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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Corridor debate



Corridor debate

Anu Muhammad : http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-04-27/news/149787


Moinul Islam: http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-04-27/news/149786


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[ALOCHONA] Chatra League violence



60 hurt as BCL groups clash in DU hall

image Left, a room at the Muhsin Hall in Dhaka University is vandalised during a clash of rival Chhatra League groups; right, a Chhatra League activist, who was wounded in the clash, tries to cover his face at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday.

Staff Correspondent

At least 60 students were injured in a factional clash of the Chhatra League, the ruling Awami League's associate body of students, over stronghold in the Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall in Dhaka University early Tuesday.The feuding parties traded more than 25 rounds, exploded more than 20 handmade crude bombs and used other lethal weapons such as machetes and iron rods, in the clash that continued for about an hour and a half beginning about 4:30am.

At least 45 Chhatra League leaders who were injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.Four of them were admitted to the DMCH, two were admitted to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation hospital.Others were given first aid treatment in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and in the university medical centre.

'There was no one wounded with bullet,' DMCH casualty consultant ABM Abul Matin told New Age.The university proctor, KM Saiful Islam Khan, said that the university authorities had filed a case against 10 students involved in the clash. 'At least 10 students could be expelled from the university.'

The proctor said a three-member committee, headed by the hall's house tutor Abu Taleb, had been instituted to investigate the matter and was asked to submit report within a week.

Nobody was arrested after the filing of the case with the Shahbagh police station about 11:00pm, the Shahbagh police chief said.

The 10 students are Shafiqul Islam, the hall unit Chhatra League president Mohammad Ali, secretary general Mohammad Mohiuddin, Mainul Islam, Aminul Islam Sohag, Abu Bakr Siddique Rahat, Minhazuddin Sohag, Hannan Talukder, Mehedi and Mizanur Rahman, the Shahbagh police said.

Witnesses said groups loyal to the Muhsin Hall unit BCL president Sheikh Mohammad Ali, general secretary Mohammad Mohiuddin, assistant secretary Abu Bakr Siddique Rahat, university unit BCL joint secretary Aminul Islam Sohag, and activist Mainul Islam together attacked the leaders and activists loyal to the hall unit BCL organising secretary Mohiuddin Mahi with firearms and weapons about 4:30am.

The groups began the clash suddenly after the proctor, hall provost Ali Akkas and the Shahbagh police officer-in-charge, who were trying a negotiation between the groups, had left the hall about 3:00am on the assurance of Chhatra League leaders that they would maintain order, the witnesses said.The witnesses said that supporters of Mohiuddin Mahi were forced to leave the hall after the sudden attack.

'We were not prepared at the time. Some of us were asleep as seniors assured us that there would be no clash,' said a student of peace and conflict studies, Mehedi.The combined group of the BCL activists also damaged the windowpanes of the TV room and dining hall, and ransacked at least 20 rooms of the hall.

An injured activist, Mainul Hossain, alleged that they had requested the proctor, house tutors and the police to rescue them but they did not heed them.The police, who had left at 3:00am, rushed back to the hall about 6:00am but entered the building half an hour later, the witnesses said.

The law enforcers during the raid seized a local-made pistol loaded with two bullets and some lethal weapons from the hall premises.The BCL hall unit general secretary, Mohammad Mohiuddin, told New Age they did not have any option but to attack the Mahi group as the people loyal to Mahi were overdoing things. 'We cannot allow any anarchy in the hall.'

The university unit Chhatra League has suspended all the activities of the organisation's Muhsin Hall unit on Tuesday after the clash, said a release in the afternoon.

The hall unit president, Sheikh Mohammad Ali, was expelled from the organisation. The university unit committee suspended the organisation's membership of 10 others — Aminul Islam Sohag, Mohiuddin Mahi, Shafekuzzaman, Minhaj Uddin Sohag, Abu Bakr Siddique Rahat, Mainul Islam, Mizanur Rahman, Hannan Talukder, Mehedi and Akramul Haq Nitol, said the release, signed by the university unit BCL president, Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, and the general secretary, Sazzad Sakib Badsha.Deployment of law enforcers was reinforced as the campus remained tense.Classes were held and other activities continued as usual on the day.

