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.