Govt won't influence polls: PM

Dhaka, July 13 (bdnews24.com)?Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has assured the outgoing British envoy that her government would not influence any elections.

"The government aims at strengthening the Election Commission that will conduct polls independently," her press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters on Wednesday quoting Hasina.

Stephen Evans, the UK high commissioner in Bangladesh, called on the prime minister at her office in the morning. He will join NATO following the completion of his three-year term in Bangladesh.

Hasina claimed that the by-elections and elections to the Chittagong City Corporation and local government were fair. "The government did not manipulate any of the elections."

At his meeting with opposition BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on July 9, Evans had stressed on a free and acceptable-to-all election considering the current turmoil-like political situation.

The prime minister also told Evans that her government was showing zero-tolerance on militancy, and that the militants were not being allowed to regroup.

Hasina also said the judiciary was working independently, a claim which is dismissed by the main opposition.

"She said her government ensured human rights and justice," Azad added.

The prime minister also stressed on improving bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.

ABDUL ALIM FAMILY TO GET AID

The prime minister also said the government will provide financial assistance to the family of renowned folk musician late Abdul Aleem.

She made the pledge when members of the deceased's family had gone to meet her for assistance to treat the ailing wife of the singer.

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EU wants fair, inclusive polls

Dhaka, June 23 (bdnews24.com) ? The European Union wants to see a free, fair and inclusive general election in Bangladesh scheduled for 2014.

EU commissioner for development Andris Peibalgs expressed the regional grouping's expectation at a press briefing in the city on Thursday.

On the present political row over the caretaker government, he said: "The political parties have an obligation to resolve their dispute? They shouldn't do politics for blockade, rather they should do it for the people."

Peibalgs said the EU would not take any position in the country's political row. "Rather we want constructive talks [between the ruling and opposition parties]," he added.

The ruling Awami League and opposition BNP have stood face to face over retaining the provision of non-party caretaker government system for the next general elections.

BNP already enforced a spell of general strike protesting the government's move to scrap the system.

About foreign aid, he said member countries of the union would not cut down assistance to Bangladesh.

"But from our side the demand is effective and efficient use of our fund and good result at the end of project?We demand quality of works," he added.

Mentioning that 52 percent of Bangladesh's export goes to the EU countries, Peibalgs said: "We're happy that we're creating employment in Bangladesh."

The EU commission came to Dhaka on June 20 in a joint visit with German minister for economic cooperation and development Dirk Niebel, who also addressed the Thursday briefing.

Niebel said politicians are obliged to find out ways to resolve their disputes and he is confident that they could do it.

He said those who are in the opposition might form the next government.

MEETING WITH OPPOSITION LEADER

Earlier in the day, a nine-member delegation led by Peibalgs and Niebel met BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Party vice-president Shamser Mobin Chowdhury quoted her as telling the delegation that the next general election would not be free and fair if held under a political government.

"People won't accept that election," Khaleda told them.

The delegation also spoke of Bangladesh's current political situation, way to strengthen democratic system, ensuring rights to vote and economic development.

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BNP 'no' to polls under Hasina-led govt

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? Turning down the government's latest offer for talks on the constitution amendment issue, the BNP has said they will not take part in the next election under any interim government.

Addressing a discussion at the National Press Club on Wednesday, party's standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said "The present prime minister will be the head of that government, so we don't want any government other than the caretaker provision,".

He alleged, "The government's invitation is fake and just to confuse the people."

Moudud, a former law minister, said, "The government has annulled the caretaker government system out of fear of losing the next election."

"It [the government] has brushed aside all possibilities of discussion by giving cabinet approval to the recommendations of the charter review committee."

On June 20, the cabinet approved the 51 recommendations, including annulment of caretaker provision, of the constitution review committee, paving way for parliament to pass them into a law.

Declining the remarks of committee co-chair Suranjit Sengupta and law minister Shafique Ahmed that there was still scfope for discussion, the senior BNP leader said their remarks were just a farce.

He also protested the electronic voting system.

BNP joint secretary general Aman Ullah Aman and party's international affairs secretary Nazim Uddin Alam also spoke at the discussion.

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1 killed in Madaripur polls violence

Madaripur, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Miscreants have hacked a sexagenarian man to death at Kalkini upazila in Madaripur, hours before the Union Parishad polls began in the area.

Police said the incident took place early on Sunday at Char Daulat Kha village in the upazila that saw polls in 14 unions on Sunday.

The victim was identified as Mohabbat Ali Sarder, 60.

At least three people were killed in the upazila last month centering the local body elections.

Locals alleged the supporters of two chairman candidates -- Sarder Mohammad Abdul Mannan and Chan Mia Shikder -- set off a number of hand bombs from 10:30pm until the early hours of Sunday, spreading panic in the area.

Mannan's supporters tried to drive out the agents of their rival candidate from three centres, Kalkini Police Station officer in-charge A K M Shahin Mandal told bdnews24.com.

The body of Mohabbat was in the police station until filing of the report.

Additional police were deployed at the village to avoid further trouble, the police officer said.

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AL can't win next polls: Moudud

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? A senior opposition leader has said no strategy of ruling Awami League to win the next national elections will succeed.

"The ruling party is devising various strategies apprehending its defeat in the next elections. But these strategies will not work," BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said on Monday.

He was addressing a discussion on 'Cultural imperialism and distressed humanity' organised by Dhaka University (DU) unit of the Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS) at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Moudud, also a former law minister, said the government is giving India transit neglecting the national interests.

It also took a US$ 1 billion loan from India on tough conditions.

"Thus India, as a large state, is taking control of Bangladesh," he said urging all to be united against the move.

Mentioning that Bangladesh's trade gap with India is US$ 4 billion, the BNP leader said the government has done everything last two and a half years what is needed to weaken the state.

"It (the government) is signing different agreements with India neglecting the national interests. As a small state our security is threatened. The foreign policy of the government is weaker than that during its previous tenure of 1996-2001."

Moudud said: "Bangladeshi people have no rivalry with Indians. We want to be a friend of India, but not neglecting the national interests."

He criticised the government for politicising the judiciary and the public administration.

BNP joint secretary general Aman Ullah Aman, JASAS general secretary Monir Khan and singer Rizia Pervin, among others, spoke at the discussion.

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Polls leave Akhaura port out of business

Brahmanbaria, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? All activities at Akhaura land port have come to a halt due to Union Parishad elections set to be held in the area on Sunday.

"There'll be no trading through the port on Saturday and Sunday," port's C&F Agent Association general secretary Monir Hossain Babul told bdnews24.com.

Babul said the port activities were suspended following a decision taken by the exporters-importers' association because of the local body elections.

"There'll no trading also on Sunday as it's a holiday in India. However, passengers can pass through the port," he said.

Customs official Abul Bashar Chowdhury said the export-import through the land port would resume on Monday.

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