number of rubber bullets and teargas shells and exploding several sound grenades.   

New Age correspondent in Sirajganj reported that the pickets also torched at least three trucks and vandalised 20 vehicles on Saidabad-Kadda-Nalka road, the western side of the Bangabandhu Bridge at about 1:30am. 

The pickets also up-rooted a sleeper of Khokshabari bailey bridge on Sirajganj-Kazipur road and staged demonstration in early hours of the day.

The New Age correspondent in Narail reported that sadar police station inspector (investigation), two sub-inspectors, 5 constables and seven Jamaat and Shibir men were injured in a clash between the police and the activists of Jamaat and Shibir in Ghorakhali-Dumurtola area under sadar upazila of the district. 

The police and witnesses said that several hundred Jamaat and Shibir men took position in the area and blocked Narail-Magura and Narail-Maizpara roads at about 7:30 m. On information, the police rushed the spot and charged baton and fired 80 bullets at the pickets, who reiterated with charging crude bombs and throwing brickbats. 

The New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported that at least 250 railway clips of Lalmonirhat-Burimari route were removed in the middle of Bawra and Patgram stations at Patgram upazila on Wednesday morning. A Lalmonirhat station bound passenger train was stranded at Patgram station, compelling the rail authority to suspend train service on the route. (source)

Bangladesh: Top parties to shoulder responsibility of losses of life, economy, says FBCCI

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday said that the two major political parties would have to take liability of catastrophic damages of economy and loss of life during frequent non-stop blockades and hartals. 

FBCCI, the country’s apex trade body, blamed the two major parties—ruling Awami League and opposition BNP—for prolonging the political crisis centering the next general election, saying that the crisis could be avoided if they would have sit for dialogue following the request made by the business community. 

‘They did not pay attention to our request which we made two months earlier for sitting for a dialogue to resolve the crisis politically and peacefully,’ said FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed. 

The overall economy, particularly readymade garment sector, communication infrastructure, trade and businesses would not be destroyed and lives of many people could be saved if they would have listened to request of the business community, he said. 

‘So the two parties will have to take liability of recent violence, damages of resources and loss of life,’ he said. 

He said that business community would stage a white flag protest programme on December 15 in front of their respective trade bodies, chambers, associations and business houses across the country demanding peace and protesting destruction of business infrastructure, political violence, hartals and blockades. 

The demonstration will continue from 11.30am to 12 noon. Central demonstration will be staged in front of the FBCCI building where business leaders including former FBCCI presidents will speak, he said. 

‘We want a business-friendly environment and permanent solution of the crisis. We don’t want to see further damage,’ he said. 

The FBCCI president also urged the all political groups to arrive in a peaceful consensus politically, saying that political crisis cannot be solved through destroying resources and life. 

Kazi Akram hoped that the recent development in political arena in which two major parties were sitting for dialogue would bring positive results and a peaceful solution of the crisis. 

‘In this process, peace will prevail in the country through elections,’ the FBCCI president expected.

He said that it would be impossible for businesses, particularly who produce and trade perishable products, to offset the losses incurred in last few months. 

They will also not be able to pay interests of bank loans that will impact the banking sector, he said. 

‘We have already requested the Bangladesh Bank for suspending interest of bank loans and not to make default loans until political stability is ensured,’ Kazi Akram said.  

At the programme, former FBCCI presidents AK Azad, Annisul Huq, M Akram Hossain, FBCCI first vice-president Monowara Hakim Ali, vice-president Helal Uddin, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Atiqul Islam, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association president Jahangir Alamin, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president Mohammad Hatem, among others, were present. (source)

Bangladesh: Shahbagh sit-in to continue till Quader Molla’s execution

Ganajagaran Mancha on Wednesday declared that it would continue the sit-in, began on Tuesday, in Shahbagh intersection, until the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Abdul Quader Molla.

The spokesman of the youth-led platform campaigning for the capital punishment for all the 1971 war criminals, Imran H Sarkar, made the announcement after the Appellate Division adjourned till this morning the hearing on the acceptability of the petition of Quader seeking review of the verdict in which the

highest court sentenced him to death.

‘We will return to home with victory procession after Quader Molla is hanged,’ said Imran.

Shipping and liberation war affairs minister Shahjahan Khan expressed his solidarity with the protesters.

‘If needed, I must take to the street pressing for execution of collaborators,’ he said addressing the sit-in. 

