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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Omar Suleiman: The CIA's Man In Cairo



Omar Suleiman: The CIA's Man In Cairo

By Lisa Hajjar
 

Omar Suleiman, a friend to the US and reported torturer, has long been touted as a presidential successor

On January 29, Omar Suleiman, Egypt's top spy chief, was anointed vice president by tottering dictator, Hosni Mubarak. By appointing Suleiman, part of a shake-up of the cabinet in an attempt to appease the masses of protesters and retain his own grip on the presidency, Mubarak has once again shown his knack for devilish shrewdness. Suleiman has long been favoured by the US government for his ardent anti-Islamism, his willingness to talk and act tough on Iran - and he has long been the CIA's main man in Cairo.

Mubarak knew that Suleiman would command an instant lobby of supporters at Langley and among 'Iran nexters' in Washington - not to mention among other authoritarian mukhabarat-dependent regimes in the region. Suleiman is a favourite of Israel too; he held the Israel dossier and directed Egypt's efforts to crush Hamas by demolishing the tunnels that have functioned as a smuggling conduit for both weapons and foodstuffs into Gaza.

According to a WikiLeak(ed) US diplomatic cable, titled 'Presidential Succession in Egypt', dated May 14, 2007:

"Egyptian intelligence chief and Mubarak consigliere, in past years Soliman was often cited as likely to be named to the long-vacant vice-presidential post. In the past two years, Soliman has stepped out of the shadows, and allowed himself to be photographed, and his meetings with foreign leaders reported. Many of our contacts believe that Soliman, because of his military background, would at least have to figure in any succession scenario."

From 1993 until Saturday, Suleiman was chief of Egypt's General Intelligence Service. He remained largely in the shadows until 2001, when he started taking over powerful dossiers in the foreign ministry; he has since become a public figure, as the WikiLeak document attests. In 2009, he was touted by the London Telegraph and Foreign Policy as the most powerful spook in the region, topping even the head of Mossad.

In the mid-1990s, Suleiman worked closely with the Clinton administration in devising and implementing its rendition program; back then, rendition involved kidnapping suspected terrorists and transferring them to a third country for trial. In The Dark Side, Jane Mayer describes how the rendition program began:

"Each rendition was authorised at the very top levels of both governments [the US and Egypt] ... The long-serving chief of the Egyptian central intelligence agency, Omar Suleiman, negotiated directly with top [CIA] officials. [Former US Ambassador to Egypt Edward] Walker described the Egyptian counterpart, Suleiman, as 'very bright, very realistic', adding that he was cognisant that there was a downside to 'some of the negative things that the Egyptians engaged in, of torture and so on. But he was not squeamish, by the way'. (p. 113).

"Technically, US law required the CIA to seek 'assurances' from Egypt that rendered suspects wouldn't face torture. But under Suleiman's reign at the EGIS, such assurances were considered close to worthless. As Michael Scheuer, a former CIA officer [head of the al-Qaeda desk], who helped set up the practise of rendition, later testified, even if such 'assurances' were written in indelible ink, 'they weren't worth a bucket of warm spit'."

Under the Bush administration, in the context of "the global war on terror", US renditions became "extraordinary", meaning the objective of kidnapping and extra-legal transfer was no longer to bring a suspect to trial - but rather for interrogation to seek actionable intelligence. The extraordinary rendition program landed some people in CIA black sites - and others were turned over for torture-by-proxy to other regimes. Egypt figured large as a torture destination of choice, as did Suleiman as Egypt's torturer-in-chief. At least one person extraordinarily rendered by the CIA to Egypt — Egyptian-born Australian citizen Mamdouh Habib — was reportedly tortured by Suleiman himself.

Suleiman the torturer

In October 2001, Habib was seized from a bus by Pakistani security forces. While detained in Pakistan, at the behest of American agents, he was suspended from a hook and electrocuted repeatedly. He was then turned over to the CIA, and in the process of transporting him to Egypt he endured the usual treatment: his clothes were cut off, a suppository was stuffed in his anus, he was put into a diaper - and 'wrapped up like a spring roll'.

In Egypt, as Habib recounts in his memoir, My Story: The Tale of a Terrorist Who Wasn't, he was repeatedly subjected to electric shocks, immersed in water up to his nostrils and beaten. His fingers were broken and he was hung from metal hooks. At one point, his interrogator slapped him so hard that his blindfold was dislodged, revealing the identity of his tormentor: Suleiman.

