NEWS OF BANGLADESH

Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has welcomed the government's proposal to bring the two top leaders to the table of dialogue to solve any political crisis and for the larger interest of the nation. He said this while talking to newsmen after a meeting between the four advisers and the BNP Chairperson at her cantonment residence last night. They said, this meeting might be seen as a formal onset of dialogue between BNP and the government. The meeting that lasted for more than two hours discussed various issues including creating a level playing field for all political parties, announcement of parliamentary and upazila elections schedules and ensuring post-election stability. The advisers also said that Begum Zia has also expressed her willingness to form a contact team to keep in touch with the government. The advisers may meet the BNP again tomorrow. BNP BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia may sit with Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina for talks if necessary in the interest of democracy and the country. BNP Vice-President M. K. Anwar stated this yesterday. He said that the indications given by the BNP Chairperson after her release would pave the way for the reformists to get back to the mainstream. He welcomed the government's proposal to take initiatives to bring the two leaders of the BNP and the Awami League to the discussion table. M. K. Anwar thought it would be unwise for the Election Commission to announce the schedule for upazila elections on Sunday. He said there should not be any elections before the national poll. Our correspondent understands that the BNP Standing Committee may meet today to determine the issues for discussion with the government and the Election Commission. Meanwhile, reformist Secretary General Major Rtd. Hafeez has expressed his willingness to abolish his post and join the BNP mainstream under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia and Khandakar Delwar Hossain. AL Awami league Acting President Zillur Rahman has said that it is becoming difficult to get Abdul Jalil back as the General Secretary of the party because of organizational complications. Abdul Jalil, who resigned from the party while under detention, could not be General Secretary again without the approval of the party forum. Zillur Rahman said that Syed Ashraful Islam would continue to discharge the responsibilities as the Acting Secretary General until a decision is taken by the party. Abdul Jalil refused to comment on what Zillur Rahman said about the post of party Secretary General. Tarique Rahman Begum Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman now in London for treatment has met consultants at three different hospitals. Tarique's personal physician Dr. Mazharul Islam Dolon told our London correspondent that a decision would be taken soon regarding his admission to any of these hospitals. Earlier, BNP President in UK Kamaruddin, General Secretary M A Malik and Joint Secretary of Jubodal Ashikur Rahman greeted at Gatwick Airport in London. RU The Rajshahi Medical College has been closed until the 11th of October. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Academic Council following the clashes between the students belonging to Chatra League and Chatra Dal- front organisations of Awami League and BNP. The students vacated the halls yesterday evening. Fresh notes Bangladesh Bank will release fresh notes of various denominations worth 5 thousand 7 hundred crore taka on the eve of Eid-ul-fitr. These notes will be available in all branches of Bangladesh Bank and Sonali Bank at all district and divisional towns from Sunday. The Central Bank will introduce one-thousand taka notes from the 1st of October. Market Prices of the essentials are yet to show any downward trend during the month of Ramzan. Prices of cucumber, sugar and milk have gone up by taka 5 to 25 per kilogram compared to that of the previous week. Though the government has fixed the rate of some of the essential commodities, there seem to be no reflections of this. Visiting a number of city markets, our correspondent says, some traders are selling goods at higher prices in the name of increased prices in the international market. Some buyers complained that prices of some daily necessities are still beyond the reach of people with limited incomes. However, some feel that there should be proper coordination among the whole sellers, retailers and the hoarders. Texas Now news from abroad. The US Homeland Security has warned that Texas will face "potentially catastrophic" damage when Hurricane Ike hits in the next few hours. It said as many as one lakh homes could be destroyed by flooding. There are fears the hurricane could cause a high storm surge that leaves miles of low-lying coast underwater. The National Weather Service also warned residents of the Texan coastal city of Galveston face "certain death" if they do not evacuate. Venezuela-Bolivia-US A series of tit-for-tat expulsions has left the US without ambassadors in three Latin American countries. Bolivia and Venezuela have expelled their US envoys, accusing Washington of trying to oust Bolivia's government. Meanwhile, Honduras has refused the credentials of a new US ambassador, postponing his appointment. Washington has responded by throwing out envoys from Bolivia and Venezuela and freezing the assets of three aides to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Pakistan strike At least 12 people have been killed in north-west Pakistan in a suspected US missile strike. Sources say that the missile struck a home before dawn near Miranshah in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border. The missile was fired by a US drone flying overhead. Those who died are reported to be Taleban militants. The attack comes amid growing concern in Pakistan over unilateral military action by the US.