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The finance ministry has been sitting on a telephone board proposal for more than six months on new interconnection charge for signing a revised revenue sharing agreement between the board and mobile operators.
   Sources in the telephone board said the telecoms ministry in June 2006 sent the proposal to finance ministry for approval of a new interconnection charge for calls between the board and mobile networks. But no progress was made till date, said the board officials.
   The officials said the board was under pressure from mobile operators for delaying the signing of the revised revenue sharing agreement as most operators have stopped charging incoming calls from telephone board network assuming that the agreement would be signed soon.
   The Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board earns Tk 350 crore a year in revenue from mobile operators as interconnection charge and the amount will substantially reduce after the signing of the agreement.
   The operators, on the other hand, continue to pay incoming call charges to the telephone board as no revised revenue sharing agreement has as yet been signed.
   Under the existing agreement, signed in 1998, the mobile operators pay interconnection fees for access to the telephone board network whereas the telephone board pays nothing for terminating calls to mobile networks.
   According to the new proposal, the mobile operators will pay the telephone board interconnection charge at the rate of Tk 0.70 a minute whenever a call is made from mobile networks to the telephone board network.
   The board, on the other hand, will pay the mobile operators at the rate of Tk 0.30 a minute between July and December 2006, Tk 0.50 in 2007, Tk 0.60 in 2008, and Tk 0.70 in 2009 and onwards for calls from the board network to private mobile networks.
   The proposal also said the board should pay mobile operators at a rate of Tk 2 a minute for international calls from and Tk 1 for international calls to mobile networks.
   On April 19, the telephone board implemented a Tk 1.5 per minute call charge for calls to any mobile networks without signing a revised revenue sharing agreement with the mobile operators, although it said paying interconnection charges to the mobile operators was the reason for switching to a per-minute rate instead of the 5-minute peak and 8-to-10-minute off-peak chunks for Tk 1.5.
   In the absence o a new revenue sharing agreement, the board’s subscribers have, however, been paying 400 hundred per cent more, compared with earlier charges, for calls to mobile networks.
   Sources in the finance ministry, however, said the possibility of the approval of the proposal during the remaining period of caretaker government was slim.

The BNP joint secretary general and BNP-led alliance candidate for the Chittagong-9 constituency Abdullah Al Noman on Friday said people would resist those who would try to make people hostage through violent activities.
   Noman was addressing a pre-election rally of the BNP-led alliance at Bahaddarhat in the city.
   Presiding over by BNP leader Abu Sufian the rally was addressed, among others, by Jamaat leader Maulana Shamsul Islam, BNP leader AM Nazimuddin, MA Sabur, FH Khan Fazu, Dr Shahadat Hossain, Abul Hashem Bakkar and Jamaat leader Mohammad Nazrul Islam.
   Noman said the people would reply through ballots on January 22 to those who were trying to create a constitutional crisis and hatching a conspiracy against democracy.
   He said the port city had witnessed a massive infrastructural development in all sectors during the past 4-party alliance
   government and for that reason, city dwellers would rally round the alliance and extend their support in favour of the alliance candidates in the upcoming election.
   Earlier, Noman along with local party leaders carried out mass contacts in Kapshgola and Chawkbazar areas.

The banned polythene bags staged a comeback in the district and are being used right under the nose of the law enforcers.
   The rampant use of the poly bags for shopping purposes is posing threat to public health and environment.
   A law was enacted in March 2002 in this regard, banning the use of shopping bags made of polythene and these shopping bags disappeared following the ban.
   But now-a-days shopkeepers and other vendors are using the polythene bags, though in a different shape, to sell pack their products. The markets are seen flooded with polythene bags and the buyers are taking their shopping using the bags.
   According to experts, the poly bags that are available in the retail shopping are more harmful to health and environment.
   The law that banned poly bags, however, allows the use of polythene in packaging some products such as biscuits, tea, chanachur, chips, chocolate, or saline etc.
   But the use of the bags for shopping is increasing in recent days as the police members are seen using the poly bags, flouting the law. No administrative action or initiative has so far taken to arrest the illegal sellers of poly bags.