Frustrated that Habib was not providing useful information or confessing to involvement in terrorism, Suleiman ordered a guard to murder a shackled prisoner in front of Habib, which he did with a vicious karate kick. In April 2002, after five months in Egypt, Habib was rendered to American custody at Bagram prison in Afghanistan - and then transported to Guantanamo. On January 11, 2005, the day before he was scheduled to be charged, Dana Priest of the Washington Post published an exposé about Habib's torture. The US government immediately announced that he would not be charged and would be repatriated to Australia.

A far more infamous torture case, in which Suleiman also is directly implicated, is that of Ibn al-Sheikh al-Libi. Unlike Habib, who was innocent of any ties to terror or militancy, al-Libi was allegedly a trainer at al-Khaldan camp in Afghanistan. He was captured by the Pakistanis while fleeing across the border in November 2001. He was sent to Bagram, and questioned by the FBI. But the CIA wanted to take over, which they did, and he was transported to a black site on the USS Bataan in the Arabian Sea, then extraordinarily rendered to Egypt. Under torture there, al-Libi "confessed" knowledge about an al-Qaeda–Saddam connection, claiming that two al-Qaeda operatives had received training in Iraq for use in chemical and biological weapons. In early 2003, this was exactly the kind of information that the Bush administration was seeking to justify attacking Iraq and to persuade reluctant allies to go along. Indeed, al-Libi's "confession" was one the central pieces of "evidence" presented at the United Nations by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to make the case for war.

As it turns out, that confession was a lie tortured out of him by Egyptians. Here is how former CIA chief George Tenet describes the whole al-Libi situation in his 2007 memoir, At The Center Of The Storm:

"We believed that al-Libi was withholding critical threat information at the time, so we transferred him to a third country for further debriefing. Allegations were made that we did so knowing that he would be tortured, but this is false. The country in question [Egypt] understood and agreed that they would hold al-Libi for a limited period. In the course of questioning while he was in US custody in Afghanistan, al-Libi made initial references to possible al-Qa'ida training in Iraq. He offered up information that a militant known as Abu Abdullah had told him that at least three times between 1997 and 2000, the now-deceased al-Qa'ida leader Mohammad Atef had sent Abu Abdullah to Iraq to seek training in poisons and mustard gas.

"Another senior al-Qa'ida detainee told us that Mohammad Atef was interested in expanding al-Qa'ida's ties to Iraq, which, in our eyes, added credibility to the reporting. Then, shortly after the Iraq war got under way, al-Libi recanted his story. Now, suddenly, he was saying that there was no such cooperative training. Inside the CIA, there was sharp division on his recantation. It led us to recall his reporting, and here is where the mystery begins.

"Al-Libi's story will no doubt be that he decided to fabricate in order to get better treatment and avoid harsh punishment. He clearly lied. We just don't know when. Did he lie when he first said that al-Qa'ida members received training in Iraq - or did he lie when he said they did not? In my mind, either case might still be true. Perhaps, early on, he was under pressure, assumed his interrogators already knew the story, and sang away. After time passed and it became clear that he would not be harmed, he might have changed his story to cloud the minds of his captors. Al-Qa'ida operatives are trained to do just that. A recantation would restore his stature as someone who had successfully confounded the enemy. The fact is, we don't know which story is true, and since we don't know, we can assume nothing. (pp. 353-354)"

Al-Libi was eventually sent off, quietly, to Libya - though he reportedly made a few other stops along the way - where he was imprisoned. The use of al-Libi's statement in the build-up to the Iraq war made him a huge American liability once it became clear that the purported al-Qaeda–Saddam connection was a tortured lie. His whereabouts were, in fact, a secret for years, until April 2009 when Human Rights Watch researchers investigating the treatment of Libyan prisoners encountered him in the courtyard of a prison. Two weeks later, on May 10, al-Libi was dead, and the Gaddafi regime claimed it was a suicide.

According to Evan Kohlmann, who enjoys favoured status among US officials as an 'al-Qaeda expert', citing a classified source: 'Al-Libi's death coincided with the first visit by Egypt's spymaster Omar Suleiman to Tripoli.'

Kohlmann surmises and opines that, after al-Libi recounted his story about about an al-Qaeda–Saddam-WMD connection, "The Egyptians were embarassed by this admission - and the Bush government found itself in hot water internationally. Then, in May 2009, Omar Suleiman saw an opportunity to get even with al-Libi and travelled to Tripoli. By the time Omar Suleiman's plane left Tripoli, Ibn al-Sheikh al-Libi had committed 'suicide'."

