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Sunday, March 7, 2010

[ALOCHONA] Mahmudur Rahman on diplomats in Bangladesh



Mahmudur Rahman on diplomats in Bangladesh
 


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[ALOCHONA] State within a state?



State within a state?
 
By Ayesha Siddiqa
Friday, 05 Mar, 2010 
 
The fact that Gen Kayani has the powers to promote senior officers without consulting the govt is far too important to be brushed aside as a minor procedural issue. –Photo by APP

It is amusing to note that there has not been a thorough discussion in the media on the army chief's decision to give extension in service to a couple of lieutenant generals on his own — something which has major implications for the state.

The little that has appeared in the print media indicates that Gen Kayani indeed has the powers to promote senior officers without consulting the government. The development is far too important to be brushed aside as a minor procedural issue.

While the decision is a part of the larger picture of AfPak politics, it is symbolic of the true nature of the Pakistani state's inner power structure. It shows that the present army chief has, by not seeking prior sanction for giving the extension, yet again established his organisation's autonomous status. He has, in fact, established a precedent which many would be tempted to follow even in the civil bureaucracy.

The prime minister, who seems to have raised no objection, must immediately restructure the state bureaucracy and pack up the defence ministry and the establishment division as their services are no longer required. If heads of departments can carry out such functions, why bother with keeping this section of the bureaucracy?

As far as the state's bureaucratic function is concerned, Gen Kayani is what may be termed as the head of a department. Some may even argue that it is actually the secretary, ministry of defence, who is the head of the department. But then that might have been challenged. The general is clearly his own boss.

The concept of the head of department is important from the perspective of defining the powers of different office holders. During Musharraf's tenure the establishment decided that heads of the department could give leave to their staff. This was done to provide relief to those who had to run from pillar to post to get their leave sanctioned. This was like setting up a one-window operation. However, this power did not interfere with the government's authority to give its sanction to all other decisions including promotions or extensions.

Giving extension to an officer means that those below will not get promoted which has a ripple effect in a top-down hierarchical system. This means that some of the officers at every level of the bureaucracy would have to be retired which is an expense on the state. Since the government is the one responsible for the functioning of the state, it is the right authority to make such decisions. So, while Gen Kayani might like some of his men to remain on his staff, he would have to first seek approval from the right quarters.

Some may get restless with this view and refer to the corruption of political governments. Why bother with a couple of extensions when there is so much else going wrong? But this is not just about how much money is lost but the principles of governing a state. More importantly, this is about not encouraging the phenomenon of a 'state within a state'.

The government's first and only white paper on defence written during the 1970s had strengthened the defence ministry's position as the main interface between the military and the civilian government. The first defence secretary was not only a civilian, he was a non-bureaucrat. This was the primary government organisation to deal with the armed forces for which a centre-point was created in the form of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC).

Unfortunately, neither institution could grow because of the military takeover in 1977. The JCSC couldn't really stand up to the pressure of the military in the seat of power. Later, under Musharraf, the army more or less killed the institution by changing one of the core principles for the JCSC, that is the appointment of the chairman by rotation. Even Nawaz Sharif contributed to the malaise by appointing Musharraf as the chairman when it was actually the naval chief's turn.

In Pakistan's power politics it is the army chief who calls the shots. With the decision to give extension to his officers the current army chief has established his autonomy and power. Other service chiefs may not necessarily replicate this authority unless they get a tough-minded head. The air force is more likely to follow the tradition. This region's history is witness to the fact that moves to alter the principles of governance are costly. The Indians suffered as a result of this during the 1960s. Their defence establishment got into questionable human resource management in the armed forces which lost them the war of 1962 against China.

Gen Kayani may have signalled to the government that human resource management in the army comes under his purview and that he does not want politicians to decide on issues close to the military's heart. More importantly, however, this is part of the politics being played in the capital and its twin city to get the right man in before the Afghan operation gets to the crucial stage. Since Gen Kayani has caught the imagination of his American friends, there are many in Washington who are in favour of an extension for the army chief. In case that doesn't work out, the army chief would position his cards to get the preferred man in line to take over from him.

Some in the Obama administration continue to bet on the military horse rather than the civilian government. Within the army the preference is for certain officers, especially the ISI chief Gen Pasha. Whether or not this personality-driven approach solves the AfPak problem to Washington's satisfaction is another matter. Meanwhile, the Pakistani state's structure is being altered to accommodate a 'state within a state.'

