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Saturday, August 7, 2010

[ALOCHONA] Zardari's Katrina



Zardari's Katrina
 
 
 
Why is Pakistan's president junketing while his people drown?
 
BY FATIMA BHUTTO | AUGUST 4, 2010
 
This week, Pakistan's president, Asif Ali Zardari, boarded a private Gulfstream Jet along with his family and his hundreds-large entourage to visit the European countries included on the president's grand tour. Yesterday, Zardari -- who was married to my aunt, the late Benazir Bhutto, before her 2007 murder -- landed in London. As soon as the plane touched down, the president and his Very Important coterie were chauffeured in a dozen luxury vehicles to a five-star hotel where the president will be staying in a £7,000 ($11,160) per night Royal Suite.
 
His welcome, however, was less than royal. On the drive to the hotel, protesters held placards reading "Zardari King of Thieves," "Zardari 100% Pure Corruption," and "GO Zardari GO." While Zardari was schmoozing with his cronies in luxe London hotels, Pakistan was reeling from the deadliest floods to hit the country in 80 years. In short, it looks like Zardari's Katrina.
 
More than 3 million people in the northwestern region of Pakistan have now been affected by the floods. Parts of the north are facing terminal food shortages even as they are inaccessible to relief workers. The U.N. World Food Program says that 1.8 million will urgently need something to eat in coming weeks. The death toll has risen steadily in recent days to more than 1,400 people. About another million have lost their homes.
 
The news is also unlikely to get any better: Officials now say that the waters are expected to hit Punjab and Sindh provinces, Pakistan's food-producing regions. New flood warnings are still being issued, and the country is bracing for further monsoon downpours.
 
Zardari takes a lot of overseas trips -- so many that one local TV pundit estimated somewhat anecdotally last year that Richard Holbrooke, U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy to the "AfPak" region, had spent more time in Pakistan than Zardari had recently. But the timing of this particular visit has angered not only his subjects but also his hosts. Two prominent Asian Britons refused to meet the visiting head of state. Khalid Mahmood, a member of parliament, vigorously condemned Zardari's decision to visit London. "A lot of people are dying," he told the press. "He should be [in Pakistan] to try to support the people, not swanning around in the UK and France." Lord Ahmed, a labor MP, continued that Zardari had a responsibility to be "looking after people, not [be] over here."
 
Yet the protests seem to have fallen on deaf ears -- which really shouldn't surprise anyone who has watched the Zardari government in action. The floods are just the latest, most tragic example of how inept the Pakistani state truly is. The inundation was predictable; Pakistan suffers monsoon rains every year at exactly the same time. But in a country -- and with a president -- so endemically corrupt,  dealing with the entirely preventable, whether terrorism or natural disasters, has become impossible. There is simply no will, and more importantly no money, to spend on the Pakistani people. The country's coffers are constantly being diverted to more pressing programs -- or pockets, for that matter. Before he came to office, Zardari was facing corruption charges in Switzerland, Spain, and Britain. (As president, he withdrew Pakistan's cooperation with the latter two countries' courts; his presidential immunity prevented a Swiss case from re-opening.)
 
And thus the tragedy unfolds: There are no emergency evacuation plans for natural disasters, nor is there money for institutions that could help victims of such crises. What there is money for -- almost $600,000 -- are such programs as the Martyr Benazir Bhutto Income Support Scheme, a cult of personality initiative named after the president's late wife. Those who sign up receives meager cash handouts and find themselves on the president's ruling party's election rolls -- which themselves received more government funds than two whole federal departments of Pakistan put together.
 
Meanwhile, if rumors in the Pakistani press are right, Zardari's European tour is even more cynical than it already seems. The trip is meant to kickstart the president's young son's political career. That launch has to take place overseas to avoid the inevitably hostile reactions such a dynastic coronation would draw back in Pakistan. Speculation has it that Zardari's son Bilawal, a recent college graduate who is already co-chairman along with Zardari of their political party, will proclaim himself the future leader of Pakistan to a select audience in Birmingham on August 7.
 
Pakistan's The News newspaper summed up popular sentiment in a laundry list of questions posed to the country's High Commission in London. "Who is paying for the buses and coaches being booked to bring people to the Birmingham rally?" the paper asks. "Why will the president not cancel his visit?" And the most crucial question: Shouldn't the money for the trip be better spent on the flood victims? In response, the Pakistani High Commission issued a one-line blanket response:  "This is an official visit and procedures for official visits are being followed."
 
Pakistan can ill afford a president who prioritizes his personal political future over the lives of millions of his citizens. We have always known in Pakistan that the rest of the world's attention comes at a tremendously high cost. Yet we seem to keep paying.
 
 
Fatima Bhutto writes for the New Statesman and the Daily Beast. Her book Songs of Blood and Sword will be published by Nation Books in September. She is a niece of Benazir Bhutto, who was married to Asif Ali Zardari.
 


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[ALOCHONA] Dr Asif Nazrul on amendment of Constitution



Dr Asif Nazrul on amendment of Constitution
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Successful power management



17 generation units closed : Country faces severe load-shedding
 
 
 
About 17 power generation units at different power stations across the country remained closed on account of either gas shortage or maintenance and rehabilitation that triggered huge load shedding in recent days.
 
According to official statistics, these units having total generation capacity of about 1595 MW now remained out of operation.Of the units, 727 MW of electricity is now not being produced because of gas shortage while another 868 MW of electricity is not coming to the national grid on account of maintenance or rehabilitation of different generation units."That's why the country has been experiencing severe load shedding in recent days," said a senior official at the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB).
 
The closed major generation units include two 210 MW gas turbine units at Ghorasal power station, one 125 MW unit of Barapukurai coal-fired station and 120 MW unit at Siddhirganj peaking plant.The country's total generation was projected to be 3969 MW at the peak hour on Saturday evening against a demand of more than 5500 MW.
 
PDB officials hoped that most of these units, which remained closed on technical ground and now under maintenance programme, will be able to resume generation from middle of the current month."We're trying to our level best to bring them back into production before the holy Ramadan begins," said a PDB official.
 