As people in Egypt and around the world speculate about the fate of the Mubarak regime, one thing should be very clear: Omar Suleiman is not the man to bring democracy to the country. His hands are too dirty, and any 'stability' he might be imagined to bring to the country and the region comes at way too high a price. Hopefully, the Egyptians who are thronging the streets and demanding a new era of freedom will make his removal from power part of their demands, too.

Lisa Hajjar teaches sociology at the Uiversity of California - Santa Barbara and is a co-editor of Jadaliyya.
 


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[ALOCHONA] Mobile operators slam policy



Mobile operators slam policy
 
Dhaka, Feb 8 (bdnews24.com) — Four mobile phone operators have called for revising the draft telecom policy claiming that it would threaten their businesses.

From a joint press conference on Tuesday, heads of Grameenphone, Banglalink, Citycell and Robi said it would cost them around Tk 140 billion for renewing their licences and securing spectrum.

GP chief executive Oddvar Hesjedal, Citycell acting chief Mahfuzur Rahman, Robi chief Michael Kuehner and Bnaglalink's Ahmed Abou Doma, spoke at the press meet held around 2pm at Sonargaon Hotel.

The draft policy was published on Jan 20 with a provision to share 5.5 percent of their profits with the government. They would have to spend a further spend 1.5 percent profit as social obligation.

It proposes Tk 10 million for licence renewal, Tk 100,000 for licence application and Tk 50 million for annual licence fees.

Licences are to be renewed every 15 years. Spectrum fees were proposed at Tk 50,000, while spectrum assignment fees at Tk 1.5 billion for every megahertz of GSM 1800 band, Tk 3 billion for GSM 900 band and Tk 1.5 billion for CDMA technology. "The whole telecom industry will face a serious crisis if this policy is implemented," Hesjedal said.
Rahman said, "The additional charge proposed in the draft, if implemented, will burden the subscribers."

The operators would not be able to investment in technological improvement, he added. Speakers demanded appointment of consultants and said that the government should discuss with the operators before finalising the draft.
The Robi chief said: "The telecom sector that has created thousands of employment opportunities will turn to a loss-making company if the proposed policy is implemented."

The Banglalink chief claimed that operators would not be able to reach break-even if the policy came into effect.
Regarding the two other operators — Airtel and Teletalk — who do not have to renew their licences since their operation period did not exceed 15 years, the Banglalink official said: "There will be no level playing field if they don't have to pay the fees as well."

Asked if they had any proposal for the quantum of fees, Citycell's acting chief said they did not have such a proposal in mind. They would rather want government's consideration for a 'win-win situation'.

A proposal from the four operators has already been sent to the concerned ministry, the press conference was told. 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Ban on rallies around Felani’s house



Ban on rallies around Felani's house



Tension mounted in the bordering Ramkhana village in Nageshwari of Kurigram as the local unit of Awami League has called a programme at the venue where some BNP leaning freedom fighters and intellectuals are scheduled to hold a rally today in protest at the killing of Felani, a teenage girl, by the Indian border guards.(The New Age BD)

The local administration ordered a ban on gatherings in and around Felani's house for today fearing trouble. The Kurigram superintendent of police, Mahbubur Rahman, said the administration was imposing section 144 in the area for Wednesday as Awami League and BNP called rallies at the same venue. A sector commander in the war of independence, Hamidullah Khan, and some other intellectuals, including writer Abdul Hye Sikder and Muktijuddher Prajanma leader Shama Obaid are scheduled to address a rally at Ramkhana Rahmania Madrassah today under the banner of Patriots of Bangladesh to register protest at the killing of Felani and denounce the government's indifference to the repeated killings of Bangladeshi civilians by the Indian Border Security Force.

The local unit of Chhatra League has called a rally at the same venue for today without giving any reason for the programme.The officer-in-charge of Nageshwari police, Monzur Rahman, told New Age that the administration was going to impose section 144 on the venue for Wednesday to avert trouble.

The Kurgram district unit BNP has extended support to the programme announced by Patriots of Bangladesh.The general secretary of the district BNP, Saifur Rahman Rana, said local administration had taken away the public address system when they were drumming up support for the scheduled rally.

Felani's father Nurul Islam could not be reached by anybody since home minister Sahara Khatun visited the family of the slain girl on February 7.On January 7, Indian BSF shot dead 15-year-old Felani when she was crossing into Bangladesh from the Indian state of West Bengal.

