[burmanet2-l] Burma Related News - Jan 03 - 04, 2003.

["TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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BURMA RELATED NEWS - January  03- 04, 2003.
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HEADLINES
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AFP - Myanmar junta rejects charges of harassment against opposition
AFP - Myanmar's democratic opposition calls for start to political dialogue
Reuters - Myanmar opposition wants aid, not tourist dollars
AP - Myanmar tells opposition to "play political game" within rules
AP - Myanmar commemorates 55th anniversary of independence
AP - Suu Kyi hints reconciliation talks are floundering
Xinhuanet - China donates musical instruments to Myanmar
Xinhuanet - Thai Army commander to visit Myanmar next weekend
Washington File - Boucher Says Burmese People Deserve Better Government
TI - From Myanmar, their culture unfolds
DS - President, PM felicitates Than Shwe
SHAN - KNLA   201 battalion's operation zone high-risk area for SPDC
troopers
Mizzima - Bangladesh to continue the policy Looking East
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Saturday January 4, 3:05 PM
Myanmar junta rejects charges of harassment against opposition

YANGON, Jan 4 (AFP) - Myanmar's military junta defended itself against
strong criticism from the United States and Britain that it had harassed
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters.

The regime suggested in a statement that Aung San Suu Kyi's National League
for Democracy (NLD) had been reined in after violating laws restricting mass
meetings and speeches to political party premises.

"Like in any other country the local law enforcement personnel cannot be
faulted for carrying out their legitimate responsibilities," it said.

"The authorities, however, have been able to maintain peace and stability
without restricting any politicians' movements under the existing laws."

Myanmar's junta promised when it released Aung San Suu Kyi from her latest
period of house arrest in May last year that she would be able to go about
political activities free from official interference.

But the Nobel peace laureate said last week that although a series of recent
trips around the country had gone well, some local officials were
obstructive.

The most serious incident occurred during her trip to western Rakhine state
in the town of Myauk-Oo, where she climbed aboard a fire engine to prevent
it from dispersing a crowd of 20,000 people with high-pressure hoses.

The US State Department has issued a statement in support of Aung San Suu
Kyi, and called on the Myanmar junta to allow political parties "to carry
their message to the Burmese people in safety".

Britain also voiced deep concern over the allegations, and urged the ruling
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to enter into a long-promised
political dialogue with the NLD.

Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien drew attention to reports of harassment
and intimidation of "ordinary people" before and during the political trips
and restrictions imposed on the opposition leader herself.

"I am also appalled by reports that a minister in the ruling SPDC dissuaded
people from meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, and that the government-sponsored
Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) distributed leaflets
making personal attacks on Aung San Suu Kyi and her family," he said.

However, the junta said that although party politicians were now allowed to
travel freely around the country, "the existing laws permit holding of mass
meetings and speeches only within party buildings and premises".

"It has been learned that at the present time the National League for
Democracy party is the only party conducting such political activities," it
said, calling on the party to play by the "rules and regulations of the
political game."
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Saturday January 4, 5:04 PM
Myanmar's democratic opposition calls for start to political dialogue

YANGON, Jan 4 (AFP) - Myanmar's democratic opposition Saturday reiterated
its call for the ruling junta to begin a long-promised political dialogue it
hopes could end four decades of military rule.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) said in a statement to mark the 55th
anniversary of Myanmar's independence from colonial rule that now would be
an auspicious time to announce the start of the talks.

"Today being independence day is the most appropriate time for a dialogue
between the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC)," it said.

Diplomats from Western nations and Japan joined 500 party members in a
commemorative ceremony at the NLD's Yangon headquarters which passed off
without incident.

The NLD pledged to pursue "by peaceful means for the benefit of the people"
the dialogue, which was expected to start last May after the junta released
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

It also called for the release of an estimated 1,300 political prisoners
being held in the nation's jails "without any conditions or delay."

Amid suggestions that the NLD could ease its position on international
sanctions against the military regime, the party said its policy would not
change until "substantial" political talks began.

The NLD, which won 1990 elections in a landslide but has never been allowed
to assume power, is currently a major proponent of the sanctions and
encourages efforts to deter tourists from coming to Myanmar.

"Until the results of free and fair 1990 general elections are carried
out... the convening of (the) next election shall not be accepted," it said.

"Aid from the international community must meet certain criteria including
transparency, accountability and independent monitoring systems."

The NLD has repeatedly pushed for a start to the dialogue, following
UN-brokered contacts between Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta that began in
October 2000.

