Also, the army headquarters requested the mass media to refrain from making any imaginary and negative opinion out of their personal notion that might create confusion in the public minds about the army.

An ISPR release said the army had been discharging its responsibility at the instructions of the government and extending cooperation towards holding fair elections under the incumbent caretaker government. ‘This cooperation will continue in future, if necessary.’

The release said the role of the army was praised by all quarters against the backdrop of the January 11, 2007 changeover. At the critical juncture of the nation, the army at the instructions of the president came in aid of the caretaker government and subsequently participated in nation-building and different development and welfare activities.

‘And this praiseworthy role of the army was reflected in different mass media, including newspapers of the country.’

Recently, the release pointed out, various fictitious and confusing opinions are being published in editorials of different dailies, television talk shows and open discussions.

It said in view of the state of emergency in place, even the army chief at different functions and exchanges with editors of different mass media and interviews with local and foreign media gave a clear picture about the role of the army.

He asked the newsmen to be free from ‘goddesses’, obviously referring to the two detained former prime ministers, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

‘The corrupt have created criminals who are roaming about with firearms. They can shoot dead many of my colleagues and even I may die any time by a bullet, but you should stand by the people and the country,’ he said.

He was talking to newsmen after attending a roundtable conference on the police ordinance at the National Press Club.

Kamal said, in reply to a query, that it depends on the people whether they trust him or not.
Denying the allegation, made by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, of whitening Tk 102 crore of black money, Kamal said he did not know how many zeros are needed to write 102 crore.

Sheikh Hasina, also president of the Awami League, told her lawyers at the special judge’s court on Sunday that Kamal had whitened Tk 102 crore.

‘In my 50 years as a lawyer, I have never seen a crore of takas in my bank account at a time,’ he said, and declared that he ready to show his bank statement anytime. ‘Those who have brought allegations against me did not even want to make their wealth statements.’

Photo: PR, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon.

The Fundamentalist Mullahs running havoc in Bangladesh for last couple of days turned to a new strategy to continue the anarchy. On Friday they had sent a press note to the media claiming three of their members were dead. Since the claim was overlooked, they again started threatening the journalists over phone on Saturday noon.

The claim was phony indeed. When the undersigned of the Press note Kaji Azizul Haq was contacted he demanded the police took away all the dead bodies to unknown destinations. When said that there was no record of anybody dying in the hospital, he reacted furiously and said, “When you seculars die the whole country mourns, and when a mullah dies its the other way around.”

The Commissioner  of DMP Naeem Ahmed denied any such incident saying that it was impossible to do so, because the media and reporters surrounding the premise was large in number and the police was cautious in their action.

The same fundamentalist used the rumor in Hathazari on Saturday claiming that a madrasha student died and they attacked the local police station.

Photo: Banglar Chokh.

At least 50 people, including five police personnel, were injured as madrassah students attacked the Hathazari police station in Chittagong in a repercussion to police-mullahs riot in Dhaka.  

The students of Darul Ulum Muinul Islam Madrassah, much known as Hathazari bara madrassah, also torched three motorbikes, two cars alongside conducting massive vandalism inside the police station. 

Several hundred students of the madrassah swooped on the police station at around 6:30pm on rumour that one madrassah student was killed in police attack at Baitul Mukarram mosque in Dhaka. 

Witnesses said the madrassah students, equipped with truncheons and iron roads, swooped on the police station suddenly and started vandalizing doors and windowpanes. 

They damaged three motorbikes, two cars of the police station and left five policemen and the imam of the police station mosque injured, said Mohammed Alamgir, the Hathazari police chief. 

Contingents of police deployed at the Chittagong University were called in and they dispersed the attackers lobbing teargas shells. 

The madrassah students took to the street and vandalized several vehicles after the incident,’ he said adding that a huge contingent of additional police and RAB members had drove them out at around 8:00pm. 

