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Sunday, August 22, 2010

[ALOCHONA] Govt accused of threatening national security

Could these Think Tanks tell us, where was National Security, when General Niazi was surrendering to Indian Army in Palton MaiDaan in 1971?

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> *Govt accused of threatening national security*
> Free Thinkers Forum, Bangladesh (FTF, B), a national think tank, organised
> the roundtable conference on 'Bangladesh under security threat'Speakers on
> Sunday at a roundtable in the capital said the Awami League Government
> itself insecure its position and also that of the nation by perusing a
> subservient policy depending mainly on India.
>
> "A national security is a must to ensure the state-security," they said
> expressing their grave concern over the multiple-security-threats both
> internally and externally. A group of leading scholars, educationists,
> lawyers, politicians and professionals were addressing a roundtable
> discussion at the National Press Club in the capital yesterday afternoon.
>
> Free Thinkers Forum, Bangladesh (FTF, B), a national think tank, organised
> the roundtable conference on 'Bangladesh under security threat' with FTF
> Chairman Jahangir Chowdhury in the chair.
>
> Terming the incumbent Awami League Government a very weak one and dependent
> on the neighbouring country India, BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister
> Moudud Ahmed, MP, said, "Such a weak Government with a subservient foreign
> policy, it would be very tough to ensure the state security."
>
> He was very critical of government's secret deals with the Indian
> Government, what he mentioned, endangered the AL itself. "Day by day the
> security issue has become the main factor of the country now-a-days. Recent
> one $ billion
>
> Treaty with the India, Tipaimukh Dam, aggression on the water bodies amid
> the violation of the water sharing issue between Bangladesh and India, law
> and order and less economic growth of the country have largely frustrated
> patriotic citizens," he observed.
>
> On the democratic norms and values, the former Law Minister said, there is
> rule of law but the country is absolutely run by the Awami League style,
> where people's life and wealth are totally unsafe. The misrule of the
> present government has already crossed that of the 1972-75 tenure."
>
> He blasted the government for its repressive activities on the opposition
> leaders and activists saying, "None is allowed to speak freely or criticize
> about any misdeeds of the ruling quarter." "Leaders and activities belonging
> to AL committed crimes but cases were lodged against BNP and Jamaat people,"
> he added expressing his grave concern over frequent violation of human
> rights in the name of legal actions against opposition leaders and activists
> across the country.
>
> Barrister Moudud said, the government has absolutely failed to ensure any
> sorts of development rather it is trying to divert people's attention
> through raising different controversial issues keeping people in dark about
> their multi-sufferings.
>
> BNP standing committee member Lt General Mahbbur Rahman said, "The country
> has passed 40 years but our development is still remain questionable.
> Independence and sovereignty of the country are under threat. Democracy did
> not get any institutional shape till date."
>
> He expressed his grave concern over the below standard life style of over
> six core people of the country.Former Army Chief also echoed to the opinion
> of the Maudud saying that Bangladesh now representing a subservient foreign
> policy. Referring to the security threat on water bodies, he said almost all
> rivers are facing security threats as India constructed dams on all rivers.
>
> Journalist Sadek Khan observed that the ruling quarter is using the law for
> their own interest. "Mainly the government has become isolated from the
> countrymen. An undeclared emergency is going on across the countr ," he
> added.
>
> Editor of The Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin apprehended that a dire
> consequence is waiting for the Bangladesh as Indian quarter has already
> hided in different areas across the country to serve their malafied
> intention.He called upon the patriotic people to become aware of them.
>
> Editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder said that any move to
> distort the Constitution of 1991 might threaten democracy in the
> country.Among others, Professor Dr Tareq Shamsur Rahman of Jahangirnagar
> University, Former Secretary Barrister Haider Ali, BNP Executive Committee
> Member Ismail Hossain Bengal, Bangladesh Jatiya Party Secretary General Abu
> Naser Rahmatullah, Advocate Mohammad Tajul Islam, Former MP Advocate Ferdous
> Akhter Wahida, Journalist Mehedi Hasan Palash, Secretary General of National
> Awami Party (NAP) Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, and FTF Information and Publicity
> Secretary Hossain Md Shaifqur Rahman took part in the discussion.
>
> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/09/news0026.htm
>


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[ALOCHONA] Power from Pathorkuchi leaves



Power from Pathorkuchi leaves
 
 
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Fwd: Chinese Special Forces cut off Siliguri corridor: 2012



------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Zoglul Husain
Ref: Chinese Special Forces cut off Siliguri corridor: 2012 
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/2010/07/chinese-special-forces-cut-off-siliguri-corridor-2012.html
 
Comment by Zoglul Husain
 
London 22 August 2010. Referring to the above article from Indian Defence Review Vol 25.2 Apr-Jun 2010. It is an important article to read. It reveals one of India's game plans for a war in 2012 against what it calls the China-Pakistan axis. It has great implications for Bangladesh too. 
 
It depicts the scenario that in 2011 the West would leave Afghanistan, and then Pakistan would establish control over Afghanistan, and a Sino-Pak sabotage within India will follow in 2012 with the aim of dismembering India. It would be in 2012, as, according to the analysis, after that year Pakistan may not exist as a state. India, as a habit, always vilifies China and Pakistan and glorifies itself. According to India, the states Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka are failed or failing states and so, according to them, India should rescue these states with the help of the West and India would do that out of magnanimity! India in reality is neither democratic, nor secular, nor socialist, as claimed by their constitution. Indeed, about 70% of Indian population are untouchables (Dalits) and semi-untouchables (Semi-Dalits), while majority of Muslims in there are very poor and are treated as semi-Dalits.   
 
However, the Indian defence review is suggesting that, in the above scenario, it would be likely that China would  "para-drop a division of its Special Forces inside the Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's neck) to sever the Northeast"In the event, India may use Nuke first and also may try to block Chinese ships in the Indian ocean. It has not analysed what China and Pakistan would do then, or before then.
 
Nor have they mentioned that it is because of the vulnerability of the Siliguri corridor that India has offered Bangladesh $1 bn loan to build road and rail transit corridor through Bangladesh. One of the conditions of carrying Indian cargos is that whenever Indian cargo would be carried on Bangladesh roads, no Bangladeshi vehicles would be allowed on those roads.    

 

We need to analyse this transit-corridor project. As, according to reports, India is frantically preparing for war in two fronts against China and Pakistan, it is going to use the transit-corridor, road-links and train-links, for military transport and general military purposes, as their Siliguri corridor is very vulnerable. This means, India will establish territorial control over Bangladesh in their military preparation against two fronts, China and Pakistan, and also in their internal conflicts with the ULFA freedom fighters and the Maoists. 

 

Mujib conceded to them river transit, Moeen U conceded air transit and Hasina conceded transit through road, rail, sea-ports, river-port, connectivity etc., which are programmed to be implemented soon. According to Hasina's plan, our soil and our govt support would be used in favour of India and against China, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan, ULFA freedom fighters, Maoists, etc. It would also mean that we would lose our independence and sovereignty to India. We must, therefore, oppose the transit-corridor project of $1 bn. There must be demos etc. on the proposed routes. People must build barricades and develop political resistance to stop the project. We must politically fight for the annulment of Hasina's agreements with India. All patriots across the spectrum must unite and build political resistance. 

 
Writer: Zoglul Husain
Email: zoglul@hotmail.co.uk

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:06:58 +0600
Subject: Chinese Special Forces cut off Siliguri corridor: 2012
From: bdmailer@gmail.com


Chinese Special Forces cut off Siliguri corridor: 2012
 
India has the potential to be to Asia, what America is to the world – a symbol of hope, liberty and freedom.
 
Closed societies like China or Pakistan do not fit the bill. Due to authoritarian regimes in Beijing and Islamabad, in times to come they will remain preoccupied with growing internal societal turmoil. Therefore, they will naturally tend to threaten democratic India, militarily and with the help of their irregular forces to divert attention from the brewing internal storm. Particularly true, as on one hand, the Indian democracy negates their authoritarian philosophy, and on the other, the Union is perceived as a soft target to be conquered or cause rupture.
 
