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Monday, July 18, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Muhammad Yunus banks on beating the enemies of microfinance



Muhammad Yunus banks on beating the enemies of microfinance

The Nobel peace prize winner discusses recent attacks on his schemes to relieve poverty, from within Bangladesh and abroad

Madeleine Bunting
guardian.co.uk, Monday 18 July 2011

Microfinance pioneer and Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus Photograph: Philipp Ebeling

Muhammad Yunus is good at being calm. At 7.30am in a chilly office in central London, he talks with urbane charm and all the dispassionate objectivity of a philosopher as he considers the Bangladeshi government's campaign against him, and the possibility that it might destroy his life's work building up the world's first microfinance bank.

He is Bangladesh's most famous son, known as the world's banker to the poor, winner in 2006 with the Grameen Bank of the Nobel peace prize, a tireless campaigner at global summits for microfinance and social enterprise who can count Hillary Clinton, Nicolas Sarkozy and Mary Robinson among his many friends. But as the saying goes, a prophet is never recognised in his own country. Neither the global acclaim – nor the protestations of both the French and the US government – is making much difference to a government intent on destroying Yunus's hold on Grameen Bank and the network of social enterprise companies he has developed over the last four decades.

Bangladesh's prime minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed has accused him of "sucking blood from the poor", and others have alleged corruption despite official government inquiries clearing him last month of any wrongdoing. In the end, the only charge that has stuck is that at a sprightly 70, he is too old to be managing director of the Grameen Bank. A charge made, incidentally, by the 77-year-old finance minister.

"I'm not hurt by the vilification in the press; I'm disappointed and I'm worried. I don't want to see an organisation which has come all this way and brought so much good to the country and brought power to the people, come to this. Many people are angry but anger doesn't solve anything," he says.

"I want to calm things down. If we are prepared, we can do damage control."

This is his first interview since the crisis broke early this year. Yunus is refusing to talk to the Bangladeshi media for fear of further inflaming the controversy, and he is adamant that he will not be drawn into speculating as to why the government has forced his recent resignation. He simply says: "I can't see the purpose, I can't see what the country gains, what the government gains."

There is certainly a lot to lose. Any bank depends on confidence and the last few months have been turbulent for Grameen's 22,000 employees and 8.36 million borrowers, 97% of whom are women. So far, repayment rates on the millions of small loans are holding steady and borrowers are not withdrawing deposits – either could bring the bank to collapse. Yunus's calmness in London is all about steadying the confidence of his Bangladeshi audience. As one of the most efficient and stable economic institutions in a desperately poor country, there are many who are hoping he will succeed and that Grameen will weather this storm.

It was a YouTube version of a documentary film made by a Dane and broadcast in Norway late last year about Yunus, Grameen Bank and microfinance generally that prompted the outcry against him. The film – in Norwegian, it has not yet been translated – eventually prompted a government review of the Grameen Bank, investigating a number of charges ranging from some obscure accounting between Grameen subsidiaries and the Norwegian aid agency in the 1990s, to the charging of high interest rates to poor borrowers.

The government review cleared Yunus in April, but made a number of recommendations for the future of the Grameen Bank. At the same time, the government followed another line of attack with the finance minister ordering that he resign because he is too old; Grameen Bank took the minister to court and lost. Reluctantly, Yunus decided that to avoid further turbulence, he had no option but to resign. He is hoping that "good sense will prevail" and the government will allow him to take up a position of non-executive chair to oversee the transition.

While Yunus refuses to be drawn on the reasons for this bitter political dogfight, his many friends and allies are rushing to his help. An international campaign, Friends of the Grameen, was launched in March, chaired by Mary Robinson, while both the US and the French governments have remonstrated with the Bangladeshi authorities. Clinton phoned to offer her personal support; Nicolas Sarkozy wrote to assure Yunus of his. It's all a far cry from the day he stood up in Oslo and talked of putting "poverty into a museum" in his Nobel prize acceptance speech.

