BNP protests to continue for democracy

The main opposition party BNP will continue with its protests until the government comes away from its 'undemocratic' path.

Demonstrations will be held at divisional headquarters on Oct 20, at district levels on Oct 24 and at Upazila levels on Oct 27 as a part of their anti-government movement.

The programmes were declared by the party's secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain from a rally protesting the government's repression, harassment of political rivals and politicisation of bureaucracy and the judiciary at Muktangan on Saturday.

"The path taken by the government has left us with no options except protest. We will continue our demonstrations until this neo-autocratic government does not return to the path of democracy. These programmes are to protest the torture and repression carried out by the government and their ill-governance."

The rally at Muktangan presided over by Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka started at 3.30pm. Following the declaration of the programmes by the secretary general, a procession was brought out at 3.45pm that went through Bijoy Nagar, Kakrail, Shantinagar Intersection, Mouchak to end at Magbazar around 5pm.

Activists of city BNP and various associate organisations, including Juba Dal, Mohila Dal, Shechchashebak Dal and Chhatra Dal, participated in the procession with colourful banners and posters.

Huge tailbacks occurred at surrounding roads including Topkhana and Kakrail due to the procession.

Standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Rafiqul Islam Mia, Abdul Moyeen Khan and other key leaders of the party took part in the rally.

The police took additional security measures for the rally including deployment of additional police at Muktangan, Bijoynagar, Kakrail, Shantinagar and adjacent areas, stationing of two riot vehicles, prison vans and water cannons near the rally site.

The BNP secretary general said that the government was an utter failure and alleged that it was now trying to shift the blame on others. He alleged that the train accident at Sirajganj, which claimed lives of five BNP activists, was intentional and that the cases being filed against BNP activists were only to harass them.

He said that the country's law and order has gone out of control with tender-grabbing and partisanship becoming commonplace and roughly 10 killings everyday.

Saturday's programme was declared on Thursday at a meeting convened to mourn the deaths of 5 BNP activists in Sirajganj on Monday and the death of Natore BNP leader Sanaullah Noor Babu.

Babu was chopped and beaten to death in public Oct 8. BNP also blames the government for the death of five of its activists crushed under a train in Sirajganj just before Khaleda Zia was scheduled to address a rally there.

Mother dies in vain trying to save suicidal son

A mother died in vain, trying to save her son who had set himself alight in a wild suicide attempt.

Police said that Aleya Begum, 50, died around 6am and her son Mohammad Jewel Bhuiyan, 35, both residents of Khilgaon, around 11am while under treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Khilgaon police chief Nazim Uddin told bdnews24.com: "Jewel tried to commit suicide by dousing himself and his room with petrol and starting a fire."

Jewel's father Abdul Hye, 60, his wife Khuku Begum, 26, and his mother were taking dinner at that time and rushed to the room seeing the fire. They sustained burns when they tried to put it out, he added.

"The family claimed that Jewel committed suicide over a conflict with family members over the fare of a car he had rented for his sister's travel. Jewel's sister, who lived in the UK, had come to Bangladesh on Oct 13 for a visit," the police official added.

Jewel was admonished a number of times for the high fare and his suicide attempt could have been fuelled by it.

Hye and Khuku are currently undergoing treatment at DMCH burn unit.

6 Sunamganj cops suspended for Puja attack

Six policemen including a sub-inspector (SI) have been withdrawn from a Sunamganj police station for attacking devotees at a temple in Tahirpur Upazila.

The district's police superintendent ordered SI Khalil, constables Sirajul Islam, Rashed Mia, Habib Mia, 'Manik', and 'Khurshed', back to the police lines after relieving them of their duties.

Tahirpur Police Station officer-in-charge Mamun-ur-Rashid told bdnews24.com that six cops including a sub-inspector were withdrawn following allegations of conducting the attack on Khalahati Sarbojanin Puja Mandap on Thursday night.

They attacked the temple claiming that the devotees were drinking alcohol. At least 10 people were injured in the attack.

11 injured in BCL with JCD clash at Rajshahi University.

At least 11 activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Rajshahi University (RU) unit were injured in a clash with Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men on the university campus on Sunday.

RU JCD Convener Arafat Reza Ashique and Central Vice President Abu Bakar Siddique were among the injured, reports our staff correspondent in Rajshahi.

Campus sources said the clash ensued at about 11:45am when a group of BCL activists attacked a rally carried out by the JCD activists on the campus marking the death anniversary of Naziruddin Jihad.

Jihad was killed in Dhaka on October 10, 1990 while participating in an anti government movement during the Ershad's military regime.
Chase and counter-chase took place between the two groups. They used tree branches and also pelted brick chips on each other during the clash at the Folklore Chattar of the university that left 11 JCD activists injured.

