Mysterious African Disease Is a New Virus: Expert Three Confirmed Dead From Previously Unknown Viral Strain

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A mysterious hemorrhagic disease that has killed three people in South Africa and forced others into isolation appears to be a never-before-seen strain of a virus known as an arenavirus, an expert said on Monday.

Genetic testing indicates the virus is a new type of arenavirus -- a large family of viruses that include the germs that cause Lassa fever and the mouse-borne lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, said Dr. Ian Lipkin of Columbia University in New York.

The virus causes hemorrhagic disease -- meaning it can cause internal and external bleeding. The first victim was a woman from Zambia flown to South Africa for treatment. A paramedic who accompanied her and a nurse from the clinic where she was taken also died.

Samples from the patients were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to Lipkin's lab in New York, where genetic tests are used to find new microbes.

The standard way to identify viruses is by growing them in a lab dish, but this method misses many viruses and some simply cannot be cultured, Lipkin said

"We don't know why it is so pathogenic. It is a new virus, not like Lassa," Lipkin told a news conference at a meeting of infectious disease experts.

The virus is not related to certain other viruses that can cause hemorrhagic disease, such as Ebola or dengue.

South African officials say they are monitoring more than 100 people who may have come into contact with the patients.

Maybe a new Supernova device after all

The teaser website of Nokia didn't gave us a new fashion phone, but nevertheless it seems that the Finnish are making a new Supernova device; the 7100 Supernova.

The name of the device, the Nokia 7100 Supernova is actually quite strange. The previous Supernovas the 7210 Supernova, 7310 Supernova, 7510 Supernova and 7610 Supernova all end with the number 10. Shouldn't this device than be called the 7110 Supernova? Well, never mind.
The looks of the 7100 Supernova has quite what resemblance with the 7610 Supernova. It is a slider device, but with simple and descent specs. The 7100 is a triband device with 1.3 megapixel camera and built-in FM radio. Nokia has given the device an Opera Mini browser and of course the device has Bluetooth to send and receive files.

Multimedia
Nokia has also made the 7100 Supernova able of supporting Flash Lite (version 2.1.1.) In theory this Supernova should be able to support YouTube video's. But we can't confirm yet.

The i7110 is offical; Symbian smartphone hit

Samsung has shown the i7110 to the public for the first time today at the Smartphone Sow in London. We already had information about the i7110, including the first pictures, but now we can also show you the list with features. And they are exciting! The i7110 is a thin device of only 12,9 millimeters. The device has GPS, a 5 megapixel camera with smile- and blinkshot, a FM transmitter and a AMOLED display that can even be read in bright daylight.
Symbian 9.3
The i7110 is based on the Symbian OS version 9.3 Feature Pack 2 and has a 2.6 inch AMOLED display of QVGA resolution (320 x 240 pixels). A distinctive feature of AMOLED is comparison with the mainly used TFT is the fact that a display with AMOLED is still good to see and the letters on the display are still easy to read. And you can not do this with TFT.

This is especially great because the i7110 has a navigation system that can also be used by pedestrians. The program can be used in 10 European cities, like Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris and Rome. You can also use the navigation system for when you're driving a car, because you can hear the instructions through the auto speakers thanks to the built-in FM transmitter.
The i7110 is shown to the public at the Symbian Smartphone Show from 21 till 22 October in London city. We expect the Samsung i7110 to be come available in stores this quarter.

Launch New Mobile Information

Europe : Knowledge Technology Solutions PLC (KTS) and O2, a leading provider of mobile services to consumers and businesses in the UK, have today launched KTS MarketTerminal with O2.

The new KTS MarketTerminal with O2 service provides mobile access to essential international market data and news. It is delivered through O2's 'always on'data connections via GPRS, 3G and WLAN, turning a subscriber's laptop into a fully-live KTS MarketTerminal.

KTS and O2 are jointly marketing the new service, which, in an age when financial professionals are working increasingly outside the office, allows them to keep completely up-to-date with live international market information, access the latest market news and receive instant price and news alerts.

Subscribers receive always on access to KTS MarketTerminal with O2, which is available throughout the UK over O2's mobile data network. Included in the flat rate £200-per-month (ex VAT) package are the O2 connectivity subscription and O2 3G/GPRS Data Card for laptop computers.

The new service is principally for financial professionals who need live
international stockmarket data, news and other essential financial information when they are out of the office or away from their desktop.

Among the 15 Exchanges covered by KTS MarketTerminal with O2 are the London Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, Euronext, Deutsche Boerse and the Scandinavian exchanges, to name but some. News, data and analytics are supplied by the premium names in financial information, including Interactive Data, AFX News and Dow Jones Newswires.

Dr Marc Pinter-Krainer, Chief Executive of KTS PLC, said:

'Research shows that financial professionals are spending less time than ever at their desks. The new KTS MarketTerminal with O2 mobile service enables our clients to stay in touch with the markets while on the move. In a world where information is power and quick decisions make the difference between profit and loss, KTS and O2 are providing a mobile service that sets the standard in flexibility, speed, resilience and user-friendliness.'

Target customers for KTS MarketTerminal with O2 are primarily City institutions. Both companies' sales teams are marketing it to existing and potential clients. Technical support is being provided by KTS.

With this new service, KTS and O2 are aiming to take a leadership position providing business data across mobile networks, which independent experts Strategy Analytics estimate will grow from $61 billion in 2004 to just over $189 billion by 2009.

Mark Imrie, Head of Products of O2, said:

'KTS MarketTerminal with O2 will change the way financial professionals work. They will be able to stay informed and make crucial financial decisions when away from their desks without compromising on quality or the speed of market data and news. This new service fits perfectly with our strategy to strengthen our position as the leading provider of business services via mobile data connectivity.'

Dr Marc Pinter-Krainer concluded:

'We are delighted to be partnering with O2 in providing a new mobile service that will make it far easier for financial professionals to keep in touch with essential news and data, wherever they are. KTS MarketTerminal with O2 should set a new standard in flexibility. It's all about staying informed, anytime, anywhere.'

US army kills 9 Afghan soldiers by mistake

A US-led coalition airstrike mistakenly hit an Afghan army checkpoint yesterday, killing nine soldiers and wounding three, Afghan officials said.

The strike hit a checkpoint in the Sayed Kheil area of Khost province in eastern Afghanistan, said Arsallah Jamal, the province's governor.

The US said its forces "may have mistakenly killed and injured" Afghan soldiers in what may have been a case of mistaken identity "on both sides."

"As a Coalition forces convoy was returning from a previous operation, they were involved in multiple engagements," a U.S. military statement said. "As a result of the engagements, ANA (Afghan army) soldiers were killed and injured."

Apparent friendly fire incidents have happened before. In June 2007, Afghan police mistook US troops on a nighttime mission for Taliban fighters and opened fire on them, prompting US forces to return fire and call in attack aircraft. Seven Afghan police were killed.

Meanwhile about 35 Taliban militants and three police were killed after about 100 insurgents attacked a district centre in southern Afghanistan, a provincial police chief said yesterday.

Heavy fighting started late Tuesday and lasted into early Wednesday after the rebels launched the attack in troubled Uruzgan province, police chief Juma Gul Hemat told AFP.

"More than 100 Taliban launched an attack to capture the district of Dih Rahwud. Our police bravely resisted and killed 35 Taliban whose bodies are left in the area," Hemat said.

"Three of our policemen were also martyred and nine others were injured in the fighting," he said.

International military war planes were called in to help the Afghan forces, he said. US and NATO forces in Afghanistan could not immediately confirm their involvement.

