Archive for December 26th, 2006
Tuesday, December 26th, 2006The battle for ballot between the two major political alliances kicks off today as the candidates of the Awami League (AL) led grand electoral alliance file their nominations for the election slated for January 22.Most of the contenders of the BNP-led four-party alliance have already filed nominations. Those who have yet to register their names for the race will do it today, the last day for submitting nominations.However, none of the alliances has announced the official list of their nominees, as both the sides could not yet reach an understanding over sharing seats for the election.The final lists will ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006The Awami League (AL), still deep in dilemma about whether to contest the election despite filing nomination papers, has spread confusion and frustration among its central and grassroots leaders.The leaders of the AL as well as its allies are now short on answers about why their top leadership, specially Sheikh Hasina, gave her nod to election although many of the 14-party's five-point demands remain unmet. This is more so as the party made the decision in its presidium meeting in the face of opposition from a majority of its members.This has forced many party leaders to question why such ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday issued a statement asserting his party's 'firm commitment to secularism', as a frantic damage control effort over the highly controversial five-point deal between Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM).Pressure from both AL and the 14-party alliance has been mounting to scrap the deal while Jalil continued to defend the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between AL and BKM signed on Saturday.Jalil in his statement, however, avoided shedding any light on the heated issue -- the AL-BKM agreement.Key points of the 5-point MoU include enacting new laws to allow certain clerics issue fatwas (religious ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Nobel laureate Prof Amartya Sen has spelled out the evaluation of women's movement across the globe, with women's agencies playing active role in broadening the initial focus on better treatment to equal rights for all.The role of women's agencies must be more concerned with women's well-being, he said, adding that an active agency of women cannot ignore the urgency of rectifying many inequalities that blight the well-being of women and subject them to unequal treatment.The necessary social change would have to be brought about through women's education and economic and social roles relating to strengthening of women's agency, he ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Jatiya Party (JP) led by HM Ershad has claimed to have got 53 constituencies including 20 out of the 22 parliamentary seats in greater Rangpur to contest the upcoming general election under the umbrella of the Awami League-led grand alliance. The JP chairman will contest the election from five constituencies while his wife Rawshan Ershad from two constituencies.Ershad announced the party candidates' list yesterday and claimed it was finalised in consultation with the AL.After a long discussion with the JP, the AL leadership decided to sacrifice Nilphamari-1, Gaibandha-2, Narail-1, Patuakhali-3, Netrakona-2 and Habiganj-3 constituencies for its main alliance ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is yet to decide about taking part in the upcoming polls, while the deadline for filing the nomination papers ends today.At a press briefing at the party presidium office in Baridhara yesterday, LDP President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury observed that there are huge illegal firearms, which could not be seized yet. Moreover, the listed criminals and the black money owners are still at large, he said."In this situation there is no atmosphere in the country for holding a free and fair election," the LDP president said adding that if the chief adviser takes actions against these and ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Eminent citizens of the country yesterday expressed concern over the deal signed between Awami League's (AL's) and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish on Saturday.Condemning the deal, the eminent citizens in a joint statement said the people who had issued fatwa (religious decree) before would return with a renewed zeal and drag the country into the dark ages, if the laws were passed according to the deal. They said it would make room for a parallel legal system.The issuing of fatwa, a key point of the five-point accord, was banned earlier by a High Court (HC) rule. However, the Appellate Division has placed ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006The Christian community of the country yesterday celebrated Christmas with pledges to work for peace and humanity following the ideals of Jesus Christ. President/Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed hosted a reception for the members of the community at Bangabhaban.Archbishop Michael Rozario, members of different churches and leading members of the Christian community attended the function.Besides, ambassadors, high commissioners and diplomats of different countries, including the USA, the UK, France, Australia, Russia, Sweden, Italy, and the European Union, and representatives of international organisations joined the reception.The day was a public holiday.Decoration of Xmas trees with colourful lights, special prayers, distribution of gifts ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Joint forces will launch a massive drive to arrest criminals and recover illegal firearms to improve law and order ahead of the January 22 parliamentary elections.Armed forces, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), police, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Ansar will start the drive in four to five days on the basis of list of criminals prepared by police and the Rab, sources said.For the first time after formation on March 26 in 2004, the elite Rab will be engaged to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for holding a free and fair election alongside the armed forces, police, BDR and Ansar, sources said.The Election ...
(read more) Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Some Jatiya Party (Ershad) central leaders, led by presidium member and former deputy prime minister Shah Moazzem Hossain, yesterday joined the BNP.Other central leaders, who joined the BNP, are JP presidium members Syeda Razia Foez, Mansur Sarker and Ismail Hossain Bengal, and joint secretary general Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury.On behalf of the newcomers, including some former MPs and several thousand JP activists, Shah Moazzem Hossain presented a bouquet to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the joining ceremony at a playground close to Hawa Bhaban.Addressing the function, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia cautioned that conspiracy is going on against BNP, its allies, election ...
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