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Saturday, October 16, 2010

[ALOCHONA] Political pressure for bank loan



Political pressure for bank loan
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Chatra League / Chatra Dal



Chatra League / Chatra  Dal
 
 
 


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RE: [ALOCHONA] Re: New BNP stance on war crimes trial unfair, unacceptable & Farida + Hasan Mahmood



Farida was not sincere in the past for the area where she had no education or expertise.............
 
She is in line with secularism, with no knowledge about islam but commenting here and there based on her limited knowledge; where as Islam do not support secularism at all. 
 
She and Hasan Mahmood (a canadian Bengali - a renounced anti Islamic Guru in canada) always act in the same line as brother and sister.

 


To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
From: Ezajur@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:58:28 +0000
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: New BNP stance on war crimes trial unfair, unacceptable

 
Come now. Saying Farida is a paid by thugs is unfair. She is sincere and there are many like her. I urge you to save your name calling for the obviously insincere.

Sincerity is not enough of course to resolve the plight of our troubled nation. But there are many sincere people in Bangladeesh who simply do not see the big picture, who cannot identify what their own role should be, who cannot correctly apply themselves to the politics of the day. Well. Everything is in chaos, as deliberately created and enjoyed, by the political classes. In this chaos we should not be surprised to see the sincere - including ourselves - in some chaos too.

The facts are plain:

If Sheikh Hasina's father was not assasinated and if she was not Prime Minister - there would be no effort made at war crimes tribunals today.