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/16801.html



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[ALOCHONA] Leak uncovers dossier on lone Bangladeshi inmate at Guantanamo



Leak uncovers dossier on lone Bangladeshi inmate at Guantanamo

The leak of some 759 "detainee assessment" dossiers reveals the thinking of US Pentagon officials on who has been detained, what for, and how long at the notorious detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, where the 1949 Geneva Conventions on Prisoners of War have been known to be flouted. The dossiers were released on Monday by the New York Times in the US, and the Guardian, UK, who obtained them from whistleblower site WikiLeaks. They contain the file on the lone Bangladeshi to have been incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay, Mubarak Hussain bin Abul Hashem.

Abul Hashem served in Guantanamo from January 2002 to his release in December 2006, when a special US Air Force plane flew him back to Bangladesh after failing to gather any evidence to implicate him in terrorist activity. Since his return, Abul Hashem has gotten married, and became the father of a baby girl in 2008. The dearth of any clear evidence linking him to terrorist activity, which is quite apparent from a look through his dossier, makes the 5 years he lost in Guantanamo even more regrettable.

The assessment starts with a section on Abul Hashem's personal information, which includes the false name (Rawhan Ben Abd Al Rauf) he gave to the Pakistani officials who first detained him, his true name, his place of birth in Brahmanbaria, and his date of birth, which is given as January 1st, 1978. The section closes with his Internment Serial Number, US9BG-000151DP. Since being released, Hashem has revealed he was known as "Enemy Combatant 151" while in custody.

The next section of note contains a recommendation that "detainee be Released or Transferred to the Control of Another Country." But although this assessment is dated March 25, 2005, it would be another 21 months before Abul Hashem was finally released. It is also revealed here that the previous time he was assessed for release or transfer was September 13, 2003.

In the March 2005 updated recommendation, Abul Hashem is assessed as "a probable Islamic extremist", with "possible" ties to Al Qaeda and its global terrorist network. It is said that all debriefers and analysts "concurred" that his cover story is not plausible, and that he is "extremely deceptive" during interviews.

Abul Hashem is said to have been uncooperative and aloof during interrogation. The fact that a senior Al Qaeda lieutenant, Abu Zubeidah, was "familiar" with him is said to indicate that Hashem at least utilised Al Qaeda safehouses while entering/exiting Afghanistan. He is also said to pose a "low-risk", as he is unlikely to pose a future threat to the US, its interests, or its allies. There follows an account based on Abul Hashem's own statements on how he ended up in Guantanamo, which is then set against US officials' own assessment how things panned out. Largely, they differ on the circumstances surrounding his capture.

After going to Pakistan in 1999, Abul Hashem is said to have claimed he travelled to Kabul in November 2001. While there, he visited the Mazar-i-Sharif, and stayed with one Bashir Ahmed for four days before returning to Pakistan.

On his way back, after getting to the Pakistani side of the border, he travelled to Peshawar. It was there that he was detained by Pakistani plainclothes policemen, for "looking like a foreigner" and not having any identification. He was then turned over to the Pakistani military who handed him over to US custody. Later he was transferred to Guantanamo Bay on January 17, 2002.

The US officials' assessment thereafter of Hashem as an "Islamic extremist" is admitted to be based on "largely circumstantial" information, such as:

- Abul Hashem's decision to travel to Kabul just after the US offensive began.
- The fact that he was one of 195 detainees captured and turned over to US custody by Pakistani officials during late 2001 and early 2002, and the rest were all Arab mujahideen attempting to flee Afghanistan and US troops.
- His parents' background ("his father is an Imam") is said to suggest they "encouraged" him to join Jihad in Afghanistan.
-Abu Zubeidah's statement that Abul Hashem looked "familiar", even though he was unable to recall his name or identity.

In its concluding sections, the assessment states Abul Hashem is of "low" intelligence value, that is, unable to provide much information that could be considered valuable for America in its War on Terror. The final word on his status at that point reconfirms him as an "enemy combatant". The assessment is signed by Brigadier General Jay H. Wood.

http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-46649


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[ALOCHONA] Fwd: Darkness in India ?