The injured policemen, identified as sub-inspector Mizanur Rahman, constables Abdul Hoque, Bahar Uddin, Mostofa and Hamid, were receiving treatment at the police hospital. 

At least 25 madrassah students have also sustained injuries during the incident and four of them were identified as Mafizur Rahman, Nazim Uddin, Hifatullah and Abdur Rahim. The rests could not be unidentified immediately. 

The deputy inspector general of police, AKM Shahidul Hoque, rushed to the spot soon after the incident and was holding a meeting with the madrassah teachers.

Photo:BanglarChokh

More than 150 people, including journalists, police and pedestrians were injured in the city on Friday as ultra-Islamists groups locked in sporadic clashes with the police, turning the Paltan area from the north gate of Baitul Mokarram to its south gate into a battlefield for more than three hours.
 
The agitating bigots also snatched away a loaded shotgun from a police Habildar from the south gate of the mosque during the three-hour riots.
 
Witnesses said the clash erupted when several hundreds of Islamist activists of Islami Ain Bastabayan Committee led by Fazlul Haque Amini, Chhatra Jamiat Bangladesh led by Maolana Muhiuddin Khan and Ahkame Sariah Hefajat Committee led by led by former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Delawar Hossain Saydee and publicity secretary of the same party Taslim Ahmed under the banner of  Anti-Quran Law Resistance Committee attempted to bring out a procession immediately after the Juma prayer at around 1:40pm against the recently announced National Women Development Policy amid tight security.
 
As police tried to resist the activists to bring out procession, the angry activists locked clashes with police indiscriminately pelting brickbats and stones on them from the North gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
 
The laws enforcers charged batons, teargas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse the radical activists triggering rioting clashes, which spread at the Dainik Bangla Crossing, Paltan Crossing, North and South Gates of the national mosque and the all adjacent alleys.
 
The protestors divided in several groups took shelter at GPO alley hurled stones and brickbats while another group in front of the north gate continued chased and counter-chased each other during the three hours clash.
 
At one stage, the furious activists set ablaze at some old clothes and carpets collecting from different shops and took control of Paltan crossing to Dainik Bangla crossing. A group of protestors at south gate of the mosque swooped on police Habildar Riyad and snatched away his loaded shotgun.
 
Huge contingent of police from Rajarbagh Police Line rushed to the scene and swung into action clubbing the protestors and repeatedly charging rubber bullets and teargas canisters a bid to take the situation under control.
 
More than 10 journalists of different printing and electronic media, 40 policemen and 60 activists and pedestrian sustained critical injuries during the three hour’s long rioting clashes.
The police reinforcements by using a water canon and a riot arrived at the spot at around 2:55pm to bring the situation under control but most of the activists took shelter inside the mosque but police managed to arrested two severely injured activists from the scene.

All kinds of traffic movements were suspended on the busy Paltan road and adjacent area till 5:00pm 
A high official of police preferring anonymity told New Age, ‘The police charged 312 teargas canisters, 243 rounds rubber bullet to bring the situation under control.’
 
‘Police arrested 10 activists from the scene while 52 policemen from different ranks sustained critical injuries during the clash,’ he added.
 
Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Zone, Mazharul Islam told newsmen, ‘Police managed to recovered snatched shotgun at around 4:45pm in front of the south gate of the mosque.
 
The injured were admitted at Markajul Islam Hospital, Dhaka Orthopaedics Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital while the injure policemen were admitted at Rajarbagh Police Line Hospital.
 
The duty officer of the Paltan police station said that ‘We are preparing to file cases against the Islamist activists.’
 
Meanwhile, the Islamic Ain Bastabain Committee amir Fazlul Haque Amini demanded resignation of women affair adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury for formulating ant-Quran rule in the name of women development policy.
 
The government must withdraw the anti-Quran sections from the policy, without which we will continue the protests Amini said at a press briefing at Modina office in Noakhali Tower.
 
