Political and Trade Union activities banned by Government under the Emergency Powers Ordinance 2007

The Government has banned political and trade union activities and restricted provocative news, including talk show, in print and electronic media under the Emergency Powers Rules 2007. The ban has been made effective from January 12, 2007 through a gazette notification on the Emergency Powers Rules 2007 under the Emergency Powers Ordinance 2007. The gazette notification was made public last night.

The government has restricted processions, demonstrations, hartals, strikes and lockouts across the country to ensure security of the state and people, and maintain discipline in public life and has also banned student-teacher politics and politics by government employees and professional bodies. In case of violation of the restrictions, the offenders will have to suffer a maximum of five years or a minimum of two years rigorous imprisonment along with fines. But rallies, processions and functions relating to religious, social and state affairs are exempted from the restrictions.

Under the notification, the government can ban any meeting, procession, siege, demonstration, speech, statement, any harmful news or information in the interest of government, state or public security and peace. The government can also restrict any publication or transmission of any anti-government news, editorial, post editorial, article, feature, cartoon, talk show or discussion in print or electronic media and any mass media, including the internet. Wall writing has also been banned as long as the state of emergency will remain in force. The government will be able to proscribe any newspaper, book, document, printing press or equipment of electronic media if any news or information is published or propagated violating the government order or restrictions.

The restriction has also been put on any provocative remarks or activities against the government and its programmes, drawing, cartoon or the effigy of an individual with ulterior political motive. The government will have the right to ask any individual to submit information or material to a person or authority designated by the rules for examining those. If any individual does not submit the information or the material or intentionally supply false and incorrect ones, the individual will have to suffer a maximum of five years or a minimum of two years' RI and fines. Those who will try to violate the rules and assist or provoke to violate the rules of the emergency will be considered as the violator.

If any violator of the rules is identified as statutory organisation or farm, director, owner, partner, manager, secretary or any other officer or agent will be considered as the violator unless he or she can prove that they have tried enough to refrain from violating the rules. Whatever the existing laws and rules contain, all offences under the emergency rules will be justified by speedy trial court, speedy trial tribunal, metropolitan magistrate and first class magistrate. The offences under this rule will be considered as cognizable, non-compoundable and non-bailable.

If anyone resents any verdict of the courts, he or she can appeal to the proper court against the verdict within 30 days from the date of handing down the particular verdict. But the time to be spent to get the certified copy will be excluded from the 30-day period. On post, radio, telegram, telex, fax and telephone services, the rules of emergency said the government can empower officers and authorities to halt, delay any disbursement of messages or news.

In case of any serious offence, the government will have the right to transfer an under trial case at any stage to a speedy trial tribunal. But the trial must be held as per the provisions of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act 2002. Investigation, trial and other related activities on the offences that cause law and order situation will be under the speedy trial court only. Any designated police official or any member of the law enforcement agencies will be able to enforce or take any necessary steps to implement any order under the emergency rules. Any individual can be brought to preventive detention under the Special Powers Act 1974 if deemed that the individual might create an offence under the emergency rules.

CA asks Govt.officials to discharge duties neutrally

Chief Adviser (CA) to the Caretaker Government, Fakhruddin Ahmed in his first meeting with secretaries to the ministries yesterday asked the secretaries to be neutral and honest in their duties and support him in bringing back the people trust in bureaucrats. He also warned them of severe punitive measures if they fail to remain impartial.

In the meeting, pointing out that tax paid by the citizens pay for government officials' wages and also runs the government, Fakhruddin stressed that "Government officials have to remember that no political party is their master. They are the servants of the people's republic" and all officials have to ensure that the government services are delivered to the people's doorsteps. He assured that whatever changes are required to ensure impartiality in the administration, will be brought into existence. Fakhruddin said that "The responsibility of running the country lies with a government elected by the people, and he requested the officials to assist the council of advisers in fulfilling the prerequisites for holding an election, namely the people's trust in the administration.

Addressing the secretaries he said that the caretaker government will do all it can to revitalise all sectors of the economy. Emphasising the need for strengthening the power sector, the CA said all steps should be taken immediately to ensure power supply to factories, offices and households. Commenting on the improved law and order situation over the past week, Fakhruddin said the caretaker government is resolute in making it sustainable to ensure public security.

