Violence marks 14-party hartal, over 200 injured, 500
picked up
Picketers clash with police and ruling party activists across country
STAFF REPORTER
Baton charge by police, arrest of hundreds of picketers and their
sporadic clashes with police as well as ruling party activists marked the countrywide
dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Awami League led 14-party opposition combine that disrupted
normal life yesterday.
Around 200 opposition leaders and activists, mainly of Awami League
including former Home Minister Mohammad Nasim MP, Colonel (Retd) Faruk Khan MP, former MP
HBM Iqbal and Kazi Moshtaq received injuries in police attacks and 500 others were picked
up by law enforcers. HBM Iqbal was admitted to Samarita Hospital.
Police attacked Mohammad Nasim and fellow activists in front of his
residence at Dhanmondi when he was returning home after taking part in demonstrations.
The 14-party opposition alliance enforced the strike demanding
resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Justice M A Aziz and newly appointed two
Election Commissioners SM Zakaria and Justice Mahfuzur Rahman and reform in caretaker
government system and the Election Commission.
The daylong hartal disrupted normal life and hampered economic
activities and industrial production. Markets and shopping malls kept their shutters down.
Educational institutions remained closed.
Government offices functioned, but with comparatively low attendance.
Many private offices and business houses remained closed.
Movement of vehicles in the capital was thin in the morning, but
increased as the day wore on. Inter-district bus communications remained suspended. But,
rail, air and launch communications were normal.
Police put up barbed wire fences and barricades on ways to AL central
office, Paltan intersection, Noor Hossain Square, Muktangan and some other areas of the
city.
Activists of AL and other members of the 14-party alliance took to the
streets since early morning. Armed police and members of other law enforcing agencies,
however, had taken their position earlier at various places in the city. They allowed no
vehicle to ply the area. Some 10,000 police and BDR personnel guarded the capital since
early morning.
Being unable to reach AL central office, leaders of 14 party alliance
blocked the road in front of Muktijoddha Krira Chakra and held a meeting chaired by
Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.
The opposition activists locked in a series of clashes with police at
different places in the capital Dhaka including Farm Gate, Bangabandhu Avenue, Gulistan,
Paltan, Mohakhali, Shutrapur and Mirpur-1.
A number of processions, led by central and city AL leaders, including
Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Sohel Taj, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Kamal Majumdar, Alhaj
Rahmatullah, Major General (retd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan, Haji Selim, Habibur Rahman Mollah
came under police action.
Also, components of the opposition alliance, including Jatiya
Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu) and Workers Party demonstrated in the capital and came under
attack by police and BNP activists at various places, it is alleged.
At Paltan area, police dispersed a procession of Jubo Mohila League
after beating the female activists and picked up a total of nine members from them.
Police attacked a procession of Workers Party at 6.30am as it tried to
move towards Motijheel from Paltan area. Some 14-15 activists were injured in the police
action. Police also picked up a total of 20 leaders and activists from the spot.
Police, at the same time, clubbed a procession of AL to disperse it
when the procession led by Tofail Ahmed reached Paltan area leaving seven activists
injured.
Police also dispersed a procession of AL, led by A K M Rahmatullah,
Tofail Ahmed and Colonel (retd) Faruk Khan MP at Mohakhali crossing at about 7.30 in the
morning.
About 15 opposition leaders and activists were wounded in the police
action. Police picked up a total of 10 activists including Kazi Moshtaq Elen from the
spot.
The police charged baton when some AL leaders and workers along with
Tofail Ahmed tried to proceed towards the party's central office from Noor Hossain Square
at about 11am.
At that time Rafiq, a leader of Sechchasebak League, became seriously
injured. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Besides, police charged batons and picked up 12 leaders and workers of
14-party combine when they brought out a procession in Shyampur area of the capital at
about 8.30am.
At about 11am, police unleashed baton charge on a procession of AL and
its front organisations resulting in the injury of at least 8 pro-hartal activists at
Azimpur. Police picked up Sagar Ahmed, president of Lalbag Thana Chhatra League from
there.