In a statement released Saturday, the junta defended itself against
allegations from the United States and Britain that it had harassed Aung San
Suu Kyi and her supporters as they went about their party business.

The regime suggested the NLD had been reined in after violating laws
restricting mass meetings and speeches to political party premises.

"Like in any other country the local law enforcement personnel cannot be
faulted for carrying out their legitimate responsibilities," it said.

The government promised when it released Aung San Suu Kyi from her latest
period of house arrest that she would be able to go about political
activities free from official interference.

But the Nobel peace laureate said last week that although a series of recent
trips around the country had gone well, some local officials were
obstructive.

The most serious incident occurred during her trip to western Rakhine state
in the town of Myauk-Oo, where she climbed aboard a fire engine to prevent
it from dispersing a crowd of 20,000 people with high-pressure hoses.
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Myanmar opposition wants aid, not tourist dollars

YANGON, Jan. 4 (Reuters) - Myanmar's pro-democracy opposition party said on
Saturday it welcomed foreign aid for the impoverished country if it was
carefully monitored, but again urged tourists to stay away in protest over
military rule.

The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi, said any foreign aid needed to be watched carefully to ensure it
reached its intended recipients.

''There must be transparency, accountability and independent monitoring with
regard to the humanitarian assistance to be granted by foreign
governments,'' said a statement read by NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo to a
gathering of diplomats and activists to mark Myanmar's independence day.

Since the military freed Suu Kyi from 19-months of house arrest last May,
many Western governments have been considering opening their wallets if the
military junta works with the NLD to manage the aid.

Diplomats say this leverage could be Suu Kyi's only way to break the
political deadlock. The NLD swept to a landslide election win in 1990 but
has never been allowed to rule by the military, which has been in power for
over four decades.

Tin Oo said his party still wanted tourists to stay away from Myanmar, which
has been shunned by several Western governments citing widespread human
rights abuses, including the use of torture, forced labour and the
systematic rape of ethnic minority women and children by soldiers.

''It is deemed that the present situation has not reached to the extent that
tourists should be encouraged to visit Myanmar.''

Myanmar received 201,000 tourists in 2001, down 2.1 percent over the
previous year, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a
trade body.

Suu Kyi's release, after months of United Nations-brokered ''confidence
building'' talks between the NLD and the junta, raised hopes of a democratic
transition, but talks on real political change have failed to materialise.

The NLD, which says the junta is reluctant to enter into negotiations, said
on Saturday it would only be prepared to talk if all political prisoners are
released.

''Before...meaningful political dialogue, the NLD demands the unconditional
release of all political prisoners,'' Tin Oo said.

The junta has freed several hundred political prisoners over the last two
years, but the United Nations says more than 1,000 opposition activists
remain behind bars.
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Myanmar tells opposition to "play political game" within rules
Sat Jan 4, 2:00 AM ET

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Myanmar's military junta on Saturday denied
restricting opposition activists, but warned that reconciliation between the
two sides will make progress only if the opposition abides by the country's
laws.

The regime was responding to U.S. and British claims that
government-affiliated groups harassed National League for Democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi during her trip to the northwestern state of Rakhine state
last month.

"Politicians are now being allowed to freely travel ... to open and organize
branches of their own political parties," a government statement said.

Reconciliation talks between the junta and Suu Kyi started in October 2000,
but have made scant progress. The regime has freed a number of political
prisoners in recent months, and says Suu Kyi, after months of house arrest,
is now free to pursue political activities.

The "evolving political transition in Myanmar will continue unabated
provided that political parties will also play by the prevailing rules and
regulations of the political game," the government statement said.

A spokesman for Suu Kyi said at the end of her Rakhine trip on Dec. 25 that
authorities in some areas placed trucks, boulders and barbed wire across
streets to stop her vehicle, and others warned people not to attend her
rallies.

Apparently referring to these allegations, the government statement said the
law allows "holding of mass meetings and speeches only within party
buildings and premises."

"Like in any other country the local law enforcement personnel cannot be
faulted for carrying out their legitimate responsibilities," it said.

Suu Kyi's 10-day trip to Rakhine state was her fifth tour since her release
from 19 months of house arrest in May.

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday that the
alleged harassment of Suu Kyi cannot help the national reconciliation
process, adding that political change was needed in Myanmar.