The Taliban were in government between 1996 and 2001 and are fighting to take back power from the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.

The insurgency has picked up pace in the past three years, despite the presence of about 60,000 international troops helping Afghan forces to face a rebellion that Afghan officials say is now supported by militants arriving from Iraq.

Print Friendly Version International China must modernise its food safety

China must modernise its food safety system, the United Nations said yesterday, arguing an outdated and disjointed approach may have worsened a crisis over contaminated milk that killed four babies.

In a new report on food safety in China, the UN urged Beijing to adopt a "modern" food safety law and introduce other measures that would help build trust in the government's ability to ensure the nation's food was safe.

"The present system is managed by several laws and an old philosophy that government is responsible for everything," Jorgen Schlundt, the director of the UN's World Health Organisation department of food safety, told journalists.

"We have to change that kind of philosophy because we need the food producers to be responsible for food safety," he said.

The report was issued as China continued to deal with the fall-out of a scandal in which the industrial chemical melamine was found to have been commonly mixed into milk to give it the appearance of higher protein levels.

Four babies died and at least 53,000 babies fell ill after drinking tainted milk powder, and contaminated Chinese dairy products have been recalled around the world, once again tarnishing the global image of the "Made in China" brand.

The United Nations has recommended that China tighten oversight focusing on high-risk areas of the food chain and modernise its food safety system as more reports of world hesitation over Chinese products flow in.

Chinese dairy products have been recalled around the world, once again tarnishing the global image of the "Made in China" brand after four babies died and at least 53,000 babies fell ill after drinking tainted milk powder recently.

Meanwhile Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said yesterday it will set new quality standards for its suppliers amid a scare over toxic milk products from China.

Mike Duke, vice chairman of Wal-Mart's international division, said the company is expecting "greater transparency ... from our supplier partners" beginning next month.

They will be required to "tell us the name and location of every factory they use to make the products we sell," according to Duke's prepared remarks delivered at a company conference in Beijing. "Essentially, we expect you to ask the tough questions, to give us the answers and, if there's a problem, to own the solution."

Wal-Mart will apply the new standards to apparel first and eventually use them on all its products, Duke said.

The measures by Wal-Mart, China's largest foreign retailer, come as confidence in Chinese exports has been shaken after a series of product safety scandals.

Last year, high levels of industrial toxins were found in exports ranging from toothpaste to toys.

Wal-Mart sold Chinese-made cribs which were part of a recall this week by New York-based Delta Enterprises. The 600,000 cribs of various models with spring-loaded safety pegs were manufactured in China and sold between January 2000 and January 2007.

Another 985,000 cribs were recalled because of the potential for missing safety pegs. Those products were manufactured in Taiwan and Indonesia and sold between January 1995 and September 2007.

The recall was instituted after the deaths of two babies.

In the southern Chinese territory of Macau, government officials said late Tuesday that three more children have developed kidney stones.

In South Korea, the Agriculture Ministry says traces of melamine were found in five egg products imported from China.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says less than 2.5 parts per million of melamine are not harmful in most foods, except baby formula. Only one of the five products in South Korea had traces higher than that level.

Admission Rules DU white panel teachers back madrasa students

The BNP-Jamaat backed 'white-panel' teachers of Dhaka University (DU) will back the madrasa students on the issue of relaxing admission criteria of several departments of the university for them.

The white-panel teachers yesterday said they would urge DU Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz to ask the departments concerned to 'cancel' or 'relax' the conditions that disqualify the madrasa students from getting admission to several departments of the university.

"We shall meet the vice chancellor today at 12:30pm and urge him to ask the departments concerned to revise the admission criteria," said white-panel convener Prof Sadrul Amin while talking to The Daily Star last night.

The white panel teachers made the decision after a three-hour-long meeting at the teachers' lounge at the arts building last night.

Seven departments -- Department of English, Bengali, Economics, Mass Communication and Journalism, International Relations, Women and Gender Studies and Linguistics -- under the arts and social science faculties have introduced some conditions that disqualify the madrasa students from admission to those departments.

The meeting, however, condemned the attack on the VC office by madrasa students demanding cancellation of the university authorities'

Talking to The Daily Star on Tuesday, the chairmen of four out of the seven departments, said they decided to introduce the conditions to maintain academic standards not to exclude madrasa students from the admission process.

However, Prof Amin, also the dean of the arts faculty, said academic standards would not be hampered if the madrasa students get admitted to those departments.

"I don't believe that the academic standards would be hampered. Madrasa students can do well in those departments," Prof Amin added.

Admission Rules Demo 13 madrasa students held for breaking EPR

Police yesterday arrested 13 madrasa students on charge of violating Emergency Power Rules (EPR) by trying to form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the city.

Out of the arrested, 10 are students of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa, one from Dhaka Alia Madrasa and two from Mezbahul Ulum Kamil Madrasa.

Sources said police detained 12 students as they tried to form a human chain in front of the National Press Club demanding cancellation of provisions made recently for admission into Dhaka University (DU).

DU authorities recently introduced new criteria for admission into some departments of the university according to which students having completed Alim examins under the Madrasa Education Boards do not qualify.

Protesting the decision, over one hundred madrasa students vandalised the office of DU Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz on October 18. They also threatened that they would not let the university run if the decisions taken were not withdrawn.

Mohammad Easin Arafat, convener of Bangladesh Madrasa Chhatra Andolan Parishad, said police arrested madrasa students as they reached the Press Club at around 10:30am.

Meanwhile, several hundred madrasa students held a rally on the DU campus yesterday morning demanding removal of DU Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz and accusing him of being involved in a conspiracy not to allow madrasa students to some DU departments.

To press home their demands the students also brought out a protest procession and marched different streets on the campus.

DU authorities have filed a case against 150-160 unidentified people with Shahbagh Police Station regarding the attack on the VCs office.