Meanwhile, Imran (16), was seriously injured in a bomb blast near the
Kamalapur railway slum area. He was admitted to DMCH.
At Tongi, some 50 people were injured in police action in the morning.
Among them were Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, and Poura Chairman Azmatullah, Awami League
general secretary Abdul Jalil informed newsmen.
JSD president Hasanul Huq Inu alleged that in Rangpur, police arrested
JSD town committee general secretary Masud-un-Nabi Munna and Chhatra League leader
Shyamal.
UNB adds: A report from UNB Jamalpur correspondent said gunmen backed
by the local chapter of ruling BNP allegedly fired on a pro-hartal procession of Awami
League at Tarakandi in Sarisabari upazila of the district. At least 20 people were
wounded, 10 by bullets, during the violence that ensued.
Sarishabari upazila Awami League claimed that "BNP terrors"
launched the gun attack on their procession near Jamuna Fertilizer Factory, but police
denied the firing incident.
Bullet-struck Gadu, Abdul, Titu, Shamim, Delu, Zaman, Khalil, Likhon,
Sujan and Harun—workers of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League—were
treated at local clinics.
Witnesses and opposition sources said helmeted police in Dhaka in full
riot gear charged baton indiscriminately to disperse the pro-hartal processions led by
Awami League leaders Tofail Ahmed and Dr Iqbal in Mohakhali and Tejgaon areas and Kamal
Majumdar in Mirpur.
Police arrested dozens of activists on charge of violent picketing as
they hurled brickbats at police and passing vehicles.
The pickets damaged a passenger bus at Azimpur at about 11:45 am,
leaving three people injured. Police arrested four pickets from the scene.
Awami League MPs led by opposition chief whip vice-principal Abdus
Shaheed staged demonstrations at Russel Square. Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim MP also
led a procession and assembled at the Square.
The authorities deployed around 8,000 police and paramilitary BDR
personnel at strategic points to maintain order in the capital, as the shutdown came
against the backdrop of high political tensions and recent bomb strikes by militants.
In Rangpur, at least 50 people were injured in a series of triangular
clashes involving pro- and anti-hartal activists and police during hartal hours in the
northern district town.
Witnesses said police resorted to baton charge at about 11 am when
combined opposition activists brought out a procession at Girls School in the town,
leaving scores of people injured.
In another incident, a clash erupted between police and picketers when
the opposition workers obstructed a motorcycle at Kachari Bazar at about 12.30 pm.
Police fired some 10 rounds of teargas shells to come to grips with the
situation as opposition workers threw missiles of brickbats.
A procession of BNP and its front organisations locked in a clash with
pickets at Kachari Bazar at about 2.30 pm. The rival groups chased each other amid a
shower of brickbats during the clash that lasted half an hour.
In Sylhet, at least 10 people, including a local BTV cameraman, were
injured when police clubbed a procession of the 14-party combine at Court Point in the
city at about 12:45 pm. BTV cameraman Digen Singh was admitted to Sylhet Osmani Hospital
with serious injuries.
Sylhet Mayor Badruddin Kamran led a procession of Awami League that
paraded the city streets. Police snatched away a banner from a procession of CPB.
The general strike, a much-used traditional way of staging
anti-government protest in Bangladesh, disrupted normal life and business activities in
Dhaka and other major cities and towns.
UNB Gazipur correspondent reported that at least 10 people were injured
in a clash between picketers and police at Tongi Station Bazar on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway
at about 10 am when police allegedly interrupted a procession brought out by pro-hartal
activists.
However, combined 14-party claimed that at least 50 people were injured
in the ‘police attack’ on them during the hartal hours.
Another report from Shariatpur said at least 10 hartal supporters were
injured when police reportedly attacked an AL procession near Rajganj bridge in the
district town yesterday morning.
Opposition workers also blocked movement of vehicles on various points
by setting fire to tires during the hartal hours.