The Mancha activists took to the street for the second time on Tuesday night soon after the Appellate Division chamber judge had stayed the execution of Quader.

A group of youths launched protests at Shahbagh on February 5 just after the International Crimes Tribunal 2 sentenced Quader to imprisonment for life term on charge of crimes against humanity. The protests flared up across the country and the youth-led platform was formed.

The Appellate Division on September 17, after hearing appeals preferred by both the government and Quader, revised the sentence to death sentence.

A crude bomb was blasted on the adjacent road to Aziz Super Market. The protesters caught and beat a youth identified as Md Rasel, 18, and handed him over to the Shahbagh police. None was injured.

Rasel, a chatpati vendor, told New Age that he tried to escape the blast at the moment and the Mancha activists had beaten him mistaking him for a Shibir man.

Shahbagh police sub-inspector Robiul Islam said that Rasel was nabbed on suspicion. Later, the Mancha activists came to the police station and admitted that they beat him mistaking him for the attacker.

Among other socio-cultural and political organisations, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Bangladesh Chhatra Maitri, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and Udichi staged demonstration under the banner of Ganajagaran Mancha. (source)

Bangladesh: Ban, Kerry phone Hasina

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and the US secretary of state, John Kerry, on Wednesday phoned the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and welcomed the dialogue going on between the ruling and the opposition party to resolve the current political crisis over a polls-time government.

The prime minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad and media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury briefed reporters on the conversations.

Abul Kalam said that Ban had phoned Hasina in the afternoon and thanked her for extending all-out cooperation to his special emissary Oscar Fernández Taranco during his stay in Bangladesh. 

He said that Ban had also condemned the ongoing violence in Bangladesh and hoped that such violent activities would be stopped immediately.

Azad said that Ban had told Hasina that the next parliamentary elections in Bangladesh would be held in accordance with its constitution but a level playing field would need to be created.

‘I hope that the elections will be held as per the constitution and democracy in Bangladesh will get strengthened further,’ Azad quoted Ban as saying.

Ban also expressed hopes about the ongoing dialogue between the ruling and the opposition party and said that the dialogue should continue in the future.

Kerry phoned Hasina about 7:30am and expressed concern about the continuing violence and loss of lives and public property.

He also welcomed the dialogue between the ruling and the opposition party, which began on Tuesday under the mediation of the United Nations.

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said that Kerry had wanted to know of the trial procedure of the International Crimes Tribunal. 

The prime minister told him that there was freedom of the judiciary and all trial procedures followed the judicial process.

Kelly McCarthy, spokesman of the US embassy in Dhaka, said that Kerry had phoned Hasina and talked about the current political events in Bangladesh.

Earlier on September 9, Kerry conveyed his concerns about the Bangladesh situation as the country was headed towards a violent political face-off because of a disagreement between the two major political camps over an election-time government.

He wrote letters to Hasina and the leader of the opposition in the parliament, Khaleda Zia, also the BNP chairperson, expressing the United States’ concerns about the political crisis in Bangladesh and urged a constructive dialogue to resolve the crisis. 

A statement of the US embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday, meanwhile, said that Washington felt encouraged by recent initiatives to engage the parties in dialogue and believed that with goodwill, the two parties would find a way to hold the elections that the Bangladeshis wanted and deserved.

The statement said that Washington believed that it was now more urgent than ever for both the major parties to find a way forward to hold peaceful, free, and fair elections that could be credible to Bangladeshi people. 

As the US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal, on November 16 made clear during her visit to Bangladesh, ‘We believe unequivocally that violence can never be part of the democratic process, is not acceptable, and must stop immediately.’

The statement said that the senseless violence of past days was especially reprehensible as innocent people, including young children, had fallen victim to arson and bombs. 

It called on all responsible to immediately end the violence and allow the Bangladeshi people to go about their daily activities without fear and insecurity.

‘We believe all parties should have space to freely and peacefully express their views. The government bears responsibility to provide such space; the opposition parties bear responsibility to use such space in a peaceful manner.’ 

Australia, meanwhile, expressed concern about the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla. 

Australia noted the concern recently expressed by the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers and by the special rapporteur on summary executions regarding the lack of opportunity for appeal or review of the sentence. 

In a statement, Australia called on Bangladesh to address these concerns before taking the judicial process further. 

