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Thursday, December 24, 2009

[ALOCHONA] Graft allegations deserve judicious handling



PRESIDENT SHOULD FORM COMMISSION
 
Graft allegations deserve judicious handling
 
M. Shahidul Islam
 
The already wobbly political edifice, characterized by opposition's seeming unwillingness to join the parliament and the deteriorating governance, is bound to become further dysfunctional if public officials are allowed to seek with impunity illegitimate personal gains through bribery, extortion, graft and other forms of kickbacks.
   Despite such ill-doings being pervasive for ages, albeit behind the scene, the only way to address exposed incidents of immoralities is to initiate impartial public inquiry to clear the fog. Failing to do so have often resulted in the collapse of the political regime in functional democracies while, experience shows, it is the extra-constitutional forces which have taken advantage of such exposed wrongdoings in countries like Bangladesh.
   
   $5 million scandal
   Lately, a startling exposure in one of the vernacular dailies had graphically illustrated the tale of a five million dollar kickback received from the US-based oil conglomerate Chevron in return for offering contract for the installation of a compressor plant at Muchai, worth Taka 370 crore (US$52.70 million), without following due process.
   The tantalizing exposure has since been ruffling feathers across political divides, due mainly to the credibility it had gained subsequently and the fact that the contract itself has virtually been doled out to Chevron without even inviting a tender.
   More ruckus, however, are the names of the alleged people who took the bribe. The revelation categorically named towering luminaries like Sajib Wazed Joy - the roving businessman son of PM Sheikh Hasina - energy affairs adviser Dr. Towfiq Elahi Chowdhury, PM Sheikh Hasina herself, state minister for energy Brig. Gen (retd) Enamul Hoque, energy secretary Mohammed Mohsin and the former Petrobangla chairman, Maj (retd) Muktadir Ali.
   The worst part of this tittle-tattle is that the energy affairs adviser, TE Chowdhury, is accused in the exposure of having personally paid US$2 million on October 14, 2009, to PM's son Joy, during his visit to Texas, USA.
   
   Allegation's credibility
   Added credibility to the allegations stemmed from a number of other exposed facts and allied conjectures. And, one must remember that it needs more than a die-hard intent to expose the material corruption of a government in power, especially in Bangladesh, unless there are convincing and irrefutable evidence in hand to do so. In this 'most corrupt' nation of ours (according to past TI reports), no one dares to bite more than what he/she can swallow.
   Such an embedded perception has prompted one observer to say, "Unless some documentary evidence can corroborate the allegations, prima facie, an undertaking to expose people of such a stature is virtually unimaginable in a country like Bangladesh."
   Meanwhile, the exposure itself and further investigation have revealed, there exists an ongoing investigation within the energy ministry on embezzlement of public money worth about Taka 360 crores (which the concerned ministry had requested the Petrobangla on November 19, 2009, to investigate (vide its letter JAKSB/U-3BC/installation of compressor, 33/2009/902), and a public inquiry into the sham is much warranted.
   The ministry letter was signed by its senior assistant secretary, Md. Mizanur Rahman, who should testify its veracity under oath once such an inquiry is commissioned.
   It was also learnt from the damning media indictment-as well as from other sources-that the instruction of the energy ministry was responded to on November 26 by Petrobangla (vide its letter No 21, 37,51/661), which assured the ministry of its cooperation in the investigation process.
   The Petrobangla response, signed by its chairman Dr. Md. Hossain Monsur, however, came shy of what was needed. It passed the buck onto to the ministry again and recommended that the investigation itself be 'conducted under the ministry due to the sensitivity involved and the stature of the personalities against whom the allegation of receiving kickback from Chevron was made.'
   
   Public accountability
   Our concern is as much about the exposure itself as it is about the freedom of expression. Since the exposure, the government has adopted a strategy of suppression instead of ensuring public accountability. Published reports say the concerned journalist and the editor of that particular daily are now dodging attacks and desperately trying to save their lives and liberty amidst a series of threats and attacks on their persons and characters.
   More ominously, such despicable acts of authoritarianism have gained more ferocity when a number of senior ministers and ruling party officials publicly threatened the editor of the paper of 'unspecified consequences,' prompting the leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia, to make a statement last week in support of the concerned editor and the journalist.
   As the plot thickens, one wonders whether that's how a 'purported' functional democracy should handle such matters of profound public interest, and, whether such behaviours of the regime can result in landing the AL-led government in dangerous legal minefield in the near future.
   
   Rule of law
   Although Article 144 of the Constitution empowers the executives to handle matters relating to state-owned assets, Article 145 (2) does ensure that 'this article shall not prejudice the right of any person to take proceedings against the government.'
   The Constitution has also ensured in Articles 32, 39 and 40 the right to expressions and exposures via media, or initiation of lawsuits to redress wrongdoings by public officials against the nation and its people.
   As well, gagging the press in violation of such fundamental rights can be challenged by Public Interest Litigation (PIL) under Article 102 of the Constitution while many of the corruption cases initiated during the emergency rules (2007-2008) may yet be revived to strengthen allegations against many of the politicians in general, and a number of ruling party bosses in particular.
   If one wonders how, the answer is simple. The Constitutional efficacy remained valid during the caretaker regime too, when the emergency rules were clamped upon the nation.
   That is what must impress upon the government to display maturity in handling the matter by following precedents created by other democracies.
   
   Precedents
   For instance, on June 22, 2009, the US Department of Justice (USDOS) has called on a veteran prosecutor to help handle a grand jury investigation into public corruption in the state of Florida, prompting a 'top-secret' inquiry relating to a Fort Lauderdale business that authorities suspect was a colossal fraud.
   The fiasco gained such a prominence that, on December 2, Florida Supreme Court approved Gov. Charlie Crist's revised request for a state-wide grand jury to investigate public corruption and recommend changes in state law to prosecute those public officials arrested in the investigative process.
   The US precedents aside, corruption and irregularities of public officials are investigated by a Royal Commission (RC), or a Commission of Enquiry (COE), in many Commonwealth nations. These Commissions are vested with considerable powers, generally greater even than those of a judge, but often restricted to the "Terms of Reference."
   We urge our President to form such a quasi-judicial Commission of Inquiry and appoint impartial personalities by 'Letters Patent' to look into a matter of such great importance, in order to resolve the ongoing suspicion, rumours and the controversy, as well as to ensure accountability of public officials, including those in the executive and the judiciary.
   If this bubbling volcano is handled differently, it will recoil and erupt like a thunder, any time.
 



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[ALOCHONA] Delhi wants to control Dhaka's telecom to dominate NE India



Delhi wants to control Dhaka's telecom to dominate NE India
 
Moinuddin Naser in New York
 
India has become desperate to capture the Bangladesh's telecommunication system and to build up a fibre optic network by using the Cox's Bazar submarine cable to connect India's seven sisters in the Northeast India. In this connection the Indian Telecom companies Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications have already submitted a joint proposal to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Thaindia news, a web based news media reported about the development centring the Bangladesh's communication system.
   