Jahangirnagar University Teacher cleared of sexual abuse charge assaulted

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday assaulted drama and dramatics (D&D) department head Sanowar Hossain Sunny, who had been cleared of sexual harassment charges by the syndicate . Five students were injured as armed cadres of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) swooped on the agitating students allegedly at the dictate of a section of the university teachers. An emergency meeting of the university syndicate was convened on the campus following the incident. The meeting was on till filing of the report at 9:00 last night. Sunny submitted a written statement to acting vice-chancellor Prof Moniruzzaman demanding a fair probe into the attack. In the statement he accuses 22 students mentioning names of seven of the attack, sources said. Students agitating for dismissal of Sunny, against who 17 female students of his department brought charges of sexual harassment, became furious soon after Sunny arrived on the campus and went to his office around noon. The students chased Sunny, who took shelter in the teachers' lounge at the old Arts Faculty building. The students held him at the lounge and beat up him until some colleagues of Sunny came to his rescue. As students continued agitating, some teachers allegedly sought help from JCD and BCL cadres, who rushed to the scene and swooped on the agitating students. The cadres also went on a rampage at the department and vandalised windowpanes and teachers rooms. At one stage the agitating students took shelter in a classroom locking from inside to escape from the mayhem caused by the cadres. Witnesses said Prof Mozzammel Haque Chowdhury and ex-proctor Kamrul Ahsan Tito rescued sunny and took him away from the spot guarded by BCL cadres at 1:20pm. JCD cadres on the other hand staged an armed showdown on the campus searching for the agitating students and activists of the left-leaning political parties' student wings. During the showdown the JCD cadres beat up former president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union Kollol Bonik, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front general secretary Jubayer Hossain Prince, activist Ariful Islam and student of drama Shahadat Sarker. Another student of the department, Rusho was also beat up in his dormitory Shaheed Salam Barkat Hall. The injured were given first aid. Contacted, Proctor Mafruhi Sattar Titu told journalists, "Legal steps will be taken against those involved in teacher's harassment and attacks on the students. The assaulted teacher has already applied for a probe into the incident." The JCD and BCL cadres brought out a procession on the campus last evening under the banner of general students and demanded punishment of the students who assaulted Sunny. Jahangirnagar University Teachers' Association called an emergency meeting today to take a decision over the incident. Classes and examinations of drama and dramatics department remained suspended since the students began agitation in May. Four female students of the department submitted a written statement accusing Sunny of harassing them sexually on May 3. Sunny was cleared of the charges on September 13 when agitating students were observing a fast unto death programme to press home their two-point demand. The demands are dismissal of Sunny and implementation of a policy against sexual harassment on the campus. The students observed fast unto death programmes several times but called off the agitation as the university authorities had assured them of looking into the matter. The university authorities, however, took a decision in favour of Sunny, sparking huge protests from intellectuals, political and social organisations and students, who rejected the decision straightaway. Sources say the role of the university authorities has been controversial since the very beginning with formation of a fact-finding committee. The students kept eight syndicate members including the acting VC confined to the university administrative building for 16 hours on July 30 to press home their demands. As a testimony to the controversial role the university authorities in an unusual move formed separate probe bodies like a 'fact-finding committee' and a 'stronger fact-finding committee'. None of the committees found "enough" evidence to charge Sunny with the allegations. In the wake of further agitation the authorities were forced to form a high-powered probe-body headed by the VC and the committee finally declared Sunny "innocent" saying enough evidence was not available. Meanwhile, the JU syndicate at an emergency meeting yesterday suspended six students of the dramatics department following a complainant by Sunny. The six are Nazmul Islam Anik, Anjali Islam Shimu, Inunnahar Putul, Fahim Sharmin Dipti, Shahdatullah Rumon and Chinmoy Gupta.

'They cannot touch Jamaat if only the corrupt are their target'

Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojahid, is the secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. He became the Ameer of the party's Dhaka City unit in 1983, assistant secretary general in 1988, and secretary general of the party in 2000. He was a minister during the BNP-led four-party alliance tenure in 2001-2006. He was president of the then East Pakistan Islamic Chhatra Shangha, which is known to have been involved with the acts of genocide committed by the Pakistan military in 1971. Rakib Hasnet Suman and Rashidul Hasan took this interview. There is a feeling that only Jamaat remained untouched during the military backed caretaker government, what is your comment? The government says they have caught those who were engaged in corruption. They cannot touch Jamaat if only the corrupt are their target. We had two ministers, and we can challenge that we did not make a single taka through corruption. But the caretaker government made the mistake of not holding the trials in an open court, and tried to find allegations after arrest. They wanted a balance as no action has been taken against those who supported "reform." The procedure adopted to reduce corruption was wrong. You held an "unprecedented" meeting with the BNP chairperson in the sub-jail. Who arranged that meeting? I was in jail during Ayub, Yahya, Ershad and Hasina's regime. It is possible to meet anyone if the jail authority allows it. It was not a meeting but a call. In fact, a free and fair election is our target. The call was organised ahead of the election. She [Khaleda] is our alliance leader and it was necessary to know her view. She also has no objection against me, and we visited her after getting permission from the jail authority. Who gave the proposal first for that meeting -- the government or the four-party alliance? We wanted to, and Delwar Hossain also applied officially. It [meeting with Khaleda in jail] happened on the basis of our desire. I will not tell you anything more in this regard. Earlier, the High Court awarded bail to Motiur Rahman Nizami but the government did not appeal in time. This time, the court issued an arrest warrant against you but the police said that you were untraceable. How do you explain this? No, the government has appealed against the bail order of Nizami. And about myself, I think I am innocent. I did not commit any wrong, and that is why I am doing my normal activities. Secondly, the investigating officer submitted the final report, saying that no documents wee found against us. But the ACC did not like it, so they asked for a new charge sheet against us. That is absolute injustice. But you participated in dialogue with the chief adviser when there was an arrest warrant against you. The court did not impose any restrictions on my activities. In the meantime, it adjourned the Barapukuria coalmine case for three months. Do you support the view that only parliament should be empowered to impose emergency to ensure democracy? It has to be said that emergency might be imposed if necessary, but it must be ensured that it is not misused. If people want, a preventive clause should be included in the constitution to prevent emergency from being misused. The next elected parliament can consider the matter. But we are not giving our final opinion on it now. There are a lot of questions about the activities of foreign diplomats and representatives of donor agencies regarding election and political activities? What do you think? Donor agencies interfered in our internal political affairs to foil the January 22 election. The roles of some of them contributed to the creation of the unwanted situation. We have asked the UN delegation to explain about their letter, issued before the aborted January 22 election, that concerned a peace-keeping mission. We also said that the coming election was our internal matter, and that, in the name of donor partners, nobody should interfere in our internal affairs. People should be aware of this. What is your evaluation of 1/11? It would be better if it had not happened. The country has gone backward in the last 20 months. But the parties should be self-critical, and should have respect for each other. Have you heard about any list of leaders -- that has been given to the two major parties -- who cannot be nominated for the coming polls? We have, but so far as I know we did not get such a list. What is the outcome of the recent dialogue between Jamaat-e-Islami and the caretaker government? We participated in the dialogue and placed our logical and practical demands ahead of the election. It seems that the chief adviser and other advisers have understood our logic and want to hold the December 18 election. So, there was a consensus that the election must be held, and it's a positive sign. Why are you opposing election under emergency? We are opposing emergency as all the fundamental rights are suspended and it is not possible to practice the constitutional rights of the citizen. We cannot even hold rallies under emergency. But the education adviser has already said that emergency will continue, to ensure the security of voters. It has no logic. If one thinks this way, emergency will have to continue forever. We have seen elections in festive mood in 1991,1996 and 2001. And our people never engaged in violence centring elections. The latest city corporation poll was not error-less as many ballot books have been recovered from different places. Even the CEC himself apologised for such errors. What will be the position of Jamaat if emergency continues during the upcoming election? The December 18 election is a must for the nation, and I am not thinking negatively that the government will be irresponsible and create obstacles in the holding of the election. Why are you opposing the revised Representation of People Order? Some clauses in the amended RPO are in contradiction with the national constitution. We have placed alternative proposals to uphold the constitution -- like scrapping the amended RPO or making changes in some clauses and sub-clauses. But some initiatives, like party registration, are necessary to bring the political parties under accountability. Do you support it? It is not a task of the Election Commission. Leaders of political parties will have to be responsible before the people if democracy and parliament exist. We never opposed the registration process in principle. We asked them [EC] not to do anything that would delay the election, or take the easy way for registration. They amended the RPO in August, but in the meantime they had to make changes twice. The constitution will force them to make more changes. There is an opinion that the four-party alliance took a stance against registration and RPO due to Jamaat. Is that right? Those who made this allegation are blindly against Jamaat. Because, primarily, Awami League, BNP and Jamaat took the same stance on registration and RPO. We have heard that Jamaat took the initiative to bring changes in the party constitution for getting registered with the EC. What kind of changes you are making? We have no problem registering with our existing party constitution. We are a dynamic party and have brought changes in our constitution 12 times till now. We are thinking of making the 13th amendment, and a committee led by the secretary general is working on it. Are you bringing changes to ensure 33% woman representation to fulfil the EC criteria? The EC has asked the parties to do that by 2020, so it is not necessary to hurry. About 54 women leaders are regularly attending the meetings of the Majlish-e-Shura. But we think this is not a matter to be imposed. No institution, even the EC, has the right to impose it. What about your preparation for coming poll? Have you prepared the manifesto? We were ready for January 22, 2007 election, so we are ready to take part in the polls anytime. But we will upgrade our manifesto if necessary, and we are making preparations for that. When will the processes of seat sharing in the four-party alliance start? How many seats will you want? We are now trying to understand our position so that no problems arise in reaching a compromise. We got 34/35 seats for the January 22 election, but I will not disclose the number of seats we expect for the coming poll. But we will emphasise on winning. What will be your party's stance if the question of not giving nomination to the convicted leaders come to the forefront? We will accept the verdict of the highest court if trials in all stages are held in an open court. The constitution says that a convicted person can take part in election if he has filed an appeal petition in the highest court. But emergency rules say that a convicted person will not be allowed to participate in the poll. This is injustice, and interference in the constitution. A crime like corruption cannot be removed by injustice. There are a lot of allegations of corruption against the BNP-led alliance government. Do you think the image of that government was tarnished due to Hawa Bhaban? All, including Awami League, had alleged that Ershad had nationalised corruption. Later, corruption allegation rose against the BNP and Awami League governments. The allegation and counter-allegation are going on. But the reality is that corruption has spread out everywhere in the world and it has eaten all in our country. We must be corruption free, but it is not possible by creating a flood of cases. It needs an elected government, motivation, changes in test curriculum, and positive role of media and fear of the Almighty. But three elected governments ruled the country, so why has corruption grown? We just talk about this, but could not take effective measures to eliminate corruption. Will the BNP-led alliance continue the ongoing anti-corruption drive if voted to power again? We tried when we were in power. Even 6/7 ministers had been dropped because of corruption. I think the current anti-corruption drive has failed. So I can assure you that we will take tough steps against corruption in future.