Local lawmakers AKM Mostafizur Rahman and Zafar Ali, home secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, inspector general of police Hasan Mahmud Khandaker and the Border Guard Bangladesh director general Major General Rafiqul Islam, among others, visited the family of Felani.

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/8140.html


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[ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"



Dear Shafiq

Thank you for a well reasoned reply.

"A general avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily prevent one from touching upon the religion of those who have brought such disaster upon us."

What I am trying to say – and of course I could have phrased it better – is that, bluntly:

Just because I avoid religious argument due to the respect of 1) every religion 2) people's sensitivity and even 3) the nature of religion itself, does not mean that I cannot mock a person's approach to his religion when that person is heaping misery on so many people.

This is entirely about mocking the person and not at all about mocking the religion.

If someone has brought disaster upon us I am not saying we should mock his religion. Of course I am not saying that. I am claiming the same religion as my own! But I am saying I can mock such a person's approach to religion and use of religion. The religion itself is just fine.

To remove any confusion I quote you:  "If someone is a hypocrite, is visiting Mecca and all, before and after elections, he is to be blamed and not his/her religion." It is perfectly said.

But that does no mean that I am bound by ethics to refrain from mocking his pilgrimage as he presides over murder, extortion, rape and mayhem. Rather, ethics requires us to highlight his religious hypocrisy.  

I agree with you about Jamaat.

You are right, Zia puja and Tungipara tawafs are certainly not caused by any religion but by people. I never suggested anything different. But I must mock the puja of Zia and the tawafs of Tungipara!  

I am sensitive about your relationship with your religion and indeed, every person I have ever met. But it is my religious duty to mock the religiosity of Khaleda, Hasina and their blind party supporters.

Islam is big enough, great enough and strong enough to not only tolerate the use of religious terms in this context but also to drive the rebellion against the hypocritical religiosity of the Bangladeshi politician.  