Rajshahi’s mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, also the BNP-led four-party alliance’s candidate in the Rajshahi sadar (Paba-Boalia)-2 constituency, on Thursday had to face a shrill and angry inquisition in Gangpara under ward-19 by local women voters.
   Female voters blasted Minu for the skyrocketing prices of essentials and the unprecedented frequency of power outages in the last five years. Minu and some of his party members visited the area to campaign for the first time in five years after being elected, said locals.
   Witnesses said the women’s fury upset Minu so much that he left the place after seeking votes from only a few houses.
   At around 1.15pm Minu entered Ambagan, which is situated behind Rajshahi Development Authority’s (RDA) office, and tried to persuade the women to vote for him before some infuriated females encircled him and asked him, ‘Why have you come here? Did you ever ask us or care how we are faring, whether we are eating or starving? Now you come like a migratory bird to beg for our votes!’
   Others asked him, ‘We are buying coarse flour at Tk 26 to Tk 30 per kilogram. Why have you allowed the prices to rise so high?’
   Other angry women asked him, ‘What did you do for our low-lying areas in the last five years? Why have our homes been water-logged for so long? You never tried to help us in any way!’
   Minu, who was unable to give any satisfactory answers and was shocked at their fury, almost ran away from them and lay down on the veranda of a thatched house to recover from their onslaught. After resting for 15 minutes he left the area on a motorbike, said the locals. Minu told the inquisitive reporters that he was feeling ill so he had to go home.

The Bangladesh Rifles has stepped up vigil along the borders to resist any infiltration of criminals into the country ahead of the forthcoming elections.
   Official sources said the measures had been taken on receipt of information that top criminals now in exile might enter the country to create law and order ahead of the elections.
   The intensified BDR vigil is also aimed at protecting local industries and economy from the influx of smuggled goods into the country and to combat smuggling out of hides and skins and fuels, sources said. In the wake of the heightened BDR patrol, cross-border smugglings of contraband goods have reduced to a greater extent and the listed criminals in exile could not be able to enter the country.
   BDR sources said details about some notorious criminals had been provided to every BDR outpost with necessary instructions to detain them if found anywhere in border areas.

At least 50 were injured in a clash between the leaders and activists of the BNP and the Awami League-led alliance at Keranirhat of Rajendrapur in Rangpur Friday afternoon.
   The local people and the police said the clash began when a rally of the Awami League-led alliance was passing by the Keranirhat Government Primary School where an election campaign meeting of Habibunnabi Khan Sohel, a candidate of the BNP-led alliance, for the Rangpur 3 constituency was going on.
   The AL-led alliance activists pelted stones at the meeting, which resulted in the clash in which 50 of both sides were injured. Eleven were critically injured.
   Critically injured Shamsul, Saju, Asadul, Tota, Majibar, Lablu, Milon, Raju, Pavel Alamgir, Shohel, Manik, and Motin were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
   The clash continued for about two hours. The police brought the situation under control. The police also stopped the meeting to avert further troubles.

The returning officers concerned have issued gazette notifications declaring 17 candidates elected unopposed as the member of the 9th Jatiya Sangsad.
   The Election Commission secretary, Abdur Rashid Sarkar, told this to journalists on Friday.
   The parliament members elected unopposed are: Principal M Azizur Rahman (Dinajpur-6), Khaleda Zia (Bogra- 6), Tarique Rahman (Bogra-7), Matiur Rahman Nizami (Pabna-1), Barrister Shajahan Omar (Jhalakathi-1), Rashedul Hasan Millat (Jamalpur-1), Lutforzzaman Babar (Netrakona-8), Shariful Alam
   (Kishoreganj-7), M Saifur Rahman (Sylhet-1), Sheikh Sujat Ali (Moulavibazar-1),
   Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher (Comilla- 12),
   Akhter Hamid Siddiqui (Nagaon-3), Amanullah
   Aman (Dhaka-3), Wadud Bhuiyan (Khagrachari), Imran Saleh Prince (Mymensingh-1), MM Shahin (Moula-
   vibazar-2) and Nazir Hossain (Sunamganj-1).

The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and the Dhaka Union of Journalists on Friday demanded immediate arrest and punishment for the criminals, who attacked journalist Zahirul Huque Titu in Pirojpur.
   Titu, district correspondent of the Daily Inqilab and Baishakhi TV channel, was attacked by the local cadres of a political alliance on December 28.
   In a statement, the BFUJ president, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, the secretary general, Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, and
   the DUJ president, Altaf Mahmud, and the general secretary, Omar Faruque, expressed surprise over the silence of the Pirojpur district administration for taking no action against the culprits, despite Pirojpur Press Club filed a case mentioning names of 19 offenders.
   The journalist leaders have drawn attention of the caretaker government, especially the adviser for information, to ensure the unhindered work of the newsmen.

The Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, a platform of the pro-BNP lawyers, on Friday protested against the remarks of the British high commissioner, Anwar Choudhury, that the parliamentary election should be held with the participation of all parties to ensure an acceptable government.
   ‘Such remarks by an envoy is nothing but interference in internal politics of a country which goes beyond diplomatic norms,’ the JAF central committee covenor, Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Uddin, and the member-secretary, Shah Khasruzzaman, said in a joint statement.
   They alleged that the British high commissioner indirectly supported the AL-led grand alliance by making such remarks.
   They said it was only the election that would prove what would be acceptable and which had public support.
   ‘Sensing their debacle in
   the election, the Awami League-led grand alliance has decided to boycott the polls to hamper the constitutional process,’ the JAF leaders said in the statement.

At least eight persons were injured when supporters of the BNP and Awami League were locked in a clash at Charkhoas village under Sonagazi upazila in Feni on Friday.
   Police and witnesses said the clash took place at around 11.30am at Temohani under Charkhoas village leaving at least eight persons injured.
   The injured are Juba Dal leader Borhan Uddin Prakash, JCD leader Mamun and his sister Popy and Juba League leaders Nurul Absar, Abdul Khalek, Chhatra League leader Jahangir and Manik. They were admitted to Sonagazi Health Complex.
   Local BNP and AL leaders blamed each other for the incident.
   The upazila BNP general secretary, Shamsuddin Khokan, said the clash erupted following attack on Juba Dal leader Borhan by BCL cadres.
   AL leader Abdul Khaleqe, however, denied the allegation saying the clash has took place after Juba Dal leader Borhan beat up a BCL leader at his residence.

Chittagong Awami League leader Jafar Ahmad Chowdhury resigned from the party on Friday protesting at the party’s earlier decision to nominate LDP executive president Col (retd) Oli Ahmed as grand alliance candidate in Chittagong-13 and 14 constituencies.
   He also announced his decision to contest the January 22 election as an independent candidate.
   ‘I have decided to resign from all posts including primary membership of the party in a regretful mind,’ Jafar, an industrialist and influential AL leader of South Chittagong, mentioned in his resignation letter to the party chief, Sheikh Hasina.
   ‘I have finalised the letter on December 25, the last date of submission of nomination paper but did not tender it at the suggestion of some of my well-wishers,’ he told the news agency over telephone and added that he was determined to contest the election from the Chittagong-13 (Chandanaish-Satkania) and Chittagong-14 (Satkania-Lohagara) constituency as an independent candidate.
   In the resignation letter, he said he had contested as an AL candidate from Chitatgong-13 constituency in the 1986 election but his victory was snatched by the then government through ‘media coup.’
   ‘I had contested once again as a party candidate from the same constituency in the 1991 election, but could not win as the supporters of late Khonadker Mostaque Ahmed within the party worked in favour of BNP candidate,’ he said.
   He said I have been working for the party in Satkania-Lohagara constituency during the last 10 years with dedication to make the party’s position stronger in the area as suggested by the party president, Hasina.
   In the letter, he also said, ‘Unfortunately my commitment to the party was not evaluated rather ignored by the party and nominated LDP executive president Oli Ahmed as grand alliance candidate in the constituencies, who was the mastermind behind the killing of Sudarshan Barua and also responsible for torturing many Awami League , Juba League and Chattra League leaders and workers.’

The Krishak Sramik Janata League president, Kader Siddiqui, on Friday said a part of the Jukta Front including his party would participate in the forthcoming general elections on January 22.
   ‘We are making preparation in this regard to uphold the constitution,’ the KSJL president said while addressing a press conference in the city.
   ‘There’s no reason to think that the KSJL will not take part in the polls if the Awami League boycott it,’ Siddiqui said.
   He criticised the AL’s decision of withdrawing nomination papers of their candidates and said it was neither a wise move nor a pro-people and pro-democracy one.
   ‘AL’s withdrawal of nomination papers is a horrible drama and a process to destroy the country’s democracy,’ Siddiqui observed.
   He also said if the next election was not held with the participation of all political parties, it will be considered as a sick one which may lead the country towards further political confrontation.
   Referring to JSD’s withdrawal of the nomination papers of its candidates, he said the KSJL would take part in the polls as per the policy of the Jukta Front.
   ‘We are not with two major parties – Awami League and BNP – and that is why we do not bother about their activities,’ Siddiqui said.
   Later, the KSJL leaders announced nominations of a part of Jukta Front for contesting the January 22 election.
   The KSJL will contest from 74 constituencies, the Bangladesh Labour Party from 15 constituencies and the Bangladesh Hindhu League from 20 constituencies.

A compartment of a goods train derailed in Comilla on Friday disrupting railway communications on Dhaka-Comilla-Chittagong route for several hours.
   Local sources said the derailment occurred at about 11:30am when a compartment of a Dhaka-bound goods wagon from Chittagong came off the tracks at a place between Laksam and Lauti railway stations.
   No causality, however, was reported in the accident. Several trains also got stranded at different stations on the route following the derailment, sources said.
   A rescue train from Laksam reached the spot at 12:30pm and started salvage work.

Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal on Friday demanded reschedule of the general elections slated for January 22, resignation of Iajuddin Ahmed as the chief adviser to the caretaker government.
   At a rally at Muktangan in the city, leaders of the party also demanded preparation and publication flawless voters’ list, announcement of a new schedule for holding a free and fair election.
   Convenor of the party comrade Khalequzzaman presided over the rally. Central leaders of the party comrade Mubinul Haider Chowdhury, comrade Shuvranshu Chakraborti and Dhaka city unit coordinator comrade Bazlur Rashid spoke at the rally.
   The leaders said the way the government was going to hold the election on January 22 would not be acceptable as it would not be able to reflect the opinion of the people.

The candidates of the BNP-led alliance for the four Gazipur constituencies are set to compete with their own party men, after the withdrawal of candidature by the Awami League-led grand alliance nominees.
   Until Wednesday noon, the BNP-led alliance candidates had been in fear to losing the upcoming elections for these seats, as Gazipur is a proven stronghold of the Awami League. But the situation reversed as the AL-led grand combine withdrew from the race, with BNP-led alliance candidates breathing a sigh of relief.
   The election boycott by the AL and its allies, however, triggered a demoralising sense among the voters. The results of the previous polls mark all the four constituencies in the district as AL strongholds. In the 1996 elections, the party won sweeping victories in all the constituencies and in the 2001 polls it won three seats, with the BNP-led four-party coalition managing a marginal victory in the fourth.
   But, even after withdrawal of AL-led combine from the electoral race, factional feuds in the BNP in Gazipur Sadar, Tongi, Kapasia, and Kaliakoir upazilas combined with a cold war between the BNP and its coalition partners, mainly the Jamaat-e-Islami, is still dogging the coalition candidates. Their main challenge is now the BNP leaders, who, failing to obtain coalition nomination, are contesting the ballot as independent candidates. And their number in each of the constituencies is quite a few.
   So, the BNP-led alliance candidates will have to win over their own party colleagues as rivals, some of whom are quite popular and command a considerable vote bank, besides candidates of other parties and other independent contestants. For example, in Gazipur-4 (Kapasia), the BNP-led alliance candidate will have to compete with the former president of BNP district unit.

The candidates contesting the January 22 general elections from Barisal region tried to apparently woo the voters with sacrificing cows on Eid day, but got frustrated after the grand alliance boycotted the polls.
   Most of the candidates in the region celebrated Eid-ul-Azha at their native villages this year to woo the voters. Accordingly 237 cows were sacrificed in 13 important constituencies of Barisal division.
   Of them, 60 cows were sacrificed by 4-party alliance candidates and 79 by its rebel candidates while 17 by independent candidates. The candidates who got ticket from the grand alliance also sacrificed 58 cows while its rebel candidates 23 cows.
   Engineer Faruk Talukdar, a rebel 4-party alliance candidate for Patuakhali-2 constituency, sacrificed highest 70 cows while Golam Kibria Tipu, a JP (Ershad) presidium member and a rebel grand alliance candidate for Barisal-2 seat, sacrificed 16 cows.
   One of the 4-party alliance candidates said many arranged feast programmes which lost attraction after the grand alliance candidates withdrew their candidature. ‘Money spent on sacrificing animals before the election seems to have been fruitless for polls boycott by the grand alliance,’ he said.

At least 10 people were injured as angry passengers vandalised an express train in Sirajganj Friday evening.
   Witnesses said a number of passengers attacked Dhaka-bound Padma Express coming from Rajshahi at around 7:15pm at Sirajganj railway station after they failed to get seats.
   The agitated passengers smashed windowpanes of three bogies as they failed to get the seats even after having the tickets.
   The Ullapara police brought the situation under control. The train left for Dhaka one hour after the schedule.

A grand civic reception will be accorded to Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus in Chandpur on January 12.
   The reception would be held at 3:00pm at Hasan Ali Govt High School ground in the town.
   A 101-member civic committee was formed on Thursday to arrange the civic reception.

At least 15 people were killed and seven hurt in a series of attacks Friday in India’s troubled northeastern state of Assam, officials said.
   ‘Fifteen people have died and seven wounded in the separate attacks,’ a police official said in Guwahati, Assam’s largest city.
   Three attacks occurred in eastern Tinsukia district and three more in adjoining Dibrugarh district, he added.
   Police blamed the attacks on the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom separatist group, which has been campaigning for a homeland in the tea- and timber-rich state for decades.