------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Vidya Bhushan Rawat <vbrawat@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 2:01 AM
Subject: Darkness in India ?
To:

In Memory of Sai Baba

 

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

 

The 'immortal' remains of Sai Bab will be buried tomorrow. His followers and devout worshippers are crying and moaning that he had claimed he would die at the age of 96. Instead, he died at the age of 85. I think the devout Bhaktas are wrong as Sai did not claim anything which he was unable to do. Definitely, he knew about his day of death. I am sure, his father must have put his age in the school head master's record book, much below his actual age. That is why Sai is proved wrong. He must be 96 as he died. I can not be 85 as being informed to us. I believe in Sai. He did so many miracles which many street side Madari wallahs used to do. Many of our friends had already exposed his tricks. But, I suppose the biggest trick was his age. So, his devotees must not say that Sai will come back. He can not as he was required some where else. He did not die. Who says so. He will always be in the heart of his devotees. Don't you see how our country is moaning. Sachin is crying, Sunil Gavaskar is shocked, Amitabh is blogging, Manmohan and Sonia have grim faces, Andhra Pradesh government is not functioning. The country, it seems, have stopped functioning. The only thing that is happening is IPL. Cant these IPL wallahs, half of whom may be the devotees of Sai Baba, make an announcement to culminate the game and declare 'Deccan Chargers' as winner for this year, in memory of Sai.

 

All our celebraties are moaning but not ready to leave their penny for a year. Let them say that they would donate the whole years earning in memory of Sai. Ordinary devotees are crying, beating their chests as police is not allowing them. What will happen to them ? How will India move forward. India does not remain in darkness despite no electrity and no literacy but Sai's death has plunged the entire country into darkness. Are people able to see each other ? Oh, I see, the only light it seems is in the India TV and all other TV channles, who are doing their duty painstakingly for the whole day and night. India is in trouble. What to do ?

 

Adwani, Sonia, Sachin, Amitabh all are together in their sorrow. How great this unity is ? I think, it will not take much pursuasion for them to declare Sai Baba as Bharat Ratna. None will have any question. Sachin would be happy so would be Gavaskar, Advani, Togadia, Sonia and all others would always nod as Sai's greatness crosses all the barriers. All our bureacrats will be more than happy to clear the files. And president Pratibha Patil wont take much time in signing the recommendation from the Central cabinet. In many years, this will be the greatest unity in Parliament which is not running smoothly. All the political parties may pass a resolution to grant Sai Baba as Bharat Ratna as he fits into everything, a great spiritual leader, a magician who attracted every one, a social worker who provided water to even the athiests in Tamilnadu. One can see how Karnunanidhi is so sad. But is Karunanidhi sad because Sai provided water or because he was a backward community person. At least some backward was able to bring Brahmins, Banias, Goras, Kalas all together. How great it is that the Brahmanism in India is back to life with the greatness of Sai Baba. Ofcourse, backwards are already donning great seats there. After Sai baba we have other Babas ready to serve the Manu Smiriti.

 

Sai has gone. I have no intention to show disrespect to him. He deserve our respect but not the way these forces want us to do. We refuse to believe in all those miracles which he claimed. They remain hollow. India is a country where more than 75% of its population is still earning less than 1/2 dollar a day. We do not decent living for our people. We do not have electricity, petrol and food security. A majority of its poor live in abject poverty. Our state leaders have looted everything that we had. I know Sai can not do anything. He could not save himself. He had to die. But the myth that he created around him at the end is exposed. Those who thought tht he would die on his own are shocked. Those who thought he can not die are unable to believe. May be his ghost might haunt them. Who knows tomorrow, some of these deovotees claim that they have 'Sai's atma in them. And after that we all know how much money we have in india in these Bhoot Prets. The books published by Geeta Press would sale like hot cake. Hari om Sharan will resing hanuman chalisa and everything will be as usual as it is. People will achieve everything after going to Sai Samadhi. We will have annual Urs there and dignitries and celebraties will attend that. And India's problem will be solved there. We will only hear on TV who wore what. Who was accompanying whome and what was Priyanka Chopra wearing and so on. So, we will have a lot of work after wards at the Sai Ashram. Praveen Togadia has already warned government not to attempt intervening in Sai's property. Togadia know it well that government wont touch his property as Sai's ghost can come in the dreams of Man Mohan Singh to haunt him so none will touch. And the local Babus do not have the 'haisiyat' to count the money that Sai have. I can not count the numbers.. so many thousands crores.. Oh, difficult and mythological money like the myth of Sai. So, money will remain mysterious till a Julian Assange takes the challenge and try to count them.