   Bangladesh's defence network
   Experts opined that if India has to depend on Bangladesh regarding maintaining communication with its north eastern provinces, why it had turned down the proposal of sub-regional cooperation as was mooted by the Awami League government in the year 1996. Experts now opine that if it happens so, India will be able to control Bangladesh's communication system, including the defence network fully. Even the military establishments of Bangladesh will be nothing but an extension of the Indian eastern command.
   Apart from the proposal of fibre optic network, Bharti Airtel is about to complete a deal to buy 70 per cent share of Bangladesh's Warid Telecom for a reported $900 million from Abu Dhabi Group. While Bharti and Reliance are rivals to each other in the Indian domestic market they have joined hands while bidding for fibre optics network in Bangladesh.
   Before getting Transit - Corridor through Bangladesh for easier communication with the isolated North-Eastern Provinces (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Monipur, Mizoram, Arunachal and Nagaland), India wants to build up the fibre-optic network, by using the existing submarine lending cable of Bangladesh, the backbone of the Bangladesh's international communication. The cable again is frequently disrupted, sometimes due to theft of cable and sometime for technical reasons. However Bharti and Reliance have offered Bangladesh access to the alternative submarine cable in exchange of the permission to build up fibre optic network.
   The seven north eastern states now get telecom services through VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) at a high price.
   
   Cox's Bazar: Disruption likely
   A BTRC official confirmed the report and said that as per the proposal Bangladesh could use the companies' undersea cable network as an alternative to lone submarine cable SEA-ME-WE-4. The existing optical fibre line connects Dhaka to the south-eastern Cox's Bazar's submarine cable landing station. It serves as the backbone of international communication, while satellite services act as backup with limited bandwidth.
   Experts opined that if India is allowed to build up fibre optic network in Bangladesh that will surely disrupt the Bangladesh's communication with outside world. It is not feasible before launching its own satellite by Bangladesh.
   Meanwhile Bangladesh plans to join 50 other countries, including South Asian neighbours India and Pakistan, to ramp up its communications network by launching a satellite.
   The cost of the programme will be between $150 million and $200 million according to Post and Telecommunications Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Raju. Bangladesh has started talking to different countries including the US, Japan and China, to help launch own satellite by Bangladesh.
   
   Reuters' report
   Bharti Airtel has almost finalized a deal with the Abu Dhabi group to buy 70m percent of Bangladesh's Warid Telecom. The total deal will cost $900 million while the initial investment will be $300 million. Reuters reported from India that Bharti declined to make any comment, but its share has gone up by 2.8 per cent while Abu Dhabi Group Chief Commercial Officer Ali Tahir said that they expect to seal the deal by mid-January 2010. But he did not disclose the sale price.
   Bharti targeted this small deal with Abu Dhabi Group to buy Bangladesh's share when the company failed to materialise its $24 billion merger with South Africa's MTN. South Africa showed its reluctance to allow a flagship corporate to lose its national character.
   Warid is the Bangladesh's fourth-biggest telecom company. As per the contemplated deal, Abu Dhabi Group will retain 30 per cent share, said the report quoting the source of the selling firm. The sale proceed is likely to help Dubai, which has been crunched recently.
   Reuters report said: UAE-based Abu Dhabi Group, a consortium of investors that includes members of the royal family of Abu Dhabi, sought approval from Bangladesh's telecoms regulator for the sale on December 13, according to the regulator's chairman, Zia Ahmed.
   The deal is set against a backdrop of this week's announcement that oil-rich Abu Dhabi will provide $10 billion to Dubai in order to help its neighbour meet its debt obligations.
   Bharti's expansion would give the Indian phone leader access to Bangladesh's rapidly growing mobile sector at a time when it is locked in an intense price war in India with rivals Reliance Communications. For the Abu Dhabi Group, the deal will enable it to focus on other telecoms markets where it can have a bigger market share, Tahir said.
   
   No comment from Bharti
   Bharti said on Wednesday it was evaluating international opportunities, but declined to comment on plans to buy Warid. Bharti initially plans an investment of $300 million. He said a written proposal by Abu Dhabi Group did not pin a full value on the deal. A section of newspapers in Bangladesh had reported the final deal could be worth $900 million, citing Warid officials.
   "The dynamics of the Bangladesh market are similar to those in India, where Bharti has proven itself," said Phani Sekhar, fund manager at Angel Broking, which holds Bharti shares, in Mumbai Stock market.
   Warid Telecom also operates in Pakistan, Uganda and the Congo. Singapore Telecommunications bought a 30 percent stake in Warid's Pakistan business for $758 million in 2007 from the Abu Dhabi Group. Warid's operations in Pakistan, India's neighbour and political rival, are not part of the Bharti deal. At the end of October, Warid had 2.79 million subscribers - far fewer than Grameenphone whose majority share is owned by Norway's Telenor.
   Bharti, which has more than 100 million subscribers in India, is looking to replicate its staggering growth at home in other emerging markets, where scale is vital, many customers are poor and rural, and penetration rates are low but rising fast. Indian mobile operators are locked in an intense tariff war that has raised concerns about profitability. The price war is aimed at grabbing new users as new firms enter the market.
   Bangladesh's mobile sector has grown rapidly, with subscriber numbers reaching more than 51 million at the end of October from 200,000 in 2001, helped by low penetration levels, competitive tariffs and steady economic growth. Analysts predict the number of subscribers could top 70 million by 2011, nearly half the country's population of 150 million.
   The news came two-and-a-half months after talks between Bharti and MTN Group to create the world's third-largest mobile operator collapsed for the second time in just over a year on South Africa's reluctance to allow a flagship corporate to lose its national character.
 



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[ALOCHONA] A new university sprouts for the region's brightest girls



A new university sprouts for the region's brightest girls
image
 
In Bangladesh, Leadership Lessons
Chana R. Schoenberger
 

The Asian University for Women is just like any other college in many ways. "You go in there at 2 a.m. and the computer room is packed, the library is full, and people are rehearsing for some dance or music show," says Kamal Ahmad, chief executive of the foundation that funds the Chittagong, Bangladesh, university. But aside from the typical roster of overscheduled undergrads, the school has a different take on education for women in South Asia and, eventually, the Middle East--regions where few girls go to college.

The liberal arts program is unusual in a region where rote learning is common, says Jack Meyer, chief executive at hedge fund Convexity Capital, who's donated $6 million to the school and chairs the school's board. "The focus of AUW's [curriculum] is critical reasoning, problem solving and leadership," says Meyer, who also used to manage Harvard's endowment.
 
Founded five years ago, the school currently has 128 students from underprivileged backgrounds in six countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. They're all getting a full ride, thanks to $40 million the foundation has raised so far, including $8 million from the Gates Foundation.
 

"We're emphasizing first-generation university students, as it increases the likelihood that they will give back," says board member Kathy Matsui, the chief Japan strategist at Goldman Sachs ( GS - news - people ) in Tokyo, who has raised $2 million from donors in Japan.

 

The school aims to help its students understand the world outside of their homelands, while also encouraging them to return to become leaders there. "We need to get these women at a level of education and in the decision-making bodies of their countries so they can change the situation," Matsui says. Each student must intern for a nonprofit, a start-up and a big company; HSBC ( HBC - news - people ), Unilever, Chevron ( CVX - news - people ) and Hong Kong textile manufacturer Esquel all hosted AUW interns this summer.

While parents in the region understand that education is the ticket out of poverty, one challenge has been convincing parents to send unmarried daughters away to university. It helps that the school is women-only. Ahmad increases his chances through a network of country coordinators who recruit a handful of girls from each promising high school, encouraging them to go together. AUW has a yield higher than Harvard's: Out of 140 students offered places in the current freshman class, only 10 declined, Meyer says.
 
"They're very talented, very smart, very energetic, but they had zero future," Meyer says. "They come to AUW and they're put in a dorm with seven other women from seven other countries, often of different religious backgrounds, and it's eye-opening to them."
 