However, industry insiders are skeptical about the possibility of resuming power generation by these plants soon and apprehend huge load shedding in the coming Ramadan.The Power Ministry has already asked the PDB and other power generation company officials to take prompt steps to improve the situation before the holy Ramadan.
 
Amid such a scenario, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to hold a meeting with the Power Ministry officials today (Sunday). She is likely to review the overall power supply situation and implementation of different power projects undertaken by the present government in last few months to tackle the power crisis.
 


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[ALOCHONA] Re: Fw: Re: 'Fundamentalist economy in Bangladesh': An analysis



Fundamental force earns tk.1500 crore a year---Dr. Abul Barakat
 


--- On Wed, 5/20/09, Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Re: 'Fundamentalist economy in Bangladesh': An analysis
To: "Dhaka Mails" <dhakamails@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 7:31 AM



--- On Wed, 5/20/09, saeva@aol.com <saeva@aol.com> wrote:
Thanks for sharing this old piece from Mr. Shah Abdul Halim on Prof. Abul Barakat's paper. As the analysis shows Dr. Barakat has not been thorough in his research work. He has either failed to offer supporting evidences for his claims or has exaggerated numbers for the Islamic sector of the economy. It is really sad to see the level of intellectual bankruptcy from an academic of one of the premier institutes of the country. That says a lot about one's academic preparation and the school one earned degree from.

I remember in the post-liberation period many of my class-mates opting out for an easy degree from the USSR rather than getting a hard-earned university degree from within Bangladesh. Some of these Bangladeshi students in the USSR continued their education beyond the BS/BA degrees to eventually obtain PhD degrees from schools like the Patrice Lumumba University that lack academic credibility, and are known to give 'soft' 'political' degrees to implant their brainwashed 'robots' to creep into important positions of the country that had sent them. No wonder, a classmate of mine, who was considered the worst student (with worst GPA) in my class in cadet college, was the first one amongst his batch mates to earn a PhD from one such USSR university and return home, and obviously holding now a good position in the public sector. I don't know which university did Barakat graduate from in the USSR, but if his research work is one barometer to judge his credibility, I am simply not impressed and am genuinely concerned.

Barakat's sloppy, unsubstantiated, below-standard work has only polarized our community against anything to do with Islam. Worse still, it has given ammo to people with ulterior motives to misuse implications of his work. If he had cooked up numbers deliberately, that would only prove that he is an disingenuous individual with an ulterior motive to unnecessarily create confusion and polarize people against anything to do with Islam and Muslims. In an another work, he falsely claimed that millions of acres of Bangladeshi land belonged to Hindus and that Muslims had grabbed them illegally. Again there he cooked up numbers to make a point around so-called victimization of Hindus. Soon that work was translated into every Indian language and distributed widely by activists of RSS/BJP/HM/Sangha Parivar, fueling much tension against Muslims in India. He was even nominated for awards in India for his 'earth-shattering discoveries', which, he wisely declined to accept. But fact remains that he discovers 'fundamentalism' where it is absent. One wonders if he is under the payroll of some secular fundamentalist group! Unfortunately, with a secular and almost agnostic media and intellectual cadre behind him, all his sloppy works are treated like Vedic words. It is necessary that biased intellectuals like him are unmasked for their intellectual bankruptcy and catering to foreign interests t hat breed tension and hatred within our society.

Habib Siddiqui


-----Original Message-----
From: Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com>
To: Dhaka Mails <dhakamails@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, 20 May 2009 5:51 am
Subject: 'Fundamentalist economy in Bangladesh': An analysis

'Fundamentalist economy in Bangladesh': An analysis

By Shah Abdul Halim
sah1947@yahoo.com

An article on 'Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh' by Dr. Abul Barakat, Professor of Economics, Dhaka University, appeared in The Daily Inqilab on 27 April 2005. On reading the summary of the article, I became interested in reading the full text

We are used to regard a teacher of a university with great respect. We would like to look upon a university teacher in the same way even in future. But when an 'eminent' teacher assumes the role of a propagandist rather than taking a neutral and impartial approach in a discourse, it naturally raises a lot of q uestions. The key condition for presenting something in a fair way is to have an objective approach. However Prof. Dr. Abul Barakat in his article 'Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh', I am sorry to say, could not maintain that and I shall make an attempt to prove that in my discussion.

Dr. Abul Barakat, in his article, has mixed up and amalgamated the basic difference between Islamic way of life and worldly materialism. He wrote: "They (the fundamentalists) have invested in the short and long term projects from which it is possible to earn large profits. That means, though they are showing their keen interest in the Hereafter, they are more conscious about worldly life than many others". [Prof. Dr. Abul Barakat, Bangladeshe Maulobader Orthoniti (Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh), Samaj Orthoniti O Rastro, Mukti Bhavan, 22/1 Purana Paltan, Dhaka 1000, April 2005, pp 19-20].

Without questioning the authenticity of this statement, I would like to say that if Dr. Abul Barakat had clear knowledge about the teachings of Islam and its lifestyle, he would have hesitated to make such a comment.

Everyday we say in our prayer: Rabbana Atina Fiddunia Hasanataw Wafil Akhirati Hasanataw- Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter [2 (Surat Al Baqarah):201]. In Islamic beliefs, the Hereafter is not insignificant rather worldly life of a Muslim is the way for success in the Hereafter.

Thanks to Dr. Abul Barakat for analyzing the economic condition in the post-in dependence Bangladesh, especially for his comment 'the gap between the promise [by the progressive leaders] and the reality' [p 9]. During that period poverty has increased. In his words: "During the last 33 years some people have become owners of huge wealth and resources while a large section has become pauper; resources were not mobilized for productive purposes, unearned income looked for more sources of unearned income; lives of some have enhanced in elegance while the difficulties and deprivations of various kinds of the vast majority have increased; high-rise buildings have been built, while the number of slums have increased. Real government spending in public welfare has decreased, while it has increased in unproductive sectors; foreign interference has increased, but local and indigenous initiative has decreased; government expenditure in unproductive sectors has increased, at the same time has increased the distance between the public and the public servants; election expenditure has increased, but good governance and effectiveness of the elected institutions have decreased; the power of black money has increased, while the compassion of the politicians towards the people has decreased. Disparity between the rich and the poor in education has increased, but the actual government funding in the basic education sector has decreased; poverty related diseases have increased, so is the cost of healthcare, but the competence of the public health sector has decreased" [p 12].

