BNP registered, AL certificate ready

BNP, Jatiya Party and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh have received their certificates of registration from the Election Commission, bringing the total to four parties being certified up to Tuesday morning.

“We have registration certificates ready for another 13 parties, including Awami League, and have asked the parties to pick up them today,” deputy secretary of the EC’s scrutiny committee Jasmine Tuli told bdnews24.com Tuesday morning.

BNP joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan, after receiving the certificate from EC secretary Humayun Kabir, told reporters: “We are very happy.”

He refused to comment, however, when asked about the party’s decision to join the election.

Liberal Democratic Party was the first to receive its certificate on Oct 20.

The four certified parties have also been allocated election symbols: paddy sheaf for BNP, plough for Jatiya Party, winnow for Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and umbrella for LDP.

Awami League will have the boat symbol.

JP secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawlader said: “Registration plays a vital role in holding an acceptable election. We are happy to receive the certificate.”

EC joint secretary Nurul Islam Khan said as many as 107 parties had applied for registration but not more than 25 parties would be certified.

“The EC will hand out registration certificates to all qualified parties by the end of the week,” said Khan, chief of the EC’s scrutiny committee.

Other parties to have registration certificates ready include: Jatiya Party-JP (bicycle), Communist Party of Bangladesh (scythe), Workers Party of Bangladesh (hammer), Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (wheel), Krishak Sramik Janata League (gamchha), Bangladesh National Awami Party (hut), Ganotantri Party (pigeon) and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD (torch).

The commission also started hearings on Tuesday of objections against registration of four parties: Islami Oikyo Jote, Khelafat Majlish, Jamiate Olamaye Islam and Nejame Islami Bangladesh.

Two of BNP’s alliance partners, Jamaat-e-Islami and IOJ, have sparked objections to their registration.

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda in his address to the nation on Sunday said no candidates other than those of registered parties and independents could take part in the elections.

Source: BdNews24

Why Solidarity Day won’t be observed, HC asks govt

The High Court (HC) today issued a rule upon the government to show cause as to why they should not be directed to observe with due respect November 7 as “National Revolution and Solidarity Day”.

After hearing a writ petition, a division bench of the higher court comprising Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and Justice Md Rezaul Haque asked the government to explain why its gazette notification scraping the public holiday on November 7 should not be declared without lawful authority.

Cabinet secretary, principal secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Office, law secretary, information secretary, education secretary and deputy secretary to the establishment ministry have been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks.

Abu Naser M Rahmatullah, president of Swadhinata Forum, filed the writ petition as public interest litigation (PIL) with the HC seeking a direction to the government to observe with due respect November 7 as National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

The petition challenged the gazette notification issued by the deputy secretary to the establishment ministry scrapping the November 7 National Revolution and Solidarity Day as a public holiday.

Source: The Daily Star

Obama in command as US voting day looms

Barack Obama stood on the threshold of history Monday as polls gave the Democrat a sharp edge over John McCain on the last day of campaigning for the most dramatic presidential vote in a generation.

But McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, was adamant he would confound the pollsters to stage a shock comeback and wrench victory from the African-American Obama’s grasp on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old Democrat stressed the historic nature of his quest to be America’s first black president, striking an optimistic tone as fresh polls gave him a wide lead and heaped further pressure on McCain.

“This is a defining moment in our history,” Obama wrote in an article published Monday in The Wall Street Journal.

“Tomorrow, I ask you to write our nation’s next great chapter… If you give me your vote, we won’t just win this election — together, we will change this country and change the world.”

McCain was defiant. “My opponent is measuring the drapes at the White House,” he said, as he wrapped up a frenzied day of campaigning with a midnight rally in Miami.

“They may not know it, but the Mac is back! And we’re going to win this election,” he added, to deafening cheers.

The Republican was to launch a frenetic dash through at least seven states on the marathon campaign’s final day. Obama was to blitz through Florida, North Carolina and Virginia bidding to storm Republican bastions and turn them over to his side.