On Wednesday, British Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien voiced "deep
concern" at reports of restrictions imposed on Suu Kyi.
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Myanmar commemorates 55th anniversary of independence
Sat Jan 4,12:04 AM ET
By AYE AYE WIN, Associated Press Writer

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar celebrated its 55th anniversary of
independence from Britain on Saturday with a gathering of thousands of
people and a message from the government - but there was no mention of
attempts to restore democracy in the country, whose military rule has made
it an international pariah.

"The new generations have the duty to preserve patriotism," said the message
from junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe. "People should collectively
safeguard the national independence and ensure perpetuation of sovereignty."

The message was read by Yangon military unit commander Maj. Gen. Myint Swe
at a flag-raising ceremony in Yangon's People's Park. More than 10,000
people from the country's various ethnic groups, government agencies and
nongovernment organizations attended.

Than Shwe's message did not mention the continuing reconciliation dialogue
between the government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement that
left hundreds dead. The military rulers called elections in 1990, but
refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's party won.

Both sides started reconciliation talks in October 2000, mediated by a
United Nations (news - web sites) envoy, but no substantive progress has
been achieved.

Than Shwe on Saturday also called on people to strive toward forging an
enduring constitution.

Myanmar has had no constitution since the junta took over. The government
opened a national convention to draw up guidelines for a new constitution in
1993, but it has been inactive since 1996.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party had originally taken part in
the convention but later withdrew, calling it undemocratic.

The National Unity Party, one of 10 groups that won seats in the 1990
elections, on Saturday urged the government to reconvene the convention.

There was no comment from the National League for Democracy, which was
scheduled to hold a celebration at its headquarters later Saturday.

Myanmar gained independence from Britain on Jan. 4, 1948, after more than
120 years of colonial rule.
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Suu Kyi hints reconciliation talks are floundering
Sat Jan 4, 5:39 AM ET
By AYE AYE WIN, Associated Press Writer

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday
accused Myanmar's ruling military junta of taking no serious steps to end
the country's political deadlock, in the clearest sign yet that talks on
reconciliation are floundering.

Suu Kyi said in a speech that "no political dialogue has begun since the
confidence-building talks started" between her and the junta in October
2000.

"We are not disheartened. However, we are concerned that the longer the
delay for a dialogue, the more people will suffer," she told a cheering
crowd of supporters at the headquarters of her opposition party, the
National League for Democracy.

In a 17-page statement issued later, the NLD also cited government
"interference, harassment and hindrances" suffered by Suu Kyi during her
trip to Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine State last month for party work.

"Such actions could only damage the existing improvements and hamper future
progress," said the statement, issued to mark the 55th anniversary of
Myanmar's independence from Britain. "Nevertheless, we, the NLD are
determined to work for a dialogue."

The junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement. It
called elections in 1990 but refused to give up power when the NLD won. The
reconciliation talks had raised hopes that democracy could be restored.

But the pessimism in the NLD statement - and a hard-line counter-statement
by the junta on Saturday - provided the most clear proof that the
reconciliation talks are going nowhere.

In its statement, the junta denied restricting opposition activists, and
warned that reconciliation will make progress only if the opposition abides
by the country's laws.

The "evolving political transition in Myanmar will continue unabated
provided that political parties will also play by the prevailing rules and
regulations of the political game," it said.

The regime was responding to U.S. and British complaints of harassment of
Suu Kyi by government-affiliated groups during her Rakhine trip. Her
spokesman said last month that authorities in some areas placed trucks,
boulders and barbed wire across streets to stop her vehicle, and others
warned people not to attend her rallies.

The junta statement said politicians are allowed to hold rallies only within
party premises, and authorities were only doing their job in clearing Suu
Kyi's supporters.
Suu Kyi's 10-day trip to Rakhine state was her fifth tour since her release
from 19 months of house arrest in May.
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China donates musical instruments to Myanmar
Xinhuanet 2003-01-04 19:18:41

YANGON, Jan. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- The Ministry of Culture of China has donated a
number of musical instruments to its Myanmar counterpart.

The musical instruments, presented to the Myanmar side at a ceremony held at
the National Theatre here Saturday afternoon, consisted of seven categories
including piano, cello, violin, trombone, horn and flute.

Present on the occasion were Myanmar Minister of Culture Major-General Kyi
Aung, Deputy Minister U Soe Nyunt, Charge d' affaires of the Chinese Embassy
Yu Boren and the head of a Chinese culturaldelegation and Deputy-Director
General of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Culture of China, Li Xin.

Speaking at the donation ceremony, Li Xin recalled the frequentexchange of
visits between the cultural troupes of the two countries in the past more
than 50 years and expressed wishes to introduce China's culture to other
countries and learn from theirsthrough more exchanges.