"This trend of development during the last 33 years h as clearly divided our country of 14 crore into two groups: In the first group are the powerful minority whose number is maximum 10 lakh … a situation where as against 10 lakh powerful are 13 crore and 90 lakh powerless, helpless, disadvantaged and deprived people" [p 10]. For this situation the writer has accused "a self-destructive plundering culture that has invaded all sectors, including economy, politics, education and culture" [p 10]. In his own words: "The characteristics of this plundering culture are black money, terrorism, illegal weapon, muscle power, bribery corruption, maladministration, oppression and repression etc." [p10].

Dr. Abul Barakat rightfully pointed out: "In the post-independence Bangladesh welfare oriented politics did not flourish as expected" [p 13]. Naturally the question arises: who were inseparably linked and associated with this plundering culture? For whom the progress of welfare-oriented pro-people politics did not get momentum, necessary impetus and vigor? Who were at power during that period? During that period the people who were at power were the advocates of secular, left and so-called progressive ideas.

Coming to the discussion on fundamentalism, Dr. Abul Barakat mentioned eight business and financial sectors and said that fundamentalist political parties are being financed from the income of the establishments of these eight sectors. In his words: "Part of the profit goes to organizational activities" [p 17]. More so, he said: "Many a people think that armed terrorist religio us communal forces of the country get all the money to run the organization from outside the country" [p 17]. "They got huge amount of foreign money in the 70s and 80s" [p 17], Dr. Abul Barakat said though he did not provide any proof or evidence to support his claim. How far academic is such generalized and sweeping comment is a big question.

Dr. Abul Barakat has presented a balance sheet of the fundamentalists' economic activities in Bangladesh. In his opinion: "Now the net profit from fundamentalist economy in Bangladesh is approximately Taka 1200 crore" [p 17]. He has given a breakup of Taka 1200 crore: 27 percent from financial institutions like banks, insurance companies and leasing companies, 20.8 percent from non-government organizations, 10.8 percent from commercial organizations, 10.4 percent from healthcare including pharmaceutical industries and diagnostic centers, 9.2 percent from educational institutions, 8.3 percent from real estate business, 7.5 percent from transport business and 5.8 percent from news media and information technology [pp 17-18]. The percentage of net profit, in his words, 'pattern' is based on 'assumption' [p 18].

The information and the statistics provided by Dr. Abul Barakat do not in any way represent the true picture rather these are utterly imaginary. In order to prove the futility of his claims we shall analyze a few of his claims. He claimed that Islamic banks, Islamic insurance companies and Islamic leasing companies make net profit of Taka 325 crore (27 percent20of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. His claim is not at all true. Let us examine the matter in depth. At present there are six Islamic banks, five Islamic insurance companies and one Islamic leasing company in Bangladesh of which the sponsors and directors of one Islamic bank come from progressive and secular background. None of its sponsors and directors is fundamentalists rather they are known in the society for their opposition to fundamentalism. Of the five Islamic insurance companies, only one as a successful business establishment has issued public shares. In 2004 this insurance company after deducting Taka 15 crore 76 lakh as tax and appropriation has distributed profit of Taka 90 lakh among the shareholders. In 2004 the net profit earned by the other four Islamic insurance companies, after keeping reserve of Taka 2 crore 64 lakh as appropriation, did not have taxable income or sufficient profit to distribute among shareholders.

The only leasing company as a successful business establishment till now did not issue public shares. This leasing company after deducting Taka 1 crore 26 lakh as tax and appropriation made profit of 1 crore 47 lakh. The leasing company, however, made provision to issue bonus shares equal to the amount of profit. It means the shareholders of this Islamic leasing company did not get any profit in cash in 2004.

Of the six Islamic banks, if we leave the Islamic bank whose sponsors and directors come from progressive and secular background and are known in the society=2 0for their opposition to fundamentalism, we have five Islamic banks. In 2003 these five Islamic banks after deducting Taka 119 crore 50 lakh as income tax and appropriation distributed Taka 70 crore 45 lakh as profit among the shareholders. In the same period one Islamic bank made a net loss of Taka 39 crore. It may be mentioned here that the first Islamic bank that was established in Bangladesh in 1983 and which now has 151 branches, its 58 percent ownership is held by foreign nationals and organizations notable of which is the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

So where do we stand? Islamic insurance companies made a profit of Taka 90 lac. Islamic banks made a profit of Taka 70 crore 45 lakh that was distributed to the shareholders. The lone Islamic leasing company made a profit of Taka 1 crore 47 lakh. The leasing company, however, made provision to issue bonus shares equal to the amount of profit. That means Islamic banks, Islamic insurance companies and the lone Islamic leasing company's net income, after deducting the amount paid to the government as income tax and other appropriations, is Taka 72 crore 82 lakh which the shareholders received. Yet Dr. Abul Barakat in his article has claimed that Islamic banks, Islamic insurance companies and the lone Islamic leasing company made net income of Taka 325 crore. In his words, this is the net income of the fundamentalist financial institutions.

Now the question is whether there is any scope for the financial institutions to transfer any money to any political party for carrying out its political activities? Dr. Abul Barakat is definitely aware that these financial institutions have been established under the statutory rules as in case of banks under the Bank Company Act 1991. All banks are to operate under the supervision of Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank, and financial institutions whose shares are transacted in the share market and available for buying and selling, they must follow the rules and regulations of the Securities & Exchange Commission, besides they have to follow the rules and regulations of Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange. The accounts of the financial institutions are approved by the annual general meetings, besides profits and appropriations also are to be approved by annual general meetings. It is evident from this that there is no scope of transferring money from the financial institutions to somewhere else without recording transaction in the books of account..