Irrespective of the sincerest efforts of good people like Farida Majid. Which is why they won't hold the PM accountable for anything that is going on now.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, maxx ombba <maqsudo@...> wrote:
>
>
> war-criminals should have been punished many years ago.
> so that we could have special tribunal, for the criminals of 1972 - 1975 period.
> who will punish the tugs, who have looted public funds in the past ?
> So easy...to create smoke screen, by postponing legal actions against war-criminals!!!!There are many farida majids in Bangladesh, being paid by these thugs.
> best wishes.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> From: farida_majid@...
> Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:29:24 -0400
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] Re: New BNP stance on war crimes trial unfair, unacceptable
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Bangladesh. Where war crimes are unacceptable.
>
> And everything else is acceptable!
>
> By which, I presume, the writer means every crime is accaptable, even encouraged, in Bangladesh
>
> except War Crimes.
>
>
>
> Who talks like that? Who can be that insensitive to the justice-seekers of crimes and atrocities
>
> committed 39 years ago still unheeded? Only those pretending to care about 'law and order' and yet
>
> sneers and snarls at attempt to end the culture of impunity for the cruellest of the criminals walking free
>
> in Bangladesh.
>
>
>
> Let me try to explain to those who visibly shake in rage at the mention of "war crimes" of 1971.
>
> What we, and the international community, are attempting to call "war" crimes are these very heinous
>
> crimes --- killings, looting, vandalizing, arson, rape, etc.---- committed systemetically on a mass scale
>
> for the realization of a political/communal proposition. That proposition being that Muslim and Hindu peoples
>
> cannot live together anymore even though these peoples have lived side by side for centuries on this land.
>
>
>
> The realization of this irrational and idiotic proposition, first manufactured by the British colonial
>
> administrators for facilitating their purpose of 'divide and rule', was welcomed by neo-colonizers of
>
> Pakistan, and then, after 1971, by the neo-Pakistanis of Bangla origin.
>
>
>
> Equally irrational and ironic is the idea that the war crimes trials would divide rhe nation. It can
>
> only do so if we assume that close to half the nation holds the same criminal record as the Jamaati
>
> honchos and the grizzled old Muslim League razakars.
>
>
>
> Farida Majid
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> From: Ezajur@...
> Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:27:41 +0000
> Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: New BNP stance on war crimes trial unfair, unacceptable
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The blank cheque given to criminals who support AL is such that I'm now begining to think that BNP is right to hamper the government's progress.
>
> Bangladesh. Where war crimes are unacceptable.
>
> And everything else is acceptable!
>
> --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@> wrote:
> >
> > New BNP stance on war crimes trial unfair, unacceptable
> > THE opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has visibly changed its position
> > as regards the trial of the Bengali collaborators of the Pakistan army that
> > committed war crimes against the people of Bangladesh in 1971. Until
> > Tuesday, the party's spokespersons maintained that the BNP does not have any
> > problem with the war crimes being investigated and the criminals tried,
> > while warning the government that it must not victimise leaders and
> > activists of the opposition camp, in the name of trying war crimes. Fair
> > enough. But on Tuesday, the BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, told a gathering
> > of a section of the freedom fighters, according to a report front-paged by
> > New Age on Wednesday, that `attempts are being made to push the nation to a
> > confrontation in the name of war crimes trial four decades after
> > independence.' Referring to the clemency given to the guilty of the
> > Pakistani army by the post-independence government of the Awami League, and
> > subsequent `general amnesty' to the collaborators, Khaleda also said `such
> > double standard' of the ruling party `must be resisted'. The BNP chairperson
> > has taken a clear position against the `war crimes trial' in the name of
> > consolidating `national unity'. We believe the new BNP stance on the issue
> > of war crimes trial is unfair—and thus unacceptable—as it amounts to
> > injustice towards those who were killed, tortured, raped and burnt by the
> > occupation forces of Pakistan and their local collaborators during the
> > country's liberation war.
> >
> > It is historically true that the post-independence government of the Awami
> > League officially `forgave' the guilty officers of the Pakistan army, saying
> > that `the Bengalis know how to forgive.' It is also true that the Awami
> > League government of the day granted `general amnesty' to the local
> > collaborators, of course, barring those involved in heinous crimes like
> > killing, rape and arson. We believe such steps of the post-independence
> > Awami League government were unjust, as those amounted to injustice towards
> > those who sacrificed lives, underwent brutal torture, humiliation and
> > enormous ordeal for the sake of national liberation. We believe the
> > government of the day did not have the moral right to `forgive' the
> > perpetrators of war crimes.
> >
> > However, the inability, or opportunistic reluctance, of the
> > post-independence government to try the perpetrators of war crimes and their
> > collaborators does not mean that the crimes cannot be investigated and the
> > criminals punished now, forty years after the war of independence. There are
> > instances in history that war crimes have been tried several years after the
> > crimes were committed. It is better late than never, especially when it
> > comes to justice. We have no reason to believe the mere trial of war crimes
> > would divide the nation anew – the nation is already divided on political
> > lines – as the number of `collaborators' in 1971 was very few as against the
> > entire population of the day who stood for the country's liberation from the
> > occupation forces.
> >
> > We, therefore, believe the government should go ahead with the trial of the
> > collaborators of war crimes, and demand that the surviving officers of the
> > Pakistan army who perpetrated war crimes in Bangladesh should be handed over
> > to the war crimes tribunal for trial. Notably, the Pakistani authorities,
> > while signing the tripartite agreement with Bangladesh and India for the
> > repatriation of the guilty officers to Pakistan in 1973, promised to try
> > their crimes in their homeland. But the Pakistani authorities failed to keep
> > the commitment. It is time that Bangladesh demanded, at the least, that the
> > guilty officers be tried in Pakistan in accordance with the commitment that
> > its government had made four decades ago.
> >
> > Meanwhile, the country's democratically oriented citizens committed to
> > justice require to keep an eye on the whole process of the trial in Dhaka,
> > so that the trial is fair and transparent, and that the government of Awami
> > League cannot victimise its political rivals in the name of trying the
> > perpetrators/collaborators of war crime, nor can it prolong the trial unduly
> > for politically using the issue for parochial partisan interests for the
> > years to come, as it has done before.
> >
> > http://www.newagebd.com/2010/oct/07/edit.html
> >
>




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RE: [ALOCHONA] Beware !



For misspelling suspension from job is an appropriate action by Awami Govt. a most notorious govt. in the 21st century.
 


From: bdmailer@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:37:09 +0600
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Beware !

 
2 sacked for misspelling 'Bangabandhu'

Dhaka, Oct 15 (bdnews24.com) — Two district-level primary education officials have been suspended for misspelling the founding president's popular title 'Bangabandhu'. They, however, blamed education ministry officials for the mistake and said they had been scapegoats.

Bangladesh's foundig president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is also father to the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, is widely referred by Bangabandhu — meaning 'friend of Bengal'.

Panchanan Bala of Satkhira and Parveen Jahan of Pirojpur on Thursday received the faxed suspension orders signed by education secretary Abu Alam Md Shaheed Khan. The suspended officials said the primary education directorate, in a memo, signed by its deputy secretary (establishment) sent them the rules of Bangabandhu Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament through email on Aug 26. They said Bangabandhu was misspelled in Bengali on the cover page of the rules.

Both the officials claimed that they distributed the rules in the sub-districts after correcting the spelling. "I'm astonished to receive the suspension order. I myself corrected the spelling and then distributed them," said Jahan.