For now, the students are living in rented dorms in Chittagong, but the school is breaking ground in the fall of 2010 on a new landmark campus on land the Bangladeshi government donated. (Both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed and her predecessor and political rival, Khaleda Zia, are supporters, Ahmad says.) Moshe Safdie, the celebrity architect who designed Montreal's famed Habitat 67 housing complex for the 1967 World Expo, designed the plans for the $6 million campus, which will one day enroll 3000 undergrad and grad students.
 



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[ALOCHONA] Thousands join Tipai march



Thousands join Tipai march

Peer Shaheb of Charmonai and Ameer of Islami Andolan
Bangladesh Mufti Syed Rezaul Karim addressing a huge rally
at Muktangan before launching of long march towards
Tipaimukh Dam on Thursday




The much-discussed long march of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) yesterday left the city towards Tipaimukh led by its Ameer and Chairmunai Peer Syed Rezaul Karim.

The long march along with thousands of people in more than five hundred buses started its journey from Muktangan at 3 pm and few road marches were held at Motijheel, Jatrabari and Chittagong in the way.

Till filling this report, our staff reporter Ehsanul Haque Jasim, who is staying at the long march caravan, said over phone that the long march arrived at Nirsingidi without any obstacles.

Jasim said, the march has created curiosity among people and they standing around the Highway welcomed the long march by clapping.

Several thousands leaders and workers along with banner, festoons and placards joined the programme.

As the government failed to stop Indian move to construct Tipaimukh dam at common river Barak, the IAB announced 3-day long march to stop it and to draw attention of global community towards it.

Today they will leave Narsingdi and will stay in Sylhet at night after completing some streets march and on December 26, the organisers will launch their long march towards Tipaimukh dam from here.

Prior to start the long march, IAB arranged a huge gathering at Muktagan.

Different social and political organisations here expressed solidarity at the long march programme and spoke wishing success of it.

The leaders who addressed at the gathering were, Amanullah Aman of BNP, Maulana Mohiuddin Khan of Jamiut Olama-e-Islam, Kader Siddiqi of Krishak-Sramik-Janata League, Shafiul Alam Prodhan of JAGPA, Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu of National Peoples Party, Maulana Zafarullah Khan of Khelafat Andalon, Maulana Abdur Rab Yusufi and Safique Uddin Ahmed of Khelafat Majlis, Maulana Azizul Haq Murad of Islami Okya Andolan, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal of Jatiyatabadi Jubodal, Advocate Abed Reza of Sylhet Division Development Parishad, Kazi Abul Khayer of Muslim League, Sheikh Anwarul Haq of NAP (Bhasani), Moulana Ainul Islam of NDP, Maulana Nurul Huda Faezi of IAB and Prof Maimul Ahsan Khan.

Charmunai Peer Syed Rezaul Karim said they would protect the Indian move of construction of Tipaimukh dam at any means to Bangladesh.

If the government tries to give bar in the long march, we will be forced to launch against the government.



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[ALOCHONA] The year in review



The year in review
 


2009 began with great anticipation. After two years of having an undemocratic government in power, who at one point threatened to stay back indefinitely, democracy had clawed its way back and a new government was in power. In the first couple of weeks, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina named her new cabinet – a refreshing breath of new faces – and our anticipation for the future reached new highs.

   Twelve months down the line, it can be safe to say, that some of that anticipation has fizzled out. The biggest downside of the year, undoubtedly, was the loss of 76 lives during the infamous Peelkhana carnage. The nation spent an uncertain couple of weeks in the aftermath of the tragedy.

   There were further glitches in the calendar as the months wore on. Tender-grabbing and extortion by Awami League activists hit the headlines regularly as did extra-judicial killings by law enforcement authorities. We met our first serial killer in Rasu Khan and discovered a plethora of alleged criminals of Indian origin and wanted by the Indian law enforcement authorities.

   On the upside of 2009, the Bangladesh cricket team, led by mercurial Saqib Al-Hasan, emerged victorious in numerous expeditions at home and abroad. The Bangabandhu Murder Trial finally approached closure while the High Court and Supreme Court stamped their authority through a number of rulings that attempted to establish citizen's rights.

   On the last week of 2009, we take a look at the most significant events and people that shaped our lives this year.
a year of tragedy

The mutiny and its aftermath

During the 33-hour mutiny at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters at Peelkhana,

   on February 25 and 26, which would later spread in BDR camps around the country, the lives of 57 army officers, along with 19 other civilians and BDR soldiers, were lost. The atrocious nature of the mutiny became clear in the hours and days that followed with the discovery of the brutal manner in which the officers were killed – their bodies defiled, set on fire and buried in mass graves inside the Peelkhana or dumped through the sewerage line. During the mutiny, civilians and family members of army officials were also killed, tortured and physically abused while their belongings were damaged, ignited and looted. The arms storage at the BDR headquarters was looted.

   Though the government declared a general amnesty on the mutiny, they would later shift from the position and an operation 'rebel hunt' would be launched to round up BDR soldiers who were absconding. The government formed an investigation committee headed by former bureaucrat Anisuzzaman on March 3, while the armed forces formed another committee, to look into the mutiny. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, many senior members of present cabinet indicated to the presence of conspiracies and outside elements in the mutiny. Commerce Minister Faruk Khan would directly blame religious fundamentalists for their link to the incident. However, the report of the investigation committee, which was partially released on May 21, failed to find any such links. The investigation committee further recommended that the BDR forces be reconstituted under a different name and uniform, work of which is already in progress.

   In the following months, criminal cases were filed against the mutineers, while many of them were interrogated in custody. As many as 46 BDR jawans died during the period of interrogation, claimed by officials as death by 'heart attack'.

   Serious human rights concerns were raised over these deaths by many quarters and the government subsequently formed another committee on May 14, to investigate the issue.

   The new committee was scheduled to deliver its report within a month of its formation, however, they are yet to publish it.

   For a period of time, the government seemed to be in a dilemma on whether to try the mutineers under the Army Act or the regular Code of Criminal Procedure. The president subsequently referred the issue to the Supreme Court on August 17, who would then appoint ten amicus curie to provide their expert opinion.

   On October 15, the government decided that the mutiny would be tried under the BDR Act of 1972, while the incidents of crime including murder, arson and loot would be tried under the existing laws at a speedy tribunal, pending the completion of investigation by the CID.

   Concerns were again raised as to the fairness of trial as the BDR chief was appointed chair of the special courts while the defendants were stripped of their rights to question the accusers as well as their right to be defended by legal counsel, though they were allowed to seek advise from them.

   The trial began on November 24, in a special court at the Rangamati sector headquarters taking cognisance of mutiny charges against five soldiers of the 12 Rifles Battalion.

   This is the fourth of the six special courts formed under the order on November 15 for the trial of the BDR soldiers facing charges of mutiny.

   Special court 1 was formed for the mutinies in Khulna, Rajshahi and Kushtia sectors, special court 2 for Dinajpur and Rangpur sectors, special court 3 for Sylhet, Comilla and Mymensingh sectors, special court 4 for Chittagong, Rangamati and Khagrachari sectors and special court 5 for Dhaka sector. The courts will also hold trial of the mutineers in other battalions and installations under the sectors concerned. Special court 6 will hold trial of the mutineers at the BDR headquarters in Dhaka and other installations under the headquarters.