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist non-government organizations and commercial organizations is Taka 380 crore (31.6 percent of Taka 1200 crore. 20.8 percent of non-government organizations and 10.8 percent from commercial organizations) [p 18].To keep the readers in confusion, he did not explain which organizations specifically represent non-government organizations and which represent commercial organizations As an honest academic researcher he should have provided a list of such organizations but possibly h e did not do it intentionally.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net-profit earned from the healthcare sector, including pharmaceutical industries and diagnostic centers, amounts to Taka 125 crore (10.4 percent of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. In 2004 the annual profit of the pharmaceutical industry at Shafipur after paying income tax was Taka 2 crore 86 lakh that was distributed among 10,000 shareholders. The clinic at Dhanmondi belonging to the same group is a Trust organization. In 2004 it made a profit of Taka 4 crore 10 lakh after paying income tax. Even if there are a few similar organizations it is impossible that the net profits from this sector will add up to Taka 125 crore. It is thus evident that the claim of Dr. Abul Barakat that the fundamentalist economy earns Taka 125 crore annually from healthcare including pharmaceutical industries and diagnostic centers is fantastic. The statistics are imaginary having no link with truth.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist educational institutions is Taka 110 crore (9.2 percent of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. This is an unrealistic proposition, utterly impossible. The Madrasas of the country mainly depend on Zakah, Sadaqah and donations. Everyone knows it. It is not clear to us how Dr. Abul Barakat calculated this figure of Taka 110 crore.

The few schools, colleges and universities that have been established in the private sector by the country's eminent Islamic scholars, educationists and social workers are20all Trust organizations. Therefore, no person can take profit from such educational institutions and the country's law also does not permit that.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist news media and information technology sector is Taka 70 crore (5.8 percent of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. The daily published from Moghbazar was never a profitable establishment and there have been periods when journalists and workers of this daily have not been paid salary and other allowances for consecutive eleven months. Possibly only one daily published by the circle who believes in Islamic social transformation is running successfully. The fundamentalists also do not have any news agency or private television channel. It is not understandable how Dr. Abul Barakat reached the figure of annual net profit of Taka 70 crore from the fundamentalist news media and information technology sector. He did not explain it either.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist real estate and transport sectors is Taka 190 crore (15.8 percent of Taka 1200 crore. 8.3 percent from real estate business and 7.5 percent from transport business). He did not mention the names of the real estate houses and transport business organizations with which the fundamentalists are associated. The figure of Taka 190 crore as income from these two sectors as mentioned in his article is imaginary like the statistics of other sectors. There is no doubt about it.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed20that it is "possible to engage 5 lakh party members for full time if only 10 percent of the annual net profit of fundamentalist economy of Taka 1200 crore can be used in organizational activities. This is what they (the fundamentalists) do and give cross- subsidy in other sectors" [p 20].

Let us examine the matter in depth. 10 percent of Taka 1200 crore is Taka 120 crore with which the fundamentalist party gives full time employment to 5 lakh party members. What does it mean? It means one party member would get Taka 2400 per annum for 'full time' employment, monthly Taka 200 only. How reasonable is such salary structure and how much it reflects the socio-economic condition of the country that only Dr. Abul Barakat would better tell. If cross-subsidy is given to other sectors then Taka 120 crore would not be available for full time employment of party members. It that case, it would not be possible even to give Taka 200 to a party member per month for full time employment.

I am obliged to say that the article of Prof. Dr.. Abul Barakat is nothing but a concocted story devoid of truth. It is not a well researched analytical economic discourse. The author cannot avoid the accusation that by this article he has confused the people.

 
Note: Taka is Bangladesh currency, US $ 1= Taka 65, Lakh means one hundred thousand, Crore means ten million.
 





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[ALOCHONA] Farhad Mazhar on citizens rights, amendment of constitution and contempt of court



Farhad Mazhar on citizens rights, amendment of constitution and contempt of court
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] BCL at it again :10 injured in factional clash at RU



BCL at it again :10 injured in factional clash at RU
 


An armed group of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists in Rajshahi University during their factional feud on campus that left 10 injured.
 
Ten people were injured, two of them bullet-hit, in a factional clash among Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists over establishing supremacy on Rajshahi University campus yesterday afternoon.Later in the evening police picked up BCL university unit general secretary Mazedul Islam Opu from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital premises in connection with the violence.

Campus sources say the clash ensued as Opu's men threatened Kabir Hossain, supporter of BCL RU unit president Awal Kabir Joy, at Ziaur Rahman Hall on Friday night.Both the sides locked in an altercation around 3:00pm near Tukitaki Chattar on the campus yesterday.

At one stage, supporters of Joy attacked Opu's men with machetes, Chinese axes and sharp weapons injured Fardin Ahmed, fourth year student of Islamic studies, Azijul Islam, final year student of physics, and Tanim Ahmed, master's student of accounting.Immediately afterwards, Opu's men equipped with iron roads, hockey sticks, machetes, Chinese axes, sharp weapons and firearms chased their rivals.
 

Later, supporters of both the factions locked in a clash in front of Madar Bux and Suhrawardi halls, leaving two students -- Manirul Islam of finance and Nahid Hasan of management -- hacked.

During the melee, Opu group fired gunshots near Madar Bux Hall and chased their rivals leaving Mehedi Hossain of Sanskrit and Shakib Ahmed of chemistry bullet-hit.Joy group returned fire and made a counter chase on its rivals. The sources say around 12 bullets were fired during the clash.

In a separate attack, Opu's men severely stabbed Delwar Hossain of anthropology and Shariful Islam of management in front of third science building and Suhrawardi Hall premises.On information, the university proctorial body along with law enforcers rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

The injured were admitted to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after giving first aid at the university medical centre. Of them, Fardin Ahmed, Azijul Islam, Tanim Ahmed and Shariful Islam were in a critical condition.A tense situation has been prevailing on the campus.

Awal Kabir put the blame on Opu and alleged that he is trying to establish supremacy on the campus. Opu denied the allegation saying the clash erupted as Joy's men hacked three of his supporters over a trifling matter.