The writer is an independent strategic and political analyst.



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[ALOCHONA] Internet access is 'a fundamental right'



Internet access is 'a fundamental right'

Computer in China connected to the web
Internet users around the world are attracted by the availability of information

Almost four in five people around the world believe that access to the internet is a fundamental right, a poll for the BBC World Service suggests.

The survey - of more than 27,000 adults across 26 countries - found strong support for net access on both sides of the digital divide.

Countries such as Finland and Estonia have already ruled that access is a human right for their citizens. International bodies such as the UN are also pushing for universal net access. "The right to communicate cannot be ignored," Dr Hamadoun Toure, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), told BBC News. "The internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created." He said that governments must "regard the internet as basic infrastructure - just like roads, waste and water".

"We have entered the knowledge society and everyone must have access to participate."

Infographic, BBC

The survey also revealed divisions on the question of government oversight of some aspects of the net.

Web users questioned in South Korea and Nigeria felt strongly that governments should never be involved in regulation of the internet. However, a majority of those in China and the many European countries disagreed. In the UK, for example, 55% believed that there was a case for some government regulation of the internet.

Rural retreat

The finding comes as the UK government tries to push through its controversial Digital Economy Bill. As well as promising to deliver universal broadband in the UK by 2012, the bill could also see a so-called "three strikes rule" become law. This rule would give regulators new powers to disconnect or slow down the net connections of persistent illegal file-sharers. Other countries, such as France, are also considering similar laws.

logo

A season of reports from 8-19 March 2010 exploring the extraordinary power of the internet, including:

Digital giants - top thinkers in the business on the future of the web
Mapping the internet - a visual representation of the spread of the web over the last 20 years
On/Off - the BBC links a Nigerian village to the internet, and cuts off two Korean families for a week

Recently, the EU adopted an internet freedom provision, stating that any measures taken by member states that may affect citizen's access to or use of the internet "must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens".

In particular, it states that EU citizens are entitled to a "fair and impartial procedure" before any measures can be taken to limit their net access. The EU is also committed to providing universal access to broadband. However, like many areas around the world the region is grappling with how to deliver high-speed net access to rural areas where the market is reluctant to go.

Analysts say that is a problem many countries will increasingly have to deal with as citizens demand access to the net.

The BBC survey found that 87% of internet users felt internet access should be the "fundamental right of all people".

More than 70% of non-users felt that they should have access to the net. Overall, almost 79% of those questioned said they either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the description of the internet as a fundamental right - whether they currently had access or not.

Free speech

Countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Turkey most strongly support the idea of net access as a right, the survey found. More than 90% of those surveyed in Turkey, for example, stated that internet access is a fundamental right - more than those in any other European Country.

Campaign group page on Facebook
Facebook has become a lightning rod for causes of all types

South Korea - the most wired country on Earth - had the greatest majority of people (96%) who believed that net access was a fundamental right. Nearly all of the country's citizens already enjoy high-speed net access.

The survey also revealed that the internet is rapidly becoming a vital part of many people's lives in a diverse range of nations.

In Japan, Mexico and Russia around three-quarters of respondents said they could not cope without it. Most of those questioned also said that they believed the web had a positive impact, with nearly four in five saying it had brought them greater freedom.

However, many web users also expressed concerns. The dangers of fraud, the ease of access to violent and explicit content and worries over privacy were the most concerning aspects for those questioned.

A majority of users in Japan, South Korea and Germany felt that they could not express their opinions safely online, although in Nigeria, India and Ghana there was much more confidence about speaking out.

Concern infographic, BBC


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8548190.stm

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[ALOCHONA] Indian nationals backed by BSF trespass Sylhet border violating the rules



Indian nationals backed by BSF trespass Sylhet border violating the rules
 


 
As the BDR and BSF are set to start a six-day high level conference in New Delhi today (Monday), the BSF in its usual way carried on unwarranted activities on the Bangladesh border at Sylhet on Sunday.The BSF troops backed the Indian nationals to trespass on the border in violation of the rules and Bangladesh-India border agreement.

UNB adds: Indian nationals backed by BSF Sunday trespassed the border at several places of Jaintapur upazila but retreated when BDR strongly warned the intruders.BDR sources said BSF brought Khasias in 10 boats to Dibir Haor at about 10, They started fishing in the hoar. On resistance they soon retreated. At about 11 am the Indian nationals backed by BSF trespassed into Padua and Tamabeel and started cultivation within Bangladesh territory. BDR rushed to the places and hoisted red flag signifying dire warning. The Indians retreated at about 4-30p.