Mojahid for stopping abuse of emergency

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid thinks the country's constitution can have an article to prevent abuse of emergency provisions.

If people want, he said, the next parliament may consider this.

In an interview with The Daily Star on October 17, he alleged that the donor agencies interfered in the country's internal affairs last year to foil the parliamentary polls then scheduled for January 22.

The roles that some of them had played contributed to the nation's being in troubled waters, he observed in reference to the changeover of 1/11.

“The upcoming election is an internal matter of ours. None of the donors or development partners should meddle in it,” he said.Until recently, Mojahid has been the subject of intense speculations for how he kept attending different programmes in public despite an arrest warrant against him in Barapukuria graft case. At that time, police described him as a fugitive to the trial court.

Asked about the matter, the Jamaat leader said, “I'm innocent. I didn't commit anything wrongful and that's why I'm going about my normal activities.”

Two days later, the High Court asked him to surrender within two weeks to the trial court that had issued the warrant for his arrest.

At the same time, it directed the government not to harass or arrest Mojahid within that period.

About his much-talked about meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail, he said that was no formal meeting. “She [Khaleda] is our leader and it was necessary to know her views about matters regarding the election.

“We visited her with permission from the jail authorities, and it was possible because she had no objection to meeting me.”

Asked who had arranged the meeting, Mojahid said they wished to meet her when BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain applied for permission to visit the former prime minister in jail. “I won't say anymore about the matter.”

Queried, he declined to disclose the number of seats they are seeking to run for on the alliance ticket in December 18 polls. For the cancelled January 22 election, they got 34/35 seats.

“Five to six ministers have been dropped from the cabinet due to corruption at the beginning of the alliance rule. And I can assure you that we'll go tough on graft if voted back to power,” he said.

“The anti-corruption drive by the caretaker government has failed because the way they went about the task was wrong.”

Jamaat recognises Liberation War

Finally, anti-liberation Jamaat-e-Islami has recognised the historic Liberation War of Bangladesh in its newly revised constitution. The change of policy was forced upon it by its desperation to keep itself legitimised as a parliamentary party registered with the Election Commission (EC), in the face of new amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO). The amended RPO says the constitution of a political party seeking registration cannot contradict the country's constitution. Jamaat's provisional constitution which was submitted to the EC for getting registered as a parliamentary party, also renamed the organisation Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, changing its earlier name Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Jamaat also dropped a symbol with the words 'Allahu' and 'Aqimuddin' in Arabic from the cover of its provisional constitution. The party adopted its constitution in 1979. Its also allows non-Muslims to be members of Jamaat, but puts the responsibility of protecting the country's independence and sovereignty by taking an oath only on them, while the Muslim members are exempted from taking that oath. "I shall actively play a role in defending the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh," reads a section of the oath scheduled for non-Muslim members, whose inclusion was prompted by the party's latest necessity for removing religious and gender discriminations within the organisation. According to Jamaat's interim constitution which will be ratified by a national council within six months of the first sitting of the next parliament, as promised by it, both Muslim and non-Muslim members however must swear to abide by the rules and decisions of the party, giving the highest priority to implementing the decisions. Among other fundamental beliefs and spirits, Jamaat also accepted the spirit of the heroic liberation war of 1971 by inserting a new paragraph into the preamble of its new provisional constitution. The heroic struggle of the people and freedom fighters that liberated Bangladesh and put it on the world map as an independent country has been mentioned as a part of the fundamental beliefs and spirits of the party. Submitting the application for registration and the provisional constitution to the EC for being qualified to contest in the upcoming parliamentary election, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, said his party has been in politics since May, 1979 by accepting the creation of Bangladesh through the liberation war. Jamaat was constitutionally banned for years in the newly independent country for its anti-liberation activities and collaboration with the invading army in 1971. Many Jamaat leaders were facing charges of war crimes and some of them were on the run. But the party was allowed to resume its activities in 1979 as the constitutional ban on forming religion based political parties was repealed after the bloody regime change of August 15, 1975. Lately, Jamaat's survival was facing difficulties again as the revised RPO made political parties' registration with the EC mandatory for contesting in the parliamentary election. The strict new provisions forced the party to change the preamble to its constitution accepting the historic liberation war as its original constitution contradicted the Constitution of Bangladesh. Jamaat, traditionally an Islamist fundamentalist party, in its revised constitution replaced the phrase describing its goal of 'establishing the rule of Allah' with a new phrase of 'establishing a fair and just Islamic society'. The party included a new section in its constitution's preamble that says, "Jamaat-e-Islami will work to establish an Islamic social system that guarantees justice for all, since Bangladesh emerged as the third largest Muslim country through a heroic battle of the people and freedom fighters." According to its interim constitution, Jamaat also co-opted the members of its women's majlish-e-sura into the central majlish-e-sura, the highest policy making body. It also added provisions for reserving 33 percent seats for women in all its committees with a promise to achieve the target by 2020. In line with the amended RPO, the new Jamaat constitution also promises to nominate parliamentary contenders from a panel created by the grassroots level committees and forwarded to the party's parliamentary board. About severing its ties with front organisations, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman who yesterday went to apply for the party's registration, said Jamaat has no front organisation. Jamaat, a key component of BNP-led four-party alliance which ruled the country just before the current caretaker government, had earlier refused to get registered with the EC under the current RPO, and challenged its legality in the High Court terming some of the amendments unconstitutional.

Teachers slate madrasa students' vandalism at DU VC's office

Teachers of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday expressed concern over Saturday's vandalism at the office of DU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz by a group of madrasa students.

They were speaking at a protest programme at the foot of Aparajyeo Bangla on the university campus at 12:00noon.