Regards

Ezajur rahman

Kuwait


--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, shafiq013@... wrote:
>
>
> Dear Mr. Ejaz
>
> You killed all the argument by your first sentence. "A general
> avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily prevent one from
> touching upon the religion of those who have brought such disaster upon
> us." How logical.
>
> Ethics says one should respect all religions. If anyone has brought any
> disaster upon you, why to touch his religion. Above all his/her religion
> has not taught to bring disaster upon you. If someone is hypocrite, is
> visiting Mecca and all, before and after elections, he is to be blamed
> and not his/her religion.
>
> I agree with you that "People are very sensitive about
> religion:… but not the blind party activist". But I will add
> here that it is not only the "blind party activist" but the
> blind opponents also. The guy, desperately, to mock someone, knowingly
> or unknowingly, has dragged in the religion. Had he not been that
> desperate, would have not done so.
>
> I totally disagree that there are no religious people leading AL or BNP.
> Only Allah knows the level of faith of a person. I and you are not to
> judge this. Also religion cannot be monopolized by political parties
> like Jamaat.
>
> Again my friend, Zia puja and the tawafs at Tungipara has nothing to do
> with the religion of Islam or for that matter any other religion I know.
> If somebody is doing it, he is to be blamed and not his religion.
>
> I am extremely sorry if I offended you but was curious to know why you
> are explaining. The argument was started by some other gentleman.
>
> Shafiq Ahmad
>
> --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ezajur" Ezajur@ wrote:
> >
> > A general avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily prevent
> > one from touching upon the religion of those who have brought such
> > disaster upon us. It depends upon how bad one thinks the situation is.
> > One need not be sensitive about the religious feelings of those who
> practice
> > one set of ethics in public life and espouse a different set of ethics
> > on the prayer mat. Rather, the verbal mocking of their interpretation
> of
> > their faith is required in proportion to their mockery of the faith in
> > public life.
> >
> > No on is mocking faith itself. And the words of the Quran are more
> > messed upon by the visits of frauds to Shahjalal's grave before the
> > election and Holy Mecca after the election. Those who are most
> offended
> > by the use of religious terminology against the ethical values of AL
> and
> > BNP are only blind activists of these parties.
> >
> > Religion is a very sensitive issue? Only for the religious. I see no
> > religious people leading AL or BNP. The gravity of ritual prayer is
> not
> > enough to outweigh the gravity of ritual rottenness. People are very
> > sensitive about religion:
> >
> > … but not the blind party activist
> >
> > And even if he is, he sure isn't one willing to die for something as
> > noble as religious principle. He's too dumb and too rotten for that.
> >
> > When religion will really takes offence at the assault upon its very
> > essence by our political culture you will know it my friend. For it
> > will not reply by email or argument. It will not complain about the
> use
> > of a word in the Quran to make a point against the current religious
> > hypocrisy of our leaders. Nor will the reply be defined by idiots who
> > don't know how to use a firecracker.
> >
> > And so Zia puja and the tawafs at Tungipara continue.
> >
> > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, shafiq013@ wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > I believe you are coming to some senses now. When you don't tend to
> > > stray into religious arguments then why mock someone, who ever
> he/she
> > > may be, using religion. Understand that religion is a very sensitive
> > > issue, people do die for religion but your faith seems very strong.
> > >
> > > Yes, I do remember Arabic is a language. Bismillah_____ are words of
> > > Quran. If you are Muslim as you claim you are, even if the purpose
> was
> > > to create some satire, you should refrain from disfiguring the words
> > of
> > > Quran. (By the way bismilbangabandu....." does not mean "In the
> > > name of Bangabandhu...."). But your faith seems very strong.
> > >
> > > Realize, this is a forum of very limited people. Not everyone in
> > > Bangladesh and/or Bangladesh origin is readings all the postings in
> > this
> > > forum. People do ignore also considering it is coming from _______.
> > You
> > > are right majority of Muslims in Bangladesh have shown no comments
> on
> > > your writing. The reason you know because your faith seems very
> > strong.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Shafiq Ahmad
> > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I tend not to stray into religious arguments because they are
> > somewhat
> > > > pointless. But as a Muslim I have to say that this is exemplary of
> > why
> > > I
> > > > stay away from such arguments. The mention of Islam makes some
> > people
> > > > super-sensitive. Why is that? Is our faith that weak?
> > > >
> > > > Please remember that Arabic is a language and as such, many ideas
> > can
> > > be
> > > > expressed in it including a translation of "In the name of
> > > Bangabandhu...."
> > > > - I don't suggest that my satirical construct is accurate!
> > > >
> > > > In any case, no disrespect of Islam was done in my piece. If
> > anything
> > > it
> > > > should have appealed to Muslim sentiment to recognize and reject
> > > idolatry
> > > > when its spitting in their face. The fact that so many are unable
> to
> > > do so
> > > > suggests that there is a lack of Muslims in Bangladesh....and if
> not
> > > > anything else, certainly they are not the majority!
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: alochona@yahoogroups.com [mailto:alochona@yahoogroups.com]
> On
> > > Behalf
> > > > Of shafiq013@
> > > > Sent: 04 February 2011 23:37
> > > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Really!
> > > >
> > > > I thought Mismillah, Quran, prophet are part of a religion. The
> > > religion of
> > > > Islam.
> > > >
> > > > Op! May be I am little bit old to understand it. If the mission is
> > to
> > > > redicule someone, there are many other ways.
> > > >
> > > > So carry on. Carry on with your "very logical extrapolations."
> > > >
> > > > Shafiq Ahmad
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I don't think this is bringing in religion. Rather its a very a
> > > > logical extrapolation of the way that many regard Bangabandhu. It
> > > > demonstrates how ridiculous and perhaps dangerous this concept is.
> > It
> > > has
> > > > allowed many to sanitise, rationalise, obscure and generally brush
> > > under the
> > > > carpet responsibility for the malaise that is our country today.
> It
> > > allows
> > > > us to settle for less.
> > > > >
> > > > > Yes, the majority of Bangladeshis are Muslim.
> > > > >
> > > > > Ergo the majority of Bangladeshis should be offended by this
> > worship
> > > > and the immorality and corruption it breeds and feeds.
> > > > >
> > > > > Joy Bangla...?
> > > > >
> > > > > Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: shafiq013@
> > > > > Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:54:22
> > > > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Reply-To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Mr. Eman
> > > > >
> > > > > You frustration is understood. May be you are sour for some
> > personal
> > > > > reasons. However, may I request you, very humbly, don't drag in
> > > > > religion in your discussion, at the least in this way. Not only
> it
> > > > shows
> > > > > your disrespect to religion of Islam but also indicates you have
> > > > nothing
> > > > > much to say. Even if you are not a Muslim (though your name
> > suggests
> > > > you
> > > > > are), please show your respect to the religion of the majority
> in
> > > > > Bangladesh. You may hate Awami League or Sheikh Mujib for some
> > (may
> > > > be)
> > > > > valid reasons. You have every right to express your viewpoint
> but
> > it
> > > > is
> > > > > really a shame to bring-in religion in this way.
> > > > >
> > > > > Shafiq Ahmad
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I agree although the Buriganga with its effluence and waste
> may
> > be
> > > > the
> > > > > most appropriate choice.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I also propose that "Bismillah..." be removed from the
> > > constitution
> > > > > and replaced with "bismilbangabandu.....".
> > > > > >
> > > > > > To seal the deal, all references to the Prophet should be
> > removed
> > > > from
> > > > > a new and official BAL version of the Quran as neither he nor
> the
> > > > > Almighty had any contribution to the glorious independence war,
> > you
> > > > know
> > > > > the Bangabandhu v Pakistan war where one man single handedly
> > > defeated
> > > > an
> > > > > entire army.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Joy Bangla!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Sajjad Hossain shossain456@
> > > > > > Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > > Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 18:29:17
> > > > > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > > Reply-To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In order to pay our indebtedness to Father of the Nation,
> > > > Bangabondhu
> > > > > Sheikh
> > > > > > Mujibur Rahman I propose to change the name of Dhaka to "Mujib
> > > > Nagar"
> > > > > > and "Bay of Bengal" to "Bay of Bangabondhu".
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Any comments from the Alochoks?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > SH
> > > > > > Toronto
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > [Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information
> > > contained in
> > > > this message. The author takes full responsibility.] To
> > > > unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@!
> > > > Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > If this email is spam, report it to
> > > >
> > >
> >
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> > >
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[ALOCHONA] hosne mubarak