In Magura, 10 people were injured in a clash between pro-and
anti-hartal supporters at Sreepur Bus Stand in the district town. A bus was also damaged
during the trouble.
Reports from UNB correspondents in Rajshahi and Khulna said the hartal
was observed peacefully in the two cities. Schools, markets and private offices were
closed. Barring rickshaws, buses, trucks and private cars stopped plying during the
shutdown.
PM blasts opposition for boycotting JS
She says rest bombers to be arrested soon
UNB, KALAROA, (SATKHIRA)
Jan 22: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Sunday deplored that the opposition
resorted to violence to create unrest in the country failing to get public support to
their movement to realise their frequent ultimatum to the government.
When massive development work going on across the country and peace
prevailing, a political party wants to create unrest frequently speaking of resignation of
an elected democratic government instead of performing their responsibility by joining
parliament to speak for the people in the House, she said.
But they are enjoying all privileges and facilities of Member of
Parliament, the Prime Minister told her audience in this southern frontier district.
She once again reminded her political adversaries that the people voted
the BNP and alliance government to power for five years.
"They don’t want to go to parliament but are going on foreign
tours - this is what the opposition party is," Prime Minister Khaleda told a big
lively public meeting at Kalaroa GKMK Pilot High School ground in the afternoon, without
naming Awami League, which has long been staying away from parliament.
As the opposition again enforced hartal Sunday, she blasted the party
for taking recourse to shutdowns frequently "without any issue".
Khaleda, also chairperson of the ruling BNP, urged people to remain
alert about a party which she said is conspiring against Bangladesh and its people with
external Patronage when the country is advancing towards self-sufficiency in all sectors.
Turning to ‘bomb terrorism’, Prime Minister Khaleda informed
the crowd that many of the bombers have already been arrested and the rest would be caught
within few days.
She said a new conspiracy was on to carry out terrorism using the name
of religion --- a party with the help of foreign and some local people want to establish
Islam by bombing and killing people.
"But Islam is a religion of peace and those carrying out such
activities have been known as terrorists all over Bangladesh."
Reminding that bomb terrorists will be given tough punishment, she said
they are enemies of Islam, development, democracy-they are terrorists. She urged people to
help law-enforcing agencies to catch them.
Listing the 4-party coalition government’s massive development
pictures and success stories, Prime Minister Khaleda said the way development is being
done by the present government winning the support of people across the country made
certain quarters envious who are hatching conspiracy to break the alliance and give the
blame to BNP.
Khaleda said now two streams of politics are existing in the politics
of Bangladesh—one is politics of Bangladeshi Nationalism and belief in Islamic values
which BNP pursues while another stream is indulges in chaos, corruption, irregularities,
terrorism and anti-religious activities.
Criticising the rule of Awami League regimes she said their rule was
marked by plunder, famines, terrorism, corruption, one-party rule, snatching freedom of
press, pubic speech and judiciary freedom, and unleashing the reign of terror through
creation of godfathers across the country.
She said they think the country as their paternal property and
considered people as their subject.
Prime Minister Khaleda, who was scheduled to visit Satkhira and Kalaroa
on January 8 but could not reach by helicopter due to bad weather, regretted the
inconveniences.
Enthusiastic crowds of people welcomed the Prime Minister through
clapping at the meeting venue.
Health Minister Dr Khandokar Mosharraf Hossain, Environment and Forest
Minister Tariqul Islam, Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk, PM’s Political Secretary
Harris Chowdhury, State Minister for Labour and Employment Amanullah Aman, local MPs Abdul
Khaleque and Kazi Alauddin also spoke at the meeting, presided over by Habibul Islam
Habib, MP from Kalaroa-Tala constituency.
Earlier, Prime Minister Khaleda inaugurated the newly built
five-storied Building of Satkhira Polytechnic Institute and Kalaroa new Poura Bhaban and
laid foundation stones for upgrading the 31-bed Kalaroa Upazila health complex to 50-bed
one and Upazila Parishad auditorium.