Amini who also Chairman of  Islami Oikya Jote  said the police had attacked them without provocation.

He claimed that more than 100 workers of the Islamist outfit had been injured in the clashes.

‘We called a rally to drum up support for the anti-Quran rule, but the government is not fulfilling our demand,’ he added.

Amini threatened that the ‘fire ignited Friday would spread to every corner of the country’.

Asked about mosaic stones taken off the mosque’s wall, Amini said he was not aware of it.

In answer to a writ petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia regarding the validity of the Election Commission’s invitation to talks on electoral reform, The High Court gave a ruling that the letter to the BNP Acting Secretary General Hafizuddin Ahmed was legal. In response to this dismissal, supporters of Khaleda Zia shouted slogans in The High Court premises. Dhaka, Bangladesh. April 10 2008,Photo- Munir uz Zaman/*Drik*NEWS.

The High Court dismissed Khaleda Zia’s writ petition challenging the validity of the Election Commission’s invitation and ruled that initiating M Hafiz Uddin Ahmed was legal.

The High Court bench comprising two judges, Mirza Hossain Haider and Mamnun Rahman, handed down the verdict Thursday, in favour of the invitation to the party’s government-backed splinter faction led by acting chairperson M Saifur Rahman and M Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

The Election Commission could not finalise the electoral reforms laws after its planned dialogue with the BNP stalled.

The commission was scheduled to publish a gazette notification on the electoral reforms laws in March, following dialogues with the major political parties in September, October and November, as per its roadmap declared on July 15, 2007.

After the first round of talks with 15 political parties the commission wrapped up the second round of talks in February, excluding BNP in both rounds due to the legal wrangle over the EC’s invitation.

The commission would hold its dialogue with the BNP, accepting the court verdict, and would not file any further appeal regarding which faction the verdict favours, the CEC said.

Thursday’s High Court verdict dismissing Khaleda’s petition has deprived the BNP of a fair deal, Khandakar Delwar Hossain told reporters after the ruling.

‘The High Court verdict denied the mainstream BNP justice,’ BNP’s said the party secretary general.

‘As Khaleda herself had filed the writ petition, the next steps in this regard will have to be taken after consultation with lawyers,’ Delwar said.

He called upon the party leaders and activists to forge a strong leadership network under BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

He said conspirators have been active against BNP and the country — what has happened so far is only a part of those conspiratorial machinations.

The press briefing was also attended by BNP acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed and former lawmaker Selim Reza Habib, among others. 

And the government-backed faction’s acting secretary general Hafiz Uddin was happy at the High Court verdit.

‘We have got justice,’ Hafiz said in exclamation and adding that BNP will be run by Khaleda Zia.

‘We want to sit for dialogue with the Election Commission with a united BNP delegation after consulting with senior leaders including Khandaker Delwar Hossain and ASM Hannan Shah,’ Hafiz said.

General Moeen U Ahmed with Editors, Photo: Banglar Chokh

Two days after his term as army chief was extended by another year, General Moeen U Ahmed on Tuesday asserted that the army would not follow the examples of military takeover in neighbouring countries.

The army chief made his stand clear once again as he sat over lunch with the country’s leading editors at the army headquarters to give an account of his and the army’s role in national life.

On the army’s role in running the affairs of the state, he said, ‘We are subservient to the government and we shall not take any steps so that (the society) becomes militarised.’

One editor said the real power lay with the army chief, which prompted him to assert: ‘Let me assure you that we are not having power.’

‘We will neither follow Pakistan or other neighbours, nor our predecessors,’ Gen Moeen said in reference to military coups in Thailand and Pakistan and previous ‘takeovers’ in Bangladesh.

The general touched upon topics ranging from the upcoming polls to failed attempts to rein in prices.

Gen Moeen blamed ‘the hoarding tendency of importers, buyers and sellers’, as well as last year’s floods, cyclone Sidr and the global economy for spiralling prices.