But technology driven 21st century cannot be China's century in Asia as is being touted by its proxy Pakistan or the Chinese themselves. Simply as these are very brittle, regressive and perpetually paranoid societies that cannot sustain such enlarged influence as they get into an over reach. While the People's Liberation Army, the largest in the world consists of 3.5 million soldiers to project power; Beijing employs whopping twenty-one million to police the dissent internally!
 
Military threat from such dictatorial regimes will increase to free societies as the western democracies retreat from Asia. There already exists a severe trust deficit between China and the small countries in the region.
 
Possibly India is the only country in Asia that boasts of the potential to occupy the strategic high ground gradually being vacated by the retreating western forces, provided it develops offensive orientation at the political level. Unlike China, its soft power increasingly impacts on Asia. The young demographic profile will continue to propel Indian economy to greater heights at least till end of the year 2050. China's ageing profile shows trends that it will, first grow old then rich, unlike Japan, which grew rich then old. India if governed fairly well, will grow rich and then old like Japan.
 
India's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society is the melting pot in Asia that benefits from rich diversity and open society. However, it is not as fortunate to be situated geographically in a safe haven like America, which is surrounded by nations with similar values.
 
THE HISTORICAL THREAT
 
Historically, the direction of demographic flow for centuries saw invasions from Central Asia to capture Delhi. Every fifty to hundred years, the subcontinent due to the genius of natives tends to generate wealth. From time immemorial this attracted hordes of invaders from Central Asia. Delhi Durbar was unable to defend itself as it neglected its military. Time and again, the rulers in Delhi were subjugated, as their incompetence in wielding the military was pathological.
 
  map
Once again India is generating vast wealth. Once again it refuses to defend it!
Despite historical lessons of defeat at the hands of marauding armies, Delhi Durbar's incompetence and ignorance in equipping the excellent military machine inherited from the British is again on display. Today the danger of disruption to the Union is much higher than in the previous centuries. Worse, the lack of offensive orientation in political thinking degrades the ability of the military to defend the Union from the extraordinary threat developing on its borders.
The level of danger continues to creep north from "orange" to "red" on our land borders primarily on two counts. First, as a deception plan Pakistan on its birth, professed to be secular, while in reality the leaders wanted a purely Islamic state. As a result the minority Hindu population of more than thirteen percent in a population of 76 million in 1947 got reduced to barely two percent even as the population of Pakistan increased in 2004 to 156 million. After refusing to share power with the Bengalis in the East and breaking up their country, the Pakistani Sunnis not satisfied with this calibrated purge, now want to eliminate the Shias and expel the Ahmadiyas from Islam.
In its devious journey towards fundamentalist Islam, it also wants to lock the women folk inside their homes under Taliban diktat, thus negating fifty percent of its population. This dangerous religious philosophy based on extreme form of imported Wahabi Islam is intolerant of worldview of others, wields nuclear weapons, nurtures a Talibanised army that runs a large irregular guerrilla force solely motivated by Islamic fundamentalism, and partners China. The ideology of Pakistan is in direct confrontation with the values cherished by India.
Worse, Pakistan's financial bankruptcy exacerbates the internal instability. This in turn provides cheap human resource, to be used as cannon fodder, by the Jihad Factory run by the ISI. One feeds on the other. Islamic fundamentalism occupies Pakistan's political space that in turn negates Indian influence, which wisely extended up to Afghanistan during British rule. It was the British Indian Army that kept a check on the repeat of a history of invasions from Central Asia.
Ironically, instead of consolidating and integrating Kashmir, pacifist New Delhi is permitting the birth of a similar pocket of influence with extreme philosophy in the valley that will come back to haunt India in the near future.

THE THREAT FROM NORTH

Second, to add to the woes of New Delhi, a bigger threat in addition to the existing one is posed by communist China. While too much 'god' motivates Pakistan, China pretends to be a 'godless' state. Unlike nations that boast of an army, in Pakistan the army owns the state. On the other hand, in China the People's Liberation Army is loyal to the Chinese Communist Party and not the state. Dissent in both is a 'no-no' in varying degrees. Both, Pakistan and China, unlike India are paranoid about open societies. Thus, Beijing and Islamabad share commonality of purpose and together direct their energies to upstage India in international forums, on the borders and by fomenting internal dissent. In a unique 'jointmanship,' Islamabad clandestinely transfers sensitive defence technology it receives from the west to Beijing on 'barter basis' as there is ban on transfer to China!
The concurrent rise of China and India pits them against each other, as they compete for the same resources, but one with an authoritarian regime that is scared of Dalai Lama and Google, and the other with a free society that revels in religion, Dalai Lama and Google.
Threat from China was evident from its maps in 1946. Mao with the help of these maps described Tibet as the palm of a hand with its five fingers – Ladakh, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and NEFA as Chinese territories that needed to be liberated. Tibet was liberated by force while New Delhi slept. Nepal found India's refusal to defend Tibet as a sign of an unreliable ally and thought it prudent to open communications with Beijing.
Today India stands encircled by China.

THE THREAT PERCEPTION

To be supreme in Asia, and impelled by the necessity to divert the attention from the growing internal turmoil, Beijing is likely to design a limited but visible military victory in a joint strategy with Islamabad. Pakistan under severe threat of fragmentation would be more than a willing ally.
With Afghanistan being abandoned by the West, beginning July 2011, Islamabad will craft a strategy to take over Kabul with the help of Islamic fundamentalist groups. The irony is that in the aftermath of the exit of the West; Taliban will occupy the Parliament being built by India in Kabul and connive disruption from there of the Indian Union. These groups will not target the West immediately since the latter retains the ability to re-intervene once inaction is deemed as 'suicidal'. The Taliban will initially concentrate on unraveling a soft target like India in concert with Beijing -Islamabad -Kabul or Chinese Communists- Pakistan Army- Irregular Forces axis.
The physical threat to India will materialize in 2012, after the exit of the American forces from Afghanistan. Earlier India had to contend with a single threat from its West/Central Asia. Now another threat posed from the North under a joint strategy between China and Pakistan has emerged.
The developing scenario suggests that henceforth GHQ Rawalpindi will further orchestrate provocation against India to regain lost ground in J&K by way of rallies in PoK or Lahore and through military machinations on our borders. It will provide fillip to terrorist attacks, export of fake currency, inserting terrorists in India through Nepal, activation of sleeper cells, and raising controversy on non-issues like water. Beijing while talking ambiguously up to 2012 buildup will continue to support the Maoists in Nepal and step up training and funding to Maoist in India. The intensity of Cyber War will meanwhile increase.
In nutshell, the objective will be to keep India off balance.