At the ceremony, Kyi Aung said Myanmar and China have had exchanges since
ancient time with long-standing "paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship. Myanmar
will as always develop the friendlyand cooperative ties with China.

The musical instruments donated by China to Myanmar will play an important
role in the development of Myanmar culture, he added.
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Thai Army commander to visit Myanmar next weekend
Xinhuanet 2003-01-03 00:00:13

BANGKOK, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Thai Army Commander Somdhat Attanant will pay
his first visit to Rangoon next weekend since he took the position last
October for talks expected to focus on joint border patrols, the Bangkok
Post reported Friday.

A source of the Army revealed that at a meeting with Myanmar's Army
Commander Maung Aye, Somdhat would propose joint border patrols to tackle
drug trafficking and illegal migrants, even though Rangoon had rejected a
similar proposal before, saying it does not have enough staff.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh would also visit Rangoon
late this month, the report said.

Meanwhile, Thai Army said it would not hold any big exercises near the
border to avoid misunderstandings with Rangoon. Somdhat was quoted as saying
that neither country would hold exercises along the border, as that was the
agreement made at the 20th Thai-Myanmar Regional Border Committee in
Moulmein on Dec. 26- 28,2002.

The military would send troops for the annual joint Thai-US Cobra Gold 2003
and Balance Torch exercises. But it would not repeat the Surasee 143
exercise, held near the border last year, which Myanmar found provocative,
the report said.
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Washington File
02 January 2003
Boucher Says Burmese People Deserve Better Government
(January 2 statement by State Department Spokesman) (200)

Following is the text of a statement by State Department Spokesman Richard
Boucher on support for political dialogue in Burma:

(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 2, 2003
Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Burma - Support for Dialogue

In a press conference in Rangoon on December 31, Aung San Suu Kyi described
harassment from government-affiliated groups to which she was subjected
during her recent trip to Burma's Rakhine State. Efforts by such groups to
harass opposition party leaders cannot help a national reconciliation
process to which the Burmese government has committed itself. The United
States calls on the Burmese regime to ensure that all political parties can
carry their message to the Burmese people in safety. We also call on the
regime to join with the National League for Democracy and representatives of
Burma's ethnic communities in a real dialogue regarding constitutional
issues.

Political change is needed in Burma. As Aung San Suu Kyi said December 31,
the Burmese people deserve a better government and a better standard of
living. Every effort should be made to see that they get both in 2003.
(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs,
U.S.Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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The Times Of India
>From Myanmar, their culture unfolds
VANDANA SHUKLA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, JANUARY 04, 2003 04:52:32 AM ]

It's very rarely that you meet people for the first time and their warmth
embraces you as if you have known them for long.

Even a more striking feature about people from Myanmar (formerly known as
Burma) is that the older generation is still able to utter a few words in
English. In contrast, however, the young just don't know the language of
their past rulers!

And then you realise how differently we have grown from our next-door
neighbours, who were a part of us till a few years back (till 1937)?
Myanmar, the land once known to be the rice bowl of Asia, the land of gold,
of four million Pagoras and now a country of 15 civil wars - was considered
to be among the richest till a century ago. Now, among the ten poorest
countries in the world, it certainly has a rich cultural heritage to
showcase.

This becomes evident the moment one lends a look at their rich ensemble of
instruments. Siam, as the Burmese orchestra is called, has beautifully
embellished drums, which offer dainty doors for the drum player to sit
inside to play, boat shaped harps that have a regal look about them, gongs
and bamboo flutes that produce melody, powerful enough to give a tug to your
heartstrings.

Everything the troupe has come with, from costumes to instruments, is so
aesthetically embellished with carvings and engravings that even before
listening to the sound of the instruments, you fall in love with mere looks!

U Zaw Htay, director of the 20-member troupe who is in the city to present a
glimpse of the rich culture of Myanmar, says that the artistes belong to
third generation from the '50 years of culture life' of Myanmar.
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The Daily Star - Sat. January 04, 2003
President, PM felicitates Than Shwe
UNB, Dhaka

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia felicitated Chairman
of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of Myanmar,
senior general Than Shwe on the occasion of his country's Independence Day.

In a message to Than Swe, Iajuddin expressed his firm belief that the
existing friendly relations between Dhaka and Yangon would be cemented
further in the years to come.

He wished the friendly people of Myanmar continued peace, progress and
prosperity.