Additional police have been deployed on the campus after the clash.

Officer-in-charge Abul Khayer of Motihar Police Station said the situation was under control.

Anthrax red alert to be lifted Thursday.

 Emboldened by the halt in anthrax spread, the government is likely to lift the red alert on Thursday, which was issued last month by the livestock department to combat the disease.

At the same time, investigations have been launched against certain vested interest groups suspected of scaremongering to hike poultry price.

Fisheries and livestock minister Abdul Latif Biswas told bdnews24.com on Wednesday: "The red alert may be lifted through a press conference on Thursday morning."

The minister alleged that the negative publicity regarding anthrax was in reality a conspiracy, saying, "Anthrax is not something to be overly worried over. It is a recurring phenomenon and each year a lot of cattle and birds are killed by the disease."

"But no one really bothered about it because there was no media coverage in the past", he said, adding, "this time, though, a vested quarter had tried to benefit from the scare by publicizing it."

The minister went on to draw a comparison of the anthrax spread this year with previous years, saying, "In 2008, 437 cows were affected by anthrax and 156 died. In 2009, 449 were affected and 114 died. This year, until now, only 104 cows have been infected of which 37 died. Another 11 cows were culled."

He also compared the anthrax toll in cows with other diseases like Badla, Khura (local term for Foot-and-mouth disease) and Peste des petits ruminants (PPR).

In 2008, 945 cows out of 1,346 infected by Badla, 203 cows out of 32,701 infected by Khura and 1,843 out of 36,842 infected with PPR died.

In 2009, 611 cows out of 1,123 infected by Badla, 6,020 cows out of around two and half lakhs infected by Khura, and 3,491 of out 53,519 infected with PPR died.

In the current year, until now, 89 out of 237 affected by Badla, 83 out of 4,135 affected by Khura and 231 out of 4,359 infected by PPR have died.

"The negative publicity this year was a deliberate attempt to frighten the people. It was publicised that all livestock including cows, goats, ducks and birds were infected by this disease. However, there were no reports of any hens being affected. This was done to reap benefits."

"No report of anthrax infection among livestock has reached us from middle of last month. So we have decided to withdraw the red alert as it is hampering other works of the ministry," he added.

AL out to destroy opposition: Khaleda

                          BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia says it appears that the ruling party
                              will stop at nothing to wipe out  the political opponents.
Her comments came shortly after the death of Sanaullah Noor Babu, 38, the Baraigram Upazila chairman and Bonpara municipal BNP president in Natore. Babu died on Friday afternoon having been fatally injured in an attack reportedly carried out by ruling Awami League supporters.

The clash, which also left 40 others of the main opposition party injured, erupted around 11pm on Friday when the BNP activists brought out a procession at Bonpara Bazar under Baraigram Upazila as part of its month-long protest programme.

In a separate statement BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain condemned the attack and demanded punishment of the killers.

Khaleda said, "Juba League and Chhatra League have become reckless since the Awami League took office. It seems they have launched the 'project' to erase the opposition.

"They have started to kill opposition leaders and activists to quell protests against the tender terrorism, extortion, recruitment business and partisanship committed by the Awami League terrorists," the former prime minister added.

Natore BNP leaders alleged that the attack was launched by district Awami League publication and research secretary Zakir Hossain, Upazila Chhatra League general secretary Shafiqul Islam and Juba League activists 'Rakib', 'Jamil' and 'Bablu'.

First hajj flight early Saturday

The first hajj flight that was to commence from Friday night has been rescheduled, officials say.

The first plane will fly out with pilgrims at 3am on Saturday instead of 10:40pm on Friday, a BimanBangladesh  Airlines press  release disclosed on Friday noon.
Khan Mosharraf Hossain, deputy general manager (public relations) of the national carrier, told bdnews24.com that the change in schedule was made due to "some inconveniences in flight preparation". 

 Civil aviation minister GM Quader and state minister for

 religious affairs Shahjahan Miah will see off the first batch of hajj pilgrims at the Shahjalal International Airport.

"Preparation for the first hajj flight is complete. The passengers of this flight have already reported to the hajj camp," hajj official Bazlul Haque Biswas told bdnews24.com.

A Boeing 747, hired from Spain, will carry the first batch of non-ballotee pilgrims from Dhaka to Jeddah under private management.

These flights will continue up to Nov 11. Return flights will begin from Nov 21 and end on Dec 21.

On Thursday, prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated Hajj Camp-2010 at Ashkona.

This year around 94,000 pilgrims are set to perform Islam's holiest pilgrimage, 36, 000 more than 58,000of last year. Aircraft from 10 airlines including Saudi Arabian Airlines will be carrying these passengers.