THE STRATEGY

By 2012, to unravel India, Beijing is likely to para-drop a division of its Special Forces inside the Siliguri Corridor to sever the Northeast. There will be simultaneous attacks in other parts of the border and linkup with the Special Forces holding the Siliguri Corridor will be effected. All these will take place under the nuclear overhang. In concert Islamabad will activate the second front to unhook Kashmir by making offensive moves across the IB in the plains and the desert to divide Indian reaction capability. Meanwhile the fifth columnists supporting these external forces will unleash mayhem inside.
Two key question for New Delhi:
  1. Will India go nuclear if its territorial integrity is threatened? France's stated policy is that it will use the nuclear option, if Germany is attacked. Germany is not likely to face a nuclear adversary, yet France will use nuclear option if it is attacked. India faces threat from two nuclear powers in its vicinity. Will India shift its stated position of second strike to first strike, if the territorial integrity of the Union is under threat?
  2. Will New Delhi have the gumption to order the Navy to retaliate and stop the flow of cargo in the Indian Ocean being freighted to China? Or will it order the Air Force to conduct offensive and decisive strategic strikes inside Tibet?
New Delhi requires to develop offensive orientation in its thinking for the answers to be in affirmative. India has produced more than its share of great thinkers in civil affairs. However, being a pacifist society, it does not boast of a single military thinker of repute. Therefore, we should not hesitate to import knowledge from the best military thinkers to create an assertive society, just in the same way, as we need to import the best defence technologies to set up the most modern defence industry hub that ensures expansion of democratic space in Asia.
The ideal opportunity for China to dismember India is between 2011 and 2014 on multiple counts. First, to divert attention from the growing dissent within. Second, beyond this period, Pakistan as a fragmented nation may not exist to support the Chinese. Third, the change of generation by 2015 will witness an assertive India. Fourth, the new Indian assertiveness will ensure rapid modernization of the Armed Forces with robust military capabilities. Last but not the least, given the fact it does not pose threat to any country, India will create strong international alliances. It is in a unique position and gets along well with the West, as well as countries like Russia and others. In fact, the international opinion will decisively tilt in favour of India if it shrewdly deals the powerful geo-economic card held in the arsenal.
The answer to the outlined nightmare stares India on its face.India simply needs to take out the cost-benefit ratio from the game plan of the opponent by rapidly acquiring the requisite military muscle that outguns and outclasses the adversary. War is akin to business. If there is no cost-benefit ratio, it cannot be imposed! Such assertive actions will also naturally propel India in Asia as the most influential player and arrest the slide of retreating democracies.
Bharat Verma, Editor Indian Defence Review and author of the book Fault Lines and Indian Armed Forces.
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/2010/07/chinese-special-forces-cut-off-siliguri-corridor-2012.html
 
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] India Prepares for a Two-Front War

Yeah but War against China is superficial. If you do not believe me, look at China's promises of Aid to India in different kind of projects ...!
Stop making a Mole Hill out of a Sesame Seed ...!
India is not at war with Pakistan either. Its crazy Pakistan at war with India. India can disintegrate crazy Pakistan in just 5 days if she wants.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> India Prepares for a Two-Front War
>
> This isn't just a change in military doctrine—it's a reflection of America's
> declining power in Asia
>
> By DAN BLUMENTHAL
>
> There is one country responding to China's military build-up and
> aggressiveness with some muscle of its own. No, it is not the United States,
> the superpower ostensibly responsible for maintaining peace and security in
> Asia. Rather, it is India, whose military is currently refining a "two-front
> war" doctrine to fend off Pakistan and China simultaneously.
>
> Defending against Pakistan isn't anything new, and Delhi has long viewed
> China with suspicion. But in recent years India has been forced to think
> more seriously about an actual armed conflict with its northern neighbor.
> Last year Beijing started a rhetorical clash over the Dalai Lama's and
> Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visits to Arunachal Pradesh state,
> which China claims as its own. In the two years before that, Chinese border
> incursions into India almost doubled. Not to mention China's massive
> military buildup and concerted push for a blue-water navy.
>
> In response, the Indian military is rewriting its so-called "Cold Start"
> doctrine. Cold Start's initial intent was to provide the armed forces with
> more rapid and flexible response options to Pakistani aggression. The Indian
> military believed that its ground forces' slow and lumbering mobilization
> after the 2001 terrorist attacks on its parliament played to Pakistan's
> advantage: International opinion turned against decisive Indian military
> action. Delhi also worried that its plan to send in heavy forces to weaken
> Pakistan was unrealistic and might well trigger a nuclear response.
>
> So Indian strategists searched for military solutions that would avoid a
> nuclear response but still provide a rapid retaliatory punch into Pakistan.
> The resulting doctrine was built around eight division-sized "integrated
> battle groups"—a combination of mobile ground forces backed by air power and
> tied together through an advanced system of sensors and reconnaissance
> capabilities. The Indian Army would advance into Pakistan and hold territory
> to use as leverage to end terrorist attacks launched from Pakistani soil.
>
> But as China has grown more aggressive, Delhi has begun planning to fight a
> "two-front war" in case China and Pakistan ally against India. Army Chief of
> Staff General Deepak Kapoor recently outlined the strategy: Both
> "fronts"—the northeastern one with China and northwestern one with
> Pakistan—would receive equal attention. If attacked by Pakistan and China,
> India will use its new integrated battle groups to deal quick decisive blows
> against both simultaneously.
>
> The two-front strategy's ambitions go even further: In the long term China
> is the real focus for Indian strategists. According to local newspapers,
> Gen. Kapoor told a defense seminar late last year that India's forces will
> "have to substantially enhance their strategic reach and out-of-area
> capabilities to protect India's geopolitical interests stretching from the
> [Persian] Gulf to Malacca Strait" and "to protect our island territories"
> and assist "the littoral states in the Indian Ocean Region."
>
> Of course the existence of a new doctrine does not make it an operational
> reality. But a cursory glance at India's acquisition patterns and strategic
> moves gives every indication that India is well on its way to
> implementation. Delhi is buying and deploying sophisticated command,
> control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and
> reconnaissance networks; supersonic cruise missiles; lightweight towed
> artillery pieces; and new fighter aircraft with supporting electronic
> warfare and refueling platforms. India has already bought C-130J aircraft
> from the U.S. for rapid force deployment. The navy is planning to expand its
> submarine fleet, to acquire three aircraft carriers, and to deploy them with
> modernized carrier-based fighter aircraft. In addition India plans to deploy
> fighters and unmanned aerial vehicles at upgraded bases on the Andaman and
> Nicobar islands in the eastern Indian Ocean.
>
> India is not looking for a fight with China: It simply understands it is
> prudent to develop a military that can deter Beijing. President Obama's
> accommodating stance toward China and his apparent lack of interest in
> cementing partnership with Delhi have focused Indian minds, as have his
> failure to invest in resources his Pacific commanders need.
>
> While America has a strong interest in sharing the burdens of checking
> China's expansionism, it should be concerned when its friends react in part
> to a perception of American weakness and Chinese strength. Ultimately, the
> U.S. is the only country with the power and resources to reassure its allies
> they need not engage in costly arms races with China. But first the U.S.
> must identify Chinese military power for what Asian allies know it to be: a
> threat to peace in Asia.
>
> *Mr. Blumenthal is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in
> Washington*
>
> http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704240004575085023077072074.html
>


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[ALOCHONA] One billion dollar Indian Loan to Bangladesh

Please, please don't divide the nation and join the opposition parties so, Awami League Government could be ended, right?

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Mohd. Haque" <haquetm83@...> wrote:
>
> One billion dollar loan from India has impeccably divided the nation. In one side clearly the so called pro-liberation, Shadhinotar pokhyer, alias Awami League, Jatiyo Party and another 12 parties and on the other side the so called anti liberation, jamaat and two other parties. One side is saying their prayer raising their joint palms touching forehead praising their secular god and His blessing through India â€" the friend, savior and rescuer to offer the biggest financial package ever given to take the Bangladesh into prosperity.
> Other side is simply riling on the whole package of incentive that only invest, employ and facilitate the lenders fundamental interests go beyond the economic and financial means.
> Who is right?
> Turkey signed an MOU during Abdallah Gul’s recent visit to Bangladesh, a One billion dollar offer, most of the AL doctrine media refuses to spread the news. We know the multilateral or bilateral donors committed pipe line package stacked with billion of dollars remains unutilized for need of earnestness from the part of the government or good governance. That could have built our Railway, road or transport net works, port and more interestingly the crippled power sectors. There is no dearth of money. But then why with such a fun fare and extra enthusiasm drumming up of this deal signing in lightning speed!
> Infrastructure development that sets the centre stage of the whole package is to be mainly intended for lenders own interests in their own country, the troubled and difficult â€"eastern part. To facilitate their own cargo, one should not loose sight of barrier created for our own indigenous(not quite in their definition of quality and origin except environmentally hazards produce like ‘brick’) product to their land, cement, rod, glass, garment, cosmetics, toiletries already faced with no entry.
> It would have been better to meet the Indian demands in economic terms by upgrading our own infrastructure in our own terms, from variety of cheaper sources, that too to cater not only India but whole region in competitive economic terms and perspective. Our investment would have been more productive and facilities more beneficials.
> Another aspect of this deal is, nothing from, what AL, with all their cultural, political, economic and personal submission to their long proven mentor’s utter discomfort, yet expected under the popular demand a little gesture as reciprocate to their total submission and services one after another. Not even a single one, expect the same promise of â€" ‘looking’, ‘considering’, ‘in the next meeting’.
> These hollow promises make great value to our so called pro liberation forces because they think because of India we have our liberation today. Even our Sector Commanders, Muktijodhya Shanksod and the whole bunch of cultural workers, who always keep them ready to offer yet more, in their quest for happiness and gratefulness!
> It reminds me of today’s British politics and its total submission to USA. â€" submitting to US pressure has become so ingrained in British politicians that they have lost all capacity to think for themselves. What ever enthusiasm is created by the new coalition government of David Cameron he proved to be even no worse then Tony Blair â€" re-writing British history in America’s favor as he recalled how Britain had been ‘very much the junior partner’ in 1940 when Britain and the US became united in the war against Nazi Germany. In fact, the United States had not even entered World War II at that stage!
> If this is the case for a nation like Britain, what on earth we should think of autonomous policies of our own for which millions of our people gave lives.
>