The most likely explanation for the attacks on him is that Yunus's brief foray into politics in 2007 unnerved Sheikh Hasina. He announced he was going to set up a political party but ended up abandoning his the idea after only two months. His huge global reputation and the economic weight of the Grameen brand has made enemies insecure.

Yunus may be suddenly unemployed, but he is not short of offers. There has been plenty of interest from all over the world, he admits, adding that he has been offered institutes to head, initiatives to lead, figurehead positions. But on this he is very clear: he is not leaving Bangladesh.

If the man is under siege, so is the idea he nurtured. There is a crisis in the microfinance sector in India, where high rates of interest in the private sector microfinance banks were linked with suicides. Yunus is defiant about microfinance, which he still passionately believes has been of benefit to millions.

"We never said microfinance was a silver bullet," he insists. "Or why would I bother to create 50 other companies ranging from agriculture to telecommunications? Job creation is the solution to poverty. Loans should only be given to fund enterprises. They mustn't ever be used for 'consumption smoothing' or how can people pay back the loans? It has to be about income generation."

"When microfinance spread across the world, some people abused it. Some went berserk. In my opinion, if there is any personal profit involved, it should not be called microfinance, which should be totally devoted to the benefit of poor people. People used the respect for microfinance. In every country where there was microfinance they needed proper regulatory authorities to oversee the sector and legislation to define it. I knew that the sector was crippled by an inadequate legal framework."

Yunus recognises there was some "overbilling" of microfinance, but sees that as part of the way you win donors' interest in a project. He certainly used powerful rhetoric to urge on efforts in tackling poverty. But beyond that he is unapologetic. He didn't oversell it; when he talked of putting poverty in a museum it was a "hope", he says, it was not a plan. And he is emphatic: "Microfinance does reduce poverty. Look at the people who have joined Grameen. It's the most intensively researched organisation in the world."

The research in Bangladesh has been positive but then the country's economy has been growing at 8% a year, and the research has not been rigorous enough to separate out which has been responsible for poverty reduction. Yunus knows these debates about evidence but he will give them no quarter, and he simply repeats: "I believe it reduces poverty; it's become the fashion to be negative about Grameen."

"It was the media who built up microfinance," he says.

On one thing even critics of microfinance agree. Whatever the problems now bedevilling the sector, its originator is being treated appallingly in Bangladesh. As for Yunus, he stoically insists his work must go on. He spends as much time talking about social business now as he does about microfinance, such as developing partnerships with businesses such as the food company Danone to create enterprise schemes for the poor. Institutes dedicated to social business have recently been launched in Glasgow and Paris.

"I'm programmed to keep working," he smiles, and then he allows himself a little self-aggrandisement. "It's like Socrates or Galileo. If you are saying something different or new, and it doesn't fit, it will create tension. If people applaud, you're not doing something new. If people get shocked, you're in business."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/18/muhammad-yunus-microfinance-bangladesh



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[ALOCHONA] FM says no info on Tipaimukh dam construction



FM says no info on Tipaimukh dam construction



The government has no information that the Indian government starts building a dam on the common river Barak at Tipaimukh, foreign minister Dipu Moni said Monday.

The dam in the Indian province of Monipur would have severe consequences in lower riparian Bangladesh, water experts said.According to Indian media reports construction of the Tipaimukh Damk would start in weeks.

Dipu Moni, however, said that the two governments would sign transit agreements during Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September.Asked about India's decision to build the controversial dam above Bangladesh, she said, 'The Indian prime minister assured our prime minister that India will not do anything harmful for Bangladesh.'

'We have no information that they have done anything moving away from that position,' she told a news conference when her attention was drawn to a news according to which the government of India gave approval to build the Tipaimukh dam. 

Asked about the Awami League led government's position on providing transit to India, the foreign minister said, 'discussions are going on. I am hopeful that we will be able to sign several transit protocols during the Indian prime minister's visit.'

Singh is scheduled to pay a two-day official visit to Dhaka beginning September 6.'We have taken a political decision to provide the transit,' she said during prime minister's Sheikh Hasina's visit Delhi in January, 2010.She said, 'Now the matter is at implementation phase.'