On stage in Cleveland, Ohio, Sunday evening after a rousing set from rocker Bruce Springsteen, Obama confessed his delight to be rejoined on the trail by his wife Michelle and two young daughters.

“Everything looks a little better,” he told 80,000 supporters at a rally in drenching rain in Ohio on Sunday. “Everybody’s got a smile on their face,” he said. “You start thinking that maybe we might be able to win an election on November 4.”

Obama lacerated McCain on the stricken US economy and said his rival’s policies would extend President George W Bush’s legacy of financial crisis and “war without end” in Iraq, while neglecting resurgent militancy in Afghanistan.

McCain also attacked his rival on the economy, in his own Wall Street Journal article. “Senator Obama wants to raise taxes and restrict trade,” he charged. “The last time America did that in a bad economy it led to the Great Depression.”

The final pre-election poll of Gallup-USA Today published Monday gave Obama a yawning lead of 11 points — 55 percent to 44 for McCain.

“It would take an improbable last-minute shift in voter preferences, or a huge Republican advantage in election day turnout, for McCain to improve enough upon his predicted share of the vote in Gallup’s traditional likely voter model to overcome his deficit to Obama,” the polling organisation said.

A new Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll put Obama ahead on 51 percent to 43. CNN’s latest poll Sunday had Obama with a 53-46 percent edge, a Washington Post-ABC News poll gave him 54 percent to 43, and Rasmussen said he was at 51 percent to McCain’s 46.

Obama leads also in the battleground states where the election will be won and lost, including in states such as Virginia and North Carolina that have not backed a Democratic hopeful in decades.

Source: AFP

Dalai Lama admits Tibet autonomy drive has failed

The Dalai Lama said Monday that the drive for greater autonomy for Tibet has ended in failure, urging Tibetans to be open to all options in negotiations with Beijing over the region’s future.

The exiled leader is on a weeklong visit to Japan for talks on spirituality as the latest negotiations between his envoys and Chinese officials were due to begin in Beijing.

He also hinted at his retirement and said he would ask Tibetans whether to continue the ancient tradition of appointing his successor by recognising his reincarnation.

“My trust in the Chinese government has become thinner, thinner, thinner. Suppression (in Tibet) is increasing and I cannot pretend that everything is OK,” the Dalai Lama told a press conference here.

“I have to accept failure. Meantime among Tibetans in recent years, our approach failed to bring positive change inside Tibet, so criticism has also increased. So there is no other alternative than to ask people,” he added.

The Dalai Lama is calling a meeting later this month among Tibetans to decide on a future strategy towards the Chinese government, which accuses him of instigating unrest and secessionist ambitions in Tibet.

Source: The Daily Star

Decision after discussion: Delwar

BNP has said it will decide with the allies about whether to go to the general elections.

“BNP wants to go to the elections. But the government has not fulfilled any of the demands that we placed for a free and fair election,” secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain said Monday.

The reporters asked him why the leader of the four-party alliance did not make any comment after the Election Commission announced schedules for general and Upazila elections on Sunday.

“Under the circumstances we are looking into the whole matter. We will decide in consultation with the party and the allies,” he said at his NAM flat home.

On whether the party was ready for elections Delwar said: “We are ready. We are discussing organisational and electoral issues with leaders and activists every day.”

“But we have to look at the issue of the level playing field. The atmosphere for a proper election is yet to be made.”

“UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon during his visit to Bangladesh also said that a level playing ground should be prepared for the parties for the sake of a free and fair election. We want the same,” the BNP leader said.

Source: Bdnews24

Campaign, media restrictions go

The government has revoked clauses 5 and 6 of Emergency Powers Rules 2007, removing media restrictions and barriers to campaign rallies and processions, an announcement said Monday

Parliamentary and Upazila candidates will now be able to assemble supporters and organise rallies in accordance with the Representation of the People Order 1972 and the 2008 Upazila law, a home ministry circular said.

Clause 5 had imposed restrictions on the media, with clear instructions not to publish or broadcast reports on assemblies, public meetings, rallies, processions and statements.