It said that consistent with Australia’s universal opposition to the death penalty, Australia also called on Bangladesh to establish a moratorium on the death penalty. (source) 

Bangladesh: Salimullah Medical College closed sine die

Salimullah Medical College located in Old Town of Dhaka was closed for an indefinite period on Wednesday in the wake of Tuesday’s clash involving staff, interns and students. 

The students were asked to vacate their dormitories by Wednesday night.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the academic council, medical college principal Dilip Kumar Dhar told New Age.

He said that hundreds of patients were suffering a lot as medical services in Mitford Hospital were being hampered seriously for the second consecutive day on Wednesday following the clash.

Services at emergency ward, outdoor, surgery, operating theatre and pathology were disrupted as class III and IV employees were not available to provide patients with health services.

A group of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, led by medical college unit secretary Shawon Das, staged a showdown with rods and machetes on the campus in presence of police.

At least 20 people were injured in a series of clashes between the interns, students and staff on Tuesday following a dispute over some medical tests. 

The clash erupted when a pathology technician issued an HIV report instead of hepatitis C virus to an intern. 

The interns stopped working, causing immense sufferings to a thousand patients undergoing treatment in the hospital, sources said.

During the clashes, around 650 staff fled the hospital premises in panic. Emergency and outdoor services were being disrupted since then.

Some of the staff said that they would not join their work until their security was ensured and the college dormitories vacated.

No patients had been admitted to the hospital since early Tuesday when the clash erupted. 

Mahbubul Alam, acting director of Mitford Hospital, told New Age that they held meeting with the medical college principal, local lawmakers and law enforcement agencies. 

‘We hope regular health services in the hospital will resume tomorrow (Thursday) morning,’ he said.

At least 2,000 patients receive treatment at outdoor and over 300 at emergency, but services are now being hampered seriously, he added.

Golam Mostafa, steward in the hospital said, ‘Since no staff is available, we are unable to provide food to patients.’ 

Md Jahangir, attendant of a patient, said that his daughter-in-law had been undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit for three days, but doctors could not conduct an operation as there was no staff. 

The medical students said that they would not allow the authorities concerned to reopen the hospital if the staff did not seek apology.

Mrs Israt, an assistant professor of surgery department, told New Age that they were providing primary medical service to the patients. ‘But due to lack of staff, we cannot continue with proper treatment and major operation.’  

Kotwali police officer-in-charge Shah Alam said that they were trying to tackle the situation peacefully.   (source) 

Bangladesh: No Molla execution until petition disposal, says AG

Attorney general Mahbubey Alam on Wednesday told the Appellate Division that no step would be taken to execute condemned Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla till disposal of his petition seeking review of the highest court’s verdict sentencing him to death.

He said this as the Appellate Division said that since Quader’s petition was pending before the court, it was not necessary to issue further orders to extend its earlier order staying the execution. 

A five-member Appellate Division bench headed by chief justice Md Muzammel Hossain adjourned till this morning the hearing on maintainability of the petition. 

The same bench, after hearing appeals preferred by Quader and the government against the judgement of the International Crimes Tribunal that sentenced him to imprisonment for life term, pronounced the verdict on September 17 sentencing him to death on charge of crimes against humanity committed during the war of independence in 1971.

The Appellate Division’s chamber judge Syed Mahmud Hossain in a sudden move on Tuesday evening stayed Quader’s execution until 10:30am on Wednesday and posted for Wednesday full bench hearing on the petition filed by Quader.

On Wednesday, Mahbubey Alam argued that the review petition which Quader’s lawyers had filed under Article 105 of the constitution could not be heard by the court as Article 47A (2) of the constitution stated that no person tried under

the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 would have the right to seek ‘any of the remedies under this constitution.’

The Article 105 gives the appellate division the power ‘to review any judgment pronounced or order made by it.’ 

He also argued that 1973 act stated that no order, judgment or sentence awarded by the tribunal ‘shall be called in question in any manner or before any court or other authority in any legal proceedings except in the appeal to the Appellate Division.’

Mahbubey said that Quader was sentenced to life term in prison on war crimes charges by a tribunal, and subsequently the Appellate Division sentenced him to death following government appeal under the act, so the convict could not get any remedy in accordance with the constitution and the 1973 act.   

Quader’s lawyer Abdur Razzaq argued that the Article 105 of the constitution and the Appellate Division Rules empowered the Appellate Division to review any judgement pronounced by order made by it.