Hasina thanks people for observing hartal
STAFF REPORTER
Leader of the 14-party combine and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina
expressed gratitude and extended her thanks to the countrymen for observing dawn to dusk
hartal yesterday.
She slated the government for organised attacks and inhuman torture on
picketers and hartal supporters countrywide and demanded immediate release of opposition
activists who were arrested during the hartal hours.
The call for hartal was given earlier by AL-led 14 opposition parties
demanding cancellation of the appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and two
Commissioners, reform in caretaker government system as well as the Election Commission
and also protesting continuation of preparing a fresh voters’ list in violation of
High Court verdict.
In the statement Sheikh Hasina said, "Police mercilessly beat
leaders and activists of 14-party leaving Awami League secretariat member Colonel (Retd)
Faruk Khan MP, former lawmaker Dr HBM Iqbal, Brigadier (Retd) Baker, Colonel (Retd)
Shahjan and many others injured."
"Police and armed activists of ruling BNP opened fire on a
peaceful procession at Tarakandi of Sarishabari upazila in Jamalpur district injuring 12
people," she alleged.
The Leader of the Opposition said, "the government, being isolated
from the people, has been trying to stick to power by seizing peoples’ right to
franchise by manipulating next and ultimately damaging the democracy."
"People, through observance of the hartal have given a message to
the government that they will not allow the controversial men in EC to conduct any
election," she said.
"The message is clear that no general election will be held in
Bangladesh without reform in the caretaker system and also in the Election
Commission," Sheikh Hasina added.
"If the government has no ill motive why it appointed partisan men
in the Election Commission?" she questioned and called upon the people to come
forward to overthrow the ‘communal alliance government’ for the sake of the
country’s freedom, sovereignty, democracy as well as national existence.
Dhaka ready to accept US offer to establish
counter-terrorism structure
UNB, DHAKA
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan Sunday said that Bangladesh is ready to
accept the US offer to establish a structured cooperation in counter-terrorism activity to
enhance the country’s capability to effectively combat terrorism.
"US had given us the offer much ago, and we are ready to do that;
but the modality of such cooperation has to be worked out," he told journalists at
his office.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina
Rocca, who arrives here on a 3-day official visit on January 26, is expected to discuss
the crucial matter with top officials of the Home Ministry.
In reply to a question Khan said, " We are open to discuss all
issues" with Rocca, who will call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and hold discussion
with the Foreign Minister and State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babor on January
26.
He said Bangladesh and the United States enjoy close bilateral ties
based on transparency and mutual interests.
Asked about the EU Troika delegation’s visit to Dhaka from
tomorrow, Khan said the European Union is a close development partner of Bangladesh and
"we will welcome any discussion for the development of our country".
BDNews adds: The US offer is facing opposition from different
quarters, including Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), which has called upon the people
to resist the US bid to set up the so-called anti-terrorism unit in Bangladesh and turn
the country into a US military base.
In a statement yesterday, CPB president Manjurul Ahsan Khan and general
secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim opposed the upcoming visit of US assistant secretary of
the state Christina Rocca.
They also criticised the foreign policy of the alliance government,
saying the government has become subservient to the Americans.
"If the Americans are so sincere to tackle fundamentalist
militants, they should ask the Bangladesh government to oust war criminals of 1971 from
the cabinet," the CPB leaders said.
In the subcontinent, US-India Joint Working Group on terrorism was set
up in January 2000 while US-Pakistan Joint Working Group was established during President
Pervez Musharraf's visit to Washington in February 2002.
AL misguiding people thru’
‘propaganda-terrorism’, says Mannan Bhuiyan
STAFF REPORTER
The Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives
Minister and BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said yesterday that the main
opposition Awami league was constantly misguiding and misleading the people of the country
through what he called its ‘propaganda-terrorism’.
"The Awami League will be more isolated from public if the party
continues to carry on destructive programmes like strike and hartals and its reflection
would be found in the next parliament election," Bhuiyan said while talking to the
newsmen.
He again urged the members of parliament (MPs) of Awami League and the
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina to attend the winter session.