He spoke of the role of the armed forces in tackling the food crisis, saying they had helped farm an extra 342,993 acres yielding an extra 22 lakh tonnes of rice for the upcoming boro harvest.

The army chief stressed the need for the nation to consume potatoes alongside rice to alleviate the food crisis.

‘Bhater pashe aloo protidin (potatoes alongside rice every day)’ is the slogan the army chief has been spreading throughout the army.

Also at lunch with the editors, the menu was dominated by seven items of potato.

Answering a query on speculation over the polls uncertainty, Gen Moeen said, ‘Please wait until December 31. Why won’t there be elections by December 31?’

‘This is the cut-off time and we must not miss the date,’ he said.

The government and the Election Commission pledged the national polls by the year-end, but many political leaders doubted it.

The army chief dispelled the doubt and said, ‘The roadmap is there and I don’t see any deviation (from it).’ But he pointed to some ‘minor problems’, which are seemingly slowing the process.

Gen Moeen referred to the EC, political parties, the government and people as the key players of elections.

Referring to a 1996 circular, Gen Moeen touched upon a 23-member Security Council, designed to ensure national security and accountability of the government.

The NSC, never made effective, was led by the then prime minister to make decisions on defence affairs.

A circular issued at the time by the Cabinet Division said the council had also been given responsibilities to deal with all internal problems tied to security.

The NSC had also been empowered to make decisions or direct the authorities concerned to take actions and make recommendations to the cabinet, if necessary.

Gen Moeen spoke on his recent visit to India in reply to a query by one of the editors and said, ‘I have invitations (from China and Pakistan) too.’

He hoped that the next elected government would pursue the changes made through various reforms by the present caretaker government, reports UNB.

Asked about lifting the state of emergency, he said the army had nothing to do in this matter - the government would take the decision.

About political dialogue, Gen Moeen said this was, again, an affair between the government and political parties.

Terming the media as parliament in the absence of an elected parliament, the army chief said the government, different agencies and even the army were taking many actions on positive reports in the media. ‘We are not media-shy rather we want to be media- friendly.’

Citing an example of a report on the hanging order for a freedom fighter in Comilla, he said the army immediately took the initiative and approached the president who cancelled the death sentence.

The army chief made a 5-point appeal to the press to help bring down prices of essentials, hold credible elections, encourage people to diversify their food habit, improve the rule of law and security and highlight rural news.

During the two-and-half-an-hour-long meeting, the army chief also narrated achievements so far made by the armed forces in various sectors.

The army chief, whose force is acting in a countrywide anti-corruption drive under the National Coordination Council, said the council identified 222 corrupt persons so far. Of them, 81 were arrested and trial of 50 completed in lower courts. They can go to higher court.

He said 31,619 acres of land grabbed by ruling-party musclemen and thugs were recovered by the army and handed over to government. These lands should be distributed among landless people to be used for welfare activities, or else, the government lands might again be grabbed.

Gen Moeen said the army recovered Tk 8,372 crore as unpaid bills of utility services, like electricity. ‘Those who can afford to pay bills evaded it,’ he said. ‘Even,’ he told the editors, ‘it was found that some rich people hired experts from abroad for meter tampering to evade paying to government the due electricity bill.’

He further apprised the media that Tk 1,220 crore was recovered from home and abroad and most of the siphoned-off money already deposited with Bangladesh Bank.

The army chief said the taskforce in operation in the interim period made investigation into 13 institutions to dig out institutional corruption. Citing an example from RAJUK, he said the taskforce found 49 per cent of plot-allotment documents missing. The government, he said, is taking action on taskforce report.

In Titas gas corporation, he said, corrupt persons confessed to having committed corruption in minting Tk 1,900 crore which he said was one-third of the total corruption which would come to about Tk 50,000 crore. Considering overall corruption in Titas only, he said, it would account for two-and-a-half-year’s national budget of Bangladesh.