VIEWPOINT

Brian Stewart

Just where does Hosni Mubarak's wealth come from really?

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 8, 2011 | 5:32 PM ET 

Of all the remarkable developments pouring out of Egypt these days, one pertinent issue has yet to receive the attention it deserves — the curious case of Hosni Mubarak's wealth.

How much is it? Where is it all kept? And where did it come from?

Over the years, reputable sources have insisted that the president and his two sons, Gamal and Alaa, have accumulated somewhere between $15 and $30 billion dollars in family wealth. Some estimates go far higher.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/02/08/f-vp-stewart.html#ixzz1DPrMGZOa






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[ALOCHONA] hosne mubarak



http://abcnews.go.com/Business/egypt-mubarak-family-accumulated-wealth-days-military/story?id=12821073

Egypt's Mubarak Likely to Retain Vast Wealth

Mubarak Family May Have as Much as $70 Billion Stashed Away, Experts Estimate



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[ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"



Dear Mr. Ejaz

You killed all the argument by your first sentence. "A general avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily prevent one from touching upon the religion of those who have brought such disaster upon us." How logical.

Ethics says one should respect all religions. If anyone has brought any disaster upon you, why to touch his religion. Above all his/her religion has not taught to bring disaster upon you. If someone is hypocrite, is visiting Mecca and all, before and after elections, he is to be blamed and not his/her religion.

I agree with you that "People are very sensitive about religion:… but not the blind party activist". But I will add here that it is not only the "blind party activist" but the blind opponents also. The guy, desperately, to mock someone, knowingly or unknowingly, has dragged in the religion. Had he not been that desperate, would have not done so.

I totally disagree that there are no religious people leading AL or BNP. Only Allah knows the level of faith of a person. I and you are not to judge this. Also religion cannot be monopolized by political parties like Jamaat.

Again my friend, Zia puja and the tawafs at Tungipara has nothing to do with the religion of Islam or for that matter any other religion I know. If somebody is doing it, he is to be blamed and not his religion.

I am extremely sorry if I offended you but was curious to know why you are explaining. The argument was started by some other gentleman.