The DU teachers demanded proper investigation into the incident and said it was an attack not only on the VC's office but also the university's dignity.

The protest programme, in which about 50 DU teachers took part, was organised following a decision at Sunday's meeting of the executive committee of Dhaka University Teachers Association (Duta).

Over a hundred madrasa students along with some DU students, vandalised the VC office demanding cancellation of the university authorities' decision of not allowing admission, in some departments, to the students who did not study Bangla and English of 200 marks each in their higher secondary or equivalent courses.

Meanwhile, several hundred madrasa students in the morning formed a human chain at Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) intersection to press home their demands.

Former Duta president Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said a department itself sets the admission criteria.

"The students who want to get admitted to those departments have to fulfil the required criteria," he said.

"It was a planned attack. There might have been an instigation from a certain quarter", Prof Arefin said adding that a proper investigation into the incident is essential.

When asked whether it was part of a conspiracy to shut the university, Prof Arefin said such a possibility cannot be ruled out.

Social Science Faculty Dean Prof Harun-or-Rashid said the people responsible must be brought to book immediately.

"It was not a stray incident. There is a link between the attack on the vice chancellor's office and the removal of sculptures in front of Zia International Airport," Prof Harun said.

Duta General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Prof Sheikh Abdus Salam, Dr Zinat Huda, Dr Ahiduzzaman, Assistant Prof Hafizur Rahman Curzon, Prof Dr Hossain Mansur, Dr Syed Manzurul Islam, Prof Fakhrul Alam, Prof AKM Golam Rabbani and Dr Salma Chowdhury, among others, were present.

Sources said none from the BNP-Jamaat backed 'White-Panel' participated in the programme although the decision of holding the programme was made at a Duta meeting with its president and White-Panel Convener Prof Sadrul Amin in the chair.

Meanwhile, several hundred madrasa students formed a human chain at the TSC (TSC) intersection demanding cancellation of the university authorities' decision.

Earlier, DU VC Prof Faiz said stern actions would be taken against the people involved in the vandalism.

But the law enforcers deployed at the TSC did not take any action against the madrasa students.

While talking to The Daily Star, Officer-in-Charge of Shahbagh Police Station Rezaul Karim said, "We need clear-cut orders to go for action on the university campus. Besides we have to be cautious that no untoward incident occurs on the campus," he said.

He also said they had already identified some madrasa students involved in the vandalism and would take action against them soon.

DU authorities on Saturday night filed a case against 150-160 unidentified people with Shahbagh Police Station in connection with the vandalism at the VC office.

Ctg BNP agog with poll preparations

The BNP in Chittagong has started preparing its workers and leaders for the next parliamentary election. As part of the preparation, the leaders of the party's Chittagong City, North and South District committees are trying to remove the gaps between them. Moreover, they are talking with the grassroots level workers, sources in BNP said.
They said, following the steps for preparation to contest the next national election, a high-power Organising Team of the central committee of BNP visited Chittagong on October 18 last. The committee held a meeting with the North District Committee of Chittagong BNP to minimize the internal feud in the party. Discords have been engulfing the committees of Chittagong BNP for some time.
The 42 members the Organising Team of the central committee of BNP led by party vice chairman Begum Rabeya Chowdhury discussed about the crisis with the grassroots level leaders and took recommendations from them for strengthening the party in Chittagong. The central leaders urged the grassroots level activists to uphold the ideology of late President Ziaur Rahman for winning the next election. Among others, central leaders of BNP Abdullah Al Noman, Golam Akber Khondakhar, Sayed Wahidul Alam, Amir Khashru Mahamud Chowdhury addressed the view-exchange meeting that was held with the Organising Team of the Central Committee at a community centre.
Abdullah Al Noman, joint secretary of BNP, told The Independent that the leaders and activists of BNP in Chittagong are united under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia. He said BNP is a pro-election political party. People are the main strength of BNP. So, the party wants to join the election. The present caretaker government should ensure the environment enabling all political parties to join the next parliamentary election, he added.
He further said, under the state of emergency the election cannot be free and fair. The government should withdraw the state of emergency immediately for free political activities of the political parties.
Golam Akber Khondakar, president of Chittagong North District committee, told The Independent that there might be internal feud in a big party like BNP. "We will overcome the differences of opinion among the leaders and we can be united under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia," he added.
On the other hand, the convener of the four-member ad-hoc committee of Chittagong City committee Syed Wahidul Alam met with Begum Khaleda Zia. Alam told The Independent that the BNP chairperson directed them to be united and solve all internal feuds in BNP in Chittagong immediately.
He said, "I talked with chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for reorganising the committee of Chittagong City BNP. She felt the need to take decision in this regard immediately for winning all the seats in Chittagong in the next parliament election.
"We may expand the ad-hoc committee very soon. We will include the root- level leaders and activists in the ad-hoc committee. We will hold a meeting of ad-hoc committee in a short time. We will propose the names of the leaders for expanding the ad-hoc committee and send the list to the central committee for approval. BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will take final decision in this regard," he said.
The organising team will hold a meeting with the leaders of Chittagong City and South District committees very soon.
Meanwhile, the probable poll candidates of BNP in Chittagong have started preparations for the parliamentary election scheduled to be held on December 18.

DU IBA admission test on Oct 31

The admission test of the BBA programme under Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University (DU) for the academic session 2008-09 will be held at 10:00am on October 31.

The application package is available at the Curzon Hall branch of Agrani Bank on the DU campus.

The application forms must be submitted to the BBA programme office between 9:00am and 5:00pm on working days. The last date for submission of application forms is October 28.

For details, applicants may visit the IBA website at www.iba-du.edu.

Mohiuddin's daughter laid to rest

Oct 19: Fouzia Sultana Chowdhury (Tumpa), daughter of Alhaj ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), was laid to rest at her family graveyard on Chasma Hill premises at about 6 pm this evening after Namaj-e-Janaja at Laldighi Maidan at about 4:30 pm.

The Mayor of Dhaka City Corporation Sadek Hussain Khoka, BNP leader and former Minister Abdullah Al Noman, former Minister Engr Mosharraf Hussain, and other Awami League and BNP leaders attended the janaja. Besides, thousands of people of all strata of life attended the janaja and prayed for peace of her departed soul.
Earlier, the body of Fouzia Sultana Chowdhury (Tumpa), arrived today at the port city which cast a pall of gloom over the entire populations of the commercial capital Chittagong. A flight of Thai Airways carrying the body and Chittagong Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury landed in Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport at about 2 pm today.
The arrival of coffin in the Mayor's residence at about 2:30 pm created a heart-rending sight while the people waiting there burst out in tears and wailing.
Fouzia Sultana Chowdhury (Tumpa) is the elder daughter of late Shaheda Mohiuddin, the second wife of Mohiuddin Chowdhury. Her mother Shaheda Mohiuddin was brutally killed in a bomb blast at their residence while Tumpa was only 11 months old.
At about 4:30 pm the coffin of Tumpa has been brought to Laldighi Maidan for Namaj-e-Janaja which was attended by a large number of people of the city.
It may be mentioned that Fouzia Sultana Chowdhury (Tumpa) (22), a second year student of the Department of English Literature and Language of the Premier University, was declared clinically dead at Piathai Hospital in Bangkok at 1 pm Bangladesh time on Friday last.