General Moeen said the army sped up loading and unloading at Chittagong seaport which was in a very bad shape before the state of emergency. Earlier, it used to take 13 days for a ship to unload, load and for outer anchorage. But, after the army intervention, it took only three days to complete the task, resulting in reduction of 30 per cent expenses and improvement of efficiency by 40 per cent.

The army chief said now 38 containers were being handled per hour, which is better than Singapore port that handles 40 containers per hour. This has been possible only through improving the management and maintenance.

He said manpower export increased 76 per cent last year compared to 2006.

‘We believe we have enough resources,’ General Moeen said, and if the human resources were developed through proper training, the situation in Bangladesh would improve a lot.

The general was flanked by Major General Sina Ibn Jamali, chief of the general staff, and Major General Golam Mohammad, head of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, when he spoke to the editors.

The journalists who attended the lunch meeting include Daily Independent editor Mahbubul Alam, Ittefaq editor Rahat Khan, Amar Desh’s acting editor Ataus Samad, Samakal editor Abed Khan, Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman, New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Bangladesh Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Financial Express editor Moazzem Hossain, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, UNB chief editor Enayetullah Khan, Manav Zamin editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, BTV director general Kamal Uddin, head of news of Channel i Shykh Siraj, editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com Toufique Imrose Khalidi, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutt, Naya Diganta editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, ATN Bangla adviser Saiful Bari and its chief of news Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Channel i head of news Nazmul Ashraf.

The four-member panel of advisers held informal talks with the Awami League, one of the major political parties, on Monday evening and is expected to sit with others to seek ’support for formal talks to take place shortly’, according to a meeting source. 

The government will send formal proposals to the parties in this regard in a day or two.  

Earlier on the day, the panel headed by communications adviser Ghulam Quader reviewed the situation and discussed possible agendas, dates and venues to start the dialogues, the process for which, the policymakers said, was in progress. 

‘The matter related to the dialogues was in progress’, the law, justice and parliamentary affairs adviser to the interim administration, AF Hassan Ariff, told a group of reporters after the informal meeting held at the communications ministry. 

About the details of their discussion, the adviser said, ‘You will know about it in due course of time.’  

Communications adviser Ghulam Quader, commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman and local government, rural development and cooperatives adviser Anwarul Iqbal attended the meeting that lasted nearly two hours.  

The same team, tasked with preparatory work for the dialogue, met four Awami League leaders – Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Hasan Mahmud – at the Railway Bhaban in the capital.

The advisers informed the AL leaders that the government would sit with the political parties formally in a day or two to discuss the preparations for a fruitful dialogue. 

‘We have had informal discussion on the proposed dialogues,’ a source present at the meeting said. 

The advisers told the AL leaders that formal talks with the political parties would start in a day or two, the source said adding that the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, was expected to announce the modalities and dates for the talks in an address to the nation. 

An AL leader said that the advisers also assured them that the dialogues would be unconditional. 

Holding of a fair and participatory election, giving legitimacy to the work done by the interim administration and power handover to an elected government would be at the centre of discussions with the parties, according to sources in the administration.  

Besides, lifting of emergency and ban on political activities across the country, restoration of civil and political rights, announcement of polls date, balance of power between the prime minister and the president, and food prices would also feature at the discussions, they said. 

The government has been pondering over how quickly it could hold the dialogues as nearly three months have already elapsed since the chief adviser announced that the government would open dialogues with the parties ’soon’.  

He had made the announcement on January 12 on the occasion of the first anniversary of government, which was born through a state of emergency in January, 2007 following political turmoil. 

Asked about next major programmes of the chief adviser, his official spokesman told E-Bangladesh that holding of the planned dialogues would be the next major task.  

‘Definitely the dialogue is the major programme of the chief adviser, but the time, venue and method of the talks is yet to be  finalised,’ Syed Fahim Munaim, the press secretary to the chief adviser said.  

