& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Govt 'ready to tackle Iraq war fallout'

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The government yesterday discussed its preparedness to face the fallout of the possible US-led war on Iraq.
"We are prepared to tackle the impact of the war and confident of facing any eventualities," said Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan told an emergency meeting of ministers and high civil and military officials.
Briefing reporters, Bhuiyan said the meeting was convened to discuss the preparedness for any situation in Bangladesh as the US ultimatum to Iraq is about to expire.
Meeting sources said the army already deployed in divisional headquarters has been asked to increase patrol in cities. Besides, troops in different cantonments have been put on alert and may be called out if necessary.
Paramilitary BDR, police and ansar would maintain law and order so that no-one is able to disrupt law and order by taking advantage of a possible war.
About a dozen of relevant ministers and state ministers, top secretaries, chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force, BDR and Police attended the meeting that lasted for about one and a hour hours.
Held at the cabinet room of Bangladesh Secretariat with Bhuiyan in the chair, the meeting discussed in detail the security and food situation, increase in vigilance of defence forces and intelligence agencies, arrangements for accommodation for expatriate Bangladeshis and peacekeepers, among other issues.
Besides, special security measures have been taken for the diplomatic zone and offices of international organisations.
The diplomatic zone is fully secure and maximum security has been given for the diplomats, the minister added.
He said the meeting has also decided to provide adequate accommodation and transportation for peacekeepers, expatriates and foreign nationals who will come to Bangladesh.
It has been decided to bring the Bangladeshi peacekeepers now in Kuwait to the Savar Cantonment first if they fly back home due to war. Accommodation will be provided to nationals of Asian countries if they come to Bangladesh from the Middle East.
Special arrangements have been made for accommodation and transportation of expatriate Bangladeshis so that they reach home safely.
Meeting sources said temporary offices of the foreign, home, communication, health, shipping and expatriate welfare ministries would be set up at Zia International Airport.
People arriving from the Middle East would complete registration at the airport before they are to be taken to their destinations. Bangladeshi expatriates would be first taken to the Hajj camp and provided with transport.
Talking to reporters, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare Quamrul Islam said preparations are complete to provide accommo-
dation for the expatriate Bangladeshis both at home and abroad.
He said houses have been hired in Saudi Arabia for their temporary accommodation. In case the war is prolonged, the expatriates would be brought to Bangladesh. They would be kept in the Hajj camp before being sent to their homes.
Quamrul said all line and relevant ministries have also taken preparation for accommodation and transportation to the expatriates. He said steps have been taken so that expatriates get one-stop service at ZIA.
Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, Information Minister Tariqul Islam, Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain, Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Agriculture Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, Political Secretary to the Prime Minister Harris Chowdhury, State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, State Minister for Civil Aviation Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin also attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, secretaries-general of the four parties in the ruling coalition met the BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's residence and discussed the Iraq issue and the preparedness back home, sources said.
The secretaries-general of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Oikya Jote have been asked to see to it that no untoward incident takes place if and when anti-war rallies are brought out, the sources added.