Farm subsidy will continue: Prime minister Sheikh Hasina

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Apr 29 Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government will continue subsidising the agriculture despite opposition from different international agencies.

A month before the next budget, the prime minister stressed export of agro-products and processed food at a programme arranged to award Bangabandhu National Krishi Award on Sunday.

She rattled off a list of initiatives her government took to strengthen Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC). "The BADC had been made weaker as per the donors' suggestions. The donors had asked for a cut in subsidy in agriculture during the previous government."

"But we had said that we would continue to subsidise, we would continue to subsidise agriculture," she added at the programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith had indicated that the next year's budget may include subsidies worth Tk 100 billion in agriculture. He did acknowledge subsidy created difficulties for the government but said it was needed to provide the peasants with fertiliser and timely irrigation facilities.

Hasina handed over the awards to 27 people and organisations for their contribution in the agricultural sector. This is the highest state recognition for those working in development of agriculture.

"We need to export agro-products after meeting our own demand. We also have to ensure that we can export processed food too," said Hasina as she urged all to increase food production.

She said the government to achieve food sovereignty and ensure nutrition for every single citizen.

The award-giving ceremony was held amid the countrywide strike enforced by the 18-Party Coalition led by the BNP for 'return' of BNP leader M Ilias Ali.

Hasina said it was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who first created a fund in 1973 to introduce a presidential honour for promoting agricultural development.

Terming the present government 'peasant-friendly,' she said, "We will ensure food security. Our aim is to gain food autarky by 2013."

Referring to reduction of prices of non-urea fertilisers thrice since her government came to office, the prime minister said, "Now fertiliser is waiting for the farmers. I thank the agriculture minister for this success."

Presided over by the agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, the ceremony was also addressed by fisheries and livestock minister Abdul Latif Biswas and environment and forest minister Hassan Mahmud.

Hasina pointed out that budget for the current fiscal provided Tk 65 billion for chemical fertilisers, power and diesel used in irrigation and other facilities for the farmers cultivating sugarcane.

Agricultural machineries were being distributed on 25 percent discount and Tk 3 billion were allocated in the current budget only for this purpose, she added.

Continuous power supply has been ensured from 11pm to 6am every day for uninterrupted irrigation while power cost has been reduced 20 per cent for those using it for irrigation, she added.

Emphasising agricultural research, Hasina said successful decoding of the crucial genome sequence of jute was another success of her government.

The awardees

This year the awards, a certificate, cash and a medal, were given to 27 persons including four women and two institutions in different categories for their outstanding contribution for development of agriculture, fisheries, research, marketing of agro-products, and creating public awareness about agricultural development.

Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) and Horticulture Research Centre of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) and two individuals were given the gold awards. Silver awards went to seven persons while bronze awards were given to 17 persons.

Sabiqun Nahar Sheuli of Adiyabad Union of Roypura upazila of Narsingdi district received the gold award in recognition to contribution of women to agriculture while and Dr SM Afsaruzzaman, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Biswambarpur of Sylhet, received gold award for his outstanding contribution to agriculture expansion.

The silver awards recipients are- AKM Zakaria, Director of Agriculture Science Department of Rural Development Academy, Bogra, Dr Delwar Hossain (posthumously), former chief scientific officer of Pulse and Oil Seeds Research Centre of BARI, Anisa Begum of Pairaband of Mithapukur, Rangpur, Mofizul Islam, sub- assistant horticulture officer of Shariyatpur, Joynal Abedin, sub assistant agriculture officer of Pirganj, Rangpur, Mamunur Rashid, sub assistant officer of Burichang, Comilla and M Sujauddowlla of Bobindi of Saghata of Gaibandha.