He said that he was hopeful that AL would attend the session.
Most of the constituencies of the opposition MPs would fall vacant if
they do not join the session. In reply to a question he said, they will discuss the matter
and take decision according to the provisions of the Constitution if JS seats fall vacant.
He expressed the hope that crisis will resolved through talks between
the leaders of the four-party alliance and Awami League.
SASP demands CEC’s resignation
UNB, DHAKA
Sammilita Ainjibi Samannoy Parishad (SASP), a forum of pro-opposition
lawyers yesterday (Sunday) demanded cancellation of the appointments of two
‘controversial’ election commissioners and immediate resignation of the Chief
Election Commissioner (CEC) for violating court orders over preparation of electoral roll.
Addressing a protest meeting at the Supreme Court Bar hall room this
afternoon, the forum leaders alleged that the ruling 4-party alliance has started the
election engineering process through the Election Commission (EC) in its desperate bid to
return to power.
Terming EC as a ‘4-party alliance forum’, they said the
commission has lost its credibility to ensure a free and fair election in future due to
its actions over preparing the electoral roll violating the High Court judgement that
ordered updating the voter list instead of preparing fresh one.
They said the ruling alliance, apprehending an ignominious defeat in
the coming elections, was trying to block the path of holding a credible election as the
people in the past showed the rulers their back for their misrule.
They urged the people to get united against the election engineering
process of the alliance government ahead of the next general election.
Presided over by SASP convener Barrister Amir-Ul Islam, the meeting was
addressed, among others, by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Mahbubey Alam,
SASP member-secretary Subrata Chowdhury, SCBA secretary M Enayetur Rahim and former Law
Minister Abdul Matin Khasru.
The protesters later brought out a procession in the city to press for
their demands, but the marchers had been intercepted midway by riot police before it
reached the press club.
They were dispersed peacefully after a 45-minute sit-in on the street.
Former Minister Shamsul Islam Khan passes away
BSS, DHAKA
Elderly politician and lawmaker Shamsul Islam Khan died of old age
complications at the Lab Aid hospital here yesterday at the age of 84.
A Member of Parliament from Manikganj-4 constituency with BNP ticket,
Shamsul Islam khan was the Industries Minister in the 1991-96 BNP government.
He was one of the leading industrialists, philanthropists and an
amiable as well as a distinguished personality in the country’s political arena.
A pall of gloom descended on the city after spreading the news of the
death of Shamsul Islam Khan, popularly known as Naya Mia in his home district Manikganj
and also among the elite in the city.
Politicians of all shades and opinion and people of all walks of life
rushed to his Dhanmondi residence to pay their last respect to late Khan.
Shamsul Islam Khan left behind his wife, one son, two daughters, grand
children and a large number of political colleagues, admirers, well-wishers and relations
to mourn his death.
President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Begum Khaleda
Zia expressed their profound shock and sorrow at the death of Shamsul Islam Khan.
In a message of condolence, Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed recalled the active
contribution of late Shamsul Islam Khan in the country’s various democratic movements
for establishing parliamentary politics.
As a leading industrialist, he left innumerable examples of
contributions towards the country’s economic progress and also the development of his
area. The President conveyed his heart-felt sympathy to the members of the bereaved family
and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
In her message of condolence, Begum Khaleda Zia recalled late
Khan’s immense contributions in the country’s politics, especially his brave
role in the anti-autocratic movement during 1980s leading to the fall of a dictatorial
rule of General H M Ershad on December 6, 1990.
She also conveyed her heartfelt condolence to the members of the
bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
In separate messages of condolence, BNP Secretary General and LGRD and
Cooperatives Minister Abdul Manna Bhuiyan, Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Foreign
Minister M Morshed Khan, Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, State Minister for Land
Ukil Abus Sattar Bhuiyan, Deputy Minister for Land Ruhul Quddus Dulu and Harun-ar-Rashid
Khan Monno MP expressed their deep shock at the death of Khan.