When his attention was drawn to media speculations that the chief adviser might make an announcement on the dialogues in a televised address to the nation on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, the spokesman said that he was not aware of it. 

The dialogue will take place this month, he said.  

Sources in the administration said that the panel of advisers tasked with preparation for the dialogue would shortly place their suggestions before the chief adviser and other authorities concerned. A final decision will be made by the chief adviser. 

The dialogues with the parties will take place at a time when the government was struggling to tackle the soaring food prices that made the commoners’ life miserable and major political parties were gearing up for movement to press for release of two detained former prime ministers – Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.  

Earlier on March 25, communications adviser Ghulam Quader said that the agenda for the proposed dialogues between the interim administration and political parties would be fixed in consultation with the parties concerned.

‘The question of the two leaders will arise in the proposed dialogue between the political parties and the government. Whether one likes them or not is not the question since people want them,’ he said.  

Reaching a decision regarding the fate of detained Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia is a must, he noted.  

A political solution may end their detentions or help suspend their cases and there are instances of such compromises like that in the case of Mahatma Gandhi, he pointed out.  

Professor Muzaffer, also the president of civic group Shujon, was chairing a roundtable discussion on ‘Dialogue: Necessity for attaining national consensus before election.’ 

Organised by Media Initiative for Public Policy, the discussion at the National Press Club was also addressed by senior journalist ABM Musa, former Awami League lawmakers Asaduzzaman Noor and Saber Hossain Chowdhury, FBCCI’s former president Mir Nasir Hossain, Jatiya Party presidium member Ziauddin Bablu, Dhaka University law professor Asif Nazrul and Bikalpa Dhara leader Mahi B Chowdhury. Associated Press bureau chief and MIPP convenor Farid Hossain moderated the discussion.    

‘The political culture needs changes to make the public representatives accountable,’ he said, suggesting that constitutional reforms could be thought of, if needed. 

The TIB chairman, stressing the need for reforms within the political organisations, said that a qualitative change was going on and the political parties should therefore act more responsibly and guide their workers accordingly. 

Emergency should be relaxed to discuss these issues for reaching a consensus among major political parties, he said. 

The neutrality of the administration is a must for holding a free and fair election which the present government has to ensure and that should be openly discussed, he added. 

Referring to the role of the army called out in various situations, Muzaffer said, ‘If we bring them in a situation where there is a chance of the chain of command to be broken, this army will not remain the same.’ 

ABM Musa expressed doubts whether any dialogue would be fruitful without the presence of Hasina and Khaleda. 

He was also critical of the political parties for forgetting their election manifestoes soon after going to power. 

‘What is the guarantee that the political parties would fulfil the issues agreed in the proposed dialogue?’ he said.   

Awami League’s organising secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the tendency of deciding everything at this very moment was not right. ‘It should not be a compulsion that a consensus should have to be reached in the proposed dialogue.’ 

Asaduzzaman Noor said reforms were needed within the party so that the aspirations of the grassroots people were reflected in the activities of the political parties. 

Lamenting on politicisation of the police and administration by the past government, he said institutional reforms were needed to give democracy a stable shape.  

Business leader Mir Nasir Hossain said election was important not only for political reasons but also for the economy. 

‘Foreign and local investments depend on political stability. Nothing can be achieved unless there is qualitative difference in national politics,’ he added. 

Jatiya Party leader Ziauddin Bablu said the January 11 changeover took place due to lack of dialogue among the concerned parties. ‘It is unfortunate that the government and opposition never had dialogue.’ 

Professor Asif Nazrul said consensus had to be reached on issues like parliament boycott and hartals. 

‘The proposed dialogue should have been held much earlier,’ the law professor said. 

Mahi B Chowdhury said that serious thought should be given on formulating laws for checking political activities on the streets.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of Awami League, wore black ribbons during a silent procession in protest against the presence of the Chancellor of the University President Iajuddin Ahmed on campus during the 44th Convocation at the Dhaka University. Dhaka, Bangladesh. April 7 2008:Photo- © Amdadul Huq/DrikNEWS.