The bronze medal recipients are AKM Nurul Haque of Puliamari of Raghabpur, Mymansingh, Neasr Ahmed of Faridganj of Chandpur, Showkat Ali of Nakaihat of Gaibandha, Shahedur Rahman of Dharmapur, Hajirhat of Noakhali, Mosammat Anwara of Natun Char of Keraniganj, Dhaka, Nurun Nahar of Joynagar of Pabna, Ashish Kumar Paul of Kulaora of Moulavibazar, ATM Nasimuzzaman of Shahjibazar of Habiganj, Nizamuddin Faruki of Gandhabyapur of Laxmipur, Moazzen Hossain, agriculture officer of Sarishabari, Jamalpur, Abbas Ali, deputy director of AED, Naogaon, Habibur Rahman of Atgharia of Ishwardi, Pabna, Mizanur Rahman of Alopara, Putiya, Rajshahi, Saiful Alam, agriculture officer of Godabari, Rajshahi, Abul Mia of Char Mohammadpur of South Surma, Sylhet, Raghujit Kumar Guha, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Satkhira and Mokarram Hossain of Bishnupur of Jhikargacha, Jessore.

Hearings on Khaleda's graft cases delayed

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Apr 29  Hearings on two corruption cases involving BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was deferred on Sunday as she could appear in court because of the daylong shutdown her party enforced nationwide.

The graft cases involving Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust were due to be heard on Sunday. Khaleda's lawyers told the court that the BNP chief could not come to the court over 'security concerns'.

Judge Mohammad Zahurul Haque of Dhaka's Senior Special Judge's Court fixed May 31 for hearing on the admissability of the charge-sheet placed against Khaleda in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case following plea from her lawyers Mahbubuddin Khokon and Sanaullah Miah.

Both of Khaled's lawyers are central leaders of the BNP.

Apart from the BNP chief, her former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, his assistant private secretary (APS) Ziaul Islam (Munna) and former Dhaka mayor's APS Monirul Islam Khan are the other accused in this graft case.

Hearing on the case was earlier deferred on Mar 18.

On Aug 6 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission's deputy director Harunur Rashid filed a case accusing Khaleda and three others of illegal transaction under the banner of Zia Charitable Trust. On Jan 16, Rashid, also the investigation officer of the case, pressed charges against the accused.

According to case details, a 42-kantha piece of land in the capital's Kakrail had been bought from one Suraiya Khanam in January 2005 for Tk 65.2 million.

The Zia Charitable Trust did not have any known source of income for around Tk 12.5 million, a sum that made up part of the payment for the land.

The ACC said in the charge-sheet that information of transactions worth more than Tk 31.5 million was found, apart from an amount given to the owner of the land. The money allegedly came from illegal sources.

The Zia Orphanage Trust graft case charge-framing hearing against Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others was also deferred to July 14.

Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-3 rescheduled the hearing following plea from Khaleda's lawyers Taherul Islam Touhid and Joynal Abedin Mesbah.

The BNP chief's lawyers said Khaleda could not come to the court over security concerns on the first day of the dawn-to-dusk shutdown.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, lawyer for Tarique, appeared before the court as the BNP senior vice-chairman has been living abroad.

The other accused are former MP from a Magura constituency Qazi Solimul Hoque, former bureaucrat Kamaluddin Siddiqui, businessman Shorfuddin Ahmed and Mominur Rahman.

Qazi Solimul Hoque and Shorfuddin Ahmed, who had earlier secured bail, were absent at the court. Their lawyers pleaded for more time. The other two accused in the case are absconding.

On July 3, 2008, the ACC filed the case with Ramna Police Station accusing seven, including Khaleda and Tarique of embezzling over Tk 21 million from the Zia Orphanage Trust.

ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, investigation officer of the case, filed the charge-sheet of the case on Aug 5 last year accusing the former prime minister, her elder son and four others. 

Blasts, Vandalism, Detention Mark Hartal

DHAKA NEWS

Stray incidents of explosions, vandalism and detention of opposition activists marked the first day of a second spell of countrywide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.

The BNP-led 18-party alliance enforced the hartal to protest what it said government’s ‘failure to return’ missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali by the opposition set deadline that expired on Saturday.

Twenty-one cocktails went off in six parts of the capital during the first day of the back-to-back hartal from Sunday to Monday.

The incidents of detention and vandalism were also reported from different points of the city.

Five cocktails exploded at Tolarbagh in Mirpur around 7:30am while two in front of BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan around 6:30am while two more at Nazirabazar area in Old Dhaka around 8:30 in the morning, reports our correspondents covering the hartal.