It also banned “provocative news stories, editorials and post-editorials, cartoons and talk shows.”

Clause 6 barred criticism of the government and its activities.

The relaxation comes nearly 22 months after the Rules were put in force last year.

President Iajuddin Ahmed declared the state of emergency on Jan. 11 last year, with an army-installed civilian caretaker government taking over and giving itself a two-year term until a general election, now slated for Dec. 18.

Upazila polls have been scheduled just ten days after the parliamentary poll.

Major political parties have been demanding a full withdrawal of emergency for elections, but the government has maintained that some of the extra-ordinary powers were needed to control ‘rogue elements’.

The Awami League has already launched itself into electioneering, saying it would not boycott any election though AL chief Sheikh Hasina has come out in favour of deferring Upazila polls.

Rival party BNP, and its allies, have postponed a decision on their course of action until Wednesday.

Filing of nomination papers closes Nov. 13 for both elections, with the last date of withdrawal for parliamentary candidates being on Nov. 24 and for Upazilas Nov. 27.

Campaigning is allowed after the date of withdrawal, but not more than 21 days before polling day, and will close 32 hours ahead of voting that starts at 8am.

Source: Bdnews24

Mojaheed fails to surrender as deadline ends

Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed did not turn himself in at the trial court on Monday, a day after the High Court deadline for surrender expired.

The failure prompted state counsels to accuse the Jamaat stalwart of showing flagrant disregard for the court by disobeying the orders.

Mojaheed appealed for bail at the High Court in Barapukuria coal mine graft case on Oct. 19 but the court rejected his appeal and asked him to surrender in two weeks to the Special Judge’s Court-2 where the trial was pending.

His lawyer told the court Mojaheed had already pleaded with the High Court for more time to surrender. Besides, another petition for staying the proceedings against him has been pending.

The special judge, Amar Kumar Roy, instructed Mojaheed’s lawyer to produce the copies of High Court orders on Nov. 10 and adjourned the day’s hearing.

The judge set Monday for hearing the case after the state counsels filed a petition to his court on Oct. 29 to issue warrant of arrest against Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami and Mojaheed.

State attorney Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told the court, “By disobeying the court orders Mujaheed has disregarded the court of law.

He appealed for warrant of arrest against the Jamaat secretary general.

Mojaheed’s lawyer Abdur Razzak urged the court not to issue the warrant as hearing on his appeal was going on in the High Court.

“It is a sub-judice matter,” said the special judge amid protests from the state counsels.

The counsels argued that Mojaheed did not care to turn himself in despite the High Court order. Now he showed up in the court a day after the deadline for surrender to say that he had gone to the High Court to seek extension of the no-arrest, no-harassment order and a stay on the case.

So, they said, it could not be a sub-judice matter.

The special court also fixed Nov. 10 for hearing the appeal for warrant against Nizami.

The Anticorruption Commission on Feb 26 registered the case with Shahbagh Police Station against 16, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia and 10 of her cabinet members. They were charge-sheeted on Oct. 5.

The court on Oct. 6 issued warrant of arrest against Mujaheed but police failed to detain him.

The High Court has already stayed proceedings of the case against Khaleda.

Source: Bdews24

Troops to be recalled, president gives go-ahead

Troops are going to be recalled from the streets to barracks after president Iajuddin Ahmed signed a government order on Monday.

A high official at the Bangabhaban, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to brief the media, confirmed the development to bdnews24.com.

The pullback order comes after the interim government eased restrictions on political gatherings and the media, a day after the Election Commission announced plans for general election on Dec. 18 and Upazila polls on Dec. 28.

Earlier in the day, home adviser MA Matin told reporters at the Secretariat about the army withdrawal.

Troops rolled into the streets on Jan. 19, 2007 to assist civil administration after the emergency was declared on Jan 11 that year.

Asked whether troops were being withdrawn from emergency duties, the adviser replied in the affirmative and said, “It will be done soon.”

On whether the state of emergency was being withdrawn, he said, “A gazette is coming. You will see.”