Kaukhali Upazila primary education officer Abdul Haque said: "The higher authorities have made the officials scapegoats to conceal their own fault."

An official of Satkhira district primary education office, however, told bdnews24.com requesting anonymity that the rules were distributed without correction. When asked, director (admin) of the directorate Abdul Rouf Chowdhury told bdnews24.com the claim that ministry officials had made the mistake was not correct.

http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=176300&cid=2




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[ALOCHONA] Why Bangladesh should say ‘no’ to US-NATO request for troops in Afghanistan



Why Bangladesh should say 'no' to US-NATO request for troops in Afghanistan

by Shahidul Islam Chowdhury

 

THE United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's decision to bypass the political government and request the Bangladesh Army headquarters, directly, for deployment of troops in Afghanistan has reportedly annoyed the Sheikh Hasina administration.
   
The foreign secretary, Mohamed Mirajul Quayes, called in the charge d'affaires of the US embassy in Bangladesh, Nicholas Dean, to the foreign ministry on October 12, to convey to him the Bangladesh government's reaction to the NATO request made recently in a letter to the army headquarters in Dhaka ('NATO asks army to take part in Afghan operations', New Age, October 13).
   
The government feels NATO could and should have used formal diplomatic channels to request the highest political authorities for deployment of Bangladesh troops in Afghanistan, the foreign secretary is reported to have told the US diplomat during the meeting.
   
The NATO move to bypass the government and contact the army headquarters directly, albeit in contravention with diplomatic norms and conventions, is hardly surprising, though. After all, a section of the government officials, stationed at home and abroad, seems to have made it a habit of officially and unofficially communicating their decisions and intents to foreigners, circumventing formal diplomatic channels and thus violating the rules of business ('Ministries often talk with foreign missions bypassing MoFA', New Age, July 10).
   
Article 41(2) of the Vienna convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, which entered into force on April 24, 1964, says: 'All official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending state shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.'
   Article 15 of the Rules of Business of the Bangladesh government says that no ministry shall, without previous consultation with the foreign ministry, dispose of a case which affects the foreign relations of the country.
   Article 29 of the Rules of Business says a foreign country or a foreign mission in Bangladesh or an international organisation shall normally be conducted through the foreign ministry, except in matters for utilisation of agreed upon foreign assistance concerning the ministry.
   Article 19(28) of the Allocation of Business of the government says the foreign ministry is responsible for liaison with international organisations and matters relating to treaties and agreements with other countries and world bodies.
  
 It all began when, according to a foreign ministry news release issued on September 25, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard C Holbrooke, in a meeting with the Bangladesh foreign minister, Dipu Moni, in New York on September 23, sought 'any kind of help like deployment combat troops, economic and development assistance or training law enforcement agencies.'
  
 A few days letter, the Taliban in Afghanistan warned Dhaka against sending troops to the war-ravaged South Asian country.NATO's direct communications with the armed headquarters seems to prove that the US, which has been engaged in the 'war on terror' for almost a decade now, has become desperate to engage and 'use' Bangladesh troops in Afghanistan.
   
But the question is not only about the way that NATO, a military alliance formed after the Second World War and tidied up to address security concerns of North America and 26 European countries, has made the request for troops; other issues are involved, too. The decision to accept or reject the request for deployment of Bangladesh troops abroad under NATO command demands political, ideological, constitutional and strategic considerations.
   
According to the NATO website (www.nato.int), the organisation is a political and military alliance that 'has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis management operations,' carried out under the Washington Treaty and/or under a UN mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations.
   
Article 5 of the treaty states that if an armed attack occurs against one of the NATO member states, it should be considered an attack against all members, and other members shall assist the attacked member, with armed forces if necessary.
   
Bangladesh, which has opted to maintain an independent diplomatic stance, is not a member of NATO. So it has no political, legal and ethical obligation to place its troops under NATO.Moreover, one of the fundamental principles of Bangladesh's state policy is promotion of international peace, security and solidarity. Article 25 (1) of its constitution decrees:
   'The State shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for international law and the principles enunciated in the United Nations Charter, and on the basis of those principles shall —
   (a) strive for the renunciation of the use of force in international relations and for general and complete disarmament;
   (b) uphold the right of every people freely to determine and build up its own social, economic and political system by ways and means of its own free choice; and
   (c) support oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonialism or racialism.
   
In his first speech at the UN General Assembly on September 24, 1974, Bangladesh's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman clearly mentioned the state policy for promotion of international peace and security. The current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who happens to be the daughter of Sheikh Mujib, reiterated the stance in her latest speech delivered at the UNGA on September 27.
   