Vice-chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan said he would take stern action against the people trying to destabilise congenial atmosphere on the campus.Officer-in-Charge of Motihar police Abul Khair said additional police personnel have been deployed to avert any untoward situation. 

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=149882


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[ALOCHONA] INDIAN TRANSIT DEAL - "BAD NEWS FOR BD"

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/07/news0754.htm

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[ALOCHONA] PM's TRAFFIC JAM POLICY



Bid to ease traffic congestion :
DMP to restart lane system in city tomorrow
New Age 07, Aug 10
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] INDIA EXPORTING ROTTEN FOOD GRAINS TO BD

Govt scans media reports that India
sells rotten grains to Bangladesh
Shakhawat Hossain, New Age 7Aug10

India is reportedly tying to sell to Bangladesh and Nepal rotten rice the quality of which is not fit for human consumption.
The report released by India television, CNN-IBN, on August 4 said that rotten grains were being sold to the poor through official ration shops in the Indian state of Bihar and the same grains have also been sold to Bangladesh and Nepal.
`The quality of the grain is unfit even as cattle feed,' the report said.
The report has already raised concern among the food ministry officials as Dhaka is on the final stage to strike deals with New Delhi to import 3,00,000 tonnes of rice and 2,00,000 tonnes of wheat.
The food ministry is scanning the report, said its officials, adding that Bangladesh had taken initiatives to bolster its buffer stocks which fell to 5,85,000 tonnes from about 10,15,000 tonnes last January.
Besides, the government is scheduled to start open market sales of rice to make it available for low-income groups at an affordable price during the Ramadan beginning next week.
Food minister Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday said that there was no possibility of procuring rotten rice which India is reportedly trying to sell to Bangladesh and Nepal.
When his attention was drawn to the Indian media report, Razzaque said, `We will import rice from India with hard cash and there is no reason for compromising with the quality.'
A couple of days ago, the government approved purchase of 1,80,000 tonnes of rice, mainly from Vietnam. The Vietnamese rice would be non-boiled which is usually consumed in Chittagong and Sylhet regions.
The country largely depends on India for widely-consumed boiled rice when required.
The food minister said negotiation with India for purchase of rice is at a final stage and both the sides are now fixing the qualities and prices of the rice.
`The food ministry would not compromise with quality as it would be purchased with foreign currency,' the minister added. According to CNN-IBN, Indian food ministry was compelled to distribute the food grains because of price hike of rice there.

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[ALOCHONA] HOW TO PROTECT BANGLADESH LOCAL INDUSTRY

This is how USA protects their home-based industry, and in Bangladesh protection of home-based industry like food, cosmetics, pharma etc is also critical, to prevent countries like INDIA flooding the BD market, and destroying local industry.

Also, dependance on foreign supply is dangerous policy, BD needs to become self-sufficient, and start imposing high tax, or ban, Indian goods in selected industrial sectors.

---------------
---------------
US protectionist bill threatens BD sleeping bag exports, employment

Kazi Azizul Islam New Age, 07 Aug 2010,

A US congress lobby has become active to stop duty-free import of made-in Bangladesh sleeping bags threatening loss of hundreds of jobs.
The move, said an Export Promotion Bureau official, created fresh worries for Bangladesh.
President Barack Obama, on July 12, turned down a plea for imposing duty on the sleeping bags imported from Bangladesh and other developing countries.
Recently, a US manufacturers' lobby convinced a number of Congressmen for tabling a bill, for denying the facility to Bangladesh.
Unlike apparel exports from Bangladesh, categorised under textile products, for which high duty is charged by the US, sleeping bags and golf shafts from developing countries enjoy duty free access.
A senior official of the EPB told New Age that Congressman Robert Aderholt tabled the bill in the house on July 30, for categorising sleeping bags as a textile product, which does not enjoy duty-free market access in the USA.
At least four other US Congressmen, he said, agreed to cosponsor the bill.
The US started increasing the import of sleeping bags from Bangladesh, only recently, due to lower prices.
China has been, traditionally, the largest exporter of sleeping bags to the US.
At least two sleeping bag factories in Bangladesh export sleeping bags to US retailers, including Wal-Mart.
If the US withdraws the duty free access, Bangladesh could lose the market, he said.
Also at stake is the employment of several hundred jobs, he said.
The US industry lobby is trying to withdraw Bangladesh's duty free access to protect the lone American sleeping bag manufacturer, Alabama-based Exxel Outdoors Incorporation, which meets 30 percent of the country's demand for sleeping bags.
Bangladesh's market share in the US is less than seven per cent, with an annual shipment of less than $5 million.
The government of Bangladesh and international campaigners, which support the trade interests of developing countries, he said, should tell the US lawmakers that withdrawal of Bangladesh's duty-free facility on sleeping bags would benefit other exporters more than the US manufacturers.
Under the US scheme of general system of preference, Bangladesh and other developing countries get duty-free access for certain export items like sleeping bags and golf shafts.


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[ALOCHONA] Fwd: It is time for govt to desert subservient foreign policy/ Hasina Killing Dea



------- Forwarded message ----------
From: abidb
abid.bahar@gmail.com

Subject: Re: It is time for govt to desert subservient foreign policy/ Hasina Killing Death

Abid Bahar

Introduction:

This is a short drama on what the love for Gold, Glory and Power can do to political Leaders. It is a drama in which murder, betryal, friendship, and revenge are part of the story. "To be or not to be: that is the question."

Scene1: Chunnu the local Thug becomes a powerful leader.