Speakers Barrister Jamiruddin Sircer, Deputy Speaker Akhter Hamid
Siddiqui, Chief Whip Khandker Delwar Hossain also condoled his death.
Meanwhile, Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Dr. Kamal Hossain,
former minister Anwar Zahid and scores of well-wishers of the deceased went to his
residence and paid their last respect to late Shamsul Islam Khan. They also expressed
their sympathy to the members of the bereave family.
Family sources said that Khan’s body would be kept at the BIRDEM
Hospital after performing the primary rituals at his Dhanmondi residence.
His first Namaj-e-Janza will be held today at 10-00 am in front of
BNP’s central office, while the second Namaj-e-Janaza will be held at the Jatiya
Sangsad Bhaban premises at 11-00 am. Later, the body would be flown by a helicopter to his
Charigram village under Manikganj district , where two more Namaj-e-Janaza will be held
both at Charigram village and Singair thana headquarters.
After his Namaj-e-Janaza at Singiar, his body would be flown back to
Dhaka and kept in the BIRDEM hospital. His last Namaj-e-Janza will be held at Dhanmondi
Eidgah Maidan after Zohr prayer on Jan. 24 and alter would be laid to eternal rest at the
Banani graveyard.
CEC may face contempt of court charge
STAFF REPORTER
Contempt of court case is likely to be field against the Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) for his non-complacence with the High Court (HC) verdict on preparation
of voter list, Barrister Amirul Islam told The Independent yesterday.
Two lawmakers of Awami League Asaduzzaman Noor and Advocate Rahmat Ali
who had earlier field writ petitions challenging the legality of preparing a fresh voter
list by the CEC are taking preparations to lodge contempt of court case against him,
source said. The AL MPs are keeping contact with their counsel Dr Kamal Hossain in this
regard, sources added.
Barrister Amirul Islam told The Independent that the CEC’s conduct
about the verdict of the High Court on preparation of voter list can be termed a contempt
of court.
"So far I have seen from the news media the Chief Election
Commissioner has not obeyed the judgement of the High Court which can be defined as
contempt of court. I think people of the country also feel the way I think of it. And we
are also thinking to lodge contempt of court case against him," said Barrister Amirul
Islam.
A lawyer of the Supreme Court opined that it is a contempt of court
because the respondents have continued the work for preparing a fresh voter list, ignoring
the High Court's judgement that asked for revising the existing one. Now it is a matter of
the Appellate Division of the SC to decide whether it is a contempt of court or not.
According to law, from the very day the High Court delivered the
judgement the respondents (the CEC and the EC) were bound to obey it until the Supreme
Court gives any stay order on it. They are bound to comply with the directives since the
higher court has not stayed that, he observed.
The CEC as the chief of the Election Commission (EC), neither has taken
steps according to the HC order nor appealed before the Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court against the verdict as aggrieved party.
The HC verdict came on January 4 directing the Election Commission to
prepare the voter list on the basis of the existing one, which was a clear ruling against
the unilateral decision of the CEC for preparing a new voter list. But the EC Secretariat
has continued implementing the CEC's decision to make a new voter list.
According to the schedule announced by the EC Secretariat, the work of
collecting and scrutinising the information about the prospective voters has to be
completed by January 31. Then the information will be compiled until February 20 and a
draft fresh voter list will be published on February 28. On Friday last the EC Secretariat
issued order to its field-level staff to complete the task in time, sources said.
After 15 days’ of the issuance of the HC judgement, the EC on
January 19 last decided to appeal challenging the validity and constitutionality of the
judgement. During this period, the EC has neither initiated steps to comply with the HC
directives in making the electoral roll nor stopped the enumeration launched on January 1
last.
14-party rally at Paltan today
UNB, DHAKA
Awami League-led 14-party opposition combine will hold at historical
Paltan Maidan today (Monday) as part of its campaign to press for reforms of caretaker
government and the election commission.
Opposition leader and the AL president Sheikh Hasina would preside over
the rally. Top leaders of the AL-led 14-party alliance will also address it.