In the meanwhile, the devotees can multifold the property by different ways. India is known to have deep respect for its leaders and spiritual leaders. We can start by acquiring several acres land in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Banglore and Kolkata at the first phase to erect Sai Memorial. Other cities can follow later. It is important that Sai become a money spinning machine so that millions of job can be created for the new priests. Already, we have to think that astrology is a science as being claimed by the Vaidiks and we can not allow our brahmins to be out of job hence it is important that education must provide job to all. So, these new Sai institutions can create best funds for our new generations and imbibe brahmanical cultural values in our children so that we can wait for miracles in future too and remain far away from enlightenment.

 

As I am writing this, I get the news that Andhra Pradesh police has extended the deadline for 'antim darshan' of Sai Baba till late in the night. I am sure tomorrow they will complete the task of burrying him otherwise there might be problem. All of those who have not taken the antim darshan, should do it fast, as there is no space in the TV studios afterwards. They can not show all the time people crying and crying. A big event is waiting in London. And we all are ready to see our former colonial masters getting ready for the big bash. Each of the bhaktas would be keen to see Kate and the prince kissing each other at the Balcony of their Royal Palace. The same anchors will be smiling and talking about dignitries and celebraties albiet in a different way this time. And the show will go on..



--
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Visit my blog at
www.manukhsi.blogspot.com

For information on the issues, movements and priorities of Scavenger community in India please log on to
www.swachchakar.blogspot.com
For information on civil society initiatives on Muslims in UP please log on to
www.rehnumaa.blogspot.com

Follow me on twitter at freetohumanity

Skype at vbrawat


For Social action, land rights, right to food and hunger issues support Social Development Foundation at  www.thesdf.org




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[ALOCHONA] When hukkaah-hua echoes through the night . . .



'Minority women' gang raped in Bangladesh in 2001-02

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Minority-women-gang-raped-in-Bangladesh-in-2001-02/articleshow/8089409.cms

IANS | Apr 26, 2011

DHAKA: A judicial commission has concluded that over 200 Hindu women
were raped following the 2001 parliamentary election, forcing many
terrorized families to flee the country.

The acts were allegedly committed by cadres of the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami who won the 2001
polls, the report said, citing the involvement of many top leaders and
lawmakers of the alliance that is now in the opposition.

While the commission referred to the victims as "minority women",
media reports of that period had identified them as Hindus.

With Begum Khaleda Zia as the prime minister, the BNP-Jamaat alliance
ruled Bangladesh during 2001-06.

The violence went on for 15 months and "the barbarous act was intended
to force them to leave the country. They were, in the eyes of the
culprits, enemies as they voted for the Awami League", The Daily Star
said on Tuesday, quoting commission sources.

The commission submitted the report to home minister Sahara Khatun. It
lists 3,625 incidents of major crimes, including killing, rape, arson
and looting.

Media reports at that time had detailed the plight of hundreds of
Hindu families crossing over to India, forcing the Indian government
to express concern.

Bangladeshi poet Daud Hyder, who visited the camps in India where
these families were lodged and wrote about it, was later charged with
sedition and imprisoned.

The wave of violence was the subject of "Lajja" by novelist Taslima
Nasreen, who angered the Islamists at home and was had to quit
Bangladesh. She still remains exiled.

Many victims and their family members interviewed by the probe panel
narrated harrowing experiences, but said they did not lodge police
reports or undergo forensic tests for fear of inviting social stigma,
the report says.

Many victims and their family members across the country contacted the
commission when it was conducting the probe.

According to the panel, it would be "tough or, to some extent,
impossible" to continue the probe into the rape allegations "as the
victims themselves are unwilling to do the legal battle".

The probe panel found that most of the gang rapes occurred in the
country's southern part - Bhola, Barisal, Agoiljhara and Gaurnadi.

The accused were acquitted for lack of witnesses. In some cases,
police gave final reports while the names of the accused were dropped
in over 500 cases out of the 3,625 major incidents.

With the passing of a decade, some of the accused utilised "good
connection with ruling Awami League men", which forced the police to
drop many cases, the media report said.

The panel has named several BNP and Jamaat leaders for their
involvement in the post-poll violence.

_____________
Also see
Pakistan terrorism since 1971: Bangladesh Rape Victims
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7uppdmCsA


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[ALOCHONA] The New Geopolitics of Food



               Please read this article and relearn some of the things that we have seen and known for a long time but have not been doing any thinking about how they should be interpreted in the light of a fast changing world.  In other words, let's do some thinking away from religion for a change.
 
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/25/more_than_1_billion_people_are_hungry_in_the_world
 
                  It would be nice to hear your comments on this important and vital 'political' subject.
 