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[ALOCHONA] 40 Bizarre Statistics That Reveal The Horrifying Truth About The Collapse Of The U.S. Economy

If USA was a backwards country and its Currency was not Fiat Currency of IMF, she would have collapsed a quarter century ago.
The most fortunate thing is, USA owes trillions to other countries but does not have to seek an IMF Loan. She pays no Interest on any money she owes and other countries have to invest in USA to earn any Profit off it. Saudi Arabia had learned this decades ago therefore, she has invested hundreds of billions in USA and now her investments in USA have grown to about $ 2 tillion.
Who do you think owns majority shares in General Motors, Citibank, Mobil Oil, BP of USA and some other Oil Companies of USA?
Who do you think owns most of the Petrol Pumps in U.K?
The Sheik of Kuwait.
1/3rd of all major companies in USA are owned by Foreigners. From British, French, Germans, Japanese to even Scandinavians and China.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> *40 Bizarre Statistics That Reveal The Horrifying Truth About The Collapse
> Of The U.S. Economy*
>
> Most Americans still appear to be operating under the delusion that the
> "recession" will soon pass and that things will get back to "normal" very
> soon. Unfortunately, that is not anywhere close to the truth. What we are
> now witnessing are the early stages of the complete and total breakdown of
> the U.S. economic system. The U.S. government, state governments, local
> governments, businesses and American consumers have collectively piled up
> debt that is equivalent to approximately 360 percent of GDP. At no point
> during the Great Depression (or at any other time during our history) did we
> ever come close to such a figure. We have piled up the biggest mountain of
> debt that the world has ever seen, and now that gigantic debt bubble is
> beginning to pop. As this house of cards comes crashing down, the economic
> pain is going to become almost unimaginable.
>
> Already, things are really, really, really bad out there. Unemployment is
> at shockingly high levels. Foreclosures and personal bankruptcies continue
> to set new all-time records. Businesses are being shut down at a staggering
> rate, more than 40 million Americans are on food stamps, and the U.S.
> government continues to pile up debt at blinding speed.
>
> There is no use sugar-coating it.
>
> The U.S. economy is collapsing.
>
> The following are 40 bizarre statistics that reveal the truth about the
> collapse of the U.S. economy....
>
> 1 - According to one shocking new survey, *28% of U.S.
> households*<http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/careers/what-is-the-real-unemployment-rate/19556146/>have
> at least one member that is looking for a full-time job.
>
> 2 - *A recent Pew Research
> survey*<http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/759/how-the-great-recession-has-changed-life-in-america>found
> that 55 percent of the U.S. labor force has experienced either
> unemployment, a pay decrease, a reduction in hours or an involuntary move to
> part-time work since the recession began.
>
> 3 - There are *9.2 million
> Americans*<http://news.goldseek.com/GoldenJackass/1278532800.php>that
> are unemployed but that are not receiving an unemployment insurance
> check.
>
> 4 - In America today, the average time needed to find a job has risen *to a
> record 35.2 weeks*<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/7871421/With-the-US-trapped-in-depression-this-really-is-starting-to-feel-like-1932.html>
> .
>
> 5 - According to one analysis, the United States *has lost 10.5 million jobs
> * <http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=173169> since 2007.
>
> 6 - China's trade surplus (much of it with the United States) *climbed 140
> percent*<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-10/china-june-trade-surplus-20-02-billion-exports-rise-44-customs-says.html>in
> June compared to a year earlier.
>
> 7 - This is what American workers now must compete against: in China a
> garment worker makes *approximately 86 cents an
> hour*<http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-declining-value-of-work>and
> in Cambodia a garment worker makes approximately 22 cents an hour.
>
> 8 - *According to a poll taken in 2009* <http://www.cnbc.com/id/32862851/>,
> 61 percent of Americans "always or usually" live paycheck to paycheck. That
> was up significantly from 49 percent in 2008 and 43 percent in 2007.
>
> 9 - According to a recent poll conducted by Bloomberg, *71% of
> Americans*<http://www.zerohedge.com/article/bloomberg-poll-finds-americans-no-longer-drinking-kool-aid-71-see-economy-mired-recession>say
> that it still feels like the economy is in a recession.
>
> 10 - Banks repossessed *269,962 U.S.
> homes*<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSNLLEIE69820100715> during
> the second quarter of 2010, which was a new all-time record.
>
> 11 - Banks repossessed an average of 4,000 South Florida properties a month
> in the first half of 2010, *up 83
> percent*<http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/07/12/daily12.html?ana=from_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_southflorida+%28South+Florida+Business+Journal%29&utm_content=Google+Reader>from
> the first half of 2009.
>
> 12 - According to RealtyTrac, a total of *1.65 million U.S.
> properties*<http://www.realtytrac.com/contentmanagement/pressrelease.aspx?channelid=9&itemid=9555>received
> foreclosure filings during the first half of 2010.
>
> 13 - The Mortgage Bankers Association recently announced that demand for
> loans to purchase U.S. homes *has sunk to a 13-year
> low*<http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre66d1l2-us-usa-economy-mortgages/>
> .
>
> 14 - *Only the top 5
> percent*<http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/are-the-rich-getting-richer-the-data-says-yes/19356546/>of
> U.S. households have earned enough additional income to match the rise
> in
> housing costs since 1975.
>
> 15 - 1.41 million Americans filed for personal bankruptcy in 2009 - *a 32
> percent increase over
> 2008*<http://www.mybudget360.com/141-million-americans-filed-for-personal-bankruptcies-in-2009-a-jump-of-32-percent-from-2008-more-and-more-average-americans-resorting-to-bankruptcy-even-with-tougher-rules-to-file/>
> .
>
> 16 - Back in 1950 each retiree's Social Security benefit was paid for by 16
> workers. Today, each retiree's Social Security benefit is paid for by
> approximately 3.3 workers. By 2025 it is projected *that there will be
> approximately two
> workers*<http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-silent-entitlements-monster-social-security-medicare-and-interest-on-the-debt-will-gobble-up-every-single-tax-dollar-by-2020>for
> each retiree.
>
> 17 - According to a new poll, six of 10 non-retirees believe that Social
> Security *won't be able to pay them
> benefits*<http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-07-20-1Asocialsecurity20_ST_N.htm>when
> they stop working.
>
> 18 - *43 percent of
> Americans*<http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/43-percent-of-americans-have-less-than-10000-dollars-saved-for-retirement>have
> less than $10,000 saved for retirement.
>
> 19 - According to one survey, 36 percent of Americans say *that they don't
> contribute anything* <http://www.cnbc.com/id/32862851/> to retirement
> savings.
>
> 20 - According to one recent survey, 24% of American workers say *that they
> have postponed their planned retirement
> age*<http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/09/pf/retirement_confidence/index.htm>
> in the
> past year.
>
> 21 - The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index *declined
> sharply*<http://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerconfidence.cfm>to
> 52.9 in June. Most economists had expected that the figure for June
> would be somewhere around 62.
>
> 22 - Retail sales in the U.S. fell in June *for a second month in a
> row*<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-11/retail-sales-in-u-s-probably-fell-for-second-month-as-economy-moderated.html>
> .
>
> 23 - Vacancies and lease rates at U.S. shopping centers *continued to get
> worse*<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704178004575351350812562256.html?mod=WSJ_article_MoreIn>during
> the second quarter of 2010.
>
> 24 - Consumer credit in the United States has contracted *during 15 of the
> past 16 months*<http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/credit-crunch-2010>
> .
>
> 25 - During the first quarter of 2010, the total number of loans that are at
> least three months past due in the United States *increased for the 16th
> consecutive quarter*<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704513104575256680430484878.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection>
> .
>
> 26 - Things are now so bad in California that in the region around the state
> capital, Sacramento, there is now *one closed business for every six that
> are still open* <http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2536025.html>.
>
> 27 - The state of Illinois now ranks *eighth in the
> world*<http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/illinois-bankrupt> in
> possible bond-holder default. The state of California is ninth.
>
> 28 - More than 25 percent of Americans *now have a credit score below
> 599*<http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/money-crunch-how-can-an-economy-built-on-debt-function-if-nobody-can-get-loans>,
> which means that they are a very bad credit risk.
>
> 29 - On Friday, U.S. regulators closed down three banks in Florida, two in
> South Carolina and one in Michigan, *bringing to
> 96*<http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/banking/2010-07-16-bank-failures_N.htm?csp=34money&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsatodaycomMoney-TopStories+%28Money+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader>the
> number of U.S. banks to be shut down so far in 2010.
>
> 30 - The FDIC's deposit insurance fund now *has negative 20.7 billion
> dollars in it*<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704513104575256680430484878.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection>,
> which represents a slight improvement from the end of 2009.
>
> 31 - The U.S. federal budget deficit has topped $1 trillion *with three
> months still to
> go*<http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-07-13-federal-budget-deficit_N.htm>in
> the current budget year.
>
> 32 - According to a U.S. Treasury Department report to Congress, the U.S.
> national debt will top $13.6 trillion this year *and climb to an estimated
> $19.6 trillion by 2015*<http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN088462520100608>
> .
>
> 33 - The M3 money supply plunged *at a 9.6 percent annual
> rate*<http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=128098&sectionid=3510213>during
> the first quarter of 2010.
>
> 34 - According to a new poll of Americans between the ages of 44 and 75, 61%
> said that running out money *was their biggest
> fear*<http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/07/compared-to-money-shortage-fear-of-death-no-biggie/>.
> The remaining 39% thought death was scarier.
>
> 35 - *One study*<http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/are-the-rich-getting-richer-the-data-says-yes/19356546/>found
> that as of 2007, the bottom 80 percent of American households held
> about 7% of the liquid financial assets.
>
> 36 - The bottom 40 percent of all income earners in the United States now
> collectively *own less than 1
> percent*<http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25430.htm> of
> the nation's wealth.
>
> 37 - The number of Americans with incomes below the official poverty line *rose
> by about 15%*<http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/22-statistics-that-prove-that-the-middle-class-is-being-systematically-wiped-out-of-existence-in-america>between
> 2000 and 2006, and by 2008 over 30 million U.S. workers were
> earning less than $10 per hour.
>
> 38 - According to one recent study, approximately 21 percent of all children
> in the United States *are living below the poverty line in
> 2010*<http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/more-than-1-in-5-american-children-are-now-living-below-the-poverty-line>-
> the highest rate in 20 years.
>
> 39 - For the first time in U.S. history, *more than 40 million Americans are
> on food stamps*<http://thetruthwins.com/archives/40-million-americans-on-food-stamps>,
> and the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that number will go up to 43
> million Americans in 2011.
>
> 40 - A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey has found *that just
> 23% of American voters
> nationwide*<http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/july_2010/23_say_u_s_government_has_the_consent_of_the_governed>believe
> the federal government today has the consent of the governed.
>
> *
> http://thetruthwins.com/archives/40-bizarre-statistics-that-reveal-the-horrifying-truth-about-the-collapse-of-the-u-s-economy
> * <http://thetruthwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Economy.jpg>
>