   The framing of charges against 60 soldiers of the 7 Rifles Battalion facing trial in special court 1 of the Bangladesh Rifles, at the 47 Rifles Battalion headquarters in Satkhira, has been posted for January 18.

   Seven months have already elapsed without much headway into the investigation of the incidents of unnatural death of BDR soldiers in custody.

   The draft of the new law for the Bangladesh Rifles proposes raising the highest punishment to death penalty for mutiny or disobedience on the battlefield.
a year of achievement

Justice finally prevails

The landmark judgement on the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and several of his family members on August 15, 1975, marks as one of the defining moments of the year. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, on November 19, pronounced death sentences upon twelve convicted former members of the army.

   The verdict follows a case filed on October 2, 1996 by Muhitul Islam, Sheikh Mujib's personal assistant, who survived the grisly attack on August 15, 1975. For 21 years after the killing, the assassins enjoyed immunity to any trial through an infamous indemnity ordinance passed by the then president Khondokar Moshtaque Ahmed, which was subsequently incorporated in the nation's constitution by General Ziaur Rahman.

   When the Awami League government was voted to power in 1996, it annulled the indemnity ordinance and initiated the Mujib murder trial.

   Since its initial filing, the case had moved from the Dhaka district and session judge courts to the High Court and finally reached the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the final verdict. The accomplishment of the trial of Bangabandhu's killing was one of the Awami League-led government's manifesto promises.

   Among the 12 convicted, sacked lieutenant colonel Syed Faruque Rahman, retired lieutenant colonel Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, retired lieutenant colonel Muhiuddin Ahmed, retired lieutenant colonel AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and retired major Bazlul Huda are currently behind bars.

   Retired lieutenant colonel Md Abdul Aziz Pasha is reportedly dead. The remaining six – retired colonel Khandaker Abdur Rashid, retired major Shariful Haque Dalim, retired lieutenant colonel AM Rashed Chowdhury, retired lieutenant colonel SHMB Noor Chowdhury, retired captain Abdul Mazed and retired risaldar Moslemuddin have been sentenced to death in absentia. They are believed to have taken refuge in Pakistan, Libya, USA and Canada.

   After the judgement, the government has initiated a process to bring them back. Barrister Shafique Ahmed, the law, justice and parliamentary affairs minister, on his return from Canada said, the Canadian government agreed to deport former Lt Col SHMB Noor Chowdhury. Besides, the foreign ministry has been trying to bring back all the fugitive convicted killers in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, he added.

   The government brought back Bazlul Huda from Bangkok on the day of judgement by the Dhaka district and sessions judge court on November 8, 1998. Another fugitive convict, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed was brought back from the USA during the tenure of the caretaker government of Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

   On the night of August 15, 1975, Mujib, his wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, his brother, his brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, his nephew Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and Moni's wife Arzoo were all murdered in a coup to remove Mujib from power.


Triumph at the Caribbean

Years of frustration instantly turned into joy and expectation as Bangladesh strolled to its first Test victory on foreign soil. The tour initially promised to be nothing more than a part of the everlasting 'learning curve' for Bangladesh but it proved to be a major step in the right direction as the team surpassed all expectations and whitewashed an admittedly depleted West Indies side in both the One-days and Test series.

   Debutant Mahmudullah completed a memorable Test match on July 13, bowling Bangladesh to a historic 95-run victory, its first ever away from home. Whisking the West Indians batsmen off the field with his spin, Mahmudullah ended the match with figure of five wickets for 51 runs. The man of the match was awarded to Tamim Iqbal for his determined century in the first innings.

   The second Test match ending on July 20, took Bangladesh to a new level of confidence. With Sakib al Hasan leading from the front, Bangladesh comfortably surpassed the target of 215 with a day to spare.

   The then acting skipper, Sakib had secured the man of the match with his all round performance, taking five wickets for 70 runs and scoring an unbeaten 96 from 97 balls in the second innings of the last Test match against West Indies.

   The ODI series triunth followed the clean sweep in the Test series, against a home side, decimated by a player boycott.

   'It was a total team effort,' said a delighted stand-in captain and the undoubted star of the team, Sakib al Hasan afterwards. 'After winning the Test series, we were looking forward to this ODI series,' said Sakib. 'Every time the team was under pressure, someone was able to put their hands up and do the job. This success in the Caribbean will help to take us to the next level.'
a year of controversy

Quarrel at sea

On October 9, 2009, Bangladesh served legal notices to both India and Myanmar to settle the disputes over maritime boundary claims before a UN tribunal as it decided to take the issue to a compulsory arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

   Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty and Myanmar Ambassador U Phae Thann Oo were called into the foreign ministry and foreign secretary Mijarul Quayes handed the notifications to them to pass on to their respective governments.

   'We need to delimit our maritime boundary to explore and exploit oil, gas and other natural resources in the Bay to meet our demands,' said Foreign Minister Dipu Moni after the government's decision to serve legal notices to India and Myanmar.

   The dispute between the three countries over the demarcation of the maritime boundary on the Bay of Bengal has been a long-standing one and tensions initially surfaced when in November 2008, the naval forces of Myanmar and Bangladesh were on the brink of a confrontation at the Bay of Bengal as it was noted by Bangladesh that Myanmar had been conducting an oil and gas exploration project - with the aid of a South Korean company, Daewoo - in a disputed area of the sea. Nearly 50 men and four ships were employed in the exploration work in Block AD-7, escorted by two of Myanmar's naval warships.

   India and Myanmar claimed their respective maritime borders and have already filed their claims with the United Nations on June 29 and May 21, 2009 respectively, while Bangladesh has to do this before July 27, 2011.


Tipaimukh danger

Another contentious issue which sparked heated debates and inspired nationwide consensus this year was the Indian government's recently resumed proposal to construct the Tipaimukh dam on the Barak River, just a kilometer north of Jakiganj in Sylhet.

   The proposed work was stalled in March 2007 in the face of protests within (people of the Manipur state of India are slated to be worst-affected) and outside India, for not following international conventions on international rivers. The completion of the dam in 2012 will virtually dry up the Surma and the Kushiara rivers, thus choking the north-eastern regions of Bangladesh, say experts.

   Experts also believe that the Tipaimukh dam would adversely affect the country's fisheries, agriculture, environment and water supply.

   Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, the finance minister of Bangladesh and also the founder president of the green non-governmental organisation, Bangladesh Paribesh Andalan (BAPA) points out, 'India will be worse hit than Bangladesh and so the general people of India are also against the project.'

   A team of parliamentary affairs committee on water resources visited the site and said that they did not notice any sign of work starting at Tipaimukh dam in the region in August. Their report was widely criticised in the country especially by the opposition parties.

   People of Bangladesh have more to fear if India makes a barrage at Fulertala (through which they will be able to manage water according to their needs), and procure water from the river Barak, while the rivers Surma and Kushira will become virtually dry.


Ticket to the Bay blocks

This year, the government awarded contracts to the US-based company ConocoPhillips and Ireland's Tullow Oil through an international bid to explore three gas blocks at the Bay of Bengal. The decision immediately sparked off intense criticism, especially by the national committee to protect oil, gas, mineral resources, power and port who were heavily critical of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC), Model PSC 2008, for tilting heavily to the advantage of the oil companies.

   Experts fear that the PSC allows the IOCs right to export gas to third parties, bypassing our national needs. The national committee blamed the government for not taking into account public opinion regarding the matter and instead advocated 'capacity building' to conduct our own explorations in the future. The government representatives, meanwhile, pointed out to acute energy crisis as a reason for awarding to contracts on a speedy basis.