                                         Farida Majid
                          


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[ALOCHONA] HALAL ROMANTIC/PICKUP LINES:



HALAL ROMANTIC LINES:

1. I love the way your hijaab flows when you walk.

2. Marry me so I don't have to lower my gaze every time you walk into the room.

3. Would you like to help wake me up at Fajr?

4. Are your feet tired? Because you've been performing tawaaf in my mind all day long.

5. How would you like to help me fulfill half of my deen?

6. You are the reason hijaab was mandated.

7. Allah created everything in pairs. What are you doing single?

8. I would like to be more than your brother in Islam.

9. Let me take you for Hajj.

Possibility:

10. Girl: When I saw you I said Mashallah, then I said Inshallah!


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[ALOCHONA] HALAL ROMANTIC/PICKUP LINES:



HALAL ROMANTIC LINES:

1. I love the way your hijaab flows when you walk.

2. Marry me so I don't have to lower my gaze every time you walk into the room.

3. Would you like to help wake me up at Fajr?

4. Are your feet tired? Because you've been performing tawaaf in my mind all day long.

5. How would you like to help me fulfill half of my deen?

6. You are the reason hijaab was mandated.

7. Allah created everything in pairs. What are you doing single?

8. I would like to be more than your brother in Islam.

9. Let me take you for Hajj.

Possibility:

10. Girl: When I saw you I said Mashallah, then I said Inshallah!


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[ALOCHONA] Behind the scene of a new trend in politics Sirajul Alam Khan



Behind the scene of a new trend in politics Sirajul Alam Khan

 

Sirajul Alam Khan, alias Dada, the mystery man of Bangladesh's politics, is back on the scene with a mission uncannily similar to unfolding events

by ANWAR PARVEZ HALIM

Sirajul Alam Khan returned to the country in the beginning of January. He told his close associates that the election scheduled for January 22 would not be held. After that emergency was declared on January 11 and the election was cancelled.

Previously when Sirajul Alam Khan would come to the country, he would be seen in the lobby of Hotel Sheraton. He'd spend hours there, engrossed in adda with is friends, followers, associates -- all and sundry. But his hang-out has changed this time. He now hangs out in the evenings at Oxford International School on Road 27, Dhanmondi. He comes there around seven in the evening and stays until around 10 at night or even later. The school belongs to the wife of a former JSD activist.

It's a motley crowd that comes to meet Sirajul Alam Khan -- politicians, NGO leaders, labour leaders, former civil and military bureaucrats, writers, intellectuals, big names of the civil society, former comrades and more. However, he is totally avoiding the media. He refuses to give interviews or come into direct contract with the media, says a close associate and former JSD leader.

Sirajul Alam Khan is known to his followers as 'Dada'. This Mystery Man of politics, the so-called theoretician, has always acts behind the scenes. He is a silent player and has been away from open and active politics for quite some time now.

In 1996-97 Sirajul Alam Khan joined the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh as a Professor of Political Science. So for the last 10 years he's been a resident of the US. During this decade he's visited the country off and on, sometimes in secret and sometimes openly.

Dada's close associates say this time he is on a vital political mission. He's being doing the ground work on this over the past couple of years. In fact, it is said that it is Sirajul Alam Khan who was behind the first meeting of the 'honest and able candidate movement' initiated by CPD, Prothom Alo and Daily Star. He was reportedly behind the Bengal studies Conference organised by Stamford University. And he is also said to be have behind the Unity for Political reforms of ASM Abdur Rab and Mizanur Rahman Shelley. In fact, his close associates claim that he has been encouraging Prof. Yunus from the very outset of the honest candidates movement.

Dada also has a nod for the steps being taken by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed's government against crime and corruption. He has long been cherishing a dream of a '21st century Bangladesh' through radical changes in the country's politics, government and Constitution. He has even written a book on the matter. A documentary, based on this book, has been made and is available on VCD and DVDs at the Ekushey book fair. It depicts the history of Bengal and Bengalis, of the actual indigenous people of the land, of how they were driven away, how the boundaries of Bengal were changed, how post-independent Bengalis are building a modern lifestyle, are progressing in science, technology and more. The film also contains statements of Dr. Yunus. The film was made in 2006.

There are many who imagine that Dr. Yunus' present plans are the brainchild of Sirajul Alam Khan. Dr. Yunus has announced that he will be floating a political party -- Nagorik Shakti (Citizens' Force). Dada has full support for the party.