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[ALOCHONA] Bolshie Bangladesh

Excuse me but China and Vietnam are not 'Left Wing' or 'Left Leaning'.
They are Communist Countries with good Public Relation Skills.
Western Capitalists build factories in countries, where they think their investment would be safe, government is stable and labor is cheap. They don't care you are Communist or Socialists as long as their investment is safe and you are guaranteeing that you would never nationalize their factories.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> *RE: 'Bolshie Bangladesh'*
>
>
>
> Zoglul Husain
>
> zoglul@...
>
>
>
> In my view, the writer is utterly confused and his sweeping comments are not
> at all tenable. His view that the 'left-leaning' thinking is the root cause
> of all economic ills and that capitalism is the panacea, is not supported by
> the history of economic development of the world.
>
>
>
> He wrote, "Bangladeshis wonder why their country can't attract even a
> fraction of the funds that flow to Vietnam." But he does not explain why the
> 'left-leaning' government of Vietnam attracts 'funds'. He does not explain
> why the 'left-leaning' governments of China, as many loosely claim, have
> achieved more economic developments in thirty years than what
> Europeachieved in three hundred years. Or how
> China has already become the second largest economic power in the world,
> next only to the US. He does not explain why Russia, one of the most
> backward economic powers in Europe before 1917, achieved very fast and
> spectacular economic development to become the second super-power in the
> world by the 'left-leaning' governments and why, when the Russian
> governments followed the 'right-leaning' policies and developed into an
> imperialist power to move army into Afghanistan, brought about their own
> downfall as well as the implosion of the Soviet Union.
>
>
>
> The writer does not explain why the imperialist globalisation and the
> so-called free market economy fell flat on the ground after the world
> economic crisis of 2008-09 and why the US as an economic power is now
> downhill and why we have already entered an Asian century from the economic
> point of view.
>
>
>
> The writer does not seem to understand why the modern world goes for free
> labour and rejects un-free labour, such as slavery, serfdom, bonded labour,
> prison labour, etc. He is far from understanding the meaning of the
> principles of the 1776 declaration of American Independence, in which the
> second sentence is a sweeping human rights declaration: 'We hold these
> truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
> endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these
> are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.' He does not understand why
> modern welfare states in the West try to go for an equitable wage floor for
> all. He does not seem to have a clue of the principles of equality laid down
> in Prophet Muhammad's (SAWS) Last Hajj Sermon!
>
>
>
> Coming back to Bangladesh, the writer does not seem to understand that we
> wanted the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 for one reason, but
> Indiawanted to divide
> Pakistan for a different reason. He does not seem to understand that the
> Mujib regime was fully under Indian control and that the nationalisation,
> done then, was firstly because the West Pakistani owners of industries had
> left Bangladesh and there was no ready capitalist class in Bangladesh to
> take over, and also because there was conspiracy by India to impede economic
> development of Bangladesh. In this period India registered a sharp growth in
> their jute business, while the Bangladesh jute mills were in ruins. The
> words 'democracy', 'socialism' and 'secularism' in Bangladesh constitution
> were taken from the Indian constitution and no government of Bangladesh was
> anywhere near 'socialism', indeed Mujib killed 15 thousand JSD 'socialists'
> and 15 thousand other patriots and 'leftists'. As regards India, there was
> no government in India, which was anywhere near 'solialism'. On the other
> hand, Indian 'secularism' means BJP's great domination in Indian politics
> and a BJP government for about six years and the communal forces
> perpetrating riots after riots in India. Thus, apart from slogans to
> hoodwink the people, India in reality is neither 'democratic', nor
> 'secular', nor 'socialist'.
>
>
>
> On the wage questions of RMG sector in Bangladesh, may I refer to Arshad
> Mahmud's (a journalist in the US, probably non-political) article in
> bdnews24.com, published on 4 August 2010, as follows:
>
>
> Can the garment workers be subdued?
> by Arshad Mahmud
>
> http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2010/08/04/can-the-garment-workers-be-subdued/
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 10:10 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> > *Bolshie Bangladesh*
> >
> > Stoking anticapitalism sentiment is a sure-fire way to stay poor.
> >
> > By K. ANIS AHMED
> >
> > As Chinese wages rise, other developing Asian nations have an opportunity
> > to attract industries that are being priced out of the mainland. Vietnam and
> > Indonesia are already benefitting from shifting investment, and Bangladesh
> > should too. But the country is being held back by one critical
> > shortcoming—hostility to the free market.
> >
> > The Bangladeshi economy has plenty of other handicaps, to be sure. Some pin
> > the blame for slow growth on political corruption and poor governance.
> > Others cite power shortages and the lack of good roads and efficient ports.
> > All this is true.
> >
> > However, after decades of reform and tweaking policies, it's time we
> > admitted that the problem with the business environment goes deeper.
> > Socialist thinking pervades public-policy circles and the public debate.
> >
> > This might surprise outsiders, as Bangladesh was never a communist state.
> > But socialism was one of the country's four founding principles, and many
> > industries were nationalized in the 1970s. Leftist intellectuals who pushed
> > Bangladesh toward socialism four decades ago continue to have an outsized
> > influence in their new incarnations as heads of nongovernmental
> > organizations, think tanks and media outfits.
> >
> > These thought leaders mean well, and they don't see themselves as opposing
> > investment. Indeed, no one argues for outright socialism anymore; rather
> > they agitate in the name of worthy goals such as "rights" or "social
> > equity." The dialogue goes awry, however, because the intelligentsia don't
> > recognize wealth creation as the ultimate solution to welfare.
> >
> > The government often includes left-leaning civic leaders on committees to
> > review laws, while excluding industry representatives. The resulting laws
> > are hostile to investors. For example, new legislation in the higher
> > education sector would impose harsh restrictions and penalties on the
> > institutions. Private universities are forbidden from collateralizing any
> > assets, even for the university's development, though the same law requires
> > them to build expensive campuses.
> >
> > In the housing sector, a new "Detailed Area Plan" has finally been
