Archive for December 20th, 2006
Wednesday, December 20th, 2006BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday firmly demanded that the next parliamentary election be held "on time" and blasted the Awami League (AL) led grand alliance for its stance against participating in the polls under the current schedule."We have only one demand to the caretaker government: A free and fair election must be held on time," Khaleda said at a grand rally of the BNP-led four-party alliance at Paltan Maidan in the capital yesterday afternoon.Hinting at the AL-led alliance, she said those, who are speaking of holding the election beyond the constitutionally stipulated 90-day time, "want to destroy the country and ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday stayed the High Court (HC) verdict ordering the Election Commission (EC) to collect and make public some vital information including income and wealth statements of the candidates for general elections.The top court order came just over two days before the deadline for filing nominations for the upcoming election ends at 5:00pm tomorrow.The HC verdict that had been greeted with popular acclamation has become invalid for now following a controversial move by barrister Azmalul Hossain yesterday.Barrister Omar Sadat assisted Azmalul in moving for Abu Safa who had filed an appeal this year against the HC ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006The last moment efforts of the council of advisers to resolve the electoral deadlock through renegotiating the package proposal finalised 15 days ago failed to yield any positive result yesterday, with only a day remaining before the deadline tomorrow for filing nominations. The four newly inducted advisers yesterday renegotiated with Awami League (AL)-led 14-party the proposals for sending two election commissioners, SM Zakaria and Modabbir Hossain Chowhdury, on leaves of absence, and extension of the deadline for submission of nomination papers by a few more days, sources said.But 14-party did not consent to the proposals as the new move ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006The Awami League (AL) that has almost finalised its own candidates starts negotiations today with its allies over seat sharing for the election.The party however sticks to its stance not to take part in any election according to the current schedule.Meanwhile, the BNP-led four-party coalition has already drawn up its list of candidates. Highly placed sources in the party said the high command might today announce the names formally if the deadline for submission of nomination papers is not shifted from December 21.AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil last night said, "We are over and done with the scrutiny of ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006More than 100 people, including students, police and journalists were injured in a series of clashes between the Islami Chhatra Shibir and the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiya Chhatra Samaj (JCS) at Lalbagh in the town yesterday.Armed cadres of Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, allegedly fired shots during the clashes leaving at least one bullet-hit.During the three-hour clashes, police charged batons on the Awami League-backed BCL and Jatiya Party-backed JCS leaders and activists and fired teargas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, sources said.To protest the attack of police and Shibir cadres on ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006The central bank and the finance ministry have asked all banks to identify the loan defaulters and furnish the election officials with relevant information on them so that they could be barred from the upcoming election.The Bangladesh Bank (BB) sent a circular yesterday asking its Central Information Bureau (CIB) to remain open from 5:00pm Thursday [December 21] till 5:00pm Friday [December 22].According to the current election schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers ends at 5:00pm December 21. After that, the election officials will start scrutinising the papers.The circular instructed the banks to keep open during that time ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006A clash erupted between Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir on Chittagong Medical College (CMC) campus yesterday over recruiting freshmen to dormitories the student wings dominate. The incident left 12 people including two policemen injured.Five rooms of the main male dormitory at Chatteshwari Road were also ransacked during the two and a half-hour-long clash.The injured are JCD activists Matin, Limon, Rassel, Lijon, Sabuj, Rahat, Bulbul and Shibir activists Mahmud, Balayet, Mufti. Two unidentified policemen also received treatment at the CMC Hospital.Sources said JCD and Shibir men around noon yesterday had an altercation in front of the CMC ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Mahfuzur Rahman yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) is working in its own way to hold the next general election within 90 days as per the constitution. "We are taking our preparation… Let us see what happens in future," he said. There is a constitutional obligation to hold the election within 90 days set for the caretaker government, he added.Mahfuzur Rahman was talking to newsmen at his office about preparations for the election amidst the 14-party and its allies' ultimatum to meet the 'prerequisites' for a free and fail poll.Asked about holding the ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006Awami League (AL)-led 14-party coalition yesterday urged the president and chief adviser (CA) to the caretaker government (CG) to stop the process of preparation for an election under the current poll schedule to avoid pushing the country towards a 'civil war'. "There is still time. Please stop all process of holding an election under the current schedule. Professor Iajuddin please don't push the country towards a civil war," 14-party Coordinator Abdul Jalil said at a news briefing at his NAM Bhaban residence in the capital.Terming the current election schedule illegal and unlawful, Jalil, also the AL general secretary, demanded ...
(read more) Wednesday, December 20th, 2006Prof Muhammad Yunus returned home yesterday with the world's most prestigious award -- Nobel Peace Prize.On arrival he hoped that the next general election in the country will be held peacefully as there is no alternative to it.Facing a volley of questions from journalists on politics and election just after arrival he reiterated his call for all political parties to participate in the election. "Political uncertainty definitely exerts itself on the country's economy," was his only response to the questions about the existing volatile political situation."I hope good sense will prevail among all," he said. Yunus described the moment ...
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