A five-member government committee yesterday decided to withdraw the law enforcers during a conversation with Golam Rabbani, convener of the Palli Bidyut Unnayan Sangram Parishad (PBUSP), over telephone, sources said.

A large number of police and other law enforcers deployed in the area started pulling out at 4:20pm.

"Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was also withdrawn," State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir, also heading the government committee, said in a press briefing last night.

Withdrawals of law enforcers and section 144 are two of the five conditions the PBUSP had set as a prerequisite to the talks to resolve the Kansat crisis in which at least 17 people have been killed in police action since January 4.

Fakrul said official decision was also taken to withdraw the two cases filed against Rabbani and some 100 others.

Meeting sources said they also decided to release of 32 people, including Rokeya Begum, wife of Rabbani's brother Rezaul Islam.

The government high-ups will take decision about the fifth condition--removal of local BNP lawmaker Shahjahan Mian, the government body told the PBUSP.

Fakrul said Golam Rabbani and other PBUSP leaders will come to Chapainawabganj Circuit House this morning for a meeting to resolve the crisis. All five members of the committee were present at the press briefing held in the circuit house around 10:50pm yesterday.

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, also a member of the committee, said they have already agreed to implement the 14-point demand of PBUSP but people are unaware of it. He, however, said all aspects of the demands will be discussed again.

Headed by Fakrul, the committee is comprised of State Minister for Public Works Alamgir Kabir, Deputy Minister for Land Asadul Habib Dulu and Chapainawabganj-2 lawmaker Syed Manzur Hossain.

Deputy Inspector General of Rajshahi Range Dr Baharul Alam and Commissioner of Rajshahi Division Mosleh Uddin were also present at the talks.

The four-hour non-stop talks between the government body and Rabbani over telephone continued from 10:45am to 2:45pm. It resumed after a break at 6:00pm and continued until the press briefing was held.

Meanwhile, Rabbani told reporters yesterday evening, "The movement and blockade will continue until all our demands are implemented."

The 14-point demand of the locals includes smooth power supply.

Sources said the main talks will start later on successful implementation of the five-point demands of the PBUSP.

The government body will coordinate the talks between the PBUSP leaders and the representatives from the Rural Electrification Board and the Power Division. The date of the talks is yet to be finalised.

The PBUSP added the five points to their demands following killings of 17 people--two on January 2, seven on January 23, five on April 6 and three on April 12--in police action.

On April 6, the PBUSP blockaded the area rendering the Sonamasjid Land port nonfunctional since then.

The same day, two cases were filed accusing Rabbani and the PBUSP leaders. The police filed a case for obstructing government activities while local BNP leader Ashraf filed a murder case.

MINU SEEKS APOLOGY
During the talks RCC Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu came out of the meeting around 1:00pm and briefed the newsmen.

On April 6, Minu branded Rabbani a criminal and said he would not have any talks with Rabbani.

He however apologised yesterday in the press briefing and said he had made a mistake by branding Rabbani a criminal and sought forgiveness.

He said progress has been made in the talks. "We'll do whatever it takes to restore peace and harmony in the locality," he added.

He also said the loss of so many lives in Kansat is regretful.

EFFIGIES OF MINU, SHAHJAHAN BURNT
Locals burnt effigies of RCC Mayor Minu and local lawmaker Shahjahan Miah yesterday evening at Kansat crossing.

The Minu's effigy was inscribed with "I am a liar, hit me with shoes" while Shahjahan's effigy was inscribed with "I am Shahjahan, I do not know anything."