BDR local commander Lt Col Khandker Zahirul Alam said the provocative actions of BSF within 5 days of BDR Chief's amicable meeting across the border with regional chief of BSF is unfortunate. "We are exercising utmost restrain in the face of provocations," he added.An earlier BSS Report said: A 19-member delegation of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), headed by BDR Chief Major General Mainul Islam arrived here on Sunday to attend the six-day BDR-BSF director general-level conference beginning in the Indian Capital today (Monday).

Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Raman Shrivastava received the BDR chief at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport.
Bangladesh is to "strongly protest" the frontier shootouts as directors general of the two countries meet today (Monday), sources said.

"The shootout by BSF men at frontlines is to dominate our agenda in the talks as the earlier India assurance to stop it during our talks (in Dhaka in July 2009) was not reflected in their actions in the past months," BDR chief Major General Mainul Islam had told BSS in Dhaka on Saturday ahead of his visit.

The Bangladesh delegation included Director Training of the BDR headquarters, most of the sector commanders, Political Counselor of Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, a Director of the Land Record and Survey Directorate, Representa-tives of Home and Foreign Affairs Ministry and Joint River Commission of Bangladesh.
 
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] War plans made as early as '69: Hasina



War plans made as early as '69: Hasina
 
 Dhaka, Mar 7 (bdnews24.com) – Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said on Sunday that her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formed detailed war plans for Bangladesh's eventual liberation from Pakistan during a stay in London in 1969, the year he was accorded the title 'Bangabandhu', friend of Bengal. Hasina was addressing a discussion in Dhaka to mark the historic March 7 speech, the day in 1971 when Sheikh Mujib called on the Bangali nation to prepare for the secession struggle from Pakistan.

She said Bangabandhu made war plans just months after his release from Kurmitola where he had been detained in the Agartala Conspiracy Case, in which the Pakistan government had brought sedition charges against Bangabandhu and 34 others. "He went to London on October 22 1969, following his release in the Agartala case on April 22 that year. I reached London the next day from Italy, where I was living with my husband.," she recalled.

"It was there that Bangabandhu at a meeting made plans for liberation, including when the war would start, where our freedom fighters would be trained and where refugees would take shelter."
"All preparations were taken there (London). I was serving tea and entered the room several times where the meeting was being held. I heard their discussions," the prime minister said.

Referring to the recent debate over who first proclaimed Bangladesh's independence, she urged all to go through the reports of intelligent agencies and foreign ministries of different countries. She also said the Aug 15 1975 assassination of her father and family members, and the Jail Killings of four national leaders on Nov 3 the same year, were planned by those defeated in the war to take revenge for their defeat. Those who rewarded the killers had never expected Bangladesh's independence. They wanted to impose the principles of the defeated forces on the people," she added.

The prime minister urged leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League, her father's party, to give up intentions of personal gain and uphold the principles of Bangabandhu. "Every politician has to consider what they have given to the country and not think of what they get," she said. Terming her father's March 7 address a milestone, the prime minister said Bangladesh in effect emerged as an independent nation following the historic speech.

Senior Awami League figures, including presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Abdul Latif Siddiqui and Rajidduin Ahmed Raju, advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta, general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and cultural affairs secretary Asaduzzman Noor addressed the discussion meeting.
 


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[ALOCHONA] RE: false publicity about joy's wife




joy news
----------
any body has any clue about this news?

that Joy's american wife, is actually a legal secretary...who has been introduced as
a brilliant solicitor....to Bangladeshi people?

Best wishes.
Khoda hafez.










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[ALOCHONA] US POPULATION 1776-2010

US POPULATION 1776-2010
.(in millions)
.
1776  - 2.5 million  (an estimate)
1790 - 3.9
1800 - 5.3
1810 - 7.2
1810 - 9.6
1840 - 12.8
1850 - 17.6
1860 - 23
1870 - 31
1880 - 38
1890 - 50
1900 - 76
1910 - 92
1910 - 106
1920 - 106
1930 - 123
1940 - 132
1950 - 150
1960 - 179
1970 - 203
1980 - 226
1990 - 249
2000 - 281
2010 - 302 (Estimate)
.
(Source: US Census Bureau)
Population Growth Rate 0.75% a year
.
S U Turkman
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