   Anu Muhammad member secretary of the national committee, with hundreds of others, was injured during a barbaric attack by the police at Bijaynagar in Dhaka when the committee tried to lay siege on the Bangladesh Mineral Oil & Gas Corporation (Petrobangla) headquarters at Kawranbazar on September 2, protesting the contracts. The lone strike called this year owed to the attack brought on the activists.

   While the existing onshore gas reserve is feared to deplete by 2013, the government and some experts believe offshore exploration opens the scope to meet the future demand. The exploration process if initiated now will still take another four to five years, to bear output.


Playing crisscross over Bangladesh

A meeting between Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and her Indian counterpart SM Krishna in New Delhi on September 8, agreed on allowing India transit through Bangladesh for carrying heavy equipment for a power plant at Palatan, in Tripura, through the Ashuganj port and the use of Akhaura-Agartala road on a test case basis.

   The two countries are scheduled to sign a deal on India's access to the Ashuganj port in May 2010.

   India has been seeking transit for a long time so that Indian vehicles can enter Bangladesh through the Benapole border and enter and leave the Indian states Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through Tamabil, Bibirbazar and Khagrachari in Bangladesh.

   New Delhi has long been pressing Dhaka for transit facilities for their benefits. The access will allow India to gain in business and intervene into ongoing insurgencies in seven sister states.

   Another topic connected with the issue is the Asian Highway. Of three routes proposed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the government has articulated its preference for the two routes, both of which begin from and end in India after going through Bangladesh.

   Its preference however runs contrary to the very rationale behind why Bangladesh should be connected with the Asian Highway, i.e. for greater interconnectivity.

   Worryingly still, the government has kept its decision and plan of actions regarding the transit facility under wraps.
newsmakers of the year



Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus

Illustrations: Mehedi Haque
A man reputed for receiving greater coverage in the international media than he does in his homeland, after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, Bangladeshi banker, economist and the founder of the micro credit system, Dr Mohammad Yunus received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, the highest civilian honour in the USA. US President Barack Obama conferred the award upon Prof Yunus at the White House on August 12.


Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj

The saga surrounding the resignation of the former state minister for home affairs, Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, took the form of a long-running soap opera that never yields a conclusive climax. The former youngest member of Sheikh Hasina's council of ministers, Sohel Taj reportedly submitted his resignation to the prime minister on May 31. However, he returned to his office on June 4 after four days, citing an illness as the cause for his absence in the previous days. The state minister then went on leave and later on, while talking to the United States-based Bangla news agency News World, he claimed to have 'ceased to be a minister on May 31 as I myself handed over my resignation letter and if anyone treats me as a minister now, it would be in violation of the constitution.' During his interview with News World, he also complained that he had found it increasingly difficult to work with dignity.


Lutfozzaman Babar

Another former state minister for home affairs with a penchant for hogging the media's limelight previously with some truly memorable and amusing comments on different initiatives of the previous BNP-led government, Lutfozzaman Babar came to the fore yet again and this time for his alleged involvement in the 21 August, 2004 grenade attack cases. Babar was shown arrested in the cases filed in connection with the grenade attacks on an Awami League-rally in Dhaka that had 24 people killed and injured and maim over 200.


Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash

Having emerged as one of the promising new breed of lawmakers during the ninth parliamentary elections defeating a senior opposition lawyer and MP from his constituency, AL lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash escaped with his life as a bomb exploded at Motijheel near his car. The explosion left at least 12 people injured but Tapash, who was reportedly the prime target left the scene unscathed. Earlier the same day, he attended the day's hearing of the appeal of Bangabandhu murder case at the Appellate Division as a state lawyer. Therefore, the government termed it a part of a conspiracy plotted by some related to the killers of Bangabandhu and some of the relatives of the convicts of murder case were arrested.


Sakib Al Hasan

From a promising up-and-comer to an overnight sensation, Sakib's rise in world cricket over the last year has been nothing short of phenomenal, rounding the year of as the game's leading all-rounder. His contributions were also noted by the prestigious Wisden Cricket Magazine who named Sakib the Test Player of the Year for 2009. In the eight Tests Sakib played in this year, he took 45 wickets at an average of 23 with his left-arm spin, including five five-wicket hauls, and scored 498 runs at an average of 35.57. His Midas touch also worked on the captaincy front as he led the country to series wins both at home and abroad, including the Test and ODI sweep over the West Indies.


Dido

The top coaching post in any of Bangladesh's major sports can prove to be a poisoned chalice to many respected foreign names in their respective sports, as West Indian cricket legend Gordon Greenidge and later, Australian Dav Whatmore found out. The latest addition to this line comes in the form of Brazilian football coach Edson 'Dido' Silva, who was relieved of his duties as coach of the national football team, just 11 months after his appointment on November 9. Only a day prior to his sacking, on November 9, Dido named a youthful side for the SAFF Championship which, it was later learned, did not go down too well in some sections of the football fraternity as a few 'experienced' players were omitted from the squad. However, the drama started much earlier when in an interview with a daily, Dido blamed some BFF officials for plotting against him and claimed that 'Salahuddin is surrounded by sharks'.


Rasu Khan

For much of the months of October and November, the name Rasu Khan was as much a source of intrigue as it was of general uneasiness as he emerged with the dreaded tag of being the country's first serial killer. Rasu confessed to killing 11 women, most of who were cruelly violated before they met their demise while he confessed that he had a plan to kill 101 women. Rasu mainly targeted women from lower-income groups with garment workers and beggars among his chief targets. He would pretend to be a lover before taking them to Chandpur with him. He would drown most of his victims in the middle of various canals around Chandpur at night, fleeing the area before the next morning would dawn. A father of four children, Rasu was arrested by the police on the night of October 7, in Tongi, charged initially with the murder of Parvin Akhter.


Daud Merchant

It seems that Bangladesh is a safe haven for the criminals based in India. A good number of Indian criminals were arrested in Bangladesh in 2009. However, the name Daud Merchant was the most widely discussed. An operative of the infamous D-company, the mafia organisation headed by Dawood Ibrahim, Abdul Rouf Daud Merchant was arrested from Brahmanbaria by the detective branch of police on May 27. Having fled to Bangladesh following his conviction for the killing of Indian producer Gulshan Kumar, Merchant along with a few other operatives of the mafia network had been living in the country with false identities. Merchant was charged with illegal entry into the country as well as for carrying an illegal passport upon his arrest. The drive following his arrest led to the capture of Arif Hossain alias Chacha, another Indian fugitive from Dhaka's Mohammadpur area on June 6.
goodbyes

Mohammad Saifur Rahman
October 6, 1932 – September 5, 2009

The former finance minister with the record number of national budgets prepared under his supervision, Mohammad Saifur Rahman died in a road accident on September 5 this year when he was returning from his home district, Maulvibazar, in Sylhet.

   Passing away at the age of 77, Saifur had served the government as finance and planning minister in three terms - 1976-1982, 1991-1996 and 2001-2006. The chartered accountant was also a veteran politician who began his career by joining the political coalition, Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal in 1977. The coalition was later renamed Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978.

   He holds the unique record of preparing 12 out of the 36 annual budgets for the country since its liberation in 1971. The late finance minister had been honoured with the Ekushey Padak in 2005 for his contribution during the language movement. Survived by three sons and a daughter, Saifur was laid to rest at his family graveyard beside his wife's grave in Baharmardan village.