Another important aspect is that Bangladesh is a member of the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement apparently to advocate a middle course for states in the developing world between the Western and Eastern blocs in the Cold War. The purpose of the organisation as stated in the Havana Declaration of 1979 is to ensure 'the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries' in their 'struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics.'
   
Bangladesh is also a member of the Group of 77 at the United Nations, a coalition of developing nations and the founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Membership of these blocs demands that Bangladesh should not unilaterally decide to deploy troops in Afghanistan under NATO command.
   
It is not that Bangladesh does not send its troops abroad. In recent years, Bangladesh has played a significant role in international peacekeeping activities. Over 10,000 Bangladeshi military personnel were deployed overseas on peacekeeping operations as of November 2009. Under UN auspices, Bangladeshi troops have served or are serving in Sierra Leone, Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kuwait, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Kosovo, Timor-Leste, Georgia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Western Sahara, Bosnia, and Haiti.
   
Bangladeshi troops were also part of the multinational force in occupied Kuwait in 1990 to free the country from Iraqi invasion. Bangladesh responded quickly to President Bill Clinton's 1994 request for troops and police for the multinational force for Haiti and provided the largest non-US contingent. In both Kuwait and Haiti, the multinational forces had approval from the UN Security Council.
   
However, Bangladesh did not send troops for the latest US-led invasion of Iraq, which touched criticism across the world including the US and the United Kingdom.The case is not that the Bangladeshi army personnel have not gone to Afghanistan. Yes, some of them are there in blue helmets as military observer of the UN. They carry gun only to protect themselves, not to fight against Afghans.
   
The question is why the US has become desperate to engage Bangladesh troops in a war it itself has instigated. It is probably because the US government has faced crisis and criticism at home as more and more American soldiers lose their lives in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.The toll of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan passed 1,000 in May 2010. Having taken nearly seven years to reach the first 500 dead, the war killed the second 500 in fewer than two (New York Times, May 18).
  
 Several members of the US-led forced including the UK have already announced that they would withdraw their forces from Afghanistan.Foreign and military experts believe the government should say 'no' to the US and the NATO requests for sending troops to Afghanistan in support of the US-led imperialist and occupation forces, as sending troops there will be a gross violation of Article 25 of the Bangladesh constitution.
   
Presence of Bangladeshi troops under the US and NATO commands will also invite diplomatic trouble by sending 'wrong' signals to bilateral and multilateral quarters on whether Bangladesh has 'abandoned' the charters of the NAM, G-77 and SAARC charters.The most important question is whether Bangladesh, upon request from a third country and a military alliance, can be part of a force, even if in an 'international' or 'multinational' helmet, invading to another country, that too a South Asian neighbour.
   
The president, Zillur Rahman, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has the ultimate authority to say 'yes' or 'no' to the US and NATO requests to send troops to Afghanistan. However, article 48 of the constitution says the president 'shall act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister', who is also in charge of the defence ministry, 'in the exercise of all his functions' except the appointments of the prime minister and the chief justice.
   
So the onus is on the government in general and the prime minister in particular to give 'proper advice' to the president; and the 'proper advice' should be to say 'no' to the US and NATO requests to send troops to Afghanistan.

   
Shahidul Islam Chowdhury is a diplomatic correspondent of New Age.
 


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[ALOCHONA] PM among MPs not providing Matric, Inter certificates to universities



PM among MPs not providing Matric, Inter certificates to universities

ISLAMABAD – The names of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Federal Education Minister Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali are among the parliamentarians who did not cooperate with the universities and never provided the past record of their academic credentials for verification.
The Higher Education Commission has sent a list of 428 lawmakers to the Election Commission of Pakistan who did not provide certificates of Matric and Intermediate to the universities despite repeated reminders and the ECP has written letters to theses parliamentarians to send their past record for verification.

Though, the name of Sardar Aseff is not included in the list but it has been mentioned in the list that he has to give certificates of Intermediate and Matric for one degree which he obtained from Punjab University.
According to well-placed sources the minister had submitted two degrees at the time of election, one from Oxford University which has been declared genuine by the HEC and the other from Punjab University. According to media reports the minister not only refused to provide the past record but also challenged the authority of the HEC for asking the certificates.

