BANGLADESH

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina says the main opposition BNP will make a 'political mistake' if it boycotts next general elections demanding reinstatement of caretaker government system.

In an interview with BBC Bangla on Tuesday, Hasina said the BNP should make an effort to gain people's confidence and trust.

"It would be a political mistake," Hasina said in response to opposition leader Khaleda Zia's recent statement that her party would not join the polls due in 2013 if caretaker government system is not reinstated.

The prime minister also advised Khaleda to work on gaining people's confidence.

"Right now, the main opposition should set their focus on reviving confidence and trust of the people," she told BBC Bangla Radio.

The prime minister asserted that the relationship between BNP and ruling Awami League is "not so bad".

BNP and its allies have been demonstrating for the reinstatement of the caretaker government system after it was annulled through the 15th amendment of the Constitution.

When BBC asked the prime minister how confident she is about BNP's participation in the next national polls under the incumbent government, she said: "The Election Commission will hold the election. There will be a new Election Commission ... the honourable president has already taken initiatives. He is holding talks."

"His instructions after the dialogue will be followed. We also want that the main opposition join the dialogue to give their opinion. They can say whom they want as the chief election commissioner, how they want it and what the process should be," she added.

"They might commit a political mistake, if they do not take part in the elections."

She said people of the country have not forgotten the "terrorism, corruption and nepotism" during the former BNP-led four-party alliance government.

"People want democracy. They will never accept any plot to assassinate democracy," she said.

CARETAKER GOVT ISSUE

Replying to a query why the government did not accept the High Court's suggestions that two more national elections could be held under the caretaker government, Hasina said, "The High Court did not give out any order, rather just gave opinion as an option that it can also be done."

"We've executed the prime rule of the High Court," she added.

The prime minister held out her logic in favour of annulling the caretaker government system and referred to the previous army-backed caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed from 2007-2009. She also pointed out the oppression of political parties during the period.

She also talked of the past caretaker government's tenure and recounted its stay in power for two years, the so-called minus two formula, torture and jail.

"I wonder whether the opposition chief has forgotten how she was tortured at the hands of that government. Her sons were sent out of the country and cases filed against her are still going on in the Anti-Corruption Commission," Hasina said.

"But still, she (Khaleda) wants the caretaker system reinstated. Who can guarantee that these incidents would not happen under the future caretaker government?" she asked.

'POSITIVE' CHANGE IN POLITICS

Asked whether her government, after taking office through a landslide victory three years ago, could bring any positive change, Hasina said, "As the people trusted us and gave the chance to serve them by voting for us in 2008, we've taken steps to bring positive changes in Bangladesh's political culture. Every political party in our country can freely stage their programmes."

Awami League used all its 'merit and power' for the development of the country, she said, adding that nothing like the post-election torture on opposition in 2001 by then four-party happened after her government had taken over.

"I had been an opposition leader, too. But there was no way one could speak. My microphone had been stopped 72 times. Now our opposition leader can speak for hours," she said.

Citing that opposition MPs have been made chairmen of parliamentary standing committees, Hasina said. "No country in the world, other than big ones, will give the chance. We want a positive situation."

"We could create a peaceful environment in Bangladesh in the past three years as we do positive politics," Hasina added.

WAR CRIMES TRIAL

The prime minister winnowed out the charge that the two main parties are in confronting position.

"You say that our relation is not good—it's not right. Our opposition leaders are coming to standing committee meetings…giving their opinions. They are going abroad with others when they need. Opposition usually has some views, but they oppose continuously," she replied to a query whether she would take any step to improve relation with the opposition.

"But," she said, "the present opposition is facing some problems—one is the war crimes trial."

She said trial of the war criminals is a long-time demand of the people. "When their (war criminals) trial is going to be realised…then our opposition started to bomb and kill people to save those war criminals—how can we let this happen?"

"It's our duty to ensure people's security," Hasina added.

"We aren't barring any demonstration. But it's the government's duty to stop them if they harm people's property and lives."

Two leaders of BNP and five of its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami were arrested on the charges of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War. But BNP has been protesting the move to try them in the International Crimes Tribunal saying that the government is harassing opposition leaders in the name of war crimes trial.

On the other hand, ruling party leaders blamed the opposition for some recent bombings and arson attacks saying the opposition conducted the violence to obstruct war crimes trial.

"If someone thinks that torching buses and bombing it will save the war criminals, he is wrong," Hasina said.

A pavilion on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been set up at Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) to provide information to people interested in knowing more about the Father of the Nation.

