Eid-ul-Azha celebrated

-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated across the country on Tuesday.

After offering prayers at Eid congregations, well-off Muslims sacrificed animals commemorating Hazrat Ibrahim's devotion to Allah as illustrated by his readiness to give up his beloved son Hazrat Ismail.

They (Muslims) shared the sacrificial meat with their relatives and neighbours and distributed meat among the poor.

The main Eid congregation was held at National Eidgah Maidan at 8:00am. Acting Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Nuruddin conducted the prayers.

Islamic Foundation also arranged five Eid congregations at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am and 11:00am. Eid congregations were also held at different mosques in the capital as elsewhere across the country.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, advisers to the caretaker government, Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin and other dignitaries, offered Eid prayers at National Eidgah.

A special munajat (prayer) seeking divine blessings for peace and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the people and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah was offered at the main congregation.

Government and political leaders hosted reception for dignitaries, elite and cross-section of people on the occasion.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife hosted reception for diplomats and elite of the city at Bangabhaban. The president and the chief adviser exchanged greetings and pleasantries on the occasion at Bangabhaban.

On the Eid Day, Awami League president and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina urged people to vote judiciously in the December 29 parliament elections and allow her to serve them once more with a selfless devotion to public cause.

“I can make any amount of sacrifice for the cause of the people because my politics is for the people,” she told reporters at her Dhanmondi office on the sidelines of exchanging Eid greetings with diplomats and cross-section of people.

She also called for sacrifice following the teachings of holy Eid-ul-Azha for peace and happiness of all as Muslims celebrated this great festival reflecting this spirit.

Her political archrival, former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said she would announce her party's election manifesto on December 13, a day after formal launch of her poll campaign.

Khaleda told reporters that the manifesto would contain her policies and programmes to be implemented on economic, social and political fronts if the BNP-led four-party alliance is again elected to power.

The former prime minister received foreign diplomats at Eskaton Ladies' Club and exchanged Eid greetings with the dignitaries. She also exchanged Eid greetings with cross-section of people, including party leaders and workers.

On the occasion, Khaleda visited the grave of president Ziaur Rahman and offered special prayer.

Strong contingents of 4,608 police personnel were on duty as part of security measures during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation in the capital, according to the DMP commissioner.

Dhaka City Corporation took steps to clear garbage and animal wastes from the streets immediately after sacrifice of animals by city-dwellers.

State-run Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels aired special programmes on the occasion.

Improved diets were served at hospitals, jails, government-run children's homes and vagrant and destitute welfare centres across the country.

Emergency ceases on December 17

The state of emergency, imposed in the country on January 11, 2007, will be withdrawn on December 17, the caretaker government announced Wednesday night.

"The government has decided to lift the state of emergency from December 17 with the approval of the president," Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said reading out an announcement during a press briefing at the PID conference room.

He also said restrictions on rallies and processions would be withdrawn from today to facilitate campaign for the parliamentary elections scheduled for December 29.

The government's spokesman said the election campaigns must be conducted following the Code of Conduct, 2008, issued by the Election Commission (EC) for political parties and candidates.

The announcement came a day before the deadline for withdrawal of candidature for the parliamentary elections expires. Seemingly, it was a response to the BNP-led four-party alliance's 48-hour deadline issued Monday to meet their two remaining demands, lifting of the emergency and suspension of the EC's power to cancel candidacy in the elections.

BNP and its allies, following an alliance meeting chaired by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia later Wednesday night, welcomed the government's announcement terming it "a victory for the four-party and the people".

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain told reporters after the meeting, "We hope that people will now be able to participate in the upcoming elections in a festive and joyful mood."

All major political parties including the BNP-led alliance have been demanding the lifting of the emergency before the elections.

The Fakhruddin Ahmed-led interim administration relaxed a number of provisions of the state of emergency earlier this year. Several advisers had been saying over the last few months that the emergency would be lifted in a "reasonable time" but they did not come up with any specific date.

Earlier, the EC during a meeting with the chief adviser at his office suggested that the emergency be lifted from December 12 on expiry of the deadline for withdrawing candidacy for the national polls.

In August this year, the interim government held elections to the local government bodies under the state of emergency. Later, it termed the elections very successful as they were violence-free and without any major incident of vote rigging.