The University of Dhaka held its 44th convocation on Monday amid boycott by a section of teachers and different student organisations in protest at the presence of the president Iajuddin Ahmed, also the chancellor of the university. 

The university conferred honorary doctor of law degrees on 1952 language movement heroes, Abdul Matin and Gaziul Haque, at the convocation. 

Abdul Matin also delivered the convocation speech and Gaziul Haque’s son, Rahul Gazi received the degree on his father’s behalf. 

The university gave out certificates among 3,385 graduates, including 2,042 females. 

Thirty-three students were awarded gold medals for their outstanding academic performances. Twenty-nine students received doctorate degrees and 24 M Phil degrees. 

President Iajuddin Ahmed chaired the convocation. Diplomats, representatives of foreign missions in Bangladesh and other dignitaries attended the programme on the university playground. No political leaders were seen in the rows reserved for guests. The row reserved for the members on the university senate and syndicate also remained empty all along the programme.

The convocation began with a procession led by the chancellor and joined in by convocation speaker Abdul Matin, vice-chancellor SMA Faiz, deans of faculties, and the teachers from the Curzon Hall in the morning. 

Security was tightened on and around the campus with the deployment of the personnel of the Special Security Force, Special Branch, National Security Intelligence, Rapid Action Battalion and the police. 

The student organisations and teachers with progressive ideals boycotted the programme to protest against the presence of Iajuddin. 

Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student front of Awami League, paraded the campus in a silent procession with black cloths wrapped around their faces as a mark of protest against the presence of Iajuddin at the convocation. 

The Chhatra League activists, who earlier gathered at Madhu’s Canteen, came out one after another as the president arrived on the campus. They joined in a procession carrying placards inscribed with ‘Iajuddin, enemy of education, go back’, ‘enemy of democracy, go back’.  

After the procession, they held a rally at Aparajeya Bangla, where the student leaders accused the president of being responsible for the present political crisis and declared him persona-non-grata on the campus. 

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, BNP’s student wing, boycotted the convocation saying that the president had not played the expected role in the release of the teachers and students detained after August 2007 campus protests. 

Mujibur Rahman, a student of sociology, and two of his friends staged demonstration at the Aparajeya Bangla against ‘commercialisation of the convocation’. They also set fire to convocation cap. 

The university authorities had taken sponsorship from a number of corporate houses and published an unusual jacket-advertisement in the local edition of the International Herald Tribune. No advertisements for the convocation were printed in local newspapers.  

The university campus wore a festive look as hundreds of jubilant students in convocation robes moved around and remained busy holding photo sessions. 

President Iajuddin Ahmed, in his speech, said that a large chunk of public money was being spent on Dhaka University and other public universities for real interest of the nation and suggested ‘cautionary measures’ so that the people were not deprived. 

‘The universities do not need code of conducts like other institutions but some cautionary measures need to be taken so that the people are not deprived’, he said. 

‘Guardians should be involved in running the universities alongside teachers, students, officers and employees’, he said. 

‘Although the state of sessions jam in public universities is not alarming, it remains a cause for worries. It escalates educational expenses and wastes many valuable years in the students’ life. I call upon all students, teachers, guardians, civil society members and national leaders to give a serious thought to the problem’, he said. 

Language movement hero Abdul Matin, in the convocation speech, urged the government to declare the language martyrs as national heroes and suggested formation of a commission comprising members from all quarters concerned to establish Bangla  language in every sphere of national life. 

‘There are some other small communities in the country who speak in their own languages. If we ignore their mother tongue, we would face a setback as a nation’, he added. 

Abdul Matin also stressed the need for learning other languages, including English, and asked Dhaka University to be the pioneer in teaching other languages. 

Recalling the glorious history of the university, vice-chancellor SMA Faiz urged the graduates to contribute to the welfare of the people of the country.