Shafiq Ahmad


--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ezajur" <Ezajur@...> wrote:
>
> A general avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily prevent
> one from touching upon the religion of those who have brought such
> disaster upon us. It depends upon how bad one thinks the situation is.
> One need not be sensitive about the religious feelings of those who practice
> one set of ethics in public life and espouse a different set of ethics
> on the prayer mat. Rather, the verbal mocking of their interpretation of
> their faith is required in proportion to their mockery of the faith in
> public life.
>
> No on is mocking faith itself. And the words of the Quran are more
> messed upon by the visits of frauds to Shahjalal's grave before the
> election and Holy Mecca after the election. Those who are most offended
> by the use of religious terminology against the ethical values of AL and
> BNP are only blind activists of these parties.
>
> Religion is a very sensitive issue? Only for the religious. I see no
> religious people leading AL or BNP. The gravity of ritual prayer is not
> enough to outweigh the gravity of ritual rottenness. People are very
> sensitive about religion:
>
> … but not the blind party activist
>
> And even if he is, he sure isn't one willing to die for something as
> noble as religious principle. He's too dumb and too rotten for that.
>
> When religion will really takes offence at the assault upon its very
> essence by our political culture you will know it my friend. For it
> will not reply by email or argument. It will not complain about the use
> of a word in the Quran to make a point against the current religious
> hypocrisy of our leaders. Nor will the reply be defined by idiots who
> don't know how to use a firecracker.
>
> And so Zia puja and the tawafs at Tungipara continue.
>
> --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, shafiq013@ wrote:
> >
> >
> > I believe you are coming to some senses now. When you don't tend to
> > stray into religious arguments then why mock someone, who ever he/she
> > may be, using religion. Understand that religion is a very sensitive
> > issue, people do die for religion but your faith seems very strong.
> >
> > Yes, I do remember Arabic is a language. Bismillah_____ are words of
> > Quran. If you are Muslim as you claim you are, even if the purpose was
> > to create some satire, you should refrain from disfiguring the words
> of
> > Quran. (By the way bismilbangabandu....." does not mean "In the
> > name of Bangabandhu...."). But your faith seems very strong.
> >
> > Realize, this is a forum of very limited people. Not everyone in
> > Bangladesh and/or Bangladesh origin is readings all the postings in
> this
> > forum. People do ignore also considering it is coming from _______.
> You
> > are right majority of Muslims in Bangladesh have shown no comments on
> > your writing. The reason you know because your faith seems very
> strong.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Shafiq Ahmad
> > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > >
> > > I tend not to stray into religious arguments because they are
> somewhat
> > > pointless. But as a Muslim I have to say that this is exemplary of
> why
> > I
> > > stay away from such arguments. The mention of Islam makes some
> people
> > > super-sensitive. Why is that? Is our faith that weak?
> > >
> > > Please remember that Arabic is a language and as such, many ideas
> can
> > be
> > > expressed in it including a translation of "In the name of
> > Bangabandhu...."
> > > - I don't suggest that my satirical construct is accurate!
> > >
> > > In any case, no disrespect of Islam was done in my piece. If
> anything
> > it
> > > should have appealed to Muslim sentiment to recognize and reject
> > idolatry
> > > when its spitting in their face. The fact that so many are unable to
> > do so
> > > suggests that there is a lack of Muslims in Bangladesh....and if not
> > > anything else, certainly they are not the majority!
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: alochona@yahoogroups.com [mailto:alochona@yahoogroups.com] On
> > Behalf
> > > Of shafiq013@
> > > Sent: 04 February 2011 23:37
> > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Really!
> > >
> > > I thought Mismillah, Quran, prophet are part of a religion. The
> > religion of
> > > Islam.
> > >
> > > Op! May be I am little bit old to understand it. If the mission is
> to
> > > redicule someone, there are many other ways.
> > >
> > > So carry on. Carry on with your "very logical extrapolations."
> > >
> > > Shafiq Ahmad
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I don't think this is bringing in religion. Rather its a very a
> > > logical extrapolation of the way that many regard Bangabandhu. It
> > > demonstrates how ridiculous and perhaps dangerous this concept is.
> It
> > has
> > > allowed many to sanitise, rationalise, obscure and generally brush
> > under the
> > > carpet responsibility for the malaise that is our country today. It
> > allows
> > > us to settle for less.
> > > >
> > > > Yes, the majority of Bangladeshis are Muslim.
> > > >
> > > > Ergo the majority of Bangladeshis should be offended by this
> worship
> > > and the immorality and corruption it breeds and feeds.
> > > >
> > > > Joy Bangla...?
> > > >
> > > > Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: shafiq013@
> > > > Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:54:22
> > > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Reply-To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Mr. Eman
> > > >
> > > > You frustration is understood. May be you are sour for some
> personal
> > > > reasons. However, may I request you, very humbly, don't drag in
> > > > religion in your discussion, at the least in this way. Not only it
> > > shows
> > > > your disrespect to religion of Islam but also indicates you have
> > > nothing
> > > > much to say. Even if you are not a Muslim (though your name
> suggests
> > > you
> > > > are), please show your respect to the religion of the majority in
> > > > Bangladesh. You may hate Awami League or Sheikh Mujib for some
> (may
> > > be)
> > > > valid reasons. You have every right to express your viewpoint but
> it
> > > is
> > > > really a shame to bring-in religion in this way.
> > > >
> > > > Shafiq Ahmad
> > > >
> > > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I agree although the Buriganga with its effluence and waste may
> be
> > > the
> > > > most appropriate choice.
> > > > >
> > > > > I also propose that "Bismillah..." be removed from the
> > constitution
> > > > and replaced with "bismilbangabandu.....".
> > > > >
> > > > > To seal the deal, all references to the Prophet should be
> removed
> > > from
> > > > a new and official BAL version of the Quran as neither he nor the
> > > > Almighty had any contribution to the glorious independence war,
> you
> > > know
> > > > the Bangabandhu v Pakistan war where one man single handedly
> > defeated
> > > an
> > > > entire army.
> > > > >
> > > > > Joy Bangla!
> > > > >
> > > > > Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Sajjad Hossain shossain456@
> > > > > Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 18:29:17
> > > > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Reply-To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > > > >
> > > > > In order to pay our indebtedness to Father of the Nation,
> > > Bangabondhu
> > > > Sheikh
> > > > > Mujibur Rahman I propose to change the name of Dhaka to "Mujib
> > > Nagar"
> > > > > and "Bay of Bengal" to "Bay of Bangabondhu".
> > > > >
> > > > > Any comments from the Alochoks?
> > > > >
> > > > > SH
> > > > > Toronto
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > [Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information
> > contained in
> > > this message. The author takes full responsibility.] To
> > > unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@!
> > > Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > If this email is spam, report it to
> > >
> >
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> \
> > lbWF
> > > udXJAcmFobWFuLmNvbTpkZWxpdmVyZWQ
> > >
> >
>