She said that the two countries 'are discussing' the issue of determining fees and the use of infrastructure.'It's a long process. Nothing will happen overnight,' said Dipu Moni.She said that the Bangladesh government would also examine deals signed by other countries on providing transit with same characteristics.She said that the government was working on providing transit to India, Nepal and Bhutan under a broad framework.

India is about start the construction of the Tipaimukh Dam, United News of Bangladesh reported last week quoting a top official of Nipko, an affiliated company of the Indian Power Ministry, which had been entrusted to implement the hydroelectric project on the common international river Barak.

The official said Nipko obtained environmental clearance and received the go-ahead from the Indian central government to build the dam at Tipaimukh in Churachandpur district in the northeastern Indian province of Monipur.He also said that on receiving the go-head the company already took the necessary preparations to start the dam construction on the Barak at Tipaimukh.

Barak feeds two rivers in Bangladesh— the 350-kilometer long Surma and 110-km long Kushiara, the lifeline of the country's north-eastern region.India would also build a barrage on the Barak at Fuletal in Lakhipur in Assam below the Tipaimukh Dam to divert its waters for an irrigation project, Nipko said.

The Nipko official said that the machinery and equipment for the construction were being transported to Tipaimukh and the construction engineers, technicians and workers were gathering at the site.The news that the government of India was preparing to start the construction of the Tipaimukh Dam  defying protests by the people of Bangladesh and India's north-eastern region heightened worries in the region.

The Indian project to divert Barak waters at the upstream would, in the dry months, dry up Surma and Kushiara, which feeds the Megna, a major river system in Bangladesh, would adversely affect lower riparian Bangladesh in several ways, water experts said.But in the rainy season the release of extra flows by India would aggravate flooding and erosion in Bangladesh, particularly in greater Sylhet.

The problems in lower riparian Bangladesh would increase manifold due to Tipaimukh Dam, water, environment and agriculture experts warned.Water and agriculture experts said Tipaimukh would create severe water shortage in Bangladesh's north-eastern region and turn a vast arable area into arid land to threaten the country's food security and farmers' livelihood.

Farmers in Sylhet, Moulvibazaar, Sunamganj, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria are worried that griculture and fishing, which provide them sustenance, would be destroyed by the Indian dam.

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/26751.html

http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/07/19/93615


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[ALOCHONA] Indian industries in Bangladesh [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from Isha Khan included below]

Indian industries in Bangladesh


Attachment(s) from Isha Khan

1 of 1 File(s)


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[ALOCHONA] Successful home ministry....

23 mob-lynched in 18 months

Dhaka, July 18 (bdnews24.com) — At least 23 youths were killed in
mob-lynch attacks in capital Dhaka and on the outskirts of it in the
last 18 months.

"Such incidents are taking place recurrently as the number of floating
people, with little common sense, is on the rise," said a senior
police official on Monday.

In the latest incident, six students were killed in a mass beating at
Keblarchar in the early hours of Monday, as they were suspected to be
robbers.

Additional superintendent of police of Dhaka Sheikh Rafiqul Islam told
bdnews24.com the incident was regrettable.

"The only way to tackle the growing problem of mass beating is to
raise the awareness of people," he said.

On Nov 5 last year, five youths, suspected to be robbers by locals,
were killed in a mass beating on Khanka Sharif Road at Matuail in
Kadamtali.

Deputy commissioner (Wari zone) Mozammel Haque had called the incident
a 'rights of self-defence'. "This is a social resistance. People did
it because they got aggrieved," he had said.

Nur Habib, a resident of Baradesi village near Keblarchar where
Monday's incident took place, said, "I don't know what they were doing
there at night. We don't go to Keblarchar even at daytime."

He said the place was usually a hub for robbers, who swoop on nearby
villages -- Baradesi, Chanpur and Salehpur -- from there.

Murad Hossain, another villager, said four robberies had taken place
in their village since July 4. Officer-in-charge of Savar Police
Station Mahbubur Rahman, however, said only one robbery case had been
filed in recent times.