(Joyonti para, Bangla, August 14, 1941: A group of school students skipping classes and sitting in a restaurant sipping tea waiting for their leader Rahman also known as Chunnu to come. Their leader is a one eyed and the tallest person among them has just arrived. His voice is loud and screams at the waiter thunderously)

"Waiter, where is my food?"
"It's coming" says the waiter.
"Listen everybody" Chunnu says to his buddies, "Last night I saw a dream that I will kill some body named death!" Mosta the shortest one in the gang but most intelligent asked, "Who that person could be?"Chunnu replied, "I don't know but I know I will kill him to become famous."
Mosta said: "You will not kill anyone of us, will you?" Everybody laughed.
Mosta, "I think instead of killing somebody to become famous, how about first we make lots of money and then become famous?" Everybody in the crowd said" Good idea, good idea"! Chunnu said" Good idea, I just got married. My parents forced me to get married because they think I am very wild. I needed to be tamed"
Mosta: How old are you?
Chunnu: I am 22.  I hate education, and yes I like to make money. Why education and waste time when I see we can succeed with our might is right ideology. "
Mosta said, "Right! I agree but how about, outwardly we will show we are not bad people. For that let's start a political party and say we want to serve our people"
Chunnu: "But we are still very young."
Mosta: "You are not young, you are four years older than all of us. You are 22 and still in the high school.Don't forget at your age people finish M.A. degree."
"Yes, What would you like to call the party?"Chunnu asked.
Mosta: "Let's call it the the Golden Bangla Bhai Party (GBBP)"
Chunnu: "GBBP, good Idea, then I will be the President."
Mosta: I like to be in charge of finance."
Chunnu: "No, I will be the president and also be in charge of finance. I have to help our suffering people to have decent life. Mosta, you will be in charge of communication."
Mosta: "Ok, boss! We will start our work from here, every Friday afternoon; we will collect money from this bazaar for our party.  We will say we are collecting money for poor people." Now Chunnu in joy stood up, shook hands with the gang members and said " you remember what he said" and about to leave.
Asked the waiter " Waiter, where is the bill? "It's here sir!" says the waiter
Chunnu:"Give it to me, what 50 taka? Ha ha ha!." Slaped on the waiter's face, "That is your money.  From today onward never ask for money. We are here to serve people ok.?"
Chunnu says to his gang, "Let's go!

Scene :2 Chunnu becomes the Rahman Bhai

(Chunnu now spends more time to organize his Bhai culture Party. Next day, the gang met again at the restaurant to find out the amount of money they have collected from the market.)

Chunnu:" How much money we have collected so far?"
Rabb:" t2055.00."
Chunnu: I am in charge of finance. Give me the money. Mosta,you distribute 200 to each of our members and the rest goes to the finance department, that is me. Chunnu continued.
"Listen everybody, I saw the dream again. I saw I killed the enemy and I became famous."  Mosta asked, "Ok, that is in your dream but in reality what will you do when you find the enemy called death?"
Chunnu gave a short speech: Listen! "I will kill the enemy with this dagger! And let me start from here that some rules to be followed by all of you. From now onward when you talk to me you will follow some etiquettes I call them Rahmanism rules:
Rule #1 you will not call me Channu anymore. You will call me as Rahman bhai
Rule #2. You will address me respectfully as Apni (You)
Rule #3. When I get tired you will help me.
Mosta: It's only one day that we met here, how do you get tired?.
Rahman bhai (Chunnu): Stop saying that! What I mean is when I come here I will lie down in that bed and each and every one of you in turn will give me massage. If you don't show me respect and help me keep a good spirit, the junior followers will not obey you, that is the idea. Do you understand?
Let's call it our bhai system of the party and from today, you will take my orders as the law.
Mosta: You are talking like a king, but you are not!
Rahman: "Hai, you stop, you will see, one day I will be the king of this country.
Mosta: I heard that tomorrow some big politicians coming to visit our school, we should do something to collect money from them.
Rahman: Good idea! Did you know that in our school roof there is a small hole? With the excuse we will take the minister hostage until he donates some money to fix it. It will make our cause popular and we will be famous.
Rabb: Good idea! But I hope you are still not looking for your enemy?
Mosta: I hope you will not kill the Ministers!
Rahman: No, listen, when the leaders arrive first we will block the entrance and will present our three points demands.
(1) The hole in the roof has to be fixed
(2)we will demand that the school will not call the police.
(3) That due to the hole we had to skip classes for a month and that the school will have to be given auto pass.
Next day, Rahman bhai read the three points in front of the Minister. To avoid the embarrsment, the minister accepted all the demands. After the event, Rahman bhai became very popular among students. With the excuse of the hole students now began to skip classes and in large numbers joined Rahman's bhai bhai party and students eventually got the auto pass.

Scene 3: Killing Death

(Things quickly began to change. Rahman bhai's stern attitude combined with the show of love and affection for his followers in the distribution of the rent income to his followers made him a strong leader in the neighbourhood. As a cunning person, he devised a leadership style that when he meets his gang members first he shows his toughness and immediately criticizes the person followed by his show of love for them. Not surprisingly, it worked and the news spread that Rahman bhai is a very strong and a kind leader. In couse of time he became the most powerful of all in the locality. He is now elected as the member of the Municipal committee. Instead of meeting his followers in the restaurant, Rahman bhai now has become a sophisticated leader puts on sharwani and he called all his seven members gang to meet him in his office.)
Rahman (after a while): I am not happy to be a leader of this locality. To fulfill my dreams, I have to find something bigger. I want to be the king.
Mosta: But you are our Chunnu only! Are you talking about your dream to kill death and become the king?
Rahman: Yes. Just then they heard the sound of helicopters flying above in their village. All the gang leaders came out to see. Rahman asked Mosta about what happened. Mosta said, on the radio he heard there was a coup in the city led by someone named death that is killing politicians. I think the helicopters are bringing the dead bodies of some politicians from Dhaka.
Rahman asked, "Who is this bad guy killing our politicians? It must be the guy I am looking for to kill. Find out where can I meet him so that I can kill him. The guy must be a bad person; if we fight with logi and boitas, we can easily kill him. After all it will be a noble thing to kill somebody who is killing so many of our politicians.
Mosta: Let's go to Dhaka to find the killer.
The Bhai bhai team and their followers journeyed to the city. On their way they met a mysterious looking old man with long hair and sunken eyes; he carried a long walking stick and Rahman asked if he knows the name of the person who is killing all the politicians.
Rahman, "Tell us, who is this man?"
He said: "His name is death."
"Where can I find the guy Death?"Rahman asked.
He said. "He lives in the Bangabhavan. You will not fail him; he is the most charming person, he shines like gold. Rahman said, "Gold!  That must be the place I saw in my dreams."
Rahman instructed his gang: "Follow me." Without wasting any time the gang and its vast followers began their journey to Bangabhavon. As they traveled, they needed money to buy food. The gang put masks on their faces and did robbery on the train. They had enough money to eat in a roadside restaurant.