> > published. Almost two decades in the making, it has been outpaced by a
> > doubling population and unplanned sprawl. It no longer answers the housing
> > needs of one of the world's most densely populated capitals. While the
> > government is now trying to broaden the dialogue to find practicable
> > solutions, a segment of the activists and media seem more interested in
> > punishing developers.
> >
> > More puzzling perhaps is a new telecommunications law that imposes
> > astonishing fines and leaves little room for appeals. It also grants the
> > ministry sweeping powers to change licensing terms. This sector has drawn
> > millions in foreign investment in recent years. In all these cases, the
> > regulators' need for control seems to override any concern about investor
> > reaction.
> >
> > All this has created a culture in which companies can be attacked with
> > impunity, with certain NGOs and the media stoking workers' grievances. Last
> > Friday, a mob of garment workers rioted in central Dhaka, smashing vehicles
> > and attacking police. This despite the fact that the government just raised
> > the minimum wage by 80%. A number of garment-industry owners have sold off
> > their stakes in the industry citing violence by workers, even though their
> > factories were compliant with local and international regulations.
> >
> > The Bangladeshi people are naturally entrepreneurial. From the hundreds of
> > garment factories to the innumerable workshops and tea-houses lining the
> > roads and highways, the sheer irrepressible desire of the people to work is
> > evident everywhere. Yet this urge is suppressed. It is almost as if the
> > country is divided against itself.
> >
> > Society puts the highest value on being an intellectual, so that the
> > brightest students compete to get into the public universities. They then
> > join a tiny elite, who imbibe the leftist ideology at school, enter the
> > bureaucracy and NGOs, and keep promoting retrograde policies and ideas.
> >
> > As long as most local intellectuals consider a capitalist identity or
> > ideology a terrible stigma to avoid at almost all costs, there is little
> > hope for a more pragmatic dialogue. No country that constantly disavows the
> > principles of capitalism can become prosperous. The burden of anti-business
> > laws affects millions of micro-decisions and actions that make up a day's
> > commercial activity. Even a tiny hesitation at every turn can add up to a
> > large difference between competing economies.
> >
> > Bangladeshis wonder why their country can't attract even a fraction of the
> > funds that flow to Vietnam. Fixing infrastructure and tackling corruption
> > will help. But the country won't succeed until deeply rooted hostility
> > toward business is repudiated.
> >
> > *Mr. Ahmed is vice president of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
> > Foundation. *
> >
> >
> > http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704182304575414543506293152.html?mod=WSJASIA_hps_MIDDLESixthNews
> >
>


------------------------------------

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[ALOCHONA] Experts divided over benefits of billion dollar deal

The ones, who disagree are not Experts. They are only India Haters.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> Experts divided over benefits of billion dollar deal
>
> The billion dollar Indian credit line agreement has come up for critical
> scrutiny apparently on the merit of the projects as to how much they are
> having national priority to be implemented by taking a commercial loan.
>
> The 14 projects to be executed under the loan are on top of the list of
> India for opening its transit route through Bangladesh to the northeast.
>
> The Awami League-led government has taken the political decision to this
> effect but critics wondered why it has taken the decision to finance
> basically Indian projects with a huge loan.
>
> The projects in the list are aimed at developing supportive infrastructures
> to create necessary conditions to create transit through Bangladesh.
>
> BIDS research director Dr KAS Murshed in a recent work on
> India-Bangladesh-Northeast: Transit and Strategic Configuration ruled out
> the claim that Bangladesh will anyway benefit from the opening of transit.
>
> Many people here toeing the government policy line tend to say that
> Bangladesh would fetch up to US$ 3.0 from transit related activities
> annually.
>
> The Indian team visiting Ashuganj after the signing of the loan agreement to
> see the riverine spot to develop the port of call there made similar claim.
> But all such claims are misleading and having no basis of any cost-benefit
> calculation, knowledgeable sources said.
>
> Even the World Bank and such other organisations promoting the transit
> corridor is yet to carry out such cost-benefit estimate and people wonder
> why they are not doing it. Murshed, however opined that railway may have
> some relevance to transit but the revenue prospect from railway transit will
> also remain limited up to US$ 30 million. But the country may stand to lose
> market in the northeast from such opening to direct Indian traffic, he
> maintained.
>
> People wonder if the country is really buying troubles with the credit line
> and moreover how will it repay the money without viable revenue income from
> the facilities.
>
> Akbar Ali Khan, a former secretary and adviser of the caretaker government
> wondered whether the projects to be funded under the loan are really
> essential for Bangladesh.
>
> He told the press that taking such loans is not something new, but the
> nation must have critical assessment on the merits and demerits of such
> loans to be used for funding projects.
>
> He said India always remained a critical factor to Bangladesh politics. So
> before doing anything the country should have its own critical exercise.
>
> He said the serious question is not the rate of interest at 1.75 percent per
> annum with 0.50 commitment fees on unutilized credit after 12 months or the
> 20 repayment period is enough or not.
>
> It is reported that under the agreement, Bangladesh has the obligation to
> buy 80 percent of the merchandise from Indian suppliers, in addition to
> sourcing hundred percent consultancy services.
>
> It means the tied loan will make sure the recycling of the money to the
> Indian economy, except making some payment to local labours.
>
> The higher commitment fees for the loan is moreover, focused on making sure
> that the entire loan should be used in time to avoid penalty and to
> achieving total Indian strategic goals without failing.
>
> This is why the Prime Minister is reported to be partly unhappy with the
> terms of the loan, news reports said.
>
> BNP and the major opposition termed the loan as quite 'disgraceful' and
> landed sharp criticism against it. But Finance Minister AMA Muhith said it
> would help create condition to making Bangladesh a 'best servicing transit
> nation' in the region.
>
> Pranab Mukherjee speaking after the signing of the agreement here said, he
> is "confident that this credit line will be the stepping stone for a shared
> destiny to transform our bilateral engagement."
>
> http://www.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/10/news0033.htm
>