The ministers who have not provided their Matric and Intermediate certificates to the universities include Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Law Minister Babar Awan , Federal Population Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mehreen Anwar Raja, Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Food Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Samina Khalid Ghurki, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi and BISP Chairperson Farzana Raja.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/16-Oct-2010/PM-among-MPs-not-providing-Matric-Inter-certificates-to-universities


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[ALOCHONA] Enclaves



Enclaves



http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2010/10/17/49188

http://www.samakal.com.bd/details.php?news=13&action=main&option=single&news_id=101445&pub_no=487

http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2010/10/17/49187


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[ALOCHONA] Tension prevails in B'baria frontier over barbed-wire fencing



Tension prevails in B'baria frontier over barbed-wire fencing



Tension was prevailing between BDR and BSF over the latters' bid to erect barbed-wire fence at Azampur frontier in Akhaura upazila on Saturday.(UNB)Later, senior officials of the two border forces held a meeting and reached an agreement that no fencing would not be built in 150-yard of the frontier.

BDR sources said members of Bangladesh Rifles opposed Indian Border Security Force (BSF)'s bid to erect barbed-wire fence at Pillar No 9S at Azampur frontier in the morning violating international rule.Amid a tense situation, officials of the two border guards held a meeting at 9:30am, when both sides agreed not to build structures, including fence, 150-yeard inside no-man's land at the frontier.

http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/back%20page.htm


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[ALOCHONA] Of the party, by the party, for the party



Of the party, by the party, for the party

Mushfique Wadud talks to experts about the possible solutions to stem politicisation of the administration

Following the killing Ibrahim Ahmed, a Juba League leader, in which, ruling party MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon was allegedly involved, the latter found an unlikely ally speaking out in his defence. 'Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon is in no way involved in the murder of Juba League leader Ibrahim Ahmed,' declared Police Commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque, on September 16.

   Ibrahim was incidentally shot down by a pistol licensed under Shaon's name and as such, his wife remains adamant as to Shaon's involvement in the killing.

   Curiously, this statement was delivered even before the investigation into the possible murder had been concluded and unsurprisingly, it drew widespread criticism from human rights activists and civil society members alike. Shaon himself was somewhat embarrassed by the unwarranted support of the police commissioner. 'I do not understand why he would speak out in my support but I did not ask him to do so,' he reportedly said.

   The police commissioner also contradicted the state minister for law, who had previously stated that stern actions would be taken against the accused MP.

   The abovementioned incident is a devastating manifestation of the politicisation of the administration according to experts in the field of public administration. This by no means is a unique example and is reminiscent of the partisanship displayed by the actions of the deputy commissioner of police, Kohinoor Miah, during the tenure of the BNP-led alliance government.

   Politicisation within the administration has plagued the country for quite a while, with each new government, seemingly determined to outdo its predecessor in these stakes. Upon assuming power, it is the first task of a government to establish control over the administration. In the process, some officials are made officer on special duty (OSD), some get promoted while a number of party loyalists are recruited on a contractual basis. According to various sources, in the 20 months since the Awami League led government assumed office, 242 have been made officer on special duty (OSD) while a further 285 were recruited on the basis of contracts. On the other hand, during the first 20 months of the BNP led government, 300 officers were made officers on special duty, and 144 officers were recruited.

   Section 25 of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules states that 'No Government servant shall be a member of, or be otherwise associated with, any political party or, any organization affiliated to any political party, or shall take part, or assist, in any manner, in any political activity in Bangladesh or abroad.' However, many officials not only violate the rules, but also assume the role of political activists. With the apparent prevalence of partisanship in the administration, ruling party activists seemingly feel entitled to a degree of loyalty from officials as exemplified by the recent Pabna incident.

   Experts, public administration teachers and former bureaucrats believe that such politicisation of the administration is destroying the system as a whole. They also opine that a merit based administration is being compromised as such. In an unskilled administrative system, the officials are naturally unlikely to be able to preserve the best interest of the country be it at a national scale or in international forums. As such, various reforms to the administration have been suggested.

   'Such politicisation of administration is totally unconstitutional and no government should endorse it,' says Dr Akbar Ali Khan, a former bureaucrat and adviser to the caretaker government. 'As a result, not a great deal of store can be placed on promotions as a succeeding government is likely to determine a different outcome,' he adds.

   'There must be a merit-based administration. There is no alternative to it,' opines Dr Akhter Hossain, professor of public administration at the University of Dhaka.

   According to some observers, the seeds of politicisation of the administration were planted following the country's independence, during which time, many officials were recruited without having to sit through any formal examinations. These officials were known as the '73 batch'. There has been much scrutiny and discussion about this particular batch of recruitments. Although the recruitment process was initiated on the basis of examinations, this trend of politicisation nonetheless prevailed during the tenures of both Zia and Ershad.