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[ALOCHONA] FW: Gap Between Rich and Poor Named 8th Wonder Of The World ! !




 


Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 22:50:04 +0000
Subject: Gap Between Rich and Poor Named 8th Wonder Of The World ! !


Gap Between Rich and Poor Named 8th Wonder Of The World

http://lsdimension.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/gap-between-rich-and-poor-named-8th-wonder-of-the-world/


PARIS  

At a press conference Tuesday, the World Heritage Committee officially recognised the Gap Between Rich and Poor as the Eighth Wonder of the World, describing the global wealth divide as the most colossal and enduring of mankind's creations.


"Of all the epic structures the human race has devised, none is more staggering or imposing than the Gap Between Rich and Poor," committee chairman Henri Jean-Baptiste said. It is a tremendous, millennia-old expanse that fills us with both wonder and humility.

"And thanks to careful maintenance through the ages, this massive relic survives intact, instilling in each new generation a sense of awe," Jean- Baptiste added. The vast chasm of wealth, which stretches across most of the inhabited world, attracts millions of stunned observers each year, many of whom have found its immensity too overwhelming even to contemplate. By far the largest man-made structure on Earth, it is readily visible from locations as far-flung as Eastern Europe, China, Africa, and Brazil, as well as all 50 U.S. states.

!!


FOLLOW EcoTort on TWITTER

http://www.ecotort.gn.apc.org


--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spiritual Doctors are Treating Spiritual Patients, so Please be Patience.
Change yourself according to the Quraan, NOT reverse.


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[ALOCHONA] Falu the looter again !



Falu the looter again !
 
 



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[ALOCHONA] Felani murder has no impact on relations with India: Dipu Moni

Felani murder isolated incident, FM tells JS
Daily Star 8/2/11
Staff Correspondent

The Foreign minister on Monday termed the death of Felani, who was brutally killed by Indian Boarder Security Force, as an isolated incident.

`The incident of Felani killing was a stray incident which did not put any impact on the friendly relations between the two neighboring countries,' said the state minister for forest and environment ministry Hasan Mahmud, while speaking on behalf of Foreign minister Dipu Moni.

The state minister was replying to a question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque.

He also said that although the killing of Felani was an isolated incident, it was heartrending and flag meetings were held between the border security forces of the two countries to discuss the issue.

`We held joint meeting with the Indian authorities and they assured that such incident would not take place in future,' said Hasan Mahmud.

Replying to another question from ruling party lawmaker Rafiqul Islam, the Foreign minister said that the government had taken a move for ensuring better treatment of Bangladeshi people at the foreign embassies in Dhaka while applying for visa.

The AL lawmaker drew attention of the minister to the situation in front of the embassies where there was no waiting room for the visa applicants and they had to wait on the road even amidst adverse weather.

On behalf of the foreign minister, Hasan Mahmud said that the government already held meetings with the authorities of Indian High Commission and the situation has improved there.

He said that the ministry also held discussion with the US embassy and some other embassies in this regard.


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