------------------------------------

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[ALOCHONA] Govt retracts from banning religion-based politics

Its a decision that Awami League would pay for dearly later.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> *Govt retracts from banning religion-based politics*
>
> The Awami League-led grand alliance government has apparently retracted from
> its earlier stand on imposing ban on religion-based politics in the face of
> strong opposition from the Islamic political parties and organisations.
>
> Amid a wide speculation in the political arena that the government was going
> to ban religion-based political parties, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
> reportedly told her Cabinet members that the Government has no plan to ban
> Islamic political parties. However, no official statement was made in this
> regard so far.
>
> Asked about the party stand, Awami League Joint General Secretary and Prime
> Minister's Special Assistant Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif told The New Nation
> yesterday that the AL neither demanded nor taken any decision on imposing
> ban on religion-based politics. "We will not take any decision contrary to
> the sentiments of the majority of people of the country," he said.
>
> The AL leader termed the campaign of certain quarters on banning
> religion-based politics as ill-motivated. "We want to restore the original
> and main features of the '72 Constitution in line with the Supreme Court
> judgment," he said.
>
> Meanwhile, at an opinion-exchange meeting organised by the Islamic
> Foundation on Wednesday, Islamic scholars (ulema mashayekh) demanded not to
> impose ban on religion-based politics and keep 'Bismillah and absolute trust
> and faith in Almighty Allah' in the Constitution.
>
> Addressing the function as the chief guest, State Minister for Religious
> Affairs Advocate Md. Shahjahan Miah assured the ulema-mashayekh that the
> government would not take any measure, which would harm Islam and
> Muslims.Director General of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh Shamim Mohammad
> Afzal alleged that vested quarters, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been
> hatching conspiracy to achieve political gain by capitalising the issue.
>
> Islamic Foundation sources said the meeting was arranged aiming at relieving
> the tense situation and resentment created in the minds of religious leaders
> and political parties concerned.
>
> After the Supreme Court judgement that scrapped the Fifth Amendment to the
> Constitution, some government Ministers, ruling party leaders and
> pro-government lawyers claimed and argued that religion-based politics had
> automatically been banned with the judgement.
>
> Sensing government's apparent move to impose ban on religion-based politics,
> leaders and activists of Islamic political parties and organisations took to
> the streets and protested it.They also warned that they would wage a united
> movement if the government tried to impose ban on their politics that was
> restored through the Fifth Amendment during Ziaur Rahman's rule.
>
> At a stage, a government minister and the Election Commission (EC) even
> shifted their responsibility to each other over banning religion-based
> politics.
>
> http://www.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/06/news0566.htm
>


------------------------------------

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[ALOCHONA] The Indian Fault Line



The Indian Fault Line

Capt (Retd.) Bharat Verma

The genesis of the Indian fault line can be traced to many centuries of foreign domination of the subcontinent. Its scars are deeply etched in our psyche. It inhibits us from developing a cogent strategy for the nation. Notwithstanding the large resources, genius, skills, young population profile and an imposing geographical location in Asia , this limitation manifests in creating multiple fault lines across the national canvas. To develop a successful strategy, a nation must primarily take into account its own characteristics prior to incorporating other elements. For example, a military expert recommended demilitarisation of Siachen glacier with two riders. First, he suggested that there should be a role model treaty like the Indus Water Treaty to ensure Pakistan did not commit treachery in occupying the areas vacated by us. Second, even if it did so, we should make it clear that there will be serious repercussions on other frontiers with the concomitant collateral damage. As a military man he was acutely aware, it will be nearly impossible to regain the territory lost on the glacier given the adverse terrain and climatic conditions. Right? No. Wrong on both counts.

First, Indus Water Treaty is not a role model arrangement for the simple reason that hypothetically, if the direction of water flow were from Pakistan to India , this treaty would never have materialised in the first place! Indus Water Treaty survives because of our magnanimity. Second, New Delhi does not boast of any instinctive characteristic of military retribution ever, except in the case of 1971 conflict. Also, the Indian Fault Line disallows our elders to comprehend or scan the bigger picture. If they do indulge in such an exercise, they would be strategically prudent in not offering demilitarisation of Siachen in isolation to other negative elements that are intrinsic to Pakistan 's overall game plan. The tendency to create their own make-believe world convinced many of our countrymen that the invasions from our land frontiers for centuries could be ignored as the subcontinent assimilated the invaders in the existing society. How misplaced and erroneous, a perception. Invaders from the Northwest/Central Asia ruled over the locals by edge of the sword and forced their assimilation. Our helpless, bewildered ancestors with their petty bickering were left with little choice and therefore, tried to make a virtue out of consistent defeats. It persists in the Indian mind. No wonder; the terrorists across LoC ignore the fancy Cold Start Doctrine!

However, with generational change sweeping the entire spectrum of the Indian society, certain assertiveness is finally creeping in as witnessed during the Tsunami that was handled with finesse by New Delhi . The generation next is extremely focussed, capable of comprehending the entire strategic picture swiftly, and displays a fine balance between tolerance and aggressiveness simultaneously. The key question, in my mind, has always been whether India will be a surrogate or a 'great power'. Fortunately, the generation next is impelling India towards the great power status. It is not a status quo generation, but remains confounded with New Delhi 's inability to define clear strategic objectives. In a discussion held recently, I asked a former prime minister what our national strategic objectives were? It took him good one and a half hour that included a lunch tuck-in to respond that the national objectives were to have a peaceful neighbourhood! Even if one agrees with that generality, than what exactly was the strategy to achieve it? It did not elicit any answer.

Our national objective should be to promote India as an eminent power in Asia by 2020 by developing it as the alternative geo-economic hub that integrates and influences our extended neighbourhood through economic and military diplomacy. India as a benevolent power is suitably placed and conveniently located, geographically, culturally and otherwise to play this role effectively. Equipped with the most powerful Free Media in Asia that can be intelligently utilised as a weapon platform to further national interests, it needs to develop strategies that influence Central, West and Southeast Asia . With all its inadequacies, it remains a democracy worth

emulating that checks formation of a medieval jehadi Caliphate that the terrorist organisations in our vicinity intend to create. It is the only power in Asia that is eminently poised to extend a helping hand to restore a debilitating situation in its surroundings; balance the negative fallouts from an authoritarian regime of China in the region, even as we enhance our multi-faceted cooperation with the dragon. Our strategy in the present unfolding favourable geo-political scenario should be to further strengthen the relationships with the existing friends while adding new strategic partners to the list.

However, it is imperative that the implications of the fault line are understood and erased as the generation next gradually takes over the instruments of governance. Even as we embark on expanding our influence on global scale, we need to resolve the adverse situation prevalent internally and on our land frontiers as explained with the help of a map along side.