Earlier in the day, he told journalists: “Law and order situation will not deterioate even after relaxation of the state of emergency. I’m sure about it.”

The adviser was asked now that the election schedule had been announced whether the government would relax the state of emergency, Matin said, “Work is going on it… I can say this far, you will now in time.”

Source: Bdnews24

Star goats strut in Saudi beauty contest

Photo: People take photographs of a Maaz Al Shami (Damascene goat), which won the ‘Most Beautiful Goat’ title, during the Mazayen al-Maaz competition in Riyadh —Reuters

Estimated to be back online by: Nov 1, 2008 4:00 AM PT

Saudi Arabia has held its first ‘beautiful goat’ pageant following a series of lucrative camel competitions that have taken off in recent years. Owners of pedigree ‘Najdi’ goats from around the Gulf region converged on Riyadh this week, hoping to win the prize for top male and female goat.

‘The Najdi goat is a pure national product like nothing else in the world,’ said Sheikh Faisal al-Saadoun, a leading Saudi breeder who organised the show. ‘They are different in terms of beauty, shape and how eye-catching they are.’

The goats are named after the central Najd region of Saudi Arabia, where the goats have a distinctive high nose bridge and shaggy hair with a fine, silky quality. They were given a thorough shampoo for the show, according to the official website (wwwl.al-nawader.com) which displayed the winners.
Most of the goats in the competition were bred from one star goat, Burgan (Volcano), from Saadoun’s stable and have been exported around the Gulf in trade worth millions of riyals.

Burgan was not on display at the show as the owners fear he could be afflicted by the ‘evil eye’. But that did not stop offers from the Qatari royal family to buy him, the compere told the gathering.
Saadoun sold dozens of goats from his stable for at least 100,000 riyals ($26,000) each at the show, adding to some 8 million riyals he has made over the years breeding from Burgan.

‘This male goat is different. He is historic and he has contributed to developing the Najdi goat,’ he told Reuters, as poets recited odes in praise of the goats over loud speakers.
The winner in the male category was a son of Burgan with a value of 450,000 riyals.
The gathering at a ranch outside Riyadh gave breeders a chance to trade but Abu Ahmed, a breeder from the United Arab Emirates, was disappointed that Saadoun did not take his offer of 350,000 riyals for a one son of Burgan.

‘I wanted to develop the breed from the point it has got to,’ he said.
However, camels remain the pride of the Bedouins. Delicate females or strapping males can sell for more than a million riyals and camel-racing is a popular throughout the Gulf.

Source: Internet

Kumble calls it a day

India captain Anil Kumble has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, reports BBC.

The 38-year-old decided to stand down during the final day of the drawn third Test against Australia in Delhi after sustaining a finger injury.

The leg-spinner took 619 Test wickets, including all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999, in his 18-year, 132-Test career.

Kumble’s successor has not been named but is likely to be Mahendra Dhoni.

The wicketkeeper led India to an emphatic 320-run win in Mohali in the second Test after a shoulder injury had ruled Kumble out.

His replacement Amit Mishra took seven wickets at the PCA Ground, heaping further pressure on Kumble, who had been wicketless in the drawn first Test in Bangalore.

The veteran had previously suggested he would retire on his terms after he faced constant questioning on the subject from the Indian media.

But he admitted a finger injury sustained on day three attempting to catch a difficult Matthew Hayden chance proved to be the catalyst for his decision.

“It was tough, especially after 18 years when you have been so competitive, but the body gave me the decision and the injury helped,” said Kumble, who needed 11 stitches on his little finger of his left hand.

“I had already made the decision yesterday (Saturday), I knew I would not be fit (for the Nagpur Test) and I don’t want to let the team down.”

Kumble stands third in the all-time leading wicket-takers in Test cricket, behind fellow spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.

He remains the only bowler to emulate Jim Laker’s feat of taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings with a match-winning 10-74 in Delhi nine years ago.

India lead the series 1-0 with one Test match to go, which starts in Nagpur on 6 November.