   After the restoration of democracy, there were several allegations levelled at the then BNP government, with a great deal of contention surrounding the recruitment of police officer Kohinoor Miah which was purportedly carried out under dubious circumstances. The government's decision to promote 654 officials on February 8, 1992 sparked huge controversy at the time. According to a study conducted by Ferdous Jahan of the public administration department at the University of Dhaka, titled 'Public Administration in Bangladesh', from 1991 to 1996, the government issued orders of forced retirement of at least 51 civil servants; most of them were never shown any reason for this order.

   In 1996, the much discussed movement, titled the 'Jonotar Moncho' in which a number of senior civil servants were directly involved in an attempt to remove a democratically elected government added a new dimension to the politicisation process. When the Awami League formed the government in 1996, it promptly rewarded those civil servants by including one member in a ministry while the others received promotions. According to Ferdous Jahan's study, in 2001, the government, without much regard for seniority, decided to promote as many as 355 officials, depriving many competent officials of promotion in the process, as the government was unsure as to where their loyalties lay. She also observes that during this time, the amount of contractual recruitments increased significantly as 174 civil servants were recruited on a contractual basis.

   As per the same study, in 2001, the then Bangladesh Nationalist Party government created a new record by appointing 978 OSDs. Many unusual promotions and contractual recruitments followed. It – the politicisation of the administration - was one of the reasons why the Awami League did not want to contest the January 22 elections.

   Leading up to the 2007 elections, the situation was so complex that a number of civil servants were directly involved in political activities, seeking nominations to participate in the elections.

   Nevertheless, many experts believe that the present scenario is worse than that during the tenure of the BNP led government.

   'It is the unconstitutional government that started the politicisation of the administration,' says Dr Akhter Hossain, professor of public administration at the University of Dhaka. 'Irrespective of which party forms government, this politicisation continues,' says Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah of the department of public administration at the University of Dhaka.

   BNP leader and former bureaucrat MK Anwar believes that the Awami League started the process. 'Through "Jonotar Moncho", Awami League started this process of politicisation,' he says. He believes that his party's tenure, the actions taken were corrective. 'We promoted those who were deprived of promotions during the administration of the previous government,' he adds.

   'But I do not deny that some sporadic incidents might have taken shape in our time but the irregularities transpiring at present surpasses anything that took place then,' he adds.

   Kalimullah opines that in the existing administration system, the policy makers are always in fear of losing control of the administration. 'As such, they try to control the administration, from which result the politicisation,' he says. Both Kalimullah and Ferdous Jahan believe that our administration is still bearing the colonial legacy.

   'In the colonial era, the administration was made to serve the lord. This mentality continues even now. On the other hand, the administrations have the mentality to rule the people rather than being the people's friend,' he adds.

   'Bangladesh bears a colonial legacy in its entire public administration system. A colonial imprint persists in Bangladesh especially in political and administrative arrangements. In a country like Bangladesh, where global pressure is eminent and the domestic political institutions are ill-structured, the colonial legacy places the bureaucracy in a difficult position,' Ferdous observes in her study.

   According to Ferdous, politicisation infiltrated the bureaucracy following the restoration of democracy when its autonomy was challenged. 'Eventually, the bureaucracy found out a new strategy to overcome this "problem". It was done in two ways. First, after retirement, senior bureaucrats began "infiltrating the ranks of politicians". Second, the bureaucracy allowed itself to be politicised. The political parties did not prevent this, as the bureaucracy's support was necessary to run and manage the country,' she explains.

   in the administration, politicisation prevails mainly in two ways. During the process of recruitment, party-affiliations to a large extent, take precedence as is the case with promotions, contractual recruitments as well as the provision of other benefits in the administration. 'When people are recruited on the basis of lists, you cannot expect a neutral administration,' says Rezaul Karim, a researcher at Transparency International Bangladesh, who conducted the study titled 'Restoring the Credibility of Bangladesh Public Service Commission: Major Challenges and Policy Recommendations'. In his study, he cites several cases where recruitment is influenced by the political forces and in many cases, the influential people ensure the recruitment of people from whom they take a good amount in bribes. 'Without a good recruitment system, you cannot ensure a non-partisan administration,' he adds. 'Since 1972, the Commission has been considerably used as a convenient tool for serving the interest of the ruling party and corrupt people as well,' observes Rezaul.