Police-student clash stalls DU admission form distribution

The distribution of admission forms at Dhaka University (DU) was suspended for five hours yesterday amid students demonstration over twin demands of cutting admission fees and cancellation of the decision regarding the admission of madrassa students to eight departments of DU. At least 25 students were injured when police swung into action to disperse the demonstrators
Several hundred students gathered in front of the Teacher Student Centre (TSC) at around 8:30 am and staged demonstration against "illogical" DU admission rules that barred madrassa students from seeking admission to eight departments.
After a few minutes a large contingent of police chased the demonstrators while they were trying to foil the distribution of admission forms at TSC Janata Bank branch.
Police indiscriminately charged batons on them leaving at lest 25 injured.
Among them, seriously injured are Habibur Rahman, Shamimul Islam of Social Welfare department, Mujahidul Islam from Peace and Conflict department, Forhad of Arabic department, Omar Faruque of Political Science department, Al Mamun of Information Science and Shamim of International Relations.
Madrassa Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Committee convener Md Moniruzzaman told reporters that the police swooped on them when they were entering the TSC premises with a procession to stop selling of first-year honours course admission forms demanding withdrawal of restrictions on madrassa students for admission into eight departments of DU.
DU VC, proctor and other senior teachers sat in an emergency meeting before the police action.
After police action the demonstrators marched to the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla and held a rally. They protested DU admission rules that prevent the madrassa students from seeking admission to DU.
On the other hand, Progressive Students Alliance (PSA), a platform of left- leaning student organisation, demonstrated on the campus to reduce the increased admission fees from Tk 300 to Tk 250.
The leaders and activists of PSA took out a procession on the campus from Madhur Canteen at around 9:30 am and marched towards the TSC Janata Bank.
When they reached the TSC and tried to lay siege around TSC Janata Bank branch police resorted to baton charge leaving at least seven injured. The injured students are: Biplob Mandal, Sohan Sobhan, Sohel, Rahat Ahmed, Rukhsana Afroz Asa and Momutahina.
After the incident, the PSA put up a road block there and held a rally at the TSC. They also announced that they would not allow sale of any admission form of B and D units until fees were reduced. Sale of A unit forms at Curzon Hall was also halted following students' protest. Mita of Chhatra Union, a partner in PSA, alleged that police beat up their activists without any provocation when they reached the same place demanding a reduction of Tk 50 for each admission form. An on duty police officer, Suruzzaman told reporters that they charged batons on the agitating students, as police was asked by the university authorities to help the bank sell admission forms without any hindrance.
Earlier, DU Vice-Chancellor, SMA Faiz had directed the law enforcing agencies to assist the bank authorities so that they could sell admission forms smoothly.
However, the Janata Bank Branch, couldn't sell admission forms without interruptions, as sporadic clashes between police and the agitating students continued for a long time.
Admission seekers, who came to the campus to collect admission forms, had to suffer a lot, as they waited in long queues for hours. A number of students and guardians who came to buy forms were also injured during the police action, witnesses said.
A large number of police were deployed in and around the campus after the incident. Madrassa Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Committee later held a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) after the incident and demanded removal of VC Prof Dr SMA Faiz.
It announced a fresh course of programme include form action of a human chain today at 10 am at TSC, demonstration and rallies across the country tomorrow and submission of a memorandum to the Chief Adviser.
The DU authorities has imposed bar on madrassa students for admission to Bengali, English, Mass Communication and Journalism, Economics, Women and Gender Studies, Public Administration and Linguistics departments, as they do not have 200 marks in English like the students of general discipline.

BNP, Jamaat revise constitutions

In developments late last night, BNP made some major changes in its constitution to apply for registration with the Election Commission (EC) on the closing date today. Earlier in the day, the party and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami collected forms from the EC Secretariat. A couple of days back, Jamaat too brought about drastic changes in its charter to meet the criteria for registration, now mandatory for political parties seeking election to parliament. Throughout the day yesterday, both the parties were busy readying documents required to be attached to the forms for registration. The interim constitution of BNP does not provide for front organisations and chapters abroad. It however has a provision like arch-rival AL's to allow associated organisations. The changes were approved at a standing committee meeting presided over by Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office last night. Jamaat-e-Islami has changed 12/13 sections in its constitution. The phrases 'establishing the rule of Allah' have been replaced by 'establishing a fair and just Islamic society'. Like BNP, it scrapped the provision for front organisations. Besides, the party has included a section to let non-Muslims become its members. Coming out of the two-hour meeting at around 11:00pm, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said, “We've had whatever changes we needed in our constitution to get registered as a political party.” Earlier at a daytime press briefing, he said that for the sake of the party's existence they are applying for registration despite the 'unjust conditions imposed' by the government. He, however, added that it does not necessarily mean BNP will participate in the election. BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan collected the application form at 2:15pm. Minuets later, Jamaat's Legal Affairs Secretary Jasim Uddin Sarker picked theirs. Talking to reporters, Nazrul said they still have objections to some provisions of the revised Representation of the People Order (RPO). “We think they are irrelevant, and will undermine democracy.” Replying to a query, Jasim Uddin said Jamaat's constitution does not have any provision running counter to those in the republic's. “We acknowledge the Liberation War that won the country independence,” he said when asked if their charter recognises the war given Jamaat's role against the birth of Bangladesh in 1971. In another development, an Awami League (AL) delegation yesterday met a technical committee of the EC to explain retention of the provision for associated organisations made up of students and workers. After the meeting in the afternoon, AL Office Secretary Abdul Mannan Khan said the commission seemed to have accepted their logic. AL insiders however said the EC committee formed to scrutinise the registration documents has in fact asked the party to change the provision as it contradicts the RPO stipulations regarding registration. The AL team told the commission they would communicate the instructions to the party high command and come up with a reply soon, added the sources. As of yesterday, 43 political parties have turned in applications for registration against 192 forms collected from the EC Secretariat. Several others are expected to apply today. Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party and Jatiya Party (Manju) might be given registration certificate today, said sources at the EC Secretariat. With BNP and Jamaat now being certain to seek enrolment as political parties, the uncertainty over the EC's plans to complete registration by October is pretty much gone. BNP-Jamaat-led alliance had been strongly opposed to registration with the EC under the revised RPO. They had been calling for the new electoral provisions to be scrapped or suspended till the upcoming election is over. On October 14, the EC extended the time limit for applications by five days to October 20 on request of BNP and allies. Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) and Bangladesher Jatiya Party (BJP), the other components of the four-party alliance, collected forms last week. Contacted, IOJ Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami said they have almost completed preparations and will submit the application today. OTHER CHANGES IN BNP CHARTER The provisional constitution says the party's parliamentary board will nominate parliamentary contenders from panels to be prepared by the grassroots. In line with the revised RPO, BNP will work to ensure that 33 percent seats in all of its committees are reserved for women by 2020. INTERIM JAMAAT STATUTE In its provisional charter, Jamaat has been renamed Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Before, it was Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Besides, the party has included a new section that says, "Jamaat-e-Islami will work to establish an Islamic social system that guarantees justice for all since Bangladesh emerged as the third largest Muslim country through a heroic battle of people and freedom fighters."