The CA praised small farmers for sustaining the country, and said they have been let down by the lack of assistance from the government, especially regarding supply of fertilisers. He also said relationships with friendly countries should be strengthened and steps should be taken to brighten Bangladesh's image abroad. The CA urged the secretaries to be more proactive in ensuring implementation of ongoing development projects and said that "any delay or failure in implementing projects will not be tolerated". Fakhruddins's meeting with the secretaries was held at Bangladesh Secretariat and longed for about two hours, where he later spent hours in his own office.

CA pledges to hold Elections at the earliest

EC to be reconstituted, flawless electoral roll to be prepared

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed pledged to transfer power to an elected government at the earliest through holding a free, fair and credible general election after reconstituting the Election Commission (EC) and preparing a flawless electoral roll in his maiden address to the nation over radio and television. Fakhruddin, who assumed office on January 12 to head a reconstituted caretaker government, said the main task of his government is to hold a free, fair, peaceful and neutral election with participation of all parties in accordance with the constitution and people's aspiration.

Regarding demands for voter ID cards and transparent ballot boxes, he said necessary steps would be taken in this respect after examining the matters. He added that appropriate steps would be taken to ensure the statement of assets and sources of income of intending election candidates and prove the authenticity of their statements.Fakhruddin however stopped short of mentioning any timeframe for the parliamentary elections --earlier set for January 22.

Although the much-awaited address to the nation delivered by the chief adviser to the interim government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, dwelt repeatedly on what he termed as the principal responsibility of the military-backed administration — to deliver a free, fair and participatory election ‘at the earliest’ — the ambitious to-do list that was proposed alongside left little doubt that ‘the earliest’ would come later rather than sooner

Major parties' reaction to CA's Address

BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan urged the interim government to hold the election at the 'earliest possible time'. Giving the four-party's formal reaction to the chief adviser's (CA) speech to the nation, he thanked the CA for promising to hold an election as soon as possible and said people expected a specific timeframe for holding the election as the only task of the caretaker government is to assist the Election Commission and it is the elected government's responsibility to do the long-term things like preparation of voter ID cards.

The Awami League (AL)-led 14-party alliance expressed the hope that the caretaker government (CG) headed by Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will take measurers to hold a free, fair and credible general election as early as possible by reconstituting the Election Commission (EC). Giving the alliance's formal reaction to the chief adviser's (CA) first address to the nation Sunday night, the AL general secretary said the people hope that the new CG will hand over power to an elected government following a fair and credible election and this will add a new dimension to democracy in the country. The party also demanded the arrest of corrupt people, criminals and their godfathers, illegal arms and black money holders to create a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair poll and build people's confidence in the polls process.

Chief Election Commissioner M. A. Aziz resigns

Poll set for today officially cancelled

Justice MA Aziz resigned from the post of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) yesterday citing a major political alliance's lack of confidence in him and to avert further political unrest in the country. Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat issued a notification yesterday officially cancelling holding of the ninth parliamentary election today.

Aziz's departure ends his highly controversial 21-month stint in the office, during which he was forced to go on a leave of absence on November 22 after repeated demands for his resignation from Awami League (AL)-led alliance for failing to prepare a correct and updated voter list. His resignation follows the newly appointed caretaker government's announcement that reconstituting the problem-ridden EC is its top priority so that it can proceed with other electoral reforms, namely updating the voter list, and institutionalising the system of voter ID cards and transparent ballot boxes.

Law Adviser Mainul Hosein told on Saturday that the caretaker government decided to appoint a new CEC within a couple of days and that the new CEC will be selected from the bureaucracy. Aziz personally delivered his letter of resignation to President Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday afternoon, which the president accepted. In a statement released to the media on his behalf by his personal assistant, he said that if he continue in the post of CEC this may give certain political parties the opportunity to create once again new obstacles in the democratic process of holding national elections and would be seriously prejudicial to the interest of the country."

The biggest allegations against Aziz were that he failed to prepare a correct voter list and violated a High Court directive by creating a fresh voter list, which cost the taxpayer at least Tk 60 crore. Aziz assumed the office of CEC on May 23, 2005, during BNP-led alliance government's regime, and got mired in controversy by preparing a fresh voter list ignoring the High Court directive. Along with major political parties, election experts, different professional organisations and civil society personalities also demanded reconstitution of the EC for holding a free and fair election. Foreign diplomats also started speaking against the Aziz-led EC saying the people had lost confidence in the commission. But, President Iajuddin opted not to reconstitute the EC and instead he sent two commissioners on leave and appointed two new, even more controversial, commissioners compounding an already complex crisis.