Export Processing Bureau (EPB), the organiser of the event, has set up the 'Bangabandhu and Bangladesh' pavilion.

EPB deputy director Anup Kanti Saha Tuesday told , "To inform people about the life and work of Bangabandhu, the pavilion was first set up in last year's fair."

"Our aim is to tell people about Bangabandhu's contribution to the country," he added.

A statue of Sheikh Mujib, made by Dhaka University's Institute of Fine Arts students, has been kept at the pavilion. Some 110 photos of the great leader, snapped in home and abroad, are on display alongside 27 books written on him. The pavilion also has 15 frames containing his quotes.

Two letters written by Sheikh Mujib are also being displayed in the pavilion: one to his wife Fazilatunnessa Mujib from the jail on April 16, 1959 and the other to his daughter Sheikh Hasina, then living in Italy, dated June 13, 1969.

In the letter written to his wife, Sheikh Mujib addressed her as 'Renu'. A visitor in the fair, Rehnuma Renu, smilingly said, "I didn't know his (Mujib) wife's name was Renu. It is really good to know that she was my namesake."

Sheikh Mujib's speeches are being screened through a projector in the pavilion. Six computers are showing information on different subjects like the leader's life, his still photos, video clippings, a documentary on digital Bangladesh and different activities of the present government during its past three-year rule.

Any visitor can have any information on any particular incident or aspect of Bangabandhu's life clicking on topics displayed on a touch-screen computer.

Tamal Adnan, a class eight student from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Boys High School, was reading the historical March 7 speech. "I have seen this speech on TV earlier, here I read a part of it today," he said.

Two groups of a 30-member rover scout team are looking after the security of the pavilion in two shifts. "A large number of people visit this pavilion daily," they informed.

A visitor, Zahirul Alam, from the city's Kafrul was taking her daughter's photograph with Bangabandhu's statue in the background. He told , "We saw the War in 71. We know what Bangabandhu's contribution to the country was. The new generation does not have the luck to see him (Mujib)... It's a matter of pride to have a photograph standing before his statue."

A lot other were also seek taking snaps in front of the statue. A cloth merchant from Old Dhaka Mohammad Nazrul said, "Camera is not allowed in 32, Dhanmondi's Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. I had a dream to take a photo there. Today I am happy having taken a photo in front of Bangabandhu's statue."

Zahir appreciated and thanked the authorities for the arrangement.

A group of army personnel killed Sheikh Mujib along with most of his family members and close relatives on Aug 15, 1975. Amongst his five children, Sheikh Hasina is the eldest. During the brutal Aug 15 massacre, all his immediate family members, except his two daughters Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, were gunned down. The two sisters were abroad then.

A total of 12 former army officials were sentenced to death in Sheikh Mujib murder case in 2007. And after a long 35 years' of wait, five were hanged in 2010. Another died abroad.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the trade fair on Sunday. A total of 47 foreign firms from Pakistan, India, China, Iran, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the fair.

The fair will remain open from 10 am to 10 pm everyday with a Tk 20 ticket for elders and Tk 10 ticket for children.

Total number of stalls in this year's trade fair is 505. Amongst them, there are 50 premiere pavilions, 44 reserved pavilions, 36 premiere mini-pavilions, 15 reserved mini-pavilions, 47 premiere stalls and 30 general stalls.

For the visitors, the trade fair is also accommodating three mother-and-child service centres, six restaurants and a children's amusement park.

Bangladesh is interested in importing 1,000 megawatt (MW) electricity from Nepal to meet its increasing demand for power.

Foreign minister Dipu Moni expressed the interest when Nepal's new ambassador to Dhaka, Hari Kumar Shrestha, called on her at her office on Monday, according to a foreign ministry press release.

There is a need for countries in the region to work together to harness hydropower and water resources for mutual benefit, Dipu Moni told Shrestha.

Bangladesh, she said, is interested in being an equity partner or shareholder of Sapt-Kosi high dam project. "This is the most opportune moment for countries of South Asia to explore synergies for mutual benefit," she added.

CTG AND MONGLA PORTS

Moni said Bangladesh had already offered Nepal and Bhutan access to Mongla and Chittagong ports.

After signing the standard operating procedure (SOP) between Bangladesh and India, Nepalese cargo vehicles are allowed to enter up to 200 meters from zero point at Banglabandha land port and it would help facilitate bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Nepal, she observed.

Moni said the government plans to complete multi-gauge conversion of the Birol-Radhikapur railway sector by 2012. This, she said, would ease passage of Nepalese cargo.