On Mar 14, two unidentified youth were killed in Keraniganj, one Sumon
was killed in Hasnabad on June 20, and a man, Badsha Sarder, was
killed in Shakta on June 22 -- all in the same brutal way.


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

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[ALOCHONA] KING OF CORRUPTION !!!!!!!!!

King
          of
               corruption !!!!
 
Please watch the Youtube video:
 
 

From: Faruque Alamgir <faruquealamgir@gmail.com>
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com; notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com; mohiuddin@netzero.net; Nayan Khan <udarakash08@yahoo.com>; Sonar Bangladesh <sonarbangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; wideminds <WideMinds@yahoogroups.com>; dahuk <dahuk@yahoogroups.com>; Dr. Abid Bahar <abidbahar@yahoo.com>; delwar <delwar98@hotmail.com>; Banglar Bhuiyan <banglar_12_bhuiyan@yahoo.com>; zoglul@hotmail.co.uk; alochona <alochona@yahoogroups.com>; Amra Bangladesi <amra-bangladesi@yahoogroups.com>; Md. Aminul Islam <aminul_islam_raj@yahoo.com>; Anis Ahmed <anis.ahmed@netzero.net>; ovimot yahoogroups <Ovimot@yahoogroups.com>; History islam <history_islam@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 11:45 AM
Subject: [notun_bangladesh] Re: [KHABOR] Mr. Sayeed Aslam madrasha Student & Parimal Babu

 
NO NO  PARIMAL IS THE JONMODATA DAD OF SAYED(false) ASLAM'S IN BANGLADESH !!! SO,HOW COME SON PROTEST ABOUT THE DEBAUCHERY OF THE DAD ????????????????? 
IT'S SIMPLE EQUATION ???????????????

On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 8:11 PM, Banglar Bhuiyan <banglar_12_bhuiyan@yahoo.com> wrote:
Mr. Sayed Asalm
some time before you posted madrasha student's news why you silent about parimal babu. Is he your relative?

From: Syed_Aslam3 <Syed.Aslam3@gmail.com>
To: Khobor <khabor@yahoogroups.com>; notun Bangladesh <notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; chottala@yahoogroups.com; Sonar Bangladesh <SonarBangladesh@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 July 2011, 18:10:54
Subject: [chottala.com] Kohinoor Miah Charge sheeted






[ALOCHONA] FW: Seminar in Jeddah on "Why Dowry is Haraam"



             This is a mind-blowing development!  A glimpse of light in the Kingdom of the Jahil? The subcontinental ajami Muslims are not going to like it. Torturing women for dowry,  though the custom of dowry did not belong to Muslims, has become too much of a national entertainment all over Bangladesh!
 
               ~Farida Majid

To:
From: aleemfalki@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:04:29 -0700
Subject: Seminar in Jeddah on "Why Dowry is Haraam"

 
Dear Freinds,
 
Assalamalaikum
 
To escape from the obligation, people say the Dowry is a controversial issue, a social evil or a cultural problem. No, it is not.
 
It is neither a controversial issue, nor a social or cultural problem. Ulema have clearly said it "Haraam".
 
In the same way, the dinner imposed on wedding day on the bride's parents is said as "hospitality" given "KHUSHI SE by the parents of the girl.
 
No, it is not hospitality. It is a clear blackmail in the name of the system and it is against the Sunnah. Those who can afford easily are the main culprits who are spoiling the society.
 
To endorse the above facts,  important scholars of various schools of thoughts of Sunni and Shia will address the seminar.  They are:
 
Maulan Abdul Qadeer Taher Qadri - Jama Nizamia
Maulana Fazlarrahman - Jamaat Ahle-Hadees, Pakistan
Maulana Mohammed BaNayeem - Khateeb Masjid Abdul Rahman. Maulana Abdul Rahman - Ex-Ameer Jameeatul Ulema-e-Hind AP
Sheikh Hidayat Sheikh Hamed - Jamaat Ahle Tash'ee
and other scholars
 
Will be presided over by Janab Ahmeduddin Owaisi Sahab
 
A resolution  will be presented to eradicate the dowry and wedding day dinner.
 