EC SCRAPS TODAY'S POLL

An EC Secretariat notification released yesterday under section 21 of the General Clauses Act 1897, cancelled all its previous notifications in relation to the election that was scheduled for today.It said the election will not take place as the president believed it could not take place on schedule, and added, "In light of internal disturbances that might endanger the economic life the president promulgated a state of emergency under Article 141A(1) of the constitution."The notification further said all activities and measures taken under proscribed notifications will be considered legally null and void.

Leaders,activists skip party offices following state of emergency

The leaders and activists of most major political parties hardly visit the offices to avoid being arrested after the declaration of the state of emergency on January 11.


The central office of the BNP at Naya Paltan and of the Awami Leage on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka.

The emergency has suspended the daily activities of the political parties, prompting them to hold a series of discussions indoors to assess their gains and losses after the happening. Some mid-level leaders and activists gather near the party’s central offices, but they seldom go inside. Several dozen grassroots activists gathered in front of the Awami League central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the afternoon on Thursday, but they did not enter the office. Almost all the rooms were vacant. Only a few on the paid staff were inside.

The leaders and activists have almost stopped visiting the Dhanmondi office of the Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, and her residence, Sudha Sadan. Only a few senior leaders, who are asked to meet the party chief, go to Sudha Sadan. No grassroots leaders and activists had visited the Dhanmondi office for three days.

The BNP’s central office at Naya Paltan also had a thin attendance at about noon on Wednesday. Only some on the paid staffs were present. Of the central leaders, the party’s joint secretary general Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, assistant office secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince, and assistant publicity secretary Ahmed Musa now attend the office almost every evening. The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, is running the party activities from her office at Banani. Although the presence of grassroots leaders was thin in front of the office at Banani, mid-level BNP leaders and former lawmakers are frequently visiting Khaleda and joint secretary general Tarique Rahman almost every evening.

The office of the Liberal Democratic Party at Baridhara has remained almost vacant after the declaration of the emergency.Only a single room of the office was open in the evening on Wednesday to liaise with the press. No central leader had gone to the office for a week. The party’s central office on the Topkhana road also remains vacant most of the time. No leader and activist visited the place in the past week.

The case is a bit different with the central office of the Jamaat-e-Islami at Moghbazar and the offices of the left-leaning political parties in the Purana Paltan areas.Most central leaders and a large number of activists are visiting the offices of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Workers Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction led by Hasanul Haq Inu. The security forces and law enforces, meanwhile, arrested about 9,000 persons, most of them having links with major political parties, after January 11.

Will introduce voters’ ID card, transparent ballot box in the coming election -CG

The interim cabinet at its maiden meeting on Sunday decided to extend all- out assistance to the Election Commission in holding the next general election in a free and fair atmosphere, after preparing a correct voters’ roll, introduction of voters’ identity card and transparent ballot boxes. The meeting, chaired by the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, also reviewed law and order and the state of economy and asked the authorities concerned to take appropriate steps to this effect. Held at the chief adviser’s office, the meeting, attended by all the five advisers, in principle decided to introduce voters’ identity cards and transparent ballot boxes and discussed the ways and means for them.

The council also directed the authorities concerned to take all possible measures so that fundamental rights were protected when regulations were promulgated following the declaration of the state of emergency. The election commissioner in-charge, Mahfuzur Rahman, and the secretary to the EC, Abdur Rashid Sarker, also attended the meeting. The meeting, however, did not spell out clearly a fresh timing for the general elections, and the tenure of the new interim administration, according to sources. It is expected that the EC will make a decision on the election within a couple of days. After the meeting, adviser MA Matin told reporters that the January 22 elections would be postponed through a circular to be issued later on. The meeting decided to induct five more advisers in the council within a couple of days. The meeting reviewed the law and order and decided to take necessary measures to restore people’s confidence.