Shah Abdul Karim
February 15, 1916 – September 12, 2009

The legendary Baul singer of evergreen songs like Gari Choley Na or Agey ki shundar din kataitam, Shah Abdul Karim passed away on September 12, this year. The Baul musician and a legend in the spectrum of Bangladeshi folk music had been suffering from old age ailments for years.

   Karim has 1,600 compositions and six books to his credit. The Bangla Academy has translated 10 of his songs into English. Passing away at the age of 93, Karim was immensely popular for his Sufi songs and extraordinary metaphors that convey messages of secularism and depiction of divine love. Some of his popular songs include Agey ki sundar din kataitam, Gramer nowjoan, Hindu Mussalman, Tomra kunja sajao goo, Aj amar prananath asibei and Gari choley na.

   Born on February 15, 1916, Karim was a regular radio artiste during the early the part of his career. He had performed on many important political and cultural movements that include the historic Kagmari Congregation in Tangail, the 1954 election, the 1969 mass upsurge, the general election of 1970 and the movement against the military junta Ershad in the 1980s.

   Karim was honoured the highest national award 'Ekushey Padak' in 2001. He also received the Prothom Alo-Meril Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and Drouhee Kotha-Shahityik Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award in 2000.


Alauddin Al-Azad
1932 – July 3, 2009

Many of the literary works in the Bangla literature produced for the secondary, higher school and graduation level curriculum are attributed to late Dr Alauddin Al-Azad, who passed away on July 3, this year.

   Noted poet, author, novelist and professor, Dr Azad was also first secretary to the Bangladesh High Commission in Moscow. He also taught Bangla and served as educational counsellor at the Bangladesh embassy in Moscow.

   His novel novels include Teish Nambor Toilochitra, Shiter Sheshrat Basanter Pratham Din, Karnaphuli, Kshuda O Asha, Khashra Kagoj and Shyam Chhayar Songbad. Some of his popular stories include Jege Achi, Dhankannya and Mrigonavi.

   Manchitra, Vorer Nodir Mohonay Jagoron, Surjo Jalar Swapan and Lelihan Pandulipi are some of his popular poems.

   His popular dramas are Ehuder Meye, Morokkor Jadukar, Dhanyabad and Songbad Sesangsho. The 'Ferrari Diary' is Azad's book on the liberation war.

   Azad received a good number of awards, including the Unicef award, Bangla Academy award, Sadhinota and Ekushey Puroskar for his outstanding contribution in the field of Bangla literature. He also earned a National Film Award.


Gaziul Haq
February 13, 1929 – June 17, 2009

Language movement veteran Gaziul Haque passed away on June 17 this year. Born on February 13, 1929, in Nishchintopur village of Chagolnaia Thana, Haque became a renowned student leader during the Bangla Language movement in the early 1950's.

   He chaired the meeting at the Dhaka University premises on February 21, 1952 from which the decision to violate Section 144 was made. Later that day police fired into the students who demanded equal status of Bangla along with Urdu.

   On April 14, 1953 he was expelled from the university, for actively engaging in politics and his MA degree was suspended by the authorities. His degree was later restored and suspension lifted because of student protests. Haque was arrested again on February 19 of the following year, 1954, and released on April 18.

   A lawyer by profession, Haque fought the liberation war bravely on Bogra frontline. Gaziul was also a celebrated singer and lyricist, with the song 'Bhulbo na Bhulbo na Ekushey February' being among the most inspirational pieces throughout generations. He was a capable and competitive athlete, having been a boxing champion in his youth. As a writer, some of his works include Jeler Kabita (1959), Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram (1971), Bangladesh Unchained (1971), Mohammad Sultan (1994) and Media Laws and Regulations in Bangladesh (1992).


Dr Noazesh Ahmed
February 1, 1935 – November 24, 2009

Internationally renowned botanist and nature photographer Dr Noazesh Ahmed passed away on November 24 this year. Born into a renowned Muslim family of Manikganj, the agricultural scientist worked in various renowned institutions including Asian Development Bank from 1973 to 1998 and later World Bank as well as UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

   While studying plant genetics in the US, his participation at the Portrait of America Exhibition in 1957-58 brought him to the limelight and since then he had developed a niche in nature photography. His popular published works include Bangladesh (1975), Portrait of Bangladesh (1982), Quest for Reality (1997), Wild Flowers of Bangladesh (1998) Chinnapatra (2002) and Dhanshiri Naditir Pashey (2004). He has held exhibitions in New York, Washington D.C, London, Japan, Thailand while his works have been published in many globally reputed newspapers and magazines including the Sunday Times, the Guardian, Focus, Hemisphere, Illustrated Weekly of India and Far Eastern Economic Review. He was also consultant editor of Banglapedia (National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh from 2002 to 2003.
an entertaining year

Monpura breaks
45-year-old record

Giasuddin Selim's groundbreaking romantic movie Monpura released this year has set a new standard for filmmaking in the country.

   The full-length feature film has not only uplifted the genre of Bangla films but broken the 45-year-old record of ticket sales at the box office in Dhaka within three weeks of its release on February 13, 2009.

   The film's prolonged stay at the theatres has also broken the country's first released film Mukh O Mukhosh's record, which was shown at the theatres for six consecutive months. While Mukh O Mukhosh received 50,000 audiences during its screenings at theatres, Monpura superseded 50,000 audiences during the first three weeks after its release at the Balaka Cineworld, Balaka 2 and Cineplex.

   The film has rightly secured its place as one of the biggest entertainers of the year. The 1.52 crore taka movie had drawn nearly half a million audiences to the cinemas till the end of August and has made nearly three crore takas in revenues. The love story of Shonai and Pori has thus been celebrated across the country in 70 theatres.


Shahabuddin returns

Internationally renowned expatriate Bangladeshi artist Shahabuddin Ahmed's solo painting exhibitions were held in Dhaka city in September of this year. The two exhibitions titled 'Shahabuddin 2009'and 'Jai Bangla' held at Gallery Chitrak and Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts respectively, primarily portrayed the artist's passion for the liberation war of Bangladesh.

   The Dhaka-born painter reportedly sold paintings worth Tk 2 to 3.50 crores in the two exhibitions.

   A freedom fighter himself, most of Shahbuddin's paintings narrate an injured person's struggle and emotion during the war in 1971. His works had a blending of colours of oriental and occidental art.

   The exhibition 'Jai Bangla' was inaugurated by celebrated Indian actor Shabana Azmi.

   Shahabuddin, who has been living in Paris since 1974, has had more than 40 solo exhibitions in Europe alone and has represented Bangladesh on numerous occasions in international art forums. His last solo exhibition in Dhaka was held at Shilpangan in 2000.


THIRD PERSON SINGULAR NUMBER
A MULTI-STARRER SOUNDTRACK

After gaining acclaim following its screenings in some international film festivals, the eagerly-anticipated film 'Third Person Singular Number' finally hit the local big screens almost a fortnight ago. The long wait was most certainly compensated for with a truly remarkable soundtrack for the film with some memorable tracks only adding to its appeal. Directed by Mustafa Sarwar Farooki, the film revolves around the struggles endured by a young woman, trying to make her way in society independently and the songs aptly depict ranging themes correlating with the different moods of the protagonists. Among the most popular tracks of the past year was Didha, composed and sung by Habib along with Nancy. The song with its soft and mellow tune and lyrics, written by Marzuk Russell, sets the tone for the film, describing the inevitable dilemma one faces when an intimate relationship is on the verge of being built. The seven other tracks in the film, all containing similarly melodious elements, make for a truly worthwhile listening experience. The album includes songs performed by the likes of Topu, Anila, Mithila, and Sumi while Price Mahmud, Tahsan, Ashik, Limon, Fuad Al Muktadir, and Habib have worked on the music and composition. Kabir Bakul, Topu, Ashik, Marzuk Russell, Tahsan and Mithila provided the lyrics.