Ladies are specially requested to attend this programme as they are the backbone to bring any change in the society. But, please do not bring any children below 10 years.
 
Venue  :  Asian Delight Restaurant. Next to Bin Yaqub Petrol Station going from Kababish toward Albeik of Tahlia.
 
Wednesday 20th July, 2011  dinner at 9.30  Prog at 10pm inshallah
 
Your support with the participation of your family, relatives and freinds will be a very ig support for a real Islamic cause.
 
Thank you and looking forward to seeing you on the occasion.
 
For further details pls contact Mr. Saleem Farooqi0502 431 497 or
Dr. Haroon Sayeed 0503 692 457
 
 



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[ALOCHONA] Fwd: Nepal wants Bangladesh envoy recalled








Friends,

This is the same gentleman who once spent a lot of time in tarnishing image of Bangladesh. He was "Awarded" this responsible job for his "Service". From his activities it looks like he really wanted to represent India rather than Bangladesh [ He escorted former Indian army official General Jacob to a few meetings in Katmandu in his car carrying Indian flag], since he was using Indian flag when showing former Indian army officers good time in Nepal.

His personal character flaws already tarnished our image in Nepal. While our FM is working hard to promote our relationship with Nepal and Bhutan, activities of Mr. Bhowmik is absolutely irresponsible.

Few years ago, "Nixon papers" were released in the USA and loads of classified information was made public. Many valuable information came out about our "Muktijuddo" as well. I was very proud to learn that, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took a huge political risk to make sure Indian army left Bangladeshi soil quickly. Otherwise there was a chance of permanent occupation like Kashmir of India. Despite some human flaws he was a patriot and I am very disappoint to see why his party is compromising our image in international arena by appointing such low live[ With many character flaws] as our ambassador in Nepal.

I hope our FM will promptly look into this.

Peace.


==============================================================================================================================================

 
  Nepal wants Bangladesh envoy recalled  
 
Mon, Jul 18th, 2011 3:14 pm BdST
 
 
Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Dhaka, July 18 (bdnews24.com)—No, it's not yet official that Nepal wants Bangladeshi ambassador in Kathmandu recalled for his "gross departure from diplomatic norms and inefficient handling of diplomatic affairs".

In an 'unofficial' communication, the Nepalese foreign ministry has requested the recall of Neem Chandra Bhowmik. But the government back home remains unsure about initiating an action against the man.

Apart from 'seriously affecting' the bilateral relationship between the countries, Bhowmik is also tarnishing the image of Bangladesh in Kathmandu for several reasons, including women-related scandals, according to a report of the foreign ministry obtained by bdnews24.com.

Interference in Nepal's internal politics and anomalies in issuing visa to Nepalese students for studying in Bangladesh are also among the irregularities and corruption detected by Dhaka following allegations against him.

Bhowmik, a teacher of the Department of Applied Physics, Electronics and Communication Engineering of Dhaka University (DU), who was appointed Bangladesh ambassador to Nepal in 2009, however, refutes the allegation as 'a conspiracy against him'.

GENERAL JACOB ISSUE

The political cost of Bhowmik's misdemeanour, gross violation of diplomatic norms, practices, nuances and disgraceful acts is that it projects a poor image of Bangladesh in Nepal, the report says.

"He escorted former Indian army official General Jacob to a few meetings in Katmandu in his car carrying Indian flag," it reads.

At the Mujibnagar Dibash programme at hotel Yak & Yeti on Mar 17, 2010, the ambassador asked Nepalese army band to play national anthems of Bangladesh, Nepal and India, the report says.

MANISHA KOIRALA AFFAIR

Without any announcement, the report says, Bhowmik went to the house of film actress Monisha Koirala as she inaugurated a painting exhibition of five Bangladeshi artists in Nepal.

"He also waited outside the gate of Monisha's house, but none opened the gate despite his [Bhoumik's] frantic efforts for about half an hour," it adds.