The council issued directives to the authorities of the law enforcing agencies so that innocent people were not harassed during their operations. Earlier, chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed distributed the responsibilities to his five advisers. The ministries/divisions not allocated yet would remain under the chief adviser until further order, according to a gazette notification issued by the cabinet secretary on Sunday. Advisers Mainul Hosein, AB Mirza Azizul Islam, MA Matin, Tapan Chowdhury and Geetiara Safiya Chowdhury attended the meeting. Cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder along with other secretaries to the ministries concerned were also present among others.

Five advisors to CG sworn in

President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday appointed five advisers to the reconstituted non-party caretaker government (CG).The advisers are Barrister Mainul Hosein, Major Gen (retd) MA Matin, Geeti Ara Safiya Chowdhury, Dr Mirza Azizul Islam and Tapan Chowdhury. The president administered the oath of the advisers at a ceremony at the Bangabhaban The first meeting of the seemingly half-reconstituted council of advisers will be held today at 11:30am at the Chief Adviser’s office at Tejgaon.

President Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down from the chief adviser's post on January 11 and all his advisers resigned, in a changed political situation following the promulgation of a state of emergency in the country amid political squabbles over polls. President Iajuddin Ahmed took over the charge of CA to the caretaker government as the country's two major political alliances had failed to reach a consensus on a candidate for the post.

Fakhruddin Joins Office

Newly appointed Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed joined office yesterday, a day after he took oath as the chief adviser. He was welcomed at his office by the senior officials of the office as he arrived there around 12:55pm. Principal Secretary to the CA Ali Imam Majumder, Secretary in-charge Kazi M Aminul Islam, Director General of Special Security Forces (SSF) Major Gen Syed Fatmy Ahmed Roomy and Military Secretary to the CA Brigadier Gen ANM Wazed Thakur received the chief adviser. The chief adviser later placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar. He stood there in solemn silence for some time to pay homage to the martyrs of the War of Liberation.

A smart contingent comprised of army, navy and air force presented guard of honour. Chiefs of three services and general officer commanding (GOC) of the Savar Cantonment received the chief adviser on the premises of the National Mausoleum on his arrival. Later, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed signed in the visitor's book.

Chief Advisor Iajudddin Ahmed resigns ;state of emergency declared in Bangladesh

Justice Fazlul Haque took charge as acting chief advisor;election postponed; curfew imposed from 11pm-5am.

President Iajuddin Ahmed last night resigned from the post of chief adviser to the caretaker government, declaring a state of emergency in the country--amid growing political crisis over election. Nine advisers to the caretaker government also resigned from their posts and the senior most among the advisers Justice Fazlul Haque, took the charge as acting chief adviser. The parliamentary election scheduled for the January 22 has also been postponed.

Besides suspending all fundamental rights as described in the constitution, the authorities imposed a six-hour curfew--from 11:00pm to 5:00am--in all metropolitan cities and district headquarters with immediate effect from last night until further orders. The declaration of the state of emergency came after daylong hectic negotiations yesterday among the political parties, diplomats and the caretaker government advisers to resolve the growing political crisis following Iajuddin's assumption of the office of chief adviser on October 29 last year.

Prior to declaring the emergency, the president held a meeting with the chiefs of three services at Bangabhaban. The armed forces had been deployed across the country on Wednesday for election duties. The home ministry started instructing the deputy commissioners, metropolitan polices and other officials concerned to enforce the state of emergency across the country. Railway and bus stations were crowded yesterday with the public rushing to their homes, following the president's declaration of state of emergency and the 11:00pm-5:00am curfew.

The issuance of the proclamation automatically suspended the operation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by articles 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 42 of the constitution. These articles deal with the freedom of movement, freedom of association, freedom of thought and conscience, and of speech, freedom of professions or occupation, and rights to property. No one will be allowed to file any case with the court challenging the validity of the emergency and suspension of the fundamental rights. Referring to the constitutional provision for declaring the state of emergency, the president in the proclamation said a grave emergency exists in the country in which the security or economic life of Bangladesh is threatened.

The president declared the state of emergency in the wake of the Awami League-led grand alliance's boycott of the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 22 and its series of siege and hartal programmes to resist the polls. Although the president in the proclamation did not specify the timeframe for the enforcement of the emergency, it shall cease to operate at the expiry of 120 days unless it is approved by a resolution of parliament before the expiry. The state of emergency was last declared on November 27, 1990 during the regime of autocratic military ruler HM Ershad and it was in effect until December 6, the day Ershad resigned from presidency following a mass upsurge.