UNB adds: Police and witnesses said pro-hartal activists blasted five cocktails at Mohakhali crossing, five at Mugda-Bishwa Road and one at Malibagh. All the cocktails exploded between 8:00am and 9:00am.

Police detained BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and another around 6:30am, but they were released after a while.

The law enforce also picked up Labour Party President Mustafizur Rahman Iran from in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office when he went there to express his solidarity with the hartal.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists of Titumir College unit vandalised several vehicles including an ambulance in the capital's Mohakhali area around 8:20am.

Pickets also stoned and damaged five to six trucks at Jatrabari at 7:30am and several passenger buses at Shaheenbagh in Tejgaon.

Police also barred the pro-hartal activists whenever they tried to bring out processing in different parts of the city including Mirpur Road and Dhanmondi.

The law enforcers also resisted a procession of around 10 opposition lawmakers when they tried to move towards Manik Mia Avenue from South Plaza of the Parliament complex around 9:30am. Later, they held a rally at the South Plaza.

Earlier, they brought out a procession from the South Plaza.

Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia and barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon were among the lawmakers.

Like the recent hartal days, the BNP central office remains cordoned off since the morning.

Law enforcers have not been allowing the party leaders and activists to bring out any processions or hold rallies.

Huge contingents of law enforcers are seen patrolling the main thoroughfare and key points of the capital to avert any untoward incidents.

The key city streets which usually remain bustling during office hours wears an empty look as most passenger buses and private cars stay off roads fearing vandalism.

Very few CNG run three wheelers were seen to ply the city streets during the morning hours.

Rickshaws were found dominating the major thoroughfares of the city like other hartal days.

At least 15 buses left the city’s Sayedabad Bus Terminal for Comilla and Narsingdi in the morning. But there is no report of any long-route bus left the other terminals in the capital.

All educational institutions, business establishments, most shops and shopping malls besides the major thoroughfares remained closed. However, the government offices remain opened.

Meanwhile, the government on the eve of hartal postponed Sunday's and Monday's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations due to the hartal.

RAJSHAHI

A chase and counter-chase took place between pro-hartal activists and law enforcers when police tried to resist a procession brought out in the city in support of the hartal.

At least 10 people were injured in the chase and counter-chase, President of BNP Rajshahi district unit Nadim Mostafa claimed.

Humayun Kabir, an assistant commissioner in Rajshahi, however denied any casualty.

NARAYANGANJ

At least five pro-hartal activists including Narayanganj district BNP president Taimur Alam, were injured at DIT commercial area in the town when police charged batons on them to foil an opposition gathering.

Ignoring police obstruction, the BNP activists tried to hold a rally in front of their party office in Narayanganj.

Earlier around 7:00am, the party leaders and activists brought out a procession there.

Police also arrested two persons including a Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal leader from the spot.

NATORE

The pro-hartal activists torched a passenger bus in front of the Chakrampur Cinema Hall of the district headquarters during the hartal hours.

Police foiled another attempt of pickets while they were trying to obstruct traffic movement setting fire to tyres in Barogachha area of the Natore town.

BACKGROUND

Former lawmaker and BNP Organising Secretary (Sylhet Division) M Ilias Ali along with his driver remain missing since the night of April 17.

The main opposition BNP claimed that government agencies have picked them up to make them disappear.

Earlier, the main opposition BNP observed countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal from April 22 to 24 protesting the disappearance of Ilias.

Pre-Hartal Violence in Capital

DHAKA NEWS

Four vehicles were torched in different parts of the capital yesterday on the eve of two back-to-back shutdowns called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance protesting the disappearance of former lawmaker M Ilias Ali.

Police said a group of four to five youths set fire to a bus of Gazipur-Azimpur route after pouring petrol on it at New Market intersection yesterday around 4:00pm.

AKM Azizul Haque, officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station, told , the passengers rushed out of the bus and no injuries were reported.

A microbus was set ablaze in Fakirapool area around 7:00pm, said Kazi Abdullah Al Mahmood, an assistant sub-inspector of Paltan Police Station. It could not be known who carried out the arson.

Fire service sources said another microbus was set afire near Shewrapara bus stop around 8:45pm.

Some unidentified persons set fire to a taxi cab near Mirpur Ansar Camp around 9:10pm.