The stubbornness of bulls

The past year saw a number of noteworthy productions premiering in the theatre scene but one of the true standouts was Dhabaman, a theatre adaptation of the legendary Selim Al-Deen's play about the uncertainties and the ephemeral nature of existence. The 33rd production of Dhaka Theatre, Dhabaman was widely acclaimed by audiences, stage artistes and drama critics nationwide after its premiere in March. The story curiously revolves around Sohrab, a mighty buffalo battling hard to fend off but inevitably succumbing to life's only certainty – death. Dhabaman is a post-colonial narrative as conceived by Al-Deen, which highlights tradition and art forms countering the western concept of theatre. The play was the directorial debut of veteran theatre artist Shimul Youssuf, who also played an active part in the composition of its music, costume and props. The lead character of the drama was played by Esha Yousuff, daughter of Shimul and Nasiruddin Yousuff, who displayed her talent in the role of Sohrab, which was similar to that of the character from the Persian folklore, Sohrab and Rustom.
an unhealthy year

The swine flu scare

The H1N1 virus first came to the attention of the world when Edgar Hernandez, a four-year-old boy from in an eastern Mexican village, contracted the virus commonly known as swine flu. Ever since, the virus ravaged through Mexico, claiming 109 lives in the country alone before it spread throughout the world. In the process, the H1N1 virus caused widespread panic the world over, with over 40,000 people reportedly contracting the virus and a total of 170 deaths resulting from it. The first case of swine flu in Bangladesh was reported on June 18, when an airline passenger who arrived from the US tested positive for it. The IEDCR later confirmed the death of three patients infected with the virus while reports of another death caused by the virus also surfaced but there was no laboratory confirmation supporting it. Government experts estimated that at least 50,000 people were infected with the swine flu virus in Dhaka city but most of them recovered without taking any medication. Nonetheless, the government procured 40,000 courses of Oseltamivir, the antiviral required to fight the H1N1 strain immediately after the World Health Organisation (WHO) labelled it a 'pandemic' on June 11.


The vitamin A disaster

On June 6, a programme titled 'Vitamin A plus Campaign' was initiated nationwide jointly conducted by the Bangladesh government along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The campaign sought to administer children across the country between the age of 12 to 59 months with high-powered Vitamin A capsules as means to protect them from blindness and strengthen their immune systems. Children aged between 24 and 59 months were administered an additional dosage of de-worming tablets (Albendazole), directly supplied by UNICEF. However, just two days prior to the medicine being administered nationwide, 23 children who had reportedly been administered with the medicine were admitted to the Faridpur General Hospital. Within another couple of days, thousands of reported illnesses and three deaths were reported in the national media. The sick children were diagnosed with the same symptoms as the children from Faridpur.


Killed at infancy

Another shocking phenomenon took shape in the country when twenty-five infants were reportedly killed after being administered to toxic paracetamol syrup, in July. Professor Mohammad Hanif of Dhaka Shishu Hospital had said on July 20 that 26 children had been admitted to the hospital with complaints of renal failure since June 1 before confirming the death of 17 such children while also noting that it was highly unusual for children to die as a result of renal failure. Newspapers on July 21 reported that a section of pharmaceutical companies have been using toxic industrial chemicals in medicines, especially in paracetamol syrups, causing the deaths. The government on July 21 formed an investigation committee to find out the reasons for the recent spate of deaths and identify the producers of the poisonous paracetamol and vitamin syrups and on July 29, the health ministry officially confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol in the Temset paracetamol manufactured by Rid Pharma.
around the globe

Obama wins Nobel Prize

While we can only marvel at Barack Obama's intriguing journey to presidency of the United States, it was not without a hint of surprise that many, including the man himself, took the announcement of his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee – four of whom spoke to The Associated Press, said awarding Obama the Peace Prize could be seen as an early vote of confidence, intended to build global support for the policies of his young administration. They lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease US conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen its role in combating climate change.


India's first mission to the moon

This year also marked India's significant stride in the field of space exploration, after its first unmanned mission to the moon was officially declared to be over on August 29, as the lunar craft Chandrayaan -1 stopped sending radio signals. Launched in October 2008, Chandrayaan - 1 was designed to orbit the Moon and perform high resolution mapping of the lunar surface. Its sensors measured visible light as well as near infrared, low energy and X-ray wavelengths. The spacecraft was used to assess the moon's mineral resources and the distribution of elements such as silicon, iron and titanium. Despite the premature loss of Chandrayaan-1, scientists are confident that they will be able to produce several scientific papers from the mission. Plans are already being drawn up for a Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft.


The Copenhagen summit

With climate change being at the forefront of most discussion forums in recent times, delegations from 192 countries arrived in Copenhagen for talks during a two-week conference aimed at paving the way for a new global treaty on climate change. About 100 leaders attended the meeting. The main areas of discussion included targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions, financial support for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change and a carbon trading scheme aimed at ending the destruction of the world's forests by 2030. On the final day of the summit on December 20, a US-led initiative called the Copenhagen Accord was reached, despite some countries' opposition. The accord includes a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C and promises to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for developing nations over the next three years. However, delegates at the summit passed a motion simply taking note of the deal, without formally adopting it.


Obama shuts down Guantanamo

President Obama signed executive orders on January 22, banning coercive interrogation methods, ending the operation of Central Intelligence Agency's secret overseas prisons and closing down the Guantánamo Bay detention camp within a year, following years of scrutiny and criticism surrounding its dubious operation. However, closing the jail on the US Naval base in Cuba could also create myriad other problems. Of the 255 detainees still being held there, experts believe well over 100 will probably never be charged, because there is little or no evidence linking them to terrorism. Yet a significant number of their home countries are refusing to take them back, leaving Obama with the politically difficult problem of having to decide on what to do with them once they have been released. However, Obama admitted in November that the January 22, 2010 deadline had slipped to later in the year.
a year of adjustment

An SOS to public servants

The seventh pay scale introduced this year is likely to bring some relief for government employees amidst rising inflation. A special cabinet meeting held on November 11 approved the pay scale which increases the basic pay by 52 per cent on an average, for public servants.

   Some 1.2 million government employees and officers have been entitled to the new pay scale increment since July 1 year. However, public servants were yet to receive the benefits of the new pay scale as it pended a gazette notification until December 2.

   Under the new pay scale, the highest salary has been fixed at Tk 40,000 and the minimum at Tk 4,100.

   One of the more pleasant adjustments this year helps to calm the cries of public servants and adds to improving their lifestyle.


What's in a name?

Many major establishments in Dhaka city has either been renamed this year or is in the pipeline waiting to be renamed. The Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre has been renamed to Bangabandhu Conference Centre. The Maulana Bhashani Novo Theatre has been changed into Bangabandhu Novo Theatre. Moreover, to add to the name changing list, the cabinet in its weekly meeting on December 14, agreed to change the name of the country's biggest airport, the Zia International Airport and rename it after the great saint, Hazrat Shahjalal (RA). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who presided over the cabinet meeting, received proposals to change the names of the structures which were named after Ziaur Rahman during the tenures of the BNP-led governments.