   According to experts, the prevalent politicised system of administration at the expense of a merit-based one, will hinder development in the country. The unskilled administration naturally will not be able to resolve the problems in the country while in different international forums, the officials cannot represent Bangladesh properly, they opine. A water resource expert believes that because of certain clauses, we are getting less water while because of these clauses, India is getting the better deal. People also are not getting proper services from the administration. According to a report by the World Bank in 1996, on an ascending five point scale, the level of public satisfaction with health care is 3.1 for the public health system; 3.5 for government schools. In urban areas, 60 per cent of people are dissatisfied with electricity supplies whereas in rural areas, it amounts to 40 per cent.

   In case of the telecommunication system, the rate of faults per 100 telephone lines per month is about 49. 'Without a merit-based administration, the country's interest cannot be served in different international forums. Unskilled administration cannot succeed in dealing with other countries,' says Rezaul. 'With more unskilled people taking up posts in administration, it will only result in producing an ineffective administration,' says Akhter.

   A

   fter independence, discussions over reforms to the administration took place. Subsequently, many committees were formed to carry out reforms, which eventually went unimplemented. Seventeen administration reform committees were formed at different times. 'Every government after assuming office, makes a reform committee but eventually it fails to implement the reform proposals,' says Mahbubur.

   'The government should seriously consider the reform proposals,' he adds. 'With the existing system, it is possible to ensure a non-partisan administration if the policy-makers are sincere,' says Akhter. He believes that there should be a national consensus to ensure a merit-based administration.

   'If the government has the political will, it is possible to redress the matter in a very short span of time. But if there is no political will, as has been apparent with all governments in the last 20 years, nothing will happen with the reforms,' Akbar adds.

   Kalimullah advocates a number of reforms to the administration, among which, he highlights the spoils system practice in the United States of America. 'I personally think that the American spoils system can be introduced in Bangladesh in which, the key posts will be reserved for people from the ruling-party while the post of deputy secretary will be the limit for career administrators,' he concludes.

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/oct/15/oct15/xtra_cover.html



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[ALOCHONA] 48 percent people living below poverty line



48 percent people living below poverty line -All urged for lifting the poor out of poverty



Speakers at a roundtable in Dhaka on Saturday called upon all concerned for alleviating poverty as country's 48 per cent people are now living below poverty line.(UNB)

About 48 per cent people in the country are living below poverty line, 20 per cent under extreme poverty while 10 per cent are ultra poor, they said, calling non-government organizations along with government initiative to play their role for alleviating poverty for showing poor people a better way of living.

Poverty is a big problem in the present world. It is so massive that it is not possible to solve this problem with single initiative, they said, calling on different non-government organizations to come forward along with government initiative for facing this challenge.

They stressed the need on coordination between NGOs and government for alleviation of poverty. They also called for involving representatives of local government in this regard.

They made the remarks while addressing a roundtable titled 'Extreme Poverty Reduction: Challenges and Possibilities' at the seminar room of Daily Star in city's Karwan Bazar on Saturday. Shipa Hafiza, Director of BRAC, moderated the roundtable, which was jointly organized by BRAC and Daily Star on the occasion of International Poverty Alleviation Day today (Sunday).

Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, former Finance Advisor of Caretaker government, MM Akash, teacher of Economics Department of Dhaka University, Nazma Begum, Professor of Economics of DU, eminent writer Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Planning Commission member Prof. Shamsul Alam, Brigadier General (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan, former FBCCI President Annisul Haque, NGO representatives and journalists addressed the occasion.Rabeya Yasmin, Associate Director, Ultra Poor Programs, BRAC presented a key-note paper.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury was scheduled to attend the roundtable, but she could not attend it. Her written message was read out at the roundtable.

In her message, she urged all to work together for building a beautiful future for the poverty-stricken people by ensuring their food security. Addressing the occasion, the speakers termed poverty as an urgent national agenda.

Being guided by humanitarian sense, we should involve the poor people into country's mainstream of development. Bringing balance in social system is needed for eradicating the existing discrimination in income, they said. Terming poverty as stigma to the nation, they said that inequality is rising in our society due to different reasons, including climate change, over population, corruption, lack of employment, education and democratic environment.

Brining reform in the existing system and enhancing the standard of education is needed, they said, calling on media to play their due role in raising awareness for ensuring the country's desired development. They opined for removing political unrest and introducing skill-based and employment-oriented education system for solving poverty.

http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm


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[ALOCHONA] Bangladesh Intelligence and RAW carry out joint operation in Dhaka



On what legal basis are these joint operations being carried out in Bangladesh. There must be some legal agreement allowing RAW to operate in tandem with the DGFI or NSI on Bangladesh soil. When was this agreement signed and by whom? More importantly is their a reciprocal agreement allowing DGFI and NSI to operate alongside RAW in India? If not then why have we allowed this liberty to Indian foreign intelligence for them to operate in Bangladesh. 