"There are confirmed reports that since his joining the mission in late 2009, Bhowmik had approached and disturbed Mrs Apoorva Srivastava, counsellor and spokesperson of Indian embassy in Kathmandu."

Allegations are also there that he approached a few Nepalese girls and ladies, who had participated in some events of the mission.

"These cases demonstrate appalling lack of integrity and self-respect," says the report, adding, "It is also reported that unknown local women often turn up at the mission premises to meet the ambassador and spend considerable time."

Nasreen Jahan Lipi, former first secretary in the Bangladesh mission in Kathmandu, met foreign minister Dipu Moni in Dhaka on Dec 24 last year and informed her about the incidents involving Bhoumik and four Bangladeshi girls in mid-December last year.

"She is a live witness/evidence of all the above that have taken place in Kathmandu and the mission," the foreign ministry report reads.

INTERFERENCE IN NEPAL POLITICS

In a number of public forums and in private meetings, the Bangladesh ambassador has openly castigated Nepali Maoists and even advised people about what was required to be done vis-à-vis the extreme leftists.

In a "gross departure" from diplomatic norms, Bhowmik has been found "interfering in Nepal's internal politics", says the report.

LACK OF MANNERS

Bhoumik's credibility in the Nepalese foreign ministry has dropped drastically as he seriously lacks diplomatic etiquettes and has very often "grossly departed from regular protocol", it mentions.

During official calls with Nepali ministers, he does not bother taking non-diplomatic staff with him.

"Even the Nepalese foreign secretary has made an informal request to our foreign secretary to replace him with a career diplomat in Kathmandu," the report reads.

The report also says that Bhowmik mostly remains isolated from the diplomatic community in Nepal.

SCHOLARSHIP SCANDAL

It has been alleged in the report that Bhowmik took bribe from a number of Nepalese students, who had been selected for scholarships announced by the Bangladesh government in 2009 and 2010.

"Scholarship-related requests from Nepalese VIPs, that include even a formal one from the Nepalese foreign ministry, were disregarded."

An allegation that Bhowmik 'traded' six government scholarships, each for $35,000-$40,000, through some local educational consultancies close to the Bangladesh mission also finds a mention in the report.

"This has been in disregard to the original purpose of the scholarships and caused damage to the image of Bangladesh in Nepal," the report says.

ROLE OF THE MINISTRY

When contacted, foreign minister Dipu Moni said, "Some charges were levelled against him and we are investigating it...we will act according to the report."

Asked about the actions the ministry is going to take against Bhowmik, foreign secretary Mohammed Mijarul Quayes said, "You will know about our action at the right time."

BHOWMIK'S REACTION

Reacting to the allegations, Bhowmik told bdnews24.com, "Some people are trying to malign my image as they don't do any work, but I do," he said.

"I maintain a good relation with the (Nepalese) prime minister and other high officials," he said, adding, "Bilateral ties in education, culture and other areas have expanded since I took over the charge of Bangladesh mission here."

Frequency of per week flight operation to and from Nepal has increased to 18 from seven to eight a year back, he added.

bdnews24.com/ssz/sht/nir/1450h


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[ALOCHONA] Nepal wants Bangladesh envoy recalled



Nepal wants Bangladesh envoy recalled



No, it's not yet official that Nepal wants Bangladeshi ambassador in Kathmandu recalled for his "gross departure from diplomatic norms and inefficient handling of diplomatic affairs".

In an 'unofficial' communication, the Nepalese foreign ministry has requested the recall of Neem Chandra Bhowmik. But the government back home remains unsure about initiating an action against the man.

Apart from 'seriously affecting' the bilateral relationship between the countries, Bhowmik is also tarnishing the image of Bangladesh in Kathmandu for several reasons, including women-related scandals, according to a report of the foreign ministry obtained by bdnews24.com. Interference in Nepal's internal politics and anomalies in issuing visa to Nepalese students for studying in Bangladesh are also among the irregularities and corruption detected by Dhaka following allegations against him.

Bhowmik, a teacher of the Department of Applied Physics, Electronics and Communication Engineering of Dhaka University (DU), who was appointed Bangladesh ambassador to Nepal in 2009, however, refutes the allegation as 'a conspiracy against him'.