·         India is ringed by failed / failing states. Pakistan (land boundary with India 3310 kilometers) in the northwest. Nepal (land boundary with India 1751 kilometers) in the north. Bangladesh (land boundary with India 4095 kilometers) in the southeast. Myanmar (land boundary with India 1463 kilometers) in the northeast. India 's internal turbulence is inter-linked with external factors. On our North, in addition, we face China ( India shares borders spanning 3440 kilometers) from whom we not only face conventional, nuclear and missile threats but it is also the guru that influences / or uses as proxy other countries mentioned earlier in every possible way to weigh India down. In a nutshell, India 's 14,058 km long land frontier is impacted by hostile or semi-hostile environment. Failed /failing states export instability, terrorism, religious fundamentalism, arms and drugs. Further, in the context of strategy, capabilities are more important than perceived intentions, as China has demonstrated not only to India but also to the world. It has intelligently diverted international focus away from itself to North Korea, Pakistan and countries like Iran through proliferation of sensitive technologies, even as it conveniently works to achieve a super power status by solidifying its status as the 'Asian top dog'. For example, in the six country nuclear talks with North Korea , it is Beijing that calls the shots. It can switch on or off the negotiations at its will to derive the maximum strategic mileage. In comparison, New Delhi continues to remain in 'also ran' category.

·         If China is the guru than in Pakistan it has found a suppliant disciple. Pakistan desires to be the Sarpanch of the subcontinent! The territory was given to it with an understanding that the entire Muslim community will transfer itself to the so-called land of pure. It was only approximately 15 percent which accepted the idea and made Pakistan their homeland. Others displayed great wisdom in choosing to remain in India with its liberal philosophy and where the prospects of prosperity were far greater. The community continues to produce Presidents, generals, diplomats, ambassadors, business tycoons etc.who served/serve the country with great distinction. Overall, the community's contribution to India has been enormous. Since the majority refused to exit, as speciously argued by Pakistan founders, Islamabad should return the excess land given to it. Instead, since its creation, Pakistan has perpetually been resorting to war and export of terrorism to appropriate more Indian territory on one pretext or the other. The irony is that it has not been able to bring prosperity to the territory it holds. The only widely known export worldwide from Pakistan is terrorism. While India 's generation next profile is positive, Pakistan faces a negative profile of indoctrinated and unemployed youth trained in Islamic Jehad Factory against us. The profile becomes more worrisome because of Islamabad 's ethnic cleansing of minorities, that were 12.5 percent in 1947 but are only two percent today. Thus the voice of moderation has become feeble over the years. Besides, Islamabad 's military junta's agenda to undo India , helps them to retain power. The obsession to harm us ultimately allured Pakistan to become rent-a–state country. It lives on others money. It not only carried out ethnic cleansing of its own minorities but created situations in J&K through terrorism to force the exit of minorities from there.

·         Meanwhile, New Delhi instead of permitting and encouraging Indians of all hues to settle in J&K and the Northeast to consolidate the Union , remained a mute witness. Despite being broke, Islamabad continues to fuel anti-India activities through Nepal and Bangladesh with impunity. India remains the target and operating ground for Islamic fundamentalists and terrorist groups orchestrated by ISI, notwithstanding the weekly condemnation that Musharaff offers India after every terrorist attack on our soil. The parrot like statements emanating every month from New Delhi that "Stable and secure Pakistan is in India 's interest" is appreciated. However, the fundamental question is – will Pakistan ever be stable and secure? Never. Therefore, New Delhi needs to evolve an alternative strategy to comprehensively defeat the adversary's nefarious activities that poses military, nuclear and demographic inversion threats. This is a do-able proposition provided our elders can think beyond the overwhelming burden created by the inherited fault line. In any case, appeasement cannot constitute an element of strategy for any country.

·         To attain eminence in Asia by 2020, New Delhi needs to move on three axes simultaneously i.e New Delhi –West Asia , New Delhi–Southeast Asia and New Delhi–Central Asia . Out of the three, the most critical is the New Delhi-Kabul-Tehran-Moscow axis, on two counts. First, for centuries this is the route of invasions and will remain so. With Russia today threatened as much, an opportunity for a tie-up exists which could lend stability to the region. We can only afford to ignore this axis at our peril. Second, as the second largest consumer of oil and gas in Asia , and as one of the engines that will power the world economy, energy security is the most critical factor in India 's national security calculus. Future energy will be based on a combination of fuels – nuclear, oil, gas and coal. By 2010, a substantial amount of oil and gas will be delivered by Central Asia . This resource rich territory will fall prey to Pak sponsored Talibanisation if India and other countries do not preempt it. In fact, the American companies in such an eventuality will be expelled, particularly with Chinese gradually gaining ground and occupying positions that will dictate the agenda in Central Asia in future. Therefore, it may be prudent for American capital to join hands with the Indians in a JV, especially since we enjoy great deal of goodwill there. Many other sensible permutations and combinations for harmony in Central Asia can easily be worked out by New Delhi . This will in turn check the destructive influence of Islamabad and balance the Chinese strategic thrust.

·         In the North, similarly Nepal continues to slip into the Chinese sphere of influence due to counter-productive policy by New Delhi . To apply the template of democracy being bandied by the west that is workable neither in Iraq nor in Nepal , we have walked into a trap of our own making. The King's Army is at present unequal to the challenge posed by the Maoists for want of military hardware supplies and training. In Nepal , the Maoists have a sizeable influence in 45 of the 75 districts, their most formidable presence being in mid-western Nepal . The Maoists have linked up with the Peoples War Group (PWG) in India . The latter in a bid to expand its influence has carved a corridor encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh–Madhya Pradesh–Chhatisgarh–Orissa–West Bengal–Jharkhand–Bihar as shown in the map. This corridor that has been formed with ease depicts the Indian Fault Line with stark clarity on ground.

·         Combine the bleak picture above with Bangladesh and Myanmar borders and the Indian Fault Line engulfs most of the eastern half of the Union . Insurgency in varying degrees impacts on the Northeast with the exception of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and has trans-border dimensions with Myanmar and Bangladesh . The 21 to 65 km wide and 200 km long narrow Siliguri corridor between Nepal and Bangladesh is delicately poised when also considering China in the north. This corridor threatened by Kamtapuri insurgency and demographic inversion by Bangladesh can cut off the only land link to the Indian Northeast and in such an eventuality supplies will have to be maintained by air. Consequently, Bhutan may also slip into the Chinese sphere of influence. There is already a nexus between Maoists in Nepal and ULFA in Assam and is being enlarged to include PWG in India and Islamic terrorist groups in Bangladesh . With Dacca 's geographical interface with five Indian states i.e. West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram; Indian security stands threatened by: demographic assault, arms and drug smuggling, and safe havens for Indian insurgent groups. Islamic groups in Bangladesh under ISI tutelage, Saudi finance, and China 's patronage, have become more vicious, thus adding another dimension to India 's security headache.

·         To appreciate the grim reality on land frontiers, it is necessary to take it as one big wall of turbulence running from West to North and from there to the East. Pakistan , of course is the main culprit with military, mullah and ISI mix. Internally, inability to govern is the central issue. Besides, the shortage of Officers to the tune of 14,000 in the Army, ageing profile of the Defence Services, and the snail pace of modernisation of the military  (when we have access to the latest technology worldwide and the money in our pockets to buy it) should be a point of worry to New Delhi . I am afraid; it does not cause sufficient stress!

·         In this big picture of strategic deficiency, if a vertical line from Central Uttar Pradesh southwards to Eastern Andhra Pradesh were drawn, it would lead to an ineluctale observation that India 's Eastern Half is in turmoil. The Western Half is not only relatively progressive and peaceful but also generates most of the wealth along with the South. Even with this lop-sided generation of wealth by the Union , the Western agencies predict India to be the third largest economy by 2025. Just imagine the result if the Eastern Half along with Kashmir can be put in order through development and bold counter-measures, to ensure the requisite peace and stability, conducive to generation of wealth. In addition, the negative profile of the Eastern Half in times to come will tend to engulf the Western Half, if not resolved. However, if our elders display ineptness in dealing with Nepal , which mirrors Indian culture and is located in our backyard - what exactly can they handle?

To emerge as the great power that can lead Asia, the generation next waiting to take over the instruments of governance by 2010, should erase the Indian Fault Line from the map and psyche before other self-inflicted distortions by the Union on ground can be resolved.
 


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