Tuning to DST

Amidst confusion and anxiety, the government's decision to advance time by an hour on June 19 had been one of the first adjustments of the year. As part of the day light saving time (DST) theory, the government advanced the country's clock by an hour at 11:00pm on June 19.

   The decision had received widespread criticism from different quarters initially. Muslim religious groups were against it as they feared it would make prayer schedules difficult. Interestingly, instead of adapting to the new time completely, a lot of people, especially in the urban areas or mufassals broke into two divisions – one following the old timings and the other following the new. While the DST has become popularly known as digital time, the previous timing in some areas is referred to as analogue time.

   Although the government was supposed to revert back to the previous timing sometime in October, it has instead rescheduled the office and school hours to avoid the rush hour traffic, while retaining the DST.


Splitting the rush hour

Eureka! The government has found the solution for managing voluminous traffic without finding more roadways in the Dhaka city's concrete jungle. This October, the cabinet endorsed schedules in three layers for schools, government and semi-government offices and private institutions.

   Under the new timing, school-goers will have to finish their task between 7:00am and 2:30pm while the government and semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions will maintain their old timing from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

   The non-government offices, banks and other private institutions will begin their day from 10am and finish at 6:00pm.

   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a cabinet meeting on August 31, directed the authorities to set separate timetables for the different sectors which was followed up on October 12 in view to reduce the worsening traffic condition.


Acquaintance with the red, green and yellow

In the latest event of adjustment in the year, the government introduced automated traffic signals in Dhaka city and enforced lane management through a drive cracking down on traffic violations.

   Under the new traffic arrangement, the main roads have three lanes: the lane by the road divider has been designated for cars, jeeps and vehicles carrying VIPs, the middle lane has been marked for the buses, mini-buses, covered vans and pick ups while the lane by the footpath has been designated for motorbikes, CNG-run-auto-rickshaws and human haulers.

   The police earlier held a two-week trial on the streets to bring the commuters under the habit of following the rules.

   As part of the drive, the traffic department of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police filed 7,251 cases in the first week from December 8 to December 14. During the period, the police also fined rule violators Tk 6.48 lakh, seized 169 driving licenses for three months and 136 vehicles as well as arresting 98 persons for committing road traffic offences.
a year of justice

Suo Moto on crossfire

The High Court, this year, took a strong stance against extrajudicial killings, ordering the Rapid Action Battalion not to kill anymore people in the name of 'crossfire' or 'encounter' till it hears from the government on the suo moto rule over extrajudicial killings issued on November 17.

   The suo moto gave the government two weeks initially to explain why the crossfire killing of two brothers, Lutfor Khalasi and Khairul Khalasi, said to be leaders of Sarbahara Party, by the RAB on November 16, should not be declared extrajudicial. The government has yet to reply and the Attorney General sought for more time, presumably until the court resumes on January 3, 2010.

   In spite of the Awami League's strong opposition to extrajudicial killing while in opposition, more than 100 killings have taken place after it formed the government.


Legal action against arbitrary caning

The High Court on August 25 ordered the government, law enforcers and local government bodies to take immediate measures against issuance or execution of extrajudicial penalties such as beating and caning in the name of arbitration, mediation or conciliation.

   The court alongside asking the government and inspector general of police, the reason for their failure to prevent extra-legal penalties, also asked the government to explain why it would not be directed to frame and adopt guidelines and orders for all authorities concerned to report on the occurrence of such extrajudicial penalties by any people or bodies, including union councils or municipal representatives, in the name of arbitration, mediation and conciliation.

   A writ petition filed by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Ain o Salish Kendra, BRAC and Nijera Kori, described incidents in June where a woman and a man were caned 101 times by the order of village elders at Nabiganj in Habiganj in arbitration in the presence of a chairman and a woman being caned 101 times at Srimangal in Moulvibazar for talking with a man of other faith.

   The Ain O Salish Kendra and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad found through the national dailies that this year until May, some 15 families were victim of illegal fatwa.


Bringing sexual harassment to book
The High Court for the first time issued a set of guidelines against sexual harassment on May 14. These include installation of complaint centres headed by women to prevent sexual harassment of women and girls at educational institutions, offices, factories and other workplaces. The directive was issued after the final hearing of a public interest litigation writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Jatiya Mahila Ainjibi Samity on August 7, 2008.

   Any kind of provocation through phone calls or e-mail, lewd gestures, showing of pornography, lurid stares, physical contact or molestation, stalking, vulgar sounds or any display of a derogatory nature will be tantamount to sexual misdemeanor. The verdict, however, fell on deaf ears as the government and autonomous authorities have so far failed to initiate any move to protect women from being sexually harassed at workplaces and educational institutions. At least two incidents of sexual harassment, including a rape incident, have been reported at a public and a private university after the ruling in May this year.
a year of injustice

Justice served through bullets

The first 11 months of the Awami League-led government oversaw 138 lives lost in 'crossfire' and 'encounter'. The Awami League, prior to forming the government and even after assuming it, had on many occasions committed to end crossfire, but such promises have since disappeared.

   The extrajudicial killings, however, still continued unabated with the government gradually shifting its position - from condemnation to justification - regarding such killings.

   The state minister for home affairs, Shamsul Haque Tuku recently pulled the defence for such killings saying, 'if the law enforcers are attacked by criminals when they are fighting terrorism and maintaining law and order, they must have the right to self defence.'

   While members of the civil society condemn the government statements regarding extrajudicial killing, what Tuku said is not essentially different from what his predecessor, Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj said in May or the Home Minister, Sahara Khatun, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, has been saying or for that matter, what the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, said during her stay in the US.


Tender grabbing and manipulation unabated

Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League spent a busy year hijacking tenders ever since the party formed the government. On February 16, two groups of BCL in Jahangirnagar University, exchanged fire and one BCL cadre was arrested with arms. The clash was an outcome of both the groups vying for the same tender worth Tk 10 crore.

   On April 13, BCL Dhaka University branch's organising secretary of central committee, Ashrafur Rahman and international relation secretary, Sheikh Sohel Rana were arrested on charge of tender-grabbing. The former and serving BCL leaders were also reported to have been involved in stopping tenders at TCB in Karwan Bazar and other places in connivance with the administration.

   The tenders of Chittagong City Corporation worth Tk 12 crore were apparently distributed among AL activists in presence of the city mayor, Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

   Disappointed over the activities, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position as president of Chhatra League on April 5.


Institutions wear the political badge
One mention the party forgot to make in its manifesto was of completing a fully politically-inclined public administration, irrespective of merit, experience or performance. Ever since the government's assumption on January 6 this year, there has been a gradual reshuffle in every important position, from the police, educationists to the secretaries and ambassadors.

   At least 500 officials of various levels, including secretaries to home, establishment, communications, information, education and local government ministries have been changed apparently to reshuffle the bureaucracy in the party's favour.

   Another 350 officials are idling their time away as officers on special duty (OSD). The government on September 7 promoted a total of 494 officials, mostly from the administration cadre to the levels of deputy secretary, joint secretary and additional secretary in excess of the approved vacant positions in the organogram and made them OSDs.

   The government has given contractual appointments on political considerations to most of the key overseas missions of the country including those in the United States, United Kingdom and India.

   Fifty-four senior police officers were transferred and three others were made OSD in March. In addition, the position of the chiefs of the Anti Corruption Commission and the Regulatory Reforms Commission, have also undergone change. The vice chancellors of the Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi University have also been appointed on the basis of political consideration.



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