No polls without Hasina, under emergency: AL

Awami League (AL) yesterday said it would not take part in any election if the state of emergency is not withdrawn and AL President Sheikh Hasina is not "permanently and unconditionally" released. "In no circumstances we will take part in any election without Sheikh Hasina and amid the state of emergency…we will not hold any party council without her," said AL acting President Zillur Rahman. He said this while addressing a protest rally at the city's Institution of Engineers' Bangladesh. AL organised the rally as part of its countrywide protest programmes to press home the demand for "permanent and unconditional" release of Hasina and lifting of the emergency. A few thousand party workers joined the rally chanting slogans. It created a huge traffic jam on the Shahbagh-Matsaya Bhaban road. Similar protest rallies were also held at districts of the country. "Our movement will continue until the false charges against our leader are withdrawn and she is freed unconditionally," Zillur said. The AL leader said democracy cannot be established under the state of emergency and the elections cannot be free, fair and normal. He said it is now being questioned whether the national elections will be held on December 18. ”Everything including the government's attitude and demarcation of the parliamentary constituencies shows that there is conspiracy centring the national elections," he said. In the rally, AL set October 30 the deadline for the government to give assurance of releasing Hasina. Zillur said the AL will not start its election activities unless it is assured of Hasina's release. Saying that conspiracies are being hatched by different quarters to foil the December 18 elections, AL presidium member Abdur Razzak directed his party workers to prepare to resist the conspiracies. He said the government would be responsible if the elections are not held on time. AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed said the state of emergency is an obstacle to political parties willing to take part in the December 18 elections. AL leader Matia Chowdhury said ethically, politically and from the perspective of accountability to the people, they are bound to go for a movement to free Hasina. Giving assurance of ratifying, if and when in power, all the good activities of the incumbent government, she asked the government to seek apology to the countrymen for its misdeeds. AL acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said a free, fair and credible election with the participation of all political parties is only possible with the release and active participation of Hasina. Asserting that there is no alternative to elections, he said the country would plunge into darkness if the elections are not held on time and nobody knows what would be the solution then. He demanded the state of emergency be lifted. AL Joint General Secretary Mukul Bose, however, categorically accused two countries of South Asia and the Middle East of conspiring to foil the national elections with the help of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. AL leaders Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Abdul Mannan, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Abdur Rahman, MA Aziz and Qamrul Islam also spoke at the rally.

Shakib bowls, bats, gives Tigers hope

An all-round performance, in every sense of the word, from Shakib Al Hasan brought Bangladesh back from the precipice to a place from where the Tigers can realistically dream of a victory against New Zealand after the third day's play of the Brac Bank first Test here yesterday. The sun-drenched, half-filled Chittagong Divisional Stadium passed nervous hours as the youngster from Magura made sure Bangladesh gain a substantial 258-run lead going into Day Four, and he himself walked off with two Bangladesh records: the best all-round performance and the best bowling figures. Shakib started from where he had left off on Day Two by claiming his seventh wicket on the third morning that also heralded the fall of the mighty Kiwis for 171 runs. The smiling assassin then used his bat like a shining sword after Bangladesh suffered a top-order collapse almost like the first innings. With half the side gone at 71, the left-hander struck a superb 71 to help the Tigers end the day on a high at 184 for eight considering the fast deteriorating wicket. With vice-captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (not out 5) at the wicket with Abdur Razzak, the home side would love to add another 25 odd runs against an opponent who has a poor fourth-innings chasing record. Although very confident, the Black Caps' highest fourth innings chase away from home has been 177 all out against Pakistan in Faisalabad in 1990, losing by 66 runs. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have a golden opportunity to defend a 200-plus total successfully in their fifth attempt. The Tigers however were coming apart and barring the wicket of Zunaed Siddiqui, all the top-order batsmen got out to impulsive strokeplay. Rajin Saleh (6) played back to a Jeetan Patel delivery that turned and hit him plumb in front and Mohammad Ashraful (0) did his team no favours by giving Aaron Redmond a catch at cover while trying to lob Daniel Vettori over covers. First-innings hero Mehrab Hossain (6) was guilty of swiping at a good length delivery, holing out to Kyle Mills at mid-on. Shakib entered with the game titling towards the visitors' way at 71 for five when Tamim Iqbal gave Vettori a simple return catch. But the game remained Shakib's as he cut, drove and swept his way to a fine 71 off 151 deliveries that included twelve boundaries. In one Patel over, Shakib struck three fours in a row as Bangladesh put one foot on the door to an unlikely victory. When he reached his half-century off 105 balls, Shakib displaced Mohammad Rafique (69 and 5-65 against Zimbabwe) as the top all-round performer in a Test match. He added 56 for the seventh wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim, who batted for nearly three hours to score 32 with four attractive boundaries. The young wicketkeeper-batsman backed away at times, cutting past point and short third-man or stirred the small crowd with his lofts over mid-on. Nayeem Islam also did a Mushfiqur, hanging around for 19 in an hour and a half as Bangladesh pushed their lead past the 200-mark. But both fell in quick succession to put the hosts in a spot of bother, quickly resurrected when Mashrafe Bin Mortaza struck Jacob Oram for a boundary in the final over of the day. Earlier, Shakib began the third day's play like he ended the second: leading the team out. He took seven wickets for 36 runs, beating the previous best of 7 for 95 by Enamul Haque in the Zimbabwe win at the same ground three years ago. Vetorri, too, remained well in contention of a record as he struck a fifty and so far has taken nine wickets in the match.

An Asian dream come true Regional university for women opens

Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chittagong was inaugurated yesterday with Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus expressing the hope that the new university would bridge different nationalities, their cultures and values, and create new human beings who would be leaders to build societies free of all sorts of discrimination.

The globally famed economist said at the inaugural he expects the AUW to prepare students in a manner that 'they would not look for jobs, but create jobs for their own'.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, who was in the chair at the function held in the capital, said, "By bringing women from all across Asia, the university can help forge a new Asian identity that can be immensely beneficial in a region where economic prosperity has accrued unevenly."

The new identity, he said, "Can help our region in turning the extraordinary economic strides made by a few Asian countries known as the 'Asian Miracle' into a truly Asian phenomenon."

Fakhruddin, also chief patron of the AUW, lauded its decision to reserve one-half of its new enrolments to students who are the first in their families ever to enter university.

The inaugural held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital was also addressed by Dr Hoon Eng Khoo, AUW's provost, Jack R meyer, chairman of the Board of AUW Support Foundation, and Lone Dybkjaer, co-chair of AUW International Support Committee. AUW President and CEO Kamal Ahmad moderated it.

The university opened its doors in March this year with Access Academy, a pre-collegiate bridge programme providing students with English language studies, math and quantitative reasoning, and computer skills training. It will open undergraduate classes in July next year.

It will educate promising young women from across South and South East Asia and the Middle East, with particular emphasis on inclusion of women from poor, rural and refugee populations.

The AUW's commitment to be open to students from different backgrounds is significant, the caretaker government chief said. "The result is not just fairness of opportunity but also the ability to harness new talents in the service of our communities."

He said no sustainable development could occur without half of the people (women) fully engaging in uplift activities of the nation. A university dedicated to the education and empowerment of women will not only change the landscape of higher education but also unleash the potential of half of the population.

Dr Yunus said, "The university is a melting pot for Asia and the world. It will be an example of an institution where students will not be confined in buildings, but will go to villages and learn from struggles of people. Such programmes should be part of curriculum."

The Grameen Bank founder and managing director hoped that young and bright women from across Asia will learn from each other at the AUW and help reduce gaps that cause conflicts.

Jack Meyer said women in the world, particularly in this part of the world, are deprived of due rights for various socio-cultural reasons. But it is good education that can turn them into leaders to shape the value system and bring revolutionary changes in their own societies, he added.

Hoon Eng Khoo said a practice in the region is that women in families take heavy burden but get less benefits.

Educated at the new international standard university, the women can surely take part in political leadership and cultural movements for changes, she noted.

Stanford University, California, will send two post doctoral fellows to serve at the AUW, while Aalborg University, Denmark, has entered an agreement to collaborate on establishing a graduate programme in Information & Communication Technology at the AUW, according to a press release.