The opposition has been demanding resignation of the alliance
government, resignation of CEC Justice MA Aziz and cancellation of appointment of two new
Election Commissioners for ensuring fair elections under a reformed caretaker government.
The rally over, a procession might be brought out from Paltan,
opposition sources said.
Kamal, B Chy demand CEC’s resignation
UNB, DHAKA
Eminent jurist and Gano Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain Sunday said if
good sense prevails Chief Election Commissioner Justice MA Aziz should resign immediately.
He made the remark at a press briefing after his close-door parley with
former President and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh (BDB) president Prof. Badruddoza Chowdhury at
the Gulshan house of BDB secretary general Major (retd) MA Mannan.
"The Chief Election Commissioner has already be come
controversial…before he took over he should have consulted everyone," said
Kamal. "His activities have made the Election Commission more controversial."
Dr Kamal suggested that the CEC should return to Appellate Division of
the Supreme Court. He hoped that a new CEC should be appointed as happened in 1990 after
the fall of Ershad. At that time acting President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed took
initiative to appoint a new CEC in response to the opposition’s demand.
Dr Kamal strongly criticised the CEC for appointing more than 100,000
people for preparing the voters’ list ignoring the other two Election Commissioners.
He said according to High Court judgement the CEC can not do it
unilaterally, rather three of them should take the decision. "New list can be
prepared, but it should be based on the existing one," he said.
Asked to comment about the possible appeal against the High Court
judgement, Kamal said an abnormal situation has been created centring on preparation of
the voters’ list. He also described the reported illness and recovery of the CEC as
abnormal.
On hasty appointments of two new Election Commissioners, Kamal said
these controversial appointments have made the Election Commission even more
controversial. "The government has showed irresponsibility in this regard and
insulted the Constitutions and court."
Regarding the reforms of caretaker government and Election Commission,
he said the reforms are not for the sake of any political party, rather for the sake of 14
crore people. "People want change through a free and fare election," he said.
"If elections are not free and fare, the results will not be accepted by the
people."
Strongly condemning the police actions against the hartal supporters on
Saturday-Sunday, the Gano Forum president said this type of protest is a democratic right
and using police force in such a way is a reflection of an autocratic government.
Asked given the country’s economic condition if hartal is a
powerful tool to realise the demands, Dr Kamal said, "I do not think so." But
for the sake of united movement, sometime it might be necessary, he added.
About anti-JMB massive operation in Kushthia, he said it is an attempt
to divert the public attention and the government is undermining the forces by misusing
them politically.
BDB president B Chowdhury said this government has become desperate to
win the elections, therefore it is ignoring the Constitutions and people’s opinion.
Criticising the government for ‘purposefully’ extending the
service of judges by two years, the former President said with the appointment of the CEC,
the situation has become serious.
"He (CEC) has proved through his statements that he is attracted
to a particular party," B Chowdhury said, expressing his surprise for the fact that
the CEC got well soon after the appointments of two new Election Commissioners.
Describing the preparation of voters’ list as prerequisite for a
neutral election, he said news came from all over the country that the voters’ list
is being prepared by ‘party cadres’. "The government is playing with
people’s voting right."
The Bikalpadhara president said in order to ensure a good election, a
healthy environment and a neutral administration is essential.
Terming anti-JMB Kushthia operation a drama, he said the
‘switch’ is in the hands of the government and senior militant leaders are not
being caught.
Khaleda visits Shamsul Islam’s residence
BSS, DHAKA
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia last night visited the Dhanmondi
residence of Shamsul Islam Khan, a former minister and veteran BNP leader who died
yesterday.
Begum Zia consoled the family members of the late leader and offered
munajat seeking divine blessing for eternal peace of the departed soul.
She spent sometime with the relatives of Shamsul Islam, who was elected
parliament member from Manikganj-4 constituency in 2001.
Health Minister Dr Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain, Education Minister Dr M
Osman Farruk, State Minister for Labour and Employment Amanullah Aman and Prime
Minister’s Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury accompanied the Prime Minister.
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