President Iajuddin Ahmed promulgated the state of emergency on January 11, 2007, to quell political violence over the abortive parliament elections originally scheduled for January 22, 2007.(The Daily Star)

Two Receive Begum Rokeya Padak 2008, Strict application of law a must to check women repression: CA

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said strict application of law is equally essential as change of mindset, values and morality is necessary to check repression on women.

The head of the caretaker government made the remark at a function organised by the Women and Children Affairs Ministry at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium for distributing Begum Rokeya Padak 2008 marking Begum Rokeya Day 2008.

Begum Rokeya Day 2008 was scheduled to be observed on December 9. It was shifted to December 11 as the holy Eid-ul-Azha coincided with the day.

This year Dr Sultana Sarwat Ara Zaman and Nasrin Parvin Huq (posthumous) were awarded the Begum Rokeya Padak, a national award, for their contributions to women education and women development.

Dr Sultana Sarwat Ara Zaman received the award personally from the chief adviser, while late Nasrin Parvin Huq's award was received by her little daughter.

Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury presided over the function. Secretary of the Ministry Rokeya Sultana also spoke on the occasion.

Advisers, special assistants to the chief adviser, members of various women and children's organisations, and government officials were present.

Fakhruddin in his speech said the relentless efforts of Begum Rokeya are behind the positive achievements the women in Bangladesh now enjoy.

He said at present, women are much advanced in trade and commerce, medical and engineering, science, civil and military administration - in every sphere of development - as well as in state politics.

But it is a matter of great sorrow, the chief adviser said, when women still become victims of dowry and eve-teasing, while mothers, sisters, housewives, domestic helps and girl students become victims of repression at homes, offices and educational institutions.

“We want to see the end of it,” he told the function.

Fakhruddin urged the social scientists, media, civic society and the lawyers to come forward to help check repression on women.

He mentioned Begum Rokeya's efforts and her extraordinary qualities that had awakened the backward women community of the 19th Century and showed them the path of emancipation.

Begum Rokeya still remained the torchbearer for women and her words are equally relevant in the 21st Century, he said.

The chief adviser called upon to all including private institutions, women organizations, civic society and conscious sections of people to work together along side the government to ensure women education and empowerment as well as their security and self-reliance.

Later, a cultural progarmme based on the life and works of Begum Rokeya was staged at the function. The CA witnessed the event. (source: The Daily Star)

Two Receive Begum Rokeya Padak 2008, Strict application of law a must to check women repression: CA

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said strict application of law is equally essential as change of mindset, values and morality is necessary to check repression on women.

The head of the caretaker government made the remark at a function organised by the Women and Children Affairs Ministry at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium for distributing Begum Rokeya Padak 2008 marking Begum Rokeya Day 2008.

Begum Rokeya Day 2008 was scheduled to be observed on December 9. It was shifted to December 11 as the holy Eid-ul-Azha coincided with the day.

This year Dr Sultana Sarwat Ara Zaman and Nasrin Parvin Huq (posthumous) were awarded the Begum Rokeya Padak, a national award, for their contributions to women education and women development.

Dr Sultana Sarwat Ara Zaman received the award personally from the chief adviser, while late Nasrin Parvin Huq's award was received by her little daughter.

Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury presided over the function. Secretary of the Ministry Rokeya Sultana also spoke on the occasion.

Advisers, special assistants to the chief adviser, members of various women and children's organisations, and government officials were present.

Fakhruddin in his speech said the relentless efforts of Begum Rokeya are behind the positive achievements the women in Bangladesh now enjoy.

He said at present, women are much advanced in trade and commerce, medical and engineering, science, civil and military administration - in every sphere of development - as well as in state politics.

But it is a matter of great sorrow, the chief adviser said, when women still become victims of dowry and eve-teasing, while mothers, sisters, housewives, domestic helps and girl students become victims of repression at homes, offices and educational institutions.

“We want to see the end of it,” he told the function.

Fakhruddin urged the social scientists, media, civic society and the lawyers to come forward to help check repression on women.

He mentioned Begum Rokeya's efforts and her extraordinary qualities that had awakened the backward women community of the 19th Century and showed them the path of emancipation.

Begum Rokeya still remained the torchbearer for women and her words are equally relevant in the 21st Century, he said.

The chief adviser called upon to all including private institutions, women organizations, civic society and conscious sections of people to work together along side the government to ensure women education and empowerment as well as their security and self-reliance.

Later, a cultural progarmme based on the life and works of Begum Rokeya was staged at the function. The CA witnessed the event. (source: The Daily Star)