Archive for November 12th, 2006
Sunday, November 12th, 2006 The government has decided to deploy army across the country in aid of the civil administration to maintain law and order situation.It is still not clear when the army will roll onto the streets.
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006 Train communications across the country came to a grinding halt as the Awami League-led 14-party combine activists blocked all routes under a nationwide siege programme since today morning, starting off with an arson attack on a train.Some other trains either came under attack or were halted by the 14-party activists while the rest cancelled their scheduled journey in view of the perils, creating suffering for the commuters, UNB correspondents report.The siege pickets set fire to a compartment of a passenger train at Tongi rail-station in the morning, trying to ensure compliance with their nonstop siege programme enforced to press home ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006The activists of Awami League led 14-Party combine set fire to a compartment of a passenger train at Tongi railway station today morning during their nonstop blockade programme.Police sources said the 14-Party activists attacked the Dinajpur-bound Ekota Express train at about 10 am soon after it arrived at the station.The attackers ransacked valuables of several compartments of the train and at one stage they set fire to one of the compartments.Later, police and BDR personnel rushed to the spot and doused the blaze with the help of local people at about 10:30 am.In Savar, 14-Party activists torched a bus near ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006All kinds of transportation to and from India through Benapole land-port halted following the Awami League-led 14-party combine’s nationwide nonstop siege programme that started today.The port authority shut down all the gates on the main land route to India and didn’t allow anybody to enter the port “for the sake of security”.A number of goods-laden lorries got stranded at Petrapole port on the Indian side, opposite to Benapole, waiting for entry into Bangladesh, as the whole of the country remained under a blockade.Hundreds of locals and foreigners, who were scheduled to go to India, gathered at counters of different transport ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006A non-stop countrywide blockade enforced by the Awami League-led 14-party alliance begins today amid heightened tension as the extended deadline given to the president/chief adviser for implementing the alliance's 11-point task ended yesterday without meeting major demands.Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina formally declared the blockade programme last night and urged all to observe it peacefully.All highways, rail and waterways will be blockaded; the capital will be isolated from other parts of the country; all ports will be shut down; and districts and upazila headquarters will be brought to a standstill from today, according to the 14-party.The 14-party alliance will ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday once again asked the caretaker government to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC), revise the voter list and withdraw 300 politically appointed upazila election officers to create a level playing field before the upcoming election.Declaring a non-stop countrywide blockade with effect from today, the AL chief also demanded appointment of a new chief adviser if the president fails to discharge his duties as the interim government head."We will withdraw the blockade only when we see the caretaker government taking effective measures to meet our demands and create an atmosphere conducive to holding a free ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006The United States yesterday said a military takeover would not help conduct a free and fair election in Bangladesh and urged the caretaker government and Election Commission (EC) to act neutrally to ensure each vote is counted and results are trusted."The situation here is difficult but the goal is [to hold] a free and fair election. I don't think a military takeover would contribute to that goal. That will be a bad thing to do," US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher told a press conference at the American Club.Boucher who arrived in the capital ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006We are heartened by Bangabhaban's clarification that, unnoticed to the people of Bangladesh, there has not been any change in the form of our government. We express our satisfaction that the President/Chief Advisor is fully committed to upholding the Constitution as it exists now, which provides for a parliamentary form with all executive power vested in the Prime Minister (also chief advisor during the caretaker government) and not the President. However, we cannot accept the blame that has been put on the media. The Bangabhaban press release (why was it signed by the assistant press secretary? Was it not important ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006Tension heightened at the country's premier seaport Chittagong as shutting it down is to be one of the crucial moves of Awami League (AL)-led 14-party coalition during its programme of countrywide indefinite blockade which begins today.The two rival political alliances of the country are prepared to face-off for establishing control over the port.The 14-party coalition will try to halt the operation of the port as part of their countrywide blockade while BNP-led four-party alliance will try to keep the port operational, according to sources."We will work and resist if anybody wants to halt the operation of the port," ...
(read more) Sunday, November 12th, 2006The government yesterday urged the Awami League (AL)-led 14-party combine to cancel their "unlawful" programme like siege and instead stage peaceful procession and rally in the greater interest of the nation.Terming the planned siege unlawful and unconstitutional, a press note of the Ministry of Home Affairs said the government is determined to take 'all legal measures" to maintain peace and discipline in socioeconomic life and to ensure security of public life and property.In the press note, the government noted that necessary instructions to this effect have already been given to the law-enforcement agencies, including the police."Such programme like siege will ...
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