Madrasa students vandalise DU VC office Press for relaxing admission rules for them DU Correspondent

A group of recent madrasa graduates vandalised the office of Dhaka University (DU) Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz yesterday spreading panic on the campus. The vandals were demanding cancellation of the university authorities' decision to not allow admission to students who did not study Bangla and English of 200 marks each in their higher secondary or equivalent courses. About 200 madrasa students from different city madrasas along with some DU students embarked on the vandalism around 4:30pm, eyewitnesses said. Six departments of DU this year decided not to allow admission to students who did not study Bangla and English of 200 marks each in their higher secondary or equivalent courses, and the DU committee of deans recently approved the decision. The attackers vandalised doors, window panes, furniture and other office decorations. “It was unimaginable what they did here today, such an incident never happened before in the history of the university. They should be arrested for the offence," Prof Faiz told reporters at a news briefing following the vandalism. He said the attackers started ransacking his office in front of him, when he told them that the university authorities' decision is final and there is no chance of changing it now. The attackers threatened him saying they will not let the university run normally, if they cannot get admission, the VC added. Prof Faiz however assured the irate madrasa graduates that the university authorities will discuss the matter in future considering their grievances, but the current decision is final for this year. The VC expressed his astonishment at the fact that the vandals left the office and the DU campus without any resistance after the vandalism. "I immediately contacted the police and that was the very first time I ever called them to take action, as it was too much," Prof Faiz added. When asked whether the attackers were DU students or outsiders, Prof Faiz said, "They came to me as students -- I couldn't specifically identify anybody." But other DU sources said the attackers were from different madrasas of the city who were accompanied by some DU students who had also studied in madrasas before getting admitted to the university. Some student leaders however alleged that the attackers were brought in, supported and escorted by Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami. Sources in the VC office said the attackers went to the office in the afternoon and submitted two memorandums to Prof Faiz under the banners of Bangladesh Madrasa Chhatra Andolon Parishad, and Madrasa Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakhan. "Stern actions will be taken according to the university rules if the vandals are identified as university students," Prof Faiz said adding that they will seek legal action to the full extent against the perpetrators, if they turn out to be outsiders. The university syndicate last night formed a four-member committee headed by Treasurer Prof Syed Abul Kalam to investigate the incident. The committee was asked to submit its report in seven days' time. Strongly condemning the attacks, the syndicate recommended that the two students who signed the memorandums be expelled if found to be DU students. Replying to a question regarding whether the incident was the result of a conspiracy to close the university, Prof Faiz said, "I am surprised -- such a motive might have been behind it." He said the DU authorities will not let that happen, adding, "We will resist such attempts all together." He called on all related to the university to cooperate with the DU authorities, so no more unexpected incident occurs on the campus. Prof Faiz confirmed that sales and submission of admission forms will continue today according to the authorities' decision. He said the DU authorities have urged police to provide necessary security during sales of admission forms at banks on the campus. DU officers' association, class IV employees' union, and DU teachers association (Duta) in separate news releases condemned the incident and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. Duta executive committee is scheduled to meet this morning to discuss yesterday's vandalism. Officer-in-charge at Shahbagh Police Station told The Daily Star that DU security officer Kamrul Hassan filed a case against 150-160 unidentified people last night.

BNP, allies wait for govt talks as time ticks away

BNP will apply for registration with the Election Commission (EC) by tomorrow, the closing date for applications. Its Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said this to The Daily Star after a meeting with Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office late at night. Though the extended time limit for submitting applications expires tomorrow, BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami have yet to collect forms. Earlier in the day, senior leaders of the parties said they are prepared for registration and waiting for a positive response from the government to the seven-point demand they placed at the dialogue on October 14. "We will have to apply for registration within October 20," Nazrul Islam Khan told The Daily Star minutes before midnight. “I have just discussed with the chairperson everything about registration. We are ready and waiting to hear from the government about our demands," he added. Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), another component of the BNP-led rainbow coalition, collected their application form last week and was working to tailor the party constitution to meet the requirements for registration, sources in the IOJ said. The IOJ however will not submit its application to the EC until the four-party coalition decides to register, the sources added. Senior officials at the EC secretariat said the commission might again face difficulties if the BNP and its allies do not apply for registration by tomorrow, which is mandatory for the political parties to contest the parliamentary polls. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda however hoped that the BNP and the Jamaat will file their applications by tomorrow, noting that the commission had earlier extended the time limit only for them. The deadline was extended by five days to October 20 on request of the two parties who then said they would register after holding talks with the caretaker government. They sat in separate talks with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed on October 14 and later said they will meet with the government again before the deadline for registration expires on October 20. "We hope the government will hold the second round of talks with us before October 20," BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday told reporters. "We hope our proposals as to registration will be accepted so the BNP can register," Delwar said. Asked whether the BNP will apply for registration if the government does not hold talks with them before October 20, he said they will decide on it. Sources in the BNP said some senior party leaders yesterday discussed the registration issue and were supposed to consult their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night. The BNP constitution empowers the chairperson to bring amendments to it in an emergency. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Mohammad Kamaruzzaman told The Daily Star that they have almost completed the preparatory tasks for registration. "We'll sit today to discuss the registration and dialogue issues," he said. IOJ Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami said they were making preparations for registration. "We'll submit applications after the four-party alliance reaches a decision," he told The Daily Star. Twenty-nine political parties applied to the EC for registration as of Thursday. The commission has so far given out 180 application forms. The EC will have to complete the registration work by October as it plans to announce the schedule for the December 18 parliamentary polls on November 1 or 2.

Mohiuddin Chy off to Bangkok as daughter dies

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury along with his wife and son left for Bangkok where his daughter died of cancer yesterday. The CCC mayor left the country after receiving the Government Order (GO) on Thursday, a week after he was released on bail on October 8. The GO allowed him to see his daughter Fauzia Sultana Tumpa and receive medical treatment abroad. The doctors at Piyathai Hospital in Bangkok declared Tumpa dead withdrawing the life-support ventilator at 3:30pm yesterday, 21 days after she was placed on life-support ventilation, sources said. Tumpa, a 3rd year student of English at Premier University in Chittagong, had been receiving treatment for non-Hodgkin Lymphoma since the first week of June this year. Mohiuddin received the news of his daughter's death while boarding a Bangkok-bound flight of Thai Airways along with his wife Hasina Mohiuddin and son barrister Mohibul Hasan Noupel at the Chittagong airport. He told the journalists on Thursday that the government order allowed him to travel to Bangkok and Singapore but did not permit him to perform hajj. The CCC mayor said he did not harm anybody and has always tried to work for people. "I used to talk about the Chittagong port for its improvement. I have always wanted to work for Chittagong and its people who had been victims to deprivation and harassment," Mohiuddin told The Daily Star at his Chashma Hill residence in the city's Sholoshahar area on Thursday afternoon. Replying to a query, the mayor said he was yet to receive any reply following his appeal to the LGRD ministry for an explanation about the restriction on his working as the CCC mayor. "I want to leave behind a centre-based system that would allow the leaders to carry on party activities smoothly," he said. When asked to name some leaders who might be given the responsibility to lead the party in the port city in his absence, Mohiuddin referred to Dr Afserul Amin, advocate Ibrahim Hossain Babul, AL city unit General Secretary Enamul Haq Danu and Khorshed Alam Sujan. Earlier, Mohiuddin held a meeting with CCC councillors and officials. He asked them to strengthen the corporation's existing income generation projects to overcome the revenue shortfall, which reportedly stood at Tk 30 crore.