MBI Munshi

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UNLF confirms its chief held in Dhaka

Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Four days after unconfirmed reports said R K Meghen alias Sanayaima, chairman of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a Meitei rebel group, had fallen into the custody of security forces, the outfit on Saturday night issued a statement saying its chief had indeed been picked up in Bangladesh.

The statement issued in the Meitei language and emailed to newspaper offices in Imphal said R K Meghen was apprehended by a combined team of Bangladeshi intelligence and RAW sleuths at a place called Lalmatia under Mohammadpur police station on the outskirts of Dhaka on September 29. Meghen, said to be in his late 60s, was driving when he was picked up.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/UNLF-confirms-its-chief-held-in-Dhaka/698571



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RE: [ALOCHONA] Transit, transshipment fees



It will be also interesting excercise to prepare an exciting document, on the trails

of few ex C S P officers, who were involved in politics while holding public positions...and they were never disciplined.
Once they retired, they followed the tail of their preferred leaders and grabbed powerful, significant positions
in the cabinet, in the govt.

Not only they looted public funds while in office, now they are taking decisions, favourable to thier masters, sacrificing national interest.

Is it not time to trace the story of polluting the corridors of the secretariate by top civil servants??

khoda hafez.

probashi/sydney.







To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
From: emanur@rahman.com
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:26:29 +0000
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Transit, transshipment fees



This is the sort of journalism that makes me mad.

What were Dr Mashiur Rahman's arguments for waiving the fees?

Traitors in power and idiots reporting on them!
Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@rahman.com

From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 07:59:48 +0600
ReplyTo: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Transit, transshipment fees

Transit, transshipment fees -Foreign Office rejects India's waiver push
But economic adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman favours the withdrawal of fees and wrote a letter to the shipping minister to stop collecting the fees until "further decision."


The Foreign Ministry continues to oppose India's insistence on waiver of transit and transshipment fees, saying Indian private sector already receives massive subsidies for transporting goods to the northeastern hinterlands.The ministry Monday drove home its message to the Indian High Commission officials and advised India's diplomats to lobby Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) instead to seek the waiver.

The NBR has imposed transit and transshipment fee of Tk 10,000 per container and Tk 1,000 per tonne for bulk cargo.
"India should be prepared to pay a certain amount for using Bangladesh's land as corridor," a foreign ministry official said.

"The Indian central government subsidises its private sector for transporting goods to the northeastern part through the 'chicken neck' corridor," the official said, adding New Delhi can channel a part of that amount to ship goods through Bangladesh.

Bangladesh can earn an estimated Tk 1.0 to Tk 2.0 billion as transshipment fees and it is insignificant for Indians if they consider the broader economic benefits, he explained.Foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni and finance minister AMA Muhith supported the fees and both had earlier ruled out the waiver of transshipment fees, insisting those will be the country's income.

But economic adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman favours the withdrawal of fees and wrote a letter to the shipping minister to stop collecting the fees until "further decision."

Adding to the standoff, the customs authority has blocked the entry of two Indian ships carrying fly ash at the Bangladeshi border at Shekbaria as they didn't pay the transshipment fee. The ships destined for Assam were still not allowed to enter the Bangladesh territory.

Referring to the Protocol of Inland Water Trade and Transit (IWTT), the Foreign Ministry official defended the action, saying domestic laws will be applicable as cargoes entered the Bangladesh territory."In the agreement, it is not mentioned anywhere that transshipment and transit fees cannot be imposed," the official said.

The government signed the transshipment agreement in May to allow Indian goods to transship to Tripura through Ashuganj.According to the agreement, Ashuganj will be the second transshipment point and fifth port of call in Bangladesh, while India has declared Shilghat to be the port of call on the Indian side.

Sherpur in Sylhet was the first transshipment point under the 1972 protocol, but India never used the facility.Tripura border is only 49 kilometres from Ashuganj and the river port is navigable throughout the year.

The Indian authorities since '80s have demanded that Ashuganj become the second point and Bangladesh has agreed to the demand during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January.The IWTT agreement stipulates that Narayanganj, Mongla, Khulna and Sirajganj are the port of calls in Bangladesh and Kolkata, Haldia, Pandu and Karimganj in India.
 
 




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