Razzaq argued that the 1973 act which prohibited an appeal against any tribunal orders other than the final judgement was not relevant here as the defence were not seeking a review of a tribunal decision but of a judgement pronounced by the Appellate Division. 

Denying a suggestion made by Justice SK Sinha, a judge of the bench, that the tribunal’s judgment ran alongside the Appellate Division judgment, Razzaq argued that the defence lawyers were only seeking a review of the death sentence which was given not by the tribunal, but by the Appellate Division.

He also argued that prohibition stipulated in Article 47A(2) did not refer to Article 105 which was a ‘power’ of the court, and not a ‘remedy’ to an applicant. 

Razzaq also pointed out that if the framers of the constitution meant to remove application of Article 105 from those sentenced under the ICT Act, then it would have stated it explicitly, as Article 47(2) set out three specific fundamental rights which an accused under the ICT Act could not enjoy. 

Quader’s chief defence lawyer also argued that the Appellate Division had inherent power of review and it could not be removed by any act of parliament. 

The court asked Razzaq whether the Article 105 be could applicable to Quader as its application was subject to ‘provisions of any act of parliament’ which could included the ICT Act also.

Razzaq replied that there was no provision in the ICT Act prohibiting the filing of a review petition.

At the outset of the hearing in a jam-packed courtroom, Razzaq prayed for time until January 2 for preparation of arguments but the court rejected the plea.

The Supreme Court will go into vacation on December 13 and reopen on January 1, 2014. (source)

Bangladesh: UN stands for fair, credible, inclusive polls, says Taranco

The United Nations stands for a free, fair, inclusive and non-violent election which the people in Bangladesh want and deserve and the credibility of the election will ultimately rest with the people, the UN assistant secretary general, Oscar Fernández-Taranco, said on Wednesday.

Fernández-Taranco specified three measures that could contribute immensely to breaking the impasse and create a congenial atmosphere — a call by all sides to end violence, the release of opposition political leaders, and a mutually satisfactory solution to concerns regarding the elections schedule.

Fernández-Taranco said that the situation was still critical in reducing tension and political leaders should continue to engage in a constructive dialogue to create a congenial atmosphere for credible elections. He said that Bangladeshis had experiences of credible elections.

Wrapping up his five-day tour of Dhaka, Fernández-Taranco at a crowded news conference at the Sonargaon Hotel said that the prime goal of his tour was to bring the two parties across the table and it had been accomplished. ‘We have started it. It is the beginning. A solution is still possible but that must come from the two parties.’

‘I firmly believe there is ground for an agreement. Bangladeshi leaders must continue to come together. I encouraged both sides to continue their dialogue in the spirit of good will and compromise. Bangladeshis expect them to work together constructively to decrease tensions and to find mutually agreeable solutions for free, fair, inclusive and non-violent elections,’ he said.

He said that he firmly believed that there was ground for an agreement among political leaders and he encouraged both the sides to continue with their dialogue in the spirit of goodwill and compromise. 

He also observed that the level of goodwill among the leaders was ‘so far so good’ and he was ‘very happy’ about his Dhaka mission outcomes as two parties had engaged in a dialogue and both the parties agreed to hold a third round of dialogue. Top leaders of the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party already met twice in the past past couple of days.

Fernández-Taranco declined to go into ‘specifics’ about the outcome of the dialogue and whether the elections scheduled for January 5 that the BNP said would boycott would be deferred. The parties have raised many issues and all the relevant issues are related to the current situation in a substantive and constructive manner, he said.

Asked about the consequences if the dialogue fails, Fernández-Taranco said, ‘Everybody in this room knows what will happen if the dialogue fails. I would not answer that question. This is a leadership issue. This is a decision that takes courage.’ 

He said that the current political crisis was exacting a heavy, human, social and economic toll on Bangladesh and it resulted in increasing tension and seriously threatened the hard-earned economic and social progress that Bangladesh has achieved.

In reply to a question on possibilities of elections under the UN management, Fernández-Taranco said that such things required mandate from the UN General Assembly or the Security Council and Bangladesh was not a case like that.

He did not find anything wrong with the cancellation of his appointment with the prime minister on the day. ‘Today it was a very, very hectic day. As you know many things are happening. It is a matter of scheduling.’ 

