56 IAB activists held across country

Dhaka, July 9 (bdnews24.com) ? Police have arrested at least 56 activists of Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) across the country while taking out processions to drum up support for its 30-hour countrywide general strike starting from Sunday.

Of those, 27 activists were arrested in Barisal on Saturday, six in Noakhali, 15 in Khulna, two in Natore and six in Munshiganj.

Twelve political parties, mostly Islamist, on June 30 called a 30-hour shutdown for Sunday and Monday to protest the removal of the phrase 'Absolute Faith and Trust in Allah' from the constitution.

The other parties are Khelafat-e-Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Sammilito Olama Mashayekh Parishad, National Democratic Party, Islami Oikya Andolon, Bangladesh Muslim League, Bangladesh NAP, NAP Bhasani, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Islamic Party and Nezam-e- Islami Party.

However, IAB and the other 11 parties in separate press conferences on Saturday announced that they would observe the Sunday's shutdown separately.

IAB chief Syed Rezaul Karim, also known as Charmonai Peer, claimed that the other parties had teamed up with the decision to call strike just for some political gains.

Main opposition BNP and its key ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had on Friday extended the support to their 12-party shutdown.

On Saturday, a clash between police and IAB activists in Ashwini Kumar Hall premises in Barisal left at least 15 people, including a police official, injured.

Barisal Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner (AC) Aslam Khan said, "Twenty-seven activists of IAB were arrested after the clash which began following police obstruction to a IAB procession."

AC khan said, "The arrestees claimed that they are IAB activists and students of a madrasa patronised by IAB chief Syed Fazlul Karim."

The injured police official, constable Mohammad Shahjahan, was admitted to the Police Hospital.

bdnews24.com/corr/rm/dd/kms/trb/nir/2345h

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Thousands in Yemen call for president's son leave country

Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President . SANAA, June 20 (AP): Tens of thousands of Yemenis have taken to the streets of the capital, demanding that the president's son leave the country.

Ahmed Saleh, 42, is a one-time heir apparent who commands the elite Yemeni Presidential Guard. The force has been leading the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators since the uprising began in February.

Demonstrators on Monday called for him to leave, along with his brother Khaled, who is also an army commander.

Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president of nearly 33 years, was badly wounded in an attack on his presidential compound earlier this month and is undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

A ruling party official said last week he would return soon, though he faces growing pressure at home and abroad to step down.

Meanwhile: At least 12 militants and nine soldiers were killed in three clashes on Sunday in southern Yemen, where Islamists and separatists have launched several attacks during the country's bloody political crisis.

Twelve militants and two soldiers were killed outside Zinjibar-the capital of the flashpoint southern province of Abyan, a military official said.

A local official later told Reuters that five soldiers were killed in a separate attack by militants near Zinjibar.

In the southern province of Lahej, a local official said two soldiers were killed in a shootout.

Thousands of people have fled the clashes between the army and militants believed to be close to al Qaeda in the southern province of Abyan, after its capital Zinjibar fell to militants last month.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's opponents have accused him of handing over Zinjibar to Islamists to reinforce his threat that the end of his three-decade rule, as demanded by protesters, would amount to ceding the region to al Qaeda.

In Lahej, where both separatists and Islamist forces have as much or more sway than the central government, gunmen have launched bold attacks in recent weeks.

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People to decide who will run the country: PM

Nationwide

Author / Source : Independent Online/UNB

Dhaka: Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the countrymen will settle the question of who will govern the country.

She made the remark when a nine-member joint delegation led by Birk Niebel, German minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, and Andris Piebalgs, European commissioner for Development, called on her at the PM’s office in the morning.

The PM said she and her party always believe in people’s welfare and reiterated her government’s strong commitment to root out corruption and militancy from Bangladesh.

Hasina, also the president of Awami League, said the government would never allow using the soil of Bangladesh for terrorist activities.

“We won’t allow any evil forces to use even an inch of our land for terrorism and militancy,” PM was quoted by her Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad as saying.

“Nothing can keep me from working for the people’s economic emancipation. I’ve dedicated my life for the wellbeing of the people.
I work only for them,” she said.

After taking office, the present government through hectic efforts has been able to free the nation from such a stigma, the premier said.

She said the government is working very hard to ensure national food security and protect the nation from the disastrous impacts of the climate change.

The PM also informed the European delegation of the government activities to dredge the rivers in the country to restore their navigability.

On development activities, the prime minister said the European Union and its member countries can provide funds to the Bangladesh government for launching integrated programs for the development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

She told the delegation about the establishment of Asian University for Women in Chittagong and the plan on setting up a full-fledged university in Rangamati for ensuring higher education facilities for the hill tracts people.

The premier also informed the delegation of the various facilities provided by the government for flourishing the private sector in the country.

Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and German Ambassador in Dhaka Holger Michael were present

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