The main opposition BNP yesterday afternoon called the countrywide hartal for today and tomorrow.

Earlier on Tuesday, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia issued a four-day ultimatum to the government to locate Ilias Ali and his driver, or her party would go for tougher agitation.

Ilias Ali, an organising secretary of the party, along with the driver has been out of trace since early hours of April 18.

Alleging that one of the government agencies picked him up, BNP enforced dawn-to-dusk hartals on April 22, 23 and 24.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka district administration deployed 10 mobile courts across the city from yesterday evening to check violence before and during the shutdowns.

Ten mobile courts headed by executive magistrates have started their work at 6:00pm, Muhibul Haque, deputy commissioner of Dhaka district, said.

Shahbag police said some miscreants around 7:00pm yesterday tried to torch a staff bus of Jahangirnagar University in front of the Shishu Park. The passengers of the bus caught one the miscreants and handed him over to police.

Later a mobile court sentenced him to a term in jail for three months.

Hartal Again

DHAKA NEWS

The BNP-led 18-party alliance has called back-to-back shutdowns for today and tomorrow for the government's “failure to return” missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali by the opposition-set deadline.

Acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the dawn-to-dusk hartal at a press conference in the party's Nayapaltan office in the capital yesterday.

“The government has failed to produce Ilias before the nation by our chairperson's four-day deadline. Such forced disappearance is nothing but a crime against humanity,” he said.

He also threatened to go for tougher programmes if the government fails to make any progress in tracing Ilias and his driver Ansar Ali by Monday.

Fakhrul, however, hinted that the opposition would not stage any agitation during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's May 5 visit to Dhaka. “We will not do anything that harms the country's interests and image. However, Awami League had called hartal when the US secretary of state visited Dhaka during BNP's tenure. Besides, May Day will also be observed on Tuesday.”

When a reporter drew his attention to the ongoing HSC examinations, he said, “We tried to avoid calling hartal on exam days. But Ilias' disappearance is a national crisis. It is not a simple incident. It involves the future of the country's democracy, independence and sovereignty.

“Ilias' son is also an HSC examinee. Instead of preparing for the exams, he has been made to wait for his father's return.”

BNP leaders Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Bangladesh Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Al Mamun and Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami were present at the BNP office where several hundred opposition workers and leaders thronged in the afternoon.

A huge number of police and Rab personnel were deployed in the area to ward off pre-hartal violence.

Meanwhile, BNP and its allies staged demonstrations at upazila headquarters to protest Ilias' disappearance. Alamgir alleged that police charged batons to disperse the opposition's processions in many areas.

M Ilias Ali, BNP central organising secretary and its Sylhet unit president, along with his driver went missing on April 17 and his car was found abandoned near his Banani residence the next day.

BNP on April 18 called a dawn-to-dusk hartal for April 22 and later extended it for two more days.

After the hartal for the third consecutive day on April 24, Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia set a four-day deadline for the government to find the missing BNP leader.

Yesterday, Alamgir said, “Seventeen days have passed since Ilias went missing. But the government is yet to locate him. We believe government agencies are behind his disappearance, which is aimed to divert public attention from the government's failure to run the country.”

Asked about the filing of a writ petition with a court for banning hartal, the BNP leader said it is a political issue. “I don't know if the court has any jurisdiction to make decisions on political programmes.”

It's true that hartal will create some problems for people but they are ready to make this sacrifice in their greater interest, he said.

“Hartal will be enforced only during the daytime.”

The BNP leader thanked the international community for protesting Ilias' disappearance.

Stop Anarchy During Hartal, AL Activists told Home minister Shahara Khatun

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Apr 28  Home minister Shahara Khatun on Saturday asked the leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and grand alliance partners to stay alert and prevent any chaotic situation created by the opposition party during their general strike called for Sunday and Monday.

"Whoever tries to torch vehicles to create chaos in the name of hartal should be stopped right there," she said at a programme organised to hand over two new vehicles to Adabar Police Station in the city.

She said the government and the law-enforcers are not enough to prevent 'all kinds of anarchy'. "That's why leaders and activists [of the parties] will have to be on the streets besides the law-enforcers to maintain law and order."

Leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday set the deadline for 'returning' the missing organising secretary M Ilias Ali by Saturday after countrywide shutdowns for three consecutive days.

Saying law-enforcers are trying to find out Ilias, Shahara on Saturday said, "We had asked for the opposition's assistance in this regard, but they did not help."

"The opposition has been enforcing general strike continuously over the issue of Ilias Ali's disappearance. They are doing this only to create anarchy in the country," she claimed.

Ilias Ali, also the party's Sylhet chapter chief, and his driver Ansar Ali went missing at around midnight on Apr 17. Police found Ilias's abandoned car and mobile phone at a street in the capital's Mohakhali near his Banani residence. There has been no trace of Ali or his driver ever since.

The Rapid Action Battalion has conducted raids at several places in Gazipur's Pubail and Dhaka in the last 10 days to find Ilias, but to no avail. 

Mujaheed back in jail after parole

DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Apr 28 Detained Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, who is behind bars facing war crimes charges, is back in the prison after being released on a six-hour parole on Saturday to attend his brother's funeral at Uttara in the capital.

The Jamaat secretary-general started from Narayanganj prison at 3:30pm and reached his Uttara residence a few minutes after 5pm. The body of his younger brother, Ali Ashraf Mohammad Shoaib, 56, was kept there.

After passing some time beside the dead body and attending the namaj-e-janaza at a local mosque, Mujaheed was brought back to the prison around 9pm, jailer Dewan Toriqul Islam told .

Earlier, Narayanganj correspondent reported that a white microbus carrying Mujaheed and police left the jail premises. It was followed by a police van.

Mujaheed's younger brother Ali Ashraf Mohammad Shoaib, 56, died on Friday afternoon. He was the Faridpur district correspondent of Dainik Shangram and vice-president of the press club there.

Detained on June 2010, Mujaheed was shown arrested in for charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

The International Crimes Tribunal's probe body accused him of various crimes including killing, rape and arson.

Delawar Hossain Sayedee, against whom war crimes charges have been framed at the ICT, had also been granted temporary parole in October last year to attend his mother's funeral. 

15 Hurt in BCL Attack

DHAKA NEWS

Bangladesh Chhatra League men at Jahangirnagar University yesterday beat up at least 15 cultural activists for protesting the pro-government student body's vandalism at a demonstration by teachers the day before.

Late at night, a group of BCL men hurled brickbats at the teachers holding a sit-in outside the vice-chancellor's residence demanding his resignation. During the attack, they clubbed the cultural activists with sticks.

AKM Shahnewaz, a professor of archaeology, was injured as one of the projectiles thrown cut his forehead.

Earlier, around 3:00pm, some 50 Chhatra League men attacked Sangskritik Jote activists who were bringing out a protest procession near the arts faculty building.

The Jote leaders alleged that the attack took place in presence of a few members of the proctorial body.

Of the injured, Sangskritik Jote JU unit President Koli Mahmud, Vice-president Moin Muntasir Kartik, activists Toufiqul Islam Arno, Sushanto, Sudip Bhattacharya and Farid Uddin Masud were admitted to Savar Enam Medical College Hospital.

Kartik said Chhatra League activists led by Sharif, Shamim and Samrat first swopped on Koli Mahmud. The others came under attack when they rushed to save Koli.

Contacted, JU Proctor Sukalyan Kundu denied the allegation that members of the proctorial body were present during the attack. He said the university authorities would take necessary action after investigating the incident.

Chhatra League activist Sharif told journalists that they had beaten up the processionists suspecting there were Chhatra Shibir men among them.

Earlier on Friday, BCL men vandalised the stage set up for a teachers' protest programme. They also burnt the banner of the programme.

Since early morning yesterday, JU teachers under the banner of Shikkhak Samaj were demonstrating in front of the vice-chancellor's residence.

Shikkhak Samaj has been demanding the resignation of VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir since the murder of Zubair Ahmed, an English department student, on January 9.

The agitation intensified after two teachers of Botany department were arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting the chairman of the department the previous day.

The agitating teachers yesterday vowed to continue their sit-in in front of the vice-chancellor's residence for an indefinite period.

“We will not stop our protest until this illegal VC resigns,” said Prof Nasim Akhter Hossain.