Amid escalating political tension, Fernández-Taranco arrived in Dhaka on Friday evening on an assignment from the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and would leave for New York around 9:00pm Wednesday to report back to him on the outcome of the visit.  (source)

Bangladesh: AL, BNP stand their ground as Taranco wraps up visit

Ruling and opposition political camps in the two rounds of sitting the visiting UN assistant secretary general Oscar Fernández-Taranco brokered remained stubborn on respective conditions for the beginning of a dialogue to break the current political impasse. 

The UN move followed escalating violence because of the rigid stance of both the ruling and the opposition camp over the next parliamentary elections but after the two sittings, the parties started speaking the language they did before the mediation move.

Both Awami League and BNP leaders hurriedly left the meeting venue avoiding the media after their second sitting on Wednesday. The BNP at a news conference in the afternoon once again called on people to wage a movement for a non-partisan government for the holding of the elections.

The Awami League delegation at the sittings asked BNP leaders to call off all their agitation programmes before beginning the dialogue and the BNP delegation said they could not begin discussions keeping their leaders with its leaders being in jail, senior leaders of both the parties said.

The Awami League said that a meaningful atmosphere to begin the dialogue could be created only after programmes such as general strikes and blockades in which public property is damaged, people are killed and arson attacks and bombings are taking place, the safety and security of lives and property are threatened are called off. Discussions will not be meaningful if such ‘anarchy’ was not stopped, the Awami League said.

BNP leaders were also pushing for the release of their leaders and activists arrested earlier and demanded a non-partisan, election-time government to hold the next general elections.

The Awami League delegation again said that the detained BNP leaders leaders would be released and the discussion on an election-time government could be held only if the BNP ensured that it would stop its ‘subversive activities in the name of enforcing general strikes and blockades.’

Leaders of both the parties remained silent about the outcome of the second-round meeting held in the office of a UNDP-funded project of the local government and rural development ministry at Gulshan in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Fernández-Taranco after the meeting specified three measures that could contribute immensely to breaking the impasse and creating a congenial atmosphere — a call by all sides to end violence, the release of opposition political leaders, and a mutually satisfactory solution to concerns regarding the elections schedule.

Fernández-Taranco said that the situation was still critical in reducing tension and political leaders should continue to engage in a constructive dialogue to create a congenial atmosphere for credible elections. 

BNP leaders at the news conference in the afternoon asked the chief election commissioner to suspend the polls schedule and said that he might need to stand in the dock, otherwise, one day.

They also claimed that the party’s chairperson Khaleda Zia had always wanted a resolution to problems through dialogues and understanding but the ruling quarters were out to hold a one-sided election keeping the opposition outside the process as the ruling party would lose.

‘The ongoing programmes began before Fernández-Taranco’s arrival... And it will go on until a consensus is reached,’ BNP standing committee 

member Nazrul Islam Khan said at the news conference.

‘We sat for the dialogue hoping for a satisfactory resolution and to find a way to the resolution. So far it [resolution] has not come. We should continue with street agitation... and you know, there is no such development regarding the consensus,’ he added.

Fernández-Taranco arrived in Dhaka on Friday evening and met the prime minister, the leader of the opposition in the parliament, the chief election commissioner and other political leaders. He could convince leaders of the Awami League and the BNP to sit across the table on Monday night. 

The first round of meeting was held at the house Neal Walker, the UN resident coordinator in Dhaka, on Tuesday.

Syed Ashraful Islam, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Gowher Rizvi were on the Awami League side and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moin Khan and Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury were on the BNP side.

After the meeting, Fernández-Taranco said that the ruling and the opposition party had agreed to continue with the dialogues in the spirit of goodwill and compromise and work together constructively to ease tension and build confidence. 

After a long two-hour sitting for the second time, Fernández-Taranco on Wednesday called on the leaders to continue with the move for the dialogue and he viewed bringing the two parties across the table as the success of his mission.

Fernández-Taranco also met a delegation of senior citizens led by jurist Kamal Hossain where they told him that ‘the train of a one-sided election should be stopped for a while’ and an inclusive election should be held.

On reaching Dhaka, Fernández-Taranco met the prime minister and wanted know whether it was possible to defer the election schedule and the prime minister said that it was up to the Election Commission to decide.

The next day he met the chief election commissioner, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, and he told Fernández-Taranco that the election schedule could be deferred within the legal and constitutional framework if the UN could broker an agreement between the ruling and the opposition camp. (source)