Scene 4: Where are you Mr. Death?

(Rahman finally arrived in front of the Bangabhavan. Hearing the arrival of the Bhai bhai gang, the sentry left the check post and without any problem they went straight to the main gate leading to the president's room.)
Rahman "Where are you Mr. Death?"
(No one answered. The four top leaders instead of finding Death found a royal throne without the king and lots of gold lying on the floor.)
Mosta uttered," Who owns this gold?
Rahman said, "It's my gold! I am the owner! Now, l will be the king and I will keep the gold for my expences." Except Mosta, every one of the gang followed Rahman dutifully.

Mosta said, "Give us the gold and we will make you the king."

Rahman said: "You don't have to make me the king, I am already the king! I will need the gold to be a successful king." (Rahman quickly found out that Mosta is an imposter and he has to kill him.)
Rahman: (said to Mosta,) you know that I am a kind person. For now you keep the gold but don't forget my theory, "It's my way or no way." But Mosta, I am very hungry but first bring some food for me."
(By now the gang forgot about killing Death, instead at Rahman's order they got ready to kill Mosta. Mosta also could figure out their plan and went out to bring food. He bought expensive food and on his way back also brought poison and mixed it with the food.  He said to himself "Rahman will not allow me to keep the gold so let me kill him. After he dies I will have both the gold and the kingship." As Mosta returned with food, Rahman the king was giving a short speech.)
Rahman said to the gathering, "I am your new king, I am the father of the nation.  I am spending my hard earned gold to buy food for everybody. I sent Mosta to bring food for you, I love you people." As Mosta went inside he saw the two other loyal gang members came to snatch the bundled food from him for their leader and the three others were ready to arrest him. After the speech, Rahman came back to sit in his throne and said to the arrested Mosta, "So you wanted all the gold. But I will kill you before you kill me!"
Mosata (said to Rahman): "You are Chunnu, you are a fake politician and you will die!"
Rahman: Stop calling me Chunnu, call me with respect, and call me the father that brought you here!  Rahman now is very agitated and gets ready to kill him. When slaughtering Mosta with a sharp dagger the breath from Rahman's nostrils came out like an angry bull and he exclaims, "You see now, it's my way or no way.  I didn't know it was you I was looking to become famous. Yes, now my dream came true"
saying that Rahman stabs Mosta. Now I am rich and famous."
Where is the food, bring it to me here? Rahman said
(While sitting on the throne, while laughing and eating the food Mosta brought enjoying his quick rise to power but to everybody's surprise he now began to tremble.)
Rahman: What is happening to me. I am dying. Everybody come and help me to kill Death. Rab went to help but saw Rahman's body now dropped from the throne to the ground. An old man appeared at the door and said, "The helicopter is ready to carry the dead body to his village."

Today Rahman's student followers in the Joyonti village skipped classes to gossip in the restaurant heard the sound of the helicopter. They saw an old man passing by and a local Rahman follower asked, "What happened, what happened?"
The man replied, "Its Death killing politicians in Dhaka." One of them asked, "Why Death is killing all our politicians?" The old man replied, "Son, its its their love for, gold, glory and power not their service to the nation that is killing them. In doing that these people break rules and are in excessive love of power and people's gold.
The young follower asked, "Can I kill Death to become rich?"  The old man said, "Yes, go to Bangabhavon in Dhaka, you will not fail to notice Death. He is the most charming person there and he shines like gold.
"How to kill him?" The young man asked. The oldman said, "You can kill him only if you follow the rule of law and help the country to prosper."  The boy said, " No, I am going, to kill Death; he killed our great leader! Who cares about the country? If I can kill him, I will also be rich and famous! "
Hasina: I am also looking for death.
The old man asked:"Why?"
Hasina standing next to the young man said: "Death killed my uncle; I am going to kill him."
"How?" The old man asked.
"I have friends with logi and boitha."
The old man said: "I understand your friends, go ahead brave old lady! (And said quietly "Seems like she keeps her mob mentality. She didn't get it. God save Bangladesh!)