GENERAL JACOB ISSUE

The political cost of Bhowmik's misdemeanour, gross violation of diplomatic norms, practices, nuances and disgraceful acts is that it projects a poor image of Bangladesh in Nepal, the report says. "He escorted former Indian army official General Jacob to a few meetings in Katmandu in his car carrying Indian flag," it reads.

At the Mujibnagar Dibash programme at hotel Yak & Yeti on Mar 17, 2010, the ambassador asked Nepalese army band to play national anthems of Bangladesh, Nepal and India, the report says.

MANISHA KOIRALA AFFAIR

Without any announcement, the report says, Bhowmik went to the house of film actress Monisha Koirala as she inaugurated a painting exhibition of five Bangladeshi artists in Nepal.

"He also waited outside the gate of Monisha's house, but none opened the gate despite his [Bhoumik's] frantic efforts for about half an hour," it adds. "There are confirmed reports that since his joining the mission in late 2009, Bhowmik had approached and disturbed Mrs Apoorva Srivastava, counsellor and spokesperson of Indian embassy in Kathmandu."

Allegations are also there that he approached a few Nepalese girls and ladies, who had participated in some events of the mission.

"These cases demonstrate appalling lack of integrity and self-respect," says the report, adding, "It is also reported that unknown local women often turn up at the mission premises to meet the ambassador and spend considerable time."

Nasreen Jahan Lipi, former first secretary in the Bangladesh mission in Kathmandu, met foreign minister Dipu Moni in Dhaka on Dec 24 last year and informed her about the incidents involving Bhoumik and four Bangladeshi girls in mid-December last year. "She is a live witness/evidence of all the above that have taken place in Kathmandu and the mission," the foreign ministry report reads.

INTERFERENCE IN NEPAL POLITICS

In a number of public forums and in private meetings, the Bangladesh ambassador has openly castigated Nepali Maoists and even advised people about what was required to be done vis-à-vis the extreme leftists. In a "gross departure" from diplomatic norms, Bhowmik has been found "interfering in Nepal's internal politics", says the report.

LACK OF MANNERS

Bhoumik's credibility in the Nepalese foreign ministry has dropped drastically as he seriously lacks diplomatic etiquettes and has very often "grossly departed from regular protocol", it mentions.

During official calls with Nepali ministers, he does not bother taking non-diplomatic staff with him. "Even the Nepalese foreign secretary has made an informal request to our foreign secretary to replace him with a career diplomat in Kathmandu," the report reads. The report also says that Bhowmik mostly remains isolated from the diplomatic community in Nepal.

SCHOLARSHIP SCANDAL

It has been alleged in the report that Bhowmik took bribe from a number of Nepalese students, who had been selected for scholarships announced by the Bangladesh government in 2009 and 2010. "Scholarship-related requests from Nepalese VIPs, that include even a formal one from the Nepalese foreign ministry, were disregarded."

An allegation that Bhowmik 'traded' six government scholarships, each for $35,000-$40,000, through some local educational consultancies close to the Bangladesh mission also finds a mention in the report. "This has been in disregard to the original purpose of the scholarships and caused damage to the image of Bangladesh in Nepal," the report says.

ROLE OF THE MINISTRY

When contacted, foreign minister Dipu Moni said, "Some charges were levelled against him and we are investigating it...we will act according to the report." Asked about the actions the ministry is going to take against Bhowmik, foreign secretary Mohammed Mijarul Quayes said, "You will know about our action at the right time."

BHOWMIK'S REACTION

Reacting to the allegations, Bhowmik told bdnews24.com, "Some people are trying to malign my image as they don't do any work, but I do," he said. "I maintain a good relation with the (Nepalese) prime minister and other high officials," he said, adding, "Bilateral ties in education, culture and other areas have expanded since I took over the charge of Bangladesh mission here."

Frequency of per week flight operation to and from Nepal has increased to 18 from seven to eight a year back, he added.
http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=201151&cid=2


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