Meanwhile, the teachers loyal to Shariff Enamul Kabir have taken up counter-demonstrations behind the VC residence.

Hasina Warns Against Attack on Democracy

DHAKA NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged all to be cautious so that none can play games with people's fate and democratic rights.

Stating that repeated attacks on democracy have foiled the efforts to build the country with the spirit of Liberation War, she said Bangladesh could have been a prosperous nation 20 to 25 years ago and set an example in the world, had the Father of the Nation survived today.

Only the democratic governments can bring about prosperity and welfare to people, she told a civic reception at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

National Citizens' Committee accorded the reception to her to celebrate the victory in a case over disputed maritime boundary with Myanmar.

"It is unfortunate and painful that the nation lost the Father of the Nation and the four national leaders. As a result, democracy was hampered and military dictators had captured state power at gunpoint," she mentioned.

She urged all to work together to make the country free from hunger, militancy and fundamentalism.

The organisers said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the nation during the country's Liberation War and his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led people to the victory in maritime boundary case with Myanmar. Such achievement of the father and daughter is unique in world history, they added.

With a recent verdict from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Bangladesh has established its economic and territorial rights on 200-nautical mile in the Bay of Bengal and a substantial share of the outer continental shelf beyond 200-nautical mile. The court also awarded Bangladesh a full 12-mile territorial sea around the St Martin's Island.

Thousands of people attended the reception that turned into a joyous ceremony. Noted singers and dancers performed at the reception.

In his citation, poet Syed Shamsul Huq said Bangladesh is known as Green Bangla and with the latest victory it now could be Blue Bangla. "Thus with the combination of green and blue, we will build a Golden Bangla."

He congratulated Hasina for her outstanding leadership in the maritime boundary case.

Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, chairman of the National Citizens' Committee, handed over a crest and citation to the premier, congratulating her on behalf of the people.

Hasina dedicated the victory to the next generation, saying this is not her victory but of the people who have supported her government.

She also thanked Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, officials concerned of her ministry, Bangladesh Navy and others for pursuing the case with the ITLOS.

The government of Bangabandhu in 1974 had framed the relevant laws on the maritime boundary. The previous Awami League government in 1996 took various efforts to that end. After returning to power in 2009, the AL through its all-out efforts achieved the victory, mentioned Hasina.

A case on the maritime boundary with India will be settled in 2014. "If people vote us back to power, we will employ all our efforts to ensure victory again," she said.

"Bangabandhu loved the people of this country deeply. I realised that. Therefore, I too love the people of this country and can make any sacrifice to see them prosper," she said adding, "We want to see a prosperous Bangladesh in 2021 on the 50th anniversary of our independence."

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said people have to be cautious about those who cannot accept the achievement and progress of the nation and act accordingly during the elections.

Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Prof Qazi Kholiquzzaman, artist Quayuum Chowdhury, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President AK Azad Chowdhury, cultural activist Golam Kuddus, journalist Golam Sarwar, National Professor MR Khan, Peshajibi Samannay Parishad leader Mesbahuddin Ahmed, former captain of Bangladesh national cricket team Rakibul Hasan, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad President Maj Gen (retd) Helal Morshed Khan, Bangladesh Football Federation President Kazi Salahuddin were present, among others.

Fire Kills 5 of a Family in Faridpur

FARIDPUR NEWS

Five members of a family were killed as a devastating fire broke out at a house in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur early yesterday.

Police identified the victims as Abdur Rashid Bhuiyan, 80, his grandchildren Shahin Bhuiyan, 17, and Fiha, 3, and two relatives Golam Mohiuddin alias Sumon, 16, and Tohura, 11.

Dadan Fakir, officer-in-charge of Bhanga Police Station,  that the fire originated at Rashid's house at Khakanda Nazirpur village around 12:30am. All of the deceased were asleep, he said.

Fire fighters extinguished the blaze with the help of locals after one hour of frantic efforts and recovered the charred bodies, the OC said. The fire originated from the kitchen.

Deputy Commissioner Helaluddin Ahmed visited the spot. The family was given Tk 5,000 for each of the deceased. He told  that the district administration will also give them 100kg rice for each.