She also mentioned the signing of addendum to a memorandum of understanding between Bangladesh and India granting Rohanpur-Singabad as an additional route for rail transit to Nepal.

Bangladesh has already transported 50,000 tonnes of fertiliser through this route as a one-time case.

PEACE PROCESS IN NEPAL

According to Moni, Bangladesh is observing the ongoing 'peace process' in Nepal with great interest and supports the process of democratic institution-building in that country.

She also expressed hope that aspirations of the people of Nepal would be fulfilled with adoption of a Constitution that best suits their needs.

BILATERAL TRADE
Noting that bilateral trade was far below the potential, the foreign minister sought the Nepal ambassador's personal initiative to get private sectors actively involved in enhancing trade link between the two countries.

The two also discussed various aspects of mutual interest and exchanged views on ways to infuse dynamism into bilateral ties.

Dense fog disrupted ferry services overnight on Mawa-Kewrakandi and Paturia -Daulatdia routes.

The services resumed after the fog that reduced visibility to near zero wore off Tuesday morning.

Paturia -Daulatdia route observed disruption in operation for 11 hours from 9pm on Monday and Mawa-Kewrakandi for nine hours from 11pm.

Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Corporation's (BIWTC) Daulatdia pier Tanvir Ahmed told  that three ferries were stuck at Daulatdia.

Moreover, ferries Birshreshthha Jahangir and Shah Ali were trapped on the way to Paturia in the mid river, Ahmed added.

Four ferries were marooned at the Paturia pier, its manager Bidyut Kumar said.

"The night coaches were stranded at Mawa pier during the disruption of the ferry service on Monday night," manager of BIWTC's Mawa pier, Sirajul Hoque, said.

Long gridlocks developed on the both sides of the route. Ferries Tapul, Ranikhet, Jamuna, Raniganj, Kishori, Karabi were stranded in the middle of the Padma River, he said.

Ferry 'Language Martyr Barkat' , loaded with vehicles, also was stuck at the same time, he added.

Thousands of passengers suffered severely overnight for terrible cold in the mid river.

The gridlocks seemed to ease after the fog was gone.

The Rapid Action Battalion director general Mokhlesur Rahman had received a gallantry award along with 12 of his colleagues this year.

The description of the Bangladesh Police Medal given to this additional inspector general rank official says: "His skillful guidance has led to the arrest of 13 top extremist leaders in RAB operations in 2011, as well as the recovery of large amounts of arms and explosives. Nine other extremists have also been killed in gunfights with RAB."

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over Mokhlesur's the award on Tuesday.

The elite crime-fighting unit of police is heavily criticised by local and international human rights organisations for its alleged extrajudicial killings.

Ain O Shalish Kendra chief Sultana Kamal told  it was regrettable that the state had issued honours for a controversial issue such as 'crossfire'.

When asked for a reaction from Mokhlesur on this matter, he defended by saying, "Do you want us to stand by and watch criminals shoot us and run?"

In this year's Police Week, 59 members of the police and RAB were awarded Bangladesh Police Medal and President's Police Medal, 12 of whom were RAB members.

Of these men, Lt Col Monirul Haque, Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan, Kamrujjaman, Shah Mohammad Azad, Jahidul Islam, Taherul Islam and Awlad Hossain received the PPM for 'deaths of pirates and bandits'.

Sultana Kamal said the awards were encouraging extrajudicial killings while people had questions about such deaths, and added this was equivalent to waving off those questions.

"There are cases against RAB for extrajudicial killings and the cases are still unresolved," she said.

PPM-awarded Ziaul Ahsan's award description tells of an incident on June 22 last year. His team saw an empty trawler boat near the forest station on Bhola river in the Sundarbans. Searching around the boat, they found footprints that led deeper into the forest and when they moved along the track, shots were fired from inside the forest.

RAB fired back in the heat of the moment and later four bullet-riddled bodies were recovered from inside the forest.

Since the inception of RAB in 2004, the words 'crossfire' and 'gunfight' have become part of the everyday vocabulary. Human rights organisations allege the law enforcers are committing extrajudicial killings in the guise of gunfights.

According to Ain O Shalish Kendra, 100 people were killed in 2011 in custody or in 'gunfights'.

When asked for a comment on awarding crossfires, National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur Rahman said he could not comment without looking at individual cases.

"I think the government should think carefully before awarding an act that is controversial. Capturing extremists, pirates or bandits is more courageous than killing them.

"But I would like to believe the awards were given after sufficient analysis," he added.