Khaleda Zia, in her message, expressed her confidence that the existing
friendship and cooperation that mark the relations between the two countries
would continue to strengthen in the years ahead to the mutual benefits of
the two nations. She also wished continued peace, progress and prosperity of
Myanmar
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SHAN-EU
KNLA   201 battalion's operation zone high-risk area for SPDC troopers
17 Burmese soldiers killed in a week
4 January 2003

Following recent attacks, ambushes and sniping of Karen National Liberation
Army (KNLA) 201 battalion troopers have taken quite a high number of
casualties, both killed in actions and wounded, in its Tactical Area of
Operation.

Interception by KNLA local tactical command communication indicated that the
Burmese commanders admitted the KNLA   201 battalion's Tactical Area of
Operation is a high-risk area for SPDC troops to manoeuvre around.

The most spectacular attack was the SPDC's troops position of the Burengnong
Camp, on the mountaintop, opposite the Phop Phra district of Thailand's Tak
Province, about 500 kilometres northwest of Bangkok. The mountain is known
as Bayinnaung in Burmese and Todjoh in Karen. The attack by troopers from
KNLA 201 battalion on the 27th December 2002 left at least 3 enemy soldiers,
including a captain and a lance corporal, killed and at least 4 others
seriously wounded. The KNLA attack was supported by 75 and 82   recoilless
guns and as well, a 81 mm mortar, a  0 . 5 in.  (12.6 mm)   heavy machinegun
from a neighbouring hill some 700 yards away. It also was initiated by the
detonation of 2 platter charges witch breached the inner and outer bamboo
fences of the enemy position for the KNLA assaulting team. In this battle,
one KNLA soldier was killed and two other were slightly wounded. One Burmese
soldier, who was trying to surrender with his hands-up to the KNLA attacking
force, was shot by his own troops.

On the 28th December 2002, at least 7 SPDC troops were killed and 8 wounded
when KNLA 201 battalion troops made an ambush at Wa Shoe Pu, near Walay,
opposite Phop Phra district of Thailand.

On 1st January 2003, 2 from the SPDC forces stationed in the area got
seriously wounded in a sniping attack by KNLA forces near the Burengnong
Mountain.

On the 2 nd January 2003, Karen soldiers ambushed the SPDC troops near
Kanaylay where at least 7 were killed and wounded.

SOURCE : KNU - EUROPEAN OFFICES -  PORTUGAL
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Bangladesh to continue the policy Looking East
3rd January, 2003(Mizzima News)

Dhaka: Bangladesh will continue its policy Looking East for the prospertoy
of the nation, stated Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan during a news briefing
in Dhaka on Thursday. "Improvement in bilateral relations with immediate
neighbours including India and Burma tops the agenda of Bangladesh's foreign
policy priorities during 2003 also as it was innovated by Prime Minister
Khaleda Zia," told Mr Khan.

Asked if the government's recent focus on the East stood for a change in its
foreign policy, Khan dismissed the notion, saying, "This is not a policy
shift. We have not shifted our focus, rather we're trying to encompass
larger area of economic benefit."

He argued that the latest visit of Than Shwe, the Burma Prime Minister to
Dhaka had shown the determination from both the countries.

Speaking about the bilateral ties of Bangladesh and India, the Foreign
Minister said that he felt a "sense of romanticism", where "Sometimes there
is cloud, sometimes rains," situation existed till today. While several
scheduled bilateral meetings were not held in 2002, a war of words broke out
as Indian officials and media discovered a safe haven for Al-Qaeda militants
in Bangladesh.

"We are eagerly waiting for a visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
to Bangladesh for discussion of all bilateral issues and for solution to
those. We are equally keen on a trip to Dhaka by the Indian Foreign
Minister," he said.

He pointed out that the visit of the six heads of state and government to
Bangladesh in 2002 show the success of the foreign policy of the government.
It may be mentioned that Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji, British Prime
Minister Tony Blair, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, Thai Prime
Minister Dr. Thakshin Sinawatra, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Seek Soo
and Burma Prime Minister Than Shwe came to Dhaka last year.

The Foreign Minister said, although Bangladesh remained committed to
improving ties with the neighbours, particularly with India and Myanmar, it
also developed its relations with the OIC countries and the European
nations. Bangladesh has taken special move to foster a new era of
cooperation with the South East Asian countries, particularly in trade and
economic fields

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman, Foreign Secretary Shamsher
Mobin Chowdhury, Additional Foreign Secretary Anwarul Alam and Director
General of the External Publicity of the Foreign Ministry Zahirul Haque were
present on the occasion, which was organised to express wishes for the new
year.
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