Dada's liaison is not limited to Dr. Yunus alone. He held a meeting with senior leaders of JSD (Rab) till 1:00 on the night of February 16 and held a secret meeting with Rab himself on the next day, February 17. He reportedly plans on a revival of JSD. It would not be surprising if Hasanul Huq Inu joins in the process too.

Many personalities now seen in various forums, seminars, roundtables, TV talk shows and in the columns of newspapers, have been in close contact with Dada for the last two or three years.  Labour organisations, student organisations and other professional bodies are also being mobilised at Dada's behest, reports say.

Sources from the evening adda at Oxford International School say that Sirajul Alam Khan is of the opinion that if things go according to plan, a political platform will emerge in the future. This will include Yunus' party and JSD, as well as honest but deprived leaders of Awami League and BNP in name of Awami League and BNP respectively. Other allies will join the platform too, but all on the basis of consensus. And Yunus will remain at the top. Why Yunus? It is because, analysts say, Dada is aware that outside of the two major political parties, no other party has the strength to create a third force. For this a well-known popular personality is needed, someone who everyone respects. And that is Nobel Laureate Prof. Yunus.

If the outside forces who are backing Yunus simply put him on the pedestal of power, then Bangladesh is likely to be compared with Afghanistan and Yunus will be seen as a Karzai. In that case, Sirajul Alam Khan will probably not be in favour of Yunus. All these matters have been mulled over at Dada's meetings.

Sirajul Alam Khan has drawn up a 14-point programme for a 'new trend of politics'. These 14 points have been publicised since last year through ASM Abdur Rab's Unity for Political Reforms. He has given support to Yunus' seven points too along with these 14 and has published an election manifesto. Actually, almost all of Yunus' seven points are in Sirajul Alam Khan's 14. This manifesto is for no one particular party; it was published in January for all political parties, professional groups, civil society, the political reforms movement, the human rights movement, the labour force and NGOs.

In the manifesto he states, 'It was in 1972 that political unrest and apathy as well as lack of confidence in leadership emerged... Two major parties have been ruling the country in turns for quite some time. The whole country was held hostage when these two parties, with their respective alliances, took up confrontational stands.' He question, 'Will these two parties or alliances change in any way after the election?'

In his manifesto, Sirajul Alam Khan writes of Dr. Yunus, 'Prof. Yunus' winning of the Nobel Price for Peace and his talk of 'new leadership' and 'new political structure' indicates a new trend quite opposition from prevalent politics. His call for 'able and honest candidates' for the election may well be the slogan for a movement.' Sirajul Alam Khan also says, 'I believe Dr. Muhammed Yunus' seven-point peace deal and my 14-point proposal will help unite those who look for a new trend in politics.'

 

The manifesto

 

The manifesto is written in light of the political model drawn up by Sirajul Alam Khan. He speaks of a two-House parliament in which, alongside the area-wise representation, there will be representation based in labour, employment and profession. There will be a federal government system. An autonomous local government will be established at an upazila level. All these are components a rule appropriate for an independent country, according to the manifesto.

The manifesto also mentions recognition for the minority ethnic groups. He speaks of a National Economic Council, a judicial council, a constitutional court, a National Security Council, a metropolitan government, a mega seaport and a sub-regional economic forum. Sirajul Alam Khan has also spoken in support of Dr. Yunus' micro-credit banking system and social business. The manifesto hold detailed organograms of the government, parliament and National Economic Council.

In the coming election, Sirajul Alam Khan hopes, all the parties and alliances will include his reforms programme in their manifestos.

Various quarters are quite eager to have Dada's programmes implemented. Some of Dada's close associates even claim to see similitude between his programmes and of the present government.

After winning the Nobel prize, Dr. Yunus has been quite vocal about Chittagong Port. He has been quite clear in his assertion that the port can be handed over to the private sector of foreign quarters. In his 14 points, Sirajul Alam Khan speaks of constructing a mega seaport at Chittagong. Many feel that Yunus will deliver this.

There are, of course, many who are eyeing Sirajul Alam Khan's activities with suspicion. They feel that his mission is closely entwined with the interests of multinational companies as well as with the powers that be who aim at establishing their hold politically, economically and militarily in the region. They apprehend that Dada's vision of a new trend in politics will lead to the handover of the country's mineral resources, seaport, transit and other resources to outside powers, at the cost of national interests. 


http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=2212

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