--- In dhakamails@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> It is time for govt to desert subservient foreign policy
>
>
>
> http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-08-07/news/84523
>
> THE Indian finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, is scheduled to fly in for a
> four-hour sojourn in Bangladesh, which by itself perhaps deserves an entry
> into the Guinness Book of World Record as the shortest state-level visit by
> any minister anywhere in the world. The short visit has a reasonably long
> agenda, though. According to a report front-paged in New Age on Friday,
> Mukherjee will be here mainly to witness the signing of the $1 billion line
> of credit between the EXIM Bank of India and the Economic Relations Division
> of Bangladesh, in line with the Dhaka-Delhi joint communiqué released at the
> end of the India visit of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in January.
> However, as another report also front-paged in New Age on Friday indicates,
> he could push for an agreement on waiver of duties on the transportation of
> over-dimensional cargoes from western India to northeast India through
> Bangladesh. With one of Hasina's advisers reportedly `in favour of waiver'
> and the Awami League-led government having thus far displayed an
> inexplicable eagerness to grant virtually whatever New Delhi wishes, his
> visit could add significant momentum towards such an agreement.
>
> If it so happens, it will be doubly delightful for New Delhi; for, it will
> ensure that India gets maximum returns on the line of credit offered to
> Bangladesh. As per the terms of the credit, Bangladesh will have to spend
> the money on the development of infrastructure, which is aimed at
> facilitating India's transhipment of goods from its west to northeast. In
> other words, India will get what it has always wanted but without any
> expenditure on its part. Moreover, India will get interest on the credit
> and, if the duty on over-dimensional cargo is waived, it will be all gain
> and no pain for New Delhi. Simply put, what Bangladesh stands to gain, if
> anything at all, is inconsequential compared to what India will get.
>
> It is just one aspect in the bilateral relations between the two countries
> whereby Bangladesh has put in more than its share but India has given up
> virtually nothing. In fact, India has not shown even the slightest
> willingness to address the legitimate demands and grievances of Bangladesh.
> New Delhi refuses to do anything about the killing of Bangladeshis by its
> border guards, equitable sharing of the common rivers, particularly the
> Teesta, huge trade imbalance, withdrawal of non-tariff barriers to export of
> Bangladeshi goods, exchange of enclaves, land border demarcation; the list
> could go on and on. Moreover, it continues to create more irritants for the
> already strained relations, e.g. repeated incursion into Bangladesh's
> maritime territory, fencing of borders, planned construction of a dam on the
> upstream of the trans-boundary river Barak at Tipaimukh, etc. Then, of
> course, there are instances of India promising humanitarian help and not
> delivering on it such as reconstruction of several hundred houses in the
> cyclone Aila-hit areas.
>
> India's selfish exploitation of its bilateral ties with Bangladesh has, of
> late, been criticised even in its own media. For example, the Indian Express
> wrote in its editorial on August 3: `In case after case, the Bangladeshi
> side has done its bit, laying the groundwork for further agreement, or
> implementing what was already signed. And in case after case, the Indian
> side has not reciprocated to any reasonable degree' (See today's Op-Ed page
> for reprint of the editorial). In other words, the Indian government has
> made it amply clear that its overarching intention is to squeeze the maximum
> out Bangladesh in return for virtually nothing.
>
>  Hence, it is, perhaps, time that the sympathy and support of the conscious
> and conscientious sections of Indian society were mobilised so that they may
> keep pressure on their government to address Bangladesh's legitimate demands
> and grievances. At the same time, politically conscious and democratically
> oriented sections of Bangladeshi society need to put pressure on the
> government to desert its subservient foreign policy vis-à-vis India or, for
> that matter, any other country, and assertively raise problems that India
> refuses to address and secure their resolution for national interest.
>
> http://www.newagebd.com/2010/aug/07/edit.html
>


 


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[ALOCHONA] Fwd: It is time for govt to desert subservient foreign policy



------ Forwarded message ----------
From: Zoglul Husain
What an excellent New Age editorial in defence of our national interest against Indian hegemonism!!! I fully support the views expressed in this editorial. It's a must read. Not only read, we must inform each other and organise and unite all patriots across the socio-political spectrum.
 
May I also refer to my article of 15 January 2010 as follows:
 
Hasina's sell out of national interests and surrender of sovereignty 
http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=301239 
 

Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 08:04:28 +0600
Subject: It is time for govt to desert subservient foreign policy
From: bdmailer@gmail.com


It is time for govt to desert subservient foreign policy
 

THE Indian finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, is scheduled to fly in for a four-hour sojourn in Bangladesh, which by itself perhaps deserves an entry into the Guinness Book of World Record as the shortest state-level visit by any minister anywhere in the world. The short visit has a reasonably long agenda, though. According to a report front-paged in New Age on Friday, Mukherjee will be here mainly to witness the signing of the $1 billion line of credit between the EXIM Bank of India and the Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh, in line with the Dhaka-Delhi joint communiqué released at the end of the India visit of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in January. However, as another report also front-paged in New Age on Friday indicates, he could push for an agreement on waiver of duties on the transportation of over-dimensional cargoes from western India to northeast India through Bangladesh. With one of Hasina's advisers reportedly 'in favour of waiver' and the Awami League-led government having thus far displayed an inexplicable eagerness to grant virtually whatever New Delhi wishes, his visit could add significant momentum towards such an agreement. 

If it so happens, it will be doubly delightful for New Delhi; for, it will ensure that India gets maximum returns on the line of credit offered to Bangladesh. As per the terms of the credit, Bangladesh will have to spend the money on the development of infrastructure, which is aimed at facilitating India's transhipment of goods from its west to northeast. In other words, India will get what it has always wanted but without any expenditure on its part. Moreover, India will get interest on the credit and, if the duty on over-dimensional cargo is waived, it will be all gain and no pain for New Delhi. Simply put, what Bangladesh stands to gain, if anything at all, is inconsequential compared to what India will get.
   
It is just one aspect in the bilateral relations between the two countries whereby Bangladesh has put in more than its share but India has given up virtually nothing. In fact, India has not shown even the slightest willingness to address the legitimate demands and grievances of Bangladesh. New Delhi refuses to do anything about the killing of Bangladeshis by its border guards, equitable sharing of the common rivers, particularly the Teesta, huge trade imbalance, withdrawal of non-tariff barriers to export of Bangladeshi goods, exchange of enclaves, land border demarcation; the list could go on and on. Moreover, it continues to create more irritants for the already strained relations, e.g. repeated incursion into Bangladesh's maritime territory, fencing of borders, planned construction of a dam on the upstream of the trans-boundary river Barak at Tipaimukh, etc. Then, of course, there are instances of India promising humanitarian help and not delivering on it such as reconstruction of several hundred houses in the cyclone Aila-hit areas.

India's selfish exploitation of its bilateral ties with Bangladesh has, of late, been criticised even in its own media. For example, the Indian Express wrote in its editorial on August 3: 'In case after case, the Bangladeshi side has done its bit, laying the groundwork for further agreement, or implementing what was already signed. And in case after case, the Indian side has not reciprocated to any reasonable degree' (See today's Op-Ed page for reprint of the editorial). In other words, the Indian government has made it amply clear that its overarching intention is to squeeze the maximum out Bangladesh in return for virtually nothing.
  
 Hence, it is, perhaps, time that the sympathy and support of the conscious and conscientious sections of Indian society were mobilised so that they may keep pressure on their government to address Bangladesh's legitimate demands and grievances. At the same time, politically conscious and democratically oriented sections of Bangladeshi society need to put pressure on the government to desert its subservient foreign policy vis-à-vis India or, for that matter, any other country, and assertively raise problems that India refuses to address and secure their resolution for national interest.

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/aug/07/edit.html


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